their offences; who feels no reluctance to ask forgiveness of others; who is sooner moved to compassion, than provoked to anger; who constantly denies his own will, and endeavours to bring the body into absolute and total subjection to the spirit. But through an inordinate love for the indulgences of corrupt flesh and blood, we deceive ourselves into total ignorance and negligence with respect to all the interests of our immortal spirits.

The more thou now indulgest thyself, and gratifiest the desires of the flesh, the more fuel dost thou heap up as food for that fire which is never quenched. The pains of that tremendous state will arise from the nature and degree of every man's sins. There the spiritual sluggard shall be incessantly urged with burning stings, and the glutton tortured with inconceivable hunger and thirst: there the luxurious and voluptuous shall be overwhelmed with waves of flaming pitch and horrid sulphur ; the envious with the pain of disappointed malignity, shall howl like mad dogs: the proud shall be filled with shame, and the covetous straitened in inexpressible want. One hour of torment there will be more insupportable than a hundred years of the severest sufferings and self-denial in this life. There no respite of pain no consolation of sorrow can be found; while here some intermission of labor, some comfort from holy friends, is not incompatible with the most rigorous devotion.

Be now, therefore, solicitous for thy redemption, and afflicted for the sins that oppose it, that in the day of judgment thou mayst stand securely among

the blessed. Then shall he rise up in judgment, who now meekly submits to the judgment of others; then the humble and poor in spirit shall have great confidence, and the proud shall be encompassed with fear on every side. Then it will be evident to all, that he was wise in this world, who had learned to be despised as a fool for the love of Christ: the remembrance of tribulation patiently endured shall become sweet, and "all iniquity shall stop her mouth." Then every devout man shall rejoice, and every impious man shall mourn. Then shall the mortified and subdued flesh triumph over that which was pampered in ease and indulgence; the coarse garment shall shine, and the soft raiment lose its lustre; and the homely cottage shall be more extolled than the gilded palace. Then simple obedience shall be more highly prized than refined subtlety, and a pure conscience more than learned philosophy; the contempt of riches shall be of more value than all the treasures of worldly men; and thou shalt have greater comfort from having prayed devoutly every day, than from having fared deliciously; and shalt more rejoice that thou hast kept silence long, than that thou hadst talked much. Then works of holiness shall avail thee more than the multitude of fine words and a life of self-denial shall give thee more satisfaction than all earthly delights could bestow.

Learn, therefore, now to suffer under afflictions comparatively light, that thou mayst be delivered from sufferings so grievous. Here thou mayst first make trial how much there thou wilt be able to sustain: for if thou art able to bear but little now,

how wilt thou then bear such amazing and lasting torments? If only a slight suffering makes thee so impatient now, what will the rage of hell do then? Behold and consider! thou canst not have a double paradise; thou canst not enjoy a life of delight and pleasure upon earth, and afterwards reign with Christ in heaven.

If to this very day thou hadst lived in honor and pleasure, what would it avail, if thou art to die the next moment? All, therefore, is vanity but the love of God, and a life devoted to his will. He that loveth God with all his heart, fears neither death, nor judgment, nor hell; because "perfect love casteth out fear," and openeth a sure and immediate access to the divine presence. But it is no wonder, that he, who still loves and delights in sin, should fear both death and judgment. Yet, if thou art not to be withheld from sin by the love of God, at least be restrained from it by fear; for he that casts behind him the fear of an offended God, must run precipitately into every snare of the devil.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Zeal in the Reformation of Life.

BE watchful and diligent in the service of God; and frequently recollect, that thou hast left the broad way of the world, and entered into the narrow path of holiness, that thou mightst live to God, and

With increasing ardor,

become a spiritual man. "press" continually "towards the mark," and ere long thou wilt receive "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus ;" when there shall be "no more fear nor sorrow, for God shall wipe all tears from our eyes," and take away all trouble from our hearts. Thus will a short life of inconsiderable labor be exchanged for an everlasting life, not only of perfect rest, but of increasing joy. If thou continue faithful and diligent in laboring, God doubtless will be faithful and rich in recompensing. Maintain therefore, a comfortable hope, that in the end thou shalt inherit the crown of victory; only beware of security, lest it betray thee into sloth or presumption.

Suppose a person deeply perplexed about the state of his soul, continually fluctuating between hope and fear, and overwhelmed with grief, were to repeatedly utter this wish: "O that I certainly knew that I should be able to persevere !" He might be answered thus: "And what wouldst thou do, if this certain knowledge were bestowed upon thee? Do now, that which thou wouldst then do, and rest secure of thy perseverance." If, comforted and established by this answer, he should resign himself to the divine disposal, his perplexity and distress would soon be removed. Instead of indulging anxious inquiries into the future condition of our soul, we should apply ourselves wholly to know what was "the good and acceptable will of God," as the only principle and perfection of every good work. "Trust in the Lord, and do good,” saith the royal

prophet; "so shalt thou dwell in the land, and be fed" with the riches of his grace.

The principal obstacle to the reformation and improvement of life, is dread of the difficulty and labor of the contest. Only they make eminent advances in holiness, who resolutely endeavour to conquer in those things that are most disagreeable and most opposite to their appetites and desires; and then chiefly does a man most advance to higher degrees of the grace of God, when he most overcomes himself, and most mortifies his own spirit.

But though all men have not the same degree of evil to overcome, yet a diligent Christian, zealous of good works, who has more and stronger passions to subdue, will be able to make a greater progress than he that is inwardly calm, and outwardly regular, but less fervent in the pursuit of holiness.

Two things are highly useful to perfect amendment: to withdraw from those sinful gratifications to which nature is most inclined, and to labor after that virtue in which we are most deficient. Be particularly careful also to avoid those tempers and actions that chiefly and most frequently displease thee in others. Wherever thou art, turn every thing to an occasion of improvement: if thou behold or hear of good examples, let them kindle in thee an ardent desire of imitation; if thou seest anything blamable, beware of doing it thyself; or if thou hast done it, endeavour to amend it the sooner. As thy eye observeth, and thy judgment censureth others, so art thou observed and censured by them.