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SERM. as vice ordinarily is conceived and propagated, (men by a XXXIV. prepofterous and perverfe curiofity being inveigled to try

Juven.

what they fee others affect or enjoy,) fo may virtue also by the fame means be engendered and nourished; the general ways of producing and maintaining those contrary habits being alike. As, therefore, it is a great blemish and reproach to human nature, that,

Faciles imitandis

Turpibus et pravis omnes fumus

u'e, as the Satyrift truly obferveth of us, have a great proclivity to follow naughty examples; fo there is from hence fome amends, that we have alfo fome inclination to imitate good and worthy precedents; the which is fomewhat more ftrong and vigorous, becaufe countenanced and encouraged by the approbation of reafon, our most noble faculty.

6. Examples alfo do please the mind and fancy in contemplation of them, thence drawing a confiderable influ ence upon practice. No kind of studious entertainment doth fo generally delight as history, or the tradition of remarkable examples: even those who have an abhorrency or indifpofition toward other ftudies, (who have no genius to apprehend the more intricate fubtleties of fcience, nor the patience to purfue rational confequences,) are yet often much taken with historical narrations; these striking them with a delectable variety of accidents, with circumftantial defcriptions, and fenfible reprefentations of objects, do greatly affect and delight their fancies; efpecially the relation of notable adventures and rare accidents is wont to be attended with great pleasure and fatisfaction. And fuch are thofe, which prefent to us the lives and examples of holy men, abounding with wonders of providence and grace: no attempts fo gallant, no exploits fo illuftrious, as thofe, which have been achieved by the faith and patience, by the prudence and courage of the ancient faints; they do far furpafs the most famous achievements of Pagan heroes. It was, I dare fay, more wonderful, that Abraham with his retinue of household fervants fhould vanquish four potent and victorious kings;

and that Gideon with three hundred unarmed men fhould SERM. discomfit a vaftly numerous hoft, than that Alexander with XXXIV. a well-appointed army of ftout and expert foldiers fhould overturn the Perfian empire. The fiege of Jericho is fo far more remarkable than those most famous ones of Numantia and Saguntus, as it is more strange that the blaft of trumpets and the noife of people fhouting fhould demolish walls, than the fhaking them with rams, or difcharging maffy ftones against them. And he, that carefully will compare the deeds of Sampfon and Hercules, shall find, that one true exploit performed by the former doth much in force and ftrangeness furmount the twelve fabulous labours of the other: no triumphs indeed are comparable to those of piety; no trophies are fo magnificent and durable, as thofe which victorious faith erect-. eth: that history therefore which reports the res geftæ, the acts and fufferings of moft pious men, muft in reafon: be esteemed not only the most useful, but also the most pleafant; yielding the sweetest entertainment to well-difpofed minds; wherein we fee virtue expreffed, not in bare idea only, but in actual life, ftrength, motion; in all its beauty and ornaments: than which no fpectacle can be more stately; no object more grateful can be presented to the difcerning eye of reason.

7. We may farthermore confider, that God hath provided and recommended to us one example, as a perfect ftandard of good practice; the example of our Lord: the which declareth the ufe and efficacy of good example, as one principal inftrument of piety. That indeed is the moft univerfal, abfolute, and affured pattern; yet doth it not fuperfede the ufe of other examples: not only the valour and conduct of the general, but those of inferior officers, yea, the refolution of common foldiers, do ferve to animate their fellows. The ftars have their season to guide us, as well as the fun; efpecially when our eyes are fo weak, as hardly to bear the day. Even, confidering our infirmity, inferior examples by their imperfection fometime have a peculiar advantage. Our Lord's most imitable practice did proceed from an immenfe virtue of

SERM. divine grace, which we cannot arrive to; it in itself is so XXXIV. perfect and high, that we may not ever reach it; looking

upon it may therefore fometimes dazzle and difcourage our weakness: but other good men had affiftances in measure, such as we may hope to approach unto; they were fubject to the difficulties, which we feel; they were exposed to the perils of falling, which we fear: we may therefore hope to march on in a reasonable distance after them; we may, by help of the fame grace, come near in transcribing their lefs exact copy.

