PRESENTED TO 
 
 McGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 BY THE HEIRS OF 
 
 DONALD ALEXANDER SMITH 
 
 FIRST BARON STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL 
 AND 
 
 MARGARET CHARLOTTE SMITH HOWARD 
 
 BARONESS STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL 
 
 M?QILL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
” McGILL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 Ck T3G'E..nco; 
 
TREATISE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IMITATION 
 
 Jefiis Chrift. 
 
 In Four BOOKS. 
 
 Written Originally in Latin by 
 
 THO MAS d KE MP IS. 
 
 Now Render’d into English. 
 
 To which are added, 
 
 ^durations anD papers, 
 
 FOR 
 
 SICK PERSONS. 
 
 By gToITge sTJnhoTY, d. d. 
 
 Chaplain in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 
 
 €!jc €ln rD CDirion. * 
 
 London: Printed by f. tilattlewr, for D. Brown, without Temple- 
 Bar ; P y . Sure, in Holbonm ; 7 . Bennet, in St. Paul’s Church¬ 
 yard ; M. IVorton, in Fleetfireet ; B. Took:, at the Middle Terr- 
 fIe-gate,\'A Fleet-Tlnet ; and B. Barker, in IVejlminfler-Hall. 1702. 
 
To the Honoured 
 
 Mrs. Julia Shalcroffe , 
 
 O F 
 
 Hatfield Woodhalf in Hertfordshire. 
 
 Madam, 
 
 1/ T is not meerly from an Ambition to make the 
 H most publick Prof effort of my Gratitude y that 
 H l take the Confidence of prefenting Tou with 
 this Book ; but becaufe I apprehend it , in 
 a peculiar manner , juit able to your Circumflances 9 
 and qualified for a favourable Acceptance. The 
 conftant Strain of Piety , which animates the whole 
 Composition , will not fail to recommend it to fo 
 Excellent and Devout a Perfon : And the many 
 moving Reflexions upon Afflicted Virtue are Jo 
 exactly calculated for thofe Tryals , which the Di¬ 
 vine Providence (always Wife and Good ) hath 
 thought fit to exercife you with ; that , as they paf- 
 fed under my Pen , they frequently brought Tou into 
 my Thoughts: Tou , Madam , who have fo great Oc- 
 caflon for , fo juft a Title to, thofe true Comforts 
 adminiflred here, For indeed the only True Com¬ 
 forts in Trouble , are fuch as Religion fupplies Men 
 with. And Thofe (MadanT) are fo powerful , that l 
 
 A 2 ca»± 
 

 The Epiftle Dedicatory. _j 
 
 cannot but promife my felf, Tou will tap the Jweei 
 Refrefhments they bring , if thefe Meditations fhall bt 
 allowed the Privilege of bearing yon Company in your 
 molt melancholy Retirements. 
 
 My Defign in Publijhing this Book , as it now ap¬ 
 pears, was to recommend , and render it Jerviceablit 
 to all Chripan Readers in general. But among 
 Them there is not Any , in contributing to whofe Be 
 nefit and Satisfaction 1 fhould efieem my Labour, 
 more fuccefsfully anfwered, than to Tours. Who haw 
 by fo many Injlances of Goodnefs obliged me to b< 
 with allpojftble Sincerity and Refpett , 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Your moft affe&ionate Coufin, 
 and moft humble Servant, 
 
 Geo. Stanhope 
 
 
 'TUT 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 rp m T T ____ 
 
 TO THE 
 
 I R E 
 
 T «He Reputation of this Little Book, with 
 which the Reader is here prefented, 
 feems abundantly effablifhed, by the 
 great Pains taken to communicate it to 
 Mankind, in moft Languages of the Chriltian 
 World. But fince the Enolijfj Verfion hither¬ 
 to in ufe, was in fome places grown oblblete, 
 and in many fell fliort of that Life and Spirit re- 
 quifite for fuch Devotional Tra£h,it was thought 
 expedient to recommend it by a Style more mo¬ 
 dern, and a little better fuited to Subje&s of this 
 Nature. 
 
 In this Attempt the Latin of Cafiellio is chiefly 
 followed; He hath taken fome liberty in places 
 peculiarly relating to the Romifb Superftitions. 
 And the prefent Tranflator hath not only ti odden 
 in his Steps thus far; but, in the Chapters which 
 concern a Monkifh Life particularly, hath endea¬ 
 voured fo to exprefs himfclf for the moll part 
 as that fuch Meditations might be accommoda¬ 
 ted to the Circumfiances of any Pious Chriftian, 
 
 who 
 
T he Preface. _ 
 
 who declines the Pleafures and Bufinefs and other i 
 Interruptions ot the World, and fequefteis hirn- 
 fdf to the Exercife of Devotion and fe'verer Vir¬ 
 tue. „ . . t 
 
 This was thought mod agreeable to the great 
 
 Defign he had in view, That of rendring thefe. 
 Refle&ions of general Ufe to the World. Foe 
 which reafon alfo, he hath not been nicely clofe 
 in many of the Flights ufual with thefe Contem- j 
 plative and MyiHcal Divines. Thinking it bet- , 
 ter, either to give thofc Rapturous Paffages ano¬ 
 ther Turn; or, by Additions and Illuftrations o 
 his own, to bring them down to the commoi 
 Condition of Humane Lite, and fit them for th« 
 Mouths of every Sincere Pra&ical Chriftian. 
 
 In order to prefervc the Zeal and Spirit c ; 
 the Author, it was found ncceffary, fometime 
 to abridge, and at others to enlarge a Thought 
 and carry it a little higher. All which the Rea 
 der hath this Warning of, to prevent any Ob' 
 je&ions which might otherwife be raifed again! 
 the Faithfulnefs of an Undertaking; Intended 
 not lb much to acquaint Englifi Men what Kjm 
 pis thought; as to convey thofe Thoughts wit 
 fome degree of that Sprightlinefs and afleefionat 
 Warmth which the Original Compofer at fir! 
 felt from them. 
 
 And becaufe the Reader will perhaps expef 
 fome Account of Him, here follows in brief th 
 Subflancc of what Rofmid hath delivered coi: 
 cerning him. 
 
 “Th 
 
 c i ; . 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
The Preface. 
 
 “ This Thomas was called a Kjmgn from a lir- 
 “ tie Village of that Name, in the Diocefe of 
 u Cologne , where he was born in the Year of our 
 “ Lorcl 1380. His Parentage and Fortune were 
 “ mean ; At Thirteen Years old he began his 
 “ Studies, and about Nineteen betook himfelf to 
 u a Monaftery of Augufiine Monks ; About Five 
 u and twenty he took the Habit of that Houfe 
 “ and Order. There he continued for the fpace 
 u of Seventy Years, particularly eminent for his 
 “ Piety, Humility, diligent Study of the Holy 
 a Scriptures, Aufterity of Life, moving Eloquence 
 “ in Difcourfe, and extraordinary Zeal in Prayer. 
 “ For his Perfon, He was of middle Stature, of 
 “ a ftrong brown Complexion, a lively piercing 
 “ Eye; and a Sight fo good, that though he 
 u laboured much under other Infirmities of old 
 “ Age, yet he was never reduced to the ufe of 
 “Spectacles. He died July 25. 1471. in the 
 “ Ninety fecond Year of his Age. 
 
 As to the Difpute, whether this Book were of 
 his Compofition, I am content to fubmit to com¬ 
 mon Fame, and leave him in quiet polTefiion, not 
 feeing of what confequence it can be, to call his 
 Title in queftion, or examine into the Merits of 
 other Pretenders. 
 
 A 4 
 
 T H E 
 

Chap. 
 
 iO 
 
 
 F the Contempt of the Vanities of the World, 
 Modefly, 
 
 3 The Doftrin of Truth, 
 
 4 Prudence in our Behaviour, 
 
 ! 5 Of Reading the Holy Scriptures, 
 j 6 Of inordinate Affeftions, 
 
 7 Hirettions for avoiding Pride, and vain Confidences, 
 
 Page. 
 
 IF 
 
 12 
 
 *3 
 
 •4 
 
 8 Again]} too general an Acquaintance, and inconvenient Freedoms 
 
 ivt /’/IM’Jl.f A.i/tM >» 
 
 in Convention, 
 
 9 Obedience and a State of Subjeftion, 
 
 10 Few Words are beft, 
 
 11 Of Peace of Mind, and a Defire of Improvement, 
 
 12 The Advantage of Ajfli ft ions, 
 
 13 Of Refifting Temptations, 
 
 14 Again]} Rafh {fudging, 
 
 15 Of Works of Charity , 
 
 16 Of Bearing with other Metis Faults, 
 
 17 A Reclufe Life, 
 
 1% Of the Examples of Holy Men in former Ages, 
 
 19 The Exercife of a truly Religious P erf on, 
 
 2© Love of Solitude and Silence, 
 
 21 Compunftion of Heart, 
 
 22 The Miferable Condition of Man confidered, 
 
 23 Meditations concerning Heath, 
 
 24 Of the Laa Judgment, and the Eternal Funijkmevt of Ungodly 
 
 Dden, ^2 
 
 2 $ Of Zeal in the Reformation of our Lives , 68 
 
 l 5 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 20 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 29 
 
 30 
 32 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 39 
 44 
 48 
 52 
 57 
 
 
Cl )t ^cconh tfoofi, 
 
 '~T m tJfe Life of the Spiritu.il Man , 
 
 2 X 7 he Advantage of Humility, 
 
 3 The Peace-maker, 
 
 4 purity and Sincerity, 
 
 <; Know thyfelf, . 
 
 6 7 *>e foy of a good Conscience , 
 
 7 Loving ^efus above all Things , 
 
 8 Of intimate Convention and Fncndjhtp with fefus, 
 o The Difconfolate State, 
 
 10 Thankfulnefs for God's CMercies, 
 
 11 Of Loving Chritt in Affliction, 
 
 12 Ike Reafonablenefs of taking upourCrofs, 
 
 Cljc €fltr& tfoofu 
 
 Digefted into Conferences between Christ and 
 the Soul of his Difciple. 
 
 Chap. PJge 
 
 H.tppittefs of fuch a Cotiverf.it ion, J*' 
 
 2 I Goi is inthe fmallftill Voice, l ‘\ 
 
 3 0 /ifc General Dfflregard to God’ sWord, and the Obedience due 
 
 Page. 
 
 77 
 
 8 ? 
 
 84 
 
 87 
 
 S 3 
 90 
 94 
 96. 
 99 
 I04 
 ip? 
 110 
 
 a A Prayer for Heavenly Jnflruflion and Devotion, 
 
 C Walk humbly with thy God, and Worfflip Him in Truth, 
 
 6 The Power of the Love of God, 
 
 7 The Tryal of true Love, . 
 
 3 Grace muft be received without Ojtentation, 
 
 9 Of Acknowledging our Vnworthinefs before God, 
 
 10 Of doing All to the Glory of God, 
 
 11 God's Service is perfett Freedom, 
 
 12 Of fogulating our Defires, 
 
 ,3 The Hecefflty and Reafonablenefs of Tattevce, 
 
 1 \ Obedience to Superiors \ enforced by Chrijt s Example, -, - 
 
 \ c God's judgments are to be confidered, for our Humiliation, \ <jb 
 , 6 With what Referves we ought to Pray, 1 6c 
 
 ^ 4 prayer for Grace to do the Will of God, 16 
 
 *. g God is our only Comfort in Trouble, 1 ^ 
 
 [ 9 Of ufiing our Care upon God,. 165 
 
 •try Chrijl our Fatten1 of Patience in Afflictions , # l °7 
 
 -> l cf bearing Injuries *, and how we may judge of true Patience, 165 
 
 128. 
 
 129. 
 
 1 
 
 1^6 
 
 140 
 
 14 
 
 14% 
 
 14 T 
 
 15c 
 
 154 
 
 156 
 
The Contents. 
 
 ?2 The Infirmities and Mifaies of our prefent State, 172 
 
 2 3 Of Placing all our Hope and Happinefs in God, 176 
 
 24 A Thankfgiving for God's Mercies, 180 
 
 2<5 The Things rvhich make for Peace , 183 
 
 26^ JV^r JETx'i/ Thoughts, 1 g 5 
 
 27 A Prayer for Spiritual Illumination, 186 
 
 28 Againfl a bufie inquifitiveTemper, x 87 
 
 29 Of Lafling Peace, and True Goodnefs, 188 
 
 30 7 >z/£ Freedom of Mind, j^o 
 
 31 * 5 * elf love the greatefl Obftruftion to Virtue arid Happinefs, 192 
 
 32 A Prayer for purity of Heart, and Heavenly Wifdom, 194 
 
 33 How a Chriflian ought to behave himfelf when Men fpeak Evil of 
 
 him, 195 
 
 34 How God ought to be addrefs'd to in Time of Adverfity, 197 
 
 3 <5 How the Divine Affiftance fauld be fought, and depended upon, 1 9$ 
 
 36 Of faking God alone, 203 
 
 37 Of Self-denial, 207 
 
 38 The Changeablenefs of our Temper, and how to fix it, 209 
 
 39 The Happinefs of them who love God, 211 
 
 40 This Life a State of continual Temptation, 213 
 
 41 Of Dejpifing the vain Cenfures of Men, 215 
 
 42 A Chriflian mufl devote himfelf entirely to God before he can be 
 
 21S 
 
 43 Now to govern One's felf in the Affairs of the World, 220 
 
 44 Againfl too great Eagernefs in Eufmefs, 221 
 
 -45 In Man dwellethno good Thing, 222 
 
 46 of defpifing Worldly Honour, 22 $ 
 
 47 Happinefs is not to be had, by the Favour or Friendjhip of Men, 
 
 226 
 
 48 Againfl vain, and pompous Learning, 227 
 
 49 Of Meddling with the World, as little as may be, 230 
 
 50 Againfl a fond and eafie Credulity, 231 
 
 51 Of Trlifting in God, when Men fpeak III of us, 2 34 
 
 52 Nothing too much to fuffer for JZternal Life, 237 
 
 53 The Joys of Eternity, and Mifaies of this prefent Life, 240 
 
 54 Of the Defire of Eternal Life, and the Happinefs of Them who 
 
 ft rive manfully, 244 
 
 55 An Aft of Tefign at ion to God in time of Adverfity, 248 
 
 55 A Man mufl be content with meaner APIs of Virtue, when he is in* 
 
 difpofed for greater, 2 5 2 
 
 $7 AManJhouldthinkCorreftien, not Comfort, his due, 253 
 
 53 The Grace of God dwells not with worldly-minded Men, 2 56 
 
 59 The different Motions of Nature and Grace, 258 
 
 60 The Weaknefs of Corrupt Nature, and Efficacy of Divine Grace, 262 
 
 6 1 Self-denial enforced from Chrift's Example, 265 
 
 62 Againfl: 
 
The Contents 
 
 62 Againft being deeded with Temptations, 
 
 6g Again!} Prying into 7 kings too high for us, and pretending to Fa¬ 
 thom the Depths of God and providence, . 2 7 ° 
 
 64 God js AU the Good Man's Hope and Confidence, 275 
 
 (the fourth iSooft, 
 
 Of the Lord’s Supper. 
 
 Chap. P<»ge. 
 
 1 / ~T“ i He Reverence due to this Holy Sacrament, 279 
 
 2 X Tie Love of God to the Soul manifefted in this Sacra¬ 
 
 ment, 
 
 g The Benefit of Communicating often, 2 9 2 
 
 4 The Pleafures of Devout Communion, . 2 9 $ 
 
 $ The Dignity of the Sacrament,and Honour of the prieflbood, 590 
 
 6 An API of Preparation before the Sacrament, 3 ° 3 
 
 7 0/ Self-examination, 3°4 
 
 8 Chrift died for us, that We jhould li ve to Him, 307 
 
 9 An Aft of Seif Refignation, 3°9 
 
 10 Tibc* £/» Oviifchief of Abfenting from the Lord's Supper, g 11 
 
 11 7 £<r Benefit of Chriffs Body, and Word, 3 1 7 
 
 12 Of Preparation to ike Communion, 3*2 
 
 13 7 he SouPs Defire of Vnion with Chrift, 3 2 $ 
 
 14 An Aft of exciting Devotion by the Example of Others, 327 
 
 15 is the Rjward of Humility and Self-denial, 329 
 
 1 6 A Prayer for Relief in our Wants and Spiritual Diflrcjfes, 331 
 
 17 An Aft of Praife, 333 
 
 2 8 Againft Nice Difputcs concerning this Sacrament, 336 
 
 MEDITATIONS and PRAYERS, 
 
 for Sick Pcrfons. 
 
 Med. Page. 
 
 1 1 "1 ? on SicVnefs in general, the Author, Caufes and Ends of 
 
 LI it, 1 
 
 2 Of the Power of God, and the Affeftions arifing from thence. 
 
 Dread of his Anger , and Trutt in his Proteftion , 7 
 
 3 the Juftice of God : And the Penitential Sorrow refulting from 
 
 r ity . *3 
 
 4 Of the Wifdom and Goodnefs of God, 18 
 
 5 Upon Recovery from Sicknefs, 24 
 
 6 Of Death, 38 
 
 O F 
 
OF THE 
 
 IMITATION 
 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 €fie tfivft 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Of the Contempt of the Vmities of the World ,. 
 
 H E that followeth me, Jljall not walk in Darlnefs f 
 hut Jhall have the Light of Life , ... 
 
 fays that Chrift, who declares ^ 
 himfelf r/fe Light of the World. The true 
 Importance aqd Dellgn of which Words is doubtlefs 
 to inftrud us, that the Way to be truly Enlightned, 
 and to deliver our felves from all Bliadnefs of Heart, 
 is to make His Holy Life the Objeft of our Imitation, 
 and to form our Difpofitions and A&ions upon the 
 perfect Model of that bright Example. But how fhall 
 we follow a Pattern, which we but little think of? And 
 therefore the firft Step toward thus Copying afcer him, 
 is the employing our Thoughts, with great Frequency 
 and ferious Attention, upon the Perfections of this 
 Divine Original. 
 
 z. The 
 
2 
 
 Of tt ie imitation Book l 
 
 2 . The Dottrin taught by Chrift, excels all the In- 
 ftruftions delivered to Mankind by all the Holy Men 
 that ever lived and every Man, endued with a true 
 Chriftian Spirit, will not tail there to find a hidden 
 Manna, like that of old, fitted both to nourilh, and 
 minifter Delight to his Soul. The true Account then 
 of Mens hearing the Gofpel, without any fenfible Re- 
 lifh, or eager Defire, is, that they are not endued with 
 the Spirit of Chrift : This is a Treatife found of Them 
 only who defire to find it ^ and a Man muft refolve and 
 endeavour to form his whole Converfation upon the 
 Principles of that Doftrin, before hecan attain to a full 
 Underftanding of its Excellence, and feel an iuward 
 Satisfaftion in the Study of it. 
 
 3 . And here indeed lies the true Benefit of Medita¬ 
 tion and Knowledge. For, without This, how poor 
 and unprofitable a thing is Speculation ! 1 What is a 
 Man the better for entring into the Sublime Myfterics 
 of the Trinity, and being able toDifpute nicely upon 
 that adorable Union, if in the mean while he want that 
 Meeknefs and Humility, without which he muft needs 
 lie under the Dilpleafurcot theTrinity ? Certain it is, 
 that Diftinctions and Notions, though never lb fubtle 
 or fcrviceable to the Truth, do not make a Man Juft 
 and Holy : But a careful and confeientious Litc,recom- 
 mends us to the Favour and 1 .ove of God. 1 had ra¬ 
 ther be afFedfed with a true penitent Sorrow tor Sin, 
 than be able to refolve the mod difficult Cafes about it* 
 Suppofe you had all the Bible faithfully treafured up in 
 your Memory, and a perfect Comprchenfion of all the 
 Moral Philofophy in the World i To what purpofs 
 ferves this mighty Stock of Rules, if not drawn out 
 into Life by Charity, and feconded by Divine Grace if 
 
 (Sanity of Vanities,all is Vanity, faid the Preach- 
 
 er y aud his Obfervation admits of that fingle 
 Exception only, taken notice of in the Condufion of 
 his Book, Love Cod, and keep bis Commandments, for tbit 
 
Book I. of J E S U S C H R I S T. 5 
 
 is the Whole of Man. He who would ap- 
 prove himlelf Wife in good earneft, muft c *3* 
 firft by a juft Contempt of this World, raife himfelf 
 up to the Defires and Endeavours after the Kingdom 
 of Heaven. 
 
 4. Vanity nioft certainly it is, with great Solicitude 
 to feek, and place our Hope and Confidence in, Riches, 
 which are fure to perifh. Vanity, to cherilh our Am¬ 
 bition, and ftrive, by all pofiible means, to attain a 
 high and honourable Station. Vanity, to indulge the 
 Defires of theFlelh, and court thofe Pleafures, which 
 draw after them grievous and lafting Pains. Vanity 
 moft exquifite, to be infinitely concerned for living 
 long, and perfedly indifferent, or but coldly affeded, 
 concerning living well. Vanity moft fatal and ftupid, 
 to determine our Thoughts and Cares to this Life pre- 
 fent, and never look forward to that which is to come: 
 To dote upon things that fly fwiftly from us, and cling 
 faft about imaginary and tranfitory Delights; while 
 we fuffer our felves by thefe to be detained and divert¬ 
 ed from the Purfnit of fubftantial and eternal Joys. 
 
 5. Oh! turn this Vehemence of Defire upon the 
 right Objed, and remember, to how little purpofe it 
 is placed on that which cannot give Content; fince 
 moft true is that Obfervation, which ought to make 
 US wifer. The Eye is not fatisfied with Seeing, 
 
 nor the Ear filed with Hearing. Ufe then thy Eceli J' 1 ' 8 . 
 utmoft Diligence to wean thy Soul from the Lote of the 
 Things that are feen , and fet thy Affethons on Things that 
 arenotfeen. For, be allured, that they who follow 
 their own fenfual Appetites, do lofe, not only their 
 Labour and Expedation, but their Innocence and Pu¬ 
 rity, the Peace of their own Confidence, and the Fa¬ 
 vour of Almighty God, 
 
 Chap, 
 
4 
 
 0f ti)c imitation Book i. I 
 
 Chap. II* 
 
 Mo defy. 
 
 r "p'He Defire of Knowledge is natural to every Man 1 
 but what Advantage is it to be knowing, if that I 
 Knowledge be not feafoned with Virtue and Religion? j 
 The vileft Peafant, and he, whom we in fcorn think I 
 leaft removed from Brute, if he ferve God according I 
 to the belt of his mean Capacity, is yet a better and I 
 more valuable Man, than the proudeft Philofopher, 1 
 who bufies himfelf in confidering the Motions of the ft 
 Heavens, but bellows no Reflexion at all upon thofeof 1 
 his own Mind. The certain Confequence of knowing 1 
 a Man’s fell truly, is a mean Opinion of himfelf, and J 
 not being exalted with the Commendations of other j 
 People. And, fuppofing my Knowledge fo vail and I 
 extenfive, that nothing this World contains were hid 1 
 from it, yet what would all this avail me in the light J 
 of God, who, when he comes to Judgment, will try I 
 me upon the llfue, not of what l have known, but what j 
 I have done ? 
 
 2 . Rellrainthatcxtrcam Defire of increafing Learn- I 
 ing, which at the lame time does but increafe Sorrow, I 
 by involving the Mind in much Perplexity and falfe I 
 Delufion. For fuch arc fond of being thought Men of ] 
 Wifdom, and refpeded as fuch : And yet this boalted j 
 Learning of theirs confills in many things, which a 1 
 Man’s mind is very little, if at all, the better for the ] 
 knowledge of. And fure, whatever they may think of I 
 the matter, he, who bellows his Time and Pains upon ] 
 things, that are of no fervice for promoting the Hap- j 
 pinels of his Soul, ought by no means to be elteemed a J 
 wife Man. Words and Notions give no inward Satis- 1 
 fad ion •, but a virtuous Lite never fails to comfort and 
 refrelh the Mind, and to minilter the belt Antidote j 
 
 again# ] 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 5 
 
 againlt all manner of Difficulties; for fuch ... 
 is a good Confidence, and a well-ground- 3U 
 
 ed Confidence towards God , which is its infeparable At¬ 
 tendant. 
 
 3- The more a Man knows, and the better thofe 
 Subjects are, upon which his Studies have been em- 
 I ployed, the heavier fnall his Account be, unlefs his Pie¬ 
 ty and Virtue be proportionably eminent and exem¬ 
 plary. So little reafon have we to be exalted with 
 our Attainments; and not rather to fear more, as we 
 improve more in Knowledge. And what Improve¬ 
 ments indeed can poflibly be fo great, as to juftifie 
 our being proud of them ? For no Man can ever want 
 this Mortification of his Vanity, That what he knows, 
 is but a very little, in comparifon of what he flill con- 
 : tinues ignorant of. Coufider this, and, inftead of boafl¬ 
 ing thy Knowledge of a few Things, confefs and be out 
 of Countenance for the many more which thou dofl not 
 underfland. And why fo forward to prefer thy felf be¬ 
 fore others, when there are fo many Perfons, whofe 
 Learning and Skill in the Rules of Living, give them 
 an undoubted Right to be preferr’d before You ? If 
 you would attain to ufeful Learning indeed ; learn to 
 conceal your Attainments, and be content that the 
 World fhould think meanly of you : For Lowlinefs of 
 Mind, and not thinking of a Man s felf more highly than 
 he ought to think, is the moll difficult, but withal the 
 moll profitable Lelfon ; and the preferring others be¬ 
 fore our felves, is a Point of true Wifdom and high 
 Perfection. Nor ought our Opinions of this kind be 
 changed, though we fhould fee another guilty of fome 
 egregious Folly, or very grievous Wickednefs} fince 
 we our felves are Men of like Paffionsand Frailties y 
 nor can we tell how long our own Virtue may continue 
 unlhaken. Remember then, that Infirmities are com¬ 
 mon to all Mankind ; and fo remember it, as to per- 
 fwade your felf, or at lealt to fufped, that thefe are 
 
 B dealt 
 
6 €>f tile fttlttatton Book I. 
 
 dealt to Thee in as plentiful a meafure, as to any other 
 Perfon whatfoever. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The Docirwe of Truth. 
 
 B LefTed is the Man, whom Truth condefcends to 
 Teach •, not by dark Figures, and Words quickly 
 , forgotten, but by a full and familiar Com- 
 
 jyj/.xciv. 12 . mun j cat j on of it felf. Happy fhould we 
 
 be, could we but fee things as they are, free from the 
 Errors of our fond Opinions, and the falfe Eftimates 
 we form from thence. How high a Value do we fct 
 upon the Knack of Diftingu idling and Difputing nice¬ 
 ly, in Matters hid from common Apprehenfions; but 
 Matters too, which to know nothing of, will not ren¬ 
 der a Man’s Cafe one whit the worfe at the Day of 
 Judgment? Egregious and elaborate Folly ! which o- 
 verlooks ufeful and neceflary points, as things not wor¬ 
 thy our Regard ; and bends our Induflry to find out 
 thofe, which either turn to no Account, or what is 
 worfe than none. Thus taking pains to 
 rja m cxv. ^ jg norant at and verifying, in out- 
 
 own felves, the Prophet’s Defcription of the Heathen 
 Idols, which have Eyes , and yet fee not. 
 
 Whylhouldwe then, with fuch eager Toil, ftrive 
 to be Matters of Logical Definitions, or what do our 
 abftratted Speculations profit us ? He, whom the E- 
 tcrnal Word inftru&s, takes a much lhorter Cut to 
 Truth : For from this Word alone are all things ; In 
 This they center and confpire j and this is the true 
 Principle of Knowledge, without which no Man un- 
 derftands or judges any thing aright. But he, who 
 reduces all to One Principle, and in that one difeerns 
 
 all 
 
Book I. of J E S U S C H R I S T. 
 
 7 
 
 all things may eftablilh his Mind in perfett Peace, and 
 reft himfelf fecurely upon God. O Thou whofe very 
 Eflence is Truth, unite me to thy felf in perfeft Love! 
 The Variety of Subjects tire and diftra<ft my Soul; in 
 Thee alone I find the Sum of all my Wilhes and De¬ 
 fires. Let all our Teachers be for ever Dumb, and 
 this great Volume of the Creatures continue Ihut to 
 me, fo Thou vouchfafe thy more immediate Infor¬ 
 mation, and teach me by thy felf alone. 
 
 The better acquainted any Man is with himfelf, the 
 more he converfes with, and retires in his own Breaft; 
 and the lefs he wanders abroad, and dwells upon things 
 without him, the more extenfive and fublime is his 
 Knowledge, and the eafier attained; becaufe this Man 
 receives immediate Illumination, and is directed by a 
 Ray darted from Heaven into his Soul. A Mind Un- 
 cere, and pure, and firm, is not diverted by Multipli¬ 
 city of ObjeCts; for the Honour of God is its conftant 
 Aim ; and having but one End to purfue, it is in per¬ 
 fect Peace and Unity with it felf, and does not divide 
 its Thoughts with Vanity and Self-love. For what can 
 be a greater Hindrance than our own ambitious and 
 ungoverned Pafllon ? A truly good and pious Man firft 
 orders and difpofes all his Bufinefs regularly, before he 
 enters upon the Execution of any Defign : He fuffers 
 no vicious Inclination to divert him, but makes every 
 Undertaking fubmit to the Dilates of Reafon and Re¬ 
 ligion. The fharpeft as well as nobleft Conflict is that 
 wherein we labour to gain a Conquelt over our felves; 
 and this Ihould be our principal and conftant Care, to 
 get ground every Day, by bringing our PalTions more 
 and more under, and becoming more mafterly Profi¬ 
 cients in Virtue and Goodnefs. 
 
 Nor may we fuppofe any fo exalted Degree of Vir¬ 
 tue, that it Ihould ceafe to be a State of Proficiency ; 
 for fuch is the Condition of Mortals, that their utmoft; 
 polfible Perfection in this Life, is ever embafed with an 
 
 B 2 Al- 
 

 IO 
 
 jgDf tty 91mitatton Book I- 
 
 turn to no Account; and the Only Thing, which can 
 make them amends at laft, Religion and the Service 
 of God, that they give thenifelves no manner of 
 Trouble about, but flight as not worth their Care or 
 Thought. The great Occafion of their fantaftical 
 Opinions, and dangerous Corruptions, with which 
 the World is pciter’d, is certainly this. That Men 
 propofe no end of their Studies but to be Great, and 
 to have other People think as highly of them, as they 
 do of themfelves; andbecaufeof all things, they de¬ 
 left Humility, and a Submiflion to Truth, God gives 
 them the due Reward of their Vanity, and fuffers 
 . „ them to be feduced by their own Abfur- 
 Cities and. Imaginations. But if we would 
 be Great, let us take the proper Courfe for it: For, 
 None is truly fo, but he that abounds in the Love of 
 God, and in good Works; none is truly fo, but 
 he who thinks modeftly of himfelf, and is got above 
 the Temptations of Ambition and Vain*glory. The 
 Man who is Wife topurpofe, is he, who counts all that 
 ... 9 this World can boaffc of, but Drofs and 
 1 ' 1H " ’ Dung, that he may win Chrifi. And He is 
 an expert and learned Man indeed, who hath learnt 
 to give the Preference to God’s Will, before his own; 
 who refolutely complies with his Commands, and as 
 jrefolutely denies his own Inclinations. 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ii 
 
 C H A P., IV. 
 
 Prudence in our Behaviour. 
 
 B E not too hafly in believing every Word , nor the 
 Suggeftions of every Spirit , but confider coolly 
 and leifurely, and make a Conference of 
 giving your Credit with due Caution. Men j 1 " 
 are much more prone (the greater is the 
 Pity,) both to fpeak and believe ill than well of their 
 Neighbours. This is our Infirmity and Unhappinefs: 
 But a good Man will confider and make Allowances 
 for it: And the Effect of this Conlidera- 
 - tion will be, the fufpending his Aflent, 
 and neither believing all he hears, nor officioufly re¬ 
 porting all he believes. 
 
 It is an Argument of great Wifdom, to do nothing 
 rafhly ; nor to be obftinate and inflexible ... 
 
 in our Opinions. And the Cautioufnefs I J ' mes " u 2 * 
 juft now recommended, in crediting and fpreading 
 Reports, is a neceflary Branch of the fame Perfe¬ 
 ction. Advife in your Affairs with wife and good 
 Men; and think it more for your Reputation, to be 
 inftruCted by thofe who underftand better, than to 
 aCt upon your own Head. A virtuous Life makes a 
 Man prudent in God’s Eftcem, and gives 
 true Conduct and Experience. The more Eu ‘ :<i X1X ‘ 24 * 
 humble and obfervant we are to His Directions, the 
 better we Ihall behave our felves, and the greater Satif- 
 faCtion and Peace of Mind we ihall find rcfulting from 
 all we do. 
 
 3 
 
 B 4 Chap. 
 
12 
 
 £>f ttje imitation Book I- 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Of Reading the Holy Scriptures. 
 
 f | "He End we fhould propofe to our felves in this 
 I Study, is the difcerning and difcovery ofTruth, 
 not the observing Quaintnefs and Propriety of Ex- , 
 predion. That Book of God indeed fhould be per- 
 ufed with the fame Spirit and Temper by which it | 
 was dictated. And as the Holy Ghoft intended the a 
 Profit of Mankind, more than Nicencfs 
 i cv:i'il t, 4 . of Words and Phrafes, fo fhould we aim 
 
 at growing better Livers, rather than I 
 wifer, or more accurate Speakers, by what he 
 bath delivered. To Perfons thus difpofed, the plain- 
 eft and moll pious Parts of Scripture will minifter 
 a Delight, equal to thofe which are more myfte- 
 rious and fublime. The Authority and Skill of the 
 Pen-man fhould be of little weight with usj nor mat¬ 
 ters it, whether he were one of great or mean At- I 
 tainments; for the Love and defire of Truth is the : 
 proper Motive to Study , and the Subllance of what 
 Is fpoken, not the Pcrfon who fpeaks, ought princi¬ 
 pally to be conlidered. fill Flejl> is Grafs , 
 
 1 et. 1.24,2 5. fat the word of the I.ord abideth for ever • 
 and this Word fpeaks to us in different manners, 
 without any partial Rcfpeft of Perfons. 
 
 One great Inconvenience in Reading the Scripture, 
 is our own vain Curiofity. We lofe much of the Be¬ 
 nefit, which might otherwife be gathered from them, 
 by pretending to nice Difquifitions of difficult Points ; 
 and labouring to bring to the Standard of our own 
 imperfeft Reafon, what we fhould be content to re¬ 
 ceive with the Simplicity of an humble Obedience, 
 and place to the Account of Divine Faith. If you 
 Would Read then, and profit by that Reading, you 
 
 muff 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 13 
 
 mull do it with a fubmiflive and humble, a fincere and 
 teachable Difpofition of Mind ; and account it a great¬ 
 er Excellence to believe what God hath faid, than to 
 afieft the Reputation of Learning, by Singularity of O- 
 pinions, and a bold Attempt to bring down all he fays 
 to your own Comprehenfion. Ifin fome things you find 
 occalion to doubt or diltrult your own Judgment, con- 
 fult wife and holy Perfons, and fubmit patiently to 
 hear and be informed by them. Nor let a , . 
 
 vain Conceit of your own Abilities pro- ff “ x ' v “ 1 ' 8 ’ 
 duce Contempt of the Aphorifms and Pa- * 
 rabies of the Ancients. For, be well allured, they 
 were not uttered at all Adventures , but they who de¬ 
 livered thele Proverbial Sentences, knew them to be 
 - the Refult of long and judicious Obfervation. 
 
 C H A p. VI. 
 
 Of Inordinate Affections, 
 
 T He Moment a Man cherifhes any immoderate De¬ 
 fire, he feels a Tenipeft riling in his Soul. Pride 
 and Covetoufnefs never fuffer us to reft but the Poor 
 and Lowly in Heart, the Humble and the Contented, 
 enjoy themfelves in a profound and perpetual Calm. 
 He that is Hill in conflict with his Pallions, and hath 
 not yet attained a Compleat Viftory over them, is ea- 
 fily tempted, and often finds himfelf over-born by 
 things not worth his Concern. For the remains of a 
 carnal Spirit, and the ftrong Tendencies to Pleafures 
 of Senfe, will not fuffer a Man, without great Difficul¬ 
 ty, to draw his Mind off from worldly Affections. 
 And therefore, while he is endeavouring to do this, he 
 endeavours it with fore Travel and Pain commits a 
 Violence upon himfelf, and is provoked to Anger and 
 
 In- 
 
€>f ttje limitation Book i. 
 
 Indignation againft all that oppofes him in fo labori¬ 
 ous an Undertaking. 
 
 But if he indulge thofe Defires, and fucceed in them, 
 theConfequence is worfe this way than the other: For 
 then he is Hung with Remorle for his guilty Compli¬ 
 ance, and difcontented to find, that the Gratifying his 
 Inclination does not yield the Satisfaction he promifed 
 himfelf from it. This convinces him by fad Experi¬ 
 ence, that true Peace and Content is never to be had 
 by obeying his Apetites, but by an obftinate Refinance 
 of them. And fuch Peace cannot be expe&ed in the 
 Breaft of any fenfual Man ; for it is the Peculiar Por¬ 
 tion and Happinefs of a Soul raifed above the World, 
 a zealous and devout, a mortified and refined, and hea¬ 
 venly Difpofition of Spirit. 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Directions for avoiding Pride , and vain Confidences. 
 
 T O put our truft in Man, or in any other Crea¬ 
 ture, is molt egregious Vanity. Think it not 
 .. below you, to fubmit to the meaneftgood 
 •' <7 ’ XXVl1 ' 5 ‘ Offices for the Service of your Brethren, 
 and the Sake of Jefus Chrift; nor count it any Shame 
 to be thought Poor and Mean in this World : Do your 
 own Endeavour honeftly, and faithfully; and never 
 doubt of God’s Affiftance. Depend not upon your 
 /fri. ix. 24. own Wifdom, and place not any Confi¬ 
 dence in the greateft Man living; but let 
 ip«. iv. 5. your whole Truft reft entirely upon the 
 lute j. 52. favour of God, who bringeth down and 
 refifieth the Proud , but gtveth Grace to the 
 Humble , and exalteth thofe who are content to abafe 
 themfelves. 
 
 Boaft 
 
Book I. of J E S U S C H R I S T. 15 
 
 Boaft not of Riches, becaufe they are in your pre- 
 fent pofleffion \ Nor of Friends, becaufe they have Pow- 
 .er and Intereft •, but if you will glory, glory in God, 
 who is able to give all things, and willing to give, that 
 which is better than all, even Himfelf. And why 
 ffiould the Strength and Beauty of your Perfon puff 
 you up with Pride, when it is in the Power of a’very 
 little Sicknefs, to bring upon you extream Weaknels 
 and odious Deformity ? If you be inclined to value 
 your Wit and Addrefs above due meafure, remember 
 from what Hand thefe come, and do not provoke the 
 Giver by abuling the Gift. 
 
 Fanfie not your felf better than your Neighbours, for 
 fear God, who knows what is in every Man, think the 
 worfeof'you upon that account. Nay, value not your 
 felf even for what you have done well, for God judg- 
 eth not as Man judgeth ; and what we often are high¬ 
 ly latisfied with, he fometiines thinks not fit fo much 
 as to approve. If you be confcious of any thing good 
 in your felf, think, that the fame, or better Quali¬ 
 ties may likewife be found in others: For while you 
 allow their Excellencies, it will be no difficult matter 
 to preferve a modeft Opinion of your own. There 
 can come no Harm of fuppofing every other Man bet¬ 
 ter than your felf, but the fuppofing any one Man 
 worfe than your felf, may be attended with very ill Con. 
 fequences. The Meek , fays the Scripture, pfuJm xxxvii . 
 u refrejhed wthe Multitude of Peace • but the jr 
 Proud in Spirit is like a troubled Sea , perpe- ' u v 
 
 tually toll and driven by the fierce Commotions of 
 Anger and Emulation, and Envy, and Difdain, which 
 never fuffer him to be eafie and compofed. 
 
 Chap. 
 
Chap. VIII. 
 
 Againjl too getter al an Acquaintance, And Inconve¬ 
 nient Freedoms in Converfation. 
 
 O Pen not thine Heart to every Man , but make choice 
 of prudent and religious Perfons to difclofe thy 
 _ . ... Affairs to. Frequent not the Company 
 
 a m him 9. y oun g Men and Strangers j Flatter not 
 
 the Rich, neither affeft to be feen in the prefence of 
 great Men: but affociate thy felf with the Devout, 
 the Virtuous, the Humble ; and contrive that thy Di- 
 fecurfe be profitable. Delire not the intimate Ac¬ 
 quaintance of Women j but, inftead of thy Conver¬ 
 fation, let them have thy Prayers: and recommend 
 the Prefervation and the Reward of their Virtue to 
 God. Converfe as much as may be with God, with 
 his holy Angles, with thy own Confcience •, and com¬ 
 plain not for want of Company, nor think it an Up- 
 happinefs to have but few Acquaintance, when thou 
 haft fo good Company as this always at hand. 
 
 Our Charity indeed (hould be univerfal, and extend 
 to all Mankind : but it is by no means convenient, 
 our Friendlhips and Familiarities (hould do fo too. 
 We often find, that a Perfon altogether unknown to 
 us, comes recommended by a good Charafter, which 
 makes us paffionately fond of his Acquaintance and 
 yet this very Man, when better known, lofes the 
 great Opinion we conceived of him before, and grows 
 palled and flat upon our Hands. And this we may 
 be fure is no lefs likely to prove our own Cafe: For 
 the Perfonswith whom we hope to ingratiate our felves 
 by a freer Acquaintance, frequently difeover fomc ill 
 Qyality in us, which makes us lefs acceptable. And 
 therefore, in Prudence and Tendernefs to our felves 
 and others both, we (hould be fparing in our Intima¬ 
 cies ; 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 cies; becaufc it fo very often happens, thht the more 
 perfefUy Men are underftood, the lefs they are e- 
 fteemed. 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 Obedience and a State of Subjection. 
 
 I T is a very valuable Advantage to live under the 
 Direftion of a Superiour, and, whatever the Gene¬ 
 rality of Men think of the matter, more difficult and 
 hazardous to Command, than to Obey. Many fub- 
 mit, more out of Neceffity, than out of any Principle 
 of Duty or Choice; And, to fuch as thele, this is a 
 State of continual Torment. All they do is againlt the 
 Grain, attended with conftant Murmurings and Com¬ 
 plaints ; The Life of Slaves and Brutes, and not of 
 Men, who (hould aft with a Spirit of Freedom. And 
 this Native Liberty no Inferiour attains to, till he have 
 learnt to obey heartily, for God’s, and Confidence 
 fake. Whatever Poft you form an Idea of, none will 
 give you Quiet and inward Content, equal with that 
 of a State of Subjection: Many have fed themfelves 
 with fond Imaginations, how happy they fhould be, 
 if they could change their Condition for a higherj but 
 few, if any, who have actually made the Experiment, 
 have found themfelves at all the happier or ealier 
 for it. 
 
 ’Tis true indeed, every Man's own judment is the 
 proper Rule and Meafure of his Adions •, and hence 
 it comes to pafs, that we are all belt affedcd to them 
 who are of the fame Opinions with our felves. But 
 ’tis as true, that it God rule in our Hearts, we (hall 
 not think much to recede from our own Senfe in fome 
 Cafes, when Peace and the Publick Good may be pro¬ 
 moted 
 
18 flDf tfie gimttatton Book I. 
 
 moted by fuch Conceflions. For who is fo abfolutely 
 and compleatly Wife, that nothing efcapes his Know¬ 
 ledge ? If then our Knowledge be but partial and 
 imperfeft, ’tis but reafonable, we fhould not abound 
 too much in our own Senfe, but allow a fair Hearing 
 at lealt to thofe who differ from us. And in fuch 
 Cafes a Man gains a great Point, when he knows him- 
 felf in the right, and yet in Tendernefs and Charity, 
 can comply with the Infirmities or Miftakes of others, 
 rather than offend God, by being too tenacious of his 
 own better Judgment. 
 
 I have frequently been told. That it is much lafer 
 to take Advice, than to give it. For a Man may have 
 confidered and determined well •, and yet there may 
 be fome Cafes, which may make it reafonable to de¬ 
 part from that Determination, and give our felves up 
 to be determined by other Perfons. And when thefe 
 Cafes happen, To refufe fuch Compliances, manifeftly 
 betrays our own Self-conceit ^ and is not Conftancy, 
 but Obftinacy of Spirit. 
 
 Chap. X. 
 
 Few Words are best. 
 
 D Ecline Crowds and Company as much ns conve¬ 
 niently you may. For frequent Difcourfe, even 
 of News or indifferent Things, which happens upon 
 fuch Occafions, is fometimes an Obftru&ion to Virtue 
 when leaft intended or fufpe&ed fo to be. The World 
 and its Vanities eafily take hold of us, and our Minds 
 are enfnared and captivated, before we are aware. 
 How often have I found reafon to wifh, that 1 had not 
 been in Company, or that I had faid nothing, when I 
 was there ? If we examine, how it comes to pafs, 
 
 that 
 
19 
 
 Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 that Mutual Converfation gives fo great Delight, not- 
 withftanding we fo feldom enjoy that Pleafure with 
 perfeft Innocence; the true Account, I think, is this. 
 That we find our felves diverted by Difcourfe, and 
 unbend our Thoughts from feverer Studies : That 
 what we defire and are molt fond of, or what we have 
 the greateft Averfion to, liesuppermoft in our Minds * 
 and therefore we propole lome Eafe in difcharging 
 our felves upon thefe Subje&s. 
 
 But how very feldom do we find that Eafe we pro- 
 pofe by doing fo ? For this outward Confolation migh¬ 
 tily takes off from that inward and Spiritual Satisfa¬ 
 ction, in which true Happinefs confifts. Therefore it 
 is our Duty to Watch and Pray, and to fill up the 
 empty Spaces of Life,,with thefe holy and retired 
 Exercifes. And, if at any time the Refrelhments of 
 Company be chofen , and convenient, a ftrid Guard 
 fhould be fet upon our Tongues, that they utter no¬ 
 thing amifs; but improve thefe very Diverfions to 
 the Edification of our felves, and them that hear us- 
 1mpertinent and lavifh Talking is in it felf a very vi¬ 
 cious Habit, and a wretched Hindrance to our Spiri¬ 
 tual Proficiency. And thele two Confiderations ought 
 to make us extreamly cautious in our Converfation. 
 But it is the Priviledge of Virtuous and Religions 
 Difcourfe, that Piety and Goodnefs are wonderfully 
 promoted by fuch Conferences. And then efpecially, 
 when Perfons of the like heavenly Spirit and Temper 
 frequent one another’s Company with a Defign of im¬ 
 proving by it. 
 
 C n a p. 
 
20 
 
 _ . — - - - - - -» 
 
 flDf tt)C imitation Book I. 
 
 G H A P. XI. 
 
 Of Peace of Mind, and a Defire of Improvement. 
 
 M En might live quiet and eafie- enough, if they 
 would be careful not to give themfelves trou¬ 
 ble, and forbear medling with what other People do 
 and fay, in which they are no way concerned. But 
 how fhould he be eafie, who makes other Mens Cares 
 his own? Who induftrioufly feeks Difquiet, and when 
 he might reft in Peace within doors, goes abroad to 
 invite and fetch Difturbance home to his Houfe ? who 
 takes fuch Pains, and fpends lb much Time to enquire 
 into the Affairs of Neighbours and Strangers, altoge¬ 
 ther foreign to him •, and fcldom or never defcends 
 into his own Breaft, that he may examine and under- 
 ftand himfelf? Blejfed are the Meek, fays 
 Mtttk.y. 5. the Scripture, for they fall inherit the Earth 
 
 fat.xx ix.19. pe ac eahly, and increa/e their Joy in the Lord. 
 
 And whence is it, think you, that fome Holy Per- 
 lons can fo perfe&ly abftrad themfelves from the Con¬ 
 cerns of this World, and find fuch fatisfadion in their 
 Divine Retirements, and Solitary Contemplations? 
 From hence, no doubt; that they have made it their 
 Bufinefs to mortifie all earthly and fenfual Affcdions, 
 and fo have devoted themfelves entirely to God, and 
 are at liberty to attend upon Him without diftradion. 
 But we find the cafe much otherwife with us, becaufe 
 onr Palfions interrupt our Piety, and the Traniitory 
 Things of this World continue tenderly to affed us. 
 We feldom gain an entire Conqueft over any one ill 
 Habit; nor are we 2ealous to make every day we live 
 a Step to higher Degrees of Virtue. This is the 
 reafon why we are fo cold and infenfible, or at beft 
 but lukewarm and indifferent, in the Exercifcs of Pie¬ 
 ty and Private Meditation. 
 
 Were 
 
Book 1. Of J e s u s Chris t. 
 
 21 
 
 Were we bat, as we ought to be, dead to the World 
 - and our own Lulls, diferitangl.ed from thofe Chains 
 and Snares within, that hamper and keep our Souls 
 | down to Matter and Senfe, then fhould We alfo relilh 
 Ads of Devotion, and be ravilhed with marvellous 
 Joy, when our Thoughts are fixed on God and Hea- 
 , ven. The only, or the grcatell Bar to thefe Spiritual 
 Delights, proceeds from PalTions unfubdued, and from 
 our own Sloth, which cares not to encounter Difficul¬ 
 ties, nor afpire to the Perfedion of the Saints. Hence 
 is that Tamenefs and Dejedion of Spirit, fo vifible, 
 
 | fo fcandalous, when any little Misfortune comes a- 
 crofs us : Hence our vain Confidence, and anxious 
 Care, which feeks and depends upon Humane Helps 
 and Remedies; and negleds God, our on4y fufficient 
 Refuge and Deliverer. 
 
 Would we but quit our felves like Men, and refo- 
 lutcly Hand our Ground, we fhould not fail of Suc¬ 
 cours from above. God is always ready to drengthen 
 thofe who drive lawfully, and place their Hope in the 
 A ffiltance of his heavenly Grace: He means our very 
 Hardfhips and Dangers for our Good; and engages us 
 in new Confiids and Temptations, that lie may make 
 our Vidories more glorious, and qualifie us for a 
 brighter Crown. If we content our felves with the 
 Obfervance of the outward Duties only, and fuppofe 
 this is the utmod Perfedion neceflary for us; we bring 
 Religion into a very narrow Com pa fs, and may quick¬ 
 ly get to the End of it. But alas! the Main of our 
 Bufinefs lyes within: The Axe mud be laid to the 
 Root ot the I ree, and our Senfual Appetites quite 
 cut down, before we can attain to true Pleafure in 
 Holincfs, and a peaceful Serenity of Mind. 
 
 Would we but impofe upon our felves the Task of 
 Mortifying a freffi Lud, and conquering a vifeious 
 Habit every Year; even thus in a little time we might 
 main to Perfedion. But alas ! we often take the di- 
 
22 
 
 «DS tilt gjtmtattou Book I. | 
 
 —————-—- ~ 
 
 reft contrary courfc; and are generally more wary, 
 more devout, more zealous, to do well, and toavoiu 
 evil, when we firft enter upon a Religious Life, than I 
 after we have fpent fome time in it. 1 he Fervour or 
 of our AfTcftion, which ought in reafon to grow every 
 Day Itronger and brighter, cools and goes out again ; 
 and we reckon it a great matter, if our Zeal can be I 
 kept up to the lame warmth, which we felt at its hrlt 
 kindling. We are too tender of our Eafe, and loth 
 to put our felves upon theftrctch: whereas, would 
 we but ure a little Severity, and fubmit to fomc Vio¬ 
 lence at firft, that Trouble would quickly wear oft; I 
 and all our Progrefs in Virtue be, not caiic and to¬ 
 lerable only, but even a Delight and wonderful Satif- I 
 
 faftion to us. ,, _ . , 
 
 ’Tis hard, 1 own, to part with our old Friends, 
 and to unlearn Habits to which we have been long 
 accuftomed: and harder yet it is, to enter into a 
 formal War with our own Inclinations ; and obftinate- | 
 ly deny what we eagerly defire. But if we do not I 
 conquer fmaller Difficulties, what will become of us, 1 
 when a Haul ted by greater? If we do not relift our 
 natural Propenlions at firft, before Inclination is 
 Hrengthened by Cuftom, the Enemy will gather 
 Strength •, every Day’s Praftice is a frelh Reinforce¬ 
 ment; and the longer the Delay, the greater will be 
 the Difficulty. O think of this in time, and confider .] 
 the happy Effefts of an early and ferious Piety : What 
 peace, what Triumphs to your felves; what Joy to 1 
 others, to God ar.d Chrift, to Angels and Good Men 
 you will certainly procure, by behaving your felves 
 gallantly in this Spiritual Warfare. Thisfure will bal- 
 lance all the Hardfhips of Virtue; reproach your 
 Cowardice and Sloth, provoke and inflame your Dili¬ 
 gence and Courage ; and make you zealous, refolute, 
 impatient to grow' in Grace, and advance every Day in 
 Spiritual Perftftion. 
 
Chap. XII. 
 
 The Advantage of Afflictions. 
 
 I T is good for me that I have been in Trouble^ fays Da¬ 
 vid. Nor is it David’s Cale alone, for 
 many Men havereafon to blefs that Provi- p J am '- cx ' x ‘ 
 dence, which fends Croffes and Calamities upon them, 
 fhefe bring a Man’s Thoughts home, put him upon 
 Reflexion, and help him to underftand himfelf and 
 his Condition. They Iheiv him, that he is in a State 
 of Exile and Pilgrimage, and forbid him to fet up his 
 Hope and Reft, in a ftrange Country, where he is no 
 better than a Sojourner. 
 
 Nor . is it thus with thofe Sufferings alone,which the 
 , immediate Hand of Heaven inflicts, but even thofe 
 whereof Men are the Inftruments: The Injuries and 
 contumelious Ufage, the Calumnies and Cenfures of 
 them, who fpeak and think ill of us, bring their Pro¬ 
 fit with them too; even when moft wrongful, moft 
 undeserved. For thefe oftentimes are an occafion of 
 rectifying our Meafures,and bringing us to a jufter and 
 more modeft Opinion of our felves: They cure our 
 Ambition and Vain-glory, and convince us how vain a 
 ‘hing if is, to thirft after Reputation and the Praife 
 of Men, when even Innocence and Goodnefs cannot 
 proteft us from Slander and Reproaches. They teach 
 hs to fet a due Value upon the Teftimony of our own 
 Confciences, and the righteous Approbation of God 9 
 the Searcher ol Hearts} when that Which he will not 
 fail to Commend and Reward, cannot elcape the Con¬ 
 tempt and Condemnation of the World, nor prevail 
 for fo much as fair Quarter, from our miftaken and in¬ 
 jurious Brethren. 
 
 It is therefore both our Duty and our Wifdom, fo 
 entirely to place our Happinefs and Expectations in' 
 
 C x Cod 
 
 ■ t; 
 
 
24 
 
 flDf tile limitation Book I. 
 
 God alone, that we (hall not need to be extremely Soli¬ 
 citous for many outward Comforts, or feel our fclves 
 Deftitute or much Deje&cd, when any of thefe hap¬ 
 pen to fail or forfake us. For, when a wv.1’ diipofed 
 Man is opprefled with Sufferings, and 1 emptations, 
 or perplexed with evil Thoughts, he then feels expe¬ 
 rimentally, how neceflary the Divine Aflntance is, 
 and hew little heisableto do or endure without it’, 
 Then he is touched with inward Reniorfe, 1 hen does 
 he Groan in fecret, and, in the Anguifh ot his Heart, 
 pour out his Requefts for Relief and Deliverance: 
 Then even Life it felf becomes a Burden, and Death 
 defireable ; as that which will tranflate him from this 
 Valley of Tears and Corruption, to a Lite of Immor¬ 
 tality with his God and Redeemer. In a word, Such 
 Circnmftances as thefe are more efteftual than ten 
 thouland Arguments, to Convince him by his own 
 fenlible Experience, that petted Security , and en¬ 
 tire Satisfaction are not fo much as confident with the 
 Condition of Man in this prefent World, and there¬ 
 fore we mud be content to wait another and future 
 State; which alone deferves our AfFedions, becaufe 
 St alone can make us truely aud compleatly Happy. 
 
 C H A P. XIII. 
 
 Of Refjling Temptations. 
 
 S O longas we continue in this World, we mud not 
 flatter our felveswithan Imagination l'o vain, as 
 that of being exempted from Tribulations andTry- 
 fob vii. i. als: Thefe are fo infeparable from Morta- 
 .••r.'.lxx.P. lity, that Job calls the Life of Man a War- 1 
 ^ f are -> or Tlacc of Exercife. It highly con- | 
 
 cerns eve ry one of us upon this account, to take great \ 
 
Book I. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 25 
 
 Care for managing himfelf under hisTemptations ;To 
 Wafch and pray diligently; as being duly fenfible, 
 that he hath a watchful Enemy to deal with, one who 
 will not fail to take all Ad vantages of De¬ 
 ceiving, and who goes about continually fee king 1 Pet ' 7 ' 8 * 
 whom he may Devour. Nor mull our Attainments in 
 Virtue difpofe us to remit of this Care, for Virtue is 
 no abfolute Security : No Man is fo Perfed, fo'Hoiy, 
 as never to be aflaulted, or out of the Reach of this 
 Ad verfary. We may defend our felves againft his At¬ 
 tacks, but kid attack’d, we mult, and molt certainly 
 (hall, be. J 
 
 Now, though there be great Hazard and Unealinefs, 
 yet is there likewife great Profit to be made from 
 Temptations; Particularly as they contribute to the- 
 humbling our Minds, to the purging offour Drofs, and 
 the making us wifer by fufFering. This is the rough 
 Way to Happinefs, which all the Saints of God have 
 travelled before us, and by it at laft were fate conduc¬ 
 ed to their Journy’s end : And they who fell of]', and 
 were difeouraged at the ruggednefs of the Pafiage, are 
 all Reprobates and Caft-aways. No Order or Profef- 
 lion of Men is fo facred,no Place fo remote or folitary 
 but that 1 emptationsand Troubles will find them out 
 and intrude upon them. 
 
 Nor ought it to feem Arrange, that thefe fhould 
 haunt and purfue us clofe, at ail Times and Places, fince 
 we our felves carry about us the very Matter of our 
 1 emptations; and can never run away from that in¬ 
 born Concupifcence, upon which they work, and from 
 whence they takeoccaiion to deftroy us. This is the 
 Account we may reafonably give our felves, why there 
 fhould be fuch an uninterupted Succeflion of l'emp- 
 tations, and Miferies, and why one Trouble Humid 
 prefs fo hard upon the heels of another. For how in¬ 
 deed can it be otherwife? lince with our Innocence we 
 loit our Safety and Happinefs; and mail be born to 
 
 C 3 Trou- 
 
s6 
 
 jflDf tfje 3|rottattou Book i. 
 
 Trouble, becaufe the Gi'ound of our Trouble is now 
 become a part of our Nature. Many Men involve them- 
 felves deeper in Temptations, by being too follicitous 
 to decline them: for we mult not fuppofe our felves al¬ 
 ways to have conquered a Temptation, when we have 
 fled from itj the nobler, and fometimes the more 
 efte&U3l way, is to vanquilh them by patient enduring, 
 and being humbled under them. 
 
 Thus much is plain ^ That by declining a Tempta¬ 
 tion we have not difarmed it. The Root is ftanding 
 ftill, and will foon be fprouting,again j and a Man who 
 flees,is fofar from getting ground upon his Adverfary, 
 that he rather gives him Encouragement to purfue more 
 vigoroufly. The way to overcome is by Patience, and 
 Long-fuffering which, by God’s Afliftance, and by 
 Degrees, though perhaps but flow ones, is more likely 
 tofucceed, than Heat, and Vehemence: and any the vio- j 
 lentdt and moft obflinate Efforts of our own Strength. 
 When you find your felf Tempted, be fure to ask Ad¬ 
 vice ^ aud when you fee another fo, deal with him . 
 gently : Support him with Companion, and adininilter 
 all the Comfort in your Power, as You could not but 
 wifh to be treated your felf, were You in his atflifted 
 Circumftances. 
 
 The beginning of all Temptations to Wickednefs 
 is the Ficklenefs of our own Mind, and want of Trull 
 in God. An inconftant and irrefolute Man is like a 
 Ship without a Pilot, driven to and fro, at the Mercy 
 ~cclui " °f ever y S u ft °f Wind. Metals are tried in 
 
 " the Fire , and acceptable Men in the Furnace of 
 
 j4jfli{lion. We feldom know the true extent of our 
 own Power, fill Temptation difeover it to us. But 
 Watchfullnefs, which is always neceffary, is chiefly fo 
 when the firffc Allaultsare madej For then the Enemy 
 is more cafily repulfcd, If we never fuller him to get 
 within us, but upon thp very firft approach draw up 
 our Forces, and fight him Without the Gate.’Twas well 
 idYifed of the Poet, Take 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 27 
 
 Tale Phyfick early , AfeePcinest erne too late OuLl. 
 
 When the Difeafe is crown inveterate. Principiis oh- 
 J J fta,feroMedi- 
 
 And this will be more manifeft, if we ob- "'cum ^lak’ 
 erveby what Methods and Degrees Tern- pertonga.-. m- 
 ptations grow upon us. The firft thing vatuere mo- 
 that prefents it felf to the Mind, is a plain ras * 
 
 Angle Thought-, This (freight is improved into a 
 ftrong Imagination That again enforced by a len- 
 fible Delight ; Then follow evil Motions, and when 
 Thefe are once (lin ed, there remains nothing but the 
 A (Tent of the Will, and then the Work is finilhed. 
 Now the firft Steps of this are feldom thought worth 
 our Care} fometimes not taken notice of, fo that- 
 the Enemy frequently is got clofe up to us, and even 
 within our Trenches, before we obferve him -, and 
 we have loll the Day for want of defending our 
 felves, while he was in a condition of being refill¬ 
 ed : For the longer we defer the Engagement, the 
 -weaker we grow, and the more our Adverfary ga¬ 
 thers Strength. 
 
 The Seafon of thefe Tryals is various and uncer¬ 
 tain. Upon fome they are feverer prefently after 
 their Convcrfion, upon others toward the latter end 
 of their Days. Some have them fo thick repeated, 
 that their whole Life is one continued Conflict} and 
 Some again have but very few and gentle Tryals: 
 All which different Cafes are ordered by a juft and 
 wife God, who knows what each Man deferves, and 
 what he is qualified to undergo; and weighs all Cir- 
 cumflances fo juftly, that his feveral Difpenfations 
 are constantly fubfervient to the Salvation and Hap- 
 pinefs of his chofen Servants. 
 
 Let us not therefore defpair, when Temptations 
 befet us, but excite our Zeal, and pray to God more 
 fervently, that he would be our prefent Help and 
 
 C 4 lie- 
 
:8 
 
 £Df ti}C gimitattoit Book I. 
 
 I Cor. x. 13. 
 i Per. iv. 
 
 Refuge in all our Troubles: and, St. Paul ex prefles it. 
 That he would with the Temptation a!jo male a 
 7 ray to efcapc , that we may he Able to bear 
 it. Let ns hun.ble oi:r [dues under the trying 
 Hand of God, 3nd i^aticntly fubmit to his good Plea- 
 p r. . r fure in all our Tribulation. For thofe 
 
 jwxxxiv. w j ^ 0 (j 0 l ?e w ;;i exalt in di.e time , and 
 
 five them that be of a meek and fontrite Spirit . 
 
 By Temptations and AfllicFtions a Man is brought (as 
 it were) to the Touch; by thefe his Proficiency is 
 meafured, and eafily difcernable : The grearer thefe 
 
 are, the more acceptable the Sufferer is to God, and 
 
 T ,,__ J j l Ml. r- 1 
 
 the brighter Luftre they add to his Vii rue. For, to be 
 Religiousand Zealous in the Service of God, when no 
 Llneafinefsis upon us^ This is no mighty matter . But 
 if we can fuffer with Patience and Refignation, and 
 continue Ready in the I.ove and Service of God, when 
 he affli&s and fends Bittcrnefs into our Souls, this 
 argues a noble Difpofition, and promifes an extraor¬ 
 dinary Perfection. Some Perlons have come olFwith 
 Safety and Honour in very fliarp and trying Inftanccs, 
 and yet are worfted in common and trivial ones. And 
 this Cafe is capable of a very good Improvement: For 
 thus no doubt God gives Men warning, that they 
 Ihould not prefume upon their own Strength, but 
 humbly take Sanctuary in Him, in Matters of Difficul¬ 
 ty • Moved by the Experience of that VVeaknefs, and 
 Frailty, which hath yielded to flighter and left vio¬ 
 lent Temptations. 
 
 Chap. 
 
Book T. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 29 
 
 Chap. XIV. 
 
 jlgainst Rafb Judging. 
 
 T Urn your Eyes inward upon your felf ; for you 
 can very hardly exceed in judging your own A- 
 ftions, nor be too cautious and fparing in cenfuring 
 thofe of others. And Cenfuring indeed this deferves to 
 be called in the word fenfe of the word, rather than 
 jndc^g ; if we con fid er, not only how unprofitable 
 to any good End, but how liable to infinite Midakes, 
 and very often how exceeding finful, all fuch Judg¬ 
 ments arc ; Whereas the Examining and Judging our 
 own fdves is a Work very proper for us; Such as we 
 are qualified to undertake, and always turns to good 
 account. We generally determine and give fentence, 
 juitas we Hand affected to Peil'ons and Things; Our 
 own Paflions and private Prepolfeflions blind our 
 Minds, and either hinder us from dilcerning the 
 Truth, or from letting it have its due Weight with 
 us. Whereas, if we proceeded upon no other Princi¬ 
 ple but the Love of God, thofe Matters, which dis¬ 
 agree with our own Sence of Things, would be allow’d 
 fairer Confideration, and be lefs uneafie to us. 
 
 put now Something foreign to the Cafe in hand, 
 either lurking privately in our own Bread, or hap¬ 
 pening from without, engages and draws our Minds 
 after if. Many People ad upon private Refpeds and 
 perfonal Interefts, even when lead fenfible that they 
 do io. Thefe Men continue well fatisfied, folong as 
 Things agree with their own Inclination ; but are out 
 of all Patience, upon the lead Difference and Contra¬ 
 diction. And hence it comes to pafs, that good Cor- 
 refpondence is fio often broke, and Qiiarrels commen¬ 
 ced between Friends and Neighbours, even Men of 
 Liety and the mod Sacred Profeffions, upon no other 
 
 Ground, 
 
3° 
 
 £Df tftC 3JmttattOtt Book I. 
 
 Ground, than that they do not Think and Aft alike. 
 
 The Rcafon of this fettns to be, that mighty Af- 
 cendant which life and inveterate Habits naturally 
 gain upon us. We can very hardly be perfwaded to 
 change 3 Praftice or Opinion, which we have been 
 educated in, and long accuftomed to-, or to fuppofe, 
 that other Men fee farther into things, than our 
 felves. The Man therefore, who leans more to his 
 own Uuderftandingand Study, than to that Principle 
 of Virtue, which Ihould difpofe him to an entire Sub- 
 miffion to Chrift and his Doftrine, is by no means in a 
 condition of having his Mind enlightened by God. For 
 God expefts, that we fhould be fubjeft to Him with¬ 
 out any Referves, and thinks it fit, that a Religious 
 Love and Obedience fhould take place of our own 
 Reafonings. 
 
 Chap. XV. 
 
 Of Works of Charity. 
 
 ! His is a conftant and univerfal Rule, That no 
 
 1 Confideration of any Advantage, no Regard 
 of any Perfon whatfoever, mult ever prevail with us 
 to do an III Thing: Buc the Benefit of a Perfon who 
 ftands in need of our Relief, is often times a fuffi- 
 cient Warrant for leaving a Good Thing undone -, 
 or for changing our Mealures, and chufing to do one 
 Good Thing rather than another. For indeed, properly 
 fpeaking, this is not fo much an omitting to do well, 
 as a prudent Contrivance to do better. But, let the 
 Thing we do be what it will, it is the Principle, upon 
 which we do it, that muff recommend it ^ And, as 
 without Charity, both all we are, and all we do, ligni- 
 fie nothing i fo, where this is at the bottom, every 
 
 thing 
 
Book I. of J esus Christ. 
 
 3 * 
 
 thing we do, how mean foever in its felf, is of very 
 valuable Confideration. For God obferves by what 
 Springs we are moved, and meafures our Defert, by 
 the Difpofition of the Heart, and not by the Worth of 
 the Gift, or the Quality of the Action. 
 
 The Man then, that loves a great deal, does a great 
 deal ; The Man that does any thing well, in that one 
 thing does a great deal; And hedoesvveil, who pre¬ 
 fers the Good of others before his own private Plea- 
 fnre or Profit. That which frequently pafles for Cha¬ 
 rity , is really no better than a felfifh and carnal Prin¬ 
 ciple : For how very feldom do Men act upon other 
 Motives, than the gratifying their own Inclinations, 
 the doing their own Will, the profpeCt of their own 
 Advantage, the expectation of Return or Reward; 
 So confulting the Convenience, not fo much of others, 
 asThemfelves? 
 
 Now true and perfect Charity feeks not its own Advan¬ 
 tage ; and if God, in his Bounty, be pleafed to re- 
 compenfeit, yet this Recompence is not the thing 
 principally in view, but its great Aim and End is the 
 Glory of God. For the lame reafon Cha- j ^ ... 
 rity envietb not ; becaufe Envy is a Pa (lion 
 proceeding from Selfifhnefs and Pride : And therefore 
 the Man who afts upon a Principle fo generous, as 
 neither to feek his own private Interelt, nor to take 
 Satisfaction in himfelf, but places all his Content and 
 Blifs in God alone, is got above Envy, and incapable 
 of fo mean a Pafiion. Charity looks upon God as the 
 Sole Beginning and End of all Good ; the Source, from 
 whence it flows, and the Immenfe Ocean, in which 
 it is fwallowed up; the Perfon from whom all the 
 Saints derive their Righteoufnefs, and in the Fruition 
 of whom the Reward of their Righteoufnefs confifts. 
 And therefore the Man poffefs’d of this Principle, fets 
 no undue Value upon himfelf or others; He takes uo 
 part of the Merit or Honour to himfelf; He is not 
 
 pro 
 
52 4 Df tile 3JuiltattOU Book J. 
 
 profufe in the Commendation of others, but aferibes 
 the whole Glory of every virtuous Aftion to Him, 
 whole, originally and in truth, it is. And little need 
 be faid, to fhew, that one thus difpofed, thus perfwa- 
 ded of God, as the Only,- the Uuiverfal Good, mult 
 have fet his Heart upon things above. For fin e the 
 leaft Spark of this Holy Fiic will fervero kindle in 
 our Breafts the Love of Heaven and Spiritual Joys, 
 and fuffice to convince us, that all here below is full 
 of Vanity, and by no means an Objeft worthy our 
 Affe&ions. 
 
 C H A p. XVI. 
 
 Of Bearing with other Mens Vaults. 
 
 W Hcn you obferve in your felf or others any 
 thing amirs, which you would fain but can¬ 
 not Cure, your Duty in fuch Cafes is to endure it, 
 till God fees fit to order Matters otherwife. And a 
 Duty this is, highly reafonable, if you conlider, that 
 pofiibly it is much wifer and better, that thefc Faults 
 fhould not be amended, than that they fiiould. It 
 may be, God permits them for the Tryal and In- 
 creafeof your Patience and Humility, without which 
 all other Virtues are of no great regard in his fight. 
 Butat the fame time that you ought to bear, you are 
 no lefs obliged to pray agamlfc them ; To beg, that 
 the ill Example of them may be no Hindrance to you 
 in your Chriftian Courfe; And to implore the Af- 
 filtance of his Grace, for the bearing them in fuch a 
 manner, that the Provocations arifing thence may ne¬ 
 ver (hake your Temper, or betray you to any iinful, 
 or fo much as indecent, exccfs of Paflbn. 
 
 If 
 
book I. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 3S 
 
 If a Man refufe to comply with good Advice, or to 
 reform upon Admonitions and Reproofs; you are 
 not, after thefe Offers of doing him Service have 
 been made and repeated, obliged to contend with 
 him any longer. ’Tis better to commit the whole 
 Affair to God, and endeavour to effedt that by your 
 Prayers, which your Dilcourfes could not do. Be- 
 feech Him therefore, whofe infinite Wifdom knows 
 how to bring Good out of Evil, that his Will may 
 be done, and his Name glorified; and that all, 
 who Serve and Worfhip him, may be led into fuch 
 Aftions as molt contribute to thefe Ends, and are 
 welfpleallng in his fight. And, when you have thus 
 difcharged your Part, fet your felf refolutely to bear 
 thegreatefl: Infirmities and Faults of your Brethren 
 without any Difturbance. And, for confirming this 
 Refolution, remember, that You alfo have many Fail¬ 
 ings of your own, by which the Patience ot other 
 People will have its turn of being exercifed. And 
 if you do, fas certainly you cannot but; fee this, 
 think how unreafonable it is, to expeft you Ihould 
 make others in all particulars, what you would have 
 them to be; when you cannot fj much as make your 
 felf, what you are fenfible you ought to be. And, 
 indeed, nothing is more common, than to exprefs ex¬ 
 ceeding Zeal in amending our Neighbours, and migh¬ 
 ty Indignation^ againlt Their Vices or Imperfefiions, 
 while at the fame time we negledt the beginning at 
 Home, and either quite overlook, or feem highly con¬ 
 tented with our own. 
 
 We take a pleafure in being fevere upon others, but 
 cannot endure to hear of our own Faults. We are 
 furprifedand unealie at the Liberties they take with 
 us, and wouder with what Confidence they can pre¬ 
 tend fuch Intereff: in us ; and yet there is nothing fo 
 extravagant, which we do not think we have a Right 
 toexpeft, and refent it highly to be denied. We fet 
 
 up 
 
$4 flDf tl)t ^nutation Book i. 
 
 up for Reformers, declaim at the Wickednefs of the 
 Age, and are all for Supprefling and Punifhing it by 
 rigorous Laws ; and yet are unwilling that any Check 
 or Reftraint fhould be put upon our own Freedoms. 
 This fliews, how far we are from obferving that 
 Great Rule of Equity, the Loving our Neighbour 
 as our Selves; and Meting to Others the fame Mea- 
 lure, which we are content fhould be meafured to Us 
 again. 
 
 Further yet, Suppofing all Men to be without Faults, 
 fome Excellencies and Virtues mud be loft too; What 
 would become of Patience, what of Forgiving and 
 Forbearing one another for Chrift’s fake, if there 
 were no Provocations to try our Temper? And fuch 
 there could not be, if every Man were Perfect, and 
 did his Duty. But, as the prefent Condition of the 
 World is ordered, God hath furnilhed us with con- 
 flant Occafions of Bearing one anothers Burthens. For 
 there is no Man lives without his Failings; no Man 
 that is fo happy, as never to give Offence ; no Man 
 without his Load of Trouble; no Man fo Sufficient, 
 as never to need Afliltance ; none fo Wife but the 
 Advice of others may , at fome time or other, be ufc- 
 full and neceflary for him : And therefore we fhould 
 think our felves under the ffrongefb Engagements, to 
 Comfort, and Relieve, and Inftrudt,and Admonifh, and 
 Bear with one another. Belidcs we fhall do well to 
 reffeG, that Afffiftions and uneafie Accidents are the 
 cleareft Indication of a Man’s Goodnefs, and the De¬ 
 grees of his Improvement. For we miftake extreamly, 
 in imagining , that any thing which happens to us 
 from without, is the real Caule of our doing well or 
 ill; Adverfity does not make Virtue or Vice, but 
 exert and draw them into Pradice; it does not change 
 the Man from what he was, but only difeover what 
 he really is. 
 
 C h a r. 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 35 
 
 Chap. XVII. 
 
 A Reclufe Life . 
 
 T He Man, who defires to maintain Peace and a 
 good Undemanding with Others, muft learn, 
 in order to it, in many Cafes to deny and fubduehim- 
 felf. If then you would keep your ground, or ad¬ 
 vance forward in Piety and Virtue, poffefs your ielf 
 entirely with the Notion of your being no better than 
 a Stranger and Pilgrim only here upon Earth. As 
 fucli, be content to forego the Enjoyments and Efleecn 
 of the World, and to be accounted a Fool for Chrift’s 
 fake. For, till this be done, You are not duly prepa¬ 
 red to retire, and enter into a courfe of Life wholly 
 devoted to God and Religion. 
 
 rhe peculiar Habit, and Tonfure, and other For¬ 
 malities, by which Monafticks are diftinguilhed’fifom 
 common Men, add nothing to their San&ity, not con¬ 
 tribute in the leaft to render them what they pretend 
 to be. This can only be done by a Temper, as diffe¬ 
 rent from the reft of the World, as their Way of Li¬ 
 ving : An entire Change of Manners and aneffe&ual 
 Mortification of their Paffions and Defires. He that 
 retreats out of any other Defign but the Service and 
 Honour of God, and the Salvation of his Soul, will 
 be fo far from avoiding Mifery and Trouble, that he 
 will involve himfelf in new and greater Troubles, and 
 become more exquifitely Wretched, than the AfFairs 
 of the World could make him. No body can conti- 
 ; nue eafie in his own Mind, who does not endeavour to 
 ! become leaft of all, and Servant of all. 
 
 Remember then, that You come to Obey and not to 
 Govern; The State of Life, to which you are called, 
 is a State of Labour and Hardlhip, and much Suffer¬ 
 ing ; not of Leifure,and Eafe, and Diverfion. Ycudo 
 
 not 
 
36 J0f tfiC Sjnutattoit Book I. 
 
 not fo properly forfake, as change, your Bulinefs. 
 For this fort of Life is fuch a Tryal ot Men, as the Fire 
 isofGold: And none nuke good their Port: in it, blit 
 fuch as are coate it to humble themielves, and heartily 
 and chearfully l'ubmit to any Thing for God’s fake. 
 
 C h a P. XVIIT. 
 
 Of the Examples of Holy Men in former Jges. 
 
 I T will much contribute to our Progrefs and Encou¬ 
 ragement in Chriftian Virtues, to keep in View 
 thofelively Patterns, which thole holy Fathers have 
 let us, whole Zeal and exalted Piety (hone clear in for¬ 
 mer Generations. For, by obferving the Brightnels 
 of their Luftrc, we (hall at the fame time difeern the 
 Faintnefs and Dimnefs of our own Light, and blufh to 
 find the prefent Age 1b much edipfed by the unequal 
 Comparifon. Alas! how poor and mean are our At¬ 
 tainments when put into the Ballante with Theirs! 
 Thole excellently good Perfons, thofe afiedionate 
 Friendsand Followers of Chrilt, fei ved God inftautly, 
 in Hunger and Third, in Cold and Nakednefs, in La¬ 
 bour and Wearinels, in Watchings and Fallings, in 
 Prayers and holy Meditations, in many Peifecutions 
 and (harp Reproaches. 
 
 Blefled God ! how many, how grievous Mifcrics and 
 Hardships did the Apoftles and Martyrs, the Confef- 
 lors and Virgins endure heretofore ! And noc They 
 only, but all thofe brave and generous Souls in the 
 primitive and purer Scate of the Church, who made it 
 theltudy of their whole Lives to tread in the Steps of 
 their meek id fuller ig Saviour! Thefe heavenly- 
 minded P.rions even hated their own Lives unto the 
 Death, that they might preferve them unto Life eter¬ 
 nal. 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 37 
 
 nal. How very auftere, how entirely mortified, was the 
 Convention of the ancient Hermits in the Deferts? 
 How long,how fharp theTemptations they underwent? 
 How fierce and frequent their Confli&s with theEnemy 
 of Souls ? How conftant and fervent their Prayers ? 
 How rigorous theirAbftinence, how unblemiihed their 
 Chaftity ? How eager their Defires, how indefatigable 
 their Endeavours, after higher degrees of Perfe&ion ? 
 How vigorous and gallant the War they waged againlt 
 their Vices and rebellious Appetites ? How pure and 
 uncorrupt all their Intentions, how free from any mix¬ 
 ture of worldly Profpeds, and iincerely fixed upon 
 God and his Glory ? The whole Day they employed in 
 hard Labour, the whole Night in Devotion From 
 which their very Labours did not hinder them, for 
 even thefe were confecrated too, by the frequent in¬ 
 termingling of Prayers and holy Ejaculations. 
 
 Their great Care in a word was, That no Portion 
 of the time God gave them In the Body, might be fpent 
 unprofitably: And what they laboured to make an Im¬ 
 provement, their Zeal made a Delight. For Time in 
 their efteem was much too fwift; and their Devotions 
 fo far from creating Wearinefs, that every Hour 
 feem’d /hort, and fnatched away thofe Joys too haftily, 
 which they felt in converfing with him whom their 
 Soul loved. Their Thoughts were fo intent, their Rap¬ 
 tures fo entertaining, fo ravilhingly fweet, that they 
 became almoftall Spirit, and quite forgot their Bodies, 
 and the Care necefiary for fupporting them in Life. 
 Riches and Honours, and Greatnels and Friends, and 
 Relations, were now no longer their Concern : How 
 Ihould they ? when even a part of their own Perfons 
 ceafed to be fo; and providing thofe things, without 
 which Mortals cannot fubiift, was now grown a Trou¬ 
 ble, and, to Perfons fo abftrafted from Flelh and Senfe, 
 a painful and unleafonahle Interruption of better and 
 much more important Bulinefs. 
 
 D 
 
 Thefe 
 
£>f t!)c gimttatioit Book i. 
 
 l! 
 
 Thefe Men, ’tis true, had no earthly Poffeflions, but 
 they, who were Poor in that refpcCt, were exceeding 
 Wealthy in another, rich in the Favour of God, and a- 
 bounding in excellent Virtues. What they wanted of 
 outward Comforts was much better fupplied by the 
 plentiful Communications of divine Graces,the inward 
 Refrelhments and unfpeakableConfolations of the Blef- 
 fed Spirit. Thefe Strangers to the World, were inti¬ 
 mately acquainted with its Maker and Lord: and, how 
 meanly foever they might think of themfelves, or how 
 defpicable they might appear in the Eyes of others, yet 
 in the ffght of God they were particularly dear, high¬ 
 ly honourable, and precious. They perfcvcted in their 
 Humility, and fincere Obedience, in their Courage and 
 Conftancy, their Meeknefs, and Patience, and great 
 Charity. And by this continuance in well-doing and 
 contented fuffering, they made daily advances in fpiri- 
 tual Perfection, and attained to a wonderful high pitch 
 of Grace and Favour with God. By this exemplary 
 Piety, they are become proper Patterns for the Imita¬ 
 tion of all devout Men in after Ages } And, tho’ but a 
 few in Number, ought to encourage and prevail upon 
 us more powerfully to rival their uncommon Zeal, 
 than the numerous Examples of negligent and luke¬ 
 warm Chriftians fliould do, to ilackcn and foffer our 
 Piety to grow cold. 
 
 To thefe we may add the ardent Devotion of thofe 
 Holy Men, w'ho retired from the World into Cloifters 
 and Cells, which at their firft Inftitution, were Places 
 of great Piety and fevere Virtue. Their Prayers were 
 frequent and devout, their Emulation in fpiritual Per¬ 
 fections noble, their Difcipline ftriCt and well ordered \ 
 their Obedience to Superiours mbdeft and refpeCtful. 
 Even thofe Footfteps of their Piety ftill remaining, 
 'from which their SuccelTors have fince fo fcandaloufly 
 degenerated, are fufficicnt to inform us, that the firft 
 Combatants ia this Way againft the World and the 
 
 Fldh, 
 
Book I. Of I*, s us Christ. 39 
 
 Flcdi, were Men of Gallantry, and juft Renown. But 
 now alas! how wretched a pafsare we come to, when 
 it is counted a mighty matter, if here and there one 
 keep himfelf from tranfgrefling the Rules of his Order, 
 and patiently fubmit to thofe Exercifes which his Pro- 
 feflion impoles upon him ? 
 
 Oh, what a miferable Age of cold Indifference and 
 wicked Carelefnefs are we fallen into ! How are the 
 holy Flames of Primitive Zeal extinguilhed ! And in- 
 ftead of being a Delight, how great a Wearinefs, how 
 infupportable a Burden, are Religious Duties and Ex¬ 
 ercifes become to us! How wertched is that Stupidity, 
 how profound that Sleep, which now opprefles the 
 Spirits of Mankind, when fo many bright Examples 
 cannot prevail with us to lhake off our Sloath and Slum¬ 
 ber, nor awaken our Souls into any tolerable Concern 
 for banilh’d Piety and negleded Virtue ! 
 
 Chap. XIX. 
 
 The Exercife of a truelj Religious Ptrfon. 
 
 r ~pHe Life of a Chriftian, who hath dedicated him- 
 -L felf to the Service of God, Ihoukf abound with 
 eminent \ irtues of all kinds, that he may be really the 
 fame Perfon, which he is by outward Appearance and 
 Profellion ; Indeed he ought not only to be the fame, 
 but much more, in his inward difpofition of Soul, be- 
 taufe he profelles to ferve a God, who fees the inward 
 Parts,a Searcher of the Heart and Reins, a God and Fa- 
 :her of Spirits: And therefore, fince we are always 
 n his Sight, we fhonld be exceeding careful to avoid 
 ill Impurity, all that nny give him Offence, whofe 
 iyes cannot behold Iniquity. We fhonld, in a Word-, 
 b far as mortal and frail Nature can, imitate the Ble- 
 
 D 2 fed 
 
40 m Imitation Book I. 
 
 ^ . . .■ . ■ - - - : -:- : -—- : -—- ! 
 
 fed Angels in all manner of Holinefs, fince We, as 
 well as They, are always in his Prefence. To this ( 
 purpofe ic would be expedient, daily to renew our 
 Refolutions of living well, and every Morning to re- 
 frelh and quicken that Zeal, with which they were 
 made at firlt. To beg of God that he would help us, 
 and enable us that Day to begin well* To begin, 1 
 fay, for all that we have done hitherto ought in low- . 
 linefsof Mind to feem, and to be acknowledged by ; 
 us, as nothing. * , ■ I 
 
 Great Diligence and Watchfulnefs is necelTary, in 
 order to difeharging faithfully what we have intend¬ 
 ed, and refolved* zealoully. For if They, who are 
 moft lincere and vigorous in their Purpofes, arc yet 
 too often weary, and remifs in their Performances, 
 .What do we think mult needs become of thofe who 
 purpofe but very feldom, or very coldly ? ’Tis true 
 indeed, the Occafions of our tailing off, or fainting in 
 ©ur-Minds,-are-various-and many} and-feldom do we 
 allow our felves in any Omillion of Religious Duties, 
 without even thus perceiving a very fenfible abatement 
 and decay of Zeal. The Perfever mce of good Men, 
 in the midft of fo many Difficulties and Avocations, 
 muff: be aferibed to God’s Favour and AfCftance, more 
 .than to any care and Wifdon of their own. And 
 Good Men have always this Notion of the thing, for 
 they depend upon God for the Succefs of all they do, 
 _ . even of their belt and wifeft Undertakings. 
 
 Trov. xvi. 9. ^ Mans Heart devijeth bis Way, but the Lord 
 
 direfteth his Steps, Says Solomon: We may contrive and 
 aft as feems moft advifeable; but, as the 
 IbiLu ver y Preparations of the Heart, by which we 
 do fd, are from the Lord, fo is the Event of our having 
 done it entirely in his difpofal. 
 
 If,at any time a Religious Exercife be omitted upon 
 the. account of fome other Aft of Piety, or fome 
 Work of Charity at that time inconfiftent with it; 
 . ' " this 
 
41 - 
 
 Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 S CS n and the Opinion is eafily re- 
 
 Sf ivifn'rl ?f rh f ir °K U ? h any lo athnefs or indifpofition 
 or Mind, if thiough Lazinefs or any voluntary Nee- 
 
 left ot our own, our cuftomary Devotions be palled 
 
 g? r * ?‘ S 15 from a , wicked Cau *e, and will not 
 fail to have a very ill Effed upon us. When we 
 
 ^v e he£ Ur v^ ea ’ Wlt J a11 ° Ur might > aRddo our ve ‘ 
 ZS/ R?l ht V Wt fliall find our felves often 
 delfcaive. But, though we cannot arrive at abfo- 
 ute Perfection, nor conquer all our Frailties nor nre- 
 vent aH our Hindrances* in Goodnefs, yet ought not 
 * h “«> dlC0ura S e us from ftriving and rcfolving 
 And, when we dofo, we ihalldo well not to content 
 
 alilftiW 1 !?? 11 " t . entions , but ^nd our Force 
 
 IfZhlTl £ A CU, £ r th, ? g ’ and chiefly againfl fuch, 
 as we have found by Experience to be the greateft and 
 
 raoft troubiefome Obftrudion to our doing well The' 
 
 Condition of our Affairs without, and that of our own 
 
 ced Lo‘the hTS b f d,Hgently confld ered, and redu¬ 
 ced into the beft Order we can; becaufe both the Cir- 
 
 ctim fiances of the One, and the Difpofitions of the O- 
 
 he hm?v t K bUtegreatly t0 ° Ur furtb erance in Piety, i 
 vour 3t 3,1 times re colleft and call 
 
 Opportunities -ff h”*’ certa,nly you cannot want 
 
 ThfSifi! 01 ? fo 0Dce every Day atleaft; 
 
 t lie Morning or the Evening are proper for it At 
 Night you may lay out yourBuftnefs tor the Day fol¬ 
 lowing, and, at the return of Night again vnn^VJ 
 reded what hath paffed in the DaT- im? "’how your 
 Thoughts, unci Words, and Adions, have’agreed with 
 that Scheme of Behaviour you laid before your felf 
 (i yo , a . ,lav e tranfgrefi, how far exceeded or fallen 
 
 dkelv that von^" 11 ?^ anc ? s > (for alas! it is but too 
 
 „d m 2 y ° U . , ’ a / e (; ,n h manyd ^ a nces) offended God 
 juu man. in this Scheme' you form of living w-n 
 
 rs ^0^1r rcMii "s 
 
 4 tbl * end - begin Wifh«feedjSi)g a fit id 
 
 D 3 hand 
 
 1 
 
42 
 
 4Df tftc gimitattotr Book I. 
 
 had over our Appetite ; for when you have_ on ^ c 
 tained to a rigid and mafterly Sobriety,all other nclhly 
 Defires and Temptations will be vanquifhed and kept 
 under with much lefs difficulty. To the fame purpolc, 
 beware of Idlencfs \ be conftantly in Adlion, let Read¬ 
 ing, or Writing, or Praying, or Meditating,or Con¬ 
 triving fomewhat for the Good of Others,employ your 
 leifure Hours. Some bodily Exercifes are very fit to be 
 ufcd, but thefe will require Prudence in the Choice ot 
 them ; for all are not equally convenient •, and there¬ 
 fore the Nature and Degrees of them mult be confi- 
 dered, as well as the Temper and Conlhtution of the 
 Perfon confulted, to render them profitable. 
 
 Some religious Exercifes the Community is concern¬ 
 ed in, and they mult be attended to in publick. Others 
 are perfonal, and thefe will be belt performed m P n * 
 vate. This Diftiuftion is of great ufe, to keep Men 
 from Acting improperly ; for even a good thing may 
 lofe much of its gracefulncfs and commendation, by be¬ 
 ing done out of due place and time. Another neceffary 
 Caution, which many good People Hand in need ot, 
 is. That you Ihould not be fo zealoufly bent upon any 
 private Devotions or Duties, as for Their Takes to 
 flight or difufe the Publick ^ for thefe require at lealt 
 an equal degree of your Efteem, and care in the at- . 
 tendance of them. But when you have difeharged your { 
 Duty in that Point, and done all that your particular 
 Station, or the Commands of your Superiours require | 
 from you. Then is the proper Seaton, and then you will 
 do well to return into your own breaft, and employ 
 the remainder of your Time, as Piety, and Religious 
 Purpofes (hall direft. And here again a prudent 
 Choice is needful * For all forts, even of Religious 
 Entertainments, are not fuited alike to our Spiritual 
 Advantage. Some difference arifes from the coniide- 
 ration of the Perfons, and another very vifible one from 
 
 the different Times and Seafons of ufing them. Some 
 ; , • are 
 
Boolv I. Of Jesus Christ. 4j 
 
 are more proper for Holydays, others for common 
 Days; fome for Feftivals others for Falls; Some for a 
 time of Temptation and Afflidion, others for a pead- 
 ful and ferene State of Mind; Some to Perfons in 
 Grief 01 under calamitous Circumftances, others for 
 liofpcrity, when the Spirits flow gayly, and our 
 Hearts rejoyce and ling tor the Goodnefs of the Lord. 
 Particularly it will he convenient in an cfpecial manner 
 to renew and raife our Souls by very frequent and fo- 
 lemn Ads of Piety and Devotion, at theconftant re¬ 
 turns of all the Chriftian Feftivals. For thefe Ihould 
 reprefent to our Minds the eternal uninterrupted Fe- 
 fttval of joy and Thanks, celebrated by the Saints in 
 Heaven.And this Ihould put our Souls upon the Wing 
 inflame our Devotion, mount us up thither, and make 
 us ad even beyond our felves; more cheerfully more 
 vigoroufly ; As if we were juft then going to receive 
 that glorious Reward of our Labour, which thefe glad 
 Seafons bring fo lively Ideas of to our Thoughts. 6 
 
 ftin "A , Time of our receiving that Reward be 
 ihll delayed, let us lo be thankful for a longer time 
 given 11 s here, as at the fame time to be humbled bv 
 
 Won 17 ength of n ,ife ’ which the generality of the 
 World aie apt to efteem the greateft Happinefs that 
 can befall them. Let us endeavour to do God ftill better 
 Service, but let us fufped, that we have not ferved him 
 
 y 3 n?,rR°r ght ° r ’ ' VVC - had ’ he would not have put 
 103 ' a " herDa >'; «nd probable 
 It is, that he does not tranflate us to Heaven as vet 
 
 becaufe we are not fit for it. And let us therefore 
 
 wh^h e in U h- Care t0 qUa - hfie our fdves for that Glory, 
 which in his own appointed time lhall not fail to be 
 
 mam felled in us. Come he moft a/Furedly 
 
 will and Blcjfcdu thatServam whom Ins Lord, MattbXlW. 
 
 when he cometh,fhallftndWatihing.Perily J fey . 47, 
 
 unto you, he mil make him Ruler over all his Goode W 
 Partaker of.the Joy of the.Lord. 1 *** 
 
 D 4 Chap. 
 
44 
 
 Of tiie Imitation Book I. 
 
 '< Chap. XX. 
 
 \ 
 
 Love of Solitude And Silence . 
 
 R Efcrve a convenient Proportion of your Time tor 
 privacy and converting with your felf; and let 
 this be fpent in frequent and thankful Reflections upon 
 the Mercies of God ; and in reading good Books. A- 
 mong which I advife you by all means to let alone nice 
 Difputes, and unprofitable Speculations, and keep to 
 fuch Subjects as may be proper for the exciting your 
 Zeal and quickning your Attentions} rather than iucn, 
 as may jemploy the Subtlety of your Wit. Never 
 fear that you fhall want lcifure for thefe good Purpo- 
 fcs. For if you will prevail with your felt to abate the 
 mere Impertinences of Life, the unneceflary Convcr- 
 fations, the Time fpent in hearing and telling ot News, 
 in enquiring after, and fpreading about, idle Repoits-, 
 and luch as are either faulty or frivolous waitings ot 
 
 vour Time, You cannot want fufficierit Leifure, and 
 great Opportunities, for cherifhing and improving ho- 
 lv and heavenly Meditations. 1 hus did the molt e- 
 ininent Saints induttrioul]y avoid Company and Huli- 
 nefs • and choofe to convcrfe with God in private, as 
 much and as often as poflibly they could. 
 
 ’Tis a good Reflection, which the Philofopher made 
 ofhimfclf; That he never was in other Mens Com¬ 
 pany but he came out of it lefs a Man than he went 
 in- And this is that we may frequently confirm by 
 our own Experience, after a great deal ot Difcourle 
 hath pafs’d. ’Tis certainly much ealier tor a Man to 
 reftrain himfelf from Talking at all, than to enter in¬ 
 to Difcourfe, and not fay more than becomes him: 
 Infinitely ealier to live at home and fee no body, than 
 to go abroad into Company, and return innocent. A 
 Man therefore, who makes inward and ipintual Per- 
 V , ■« \ ■ ; « ' tectioii 
 
45 
 
 Book I. of j E s U S C H R I S T. 
 
 fcttion his great End, muft imitate the Blcfled Jefus, 
 and often withdraw himfelf from the Multitude. No 
 one is qualified to converfe in Publick, who is not 
 highly contented without filch Converfationj nor to 
 entertain, or receive entertainment from, Others, 
 who cannot entertain himfelf alone with Satisfa&ion. 
 No Man is fit to govern, who hath not 1 earn’d how 
 to obey .- No Man can enjoy Mirth with Safety, who 
 is not at the fame time in a Condition of rejoycing in 
 a Good Confcience : None is fit to fpeak freely, but 
 he who can, without any violence to himfelf, refrain 
 his Tongue, or keep filence altogether. 
 
