Book I. of J E S U S C H R 1 s T. zi

Were we but, as we ought to be, dead rothe World and our own Lufts , difentangled from thofe Chains and Snares within ^ that hamper and keep our Sdu^s down to Matter and Senfe,then (hould We ah'b rehfh Atls of Devotion^ and be ravifhed with marvellous Joy^ when our Thoughts are fixed on God and Hea- ven. The only^ or the greateft Bartothefe Spiiitual DelightSjproceeds from Paffions unfubdued,arid from our own Sloth^which cares not to encounter DilJicul- ties,nor afpires to the Perfection of the Saints. Hence is that Tamenefs and Dejedion of Spirit^ fb vifible, lb fcandalous, when any little Misfortune comes a- crofs us : Hence our vain Confidence^ and anxious Care, which feeks and depends upon Human Helps and Remedies^ and neglects God^ cur only fufficienc Refuge and Deliverer.
Would we but quit our felves like Men, and refo- lutely ftand our Ground, we fliould not fail of Suc- cours from above. God is always ready to iirengthen ihofe who ftrive lawfullvjand place their Hope in the Adiftance of his heavenly Grace : He means our \tiy Hardfhips and Dangers for our Good ^ and engages us in new Conflicts and Temptations, that he may make our Victories more glorious, and qualify us for a brighter Crown. If we content our felves with the Obfervance of the outward Duties only, and fuppofe this is the utmoftPerfedion neceffary for us , we bring Religion into a very narrow Compafs^and may quick- ly get to the End of ic. But alas ! the Main of our Bufinefs lies within : The Axe mall be laid to the Root of the Tree, and our Senfual Appetites quite cut down, before we can attain to true Plealure in llolinefs, and a Peaceful Serenity of Mind.
Vv'ould we but impofe upon our felves the Task of Mortifying a frefh Luft, and conquering a vicious Habit every Year ; even thus in a little time wemighc attain to fomePcrfsdion, But alas! we often take tne
2^^ m tl)t imitation Book L
dired contrary courfe ; and are generally more wary, more devout^ more zealous to do well, and to avoid evil^when we firft enter upon a Religious Life, than after we have fpent fome time in it. The Fervor of our Affedion, which ought in Reafon to grov/ every Day ftrongerand brighter, cools and goes out again; and we reckon it a great matter, if our Zeal can be kept up to the fame warmth, which we felt at its firft kindling. We are too tender of our Eafe, and loth to put cur felves upon the ftretch : Whereas , would we but ufe a little Severity, and fubmit to fome Vio- lence at firft, that Trouble would quickly wear off; and ail our Prcgrefs in Virtue be, not eafy and to- lerable only, but even a delight, and wonderful fa- tisfadion to us.
'Tis hard, I 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 for- mal War with our own Inclinations^ and obftinately deny whjt we eagerly defire. But if we do not con- quer fmaller Difficulties, what will become of us, when affaulted by greater ? If we do not refift our natural Propenfions at firft, before Inclination is ftrengthened by Cuftom, the Enemy will gather Strength ; every Day's Pradice is a fredi Reinforce- ment,- arid the longer the delay, the greater will be the DiOiculty. O think of this in time, and confider the happy EfFedsofan early and ferious Piety :What Peace, what Triumphs to our felves ; what Joy to others, to God and Chrift, to Angels and Good Men you will certainly procure, by behaving your felves gallantly in this Spiritual Warfare. This fure will balance all the Hardfhips of Virtue ; reproach your Cowardice and Sloth, provoke and inflame your Di- ligence and Courage ; and make you zealous, refo- lute, impatient to grow in Grace^ and advance eve- ry Day in Spiritual Perfeftion,
CHAP,