VIII. Now to this end divine confolation is given, that a man may be the more courageous to endure afflictions. And temptation, or affliction, therefore follows, that he may not be elevated with the bleffing. The Devil fleepeth not, nor is the flesh yet dead: Wherefore prepare thy felf inceffantly for the combat; fince thou art befet, on the right and on the left, with enemies which are never at rest.

CHAP. X.

Of Thankfulness for the Grace of God.

"WH

7HY feekeft thou reft, fince thou art born to labour and trouble. Prepare thy heart for patience, rather than for confolations, and for bearing of the Crofs, rather than for the receiving of joy and fatisfaction. For who even of the worldly-minded would not be glad of Spiritual joy and confolation, if he could always command it; fince fpiritual confolations far furpafs all worldly delights, and Tenfual pleasures? For all the delights of

the world are either vain, or base. But fpiritual delights alone are pleasant and honeft, the fruits of virtue, and infus'd by GOD into chafte and pure fouls. But thofe divine confolations no man can always enjoy at pleafure, because our truces with temptation are but of fhort continuance..>

II. One of the grand obftacles of this fupernal vifitation is a false mistaken liberty of foul, and a prefumptuous confidence in her own ftrength and goodness. GOD is exceeding good in giving the grace of confolation: But man is exceeding base in not rendring back all again to GOD, with acknowledgment and thanksgiving. And for this reafon the gifts of grace are ftopt, and cannot flow freely in our fouls, because we are ungrateful to their author, and refund them not again, in thankfulness, to their fpring-head and original fource. For grace is evermore due to the truly thankful; and from the proud fhall be taken away, what is wont to be given to the humble.

III. I am not for confolation that robs me of compunction; nor am I fond of contemplation that puffeth up into pride and prefumption. For every thing which is high, is not holy; nor every thing that is palatable, wholesome; nor every defire, pure;

nor

nor every thing that is agreeable to man, pleafing to GOD. Welcome, thrice-welcome that grace, whereby I am ftill render'd more humble, am kept more in fear, and become more ready to relinquish and renounce my felf. A man práctis'd and experienc'd in the gift of grace, and that hath paffed under the difcipline and chastisement of the withdrawings thereof, will never dare to afcribe any thing of good to himself; but rather will acknowledge himself poor and naked. Render to GOD the things that are GoD's, and take to thy felf what is properly thy own: That is to fay, render thanks to GOD for his grace; and know, that his is the honour for what thou haft done well, thine only the blame and just punishment for what thou haft done amifs.

IV. Set thy felf always in the lowest place, and the highest shall be given thee: For the loftier the building, the deeper must be the foundation. The greatest Saints in God's efteem, are the leaft in their own; and by how much the more glorious, by fo much the more humble in themselves, Those that are filled with true heavenly glory, have no room for vain-glory: Being rooted and grounded in GOD, they are not in a poffibility of being elevated. And those M 3

that

that afcribe wholly to God whatever good they have received, feek not honour one of another, but the honour only that cometh from GOD alone"; and ftudy to magnify GoD in themfelves, and in all his Saints, above all things, and are ever directing their actions to that end.

V. Be thankful therefore for the leaft favours, and thou fhalt be thought worthy to receive greater. Let the leaft be unto thee even as the greateft; and the most inconfiderable gift be esteemed as an extraordinary and fingular one. If the worthinefs of the giver be confidered, no gift will feem fmall, or of little value. For nothing is fmall that is given by the fupreme Lord of all. Even stripes and punishments from his hands ought to be welcome: Because whatever he permits to come upon us, is intended for our good, and to promote our falvation. He that is defirous to retain and keep the grace of GoD, must be thankful for the grace that is given him, and patient when it is withdrawn. Let him pray for the return of it, and be ever humble, and upon his guard, that he lose it no

more.

b John v. 44:

CHAR.

CHAP. XI.

Of the Small Number of the Lovers of Jefus's Crofs.

IJES

I.TESUS hath now-a-days many lovers of his heavenly Kingdom, but few bearers of his Crofs. He hath many that are fond of his confolations, but few are willing to fhare in his tribulations. He finds companions enow of his table, but few of his abftinence and fafting. All are defirous to rejoice with Jefus, but few are willing to fuffer any thing for him. Many follow Jefus as far as the breaking of bread, but few to the drinkng the cup of his Paffion. Many reverence his miracles, but few follow the ignominy of his Crofs. Many loye Jefus, fo long as they meet with no adverfity and afflictions. Many praise and bless him, fo long as they receive any confolations from him. But if Jefus hide his face, and leave them but a while, they fall either into complaints, or into grievous dejection and defpondency of mind.

II. But they who love Jefus, for the fake of Jefus, and not for the fake of any private confolation of their own, blefs him in every tribulation, and anguifh of heart, juft in the fame manner and degree, as in

M 4

the