 Accordingly we may obferve, that the Pleafures and 
 inward Security of the belt Men, have always been 
 tempered with the fear of God. Nor was their Hu¬ 
 mility or their Care one whit abated, in confideration 
 of thofe extraordinary Virtues, and abundant Mea- 
 fnres of Divine Grace, in which they excell’d common 
 Chriftians. But the Security of wicked Men, and that 
 Satisfaction they take in themfelves, Springs from 
 Pride and Haughtinefs of Temper-, and therefore the 
 con (taut Efiefts of it are an undue contempt of others, 
 and a falfe Opinion of themfelves. 
 
 Never flatter your felf with an Expe&ation of abfo- 
 Jutc Safety in this Life, whatever your Condition, how 
 far retired from the World, or out of the way of 
 Temptation it may feem to be. For it often happens, 
 that thofe whom the World efteems in Strength and 
 Virtue above common Men, have been involved in 
 Dangers proportionably greater than Theirs, merely 
 upon the account of the too confident Opinion they 
 had of their own Abilities. And this Confideration 
 makes the being tempted fometimesa Blefling, greater 
 than that of living altogether ealie and free from 
 Temptation. For the oftner we are attack’d, the 
 greater Check this gives to our Self-conceit and Spi¬ 
 ritual Security'*, and the more we are aflfiQed, the lefs 
 
 apt 
 
4 6 £)t t^e ^nutation Book I. , 
 
 apt we fhall be to lore or ufe the external Advantages ; 
 of this World, beyond the bounds of Decency and 
 Moderation. And, if a Man could fo perfectly draw 
 off his Mind from thefe, as never to purfuc any tranli- j 
 tory Pleafure, never to. engage himfelf with the 
 World } O what bleficd, what perpetual Peace of Con- 
 fcience would that Man feel, and even beravilhed with ! 
 Kay, could we but cut off all our unprofitable and 
 groundlefs Fears and Cares, and employ our Thoughts ' 
 upon fuch ObjeCts only, as are weighty and ufeful, j 
 fuch as promote the Honour and Service of God, orn 
 own Salvation, and the Good of others. How eafie and , 
 quiet, how free from all Reproach, would fuch a One’s ! 
 Breaft be to him ! 
 
 No Man deferves inward and heavenly Comforts, ( 
 who does not diligently examine, and willingly affliCt j 
 himfelf. To be qualify’d for this Solitude, it is abfo- j 
 lutely needful to obferve that Method recommended 1 
 Tftl iv by the pfalmift } Commune with your own j 
 dldttb.'vi. Heart in your Chamber , and be ft ill. Enter j 
 into thy Clofet , and fhur the Door about thee , ! 
 fays our Saviour. Advice, which never can be more I 
 feafonable, than upon thefe occafions : For the Clofet j 
 will give you the Satisfaction, which it is fcarce pof- j 
 fible not to lofe in a moie publick place} And if the . 
 Clofet be not pleafant, the only Reafon is, that it hath j 
 been lefs frequented than it ought. To thofe who j 
 at firft ufe this Retirement carefully,it minifters a Plea- i 
 fure and fecret Confolation, above what any Company i 
 or Diverfion in the World can pretend to. 
 
 It is by filent and folitary Study, that the Soul gets 
 acquainted with the hidden Myfteriesof Scripture} . 
 Here Ihe finds thofe Floods of pious Tears, by which ! 
 Holy Men walh themfclves Day and Night} Here (he 
 contracts a Familiarity and free Intercourfe with God, • 
 fo much the dofer and more intimate, as (he removes 
 to a greater diftance from the Noifc and Hurry of the 
 
 World. 
 
Book I. of .1 esus Christ. 
 
 47 
 
 -- 
 
 World. Think not then, that the Man who with¬ 
 draws from his Friends and Acquaintance is perfectly 
 alone. No, he only changes that for better Company, 
 and is vifited in his quiet Retreats by God and his holy 
 Angels. A wife Man would rather choofe to live thus 
 unobferved, and to profecute the Bufinefs of his Soul 
 without Interruption ; than even to work Miracles, 
 and attrad univerfal Admiration and Applaufe, at 
 the expence of negleding his own Safety. 
 
 It is highly agreeable to the Character of a Perfon 
 entirely devoted to God, to ftir but feldom abroad, 
 to decline being publickly feen of Men, and to be as 
 little fond of feeing the World. For to what purpofe 
 indeed fhould any one be eager to fee that which he 
 muft not enjoy ? The World pajfeth away and ^ 
 all the Def re thereof fays theApoftle. Our l J 0 ,u,l 7‘ 
 fenfual Affedions invite and entice us, but when the 
 moment of gratifying that Inclination is once over ; 
 what have you got by the Bargain,but ferious Remorfe, 
 and an anfettled Temper of Mind ? He that goes out 
 full of Satisfaction, often returns as full of Melancholy 
 andDifguft^ and many a merry Evening occalions a 
 fad Morning. Thus all the Pieafures of Senfc carefs and 
 court us at the firfl meeting, but at their parting leave 
 a Sting behind, and gall our Hearts with fnarp and 
 killing Pains. What can you fee in any other Place 
 which the mofl: retired Grove or Defert will not pre- 
 fent to your Eye ? Here you Survey the Heavens, here 
 view the Earth, here fee the feveral Elements, which 
 are the Seeds and fn ft Ingredients of which the whole 
 World and every Creature in it are Compounded. 
 
 But what can you fee either here, or any where elfe, 
 which is of long Continuance? You exped perhaps 
 that Variety will fatisfie you : Alas! it cannot be. For, 
 fuppofe you could at one View have all things under 
 the Sun fet before you what is there even in this, lave 
 only the beholding them with your Eyes ? Turn then 
 
 thole 
 
48 sDf tl)t fnutatton Book 1. 
 
 thofe Eyes where they may gaze with Profit. Look 
 up to God on high ; fix them upon the Throne of 
 Grace in Prayer, and continue ftedfaft and fervent in 
 this, till you obtain Pardon for your Sins and Errors. 
 Leave the Vanities of the World, to the vain Men of 
 the World} But confider, that you are a Child of 
 God, and therefore bend your Thoughts and Labours 
 entirely to thofe things which your heavenly Father 
 requires at your Hands. Invite that Jefus, in whom 
 your Soul delights, into your Apartment; there fo- 
 lace your felf with his Love, for in that Converfation 
 only true Peace and folid Joy are to be found. If this 
 feem a Paradox, I muft inform you what is the true 
 Occafion of its doing fo. Had you never mingled your 
 felf with the World, nor imbibed any of its vain No* 
 tions, your Mind had been more fettled and compofcd: 
 But now the Itch of Novelty hath taken hold of you, 
 and it muft coft fome Uncafinefs to cure this Evil-, But 
 till that Cure be effe&ed, Peace and perfeft Evennefs 
 of Temper you cannot have, nor be reconciled to So¬ 
 litude, and the fubftantial Pleafures that attend it. 
 
 Chap. XXI. 
 
 Compunction of Heart. 
 
 H E that would grow in Virtue and Grace, muft be 
 fure to preferve a conftant awful Senfe of the 
 Divine Majefty upon his Mind Checking by this Holy 
 Fear all his indecent Liberties, keeping his Appetites 
 and Affe&ions under ftrift Difcipline •, and not letting 
 himfelfloofeto light or extravagant Mirth. Employ 
 your felf therefore in humbling, and afflifting your 
 own Mind, and this will certainly lead you to a devout 
 9nd truly Chriftian Temper. - For iufinite .Advantage 
 v.. is 
 
book I. of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 49 
 
 is to be had by thefe zealous E.vercifes, which Folly and 
 Inconfidcration quickly lofe again. One would won¬ 
 der indeed, how Men can indulge their Mirth to fo 
 extravagant a degree, when the Miferies of this Life, 
 and the Sins we have to account for, are fo many and 
 fo great, that a Man who ferioufly conliders the Dan¬ 
 ger his Soul is in, can very hardly be merry at all, 
 without fome fuddain Damp upon his Spirits. It is from 
 the Levity of our own unthinking Minds, a flupid For- 
 getfulnefs ot our finful Condition, and a continuing 
 infenfible of thofe Sorrows which ought mofl tenderly 
 to aflett us, that we fo often indulge the Exceiles of 
 Laughter and Gayety, when Sighs and Tears would 
 much better become us. 
 
 Allure your felf, there can be no true Liberty, no 
 innocent Merriment, without the Fear of God, and a 
 good Conference. Happy therefore is the Man,who can 
 difengage himfelf from all thofe Hindrances,whichthe 
 Bufinefs and Diverfions of the World caft in his way, 
 and give hisThoughtsup entirely to that godly Sorrow, 
 which worketh Repentance and Salvation. Happy 
 He, that can abandon every thing by which his Con¬ 
 fcience is defiled or burdened 7 and fet himfelf at li¬ 
 berty from treacherous and enfnaring Pleafures. And 
 this may be compalfed by Refolution and Conftancy - 7 
 For how difficult and contrary foever it may feem to 
 the general way of the World, and our own former 
 Praftice; yet no Habit is fo flrong, but by frequent 
 and manly Attemps the dirc& contrary Habit may 
 be acquired and confirmed. 
 
 If you will firmly fet your felf to let other Peoples 
 Affairs alone, They will follow the Example, and not 
 concern themfelves with yours. Do not therefore 
 create unneceflary Trouble to your felf, by making 
 other Mens Bufinefs your own, and involving your 
 Thoughts and Cares in Matters of Perfon? abdve you. 
 l^aye the Great One? of the World to manage their 
 
 own 
 
5° 
 
 £>f tiie limitation Book i. 
 
 own Concerns, and keep your Eyes and Obfcrvation 
 at home. Your own Soul is the thing you ought to look 
 after, This requires our niceft InfpedVion and utmoft 
 Diligence and the Cenfuring and Correfting your 
 felf is a Duty which Ihould take place above the Ad- 
 vifing or Reproving the deareft Friend you have. It 
 may be, this Referve may be interpreted Sullenncfs, 
 and lofe you the Favour and good Efteem of Men •, but 
 let not that lofs afflitt you •, There can be no fo juft 
 ground of Diflatisfa&ion and Remorfe, as the not be¬ 
 having your felf with all the ftrid Virtue and Circum- 
 fpedion, which becomes a Perfon who hath renounced 
 the World, and devoted himfelf to the Service of 
 God. ’Tis true, an honourable Opinion of Us is a 
 Comfort: But it is fometimes better to want Variety 
 of Comforts, than to have them. This is often the 
 Cafe with Advantages merely Humane, the External 
 and the Worldly •, and, as for thofe which are Spiri¬ 
 tual and derived from God, if we be either deprived 
 of thefe, or not fenliblc of their fwcet Refrefhment, 
 the Fault is our own, who neglcd to put our felves 
 into a fit Difpofition for them, oy godly Sorrow for 
 our Sins, and abandoning thofe vain and outward Com¬ 
 forts, which fhould make room for the fubftantial and 
 heavenly. 
 
 Get therefore a true and pcrfed Knowledge of 
 your felf 5 fee and confels you deferve not any Divine 
 Confolation, nay, that yon do really deferve Defertion, 
 and Sorrow, and much Mifery. When a Man’s Mind 
 is inflamed with a truly religious Zeal, this World ap¬ 
 pears not only flat and infipid,but very bitter and loath- 
 fom to him. A good Man can never fail of difcover- 
 Ing juft Matter of Grief, and many Occafions that 
 provoke his Tears. For, whether he confider his own 
 Circumftances or thofe of other Men, he will find that 
 no Man here is exempted from Calamities. And the 
 more clolely he conliders his own Condition, the great¬ 
 er 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 5i 
 
 er ftiil w ill be his Concern. But the Misfortunes from 
 without might be born with better Temper, were there 
 not much more grievous from within. For, of all the 
 Miferies that humble our Souls with Sadnefs, none are 
 fo juftly lamented as our Sins and Infirmities j The 
 wretched Load and Incumbrance thefe are to our 
 Confidence, and the Indifpofition, the Difiability they 
 bring us under, of attending without DiftraSion to 
 holy Duties and heavenly Contemplations. 
 
 By thefe we are engaged upon trifling and unpro¬ 
 fitable Thoughts, and diverted from weighty and ufe- 
 ful Subjeds. For would we but turn the Current of 
 our Thoughts another way, the Effed would be vilible 
 and very happy. If we did but ferionfly refled, how 
 certainly wc muff die, as often as we think how long 
 it is likely we may live, we Ihonld be more zealous and 
 diligent to amend our Lives, and provide for that im¬ 
 portant Change. And would we but fiet before our 
 Minds a lively Reprefientation of thofie dreadful Tor¬ 
 ments which await theDamned in Hell •, it were not pof- 
 iible lure to Ihrink back as we do, from the Aufterities 
 and Mortifications of a Religious Life ; or to fuppofe 
 1 any Labour and Pain which we can undergo in the 
 ; mean while, a Hardlhip not molt willingly to be cho- 
 fien, for the preventing fo dreadful a Condemnation. 
 But now, becaufe thefe things are but leldom and very 
 llightly thought upon, and we in tendernels to our 
 own Eafie, much rather fiubmit to the foothing Im- 
 preflions of prelent deceitful Pkafiures, than to thole 
 harlh and cutting ones of tuture Mifiery and Anguifh 9 
 we ftiil go on in the fame Coldnefs and Indifference, 
 and indulge our Sloath at the expence of our Virtue. 
 
 4 i grant indeed, that tome religious Severities are te¬ 
 dious and painful to the Body. But the Fault does 
 not always lie there j for the Body fometimes com¬ 
 plains and droops, not fo much from its own Suffer- 
 ings, as for the Meannels and Cowardice of the Soul, 
 
 which 
 
flDf tfjC ^Jntftatiou Book I. 
 
 which ought to encourage and fupport it. Beg there¬ 
 fore of God moft earneftly, that he would kindle in 
 your Heart a true Chrillian Courage and fervent Zeal: 
 Dare to entertain your felf upon the moft ungrateful, 
 when they are profitable and neceflary, Subjects; Pre¬ 
 fer the Mournings of a Pious Penitent before all the 
 vain Jollity of a Wicked and unthinking World ; and 
 pray that God would do to thee, what the Pfalmift 
 fays he does to his own People, even feed thee with 
 
 the Bread of Tears, and give thee Plenteottf - 
 
 TK’C Iff cuu vj J (h/J) tint 
 
 PfaU Ixxx. 5. 0 j' "fi ars to drink. 
 
 C H A P. XXII. 
 
 The Miferable Condition of Man eonftdered. 
 Retched thou art, O Man, wherefoever thou 
 
 VY art v Wretched thou muft be which way fo- 
 ever thou turneft thy felf: Befet on all lides with Mi- 
 feries, without Remedy, without any Podibility of 
 Etcape by Humane Helps •, and only to be avoided by 
 taking Sanctuary in God. Why then art thou difquiet- 
 ed at Crofles and Difappointments \ when thefe are 
 the Portion of all Mankind? It is not yours and mine 
 alone, but the greateft, the belt Men drink of the 
 bitter Cup ; and no Man ever lived in uninterrupted 
 Happincfs: None ever fucceeded in all his Wilhes 
 and Attempts; None ever was above Calamities, or 
 free from Vexation of Spirit. Since therefore fo or¬ 
 dained it is, that all muft luffer and be miferable, areall 
 equally fo ? No , There are different Conditions and 
 Degrees of Suffering and his is certainly the beft 
 and moft comfortable, who is called and difpofed to 
 fuffer for the fake of God and a good Confcieace. 
 
 It 
 
Book J. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 5 * 
 
 It is ufual for Men, who know no better, to envy 
 and admire the Rich, the Great, the Honourable ; to 
 imagine, that Princes and Perfons of plentiful For¬ 
 tunes are completely happy. But this is the cfFeft of 
 great Weaknefs and Inconfidcration. If therefore we 
 would rc&ifie fuch miftaken Apprehenfions, let us get 
 a right Notion of Spiritual and heavenly Advantages. 
 Thefe will convince us of what poor Account all 
 worldly Enjoyments Ihould be in our Efteem : How 
 very little, how mere a Nothing they are; how hard 
 and hazardous to be attained ; how uncertain the 
 Prefervation of them, and how full of Trouble and 
 anxious Care, even while we have them. And who 
 would be fond of that, which can neither begot, nor 
 loft, no nor kept neither, without Fear, and Sorrow, 
 and perpetual Sollicitude ? Surely then the Happinefs 
 , of Man does not conjisi in the abundance of 
 the Things which he foffiffetb. ’Tis fenfleft X1U 1 
 
 and abfiird to think it can. And if no Proportion of 
 worldly Goods, though never fo large, can exempt 
 us-from Milery ; then a competent Meafure of them 
 ought to fatifie us. For Miferable we muft be with 
 lefs or more. The very living here upon Earth, with¬ 
 out any additional Calamity, would make us inevitably 
 (o. The more a Man defires and labours to belike 
 God, the left agreeable Relilh he hath of Life; becaufe 
 ae is fo much more fenfible, more throughly convin- 
 :ed, of the Frailty and Corruption of Humane Nature. 
 For what is this Vicidmide, this daily Round of Eating 
 ( ind Drinking, Sleeping and Waking, Wearinefs and 
 ! Left, and the many other NecelTities which the Con¬ 
 dition of Mortality enflaves us to? Doubtlefs It is a 
 nighty Burden and Affliftion, to Men whofe Minds 
 ire wholly fixed upon higher things, and whofe only 
 \mbition it is to get above Sin and Infirmity. 
 
 For the Diftrefils and Wants of the outward Man 
 re a fore Hindrance and great Opprefiion to the in- 
 
 E ward; 
 
 1 ; 
 
 
 .«< L 
 
 
 Ui"» 
 
 
54 
 
 flDf tf>C gimitatton Book I, 
 
 ward} And we fh3ll not perhaps injure DavuC s Senle, 
 by fnppohng even thefe included in that Petition, 
 where he begs of God to deliver him out o f 
 pfal. xx1 7 * his Troubles. But wretched are They in¬ 
 deed who are not fenfible ot their Wretchedncfs} And 
 yet more fo ftill are thofe vain People, who are even 
 in love with it} Who dote upon this mortal Life, 
 which expofes them to it} and cannot think of part¬ 
 ing with it at any rate, even when in Inch uncom¬ 
 fortable Circumftances, that all their time and Care 
 is fcarce fufficient, to furnifh them with Provilions 
 necelfary for the fupport of it: And yet thefe infatua¬ 
 ted Creatures are content to lay themfelves out up¬ 
 on Toil and Trouble } and, might they but be fufle- 
 red to continue here for ever, could difpenfe with any 
 Concern for God and Goodnefs, and willingly forego 
 the Hopes and everlafting Happinefs of a Heavenly 
 
 Kingdom. , _ , , . 
 
 O foolifh and llow of Heart, to underftand and be¬ 
 lieve your true Intereft! How deep arc you immerted 
 in Flefh and Senfe? How fottilhly deluded with Drofs, 
 and fond of Vanities which cannot profit? Have you 
 
 no Notion left of any thing but Body ? No Regard for 
 a future enduring Subftance ? Raife your Afledions 
 np to nobler Enjoyments, and difengage them from 
 thofe grofs, thofe empty Objeds, which, if you ftill 
 per lift in the Love and Purfuit of, you will one Day 
 be taught, by fad Experience, how Poor and Defpi- 
 cable they really are, and how Unworthy all that 
 eager Concern you have thrown away upon them. 
 Be perfwaded then by Reafon and Religion, and do 
 not provoke God to convince you by Torments and 
 too late Remorfe, of how fatal Confequence the Love 
 of this World is to all that are immoderately fond of 
 it. View well thofe Uluftrious Patterns of Mortifi¬ 
 cation and Heavenly-mindednefs, which the Primitive 
 Saints and favourites of Chrift have fet you. Thefe 
 
 great 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 55 
 
 great good Men had fmall regard to the Pleafure of 
 Senfe, and glittering Gayeties of this World, but 
 kept their Eyes and Hearts intent upon eternal Joys: 
 Thefe were their Hope, their Delight, the earneft 
 and only Longing of their Souls ; And therefore the 
 Only one, left it their Affections were at all diyjded, 
 the Love of the Things that are feen fhould fallen down 
 their Hearts to mean and earthly Objects, and hirfder 
 them from foaring up on high to the infinitely more 
 precious Things that are not feen. 
 
 This is indeed a Work of Pains and Time; but let 
 not that Confideration drive you to defpair of attain¬ 
 ing an heavenly Temper of Mind. The Undertaking 
 is great, ’tis true* and the Time allowed for it but 
 fhort; but Hill this fhort Space is enough, if you will 
 take care to make the belt of it. Up then, and be 
 doing; do not purpofe well to Day, and put off the 
 Execution to a farther Day, but rather argue your felf 
 into Adion by fuch Reflexions as thefe. This very 
 Inftant is the proper Time; This the Seafon of Amend¬ 
 ment, and Fighting the good Fight. It is by hard- 
 fhip and Suffering, that Men recommend themfelves 
 . to the Acceptance and Favour of God. He hath or¬ 
 dained, that Fire and Water, Diftrefs and Tribula¬ 
 tion fhould be the Way that leads to Refrefhment and 
 true Blifh. Without fome Violence upon thy felf, Sin 
 cannot be fubdued, nor evil Cuftoms broken. With¬ 
 out fome Uneafinefs and Pain we cannot live ; And, 
 while we carry this Body of Flefh about us, thefe 
 will make an infeparable part of the Burden. We 
 | wifh indeed for Eafe and untroubled Satisfaction; but, 
 
 | as the Condition of Mankind ftands at prefent, we 
 wifh in Vain: For, inlofing the innocence of our 
 Nature, we loft our Happinefs too ; and as both left 
 us, foboth muft be reftored, together. Patience is 
 now become a neceflary Virtue, and we muft be con¬ 
 tent to wait the feafon of God’s Mercy : when he fhall 
 
 E 2 fully 
 
5* 
 
 4Df 3fmftatfOtl Book I 
 
 fully repair our Breaches, heal our Infirmities, put a 
 Period to our Unrighteoufnefs , abfolve the Guilt, , 
 blot out the Remembrance ot them, and caufe Morta¬ 
 lity to be fwallowed up of Life. 
 
 In the mean time, it cannot mcthinks but be a 
 mighty Mortification, to confider how exceeding 
 prone this frail Nature of ours is to Sin. To Day you 
 confefs your Sins to God, and to Morrow you aft 
 thofe very Sins over again, which you lamented but 
 the Day before. This"Hour you refolve to be watch¬ 
 ful, and take good heed to all your Ways } and the 
 very next Hour you run on as giddily and rafhly as 
 ever} forget your Refolutions, and Hand more Self- 
 condemned than if you had never rcfolvcd at all. So 
 great Reafon is there for Thinking very meanly of 
 ourfelves, and declaiming all vain Confidences in any 
 thing we are, or do. But thefe fo fudden and fre¬ 
 quent Rclapfes are not our Misfortunes, but our 
 Faults} They are indeed the Confequents of our Frail¬ 
 ty, but that Frailty would not affeft us to that degree, 
 did not we contribute to it by our own Negligence, 
 and Inconftancy. And a fmall Negleft will foon un¬ 
 do, what coil: much Time and Labour to effeft } and 
 what could not have been effefted even fo neither, 
 had not Almighty God fecondcd our Endeavours with 
 his Divine Afliftance. . 
 
 But if we cool fo very quickly, and cannot Watch one 
 Hour, what will become of us at laft, and how (hall 
 we perfevere in faithfulnefs unto the End ? Wretched 
 are we indeed, if we Faint and grow Weary, if we 
 give out and feek Refrelhmcnt, as if wc were already 
 Safe and inabiolute Peace} when we have fcarce be¬ 
 gun the Battle, and gained but little Ground in Holi- 
 nefs and Reformation of Manners. Alas ! we arc as 
 yet but raw Beginners } So far f rom complete Mailers 
 in our Bufinefs, that we have Hill need to learn and 
 praftife the very full Rules of Living over again } be- 
 

 Book I. Of .[ E s u s c H R 1 s T. 
 
 57 
 
 fore we can be lb perteft as we wi(h and ought to be. 
 Nor fhould we difdain to do fo, if thofe Condefcenfions 
 can prove of ufc to us. 
 
 c h a P . xxur. 
 
 Meditations concerning Death. 
 
 S ince Life is of fhort and uncertain Continuance it 
 highly concerns you to look about you, and take 
 good heed how you imploy it. To Day the Man is 
 vigorous, and gay, and flourilhing, and to Morrow he 
 is cut down, withered and gone. A verry little time 
 carries him out of our Sight, and a very little more 
 out of our Remembrance. O the Hardnefs of Mens 
 
 th f wre j cl L ed Stupidity! that fixes their 
 whole Thoughts and Care upon the prefent, and will 
 not be prevailed with to look before them, or bear any 
 Regard to That which mull come hereafter • Where 
 as in truth, every Work, and Word, and Thought, 
 ought to be fo ordered, as if it were to be our lalt • 
 and we inftantly to Die, and render an Account of 
 il\ Would we entertain our felves more with the 
 Thoughts of Death, it would be lefs a Terrour to 
 ns : For, in proportion as our Lives amend, our Fears 
 would abate - and a clear Confcience will iuable us 
 to meet Death with undaunted Courage. However 
 
 F elh and Frailty may impofe upon us, yet, be allured 
 
 heafraid of sLing Si 
 be afraid of Dying ; a greater Bieffing to preferve our 
 Innocence, than to prolong our Lives. And whence 
 
 firm o' jT 3n v Anxiety ? Is k becaufe we are not 
 fit to Die? But if you are not fit to Day, how do 
 
 you propole to be fo to Morrow ? Alas! to Morrow is 
 
 uucei tain, neither You, nor 1, nor any Man can depend 
 
 b 3 upon 
 
58 
 
 --- —— -- 
 
 4Df tf)t gjniftatiott Book i. 
 
 upon it. Or if we could, yet wliat does it avail to 
 Live, though it were much longer, when wc by lon¬ 
 ger Living grow lo little better? Allure your felt, 
 long Life is far from being always a Blelling. Too many 
 fGod knows) are fo far from growing holier, as they 
 grow older, that the number of their Days only adds 
 to the number of their Sins, and renders their Account 
 
 more heavy hereafter. . . , 
 
 Happy is that Man, who can comfort himfelf with 
 having employed any one Day of his Lite fo petfeftly 
 well, as he might, and ought to, have done. Many 
 reckon up the Years of their Converfion with great 
 fatisfaftion.and think it a mighty matter, that they have 
 fo long abandoned the World and a vicious Courfe. 
 And yet, when the time they boaft of comes to be 
 compared with the improvements they have made, 
 how fhamefully little is the Good theyhave done ? If 
 Dying now be terrible, yet remember that Living lon¬ 
 ger may be dangerous i and many, many a Man finds > 
 but too great occafion to wilh, that it had pleafed God , 
 
 to take him away fooner. Happy therefore is He, j 
 who keeps the Hour of Death conftantly in View : 
 and from this Profpeft of what mull come, takcscare 
 to reconcile himfelf to it, and to put his Soul into a 
 proper Temper for it, when it does come. 
 
 If you attend at any time upon a Death-Bed} and fee 
 another in his panting Agonies confider that this 
 Friend is gone the fame way where you mull: fhortly 
 follow him. In the Morning, queftion whether you 
 may live till Night \ and when Night comes, do not 
 too confidently promife your felf another Morning. 
 Thus Hull you be in a conftant Expectation, and in a 
 good Difpofition to dye. And befurc fo to live al¬ 
 ways, that Death may never overtake you unprovi¬ 
 ded, nor its fuddeneft Approach be fudden and fur- 
 prizing, in refpett of You. Many are fnatched away 
 in an inftant, and die when they were not in the leaft 
 
 aware 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 59 
 
 j aware of it, for in fuch an Hour as n>e think 
 | not the Son of Man cduieth. Let not the Pre- Mmb.sx\v. 
 J paration I advife be negleCted,as a melan- 
 choly unpleafant Thing, fuch as embitters Life, and 
 : damps Mens prefent Enjoyments j for be allured,What¬ 
 ever Satisfaction you may take now, when that laft 
 Hour draws on, it will give you quire other Notions 
 of the Matter. And the Reflections upon your paft 
 Improvidence and NegleCt will be more bitter and 
 afflicting then, than any the mod follicitous Forecaft 
 for Dying well, can poflibly be in the mean time. 
 
 O how Wife, how Happy is that Man, who makes 
 it his daily Care to be fuch while he Liveth, as he de¬ 
 fires to be found when he comes to Die! And we may 
 cherifh a good Hope and great Afiiirance of leaving 
 the World to our Comfort and infinite Advantage, 
 if, while we continue in it, we can bring our felves to 
 negleCt and defpile it: If we be zealous to improve in 
 V i* tue; in love with Difciplineand Mortification j if 
 we attend to the Exercife of Repentance •, if we be of 
 an humble and obedient Dilpofition \ content to deny 
 our felves, and ready to undergo any Hardlhip for 
 Chiilt slake. But it thcfe Qualifications beneceflary, 
 they are neceflary to be attained in Health. For then 
 a Man is in a Condition to ftrive, and to ex'ert himfelfj 
 but, when Sickncfs is upon him, itisagreatQueftion’ 
 what he will beable to do, or whether any thingat all. 
 Whatever the generality of the World may imagine, 
 who put off their great Work till fuch improper Sea- 
 fons, }et fure it is that tew, but very few are reform¬ 
 ed by a lick Bed. And They who deferr their Re¬ 
 pentance and Amendment till then, feldom, alas! re¬ 
 pent as they ought, or are amended in good earneft. 
 
 Depend not upon the Afliftance of your Relations 
 and Acquaintance. Nor Cherifh an Imagination fo vain 
 as that their Prayers hereafter can effect, what you ne¬ 
 ver endeavoured to effect here. Thefe can do you no 
 
 E 4 Ser- 
 
6 o 
 
 <Df ti)C gimttatlOIT Book I- I 
 
 Service t But if they could, yet when once gone, you 
 will be forgotten much fooner than you are willing to 
 believe. And why fhould You tell upon their Care, 
 when you cannot be prevailed with tor your Own ? 
 Can it be fuppofed they Ihould be more concerned tor 
 your Salvation, than You, whofe proper Iuterclt it is? 
 Allowing then, that thefe could do you good, yet 
 even thus ’tis better you Ihould do your own Bufi- , 
 nefs •, better, in regard of the Perfon, and better in 
 regard of the Time} For now is the Sealbn ot Ac^ . 
 ceptance , now is the Day ot Salvation. And there¬ 
 fore this Moment is fictefl: for your Purpofe: The 
 fooner you change, the better: Live then while you 
 may} and begin from the prefent Minute to live fo, 
 that you may live tor ever. For it you fuller the 
 happy Opportunity to flip through your Flands, yon 
 will wilh for it afterwards, when it is too late} and 
 may perhaps be reduced to fuch Circumftances, that 
 One Day, One Hour, for making your Peace with God 
 may not be obtained } no, not when you would glad¬ 
 ly give, were it at your difpofal, the whole World to 1 
 purchafeit. 
 
 Conlider then, my Friend and Fellow-Chrilhan, 
 confidcr what a Rifque you irni by your Delays: 
 Think, what Mifery and Danger, what Confufion and 
 Defpair it is now in your Power to prevent, by li- • 
 ving like a Man that remembers he mull Die } And i 
 therefore fo fpend every Hour, that when your Jaft 
 draws on, you may receive it with Joy and Hope, in- 
 Head of Fear and Aftonilhment. Learn now to Die 
 daily, to Die to Sin and the World, that you may 
 then begin to Live with Chrilt. Learn now to dc- ; 
 ipife all here below, that you may then be difenga- 
 ged, and at perfeft liberty, to leave all and follow . 
 Chrilt. Subdue your Body Now by Mortification and 
 Self-denyal, and you lhall then have great Boldnefs in 
 the Day of Tribulation. 
 
 Does 
 
Book I. of J e s u s C h r i s t. 
 
 61 
 
 Does any Confidence of long Life encourage you 
 to deferr putting this good Advice in Execution fpeer 
 dily ? Nay, but reflect, fond Man, how little you can 
 promile your lelf one poor Angle Day. How many 
 Inftances have you before your Eyes, or frelh in your 
 Remembrance of Perfons miferably deluded and dif- 
 appointed in this Hope, and hurried out of the Body 
 without any warning at all ? How often have you been 
 fnrprifed with the News of this Friend being run 
 through, Another drowning crofling the Water, a 
 Third breaking his Neck by a Fall, a Fourth fallen 
 down dead at Table, or choaked with his Meat, a 
 Fifth feized with an Apoplex at Play, a Sixth burnt 
 in his Bed, a Seventh raurthered, an Eighth killed by 
 Thieves, a Ninth ftruck with Lightning, or Blafting, 
 or Peftilence, a Tenth fwallowed up in an Earthquake. 
 Such vaft variety of Deaths furround us, and fo flee¬ 
 ting a Shadow is the Life of a Man. 
 
 And, it any of thefe happen to be Your cafe, Who 
 fhall help ? Who can five you, when the precious Op¬ 
 portunity is fled and loft? Be doing then betimes; 
 for, though you cannot fo much asguefs at the Hour 
 and manner of your own Death, yet fafeyouare, or 
 may be, if you will provide againft ic. life Time then 
 while you have it; make haft to be Rich towards God, 
 and let Religion and your own Salvation be your Chief* 
 your Only Concern. Make yourfelf friends . ’ 
 
 while you may, who when you fail may re- LuU XV1 * 9 * 
 ceive you into everlafling Habitations, 
 
 Behave your lelf as a Stranger and Pilgrim upon 
 Earth, and intangle not your Thoughts in Matters, 
 which do not belong to you. For Sojourners are not 
 Proprietors, and therefore fuch Ihould keep their 
 Minds loofe and free, and not fettle their Affe&ions 
 upon things, which they arc leaving very Ihortly; 
 Raife your Soul to God, and let it not , 
 dwell there, where you have no continuing Hebr ‘ XU1 * I4 * 
 
 City. 
 
62 £Df tfte Imitation Book I. 
 
 City. Look up to that which is lo, and fend your 
 Prayers, and Tears, and earneft Defires before you 
 thither •, that when God calls, you may readily follow 
 in Perfon, and make a happy Exchange of this Mife- 
 rable World for a better. 
 
 Chap. XXIV. 
 
 Of the Lttft Judgment, and the Eternal PuniJJjment 
 of 'Ungodly Men. 
 
 W Hatfoever thou takef In hand, remember the End , 
 and thou Jhalt never do amifs, fays the wife Son 
 ... oiSirach. And certainly this would prove 
 “ M,V11 ‘ 3 a moll uleful Dire&ion, if we by the End 
 underftand that laft great Account, which will one 
 Day be required of all our Aftions. For how power¬ 
 ful, how happy a Reftraint Ihould we live under, did 
 we but ferionfly refleft, and conftantly ask our felves, 
 how we lhall dare to Hand before that ftri<ft and righ¬ 
 teous Judge, to whom all Hearts are open , all Dejires 
 known, and from whom no Secrets are hid One, who can¬ 
 not, like other Judges, be diverted from the Ready 
 Courfe of Juftice ; blinded by Bribes and Prefents, or 
 foftned by lubtle Extenuations, or impofed upon by 
 feigned Excufcs, and fludied Evalions but who weighs 
 all Perlons and Caufes by the eternal Standard of E- 
 quity and Truth. Ah, wretched Guilty Creature! 
 Ah, llupid Unthinking Sinner! that trembleft at the 
 Frown of a Man like thy felf, and canft not fear that 
 Bar, where nothing can turn to thy Prejudice but 
 open and notorious Faults! How wilt thou appear at 
 this Tribunal, or what Plea canft thou urge in Bar 
 of Sentence, to Him who needs no Evidence, but is 
 himfelf privy to thy moft concealed Impieties? Doft 
 
 thou 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 6 jl 
 
 thou know this, and yet go on unconcerned how thou 
 (halt efcape the Terrors of that dreadful Day ? Without 
 thy own Care, efcape thou canft not : For This Judg¬ 
 ment is univerfal •, All Mankind muft (land upon their 
 Deliveiance } Every one muft bear his own Burden \ 
 and every one’s Burden is more than enough for him- 
 felf , fo that no Man will be in a Condition of Aflifting 
 : another. 1 o expedt any Advantage, any Atonement 
 then, is mod fenilefs } Thou only canft prevent thy 
 own Deftru&ion, and this Life is the only Time of 
 preventing it. Thy holy Labours now will turn to 
 good Account^ Thy pious Mournings move Cora- 
 palTion, thy Prayers and Groans enter the Ears of 
 God, and melt him into Mercy: The meek and pa¬ 
 tient Man will then be confidered for his conftant 
 Suffering and invincible Charity. The Grief he now 
 conceives for Wrongs is more for the Wickednefs and 
 Guilt of the Perfon who does them, than for any In¬ 
 convenience brought upon himfelf} and this Difpo- 
 lition will mitigate his own Offence. He heartily for¬ 
 gives, and prays that God w T ould forgive his Enemies} 
 and this entitles him to the forgivenefs of his own 
 ) Trefpalles. He is more eafily provoked to Pity, than 
 j 1:0 Anger: and (hall be dealt with accordingly, by a 
 God Long-fuffering, How to Wrath, and (paring 
 when Men delerve Punifhment. He often treats his 
 Body with Severity and Violence, and conr ; -jes the 
 rigorous Difcipline, till the Flefh be effef ally fub- 
 dued by the Spirit} and therefore good amends (hall 
 be made him for thde voluntary Sufferings, and the 
 negle&ed Pleafures of Senle be liberally recompenfed 
 by the abundance of Heavenly and Intellectual Joys. 
 But then tis plain thefe good Qualities which mini- 
 Iter an Entrance into that Blifs, mull be attained as 
 loon as we can poflibly: This prefent State of Mor¬ 
 tality is the only Scene of Action and Improvement; 
 3nd lince this Scene (o fuddenly may change, we are 
 
 not 
 
6 4 
 
 ADf the ‘Imitation Book i. 
 
 not fafe in the delay of one Moment. This is in truth 
 our Cafe, but we are loth to underlland it •, and fo 
 inordinately fond of fenfual Delights, that we even 
 take a pleafure in impoling upon our felves •, and by 
 the moft fatal of all Infatuations, cherilh and gratifie 
 our Bodies, at the Expence, and extreme Hazard of 
 our Souls. 
 
 And what is the Effed of this, but heaping up 
 more Fewel for Everlafting Flames to feed upon ? For 
 our Sins and Lull kindle and blow up thofe Fires, 
 and the more heinous and impetuous thefe are, the 
 fiercer and more furioufly thofe will be lure to burn. 
 For as the Torments of ungodly Wretches lhall there 
 beexquifite, for their Degree, fo lhall they for their 
 Kind and Quality be fuitedand proportioned to the 
 Sins of each particular Perfon; and fo contrived, as 
 to be moll fenfibly abiding and painful to the re- 
 fpedive Tempers and Compledions of Men, the Habits 
 they have contraded, and the Appetites they have 
 indulged. The Lazy and Stupid lhall be awakened 
 and rouzed into Senfe by lharp Scourges and burning 
 Stings. The Glutton and Drunkard gnawed with 
 infatiable Hunger; and parched with unquenchable 
 Third. The Nice and Delicate, who propofed no 
 Happinefs here to themfclves, but Luxury and Plea¬ 
 fure ; lhall then be llrangled with the noifom Vapours 
 of flaming Pitch and flunking Sulphur. The Envious 
 and Difcontented (hall howl perpetually like mad 
 Dogs. The Proud and Vain-glorious lhall be con¬ 
 founded with Shame and Contempt. The Covetous 
 lhall piueaway with extream Penury and Want; and 
 no One Vice lhall efcape a Torture, exadtly fitted to 
 make its Indulger the moll Miferable, that it is pof- 
 lible for him to be. In a word, One Angle Hour in 
 thofe difmal Pains and Horrouts lhall be more infup- 
 portable, than whole Ages of that Unealinefs, which 
 wicked Men here have fo irrcconcileable an Avcrlion 
 
 to 
 
Book I. of Jesus Christ. 65 
 
 to lubmit co, for mortifying their Vanities, and a- 
 mending their Lives. 
 
 For, (which is of all others the lafl and dreadfulleft 
 Aggravation,) thofe Miferies and Tortures have no 
 End, no Refrdhinent, no Intermiflion: But the iharpeft 
 Affii&ions we endure in this Life will quickly have a 
 Period, They have their Intervals of Eafe and Com¬ 
 fort j and thofe Sorrows which we feel upon a Re¬ 
 ligious Account, are largely recompenfed with Spi¬ 
 ritual Confolations, and fweet Peace of Mind. Do 
 not then grudge a little prefent Grief ; but mourn 
 earneftly tor thy Sins, and bend thy utmolt Thought 
 and Care to the Subduing and Reforming them; that 
 this fhort Anxiety may deliver thee from eternal De- 
 fpair and Anguilh unconceiveable;and thofe few Tears 
 of Repentance may fecure to thee a Portion of ever- 
 lafting Joy with the Blefled. 
 
 Oh happy Reverfeofall their Griefs and Sufferings, 
 which the Righteous fhall find in that Day ! when they 
 fhall fland full of Hope and Humble Confidence before 
 that Judgment-leat, from which their Haughty and 
 Mercilefs Oppreflours, confounded with Fear and a- 
 mazed with Guilt, fhall llrive and wifh in vain to hide 
 their trembling Heads. When he who now (lands 
 tamely at the Bar of Men, and innocently fuffers, fhall 
 then be advanced to a Throne, and placed among the 
 Saints and Martyrs, to aflift at the Tryal of his, once 
 infulting, Judges. When the Poor and Meek fhall 
 have great Boldnefs, while the Proud and Great Sinner 
 quakes at the Prefence of God and the Lamb. When 
 that Piety and Godly Fear, that Abftincncc and fevere 
 Virtue, that patient Enduring for Chrift’s fake, which 
 is now thought juft Matter of Derifion and Contempt, 
 and Counted Folly and Religious Madnefs, fhall then be 
 acknowledged by its mofl Satyrical Seomers to be in¬ 
 deed the True, the Only Wifdom. When the Re¬ 
 membrance of pa ft Miferies fhall be Tweet' and They, 
 
 whole 
 
66 
 
 £>f tfic fimtatton Book i. 
 
 — ■ — ■ ■ — » 
 
 which wicked Malice exercifed fuch Patience, fhall be 
 (truck Dumb with fad Remorfe and Bitternefs of Soul. 
 When all, who devoted themfelves to God and his Ser¬ 
 vice fhall be tranfported with Raptures of Joy, and all 
 thofe who difregarded or defpifed them, fhall Weep 
 and Lament. When the Afflicted and Perfecuted fhall 
 blefs his bitter Cup, and feel more refined, more fub- 
 ftantial Delight from it, than fenfual Pleafures or 
 uninterrupted Prcfperity could ever bring to the molt 
 Voluptuous and Fortunate : When the plain Drefs of 
 the Humble, and Sackcloth of the Penitent fhall fhine 
 glorious as the Sun j and all the gay Pomp and glitter¬ 
 ing Jewels of the proud and gaudy Sinner fhall be 
 trampled under Foot like Dung: When the Cottage 
 (hall take place of the Court, Patience appear more e- 
 ligible than the molt boundlefs and arbitrary Power-, 
 the honeft Obedience of an humble Faith, more Wife, 
 than the nicefl Cavils of the fubtlefl Wit -, and a good 
 Confcience more ufeful Learning, than the moft elabo¬ 
 rate SyItems of Philofophy : When the Contempt of 
 Riches fhall approve it felf the greateft Treafure } De¬ 
 vout Prayer the moft delicious Entertainment ^ Silence 
 and Caution the belt Converfation: When Good 
 Works fhall plead better than the moft accurate Elo¬ 
 quence, Alms prove the moft prevailing Advocate, 
 Self-denyal the moft exalted Pleafure, and the Con- 
 queft of ill Habits the moft glorious Triumph. 
 
 If then this be, (and this moft afTuredly isj a true 
 Reprefentation of that decifive Day: If this the diffe¬ 
 rent Fate and EffeCt of thefe fo very different Perfons 
 and Practices \ Confider, 1 conjure thee, the Circum- 
 Itances of thofe Damned. And harden thy felf from 
 this Reflection, to endure a Little now, when That 
 little will fecure thee againft enduring infinitely more 
 hereafter. Make tryal of thy felf, and if the flight 
 Difficulties of a religious Life feem tedious and tire- 
 fom 5 turn the Argument againft thy fenfual Inclina¬ 
 tion, 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 67 
 
 tion, and think, how one who finks under thefe, will 
 be able to dwell with exquifite and everlafting Tor¬ 
 ments. Nor is this a trifling needlefs Enquiry, but 
 abfolutely neceflary, and of mighty moment. For 
 Matters are fo ordered, that peifed Eafe can be no 
 Man’s Portion in both Worlds : They who choofe their 
 good Things here, cannot have them hereafter too; 
 nor (hall any Man who indulges Senfe and Pleafuce 
 upon Earth, Rejoyce and Reign with Chrift in the 
 Kingdom of Heaven. 
 
 Suppofe then, that, from your Entrance into the 
 Body, to this very Day, you had enjoyed the utmoft 
 your Heart could poflibly defire, of all which this 
 World calls Happinefs: Honours, Riches, Pleafures, 
 without Check, or Stint, or Interruption. Yet what 
 Good would all this do to you, if it Ihould pleafeGod 
 juft now to ftrike you with Death? Do not you plain¬ 
 ly fee, without my profecuting this Argument any 
 farther, that all below is vanity and meer Nothing, 
 and that the Love of God and a religious Life is the 
 only thing, which can ftand you in any ftead ? This 
 ! ftick by you, when all the reft forfake you. This 
 is neither deftroyed by Death, nor afraid of Punilh- 
 ment, but Triumphs over both ; fills the Man with 
 Confidence and joyful Expectation at the dreadful 
 Day of Judgment; and fets him above all the Ter- 
 rours and difmal Apprehenfions of Hell and its Tor¬ 
 tures. But then, This is the peculiar Priviledge of 
 the Servants of God ; for, how is it poflible for the 
 Men who pracftife and delight in Wickednefs, to think 
 of Death and Judgment, without Fear and Perplexity 
 of Heart? How Ihould they enjoy Quiet, and beeafie 
 m their Minds, if they think at all what is coming 
 apace upon them ? Let then the Love of God prevail 
 over that of Sin; but if thou art not yet perfeft e- 
 nough to be acfted by this noble Principle; Let at leaft 
 the Love of thyfelf reclaim thee, and the Fear of Hell 
 
 re- 
 
68 £Df tllC gjmitation Book I. 
 
 redrain and deterr thee from a Coiirfe which mud j 
 . end at lafl in thy utter and inevitable 
 
 rjal. cm. 10. Ruine Thls fays j he Scripture, is the 
 
 beginning ofWifdom, for he who is Proof again ft the 
 Fear of God, cannot perfevere in auy thing that is 
 Good •, As having no manner of Principle that can 
 fave him, no Curb upon his Mind that can awe, or 
 hold him in, from running headlong into the Snares 
 of the Devil. 
 
 Chap. XXV. 
 
 Of Zgal in the Reformation of our Lives. 
 
 B E fervent in Prayer, [crying the Lord, lays the ApO- 
 die. And fuch indeed it highly concerns every 
 one to be in his Service. For what is the 
 i\otn. xu. n. £ n( j we purport by dedicating our felves 
 
 in folemn Vows to Chrid? or to what purpofe do 
 we renounce the World and its Vanities, but that 
 thefe facred Ties may engage out utmod Watchfuj- 
 nefs and Diligence to confecrate our Perfons and A&i- 
 ons to conform our felves to the Image of God, by 
 living to him, and like him, and much above the rate 
 of Common Men ? Let not therefore thefe good Re- 
 folutions cool upon your hands , but be zealous in 
 Piety and Virtue. Confider that you (hall fhortly 
 receive an ample Recompence for all your holy La¬ 
 bours, and fee a happy End of Grief and Fear, and 
 Hardlhip. Be content with Travel and. Pain for a ve- 
 £Mmb. xi. ry little while, and you (hall be fare to find 
 ?8, 50. Rest, and Peace, and Joy to your Souls. The j 
 
 2 Cor. iv. 16. Yoke is eafie, and the Burthen is light, but the 
 Weight of Glory is far more exceeding and eternal. Be but 
 You careful to difeharge your part, and then you need 
 
 never 
 
Book I. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 69 
 
 never doubt God’s making good his. Support and en¬ 
 courage your felf with the full Afluiance of obtaining 
 the Crown, but take heed that Afliirancedo notde- 
 ■ generate into Prefumption -, nor the profpett of Bills, 
 which fhould excite a more active and cheerful Obe¬ 
 dience, become an occafion of Ipiritual Security and 
 Sloth. 
 
 I remember an Inftance of a Perfon irrefolute and 
 wavering in the Concerns of his Soul, divided be¬ 
 tween Hope and Fear, who in his Prayers was earrieft- 
 ly entreating, to be allured of his own Perleverance ; 
 and exprelling how happy he Ihould think himfelf, 
 could he but be fatisfied in this Point. Whereupon he 
 was immediately anfwered from within, Well, and ftp. 
 pofing you could be affiired of this , ho tv would you proceed 
 then? Do but ail novo, as you would think your felf obliged 
 to do in that cafe, and never ejueflion your per fevering. This 
 comfortahle Reply fettled his Mind, and, inflread of in¬ 
 dulging any curious Enquiries into Events, or anxious 
 Doubts concerning the Succefs of his Endeavours, he 
 immediately applied himlelf to confider what God ex¬ 
 pected from him, and fet about the Performance of 
 That, without more to do. Truft in the 
 Lord, and be doing good, fays the Pfalmift, rftl. xxxvii. 
 commit thy Way to Him, and he (hall bn tar it 5» 6. 
 to pafs. 
 
 The great and common Obflacle to vigorous Vir¬ 
 tue, is the dreadful Notion Men torm to themfelves of 
 the Difficulties attending it, and how laborious a 
 thing Religion is. And true ic is. Exalted Piety will 
 coft many a lore Conflict. But even this Confiderati- 
 on may be fome Encouragement too ; when we confi¬ 
 der, that the Hardlhip or the Undertaking, and the 
 Violence of the Oppolition, add to the Glory of the 
 Tight; and entitle the Conqnerour to a Crown fo 
 much brighter, as the Toil and Hazard of the Day he 
 ; won, was greater. For the more a Man fubdues him- 
 
 f fclf 
 
7o 
 
 4Df tl)C Simitatton Book I. 
 
 felf and does Honour to the Divine Grace by rendnng 
 it vidtorious over Flefh and Blood ^ the larger Meafures 
 of that Grace he (hall obtain from God, and become 
 
 more exemplary in the World. 
 
 There are not, ’tis confcft, in every Man, the fame 
 Paflions,or not the (ame Degrees of them, to matter and 
 mortifie. Buc though a Man whofe Afledtions are vehe¬ 
 ment, and his Difpolition by Nature or Cuftom more 
 ftubbot n and averfe to Virtue, hath more to make his 
 way through Yet, if this Man’s Refolutions be 
 and his Vigour be proportionably greater, he fliall be 
 able to advance farther, than others ot a quieter Tem¬ 
 per, and lefs rebellious Paflions; if that Sedatenefs at 
 the fame time difpofe them to Eafe and ln 3 df ivity. 
 
 Now in this undertaking, Two Things there are, 
 of mighty moment for promoting it. The Fnfivi, 
 To obferve the Tendencies of one’s Temper and Con¬ 
 futation, and take care to bend Nature the contrary 
 way •, by keeping aloof off from all thofe 1 captati¬ 
 ons and Occalions of Sinning, with which we teel our 
 felves mod ealily befet, and ftrongly inclined to com¬ 
 ply. The other, to difeover our peculiar Defedts, and 
 labour with all our Might to attain thofe Virtues, 
 which we chiefly want. . , 
 
 And, As this Knowledge of Our Own Frailties and 
 Neceflities, is greatly inftrumental to our Improve¬ 
 ment, fo we?fliall do well to profit by what we fee in 
 Others: and to be particularly concern’d for avoiding 
 and fubduing thofe Habits, which we find mod ufual 
 and offenfive^ in them with whom weConvcrfe. For 
 the Commonnefs of any 111 thing is fo far from exte¬ 
 nuating the Blame of thofe who copy after it, that it 
 is the direft contrary ■, and fuch Examples fhould be 
 lookt upon, as Marks which difeover to us where the 
 Rocks and Sands lye •, fuch as are fet to warn us off, 
 not to invite us in. Indeed a wife and good Man will 
 turn Examples, of all forts, to his own Advantage. 
 
 The 
 
Book T. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ____ 21 
 
 The Good he will make his Patterns, and ft rive to 
 equa or excel them. The Bad he will by all means 
 avo.d j or it by Reflexion the Deformity of his Neigh- 
 bour s Actions happen to reprefent that of his own. 
 he will be lure to do fo no more * and think it a hapn^ 
 occahon, that he is thus grown Wifer by the Folly 
 of others. For we often fee and judge that in the De¬ 
 portment of thofe we converfe with, which to near' 
 L, g ht wtl | not let us Difcern, or Partiality let us 
 condemn, in our own. And this fhould make us 
 cautious, when we remember that the Eyes of others 
 m e as (harp,as critical Obfervers, as fevere Jud ges of Us 
 and all we do as Ours can polTibly be of Them. From 
 this umverfal Difpofition to obferve and judge pro- 
 ceeds, nodoubt, that pleafing Approbation, or vehe- 
 ment Diflike, of Good, and Bad, Examples. For what 
 indeed gives us a more fenlible Satisfaction..than the fee- 
 
 un, Me! V.! n CVerJ i Point a g reeable their Character > 
 U hen 1 hey, who call themfelves by the Name of 
 
 Chr.ft, and pretend in a peculiar manner to belong 
 and be refign d up to him, are eminent in good Works 
 and heavenly Difpoficions ; When they fubmit entirely 
 to his \oke, and think nothing too much to do or 
 
 f roilff? 1‘ e ?“ t0 r Wl11 ’ how clia ™ing, how 
 delightful a Sight is this! And again, how offenfive, 
 
 how very fhockmg, when They, who make the fame 
 
 outward Profellion, fhall Dilbonour and Defile it bv 
 
 a fcandalous and profligate Converfation 5 and, inftead 
 
 e . vere ’ t * lat fpi^tual and heavenly Life to 
 which their very Name, and the Pattern of their Ma¬ 
 iler obliges them, abandon themfelves to all manner 
 
 °ki ^d C ?P’ , an( ^ wa Bow in the moft brutifh and deteft- 
 able Pollutions ?■ ,But, even where Men do not degene- 
 r ^ Ce i! n V^ f 11 th's Beaillincfs, where Cares and Bulin’efs 
 ot the World divert and draw them off from better 
 Employments, ’Tis.unfeemly to others, and of ill con- 
 fequence to themfelves, to negleft tfreir propetCdn- 
 
 F 1 cern. 
 
72 
 
 tf)t ^mttattoil Book I. 
 
 cern, and engage their Thoughts and Time in Matters 
 foreign to their main Delign. , . 
 
 Quicken therefore your felf up to Duty, by the 
 remembrance of your Station, who you are, and what 
 you have obliged your felf to be. Bear conftantly a- 
 bout you a lively Idea of Chrift crucified. Confider 
 carefully his Life, and let the Perfection ot 1 hat, 
 fliame you into the reforming your own. V our own, 
 
 I fay, whofe very Baptifm reprefenrs your 1 rojejjion , 
 which is, to follow the Example of our Saviour, and to be 
 made Uke unto him •, and yet after fo many Years being 
 called a Chriftian, you are ftill too far from being one, 
 if Dyino to Sin and Living to Righteoufnefs, as your J cl its 
 dyed and rofe again for- you, . be that which makes a 
 Chriftian, and diftinguifhes him from other Men. It 
 Perfons dedicated to Piety and Virtue would but with 
 due Attention fix their Thoughts upon the Actions 
 and Sufferings of Chrift, this lingle SubjeCt would 
 furnilh them with InftruCtions and Motives, abun¬ 
 dantly fufficient for their purpofe: St .Paul we fee 
 determined to know nothing but Jejus 
 1 Cor,xu Chrift and him Crucified , and this indeed, 
 truly known, is the beft, the moft ufeful, and moft 
 
 comprehenfive Learning. , , 
 
 This fires Men with an eager holy Zeal, ana ren¬ 
 ders them not only exaCt, but cheerful in their Duty * 
 it makes them perform what he commands with Dili¬ 
 gence and fuller all that he ordains with Patience and 
 Contentednefs. Whereas a negligent and lukewarm 
 Chriftian confpires againft himfelf y his Life is one 
 perpetual Torment, for want of entire Resignation 
 and fervent Love. The Tryalsand Afflictions bear 
 hard upon his Spirit, and the Good he attempts is 
 ftrained and againft the Grain. He feels not the fup- 
 port of fpiritual Comforts -, he knows he muft not have 
 recourfe to Worldly ones, or, if he might. They will not 
 do his Bufinefs •, and fo he is left deftitute of all. For 
 , :. by 
 
7? 
 
 Hook 
 
 Of J e sus Christ. 
 
 by tranfgrefling the Rules of Chriftian Difcipline he 
 hazards the fafety of his Soul ^ And by feeking Relief 
 in Inconvenient Liberties, he creates frefh Torment 
 rohimfelf: becaufe Thefecannot fatisfie his Confcience 
 but will be fure to leave fome Difpleafiire and Bitter¬ 
 ns behind them. And who can ever be ealie, who 
 is reproached with his own ill Condudt, and cho’ofes a 
 Remedy worfe than the Difliemper ? 
 
 To this Pattern fet us by Chrift himfelf, it will be 
 of great ufe toadd thofeof the Apoftles, and other emi¬ 
 nent Lights in the Church heretofore. Thele will con¬ 
 vince us, what Excellencies mere Men are capable of • 
 and if we heartily afpire after their Perfedtion' we 
 ought not to diftruft God’s Afliftance ; but may confi¬ 
 dently pronnfeour felves, that an equal Degree of Zeal 
 wdl be fupported by an equal Meafure of Grace and 
 Strength. Obfervethen their Aufterities, their fervent 
 Prayers and heavenly Meditations, obferve the great 
 and happy Efficacy ot them, in railing thofe holv Per- 
 fons above the World and its Temptations, and ren- 
 dring their Converfationall Heavenly and Divine,even 
 whilff upon Earth. It were indeed a definable Thine 
 that we could fo wholly abltrad our felves from Flelh 
 and Senfe, that the Praifes of God and Attendance up¬ 
 on his Commands, the Contemplation of his Glories 
 and the ravilhing Satisfactions of devout Mind< might 
 beourconftantand only Employment. And happy 
 fhould we be, if the necelfary Cares of Life gave no 
 Diftraftion to our Thoughts, no Interruption "to thofe 
 holy Exercifes. But 1 hefe are Charms and Joys re- 
 ferved tor a future and better State- We can nor 
 here be fo refined we cannot be excufed from h 
 Jncumbrances of the Body, and its in feparable Frailtiel 
 and Neceflities. And therefore the Virtue proper to 
 our prefent Condiuon is of another Nature. Uf° 
 
 onr H 3 °nn d y r m k rtS W f may ’ but we not place 
 our Happinefs in them ; live upon them our Bodies 
 
 F 3 muff, 
 
 i 
 
74 
 
 <&)f tl )t imitation Book I. 
 
 - -- "" 
 
 muft, but our Souls fiiould relifli nothing but God. 
 Whatever his Providence thinks fit for us vve are to 
 receive with Mceknefs and Contentednefs •, as being 
 well allured, that His Wifdom can^ and His Goodncfs 
 Tr///choofe and ordain what is belt. In the Day of T/ 0 - 
 [verity we may rejoyce , but that Joy mil ft be fo tempered 
 with Gratitude and Moderation, as neither to (well 
 into In foie nee and Pride, nor to engage our Amnions 
 in the Love of the World, hi the Day of Adyerfitywe 
 are to confider , and entertain the molt calamitous Ac¬ 
 cidents, without Murmuring or Difcontent. In every 
 Change of Circumllances our Minds mult be entirely 
 refigned to God ; for He is all in all, Etei nal and Un¬ 
 changeable, Perfect and Happy in Himfelf, Abfolute 
 and Sole Lord of the Univerfe ; And every Creature 
 is, and ought to be, entirely at his Dilpofal. 
 
 But, though He be always the fame, and can at any 
 time do what is good in his fight, yet this is by no 
 means Our Cafe. Frail, and of fliort Continuance 
 is our Charader; and this fhould excite our Dili¬ 
 gence, to work while it is Day , becaufe our 
 fohn ix. Night cometh on apace , wherein no Man can 
 work. Confider therefore you mult dye; dye, you 
 know not how foon ; and be afraid left that fatal Hour 
 overtake you, before the Bulinefs of Life be finilhed. 
 Remember that the Time once yours, can never be fo 
 again : The Wealth of both the Indies cannot redeem 
 one finglc Opportunity, which you have once let flip; 
 and therefore lay fall hold on all that offer, and fuller 
 no Hour to Aide by without its due Improvement. 
 
 Virtue can never be attained without great Pains 
 and Diligence; and, if you cool and linger in this 
 Purfuit, the moment that you gain not ground, you 
 lofe it. For the Affairs of our Souls can never Hand 
 at one ftay; but, as oft as we favour our felvesin point ' 
 of Duty, we decline and fall back again toward Sin, 
 or at leaft into an Indifpolrtion toward Goodnefs. . 
 
 ' But 
 
Book I. Qf Jtsus Christ. -_75 
 
 ■ ——_i_—-:— ---—— - 
 
 But if we cliet'ifli out Zeal, and cohft’anly blow up its 
 holy Fires by a vigorous Attendance upon our Bufinefs, 
 we fha\? foon feel the Comfort of this kindly Warmth •, 
 and |tl the difficulties we foifnd or formed to our 
 felves, will wear off quickly. God will give mote 
 Grace to him that'ufes what he gave formerly; and 
 Virtue every day will difclofe her Charms, and make 
 'tos more in love'with her. Then it is, that the wife 
 Man’s Description is experimentally made good to us* 
 'That beriVays areways of llcafarith.cfs, and prov. iii. 
 all her Paths are Peace. I readily ^know¬ 
 ledge the Attempt 1 am now adviiing, to be exceed¬ 
 ing labourious and great: No bodily 1 oil is to be com¬ 
 pared to it; nor any Conqueft over temporal Enemies 
 fo hazardous and expenfive, asthatwhich wegain upon 
 our felves, and the Adverfary of Souls But as the Dif¬ 
 ficulty exceeds, fo does the Benefit and Glory likewife. 
 This Field mull be fought, and won, or we are loft 
 for ever ; And He, who does not inure himlelf to 
 vanquifhing, byfubduioglefsTcmptations, will .never 
 be able to grapple with more violent, and trying 
 Ones; and Inffi/mlties'ohte yielded tdj grow infenfibly 
 to jflj.ibbo.i n Habit s of Vice. This is a daily Warfare, 
 and we may daily reap the Fruits of it! For every 
 Night will crown us with frelh Lawrels, and the Re¬ 
 flection upon a Day well fpent, furniffius with Joys more 
 pleafing than ten thoufand Triumphs. Since therefore 
 every Day’s Behaviour is of fuch mighty Confequer.ee, 
 in giving a Turn to our fpiritual Affairs; beware left 
 any pafs unprofitable’. Watch continually over thy 
 fell, and let not this neceffary Fervour abate, for want 
 of Care to cherilh and excite it. Remember, that your 
 own Salvation is the Truft committed to your Charge; 
 a Truft of Importance greater than the whole World; 
 and therefore, whatever becomes of the reft, do You 
 fecure One. To adnionifh and reprove your Brethren, 
 while you overlook your fclf, is a moft prepofterous 
 
 F 4 Courfe; 
 
j6 £>f t$e 9jmttattOn,&c. Book I. 
 
 Courfe i ’tis negledting your own Province, and in¬ 
 vading another Man’s. You have no right, to take 
 ... the Mote out of their Eye, till the Beam be 
 
 att .VIII. ca fl. QUt D f yt Hr mnt Jf t | ien y QU 
 
 would efcape the Cenfure of Hypocrifie, begin at 
 Home to reform, and be fure to do that efiedually. 
 For the greater Violence you are content to put upon 
 your own Inclinations, and the forer Conflicts you un¬ 
 dergo, the more meritorious is your Virtue, and the 
 more abundant will be your Joy. 
 
 The End of the Firfi Book. 
 — 11 1 ' " - . . 
 

 Book II. 
 
 77 
 
 OF THE 
 
 IMITATION 
 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 €$e ^cconD iBooft. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 The Life of the Spiritual Man. 
 
 T HE Kingdom of God is within you. lays OUT 
 BlefledLord. Betake thy felf . , 
 then entirely to God, love him “ ' xv “' 2u 
 
 with all thy Heart, and all thy Soul, and 
 bid a final Adieu to this wretched World, and thou 
 fhalt find Tweet Content, and Comfort unfpeakable. 
 Learn to defpife thefe outward Vanities, and feek 
 pure and fpiritual Satisfactions j place all thy Hopes, 
 thy Happinefs, thy Thoughts in Them, and thou 
 ftalt feel this Kingdom Ipring up and grow with¬ 
 in thee. For the Kingdom of God is Peace 
 and Joy in the Holy Ghofl j A Joy, peculiar X1<r " 
 to the Saints, in which wicked and worldly-minded 
 Men have no part. Chrift will approach to thofe 
 that fly to him for Refuge, meet and embrace them 
 
 in 
 
 ‘ ' *! 
 
 
78 
 
 jDf tlic limitation 
 
 Book 
 
 m his Arms, and filkhem with hts heavenly Confola- 
 tions. He knocks, and waits to come in, and only 
 itays, till thou have fwept and garnilh’d thy Soul, and i 
 prepared an Appartmcnt, clean and fit for fo pure fo ; 
 divine an Inhabitant. For all his Charms and Glories 
 fhine inward 3 They are not like the gaudy Pomps 
 and glittering Outfides of earthly Ornaments, but lye 
 deep in the Breafts of his Saints -, There is his Beauty, 
 there his tweet Converfation, there his ravilhing Com¬ 
 forts, there the Abundance of his Peace, and the In¬ 
 timacy of his Friendlhip. 
 
 Come then, believing Soul \ To Work, and employ 
 all thy Diligence, to prepare thy Heart for thy Belo¬ 
 ved •, That heavenly Spoufe, who will not difdain this 
 poor and homely Manfion, and only asks thy Love, 
 and Care to make it worthy of him. Hear his own 
 . gracious Promife, If a Man love tne , he 
 
 50.rtxn.23. 7p,// keep my Wovds^ and wy Father tv til love 
 
 hint, and We will come , and make our abode with him. Make 
 room then for this Bleiled Gueft 3 Call: out the Croud 
 of worldly Cares and Defires. Admit po Partner in 
 thy Breaft, but referve thy whole Heart tor this One In¬ 
 habitant. This One is enough, for He is all the World, 
 And if thou haft Him, thou haft Riches, and Honour, 
 and Plenty of every thing that is Good. He will be 
 thy Mafter, thy Protector, thy Counfeller, thy Agent, 
 thy Friend-, Wilt take thy Cares upon himfclf, and. 
 manage all thy Concerns to the belt Advantage -, nor 
 lhalt thou need any other Afliftant, or ask Rcliei 
 from Mem For why indeed from Men ? whofe Power 
 is fo Ihort, and their Affe&ions fo inconftant ? They 
 quickly change, and mock the Hopes of thofe that de-. 
 pend upon their Kindnefs^ But Chrift endureth fon 
 ever, and is a fure Help in all his Servant’s Extremi¬ 
 ties. Suppofing all the Sincerity and Zeal for our- 
 Service, that Man is capable of. 3 yet ftill he is but 
 •»Man, mortal and frail, and cannot always have fh< 
 
■ ttook H. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 79 
 
 I Ability, even when he hath moll the Difpolition, to 
 relieve and do us good. Since then fo little Confi¬ 
 dence is due to his Succours, the Concern ought not 
 to be great, if he withdraw or deny them ; if he op- 
 pore and grieve, and labour to do us harm. For 
 This is frequently the Cafe } The Effett of a fickle 
 Temper, that the very fame Perfons, who to Day are 
 our deareft Friends, to Morrow fhall be our bitterefl <. 
 Enemies. And they who now are our moll furious 
 Adverfaries, within a little while come over to our 
 Side. It cannot well be otherwife, in Perfons fo un¬ 
 fettled, fo liable to turn with every breath of Wind. 
 Place then thy Hope and Trull in Him alone, with 
 whom is no Pariablenep, tic tt her Jhadorv of Tun:- 
 j ing: Let him be the only Objedl of thy * mesu H’ 
 [Fear, and Love. In him thou art fure to find a con- 
 ; font and powerful Eriend} One, who will heartily 
 cfpoufe thy Caufe-, and order Matters better, than 
 thou thy felf, if left to thine own Choice, couldfl pof- 
 fibly do. Alas ! thou haft here no continuing City, 
 jj but art a Stranger and Sojourner, and mult expedt to 
 ; find no Settlement, till poflefl: of, and united to Chriil. 
 Why do thy anxious Thoughts look out for Eafc 
 and a fixed Happinels, in a Place, which is not, can¬ 
 not be thy Rell ? Thy Converfation ought to be in 
 Heaven, for there is thy Home} and all Things here 
 fhould be no otherwife regarded, than as Refrelh- 
 ments and Conveniencies given to fupport thee in thv 
 Journey thither: Things in perpetual Motion, and 
 fuch as pafs away from thee } and things which thou 
 thy felf art palling away from too, as fall as Time 
 | and Mortality can carry thee. Do not then imagine, 
 r that They can Hick by Thee, or Thou by Them $ l?pt 
 ’ look upon 1 hem with an Eye of Indifference, and keen 
 thy Soul difengagdd } For, if thou fuffer them to fatten 
 i upon thy AffeeVions, they wijl enflave thv Migd, and 
 j turn to thy eternal Ruin. A'llert then arid pftferve 
 
 thy 
 
 ■ 
 
8o 
 
 Of tiie ^nutation Book 11. • 
 
 thy native Liberty, by railing thy Soul above this vain 
 World, and fixing thy Defires and Meditations upou 
 the molt High God y Converfe with Chrilt in Prayer, ' 
 and let this be fo conftant, fo intent, as to contrad an 
 intimate Familiarity with Him. 
 
 It may be. His Glories and Divine Excellencies are 
 Objeds too refined and lofty, for thy Contemplations 
 to dwell upon with Relifh and fenfible Delight. But 
 he hath condefcended to thy mean Capacity, and, by 
 becoming Man, afflided Man, hath furnifh’d us with 
 Matter of Meditation, of a fize with our Minds, while 
 dwelling in Plefil. Confider then his Poverty, and 
 Sufferings. And, if thou canft not foar up fo high as 
 Chrift fitting on hisThrone, behold him hanging on his 
 Crofs. Take Sanduary in his Stripes and Wounds, and 
 Death y thofe Stripes, by which the World is heal- 
 edy That Death, by which Mankind live: And, if 
 thefe be well attended to, they will adminifter mar¬ 
 vellous Strength and Comfort to thy Adverfities y. En¬ 
 able thee to bear Wrongs with Eafe, Contempt with 
 Patience, Calumny and Detradion with Content. 
 What! Was the Son of God a Scorn of Men and an 
 Outcaft of the People ? Was the King of Heaven redu¬ 
 ced to Wants and Neceffities upon Earth, and had 
 ... n not fo much as where to lay his Head ? Was 
 we ix. 5 . w ho j ove( j ^j s £ nem j es f 0 tenderly as 
 
 even to die for them, forfaken by his Friends ? Did 
 Chrift fubmit cheerfully to endure, and to be defpifed ? 
 And doft thou, wretched Sinner, murmur and com¬ 
 plain, when Poverty or Contempt come upon thee ? 
 when thy Friends defert, or thy Enemies flander thee ? 
 
 , Did He undergo the Malice and Contra - 
 
 e r.% 11.3. 0 f Men, and doft thou exped that all 
 
 Men (hould favour, and affift, and fpeak of Thee with 
 Honour ? Nay, wretched Man, entertain not fo vain 
 a Hope. It cannot be y it is not ftt it Ihould: For 
 eouldft thou be exempted from Injuries and Affliftions, 
 
 what 
 
Book II. Of J e s u s Christ. 8 i 
 
 what Opportunity coil Id there ever be for theExercife 
 if thy Patience ? If nothing crofs Ihould happen in the 
 whole Courfeof thy Life, how couldft thou approve 
 thy Friendfhip and Love for Chrift; How expreft thy 
 Likenefs to him ? This the Apoftle tells 
 us, is the Condition, This the Way, that 2 
 leads to Happinefs; And They whodefire 1 ' 
 
 Reigr. with Chrift, muft not think much to fuffer , 
 with him, and for him. 
 
 Oh ! had wc but, with Thomas , put our Fingers into the 
 Print of his Nails , and thruji our Hands into ^ i 
 I 'sis Side, Had we but acquainted ourfelves ” xx ' 
 with his Sufferings, by deep and ferious Confideration •, 
 and tailed indeed the aftonilhing Greatneft of his 
 j I ove; the Joysand Miferies of this Life would foon be¬ 
 come indifferent to us. Or rather, they would no 
 longer be indifferent, but we fhould even rejoyce in 
 Tribulation, and triumph in the Oppofition, and 
 Shame, and wrongful Dealings of Men, which draw us 
 to fo much nearer and more lively Refemblance of the 
 Bleffed Jefus. For the Love of Chrift teaches us to 
 ; defpile our felves; and They, who do fo, will bear 
 :he Reproaches and Defpilings of others, with Eall- 
 nefs and Temper. A Man, whofe Soul is united to 
 Chrift in fervent Love, and who hath freed himfelf 
 from Paffions and worldly Sollicitudes: This Man, I 
 lay, is as it were fpiritualized, can have recourfe to 
 'jod without Diftraclion, lives in a manner by, and 
 within, himfelf, nay, is raifed above himfelf, and en¬ 
 joys Heaven, while yet upon Earth. He that hath 
 . (hook off the Fallacies and Prepoflelfions of Senfe, that 
 lees and judges things, not after the deceitful Measures 
 if common Opinion, but by the Standard of Truth, 
 and their own Nature; He is the Wife, the truly 
 Learned Man; and taught this Wifdom, not by Hu¬ 
 mane Methods, but by Inllruftion from above, from 
 God the Fountain and Perfe<flion of all Wifdom. 
 
 
 This 
 
82 
 
 £)f tile 91mttatiOff Book II. 
 
 This Man can never want Opportunities of enjoying, 
 and improving, his Happinefs. The Interruptions, 
 which common Men lament, cannot afieft Him. 1 or 
 nothing can take him from himfelf*, and fo long as 
 he hath his own Breaff: to retire into, he cannot be 
 deprived of a fit Place, and proper Seafon for any 
 holy Exercife. If Bufiaefs and the World at any time 
 call him abroad, he always adts and converts there j 
 with cautious Referve \ and keeps* it in his Power to 
 recoiled and retreat again at Pleafure. Bodily La¬ 
 bour is no hindrance, for This employs but the leaft 
 part of him * The Cares of Life he never lays himfelf 
 out upon but futes his Temper to his prefent Cir- 
 cumftances, and only ftudies to keep his Mind eafieand 
 compofed: The Unreafonabtenefs, and Folly, and un¬ 
 accountable Perverfenefs of other Mens Humors and 
 Behaviour give him no difturbance * for he is taken up 
 with his own. In lhort *, Every Man finds more or 
 lefs Vexation and Obftrudtion in the Affairs of his Soul, 
 as he engages himfelf more or lefs in the World •, and 
 choofesor refufes to make thofe things his Care, which 
 are not properly fo. 
 
 A Man whofe Mind is purified from the Drofs of 
 Earth, and difpofed as it ought to God and heavenly 
 Things, will find that every Accident of Life contri¬ 
 butes tc his Advantage. For the true Reafon of our 
 Paflion and Difquiet, when things fall out contrary 
 to our Expectations or Delires, is the want of that 
 Refignation and Temper, which never fails to com- 
 pofe the Spirits of Men mortified to themfelves and 
 the World, and difengaged from the Vanities, and 
 falfe Appearances of Happinefs here below. For no¬ 
 thing fo infedfs and defiles, fo intangles and perplexes, 
 a Man’s Mind, as a fordid Love of the Creatures. But 
 when we can once prevail with our felves, todefpife 
 thefe trifling, thefe deluding Comforts without us, 
 our Retirements into our own Breafts will be frequent 
 
took II. Of Jesus Christ. 83 
 
 — ' - ■ t • 
 
 ) nd tree} Our Joys refultiug from them undifturbed; 
 i nd our Contemplations of Heaven and heavenly 
 I Things full of Rapture and Tranfport. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The Advantage of Humility. 
 
 B E not extremely follicitous, what Friends thou haft 
 to appear in thy Behalf, nor what Foes employ 
 heir Malice in creating thee Difficulty and Trouble^ 
 
 : 3ut letit be thy great Care to keepGod thy Friend and 
 rJelper} and be fure to preferve a good Confcience * 
 : or, fo long as thy own Heart condemns thee naty 
 3od will not fail to plead thy Caufe, and affift and 
 olefs thy righteous Undertakings. And thofe, whom 
 le receives into his peculiar Protection, no Wicked- 
 aefs or Spight fhall be able to hurt. Suffer thou maift 
 ndeed, but provided thou learn to Suffer without 
 i Murmuring and Impatience, thou lhalt certainly fee 
 ; the Salvation of God. And if Thisfeem to tarry, '.yet 
 wait for it} for He beft knows the proper Seafon of 
 Deliverance, and therefore you ought entirely to reft 
 I upon his wife Difpofal. Deliver no doubt he will. 
 
 The relieving Men in Diftrefs, and wiping off the 
 I Shame and Reproach of his Servants, being Acts by 
 which God delights to fignalize his Providence. But 
 there is often reafon, why the doing it ffiould be de¬ 
 ferred } fince the difeovery of our Failings by other” 
 People, and the Reproofs we meet with upon their 
 Account, have frequently a very happy effect upon 
 oqr Minds, and render them more modeil and humble 
 in their own Efteem of themfelvej. 
 
 And Humility is a Virtue of fo genera], fo exceed¬ 
 ing good Influence, that we can fcarcepurchafe it too 
 
 dear. 
 
 i 
 
84 jDf t^e 3 ImttattOIT Book II. 
 
 dear. For He, who is lowly in his own Eyes, and 
 fenfibie of his own Failings, makes no difficulty to ac¬ 
 knowledge his Offences againft his Neighbour, and 
 gives all reafonable Satisfaction, to any who have caufe 
 to be angry at him. Nor does this Forwardnefs to 
 Reconciliation, expofe him to the Infultsof injurious 
 Men * for God charges his Providence with a peculiar 
 Protection of the Humble, and delivers fuch as are of a 
 contrite Spirit. He condefcends to dwell with the 
 Humble, and hath engaged to comfort their holy Sor¬ 
 rows. To thefe he promifes large Portions of his 
 Grace, and that, They who abaft thcmfelvts 
 Luke xiv. afterwards be exalted: To Thefe he re- 
 
 jyi/.xx\. veals his Secrets, and draws them to him¬ 
 felf with the CoTdsof Love and Kindnefs : The Hum¬ 
 ble fuffers nodifturbance of Mind, but receives the Re¬ 
 proaches and Affronts of Men without any great Im- 
 preffion. For he confiders, that God, and not the 
 World, is his Hope ; aud if his Favour be but fecured, 
 the reft cannot be of any very great Importance. In 
 fhort. This Virtue is fo neceffary, fo fundamental a 
 one, that no Man ought to eftcem himfelf a Proficient 
 in Goodnefs, who is not yet arrived to that Pitch of it, 
 which teaches him to think himfelf the leaft of all 
 Saints, and laft of all Men. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The Peace-Maker. 
 
 S Ecure Peace at Home in the firft place \ and, when 
 thy own Breaft is thus compofed, it will then be 
 proper to Reconcile and make Peace among thy 
 Neighbours. And This indeed is a very worthy an^ 
 reputable A&ion •, it brings greater and jufter Com¬ 
 mendation 
 
iBook 
 
 Of J E s u s Christ. 
 
 
 nendation to a Man, and more Benefit to thofe with 
 vhom he converfes, than Wit, or Learning, or any 
 >t thofe other fo much admired Accomplilhments. 
 
 !i nd » ?r u Ve /V hlng is fe . f off by its Contrary, lo here, 
 he Milchief ot a contentious Difpofitionis unconceiva- 
 
 F ° r not hing can be fo innocent, nothing fo well 
 >r kindly meant, but fuch a Man will be fure to fix 
 ome il Interpretation upon it: But the good Tem- 
 >er will be as careful on the other Hand to take every 
 hing in the beft Senfe it is capable of. For a peaceable 
 dan is not apt to fufpedt III of any ; But the Peevilh 
 nd uncontented are rackt and tormented with a 
 houland jealous Whimfies, and neither are quiet 
 hemfelves, nor content to let other People be fo. 
 
 [ h /y a [ c Y er y J| beral in faying what they Ihould not; 
 nd as backward in doing what they Ihould. Diligent 
 bfervers of their Neighbour’s Duty, and fcandalouf- 
 l ne g I 'gcnt of their Own : Whereas in truth, ourSa- 
 tour s Rule Ihould always be our Meafure; for no 
 lan is fit to Cenfure or Corred his Brother,' by pul- 
 mg the Mote out of his Eye , till he have fir fir exercifed 
 due Severity upon himfelf, and beeffeauallyreform- 
 
 d, by cajting the Beam out of his oven Eye. And oh » 
 ow happy Ihould we be, how eafcd of Detraction 
 nd Calumny, and Cenforioufnefs, if none would take 
 pon them to Condemn or Cenfure others, till they 
 'ere firft qualified for the Authority they ufurp, by 
 thoiough Amendment of their own Manners, and 
 
 Tvef P aSa,nft 3ny Re P rehen fi° n them- 
 
 Who can forbear the obferving, how manifeftly un- 
 
 ?fr!min a r 10 r Ur De * Iin 6 s . ? Eve, 7 one is ingenious 
 t framing Excufes, and making large Allowances for 
 
 /hat he doth himfelf, and yet fcarce any body ad- 
 nts the Apologies alledged by others in their own 
 indication. How much more juft and reafonable 
 'eieour Proceedings, would we but pafs a favoura- 
 
86 
 
 ADf tlje gjrottattoii, Book n. 
 
 ble Conftrurtion upon the Artions of others, and turn 
 the Severity of our Cenfut e upon our Own? If you 
 expert to be born with, you mult firft learn to bear 
 with your Brethren, and exercife the good Nature you 
 expert, as oft as Occafion offers. For Men are belt 
 taught by Examples, and the Meafure we meet gives 
 us a Right to receive the fame again. But is this Cha¬ 
 rity? Is this Humility? nothing more diftant from it. 
 For thefe difpofe us to condemn and be angry with no 
 body but our felves. To keep up a good Undemand¬ 
 ing with Men of Goodnefs and Temper, is but a very 
 vulgar Virtue this is ealie and delightful, for every 
 Man naturally defires Qpiet and good Ufagc, and can¬ 
 not help being well afferted to Perfons who love, and 
 pleafe, and are like him. The Difficulty is, to carry 
 Matters fmooth and inoffenfively with Men of rugged, 
 intertable, and fierce Difpofitions} with thofe, who 
 make little Confcience of what they do or fay, and , 
 flick at nothing unjuft: or unfair in their Dealings. And 
 He who can do this is 3 truly great Soul, and fets a no- i 
 ble and commendable Pattern of Philofophical, or, I 
 which is more, of Chrillian Fortitude. 
 
 There are a fort of Men, who cheriffi Peace and 
 Quiet, with themfelves and all the World ; and Ano¬ 
 ther very vile fort of Wretches, the very Reverfe of 
 thefe, who delight to fiffi in troubled Waters, and are 
 neither ealie, nor will fufler any body elfe to be fo \ 
 eternally troublefome to others, but much more tor¬ 
 menting and vexatious to themfelves. And there are 
 yet a Third fort, who are not fatisfy’d with giving no 
 Offence, but make it their Bufinels to reconcile others, 
 where it hath been given \ and to reftore that Peace 
 which they were never inftrumental in difturbing. 
 But when all is done, our Life here is expofed to 
 perpetual Mifery and Contention 5 and the utmoft 
 Degree of Peace we muft expert to arrive at, does 
 not conlilt in being free from Injuries and Crofles, 
 
Look II. Of j esus Christ. 
 
 87 
 
 but in bearing them with Humility, and not being 
 provoked to Impatience, and uneaGe Refentments? 
 And therefore, the more any Man hath brought him- 
 lelr to s u(Ter, and the better he entertains Affliftions 
 i ™. d the m ore ferene his Mind will be. For 
 
 this Pei Ton hath gained a Conqueft over himfelf, is a- 
 bovc the Reach of Fortune, hath the World at his 
 command, is a Friend ofChriit, and an Inheritor of 
 the Kingdom of Heaven. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Purity and Sincerity. 
 
 T Herc are two Wings, by which a Man foars a- 
 hove the World, Sincerity and Purity. The 
 ormcr regards the Intention, the latter, the AfFedi- 
 >ns : That afpires and aims at a Likenefs to God 1 This 
 nakes us really like him. We ihould find no Difficul- 
 y in any good Aftion, were but our'Minds free from 
 ill intemperate Pafiion and Defire. And this Perfedi- 
 m of Freedom we Ihould not fail to attain, did we, in 
 
 dT£ e i Sa nd Undertakings, propofe no other 
 -nds, than Obedience to the Will of God, and nro- 
 
 S? t JJ , 8• . the Go ° d ot our Neighbour. Were bu^our 
 ^ ds thus fixed, and our Intentions regulated, everv 
 hing would ftrangely contribute to our Edification^ 
 •Ve Ihould Rudy the Volume of Nature with Profit 
 
 SrnAi y Lln ^', n la r rgC B °° k WOuld tend tO OUr 
 
 nftrudion. 1 he very fmallelt, and, in common E- 
 
 .ecm, moft defpicable Creature would reprefent as 
 n aGlafs, the Goodnefs of God to us. And the rea! 
 on why thefe things are feen with fo ufelefs Specula- 
 ion, is becaufe our Minds are not rightly dilpofed 
 0 draw thofe profitable and practical Inferences’ 
 
 G 2 which 
 
88 
 
 flDf tl)C 3|ntttattOn, Book II. 
 
 which very naturally refult from them. For, as Co¬ 
 lours appear to our Minds as they are painted in the 
 Eye, fo the Judgment Men make of all outward Ob- 
 je&s, depends upon the Condition of the Mind. And 
 we argue and pronounce of them differently, as we 
 happen to be differently afie&ed before-hand. 
 
 If there be fuch a thing as true Pleafure in this 
 World, the Pure in Heart injoy it. And if there be 
 a Hell upon Earth, it dwells in that Man’s Bread, who 
 hath a guilty and polluted Confcience. As Iron is 
 fcoured from the Ruff: by Fire, and becomes bright 
 and new ^ fo that Zeal, by which we renounce the 
 World, and turn entirely to God, takes off our Filth, 
 and changes us into new Men. The lukewarm and 
 indifferentChriftian grudges every thing he does, bog¬ 
 gles at every Difficulty, and feeks his Satisfaction in 
 worldly and outward Comforts. But, if he warmly 
 apply himfelf to fubduehis Pafiions, and refolutely At¬ 
 tempt the following God in his own Way, the Hard- 
 lhips which at firfb difeouraged him, grow familiar, 
 &lmk xi an( ^ l e A' en u P on his Hands. All, that God 
 a PP°' nts him to do or fuffer, becomes fen- 
 fibly to him an eafie Yoke and a light Burden , 
 and he finds Peace and Refl to Ins Soul. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Kjiove thy [elf. 
 
 I T is a very ufual thing with us, to have a mighty 
 Confidence in our felves \ when alas ! the want 
 both of Abilities and Performance reproves our Vani¬ 
 ty and Folly. For how fmall is the Proportion of our 
 Gifts, in comparifon of our own Imaginations concern¬ 
 ing them ? And how defe&ive our Wifdom and Care 
 
 to 
 
Book II. of J t s u s Christ. 89 
 
 0 life and improve, even that Proportion we have? 
 The Light that is in us Ihines but dimly, and by our 
 'Jeglecl we ftiffer it to go quite out. We are often 
 >lind, and not fenfible of our Infirmities ; we [tumble 
 nd fall, and ftill pretend we fee ; commit horrible 
 1 iins, aggravate our Guilt by defending what we have 
 done j nay, are fometimes fo wretchedly deluded, as 
 ven to fanctifieour Wickednefs by a Pretence of Zeal, 
 rhefmalleft Faults of Others feldom efcape our Cen- 
 ure, and the much greater of our Own as feldom fall 
 inder our Oblervation. The Burdens and Hardlhips 
 re put upon Them feem reafonable, ealie, and light •, 
 •tit the leaft and molt trivial Unealinefs they create to 
 Is, we have a quick and painful Senfe of, and cry 
 ut. Who can hear it ? Whereas, would we but take a 
 ight Eftimate of our felves, and judge our own Afti- 
 ns impartially, we ftiould find little Leifure, and lefs 
 rovocation, to pronounce feverely concerning our 
 rethren. 
 
 Now this is the wife and truly fpiritual Man’s Me- 
 iod : He employs his Thoughts at Home, conliders, 
 lat there lies his proper Bulinefs and Care, and is 
 rnder of other Peoples tailings, from a due and hum- 
 le Confciounfefs of his own. And, whatever fond 
 • pinions we may cherifh of our own Virtue, Religi- 
 as and Perfect we are not, nor ever can be, till we 
 camineour own Conferences diligently, and leave ail 
 le reft of the World to ftand and fall by theJudg- 
 ent of their own Mailer. Ceniorioufnefs and Chi l¬ 
 ian Piety can never dwell together. For this would 
 ork us to a Negled of all things without us, and make 
 i both forbear and defpife all Judging, but thofe of 
 od and our own Confciences. The Mind, which 
 ies not converfe with it felt, is an idle Wanderer, 
 id all the Learning in the World is fruitlefs and mif- 
 nployed, while in the midft of this boafted Know- 
 dge, a Man continues in profound Ignorance, of that 
 
 G 3 which 
 
fiDf tljC gitmtatton Book II. ! 
 
 which in point both of Duty and Advantage he is 
 moft concerned to know. True Peace and Satisfaction 
 of Mind can only be acquired by doing our own Bufi- 
 nefs j And Friendlhip and Charity are beft preferved 
 by leaving off all impertinent and buiie Curiolity con¬ 
 cerning the Conduit and Reputation of our Neigh¬ 
 bours. . 
 
 The abandoning all worldly Care is a true Argu¬ 
 ment of greater Proficience in Goodnefs. For, by e- 
 fteeming highly of any thing here below, our Value 
 for God and Heaven is unavoidably leflened and im¬ 
 paired. Let nothing therefore but God, and the things 
 that be of God, feem great or grateful to thee, wor¬ 
 thy dc firing, or rejoycing in: And all that imaginary 
 Comfort, which the Creatures pretend to adminifter, 
 treat with the generous Negledt and Contempt, that 
 it deferves. For a foul entirely devoted to the Love 
 of God, will naturally defpife every thing in compa- 
 rifon of Him. And reafon good there is why it Ihould 
 do fo, when we confider, that every thing elfe is frail 
 and of (hort continuance, empty and unfatisfa&ory; 
 but God alone Eternal, Omniprefent, Infinite in every 
 Excellence } and therefore He is the beft. He the only 
 Comfort and true Joy of the Soul, who alone can fill 
 and exceed its largeft Defires. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 The Joy of a good ConJcier>ce. 
 
 T He Glory and Privilege of a good Man confifts 
 in the Teftimony of his own Mind ? For this is 
 a perpetual Feaft and Triumph. It fets him above the 
 Power of Fortune, and makes the lharpeft Afflictions, 
 not only an Exercife of his invincible Patience, but a 
 
 Mat r 
 
Book II. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 9 1 
 
 Matter of undifturbed Joy to him. Whereas even 
 Profperity it felf cannot procure Eafe and Content to 
 a guilty and felf-condemning Breaft. Wouldft thou 
 then enjoy a fweet and uninterrupted Tranquility ? 
 Keep all at Peace within, and give thy own Thoughts 
 no caufe to reproach thee. All the Satisfaction we 
 take or promife our felves, is vain and dangerous, ex¬ 
 cept that only, which proceeds from a Senfe of having 
 done our Duty. The Men thou feeft fo Gay, fo feem- 
 ingly full of Delight, are galled and Hung within ; 
 they have no inward, no true Contentment; and, not- 
 withftanding their moll induflrious Purfuits of Plea- 
 fure, that Sentence of God is irreverfible, and the 
 fad EffeCts of it hang over their Hearts, that 
 there is no Teace to the Wicked. Thay may 
 perhaps make mighty Boafts of their Enjoyments, put 
 on an Air of Happinefs, give out, that their Pomp and 
 Greatnefs fecures them from the Aflaults of Mifery, 
 but thefe are all Delulions, and ought not to incline 
 ourAflent, or provoke our Envy. We fee not their 
 inward Tortures; nor are Witnclfes of thofe Checks 
 and Terrours, which make Retirement bitter and in- 
 fupportable, and haunt their Clofetsand their Beds: 
 We fee not yet, but there is a time coming when we 
 fhall fee, an angry God breaking out upon them in Fu¬ 
 ry ; their mighty ProjcCh quafhed and baffled, and 
 all the Happinefs they vainly boafted of, vanifh like a 
 Dream. 
 
 While therefore thefe Men take a Pride in their 
 Succeiles and outward Enjoyments, do Thou with e- 
 qual Satisfaction entertain thy Afflictions. This is 
 not indeed to Flefh and Blood an ealie Undertaking, 
 but to a Soul filled with Grace and Love, which knows 
 and propofes to it felf no other Happinefs but God, 
 nothing is impracticable, nothing difficult For what 
 is this, but to rejoyce in the fatherly Care and Affe¬ 
 ction, of Him whofe Providence ordereth thefe Suf- 
 
 G 4 ferings 
 
9 2 
 
 £Df tij£ Nictitation Book II. 
 
 ferings for thy Good ? The Glory, which we give, or 
 receive from one another, is very fickle, and perifh- 
 ing. It cannot laft long, and while it does, fome Al¬ 
 loy of Sorrow will ever attend and damp it. The 
 Good Man’s Glory Hands upon ftronger Foundations} 
 
 It rifes from within, and mull endure fo long as that 
 Innocence which creates it: Nay, it mull laft as long 
 as God himfelf; For His Will carefully performed, 
 
 His Favour and Approbation which follows that Per¬ 
 formance, are the folid Bafeson which it Hands. And 
 thefe can never fail, fo long as Truth and Juflice con¬ 
 tinue impregnable. To Him who afpires after eter¬ 
 nal Glory and Honour, that of this World is of very 
 little Confideration. And thefe are fo very different, i 
 fo inconfiftent, that the Love and fincere Defires of 
 the One are bell proved by a Negledt and Difefteem of 
 the Other. Nay, not only the future, but the pre- 
 fent Happinefs is bell fecured by feeking the Appro¬ 
 bation of God alone; For nothing contributes more 
 to an eafie and quiet Mind, than the difregard of the 
 Praife, and defpifing the Cenfures and Reproaches 
 of Men. 
 
 A pure and quiet Confcience does above all things 
 difpofe a Man to rell contented with his Condition ; 
 And particularly, with regard to the Opinion of the 
 World, it is highly reafonable he fhould do fo. For 
 what is any one really the better or the worfe, for 
 what other People fay of him? Their Commendations 
 add nothing to his Virtue, nor docs their Difpraife 
 and Scandal take one whit from it. The Man is ftii'l 
 the fame \ What his own Aftions and the Judgment of 
 God make him^ this is the Standard of our Worth 
 and Happinefs \ neither more nor lefs belongs to us, 
 than will be found to do fo at the laft great Account; 
 An 4 That will depend, not upon what we were faid or 
 fuppofed to be, but upon what in very deed we were 
 fa this World. T he more Refpett therefore we bear to 
 
 the 
 
Book II. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 93 
 
 the Condition of our own Minds, the lefs Imprefiion 
 will the Chat afters and Reports of Men makeupon us. 
 For God fceth not as Men fee: They obferve the Face 
 and outward Appearance, but he fearcheth and under- 
 Hands the Heart} They look upon the Aftion, and 
 form a Judgment from thence. He fees our Intentions 
 and condemns or acquits us, according to our Honefly 
 and Sincerity, our corrupt Inclinations and wicked 
 Deligns. And therefore a modeft, humble Man makes 
 it his conftant Care, to be doing Good, and to think 
 meanly of his own Performances. He feeks, nay he 
 feels, no great matter of Comfort, from any of the 
 Advantages which attend Well-doing in this World ♦ 
 but confiders whom he ferves, and for whofe fake he 
 does it, and cheerfully relies upon him alone, for the 
 Praife and Reward offhat which bell deiervesit. And 
 when we are not anxioufly concerned for the Tefti- 
 mony and Credit of Men, then may we truly be faid 
 to have refigned our felves to God, and to depend up¬ 
 on Him with that fledfall and holy Confidence which 
 becomes 11 s : Not he that commendcth himfelj,\ 
 
 (no nor He whom others commend neither) 2CV * x - l8 « 
 if approved , hut whom the Lord commtnd.eth. And there¬ 
 fore a Holy and Spiritual Man indeed lays afide as 
 much as may be, all Concern with the World. ’He 
 confiders that God is the only Perfon whom he fhould 
 labour to Pleafe ; and while he is Happy in hts Appro¬ 
 bation, and the Witnefs of a good Confcience, all out¬ 
 ward Accidents are confidered as things remote and 
 foreign to his main Defign, and fuch as ought not 
 much to affeft him. 6 
 
£>f tlic 91imtatlon Book II. , 
 
 91 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Of Loving fa above all things. 
 
