~----·------------ ---------- LeDkJng unto rfefr~s. 514 Book IV. Chap. 5.Seet,9 In refpect of all t.hefe particulars, .and efpecially in refpect of C~r~fh mo:al obed1ence, the whole ltfe of Chrift was a difcipline, a hvmg, ilimmg, and exemplary precept unto men, and hence it is that .we fin de fuch names given to him in Scripture, as fignifies not only preheminence, bot exemplarineffe; thus he was called a Prince, Dan. 9· 25. a L eader, I fa. 55. 4 · aGovcrnour, Mat. 2.6. a Capr,1 ine, 2. I o. a chie: Shepheard, 1 Pet. 5. 4· a forerunner or conduEl into glory, Heb. 2 . 20. a light to the {ewes, Exod. 13.2 r. a.Jight'\C theGentilu, Luke 2 3.. a ~ight to e,very ntan that entret~ into the W<Jr ld, Job. I. 9· all whtch tttles, as they declared his dignity, fo his exemplarinefs, that he was the author and patterne of holme!fe to his people. And as for all other Saints, though they are im i ~able, yet with limitatien unto him, only fo far as they expretfe his life in their convedation, be ye f ollowers of me, even as I am of Chrift· For the fecond, whywe muft conforme? upon what motives? I anfwer . 1 . Becaafe Chrift hath done and (uffered very much to that ;nd and purpofe. Sometimes I have wondered why Chrift would do fo much, and fuffer fo much a§ the Evangelifrs in their hif.lories relate? ·This I beleeve, that Jefus was perfc:"d: God, and perfect man; and that every aCl:ion ofhis life, and but one hour of his paillon and death, m:ght have been fatisfad:ory and enough for th~ expiation and reconcilemenrof ten thoufand worlds; but now I am.anfwered, that all thofe inftances of holineffe, and all thofe kmds of vertu.es, and all thofe degrees of paffion, and all that effufion of hts blood, was partly on this account, that he might become an example to us, that he might · fhinc~ to all the ages and generations of the world, and fo be a guiding ftar and a pillar offire to them in their journy towards ~eaven; o'my foul, how doth this call on thee to conforme to Chrift? what? that a fmaller expence fhould beeno!Jgh to thy j.uftification, and yet that the whole magazine 1hould not procure thy 'fanR:ification? that a:t a Iefler fumme of obedience God might have pardoned thy finne, and yet at a greater fumme thou wilt not fo much as imitate his holineffe? in a darke night ifan ignu f atum go before thee, thou art fo amuzed with that little flame, that thou ar't apt to follow it, and lofc thy felfe,and wilt thou not follow the glorres of the Sun ofrighteoufneffe, whn by fo many inftances calls upon thee, and who will guide thee - into
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