I.

K

JESUS-CHRIST.

NOW then, well-beloved Poverty, that Humility will receive thee with joy. To all others thou art unknown; and fo art like to continue; be not troubled. Remember that I my felf alfo was a stranger to many. If they have perfecuted me, they will also perfecute thee. If they hated me, they will alfo hate thee. Remember my word, which I faid: The fervant is not greater than his Lord. In Humility and Patience, thy ftrength and confolation will confift.

POVERTY.

Behold thy Handmaid, be it unto me according to thy will. Thou haft fpoken unto thy Servant; and whence is this to me, that I fhould find fo much Grace in thine Eyes! How abundant art thou in thy Mercies, to vifit the Stranger, to blefs the Widow, and not to forfake the defolate!

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OF

463

OF THE

Second Tabernacle :

THAT IS,

Of HUMILITY.

CHAP. I.

Of the Leffons and Examples of Humility delivered by Chrift.

I.

B

THE DISCIPLE.

UT let us pafs next to the Virtue of Humility. For unless Humility go along with Poverty, Poverty can never be acceptable and well-pleafing unto GOD. Wherefore as thou haft spoken of Poverty, fo fpeak unto me, my Lord GOD, of Humility alfo. I obferve this Grace to be often and powerfully recommended in thy Scriptures; and find it to have fhone in thee eminently and remark

him, and being thus cleanfed, he fhall af ter death enter the Manfions of the Saints. V. Comprehendeft thou thefe Truths? THE DISCIPLE.

Yea, Lord.

JESUS-CHRIST.

And now what fhall I fay? The hour is coming, and now is, that many shall not receive this found doctrine; but every one feek rather, what is pleafing and delightful to him. But thou haft not fo learnt Jefus Chrift, whofe Poverty is fet before thine eyes as a pattern to thee. Yet hear again what I shall fay unto thee. My familiar friend and acquaintance Poverty, which, when I was upon earth, I fingularly loved and embraced, and meant to recommend to my friends; is become fuch a stranger and fo odious to many, that there is fcarce a place for the fole of her foot to rest on: And if perchance the feem now and then to fojourn with fome perfons, no fooner do they ob ferve her to love mean and abject things, but they are feiz'd with a certain terror, and from a defire of better fare, cry out: Depart from us, we will hearken to none: of thy counfels: For thou art the reverfe

of

of our defires; thy ways are ways of difficulty, and thy paths full of ruggednefs. Why art thou come to us? What, to flay us and our cattel? The flesh they call their cattel.

VI. Behold, O Poverty, what these say, and how much they detract from thee. Yet know I well, that thou never meanteft them any evil, but wert fent by me unto those finners, to cure their wounds, and to improve their Virtues if they had any. The Holy Prophet had far different fentiments, when he faid: Thou, O GOD, haft of thy goodness prepared for the poor. And again he fung with joy: Because I am poor and in miferys. And; the poor and needy fhall rejoyce in thy Name Nevertheless, my friend Poverty, let not thine heart be troubled. For they have not rejected thee, but me: For he that despiseth thee, defpifeth me: And he that receiveth thee, receiveth me. I know that thou art not beloved of all; yea, thou art chafed away by many with indignation. All things they do unto thee, because they know not me, nor of what merit thou art. in my fight. But be not thou afraid, becaufe it is I, that have chofen thee. I

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