To conclude: Since upon fo many accounts we are obliged to follow good examples; fince they are of so great use toward our proceeding in the way to happinefs; thence they conduce to the clear inftruction of our understanding, to the forcibly inclining our reafon, to the vehement excitement of our paffions, to the delightfully affecting our imagination in subserviency to good practice; let us make that due and profitable use of them, which we fhould and may do. Let us, with diligent attention perufing the facred hiftory, meditate upon the lives of holy men therein propounded as patterns of a persevering faith in God, and confcionable obedience to his commandments. Let the light of their exemplary practice in all kind of piety and virtue continually shine upon our fouls, to direct our minds, to inflame our affections, to quicken our resolutions, to detect the errors and correct the faults of our lives, that we, imitating their virtuous and pious conversation, may partake of those comfortable rewards, of that joy and blifs whereof they reft poffeffed. The which God Almighty, and our bleffed Saviour, the author and finisher of our faith, by his gracious aid and bleffing grant unto us; to whom be all glory and praife for ever and ever. Amen.

SERMON XXXV.

ABIDING IN CHRIST TO BE DEMONSTRATED
BY WALKING AS CHRIST DID.

I JOHN ii. 6.

He that faith he abideth in him, ought himself alfo fo to

walk as he walked.

Gal. ii. 20.

Gal. iv. 19.

To abide in Chrift, to be in Chrift, to put on Chrift; and SERM, reciprocally Chrift's being in us, living, dwelling, being XXXV. formed in us; and the like expreffions occurring in holy Rom. viii. Scripture, do not denote any phyfical inherence, or effen- 10. tial conjunction between Chrift and us, (fuch as thofe Eph. iii. 17. who affect unintelligible mysteries, rather than plain sense, would conceit,) but only that mutual relation accruing from our profeffion of being Chrift's difciples, our being inferted into his body the Church, being governed by his laws, partaking of his grace, with all the privileges of the Gospel, relying upon his promises, and hoping for eternal falvation from him. By virtue of which relation, we may be faid, in a mystical or moral manner, to be united to him, deriving strength and fuftenance from him, as the members from the head, the branches from the tree, the other parts of the building from the foundation; by which fimilitudes this myfterious union is usually expreffed in Scripture: in effect, briefly, to be in, or to abide in Christ, implieth no more, but our being truly in faith and practice Chriftians; so that the meaning of St. John's words feemeth plainly and fimply to be this: Whoever pretends to be a Chriftian, (that is, to believe the doctrine and embrace the discipline of Chrift,) ought to walk (that

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SERM. is, is obliged to order the whole courfe of his life and XXXV. actions) as Chrift walked, (that is, as Chrift did live and

2.

converfe in the world :) or, it is the duty of every one, profeffing Chriftianity, to conform his life to the pattern of Chrift's life, to follow his example, to imitate his practice. This is the importance of the words, this the subject of our prefent difcourfe.

I. For illuftration and confirmation of which point, we may observe, that the holy Apostles do upon all occafions affume this fuppofition, when they would perfuade their difciples to the practice of any virtue, or performance of any duty; enforcing their exhortations, by representing the practice of Christ as an unquestionable ground of obligation, and an effectual inducement thereto. Hence they 1 Pet. i. 15. incite them to holiness: But, faith St. Peter, as he that hath called you is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of conEph. v. 2. verfation: to charity; And walk in love, faith St. Paul, 1 Pet. ii. 21. as Chrift alfo loved us: to patience; Because, faith St. Peter, Chrift alfo fuffered for us, leaving us an example, Heb. xii. 1, that we should follow his steps. And, Let us, faith the Apoftle to the Hebrews, run with patience the race that is fet before us, looking unto Jefus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was fet before him endured Phil. ii. 5, the cross: to humility; Let, faith St. Paul, the same mind be in you, which was alfo in Chrift Jefus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made himself of no reputation: to charitable compliance, and inoffenfive demeanour toward others, intimated 1 Cor. 1.33. by St. Paul, when he says, Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be faved: Be ye followers of me, as I am of Chrift: and again, Let every one please his neighbour for Rom. xv. his good to edification; for even Chrift pleafed not himself. Thus do the Apofiles take all occafion, from the like practice of Chrift, to perfuade the performance of duty; and the ftrength of their argument lieth upon the evidence of this fuppofition, that all profeffing themselves Christians are especially obliged to imitate Chrift's example. And their authority may be backed and enforced by feveral reafons.

6, 7.

zi. 1.

2, 3.

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