hath receiv'd. It is also an infirmity, and a defect of virtue, for a man, in the day of adverfity, or of any tribulation whatsoever, to give too much way to melancholy and defpair, and to think and believe lefs confidently of me, than he ought.

IV. He that in time of peace is too fecure, is generally in time of war found to be too dejected, and faint-hearted. If thou couldst be but always humble and lowly in thine own eyes; if thou wert able duly to moderate and regulate the motions of thy fpirit aright; thou wouldst not fall so often into danger, and fin. It is good advice to meditate, during the fpirit of fervour, how it will be with thee, when thofe beams of comfort fhut in. Which when it happens, fupport thy felf with the hopes of the return of day-light; which for thy caution, and my own glory, I have withdrawn for a feafon.

V. Such a Probation and Tryal as this is more for thy advantage, than if thou hadft a constant fucceffion of all the prosperity thy heart could wifh. For a man's merit or worthiness is not to be estimated and rated by the number of vifions and confolations which he may have; nor by his skill in the Scriptures; nor by his being raised above o

thers

thers in power and dignity: But by his being grounded and established in true humility, and fulfilled with divine charity: By his feeking the honour of GOD purely, and entirely, and in all things whatsoever: By a perfect renouncing of all felf-esteem; yea, by an unfeigned defpifing of himself, and by rejoycing more to be defpis'd and abafed by others alfo, than to be esteemed and honoured by them.

CHAP. VIII.

Of acknowledging our own great Vileness and Unworthiness before GOD.

I.

SHA

THE SOUL.

HALL I take upon me to speak unto my Lord, who am but duft and afbes? For fhould I conceive any thing better of my felf, behold thou thy felf ftandeft up against me; and mine own iniquities bear me down by a true and undeniable teftimony, nor is it poffible for me to reply, or gainfay. But if I think my self

• Gen, xviii, 27.

the

the vileft of creatures, if I beat down and humble my foul even to nothing, if I empty my felf utterly of all self-esteem, and reduce my felf to (what I really am) vile duft and afhes; then fhalt thou look upon me with a gracious and favourable eye; then fhall thy light draw near unto my heart: and all relicks of felf-value, even the leaft that can poffibly be imagin'd, fhall be plung'd and ingulf'd in the abyfs of my nothingness, and perifh for evermore. In that aby's thou fheweft me unto my felf; there I learn what I am, what I was, and what I am now become: For I am nothing, and knew it not. If I am left to my felf, behold I am meer nothing, and all infirmity. Yet no fooner doft thou caft an eye upon me, but my weakness is made strong, and I am filled with a furprizing joy and vigour. And a marvellous thing it is, that I fhould be thus fuddenly lifted up, and fo tenderly embraced by thee; I, who of my felf naturally fink, and by my own weight am ever tending downwards to earth and fin.

II. This I am fenfible is the effect of thy free unmerited Love, preventing my defires, fuccouring me in all my neceffities, guarding me from great dangers, and

rescuing

refcuing me (as I may truly fay) from innumerable evils. For by an inordinate Love of my felf, I had loft my felf: and by feeking thee alone, and loving thee with an entire and pure affection, I at once found again both my felf and thee; and this Love, the deeper it hath penetrated, the deeper ftill hath it funk me in the bottomlefs vale of my own true and real nothing: Because thou, O fweeteft Saviour, art bountiful unto me infinitely beyond all my deferts, yea, beyond all that I dare either hope, or ask.

III. Bleffed be thou, my GoD; because unworthy tho' I am of the leaft of thy mercies, yet thy excellent Majefty and infinite Goodnefs ceafeth not to load with thy benefits even the ungrateful, and those that are turned away far from thee. O! turn us again unto thee, to the end we may become thankful, humble, and devout; because thou art our falvation, our power, and our strength.

3

CHAP.

CHAP. IX.

That all Things ought to be referr'd unto GOD, as to their ultimate End.

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, I must be the fupreme and ultimate End of all thy actions and defires, if thou haft a mind to be truly happy. This intention will refine and purify thy affections, which otherwife, by an evil byafs are many times bow'd and warp'd to. thy felf, and to the creatures. For if thou feek thy felf, immediately in, and of thy felf, thou faileft, and becomeft feeble, dry, and heartless. Refer therefore all things unto me principally, because I am he that have given all things. Regard every thing, as derived and flowing from the first and fovereign Good: and therefore all things ought to be return'd back, and referr'd to me, as to their source and original fpring.

II, Out of me, the little and the great, the poor and the rich, draw, as from a living fountain, the water of life: and they who serve me voluntarily and freely, shall receive grace after grace. But he that glo