Book III. of Jesus Christ. 23 j

the Seal of Secrefy. From (Uch unlincere Dealers as thefe 1 beg jto be delivered, and from their treache- rous ways; that 1 may neither come within their power of betraying ana abufing my Confidence, nor injure any whorepofe the like in Me. Make me then^ Lord, a rigid Obferver of Truth, and religioufly firm to my Word : For wh^t 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 Virtue3 but a Convenience and Benetit, Caution in Crediting, Referve in Speaking, and Re^ vealing one's felf to very f^w, are the belt SeEurines both of Peace and a good Undcrftandingv/ith the World, and of the Inward Peace of our own Minds, Endeavouring to approve our felves to the Knower and Searcher of Hearts^ and not fuffering every blaft of Idle Report, or empty Profefnon^to carry us about,' but guarding our Converfation carefully, and labour- ing to conform every Thought, Word and Adion ta the Divine Will , Thefe are a good Mans Safety, and Satisfaction, and Wifdom. How fureand calnia Re- treat does that Man make, who chufes to preferve thy Favour, by making an Efcape from Pomp and Noiie j preferring thy Approbations before the loudeft Fame and Applaufe ; and willingly abandoning thofe painted Follies, whofe glittering Outfidesimpole upoTi our S«nfes ? Who prefers contrite Sorrow, ftver© Virtue, and foUtary Devotion, before thefhowy Plea- fures of the World, or that empty Admiration, which Ambition and Vain-glory affeiA. Praife is indeed the Confequence and Encouragement of Virtue, but it is, fometimes fo unfeafonably applied, as to become its Bane and Corruption too. For the whole Life of Mart is one continual Temptation, and we have a fubtle Adverfary to deal with, who fiips no advantage of" undoing us. Our Praifes he improves fo his own Pur-
234 !gPf tfte gimttatton Book I JL
pofes, by fwelling us up with them into Pride and Self-conceit. And many Souls have perifhed by that- Virtue^ publifhed and celebrated^ which^ if unknown and unobferved^ had come to mighty Perfedion^ and been infinitely happy^ by the advantage of Secrefy and Silence.
Chap. LI.
OfTrufling in God^ when Men fpeak III of us.
C/;ri/?.] O Tan d fail, my Son ^ and be not terrified ^ with the Shock of Calumny and Reproach, ^ut let me be thy Refuge and fure Confidence. Alas I What are Words but empty Sounds^ that break and fcatter in the Air^ and make no real Impreffion ? If not Report alone^ " but thy own Confcience too re- proach thee j bewail thy Guilty, and reform what hath been amifs. But, if upon Examination thou find no Ground of accufing thy felf j ilrengthen 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 expeds that thou flicukrii refifl even unto 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 fbch Impatience, and thou fhalt find it a Symptom of a Soul fick and indifpofed. For, how can it be otherwife accounted for, than, that thou art yet Carnal, and retaineft a greater Regard for the Opinion of Men, than can be well confift ent with a Perfon, who hath renounced the World, and profeifes to dedicate bimfelf entirely to God ? Whence is Reproof fo grating