Book I. ofjESusCHRisT. 3r

thing we do, how mean fcever in its felf, is of very valuable Connderation. For God obfcrves by what Springs we are moved, and meafuresour Dcfert, by the Difpofition of the Heart, and not by the Worth of the Gift^ or the Quality of the Adion.
The Man then, that loves a great deal, does a great deal j the Man that does any thing well, in that one thing does a great deal : And he dees well, who pre- fers the Good of others before his own private Plea- fure or Profit. That which frequently palTes for Cha- rity, is really no better than a felnfli and carnal Prin- ciple. For how very feldom do Men acft upon other Motives^ than the gratifying their own Inclinations, the doing their own Will, the profped of their own Advantage, the expectation of Return or Reward ; fo confulting the Convenience , not fo much of others, as themfelves ?
Now true and perfed Charity fceks net its cnvn Advan- tage^ and if God, in his Bounty, be plcafed to re- compence it, yet this Recompence is not the thing principally in view, but its great Aim and End is the Glory of God. For the fame reafon Cha- rity cnvicth ?2ct j becaufe Envy is a Pafli- ' ^°^' '^^^^■ on proceeding from Selfifhnels and Pride. And there- fore the Man, who ads upon a Principle fo generous, as neither to feek his own private Interef)-, nor to take Satisfaction in himfelf, but places all his Content and Blifs in God alone, is got above Envy, and incapable of fo mean a Pafficn. Charity looks upon God as the Sole Beginning and End of all Good ,• the Source, from* whence it fiows, and the Immenfe Ocean, in which it is fwallowed up • the Perfon, from whom all the Saints derive their Righteoufnefs, and in the Fruition of whom the Reward of their Righteoufnefs confifts. And therefore the Man poiTefs'd of this Principle, fets no undue Value upon himfelf or others ^ He takes no pare of the Merit or Honour to himfelf j He is not
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3x €>t tfjZ 31mttattOn Book T.
profufe in the Commendation of others, but afcribes the whole Glory of every Virtuous Adion to Him, vvhofe originally and in truth it is. And little need be faid, to fliew, that one thus difpofed, thus perfwa- ded of God, as the Only, the Univerfal Good, mufi: have fet his Heart upon things above. For fure the leaft Spark of this Holy Fire will ferve to kindle in our Breafts the Love of Heaven and Spiritual Joys, and fuffice to convince us, that all here below is full of Vanity, and by no means an Obje(5t worthy our AfFedions.
Chap. XVI.
Of Bearing voith other Mens Faults,
WHen you obferve in your felf or others any thing amifs, which you would fain, but can- not cure, your Duty in fuch Cafes is to endure it, till God fees fit to order Matters otherwife. And a Du- ty this is highly reafonable, if you confider, that pof- /ibly it is much wifer and better, that thefe Faults iliould not be amended , than that they fhould. Ic may be, God permits them for the Tryal and Increafe of your Patience and Humility , without which all our Virtues are of no great regard in his fight. But at the fame time that you ought to bear , you are no lefs obliged to pray againfl: them ; to beg that the ill Example of them may be no hindrance to you in your Chriftian Courfe ; and to implore the Affiftance of his Grace, for the bearing them in fuch a manner, that the Provocations arifing thence may never fhake your Temper, or betray you to any fmful, or fo much as indecent excefs of Paffion.
If