The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-09-18
THE ADVOCATE.
ON INITIATING CHRIST.

. =
The imitator Of Jesus Christ is one,
who. being interested in him as his pro-
initiation, cannot but choose to follow him
as his pattern for he knows, that though
il be not the only or principal end why
the Son of God was manifested it is, how
ever, a very considerable part Of his er-
rand, in visiting these regions Of mortali-
ty to give us fair transcripts a living copy
OF ali those graces and duties that are
pleasing unto God, and that are command
ed in the law. He reverenccs, indeed
the footsteps Of the flock f; and blesses
God for the holy examples of living and
dead saints; which nre noble incentives to
piety, ard devout conversation. But
st;sl he regards the holiest examples of
living and dead saints. as but imper-
feet models Of duty some Of their actions
Le;aq evidently sinful, and others ofthem
doubtful and suspicious. Jesu. Christ he
considers as the only finished pattern of
obedience /; in whose presence Moses Is
not meek, Solomon is not wise, Job is not
patient, David is not upright, Abraham
e nos strong in faith, Elijah is not
jealous, and Paul the laboring Apostle is
not diligent. His icllow-saint, and those
who have gone before him, may indeed
aurpass him in what ho actually attains to
but not in what he aims at, He knows,
that the finer the copy is, the iairer will
be the learners hand therefore he sets
&he Lord always before him. To follow
the steps of Christ alone, is far more eli
gible, in his esteem, than to 60 in the way
ofthe world, or to follow the multitude to
do evil. And how can it be otherwise,
when he considers that the example of
Christ is the example Of his best friend,
his glorious head, his great Lord and mas
ter, his leader and commander, the shep-
herd and bishop Of his soul, the captain OF
his salvation, and the author Of his high
and heavenly calling
He reckons it far more glorious and
honorable attainment to resemble his bless
ed Saviour in holiness, and obedience to
the will Of God, than though he could be
like him In power ofworking miracles a
bower which has been, In some measure,
impaired to the workers Of iniquity.
Those most valuable books, the gospels
Of Matthew, Mark, Luke, s. John that con
tain the sacred memoirs of the life of Je-
sus, he prefers before all other biography.
These venerable histories he persues
night and day not merely with the eye
Of a critic that he may understand their
beauties but with the eye of a critic that
he may understand their sense and discov
et their beauties with the eye of a
PAINTER who gazes at fine picture, that
he may initiate the artists delicate de-
signs, that he may 60 and do likewise.
In all places, companies, duties, and e.
mereences, he labors to consider with him
self, how would my Lord and Savior, were
he in my place .acquit himself on this oc-
casion Would he do this or that =
Would he allow il to be done
There are many actions Of the man
Christ Jesus which were performed by
him, as a human creature, in conformity
to the moral law, which are to be lnitla-
led in the letter of them. If he obeyed
his parents. prayed to his God. forgavc
his enemies, paid tribute to Cesar, des-
n;sed no man for his poverty, esteemed no
man for his wealth, if he pleased not him
self. nor sought his own glory If he was
heavenly in his discourse, cheerful in his
obedience, unwearied in his application
10 his work, and NORTH ed to the world in
the whole tenor of his conversation: these
are branches Of his behaviour in which
tho servant of Christ follows him in the
most literal sense, though at an humble
distance not as Asahel followed Abner,
but as Peter followed his Master aiar of.
The duties arc not only incumbent upon
him by the authority Of the precePt, but
ARE sanctifed unto him, are rendered
sweet and easy, by the example OF the
Lord,
But there are other actions Of Christ,
In which acted as God he tasted forty
days, he judged the hearts of the Phari
sees, he took the ass Of another man to
ride upon, a. if Il had been his own, he
scourgcd the buyers and sellers out ofthe
temple hs1oretold future events, ind he
formd great number cf miracles. To
t,s.ss ,s..sS>s, "a sha lsttsv of thsu, the