Sixteen Sermons Volume 2, Sermon 8
SERMON VIII. The Duty of imitating the Primitive Teachers, and Patterns of Chriſtianity.
Preached on All-Saints Day, 1684.
HEB. XIII. 7. The latter Part of the Verſe.
Whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their converſation.
The whole Verſe runs thus,
Remember them which have the Rule over you, who have ſpoken unto you the word of God; whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their converſation.
THE great Scope and Deſign of this Epiſtle, is to perſwade the Jews, who were newly converted to Chriſtianity, VOL. II.to continue ſtedfaſt in the Profeſſion of it, notwithſtanding all the Sufferings and Perſecutions it was attended withall; and to encourage them hereto, among many other Arguments which the Apoſtle makes uſe of, he doth ſeveral times, in this Epiſtle, propound to them the Examples and Patterns of Saints and Holy Men, that were gone before them; eſpecially thoſe of their own Nation, who in their reſpective Ages had given remarkable Teſtimony of their Faith in God, and conſtant Adherence to the Truth. Ch. 6.11, 12. And we deſire, that every one of you do ſhew the ſame diligence, to the full aſſurance of hope, unto the end: that ye be not ſlothful; but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promiſes. And, Ch. 11. he gives a Catalogue of the Eminent Heroes and Saints of the Old Teſtament, who by Faith had done ſuch Wonders, and given ſuch Teſtimony of their Patience and Conſtancy, in doing and ſuffering the Will of God; from whence he infers, Ch. 12.1. that we ought to take Pattern and Heart from ſuch Examples, to perſevere in our Chriſtian courſe;Serm. VIII. Wherefore ſeeing we alſo are compaſſed about with ſo great a cloud of Martyrs, or Witneſſes, let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin which doth ſo eaſily beſet us, and let us run with patience the race that is ſet before us; eſpecially ſince they had greater Examples than theſe, nearer to them, and more freſh in Memory; the great Example of our Lord, the Founder of our Religion; and of the firſt Teachers of Chriſtianity, the Diſciples and Apoſtles of our Lord and Saviour. The Example of our Lord himſelf, the Captain and Rewarder of our Faith, v. 2. of that 12th Ch. Looking unto Jeſus the author and finiſher of our faith, who for the joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, deſpiſing the ſhame; v. 3. For conſider him who endured ſuch contradiction of ſinners aagainſt himſelf, leſt ye be wearied, and faint in your minds. This indeed is the great Pattern of Chriſtians, and in regard of the great Perfection of it, ſurpaſſeth all other Patterns, and ſeems to make them uſeleſs; as having in it the Perfection of the Divinity, not in its full brightneſs, (which would be apt to dazle rather than direct us) but allayed and ſhadowed with the Infirmities of Humane Nature; and for that Reaſon, more accommodate and familiar to us, than the Divine Perfections abſtractedly conſidered.
But yet becauſe our Bleſſed Saviour was God as well as Man, and clear of all ſtain of ſin, (for tho' he was cloathed with the Infirmities, yet he was free from the Corruption of Humane Nature) therefore the Examples of meer Men, liable to ſin as we are, may in many reſpects be more ſuitable and accomodate, to encourage us to the imitation of thoſe Virtues, which are attainable by us, in this ſtate of Imperfection; for which Reaſon the Apoſtle hath thought fit likewiſe to propoſe to us, the higheſt Examples of that kind, the firſt Teachers of our Religion; for of theſe he ſeems to ſpeak here in the Text, namely thoſe Apoſtles, or Apoſtolical Men, by whom they had been inſtructed in the Faith of Chriſt, but who were now departed this life; it being very probable, that the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of ſuch as were dead, when he ſays, Remember them, which have the rule over you, (or, thoſe that have been your Guides) who have ſpoken to you the word of God, whoſe Faith follow, conſidering the end of their converſation.
