who under the law excelled in
faith, viz: that every one may fit himself to imitate them. Another
adds,[12] He calls them a cloud, whereby we may be directed; in allusion
to that cloud that went before Israel in the wilderness, to conduct them
to the land of Canaan. See also 1 Pet. ii. 21-23; James v. 10.

Thus also, in reference to ill-doing, that it may be avoided by us, the
bad examples of saints and others are laid before us as warnings and
cautions to us, binding us to eschew like evils, 1 Cor. x. 5, 6, 11.
"Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust
after evil things, as they also lusted. Now all these things happened
unto them for examples," &c., Jude 7.

5. Those acts of saints or Christians, which were done by them as saints
and Christians, are obligatory upon, and to be followed by all
Christians; but those acts which are done by magistrates, prophets,
apostles, ministers, &c., only as such, are only obligatory on such as
have like offices, not on all; according to the maxim, that which agrees
to any thing as such, agrees to every thing that is such. Thus James
urges the example of Elias in praying, James v. 17. Paul presses the
example of Abraham in being justified by believing, Rom. iv. 23,24.
Peter prescribes, as a pattern to wives, the example of Sarah, and other
holy women of old, for "adorning themselves with a meek and quiet
spirit,--being in subjection to their own husbands," 1 Pet. iii. 4-6.

6. Those acts that were commonly and ordinarily done, are ordinarily to
be imitated; as, baptizing _in water only_, and not in any other
element, was the ordinary practice of the New Testament, Matt. iii. 11,
16; Mark i. 6, 10; Luke iii. 16; John i. 26, 31, 33; Acts i. 5, and
viii. 36, 38, and x. 47, and xi. 16; and by that practice we are obliged
to baptize in water only. Joining of many Christians together in
receiving the Lord's supper was an ordinary practice, Matt. xxvi. 20,
26, 27; Acts ii. 42, and xx. 7, &c.; 1 Cor. xi. 20, and by us ordinarily
to be imitated; how else is it a communion? 1 Cor. x. 16, 17.

But such acts as were done only upon special causes or singular reasons,
are only to be imitated in like cases. Thus Christ argues from a like
special cause, that he was not to do miracles at Nazareth without a
call, as he did in other places where he had a call of God; from the
particular example of Elijah and Elisha, who only went to them to whom
God called them, Luke ix. 2