Book I. ofJ^susCHRiST, 13

muft do it with a fubmiflive and humble^ afincereand teachable Difpofition of Mind ,• and account it a great- er Excellence to believe what God hath faid^ than to afFed the Reputation of Learning,by Singularity ofQ- pinions^ and a bold Attempt to bring down all he fays to your own Comprehenfion. If in fome things you find occafion to doubt or difbruft your own JudgmentjCon- fult wife and Holy Perfons, and fubmit patiently to hear and be inform'd by them. Nor let a vain Conceit of your own Abilities pro- ^^clus. viii. duce Contempt of the Aphorifms and Pa- ' ^* rabies of the Ancients. For^ be well affured^ they were not uttered at all Adventures ; but they, who delivered thefe Proverbial Sentences, knew them to be the Refult of long and Judicious Obfervation.
Chap. VL Of Inordinate Affe^ions]
TH E Moment a Man cherifhes any immoderate Defire , he feels a Tempeft rifing in his Soul. Pride and Covetoufnefs never fufFer us to reft , but the Poor and Lowly in Heart, the Humble and the Con- tented, enjoy themfelves in a profound and perpetu- al Calm. He that is ftill in conflid with his Paflions, and hath not yet attained a Compleat Vi(5l:ory over them, is eafily tempted, and often finds himfelf over- born by things not worth his Concern. For the re- mains of a Carnal Spirit, and the ftrong Tendencies to Pleafures of Senfe, will not fuffer a Man, without great Difficulty, to draw his Mind off from Worldly ^Affedions. And therefore, while he is endeavouring to do this , he endeavours it with fore Travel and Pain j commits a Vioknce upon himfelf;, and is pro- voked
T4_ €)f tf)t 3|mttatton Book L
voked to Anger and Indignation againfl: all that op- pofes him in fo laborious an Undertaking. ^ But if he indulge thofe Defires^ and fucceedinthem, the Confequence is worfe this way than the other : For then he is ilung with Remorfe for his guilty Com- pliance^ and difcontented to find ;, that the Gratify- ing his Inclination does not yield the Satisfadion he promifed himfelf from it. This convinces him by fad Experience, that true Peace and Content is never to be had by obeying his Appetites, but by an obilinate .Refiftance of them. And fuch Peace cannot be ex- pected in the Brealt of any Senfual Man ; for it is the- Peculiar Portion and Happinefs of a Soul raifed above the World, a zealous and devout, a mortified and refined, and heavenly Difpofition of Spirit.
Chap. VIL Directions for avoiding Fride^ and Vain Confidences.
^fTp^O put our Truff in Man, or in any other Crea- .^.i|L,^.fure, is moft :^gTegious Vanity. Think it not 'll-/.'jj, > . below YOU, to fubmic to the meaneft
: -iiaiDrf*- goo(4)Qfjices for the Service of your Bre-
thj^i^^tniaad the fak^^^^qf Jefus Chrift j nor count it any
"-S^grrie. rp; be,tl3pug'ht\Poor and Mean in this World :
.jp,9j'QVrQwqiEndga,vqu^ and faithfully j and
_uev.^,J',dpuf)t of Gp4f A - Depend not upon
•^r,-.; n:,, : • jo.ur ownAVafdom , and place not any
:['^'MkN^\v/,^^'^^^^^^^A^ ^%^ .%^^'^^^%m^^P' living :
• f!p^,^,iv;5;V 'but let yQu?;whole',TruftieJt^^^ntirely up-
Lf^^
'5civ:. f-Jf-;^->Y ;4oy^/?.i^^4 i^M^.^^ '-^^.^ 5ff^^^^ ^^'^ gi'Vtti Grace to the Htim-ble,^ 2Lnd cpcaheih tSo/^.-who are con tent -to al?^^fe thcmfchcs^
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