Book III. of JB S U S C H R I S T. X4^

Particulary, dearef!: Lord, I implore thy Com-" paflion upon my Infirmities • and in thy Mercy im- pute not co me my many wandring thoughts^ in Prayer. For there, I rnuft confefs, my Dift rations are great and frequent ; and I am often leaft ofall in that place, where I ftand or kneel ; Thus, while my Body is be- fore thy Footilool, my Mind is carried away I know not whither. And this is a very melancholy Reile- dionj fuch as gives me occafion to fufpeft, and deep- ly bewail. my felf. Since where my Thoughts are, there properly and indeed am I , and where my Thoughts frequent, and delight to dwell, there with- out doubt is the Objec5l of my Aflfedionand Concern,-" and that, which either natural Difpofitions or long Cu- itom renders molt familiar, and comes continually uppermoft. All this I gather from that Obfervation, which thou, Eternal Truth, haft left us, that where our Treafure ^tattJj. vi. fjj there will our Hearts be alfo.
This "then is the Rule, by which I try and found the Bent of my Heart • If I love Heaven, the Thoughts of it will be frequent and. pleafant to me. But if I love the World, the eiFed of this will be, that I fhall feel excefs of Joy in profperous Events, and be as im- moderate in my Grief for thofe that are otherwife. If I loVe the Flefh, wanton and Carnal Imaginations will often return upon me, and be entertained wirh Satisfaction ; but if I love the Spirit, then fliall I hnd in Spiritual Objeds a grateful Relifh, and dwell upon them: with true Delight. For this my own Senfes and Experience alTure me, that what I love moil, I am belt plealed to be entertained with, greedieft to hear and forwardeft to talk of, moft careful to remember , ^nd to preferve deep and lafting Impreflions of upon my Mind.. And therefore, though I cannot attain to it fo fuUy.as I wilh and Itrive, yet I can plainly per- ceive^ and do truly value and admire, the Happinefe
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of Them , who can abandon all, and ftick to Thee alone , that commit a holy Violence upon their natu- ral Inclinations, Crucify the Flefh, and with a pure bright Zeal, and a clear Confcience, can offer holy, fervent Prayers, a Spiritual and unblemifh'd Sacrifice: Where All without are forbidden entrance, and All within is compofed. Thefe Men, fo firmly intent up- on 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 Vefire of Eternal Life^ and the Hapfinefs of Them who ftrive Manfully.
C/6?i/.] ]\ yfY Son , when thou feelefl thy Soul in- JjVJL fl'^ii^ed with an eager defire of Eternal Happlnels^ and thinkelt long to be releafed from this Prifon of the Body, that thou may'ft be bleffed with a nei^rer and more diftincSl view, a perfed, full and uninterrupted Fruition of my Brightnefs and Maje- fty • fet open all the Avenues of thy Soul, and gree- dily receive the holy Infpiration. Exprefs thy hum- bled Thanks to God , and be duly fenfible of his Goodrefs, who deals fo bountifully with thee, vifits thee with his Mercy , fupports and ftrengthens thee with his Grace , and raifes thofe Affedions up to Heaven^ which have a fatal innate Tendency to im- merfe thy Soul in Earth, and Flefh, and Senfe. For, do not miltake 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 Uiem^ and they are owing to no
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