Looking uvto !fefm. Book IV· ataxye, and confuGon would there be in the world .r and yet Jefus never put himfelfe into any of thefe fiates; my Kingdome (fayes he) is not of this world. Now as in thefe things we mufi Joh. 18, 36.. only refpect the allowance of Chrifi, fo in or her th ngs we mu'ft reflect upon the exampk of Chrifi; as, 1. In Gnful acts efchewed by Chrift. 2 •. In moral duties that were done by Chrill. I. In Gnful acts efchewed by Chrift, SIS when lam tempted to fin, then am 1 to reafon thus with tny fc:lfe, would my blelfed Saviour if he were upon earth do thus and thus? when I a.m tempted to loofeneffe and immoderate living, taen am I to aske confcience fuch a queftion as this, would Chnft have done thus? - would he 'have fpent fuch a life upon earth a.s I do ? when I am moved by my own corruption, or by Sa-than to drunkennetfe, gluttony, finful and defperate fociety, to fwearing, curling, revenge, or the like; then am I to aske, is this the life that Chrift · led ? or if he were to live againe,would he live afterthis manner? when I fall into paffion, peevifhnelfe, rafh words, or if it be but idle words, then am I to confider, 0 but would Chrift fpeak thus ? would this be his language ? would fuch a rotten or unprofitable fpeech as this drop from his honey lips? 2 . In cafe ofmoral obedience, concerning which we have both his patterne, and precept, I look upon Chrift as my rule, and I quefiion thus, did Chrift frequently pray both with his difciples, and alone by himfelfe? and fhallJ never in my family, orin my dofet think upon God ! did Chrift open his wounds for me? .and !hall not I open my mouth to him? did Chrift ferve God without a.!! felfe-ends, meerly in obedience, and to glorifie him ? and fhall I make God> worihip fubordinate to my aymes and turnes ?. did Chrift !hew mercy to his ·very enemies ? and friall I be cruel to Chrifts very members? 0 my fou{, look in all thy finnes, .and in all thy duties to thy original, and meafure them by the . holinelfe· of Chrift : whether in avoyding fin, or in doing duty, think, what would my blef{ed Saviour do in thu cafe? or what did he in the fifes cafe when he wru upon earth? If we b:td thefc thoughts every day, if Chrift were continually before our eyes, if in all we do o.r fpeak . we fhould frill mufe on this, '}'Phat would 'fefm ChriH fay~~ he were hMre? I beleeve it would be a bletfed meanes, of living in comX x x 3 fort, ,
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