THE DISCIPLE. I can do all things through him that ftrengtheneth me. JESUS-CHRIST. Drink ye all of it. Drink of my wine, which I have mingled. And again I fay unto you: Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. And fay not in your hearts: This is an hard faying, and who can hear it? Caft your eyes upon me, and behold how I bore alone the burden and heat of the day. Tho' there have been fome, that have born a heavy burden, yet what was it in comparison of mine? I ftuck faft in the deep mire, where no ground was, and yet there was no fault in me. I have troden the wine-prefs alone, and of the people there was none with me. The plowers plowed upon my back, and made long furrows. Behold my hands, and my feet, how I was crucify'd for you. Reach hither your hands and put your fingers into the print of the nails. Feel and han * Matth. xxvi. 27. " Ibid. . lx. Pial. cxxix. 3. Prov. ix. 5. m John vi. 53. John xx. 25. dle dle my wounds, and behold how blood and water iffueth out of my fide. Open the veffels of your heart to receive the precious balm, even the oyl of Mercy and Grace. Suck honey out of the rock, and oyl out of the flinty rock. I have opened the door of my heart, enter into it. I have caused my fide to be pierced with a lance, hide your felves therein. IV. What ought I to have done more, and have not done it? Answer me. Abide in me, and I in you. Suffer chearfully fomething for me, fince I have fuffered fo much for you. Be not afraid of the Crofs which ye fee; I have made it light, and eafy to bear, by my own example. Come unto me all ye that are in fadness,, that have your hearts ftraitned and diftreffed with grief, that have no confolation. For I am your comforter. Why are ye afraid in the evil day? I am your protector, your defence, and refuge in due time of trouble. Tell me, when have I failed thofe that put their truft in me? When have I not heard them that cry unto me? What faith the Prophet? How read ye? The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a con w Deut. xxxii. 13. * John xv. 4. y Pfal. ix, 9. Kk 2 trite trite heart: And will fave fuch as be of an bumble Spirit. The righteous cry, and the Lord beareth them: And delivereth them out of all their troubles". Behold, what words of exhortation I ufe to you, to the intent ye may not faint in tribulations. Rather ye ought to rejoice, that ye are afflicted in this world. Count it a fign of my love: And verily it is the badge of my Elect. Open the fealed Book, the Book written within, and on the out-fide', (I mean the old and new Teftament) read and understand, how that there never was Saint, unaffay'd with temptations and various fufferings, who fuffered not injuries and wrongs, who was not in all thefe render'd more acceptable to God, and more holy in the fight of Men. My Saints profit in adverfities, in tribulations they fend forth the Odour of their innocence through Patience. Cain's malice illuftrated Abel's goodnefs. How can any one be thought chaft, but whom the luft of the flesh hath not been able to mafter? He fheweth himfelf a lover of chastity, who with continent Jofeph is proof against the perfuafive infinuating poyfon of an ill woman. z Pfal xxxiv. 17, 18. Rev. v. i. 8 CHAP. CHAP. IV. Patience principally to be exercifed in mortifying our own Will. I. H E alfo proveth himself truly obedient, who endeavoureth to thwart and oppose the inclinations and propenfities of his own will. And fuch a one with faithful Abraham fhall be extoll'd for the virtue of obedience, and be replenish'd with heavenly Benediction; because he obeyeth rather the voice of God, than the voice of his own flesh, which is always influenced and byafs'd by motions of its own, As to felf-will, or private inclination, what fhall I fay of it? It is the very thing, which my foul most of all hateth. Nothing is acceptable to me, which is vitiated and corrupted with felf-will. It is the stain and poyfon of all good things alike, whether great or fmall; whereas true obedience fanctifieth all things whatfoeyer, and causeth them to be uncorrupt. Let a Man do a good work out of private, or felf-inclination, and it shall become lefs fo; nay, in fome cafes it may be a fault. Forbear doing a a good work out of obedience, and it fhall Kk 3 be be more meritorious, than if done. For fuch a Man is advanced to a contempt of himself, and is arrived to a true imitation of Jefus the Son of GOD, and the example of his obedience. But how few do I find, that diftinguish themselves by copying after so fair a pattern of obedience? Every one willingly doth what feemeth good in his own eyes; and for this reafon he is of ten mifled, and goeth aftray. Know ye, O Sons of obedience, that to do evil is never lawful; but to omit fometimes doing good upon the account of obedience, this Leadeth you to Perfection. For as perfect charity feeketh not it felf: So true obedience is evermore carried beyond its own fight, or judgment of things. Ye obey me, when ye fubmit your felves to your Governours and those that are set over over you. Ye live unto me, whilft ye facrifice your felves. I have quickened you, I was flain for you: and ye fhall live with me, if ye have been dead with me. Mortify, my Children, mortify your own wills, your own fentiments, your own counfels, and every perverfe and carnal defire. Slay those enemies, otherwise they will flay you. They will be a fword in your eyes, a lance in your fide, a ferpent in the way, and a bear in the |