Setat IIi. . . , . ,. Càndition ofS4lvation.. q-97 And then, we are to confider that theSon of God did not affume our Nature in its highen Glory andPerfe&ion, but compaft with Infirmities, and liable in all points to betempted like as we are; but frill it was without Sin; and therefore God cloth not exa& from us perfe& Obedience , and that we fhould fulfil all Righteoufnefs, as he did ; he makesallowance for the corruption of our Nature, and is pleated to ac- cept of our Gncere, tho' very imperfe& Obedience. -But after all this, his humane Nature was united to the Divinity, and he had the Spirit without meafure; and this would indeed make a wide difference between us and our Pattern, as to the purpofe of Holinefs and Obedience, if we were deltitute of that affaftance which is neceffary toenable us,to the difchargeof our Duty; But this God offers, and is ready to af- ford to us, for he bath pronged tò give his holy Spirit to them that ask him s and the Spirit of him that railed up Chrif$ fefro flow the Dead dwells in all good men, who fincerely.defireto do theWill of God in the working out our Salvation, God irorketh in us both to will and to do. . So that as to that Obedience which the Gofpel requires of us, if we be not wanting to our felves 5 if we do not receive the Grace of God in vain, and quench and refifi his blefedSpirit, we maybe as really affted as the Son ofGod himfelf was; for, in this refpeft, all true and Gncere Chriftians are the Sons of God; fo that St. Paul tells us, Rom. 8. z¢. As many as are led by the Spirit ofGod, they are. the Sons of GOd. So that if all things be duly confider'd, the Lifeof our bleffed Saviour, as it is the moft perfect, fo in the main, it is a very proper Pattern for our imitation, and could not have come nearer to us, without wanting that perfe&icon which is neceffary to a compleat and abfolute Pattern. The Son of God condefcended to every thing that might render him the moft familiar and equal Example to us, excepting that, which as it was impoffible, fo had been infinitely dithonourable to him, and would have' fpoil'd the perfe&ion of his Example; he came as near to us as was fit or poffìble, being in all things like unto uc, Sin onlyexcepted; that is, abating that one thing, which he came to deftroy and abolifh, and which would have deftroyed the very end of his coming; for if he hadnot beenwithout Sin, he could neither have made an expia- tion for Sin, nor have been a perfe& Patternof Holinefs and Obedience. And as the Life of our bleffed Saviour had all the perfe&ion that is requifite to an abfalnte Pattern (fo that byconfidering his Temper and Spirit, and the aétionsof his Life, we may reforth all the vicious inclinations of our Minds, and the exorbitances of our Paffions, and the errors and irregularities of ourLives ) fo it is a very power- ful Example, and of great force tooblige and provoke us to the imitation of it ; for it is the Example of One, whom we ought to reverence, and have reafón to love; above any Perfon in the World : The Example of our Prince and Soveraign Lord, ofour belt Friend and greaten Benefa&or, of the High Prieft of ohr Profeflìon, and the Captain of our Salvation, of the. Author and Finifher of our Faith, of one who came down from Heaven for our fakes, and was contented to affume our Na- ture together with the infirmities of it, and to live in low and mean condition, fot no other reafon but that he might have the opportunity to inftru& and lead Man- kind in the way to Life, to deliver us from Sin and Wrath, and to bringus to God and Happinefs. 'Tis the Example of one who laid down his Life for us, and fealed his Loveto us in his Blood, and whilft we were Enemies, did and fuffer'd more for us, than ever any Man did for his Friend. And furely thole Confederations cannot but mightily recommend and endear to us this Example of Our Lord and Saviour. We are ambitious to imitate thofewhomwe highly efteem and reverence, and are apt to have their Examples in great veneration, front -whomwe have received great Kindnefl'es and Benefits, and are always endea- vouring to be like thofe whomwe love, and are apt to conform our felves to the Will and Pleafure ofthofe from whom we have received great Favours, and who are continually heapinggreat Obligations uponus. So that whether we confider the Excellency, of our Pattern, or thè mightyEndear- ments of it tous, by that infinite Love and Kindnefs which he bath expreft towards us, we have all the temptation, and all the provocation in the World, to endeavour to be like him; for who would not gladly tread in the peps of theSon of God, and of the belt Friend that the Sons of Men ever had ? Who will not follow that Example to which we Rand indebted for the greaten Blefìings and Benefits that ever were S f f procured
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