Let not the appearing wifer, or more learned, be the end thou proposest in reading a-` ny Book. Study the mortification of thy vices and paffions; for this will profit thee more than the understanding and refolution of all the controverfies and nice queftions bandied about by the Learned.

II. After thou haft read, and learnt many things, thou must return at last to one fingle Principle; even to this: I am he that teach man knowledge: And I give more light and understanding to babes, to the humble and fimple, than all the men in the world are able to impart unto them. He, to whom I fpeak fhall quickly become wife, and fhall make great progress in the Spirit. Wo unto them who beftow their time and pains upon curious Sciences, and unprofitable fpeculations, and have little or no concern to inform themselves in their duty to me. A day will come when the Doctor of Doctors Jefus Chrift, the King of Angels, fhall appear to enquire into the studies, that is, to examin the confciences of all men. And then hall Jerufalem be fearched with candles, and the hidden things of darknefs fhall be brought to light, and the

b Zeph. i. 12.

CI Cor. iv. 5

Tongues

tongues of the eloquent fhall be mute, and all vain reafonings fhall be confounded.

III. I am he who raise up the humble fpirit in an inftant, and render him more capable of receiving and comprehending eternal truths, than a course of many years study could have done. I teach without the noise of words, without the confufion of different opinions, without the vain of tentation of learning, without the heat of argumentation. I am he who teach men to defpife earthly things, to naufeate present things, to feek eternal things, to favour and relish eternal things, to flee honours, to bear injuries and reproaches, to put their whole hope and truft in me, to defire nothing out of me, and to love me ardently, and above all things.

IV. For fome disciples of mine, by an intimate and entire love of me, have been marvellously enlightened, and enabled to utter aftonishing things. They have profited more by abandoning all things than they could have done by ftudying fubtilties and nice points of doctrine. But I do not communicate my felf in like manner and degree to all. To fome I fpeak common matters only; others I inftruct in things more abstruse and elevated. To fome I

ap

pear

pear agreeably in fhades and figures; to others I reveal in great light the most fecret Myfteries. My Books Ipeak alike to all, but they do not alike inform all; because it is I alone who teach inwardly; I who am the Truth; who fearch the heart; who understand the thoughts; who excite to good works; and, who diftribute to every one feverally my gifts and graces in fuch kinds and proportions, as I my felf judge

meet.

I.

CHAP. XLIV.

Of not engaging in Worldly Matters.

SON

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, in many things it is expedient for thee to be ignorant, and to look upon thy felf as dead upon earth, and as one to whom all the world is crucify'd. It is expedient alfo to make thy felf deaf to many things that are said: and to think rather of those things that make for thy peace. It is better to turn away thine eyes from things that difplease thee, and to leave to every one their own fenfe, than to en

gage

gage in fierce contentions and hot difputes. If all stands well betwixt thee and thy GOD, and thou revere his Judgment, thou wilt eafily bear to yield to, or to be caft by hu man Judgment.

THE SOUL.

II. O Lord, to what a pafs are we come! Behold, a temporal lofs is bitterly lamented, for an inconsiderable gain we toil and run, and think the day too fhort for our earnest purfuits; whilft the detriment done to the foul, all this while, is neglected and forgotten, and very late if ever, called to mind, and reflected upon. That which little or nothing profiteth, is carefully attended; and that which is most highly neceffary, is negligently paffed by: So totally abandoned to externals is poor man; and unless thy grace awake him fuddenly to a better fenfe, fo contentedly doth he lie and perish in exteriof things.

CHAP.

CHAP. XLV.

That Credit is not to be given to all Men: And how prone Man is to offend in Word.

THE SOUL.

ORD, be thou my help in trouble: For vain is the help of Man. How often have I fail'd of fuccour and faithfulness, where I thought I fhould find it? And how often have I found it, where I least expected it? Vain therefore and deceitful is all truft in Man: But the Salvation of the righteous is in thee, O GOD. Blef fed be thou, my Lord GOD, in all things that befall us. We are weak and unstable, eafily deceiv'd, and turned about with every wind.

II. What Man is there, that is able to bear himself in all things with fuch prudent care and exact circumfpection, as not to be betray'd, at one time or other, into fome trap, or perplexity? But he that putteth his truft in thee, O Lord, and feeketh thee in the fimplicity of his heart, is lefs fubject to fuch flips and inconveniences. And tho

a Pfal. lx. 1o.