494 CHRISTIAN MORALITY, VIZ. [SEAM. XXX. I. It is a thing praise- worthy to labour after an extra- ordinary conduct and uncommon excellence in our com- mon affairs of life, to excel all others in the things that relate to our station in the world. Let each of us search and enquire, what is it, within our reach that shines brightest among men, and then pursue it with vigour. If a person, who professes religion in the strictest man- ner, and in. the purest forms, be made a magistrate. or public officer, let him do something extraordinary for the public welfare, if it be possible, and merit the public thanks and praise of the community. So if a man be called to the ministry of the gospel, let him imitate the blessed apostle in zeal for Christ : as in 1 Cor. xv. 10. I labouredmore--than they all Let there be no bounds to:our desires of excellence, and our zeal for the salva- tion of men. Covet earnestly the, best gifts, says the apostle, 1 Cor. xii. SI. and animate them with the no- blest. graces. There is a holy emulation wherein we may vie with one another, and each of us get as near perfec- tion as possible. This is praise-worthy. I told you before, that magistrates or ministers must be diligent in their work to gain a good report, but they must double that diligence toobtain special praise. So in the most common employments of life, and the management of daily afffirs abroador at home, we should aspire to be patterns of every thing that is good and lau- dable, that we may all be able to say as St. Paul, .Be ye followers ofme, even as I also am of Christ 1 Cor. xi. 1. Am I a master ? Let mehave aholy ambition to be the best of masters, and by an excellent conduct constrain all my servants to praise and love me : except such vulgar and brutal souls that no kindness can engage, no merit can oblige, and no virtue can influence. Am I a ser- vant ? Let my zeal for my master's interest exceed all my fellows, and my faithfulness and diligence in every duty extort honour even from those who envy me, and deserve the esteem and love of those that are aboveme. If I am an artificer, and God hath given me any supe- rior talents or capacities, I should not employ those su- perior talents in trifles, but use them to some most valu- able purposes, for the benefit of mankind, beyond what former ages have known. I should promote useful know- ledge, if I am a philosopher, and carry it on farther
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