Book III. of J B $ U S C H R I S T. X59

all private Gain, and labours chiefly to promote the publick Good. Nature delights in Honours and Prefer- ments, in a celebrated Name, and the Commendatiors of Men : Grace afcribes all the Honour and Praife co God,andthinks,that things done well are well reward- ed by his Acceptance and Approbation. Nature dreads Ignominy and Contempt : But Grace accounts it Mat- ter of great Joy to be expofed and vilified in a good Caufe.Nature is pleafed with Eafe and Indulgence,and bodily Reft : Grace is ever adive, and undertakes Bufi- nefsandToil with chearfulnefs.Nature is charmed with Beauty and Curioiity, and difdains things* that are mean, and vulgar, and common : Grace is delighted with fuch as are plain and low in the Efteem of the World, difdains not thofe that are unpalatable, nor thinks her felf the worfe, for the want of outward Gaieties and Ornaments. Nature aims at tranfitory Enjoyments, is fond of Wealth and Increafe, tenderly afFeded with Lofles and Difappointments, and provo- ked to thelaft degree with Inlblence and Reproach ; Grace keeps Eternal Advantages in view, negle(5ts the fading and perifhing, bears Loffes with evennefs of Temper, endures Contempt and Scandal patiently.For Thefe,flie confiders, are things of no mighty concern, to one whofe Heart and Treafure are in Heaven ; a Place, where they are fafe,and no misfortune can reach them. Nature is niggardly and griping, and chufes ra- ther to receive than give : Grace Bountiful and Kind, defpifing fordid Gain and Parfimony, content v/ith a little, diftributes liberally and chearfully, and ^cf^ ^x. efteems it more hlejjed to gi-ve than to receii/e.
Nature inclines to Creature-comforts, to Fleftily Delights, to Worldly Vanities and Pomps, to wan- dring and idle Diverfions: Grace fixes the Heart upon God and Goodnefs, concerns it felf with the World as little as may be, hates Flefhly Lufts, checks and confines roving Imaginations, and afFeds Privacy and
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tl6o €>f t^e gittiitatton Bookiii.
Solitude. Nature is much delighted with fenfual Plea- fures: Grace feels noPleafure^ but in God alone, arid prefers that before all the Delights that the Objects of Senfe can afford. Nature docs nothing without fome Profpedi of Intereft, and for every Kindnefs expe(5ls as good or better Returns, either of things in kind, or at lead of Favour and Applaufe for its pre- tended Generofity, and fets a very high Value upon all the Obligations it lays : Grace defiresno Recom- pence in this World, but looks upon God as her Re- ward ^ nor are the Supplies and Conveniencies of Life any farther of Gonfideration with her^ than as a comfortable Subfiftence in this World may be fer- viceable, in {Promoting and facilitating the Endeavours after another.
Nature valines her felf upon a diffufive Intereft^ and multitude of Relations and Friends, Quality and No- ble Blood ; and therefore fawns upon^ or favours Men in Power, courts and careffes the Rich, comftiends^ and is partial to Perfons of the fame Condition, or O- plnion^ or Party: Grace is Charitable and Kind, even to Enemies ^ is not Exalted by great or numerous Friendfhips ; and thinks the Defcent and Family of a Man a very defpicable thing, unlefs his Virtues be as much more eminent than thofe of his Inferiors, as his Birth and Rank is above theirs. Grace favours the Poor rather than the Rich, and is more concerned for the hard Fortune of an Innocent Perfon, than of a Great One ; pays its Refpedirs to true intrinflckWorth^ not to the meer Signs and Trappings of it, which of- ^en only (hew where it ought to be, not where \% really is \ encourages the Good in Virtue, inftead of fluttering and foothing up the Mighty in their Wick- €dnefs and Folly ; and labours indefatigably to con^ form thofe who profefs themfelves God's Children, to the Ukenefs of their Heavenly Father's Excellencies^ by propagating all manner of Piety and Goodnefs.
Nature