Book III. of J E S U S C H R I S T. Hy

Toil and Anxious Care well paid, if they can com- pafs them at laft : But a fubftancial and unchangeable Good, a Recompence greater than they know how to value juftly, Immortal Glory, and the Honours of the Saints, are funk fo low in wretched Mens Ei>eem, that the leaft Pains and Hardfliip are thought too much for them.
And art thou not afhamed, lazy, infenfible^ grum- bling Wjetch, that the Children of this World fhould purfue Death and Ruin, with a more vigorous Indu- Itry and Zeal, than thou canfl find in thy heart to be- flow upon Life and Happinefs? Shall Toys and Va- nities win more upon their Affections, than foiid and true Good can upon Thine ? Nay, even thofe Vani- ties,whofe very Enjoyments are empty,do often mock their Hopes, and are never enjoyed at all ,• Tneir Friends promife and deceive ,• They labour but can- not attain^ But my Promifes are without Repentance; None taxeth Me with Breach of Faith, or can com- plain, that his Dependance upon My Word hath at any time difappointed him. For I require only Love and Perfeverance ; And, if thefe be not wanting, I anfwer to the full, nay I far exceed, mv Servants largeft Wiflies and longing Expedations. Yet falfe and fickle Men can eafily perfuade, and th-e God, who cannot lye, calls and promifes in vain ! I am the fure Revvarder of all that diligently feek me; and if fuch meet with Sufferings andfliarp Tempcacions, thefeare not Marks of my Difpleafure, but vviicly ordered, and kindly intended , to prove the Sincerity of my Ser- vants Zeal, and to illuftrate their Virtues.
Write then my Words in thy Heart ; Grave them in deep and lafting Charaders ; Ponder them diligent- ly, for thou fhalt find them a feafonable Relief and neceffary Support in the Day of Tryal and Adverfi- ty. What Reading only hath not taught thee, Af- flidioa will interpret and make plain. For I do not
always
ii8 ^f tf)t imitation Bookiii.
always vifit my Chofen alike. Sometimes the Com- forts of my Grace are proper ; at Others, the with- drawing thofe Comforts, and bringing their Patience and Conftancy to the Touch, by Outward Calamities, and Inward Angnifli of Spirit. Thus I daily train them up in Goodnefs, by chaftifing and making them hate their Sins, and cultivating and encouraging their Ad- vancement in Virtue. The One Difpenfation enga- ges their Love of Me, the Other ^ates their Fond- nefs for the World. But loll: and wretched is that ftupid Creature, upon whom thefe Methods make no
John x'li 4^. ^"^Pr^ifio^ > F^^ ^^ ^^^^ rejeBeth Me, and receive th not my Words ^ hath One thatjudgeth him in the laft Day,
Chap. IV.
A Prayer for Heavenly Inftru^ion and Devotion.
Bifclfle.']/^ Lord, my God, Thou art my All, my V-/ only Good ,• but Who, alas ! am I, that I fhould take upon nie to fpeak to fo Great, fo Glorious a M^jefty ? Poor finfufDuft and Afhes ; a wretched Worm ,- lefs than the leaft of all thy Ser- vants ,• much lefs, much viler and more defpicable, than I dare to think, or am able to exprefs or con- ceive. And this very Vilenefs, Lord, I beg thou wouldft confider, that fo my helplefs defolate Con- dition may move thy tender Pity, to a miferable Creature,who neither is, nor hath,nor can do any thing, without thee. For Thou only art Good, and Holy, and Powerful ,• and that of Power fo boundlefs, of Mercy fo difFufive, that thou filleft all things with thy Goodnefs j and none but thcfe guilty Souls,who refufe to partake of thy Grace, are fhut out from its kindly
jln-
BookllL of Jesus Christ. 1^9
Influences. Behold me then hungring and thirfting after thy Righteoufnefs, and let me not befent empty away. Call up thy Bowels^^and remerrber thy Com- paflions and old Loving- kindnelTes ,• and fill my Soul with thy Grace and Heavenly Difpofitions^that it may be a Dwelling fit to entertaii. that blefled Inhabitant, who will not take up his Abode in defiled and defo- tite Places.
But how canlfurnifh aHoufe for my Lord^ except he vouchfafe to affift andfuppiy my Wants ^ How can I fuftain the Miferies and Temptario:;S of a Trouble- fome Dangerous Worlds except thou gracioufly inter- pofe and fupport my Weaknefs ? Turn not then thy Face away from me 3- neither delay th) I-:iihcr\yCdiC; for if thou grant not refrefhing Dews^ and water not my Heart with thy Grace^ ic vvill remain a dry and barren Ground. Teach me, dear God^ to kncv/ and do thy Will, and with fmcere Humility, and indefa- tigable Zeal, enable me to perfevere in my Obedi- ence. For Thou art my Wifdom, and my Righte- cufnefs ; my Infirmities are not hid from Thee ; Thou knoweft me perfectly, and underftoodeft all ray Defeds, notonlv before I was born, but even long before the World it feif was made.
Chap. V.
Walk humhly with thy Gody and worjhip Him in Truth,
Chrift,~\ T Do indeed, my Son, know thy Frailties, 1 and thy Dangers, but let not thefe difcou- rage thy Endeavours. Seek and love the Truth, and let thy Heart be right with me, and all fhall be well at laft. For Truth and Sincerity will be thy Prote-

130 €>t tl)t Slmitatton Book III>
v'l, :ind the Attempts of wicked and deceitful Men. yohivnl Thofe who "^x Q thus fet free ^ (IniUhefree mdeed^ nor (hall the SeducementsortheDifcourage- ments of Enemies to the T-. uch^ be able to enfnare or diveic them from their Duty.
Difclph,] True, Lord. And this Perfwafion makes me more earreftly implore thy Affiftance. That thou, who art Trrt'^. it felf^ wculdR in much Mercy conde- fcend to inftrud^ and dired me ; to preferveand pro- tect me ; ro break the Snares of the Ungodly to pie- ces ; to deliver my Soul^ and eftablifh me unto the End ; To purge me from all corrupt and inordinate AfTe^tionSj that my own happy Experience may con- vince me. of what I already believe^ and render thy Service peifed: Ercedom.
Chrifi. ] My Children cannot be more zealoufly di- fpofcxi to ask thcfe Bleflings^ than I am ready and pl^^afud to grant them. Hear therefore the Truth, and how thou mayefl: recomimend thy felf to my Favour and Acceptance. Reflecl with fad Remorfe upon thy pad Ofl'ences; let th Remembrance of thefe render thee vi'e in thy own Eyes ; and take heed^ that no Confi^'ence in thy befl: Adions_, fwell thee with vain Ccnctitsof j^' ovvii Deferts. For, iure it is^ thou srr M b-inner^ laden with Guilt and many grievous In- fiimines ; prone in thy own Nature to Vanity, eafily fcrluced, quickly diverted from good Refolutions^ and ovt!C(^me by very flight Temptations. Jn fhort, No Excciltnce belongs to thee, which can in any degree juitify rhy Piide or Boalting ; but infinite Occafions there are to cxercife thy Humility and Eamentation, infinitely mere in truth, than thou canft be duly kn- fibleof
Let not then the miftaken Value of any thing thou arc or doll, deduce thee with falfe Appearances of Worth and Perfedicn ; Let not zhy Affedrions be fe-
duced