CHAPTER XL. Against extravagant Dejection. CHRIST. HUMILITY and patience under adversity are more acceptable to me, my son, than joy and fervor when all is prosperous and peaceful. Why art thou offended and grieved at every little injury from men; when, if it were much greater, it ought to be borne without emotion? As fast as such evils arise, let their influence be banished from thy mind: they are not new; thou hast met with many, and, if thy life be long, shalt meet with many more. When adversity stands not in thy path, thou dost boast thy fortitude; and can give excellent counsel to others, whom thou expectest to derive strength from thy exhortations: but no sooner do the same evils that oppressed them turn upon thyself, than fortitude forsakes thee, and thou art destitute both of counsel and strength. O let the frequent instances of the power which the lightest evils have over thee, keep thee continually mindful of thy great frailty. No evil, however, is permitted to befall thee, but what may be made productive of a much greater good. When thou meetest with injury from the violence or treachery of men, exert all thy resolution to drive the thoughts of it from thy heart: but if it toucheth thee too sensibly to be soon buried in forgetfulness, let it neither depress nor vex thee; and if thou canst not bear it cheerfully, at least bear it patiently. If any censure that is uttered against thee be too severe and cruel to be heard in silence, suppress thy indignation before it burst into flame; and suffer no expression of impatience and resentment to escape thy lips, that may give occasion of scandal to the weak. The storm that is thus raised within thee will soon subside; and the wounds thy heart has received from the arrows of reproach, shall be healed by the influence of restoring grace. I live for ever; ready to help thee upon all occasions, and to bestow abundant consolation upon thee, if thou devoutly callest upon me for it. Keep thy mind then calm, and girded for severer conflicts. Because thou art often strongly tempted, and deeply troubled, thou must not think that all is lost. Thou art man, not God; a spirit fallen, not a pure angel. How canst thou expect to continue in one unchangeable state of enjoyment? Give up thyself wholly to my mercy: I am he who comforteth all that mourn; and raiseth to a participation of divine strength all that are truly sensible of their weakness. DISCIPLE. Thy words, O Lord, distil as dew, and are "sweeter than honey, or the honey-comb." What would become of me, in the midst of so much darkness, corruption, and misery, without thy Holy Spirit to illuminate, sanctify, and comfort me? I will not regard what, nor how much I suffer, if I can but be made capable of enjoying thee, my supreme and only good! Be mindful of me, O most merciful God! Grant me a safe passage through this vale of sin and sorrow, and in the true path conduct me to thy heavenly kingdom! Amen. - CHAPTER XLI. Against the presumptuous Inquiries of Reason. CHRIST. FORBEAR to reason, my son, upon deep and mys terious subjects, especially the secret judgments of God. Ask not, Why this man is forsaken, and that distinguished by a profusion of grace: why one is so deeply humbled, and another so eminently exalted. These things surpass the limits of human understanding; nor can the deepest reasoning investigate the proceedings of the Most High. When, therefore, such questions are either suggested by the enemy, or proposed by the vain curiosity of men, answer in the words of the royal prophet, "Righteous art thou, O Lord! and just are thy judgments. The judgments of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether." My judgments are to be feared, not discussed; for they are incomprehensible to every understanding but my own. Forbear also to inquire and dispute concerning the preeminence of apostles and martyrs; who is the most holy, and who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. These questions produce the strife of unprofitable debate, and nourish presumption and vain glory. * I am he who formed all the saints; I gave them grace, I have exalted them to glory: I conferred the peculiar excellence which distinguishes each, "preventing him with the blessings of goodness." I knew my beloved before the birth of time; and chose those out of the world, who had not chosen me: I called them by the free determination of sovereign goodness, atoned for them by my sufferings, drew them with the cords of love, and led them in safety through various temptations. I poured upon them the consolations of my Spirit, and crowned the patience which I enabled them to exercise. I own the last as well as the first, and embrace every one with inestimable love. I alone, who am always to be blessed and praised, am to be "admired and glorified in all my saints.” They are now raised far above the influence of unholy nature, which is ever tending to the love of self; and are passed into my love, in which they dwell with unutterable peace and joy. This love no power is able to alter or suppress; for it is the inextinguishable fire of their own life, "delivered from the bondage of darkness," and restored to its union with eternal truth. *The only sense of the word prevent in the scriptures, is, to put, or go before. ED. Beware, my son, of being led by vain curiosity to "search the things that are above thy strength :" and let all thy faculties be employed in that only needful and important inquiry, how thou thyself mayst be found in the kingdom of heaven, though in the least and lowest place. What does knowledge avail, unless it make us more humble, and excite greater ardor to glorify my name? He who, in constant attention to the state of his own soul, laments the multitude and enormity of his sins, and the small number and imperfection of his virtues; and when he thinks on glorified spirits, thinks only how exceedingly remote he is from the perfection which they have attained; is more acceptable to me, than he who employs his time and thoughts in considering and disputing about the different degrees of excellence and glory that distinguish the particular members of that illustrious assembly. It is infinitely more useful, and more safe, with tears and prayers to implore grace to imitate the great examples they have left; than to labor, by fruitless inquiries into their state, to know what no human understanding is able to comprehend. Men should be content with the imperfect knowledge of their fallen state, and suppress their vain curiosity, and refrain from their vainer disputes. Happy spirits glory not in any personal excellence; for they arrogate no good themselves, but ascribe all to me, who with infinite liberality have freely given them whatever they possess. The consummation of their honor and happiness, is found in |