Book III. of J E $ U S C H R I S T. 245

lefs noble a Caufe, than the free and bonntlful Dona- tion of Divine Grace and Favour i The Dcfign cf which is to advance and exalt rhyVirtuesj to niake thee hum- ble and modeft , With ReJled:ions Upon the Strength of ahofher made perfect in thy Weaknefs ; to fit thee for future Try a Is, and forer Conf!i(5ls ; to engage thy Affedions, and entourage thy Perjeverahce, in the faithful Service of fo gracious, fo good a Mailer.
Nor let thy Spirits be dejeded, Son, If this He not done with all that Zeal, and entire Relignaiion of a Heart perfedly undivided, which thou could It wiQi. For, as in Common Fire there will always be Tome Smoak ; fo in thefe holy Flames many Men are fm- Cerely defirous of heavenly Things, who yet cannot quite diveil themfelves of Carnal Affections, nor be abfolutely free from all Temptations. And therefore fome other Profpeds will often intefpofe, as well zs that of promoting God's Glory only, by thofe good Anions, for which the Afliftances of his Grace arc^ fought, and earneftly Implored. Of this thy own Ex- perience convinces thee by fundry Inftances, in which thou feeft no reafon to fufped thy own Integrity. Nor will all that be condemned at the la ft Day, which was attempted with a mixture of fome Deflre to promote: thy own Advantage. Only take care that this Deflre prevail not fo far, as to incline thee to prefer what may contribute to thy Profit or Delight, before thofe Things which will procure my Favour and Accep- tance, and be for mine and for Religion's Honour; For with a wife confiderate Chriftian, my Will takes place above his own Defires, or any the moft inviting Objed ,• and if it reign not in his Heart alone, yet ic always fits fupreme, and over-rules the relt. / k^o-ii/ all thy Defires^ avd thy Groamvgs are not hid ^a . .....
from me. Thou would'ft this Inftant be ad- ^^^^- ''''''^'^ mitted into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of G6>3 > the blifsful find eternal Manfions of thy heavenly
& Father f
a46 €»f t^e imitation Book III.
Father's Houfe are thy Longings and Delight ; and as ^r t ^•• ^^^ Hart pu7Jtcth after the Water-fprlnzs. Co doth thy Soul fant and thirft after me, Eut as yet thou art not ripe for thefe Joys ^ that happy Hour is not come ,• for this Life is the time of War- fare,and Aclion^and Trial, and notofReft^andJoy^and Triumph ; and thou muft be content to wait with Pati- ence, till the Kingdom of God fliall come in perfection. The Condition of Mortals upon Earth is that Exer- cife and Difciph'ne ; the Joys they feel are Comforts and Supports^ not full and perfed Happinefs ^ they are given not to fluisfie^ but only to fuftain them. And therefore receive them as they are, and ufe them to their proper Pur poles ; that by them thy Conftancy and Patience may be preferv'd from finking under the weight of any Difficulties, which either the doing or fuffering things, to which Frail and Corrupt Nature is averfe, may at any time expofe thee. For the Change of a Man's felf is a very laborious Undertaking, and yet this muft be done. The Flefh with its Lufts muft be cruciiied, a New Heart and a New Spirit introduced, many things done which offer Violence to a Man's In- clinations, many forgone and let alone, to which he is ftrongly difposYl Others thou (halt often obferve crovvn'd vni\\ Succefs, when thy own no lefs painful Endeavours are defeated and difappointed : Others lookt upon as Oracles, when thy better and wifer Ad- vice is difrcgarded and defpil'ed : Others will fuffer long, and at laft obtain their Defire ^ Thou, perhaps, tho' equally patient, equally fervent and zealous in tliy Application.difmift with a Repulfe ^ Othersbe great in Fame and general Efteem, while thy more deferving Virtues are pafs'd over in Silence ; Others carefTed, preferr G^trufted in Matters of Confequence, and look- ed upon as ufeful and neceffary, while thou art re- puted a ufeiels and inlignificant JPerfon. Thefe mi- Itaken or partial Judgments of Men will grate hard
upon