holy an exercife, at a time when fuch multitudes of religious fouls are joyfully met to celebrate the divine praises.

IX. O that we had nothing else to do, but with heart and mouth to praise the Lord our GOD! O if thou never stoodst in need of meat, drink, or fleep; but couldest always praife GOD, and attend fpiritual exercifes only! Then wouldeft thou be incomparably happier than now, when thou art fo often interrupted by the numerous infirmities and neceffities of the body. Would to God these neceffities were no more, but were changed all into fpiritual repafts, and foul-refreshments, which now alas! we have but now and then a taste of.

X. When a man is come to this pitch, to seek confolation from no created thing, then first doth God begin to be perfectly relishing to him: Then alfo will he entertain with chearfulnefs and contentment every event befalling him. Then neither profperity fhall exalt him, nor the trifle of adverfity deject him: But he fixes his heart entirely and confidently in GOD, who is to him all in all; with regard to whom nothing perifheth, nothing dieth, but all things live unto him, and are ever at beck, ever ready to be used and difpofed according to the good pleasure of his will. XI. Re

W

XI. Remember evermore the end and upfhot of things, and that time once lost, is irrecoverable. Without great pains and diligence thou fhalt never acquire the virtues: From the moment thou beginneft to cool and flag in thy purfuit, thou shalt alfo feel an inward diforder, and unquietness of fpirit. But if thou intend the concerns of thy foul with warmth and vigour, thou fhalt find great peace, and perceive thy yoke to become eafier, and thy burden lighter, partly through the grace and affiftance of GOD, partly through thy own zeal and love of virtue. The fervent and diligent foul is ready prepared for all things. It is matter of greater travail and toil, to refift vices and paffions, than to fweat at bodily labours. He that is not careful to avoid fmall miscarriages, will infenfibly flide into greater. Thou fhalt always have joy in the evening, if thou haft fpent the day profitably. Watch over thy felf, ftir up thyself, admonish thy felf; and whatever becomes of others, neglect not thy felf. So much the greater advance fhalt thou make, by how much the greater violence thou offereft to thy felf. Amen.

The End of the First Book.

I.

T

CHAP. I.

Of the Internal Life.

HE Kingdom of GOD is within you', faith the Lord; turn thee with thy whole heart to the Lord; and leave this miferable

world, and thy foul shall find rest. Learn

* Luke xvii. 21.

to despise exterior things, and to give thy felf up to the interior, and thou fhalt perceive the Kingdom of GoD to come into thee. For the Kingdom of GOD is peace and joy in the Holy Ghoft, which is not given to the wicked. Chrift will come unto thee, and fhew thee his confolations, if thou prepare for him a for him a worthy manfion within thee. All his glory, and beauty is from within, and there his delight is to be. He makes frequent vifits to the internal man, holds fweet conferences with him, infufes his comforts into his heart, fills him with abundance of peace, and treats him with a most amazing familiarity.

II. Come on then, faithful Soul, prepare thy heart for this Bridegroom; to the end he may vouchfafe to come unto thee, and inhabit in thee. For thus he faith: If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Make room then for Chrift, and deny entrance to all others. When thou haft Chrift, thou art rich, and wanteft nothing else. He will be thy purveyor, and faithful steward in all things, fo as thou shalt not need to have

Rom. xiv. 17 John xiv. 23.

any

men.

any dependence upon, or expectations from For men change foon, and pass away in a moment: But Chrift abideth for ever, and is a fure help even unto the end.

III. No great truft is to be put in a frail and mortal man, tho' he love thee, and be able to ferve thee: Nor oughteft thou to be much concerned, if he fometimes crofs and contradict thee. The The very fame perfons that are for thee to day, may be against thee to morrow; and fo on the other hand: For they are as changeable as the wind. Place thy whole truft in GoD, and let him be thy fear and thy love. He will answer for thee. He will efpoufe thy cause, and do what is beft for thee. Thou haft here no continuing city; and wherefoever thou be, thou art a ftranger and a fojourner: Nor fhalt thou ever have reft, till thou art intimately united unto Chrift.

IV. What is it then that thou art looking about for here below? For ease and repofe? This, man, is not the place of thy reft. Heaven ought to be thy habitation, and all earthly things to be regarded no otherwife than as in thy paffage thither. All