Book IIL of J E S U S C H R I S T. 1^3

Chap. XVIII.
Cod is our only Comfort in Troulle,
Dlfciple,"] TTCTHatever Comforts and Happinefs I V y propofe, This is not the Time^ and Place of enjoying them, but I exped: that Bleffed Fruition in another State. For^ what would it avail, could I attain the utmoft Delights the World can af- ford^ when a very fhort fpace muft of neceflity put a Period to them? Do not then miftake thy Happinefs, my Soul^ for thefe things are not, cannot be thy Reft : The fulnefs of Joy and undifturbed Pleafure is no where to be found, fave in God only ,• He is the Comforter of the AfBided, He the Wealth of the Poor, he the Support and Strengthof the Weak, He the Glory and great Reward of the Humble.
Nor let it difturb thy Peace, or difcourage thy Hope, that thou canft not yet afpire to thy promifed Felicity ; For God is faithful and cannot Lie : Only wait his own time patiently, and thou fhalt not fail of his Mercy, and an abundant Recompence of thy Faith and patient Truft in due feafon. But if this de- lay draw off thy AfFeclions to prefent Comforts, and abate thy Zeal for future and diftant Rewards, thou Ihalt defire Earthly Bleffings, and not be filled ,• and at the fame time lofe thofe heavenly and eternal Joys, which alone can fatisfy, and make thee happy. Ufe then thefe Temporal Things, but lo've none but the Things that are Eternal. The prefent were not de- fign'd for Enjoyment, but for Neceflity and Conveni- ence.Thy Nature is not cut out for them, nor is it in their Power to make thee perfed, tho' all this mortal State iscapable of, were united together for that pur- pofe: For God alone is aGood,large enough to fill the ctefires of an immortal Soulj He only is proportioned to
thy
1 64 £>f tl)t gitnitation: Book III.
thy Wants and nobleFaculties : And the Happinefs to be met within Him, is not that tranficory, imperfe Th 1.1/5, which the Children of this Generation fond- ly Covet and Admire, but that exquifite, that infinite and inward Delight, of which the Pure in Heart and Spiritual Perfons receive fome fweet Foretaftes and Pledges, by having their Converfation in Heaven, while they themfelves are upon Earth. ForManisvain^ and all his Comforts like him ; Empty and unfatisfa- t5rory, falfe and fleeting, fwift in dec:^y, and of fliorc continuance: But thofe from God refemble the Per- fedions of their Author, Spiritual and True, Immuta- ble and Eternal. A truly pious Soul can never be de- ftitute,becaufehe conftantly bears his Happinefs about him ; even the BlelTed Jefus, the Divine Comforter ,• and, when bereft of allbefide5,canthus converfe with him in the profoundeil Solitude.
BlelTcd be thy Mercy, O deareft Jefus! Bleffed be thy cheering Prefencs I O let me never be deprived of this ineiiimable Blifs ; while I have this Confolation within, I feel no want of Earthly Enjoyments : For this fupplies, exceeds them all. Oh! let me thankful- ly rejoice in thy Favour and the Light of thy Coun- tenance lifted up upon me ! Or, if at any time thou wfthdraw thofe bright Beams, and interpofe a Cloud of Sorrow, yet even then preferve me from fad Di- ftruft, and let the confideration of thy Will, which is always beft, be my fupport in myblackeft and moft Melancholy Circumftances. Let me not caft away my Hope and Confidence, becaufe thou hideft thy Face for a Seafon,- but help me to difcern thegreatWifdom and Benefit of fuch trying Difpenfations^and to fupport my Faith with the profped of that Revv'ard, which is laid up in Heaven for thofe,uponvv'hom Patience hath if, perfedt Work. For thou, OLord, art Gracious and Merciful, and though we perpetually of- p^ai. cm, £g^^ ^^^ provoke thee;yet w'lh ibcu not al^