Book III. of Jesus Christ.

209
Chap. XXXVIIT.
The chattgeallenefs of our Temper ^ and how tofx it*
Chrifi.'] T^O not, my Son, depend upon any pre- JL/ fent difpofition of Mind, wich which thou feelelt thy felf affected, for this is fickle and of fhort duration. Variety and Change is what Men muft be fubjec5t to, fo long as they carry the Frailties of Flefh and Blood about them ; and all their endea- vours cannot fo fix their Hearts, as to keep them con- ftantly the fame. Sometimes they findthemfelves di- fpofed to Mirth, fometimes to Melancholy ; now they arc Even and Serene, by and by all over Diforder and Confufion ; This hour Fervent and Devout, the next Lukewarm- and Cold j Studious and Induftrious to Day, flothful and unfit for Bufinefs to morrow ^ Se- rious and Grave, and Thoughtful now ,• and anon again, Gay and Trifling, and light as Air. But the truly wife Man, who is aded by the Spirit of God, gets above this changeable Region of the lower World. He fufFers not himfelf to be cariied about with every Blaft and Impulfe of Inconftanc , but fettles upon the Bafisof the one excellent End, which is always firft and moft in his Thoughts, the Port to which he makes^ and the Compafsby which he Steers all his Defigns and Actions. For by this Method it is very pofEble for a Man to continue unfliaken and un- moved, by any Guft of Inclination from within, or Accident from without. The natural Changeablenefs of Human Affedions, being yet more improved by Mens own voluntary Uncertainty, and propofing no conftant End orRuleto themfelves. Now that Inten- tion, which fixes upon God as its only End, will keep Men fteady in their Purpofes ^ and deliver them from
being
210 €)f tDt 3!mttatton Book iil
being the Jeft and Scorn of Fortune. And this in Scripture is ftyled a Single. EjCy becaufe it ever looks and aims but at one Objed.
The more intent then that Eye is in this Profped:, the lefs diverted from its Mark; the firmer and more confiftent Men are with themfelves : And the lefs Im- preflion does any Change of Wind or Weather make upon fuch diligent and wife Pilots. But ftill infirmity- prevails in moftiand^if fome Pleafure or Profit come betwixt, they retain fo much Tendernefs for them- felves, and their temporal Advantages ; as to be di- verted from the fame vigorous purfuit of their firft Prize, and allow this frefli one a part at leaft of their Endeavours and Defires. They love God, but they would love the world too ; and in this State of di* John xii 0. vided AflFe6tions fomewhat refemble the JeTvs ; who , as the Evangelift obferves^ came to vifit Martha and Mary 2it Bethany y not only that they might fee and hear Jefus, but that they might fatisfy their Curiofity in gazing upon Laz.arusy whom he had raifed from the Dead. It muft therefore be your great Care and Bufinefs to compofe this Diftra- dion of Thought, to fix your Heart to one Purpofe, to feek one Good, one End, fo zealoufly, that no- thing elfe may come into Competition or Parnerfliip with it, to look upon every thing which diverts you from, or cools you in this Purfuit, with an Eye of Contempt ; and conftantly to keep your Hope and Defire and Love (which are the Spring and Guide of all your Anions) upon Me alone.
CHAP.