Serm. CXXXVII. conJder'd, as our Jxample. z us an extravagant Example of Bravery, and a fturdy Refolution ; but, which was much fitter for us, of a patient Submiflion to the Will of God, under a great Senfe of Suffering. Before I come to the fifth andt'laft Advantage of our Lord's Example, it will be requifite to clear what bath been Paid from three orfair obvious Objeftions, But this I (hall referve for another Difcourfe. SERMON CXXXVII. PREACH'DMarch 25. 1686. The Life ofJefus Chrift confider'd, as our Example. 7 I P E T. II. 2, I: The third Leaving ros an Example, that ye Jhouldfollow his Steps: Sermon teat. t. ibrr HE Example of Chrift is an Argument never nnfeafonable ; and though it be fomewhat foreign to the Occafion of this Day, yet it will afford us fomething not improper to be confidered by us, concerning the Bleffed Mother ofour Lord. I have handled this Argument of our Lord's Example very large- ly, and among other Things, have {hewn the manifold Advantages of it, in there following Refpetìs L That the Example of our Lord is a molt abfolute and perfeá Pattern, be- ing the Life of God, in the Nature and Likenefs of Man. H. A molt Familiar and Eafte Example, in which we fee the leveral Virtues of a good Life pra&ifed, in inch Inftances, and upon inch Occafions, as do fre- quently happen in Humane Life. III. It is an encouraging Example; nothing being more apt to give Life to good Refolutions and Endeavours, than to fee all that which God requires of us, performed by one in our own Nature, and a Man as like our felves, as it is pofiible for a perfefk Pattern to be. IV. It is likewife an univerfal Example, calculated as equally as is poffible for all Conditions and Capacities of Men, and fitted for general Direction and Imitation of all Sorts of Virtue and Goodnefs ; filch Virtues as are the greateft and molt fubftantial, the molt rare and unufual, the molt ufeful and beneficial to others, the molt hard and difficult to be pra&ifed, and for the Exercife whereof, there is the greateft and molt frequent Occafion in Humane Life, There remains now only to be fpoken to, the V. And lag Advantage, which I mentioned of our Lord's Example, That it is in the Nature of it, very powerful to engage and oblige all Men to the Imi- tation of it. But before I enter upon this, I propofed toclear what bathbeen already faid concerning our Lord's Example, from three orfour obvious Ob- je&ions. Thefzrfl Obje&ion is, That a great part of our Saviour's Life conlifted of mi- raculous A&ions, wherein we cannot imitatehim. This is very true; and for that very Reafon, becaufe we cannot imitate him herein, we are not obliged to do it : But we may imitate the Compaffion and Charity which he {hewed in his Miracles, by fuch Ways, and in filch Effe&s, as are within the Compafs of our Power. We are not Anointed as he was, with the Holy Ghofi and with Power, to heal all manner of Sicknefr and Difeafe : But we may
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