Book III, cf J E s U S C H R I S T. 189

dwelling with the Meek and Humble. And the Peace of my Servants confiftsin lieady Patience ; in attend- ing diligently to my words, and following my Dire- ^ions. Therefore, upon every Occafion, be fure to make a Confcience of what you Do or Say : Let the pleafing Me, be your chief, your only Concern ; and the Fruition of Me your ultimate, your only End and. Deflre. Pafs no rafli Cenfure upon other People's Words or Adions, and do not affed: to be a Man of Bufinefs or Secrets ; for this will be the beft Expedi- ent to make your Troubles few and light. I fay, Few and Light, for to efcape Trouble altogether, and have no AiSi(5tIon at all in Mind, Body, or Eftate, is not confiftenc with the Nature of your prefent Condition, but one of the Privileges referved for Heaven and Immortality.
Do not therefore imagine, that you are then in perfed Peace, when you are fenflble of no Calamity or Diiturbance,* Or, that a prefent freedom fromAf- faulcs is an Argument that you have no Enemy, and all is fafe and well with you ; Nor.when things fucceed according to your Heart's defire, that this 'is a Proof .of your extraordinary Virtue and Perfedion ^ Ncr if your Zeal and Piety be fervenr,and your Contem- plations full of Dciigiic, conclude your feif a particu- lar Favourite of God. For thefe are foreign and de- ceitful Inferences : Such as neither prove the Sincerity, nor the Degree and Perfedion of any Mans Virtue. This is difcovered by quite different Marks. The devoting and refigning your felf entirely to the Will of God • notfeeking your own, buthis Glory in eve- ry thing you do ,• confidering all Events wifely, and receiving Profperity and Adverfity with Evennefs of Temper ; and fuch a brave unfhaken Perfeverance in Goodnefs,as,even when the Afliftances and Encourage- ments of Grace are withdrawn for a feafon, can refo- lutely go on and harden it felf to undergo yet (harper
Tryals
T90 gPg tftt imitation Book IIL
Tryals with Conftancy ; Such Lowlinefs of Mind, as never puffs a Man up with an Opinion of his ownMe- ric , but in the foreft Diftrelles can find Matter of Praife and Thanks for that Mercy, which even then infiicfls much lefs than he defcrves to fuffer ; And a firm Hope, that God will not forfake his Servants^ This is the way of Peace, the way that leads to fure Confolation and Favour with God. And if, to not thinking highly of your own Performances, you can add that other Excellence, of defpifing your Self, and abhorring your own Vilenefs , then be affured your Peace is built upon fo folid, fo impregnable a Foun- dation, that Mortal Man here on Earth is not capa- ble of attaining to it in greater Perfedion.
CHAP. XXX. True Freci^om of Mind.
Difciple,'] npHis is indeed the utmofl Perfe(5lion 1. Mortality can afpire after , to aban- don all worldly Thoughts, and without Interruption keep the Mind upon the Bufmefs of the Soul , and heavenly Contemplations: To pafs through aLife thick fet with Cares and Troubles, yet free and unconcern- ed. Provided itill this unconcernednefs proceed not from Stupidity, Heavinefs of Apprehenfion, or floth- ful Neglecl, but from a generous Liberty of Soul, by which the Man gets loofe from all immoderate De- fires, and too tender Love of earthly Enjoyments. This Faculty I earneftly covet, and beg thee, O my God, to proced me againft the Cares of the World, led the Neceffiries of my Body employ me too anxi- oufly, and, under that Pretence, my Affedions been- fnared, and io I entangled in Multiplicity of Bufmefs,
to
Book TIL OfjBSusCHRTST. 19 r
to the Prejudice and Negled of better and weightier Concerns • Or, left I be enticed to Sin by the pleafures ofSenfe, cr difcouraged from the fteady Purfuit of Virtue and Heaven, by too tender and afflicfling Re- fentments of any Calamities which may happen to me.
I fpeak not now of thofe vain Superfluities^ which the deluded World fo vehemently contend for ,• but beg to be preferved in thefe Miferies and Dangers, For Miferies and Dangers I cannot but efteem the. common and unavoidable Incumbrances of Life^fince thefe are heavy^ and cling clofe about the Soul, and put it under fuch a ftrait confinement, that it cannot freely obey the Difpofitions it feels within, of getting above Concern for tjie Worid^ and fixing its Defires and Endeavours upon Spiritual Objects. Thou, O my God, art Sweetnefs inexpreffible. But, that my Soul may truly relifli thee, turn , I befeech thee^ all my Worldly Comforts into Bitternefs, left they vitiate my Palate, and give a Difguft to Heavenly Things, by fome deluding Charm of prefent pretended Good. Oh ! let not Flefh and Blood prevail in their Confiids with the Spirit^ let not the World and its fading Glo- ries cheat me into Ruin ; let not the fubtle Enemy of Souls fupplant me with his tempting Wiles. Give me Courage to refift, when called to the Combat ; Pa- tience to endure, when called to Suffering ; Firmnefs of Mind to perlift immoveable in my Duty, when Temptations and evil Suggeftions labour to feduce me. Exchange^ if it be thy will, the tranfitory and falle Comforts of this World, for the Oyl of true Gladnefs, the Afliftances and fweet Satisfactions of thy blened Spirit ; and, inftead of Carnal Love, and Senfunl In- clination, let the Love and Defire of Thee bediltufed through my whole Heart, and reign Unrivall'd there.
Even
-
192. €>f ti)t 9!mttation Bookiii.
Even Food and Raiment, and die Neceffaries by which Life is fuftained, are a Grievance and Obftru- iftion to zealous and refined Souls. But what muft be a Burthen, let me not make an occafion of Sin ^ by^ ufing the Creatures intemperately, by a Luxurious Indulgence,or Inordinate Appetite. Nature, I know, it is my Duty to fupport ; and therefore, entirely to refufe and negled thefe Provifions were Sin and foul Ingratitude. But to enlarge our Defires beyond the proper Ufes of thefe things, and let them loofe upon Superfluity and Vanity, Delicacy and Delight : This the Law of God hath mod wifely forbidden ; becaufe it were in effect to connive at all Licentioufnefs, by cherifbing the Flefli, and animating and fupporting it in Infolence and Rebellion againft the Spirit. Be- tween thefe two Extremes there lies a fafe middle Way, in which I humbly implore the Guidance of thy' Hand ; left I decline from Virtue on either fide, and going aftray after my own Inclination or unad- vlfed Zeal, forfake my Path, and fly out beyond the Msafures Thou haft prefcribed for me.
Chap. XXXL
Self 'Love the greateji OhJlruBion to Virtue and Happinefs.
Chri(^,~\ Q O N, if thou aim at Purchafing All, know O that it is not to be bought at anyPrice,lefs than thy AIL Earth muft be bartered for Heaven, and where I give ray felf, I expect the whole Man in ex- change. Think not therefore of any private Referves of Intereit or Pleafure, in Bar to my entire Poifeffion^- for all the World cannot do thee greater Prejudice, .than fuch Self-love. This flicks more clofe, while .. other