on it a great matter, if any man has been able to retain fome degree of his first Zeal. Did we but offer a little violence to our felves at the beginning, we fhould foon after be able to do all things with ease and delight.

VI. It is hard to part with things to which we have been accuftom'd; but harder yet, to oppose and stem our own will. But if thou canst not overcome leffer difficulties, how wilt thou furmount greater? Refift thy inclinations at the very first, and unlearn all thy evil cuftoms; left they bring thee by little and little to a great difficulty. O if thou didst but confider what peace thou wouldeft bring to thy felf, and joy to others, by living as thou oughteft; I verily think thou wouldst be more careful and zealous of profiting in the fpiritual life.

LIT

CHAP. XII.

Of the Benefit of Adverfity.

T is good for us that we have fometimes grievous uneafineffes and croffes; because thefe often call a man's thoughts home to himself, and give him to under

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ftand

ftand, that he is in a ftate of banishment, and that he is not to fet up his hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us alfo, that we now and then meet with perfons that contradict us; and that men have an ill and finifter opinion of us, even though our actions and intentions be good. Thefe things help often to humility, and guard us from vain glory. For then chiefly it is, that we have recourfe to the witnefs within us, which is GOD, when outwardly we are undervalu'd and defpis'd by men, and peo ple believe ill of us.

II. And therefore a man ought fo entirely to place his confidence and dependence upon GOD, that he fhall not need to feek many human comforts. When a well-dif pos'd man is in tribulation, or is tempted, or is forely troubled with evil thoughts; he then understands better the great need he hath of GOD, without whom he is fenfible he can do nothing that is good. Then alfo he forroweth, he fighs, he groans, and poureth out his requests to be delivered from the miferies he endures: Then is he weary of living any longer, and wifhes death would come, that he may be diffolv'd, and be with Chrift. Then alfo is he fully convinc'd, that perfect fecurity and complete

plete rest are not confiftent with our present ftate in this world.

I.

CHAP. XIII.

Of refifting Temptations.

long as we live in this world, it is impoffible we fhould be without tribulation and temptation. Whence we find it written in the Book of Job, that the life of a man upon earth is a warfare". For this reafon every one ought to be folici-1 toufly careful about his particular temptations, and to watch in prayer, left the De vil find an opportunity of deceiving him who never fleeps, but goes about continually, feeking whom he may devour. There is no man fo perfect, fo holy, as never to be affaulted with temptations; and we cannot be entirely exempt from them. LVI

II. Notwithstanding, temptations are hugely advantageous to a man, though they aret troublesome and grievous; for under their discipline a man is humbled, purg'd and in

Job yii. L.

b 1. Pet. v.8.

y.

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ftructed

ftructed. All the Saints have paffed through fundry tribulations and temptations, and have profited thereby: And fuch as have not been able to fuftain temptations well, became reprobate and fell away. There is no Order of Religion fo holy, no place fo retired, but that temptations, or croffes will intrude upon them.

HI. A man is not fecure from temptations perfectly and entirely, whilft he lives upon earth: Because we carry in us the matter of our temptations, being born in concupifcence. No fooner does one temptation or tribulation go, but another comes: And we fhall ever have fomething to fuffer; because we are fallen from the happiness of our first eftate. Many feek to fly temptations, and fall more grievously into them. By flight alone we cannot conquer: But by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies.

IV. He that declines only the outward occafion, without pulling up the root, will make but a poor progrefs: Nay, his temptations will return upon him the fooner, and he will feel himself in a worse cafe than before. Temptations are more effectually overcome by little and little, and by patience and long-fuffering, together with

the

the divine affistance, than by fevere treatment of our felves, and any the violentest and most obftinate efforts of our own ftrength. Ask advice often, whilst you are under temptation: And deal not roughly with another that is tempted, but administer comfort to him, even as you would be done by your felf.

V. The beginning of all temptations to evil, is inconftancy of mind, and want of trust in GoD: For as a fhip without a pilot is driven to and fro by the waves; fo the man that is flack and remiss, and that quits his own purposes, is fhaken with temptations of divers forts. As fire trieth gold, fo doth temptation a righteous man. We are many times ignorant of our own ftrength; but temptation discovers what we are. Notwithstanding we must be always upon the watch, and efpecially at the beginning of a temptation; because the enemy is then more eafily conquered, if he be not in the least fuffer'd to enter the door of our hearts, but be refifted without the gate, at the first knock. Upon which account a certain Author hath faid:

Take phyfick early: Medicines come too late, When the difeafe is grown inveterate. Ov. G 4

For