 B Lefled is that Man indeed, who feels and relilhes 
 the Love of Jefus; who finds the Sweet of this 
 Love, and can even defpife and hate himfelf for his Sa¬ 
 viour’s fake. For, though the Love of our felves be 
 the very Voice of Reafon and Nature, yet the fame 
 Voice commands us too, to quit a lefs valuable Friend 
 for a better. And this Exchange He hath made necef- 
 fary to our Obedience, who requires us, To love him 
 only, above all things : And He alone is worthy of our 
 Love. For the Obje&s of this World, which are too 
 apt to engage our Atfe&ions, are uncertain and deceit¬ 
 ful, but Chrift is Faithful and Eternal, and will not 
 fail to return and reward our Love. He that depends 
 upon any temporal Comfort, will one Day be convin¬ 
 ced of its Frailty to his colt, when He and It both pe- 
 rifh together; but Jefus remaincth for ever. And as 
 he cannot perilh himfelf, fo neither will he fuffer any 
 to perilh, who depend upon him. Let him then be 
 your Hope, your Joy, your Love*, whofe Friendrtiip 
 and whofe Power are everlafling. Though all things 
 forfake you yet will not He \ nay, all things elfe will 
 certainly forfake you, but even then He will be All, 
 and more than all the World, to you. 
 
 Living and dying then keep dole and ftedfaft to 
 him, for he in Life and Death will be to you ' Advan¬ 
 tage. But then his Friendlhip and conftant Prote&ion 
 depends upon this Condition, That you admit no Ri¬ 
 val into Competition with him ^ He will not accept di¬ 
 vided Affe&ions,but experts to reign fupreme and foie 
 Lord of your Heart*, and the only way of inviting him 
 thither, is to call out all other Inmates, and let Him 
 have the whole Houfe to himfelf. And indeed, when 
 
95 
 
 | - 
 
 j Book II. of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 wc come to conlider and compute Matters juftly,what- 
 cver Love or Regard we have aHowed to any thing but 
 Him, will be found in a manner perfe&ly loft and 
 ; thrown away. Do not therefore indulge a Paffion, 
 which can turn to no account. Lean not upon a bro¬ 
 ken Reed, which will not only let thee fall, but pierce 
 thy Arm too. And fuch a Reed is mortal Man, For 
 all Flefh is Grafs, and all the Glory thereof jiou- 
 rijheth , as a Flower of the Field^ The Grafs wi- 1 
 thereth and the Flower fadeth • And they who are ena¬ 
 moured with its Beauty, find how poor and tranfitory, 
 how empty and deceitful a Good they fet their Hearts 
 upon. Where-ever elfe we expeft Comfort, our Hopes 
 are foon blafted, or wretchedly difappointed: But 
 when our Thoughts and Wilhes center in Jefus, we 
 are fure to find what we look for, fure to obtain all 
 that we did, more than we could, expeft. Think not 
 to find Satisfaftion in thy felf} For the better you un- 
 derftand your felf, thelefs caufeyou will find to love 
 your felf } And the more you indulge this Love, the 
 greater and more certain will be your Ruine. Seek 
 [ then thy Lord and only Saviour } For He who hath 
 ! Chrift poflefles all things, and He who negle&s him 
 i does himfelf more Mifthief than all the Enemies, nay, 
 
 ' all this World, and all the Powers of Hell, could ever 
 bring upon him. 
 
 Chap. 
 
9 6 J3E>f ttjC SlmttattOlt Book II. 
 
 Chap. VIII. 
 
 Of intimate Converfation and Fnendjhip with 
 
 * JESVS. 
 
 W Hile Jefusis prefent by his Grace and Comforts, 
 nothing is hard to do, nothing grievous to fuf- 
 fer: But Happinefs and perfect Peace dwell and reign 
 in my Breaft. butthemoment he withdraws his chee¬ 
 ring Prefence, all my Supports are loft and gone, all 
 my Faculties difabled, and every Difficulty infupera- 
 ble, every Crofs infupportable. The Confolations of 
 this World make no Impreflion, nor give any folid 
 Joy, while he continues lilent} but let him fpeak one 
 lingle Word of Comfort to the Soul, and fhe is gay 
 ... in the midft of DiftrelTes. Thus Mary 
 
 jo n XI. ro{ - e an j dried up her Tears, 
 
 upon the News of his Approach, and the firfl Call of 
 her dear Matter. And happy fure was fhe, happy is 
 every Mortal in this Vale of Tears, whom Jefus calls. 
 For whom he calls and commands to come to him, he 
 calls from Grief and Mourning to true Joy. How 
 flat and infipid, how harfh and unpleafant is all we 
 are, and all we have, without this heavenly Com¬ 
 forter ? How empty and deluding all thofe Wifhesand 
 Defires, which are placed upon any other Objeft ? 
 They bid us infinitely to our lofs. A Lofs greater and 
 more irretrievable, than if we loft the whole World : 
 For could we gain the whole World with the lofs of 
 Him, it were a foolilh and moft miferable Exchange. 
 And what indeed is all the World without Him ? 1 o 
 be deprived of this one Friend, is bitterer than Death i 
 To enjoy and poflefs Him, the only Happinefs of Life. 
 His Friendlhip is Security fufficient againft a whole 
 World of Enemies. A Treafure above all the Riches 
 of the Univerfe; He who finds this, hath more than 
 
 both 
 
Book II. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 97 
 
 both the Indies, and he who lofes it, lofes more than 
 can be exprefs’d. But why do I fay more? He lofes 
 all} For this is Poverty indeed, this the only Poverty, 
 to lole the only true Riches. 
 
 So all-fufficient, fodelightful, fo heavenly fweet, is 
 the Friendfliip and Company of jefus. But every Man 
 is not qualified tor fo precious a Blefling; for it re¬ 
 quires great Care, and Skill, and Wifdom, to be fit 
 for this Enjoyment. Humility and Charity mull make, 
 and keep him, ours. Piety and Peace are the Difpo- 
 fitions he delights in. Sin, and Paflion, and worldly 
 Afle&ions, will drive him away. And if he take his 
 flight, where, wretched Man, where wilt thou find a 
 Friend ? Without a Friend thou canfl not live in com¬ 
 fort ^ and if He be not thy only Friend, thou art left 
 defolate and forlorn. Confider then, how miferable 
 thou makeft thy fclf by placing thy Confidence, or thy 
 Joy, in any other. For better were it tar, that the 
 whole World fhould bend their utmoft Spight againft 
 thee, than Phis one Friend be provoked to Difpleafure. 
 If therefore Relations and Acquaintance be dear, yet 
 let none be fo, comparably to thy God and Saviour. 
 Remember, They are dear for bis fake, but He for his 
 own. For this is the peculiar Prerogative of Chrifb, 
 that Enemies as well as Friends fhould challenge a fhare 
 in thy Affedtions upon his Account; Thou art to For¬ 
 give and Love, to Pity and Pray for, all Mankind, be- 
 caufe he loves them all; and it ought to be the earneft 
 Defire of our Hearts, that all may know, and be fenfi- 
 ble of his Love, and make fome fuitable Returns for 
 fuch wonderful Goodnefs •, but neither we nor any 
 other Perfon, have a Right to be loved for our own 
 felves; for the Foundation of Love is Excellence and 
 Goodnefs, and this is all from God. In Him alone it 
 d wells originally, inherently, independently ; and what 
 proportion foever any Creature hath, is entirely de¬ 
 rived from him, the Emanation of that univerfai and 
 
 in«i 
 
9 8 
 
 £>f tije Siwttation Book II. 
 
 inexhauftible Source. And therefore He alone hath 
 right to command our Love for his own Excellence, 
 becaufe all Excellence is His : He alone is to be loved 
 above all others, becaufe he neither hath, nor can have 
 any Equal. Covet not then the Praife or I .ove of Men, 
 for Praife and Love are God’s peculiar. Nor lavifhly 
 difpenfe thefe to Others, but in thy felf and all Per- 
 fonsof Virtue and Merit, laud and admire and love 
 the Graces of Chrilt. 
 
 Bring to thy Lord a clean and upright Spirit, free 
 from the fordid Affe&ions of the World : That thou 
 may’ll: be entirely His, and folace thy felf with the 
 Delights of his Converfatiou. But leave the World, 
 and come to him thou canlt not, without the Preven¬ 
 tion and Affiltance of his Grace. This only can exalt 
 thy Defires, and draw and charm thy Heart with the 
 Phil iv Cords of Divine Love. For Man can Ao all 
 things through Chrift that flrengtbens him } 
 but if that Succour be withdrawn, he is blind and na¬ 
 ked, deftitute and weak, full of Confufion and Tor¬ 
 ment} or rather, he is Confufion in the Abltradf,Weak- 
 nefs and Impotence it felf. And if fometimes thou feel 
 an inward Scourge, let not thy melancholy Thoughts 
 dejedl or drive thee to Defpair. For fpiritual Com¬ 
 forts and Joys are fown in Teat s } and Patience brings 
 forth plentiful and perfcdt Fruits of Righteoufnefs and 
 Peace. If thefe Sorrows proceed trom a Refledtion 
 upon thy own Sins and Infirmities, indulge the holy 
 Grief •, and Lament, as becomes a ferious Penitent, thy 
 own Unworthinefs, and former Mifcry } If Adverfi- 
 ties fent from the Hand of God afflidt thee, fupport 
 thy felf with the Confolations of a good Confcience } 
 and be allured, that fufFering fo as may advance thy 
 Mailer’s Honour, will end in Glory and Advantage to 
 thy felf. But conlider, that in either cafe, the Trou¬ 
 ble cannot be long} for thefe black Intervals of Sad- 
 nefs will as certainly, as naturally be followed with 
 
 in- 
 
! Book II. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 | inward Peace and Joy, as Summer fucceeds Winter, 
 j and Storms are huflied into a profound Calm. 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 The Difc on folate State. 
 
 r 
 
 W Hen all Humane Comforts forfake us, if God 
 vouchfafe to fupply their place with fpiritual 
 and heavenly, which are infinitely better \ we are not 
 much to wonder, if the Soul preferveits Temper, and 
 hear up manfully under fuch Circumftances. But when 
 the World and God both frown; then to bear fuch 
 Defertion with Patience, and be content to be aban¬ 
 doned of all our Hopes for his Glory • then to acknow¬ 
 ledge our Unworthinefs, and not charge God foolifhly, 
 nor be partial to our fuffering ielves; This is Virtue 
 and Reiignation indeed, the very Excellence and Per¬ 
 fection of an humble and fubmilfive Mind. Who that 
 confiders, can forbear rejovcing, while the cheerful 
 Light of God’s Countenance fhines bright about him ? 
 What Wretch is fo unreafonable, to grudge his Ser¬ 
 vice, when Bounty andBleflings reward his Pains, and 
 convince him, that he does not ferve God for nought? 
 This is the happy Seafon, which every Man defires 
 and triumphs in. Smooth and pleafant is His Paflage, 
 whom the Grace of God conducts, and carries through 
 this troublefome World. For how can we think it 
 ftrange, that he Ihould not feel the weight of his Bur¬ 
 den, who is ftrengthned and fupported by Almighty- 
 Power, and led through Difficulties and Dangers by 
 the Captain of his Salvation ? 
 
 It is natural for us, to cling fall about any thing 
 \ that may give us eafe ; and hard for a Man to diveft 
 | himfelt of carnal Affedtions 56 that, before our Paf- 
 
 fions 
 
IOO 
 
 £)f ttyC 9|ttUtatt0tt Book II. 
 
 fions be efledually fubdued, and our Delight and Hope 
 fixt entirely upon God, many and frequent Conflids 
 muft be undergone. And yet, at no Expence lets than 
 this, is our Peace and Quiet to be purchafed. For fo 
 long as a Man refts upon his own Strength, he is eafi- 
 Iy diverted to worldly Comforts, and taftes little Sa- 
 tisfadion, but what arifes from fiich. But He, whofe 
 Soul is enamoured with God and Goodnefs, expeds not 
 his Delight from fenfual Enjoyments; but finds a Plea- 
 liire in theleverer Exerciles of Virtue and Devotion, 
 and even enjoys the Difficulties he undergoes for 
 Chrift’s fake. 
 
 If then God filed down fpiritual Comforts from 
 Above, entertain the precious Gift with Humility and 
 Thanks; and lofe not the EfFed and Reward of Grace, 
 by fuppofing it your Due, or valuing your felt' upon 
 it. Rejoyce in the Blefling: but temper that Joy w’ith 
 Gratitude ; and let it not fwell to Infolcncc and Va¬ 
 nity, to Cenforioufnefs or Contempt of thy weaker 
 Brethren; but the more thou haft received, the greater 
 let thy Modefty be ; and the more thy Fear, thy Di¬ 
 ligence and Watchtulnefs, that thou abufe not fuch 
 gracious Liberality. For Comfort and Gladnefs will 
 not laft always; a Cloud will come betwixt, and in¬ 
 terrupt thechearful Beamsof this Sun of Righteoufuefs. 
 Temptations will have their turn too ; and therefore, 
 when thefe fall hard and heavy, let Patience and Hu¬ 
 mility, not hopelefs Defpondency, be the EfFed of fuch 
 Oppreflions. The Greatnefs of thy Sufferings muft 
 inflame thy Truft, thy Zeal, thy Devotion ; and fer¬ 
 vent Prayer is the proper Weapon againft the Attacks 
 of our fpiritual Adverfary. For Matters are not de- 
 fperate; and he who took away his Supports, only 
 withdraws them for a feafon, and to thofe who feek 
 them with holy Perfeverance, will at a fit, (that is, at 
 his own) time, reftore them again with Advantage. 
 This is a ufual thing with God. The Prophets and 
 
 Saints 
 
Book II. of J E S U S C H R I S T. 
 
 IOI 
 
 Saints of old have all advanced to their Crowns by 
 the fame rough Way of Grief and Defertion. Nor 
 may we fuppofe, that thefe difconfoiate Intervals are 
 the Effe&s of God’s Anger and final Abdication of 
 us. 
 
 Obferve how eminent an Inftance of thefe Changes 
 we have in the Man after Cod’s own Heart ; when the 
 Grace and Favour of God was lifted up upon him, his 
 Mind was exalted proportionably : In my vrj , 
 ProJperity , I fatd 1 [hall never he cafi down, * • xxx. _. 
 
 thou. Lord, of thy Coodnefs , hadft made my Hill fo ftrong. 
 When this Favour was withdrawn, he confefTes the 
 Confequence of it, the deep and heavy lmpreflionit 
 made upon his Spirits, Thou didft turn thy Face 
 from me, and 1 was troubled. But yet this Trou¬ 
 ble, fiiarp and fenfible as it was, did not fink down 
 into Defpair. His Remedy was Prayer, Then 
 cryed I unto thee, O Lord, and got me to my Lord 8 * 
 right humbly. And how fuccefsful this Application 
 proved, himfelf declares, The Lord heard me, and had 
 Mercy Upon me-, thou haft turned my Mourning into 
 Dancing, thou haft put of my Sack-cloth, andgirded 10,1 K 
 me with Gladnefs. Now, if thefe Sorrows were the 
 Portion of thofe bright Patterns of Piety; if God’s 
 dearly beloved Children and faithfulleft Servants have 
 not lived conftantly under his propitious Smiles; if 
 Men of fo exalted Virtue were yet differently affe&ed 
 as they felt different Difpenlations of Providence to¬ 
 ward them; what are We poor, We weak, defertlefs 
 Wretches, that we fhould expeft to be exempted 
 from Troubles ? What is Our Zeal in companion of 
 Theirs, that we fhould hope to have it always warm 
 always gay ? What have We done to confine the kind¬ 
 ly Influences of that Spirit, and fecure them conflant 
 :o our felves, which even to thofe that 
 life and improve it belt, goes and comes, and * ohn ni * 8 ‘ 
 Hows only where and when it lifteth ? And therefore Job 
 
 H takes 
 
102 Of t^e limitation Book H. 
 
 takes notice of it, as a Fate common to all Mankind, 
 
 . , .. ft that God does not fo magnifie, or fet his 
 fob vn. 17,1 • H cartU p 0n any one among them, but that 
 
 he vifits him every Morning , and trys hint every Moment. 
 
 Where therefore can' we fafely place our Confi¬ 
 dence, except in the Grace and Mercy of God only ? 
 All other Comforters are miferable. The Company 
 and Exhortation of Religious Man, 1 he tender and 
 affc&ionate Advice of dear and Faithful Friends, The 
 Entertainment of good Books, the moving Strains of 
 pious Eloquence, The heavenly Raptures of Pfalms and 
 Hymns, All thefe adrainifter but very poor, and 
 {lender Relief, toafivvagethe Anguifhof our Minds, 
 or but fo much as to divert and deceive our Pam, if 
 God withdraw his Confolations, and leave us to the 
 defolate Condition of merely Humane Helps. Then 
 as our laft and beft Refuge, we mull fly to God} hum¬ 
 ble our felves under his mighty Hand , fubmit to what 
 he lays upon us; acknowledge his Goodneis even in 
 our Sufferings} and be content to fuffer Hill, fo long 
 as he fees fit *, for he will not fee fit to -continue his 
 Difpleafure for ever, but will revive the Contrite, and 
 exalt the Humble in due time. 
 
 I never yet, to the belt of my Remembrance, met 
 with any remarkable good Man, who had not, at fome 
 time or other, fallen into thefe Difcomforts•, and 
 languilhed under the Appreheniion of God’s Difplea¬ 
 fure, or the Abatement of his own Zeal. Nor was 
 it ever deligncd, that any Man in this Life Ihould arrive 
 at fo exalted a State of Holinefs, and abfolute Safety, 
 as not to be fometimes tempted. Though this happens 
 at very different times, and fome have their Tryals 
 in the beginning of their Converlion, which are refer- 
 ved for Others to their latter and more perfeft Days. 
 It feems, the fublime and rapturous Contemplations of 
 God arc a Blefling too precious for thofe who have 
 uoc firft indured fome Trouble of Mind, to qualifie 
 
 them 
 
Book 11. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 i them for lb excellent a Reward. Well then may we 
 j Rcjoyce in thele Temptations, which are ordained cer« 
 tain Forerunners of more abundant Grace, and Signs 
 - or thele unfpeakable Confolations and Delights, which 
 : are reteiwed for them that have approved themfelves 
 Faithful. For not to him that isexcufed 
 rom Fighting, but to him that overcometh 110 
 jy ftriving courageoufly, and endureth to the end, wilt 
 \pve to eat of the Tret of Life. 
 
 , M . olt wi^ly therefore are thefe Viciflitudesof Pro- 
 perity and Adverlity appointed for the Improvement 
 our Piety and Virtue. Were our Troubles with- 
 nit Intermiflion, no Fldh could be laved j and there- 
 01 e God fofcens and rewards them with inward and 
 leavenly Comforts, that fo aflifted by his Grace and 
 ncouraged by his Favour, we may be able to bear up 
 gainft our fharpelt Tryals. But were that Grace and 
 avour conftant too, we Ihould be immoderately ex¬ 
 ited with our Performances, and impute the Blef- 
 j ngs of God to our own Merit. And therefore the 
 j returns of Affliftion, and fpiritual Defertion, are 
 • onvenient, to prevent or check our Pride ; and Ihew 
 s, that how greatly foever we may value our felves, 
 et are we not fb perfect, but that we deferve to fuf- 
 :r ? and the Good we receive, we receive, not of 
 )ebt, but of Liberality and free Graces mifiake riot,' 
 Ian, the Devil never fleeps. He always watches for 
 } Opportunity to alfault and work thee Mifchief. The 
 lem is not utterly dead, nor its Appetites and Paf- 
 ons fo totally extind, but that every frelh Objed will 
 waken them into Lull. Be thou therefore awake 
 >0, and prepare every Day forfome new Conflid;; 
 peak not Peace to thy felt, when befecon every fide 
 ,ith numerous and reltlefs Enemies * for wretched is 
 iy Cafe, it their Violence be fuffered to bear thee 
 >wn, or their fubtle and wakeful Malice furprife thee 
 to Sin. 
 
 Uz Gha ? ? 
 
 1 
 
io4 
 
 m the f nutation Book it. 
 
 Chap. X. 
 
 Tbattkfulnefs for God’s Mercies. 
 
 M An ts born to Trouble as the Sparks fly upward, and ^ 
 doll thourefufe the Condition of Nature, by ho-• 
 ping to be exempted from Labour and Suf- ft 
 Zobv.y. t - crin g> Confider this, and apply thy felt 
 vigoroufly to Patience, as a molt necelfary Virtue, and 
 learn to bear the Crofs as the Bufinefs thou are created 
 for. For this will much better become a finful Crea- | 
 ture, than to depend upon Comforts, which thou de- ! 
 ferveft not, and Pleafures which belong not to thee 
 Could even the Worldly-minded be fecure of fpiritual! 
 Joys without interruption, he could not, in Agree¬ 
 ment with his own Principle, but be paffionately tone 
 of them, as yielding more fubflantial Satisfaction, thar 
 all external and fenfual Delights. For what Compa- 
 rifon can there be, between thofe Pleafures which ar< 
 attended with Shame, or Deceit, and thofe which ari 
 folid and durable, void of Reproach and Indecency 
 the Fruits of Virtue, and the fpecial Gift of God t( 
 chaff and heavenly Souls ? This then were Epicurifr, 
 indeed, were this to be attained and preferved, b; 
 any the molt afliduous Care of ours: But that which 
 renders even thefe Joys lefs fenfible, and lefs eagerl; 
 defired, is, that they are the free Gift of God wh' 
 both difpenfes and withdraws them, as himfelffees fit 
 and frequently fufpends the Happinefs they bring, b 
 ftrong and fevere Tryals. For we are in a State c 
 continual Difcipline and Warfare, and our Conflict 
 muft return very thick upon us, fo long as we remai 
 in fuch a State. 1 
 
 Nor are thefe Difficulties from the Malice of ou 
 Enemies only, but we our felves contribute to ou 
 own Mifery, and obftruft the more liberal Commun' 
 
 catior 
 
Book II. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 105 
 
 cations of Divine Grace and Comfort, by affefting a 
 miftaken Freedom, and extravagant Conceits of our 
 own Strength and Goodnefs. The Bounty of God is 
 admirable, who fupports us with the inward Satisfa¬ 
 ctions of his Spirit ; but the Folly of Man is prodigi¬ 
 ous, who does not difcern and thankfully acknowledge, 
 that all his Ability to do well is imparted by a high¬ 
 er Hand. It then the Gifts of Heaven are diftributed 
 tc us, more fparingly than we with or ex; we lef- 
 Fen their Proportions, by not being duly’ qualified to 
 I receive them. And qualified we cannot be, while in- 
 I gratetul to the Author, and negligent to improve all 
 i we receive to the Giver’s Praife and Honour. For he 
 I who hath and ufeth Grace aright, does by that very 
 Aft incline God to give more. And from the proud 
 unthankful Neglefters of the Favour, even what they 
 had is taken away, and added to the Portion of the 
 I Humble and diligent; Thofe, who are duiy fenfible 
 rrom whom, and to what Purpofes, they have it. 
 
 Might I be allowed to choofemy own Lot, I fhould 
 Hunk it much more eligible, to want my Ipiritual 
 Comforts, than to abound in thefe at the Expence of 
 ny Humility. No; let a penitent and contrite Spi*- 
 | it always be my Portion, and may I ever fo be the 
 favourite of Heaven, as never to forget, that I am 
 Chief of Sinners. Knowledge in the fublime and 
 glorious Myfteries of the Chriftian Faith, and ravilh- 
 ng Contemplations of God and a future State, are 
 noft delireable Advantages; but ftill I pre- r - 
 er Chanty which edifietb, before the high- 1 
 'ft intelleftual Perfections of that Knowledge which puf- 
 eth up. For every thing which is high, is not there- 
 ore holy; Many Meats are agreeable to the Palat, 
 vhich are not conducive to Health ; and thofe Gifts 
 vhich are firft in Our Efteem, do not always recom¬ 
 mend us moft to God. Thole Ipiritual Advantages 
 1 re certainly beft for us, which increafe our Modefty, 
 
 H 3 and 
 
i o6 ' iSDf tfiC gitmtattotl, Book II. 
 
 and awaken our Caution, and difpofe us to fufpecl, 
 and to deny, our felves. And therefore it is an Ar- | 
 gumentof Wifdom in God,torecal his Gifts fometimesj : 
 as well as of his Goodnefs, to impai t them at others j | 
 that by the lofs of what we had, we may experimen¬ 
 tally find our own Impotence \ confcfs and fee 11 our 
 Wants •, and know to whom the whole Glory of all 
 that is excellent in us, does of Right belong. Deal i 
 juftly then in this matter •, Render to God the things that \ 
 are God's, and take to thy felf what is properly thy 
 own : To Him, the Thanks for his Graces, nay, for 
 the very Power of ufing them aright-, To thy felf, 
 the Shame and condemnation of having ufed them no 
 better \ And know, that His is the Honour for all 
 thou hall done well. Thine, only the Blame and juft 
 Punifhment for all thou haft done amifs. 
 
 Sit down in the loweft Place, and then (halt thou 
 Luke xiv. with Honour be promoted to the higheft ; 
 
 for the loftier the Building, the deeper mull 
 the Foundation be laid. The higheft in God’s Efteem 
 are meaneft in their own -, And their Excellence confifts 
 in the Meeknefs, and Truth, not in the Pomp and O- 
 frentation, of Piety, which afle&s to befeen and ad¬ 
 mired of Men. The repoling our Hope and Trull in 
 God alone is the moll effectual Prevention of Vanity j 
 and Infolence-, and aferibing to Him all our Virtues ! 
 and Attainments is inconfiftent with coveting the 
 Piaife cf Men. For Inch Pcrioiis are concerned to 
 approve their Adlions to Cod only ■, and labour to ad¬ 
 vance his Glory, as the chief and only thing, which 
 ought to be magnified in all that is pious and com¬ 
 mendable, in thcmfelvcs and every good Man. 
 
 Receive then a little with due Senfe of Gratitude, 
 thus thou flialt obtain more. The Gifts, which others 
 efteem meaneft and moft contemptible, confider as 
 the Gifts of God, 3nd let this raife theiy Value in thy 
 |ftecm. For indeed every thing ought to be efteemed, 
 
 ' - ' - • c which 
 
i which is a Mark of his Favour, who is the fupremc 
 [ Lord of all: Even Stripes and Ptinifhments from his 
 ; Hands fhould be, not only fubmittedto with Patience, 
 j but received with humbleThanks ; fince his Rod Is in¬ 
 tended for our Good, and no Difpenfation of his Pro¬ 
 vidence is without its profitable and wifedefign. If 
 then thou value the Grace of God, and defire to keep 
 it, be thankful when he gives; be refigned and pa¬ 
 tient when he takes away; pray fervently and fre¬ 
 quently for the Returns of his Favour, and let not 
 thy own Pride or Carelefnefs provoke him to with¬ 
 draw it. 
 
 Chap. XI. 
 
 Of Loving Cbritt in Jfflifiion. 
 
 M Any we find pofleft with ftrong Defires of 
 Chrift’s Heavenly Kingdom,and eager of reign¬ 
 ing with him there; but Few, who are in love with his 
 Crofs, and content to fufFer with him upon Earth. The 
 Graces and fweet Confolations of his Spirit charm and 
 draw us, but Affli&ions drive us away from him. 
 When he invites Men to fit down at his Table, the 
 Guefts come crouding in apace; but if he call us after 
 him into the Wildernefs, to Faft and Pray with him, 
 he calls in vain, and goes alone. The Breaking of 
 Bread is what all of us like, but the Drinking of his 
 bitter Cup we are fhamefully averfe to. We read the 
 Hiflory of his Life, and perufehis Miracles with Re¬ 
 verence and Delight, for thefe were full of Mercy and 
 [Relief to wretched Men ; but when he come to the 
 | tragical Cicumffrances of his dolorous Paflion and bit- 
 f ter Death, we either fhut our Books, or read the me- 
 llaacholy Story with Coldnefs and Indifference; Very 
 
 H 4 hardly 
 
108 3Pf tflC 31m t'tat(0U Book II. 
 
 hardly perfwading our felvcs, that in tht s 
 i et. xi. 2 1 . f oe at fj i e f t ll$an £xa?nfle, that wc fhoidd 
 
 follow his Stefs. Siich was the Behaviour, not of the 
 Multitudes only, but his own Difciplestoo, heretofore, 
 who thronged in to his Hofanna s, and his i reaching ^ 
 but when he was apprehended, and treated as a Male¬ 
 factor, all forfook him and fleet. And fuch is 
 xzu Behaviour of all thofe Chriftians ftill, 
 John xvm. whQ ferve him c h eer fuHy, while things go 
 
 well with them, and magnifie his Mercy fo long as they 
 tafthis Goodnefs •, but draw back, when Afflictions 
 approach, and if he hide the Brightnefs of his Face, 
 fall into wretched DejeCtions and Defpondency of 
 Mind, and are provoked to Impatience and Mur¬ 
 muring, and fad Complaints. 
 
 Methinks we might find Charms and Engagements 
 many and powerful, which fiiould unite our Souls and 
 AffeCtions to the Blefled Jefus. From what he is in 
 Himfelf, from what he is to Us, without any refpeCt 
 of our own private Intereft, and the prefent Advan¬ 
 tages we receive from him. This would confirm and 
 root us faff in Love, and Praife, and Gratitude \ be¬ 
 yond the Power of outward Calamities, or iuward 
 Anxieties of Mind, to (hake and divert us. Then 
 Ihould we with thofe Holy Men, even think it good, 
 and thank God, that we have been in Trouble, and 
 though he fhonld flay ns > yet fflould we ftill delight and 
 trull in him. 
 
 O! Could we once but get above this mercenary 
 Difpofition ofpropofinglntereft and Gain in all we do, 
 and love our Blefled Lord for his own fake, how noble 
 would be the Fruits of fo generous a Principle? And 
 indeed, how can we pretend to love him, when we 
 only love our felves \ and pay Obedience to his Com¬ 
 mands, notout of Regard to his Authority and our Ob¬ 
 ligations, nor from a Defire to pleafe him, but purely 
 to promote our own Advantage? For where, among 
 
Book II. Of Jes us Christ. 
 
 109 
 
 ' the many Millions who profefs to be Zealous Chriftiansi 
 Where is the Man, that would be content to ferve 
 God, as his Maker and rightful Lord, had he no Ex¬ 
 pectation of Reward from him ? Nay, Who almoft is 
 fo fpiritual, fo refined, as that Poverty of Spirit, re¬ 
 commended and blcfled by our Saviour, requires we 
 fhould be, that is, Refigned as to all temporal En¬ 
 joyments, and welj fatisfied to perfevere in our Duty, 
 and not to think our Mafter hard, though he fhould 
 even ftrip us bare of all thofe Comforts, which are 
 ufually the Encouragements of Piety and Virtue ? This 
 is a Temper rarely to be met with •, Such a Generofity 
 and Greatnefs of Spirit, as Crowns and Kingdoms, 
 nay, the whole Eaftern World were wifely given in 
 Exchange for. For this is the Perfection of Love; 
 a Virtue fo exalted, that no other Part of Religion is 
 to be named with it. A Man may beftow all his 
 Wealth upon the Poor, and be never the better. He 
 may chaftife and mortifie his Flefh and fenfual Appe¬ 
 tite, with all the Severities of the moll exemplary 
 Penitence, and yet this is but a low and little Excel¬ 
 lence in comparifon: He may attain to the higheft and 
 cleareft knowledge, in the Myfteries of Religion, but 
 {till he is infinitely fhort. His Virtues may be bright 
 and exemplary, his Devotion fervent and conftant, his 
 Meditations ravilhingand divine ; All thefe are valua¬ 
 ble Gifts,but there is ftill one Excellence behind,more 
 valuabe, more neceflary than all the reft: And that is. 
 Being able, after having renounced all the World be- 
 fides, to renounce himfelf for the fake of his Lord; to 
 devote all he is or can do, fo entirely to his Service, as 
 to be content with every thing ; to ftudy his Will, his 
 Pleafure, his Glory in all things,and toconfult hisown 
 in nothing: And when he hath faithfully and diligent- 
 ; ly Performed all, which, he knew, it became and was 
 | expeded from him to do, to efteem all this of no Con- 
 I fideration, and account that he hath done nothing. 
 
 Others 
 
 t 
 
no flDf tije gjrrrttattoiT Book n. 
 
 _ - 
 
 Others no doubt will have quite different Notions 
 of him. They will fee and admire, publifh and extol his ' 
 Virtues, but ftill their Commendations, though never j 
 foprofufe, never fo juft, will not have any Influence 
 upon his Judgment; nor tempt him to fwervc one 
 whit from that Opinion, which Truth it felfhathdi- 
 Ih* ii refted us to in this cafe, When ye have done 
 all that is commanded you , fay, We are unprofi- 
 rahle Set vants. He will not think that Complaint of 
 Tfil. xxv. the Prophet beneath him, lam poor and de¬ 
 folate , when yet in truth among mortal 
 men none is more wealthy, none more happy, none 
 greater and more powerful, than He, who in a true 
 Chriftian Humility thinks himfelf moft helplefs, moft 
 infirm, moft miferable. In a word, none more honou¬ 
 rable in God’s Eyes, than He, who is vileft and moft 
 defpicable in his own. 
 
 Chap. XII. 
 
 The ReafonableneJ's of taking up our Crofs. 
 
 W Hcn Jefus thus deferibes the Condition of our be¬ 
 ing owned for His, If any Man will be tny Difci- . 
 aiMtl xvi. ple,let him deny hmijelj And take up his Crofs,and 
 follow mo \ the Generality of Men are apt to 
 cry out with thofe in theGofpel upon another occafion, 
 vi This is a hard Saying , and who can hear it ? 
 But oh! that fuch would feiioufly con- 
 lider, how infinitely more terrible and confounding 
 that Sentence will be, which their angry Judge fhall 
 pronounce in Thunder at thclaft Day; And how thofe 
 Ears, which are too foft and tender to bear This, will 
 ■Mitth. xxv. l ^ ei1 be able to endure, a Go, ye cur fed, into 
 
 ever lap mg tire , prepared for th e Devil and his \ 
 
Angels. Ah ! how abfurd,how fenflefs is it,not to har¬ 
 den our felves at prefent, and cheerfully embrace a 
 Command, which, tho’attended with fome fhort Unea- 
 finefs now, fhould yet be welcom to us, becaufe it will 
 ! givens Boldnefs in the great Day of Tryal; and, by 
 impofingfome fhortand very tolerable Pains, be our 
 Security againit Torments infupportable and eternal? 
 For when our Lord fhall come to judge the World 
 with terrible Pomp, the Crofs fhall be" difplayed and 
 lifted high in Heaven : This thing now fo much abhor¬ 
 red, fo full of Shame, (hall then be a Banner of Tri¬ 
 umph ^ and They who have fought under it here, and 
 followed the crucified Captain of their Salvation, in a 
 Lite of Humility and Sufferings, fhall flock to it as 
 their proper Standard, and enter with their glorious 
 Leader into his Joy and Kingdom. 
 
 Why fhould we then boggle at that Crofs, which 
 leads dircdtly to a Crown ? Why thus obftruft our 
 Happinefs, by refufing that, which heals our fpiritu- 
 al Infirmities, guards us againit our worft Enemies, 
 fills us with heavenly Comforts, brightens our Vir¬ 
 tues, and fupports us with allured Hopes of uncon¬ 
 ceivable and everlaffing Blifs? Remember thy great 
 Mailer and Example, bearing his Crofs, dying upon 
 his Crols, that thou hereafter mighteft not difdain to 
 bear it for thine own Advantage, when he for thy fake 
 hath born it before thee. For if we dye with him. we 
 (ball alfo live with him, if we fieffer with him, 
 ire fall alfo reign with him , hut if we deny 2 Tin- ii. 
 
 /»'», and are afhamed of his Punilhment, MltrkvilU 
 he will alfo deny and he afhamed of us, and fhut US OUt of 
 his Glory. 
 
 Confider that thy All depends upon Suffering and 
 Dying. This is the Sum of thy Duty, This the Source 
 or thy Happinefs. God hath ordained no other way of 
 bringi ng us to himlelf, except that one oidy- 
 >ng datly, and crucifying theFlefh with Jjfettions Gi ‘ V ’ XX,V ‘ 
 
 and 
 
112 
 
 dDf tlje 9Jim'tatiott Book n. 
 
 —- - -; 
 
 Mid Lufts. In This all the Difpenfations of Providence 
 
 confpire^ For, what courfe foever you take, which 1 
 way foever you turn, how prudently foever you con- j 
 trive, the Crofs is fure to meet you every-where. ; 
 And that which, willingly embraced, would prove 
 your Safety and Virtue, is Hire to be your Portion, 
 whether you willor not. Bodily Sicknefs and Pain, 
 Difappointments and Lofies in your Fortunes, Anguifh 
 and Perplexity of Heart, Difcomfort and Defertions 
 from God, Injuries and Provocations from Men, and, 
 which is worfethan all, Difpleafure and Difcontent at 
 your felf; One or more of thefe will be perpetually ex- 
 ercifing your Patience j and, fo long as God fees fit 
 to continue you in this State of Mortality and Difci- 
 pline, ’tis vain to hope, you fhall be exempted from 
 them. 
 
 For God, in his great Wifdom and Goodnefs, ap- ' 
 points us to Tribulation j and damps, or withdraws 
 our prefent Comforts, that we may learn to love and 
 value Him and Heaven the more, to acknowledge our 
 Dependence upon his Bounty, be made fenfible of our 
 own Impotence, and grow wifer and more humble by 
 Affli&ions By thefe we are taught to underftand and 
 value the Sufferings of Chrift, of which we fhould 
 have buta very cold and imperfedt Idea, did not our 
 own Experience teach us what it is to fufler. And 
 the greater Conformity to his Image our Tryals work 
 us up to, the clearer and more affe&ing Senfe we have 
 of his Infinite Condefcenfion. Avoid the Crofs then 
 we cannot, becaufe we cannot run away from our 
 felves, nor ceafe to be Men } And therefore, what we 
 cannot avoid, we mult make it our Endeavour patient¬ 
 ly to endure, and render that which would otherwife 
 be our Torment, an Inftrumentof Virtue here, and 
 of Glory hereafter. 
 
 Now this is ftill in our own Power. For They, 
 who fuftain their Crofs, fhall likewife be fuftained by 
 
 it 
 
Book II. of Jesus Christ. 115 
 
 it in return, and all their Pains largely rewarded in 
 their proper time and place-, But this Life is not that 
 time and place, and therefore we mull be content to 
 Labour now, and expedt our Recompence hereafter. 
 But if we bear with Murmuring and Grudging, what 
 bear we mull, we do but gall our Shoulders with the 
 Yoke, and render that a heavy unprofitable Load, 
 which might be fruitful and meritorious. If we call 
 off our Burthen, we are immediately purfued andop- 
 prefled by another j and inltead of Afflidlion full of 
 Hope and Humility, draw upon our felves that moll 
 intolerable of all Burdens, Guilt and Defpair. 
 
 Why Ihould you entertain an Imagination fo vaia, 
 as that of being made an Exception to all Mankind? 
 Produce me, if you can, one Angle Inllance in this whole 
 Catalogue of glorified Saints, who palled this Vale of 
 Tears without his Portion of Mifery. Even Jefus Chrill 
 himfelf, our great Lord, though God as well as Man, 
 yet lived a Life of Trouble j and none was ever lb 
 truly a Atari of Sorrows, or fo intimately 
 ettcjuainted with Grief. Himfelf hath told ’I"* 
 
 US, That it behoved him thus to fiffer , and to “ 6 XX|V * 
 
 rife again the third Day t andfo to enter into his Glory. 
 
 And if this was the Way neceffary for Chrill himfelf 
 toafcend to the Throne ofGod by,we mull not prelume 
 to hope for a fmooth and eafie Parage thither. His whole 
 Life was little elfe, but one continued Crofs, a Chain 
 of SufFeringsdrawnoutto the length of fo many Years, 
 And do We, who profefs to tread in his Steps, expedt 
 a Life of Softnefs and Eafe, and Pleafure ? No, no, 
 fond Man, expedl nothing but Trouble. This thou 
 may’ll depend upon, for it will never dilappoint thee. 
 It is not only the Condition of thy Happinefs as a 
 Chrillian, but thy certain Settlement and Portion as a 
 Man. For Mortality is befet on every fide with Crof- 
 les, and expofed to Suffering every moment. And 
 though thefe be both the Punilhment and the Reme¬ 
 dy 
 
114 
 
 £>f tfcc imitation Book n. 
 
 dy for Sin, yet may we not imagine that they, who 
 are moft careful to preferve themfelves from Sinning, 
 are in the fame Proportion excufed from Suffering. 
 For frequently the belt Men undergo the feverefl 
 Tryals \ and the better they are, the tenderer and 
 more painful Scnfe they have of them. For the fer¬ 
 vent Love and Dcfire of a better Country, their proper 
 and eternal Home, renders the prefent Pilgrimage and 
 Banifhment more tirefom and afflifting. 
 
 But yet thefe Calamities are no juft Reflettion upon 
 the Wifdom and Goodnefs of Almighty God ^ for, as 
 he appoints the Rod in his Mercy, fo does he likewife 
 furnifh his Servants with mighty Confolations and 
 Supports, fuitable to their Circumftances. And they,- 
 who fubmit to the Crofs as becomes them, reap large 
 and glorious Fruits by fowing in Tears. The Burden 
 of their Miferies is lightned, by calling their Care, and 
 repofing their Truft upon One who hath a tender 
 Care for them. And the more the outward Man is 
 weakned and oppreft, the greater Strength and Grace 
 they feel in the inner Man. Nay, fuch is their Defire, 
 fuch the Satisfadlion, of being conformed to the Image 
 of Chrift \ that good Men oftentimes would not fo 
 much as vvifn to be freed from thofe Miferies, in 
 which the lefs difeerning Part of the World are apt 
 to think the very Extremity of Unhappinefs to confift. 
 For thefe better inftrudled Souls have a farther Pro- 
 fpedl, and can foften all their Diltrefles by this Con- 
 lideration; That the more they endure, the purer 
 and more refined they are from Sin, and the more ac¬ 
 ceptable and dear they become to God. ’Tistrue} 
 this Confideration is not thcefTedt of any Strength or 
 Wifdom meercly Humane, but theProdudl of Divine 
 Grace which fometimes gains fo abfolute a Conqueft 
 over natural Inclination, and exalts Hefh and Senlc to 
 fo high a Degree of Rclignation and Perfedlion, that 
 what, as Men, we cannot but decline, and have vio¬ 
 lent 
 
esus Christ. 
 
 , Averlions to, as Chriftians we contentedly ern- 
 j brace, and are entirely fatisfied with. 
 
 When therefore we feel in our felves, or obferve 
 I in Others, a Zeal fo powerful, fo noble, as, not only 
 to bear, but even to love and delight in the Crofs; 
 When we vanquilh and bring into abfolute Subjection 
 thefe Bodies, and their Appetites, by a long painful 
 Gourfe of rigorous and voluntary Severities; When 
 we indufirioufly avoid Honours and Wealth ; bear In- 
 luries and Infamy contentedly; defpife our felves, 
 ind even delight to be delpiled by others; when we 
 entertain the lharpeft Misfortunes with Conftancy and 
 Temper, and are fo perfectly dead to the World, 
 is no longer fo much as to delire thofe Enjoyments 
 ind Advantages, which recommend and fweeten Life 
 .o Mankind; do not fuppofe that this is the Work, 
 or falls within the the Compafs, of Man : For they who 
 iepend upon their natural Powers, or their own molt 
 exquilite Philofophy can never rife fo high, nor thus 
 ibltraCt their Minds from Matter and Senfe. No Prin¬ 
 ciple but that of Holy Trull and Faith in God is 
 ;apable of fuch Divine Operations. This Strength 
 ind Refolution comes from Heaven; No force lels 
 .han Almighty can beat down the Fleih, the World 
 ind the Devil under our Feet; None defeat and fet 
 as above the Horrours and Aflaults of his Malice and 
 Temptations, lefs than His, who vanquilh’d this old 
 >erpent upon the Crofs, and by fo doing lanCtified our 
 Urofs to us too. 
 
 Call up then all thy Powers of Realbn and Religion, 
 lemember whom thou hall engaged to follow, and, 
 vith all the refolute Fidelity due'to thy Vows and 
 Obedience, fet thy felt manfully to take up bis Crofs, 
 vho fubmitted to die upon a Crofs for thy Salvation. 
 Tepare and difpole thy Heart, that no Affliction may 
 jver-bear thee by furprile ; bits conlidejing wihat in- 
 iflite Variety of Troubles hem thee in, and wait thee 
 
 every- 
 
n6 £>£ tl>e fmitation Book ir. 
 
 --—-------— 
 
 every-where, let none have the Advantage, of findip^ | 
 thee unprovided. Were there a poffibility ot el- ( 
 caping, we might then be allowed to contrive Me¬ 
 thods of declining our Miferies, but fince they cannot 
 be fhifted ofT, the only Remedy they have left againft 
 them, is Readinefs to fuffer. Confider it is thy Lord s 
 Cup, and that he drunk the very bittereft Dregs of 
 it i confider it is He who gives it •, and that he there- 
 • fore gives it, that thou may’ll be Partaker of his Suf¬ 
 ferings, in order to be made a more worthy Partaker 
 ..of his Glories. ’Tis true, he was ftrength- 
 Zidruui. ened in his Agon j es by an Angel fent from 
 
 above *, nor fiialt thou want Supports proper for thy 
 Condition. But what thefe are, or in what meafures 
 fit to be imparted, our Lord himfelf knows bell •, and 
 to hit wife Difpofal we mull leave it. But all we have ! 
 to do our felves, is to fecure an humble and patient 1 
 Difpofition. And thiswelhould find lefs difficulty in, . 
 would we but follow the Pattern our Jefus hath left, of 
 . .. enduring the Crofs, and defpifing the Shame, for ■ 
 
 Hebr ‘ xu * the Glory fet before him. And what can recom¬ 
 mend our Sufferings, what confirm our Patience more 
 than to confider, that thefe light JfjliBions, 
 
 2 tor. iv. w [ ;)U i 0 are y (t( f or 4 Moment,(hall work out for 
 
 ns afar more exceeding and eternal Wteight of Glory ? 1 hat 
 
 Glory, in companion of which they are not worthy 
 fo much as to be named •, A Glory fo exceeding, that 
 if all the Tribulations incident to all Mankind were 
 heaped upon one (ingle Perfon, yet even fo the Recom- 
 pence is infinitely above what fuch a fuffering could 
 pretend to deferve and Heaven would be cheap and 
 wifely bought, even at this vail Expence. 
 
 Efteem thy felf then happy indeed, when thou canft 
 even enjoy thy Sorrows, aud find a fenfible Satisfa&ion 
 in fuffering for Chrift * for this is in a manner to at¬ 
 tain Heaven upon Earth. A Happinefs, which no 
 Man can ever arrive at, fo long as Adverlities bring 
 
 \ Pain, 
 
•Book U. 
 
 Of J E s u s C H R r S T. 
 
 117 
 
 Pain, and Difcontent, and fad Opprelfions of Spirit- 
 or the Sollicitude, and conftant Labour to avoid Ca! 
 lanntics will be fure to produce perpetual Difquiet. 
 
 Suffering and Dying are not only necc/Tary Incum 
 brances upon us, but the bell and molt authentic!; Ini 
 trances of our Virtue and Obedience. It is the Bu- 
 'mcfsand Perfection ot a Chriftian to do thus daily 
 and They who in good earneft apply themfelves to it’ 
 “ v,1 > quickly find their AfFeCtions railed, their Strength 
 increafed, their Comfort and inward Peace wonder- 
 ully advanced. St. Paul was rapt up into 
 :he third Heaven, yet did not he boall fo 2C< "‘- xii * 
 midi of this as of his Afflictions. And wherein the 
 incommon Privileges of this efpecial Favourite con- 
 ifted we learn from the Mouth of Chrift himfelf 
 •vhcu he lays, / Will fhetb bint how great th'rtpt * 
 
 K mu ft frffer for rny Name's fake. Supoofe ix * 
 hen you could be admitted to His Extafies and Re¬ 
 lations ; yet even Thefe, ’tis plain from his Exam- 
 ne, would not exempt you from Trouble and SufFer- 
 ngS F° r the more you are loved, and the more vehe¬ 
 ment! y you love, and are delirous to pleaie your Savi- 
 
 <ur, the greater Proofs or this kind vou mult exneCt 
 o give. ‘ t 
 
 Confidcr thole Apoltles, who went away from 
 heil Perlecutors rejoycing that they were ac- 
 ounted worthy to f jfer for the fake of Chrift, ABs v * 
 
 nd learn from thence ro covet and value" the Honour 
 nd Dignity ot enduring Pain and Poverty, Perfecti¬ 
 on and Reproach. For this would feem no mean 
 reicrment, but a Favour referved for thofe whom 
 J ° d iskinuclt to, did we hut reflect upon the Gain 
 t brings to our felvcs, the Glory to our Mailer the 
 oy to Saints and Angels, and the Benefit to’ our 
 irethren, who fflail oblerve, and be encouraged by 
 'Ur Stedfallnefs, and Patience, and holy Perfeve- 
 ance. Nay, even the Wicked and Carnal will be 
 
 * mayed 
 
118 <Df ttjC fimttattOIT Book II. 
 
 moved by fuch Examples, for there is fo manifeft 
 a Congruity and Decency, in fubmitting to any Ad- 
 verfities which it (ball pleafe God to lay upon us, that 
 even They, who have not the Heart to Imitate, yet 
 will not be able to forbear Commending and Admi¬ 
 ring, the Pattern we fet them. 
 
 Would we indeed weigh things in a juft Ballance, 
 ’tis moft unreafonablc we (hould decline Suffering for 
 Chrift, when it is fo very vifible, that we are well 
 content to undergo much forer Hardfhips for the 
 World, than any he thinks fit to call us to. And 
 fhall Humour, or Paflion, or temporal Intereft be 
 fuffered to prevail upon us, more powerfully than 
 Duty ? Efpecially, when that Duty promotes an in¬ 
 finitely better Intereft ; and the more w'e are morti¬ 
 fied to our felves and the World, the nobler Ad¬ 
 vances we make towards God and Life Eternal ? 
 Thefe are refined Privileges, for which no Man is 
 qualified, till he be firft purified in the Furnace of 
 Adverfity ; nor can the Spiritual and Divine Graces 
 dwell in a Soul, till the Drofs of Earth and fenfual 
 Appetites be firft wrought off. Allure your felf, 
 that Suffering for, and in Obedience to, Chrift, is not 
 only the moft acceptable Thing to God, but really 
 advantageous for your felf, and that which contri¬ 
 butes moft to the Soul’s Health, of any thing that can 
 happen in the Prefent State. And, would the Pre¬ 
 judices Flefh and Blood lie under, permit us to difcern 
 and confider Matters impartially, this would be firft 
 in our Wifhes, and preferred before all the outward 
 Profperity, or inward Satisfactions, this World can 
 give. For who would not be ambitious of refembling 
 our Lord and his moft eminent Saints? Who is fo 
 blind, as not to fee, that the thing in which they 
 fignalized their Mciit, was not the larger Degree 
 of their Revelations, or the Pleafures they enjoyed, 
 but the Number and Extremity of their Afflictions? 
 
Book II. of J E S U S c H R I S T. 
 
 And we may be very confident, that, if Chrift had 
 known any better Way to Heaven than by CroiTes and 
 Patience, he would both have chofen it himfelf, and 
 reserved it for his faithfullelt Servants, and deareft 
 Friends. But llnce his own Example, and his content 
 Diredions declare, That if any Man tri/l 
 come to him , he mnfl deny himfelf.\ and take lukeXlv - 
 up his Crofs , and follow him , it is but Folly and loft La¬ 
 bour to think of any other Method ; For when all is 
 done, this will be the Sum and Conclufion 
 of the whole Matter, that, Through much Ms xiv * 
 Tribulation we mufi enter into the Kingdom of God. 
 
 The End. of the Second Book. 
 
O F 
 
 €l>e tEinra Eoofr, 
 
 Digefted into Conferences between Christ and 
 the Soul ol his Difciplc. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 The Happinejs of fuch a Converfation. 
 
 Difcipte .] IVill bear what the Lord God 
 
 Will fay concerning me. For ■ff ^ xsxv, 8- 
 blelfed is the Soul, which hears the 
 — Lord fpeaking, and feels the tranfport- 
 ing Comforts of his gracious Words. Blefled are the 
 Ears, which, with a greedy Attention, drink in the 
 foft and gentle Whifpers of his Spirit; while they 
 continue obftinately deaf to the treacherous Infinua- 
 tions of this deluding World. And doubly blelTed 
 are They, who hear the Sound of Truth, not only in 
 the outward Adminiftrations of the Word, but by 
 the inward and familiar Communications and’aMotions 
 
 l 3 of 
 
 
122 
 
 flDf t i)c limitation Book HI. 
 
 of infufed Grace. BlelTed thofe Eyes, which arc fhut 
 to all the Obje&s of the World, and conftantly wake¬ 
 ful and open to the Affairs of the Soul, and turned 
 inward upon our felves. Blefled are They, whofe 
 fliarper Sight enters deep, and pierces into the fecret 
 and fublime Myfteries of heavenly Truth ■, purged and 
 prepared by fpiritual Meditations, and daily Exercife 
 of holy Duties: BlelTed indeed are They, who dif- 
 ingage themfelves from all worldly Incumbrances, and 
 gain Leifure and Opportunities for attending continu¬ 
 ally upon God alone. 
 
 Confider this, my Soul, and lhake ofT fenfual De¬ 
 fires, which muff: be firft abandoned, before thou can 
 liften with due Reverence and Attention, to thofe 
 things, which the Lord God will fpeak: And, O ! 
 
 what comfortable Words are thofe, 1 am 
 thy Peace, thy Life , thy Salvation , and ex¬ 
 ceeding great Reward. Come unto me , thou 
 that art weary and heavy laden, and thou /halt 
 find reft unto thy Soul. Set thy j4ffeilions on 
 things above , add not on things on the Earth. 
 For the things that are feen arc temporal , but 
 the things that are not feen are eternal. What 
 are all things here below, but dangerous and empty 
 Delufions ? And what could it profit a Man to gain, 
 though it were all the Creatures, if he be forfaken 
 and caff: ofT by the Creator ? In Him alone is Pleafure, 
 and Blifs, and Glory ; therefore let go thofe cheating 
 Shadows, and embrace the only fubftantial Good} 
 Bid a final Adieu to the Deceits of the World, and 
 place all thy Love and Endeavours upon thy God } for 
 in his Service and Acceptance thou (halt attain the 
 End of thy Wifhes, The Fruit of thy Labours, folid 
 Satisfaction and true Happinefs, 
 
 John xiv. 
 Gen. xvii. 
 
 CMattb. xi. 
 CoJoff. iii. 
 Cor . iv. 
 
 Char 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 I2J 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 God is in the fmall jlill Voice. 
 
 Difciple.] QPeak, Lord , for thy Servant l S.m. iii. 
 
 l3 heareth. Behold , / r/ni P/i/. cxix. 
 Servant and the Son of thy Hand maid • O give me ZJn- 
 derfan ding, that I may learn thy Commandments. In¬ 
 cline my Soul to the Words of thy Mouth, 
 which drop down as the Rain upon the tender -^vBt.xxxii. 
 Herb, and diftil gently, like Dew upon the Grafs. The 
 Ifraelites indeed befought Mofes heretofore, Speak thou 
 unto us, and. we will hear , but let not God [peak ‘ 
 to us, lefi we die. But let it not be fo done Exoi ' xx. 
 unto me, my God. I rather choofe to make ' 9 * 
 my humble Petition in the Prophet Samuel’s Form, Speak 
 Lord, for thy Servant heareth. Let not Mofes, nor any 
 of the Prophets be my Inftructor, but do thou thy 
 felf vouchsafe to teach me by thy felf. For thou art 
 the Source of all Their Light and Knowledge. They 
 could not utter Truth without thy Infpiration and 
 heavenly Guidance } but Thou art Eflential Wifdom 
 and Truth} and canft, without their Miniftry, com¬ 
 municate thy felf efteef ually to my Son!. 
 
 Their Words, alas! are Air and empty Scund, but 
 Thine alone are Spirit and Life. Their Expreflions 
 may be proper, their Arguments moving, but unlefs 
 thou break Silence, my Soul will ftill continue deaf and 
 infenfiblc. They deliver the Words, but thou art the 
 Interpreter, and letteff me into the true and hidden 
 Senfe of their abftrufe Oracles. Their Books are 
 fealed, and only Thy Hand can open and explain 
 them. From Them we receive the Command, but on¬ 
 ly from Thee the Difpofition to Obey, and the whole 
 j Power of performing it. They fhew the Way, but 
 : thou imparteft the Strength to walk in it y All They 
 
 ^ + can 
 
 \ 
 
124 
 
 j£)f tl?c g’tlTltattOir Book III. 
 
 can do, is ftill remote and without us. Thou only en- 
 treft into the Soul, and, by a fecrct Conveyance, put’ft 
 Truth in the inward Parts. Paul may 
 t Cor. in. plant, and / Ipollo i rarer, but except thou be 
 
 ]fi. iv. plea fed to give the hut cafe, the Word will 
 
 ret tun unto thee void , andaccompl’Jh no part 
 of the End, whereto thou fenteft it. The Voice of their 
 Cry pierces our Eais-, but the knowing what they 
 Ciy, and the Impreflion upon our Hearts, is thy pe¬ 
 culiar Gsft. 
 
 Therefore, I cannot but implore again thy Grace 
 and Mercy, and beg, that Mofes may not fpeak to 
 me, but Thou my Lord, my God, the Only and 
 Eternal Truth, left I dye \ Not by the Terrors of 
 thy thundring Voice, but by the ineffedual Com¬ 
 munications of thy Will. For if I be inftruded and 
 admonilhed by the outward Miniftration only, and 
 be not inwardly difpofed, and zealoufiy affeded to 
 Obedience, the Advantages of Inftrudion will but 
 aggravate my Condemnation. For this is the difmal 
 ^ . ^ Confequcnce of the Word preached not pro- 
 fittng, when it is not mixed with Faith in them 
 that hear it. And mixed with Faith thou knoweft it 
 cannot be, except fecondcd and intorced by the Voice 
 of thy Spirit \ except thou incline me to love the 
 Good 1 know, and enable me faithfully to fulfil the 
 Dodrinc 1 believe. Speak therefore, Lord, I fay again ; 
 
 ^o ^ ice ^ Servant liftens gladly, for 
 7 hou hajl the Words of Eternal Life. Speak 
 powerfully to my Soul, and carry thy Saving Truths 
 home to my Confidence and Aftedions, that thy 
 Words may bring Comfort and Peace, Reformation 
 and Holincfs to thy attentive Servant, and to thy felf 
 immortal Honour and Praife. 
 
 C h a r. 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 I2 5 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 ■Of the General Difregard to God's Word ., and 
 the Obedience due to it. 
 
 j chr, 'fi-l C Incc , then, my Son, thou f 0 pafllonately 
 iJ defireft- to hear my Voice, Incline now 
 thine Ears to my Words. Words, which vrelldeferve 
 and will abundantly reward, thy moll diligent At¬ 
 tention ; For they are fweet and charming, far above 
 all the engaging Arts of Human Eloquence; Ufefnl 
 and InArwAive, beyond the moll laboured Svllems of 
 Philofop'iy. The Wifdom of this World could not 
 invent, or order, nor can it comprehend them. The 
 myflerious Truths they declare are too Arong for Hu^ 
 man Senle to behold, nor canll thou enter into their 
 Secrets, till guided by that Light from whence they 
 low. My Precepts are pure and fpiritual, fuch as a 
 rarnal and impure Heart can find no Relifh in. My 
 :very Word, of weight; and lpoken, not to enter- 
 ain the Curious, and tickle itching Ears, but to fub- 
 )ue the Heart, and command a Arid Obedience. Hear 
 herefore, but hear as becomes thee, with refpeftful 
 iilence, and entire Submiflion ; with profound and 
 iwful Humility ; with an earneA Delire to be taught; 
 nd llncere and vigorous Refolutions of doing as then 
 rt taught. 
 
 Difciple .] I own the mighty Favour, and heartily 
 cknowledge, with thy Holy Prophet, That BUIfedis 
 be Man, -whom thott thafteneft, O Lord, and 
 eacheft him in thy Law That thou may ft P ^ aL xciv ‘ 
 ize him Strength in time of yidverfuy, left he fall away 
 nth the Ungodly. a j j 
 
 Chrift.'] That Prophet fpoke what I infpired, and 
 3 did all thofe Holy Men of old ; for they were all of 
 iy lending. Nor is my Care at all abated now,though 
 
 the 
 
126 
 
 4 Df tlje 9imttatton Book hi. 
 
 the Effe&s of it may be lefs vifible. Fori, who taught 
 Them then, continue teaching Hill; Nay, 1 direft my 
 Speech to All, but All will not hear it. For there are 
 Many deaf to all my Charms, and therefore deaf, be- 
 caule they Hop their Ears •, hate my Inftru. 
 Prov. l. ftion y and will none of my Reproofs. They 
 liften to the World much rather than to God, and are 
 more difpofed to obey their own corrupt and fenfual, 
 than his pure and heavenly, Will. The World in- 
 vites them with (hort and tranfitory, trifling and em¬ 
 pty Joys, and they greedily engage in its Service *, I 
 covenant for eternal and excellent Rewards j and the 
 infenfible Wretches will not confider, or think them 
 worth their Acceptance. This Folly is univerfal \ For 
 who among the Sons of Men, exprefles half that Zeal 
 and Earneftnefs, that follicitous Defire to pleafe, and 
 dutiful Fear to offend, in his Deportment towards me, 
 ■which he does in Matters relating to this World, or 
 in Obedience to Mailers upon Earth ? Confider this, 
 and Blufh for Shame for What, but Shame and Con- 
 fufion of Face, can be the Effeft of thy Refledlion up¬ 
 on this unworthy Ufage, this moll abfurd Folly ? 
 
 A fmall Preferment is elleemcd a valuable Confide- 
 ration for long and painful Journies. Men fly for it 
 eagerly, and halten all they can to get ground of their 
 Competitors ; This is every one’s Care, and it is ac¬ 
 counted a Reproach to be negligent in fuch Purfuits. 
 But, when Advancement to Heaven and Eternal Hap- 
 pinefs is offered, they are flothful and una&ive, and 
 fcarce a Man to be found, who thinks it worth the 
 while to mend his Pace, or fets one Step forward to 
 meet, or to fecure, fo glorious an Advantage. A 
 little fordid Gain engages all Mens Indullry; A trifling 
 Summ imbroils them in tedious and expenfive Suits i 
 And Promifes of things fcarce worth their having,they 
 are content to drudge for} to lofe the Eafe of their 
 Days, and the Sleep of their Nights, and think their 
 
 Toil 
 
' took 
 
 Of J E s u s Christ. 
 
 t2 7 
 
 Toil and anxious Care well paid, if they can compafs 
 
 iem at laft: : But a fubftantial and unchangeable 
 ,ood, a Recompence greater than they know how to 
 alue juftly. Immortal Glory, and the Honours of the 
 amts, are funk fo low in vvretched Mens Elteem, that 
 ic lealt Pains and Hard/hip are thought too much for 
 iem. 
 
 And art thou not adiamed, lazy, infenfible, grum- 
 ^S Wretch, that the Children of this World fhould 
 urfue Death and Ruine, with a more vigorous Indu- 
 1 y and Zeal, than thou canft find in thy Heart to 
 eftow upon Life and Happinefs ? Shall Toys and Va¬ 
 ries win more upon their Affeftions, than folid and 
 ue Good can upon Thine ? Nay, even thofe Vanities 
 hofe very Enjoyment is empty, do often mock their 
 opes, and are never enjoyed at all • Their Friends 
 -omife and deceive ; They labour but cannot attain : 
 ut my Promifes are without Repentance: None 
 xeth Me with Breach of Faith, or can complain, 
 ,at his Dependence upon My Word hath at any time 
 fappointed him. For I require only Love and Per- 
 verance j And, if thefe be not wanting, I anfwer to 
 efull, nay, 1 far exceed, my Servants largeft Wilhes 
 d longing Expectations. Yet falfe and fickle Men 
 n eafily perfv\ade, and the God, who cannot lye, 
 11s and promifes in vain. I am the Pure Rewarder 
 all that diligently feek me ; and if fuch meet with 
 fferings and fharp Temptations, thefe are not Marks 
 my Difpleafure, but wifely ordered, and kindly 
 tended, to prove the Sincerity of my Servants Zeal, 
 d to illuflrate their Virtues. 
 
 ' Write then my Words in thy Heart; Grave them 
 deep and lafting Characters; Ponder them dili- 
 ntly, for thou fhalt find them a feafonable Relief 
 d neceflary Support in the Day of Tryal and Ad- 
 rhty. What Reading only hath not taught thee, 
 fiiaion will interpret and make plain. For I do nat¬ 
 al ways 
 
 
 
128 jflDf tllClimitation Book III. ' 
 
 __ ' __ _ ! 
 
 —- 
 
 always vilit my Chofen alike. Sometimes the Com- l j 
 forts of my Grace are proper ; at Others, the with | , 
 drawing thofe Comforts, and bringing their Patience : ^ 
 and Conftancyto the Touch, by outward Calamities, • c 
 or inward Anguiih of Spirit. Thus 1 daily train them c 
 up in Goodnefs, by ebaflitiog and making them hate r 
 their Sins, and cultivating and encouraging their Ad- t 
 vancement in Virtue. The One Difpenfation enga- , 
 ges their Love of Me, the Other abates their Fond- 
 nefs for the World. But loft and wretched is thit < 
 ftupid Creature, upon whom thefe Methods make no j 
 .. 1mpredion; For He that rejetteth Afe, arid , 
 
 X1U ■* * rectivtth not thy Words, loath One that jndg- j 
 eth him in the Lift Day. \ 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 A Prayer for Heavenly lnjlruclion and Devotion. “ 
 
 Difaple.'] Lord, myGod, Thou art my All, my ■ 
 \^/ Only Good ; but Who, alas ! am 1, 
 that I fhould take upon me to fpeak to fo Great, fo : 
 Glorious a Majefty ? Poor (infill Dufh and Allies; a 
 wretched Worm ; lefs than the leaft of all thy Ser¬ 
 vants ; much lefs, much viler and more defpicable, 
 than I dare to think, or am able to exprefs or con¬ 
 ceive. And this very Vilenefs, Lord, I beg thon 
 would’fl conlider; that fo my helplefs defolate Condi¬ 
 tion may move thy tender Pity, to a miferable Crea¬ 
 ture, who neither is, nor hath, nor can do, any thing, 
 without thee. For Thou only art Good, and Holy, 
 and Powerful; and that of Power fo boundlefs, of 
 Mercy fo diffufive, that thou filled all things with thy 
 Goodnefs, and none but thofe guilty Souls, who refufe 
 to partake of thy Grace, are fliut out from its kindly ■ 
 
 In- 
 
 : 
 
__ 
 
 look III. Of Jesus Christ. 1-9 
 
 I 1 fluences. . Behold me then hungring and thirfHng 
 ter thy Righteoufnels, and let me not be Tent em- 
 ty away. Call up thy Bowels, and remember thy 
 lompaflions and old Loving-kind nelles; and fill my 
 i duI with thy Grace and heavenly Difpofitions, that ic 
 ay be a Dwelling fit to entertain that blefled Inhabi- 
 nt, who will not take up his Abode, in defiled and 
 efolate Places. 
 
 But how can 1 furnilh a Houfe for my Lord, ex- 
 :pt he vouchfafe to aflift and fupply my Wants ? 
 ow can I fuftain the Miferies and Temptations of a 
 oublefom dangerous World, except thou gracioufly 
 terpofe, and fupport my Weaknefs ? Turn not then 
 iy Face away from me ; neither delay thy Fatherly 
 are; for if thou grant not refrelhing Dews, and 
 ater not my Heart with thy Grace, it will remain 
 dry and barren Ground. Teach me, dear God, to 
 low and do thy Will, and, with fincere Humility, 
 id indefatigable Zeal, enable me to perfevere in my 
 bedience. For Thou art my Wil'dora, and my 
 igtiteoufnefs; my Infirmities are not hid from Thee j 
 hou knowelt me perfedtly, and underftoodeftall my 
 efects, not only before I was born, but even lone 
 Tore the World ic felf was made. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 dk humbly with thy God and Worth ip Him 
 in Truth. 
 
 T Do indeed, my Son, know thy Frailties, 
 JL and thy Dangers, but let not thefe dif- 
 >urage thy Endeavours. Seek and love the Truth, 
 id let thy Heart be right with me, and all ftiall be well 
 Iait. For Truth and Sincerity will be thy Prote- 
 
 dicr. 
 
£>f ti)t limitation Book III. 
 
 dion, and defend thee from the Afl’aults of the De¬ 
 vil, and the Attempts of wicked and deceitful Men. 
 
 ... Thofe who are thus fet free, fall be free in. 
 j°m vui. I10r (hall the Seducements or the Dif- 
 
 couragements of Enemies to the Truth be able to in- 
 fnare or divert them from their Duty. 
 
 Difcipler\ True, Lord. And this Perfwafion makes 
 me more ear neftly implore thy Afliftance. That thou, 
 who art Truth it felt, wouldft in much Mercy con- 
 defeend to inftrud, and dired me} to preferve and 
 proted me } to break the Snares of the Uogodly to 
 pieces, to deliver my Soul, and eftablifh me unto the 
 End \ To purge me from all corrupt and inordinate 
 Affedions, that my own happy Experience may con¬ 
 vince me of what 1 already believe, and render thy 
 Service perfed Freedom. 
 
 Chrift .] My Children cannot be more zealoufly di- 
 fpofed to ask thefe Bleflings, than I am ready and 
 pleafed to grant them. Hear therefore the Truth, 
 and how thou mayeft recommend thy felf to my Fa¬ 
 vour and Acceptance. Reflcd with fad Remorfe 
 upon thy paft Offences } let the Remembrance of 
 thefe render thee vile in thy own Eyes } and take 
 heed, that no Confidence in thy bell Adions, fwell 
 thee with vain Conceits of thy own Delerts. For, 
 fure it is, thou art a Sinner, laden with Guilt and ma¬ 
 ny grievous Infirmities} prone in thy own Nature to 
 Vanity, ealily feduced, quickly diverted from good 
 Refolutions, and overcome by very flight Temptati¬ 
 ons. In Ihorc, No Excellence belongs to thee, which 
 can in any degree juftifie thy Pride or Boaftingj but 
 infinite Occalions there are to exercife thy Humility 
 and Lamentation, infinitely more in truth, that thou 
 canft be duly fenfible of. 
 
 Let not then the miftaken Value of any thing thou 
 art or doft, delude thee with falfe Appearances of 
 Worth and Pertedion } Let not thy Affedions be fe¬ 
 duced 
 
[Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 i ? 1 
 
 duced to follow vain and wretched Objects or think 
 
 SJ Lo V l m :% C p an deferve thy or7dmir.&J 
 thy Love and Pains; except fuch only as are fix’d 
 
 and eternal. Let Truth be thy chief Delight, tor 
 
 the chief OhiT 3 ?^’ o Ct tf ! yown Unworthlnefs be 
 the chief Objeft of thy Hatred and Contempt, for this 
 
 oleafn S? J uftcft . thin £> upon which'thy Dif- 
 
 fe^5„ can d,r <-ha*-ge it felf. Fear and decline no 
 !^ ,ty com P a rably to Sm. For no Lofs, no world¬ 
 ly Dilappomtment or Difafter, can have fo fatafCon- 
 tequences, as the Loft of a good Confcience and God’« 
 
 avour, by tranfgrefling his righteous Commands. 
 Some Men are more concerned for Subtlety of 
 knowledge in Religion, than for an humble and fin. 
 .ere Obedience. They are acted by a Spirit of Pride 
 ind -unolity, and affedt to penetrate the Myfteries of 
 faith ; and value themfelves much more for being able 
 l earnedly to difpute for Truth, than for adorning it 
 hy their Lives, and rendring that Knowledge effe- 
 tual to Salvation. Thefe Men frequently fall into 
 langerous Snares. 1 fet my Face againft their Arro- 
 ;ance, and fuffer them to perilh through the Vanity 
 >f their own Imaginations. y 
 
 But do Thou employ thy Mind upon other forts of 
 nqumes and account it greater Wifdom, to get a 
 .erfed Knowledge of thy own Works, than thofe 
 / Almighty God. His Ways art unft arch- 
 ble and P*fi finding out ; but thy own are * om ' xL 
 eceflary to be nicely examined. And the Confideration 
 f the Evil thou haft done, and the Good thou haft 
 :tc undone, will turn to better account, than thyScho- 
 ilhck Speculations, concerning the Divine Nature 
 id Counfels. Some place their Religion in Images, 
 >me in good Books, iome in an outward Shew and 
 fomp ot Devotion, meafuring their Piety, by the 
 l ayers they fay, the Sermons they hear, the Meals 
 ley abftam from; Others honour me with their Lips, 
 
 and 
 
152 g)f tile imitation Book in. 
 
 and talk familiarly of me, whofe Hearts 1 am as utter 
 a Stranger to, as their allowing me no place in their | 
 Thoughts and Affect ions can make me. But lome again, 
 without fuch formal Pretences, are Men of true fpiri- 
 tual Wifdom, and inward Purity* their Defires and 
 Converfation are in Heaven, and earthly Entertain¬ 
 ments are no longer welcome to them * they even 
 grudge thole Hours, which the necclTary Cares tor 
 fupporting thefe Bodies cut off from the greater Con¬ 
 cerns of their Souls. And Thefeare the Men, that I 
 lend a willing Ear, and bring a Temper truly teach- 
 able to the Inftructions of my Spirit: In 1 hem he 
 
 reigns and triumphs. For, having vanquilhed the cor- | 
 
 rupt Inclinations of Flefh,and infpired them with a true ^ 
 Chriflian Bravery of Soul, they defpife the treacherous 
 Vanities of this World, and lay out all their Love and j 
 Labour upon the Joys of that better World, which till | 
 God thinks fit to admit them into, they 11 rive to an- 1 
 ticipate, by keeping their Minds Night and Day intent 
 upon it. 
 
 C H A p. VI,, 
 
 The Power of the Love of GO D. 
 
 DifcipUri T Laud and magnifie thy glorious Name, ( 
 O Father of Heaven, Father of our Lord j 
 Jefus Chrilt, for all the Goodnefs and tender Com- j 
 paflious, with which thou haft been pleafed to remem- ] 
 her and relieve my Mifery. For unto thy Loving- j 
 kindnefs alone, O Father of Mercies and God of all i 
 Comfort, are owing all the Supports, with which the j 
 Soul of thy unworthy Servant hath been at any time ' 
 refrefhed in the midlt of my Trouble. And therefore i 
 to Thee alone be the Praife. To Thee, O Father, with j 
 
 thy 
 
Book IH. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 thy only begotten Son, and the Blefied Spirit the Com¬ 
 forter, will I render Honour and Thankfgiving, for 
 evermore. Defcend then, blefied God, into that Soul, 
 for which thou haft exprefied fo great a Tendemels, 
 and let thy Prefence fill me with Gladnefs. For Thou 
 art my Health, my Joy and my Glory, my Hope and 
 my Refuge in the Day of Diftrefs. 
 
 1 muft confefs with Sorrow, that my Love is weak, 
 and my Virtue impcrfed ; nor can the One be fup- , 
 ported without thy Grace, nor the Other becherifhed, 
 unlefs thou fan the holy Fire, and feed it with thy 
 heavenly Comforts. O vifit me then with thy Salvation, 
 land, make me to improve under thy holy Difcipline! 
 
 |Deliver and purifiemy Heart from all corrupt Af- 
 j|5V* io “ s > anc ^ irregular Paffions ; Heal my fpiritual 
 Difeafes, and take away that Drofs and Filth, which 
 >bftruds my purer Delights of Divine Love, difcom- 
 )ofes my Patience, and fhakes my Intentions of Per- 
 everance. 
 
 For Love is great and powerful, an excellent Vir- 
 ue, and mighty Advantage in Well-doing. It lightens 
 lie heavieft Burdens, makes Difficulties eafie, and 
 mooths the rugged Ways of Duty ; Takes out the 
 ! !t iv[ ncfs of . Sufferings, and gives them a delightful 
 velifh. This is the Principle, which fires us with a 
 igorous and adive Zeal, infpires brave and noble At- 
 ? .^P ts i an d fpurs us on with an impatient Defire of 
 ill higher Degrees of Perfection. For Love ever la- 
 ours to be uppermoft, and diftlains to take up with 
 >vv and vulgar Attainments. It hates Confinement, 
 nd would fain get look from all worldly Affedions * 
 lat fo its inward and fpiritual Profpeds may not be 
 itercepted by any temporal Good or Evil, which 
 iirken and block it up. In Love is the Perfedion of 
 icafure, and Strength; it is higher than Heaven, 
 roader than the Sea ; it fills the fpacious Univerfe. 
 
 <r it is born of God j The firft and beft of all his 
 
 ^ Grea* 
 
1 34 .£>£ tfic imitation Book III. j 
 
 Creatures, and, as it came from Him, fo it never l efts 
 till it have got above all finite Beings, and center again 
 in that Only, that Infinite Good from whence itorigi- |' 
 nally fprung. 
 
 The Perfon aCted by it flies with eager Haft, does 
 every thing with Cheerfulnefs and Pleafure, and fuf- 
 fers no Impediments to flop him in his Courfe: He 
 gives all things liberally, and yet pofleftes All, becanfe 
 his Soul is united to that Supreme Good, in and from 
 whom is all Perfection. He looks not fo much at the 
 Gift as the Giver, and be the Quality of that, what it 
 will, it only ferves to render him more grateful to its 
 Author. Love knows no Bounds, no Meafurej but i 
 thinks it can never do enough-, and attempts things t 
 even above its Strength, Notconfidering lb much what t 
 it is able, as whatitisdelirous and difpofed, to effeCt -, i 
 The Vehemence of Defire takes oft'all Senfe of Diffi- t 
 culty, and thinks nothing fo great, but that it may I 
 and ought to aim at it. And hence proceed thofe 1 
 mighty, and aftonilhing Achievements, which Love i 
 does daily bring to pafs, where the Fire continues i 
 ftrong, and is not damped by Sloth and Faint-heart- i 
 ednefs. < 
 
 Love is eternally awake, never tired with Labour, ] 
 nor oppreffed with Affliction, nor difeouraged by Fear i j] 
 But like a clear and ftrong Flame is ever mounting up- jt 
 ward, and makes its way through all Oppolition. It |1 
 cries continually in the Ears, ffor fervent Love is that 
 Cry which pierces the Ears) of the molt Higheft, and 
 all the Language of devout Souls inflamed with it, is « 
 to this Effect: My God, my Love, thou art my All , and 
 all mine and 1 am entirely Thine. Enlarge my Heart, 
 and make me capable of yet more Love, that I may 
 feel and feaft upon the Sweetncfs of the delightful 
 AffeCtion, and even melt away and lofcmy felf in the 
 Lxtafies and Charms of this heavenly Difpofition. In- 
 creafe and blow up this divine Flame, that, not content 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 o excel others, I may daily excel my felf. Teach me 
 he Song of Love, and receive me up on high, to Him 
 n whom my Soul delighteth, and fill me with filch 
 Captures of Joy and Praifie, that even Senfie and Life 
 I nay be fiwallowed up in Blifis. Let me love Thee much' 
 nore than my felt; nay, love my felfand all good 
 den, to whom thou art dear, only in and for T hee; 
 or fo haft thou commanded in that Law of Love, 
 vhich is but as it were a Beam and Efflux of thy own 
 Sloriousand Divine Excellence. 
 
 The Love of God is nimble in its Motions, fincefe in 
 s Intentions, ardent and zealous in Devotion, fweec 
 >thc Soul, brave in Attempting, patient in Induring, 
 tithful in Executing, prudent in Action, flow in Re- 
 ntment, generous and manly, and fieeks not to pleale 
 le Perfon’s fielf, but the Perfion beloved. For, where a 
 lan fecks his own Advantage only, there Intereft, not 
 ove, is the Principle upon which he moves. Love 
 cautious and circumfped, upright and humble, not 
 >tt and effeminate, net fickle and fanciful; not fond 
 f Vanities; but fiober and grave, chaft and refined; 
 inftant and fedate, fevere and refierved. Thisdif- 
 oles us to Submiffion and Refped towards our Su- 
 eriours; to a mean and modeft Opinion of our fielves s 
 • Gratitude and Devotion towards God ; It infpires 
 ope and holy Truft, even iu Times of Calamity, and 
 lifcomfort; And necelfiary it is that it fflould do fo, 
 ice no Man is fo happy as to love without Pain, or 
 ways to live under the Light of God’s Countenance, 
 as that no Clouds ffiould ever intercept the cheer- 
 g Warmth of his Favour, and create fome dark In- 
 rvals. 
 
 , That Man therefore does not deferve the Charader 
 One that loves God, who is not difpofe'd and cou¬ 
 nt to fuffer any Afflidions, which the Divine Pro- 
 dence fees fic to inflid ; or thinks much to do what- 
 er his Will declares fic to be performed- In a word, 
 
 K J The 
 
 
i $6 saDf tfte 3!tnttati'on Book itt. 
 
 The hardeft and molt unpalatable Proofs of our Vir¬ 
 tue, belt declare the Fervency and Sincerity of it; And, 
 if Difafters or calamitous Accidents cool or draw off 
 our AfFe&ions, this is an Argument, th it a Man is not 
 yet, what the Apoftlc requires we ftiould 
 EpheJ. iii. 17. a jj Rooted and grounded in Love. 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 The Try a l of true Love. 
 
 Chrifi .] T Have obferved, my Son, thy Notions of 
 X Divine Love-, but Thou, alas! art not 
 yet arrived to that refolute Bravery and Prudence 
 there deferibed. 
 
 Difciple .] Lord, make me fenfible wherein 1 fail, 
 and teach me how to mend it. 
 
 Chrlfl.'] A fmall Temptation (hocks thy Obedience. 
 Thou boggled: at Difficulties, and failed: from thy own 
 Stedfaftnefs, if I feem to withdraw my Favour. The 
 Comforts and Affiltances of Grace are to be wifh’d 
 with Zeal, but not with Impatience; Nor mayeft 
 thou fo fet to thy Heart upon them, as prefently to re¬ 
 coil, if fuch Supplies do not at all times anfwer thy 
 Expedition. 1 hide my Face to try thy Courage. For 
 true Chriftian Magnanimity is molt eminently feen in 
 Troubles and Diftrefles \ in turning the deaf Ear to 
 all thofe crafty Infmuations of the Enemy, which take 
 the Advantage of Melancholy and deep Perplexity of 
 Heart, to ruin and feduce undable Souls by tempting 
 them to Defpair. This Virtue rejoyces in Profperity, 
 but does it with fuch Temper, as not to be offended 
 and fall away by reafon of Adverfity. 
 
 He that loves prudently, keeps his Eyes upon the 
 Giver, confidcrs the Kindnefs and Difpofition of his 
 
 Friend, 
 
Book III. Of J e s us Chr ist. 
 
 U2 
 
 Friend, and values the Gifc by that, not by its own 
 Quality and intrinfick Worth; He finds more real Sa- 
 tisfaftion in my Afteftion, than in the mod profufe 
 and defirable Benefits, which flow from it. Not that 
 I would condemn all Doubts and fad Mifgivings, for 
 thofeare incident to the beft Men; and the Infir¬ 
 mities of Nature do not admit fuch perfect Evennefs of 
 Mind, as is always affefted alike with the Love and 
 Delights of Holinefs. Thole lenfible Pleafures that 
 good Men fometimes feel themfelves tranfported with, 
 are the Effeft of Bounty and Favour, and great In¬ 
 dulgence ; not neceflary and inleparable Confequen- 
 cesot Virtue. The fweet Foretafts of heavenly Joys, 
 fuch as you cannot depend upon, till brought to the 
 Fruition of that Land of Promife ; And therefore no 
 juft Conclufions can be drawn from thence, to the 
 prejudice of thole who want them, becaufe in this 
 Life they are given at Dilcretion, and frequently make 
 way for a feverer and more feafonable Difcipline. 
 And when that Difcipline takes place, thentoperfift 
 in doing well, to ftrive manfully againft all the Re- 
 luftancies of frail Flelh and Blood, and hold out in 
 defpight of all the Importunities and dilcouraging 
 Suggeftions of the Tempter, This is a Proof of true 
 Spiritual Bravery, and entitles fuch valiant Com¬ 
 batants to a noble Reward and exceeding bright 
 ■ Crown. 
 
 Let Reafon therefore, and a well-grounded Faith, 
 not Fancy and Imagination, govern thy Behaviour : 
 And, after what manner foever thy Soul is a Hefted, 
 let thy Purpofes of Obedience be ftill the fame, and 
 thy Perfeverance unbroken. Sometimes perhaps thou 
 (art all Rapture and Joy, and thele Extafies are not 
 ‘what the prophane World fuppole, mere Dreams and 
 Delufions; fometimes again thou wilt relapie into 
 Weaknefs, and Wandrings. Thefeare not thy Choice, 
 but thy Misfortune; Nor doft thou create them to 
 
 K 3 thy 
 
£>FTftC ftattOlT Book III. 
 
 ihy ieif, but fuffer them with much Regret. Now 
 what is not the Man’s own Aft, fhall never be impu- i 
 ted to him as a Fault •, and what is thus by God’s Per- 
 miffion, or the Frailty of Nature, if rightly mana¬ 
 ged, will tend to thy Advantage, and rather improve, 
 than endanger, thy Virtue. 
 
 This indeed you mull know and conftantlv remem¬ 
 ber, That the inveterate Enemy of Souls, is ever la¬ 
 bouring by all means to cool your Zeal. He watches 
 and greedily takes hold of all Occafions to flackcn 
 your Devotion, to prevail with you to neglcft, or 
 abate of, your Prayers and other holy Exercifcs } to 
 divert your Thoughts of Chrift and his Sufferings, t 
 and fix them upon Objects of a different kind ; to beat I 
 you off from that ftrift Guard, which ought always ! 
 to be kept upon your Soul-, and to undermine your j 
 good Intentions and repeated Refolutiocs. He con- | 
 veys many loofe and wicked Thoughts into your 
 Heart, ufes a thoufand Slights and Artifices, to re- 
 prefent Religion a tirefom, tedious, and unnecellary 
 Thing, and to draw off your Attendance upon Goa 
 in Prayers, in hearing his Word, in reading the Holy 
 Scriptures. And happy he thinks himfclf, if by de¬ 
 grees he C3n draw you to a Difufe of thefe things j 
 For nothing more provokes his Malice, and erodes 
 his Deligns, than to fee Men frequently upon their f| 
 Knees, zealous in difeovering and confclling their i 
 Sins} devout and attentive Comers to Church} and 
 conflant Receivers of the Lord’s Supper. When there¬ 
 fore he would perfwade you to be cold and remifs in 
 any Matter of this nature, he fnre to give no Credit 
 to his falfe and wheedling Infinuations, for they are j 
 fo many Snare's laid to captivate and to deftroy you. 
 Turn fmartly back upon him, with a Get thee behind f 
 rr.e, Satan : “ Blufh, if thoucanft, unclean Spirit, at } 
 thy own treacherous Villany} I am well aware of I 
 tly deadly Baits j and fenfible, that Hell and Death i 
 
 c 1 are l 
 
Ci arc upon the Hook ; Thy fly Deceits are loft upon 
 “ Me, for I am refolved already, and my Jefus, who 
 “ vanqnifned thee upon thcCrois, will afiift my Weak- 
 “ nefs, and enable me to overcome thy Temptations. 
 “ Think not to terrifie me with Difficulties, for 
 a Death and Sufferings are light Calamities, in com- 
 " parifon of Guilt and Sin ; and thefe 1 infinitely ra- 
 ‘‘tber choofe, than once to comply with thy wicked 
 ‘‘Motions.^ Begone then, and for ever hold .thy 
 c ' Peace; for I will flop my Ears, and am from this 
 ‘‘ Minntc inflexibly deaf to thy moll troublefom Sol- 
 ‘ licirations. Thou thinkeft to run down a poor weak 
 ‘‘Mortal, but even that Mortal is a Match fir thee, 
 11 though Chris ? that ft rag; bins him. And ftrengthen 
 me he will, for the Lord is my Light and Salvation , 
 “ nbom then Jhall I fear ? The Lord is the 
 ‘‘ Strength of my Life , of whom then Jha/l I xxv *i' 
 
 a fratd? Though an Hofr were banded together againfl 
 “ /v. f, yet will I not be difmayed , for the Lord is my Helper , 
 C _ ni y ^°d ,s the Rock of my Confidence. 
 
 Fight therefore the good Fight, and follow the Cap¬ 
 tain of thy Salvation, like a flout Soldier. And, if 
 at any time thou lofe ground, through Humane Infir¬ 
 mities, rally thy Forces again quickly, and enter upon 
 a fecond Engagement with redoubled Vigour; not 
 doubting feafonable Recruits from Me. But, if at 
 any time thou prove Vidorious, let not this Succefs 
 exalt thee beyond meafure. For Pride and Arrogance 
 are of fatal confequence, they often end in dangerous 
 Errors, and are juftly punifhed with alinoft incurable 
 Blindnefs. Let the frequent Examples of vain Men, 
 undone by their own Folly and my juft Indignation, 
 be fet before thy Eyes, as fo many Sea marks, to warn 
 thee from fleering the fame dangerous Courfe; And 
 the greater Conquefts thou obtaineft over the Devil 
 and thy own Frailty, the more humble and cautious 
 let thefe Advantages make thee in thy Condud; and 
 
 K 4 the 
 

 _I 
 
 140 fflt tlie gmttatton Book ill. 
 
 the more juft to God, in afcribing the whole Suc- 
 cel's and Glory to the powerful Afliftances of his | 
 Grace. 
 
 --- - - — 
 
 Chap. VIII. 
 
 Grace mujl be received without OJlentation . 
 
 Chrifi.~\ A /TY Son, when thou feeleft thy Soul 
 J_VJ. warmed with Devotion and holy Zeal 
 for my Service, it will be advifable to decline all thofe 
 Methods of publifhing it to the World, which vain 
 Men are fo induftrious to take, and content thy felf 
 with its being known to God and thy own Confcience. 
 Rather endeavour to moderate and fupprefs thofe 
 pompous Expreflions of it, in which Some place the 
 very Perfection of Zeal. Think meanly of thy own 
 Virtues. Boaft not of that Grace, whereby thou art 
 capable of differing from another. But let the Re¬ 
 membrance of thy own Unworthinefs make thee fear 
 the lofs of Gifts, which thou didft not deferve ever 
 to have. But This is not only an undelerved, it is 
 alfo a very ftiort and uncertain, Privilege \ for the 
 brighteft and warmell Zeal is apt to languilh and wax 
 cold; and unlefs Men could allure themfelves of fuch 
 a Degree of Grace, as would alter and fix thefc varia¬ 
 ble Natures of theirs, the Fervours of Religious and 
 Holy Defires can never be conftant and equal. 
 
 While therefore thou enjoyeft thefe pleafing pious 
 Comforts, humble thy Soul with Refle&ions upon thy 
 Impotence and Mifery, thy Coldnefs and Deadnefs, 
 when thou haft them not. And confider withal, that 
 the Improvement and Commendation of a Chriftian’s 
 Virtue, confifts, not only in the thankful life of Grace, 
 but in a modeft, humble, and refigned Temper, which ■ 
 
 can 
 
I 
 
 Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 141 
 
 can bear its being taken away without Murmuring or 
 Defpondency; ftill exciting and encouraging it felf, 
 ftill continuing the fame Diligence in holy Duties •, and 
 never fuffering Sloth, or Defpair, or Difcontent, to 
 abate one whit of a Man’s bell Endeavours, to do the 
 utmoft his Condition is capable of. 
 
 This is an Excellence which very few come up to; 
 Idlcnefs and Impatience are the ufual Effefts of Spiri¬ 
 tual Difappointments; which yet is moll unreafonable, 
 if we think at all, in whofe Difpofal Thefe, as Well 
 as all other, Succefles are. For Man cannot command 
 Events; God is foie Mailer of his own Favours. He 
 gives to whom he pleafes } nor will he be limited, o- 
 therwife than by his own Wifdom, what, or how 
 much, or in what time and manner, he lhall give. And 
 even, when he is moll liberal, Men may convert his 
 belt Gifts into OccaHons of their own Deftruclion. 
 Thus fome Men of a bold ungoverned Zeal afpire at 
 things beyond their Strength, and exprefs more Vehe¬ 
 mence than Condutt in their A&ions. They are 
 perfe&ly carried out of themfelves with Eagernefs; 
 forget they are ftill poor Infefts upon Earth, and think 
 of nothing lefs than building their Neft in Heaven} 
 Now Thefe are often left to themfelves, and taught, 
 by lad Experience, that the faint Flutterings of Man 
 are weak and ineffectual, and that nonefoars to Hea¬ 
 ven, except I alfift his Flight, and mount him upon 
 my own Wings. 
 
 It is therefore highly expedient, that Perfons of 
 more Zeal than Experience, fhould not proceed upon 
 their own falfe Meafures of themfelves, but refer their 
 Proceedings to the Guidance and better Judgment of 
 fome Perfons, whom long Time and much Obferva- 
 tion hath taught to temper thofe vain Conceits they 
 are apt to entertain of their own Strentgh, and to 
 proportion their Undertakings to their Circumftances. 
 But This is a Submiflion which Humility mull qualifie 
 
 them 
 
142 
 
 £)f tije gjmttatton Book hi. ; 
 
 them for. For He who is wife in his own Eyes, fel- ■ 
 dom endures to be diverted by another. And this |j 
 Coniideration makes a very moderate Degree of Know- ! 
 Jedge, attended with a modefl and governable Mind, 
 much more fafe and eligible, than the highelf Attain¬ 
 ments with Pride and Self-conceit. The mighty 
 1 ranfports and great Satisfaction Men frequently feel 
 from their own Improvement in Goodnefs, are of | 
 dangerous confequence, if they be fuflered todeftroy 
 the Remembrance of a Man’s former Weakncfs, and 
 his Fears of Relapling into Sin again. And, on the 
 other hand, thefe Fears may run into Excefs, if Dif¬ 
 ficulties tem pt Men to Defpair, and beget melancholy 
 Diftrufts of God’s Ability and Readinefs to relieve I 
 and refeue them by the Succours of that Grace, which 
 knows how to fcatter and defeat the ftrongeft Temp¬ 
 tations. 
 
 The fame Difpofition of Soul, which leads to Se¬ 
 curity in Times of Prolperity and Peace, inclines to 
 Fearfulnefs and Dejertion of Mind in the Day of Ad- 
 verfity and Conflict. For would a Man but guard 
 him fel f againft vain Confidences, and proceed always 
 with Caution and Prudence, when his Graces and his 
 Hopes are at the higheft^ This would preferve him 
 from thofe Dangers, which unwary Heat and too fan- 
 guine Hopes are apt to involve him in. And there¬ 
 fore, when you form to your felf the fairefl: and mofl j 
 promihng Expectations, it will be feafonable to con¬ 
 fer, what may become of you, if God fhould hide 
 his Face, and abate or wholly withdraw thofe cheer¬ 
 ing Comforts, which now {o much exalt you. And fo 
 again, when thefe are interrupted, fupport your Spi- 
 i its in thole datk Intervals, with the Hope, that Day 
 may break upon you again, and that this Night of < 
 Affliction is prolonged, to make you tnoie advifed, and 
 get the greater Honour. 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ, 
 
 For fuch Tryals as thefe arc more for the Advan¬ 
 tage of my faithful Servants, than a conftant Succeflion 
 of Profperity and Confolation could poflibly be. They 
 muft needs be fo^ lince Virtue does not confift in 
 Abundance of Illumination and Knowledge^ but in 
 Lowlinefs of Mind, in Meeknefs and Charity, in a 
 Mind entirely refigned to God, and fincerely difpofed 
 to ferve and pleafe him ; in a juft Senfe of a Man’s 
 own Vilenefs, and not only thinking very meanly Of 
 One's felf, but being well content to be. fo thought of 
 by Others. 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 Of Acknowledging ourVmvorthinefs before God. 
 
