575 S ]E R M O N IJXXVII. Concerning our imitation of the Divine Perfe&ions, M A T T H. V. 48. Be ye therefore perfec,a even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect: N thefe words the have, Firft, The abfolute Perfeltion of the Divine Nature fuppofed, not only in thofe before mentioned, ofGoodnefs, and Mercy, and Patience; but in all other Excellencies whatfoever. Secondly, The Perfection of God is propounded as a Pattern for our Imi= tation. In the handling of thefe two Particulars, I propounded to proceed in this Method. I. To thew how we are to conceive of the Divine Perfection. II. To lay down fome Rules, by which we may reó ifie and govern our Opi, nions concerning the Artributes and Perfections of God. III. To Phew how far we are to imitate the Perfectionsof God, and particular- ly what thofe Divine Qualities are which our Saviour doth here more efpecially propound to our imitation. IV. To clear the true meaning of this Precept, and to thew that the Duty here intended by our Saviour is not impoffibie to us ; and then to draw fome ufe- ful Inferences from the whole. The two firft I have already fpoken to, I now proceed to the thirdparticular; which istofhew how far we are to imitate the Perfections of God, and particu- larly what thofe Divine Qualities are, which ourSaviour Both here more efpecially propound to our imitation. For though thefe words do fuppofe the abfolute Per- fettionsof God which are incommunicable, and a Creature, as fuch, isutterly in- capable of them, thefe cannot be fuppos'd to be intended for a Pattern to us. As the neceffity and independencyof the Divine Nature ; and the Self-fufficiency of it to his own happinefs ; to be the Original Caufe of all things ; and confer quently fupream Lord and Governor: the Immenfity and Eternity of his Being; thefe, and perhaps feveral other Perfections, are incommunicable toa Creature; and it would be an unfufferable pride, and a kind of High Treafon againfi the Divine Majefty, and a fottith Ignorance of the neceffary bounds and limits of our own State, as we are Creatures, to think to refèmble God in thefe Excellencies, of which the conditión of a Creature is utterly incapable: This was the Sin ofLucifer, an ambition to fiep into the Throne of God, and to Le like the moll high. So that in our imitation ofthe Divine Perfellion,we are to keepwithin t1-1 fläti= on of Creatures, not ait eéiing an Independency and Soveraignty like the moll high, and to be Omnipotent as he is, to have an arm like God, and to thunder with a voice like him, as the expredion is in job: But to endeavour to referable him promodulo creatures, according to the rate and capacity of a Creature, in thole Divine Qualities, and in fuck meafures and degrees, asour finite and dependant Na.: ture is capable of. More efpecially and chiefly in the moral Perfections of the Divine Nature, fuch as are his Goodnefs, and Mercy, and Patience, his Juffice, and Truth, and l-aithfulnefs; thefe, and only there, the Scripture teems tocomprehend underthe mane 9l ) t.: ;1
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