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SERMON XVII.

Our SAVIOUR'S EXAMPLE recommended to our imitation.

I PET. ii. 21.

Chrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps.

UR bleffed LORD, whofe example is here

here recommended to our imitation, came into the world, to live, as well as to die, for us; and not only by the ef fufion of his facred blood to offer an expiatory facrifice for the fins of mankind, but alfo to go before us as our guide and conductor in the paths of virtue, and to exhibit in his own manners a complete

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pattern of unerring rectitude of life. And it is a glory peculiar to the Christian inftitution, that the Author of it was himself the great example of thofe duties which he required from his followers. In his whole deportment, he exemplified his doctrine; and not only taught, but fulfilled, all righteousness. Herein he claims an unrivalled fuperiority above all other the most eminent prophets, philofophers, or lawgivers; the fanctity of whofe lives never equalled the purity of their precepts. They were indeed, many of them, exemplary in their manners, but not faultlefs; inftructive, but not unerring, guides. His is the only faultlefs, finished character, that ever appeared in human form,-a complete and perfect model of univerfal goodnefs. He had all the moral virtues of our nature, without any of its finful frailties. In him we obferve no fpot or blemish, no infirmity or defect, to fhade and obfcure his other excellencies. In this SUN of Righteoufnefs the virtues all centre, and fhine with fuch fuperior luftre,

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that all other characters, like leffer lights, lofe their brightnefs, and disappear before it.

In this difcourfe I fhall confider the excellence of our bleffed Saviour's religious deportment, with regard to the principal duties we owe to GOD, to ourselves, and to mankind.

I. I fhall begin with obferving the example of his Piety; both because it is the first and great commandment, the fupreme obligation incumbent on all moral beings; and because it appeared with fuperior diftinction in his whole life, and feemed to be the ruling principle of his conduct. For he not only often retired from the notice of the world, that he might indulge religious contemplation, and offer up his fupplications to HIM who feeth in fecret, fometimes continuing whole nights in prayer; but was equally obfervant of public as of private devotion. Even before he affumed his minifterial character, tho' the facred historians are filent as to other particulars of his conduct, yet they inform

from us, that it was his cuftom to attend the fervice of the fynagogue on the fabbath-day.

From this example we may learn, not only the propriety of private fupplications to the Throne of Grace, but the obligation alfo of frequently affembling and affifting at the public folemnities of worship. If it became the great Founder of our religion to put up both private and public addreffes to.Heaven, it is doubtlefs a duty incumbent alfo on us, as our dependence on the Author of our being is not lefs, and our wants and infirmities are infinitely greater. And however fome may confider Piety as an unneceffary ingredient in their character, provided they are juft, and honest, and friendly in their difpofitions and actions; yet certainly no truth can be more evident than the obligation of the duties of piety, both from our Saviour's example and from the reafon of the thing. For what are the duties of Piety, but expreflions of reverence and gratitude to the Supreme Being? And furely his perfections justly

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demand the one, and his bleffings daily conferred on us give him an unqueftionable right to the other. Whatever other virtues may enter into the brightest character, yet without Piety it will be defective in the most effential duty of a reasonable and dependent being.

But further: Moft confpicuous alfo was our bleffed LORD's Refignation to the Divine Will. He fubmitted to all the humiliations of mortality. His life was a fcene of invincible patience under indignities and afflictions: Never was any forrow like unto his forrow, wherewith the Lord afflicted him in the day of his fierce anger. Though he had all the tender paffions of human nature, and doubtlefs the quickest fenfibility of pain and anguifh; yet he endured them with more than human patience. In the last and most distressful fcene of his life, though he expreffed in his prayer the strongest averfion to the torture and ignominy of crucifixion, yet ftill it was accompanied with due fubmiffion to the will of This heavenly father: Father, not my will,

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