And, First, It was highly becoming the Divine Wisdom and Goodness, in order to the Reformation of Mankind, not only to give us pure and holy Laws, for the Rule of our Duty, but to provide an excellent Example for our Imitation. Any one that hath made juft Reflections upon human Nature must be fenfible, that Ex-amples have ufually a great Influence upon Mankind. Mere Precepts, however excellent in themselves, often feem dry and barren Things; but there is fomething peculiarly ftriking in good Examples. Thefe have attractive Force, and tend mightily to recommend the Precepts, which appear more lovely, and are more apt to fix and engage our Views, when wrought into an excellent Character, than when barely written in a Book. Since therefore it hath pleafed God to grant us admirable Laws and Precepts, for directing us in every Part of our Duty; it was alfo a Defign worthy of his great Wisdom and Love to Mankind to order it fo that there fhould be a lovely Example fet before us, in which thofe Laws fhould be beautifully exemplified.

Secondly, It was proper that the Example, defigned by God for the univerfal Imitation of Mankind, fhould be perfect and Spotless, without the leaft Stain or Defect. As the Law that is fet before us, in the Name

Name of God, as the Rule of our Duty, is perfect, so as not to direct us in any Inftance to a wrong Course of Acting; fo the Example, which is propofed to us as a Pattern, fhould be complete in all it's Parts. The Examples of the best and holiest of mere Men, of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoftles, and other good Men of old, though they may be of fignal Ufe, yet are not fufficient to answer the Intention, because there is none of them but what is chargeable with fome Defects, and in fome Inftances proper rather for our Warning than our Imitation; and therefore to imitate them, without Referve, might fometimes lead us aftray into a wrong Way of Acting. There was wanting therefore an Example abfolute in all Refpects, and which was free from all Defects; a complete Pattern of moral Excellence: For though, as we are imperfect Creatures, we may feem incapable, in this prefent State, of coming up to fuch exalted Degrees of Goodness and Purity as might be expected in a perfect Example; yet the having fuch an Example fet before us would be of great Use, as it would tend to kindle in us a noble and generous Ambition, and would put us upon going on towards Perfection, that we might approach still nearer and nearer to fo illuftrious a Pattern. Now fuch an Example is only to be found in our

Lord

Lord Jefus Chrift. Never could it be faid of any other in human Flesh, what St. Peter juftly faith of him, that he did no Sin, neither was Guile found in his Mouth. 1 Pet. ii. 22. Or, as St. Paul expreffeth it, he knew no Sin. 2 Cor. v. 21. The Apostle John declares, that, if we say that we have no Sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. 1 John i. 8. Yet fpeaking of our Lord Jefus Chrift, he faith, Te know that he was manifefted to take away our Sins; and in him is no Sin. 1 John iii. 5. Never, in any fingle Inftance, through the Whole of his facred Life, did he deviate from the Rule of Duty: His own Practice was perfect as the Divine Law; a living. Tranfcript of it's Purity, Beauty, and Excellence. It was a fine Thought of one of the Ancients, that, if Virtue could appear in a vifible Form, it would discover such a Dignity and Beauty as would charm all that beheld it: And, in our Lord Jefus Chrift, is this Suppofition verified. In him Virtue and Goodness is made vifible to our

Eyes, and appears in it's own genuine Charms and lovely Form; and therefore, if looked upon with a believing Eye, could fcarce fail to engage the Efteem and Admiration of Mankind.

Thirdly, It was proper that the Example, defigned for the Imitation of Mankind, fhould

should be exhibited by one that was truly Man, really Partaker of the human Nature. If a Being of the highest poffible Excellence had appeared for a While here on Earth without taking upon him our Nature, his Example could not be fuppofed to have fo great an Influence upon Mankind, as if it were exhibited by one in human Fleft: For we might be apt to think, in that Cafe, either that the Example was abfolutely out of our Reach, and that it was impracticable for us to imitate it; or that it belonged properly to a fuperior Order of Beings, and that therefore we were not concerned or obliged to an Imitation of it. Whofoever therefore exhibiteth an Example proper for us to imitate, muft himself be made Partaker of Flesh and Blood as well as we, that his Example may be rendered more familiar to us, and imitable by us; it must be the Example of one that lived. and converfed in our World, and who was like unto us in all Things, Sin only excepted.

Fourthly, It was farther neceffary, in order to give this Example the greater Force, that it fhould be the Example of a Perfon of great Dignity and Eminence. The Examples of mean and inconfiderable Perfons, however in themfelves good and excellent, are ufually but little regarded, and feldom have much in them to engage

the

the Attention of Mankind: But the Ex-
amples of Perfons of great Dignity are apt
to ftrike the Beholders with Admiration,
and, the higher the Dignity is, the more
is the Example admired and regarded, and
the fonder Men are to
copy after it.
Hence it has been a common Obfervation,
that the Example of a King has great
Weight; and good Princes, that are emi-
nent for Piety and Virtue, are, in this Re-
fpect, as well as others, of fignal Advan-
tage to the World. It was therefore fit-
ing that an Example, defigned to engage
an univerfal Imitation, fhould be exhibited
by a Person of tranfcendent 'Dignity and
Worth: And, if it were the Example of a
Divine Perfon, fuppofing him at the fame
Time to be made Partaker of our Nature,
and to dwell in human Flesh, this would
carry the Force of the Example as far as it
could poffibly go. Now fuch is the Ex-
ample of our Lord Jefus Chrift, according
to the Idea given of it in the facred Wri-
tings: He is there reprefented as a Perfon
of unparalleled Dignity and Eminence, the
only begotten Son of God, by whom he made
the Worlds; God manifeft in the Flesh.

It is certain that the most glorious Exemplar that can poffibly be fet before us is that of God himself, the great Parent and Lord of the Universe, the abfolutely perfect Be

ing.