I ſay this is very probable, becauſe he minds them to remember them, which ſuppoſeth them to be abſent; but eſpecially, becauſe he minds them, to conſider the end of their converſation; by which ſurely he means the Bleſſed State of thoſe Good Men after Death; which is elſewhere called, the end of our faith, even the ſalvation of our ſouls, 1 Pet. 1.9. So likewiſe, Rom. 6.22. this is ſaid to be the End of a holy Life; ye have your fruit unto holineſs and the End, everlaſting life. And it very much favours this Interpretation, that the Apoſtle afterwards ſpeaks of the living Guides, and Governours of the Church, v. 17. Obey them which have the rule over you, and ſubmit your ſelves; for they watch for your ſouls.
So that it is highly probable, that the Apoſtle here ſpeaks of ſuch Guides, and Governours of the Church, as had once been over them, but were now departed this Life; and therefore he might with more freedom and leſs envy, recommend their Example to them, and bid them call to mind their Faith, and exemplary Converſation among them, and propoſe it for a Pattern to themſelves, conſidering the happy End of it, viz. The Bleſſed State they were now in, and the Glorious Reward they were made Partakers of, in another Life.
In the Words thus explained, you have,
I. A Duty enjoyned; which is, to propoſe to our ſelves, for our Imitation, the Examples of Good Men, that have gone before us; eſpecially the primitive Patterns of Chriſtianity, and the firſt Teachers of our Religion. Remember them which have been your Guides, and have ſpoken to you the Word of God, whoſe Faith follow.
II. The Motive or Encouragement to it, from the Conſideration of the Reward of it; Conſidering the End of their Converſation.
I. The Duty enjoyned; which is, to propoſe to our ſelves, for our Imitation, the Example of Good Men, that have gone before us; eſpecially the Primitive Patterns of Chriſtianity, and firſt Teachers of our Religion. Remember them that have had the rule over you, that have been your Guides, and have ſpoken to you the word of God, whoſe Faith follow. In which Words, the Apoſtle bids them call to mind their firſt Guides and Inſtructors in Chriſtianity, whom they had known, and heard, and converſed with in this World, but who were now reſted from their labours, and were receiving the Reward of them; to remember the Doctrines they heard from them, and the Virtues they had ſeen in them; and to embrace the one, and imitate the other.
Thus We cannot remember the Primitive Teachers, and Patterns of Chriſtianity, the Apoſtles of our Lord and Saviour; became we did not perſonally know them, and converſe with them, living at the diſtance of many Ages from their time: But we may do that which is equivalent, and a kind of Remembrance of them; we may commemorate their Faith, and the Virtue and Holineſs of their Lives; and what we hear and read of them, we may propoſe for Patterns to our ſelves, and copy them out in our Lives and Actions: And this is our Duty, and the ſame in ſubſtance with theirs, who had the happineſs to know, and converſe with thoſe excellent Perſons, to hear them Preach, and to ſee the Rules and Precepts of that Holy Doctrine, which they Taught, exemplified in their Lives.
In the handling of this Argument, I ſhall do theſe Three things.
Firſt, Shew why amongſt all the Examples of Good Men, we ſhould more eſpecially propoſe to our Imitation, the Primitive Teachers, and Patterns of our Religion.
Secondly, Wherein we ſhould Imitate them. The Apoſtle expreſſeth it in one Word, in their Faith; whoſe Faith follow.
Thirdly, The Encouragement to this, from the Conſideration of the happy State they are in, and the glorious Reward they are made Partakers of; Conſidering the End of their Converſation.
