Book L of J G s U S C H R T S T. 5^

It is ufual for Men^ who know no better, to envy and admire the Rich, the Great, the Honourable,- to imagine, that Princes and Perfons of plentiful For- tunes are completely happy. But this is the effed of great VVeaknefs and Inconfideration. If therefore we would re(5i:ify fuch niiftaken Apprehenfions, let lis get a right Notion of fpiritual and heavenly Advantages. Thefe will convince us, of what poor Account, all worldly Enjoyrr.ents fhould be in our Efteem : H«d\V Very little, how mere a Nothing they are ,• how hard and hazardous to be attained , how uncertain the Pre- fervation of them, and hov/ full of Trouble and an- xious Care,even while vve have them. And who would be fond of that, which can neither be got, nor loft, iio, nor kept neither, without Fear, and Sorrow, and perpetual Solicitude ? Surely then the Happinefs of 'M.'^n diOQS not confift in the ^Ibundance of the . Things which he fcfejjeth. 'Tis fenfiefs and ^^^'''^"- '^• abfurdtothinkitcan. And if no Proportion of world- ly Goods, tho' never To large,can exempt us from Mi- fery ; then a competent Meafure of them ought to fa- tisfy us. For Miferable we mu(l be with lefs or more. The very living here upon Earth, without any addi- tional Calamity, would make us inevitably fo. Ths more a Man delires and labours to be like God , the lefs agreeable Relifii he hath of Life • becaufe he is fd much more fenfible, more throughly convinced, of the Frailty and Corruption of Human Nature. For, what is this Viciffitude, this daily Round of Eating and Drinking, Sleeping and Waking, Wearinefs and^RelT^; arid the many other NecelTicies which the Condicion of Mortality enflavcs us to ? Doubtlefs it is a mighty Bur- then and Afflidion, to Men whofe Minds are wholly fixed upon higher things, and whofe only Ambitiort it is to get above Sin and Infirmity.
For the Diftreffes and Wants of the outward Mart afe i fore Hiiidr^lie^ and great Oppreffion to the in-
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ward,- and vve fhall nor perhaps injure Daulds Senfe, by fuppolmg even thefe included in that Petition, pfal.xxv.i'j. where he begs of God to deliver him eut of bis Troubles. But wretched are They indeed, who are not fenfible of their Wretchednefs i And yet more fo ftill are thofe vain People, who are even in love with it,* Who dote upon this A-lortal Life, which expofes them to it ^ and cannot think of part- ing with it at any rate, even when in fuch uncomfor- table Circumftances, that all their Time and Care is fcarce fiifficient to furniflithem with Provifions necef- fary for the fupport of it : And yet thefe infatuated Creatures are content to lay themfelves out upon Toil and Trouble j and, might they but be fuifered to con- tinue here for ever, could difpenfe with any Concern for God and Goodnefs, and willingly forego the Hopes and Everlafting Happinefs of a Heavenly Kingdom.
O fooliih and (low of Heart, to underftand and be-- lieve your true Intereft ; How deep are you immerfed in Flefliand Senfe? Howfottifhly deluded with Drofs, and fond of Vanities which cannot profit? Have you no Notion left of any thing but Body ? No Regard for a future enduring Subftance ? Raife your Aifedions up to Nobler Enjoyments, and difengage them from thofe grofs, thofe empty Objeds, which, if you llili periifl: in the Love and Purfuitof, you will one day be taught by fad Experience, how poor and defpicable they really are, and how unworthy all chat eager Concern you have thrown away upon them. Be perfuaded then by Reafon and R-ligion, and do not provoke God tp convince yoju: by Torments and too late Remorfe, of how fatal Confequence the Love of this World is, to all that are imm.oderately fond of it. View well thofe liluftrious Patterns of Mortification zn6 Heavenly-mindednef^,, vyhich thePfimitiye Saints and Favouiites oi Ghiifl: ijave lee yog,. Thefe
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