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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91897	Christ the perfect pattern, of a Christian's practice, being the substance of severall sermons, about the Imitation of Christ. / Preached by the reverend and faithfull minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. Ralph Robinson, late minister of Mary Wolnoth London. Published by Sim. Ash, Wil. Taylor, Sam. Clarke.	Robinson, Ralph, 1614-1655.	1658 (1658)	Wing R1709; Thomason E1818_1; ESTC R209810	135,574	295

CHRIST THE Perfect Pattern OF A Christian's Practice Being the substance of severall Sermons about the Imitation of Christ PREACHED By the Reverend and faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Ralph Robinson late Minister of Mary Wolnoth London Phil. 2. 5. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Eandem humilitatem eligeret servus quam sectatus est Dominus Leo. Quid vobis cum virtutibus qui virtutem Christi ignoratis Ubinam quaeso vera prudentia nisi in Christi Doctrina ubi vera temperantia nisi in Christi vita ubi vera fortitudo nisi in Christi passione Bern. Absonum est membrum superbum delicatum esse sub capite humili spinis coronato Davenantius Published by Sim. Ash Wil. Taylor Sam. Clarke London Printed by J. S. and are to be sold by John Sims at the Crosse-Keys in the new Buildings in Pauls Church-yard 1658. Christ the Perfect Pattern Christian Reader IT is not long since that a Book of Mr. Robinsons attested with Our Names was published the Subject whereof was this That Christ is All in All wherein were opened those Elegant Scripture Similitudes by which it pleased the wisdom of the Holie Ghost to illustrate unto us the Person Dignitie and Offices of our Lord Jesus Christ which Book as we are informed hath been verie acceptable to the People of God especially of those who still retain the fresh remembrance of Mr. Robinson's precious and profitable Ministrie It were to be wished that those Ministers who have leasure answerable to their great parts and abilities would inrich the Church of God with the fruits of their studies and experiences whilst God continues them in this life that so their Works might neither be neglected as posthumous nor suspected as spurious This little Treatise now put into thy hands thou mayst be assured is printed according to the Copy left written by the Authours own hand The subject here handled is most Noble viz. the imitation of Christ who is the grand Exemplar and Perfect Pattern to all Christians Though we dare not say that the onely or main end either of Christs Life and Death was to leave us an Example yet we say that one end thereof was to leave us an Example 1 Pet. 2. 21. We do not dare not press the imitation of Christ upon that design that some have done thereby to enervate the satisfaction propitiation by Christs death For we do abhorre both those opinions viz. that the first Adams sin and the second Adams righteousness are no otherwise ours then by imitation But yet we say that it concerns all Christians so to improve the Example of Christs humilitie meeknes mercifulnes obedience and zeal that they should walk even as Christ hath walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. who hath not onlie left us 1 Pet. 2. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Copie to write by but also Joh. 13. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perfect example shewing us and guiding our hearts and hands to vvrite according to that incomparable Copy The Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit lead thee Christian Reader into all truth So pray Thine in Christ Simeon Ash Sam. Clark Wil. Taylor London Jan. 27. 1657. Imprimatur Edm. Calamy CHRIST The perfect Pattern OF A Christians Practise Mary Wolnoth Aug. 27. 1648. 1 John 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself so to walk as he walked THe Apostle having laid down the sum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Doctrine of the Gospel in the former Chapter doth in this and the following Chapter make the application of it There are four principal duties to which he exhorts in this Chapter viz. 1. To sanctity and holiness of walking vers 1. ad finem vers 6. 2. To brotherly love ad finem 14. 3. To the contempt of the World vers 15. ad 18. 4. To shun seducers and to be constant in the faith v. 18. ad finem Each of these are urged by sundry Arguments The Arguments exciting us to holiness of life are 1. From the end of the Gospel v. 1. These things write I unto you that ye sin not 2. From the Mediation and intercession of Christ v. 1 2. 3. 'T is an Argument of the truth and sincerity of our Faith v. 3 4. To know Christ is to believe in him 4. 'T is an Argument of the sincerity of our love v. 5. 5. 