by others. If thou art not able to make thy felf what thou wouldst be, how fhouldft thou be able to have another to thy liking in all things? We would willingly have others perfect; and yet we amend not our own defects.

III. We would have others feverely corrected, but are not for being corrected our felves. We are offended with the great liberties of others; and yet we will not be refus'd in any thing we defire our selves. We would have others reftrained by rigorous laws; and yet are unwilling that any the least check should be put upon our own freedoms. And thus it And thus it appears, how rarely we weigh our felves and our neighbour in the fame fcale. If we were all perfect, what could we then have to fuffer from others for the love of God?

IV. But now God hath fo order'd it, that we may learn to bear one another's burthens: For there is no man without his failings, no man without his burden: No man felf-fufficient, no man wife enough of himfelf: But we ought to bear with one another, to comfort one another, to help, inftruct, and admonifh one another. Befides, the virtue of a man is best discover'd by the occasion of some suffering: For occafions

do

do not make a man frail, but only fhew

what he is.

'T

CHAP. XVII.

Of a Monaftick Life.

HOU muft learn to fubdue and break thy own will in many things, if thou wouldnt maintain peace and a good understanding with others. It is a glorious thing to live in a Monaftery, or in any Society, and there to converfe without quarrel or complaint, and to perfevere therein faithfully even unto death. Bleffed furely is the man, that hath there liv'd well, and dy'd happily. If thou wouldst maintain thy ground as thou oughteft, and make a due advancement in virtue, account thy felf as a banish'd man and a pilgrim upon earth. Thou must become a fool for the fake of Christ, if thou wouldft lead a life of religion.

HI. The peculiar Habit and Shave fignify little; it is a change of manners, and a perfect mortification of the paffions that make a true Religious. He that feeks any thing

elfe

elfe, than purely God, and the falvation of his foul, will find nothing but tribulation and forrow. Furthermore, no body can continue long in peace of mind, who does not labour to become the least of all, and subject to all.

III. Thou cameft to ferve, not to rule. Know that thou wert called to fuffer, and to labour; not to a life of leisure and ease, or converfation. Here therefore men are proved, as gold in the furnace. Here none I can make good his Poft, unless he be content to humble himself with his whole heart for the love of God.

I

CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Examples of the holy Fathers.

C

Onfider and keep in view the lively patterns fet us by the holy Fathers, in whom true perfection and religion fhone bright; and thou wilt foon difcern, how little it is, and almost nothing, that we do. Alas! What is our life, if compar'd with theirs? Thofe Saints and friends of Chrift ferv'd the Lord in hunger and thirft; in cold

and

and nakedness, in labour and wearinefs, in watchings and faftings, in prayers and holy meditations, in perfecutions and fundry reproaches.

II. Bleffed God! How many and grievous tribulations did the Apoftles, the Martyrs, the Confeffors, the Virgins, and all the reft that endeavour'd to tread in Chrift's fteps, endure! For they hated their own lives in this world, that they might preferve them unto life eternal. O how ftrict and mortify'd, and felf-denying a life did the holy Fathers lead in the wilderness! How long and fharp temptations did they undergo! How many conflicts had they with the enemy! How frequent and ardent were their prayers to GOD! What rigorous courfes of abftinence did they go through! With what zeal and fervency did they af pire after higher degrees ftill of fpiritual perfection! With what gallantry and refolution did they wage perpetual war against their vices! What purity and diffinterestednefs of intention did they conftantly carry to God-ward! By day they labour'd, and the nights they spent in prayer to God; although even whilft they labour'd, they ceas'd not from mental prayer.

III. They employ'd their whole time profi

H

profitably: Every hour spent in attending the fervice of GOD, feem'd fhort: And through the exceeding fweetness of contemplation, the neceffity of bodily refreshment was even forgot. All riches, dignities, honours, friends and relations they renounc'd: They coveted no worldly thing: They fcarcely took the neceffary fupports of life: 'Twas grief and pain to them even to serve the neceffities of the body. They were poor therefore in earthly things; but very rich in grace, and the virtues. Outwardly they were neceffitous, but inwardly they were refresh'd with grace and divine confolation.

IV. They were aliens and ftrangers to the world, but nearly allied to, and intimate friends of GOD. In their own eyes they appear'd as a thing of nought, and to the world defpicable; but in the fight of GOD they were precious and well beloved. They perfevered in true humility: They lived in fincere obedience: They walked in charity and patience; and for this reason they made daily advances in the fpirit, and obtain'd a high degree of grace and favour with GOD. They were given for an example to all the Religious; and they ought to excite us more powerfully to endeavour af

ter