especially we should love our Christian Brethren with a pure Heart fervently, and those most in whom we fee most of Christ's lovely Image and Resemblance, endeavouring to cultivate with them the Intimacies of an holy Friendship. This is what he himself particularly insisteth upon as a genuine Proof of our Discipleship: A new Commandment (faith he) 1 give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye alfo love one another. By this shall all Men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye have Love one to another. John xiii. 34, 35. On On the Example of Christ. DISCOURSE XVIII, PHILLIPIANS ii. 5. Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. A MONG the many Advantages we enjoy by the Gospel Revelations, one of the most signal is this, that, as we there have the most excellent Precepts given us, so we have the Example of the Son of God set before us, an Example the most perfect in itself, and than which none can have a more engaging and extensive Influence. It hath been already shewn, that in him we have an admirable Pattern of the most fublime Piety and Devotedness to God, and the most most abfolute Submission to bis Authority and Refignation to his Will in all Things, as alfo the most unparalleled Charity and Benevolence towards Mankind: But it may be proper farther to take particular Notice of fome other excellent Difpofitions and Virtues which eminently shine forth in our Saviour's Character, and which well deserve a distinct Confideration, as they may be of great Use in exciting and assisting us to exercise a due Self-Government, and to form our Minds to a proper Temper: Such a Purity and Heavenly-mindedness, Self-Denial, Humility, Meekness, Contentment, Patience, Fortitude, Sincerity, and Prudence; of all which our Lord Jesus Chrift hath given us a most excellent Example: And, with Respect to them all, we may justly apply the Words of the Apostle, Let this Mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. And, First, Our Lord Jesus Chrift kept himself intirely pure and free from the Pollutions of the World, and maintained an heavenly Frame and Temper. He did not indeed, under the Pretence of an exalted Sanctity and Devotion, retire from the World, and shun the Society and Conversation of Men; nor did he affect to make an extraordinary Shew of rigid Mortifications and Austerities, in which some have made the Perfection of Religion to confist: But, But, what was a much nobler Attainment, he gave an Example of a Mind raifed above the World, whilst he freely conversed in it. The Things that are in the World, the Luft of the Flesh, the Luft of the Eye and the Pride of Life, had no Influence upon him: There was nothing in his whole Conduct that had the leaft Tincture of Ambition, Avarice, or Sensuality: All his Affections and Appetites were regular and pure, perfectly under the Government of Religion and Reason. Though he went about through the Cities and Villages, eating and drinking, converfing familiarly with the People, and even with those that were called Publicans and Sinners, which was necessary to the Accomplishing his excellent Design, and the Work upon which he was fent: Yet, in this promiscuous Conversation, he contracted no Pollution, but still was holy, harmless, undefiled: His Virtue was not fowre and morose, but gentle, humane, sociable, and at the same Time perfectly pure and spotless. As one great Design of his excellent Instructions was to take Men off from an inordinate Love to this present World, and to engage them to place their Hearts and Treaures in Heaven; so this was fignally exemplified in his own Temper and Practice. His Conduct was such as became the Lord from |