Firſt, I ſhall endeavour to ſhew, why among all the Examples of Good Men, we ſhould more eſpecially propoſe to our Imitation, the Primitive Teachers and Patterns of our Religion, I mean, the holy Apoſtles of our Lord and Saviour, whoſe Faith, we ſhould endeavour to follow; and to Imitate the holineſs and virtue of their Converſation. For Theſe certainly come neareſt to that moſt Perfect, and Excellent Pattern of all Goodneſs, our Bleſſed Saviour, and are the faireſt Tranſcripts of that unblemiſht Original. Hence it is that St. Paul ſo frequently exhorts Chriſtians to Imitate his Example, and the Examples of the other Apoſtles; it being reaſonable to preſume, that They came neareſt to the Pattern of our Lord. 1 Cor. 11.1. Be ye followers of me, even as I alſo am of Chriſt, Phil. 3.17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk ſo, as ye have us for an Enſample. For our Converſation is in Heaven.
And this is reaſonable, that the firſt in every kind ſhould be the Rule and Pattern of the reſt, and of all that follow after; becauſe it is likely to be moſt perfect. In proceſs of Time, the beſt Inſtitutions are apt to decline, and by inſenſible degrees to ſwerve, and depart from the Perfection of their firſt ſtate; and therefore it is a good Rule, to preſerve things from corruption and degeneracy, often to look back to the firſt Inſtitution, and by that to correct thoſe Imperfections and Errors, which will almoſt unavoidably creep in with Time.
If we would preſerve that Purity of Faith and Manners, which our Religion requires, we ſhould have frequent recourſe to the Primitive Teachers and Patterns of Chriſtianity, and endeavour to bring our Belief and Lives to as near a Conformity with theirs, as is poſſible. Who ſo likely to deliver the Faith and Doctrine of Chriſt pure, and uncorrupted, as the Primitive Teachers of it, who received it from our Lord himſelf; and were, by an extraordinary aſſiſtance of the Holy Spirit, ſecured from Error and Miſtake in the delivery of it? And who ſo likely to bring their Lives and Converſations to an exact Conformity with this holy Doctrine, as they, who were ſo throughly Inſtructed in it by the beſt Maſter, and ſhewn the Practice of it in the moſt perfect Example of all Holineſs and Virtue? Great Reaſon there is therefore, why all Chriſtians ſhould follow their Faith, and make their Coverſation more eſpecially the Patterns of their Lives.
The want of a due regard to theſe Fountains of Chriſtian Doctrine, and the firſt and beſt Patterns of Chriſtian Practice, hath been the great Cauſe of that foul degeneracy of the Romiſh Church, both in the Doctrine and Practice of Chriſtianity. They do not follow the Faith of the Apoſtles, the firſt Fathers and Teachers of Chriſtianity; but of the Fathers of the Council of Lateran, and Trent. Thus have they forſaken the Fountain of living waters, the Holy Scriptures, and have hewn to themſelves broken Ciſterns, that will hold no water; the Doctrines and Traditions of Men. Nay, they have ſtopt up this Fountain of living waters from the People, and forbid them to come to it; and forced them to drink of thoſe impure and pudled Streams, which they let out to them; and inſtead of the Lives of the holy Apoſtles, and thoſe eminent Graces and Virtues which ſhined forth in them, they repreſent to them the Patterns of new Saints; ſome of which neither they nor their Fathers knew, and indeed never were in being; as St. Almanach, and St. Synoris, and ſeveral others; many of them ſo far from being Saints, that they may be reckoned among the worſt of Men; (for inſtance, our Countryman Thomas a Becket, who for Pride and Rebellion may almoſt vye with Lucifer himſelf; and yet this ill Man, and worſt of Subjects, was Canonized to that height, as for Two hundred Years together, to engroſs the Worſhip of theſe Weſtern Parts of the World, and to impoveriſh the Shrines of all other Saints, even of the Bleſſed Virgin her ſelf;) others, ſuch Ideots, or hot-headed Fanaticks, that he that reads their Lives, would take them to be Fools and Madmen, rather than Saints, (as Francis, and Dominick, and Ignatius Loyola, and ſeveral others of the ſame ſtamp;) and many the very beſt of them, ſo diſguiſed by their Legends, that inſtead of the ſubſtantial Virtues of a Good Life, their ſtory is made up of falſe and fantaſtical Miracles, and ridiculous Freaks of Superſtition.
