Now then, considering this so weighty and special a point of religion is so much neglected, ⟨p. 29⟩O man or woman, high or low, young or old, if thou have been wanting this way, begin for very shame to learn and learning truly to know Christ crucified. And that thou mayest attain to this, behold him often, not in the wooden crucifix after the popish manner, but in the preaching of the Word, and in the Sacraments, in which thou shalt see him crucified before thine eyes, Galat. 3. 1. Desire not here upon earth to behold him with the bodily eye, but look upon him with the eye of true and lively faith, applying him and his merits to thy self as thine own, and that with a broken and bruised heart, as the poor Israelites stung with fiery serpents even to death, beheld the brazen serpent. Again, thou must look upon him first of all as a glass or spectacle, in which thou shalt see Gods glory greater in thy Redemption, then in thy creation. In the creation appeared Gods infinite wisdom, power, and goodness: in thy Redemption by the passion of Christ, his endless justice and mercy. In the creation thou art a member of the first Adam, and bearest his image: in thy Redemption thou art a member of the second Adam. In the first, thou art endued with natural life, in the second with spiritual. In the ⟨p. 30⟩first, thou hast in the person of Eve thy beginning of the rib of Adam: in the second, thou hast thy beginning as thou art borne of God, out of the blood of Christ. Lastly, in the first, god gave life by commanding that to be, which was not: in the second, he gives life not by life, but by death, even of his own son. This is the mystery into which the Angels themselves desire to look into, 1. Pet. 1. 12. Secondly, thou must behold him as the full price of thy Redemption, and perfect reconciliation with God; and pray earnestly to God, that he would seal up the same in thy very conscience by his holy spirit. Thirdly, thou must behold Christ as an example, to whom thou must conform thy self by regeneration. For this cause give diligence, that thou mayest by experience say, that thou art dead and crucified and buried with Christ, and that thou risest again with him, to newness of life: that he enlightens thy mind, and by degrees reforms thy will and affections, and give thee both the will and the deed in every good thing.
Now then, considering this so weighty and speciall a point of religion is so much neglected, ⟨p. 29⟩O man or woman, high or low, young or old, if thou haue beene wanting this way, beginne for very shame to learne and learning truely to know Christ crucified. And that thou maist attain to this, behold him often, not in the woodden crucifixe after the popish manner, but in the preaching of the Worde, and in the Sacraments, in which thou shalt see him crucified before thine eyes, Galat. 3. 1. Desire not here upon earth to beholde him with the bodily eye, but looke upon him with the eye of true and liuely faith, applying him and his merites to thy selfe as thine owne, and that with a broken and bruised heart, as the poore Israelites stung with fiery serpents euen to death, behelde the brasen serpent. Againe, thou must looke vpon him first of all as a glasse or spectacle, in which thou shalt see Gods glory greater in thy Redemption, then in thy creation. In the creation appeared Gods infinite wisedome, power, and goodnesse: in thy Redemption by the passion of Christ, his endlesse iustice and mercy. In the creation thou art a member of the first Adam, and bearest his image: in thy Redemption thou art a member of the second Adam. In the first, thou art indued with naturall life, in the second with spirituall. In the ⟨p. 30⟩first, thou hast in the person of Eve thy beginning of the ribbe of Adam: in the second, thou hast thy beginning as thou art borne of God, out of the bloode of Christ. Lastly, in the first, god gaue life by commanding that to be, which was not: in the second, he giues life not by life, but by death, euen of his owne sonne. This is the mystery into which the Angels themselues desire to looke into, 1. Pet. 1. 12. Secondly, thou must behold him as the full price of thy Redemption, and perfect reconciliation with God; and pray earnestly to God, that hee woulde seale up the same in thy very conscience by his holy spirite. Thirdly, thou must behold Christ as an example, to whome thou must conforme thy selfe by regeneration. For this cause giue diligence, that thou maiest by experience say, that thou art deade and crucified and buried with Christ, and that thou risest againe with him, to newnesse of life: that he inlightens thy minde, and by degrees reformes thy will and affections, and giue thee both the will and the deede in euery good thing.
