OCR Text |
Show 0 s : J2 ' " Sottas Q!KejijH5.: : CHAPTER XX. Of the love of s?olUude and si!r.ce, seek a convenient time of leisure for thyself, and meditate often upon God's loving kinar.3.5. Meddle noft with things k high for thee, but read such firings as may rather yield compunction compunc-tion to thy heart than occupation to thv head. If thou wilt withdraw thyself from speaking vainly, and from gadding idly, a-i also from hearkening after novelties and remcrso, thou shak find leisure enoinrh and n i i,a hlo fn.r mfirliir n'tion on good thing.?. The greatest Saints avoided avoid-ed the society of men, whan they could conveniently; and did rather choosy to live in God in secret. One said: "As oft as I have been among men, I returned home less a man than I was before." And th:i.s we find true, when we talk long together. It is easier net to toeak Qt all, than not to exceed in speech. It iis easier for a man to lie hid at home, than to be able s-jfTieiently to wa-tdh over him-i??lf him-i??lf abroad. He, therefore, that intends to attain to the more inward and spiritual thing.s of religion, mud:, with Jelsus, depart from the multitude and preJs of peo-r'.e! peo-r'.e! I No man d-th safely appear abroad, but he who can abide at home. No man doth safely speak, but he that iis g.'.xd to hold bis peace. No man d-.:th siifely rule, buft he that ia gliad 'to be ruled. No man doth safely rule, but he tha'-t hath learned gladly to obey. No man rejoicet'h eafely, unless he ha:th within him the testimony of a good conscience. And et always tlhe security of the Saints was full of the feiar of God. Neither wore they tb.? leas anxious and humble in themselves, for that they shone outwardly with grace and great virtues. But the security of bad men arirjeth from pride and presumption and in the er.-:l it deceiveltth them. Although thou seam to be a good, religious P'er-iion, P'er-iion, or a devout solitary, yet never promise thyself security in this life. Oft-timcvj t!hc;33 who have been in the greatest esteem and account amcngi;it men have fallen imto- the groatent danger, by overmuch self-con- fidfnrp Wherefore to many it is m're pro-Stable not to be al'toget'her free from temptations, but to be often assaulted, lent they should feel too s'afe, anld so, I perhaps, be puffed up with pride; or elss s'hould too freely give themselves to worldly comforts. O, how gocd a cor.i?i;ienee Would he keep that would never seek after transitory tran-sitory joy. neir ever entangle himyelf with Che world! O, what gre?tt peace and quietness would he pT.'MOTS. that would cut off all vain anxiety, and think only of divine tihingis. and such e.s are profitable for his soul, and would place ail h.'is confidence confi-dence in God! j No man is worthy of ?javenly com- I . fort. unle;;s he h'E;s iHii'igently exerexied hirmi.-'l!; in holy compunction. ; If thou dtLiireiti'i true con.trit.iorv heart, enter into thy secret cham-ber, I ami itiut out the tumults of the wr-rld. n.s it ':a written: "Commune wJ;h your j own heart, and in your chamber and be I f til'." In thy c'hamher thou shalt find j what abroad thou shalt too often lose. The more thou visit thy chamber, tlhe .more thou wilt ern-jy :.; the lei thou j co;r.f--t tliierounCo the mere thou wilt I loathe it. If. in the beginning- of thy conversion, i th-on tint iir.nt. nf trt r,-rr.n,in in it. and j keep to lit well; it will afterwards be i to thee a dear friend and a nw.it pl-cus-I ant comfort. In I'ilence and stillness a relisrious soul improves itsielf, and learns the my.-teriea of the Holy Scripture. Where it fm de-jit riven of tears, where ! in it may every might wash ami cManc'-j itself; that it may be t-' much tho nrjre familiar with its Creator, by hw m(ph the farther off it liveth from all worldly world-ly dl-snuiet. Whoso, therefore, withdraweth him-aelf him-aelf from his acquaintance and friend--'. God will draw near unto 'him with Ilia holy ancels-. It ia hotter for a man to live privately and to have regard to himself than l neglect his oul. though he could work wonders in the world. It commendable in a religious person per-son -seldom to go abroad, to be unwilling unwill-ing to see or to be seen. Why art thou dssiirous to rw th'Vt which is unlawful for thee to have? The world pa.sr-.ctth away and the lust thereof. The luata of the flesh draw u to rove abroad: but when th'e time if past, what t'ikc-:t thou home with thee hot a burdened conscience and a distracted dis-tracted heart! A merry g'oing- fci'h b ring-fit h often a. mournful return, amd a joyful night ma.keth ofton a t'ad morning. So all oarml joy enters gently, but in flhe end it b'.Ws and etinto to death. What rnn-at thou ?ee f'swbere which -thou ea,r.';u mt aee here?'' Bj-hold the heaven, and tlhe earth, and all tlhe elements, for of thetie are all tihinps created. What can.it 'thou flee anywhere tWat can long continue und;r the sun? Thou thinketit, perchance, to nitrify thyself, but thou can :tt never attain it. OoulAat thou see all th.nga pretir.i; before be-fore thine ey-ea, w halt were i. but a vain ,ti;rhf Lift up thine eycia 'to God in the highest, high-est, and pray Him to pardon tiny s-inf. Leave vain things to the vain: but be thou Intent upon tbcir-e things which God hath commar-d.-d thee. Shut thy doer upon thee, and call unUo thee Jesus, thy beloved. Stay with Him in thy elegit: foT thou fiha'lt ndt find eo great paace any, where else. If thou had?t gone abroad and ht'ark-en ht'ark-en to idle rumor'3. 'thou woulci.lt the bet-tar bet-tar have preaar-ved n happy ptace of mind. But since thou cieli&btcut some'timera to hear new thing's, it is but fit thou suffer for it eome diruietude of heart. . ' 1 |