 Difciple/] T>Ekold, now 1 take upon me to 
 
 §J fpeak unto my Lord , who am Gen ‘ XT “‘‘ 
 but Du ft and Afhes , vile and finful Dull and Alhes! 
 For, Humid I entertain any better Opinion of my felf, 
 I make my God my Enemy, and ftand convifted by 
 the undeniable Teftimony, and juft Reproaches, of 
 my own guilty Confeience. But if 1 humble my Soul, 
 call ofT all vain Imaginations of Merit, and think my 
 felf that wretched thing I really am, thy Grace exalts 
 me, thy Light cheers and fupports me, and all that 
 groundlefs Arrogance, to which my corrupt Heart is 
 naturally difpofed, vanilhes into nothing. O ! give 
 me then a right Undcrftanding of my felf j Help me 
 truly to difeern, what I am now, what I was original¬ 
 ly, and whence I come. That I am nothing, and pro¬ 
 ceeded out of nothing, and, ifdeftituteof thy Grace, 
 have nothing left, but wh.3t I had much better be 
 without, even Sin and Infirmity. And yet as vile, as 
 I ftnful, as dejefted, as I am of my felf, as foon as thy 
 
 bright 
 
 1 
 
144 
 
 tfjc imitation Book hi, 
 
 ■ 
 - I 
 
 bl ight Beams of Favour are call upon me, my Weak- 
 nefs is made ftrong, and my Heavinefs turned into 
 Joy : I cannot obferve the fudden wondrous Change 
 without allonilhruent, and am not able to account for 
 the happy Exaltation of my Nature, which, though 
 by its own weight inclined to link perpetually, and, 
 by a fatal tendency to Sin and Hell, prefs’d down . 
 with a Load of Flefh and Frailty, is yet, by the migh¬ 
 ty Operations of Grace, enabled to afpire to fpiritual 
 and refined Obje&s, and take noble Flights to Thee 
 and Heaven. 
 
 This I am duly fenfible is the llrange EfFeft of thy 
 free Grace alone, preventing my Delires, infpiring 
 noble Thoughts, affifting my Weakness, fupplying 
 my Wants, refeuing me from Dangers innumerable \ 
 which, without thefe powerful Succours, mull unavoid¬ 
 ably deftroy and fwallow me up. For an inordinate 
 Love of my felf was formerly my ruine, but a fincere 
 Love of Thee, and entire Dependence upon thy Good- 
 nefs, recovers and reftores me \ And the more I love 
 and trull in Thee, the lefs reafon I find to value and 
 have any Confidence in any thing of my own. For 
 Thou, O dearefl: Redeemer, art bountiful and kind, 
 far beyond my Deferts: MyDeferts! Alas! They 
 are none at all, or worfe than none: But Thou ex- 
 ceedeft even my large!! Defires, and givelt more, in¬ 
 finitely more, than I either dare prefume to ask, or 
 am able to exprefs. 
 
 Eternal Thanks and Praife be therefore rendred to 
 my God, for that unfpeakable Goodnefs, which does 
 not difdain to bellow the precious Gifts of his Grace j 
 and Spirit, upon a Wretch unworthy the lea!! of all j 
 his Mercies. Yea, Blefied and Adored be that Libe- j 
 rality and Long-fuflering, which, in defpight of all j 
 our Provocations, continues to engage thofe by Kind- 
 nefs, who, by their former Ingratitude and Abufe of 
 it, had juftly forfeited all future Favours *, And, by j 
 
 many ; 
 
I 3 ook III. of Jesus Christ. 145 
 
 many excellent Arts and holy Importunities, invites 
 and draws Men to himfelf and their own Happinefs, 
 who have an Averfion to both. Even fo, Iweet Jefus, 
 extend thy Companion, and continue thy Care of Us, 
 who are too prone to negleft Thee, and ruine our 
 felves. Oh! bring us to thy felt, by thankful, hum¬ 
 ble, pious Difpolitions \ for We our felves are No¬ 
 thing, and Thou our Holinefs and Health, our only 
 Strength and Salvation. 
 
 Chap. X. 
 
 Of Doing All to the Glory of GOD 
 
 thrift .] npHe fure and only Way to Happinefs, is,- 
 X to make Me, My Son, the chief and 
 ! ultimate End of all thy Adions and Delires. By This 
 thy Sincerity will bell be proved j by This thy Mind 
 refined and purified, from all thofe fordid Interefts 
 and partial Relpeds, which are apt to debauch Hu¬ 
 mane Nature, too much of it felf addicted to private 
 Gain and Selfifhnefs, and thofe falfe Profpedts of Hap¬ 
 pinefs, which the Love of this World vainly propo¬ 
 les. For, as foon as any Man defcends to thefe, and 
 feeks himfelf in all he does, he finds his own Inability 
 to compafs his Intentions, and grows barren and un¬ 
 profitable. Keep Me then conftantly in view, and 
 aim at nothing but the Advancement of my Honour: 
 Which is indeed but reafonable and juft, iince I am 
 the Firft and Perfect Good \ the Source from whence 
 all things flow, and therefore all of Right return to, 
 and ihould center at laft in Me again. I ask but of 
 my own, the Tribute and Acknowledgment of the 
 SucceiTes given by my Providence, of the Aftions 
 performed by Virtue of my Concurrence, of the very 
 
 Facul- 
 
1 46 £E>f tilt gimttatfon Book III. ; 
 
 - - r 
 
 Faculties and Powers originally infpired by my crea¬ 
 ting Spirit. 
 
 The High and Honourable, as well as Mean and 
 Low, the Rich and Poor, all drink of this common 
 Fountain, and the moll Powerful of the Sons of Men 
 can do nothing, till furnilhed with Ability from hence. 
 This Spring is inexhauftible, and They who receive 
 nioft, and are grateful in their Returns, I water with i 
 more liberal Meafures of Grace. Them that honour 
 me, I never fail to honour, and blefs in a vifible and 
 eminent manner But^ if Men glory in any tiling but 
 the Lord, I blaft their Devices, difappoint their Hopes, 
 make them afhamed of their vain Boaftings. For fo 
 have 1 ordered Matters by my Providence, that no 
 true lading fatisfa&ion fliall ever fill that Heart, which 
 fets its Affeftions upon private and paltry Advantages. \ 
 Crolles from without, and Perplexity from within, 
 are the certain Confequence of worldly Delires, and 
 felfifh Principles. 
 
 If therefore thou haft received or done any good 
 thing, take care of mifplacing the Honour and Thanks 
 due for it, upon thy felf, or any other Perfon. For 
 This is robbing God ot his Due, from whom Men re¬ 
 ceive whatever they have, or are^ and Hand in Duty 
 and Equicy bound, to pay him their Acknowledg¬ 
 ments. Since therefore tne Whole is my Gift, when 
 1 demand the whole Thanks and Praife, I demand but 
 the [Prcdudf of my own} and this is what, as I in¬ 
 jure no ;Man in requiring, fo I rcfolve never to depart 
 from. 
 
 This is the tru? Principle of Jufticc. Neceflary to 
 be conlidered, and thoroughly fubmitted to j becaufe 
 ic checks and utterly confounds that other molt per¬ 
 nicious Principle ot Pride and Vain-glory, to which ! 
 Mankind are fo exceeding prone. Nor is it lefs con¬ 
 ducive to their Happinefs, than to their Duty } for, 
 when? this generous Love and Regard of Me takes 
 
 place, 
 
phce it does not only engage my Favour, but fecures 
 the Man from Envy, and Difcontent, Partiality, and 
 every other Paflion, that ufes to torment little and 
 worldy-minded People. For this refpedful Deference, 
 and fervent Love of God, enlarges the Soul, and fills it 
 with great and truly noble Thoughts. And therefore 
 this is a certain Mark of true and heavenly Wifdom 
 to make Me its only Joy, and Hope * For, how can 
 He be wife, who does not fee, that God is the Per- 
 •fcCtion and Original of all Good, and that the neceffa- 
 ry Confequence of his being fo, is, that He is to be 
 Framed, Honoured, Admired, in, and for, and above 
 all: Since all the Good which Men pretend toefteem, 
 IS by Communication from him j an Emanation from 
 
 Caufe U ? neft ’ 30 Em ° f that Solc ’ thaC Univerfa! 
 
 Chap. XI. 
 
 God's Service is perfeft Freedom. 
 
 • Difciflt.'} T Will again take the Confidence to fpeak 
 
 . ,. d U ? t0 tb , e ^ ord ’•> Nor ought I indeed to 
 h °l d ' n '. Peace ’ but 3( ld refs my felf to Thee, my Lord, 
 and God, my heavenly King, thatfittefton thy throne 
 far above the Skies, and thus will I proclaim thy Mer¬ 
 cies and my own Happinefs. How pure, O'Lord 
 how fweet, how exquilite are the Pleafures thou re’ 
 ferveft for them that fear thee, that delight them- 
 felves in thy ^ove, that are entirely devoted to thy 
 Service ; No Tongue can worthily exprefs the won- 
 
 cJidrh & l r e 1 ranf l J0rts > aild ravifhiBg Extafies, 
 which fill thefe pious Souls, enflamed with the Love 
 
 and employed in the Contemplation of Thee. For 
 This is a Subject, boundkfs as thy Gootfnefs ^ That 
 
 G od 
 
i 4 8 tlic limitation Book 111 . 
 
 Goodnefs, which exerted it felt in commanding me j 
 out of Nothing, and, when that Being which thou 
 gavcft was rend red liable to eternal Mifery, a frefh* 
 and yet more valuable Inftancc of thy Mercy, was that 
 of beftowing upon me a new and better Life, when I 
 was worfe than nothing. For thou hadft ‘_>ompaffion 
 on my Weaknefs, and my Wandrings, Thou foughteft 
 and with tender Care broughteft back thy loft Sheep, 
 taughteft me the right Way, helpedft me to walk in 
 it, and didft inftruft and guide me in thy Love. 
 
 O Thou overflowing Spring of endlefs Love, how 
 (hall I worthily magnifie thee, how can I forget thee j 
 Thee, who in my loweft Ebb of Mifery, didft con- 
 defcend fo gracioufly, fo effectually to remember Me? 
 Whofe Kindnefs refcued me from Death, and far ex¬ 
 ceeded all my Hopes \ reftored me to that Favour, 
 which my Sins had forfeited, andfhewedit felf a Friend 
 to that Wretch, who was become thine, and his own, 
 Enemy. What (hall l render to the Lord for all 
 rjJ. cxvi. Benefits he hath done unto me ? If I refolve 
 to ferve thee, yet how poor a Tribute is that, to Him 
 whom all created Nature is bound to ferve? This is 
 fo far from a fufficient Return, that 1 ought rather to j 
 admire thy Mercy, and cftcern it an Honour to my felt, I 
 when thou vouchfafeft to accept the Service of fo poor, j 
 fo worthlefs a Creature, and doft not difdain to reckon j 
 me among thofc, whom thou fuffereft to do thee 
 Homage. 
 
 For even in this 1 pay thee but thy own, fince I 
 and all I have are thine. But why do 1 fpeak of Ser¬ 
 ving thee, when by a moft aftonifhing Condcfccnlion, 
 even Thou, the mighty God, artpleafed to ferve me ? 
 For this is the Effett of that excellently good Provi¬ 
 dence, which hath contrived and ordered Heaven and | 
 Earth, and all the Creatures, in fuch a manner, that 
 they ihould be ufetul and beneficial to Mankind •, Which j 
 hath appointed blefied Spirits above for Guards and \ 
 
 Mi- | 
 
149 
 
 Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Minifters to the Heirs of Salvation ; And, which is 
 nioit forprizing, when Thou thy feif, for my fake, hail 
 taken upon thee the Form of a Servant, and wertmade 
 a hail, an afflicted Man ! When Thou didil give thy 
 I.ifc for undone Sinners, and (till doll give thy felf in 
 Grace, and hail engaged to give thy felt; even the full 
 and eternal Fruition of thy glorious God-head, to eve¬ 
 ry fincere Believer. 
 
 O ! that it were in my Power to make a fuitable Re¬ 
 turn, for Love which pa/les, not my Thanks ofily 
 but even my Knowledge ! O ! that my Wavs were 
 made fo direct that my whole Life might be one con¬ 
 tinued Aft of Gratitude and Obedience! Nay, fuch is 
 my Infirmity, that 1 muft be content to wiih, that 
 any one Day of that Life might be employed as it 
 ought in thy Service. I know, O Lord, that Thou art 
 worthy to receive all Duty, and Honour and Praife for 
 £ver. f am fenlible, that Thou art my rightful Lord, 
 ind I thy poor Servant j That the utmoft I can do is 
 :hy juft Due, and that I ought to takeunfpeakableDe- 
 ight in 1 hanking and Obeying Thee - , That nothinc 
 lie buc this fhould give me any Satisfaction, and that^ 
 vhen I have laid my felf out entirely upon it, I ftill 
 lave done too little. 1 his is the real PerfwaGon, this 
 s the earneft Defire of my Soulj and where my 
 3 ower falls Ihort of my Inclination, there do Thou, I 
 lefeech thee, ftrengthen and fupply what is wanting 
 >y thy Grace; that my Deeds and Deportment may 
 >ear Teftimony and Proportion to my pious Difpofi- 
 ion. 
 
 To be the meaneft of tfiy Servants is the higheft Ad¬ 
 vancement; To defpife and forfake all for Thee, is 
 rue Riches and Honour. They who thus enter them- 
 elves into thy Family, and cheerfully undertake this 
 ’ask, (hall have a glorious Reward j and will feel the 
 leafures of this World, infinitely paid, infinitely out- 
 one, by the better and larger Ameads of Grace and 
 
 J- Divine 
 
150 t tlje gjmitatioii Book Hi- I 
 
 Divine Comforts in exchange. They who thus bind 
 themfelves to thee, that abandon worldly Cares, and . 
 attend to the One thing neceflary, attain to true and 
 generous Freedom of Soul ^ And the ftrait Way of thy 
 Commandments, is the only perfect Law of Liberty. 
 
 Oh happy Confinement! which lets Men at large from 
 the Slavery of Sin, from worldly Cares and Iiicum- 
 brances, from the infupportable Tyranny of unruly 
 Appetites and domineering Paflions! O blefied De¬ 
 pendence ! which makes us of the moft high God’s Re- j 
 tinue, raifes us up to a Level with the Angels, renders \ 
 us Dear to the Almighty, a Terrour to evil Spirits, 
 Conquerors over out greateft and fierce!! Enemy, and 
 recommends us to the Love, the Praife, the Imitation 1 
 of all good Men. Who would not greedily embrace 
 fu<fh a Service, where the very Work is pleafant, the 
 Encouragements paid down in hand noble and great, 
 and the Wages promifed in Recompence for our La- ) 
 bours, Happinefs exquifite, unfpeakable, and ever- 
 lafting 1 
 
 Chap. XII. 
 
 Of Regulating our Defires. 
 
 Christ .'J \? r Et flill, my Son, there are many things, j 
 in which thou art not fufficiently ln- 
 
 ftrufted. 
 
 Difciple .\] Lord, be thou pleafed to let me know, 
 and enable me to receive, and do, them. 
 
 Chriilt 3 Thy Dcftres muft be reduced into Sub- I 
 jeftion, and my Will take place in every thing j Nor i 
 mufl thy own private Interefi:, but the Zeal and Re- 
 gard for my Honour, and the Obedience due to my 
 Commands, be the governing Principle of all thy , 
 
 Adtions. 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 5 * 
 
 Actions. You feel Defires, like inward Springs put 
 you into motion, and very eager fometimes you are 
 of doing what you are verily perfwaded is good. But 
 even when the thing it felf is commendable, the In¬ 
 tention and Motive Men go upon, ought to be nicely 
 confidered. For it makes a mighty Difference, whe- 
 ther I, orThemfelves, be principally in their Thoughts. 
 Now this difcovery is not hard to make. For, if my 
 Honour be their great Concern ; howfoever my Pro- 
 vidence difpofes their Affairs, they will conclude 
 what I do belt, and will be contented with it • But 
 if under this Difguifc of Holinefs, there be a lurking 
 Corruption of Private and By-refpeds, if Gain, make! 
 den frugal, or Ambition, virtuous; or the Praifeof 
 the \V orld, charitable ; or the Confideration of their 
 own Health, temperate; thefe are Principles, upon 
 which no dependence can fafely be had : Their Con- 
 dud will be unequal, and vary as Events do; and e- 
 very Dnappointment of their Expectations will pro¬ 
 duce l rouble and Impatience. 1 
 
 -Do not therefore be too confident of every fort of 
 j Inclination to do well; but firit advifewith Me, and 
 | take care to build upon a good Foundation. For Men 
 j who ad upon indirect Ends, very often repent, when 
 | t is too late ; And 1 hat which at firft they propofed 
 ■jreat Satisfaction and Advantage from, proves at long 
 un their Torment and Lofs. Nay, I mult give you 
 his farther Caution yet, That even good Inclinations 
 ire not to be taken at firlt fight, nor rafhly purfued 
 without a diligent and prudent Obfervation. For it 
 nay be convenient fometimes, to put fomc Reltraints 
 jpon the very bell Intentions. They who net-led this, 
 nnd give free fcope to their Zeal by too great Eager- 
 lefs, often exceed the Bounds of Moderation and De- 
 ■ency; fometimes give Offence to their Brethren by 
 . r extravagant Heats, and impetuous Sallies ; and 
 ometimes, upon any Refinance or Difficulty, which 
 
 L i ob . 
 
152 
 
 £>f ti)e Book III. ! 
 
 -j 
 
 cbitruds thofe precipitate Fervours, lofe all their in¬ 
 ward Peace, defift from their good Defigns, and fall 
 from the Hcighth of Rapture, to the Extremities of 
 Melancholy and Defpair. . So that to make thy Zeal 
 in Well-doing, in all Points what it ought to be, it is 
 by no means fufficient, that it be honeft and well-dif- 
 pofed, unlefs it be alfo fober, and regular, and difereet. , 
 Again, There arc fomc Occaltons and Circumftan- 
 ces, which render a fort of holy Violence necelfary, 
 and oblige Men to ad quite contrary to their Incli¬ 
 nation. To bear no manner of Regard to Flelh and 
 Senfe, or what will be moll agreeable, any farther, 
 than may ferve to fet the Mind in array againft them, 
 and refolutely engage in a formal War, for the redu¬ 
 cing, or keeping them in Obedience, to the fuperiour 
 Faculties of the Soul. For, by thus frequently con¬ 
 trolling, and counter-working all that Humane Na¬ 
 ture hath a tendency to, the outward Man is by de¬ 
 grees qualified for Duty ^ and acquires a great llea- 
 dinefs of doing, or fullering, whatever fhall be im- 
 pofed upon it. And in thefe Exercifes the firfl Foun¬ 
 dations are laid, of Contcntedncfs with a Little, of 
 Satisfadion in a private and neglcded State, a mean 
 and narrow Fortune; and ot Patience under any 
 Crofles or Calamities, without thofe murmuring | 
 Thoughts, which arc apt to beget hard and irreve- j 
 rent Retied ions, and too often break out in wick- j 
 ed Complaints, and fawey Exportulations, againft the 
 Jultice, and Wifdom, and Goodnefs, of God, and 
 Providence. 
 
Hook 
 
 of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 *5* 
 
 H A P. 
 
 XIIL 
 
 The Necejjity And Reafonablenefs of Patience. 
 
 Difciple.~] ID V a!) the Colleflions I am able to make 
 . .. : /J from ra >’ dear Lord’s Inftruftions, and 
 the little Experience I have of the World, Patience 
 Teems to me a moft necefiary Virtue: For the Condi- 
 tion ot Man in this Life is To expofed to Calamities 
 t r S P r: S V that ^ n def P i S. ht of all his Endeavours 
 
 State fsth'It ? aWai ^ hlm cvei 'y-where, and his 
 
 Sta Ef 'Vn , • } Varfare and continual Suffering 
 
 Jr-? ^ f °l Son ’ Nor is h ^ TnSuld be 
 £ F °I th - ofe Mcn havc a Wron g N °ti°n of 
 
 li-Hna 1 j ma - k f 1C , t0 . confift ,n freedom from Suf- 
 fcring , and, either having no Troubles, or being in- 
 
 enfiblc of any. This is a State, neither attainable by 
 a Man nor convenient tor a Chriftian. The Peace 
 I would have thee afpire after, is fuch as confifts very 
 well with Affliaions: And This is gained, when a 
 Man hath brought himfelf to that equal Compofure 
 
 D?tv efi f Sd d rl' em £ er r° f - S fi ° U J’ - aS firmly t0 Pcrfift in his 
 f d [° r f( l , fat ' sfied ,n the Difpenfations of 
 jod, u hen he thinks fit to try his Virtue, by very 
 ^ atand gnevous Adverfities. If This appear a 
 ..ic. Saying, think how much harder it will be to en- 
 
 l U LM b T TOrmentS °J ? eI1 ’ and the implacable Ven¬ 
 geance of an angry God. Nature, as well as Reli- 
 |.on, teaches Men, of Two Evils to choofe the left. 
 
 5 ls d°ne, when they fet themfelves fubmif- 
 ively to undergo Tribulation here, for the Tike of 
 jod and a good Comcience, that they may, by fuch 
 
 S'jfS' ? e ' i,£ , r Sre 
 
 I'iereaften ^ W h> and never ' cea H Punilhmems 
 
 L3 
 
 Now 
 
154 €>f tfte 5 intttat( 0 |T Book III. 
 
 Now Tribulation is a Portion diftributcd in com¬ 
 mon to all the Sons of Men ; diftributcd in large , 
 Meafures, even to thofe Children of this Generation, 
 which thou perhaps vainly imagined to be moft ex¬ 
 empted from it. For even the gayeft and moft pro- 
 fperotis of them all, are not without their many and 
 fore Evils. ’Tis true indeed. They take a great deal 
 of Pleafurc, indulge their Inclinations without con- 
 troul, and fo their Mifery makes a lefs fenfible 1m- 
 preflion upon their Spirits; but Miferies they have. 
 Or, put the very beft of their Cafe, and fuppofe their 
 Joys to be without any Interruption, their Willies 
 without any Difappointment; Yet, even thus, how 
 long would their Happinefs laft ? Alas! they vanilh 
 like a Dream, and all their Profpcrity foon featters 
 like Smoak ; Nay, not only their Enjoyments them- 
 felves, but the very Remembrances of them, perilh in 
 a Moment. Their Life is but a Vapour ; and Death 
 will be fure to fwallow up Them and their Gayeties, 
 in fpeedy and perpetual Oblivion. 
 
 But this is putting the Cafe more favourably than it 
 ever happens in reality. For, even in this Lite, their 
 Plenty and Pleafores are chequered with Misfortunes, 
 and all their Sweets allayed with a bitter Mixture of 
 Cares and Fears, and inward Perplexities of Heart. 
 The very Objects, that minifter Pleafure, bring Pain 
 along with them too. And this is one great Argu¬ 
 ment, how wife a Providence the World is governed 
 by, that the very Inordinacy of thofe Affe&ions, 
 which purfue the Pleafures of Senfe fo eagerly, Ihould 
 prove a Torment to the guilty Mind, and embafe 
 thofe very Pleafures they indulge. Thefe very Plea- 
 furcs too are fliort and fleeting, treacherous and de¬ 
 ceitful, irregular and exorbitant, a Shame and Blemifh 
 to Humane Nature; And, if Men be not fenfible of 
 this, That Ignorance proceeds from their own Inad¬ 
 vertency. Their Reafon is intoxicated with prefent 
 
 De- 
 
Bonk III. of J esus Christ. 155 
 
 Delights, and their Minds blinded by vicious Habits, 
 by which they degenerate into Brutes, ftupidly aban¬ 
 don themfelves to the tranfitory Pleafures of Sin and 
 Luft, at the Expence of Everlafting Pains; and con- 
 fult the prefent Gratification of a vile mortal Body, 
 with the Ruine of a precious and immortal Soul. 
 
 Go not thou therefore after their Excdles, nor place 
 thy Happinefs in ferving, but rather in commanding, 
 fubduing, denying, mortifying, thy own Inclinations. 
 Delight thou tn the Lord , and he fha/l grant . 
 thee thy Heart’s defire. For this Delight will ^• XXXU1 * 
 teach thee, that the Happinefs of Man confifts in in¬ 
 ward and fpiritual Satisfactions, in the Contempt of 
 this World and its empty Gayeties. And, the lefs 
 Thefe are elleemed and affected, the greater and more 
 ravilhingly fweet fhall thofe generous and noble Plea¬ 
 fures prove, which refult from the Experience of God’s 
 Favour, and the fubftantial Comforts of a good Con- 
 fciencc. 
 
 But Hill thefe Comforts are not to be had, without 
 much Labour, many Conflicts, and fnarp Sufferings. 
 For the corrupt Inclinations of Flefh and Blood, and 
 the confirmed Habits of Vice, create great Difficulties \ 
 and ask Time and Pains to conquer. And conquered 
 they may be, by introducing the contrary Habits of 
 Virtue. The Flefh indeed will recoil, and think it felf 
 ill ufed j but Reafon and Religion will lilt nee thofe 
 Grumblings, and refolute Perfeverance in good Wot ks 
 vanquilh all thy Reluctancies. The fubtle old Serpent 
 will feduce and importune thee, but Prayer and good 
 Thoughts drive the evil Spirit away ; and Falling and- 
 holy Exercife, or conftant lawful Bulinefs, wiil keep 
 him out. For he never enters fo ealily, fo fnccefsfully, 
 as when Idlenefs fets open the Door, and an empty 
 Heart makes room for his wicked Suggeftions. 
 
 L.4 
 
 Chap. 
 
£Df tiie ^imitation Book m. 
 
 ill 
 
 Chap. XIV. 
 
 Obedience to Superiors ; enforced by CbrijVs Ex¬ 
 ample. 
 
 Chrifi .] l^Now, my Son, that the Man who rcfu- 
 fes Obedience, rcje&s the Grace, and 
 excludes himfelf from the Favour, of God t And, by 
 peeking liisown private Advantage inordinately, breaks 
 the Order, and obftru&s the Good of the Fublick. 
 Difrefpect and Contumacy to Superiours, is an infal¬ 
 lible Mark of rebellious Appetites, and Paflions not 
 reduced to the Governance of Reafon and Religion. 
 Subrhiflion therefore is of great ufe, for fubdning the 
 Fleih and its Lufts; and a good Prefervative againft 
 Temptations. For the foreign Enemy will be more 
 fuccefsfully oppofed, when thy Domeftick one is full 
 vanquifhed j and All quiet within. And Man himfelf 
 is his own word Enemy. Nor arc his Circumftances 
 evermore full of Danger, than, when the fenfitive 
 raifes Inlurredions, and would dethrone the rational 
 Soul And, in order to this bringing the Inferiour 
 Faculties to Reafon, an humble Opinion of your felf 
 is neceffaryj For Partiality and Piide are at the bot¬ 
 tom of all the Difordevs in thy own Bread, and all the 
 pifturbance given by unn ly Men to Society, and good 
 Government, of all kinds. 
 
 And what fuch mighty Merit is there in this Sub- 
 milTion ? What Difparagement can it be thought to 
 Thee, who art Dull and Vilcnefs, when thou remein- 
 breft, That I my l'elf, the Almighty Majefly of Hea¬ 
 ven, and the Lord of all the llniverfe^ 1, who created 
 Thee, and the whole World, out of Nothing, did yet 
 condcfccnd to a State of Subjection, and appeared in 
 the very lowed, cod lervjle, and defpicable Form, 
 for thy fake, who art nothing ? And why, but that fo 
 
[Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 *57 
 
 tliy Pride might have no Pretence to fupport it, after 
 (b eminent a Pattern of Humility ? Learn then, thou 
 Wretch, to humble thy felf, and, like that Earth of 
 which thou art, be even content to be trampled upon, 
 and troden under Foot; Lay thy felf, like the Streets, 
 to the Feet of infulting Men who walk over thee, and 
 never reft, till thou halt broken thy own Perverfenefs, 
 ind art in a conttant Readinefs to comply with every 
 uft Command ot All who have Authority over thee. 
 
 Till this be done, purfue thy Paffions with remorfe- 
 efs Indignation; and fpare them not, till the very 
 lafl: Remains of Pride be abfolutely fupprelTed and kil- 
 ed in thy Heart. And, if thou fometimes find ill li¬ 
 nage and tyrannical Barbarity, yet ttill confider, thou 
 irt buta Man,and oughtft not to complain; Nay,rather 
 :on(ider, that thou art a Sinner ^ in Juftice configned 
 aver to Hell and eternal Fire ; and let the Anger of 
 in olFended God, which ftricfly is thy Portion and 
 Defert, check thy Refentments of the Infolence and 
 Injuries, the reproachful Treatment, and unjuttifiable 
 Hardfhips, which Men may fometimes offer to thee. 
 
 I his Wrath of God thou hadft provoked, but I in 
 Mercy fpared thee;, I had Compaffion on thy Soul, and 
 -anfomed it from Death by my own Blood. And canft 
 :hou think, that no Return is due for fuch Mercy ? 
 Fes, Know, that I require thou fliouldft.be fenfible of 
 :he aftoniihing Greatnefs of my Love, and fhew that 
 ienfe by Gratitude and Humility ^ by a modeft and 
 -efpeaful Obfervance of my Reprefentatives here be- 
 ow ; and by not difdaining to fuffer any Shame and 
 contempt, any Injuftice and Barbarity, when Provi- 
 lence and Duty call thee to it, which 1, thy Matter, 
 :hy God, did not grudge to undergo for thy, fake, 
 yvhiltt converfing in Humane Flelh upon Earth. 
 
 C H A p. 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
£>f tfje ftmtattoit Book III. 
 
 *5 8 
 
 Chap. XV. 
 
 God’s Judgments are to be confidered f for our 
 
 Humiliation, 
 
 Difciple."} TXTHenthou, Lord, uttered thy Voice 
 VV in Judgments, my Joynts are loofed, 
 my Limbs quake for fear, my very Soul is confounded, 
 and trembles at thy Thunder. In the midd of thefe 
 * l ... Horrors I begin to refleft, that the He*- 
 
 •' ' vens themfelves are not pure in thy fight , and 
 
 that even the Angels thou haft charged with Folly : If then 
 thofe exalted intelleflual Spirits were notable to dand 
 before thee, and kept not their fird Eftate, What 
 m.ifc become of fuch a Wretch as I am? If even the 
 Stars fell from the Firmament, how can Dud and Allies 
 hope to efcape ? They who did eat Angels Food, de¬ 
 generated from their primitive Excellence, and fed 
 on Husks with Swine, how then Ihould a Creature 
 preferve its Innocence, whofe very Original is Im¬ 
 pure ? 
 
 This, Lord, convinces me, that there is no Holi- 
 nefs, but what is derived from Thee alone •, No Wif- 
 dom without thy Governance •, No Strength a diffid¬ 
 ent Defence if thou withdraw thy gracious Protedion; 
 No Continence or Abdemioufnefs effcftual, except 
 thou guard it •, No Watchfulnefs againd the Enemy, 
 unlefs thy wakeful Eyes keep all our Approaches, and 
 repulfe the Adaults of the Tempter, if thou ceafc to 
 fupport us with thy mighty Hand, the Waves fwallow 
 us up •, we fink and periffi without thee, and with thee 
 walk upon the Sea in fafety : Weak and undable are 
 our Refolutions, but thy Grace gives Strength and Per- 
 feverance ; Cold and timerous are our Hearts, but 
 thou warmed them with Zeal, and infpired them 
 with Courage j Lift up thirty Lordy our Hands that hang 
 
 downy 
 
»00k III. of J E S U S C H R I S T. I 59 
 
 5iw, and onr feeble Knees , that we faint not in this Spi- 
 ] tual Warfare • and enable thofe who can do nothing 
 ■ithoutthee, to conquer all Difficulties through thy 
 trength. 
 
 1 know, O Lord, that if any good thing teem to be 
 1 me, yet even this deferves my meaneft Opinion, 
 id will in no Degree juftifie my thinking otherwife 
 f my felf than as a molt vile and worthless Wretch, 
 .nd therefore, when thy angry Jultice afflicts me, it 
 my Duty, with the profoundeft Humility,to lay my 
 louth in the Dull, and meekly fubmit to thy cor- 
 -fting Hand. For, though I cannot dilcovcr all the 
 eafons of thy myfterious Judgments, yet this [ find 
 0 difficulty to difeern, that I my felf am nothing, 
 
 I id that 1 proceeded out of nothing. Oh the dark 
 r byfs! in which I can find nothing relating to my 
 If but Vanity and Nothing. Where then isthePre- 
 imption, where the Pride, the lofty Conceit of my 
 Vorth and Virtue ? Whither are all my vain Confi- 
 Onces, and towring Imaginations fled? Thy Judg- 
 t ents, Lord, have (wept them away like a Torrent; 
 j id all are funk in thofe unfearchable Depths. Thefe 
 ew me to my felf and juftifie the Prophets 
 ebuke. Shall the Clay exalt it felf againft the XlV '. 
 Jtter, that fajltioned it ? Behold^ as the day * ir ' xu '’ 
 in the Hands of the Potter , Jo is every mortal Man 
 thy Hand, 0 Lord. 
 
 And is it poffible for that Soul to fwell with Info- 
 nce and vain Conceit, which is duly fenfibleof thy 
 ajefty, and fubmits to it, with that Lowlinefs and 
 ligned Submiffian which thy Truth direfts ? No, 
 !>; Not all the Voices of Mankind confpiring una- 
 moufly in his Praife, can blow him up to fond Con¬ 
 its of his own Excellence, when once his Hopes and 
 eartare fixed on God. For he confiders, that all 
 iefe are but fo many Copies of himfelf; frail and fee- 
 e, deceivable and periffiing, emptinefs and nothing. 
 
 I Thar 
 
i6o £Df t!)C gimitatlOlt Book III. 
 
 That They, as well as their Words, are only Air and 
 Sound, and both will quickly vanifh together but 
 . . God and his Truth remain tor evermore. 
 
 Ccafe therefore from Alan, tor wherein is he 
 to he account ed of ? and endeavour to have Praifeof Him, 
 i ret. iv. . re I’fl et,} Proud, but in his own due 
 time exalteth Them , who humble tbemfehcs 
 under his mighty Hand. 
 
 Chap. XVI. 
 
 With tvhat Referves we ought to Pray. 
 
 Chriflf\ y Et this, my Son, be the Language and 
 JL J Style ©f all thy Prayers: Lord, if it he 
 thy Pie afire, gram me this Requefl Jf what I ask conduce 
 to thy Glory, dot bon be p leafed togive and profit r if, Lord, 
 if Thou, to whom all Things and their Confeqr.ences are per- 
 f tolly known , feefl that this will be for my true jddvantage, 
 not only befiow it, but with it Grace to ufe it to thy Glory 
 But if thou feefl it may prove hurtful to me, do not only 
 diny my Petitions, which proceed from Ignorance and Mi - 
 flake', but remove far from me the veiy Defire of that, 
 which cannot be obtainedwithout my Prejudice. 
 
 1 his laffc is a very reafonable and expedient Re- 
 queft; becaufe many Defires, which feem, not in¬ 
 nocent only, but even virtuous and wife, profita¬ 
 ble ui.d praile-worthy, in a Man's own Eyes, are yet 
 neither infpired by God, nor agreeable to his Will : 
 Nor is it ealie to difeern, whether one be aaed by a* 
 good or evil Spirit •, or whether, in the Matter of his 
 Prayers his own Inclination and private Rcfpefts do 
 not determine him. And many a one, who hath fanfi- 
 ed the Impulfeof Divine Gtace, and perfwaded him- 
 .elf, that he hath been directed and adted by it all a- 
 
 longi 
 
- _ 
 
 Uook III. of Jesus Christ. 161 
 
 j long; finds the Delufion out at lail ; and what he ira- 
 I puted to the Spiric of God, proves in the End a Sug- 
 I geftion of the Devil, or the eager Longings of his own 
 I vain Mind. 
 
 The fureA way then never to offend God in thy 
 Defires, and to be accepted in thy Addreffes to him, 
 will be, to temper all thy Inclinations with His Fear 
 I and not fo much as indulge a fecret Wilh,without fuch 
 Refer vations as may teAifie an entire Submiflion to the 
 Divine Difpofal. And, when thofeWilhes break but 
 into Words, Men (hall do well to conceive and pre- 
 fent them in fuch Forms, as may exprefs fome Check 
 upon themfelves, and mighty Caution in reftrainin^ 
 their Tongues from asking any thing in a Peremptory 
 Manner; but leaving the Matter entirely to God’s 
 better Choice. As thus ; “ Lord , thou knmvefi , whether 
 11 *jf e having, or the being denied the Mutter of tny Petition , 
 u he convenient • and therefore all 1 big is y that what 
 “ thou Jetjl mo ft expedient may be done. I ask, indeed , as 
 “' s my Duty, but I prefurae not to preferibe to thy 
 ‘^Heavenly Wifdom: Give therefore. Lord, fuch 
 u Things, and in fuch Mealures,ar.d at fuch Times, as 
 thou feeft fit. Deal with me as thou knoweft is ne- 
 ceflary. For That 1 am well affured is belt for Me 
 “ which is molt agreeable to thy Will, and molt con¬ 
 ducive to thy Glory. Appoint me any Polt, and 
 ufe me as thy own; turn and change Me and my 
 ' Fortune at pleafure; l only beg to be qualified for thy 
 Difpenfations, toulethem rightly, and greatly to 
 impiove under them. For 1 am thy Servant, de¬ 
 voted to thee without the lealt Rcferve : 1 defire 
 “ n Qt t0 Uve to my felf but to Thee; Oh t that I might 
 be enabled faithfully and worthily to perform that 
 “ Homage and Duty, to all which my Heart is molt 
 'freely and fincerely difpofed ! 
 
 C H A v. 
 
162 
 
 AD i tfje 9 )tmtattoir Book in. 
 
 Chap. XVII. 
 
 A Prayer for Grace to do the Will of G 0 D. 
 
 Difciple “ T TEar me, moil merciful Saviour,! hum • 
 O 4t bly befeech thee, and let thy 
 u Grace be ever prefent with thy weak unworthy Ser- 
 41 vant. I am not of my felf able to do, or think any 
 44 thing that is good: O ! let thy Spirit aflift my poor 
 44 Endeavours, vanquilh the Temptations that fo thick 
 44 befet me, fix my inconftant Mind, and follow me all 
 44 the Days of my Life, that I may perfevere in good 
 44 Works unto the End. Regulate my Affedtions and ■ 
 44 Defires, and confine them to fuch Objedts only, as 
 44 are well-pleafing in thy fight. Let thy Will be the 
 44 Guide and Meafure of mine, and let mine fteadily 
 44 conform to thy Pleafure. Remove far from me all 
 44 Inclinations and Averlions, but fuch as agree with 
 44 thofe of the Blefled Jefus. Help me to die daily to 
 44 the World, and the things of the World, and 
 44 mortifie my Vanity to that degree, that even Shame 
 44 and Contempt, for thy fake, may be, not only fup- 
 44 portable but welcome to me. Let all my Hopes 
 44 and Willies center in Thee alone •, and nothing ap- 
 44 pear defirable, in comparifon of a pure Heart and a 
 44 peaceful Confcience. For Thou, O Lord, art my 
 44 Peace, Thou my only Reft \ in Thee alone is Plea- 
 44 fure and true Satisfaction, and all without thee is 
 44 Milery and Torment. Oh ! grant me this bleft 
 14 Retreat, this happy Security •, that I may abandon 
 44 aH the falfe Appearances of Happinefs here below, 
 
 44 and find foft Eafe and fweet Repofe in thy Love and 
 44 Favour, Thou True, Thou Chief, Thou Eternal 
 44 Good of Pious Souls. 
 
 Chap. 
 
took III. of Jesus Christ. 16 } 
 
 Chap. XVIII. 
 
 God is our only Comfort in Trouble. 
 
 Oifciple .] 1 TfTHatever Comforts and Happinefs I 
 V V propofe, This is not the Time, and 
 •lace of enjoying them, but I exped that bleffed Fru- 
 :ion in another State. For, what would it avail 
 ould I attain the utmoft Delights the World can rf- 
 3 rd, when a very (hort fpace muft of necellity put a 
 eriod to them ? Do not then miftake thy Happinefs, 
 iy Soul, for thefe things are not, cannot be, thy Reft: 
 he Fulnefs of Joy and undifturbed Pleafure is no 
 here to be found, fave in God only ; He is the Com- 
 >rter of the Afflifted, He the Wealth of the Poor, 
 the Support and Strength of the Weak, He the 
 lory and great Reward of the Humble. 
 
 Nor let it difturb thy Peace, or dilcourage thy 
 ope, that thou canft not yet afpire to thy promifed 
 dicity; for God is faithful and cannot lie: Only 
 ait his own Time patiently, and thou /halt not fail of 
 Mercy, and an abundant Recompence of thy Faith 
 I id patient Truft in due Seafon. But, if this Delay 
 aw off thy Affedions to prefent Comforts, and abate 
 y Zeal for future and diftant Rewards, thou (halt 
 dire earthly Blellings and not be filled •, and at the 
 me time lofe thofe heavenly and eternal Joys, which 
 one can fatisfie, and make thee happy. Vfe then 
 efe Temporal things, but love none but the things 
 at are Eternal. The prefent were not defigned for 
 | ljoyment, but for Necellity and Convenience. Thy 
 ature is not cut out for them, nor is it in their Power 
 make thee pcrfedt, though all, this mortal State is 
 pable of, were united together for that purpofe. 
 
 ■r God alone is aGood, large enough to fill the De¬ 
 es of an immortal Soul \ He only is proportioned to 
 
 Shy 
 
164 
 
 Of the limitation Book m. 
 
 tby Wants and noble Faculties: And the Happinefs to 
 be met with in Him, is not that rranfitory, imperfeft 
 Thing, which the Children of this Generation fondly 
 covet and admire, but that exquilite, that infinite and 
 inward Delight, of which the Pure in Heart, and Spi¬ 
 ritual Perfons, receive fome fweet Foretafts, and 
 Pledges; by having their Converfation in Heaven, 
 while they themfelves are upon Earth. For Man is 
 vain, and all his Comforts like him ; Empty and un- 
 fatisfaftory, falfe and fleeting, fwift in decay, and of 
 Ihort continuance; But Thofe from God refemble 
 the Perfections of their Author, fpiritual and true, 
 immutable and eternal. A truly pious Soul can never 
 be deftitute, becaufe he conflantly bears his Happinefs 
 about him y even the Blefled Jefus, the Divine Com¬ 
 forter y and, when bereft of all belides, can thus con- 
 verfe with Him in the profoundeft Solitude. 
 
 Blefled be thy Mercy, O deareft Jefus! BlelTed be 
 thy cheering Prefence ! O let me never be deprived of 
 this incflimable Blifsy While I have this Confolation 
 within, 1 feel no want of earthly Enjoyments: For 
 this fupplies, exceedes them all. Oh ! let me thank¬ 
 fully rejoycc in thy Favour and the Light of thy Coun¬ 
 tenance lifted up upon me ! Or, if at any time thou 
 withdraw thofe bright Beams, and interpofe a Cloud 
 of Sorrow, yet even then preferve me from fad Di- 
 flruft, and let the Confidcration of thy Will, which is 
 always belt, be my Support in my blackefl: and mod 
 melancholy Circuniftauces. Let me not call away my 
 Hope and Confidence, becaufe thou hidelt thy Face for 
 a Sea foil y but help me to dilcern the great Wifdom 
 and Benefit of fuch trying Difpenfations,and tolupport 
 my Faith with theProfpcft of that Reward, which is 
 laid up in Heaven for thofe, upon whom Patience hath 
 its per fed Work. For thou, O Lord, art gracious and 
 PM. C iii. merciful, and though we perpetually of¬ 
 fend and provoke theejet wilt thou not al- 
 
 way 
 
Book Ilf. Of Jesus Chr ist. 165 
 
 ways be chiding, nor keep thy anger for ever ; but will turn 
 
 j again and in much Companion quicken thy fufferinc 
 Servants that they may rejoyce in thee, and triumph 
 over their Calamities. y 
 
 Chap. XIX. 
 
 Of Cajling our Care upon GOD . 
 
 Chrifl.2 A TY Son, be content, that I Ihould difpofe 
 
 rv • °r T £ ee r nd a11 thy AfFairs > as my 
 
 Divine Wifdom fees fit; for I belt know what is con¬ 
 venient for thee. Thou jndgeft ralhly, and art liable 
 ' to Humane Frarlties. Senfe and prefent Satisfactions 
 blind thy Eyes, and byafs thy Reafon; but Chriftians 
 who Ihould walk by Faith, and not by Sight, mull not 
 be governed by the fame Meafures which common Men 
 Inake ufe of in diftinguilhing Good and Evil Acci- 
 ients. 
 
 Difciple.~\ Lord, I acknowledge my Infirmity• and 
 im fenfible, that thy Care and Concern for me is more 
 j prudent, more tender, than that I have for my own 
 elf. And He hath made but final] Progrefs in the 
 ichool of Chrift, whofe weak Faith is Hill to learn that 
 .elTon, of being fatisfied with all thy Difpenfations 
 ' nd calling his Care upon Thee. All therefore that I 
 •eg, is the eltablilhing my Heart in the Way of thy 
 Commandments * and, fo long as I fwerve not from 
 Truth and Righteoufnefs, fecure my Soul, and, for 
 he reft, do thy Pleafure: For thou art Wife, and 
 uft, and Good ; and fuch, I am fure, are all the Me- 
 hods of thy Providence •, though Humane Underftand- 
 lgs may not diftinftly perceive, nor be able to ac- 
 aunt for the Rcafons of them. If therefore thou con¬ 
 cilia me to Darkncfs and AlfiiClion, I will praife and 
 
 W thanlj 
 
1 66 
 
 ADf tlie gjnutatton Book hi. 
 
 thank thee for thy deferved Correftion even in the 
 midft of my Trouble ,* Or, if thou fpare the Rod, and 
 make my Darkncfs to be Light, ! will then thankfully 
 receive the Blefllng, and magnifie the Favour which I 
 cannot deferve. 
 
 Christ.] This is indeed, my Son, the Difpofition and 
 Deportment befitting the Chara&er of my faithful Chil¬ 
 dren : And all who profefs to walk with mein Piety 
 and Virtue, mull bring themfelvestoa Soul foeven,fo 
 refigned, that Suffering and Joy, Poverty or Riches,may 
 be entertained alike. The One, without Murmuring 
 or Complaint-, the Other, without the lead: Pride or 
 Change of Temper. For both are equally the Appoint¬ 
 ment of My Providence, and, as fuch, fhould be met, 
 with Cheerfulnefs arid perfect Content. 
 
 Difcifler\ Lord, I am willing to endure, whatever 
 thou art pleafed to lay upon me. And do defire to re¬ 
 ceive Good and Evil, the Sweets and Bitter, the Com¬ 
 forts and the Crofles of this Life, with the very fame 
 Refentnicnts of Mind. Nay, not only to receive, but 
 to be thankful for both, fince both come from thy own 
 Hand, which cannot err in ordaining all my Events. 
 This only I implore, that, in all Changes of Condition, 
 thou wonldeft in thy Mercy preferve me from Sin \ 
 For, while 1 keep my Innocence, and continue in thy 
 Love, not Calamity, nor Death, nor Hell it felf lhall 
 make me afraid. However thou may’ft cxercife my 
 Patience, or frown upon me at prefent, yet fo long as 
 thou doft not call me off for ever, nor blot my Name 
 out of thy Book of Life, I am above all Danger:, and 
 the utinoft Powers and Malice of Fortune, and Ene¬ 
 mies, and Devils combined together, can never hurt 
 me. 
 
Book Ilf. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 i6 7 
 
 Chap. XX. 
 
 ChriH our Pattern of Patience in Afflictions. 
 
 Chr,n ^ l\/TVS°a, remember I came down from 
 Dl Heaven for thy Salvation; I bore the 
 
 Human^M ^ “ Thee ; and a11 the Miferies to which 
 ™ e , Nat “[ c . ,s expofed. I bore them not by Con- 
 
 that wh.vS Ch01c ! ’, a , nd urged by no Neceflity, but 
 
 One nrear p P H WC f Ul lmp ° fed Up0n me > A "d 
 
 One great End, for which I condefeended to do fo 
 
 was to teach thee Patience by this Example • and thJ 
 
 thl neSr SU f ering K miShtdirp ° fe thee to P “bmit to 
 the neceflary Incumbrances of thy prefent Condition 
 
 Without Reludance and MurmuriiflStS'gSS 
 
 M / conftant attendance from the Man¬ 
 ger to the Crofs; For every Hour produced fome freih 
 Inftance of it My Circumftances were low, and Icon 
 
 il d Mv f , fWUh the wan n t of even the Neceflaries of 
 ife, My Innocence was flandered, and daily Com¬ 
 plaints and Reproaches were founding in my Ears - 
 jfiame and Contempt I entertained without Return or 
 ■ngry Refentment; my good Deeds were repaid with 
 WaJme and Ingratitude, my Miracles biafphemed, and 
 7 ) 7 ?^ n iJ e traduced and vilely mifreprefented. 
 
 ^ es ) Lord, I read the Story of thv in- 
 incible Meeknefs, with wonder and aftonilhment- 
 nd cannot but infer from thence, that, fince thoa 
 
 )hed£ eafed t0 . gIv f luch mazing Proofs of an entire 
 )bedience to thy heavenly Father’s Will; { vv h 0 
 
 m a wretched Sinner, and not only Subject to’ thefe 
 liferies by the Condition of my Nature, but one who 
 ave deferved them as Chaftifements for my Tranfgref- 
 
 Sn m T UCh n? ° re °^ ed ’ with a moft P^edt Sub- 
 r recel . ve whatever thy Providence thinks 
 
 lnflidt; and mull by’fco means grumble at the 
 
 ^ 2 Weight,- 
 
i68 
 
 £>f ttic imitation Book ill. 
 
 Weight, or the Continuance, of any Burden thou fhalt 
 lay upon me in the prefent World. If any thing here 
 feem heavy, yet it is rendred much eafier and more 
 fupportable, by the Afliftance of thy Grace,by the Con¬ 
 templation of thy Example, and by the many Patterns 
 of Conftancy and Virtue, which thy now glorious 
 Saints, but onceafllidted Servants, who travelled the 
 fame rugged Journey of Life, have in all Ages fet for 
 my Imitation and Encouragement. 1 plainly fee un¬ 
 der this Gofpel-ftate, a mighty Support, which even 
 thy own peculiar People wanted under the old Law. 
 For then the Way to Heaven was dark, and the Pro- 
 fpedl at their Journey’s end lefs glorious and inviting. 
 Few then applied themfelves with Zeal to feek a fu¬ 
 ture and fpiritnal Kingdom •, nor could they do fo 
 with equal Encouragement, till thy meritorious Death 
 had opened an Entrance into the High and Holy Place. 
 But, How contentedly, how thankfully, ought I to 
 tread in thy bleiled Steps, fuftained by the Afliirance 
 of Eternal Rewards, and dire&ed in the right Way 
 i . by the Light of thy Dodhine? For thou 
 
 ' .. art the Way, the Truth, and the Life-, Thy 
 
 Afflidlions have taught Me and all Believers, that Tri¬ 
 bulation is the Pallage to thy Heavenly Kingdom} and 
 that the proper Method of attaining thy Crown, is be¬ 
 ing made a Partaker of thy Crofs. Hadft thou not 
 gone before us, who would have the Heart to follow? 
 who could perfevere in a Courfe of Suffering ? Nay, 
 though thou haft thus fhewed us the Way, yet how 
 loch, how backward are we to follow ftill? And, if 
 neither thy Miracles, nor thy Precepts, thy wondrous 
 Humiliation, nor thy glorious Exaltations can warm 
 us into greater Zeal and Refolution, than by lamen¬ 
 table Experience we daily fee and feel they do j How 
 wretchedly llothful, alas! how told, and motionlefs 
 (hould we have flood, had not thy Grace and marve¬ 
 lous Condefcenfion vouchlafed to grant us the Advan¬ 
 tage 
 
III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 169 
 
 Md the »"«M Motiveof 
 
 Chap. XXI. 
 
 Ofharing Injuries- and bow we may judge of true 
 
 Patience . 
 
 Cbrifl.-] /^Eafethy Complaints, my Son, and, when 
 V-^ Af " l( -tions threaten or attack thee call 
 to remembrance, what I endured for thy fake : Nay 
 
 1 endured fo r thine °nly, but what fo many 
 dnrf'Hf 0 ^ 8. encrous Saints have fince couragioufly en- 
 f r m raa AlaS! ^ Tr ^ are fmall, nor 
 Tt^i h Jvm Unt ° BIood ’ as 1 and The y have done 
 Je tS^Snr" 5 were 8 reatei ;,their Temptations lhar- 
 per, their Sorrows more piercing, their Eterciles 
 more revere, and yet in all thefe They were more than 
 Conquerors. It will therefore be of great Service d 
 
 tentN 06 ™ 1115 thy u H ° PC and Patience , ^ thou dili- 
 
 Kier Burden th d Very Jight ’ With their much 
 heavier Burden; and reproach thy felf for linking un- 
 
 f r a ei §ht, which they would fcarce have felt. But 
 
 if 5i y ° k WI ? Load fee m fo infupportable, and thou canft 
 hardly be brought to think the Cafe of others fo much 
 
 d!» 0 no?n P 0fa ^ ConWer > whether this falfe Eftimate 
 
 Z klF anZt C?FV hl Afreai ° n ’ Tc ^ernefsto 
 
 tny leif, and a fretful Impatience, rather than from 
 the true Nature and Reafon of the Thing. Fo? TheS 
 corrupt Mens Judgments, and make them fee their 
 Dwn and other Peoples Circumftances with very diff Z 
 
 mtZ'L ?“* ^ ? y , ? eas trUe 0r yet 
 
 -I k 8 rea ter and the lefs Calamities call equally for 
 
 jubmiflion and Conftancy. And it is not the Peg rcl 
 
 >r Meafu ^, but the Author and the Conference 
 
 M 3 of 
 
170 SDf tftC 9 !tm'tatton Book iii. 
 
 of Suffering, which is the proper Motive to Patience. 
 
 Now the better thou art compofed under any Trou¬ 
 ble, the more commendable is thy Wifdom, and the 
 larger will be thy Recompence. Nay, not only fo, 
 but the ealicr will be thy Lot too. For Conlideration 
 will reconcile thee to it, and Time and Experience 
 make the thing familiar. Nor matters it much, who are 
 the immediate Inftruments, or from what next Hand 
 thy Affliftions come. For thofe are very idle Pre- 
 tences, which Men ufually labour to cover their want of 
 Temper withal: u Had this been done by an Enemy 
 “ or a Stranger, I could have born it *, but from a 
 “ Friend, a Relation, One whom I have highly obliged, 
 tc and have a Right to expeft better Ufage from, what 
 tl Flefh can brook fuch Bafenefs and Ingratitude ? Had 
 “ I given any jolt Occafion for that difparaging Re- 
 ct port, it would never have vexed me, but to be 
 ct Hindered and abufed, without any Ground, without 
 w the leaft Fault or Provocation of mine, methinks ’tis 
 “ very hard^ The thing it felf I could away with, but 
 a the Perfon, or the particular Circumftances put me 
 “ out of all Patience. Alas! Thefeare nice and frivo¬ 
 lous Diftinftions; Such as are altogether foreign and 
 impertinent to the Matter in Hand •, and what the Vir¬ 
 tue of Patience is no way concerned in. For this takes 
 Injuries and Affronts by the Great, without en- 
 tring into any particular Examination of their Na¬ 
 ture, and duality, and peculiar Aggravations ^ nor does 
 it at all regard the Perfon, by whom it is exercifed, 
 but confiders that Perfon only, by whom it is to be 
 crowned. 
 
 No Man hath yet arrived to a due Perfection in this 
 Grace, who is not content with any kind of Tryal, 
 from any Hand whatfoever. The Differences of Friend 
 or Foe, of Superiour, Inferiour, or Equal •, of a good- 
 natured and confciencious, or a wicked, perverfe, vex¬ 
 atious Man, arc of no conlideration at all; But, let 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 the Provocation be what it will, and come from whom 
 it will, Jet it be offered but once, or repeated never 
 
 t> often, tis all alike ^ becaufe in All the over-ruling • 
 Hand of God is attended to; and everything receH 
 ved, as ordained and originally infii&ed by him : and 
 what proceeds from Him is always good, and fare to 
 turn to account. And, as nothing he appoints,though 
 feemingly never fo grievous, /hall be to good Mens Dif- 
 ad vantage; fo nothing, though never To flight and de- 
 ipicableinit fell, when dutifully and decently enter- 
 tamed, [hail be paflcd over unrewarded. Arm thy 
 jelf therefore tor Combat, and decline no occa/ion of 
 Engaging that offers, if thou delire the Glory of the 
 Conqueft. Without Fighting thy Way through, there 
 is no coming at the Crown. And they who refufe to 
 Suffer with Chriit, do in effeft, and by neceflary con¬ 
 sequence, refufe to Reign with him. Stand up then 
 bravely to Afflictions, and quit thy felt like a Man ; 
 Repofe and Happinefs is what thou coveteft, but thefe’ 
 are only to be obtained by Labour: Victory and Tri¬ 
 umph are the things thou aimclt at; But who was 
 evei yet fo abfuid, as to think of Triumphs with¬ 
 out Enemies and Haid/hips, or of Conquering with¬ 
 out a Battel ? 
 
 Difcifle .] lacquiefce, dear Lord, in all thou fayeff; 
 nor will 1 indulge l'uch vain Imaginations. But lince, 
 even where the Spirit is molt: willing, the Flcfli is mi- 
 lerable weak, afllft me, I befeech thee, that by thy 
 Power and Strength 1 may be able to do, what by 
 my own I cannoc accompli/h, and Nature is averle 
 from fo much as attempting. Thou knoweff: full well, 
 now little I can bear; how every Shock makes my 
 leeble Heart give ground; Lord, do thou fo fupport 
 and confirm me, that Tribulation may appear, not 
 only tolerable, but even delirable, in compliance with 
 thy Will and my Duty. For, what Regret foever 
 Humanity may betray in rhefe Calcs, when Dangers 
 
 M 4 ap- 
 
172 0 ( tty 91 mttattOU Book III. 
 
 approaches •, In my own better Judgment, which con- 
 fiders Things in the Chriftian and Spiritual Senfe, I 
 am abundantly fatisfied, how much the harlher Di- 
 fpenfations of thy Providence conduce to my Soul’s 
 Advantage. And, though no Chafiifement for the prcfent 
 fcem joyoui but grievous, yet my better Senfe, when I 
 think freely, convinces me of thy Wifdom and Mer¬ 
 cy, and that it is even good for me to be affhfled. 
 
 Chap. XXII. 
 
 The Infirmities and Miferies of our prefent State. 
 
 Pifciple. 3 T Will Cojtfefs my Vnrighteottfnefs unto the 
 Pjal. xxxii. 1. Lord, and Bewail my Infirmities before 
 him. For every trivial Accident calls me 
 down, and I am often overwhelmed with Sorrow, up¬ 
 on Occasions, which my calmer Thoughts abundant¬ 
 ly convince me, deferve rather my Contempt, than 
 imy ferious Concern. Sometimes 1 fee and condemn 
 my own Folly, and mighty Refutations 1 make, how 
 bravely 1 will behave my felf for the Time to come’, 
 and, yet upon the next Afluult of fome flight Misfor¬ 
 tune, this imaginary Heroe is beaten from his Poll, 
 and cannot Hand the Shock of a very common Diffi¬ 
 culty. 1 he pooreft and mofl defpicable Things are, 
 I find, capable of becoming great and dangerous 
 Temptations And I, who at a diAancedefie them, 
 yet, when brought to the Tryal, feel, by fad Experi¬ 
 ence, upon how flippery Ground I Hand. 
 
 This is indeed the wretched Condition of thy poor 
 unftable Servant: But, Lord, do Thou, in much Com¬ 
 panion, look upon my Frailty, for thou knoweft it 
 
 rfst. ixiii more P erfeftl y than 1 my Pelf can. Stretch 
 ' forth thy Hand and draw me out of thefe 
 
 • « •* t deep 
 
Pook III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Ill 
 
 deep Waters, and out of this Mire of Sin and Weak- 
 j nefs, that I fink not in my Corruption. I cannot 
 eafily exprefs the melancholy Reflexions, the Shame 
 and Contulion, the Indignation and fad Perplexi¬ 
 ty of Heart, which the Confcioufnefs of my own In¬ 
 ability to relift Temptations, and the Inconftancy of 
 my beft and molt vigorous Purpofes create; and, 
 though my Will be not always vanquifhed, nor do 
 I fblcfled be God) yield to every wicked Suggefljon, 
 yet the repeated Allaults of the Enemy diftutb my 
 Quiet, and I am weary of a Life, which confifts of 
 perpetual Hazard, and painful Confli&s with my felf. 
 The Wretchednefs of my Condition is but too mani- 
 reft: I need no other Argument to prove it, than that 
 eafie Accefs evil Thoughts find to my Breaft; which, 
 in defpight of all my watchful Care, and moft manful 
 Struggles, are much fooner infinuated, and received, 
 than either driven out again, or prevented from en- 
 tring. 
 
 Look down then, thou Almighty Rock of Jfrael ., 
 and Lover of Souls, and interpofe thy Power and 
 Protection ; Give feafonable Succour, and happy Suc- 
 cefs to my too fruitlefs Endeavours. Arm and guard 
 me with Strength from above; and luffer not the Old 
 Man, the corrupt Inclinations of my Flefh, which re- 
 fufes to be entirely fubdued and brought to Reafon, 
 to ufurp the Dominion over my better Part. For this 
 obftinate Rebel renews its InfurreCtions daily, and 
 bids me Battel ; calls me to Combats and hazardous 
 Engagements, which muft never, never end in perfect 
 Peace and Safety, fo long as this miferable State of 
 Mortality endures. Moll miferable indeed; fince eve¬ 
 ry AXion and Accident of my Life involves me in 
 frelh Dangers; fince every Step I take is upon Snares 
 and Precipices; fince every Time and Place is thick 
 befet, with Troubles and Toils, with Treachery and 
 Temptation, and a numerous Hoft of Enemies ready 
 
 to 
 
x 74 
 
 tftc imitation Book hi. 
 
 to devour and fwallow me up. For a fatal uninter¬ 
 rupted Succeffion of Tryals are every Moment renew¬ 
 ing their Attacks, and when I have happily vanquifh- 
 ed many, and fondly promile my felt a Truce \ as 
 many more immediately draw down upon me, and 
 make fiercer and more furious Attempts upon fome 
 other Quarter, which, 1 hoped, had been fufficiently 
 covered from their Approaches. 
 
 And can a Life, fubject to fuch Surprizes and Ha¬ 
 zards, embittered with fo many Troubles and fevere 
 Tryals, encumbred with fo much Frailty and Cor¬ 
 ruption, be valued and mightily coveted ? Nay, can 
 That deferve the very Name of Life, which naturally 
 breeds Plagues and Difeafes, and expofes us to fuch 
 variety of Deaths? Yet ftupid Man hugs, and em- 
 biaces, and efteems it his only Happinels; expects 
 Eafe in the midft of Diffraction, purfues Joys in a 
 Valley of Tears, and vainly fets up for the boafted 
 PcrfedHon of Pleafure, in a Condition of inevitable 
 Mneiy, and lingring, certain, Pain. Sometimes in¬ 
 deed the tender Seale of fome Affliction cuts us to the 
 quick; and, in our melancholy Moods, we give the 
 World haid Words ; call it Deceitful , Treacherous , and 
 but even They, who rail at it molt liberally, 
 and profefs to hate and defpife it, cannot be prevailed 
 with to be content to leave it. The Flefh and its Af¬ 
 fections have ftijl a powerful Influence, and fpur Men 
 antothe Purfuit and Love of thofe very Enjoyments, 
 which, Reafon and their own Experience have taught 
 them, cannot be w'orth their Pains, nor in any degree 
 an fiver their deluded Expectations. For we muft ob- 
 ierve that our Love and Hatred of this World pro¬ 
 ceed from very different Caufes and Principles. The 
 i John iii. Du ft of the FleJlj , the Lufl of the Eye», and 
 
 . tl r lhe ?ride °f Li J e ' en S a 8 e our Affections: 
 and Thcfc are ever prefent, and ever vehement with 
 us. The Calamities, and Griefs, and Pains we feel, 
 
 pro- 
 
Book III. of J ES U S c HR I ST. 
 
 *7 5 
 
 provoke our Hatred and Contempt, and reprefent 
 Life a Burden and Miferyj and thefe have their In- 
 t tervals, and work upon us feebly and by Fits. The 
 ; Former too (hike in with Inclination, and are aflifted 
 ' by Nature •, the Latter have no influence upon us, but 
 what their own Weight gives ; All their Impreflions 
 are forcible and violent, heavy and painful, and fuch 
 as we fubmit to, only becaufe we cannot help it. 
 
 Thus Senfe and finful Pleafure get within us, and,* 
 which is very lamentable, debauch our Reafon. The 
 prefent Ticklings of the Body cheat the Mind, and 
 vitiate our Palates to that degree, that, being prepof- 
 fefs d with a falfe Taft of worldly Sweets, we have no 
 Relifli lett for that delicious Entertainment, with 
 which God and Religion feed and feaft the pure and 
 heavenly-minded Soul. For, Oh ! Thofe happy Men, 
 who have learnt to defpife and abandon earthly 
 Things, and confecrated themfelves entirely to God, 
 by Mortification, Self-denial, and a fteady Courfe of 
 fevere Virtue; thefe exalted Spirits know and feel 
 the Truth of God and his Promifes; They find un- 
 fpeakable Charms and fenfible Delights in the volun¬ 
 tary Refufal of thofe Toys and Baits, which cannot be 
 had with Satisfaction, nor coveted with Safety They 
 fee, and defpife, and pity the Folly of abufed Man¬ 
 kind, difeover the lurking Frauds of the Tempter; 
 and, that the imagined Happinefs and boafted Plea- 
 fures of fenfual and earthly Men, are only Snares and 
 Dangers, Vanity and Cheat. 
 
 Chap. 
 
1 7 6 t!je gimttatton Book HI. 
 
 
 Chap. XXIII. 
 
 Of Placing dll our Hope and Happinefs in GOD. 
 
 Difciple.l *p Epofe thy felf, my Soul, in God, upon 
 JL\. all Occafions ^ and above all other De- 
 pcndcnces ^ for He is the only fure Refuge, the eter- 
 n !“ 1 ■ j°a e Saints. Grant me thy Grace, O fweet- 
 eir, kinded Saviour, to value, and love, and trud in 
 Thee above all things. Make me to prize thee far be- 
 fore Health and Beauty, to defire thee more than 
 Honour and Advancement, more than Riches and 
 Power, more than Wit and Learning •, To rejoyce in 
 thee more than in Pleafure and Profperity, more than 
 in Reputation and Praife, more than in the larged 
 Promifes, the highed Deferts, the moll exalted Gifts, 
 the mod tranfporting Joys, which thou cand impart 
 or my Heart, when mod enlarged, is able to receive! 
 Let me admire thee above Angels and Arch-angels, 
 andaH the Hod of Heaven ; above all Things vifible 
 and invifible, more than all that is, or can be, which 
 is not thy own felt. 
 
 For Thou my God, art the bed and mod excel¬ 
 lent Being; In Thee alone is Plenty and Fulnefs, 
 
 ftveet Refrelhment, peaceful Comfort, and ravifhing 
 
 Delights i the Perfedion of Beauty and charming 
 Graces-, true Honour and adorable Greatnefs: In 
 Thee, as in its proper Center, all Good meets, and 
 dwells, and hath, and doth, and will continue to a- 
 biae, from and to all Eternity. Give then thv felf 
 my deared jefus, tor all thou giU, and aU thou pro! 
 nudd to give beiides, is poor and little, when com¬ 
 pared with the Sight and Fruition of Thee. And I 
 have found, by long Experience, that all thy other 
 Favours, nay all Nature is too fiiort and narrow to 
 .atisfic my Soul j whofe unbounded Defircs exalt and 
 
 ftretch 
 
177 
 
 t3ook III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Iretch themfelves far beyond all prefent Enjoyments, 
 
 'r ? an ^ L filled ’ can reft contented, with nothing 
 els than Thee. a 
 
 O my beloved Lord, King of the Univerle, knit 
 ne to thee with the Bands of an entire and holy Af- 
 edhon. Set me at liberty from this Clog of Earth 
 nd give me Wings of ardent Zeal and pure Dcvo- 
 jon, that I may foar aloft, and take my flight higher 
 han Heaven it felf; and find my reft in Thee. Oh ! 
 vlien will that happy Time come, when I /hall be fet 
 t liberty from Sin and Corruption, from the Body 
 nd the w orld, and without Interruption, without 
 vllay, tail and teaft upon theSweetnefs of my God > 
 Vhen will the neceflary Cares of this Life ceafe to 
 iltract me, and leave me Power and Leifure to in- 
 ulge thole Longings and Pleafures, which refined 
 nd unbodied Spirits feel, when fwallowed up in the 
 contemplation of thy Divine Excellencies: and even 
 aifed above themfelves, they know, and love, and re- 
 .re wholly into Thee ? At prefent I am opprelTed 
 mji a Load of Infirmities and Corruptions, and of- 
 en groan under the Senfe of my heavy Burden. The 
 lward Joys, with which thy Grace fupports me, 
 re mingled and embafed with Pains and Tears : 
 /hich cloud, and darken, and dejed my Wind : di- 
 ractmy Thoughts, obftrudmyeagereft Wilhesand 
 ndeavours, and fallen me down to Earth and Mife- 
 y, when I would fly to thy Embraces. I cannot, in 
 ms Vale of Sorrow, enjoy my Lord, my Love: but 
 jl°P e > 2nd long fore for that happy Change, 
 'Inch ihall tranflate me to the Spirits of juft Men 
 lade perfect, and render me Partaker of their Blifs. 
 ut let not, Lord, my Sufferings, and Tears, be loft ; 
 .ememberand corapaflionate my prefent Wretched. 
 
 V^ nd J r £ n J Si S hs eafie and effedual Accefs 
 ito thy blelfed Prefence. 
 
 Thoj, 
 
Book HI. 
 
 178 jaDf tijz imitation 
 
 Thou, Lord, art the Brightnefs or thy Facher’s 
 Glory, dart thy reviving Beams into my Soul; en¬ 
 lighten its dark Places, and fcatter its Difcomforts: 
 To Thee the very Thoughts and inmoft Defires of 
 every Heart are known •, By Thee the moft fecret and 
 filent Willies are thoroughly underftood. O hear me, 
 when I fpeak in this Language, and pour out my Sup¬ 
 plications in Sighs and Griefs which Words cannot 
 litter. Even when my Tongue lies ftill, my Thoughts 
 are in motion * and my Heart within my Breaft burns 
 with inarticulate Ejaculations. “ How long, (fay 1 to 
 “ my felf) how long will my Lord, my Bridegroom, 
 “ delay his coming ! O! that he would vouchfafe to 
 “ enter under the Roof of his unworthy and affl idled 
 “ Servant ! O that he would ftretch forth his Al- 
 £t mighty Hand, and deliver this Wretch, juft ready 
 “to fink, out of all the Mifery and Trouble, which 
 “ furround, opprefs, and are ready to devour him ! 
 
 Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly. For without thee, 
 “noDay, no Hour is eafie or comfortable j for thou 
 “ art my Hope, my Joy, and all my worldly Plenty ; 
 “ but Without thee is the very Extremity of Poverty 
 * c and Want. 
 
 See how I lye in this Prifon of the Flelh, fettered 
 and bound up with the Chain of my Sin, till the Piti- 
 fulncfs of thy great Mercy loofe me, and the Light 
 of thy Countenance, breaking into this darkfom Dun¬ 
 geon, allure me of thy Favour and Friendlhip. “ Let 
 “ Others covet and fet their Afledlions upon fuch 
 “ wretched Objedts, as deluded Senfe thinks valuable; 
 “ but, as for Me, 1 will love and long for Nothing, 
 “ but Thee, my God, alone; For Thou, my God, a- 
 u lone, art my Hope and Happinefs* the only Stay 
 u of my prefent, and the only Blifs of my future 
 “ and eternal State. Such is, and fuch lhall ever be 
 my Addrefs, and fervent Prayer. Nor will I let thee 
 go, until thou blefs me •, till thou infpire new Life 
 
 with 
 
took III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 vitli thy Favour; and dwell in, and converfe famili- 
 irly with my Soul, by thy Spirit and gracious Pre- 
 cnce. 
 
 Chriff .2 Behold me here, my Son, always atten- 
 ive to thy Prayers, always ready to extend the Cont¬ 
 ort and Relief thou fo zealoufly imploreft. Thy Tears 
 nd fervent Defires, the Sorrows of thy perplexed 
 leart, and the ftrong Cries of a wounded Confcience 
 I ^ ve P ,erce ^ the Skies, and brought me down to 
 hv fpcedy Succour and Comfort; For I am ever nigh 
 ) fuch as be of an humble and contrite Spirit, and 
 iy Ears are always open to the Prayers of my fuffer- 
 ig Servants. 
 
 Difciple .] I did indeed prefume, in the Anguifh of 
 y Soul, to beg what I am fenfible I cannot deferve* 
 id flee to thee, my God, for help. And lo! I am 
 ncerely difpofed to forfake all and follow thee. Nor 
 ill I afcribe to my felf the Glory of fo zealous, fo re- 
 = ri j C L? u T ei fP er i for Thou, Lord, didft work this 
 jod Thing in me, and, by thy own preventing Grace, 
 ndle and excite my very firft Defires. I prayed. 
 
 Thou prepared/!: my Heart; I fought thee, but 
 was by Thy Impulfe and Dire&ion. And for this 
 ft Difpofition, I return thee my moft humble and 
 deigned Thanks; acknowledging it thy belt, thy 
 le Gift, that I have been able fo much as to think 
 intend any good Thing. Since then the whole of 
 aat I do or defire well is Thine, my part fhall be 
 cherilh every holy Motion, to improve the early 
 d happy Affiftances of thy Grace, to fubmit my 
 f without any Referve to thy holy Guidance, and, 
 
 ; j, he midft o{ the very beft Performances thou quali- 
 ft me for, conftantly and humbly to remember my 
 ' n Vilenefs and Impotence. For Who, O Lord, is 
 ‘ e UR to thee ? Or what in Heaven or Earth, which 
 th or boafts of any Excellence, can be compared 
 to my God and Saviour ? Thy Works are juft and 
 
 true, 
 
180 JSDf tfje limitation Book in. 
 
 true. Thy Precepts right and equitable. Thy Provi¬ 
 dence great and glorious, and all things are govern¬ 
 ed by it, after a moft wife, and holy, and good, and 
 wonderful Manner. All Honour and Glory and Praife, 
 be therefore afcribed to Thee, Eternal Wifdom of thy 
 Eternal Father: May Heaven, and Earth, and all the 
 Creatures, fet forth thy Excellencies, and in this ge¬ 
 neral Confort I will joyn ; my Mouth Ihall ling thy 
 aftonilhing Works, thy great Glories; and I will ne¬ 
 ver ceafe to Praife and Adore my God, while I have 
 any Being. 
 
 Chap. XXIV. 
 
 A Tbankfgivitig for God's Mercies. 
 
 Difciple.] /^\Pen thou the Fyes of my 'Undo fiandin 
 rfal. cxix. vy O Lord, that I may fee and obey the 
 wondrous Things of thy Law: Give me the 
 perfect Knowledge of thy Will, and poflefs me with 
 a reverent and thankful Senfc of all thy Goodnefs and 
 Loving-kindnefs to Me and to all Men ; that I may 
 (hew forth thy Praife, and publilh thy Mercies. I 
 know thefe are fo numerous and great, that 1 can 
 never magnific them worthily : The leaft of them ex¬ 
 ceeds my Power to exprefs; and when 1 conlider 
 them, I am fo far from any vain Pretence of Merit, 
 that all my Thoughts are overpowered, and loft in 
 wonder. For atl our Advantages of Mind and Body, 
 of Perfonand Fortune, thole which are Endowments 
 and Ornaments of Nature, and tfiofe which exalt and 
 fupply the Defe&s of Nature, all are the EffeQs of 
 Jsm.\. 17. th y B°»nty and Beneficence; from whom 
 every good and pcrfcEl Gift comet h. 
 
 Thou art the Common Source, the Univerfal Re- 
 pofitory, from whence our Benefits are drawn down. 
 Not to All in equal Proportions, ’tis true *, but, be 
 
 the 
 
the Meafure lefs or more, ’tis ftill thy Diftribution. He 
 who receives moft is indebted for the whole to thy Li¬ 
 berality ; and He who hath leaft, could not have had 
 that little but from Thee. He to whom thou haft 
 dealt thy Bleflings moft plentifully, is not from that 
 Difpenfation to take an Eftimate of himfelf: His Plen¬ 
 ty will not juftifieany Confidence or Boaft of his own 
 Merit, nor may he infult over his Brethren, or behave 
 himfelf uncomely, and difefteem or defpife thofe, from 
 whom thy Mercies have diftinguifhed him. For the 
 Greatnefs of Mens Deierts is moft eminently difcover- 
 ed by a Modeft and Mean Opinion of themfelves, Cour- 
 tefie and Condefcenllon to others. Gratitude and Devo¬ 
 tion towards God. And the more they are fenfible of 
 their own Wants and Unworthinefs, the better they 
 qualifie themfelves for frefh and greater Demonftrati- 
 ons of thy Love and Liberality. Again, The Man, to 
 whom thou haft diftributed more fparingly, muft not 
 repine and be difcouraged, nor fret and grudge the 
 larger Portion of his wealthier Neighbour ; but keep 
 his Eyes and Mind wholly intent upon Thee, and ad- 
 mn-e the Freedom of thy Grace, which, as it cannot 
 be obliged to any, fo gives to all largely, and without 
 partial Refpeft of Perfons. 
 
 For thou art to be praifed in all thy Gifts by every 
 Man, becaufe all comes from Thee: And Thou art 
 Mafter of thy own Favours; Thou giveft without Up¬ 
 braiding,and withholdeft without Injuftice: Thy Wif- 
 dom knows what Meafures are proper and expedient 
 for each Perfon; and the Reafons,why one Man differs 
 from another, lie not within the compafs of our 
 Knowledge, but muft be left entirely to thy Judgment 
 to determine the Fitnefs of them. ’ 
 
 In this Perfwafion, Lord, I readily acknowledge 
 and adore thy Mercy, in fuffering me to want many of 
 thofe Advantages, which the Generality of Mankind 
 let a mighty Value upon. Nay, I am fttisfied, that 
 
 N Men 
 
184 
 
 €>f tiie ^nutation Book 111. 
 
 Christ .J Make it thy Bufinefs, rather to comply 
 with the Defires and Commands of others, than to in¬ 
 dulge thy own Inclinations. Choofe a moderate \ nay, 
 a low Fortune, rather than Greatnefs and Abundance. 
 Be humble, obedient, and condefcending in all thy 
 Deportment. Let this be thy conftant Wifh and 
 Prayer, That God would perform his Pleafure, and 
 difpofe of Thee and all thy Affairs as to Him feems 
 molt convenient. The Man that hath brought himfelf 
 to this Temper and Spirit, be allured, is in the ready 
 Way to Peace of Mind and true Content. 
 
 Difciple .] The Words my Lord hath fpoken are 
 few in Number, but full of Senfe, and of very com- 
 prehenlive Extent; and I can eafily difcern in this 
 little Space the Grounds of great Perfedion in Virtue. 
 Did I but diligently obferve thcfe Rules, how happily 
 would all exceffive Concern, and violent Diforder at 
 any Accidents of Humane Life be fupprcfs’d, or quite 
 prevented ? And if at any time hereafter I find my 
 felf opprelfed with immoderate Cares or Refentmcnts, 
 Thy Wifdom hath taught me to difcover the true 
 Canfe of my Trouble ^ and, that I fuffer for negled- 
 ing to comply with this Do&rine. But fuch Compli¬ 
 ance, Lord, thou knoweft is not the Work of Nature 
 and mere Reafon : And therefore I implore the migh¬ 
 ty Afliftances of thy Grace, to which nothing is hard, 
 for making thofe Improvements, which in the prefent 
 State of Corruption, are to Flefh and Blood impracti¬ 
 cable. Nothing is more acceptable in thy fight, than 
 the Conqueft of our Infirmities, and bold Advances 
 in Goodnefs ^ put forth thy Hand then, and what thou 
 haft taught me to know, enable me to perform, That 
 1 may both approve my own Obedience, and (what 
 without thee 1 cannot do) fuccefsfully purfuc my own 
 Happinefs and Salvation. 
 
 C it A p. 
 
Chap. XXVI. 
 
 A Prayer agaiujl Evil Thoughts. 
 
 Difciple.] O not far from me , O Lord , my God , make 
 
 vJ haft to help me ; For corrupt . 
 Imaginations are perpetually riling in my ' 
 Breaft, and innumerable Fears and Horrors clofe my 
 Soul in on every fide. The Senle of my hazardous 
 Condition overwhelms me with Torment and deep 
 Diftrels, while I fee the greatnefs of my Danger, and 
 the multitude of my Enemies, but know not how to 
 decline the One,or to fight my Way through the Other. 
 
 Chrift: ] Remember, Son, myPromife; I will go be¬ 
 fore thee , and make the crooked Places ftreight } 
 
 / will break in pieces the Gates of Brafs , and x/ * 
 cut in funder the Bars of Iron: And I will give thee the 
 Treafures of Darknefs y and hidden Riches of fecret Places. 
 
 Difcifle."] Lord, fince thou haft applied thofe myfti- 
 cal Words to my Comfort, let me, I befeech thee, ex¬ 
 perimentally find the gracious Accomplilhment of them 
 in my own Perfon. And fcatter all my dark and dif- 
 mal, my vain and finful Thoughts, by Ihedding the 
 Light of thy Grace abroad into my Heart. For in the 
 extremity of Grief and Anguilh, this is my Hope and 
 only Support, to take fan&uary in thy Goodnefs, to 
 repole all ray Confidence, and caft the Burden of my 
 Cares, upon thee to pour out my whole Soul be¬ 
 fore thee, and wait with Patience thy own good Time, 
 
 ! for fuccouring me in, and giving me a happy Iflue out 
 j of, all my Affli&ions. 
 
 N 3 
 
 Chap. 
 
1 8^ sDf limitation Book iii. 
 
 Chap. XXVII. 
 
 A Prayer for Spiritual Illumination. 
 
 Difciple.lQHoot forth, O Blefled Jefus, the bright 
 O Beams of thy Heavenly and Eternal 
 Light, that it may enlighten all the dark Corners of 
 my Heart, and eftedlually fcatter every Cloud of Igno¬ 
 rance and Errour, which now hang fo thick over me. 
 Call home my wandring Thoughts, and repulfe the 
 Temptatioas, whicn ruriuufly aflault me. Eight thou 
 my Battles, and fubdue thofe fierce wild Bealls, thofe 
 brutifh Lulls, which range in this Defart, and are 
 ever ftriving to devour me ; that by thy Power the 
 Wildernefs may be turned into a Palace, and inllead 
 of the violent Cries and Howlings of raging Palfions, 
 no Sound may be heard there, but Songs of Praife, 
 Mirk i. Thou, Lord, who commandell the Wtnds 
 and the Waves and they obey thee , filence the 
 Storms within my Breall ; Say to that troubled Sea, 
 Be y?///, and immediately there lhall be Peace , and a 
 profound Calm. Send out thy Light and thy Truth , and 
 warm this barren Soil, for fuch am I, till Mellowed 
 and Impregnated by the Sun of Righteoufnefs. Pour 
 down thy Grace upon me plentifully, and Water me 
 with thy refrefhing Moilture, which, like feafonable 
 Showers and gentle Dew, may fatten my Soul, and 
 enable it to bring forth generous Fruit in great Abun¬ 
 dance. Raife and refine my Mind, prell down with 
 the Drofs of earthly Defircs \ and draw my Aflcdli- 
 ons up to Heaven and heavenly Objedls; that the 
 fweet relifh of that Blifs above, may give me adifgull 
 and loathing to all the naufeous Plcafures here below. 
 Deliver, or rather fnatch me away with a holy Vio¬ 
 lence, from all the perilhing Comforts of this Mortal 
 State } For my Thirft of Happinefs 1 find is greater, 
 
 than 
 
I 
 
 ( Hook I IT. Of Jesus Christ. 187 
 
 than Any Creature can either quench, or in a good 
 Degree afl'wage. Unite me to thy felt with inviolable 
 Bands of holy Love, fo fhall my Soul he fnisfied ; For 
 : thou alone canft anfwer all my Longings j and the 
 : whole World without thee is trifle,"and emptinefs, 
 and nothing. 
 
 Chap. XXVIII. 
 
 Againjl a bujie intpuifitive Temper. 
 
 c hrift.y\/f\ Son, have a care of indulging a curi- 
 IV A ous Humour; and do not create to thy 
 felfunneccflary Troubles, by meddling with Matters, 
 or Perfons, which are no part of thy Concern. For 
 what is This or That to Thee ? Follow thou me. What 
 have you to do with the Virtues or Vices, the C011- 
 dn& or the Indifcretions of Others : how they behave 
 themfelves, what Company they keep, or with what 
 Difcourfe they entertain one another? Why all this 
 eager and intemperate Zeal to vindicate or to accufe 
 them ? You fhall not anfwer for Their Mifcari iages, 
 nor be one whit the better for Their Excellencies’ 
 Vour Own Words and Aiffions are the only thing 
 you will be called to account for ; look well to Them, 
 l and beware left this bufieand malicious Impertinence 
 io not enflame that Reckoning. Trouble not your felf 
 :o turn Informer, and takenotuponyou to be a Jud^e. 
 Leave that to Me j I know every Man throughly, and 
 aothing which is done under the Sun can elcape my 
 Obfervation. I am perfectly apprifed of each Perfcn’s 
 Condition, fee every Aftion, nay, every Intention 
 i tvery Delign 5 and not only what they do, but what 
 hey drive at. Thefe things are far removed out of 
 four Sight, and therefore you cannot judge truly, if 
 
 N 4 you 
 
188 53 Df tfit limitation Book III. 
 
 you might attempt it innocently. But know, once 
 more, that Judgment is My Prerogative, and there¬ 
 fore it were Impudence and Ufurpation in you to at¬ 
 tempt it, if you were qualified to judge others. Stu¬ 
 dy rather to be Quiet, contain your felf within your 
 own Bufinefs * and let the prying, cenforious, the vain 
 and intriguing World follow their own Devices ; For 
 all which they lhall afluredly be one Day fummoned to 
 a fevere Account; For all their Arts and fpecious Co¬ 
 lours cannot impofe upon Me. Engage not with them 
 in the fame Defigns, nor let the empty Phantome of 
 a great Reputation, the Pride of numerous and ho¬ 
 nourable Relations or Acquaintance, or the particu¬ 
 lar Intimacies and Friendlhips of celebrated Perfons, 
 engage your Time and Thoughts. Thefe only ferve 
 to diftraft and perplex the Mind, and cheat you at 
 laft with fond Expectations *, they lead you into a 
 Mill, and there they leave you, loft and bewildred. 
 But I would Ihew thee the true Way, and communi¬ 
 cate my Inftt uCiions freely, wert thou but at leifure to 
 receive my Secrets, and careful to obferve my Motions; 
 by opening the Door when I knock, and watching all 
 Opportunities of entertaining me in thy Heart. 
 
 Chap. XXIX. 
 
 Of Lajling Peace , and True Goodnefs, 
 
 Christ. yfT'Uis was my Promife to my Difciples 
 1 heretofore, Peace 1 leave with you, my 
 . . _ Peace I give unto you, not aj the World give tk, 
 
 ■ BXIN,2 7* gi ve I unto you. But, though Peace be in 
 every Man’s Wilhes, yet the QpaUfkations and Pre- 
 difpolitions, necelTary for procuring and preferving it, 
 3re the Care of very few. My Peace takes up its 
 
 dwel* 
 
Book III. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 i 89 
 
 dwelling with the Meek and Humble. And the Peace 
 of my Servants confifts in Heady Patience •, in attend¬ 
 ing diligently to my Words, and following my Dire¬ 
 ctions. Therefore, upon every Occafion, be fure to 
 make a Confidence of what you Do or Say ; Let the 
 pleafing Me, be your chief, your only Concern, and 
 the Fruition of Me your ultimate, your only End and 
 Defire. Pafs no ralh Cenfure upon other Peoples 
 Words or ACtions, and do not affeCt to be a Man of 
 Bufinefs or Secrets; for this will be the beft Expedi¬ 
 ent to make your Troubles few and light. 1 fay. Few 
 and Light ; for to efcape Trouble altogether, and have 
 no Affliction at all in Mind, Body, or Eftate, is not 
 confiftent with the Nature of your prefent Condition, 
 but one of the Privileges referved for Heaven and 
 Immortality. 
 
 Do not therefore imagine, that You are then in 
 perfect Peace, when you are fenfible of no Calamity 
 or Difturbance ; Or, that a prelent Freedom from Af- 
 faults, is an Argument that you have no Enemy, and 
 all is (afe and well with you •, Nor, when things fucceed 
 according to your Heart’s delire, that this is a Proof 
 of your extraordinary Virtue and Perfection; Nor, 
 if your Zeal and Piety be fervent, and your Contem¬ 
 plations full of Delight, conclude your felf a particu¬ 
 lar Favourite of God. For thefe are forreign and de¬ 
 ceitful Inferences : fuch as neither prove the Sincerity, 
 nor the Degree and Perfection of any Man’s Virtue. 
 This is difeovered by quite different Marks. The 
 devoting and refigning your felf entirely to the Will 
 of God ; not feeking your own but his Glory in eve¬ 
 ry thing you do; confidering all Events wifely, and 
 receiving Profperity and Adverfity with Evennefs of 
 Temper ; and fuch a brave unlhaken Perfeverance in 
 Goodnefs, as, even when theAfliftancesand Encourage¬ 
 ments of Grace are withdrawn for a feafon, can refo- 
 lutely goon, and harden it felf to undergo yet/harper 
 
 Tryals 
 
190 
 
 £Df tl)C 9imitattOlt Book III. 
 
 Tryals with Conftancy ; Such Lowlinefs of Mind as 
 never puffs a Man up with an Opinion of his own Me¬ 
 rit, but in the foreft Diftreffes can find Matter of 
 Praife and Thanks, for that Mercy which even then 
 infli&s much lefs than he deferves to fuffer } And a 
 firm Hope, that God will not forfake his Servants; 
 This is the Way of Peace, the Way that leads to 
 fure Confolation, and Favour with God. And, if, 
 to not thinking highly of your own Performances, 
 you can add that Other Excellence, of defpifing your 
 Self, and abhorring your own Vilenefs, then be af- 
 fured your Peace is built upon fo folid, fo impregna¬ 
 ble a Foundation, that mortal Man here on Earth is 
 not capable of attaining to it in greater Perfe&ion. 
 
 Chap. XXX. 
 
 True Freedom of Mind. 
 
 Diftiple.l r T''His is indeed the utmoft Perfeftion 
 JL Mortality can afpire after, to aban¬ 
 don all worldly Thoughts, and without interruption 
 keep the Mind upon the Bufinefs of the Soul, and 
 heavenly Contemplations: To pafs through a Life thick 
 fet with Cares and Troubles, yet free and unconcern- 
 cd : Provided ftill this llnconcernednefs proceed not 
 I™™ Cupidity, heavinefs of Apprehenfion, or ffoth- 
 fulNegleft, but from a generous liberty of Soul, by 
 which the Man gets loole from all immoderate De¬ 
 files, and too tender Love of earthly Enjoyments. 
 This Faculty I earneftly covet, and beg thee, O my 
 God, to proteft me againft the Cares of the World, 
 left the Neceflities of my Body employ me too anxi- 
 onffy and, under that Pretence, my Affe&ions be in- 
 -nared, and fo I entangled in Multiplicity of Bufinefs, 
 
 to 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 igt 
 
 to the Prejudice and NegleCt of better and weightier 
 Conterns ; Or left 1 be enticed to Sin by the Pleffures 
 ot Senle, or difcouraged from the fteady Purfuit of 
 Vntue and Heaven, by too tender and affiiding 
 Refentments of any Calamities, which may happen to 
 
 *u I J fp 1 ea J kr ] 0 , t , l ? 0 'y, of thofe vain Superfluities, which 
 the deluded World fo vehemently contend for: but 
 beg to be preferved in thofe Miferies and Dangers, 
 ror Miferies and Dangers 1 cannot but cfteerii the 
 common and unavoidable Incumbrances of Life: llnce 
 thefc lye heavy, and cling clofe about the Soul, and 
 put it under fuch a ftrait Confinement, that it cannot 
 freely obey the Difpolitions it feels within, of getting 
 above Concern tor the World, and fixing its Defires 
 and Endeavours upon fpiritual Objects. Thou, O my 
 God, art Sweetnefs inexpreflible. But, that my Soul 
 may truly relifh thee, turn, I befeech thee, all my 
 worldly Comforts into Bitternefs, left they vitiate 
 my Palate, and give a Difguft to heavenly Things, 
 by fome deluding Charm of prefent pretended Good. 
 Oh . let not Flefh and Blood prevail in their Conflict 
 with the Spirit, let not the World and its fading 
 Glories cheat me into Ruine ; let not the fubtle Enemy 
 ot Souls fupplant me with his tempting Wiles. Give 
 me Courage to refift, when called to the Combat: 
 Patience to endure, when called to Suffering ; Fii ninefs 
 of Mind to perfift immovable in my Duty, when 
 Temptations and evil Suggeftions labour to feduce me. 
 Exchange, it it be thy Will, the tranlitory and falfe 
 Comforts ot This World, for the Oyl of true Glad- 
 t ^ e .' 4 ^^ ances . a nd fweet Satisfactions of thy 
 blefTed Spirit; and, inftead of carnal Love, and fen- 
 fual Inclination, let the Love and Delire of Tliee be 
 
 diffufed through my whole Heart, and reign unrivall’d 
 there. 
 
 Even 
 
192 
 
 €>f tl )t 91mttattOn Book III. 
 
 Even Food, and Raiment, and the Neceflaries by 
 which Life is fuftained, are a Grievance and Obftru- 
 dion to zealous and refined Souls : But what mult be 
 a Burden, let me not make an Occafion of Sin i by 
 ufing thy Creatures intemperately, by a luxurious In¬ 
 dulgence, or inordinate Appetite. Nature, 1 know, 
 it is my Duty to fupport •, and therefore, entirely to 
 refufe and negleft thefe Provifions, were Sin and foul 
 Ingratitude. But to enlarge our Defires beyond the 
 proper Ufes of thefe things, and let them loofe upon 
 Superfluity and Vanity, Delicacy and Delight: This 
 the Law of God hath moft wifely forbidden ; becaufe 
 it wereineffeft to connive at all Licentioufnefs, by che- 
 rifhine the Fle(h, and animating and fupporting it in 
 Infolence and Rebellion againft the Spirit. Between 
 thefe two Extremes there lies a fafe middle Way, in 
 which 1 humbly implore the Guidance of thy Hand j 
 left I decline from Virtue on either fide, and going a- 
 ftray after my own Inclination, or unadvtfed Zeal, for- 
 fake my Path, and fly out beyond the Meafures thou 
 haft preferibed for me. 
 
 G H A P. XXXI. 
 
 Self-love the greatefi Objlrutlion to Virtue 4ud 
 Happinefs. 
 
 Christ.] C?On, if thou aim at Purchafing All, know, 
 Vj that it is not to be bought at any Price lefs 
 than thy All. Earth moft be bartered for Heaven, and 
 where I give my felf, 1 expeft the whole Man in ex¬ 
 change. Think not therefore of any private Referves 
 of Intereft or Pleafure, in Bar to my entire Pofleflion * 
 for all the World cannot do thee greater Prejudice, 
 than fuch Self-love. This fticks more clofe, while 
 
 other 
 

 Book III. 
 
 Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 * 9 ? 
 
 1 other things are loofe and at a diftance, and all things 
 i faften upon thee, only according as the Degree of your 
 , own Love and Inclination for them gives opportunity 
 ' and advantage. If your Mind and its Affe&ions he 
 pure, and fincere, and moderate, nothing fhall have 
 the power to enflave you. 
 
