which is fomewhat more strong and vigorous, because s ER M. countenanced and encouraged by the approbation of V. reason, our most noble faculty. 6. Examples alfo do please the mind and fancy in contemplation of them, thence drawing a confiderable influence upon practice. No kind of ftudious entertainment doth fo generally delight as hiftory, or the tradition of remarkable examples: even thofe who have an abhorrency or indifpofition toward other ftudies (who have no genius to apprehend the more intricate fubtleties of fcience, nor the patience to purfue rational confequences,) are yet often much taken with historical narrations; these striking them with a delectable variety of accidents, with circumstantial descriptions, and fenfible representations of objects, do greatly affect and delight their fancies; especially the relation of notable adventures and rare accident's is wont to be attended with great pleasure and fatisfaction. And fuch are thofe, which prefent to us the lives and examples of holy men abounding with wonders of providence and grace: no attempts fo gallant, no exploits fo illuftrious, as thofe, which have been achieved by the faith and patience, by the prudence and courage of the ancient faints; they do far furpass the most famous achievements of pagan heroes. It was, I dare fay, more wonderful, that Abraham with his retinue of household fervants should vanquish four potent and victorious kings; and that Gideon with three hundred unarmed men should difcomfit a vaftly numerous hoft, than that Alexander with a well-appointed army of ftout and expert foldiers should overturn the Perfian empire. The fiege of Jericho is fo far more remarkable than those most famous ones of Numantia and Saguntus, as it is more strange that the blaft of trumpets and the noise of people fhouting fhould demolish walls, than the fhaking them with rams, or discharging maffy stones against them. And he, that carefully will compare the deeds of Sampfon and Hercules, fhall find, that one v. SER M. one true exploit performed by the former doth much in force and strangeness furmount the twelve fabulous labours of the other: no triumphs indeed are comparable to thofe of piety; no trophies are fo magnificent and durable, as thofe which victorious faith erecteth that hiftory therefore which reports the res gefta, the acts and fufferings of moft pious men, must in reafon be efteemed not only the most ufeful, but also the most pleasant; yielding the fweeteft entertainment to well difpofed minds; wherein we fee virtue expreffed, not in bare idea only, but in actual life, ftrength, motion; in all its beauty and ornaments: than which no fpectacle can be more stately; no object more grateful can be prefented to the difcerning eye of reason. 7. We may farthermore confider, that God hath provided and recommended to us one example, as a perfect ftandard of good practice; the example of our Lord: the which declareth the ufe and efficacy of good example, as one principal inftrument of piety. That indeed is the moft univerfal, abfolute, and affured pattern; yet doth it not fuperfede the ufe of other examples: not only the valour and conduct of the general, but those of inferior officers, yea, the refolution of common foldiers do ferve to animate their fellows. The stars have their feason to guide us, as well as the fun; especially when our eyes are fo weak, as hardly to bear the day. Even, confidering our infirmity, inferior examples by their imperfection fometime have a peculiar advantage. Our Lord's most imitable practice did proceed from an immense virtue of divine grace, which we cannot arrive to; it in itfelf is fo perfect and high, that we may not ever reach it; looking upon it may therefore fometimes dazzle and discourage our weakness: but other good men had affiftances in measure, fuch as we may hope to approach unto; they were fubject to the diffi culties, which we feel; they were expofed to the pe rils of falling, which we fear: we may therefore hope to to march on in a reasonable diftance after them; we sER M. may, by help of the fame grace, come near in tran- V. fcribing their lefs exact copy. To conclude: Since upon fo many accounts we are obliged to follow good examples; fince they are of fo great use toward our proceeding in the way to happiness; thence they conduce to the clear inftruction of our understanding, to the forcibly inclining our reafon, to the vehement excitement of our paffions, to the delightfully affecting our imagination in fubferviency to good practice; let us make that due and profitable use of them, which we should and may do. Let us, with diligent attention perufing the facred history, meditate upon the lives of holy men therein propounded as patterns of a perfevering faith in God, and conscionable obedience to his commandments. Let the light of their exemplary practice in all kind of piety and virtue continually shine upon our fouls, to direct our minds, to inflame our affections, to quicken our resolutions, to detect the errors and correct the faults of our lives, that we, imitating their virtuous and pious converfation, may partake of those comfortable rewards, of that joy, and blifs, whereof they reft poffeffed. The which God Almighty, and our bleffed Saviour, the author and finisher of our faith, by his gracious aid and bleffing grant unto us; to whom be all glory and praise for ever and ever. Amen. SERMON SERMON VI. Abiding in Christ to be demonstrated by walking as Chrift did. 1 JOHN ii. 6. He that faith he abideth in him, ought himself alfo fo to Ta walk as he walked. 10. VI. Gal. iv. 19. O abide in Chrift; to be in Chrift; to put on Chrift; SER M. and reciprocally Chrift's being in us, living, dwelling, being formed in us; and the like expreffions occurring in holy Scripture, do not denote any phyfi- Rom. viii. cal inherence, or effential conjunction between Chrift Gal. ii. 20. and us, (such as those who affect unintelligible myf- Eph.iii. 17. teries rather than plain fense would conceit,) but only that mutual relation accruing from our profeffion of being Chrift's difciples, our being inferted into his body the Church, being governed by his laws, partaking of his grace, with all the privileges of the Gospel, relying upon his promifes, and hoping for eternal falvation from him. By virtue of which relation, we may be faid, in a mystical or moral manner, to be united to him, deriving strength and sustenance from him, as the members from the head, the branches from the tree, the other parts of the building from the foundation; by which fimilitudes this mysterious union is ufually expreffed in Scripture: in effect, briefly, |