a similar temptation. Whatever be the nature of the seduction proposed to us, whether of pleasure, or of honour, or of interest, we may learn from Him to set against it the sense of an omnipresent Judge, and to every invitation to sin, whether given by dangerous companions, or still more dangerous desires, to reply with the son of Jacob, "How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God?"

By thus considering what the principles were which operated to produce any action, or any course of conduct distinguished for its excellence; what persuasions, in the case of our examples, what fears and what hopes restrained them from sin, or animated them to virtue, by what feelings they were impelled, and by what maxims they were guided, we shall avoid the dangers of implicit imitation, which, though obvious in speculation, are so often overlooked in practice; and whilst we endeavour without compromise to realize the substance of past excellence, we shall accommodate its form to existing circumstances, and to our own peculiar case; so as to combine with fidelity and zeal in the study of example, a discriminating judgment in its application.

There is one more suggestion which I would offer to your consideration before I conclude. My objects hitherto have been, first, to point out the evils incident to the imitation even of good

examples; and, in the next place, to furnish a rule, by which this means of forming our character may be adopted with profit unmixed with danger. The suggestion which I have yet to offer, relates to the still farther extension of the beneficial use of imitation. It is true, in a general sense, that the foundations of genuine excellence are the same in all; that substantially the same faith" by which Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain," has ever been the well-spring of acceptable obedience from his time to the present; that the same principles in fact are always found to have operated upon the minds of the true servants of God, and even the same virtues to have existed in their characters; the spirit by which they were actuated, being a spirit of universal compliance with the divine will, and this unreserved sincerity of character constituting the perfection required in the sacred volume. At the same time it is obvious, that with this general conformity, a great diversity of individual excellence has existed; and that whilst in none of the truly good we find a wilful omission of any known duty, some of them, either from original constitution, or from the circumstances of their lives, are more eminent than others, as patterns of a particular virtue, or as being peculiarly influenced by some one leading principle of conduct. Thus, although it is "by faith and patience" that all have been successful

who have "inherited the promises" of the Most High, the faith of Abraham is proverbially distinguished, and the patience of Job. In the same manner we might refer to the meekness of Moses, to the enlightened courage of David, to the constant and unshaken piety of Daniel; to the frank intrepidity of his three companions; to the devoted zeal of St. Paul, and to the self-denying benevolence of that apostle, whose memory we on this day celebrate.

By considering this diversity of excellence, we shall learn to propose to ourselves, not only a good, but the best, example, adapted to our case; we shall associate with every duty the name of one, in whom its observance shines with peculiar brightness; and infix in our memories the principles of practical wisdom, from their connexion with the history of individual excellence, in which their adoption has resulted.

It is true, that, unaided by divine grace, we cannot apply the method now recommended; or any other, to the effectual improvement of our conduct. For that grace we must therefore pray; on that grace we must depend; yet we must not so depend, as to neglect study and selection in the use of means, or to despise any method subsidiary to righteousness. We must endeavour, on the contrary, to employ the faculties and opportunities afforded to us, so as to raise our ideas of human excellence, and our

pursuit of it, continually higher.. For the conduct of most men, much more of the sincere, though ever below their standard of duty, yet rises as that is raised, and fails with its descent. Nor is it any vain and impracucable notion of perfecton which we would propose, (forgetful of the frailty and corruption which adhere to our nature,, but that progressive improvement of character, of which both as individuals and as a species we are capable, and in the cultivation of which our true attainable excellence consists. And in pursuing this, it is not to be forgotten, that the advantages which we enjoy in the examples of past times, place us under a proportionate responsibility; whilst as connected with future generations, we are bound to hand on the torch of righteousness, as we have received it, with an unimpaired at least, if not increasing, flame, that as far as on us depends, the progress of the Gospel in the renovation and gradual amelioration of a fallen world may not be impeded; but that we may, each one of us, under the guidance and blessed influence of the Holy Spirit, enjoy the sacred satisfaction, not only of imitating what is good, but of leading others also to the practice of it through the force of a truly Christian example.

SERMON XX.

AN ORDINATION SERMON 2.

1 COR. xii. 12.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

IN every society, the maintenance of order is necessary to its continuance and well-being. This is obviously the case of all civil communities. Each commonwealth has one or more, in whom the supreme power is lodged; and under whom other magistrates are placed, with their respective functions allotted to them in due subordination. Without this regular distribution of duty, not only among those who are in authority, but throughout every rank and station of life, it would be impossible that states could flourish, or even exist. We should either become

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Preached at an Ordination, holden at the Cathedral Church, Barbadoes, by the Lord Bishop of Barbadoes, Feb.