Book III. of Jesus Christ. ny

thing to my felf ; for while I rejoice in Thee, I hnd nothing in my felf to glory in, but my Infirmities. And in them I will gladly glory ; becaufe, the greater my Weaknefs is, the more vifible and eminent is thy Strength, which is fo confpicuoufly perfed in ic» Let Unbelieving Jews feek Honour cne of ^^^ ^ mother, but I, who profefs my felf one of the Faithful, -will feek the Honour which comet h from God only. For, what is all the Fame, and Refped^and Greatnefs of this World, if put into the Balance of thy Eternal Glory, but exquifite Folly, deceitful Bubble, and altogether lighter than Vanity it felf ^ All Ho- nour therefore, and Praife, all Might and Majefiy b^ afcribed to thee, O blelTed Trinity, my God, my Light, my Truth, my Succour and Defence^ my Refuge and Comfort, for ever and ever. Amen,
Chap. XLVL
Of Defpifwg Worldly Honour,
Chrlfi.']'tV thou feeft others grow great in Rcputati- 1 tion and Preferment, while thou art over- looked and defpifed, let this, my Son, be no Con- cern to thee. Look up to Me, and fet thy Aifedions and Hopes in Heaven, and then the Negled and Con- tempt of Men will give thee little Trouble,
Difciple.] Were it not^ Lord, for the Blindnefs and Corruption of Nature, which makes me fond of Va- nities and Joys, I fliould have jufter Notions of thefe Matters. For he, who rightly underftands himfelf, cannot but difcern, that it is not in the Power of any thing without to do him real Prejudice ,• and confe- quently, that he can have no reafonable GroLin.d to complain of thy Providence, however it thinks fit to
difpofe
!L26 g)f tfit limitation Book iii.
difpofe of fuch Matters. The Confcioufnefs of my own Sins convinces me^ I have deferved, that all the Creatures fliould confpire and make War againft me. To Me belongs Shame and Confufion, but to Thee only Honour and Praifeisdue. And Thou haft taught me, that to bear Contempt, and Hatred, and barba- rous Treatment,wich Humility and Patience, is the on- ly Method of attaining inward Peace, and true Sa- tisfa(5lion ; The Virtue which mufi: recommend me to thy Favour ,• the beft Predifpofition for Light and Grace ; and the fureft^ clofeft Band of Union with thy felf.
CHAP. XLVII.
JIappinefs is not to he had^ ly the Favour or Friend- fhip of Men,
Chrlfi.'] TTEthatpropofestobe Happy,bytheAf- X A fed:ion or Acquaintance of the beft, the greatelt Man alive, will always find his Mind un- fettled and perplexed. For even the Beft and Great- eft are but Mortals ^ and the effedual Remedy againft immoderate Concern for their being taken away from thee, will be to court the Favour of an Eternal and Immortal Friend. Now,the iefs Confidenceany Man repofes in any Earthly Comfort, fo much the more he ingratiates himfelf with God. And, the better he acquaints himfelf with his own Vilenefs, the Iefs he is in his own Eyes, the higher he rifes in God's Efteem* But they, who vainly fancy any thing that is good or meritorious in themfelves, put an effedual Bar to Di^ vine Grace. For "tliis is given to the Humble, and the Spirit of God chufes the contrite Heart for thp place of his peculiar Relidsnce. Wouldft thou aban--
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