fective.

of any other laws of God, but what nature fuggefts, withstand and are infcribed on the confcience; which prefcribe ing dethe duties of holinefs only in general, and in a very confused and imperfect manner: and as they knew not the true God in his perfections, nor ever beheld him in his fanctuary; what they had for the rule of their virtues, was very defective.

of Chrif

tian

law of

God.

ze LXXXIV. But Chriftian holiness has a far more The rule excellent rule to go by, whether we confider its pre-in holicepts or examples. Its precepts are taken from the nefs is. 1 moft perfect law of God; not only that, of which the the most rubbish, and as it were, the faint resemblance or fha- perfect dows like a paffing image, ftill remain in the con fcience of a natural man: but also that, which, with fo much magnificence of heavenly glory, God formerly published before the full affembly of his people, wrote with his own finger on tables of ftone, enlarged with the plaineft expofitions of the Prophets and infpired penmen, and which, by the feeret efficacy of his fpirit, he writes on the hearts of the Elect which is the most exact expreffion not only of his most holy will, but also of his nature and perfections, so far as they are imitable by man: nor does it only regulate and order the external actions, and converfation; but also, reaches to man's most inward parts, directs the inmost receffes of the heart, and roots out the deepest fibres of vice, even to the very firft motions of rifing concupifcence; which, in fine, raifes man to a perfection, worthy of God.

LXXXV. This is that law, which God gave in charge to Ifrael, Pf. 147. 19; by which a be made them great and glorious, Ifa. 42. 21; fo that, in an aflonifhing manner, they excelled other nations, Deut. 4. 6, 7; in which are payansĩa the most ample inftructions [great things written], Hof. 8. 12: the excellency of which, and not their excellency alone, but also their most exact perfection, the Pfalmift has nobly fet forth, Pf. 19. 8, &c. and indeed, fo great was the perfection, that he could find no end to it,

as

2. The

best examples, 1. of the

faints on earth.

However

as he found in other perfections, Pf. 116. 96. And certainly the more a man is engaged, with an attentive mind, in the profound meditation of this law, the more diftinctly he will understand, that he is far from forming in his mind a perfect notion of that holinefs prescribed by it. The Lord Jefus has faid all in a few words, and comprifed the whole fummary of the law, calling out to his Difciples (but who can understand the full force of those words?) be ye perfect, even as your father, which is in heaven, is perfect, Mat. 5. 48.

1

LXXXVI. Befides thofe moft holy laws, the believer has illuftrious examples of virtues for his imitation; and thofe not of one kind or order. And the first that here occur are the SAINTS THAT ARE IN THE EARTH, and the excellent, in whom is all his de light, Pf. 16. 3. We have no occafion to prefent you with a Socrates, a Zeno, a Cato, or a Lælius, whom Seneca recommends for this purpose. We have men actuated by the most noble and generous Spirit of God, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apoftles, and the like heroes of both fexes, whom God himself honoured with familiarity, with encomiums and commendations; whofe manner of life he took care to have exactly described, in the most facred volumes of our religion, and whofe number is fo great, that Paul calls them a cloud of witnesses, by whofe example we may be animated to run, with conftancy, the race of piety, Heb. 12. 1. Thefe are propofed to us for our imita tion, I Cor. 4. 16; and 11. 2. Phil. 3. 17, Jac. 4. 10, Heb. 13. 7.

LXXXVII. However, as the most excellent faints prudence on earth have had their blemishes, prudence is ne is to be obferved ceffary in this cafe, that we may propofe, for our in imita- imitation, only those actions of theirs, which are the ting them. moft confonant to the standard of the divine law;

where they have departed from the rule, let us be admonished by their mistake, and learn to walk uprightly. For this end Nehemiah wifely propofes the

example

heaven.

example of Solomon, † Neb. 13. 26. And it is of fingular use to us, that the backflidings of the holy men of God are recorded in Holy Writ. Spots appear no where more difagreeable, than when feen in a most beautiful face, or on the cleaneft garment. And it is expedient, to have a perfect knowledge of the filthyness of fin. We alfo learn from them to think humbly of ourfelves, to depend on the grace of God, to keep a ftricter eye upon ourselves, leaft perhaps we fall into the fame or more grievous fins, Gal. 6. 1. *LXXXVIII. But our Lord would not have us 2. Of the without perfect examples, and therefore he raises the faints in meditations of his people to the inhabitants of heaven, the choirs of angels, and fpirits of juft men made perfect, whofe converfation he recommends even in our daily prayer, as it is in heaven. These being filled with the cleareft light, and flaming with the pureft love, and continually beholding the face of God, and being altogether conformed to him, inceffantly fhew forth the praises of their creator, and execute his commands with incredible alacrity. Ifa. 6. 2, 3. Pf. 103. 20. Rev. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11. The facred writings teftify all this concerning them. And faith not only believes, but fees all this; for, being endowed with the quickeft fight, it penetrates within the vail of the heavenly fanctuary, and, as if mixed with the confort of the heavenly inhabitants, views those exercises of the most confummate holinefs, with the love of which the believing foul cannot fail to be inflamed.

