turn of his infinite Kindness, and that also in respect to his own Example, (John xiii. 34, 35.) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye alfo love one another. By this fhall all men know, that ye are my difciples, if ye love one another.

So that in this confifteth the very Life of Christianity; without this no Man can pretend to be the Disciple of our Lord. By this in the Apostolick times Chriftians were eminently distinguished from the rest of the World; when they devoted all their Poffeffions to the Offices of Charity, and had all things common. An excefs of Charity, which however no longer practicable, than while the Number of Difciples continued to be fmall, and was therefore laid afide, when the Church became numerous, as being neither neceffary, nor convenient, nor even poffible; yet clearly fhews what was the primitive Genius of Chriftianity; how exactly they followed the Footsteps of their Blessed Master, and with what fervour of Charity they were indued. A fervour which expired not with the disuse of that Apoftolick Custom of fharing their Poffeffions in common; but continued to exert it felf for fome Ages after in all poffible Demonftrations of a real Charity: Infomuch, that the Heathens used to cry out in admiration, See how thefe Galileans love one another! If then we be unwilling to be accufed of having difobeyed the great Commandment of our Saviour, forfaken his Example,

ample, and intirely loft the genuine Spirit of Christianity; we must retreive that admirable Charity, which was by him fo mightily enjoyed, practiced, and bequeathed to his Difciples.

Thus I have confidered the Example of our Lord, in fome of the greater Lines and Strokes of it; and fhewn it to have been in all refpects the most excellent, which could poffibly be proposed to Mankind. It remains, that I urge the imitation of it in some few Words.

First then, The Imitation of this Divine Example is the Duty of every Chriftian, confidered in the Notion of a Difciple; which includes not only an Obligation of yielding an intire Obedience to the Commands of Chrift, but also of following his Example as near as poffible, and that in the firft Place. To affent to and obey the divine Precepts, is properly the Notion of a Believer; but of a Difciple to imitate the Actions and Conduct of his Mafter. And therefore the Patriarchs and Jews might well be called Believers in God, but not the Difciples of God. Precepts only were given to them, the divine Example was not propofed as a Rule unto them. The Apoftles of our Lord are alfo by way of Eminence called his Disciples: Because they were the conftant Witneffes. and Attendants of his Life, who did partake of the fame Manner of living, and were fuppofed to be his Companions, as well in moral as natural Actions. Although

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this Title is not fo far appropriated to them, as to be denied to us; if we take the fame Care to follow the Example of our Lord and Mafter, as they did. We may follow it, though at a distance; we may pursue it, though we cannot attain to it. And that we may do it, thofe firft and chief Difciples have enabled us, by giving us large Accounts of the Actions and Life of our Saviour, in the Holy Gofpels. Himfelf tells us, (John xv. 8.) If ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my Difciples; and then Ver. 1o. explains their bearing much Fruit, by imitating his Obedience to the divine Commands. If ye keep my commandments, ye fhall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. So that if we defire to retain the Name of a Difciple, and thereby preferve our Relation to Chrift; we must perform the Duty of a Difciple, by religiously following the Example of our Lord and Mafter.

But then in the next Place, to imitate the Life and Actions of our Saviour, is not only our Duty, but our Happiness. We may be fure, that while the Bleffed Jefus lived on Earth, he pursued the true Ends of Happiness, and cultivated those Vertues, which were moft conducive to the Perfection of his Nature, and the Dignity of his Office. What Honour then muft it needs be to us mortal Men, to be made like unto the Son of God, in the Practice of the fame Vertues, in purfuing the fame Methods of Happiness, and in an intire Confor

mity of Actions? It was the highest Ambition of the more generous among the Heathens to imitate the Lives of their antient Heroes, and be thought like unto them: And shall not we ardently defire to refemble our most bleffed Redeemer, by a fimilitude of Holiness and Vertue? Their Ambition was misplac't, and therefore the Occafion of their Unhappiness; ours is directed to the right Object, and therefore cannot be too great.

It must needs be an infinite Satisfaction to every pious Soul, to be employed about the fame Duties, wherein the Bleffed Jefus fpent his Life; to exercise the fame Offices of Piety, Charity and Devotion; to be inspired with the fame Principles of Humility, Meeknefs and Patience. This Confideration will dispel all weariness, will add Vigour to our Souls, and remove the fear of all temporal Evils, which may attend the performance of our Duty. This will fupport us under all outward Calamities; alleviate our Sorrows, and calm our Tempests; to remember, That our Lord endured the fame Afflictions upon the fame account. If he was content to undergo the Malice of Men and Fury of Devils; fhall we hope to be exempted from the Attempts of the fame Enemies? If the World hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John xv. 18.) And fhall we refufe to undergo the fame Fortunes with our Lord and Mafter? No furely. Only let us take Care, that the Hatred and Perfecution of Men be brought upon

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us for no other Cause, than they were on him; that is, not through any Fault of ours, but only for the fake of God, and our Obedience to his Commands: So fhall we imitate him, as well in the most happy Tranquility of Mind under all Afflictions, as in the Afflictions themselves, and the Caufes of them.

Laftly, The conftant imitation of our Lord's Example, will be our Comfort and Satisfaction in the whole Course of our Lives; which will remove all Doubts and Difficulties, and give us the best Affurance, that we have performed the whole Duty of Man. If only Precepts of a good Life had been given to us, we might have been daily distracted with Doubts and Scruples concerning the Meaning, Extent, and Application of them, they might have been perverted by the Error and Craft of Men, and rendred useless by falfe Gloffes and Interpretations; whereas the Example of our Saviour hath taken away all these Scruples, and placed every Precept in its full Light. If we truly imitate his Example, we are infallibly affured, That we have in all Things done our Duty; even as he performed the whole Will of God, and more than once obtained that Testimony from Heaven; This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. So much greater Assurance may we have, by following his Example, than by refpecting his Precepts only.

And therefore St. Paul, after fo many Rules and Precepts given to his Converts; ftill adviseth them to be Followers of him; but then no farther, than he followed Chrift. Be ye VOL. I.

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