Let all that mind the honour of Religion,1 or the peace and comfort of their own souls; wholly sequester and apply themselves, to the study of Jesus Christ,2 and him Crucified; wherefore spend we our selves upon other studies? when all excellency, sweetness, and desirableness is concentered in this one? Jesus Christ is fairer than the children of men, the chiefest among ten thousands, as the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood: quae faciunt divisa beatum, in hoc mixta fluunt; these things which singly ravish and delight the souls of men, are all found conjunctly in Christ. O, what a blessed Christ is this! whom to know is eternal life: from the knowledge of Jesus Christ do bud forth all the fruits of comfort, and that for all seasons and conditions. Hence Revel. 22.2. he is called the tree of life which bears twelve manner of fruits, and yields its fruit every month and the very leaves of this tree are for healing; in Christ souls have (1.) All necessaries for food and physic, (2.) All varieties of fruits, twelve manner of fruits, a distinct sweetness in this, in that; and in the other attribute, promise, ordinance. (3.) In him are these fruits at all times, he bears fruit every month; there is precious fruit in Jesus Christ, even in the black month; Winter fruits, as well as Summer fruits. O, then study Christ, study to know him more extensively, there be many excellent things in Christ, that the most Eagle-eyed believer hath not yet seen: ah 'tis pity, that any thing of Christ should lye hid from his people! study to know Christ more intensively, to get the experimental taste, and lively power of his knowledge, upon your hearts, and affections: this is the knowledge that carries all the sweetness and comfort in it. Christian, I dare appeal to thy experience; whether the experimental taste of Jesus Christ in Ordinances and duties, have not a higher and sweeter relish than any created enjoyment thou ever tasted in this world? O then separate, devote, and wholly give thy self; thy time, thy strength to this most sweet transcendent study.
Let all that mind the honour of Religion,1 or the peace and comfort of their own souls; wholly sequester and apply themselves, to the study of Jesus Christ,2 and him Crucified; wherefore spend we our selves upon other studies? when all excellency, sweetness, and desirableness is concenter'd in this one? Jesus Christ is fairer than the children of men, the chiefest among ten thousands, as the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood: quae faciunt divisa beatum, in hoc mixta fluunt; these things which singly ravish and delight the souls of men, are all found conjunctly in Christ. O, what a blessed Christ is this! whom to know is eternal life: from the knowledge of Jesus Christ do bud forth all the fruits of comfort, and that for all seasons and conditions. Hence Revel. 22.2. he is called the tree of life which bears twelve manner of fruits, and yields its fruit every month and the very leaves of this tree are for healing; in Christ souls have (1.) All necessarys for food and physick, (2.) All varieties of fruits, twelve manner of fruits, a distinct sweetness in this, in that; and in the other attribute, promise, ordinance. (3.) In him are these fruits at all times, he bears fruit every month; there is precious fruit in Jesus Christ, even in the black month; Winter fruits, as well as Summer fruits. O, then study Christ, study to know him more extensively, there be many excellent things in Christ, that the most Eagle-eyed believer hath not yet seen: ah 'tis pitty, that any thing of Christ should lye hid from his people! study to know Christ more intensively, to get the experimental taste, and lively power of his knowledge, upon your hearts, and affections: this is the knowledge that carries all the sweetness and comfort in it. Christian, I dare appeal to thy experience; whether the experimental taste of Jesus Christ in Ordinances and duties, have not a higher and sweeter relish than any created enjoyment thou ever tasted in this world? O then separate, devote, and wholly give thy self; thy time, thy strength to this most sweet trascendent study.
- 1Infer. 5.
- 2I am sure (saith an holy one) the Saints at their best, are but strangers to the weight and worth▪ of the incomparable sweetness of Christ: he is so new, so fresh in excellency every day to those that search more and more into him, as if Heaven could furnish as many new Christs (if I may so speak) as there are days betwixt him and us; and yet he is one and the same still: oh, we love an unknown lover, when we love Christ.
