A Body of Practical Divinity

1. In Disposition. He was of a most sweet Disposition, Delitiae humani generis Tit. Vespasian. he invites sinners to come to him. He hath Bowels to pity us, Breasts to feed us, Wings to cover us. He would not break our hearts, but with Mercy. Was Christ made in our Likeness, let us labour to be made in his Likeness. Let us be like him in this, sweetness of Disposition. Be not of a morose Spirit. It was said of Nabal, 1 Sam. 25.18. He is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. Some are so barbarous, as if they were a kin to the Ostrich, they are fired with Rage, and breathe forth nothing but Revenge, like those two Men in the Gospel possessed with Devils, coming out of the Tombs, exceeding fierce, Matth. 8.28. Let us be like Christ in mildness and sweetness. Let us pray for our Enemies, and conquer them by love. David's kindness melted Saul's heart, 1 Sam. 24.16. A frozen heart will be thawed with the fire of Love.

2. Be like Christ in Grace. He was like us in having our Flesh, let us be like him in having his Grace. In three Graces we should labour to be like Christ. 1. In Humility. Phil. 2.8. [Greek or Hebrew], he humbled himself; he left the bright Robes of his Glory to be clothed with the Rags of our Humanity. A wonder of Humility! Let us be like Christ in this Grace. Humility, saith St. Bernard, is contemptus propriae excellentiae, a contempt of Self-excellency, a kind of Self-annihilation. This is the glory of a Christian. We are never so comely in God's Eyes, as when we are black in our own. In this let us be like Christ. True Religion is [Greek or Hebrew], Greg. to imitate Christ. And indeed, what cause have we to be humble, if we look within us, about us, below us, above us.

2. Be like Christ in Grace. He was like us in having our Flesh, let us be like him in having his Grace. In three Graces we should labour to be like Christ. 1. In Humility.