416 cur/ISTIAN MORALITY. Theholy apostle had just before recommended things of good report, and nowhe exhorts them to the practice of laudable actions or things that merit praise. Thedifference between these two is this : a good report signifies a clear and unblemished cha- racter, fair reputation among men, a good name among those with whomour daily acquaintance lies, and our civil conversation and business. But praise implies a considerable degree ofapplause or honour, obtained by some eminent actions, or some extraordinary instances of wisdom, courage, or goodness. A man that ha§ never attained to any great degree of excellence above his neigh- bours, may yet have a fair reputationin the world : But the word praise seems to imply a great and honourablename, as well as a good one. I shall mention but two general instances, wherein we may suppose the apostle recommends to us the practice of those things that are laudable : One is, an extraordinary conduct in common affairs ; the other is an improvement of the seasons, or occasions of extraordinary virtue. I. It is a thing praise-worthy to labour after an extraordi- nary conduct anduncommon excellence in our common at-Mrs of life, to excel all others in the things that relate to our station in theworld. 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 manner, 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 commu- nity. 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 theyall. Let therebe nobounds to our desires of excellence, and our zeal for the salvation of men. Covet earnestly the best gifts, says the apostle; I Cor. xii. 31. and animate them with the noblest graces. There is a holy emulation wherein we may vie with one another, andeach of us get as nearperfection as possible. This ispraise-worthy: I told youbefore, that magistrates or ministers must be diligent in their work to gain a good report, but they must double that diligence to obtain special praise. So in the most common employments of life, and the ma- nagement of daily affairs abroad or at home, we should aspire to be patterns of every thing that is good and laudable, that wemay all be able to say as St. Paul, Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ: 1 Cor. xi. 1. Am I a master? Let me have a holy ambition to bethe bestof masters, andby an excellent con- duct constrain all my servants to praise and love me ; except such
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