upon

it

unparalleled Dignity, which must always be kept in View, when we remember Chrift's Sufferings; and which maketh a vaft and amazing Difference between them, and what any other Perfon ever endured. I had Occafion to take Notice of his Sufferings before, in fpeaking of his Obedience and Refignation to his heavenly Father, and his wonderful Love to Mankind; but this is a Subject that can never be too much confidered. A Chriftian should frequently return to it, and dwell in his Thoughts, and take it in various Views, fince it is of all Subjects the most interefting and the most affecting. What I now mention Chrift's Sufferings for is to fhew how admirably his Patience was exemplified in them. And this is well reprefented by St. Peter, 1 Pet. ii. 20, 21, 22, 23. What Glory is it, if, when ye are buffetted for your Faults, ye shall take it patiently? But, if, when ye do well, and Suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye fhould follow his Steps: Who did no Sin, neither was Guile found in bis Mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when be fuffered, be threatened not; but committed himself to bim that judgeth righteously. And to this Meekness

Meeknefs and Patience of Chrift under his Sufferings the Prophet Ifaiah referreth, in that most remarkable Prophecy, If. liii. in which the Sufferings of the Meffiah are described in fo lively and affecting a Manner, that it looketh rather like an History than a Prophecy: He was oppreffed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not bis Mouth; he is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter, and as a Sheep before his Shearers is dumb, Jo he openeth not his Mouth. Ver. 7.

There are fome other fhining Parts of our Saviour's Character, which I have not Time at present to infift upon, and therefore fhall referve the Confideration of them for another Difcourfe.

On

On the Example of Christ.

DISCOURSE XIX.

PHILIPPIANS ii. 5.

Let this Mind be in you, which was alfo in Christ Jesus.

N my former Discourse on these Words

IN

I confidered several Virtues that were peculiarly eminent in our Saviour's Character, fuch as Purity and Heavenly-Mindednefs, Self-Denial, Humility, Meekness, and Patience, of all which he hath given us a most perfect and lovely Example: And, with Regard to each of them, it might be juftly faid, that the fame Mind fhould be in us, that was in Chrift Jefus.

VOL. IV.

A a

I would

..I would now farther obferve,

That our Lord Jefus Chrift was alfo remarkable for a Divine Fortitude. This is no Way inconfiftent with that Meekness that was observed in his Character before: For true Fortitude is not fierce and boisterous, but meek and fedate, calm and difpaffionate. It doth not rafhly run into Dangers, nor affect to despise them; yet it meeteth them with an unfhaken Refolution and fteady Composure of Soul, and doth not decline manifeft Duty, for Fear of any Dangers or Sufferings. His Fortitude appeared through the Whole of his facred Miniftry. To this it was owing that, with a noble impartial Freedom and Boldness, he rebuked the reigning Vices, as well as oppofed the darling Prejudices, of the Age in which he lived. Never did he fail to declare neceffary Truth or Duty, for Fear of Men: He tharply reproved the Hypocrify of the Scribes and Pharifees, and paffed an impartial Cenfure upon their Traditions, in order to the guarding the People against pernicious Mistakes in Religion, though he knew that, by doing so, he expofed himself to the bittereft Refentments of those that were of the greateft Power and Authority in the Jewish Nation. But what I would now particularly take Notice of, as a fignal Proof

of

of his great Fortitude, is, that he all along had a perfect Forefight of his laft Sufferings, with all the diftreffing Circumstances, the amazing Agonies and Dolours that would attend them; yet did he not in the least decline the Work that was given him to do, but applied himself to it with an inviolable Refolution and Conftancy. The Evangelift Luke obferves, that, when the Time was come that he should be received up, be ftedfaftly fet his Face to go Jerufalem, which he knew was to be the Scene of his grievous Sufferings. Luke ix. 51. And, as he drew nearer in his laft Progrefs, he expreffly declared to his Disciples, that he should be betrayed to the chief Priests, and that they would condemn him to Death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and that he should be mocked, and scourged, and crucified. Luke xviii. 31, 32, Matt. xx. 17, 18, 18, 19. Thefe Things filled his Difciples with Dread and Amazement, but they did not cause him. to alter his Courfe. St. Mark obferves, that they were in the Way going up to Jerufalem; and Jefus went before them, and they were amazed; and, as they followed him, they were afraid. Mark x. 32, 33. Yet he still went on inftructing the People, and performing his beneficent Mracles, without any Intermiffion in his facred Work. A a 2 When