3. Why must we follow Chrift?

1. God hath commanded it, S. Matt. xi. 29.
Ephef. v. 1. Cor. xi. 1. 1 S. Joh. ii. 6.
2. He is the only perfect Pattern, Ifa. li. 9.
I S. Pet. ii. 22.

3. Our Holinefs and Religion confifteth in
imitating Him, 1 S. Pet. i. 15.
Chriftiani à Chrifto nomen acceperunt,& ope-
ra-pretium eft, ut ficut haredes nominis, ita
fint imitatores fanctitatis. Bernard.
4. This was one End of Chrift's Incarna-
tion and Paffion, 1 S. Pet. ii. 21.

USES. Hence observe,

1. That it is neceffary carefully to read and Study the Scriptures, to know how Christ walked, S. Joh. v. 39.

2. That there are but few that follow Him, S.Luk. xii. 32. But the Beafts, yea, the very Devils, have more Followers than Christ. The Beasts have,

1. All covetous Worldlings.

2. All Drunkards.

3. All Gluttons.

4. All Adulterers, Jer. v. 8. to follow them.

The Devils have,

1. All proud Persons.

2. All Liars, S. Joh. viii. 44.

3. All malicious People.

4. All Idolaters.

5. All Seducers.

6. All Oppreffors and Murderers.

7. All Deriders of Religion.

8. All Apoftates from God and Goodness all these are Followers of the Devil, and not of Chrift.

2. EXAOR

2. EXHORTATION.

Wherefore, follow Chrift, Judg. vii. 17.
Confidering,

1. Unless you follow Chrift, you are out of the way to Heaven.

2. If you do follow Chrift, you are fure to go right; He is an unerring Guide to follow.

3. Do you but follow after Chrift, and then Chrift will be fure to look after you, as He did after those who follow'd Him literally, S. Matt. XV. 32.

4. What Contentment and Satisfaction you will have, both all your Life and at your Death, you follow Him, Ifa. xxxviii. 3.

if

5. Make Chrift your Pattern and Gaide here, and He will be your Portion hereafter.

S. MATT.

S. MATT. xvi. 25.

For whosoever will fave his Life fhall lofe it, and whosoever will lofe his Life for my Sake, hall find it.

I. DOCTRINE.

HAT a Man gets or faves by Sin, he

1. How many ways may a Man get or fave any thing by Sin?

1. By Theft.

Diffimulation and Lying, Alt. v. 1, 2.
Perjury, 1 King. xxi. 13.

Over-reaching and Cozenage.
Oppression.

Covetoufnefs.

Hard-heartedness and Uncharitable

nefs.

not laying it out for God's Glory. Prophanation of the Sabbath, Numb.

XV. 32.

2. How may a Man be faid to lose what he gets by Sin?

1. He lofeth the Bleffing of GOD upon it, Prov. X. 22.

2. lofeth the real Comfort he might have

in it.

3.- lofeth his Right to it.

3. How doth that appear?

1. Because all Right proceedeth from GOD,

and fo none from Sin.

2. A Man that gets or faves any thing by Sin, runs himself more into Debt by

the

USES.

the Sin he commits, than he can pay with that which he gets.

1. See the Folly of Oppreffion, Lying, Overreaching, Covetoufnefs, Uncharitableness, &c. Men think to get, and they really lose thereby.

2. See the Odioufnefs of Sin that brings a Curfe upon every thing that comes by it.

3. Hence alfo we may fee, that every Man that hath an Estate, is not a rich Man; but the more he hath, the poorer he is, if he got it by Sin. Wherefore,

4. Endeavour not to get or fave any thing by Sin. Confidering,

1. The more you get or fave by it, the more you lose by it.

2. You do not only lose what you get by Sin, but what you get finfully will bring a Ćurfe upon what you get honestly, 1 King. xxi. 22.

3. What you get by Sin now, you must give Account to GOD for hereafter.

4. What you get or fave by Sin now, will be a Torment to your Soul for ever.

II. DOCTRINE.

What a Man lofes for Chrift, he faveth. 1. What is it to lofe any thing for Chrift? 1. To lose it for adhering to the Truth of Christ.

2. For performing his Duty to Christ, Dan.

vi. 10.

3. And for refifting Sin, in Obedience to the Commands of Chrift, Gen. xxxix. 8, 9. and oppofing the Commiffion of Sin in others, S. Matt. xiv. 4. Act. vii. 51.

2. What

1

2. What are the Things we may lofe for Christ? Hebr. xi. 36..

1. Our Honour, Hebr. xi. 24.
2. Eftate, Phil. iii. 8.

3. Friends, S. Matt. x. 22.
4. Liberty; S. Peter in Prifon.

5. Eafe, by Tortures inflicted on our Per
fons, Hebr. xi. 37. A&t. xvi. 23.

6. Life itself, S. Luk. xxi. 16. S. Joh. xvi. 2. 3. How do thofe who lose any thing for Chrift, fave it?

1. They enjoy the Comfort of it, in lofing it for the fake of Chrift, Act. xvi. 25.

2. They turn their Loffes into greater Gains; they lose an earthly but gain a spiritual Estate, Mar. X. 29. 1 Cor. xii. 10.

3. What they lofe here, is laid up for the Advancement of their Glory hereafter, Rev. xiv. 13. S. Matt. vi. 19.

INFERENCES.

1. The Chriftian Religion is a great Mystery. 2. Many get much, 1 Cor. xii, 10. but none tofe any thing by Chrift

3. Chrift is a good Master.

Wherefore we should be willing to lose any Thing for His fake. Confidering,

1. Whatever we lofe for Him, fhall be fup ply'd in Him, S. Joh. xvi. 33.

2. What we lofe for Him, we do but lend to Him, Prov. xix. 17. and therefore, 3. What we lofe for Chrift here, we shall find with Chrift hereafter, S. Matt. xix. 29. S. Luk. xviii, 29.