All which conſidered, there is great Reaſon, why we ſhould have recourſe to the Primitive Patterns of Faith and Holineſs, and be followers of them, who we are ſure were followers of Chriſt. I proceed to the
Second Thing I propoſed, namely, wherein we ſhould imitate theſe Patterns. And the Apoſtle expreſſeth it in one word, in their Faith, Whoſe faith follow. And the word Faith is frequently in the New Teſtament uſed ſo largely, as to comprehend the whole Condition of the Goſpel; a firm Belief of the Doctrine of it, and the Fruit and Effect of this Belief, in a good Converſation. And that Faith here in the Text, takes in a holy Life, is evident from what follows, Whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their Converſation; from whence it is evident, that the Apoſtle ſpeaks of ſuch a Faith, as ſhews forth it ſelf in a good Converſation.
So that we may very well ſuppoſe the Apoſtle here to recommend the Primitive Faith to our imitation, in theſe Four reſpects.
1. In regard of the Sincerity and Purity of it.
2. In regard of the Firmneſs and Stability of it.
3. Of their Conſtancy and Perſeverance in it.
4. Of the Efficacy and Fruitfulneſs of it, in a good Converſation. All theſe may be collected from the Expreſſions and Circumſtances of the Text.
1. We are to imitate theſe Primitive Patterns, in the Sincerity and Purity of their Faith; I mean, that the Faith which we profeſs, be the ſincere Doctrine of Chriſtianity, and the pure Word of God, free from all mixture of Humane Additions and Inventions, and not made up, as the Faith of the Phariſees was among the Jews, and theirs of the Church of Rome is at this day, of the Word of God, and the Doctrines and Traditions of Men; not like the Creed of Pope Pius the IV. (which is now the Standard of the Roman Faith) conſiſting of the 12 Old Aricles of the Chriſtian Faith, delivered to us by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and as many new ones, coined and ſtampt by their later Councils. This is not to follow the Faith of the Apoſtles, and firſt Patterns of Chriſtianity, the Faith once delivered to the Saints, as St. Jude calls it. This is to have our Faith ſtand upon the Authority of Men, and not on the Word of God; whereas we are to follow the Faith of the firſt Guides of the Chriſtian Church, who ſpake unto them the Word of God, as the Apoſtle expreſly chargeth here in the Text.
2. We are to imitate them, in the Stability and Firmneſs of our Faith, and not ſuffer our ſelves to be ſhaken, and removed from it, by every wind of new Doctrine; the Faith of Chriſt being unchangeable, as Chriſt himſelf. And that by following the Faith of the Primitive Guides and Teachers of Chriſtianity, the Apoſtle here means, that we ſhould be ſtedfaſt and unmoveable in it, is plain from what follows immediately after the Text; Whoſe faith follow, conſidering the End of their Converſation. Jeſus Chriſt, the ſame yeſterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carryed about with divers and ſtrange doctrines: for it is a good thing, that the heart be eſtabliſht with grace, that is, in the Doctrine of the Goſpel, which is frequently called the grace of God.
