Book I. of J H S U S C H R 1 S T. 73

by tranfgreffing the Rules of ChriitianDifcipline^ he hazards the fafety of hi? Soul ,- And by feeking Re- lief in Inconvenient Liberties , he creates frefh Tor- ments to himfelf : becaufe Thefe cannot fatisfy his Confcience , but will be fure to leave Tome Dilplea- fure and Bitternefs behind them. And who can ever be eafy, who is reproached with his own ill Condud, and chufes a Remedy worfe than the Diftemper ?
To this Pattern fet us by Chrift himfelf, it will be of great ufe to add thofe of the Apoftles^ and other eminent Lights in the Church heretofore. Thefe will convince us ^ what Excellencies mere Men are capable of ; and if we heartily afpire after their Per- fections y we ought not to diitruft God's Affiif ance ; but may confidently promife our felves^ that an equal degree of Zeal will be fupported by an equal Mea- fure of Grace and Strength. Obferve then their Au- fterities^ their fervent Prayers and heavenly Medita- tions, obferve the great and happy Efficacy of them;, in raifmg thofe holy Perfons above the World and its Temptations, and rendring their Converfation all heavenly and divine , even whilft upon Earth. It were indeed a defirable Thing , that we could fo wholly abftradt our felves from Flefli and Senfe^ that the Praifes of God, and Attendance upon his Com- mands , the Contemplation of his Glories , and the raviihing Satisfaction of devout Minds, might be our conftant and only Employment. And happy fhould we be, if the neceffary Cares of Life gave no Diitra- dion to our Thoughts, no Interruption to thofe holy Exercifes. But Thefe are Charms and Joys referved for a future and better State ; We cannot here be fo refined, we cannot be excufed from the Incumbran- -; ces of the Body, and its infeparable Frailties and Ne- •ceflicies. And therefore the Virtue proper to our prefent Condition is of another Nature. Ufe thefe 'Worldly Comforts we may , but we mult not place "-'■ F 3 our
74 €>f tf?e imitation Book i.
our Flnppinefs in them ; live upon them our Bodies muft, but our Souls fhould relifli nothing but God. Whatever his Providence thinks fit for us^ we are to receive with Meeknefs and Contentednefs ^ as being well affured^ that His Wifdom can, and His Goodnefs oi^ill phufe and ordain what is bell. In the day of Tro^ fperity we may rejoice, but that Joy rnuft be fo tempered with Gratitude and Moderation , as neither to fwell into Infolence and Pride, nor to engage our AfFedti- pns in the Love of the World. In the Day of Adycrfity weave to confider, and entertain the moft calamitous Ac- j:ident5, without Murmuring or Difcontent. In eve- ry Change of Circqmftances our Minds rnult be entire- ly refigned to God ^ for He is all in all^ Eternal and Unchangeable^ Perfed and Happy in Himfeif, Ab- iblute and Sole Lord of the Univerfe ,• And every Creature is^ and ought to be^ entirely at his difpofal.
But tho' He be always the fame_, and can at any time do what is good in his fight^ yet this is by no ,jneans Our Cafe. Frail^ and of fhort Continuance is our Characfier ,• and this fhould excite our Diligence, to work while it is Day. hecaufe our Night jotm IX. cgmeth en apace, jpherein no Man can work,
Confider therefore you mult dye , dye, you know not how ibon • and be afraid left that fatal Hour overtake yo\i, befoie the Builnefs of Life b^ finifhed. Remem- ber that th(? Time once yours^ can never be fo again : The Wealth of both the hidies cannot redeem one fm- .gle Opportunity, which you have once let flip^ and therefore, lay faft hold on ail that ofFer^ and fuffer no ilour to Hide by without its due Improvement.
Virtue can never be attained without great Pains and Diligence ; and, if you cool and linger in this Purfait^ the Moment that you gain not ground, you lofe it. For the Affairs of our Souls can never itand at one ftay ,* but, as oft as we favour our felves in point of Duty, we decline and fall back again toward Sin,
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