 And what Pretence can you have for fuffering them 
 to be othetwife ? For who would fet his Love upon 
 things, which cannot be obtained without Difficulty, 
 oftentimes not with it; or, if they be, cannot be en¬ 
 joyed without Danger ? Who would court Bonds and 
 ' Captivity, and be fond of having that, which will 
 obftrudf his weightielt Concern, and rob him of his 
 Liberty ? Were thefe Confiderations duly attended 
 to, it muft appear prodigious Folly, for any Man not 
 to refign himfelf up entirely to Mej to waft his 
 Strength with unprofitable Vexations, and labour in 
 the Fire for Vanity, and create Troubles which it is 
 in his power to avoid. Obey my Will then, and fub- 
 mit all to my Difpofal, and then thou art out of the 
 Reach of the World, and its Temptations. But, if 
 Intereft and private Refpe&s ftill govern in thy Heart, 
 all thy Application will be in vain. Thou runneft a- 
 way from Troubles in one place to meet them in ano¬ 
 ther \ Seeking Reft but finding none, becaufe thou al¬ 
 ways carrieft thy Torment about thee. For, even in 
 thy moft fuccefsful Attempts, there will be fomewhat 
 wanting to give thee complete Satisfa&ion ; and in thy 
 moft private Retirements thou wilt be dogged and 
 haunted by lome Crofles. The World and its Advan¬ 
 tages can do thee no Service by being enjoyed, but by 
 being flighted, and defpifed. This is the Cafe, not 
 of Riches only, but of Honour and Reputation too, 
 for They alio make themfelves Wings and fly away •, 
 and thou canft never be fafe or happy, but by mortify¬ 
 ing thy Ambition and Vain-glory. 
 
 Haw 
 
 V 
 
194 £Df tt)Z SltUltatlOtl Book III. 
 
 How many People pleafe themfelves with fond Ima¬ 
 ginations of Eafe and Leifure to be Good, in a Coun¬ 
 try, or a College-life ? But Cloiffers and Delarts fig- 
 nifie nothing, without the Zeal and Difpofition of a 
 Hermit. The Convenience of Place is very little \ 
 and all its boafted Expectations vanifh, except the 
 Man be changed, as well as his Relidence, and man¬ 
 ner of Living. And this Change is not, cannot be 
 effected, unlefs his Mind be fixed in Me, alone, as the 
 proper, the only Centre of all its AffeCtions and De¬ 
 fires. The Liberty Men enjoy otherwife, is very Ihort 
 and unfaithful; for frelh Occafions of Sin and Trouble 
 will quickly offer themfelves; and then, not only the 
 old Inconveniences will return again, but new and 
 greater, and fuch as are peculiar to that new State of 
 Life upon which they have entred : And thus their ve¬ 
 ry Refuge becomes a frelh Temptation. 
 
 Chap. XXXII. 
 
 A Prayer for Purity of Heart , and Heavenly 
 Wijdom. 
 
 Difciple.] TfStabli/h me , Lord , with thy free Spirit , 
 Pfai.w. XL that being ftrengthen’d in the Inner 
 Man, I may purge my Soul from all vain 
 Anxiety, and banilh idle Fears, and get over the Dif- 
 couragements and diffracting Troubles of the World. 
 Let not the wild and impatient Defires of any thing 
 here, though never fo alluring and feemingly valu¬ 
 able, perplex my Thoughts and draw me off from 
 1 hec. Give me Grace to confider my felf and all 
 below, as things full of Vanity, and of very Ihort 
 Continuance. For fuch indeed are all Things under 
 the Sun, vexation of Spirit , and altogether lighter than 
 
 f^iuni- 
 
Boole III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Vanity n felf. And He who conftantly looks upon 
 them as fuch, is the truly, the only. Wife Man 
 Impart to me then, O my God, I befeech'thee 
 that heavenly Wifdom, which may difpoie me to feek 
 thy Kingdom and thy Righteoufnefs; to Sell all for this 
 one Pearl of great Price; and to elteem 
 my felf rich in no Treafure but Thee; to {Mmh ' 
 love and delight in thee alone; to take Satisfaction in 
 all things elfe, in fuch Degrees, and in Subordination 
 to fuch Purpofes only, as thou hall appointed; and 
 to receive every Difpenfation of Providence, with 
 uch a Spirit and Temper, as becomes my Duty, and 
 may render it ferviceable to the Ends, for which thou 
 encell it. Grant me fuch Prudence and Conduft in 
 ill my Converfation, that 1 may decline and defpife 
 !die Infinuations of Flatterers, and meekly receive the 
 dontradi&ion and Reproaches of Gainfayersand Slan¬ 
 derers. For This is Wifdom indeed, when a Man is 
 lot carried about with every Blalt of Air, but flops 
 lis Ears againll the Siren’s Charms; and refolutely 
 iroceeds in a flreight Heady Courfe of Virtue, in de- 
 pight of all the Subtlety of thofe who labour to en- 
 ice, or the Malice of Them who would terrifie and 
 Irive him from it. 
 
 Chap. XXXIII. 
 
 Jow a Chrijlian ought to behave himfelf when Men 
 Jpeak Evil of him. 
 
 Vi'/?.] ]\ /TY Son, if Detra&ors and Slanderers 
 1VJ. fpeak or think III of thee, let not chis 
 auchdiiturb thee. The Provocations to Impatience 
 nd angry Refentments, which fuch ill Treatment u- 
 Jally minilters, will be much better employed againll 
 
 thy 
 
19 6 €>f tfre imitation Book hi. 
 
 thy felf. Take then this Hint of improving thy Hu¬ 
 mility, by reflecting how many things which lye con- 
 cealed from Humane Sight, thy own Mind is confci- 
 ous of; and the more Their wicked Malice labours to 
 leflen thy Reputation, fo much the lefs do thou ap¬ 
 pear in thy own efteem. If all be well within, and 
 thy Heart right with Me, the impertinent Cenfures 
 of bufie envious Men will make no very deep Impref- 
 fion. And when Thefe reach thy Ears, inftead of 
 Recriminating and Indignation, it will be wifely done, 
 to look up to Me,and not to be difordered at any Judg¬ 
 ment, which Men (hall take upon them to pronounce 
 concerning thee. For why (hould thy Satisfaction be 
 placed upon a thing, which makes thee not one whit 
 the better or the worfe ? If they commend and cry 
 thee up, thy real Merit is not the greater •, And if 
 they revile and run thee down, thy Innocence is not 
 the lefs. Seek then true Honour and Satisfaction from 
 Me, from Me alone *, whofe Sentence never fwerves 
 from Equity and Truth. And great (hall thy Con¬ 
 tent and thy Quiet be, if thou neither follicitoufly 
 court the Favour of Men, nor iervilely fear their Cen- 
 fure and Difpleafure. For, after all the Complaints 
 of outward Accidents, the true original Ground of 
 all Difquiet is within j For inordinate AffeCtions and 
 vain Fears are The polluted Fountain, from whence 
 thofe bitter Streams of Difcontent, and perplexed 
 Thoughts, and every Confulion aud Diforder of a 
 troubled Mind flow. 
 
 C H A Pi 
 
•Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 197 
 
 Chap. XXXIV. 
 
 How God ought to be addrefs'd to in Time of Ad - 
 yerfity. 
 
 T)ifi iple.~\ r T~' 1 He Lordgiveth.and the Lord taketh away.and 
 A bleffcd be the Name of the Lord. , 
 
 Yea, blefled be thy Name, for this very Ca- ^ 0 I# 2I " 
 lamity, with which thy Fatherly Wifdom and Affl'dion 
 hath now thought fit to chaltife and try me. I can- 
 not flee from the Scourge of thy Rod, but 1 will fly to 
 thee for Succour ; and beg that thou wouldll alfilt 
 me with thy Patience, and turn all my Sufferings to my 
 Soul’s Advantage. I am indeed in trouble; and can¬ 
 not but confefs the prelent Dilorder, which this Mil- 
 fortune gives me. But this is my own Infirmity ; and 
 1 know not what to Pray for as I ou/bt. For 
 what ffiall I fay ? Lord, fave me from this * 6 ' 
 
 Hot,: . No, dearelt Father; Thouhadlt ^ 
 not brought me to this Hour, had it not been for thy 
 Cdory, and my own Good. And therefore I will ra¬ 
 ther beg, that my Affliction may continue, till *hy 
 gracious Purpofes are accomplilhed in me; and when 
 rhoufeelt me luffkieutly humbled, that then and not 
 oefore, thou wouldeft refrelh, and raile, and deliver 
 me out of it. 
 
 . For m y Deliverance, I am duly feafible, can come 
 rom no other Hand; lince 1 my felf am weak, and 
 ioor, and blind, and know not what is belt, or what 
 :odo. Grant me then, blefled L.ord, a Refcue in 
 thy own due time; and in the mean while, ftrengthen 
 me with Patience, that by thy powerful Aid f may 
 near up againft the lharpeff; Tribulations, without 
 □efpondency or Diltradion. Not my mil , Lord bat 
 bine be done , lhall be the conltant Language of my 
 Heart; Mv finful Heart; which acknowledges thv 
 
 0 Mer- 
 
198 jflDf tfte imitation Book in. 
 
 Mercy in the midft of Wrath; and fadly refle&s, 
 that thou haft punifhed me much lefs than my Offen¬ 
 ces deferve. O that this humble Senfe of my own 
 Guilt may work in me fuch Quiet and contented Sub- 
 miflion to thy Will, that I may neither unduly de¬ 
 cline, nor unthankfully murmur at the weight or the 
 length of my Sufferings, till thou fee fit to compofe 
 this Storm, and reftore to me the Comforts of thy Fa¬ 
 vour and indulgent Providence. 
 
 For, if the Tempeft ftill rage, this is not the Ef¬ 
 fect of want of Power in thee to quiet it; but becaufe 
 a perfett Calm is not yet feafonable for me. Thy 
 mighty Hand can lay it in a moment. Thou canft abate 
 its Fury, or thou canft proteft and fupport me under 
 its Violence and Extremity. I know thou canft ; for 
 thou haft taught me by my own Experience; and the 
 Remembrance of thy former Mercies will not fuffer 
 me to doubt the Efficacy of thy Power. But, in pro¬ 
 portion as my Grief and Burden is greater, fo much 
 the fweeter and more refrelhing let thy healing Vir¬ 
 tue, and fpiritual Confolations be; and let me feel thy 
 1 cgr x ,, gracious Promife, That thou wilt not fuffer 
 thy Servants to he tempted above that they are 
 able, but wilt with theTemptation alfo make a Way to efcape , 
 that they may be able to bear it. 
 
 Chap. XXXV. 
 
 How the Divine Aflifiance ffjould be fought, and. 
 depended upon. 
 
 Christ.] T AmthatLord,my Son,who is the Strong- 
 Nahum 1. JL hold of affli&ed Men in the Time of Trou¬ 
 ble ; and in whom thou doft well to take 
 Santtuary, in all thy DiftrdTes. But if thy Comforts 
 
 make 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 1 99 
 
 make not hall, thou doll thy felf frequently obftrud 
 and difappoint thy own Expeditions, by deferring 
 thy Prayers, and by flownefs to ask Relief. For Men 
 generally try all other Comforts and Remedies firlt, 
 and referve Me for their lalt Refuge, in Times of fuch 
 Extremity that nothing will do them Service; and 
 then my Honour is concerned, not only to defeat 
 thofe Humane Contrivances, in which they vainly 
 trufled; but to defer my own Succours ■, and, by ma¬ 
 king them Imart for their impious Negledf, compel 
 them to acknowledge, that I am the Deliverer of 
 Them that trull in Me j and that, without me, no 
 Succours are llrong, no Counfels wife, no Remedies 
 fucceisful j And if their Sufferings find lome prelent 
 Abatement, this only Skins the Wound, but is no per¬ 
 fect Cure, and the Pain it aflwages will return again 
 with doubled Anguilh and Rage. For I alone, who 
 gave the Stroke, can heal it * and, as there is no Evil, 
 which the Lord hath not done, fo neither is their any 
 Deliverance which the Lord hath not wrought. 
 
 _ But now thy Applications are come up into my 
 Ears, and thou hall call thy felf upon my Mercy, I will 
 revive thy drooping Spirits, and thou lhalt, after this 
 dark difmal Storm, rejoyce again in the Light of my 
 Countenance. For 1 am ready not only to reftore thy 
 former Happinefs, but alfo to recompenfe thy pall 
 Pains and Patience, by plentiful Additions of more 
 and greater BlelTings. And let not any Adverlity, 
 though never fo grievous, prevail upon thy Frailty to 
 dillrult my doing fo; For, Can there any thing be heard 
 for me? Or am I like deceitful Men, who footh their 
 Dependants up with Promifes which they never deiign 
 to perform ? Have 1 at any time broken my Word ? 
 Where then is thy Faith, where thy Courage ? bear 
 bravely up and difcharge thy Duty. For, if thou fail 
 not to qualifie thy felf for receiving them, Grace and 
 Confolation lhall certainly approach in due time. If 
 
 O i the 
 
200 
 
 £>f tfie limitation Book m. 
 
 r . the Lord tarry , yet wait jor bin, for be will 
 Hxb% furelv come and heal thee. The Load, which 
 now oppreffes thee, is only laid there, to try thy 
 Strength and Virtue; nor would it weigh thee down 
 fo low, if thy own Folly did not make it heavier, by 
 heaping on anxious Cares for the future upon thy pre- 
 fent Sufferings. But this is to confpire againfl thy 
 , . "felf, and turn thy own Tormenter. Suj- 
 
 m . \ i. 54. t0 eac ij jy a y ,'j- the Evil thereof\ with¬ 
 
 out charging it with additional Troubles which no 
 way belong to it. Thefe are indeed impertinent and 
 fenflefs at all times ; For how abfurd is it to exalt or 
 dejett one’s felf, by Hopes and Fears, and fond Repre- 
 fentations of diftant Good and Evil, which have not 
 any being in Nature, and probably may never be at 
 all? Difmifs thefe empty, but painful Follies ^ the 
 mere Creatures of thy own Tick Fancy : For fuch De- 
 luffons are a great Reproach upon Reafon, and a 
 greater yet upon Chriifianity ; when thy mean timo¬ 
 rous Soul is mocked by fuch airy Phantomes, and fo 
 very eafily led Captive by the Enemy’s Suggcftions. 
 And fuch are thefe defponding or fanguine Thoughts 
 of what will be hereafter. Whether it be or not, he 
 matters not; for his Bufinefs is to deceive and undo 
 Men. And true or falfe Hopes and Terrors contribute 
 equally to thisDefign: The Love of prcfent Good, 
 and Dread of approaching Evils, arc Inftruments of 
 Ruine employed by him, with wonderful Addrefs; 
 and, fo Ruine be but the Confequence, the Methods 
 and Management of it are altogether indifferent to 
 'him. 
 
 Do not therefore fuffer Fear to dejeft thee, but ftill 
 maintain thy Chriftian Courage, and rcpofe thy Con¬ 
 fidence in my Mercy. I am often ready at hand, when 
 thou fuppofeft me at a diftance; and, at thole times, 
 w hen all is given for gone, things are fo far from de- 
 fperate, that profperous Events and molt furprifing 
 
 Com- 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 201 
 
 Comforts are breaking in upon thee, like a glorious 
 Sun from an aftonifhing Eclipfe. ’Tis Rafhnefs there¬ 
 fore to conclude Affairs in a loll Condition, becaufe 
 fome Crofles have balked your Expectations: Nor can 
 either your own Refentment of Misfortunes within, or 
 the Violence of any Calamity without, give you fuf- 
 ficient Grounds, from the terrible Face your prefent 
 Circumftances wear, to pronounce. That all Hope of 
 Efcape and better Days is paft. Nay, which is the 
 raoft fenfible and moll deplorable Cafe of any, if at 
 the fame time that I Scourge thee with outward Cala¬ 
 mities, thou feel the inward Supports of my Grace 
 withdrawn, which Ihould enable to bear the Rod; 
 Yet even fo, think not thy felf forfaken, or that 1 have 
 utterly caft thee from my Prefence. The Way to 
 Heaven is fet with Briars and Thorns, and they who 
 arrive at that Kingdom, travel over cragged Rocks 
 and comfortlefs Defarts: And more it "is for their 
 advantage to have their Virtue awakened, and brighte¬ 
 ned, and brought to the Teft, by the Smart of Ad- 
 ~verlity; than that all thiugs fhould go fmoothly on, 
 without any manner of Let or Moleftation. 
 
 The Heart of Man is deceitful , who can know it ? Thy 
 very felf art often under very dangerous Miflakesa- 
 bout thy own Condition. Thou art ignorant what 
 thou art, and much more ignorant what is fit for thee. 
 But I, who have aperteCt Underftanding of both, fee 
 plainly, that it is proper and beneficial fometimes to 
 be left to thy felf \ that thus, itruggling to fo little 
 purpofe with the Calamities that bear "thee down, thou 
 may’ll be brought to ajufland humble Senfeofthy 
 Infirmities j that this Senfe may check thy Vanity, and 
 fhew that all thy Attempts which prove fuccefsful, are 
 owing entirely to another Hand; and Thou in truth 
 nothing lefs than that mighty Man thou art apt to 
 take thy felf for. This makes my depriving thee of thy 
 ufual Comforts convenient, but {till ’tis in my Power 
 
 O 3 to 
 
SflDf tije Slmitatton Book in. 
 
 202 
 
 to reftore and augment them to thee, when I fee That 
 convenient too. 
 
 Nor think me hard and unjuft in thele Difpenla- 
 tions i for who lhall forbid me to do what I will with 
 my own ? I gave thee what thou could’ft not claim; 
 and I take away what thou haft no right to keep. 
 
 For every good and perfefl Gift is mine , and 
 j*mes . 17. nQt a jj Ut a favour. If then Affli- 
 
 ftion comes, remember ’tis of my fending and I, who 
 laid the Crofs, can both remove and recompenfe it: 
 1 Sm ii I kill and make alive J bring down to the Grave , 
 
 ' and raije up from it } And in the inftant that 
 I lay my Thunder by, and Smile again, thy Heavinefs 
 lhall be changed into Joy unfpeakable. 
 
 In all my Dealings I am juft, in all am wife, and 
 good i and deferve, not only thy Admiration, but 
 even thy Thanks and Praife^ Could’ft thou but right¬ 
 ly comprehend my Methods and the fecret Reafons of 
 them, thou would’ft drink up the bitter Potion with 
 Joy; With Joy, upon this very Confideration, that 
 I do not fpare thee to thy hurt, but fend AflMions 
 in pure kindnefs to thee, when I forefee they will be 
 for thy advantage. Obferve the Tenure of my gra¬ 
 cious Promife to my beft beloved Difciples : As my 
 
 , . Father loved me , even fo have 1 loved you. 
 
 But both my Father’s Love to Me, and 
 Mine to Them was exprefs’d, not by falfe and tranfi- 
 tory Joys, but by {harp and long Confli&s \ by being 
 called, not to Honours, but to Contumelies and Dif- 
 grace; not by indulging them in Eafe and Sloth, but 
 by inuring them to Tryals and Difficulties j by calling 
 them, not to Reft and Peace, but to bring forth no¬ 
 ble and generous Fruit with Patience. Remember well 
 thefe Words, my Son, and then thou canft not think 
 much, to drink of the Cup that I drank of fo deeply, 
 and to be baptized with the Baptifm that J was baptized 
 with. Thou canft not then defpair, or thmk that 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 205 
 
 God, in afflicting thee, hath abandoned all Care and 
 Concern for thy Benfit, fince even that tender, that 
 unparalell’d, that unconceivable Affection, with which 
 he loved his own dear Son, hindred not his making 
 that very Captain of thy Salvation perfeft .. 
 
 through Sufferings. And what art thou? " ’ 1! * 
 What is the bell of Men in comparifon of Him? 
 What are thy Agonies and Tryals, the very worft of 
 thine in compaifon of His? 
 
 Chap- XXXVI. 
 
 Of feeking God alone. 
 
 Difdple.'] TPHy Mercy, Lord, is great, which hath 
 X thus far afllfbed me; but ftill I feel 1 
 want a larger Portion of thy Grace, which may con¬ 
 duct me to fuch a State of Perfection, as may fecure 
 and fet me at liberty, from all the ObftruCtions, which 
 the Creatures lay in my way. For fo long as I retain 
 an AfFeCtion or Concern for any thing in this World, 
 1 find my Soul checkt and reftrained in her Mountings 
 to Thee and Heaven. How often do I make the Pro¬ 
 phet’s Wifh my own, Oh that 1 had. Wings ^ 
 
 ! like a Dove , for then would l fly away and be 
 at reft ; Lo then would I get me away far off, and remain 
 at a diftance from the World. Now what is more at 
 eafe, more abftra&ed from the World, than a true 
 fingle-hearted Honefty ? What can boaft of Freedom 
 equal to His, who covets nothing upon Earth ? All 
 created Beings fhould indeed be parted over, and left 
 behind in this Flight, and a Man muft make a Stretch 
 even beyond himfelf, and abandon his own natural In¬ 
 clinations and DefeCfs, in order to get a diftinCt View 
 of the Creator, and thofe Perfections in Him, to which 
 
 O 4 no 
 
204 £D£ tlje Hmttation Book hi. 
 
 no Creature bears any refemblance. Now This is the 
 very Reafon, why fo few employ their Thoughts in 
 heavenly Contemplations with any fenfible Delight ; 
 becanfe when they attempt it, they do it unskilful¬ 
 ly ; and bring thofe worldly Affedtions along with 
 them, that damp and difguft them in the Underta¬ 
 king. 
 
 = It is not, 1 confefs, an eafie Matter, nay, ’tis not 
 poffible to Flefh and Blood, by its own Strength, thus 
 to purge the AfFe&ions; Nothing lefs than a liberal 
 and very powerful Infpiration of Divine Grace can 
 thus exalt the Mind, and as it were carry the Man 
 out of himfelf : But till fuch Exaltation of the Soul 
 have difengaged one from all temporal Interefts, and 
 fixt down his Delires to that one Objcdt worthy of 
 them, God himfelf j all his Knowledge and imagined 
 Excellencies are very little worth. For whatever falfe 
 Notions of Honour and Greatnefs Men may delude 
 themfelves with, yet ftill all They have poor and 
 little Souls, and dote upon that which ought to be 
 difdained, who allow any thing, befides the Infinite 
 and Eternal God, a very honourable Place in their 
 Affe&ions and Elfeem. For All which is not God, is 
 Vanity and Nothing, and ought to be nothing re¬ 
 garded. How vaft a difference there is, between the 
 Wifdorn of a mortified pious Man, enlightned from 
 above ; and the pompous Learning of a profound and 
 ftudious Divine? That Knowledge, which defeends 
 from above, fpcaks its heavenly Original, by marvel¬ 
 lous and noble Effefts j and works a greater Change in 
 the Man. a greater Improvement in profitable Know¬ 
 ledge ; than all that Comprehenfion, which the belt 
 Capacities, and the moft indefatigable lnduftry can 
 ever attain to. 
 
 We often hear very glorious Chara&ers of Divine 
 Contemplation, and the wonderful Delights and Tran¬ 
 sports attending it; and Thefe a great many appear 
 
 very 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 205 
 
 very fond of, but then they have no regard to the ne- 
 ceflary Preparations for it; Their Minds are full of 
 fenfible Ideas, and poflefs’d with the Things of this 
 prefent World, and the fubduing and mortifying 
 their Defires and Paflions is a Matter they take no 
 care about: And while their Affairs continue in this 
 Pollure, they are in no degree qualify’d for thofe Ex- 
 ercifes of the Mind. Methinks it is a molt unaccount¬ 
 able Folly, and argues, that Men forget what Spirit 
 they are of, when they call themfelves Chriftians, i. e. 
 Spiritual Perfons that have folemnly renounced the 
 World with its Vanities, and the Flelh with its finful 
 Luffs-, whoprofefsto believe and to feek Happinefs 
 in a future State, and to place thac Happinefs in the 
 Perfettion of their Souls; and yet, in Reproach and 
 Contradidf ion to thefe Profefiions, fuffer Body and Senfe 
 to run away with them lay out themfelves entirely 
 upon perifhing and paltry Advantages, while the fub- 
 flantial and everlalting are wretchedly negledted, and 
 their Souls fo perfe&ly forgotten, that they fcarce af¬ 
 ford one ferious Thought to their molf important Con¬ 
 cerns. Or, if at any time we fee our felves to think, 
 fome Trifle prefently interrupts and draws us off 
 from any profitable Recolledtions. Nay, we our felves 
 fly out, and are glad to be diverted from a fevere Ex¬ 
 amination into our own State, which is fure, if dili¬ 
 gently purfued, to prefent us with Objetts of Shame 
 and Sorrow, fuch as will wound our Sight, and foon 
 make us weary of this neceflary Work." Thus we ne¬ 
 ver trouble our felves to obferve, which way our 
 Inclinations are difpofed, or whither they tend ; nor 
 do we ferioufly bewail the abominable Impurity of 
 our Hearts, though there be nothing but Impurity 
 there. The way of all FleJI) is corrupt upon 
 the Earth ; and that univerfal Corruption, Gen ’ VI * 
 
 lays the Scripture, brought a Flood to deftroy Man¬ 
 kind and every Creature, But whence, do we think, 
 
 ' pro- 
 
206 
 
 ADf tlje imitation Book hi. 
 
 proceeds fuch Corruption of Manners ? From the cor¬ 
 rupt Affedtions of Men, no doubt. For, if this Foun¬ 
 tain be not fweet, the Adlion, which is but a Stream 
 and Emanation from it, mud of neceffity be flat and 
 bitten For a pure Heart is the Ground-work of a 
 holy Life} and as naturally fprings from it, as the 
 Fruit from the Tree. 
 
 - And herein we are much to blame, that fo little 
 Regard is had to the Difpofitions of the Heart; with¬ 
 out which no true Judgment can ever be made, ei¬ 
 ther of our felves or others. But this, which is in 
 truth of greateft Confequence } The very Point, up¬ 
 on which a Man’s whole Character turns, feems to 
 be laid afide, as a thing too nice and fpeculative to be 
 very curious in. We fix our Eyes upon the outward 
 Adtion, confider What or How much a Man hath 
 done} but with what Sincerity, with what Zeal, 
 with what honed Intention he did it, or whether 
 with none of all thefe Qualifications, we trouble not 
 our felves to enquire. So again, For the Edimate 
 we make of Perfons, they are all forreign from the 
 true and proper Foundation of Merit and Refpedt: 
 The Riches, Valour, Beauty, Judgment, Wit, Elo¬ 
 quence, a good Style, or a fweet Voice, ora Knack 
 of Management in Town or Country-bufinefs, his 
 Preferments, or his Profeflion, Thefe we immediate¬ 
 ly take care to be informed of, and proportion our 
 Value and Refpedts accordingly \ but a Man’s Hu¬ 
 mility and Poverty of Spirit, his Meeknefs and Pa¬ 
 tience, his Devotion and Piety, Thefe are feldom 
 mentioned in the Charadter, or recommended as Mo¬ 
 tives to induce Regard. Thus Nature and Grace 
 have their different Profpedts and Affedfions. The 
 former looks at the Outfide of a Man, and rates him 
 according to things that are not his •, the latter pla¬ 
 ces all within, and fets not at all by external Orna¬ 
 ments and Advantages: The former builds upon a 
 
Book III. of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 alfe bottom, feeks her felf what Ihe values in others, 
 md is often times deceived and difappointed: The 
 atter repofes her whole Hope and Love in God, and 
 s never miftaken, never deluded by falfe ExpeCta- 
 i ions. 
 
 -'-—---- 
 
 Chap. XXXVII. 
 
 > Of Self-denial. 
 
 Thrift."] ^THHou canft not. Son, be entirely free, till 
 I thou have firft: attained to fuch a Ma- 
 tery, as entirely to fubdue, and deny thy felf. For 
 • rovetous Perfons, and Lovers of Themfelves, the luft- 
 ul, and bufie, and unlettled Men, the lovers of Plea- 
 "ure more than lovers of God, are all Slaves; Vile 
 md unprofitable Slaves; condemned to fruitless end- 
 efs Toil; feeking what they cannot find, and contri- 
 dng what they cannot compafs; Or if they could,what 
 hey cannot long enjoy. For every thing which is not 
 God, is foon brought to nought. Obferve this 
 hort, but certain, Aphorifm: For fake all , and thou 
 halt find all ; let go Defire, and thou fiialt lay hold on 
 ’eace. Confider this Rule diligently, and tranlcribe 
 t into thy Practice, for Practice will explain and prove 
 t to thee. 
 
 Difciple.] This, Lord, is not the Work of a fingle 
 Day, a Maxime not fitted for weak Capacities, but 
 ! fuch as in one Ihort Sentence contains the utmoft Per¬ 
 fection of a pious and refigned Chriftian. 
 
 Chrift.] And why, n.y Son , Ihould that Perfection 
 Affright or difcourage thee? Call up thy Zeal, afpire 
 to true Greatnefs of Soul, and the nobler the Virtue 
 is, the more eager and generous Refolution do thou 
 exprefs of attaining to it. O ! that thou wert of that 
 
 happy 
 
 »r 
 
2o8 
 
 €>f tty 9!mttattOlt Book III 
 
 happy Difpofition, which utterly difcards all narrow: 
 and felfilh Confiderations, and fubmits it felf entirely j 
 to the Obedience of my Commands,and theDifpofalsot; 
 my Providence! So Ihould thy Perfon and thy Behavi¬ 
 our be acceptable to thy God; So Ihould’ft thou enjoy 
 great Satisfa&ion, and Peace in thy own Breaft. Alas! 
 there are ftill many things which muft be abandoned, 
 Many, which till thou haft facrificed to me, the Hap- 
 pinefs thou aimeft at can never be obtained. Buy 
 therefore of me the pure refined Gold of a heaven'y 
 and refigned Difpofition; for That lhall make thee 
 rich, above all the Treafures of this World. Caft 
 off the Wifdom of this Generation,and do not footh thy 
 felf with their foolilh Imaginations: For they purfue 
 Shadows, and take delight in Vanity and Nothing. 
 Remember I have told thee, that the things which are 
 lightly efteemed muft be purchafed at the expence of 
 thofe, which this World efteems moft precious. For 
 what is more defpifed and mean in common Reputa- 
 tation, what more negle&ed and forgotten, than that 
 true heavenly Wifdom, which renounces all Merit of 
 its own, and is content to be difregarded by the Men 
 of this World? This mortified and humble State of 
 Mind, is what indeed fome People profefs, and in 
 Words commend*, but their Pra&ice plainly con¬ 
 demns it, and gives the lye to all their diffembled 
 
 M,mk. xiii. Praifes * And y« this Wifdom, poor and 
 defpicable as it appears to common Eyes, 
 is that Pearl of Great Price, for which all other Pof- 
 feffions are wifely given in exchange. That hidden 
 Treafure, which is always like to continue hid, fince 
 it lies low, and few either do, or care to, find it.. 
 
 Chap. 
 
ook III. of J esus Christ. 209 
 
 Chap. XXXVIII. 
 
 he Changeablenefs of our Temper , and how to fix 
 it. 
 
 TVO not, my Son, depend upon any pre- 
 
 JL_y lent Difpofition of Mind, with which 
 d iou feeleft thy felf affeded, for This is fickle and of 
 lort Duration. Variety and Change is what Men 
 lull be Subject to, fo long as they carry the Frailties 
 i f Flefh and Blood about them •, and all their Endea- 
 ours cannot fo fix their Hearts, as to keep them con- 
 antly the fame. Sometimes they find themfelves di* 
 j )ofed to Mirth, fometimes to Melancholy} now they 
 i re Even and Serene, by and by all over Diforder and 
 lonfufion} this Hour Fervent and Devout, the next 
 ^ .ukewarm and Cold ,• Studious and Indultrious to 
 )ay, Slothful and unfit for Bufinefs to Morrow; 
 erious and Grave and Thoghtful now, and anon 
 gain Gay and Trifling and Light as Air. But the 
 ruly wife Man, who isaded by the Spirit of God, 
 ets above this changeable Region of the lower 
 I Vorld j He fuffers not himfelf to be carried about 
 /ith every Blaft and Impulfe of Inconftancy, but 
 ettles upon the Balls of the One excellent End, which 
 I j always fir ft and moft in his Thoughts, the Port to 
 | iihich he makes, and the Compafs by which he fteers 
 11 his Deligns and Adions. For by this Method it is 
 j ery pofllble for a Man to continue unfhaken, and un- 
 jnoved, by any Guft of Inclination from within, or 
 Occident from without. The natural Changeableaels 
 *f Humane Affections being yet more improved, by 
 rlens own voluntary Uncertainty, and propoiing no 
 onftant End or Rule to themfelves. Now that Inten- 
 ion, which fixes upon God as its only End, will keep 
 den fteddy in their Purpofes ■, and deliver them from 
 
210 *Df t^e fnutattoit Book III 
 
 being the Jeft and Scorn of Fortune ; and this in 
 
 Scripture is ftyled 4 Single Eye , becaufe it ever looks 
 and aims but at one Objedh 
 
 The more intent then that Eye is in this Profped, 
 the lefs diverted from its Mark, the firmer and more 
 confiftent Men are with themfelves; and the lefs 1m- 
 prelfion does any Change of Wind or Weather make 
 upon fuch diligent and wife Pilots. But ftiil Infirmity 
 prevails in moll, and if fome Pleafure or Profit come 
 betwixt, they retain lb much Tendernels for them¬ 
 felves, and their temporal Advantages; as to be di¬ 
 verted from the fame vigorous Purfuit of their firft 
 Prize, and allow this frelh one a part at leaft of their 
 Endeavours and Defires. They love God, but they 
 would love the World too; and in this State of di- 
 Joknx ii.o. Y. ided Affections fomewhat refemble the 
 w h°> as the Evangelill obferves, came 
 to vifit Martha and Mary at Bethany, not only that 
 
 f ^ e a - n r he - ar J efus > but that they might 
 fatisfie their Curiofitym gazing upon Laz.«rus, whom 
 
 he had raifed from the Dead. It mull therefore be 
 your gre« Care and Bufrtiefs to compofe this Dillra- 
 Ction of Thought, to fix your Heart to one Purpofe 
 G ° 0d> °. ne End » r °zealoufly, that no-' 
 lfe . °| a y c °me into Competition or Partnerlhip 
 with it; to look upon every thing which diverts you 
 
 rw’ r * C °° S / 0U « n thls P urfu,t > with an Eye of 
 Contempt; and conllantly to keep your Hope and 
 
 S SL a ^ 0Ve y rwhlc h ar V he s P r ingand Guide of 
 all your A&ions) upon Me alone. 
 
 C a a ?. 
 
2 11 
 
 Book HI. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Chap. XXXIX. 
 
 The Happinefs of them who love God. 
 
 Difciple.~] TN having God, I have all things: Ft, 
 
 J X whom can I have in Heaven but 
 
 Thee, and what is there upon Earth that J can lxx “ 1 * 
 defire in conparifon of Thee ? Oh fweet and comfor¬ 
 table Words! But this is a Sweetnefs, which none 
 can tail, but they who love the Word of God, and 
 not the World , neither the Things that be in 
 he World. My God to me is All ; I need 1 ^ oh ' "* 
 tdd no more j the Men of purified Underftandings 
 find this enough, and they of purified and heavenly 
 Affe&ions cannot repeat it too often. When Thou 
 art prelent, Affliction and Death are plealant 9 for in 
 thy Favour is Life and Joy. When thou art ablent. 
 Life it felt is a Burden j for thy Difplealure is worle 
 than Death. Thou makeft a merry Heart, a cheer¬ 
 ful Countenance, in Thee is abundance of Peace, and 
 i continual Fealt. Thou givelt me right Notions of 
 all Events, and rendered every Accident a Matter of 
 • Joy and Praife to me ; without Thee Profperity it felf 
 is naufeous, and I loath my very Mercies. For nothing 
 ! here below can pleafe our Palate, unlefs thy Favour 
 
 ! md Wifdom give it a grateful Relifh. To him that 
 eeds delightfully on thee, every bitter Morfel is 
 Tweet; but they who want or flight that heavenly 
 Entertainment, find the molt delicious Dainties harlh 
 i and bitter. 
 
 They who are wife for the World and the Flelh, 
 are molt defective in the true and heavenly Wifdom. 
 The carnal Wifdom ends in Guilt and Death, and the 
 worldy Wifdom purfues’Vanity and empty Pomp. 
 But they who are wife indeed conform themfelves to 
 thy Example, by a Contempt of all earthly Greatnefs, 
 
 and 
 
212 €>f tty gjtmtatton Bookm. 
 
 and a vigorous Mortification of their fenfual Appe¬ 
 tites and Pallions } they difdain the Shadow, and lay 
 hold on the Subftance; pafs from Falfliood to Truth, 
 and from Body to Spirit. Thefe are the Men, who 
 love and delight in God, and find no Satisfaction in 
 the Creatures, farther than as they promote the Ho¬ 
 nour, and ferve the Purpofes, of the great Creator. 
 The Joys they minifter are fubordinate and limited: 
 Not inherent and natural, but by reflection only } and 
 every thing is efteemed, in proportion as it tends to 
 its Maker’s life and Praife. So very unlike, fo infi¬ 
 nitely different, is the Pleafure we feel from the Crea¬ 
 tor and the Creature, from the boundlefs Ocean of 
 Eternity, and the narrow TraCt of Time} from the 
 original felf-exiftent Light, and thofe faint Beams (hot 
 down on things here below. 
 
 Shine then, O Light everlafting ! in comparifon 
 whereof all created Lights are but a lefs degree of 
 Darknefs : Convey thy felf into my benighted Soul, 
 purge and difpel the Clouds of Error there, purifie 
 my polluted AffeCfions, cheer my Sadnefs, enliven my 
 ftupid Mind and all its Faculties} that 1 may rejoyce, 
 and triumph, and bask in thy bright Beams. Oh! when 
 will that happy, that long-wifh’d for Hour approach, 
 when 1 fhall be filled with thy Luftre, and fatisfied 
 with thy Prefence, and my God be my All in all! For, 
 fure 1 am, til! that blefs’d Time, my Joys muff: be im- 
 perfeCt i feel, alas! I (eel and lament in my felt 
 fome Remains of the old Man ftill. Scourged he is, 
 but not entirely crucified } wounded and bruifed, but 
 not quite dead. My Flefh, in defpight of all my pain¬ 
 ful Labours, continues to luft againft the Spirit} and 
 a domeftick War diftraCts and breaks the Peace and 
 good Government of my Mind: This «annot exercife 
 its juft Dominion without perpetual Broils and tumul- 
 j>r it lxvIf tll0U * InfurreCtions. But, O thou who r«- 
 ' left the F aging of the Sea, and fiitlefi the 
 
 'Vaves 
 
' Jjook ITr - Of JeS us Chris t. 2 i? 
 
 Waves thereof, whenthey arife, come fpeedily to my afli- 
 
 ■ !K nce ’ and ( l" e $ 1S Storm - Scattcr my Enemiesthat de- 
 I light m Blood , and beat them down, O Lord, my Defence - 
 
 I Exert thy mighty Power, and get thee Honour by this 
 l^onqueft, for thou, O'Lord, my God, art my only 
 f Hope, and Helper ; O fave, or I peri/h. 1 y 
 
 Chap. XL. 
 
 I his Life a State of continual Temptation „ 
 
 ■hnsl.] T^O not fuppefe, my Son, that in this 
 * ■ , Wor ^ d th °n ever canfl: beinacondi- 
 
 ion of abfolutc Safety; Dangers and Enemies await 
 hee every where; Violence and Stratagems are per- 
 ■ a y employed for thyRuine; and therefore the 
 Veapons of thy Spiritual Warfare muff not belaid 
 fide, tor ufeful they are, and always neceffary, du- 
 
 S!'?!ur? rtSlity ' Cover th - v &lf then with 
 le^hicld of Wifdom, and Faith, for if thou expofe 
 
 L y X er ( 0t !, Wlt !] 0Ut ft is Defencc > tbe fiery Dam of 
 le Wicked will quickly gall and wound thee. And 
 
 Dexterity, and Diligence in the life of thy Arm* 
 2 not animated by a Mind fixed entirely upon Me’ 
 id a vigorous Refolution of Enduring the worft that 
 in happen tor my Sake; the Engagement will be 
 >und too hot, and that Crown of the Blefled, which 
 the Reward ot Perfeverance, can never belong to 
 
 'Jn c Ca l . hy Coura S e then > a « d exert thy ur- 
 olt Strength, as occalions of Combat fhall offer. 
 )r to Him that overcometh will I five the hid - 
 
 n Manna ; But Mifery and utter Deffru- 
 
 ion is the Portion of faint-hearted and feeble, floth- 
 
 1 and fleepy Soldiers * ca 
 
 
214 
 
 €>f tift limitation Book hi. 
 
 If then thefe are the Conditions of thy Obedience 
 and Reward, think how abiurd it is for Them, who 
 indulge their Eafe here, to expert Peace and Happi- 
 nefs hereafter. In one of the two States Enduring 
 mull: be thy Lot and therefore tough Patience, and 
 not foft Repofe, is what thou Ihould’ft labour for at 
 prefent: For Reft and undifturbed Content have now 
 no place on Earth, nor can the greateft Affluance of 
 worldly Good procure them } but their dwelling is in 
 Heaven only, and they are peculiar to the Love and 
 Fruition of God alone. In obedience to his Will, you 
 lhould contentedly undergo Labour and Toil, Tryals 
 and Troubles, Diftrefsand Anguilh of Heart, Pover¬ 
 ty and Want, Infirmities and Difeafes, Injuries and 
 Affronts, Scandal and Reproach, Difparagement and 
 Difgrace, Punifhment and Torture. Thelc whet and 
 brighten a Chriftian’s Virtue, exercife and diftinguifh 
 him. Thefe Thorns are woven into Wreaths of 
 Glory; and to fuch faithful Servants I repay for their 
 fhort Hardfhip an endlefs Recompence •, and for the 
 Shame, which is prefently forgocten, Lawrels that 
 never fade. Crowns always bright, and Honours firm 
 and immortal as my own. 
 
 Thefe are the Difficulties of the prefentState, which 
 Men are to be upon their Guard againft from without. 
 But alas! they muft not hope always to enjoy Peace 
 and Satisfartion within. No, Even the Saints of old, 
 whofe purer Innocence and eminent Virtues might 
 better entitle them to this Tranquillity, yet often, 
 
 , lv cxl ... found occalion to complain, That their 
 j.i , Heart was dif'inictcd, their Spirit dcfolatc^ and 
 an horrible Dread overwhelmed them. Doubts and Scru¬ 
 ples, Temptations and Fears, 3nd cutting Perplexities 
 of Heart are frequently the Lot of the moil excellent 
 Perfons. But in all thefe Straights the Good behave 
 themfelves with Meeknefs and Patience; repofing 
 their Confidence in God, and humbly diftrufting them¬ 
 felves, 
 
2I 5 
 
 Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 felves, hut fupported with the Hopes of Divine Grace 
 
 and Favour, to comfort and aflift them ; and with the 
 Confideration, that the Sufferings of this prefent time are 
 not worthy to he compared with the Glory , that (hall be re¬ 
 pealed n, them. This was the Cafe of thofe glorified 
 Saints who are thy Patterns ; and what Pretence canft 
 thou have, to hope for that Joy in prefent which 
 
 < ™ lon § for > a " d purchafed at the Expence 
 °t fore Pains and many Tears, and great Difficulties : 
 and thought themfelves well paid even thus ? Wait 
 
 f Mafter ’ S <2 uit th y feI f manfully, ba- 
 
 i'Pr and Diftruil, perfevere in Faith and 
 
 fnr f d h^° rk? * §rU . d £! not ,a V out p erfon, Life, All; 
 for the Service and Glory of God ; and doubt not but 
 
 I will one Day abundantly reward, and in the mean 
 time will ftand by thee, to Main and deliver thee in 
 every Danger and Calamity. 
 
 Chap. XLI. 
 
 Of Defpijing the vain Cenfures of Men , 
 
 chr,a 3 ]\/I Y Son, repofe thy Soul upon God; 
 
 ca p- ad th Y Care there, and let it be 
 
 Him Sie \vn thy ? n y . Cr ! ncern > to approve thy felf to 
 Him. When this is done, a Man ffiould not much 
 regard what the World thinks of him, nor fear the 
 | Cenfures ol others, while his own Confcience bears 
 [ Teltimony , t0 j 115 pie ty and Innocence. To be ill 
 
 !hee 8 tn a ", fofnetinTe! ; for thy Good; it conforms 
 Z J 0 , the In ? a § e ft thy Saviour, and if thy Soul 
 like His bemeeK and humble, if thou feek not thy 
 own Giory, but His that Tent thee, the Affiidion will 
 not be very grievous to be born. The Opinions of 
 Men are as many and as different as their Perfons; 
 
 * 2 The 
 
21 6 
 
 flDf tlSlttUtattOlT Book TTI. 
 
 The greateft Diligence and mod prudent Conduit can 
 never pleafe them all. And therefore even 
 i Cor. ix. St Pm1 t i ian whom none ever la¬ 
 
 boured more to recommend his Actions to the good 
 Acceptance of the World. He who became all things to 
 all Men, yet found it neceflary to appeal to 3 higher 
 Court, and declared it a j.ball thing with 
 1 Cor ' IV * him to be judged of Man’s Judgment. He 
 did his ntmoft to promote the lntercft and Salvation 
 of Others, but even the utmoft he could do was not 
 fufficient to skreen him from the wrongful Cenftires, 
 and perverfe Mifconftru&ions of Men. And there¬ 
 fore he removed his Caufe, and referred the whole 
 Matter to that God who knew his Integrity ; and de¬ 
 fended himfclf again!!: the Calumnies and Reproaches 
 of licentious Tongues, with great Humility and I n¬ 
 vincible Patience. Sometimes lie heard and palled 
 their Slanders by, in lilence ; At other times he vin¬ 
 dicated his own Innocence, and reproved the unrea- 
 fonable Malice of his Accufcrs ; not fo much in ten- 
 dernefsto his own Honour, as to prevent any Offence 
 which might be taken from his forbearing to do fo; 
 and left the Weak and Ignorant fhould conclude, 
 that too obftinate a Silence was an Argument of his 
 Guilt. 
 
 but what is there fo terrible in the Condemnation 
 of Man ? For what indeed is Man ? He lives and 
 ilouiifhes to Day; but to Morrow he is gone, and his 
 Place (hall know him no more. Fear God then, and 
 his Judgment; for this is Omnifcient and Everlaft- 
 ing; and the mote thoa feared Him, the lefs thou 
 wilt be afraid of any but Him. Conlider well, what 
 Hurt can come to thee by injurious and reproachful 
 Treatment. Alas! .they who accufe and blacken thee 
 wrongfully, are much the greateft Sufferers by their 
 own Malice and Injuftice. Their Slander and Detra¬ 
 ction can have no Influence, cao make ho Impreflion, 
 
 upon 
 
217 
 
 Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 upon the Righteous Judge above. None to Thy Pre¬ 
 judice, but a fad and fatal one to their own; for 
 they cannot efcape his Judgment, who hath declared, 
 that they who judge (hall be judged, that they 
 Jhall have 'Judgment without Mercy who Jhiw 
 no Mercy, and that the fame Mcafure they 1 ‘ ,,u * 
 mere to Others , be will mcafure to Them again. Keep God 
 then always in thy Mind, and let go Quarrel and 
 Contention, nor embroil thy felf in Troubles and 
 Differences, by being over-follicitous in thy own De¬ 
 fence. If thou at prefent feem to be opprefs’d with 
 Difgrace and ill Reports, which thou haft not defer- 
 ved ; bear thy Burthen contentedly : Blemifh not thy 
 innocence by too deep Refentment; nor takeoff from 
 the Brightnefs of thy Crown, by Anger and Impati¬ 
 ence, and Eagernefs to Right thy felf. Reflect on Me, 
 who once endured fuch Contradi&ion of 
 obftinate and implacable Sinners; and ain J e ‘ x “" 
 now fet down at the right Hand of the Throne of 
 God. Look up to Heaven, and remember, there is 
 One, who can make thy Innocence as clear „ r .. 
 as the Light, and thy Righteoufnefs fhine / i,xxxwi * 
 like the Sun at Noon-day; One, who will confider, 
 not only thy Infamy and Wrong, but thy Manner of 
 Bearing it; and the more meek, more injured thou 
 haft been, the kinder and more bountiful Rewarder 
 thou fhalt be fure to find me. 
 
21 8 £>f tile 9 )tmtatiOU Book in. 
 
 Chap. XLII. 
 
 A Chriftian muft devote himfelf entirely to God be¬ 
 fore he can be happy. 
 
 CInift.3 T" Ofe thy Life and then ft.ilt find it , forfake 
 1 1 thy fclf and thou flialt poflcfs Me; e- 
 fteem and have nothing, and thou (halt enjoy all 
 things. For I will recompenfe thee with greater Trea- 
 fures, and infinitely increafe thy Store, when thou haft 
 made over into my Hands all that thou haft and art. 
 
 Difcifle.~\ How often, Lord, mufl I repeat this Gift, 
 and what are the Inftanccs, wherein I muft forfake my 
 felf? 
 
 Cb?islfi\ All Times, my Son, are feafonable ; and 
 every Aftion, every Accident of thy Life, furnifhesa 
 trefh and proper Occafion, for doing it. I can admit 
 of no Referves, but expea thee ftript of all, and no¬ 
 thing left which I have not a Title to. For how canfl 
 thou be mine, and I thine, except thy own Will be 
 renounced in every thing, and no Property or Claim 
 any longer remaining unconveyed over ? The fooner 
 thou executefl this Deed, the better it will be for thee: 
 and the more full and exprcfs, the more frank and 
 fincere thou art in it, the more favourable will be my 
 Acceptance, and the more valuable Confideration (halt 
 thou receive. Some indeed there are who pretend to 
 give themfelves \ hut the Conveyance is fo clogged 
 with Provifo’s, and Limitations, that the Title they 
 make is worth nothing. They trufl themfelves to God 
 by halves, and are for making their beft of the World 
 at the fame time. Others again do this without Ex¬ 
 ceptions, but then in Difficulties and Temptations 
 they repent of their Bargain, and revoke the Grant. 
 Fhefe Men make no confiderable Improvement in Vir¬ 
 tue, nor do they tail the Sweets of Piety j which con- 
 
 fift 
 
219 
 
 : Book III. Of J esus Christ. 
 
 j lift in a Mind at large from the World, and the Friend- 
 j fhip and familiar Converfation of God. But fuch Spi¬ 
 ritual Advantages cannot in the nature of the thing 
 ! be imparted to any, whofe Affedions are not entirely 
 agreeable and infeparably united to mine ; and this 
 requires the total Relignation of a Man’s felf, and 
 : the daily Offering of his whole Spirit and Soul and Bo. 
 
 | dy, a holy lively and reafonahle Sacrifice /into me. I have 
 often faid it, and now repeat it once more ; That He 
 who would receive All , n/uft in exchange give All, Do not 
 then exped, or call in, any thing again, but give 
 freely and cheerfully, and depend folely upon Me, 
 without Doubts or Demurrs. Metkou lhalt have in 
 return, and with me perfed Freedom and faving 
 Knowledge. Prevail with thy felf to give up all 
 without Intent or Power of Revocation ; and pray 
 | earneftly, that thou may’ft gladly follow Chrift, in 
 | all his Sufferings and loweft State; that thou may’ft 
 renounce all Property, and throw thy felf naked into 
 his Embraces: that thou may’ft die to the World at 
 j ptefent, and by fo doing live to Me for ever. When 
 • this is done, all vain Imaginations will be banifhed i 
 | Lnft will difturb thee no more, nor Paflions ruffle, 
 
 1 nor anxious Cares perplex thee ; Excefflve Fears will 
 run and hide their Head •, Inordinate Defires will 
 fickenand die* Sorrow and Difquiet find no place; 
 and if Temptations try, yet can they not moleft, 
 thee. 
 
220 
 
 Of tt)C 3)tmtattOtt Boole III. 
 
 Chap. XLIII. 
 
 How to govern One's ft If in the A ft airs of the 
 World. 
 
 Chritt.'] Tf}E Cure, my Son, to take good heed, that 
 Bufinefs and Care never get within thee; 
 but whatever Conftrainc they may lay upon thy Acti¬ 
 ons, and outward Attendance, yet keep thy Mind al¬ 
 ways at its own difpofal. Do Buiinefs, but be not a 
 Slave to it; and remember thy Prerogative is to go¬ 
 vern, and not to ferve, the things of the World. 
 Thou art a Hebrew, of the Spiritual Seed of Abraham, 
 alfert thy native Liberty : But why do I call thee a 
 Free-born Son of Abraham ? Thou art a great deal 
 ■ , _.. more, translated out of Bondage into the glo- 
 
 . 0 iC l ),u rious Liberty of the Sons of God , Partaker of 
 
 the Inheritance with the Saints in Light : Such Birth, fuch 
 Hopes, fuch a Condition (hould raife and ennoble thy 
 Soul, trample upon the prefent, and grafp at nothing 
 lefs than Eternity ; Call: only now and then a difdain- 
 ful Glance upon this World, as a thing by the by*, 
 but keep thy Eye immoveably and dirc&ly fixt upon 
 Heaven, as thy fure Prolpeft, thy main Concern *, It 
 will ill become thy Qjiality to dwell upon Trifles, or 
 iubjeft thy {‘elf to things temporal: Thefe thou mull 
 make bend to thy Pleafure, fubmit and ferve thy Oc- 
 cafions. For fo their great Creator intended they 
 {hould, who is the Author and Lover of Order, and 
 would have every Work of his contained within its 
 proper Poll: and Station. 
 
 If thou at any time art intanglcd in Difficulties, re¬ 
 ly not upon Humane Prudence, nor truft the falfe 
 Reprefentations, with which thy Senfes, and worldly 
 AfFe&ions, cr the miftaken Judgment of others fo 
 difoofed, would impofe upon thee. But remember 
 
 Mofes , 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 221 
 
 Mofes, and go with Him into the Taber- _ , 
 nacle to ask Counfel of thy God : There X0 ‘* XXX111 * 
 thou fhalt often meet a proper Anfwer, have many 
 Thoughts fcafonably fuggefted to thy Mind, and re¬ 
 turn wifer, both for this and the next World, than 
 thou wert before. For Mofes always took this Courfe 
 in doubtful Cafes and important Exigences; He made 
 Prayer his Weapon and Refuge, by it he vanquilhed 
 many Dangers, the Malice of Enemies and wicked 
 Men, efcaped and detected their devilifh Defigns, and 
 retorted the Mifchiefs they intended, back upon their 
 own Heads. Now what that Tabernacle was to Him, 
 thy Clofet and thy Confcience are to Thee. Neglefl: 
 not then by any means to confult this Oracle, and 
 implore the Directions and Afliftance of Divine Grace. 
 For the ill Confequences of acting upon thy own Head 
 without thefe Precautions, are intimated to thee by 
 that Inlhnce of Jojliua and the Israelites: ^ 
 
 Who are exprefly faid to have been decei- 
 ved by the Gibeonites, to their great Prejudice; becaufe 
 they gave too eafie Credit to their flattering fair Pre¬ 
 tences, and engaged in a League without firft enqui¬ 
 ring of the Lord. 
 
 Chap. XLIV. 
 
 Again ft too great Eagernefs in Buftnefs, 
 
 Chrift',2 A yfY Son, commit thy Affairs to my Care 
 JLV X and I will in due time blefs them with 
 a proper, and profitable Iflue. But wait with Patience 
 till that appointed Time of mine, and do not antici¬ 
 pate the Methods of my Providence, for I know how 
 to convert every Delay to thy Advantage. 
 
222 
 
 £>t tije fimt&ttott Book hi. 
 
 £>ifciple.~] Lord, I moft willingly commit my Con¬ 
 cerns to thy Management, for All that little I am ca¬ 
 pable of is very infignificant. And therefore I cannot 
 but wilh, that this Senfe, to how little purpofe all my 
 own Pains and Contrivances are, might free me from 
 anxious Thoughts concerning future Contingencies, 
 and difpofe me calmly to acquiefce in thy wife and good 
 Pleafure. 
 
 ClmSl .3 Alas! my Son, eager and greedy Men co¬ 
 vet they know not what. An Object at a diftancc 
 engages their Defires, while they fee only the fair and 
 glittering Side^ but upon clofer and more diftincf 
 View, Enjoyment undeceives them: and they grow 
 Tick, even of their own Delires \ for their Defires are 
 various and mutable, and ever veering about to fome 
 frelh Object. It is therefore of fome confequence for 
 a Man to forego his own Inclinations, even in Matters 
 of no great Importance; But he who hath attained to 
 the Faculty of doing this in any Cafe whatfoever, is 
 truly free, and great, above the Reach and Envy of 
 Fortune, and at the higheft Pitch of Humane Perfe¬ 
 ction. Yet even this Man will find his Virtue called 
 to the Teft : For the old Enemy of Souls is ever fra¬ 
 ming fome Stratagem, to undo good Men \ and lies in 
 Ambufh Night and Day, to catch an Opportunity of 
 enliiaring unwary Souls. Let then his Diligence pro¬ 
 voke Yours, and be notlefsafiiduousto fave, than he 
 is to deftroy, you. For this is the Purport of thy 
 r ..... Lord’s Command ; Watch and Pray , that 
 . uti. . xxm . ye (ndr not into limitation. 
 
 Chap. 
 
Book III. Of Je s us Chr rs t. 
 
 22 $ 
 
 Chap. XLV. 
 
 In Man divelleth no good Thing. 
 
 Dlfdple.] T Ord, what is Man, that thou 
 
 J._j M mindful of him, or the r f almy " 
 
 9 f Ma ”-> tl) f n tho!l M»tfl him? How can he de- 
 erve to be affifted by thy Grace, or fucceeded by 
 thy Favour ? What Right have I, fo vile a Wretch 
 much more, to complain unto my God, if he with’ 
 Iraw his Prefence, and leave me to my felf ? Or if I 
 oeg and pray for Comforts, what have 1 to alledge in 
 my own behalf, how can I take it ill if he reject my 
 Petitions ? This I am fenlible is all I ought to think 
 yean pretend to fay. That I have Nothing, and am 
 STothing, and in my own Nature tend to and purfue 
 ifter v anity and Nothing. A miferable Creature, 
 mint and feeble, incapable fo much as of One good 
 Jefiie, till animated and ftrengthned by Thee. Fickle 
 ind mutable, Subjedt to Infirmities innumerable, and 
 perpetual Decays* But thou, my God 
 irt the fame Tefierday , and to Day and for He ^' x >'b 
 ver ever happy, and juft, and wife and good, and 
 .rdering all things for the beft, after the Counfel of 
 
 hyO'^eWilK Well were it’, if^vere bm eolal- 
 y difpoiedtoGoodandEvi!, but the Corrupts of 
 n \ Nature, alas! preponderates ftrongly to Vanity 
 nd Vice * I eafily fall from my own Stedfaftnefs, and 
 m carried about with every Ihiftlng Wind of Time 
 nd Chance, and Paflion. » 
 
 And yet, thus weak and veering as I am, thy help, 
 ig Hand can comfort and confirm me. Thy power- 
 ul Grace, without any Humane Aids, can work Won- 
 | ers m me; ftrengthen my Refolutions, fcatter my 
 ears, and fill my Soul with Reft and fweet Con¬ 
 st. If, when I thirft after higher Degrees of Vir- 
 
.224 
 
 tlje SJmitattott Book hi. 
 
 tue and Devotion, or if I fly to thee for Succour in 
 Diftrefs, when all other Succours fail me, (and all but 
 thine will and muft prove ineffedual) ; If then I could 
 but abandon all other Hopes, and rcpofe my whole 
 Confidence in thee alone; then might I entertain 
 fome Expeftations of thy Favour •, and wait with Joy 
 for the cheerful Returns of Grace and Comfort from 
 above. For all my SnccelTes are thy free Gift, and I 
 my felf a defpicable Wretch, not able to effed any 
 good, not in a condition to merit the leafl; of all thy 
 Mercies. 
 
 What therefore can I have to boaft of, who, till I 
 defpife and go out of my felf, am not fo much as qua¬ 
 lified to receive Alfiftance from Thee ? Or how can 
 I defire the Applaufe and Admiration of Men ? What? 
 Shall I pretend to glory of Weaknefs, and Inconftan- 
 cy, and Nothing ? This were a Vanity beyond Ex¬ 
 ample, an Extravagance beyond Imagination. How 
 foolifh and abfurd, nay how hurtful and deftrudive a 
 Vice is Ambition, which, by undue Purfuit of Ho¬ 
 nour, robs us of true Honour, and, affeding Favour 
 with Men, incurrs Punifhment and Difpleafure from 
 God ? For He who labours to pleafe himfelf, is fine 
 at the fame time to offend Thee; and lofes true fub- 
 ftantial Virtue, by coveting empty Praife. For true 
 Honour and Virtue confifts in Glorying, not in our 
 felves, but in Thee, O Lord ; in Magnifying, not our 
 own Attainments or Performances, but thy free 
 Grace ; and in loving and delighting in nothing, but 
 fo far only as may advance thy Honour. 
 
 Not unto me , therefore , not unto me , but 
 J " ’ A * unto thy Name be the Praife ; May Men com¬ 
 mend and extol,not My Works, but Thy Power, which 
 infpired, produced, and perfeded them : And may this 
 Commend.tion devolve lb entirely upon thy Grace, 
 that not the leaf: part of it may fall upon my Con¬ 
 currence" with it. Far be it from me to arrogate any 
 
 thing 
 
225 
 
 took III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 hing to my felf; for while I rejoyce in thee, I find 
 lothing in my felf to glory in, but my Infirmities: 
 nd in them I will gladly glory, becaufe the greater 
 ny Weakncfs is, the more vifible and eminent is thy 
 >trength, which is fo confpicuoufly perfe&ed in it. 
 ,et unbelieving Jews feek Honour one of ano- ,, , 
 her, but I, who profefs my felf one of the 
 aith ful, will feek the Honour which cometh from God only. 
 O'- what is all the Fame, and Refpeft, and Greatnefs 
 'f this World, if put into the Balance with thy eter- 
 al Glory, but exquifite Folly, deceitful Bubble, and 
 Itogether lighter than Vanity it felf? All Honour 
 herefore, and Praife, all Might and Majefty be afcri- 
 >ed to thee, O blefled Trinity, my God, my Light, 
 ly Truth, my Succour and Defence, my Refuge and 
 tomfort, for ever and ever. Amen. 
 
 Chap. XL VI. 
 
 Of dcfpifwg Worldly Honour. 
 
 'hriftr\ VT thou feelt Others grow great in Repu- 
 J_ tation and Preferment, while Thou art 
 verlooked and defpifed, let this, my Son, be no 
 Concern to thee. Look up to Me, and fet thy AfTe- 
 tions and Hopes in Heaven, and then the Negleft and 
 Contempt of Men will give thee little Trouble. 
 
 Difciplel ] Were it not, Lord, for the Blindnefs and 
 'orruption of Nature, which makes me fond of Va- 
 lities and Joys, I fhould have juller Notions of thefe 
 Matters. For he, who rightly underftands himfelf, 
 annot but difeern, that it is not in the Power of any 
 hing without to do him real Prejudice-, and confe- 
 uently, that he can have no reafonable Ground to 
 omplain of thy Providence, however it thinks fit to 
 
236 €>f tfte fmftnt ton Book III. 
 
 difpofe of fuch Matters. The Confcioufnefs of my 
 own Sins convinces me, I have deferved, that all the 
 Creatures fhould confpire and make War againft me. 
 To Me belongs Shame and Confufion, but to Thee 
 only Honour and Praife is due. And thou haft taught 
 me, that to bear Contempt, and Hatred, and barba¬ 
 rous Treatment with Humility and Patience, is the 
 only Method of attaining inward Peace, and true Sa¬ 
 tisfaction ; The Virtue which muft recommend me to 
 thy Favour •, the beft Predifpofition for Light and 
 Grace •, and the fureft, clofeft Band of Union with thy 
 felf. 
 
 Chap. XLVII. 
 
 Happinefs is not to be had, by the Favour or Friena- 
 Jhip of Men ♦ 
 
 Christ .'}T TE that propofes to be happy, by the Af- 
 ITX teftion or Acquaintance of the beft, 
 the greateft Man alive, will always find his Mind un¬ 
 fettled and perplexed. For even the Beft and Great- 
 eft are but Mortals ^ and the efic&ual Remedy againft 
 immoderate Concern for their being taken away'from 
 thee, will be to court the Favour of an Eternal and 
 Immortal Friend. _hsow the lels Confidence any Man 
 repofes in any earthly Comfort, fomuch the more he 
 ingratiates himfclf with God. And, the better he 
 acquain ts himfelf with his own Vllenefs, the loft he 
 is in his own Eyes, the higher he rifes in God’s Efteem. 
 But they who vainly fanfie any thing that is good or 
 meritorious in thcmfelves, .put aa eifcftual Bar to Di¬ 
 vine Grace. For This is given to the Humble, and 
 the Spirit of God thoofes the contrite Heart for tile 
 place of his peculiar Rciidence. Would’ft thou aban¬ 
 don 
 

 Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 227 
 
 don Self-conceit, and wean thy Heart from all Fond- 
 nefs for the Creatures, it is not to be imagined what 
 Comforts, what overflowing Joys I would infufe into 
 thy Soul. But while thefe employ thy iThoughts and 
 Defires, thou art diverted from all higher Objeds, and 
 by being too intent upon his Works, lofeft and for¬ 
 ged the Almighty Maker. Learn then to fubdue 
 thy own Will, that thou may’ft clearly underftand, 
 and readily comply with mine. For any other Ob- 
 jett, though never fo trifling and inconfiderable in its 
 own nature, yet, if unduly prized, and immoderate¬ 
 ly loved, corrupts the Mind, and checks its Afpirings 
 after the Chief, the Only Good. 
 
 Chap. XLVIII. 
 
 Joajtfjl vain, and pompous Learning. 
 
 Ch> ifl.2 FAO not, my Son, fuppofe, that the £x- 
 J_y cellence of a Man confifts in Subtlety of 
 Wit, or Quaintnefs of Expreflion : For the Kingdom 
 )f God does not lie in Elegance of Speech, or June- 
 lefs of Parts, but in Innocence of Life and Good 
 fork's. Let my Words be thy principal Study j for 
 hefe awaken Attention, enlighten the Underftanding, 
 -indie a holy Zeal, provoke true Contrition, and 
 leal the Wounds they make, with the Spiritual Balm 
 >t Grace and Solid Comfort. Let not the growing 
 .Vifer and more Learned be the End thou propofeft 
 o thy felt in Reading ; but read, that thou may’ft 
 >e qualified to pradtife, and let thy Knowledge be 
 een by fubduing thy Vices and Paflions. For this is 
 ; mprovement indeed, and will turn to better Account, 
 han the niceft and moft diftinguilhing Skill, in all the 
 iontroverlies and difficult Points, that ever employed 
 
 the 
 
22 8 fiDf tfte imitation 
 
 Book III. 
 
 the Tongues and Pens of wrangling Logicians, Philo- 
 
 fopheK, and Divines. And when thou haft run 
 through the whole Compafs of Learning, ) et all will 
 turn at laft upon one finglc Point; and the whole Pro¬ 
 fit of thv Pains lies in a narrow room. 
 
 If thou wilt be knowing indeed, learn of Me ; foi 
 I am the only Matter that teach Men Knowledge, I 
 LivT more perfect, more fublime Undemanding to 
 Babes, to the Humble and Sincere, than a.l the ce 
 brated Sons of Art have ever been able to do : And 
 thofe whom I inftruft grow truly wife, are prefently 
 enlightned and refined, and by an aftondhing Profi 
 cience in Virtue, otitftrip all the admired Schemes of 
 Morality. Moft wretched arc thofe vain Men, who 
 with infinite Toil and Time, lay themfelves out upon 
 the unprofitable Curiofities of Humane Wifdom, and 
 
 take no Pains to inform themfelves m their Duty to 
 Me The Hour, alas! draws on apace, when their 
 Matter Chrift (hall corhc with terrible Pomp, and call 
 each Man to ttrict Account, and found every C 011 - 
 feience to the bottom. 1 hen fhalljernfa- 
 
 Zepkl la, be [earthed with Candle*, then Ihall the 
 
 hidden things of Darknefs he brought to light i and 
 no Man’s Eloquence or Subtlety of Arguing (hall do 
 him any Service before that All-feeing Judge. 1 laitt 
 the Meek, and Man of mean Scnfe, in an inftant, and 
 teach him at once the Grounds of Eternal Truths, bet¬ 
 ter than a Ccurfe of many Years fpent: in laborious 
 Study, and the moft exquifite Methods of Schools 
 and Univerfities. 1 bring Men to right Apprehen- 
 lions of Things without any Noife of Words, with¬ 
 out the Formality of Syftcms, or vain Oftentattons 
 of cavilling Sophiftry, or regular Diluting. Of Me 
 alone Men learn to delpife the World, to think 
 things prefent below their Pains and Care, to love 
 and feek thofe that are heavenly and eternal} to de¬ 
 cline Honours, to bear Injuries and Amonts,^to 
 
Book III, of Jesus Christ. 229 
 
 cruft and hope in me alone, and to wifh for nothing 
 but my Favour, and to efieemall things bnt ... 
 Drofs and Dung, fo they may win Chrifi. iii» 
 
 Some Difciples of mine have made fuch wonder¬ 
 ful Improvements under me, as even to fpeak things 
 i bove Humane Comprehenfion ; and grow wifer in So- 
 itude and Cloifters, than any Conversion of learned 
 den, or Volumes and Libraries never fo carefully 
 >eruled, coaid have made them. But this is not e- 
 'ery Man s cafe ; for I do not communicate to all a- 
 r ° me * * n ^ ru< ^ in common Matters, others ia 
 bftrufe and peculiar Notions; And, astheMeafure 
 ad duality of the Matter, fo the Manner of Impart- 
 ng it, is very different. To fome I fhew my felf in 
 igures and Parables, Dreams and myftick Repre¬ 
 en tat 10ns ; to Others I reveal the moft important 
 ccrets in the moft clear intelligible Method. Books 
 peak alike to all, but an are not qualified to be taught 
 y them alike. But I, inftead of dead Letters pre- 
 •nted to the outward Senfes, perform my Bnfinefs 
 'ithin. I fill the Mind with Truth, fuit my felf to 
 ach Man s Genius and Capacity, fearch every Corner 
 r the Heart, underftand their moft retired Thoughts, 
 ifpire good Defires, promote and finifh thofe Defires 
 y bringing them to Aftion, and deal to every one the 
 anous Gifts of my Spirit, in fuch kinds and propor- 
 ons, as I fee moft ufeful and feafonable* 
 
2 jo *Df tlje imitation Book in. 
 
 Chap. ^LIX. 
 
 Of Meddling with the World, , as little as may be. 
 
 Chrift.l TN many things, my Son, content thy felf 
 
 • • t * * _ ^ ^ m ^^^1 i\r^ 
 
 uiaiiy 11111153, my -- ' . 
 
 with being ignorant, and choofe to Live 
 as a Man dead, while among the Living} One, whole 
 Thoughts and Affections are crucified to all the world \ 
 and ad the World to Them. Many things are to be 
 overlook’d, as if you faw them not: Thy Mind drawn 
 offfrom the diftarctingVariety otObjefts, andtaften- 
 ed clofe down to the things that make tor thy l eace 
 and Salvation. In controverted Points, ’tis general¬ 
 ly much better to content one’s lelf with avoiding er¬ 
 roneous Opinions and their vicious Confequences, and 
 leave others to abound in their own Senfe, (where 
 their Difference from thee does not apparently hazard 
 their Souls, j than to engage in hot Difputes, and 
 fpend thy precious Hours in Wrangling and herce 
 Contention. And even in Difputes, not to be Hot 
 and Pertinacious j for it God and Truth be on thy 
 fide, and thou canft with Comfort appeal to thy Judge 
 above, thy Concern will not be great for Viftory and 
 
 Approbation below. r . 
 
 Difcinle 0 Alas! Lord, what a wretched Cafe is 
 this World in ? How diftant from this meek, and ab- 
 ltra&ed Temper of Mind ! Trifling Lofs is fenoully 
 lamented. A little fordid Gain, engages Mens Time, 
 and Labour, and Thoughts. The Day is too fhort tor 
 their vigorous Purfuits, and anxious Cares break 
 their Sleep ; while all their Spiritual Concerns lie 
 neglected and forgotten. Their Diligence and Study 
 is determined to Matters of fmallorno Importance: 
 and the One thing Neceflary is laid afide, as if it were 
 not worth a Angle Thought. So vain is Man, fo total¬ 
 ly immersM in fenfible Objedsand worldly Cares-, anc 
 
 V 
 
|Book III. of Jesus Christ. 231 
 
 I- - — - ___ 
 
 fo contentedly does he perifh in Vanity and Vexation, 
 ] unlefs thy Grace make him wifer, and raife his Mind 
 to better and eternal Concerns. 
 
 Chap. L. 
 
 Againfi a fond and eajie Credulity . 
 
 Dilciple.] T Ord, he thou my Help in Trou- ... 
 
 1 i hie, for vain is the Help of J ^- Cvun 
 Man. How often have 1 fail’d of Succour, and true 
 'reindlhip, where 1 had molt reafon to expeCt it ? How 
 iften found it, where 1 entertained no fuch Expectati¬ 
 ons ? So vain and uncertain is all Trult in Man, fo en- 
 rirely does the Safety of Good Men depend upon Thee 
 done. Blefled therefore, and for ever admired, be that 
 2;ood Providence, which orders and difpofes all Events, 
 o thy impotent and fickle, thy ignorant and filly, thy 
 Jeceitful and deceivable Creatures ! 
 
 Who among all the Sons of Men ever behaved him- 
 elf with fo prudent Care, and exadt Circumfpe&ioB, 
 is not fometimes to be over-reached by Treachery 
 ind Trick, and involved in Difficulties and Troubles 
 which the molt jealous Forefighc knew not howto de¬ 
 cry or fufpeCt ? But He, who places no Confidence 
 n Humane Subtlety, and refts in God alone, and a£ts 
 with downright honefty and a good Confidence, is 
 efs fubjedt to fuch Inconvenience than cunning and 
 I ntriguing Men : Or, if he be furprifed and impofed 
 jpon, yet is his Deliverance generally more fpeedy 
 ind effectual, and his Comforts in the mean while 
 nore fenfible and fupporting \ for thou, Lord, never 
 'orfakeft thofe utterly, who put their Trull in Thee. 
 A faithful Friend, and fuch as will Hand by us in Ad- 
 verfityand Want, is exceeding hard to be found 5 but 
 
 Q. 1 Thou 
 
’ : •» 
 / 1 1 ». 
 
 > 
 
 V ’4 
 
 •i » 
 
 232 
 
 tfte limitation: Book hi. 
 
 Thou art always the fame, and no change of Circum- 
 i" can change Thee, or abate thy AfFeAion. 
 Happy is the Soul that is built upon the Rock, Chnft.; 
 Werethis my Cafe, the Fear of the Malicious would 
 not diftraA, nor the Calumnies of the Envious difturb 
 
 me. 
 
 Rut who can forefee all future Inconveniences, or 
 prevent all that he may forefee ? And, if the Ills we are 
 aware of, and provide againft, are fo grievous to be 
 bom; how much more heavy will be thole Wounds, 
 whofe Smart and Terrour are doubled by Surprife. 
 We often blame our felves for not being wifer, and 
 have reafon to condemn our too eafie Credulity •, That 
 efpecially, which greedily alTents tothe Flatteries and 
 Commendations of Men, and relies upon their mighty 
 Profeflions of Friendlhip and Efteem. For, though 
 thev call and think us Angels, yet we cannot but be 
 confeiousto our felves, that we are no better than 
 Men, frail and wretched Men- Whom therefore (hall 
 I believe ? Whom indeed but Thee, O Lord ? For thou 
 art Truth it felf, incapable of deceiving or of being 
 deceived. But as for Men, they are all 
 pfel. cxvi. Lyars, weak and inconftant, frail and 
 treacherous; efpecially in what they fay, fo exceeding 
 fabulous and vain, that it is a Point of Prudence to 
 fufpend our Faith, and thou haft wifely taught us to 
 beware of their falfe Infinuattons. Thou haft fore¬ 
 warned us of their Treachery and Malice, told 11s, 
 that a Man’s Enemies {had be thofe of his own kindred 
 and Houjliold ; and that when Men Jay , 
 Mmb. xnv. Lo , chri p is herfi fr / 0j he is there , we 
 
 CHtht not to believe them. The Truth of thefc Predi- 
 ftions 1 have learnt by fad Experience, and wilh I 
 may grow wifer at my own Expence. 
 
 Befure, (faysone) you keep this private which 
 I tell you ^ aud yet that very Man in the next Compa¬ 
 ny divulges what he had imparted juft before, under 
 
 
2 33 
 
 'Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 i ■ — ---- 
 
 , the Seal of Secrelie. From fuch unfincere Dealers as 
 j thefe 1 beg to be delivered, and from their treache¬ 
 rous Ways ; that I may neither come within their 
 ■ powerof berayingand abufing my Confidence, nor 
 injure any who repofc the like in Me. Make me then, 
 Lord, a rigid Obferver of Truth, and religioufiy firm 
 to my Word: for what I cannot but refent. When 
 done to me, it never can become me to put upon any 
 other Perfon. Silence indeed, and forbearing to con¬ 
 cern one’s felf in the Affairs of our Neighbours, is 
 not only a Virtue, but a Convenience and Benefit. 
 Caution in Crediting, Referve in Speaking, and Re¬ 
 vealing one’s felf to very few, are the beft Securities 
 both of Peace and a good Underflanding with the 
 World, and of the inward Peace of our own Minds. 
 Endeavouring to approve our felves to the Knower and 
 l Searcher of Hearts, and not fullering every Blafl: of 
 f die Report or empty Profeflion to carry us about, but 
 j guarding our Converfationcarefully, and labouring to 
 i :onform every Thought, Word, and A&ion, to the 
 jDiyineWillj Thefe are a good Man’s Safety, and Sa- 
 i :isfaction, and Wifdom. How fure and calm a Re- 
 [ :reat does that Man make, who choofes to preferve 
 :hy Favour, by making an Efcape from Pomp and 
 >Ioife; preferring thy Approbation before the loudeft 
 rame and Applaufe; and willingly abandoning thofc 
 painted Follies, whofe glittering Outfides impofe up- 
 M our Senfes ? Who prefers contrite Sorrow, fevere 
 Virtue, and folitary Devotion, before the fhowy Plea- 
 ures of the World, or that empty Admiration which 
 Ambition and Vain-gloryafFed. Praife is indeed the 
 Confequence and Encouragement of Virtue, but it is 
 fometimes fo unieafonably applied, as to become its 
 Bane and Corruption too. For the whole Life of Man 
 s one continued Temptation, and we have a fubtle 
 Adverfary to deal with, who flips no advantage of 
 ! andoing us. Our Praifes he improves to his own Pur- 
 
 Q. 3 pofes. 
 
€>f tt)Z SSmttatiOtT Book III. 
 
 poles, by (welling us up with them into Pride and 
 Self-conceit. And many Souls have perifhed by that 
 Virtue, publifhed and celebrated, which, it unknown 
 and unobferved, had come to mighty Perfection, and 
 been infinitely happy by the advantage of Secrecy and 
 Silence. 
 
 Chap. LI. 
 
 Of Trufting in God , when Men Jpeak 111 of ns. 
 
 Chritt.l C Tand m y Son -> and be n0t terrified 
 
 (jwith the Shock of Calumny and Re¬ 
 proach, but let me be thy Refuge and fure Confidence. 
 Alas! What are Words but empty Sounds, that 
 break and fcatter in the Air, and make no real Im- 
 preffion? If not Report alone, but thy own Con- 
 fcience too reproach thee, bewail thy Guilt, and re¬ 
 form what hath been amifs. But if upon examina¬ 
 tion thou find no Ground of accufing thy felf, ftreng 
 then thy Mind in Innocence, look upon this wrongful 
 Judgment, as a Suffering for God’s fake, and bear it 
 accordingly with Patience and Contentednefs. He 
 expects that thou Jhohld’ft ref ft even unto 
 Ueb. xii. Bloody when called to it: But how will 
 the Man be able to endure Wounds and Blows, 
 who is not yet a Match for Words and Affronts? 
 Enquire a little into the true Grounds of fuch Impa¬ 
 tience, and thou (halt find it a Symptom of a Soul 
 fickand indifpofed. For how can it be otherwife ac¬ 
 counted for, than, that thou art yet Carnal, and re- 
 taioeft a greater Regard for the Opinion of Men, than 
 can be well eonfiftent with a perfon, who hath re¬ 
 nounced the World, and profeffes to dedicate him- 
 felf entirely to God. Whence is Reproof fo grating 
 
 ■..■• I > • j, and 
 
Boo/c III. Of Jesus Christ. 235 
 
 and uneafie? Whence that follicitous Care to con¬ 
 trive Excufes? Whence that forward Zeal in thy 
 own Vindication, if not from a Dread and Abhor¬ 
 rence of that Contempt, to which thy fuppofed Mis¬ 
 carriages would expofe thee ? Fondnefs of Honour 
 and Reputation lies at the bottom, and an inordinate 
 Defire to recommend thy felf to Man’s EReem. Which 
 fhews, thou art not yet fo humble, fo refigned, but 
 that a Principle of Vanity lurks Rill within} nor is 
 the World yet dead to Thee, or Thou to the World. 
 
 Attend diligently to my Inftructions, and the Cen- 
 fures of ten thouland Men will not be able todifturb 
 thee. Let them proceed in their Envy and Malice, 
 and blacken thy Name after the molt fpicetul manner, 
 that Hell it felf can pra&ife or invent, yet what art 
 thou the worle ? Can ail this change thy Perfon ? Or 
 hath thy Head one Hair the lefs for it ? Do but com- 
 pofe thy Mind, and refolve to defpife it, and all blows 
 over. Thefe Scandals vanilh and fly away like Motes 
 in the Sun, and are neither more nor lefs than what 
 Refentment makes them. To be provoked with eve- 
 fy flanderous Word argues a Littlenefs of Soul, a 
 Want of due Regard for God ; But the brave generous 
 Mind, whofe All is in God, and who refers himfelf 
 entirely to his Judgment, is above the Terrors and 
 Difcouragements of Men, and lays no ftrefs upon 
 their Notions of Things. For their Notions are fre¬ 
 quently Rafh and Falfe, they feldom do, and fome- 
 times cannot, enter into the real Merits of the Caufe; 
 but to Me all Hearts are open, and from my piercing 
 Eyes no Secrets are hid. 1 know diftinttly, both in 
 what Manner, and with what Intention every thing 
 is done. The Perfon who receives, and does, the 
 Wrong, are both under my Cognizance ^ and even the 
 Wrong it felf is done by my Permiflion \ that by this 
 Means the Thoughts of many Hearts may be reveal¬ 
 ed. I fhall not fail to make a juft and clear Decifioji 
 
 Q.4 between 
 
2^(5 
 
 jSDf the gjmttafiott Book hi. 
 
 — 
 
 between the Guilty and the Innocent j and call both to 
 account hereafter ; However I may think fit to try 
 them in the mean while, and keep thofe things in the 
 dark at prefent, which then (hall be notorious to all 
 the World. And what Miftakes foever may prevail 
 now, my Judgment will be according to Equity and 
 Truth, and my Sentence, once pronounced, can ne¬ 
 ver be revers’d. Few indeed are capable of difcern* 
 ing the Juftice of my Providence, in fufFering Inno¬ 
 cent Men to be traduced, and their honeft A&ions 
 mifunderftood. But I do nothing without wife Rea- 
 lons, and neither am, nor can be, miftaken in my Me¬ 
 thods, how-much-foever fhort-fighted and inconfide- 
 rate Men are confounded about them. 
 
 Appeal then in all theft Cafes to My Determinati¬ 
 on, and let thy Matters reft fo fully there, as not on¬ 
 ly to difregard what others think concerning thee, but 
 even in fome meafure to diftruft thy own Judgment 
 concerning thy felf. Confider, that I think many 
 things fit for my Servants, which they can by no means 
 Imagine convenient for themfelves. This very Re¬ 
 flation preferves a Good Man’s Temper, in every Ac¬ 
 cident of Life; becaufe he knows that every Accident 
 falls out thus by my dire&ion. This buoys his Spirits 
 up, againft the Infults and Injuries of Calumny and De¬ 
 traction ; and keeps them from fwelling into Pride 
 and immoderate Joy, when his Innocence is cleared, 
 and his Virtue commended. He knows, that God 
 fees not as Man fees, for Man judges according to out¬ 
 ward and fallible Appearances, but God fearches the 
 Reins and the Heart, and judges righteous Judg¬ 
 ment. 
 
 JVifajvii, „ Viftipk 0 O Lord, thou righteous Judge, 
 ftrong and patient , who underftandeft the 
 frailty, and the Wickednefs of Men, be thou my 
 ftrong Rock, my Truft and Defence; For even in 
 my own Confcience I dare not be too confident j fmce 
 
 :cagy 
 
> __ 
 
 “ — — —— 
 
 : Book III. of Jesus Christ. 237 
 
 many things, which to Me are cither unknown or for 
 ! gotten, thou haft a perfect Knowledge, and exad Re- 
 1 membrance of. I ought therefore in all Reproofs and 
 , Reproaches to fubmit with Patience, even thonoh tm 
 Heart condemn me not , becaufe thou, who & * 
 
 permitteft thefe things, art greater than my 1 3 ohn[Vu 
 Heart, and knovoeft all things. Thus Rcafon and Reli¬ 
 gion both convince me I ought to behave my felf- but 
 if at any time Paffion and Frailtv have exceeded in too 
 mce and tender a Senfe of thefe Things, pardon I 
 befeech thee, what ispaft, and enable me to be mo’re 
 religned for the time to come. Thy Mercy alone will 
 avail me more than all my laboured Excufes • and 
 Pardon is what I rather choole, than the moft^onfi- 
 dent Teftimony of my own Confcience. For though 
 1 jlwitld know nothing by my felf, yet am 1 not 
 hereby juftiped ; For he that jndgeth me is the 1 Cor ‘ 
 Lord. The Lord, who will one Day bring to light the 
 hidden things of dijlionefiy , even thofe which have efca- 
 ped the Committer’s own obfervation. And therefore 
 if thou. Lord\ Jhould'sl be extreme to mark 
 | i* done amifs, no Flejh living could be in- 
 I (lified in thy fight. J * 1 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. LII. 
 
 Nothing too much to fuffer for Eternal Life. 
 
 Chrin.yr Et not, my Son, thy Labours or Suffer- 
 J_j ings for Me and thy Duty, or any other 
 [ fort of Hardlhip or Tribulation in this World, fo 
 i far damp thy Courage, but that my Promife ftil! 
 [ Ihould be a fure Anchor-hold of Hope; and this Re- 
 : fle&ion ever minifter Comfort, that I am able to re~ 
 compenfe thee, not only beyond what is reafonable to 
 
 exped, 
 
^8 ifl>f tlje giwttatioit Book III. 
 
 expcft, but even poflible for thee to wifli or imagine. <■ 
 Thy Toils will not continue very long, nor will thy ! 
 Pain and Trouble always torment thee. Wait but a j 
 little longer, and look forward, and fee how glori- ; 
 ous a Profpect opens it felf. How iwiftly the End of | 
 all thy Sufferings approaches; and how fuddenly Sor¬ 
 row and Tumult vanifh away. Even Time it felt is 
 not of everlafting continuance * but that which « 
 bounded within fo very narrow a Space, as this rnort 
 Span of Life, cannot in any fair Computation be count¬ 
 ed long, or great. Proceed then in thy Duty wita 
 Vigour and undaunted Refolution •, ply thy Work j 
 hard in my Vineyard, and fill the Station l have ap- ] 
 pointed thee to •, Thy Wages are certain and valu¬ 
 able, for I my felf will be thy exceeding 
 Ctn ' xviN great Reward . 
 
 Perfift in Writing, in Reading, in Singing my Prai- 
 fes in Lamenting thy own Sins, in filent Meditation, 
 in devout Prayer, in Fortitude and Patience ^ for the 
 things prepared for them that love God are richly 
 worth thefe and greater Conflicts *, All thou muff: do, 
 all thou canft fuffer, are in no degree worthy to be 
 compared to them. The Day is coming, and fix’d in 
 my unalterable Decree, adorned with the Triumphs 
 of Joy and Peace ^ That mighty Revolution, when 
 thefe alternate Succeffions of Day and and Night fhall 
 ceafe •, and everlafting uninterrupted Light lhall fhine 
 for ever •, there (hall be Luftre infinite, Satisfa&ions 
 unbroken, unconceivable. Reft eternal, and above the 
 Power of any future Danger. There (hall be then no 
 place left for that melancholy Wifh *, 0 
 j{om. vn. ( i JgH deliver me from the Body of 
 
 this Death j no occafion for that Complaint, Wo it me, 
 that 1 am conftrained to dwell with Mtfech, and 
 Ifd- CSX. t 0 l, ave m y Habitation in tbit barren Wildernefs. 
 
 r For even the latt Enemy fhall be fubdued, 
 
 3 6 ’ ’ and Death it felf deflroytd. Salvation then 
 
 and 
 
Book III. Of J £ s u s Christ. 
 
 2 ?9 
 
 and Life lhall reign forever ; Sorrow and Anguifh, 
 Sighs and Tears (hall flee away ; a Crown of Re- 
 joycing put upon every Head, and thou (halt be hap¬ 
 py in the fweet Society of Saints and An. . . 
 gelg the Spirits of juft Men made perfect , and J ' u ‘ x *' 
 the A (ft mbly of the Sir ft-horn. 
 
 Olcould’ft thou now but fee the Heavens open, 
 and with the ken of mortal Eye behold the bright 
 and cverlafting Crowns of my chofen •, Were thy 
 Heart large enough to admit a juft Idea of their Tro¬ 
 phies and Glories, whom once the World defpifed. 
 and thought not worthy to live upon the Earth ; thou 
 then would’fl gladly embrace their Sufferings and Re¬ 
 proaches, abandon all thy vain Defires of worldly 
 Greatnefs^ and difdain the perifh'ing Pleafures of the 
 prefenc Life. Humility and Patience would then ap¬ 
 pear in all their native Beauties; and even Affliction 
 and Ignominy difplay fuch Charms, as muff attract 
 thy Love, and make thee efteem the Reproaches of 
 Chrift, greater Treafures and Gain, than all the Ma- 
 jeftyand Honour and mod celebrated Reputation that 
 a mortal State is capable of. 
 
 Attend then ferioufly to thefe important Truths, 
 for They, if confidered and believed in good earned, 
 will flop thy Mouth, and effectually filence all thy 
 Complaints. For fure the Sufferings of a Moment- 
 cannot be thought too dear a Price for Eternal Hap- 
 pinefs in exchange. Surely the Kingdom of God is no 
 trifling Concern; And when the lofing or attaining this 
 lies before thee, Nothing can be too much to prevent 
 that lofs; Nothing a hard Bargain for that infinite 
 Advantage. Grovel then upon the Earth no longer, 
 but ftand erect, and lift thy Eyes and Heart to Hea¬ 
 ven. See there the blefled Effects, the mighty Succefs 
 of all thofe (harp Conflicts, which my Saints, while in 
 the Body underwent; the End of all their Tryals, 
 and Adverfities, their painful Severities andpiousLa- 
 
 bours. 
 
240 £Df tile fmttatfon Book hi. 
 
 bout s. Theie mortified, afili&ed Men, once reputed 
 _ the Filth of the World , and the Off-fcottring of 
 1 cr '"“ all Things, the common Mark oflnfolence 
 and Malice, are now in perfeft Joy ; their Sorrows 
 fwallowed up in tranfporting Blifsand Comfort, their 
 Dangers changed into fecure Peace; their Labours 
 into Eafe and fweet Repofe •, their Perfecutions, and 
 wrongful Accufations before the Bar of Men, into 
 Thrones of Glory , where they fit and judge the 
 World, and live, and rejoyce, and reign with me for 
 ever. 
 
 Chap. LIII. 
 
 The foys of Eternity , and. Miferies of this pre- 
 fent Life. 
 
 Tifcife.'] Blefied Manfions of the heavenly Ci- 
 ty! O bright and glorious Day of 
 eternal Light and Blifs! A Day, that never declines j 
 a Sun, that never fets, nor is obfcured by any fuc- 
 ceeding Night j but a State always chearful, always 
 fix’d, and fecurcd from Change and Sorrow, from 
 Danger and Decay. How do I pane and thirft after 
 that happy Hour, when this blefied Morning (hall 
 dawn and filed its Beams, and with a wondrous Luftre 
 put an end to all the Darknefs and Mileries of Morta¬ 
 lity ? It does indeed already fhine in the Hearts and 
 Hopes of thofegood Men, whofe Converlation is even 
 now in Heaven : But even Theirs is but a diftant Pro- 
 fpe&, and fuch as, while they Sojourn here, prefents 
 things only in a Glafs. The Citizens and Inhabitants 
 of thofe blcfs’d Regions fee it with their naked Eye, 
 they feel and enjoy its Sweetnefs, and are all en* 
 lightned with its Rays j while the diftrefled Sons of 
 
 Evt 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 241 
 
 Eve endure and groan under their Exile, and cannot 
 but lament the Bitternefs of this imperfeft gloomy 
 Day, which Men on Earth call Evil. A Day but Ihort, 
 and, which is worfe, difmal and uncomfortable. For 
 who can worthily exprefs the Pains, the Perplexities 
 of Body and Soul, which are the necellary, the infe- 
 parable Incumbrances of Man’s prefent Condition ? 
 A Condition, wherein he is polluted with fo many 
 Sins, entangled in fo many Difficulties, befet with lo 
 many Misfortunes, oppreis’d with fo many Fears, di- 
 ftta&ed with fo many Cares, difturbed and diverted 
 from his main Concern by fo many Impertinencies, de¬ 
 luded with fo many Vanities, confounded with fo ma¬ 
 ny Errors, wafted and worn out with fo much Labour 
 and Trouble; aflaulted by Temptations, emafculated 
 by Pleafures, and tormented with great variety of Ne- 
 ceffities and Wants ? 
 
 O! when will there be an End of this fo complica¬ 
 ted Mifery ? When may I hope to be enlarged and re¬ 
 leafed from this Bondage of Sin ? When lhall my 
 Thoughts and Defires center, and be for ever fix’d, 
 in Thee, my God, alone ? When may I hope to at¬ 
 tain true Joy in Thee, without any Allay of bodily 
 Suffering, without any Diftra&ion of Mind? When 
 fhail I reft in firm untroubled Peace; Peace from Ac¬ 
 cidents and Temptations without, Peace from Guilt 
 and Mifgiving, from the Solicitations of Luft, and 
 the Violence of Paffion, within ? When lhall I fee 
 my Jelus Face to Face, and contemplate the Beauties 
 of his Kingdom and glorious Godhead? When will 
 my deareft Saviour be my All in All, and receive me 
 to thore blifsful Habitations, prepared for them thac 
 love him, and that are loved by him, before the Foun¬ 
 dation of the World ? 
 
 _ Behold! I am here Defolate and Poor, a Stranger 
 and Alone in an Enemy’s Country; where Wars rage 
 and never ceale, and terrible Diftreffies come thick 
 
 and 
 
242 
 
 j©f tftC gimitattOlT Book III. 
 
 and ftrong upon me every Day and Hour. Be T hou 
 mv Comfort in this exiled and defolate Condition^ 
 Aifwage my Paiu, and incline thy Favour to thy Ser¬ 
 vant, vvhofe parched and languifhmg Soul 
 t>jM. cx m- gajpeth unto thecas* thirfly Land. Thou 
 only art able to do this ; For, what the mittaken 
 World calls Comforts, are but fo~many frefh Addi- 
 TionsTolny Burden. I long molt carncftly to enjoy, 
 but cannot yet attain, rny Wi lh. Fain would 1 grafp 
 and~ clfng to’heavenly things, but am detained and 
 fattened down to Earth , by Vanitie s below, and un¬ 
 mortified Affedions. My Mind labours to get above 
 - thefe, but even, when the Spirit is willing, I find the 
 Flefh extreamly weak, and my fenfual, prevails over 
 ir.y better and heavenly. Inclinations. 
 
 Thus am I, wretched Man, involved in a perpetual 
 War, and live in Contradidion to my felf \ my own 
 Hindrance and Torment, moving different Ways, and 
 purfuing different Ends and Profpcds at one and the 
 fame time. How great is my Concern and Conflict, 
 when i fet my Mind to Meditate and Pray, and, in 
 the midtt of this Exercife, am interrupted by a Clut¬ 
 ter of worldly and carnal Imaginations crouding in up¬ 
 on me ? Go not far from we, O my God . neither cufl away 
 thy Servant in Difpleafure. Scatter thefe dark and gloo¬ 
 my Clouds, which intercept my Villon of thee, by the 
 .. .. Brightnefs of thy Lightning; thunder np- 
 
 ja.c\i\. them from Heaven, cap out thine Ar¬ 
 rows and difeomfit them. Recoiled my broken and Scat¬ 
 tered Thoughts, help me to forget the Things of this 
 World, to rejed, and defpife, and cffedually drive 
 away, all linful Imaginations. Alfift me, thou fub- 
 ftantial Truth, and root me fall:, that no blaft of Va¬ 
 nity may fhake and unleffle my Heart. Diffufe thy 
 heavenly Sweetnefs through my Soul, and chafe away 
 all naufeous, unfavoury, and impure AfFedions, for 
 thefe cannot Hand before thee. 
 