3. We are to imitate them, in the Conſtancy and Perſeverance of their Faith; and that, notwithſtanding all the Diſcountenance and Oppoſition, the Perſecution and Suffering, which attend the Profeſſion of this Faith; which the Apoſtle ſufficiently intimates in this Epiſtle, to have been the Condition of thoſe Chriſtians, to whom he wrote; and therefore he propoſeth ſo many Examples to them, of conſtant and patient Suffering for God and his Truth; and it is probable enough, that the Apoſtle here recommends the Example of thoſe, who were the Primitive Martyrs, as well as Teachers of Chriſtianity. He had before propoſed to them the living Examples of thoſe, who were under actual Perſecution and Sufferings for the Goſpel, v. 3. Remember thoſe that are in bonds, and thoſe that ſuffer adverſity; and here in the 7. v. he ſeems to propoſe the Pattern of thoſe, who had laid down their Lives and dyed for the Faith; Remember thoſe who have been your Guides, and have ſpoken to you the Word of God, whoſe Faith follow, conſidering the End of their Converſation, foreign, which may be rendr'd, the laſt act of their Lives, the manner of their going out of the World, perhaps by Martyrdom; as if had ſaid, Imitate them in their Conſtancy and Perſeverance in the Faith, even to the laſt, in laying down their Lives for it. And thus we ſhould be ready to do, if God calls us to it. However, it is certain, the Aopſtle meant their Conſtancy and Perſeverance in the Faith, to the laſt, and their dying in, if not for the Faith of Chriſt. And this is neceſſary, if we expect the Crown of Life, and hope for the ſame happy End, which they had; for none but they that continue to the end, ſhall be ſaved.
4. We ſhould imitate them, in the efficacy and fruitfulneſs of their Faith, in the Practice and Virtues of a good Life. Whoſe faith follow, conſidering the end of their Converſation, that is, their Perſeverance in a holy Courſe to the end. And theſe muſt never be ſeparated; a ſound Faith, and a good Life. Without this, our Faith is barren and dead, as St. James tells us, ch. 2. v. 17. Our Knowledge and Belief of the Chriſtian Doctrine, muſt manifeſt it ſelf in a good Converſation. Who is a wiſe man (ſays the ſame St. James, ch. 3. v. 13.) Who is a wiſe man; and endowed with knowledge amongſt you? Let him ſhew-out of a good converſation his works. This is a faithful ſaying, ſaith St. Paul to Titus, ch. 3. v. 8. and theſe things I will that thou affirm conſtantly, that they who have believed in God, be careful to maintain good works.
And herein the Apoſtles of our Lord and Saviour were eminent Examples. They lived as they Taught, and Practiſed the Doctrine which they Preached. So St. Paul ſtrictly chargeth Timothy, 1 Tim. 4.12. Be thou an example of the Believers, in word, in converſation, in charity, in faith, in purity. And our Saviour tells us, that hereby chiefly falſe Prophets and Teachers might be known from the true Apoſtles of Chriſt, Matth. 7.20. By their fruits ye ſhall know them. And indeed we do not follow the faith of thoſe Excellent Perſons, if we do not abound in all the fruits of righteouſneſs, which, by Jeſus Chriſt, are to the praiſe and glory of God. I come now to the
Third and Laſt Thing I Propoſed, viz. the Encouragement to this, from the Conſideration of the happy ſtate of thoſe Perſons, who are propoſed to us for Patterns, and the glorious Reward which they are made Partakers of in another World. Conſidering the end of their Converſation foreign, their egreſs, or departure out of this Life, into a Bleſſed and Glorious State, where they have received the Crown and Reward of their Faith and Patience, and Pious Converſation in this World; or elſe, (which comes much to one,) conſidering the concluſion of their Lives, with what Patience and Comfort they left the World, and with what joyful Aſſurance of the happy Condition they were going to, and were to continue in for ever.
And this is a great encouragement to Conſtancy and Perſeverance in Faith and Holineſs, to ſee with what Chearfulneſs and Comfort good Men die, and with what a firm and ſteady Perſwaſion of the Happineſs they are entring upon. For who would not be glad to leave the World, in that Calmneſs and Serenity of Mind, and comfortable Aſſurance of a Bleſſed Eternity? Bad Men wiſh this, and are ready to ſay with Balaam, Let me die the death of the Righteous, and let my laſt end be like his. But if we would have the Comfort of ſuch a Death, we muſt live ſuch Lives, and imitate the Faith and good Converſation of thoſe, whom we deſire to reſemble in the manner of their Death, and to go into the ſame Happy State that they are in after Death. If we do not make their Lives our Pattern; we muſt not expect to be conformable to to them, in the happy Manner of their Death. When we hear of the Death of an eminent good Man, we do not doubt but he is happy; and are confident, that he will meet with the Reward of his Piety and Goodneſs in another World. If we believe this of him; let us endeavour to be like him; that we may attain the ſame Happineſs, which we believe him to be poſſeſt of, and, as the Apoſtle exhorts, ch. 6.12. Let us not be ſlothful; but followers of them, who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promiſes. Let us ſhew the ſame Diligence that they did; that we may have the ſame full Aſſurance of Hope unto the End, which they had.
