III. Many there are who are fond of Contemplation; but they neglect those things which are neceffary to qualify them for it. It is a great impediment, the refting fo much upon Images, and exterior and fenfible things, and taking little care about the perfect mortification of our felves. I know not how to account for it, nor can I think by what spirit we are led, nor what we propofe to our felves, we that call our felves Christians, and by our very Profeffion have renounc'd the World; to take fo much pains and thought for tranfitory and worthlefs things, and to be fo very careless of our fpiritual concerns, as rarely to recollect our felves, and to confider feriously the state of our fouls.

IV. Alas! After a flight recollection, we presently fly out of doors: Nor do we weigh our actions by a ftrict and severe examination. We obferve not which way our affections lean, nor whither they tend : Nor do we seriously bewail the exceeding impurity and corruptnefs of every thing in

us.

For all Flefb bad corrupted his way, and thereupon followed the general Deluge. Since therefore our inward affections and

b Gen. vi. 12.

T

incli

inclinations are all corrupt, it must needs be that the following actions, the figns of the want of inward vigour, be corrupt alfo. From a pure heart proceeds the fruit of a good life.

V. What, or how much a man hath done, is enquir'd into: But with what fincerity, with what zeal, with what honest intention he did it, we trouble not our felves to confider. Whether a man be valiant, rich, beautiful, able in bufinefs, a good Writer, a fine Singer, or a skilful Workman, thefe things we take care to inform our felves of: But how humble and poor in fpirit he is, how patient and meek, how devout, and fpiritual, is rarely mention'd. Nature looks at the outfide of a man, Grace regards the infide only. The former is oftentimes deceived and difappointed: The latter places her hope in GOD, and is never mistaken, never deluded by falfe expectations.

CHAP.

CHAP. XXXII.

Of Self-denial, and the Renouncing of all

S

Defire.

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, thou canst not arrive at a state of perfect Freedom, unless thou dost abfolutely and entirely deny thy felf. All felf-lovers, and perfuers of their own worldly interefts and advantages, are Captives: So are all covetous perfons, all that have a ny irregular defires, the bufy and envious, the unfettled, and wanderers from place to place, feeking always their own eafe and fatisfaction, not the things belonging to Jefus Chrift, tho' they often pretend this, and make a fair fhew and semblance of it; which fhall not ftand. For all that is not of GOD, fhall perish. Mark well this short and confummate Maxim: Quit all things, and thou shalt find all things: Let go defire, and thou shalt lay hold of peace. Roll this again and again in thy thoughts: And when thou haft tranfcrib'd it into thy practice, thou shalt understand all things.

THE SOUL.

II. Lord, this is not the work of a fingle day, nor an exercife for little ones: Yea, in this fhort Sentence is contain'd the utmost Perfection of a a Christian.

JESUS-CHRIST.

Son, thou oughtest not to start afide, nor presently to be difcouraged, upon hearing the name of Perfection, but rather to be animated and incited to higher and nobler attainments, and with an ardent affection at least, to afpire after them. Oh! that it were fo with thee, and that thou wert come up to this pitch, to be no longer a lover of thy felf, but to fubmit thy felf entirely to the obedience of my commands, and to the difpofals of my Providence! Then should I be well pleas'd with thee, and thy whole life would pafs in joy and peace. Alas! thou haft many things ftill to abandon which till thou haft refigned up wholly un to me, the happiness thou aimeft at can never be obtained. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tryed in the fire, that thou mayft

C

a In the original of the Religious

;

In the Original; To the Obedience of my Commands, and of his, that I have fet over thee. C Rev. iii. 18.

be

be rich; that is to fay, Heavenly Wisdom, which treadeth under foot all inferiour and worldly things. Renounce earthly wisdom, that is, all defire of the esteem, and approbation of men, together with all inclination to gratify and please thy felf after the guise and fashion of this world.

III. I have told thee, that the things which are lightly efteemed, muft be purchafed at the expence of those, which the world esteems most precious. For nothing is more defpifed and mean in common reputation, nothing more neglected and forgotten, than true Heavenly Wifdom; which thinketh not highly of it felf, nor feeketh to be magnified upon earth: Which many commend in word, but renounce in their practice. And yet this Wisdom, poor and defpicable as it appears, is that pearl of great price, which is hidden from many.

d Matth. xiii. 46.

T 3

hand CHAP.