'T is an Argument of our union with Christ v. 5. latter part which is amplified v. 6. So the Text is the amplification of one Argument pressing holness of life in which we may observe two things 1. A high Dignity 2. A special duty To abide in Christ is the same with that in v. 5. To be in Christ to have fellowship with Christ Chap. 1. v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Scholiast The Phrase is further opened and illustrated Iohn 1. v. 4 5 6. Explication That great mystery of our union with Iesus Christ it is comprehended in this Phrase There is an external abiding in Christ by outward profession an internal by spiritual union To walk as he walked is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To tread in his steps to follow his Example to imitate him in his holy actions and vertues From the whole Text ariseth this Lesson That 't is the duty and should be the care Doct. of every one who pretends an interest in Jesus Christ to imitate the holy life and conversation of Christ 'T is laid down peremptorily and positively not as an Arbitrary thing but an act of debt he ought This is that which this Apostle enjoynes in other places also vid. Rom. 13. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the true putting on of Christ which we do not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in our Conversations put on his example Math. 11. 29. Col. 2. 6. To walk in Christ signifies two things To live the life of Christ to persevere in him Phil. 2. 5. There are three things to be done in the explication of this Doctrine 1. What it is to imitate 2. Wherein we must imitate Christ 3. Why we should do so 1. There are three things which must concurre to imitation viz. 1. There must be a performance of the same actions which are done by him whom we imitate Identity of practise 2. A performing of those actions out of a desire to imitate else though there be the same actions yet that is no imitation Children do the same actions which their Parents do viz. eat drink walk c. yet they are not said to imitate their Parents in them because they do them naturally not out of any desire of imitation 3. An endeavour to come as exactly as we can to the Copy So now to imitate Christ is 1. To do the like actions which Christ did 2. To do them out of a desire to be like him 3. To do them with all the care and exactness we can that if it were possible we would

establishing their unwritten Traditions and humane Inventions they do derogate from the faithfulness of Christ in his prophetical Office Jesus Christ was not faithful in revealing the will of God necessary to mans salvation if there be need of their unwritten Traditions if Christ was a faithful Prophet then they are unfaithful Impostors to obtrude their unwarrantable Traditions upon men instead of Scripture vid. Rev. 22. 18 19. 2. That opinion of the Enthusiasts who not contented with the written word depend upon immediate Revelations from Heaven above the written word These no lesse then the Papists by their Traditions do enervate and overthrow the fidelity of Christ in his prophetical Office They think the teachings of Christ are not sufficient These are no better then the younger brethren of Papists 3. The Papists in their daily offering up of sacrifice for the quick and the dead they overthrow his faithfulness in his Priestly Office vid. Heb. 10. 14. 4. The Papists by joyning other Mediators with Christ thy overthrow the fidelity and sufficiency of Christ in his Priestly Office of Intercession If Christ was faithful and sufficient we need no other Intercessor 5. They who are of opinion that there is no setled Government in the Church c. They deny the fidelity of Christ in his Kingly Office His work as a King was to appoint Lawes c. He had not been so faithful as Moses was else for Moses gave Lawes for the governing of the Jewish Church According to all that which God shewed Moses in the Mount so did he 2d Use Consolation to the Servants of God and that 1. in general 2. in particular 1 In general it layes down this comfort That all the work of your Salvation and Redemption which Christ undertook is fully and really accomplished Consummatum est Against all despaires doubtings against all their own unfaithfulness distrust You may live upon the joy and comfort of this Truth in all your feares When Conscience accuseth when Satan tempts you to despair you may cling to this Doctrine as a sure refuge And the rather because thy salvation is builded and bottomed upon the fidelity of Christ not upon thy faithfulness but upon Christs Now as God laid help upon one that was mighty to save So he laid help upon one who was faithful in saving Thy Salvation is most certain 2 That God will give thee all thy good which Christ hath purchased See the Covenant Ezech. 36. 25 26 27. 2. Particularly Here ariseth comfort from every Office of Christ to all his members 1. From his Prophetical Office these four comforts 1 That Jesus Christ will open thy heart to understand and believe and apply those truths which are held out in and by the Ministry of the Word Thou hast a blind mind darkness clouds thy understanding c. Thou wantest memory c. well Christ hath undertaken this as thy Prophet to teach thy heart c. to annoint thy eyes He is able to remove all the blindness rudeness intractableness indocibleness of thy soul c. Vid. Esa 54. 13. He can teach irresistibly infallibly 2 That Jesus Christ will teach thee to put a difference between truth and error We live in erroneous times c. many false lights c. are risen up many seducers gone out c. well Christ is a faithful Prophet And by vertue of that Office he hath undertaken to lead his Children into all truth John 16. 13. Ye have an unction c. 1 John 2. 20. Esa 30. 21. To deceive if it were possible the very Elect that is impossible Mark 13. 