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more extenfively useful. The greatest part of mankind are placed by providence in a low condition; and Chrift by exemplifying the graces fuited especially to fuch a ftate, accommodated himself to the inftruction and benefit of the greatest number of men. And yet fince it was the refult of his own gracious choice, that he appeared in fuch a condition,. though he poffeffed originally the riches of the Godhead, he loudly fpeaks humility to the greateft.

His converfation was with all the freedom. and familiarity that could be defired. We find no peculiar rigours or fingularity in his. way of living; in which he takes notice himfelf of the difference between him and John the baptift, Mat. xi. 18, 19, He did not fequefter himself from the world to live as a re-clufe; but led an active life upon the public. ftage, appeared in the places where people were used to come together, converfed freely. with all forts, and went about doing good.. This conduct made his example the moregrateful, and at the fame time to appear fuch, that every one in common life might feel himfelf under engagements to imitate him..

(3.) His example was perfect, fo that it hath the force of a rule. This cannot be faid of the beft men upon earth; their actions must be tried by a farther rule, before we venture to follow them.. But it is the character: of Christ's example, that it hath the authority of a rule, as well as the advantage of an example; fo that other examples are to be judged

of

of by it, 1 Cor. xi. 1.

Be ye followers of

me, even as I am of Chrift."

It is perfect alfo in another refpe&t, as it exemplifies to us all the graces and duties of the human nature, as it came out of the hands of God: it was a living plan of the regards due from man by the divine law to God, to his fellow-creatures, and to himself. I intend not: here to go over the particulars of this great example; it may be more proper, as we go along in confidering the feveral branches of the chriftian temper, to recommend each by the: example he gave of it. To any one, who at tends to the Gofpel-history, it must appear, that humility and felf-denial, zeal for God's glory and compaffion to fouls, ufefulnefs to all and difinterested goodness, contempt of this world and heavenly mindednefs, patience un der fufferings and refignation to the will of God in all things, eminently fhone out in the man Chrift Jefus that he redeemed his time, improved all opportunities for fervice, fought the honour of God in all his actions, fervent-ly prayed to him in all difficulties, trufted in him in all dangers; counted no fervice, no fuffering too hard, to which he called him; and was obedient even down to death. In a word, he acted juft as men are obliged to act ; and in all the parts of the chriftian temper, ex-cepting thofe which fuppofe perfonal guilt, we may derive light and warmth from the fteady contemplation of Chrift's example.

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3 The relations in which we ftand to Chrift,. and the concern we have with him, lays us un-

der

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der the strongest engagements to endeavour a refemblance.

He is our best friend, vouchfafes to call us his friends, and has engaged us by the moft endearing acts of kindness: and how eafily do. intimate friends run into a fimilitude of mind. and, manners ?"

He is our Lord and Mafter, and we profefs to be his difciples; and certainly the difciple fhould be like his Mafter. If any man will! come after me, fays Chrift, let him follow me, Mat. xvi. 24. Chrift preffes this argument with the greateft force upon his difciples in the days of his abode below, John xiii. 13, 14, 15, 16. "Ye call me Mafter and Lord, and. ye fay well; for fo I am. If I then, your Lord and Mafter, have wafhed your feet, ye alfo ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye fhould do. as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I fay unto you, the fervant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is fent, greater than he that hath fent him." In the feveral fects of philofophers among the heathen, the practice. as well as the precepts of their mafters had a mighty influence upon thofe who called them-felves their difciples: they were ufed carefully to record the actions of their founders, and to be cenfured or applauded by friends or ene-mies, as they degenerated from their virtues or copied after them. Chrift is "the author and finisher of our faith," the head of our religion ;. and fhould not we refemble him, if we fuffer ourselves to be called Chriftians from his name?. Some of thofe among the heathen,

who,

who delivered the beft precepts, were very far from recommending them by a fuitable pract ice; and they did more hurt to the world by their ill examples, than fervice by their wholefome inftructions. This was too much the cafe among the Jewish teachers in Chrift's own time he could fay no more in their favour than this, Mat. xxiii. 2, 3. The fcribes and the Pharifees fit in Mofes's feat; they are your ftated public inftructors: All therefore, whatfoever they bid you obferve, that obferve and do. We muft for certain understand him with a limitation, as far as they spoke agreeably to the law and the teftimony; for he had admonifhed his hearers more than once, that fometimes they were blind guides even in their doctrine, and not to be followed abfolutely in: that. And ftill he was forced to add farther but not do ye after their works; for they fay: and do not. While their doctrine was amifs in fome things, their practice was much more irregular. But Chrift was a mafter, whofe doctrine and practice was perfectly harmonious; and therefore his profeffed difciples fhould hear him and follow him in both.

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He is our head, and we are his members; and there fhould be a fymmetry of parts. If we are Chriftians indeed, we are animated by the fame Spirit: and therefore like fruits of the Spirit fhould be confpicuous in us.

He is to be our final judge, who will unalterably determine our ftate forever: and whatever profeffion we make of his name and of relation to him, he will own none for his who are deftitute of his likenefs. While. "many

!

will fay to him in that day, Lord, Lord; he will profefs to them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity," Matt. vii. 22, 23.

He is to be the model of our final happinefs. It is promifed us, that "when he fhall appear, we fhall be like him; for we fhall fee kim as he is," 1 John iii. 2. That must refer principly to the holiness and happiness of our fouls then. And certainly, if we take real delight in the profpect of that future conformity, we cannot forbear afpiring af ter it and tending towards it now. So the apostle immediately adds, ver. 3. "And every man that hath this hope in him, [to be like Chrift, when he fhall appear] purifieth himself, even as he is pure.' Our future happiness is often described by being with the Lord: and how can we dwell and converse together forever with comfort and fatisfaction, unless there be agreement and fimilitude?

I would add a few reflections.

1. We may plainly learn, that christianity in its main defign is a practical thing, and not a mere fpeculation. As it might be made to appear many other ways, that this is a true character of it; fo it is evident, in that the great head of this religion firft lived it himfelf; and the scope of this religion is defcribed in the Gospel to be our copying after that diving pattern.

2. We may fee the advantages we have by the Gofpel, beyond any other difpenfation, for true goodnefs. Mofes, by whom God delivered his law to the Jews, was not a perfe& pattern

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