CHAP. LI.

That we should apply our felves to meaner and lower Exercises, when we are indifpofed for, and not able to rai fe our felves to thofe that are more exalted.

SON

JESUS-CHRIST.

1999

1. ON, it is not poffible for thee to perfevere always in a state of extraordinary fervour, and zeal for virtue; nor to maintain thy felf in a high pitch of Contemplation for a conftancy: But thou wilt be obliged fometimes, by reafon of original Corruption, to stoop to inferior things; and to bear, with reluctancy and pain, the load of this corruptible Life. As long as thou carriest a mortal body, thy fpirit will feel it felf aggriev'd and opprefs'd with a tirefome weight. Wherefore whilft thou art in the Flesh, thou oughteft frequently to groan under the load thereof; for this reafon because thou art hinder'd thereby from cleaving inceffantly to fpiritual exercises, and divine contemplation.

II. At fuch times it is expedient for thee to have recourfe to low and exterior wotks,

and

and to feek recreation in good actions, and bodily exercises: To expect with an affur'd confidence, my return and heavenly Vifitation: Patiently to endure thy own Banishment, and the dry and barren state of thy foul, till thou art again vifited by me, and deliver'd from all thy anxiety and difquietude of spirit. For I will cause thee to forget thy pains, and to enjoy an inward repofe and tranquillity. I will lay open before thee the fpacious Plains of Scripture, that with an enlarg'd heart thou mayft begin to run the way of my commandments. And thou fhalt fay: The fufferings of this prefent time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in usb.

■ Pfai. cxix. 5.

b Rom. viii. 18.

CHAP.

CHAP. LII.

That a Man ought not to efteem himself worthy of Confolation, but rather of Correction

1.

L

THE SOUL.

ORD, I am not worthy of thy confolation, nor of any fpiritual Vifitation: And therefore thou dealeft righteously with me, when thou leaveft me poor, and defolate. For could I fhed a Sea of tears, yet fhould I not be worthy of thy confolation: Yea, rather ftripes and chastisement only are my juft due; because I have grievously, and often offended thee, and in many things greatly tranfgreffed. Wherefore all things duly confider'd, I deferve not fo much as the leaft confolation. But thou, a gracious, and merciful God, who wouldest not that the works of thine hands fhould perish, to make known the riches of thy goodness to the vessels of mercy, notwithtanding all his unworthinefs, vouchsafest to comfort thy fervant in a manner infinitely paffing that of men. For thy confolations are not like human confabulations.

a Rom. ix, 23.

II. What

II. What have I done, Lord, that thou fhouldft bestow any heavenly confolation upon me? I can recollect no good that I have done, but that I have been ever prone to fin, and flow and backward to amendment. True this is, and I cannot deny it. Should I fay otherwife, thou wouldst stand up against me, and there would be none to defend me. What have I deferved for my fins, but Hell and everlasting Flames? I confefs with great truth, that I am worthy of all fcorn and contempt; nor is it fit that I fhould be number'd or named among the devout ones. And tho' it be grievous to me, to hear, yet because it is true, I will freely confefs my fins againft my felf, to the end I may more eafily obtain thy mercy.

III. What fhall I fay, guilty as I am, and full of all confufion? I have not the confidence to utter any thing more than this one word: I have finned, Lord, I have finned: Have mercy on me; forgive me. Let me alone a little, that I may bewail my mifery, before I go to the land of darkness, a land black with the terrors of the fhadow of death. What doft thou fo ftrictly require, what other reparation doft thou,

Job x. 20, 21.

8

canft

canft thou expect of a guilty and miserable Sinner, but that he be broken with contrition, and humble himfelf for his manifold fins and provocations? In true contrition, and humiliation of heart, hope of forgivenefs fpringeth up: There the troubled confcience is recompos'd, the lofs of grace retriev'd, Man fhielded from the wrath to come, and GOD, and the penitent Soul meet one another in a holy kiss.

IV. The humble contrition of a Sinner is a Sacrifice acceptable to thee, O Lord, and of a far fweeter odour in thy prefence, than that of Incense. This is alfo that grateful Ointment, which thou wert for having pour'd upon thy facred feet: Because a broken and contrite heart is what thou haft never defpifed. There is our Sanctuary, and place of refuge from the face and fury of the Enemy. There is it that all the ftains and blemishes, all the defilements of flesh and fpirit, howfoever contracted, are cleans'd and wash'd away.

Pfal. v. 17.

Luke vii. 37.

CHAP.