Book III. of J esusChrist. izj

Chap. III.
0/ t/je General Difregard to GocTs Wordy and the Ohedience due to it. *
Chrift.'] Quince then^ my Son, thou fo paffionately de- ij firefl: to hear my Voice, incline now thine Ears to my Words. Words, which well deferve, and will abundantly reward thy moil diligent Attention ,• For they are fweet and charming, far above all the engaging Arts of Human Eloquence^ ufeful and in- ftrudive, beyond the moft laboured Syftems of Phi- lolbphy. TheWifdom of thisWorld could not invent, or order, nor can it comprehend them. The myfte- rious Truths they declare are too ftrong for Human Senfe to behold, nor canft thou enter into their Se- crets, till guidtid by that Light from whence they flow. My Precepts are pure and fpiritual, fuch as a Carnal and Impure Heart can find no Relifli in. My every Word, of weight ,• and fpoken, not to entertain the Curious, and tickle Itching Ears, but to fubdue the Heart, and command a ftrid Obedience. Hear therefore, but hear as becomes thee, with refpec^ful Silence, and entire Submiffion,* with profound and awful Humility ^ with an earneft defire to be taught ^ and fmcere and vigorous Refolutions of doing as thou art taught.
Difcifle.'] I own the mighty Favour , and heartily acknowledge, with thy Holy Prophet, That BleJ/id is the Man whom thou chajhnefi^ O Lord^ and teacheft him in thy Law ,* That thou may eft n^'-^^^'^- give him Strength in time of Adverfity^ left he fail away with the Ungodly.
Chrifi.~\ That Prophet fpoke what I infpired, and fo did all thofe Holy Men of old^ for they were all of my fending. Nor is my Care at all abated now, tho'
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the jtiffeds of it may be lefs vifible. For I, who taught them then, continue teaching ftill ; Nay, I direct my Speech to All, but All will not hear it. For there are Many deaf to all my Charms, and therefore deaf, be- caufe they flop their Ears,- hate my Infirw Prov, 1. Ei'iGns^ and will none of my Reproofs, They
liften to the World much rather than to God, and are moredifpofed to obey their own Corrupt and Senfual, than his Pure and Heavenly Will. The World invites them with inort and tranfitory, trifling and empty Joys, and they greedily engage in its Service ^ I co- venant for Eternal and Excellent Rewards ,• and the r^f^^nfible Wretc' es will not confider, or think them wo.di their acceptance. This Folly is univerfal^ For who among the Sons of Men,expreires half that Zeal and Earnellnefs, that felicitous Defire to pleafe, and dutiful Fear to offend^ in his Deportment towards me, which he does in Matters relating to this World, or in Obedience to Mafters upon Earth ? Confider this, and blufh for fiiame; for What but Shame and Confu- fion of Face, can be the EfFedl of thy Reflection up- on this unworthy Ufage, this moft abfurd Folly ?
A fmall Preferment is efleem'd a valuable Confide- ration for long and painful Journeys. Men fly for it eagerly, and haften all they can to get ground of their Competitors^ This is every one's Care, and it is ac- counted a Reproach to be negligent in fuch Purfuits. But, when Advancement to Heaven and Eternal Happinefs is ofter'd, they are flothful and unadive, and fcarce a xVIan is to be found, who thinks it worth the while to m^nd his Pace,or fets one Step forward to meet, or to fecare, fo glorious an Advantage. A lit- tle fordid Gain engages all Mens Induftry • a trifling Sum embroils them in tedious and expenfive Suits ; And Promifes of things fcarce worth their havingjthey are content to drudge for,- to lofe the Eafe of their Days, and the Sleep of their Nights, and think their
Toil