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 boney out of the rock, and oyl out of the flinty rock". I have opened the door of my heart, enter into it. I have caufed 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? Anfwer me. Abide in me, and I in you*. Suffer chearfully fomething for me, fince I have suffered fo much for you. Be not afraid of the Crofs which ye fee; I have made it light, and easy to bear, by my own example. Come unto me all ye that are in fadness, that have your hearts ftraitned and distressed 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 Deut. xxxii. 13. * John xv. 4. y Pfal. ix. 9. Kk 2 trite trite heart: And will fave fuch as be of an bumble fpirit. The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them: And delivereth them out of all their troubles". Behold, what words of exhortation I use to you, to the intent ye may not faint in tribulations. Rather ye ought to rejoice, that ye are af flicted 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 these 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 goodness. How can any one be thought chaft, but whom the luft of the flesh hath not been able to mafter? He fheweth himself 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 exercised in mortifying our own Will. H I. E alfo proveth himself truly obedient, who endeavoureth to thwart and oppofe 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 whatsoever, and causeth them to be uncorrupt. Let a Man do a good work out of private, or felf-inclination, and it fhall become lefs fo; nay, in some cases 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 diftinguifh themselves by copying after fo fair a pattern of obedience? Every one willingly doth what feemeth good in his own eyes; and for this reafon he is often 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 felves to your Governours and thofe that are fet 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 thofe enemies, otherwife 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 the path, if ye flay them not. They will not fuffer you to fleep upon the couch of a peaceful confcience, and will rob your heart of all repofe; for these are they that disturb the peace of Ifrael; that is, of the faithful Soul, which defireth to see GOD. I have fore-warned you. Wherefore fee that ye walk circumspectly, because the days are evil: And abstain from all appearance of evil. CHAP. V. Of the Examples of the Prophets and Martyrs, by which Patience is taught. I. 'I Have proposed to you the Patriarchs; and if that be not fufficient, I will alledge the Prophets, because they met with many tribulations in this wicked world. The first faith: I have found trouble and heaviness: And have called upon the Name of the Lord. Tribulation and anguish have taken hold of me: Tet have I not forgot thy teftimonies. Great are the a Ephef. v. 15. b 1 Thef. v. 22 d Pfal. cxix. 143. Kk 4 troubles |