pointed at in Heb. 12:1. Gracious examples are more awakening,
Reason 8. The eighth and last reason why Christians should be silent
and mute under their sorest trials, is this, that they may be
conformable to those noble patterns that are set before them by
other saints, who have been patient and silent under the smarting
rod. As Aaron, Lev. 10:3; so Eli, 1 Sam. 3:18; so David, 2 Sam. 16:7–
13; so Job, chap. 1:21, 22; so Eliakim, Shebnah, and Joab, Isa. 36:11,
12. So those saints in that Acts 21:12–15; and that cloud of witnesses,
pointed at in Heb. 12:1. Gracious examples are more awakening,
more convincing, more quickening, more provoking, and more
encouraging than precepts, because in them we see that the exercise
of grace and godliness is possible, though it be difficult. When we see
Christians, that are subject to like infirmities with ourselves, mute
and silent under the afflicting hand of God, we see that it is possible
that we may attain to the same noble temper of being tongue-tied
under a smarting rod. Certainly it is our greatest honour and glory, in
this world, to be eyeing and imitating the highest and worthiest
examples. What Plutarch said of Demosthenes, that he was excellent
at praising the worthy acts of his ancestors, but not so at imitating
them, may be said of many in these days. Oh! they are very forward
and excellent at praising the patience of Job, but not at imitating it;
at praising the silence of Aaron, but not at imitating it; at praising
David's dumbness, but not at imitating it; at praising Eli's muteness,
but not at imitating it. It was the height of Cæsar's glory to walk in
the steps of Alexander, and of Selymus, a Turkish emperor, to walk
in Cæsar's steps, and of Themistoeles to walk in Miltiades's steps.
Oh! how much more should we account it our highest glory to
imitate the worthy examples of those worthies, of whom this world is