to take Advice, than to give it. For a Man may have confidered and determined well; and yet there may be fome Cafes, which may make it reafonable to depart from that Determination, and give our felves up to be determined by other Perfons. And when thefe Cafes happen, To refufe fuch Compliances, manifeftly betrays our own Self-conceit; and is not Conftancy but Obftinacy of Spirit.

СНАР. Х.

Few Words are best.

DEcline Crowds and Company as much as conveniently you may. For frequent Difcourfe, even of News or Indifferent Things, which happens upon fuch Occafions, is fometimes an Obstruction to Virtue, when leaft intended or fufpected fo to be. The World and its Vanities eafily take hold of us, and our Minds are enfnared and captivated, before we are aware. How often have I found reafon to wifh, that I had not been in Company, or that I had faid nothing, when I was there? If we examine, how it comes to pafs, that Mutual Converfation gives fo great Delight, notwithftanding we fo feldom enjoy that Pleafure with Perfect Innocence; the true Account, I think, is this, That we find our felves diverted by Difcourfe, and unbend our Thoughts from feverer Studies: That what we defire and are moft fond of, or what we have the greatest Averfion to, lyes uppermoft in our Minds; and therefore we propofe fome Ease in discharging our felves upon thefe Subjects.

But how very feldom do we find that Eafe we propole by doing fo? For this outward Confolation mightily takes off from that inward and fpiritual SatistaCtion, in which true Happinefs confifts. Therefore it is our Duty to Watch and Pray, and to fill up the empty Spaces of Life, with thefe holy and retired Exercifes. And if at any time the Refreshments of Company be chofen, and convenient, a ftrict Guard should be fet upon our Tongues, that they utter nothing amifs; but improve thefe very Divertions to the Edification of our felves, and them that hear us. Impertinent and lavish Talking is in it felf a very viciC$2

ous Habit, and a wretched Hindrance to our fpiritual Proficiency. And these two Confiderations ought to make us extreamly cautious in our Converfation. But it is the Priviledge of Virtuous and Religious Difcourfe, that Piety and Goodnefs are wonderfully promoted by fuch Conferences. And then efpecially, when Perfons of the like heavenly Spirit and Temper frequent one anothers Company with a Design of Improving by it.

CHAP. XI.

of Peace of Mind, and a Defire of Improvement. MEn might live quiet and eafie enough, if they would be careful not to give themselves trouble, and forbear medling with what other People do and fay, in which they are no way concerned. But how fhould He be eafie, who makes other Mens Cares his own? Who induftriously feeks Difquiet, and when he might reft in Peace within doors, goes abroad to invite and fetch Difturbance home to his House? who takes fuch Pains, and fpends fo much Time to enquire into the Affairs of Neighbours and Strangers, altogether foreign to him; and feldom or never defcends into his own Breaft, that he may examine and underftand himself? Bleffed are the Meek, fays the Scripture, for they fhall inherit the Earth peaceably, and increase their foy in the Lord, Matth. 5.5. Ifai. 29. 19.

And whence is it, think you, that fome Holy Perfons can fo perfectly abftract themselves from the Concerns of this World, and find fuch Satisfaction in their Divine Retirements, and Solitary Contemplations? From hence, no doubt; that they have made it their Business to mortifie all earthly and fenfual Affections, and fo have devoted themfelves entirely to God, and are at liberty to attend upon Him without Diftraction. But we find the cafe much otherwise with us, because our Paffions interrupt our Piety, and the Tranfitory Things of this World continue tenderly to affect us. We feldom gain an entire Conqueft over any one ill Habit; nor are we zealous to make every Day we live a Step to higher Degrees of Virtue. This is the reason why we are fo cold and infenfible, or at

best

best but lukewarm and indifferent, in the Exercises of Piety and Private Meditation.

Were we but, as we ought to be, dead to the World and our own Lufts, difentangled from thofe Chains and Snares within, that hamper and keep our Souls down to Matter and Senfe, then fhould We alfo relish A&ts of Devotion, and be ravifhed with marvellous Joy, when our Thoughts are fixed on God and Heaven. The only, or the greateft Bar to thefe Spiritual Delights, proceeds from Paffions unfubdued, and from our own Sloth, which cares not to encounter Difficulties, nor afpire to the Perfection of the Saints. Hence is that Tameness and Dejection of Spirit, fo vifible, fo fcandalous, when any little Misfortune comes aerofs us: Hence our vain Confidence, and anxious Care, which feeks and depends upon Humane Helps and Remedies; and neglects God, our only fufficient Refuge and Deliverer.

