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Men ought to be afflicted, and humble their Souls, with the Confiderations of their own Wants and Unworthiness; yet fo,as not only not to give way to fad Defpondencies and Diftruft of thy Mercy; but, even from this very Subject to draw Matter of Comfort and Joy; because thou haft fo particularly declared thy Affection to the contrite and humble Souls, and given them Marks of more than ordinary Favour.

Such were those Apoftles, fo mean in their ownand the World's Efteem, whom thou madeft choice of for Witneffes of thy Truth, and Attendants upon thy Perfon. These very Heroes in the Chriftian Story, whom thou haft appointed Judges and Rulers of the whole World in Matters of Religion, were recommended to that High Promotion, by being Meek and Poor in Spirit, void of Guile, and mortified to the World; patient in Suffering, content with Infolence, and barbarous Treatment; and proud of nothing, but being thought worthy to endure Shame and Pain for the Name of Jefus. So diftant from common Men, fo fingular were their Notions, which difpofed them with Joy and Eagerness to embrace, what others dread and deteft, and fhun with all their Induftry and Might. The never-failing Spring of Joy and Comfort, which they who truly love and fear thee, and are thankful for thy Infinite Goodness, find within, flows from the constant Resignation of their Minds to thy Difpofals, and the Reflections upon thy Wife Eternal Purpofes, which check their Pronenefs to Partiality and Difcontent, and make every Difpenfation of thy Providence welcome to them. They are abafed with equal Satisfaction, as others are exalted: And regard not High or Low, Honourable or Defpifed, according to common Reputation, but confider that their Station and Circumftances in the World are chofen and ordained by Thee; and cannot therefore but be good, nay, better than any other, because the Effect of thy

Divine Appointment, which always knows and chufes the best. Could we but once arrive at this confiderate Temper of Mind, the Different Accidents of Life would ceafe to be either uneafie, or extravagantly pleasant. The violent Shocks upon our Paffions would be effectually prevented; because thy Honour would take place above our own Appetites and mistaken Interefts. Poverty and Shame would be acceptable, as coming from the fame Hand with Riches and Honour. And even thofe things which are moft agreeable to the Relish and Inclinations of Human Nature, would please and comfort us more, with the Confideration of their being beftowed by thee, the Author of all our Happiness; than upon the account of any Advan tages to be had from the things themfelves. The Zeal for thy Honour in the extremity of Diftrefs, fhould fupport good Men more, and find greater regard from them than all the Wealth or Glory, or other external Bleffings, which thou at any time doft or canft confer upon the most profperous of the Sons of Men in this World. So finall is the Confideration of the greatest Gift, in comparison of the Wife, the Good, the Almighty Giver and Difpofer of our Fortunes; who orders all things for the beft, and is in all, our kindest Friend, and conftant Benefactor.

CHA P. XXV.

The Things which make for Peace.

Christ.Earken to me, my Son, and I will inform thee in the right Way to true Peace and

perfect Liberty.

Difciple.] Be pleafed, Lord, fo to do; for fuch Inftruction will prove both acceptable and profitable to

me.

N 2

Chrift.

Chrift.] Make it thy Bufinefs, rather to comply with the Defires and Commands of others, than to indulge thy own Inclinations. Chufe a moderate, nay, a low Fortune, rather than Greatnefs and Abundance. Be humble, obedient, and condefcending in all thy Deportment. Let this be thy conftant Wish and Prayer, That God would perform his Pleasure, and difpofe of thee and all thy Affairs, as to him feems moft convenient. The Man that hath brought himfelf to this Temper and Spirit, be affured is in the ready Way to Peace of Mind, and true Content.

