2.  By God’s approving and commending such as were followers not only of the doctrine, but also of the examples of the Lord, his apostles, and primitive churches; “And ye became followers” (or imitators) “of us and of the Lord,” 1 Thess. i. 6, 7; and again, “Ye, brethren, became followers” (or imitators) “of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus:  for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews,” 1 Thess. ii. 14.  In which places the Holy Ghost recites the Thessalonians imitating of the Lord, of the apostles, and of the churches, to the praise of the Thessalonians, 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.