Serm. CXXXVIT. confider'd, as our Example. i . i So that the greater Part of their Religion, both Publick and Private, is rnadé up of that, which was noPart at all of the Religion of the Apoftles and Primitive Chri(Hans; nay, which plainly contradi&s it : For that exprefly teacheth us, that there is but one Obje& of our Prayers, and one Mediator by whom we are to make our Addrefles to God. There is one God; and one Mediator between God andMan, the Man Chrifl Jefur, fays St. Paul, when he gives a (landing Rule concerning Prayer in the Chrittian Church. And yet nottvithftanding all the Care that our Blefí'ed Saviour and his ApofUes could take, to prevent grofs Ido- latry of the Bleffed Mother of our Lord, how blindly and wilfully have the Church of Rome run into it : And in defpight of the cleareft Evidence and Ccavi&ion, do obftinately and impudently perfift in it, and juftify themfeláes in fo abominable a Pra&ice. I come now to the V. And la/l Advantage of our Lord's Example, that it is in the Nature of it very powerful, to engage and oblige all Men to the Imitation of it. It is almoft equally calculated for Perfons of all Capacities and Conditions, for the Wife and the Weak, for thofe of high and low Degree; for all Men are alike concerned to be happy. And the Imitation of this Example is the moft ready and dire& VVay to it, the molt effe&ual Means we can ufe to compafs this Great and Univerfal End nay, it is not only the Means, but the End, the belt and molt efl'ential Part of it. To be like our Lord, is to be as good as it is po!fible for Men to be; and Goodnefs is the higheft Perfe&ion that any Be- ing is capable of; and the Perfection of every Being is its Happinefs. There is a kind of Contagion in all Examples; Men are very apt to dowhat they fee others do, though it be very bad : Every Day's Experience furnilheth us with many and fad Inftances of the Influence of bad Examples ; but there are peculiar Charms in that which is good and excellent. A pet-fed Pattern of Goodnefs does (frongly allure and invite to the Imitation of it, and a great Ex- ample of Virtue to a well -difpofed Mind is a mighty Temptation. and'apt to infpiritus with good Refolutions, to endeavour after that in our felves, which we fo much efteem and admire in others. And fuch is the Example of our Lord, perte& as is poflible, and yet obvious to common Imitation, andas much fitted for the general Dire&ion of Mankind, in all forts of Virtue and Good- nefs, as any one tingle Example eab-be imagined to be. The Virtues of his Life are pure, without any Mixture of Infirmity and Im- perfe&ion. He had Humility without Meannefs of Spirit ; Innocency without VVeaknefs ; Wifdom without Cunning; and Con(tancy and Refolution in that which was good, without Sriffnefs of Conceit, and Premptorinefs of Humour In a Word, his Virtues were (hining without Vanity, Heroical without any Thing of Tranfport, and very extraordinary without being in the leaft extra- vagant. His Life was even and of one Tenour, quiet and without Noife and Tumult, always employed about the fame Work, in doing the Things which pleafed God, and were of greateft Benefit and Advantage to Men. Who would not write after fuch a Copy; fo perte&, and yet fo familiar, and fit for our Imita- tion ? Who wouldnot be ambitious to live the Life which God lived, when he was pleafed to become Man and dwell among us? We are ambitious to imitate thofe whom we efteem, and are apt to have their Example in great Dearnefs and Regard, from whom we have received great Kindnefs and mighty Benefits. This Pattern which our Religion propofeth to us, is the Example of one whom we ought to reverence, and whom we have Reafon to love above any I?erfon in the World ; 'tis the Example of our Lord and Matter, of our Sovereign and our Saviour, of the Founder of our Religion, and of the Author andFinifher ofour Faith ; it is an Example thatcarries Authority with it, and commands our Imitation. Thu call me Lord and Mailer, Pays he hi mfelf, recommending to us the Exampleof hisown Humility, John 53.53,14. Ton call me Lord and Mager, andye fay well ; for fò I am. If I then your Lord and ltlailer have wafli'dyour Feet, ye ought alfo to web one anther's Feet, that is, (coop It to
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