hands, and the sweat of his brows, that he might render the gospel nowise burdensome or offensive to them: how vigilantly: and courageously he withstood the mischievous endeavors of false brethren and treacherous seducers; earnestly contending for the church's peace and quiet against factious spirits, and for the substantial truths of the gospel against the pernicious devices of heretics and false teachers: how patiently he sustained all, manner of pains, griefs, travels, wants, losses, hazards, distresses, disappointments, affronts, and reproaches, for the honor of God, the benefit of his spiritual children, the discharge of his duty, and satisfaction of his conscience: these things, I say, regard, and then tell me if he might not reasonably inculcate this admonition, Imitate me;' and if his example be not of rare use to instruct us how faithfully we should in our respective charges and employments demean ourselves. I might in like manner instance how excellent a rule of devotion the practice of the royal prophet may be unto us; how Elias's practice might teach us to be zealous champions for truth and righteousness; how they who would be good judges, or honest patriots, may receive direction from the carriage of Samuel, Daniel, and Nehemiah. But I proceed to say that, farther,

11. Good examples do not only inform, but they persuade and incline our reason to good practice, commending it to us by plausible authority; a way of reasoning the most plain, easy, and suitable to all men's capacities; less subject to error and doubt than any other in particular cases; whereby as it is always more easy to know what is good and fit, so commonly it is most safe; there being few, who can so well discern what is good, as they may rest in the judgments of others. For that wise and virtuous persons do any thing, is a very probable argument, that we are obliged and concerned to do the like; seeing such persons may in all their actions be supposed to have an unbiassed regard to the rules of truth and justice. He therefore who can say that Abraham, or David, or St. Paul did so in such a case, supposeth that he hath no small reason to do the like; it is accounted pardonable, yea almost commendable, to err with such persons; because it is done with good appearance of reason, seeing such persons were themselves unlikely to err: will you,' saith Cicero, commemorate to me

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Scipio's, and Cato's, and Lælius's, and say they did the same thing; though the thing displeases me, yet I cannot withstand the authority of such men: their authority is so great, that it can cover even the suspicion of a fault.' It is obvious in temporal concernments, how great a stroke this way of discourse hath; how boldly men adventure their dearest interests in following such whom they probably deem honest, and able to guide them for instance, in travelling, if one being ignorant or doubtful of his way happen to meet a person, whom he conceives able, and nowise concerned or disposed to mislead him, he without scruple follows him, and confidently relies on his direction. In like manner, all good men in the way of virtuous practice tending directly toward happiness, (our common journey's end;) it being their design, their interest, and their endeavor not to mistake the way, not to deflect from the right and nearest course thereto, men are apt to think it reasonable and safe to accompany in their progress, or to press after them in their steps: and surely, next to a clear and certain rule, there is not any more rational warrant for practice, and consequently no better inducement thereto, than such good precedents. Farther,

III. Examples do incite our passions, and impel them to the performance of duty. They raise hope, they inflame courage, they provoke emulation, they urge on modesty, they awaken curiosity, they affect fancy, they set in motion all the springs of activity. It may not be amiss to show how particularly,

1. They raise hope, by discovering to us and assuredly proving the feasibleness of matters propounded, or the possibility of success in undertaking good designs, and that by the best and most convincing of arguments, experience. Nothing so depresseth hope and advanceth despondency, as an apprehension of impossibility, or which is equivalent thereto, an extreme difficulty (appearing to surmount our present forces) in the business to be attempted: of such a conceit desperation seemeth a reasonable consequence. For, τῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐφίεσθαι μavikov, it is a madness to aim at impossibilities;' and such, considering the great infirmity of human nature, its strong propensions to evil, and averseness from good, together with the

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manifold impediments and allurements objecting themselves in the way of good practice, all duties as barely represented in precepts, and pressed by rational inducements might seem to be, if good example did not clearly demonstrate them to be possible, yea sometimes facile; even those, which on a superficial view do seem most difficult, and insuperable by our weak endeavor. The Stoical doctrine, which described a fine and stately portraiture of virtue, and inculcated very strict rules, (a close following of God and nature, a perfect victory over self, the subduing all passions, and overruling all corporeal appetites; an intire freedom, composure, and tranquillity of mind; a total indifferency in respect of fortune and all external events, with the like duties, rarely practised, although, on all accounts, acknowleged conformable to reason,) was therefore by most rejected as useless, or exploded as ridiculous, as being presumed to propound matters purely imaginary and unpracticable yet he that had seen this doctrine in great measure exemplified by Zeno, the first master of it, would have had no such reason to contemn it, nor to despair of practising according to it, if he would seriously endeavor it: exemplified, I say, by Zeno, whereof we have an illustrious testimony from a solemn decree of the Athenians : ἐπειδὴ Ζήνων Μνασέου, &c. Laert. in Zen. 'Whereas Zeno, the son of Mnaseas the Cittican, having many years professed philosophy in this city, and as well in all other things hath demeaned himself like a good man, as particularly exhorting the young men, who went to be instructed by him, hath provoked them to virtue and sobriety; withal exhibiting his own life a pattern of the best things answerable to the discourses he used to make; it is therefore auspiciously decreed by the people, that Zeno the son of Mnaseas be solemnly praised and crowned (according to the usage) with a golden crown; and that a monument be erected for him at the public charge in the Ceramicum,' (the place where those were interred who had bravely exposed their lives for public defence.) This was indeed a noble attestation and a comely respect exhibited to a virtuous conversation; making in some measure a satisfaction for the heinous affront done thereto, when, instead of honoring it with a crown, they rewarded it with a cup of poison, given to the excellent

