Book III. of Jesus Christ. xOy

Protedion ; ftronger than all my Enemies, and vvifer than all Human Counfels and Contrivances; the Teacher of Truth, the Miftrefs of holy Difcipline, the Light of the Soul, the Solace of Troubles, the Re- folver of Doubts, the Balm of my Wounds, the Di- fpeller of Melancholy, the Banifhcr of Fear, the Che- rifher of Devotion, the Parent of Contrition, the Spring of Holy Tears, and all thofe Streams that waft and purge Polluted Confciences. What am I without this but dry Stubble, a rotten Trunk, dead to good Works, ufelefs and unprofitable, and fit for nothing but to be trodden under Foot, and caft into the Fire ? Let therefore, O my God, I moft humbly and hearti- ly entreat ^ O .'let this Grace and Favour of thine al- ways prevent and follow ^ and make me con- CoJIefl- f tinually to he given to all good Works ; that xvii, Sunefay in all my Aclions begun ^ continued and ended a^er Tn'mty. in TheSy I may glorifie thy Holy Name ,• and ^^]^^ ^f^^ finally by thy Mercy ^ obtain Everlafiing Life, Amettj Amen.
Com
munion.
Chap. LXL
Self-denial enforced from Chrtfl's Example.
Chrift.'\ ♦T^HE more, my Son, thou forfakeft thy X felf, the nearer Approaches thou ma- keft toward Me. As the Defires and intemperate Love of Things without, muft be difcarded in order to the Peace of one's own Breaft ; fo even the Love of one's own Self muft be laid afide in order to a perfed Union with God. Learn therefore abfolutely to deny thy own Will for mine, without Contradiction or Complaint. Follow Me \ I am the Way^ the Truth ^ and
the Life. Without the Way can be no Walking^ with-
S } out
z66 m tu gimitatton BookiiL
out the Truth no Knowledge ; without the Life no Living. Keep then in this Way, for it is unalterable; believe in this Truth, for it is infallible; hope for, and afpire to this Life, for it is true, happy , and eternal Life. Continue in my Way, and thou fhalt know the Truth, and the Truth fhall make thee free, that thou
may'il inherit Everlafting Life. If thou Matth. XIX. ^,j^^ f?jrer into Life^ keep the Commandments. If thou wilt know the Truth , believe my Words. If thou wilt be perfed, fell that thou haft. If thou wilt fave thy Life hereafter, defpife it here. If thou wilt be exalted in Heaven , abafe thy felf upon Earth. If thou defire to reign with mc, take up the Crofs with me. For none, but they who imitate my Crofs , are in the right Way to Happinefs and true Glory.
Difciple.'] This Way, O Lord, is ftrait and rugged, fuch as the World decline, and cannot endure to think of. Therefore I beg, thy Grace would enable me to defpife the World, and diifent from the General Opi- nion of Men, in compliance with thy Command and
Example. For the SeriJant is not greater Joim XV. ^j^^^ j^^^ Lord, nor the Difciple aho'ue his Ma-
fter. Let thy Servant then be guided in thy Steps, for with thee is Life and true Holinefs. And all I read or hear from any other hand , gives me no Refrefh- ment, no true Delight.
Chrifi^ If thou kno-iveft thefe thirjgs, my Son, happy art ^ohn xiii. ^^^^^'> ^f ^'^^^ ^^ them. For Pradice, and
not Knowledge, fhall inherit the Bleffing. lohn xiv ^^ ^^^^ keepeth my Commandments and doth
them^ he it ts that lo-veth me, and I will love him in return, and manifelf my felf to him, and fet him upon a Throne with me, in my Father's Kingdom.
Difciple.'] Lord, make me a Partaker of this Graci- ous Promiie. The Crofs, which I have received from thy Hand, I will bear with conftancy even unto Death.
The