Book L of J B s u s C H R 1 s T. 47

World. Think not then, that the Man who with- draws from his Friends and Acquaintance is perfedly alone. No, he only changes that for better Compa- ny, and is vifited in his quiet Retreats by God and his holy Angels. A wife Man would rather chufeto live thus unobferved, and to profecute the Bufinefs of his Soul without Interruption, than even to work Mira- cles, and attrad univerfal Admiration and Applaufe, at the expence of neglecfling his own Safety.
It is highly agreeable to the Character of a Perfon entirely devoted to God, to ftir but feldom abroad, to decline being publickly feen of Men, and to be as little fond of feeing the World. For to what purpofe indeed fhould any one be eager to fee that which he muft not enjoy C The World f^JJtth a^i^ ay, and aU the defires thereof, fays the Apoftle. ' ^"^^ "• '7. Our fenfual Affedions invite and entice us j but when the moment of gratifying that Inclination is once over, what have you got by the Bargain,but feriousRemorfe, and an unfetledTemper of Mind .^ He that goes out full of Satisfaction, often returns as full of Melancholy and Difguft; and many a Merry Evening occafions a Sad Morning. Thus all the Pleafures of Senfe carefs and court us at the firft meeting, but at their parting leave a Sting behind, and gall our Hearts with fharp and killing Pains. What can you fee in any other Place which the mofl; retired Grove or Defart will not pre- fent to your Eye ? Here you furvey the Heavens, here view the Earth, here fee the feverai Elements, which are the Seeds and firft Ingredients,of which the whole World and everyCreature in it are compounded.
But what can you fee either here or any where elfe, which is of long continuance t You exped: perhaps that Variety will fatisfy you: Alas! it cannot be. For, fuppofe you could at one View have all things under the Sun fet beforeyou; what isthereeven in this, fave only the beholding them with your Eyes? Turn then
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48 €)f tfte gimitattOlT Book I.
thofe Eyes where they may gaze with profit. Loo^_ up to God on high ,• fix them upon the Throne of Grace in Prayer^ and continue ftedfaft and fervent in this^till you obtain Pardon for your Sins and Errors. Leave the Vanities of the World to the Vain Men of che World ,• Bat confider, that you are a Child of God, and therefore bend yourThoughts and Labours entire- ly to thofe things which your HeavenlyFather requires at your Hands. Invite that Jefus, in whom your Soul delights, into your Apartment ; there folace your felf with his Love ; for in that Converfation only true Peace and folid Joy are to be found. If this feem a Paradox,^ I hiuft inform you what is the true Occafion of its doing fo. Had you never mingled your felf with the World, nor imbibed any of its vain Notions, your Mind had been more fettled and compofed^ But now the Itch of Novelty hath taken hold of you, and it muft coft fome Uneafmefs to cure thisEvil^ But till that Cure be efFeded, Peace and perfect Evennefs of Temper you cannot have, nor be reconciled to Soli- tude^ and the fubftantial Pleafures that attend it.
Chap. XXL
Compun^lion of Heart.
HE that would grow in Virtue and Grace, muft be fure ro preferve a conftant awful Senfe of the Livine Majefty upon his Mind^ Checking by this ho- ly Fear all his indecent Liberties, keeping his Appe- tites and Affections under ftrid Difcipline^ and not let- ting himfelf loofeto light or extravagant Mirth. Em- ploy your felf therefore in humbling and affliding your own Mind,and this will certainly lead you to a devout and truly Chriftan Temper. For infinite Advantage
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