Scripture examples and patterns before you, of grace and holiness—
his family, the state of the nation, the state of his body; but above all
to know the state and condition of his own soul. How many
thousands are there, who can give a better account of their lands,
their lordships, their riches, their crops, their shops, their trades,
their merchandise, yes, of their hobbies and their hounds—than they
can of the estate of their own souls! O my friends, your souls are of
more worth than ten thousand worlds, Mat. 16:26, and therefore it
must be the greatest prudence, and the choicest policy in the world—
to secure their everlasting welfare, and to know how things stands
between God and your souls, what you are worth for eternity, and
how it is likely to go with you in that other world.
While a Christian lives at uncertainties as to his spiritual and
everlasting estate, as whether he has grace or no grace; or whether
his grace be true or counterfeit; whether he has a saving interest in
Christ or not; or whether a work in power upon his soul or not; or
whether God loves him or loathes him; whether God will bring him
to heaven or throw him to hell—how can any Christian who lives at
so great an uncertainty delight in God, rejoice evermore, triumph in
Christ Jesus, be ready to suffer, and be desirous to die? Job 27:10;
Phil. 4:4; 2 Cor. 2:14; Phil. 1:23. All men love to be at a certainty in
all their outward concernments; and yet how many thousands are
there that are at an astonishing uncertainty as to the present and
future state of their precious and immortal souls! But,
10. The tenth word of advice and counsel is this—Set the highest
Scripture examples and patterns before you, of grace and holiness—
for your imitation. 1 Cor. 4:16. In the point of faith and obedience set
an Abraham before you, Gen. 12 and 22. In the point of meekness set
a Moses before you, Num. 12:3. In the point of courage set a Joshua
before you, Josh. 1. In the point of uprightness set a David before
you, Psalm 18:23. In the point of zeal set a Phinehas before you. In
the point of patience set a Job before you. Make Christ your main
pattern, "Be followers of me, as I am of Christ," James 5:11-12, and 1
Cor. 11:1. And next to him set the patterns of the choicest saints
before you for your imitation. [Precepts may instruct, but examples
persuade.]
The nearer you come to those blessed copies that they have set before
you, the more will be your joy and comfort, and the more God will be
honored, Christ exalted, the Spirit pleased, piety adorned, the
mouths of sinners stopped, and the hearts of saints rejoiced. He who
shoots at the sun, though he shoot far short, yet will shoot higher
than he who aims at a shrub. It is safest, it is best, to eye the highest
and worthiest examples. Examples are,
(1.) More awakening than precepts;
(2.) More convincing than precepts;
(3.) More encouraging than precepts, Heb. 11:8; and that because in
them we see that the exercise of godliness, though difficult, yet is
possible. When we see men subject to like passions with ourselves to
be very mortified, self-denying, humble, holy, etc.; what should
hinder, but that it may be so with us also? Such as begin to work with
the needle, look much on their pattern: it is so in learning to write,
and indeed in learning to live also. Observe the gracious