Book L of J E s u s C H R I s T. 17

cies ; bccaufe ic fo very often happens^ that the more perfedly Men are underftood^ the lefs they are e- fteemed.
Chap. IX, OleJience and a State of Siilje^iortj,
IT is a very valuable Advantage to live under the Diredlion of a Superiour, and^ whatever the Ge- nerality of Men think of the Matter, more difficult and hazardous to Command, than to Obey. Many fub- mit, more out of Neceffity, than out of any Principle -of Duty or Choice; And, tofuchasthefe,thisisaState of continual Torment. All they do is againfl: the Grain, attended with conftant Murmuringsand Com- plaints ; The Life of Slaves and Brutes, and not of Men, who ftiould ad with a Spirit cf Freedom. And this Native Liberty no Inferior attains to, till he have learnt to obey heartily, for God's, and Confcience fake. Whatever Poft you form an Idea of, none will give you Ouiet and Inward Content, equal with that of a State of Subjedion : Many have fed themfelves with fond Imaginations, hovv^ happy they fhould be, if they could change their Condition for a higher ; but few, if any, who have adually made the Expe- riment, have found themfelves at all the happier or cafier for it.
'Tis true indeed, every Man's own Judgment is the proper Rule and Meafure of his Actions \ and hence it comes to pafs, that we are all beft afFeded to them who are of the fame Opinions with our felves. But *tis as true, that if God rule in our Hearts, we ihall not think much to recede from our own Senfein fome Cafes, when Peage and the Publick Good may be pro- moted
^f tt)t imitation Book l
moted by fuch Conceffions For who is fo abfolutely and compleady Wife, that nothing elcapes hisKnow- ledge ? If thenoar Knowledge be but partial and im- perfed, tis but reafonable we fhould not abound too much in our own Senfe, but allow a fair Hearing at leaf!: to thole who differ from us. And in fuch Cafes a Man gains a great Pointy when he knows himfelf in the right, and yet in Tendernefs and Charity, can comply with the Infirmities or Miftakes of others, rather than offend God, by being too tenacious of his own better Judgment.
I have frequently been told, That it is much fefer to take Advice, than to give it. For a Man may have confidered and determined well ; and yet there may be fom.e C^fes, which may make it reafonable to de- part from that Determination, and give our felves up to be determined by other Perfons. And when thefe Cafes happen. To refufe fuch Compliances, manifeft- ly betrays our own Self-conceit, and is not Conftan- cy, but Obdinacy of Spirit.
Chap. X.
Few Words are heji,
DEciine Crowds and Company as much as conve- niently you may. For frequent Difcourfe, even of News or indifferent Things, Vv^hich happens upon fuch Occafions, is fometimesan Obflrudion to Virtue, when le-^ft intended or fufpeded foto be. The World and its Vanities eafily take hold of us, and our Minds are enfnared and captivated, before we are aware. How often have I found reafon to wiili, that I had not been in Company, or that I had faid nothing, when I v/as there ? If we examine, how it comes to pafs,
that