Book II. of J B S U S C H R I S T. IO3

them for fo excellent a Reward. Well then may we Rejoice in thefe Temptations^ which arc ordained cer- tain Forerunners of more abundant Grace, and Signs of thefe unfpeakable Confolations and Delights, which are referved for them that have approved themfelves Faithful. For not to him that is excufed from Fighting, but to him that overcometb ^^'^- ^^- 7- by ftriving couragioufly, and endureth to the end, tviII I give to eat of the Tree of Life,
Moft wifely therefore are thefe Viciffitudes of Pro- fperity and Adverfity appointed for the Improvement of our Piety and Virtue. Were our Troubles v;ith- out Intermiffion, no Flefh could be faved ^ and there- fore God foftens and rewards them with inward and heavenly Comforts, that fo, affifted by his Grace, and encouraged by his Favour, we may be able to bear up againft our fharpeilTryals. But were that Grace and Favour conftant too, we fhould be immoderately exalted with our Performances, and impute theBlel- /ings of God to our own Merit. And therefore the Returns of Affliction, and fpiritual Defertion , are convenient, to prevent or check our Pride. They fhew us, that how great foever we may value our felves, yet are we not fo perfed^, but that we deferve to fuf- fer I and the Good we receive, we receive, not of Debt, but of Liberality and free Grace. Miftake not, (Man, the Devil never fleeps. He alway-s watches for an Opportunity to affault and work thee Mifchief. jThc Flefh is not utterly dead, nor its Appetites and aflions fo totally extind, but that every freihObied: ill awaken them into Luft. Be thou therefore a- /ake too, and prepare every Day for fome new Con- id : Speak not Peace to thy felf, when befet on very fide with numerous and reillefs Enemies ^ ior retched is thy Cafe, if their Violence be fuffered to ar thee down, or their fubtlc and wakeful Malics urprize thee into Sin.
Hz CHAP.
I04 jflpf tfte gimitatton Book ii.
Chap. X.
Thankfulnefs for God's Mercies,
MAN is horn toTrouhle as the Sparks fly upwardy ancJ doft thou refufe the Condition of Nature, by hoping to be exempted from Labour and Jab V. 7. Suffering ? Confider this, and apply thy
felf vigoroufly to Patience, as a moft necelTary Virtue, and learn to bear the Crofs, as the Bufinefs thou art created for. For this will much better become a Sin- ful Creature , than to depend upon Comforts which thou deferveft not, and Pieafures which belong not to thee. Could even the Worldly-minded be fecure of Spiritual Joys without Interruption, he could not, in agreement with his own Principle, but be paffionately fond of them, as yielding more fubftantial Satisfadi- on than all External and Senfual Delights. For what Comparifon can there be between thofe Pieafures which are attended with Shame, or Deceit, and thofe which are folid and durable , void of Reproach and Indecency, the Fruits of Virtue, and the fpecial Gift of God to chafte and heavenly Souls ? This then were Epicurifm indeed , were this to be attained and pre(erved by any the moft affiduous Care of ours : But that which renders even thefe Joys lefs fenfible, and lefs eagerly defired, is, that they are the Free Gift of God, who both difpenfes and withdraws them as himfelf fees fit, and frequently fufpends the Hap- pinefs they bring, by ftrong and fevere Tryals. For we are in a State of continual Difcipline and Warfare, and oar Conflicts muft return very thick upon us, fo long as we remain in fuch a State.
Nor are thefe Difficulties from the Malice of our Enemies only , but we our felves contribute to our own Mifery, and obftf udt the more liberal Communi- cations