Father is perfect, the meaning is not that, by the best of our endeavours we can attain that perfection; but by imitating that example, as far as we can, we may go higher than we could without it. And hence arises the great advantage of having a perfect pattern. We may still rise higher in the degrees of imitation; as there will always be so many degrees above us, that we can never attain the highest.

And now, my brethren, let us (as we ought on all occasions to apply every instruction to practice) seriously ask ourselves, Whether we do in earnest set the blessed example of this holy life before our eyes? Whether, as far as we can, we follow those heavenly steps that went before us? - How are your hearts with regard to God? Do you feel any thing like that piety to God, that zeal for his laws, that love of God, that confidence, that trust in him, which appeared in your blessed Lord? or are your hearts always grovelling in the world, and stuck fast in the mire of earthly things? Are you not often so far from reverencing the name of God, that many of you scruple not to profane it with oaths and imprecations? If called to some severe trial; if any misfortune is laid upon you;

if you are reduced to a state of indigence, or confined to the bed of sickness; can you look up to heaven, lay your hands upon your breasts, and say, with the blessed Jesus, Thy will be done? or do you kick against the pricks, and, full of repining, murmur at that gracious God, who intends your good in all his dispensations?— Again, How are you with your neighbour? Do you follow the bright example, in behaving with mildness, and sweetness of manners, to all with whom you converse, in your families at home particularly? or are you provoking, insolent, morose, sullen, and overbearing? Are you prepared to forgive every injury that is done you, like the blessed Jesus, who, in the midst of the most bitter sufferings, cried, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do? or, are you ready to take offence at every trifle, and turn every slight occasion into matter of quarrel? Are you, like the mild Saviour of Mankind, full of tenderness, compassion, and charity; and ready to do good to all who need your assistance? or, are you so far from doing them good, that you are more disposed to cheat and injure them, if you can serve your own advantage by doing it privately?-Again, how do you prac

tise your duty to yourselves? No impurity ever stained that holy life; and are your lives sensual, given up to low pleasures, debauchery, and drunkenness? How sits the world upon you? Can you say, that in whatsoever state you are, you have learned to be content? Can you say with your blessed Master, calm and resigned, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head? or, do you feel your breasts full of anxiety and discontent, of repining and distress

- perhaps, full of envy, because your neighbours have more of this world's good than has fallen to you?

Do not then, my brethren, deceive yourselves; nor suppose, that this bright example the history of our blessed Lord, which employed the pens of four evangelists, and was dictated by the holy Spirit of God, was given you as an ordinary tale: it was given you to direct your lives — to assist the precepts of the Gospel, and make the strongest impression upon you. People may say, they cannot understand this text of Scripture, or the other; and, no doubt, there are many texts of Scripture which are not easily understood; but a holy life is a lesson which every body may

read, and every body may understand and for this reason, no doubt, among others, the scheme of our religion was given us in the form of a history, to make our duty more plain and easy. Evil communication, says the text, corrupts good manners; just so, good communication has a tendency to improve them. We employ many a leisure hour, even the most industrious of us, in things that are of little value; let us, now and then, at least employ one in reading the holy Scriptures; and in forming our manners after the example of the blessed Jesus: let us endeavour - in our hearts let us endeavour, to accompany him, as he goes from place to place, intent on nothing but on works of charity, and kindness, and piety: let us listen to his divine discourses; and, above all, let us study his bright example. Living with a holy person affords often the best kind of instruction: let us live with Christ; let us learn from him patience, and temperance, and humility, and resignation; let us, in few words, learn to amend our hearts, and despise the world: then shall we be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. But if we reject this adoption, and let the world, and all its wickedness have our hearts, then, instead of F 3 being

being the disciples and imitators of Christ, we become the children, as our Saviour tells the impenitent Jews, of our father the devil. I am the vine, says Christ to his true followers, and ye are the branches: ye receive your nourishment from the vine; and through your connection with it, bear fruit, and bring it to perfection. But if you break off all connection with the vine, you shall be pruned away, and thrown aside, like withered sticks appointed for the fire.