than any Creature can either quench, or in a good Degree affwage. Unite me to thy felf with inviolable Bands of Holy Love, fo fhall my Soul be fatisfied; for thou alone canft anfwer all my Longings, and the whole World without thee is trifle, and emptinefs,and nothing.

CHA P. XXVIII.

Against a Bufie Inquifitive Temper.

M%

Chrift.] Y Son, have a care of indulging a curious Humour, and do not create to thy felf unneceffary Troubles, by meddling with Matters or Perfons which are no part of thy Concern. For what is This or That to Thee? Follow thou me. What have you to do with the Virtues or Vices, the Conduct or the Indiscretions of others; how they behave themfelves, what Company they keep, or with what Difcourfe they entertain one another? Why all this eager and intemperate Zeal to vindicate or to accufe them? You fhall not anfwer for their Miscarriages, nor be one whit the better for their Excellencies. Your own Words and Actions are the only things you will be called to account for ; look well to them, and beware left this bufie and malicious Impertinence do not inflame that Reckoning. Trouble not your felf to turn Informer,and take not upon you to be a Judge. Leave that to Me, I know every Man throughly, and nothing which is done under the Sun can efcape my Obfervation. I am perfectly apprifed of each Perfon's Condition; fee every Action, nay, every Intention, every Defign; and not only what they do, but what they drive at. Thefe things are far removed out of your Sight, and therefore you cannot judge truly, if

N 4

you

you might attempt it innocently. But know, once more, that Judgment is my Prerogative, and therefore it were Impudence and Ufurpation in you to attempt it, if you were qualified to judge others. Study rather to be quiet, contain your felf within your own Bufinefs; and let the prying, cenforious, the vain and intrieguingWorld follow their own Devices; for all which they shall affuredly be one Day fummoned to a fevere Account; for all their Arts and fpecious Colours cannot impose upon me. Engage not with them in the fame Designs, nor let the Empty Phantom of a great Reputation, the Pride of numerous and honourable Relations or Acquaintance, or the particular Intimacies and Friendships of Celebrated Perfons engage your Time and Thoughts. These only ferve to distract and perplex the Mind, and cheat you at laft with fond Expectations; they lead you into a Mift, and there they leave you, loft and bewildred. But I would fhew thee the trueWay,and communicate my Inftructions freely, wert thou but at leifure to receive my Secrets, and careful to obferve my Motions; by opening the Door when I knock, and watching all Opportunities of en tertaining me in thy Heart.

Christ.]

CHA P. XXIX.

Of Lafting Peace, and True Goodness.

TH

John xiv. 27.

"His was my Promife to my Difciples heretofore, Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give unto you, not as the World giveth, give Iunto you. But, though Peace be in every Man's Wishes, yet the Qualifications and Predifpofitions, neceffary for procuring and preferving it, are the Care of very few. My Peace takes up its

dwel

dwelling with the Meek and Humble. And the Peace of my Servants confifts in fteady Patience; in attending diligently to my words, and following my Directions. Therefore, upon every Occafion, be sure 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 Defire. Pafs no rafh Cenfure upon other People's Words or Actions, and do not affect to be a Man of Bufinefs or Secrets; for this will be the best Expedient to make your Troubles few and light. I fay, Few and Light, for to escape Trouble altogether, and have no Affliction at all in Mind, Body, or Eftate, is not confiftent with the Nature of your prefent Condition, but one of the Privileges referved for Heaven and Immortality.

if

Do not therefore imagine, that you are then in perfect Peace, when you are fenfible of no Calamity or Disturbance; Or, that a prefent freedom from Affaults, 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 Perfection; Nor your Zeal and Piety be fervent, and your Contemplations full of Delight, conclude your felf a particu lar Favourite of God. For these are foreign and deceitful Inferences: Such as neither prove the Sincerity, nor the Degree and Perfection of any Man's Virtue. This is difcovered by quite different Marks. The devoting and resigning your felf entirely to the Will of God; not seeking your own, but his Glory in every thing you do; confidering all Events wifely, and receiving Profperity and Adverfity with Evennefs of Temper; and fuch a brave unfhaken Perfeverance in Goodness,as,even when the Affiftances and Encouragements of Grace are withdrawn for a feafon, can refo lutely go on and harden it self to undergo yet sharper Tryals

Tryals with Conftancy; Such Lowlinefs of Mind as never puffs a Man up with an Opinion of his own Merit, but in the foreft Diftreffes can find Matter of Praise and Thanks for that Mercy which even then inflicts much less than he deferves 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 Foundation, that Mortal Man here on Earth is not capable of attaining to it in greater Perfection.

Difciple.]

T

CHA P. XXX.

True Freedom of Mind.

His is indeed the utmoft Perfection Mortality can afpire after, to abandon all worldly Thoughts, and without Interruption keep the Mind upon the Bufinefs of the Soul, and heavenly Contemplations: To pafs through a life thick fet with Cares and Troubles, yet free and unconcerned: Provided ftill this unconcernednefs proceed not from Stupidity, heavinefs of Apprehenfion, or flothful Neglect, but from a generous liberty of Soul, by which the Man gets loose from all immoderate Defires, and too tender Love of earthly Enjoyments. This Faculty I earnestly Covet, and beg thee, O my God, to protect me against the Cares of the World, left the Neceffities of my Body employ me too anxiously, and, under that Pretence, my Affections be enfnared, and fo I entangled in Multiplicity of Bufinefs,

to

to the Prejudice and Neglect of better and weightier. Concerns; Or, left I be enticed to Sin by the pleasures of Senfe, or difcouraged from the fteady Purfuit of Virtue and Heaven, by too tender and afflicting Refentments 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 these 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 the World, and fixing its Defires and Endeavours upon Spiritual Objects. Thou, O my God, art Sweetnefs inexpreffible. But that my Soul may truly relifh thee, turn, I befeech thee, all my Worldly Comforts into Bitterness, left they vitiate my Palate, and give a Difguft to Heavenly Things, by fome deluding Charm of prefent pretended Good. Oh! let not Flesh and Blood prevail in their Conflicts with the Spirit, let not the World and its fading Glories 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; Patience to endure, when called to Suffering; Firmness of Mind to perfift immoveable in my Duty, when Temptations and evil Suggeftions labour to feduce me. Exchange, if it be thy Will, the tranfitory and falfe Comforts of this World, for the Oyl of true Gladness, the Affiftances and fweet Satisfactions of thy bleffed Spirit; and, inftead of Carnal Love, and Senfual Inclination, let the Love and Defire of Thee be diffufed, through my whole Heart, and Reign Unrivall'd there.