Book L of J E s u s C H R I s T. 71

The Good he will make his Patterns, and ibive to equal or excel them. The Bad he will by all Means avoid. Or if by Refledion the Deformity of his Neigh- bour's Actions happen to reprefent that of his own, he will be fure to do fo no more ; and think it a hap- py ocGafion^ that he is thus grown Wifer by the Folly of others. For we often fee and judge that in the De- portment of thofe we converfe with, which too near a Light will not let us Difcern, or Partiality let u^ Condemn, in our own. And this fiiould make U3 cau- tious, when we remember, that the Eyes of others are as fharp, as critical Obfervers, as fevere Judges of Us, and all we do, as Ours can poflibly be of Them. From this univerfal Difpofition to obferve and judge, pro- ceeds, no doubt, that pleafing Approbation, or vehe- ment Diflike of Good and Bad Examples. For what indeed givesusamorefcnfible Satisfa6i:ion,than the fee- ing Men in every Point agreeable to their Character ? When They, who call themfelves by the Name of Chrift, and pretend in a peculiar manner to belong and be rellgned up to him, are eminent in good Works and heavenly Difpofitions ^ when they fubmit entirely to his Yoak, and think nothing too much to do or faf- fer in Obedience to his Wiil ,• how charming, hov\^ delightful a Sight is this ? And again, how ofl^^nfive, how very fhocking, when They, who make the ft me outward Profeffion, fhall difiionour and defile it by a Scandalous and Profligate Converiation ; 3nd,inftead of that fevere, that fpiritual and heavenly Life, to which their Very Name, and the Pattern of their Ma- iler obliges them, abandon themfelves to all manner of Excels, and wallow in the moil brurifh and deeella- blc Pollutions ? But, even where Men do not degene- rate into all this Beaillinefsj- where Cares and Bufmef; bf the World divert and draw them ofl' from better Ernployments ; 'tis unfeemly to others, and of ill con- ftquencetd themfelves, to neglect their proper Con-
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cern, :md ^ngp.gc their Thoughts and Time in Mat- ters roreign to their main Delign.
Quicken therefore your felf up to Duty^ by the re- membrance of your Station, who you are^ and what you hcn^e obliged your felf to be. Bear conitantly a- bout you a lively Idea of Chrifl; Crucified. . Confider carefully his Life^ and let the Perfedlion of That fliarne you into the reforming your own : Your own, ,1 fay, whofe very Bapifm reprefents pur Vrofeffion^ which is, to follojv the Examflt of our Sawour, and to he made like irnto him ; and yet, after fo many Years be- ^ ing called a Chrirtian, you are ftill too far from being onQ,i(Djhig to Sin and Li'ving toRighteoufnefs ^as yourJe[m dyed and roje /igain for you, be that which makes a Chri- ftian, and diftinguifhes him from other Men. If Per- fons dedicated to Piety and Virtue would but with due Attention fix their Thoughts upon the Actions and Sufferings of Chrift, this fingle Subjed would furnifli them with Inftru(5lions and Motives abun- dantly fufficient for their Purpofe. St. Vaul, we fee^ I Cor. xi. determined to know nothing but j^^/^i Chriji and hjm Crucified ; and this indeed, truly known, is the bell, the moll ufeful, and moft com- prehenfive Learning. -
This fires Men with an eager holy Zeal, and ren- ders them not only exad, but cheerful in their Duty ; it makes them perform what he commands with Dili- gence, and fuffer all that he ordains with Patience and Contentednefs.Whereas a negligent and lukewarm Chriftian confpires againft himfelf ; his Life is one perpetual Torment, for want of entire Refignation and fervent Love. The Tryals and Affli(5lions bear hard upon his Spirit, and the Good lie attempts is ilrained and againft the Grain. He feels not the fup- port of fpiritual Comforts ; he knows he mult not have recourfe to Worldly ones^ Or, if hemight,They will not do his Bufinefs j and foheisleftdeftitutcof all. For
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