to cleave to me with the whole affection of thy heart, and to ferve me with fervency of fpirit.

II. Son, the fire burneth many times, but the flame afcendeth not without fmoke. Thus alfo the defires of many burn strong to heavenly things, and yet they are not abfolutely free from the temptation of fenfual affection. And therefore it is not folely and purely for the glory of GoD, that they are fo inftant with him in their requests. Such alfo are thy defires oftentimes, which thou pressest with fo much ardor and importunity, and wherein thou pretendest so much fincerity. For that is not pure and perfect, which is tinctured with selfish and by-regards.

III. Ask not what is delightful, and profitable to thy felf, but what is acceptable to me, and tending to my glory: For if thou judgeft aright, thou must prefer and follow my Ordination before both thy own defire, and all things that are defirable. I know all thy defire, and thy frequent groanings are not hid from me. Thou wouldst this inftant be admitted into the glorious liberty of the Sons of GOD: Thou haft a de

d Pfal. xxxviii. 9.

fire and longing to enter already into the everlasting Courts, and the heavenly Country replenished with all joy; but that hour is not yet come, but must be preceded by a far different time, even a time of war, a time of labour, and probation. Thou longeft to be fulfill'd with the fovereign Good: But thou canst not attain to this as yet. It is I that am the fovereign Good: Wait for me, (faith the Lord) wait till the Kingdom of GOD come.

IV. Thou art yet to be proved upon earth, and to be exercifed in many things. Confolation fhall fometimes be given thee, but fulness of fatisfaction be denied thee. Be ftrong therefore, and courageous as well in performing, as in fuffering things contrary to flesh and blood. Thou must put on the new Man', and be changed into a quite different perfon. Thou must often do what thou wouldft not; and forbear, what thou wouldft. Others fhall fucceed in their purfuits; thou shalt not. What others fay, fhall be hearkened unto: What thou fayft, fhall be reckoned as nothing. Others fhall ask, and receive; thou fhalt ask, and fhalt not obtain.

V. Others fhall be great in fame and general esteem; but thou fhalt not be so much as mentioned. Others fhall be entrusted with this or that employ; but thou fhalt be thought a creature perfectly ufelefs and fit for nothing. At this Nature will fometimes grieve, and it will be a point gained, if thou bear it with filence. In thefe, and many the like mortifications, a faithful fervant of his Lord is wont to be tried, how he hath learnt to deny himself, and to break his own will in all things. There is fcarce any thing, wherein it is of equal advantage to thee to be mortify'd, as in this; viz. To be obliged to fee and to fuffer things which are contrary to thy own will; but especially when things odd and abfurd, and to thy thinking of little or no use, are commanded thee. And because thou dareft not refift a higher Power, being placed under Authority; therefore it feemeth hard to thee to walk at the beck of another, and to renounce altogether thy own private fen

timent.

VI. But confider, Son, the fruit of these hardships, the fhortnefs of their continuance, and the exceeding greatnefs of the reward that awaits them; and they will be fo far from being grievous to thee, that they will prove

Y 2

prove a marvellous ftrengthening and refreshing of thy patience. For in recompence of that fhort violence, which thou voluntarily offereft to thy own will now, thou fhalt enjoy thy will for ever in Heaven. For there thou fhalt find whatfoever thou willeft: Whatsoever thou canft poffibly defire. There thou fhalt have the full enjoyment of all good, without the fear of lofing any part thereof. There thy will being always one with mine fhall covet nothing out of me, nothing private or particular. There thou fhalt meet with no refiftance, no complaints against thee, no contradictions, no obftacles: But all the things thou wifheft fhall be prefent at once, and fhall content the whole defire of thy heart, and fill it even to the brim. There will I render glory, for ignominy patiently born; the garment of praise, for the Spirit of heaviness, for the lowermost feat, an everlasting Throne. There the fruit of obedience fhall appear, the labour of penance be turned into joy, and humble fubjection be exalted to a Crown of glory.

VII. Now, therefore, humble thy felf under the hand of all: Nor trouble thy head who it is that bids or orders this or that.

clfa. li.-3.

But

But make it thy principal care, to take all in good part, and to perform and accomplish with a hearty good will whatfoever is enjoin'd, or even hinted to thee, whether by thy fuperior, thy inferior, or equal. Let one man feek this, and another that; let him glory in this thing, the other in that, and let them be prais'd and extoll'd by millions of tongues: For thy part, do thou neither glory in one thing, nor another, but place thy whole fatisfaction in the contempt of thy felf, and in my good pleasure and honour alone. This ought to be thy wishi, that whether by life, or death, God may be always glorify'd in thee.

CHAP, L.

How a Defolate and afflicted Perfon ought to refign himself into the Hands of God.

I.

'L

ORD GOD, Holy Father, bleffed be thou now and for ever; because as thou willeft, fo is it done; and what thou doft, is good. Let thy fervant rejoice in thee, not in himself, nor in any other: Because thou alone art the true joy: Thou art my hope, and my Crown: Thou art