Christ’s likeness, and a deepening and expanding sense of enjoyment of God. First,
contemplation provides a person with a new sense of understanding and love. The
very structure of Looking Unto Jesus follows this pattern, first the intellect or
understanding is emphasized and next the affections, in which love occupies a central
role. Ambrose declares that by looking at Jesus “we gaine more, and more
knowledge of Christ” and further that this helps us to “understand those great
mysteries of grace.” He further clarifies that this type of contemplative knowledge is
“practical and experimental.”^235 Additionally as a person meditates upon Christ
considering the relationship of the “bride in the bridegroome” they experience a
“flaming, burning love to Christ.”^236 In return “Christ gives a sincere and inward love
of himself unto their hearts.”^237 With even greater integration Ambrose connects
these two benefits of contemplation in his stirring meditation of a soul’s love to
Christ, “when sweetly we repose our selves in the lap of our Saviour with content
unspeakable, and full of glory, it proceeds from the last act of faith, wherby we are
actually perswaded by those welcome whispers of the Spirit of adoption, that
certainly Christ is our Saviour, and that our debts are cancelled to the very last
mite.”^238
A second benefit of heavenly-mindedness is strength to combat suffering and
protection from temptations. Ambrose alerts his readers that, “looking on Jesus will
strengthen patience under the crosse of Christ.”^239 Further, he encourages others to
“pray also for heavenly-mindedness, and thou wilt not be disquieted with worldly
(^235) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus (^) , 33.
(^236) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 34.
(^237) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 37.
(^238239) Ambrose, Media (1657), 224.
Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 42.