the true Character of his Difciples. 219 to pleafe him in all things. If an illufirious S E R M. charaeter be known to us only by defcription ; IX. and yet more efpecially, if it falls within `"V `J our own obfervation and acquaintance, the admiration of it naturally inclines us, as far as we can, to form ourfelves upon the fame model. And if he is loved as a good man, with whom we have to do in any relation, we will undoubtedly endeavour to recom- mend ourfelves to his approbation, in our whole behaviour. This is the love which our Lord Jefus Chrifi requires of all his dif- ciples, that they may be worthy of him, and this affetion in a higher degree than is allowed to father, mother, brother, filler, any other perfon, or any other thing in this world. Now, from all that has been faid, the truth of our Saviour's declaration in the text fufficiently appears ; that without fuch love to him, as has been defcribed, greater love than we have to father, mother, or any thing in life, yea, than to life itfelf, we can- not be worthy of him, or be his frncere difciples. Indeed the declaration itfelf is enough to fatisfy us in this point. For fence Jefus Chriíl: is the author of chriftianity, it is he only who mutt fix the terms of it. Every
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