5.
THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMPLE

It is no sign that a work is not from the Spirit of God that example is a great means of it.

It is surely no argument that an effect is nor from God, that means are used in producing it; for we know that it is God’s ). By this it appears that example is one of God’s means; and certainly it is no argument that a work is not of God, that his own means are made use of to effect it.

And as it is a scriptural way of carrying on God’s work, by example, so it is a reasonable way. It is no argument that men are not influenced by reason, that they are influenced by example. This way of people holding forth truth to one another has a tendency to enlighten the mind, and to convince reason. None will deny but that for people to communicate things to one another by words may rationally be supposed to tend to enlighten each other’s minds; but the same thing may be communicated by actions, and much more fully and effectually. Words are of no use unless they convey our own ideas to others; but actions, in some cases, may do it much more fully.

There is a language in actions; and in some cases it is much more clear and convincing than in words. It is therefore no argument against the goodness of the effect, that people are greatly affected by seeing others so; indeed, though the impression may be made only by seeing the tokens of great and extraordinary affection in others in their behavior, taking for granted what they are affected with, without hearing them say one word. There may be language sufficient in such a case in their behavior alone, to convey their minds to others, and to communicate their sense of things more than can possibly be done by words alone. If a person should see another under extreme bodily torment, he might receive much clearer ideas, and more convincing evidence of what he suffered by his actions in his misery, than he could do only by the words of an unaffected, indifferent relater. In like manner he might receive a greater idea of anything that is excellent and very delightful, from the behavior of one that is in actual enjoyment, than by the dull narration of one who is inexperienced and insensible himself.

I desire that this matter may be examined by the strictest reason. Is it not manifest that effects produced in people’s minds are rational, since not only weak and ignorant people are much influenced by example, but also those who make the greatest boast of strength of reason, are more influenced by reason held forth in this way than almost any other way? Indeed, the religious affections of many when raised by this means (such as by hearing the word preached, or any other means) may prove flashy, and soon vanish, as Christ represents the stony-ground hearers; but the affections of some thus moved by example are abiding, and prove to result in salvation.

There never yet was a time of remarkable pouring out of the Spirit, and great revival of religion, but that example had a main hand. So it was at the reformation, and in the apostles’ days in Jerusalem and Samaria and Ephesus, and other parts of the world, as will be most manifest to anyone who attends to the accounts we have in the Acts of the Apostles. As in those days one person was moved by another, so one city or town was influenced by the example of another: “So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia, for from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad” (1 Thess. 1:7–8).

The word of God applied by example

It is no valid objection against example being so much used, that the Scripture speaks of the words as the principal means of carrying on God’s work; for the word of God is the principal means, nevertheless, by which other means operate and are made effectual. Even the sacraments have no effect except by the word; and so it is that example becomes effectual; for all that is visible to the eye is unintelligible and vain without the word of God to instruct and guide the mind. It is the word of God that is indeed held forth and applied by example, as the word of the Lord sounded forth to other towns in Macedonia and Achaia by the example of those who believed in Thessalonica.

That example should be a great means of propagating the church of God seems to be indicated in Scripture in several ways: it is indicated by Ruth’s following Naomi out of the land of Moab, into the land of Israel, when she resolved that she would not leave her, but would go wherever she went, and would lodge where she lodged; and that Naomi’s people would be her people, and Naomi’s God, her God. Ruth, who was the ancestral mother of David, and of Christ, was undoubtedly a great type of the church; and for this reason her story is inserted in the canon of Scripture. In her leaving the land of Moab, and its gods, to come and put her trust under the shadow of the wings of the God of Israel, we have a type of the conversion not only of the Gentile church but of every sinner, that is naturally an alien and stranger, but in his conversion forgets his own people, and father’s house, and becomes a fellow- citizen with the saints and a true Israelite.

The same seems to be indicated in the effect which the example of the love-sick spouse has on the daughters of Jerusalem, i.e., visible Christians, who are first awakened by seeing the spouse in such extraordinary circumstances, and then converted (see Song of Songs 5:8–9 and 6:1). And this is undoubtedly one way that “the Spirit and the bride say, come” (Rev. 22:17) – i.e., the Spirit in the bride. It is foretold that the work of God will be very much carried on by this means in the last great outpouring of the Spirit that will introduce the glorious day of the church, so often spoken of in Scripture: “And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people, and strong nations, shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you for we have heard that God is with you” (Zech. 8:21–3).