 Par. 
 
book III. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 * 4 ? 
 
 Particularly, deareft Lord, I implore thy Com¬ 
 panion up dii my Infirmities; ajid in thy Mercy impute 
 not to me, my many wandring Thoughts in Prayer. For 
 there, 1 muft confefs, my Diffractions are great and 
 frequent; and I am often lea ft of all in that Place, 
 where I ftand or kneel: Thus, while my Body is be¬ 
 fore thy foot-ft001, my Mind is carried away I know 
 not whither. And This is a very melancholy Refle¬ 
 ction, iuch as gives me occafion to fufped, and deep¬ 
 ly bewail, my felf. Since where my Thoughts are, 
 theie properly and indeed am I; and where my 
 Thoughts frequent, and delight to dwell, there with- 
 ° U j Object of my AfFedion and Concern, 
 
 and that whic.i either natural Dilpofition or long Cu- 
 uom renders moft delightful, that to be lure is moft 
 familiar, and comes continually uppermoft. All this 
 I gather fiom that Obfervation, which thou, Eternal 
 Truth, haft left ns, that Where our Treajure 7 
 
 }<j t here will our Hearts be alfo . vi. 
 
 This then is the Rule, by which I try and found the 
 Bene of my Heart j If Hove Heaven, the Thoughts 
 of it will be frequenFanct pleafant to me. But if I 
 love the World, the effed of this will be, that I fhall 
 reel Excels of Joy in prolperous Events, and be as im¬ 
 moderate m ray Grief for thofe that are otherwife. 
 
 ! ° ve the wanton and carnal Imaginations 
 will orten return upon me, and be entertained with 
 Satisfaction ; but if I love the Spirit, then fhall I find 
 in Spiritual Objects a grateful Relifli, and dwell upon 
 them with true Delight. For this my own Senfes and 
 Experience allure me, that wh at I love moft I am 
 belt pleafed to be entertained with, greedieft to hear 
 and forwardeft to talk of, moft careful to remember 
 and to preferve deep and lafting Impreffions of upon 
 my Mind. And therefore, though I cannot attain to - 
 it fo fully as I wilh and ftrive, yet I can plainly per¬ 
 ceive, and do truly value and admire the Happinefs 
 
 of 
 
 i 
 
244 $Df the imitation Book hi. 
 
 of Them, who can abandon all, and ftick to Thee a- 
 lonej that commit a holy Violence upon their natu¬ 
 ral Inclinations, crucifie the Flelh, and, with a pure 
 bright Zeal, and a clear Confidence, can offer holy, 
 fervent Prayers, a Ipiritual and unblemilhed Sacri¬ 
 fice : Where All without are forbidden entrance, and 
 all within is compofed. Thefe Men, fo firmly intent 
 upon Thee and their Devotions, are fit to praife thee 
 with thofe Angels, whofe refined Excellencies they fo 
 happily afpire after, and to whofe bleffed Society thou 
 wilt one Day exalt and admit them. 
 
 Chap. LIV. 
 
 Of the Defire of Eternal Life , and the HappineJ's 
 of Them who Jlrtve manfully. 
 
 Christ .] T\ /TY Son, when thou feelefl: thy Soul in- 
 j[V 1 flamed with an eager Defire of Eter¬ 
 nal Happinefs, and thinkefl: long to be releafed from 
 this Prifon of the Body, that thou may’ft be blefled 
 with a nearer and more diftinft View, a perfett, full, 
 and uninterrupted Fruition, of my Brightnefs and Ma- 
 jefty •, fet open all the Avenues of thy Soul, and gree¬ 
 dily receive the holy Infpiration. Exprefs thy hum- 
 bleft Thanks to God, and be duly fenfible of his 
 Goodnefs, who deals fo bountifully with thee, vifits 
 thee with his Mercy, fupports and ftrengthens thee 
 with his Grace, and raifes thofe Affe&ions up to 
 Heaven, which have a fatal innate Tendency to im- 
 merfe thy Soul in Earth, and Flefh, and Senfe. For, 
 do not miftake the Matter, no Reafonings or Endea¬ 
 vours of thy own have power to efFed fo good a 
 Work, or to create thofe Spiritual Inclinations j The 
 Finger of God is in them, and they are owing to no 
 
II 
 
 I Hook III. Of J f. sus Christ. 
 
 -45 
 
 I lefs noble a Caule, than the free and bountiful Dona- 
 I ion of Divine Grace and Favour: The defign of which 
 I i* to advance and exalt thv Virtue?, to make thee 
 I Humble and Modcft with RefleXions upon the Strength 
 I of An her made PcrfeX in thy Weaknefs; to fit thee 
 I for f cel ryals and fbrer ConfliXs, to engage thy 
 1 Affections, and encourage thy Perfeverance, in the 
 V faithful Service of fo gracious, fo good a Mailer. 
 
 J Nor let thy Spirits be dejeXed, Son, if this be not 
 ■ done with all that Zeal, and entire Refignation of a 
 j Heart perteXly undivided, which thou could’lt wifli. 
 1 For, as in common Fire there will always be fome 
 ISmoak ; fo in thefe holy Flames many Men are fin- 
 ■cerely dclirous ot heavenly Things, who yet cannot 
 I quite deveft thcmfclves of carnal AffeXions, nor be 
 I ibfolutely free from all Temptations. And therefore 
 ,ome other ProipeXs will often interpofe, as well as 
 I'hat of promoting God’s Glory only, by thofe good 
 AXions, for which the Afliftances of his Grace are 
 I fought and earneftly implored. Of this thy own Ex- 
 Ipej icnce convinces thee, by fundry Irillances, in which 
 | h°u feeft no reafon to fufpcX thy own Integrity. Nor 
 I will all that be condemned at the laft Day, which was 
 I ittempted with a mixture of fome Delire to promote 
 j by own Advantage. Only take care, that this De- 
 I ire prevail not fo far, as to encline thee to prefer 
 I chat may contribute to thy Profit or Delight, before 
 j hoie Things which will procure my Favour and Ac¬ 
 ceptance, ai]d be tor Mine and for Religion’s Honour.' 
 r or » "ith a wife confiderate Cluiflian, my Will takes 
 ! 4 ace above his own DHires, or any the molt inviting 
 
 I object i and if it reign not in his Heart alone, yet in 
 
 II ways fits fjipreme, and over-iules the reft. I know 
 
 Yjlthy audti.y G runnings a>e mt htd \ r , 
 
 b-otn me. Thou would’ft this hiftant be ad- ' Jd ' XXXViU * 
 pitted into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God; 
 lie blifsful and eternal Manlions of tby heavenly 
 
 K Father’* 
 
246 flDf tlje imitation Book 111. j 
 
 Father’s Houfe are thy longing and delight •, and as tie 
 Hart panteth after the Warer-fpnrtgs , Jo doth 
 Ffj . x 11 . ( ^ Soul punt and thirft after me. But as yet J 
 thou art not ripe tor theft* Joys * That happy Hour is 
 not com e * for Hus Ofe is the time or Warfare, and 
 A&ionand Tryal,and not of Reft and Joy and Triumph, 
 And thou muft be content to wait with Patience, till , 
 the Kingdom of God lhall come in perfection. 
 
 - The Condition of Mortals upon Earth is that Exer- 
 cife and Difcipline * the Joys they feel are Comforts < 
 and Supports, not full and perfedt Happinefs * they j 
 are given not to fatisfie, but only to fuftain, them. 
 And therefore receive them as they are, and ufe them 
 to their proper Purpofes, that by Them thy Conftancy I 
 and Patience may be preferved from finking under the 
 weight of any Difficulties, which either the doing or j 
 fuffering things, to which frail and corrupt Nature is j 
 averfe, may at any time expofethee. For the Cha nge ; 
 of a Man’s felf is a very laborious Undertaking, and 1 
 yet this muft be done. The Flelh with irs!. lifts muft be ' 
 crucified, a new Heart and a new Spirit introduced, ' 
 many things done which offer violence to a Man’s In¬ 
 clinations, many foregone and let alone, to which he 
 is ftrongly difpofed. Others thou flialt often obferve 
 crowned with Succcfs, when thy own no lets painful 
 Endeavours are defeated and difappointed : Others 
 lookt upon as Oracles, w hen thy better and wifer Ad¬ 
 vice is difregarded and defpifed : Others will fuffer 
 long, and at hit obtain their defire, Thou perhaps, 
 though equally patient, equally fervent and zealous in 
 thy Application,difmift witharepulfe* Others be great 
 in Fame and general Efteern, while thy more deferving 
 Virtues are pafs’d over in Silence* Others careffed, 
 preferr’d, trufted in Matters of Conlequcnce,and look¬ 
 ed upon as ufeful and necellaty * while thou art re¬ 
 puted a ufelefs and infignificant Perfon. Thefe mi- 
 itaken or partial Judgments of Men will grate hard 
 
 upon 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 247 
 
 upon Humane Nature; but even Thefe will turn to 
 good account, if born with Meeknefs, and Modelty, 
 and Silence. For thefe are the very Methods by 
 i which God brings the Fidelity of his Servants to the 
 1 ouch j tis thus , that hedifcovers, whether they have 
 gained a Conqueft over Nature and Themfelves. And 
 no fort of Mortification is of happier confequence 
 than that, which expofes Men to the fight and fuffering 
 of things, to which their own Minds are molt vio¬ 
 lently a verfe; efpecially, when what they cannot but 
 conceive molt unfit, molt abfurd and odd, conltrains 
 them to go ag3infl their own Senfe, and fubmit to a 
 higher Power, without any referve to the private 
 Judgment of their own Reafon in the Cafe. This is 
 indeed hard, and a Perfection of Submiflion not eafie 
 ■ to be compafs’d ; but did Men but confider, how vaft 
 the Advantages of a Temper fo refigned are at prefent, 
 how glorious the Reward of it hereafter, and how 
 quickly the Troubles it expofes them to will end in 
 that Reward, the Comforts of fuch Difcipline would 
 be feniibleand great, and they would even enjoy their 
 Afflictions and Temptations, fuftained with fo fure, 
 fo bright a ProfpeCt, of the mighty, the approaching 
 i Recompence. 
 
 For this fflort empty Pleafure, which now thou 
 choofeft for my fake to decline, fflall be compenfated 
 with folid and everlalting Joy in Heaven: And there 
 thy largeft Willies fflall be gratified j there fflall be 
 plenty of every thing that is good, Fruition perfeCt 
 and fecure, free from the leaft Allay of Fear, or Polfi- 
 bility of future LolTes} Between thy Will and mine .fflall 
 then be perfeCt Harmony •, No Oppofition there. No 
 1 ObftruCtion; But every thing fflall confpire to fulfil all 
 thy Heart’s defire, and render thy Happinefs asexqui- 
 fite,as a finite Natureis capable of. Thy prelent Ignomi¬ 
 ny born with Patience, fflall there be paid with bright ¬ 
 er Glory j Thy Mourning Weeds exchanged for Robes 
 
 R 2 of 
 
 \ 
 
248 flDf tl)C inutattou Book III. 
 
 —— -------r-- ? 
 
 of Light and Joy ^ and He who fits here in the lowed I 
 Place, fhall there be feated on an Eternal 1 hrone 
 Let it not then be grievous to thee, to humble and j 
 fubmit thy felf to the capricious Humours of Men, j 
 with whom thou converfelt in this World : But ra- ; 
 ther focompofethy Mind, and order all thy Aftions, 
 as readily and meekly to comply with the Commands , 
 of thy Superiours, the Defires ot thy Equals, the Re- l 
 queftsofthy Inferiours, to do for All what lawful¬ 
 ly thou may’ft, and to endure patiently whatever 
 they (hall, but ought not to, do to thee. L et vain 
 Men purfuc Vanity; leave them to their own Me- t 
 thods} let Them place their Glory and Happinefs in 
 fuch Obje&s, as their own miftaken Judgments fiiall | 
 determine them to*, let Them admire, and above all | 
 things covet, a celebrated Name and popular Ap- j 
 plaufe but do Thou place thy Excellence and Ho- 1 
 nour, in the Contempt of thy felt, thy Diligence Ift 
 difeharging my Commands, thy Zeal in fecking and 
 advancing my Honour and Kingdom , and le t this be : 
 
 fir ft, and chief in thy Dciires, '1 hat n c- 
 ° hU ther thou live , thou may si live unto the Lord , 
 
 §r whether thou die , thou maytt d e unto the Lor d\ that 
 
 ,. . whether by Life or Death the Lord Jefus may 
 
 ' l * u be magnified in thy Body . 
 
 Chap. L V. 
 
 An Act of Rejignation to God in time of Adver - 
 
 /O'* 
 
 Difriple.l T}LelTed be tby Wifdom and Goodncfs, 
 jj O holy Father, which perforins all thy 
 Will •, for what thy Will decrees, cannot be other- 
 wife than good and wife. Give me Grace, l befecch 
 
 thee,’ 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 249 
 
 [ thee, to rejoyce, not in my felt', or any other, but in 
 Thee alone; For Thou only art my Hope and Crdwn" 
 I my Joy and Glory; All I have is received at thy 
 j bountiful Hand, bountiful to a molt unworthy Crea- 
 ! turc > w * 10 neither could procure, nor deferve the 
 leaftof all thy Mercies: And Thou, by giving and 
 compleating, haft not loll thy Property and Right 
 in all, which by thy means 1 enjoy or do. For what 
 am [, alas! but a weak helplefs Wretch ? acquainted 
 with Mtfery from my very Cradle, and wafted with 
 Trouble and Vexation ; my Face grown old with 
 Tears, and tny Heart perplexed and broken with 
 Doubts and Sorrows, and vehement Paflions. I beer 
 and long molt earneftly for the Blelfing of Peace* 
 that Peace and inward Confolation, which thy Chil¬ 
 dren feed and feaft: upon. If thou lhalt fill my Soul 
 with 1 his, it will overflow with Joy and Praife and 
 continually breathe out holy Hymns to the Honour of 
 :hy Name; But if thou turn away thy Face, as fome- 
 :lines thou feefi: fit to do, I find my felf unable to run 
 diTlie Way oftby Commandments* And,proftratine 
 ny felt in the Anguilh of my Soul, I beat my Brealt 
 rnd wring my Hands, for the lofs of that Lighc and’ 
 _omfort, that Strength and Protection, which I en- 
 oyed, while under the Shadow of thy Wings and de- 
 ended from the Aflaults of Sorrow and Adverfity 
 Righteous Father, fthen fay I) the l ime is come 
 vlien thou art pleafed to try me, but even at this 
 ime, and at all others, praifed be thy Name. Dear- 
 it Father, it is very meet, that, now thou calflt me 
 o it, I ftiould fuller in obedience to thy Will. Moll 
 lonoured Father, This is thy Hour, even that impor- 
 ant Hour, which thou trom all Eternity haft: or- 
 lamed, to be the Seafon of my outward Opprelficn 
 nd Difcomfort, becoming the Inftrument of endlefs 
 ■ife and Joy to me: Bur, though this Heavinefs may 
 udure for a Night, yet Light, and Glory will return 
 
 K 3 in 
 
250 
 
 
 
 €>f t\)t llnutatton Book hi. ! 
 
 in the Morning. This, holy Father, is thy own Ap- | 
 pointment, and what thou willeft thou never willeft | 
 in vain. For even this Suffering in the prefent Life > 
 is a Alark of thy Favour and Friendlhip; the Returns, ! 
 the Inftruments, the Manner, the Continuance of my : 
 AfUiftions are all of thy permitting; for nothing is or 
 can be done without thy Providence and Direction, ; 
 without foine wife and excellent Defigti. Even 1 my j 
 Jt r, .. felf am fenfible, how good it is for rne to have j 
 j.i . cxi.. afflitted , that I might learn thy Statutes. j 
 
 and utterly difcard all Pride and carnal Confidences. 
 The Shame and Self-reproach 1 laboured Under, hath 
 taught me to expert Relief from God, and not from j 
 Man. And all my Afflictions put me upon contem¬ 
 plating the unfearchable Depths of thy Providence, 
 which with a wondeful Temper of Jufticeand Equity ] 
 layeth thefe Burdens upon Bad and Good, wichout j 
 any nice or diferiminating Marks of Love or Hatred . 
 in this prefent World. 
 
 I will therefore render molt unfeigned Thankfgi- ; 
 ving to my God, for that in marvellous Kindnefs he 
 hath not fpared the Rod when it was convenient for 
 me: 1 acknowledge his Mercy, even in the Pains, and 
 Croffes, and Sorrows 1 have endured, whether of 
 Mind, or Body, orEftate-, and yet much more for 
 thofe Rcfrelliments and Remedies, which thou alone 
 haft afforded me. For vain is all the Help of Man, 
 but thou art the true, the powerful Phyfician of Souls, 
 
 _ ... thou woundejt and healefl ^ thou hrmgefl down 
 
 twr.xxxi.. ^ (j a(es 0 f /-fell, and raifejl up again. Thy 
 
 Chaftifement fiiall teach me Wifdomj thou (halt beat 
 me with the Rod, and I fhall not die. Behold me, 
 Lord, moft willingly fubmitting to thy Difcipline * O 
 ftrike, and fpare not, fo thou bend my ftubborn Heart, 
 and bring down my high Spirit j and make me tra¬ 
 ctable and obedient. I, Lord, and Mine are at thy 
 difpofal, put forth thy Hand and touch them as thou 
 t . plea- 
 
J ’ plcafeft. For this I know, that how grievous foever 
 thefe temporal Crofles may be, yet better is it to feel 
 , i he weight of thy Hand here, than her eaft er. SIT - 
 ! things ate naked and open to thee, even the inmolt 
 Recedes of our Hearts: Thou knowefl the things that 
 will be before they are, and needed: not that any fnould 
 i inform thee what is done upon Earth. Thou feed: 
 
 what will contribute molt to my Improvement in 
 I Goodnefs •, how great and good eded DiltrelTes have, 
 to fcour the Rult from our unadive Minds, and 
 brighten all our Virtues ; Take then, my God, thy 
 I own Meafures. I only beg, that Thou would ft not 
 difdain and give me over, and think me unworthy 
 thy Care, for thofe Blemiflies and Mifdemeanours of 
 my Life, which none are better acquainted with \ 
 which none indeed are thoroughly acquainted with, 
 
 I but Thou the Searcher of Hearts alone. 
 
 I * Work in me,I entreat thee, a true Amendment: In- 
 drud me in all things fit for me to know, Difpofe me 
 to love all things worthy my AfFedion; to think, 
 
 I that every thing deferves my Praife in proportion as 
 I it pleafes thee ; to edeem nothing highly, but what is 
 precious and honourable in thy light; to look with a 
 I generous Difdain upon all that thou chinked vile, and 
 I never be reconciled to what thou hated:. Let me not, 
 
 | 1 befeech thee , judge by out-ward Appearances , the 
 I feeing of the Eye, or the hearing oF the Ear, which 
 are fubjed to infinite Delufions and Miftakes; but 
 give me a right Judgment in all things, whether they 
 relate to this or another State, to the outward, or 
 the inner Man and, above all, let it be my fpecial 
 [ Care to inform my felf in thy Will concerning me. 
 
 Men, who form their Judgment upon Senfe, often 
 ^ err j Men, who fet their Affedions upon the lenfible 
 Objedsot this World, are frequently difappointed 
 and miferable: For is a .Man, for inftance, one whit 
 the better, becaufe he is grown greater in other Mens 
 
 R 4 elteem? 
 
252 £>t ti)C 3 JmttatlOU Book III. 
 
 efteem ? Is common Opinion the Standard o'c Merit? 
 "Nothing left. For here every Man abufes his Fellow ; 
 the Cheat impofes upon anothei as great a Cheat,* 
 the Vain puffs up the Vain; the Blind mifleads the 
 Blind*, the Weak fupports the Weak; and all the 
 while, bv empty undeferved Commendations, each 
 brings a ti ne Reproach upon the other, while he Ex¬ 
 tols him again# Scnfe and lleafon. For after ali, 
 thefe Praifes are but Words without any Significance; 
 nothing more than Air and empty Sound ; For every 
 Man is juft lb much, to good, and neither more nor 
 jefs, than he is in Thy efteem only. 
 
 C H A p. LVI. 
 
 ji Man must be content with meaner Acts 0} l ’irttte , 
 when he is indifpofed for greater. 
 
 ChriFti] 1~\Q not fuppofe, my Son, that thy Zeal 
 |J can always be equally blight, or thy 
 Mind capable ofTranfport and intent Contemplation 
 upon heavenly Objects at all times. Thou carrieft 
 about with thee a Load of Infirmity and Corruption, 
 which will often damp the deareft Flames of Devo- j 
 tioti, darken thy Mind, and check its noble Flights; 
 and make thee know and led, that mortal Flefh and ! 
 piood is a heavy, but inlcparable. Incumbrance upon 
 a Rational and Religious Soul. While Men are in the 
 Body, there is no remedy, but they mult feel and 
 groan under the weight; And groan they ought in¬ 
 deed, when they consider, how great an Interruption 
 tlii . is to their Attendance, and entire Dedication of 
 fheir'pme and Thoughts, to God and heavenly Ob¬ 
 jects. Theft they rauft be content to dwell upon 
 nz much as may be, by thatching all thofe happy 
 
 Inter- 
 
2 5 ? 
 
 . Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 | Intervals, which Leifurc and a good Temper of Mind 
 allow them. 
 
 Ini. hen the Soul is indilpoled for nobler ExCrci- 
 fes, when Cares or Infirmities prefs ic down let it 
 not be unadive. Variety is here of ufe- and Works 
 or a meaner rank in the Scale of Virtue mull be re- 
 ; cm red to; that thou may’ll be Hill employed. Hill 
 waning tor the happy Hour, when I fnall return and 
 
 j vn,t thee with larger Meafures of my Grace: bearing 
 i with Meeknefs the prefent Difcomfort and Incapaci¬ 
 ty, the dry and barren State of thy Soul, till I lend 
 my refrefhmg Dews, and infufe a Principle of Fruit- 
 tulnefs for a Produd in greater plenty and perfedion. 
 tor I cainoon make thee to forget thy pall Troubles, 
 and latisfie thy Mind with the Abundance of Peace 
 I open lor thee the fpacious Plains of Scripture, that 
 thou may ft be tnlarged, and run the way of my Com¬ 
 mandments in liberty ; and, with a Soul full of lov 
 and inward Exaltation, fay, 1 reckon that 
 the Sufferings of this prefent time are not wor- ^° m ‘ viii * 
 thy to be compared with the Glory which fhall be revealed 
 
 W U5. 
 
 Chap. LVII. 
 
 Jl Man jjjould think Corrections not Comfort his 
 due. J ’ 
 
 Diftiple.J V Ord, I mull needs with lhame confefs 
 Xj my Iclf altogether unworthy thy Corn- 
 torts, or any part of that Care thou art pleafed to take 
 
 I °: *Py i ;,n d therefore I have no pretence to com- 
 *, * 1 ) 1ai< ^ Ullage, or Injullice, when thou with¬ 
 
 draw eft thy Grace, and leavelt me to my felf. Whole 
 xas o; 1 ears could not fo cleanfe my polluted Soul, 
 
 as 
 
254 J 0 DC tlic 9 jtmtattOlt Book III. ! 
 
 ;is to render it pure enough to merit the blcffed inf j 
 fluences of thy Spirit. Scourges and Vengeance are , 
 the Portion of a Wretch, who by fo many and To , 
 grievous Tranfgreflions hath offended thy Majefty. j 
 The more therefore I reflect upon my own Sinfulnefs, , 
 the clearer and jufter Notions I have of thy free un- 
 deferved Mercy. For merciful thou art even to Afto- 
 nifhment, whofe Bowels thus yearn over the Work 
 of thy own Hands, who thus to all the World haft 
 manifefted the Riches of thy Grace in the VefTels of 
 Mercy, and extendeft thy Liberality to thofe who have 
 no right to challenge, no recommendation to induce 
 thee to it. 
 
 But, if we could pretend to Comforts, yet now 
 could we expeft fuch divine, fuch incomparably fweet 
 and noble Marks of thy Favour ? fo very unlike, fo 
 much above, any Humane Helps, or Encouragements? 
 For how could I expeft the Bread of Life from Hea- 
 ven ? Good Works 1 know of none 1 have to plead i j 
 but the flighteft recolledtion even amazes and con- j 
 founds me with Sins innumerable brought to my re- 
 membrance. My vehement Pronenefs to Evil, and 
 lhameful Sloth and Backwardnefs to Reformation and 
 Goodnefs, are of themfelves fo evident, that fhould 1 
 labour to cloak them, the attempt muft needs be vain: 
 For Thou, the Searcher of Hearts, art privy to them i 
 Thou canft difprove me, and no Advocate is to be 
 found, who could offer any thing in my vindication. 
 What then -can I juftly lay claim to, but Hell and 
 everlafting Flames? 1 own with Grief and Shame, 
 that Reproach and Contempt are my due, and that 
 1 am unworthy to be named among thy Sons, or e- 
 ven thy mcaneft Servants. Nature indeed ftarts 
 back, and cannot without relu&ancy acknowledge 
 its own Vilenefs and Guilt •, but I will offer vio¬ 
 lence to my native Pride, and freely confcfs my 
 Sins, that thou may’ll fhew thy Juftice and Faithful- 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 : 55 
 
 i nef>, in 3 full and free Pardon of the Faults I 10 freely 
 confefs. 
 
 But where /hall I find Words fie for fo mifcrable a 
 Condition, or how Hull fo fcandalous a Creature ap- 
 ^ lce Pardon? I know no other Terms than 
 thefe, that can become my Mouth. “ Lord, 1 have 
 j ^ finned, I have done wickedly. Mercy, thou Judge 
 I of Quick and Dead, Mercy, or I perilh. Refpit thy 
 « ^ critc ‘l ce y cta while, and grant me fome time 
 u at leaft to bewail my Mifery, before I be (wallowed 
 up til Darknefs, and go into a Land.black , 
 tt Wlt h tl,e terrours of the fhadow of Death. * ob% i ‘ 
 
 I w ot her reparation doft thou expeff, what other 
 ' u cai l ,ndeed be had, from Men laden with Guilt and 
 tt uT lty ’ t ^ 1an the Y Should ferioufly bewail and 
 tt tumble themfelves for their mighty and manifold 
 ct r rc ! V0cat ‘ 0ns • Hence all our Hopes of Remiffion 
 w ip r, ng, here the^ firft Seeds of Reconciliation take 
 t( ™ ot ’ * ,e J°y °f a peaceful Confcience is fown in 
 C( Tears ’ tb e Acknowledgment of our Weaknefs is the 
 -nrft Step towards repairing our Lofs, the firft De- 
 ^ fence againft the Wrath to come; and in thefe me- 
 tt lancnoly Solitudes the gracious God and penitent 
 tt Soul m ^ et and embrace each other. A broken and 
 a contrite Heart is reputed a Sacrifice, 
 t( and 1 hou, in marvellous Condefcenfion r ^ lm 111 
 u preferreft it before the Odours of the fweeteft In- 
 u c f. e ’ or w hole Hecatombs of Burnt-ofterings. Of 
 u ™' s that Precious Ointment, whofe Perfumes, when 
 tt it anointed thy holy Feet, filled the whole Houfe, 
 « W ?, S j n ^ E . , ? blem > tor Thou, Lord, never didft or 
 u wdt defpiiea Soul afflirted with a Senfe of Sin. Con¬ 
 te o ltI0n and Humilir y are our Sanduary againft the 
 w a § e and Malice of our Spiritual Adverfary and 
 « 1 C i rS ot Penitence, that purifying Stream, which 
 walhes off the Stains and Blemilhes of our defiled 
 ” Souls. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 s.i 
 
1 
 
 s. 
 
 - 4 - 
 
 
 256 <S >1 tyc 9 ]UUtattO« Book III. 
 
 Chap. LVIII. 
 
 The Grace of God dwells not with worldly-minded 
 Men. 
 
 Cbrift.1 r |"Hc Tokens of my Love are of a nobler 
 X kind, than that they (hould fubmit to 
 be rivalled by the Bleflingsof this World, and he avenly 
 Comforts dildain t o mix with thofc of Earth . If then , 
 my Son, thou defirc to be filled full of my Benediction 
 and Grace, all that obflruft its free Poflefiion of thy 
 Heart mull be cHeftually difearded. Covet Retirement, 
 and prefer piivate Convcrfitigp with thy God, before 
 all the Diver lions of Humane Society; Eftecm 110 Com¬ 
 pany fo delightful as thy Clofet and thy Devotions, 
 and there, by fervent Prayers, pour out thy Soul 
 alone, that thy Zeal may be quickened, and thy Peace 
 of Confcience fccurcd. Let the whole World be mean 
 in thy Efteem, and account it a greater Honour to be 
 called and chofen of God, than any Ad vantages of For¬ 
 tune or Advancement can confer, for, be al lured, thy 
 Soul cannot admit ot two filch t A licet ions, as 
 
 the Love of Me, and traniitory Plcafures. The moll 
 intimate Acquaintance and dearefl Friends muff hoc 
 fl uid in Competition with Me, but They who will be 
 mine in good carnelL nnifl fo llow t he Apofllc' s Advice , 
 
 „ ]>cl -j and behave the ml elves as Strangers and Pil¬ 
 grims in a I! odd which mttjl (hot 1 ly be diffol- 
 ve !\ And when that time of this, or their own, Diflb 
 luiion approaches,, the Joy and holy Truft of that 
 Mind, which lits loole to all here below,is more blellcd 
 th Word can < xprefs. 
 
 - But to live thus abflrafted and difengaged from the 
 World, is a Perfection not attainable by every common 
 Man i nor can the fenlual Perfon taft the Delights, or 
 enjoy the Liberty,of a true Iplfltual Stat e. I or this re- - 
 
 quires 
 
| Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 j cjuiies a diHance to be kept from all external Objefts 
 j that thofe thiugs Humane Nature loves moll tenderly 
 • Ifiould be renounced, nay even that himfelf Ihould be 
 I foj tor each Man is his own wor/t Enemy, and the 
 moll threading Dangers rife from within. He that - 
 J hath pained an entire ConqueH over himfelf, will find 
 I no mighty difficulty to fubdue all other Oppofition • 
 for this is a complete Victory indeed. And when the 
 
 Senlual Appetite fubmits readily to the Rational Pow- 
 f, r ,V n ?. tllofe Powers again as readily fubmit to my 
 I Willi this Man is Mailer of himfelf and all the World 
 But They who would afpire to this Perfection, mull 
 fet out with Refolution, and early lay the Ax to the 
 Root of the Tree, that no darling Sin, no corrupt or 
 inordinate Aftetfion, may be left Handing. For all 
 that Bitternels and Sin, which is necefiary to be hewn 
 down in order to an entire Reformation and heavenly 
 Puiity of Heart and Life, are but fo many Branches 
 or that corrupt Stock, the irregular Love of a Man’s 
 own iclf. Aiid when that Stock is killed and cut down, 
 profound Peace, and uninterr upted Ha ppinefs are the 
 CouTe^uents of fuch M oTtlfi'catiori. 
 
 I lie only Reall n, u(o many continue Hill en¬ 
 tangled in lenfual Affedlions, and find themfelvcs un¬ 
 able to foar above themfelvcs and the Incumbrances 
 here below, is, th at very few have att ained to the Skill 
 of dying to their owm Inclinations, and deveHing them- 
 dclvcs of narrow and felfilh Defigns. For He who If 
 leas to converfe freely with God, mull firfl abandon 
 all camal and immoderate Defires, and get looie from 
 thofe Intanglements, which clog and fallen down the 
 Soul to Earth, who Hill retain a fondnefs of any 
 created Being, and by minding temporal Things, Hiew 
 that they are content to let up their ReH, ihort of 
 
 H eaven and God ~ h i mien. Set the refore ” , ,_ 
 
 zJL dffcElions on tLi s .. : g^ « 2 * 
 
 the Earth-, for_ >w . - 
 
 VV / 
 
258 €>f tI)C gjmttation Book III. 
 
 Mxttb. vi. 24. 
 
 two Ataftcrs • nor cansl thou love Ate and I 
 Mammon both. 
 
 
 G h a p. LIX. 
 
 + The different Motions of Nature and Grace. 
 
 Christy O E careful, my Son, to diftinguilh bet ween 
 £3 Nature and Grace, and nice ly toobferv^ 
 their different Tendencies and Profpe&s; for theft 
 are fo very d'iffant, fo contrary to each other, and yet 
 withal fo intri cate, that they require a fpiritual and l 
 cnlightned Underftanding, cxadlly to difeern t hjffl. la I 
 
 - the general Defire of Good all Mankind agree, this is the 
 
 Spur and Spring of every Word and Aftion^ but that 
 which produces fo very different Effetts from the fame I 
 Original Caufe, is, that Men often miltake Shadows 
 for Subftancc, and are impofed upon by falfe Ap pea l 
 ranees of Good. 
 
 * Nature a<ffs craftily,allures,infnares,cheats thofe that I 
 attend to its Wiles,and propofes the gratifying her felf 
 for the end of all fhedoes. Grace deals candidly and fin- 
 cerely,complies with no Evil, puts no cheat upon Men, 
 does all with regard to God, and veils in Him as its 
 fupreme and only End. Nature declines Death and 
 
 -Sufferings, hates Trouble and Sorrow, Subje&ion and 
 Obedience-, G race is exercifcd in perpetual Mortifi¬ 
 cation and Self-denial j choofes to be over-ruled,to fub* 
 mit} nay, rellrains even lawful and innocent Liber¬ 
 ties } does not affedt Dominion and Superiority, but 
 choofes to live in a State of Humility and Subjection, 
 and efteems no Hardlhip, no Compliance unealie, for 
 the fake of God and a good Conscience. Nature is 
 
 - felfilh, and always computes what Profit every Aftion 
 may bring to the Perfon that does it^ Grace overlooks 
 
 all 
 
al l private Gain, and labours chie fly to promote the 
 puDiick Good. Nature delights in Honours and^refer- 
 ments, in a celebrated Name, and the Commendations 
 of Men j Grace aferibes all the Honour and Praife to 
 Cfod, andchinks, that things done well are well reward¬ 
 ed by his Acceptanceand Approbation. Nature dreads - 
 ft Ignominy and Contempt, but Grace accounts it Matter 
 i of great Joy to be expofed and vilified in a good Caufe. 
 
 ; NatnreBj^wjthEafeaiid Indulgence, and bo- 
 I oily Reft , Gtace is ever a&ive, and undertakes Bufi- 
 nefs and 1 oil with cheerfulnefs. Nature is c harm ed - 
 with Beauty and Curiofity, and difdains things that 
 are mean, and vulgar, and common; Grace is de¬ 
 lighted with fuch as are plain and low in the Efteeni 
 of the World, difclains not thofe that are unpalatable, 
 noi thinks her felf the worfe, for the want of outward 
 Gayeties and Ornaments. Nature aims at tranfitory - 
 Enjoyments, is fond of Wealth and Increafe, tenderly 
 affected v. ith Lolles and Diiappointments, and provo¬ 
 ked to thelaft degree with Inlolence and Reproach: 
 Giace keeps eternal Advantages in view, neglefts the 
 fading and peiilhing, bears Lolles with evennels of 
 Temper, enduies Contempt and Scandal patiently. For 
 Tliele, Ihe confideis, are things of no mighty concern, 
 to One whole Heart and Treafureare in Heaven • a 
 Place,where they are fafe, and no Misfortune can reach 
 them. Nature is niggardly and griping,and choofes ra- - 
 ther to receive than give; .Grace, bountiful and kind, 
 defpinng fordid Gain and Parllmony, content with a 
 little, diftributes liberally and cheerfully 
 and efteems it more blefcdtogive than to receive. ASs xx * 
 Nature inclines to Creature-comforts, to fiefiily 
 Ddights, to v, 01 Idly Vanities and Pomps, to wan- 
 dring and idle Diverlionsj Grace fix es the Heart upon 
 God and Goodncfs, concerns it felf with the World 
 as little as may be, hates flelhly Lulls, checks and 
 confine? roving Imaginations, and alfedts Privacy and 
 
 So- 
 
 i 
 
260 
 
 fiDf ti)C imitation Book III. I 
 
 Solitude. Nature is muc h del ighted with fenfual Plea- . 
 furesj Grace feels no Plea fine but in God alone, 
 and prefers that before a'i the Delights that the Ob¬ 
 jects of Senfe can afford. Nature does n ot hing with¬ 
 out fornc Profpect of Intereft, and for every Kind- 
 nefs expe&s as good or better Returns, either of j 
 things in kind, or at leaft of Favour and Applaufe for 
 its pretended Geuerolity, and fets a very high Value ] 
 upon all the Obligations it lays, Grace delire s no_ i 
 Recommence in this World, but looks upon God as 
 her Reward ; nor are the Supplies and Conveniences, 
 of Life any farther of coniideration with her, than as 1 
 a comfortable Subfiftcnce in this World may be fer- 
 viceable in promoting and facilitating the Endeavours 
 after another. 
 
 -= Nature value s her felf upon a diffudvc Intereft, and 
 multitude of Relations and Friends, Quality and No- I 
 ble Blood ; and therefore fawns upon, or favours, 
 Men in Power, courts and cardies the Rich, commends 
 and is partial to Pei Ions of the fame Condition or | 
 Opinion, or Party : Grace is cha ritable and kind even 1 
 to Enemies ; is not exalted by great or numerous 
 Friendlhips; and thinks the Defcentand Family of a 
 Man a very d cjpica hlc thing, u nlefs hisViuucsbe as 
 much more eminent than thole of his Inferiours, as his 
 Birth and Rank is above theirs; Grace favo urs the I 
 Poor rather than the Rich - and is more concerned foe I 
 the hard Fortune of an Innocent Perfon, than of a 
 Great One ; pays its Refpefts to true inti inlick Worth, ! 
 not to the meet Signs and Trappings of it, which : 
 often only fhew where it ought to be, not where it 
 really is; Encourages the Good in Virtue, i nftea d of 
 flattering and foothing up the Mighty in their Wick- 
 ednefs and Folly; and labours indefatigably to con¬ 
 form thofc who profeis themfelves God’s Children, to 
 the Likenefs of their heavenly Father’s Excellencies, by 
 propagating all manner of Piety and Goodnefs. 
 
 Nature 
 
Boof< III. Of Jesus Christ. 261 
 
 -Nature h.eaffljr jjrovokcd to Difcontent by hard 
 
 Circumftances; Grace bears Want and Poverty with 
 
 Jln. k ^ and H mUCh Patlence - Na,u, c5s Ends and De- - 
 figns conftantjy centre m her felf- but Grace conh- " 
 
 deis her Ongina 1 , and thinks, that all Ihould return 
 thither from whence at firft it came ; arrogates no” 
 
 ftSfr? p fe /* ,S not aiming, does not contend for 
 Praife or Preference; is not dogmatical and peremn- 
 
 Truth” fZ T, ° pini0nS ’ ^ in a!1 Eearcifes after 
 Truth, fubmits her own Realon and Judgment, to the 
 
 incomprehenfible Wifdom of God. Nature affefts td- 
 
 ftnH n 7 ,n %i°, Un a derftand and P««rate the pro- 
 toundeftand darkeft Myfteries, makes Oftentation of 
 aH her new Difcoveries, and pretends to Experiment 
 and Demonftrat.on ; labours to diftinguifh her felf 
 to be thought wifer than the reft of the World and 
 wtould be extolled and admired for all that is fpoken’ 
 or written or done 1 Grace thinks it net adidfaNe 
 
 l lray.y T lu ean L upon new or unprofi- 
 
 i,* C 1I01t,eS -’ but c QQiiders, that the Ruine of 
 Mankind > is owing to that bufie Defire of knowing 
 what Goa thought fit to conceal from them ; that thif 
 
 oh?R , Sl Ve F P nr tend,n r ~E em P er is a Sprout from that 
 .old Root of Bicternefs; that eftablilhed Truths may 
 
 r d T n nded llp0n ’ but new and f3nciful Notions are 
 almoft no fooner entertained, than they are difpro- 
 
 J h ed and ^ploded again. That Men Ihould therefore 
 
 Sc r V3l u r P -A fure ’ Which tickles their itching 
 Minds upon chefe Occafions 5 abandon Vain-glory 
 
 labour rather to conceal, than to publilh, their Ad- 
 vantages; and make Ufefulnefs/and Virtu’ and 
 ™ 5d s Ho . nour ’ the °nly End of all their Knowledge 
 
 muftoS ir F °K t0 , Him a - Gnca ll Thanks and Prafft 
 ,muft of neceflity be due, who gives Men all tbcvHve 
 of his own meer Motion and free Mercy • r 
 
 Ligl \ t lu P eri our to Nature. 
 
 . iIl0U,d d,re & a u d Prei'de over it 5 the peculiar 
 
 ! “ Gti? 
 
262 flDf t^e ^rnttation Book hi. 
 
 gift of God ; the djftinguilhing Chara&er of his Cho- 
 fen ^ the fure Pledge of cverlafting Salvation tor it 
 raifes a Man’s Affeftions from Earth to Heaven, and i 
 changes him from Flcfh to Spirit. And, becaute thefe 
 - two Principles are afted by fuch different Motives, 
 proceed in. fuch different Methods, and purfue luch | 
 differing Ends *, ther ef ore^ in p roporti on as Nature is 
 weakned and fubdued, the larger Meafures of Grace 
 are imparted, the more Mens Virtues are improved, 
 and the gl oriou s Image of God renewed in their Hearts, 
 by holy and heaven ly Difpo fitions. 
 
 . —- 
 
 Chap. LX. 
 
 The Weaknefs of Corrupt Nature, and Efficacy of j 
 Divine Grace. 
 
 | 
 
 D/fciple .1 rr-»Hou haft indeed, my God, created me j 
 Gf».i.24. X in thy own Image after thy Likenefs, ; 
 
 * . and commanded me to be Holy , as thou thy 
 i ret. j. ayt Hol ^ q grant me, I befeech thee, 
 
 that Favour and Afliftance, which, thy own Word 
 hath taught me, is fo important, fo abfolutely necel- 
 fary, to Salvation •, that I may vanquilh my own Na¬ 
 ture, whofe Inclinations are now fo degenerate, fo . 
 corrupt, that they have a ftrong and conftant tenden¬ 
 cy to Sin and Death. For 1 feel and la- 
 Rm> vh . ment a Law of Sin in my Body marring conti¬ 
 nually againfi the Lam of my Mind, drawing me to 
 Compliance with the fielhly and fcnfual Appetite, and 
 difabling me from any refolutc Refiftance againlt its 
 fatal Motions, except thy Divine Grace pour in trelh 
 Succours, and help me to Hand in the Day of Battle. 
 Lord, 1 have need not only of thy Grace, but of ve¬ 
 ry plentiful and powerful Communications of it, to 
 
Book III. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 263* 
 
 turn the Byals of Nature, which from my very In¬ 
 fancy, preponderates to Evil. For this Infection is 
 derived from the firft Parent of Mankind, and the 
 Pumlhment of his Offence diffiifed upon his whole 
 Po/terity ; fo that the Humane Nature, which came 
 pure and good out of thy creating Hand, is tainted 
 and perverted, and all the Motions now remaining 
 draw the wrong way, and bend to Sin and Earth. 
 
 ~ ]T he ll 1 ' ttle Power ,eft in «S to do good is like a ve¬ 
 ry fma II Spark covered with a huge Heap of Embers: 
 
 e L'ght of Reafon clouded with a thick noifom 
 Mdt of Darknefs and Errour j And, though by this 
 all th e Diftinftions of Good and Evil, of Truth and 
 Fallhood are not utterly loft, yet the Power ofper- 
 form.ng what our better Senfe approves is gone -‘the 
 Light ot Truth is dim and Feeble, and the Integrity 
 of our Minds and AfTedions is blemilbed, and diver¬ 
 ted from attending to it impartially. Hence it comes - 
 - to pals, that, though fometimes I am delighted with 
 thy Law in the inner Man, and fully convinced, that 
 fheCommandm'itis holy, and juft and good, condemning 
 Wickednefs, and warning me of the Rocks and Pre¬ 
 cipices, which in /leering my Courfe through the 
 Waves of this troublefome World, I mull be watch¬ 
 ful to avoid ; yet Hill with the FUJI, / f erV e 
 the Law of Sin , and find a greater Difpoti- 
 non to follow Lull and Senfe, than to be governed 
 by Rea ion and Religion. Hence I fo often feel the 
 mil todo well ; but how to perform what I tints wiiL TS3 
 m. Hence I often make and repeat good Refolutions * 
 with great Sincerity ; but, for want of thy Alfiftance 
 to counterpoue my infirmities, quickly M from my 
 own Stedtallnefs, and am beaten off with the very ap« 
 proach of Difficulty and Oppofition. Hence I difeern = 
 the Way I ffiould walk in; but when I am informed 
 of my Duty, and endeavour toraifemy felf above the 
 WQrld and its Temptations, a fatal innate Weight 
 
 S i draws 
 
z 66 01 tfre 9|mttatton Book III . 
 
 out the Truth no Knowledge, without the Life no Li¬ 
 ving : Keep then in this Way, for it is unalterable ; 
 believe in this Truth, for it is infallible ; Hope tor 
 and afpire to this Life, for it is true, happy and eter¬ 
 nal Life. Continue in my Way and thou fhalt know 
 the Tru th, and the Truth fhall make thee tree, that 
 thou may’tt inherit everlafting Life. If 
 ZMttth. xnc. thou wi [ ( emer - nt0 Li f e , t he Command- 
 
 pieties. If thou wilt know the Truth, believe my 
 Words. If thou wilt be perfeftj fell that thou lwft. 
 If thou wilt fave thy Life hereafter, defpife it here. 
 ItthctM wilt be ex alted in Heaven, abafe thy felt upon 
 Earth. If thou deiire to Reign with me, take up the 
 Crofs with me. For none but They who imitate my 
 Crofs are in the right Way to Happinefs and true 
 Glory. 
 
 Dtjcifler I This Way, OLord, is ftrait and rugged, 
 fuch as the World decline and cannot endure to think 
 of; there fore 1 beg, thy Grace would enable me to 
 defpile the World, and diflent from the general Opi¬ 
 nion of Men, in compliance with thy Command and 
 Example. For the Servant is not greater 
 tfohi xv. than his Lord , nor the Difciple above his Ala « 
 ficr. Let thY Serva nt then be guided in thy Steps, tor 
 with Thee is Life and true Holinefs. And all 1 read 
 or hear from any other Hand, gives me no Rcfrcfh- 
 menf, no true Deligh t. 
 
 Chrittf\ if thou knowett thefe things , my Son , happy 
 
 'fokn xiii. 
 Jokn xiv. 
 
 art thou , if thou do them. For Practice, and 
 not Knowledge, fhall inherit the BlefTing. 
 He that keepeth my Commandments and doth 
 them , he it is that loveth me , and I will love 
 him in return, anil rnatiiftjf my felf to him , and fct him 
 upon a Throne with me in my Father’s Kingdom. 
 
 Diffiplt.~] Lord, m I’artaker of this gra- 
 
 cio us Pr omife. The Crofs which 1 have received from 
 thy Hand, I will bear with Conftancy even unto Death, 
 t, . < The 
 
Book III. Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 267 
 
 The Life of a true Chriltian is indeed one continued 
 Crofs; but lince this is the Way that leads to Para- 
 difc, it is by no means fit, that I fliould depart from 
 it, or repent of my holy Refolutions, and good Be¬ 
 ginnings. 
 
 Come then, ray Chriltian Brethren, let us advance 
 boldly, Courage, for Chrilt is with us -, He docs not 
 only lead us on, but will enable us to follow him. For 
 His fake we have taken up the Crofs, and for his fake 
 we mult perfevere in bearing it. Beho ld, the King 
 and Captain of our Salvation, marches at our Head, 
 ready to fight our Battles. Let UsT lik e galla nt Sol- 
 'iicrs, follow; let ns aban don our Fears, and manfully 
 prepare to die in the Field ; and not Itain our Ho¬ 
 nour and lofe our Crown, by flinching from that Ser¬ 
 vice, and thofe Hardfnips, which he hath made our 
 Duty and our Glory. 
 
 Chap. LXII. 
 
 Againji being Dejected with Temptations. 
 
 Chriii."} YUdge not, my Son, of thy Favour and 
 J Acceptance with God, by fuch falfe 
 Meafures, as the Warmth of thy Devotion, and the 
 Delight which refults from the Difcharge of thy Du¬ 
 ty ; For I am better pleafed with Humility and Pa¬ 
 tience, and deep Contrition of Heart, in a difccnfo- 
 iate and afflidted Stats, than with an eager Zeal, and 
 the moll exalted Adis of an ealie and profperous Pie¬ 
 ty. And whence is it, doll thou think, that every 
 little Scandal, which detr dls from thy Reputation, 
 fo fenfibly affedls thee ? Were it yet more to thy Dif- 
 paragement, yet could it not be worth thy Concern. 
 This is not the firft Injury of this kiod, nor is it like 
 
268 
 
 fiDf tl)C 9!m!tattOtt Book III. 
 
 to be the lad, if thou live longer among Men; and 
 what is not new or drangc ought not to furprife the?, 
 1 know thy Courage 3nd pretended Bravery, while 
 Danger keeps its didancc ; Thou canft difeourfe like 
 a Philofopher and aChridian, and give excellent Ad¬ 
 vice to thy Friends, when they labour under any Di- 
 fhefs; but when Their Cafe happens to be thy own, 
 and forne unexpected Calamity comes home to thee, 
 thy Prudence and Refolution forfake thee quite, and 
 thou Handed no lefs in need of the Counfel and Sup¬ 
 port, which thou wert wont fo freely to impart to 
 ochers heretofore. 
 
 Let this Experiment remind thee of thy own Frail¬ 
 ty^ which by fuch Indances appears not to be Proof 
 againd the flighted Misfortunes. For even Thefe In- 
 dances are greatly for thy advantage, and bring thee 
 to a right and perfect underdanding of thy own Con¬ 
 dition. Grow wifer at lead at thy own expence; and 
 as thy calmer Reafon fliews they ought to be, io let 
 thy Behaviour manifed, that thefe tender Refentments' 
 of Temporal Evils are, banifhed out of thy Mind. If 
 thou cannot entertain Adverfity with abfolate Indiffe¬ 
 rence, yet let it not drive thee to Defpondenc y and 
 wicked Didrud; and, however the fird Onfet may 
 didurb thee, yet rally quickly,and let it not long over¬ 
 power thee ; and though perhaps thou art not arri- 
 tf mes i Vcd to that perfection, of counting it all Joy , 
 when thou fallcjl into divers Temptations , thou 
 cand not be excufed from undergoing them with Meek- 
 nefs, and Refignation, and Patience. If thou art not 
 yet got even thus far, but fomc indecent Reflexions 
 rife up in thy Mind, yet let not this fecret Indignation 
 break out into irreverent Expreflions; but fet a Watch 
 Tfdl cxli H f on Tongue, and keep the Door of thy 
 andxxxix. Tips, refolve at lead that thy Mouth fhall 
 not offend ; and though thy Heart be hot 
 within thee, yet let not anypaflionate Complaints burfl: 
 
 out. 
 
269 
 
 Kook III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 out, which may caft Imputations upon the Honour of 
 God, impeach the Juftice and Goodnefs of Providence, 
 of give Offence to thy weaker Brethren. For by thus 
 manning and guarding well the Outworks, thy inward 
 Commotions will in time be compofed ; thy Sorrow by 
 degrees Ihall turn into Joy, and the Favour and Mercy 
 of that God, be inclined to relieve and comfort thee 
 in recompence for thy Reverence and Submiflion to his’ 
 good Pleafure. 
 
 - As 1 live , faith the Lord, 1 will help thee fpeedily, and 
 comfort them who earne/lly feek me ; who put the.r tr. fi in 
 my Salvation. Call up thy Chriftian Fortitude, and link 
 not under thy Burden, but prepare for greater Trials. 
 If thy former Troubles have overwhelmed thy Spirits, 
 and prevailed over thy Temper and thy Virtue, let 
 not the Remembrance of thy. former Trials difcou- 
 rage thee. The Lord knoweth whereof thou 
 art made , he remembreth that thou art but ciii. 
 
 Dufi . A Man and not God ; Flefli and not Angel, or 
 unbodied Spirit; How canfl: thou then cxped to con¬ 
 tinue in an undifturbed Rate of Goodnefs ? How fhould 
 thy Virtue be above the Ihocks and Ihakings of Temp¬ 
 tation, when even the Angels kept not their fiilt 
 Eftate ; and Man in Paradife~ fo loon fell from Inno¬ 
 cence ? Iam thy foie Protedion, who raife the Souls 
 dejcdted with Sorrow, preferve thofe who acknow¬ 
 ledge and bewail their own Weaknefs, and glorifie 
 with my felf the humble Chriftians, who are alhamed 
 of their Follies and Milcarriages. 
 
 Difciple.'] Blefled be thy Mercy, for the gracious 
 Words which drop from thy Mouth, foft as the gentle 
 Dew,and fweeter than Hony and the Hony-comb.What 
 would become of me in the extremicy of my Diftrefs 
 and Anguilh of my Soul, did not thy Promifes and 
 feafonable Inftrudiions refrefh and comfort me ? But 
 be it as thou wilt; For I cannoc think ic any great 
 matter, how long or boifterous my Voyage is, fo thou 
 
 at 
 
27 ° 
 
 ADf ttie gimitatton Book 111. 
 
 at laft condurt me fafe, to that peaceful Haven, when 
 good Men are at reft : Let my Afflirtions be never fc 
 great, fo thou grant a happy IITue, and turn my Suf¬ 
 ferings to good Effort. Be my Condition in this Lift 
 adverfe or profperous, no Profperity will profit, 11 c j 
 Adverfity harm me, but in proportion to the State 
 in which l die. And if 1 go well out of the World, 
 my continuance in it cannot be lo troublefome, thai 
 I fhould have caufo to repent or complain. Order my 
 Affairs then as thou pleafeft ; but always, O my God. 
 remember me, for good \ lead me in the right and 
 ready Way to thy Kingdom, difpofe my every Aftion 
 toward the attainment of Salvation, and let me fo paf 
 through things Temporal , that I finally lofe not the thing j | 
 Eternal. Amen. 
 
 Chap. LXIII. 
 
 J gain (l Prying into Things too high for us, and pre¬ 
 tending to Fathom the Depths of God and Pro¬ 
 vidence .. 
 
 Chrift."] TAO not, my Son, take upon thee to dif- 
 pute, or determine any thing concern¬ 
 ing abftrufe and difficult Points nor too curioufly en¬ 
 quire into tliofc myfterious Difpenfations, which God 
 hath purpofely concealed from thee. Concern not 
 thy felf about the amazing Diftribntions of Grace or 
 Providence} why One Man is forfaken and in dif- 
 favour with God ; Another fo furprifingly indulged 
 by him This Perfon exercifed with Afflictions and 
 Sorrows, or That fo gently dealt with, fo unaccoun¬ 
 tably exalted. Thefe are things out of thy Sphere; 
 and all the Parts and Penetration, the acuteft Wit, 
 and acquired Improvements of Man, are much too 
 
 (hoit 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 271 
 
 ffiort and feeble to enter into the Rcafons of the Di¬ 
 vine Counfels. If therefore fuch Curiolities return 
 upon thee, look upon them as the Suggeftions of the 
 Devil, by which he labours to difquiet and unfettle 
 thee. If Men, impertinently bufie, require a Solution 
 of fuch Difficulties, content thy felf with that general 
 Anfwer of the Prophet ; Righteous art thou , 
 
 O Lord , and Just are thy Judgments ; The 2fc r *xii. i - 
 Jadgments of the Lord are true and righteous XlX - r ’’ 
 altogether ; His Righteonfnefsftandetb like the flrong Afoux- 
 tains , fixt and immovable, eminent and confpicuous; 
 and his Judgments are like the Great Deep. 
 
 A valt and dark Abyfs, fuch as we cannot ^■'• XXXS1 * 7* 
 fee to the bottom of, nor fathom with the ffiort Line 
 of a finite Underftanding. 
 
 My Methods and Dealings are to be Admired and 
 had in Reverence, not fawcily Criticized upon by my 
 own Creatures: For no Creature can have a Capacity 
 proportioned to them ; and what Men cannot com¬ 
 prehend, they Ihould not prefume to take into Exami¬ 
 nation. 
 
 As little ought they to enquire and difpute concern¬ 
 ing the Merits or the Preference of Good Men ; Which 
 of the Saints excels in Virtue, or is greatefi: in the 
 Kingdom of Heaven ? For thefe are Queltions, in 
 which Men are no way concerned ; fuch as ingender 
 Strife and Debate, and turn to no good Accoutre ; 
 they cherriffi Arrogance and Pride, Envy and Faction, 
 while Men break into Parties, and each contends for 
 the Preeminence of Him, whofe Order and Patronage 
 re is devoted to, or whom his own vain Imagination 
 inclines him molt to honour. The Effect of this is very 
 vifible, and the Milcbiefs that fpring horn fuch an im¬ 
 pertinent Zeal, exceeding numerous and lamentable; 
 The Controverfie neither poflible to be decided, nor 
 worth deciding, if it were. And, if thofe Saints have 
 any knowledge what pafles here below, this indifcreec 
 
 and 
 
272 
 
 j0Df tt)C SltmtatlOIt Book III 
 
 and partial Zeal cannot but be highly difpleafing t< 
 them. For I am not a God of Contention and Fa&ion 
 but of Order and Peace and L.ovey And 1 hefe ar< 
 the genuine Produdts of true Modefty and Humility 
 fuch as efteems others better than it felfy but incon 
 fiftent with that bold afluming Temper, which is reft 
 lefs and difeontented, if any other be preferred before 
 it. It may be, Affe&ion and honeft Zeal may difpofi 
 fome Men to be more liberal in their Refpe&soa thi: 
 or that fide of the differing Parties y but do not fuel 
 confider, that fuch Affedtion is not the EfFedt of Grace 
 cr Religion, but merely of Humane Infirmity ? Theft 
 are fuch Prepofleffions, as I can never be capable of: 
 for all the Saints are equally mine. My Hand made 
 them Men, my Affifting Grace made them Saints y 1 
 enriched them with Virtues, and crowned them a! 
 with Glory. I know what each have done, what Oc 
 cafions they had, what Improvements they made. 1 
 foreknew them before Time was y They chofe not Me. 
 but I Them y and fingled them out of the Common 
 Croud y I drew them with the Cords of Love and Mer- 
 cy,condudfed them through great variety of Trials and 
 Afflictions y fuftained them with uncommon Comforts, 
 and Recruits-, enabled them to Perfevere,and reward¬ 
 ed the Conftancy my felf had given : 1 know the firft 
 and laft, and my fatherly, my inexpreflible Affe&ion 
 extends to them All y For All are Inftrumentsof my 
 Praife and Glory, fo many Monuments and eternal 
 Trophies of my Goodnefs y freely advanced to what 
 they arc by my Bounty and Favour, without any Right 
 or antecedent Merit of their own. He therefore who 
 defpifes the leaftof thefe is guilty of Difrefpeft to the 
 greateft y for this Contempt reflects at laft on Me, the 
 Author of their Virtues and their Happinefs y and 
 therefore in Me alone fhould all the Honour preten- 
 ed to be paid to Them center. Their Interefts and 
 Properties are no longer feparate, for Charity hath 
 
 made 
 
Book III. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 273 
 
 made them One, knit them into the fame myltical Body, 
 whole Honours and Advantages and Inclinations and 
 Joys are infcperably the fame. Nay, which is the ut- 
 moft Perfection of Charity, they all confpirc in loving 
 me more than themfelves, or any Merits or Refpe&s 
 of their own *, For, being in that happy State exalted 
 above themfelves, they arc entirely taken up with the 
 Love and Honour of God. This is their Happinefs, 
 and utmolt End. Nothing can divert them to meaner 
 Profpedts, no Mixture of Self comes in betwixt, to 
 damp the pure Flames of this everlafting Love. 
 
 Away then with thele vain Curiofities, thele eager 
 Difputes concerning the Condition of the Blefled, 
 which betray a Prevalence of carnal and fenfual Ap¬ 
 petites; luch as have no Notions higher than particu¬ 
 lar Gains and leparate Interefts. Nature and Partia¬ 
 lity inclines fuch Difpofitions to Adt and Delire, and 
 Love and Hate, upon private and perfonal Confide- 
 rations ; and then they fondly transfer the fame ideas 
 and the fame Behaviour from earthly, to heavenly, Ob- 
 jefts. Alas! The difference is the widell in the World, 
 and nothing in nature fo diftant, as the filly Imagi¬ 
 nations of fuch Novices in Matters of another World, 
 rom thofe julter Apprehenfions, which Minds en- 
 ightned trom above entertain upon thefe Occafions. 
 
 3e not too curious then, my Son, in Matters above 
 hy Capacity, but rather let it be thy care and conltant 
 hought, how thou may’ll be found, though it be but 
 he leaff, in the Kingdom of Heaven. For couldlt 
 hou underftand all \Mylteries and all Knowledge,, 
 •ouldll thou diffinCtly view the feveral Orders and. 
 ’laces of each Angel and Spirit above, yet what would, 
 his avail, farther than as it excited in thee lefs for thy' 
 )wn, and greater Zeal for My, Honour ? The Mai t 
 vho ferioully reflects upon the Multitude of his owi 1 
 ins, and the Defe&s and Worthlefnefs of his own 
 Virtues, how few, how poor, how far Ihort they at e 
 
 c >r 
 
274 
 
 tf)f ttie 9jmitat!01T Book III 
 
 of the Perfe&ion of thofe bright Examples heretofore, 
 employs his Mind upon a Subject, which God likes 
 much better, than fuch empty Speculations as concern I 
 the Preeminence or the Subordination of them, whc 
 have fet thofe Examples. 
 
 This is a Controverfie, which they thcmfelves nevei 
 trouble themfelves about. For they aferibe nothing 
 to any Defcrts of their own, but acknowledge the 
 whole of what they have and are, to be the Sole Effefr 
 of my infinite Liberality and Love. And their Hap- 
 pinefs and Honour is complete by the joy they take lr. 
 the Fruition of God and his Glory; The more exalt¬ 
 ed any of thefe are, the more modeft they are, the 
 more dear, and the more like to me. Thus much is In¬ 
 timated by that Villon, where they are faid to cafi thei> 
 Crowns at the Feet of God , and falling down 
 ^- ev ‘ upon their Faces before the Throne and befoul 
 
 the Lamb , to ivorjhip him that liveth for ever and ever.. 
 
 How abfurd is it to fee Men zealoufly contending. 1 
 who is greatefi: in the Kingdom of God, who are not fo-. 
 licitous in the mean while to know, what much more 1 
 nearly concerns them, whether they fhall have any 
 place at all there thcmfelves? And yet to be leak there 
 is to be grear, for even the lead are Sons and Heirs ol 
 God. A little one fall become aThoufand , ana 
 Jfni. lx. 12. j ('Ijilfl jhall dye an hundred Tears old , but thi 
 1 xv. 2o. 0 j an h imi l ref l Years old jhall be accitrfed. 
 
 When the Difciples enquired who fhould be the great- 
 eft in the Kingdom of Heaven, this was the Anfwei 
 , . ... made to that Demand : Except ye be con- 
 jim.xvui. ve rted^ and become as little Children, ye fiat, 
 in no wife enter into the Kingdom of Heaven : There fort 
 I ohofoever fall humble himfelf as this little Child , the fame 
 f 'tall be greatefi in the Kingdom of Heaven . Wo to Them, 
 vi rho difdain to imitate the Humility and Meeknefs of 
 li ttle Children •, for ftrait and low is the Gate of Hea- 
 vt sn, fuch as the towrings of Ambition, and fwelling? 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 f75 
 
 of bloated Vanity can never (loop to, or enter at. 
 
 5 Wo to the Rich, who have their Confolation in this 
 » World ; for while the Poor are admitted into Para- 
 » dile, they /hall ftaud Weepiog and Wailing without/ 
 But Rejoyce, ye Meek and Humble and Poor, for yours 
 r is the Kingdom of God, if ye heartily embrace and 
 l obey the Truth, and be rich in Patience and good Dif- 
 pofitions. 
 
 Chap. LXIV. 
 
 God is All the Good Man's Hope and Confidence. 
 
 Difciple.J yN whom, O Lord, is my Hope while 
 X here below, or what, of all the Things 
 under Heaven, can minifter Peace and Comfort to my 
 Soul ? Truly my Hope ts even in thee , and my Joy and 
 Trnft in thy Mercy alone. When were my Affairs in 
 ill Condition with thee ? or what can prevent my be¬ 
 ing exquifitely miferable without thee? Poverty for thy 
 fake is infinitely rather to be chofen, than all the Riches 
 and Greatnefs in the World in exchange for thy Fa¬ 
 vour ; and Earth and Exile with that Favour more 
 blifsful than Heaven without the Fruition of Thee. 
 For Heaven is Heaven by thy blelled Prefence, and 
 where that does not refide, all is Death, and the Grave, 
 and Hell. Thou art my Defire and my Portion, and 
 therefore to thee my Sighs and Groans, and Cries and 
 layers continually afeend. I have no other Stay or 
 lefuge, who can fend feafouableand fuitabie Relief to 
 ill my Dangers and Neceffities; But thou alone art 
 Tiy Hope and Trull, my effe&ual Comforter, and 
 .aithful Friend. 
 
 Others purfue their own private Ends and Advan¬ 
 ces, but thou feekeft my Improvement and Hap- 
 
 pinefs, 
 
2 76 flDf tfte Book III. | 
 
 pinefs, and ordereft all Things for my Good. Even j 
 my Temptations and Afflictions are appointed to do 
 me fervice; Thefe are the Methods, by which the Ft- | 
 delity of thy Chofen is brought to the Tell •, and even j 
 thefe harlher Difpenfations ought as much to engage 
 my AffeCtions, and excite my Gratitude and Praife •, as 
 the brightell Comforts, and moll deiired Profpcnty. In 
 thee therefore, O my God, I reft my Soul ^ Thou art 
 my Sanctuary, where I depofite the Burthen of all my 
 Griefs and Troubles. For there alone can They and 1 
 be fafe *, fince all things elfe are feeble and uncertain, ' 
 neither able, nor always difpofed, to comfort or pro¬ 
 tect me. Friends cannot do what they wilh, Great 
 Men will not, or cannot help ; The Wife without thee 
 miftake their Meafures Books are but infignificant 
 Diverlion, and yield no folid Confolation ^ Wealth 
 cannot buy Eafe and Peace of Mind} FortreiTes and 
 Coverts cannot hide me from Calamity, Unlcls thou 
 be with thofe Friends, and llrengthen thofe great Men, 
 and direct thofe Counfellors, and inllruCt me by thofe 
 Books, and afTift me in the life of Wealth, and guard 
 that ftrong Retreat. For Peace and Happinefs arc en¬ 
 tirely in Thee. Thou art the End, the Summ, the 
 Source, of all Good; The Perfection of Life, the 
 Depth of Wifdom and Knowledge: And Hope in 
 Thee is the fureft, the moll fenfible Support, thy Ser* 
 vantscan have in the Miferies of this mortal Life. 
 
 To Thee therefore lift 1 up my Eyes, O Father of 
 Mercies and Lover of Men: Comfort my Soul in Trou¬ 
 ble, and put ifie it with thy Grace, that it may be a 
 clean and holy Habitation, fuch as thy glorious Ma- 
 jefty does not difdain to dwell in. Let no Impurity 
 be left in this Temple ; but purge it throughly from 
 every thing which may offend thofe Eyes, that can¬ 
 not behold Iniquity or Uncleannefs. Look upon me 
 in thy great Goodnefs, and, after the Multitude of thy 
 Mercies, hear the Prayer of thy poor Servant, now 
 
 Warn 
 
Book III. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 wandring in a far and defolate WiJdernefs; O keep 
 rny Soul and deliver me, lead me fa tie through this 
 Vale of Sorrow and Danger, and conduct me by the 
 Way of Peace and Holinefs, to my own Home, even 
 my heavenly Country, the Land of Promife, the Pre« 
 fence and eternal Fruition of my God. Amen, 
 
 The End of the Third Booh 
 
Book IV. 
 
 
 279 
 
 OF TH E 
 
 IMITATION 
 
 O F 
 
 Jefus Chrift. 
 
 
 €fit: fourth ffioofi. 
 
 Of the Lord's Supper . 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 The Reverence due to this Holy Sacrament. 
 
 \Christ.~} “ 
 
 The Invitation. 
 
 vOme unto me, all ye Mitth.-muiZ, 
 “ that labour and are 
 “heavy laden, and I 
 “ will refrefh you. The ^.vi.51. 
 Bread, that I will give, is my Flefn, 
 t whlch I will give for the Life of the 
 ^ World. Take, eat, this is my Body 1O.xi.24, 
 which is given for you y This do in re- 
 ‘ membrance of me. He that eateth my vi. 56. 
 
 ‘ Fle/h, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth 
 l in Me,- and I in Him. The Words —— 
 
 X 2 “ Which- 
 
 
2?o £>£ ttic imitation Book iv 
 
 and the 
 
 “• which I fpeak unto you, they are Sp'uit 
 
 Thefe, Melted Jetus, n- hy Words, c | 
 
 which my Soulfecurely rets •: , :,ec ^ n ^, S 1 
 
 viour, who is Eternal Truth, m e. ■ n hem ,1 he. 
 the gracious and condcfcendmg lnvi.a.ions, 
 find Wed in Holy Scripture, are oc.cal.on. offer | 
 for making them. Thefe therefore I will receive wii 
 holy Gratitude i with humble but entire Confidenct 
 and grave them upon my Soul in deep and nu - • 
 Charters. For though they be 1 hme, as the 
 thor ; yet do 1 claim a Property in them, and juft 
 call them Mine too, as a Pei foil, tor v\ bofe bene 
 and Salvation thou wert plealed to utter them. - 
 gladly therefore will l receive them at thy Mouth, th 
 The Authority of the Divine Speaker may make t, 
 moreeftedual Imprelhon. And Stupid 1 mutt J 
 yond imagination, if Encouragements fo fweet, 
 
 kind, do not awaken, and very fenlibly aflfeft me. Bi 
 alas' at the fame time, that thy Call enclincs me 
 come, my own grievous Traufgrelhons fly in my tac 
 and the Terrors of a guilty Conference keep me awa 
 Thy Goodntfs, I own, imps my W mgs, and bids r 
 boldly attempt the railing my Soul to Heaven ai 
 
 Happinefs \ but l feel the bitter Remembrance o n 
 
 Sins checking thole Flights, laying me proftrate up 
 Earth, reproaching my better Hopes, and nobler II 
 tentions with Preemption ; and ever weighing dov 
 my Mind with the intolerable Burden ot hainous nui 
 bcrlefs Offences, which render me unworthy the let 
 
 of all thy Mercies. c 
 
 In this Perplexity of Thought thou haft mottle 
 fonably interpofed with thy reviving Comforts ; h* 
 made that Faith and Truft a Virtue and a Duty, whi 
 1 fliould have fliunned as a Crime, and, conlcious 
 n?y own Vilencfs, durft not have entertained. 1 n 
 bidlt me raife my dejedted Looks, aftd direct my Ste 
 
2$ I 
 
 Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 to Heaven ; and I ferioufly defire, (as who indeed can 
 but defire?) Life and Glory. Thou exhorteft me to be¬ 
 gin to live immediately, by taking the fwcet Foretafts 
 of Immortality, in that Bread which is the Food of 
 Souls. Thy kind Invitation therefore I greedily at¬ 
 tend to, Come unto Ale, all ye that labour and are heavy 
 laden , and I will refreflt you. O charming Sound in the 
 Ears of a Sinner! How joyful is the News, to a poor, 
 loft, impotent Wretch ! One, who in a due Scnfe of 
 his own Vilencfs, thinks even the meaneft of thy 
 Gifts which conduce to his bodily Suftenancc too good 
 for him; To be invited to cat of thy moft blefied 
 Body, and admitted to partake of the lively Figures 
 of thy Divine Blood \ the Commemorations of thy 
 Death, and fure Pledges of Salvation ! Lord ! what 
 am 1, that I iliould thus be fufFered to approach thee ? 
 nay, rather, that thou (hould’ft come to Me, and dwell 
 under my Roof? O unfpeakable Condefccnfion ! O 
 unexampled Kindnefs! Behold the Heaven, and Hea¬ 
 ven of Heavens cannot contain thee, and yet thou 
 vouchlafeft to take up thy abode with Man, that is a 
 Worm ! The Angels are not pure in thy fight, and 
 yet thou fayeft to wretched Sinners, Come unto me , ye 
 that travel , and are heavy laden. 
 
 I find my felf at a lofs, whence fuch aftonilhing 
 Kii)dnefs fliould proceed, or what may be the mean¬ 
 ing of fo friendly an Invitation. My Mifdeeds tefti- 
 fie againft me, and I am but too feniible, that no Me¬ 
 rit of mine could induce my Lord to make it. So far 
 from that, that, even now it is made, I know not with 
 what Face, I can either approach my God and Savi¬ 
 our, or bring him to Me, or hope to keep him there ; 
 Him, whom I have fo often, fo grievoufly provoked, 
 fo juftly made my Enemy for Ever. But, were there 
 no Demerits of my o.vn to difeourage this Attempt, 
 yet. Who am 1, that the Majefty of Heaven and Earth 
 ihouid ftoop fo low, as to enter under my Roof ? Be- 
 
 T 3 hold 
 
282 
 
 gpf tfre gjmttatfon Book iv . 
 
 hold Angels and Archangels, Principalities and Pow¬ 
 ers fall down and worfhip thee: Behold, the brighteft 
 Saints, and Spirits of juft Men made perfeft, tremble 
 at thy Prefence, and yet thou fay’ll, Come unto Me, all i 
 ye that labour and are heavy laden. Had this been fpoke j 
 by any Mouth but thine, Men could not have believed ! 
 it \ Had not thy own Command infpired t-his Confi- < 
 dence, Sinners durft not have attempted to move to- 1 
 wards thee, but would have rather ufed their utmofl j 
 Induftry, to flee from the Prefence of their Mailer 1 
 and Judge. But be it fo-, We are commanded to ; 
 come to Thee, and thou vouchfafell to come to Us. j 
 Yet what Solemnity, what Preparation can be fuffi- j 
 cient for thy Reception? Noah, that righteous Per- I 
 fon, employed a Hundred Years, in building an Ark \ 
 by God’s Diredtion, for the faving himlelf and a very 
 few Souls befides*, and how (hall I be qualified, by 
 the Application of an Hour or two only, to enter¬ 
 tain the Maker of the Univerfe, and meet him with 
 that humble Reverence, which is due to fo terrible, fo 
 glorious a Creator, from the vileft and moll unwor¬ 
 thy of all his Creatures? Thy Servant Mofcs , admit¬ 
 ted into familiar Converfation with thee, by a Privi¬ 
 lege not imparted to the relt of Mankind, framed an 
 Ark of Cedar-wood, and overlaid it with pure Gold, 
 to be a fit Repofitory for the Tables of the Law ^ and 
 shall I, wretched rotten Trunk, take upon me with¬ 
 out Ceremony to receive the Almighty Maker and 
 Giver of that Law ? Solomon, the wifelt of Princes, 
 fpent feven Years in building a Magnificent Temple 
 to the Honour of thy Name-, Eight Days were taken 
 up in the Dedication of it} a Thouland Peace-offer¬ 
 ings were then facrificed upon the new eredted Al¬ 
 tars and the Ark of the Covenant with Sound of 
 Trumpet, and much other holy Pomp, was conduced 
 into the Place appointed to receive it; And how un¬ 
 like to thefe great Saints am !, Dull and Alhes, Chief 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 28$ 
 
 of Sinners and Meaneft of Men ? How /hall I pretend 
 to invite thee my God into my Houfe, who am fo far 
 from fpending a number of Years or Days, that I can 
 very hardly afford one poor Half-hour ? Nay, would to 
 God that wretched Remnant of one poor Half-hour 
 were but employed, as attentively, as devoutly as it 
 ought to be, to provide thee a clear and acceptable 
 Apartment in this homely Cottage of my Heart. How 
 eager, O my God, how perfevering was the Zeal 
 of thofe ancient Worthies ? how cold, how /hort is 
 mine, when 1 fet my felf to prepare for meeting and 
 receiving Thee ? My Thoughts, alas! are very rarely 
 confiftent, but thou/and Wandrings and impertinent 
 Di/lradions intrude upon me*, And hardly can I collect 
 the Powers of my Soul into fo coinpofed a frame,as be¬ 
 comes our more immediate Addrefles to Thee. 1 am 
 not unmindful of thy Prefence, then more peculiar than 
 at ocher times \ I refled upon the Indecency and Sin 
 offuffering my Heart to divide it felf; I know, that 
 when an Honour fo great is intended me, as that of 
 -Receiving the Lord ot Men and Angels, it ought to 
 enlarge and devote its whole Capacity to thee ; and 
 yet 1 cannot fix and fill it with this one Objed} but in 
 defpight of all my Endeavours, and Self-reproaches, 
 Frailty will prevail. 
 
 Nay, the fame Care and Reverence were much too 
 little, where the Dignity of the Thing is fo much 
 greater. For what Comparifon can there be, between 
 an Ark with its Ceremonial Symbols, and the Myilical 
 Body of my blefled Saviour, with all the wondrous 
 Effeds of his Paffion ? How poor and defpicable were 
 thofe Legal Sacrifices, whofe greate/l Excellence and 
 Commendation was, that they typified and foretold 
 That One only perfed and fufficient Sacrifice upon 
 the Crofs, which in this Sacrament we at once com¬ 
 memorate and apply the Virtue of to our felves? If 
 then the Patriarchs and Prophets heretofore expre/t 
 
 T 4 their 
 
284 <er>f the ^nutation Book iv. 
 
 their Zeal and Devotion, by all the Mark's of Reve¬ 
 rence and profound Rcif>e£t, to thofe Figures of the 
 Divine Prefence, and Shadows of Good Thin s to come; 
 fliall I be negligent in my Preparations to meet my 
 God himfelf? Shall 1 not indeed, as much exceed their 
 great Solicitude and pious Afleclion, which Kings and 
 Peafants, Rich and Poor, univerfally exprefh, as the 
 fpiritual Participation of my Lord’s Body and Blood, 
 and the moll precious Pledges of his Love and my Sal¬ 
 vation excel the carnal Difpenfation ot a figurative I a- 
 bernacle, and the very difhant and dark Significations ■ 
 of future Bleflings ? They adored the Reprefentation, 
 and fhall I difregard the Subfiance, the End, the Per¬ 
 fection of all the Levitical Inftitution, the Summ of 
 ail God’s Mercies, and Man’s Hopes? If even David 
 thought it no Disparagement to his Royal Character, 
 to lay out his Time, his Study, his Strength, in the 
 Service of the Tabernacle; tocompofe Pfalmsfor the 
 Worfnip of God, to firing his own Harp, and himfelf 
 joyn and preiide in the Confort; Nay, even to dance 
 before the Ark, when brought up to its place, and 
 by his own Example teach iiis Subjefts to exert their 
 utmofl Might, and employ every Faculty of Body and 
 Soul, in exprefting their Zealand Joy: What holy 
 Gladnefs then is due, what enflanied Devotion, to Him, 
 Whom David inSpirit called Lord? What Songs of 
 Vraife, and Thanks fhould adorn that folcmn Feafl, 
 where Chriffc exhibits tons the heavenly Manna, the 
 Food of Souls? How fhould wc labour to omit no Te- 
 ftimony of our Reverence, no Sign of a hearty Wel¬ 
 come, and an humble Se.ifeofthe unfpeakablc Honour 
 this King of Heaven does us, when he vouchfutcs to 
 come Home, and dwell in our Hearts; and, by the 
 confecrated Elements, verily and indeed to give and 
 unite himfelf to every faithful Soul ? 
 
 ' See with what eager Zeal vain Men make long 
 Pilgrimages, and fly to the rcmotcfl Corners of the 
 
 World, 
 
285 
 
 Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 World, only to gain a Sight of the boaftcd Reliques 
 of fome celebrated Saint; to be entertained with long 
 Accounts of Miracles, to kifs a filkenjlag, or pro- 
 ftrate themfelves before a Bone fet in Gold ! But, 
 alas! were all the Legends thefe fond Men give cre¬ 
 dit to, mod true; yet What is here, that can de- 
 ferve their mighty Pains, or tedious Journeys? What 
 Shrine can pretend to fanftifie, or command Venera¬ 
 tion, in any degree comparable, to th3t faving and 
 myfttcal Prelence of God himfelf upon the Altar ? The 
 poor Etlefts of fuch miHaken Zeal are but too manifeft. 
 Men generally go for Curiolity, and Diverlion, not 
 for the Improvement of their Minds; and they return 
 accordingly. Better in no refped:, except in having 
 feen a thing much talk’d of, which they had never feen 
 before. ’Tis to be hoped, but few are fo blind, fo 
 wretchedly deluded, to imagine, that fuch Penances 
 and painful Travels can do them fervice, without true 
 Contrition, and ferious Reformation of Life. And 
 where Thele are, much more fubftantial Advantages 
 jnay be had a great deal nearer home. For lo ! the 
 King of Saints invites us. He gives the fure and blefled 
 Fruits of Righteoufiiefs and Salvation, to all who wor¬ 
 thily receive him: An Invitation, in compliance with 
 which, Levity and Senfuality,a roving Head, or a gad¬ 
 ding Humour have no part; but all is done by the 
 wife and well-weighed Grace of a Itedfaft Faith ; the 
 comfortable Afiurances of a devout Hope; and the af¬ 
 fectionate Zeal of a fincere and holy Love. 
 
 Oh, mighty Maker of the World ! whom, though 
 we plainly fee in ail thy Works of Wonder, yet 
 Thou thy felf remaindl invifibie ; how aftoniffiingare 
 thy Difpenfations to the Sons of Men ? How fweet, 
 how comfortable, how full of efficacy, yet Hill how 
 unaccountable to Senfe and Realon, are the Methods, 
 by which thou art pleafed to communicate thy felf to 
 the Faithful in this Blelled Sacrament ? Where thy 
 
 cho- 
 
2 86 
 
 £Df tlie $nutati on Book iv . ! 
 
 chofen and worthy Servants partake of that heavenly [ 
 Food, which noutiffies their Souls to Life immortal j 
 while Reprobates and bold Intruders take empty Ele- , 
 meats, void of Spiritual Subftance, and Saving Power, i 
 Thisisa Myftery aboveour Comprehenfion. This kin- ! 
 dies in us holy Zeal, and engages our devouteft Affe¬ 
 ctions. And by receiving Creatures, in themfelves of , 
 mean and common Efficacy, we find our Weaknefles j 
 ftrengthened, our Decays recruited, and our Love of j 
 Thee and Virtue ftrangely heightned and confirmed. . 
 Who can exprefs, who can conceive that hidden, that j 
 amazing Diftiniflion made in this Holy Supper •, Whofe 
 Graces and good Effefts are fo liberally diftributed j 
 to the Faithful; and yet Unbelievers and impenitent | 
 Men, have no Portion, no Experience at all of them ? ] 
 Who can difeover thofe myllical Methods, by which ; 
 Spiritual Grace is conveyed with Bodily Suftcnance ? | 
 How Bread and Wine ffiould be made lnftruments of 
 ftrengthenir.g the Soul of purging away the Blemiffies 
 and Reproaches of Nature*, healing her Deformities ■ 
 and Difeafes ; taking out the Stains of Sin and vici¬ 
 ous Habits, contrafted by convening with a naughty 
 World *, fubduingfurious Paffions *, rectifying and mo¬ 
 derating irregular Defires -, and invigorating both the 
 Body and Mind of feeble Sinners at once ? 
 
 Such is the new Life, and Health, and fprightly 
 Vigour, which good and godly Men experimentally 
 find upon thefc Occa(ions. And who then can fuffi- 
 ciently lament the general Lukewarmnefs, the cold 
 Negleft, the fenflefs Stupidity of Mankind upon this 
 Occalion ? How regardlefs are They of Chrift ! How 
 hardly prevailed upon, to accept their own Mercy, 
 their Sanftification, their Redemption, in the Ways 
 preferibed by himfelf for imparting thefe glorious 
 Advantages? How rudely do they turn their Backs 
 upon that Feaft, which creates Joy in Heaven, and pre- 
 ferves Earth and its Inhabitants from Mifcry and Ruine ? 
 
 Oh l 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 287 
 
 Oh ! the wretched Blindnefs, the inflexible Obdinacy 
 and Hardnefs of Mens Hearts, which will not fee, or 
 feeing will not value fo inedimable Benefits; but turn 
 their very Happinefs into an Occafion of Dedrudtion, 
 by differing the frequent Opportunities, and the very 
 Eafinefs of attaining thefe precious Privileges, to 
 bring them into general Difedeem ^ which make’ the 
 Greatnefs of their Mailer’s Love, the abundant Provi- 
 lion for their Health and Support, a Pretence for dar- 
 ving in the miud of Plenty. 
 
 For I can fcarce perfwade my felf, but that, if this 
 holy Sacrament could be had in one Place, and from 
 one fingle Hand only. Men would with eager Zeal 
 repair thither, and vail Crouds of People "drive to 
 partake of fo rare a Bleffing. But now, when every 
 Church, and every Fedival, when every Pried, and 
 almofl every Lord’s Day, exhibits this delicious Food, 
 brings it home to our Doors, and offers it to as many 
 as are religioufly and devoutly difpofed to accept the 
 gracious T enders ^ when every Sermon exhorts, en¬ 
 treats, conjures us to be thus happy ; we turn our 
 Backs, and flight the cheap, the ealie Favour. Yet 
 manifelt it is, that the Kindnefs of our Lord is not 
 the lefs, but much the greater, for putting the Terms 
 of our Salvation within our own Power-, and leaving 
 the whole Blame and Condemnation at our own DoorsI 
 if we refufe to take what without our Fault vve can 
 never want. And lhall we then proceed to naufeateand 
 difdain our greated Blelfings ? to think them lefs va¬ 
 luable for being, more common ? No, blefled Jefus ! 
 We will acknowledge thy unfpeakable Bounty • Wc* 
 will mod thankfully confefs thee the good Shepherd, 
 who hall provided fuch rich Suftenance for thy Sheep’ 
 and leaded them out into fat Padures. Blefled be 
 thy Eternal Mercy, who vouchfafed to give thy Body, 
 not only for, but to, thy poor Servants, in this dif- 
 confolate State: Who, not content to facrifice it 
 
 once 
 
288 flDf tfce Imitation Book IV. 
 
 once upon the Crofs, offereft it daily in the Sacra¬ 
 ment \ and haft; ftlenced all the Fears, and melancholy 
 Milgivings of our own Guilt and Unworthinefs, by 
 that moll tender, and compaflionate, that moft cxtcn- 
 five and univerlal Invitation \ Come unto Me, <iR ye that 
 labour and are heavy laden, with the Burden of your Sins, 
 and 1 will refreflt you. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The Love of God to the Soul manifefied in this S.u 
 cr ament . 
 
 Difcifler\ TlEhold, Lord, thus encouraged, thus in- 
 l~j vited, I come , but l do not prefume 
 to do fo, trlifting in my own Right eoufnefs , but in thy ma¬ 
 nifold and great Mercies. I feel, alas ! my Weakness 
 and Wants \ and betake my felf to Thee for Relief: 
 Sick and difeafed I fly to the Phyfician of Souls •, Hun¬ 
 gry and Thirfty, to this Fountain of Living Water, 
 and Bread of Life ^ Poor and needy to the Bountiful 
 King of Heaven ; a Servant to his kind Mailer ■, a 
 Creature to his compaflionate Creator, who hateth 
 nothing that he hath made ^ and a forlorn difeonfo- 
 latc Wretch, to Thee, the Holy, the Eternal, the 
 Only Comforter. But whence is this to Me, that my 
 God Ihould vouchfafe to come unto me ? Or Who am 
 1, that thou fhould’ft communicate to me thy own 
 felf? How fhall a wicked Sinner dare to appear be¬ 
 fore thee? Or how canft Thou, who art of purer 
 Eyes than to behold Iniquity, endure to m.ke fuch 
 condefcend'ng Approaches, to a Soul polluted with 
 Sin and with Uncleannefs ? Thou feeft my very in¬ 
 ward Parts, and knoweft I have nothing in me that 
 is good, nothing to invite fuch Mercy, nothing fit for 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 289 
 
 the reception of fo pure, fo glorious a Mafefty; I will 
 therefore moft humbly confeis my own Vilenefs, and 
 Thy unfpeakable Goodnefs^ I will moft thankfully 
 praife, and admire, and adore, thy marvellous Love, 
 and exceeding abundant Grace! For this is purely thy 
 own Ad. Nothing or. my part could deferve, nothing 
 could move thee to it. The more unworthy I am, the 
 more confpicuous is thy Goodnefs, the more amazing 
 thy Mercy and Condefcenlion. Since therefore thou 
 art pleafed to ftoop fo low, be it unto me according 
 to thy Word: Since thou haft thought fit to command 
 my Approach, I will moft gladly teftifie my ready 
 Obedience \ and only beg, that my own Sinfulnefs may 
 not render me odious in thy fight, nor fruftrate thefe 
 ineftimable Mercies to me. 
 
 O fweetelt, kindeft Saviour ! What humble Reve¬ 
 rence, what devout Thankfulnefs can be great enough ? 
 What Praife car. be fufficiently exprellive of that Love, 
 which admits fo poor, fo miferable a Wretch, to 
 the Participation or thofe divine Myfteries, the Dig¬ 
 nity whereof no Tongue of Men or Angels can wor¬ 
 thily fet forth ? But when I thus addrefs to my Lord, 
 and am allowed fuch intimate Familiarities with him, 
 what fort of Refiedions ought to fill my Brealt? To 
 approach thee with all the profound Refped due upon 
 fuch Occafions, is impoffible-, I will therefore fiipply 
 my want of Ability by the earneftnels of my Zeal ; 
 and moft humbly befeech thee to accept thofe hearty 
 Defires of the ineftimable Benefit, by which my Soul 
 and all its Faculties thirlt and pant molt impatiently 
 after Thee and thy Righteoufnefs. When Thou art 
 the Subjed of my Meditations, the Matter is too vaft 
 for regular Thought j the Ideas too dazling bright 
 for a finite Underltanding ^ and I quickly feel my fielf 
 loft in Wonder and Aftonifhment. I will therefore 
 turn my Eyes inward, and entertain my felf with the 
 lefs pleafing indeed, but not lefs profitable, Profped 
 
290 
 
 *Df tftc 3Jntttat!01T Book IV. 
 
 of my own Unworthinefs *, Laying ray Soul low be¬ 
 fore thee, and from the fenfe, how little, how meer 
 a nothing, how much worfe than nothing, I am, will 
 take the meafure of thy Greatnefs, and form Ideas of 
 thy infinite Goodnefs. 1 praife thee, O my God, front 
 the bottom of my Heart; and extol thy Name for 
 evermore. 1 defpife and deteft my felf; and with the 
 deepeft Humility put my Soul into thy Hands, that 
 thy Favour and Grace may exalt me, and make this 
 defpicable Wretch fomething, who without thy Mercy 
 is lefs than nothing. 
 
 O the wide Extremes! O the unmeafurable Di- 
 ftance! between God, the Efience and Perfeftion of 
 Holinefs, and Man, the very Abftraft of Filth and 
 Sin. Yet does this God extend Compaffion, and look 
 down with Pity, on Thofe who are not worthy fb 
 much as to lift up their Eyes to Him. Yet does he 
 come to Us, delight to be with Us, promife to dwell 
 with Us; call, and entreat, and importune Us, to 
 fit and eat delicioufly with Him. Invites the Na- 
 v r.i ,„.. vli } ked and Hungry, the Beggars and Va- 
 J ' gabonds to his own Table, feeds them 
 
 with ArgtU Food, feafts them with the Bread of Hea- 
 „ . ven, even that living Bread which came 
 
 down from Heaven, on purpofe to give Life 
 unto the World. 
 
 O! whence could all this mighty Love proceed ? 
 what account can be given of fuch wonderful Conde- 
 feenfion, fuch tender Regards to loft: unworthy Crea¬ 
 tures? What Thanks, what Praife, what humble A- 
 doration do thofe fo highly obliged, fo particularly 
 favoured Creatures owe in return for them ? How 
 Wife, how Saving was thy Delign in the firft Inftitu- 
 tion of this Holy Supper ? How rich, how delight¬ 
 ful a Banquet haft thou prepared for thy Guefts, by 
 ordering thy own Budy and Blood for the myfti- 
 eal Entertainment of the Faithful ? Hoy/ aftonilhing 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 are the Operations of thy Grace and Power' How 
 incomprehenfible the Methods of fulfilling thy molt 
 true Promife ! Thou fpakeft the Word in the begin¬ 
 ning, and all things were created; and by the fame 
 Almighty Word, thou commanded: Bread and Wine 
 and they nourilh Souls to Life Eternal. 
 
 This is indeed a Subjett, contrived, not for the 
 Exercife of our Reafon, but of our Faith. We are 
 not able to account for the mighty Efficacy of Ele¬ 
 ments in their own Nature contemptible and weak. 
 We know not how that God, whom the whole Hea¬ 
 vens cannot contain, ffiould dwell in the Hearts of 
 Men * But this we know, that thou haft promifed by 
 and with this Sacrament, to enter into, and abide in 
 all worthy Receivers; and thy Truth is Efficient to 
 iilence and vanquilh all thofe imaginary Difficulties 
 which cavilling and curious Men form to themfelves 
 about it. Come then, and enter; and live, and reign 
 in me for everj Cleanfe and adorn with thy Grace 
 the Place of thy peculiar Relidence; Preferve my 
 Heart and Body free from all Impurity, and remove 
 tar away whatever may be offenfive to thy holy Eyes • 
 Let this Veftel of mine be conftantly poflelTed in San! 
 ctihcation and Honour; that, with a peaceful and 
 fpodefs Confcience, I may frequently approach, and 
 eagerly receive thefe adorable Myfteries, which thou 
 haft appointed, for the Comfort and Salvation of 
 thofe whom the King of Heaven delights to honour • 
 and for devout and lively Commemorations of thy 
 own moll bitter, but moft meritorious and precious 
 Death. 
 
 And Thou, my Soul, rejoyce and be exceeding glad 
 tor fo noble a Favour, fo heavenly a Refreffimcnt, fo 
 rich a Confolation, to fupport and fweeten thy Paf- 
 fage through this Vale of Tears and Mifery. For 
 Every time thou attendeft thefe holy Myfteries, thou' 
 4*8 Jfsmuttily eat the FUJI, efChrift, and drink his Blood j 
 
 thou 
 
292 jfiDf tfic gjiuftat tcn Book iv. 
 
 thou dofi: aft as it were over again the Work ot thy 
 Redemption, and with great effeft partake ot thy , 
 Saviour’s Merit and Sufferings \ For this Love conti- I 
 lines always the lame, and the Excellence and Worth 
 of his Propitiation, is an inexhauftible Spring of Mer- j 
 cy. Come therefore hither with new exalted Zeal, \ 
 enlarge thy Heart and its defires, and doubt not, but , 
 thou fhalc at every approach, return with frefh and I 
 plentiful Acceffions of Grace. Let not the Frequency 
 abate thy Devotion y For This Favour fliould always i 
 feem great •, This Feaft always honourable, and the 
 Delightsof it always new. And by the Force of Pious 
 Meditation, the Myftery will afFeft thy wondring 
 Mind at every Repetition, as if the Son of God were I 
 juft that Moment born from the Womb of his Im¬ 
 maculate Mother-, as if thy Suffering Redeemer were i 
 in that Inftant labouring under all his Agonies -, and I 
 thy own Eyes beheld him hanging, and bleeding, and 
 dying on the Crofs. 
 
 C H A P. HI. 
 
 The Benefit of Communicating often. 
 
 Dfciplef} T}Ehold, I come to thee, O Lord, defi- || 
 D r0lls t0 partake of thy Promife, to be 
 enriched with thy Gifts, and feafted with that Hea- j 
 vcnly Banquet, which thy Compaflion hath prepared j 
 for hungry and drooping Souls. 1 know, O Lord, 
 in Thee is all 1 need, all 1 can defire-, my Health and < 
 Safety, my Hope and Strength, my Honour and Glo- j 
 ry. Quicken therefore and Cherilh the Soul of thy Ser- I 
 vant, for unto Thte, Q bleffed Jefus, do I lift up my j 
 Soul. It is my earneft Longing to receive thee with j! 
 a becoming Reverence and Devotion j the height of | 
 
 fciy 
 
sus Christ. 
 
