Christ the Perfect Pattern of a Christians Practice, Title page – To the reader
CHRIST THE Perfect Pattern, OF A Chriſtian's Practice, Being the ſubſtance of ſeverall Sermons, about the Imitation of Chriſt. PREACHED, By the Reverend and faithfull Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, Mr. Ralph Robinſon, late Miniſter of Mary Wolnoth London.
Phil. 2. 5. Let this minde be in you, which was alſo in Christ Jeſus.
Eandem humilitatem eligeret ſervus, quam ſectatus est Dominus. Leo.
Quid vobis cum virtutibus, qui virtutem Christi ignoratis? Ubinam quaeſo, vera prudentia niſi in Chriſti Doctrina? ubi vera temperantia niſi in Christi vita? ubi vera fortitudo niſi in Christi paſſione? Bern.
Abſonum eſt, membrum ſuperbum & delicatum eſſe, ſub capite humili, & ſpinis coronato. Davenantius.
Publiſhed by Sim. Aſh, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke.
London, Printed by J. S. and are to be ſold by John Sims, at the Croſſe-Keys in the new Buildings in Pauls Church-yard, 1658.
Chriſt the Perfect Pattern.
Chriſtian Reader,
IT is not long ſince, that a Book of Mr. Robinſons, atteſted with Our Names, was publiſhed; the Subject whereof was this, That Chriſt is All in All; wherein were opened thoſe Elegant Scripture Similitudes, by which, it pleaſed the wiſdom of the Holie Ghost, to illuſtrate unto us, the Perſon, Dignitie, and Offices of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt: which Book, (as we are informed,) hath been verie acceptable to the People of God; eſpecially, of thoſe who ſtill retain the freſh remembrance of Mr. Robinſon's precious, and profitable Miniſtrie.
It were to be wiſhed, that thoſe Miniſters, who have leaſure, anſwerable to their great parts and abilities, would inrich the Church of God, with the fruits of their ſtudies and experiences, whilſt God continues them in this life: that ſo their Works might neither be neglected as poſthumous, nor ſuſpected as ſpurious.
This little Treatiſe, now put into thy hands, thou mayſt be aſsured, is printed, according to the Copy, left written by the Authours own hand.
The ſubject here handled, is moſt Noble, viz. the imitation of Chriſt, who is the grand Exemplar, and Perfect Pattern to all Chriſtians. Though we dare not ſay, that the onelyonly or main end, either of Chriſts Life and Death, was to leave us an Example; yet we ſay, that one end thereof, was to leave us an Example, 1 Pet. 2. 21. We do not, dare not, preſs the imitation of Chriſt upon that deſign that ſome have done, thereby, to enervate the ſatiſfaction & propitiation by Chriſts death: For we do abhorre both thoſe opinions, viz. that the firſt Adams ſin, and the ſecond Adams righteouſneſs, are no otherwiſe ours, then by imitation. But yet we ſay, that it concerns all Chriſtians, ſo to improve the Example of Chriſts humilitie, meeknes, mercifulnes, obedience and zeal, that they ſhould walk, even as Chriſt hath walked. 1 Joh. 2. 6. who hath not onlie left us, 1 Pet. 2. 21. foreign a Copie to write by; but alſo Joh. 13. 15. foreign, a perfect example; ſhewing us, and guiding our hearts and hands, to vvrite according to that incomparable Copy.
The Lord Jeſus Chriſt by his Spirit, lead thee (Chriſtian Reader) into all truth,
So pray, Thine in Chriſt,
Simeon Aſh.
Sam. Clark.
Wil. Taylor.
London, Jan. 27. 1657. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy.