Book III. of j B S U S C H.R I S T. I Jt

the Provocation be whacic will, and come from whom it will, lec it be offered but once, of repeated never fo often, 'tis all alike ; becaufe in all the over-ruling Hand of God is attended to ; and every thing recei- ved, as ordained and originally infiided by him ,• and what proceeds from him is always good, and fure to turn to Account. And, as nothing he appoints, rho' feemingly never fo grievous, fhall be to good Mens difadvantage ,• fo nothing, tho' never fo flight and defpicable in it felf, when dutifully and decently en- tertained, fhall be paifed over unrewarded. Arm thy felf therefore for Combat, and decline no occafion of Engaging that offers, if thou defire the Glory of ' the Conqueff. Without Fighting thy way through, there is no coming at the Crown. And they who refufe to Suffer with Chriit, do in effed, and by ne- ceffary confequence refufe to reign with him. Stand up then bravely to Afflidions, and quit thy felf like a Man ; Repofe and Happinefs is what thou Cove- teft, but thefe are only to be obtained by Labour : Vidory and Triumph are the things thou aimeft at ; But who was ever yet fo abfurd, as to think of Tri- umphs without Enemies and Hardfhips, or Conquer- ing without a Battel ?
Difcipie.] I acquiefce, dear Lord, in all thou fay'fl: • nor will I indulge fuch vain Imaginations. But hnce, even where the Spirit is mofl willing, the Flefli is mi- ferably weak ,- affift me, I befeech thee, that by thy Power and Strength I may be able to do, what by my own I cannot accomplidi, and Nature is averfe from fo much as attempting. Thou knoweilfuU well^ how little I can bear ; how every Shock makes my feeble Heart give ground ; Lord, do thou fupport and confirm me, that Tribulation may appear, not only tolerable, but even defirable, incompliance with thy Will and my Duty. For, Vv^hat regret foever Humanity may betray in thefe Cafes, when Danger
M 4 ap-
J7^ m ti^t imitation Book iii.
approaches ,• In my own better Judgment, which conilders things in the Chriftian and Spiritual Senfe, I am abundantly fatisfied, how much the harflier Dif- penfations of thy Provideace conduce to my Soul's Advantage. And^tho' no Chaftifement for the prefent feems joyous hut grievous, yet my better Senfe, when I think treely, convinces me of thy Wifdomand Mercy, and that it is even good for me to he afflicled.
Chap. XXII
The Infirmities and Miferies of our prefent State.
Difciple. :T TFiUconfefs myTJr.rlghtecifnefs unto the Lord ^ pfal. xxxii. J^ and bewail my Infirmities before him.' For every trivial Accident cafts me down, and I am often overwhelm'd with Sorrow, upon Occafions which, my Calmer Thoughts abundantly convince me_, deferve rather my Contempt, than my ferious Con- cern. Sometimes I fee and condemn my own Folly, and mighty Refolutions Imake, how bravely I will behave my felf for the time to come ^ and yet, upon the next Affault of forrie flight Misfortune, this Ima- ginary Heroe is beaten from his Poft, and cannot Itand the fliock of a very common Difficulty. The pooreft and moft defpicable Things are, I find, capa- ble of becoming great and dangerous Temptations ; And I, who at a diftance defy them, yet, when brouj^hc to the Tryal, feel, by fad Experience, upon how flippery Ground I ftand. '
" This is indeed the wretched Condition of thy poor
unflable Servant : But, Lord, do Thou, in much Com-
palTion, look upon my Frailty, for thou knoweft it
more perfedly than I my felf can. Stretch
pfal. kiv. f-j.^|:j j-j^y Hand,, ^^n^ draw' me out of thefe
'' ' '"^ '" ' " deep