 29J 
 
 my Ambition to bring thee Home to my Houfe: and, 
 with Zachtws of old, to be blefied, and reckoned by 
 thec among the true Spiritual Sons of IVly 
 
 Soul defires to be fed and ftrengthned by thy Body, 
 and my Heart to be entirely knit, irileparably united, 
 to Thee. * 
 
 Give me but thy felf, and, whatever elfe thou with- 
 holdeft, I am fatisfied. For all things befides are mi- 
 ferable Comforters, and rather aggravate, than abate, 
 my Wretchednefs. Without thy Confolations I am 
 not able to fubiift: And therefore feel an abfolute ne- 
 ceflity of coming to thee often for trefh Supplies of 
 Grace and Strength. My Spirits languilh and fink, 
 and, it 1 faft too long, I perifh for want of feafonable 
 Recruits from this heavenly Suftenance. Thy Bowels 
 heretofore yearned over the Multitudes, who came 
 from far to hear thy Saving Doftrine, and be healed 
 of their bodily Diftempers. Thou would’lt not fend 
 them away empty, but wert pleafed to feed 
 them by a Miracle, left they Ihould faint Manh,3CV '* 
 by the way. Extend the fame Compaffion toward9 
 me, and let this Sacrament fuftain my fainting Soul, 
 in this Wildernefs, barren and remote from any true* 
 Comfort. For Thou art the fweet, the reviving Food 
 of finking and weary Spirits, and they who worthily 
 partake of this Repaft, are nourilhed unto Life Eter¬ 
 nal. I am fadly fenfible of my Infirmities, and fre¬ 
 quent Relapfes into Sin, and how urgent my Occafions 
 are for thefe repeated Refrefhments; I quickly cool 
 after my warmeftRelblutions; my Purpofes of Good- 
 nefs ficken and languilh apace; and thefe Decays mult 
 end in Spiritual Death, did not my Prayers, my Self¬ 
 examinations, my Contefiions and Holy Sorrows, pre¬ 
 paratory to this Holy Feaft, often return : did not this 
 Divine Suftenance cleanfe and renew my Affedfions- 
 confirm my Purpofes of doing well, excite and en- 
 fiame my Zealand Love for God and good Works* 
 
 V Ob- 
 
Obftinate Fatting would not more certainly quench all 
 my vital Heat, and deftroy my Body, than too long 
 Ahftincnce from this Spiritual Food will watte and 
 quite extinguilh the Soul and all its Powers of Living 
 
 W l l find, and heartily bewail, a fatal Tendency to 
 Evil, and my Experience, from my very Cradle, mews 
 me how ftronglv 1 incline to Sin, and fall from bad to 
 worfe, except a Remedy from above check this lndil- 
 pofition, and fuccour and fupport me from plunging 
 into Hell. This Holy Communion is that Remedy, lc 
 calls back my wandring Steps, prevents my falling by 
 Relapfe or Negled, and ftrengthens me in Grace and 
 Goodnefs. And, if, even in my ftudied and molt la¬ 
 boured Devotions, 1 am fo often cold, fo lukewarm at 
 the belt; How frozen Ihould I be, how infenlible and 
 dead, were thefe Helps laid afide, and no fuch Ap¬ 
 plication ufed to warm and quicken me ? Though 
 therefore my Life be not fo perfed, that lam always 
 in a fit difpolition to communicate, yet it (hall be my 
 Care, at folemn and proper Scafons, not to lole the 
 Benefit of ihcfe Holy Myfterics, or ever to refute my 
 own Happinefs. For This is the Sovereign Balm ot 
 wounded Confidences; the great Prefiervative ot de¬ 
 caying Souls ^ the cheering Comfort of the Faithtufi 
 mourning their prefent State of Banilhment, and 
 groaning earnettly for a Releafie from the Allhdiorm 
 and Infirmities of thofie mortal Bodies, to which thy 
 Providence hath for a time confined them. And the 
 oftener they thus remember their God, the greater i; 
 that Affiedion, and humble Devotion, with which 
 they court and embrace their beloved Spoufc anc, 
 
 L °Butoh! how amazing is thy Love ? and what ij 
 Man whom thou thus vouchfafeft to vifit ? when thtl 
 great God, the Creator of the World, and Father o j 
 the Spirits of all Flelh does not difdain to defeenc,; 
 r tntc | 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Chri 
 
 S T. 
 
 2 9 $ 
 
 hhVJmeft ?°H and th o h "n Gry wr etch with all 
 his Fatnefs ? Happy that Breaft, which is thus ho- 
 
 flow C fH and u . nf P eakabIe t,ie J°y with which it over¬ 
 flows ! Hows glorious a Mailer, how agreeable a Guefl, 
 
 how pleafant a Companion, how faithful a Friend, 
 how beautiful, how honourable, how charming a Hus¬ 
 band does it entertain and embrace ? Let Heaven and 
 
 hrfn h p »? nd 3 f th v r , t° afted ExceEeric ies keep filence 
 before him ; for if I have my Jefus, I have All ; For 
 
 (have him from whom all other things derive their 
 Excellence; And Their borrowed precarious Perfe¬ 
 ctions can mimfter no Joy, can make no Hanninefs, 
 without this great Original. They in themfelves are 
 nothing, they are but what he made them, and He a- 
 ione is more, incomparably more and better, than all 
 that ever was, or could be, made. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 1 be P/eajares of Devout Communion. 
 
 Difdfle.-} pRevcntme, I moft humbly befeech thee, 
 JL my Lord ahd my God, with the Blef- 
 fings and Graces of thy Holy Spirit, that thy Servant 
 may tafle thy Sweetnefs, and approach this precious 
 Feau, with fuch Reverence and Zeal, and fervent De¬ 
 votion, as thou wilt be pleafed to accept. O vifit me 
 with thy Salvation, and awaken me from Spiritual 
 Sloth and Slumber; that 1 now may vigoroufly apply 
 my felt to draw and drink the living Water contained 
 m this Fountain opened for Sin and for Uncleannefs. 
 Inlighten the Eyes of my Mind, that I may fee the 
 wondrous Things of this thy lnftitution ; and Rreng- 
 ihen my Faith, that I may firmly and without fern pie 
 Pdieye and exped thofe Operations, which my Real 
 
 J * fod 
 
296 dDf ttye imitation Book iv. 
 
 fon is not able to account tor. And why indeed Ihould : 
 
 I make any difficulty to believe what I cannot com¬ 
 prehend and trace the dark Footfteps of, when I re¬ 
 member, that it is not the Aft of finite feeble Man, 
 but the Work of an Almighty God; not an Invention 
 or ProjcCt of Humane Reafon, but the Inftitution and 
 Promife of Him, who worketh all things according to 
 the wife and wonderful Counfel of his own unbounded j i 
 Will? To fathom thefe Depths to the bottom were 
 an Attempt impracticable, even to the refined Under- 
 ftanding of an Angel } Well then may poor Ihort- 
 fighted Man turn giddy at the fight of this Abyfs, and 
 confefs the Well too deep, and the Cordage too fhort- 
 Such and no better is the Condition of the moft ex- | 
 alted Saints, and what can I, the feebleft even of j 
 Men, vile finful Duft and Alhes, hope to difeover by j 
 my moft induftrious Search into thefe heavenly My- j 
 fteries ? 
 
 lnftead therefore .of nice Reafoning and unprofi- j 
 table Difputes, I will approach with finglenefs of 
 Heart, with firm and holy Hope, with an undoubting 
 Faith, and profound Reverence ; And, whatever the : j 
 Vanity of worldly Wifdom may fuggeft to the con- I 
 trary, will not queftion but thou art prefent in the !f 
 Sacrament, though I cannot fatisfie the captious En- |’ 
 quirers after the particular manner of that Prefence. II 
 Thy Humane and Divine Nature are infeparable, thus |j 
 much 1 know ; and no more but this, that thou art fo j' 
 prefent as God, as not to contradict thy being Man. j 
 ’Tis upon this account, that thou art pleafed to com- j 
 maud my receiving thee, and haft engaged to make 
 me One with thy felf, by the ftriCteft Union of a Holy 
 Love. Shed therefore, I pray thee, thy fpecial Grace 
 into my Heart, that 1 may difiblve in this holy Fire,, 
 and become intirely thine \ Purge off my Drofs, and 
 let me no more endure the Allay of any bafer Mix¬ 
 tures. For this Sacrament is the pureft, the nobleft 
 
 Reft- 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 
 297 
 
 Refiner of Souls, the Health of the whole Man, the 
 Reflorative of Spiritual Decays, the Cure of Vice, 
 the Curb of Paflions, the Antidote againlt Troubles 
 and Temptations; the Conveyance of. greater Grace • 
 the Increafe of imperfefr Virtue ; the Stay of Hope ’ 
 
 the Support of our Faith, and the mighty Incentive 
 or our Chanty. 
 
 Who can exprefs the manifold,the aftoni/hing Bene- 
 fits, which thou frequently imparteft to thy beloved 
 and religious Servants, by communicating in this blef- 
 fed Supper ? even thou, my God, the Cherilher of 
 my Soul, the Repairer of my Breaches by Infirmity 
 and Sin, and Reftorer of my inward Comfqrt and 
 
 By This thou ruftaineft th em in Sadnefs and 
 Affliction, and enableft them to walk upon the Waves 
 of a troublefome World ; by This thou cheerelt their 
 j Melancholy and Diftrult, and raifeft up their finking 
 Spirits with Aflurance of thy gracious Protection and 
 AUilrance by This thou renewelt their Nature and 
 purifielt their AfTeftions, that They, who came at 
 ftrit to this Table, with great Lothnefs and Dulnefs, 
 feel a new Warmth within, and by degrees are brought 
 to frequent it with unfpeakable Reliffl and Delight. 
 Thefe happy and glorious Effects thou produced by 
 luch uncommon, unlikely Means, that Men may find 
 experimentally their own Infirmities ^ how little they 
 are able to do of themfelves, and how much, when 
 ftrengthened by Thee. That they are cold, infenfible 
 ftupid and dead to all religious Duties, is from their 
 own Difpofition; that they are zealous in good 
 Works, cheerful in thy Service, devout in thy Wor- 
 Ihip, is purely Thy Gift. And fure none can come 
 hither with tolerable Attention, but he muft return 
 with Tome Improvement. For who can lie at the 
 Fountain-head, and not receive fome Tinfture from 
 the Sweetnefs of the Spring ? Who can Hand clofe to 
 the Fire, and feel no heat ? But thou art a Fountain 
 
 ^ 3 ever 
 
298 £>f tile gjmttatton* Book IV. 
 
 ever full, ever overflowing ; Thou art the f ire, whole 
 Flames are conftantly expanding themfelves, to kin¬ 
 dle holy Afleftions in all thofe, who are careful to ! 
 approach, and put themfelves in the way of their 
 Aftivity. 
 
 It may be, I am not worthy to drink at the Head 
 of this Spring, or to take my fill of its refrelhing 
 Streams •, but yet at leaft I will apply my Mouth to jl 
 fomc of its diftant Pipes and fpreading Rills, to catch | 
 a few of the Drops, as they Aide by, that I be not ut- Ij 
 terly barren, nor die with Drought and Thirft. I ' 
 may not be able to approach this Flame fo near, that 
 it fhould refine and brighten me to a degree equal j 
 with the Purity of the Cherubim and Seraphim } but | 
 yet I will not defpair of being fo far cherilhed and ] 
 warmed by it, that my Zeal may be exalted according | 
 to the brightnefs of Humane Virtues \ And my enli- 1 
 vened Heart fhall feel fome glowings, if it do not d 
 flame out heavenly clear. Defers and Infirmities, l fl 
 know, I cannot be exempted from } But what is j 
 wanting I beg my merciful Jefiis would fupply. His j 
 Kindncis will not fail to make all equitable Ailowan- 1 
 ces, and his Wifdom knows where they are proper | 
 to be made. Forgiven and made up they may be, and :j 
 1, unworthy as 1 am, may be accepted. But that lln- | 
 worthinefs mult not be made a Pretence for detaining ] 
 me from this Sacrament. For fure the moft unwor¬ 
 thy are comprehended, and They who fee, and la¬ 
 ment, that they are fuch, can lealt of all be excluded, 
 when he pronounces that general Invitation, Come un¬ 
 to d/f, aII ye that labour and are heavy laden , and Iwill 
 refrejh you. 
 
 The oftencr I defeend into my felf, the more I am 
 convinced , that this Dcfcription exactly fuits my 
 Cai.\\\. State. I fulfil the primitive Sentence up¬ 
 on fallen Man, and labour in the Sweat of 
 my Face •, The Sorrows of my Heart perplex and 
 
 di- 
 
Book IV. of J esus Christ. 
 
 299 
 
 diftrad me, the Burden of my Sins preffes me down, 
 the Multitude of my Temptations are a perpetual 
 Torment and Vexation, the Variety and Exorbitance 
 of my corrupt Affedions entangle, and confound, and 
 over-power my Reafon } And in the midft of thde 
 Calamities and Dangers, I have no Succour, no De¬ 
 fence, no Supporter or Deliverer, but only Thee, my 
 God} And therefore into thy Hands, my merciful Ma¬ 
 ker and Saviour, I commit my felf, and all my Affairs} 
 and beg that thou would’ft keep what is thus depofited 
 with thee, fafe unto Life Eternal. O take me there¬ 
 fore into thy Cuflody } and, as thou halt ordained thy 
 Body and Blood to be the Food of Immortality, fo 
 grant, that it may have its proper Efficacy upon my 
 Soul in particular, to the Glory of thy Name, and 
 the Honour of fo bldfed an lnffitution. And, that no 
 Negled or Unfruitfulnefs of mine may obftrud its 
 kindly and powerful Operations, Grant, 1 befeech thee, 
 my God and Saviour, that 1 may never be guilty of 
 fuch Difrefped, as wilfully to turn my Back upon thy 
 Table} but may earneftly long for, heartily rejoyce 
 in, and diligently comply with, every Opportunity of 
 receiving this mighey Bleffing} and may Fo frequent, 
 and fo improve under, thy merciful Difpenfation, that 
 I may conftantly return, with greater Care and Zeal, 
 more fettled Refolutions, more irreconcilable Hatred 
 again# Sin, and more fervent Love for God and Good- 
 nefs, than before. So fhall I approach nearer to thee 
 indeed, and each Sacrament prove a freffi Advance to¬ 
 ward Heaven} So fhall my Soul be filled with the 
 Treafures of thy Mercy, the Delights of thy Secret 
 Ones, and the ravilhing Foretalfsot that Blifs, which 
 fhall be always growing, till it be confummated at laltj 
 in that Eternal Feafl above, the Marriage- fupper of 
 the Lamb in thy Kingdom. Amen. 
 
 V 4 
 
 C H A J\ 
 
J©f tty gimttatiotr Book IV' 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Dignity of the Sacrament, and Honour of the 
 Priejlbood. 
 
 Christ.'] fF Thou feefi: the Table richly furniffied, 
 
 JL and art defirous to feaft upon thefe dain¬ 
 ty Meats, let that Defire be duly tempered with 
 Reverence and holy Fear For know, that if thou j 
 hadft the Purity of an Angel, or the mortified Piety 
 of John the Baptift, yet even thus thou could’lt not 
 deferve fo divine a Bleffing; but ought’lb to acknow¬ 
 ledge it a mighty Favour and Condefcenfion, that j 
 thou art admitted to receive, and taft, or even to 
 touch, this Blefled Sacrament. That Man Ihould con- 
 fecratc thofe Elements, and by pronouncing a fet Form 
 of Words introduce a new Efficacy, and give them a 
 myftical Power, which Nature neither did, nor could 
 provide them with before •, that the Perfons prefent 
 Ihould eat the Bread of Angels, and be filled with hea¬ 
 venly Food by virtue of fuch Confecration Thefe 
 are not the Effett of any extraordinary Merit in them 
 who fan&ifie, or who receive, thofe Creatures of 
 Bread and Wine, but the pure and foie effett of Mer¬ 
 cy and Grace. The Greatnefs of the Myftery does 
 indeed magnifie the Prieftly Office, and Men ought to 
 pay a more than common Rcfpett to thofe Perfons, 
 whom God hath honoured with a Privilege, not im¬ 
 parted to the very Angels themfelves. For They who 
 are regularly ordained in the Church, are the only 
 Perfons, by whofe Miniftry God gives the Body of 
 his Son to us. They are the Perfons a&ing by his 
 Commiffion, they ufe the Form appointed by Chrilt 
 himfelf, and have a conftant mighty Efibdt attending 
 upon their due Adminiftration. But ftill our Thoughts 
 and Wonder mult not terminate in Them, as if by 
 
 . t. . i , their 
 
Book IV. Of J esus Christ. 
 
 301 
 
 their own Power and Holinefs they could bring fuch 
 things to pafs. For They are only Inftruments; and 
 therefore we muft carry our Medications farther, up 
 as high as God himfelf, for he is the firft and princi¬ 
 pal Caufe, he the invifible Worker of this Miracle of 
 MercyIt is His Word, which made and governs all 
 Things, that only can command material and common 
 Elements to produce fpiritual and extraordinary Ef¬ 
 fects, and ftrengthen and refrelh the Souls of the 
 f aithful by the Body and Blood of Chrift •, at the fame 
 time, and with as certain operation, as their Bodies 
 are ftrengthened and refrefhed by the Bread and 
 Wine. 
 
 When therefore thou approacheft the Chriftian Al¬ 
 tar, reft not in the Teftimony of thy Senfes, nor 
 dwell upon the outward amt vifible Signs ^ but let thy 
 Faith carry thee on to the inward and fpiritual Grace, 
 and exercife it felf in contemplating the Almighty 
 Power of God. And Thou, to whom the invoking 
 this Power and its efficacious Prefence is committed, 
 fee that thou do it with awful Reverence and godly 
 pear. Conlider whofe Servant thou art, and what a 
 glorious Character thou haft received by Impolition 
 of the Bifhop’s Hands. For thou art ordained a Prieft 
 for noble and religious Purpofes ; The Excellence of 
 thy Office confifts in giving thy Mafter’s Family their 
 Portion of Meat in due manner, and feafon : Be faith¬ 
 ful therefore in the Execution of this weighty Truft j 
 Proceed in it with a fervent and exemplary Devotion, 
 and let it be thy firft Care to offer up thy felf an un- 
 reprovable Sacrifice to God. Do not imagine any part 
 of thy Privilege to confift in an Exemption from the 
 Duties incumbent upon common Chriftians. Alas! 
 thy Burden is not lels but greater, thy Temptations 
 more and fiercer, thy Danger more imminent, for be¬ 
 ing thus diftinguifhed. For it will be expe&ed, that 
 the San&ity of Thy Manners, the Severity of Thy 
 ' Vir- 
 
302 
 
 jgDf tf)t fmttatton Book iv. 
 
 Virtue, the Conqueft of Thy Pafiions, the Perfe&ion 
 of Thy Holinefs, the Fervency and Zeal of Thy De¬ 
 votion, fhould diftinguifh thee, as vifibly, as eminent¬ 
 ly, as thy Garb and thy Profeflion do. That Thou 
 fhould’ft be clothed and adorned with that Righte- 
 oufnefs, that Innocence, that Gravity, of which thy 
 Robe is a fignificant Emblem •, and, as thou art be¬ 
 come a Leader, thou fhould’ft likewife be a Pattern 
 to the Flock. For the Converfation of fuch Perfons 
 fhould be no longer conformable to the Cuftoms and 
 corrupt Examples of the World, but confined to the 
 Angels in Heaven, or to the Saints that excel in Vir¬ 
 tue upon Earth. 
 
 When thou entreft into the Holy Place, and there 
 put’ll on the Garments of thy Funftion, confider what 
 thou art going about, and how high a Place thou haft 
 obtained •, No left, than to be the Reprefentative of 
 the great High-Prieft in Heaven, and to Minifter in 
 his ftead unto his People. Firft therefore, with all 
 Humility, bewail thy Own Unworthinefs, and confefs 
 thy Own Sins \ then with a moft extenfivc Charity, 
 and tender Companion, bewail, and intercede for, 
 the Sins of Others. Look upon thy felf as a Media¬ 
 tor between God and TranfgrefTors *, to offer up 
 Their Prayers, Confeflions, and Thankfgivings to 
 Him ■, and to hand down His Pardon and Blefiiugs to 
 Them. And be not flothful or unthinking, cavelefs 
 or cold in this Affair *, For it is moft important, and 
 requires thy moft diligent Attention, thy moft earn- 
 cft Importunity, thy moft indefatigable Perfeverance; 
 never to be abated, till thou have gained thy Point, 
 and prevailed for Mercy and Grace, by thofc refolute 
 Wreftlings with God. But, when thou eelebrateft 
 the Holy Supper, remember, thou art about a Work, 
 which all Heavenand Earth are concern’d in. A Work, 
 which, when performed as it ought, brings Honour 
 to God, Joy to the bleflcd Angels, Edification to the 
 
 Church 
 
Book IV. cf Jesus Christ. 
 
 Church of Chrilt, Converfion to Sinners, Peace to 
 wounded Confciences, Comfort to the Affli&ed 
 Strength to the Feeble, and to thy felf Abundance of 
 Grace, and an exceeding great Reward. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 An Act of Preparation before the Sacrament. 
 
 Bifcifk .] T>Ehold, Lord, with thy wonted Mercy, 
 a 3 the Doubts and Confufions of my trou¬ 
 bled Breaft. For, when I look up to Heaven, and 
 confider the Majefty of my Great, my Holy, God ; and 
 from thence draw my Eyes back upon my felf, and 
 view my own Vilenefs and horrible Sinfulnefs, I am 
 all Perplexity and Diftraftion, and Horrour. Thou 
 biddeft me come; And, if 1 refufe or negleft to com¬ 
 ply with that gracious Invitation, I forfake my own 
 Mercy, and deprive my felf of Life and Happinefs : 
 But if I come unworthily, I am equally miferable, and 
 lhall be punilhcd for the high Indignity, of bringing 
 fo polluted a Gueft, to fo pure and heavenly a Feaft, 
 What Courfe then lhall I take to be fafe, when Dan¬ 
 ger and Death threaten on either hand? I will even 
 fly to thee, my God, and, inftead of confulting with 
 Flelh and Blood, or hearkening to the deceitful Infi- 
 nuationsof my tooralh, or too timorous Reafon, will 
 ask Counfel of Thee, my infallible and only Oracle in 
 Difficulties, my never-failing Help in Neceffities and 
 Diftrefles. 
 
 Teach me, I befeech thee, the right Way, and lead 
 me in fuch Methods of Holy Preparation, as may be 
 proper and fuitable to fo exalted an Ad. of Religion. 
 I know that thefe Approaches to thee in the Blefled 
 Sacrament are exceeding beneficial and delightful; 
 
 but 
 
a Df tfte ginutatton Book iv. 
 
 304 
 
 but make me know withal, in what manner thou mult 
 be approached, to render that which is defirable in it 1 
 felf fafe and profitable to Me in particular. Give me, 
 
 I befeech thee, a due Senle of the Greatnefs of the 
 Myftery, and the Excellence of thy Mercy in it; and, 
 confequent to that, fill my Soul with pure and holy 
 Affe&ions, with earneft Longings, with godly Sor¬ 
 row, with fincere and ftedfaft Refolutions, with pro- j 
 found Reverence, and ardent Devotion, that my 
 Heart may be a clean, though homely. Receptacle fo»* 
 my Saviour, fuch as he will not difdain; and I fo well- 
 difpofed a Gueft at this Divine Feaft, this Spiritual Sa¬ 
 crifice, that thou may’ft bid me welcome to thy Table, 
 and the Food I receive there may nourilh me up to 
 Health and Life Eternal, jimen. 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 Of Self-examination . 
 
 Chrifl.~\ A Eove all keepings keep thy Heart, and, ! 
 
 l \ whether Prieft, or private Chriftian, 
 take good heed, that at thy coming to my Holy Table, 
 thy Devotion confift: not in outward Gefture, and 
 Pomp and Shew only. I am not to be impofed upon j 
 with iiich empty Formalities, but require an upright, j 
 humble, and devout Mind, a Mind low and proftrate 
 as thy Body, a ftedfaft Faith, and pure Intention, and ! 
 unfeigned Zeal for God’s Honour. Therefore, before 
 thou prefume to approach, examine well how thou 
 art qualified: Search every Corner of thy Confidence, 
 and do thy utraoft to purge and caft out all Remains 
 of the old Leaven. Let no Sin unrepented of reproach 
 thee; No Lull unmortified divide thy Affe&ions, and 
 hinder thy free and entire Refignation to my Will, i 
 
 Con- i 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 3°5 
 
 Conceive a juft Hatred and Indignation againft all thy 
 Sins in §^ nera l i a nd for thofe, which are either too 
 grofs to be overlooked, or too habitnal to be forgot¬ 
 ten, exprefs a particular and proportionable Refent- 
 ment of Sorrow and Shame. And if thou have Time 
 and Ldfure, look well into the Irregularities of all thy 
 Pallions, and in thy private Retirements make a full 
 Confeffion of them, between God and thy own Soul. 
 
 Recollect and bewail the unhappy Prevalence of 
 worldly and carnal AfFedions ; every exorbitant De- 
 fire, every ungoverned Paffion: Obferve, how the 
 Motions of evil Concupifcence abound and domineer r 
 how unguarded thou art in thy outward Behaviour 
 and the general Courfe of thy Convention: how 
 eafily thou art feduced by Vanity; how vehemently 
 difpofed to the Gratifications of Appetite and Senfe ; 
 how carelefs and ftupid in the weightier Concerns of 
 thy Soul; how apt to let thy felf loofe to Laughter 
 and exti avagant Mirth, and how exceeding loth to 
 mourn for thy Sins with a true, laving, and neceflary 
 Contrition ; how eagerly thou purfueft the Pleafures 
 and Advantages of the Body, and how heavy and 
 flothful thou art in the Exercifes of Mortification and 
 godly Zeal; How mighty curious and inquifitive after 
 News and Trifles, and greedy to be entertained with 
 every Pomp and Beauty that can pleafe thy Sight ; but 
 how Negligent and Backward, how full of Difregard 
 and Difdain, to Things of lefs gay Appearance, but 
 of true inward Worth, and mighty Confequence to 
 thy better State; How greedy of Gain, how fparing 
 in thy Alms, how tenacious of this WorldY Goods; 
 How inconfiderate in thy Difcourfe, how childifh and 
 trifling, how wicked or obfcene; how lavilh and pro- 
 tuie ; and wha t a Torment is it to [ct a 
 Guard bef ore thy Mouthy and keep the Door of 
 thMp'i How afFeded or extravagant in thy Beha¬ 
 viour, how eager in thy Adions, how inordinate in 
 
 thy 
 
50 6 £>f tije Sitmtation Book IV 
 
 thy Appetites •, butJiow flow and deaf to the Word o: j 
 Godj how negligent in hearing, and how inflexible tci 
 be perfwaded by what thou haft heard \ how prone tc | 
 Reft and Eafe, and how averfe to Labour and necefla-1 
 ry Care \ How wakeful and attentive at Plays, or Balls.; 
 and how drowfie and lifelefs in Prayer and holy Du -1 
 ties \ how impat ient till they are don e; and how fulll 
 of wandring and impertinent Thoughts, while they 
 are in doing; How eafily diverted from thy ftated! 
 Hours of Devotion y how lukewarm in receiving the 
 bleffed Sacrament, how unfixed in thy Mind at the 
 very time of communicating, and how barren and un¬ 
 profitable afterwards y How foon provoked to Anger 
 upon every flight Mifcarriage, and yet how apt tc 
 give Offence to others: how prone to judge, and fe- 
 verely ccnfure, thy Brethren : how ftifT and pofitive 
 in thofe Judgments and hard Conftructions : How in- 
 folent and immoderately exalted with good Fortune, 
 and how feeble and dejefted under every Crofs or Dif- 
 appointment: How full of good Intentions, and how 
 few of thofe Intentions have any good effeft. 
 
 = Thefe, and many other Defefts, of which each 
 Man’s own Confidence can beft inform him, it is thy 
 D uty to enqu ire i nto very nicely y to bewail ferioufly \ 
 to confefs with the profoundeft Humility, and with 
 firm purpofe of amendment for the time to come. 
 When This is done, then , without any fccret Referve 
 to thy own Inclinations, refign thy felf up entirely 
 to God to be governed by him, and offer to the glory 
 of his Name, thy Soul and Body , a holy, living , and rea¬ 
 sonable Sacrifice : Thus fhalt thou come to me worthi¬ 
 ly, and receive my myftical Body to thy infinite ad¬ 
 vantage. 
 
 = For there is no other Satisfa&ion in Man’s Power to 
 make for his great Affronts, and manifold Provoca- j 
 tions, againft the Majefty on High \ No Oblation i 
 more acceptable, than that of a broken and contrite , a 
 
 purs 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 pure and upright Heart, offered to God in this Sacra¬ 
 ment. He deiires nothing but thy felf, and he de¬ 
 fires this, not for his own, but thy fake. He who 
 brings it let him not doubt Acceptance9 for God ne¬ 
 ver defpifes or reje&s a true Penitent, but embraces 
 returning Prodigals, with the Tendernefs of a Father 9 
 and grants them Pardon for the paft, and Grace for 
 the future. His Word, his Oath is pafled, and He 
 who cannot lie may fecurely be depended upon. As 
 / liv e-, faith the Lord, I have no pleafitre in ... 
 
 the Death of a Sinner, but rather that he Jhonld ’ XV11 ‘* 
 
 be converted and live 9 and At what time foever the wicked 
 A4an turneth away from his Wickednefs which he hath com¬ 
 mitted, and doth that which is lawful and right, he [hall 
 fave his Soul alive 9 Repent theref ore, and turn your felves 
 from all your Tran for ejf on s, and Jo Iniquity fall not be your 
 mine. For / will be merciful to your Zinrigh- 
 teoufntjfes, and your Sins and Infirmities will 1 
 remember no more. 
 
 C H A P. VIII. 
 
 Christ died for us, that We Jhou/d live to Him. 
 
 Chri&.~] T) Ehold and take Example by Me. I hung 
 JJ upon the Crofs with a naked Body, and 
 ftretched-out Arms, and thus offered my felf to my 
 Father for thy Sins. No part of me remained, which 
 was not given in atonement to appeafe the Wrath of 
 thy juftly incenfed Judge. And Thou in like manner 
 mull think it thy Duty,freely and wholly to give up thy 
 felf, a clean and holy Sacrifice. Every Power, every 
 Affection of the Soul muff: be confecrated to Me in 
 the bleflfed Sacrament. What doth the Lord require 
 of thee, but to confult thy own Intereft, and fave 
 
 thy 
 
308 J 0 Df tf)t gimitatton Book IV. i 
 
 thy felf by conveying over thy felt to Me? What¬ 
 ever elfe thou dedicateft to my Service, is of no value, 
 no consideration with me ; for 1 feek not Thine but 
 Thee. 
 
 As all the World belldes would fail of procuring 
 thy Happinefs and Satisfaction, if deprived of Me; fo 
 all thy Wealth and Gifts fet apart for my ufe, can 
 never be well-pleafing in my fight, unlefs with Them 
 thou giveft thy own felf. My whole Perfon was fa- : 
 crificed for thy Redemption j either of my Natures 
 Jingle had been inefficient to propitiate for thy Sins, 
 My whole Body and Blood is fet upon my Table for , 
 thy Entertainment i and what can be the meaning of I 
 all this, but that I fhould be entirely thine, and Thou j 
 entirely mine ? But if thou art not fincere in this | 
 Oblation, if it be made with any Provifo's and Excep¬ 
 tions, the Offering is not perfect, the Sacrifice is maim- ; 
 ed, defective in its Parts, and the Union, which fhould i 
 follow upon it, mult be proportionably lame and im- j 
 perfeCt. The firft thing therefore to be taken care of 
 is the liberal and full Refignation of thy Perfon, This j 
 muft recommend and fan&ifie all thy other ACts of j 
 Religion •, and, till thou art releafed from the Bondage 
 of divided Affections, thou canft not attain Grace and 
 true Liberty. Hence it is, and upon no other account, 
 that, of fo many Profeflbrs and Seemingly good Chri- 
 ftians, fo very few (land faff in the Liberty with which 
 Chrift hath made Men free. The Condition is fix’d j 
 and irreverfible. If a Man for fake not aH that 
 he hath , he cannot he my Difciple. And there- j 
 fore if thou defire to be found in this happy Number, 1 
 enter my Courts with a Free-will Offering, and confe- | 
 crate every Inclination, every Faculty of thy Soul, j 
 Have no love, no defires, but mine. Submit thy felf j 
 wholly to my Holy Will and Pleaftre , and Jtudy to ferve me \ 
 truly in Holinefs and Righteeufnefs , all the Days , and in all 
 the slftions, of thy Life. 
 
 Chap. 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ?°9 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 An Aci of Self-Refienatiotit 
 
 Dlitiple.J T T is very meet, right , and my bounden Du- 
 X tyi -but 1 Should do as thou reauireft: 
 hor this, O Lord, is but to give thee of thy own. 
 Heaven and Earth are thine, and all that therein is. I 
 uehre, with Imglenefs of Heart, to dedicate my felf to 
 ee, never to retrad the Gift, but continue thine 
 tor ever. Accept me therefore, entirely devoted 
 to thy Service from this Day forward, a Sacrifice 
 
 k. ? nd P er P etual Thankfgiving. I call thofe 
 
 Welled Spirits to witnels, who, though invifible to 
 Humane Eyes, confhntly aflifl: at our Solemn Ads of 
 Religious Worfhin: Humbly befeeching thee, that the 
 Oblation of thy dear Son’s blelled Body, reprefented 
 
 ! 1 r S 1S Sacramen L may be effedual for the Salvation 
 i ot Me, and of all thy faithful People. 
 
 _1 offer to thee. Lord, my manifold Sins and Tranf- 
 grcilions, my corrupt Inclinations and vicious Habits 
 which, from my Youth up until now, have fo grievou- 
 lly provoked thy Wrath and jull indignation^ to be a 
 whole burnt Sacrifice. Slay them, O Lord, before thy 
 Altar, and coniume them in the Fire of thy Love that 
 | not any the leait Spot of Guilt may remain behind, 
 ruige my Confcieuce from their Stain, and wipe out 
 their very Remembrance. Reltore to me thy Grace, 
 which my Sins and wilful Neglects have lb often for¬ 
 feited ; Give me tie comfort of thy Htlv a- . ~ 
 
 gam, and fiabltjb me with thy free thy re- A ul ‘\u 
 newing Spirit-, and, having l'ealed a full Pardon for 
 what is pall, receive me to thy fatherly Embraces, and 
 ailui e me ot thy AfFedion by a Kus of Reconciliation 
 
 X 
 
 What 
 
<6Df m Simitation Book IV. 
 
 What Satisfaction can I make for all my Injuries and 
 bold Affronts to thy righteous Laws, but that alone of 
 humble Confeflion, deep Sorrow, and hearty Prayets 
 for thy acceptance of thy Son’s Atonement ? I do 
 moll heartily bewail and deteft all my V ickednefs, 
 and, by thy Grace, will never be guilty of the like any 
 more •, 1 do, and will to the laft Minute of my Life, 
 grieve for thefe Follies, and am delirous by my future 
 Carriage, to teftifte the Truth of my Repentance, and 
 make the beft Reparation I am able tor the Scandal 1 
 have given formerly. O Lord, pardon; O Lord, tor.- 
 give; defer not for thy own fake, O my God ; but let 
 thy Mercy be glorified in fparing the Soul of thy Ser¬ 
 vant, whom thou haft redeemed with thy molt pre¬ 
 cious Blood. Behold, 1 commit my felt wholly to thy 
 Mercy, and dcpolite my Spirit in thy-Hands. O deal 
 with me according to thy great Goodnels, and not af¬ 
 ter my Sins and grievous Wickedncfs. 
 
 To Thee l humbly offer all in me that is good._ A 
 very poor imported! Offering l with fhame contefs it: 
 but, worthlefs as it is, 1 beg thou wilt accept it; Sup¬ 
 ply my Defeats, fandfifie and exalt what is debafed 
 with Infirmity or impure Mixtures ; difdain not niyj 
 lincere, though weak, Endeavours; and enable me 
 daily to do better; and raife at laft this ilothful, un¬ 
 profitable Creature to fnch degrees of Virtue and luc-1 
 cefsful Activity, as may, by the more diligent ufe or] 
 thy Grace, end in a blefs’d and bright Eternity. 
 
 I all'o offer up to Thee, the Prayersand good Wilhci 
 of all that have interceded for Me, or defired my In-! 
 terceffions for Them : The Ncceflities and Diftrelle‘ ■ 
 of my Friends and Relations, and all that have done- 
 good to Me, or Others, for thy fake; imploring that 
 thou would aflift them by thy Grace, comfort them in. 
 their Troubles, proteft them in all Dangers, deliver 
 them from Punilhment and Death Eternal; and fo re- 
 feue them from all Evil, that they may magnifie thy 
 
 gooc 
 
I 
 
 Hook IV. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 
 thy Mercy.' denCe ’ a,ld * vith thankful Hearts rejoyce is 
 
 In a more particular manner, accept, I befeech thee 
 of my moft hearty Prayers, and Peace-offerings, for 
 All, who have injured Me in Word or Deed created 
 me any Diflurbance by ill Treatment, flandered or re- 
 vfted me with ill Language, or given me any manner 
 of Uneahnefs, or angry Refentment. And likevvife, 
 injured, grieved, or offended* 
 oy \V ord or Deed, knowingly or ignorantly, with or 
 
 T>u Ut u d u flg V Entreatin g th Y Forgivenefs for all 
 that hath been done or taken amifs on either lide. Take 
 
 away, Thou who loved’ft and dyed’ft for thy Enemies, 
 all Rancour and Malice, all Grudges and revengeful 
 Thoughts, alj paflionate Remembrances and Difoo- 
 fition to Strife and Debate, all that may be incon- 
 fiftent with true Charity, or tend to the decay of bro- 
 therly Love. Have Mercy, Lord, on all, who fue for 
 Mercy ; fupply the Needs of all that want; and grant 
 us all luch Meafures-of thy Grace, and fo firm Perle- 
 verance m it, that we may grow up to luch Degrees as 
 this mortal State is capable of here, and receive our 
 perfect Confummation and Blifs, both in Body and 
 Soul, in thy Eternal and Everlafting Glory. Amen. 
 
 Chap. X. 
 
 The Sin and Mifchief of Abfenting from the Lord’s 
 Supper , 
 
 Chrttt .3 TT is by no means fufficient, that Men do 
 X Once, or very Rarely, repair- to this Holy 
 Sacrament; but, as their Occalions and Neceffities are 
 
 f0fll ? ul ? thcir Care infeeking Supplies be. 
 The Paflions of the Soul are daily in comtnocion, and 
 
 X2 i« 
 
S 12 tl)t limitation Book IV | 
 
 itsDifeafes and evil Habits get ground by their ma j 
 lignant fpreading Quality; The Temptations ofthd 
 Devil are leldom intermitted,or,it they be, tis only 
 of wicked Subtlety, that even thofe Interval 5 of Qpie> 
 may contribute the more effectually to Mens uine. 
 And if this be, as moll ahuredly it is, thy Cale, thin 
 then, how urgent thy Wants are, and h°w trequen 
 thy Returns ought to be to this Fountain ot Dtvm 
 Grace. That Here thou may’ft drink living Water, 
 and quench the raging Feavers of thy Soul, that Here 
 thou mav’ft receive Balm into thy Wounds, and appi> 
 proper Remedies to thy feveral lndifpohtions; that 
 thou may’ft grow more wife and wavy by fuch Recoi- 
 leftions, more clearly ur.derftand thy own Sta I 5 > 
 thofe Examinations which prepare thee tor my table, 
 -and, by repeating this holy Meal, be ftrengthencd a 
 aainft the Affaults of the Enemy, and more upon th) 
 Guard againft his fubtle Infinuations. And One of Hn 
 Inlinuations it certainly is, to hinder and draw Men_ ot 
 from Communicating often; As being very lenlibh 
 howgreatand happy Advantages they reap by doing to 
 And that this is the very beft Corn fe they can pollibly 
 take, of fecuring themfelves,and defeating his malicious 
 Endeavours to debauch and deftroy their Soms. 
 
 For this reafon Men arc not to think it llrange, 1 : 
 they find the Devil then more efpecially bulie, when 
 they let themfelves with a more than common Earueft- 
 nefs to the Preparation for, or the Exercifc of, the 
 moft folemn and exalted ACts of Religion. Fin this 
 wicked Spirit, as the Hiftory of Job inti- 
 3 oh '• mates, is always induftrious to mingle him- 
 felf with the Sons of God, when they appear before 
 their heavenly Father. He contrives then to give 
 them great Diftmbance, to damp their Joys, anc 
 break their holy Purpofes, by fuggefting many Fears 
 and diffracting their Minds with unueccllary Scruples 
 He terrifies them with entity and drinking their om 
 
 Danina- 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ?»? 
 
 Damnation , and keeps them back by miftaken Notions 
 of their llnworthincfs and Danger. If he can thus pre¬ 
 vail, eicherfor a total Negled of this Sacrament, or 
 contrive, that they (hall come full of Doubts and Dif- 
 fatisfadion, he gains his Point. But be not ignorant 
 of his Devices \ Inform thy felf rightly of thy Duty, 
 wherein Unworthinefs does truly confift j that nothing 
 but want of Siucerityand due Reverence can bring thee 
 into hazard, and then defpifehis vain Attempts todif- 
 compofeand evacuate thy good Intentions. Retort his 
 wicked Craft back upon his own Head, by being more 
 vigilant, more careful,morereiolved ; but by no means 
 omit this Duty, nor fufFer thy felf to be drawn off from 
 that Communion, which is the Sovereign Antidote, the 
 bell Prefervative, againll Sin and Temptation. 
 
 If he labour to difguife his devilifh Arts, under the 
 fpecious colour of Caution and Humility and want of 
 more perfect Devotion, Lay afide thy unprofitable 
 and difquieting Anxieties, and 'flee for Succour and 
 Advice to fome godly Paftor. Let His Prudence di- 
 -red thy doubting Steps •, and unbofom thy felf freely 
 to Him, that by confefling thy Sins, and opening thy 
 Cafe to thePhyfician of Souls, thou mayTl receive the 
 Benefit of ghoffly Counfel, and the Comfort of Ab- 
 folution. Know, that no Sin can hurt thee, or ren¬ 
 der thee an unworthy Receiver, when once confefs’d, 
 and ferioully repented of: And that, when this is 
 done, all thy Doubts and Perplexities hinder the Grace 
 ot God, and check thy Improvement in Piety and 
 Devotion. Let not any ordinary Trouble or Afffi- 
 dion deter thee from coming to thy Lord for relief \ 
 but make the greater hafle to reconcile thy felf to 
 God, and purge away thofe Offences, which may have 
 provoked, and drawn down the Afflidion upon thee. 
 Let not any Difference between Thee and thy Brethren 
 detain thee; for there is a fhort and 1 eady way of 
 removing this Obltrudion, by Forgiving and Praying 
 
3 t 4 Of tl?C gitmtatton Book IV. 
 
 lor thofe who have grieved or injured Thee; and by 
 reconciling thy felf and asking Pardou of thofe whom 
 Thou haft offended. And, if they Jfill be fo per- 
 verfe, as not to be reconciled upon a due Submiftion ^ 
 Yet confider, that Their Obftinacy and Wickednefs 
 ought to be no obftru&ion to the performance of thy 
 Duty*, Thou haft done thy part, and God will be 
 fure to forgive and accept thy Pcrfon, though Men do 
 not. 
 
 What benefit can a Man poffibly propofe to himfe'f 
 from the putting off Examination and Repentance, 
 and forbearing to come to the Holy Communion? 
 Moft certainly, when one is difeafed, the greateft Wif- 
 dom is to get well again as foon as poffibly he can: 
 To expel the Malignity, and difeharge the Venom 
 immediately •, Thus will the Cure be eafier, more 
 fpeedy, more fucccfsful. For every Delay adds to the 
 Diftemper, and gathers frefh and more obftinatc Mat- j 
 ter. If you omit the prefent Opportunity upon One I 
 Pretence, Another and more prevailing may inter-i 
 pofe, and deprive you of the next. And thus by de- | 
 grees you will be wrought upon to excufe your felf a- 
 gain and again, and by longer Abftinencc become lefs 
 fit, as well as lefs willing, to return to your Duty. 
 Whatever Burden then you find upon your Mind, get j 
 quit of it betimes:; do not indulge your Sloth and j 
 Backwardnefs a Moment *, for there can never come ‘ 
 any good of prolonging your Cares and Troubles, and 1 
 making the common Hindrances of worldly Bulinefs, 
 a rcafon for neglefting your great, your eternal ln- 
 tcreft. This is moft mar.ifeft, and Experience will 
 prove the truth of it, when it is too late \ that the 
 longer you defer Communicating, the lefs you will find 
 your felf difpofed to it, and a ftnnge Carelefnefs and 
 Difregard tor holy Exercifes will infenfibly creep up¬ 
 on your Mind, and get a mighty head. But, which 
 is a moft lamentable thing to confider, many loofe 
 
Book IV. 
 
 Of J e s u s Christ. 
 
 ?*5 
 
 and difiolutc, nay many thoughtlefs and lukewarm 
 People, allow themfelves in this Indifference j and in- 
 dudrioufly feek Pretences to defer their Repentance 
 and Approaches to the Lord’s Table, mecrly to avoid, 
 as they think, the Necefiity of parting with their darl¬ 
 ing Lulls, and the keeping that Uriel Guard upon their 
 Converfatioas, without which they mult be loll to all 
 Eternity. 
 
 How cold, alas! is thofe Mens Love for Me ? How 
 feeble their Devotion, who, upon filch frivolous Pre¬ 
 tences, can difpcnfe with this fo neceffary Duty, fo 
 glorious Privilege, of Communicating at my Table? 
 How happy, how ealie to himfelf, how acceptable, 
 how dear to God is that Man, whofe Condudt is fo 
 ilriaiy virtuous, whofe Confluence fo void of ftain 
 and reproach, that he could every Day mod cheer¬ 
 fully, mod fafely partake of this heavenly Fealt, were 
 the Opportunities ofdoing it fo equal to hisDifpolition, 
 and might his Zeal efcape the Cenfure of needlefs 
 Odentation ? For a Man is not prelently to be con- 
 -demned, who does not feek or embrace every polfible 
 Occalion of Communicating. There may be fome ve¬ 
 ry allowable, and others even commendable, Reafons 
 for abfenting. if out of deep Humility, and awful Re¬ 
 verence, or as a voluntary Punilhment inflicted upon 
 a Man’s felt for fome grievous Relapfe, he impofe this 
 Penance or dread to come : The Refpeft paid to 
 the Ordinance, or the holy Indignation conceived a- 
 gaind himfelf, may be better accepted and more be¬ 
 coming, than Receiving in fuch Circumdances. But 
 this mud not be fo far indulged, that long Difufe 
 fhould produce Indifference and Difregard for the 
 Sacrament *, For, if once the Soul degenerate into 
 Negledl and Spiritual Sloth, all poffible Endeavours 
 mud beufed to awaken it. Not doubting but that God 
 will be ever prelent with the Afliftauces of his Grace, 
 and fecond thy Care with Succefs proportionable to 
 
 X 4 thy 
 
6 tftC ^mttatlOlt Book IV. 
 
 thy Vigour aijci Diligence, and the Sincerity of thy 
 good Intentions. 
 
 But One thing mult always he obferved, That, when 
 the Hindrances to Communicating are real and im¬ 
 portant and necellary, not frivolous Excntes indu- 
 ftrioufly fought, or readily laid hold on to cover Im¬ 
 piety and Negligence, the Perfon fo detained is pre¬ 
 sent in Willi and Inclination, though not in adual 
 Attendance. And then the Benefit of the Sacrament, 
 and all the Saving F.fie&s of it arc as fully imparted to i 
 him, as his Appearance in the Congregation, and the 
 Elements themfelves, could have enfured them. For 
 ’tis a great Mi (lake to imagine, that good Men re¬ 
 ceive not the Advantages of Chrilt s Body and Blood, 
 except juft then, when they receive the outward and 
 vifible Signs of them : Every Day, Every Hour fnr- 
 nifhes Opportunities of Communicating fpiritnally, 
 and a Man thus compofed can never be furprifed, ne¬ 
 ver find any difficulty to comply with any Occafion of 
 doing it publickly. For an innocent Life, and a de¬ 
 vout Mind are a conflant Preparation. But when the 
 tifual Seafons return, and efpecially the Solemn Fcfti- 
 vals, wherein the great and glorious Myfteries of the 
 Chriflian Religion are commemorated, then fuch a one 
 will think it his Duty to joyn with the Publick Afiem- 
 blies in this fublimeft Inftance of Piety and Thankf- I 
 giying ; He will approach with a Heart full of Affe- j 
 clion and Reverence; and efteem this Homage due, | 
 not only to himfelf for the Comforts and Advantages 
 he may exped from it, but more efpecially to Me, 
 for the Honour and Tribute of Praife, by which my 
 Name and Mercies ought to be thus magnified among 
 Men. And this is a Fruit which can only redound to 
 me by open and vifible Ads of Worfhip, Whereas ■ 
 the Other of private Improvement and myftical Com¬ 
 munion with Chrift, is attained in lecret, ana con* 
 fhntly follows upon every religious Meditation con¬ 
 cerning 
 
. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ]fl 
 
 coining my Incarnation, and Sufferings, or any other 
 oi t lie myfferious Works, by which the Redemption 
 o, Mankind was compleatcd, and the pious Affections 
 ot Chi iff ians arc cherifhed and inflamed. 
 
 They, who referve thcmfelves for the Feafts of the 
 Church only, and take no care to put their Souls in a 
 di e Pofture for Receiving, except only when fuch So¬ 
 lemnities call them to it, arc leldom or never prepa¬ 
 id as they ought to be. He is the fafe, the happy 
 Man, who makes it his frequent Practice, and con- 
 ftancly offers up himfelf a Sacrifice to his God. In the 
 Aft of Communicating keep Rule and Order, and let 
 not thy Hafte or Impatience, the Length of thy pri¬ 
 vate Devotions, or any other Singularity of thy own 
 Fancy, give Difturbance to the common Ufages and 
 Ceremonies of the Congregation whereof thou art a 
 Member. For take this along with thee, That, even 
 in this Part of Worfhip, where Zeal and Devotion are 
 mofi: acceptable Ingredients, yet thefe very Qualifica¬ 
 tions, when indulged out of Seafon and Meafure, loie 
 _all their Value ; and are not half fo plealing in the 
 fight of God, as unaffefled Modefty, and an humble 
 decent Compliance with the eltablilhed Orders, and 
 Cuitoms of the Church, and the Convenience of others; 
 who ought not to be difturbed, or incommoded for 
 the fantaftical or peculiar Ways of any private Perfon 
 whatfoever. 
 
 Chap. XI. 
 
 The Benefit of ChrisPs Bodj 7 and Word. 
 
 pifiiple.2 S wee tell dearefi: Jefus! Who can ex- 
 
 prefs the Charms, the Tranfports, of 
 that Soul, which fealts with thee at thy Table ? That 
 
 Table 
 
 l 
 
jSDf tfcc imitation Book iv. 
 
 iii 
 
 Table, where no common Food is placed, but the Di¬ 
 vine Entertainment of thy own Body and Blood. An 
 Entertainment delicious, above all that Man can ev- 
 prefsor imagine! What Satisfaction fhouId we take 
 to come into thy Tabernacle, and fall low on our 
 Knees before thy Foot-flool, to open wide our Hearts 
 for the Delights of thy Houfe, and, with Mary Mag - 
 dalen , to wafh thy holy Feet with Tears of Love! But 
 where, alas! is this Devotion to be found? where are 
 thofe Eyes overflowing with pious Sorrow ? Or, if that 
 Sorrow be fwallowed up in Joy, yet ought we not even 
 thus to approach thee with dry Eyes,- but Tears of 
 Joy fhould trickle down apace, when weconlider our 
 mighty Privilege, and the Happinefs of being ad¬ 
 mitted to thy blefled Prefence, and made Partakers of 
 the Blifs of Angels. For, as they really behold thy 
 Face in Glory, fo am I fure to fee, and to receive thee, 
 in the myflick Elements, though covered there under 
 a different Form, and fhronded in a Veil of Bread and 
 Wine. 
 
 I adore thy Goodnefs, which thus condefcends to 
 the Infirmities of Humane Nature, and in much Com¬ 
 panion is pfeafed under thefe fcnlible Reprefentations 
 to hide that glorious Majefty, whofe native Luftre is 
 too piercing bright, for Me or any created Being to 
 behold in its full Strength. But, tho’ my Eyes fee thee 
 not as thou art, yet here, l know, I have thee moll ef¬ 
 fectually, and do therefore mofl humbly adore that 
 Divinity on Earth, which Angels proflrate themfelvcs 
 before in Heaven. 1 do it through a Glafs, and I gaze 
 i Cor xiii with the Eyes of Faith \ They are permit¬ 
 ted to do it Face to Face , and to knovo even 
 as they are known. And, though this Glafs be dark and 
 dim, yet it is fuch as I ought to be content with, fince 
 Mortality admits of nothing better ^ nor can I attain 
 any higher Perfection, til! the Day of evcrlafting ; 
 Life dawn, and the thick Shadows of Figures are feat- i 
 
 tered 
 
Rook IV. Of Jesus Christ. 319 
 
 tered by its Brightnefs. When that which is perfect 
 (hall come, then will all life for Sacraments be fuper- 
 feded, and tor ever ceafe } For Thefe are Remedies 
 and Expedients, accommodated to a State of Frailty 
 and Imperfection, fuch as the Blefled above have no 
 occafion tor. They are in endJefs .and unfpotted Per¬ 
 fection, and ever rcjoycing in the Beams of thy glo¬ 
 rious Pretence^ They fee thee as thou art, 
 and arc transformed into the Excellencies l *°' n UI# 
 they fee } They tafte the Word made Flefh, not in the 
 Symbols of his Humane Natuie, but in the Native 
 Charms of his Divine } as he was the Word of God 
 trom all Eternity, and (hall continue fo to be for ever. 
 
 When thefe Ideas fo full of Wonder employ my 
 Thoughts, I feel a generous Difdain, not only of 
 worldly Comforts, but am provoked to difefteem even 
 tbofe Spiritual and better Confolations, which thy 
 Grace at prefent difFnfes through my Soul: And all 
 befides feems poor and defpicable, fo long as 1 am de¬ 
 barred the Sight of my Love and Lord : Thou know- 
 - eft the Secrets of my Heart, and wilt bear Teftimony 
 to the Sincerity of thofe Profeffions I make, when I 
 declare, that nothing lefs than God, whom I mofc 
 earneftly long for ever to contemplate, can fatisfie 
 and fill the impatient Defires of my enlarged Soul. 
 But this 1 know’, is a Blefling, not to be obtained by 
 mortal Man, and therefore I will fet my felf with Pa¬ 
 tience .to vrait the Time appointed for it. Thus did 
 thy Saints of old, who now partake of the Joys and 
 Kingdom of their Lord. Their Faith was vigorous, 
 and their Perfeverance unfhaken, their Thirftings ea¬ 
 ger, but their Patience exemplary and humble, til! 
 that Coming of their Lord, which they thought long, 
 at laft releafed, and exalted them. My Hope, my 
 Faith are now the fame, which Theirs were then} 
 and, I truft, my Joy and Crown, fhall, by thy Grace 
 and Mercy, be one Day the fame too. Till that Day 
 
 come. 
 
3 20 
 
 Of ti]C gjtmtatton Book IV. I 
 
 come, l will tread in their Steps, and fiipport my felf 
 by the contemplation of their bright Examples. Thy 
 Holy Scriptures (hall be my Comfort \ In Them, as in 
 aGlafs, I will view and adore my Soul: And above 
 all, thy blefled Body and Blood fhall he my Spiritual 
 Suftenance. Here will I feek for Strength againft: In¬ 
 firmities, here apply Balm to my Wounds, and Phy- i 
 lick to my Difeafes, and hither fly for Refuge in all j 
 my Fears, and Dangers, and Temptations. 
 
 Two things are plainly ncccflary to the prefervation i 
 of Life, without which no Mifery could be fo infup- 
 portable, as that of living here. The difmal Con¬ 
 finement of this Prifon of Flefh can only be endured 
 by the Help of Food and Light. Thy Mercy hath not 
 left us deftitute of this Provilion \ but kindly given 
 thy holy Body for my Refrcfhmcnt and Suftenance, 
 
 .. and thy holy Word for 4 Lantern unto my 
 
 1 m CX1X ’ Feet , and a Light unto tny Paths. To theie 
 I owe, not my Comfort alone, but even my Life it 
 felf: For the Word of God is the Light of the Soui, 
 and the Sacrament of his Death is the Bread of Life. 
 Thefe are the two Tables of the Chriftian, refembling 
 thole of the Jewifti, Church heretofore, where the 
 Divine Treafures are expofed and preferved. The 
 One, like that of the Shew-bread, furnifhed molt rich- 
 Hebr ix J y with Symbols of thy precious Body } 
 
 the Other, like the Repofitory of the Law, { 
 containing holy Doftrines, preferibiug true and faving j 
 Faith, and leading us within the Veil to the molt holy 
 Place. 
 
 All Honour, and Praife, and Thankfgiving be to 
 the blefled Jefus, Light of eternal uncreated Light, ; 
 for the Table of his heavenly Doftrine, fpread and 1 
 adorned by the Miniltry of his infpired Servants, the 1 
 Prophets, Apoftles, and other holy Writers, taught 
 by Himfelf, that they might teach us. All Glory and 
 Thanks be to the great Creator and merciful Re¬ 
 deemer 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 ?2i 
 
 deemer of Mankind, for his extenfive tender Love, in 
 preparing a plenteous Feaft for all the World : Not 
 like that Pafchal Lamb of old, a Type and Shadow 
 only, but the very Subftance of that Shadow, the Ac- 
 complifhment of that Type ; even Christ or.r Pajf- 
 over facrifked for tu, and exhibited to us. This Bread 
 fuflains, this Cup cheers and rejoyces, the Hearts of 
 the Faithful; it fills them with the ovetflowing De¬ 
 lights of Paradife, is a Pledge and Antepafl: of^Hea- 
 ven, and, allowing for the difference of Conditions, 
 admits us into Partnerlhip with Angels themfelves; 
 The Joy of both is the fame, though both cannot re¬ 
 ceive it in equal Proportions. 
 
 How high and honourable is that Fttndion, to which 
 God hath permitted, nay enjoyned, to Minifter in 
 thcfe holy Things; to handle and deliver this blefled 
 Bread, and give each Servant his Portion of Life by 
 and with it; to implore with wonderful Efficacy the 
 divine Blefling, and exalt natural and common Things 
 to Purpofes and Effeds infinitely exceeding all the Pow¬ 
 ers of Nature? How clean flionld thofe Hands,how pure 
 thofeLips, how chafe and holy that Body be, which fo 
 frequently, fo familiarly, converfe with, and are united 
 to the Author and Perfection of all Purity? Sure no¬ 
 thing of corrupt Communication, nothing indecent,no¬ 
 thing idle or trifling, nothing but what may tend to 
 edifying, ought to come out of that Mouth, which fo 
 often blelfes, and confecrates, and takes into it, the 
 Sacrament of his dying Redeemer. How Ihould thofe 
 Eyes be turned away from Vanity, how immovably 
 fixed upon heavenly Objeds, which fee their Lord's 
 myftical Body, and invite his peculiar Prefence, fo fre¬ 
 quently brought upon the Altar, by virtue of their 
 being lifted up to the Throne or Grace, in Benedi- 
 dions, and Prayers, of his own inftituting. 
 
 To Men of thisProfeffion under the Law, no doubt 
 that Precepc was in a more efpccial manner intended, 
 
 Be 
 
$22 
 
 £Df m imitation Book iv. 
 
 Be yc Holy, for I the Lord your Goa am Holy. 
 Lev. xix. B(it j- ure the s an aity and exemplary Lives 
 of Pricfts under the Gofpel ought as much to excel 
 thofe of the Sons of si. iron, as our Miniflration ex¬ 
 ceeds theirs in Glory. And therefore, Grant thy 
 Grace, O blefled God, to all who are admitted to 
 this holy Office; and Thou, who alone worked! great . 
 Marvels, exert thy almighty Power, in enabling eve¬ 
 ry fuch Perfon to ferve at thine Altar, with clean 
 Hands and a pure Heart, with a becoming Zeal, and 
 moving Devotion ; fuch as may not only fuic their 
 own Character, but be a Pattern, and powerful In¬ 
 citement, to the Piety of others. And if we cannot, 
 (as indeed we are Hill but Men, and in many things 
 offiend all) if we cannot ftand before thee in pure un- 
 blemilhed Innocence, or come not up to all thofe emi¬ 
 nent Degrees of Perfection, which we might and 
 ought: yet let at leaft our deep and godly Sorrow ex¬ 
 piate our Offences ; and our Refolutions of entire Re¬ 
 formation, and more confpicuous Piety and Devotion 
 for the time to come, Our unfeigned Humility, and 
 Charity unconfined, and Labours indefatigable, make 
 Rich Reparation, as thou wilt pleafe to accept, for 
 the Mifcarriages occalioncd by the Fraud and Malice 
 of the Devil, or by our own carnal Will and Frail- 
 nefs. 
 
 C H A P. XII. 
 
 Of Preparation to the Communion. 
 
 Chrifl.~] T L.ovc Holinefs, and I give what 1 love, i 
 ■ A pure Heart is the thing I delight in, 
 and This is the Place of my Reft. Furnilh 
 me thy largeft Room, and 1 will come and 
 
 eat 
 
 LuU xxii. 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 
 
 W 
 
 eat the Pafiover at thy Houfe with my Difciples. 
 Purge out thy old Leaven, and drefs up every Corner 
 of thy Heart; Sweep it clean from the World, and all 
 its corrupt Affeftions, throw out the Lumber and the 
 Filth of thy Sins \ if thou delire, that I fhould come 
 and make my abode with thee. Sit as a Sparrow alone 
 upon the Houfe top, and mourn in thy Clofet for all 
 the Tranfgreflions wherein thou haft exceeded; fo will 
 I be with thee, and comfort thee, in the bitternefs of 
 thy Soul. This careful Preparation will be the natu¬ 
 ral Confequence of thy Sincerity and Refped for Me ; 
 For every Lover provides his beft Apartment to enter¬ 
 tain his Friend, and belt Beloved j and, by his dili¬ 
 gence to receive fo defired a Gueft, exprefles the Truth 
 and Greatnefsof his AfTeftion. 
 
 But know withal, when thou haft done thy utmoft, 
 that even whole Years employed in Preparation can¬ 
 not effedt what in ftrift Juftice is my due. That 
 thou art admitted to my Table, and received kindly 
 there, is owing, after all, not to thy own Defert, but 
 _to My Grace and Mercy, which accepts thy weak 
 Endeavours, and palTes by thy Sin and Unworthinefs. 
 If Beggars with their Nakednefs and Sores, have 
 leave to fit and feaft with Princes, their Duty is, 
 with Humility and Thankfulnefs, to acknowledge the 
 mighty Favour. Do then thy part, and do it in the 
 beft manner thou canft ; do it diligently and heartily ; 
 Come not as by compulfion, but come willingly and 
 gladly ; come not for Fafhion’s fake, but come with 
 Reverence and godly Fear, and fervent Zeal. When 
 thy Saviour condefcends to come to thee, refufe him 
 not, nor turn thy Back and flee from his Table. I 
 have invited, I have commanded thee, to come} Let 
 not thy Infirmities difcourage thee, for they are all 
 perfedtly known to Me, and 1 will conflder and allow 
 for them, and what is wanting in Nature fhall be fup- 
 plicd by Grace. 
 
 When 
 
524_ fflfrf tftc frtntattOH Book IV. 
 
 When thou feelett thy Heart burn with Love and 
 Devotion, return thy Thanks to God tor kindling 
 thefe holy Fires. 1 did it, not becaufe thou art wor¬ 
 thy of fuch Grace, but becaufe 1 had Compaffion on 
 thy Weaknefs and thy Wants. When thou findeft 
 thy felf cold and infenliblc in religious Duties, double 
 M , . thy Diligence and thy Prayers, lament thy 
 
 and xv. Deadnels, and continue knocking \ For if | 
 thou perfevere, and wilt take no denial, ; 
 thou fhalt not ask in vain, but be fed, at leaft, with 
 the Crums that fall from thy Matter's Table. Thou 
 ftand’ft in need of Me, but 1 have none of Thee. It 
 is for Thy benefit, not my own, that I vouchfafe to 
 meet thee at this Sacrament. Thou comett hither to 
 be filled, and ftrengthened, and fanftified, to return 
 better than thou camctt, to receive increafe of Grace, 
 to be One with me, and dwell in me ; and thofe who 
 come fincerely difpofed to receive Me, and amend their 
 Lives, 1 will in no wife fend empty away. Do not 
 then neglcft thofe precious Opportunities - 7 Do not 
 abfent, or come carclefly •, but make me room in thy 
 Heart, and let it be a clean and fit Reception for fo 
 pure a Guett, and He, whom thou lovett, will go home | 
 with thee to thy Houle. 
 
 But then obferve, that there is the fame Neceflity 
 of Care and Watchfulnefs after this Sacrament, as of 
 Prayer and Preparation before it. For a conftant vir¬ 
 tuous Life and ttrift Guard over a Man’s felf is the j 
 heft and molt effectual Preparation to every Sacra¬ 
 ment, and the l'urett Means ot obtaining more and ] 
 greater Degrees of Grace. A Man, who prefently 
 returns to the World, and gives himfeif a loofe to i 
 the Liberties aud Afleftions, the Bufinefs and the ] 
 Plealures ot it, undoes what he had taken Pains to j 
 do before •, and defeats the good Effects of his molt 1 
 lolcmn Preparations. Be not fond of variety of Com- ; 
 pahy and Divei(ions - , nor lavifh and unwary in thy 
 
 Di- 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 --- w 
 
 pifcourfe ; but rather chufe to retire into thy Cham¬ 
 ber and converfe much with God in Solitude and Si¬ 
 lence. When thou haft Him, thou haft a Treafure 
 which nothing can take from thee. I am worthy of 
 thee all, and I expea thee all; divide not thy'felf 
 between Me and the World, but let Me be thy Love 
 thy Joy, thy Defire ; fo fi,all thy Life he hid _ , _ . * 
 
 : with Chrip in God ; and, though thou canft CoU Ji‘ Hu 
 not live in thy Self, yet thou /halt live in Me, full 0 f 
 -ranquility and Peace, and above the diforderly 
 Paflions and ruffling Cares of fenfual and earthly- 
 minded Men. 1 
 
 Chap. XIII. 
 
 The Soul's Deftre of Vnioti with Christ. 
 
 bfciple OT Hear thy gracious Words, my deareft 
 . A ford, and eafily believe the inexprefflble 
 Happinefs of Them, whole Souls thy heavenly Pre- 
 fence fills. But how, Oh ! how lhall 1 attain that 
 Bills ? How lhall 1 feck and find my God alone ? 
 How open my Heart to entertain Thee* fo as to ex¬ 
 clude all other intruding Guefts ? Oh ! that no Man 
 no Creature might from henceforth find place in my 
 Affections and Dcfircs^ fo as to interrupt my Convcr- 
 fation with thee ! When lhall I break loofe from Com¬ 
 pany and Care, and Enjoy and Talk with Thee alone 
 in Language free and kind, as that of deareft Friends • 
 and foft and tender, i'weet and charming, as the un- 
 referved Retirements and endearing Whifpers of the 
 moft palfionate Lovers ? This is my earneft Wilh 
 This my conftant Prayer, that my Heart may be 
 knit entirely to Thee, and weaned from every earthly 
 iad fenfual Delight, learn to tafte heavenly and eter- 
 
 * nal 
 

 nal Joys by fre £ uent jjjj 0 ™]^e° wholly 1 tWne^egard 
 
 ' rfsof -» ^ sd 
 
 pbbnxviU Mt , ant { i i n Thee, and thus may we cor. 
 tin Th?u n vedlya V n my Beloved.“X 
 
 3s ffl a£ra ^ 
 
 sw^faSSSSrSaraii d 
 
 Word, white tho and Howl inti 
 
 *$ofoi vi. 
 X>m. iv. 
 
 r Bounty! how lwcet cny msiw . —- - 
 frefoeft thy hungry Servants with the d 
 licious Bread, which came down fre 
 
 >ur God is unto Uf^fe ^ hoken in /*** he km. 
 pfO. cxlvii,.. r a mo ,he Lowly, he W« h j *T 
 
 :x«vm,cxn.. Dtl ft a „d raifeth the Needy fin 
 
 of his Blood to drink. Privileges w< 
 
 what Society of Men can boaft of Privil g 
 
Book IV. of J ESUS Christ. 
 
 ?27 
 
 ■ entertai " s h . ,m ’ with his own glorious Bo- 
 
 } dy ; .° p race unspeakable ! O Condefcenfion inoft 
 I f? lazin ? ' 9 Lovrc unmeafurable ! Lord what is 
 ^Man, that thou fhould’/t thus vifit him? or what can 
 
 Ad Unt ° h ' S God tor thefe inefLimahle Benefits? 
 Alas 1 I have no return to make, but a poor worthlefs 
 
 ) He r art 1 and This is yet a farther Inftanceof thy Good- 
 
 titude th bnt m°v U IT*!! 1 °° °r ther Teftim °ny of Gra- 
 b 7 Selr and m y hncere AfFedion. Thus 
 haft thou made our Duty our greateft Happinefs ♦ For 
 
 toft' 1 ,r So ” lbe * 1 ^ »nd all that iSin™ 
 tap tor Joy when my Heart is [x-rtecfly united to 
 
 Z$l£' ' l 5 aIt .‘ ho ? % i>, L,, 
 
 i rv.U live and dwell with thee for ever. And f wifh 
 humble Joy reply, Difdain L, Lor,d, rt 
 
 \Zc/th' W Ofcr^ Z I I m0ft , WlU ^ l h thankfully, e,n- 
 
 \ ace the Offer. Lo I am thine entirely from this momm* 
 
 W ff 0Ve ,n al1 l hin £ S ' and P r W Ti >*' the Intimacy 
 
 UL Zf UP th“ S leMr f ed ”‘ a y firm and invil 
 
 ;. » that noth:n & ma y « hMe our Love , and the Delights of 
 
 > ay ever part our Per fans any more. ^ ^ 
 
 Chap. XIV. 
 
 ^Others ^ ExCiting Devotion h *be Example of 
 
 Pftl. xxxL 
 
 'ilciple.] flow plentiful is thy Good- 
 
 r . V-/ tiefs , which thou hafi laid - - 
 
 jor them that fear thee! When I reflect with what 
 dent Piety, with what affedionate Devotion with 
 
 SuDDer^ Cr ?h a ’ thy « Sa r tS a PP roach f his heavea- 
 bupper , Shame and Contulion overwhelm me 
 
 ate, confcious of my own, but lukewarm at the belt 
 
 d too too often perfectly Itupid and frozen, Heart- 
 
 Y * with 
 
r 8 Of tilC Hmttatfon Book IV 1 
 
 with what Indifference and Coldnefs I approach th 
 Myfteries, and how unaffeded with thy Mercies, hoi 
 unprofitable under the gracious Difpenfatton, I returi 
 What a Reproach is it, that my Heart fhould not t 
 all enflamed with the Excefs ot thy Love*, that 
 fhould have no fenfe, no apprehension, of my greater 
 Happinefs *, no Hnngrtngs and 1 htrlhngs after it 
 But ‘ notwithftanding the moving Examples ot mar 
 excellent Perfons, (hould ftill continue void of all It 
 predion, fo fcandaloufly unlike thofe pious Soul 
 whofe Zeal overflowed in Tears of Joy *, whole Heart 
 as well as Mouths, drink greedily at this Fountain 
 Life, whofe Appetites were fo Itrong as never to 
 fatisfied, till they had filled themfelves with thy bl. 
 fed Body, and fed liberally, and with a fort ot he 
 Luxury indulged at this celeftial Banquet. 
 
 A Faith fo eager, foexalced, plainly contefsd, th 
 felt thy gracious Prefence*, and that their Lord v 
 known to Them, as heretofore to the Difaples 
 E/nmaits, in breaking oj Bread \ 1 ne DUl 
 
 ing of their Hearts within them was an 
 
 LuU xx iv. 
 
 refragablc Teftimony of it. But how 
 I come of Their Zeal and Devotion ? 
 
 far fhort, alas! 
 
 Look, mercif 
 
 ly Lord, upon my Infirmities, and, it an equal P< 
 tion of thy Grace be too great a Favour for thy pc 
 unworthy Servant, yet grant me filch a degree, fuc. 
 fenfe of thy Goodnefs and wonderful Love, that 1 n 
 be as fincerely, though not fo ftrongly,afteded with 
 If Raptures and Extalies of Delight may not be j 
 Portion, yet deny me not Improvement \ but let 1 
 Faith be ftrengthened, my Hope confirmed, my L>\ 
 fo warmed by this Sacrament, that, after having o; 
 tafted this heavenly Manna, l may never more de 
 the Onions and Garhck of Egypt) nor in my Heart t j 
 back from fo good a God. 
 
 I know thy Mercy and thy Power, to which 
 thing is impoflible, nothing hard. I know thou ca 
 

 Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 329 
 " — * • 
 j and I hope in thy good time thou wilt vifit me with 
 ( more abundant Mcafures of thy Grace, and fulfil all 
 1 ] xny defire. This Confidence I chcrifh, becaufe my 
 t very Defires are from thee: And it is tome Comfort 
 I to me, that, though 1 am fenfible of my Weakriefies 
 1 and my Wants, yet I Jong and pant after Supplies and 
 Strength; that I am not content with my Mifery, but 
 j labour, and pray againft, my Defefts, and would tain 
 \ be better. And thus I will continue to do, till thou 
 | ;emove and vanquilh my Frailties, infpire a bright and 
 ] ardent Zeal, and make me a happy Partaker, fir ft of 
 !• the virtuous Difpofition of thy devouter Saints, and 
 * then of their Reward and Happinefs. 
 
 i T 
 
 Chap. XV. 
 
 Grace is the Reward of Humility arid Self-denial. 
 
 Cbrift .'] Chinee thy Wifhes are fo commendable, and 
 thy Defires of Grace Imcere, I will in- 
 llrud thee, how thou fhalt obtain it. Know then this 
 Bleffing is fufpended upon certain Conditions. It muft 
 be fought inftantly, asked fervently, waited for pa¬ 
 tiently, received thankfully, preferred by Humility, 
 improved with Diligence, and the Time and Mea- 
 I fures of receiving it fubmitted entirely to the Wif- 
 dom and Goodnefs of the heavenly Giver. If thou 
 feel few or no Sparks of it in thy Mind, this is a pro¬ 
 per Subjed, to exercife thy Meeknefs and godly Sor¬ 
 row, but not to provoke Defpair or immoderate 
 Concern. For God frequently gives that in an Inftant, 
 and with a liberal Hand, which Men had long exped- 
 ed without Succefs. He gratifies their Conftancy at d 
 Patience, their Importunity and Perfeverance in Pray¬ 
 er, with Benefits, which excellent Reafons moved him 
 
 Y 3 c to 
 
£>f flic gjmttattotr Book IV. 
 
 3 ?° 
 
 — -- - 
 
 to deny to their firft Requelts, for the Petitioners ; 
 mighty advantage. 
 
 Should Mens earlieft Expectations be anfwered, or [ 
 prevented, the mighty BlclTing would be too exqui- j 
 iite for frail Nature to bear. And therefore holy 
 Raptures, and exalted Virtue, are wifely made the 
 flow Fruit of long Time, and much Patience. But,, 
 when thy Defires are not fulfilled, when thou receivdl 
 no Increafe, or when the Grace thou once enjoyed’fl: 
 is infenlibly withdrawn ^ charge not God foolifhly, 
 but lament thy Sins, as the Occafion of this Unhap- 
 pinefs. A fmail Provocation may fometimes be a Bar 
 to grear Advantages. Though nothing indeed ought 
 to be reputed fmail, which intercepts and hinders fo 
 valuable Blefimgs. But be it little or great, let it be 
 thy care to vanquilh and remove this Obflruftion, and 
 then thy Heart’s defire (ball be performed. 
 
 When once corrupt Self-love is fubdued, and thy 
 Soul entirely fubmitted and refigned to God, Peace j 
 and Satisfaction will flow in apace upon thy Mind. For 
 nothing can be grievous or unpalatable, to one, who * 
 hath renounced all Intercfts of his own, and hath no 
 Inclinations or Defires left, but only, that he may be I 
 made an Inftrumentof God’s Glory, and have all the ! 
 Counfelof the Divine Will, which is always beft, ful- i 
 filled in and upon him. This Man fo weaned from j 
 private Refpeds and all created Comforts, is in a pro- I 
 per Pofture for receiving Grace, and tafting the fpiri- j 
 tual Delights of Contemplation and Devotion. The : 
 VelTel muJt be empty, before Grace can be poured in \ 1 
 and when it is perfcdly fo, God delights to fill it up to 
 the Brim. The more a Man is dead to the World and 
 himfelf, the more heavenly-minded, the more morti- ' 
 fied and humble: the fwifter are the Motions of hea- . 
 venly Grace towards him, the more liberal are its Di- ' 
 ftributions, the more fenfible, and delightful, and 
 wonderful, its-Comforts and Effedts upon his Heart. 
 
 Then 
 
Book IV. 0 0 Jesus Christ. _ 3 ?* 
 
 Then (hall he fee the loving Kindnefs of the Lord, 
 then (hall he feel his Soul and all its Powers enlarged, 
 and even Hand amazed at the happy Change. Lo ! 
 thus (hall the Man be blefled that feareth, and feeketh 
 the Lord with all his Strength, and fuffereth not his 
 Heart to wander after Vanity. This Man (ball re¬ 
 ceive the blefled Sacrament with wondrous ElTicacy, He 
 (hall as truly be united to Chrift in his Soul, as the 
 Bread and Wine, which reprefent him, are incorpo¬ 
 rated with the Subftance of his Body. And that which 
 inclines God to be fo particularly Propitious and Boun¬ 
 tiful to fuch a one, is that refigned Temper of Mind, 
 which propofes the Advancement of God’s Honour and 
 Glory, rather than his own Profit •, and comes, more 
 out of a Senfe of Duty and juft Homage to his Savi¬ 
 our, than with a Profpedt of Comfort and Satisfadlion 
 to himfelf. 
 
 C H A P. XVI. 
 
 A Prayer for Relief in our Wants and Spiritual 
 Difireffes. 
 
 Difciylt -~1 T TEar me, O fweeted, kindeft Jefus, 
 JLX whom I now approach, with mod hear¬ 
 ty defires of receiving thee into my Soul. But how can 
 1 expedt, that thou wilt not defpife a Place fo unfit 
 to entertain thy pure, thy glorious Majelty ? Thou 
 knoweft, Lord, my Weaknellesaud my Wants*, how 
 great my Sufferings, and how black my Sins \ how I 
 am opprefTed and aflfifted, tempted and overpower d i 
 difordered with Pafiion, and ftained with Pollution. 
 To Thee I fly for Succour againft my Infirmities, for 
 Phyfick againft my Difeafes, for Support under my 
 Calamities andDiftrefles. I cannot dilfemble my Con- 
 
 Y 4 diuon, 
 
7,7,1 £Df t*lC imitation Book IV. 
 
 dition, I need not publifh it ^ when addreffing to One 
 who knows all things, to whom my verv inward Parts . 
 are naked and open -, To Him, who alone can give ef- 
 feftual Relief to my Sorrows, and fiipply my crying 
 Keceffuies. Thy Wifdorn knows what Succours are 
 moft feafonable and proper for my Circumftances, and 
 how very flender and low my Stock of Virtue is. 
 
 Behold, 1 Hand before thee, a helplefs Creature •, 
 Miferable , and poor, and bind, ar.d naked, 
 and weak, imploring thv Grace, or at leafl 
 fome Fragments of it, to this hungry ftarving Beg¬ 
 gar. O let me not be familhed, but revive this fink¬ 
 ing Wretch with fome Crumbs of heavenly Suffe¬ 
 rance. L et me not perilh with Cold, but warm me 
 with thy Love •, Let me not fall into the Pit, but en¬ 
 lighten my blind Eyes with the Shine of thy graci¬ 
 ous Prefence. Give me a fettled Difrelifh of worldly 
 Pleafures, and make all here below inlipid and bit¬ 
 ter to me. Reconcile me to Crofles and Affliftions 
 by Subminion and fteady Patience •, and leffen every | 
 thing in this World, whether Enjoyment or Suffering, 
 by teaching me to defpife and forget it, Raife my 
 flupid Heart up to Heaven, and fettle my AffcdVions 
 there, that They may no longer wildly rove after the 
 trifling Objedls of Flefh and Senfe. Let me henceforth 
 
 tafte Delight in nothing but Thee, nor ‘ 
 ** 1 fpend tny Money and Labour for that which 
 
 it not Bread-, for thou alone art Meat indeed, and Drink 
 indeed , my Love, and Joy, my Delight and exceeding 
 great Reward, my pertedt and foie Good. 
 
 O that, now I am approaching the Throne of 
 Grace, thou would’ft command thy divine Fire to 
 defeend from Heaven into my Soul! O that my Sins 
 and corrupt Difpofitions might be the Burnt-offering 
 confumed by it! that it might flame, and burn, and 
 melt me down, purge away all my Drofs, and by the 
 violence of its powerful Heat refine, and change, and 
 
 incor- 
 
esus Christ. 
 
 II} 
 
 incorporate me with thy felf. Let me not, I befeech 
 thee, be feat empty away, let me not return hungry 
 and thirfly, from fb fplendid an Entertainment; but 
 work in me mightily, and deal bountifully with thy 
 Servant, as thou ufeft to do unto thofe that love thy 
 Name. I hope to find a wondrous Alteration, and 
 cannot think it ftrange, if I feel my benummed Heart 
 all fublimated, when I come to thac Fire which ever 
 burns without confuming ; Or if I find an entire Se¬ 
 paration of all my worldly and grofs Affe&ions, when 
 heated throughly with that Love, whofe Excellence 
 it is, to purifie the Heart by the aftivity, and to en¬ 
 lighten blind Underftandings, by the brightnefs, of its 
 Flame. 
 
 Chap. XVII. 
 
 An Afi of Praife. 
 
 l)ifciple.2 T" Ook down, O Lord, with Favour ^nd 
 I ii good Acceptance upon thy poor un¬ 
 worthy, but lincere Servant, now proftrating himfelf 
 before thine Altar, with a molt devout Zeal, and 
 all the paffionate and tender RefentmeDt, of which 
 my Heart is capable ; Wilhing ftill, that thefe good 
 Affe&ions were greater and worthy of thee, and that 
 I might meet and embrace my Lord, with all that Per¬ 
 fection of Holinefs and eager Joy, by which thy bell 
 and deareft Saints recommended their Prayers and 
 Praifes, and fo eminently fignalized themfelves in the 
 Celebration of this blefled Sacrament. O God ! my 
 Love and Life, my only and eternal Blifs, Were but 
 my Power proportioned to my Will, None of thofe 
 excellent Patterns ever exprefs’d more awful Reve¬ 
 rence, more ardent Devotion, more eager Love, more 
 
 hum- 
 
m 
 
 iOf tfic imitation Book iv. 
 
 humble Gratitude, than I at this time am dilpofcd, and 
 jnoft earneftly wi(h, to exprefs. . 
 
 I know, O Lord, how far t am from being worthy 
 to receive at thy Hand fuch plentiful Efiblions of 
 Grace, fuch diftinguilhing Marks of thy Kmdnefs, as 
 enabled Them to be fo pious and exemplary in a 
 their AddrefTes to thee : but yet my Heart, and all 
 its Affections, fuch as they are, I dedicate to thy Ser¬ 
 vice The utmoft a devout Mind can conceive or de¬ 
 fine'i offer in thy Prefence with all pofllble Refpeft, 
 with Sincerity as unfeigned, as though my Zeal were 
 much more bright and fierce. I do it without the 
 lead: Referve, All 1 have and am is entirely thine; 
 molt freely confecrated to thy ufe, my God and j 
 I ord, mv Almignty Creatour , and moft merciful 
 Redeemer: Take then a full Pofiefiion of One, upon | 
 fo many Accounts thy own. Enter, and dwell, and : 
 reign in me, nbiolnee, and for cm Behold, 1 open 
 mv Arms wide to embrace my Lord, and Spoufe I 
 delire at this rime to receive thee into my Heart, with j 
 the fame Reverence and Humility, the fame refpea- | 
 ful Gratitude and Love, tire fame faith and Hope, ■ 
 and chafte Defire, with which thy holy Mother recei- 
 ved thee into her Virgin-womb \ when (he returned | 
 that pious Anfwer to the Angel who brought the glad J 
 * Tydings of thy myfterious Incarnation, », 
 luke »• Behold the Hand-maid of the Lord , he it unto : 
 
 me according to thy Word. j 
 
 And as thy Servant John Buftift, that greatefl: a- 1 
 ’ mong them that are born of Women, thy j 
 Lukci. Meflengcr fent to Prepare thy Way be¬ 
 fore thee, felt the powerful Influence of thy Divine 
 Prefence, andconfefs’d it, by leaping in his Mothers 
 Womb for loy; As He, aferibing nothing to himlelt, J 
 did afterwards declare himfelf the Bride- \ 
 John Hi. „ room ' s Friend , whofe Joy was full in hearing the I 
 
 Bridegroom's Voice ; So do I defire to offer my felf with-' 
 * out; 
 
Book IV. of Jesus Christ. 
 
 _ SJJ 
 
 out any Exception, or Regard to private Intereft. and 
 to rejoyce and live in Thee alone. May all the Zeal 
 and Raptures the Extafies and heavenly Villons of 
 the Saints; May all their Virtues and their Praifes • 
 
 Sn Cry Crcacure ln Heaven and Earth ; May all’ 
 that 1 have ever prayed for, and all that pray for me 
 contribute to thy Glory ; and may thy Name be only 
 and ever magnified by all and each of them. 7 
 
 Pr^ 1 ^ " iy hearty Winies 3nd De fires of 
 
 fnr rh 3nd ll ha . n fg lv,n gS a s infinite as thy Majefty 
 
 thilJ hi 7 rrn P‘? eot r,ght ’ and ma ye/f thou be wor- 
 
 v L? f fl p b7 them K T ™ S is ’ and «»» my dai- 
 ly houdy Prayer. Nor will I content my felf with 
 
 Wilhing and Endeavouring this, fingly and in mv 
 
 alT the^Ir^c^ 0 - mo J rerionfl y Invite and Conjure 
 b ^ Cd Sp,rits above > a11 ^y faithful People 
 upon Earth, tojoyn in this molt juft Tribute of Ho- 
 
 n °w L an u d 10 ful1 Confort and perfeff Harmony to 
 pubhih thy Praile and Glory, in all Times atu/pia- 
 
 vvS» 
 
 _ a n^ mein ’ 76 ? a f ions and Countries, all Kindreds 
 Languages of the World, and bear your Parts in 
 
 fwe £ the Pa ving, the holy N^e 
 
 NatuSran. f f 7 ° Ur DevCt,oas ’ as bi g b as humane 
 Natuie can go, for you can never go far enough. And 
 
 You, devout Difciples of this blelled Mafter, as oft as 
 you receive this holy Sacrament, fee that you reve¬ 
 rently adore this Myftery of Love. And then be Pure 
 with a moft fervent Faith and univerfal Charity to 
 befeech this gracious Saviour, that the Efletft of his 
 
 whTn- m j 7 r bC f n general , 38 t,K D ^ n of i[ i ^at he 
 who Died for All, may be Glorified in the Salvation of 
 
 All. And may thofe Supplications be fuccefsful in 
 
 obtaining Mercy, for your Selves, and every Sinner? 
 
 and for Me, the Chief of Sinners, in particular. 
 
 And when you return from this precious heavenly 
 
 realt, full of Grace and Joy, remember then to look 
 
 back 
 
3 3 6 €> f me limitation Book IV. 
 
 back with tender Companion upon your weaker Bre¬ 
 thren ; and wiffi, that every contrite and afflicted Soul 
 may be admitted to the like Comforts, may feel the 
 fame wonderful Efficacy from this myfterious Table ; 
 and let not Me, the leaft and molt unworthy of your 
 Brethren, who want them moft of any, be denied a 
 part in your Charitable Interceffions. 
 
 Chap. XVIII. 
 
 Jgainfi Nice Dilutes concerning this Sacrament. 
 
 Chrift.l TF thou would’ft preferve thy Faith incor- 
 rnpt, and thy Devotion fromdiftrachon* 
 content thy felt with reverencing and admiring thefe 
 holy Myfteries, and do not indulge a bufie Curiolity, 
 in bold and unprofitable Enquiries concerning them. 
 For this is the way to damp a godly Zeal, and to per¬ 
 plex thy Mind with intricate and endlefs Doubts. Re¬ 
 member, it is the Glory of God to conceal a 
 
 rrw.«v. 2 . fhi and his fuper-eminent Wifdom and 
 
 Power procures it felf juft Veneration, by doing more 
 than Man is able to comprehend. I do not mean by 
 this toexadt a blind Obedience, but expedt and com¬ 
 mend the life of Reafon in the Search of divine Truths. 
 Provided always, that it be tempered with Sobriety 
 and Modefty, with Teachablenefs, and a due Refpedt 
 to what 1 my felf have revealed in my Word, and 
 what my Church hath faithfully delivered in her Do- 
 firines and Expofitions upon it. . 
 
 Happy is that Meeknefs and Poverty of Spirit, 
 which induftrioufly declines the rugged thorny Paths 
 of Controverlie and captious Difputes ^ and walks in 
 the plain fmooth Way of Duty, and pradtical Reli¬ 
 gion ; which ftudies God’s Commands, and labours to 
 ® under- 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 337 
 
 tmderftand things of a lizewith its Capacity, with¬ 
 out troubling it felt about his Doings and Decrees. 
 Too many Inftances there are of daring Men, who, 
 by prefuming to found the deep Things of Religion, 
 have cavilled and argued themfelves out of all Reli¬ 
 gion. Thefe Men miftake their Bulinefs: For the 
 thing required of a Chriftiau, is not Penetration; and 
 Subtlety of Wit, nice Diftindtions, or fublime No¬ 
 tions, but vigorous Faith, and an honelt holy Life: 
 Sobriety and Temperance and Chaftity, Juftice and 
 Charity, Piety and Devotion. Flow oft is Reafon 
 puzled, even in Matters relating to Creatures infe- 
 riour to thy felf ? And will not this Refle&ion con- 
 troul, and cure, an Expectation fo extravagant and 
 abfurd, as that of being able to give a clear Account of 
 Things above thee, nay of perfectly Underftanding 
 thy Great, thy Infinite Creatour himfelf ? Submit thy 
 Reafon to Revelation ; and let Humility and Defe¬ 
 rence to God recommend thy Faith; and then, 
 though thou canft not attain sill Knowledge, yet thou 
 lhalt be lure not to want/wv, that is necelTary or pro¬ 
 fitable for thee. 
 
 Many Men are much dilTatisfied in their Minds, with 
 Doubts concerning the Nature of true Faith, and Dif¬ 
 ficulties which arii'e concerning my Prefence in the Sa¬ 
 crament. But thefe Doubts are not always finful, nor 
 always from themfelves; but frequently owing to the 
 Temptation of the Devil, and induftrioufly fcattered 
 by Him, with wicked Artifice and malicious Defign. 
 Be not therefore too anxious upon thefe Occafions: 
 Trouble not thy felf to argue nicely, nor imploy thy 
 Thoughts upon the Matter ; nor hold thy felf con¬ 
 cerned to be able to anlwer every Cavil which he puts 
 into thy Head : But keep clofe to Scripture, and do 
 thy Duty, and the Enemy will foon retreat, when he 
 finds thee neglect his Attempts. Think not thefe in¬ 
 ward Diftraciions, a Sign, that thou art forfaken of 
 
 God. 
 
flDf tf>c fmitation Book iv. 
 
 Ill 
 
 God. They are rather the contrary, and a Mark of 
 Grace. God fuffers them, to exercife thy Patience, 
 to try thy Conftancy, to promote thy Spiritual Ad¬ 
 vantage. Wert thou a Reprobate, thou would’ft not 
 thus be aflaulted , For fuch the Devil is lure of alrea¬ 
 dy, and Temptations are thrown away upon them. 
 They are the Faithful, the Sincere, the Devout Chi i- 
 ftians, whom he teazes and torments \ for, in fo do¬ 
 ing, he hopes to enlarge his Dominion, and to feduce 
 thofe who were not His before. 
 
 Proceed then in thy Chriftian Courfe with Refolu- 
 tion and Patience, and ftill frequent the Sacrament, 
 with ftedfaft Faith and humble Reverence. What¬ 
 ever there thou findelt to exceed thy Underltanding, 
 put it to God’s Account} and leave Him to make it 
 good, though thou canft not conceive how it Ihould 
 be done. He will not deceive thee •, but They who 
 rely upon their own Underftandings, are fure to de¬ 
 ceive themfelves. Remember God hath faid, that he 
 walks and dwells with the Humble, and {hews his Ways to 
 the Meek, that he reveals himfelf to Babes • that he opens 
 the Eyes of the Honeft and Sincere, but hides his 
 Grace and Knowledge from the Proud, and Wife in 
 their own Sight. Reafon (Experience proves) may 
 both deceive, and be deceived ; for it is but humane \ 
 but Faith has God for its Foundation, and cannot err, 
 becaufe depending upon One, who is Truth it felf, in¬ 
 capable of millaking, or of impofing upon others. 
 
 4 ’Tis therefore highly fit, and, in Matters of Reli¬ 
 gion, abfolutely neceflary, that thefe two Principles 
 Ihould know their Order and refpeffive Stations, and 
 eaeh contain it felf within its proper Sphere. Faith, 
 (which fuppofes a Revelation received and acknow¬ 
 ledged) challenges the higheft Place, and Reafon ought 
 to keep her diftance, to ferve and follow after, not 
 to fet Bounds to, or afi'ume, and encroach, and ufurp 
 over the Other. For Faith and Charity are the two 
 
 Pil- 
 
Book IV. Of Jesus Christ. 139 
 
 Pillar?, upon which Chriftianity ftands; the two go¬ 
 verning Principles of a good Man’s Opinions and A- 
 dions. And Their Authority and Influence is in no 
 one Inftance more confiderable, than in This of the 
 blefled Sacrament. God is infinite and eternal, his 
 Power unbounded and incomprehenfible. He does what- 
 foever pleafeth Him in Heaven and in Earth , and who can 
 underft and his Counfels, or find out all his Methods? If the 
 Works of God were fuch as Humane Realon could pe¬ 
 netrate with eafe, they would lofe great part of their 
 Glory •, and we Ihould foon abate of our Awe and 
 Veneration for their Author, if his Dealings were not 
 above the Power of our Tongues to exprefs, and the 
 utmoft Extent of our Imaginations to con- 
 ceive. O that Aden would therefore praife the !1 " 
 
 Lord for his Goodnefs , and confefs the Wonders that he hath 
 done for the Children of Men ! for great and ^ 
 marvellous are thy Works , oh Lord God Al¬ 
 mighty ! How unfeanhahle are thy Judg- **• 
 
 mcnts, and thy Ways pafi finding out 
 
 The END. 
 
 A D- 
 
_ > 
 
ADVERTISEMENT 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 I He Publifiers of this Edition, being dejirous to reni 
 dee ,b ls l, ttieBook ns generally ufcfulas it was 
 pojjwle • And confidering, that the two great Oc- 
 ——- capons of Extraordinary Devotion are, the Sea. 
 
 fans of Receiving the Bleffcd Saer anient of the Ms Supper ■* 
 and that of Sicknefs • they thought the former reafon ably well 
 provided for, tn the fourth Book of the foregoing Tranjlation, 
 and engaged Me to make fame Supplementary Provifton for 
 the latter. This / was the rather difpofed to do, in regard 
 agreatpart of that which follows lay by me, fame time Ctncc 
 tompofed, at the Requefl of a Lady, ( now I hope with Cod) 
 whodefered my Affifiance in Preparing feme Meditations , that 
 might be proper for her then very weak and lanouifhing Con- 
 amon. The manner in which they were drawn_feemed not ill 
 tojutt with the Temper of the Author to which they are fixed • 
 and the Defign of caftwg them into this Form iS to promote in 
 Jome meafure thofe Rcafonings with a Man's own Mind 
 which at all times indeed, but efpccially in fuels Circurn flan- 
 ces, would prove of excellent Advantage, iffreouent Vfe did 
 but render them more familiar, 
 
 I am far from thinking, that thefe few Sheets have any 
 thing in them of equal Perfection, with thofe many Pious ami 
 well weighed Treat,fes, written by others upon tins Subjetl. 
 ir f m r d 1 the Reader imagine, that either This 
 
 7fltr% M l MperJ t de i thg benefit of the Prayers 
 
 ft he Church, and the Advice of our Spirtual Phyfuinns ; 
 
 Tbeje ought always to be confuted in the firfi PUc/ 0 before 
 
 Z Mat- 
 
To the Reader. 
 
