4 The Life ofPlus Chrijl Vol.II. to the loweft and meaneft Office to ferve one another ; for I have given you an Example, that ye fhould do as I have done to you. Yet farther, 'tis the Example of our belt Friend, and greatett Benefa&or, of him who laid down his Life for us, and fealed his Love to us with his own Blood, and while we were bitter Enemies to him, did and fuffer'd more for us, than anyMah ever did for his deareft Friend. How powerfully mutt filch a Pat- tern recommend Goodnefs, and Kindnefs, and Compaffion to us, who have had fo much Comfort and Advantage from them ? Had not the Son of God commiferated our Cafe, and pitied and relieved us in our low and wretched Condition, we had been extremely and for ever miferable, beyond all Imagi- nation, and part all Remedy. All the Kindnefs and Compaffion, all the Mercy and Forgivenefs he would have us pra&ife towards one another, he himfelf fitti exercifed upon us and furely we have a much greater Obligation upon us to thePra&ice of there Virtues, than he had. For he did all this for our fakes ; we do it for our own. Wehave a natural Obligation, both in Point of Duty and Intereft : His was voluntary, and what he took upon himfelf, that he might at once be a Saviour and an Example to us. He that commands us to do good to others, was our great Benefaftor ; he that requires us to forgive our Enemies, fhed his own Blood for the Forgivenefs of our Sins ; while we were Enemies to him, laid down his Life for us, making himfelf the Example of that Goodnefs, which he commands us to thew to others. Are anyof us reduced to Poverty and Want ? Let us think of him, who being Lord of all, had not where to lay his Head; who being rich, for oar fakes be- came a Beggar, that we through his Poverty might be made rich. Are we perfecuted for Righteoufnefs fake, and exercifed with Sufferings and Reproaches ? Let us run with Patience the Race which is fit before as, looking unto Jefus, the Author and Finìfher of our Faith; whofor the joy that was fit before bins, endured the Croft, de- Ring the Shame. When we are ready td bedifcouraged in well- doing, by the Oppofition we meet withal from the Ingratitude of Men, and the malicious Interpretation of our good A&ions, perverting the beat Things, done with the belt Mind and to the belt Ends, to fome ill Purpofe and Defign, Confider him who enduredfuck Contradilhion of Sinners again himfelf left you be weary and faint in your Ylinde. Can we be proud ; when the Son of God humbled himfelf and became of no Repu- tation; emptied himfelf of all his Glory, and was contented to be defpifed and re- jelledof Men? Shall we be covetous and thirft after the Things of this World ; when weconfider how the Son of God defpifed them, and trampled upon them? Shall we contemn and defpife the Poor; nay, can we chufebut efteem them for his fake, whom they refemble, and whofe low and indigent Condition in the World hath made Poverty, not only tolerable, but glorious? Can we be pee- vith and froward, and apt to fly out into Paflion upon every little Occafion; when we confider the Meeknefs of the Son of God, and with what Serenity and Evennefs of Mind he demeaned himfelf, under great and continual Provoca- tions ? Shall we be difcontented in anyCondition; when we confider how con- tented the Son of God was in the meaneft and molt deftituteCondition; how he welcomed all Events, and was fo perfe&ly refigned to the Will of his Heavenly Father, that whatfoever pleafed God pleafed him? Shall we be fo ready to feparate from the Communion of the Church of God, upon Pretence of fomething that we think amifs, or lefs pure and perfe&; (which will al- ways be in this World) when the Son of God lived and dyed in the Commu- nion of a Church guilty of great Corruptions, both in Do&rine and Pra&ice, fuch as can with no Colour be obje&ed to ours ? Shall we relent Injuries, Slanders and Calumnies fo heinoufly, as to be out of all Patience when we confider with what Meeknefs of Temper, and how little Diflurhance of Mind the Son of God bore all. theft ? How he gave his Back to the Smiters, and his Cheeks to than that pluckd of the Hair, and withheld not her `Face from Shame and Spitting? How he was led at a Lamb to the Slaughter, and as the Sheep before the Shearer is dumb, fo be opened not his Month; being reviled, he reviled
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