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VIII.

waş light without a fhade, and beauty SER M. without a ftain.-At the same time, his example is attended with this fingular advantage, of being more accommodated than any other to general imitation. It was diftinguished by no unnatural aufterites, no affected fingularities; but exhibits the plain and fimple tenor of all thofe virtues for which we have moft frequent occafion in ordinary life. In order to render it of more effential benefit, our Lord fixed his refidence in no particular place; he tied himself down to no particular calling or way of living; but gives us the opportunity of viewing his behaviour, in that variety of lights which equally and indifferently regard all mankind. His life was divided between the retired and the active state. Devotion and business

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equally shared it. In the discharge of that high office with which he was vested, we behold the perfect model of a public character; and we behold the most beautiful example of private life, when we contemplate him among his

difciples,

VIII.

SERM. difciples, as a Father in the midst of his family.-By fuch means he has exhibited before us fpecimens of every kind of virtue; and to all ranks and claffes of men has afforded a pattern after which they may copy. Hardly is there any emergency which can occur in life, but from fome incident in our Saviour's conduct, from some feature displayed in his character, we are enable to say to ourfelves, “Thus Christ would have spo

ken, thus he would have acted, thus "he would have fuffered, if he had "been circumftanced as we are now."

Instead, therefore, of thinking of thy neighbours around thee, and of inquiring how they behave, keep Christ in thine eye, and in thy whole conduct follow him. Follow him in his steady and conscientious discharge of duty, amidst oppofition from evil men, and a corrupted world. Follow him in his patient fubmiffion to his Father's will, and the calmness of his spirit under all trials. Follow him in his acts of

difinterefted benevolence, in his com

paffion

paffion to the unhappy, in his readiness S E R M. to oblige, to affift, and to relieve. Imi- VIII. tate the mildness and gentleness of his

manners.

Imitate the affability and

condefcenfion which appeared in his behaviour. Imitate the uncorrupted fimplicity and purity which diftinguished his whole life.

THESE are much worthier and nobler objects of your attention, than any of those trifling varieties which you can explore and discover in the characters of those among whom you live. By lifting your view to fo high a standard, you will be preserved from defcending to those futile and corrupting employments of thought, which occupy the idle, the vain, and the malignant. It is incredible, how much time and attention are thrown away by men, in examining the affairs of others, and difcuffing their conduct. Were their time and attention thrown away only, the evil would, in fome degree, be less. But they are worse than thrown away; they are not merely fruitless, but productive

of

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SERM. of much mifchief. Such a habit of

VIII.

thought is connected with a thousand vices. It is the conftant fource of rafh and fevere cenfure. It arifes from envy and jealousy. It foments ill nature and pride. It propagates misunderstanding and difcord. All thofe evils would be prevented, if the reproof which our Lord adminifters in the text came oftener home, with proper authority, to the reflexion of men: What is that to thee? Each of us have more material and important business of our own to fulfil. Our task is affigned; our part allotted. Did we fuitably examine how that part was performed, we should be less difpofed to bufy ourselves about the concerns of others. We would difcover many a diforder to be corrected at home; many a weed to be pulled out from our own grounds; much remaining to be done, in order to ren→ der ourselves useful in this world, and fit for a world to come.-Wherefore, inftead of being critics on others, let us employ our criticism on ourselves.

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VIIL

ourselves. Leaving others to be judged SE R M. by Him who fearcheth the heart, let us implore his affistance for enabling us to act well our own part, and to follow Christ.

VOL. IV.

M

SERMON

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