directs himself in this whole fermon: And therefore we find the very fame comparison or metaphor which is here made ufe of, light and fhining, apply'd exprefly by St. Paul to every Chriftian, as fuch; for fo he exhorts the Philippians, That ye be blameless and harmless, the fons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverfe nation, among ft whom ye SHINE as LIGHTS in the world. Every Chriftian, let his ftation or circumstances be what they will, whether he be a publick or a private perfon, known to many or to few, is to look upon himself as obliged to be holy in all manner of converfation, as he that has called him is holy; and make it his business so to live, as may be a credit to the religion he pretends to. This, by his very profeffion of Chriftianity, is expected from him at all times, and in all places; but more especially when he lives among heathens, and other infidels,ftrangers or enemies to the name of CHRIST, who will be generally apt to form their judgment of our religion rather by the influence it has upon our confciences and practice, than by its own truth and moral excellence. They hear it called indeed an holy religion, an inftitution of great and glorious virtues (and fuch it certainly is) but when they caft their cyes upon our lives, and obferve, that inftead of all this holiness and virtue, that should follow there, we are no better than themfelves, and too often (I fear it may be faid) much worfe; will it not be a moft dreadful prejudice to Christianity? Let all who travel abroad to fuch parts of the world where our religion is not known or not received, all who go to refide in our foreign factories and plantations, confider this precept of our Lord, as more immediately affecting them. Let it be their care above all things fo to live, tas becomes the * I Pet. i. 15. † Phil. i. 27. Gospel Gospel of Chrift, * having their converfation honeft among the Gentiles, that by their good works which they fhall behold, they may glorify God in the day of vifitation; and be ready to embrace, when preached to them, that holy faith, that pure and perfect law, which fhines fo bright in practice. But if they live contrary to it, they difgrace themfelves, and their religion too; they make Christianity to be abhorred, the † name of GOD and CHRIST to be blafphemed among the Gentiles; and wo to bim by whom the offence cometh. The cafe is much the fame with fuch as live in a vicious neighbourhood, where Chriftianity is profefs'd, but little or nothing of the true fpirit of it to be feen. Those few who are good in fuch a place, have need to be exempla ry in goodness, and have peculiar obligations upon them fo to be. That Chriftian who by the grace of God has withdrawn himfelf from the evil cuf toms and practices of the wicked world about him, and makes profeffion to live more ftrictly to his Saviour's rules; to be more fober, virtuous, and religious, than those others, and those much the greater number, who own the name of CHRIST, but in their works deny him, is very deeply concern'd to give a great and eminent example of all forts of virtue. To be indifferently or obfcurely good, is but a barren, I had almost faid a contemptible character in him. GOD and the world expect much more from him, or the one will have but little glory, and the other but little benefit by his example. He is bound in point of honour, as well as confcience, to excel, as he pretends to be more effectually convinced than others, of the excellency of the chrif tian law, and the reasonablenefs and neceffity of living up to it. But to proceed, tho' all Chriftians * Pet. ii. 12. Mat. xviii. 7. † Rom. ii. 24. 1 Tim. vi. I. in whatever station are bound to be exemplary, that others may be drawn to goodness, and encouraged in it, there are fome whofe order, rank, and circumftances in the world, will carry the light of their good works much farther, and by the more extenLive influence; or at least the greater power and weight of their examples, may glorify GOD more effectually, than fuch as have not those advantages. Amongst these I reckon, (1.) PRINCES and great men, all whose birth and quality, eftate or reputation, make them regarded above the general level of mankind. 'Tis evident by long experience, that the example of fuch as I have now mention'd, has force enough to bring either virtue or vice into fashion. These are indeed a city fet on an hill, which cannot be hid; whatever good or ill they do, will be obferv'd by every body, and talk'd of far and near. And as 'tis impoffible to conceal their moral character, because the station they are in expofes it whether they will or no; 'tis almoft as impoffible to defeat the influence it is likely to have on the morality of others. Whatever the prince is, the court will either be or feem to be, because of their dependance and expectation from him. Whatever the court is, the city and country gentlemen will be apt to imitate, and to endeavour to recommend themselves by putting on the courtiers virtues or vices. The commonpeople look upon the nobility and gentry, who live amongst them, as their patterns, right or wrong, and by a natural pride are prone to value themselves upon doing as they do. It is therefore of exceeding great confequence, that these men of note and figure fhould fet good examples: For probably nothing of mere human means would tend more effectually to reform the age, than fuch examples, general and continued, as 'tis certain the contrary tends more than any thing to debauch it. (2.) THE (2.) THE clergy in all stations and degrees, are peculiarly bound in decency, as well as duty, to live up to what they preach. The world is fo well fatisfied in this, that the clamour of their country. will affuredly follow them, if they do not; and nothing gives a more popular fcandal to religion, than the vicious lives of fuch, as by their very function and office are fent forth to be preachers of rightcoufnels. 'Tis true, that if they fet an ill example, it is no excufe for defpifing or neglecting the holy precepts, which, by authority from Chrift who fends them, they deliver; for let them live as they will, yet if they give us from the pulpit the true faith and doctrine of the Gospel; what they preach, and not what they practise, is certainly the rule by which we shall be judged for eternity. Our Saviour has plainly taught us to distinguish thus, in his remark upon the Scribes and Pharifees: *The Scribes and Pharifees fit in Mofes feat. All therefore whatfoever they bid you obferve, that obferve and do, but do not after their works, for they Jay and do not. Yet the obligation upon the chriftian clergy, to live up ftrictly to their doctrine, is as ftrong as Scripture and reafon can make it. St. Paul charges Timothy, Be thou an example of believers, in word, in converfation, in charity, in faith, in purity. And St. Peter gives it, as a general order to all elders or prefbyters, that they fhould be + Enfamples to the FLOCK, that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they may receive a crown of glory which fadeth not away. As for their obligation from reafon, there needs no other argument for their exemplarinefs, than that a character for virtue and piety will be of mighty advantage to them in the difcharge of one great part of their * Matth. xxiii. 2, 3. ti Pet. v. 3, 4. 1 Tim. iv. 12. office, office, that of perfuafion; for no man can be a good. preacher, who is not remarkable for a good life and converfation; a reputation for virtue being of great use to an orator, in gaining upon the affections of any auditory. Virgil makes the authority of fuch a fpeaker, of force enough to appease the anger of an enraged multitude. Tum pietate gravem, dc meritis fi forte virum quem Confpexere, filent, arrectifque auribus aftant, Ille regit dictis animos, & pectora mulcet. (3.) ANOTHER order of men, whom I reckon to be under special obligations to an exemplary life, is magiftrates; fuch as, by whatever titles, are entrufted with the execution of either the civil or ecclefiaftical laws of their country. The legal punishment of vice, fo far as it falls within the lafh of canon or ftatute, is, doubtless, as much a part of their bufinefs as any other. They are the *Minifters of God, revengers to execute wrath upon him that doth evil; fent by him with this express commiffion, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praife of them that do well. If this be their office, as it certainly is, ought not they in point of honour and juftice, to fet examples to those they govern, of all thofe virtues which their commiffion ties them to protect and recommend? (4) PARENTS and mafters of families are peculiarly obliged, though their good example be contracted within a narrower obfervation, to let it fhine as far as it can, for it may be of great importance. Children, from that natural love implanted in them towards their parents, are almost neceffarily led to the imitation of what they hear them fay, and fee them do. And fervants, inured * Rom. xiii, 4. by |