Book III. of J E S U S C H R I S T. 151

Actions. You feel Defircs, like inward Springs, put you into Motion^ and very eager fometimes you are of doing what you are verilv perfwaded is good. But, even when the thing it felf is commenclabie, the In- tention and Motive Men go upon, ought to be nicely conilderd. For it makes a Migluy Ditference, whe- ther I.orThemfelves, be principally in their Thouglus. Now this difcovery is not hard to make. For, if my Honour be their grear Concern^ howfoever my Pro- vidence difpofes their Affairs , they will conclude what I do beft, and will be contented vmh it. But if under this Difguife of Holinefs , there be a lurking Corruption of Private and By-refpe6ts,if Gain akes Men Frugal, or Ambition Virtuous, or the Praife of the World Charitable; or the Confideration of their own Health Temperate ,• thefeare Principles, upon which no dependance can fafely be had : J heir Con- dud will be unequal, and vary as Events do ; and every Difappointment of their Expedations will pro- duce Trouble and Impatience.
Do not therefore be too confident of every fort of Inclination to do well ; but firft advife with Me, and take care to build upon a good Foundation. For Men who ad upon indired Ends, very often repent when it is too late ,• And that which at firft they prcpofed great Satisfaction and Advantage from,proves at long run their Torment and Lofs. Nay, I muft give ycu this farther Caution yet. That even good Inclinations are not to be taken at firfl light, nor raflily purfued Vv'ichout a diligent and prudent Obfervation. For it may be convenient fometimes, to put fome Reftraints upon the very beft Intentions. They who negled this, and give free fcope to their Zeal by too great Eager- nefs, often exceed the Bounds of Moderation and De- cency ; fometimes give Offence to their Brethren by their extravagant Heats, and Impetuous Sallies ,• and fometimes, upon any Refiitance or Difficulty, which
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I5X ^f ri?e 'imitation Book IIL
obftruds chofe precipitate Fervours, lofe all their in- ward Peace, dedft from their good Defigns, and fall from the Heighrh of Rapture, to the Extremities of Melancholy and Defpair. So that to make thy Zeal in Well-doing in all Points what it ought to be, it is by no means iuificient, that it be honeft and well dif- pofed, unlefs it be alfo fober, andregular,anddifcreet. Again, There are fome Occafions and Circumftan- ces, which render a fort of holy Violence necelTary, and oblige Men to ad: quite contrary to their Inclina- tion : To bear no manner of Regard to Flefh and Senfe, or what will be moft agreeable, any farther than may ferve to fet the Mind in array againft them, and refoiutely engage in a formal War, for the redu- cing, or keeping them in Obedience to the Superior Faculties of the Soul. For, by thus frequently con- trolling, and counter-working all that Human Nature hath a Tendency to, the Outward Man is by degrees qualified for Duty ; and acquires a great Readinefs of doing, or fuffering, whatever fhall be impofed upon it. And in thefe Exercifes the firft Foundations are laid, of Contentednefs with a Little, of Satisfadion in a private and negleded State, a mean and narrow Fortune ; and of Patience under any Croffes or Ca- lamities, without thofe murmuring Thoughts, which are apt to beget hard and irreverent Reflections, and too often break out in wicked Complaints, and fau- cy Expoftulations, againft the Juftice, and Wifdom^ and Goodnefs of God, and Providence.
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