2. z8 tiTOI.II. S 1--1, RMON CXXXVIo The Life ofJefus Chrift confider'd, as our Example. The fco.d . Sermon th.r xn I PET. II. z i . Leaving acs an Example, that ye fhouldfollow his Steps. IHave confidered our Saviour's Example as an Univerfal Pattern, calculated for all Perfons, Times and Places; and this I illuftrated in thefe Particulars : L. That it was a Pattern to us of thegreateft and molt fubfiantial Virtues. 2. Of fuck as ape molt Rare and Unufual. 3. Of fuch as are molt Ufeful andBeneficial to others : I proceed to the Parti- culars which remain to be fpoken to. 4. Our Saviour is likewife a Pattern to us of fuchVirtues as are molt hard and difficult to be pra&ifed, fuch as are molt againft the Grain of our corrupt Nature, and moil contrary to Flefh and Blood. Every Virtue is then hard and difficult, when it either contradi&s the ftrong "Inclinationsof Nature, or meets with powerful Temptations to thecontrary. The Virtues which thwart the Inclinations of Humane Nature, are compre- hended under the general Name of Self-denial ; the Denial of our felves in thofe Things which are commonly deareft to Men; fuch are our own Life, our Plea, fore or Eafe, our Reputation ; in all thefe, our bleffed Lord bath given us the greateft Example of Self denial that ever was; he denied his own Life, and gave up himfelfwholly to the Will of God, to do and fuller whatever he thought fit to impofe upon him. So he himfelf tells us, yohn 5. 30. I feeknot mine Own Will, but the Will of the Father which fent me : And fohn 6. so. I came down fromHeaven not to do mineown Will, but the Will of him that fent'me. And when he was in that great Agony, upon theApprehenfion of his approaching Sufferings, at which Nature did Mart, and when that bitter Cup, that Cup of Aftonifhment, was put into his Hand, tho' he would have been glad to have declined it, if God had thought fit; yet upon the whole Matter, he fubmitted to it, and renounced his own Will, the firongelt Inclination of Nature that could be, in Obedience to the VVill of God, Matth. 26.29. He fell onhis Face andprayed, flying, 0my Father, if it bepoÚ'ole, let this Cuppars fromme; neverthelefs not as Iwill, but as those wilt: And her. 42. He went away again the fondTime, and prayed, faying, 0 my Father, ifthis Cup may not pars from me, except Idrink it, thy Will be done. Here was a great Confli&; Na- ture declined thole dreadful Sufferings which were coming upon him, and would have íhrunk back : But he confidered his Duty, and made his Inclination to yield to it. And he did not only deny his own Will in Obedience to the Will of God, for which there is fo great and invincibleReafon ; but he denied it likewife in Compliance and Condefcention to the Prejudices, and Humours, and Infirmities of Men, for their Edification and Good. So Sr. Paul tells us, and propounds our Lord herein to us for a Pattern, Rom. r5. 2, 3. He denied hitufelf in the lawful Pleafures and Satisfa&ions, in the Eafe and Accommodations of Life : He lived meanly, and fared hardly ; he poffefs'd and enjoyed none of the good Things of this World, and endured all the Evils of . it; he defpifed Riches, and the Pomp and Pride of Life, and contented hitufelf with a poor and deftitute Condition, Having not where to lay his Head, nor where- withal to fupport Nature, and to defray the common Tribute without aMiracle. And he did not fubmit to this poor and mean Condition upon Necetiity, for he was Lordof all he made the World, and it was all his own, upon the higheft Right
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=