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Laftly, As we are obliged to admire, and celebrate the infinite Goodness of God, in bestowing upon the Church the diffufive Prefence of the Holy Ghoft, by his Milion as upon this Day; fo are we no less engaged to be thankful for his particular Prefence in the Holy Sacrament: Since this not only gives us a firm affurance of the continuance of that Prefence, which was at first granted, ás fo great a Bleifing to the Apostles; but alfo derives down upon all worthy Commu nicants, as far as is neceffary to them, the fame Gifts and Graces, which the first Defcent of it procured to the Apostles. By this means we may not only commemorate, but act anew, and experience in our felves all the Glories of this Day, by receiving into our Souls a plentiful Effufion of the fame Spirit.

But then, as several previous Difpofitions were required in the Apostles to qualifie them for the Reception of fo great a Benefit; fo muft we prepare our felves for the participation of fo great a Myftery, with no lefs Diligence and Caution; that as they firmly believed, and conftantly expected the Promises of our Saviour, although he had removed his Corporeal Prefence from them; so we fhould without any Fluctuation believe the certain performance of all thofe Graces, which are promised to all worthy Communicants, and that however his natural Body is absent from us, yet he is really prefent in the Elements, by the Efficacy and Operation of the Holy Spirit;

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Spirit; that as they prepared themselves for the reception of the Holy Ghoft, by an intire Refignation of their Wills to his Influence and Direction; so we should fit our Souls for the Entertainment of all those Graces conferred in the Sacrament, by a perfect Refignation of our felves to God, and steady Refolution of performing his Commands. And that as they, in order to obtain the promised Miffion of a Comforter, met all together with one Accord in one Houfe; fo we, in order to receive the mighty Benefits of this Sacrament, fhould be united in perfect Charity to one another. If any of thefe due Qualifications be wanting, we fhall be fo far from obtaining any fhare in the Benefits of this Day, or Commemorating as we ought the wonderful Miffion of the Holy Ghoft, that we fhall forfeit our Title to all the Benefits of the Gofpel, and do defpight to the Spirit of Grace. Now to God the Father, God the Son, &c.

SERMON

39

SERMON

II.

Preach'd September 16, 1688. at Lambeth Chapel.

Philip. II. 5.

Let this mind be in you, which was alfo in Chrift Jefus.

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UR bleffed Saviour hath not only reveal

ed to us the whole Will of God in relation to Mankind, and thereby given to us a moft excellent, and truly divine Religion; but alfo fet us a moft perfect Example of Holiness, and univerfal Righteoufnefs in the whole Conduct of his Life, therein exceeding all other Lawgivers, whether Divine or Humane; who never could equal the Excellency of their Laws by the spotless Sanctity of their Lives.

Even Mofes, who had this Teftimony from God, that he was faithful in all his Houfe, did not always preferve inviolate that intire reliance on the divine Power, which he fo earneftly, and fo often recommended to his People; but offended at the Waters of Strife, and was provoked to Speak unadvisedly with his lips. As for other Lawgivers, whofe Pretences to ReD. 4 velation

velation were either none or feigned, they were little follicitous to recommend the Prac tice of their Laws by their Example; thereby giving juft Occafion to fufpect,that they intended them rather for politick than religious Ends: not fo much to promote Vertue, as to fecure their own Interest.

It is the peculiar advantage of the Chriftian Religion, that all the Precepts of it were exactly performed in the Perfon of its Founder, who gave us not only a Rule, but an Example of perfect Piety. In him all noble and divine Vertues eminently fhone forth; and yet in fuch a Manner, as might rather attract our Imitation, than dazle our Contemplation. Juftly did he fay of himself. (John ix. 5.) that while he was in the world, he was the light of the world; directing all Perfons the way to Happiness, by his illuftrious Example; and in the higheft Degree pra&tifing all those Vertues, which in other Perfons were fingly admired. Infomuch as we may juftly apply to him, in refpect of all the Parts of our Duty to God, our felves, and others, what he faid of himfelf in respect of Humility: For, I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you, John. xiii, 15. For it is not sufficient for us his Difciples, to admire the Greatness, and Excellency of his Example; he requires farther of us, to do as he hath done: That we exprefs our Obedience to him by the conftant Imitation of his Life and Practice: That we continue the Remembrance of his incompara

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ble Vertue and Piety, by propofing them as a Pattern of Perfection in all our Actions: That we manifeft our felves to be his Followers by the Similitude of our Conduct: In a Word, that the fame mind be in us, which was alfo in Chrift Fefus.

In treating of these Words, I fhall divide my Discourse into three Heads.

I. I will fhew, that the Life of our Saviour was by God intended to be the Grand Example and Pattern of our Actions.

II. That it was the best and most compleat Example, which could be proposed

to us.

III. I will produce fome Arguments inducing us to a careful imitation of this Example.

1. That the Life of our Saviour Chrift was intended to be the Grand Pattern and Example of our Actions. This appears not only from hence, that it is the Duty of all Christians to live up to the Rules of Piety, Temperance, and Juftice, which the Gospel prefcribeth, and our Saviour in the most perfect manner practifed, and confequently to conform our Lives to his Example, which however indirect, is yet a moft evident Argument; but alfo from many other direct Arguments: Of which I fhall name fome few.

1. It appears from the whole Sequel, and Design of the four Gofpels: One great part of which is taken up in relating those Actions of our Saviour, which ferve only to demonftrate his admirable Vertue and Holiness.

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