CHAP. XXXV. That there is no fecurity from Temptation in this Life. I. S JESUS-CHRIST. ON, thou art never fecure in this Life; but fo long as thou liveft, thou, fhalt always have need of fpiritual armour. Thou art incompafs'd with enemies, and they attack thee on the right, and on the left. If therefore thou cover not thy felf on every fide with the buckler of patience, thou fhalt not long continue unwounded.. Furthermore, if thou fix not thy heart entirely upon me, with a fincere refolution of fuffering all things for my fake, thou wilt not be able to fuftain the heat of the engagement, nor to reach the triumphant Palm of the Saints in Blifs. Thou oughteft therefore courageously to break through all, and with a ftrong arm to bear down whatsoever oppofeth thee. For to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the bidden Manna'; but plenty of mifery is re ferv'd for the portion of the faint-hearted and flothful. II. If thou feek reft in this Life, how then wilt thou arrive at the Everlasting rest? Prepare not thy felf for much reft, but for great patience. Seek true peace, not on earth, but in Heaven: Not in Man, nor in any other creature, but in GoD only. For the love of God, thou oughteft contentedly to endure all things; labours, and forrows, temptations, vexations, perfecutions, anxieties, neceffities, infirmities and diseases, injuries, affronts, evil-fpeakings, reprehenfions, cruel humblings, bitter reproaches, chastifements, and defpifings. These things are helps to virtue: Thefe try the fresh unexperienc'd foldier of Chrift: Thefe thorns compofe the Celestial Crown. I will repay an eternal recompence for a fhort hardship, and an endlefs glory for a momentary fhame. III. Thinkeft thou, that thou fhalt always have fpiritual confolations at will? My Saints had not fo, but frequent heavinesses, and diverfe temptations, fad difcomforts, and fore defertions. But in all thefe ftreights they behaved themselves with invincible patience, and placed all their confidence in GOD, and not in themselves: Being affur'd affur'd that the sufferings of this prefent time were not worthy to be compared with the glory that should be revealed in them. Wouldst thou have that joy immediately, which fo many Saints after many tears, and great travels, hardly at last obtained? Wait thou the Lord's leifure, act courageously, and be ftrong, diftruft me not, depart not from me: But expofe conftantly body and foul for the glory of GoD. I will recompenfe an hundred fold: I will be with thee in every tribulation. I. CHAP. XXXVI. Against the vain Judgments of Men. SON JESUS-CHRIST. ON, establish thy heart firmly in the Lord, and fear not the Judgments or cenfures of Men, whilft thy own confcience bears teftimony to thy piety and innocence. It is a good, and a blessed thing to fuffer fo; nor will this be grievous to the humble heart, and which trusteth in b Rom. viii. 18. c Pfal. xxvii. 16. GOD GOD more than in it felf. The opinions of Men are as many and as different as their perfons; and therefore no great heed is to be given to them. Befides, to fatisfy all is impoffible. Altho' Paul endeavour'd to pleafe all in the Lord, and was made all things to all Men'; yet with him it was a very small thing, to be judged of Man's Judgment. II. He labour'd to the utmost of his ability and power for the edification and falvation of others: But even the utmoft he could do was not fufficient to prevent his being fometimes judg'd, or defpis'd by others. Therefore he committed all to GOD, who knew all: And skreen'd himself against the calumnies and reproaches of licentious and lying tongues, with the fhield of patience and humility. Sometimes notwithftanding he replied to his accufers, left his filence might become an occafion of scandal to the weak. III. Who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a Man that shall die? To day he is, and to morrow he is gone. Fear GOD, and thou wilt not be alarmed nor fhrink at the terrours of Men. What confi • I Cor. ix. 22. b I Cor. iv. 3. © Ifai. li, 12. derable derable prejudice can any one do thee by words, or injuries? He hurteth himself rather than thee: Neither fhall he be able to efcape the Judgment of GoD, whofoever he be. For thy part, have thou GoD always before thy eyes, and forbear all complaint and contention. And tho' at present thou art overborn by injuftice, and fuffereft that shame and confufion which thou haft not merited; yet let not this move thy indignation, nor caufe thee to leffen thy Crown by impatience: But rather look up, to me in Heaven, who am able to deliver from all confufion, and wrong, and to render to every Man according to their works. CHAP. XXXVII. Of an ábfolute and entire Refignation of our felves, in order to obtain Liberty of Heart. I. S ON, relinquish thy felf: And thou fhalt find me. Reserve no election, no choice of thy own; diveft thy felf of all propriety, all claim and title to thy felf; give up thy understanding, thy will, thy affections to me, and thou fhalt be conti nually |