Book II. of J H S U S C H R 1 S T. 89

to ufe and improve even that Proportion we have ? The Light that is in us fhines but dinoly^ and by our Negled we fuffer it to go quite out. We are often blind, and not fenfible of our Infirmities^ weftumble and fall, and ftill pretend we fee ^ commit horrible Sins ; aggravate our Guilt by defending what we have done^ nay, are fometimes fo wretchedly deluded, as even to fancaifie our Wickednefs by a pretence of Zeal. The fmalleft Faults of others feldom efcape our Cen- fure, and the much greater of our own as feldom fall • under our Obfervation. The Burthens and KardHiips we put upon them feem reafonable, eafie and light • but the leaft and moft trivial Uneafinefs they create to Us, we have a quick and painful fenfe of, and cry out. Who can hear it ? Whereas, would we but take a right eftimate of our felves, and judge our own Ani- ons impartially, we fhould find little Leifure, and Icfs Provocation, to pronounce feverely concerning our Brethren.
Now this is the wife and truly Spiritual Man's Me- thod : He employs his Thoughts at home, Confiders that there lies his proper Bufinefs and Care, and is tenderof other People's Failings, from a due and hum- ble Confcioufnefs of his own. And whatever fond Opinions we may cherifh of our ov/n Virtue, Religi- ous and Perfed, Vv'e are nor, nor ever can be, till we examine our own Confciences diligently, and leave all the reft of the World to ftand and fall by the Judg- ment of their own Mafter. Cenforioufnefs and Chri- ftian Piety can never dwell together. For this would work us to a negledl of all things without us, and make us both forbear and defpife all Judging, but thofe of God and our own Confciences. The Mind, which does not converfe with it felf, is an idle Wanderer, and all the Learning in the World is fruitlefs and mif- employed, whilft in the midft of his boafted Know- ledge, a Man continues in profound Ignorance of that,
G 3 which
9Q g)f ti)t 9imitattO|l Book I L
which in point both of Duty and Advantage he is mcit concerned to know. True Peace and Satisfa- fiion of Mind can only be acquired by doing our own BuHnefs • and Friendfhip and Chanty are belt preferved by leaving off all impertinent and buiie CuiioHty concerning the Condud and Reputation cf our jNieighbours.
The abandoning all worldly Care is a true Argu- ment of greater Pfoficience in Goodnefs. For, by pfteeming highly of any thing here below, our Value for God and Heaven is unavoidably leflened.and im- paired. Let nothing therefore but God^ and the things that be of God^ feem great or grateful to thee, wor- thy dcfirin^, or rejoicing in : And all that imaginary CorySoit, which the Creatures pretend to adminifter, ip-.rc with the generous Negled and Contempt that it defcrves. For a Soul entirely devoted to the Love of God, will naturally defpife every thing in compari- fon cf him. And reafon good there is why it fhould do fo^ when we confider, that every thing elfe is frail and of (hoit continuance, empty and unfatisfadory • but God alone Eternal, Omniprefent, Infinite in eve- ly Excellence ; and therefore he is the beft, he the only Comfort and true Joy of the Soul, who alone C'>.n fiii and exceed its largefl: Defires.
Chap. VL
The Joy of a Good Confcience* '
T^H E Glory and Privilege of a good Man confifls in the Teflimony of his own Mind ; For this is a perpetual Feafl and Triumph. It fets him above the Po yver of Fortune, and makes the fharpeft Afflictions not only an Exercife of his invincible Patience, but a
Mat-