This last Character, when divested of the Glare of Humane Philosophy that surrounds it, signifies no more, than that a Good and Wise Man should so arm himself with Patience, as not to yield tamely to the Violence of Passion and Pain; that he should learn so to suppress and contract his Desires as to have few Wants; and that he should cherish so many Virtues in his Soul, as to have a perpetual Source of Pleasure in himself.

The Christian Religion requires, that, after having framed the best Idea, we are able, of the Divine Nature, it should be our next Care to conform our selves to it, as far as our Imperfections will permit.  I might mention several Passages in the sacred Writings on this Head, to which I might add many Maxims and wise Sayings of Moral Authors among the Greeks and Romans.

I shall only instance a remarkable Passage, to this Purpose, out of Julian’s Caesars.  The Emperor having represented all the Roman Emperors, with Alexander the Great, as passing in Review before the Gods, and striving for the Superiority, lets them all drop, excepting Alexander, Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Constantine.  Each of these great Heroes of Antiquity lays in his Claim for the upper Place; and, in Order to it, sets forth his Actions after the most advantageous Manner.  But the Gods, instead of being dazzled with the Lustre of their Actions, enquire, by Mercury, into the proper Motive and governing Principle that influenced them throughout the whole Series of their Lives and Exploits. Alexander tells them, That his Aim was to conquer:  Julius Caesar, that his was to gain the highest Post in his Country; Augustus, To govern well; Trajan, That His was the same as that of Alexander, namely, To conquer.  The Question, at length, was put to Marcus Aurelius, who replied, with great Modesty, That it had always been his Care to imitate the Gods.  This Conduct seems to have gained him the most Votes and best Place in the whole Assembly. Marcus Aurelius being afterwards asked to explain himself declares, That, by imitating the Gods, he endeavoured to imitate them in the Use of his Understanding, and of all other Faculties; and, in particular, That it was always his Study to have as few Wants as possible in himself, and to do all the Good he could to others.

Among the many Methods by which Revealed Religion has advanced Morality, this is one, That it has given us a more just and perfect Idea of that Being whom every reasonable Creature ought to imitate.  The young Man, in a Heathen Comedy, might justify his Lewdness by the Example of Jupiter; as, indeed, there was scarce any Crime that might not be countenanced by those Notions of the Deity which prevailed among the common People in the Heathen World.  Revealed Religion sets forth a proper Object for Imitation, in that Being who is the Pattern, as well as the Source, of all spiritual Perfection.