The Fountain of Life Opened

Inference 2.

¹Did Christ for our sakes stoop from the Majesty, glory and dignity he was possessed of in Heaven, to the mean and contemptible state of a man; what a pattern of self-denial is here presented to Christians! What objection against, or excuses to shift off this duty can remain, after such an example as is here propounded? Brethren, let me tell you, the Pagan world was never acquainted with such an Argument as this, to press them to self-denial. Did Christ stoop, and cannot you stoop? Did Christ stoop so much, and cannot you stoop in the least? Was he content to become any thing, a worm, a reproach, a curse; and cannot you digest any abasements? Do the least slights and neglects rankle your hearts, and poison them with discontent, malice and revenge? O how unlike Christ are you! Hear, and blush in hearing what your Lord saith in Joh. 13.14.² If I then your Lord and Master, wash your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. This example obliges not (as a learned man well observes) to the same individual act, but it obliges us to follow the reason of the example. That is, after Christs example we must be ready to perform the lowest and meanest Offices of love and service to one another. And indeed to this it obliges most forcibly, for it is as if a Master seeing a proud sturdy Servant, that grudges at the work he is employed about, as if it were too mean and base, should come and take it out of his hand, and when he hath done it, should say; doth not your Lord and Master think it beneath him to do it, and is it beneath you? I remember it is an excellent saying that Bernard hath upon the nativity of Christ.³ Saith he, what more detestable, what more unworthy, or what deserves severer punishment, than for a poor man to magnify himself,