MEMOIRS Or DOCTOR EKa,17Lp71°S. ITwas a custom among the ancient Romans, to preserve in wax, the figures of those among their ancestors, whowere of noble birth ; or had been more nobly advanced to the chair of honour by their personal merits. Sallust relates "that Scipio and othergreat men, by beholding these likenesses, found enkindled in their 'breasts, so ardent a thirst after virtue, as could not be extin- guished, till, by the glory of their own actions, they had equalled the illus- trious objects of their emulation. But it is the happiness of Christians to possess truer notionsof virtue, and to be governed by infinitely higher views. We may, however, hence observe the force of example, which is peculiarly operative in those who sincerely love God. They no sooner reflect on the accounts given of such as have been eminent for their piety and zeal, than they become desirousof imbibingthe same spirit*. The advantages to be derived from theological biography, are too various to be enumerated ; andof suchobvious importance, as to supersedeall studied encomiums. The sacredscriptures abound with relations of extraordinary occurrences inthe lives of men, who were distinguished in their day by their virtues or their crimes: And, as if the Holy spirit designedto providefor our entertainment, and to gratify our curiosity ; there is not a beauty in this spe- cies of historicalwriting, of which we have not some interesting example, in the inspired volume. Each character is drawn by thehand of i npartiality and faithfulness ; so that we are in nodanger ofbeingdeceived by the influence ofany of those - passions, which so often degrade other relations of the same kind. While compassion tempers the hatred of sin, the love of truth corrects the ardor of private gratitude, the usual partiality of friendship,and the zeal of opinion. Here no excellence, which evidences them to be the Sons of God, is exalted above its intrinsicvalue; nor is any failing, common to them as the children of Adam, concealed or extenuated. Next to these divine records, our esteem is claimed by the manyvaluable literary monuments which have been raised in all succeeding-ages, by the labours of pietyand veneration, to the remembrance of those eminent names, whom the unerring Judge of trueexcellence has delighted to honour. The lives of men who have madethemselves famous in the cabinet, or in the field, may instructand animate survivorsof the same profession : the in- trigues of courts,the elevation and the fall of a statesman, the manoeuvres of generalship, the decision of a battle, are attended to with a lively avidityby m Reynolds. a
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