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don Self-conceit, and wean thy Heart from all Fondnefs for the Creatures, it is not to be imagined what Comforts, what overflowing Joys I would infufe into thy Soul. But while thefe employ thy Thoughts and Defires, thou art diverted from all higher Objects, and by being too intent upon his Works, lofest and forgetteft the Almighty Maker. Learn then to fubdue thy own Will, that thou may'ft clearly understand, and readily comply with mine. For any other Object, tho never fo trifling and inconfiderable in its own nature, yet, if unduly priz'd, and immoderately loved, corrupts the Mind, and checks its Afpiring after the Chief, the only Good.

CHA P. XLVIII.

Against Vain and Pompous Learning.

Chrift.] Do

not, my Son, fuppofe that the Excellence of a Man confifts in Subtilty of Wit, or Quaintnefs of Expreffions: For the Kingdom of God does not lie in Elegance of Speech, or Finenefs of Parts, but in Innocence of Life and Good Works. Let my Words be thy principal Study; for thefe awaken Attention, enlighten the Underftanding, kindle a Holy Zeal, provoke true Contrition,and heal the Wounds they make with the Spiritual Balm, of Grace and Solid Comfort. Let not the growing Wifer and more Learned be the End thou propofcit to thy felf in Reading; but read, that thou may'ft be qualify'd to practife, and let thy Knowledge be feen by fubduing thy Vices and Paffions. For this is Improvement indeed, and will turn to better Account, than the niceft and moft diftinguifhing Skill in all the Controverfies and difficult Points that ever employed

the

the Tongues and Pens of wrangling Logicians,Philo fophers and Divines. And when thou haft run thro' the whole Compafs of Learning, yet all will turn at laft upon one fingle Point; and the whole Profit of thy Pains lies in a narrow room.

If thou wilt be known indeed, learn of Me; for I am the only Mafter that teach Men Knowledge; I give more perfect, more fublime Understanding to Babes, to the Humble and Sincere, than all the Celebrated Sons of Art have ever been able to do: And those whom I inftruct, grow truly wife, are prefently enlightned and refined, and by an astonishing Proficience in Virtue, outstrip all the admired Schemes of Morality. Moft wretched are thofe Vain Men, who with infinite Toil and Time, lay themselves out upon the unprofitable Curiofities of Human Wisdom, and take no Pains to inform themfelves in their Duty to Me. The Hour, alas! draws on apace, when their Master Christ shall come with terrible Pomp, and call each Man to ftrict Account, and found every Confcience to the bottom. Then shall FeruZeph. i. Salem be fearched with Candles; then fhall the hidden things of Darknefs be brought to Light; and no Man's Eloquence or Subtilty of Arguing fhall do him any Service before that All-feeing Judge. I raise the Meek, and Man of Mean Senfe, in an inftant, and teach him at once the Grounds of Eternal Truths, better than a Courfe of many Years spent in Laborious Study, and the moft exquifite Methods of Schools and Universities. I bring Men to Right Apprehenfions of Things without any Noife of Words, without the Formality of Syftems, or Vain Oftentations of Cavilling Sophiftry, or Regular Difputing. Of Me alone Men learn to defpife the World, to think Things prefent below their Pains and Care, to love and feek thofe that are Heavenly and Eternal; to decline Honours, to bear Injuries and Affronts, to

truft

truft and hope in me alone, and to wish for nothing but my Favour, and to esteem all things but Drofs and Dung, so they may win Christ.

Phil. iii.

Some Difciples of mine have made fuch wonderful Improvements under me, as even to speak things above Humane Comprehenfion; and grow wifer in Solitude and Cloifters, than any Converfation of Learned Men, or Volumes and Libraries never fo carefully perufed, could have made them. But this is not every Man's Cafe; for I do not communicate to all alike. Some I inftruct in common Matters, others in abftrufe and peculiar Notions; and as the Measure and Quality of the Matter, fo the Manner of Imparting it is very different. To fome I fhew my felf in Figures and Parables, Dreams and myftick Representations; to others I reveal the most important Secrets in the moft clear intelligible Method. Books fpeak alike to all, but all are not qualified to be taught by them alike. But I, inftead of dead Letters prefented to the outward Senfes, perform my Bufinefs within. I fill the Mind with Truth, fuit my felf to each Man's Genius and Capacity, fearch every Corner of the Heart, understand their most retired Thoughts, infpire Good Defires, promote and finish those Defires by bringing them to Action, and deal to every one the various Gifts of my Spirit, in fuch kinds and proportions, as I fee moft ufeful and feafo nable.

CHAP

CHA P. XLIX.

be.

Of Meddling with the World as little as may Chrift.] N many things, my Son, content thy felf

a Man dead, while among the Living; One, whose Thoughts and Affections are crucified to all the World; and all the World to Them. Many things are to be overlook'd, as if you faw them not: Thy Mind drawn off from the distracting Variety of Objects, and fastened clofe down to the things that make for thy Peace and Salvation. In controverted Points, 'tis generally much better to content one's felf with avoiding ErroneousOpinions, and their Vicious Confequences, and leave others to abound in their own Senfe, (where their Difference from thee does not apparently hazard their Souls ;) than to engage in hot Difputes, and spend thy precious Hours in wrangling and fierce Contention. And even in Difputes, not to be hot and pertinacious; for if God and Truth be on thy fide, and thou canft with Comfort appeal to thy Judge above, thy Concern will not be great for Victory and Approbation below.

Difciple] Alas! Lord, what a wretched Cafe is this World in? How diftant from this meek and abstracted Temper of Mind! Trifling Lofs is seriously lamented. A little fordid Gain engages Mens Time, and Labour, and Thoughts. The Day is too fhort for their Vigorous Purfuits, and Anxious Cares break their Sleep; while all their Spiritual Concerns lie neglected and forgotten. Their Diligence and Study is determin'd to Matters of small or no Importance; the One thing Neceffary is laid afide, as if it were not worth a fingle Thought. So vain is Man, so totally immers'd in fenfible Objects and worldly Cares;

and

and

fo

fo contentedly does he perish in Vanity and Vexation, unless thy Grace make him wifer, and raise his Mind to better and eternal Concerns.

CHAP. L.

Against a Fond and Eafie Credulity.

Disciple.] Ord, be thou my Help in Trou

ble, for vain is the Help of Pfal. cviii. Man. How often have I fail'd of Succour, and true Friendship, where I had most reason to expect it? How often found it, where I entertained no fuch Expectations? So vain and uncertain is all Trust in Man, fo entirely does the Safety of Good Men depend upon Thee alone. Bleffed therefore, and for ever admired, be that Good Providence, which orders and difpofes all Events, to thy Impotent and Fickle, thy Ignorant and Silly, thy Deceitful and Deceivable Creatures!

Who among all the Sons of Men ever behaved himself with fo prudent Care, and exact Circumfpection, as not fometimes to be over-reached by Treachery. and Trick, and involved in Difficulties and Troubles, which the moft Jealous Forefight knew not how to defcry or fufpect? But he who places no Confidence in Human Subtilty, and refts in God alone, and acts with downright Honefty, and a good Confcience, is lefs fubject to fuch Inconvenience than cunning and Intrieguing Men: Or, if he be furprized and impofed upon, yet is his Deliverance generally more fpee-. dy and effectual, and his Comforts in the mean while more fenfible and supporting; for thou, Lord, never forfakeft those utterly, who put their Truft in Thee. A faithful Friend, and fuch as will ftand by us in Adverfity and Want, is exceeding hard to be found; but

Q 2

Thou

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