Book III. OfjBSUSCHRTST. I^I

duced to follow vain and wretched Objeds, or think any Advantage can deferve thy Praife or Admiraticr, thy Love and Pains ^ except fuch only as are fix a and Eternal. Let Truth be thy chief Delight^ for This is unchangeable ; let thy own Unworthinefs be the chief Objed of thy Hatred and Contempt, for this is the vileft, the jufteft thing, upon which thy Difplea- fure can difcharge it felf. Fear and decline no Cala- mity comparably to Sin. For , no Lofs^ no worldly Difappointment or Difafter can have fo fatal Confe- quences, as the Lofs of a Good Confuence and God s Favour, by tranfgreffing his Righteous Commands.
Some Men are more concerned for Subii cy of Knowledge in Religion, than for an humble and fin- cere Obedience. They are adcd by a Spirit of Pride and Curiofity, and afFed to penetrate the Myfteries of Faith; and value themfelves much more for being able learnedly to difpute for Truth, than for adorn- ing it by their Lives, and rendring that Knowledge effedual to Salvation. Thefe Men frequently fall into dangerous Snares. I fet my Face againft their Arrogance, and fuffer them to perifli thro' the Vanity of their own Imaginations.
But do Thou employ thy Mind upon other forts of Enquiries, and account it greater Wifdojn to get a perfed Knowledge of thy own Works, than thofe of Almighty God. His Ways are unfe^^.rchahle ^ Rom. x'l. and f aft finding out ; but thy own are necef- fary to be nicely examined. And the Confideration of the Evil thou haft done, and the Good thou haft left undone, will turn to better Account^ than thy Scho- laftick Speculations, concerning the Divine Nature and Counfels, Some place their Religion in joia^es. fome in Good Books fome in an outward Shew and Pomp of Devotion, meafuring their Piety by the Prayers they fay, the Sermons they hear, the Meals they abftain from ; Others honour me with their Lips;
13 ^ £>( tf}t gjttlitation: Book III.
and talk familiarly of me, whofe Hearts I am as utter a Stranger to^ as their allowing me no place in their Thoughts and Affections can make me. But fomc again, without fuch formal Pretences, are Men of true Spiritual Wifdom, and inward Purity ; their De- fires and Converfation are in Heaven, and earthly- Entertainments are no longer welcome to them^ they even grudge thofe Hours, Vv'hich the necelTary Cares for fupporting thefe Bodies cut off from the greater Concerns of their Souls. And thefe are the Men, that lend a willing Ear, and bring a Temper truly teachable to the Inftrudions of my Spirit : In Them he reigns and triumphs. For, having vanquiihed the Corrupt Inclinations of Flefh, and infpired them with a true Chriftian Bravery of Soul, they defpife the treacherous Vanities of this World, and lay out ail their Love and Labour upon the Joys of that better World, which, till God thinks fit to admit them into it, they ftrive to anticipate, by keeping their Minds Night and Day intent upon it.
Chap. VL
The Power of the Love of G 0 D.
Dlfclpk.'] T Laud and magnifie thy glorious Name, O JL Father of Heaven, Father of our Lord Jefus Chrid, for all the Goodnefs and Tender Com- paflions^with which thou haft been pleafed to remem- ber and relieve my Mifery. For unto thy Loving- kindnefs alone, O Father of Mercies, and God of all Comfort, are owing all the Supports, with which the Soul of thy unworthy Servant hath bean at any time refrefhed in the mid ft of my Trouble. And therefore to Thee alone be the Praife. To Thse, O Father with |
thy ^*