or at least into an Indifpofition toward Goodnefs: But if we cherish our Zeal, and constantly blow up its holy Fires, by a vigorous Attendance upon our Business, we fhall foon feel the Comfort of this kindly Warmth; and all the Difficulties we found or formed to our felves, will wear off quickly. God will give more Grace to him that ufes what he gave formerly, and Virtue every day will difclofe her Charms, and make us more in love with her. Then it is, that the Wife Man's Defcription is experimentally made good to us, That her ways are ways of Plea- Prov. iii. fantnefs, and all her Paths are Peace. I readily acknowledge the Attempt, I am now advising, to be exceeding laborious and great; No bodily Toil is to be compared to it; nor any Conqueft over Temporal Enemies fo hazardous and expenfive, as that which we gain upon our felves, and the Adverfary of Souls. But as the Difficulty exceeds, fo does the Benefit and Glory likewife. This Field must be fought, and won, or we are loft for ever; And He, who does not inure himself to vanquishing, by fubduing lefs Temptations, will never be able to grapple with more violent and trying Ones; and Infirmities once yielded to, grow infenfibly to stubborn Habits of Vice. This is a daily Warfare, and we may daily reap the Fruits of it. For every Night will crown us with fresh Lawrels, and the Reflection upon a Day well spent, furnish us with Joys more pleafing than Ten thousand Triumphs. Since therefore every Day's Behaviour is of fuch mighty Confequence, in giving a turn to our Spiritual Affairs; beware left any pafs unprofitably. Watch continually over thy felf, and let not this neceffary Fervour abate, for want of Care to cherish and excite it. Remember that your own Salvation is the Truft committed to your Charge; a Truft of Importance greater than the whole World; and therefore, whatever becomes of the reft, do you fecure One. To admonish and reprove your Matth. vii. Brethren, while you overlook your felf, is a moft prepofterous Courfe; 'tis neglecting your own Province, and invading another Man's. You have no Right to take the Mote out of their Eye, till the Beam be first caft out of your own. If then you would efcape the Cenfure of Hypocrify, begin at Home to reform, and be fure to do that effectually. For the greater Violence you are content to put upon your own Inclinations, and the forer Conflicts you undergo, the more meritorious is your Virtue, and the more abundant will be your Joy. The End of the Firft Book. OF OF THE IMITATION OF Jefus Chrift. T The Second Book. С НА Р. I. The Life of the Spiritual Man. HE Kingdom of God is within you, fays our Luke xvii. 21. with all thy Heart and all thy Soul, and bid a final adieu to this wretched World, and thou fhalt find fweet Content, and Comfort unfpeakable. Learn to defpife these outward Vanities, and feek pure and spiritual Satisfactions. Place all thy Hopes, thy Happiness, thy Thoughts in them, and thou fhalt feel this Kingdom fpring up and grow within thee. For the Kingdom of God is Peace and Foy in the Holy Ghoft: A Joy peculiar to the Saints, in which wicked and worldly-minded Men have no part. Chrift will approach to those that fly to him for Refuge, meet and embrace them Rom, xiv. 17. in |