EERM.. XXV111.1 A LOVELY 'CARRIAGE, See. 469 the form ofa. dove, a lovely .and gentle animal. Thus the blessed Trinity conspire'to teach us this amiable and di-- vinecarriage. IL The Son of God incarnatehas brought a;- lovely pattern of this practice nearer to us in his.w.hole deport meat on earth. I cannot part. with the most graceful example of our Lord Jesus Christ: with. a. slight notice He came into this world. partly. with a design to become our pattern in every virtue, and.inevery grace. Let us turn our eyes towards hini in all the. circumstances ana behaviours of life, . and he will ever appear, as he is in himself; the chiefest of. ten thousands, and altogether lovely. Let us take a survey ofhim under those several particulars, in which an amiable carriage has been described. Is prudence a lovely virtue? How perfectlywise was the conduct of our Lord ! How carefullydid he attend to the circumstances Of time and place, while he dwelt among mankind ! How happilydid he suit his conversa- tien to his company ! How wisely did he derive his di- vine discourses from the daily occurrences of life ! How admirably did he'distribute his benefits according to the various necessities of men ! so that the unprejudiced world pronounced concerning him, He.has done all things well." Shall we be rash and foolish, fickle and imprudent, and live at random in our words and our works, when we have so divine a pattern of prudence -be= fore us in the history of the gospel ? Is moderation another lovely character; and- a peace= maker an amiable title ? Such was our blessed Lord, and such should his followers be. How glorious a sight is it to behold the, Son of God coming down from heaven to be a mediator betwixt his offended Father and his offend- ing creatures ! to reconcile heaven and earth together, and rather than fail in this attempt, he gladly exposed himself to shame and death, and made a cement of 'ever= lasting friendship betwixt. God and man with his own blood. Shall we,. who are reconciled by such amazing transactions, quarrel with each other for trifles, and form ourselves into parties for rage, and strife, and hatred, and yet profess the name of the great reconciler ! Are we not commanded to follow peace with all men, as far as possible, with the security of our holiness and peace with gx3 9
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