nation. Speak, therefore, for thý fervant heareth: For thou haft the words of eternal life. Speak unto me, to the comfort (in fome fort) of my foul, and to the reformation of my whole life; and to thy own praife, and glory, and everlasting re

nown,

CHAP. III.

That the Words of GOD ought to be heard with Humility; and that many ponder

!: them not.

JESUS-CHRIST.

I.C ON, hear my words, words full of fweetnefs, and furpaffing all the knowledge and doctrine of the Philofophers, and wife men of this world. My words are fpirit and life, and not to be weigh'd in the balance of a human understanding, nor to be taken in a grofs and natural fenfe: They are not to be wrested to the pleafing of a vain cùriofity; but to be heard in filence, and to be received with all humility, and with an ardent affection. And I faid:

อ

a John vi. 68.

John vi. 63.

THE

THE SOUL.

Blessed is the man whom thou inftructeft, OLord, and teacheft him in thy law; that thou mayft give him ftrength in time of adverfity, left he be left defolate upon the earth,

JESUS-CHRIST.

II. I, faith the Lord, taught the Prophets from the beginning, and even to this day ceafe not to speak unto all: But many are deaf, and infenfible to my voice. Most men hearken more greedily to the world than to God; They more readily follow their own fenfual and carnal defires, than the good pleasure of GOD. The world promises temporal and trifling advantages; and with great eagernefs they engage in its fervice? I promise immenfe and eternal joys; and the hearts of men remain ftupid and unmoved. Where's the man that ferves and obeys me in all things, with that care and exactnefs with which the world, and thofe that command it, are ferved and obey'd? Be thou ashamed, O Sidon, faith the Sea. And if thou askeft the

Pfal, xciv. 12.

Ifai. xxiv, 4.

reason,

reason, hear why. For a fmall Prebend a long and painful journey is undertaken: But for eternal life, many will fcarce once lift a foot from the ground. A little fordid gain engages all men's industry: A trifling fum embroils them fometimes in tedious and expenfive fuits: For a vain expectati on, and an inconfiderable promife, they' are content to fatigue themfelves day and night.

III. But alas! for an unchangeable good, for an inestimable reward, for the brighteft crown, and an everlafting glory, they think much to take but a little pains. Be afhamed therefore, O flothful and querulous fervant, that they fhould be found readier to destruction, than thou to life. They rejoice more in vanity, than thou in the truth. Nay, they are fometimes difappointed of their hopes; but my promife deceiveth no man, nor doth it fend him away empty that trusteth in me. What I have promised, I will give; what I have faid, I will fulfil; provided only a man continue faithful in my love, even unto the end. I am the rewarder of all the good, and the prover of all the devout, by caufing them to pafs through fharp trials.

IV. Write my words in thy heart, and ponder

ponder them diligently: For they will be found exceeding neceffary in the hour of trial and adverfity. What thou understandeft not when thou readeft, thou wilt comprehend in the day of vifitation. I am wont to vifit my Elect two feveral ways; namely, by temptation and confolation, And I read unto them daily two Leffons, one reprehending and chaftifing their vi ces, the other exciting and exhorting them to an advancement in all virtue. He that hath my words, and rejecteth them, bath one that judgeth him in the last daya.

A Prayer to implore the Grace of Devo

tion.

V. Y Lord and my GOD, thou art my whole and only good. And who am I, that I should prefume to speak unto thee? I am the pooreft of all thy vaflals, even a most vile and abject worm; infinitely more poor and contemptible than I am able to conceive, or dare to exprefs. Yet remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing. Thou alone

d John xii. 47, 48.

art

art good, juft, and holy; thou canst do all things, thou doft all things, thou filleft all things, except the finner only, whom thou fendeft away empty. Remember thy compaffions, and fill my heart with thy grace, who wouldeft not that thy works fhould remain void and empty.

VI. How can I poffibly fupport my self in this miferable life; except thy mercy and grace ftrengthen me? Turn not thy face from me: Prolong not thy fatherly vifitation: Withdraw not thy confolations; left my foul become like a barren and dry land where no water is. Teach me to do thy will: Teach me to walk worthily and humbly in thy fight: Because thou art my wisdom, who knoweft me perfectly, and didst know me before the world was made, and before I was born into the world.

Pfal. Ixiii. 2.

CHAP.