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and which is the only support of the soul under all its troubles. Let us, therefore, watch and pray without ceasing, that no part of our invaluable time may be thus sacrificed to vanity and sin : and whenever it is proper and expedient to speak, let us speak those things that are holy, by which Christians “edify one another.”

An evil habit of negligence and inattention to our growth in grace, is the principal cause of our keeping no guard upon our lips. Spiritual conferences, however, are highly serviceable to spiritual improvement, especially when persons of one heart and one mind associate together in the fear and love of God,

CHAPTER XI.

Of Peace of Mind, and Zeal for Improvement.

We might enjoy much peace, if we did not busy our minds with what others do and say, in which we have no concern. But how is it possible for that man to dwell long in peace, who continually intermeddles in the affairs of another; who runs abroad seeking occasions of disquietude, and never or but seldom turns to God in the retirement of a recollected spirit? Blessed are the meek and singlehearted, for they shall possess the abundance of peace!

Whence was it that some of the saints became so perfect in the prayer of contemplation, but be

cause it was their continual study and endeavour to mortify earthly desires, and abstract themselves from worldly concerns, that being free from perturbation, they might adhere to God with all the powers of the soul? But we are too much engaged with our own passions, and too tenderly affected by the business and pleasures of this transitory life, to be capable of such high attainments: nay, so fixed are our spirits in slothfulness and cold indifference, that we seldom overcome so much as one evil habit.

If we were perfectly dead to ourselves, and free from all inward entanglement, we might have some relish for divine enjoyments, and begin to experience the blessedness of heavenly contemplation. The principal, if not the only impediment to such a state is, that we continue in subjection to violent passions and inordinate desires, without making effort to enter into the narrow way, which Christ has pointed out as the one way of perfection for all the saints of God. Therefore, when adversity comes upon us, we are soon dejected, and have immediate recourse to human consolations. Did we but endeavour, like valiant soldiers, to stand our ground in the hour of battle, we should feel the succour of the Lord descending upon us from heaven: for he is always ready to assist those that resolutely strive, and place their whole confidence in the power of his grace; nay, he creates occasions of contest, to bless us with opportunities of victory.

If the progress to perfection is placed only in ex ternal observances, our religion, having no divine

life, will quickly perish with the things on which it subsists; the axe must be laid to the root of the tree, that being separated and freed from the restless desires of nature and self, we may possess our souls in the peace of God. If every year we did but extirpate one vice, we should soon become perfect men : but some experience the sad reverse of this, and find that they were more contrite, more pure, more humble, and obedient, in the beginning of their conversion, than after many years profession of a religious life. It would be but reasonable to expect, that the fervor of our affections, and our progress in holiness, should advance higher and higher every day: but it is by some thought to be a foundation of comfort, and even of boast, if a man, at the close of this mortal state, is able to retain some degree of his first ardor.

That the path of holiness may become easy and delightful, some violence must be used at first setting out, to remove its numerous obstructions. It is hard, indeed, to relinquish that to which we have been accustomed; and harder still, to resist and deny our own will. But how can we hope to succeed in the greatest conflict, if we will not contend for victory in the least? Resist, then, thy inordinate desires in their birth; and continually lessen the power of thy evil habits, lest they increase in strength in proportion as they are indulged, and grow at length too mighty to be subdued. O! if thou didst but consider what peace thou wilt bring to thyself, and what joy thou wilt produce in heaven, by a life con

formed to the life of Christ, I think thou wouldst be more watchful and zealous for thy continual advancement towards spiritual perfection.

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The Benefit of Adversity.

It is good for man to suffer the adversity of this earthly life; for it brings him back to the sacred retirement of the heart, where only he finds that he is an exile from his native home, and ought not to place his trust in any worldly enjoyment. It is good for him also to meet with contradiction and reproach; to be evil thought of, and evil spoken of, even when his intentions are upright, and his actions blameless; for this keeps him humble, and is a powerful antidote to the poison of vain-glory. When we are outwardly despised, and held in no degree of esteem and favor among men ; then chiefly it is, that we have recourse to the witness within us, which is God. Our dependence upon God ought to be so entire and absolute, that we should never think it necessary, in any kind of distress, to have recourse to human consolations.

When a regenerate man is sinking under adversity, or disturbed and tempted by evil thoughts, then he feels the necessity of the power and presence of God in his soul, without which he certainly knows that he can neither bear evil nor do good;

then he grieves and prays, and "groans to be delivered from the bondage of corruption;" then weary of living in vanity, he wishes to "die, that he may be dissolved, and be with Christ ;" and then he is fully convinced, that absolute security and perfect rest are not compatible with his present state of life.

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As long as we continue in this world, we cannot possibly be free from the trouble and anguish of temptation. In confirmation of this truth, it is written in Job, that "the life of man upon earth is a continual warfare." Every one, therefore, ought to be attentive to the temptations that are peculiar to his own spirit ; and to persevere in watchfulness and prayer, lest his "adversary the devil, who never sleepeth, but continually goeth about, seeking whom he may devour," should find some unguarded place, where he may enter with his delusions.

The highest degree of holiness attainable by man, is no security against the assaults of temptation, from which his present life is not capable of absolute exemption. But temptations, however dangerous and afflicting, are highly beneficial; because, under their discipline, we are humbled, purified, and led towards perfection. All the followers of Christ

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