A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

The cross is it self rendered amiable, and a thing to be gloried in, to be looked on with delight and pleasure, upon the account of the design and end of that Tragedy which was acted thereon; within which design (being executed and accomplished) this happy effect is included. We elsewhere find the Apostle expressing his vehement desire to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, ¹and (in order thereto) the fellowship of his sufferings, ²being made conformable to his death. But what did he lastly aim at in this? The next words more fully speak out (what he first mentioned) the power of his resurrection to be the thing chiefly in his eye, and that he desired (what he adds) the fellowship of his sufferings, &c. as a means unto that end, though it seemed a sharp and painful means; If by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead; ³q. d. I care not what I undergo, not the sufferings even of a painful crucifixion it self, or that my worldly earthly Self do suffer conformably to the sufferings of my crucified Lord; I matter not by what so severe method the thing be brought about, if by any means it may be brought about, that I may know the power of his resurrection so feelingly, as to attain also the resurrection of the dead. And what was that? No doubt to attain a state (which he confesses he had ⟨p. 90⟩not yet perfectly attained, but was in pursuit of) suitable to his relation and union with a risen Jesus; Union with him supposes a being risen with him; If ye then be risen with Christ—. ⁴It is taken as a granted thing, that they that are his are risen with him. And what state and temper of spirit would be suitable to that supposition? The next words show, Seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection (or mind) on the things above, not on the things on the earth. Then follows the method in which they were brought to the capacity of doing so; For ye are dead. Their professed relation to Christ did suppose them risen, and did therefore first suppose them dead. Now if they would do suitably to what their profession imported, this was it they had to do; To abstract their minds and hearts from the things of this earth, and place them upon the things of an higher region.