t 74 The Duty ofimiting the Primitive `I eacher.r, Vo!. Let.us then endeavour to be like them, in the Holy and Virtuous Actions of their Lives, in their confiant Patience and Suffering for the Truth ; ifGad [hall call us thereto. And we may be like them, if we do but fincerely endeavour it, and pray to God for his Grace and AGiftance to that end. For thefe Examples were not left for our Admiration only ; but for our Imitation. We frequently read the Lives of the Apoftles and firft Founders of our Religion : But I know not how it comes to pafs, we choofe rather lazily to admire them, than vigoroufly to follow them ; as if the Piety of the firft Chriftians were Miraculous, and not at all intended for the Imitation of fucceeding Ages ; as if Heaven andEarth, God and Men, and all things were alter'd, frnce that time ; as if Chriftianity were then in its Youthful Age and Vigour, but is line decayed, and grown old, and path quite loft its Power and Virtue. And indeed the generalityof Chriftians live a fuch a faint andcarelefs rate, as to make the World believe, that eitherall the Sto- ries of the Primitive Chriftians are Fables ; or elfe; that the Force ofChriftianity is ftrangely abated, and that the HolySpirit of God bath forfaken the Earth, and is retired to the Father. But Truth never grows old, and thofe Laws ofGood- nefs and righteoufnefs, which are contained in the Gofpel, are ftill as reafonable, and apt to gain upon the Minds of Men, as ever. God is the fame he was, and our Bleffed Saviour is ftill at the Right Hand of God, Interceding powerfully for Sinners, for mercy and grace to help in time of need. . The Promifes andThreat- nings, of the Gofpel are (till as true and powerful as ever ; and the holy Spirit of God is ftill in the World, and effe&ually works in them that believe. Let us not then deceive our felves in this matter. The Primitive Chriftians Were Men like our felves, fubjefl to thefame Pailions that we are, and compaf- fed about with the fame Infirmities; fo that altho' that extraordinary Spirit and Power of Miracles, which God endowed them withal, for the firft planting and propagating of. the Gofpel in the World, be now ceafed; yet the fanftifying Pow- er and Virtueof God's Holy Spirit, does ftill accompany the Gofpel, and is ready to aflift us in every goodwork. In a word : We have all that is neceffary to work the fame Graces and Vir- tues in us, which were in them ; and if we be not flothful, and wanting to our (elves, we may follow their Faith, andat laft attain the end of it, even the Sal- vation of our Souls. Let us then, from an idle admiring of thofe excellent Patterns, proceed to a vigorous imitation of them, and be fo far from being difcouraged by the Excel- lency of them; as to make even that Matter and Ground of encouragement to our felves; according to that of Tertullian, Admonetur owns &tas fieri pole, quod aliquandofaflum efl ; all Ages to the end of the World may be convinced, that what bath been done, is po/fible to be done. There have been fuch Holy and Excellent Perfons in the World ;- and therefore it is poffible for Men to be fuch. Let us, not then bejioth ul, but followers of them, who through Faith andPa- tience inherit the Promifes. Since we are compafl about with fuch a Cloud of Witneffes ; let us lay glide every weight, and the fin which fo eafzly befets us, and let us run with Patience the Race which is fet before us, looking unto Jefus the Author and Finijher of our Faith, who for the :oy that wasfet before bim, endured the Croft, and defpifed the Shame, and as now fet down at the right bandof God. S E R M O N
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