342 Vitt parmonp of Me tDíbíneIfttributto Çhap, 18. Lives.. He therefore chofe fuck a tenonroflife as eve. ry onemight imitate. His SupremeVertue expreft it pelf in fuch a temperate courfe of aftions, that as Ai. Juag' s s' melech Paid to his followers, Lookon me and do likerrífè : So our true Abimclech, our Father and Sovereign,calls upon us to imitatehim. The firft effect of Predeflina- tion is to conform us to the Image ofthe Son, who was for this endmade thefirfl-born among many Brethren. He affumed the Humane Nature that wemight partake of the Divine, not only by His Merit but Example. This will appear more fully by confidering, There are fomeVertues neceffary to our condition as Crea- tures, or with refped to our Rare ofTrial here below, which the Deity is not capableof ; and thofe mofI emi- nently, appear in the LifeofChrif. I will inlance in three which are the Elements of Chri(tian Perfeóion. His Humility in defpifing all the Honour of the World, His Obedience inSacrificinghis Will intirely toGod's, and His Charity in procuring the SalvationofMen by lais Sufferings : and in all thefe Hedenied to his Hu- mane Nature the priviledg due to it by its union with the Eternal Word. z. Humility in ftriCtnefs hath no place inGod : He requires the Tribute of Glory from all his Creatures. And the Son ofGod had a right to Divine Honour upon his firfi Appearance here below. Yet He was born in a Stable,andmade fubjed toour common imperfee`lions. AlthoughHewas ordained to convert theWorld by his Do&rine and Miracles, yet for the tenth part ofhis time he lived concealed and filent, being fubjeI to. his Mother and reputed Father, in the fervile work ofa Marks' 3' Carpenéer. And after his folemn inveftiture into his Office by a Voice from Heaven, yet he was defpifed and contemned. He refufed tobe a King, and floopt fo low John 13. a to rvafhhir Difciptesfeet. All this he did to inftru& Gis
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=