Book III. of Jesus Christ. ^sj

quires a diftance to be kept from all external Objed?, that thofe things Human Nature loves moft tenderly fliould be renounced ; nay, even that himfelf fliould be fo; for each Man is his own vvorft Enemy, and the moft threatning Dangers rife from within. He th^t hath gained an entire Conqueft over himfelf, will find no mighty difficulty to fubdue all other Oppofitic^ ; and this is a compleat Vi Senfual Appetite fubmits readily to the Rational Pow- ers, and thofe Powers again as readily fubmit to my Will, this Man is Mafter of himfelf and all the World. But they, who would alpire to this Perfection, muft fet out with Refolution, and early lay the Ax to the Root of the Tree ^ that no darling Sin, no corrupt or inordinate Affedion may be left ftanding. For all that Bitternefs and Sin, which is neceffary to be hewn down, in order to an entire Reformation and Hea* venly Purity of Heart and Life, are but fo many Bran- ches of that corrupt Stock, the irregular Love of a Man's own felf. And when that Stock is killed and cut down, profound Peace, axid uninterrupted Hap- pinefs arc the Confequents of fuch Mortification.
The only Reafon, why fo m.any continue ftiil en- tangled in fenfual Affections, and find themfelves tin- able to foar above themfelves and the Incumbrances here below, is, that very fe.v have attained to the Skill of dying to their own Inclin3tioni»,and divefting them- felves of narrow and felfifli Defgns. For he, who af- feAs to converfe freely with God , muft firft abandon all carnal and immoderate Defires, and get loofe from thofe Intanglements, which clog and faften down the Soul to Earth, who (till retain a fondnefs of any cre- .ated Being ^ and, by minding temporal Things, fhew that they are content to fet up their Reft, fhort of Heaven and God himfelf. Sa therefore thy colo/.illi, jiffeBions on things ahovey and not on things on the Eartbl'y for no Man is fuffam fcr thf Siwiee cf
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^5^ €»f t!)eg|mitatton Book iii^
Mat. vi. 24. ^^^ ALiJhrs ; nor canji thou love Me and ALimmon both.
Chap. XLIX.
The different Motions of tJature and Grace.
Chrifi,'] T>^ careful, my Son, to diftinguifli between Jj Nature and Grace, and nicely to obferve their different Tendencies and Profpeds. For thef© are fo very difhnt, fo contrary to each other, and yet withal fo intricate ; that they require a Spiritual and enlightned Underdanding, exactly to difcern them. In the general defire of Good all Mankind agree^ this is the Spur and Spring of every Word and Acti- on ; but that which produces fo very different Effects from the fame Original Caufe, is that Men often miftake Shadows for Subftance, and are impofed up- on by falfe appearances of Good.
Nature a attend to its Wiles, and propofes the gratifying her felf, for the end of all flie does. Grace deals candidly and Sin- cerely, complies with no Evil, puts no Cheat upon Men, does all with regard to God, and reils in Him, as its fupreme and only End. Nature declines Death and Sufferings, hates Trouble and Sorrow, Subjedion and Obedience : Grace is exercifed in perpetual Mortifi- cation and felf denial ; chufes to be over-ruled, to fub- niit ,• nay, reftr.^lns even lawful and innocent Liber- ties • does not affed Dominion and Superiority, but chufes to live in a itate of Humility and Subjedion ; and efteems no Hard(hip, no Compliance unealie, for the lake of God and a good Confcience. Nature is felfiili, and always computes what Profit every Action may bring to the Perfon that does it j Grace overlooks
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