Socrates. Suitably to which testimony Seneca saith of Cleanthes, that his virtuous practice depended more on the observation of Zeno's life, than the information of his doctrine. Zenonem Cleanthes non expressisset, si eum tantummodo audisset : vitæ ejus interfuit, secreta perspexit, observavit illum an ex formula sua viveret. Cleanthes,' saith he, had not so nearly resembled Zeno, if he had only attended to his discourses: he was present to his life, he took notice of his private carriage, he observed whether his practice did suit to his doctrine.' So that Stoicism itself, which speaketh such prodigies, was, it seems, founded not only on big words, the issues of a speculative fancy, but more on the good practice of its first master and institutor. And indeed he that would effectually persuade the undertaking of any enterprise, must either suppose it, or prove it effectible; and the most easy, the most evident way of proving it is by example. Men,' saith Pliny junior well, ' are better instructed by examples, which have in them chiefly this advantage, that they do prove the things may be done which they enjoin.' And, human infirmity,' saith Salvian to the same purpose, 'requires the assistance of example, that it may more easily now perform that which it knows others to have before done; all posterity being admonished by hearing that what hath once been done may be done again.' And, 'the example,' saith St. Bernard, of a work done is a lively and efficacious oration, easily persuading what we intend, by proving that feasible which we strive to persuade unto.' On which score we therefore are exceedingly obliged to those holy men, who by their practice have assured us that the highest duties exacted of us by our religion (the mortification of unreasonable desires, the suppression of irregular passions, the loving and blessing our enemies, the renouncing worldly vanities and pleasures, the rejoicing in afflictions, the voluntary abdication of our estates in some cases, yea, exposing life itself to inevitable hazard and loss,) are not chimerical propositions of impossible performances; but duties (if we shall seriously and vigorously apply our endeavors to them, and suffer our hopes to be elevated by their example) really practicable. Piety abstractedly viewed in precept may seem an airy project, a name, a notion; but it being seen in example will prove a

matter substantial, true, and feasible. A direct and pure speculation thereof may dazzle our sight, and dash our hopes'; but as being reflected from persons practising it, we may bear its lustre, and hope to attain it.

2. Examples do inflame courage. So the Apostle to the Hebrews signifieth, when to this purpose he intimateth that he mentioned and setteth before them the examples of the patriarchs; that he thereby might excite their courage, and cause them resolutely to undertake that obedience, and patiently to undergo those afflictions, which they performed and sustained; that,' saith he, 'ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' For that heat and active spirit, which in some degree resideth in all men's breasts, is by example kindled, as one flame is kindled by the contact or approach of another. How many persons, timorous and averse from dangerous undertakings, have not. withstanding become very bold and adventurous in war, by the discipline and influence of an exemplary valor! It is Plutarch's observation concerning Cæsar's soldiers, that they who in service under other commanders did not exceed the ordinary rate of courage, nor excel their fellows, did yet when he led them become irresistibly valiant, being animated and inspired by his unparalleled gallantry: and who is there indeed so incurably heartless, so desperately sluggish or stupid, whom the sight of a valiant leader marching before into the mouth of danger, will not infuse fire and vigor into, and instigate forward into a participation of brave adventure? So example doth by a kind of contagion insinuate courage, or inveigle men thereinto; beside that it is a kind of daring, and proclaimeth him a dastard, that will not imitate it; which imputation the lowest courage of man can hardly digest, and will therefore, by doing somewhat answerable, strive to decline it.

3. Again: Examples provoke emulation; which is another strong principle of activity; moving us earnestly to desire, and thence eagerly to pursue, whatever good, privilege, or advantage, we see another to enjoy. To observe another of the same nature and capacities with ourselves to have shone with an illustrious virtue, to be consecrated to posterity by a lasting fame, and to be crowned with glorious rewards above; what