might learn humility from one and paitence from another; that one should teach us silence, and another meekness and docility." Charillus, King of Lacedaemon, being asked what sort of republic he considered to be the best. "That," said he, "wherein the Citizens live without strife or sedition, and strive with emulation who shall become most virtuous." We are all assembled in religion under a happy form of government, which differs from, and far excels all other governments in the world. In the governments of the world, men are eagerly employed in procuring wealth, honours, dignities, and preferment, and scarce make any efforts to acquire virtue. But in religion all their study is to deny their own will; all their application is to discover the means whereby to become more perfect; every man lives in peace and charity, without contention, without murmuring, without complaint; their only emulation is to excel each other in obedience, humility, and virtue. Certainly God has conferred on us no small favour, in calling us to a state where virtue alone is esteemed: where neither doctor nor preacher is valued for extensive knowledge or profound eloquence, but for humility and mortification; where every man endeavours to advance in virtue, and where, in fine, by mutual good example, they encourage each other to live well. Let us then embrace so favourable an opportunity of becoming perfect; and making good use of the examples we daily receive from our brethren, let us consider that we also are obliged to edify them by our example.
This is the second means, which I shall propose in this chapter, as conducive to your spiritual advancement. In order to know its utility and importance, we need only consider in what manner our Saviour speaks of it in the gospel. "Let your light," says he, "so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt, v. 16.) Every one sufficiently knows the force of good example. A perfect religious does more good in a community by his example, than the most eloquent sermons or pathetic exhortations. Men are much more affected by what they see, than by what they hear; and being easily convinced that the thing is practicable, when they see another perform it, they are strongly encouraged to undertake it. That fluttering of wings, of which the prophet Ezechiel speaks when he says, that " he heard the wings of living creatures striking one against the other" (Ezech. iii. 13), is, properly speaking, the good example by which you touch your brother's heart, move it to piety and
