to beggary and vilenefs; to the end that being humbled, and stript of of all, they may learn not to trust to their own wings, but to place their hope in the protection of mine. Thofe that are yet Novices, and unexperi enc'd in the way of the Lord, unless they, govern themselves by the advice of the difcrect, may cafily be deceiv'd, and daff against a rock.

102

III. And if they chufe to follow their own fenfe, rather than to hearken to men of experience, and long obfervation, there will be danger of a fatal mifcarriage; at leaft if at they are to obftinate as not to be brought off from the opinions they have once con-ƒ ceiv'd They who are wife in their own eyes, have feldom humility enough to enr dure to be directed by others, A moderate... bel degree of knowledge, and a fmall capam city, accompany'd with humility, is preferable to vaft treafures of learning, attended with vanity and felf conceit. It is better for thee to have but little, than a great deal. from whence thou mayft take occasion t be proud. It is indifcretion in a man to a bandon Rimself entirely to joy, forgetful of w tell his former poverty, and of that chafte ve and reverential fear of the Lord, which is vi ever apprehenfive of lofing the Grace it

hath

hath receiv'd. It is alfo an infirmity, and a defect of virtue, for a man, in the day of adverfity, or of any tribulation whatsoever, to give too much way to melancholy and defpair, and to think and believe lefs confidently of me, than he ought.

IV. He that in time of peace is too fecure, is generally in time of war found to be too dejected, and faint-hearted. If thou couldft be but always humble and lowly in thine own eyes; if thou wert able duly to moderate and regulate the motions of thy fpirit aright; thou wouldft not fall fo often into danger, and fin. It is good advice to meditate, during the fpirit of fervour, how it will be with thee, when those beams of comfort fhut in. Which when it happens, fupport thy felf with the hopes of the return of day-light; which for thy caution, and my own glory, I have withdrawn for a feafon.

V. Such a Probation and Tryal as this is more for thy advantage, than if thou hadst a conftant fucceffion of all the prosperity; thy heart could wish. For a man's merit or worthiness is not to be estimated and rated by the number of vifions and confolations which he may have; nor by his skill in the Scriptures; nor by his being raised above o

thers

thers in power and dignity: But by his being grounded and established in true humility, and fulfilled with divine charity: By his feeking the honour of GOD purely, and entirely, and in all things whatsoever: By a perfect renouncing of all felf-esteem; yea, by an unfeigned defpifing of himself, and by rejoycing more to be defpis'd and abafed by others alfo, than to be esteemed and honour. ed by them.

CHAP. VIII.

Of acknowledging our own great Vileness and Unworthiness before GOD.

SHAL

THE SOUL.

I. HALL I take upon me to speak unto my Lord, who am but duft and afbes? For fhould I conceive any thing better of my felf, behold thou thy felf ftandeft up against me; and mine own iniquities bear me down by a true and undeniable teftimony, nor is it poffible for me to reply, or gainfay. But if I think my self

• Gen. xviii. 27.

the

こ

the vileft of creatures, if I beat down and humble my foul even to nothing, if I empty my felf utterly of all felf-esteem, and reduce my felf to (what I really am) vile duft and afhes; then fhalt thou look upon me with a gracious and favourable eye; then fhall thy light draw near unto my heart and all relicks of felf-value, even the leaft that can poffibly be imagin'd, fhall be plung'd and ingulf'd in the abyfs of my nothingnefs, and perifh for evermore. In that aby's thou fheweft me unto my felf; there I learn what I am, what I was, and what I am now become; For I am nothing, and knew it not. If I If I am left to my felf, behold I am meer nothing, and all infirmity. Yet no fooner doft thou caft an eye upon me, but weakness is made ftrong, and I am filled with a furprizing joy and vigour. And a marvellous thing it is, that I fhould be thus fuddenly lifted up, and fo tenderly embraced by thee; I, ho, of felf naturally fink, and by my own weight am ever tending downwards to earth and fin.

my

23

my

II. This I am fenfible is the effect of thy free unmerited Love, preventing my defires, fuccouring me in all my neceffities, guarding me from great dangers, and

refcuing

refcuing me (as I may truly fay) from innumerable evils. For by an inordinate Love of my felf, I had loft my felf: and by feeking thee alone, and loving thee with an entire and pure affection, I at once found again both my felf and thee; and this Love, the deeper it hath penetrated, the deeper ftill hath it funk me in the bottomlefs vale of my own true and real nothing: Because thou, O fweeteft Saviour, art bountiful unto me infinitely beyond all my deferts, yea, beyond all that I dare either hope, or ask.

III. Bleffed be thou, my GOD; because unworthy tho' I am of the leaft of thy mercies, yet thy excellent Majefty and infinite Goodness ceafeth not to load with thy benefits even the ungrateful, and thofe that are turned away far from thee. O! turn us again unto thee, to the end we may become thankful, humble, and devout; becaufe thou art our falvation, our power, and our strength.

CHAP