Book IV. of J E S U S C H R 1 S T. 329

and I hope in thy good time thou wilt, vifit me with more abundant Meafures of thy Grace, and fulfil all my Defire. This Confidence I cherifh, becaufe my very Defires are from thee. And it is fome Comfort to me, that, tho' lam fenfibie of my Weaknefsand my Wants,yetIiongand pant after Supplies and Strength* that I am not content with my Mifery, but labour, and pray againft my Defeds, and would fliin be bet- ter. And thus I will continue to do, till thou remove and vanquifh my Frailties, infpire a bright and ardent Zeal, and make me a happy Partaker, firlt of the vir- tuousDifpofition of thy Devouter Saints, and then of their Reward and Happinefs,
Chap. XV.
Grace is the Reward of Humility and Self-denial.
Chrift.'] Qlnce thy Wiflies are fo commendable, and O thy Defires of Grace fincere, I will in- ftrud thee, how thou (halt obtain it. Knov/ then, thisBleffing is fufpended upon certain Conditions. It muft be fought inftantly, asked fervently, waited for patiently, received thankfully, preferved bvHumility, improved with Diligence, and the Time and Meafures of receiving it fubmitted entirely to the Wifdom and Goodnefs of the heavenly Giver. If thou feel few or no Sparks of it in thy Mind, this is a proper Sub- jed, to exercife thy Mecknefs and Godly Sorrow, but not to provoke Defpair, or immoderate Con- cern. For God frequently gives that in an Infant, and with a liberal Hand, which Men had long expc- ded without Succefs. He gratifies their Conllancy and Patience, their Importunity and Perfeverance in Prayer^withBenefits^whichcxcellentReafonsmov'dhini
Y 3 to
3 30 ^f tljt imitation Book IV-
to deny to their firfl Requefls^ for the Petitioners mighty Advantage.
Should Mens earlieft Expedations be anfwered^or prevented^ the mighty Bleffing would be too exqui- fite for frail Nature to bear. And therefore holyRap- tures^ and exalted Virtue^ are wifely made the flow Fruit of long Time^ and much Patience. But, when thy Defires are not fulfilled, when thou receivefl: no Increafe, or when the Grace thou once &njoyedft is infenfibly withdrawn ; charge not God foolifhly, but lament thy Sins^ as the Occaiion of this Unhappinefs. A fmall Provocation may fometimes beaBar to great Advantages. Tho' nothing indeed ought to be reputed fmallj which intercepts and hinders fo valuable Blef- fmgs. But be it little or great, let it be thy care tq vanquifh and remove this Obftrudion^ and then thy Heart's Defire (hall be performed.
When once corrupt Self-love is fubdued^ and thy Soul entirely fubmitted and refign'd to God, Peace and Satisfy; dion will flow in ap^ce upon thy Mind. For nothirg can be grievous or urpalatable, to one^ who hath renounced all Interefts oT his own^ and hath no Inclinations orDeflres left^ but only, that he may be made an Inflrument of God's Glory, and have all theCounfei of the Divine Will, which is always beft, fulfilled in and upon him. This Man^fo weaned from private Refpecfls and all created Comforts^ is in a pro- per Pofture for receiving Grace, and tafling the Spi- ritual Delights of Contemplation and Devotion. The VeflTel muft be empty, before Grace can be poured in,* and when it is perfectly fo_, God delights to fill it up to the BriQi. The more a Man is dead to the World and himfelfj the more heavenly-minded, the more mortify 'd and humble : The fwifter are the Motions of heavenly Grace towards him, themore liberal are its DiflributionSj the more fenfible, and delightful^ and wonderfulj its Comforts and Effeds upon his Heart.
Then