The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, Besides this principle within, you have no small assistance §2for the purity of life by these excellent patterns before you. The path of holiness is no untrodden path to you. Christ and his Servants have beaten it before you. The life of Christ is your Copy, and it is a fair Copy indeed, without a blot. Oh what an advantage is this to draw all the lines of your actions according to his example! This glorious grand example is often pressed upon you for imitation, Heb. 12.2. Looking to Jesus, he hath left you an example that ye should tread in his steps, 1 Pet. 2.21. His life is a living rule to his people, and besides Christs example (for you may say who can live as Christ did? His example is quite above us) you have a cloud of witnesses. A cloud for its directive Use, and these men of like passions, temptations, and constitutions with you; who have gone before you in exemplary holiness. The Holy Ghost (intending therein, your special help and advantage) hath set many industrious pens awork to write the lines of the Saints, and preserve for your use their holy sayings, and heavenly actions. He bids you take them for an example, Jam. 5.10. Oh what excellent men are past on before you! What renowned Worthies have led the way! Men whose conversations were in Heaven, whilst they Tabernacled on earth. Whilst this lower world had their bodies, the world above had their hearts, their affections; their actions, their designs were all for Heaven. Men that improved troubles, and comforts; losses, and gains; smiles, and frowns; and all for Heaven. Men that did extract Heaven out of Spirituals, out of Temporals, out of all things; their hearts were full of heavenly meditations, their mouths of heavenly communications; and their practices of heavenly inclinations. O what singular help is this! Where they followed Christ, and kept the way, they are propounded for your imitation, and where any of them turned aside, you have a mark set upon that action, for your caution and prevention. Doth any strange or unusual trial befall you, in which you are ready to say with the Church, Lam. 1.12. Was there ever any sorrow like unto my sorrow? Here you may see the same affliction accomplished in your brethren,