3. Of

LXXXIX. But yet, as it is very defireable to have likewise an example of perfect holinefs upon earth; Chrift.

+ Did not Solomon king of Ifrael fin by these things? Yet, among many nations, was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Ifrael: nevertheless even him did outlandish women caufe to fin.

fo

.

Imitation

two differ

ent things

fo God has not fuffered us to be without one; for he fent his own Son from heaven, who hath left us the brightest pattern of every virtue, without exception, that we should follow his steps, 1 Pet. 2. 21. It was a part of Chrift's prophetical office, to teach not only by words, but by the example of his life, that both in his words and actions, he might fay, learn of me, Mat. 11. 29. The imitation of him is often recommended by the Apostles, 1 Cor. II. I. 1 Theff. 1. 6. 1 John 2. 6.

XC. It has been very well obferved by a learned and fol- perfon, that we are to diftinguish between imitation, lowing, whereby we are laid to be unra, imitators of Christ, 1 Cor. 11. 13 and between following, by which we are commanded to follow Chrift; between follow me, Mat. 16. 24, and follow after me, Mat. 15. 38. For, the former denotes a conformity to an example: the latter, the attendance of fervants, going after their mafters which words are generally confound. ed by writers in their own language, tho' they ought by no means to be fo.

To be

fo far as

holy per

fon.

XCI. As we have already often inculcated, that imitated, Chrift is to be confidered in a threefold refpect, as man, as Mediator, and as God: fo we are to enquire, he was a in what relation or respect he is given us as an example And first, we are not to doubt, that as he reprefented, in his human nature, the image of God, in which the firft man was created, and poffeffed, and practifed all the virtues, due by a rational creature, without any defect; in fo far he is, in the moft perfect manner, propofed to our imitation. Certainly, - this world was hitherto deftitute of fuch a pattern, ever fince the fatal apoftacy of our first parents, viz. to have a man, who, being untainted with vice, holy, harmlefs, undefiled, might, as a living and breathing law, converfe among his brethren: fuch a one, God hath exhibited to us in Chrift. It is a pleasure to him who love holinefs, to behold a moft, exact delineation of it in the written law of God. But what

is that delineation but only a picture? It is indeed, exact, and painted in natural colours; but then it is a , picture only, without flesh and blood, without life and motion. How much greater therefore the pleafure, to behold the fame holiness, which is portrayed in the law, living as it were, and animated in Chrift?

his media

XCII. What was peculiar and proper to his media- The pecutorial office, as the honour of his mediation, where- liarities of by we are reconciled to God, and that eminent dig- torial ofnity, by which he has the peculiar honour of being fice, neiprophet, prieft and king; in fum whatever belongs ther can to that more excellent name, which was bestowed nor ought on Chrift above his fellows: all this we are neither to tated. imitate, nor follow the example of thofe, who pretend to be imitators: there is one mediator between God and men, the man Chrift Fefus. 1 Tim. 2, 5.

to be imi

XCIII. Nevertheless, believers, after the example Yet beof Chrift, and from a participation of his unction, lievers, have the honour of being prophets, priests and kings, prophets, priefts, Joel, 2, 28. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Rev. 1. 6. And confe- andkings, quently, it is incumbent upon them, to conform to the example of Chrift, in the fpiritual discharge of... thofe offices. In which, however, there is fo great d a difference, that befides partaking of the name, and fome fmall analogy, fcarce any coincidence can be obferved. The prophetical, facerdotal, and regal offices of Chrift are of a far different nature from

ours.

Chrift in

XCIV. But thofe virtues, which Chrift difcovered The vir in the discharge of his offices, are by all means, pro- tues exhipofed for our imitation; as the demonftration he bited by gave of his humility, faithfulnefs, love, patience, the difzeal, and conftancy in the whole difcharge of his charge of offices; as alfo his not intruding into them without a his offices, call, Heb. 5.4, 5; his faithfulness to him, who had ap- propofed pointed him, Heb. 3. 2: his not feeking his own advantage or profit, Phil. 2. 4, 5; his not finking under the reproaches and contradiction of finners, 15 VOL. II.

R

Heb.

for our

example;