have, through "much tribulation and affliction, entered into the kingdom of God ;" and those that could not endure the trial, have "fallen from the faith and expectation of the saints, and become reprobate."

There is no order of men, however holy, nor any place, however secret and remote, where and among whom temptations will not come for the exercise of meekness, and troubles rise for the trial of patient resignation. And that this must be the condition of human nature in the present life is evident, because it is born in sin, and contains in itself those restless and inordinate desires which are the ground of every temptation: so that when one temptation is removed, another succeeds; and we shall always have some degree of evil to suffer, till we recover the purity and perfection of that state from which we have fallen..

Many, by endeavouring to fly from temptations, have fallen precipitately into them; for it is not by flight, but by patience and humility, that we must become superior to all our enemies. He who only declines the outward occasion, and strives not to eradicate the inward principle, is so far from conquest, that the temptation will recur the sooner, and with greater violence, and he will feel the conflict still more severe. It is by gradual advances, rather than impetuous efforts, that victory is obtained; rather by patient suffering that looks up to God for support, than by impatient solicitude and rigorous austerity.

In thine own temptations, often ask counsel of those that have been tried, and have overcome; and

in the temptations of thy brother, treat him not with severity, but tenderly administer the comfort which you desire to receive.

That which renders the first assaults of temptation peculiarly severe and dangerous, is the instability of our own minds, arising from the want of faith in God; and as a ship without a steersman, is driven about by the force of contrary winds, so an unstable man, that has no faith in God, is tossed and borne away upon the wave of every temptation.

"Gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity." We frequently know not the strength that is hidden in us, till temptation calls it forth, and shows us how much we are able to sustain. We must not, however, presume, but be particularly upon our guard against the first assaults; for the enemy will be more easily subdued, if he is resisted in his approaches, and not suffered to enter the portal of our hearts. A certain poet gives this advice:

Take physic early; medicines come too late,
When the disease is grown inveterate.

And the caution may be successfully applied to the assaults of sin, the progress of which is gradual and dangerous. Evil is at first presented to the mind by a single suggestion; the imagination kindled by the idea, seizes it with strength, and feeds upon it : this produces sensual delight, then the motions of inordinate desire, and at length the full consent of the will. Thus, the malignant enemy, not resisted in his first attack, enters by gradual advances, and takes entire possession of the heart: and the longer

opposition is deferred by habitual negligence, the power of opposing becomes every day less, and the strength of the adversary proportionably greater.

To some, temptations are more severe at the beginning of their religious course; to others, at the end: some are afflicted with them during the whole of life; and some experience comparatively short and gentle trials. This variety is adjusted by the wisdom and equity of divine Providence, which hath weighed the different states and dispositions of men, and ordered all its dispensations so as most effectually to tend to the salvation of all. Therefore, when we are tempted, let us not despair; but rather, with more animated fervors of faith, hope, and love, pray to God, that he would vouchsafe to support us under all our trials, and, in the language of St. Paul," with every temptation, to make also a way to escape," that we may be able to bear it. "Let us humble our souls, under the hand of God," who hath promised to "save and exalt the lowly and the meek."

By these trials, proficiency in the christian life is proved. The power of divine grace is more sensibly felt in ourselves, and the fruits of it are more illustriously apparent to others. It is, indeed, a little matter, for a man to be holy and devout, when he feels not the pressure of any evil: but if, in the midst of troubles, he maintains his faith, his hope, his resignation, and "in patience possesses his soul,” he gives a considerable evidence of a regenerate nature. Some, however, who have been blest with victory in combating temptations of the most rigorous kind, are yet suffered to fall even by the lightest that arise in the

occurrences of daily life; that being humbled by the want of power to resist such slight attacks, they may never presume upon their own strength to repel those that are more severe.

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CHAPTER XIV.

Rash Judgment.

KEEP thy eye turned inwardly upon thyself, and beware of judging the actions of others. In judging others, a man labors to no purpose, commonly errs, and easily sins: but in examining and judging himself, he is always wisely and usefully employed.

We generally judge of persons and things as they either oppose or gratify our private views and inclinations; and, blinded by self-love, are easily led from the judgment of truth. If God alone was the pure object of all our intentions and desires, we should not be troubled when the truth of things happens to be repugnant to our own sentiments: but now, we are continually drawn aside from truth and peace, by some partial inclination lurking within, or some apparent good or evil rising without.

Many, indeed, secretly seek themselves in every thing they do, and perceive it not. These, while the course of things perfectly coincides with the sentiments and wishes of their own hearts, seem to possess all the blessings of peace; but when their wishes are disappointed, and their sentiments oppos

ed, they are immediately disturbed, and become wretched.

From the diversity of inclinations and opinions tenaciously adhered to, arise dissensions among friends and countrymen, nay, even among the professors of a religious and holy life.

It is difficult to extirpate that which custom has deeply rooted; and no man is willing to be carried further than his own inclinations and opinions lead him. If, however, thou adherest more to thy own reason and thy own will, than to the meek obedience of Jesus Christ, as the principle of all virtue within thee; thou wilt but slowly, if ever, receive the illuminations of the Holy Spirit: for God expects an entire and absolute subjection of our will to his; and that the flames of divine love should infinitely transcend the sublimest heights of human

reason.

CHAPTER XV.

Works of Charity.

LET not the hope of any worldly advantage, nor the affection thou bearest to any creature, prevail upon thee to do that which is evil. For the benefit of him, however, who stands in need of relief, a customary good work may sometimes be intermitted; for, in such a case, that good work is not annihilated, but incorporated with a better.