Book I. of J E S U S C H R I s T. 51

er ftill will be his Concern. But the Misfortunes from without might be bornwith better Temper,were there not much more grievous from within. For, of all the Miferies that humble our Souls with Sadnefs^none are fo juftly lamented as our Sins and Infirmities ; the wretched Load and Incumbrance thefe are to our Confcience, and the Indifpofition^ the Difability they bring us under, of attending without Diftradion to holy Duties and heavenly Contemplations.
By thefe we are engaged upon trifling and unpro- fitable Thoughts, and diverted from weighty and ufe- ful Subjeds. For would we but turn the Current of ourThoughts another way, the EfFecfl would bevifible and very happy. If we did but ferioufly refled, how certainly we muft die, as often as we think how long it is likely we may live ,* we fhould be more zealous and diligent to amend our Lives, and provide for that important Change. And would we but fet before our Minds a lively Reprefentation of thofe dreadful Tor- ments which await the Damned in Hell ,• it were not poflible fure to fhrink back as we do, from the Aufte- rities and Mortifications of a Religious Life,- or to fup- pofe any Labour and Pain which we can undergo in the mean while, a Hardfhip not moft willingly to be chofen, for the preventing fo dreadful a Condemna- tion. But now,becaufe thefe things are but feldomand very {lightly thought upon^and we in tendernefs to our ov/n Eafe, much rather fubmit to the foothing Im- preffions of prefent deceitful Pleafures, than to thofe harfh and cutting ones of future Mifery and Anguiflir^ we ftill go on in the fame Coldnefs and Indifference, and indulge our Sloath at the expence of our Virtue.
I grant indeed, thatfome Religious Severities are te- dious and painful to the Body. But the Fault does not always lie there,- for the Body fometimes complains and droops, not fo much from its own Suffering, as for the Meannefs and Cowardice of the Soul,
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which ought to encourage and fupport it. Beg there- fore of God moft earneftly^ that he would kindle in yourFIearts a trueChriftianCourage and fervent Zeal: Dare to entertain your felf upon the moft ungratefi;!, when they are profitable and necelTary, Subjeds,- pre- fer the Mournings of a Pious Penitent before all the vain Jollity of a wicked and unthinking World ; and pray that God would do to thee, what the Pfalmift fays he does to his own People , even feed thee with Pfal' Ixxx. S' ^^^ ^^^ad of Tears y and give thee flenteouf* nefs of Tears to drink*
Chap. XXII.
The Miferahle Condition of Man Confidered.
W Retched thou art, O Man, wherefoever thou art y Wretched thou mutt be, which way foe- ver thou turneft thy fclf : Befet on all fides with Mi- feries without Remedy, without any poffibility of Efcape by Human Helps ; and only to be avoided by taking Sanjfluary in God. Why then art thou difqui- eted at Croffes and Difappointments; when thefe are the Portion of all Mankind ? It is not yours and mine alone, but the greateit, the beft Men drink of the bit- ter Cup: And noMan ever lived in uninterrupted Hap- pinefs : None ever fucceeded in all hisWiilies and At- tempts- None ever was above Calamities, or fi'ee from Vexation of Spirit. Since therefore fo ordained it is, that all muft fuifer and be miferable, are all equally fo ? No, there are different Conditions and Degrees of Suffering, and his is certainly the beft and moft comfortable, who is called and difpofed to fuffer for the fake of God and a good Confcience,
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