The Inference from this Diſcourſe, which I have made upon this Argument, is, to ſhew what Uſe we ought to make of theſe excellent Examples, which are ſet before us, of the firſt Founders and Teachers of our Religion, and what is the proper Honour and Reſpect, which we ought to pay to their Memory: Not Invocation and Adoration; but a zealous Imitation of their Faith, and good Converſation. The greateſt Honour we can do them, the moſt acceptable to God, the moſt grateful to them, and the moſt beneficial to our ſelves, is to endeavour to be like them: Not to make any Images, and Likeneſs of them, to fall down before them, and worſhip them; but to Form the Image of their Faith and Virtues upon our Hearts and Lives: Not to Pray to them; but to Praiſe God for ſuch bright and glorious Examples, and to endeavour with all our Might to imitate their Faith, and Patience, and Piety, and Humility, and Meekneſs, and Charity, and all thoſe other Virtues which were ſo reſplendent in them. And this is to remember the Founders of our Religion as we ought, to follow their Faith, and to conſider the end of their Converſation.
Had the Chriſtian Religion required, or intended any ſuch thing, as of latter Times hath been practiſed in the World; it had been as eaſy for the Apoſtle to have ſaid, Remember them that have been your Guids, and have ſpoken to you the Word of God, to erect Images to them, and to worſhip them with due Veneration, and to pray to them and make uſe of their Interceſſion. But no ſuch thing is ſaid, or the leaſt Intimation given of it, either in this Text, or any other in the whole Bible; but very much to the contrary.
Their Example indeed is frequently recommended to us, for our Imitation and Encouragement; and for this Reaſon, the Providence of God hath taken particular Care, that the Memory of the Apoſtles, and ſo many primitive Chriſtians and Martyrs, ſhould be tranſmitted to Poſterity; that Chriſtians in all ſucceeding Ages might propound theſe Patterns to themſelves, and have perpetually before their Eyes the Piety and Virtue of their Lives, and their patient and conſtant Sufferings for the Truth; that when God ſhall pleaſe to call us to the like Tryal, we may not be wearied and faint in our Minds; but being compaſſed about with ſuch a Cloud of Witneſſes, having ſo many Examples in our Eye of thoſe, who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promiſes, and do now as it were look down from their happy State upon us here below, who are combating with manifold Temptations, to ſee how we behave and acquit our ſelves in our Chriſtian Courſe, we may take encouragement to our ſelves, from ſuch Examples, and ſuch Spectators, to run with Patience the Race which is ſet before us.
I know indeed that other Uſe than this hath been, and is at this Day made of the Memory of the Saints and Martyrs of former Ages, very diſhonourable to God, and very grievous to them, if they be ſenſible of what is done here below; I mean to Worſhip them, and to Pray to them, and (to the great Diſparagement of the powerful Interceſſion of our great High Prieſt, Jeſus the Son of God) to make them the Mediators and Interceſſors in Heaven with God for us. Of this the Scripture hath no where given us the leaſt intimation; but hath expreſly commanded the contrary, to worſhip the Lord our God, and him only to ſerve; and to pray to him alone, in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, who is the only Mediator betwixt God and Man. Nor are there any Footſteps of any ſuch Practice, in the primitive Church, for the firſt Three Hundred Years; as is acknowledged by our moſt Learned Adverſaries of the Church of Romer
The Scripture no where propounds the Saints to us, for Objects of our Worſhip; but for the Patterns of our lives. This is the greateſt Reſpect and Veneration, that we can, or ought to pay to them; and whatever is beyond this, is a Ʋoluntary Humility, injurious to God and our Bleſſed Saviour, and moſt certainly diſpleaſing to thoſe, whom we pretend to Honour; if they know how Men play the fool about them here below.