22. For a time they may go astray but Christ their Prophet will reduce them They went out from us because they were not of us c. 1 John 2. 19. 3 Jesus Christ will at last root out of his Church error Heresies and false Doctrines c. This belongs to his Prophetical Office He hath in all Ages done so He overthrew Arrianisme c. All those old errors which over-spread the face of the Church in the beginning of the Gospel they are all routed and scattered Vid. Rev. 12. 15 16. They are not the Anabaptists in Germany They are not c. We may live in hopes now Toleration is endeavoured 4 That Jesus Christ will endue his Ministers with gifts of teaching governing and that he will preserve continue them in his Church notwithstanding all the malice of men and Devils against them vid. Rev. 2. 1. 2. The Devil hath laboured in all Ages to rout the Ministry Chariots and Horsemen 2 Reg. 13. 14. Antesignani all shoot at the Colours I will smite the Shepheard and the Sheep shall be scattered Antichrist could never yet put out these Lamps Stars vid. Jer. 33. 18 19 20. A Gospel-promise 2. For his Kingly Office comfort ariseth in these five particulars 1 That Jesus Christ will settle the Government of his Church He will not suffer the Lawes he hath made the hedge he hath set up to be alwayes demolished vid. Esa 54. 11 12 13 14. A Gospel-promise He will fit men with gifts and hearts to be Rulers in his Church Though some should fall off after they have put their hands to the Plough Luk. 9. 62. 2 That he will vanquish all the enemies of thy soul Corruptions passions c. These invisible enemies vid. 2. Cor. 10. 4 5. vid. 1 John 3. 8. 3 That He will destroy all the visible enemies of his Church Antichrist c. the last great enemy vid. Psal 2. 9. Psal 110. 5. Rev. 8. init vid. Zech. 1. 19. 21. vid. Mich. 4. per totum especially vers 9. 13. Gospel-promise 4 That He will communicate and convey into thee those gifts graces which are necessary for thee for all thy Relations Of his fulness we have all received Iohn 1. 16. Col. 1. 19. Jesus Christ is a Feoffee or Guardian intrusted with thy Patrimony of grace He hath no need of thy grace he hath enough of his own he will not pocket up any of that which belongs to thee 5 That he will effectually gather all his sheep together vid. John 10. 16. 3 For his Priestly-Office much comfort ariseth 1 In reference to the satisfactory part thy comfort is 1 That Jesus Christ hath left nothing upon the score which God can exact from thee All that thou didst owe to Divine Justice is faithfully discharged The Law Satan Conscience can lay nothing to thy charge vid. Rom. 8. 33 34. Heb. 10. 14. vid. Col. 2. 14. 2 That thy person is accepted through him 2 In reference to the Intercessory part of it thy comfort is 1 That he will faithfully present thy Prayers and procure acceptance with God for them through Rev. 8. 34. the sweetness of his incense though they be rough harsh smoky in themselves 2 That He will appear and suffer no plea to fasten against thee in Heaven Satan is continually preferring Inditements and Accusations against thee He is the accuser of the

to reprove so he had zeal to reform the corruptions which he had reproved We read of two solemn Reformations of things amisse in the worship of God which Christ made with his own hands One we have in the Text. Another we read of Mat. 21. 12 13. They are two several stories This is John was done in his entrance upon his Prophetical and Kingly Office as appeares John 2. 11. That in Matth. was towards the end of his life In this of John Christ drave only the sellers out but in that of Matth. he proceeded farther and cast out both them that sold and them that bought Here in John our Saviour speaks only of the deceit of their Merchandize but there in Mat. he speaks of a Den. of Theeves First he rebukes them mildly then afterwards more severely so that twice Christ took this work into his own hand 3 His zeal for the worship of God will appear by his care in the institution of Gospel-worship when he had abolished the Jewish vid. Mat. 28. 19. 20. and Mat. 26. 26 27. And Acts 1. 3. those 40. dayes which he spent in the World after his Resurrection were passed in giving them order about worship and other matters of the Church He gave them punctual Directions for every piece of worship and bindes up their hands that they should exactly keep to the Rule Mat. 28. 20. The Reasons hereof are these 1 The work of reforming corruptions in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church did appertain to Christ by vertue of his Offices As the Prophet and King of his Church it lay upon him to remove all the Rubbish which was in the worship of God Jesus Christ was the great Reformer and the great visitor of the Church sent from Heaven for this purpose John Baptist the immediate forerunner of Christ describes the manner of his comming Mat. 3. 13. whose Fan is in his hand and he will thorowly purge his floore c. He could not have been a faithful King if his soul had not been stirred within him at the beholding of such corruptions All the Prophets which foretold of him speak of that glory which he should bring to the Church Hag. 2. 7. vid. Zech. 6. 