Keep a Fixed Eye Upon a Bleeding Christ

[Sisters, this was so good I had to post it.]

Has Jesus Christ suffered such great and grievous things for you? Oh then, in all your fears, doubts, and conflicts with enemies--within or without--fly to the sufferings ofChrist as your city of refuge!

In every temptation let us look up to a crucified Christ, who is fitted and qualified to support tempted souls. Oh my soul, whenever you are assaulted, let the wounds of Christ be your city of refuge where you may fly and live! Let us learn, in every trouble which presses us--whether it be sin, temptation, or any other evil--to translate it from ourselves to Christ! And all the good in Christ--let us learn to translate it from Christ to ourselves!

Do your sins terrify you? Oh then, look up to a crucified Savior, who bore your sins in His own body on the tree!When sin stares you in the face, oh then turn your face to a dying Jesus, and behold Him . . .

with a spear in His side,

with thorns in His head,

with nails in His feet,

and a pardon in His hands!

Oh, remember that there is nothing in heaven or earth more efficacious to cure the wounds of conscience, than a frequent and serious meditation on the wounds of Christ!

Ah, Christians, under all your temptations, afflictions, fears, doubts, conflicts, and trials--be persuaded to keep a fixed eye upon a crucified Jesus! And remember that all He did--He did for you; and that all He suffered--He suffered for you! This will be a strong cordial to keep you from fainting under all your distresses. Oh, that Christians would labor, under all their soul-troubles, to keep a fixed eye upon a bleeding Christ; for there is nothing which will ease them, quiet them, settle them, and satisfy them, like this!

Many, may I not say most, Christians are more apt to eye their sins, their sorrows, their prayers, their tears, their resolves, their complaints--than they are to eye a suffering Christ. And from hence springs their great woes, wounds, miseries, and dejection of spirit. Oh, that a crucified Christ might be forever in your eye--and always upon your hearts!

Brooks, The Golden Key to Open Hidden Treasures