dered,) and ordained by GoD: But a good confcience, and a virtuous conversation is ever to be preferred before it. But because moft men affect more to know much, than to live well: For this reason they often fall into error, and reap none at all, or but flender fruit of their ftudies.

V. O would men but ufe as much diligence to root out their vices, and to implant in themselves virtues, as they do to raise curious and unprofitable queftions: There would not be fo much wickedness and fcandal among the people, nor fo much diffolutenefs and diforder in our Monafteries! Affuredly, at the Day of Judgment, we fhall not be examined what we have read, but what we have done; nor how eloquently we have fpoke, but how religioufly we have lived. Tell me, where are now all thofe Mafters and Profeffors of Sciences, with whom you was fo well acquainted, whilft they lived and flourished in learning? Their Prebends and Benefices others are now in poffeffion of, and God knows whether they ever so much as fend a thought after them; in their life-time they were thought confiderable, but now not a word is faid of them.

г

VI. O how quickly doth the glory of

F 3

the

the world pass away! Would to God their life had been answerable to their knowledge: They had then studied and read to good purpofe. How many perifh in the world through vain unprofitable knowledge, whilst they little concern themfelves about the fervice of GOD; And because they chufe rather to be great than humble, therefore they are deftroy'd and vanish in their own imaginations. That man is truly great, who hath a great degree of charity. That man is truly great, who is little in his own eyes, and esteems the highest pitch of honour as nothing. That man is truly wife, who counts all earthly things as drofs and dung, that he may win Chrift. And that man is truly learned, who hath learnt to do the will of God, and to abandon his own will.

CHAP. IV.

Of Prudence in our Conduct.

WE

E are not to believe every word we hear, nor every fuggeftion of our own minds; but to weigh and examine the

a Phil. iii. 8.

thing coolly and deliberately, and to judge according to GOD, that is, according to charity. Nevertheless (a deplorable thing to confider!) we aremany times more ready to believe and, speak evil of our neighbour, than good; fo great is our weaknefs! But perfect men are not forward to believe every thing that is brought them: Because they are fenfible of the infirmity of man which is prone to evil, and too apt to faulter in point of fpeech.

II. It is an argument of great wisdom, not to be rash and heady in acting, nor to be obftinate and inflexible in our own private fentiments and opinions. It is an effect alfo of the fame wildom, not to give credit to common reports: Nor to vent immediately and discharge into the ears of others what we have heard, or even believe. Advife with a difcreet and confcientious man: And feek rather to be inftructed by one better than thy felf, than to follow thy own inventions. A good and a holy life renders a man wife before GoD, and gives him good conduct and experience in abundance of things. The more humble a man is in himself, and the more fubject and refigned to the will of GoD, fo much the more prudent fhall he be in all his affairs, and enjoy fo much the greater peace and tranquillity of mind. CHAP,

CHAP. V.

Of the Reading of the Holy Scriptures.

Ruth is to be fought in the holy

Scriptures, not eloquence. Every part of the holy Text ought to be read with the fame Spirit wherewith it was penn'd. We are to feek edification rather in the Scriptures, than fubtilty and accuracy of fpeech. We ought to read the plain and the devout parts of Scripture with the fame affection and delight, as thofe which are more fublime and profound. Let not the authority of the Penman offend thee, whether he were a person of fmall or great learning; but let the love of pure truth draw thee to read. Examine not who faid this or that, but mark well what is faid.

II. Men pafs away, but the truth of the Lord abideth for ever. GOD speaketh to us in divers manners, without any partial refpect of perfons. Our own curiofity many times is a hindrance to us in reading the Scriptures; when we endeavour to comprehend, and stand to examine and difcufs, where the eye ought fimply to pafs over. If thou wouldst reap profit, read with hu

Pfal. cxvii 2.

mility,

mility, fimplicity, and faith; and never affect the reputation of Learning. Confult with pleasure wife and holy men, and receive with refpect and filence their Interpretations: Neither let the parables and prot verbial fentences of the Ancients be disgustful to thee; for they were not uttered at all adventures, and without cause.

I.

CHAP. VI.

Of Inordinate Affections.

WH

Henfoever a man defireth any thing inordinately, from that very moment he findeth trouble and disquiet within himfelf. The proud man and the covetous are never at reft: The poor and humble in fpirit poffefs their fouls in a multitude of peace. The man that is not yet perfectly dead to himself is quickly tempted, and fuffers himself to be vanquish'd in things fmall and trivial. A man weak in fpirit, and as yet carnal in a manner, and inclined to fenfible things, cannot without difficulty wean himself perfectly from earthly defires. And therefore he oftentimes feels regret, in withdrawing himfelf from

them: