Book ill. of J E S U S C H Tl I s T. 173

deep Waters, and out of this Mire of Sin and Weak- nefs^ that I fink not in my Corruption. I cannot ea- fily exprefs the Melancholy Refiedions, the Shame and Confufion, the Indignation and fad Perplexity of Hearty which the Confcioufnefs of my own In- ability to refiit Temptations, and the Inconftancy of my befl: and moft vigorous Purpofes create ,• and, tho' my Will be not always vanquiftied, nor do I (blelTed be God) yield to every wicked Suggeftion, yet the repeated AlTaults of the Enemy dilturb my Quiet, and I am weary of a Life, which confifts of perpe- tual Hazard, and painful Conflidls with my felf. The Wretchednefs of my Condition is but too manifelt : I need no other Argument to prove it, than that ea- fie Accefs evil Thoughts find to my Breaft. "Which, in defpight of all my watchful Care, and moil man- ful Struggles, are much fooner infinuated, and re- ceived, than either driven out again, or prevented from entring.
Look down then, thou Almighty Rock of Ifrael, and Lover of Souls, and interpofe thy Power and Protedion ,• Givefeafonable Succour, and happy Sue- cefs to my too fruitlefs Endeavours. Arm and Guard me with Strength from above ^ and fuJffer not the Old Man, the corrupt Inclinations of myFlefh, which re- fufcs to be entirely fubdued and brought to Reafon, to ufurp the Dominion over my better part. For this Obftinate Rebel renews its Infurredlions daily, and bids me Battel ,• calls me to Combats and hazardous Engagements which muft never, never end in per- fed Peace and Safety, fo long as thismiferable State of Mortality endures. Molt milerable indeed , fince eve- ry Adicri and Accident of my Life involves me in frefh Dangers ,- fince every Step I take is upon Snares and Precipices j fince every Tmie and Place is thick befet with Tioubles and Toils, with Treachery and Temptation, and a numerous Hoft of Enemies ready- to
174 €)f tl^e limitation Bookiii.
to devour and fwallow ine up. For a fatal uninter- rupted Succeffion of Tryals are every Moment re- newing their Attacks, and when I have happily van- quiflied many, and fondly promife my felf a Truce ; as many more immediately draw down upon me, and make fiercer and more furious Attempts upon fome other Quarter, which, I hoped had been fufficiently covered from their Approaches.
And can a Life, fubjed to fuch Surprizes and Ha- zards, embittered with fo many Troubles and fevere Tryals, incumbred with fo much Frailty and Cor- ruption, be valued and mightily coveted ? Nay, can That deferve the very Name of Life, which naturally breeds Plagues and Difeafes, and expofes us to fuch variety of Deaths ? Yet ftupid Man hugs, and em- braces, and efteems it his only Happinefs ; expeds Eafe in the midft of Diftradlion, purfues Joys in a V^alley of Tears, and vainly fets up for the boafted Perfedion of Pleafure, in a condition of inevitable Mifery, and lingring, certain Pain. Sometimes in- deed the tender Senfe of fome Affliction cuts us to the quick ; and in our Melancholy Moods, we give the World hard Words ^ call it Deceitful, Treacherous, and Vciin ,' but even they who Rail at it moft Liberally, and profefs to Hate and Defpife it, cannot be prevail- ed with to be content to leave it. The Flefli and its Af- fedions have liilla powerful Influence, and fpur Men on to the Purfuit and Love of thofe very Enjoyments, which Reafon and their own Experience have taught them, cannot be worth their Pains, norin any degree anfvver their deluded Expectations. For we muft ob- ferve, that our Love and Hatred of this World pro- ceed from very different Caufes and Principles. The Liijl of the FlejJj, the Luft of the Eye, and i 'jchn iii. ^1^^ j>^,-^^ ^jr jjj^^^ engage our Affedions ,•
and tliefe are ever prefent, and ever vehement with us. Th'^ Calamities, and Griefs, and Pains we feel,
pro-