12 13. and Mal. 3. init 2 This proceeded from that love and dutiful Respect he bore to his Father There is nothing by which God is more dishonoured then by corruptions in worship The Name of God is in his worship and the soyling of Gods worship is the defiling of his Name Now Gods honour was very dear to Christ therefore his zeal burned within him to see such abuse done to his Father This is that which is in the verse before the Text vers 16. Make not my Fathers House an house of Merchandize The Temple was the House of God the place of his rest the place where he had set his Name c. It was the Court of God upon Earth c. Therefore was our Saviour so offended to see it polluted 3 From that love and affection he bore to Religion and to the worship of God Jesus Christ saw a great Beauty in the holy Institutions of God in the Church The Ordinances of God were glorious in his sight therefore was he so zealous against the corruptions which were in them Vid. Mat. 7. 6. Holy things Pearles those words testifie what our Saviour thought of the Institutions of God They were Pearles in his sight they were holy things in his esteem and the corruptions of men would soyl these Pearles would prophane these holy things c. 4 From that love he bore to the souls of this People 1. Some amongst them who loved the worship of God were without question much grieved to behold such defilements And for their sake did our Saviour now act so vigorously vid. Zeph. 3. 18. It s spoken there of the ●educing of the Captivity God would do it for their sakes who were grieved for the solemn Assembly c. Now it s not to be imagined but many were grieved especially after Christ had the first time acted about it Ergo. 2. All of them had losse by it This must needs cause an Intermission of those things which were to be performed in this place Both publick Instruction and publick sacrifices were to be performed in this place c. They had not then liberty to sacrifice elsewhere as we have now c. 1. Vse This is good newes for us and a ground of consolation to all the Sons and Daughters of the Church that are so in truth That the corruptions which are now in the Church shall at last be purged out and reformed It is now many years since we engaged our selves in a work of Reformation where the work hath stuck and still sticks the God of Heaven knowes very well for he can see clearly through all the masks which the Sons of men shall put upon their faces who have hindered the sweeping out of corrupt and noysom Doctrines and who have impeded the removal of false Worships and setling the true And the Lord Jesus hath not lost one spark of his zeal by ascending into Heaven And besides 1. It belongs as much to him now as it did while he was on Earth he hath not laid aside any of those Offices which he had when he was upon Earth He is still Prophet and he is still King He cannot be deposed nor dethroned from his Regency and Kingship over the Church Psal 110. per totum What charge he had on Earth he hath still in Heaven 2. His love to his Father is not any thing abated his affections are still within him burning and boyling 3. Nor is his love to the worship of God and Religion cooled the worship of God and the truth of Religion is still as precious to him as ever it was on Earth 4 Nor are his bowels straitned in the least measure towards his Servants on Earth He is still as sensible of their mournings for the corruption of worship and the defilement of Ordinances as ever he was And he is as careful of their edification as when he was on Earth The Reasons of his former zeal continue and therefore his zeal also continueth And besides all this he hath given us many promises which he will never break that his worship in the Gospel Church shall be established in purity vid. Esa 9. 7. Esa 54 11 12. which refers to the Gospel-Church Rev. 21. per totum Most understand it of a Reformation of the Church in this World Therefore lift up your heads O ye mournful Sons of Zion to whom the present corruptions in the Church are a burden Christ will at last free you from this burthen And let it not seem the lesse possible or feisible because of the small power that is visible on the Churches part or for the great visible power that opposeth it Christs whip of Cords is strong enough against all the power of Creatures If he do but take up his whip

but a few moneths in the World therefore he would lose no opportunity yet a little while and the light shineth with you saith our Saviour to the Jewes Iohn 12. 35. work while ye have the light as he would have you to improve his light while it continued so he was diligent to improve it to the Worlds advantage And then 4. Reas It was from the respect he had to his Fathers glory His work was to bring souls into subjection to his Fathers Commands to honour his Father by revealing his will unto men This lay so close upon his soul that he Ioh. 4. 34 wrought earnestly and constantly that he might accomplish it And 5. Reas That he might set his Disciples and the succeeding Ministry unto the end of the World a Copy and example of diligence and painfulness in the same Office after his discease He wrought to teach them to work He preached daily to teach them to preach frequently And therefore we read that the Apostles after his Ascension remembring no doubt as well the Example as the Command of their Master were very diligent in the same work It s recorded of them Acts 2. 4. That they continued daily and with one accord in the Temple And Acts 5. 