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Affections; ſo that, before our Paſſions be effectually ſub- duced, and our Delight and Hope fixt entirely upon God, many and frequent Conflicts muſt be undergone. And yet at no Expence leſs than this, is our Peace and Quiet to be urchaſed.

For ſo long as a Man reſts upon his own Strength e is eaſily diverted to Worldly Comforts, and taſtes little Satisfaction but what ariſes from ſuch. But he whoſe Soul is enamoured with God and Goodneſs, expects not his Le- ght from Senſual Enjoy ments, but finds a Pleaſure in the = ſcverer Exerciſes of Virtue and Devotion, and even enjoys the Difficulties he undergoes for Chriſt's Sake If then God ſhed down Spiritual Comforts from Above, | entertain the Precious Gift with Humility and Thanks; and loſe not the Effect and Reward of Grace, by ſuppoſing it your Due, er valuing your ſelf upon it.

Rejoice in the | Bleſſing; but temper that Joy with Gratitude. Let it not | {well to Inſolence and Vanity, to Cenſoriouſneſs or Con- tempt of thy weaker Brethren; but the morethou haſt re- ceived, the greater let thy Modeſty be; and the more thy Fear, thy Diligence and Watchfulneſs, that thou abuſe not ſuch gracious Liberality.

For comfort and Gladneſs w ill not laſt always; a Cloud will come betwixt, and interrupt the chearful Beams of this Sun of Righteouſneſs. Tempta- tions wilt have their turn too; and therefore, when theſe fall hard and heavy, let Patience and Humility, not hopeleſs Deſpondency. be the Effect of ſuch Oppreſſions The greatneſs of thy Sufferings muſt inflame thy Truit, thy Leal, thy Devotion; and fervent Prayer is the proper Weapon againſt the Attacks ofour Spiritual Adverſary.

For Matters are not deſperate. He who took away his Sup- orts, only withdraws them for a Seaſon, and to thoſe who 2 them with holy Perſeverance, will at a fit (that is, at his own) time, reſtore them again with Advantage. This is a uſual thing with God.

The prophets and Saints of old have all advanced to their Crowns, by the ſame rough Wa of Grief and Deſertion. Nor may we ſuppoſe, that theſe Diſconſolate Intervals are the Effects of God's Anger and fi- nal Abdication of us. | Obſerve how eminent an Inſtance of theſe Changes we have in the Man after God's own Heart, When — an 84 Of the Imitation Book II. and Favour of God was lifted up upon him, his Mind was 3 Iſaid, I ſhall never [© be caſt down, thou, Lord, of thy Goodneſs, haſt made my Hill“ fo flrong, Pfal. xx. 6.

When this Favour was withdrawn, he conteſſes the Conſequence of it, the need and heavy Im- exalted proportionably ; In my Pro reſſion it made upon his Spirits, Tho didſt turn thy Face From me, and I was troubledy.Ver. 7. But yet this Trouble, ſharp and ſenſible as it was, did not ſink down into Deſpair, His Remedy was Prayer, Then cried I unto thee, O Lord, and got me to my Lord, right humbly, Ver 8.

And how ſucceſsful this Application proved, himſelf declares, The Lord heard me, and had Mercy upon me; thou haſt turned my Mourning into Dancing, thou hoſt put off wy Sackcloth, and girded me with Gladneſs, Ver. 10, 11. ow, if theſe Sorrows were the Portion of thoſe bright Patterns of Pie- ty; if God's dearly beloved Children, and faithfulleſt Ser- vants, have not liv'd conſtantly under his propitious Smiles; if Men of ſo exalted Virtue were yet differently affected, as they felt different Diſpenſations of Providence toward them; What are we poor, we weak, deſertleſs Wretches, that we ſhould hope to have it always warm, always gay?

W hat have We done to confine the kindly Influences of that Spirit, and ſecurethem conſtant to our ſelves, which even to thoſe that uſe and improve it beſt, goes and comes, and blows only where and when it liſteth ? And therefore 7b takes notice of it, as a Fate common to all Mankind, that God does not ſo magnify, or ſet his Heart upon any one a- mong them, but that he wiſe 5 him every Morning, and tries him every woment, Job vil. 3 17,18.

Where therefore can we Gel place our Confidence, ex- G cept in the Grace and Mercy of God only? All other Com- forts are miſerable. The Company and Exhortation of Religious Men, The tender and affectionate Advice of Dcar and Faithful Friends, The Entertainment of good Books, The moving Strains of pious Eloquence, The Heavenly Raptures of Pſalms and Hymns, All theſe adminiſter but very poor and ſlender Relief, to aſſu age the Anguiſh of our Minds, or but ſo much as to divert and deceive our Pain; if God withdraw his Conſolations, and leave us to the deſo- latg Condition of merely Human Helps.