ians, by which they are given to understand that they did well,
and discharged their duty in such imitations: for God's condemning or
commending any thing, is virtually a prohibiting or prescribing thereof.

3. By the Lord's commanding some examples to be imitated. Commands of
this nature are frequent. In general, "Beloved, imitate not that which
is evil, but that which is good," 3 John 11. In particular, 1. Imitating
of God and Christ; "Be ye, therefore, followers of God as dear children:
and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us," Eph. v. 1, 2, with Eph.
iv. 32. "He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also to walk,
even as he walked," 1 John ii. 6. 2. Imitating the apostles and other
saints of God. "I beseech you, be ye imitators of me: for this cause
have I sent unto you Timothy--who shall bring you into remembrance of my
ways which be in Christ," 1 Cor. iv. 16, 17. "Be ye imitators of me,
even as I also am of Christ," 1 Cor. xi. 1.

"Those things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you," Phil. iv. 9.
"Be not slothful, but imitators of them who through faith and patience
inherit the promises," Heb. vi. 12. "Whose faith imitate, considering
the end of their conversation," Heb. xiii. 7. "Take, my brethren, the
prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example" (or
pattern) "of suffering affliction, and of patience," James v. 10. These
and like divine commands infallibly evidence that many scripture
examples are obligatory, and do bind our consciences to the imitation of
them.

4. By consent of orthodox and learned writers, both ancient and modern,
acknowledging an obligatory force in some scripture examples, as being
left upon record for our imitation. As among others Chrysostom,[9] and
Greg. Nyssen[10] well observe.

Among modern writers, Mr. Perkins excellently observes, This is a rule
in divinity, that the ordinary examples of the godly approved in
Scripture, being against no general precept, have the force of a general
rule, and are to be followed. See also Pet. Martyr, Calvin, and
others.[11]

II. Thus, it is clear that some scripture examples are obligatory. Now
(to come closer to the matter) consider which scripture examples are
obligatory. 1. How many sorts of binding examples are propounded to us
in Scripture. 2. What rules we may walk by for finding out the
obligatory force of such examples.

How many