*It ought to be observed, that there must be something very _extraordinary_ in these dispositions, from the manner in which we are taught them. It is only in this place, that our Saviour says expresly, _Learn of me_; and when he says, _Learn of me_, he does not say, for I am just and equitable, or kind, or holy, but _I am meek and lowly in heart_; as if he would teach us, that these are the tempers which most of all _distinguish_ his Spirit, and which he most of all requires his followers to learn of him. For consider, does Christ, when he describes himself, chuse to do it by _these tempers_? When he calls upon us to learn of him, does he only mention _these tempers_? And is not this a sufficient proof that these are tempers which the followers of Christ are most of all obliged to learn; and that we are then most _unlike_ to Christ, when we are wanting in them? Now as our great Lord and Master has made these characters the _distinguishing_ characters of his Spirit, it is plain that they are to be the _distinguishing_ characters of our spirit; for we are only so far his, as we are like him. Consider also, was he _more lowly_ than he need have been? Did he practise any degrees of humility that were _unnecessary_? This can no more be said, than he can be charged with folly. But can there be any instances of lowliness which became him, that are not necessary for us? Does our state and condition excuse us from any kind of humility that was necessary for him? Are we higher in our nature, more raised in our condition, or more in the favour of God than he was? Are there _dignities_, _honours_, and _ornaments_ of life, which we may delight in, tho’ he might not? We must own these absurdities, or else acknowledge that we are to breathe the same _lowly spirit_, act with the _same meekness_, and practise the _same humble_ behaviour that he did. So that the matter comes plainly to this conclusion, either that Christ was more humble than his nature and condition required, or we are under a necessity of the same humility, till we can prove, that we are in a higher state than he was.
XVII. We see the height of our calling; that we are called to follow the example of our Lord and Master, and to go thro’ this world with his Spirit and temper. Now nothing is so likely a means to fill us with his Spirit and temper, as to be frequent in reading the _gospels_, which contain the history of his life and conversation in the world. We are apt to think, that we have sufficiently read a book, when we have so read it, as to know what it contains. This reading may be sufficient as to many books: but as to the _gospels_, we are not to think that we have read them enough, because we have often read and heard what they contain: but we must read them as we do our _prayers_, not to know what they contain, but to fill our hearts with the spirit of them. There is as much difference betwixt reading and reading, as there is betwixt praying and praying: and as no one prays well, but he that is daily and constant in prayer; so no one can read the scriptures to advantage, but he that is constant in the reading of them. By thus conversing with our blessed Lord; looking into his actions and manner of life; hearing his divine sayings; his heavenly instructions; his accounts of the terrors of the damned; his descriptions of the glory of the righteous, we should find our hearts formed and disposed _to hunger and thirst after righteousness_. Happy they who saw the Son of God upon earth converting sinners, and calling _fallen spirits_ to return to God! And next happy are we, who have his discourses, doctrines, actions, and miracles, which then converted _Jews_ and Heathens into _saints_ and _martyrs_, still preserved to fill us with the same heavenly light, and bring us to the same state of glory!