 Matters come to extremity ; And a confcientious Per fan , , 
 after all his own Care, Will find Bufmefs enough for them. But 
 the Exercifes of Piety prefer ibed in fuch Trails will be good | 
 Helps, andfillupthofe Intervals very welfwhich the Languifh- j 
 ingsofaSick Bed many times allow, when tt cannot be ex- i 
 petted, that the Ordinary Guides of our Souls fhould be ready ! 
 j vith their Attendance. Whofe Directions in the Meaftires of 
 Mens Repentance, while under the affiitting Hand of God, j 
 and the proper Methods of Expr effing their ThankJiilneJ's when 
 delivered from it, as well as their prudent Comforts admini- 
 fired to wounded and contrite Hearts, will notwitbftandingle 
 always feafonable and neceffiary. 
 
 The DevcutChrifiian, who converfes much with the Word 
 of God, and the Offices oj the Churc h, will find himfelf able 
 to make large Additions to the following Devotions. In which 
 it was much more difficult to refrain my Pen,than to expatiate 
 a great deal further. But I confidered the condition of the 
 P erfonsthey were intendedfor: andtherefor-e contented myfelf 
 with fuch fhort Hints under each Head, as the Wttaknefs of 
 that would bear. If what I have offered here may tend to the 
 promoting of Piety, and the fanttifying fuch Dijpenfations of 
 Providence to any one of my Chriflian Brethren, by kindling 
 in them a holy Zeal, and infpiring good Purpofes, I have my 
 End. And this, with God’s Bleffing, I hope it will, and 
 heartily pray that it may, in fome Degree be capable of. 
 
 Geo. Stanhope. 
 
 Medita* 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 Meditations and Prayers 
 
 FOR 
 
 ££>tck 
 
 Meditation I. 
 
 V ?°* Sick ” e f* ™ general, , the Author , 4^ 
 
 0/ />. y 
 
 'Ome, my Soul, and let us reafon toge¬ 
 ther, concerning the Things that have 
 befallen us. This Body, to which thou 
 . .— T art united, flags and droops; the Vigour 
 
 °* it is abated, its Beauty withered and wa/led • The 
 wdl-knit Limbs are grown feeble, and with’great 
 oifficulty iuftain their Weight, or obey thy Com¬ 
 mands. They fcarce perform thy Offices aright; 
 And when they do, it is with Pantings and Tremblings 
 with Weannefs and Faincuefs; They feem to groaa 
 and fink under their Burden, and each Member, which 
 was formerly wont to ferve Thee, with wonderful 
 Cheerfulnefs and Adhvity, now calls for Succours 
 from abroad, and is uo longer able to fupport itfelf. 
 This is fuch a Change, as ought not to be felt on¬ 
 ly, but well confidered too; Be not thou 
 therefore like to Horfe and Mule , which T ™‘ Kxxii ‘ l0 " 
 have no Vnderftanding, but lofe all Impreffions, as 
 iobn as the Senfe of the Stroke ceafes: It is Thy 
 
 2 z pri- 
 
i gBefcitation* ant> 
 
 Privilege and Duty both, to refleft and ruminate ; j 
 to call back Things already paft, and anticipate thofe 
 which are to come ; and as for fuch as are actually pre-j 
 fent, to acquaint thy felt with the Cnufcs and Rea- j 
 fons, the Ends and Llfesofthem, as well as with the | 
 Nature and Quality of the Things thcmfelves. All 
 thefe are Operations proper to a reafoning Soul, and 
 the prefent occafion calls upon thee for the Excrcifc 
 of them all. For thou canft not be fick as becomes j 
 a Man, and a Chriftian, without enquiring, whence, i 
 and wherefore it is, that thou art fo : The firft and i 
 moll neceflary Step, both toward the patient endu- j 
 ring of the Anguilh, and the fuccefsful Application . 
 of the Remedies, is to learn the true Original ot our j 
 Difeafe. 
 
 II. Know therefore moft alfuredly. That what the 
 Holy Ghoft hath fpoken concerning Affliction in gene¬ 
 ral, is in an efpecial manner true concerning This par¬ 
 ticular Branch of it, It cometf) not forth out 
 Job v. 6. o j- jj tl ^ neither doth Trouble fpring out oj 
 the Ground. Our felves indeed were taken thence, 
 and moulded into Man ; But this was not the EfleCt 
 of any Natural Caufe •, The God of Nature by his 
 Almighty Power, commanded Earth and Alhes into 
 This beauteous and wonderful Structure of Humane 
 Body. And He alone, who created and formed it, 
 commands it back into its Native Dull again. Every 
 Difeafe and Decay, whether it be the Effect of Acci¬ 
 dent or Time, whether what we ufually call violent,, 
 and (hortning our Days-, or whether according to 
 the Courfe of Nature, and the flower Declinings of Age, 
 All are but fo many Shocks,by which this flefbly Taber¬ 
 nacle is lhaken, or moulders by degrees, and by grow¬ 
 ing more ruinous ar.d uninhabitable, gives the Soul 
 warning to feek another Dwelling. And thefe are 
 all difpofed by a moll Heady and particular Provi¬ 
 dence; and, it traced up to their firft Original, have 
 
fo? $>crfou& 
 
 i 
 
 a Caufe as fublime, as the Body it felf: Nature in¬ 
 deed goes on in a fmooth and fettled Courfe ; and fo 
 the Hand that guides this Engine is far diftant, and 
 leldom obferved ; but even Nature it felf is God’s In- 
 ftrument, though the Procefs and the long Chain of 
 Caufes be to intricate, and withal fo familiar, and fre¬ 
 quently alike, that the Events refulting from thence 
 ceafe to be marvellous in our Eyes. A Cold, or a 
 Surfeit ; a weak Conftitution, or a foul Blood; un- 
 wholfome Diet and ill Hours ; Negleft of Means and 
 Carelefnefs of our Health; Advice taken too late, or 
 a Medicine improper, or out of Seafon; Thefe are 
 what we commonly charge our Indifpofitions and our 
 Mifcarriages upon. And thus far we may fay true, 
 but it w’e go no higher, we flop a great deal too foon. 
 For it is eafie to difeerna Hand above, that directs 
 and limits all thefe; that fmites the Strong, and pre- 
 ferves the Tender ; flays by the llighteft Accidents, 
 and recovers from the moft defperate ; and this in a 
 manner molt furpriling, fuch as no Humane Art or 
 Skill had any expectation, or can give any account, of. 
 
 HI- If then thou hall convinced thy felf, that the 
 Finger of God is in all thefe Things; Purfue this 
 Thought ( my Soul) a little farther; and fee what a 
 fair and wide Scene of Knowledge and Heavenly 
 VVifdom it will foon open to Thee. For what is God ? 
 Is not He that very Being infinitely Powerful, and 
 Wife, and Juft, and Good ? Is it not He who made 
 thee, and fuftains thee, the fame who governs and 
 difpofes this whole World, and all the Creatures in 
 it, after the Counfel of his own Will ? He, with 
 whom the Lives of his Servants are exceeding Pre¬ 
 cious ? In whofe Sight the Hairs of our Head are all' 
 numbred ? Without whofe Permifiion nota Sparrow 
 can fall to the Ground, and in whofe Eftimation the 
 meaneft of thofe that are made after his own Image, 
 are .of infinitely more value than many Sparrows? 
 
 Z 3 Remem- 
 
4 
 
 S3c*ttatton0 attD 
 
 Remember that fuch is the Author of thy Difeafe, I 
 and that finale Remembrance will lead thee to fitch | 
 Confequences, fuch holy and feafonahlc Reflexions, • 
 as cannot, if duly attended, and carefully improved, • 
 but work in thee that frame of Mind, which beft fuits 
 thy prefent Circumftances, and mult needs difpofe 
 thee to reap large and lading Advantages from them. 
 For how ca:ift thou confidcr his Power, and not dread : 
 the dire EfFeXs of an Angry, or red fecure under the I 
 Favour and ProteXion of a Reconciled God ? Or how I 
 bis Wifdoin, and not be contented with his Choices 
 for thee ? Or how his Juflicc, and not be moll zca- 
 loully concerned, to feek a pardon tor thofe Sins, 
 which have provoked, and made thee an ObjeX of it ? j 
 Or how his Goodnefs, and not be even thankful un-« 
 dcr thy Sufferings, fincc what is grievous to Flefli and I 
 Blood, is yet ordained to excellent and heavenly Pur- j 
 pofes, and it is out of very kindnefs that thou art j 
 thus AffiiXed ? Or how upon his Right of Creation, j 
 without acknowledgment of his Bounty in giving and | 
 continuing tiny Being, and all the Comforts of it ? j 
 Or how, laftly, upon his Preference of Mankind a- J 
 bove the reft of the Creatures here below, without 
 obferving the peculiar Prerogative, which renders 
 I\lcn more valuable, That of a noble and reafon- 
 able Soul, which the others want \ without Cherifh- j 
 ing the hope of Immortality, whereunco Man only, j 
 of all here below, is appointed ? A Hope, which ' 
 allures ns, we lhall not perilh, but only be changed ■,: 
 and in the midft of Languilhings and departingStrug- 
 gles, can bear up under, nay can triumph over, Ago¬ 
 nies and Death it felf. Here then will I fix my 
 Thoughts, I will come before the Almighty with 
 a Song, and make my Prayer unto the God of my 
 Life. 
 
 Hymn. 
 
foj *btcli $erfon& 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 C ^l OD is the Lord, even God alone He kil - Dtuttu 
 X leth, and he makethalive, hcwoundeth, and xxx ^* 39* 
 he healeth. 1 
 
 Thou, Lord, Power of Life, and Death X vi. 
 
 Thou fcourgeft L , and jheweft Mercy 3 Thou leadejl 13 . 
 to the Gates of the Grave, and bringe(l up again . xiii.2. 
 
 It is he that holdeth our Soul in Life , and fuf- „ r . . A 
 
 feretb not onr Feet to flip. Ff ' lxVK 
 
 Andaqain,whcn we are minified andbrouoht low cv \\ . n Af> 
 
 I lr>- 7 7 C I I J m- ^ »*• 395 '+ 0 » 
 
 through Sicknejs,through any AftUElion or Sorrow . 
 
 Though he fujjer us to he evilentreated,yet help - xli. 3. 
 
 eth he the Meek out of Mifery, or maketh all his 
 Bed in his Sicknefs 3 
 
 For it is neither Herb, nor mollifying Plaifter, Wifd . xvi. 
 that reftoreth men to Health, but thy Word, O I2, 
 
 Lord, which healeth all things. 
 
 My Time is always in thy Hand 3 unto God the xxxu 
 -Lord belong the Jjfues of Life and Death . Ixviii. 20. 
 
 All Creatures wait upon thee, when thou openefl c j v 
 thy Hand they are filed with Good. 
 
 When thou fendeft forth thy Spirit, they are crea¬ 
 ted m , when thou hi deft thy Face, they are troubled 3 
 when thou takefl away their Breath, they Dye, and 
 are turned again to their Daft: 
 
 1 will Sing to the Lord as long as I live, 1 will 
 Vraife my God, while 1 have my Being. 
 
 Ady Meditation of him fhalL be fweet 3 and my 
 Joy fjall be in the Lord. 
 
 When thou fa;dft, Seek ye my Face 3 my He a) t sxvii. 8. 
 faiduntome. Thy Face, Lord, will 1 jeek. 
 
 O hide not thou thy face from me, nor cafi 9. 
 away thy Servant in Difpleajure. 
 
 Thou haft been my Helper, leave me not, neither 
 forfake me, 0 God of rny Salvation. 
 
 Z 4 Some 
 
 27 - 
 
 28 . 
 
 29 . 
 Sc- 
 
 34- 
 
 ic. 
 
6 QBcDttattonis auD ^jarcr# 
 
 Tfd. xx. 7. 5*wir pf their trufi in Strength of Nature, I 
 Wfome in Medicines, but I will remember the j| 
 Name of the Lard our Cod. 
 
 cxlvi. 2. o p u t not your Truft (in Phyficians, nor ) \n | 
 any Child of Man, for there it no help in them . 
 
 4\ But blcffcd is he that bath the God of Jacob for 
 his Help, and r vhofe Hope is in the Lord his God . 1 
 * x - 9* Save, Lord , and hear me, O King of Heaven, j 
 when I call upon Thee. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, &e j 
 As it was in the Beginning, &c. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 O jUmtghty God, the Father of the Spirits of all Flcjb, I 
 wbofc never-fading Providence orderethall things both | 
 in Heaven and Earth: 1 defirc with the profoundcjl Hu - I 
 tnility and Reverence, to proftratc both Soul and Body before j 
 thee, begging that thou wouffdft give me grace, to behold and I 
 adnurc thy Doings, in all thy Difpenfations towards v\y felf j 
 and all Mankind. I acknowledge it thy Bounty, that J ever j 
 was at all • and adore thy Mercy and Long-foffer mg for pre - j 
 ferving me thus long in the Land of the Living. My many I 
 Days and Years of Health and Comfort were thy Gift •, and I 
 the Recoveries from former Sickncffcs, as well as the Preven- J 
 non of thofe Dangers and Difeafcs 1 never felt, are owing to ] 
 thee alone. Man doth not live by Bread and Care, nor is j 
 relieved by Medicines only, but by the Word and Buffing, j 
 which proccedeth out of the Mouth of God. Grant me, I 
 befccch thee, aftrong and due Senfeof my entire Dependence j 
 upon Thee, and Grace to improve under, and behave my 
 ft [f In conformity to, that Perfwrfion . That whether the 
 Means ufed for my Eafe and Relief ftcceed, I may aferibe 
 cdltheGlory and Thanks to thee alone j or whether thou think- ! 
 ejl ft to dery them their intended Fffctts, 1 mayhumbU 
 my fclf under thy viighty Hand, and remember that thou, 
 Lord, haft dene it. Jnfpire me, 1 befccch thee, with that 
 
fOJ £a>l'cft ^crfoujs, 7 
 
 true and heavenly Wifdom, which may help me to differn 
 aright the Reafons, and enable me to anfiver the Ends, of 
 this Correction, and all other thy Dealings with me. That 
 J may hear the Rod, and who hath appointed it and , in all 
 Conditions, fab nlit my felf entirely to thy good Pleafurc -, and 
 g Inn fie God m the Day ofVi fit at ion. That fo this IVeaknefs 
 of my Body may tend to the Strengthening of my Virtues, and 
 the Health of my Soul •, through the Merits of Him whore- 
 deemed them both at the Price of his own Blood, even thy 
 Son and our ever Blcjfed Saviour, Jefts Christ our Lord. 
 Amen. 
 
 M E D. II. 
 
 Of the Power of God, and the Affections arifmg 
 from thence, Dread of his Anger, and Trust in 
 his Protection. 
 
 d • TA J Hich way foever we turn our Eyes, ten thou- 
 V v fand Objects meet us, which all Prove and 
 Preach to us the Almighty Power of God. The glo¬ 
 rious Fabrick of the Univcrfe, and every thing con¬ 
 tained therein, nay even the meanelt, and, in humane 
 Efteem, molt defpicable Creature, proclaims aloud 
 the Omnipotence of its Maker. And the good Or¬ 
 der, in which thefe are contained, does as much mag¬ 
 nify his Prcferving, as their Exiftence does his Crea¬ 
 ting, Power. But Man needs not look abroad j Him- 
 felt is ten thoufand Arguments to demonftrate this 
 to himfelf. The curious Strufture of his Body, the 
 Excellencies of its Divine Inhabitant, the Soul; and 
 the marvellous amazing Union, and mutual Corrc- 
 fpondence of both thefe, could be the Workmanfhip 
 of nothing lefs than Omnipotence. This Mixture of 
 Spirit and Matter, of Perilling and Immortal; the 
 
 Saga- 
 
8 $te&ttattottjS ant> $ia?crja: 
 
 Sagacity of the one to influence, and govern \ the Rea- ' 
 dinefs of the other to obey, and be actuated \ The |. 
 Sprightlinefs and Vigour \ or elfe the Heavinefs and : 
 Diforder, and reciprocal Difabilities, which each ot 
 thefe convey to the other, are moft certainly the 
 Lord’s doing, and ought to be marvellous in our Eyes. 
 But, alas! how fhould Man fubfid one Moment even 
 in the State of his Greatell Perfection, did not this il 
 Great Artificer watch over his own Work, and con- f 
 ftantly fudain it; did not He check and moderate that J 
 Conflict, which the warringElements of our Body are ■ 
 continually engaging in ? But efpecially, now that | 
 the Corruption of our Nature, and the Tranfgreflion j 
 of our firft Parent, hath let Death and Difeafes loofe J 
 upon us: There needs no frefh Infliction \ For if God j 
 be but paflive, and withdraw his Rcdraint, the Ene¬ 
 my is always ready to devour us, and we carry the 
 Seeds of our Torment and Ruine about our own Per- • 
 fons. And God hath fo decreed, that every Man j 
 lhall once fall by the Stroke of Death *, which in our | 
 greated Strength, in the very Bloom and Beauty of 
 Youth, contrary to our own Expeditions, or the 
 Fears of our tendered Friends, he fometimes executes - , j 
 to teach us, that our Being is wholly precarious, that 
 we have nothing Stable here, no Title even to Life it J 
 felf; but are all concluded by a Sentence already ! 
 pafs’d, and all our Days are in the nature of a Re¬ 
 prieve ; The prolonging whereof is an Ad of meer 1 
 Mercy, as the cutting it fhort is free from the lead 
 Shadow of Injudice. God then cannot want Means 
 and Opportunities for this \ All Nature is His \ The 
 Malice of wicked Men, TheSpight of our Foes, 1 he 
 midaken Kindnefs of our Friends, The F.rrours of 
 our Phyficians, and the Mifapplication of their Medi¬ 
 cines, are all directed and over-ruled to this End : 
 The Humours of our Bodies, the Temper of the Air, 
 and every Element indeed,when he gives the Word, 
 
 turn 
 
9 
 
 fo: £ncft jettons?. 
 
 turn Executioners ; or, in Truth, if He but pleafe to 
 permit, the Thing will do it felf. He burns us up by 
 Feavers, or drowns us in Dropfies; ftrikes us Dead in 
 a Moment by Apoplexies, buries us alive by PallTes, or 
 waftes us, by flow and imperceptible Degrees, with lin- 
 gring Confumptions. Thou feell, my Soul, how eafily 
 God can do thefe, by a thoufand Inltances of Friends, 
 and Acquaintance gone before, and by thy own yet 
 more fenfible Experience, in this worn and languifti- 
 ing Body of Thine, Thou feelell now, that no Flefh 
 is able to Hand before God, and how quickly we are 
 blafted by the breath of his Difpleafure. That to Him 
 alone belongs Power and Strength, and to poor mortal 
 Man, nothing but Wretchednefs, and Weaknefs, and 
 Vanity. 
 
 II. Surely (my Soul) had thefe impreflions been frefh 
 and deep upon me heretofore, they would have checkt 
 my wild Career in Sin, and prevented many grievous 
 and bold Tranfgreflions, which I have reafon to fear 
 might provoke the Divine Majefty,to call me upon this 
 "Bed ot Languifhing. For do We provoke theLord to 
 Jealoulle ? Are we llronger than He ? Alas! my own 
 Condition hath taught me how vain and fool-hardy it 
 is, not only to fight againft God ; but not to fear, and 
 Hand in perpetual awe of him : how fatal to play with 
 this confirming Fire, And I cannot but wilh from the 
 bottom of my Soul, that I had better confidered this 
 Point long ago, That he is a terrible and a mighty God; 
 and when he enters into Controverfie with Mankind, no 
 Flelh can abide it. At leaf!:, my Soul, let us make that 
 good ufe of this Refle&ion now, to be unfeignedly Sorry 
 for what is pall; and more Cautious and Obfervant for 
 the time to come. The Flower is w ithered indeed, and 
 hangs its feeble Head ; but it is not yet quite cut down; 
 O let us yet humble our felves in his fear, and con- 
 lider what a yet more dreadful Vengeance God hath 
 in (tore for hardened and unperfwadeable Wretches! 
 
 If 
 
i o *®cDitatro!t£S anti loafers 
 
 If the Decays and Pains of the Body alone are fo grie¬ 
 vous, how (hall we bear the lofsof Body and Soul both ' || 
 
 how fhall we dwell with Everlafting Burnings ? If the 
 Rod of God, thcfe comparatively light punifhments, 
 reprefent to us the Terrors of his angry Juftice ■, Who 
 can bear the Approach of that Difmal Day, when he 
 fhall come in Thunder and Flatnes, to make an abfolute 
 End of this whole World, and deliver wicked Sinners I 
 over to irrecoverable Dcffruction ? An Eternity of 
 Torments! Jefus defend us ! who can entertain even j 
 themoff diftant Thought of it, without Trembling 
 and Aftonilhment ? Fall down then, my Soul, and hum¬ 
 ble thy felt under the mighty Hand of God ^ that thou 
 may’ll: not perifh with this frail Body ; and lofe no time I 
 in making thy Peace, but work with all thy might 5 
 cfpecially now, that the Day of Life feems to decline, 
 and the Night comes on wherein no Man can work. 
 
 Ill. For remember, my Soul, for thy encouragement, j 
 that if thou abound intheWorkofthcL.ord, 
 1C0r.xv.58. t j,y Labour fhall not be in vain in the Lord, j 
 He is no lefs mighty to fave than to deftroy : With Him 
 no Word is impoffible 5 and, if he will, he can even 
 yet raife this feeble Body, and reftorc it to perfect 
 Health and Soundncfs. Nay he will certainly do it, if 
 That be belt for me ^ and if it be nor, he will do yet 
 more. For there will come a Day, in which this vile ‘ 
 earthly Part fhall be enlivened again \ and if it crumble 
 into Dull, and fcatter in the mean while ^ though it Pafs 
 through infinite different Forms, yet will He purfue this 
 v . Body through all its Changes, collect its di- 
 ‘ v " fperfed Particles, command the little Heaps 
 of Duff: to awake, and tranflate it into a Glorious and I 
 a Spiritual Body fit for a State of Incorruption, and 
 the Inheritance ot that Kingdom, where this Flelh and ! 
 Blood, which we now let fo falfe, fo extravagant a 
 value upon, is not worthy to enter. 1 will therefore 
 confirm my felt, in the Power and Promilesof my Qod.: 
 
 and, 
 
f02 ^ICft $CtfOU0. 
 
 11 
 
 and, with holy Job-, Though he fay me, yet ... 
 
 will I truft in him. For even then I will jooxiii. 15 . 
 lay me down in hope of a Refurredfion to Eternal 
 Life ; and commit my Body like Seed, to the Ground; 
 not to be loft, but improved, by corrupting there . 1 
 For Thou, O God art unchangeable, and thy Pro- 
 mifes without Repentance; and promifed thou haft, 
 that our v,le Body fhall be fafhioned like P/ ., ... 
 unto Chrift’s glorious Body, according to 1 
 the mighty working, whereby thou art able to fubduc 
 all things to thy felf. 
 
 Ejaculations. 
 
 I N thee therefore, O Lord , will 1put my trust ; P/jMxx i. 
 
 let me never be put to Confufon, but deliver 
 me in thy Righteotfnefs , and five me. 
 
 Be thou my S: rong-hold whereunto 1 may alwety 
 re fort ; thou haf promifed to help me, for thou art 
 my Houfe of Defence, and my Cafile. 
 
 - Deliver me, O my God, from the Adverf,try’s 
 Hand, preferve me from the Hunter of Souls ; 
 
 He layeth Snares, and is mighty to defiroy ; but 
 yet the Lord , who dwelleth on high is mightier. 
 
 Thou, O Lord God, art the Thing that 1 long 
 for ; Thou hafi been my Hope even from my'South. 
 
 Through thee have 1 been holden up ever fince I 
 was born ; Thou art he that took me out of my 
 Another’s 11 omb ; my Praife /hall be always of 
 thee. 
 
 O cafi me not away in the Time of my difrefs , 
 forfake me not, when tny Strength faileth me. 
 
 Let them be confounded and perifh , that are 
 gain ft niy Soul ; let the wicked Spirits be covered 
 with Shame and Diftonour, that feck to do me evil. 
 
 As for me, I will patiently tarry the Lord’s Lei - />r,/vvv" 
 fnrt, and will put my Tru/l in the Lord. 15 ," ' "* 
 
 For 
 
i z ffiteDitattong ant) _ 
 
 Jobx ix.25. For 1 know that my Redeemer liveth, and that 
 
 he fijall /land at the Lafl Day upon the Earth •, 
 
 2< And though after ?ny SkinlVorms deftroy this 
 
 Body, yet in my Flejl) (hall I fee God : 
 
 27 . Mfyom Ifhall fee for my felf, and mine Eyes (hall 
 
 behold, and not another. 
 
 3 °hnx i.25. Forhe 
 
 is the Refurrettion and the Life, and who- 
 foever believeth in him, though he dye, yet fhall he j 
 
 live again. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, &c. 
 
 As it was in the Beginning, &c. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 O Mo ft glorious Lord God, Terrible in thy Judgments, 
 and Wonderful in all thy Dealings toward the Chil¬ 
 dren of Men-, Pojfefs my Soul, I befeecb thee, with awful 
 and becoming Apprehenfions of thy Majefiy. Give me a fe- 
 rious Senfe and Sorrow for ever having hardened my Heart 
 from thy fear, and provoked that Tengeance, which can con- 1 
 fume me in a moment. Lord, convince me whom 1 ought 
 to dread, and let me never, for the gratifying any finful 
 Inclination, forget any more the Lord my Maker and in¬ 
 cur the Difpttafure of Him, who is able to cafl both Body 
 and Soul into Hell. And, as I implore thy Grace, that this 
 Confideration of thy Power may be an effectual Check to all ; 
 my unruly Appetites •, fo, I bejcech thee, let it be my Stay 
 and Confidence in all Dangers and Difirejfes That, for- 
 faking the broken Reeds of all worldly Succours, 1 may put my 
 whole Trufi in thy Mercy \ and evermore ferving 7 hee in 
 Holinefs and Purenefs of Living, may even in Death it felf 
 be more than Concjuerour : Even in that Joyful Day, when 
 all Enemies (hall be deftroyed', and thy Children (hall come 
 forth from the dark Prifons of the Grave \ andfhme like Suns 
 tn the Kingdom ofTheetheir Father. Grant this, thou Rock 
 of my Soul, for thy dear Son Jefus Chrift's fake. Amen. 
 
 
foj ^erfonjs. 13 
 
 M E D. III. 
 
 Of thefufiee of God : And the Penitential Sorrow 
 refusing from it. 
 
 I* O D is a Being infinitely perfeft and good ; 
 
 V T the Supreme, the Original Good ; the Au¬ 
 thor and Maker of all things; and cannot therefore 
 be fuppofed, either to hate what himfelf hath made, 
 or to have given Being to any thing, with a Defign 
 to render it Miferable. His Providence and Power 
 which made the Subjedf of the two former Medita¬ 
 tions, are in their own Nature and primitive Inten¬ 
 tion, calculated for the Benefit and Security of his 
 Creatures ; And if at any time they become the In- 
 flrumentsor Difpenfers of Grief and Pain, This is an 
 Effect purely accidental ; an Operation fo foreign, 
 that it is even extorted from them, and wholly impu¬ 
 table to fome other Caufe. And this is the cafe of 
 -Mankind ; once favoured above all their Fellow-Crea¬ 
 tures, and fafe under the Shelter and Smiles of an Al¬ 
 mighty Protedfor ; But by their own fault deprived 
 of this Defence; left naked and expofed to mifchiefs 
 and Sufferings; and not only difarmed of their furefl 
 Guard, but in perpetual Danger of being deftroyed, 
 by that very Hand, which was formerly their Friend 
 and Defender. Oh wretched Confequences of Sin ! 
 that did not only render our firfl Parents and all their 
 Poflerity liable to bodily Death, and all the Difeafes 
 and Pains that lead to it; but left a fatal Averfenefs 
 to all Good, and a ftrong Propenfion in us to all Evil; 
 by indulging whereof we add our own adtual Guilt, to 
 That which our finful Parents had derived down to us; 
 and by Iniquities without number, by wilful, repeat¬ 
 ed, habitual, and bold Tranfgreffions, doconfirmand 
 aggravate this Sentence of Death, and arm the Juftice 
 of God againft our felves. n. 
 
»Dttatton0 anti pimvs 
 
 H 
 
 II. Wonder not then, if thou fee fo many dread¬ 
 ful Spe&acles of Alfliftion in the World ; nor Mur¬ 
 mur, when Thou thy felf art bound in the lame Fet¬ 
 ters, and fore loadcn with the Burden ot Adverfity ; 
 But remember, that God is righteous, and Thou and 
 thefe People are wicked, that Fie is Holy and Juft, 
 as well as Good } and though he do not willingly 
 grieve the Children of Men, yet their Iniquities put 
 a fort of Violence upon him, which he cannot refift. 
 They quite weary him out, and render it impoflible, 
 (that is, inconfiftent with the other Attributes and 
 the Perfections of his Nature,) to let foch Men go i 
 always unpunilhed. Nay even inthofe infinitely more 
 dreadful Torments of another World, his Pcrte- j 
 ftions are concerned to vindicate thcmfelves , for 
 though Thefe be Terrible, above what we are able 
 to exprefs or conceive, yet are they Juft. And at j 
 the fame time that we maybe apt to queftion, whe¬ 
 ther fo great Severity be confident with the Chara¬ 
 cter of our Judge, we prove the Wifdom of our Law- j 
 giver } and, that even Eternal Pains were neceflary, 
 
 ft nee even all This will not contain us in our Duty, j 
 nor effectually reftrain us from Sinning. 
 
 III. And This, my Soul, is thy Cafe. Thefe ever- 
 lafting Plagues are the deferved Wages of thy Wick- 
 ednefs. For do but defeend into thy Self, (as it be- j 
 comes thee to do, now more efpecially) and there : 
 take an exaft Survey of thy Miferies and Frailties r, j 
 thy raging Pafiions and ungoverned Appetites Ask 
 thy Self, what Abtifes and Mifemployments of Health 
 thou haft been guilty of; Whether thou have not neg¬ 
 lected and forgot God and Heaven too much, and 
 been too full for Care and Fondnefs for this prefent 
 World ; Whether thou have not omitted hisWorfhip 
 and Sacraments, difiegarded his Word, or whether 
 thefe have not been frequented formally and coldly. 
 Examine the Heavinefs of thy Affections, the Wan- 
 
 drings 
 
fog ^tcft fferfottg, I5 
 
 drings and Negligence of thy Mind in pubKck and 
 private Devotions. [Here it may be convenient to in¬ 
 fiance in any other Particulars againfl our Duty to God} 
 
 See again the Violations of Juftice and Charity to thv 
 Neighbour, whether thou haft faithfully difcharged 
 the Offices of the feveral Capacities and Relations God 
 hath placed thee in ; [A Husband or Wife, a Mafier or 
 Miftrefs, a Son or Daughter, a Magi fir ate, a Subjeft, a 
 Parent, a Brother or Sfier, and the like.'} If thou have 
 not been guilty ofgrofsand palpable Injuftice in thy 
 Dealings, yet haft thou done wrong to no Man’s SouJ, 
 by ill Advice, or ill Example? Nor to the Bodies of 
 any, by Malice or Contempt, by ill Treatment, fevere 
 Ufage, want of Companion and Care for their Infirmi¬ 
 ties ? What Reputations haft thou injured by Scandal 
 and Cenfure; by falfeand uncharitable Judgments •, by 
 bufie medling with Matters that concern thee not^ 
 by officioufly fpreading, or too haftily believing ill 
 Reports i by encouraging, repeating, and being plea- 
 fed with, Detrading or fevere Refledions; or if by 
 none of thefe, yet at leaft by negleding fo re¬ 
 prove, or to difcountenance a flanderous Tongue, and 
 to deliver the Innocent from its fecret Stabs? \_Hcre 
 again be pat titular in any other Sins you have been guilty of 
 againfiyour Neighbour.} Turn thy Eyes inward once 
 more:; and behold the Breaches of that Duty thou ow- 
 eft to thy Self; the Intemperance and Irregularity 
 of thy Delires; the Murmurings and DifcontentSj 
 the Infirmities indulged ■, the Paflions unfubdued j the 
 Negligence in thy greateft Concerns j the Love of 
 unlawful, and the Abufe of lawful, Diverfions and 
 Delights, Thefe are Things fo incident to our State, 
 that no Man’s Confcience cau fpeak Peace to him 
 in them all; And happy art thou in thofe, where 
 thine condemns thee not. But knew withal, that 
 God is greater than thy Heart, and know- ... 
 eth all things i Pie keeps exad account of 1 U1 ‘ 2o * 
 
 A a thy 
 
SI^eMtatumg ant) 
 
 1 6 
 
 thy lurking Corruptions, and fecret Faults; the un- 
 obferved, or the long-fince forgotten, Mifdemeanors 
 of thy Life. The black Catalogue whereof, could 
 they be fet before thee, would give a difinal Profpedt, 
 full of Horror, and Confufion, and intolerable Amaze¬ 
 ment. So that thou muft of neceffity acknowledge 
 thyfelfa Mafs of Filth and Mifery; a Wretch, that, i 
 if God (hould enter into Judgment with thee, haft 
 reafon to expett nothing better than Indignation and 
 Fury ; to be fet up as a Mark of his Vengeance, and 
 by fome fwift exemplary Deftru&ion fwept violently 
 away into the hotteft Flames of Hell. 
 
 IV. Thus much I am fadly fenfible of, and do ftand 
 condemned out of my own Mouth. And thus far the 
 _ r . , Circumftancesofall Mankind are the fame, 
 
 ' xxx,; ”"*’ that if God fhould be extreme to mark 
 what is done amifs, the very belt of 11s all could not 
 abide it. But, blelfed be God, though Matters are 
 deplorable, they are not quite defperate; for there is 
 Mercy with Him, and his Juftice is fatisfied. The 
 Price and Purchace of our Souls is paid ; our forfeit 
 Xdves are ranfomed and redeemed ; Our Ranfom in 
 Value exceeds the whole World ; even his own belo¬ 
 ved and only begotten Son; who fpared not his own | 
 Life, but willingly poured out his Soul to the Death; j 
 and is thereby become a Sacrifice and Atonement for ‘ 
 the Sins of wretched Mortals. He hath publilhed 
 glad Tydings of Reconciliation and Repentance, of 
 Pardon and Peace. He came to fave Sinners, even the 
 Chief of Sinners ; our God willeth not the Death of 
 any ; provided they believe and fincerely obey him : 
 not according to the Shekel of the San&uary, which 
 requires uniinning Perfc&ion; but after the Standard 
 of the New Covenant, which allows for Humane Frail¬ 
 ties; accepts Sorrow for the paft, Amendment for 
 the Time to come; a fervent Love of God, and ho- 
 nelt Endeavours to ferve him. This is a Saying wor¬ 
 thy 
 
fo; ^tcft $erfon& 
 
 thy to be accepted indeed ; This is the Comfort and 
 Confidence of poor returning Sinners; And while! 
 can fee by Faith the Penalty of Eternal Damnation 
 releafed, by Virtue of the Blood of this Lamb of God 
 11am to take away the Sins of the World ; I will fub- 
 nut with Patience to the Temporal Puoiihments in¬ 
 fixed by my provoked God; and thankfully accept 
 the Sicknefles and A 111 id ions of this prefent Life, asfo 
 many Warnings and Calls to Repentance. 
 
 V. And fure (my Soul) welhalltake care to make 
 this good ufe of them; For thefe are the Difcipline of 
 the l.otd , and il after all that is come upon me for my 
 evil Deeds, and for my great Trefpafs, feeing that 
 thou, my God, half punifhed me lefs than my Iniquities 
 deferve; it I Ihould again break thy Com¬ 
 mandments, thou wouId’ll certainly be an- Evi !X ' I?s 
 gry, till thou hadlt utterly confumed me ; and tor¬ 
 ment me fo much the more, for negleding lb great 
 Salvation. I take therefore this Chaltifement with all 
 poflible Submifiion; and do with unfeigned Sorrow 
 -confefs my manifold Offences: I implore thy Mercy, 
 who art jultly difplealed with me; 3 nd lincein the midlf 
 of Life we are in Death, I cry earneltiy to Thee for 
 Succour; and beg that howfoever thou thinkellfit to 
 difpofe of this corruptible Body; thou wouldlt look 
 gracioufly upon me in thy dear Son, and not deliver my 
 poor Soul into the bitter Pains of Eternal Death; but 
 pity and fave me for Chrilt Jefus his fake. Amen. 
 
 Here may be repeated the xxxviii, and li. Pfalms. 
 
 Then the Confcjfion in the Communion-Service , 
 
 Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrilt, Maker of 
 all things, &c. 
 
 O'elfe the three Prayers at the end of the Comminution , 
 
 O Lord, we befeech thee, £5V. 
 
 O molt mighty God, £5V. 
 
 Turn thou me, O good Lord, Cu-. 
 
 s{ftcr either of which fay as follows; 
 
18 jactitation# anD f^aper# 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 Vifitation of /^V Mott merciful God, ir bo according to the 
 the Sick. / Multitude of thy Mercies,dott fo put array 
 the Sim ofthofe who truly repent, that thou rememhrett them 
 vo more-, Grant me, Jhefeech thee, true Repentance, and thy 
 holy Spirit ■, and then open thine F.ye of Mercy upon my lam 
 wiping Condition, and give me the Comfort of Tardon and 
 Forgivenefs. Renew in me, mojl loving Father, whatfoever 
 hath been decayed by the Fraud and Malice of the Devil, oi¬ 
 ly my own carnal Will and Frailnefs. Preferve and continue 
 rne in the Vnity of thy Church *,guard me by thy Power from 
 all the Jfaults of the Tempter, and fuffei him not to take 
 Advantage of my Weaknefs. Confider, 1 befeeih thee my 
 Contrition, accept my Tears, hear my own and others Pray¬ 
 ers on my behalf, and ajfwage my Pains, at fhatlfecm to Thee \ 
 m0 ]t expedient for me. In thy Mercy, O Lord, 1 put my full , 
 Trntt, in thy Mercy alone, and in the Merits and Sufferings 
 of my crucified Saviour -, Impute not, 0 Lord, unto me my 
 former Sins, but firengthen me with thy Bit fed Spirit and 
 whenever thou art pleafed to take me hence, take me unto 
 thy Favour, through the Merits of thy dearly beloved Son, 
 ft fits Chritt our Lord. Amen. 
 
 Med. IV. 
 
 Of the Wifdm and Goodnefs of God. 
 
 I. \1 lT Ere tliere n0 ot,lcr C° n fi deration t0 com P°f e 
 
 VV the Mind,but that alone ot' our Sufferings be¬ 
 ing j u ft ? lhould in Reafon perfwade Meeknefs, and 
 Patience’ and Contentednefs under them. For as the 
 Prophet urges very well j Wherefore doth 
 ;am. m. a niorta i jyj an complain, even a Man for 
 
 the 
 
foj ^tcft $ctfon0. 
 
 *9 
 
 the Punilhment of his Sin? And the Thief upon the 
 Crofs, notwithftanding all the Hardenings of his for¬ 
 mer profligate Life, yet pacified himfelf under his Pains, 
 and reproved his reviling Companion, with this Re¬ 
 flexion, That they were under that Condemnation 
 juftly, and received but the due Reward , . ... . 
 
 of their evil Deeds. But we have yet a- xxni * 41 
 bundantly more to quiet our repining Thoughts, and 
 hfence all Complaints; when the (harpnefs of an Af¬ 
 fliction, or the Sufferings of a Sick Bed would provoke 
 us to Impatience. Our Sins have been many and great 
 enough to make God our Enemy ; and do cry but too 
 loud tor the utmofl: Rigours of his Vengeance; yet are 
 not thefe Adverfities the Wounds and Bruifes of an 
 Enemy, but the Chaftifements of a Father ; One that 
 l'mites us indeed, but it is in Righteoufnefs and Friend¬ 
 ship ; and only with a Defign to reprove and reform 
 us. Obferve what Heavenly Comforts the Apoftle 
 hath left behind, and how God himfelf hath explained 
 the Nature and Intent of his own Difpen- 
 fations. My Son, defpife not thou the Cha- e T ' Xl1 ’ 
 ftenmg of the Lord,nor faint when thou art rebuked of him • 
 For^ whom the Lord loveth he chaftenth, andfcourgeth every 
 Son whom he receivetb. If ye endure Chaffering, God deal- 
 eth with you, as with Sons , for what Son is he, whom the 
 Father chafieneth not ? Furthermore, we have had Fathers 
 of our Flejh which corrected us, and we gave them Reve¬ 
 rence-, fhall ire not much rather be in Subjection to the Fa¬ 
 ther of Spirits and live ? For they verily for a few Days 
 chafiened us after their own Pleafure, but He for our 
 Profit, that we might be Partakers of his Holinefs. Now 
 no Chaftering for the prefent feemeth to be joyous, but 
 grievous ; neverthelefs afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable 
 Fruit of Righteoufnefs, unto them that are exercifed there- 
 by. 
 
20 
 
 g@cdftattott0 Mb f>?arcr0 
 
 H. What now can more illuftrate the Wifdom of 
 Providence, than the converting our bittered Ca¬ 
 lamities into Occaltons ot our V irtue and Happintfs ? 
 And which of all our Calamities is more likely to con¬ 
 tribute to our Reformation, than thole ot Sicknels and 
 Pain ? For Thefe,by touching our own Perfons are molt 
 fenfible, and grievous to be born and by punifhing 
 the Body, for the fake and feryice of which, nioft if 
 not all our Wickednclfcs are committed, they meet 
 with the very Caufe, and go to the Root ot the Difeufe, 
 and fo arc heft fitted to perfect the Cure. Our I J hy- 
 iician of Souls is both skilful and kind ^ he will not 
 give us over out of a cruel Indulgence to our own Eafe. 
 bur Father anfwers his Charader, and gives feafonable 
 Corredion to prevent our utter Undoing. But in all 
 this'there is the Prudence of the Phyfici3n mixt with 
 the Tendcrnefs of the Parent. The One would not 
 preferibe the bitter Cup, unlefs he knew it necelfary, 
 and belt for us^ and if our Circumftances call for 
 Correction it is with Gentlenefs and Rcluftancy, with 
 Pain and Yearning of Bowels, that the Other fcourges. 
 
 111. Do thou therefore, O my Soul, confider who 
 choofes for thee, and learn to rclign thy felt to his 
 Difpofals for they are the Appointments of One wiio 
 is wifer than Thou, and who loves thee better than the 
 tendered: Mother could. Do thou likewife confider, 
 why he choofes thus ; and learn to improve under the 
 Teeming harfhnefs of fuch Difpenfations. Take gladly 
 the wholefome Phyfick, and fee tire a good Operation 
 to thy feif; Have no Delires or Willies of thy own, 
 but, with a Conftant Referve to the good Pleafure of 
 God, Think and be allured that what he does is bed *, 
 Bed in it felf, and belt for thee too, if thy own Fault 
 obdrud it not. Alas! we know not what to pray for 
 as we ought y and fhould therefore beg nothing poli- 
 tively, but that God would do what he fees mod ex¬ 
 pedient. Ask therefore, my Soul, that he would make 
 
 thee 
 
21 
 
 foj ^tcft $erfoii0. 
 
 thee an Indrument of his own Glory ; that he would 
 fupport thee in thefe Tryals, and not fuffer thee to be 
 tempted above that thou art able, that he would com¬ 
 mand all things to work together for thy Good ; and 
 for the reft, take thy Saviour for thy Pattern, and as 
 olt as thou prayed, that the Cup may pais from thee 
 be iure forget not to add, from the very Bottom of 
 thy Soul, Nevcnhelcfs , O Father, not My Will, but 
 Thine be done. 
 
 I V. And, to render the Cup thou art now drinking 
 ns little unpalatable as may be, forget not alfo to fu- 
 dain thy felt with the Comforts even of thy weaked 
 Condition ; and ferioufly toobferve how Gracious the 
 Lord is; how he hath not only fparcd when thou had 
 deferved Punifhment,but in the very midd of his Wrath 
 hath thought upon Mercy. If thy Pains be not per¬ 
 petual, thank him for thy Intervalsof Eafeand Refrelh- 
 ment: It they be not acute and extreme, thank him 
 tor the Abatement and Moderation of them. If thou 
 tand reciuit thy feeble Spirits with Sleep, thank him 
 _torclofing up thy Eyes, in gentle reviving Slumbers; 
 It he hold thy Eyes waking, thank him for the Oppor¬ 
 tunities of Meditating and Praying to him intheNight- 
 ieafon. \ ea, thank him efpecially for continuing to 
 thee thy Underdanding and thy Sends; and that he 
 hath given thee the Power and the Grace to make a good 
 and holy life of thefe; that the length of thy Sicknefs 
 hath been fo much a larger Opportunity of Preparing 
 tor that Important Change, which, not this languifh- 
 ing Body of thine only, but alfo all thofe thou leaved 
 behind in full Health, and Beauty, and Vigour, mud 
 thortly undergo. If thou endured much! con. der 
 1 his is a good Method of Weaning thy Aftlctiom n om 
 the World, and making thee Third ana Pant m; a 
 earnedly after the 1 fti .a Joys of a 
 the tedious lingrim Jault, an 
 
 weary out thy Patic. how much father T 
 
 . A a 4 .is 
 
22 09cDttatton0 atiD $ja?cr$ 
 
 ----- 
 
 is to be cliofen, than the raging Phrenfies of a Feaver, 
 cr the fudden Stroke of an Apoplexy. Rcfieft upon 
 the Condition of t'hofe Wretches, who are (hatched 
 out of the World, it may be iu an aft of damning Sin \ 
 but however in an Inftant •, without fo much as the 
 Power, or the Leifure, to fcck Pardon or Peace, to 
 commit their Souls to God, or fo much as once implore 
 bis Mercy at the lad; Gafp. Oh! what would they 
 hav? given ! how much more would they gladly have 
 endured, to purchafe this long Warning, thefe flow 
 and'folemn Approaches of Death, the happy Advan¬ 
 tages thou now enjoyed, of trimming thy Lamp, and 
 putting thy Soul in readincfs to meet the Bridegroom 
 at his coming! For though we ought indeed to ex'peft 
 him every Hour, even in our mod confirmed Health } 
 yet well is it for that Servant, who receives exprefs 
 ftoticc of his Mader’s approach, and takes care fo to 
 provide for it, as in zealous Prayers and eager Wiflies 
 to go out to meet him; and having on the Wedding- 
 Garment, waits only for his lad Call to enter with him 
 to the Marriage. 
 
 Ejaculations. 
 
 Pful. xliii. \ ~KTHy art thou fo heavy ■, O my Soul , and why 
 S, 6. VV art thou fo difejuiered within me ? Still put 
 thy Truft in God , for 1 will yet give him thanks , 
 who is the help of my Countenance , and my God. 
 xviii. 18 . The Lord hath chafiened and torrefied me, but 
 he hath not given me over unto DeftruEh'on. ' 
 exix. 75 . Jknow, O Lord , that thy Judgments are right , 
 and that Thou of very Paithfulncfs haft caufed me 
 to be troubled. 
 
 lem. ill. ir is of the Lord’s A/crcies , that lam not long 
 52, ago confuted, becaufe bis Companions fail not. ' 
 
 1 24 . 7he Lord is my Portion , faith my Soul, there* 
 
 fore will J hope in him. 
 
 It 
 
fo? ^crfong. 
 
 f? 
 
 It is good for a Man that he fiould conflantly 2 6. 
 hope, and quietly wait for the Salvation of the Lord • 
 
 For the Lord will not caH of for ever. 31. 
 
 But though he tanfe Grief yet will he have Com- 32 . 
 paffion according to the Multitude of hit Mercies. 
 
 Tealike a* a Father pitieth his own Children,even j'f d j c jjj 
 fo if the Lord merci ful unto them that fear him. 13.' 
 
 In the Multitude of the Sorrows which I have in xc j Vt , 9< 
 my Heart, thy Comforts have refrejhed my Soul. 
 
 For I know. That with Thee there is Mercy, and cxxx. 7. 
 with my God if plenteous Redemption. 
 
 O remember not my old Sins, but have Mercy up. i xx ; s< 
 on me, and that foon, for 1 am come togreat Mifery. 
 
 Heal my Soul, which hath finned againFl thee, xli. 4. 
 and then let the Lord do what feemetb him good. 1 s - m - i». 
 Glory be to the Father, &c. *&• 
 
 As it was in the Beginning, &c. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 H Ear me. Almighty and mo fl merciful God and Saviour, 
 extend thy accujlomed G oodnefs to me thy poor Servant * 
 now call upon this Redof Languijhing, and grieved wit h Sick- 
 nefs. Sanflifie, I befeech thee, this thy Fatherly Correclion 
 to me, and grant that I may receive it with all the Patience 
 and Submiff on of a Dutiful Child. I defire to acknowledge 
 and adore thy Divine IVifdom andGoodnefs in every Difpcn- 
 jat ion of Providence toward me-, and only beg, that thou 
 wouldfi keep me fife under all, and then ufe what Methods 
 thou pleafefl of bringing me to thy felf. Manifeft thy 
 Strength in my Wiaknefs, make even my feeblefi Condition 
 an Infirumcnt of thy Glory ; and the more my outward Man 
 decay eth, firengthen me, Ibcfeech thee,fo much the more con¬ 
 tinually with thy Grace and holy Spirit in the inner Man. 
 Let the Senfe of my Weaknefs add Strength to my Faith, and 
 .Serion fiefs to my Repentance. That if it be thy good Pie after e 
 to r if ore me to my former Health, I may lead the Ref due of 
 
 4 " ' "0 
 
24 *©e&ttattoti$ atiD 
 
 my Life in thy Fear and to thy Glory ; or elfe grant me jo to 
 take thy Vifttation , that after this painful Life ended , 1 may 
 dwell with Thee in Life everlafiing. For This , O Lord , /.< 
 the chiefs the most earnest Defire of my Soul , that whether 
 1 live , / live unto the Lord \ or whether 1 dye , 1 may 
 dye unto the Lord fo that Living and Dyirg J may he 
 thine , through fefus Christ , wy dear and only Saviour. 
 Amen. 
 
 M E D. V. 
 
 Recovery from Sicknefs. 
 
 I. TF Dangers and Diftrefles awaken our Confidera- 
 X tion, the Deliverances from them ought not to 
 pafs unobferved. The Judgments of God extort Com¬ 
 plaints from us j and fliall his Mercies be received in 
 lilence ? When he affli&s and wounds, we feek him 
 early; and fliall we forget him, when he refreflies and 
 heals us ? That fure were mod unworthy, moll re¬ 
 proachful. The rather fo j bccaufe we are able to 
 give our felves a very plain and rational Account, 
 how it comes to paft that we receive Evil at the Hand 
 of God ) But the Good he vouchfafes us, furniflies juft 
 Matter, no left of Wonder, than of Thankfulnefs. 
 Death is the Punilhment of Sin} The Difeafes and 
 Decays of our Bodies are fo many Degrees of and Ad¬ 
 vances toward that Death : And our Confluences can 
 find no difficulty in jollifying thefe painful Difpcnfa- 
 tions. For none of us can delcend into his own Breaft, 
 without difeovering infinite perfonal Offences, which 
 might provoke God to take this forfeit Life, and to 
 cut us off in the midft of our Days. But when he 
 forbears to do fo, when he checks his Wrath, and 
 fufpends the Execution of that fatal Sentence gone 
 
 out 
 
foj ^tcfc pcrfou#. 
 
 11 
 
 out a^ainft us, We can difcern no reafon for This in 
 our lelves ; but mull refolve it all into the foie, the 
 undelerved, Goodnefs of our compaflionate and long- 
 fuffeting Lord. ° 
 
 And luch, my Soul, is now thy Cafe. Thou wert 
 {■aliening apace to the Regions of the Dead, and in 
 fear that thou ffiould’ft be deprived of the Refidue of 
 thy Years. But when thou waft almoll 
 cut of with pining Sicknefs , and thine Eyes even V du xxxviii. 
 jailed with looking upward, when thou rec- I2> 1 3* 
 konea Ft each Night and Morning , that there would be 
 an End of thee upon Earth; then did the Lord Hand by 
 thee and fave thee , even becaufe he had a . 
 favour unto thee. xviii. 19^ 
 
 II. Now though this be the Condition common to 
 all Mankind, that we contribute no part to the Effi¬ 
 cient or Meritorious Caufeof fuch Goodnefs; yet in 
 the Final one we may and mull bear a very conli- 
 derable part. We could not give the Bleffing to our 
 felves: We could not deferve that Almighty God 
 Ihould give it us: But it will lie upon us to take care 
 that fuch Grace be not beftowed in vain. In one re- 
 fpe<ff indeed, and fhiftly fpeaking, neither This, nor 
 any Other of the Difpenlations of Providence can pof- 
 iibly be in vain. For fome Eftedf they will of neceffity 
 have, even with regard to Us. But if they do not 
 anfwer the good Purpofes for which they were de¬ 
 fined ; better were it for Us, that we had never re¬ 
 ceived them at all. The Lengthening out our Days, 
 it it do not amend our Mam ?vs, i- but the in a iff ring 
 * ’1§ er Op] more to 
 
 ou * ® • And 
 
 happier vv ith a 
 
 m our 
 .ain to 
 
 deader 11s hidre iuiferable in the End. For every Mer- 
 - i hole 
 
 which 
 
26 fl^eDttatton# auD payers 
 
 which are entertained unthankfully, will at length 
 prove Cnrfes iuftead of Bleflings to us. It will there¬ 
 fore become thee, my Soul, very ferioufly to confider, 
 wherein true Thankfulnefs conlifts, and what are the 
 Inftances, by which it muft be exprels’d. 
 
 1H. When Men do any fignal Adis of Kindnefs to 
 each other, the Receiver etteems himfelf obliged to 
 pay them back again, in fome Service or Benefit as 
 good. This is what Men cannot be excufed from, 
 provided fit Opportunities oiler, and their Circum- 
 ttances enable them to do it. But when the Power of 
 doing thus is wanting, we are fenfible, that fo much 
 as falls fhort in procuring a Friend’s real Advantage, 
 ought to be made up in all becoming Teftimonies of I 
 Refpedt; In fuch a Readinefs of Mind, as plainly Ihews j 
 that the Party does not however want the Will and 
 hearty Defire of returning fuch Favours in kind and 
 to the full. 
 
 Now the fame Rule of Equity mull needs hold to- ' 
 ward our Great Benefadtor in Heaven. He is indeed ; 
 fo great, that his All-futficiency can neither need nor 1 
 receive any Addition : and We are fo very Poor and 
 Impotent., that it were the Extremity of Vanity and 
 Madnels to imagine our felves capable of adding to 
 him. Tire utmoft We can do is fo to demean our 
 felves, that He and all the World may plainly per¬ 
 ceive us duly fenfible of his Bounty. Now this can 
 only be demonftrated by our conftant and zealous 
 Care to Pleafe and Honour him; by taking delight in 
 the Obedience he hath enjoyned us, and teltifying by 
 our Pradtice that we efteem the Service of fo liberal a 
 Matter our molt reafonable Duty, and perfedt Free¬ 
 dom. Altho’ therefore our Lips ought to fet forth the 
 Praifes of the Lord, and his Kindnefs Ihould ever be in 
 our Months; Yet are thofe Praifes never fet forth ef- 
 fedtually, yet is that Kindnefs never acknowledged as 
 it ought, except our Lives and every Adfcion publifh 
 
fo: $crfou$J. 
 
 27 
 
 it. The Profelfions of Gratitude are of no confidera- 
 tion in any cafe, farther than they exprefs the inward 
 Sentiments ot the Heart: That Heart cannot be truly 
 grateful, which does not labour and ftudy by all pro¬ 
 per Means to approve it felf to the Perfon, whofe 
 Debtor it is; And how this is to be done to Almigh- 
 j ty God, his own Word hath informed us; by decla- 
 ring, that the Man who truly honours him 
 will order his Convcrfation aright ; that They Pfalml, 23 . 
 who lore him will give Teflimony of their fohnxir. 15 . 
 Affe&ion, by keeping his Commandments ; 
 that the Goodnefs and Forbearance of God does Rom. ji. 4 . 
 (in its natural and defigned Tendency both) 
 lead to Repentance ; and even confirains Men 2 Cor. v. 1 
 to live no longer to themfelves , but to Him who 
 hath done fogreat things for them. 
 
 IV. Thefe are Refle&ions fo felf-evident, fo very 
 obvious and natural to every Man, that feldom are 
 any remarkable Calamities undergone, or Deliverances 
 obtained, without exciting them in our Minds. Few 
 Wretches are fo hardened in Wickednefs, few fo 
 j abandoned and loft to all Senfe of God and Goodnefs, 
 
 , but in the Seafons of Sicknefs and Danger they fee 
 their paft Follies with Difpleafure, and difeern the 
 Reafonablenefs of Forfaking them. But This is the 
 General Unhappinefs, This the Great Fault of moft 
 Men, that this Rcmorfe quickly wears off, and their 
 [ good Intentions cool again. The Smart of the Rod 
 [ ccafes, and the Succefs of the Correftion is loft with 
 I it: 1 he Health of the Body grows more confirm¬ 
 ed, and the Confidence hardens in proportion to the 
 Conftitution. And thus the Man returns to his old 
 Vanities and Vices with the fame Unconcernednefsas 
 ; before. 
 
 But, O my Soul, let it not be thus with Me. No ! 
 Let me look back with great Serioufnefs upon the 
 Vows I made when I was in Trouble j and conlider, 
 
 that 
 
28 
 
 ^cmtattottjs ana 
 
 that Thefe were not to be tranfient and occafional Rc- 
 folutions j that they were intended for lafting Obliga¬ 
 tions, and cannot be fincerely difcharged, unlefs they 
 influence the Remainder of that Lite fo gracioufly re- 
 ftored to me. I ought to look upon my felf as One 
 raifed from the Dead i and favoured with Life a fe- 
 cond time, that from henceforth I might employ and 
 ufe the Gift to the Honour of the Giver, who hath 
 thus, as it were, created me afrefli. He law it better 
 upon my Requefl: to continue me longer in this State 
 of Tryal, and I ought to give the moreearneft heed, 
 that every Day added to my paft Years may prove a 
 higher Advance in Piety and Virtue •, that none of my 
 holy Purpofes languifh or dye, as too many have for¬ 
 merly done} that this late Approach to the Grave 
 may perpetually warn me of my Mortality \ and that, 
 whenever Death and Judgment (hall a&ually overtake 
 me, fas overtake me they molt certainly will) I may 
 not be found lefs provided to meet my Lord, than this 
 lall Summons left me. 
 
 For can I refledt upon my late Weaknefs, and har¬ 
 bour an Imagination fo vain, as that this Body, in its 
 greatelt Vigour, may promife it felf an everlafting 
 Continuance? Can 1 obferve this Youth of mine re¬ 
 newed as the Eagle’s, and attribute it to any other 
 Caufe, than the Almighty Power and Infinite Good- 
 nefs of Him, who wounds and heals, who kills and 
 makes alive, after the Counfel of his own Will? Can 
 1 acknowledge my prefcnt Recovery owing entirely 
 to that Power and Goodnefs, and not difcover the in- 
 difpenfable Engagements, which lie upon me to make 
 fome fuitable Return? And what Return is polfible, 
 what fo proper, fo acceptable, as that of a thankful 
 Heart \ a diligent Improvement of this Mercy j a Life 
 in every part of it entirely dedicated to Him, who 
 hath ftrengthened his Title now yet more, and made 
 it upon fo many accounts his own ? 
 
 V. 
 
foj ^tcfc $crfon£. 
 
 2 9 
 
 t J: I 7» therefore be frequently ading over again 
 
 rt^R-l r E f rc,fes of Repentance performed in 
 the Bittcrnefs of my Soul; and by the Repetition 
 ftew that the good Thoughts I entertained continue 
 
 r A,- 1( i calm and fe . ttled Senfe of my more comno- 
 fed Mind. I will ftridly examine, what Faults com¬ 
 mitted, what Duties negleded or but fligtly per- 
 fotmed, what Abufes, or what Failures in a right Im¬ 
 provement, of Health heretofore, might probably have 
 provoked God to caft me upon the Bed of Sicknefs 
 and reduce me to fuch Extremity of Suffering. I will 
 thank the Lord for giving me warning by this AM¬ 
 S' 011 : but efpecially for touching and foftning my 
 Heart and mfpiring me with godly Sorrow, and holy 
 Purpofes; And to my own Endeavours 1 will add mv 
 moft fervent Prayers, that the Continuance of his 
 Grace may out of this painful Chaftifement, produce 
 the peaceable and blefTed Fruits of Righteoufnefsand 
 faithful Perfeverance. To this end 1 will not fail 
 frequently to renew my good Refolutions; to cherilh 
 and keep up in my Soul all heavenly Difpofitions, by 
 conftant private Prayer and ferious Refledion: b^ at¬ 
 tending duly upon the Publick Wor/liip: by reading 
 and hearing, and confcientioufly applying God’s holy 
 Word to ray prefent Circumftances and Neceflities* 
 by letting flip none of the precious Opportunities for 
 ltrengthening my Faith and other Chriftian Virtues in 
 the Sacrament of my dear Redeemers Body and Blood 
 l will take heed to all my Ways, be upon my guard 
 againfl all Temptations and Occalions ot Sinnine mo- 
 derate in my moft lawful Pleafures and Enjoyments 
 and diligent in all the Duties, which the feveral Re- 
 lations, wherein I ftand, and the State of Life to 
 which I am appointed by Providence, require of me. 
 
 / will Jet a Hatch before my Mouthy and keep 
 the Doer of my Lips , that I offend not in my p f alc ^-i 
 
 j v — r'9 - ''JJ'’""’ nvi iji Trly 
 
 Tongue. 1 will take heed, that I hurt not 
 
 xxxix. i. 
 
 any 
 
3 ° 
 
 ^cmtattonsf and pmcr* 
 
 any Man by Thought, Word, or Deed but will ex¬ 
 tend my Charity, as I am able, to all Mankind. I o 
 the poor diftrefled Members of my bleflcd Saviour, by 
 fuch Succours as Their Condition Hands in need of, I 
 and Mine qualifies me to give To Others by my good 
 Advice, and feafonable Inftruftion *, To All by my 
 Prayers and good Wilhes, and the powerful Motive i 
 of a pious Example: And even to my Enemies, by j 
 Meeknefs and Forgivenefs, even as God, for Chrift’s 
 fake, hath had Companion on Me. I will make it my 
 Bufinefs to become every Day more in love with Reli- I 
 gion ; and to make all with whom 1 converfe fo •, that I 
 I may in lome meafure give a Check to the Abomina¬ 
 tions of this degenerate Age in which 1 live, and a- | 
 dorn the Doftrine of our Lord Jefus Chtift, or at leaft 
 fave my felf from this untoward Generation. In a 
 word, I will be fare that the Senfe of God’s Mercies, 
 (of this L.aft in particular) may never depart out of 
 my Mind, but live, and grow, and bring forth Fruit, 
 and influence me powerfully to the very laft Hour of 
 
 my Life. 
 
 VI. Nor think, my Soul, that any Refolutions can 
 be too ftrift, any Endeavours too much, upon this Oc** 
 calion. For, after all that is come upon me for 
 J-yra ix. 15. ^ evil Deeds , ar.d for my.great Trefpajs , fee¬ 
 
 ing that my God bath punijhed me left than in y Iniquities 
 dejerve , and hash given me fuch a Deliverance as This j 
 . ^ should I again break his Commandments ? 
 
 W Would be not then be angiy with me till he had 
 tonf/med me, Jo that there fliould be no ejeaping I O Lord , 
 my God , Thou art righteous , for I remain yet 
 eftaped \ but let not, 1 befcech thee, this 
 Mercy, by being lorgotteD or abufed, turn to my ut¬ 
 ter and eternal Condemnation. For that this mult 
 be the fad confcquence of fuch Ingratitude at laft, not 
 only thy Word hath told me, but I can plainly gather 
 it tiom my own Rcafon and Expeiknce. 1 teel what 
 
 Indig* 
 
foz ^tcft $crfon#. 
 
 3 * 
 
 Indignation the Unkindnefs of Perfons whom I have 
 
 Sdfo^of R °r b ' ged kmdles ln my Breaft ’ 1 find that 
 nd fort ot Refentments are more uneafie, no Provoca- 
 
 tion haidfer to be born, than that which arifes from 
 
 he Injuries and Affronts of thofe unworthy People* 
 
 w no prefume upon my Friendfhip to ufe me ill. And 
 
 call ThJrf’ th r at the L uft and i ealous God W ‘H not 
 
 TjV "! t0 a / eVere Account, who turn his Grace 
 into Wantonnefs, and, when they live by Miracles of 
 Bounty and Long-fuffering, live fo as to dilhonour 
 Him, and reproach the Patience that fpared them > 
 1 he more hgnal and particular his Goodnefs hath 
 
 wm’L t thlt b u? VlC L 3n / d l ?? rc infu PP°rtable, no doubt, 
 Will be that Wiath , which bardned andimpe- 
 
 munt Wretches trtafurt up to themfelvesa. Km ' Vl ' ^ 
 gamsl the Day of Wrath , and Revelation of the righteous 
 Judgment of God. So that our blefled Lord’s Admoni¬ 
 tion to the impotent Man is in effed the Voice of 
 Reafon and every Man’s own Confcience. Each Af- 
 ruction, each Efcape calling out loudly to the Recei- 
 ver. Sin no more , left a voorfc thing come unto „ , 
 thee. & Jolmv. 14* 
 
 A r nd /i 10v TJ ndeed can h be ex P e &ed, that infinitely 
 worfe fhould not come, when neither Severity will 
 drive, nor Companion and Kindnefs lead to amend- 
 ^orreding nor Sparing can do 
 i any good ? The Circumftances of thofe Men are dan- 
 gerous, whofe Diftemper only isflrong: but Theirs 
 muft needs be defperate and mortal, whofe very Re¬ 
 medies feed and inflame their Difeafe. If Pruning and 
 Manuring be both in vain, the next Sentence upon the 
 barren Fig-tree is, Cut it down , why cum. 
 breth it the Ground ? The Ax is already laid Luie xi!i; 
 to the Root, and if it be lifted up to give the fatal 
 Stroke, the End of every Tree which brinoeth 
 not forth good Fruit , we are exprelly told ******'***» 
 Ihall be, to be burnt with unquenchable Fire. 
 
 B b Vft 
 
 O 
 
 ! 
 
32 ^caitatimig ana ^Ma^crg 
 
 VII. Thefe Things and fundry Others, which will 
 be apt upon fuch Occafions toofTer themfelves, it ap¬ 
 plied well and warmly to my Confidence, will have 
 a very great and happy force, in forming my 1 P l P®" 
 fition, and regulating my Condud for the Time o 
 come. The Recolledion of God’s abundant Mercies 
 will enflame my Breaft with holy Gratitude and fer¬ 
 vent Love i fuch as would keep me ever paffionateiy 
 defirous to pay the juft Tribute of my belt Service in 
 return, and cheerfully to run the way ot his Com¬ 
 mandments. The Remembrance of his Judgments will 
 poITefs me with an awful Fear of difplealing him ana 
 convince me, by my own Experience, that no Fleih can 
 . Hand before him, when he is angry. My 
 Tfal. lxxvu j ate Lauguiihings and feeble Condition will 
 be a feafonable and lively Admonition what this frai 
 mortal Nature is; Thefe will Teach me to die daily to 
 the World, as a Perfon who hath here no continuing 
 tr , .. City, but ought to feek One to come : A 
 Xlu Perfon who muft not, from even the molt 
 confirmed Health, entertain any fuch fond Profpeds 
 and vain Confidences of long Life, as may tempt me to 
 prefume Death and Judgment at a great diftance, and 
 my felt fecureof any Surprife from them: Much rather 
 ought I to exped them every Moment; and both from 
 the daily Spedacles of Mortality in my Neighbours, 
 and the fenlible Decays, or fudden Changes which hap¬ 
 pen to my felf, quicken my Preparation to meet that 
 Lord, who hath compared himfelf to a Thief 
 in the Night, and foretold us, that he will 
 come in fuch an Hour as we think not. Thus 
 (hall I, by a true Chriftian Prudence, extrad Spiritual 
 Advantage out of Temporal Evils, difcern the Good- 
 nefs and Wifdom of Providence even in the molt af- 
 fljding Difpenfations, convert the Pains and Dileafe9 
 ot a vile perifhing Body, into Inftruments of Strength 
 and Health to my Immortal Soul j and have a happy 
 
 oc- 
 
 Mitth.w iv. 
 43 > 44 * 
 
 i 
 
fo? ^icft pettows. 
 
 U 
 
 occaiion of acknowledging with David 
 
 that It is good for me to have been in Trouble\ F f al ' cxix# 7 *• 
 fince by that I have learnt more diligently to pra&ife 
 more ftedfaftly to perfevere in, thy Statutes. * 
 
 Hymn. 
 
 P Raife the Lord ., O my Soul • and all that is Pf. ctil. i. 
 within me Praife his holy Name. 
 
 hfllenfif L ° r ^ 0 m y '■> and forget not all 2. 
 
 Who can exprefs the noble APIs of the Lord : cr cvi. 2. 
 fhcxv forth all his Praife ? 
 
 Whichjorgiveth all thy Sins 5 and healeth all thine ciii. 2. 
 Jnpr»uttes. 
 
 Which faveth thy Life from DefiruVnon : and 4. 
 
 Cr °uTi r- W ‘ th Mer °y and Lov, ”& kmdnefs. 
 
 Whichfatisfiet h thy Month with good things: ma - 5 ■ 
 
 king thee young ond Infiy as an Eagle. 
 
 Pff hts Arrows fiuckfafi in me } and his Hand xxxv iii <2 . 
 
 - prefied me fore. 
 
 fete was no Health in my Flejh becaufe of his 3. 
 
 Dijpleafure : neither was there any Rcfi in r?>y 
 Bones y by reafon of my Sin : ' 
 
 My Soul abhorred all manner of Meat: andl evil i2 
 Was even har d at DeatWs Door j 
 
 Thencried Iunto thee, O Lord j and got me to xxx. 8. 
 my Lord right humbly • 
 
 1 faidy O my God , take me not away in the midfi cii. 34. 
 of mine Age • as for thy years they eudure thro nob- 
 out all generations: * 
 
 But what profit is there in my Blood : when 1 go m a 
 down to the Pit l & 9 " 
 
 Hear my Prayer then r O Lordy andwithtbinexxxix.il. 
 Ears confider my Calling : hold not thy Peace at my 
 Tears , J 
 
 X 
 
 _ 
 
34 flpcEftattong a nti payers 
 
 1$. O [fare me a little y that 1 way recover my 
 
 Strength: before J go hence y and be no more 
 
 He fent his Word and healed me : and 1 was fa- 
 
 ved from my DeftruEtion. 
 
 hxi. i 3 . O! what great Troubles and Adverfities hafl 
 thou [hewed me, and yet didfl thou turn and 
 quicken me: Tea and broughtejl me from the 
 of the Earth again . 
 
 2 c. Therefore will I Praife thee and thy Faithfulnefs 
 j #l 4 # OCod: 1 will offer unto my God Thankfgiving y 
 and pay my Tows unto the mofl Higheft. 
 
 Jf.xxxy iii. For the Grave cannot praife thee , Death cannot 
 
 18. celebrate thee • They that go down to the Pit cannot 
 declare thy Truth. 
 
 But the Livings the Living he fhall praife thee y 
 as I do this Day y the Father to the Children jhall 
 make known the Govdnefs of the Lord 
 If. ix. ic. And they that know thy Name y wilt put their 
 trufiinlhee y for thou y Lord y haft never failed 
 them that feek thee. 
 
 cix. 19. As for me 1 will give great Thanks unto the Lord 
 
 with my Mouth : and Praife him among the Mul¬ 
 titude. 
 
 Ixvi. 14. 0 come hither and hearken all ye that fear God\ 
 
 and I will tell yon what he hath done for my 
 Soul . 
 
 lxxviii.15. 1 was in mifery and like unto him that is at the 
 xxxiv.4. point to dye: but He delivered me out of all my 
 fear . 
 
 xcir. 17. Jf the Lord had not helped me: it had not failed y 
 but my Soul had been put to flence. 
 x 2 t But when lfaid y My Foot hath fipped: thy 
 Mercy y 0 Lord y held me up. 
 
 Thou 
 
foj ^icft $erfon& 
 
 IL 
 
 Thou bail turned my Hetivtncjl into Joy thou xxx ’ 1 1» 
 bast put ojf my Sackcloth , and girded me with 
 Gladnef. 
 
 The Lord is my Strength and my Shield, my xxviii. 3* 
 Heart hath trufled in him, and I am delivered: 
 therefore my Heart danceth for joy, and in my 
 Song will I praife him. 
 
 O how plentiful is thy Goodncfi which thou hail xxxi n 2l. 
 laid up for them that love thee) and that thou hast 
 prepared for them that put their trull in thee, even 
 before the Sons of Men. 
 
 O ye that love the Lord, fee that ye hate the XCvii. io. 
 thing which is evil ; the Lord preferveth the Souls of 
 the Faithful, he delivereth them from the Hand of 
 the Wicked One. 
 
 His Mercy and Truth Jhall follow me all the xxiii. 6 . 
 D ays of my Life \ and I will dwell in the Iloufc 
 of the Lord for ever. 
 
 I will keep the Ways of the Lord: and will not xviii. 21. 
 forfake my God as the Wicked doth. 
 
 For I have an Eye unto all his Laws ; and will 22. 
 net call out his Commandments from me. 
 
 Praifed be the Lord, who hath not cast out my ^ xv ^* 1 
 Prayer j nor turned his Mercy from me. 
 
 Tea, blcffcd be the Lord God, even the God of lS * 
 Ifrael, which only doth wondrous things: 
 
 And blejfed be the Name of his Majcfiy for 
 ever : and let all rhe Earth be filled with his Majc~ 
 fly • Amen, Amen. 
 
 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son ; 
 
 and to the Holy Ghoih 
 As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever 
 fhall be: World without end. Amen . 
 
 After this Hymn , the Reader may enlarge bis Med'tat it ns to 
 the fame purpofe , by repeating the xxx, lxxi, x.vVii, cxvi, 
 cxviii Pfalms. 
 
 Bb 3 
 
 Phaysr. 
 
36 
 
 S^ctutattoujef anD $?arct0 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 O MoFt eighty God a?id merciful Father, Wonderful tn 
 thy Doings, and Gracious in all thy Di/penfations to¬ 
 ward the Children of men *, I thy unworthy Servant prof rate 
 my felf before thee, with all the fervent Affcttions of a grate¬ 
 ful Breafi, acknowledging it thy Goodnefs, that I am not 
 long ago confutned. Thou, Lord, haft chaftened and 
 correfted me, but thou haft not given me over unto 
 Death. Blejfed therefoi e be that Divine Wifdom, which 
 faw this late Ajfiittion feafonable , and would not fuffer me to 
 f crips in my Folly , for want of fuch necejfary Warning. Blef- 
 fedbe that tender Compajfion, which in the midfi of Wrath 
 remembred Mercy, which made all my Bed in my Sicknefs, 
 which puffed by my Impatience, and many Infirmities and 
 inclined a willing Ear to the wandring and difeompofed Sup - 
 plications, of a poor feeble Wretch, when he cried unto thee 
 in his extreme Angivfb and Difirefs. Bltfftd be the power¬ 
 ful Influences of that Grace, which difpofed my Heart to 
 Confide rat .on and Repentance. But, above all, Blejfed for 
 ever be that Power and Goodnefs, which, by fparing me when 
 1 bad dejerved to be utterly cut off, hath given me Opportu - 
 n.tyto makt good thofe Holy Rejolntions which thy Grace 
 inf pi red, when I was in trouble. Lord, let thh Goodnefs of 
 th nt, and my own ferious Purpofes of Amendment, never 
 fl.p out of my Mind ; but prejerve in me a conftant tender 
 Senfe of the indifpenfable Obligations 1 lye under to better 
 Obedience. Alake me every Day more and more zealous in 
 promoting thy (dory, and the Good of my Brethren : As a 
 Ferfon faxed front DefiruStion, for this very End, that the 
 Remainder of my Life fijould be employed in the Service of 
 pi) gracious Deliverer: In this Senfe, O my God, I humbly 
 offer and prefent unto thee this Soul and Body, refeued from 
 Hell and the Grave • Be fetching thee to keep them thine for 
 ever . O let not t he Return of my Health produce a Relapfe 
 into wy former Sins •, but become an Instrument of thy greater 
 Honour, of my own jtriSUr and more fiedfafi Virtue here 
 
 and 
 
foj ^tcft pcrfoitfr 
 
 li 
 
 lxiii. 4. 
 
 xix. 11. 
 
 and my more exquifite Happinefs hereafter. O ! that the 
 Talents of Time and Ability to do Good, which have been 
 heretofore fo wretchedly negletted, may (now they are afrejh 
 committed to my Truft) be for the time to come fo faithfully 
 improved, that the fhining Graces of an exemplary Convey ,- 
 fation may hold fome proportion with the Bleffings I have 
 been fo particularly favoured withal. Let Thefe excite, not 
 Me only, but Others alfo, by my Example, to love thee more 
 fervently, to ferve thee more cheerfully,to trufi in thee more 
 affuredly . In Thee, O Lord, who fheweft us thy Goodnefs 
 fo plenteoufly, and daily poureft thy Bene- • i 
 fits upon us: In Thee, who never faileft or 
 forfakelt them that feek thee: In thee, whofe 
 Mercies are fweet, whofe Loving-kindnefs is 
 better than Life itfelf, whofe Service is per- 
 fed Freedom, and in keeping whofe Com¬ 
 mandments there is exceeding great Reward. 
 
 To this End, Santtific, I befeech thee, all the Methods of 
 thy Providence to the Salvation of my immortal Soul •, And 
 efpecially,let not thy abufed Mercies ever rife up in Judgment 
 again ft me. 0 ! may my paft Sufferings work in me great 
 Humility and godly Fear ‘, that from Them I may confirm my 
 felf in Faith, and Patience, and an entire Rcfgnation to thy 
 Will and wifer Choices for me. Bring back frequently to my 
 remembrance the Promifes and Supplications poured out in the 
 Bitternefs of my Soul, that thofe fuccefsful Addreffes to the 
 Throne of Grace,may ftir me up effectually to the paying what 
 I then fo folemnly vowed. Open thou my Lips, pf . 
 
 O Lord, that my Afouth may declare thy ' 1 *”* 
 Mercy and Truth as long as I live, and praife my God 
 while I have any Being. And, forafmuch as this Reco¬ 
 very is only the Lengthening out a little that Span of Life, 
 which mult fiwrtly have an End Suffer me not, I pray thee, 
 to forget, that I am a Stranger upon Earth : but help me 
 fo to difengage my Heart from thefe Things here below,which^ 
 (my own late Experience hath taught me) cannot profit in 
 the Day of Wrath, that my Hopes and Affections may be 
 
 B b 4 mal* 
 
3 8 <$e&ttatton£ an& $ja?crs; 
 
 unalterably fixed upon thofe better and eternal T rcafurcs, 
 which thou halt/prepared for them that love thee. Let 
 the Thoughts and certain Expectation of Death and Judg¬ 
 ment be,fo con(lantly,fo powerfully,prefent to my Soul, that 
 in what Hour foever my Lord (hall come, / may be 
 found ready to meet him, and to go in with him to the 
 Marriage. Even fo, blefifed Jefus j Grant me in fitch man- \ 
 ner to pals through things temporal, that I finally lofe 
 not the things eternal but that I may ufe and improve 
 thy Grace here, till Grace at laftbe fwallowed up in Glory, 
 and 1 tranfiated to my Afafter's Joy. All which I beg for j 
 thy own Merit's fake, my Only Mediator and Redeemer : 
 
 To whom, with the Father and Holy Spirit, be aferibed, as 
 is mofi due, from Me, and every Creature, Ail Honour and I 
 Glory, Dominion and Power, Thankfgiving and Praife , and 
 humble Adoration, henceforth and for Evermore. Amen. 
 
 Med. VI. 
 
 Of Death. 
 
 iftir.ix.27. 'f^ ,s appointed for all Men once to Dye, 
 JL and after that the Judgment : So (ays the 
 Spirit of God himfelf; and what is thus appointed, 
 pone can reverie, none can efcape. That then, which 
 remains for Us, who lie under this Sentence, to do, is 
 only to endeavour, that we may die, as becomes Men 
 
 2 Or V 10 and Chriftians i that is , as Perfons, who ex- 
 ' ' ‘ ped to render an Account of the Things 
 done in this Body, and to receive a Recompence ac¬ 
 cordingly,whether it be Good or Bad. But Who may 
 Qbide that Day ? or who lhall (land, when the Lord 
 appeareth ? Who indeed ; when not only the Thing 
 jt felf, but the very Apprehenfions, and efpecially the 
 Approaches of it are fo dreadful > For what is more, 
 
 ter? 
 
foj ^tcfi ^erfott#* 
 
 19 
 
 terrible to mortal Man, than Dying? and what more 
 fo to finful Man, than being Judged ? But yet, my 
 Soul, fince thefe mull unavoidably come, let us fee, 
 what Courfc can be taken, to foften a little, and re¬ 
 concile us to them : Nay, let us try, if it be not pof- 
 i.ble, not only to bear them contentedly, but even to 
 meet them gladly. 
 
 11. If Death be confidered in it felf, it is no more 
 than what all the living Creation here below undergo 
 in common with our felves. And what is Dying ? Ic 
 is a Cealing to Live after the manner we now do; it is 
 a Removal, or rather an Efcape; from a World of 
 Misfortunes and Miferies; of Sorrow and Difquiet; 
 ot Malice and Deceit ; of Noife and Contention ; of 
 Pains and Anguilh; of CrofTes and Difappointments; 
 of Vanity and Vexation : and, which is worlt of all, 
 of Temptation and Sin. It is doing that once for all, 
 which we have done in part a thoufand times alrea¬ 
 dy ; by Sickneflesand Faintings; by the Decays and 
 Infirmities of Nature; and by thelols of our tender¬ 
 ed: Relations, who tore away our very Heart with 
 them. In fhort, the prefent Life, even to the Pro- 
 fperous, will be found upon a juft Computation, to 
 have made a very unequal Diftribution. For even fuch 
 have a larger proportion of Trouble than of Happi- 
 nefs. But to the Generality of Mankind it is a rough 
 tempeftuous Sea ; and Death is the making their Port, 
 or at lad: retiring into the Shelter of a Creek, where 
 Storms can reach and annoy them no more. Thefe 
 are not affe&ed Strains of Philofophy, but weighed 
 and meafured Truths; fuch as every Man is, or may 
 be, fadly convinced of, at his own Expence. The 
 only Deceit arifes from our natural Fondnefs for Li- 
 ving ; which God hath wifely infufed, and woven into 
 our Souls, that we might fuftain our prefent Calami¬ 
 ties the be.ter. As on rheother hand he hath made 
 ^aith of a FutureStateour Virtue; and ordained the 
 
 Mife- 
 
4° 
 
 < 5 pcDttattott 0 anD ^a?crj5 
 
 Miferies of the Prefent Life as an Exercife for that 
 Virtue ■, that both together might be a Balance at 
 Jeaft againft the Objefts of Senfe, and draw off our 
 Affeftions from a Place, which was never intended 
 for our Reft \ and to raife our Delires of thofe Better 
 Things, provided for us in another World. And 
 furely, if this Matter were well weigh’d, however 
 timorous Nature may ftart and boggle at firft, yet it 
 would be no hard Matter to come clofe up to Death i 
 and by the help of familiar Pra&ice, and prudent 
 pious Meditation, to render not only the Thoughts 
 of it, but even the Thing it felf, very tolerable to us. 
 
 III. But if wc confider Death in another Capacity, 
 as leading, and keeping us clofe Prifoners, to a juft 
 and terrible Judgment, thus it hath a Sting indeed, 
 which is the Senfe of Guilt, and Sin unpardoned. This 
 is what nothing can relieve, but the Comfort", of true 
 Repentance, of a Saviour facrificed to expiate, and 
 make full fatisfattion for our Offences, a Title to our 
 part in that Expiation, and the Favour of a reconci¬ 
 led God. Andthefe, I hope, arc Comforts which be¬ 
 long to Me. Fordo but hear and obferve fmy Soul) 
 what reviving Words the Holy Spirit hath fpoken 
 .... to this purpofe: Jj any Man fin, we have an 
 ijc .11.1,2. j 4 d vocate with the Father , Jefm Chrisi the 
 Fight com, and He is the Propitiation for our Sins. Chrift 
 hath dyed, who is he that condemneth ? Yea, Chrift* 
 isrifen again, and feated at the Right-hand of God, a 
 perpetual Intercefl'or,and a mighty Saviour 
 Xpm. v.u tQ a jj t j lcm t j iat come tQ q 0( j Him. He 
 
 hath told thee, that what the Infirmity of the Law and 
 the Flefh could not do, Chrift hath done 
 Heb.\\f 5 \v. ^ or m . t jj at j, e knows and hath felt our 
 Weakneffes, and will not fail to make large and very 
 gracious Allowances for them ■, that Jefus 
 X.ev'\. <$. hath W alhed us in his own Blood, and 
 though our Sins be as Scarlet, yet, upon 
 
 our 
 
foj ^tcfe ^erfoti0. 
 
 4 1 
 
 I our true Repentance they fhall be white as Snow. Look 
 
 up then, and fee thy Lord coming in the Clouds ; 
 Thou mult be judged, ’tis true, but thy Redeemer (hall 
 be thy Judge. And to whofe Decifion would’ft thou 
 choofe to ftand, but to thy belt Friend’s, to Him who 
 loved thee fo dearly, as to die for Thee; to be made 
 Sin and a Curfe for Thee, that thou mighteft be made 
 the Righteoufnefs of God in Him ? This is thy fure 
 Confidence, and Heaven and Earth may pafs away, 
 but his Merits and Promifescan never fail. And he 
 hath promifed, that all who repent and believe, and 
 ferve and love him, fhall be faved in that ^ , 
 
 Day, and be where He is, to behold his XU1 ‘ 
 Glory. Nay, not to behold only, but to enjoy it; to 
 live, and reign, with the Son of God himfelf; For 
 fuch he hath made Sons alfo. Heirs of God 
 and Joynt-heirs with Chrift, of an Inheii- -^w.viii.i?. 
 tance incorruptible, undefiled, and that 
 fadeth not away, referved for them in the 
 Heavens. And if I know that I love God, 
 
 I“know that I (hall be with him, and be like 1 $ohi iii. 2 . 
 him, and fee him as he is. 
 
 i IV. Oh glorious Day, which fhall bring me to the 
 full and infeparable Enjoyment of my deareft Saviour 
 and moft metciful God ! when this Veil ot Flefh fhall 
 be done away, and Spiritual Joy, and Peace, and 
 ; Knowledge, and Love fhall for ever abound ! Blefled 
 be thy Name, O God, who hall opened an Entrance 
 into fuch Blils for poor returning Sinners! Blefled be 
 thy Bounty, who haft ordained fuch an infinite Re- 
 : compence for our -imperfeft and unworthy Labours! 
 [ And if thou haft decreed withal, that I muft pafs 
 1 through the Regions of Darknefs and Death, to come 
 ■ at thofe Seats of Light and Glory; fhall I grudge this 
 Paflage? When 1 have born the Heat and Burden of 
 the Day, fhall I mourn becaufe Even is come, and 
 fhrink back, when I am called to receive my Wages ? 
 
 Some 
 
 1 
 
4 2 fl^eDttattong and ^atcrjst 
 
 Some Difficulties I know there are: But thou, O Loid, I 
 wilt ftrengthen my Faith, and not fuffcr me to faint j 
 under the Terrours and Struggles of my laft Tryals. 1 
 Give me Grace, I pray thee, to confider, that this is 1 
 the Method by which thy own Son was made perfeft } I 
 that it is no more, nay it is mucl/lefs, than He fuffered I 
 voluntarily, and for my fake : that by fuflering Death 1 
 he hath overcome it, ar.d rendred the Conflift more ] 
 eafie to them that come after. Grant me to rejoyce, at j 
 leaft to fupport my felf, with the nearer Profpect of | 
 an Eternal Reft and Reward. 
 
 V. And do thou, O my Soul, labour continually j 
 to ftrengthen thy own Frailties and Fears, with holy : 
 Meditations, with the repeated Exercifes of Faith, j 
 and Repentance, of Truftand Love, and Heavenly- j 
 mindednefs. Bid Adieu to this vain World, and fhake I 
 Hands with it cheerfully: As for all that is uneafie j 
 here, thank God for a Deliverance from it} And for , 
 all whom thou haft realon to love and be concerned ! 
 for, remember that thou leaveft them under the Con- j 
 duff of the fame good Providence, of which thy felf • 
 haft had fo large Experience. Conlider that God is : 
 All Relations, and more than All, to thofe that want 
 them} and if they continue to feek and ferve him di¬ 
 ligently, he wiH never forfake them, but be their 
 God, and their Guide unto Death. Bid all my Friends 
 Weep, not for Me, but for Themfelves} who are 
 ftill in a State of Danger and Temptation, of Vani¬ 
 ty and Mifery; from which they that die in the 
 Lord are for ever freed. Tell them, that we fhall 
 fee one another again lhortly. And, as 1 am going now 
 to thofe dear and good Souls, who have got the ftart 
 of me in this Journey } fo They, and I, and all God’s 
 Children fhall have a glorious, a joyful Meeting, at 
 the Refurreefion of the Juft. We fhall all go toge¬ 
 ther into a Place, whence Tears and Mourning are 
 tpr ever banifla’d } where the Vifton of God, the Ser¬ 
 vice 
 
foz ^icfi per long. 
 
 43 
 
 vice of the Lamb, the Company of Angels and Saints, 
 j Ihall miniiler eternal Matter of Praife and Joy ; and 
 our Happinefs will exceed all we can conceive, all we 
 can hope tor. And now, O Death, where 
 is thy Sting? O Grave, where is thy Vittory ? * ’ X " ^ ^ ' 
 
 Thanks be to God, which hath given us the Viiflory, 
 through our Lord Jefus Chrilt. Therefore (my Soul) 
 be thou ftedfall, unmovable, always abounding in the 
 Work of the Lord, for as much as I am allured, that 
 [ my Labour Ihall not be in vain in the Lord. 
 
 Ejaculations. 
 
 W Hile I am at Home in the Body, 1 am ah* 2Cor. v . 5 . 
 fent from the Lord for 1 walk by Faith 7. 
 
 : not by Sight • Therefore lam confident, and willing 8. 
 
 | rather to be abfent from the Body, and to be pre- 
 fent with the Lord. 
 
 Lord , Whom have 1 in Heaven but thee ? and fft.lxxin. 
 i there is none upon Earth, that / defire in compa- 25* 
 
 [ rSfon of thee. 
 
 My Fie ft) and my Heart fai let h, but God is ft ill 
 , my Strength, and my Life, and my Portion for 
 ! ever. 
 
 Fearfulnefs and Trembling are come upon me, lv. <. 
 and an horrible Dread hath overwhelmed me. 
 
 For the Enemy of Souls crieth out aloud, and 
 the ungodly One cometh on fo faft j he is minded 
 to do me fome Mifchief , fo malictoufly is he fet a- 
 
 f ainft me. But 1 am thine , O fave me j 1 am 
 ought with a Price, O Jefus, even with thy moft 
 precious Blood. 1 am one of thy Sheep , rebuke 
 '■ this ravening Wolf, for thou art greater than he-, 
 
 ; and none is able to pluck me out of thy Hand. 
 
 Thou that takeft away the Sins of the World , Cornma- 
 have Mercy upon me. Thou that takeft away n : on $ ir ’ 
 the Sins of the World receive my Prayer Thou V1Ce ' 
 
 that 
 
44 ^eDttattong ana 
 
 that Jitteft at the right Hand of God, have Mercy 
 upon me. 
 
 Tf ciii. 8. Thou, Lord, art full of Companion and Mercy, 
 
 ,0 * Long-fujfering and of great Goodncfs ; O deal not 
 with me after my Sms, nor reward me according 
 to my Iniquities. 
 
 14. Thou know eft where of we be made, and remem- 
 breft that we are but Dull. Look gracioufly there - - 
 fore upon my Weaknefs -, Pity the Interruptions and 
 Imp erfell ions of my Prayers •, Pardon what I can¬ 
 not now do with a fteady and compofcd Zeal, and 
 accept the Sincerity of my Heart. 
 
 BurialSer- Thou knoweft, Lord, the Secrets of my Soul, fljut 
 
 v ice. not t hy merciful Ears to my Prayer ., but fpareme 
 Lord, mo ft holy, 0 God, ?noft mighty, O holy and 
 merciful Saviour^ thou moft worthy Judge eternal, i 
 fujfer me not at my laft Hour for any Pains of 
 Death to fall from thee. 
 
 Deb. xiii. Faithful is he that hath faid, I will never leave 
 thee nor forfake thee •, Lord, grant me the Know¬ 
 ledge and fenfible Experience of this moft gracious 
 PfalAvll. Promife. Standby me and fave me from the Re - 
 iPet.lv . proof of him that would eat me up. Deliver my 
 Soul from the roaring Lion, whogoeth about conti¬ 
 nually, feeking whom he may devour. 
 iPet.v. 8. Lord, I commit my Soul unto thee, as into the 
 hands of a faithful Creator, and moft merciful Re - 
 Mul. iii. deemer. Spare it 0 God, and let it be thine in the 
 Day when thou makeft up thy Jewels. In the Hour 
 Litany- 0 j jy eat ^ i n t fo e jy a y Judgment, good Lord, 
 deliver me. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 O Almighty Lord,Father of Mercies andGod ofallCom* 
 fort, I flee unto thee for Succour in this my great 
 tremity j Moft humbly befeeching thee, to fupport and ftreng* 
 
 thett 
 
foj ^tcfc $erfon$f' 
 
 then me in the laft Conflict of my Life. Deliver me from 
 the Snares and Tierrors of the Wicked One, fflam my Mo¬ 
 nies with the peaceful Comforts ofa o> tct and good Conftience 
 and ofpc.fett Reconciliation with thee , my Cod. Lord as 
 thou bringcft me nearer to thy ft If, fo h t my love, and my 
 Defires of thee be ft ranger. Jnd 0 that it may pleafe thee in 
 thy abundant Mercy, to afford me fome feveet Foret aft of fu¬ 
 ture Blifs, that I may triumph even in Death it felj ! But if 
 in this I know not what 1 ask-, yet at leafl fuffer not my 
 Faith to be fh a ken, nor thy loving kindnefs to fail -, and how- 
 ever thou deale ft with this corruptible Body , let my Soul / 
 implore thee, be precious in thy fight, Wafts it in the Blood 
 of the immaculate Lamb of God, that all its Pollutions being- 
 purged and done away, it may be prefented pure and withof.t 
 fpot before thee, and be received into thy everlafiing Kingdom 
 through the Merits and Mediation of Jefus Chnft, thy only 
 Son y our Lord and Saviour . Amen. ' 
 
 Short Ejaculations for the laft Extremities. 
 
 J Believe, blefed Jefus,that thou fhalt come to be TeDeum. 
 
 my Judge -, / therefore pray thee help thy Servant, 
 whom thou haft redeemed with thy precious Blood. 
 
 O make me now to be numbred with thy Saints in 
 Glory everlafiing. 
 
 The Snares of Death comvafs me round about,and pr.i 
 its Pains get hold upon me -, Hafi thee, O God, to i x ‘ x ' 
 deliver me, make haft, 0 Lord, to help me. 
 
 Thy Kingdom come, O God, Thy Will be done 
 in Earth as it is in Heaven. 
 
 Lord Jefus, receive my Spirit. 
 
 Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly. 
 
 Thefe laft may be ufed by the Friends and itanders-bv, with the 
 neceflary Alteration of the Perfon, after the fick Party is dif- 
 abled from the ufe of them. 
 
 finis: 
 
BOOKS Publijked by George Stan¬ 
 hope, D. D. and Chaplain in Ordinary 
 to her Majesty. 
 
 i. /^\F Wifdom: Three Books. Written original- 
 ly in French , by the Sieut deCbarron. With 
 an Account of the Author. Made Englijls from the 
 bell Edition. Correftcd and Enlarged by the Author 
 a little before his Death. 
 
 2. Epiftetttt' s Morals, with Simplicius's Comment, 
 in Engl.fh. 
 
 3. A Sermon of Death and Judgment, preach’d at 
 White- HaU, on the Death of the Queen. 
 
 4. A Sermon at the Commencement at Cambridge^ 
 the <sth, KS97. 
 
 5. A Sermon at the Funeral of Dr. Towerfon 
 
 6. A Sermon at the Fcaft of the Sons of the Clergy* 
 December the 7th, 1 6 97.