173 / 674
SERM.
XXXIX.
THE
RIGHT
IMPROVEMENT
OF
LIFE.
153
might
be followers
of
him as he
was.of Christ,"
1
Cor.
xi.
I.
And
I
may
add
in
the
Fourth
place,
Where
.
a
christian
of
shining virtues
and
of
diffusive
goodness,
is
blessed with
a long
life,
the
memory
of
his
example, and the sweet savour
of
his
graces,
remain the longer
on
earth, after
his own
de-
parture
to heaven.
It
is
like
a
rich
perfume
that
has
lain
some
considerable
time
among garments,
it
communi-
cates a
pleasant fragrancy
to the
apparel
long
after
the
perfume itself
is
removed.
Thus
many
a
samt,
by
the
Sweet
odour of
his name,
has done
honour
to
the gospel
in the place where
he
lived, while his
bones
are
moulder
-
ing in the dust
:
The
history
of
his
various virtues has
dwelt
long
on
the
lips
of
the surviving neighbours, and,
perhaps,
bath awakened others
to
an imitation
of
such
a
pattern
many years
after
his
decease.
Whether
example
be
of
any
use in
heaven,
or whether
the saints
of
lower
rank there
may be
excited to
holy
imitation,
by
the
superior
graces or glories
of
more emi-
nent
saints,
is
not
so well
known to
us
;
but
this
we
may
be
well
assured
of;
that
the example
of
christians can
have
no use in
that
happy
world,
to
guard
the
doctrine
of
Christ
from
profane reproaches, or
to
convince
or
convert
sinners
and
infidels.
It
is
the
living,
and the
living alone,
that
can do this service
for Christ, and glo-
rify
his
gospel
in such
instances
as
these.
But I proc
d
to
another
advantage
of
our continuance
in
.this
world.
IV.
Life
is
yours
;
for
it
gives
opportunity
for
abound-
ing in good works to
the
great
benefit
of
mankind.
The
longer
a
saint
lives,
if
he
maintains
his
character
with
honour,
he
becomes
so
much a
greater
blessing
to the
world. But what
a deal
of
good ceases with the
life
of a
good man.
Christians,
ye
are
required
to
maintain
good works
for the
honour of your Father, and
for the glory
of
your
Saviour,
who
hath purchased you
to
be
a peculiar peo-
ple,
zealous
of
good
works: But there
is
another
reason
for them too,
and
that
is,
"
these things
are
good
and
profitable
to men,
"(
Titus
ii. 14.
compared
with the
third
chapter,
verse
8.\,1
Every
day
of
life opens some new
scenes,
wherein
you may
be
serviceable
'to
your
neigh-