Book II. of J esusChrist. 93

the Condition of our own Minds^ the lefs Impreffion will theCharacSlers and Reports of Men make upon us. For God feeth not as Men fee • they obfervethe Face and outward Appearance, but he fearcheth and under- ftands the Heart: They look upon the Ac5lion, and form a Judgment from thence ; He fees our Intenti- ons, and condemns or acquits us according to ourHo- nefty and Sincerity, our corrupt Inclinations and wicked Defigns. And therefore a Modefl: Humble Man makes it his conftant Care to be doing Good, and to think meanly of his own Performances. He feeks;. nay he feels, no great matter of Comfort from any of the Advantages which attend Well-doing in this V/orld ^ but conflders whom heferves, and for whofe fake he does it, and cheerfully reiies upon him alone for the Praife and Reward of that which beft deferves it. And when we are not anxioufly concerned for the Teftim.ony and Credit of Men, then may we truly be faid tQ have reilgned our felvestoGod,and to depend upon him with that ftedfaft and holy Confidence which becomes us. Not he that commend- 2Cor x 18 eth /jimfelf(nOyncrhc\\hcm others com- mand neither) zs appro^jeJ, hut "whom the Lord commend- eth. And therefore a Holy and Spiritual Man indeed lays aHde, as much as may be, all Concern with the World. He confiders that God is the only Perfon whom he fhould labour to pleafe ; and while he is happy in his Approbation, and the Witnefs of a good Confcience, all outward Accidents are confidered, as Things remote and foreign to his main Defign, and fuch as ought not much to affect him.
c:h a p.
94 ^f tft^ imitation Book IL
Chap. VIL
0/ Loving Jefus above all Things.
BLeffed is that Man indeed^, who feels and relifhes the Love of Jefus,- who finds the Sweet of ° this Love^ and can even defpife and hate himfelf for his Saviour's fake. For, tho' the Love of our felves be the very Voice of Reafon and Nature, yet the fame Voice commands us too, to quit a lefs valuable Friend for a better. And this Exchange he hath made neceflary to our Obedience, who requires us. To Love him on- ly, above all Things : And He alone is worthy of our Love. For the Objeds of this World, which are too apt to engage our AfFedions, are uncertain and deceit- ful, but Chrift is Faithful and Eternal, and will not fail to return and reward our Love. He that depends upon any Temporal Comfort, will one Day be con- vinc'd of its Frailty to his Coll, when He and it both perifh together,- but Jefus remaineth for ever. And as he cannot perifli himfelf, fo neither will he fufFer any to perifh, who depend upon him. Let him then be your Hope, your Joy, your Love, whofe Friendfhip and whofe Power are everlafting, Tho' all Things forfake you, yetv/ill not He; nay, all things elfewill certainly forfake you, but even then He will be All, and more than all the World to you.
Living and dying then keep clofe and ftedfafl: to him, for he in Life and Death will be to you Advan- | tage. But then his Friendfhip and conilant Protection depends upon this Condition , That you admit no Rival into Competition with him. He will not accept divided AfFed:ions,but expeds to reign fupreme and fole Lord of your Hearts,- and the only way of inviting Him thither, is to caiv out all other Inmates, and let Him have the whole Houfe to himfelf. And indeed, when
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