Would we but quit our felves like Men, and refolutely ftand our Ground, we should not fail of SucCours from above. God is always ready to ftrengthen those who ftrive lawfully, and place their Hope in the Affiftance of his heavenly Grace; He means our very Hard fhips and Dangers for our Good; and engages us in new Conflicts and Temptations, that he may make our Victories more glorious, and qualifie us for a brighter Crown. If we content our felves with the Obfervance of the outward Duties only, and fuppofe this is the utmost Perfection neceffary for us; we bring Religion into a very narrow Compafs, and may quickly get to the End of it. But alas! the Main of our Bulinefs lyes within: The Ax muft be laid to the Root of the Tree, and our Senfual Appetites quite cut down, before we can attain to true Pleafure in Holiness, and a peaceful Serenity of Mind.

Would we but impofe upon our felves the Task of Mortifying a fresh Luft, and Conquering a vicious Habit every Year; even thus in a little time we might attain to Perfection. But alas! we often take the direct contrary courfe; and are generally more wary, more devout, more zealous, to do well, and to avoid evil, when we first enter upon a Religious Life, than after we have spent fome time in it. The Fervour of

C 3

our

our Affection, which ought in reason to grow every Day stronger and brighter, cools and goes out again; and we reckon it a great matter, if our Zeal can be kept up to the fame warmth, which we felt at its first kindling. We are too tender of our Eafe, and loth to put our felves upon the ftretch: whereas, would we but ufe a little Severity, and fubmit to fome Violence at firft, that Trouble would quickly wear off; and all our Progress in Virtue be, not eafie and tolerable only, but even a Delight and wonderful Satis faction to us.

'Tis hard, I own, to part with our old Friends, and to unlearn Habits to which we have been long accustomed: And harder yet it is, to enter into a formal War with our own Inclinations; and obftinately deny what we eagerly defire. But if we do not conquer fmaller Difficulties, what will become of us, when affaulted by greater? If we do not refift our natural Propenfions at first, before Inclination is ftrengthened by Cuftom, the Enemy will gather Strength; every Day's Practice is a fresh Reinforcement; and the longer the Delay, the greater will be the Difficulty, O think of this in time, and confider the happy Effects of an early and ferious Piety: What Peace, what Triumphs to your felves; what Joy. to others, to God and Christ, to Angels and Good Men you will certainly, procure, by behaving your felves gallantly in this Spiritual Warfare. This fure will Ballance all the Hardfhips of Virtue; reproach your Cowardice and Sloth, provoke and inflame your Diligence and Courage; and make you zealous, refolute, impatient, to grow in Grace, and advance every Day in Spiritual Perfection.

CHA P. XII..

The Advantage of Afflictions.

IT is good for me, that I have been in Trouble, fays Da vid, Pfalm 119. Nor is it David's Cafe alone, for many Men have reafon to blefs that Providence, which fends Craffes and Calamities upon them. Thefe bring a Man's Thoughts home, put him upon Reflection, and help him to understand himself and his Conditi

on

on. They fhew him, that he is in a State of Exile and Pilgrimage, and forbid him to fet up his Hope and Reft, in a ftrange Country, where he is no beteer than a Sojourner.

Nor is it thus with thofe Sufferings alone, which the immediate Hand of Heaven inflicts; but even thofe whereof Men are the Inftruments: The Injuries and contumelious Ufage, the Calumnies and Cenfures of them who fpeak and think ill of us, bring their Profit with them too; even when moft wrongful, most undeferved. For thefe oftentimes are an occafion of rectifying our Meafures, and bringing us to a jufter and more modeft Opinion of our felves: They cure our Ambition and Vain-glory, and convince us how vain a thing it is, to thirst after Reputation and the Praise of Men, when even Innocence and Goodness connot protect us from Slander and Reproaches. They teach us to fet a due Value upon the Testimony of our own Confciences, and the righteous Approbation of God, the Searcher of Hearts; when that which he will not fail to Commend and Reward, cannot escape the Contempt and Condemnation of the World, nor prevail for fo much as fair Quarter, from our miftaken or injurious Brethren.

It is therefore both our Duty and our Wisdom, fo entirely to place our Happinefs and Expectations in God alone, that we fhall not need to be extreamly Solicitous for many outward Comforts, or feel our felves Deftitute or much Dejected, when any of these happen to fail or forfake us. For, when a well difpofed Man is oppreffed with Sufferings, and Temptations, or perplexed with evil Thoughts, he then feels experimentally, how neceffary the Divine Affiftance is, and how little he is able to do or endure without it; Then is he touched with inward Remorfe, Then does he Groan in fecret, and, in the anguish of his Heart, pour out his Requefts for Relief and Deliverance: Then even Life it felf becomes a Burden, and Death defirable; as that, which will tranflate him from this Valley of Tears and Corruption, to a Life of Immortality with his God and Redeemer. In a word, Such Circumstances as thefe are more effectual than ten thousand Arguments, to Convince him by his own

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