6 Reasons to Look Away from Everything to Jesus
Isaac Ambrose (1604—1664) was a Puritan pastor, author, and theologian. He obtained the curacy of St Edmund’s Church, Castleton, Derbyshire, in 1627 and was one of king's four preachers in Lancashire in 1631. He worked for establishment of Presbyterianism, but was ejected for nonconformity in 1662. His works include Looking Unto Jesus, The Christian Warrior, The First, Middle, and Last Things, and many others.
In Looking Unto Jesus, Ambrose writes,
The eye cannot look upwards and downwards at once; we cannot seriously mind heaven and earth in one thought.
Why must we look off every thing that diverts our looking unto Jesus?
1. Because we cannot look fixedly on Christ, and such things, at once. The eye cannot look upwards and downwards at once; we cannot seriously mind heaven and earth in one thought. No man can serve two masters; especially such as jar, and have contrary employments, as Christ and Mammon have.
2. Because whilst we look on these things, we cannot see the beauty that is in Christ. Our wishing looks on other things, makes Christ but mean and contemptible in our eyes.
all other things, in comparison of Christ, are not worthy a look
3. Because all other things, in comparison of Christ, are not worthy a look; they are but poor, low, mean, base things, in comparison of Christ; I count all things but loss, saith St. Paul, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,— I count them but dung that I may win Christ. Some translate it, from the original, chaff, others dog's meat, others excrements, dung : all agree, it is such a thing as men usually cast away from them with indignation.
4. Because it is according to the very law of marriage: Therefore shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his wife. The Lord Christ marries himself to the souls of his saints; and for this cause the soul must forsake all, and cleave unto Christ.
the eye is not satisfied with seeing: it is but wearied with looking on divers objects, and yet still desires new ones; but once admit it to that glorious sight of Christ, and then it rests fully satisfied.
5. Because Christ is a jealous God. Now jealousy is a passion in the soul, that will not endure any sharing in the object beloved. And so Christ cannot endure that we should look on any other things, so as to lust after them.
6. Because all other things can never satisfy the eye. All things are full of labour, saith Solomon, man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing: it is but wearied with looking on divers objects, and yet still desires new ones; but once admit it to that glorious sight of Christ, and then it rests fully satisfied.