Book III. Cf J E S U S C H R 1 S T. 137

Friend, and values the Gift by clnt, not by irs own Quality and intrinfick Worth. He finds n)ore real Sa- tisfaftion in my Affedion, than in the molt profufe and defirable Benefits which flow from it. Not that I would condemn all Doubts and fad Mifgivines for thofe are incident to the belt Men ; and the Infirmi- ties of Nature do not admit fuch perfed Evennelsof Mind, as is always alTeded alike with the I ove and Delights of Holinefs. Thofe fenfible Pleafures that good Men fometimes feel themfelves tranfported with are the Effed of Bounty and Favour, and preat In- dulgence j not necelTary and infeparable Confequen- ces of Virtue. The fweet Foretafles of Heavenly Joys are fuch as you cannot depend upon, till brought to the Fruition of that Land of Promife ; And there- fore no juft Conclufions can be drawn from th-nce to the prejudice of thofe who want them • becaufein this Life they are given at Difcretion, and frenuentlv make way for a feverer and more fbafonable Difci- pline And when that Difcipline takes place, then to perfift in doing well, to ftrive manfully apainftallthe Reluaancies ot a trail Flefh and Blood, and hold out indefpight of all t.he Importunities and difcouraning Suggeltionsof the Tempter • this is a Proof of true Spiritual Bravery, and entitles fuch valiant Com- Crown ^° ^ "°^'^ Reward, and exceeding bright
Let Reafon therefore, and a well-grounded Faith not Fancy and Imagination, govern thy Behaviour ] And, after what manner foever thy Soul is aff-ded
thy Peneverance unbroken. Sometimesperhap thou art all Rapture and Jo,, and thefe LxtaL are not Dei'ulion,^''^^'''"' '''"^' Deliilions : i>ometimes again thou wilt relapfe into Weaknefs and Wandrings, thefe are not thy Choice i.,ut thy Misforfune ^ Nor doit thou create them o
^ i thy
138 €>f ti)t gimttatioff BookiiL
thy ieit^ but fufFer them with much Regret. Now what is not the Man's own Ad, (hall never be impu- ted to him as a Fault,- and what is thus by God's Permiffion, or the Frailty of Nature, if rightly ma- naged, will tend to thy Advantage, and rather im- prove, than endanger thy Virtue.
This indeed you muft know andconftantly remem- ber. That the inveterate Enemy of Souls is ever la- bouring by all means to cool your Zeal. He w^atches and greedily takes hold of all Occafions to flacken your Devotion, to prevail with you to neglect, or sbate of, your Prayers and other Holy Exercifes ; to divert your Thoughts of Chrift and his Sufferings, and fxX them upon Objedls of a different kind ,• to beat you off fiOxTi that ftrid: Guard, which ought always to be kept upon your Soul , and to undermine your good Intentions^ and repeated Refolutions. He con- veys m:?ny loofe and wicked Thoughts into your Heart, ufes a thoufand Slights and Artifices, to repre- fent Religion a tirefome, tedious, and unneceflary Thing, and to draw off your Attendance upon God in Prayers, in hearing his Word, in reading the Holy Scriptures. And happy he thinks himfeif, if by de- gree he can draw you to a Difufe of thefe Things : For nothing more provokes his Malice, and croffes his Deilgns, than to fee Men frequently upon their Knees, zealous in difcove'ing and confefling their Sins ; devout and attentive Comers to Church ; and conf^ant Receiversof the Lord's Supper. When there- fore he would perfuade you to be cold and remifs in any Mucer of this Nature, be fure to give no Credit to his falfe and wheedling Infinuations, for they are fo many Snares laid to captivate and to deftroy you. Turn fmiutly back upon him, with a Get thee behind me^ Satan: "' Blufh, if thou canft, unclean Spirit, at " thy ovN/n treacherous Villany ; I am well aware of [[ thy deadly Baits j and fenfible that Hell and Death
*^ are