Book III. OfJfiSUSCHRIST. l6l

long^ finds the Delufion out at laft: And what he im- puted to the Spirit of God^proves in the end a Sugge- ftion of the Devil^ or the eager Longings of his own vain Mind.
The fureft way then never to offend God in thy Defires, and to be accepted in thy Addreffes to him, will be to temper all thy Inclinations with his Fear, and not fo much ai; indulge a fecret Wifh ^ without fuch Refervations as may teftify an entire Submiffion to the Divine Difpofal. And when thofe Wifhes break out into Works^ Men fhall do v/ell to conceive and prefent them in fuch Forms^as may exprefs fome Check upon themfelves, and mighty Caution in re- ftraining their Tongues from asking any thing in a Peremptory Manner, but leaving the Matter entire- ly to God's better Choice. As thus ; " Lor J, thou *^ knowefi 'whether the halving, or the being denied the Mat^ ^^ ter of my Petition, he mo ft conifenient j and therefor. nH " Iheg is^that what thcttjeeft mofi expedient m.^y he done i ^^ I ask, indeed, as is my Duty, but I prefume not to ** prefcribe to thy Heavenly Wifciom : Give therefore, '^ Lord, fuch Things, and in fuch Meafu? es, and at *^ fuch times as thou feefl; fir. Deal with me as thoi2 *^ knoweft is neceffary : For that I am well allured is beft for me,which is moft agreeable to t!iy Will, an^ moft conducive to thy Glory. Appoint me any Poft, and ufe me as thy own; turn and change me, ^^ and my Fortune at pleafure : I only beg to be qua- *^ lified for thy Difpenfations, to ufe them righriy^ *^ and greatly to improve under them. Fori am thy ^^ Servant, devoted to thee without the leaft Referve : ^^ I defire not to live to my felf, but to Thee ; Oh ! " that I might be enabled faithfully and worthily ta ^'' perform that Homage and Duty, to all which my \\ Heart is moft freely and fmcerely difpofed.
CHAP.
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i6x ^f ttig llmttgtf on Book III.
' Chap. XVIL A Prayer for Grace to do the Will of GoA.
Difclple.'] " rTEar me, moft merciful Saviour , Ihum- " JLjL bly befeech thee, and lee thy Grace ^^ be ever preient with thy weak unworthy Servant. *' I am not of my felf able to do, or think any thing " that is good ! O ! let thy Spirit affift my poor En- " deavours^vHnquifh the Ternptations that fo thick be- ^^ fee me, fix my inconftant Mind, and follow me all ^^ the Days of my Life, that F may perfevere in good ^^ Works unto the End. Regulate my AfFedions and *• Defines, and confine theni to fuch Objects only, as ^* are well-pleafing in thy fight. Let thy Will be the ^^ Guide and Meafure of mine, and let mine fteadily ^^ conform to thy Pleafure. Remove far from me all " Inclinations and Averfions, but fuch as agree with ^^ thofe of the Bleffed Jefus. Help me to die daily to '^ the World, and to the Things of the World ^ and " mortify my Vanity to that degree, that even Shame " and Contempt, for thy fake, may be not only fup- ^^ portable, but welcome to me. Let all my Hopes " and Wifhes center in Thee alone ; and nothing ap- " pear definable, in comparifon of a pure Heart and " peaceful Confcience: For Thou, O Lord, art my ^* Peace, Thou my only Red,- in Thee alone is Plea- "fure and true Satisfadlion, and all without Thee is " Mifery and Torment. Oh I grant me this Bleffed " Retreat, this Happy Security ; that I may abandon " all the falfe /Appearances of Happinefs here below, ^^ and fipd foft Eafe and fweet Repofe in thy Love '' and Favour, Thoir True, Thou Chief, Thou Eter- " nal Good of Pious Souls.
CHAP,