Book IIL Ot J E S U S C H R I S T. 15-5'

nefs, in a full and free Pardon of the Faults I fb free- ly confefs.
But where fliall I find Words fit for fo miferable a Condition^, or how fhall fo fcandalous a Creature ap- ply to thee for pardon ? I know no other Terms than thefe^ that can become my Mouth. " Lord^ I have "finned, I have done wickedly. Mercy, thou Judge ^^ of Quick and Dead, Mercy, or I perifh. Refpite ^^ thy Sentence yet a little while, and grant me fome ^* time at leaft to bewail my Mifery, before 1 be '^ fwallowed up in Darknefs, and go into a ..^^ " Land, Black with the Terrors of the fha- " dow of Death. What other reparation dofi: thouex- ^^ pei^, what other can indeed be had, from Men la- ^^ den with Guilt and Infirmity, than that they fhould ^^ ferioufly bewail and bundle ihemfelves for their ^' mighty and manifold Provocations ? Hence all our ^^ Hopes of Remiflion fpring, here the firll feeds of " Reconciliation take root ; the Joy of a peaceful Con- ^^ fcience is fown in Tears ^ the Acknowledgment of ^^ our Weaknefs is the firft ftep towards repairing our ^^ Lofs, the firft Defence againit the X^'rath to come ; ■^ and in thefe melancholy Solitudes the Gracious God ^' and penitent Soul meet and embrace each other. A ^^ broken and a contrite Heart is reputed a '' Sacrifice; and Thou, in marvellous Con- ^^'^^' ^'• ^^ defcenfion preferreft it before the Odors, thefwcet- *^ eft Incenfe, or whole Hecatombs of Burnt-offer- *Mngs. Of this that precious Ointment, wiiofe Per- -" fumes, when it anointed thy holy Feet,, filled the ^^ whole Houfe, was an Emblem ^ for Thou, Lord, " never didft, or wilt, defpife a Soul nfflided with a 5^ Senfe of Sin. Contrition and Humility are cur " Sandluary againft the Rage and Malice of our Spi- f.^ ritual Adverlary ; and Tears of Penitence are that 5^ purifying Stream, which ,wa(]ies oif the Stains an^ 5^Blemiflies of our defiled Souls. '-' '^*-"-.
CHAR
xs6 ^f tf^e ^tnitatton: Book III.
Chap. LVIIL
The Grace of God dwells not mth Worldly-minded
Men.
Chrifi.'\ Tp H E Tokens of my Love .are of a nobler J. kind, than that they fhould fubmic to be Rivaird by the Bleffings of this World ,• for Heavenly Comforts difdain to mix with thofe of Earth. If then, my Son, thou deHre to be filled full of my Benedidion and Grace, all that obftrud its free PoifefUon of thy Heart mult be effectually difcarded. Covet Retirement, and prefer private Converfadon with thy God, before all the Diverfions of Human Society. Efteem no Company fo delightful as thy Clofet and thy Devoti- ons ^ and there, by fervent Prayers, pour out thy Soul alone, that thy Zeal may be.quickned, and thy Peace of Confcience fecured. Let the whole World be mean in thy Efteem, and account it a greater honour to be called and chofen of God, than any Advantages of Fortune or Advancement can confer. For, be alFured, thy Soul cannot admit of two fuch different Affedi- ons, as the Love of Me, and tranfitory Pleafures. The molt intimate Acquaintance and deareft Friends muft not Hand in Competition with Me, but they who will be mine in good earneft, muft follow the 1 Pet iii Apoftle's Advice, and hd^^^Qthemfehes as Strangers and Pilgrims in a iVorld which mufi Jlmtly he dij]'uhed. And when that time of this, or their own, Diifolucion approaches, the Joy and holy Truft of that Mind, which fits loofe to all here below, is more blelfed, than Words can exprefs.
But to live thus abllraded and difengaged from the Worid,is aPerfetlicnnotattainable by every common Man j nor can thelenfual Perfon taitetheDelights,or enjoy the Liberty of a true fpiricual State. For this re-
' quires