Book IL 6f J B s d s C H R I s T. 83

and free ,• Oar jys reiulting from them undifturbed, and our Contemplations of Heaven and heavenly Things full of Rapture and Tranfport.
Chap. II.
The Advantage of HumtUty.
BE not extremely follicitous^what Friends fhou haft to appear in thy Behalf, nor what Foes employ their Malice in creating thee Difficulty and Trouble i But let it be thy great Care to keep God thy Friend and Helper, and be fure to preferve a Good Confci- cnce 5 for, fo long as thy own Heart condemns thee not, God will not fail to plead thy Caufe, and affift and blefs thy Righteous Undertakings. And thofe whom he receives into his peculiar Protedion , no Wickednefs or Spight fhall be able to hurt. Sufrer thou may'ft indeedj'^DUt provided thou learn to fufFer with- out Murmuring and Impatience, thou fhalt certainly fee the Salvation of God. And if this feem to tarry, yet wait for it \ for He beft knows the proper Scafon of Deliverance, and therefore you ought entirely to reft upon his Wife Difpofal. Deliver no doubt he will: The relieving Men in Diftrefs, and wiping oif the Shame and P^eproach of his Servants, being Ads by which God delights to fignalize his Providence. But there is often Reafon, why the doing ir ihould be de- ferred, fince the difcovery of our Failings by other People, and the Reproofs we meet with upon their account, have frequently a very happy Effed upon our Minds, and ren er them more modeft and hum- ble in their own Efteem of themfelves.
And Humility is a Virtue of ib general, fo exceed- ing good Influence, that we can fcarce purchafe it too
dear,
§4 £)f tijt %mtation Book It
dear. For he , who is lowly in his own Eyes , and fenfible of his own Failings, makes no difficulty to ac- knowledge his Offences againft his Neighbour , and gives all reafonable Satisfadion to any who have caufe to be angry ar him. Nor does this Forwardnefs to Reconciliacic;i expofe him to the Infults of Injurious Men ; for God charges his Providence with a peculiar Protection of the Humble, and delivers fuehasareof a contrite Spirit. He condefcends to dwell with the Humble, and hath engaged to comfort their holy Sor- rows. To thefe he promifes large Portions of his Grace, and that. They who ahafe ther^^fehes ptlxxv ^'''^ afterwards he exalted I To thefe he J^ ' XXV. reveals his Secrets, and draws them to him- felf with the Cords of Love and Kindnefs* The Humble fuffers no difturbance of Mind, but receives the Reproaches and Affronts of Men without any great Impreflion. For he confiders, that God, and not the World, is his Hope ,• and if his Favour be but fecu- red, the reft cannot be of any very great importance. In fliort, this Virtue is fo neceffary, fo fundamental a one, that no Man ought to efteem himfelf a Pro- ficient in Goodnefs , who is not yet arrived ro that Pitch of it , which teaches him to think himfelf the leaft of all Saints, and laft of all Men.
Chap. IIL
The Peace-maker*
SEcure Peace at Home in the firft place ; and, when thy own Breaft is thus compofed, it will then be proper to Reconcile and make Peace among thy Neighbours. And This indeed is a very worthy and reputable Adion; it brings greater and juffer Com-
rrtendatiori