us therefore bumble our fouls under the hand of GoD in every temptation and tribulation; for he will fave and exalt the bumble in Spirits.

VIII. Temptations and tribulations are the proof how much a man hath profited: His merit is the greater thereby, and his virtue the more apparent. and confpi cuous. It is no mighty matter, for a man to be devout and fervent, whilft he lies under no load or preffure: But if in the midft of trials, he poffeffes his foul in patience; this promifes great Proficiency. Some perfons are preferv'd from grand temptations, and are many times vanquished in trivial ones that occur every day; to the end that being thus humbled, they may never prefume upon their own ftrength in matters of difficulty, when they are foiled in others fo flight.

T

CHAP. XIV.

Of avoiding rash Fudgment.

URN thine eyes inward upon thy felf; and beware of judging other

I Pet. iv.

Pfal. XXXIV.

men's

7

men's actions. In judging others, a man lofes his labour; he is moft commonly miftaken, and eafily fins; whereas in judg ing, and carefully examining himself, his labour is profitably beftowed, and ever turns to good account. According as we ftand affected to a thing, fo generally we judge of it: For private affection naturally bereaves us of true judgment. If GoD were always the pure intention and aim of our defires and defigns, we fhould not be fo apt to be troubled when matters disagree with our own sense of things.

II. But many times there is fomething lurking within, or happening from without, which draws us after it. Many fecretly feek themselves in their actions, and perceive it not: And these men feem to enjoy a calm and peaceful ftate of mind, fo long as things agree with their own inclination, and fentiment: But if any thing fucceeds otherwise than they defire, ftraitway they are disturb'd, and become fad and difpleas'd. Diverfity of judgments and opinions very often caufes differences and diffentions between friends and townfmen, between the religious and the devout,

III. It is a difficult thing to leave an old custom. And no man is willing to be led farther

farther than himfelf can fee. If thou reft more upon thy own reafon or industry, than upon that principle of virtue, which fhould difpofe thee to an entire fubmiffi on to Jefus Chrift, thou wilt feldom, and flowly obtain any extraordinary degree of illumination; because GoD expects a perfect fubjection of our felves unto him; and that the flames of our love tranfcend all the heights of our own reason.

I.

CHAP. XV.

Of Works of Charity.

OR no worldly confideration, nor for the love of any perfon whatsoever, mult we be prevail'd upon to do an ill thing? But yet for the benefit of a perfon, who ftands in need of our relief, a good work is fometimes to be intermitted and broke off, or rather exchang'd for a better: For by doing this, the good work is not lost, but changed into a better. Without Charity the outward work profiteth nothing: But whatsoever is done out of Charity, be it never fo little and contemptible in appea

rance,

rance, it all turns to profit. For God has more regard to the motive that fets us to work, than to the action it felf, or the quality of it.

H. The man that loves much, does much; and he does much, that does a thing well; and he does well, who prefers the good of the community before the gratifying of his own will. That which frequently paffes for Charity is rather Carnality: Becaufe men rarely act upon other motives than natural inclination, the doing their own will, expectation of a recompenfe, affection, or convenience.

i

III. He that is poffefs'd of true and perfect Charity, feeketh himself in nothing: But his defire is, that GOD alone may be glorify'd in all things. He also envieth no body; because he loves no private joy; nor will he rejoice in himself alone, but wishes to be made bleffed in the enjoyment of God above all created goods. He afcribes nothing of good to any creature, but refers all to God alone, from whom, as the fource and fpring, all things originally proceed; and in whom all the Saints finally reft in perfection of blifs. O! If a man had but a Ipark of true Charity, verily he would difcern all earthly things to be full of vanity, CHAP.

CHAP. XVI.

Of bearing with other Men's Defects:

'T

'Hofe things that a man is not able to amend in himself or others, he ought to bear patiently, till GOD fee fit to order matters otherwife. Confider that perhaps it is better fo for thy trial, and the exercise of thy patience; without which our good works are of little weight. Thou oughteft notwithstanding to pray against fuch lets and impediments, that GOD would vouchsafe to affift thee, and that thou mayst have ftrength to bear them with decency and conftancy of mind.

a

II. If any one after once or twice admonishing will not give over, contend no longer with him, but commit the whole affair to GOD, that his will may be done, and his honour aċcomplish'd in all his fervants, who knows perfectly well how to turn evil into good. Labour to be patient in bearing the defects and infirmities of others, of what fort foever they be; because thou thy felf alfo haft many failings of thine own, which must be born

• In the original Latin: Merits.

by