Let us then endeavour to be like them, in the Holy and Virtuous Actions of their Lives, in their conſtant Patience and Suffering for the Truth; if God ſhall call us thereto. And we may be like them, if we do but ſincerely endeavour it, and pray to God for his Grace and Aſſiſtance to that end. For theſe Examples were not left for our Admiration only; but for our Imitation. We frequently read the Lives of the Apoſtles and firſt Founders of our Religion: But I know not how it comes to paſs, we chooſe rather lazily to admire them, than, vigorouſly to follow them; as if the Piety of the firſt Chriſtians were Miraculous, and not at all intended for the Imitation of ſucceeding Ages; as if Heaven and Earth, God and Men, and all things were alter'd, ſince that time; as if Chriſtianity were then in its Youthful Age and Vigour, but is ſince decayed, and grown old, and hath quite loſt its Power and Virtue. And indeed the generality of Chriſtians live at ſuch a faint and careleſs rate, as to make the World believe, that either all the Stories of the Primitive Chriſtians are Fables; or elſe, that the Force of Chriſtianity is ſtrangely abated, and that the Holy Spirit of God hath forſaken the Earth, and is retired to the Father. But Truth never grows old, and thoſe Laws of Goodneſs and Righteouſneſs, which are contained in the Goſpel, are ſtill as reaſonable, and apt to gain upon the Minds of Men, as ever. God is the ſame he was, and our Bleſſed Saviour is ſtill at the Right Hand of God, Interceding powerfully for Sinners, for mercy and grace to help in time of need. The Promiſes and Threatnings, of the Goſpel, are ſtill as true and powerful as ever; and the holy Spirit of God is ſtill in the World, and effectually works in them that believe.
Let us not then deceive our ſelves in this matter. The Primitive Chriſtians were Men like our ſelves, ſubject to the ſame Paſſions that we are, and compaſſed about with the ſame Infirmities; ſo that altho' that extraordinary Spirit and Power of Miracles, which God endowed them withal, for the firſt planting and propagating of the Goſpel in the World, be now ceaſed; yet the ſanctifying Power and Virtue of God's Holy Spirit, does ſtill accompany the Goſpel, and is ready to aſſiſt us in every good work.
In a word: We have all that is neceſſary to work the ſame Graces and Virtues in us, which were in them; and if we be not ſlothful, and wanting to our ſelves, we may follow their faith, and at laſt attain the end of it, even the Salvation of our Souls.
Let us then, from an idle admiring of thoſe excellent Patterns, proceed to a vigorous imitation of them, and be ſo far from being diſcouraged by the Excellency of them, as to make even that Matter and Ground of encouragement to our ſelves; according to that of Tertullian, Admonetur omnis aet as fieri poſſe, quod aliquando factum eſt; all Ages to the end of the World may he convinced, that what hath been done, is poſſible to be done. There have been ſuch Holy and Excellent Perſons in the World; and therefore it is poſſible for Men to be ſuch.
Let us not then be ſlothful, but followers of them, who through Faith and Patience inherit the Promiſes. Since we are compaſt about with ſuch a Cloud of Witneſſes; let us lay aſide every weight, and the ſin which ſo eaſily beſets us, and let us run with Patience the Race which is ſet before us, looking unto Jeſus the Author and Finiſher of our Faith, who for the Joy that was ſet before him, endured the Croſs, and deſpiſed the Shame, and is now ſet down at the right hand of God.