Book II. of J E S U S C H R 1 S T. 87

but in bearing them vAzh Humiiiry^ and not being provoked to Impatience , and nneafie Refentments. And therefore , the more any M-^n harh bron;2;ht himfelf to Suffer, and the better he entertains Affli- dions and Wrongs , the more ferene his Mind Vviil be. For this Perfon hath gained a Concuefl over himfelf^ is above the Reach of Fortune , hath the World at his Command, is a Friend of Chrifl: ^ and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Chap. IV.
Purity and Sincerity,
THere are two Wings by which a Man foars above the World, Sincerity and Purity. The former regards the Intention, the latter the AfFed:ion5 • That afpires and aims at a Likenefs to God ,• This makej iis really like him. We fliould find no Diniculty in any good Adion , were but our Minds ^xo.^ from all in- temperate Paffion and Defire. And this Perfedion of Freedom v/e fhouid not fail to attain , did ive, in all ourDefigns and Undertaking?,propofe no other Ends; than Obedience to the Will of God, and promoting the Good of our Neighbour. Were but our Minds thus fixed, and our Inrentions regulated, every thir.g would ftrangely contribute to our Edification, We fhouid feudy the Volume of Nature with Profit, snd every Line in that large Book would tend to our In- ftrudion. The very fmallefl, and, in common Efteem^- moft defpicable Creature would reprcfent, aS in a Glafs, the Goodnefs of God to us. And the reafori why thefe things are feen vv^ith fo ufelefs Speculation, isbecaufe our Minds are net rightly difpofed, to draw thofe Profitable and Practical Inferences/
G t whicH
8 8 m tfjt Slmitatton Book II-
which very naturally refult from them. Fcr, as Co- lours appear to our Minds as they are painted in the F.ye, fo the Judgment Men make of all outward Ob- jeds^ depends upon the Condition of the Mind. And Vv^e argue and pronounce of them differently, as we happen to be differently affeded before-hand.
If there be fuch a thing as true Pleafure in this Wnrld, the Pure in Heart enjoy it. And if there be a Hell upon Earthy it dwells in that Man's Breafi:, who hath a guilty and polluted Confcience. As Iron is Icoured from the Ruft by Fire, and becomes bright. ,and new • fo that Zeal, by which we renounce the World, and turn entirely to God, takes off our Filthy and changes us into new Men. The lukewarm and indifferent Chriftian grudges every thing he does,bog- gles at every Difficulty, and feeks his Satisfaction ia worldly and outward Comforts. But, if he warmly apply himfelf to fubdue his PafEons, and refolutely At- tempt the following God in his own Way, the Hard- fliips which at firfl difcouraged him, grow familiar, and leffen upon his Hands. All that God Matt. XI. 29, appoints him to do or fuffer, becomes ^^* fenfibly to him an e^?]) Yoke, and a light
Burthen y and he finds Veace and Refi to Ms ScuL
C H A P, V.
J{now thy Self,
IT is a very ufual thing with us, to have a mighty|j| Confidence in our felves , when alas! the want" both of Abilities and Performance reproves our Vani- ^^ ty and Folly. For how fmall is the Proportion of our Gifts, in comparifon of our own Imaginations concern- ing them ? And how defec^live our Wifdom and Care
to