Difciple.] The Words my Lord hath spoken are few in Number, but full of Senfe, and of very comprehensive Extent; and I can easily discern in this little Space the Grounds of great Perfection in Virtue, Did I but diligently obferve these Rules, how happily would all exceffive Concern, and violent Disorder at any Accidents of Human Life be fupprefs'd, or quite prevented? And if at any time hereafter I find my felf oppreffed with immoderate Cares or Refentments, thy Wisdom hath taught me to discover the true Caufe of my Trouble; and, that I fuffer for neglecting to comply with this Doctrine. But fuch Compliance, Lord, thou knoweft is not the Work of Nature and meer Reafon: And therefore I implore the mighty Affiftances of thy Grace, to which nothing is hard, for making those Improvements, which in the prefent State of Corruption, are to Flesh and Blood impracticable. Nothing is more acceptable in thy fight, than the Conqueft of our Infirmities, and bold Advance in Goodness; put forth thy Hand then, and what thou haft taught me to know, enable me to perform, That I may both approve my own Obedience, and (what without thee I cannot do ) successfully purfue my own Happiness and Salvation.

CHA P.

CHA P. XXVI..

A Prayer against Evil Thoughts.

Difciple. G

10 not far from me, O Lord, my God, make haft to help me: For Corrupt

Pfal. lxx. Imaginations are perpetually rifing in my Breaft, and innumerable Fears and Horrors clofe my Soul in on every fide. The fenfe of my hazardous Condition overwhelms me with Torment and Deep Diftrefs, while I fee the greatness of my Danger, and the multitude of my Enemies, but know not how to decline the one,or to fight myWay through the other. Chrift.] Remember, Son, my Promife; I will go before thee, and make the crooked Places ftreight; I will break in pieces the Gates of Brafs, and cut Ifa. xiv. in funder the Bars of Iron: And I will give thee the Treafures of Darkness, and bidden Riches of fecret Places.

Difciple.] Lord, fince thou haft applied thofe Myftical Words to my Comfort, let me, I befeech thee, experimentally find the gracious Accomplishments of them in my own perfon: And scatter all my dark and difmal, my vain and finful Thoughts, by fhedding the Light of thy Grace abroad into my Heart. For in the Extremity of Grief and Anguish, this is my Hope and only Support,to take fanctuary in thy Goodness, to repofe all my Confidence, and caft the Burthen of my Cares upon thee; to pour out my whole Soul before thee, and wait with Patience thy own good Time, for fuccouring me in, and giving me a happy iffue out of all my Afflictions.

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CHA P. XXVII.

A Prayer for Spiritual Illumination.

Difciple.] SHR

Hoot forth, O Bleffed Jefus, the bright Beams of thy Heavenly and Eternal Light, that it may enlighten all the Dark Corners of my Heart, and effectually fcatter every Cloud of Ignorance and Error, which now hang fo thick over me. Call home my Wandring Thoughts, and repulfe the Temptations, which furiously affault me. Fight thou my Battels, and fubdue thofe fierce Wild Beafts, thofe Brutish Lufts, which range in this Defart, and are ever ftriving to devour me; that by thy Power the Wilderness may be turned into a Palace, and inftead of the violent Cries and Howlings of raging Paffions, no Sounds may be heard there but Songs of Praife. Thou, Lord,Who commandeft the Winds and the Mark i. Waves, and they obey thee, filence the Storms within my Breaft; fay to that Troubled Sea, Be ftill,and immediately there fhall be Peace,and a profound Calm. Send out thy Light and thy Truth, and warm this Barren Soil, for fuch am I, till mellowed and impregnated by the Sun of Righteoufnefs. Pour down thy Grace upon me plentifully,and water me with thy refreshing Moifture,which like seasonable Showers and gentle Dew, may fatten my Soul, and enable it to bring forth generousFruit in great abundance.Raife and refine my Mind, preft down with the Drofs of earthly Defires, and draw my Affections up to Heaven and heavenly Objects; that the sweet relifh of that Blifs above may give me a disgust and loathing to all the naufeous Pleafures here below.Deliver,or rather fnatch me away with a holy Violence from all the perifhing Comforts of this Mortal State; for my Thirst of Happiness I find is greater.

than

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