42. that daily in the Temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ 1. Use Information 1 This lets us see the necessity lying upon all the sons of men to have some particular lawfull calling Christ himself was laborious in his calling therefore he had a particular calling and that not onely in the time of his publick life but also in the time of his private life Is not this the Carpenter the Son of Mary Mark 6. 3. They indeed spake it by way of scorne and derision that a Person of so meane education as Christ was in his private life should pretend himself to be the Messiah vid. Math. 13. 55 56. but the story shews clearly that our Lord before he entred upon the publick ministry did employ himself in that Calling And so the Ancients have understood that place Justin Martyr in his Dialogue with Trypho against the Jewes testatur Christum juga aratra fabricavisse Chemnit Harm in Mar. 6. 3 And Basil in his Book de vita solit Cap. 5. affirmeth that Christ did assiduo corporalium laborum exercitio victum sibi necessarium unà cum parentibus pauperibus comparare And the Apostle would have all Christians to have some lawful particular Calling 1 Cor. 7. 20. When God had created Adam he put him into a particular Calling Gen. 2. 15. The Lord took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dresse and to keep it There should have been labour if sin had never entred into the World It s true that labour would have been without toylsome painfulness weariness with which it is accompanied since the fall but Man should not have lived idly though he had not fallen from his innocency We read also that all the Patriarchs had particular Callings Noah was an Husbandman Gen. 10. 20. Abel was a Keeper of sheep Gen. 4. 2. The Sons of Jacob were Shepherds and keepers of Cattle Gen. 46. 34. All the Apostles before they were called to the work of the Ministrie had their particular vocation Men who live without a Calling are useless and unprofitable burdens to the Common-wealth and places where they live They are well compared to ill humours in the Body which are very pernicious and destructive to the well being of the Body They are like wandring Starres which have no certain station Nay those who have no particular Calling they will certainly make sin their Trade either theeving or else vain and sinful pleasures and delights as many do or 2 Thes 3. 11. busie-bodies He is ready for any work which the Devil and his own wicked heart can put into his hands Such cannot pray over that Petition Give us this day our daily bread he eats that which is none of his own All Divines make it a breach of the eighth Command Thou shalt not steal for any man to live without some lawful particular vocation The holy Servants of God brought up their Children in some Calling or other Adam who had a whole World to bequeath to his Children did dispose of them to several Callings Gen. 4. 2. Cain and Abel 2 This is a good plea for frequent preaching Some think one Sermon or at least a very few Sermons are sufficient to serve a mans turn all his life and that often preaching is but a needless and superfluous thing Certainly Jesus Christ would not have been so diligent in a work which had been unnecessarie and supervacaneous Consider but these particulars to shew the necessitie of it besides Christs Example 1 We have the Command of God for it Preach the Word be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. Reprove rebuke exhort c. 2 There 's very great need of frequent preaching for 1 There are many Truths which are to be made known unto the People of God The whole Counsel of God is to be published the Scriptures are a large and fruitful Field they cannot presently be gone over the Body of Divinity is very large many and many steps must be taken before all the pathes and parts of it can be unfolded There 's a great deal of Treasure in this Cabinet which cannot be shewed at once many duties to be performed many sins which are to be avoided c. many Cases of Conscience to be answered many scruples to be resolved c. If it were possible that a Minister could live 100. yeares twice told and preach without interruption yet there would be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something would be left undone which would have been necessary to have been declared c. 2 The Sons of men even the very best are subject to forget many things which have been committed to them man's memory is very lax and brittle since the coming of sin into the world the same things had need be preached over and over againe precept upon precept duty upon duty c. frequent preaching is a necessary help for a loose memory vid. Phil. 3. 1. Which of you beare in mind a Sermon of two or three yeares standing 3 The hearts of men are soon gone out of order even after the most kindly working upon in a Sermon partly from that corruption which workes within and partly from Satan which tempteth without heats are soon cooled impressions wrought with much painfulnesse are soon worne out c. vid. Gal. 1. 6. they were presently warped aside even after Pauls ministrie vid. Hos 6. 4. It was the sad complaint of one of the Ancients and it is that which all have cause to lament That a Minister can never find his work as he leaves it Let a Carpenter hew his timber let a Mason polish his stones let a Painter make his draught