Book III. of J E S U S C H R I S T. x^l

(o contentedly does he perifii in Vanity and Vexati- on^ unlefs thy Grace make him vvifer, and raife his Mind to better and eternal Concerns.
CHAP. L. Againjl a Fond and Eafy Credulity.
Difciple.J T Ordjhe thoumy Helj)m7rott- pfal.cvlu i
Jj J hlcy for z'aln is the Help of
Man. How often have I fail'd of Succour^ and true Friendfhip^ where I had moft reafon to exped it ? How often found it, where I entertained no fuch Expecta- tions ? So vain and uncertain is all Truft in Man, fo entirely does the Safety of Good Men depend upon Thee alone. Bleffed therefore, and forever admired^ be that Good Providence, which orders and dilpofes all Events^ to thy Impotent and Fickle, thy Ignorant and Silly, thy Deceitful and Deceivable Creatures !
Who among all the Sons of Men ever behaved him- felf with fo prudent Care, and exad Circumfpet^lion^ as not fometimes to be over-reached by Treachery and Trick,and involved in Difficulties and Troubles, which the mod JealousForefight knew nothowtodef- cry or fufped ? But he, who places no Confidence in Human Subtilty, and refts in God alone, and ads with downright Honefty, and a good Confcience, is lefs fubfed to fuch Inconvenience, than cunning and Intriguing Men : Or, if he be furprized and impo- fed upon, yet is his Deliverance generally more fpee- dy and efFedual , and his Comforts in the mean while more fenfible and fupporting. For Thou, Lord, never forfakeft thofe utterly, who put their Truil in Thee. A faithful Friend, and fuch as will ftand by us in Ad- verlity and Want, is exceeding hard to be found ; but
Q z Thou-
^32.
Thou art always the fame, and no change of Cir- cuiiiitances can change Thee, or abate thy Affedion. 1 lappy is the Soul that is built upon the Rock, Chr ift ; Were this my Cafe, the Fear of the Malicious would not diftradj nor the Calumnies of the Envious di- fiurb me.
But who dan forfee all future Inconveniences, or prevent all diat he may forefee .^ And.if thpllls we are 3ware of, and provide againil, are fo grievous to be bgrn ; how much more heavy v.'ill be thofe Wounds^ whofe Smart and Terror are doubled by Surprize ; Wq often blamp our feives for not being wifer, and Ji'iv^ reafoii to condemn our too eafy Credulity , That . pfpecially, which greedily affents to the Flatteries and Commendations of Men, and relies upon their rnigh- ty Profeffions of Friendfliip and Elteem. For, thp' they call and think us Angels, yet we cannot but be confcious toour lelves, that we are no better than Men, fraii and wretched Men. Whom therefore fhall I believe ,• Whom indeed but Thee, O Lord .^ For thou arr Truth it felf, incapable of deceiving, or of being pfai.cxvl deceived. But as for Men, they are all Lyars, weak and inconftant, frail and treacherous • elbecially^ in what they fay, fo exceed- ing fabulous and vain, that it is a Point of Piudenge CO fufpend our Faith, and thou haft wifely taught us to beware of their Falfe Inllnuations. Thou halt fore- warned us of their Treachery and Malice, told us, . that a Main's Enemies fiall he thofe of his own fCindred Mat xxiv. ^>nd Hatjl)old '^ arid that when Men fay ^ Loy
. ■ Qhrjft is htre^ or to , he is there ^ we ought nQ,t to heUe%;e them. ' The Truth of thefe Predidionsl have learnt by fad Experience, and \vi(h I may grow wifer . ^t my own Expence.
Be fare^iifap onej you keep this private whi^h I "tell you, aad y^t that very Man in the next Ccmpa- -py divulges what he hijd ir;}parted juil before_^ under
the