Of Patience. 19 ÿ ings; to* fcs the author andfinifheroftheir SERM. fàith, who endured the crofs, defp fng the fhame; VII. Jet them confider him who endureth the contra- di tlionoffinnersagainfihimfelf; left they be weary and faint in their minds. The blefl'ed author of our religion has given us an example of fuffer- ing patiently, that we fhould fòllow his fleps. If we profefs to be his difciples, and fay we abide in him, we ought to walk as he walked, and endure the crofs in imitation of him. It is not poflible for us to equal him in the ge- nerous principles and motives of his fufferings; his zeal for the glory of God, for the caufe of true holinefs and virtue, and his charity to men are altogether unparallel'd ; but the greater compafhon he fhewed in fuffering for us, and while we were yet enemies reconciling us to God by the blood of his crofs, with the greater chearfulnefs fhould we, in obedience to his will, and for his fervice, take up our croft and follow him. The clifple is not above his mailer, nor the fervant above his lord. If he, then, our Lord and Mailer, who was holy, harmlefs and undefiled, and fiparate from inners, did, in pity to us, and for our redemption, volun- tarily fubmit to reproaches and indignities, to the moll grievous paffion and exquifite tortures, why fhould we make ourfelves ob- * Heb. xii. 2, 3. z noxious
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