and Earth, and all the Elements; for out of thefe all things were made.

VIII. What canft thou fee in any place whatever, which will continue long under the fun? Poffibly thou mayft think to be fatisfy'dby variety, but that thou canst never attain to. If thou hadst a view at once of all things under the fun, what would it be bur a vain vifion? Lift up thy eyes to God in the highest Heavens, and pray for pardon of thy fins and negligences. Leave the va nities of the world to the vain men of the world; but do thou apply thy felf to thofe things which God hath commanded thee. Shut thy door upon thee, and invite thy beloved Jefus unto thee. Abide with him in thy clofet; for thou wilt not find fo much peace any where else. Hadft thou not gone abroad, nor heard any idle reports, thou hadft continued in a more calm and compofed state of mind. From what time foever thou takeft pleasure in hearing news, from that very hour trouble and difquietude of spirit cannot fail to be thy lot.

CHAP

CHAP. XXI.

Of Compunction of Heart.

F thou wouldst make any proficience, keep thy felf in the fear of God, and be not too free, but restrain all thy senses under ftrict difcipline, and let not thy felf loofe to impertinent mirth. Give thy felf up to Compunction of Heart, and thou fhalt find devotion. Compunction opens the way to infinite advantages, which diffolutenefs of fpirit is foon wont to lofe again. It is ftrange, that a man fhould ever perfectly rejoice in this life, that confiders and weighs his ftate of banifhment, and the 'multitude of dangers his foul is expos'd to.

II. Through levity of heart, and neglect in examining our defects, we are not fenfible of the wounds of our foul; but often vainly laugh, when we have good reason to weep. There is no true liberty, nor honeft well-grounded joy, but in the fear of GOD accompanied with a good confcience. Happy the man, that can throw off every diftracting impediment and amusement, and collect his thoughts and fix them entirely upon the fingle point of holy Compunc

tion. Happy the man that abandons every thing that can poffibly defile or burthen his confcience. Strive manfully; one custom overcomes another. If thou canft perfuade thy felf to quit the world, the world on the other fide will quit thee, and fairly leave thee to do thine own works in quiet.

III. Draw not upon thy felf other men's, business, nor involve thy felf in the concerns of great perfons. Keep thine eye always upon thy felf in the firft place, and be fure to admonish and advise thy felf in an especial manner above the dearest friend thou haft. If thou haft not the favour of men, be not griev'd at that; but let this af flict thee, that thou doft not behave thy felf with all that exactnefs and circumfpection, which becomes a feryant of GOD, and a devout Reclufe. It is many times more profitable and fafe for a man not to have many confolations in this life, efpecially fuch as are human and worldly: However as for those that are fpiritual and divine, if we want thefe or feel them but feldom, the fault is our own, in that we do not seek Compunction of Heart, nor wholly abandon vain and outward ones.

IV. Acknowledge thy felf unworthy of divine confolation, but worthy rather of much

much tribulation. When a man is pierc'd with true Compunction, then the whole world becomes grievous and bitter unto him. A good man finds fufficient matter of grief and tears: For whether he confiders himfelf, or thinks of his neighbour, he finds that no man lives in this world without tribulation: And the more clofely he confi ders himself, the greater ftill is his grief. The grounds of a juft grief and inward Compunction are our fins and tranfgref fions; wherein we lie fo envelop'd, that we are rarely able to contemplate heavenly things.

V. If thou didst oftner think of dying, than of living long, doubtlefs thou wouldst fet thy felf with more zeal and warmth to amend thy life. And didft thou seriously and earnestly confider the future pains of Hell, I believe thou wouldst gladly endure labour and pain, and not be afraid of any aufterity. But now because these con fiderations do not pierce the foul, and that we ftill love the flattering enticing pleafures of fenfe, therefore is it that we remain cold and exceeding dull and heavy.

VI. It is many times through the foftness

In the Latin: The future pains of Hell, or Purgatory.

and

poor

and feebleness of the fpirit, that the body complains fo eafily. Pray therefore humbly unto the Lord, that he would give thee the fpirit of Compunction: And fay with the Prophet; Feed me, O Lord, with the bread of tears, and give me plenteoufness of tears to drink.

CHAP. XXII.

Of the confideration of human Mifery.

"W

Retched thou art, wherefoever thou mayft be, and which way foever thou turn thy felf, unless thou turn to God. Why art thou troubled, becaufe things fucceed not as thoù thy felf wouldeft, and defireft? Who is there, that hath all things according to his with? Neither I, nor thou, nor any man living upon earth. There is no one in the world without fome tribulation or cross, be he King or Pope. Who is the perfon, that is in the beft condition of all? Doubtless he that for GOD's fake can endure affliction.

Pfal. lxxx. 5.

II. Many