Book III. of J H s u s Christ. x^i

pleafeft. For this I know, that how grievous ibever thefe Temporal Croffes may be, yet better is it to feel the weight of thy Hand here, than hereafter. Ail things are naked and open to thee, even the inmoft Receffes of our Hearts ; Thou knoweft the things thjtt will be, before they are, andneedeftnot that any iliould inform thee what is done upon Earth. Thou feeft what will contribute moft to my Improvement inGoodnefs; how great and good effect Dirtrefles have, to fcourthe Ruft from our unadive Minds, and brighten ail our Virtues. Take then, my God, thy own Meafures ; I only beg, that thou would'ft not difdain and give mc over, and think me unworthy thy Care, for thofeBlc- miflies and Mifdemeanours of my Life, which none arc better acquainted with ; which none indeed are thoroughly acquainted with, but thou the Searcher of Hearts alone.
Work in me, I intreat thee, a true Amendment : In- ftru(5t me in all things tit for me to know,- Diipofe me to love all things worthy my AfFedion ; to think, that every thing deferves my Praife, in proportion as it pleafes thee ; to efteem nothing highly, but what is precious and honourable in thy fight ; to look with a generous Difdain upon all that thou thinkeft vile, and never be reconciled to what thou hatelt. Let me not, I befeech thee, judge by outward Appearances, the feeing of the Eye, or the hearing of the Ear, which are fubjed to infinite Deiufions and Millakes ; but give me a right Judgment in all things, whether they relate to this or another State, to the outward, or the inner-jMan j and,, above all, let it be my ipecial Care to inform my felf in thy Will concerning me. )^leh, who form their Judgment upon Senfe, often •err - iMerx| who fee their 'Affeclions upon th.e fenfible Objecl:s'pf'ijhrs World, ' are frequently difappointecj and miferlibie":''tor^ is a Man, for inltahce, one whit fhe feetter,^ .'becaulc li^ is gr'^wn greater in other Mens
""'R 4 eltcem ?
2^^2^ €>t mz ^mitatton Book IJL
efteem ? Is common Opinion the Standard of Merit? Nothing iefs. Here every Man abufes his Fellpw : The Cheat impofes upon another as great a Cheat ^ the Vain puffs up the Vain^ the Blind "niifleads the Blind ; the Weak fupports the Weak , and all the while, by empty undefeived Ccmmendatio;is^ each brings a true Reproach upon the orher^ while he ex- tols him againft S^nk and Reafon. For after ali, thefe Praifes are but Words without any Significance ; nothing more than Air and empty Sound ; for every Man is juit fo much, fo good/ and neither rnore nor Jefs, than he is in thy efteem only.
Chap. LVI.
A Man muft he content mth meaner AB.$ of Firtue^ ffhen he is inJifpofed for greater,
p^'*^/-] T^O not fuppofe^ my Son^ that thy Ze^l jLJ can always be equally bright^ or thy Mind capable of Tranfport and intent Conrernplation iipon heavenly ObjecSts at all times. Thou c.rrielt about with thee v: Load of Infirmity and Corruption, which Vvili often damp the clearelt Flames of Devo* tion^ darken thy Mind/ and check its noble Flights,- and make thee know apd feci, rhat Mortal Flefh and ^Blooid is a heavy, but infeparablc, Incumbrance upon a Rational and Religious Scul. While Men are in the Body, there is no Remedy, but the}- itiuft feel apd groan under the y; eight.' And groan rhey' ought in- jdeed, vv/hcn they confider, how great an Interruption fhis is to their Attendance^ and entire Dedication of jheir Time and Thoughts, to God and Heavenly Ob- jjecSs. THefe they muft: be content to dwell upon ll much ^as ii^ay ^e, by fnatching aUthpfe happy
JBookllL of J £ s u s C H R I s T. i53
Intervals^ which Leifure and a good Temper of Mind allow them.
But when the Soul is indifpofed for Nobler Exer- cifes, when Cares or Infirmities prefs it down, let jt not be unaiftive. Variety is here of ufc; and Works of a meaner Rank in the Scale of Virtue muft be re- curred to ; that thou may'ft be ftill employ 'd , ftill waiting for the happy hour , when I fliall return and vilit thee with larger meafures of my Grace. Bear with Meeknefs the prefent Difcomfort and Inca- pacity, the dry and barren State of thy Soul , till I fend my refrefliing Dews , and infufe a Principle of Fruitfulnefs for a Produd in greater Plenty and Per- fe(5lion. For I can foon make thee to forget thy paft Troubles, and fatisfy thy Mind with the abundance of Peace. J open for thee the fpacious Plains of Scri- pture, that thou may'fl be enlarged, and run the way of my Commandmenrs in Liberty ; and, with a Soul full of Joy and inward Exultation, fay, I reckon that the Sufferings of this prefent time ^^^- '^"'* are not worthy to be compared with the Glory which Jlmll be revealed in us..
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'lAMiin^^ouU think CorreBion^ not Comfort^ his due,
pi/c/j)/^:]T Ord , f muft needs with Shame confefs ,",.••' ;.l J my felf altogether unworthy thy Com- fbhSj (ir any par: of that Care thou art pleafed to take of my Soul ; and therefore I have no pretence to com- plain of hard Ufage, or Injufiice, when thou with- draweft thy Grace, and leavefl me to my felf. Whole Seas of Tears CQuld not fo cleanfe jny polluted Soul,
as
z£4 gPf tl^e imitation Book iii.
as to render ic pure enough to merit the blefled In- fluences of thy Spirit. Scourges and Vengeance arc the Portion of a Wretch, who by fo many and fo grievous Tranfgreflions hath offended thy Majefty. The more therefore I refle(5t upon my own finfulnefs, the clearer and jufter Notions I have of thy free un- deferved Mercy. For Merciful thou art, even to Afto- nifhment, whofe Bowels thus yearn over the Work of thy own Hands,- who thus to all the World haft manifefted the Riches of thy Grace in the Veflels of Mercy, and extendeft thy Liberality to thofe who have no right to challenge, no recommendation ta induce thee to it.
f But, if we could pretend to Comforts, yet how could we exped fuch divine, fuch incomparably fweet and noble Marks of thy Favour ? fo very unlike, fo much above any Human Helps or Encouragements ? For how could 1 exped the Bread of Life from Hea- ven ? Good Works I know of none I have to plead ; but the flighreft recolledion even amazes and con- founds me Vv^ith Sins innumerable brought to my re- membrance. My vehement pronenefs to Evil, and fliameful Sloth and Backwardnefs to Reformation and Goodjiefs, are^f themfelves fo^ evident, that (hould I Tabour to cloak thehi, the attempt mulf needs be vain : For thou, the Searcher of Hearts, art privy to them ,* Thou canft difprove me, and rto Advocate is to be found J who could offer any thing in my Vindication. ,\\SU:^Arl^en qan.I. juftly lay claim to, but Hell and cvcrlading Flames .'' I own with Grief and Shame, IJie^t Reproach aivd , Contempt ^are my due j and-that Tjnv unvvof*Miy*\ro^t5T ^^f^ie'i^V among, thy Sons, -or even thy , m.;eaneft: _ Servants'." ', Na ture indeed ft^rt$ D VcK, Viid"c,5nho't" vCTthput felu.ffancy ackhowJeifge
■''V'and Gui/t'^'^'i3ur,^,wiH offer '.Vior tive Pride, ."find fre^y confefs' my
nu\ *fl ' fhe w, thj;jiiftice and'-'^FB i tlifu I-
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