yet this was that which caused her just joy, that she had not so much children as nations in her womb: even so the trouble of this inward conflict is abundantly requited with the joy of this assurance, That now Christ is come into our soul, and is working his own desired ends in and upon us. Let vain and sensual hearts please themselves in their inward peace and calmness-there cannot be a greater sign of gracelessness and disfavour of God: When they shall say peace, peace, then shall come upon them sudden destruction.' The old word was, "No safety in war:" here, it is contrary. It is this intestine war of the heart, with fire and sword to our corruptions, that must bring us true rest for the present; and hereafter, eternal peace and happiness. Now, Lord, since it is thy desire that this fire should be kindled, kindle thou and enflame my heart with a fervant desire and endeavour, that this thy desire may be accomplished in me. Set me at war with myself, that I may be at peace with thee.

XVI.

In all that we have to do with God, he justly requires and expects from us an awful disposition of heart towards his infiniteness. Hereupon it was that he delivered his law in thunder, fire, smoke, and all dreadful magnificence; and when upon the same day he would send down his Spirit for the propogation of the gospel, it was done with an astonishing majesty; with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and with the apparition of cloven and fiery tongues.' And as it was thus

Acts ii. 2, 3.

in the descent of the Holy Ghost in the miraculous gifts, so it is in the sanctifying graces; seldom ever doth God by them seize upon the heart, but with a vehement concussion going before. That of St. Paul's conversion was extraordinary and miraculous; but in some degree, it is thus in every soul; we are struck down first, and are made sensible of our spiritual blindness, ere our full call can be accomplished. As it was with Elijah in the Mount of Horeb, there came first a strong wind that tore the rocks and mountains, and after that an earthquake, then a fire, before the still small voice; so it is usually in our breasts, ere the comfortable voice of God's Spirit speak to our hearts: there must be some blustering and flashes of the law. It is our honour and his favour that we are allowed to love God: it is our duty to fear him. We may be too familiar in our love: we cannot be too awful in

our fear.

XVII.

All valuations of these outward things are arbitrary, according to the opinion of their pleasure or their rarity, or the necessity of their use. Did not men's minds set a price upon metals, what were they better than some other entrails of the earth, or one better than the other? If by public law the mint were ordained to be only supplied by our stannaries, how currently would they pass for more precious than silver mines. To an Indian, a bracelet of worthless beads is estimated above his gold; a hungry Esau values a mess of pottage above his birth-right. In the siege of Samaria an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and a cab of dove's-dung for five pieces.' We have 1 2 Kings vi. 25.

heard that those of Angola have valued a dog at the price of many slaves. In all these earthly commodities, the market rises and falls, according to conceit and occasion; neither is there any intrinsical and settled worth in any of them: only spiri=tual things, as virtue and grace, are good in themselves, and so carry their infinite value in them that they make their owner absolutely rich and happy. When, therefore, I see a rich man hugging his bags and admiring his wealth, I look upon that man with pity, as knowing the poorness of that pelf wherein he placeth his felicity; neither can I behold him with other eyes than those wherewith a discreet European sees a savage Indian priding himself in those trifles which our children have learned to contemn. On the other side, when I see a man rich in the endowments of mind, well fraught with knowledge, eminent in goodness, and truly gracious, I shall rise up to that man, how homely soever his outside be, as the most precious and excellent piece which this world can afford.

XVIII.

Should I but see an angel, I should look, with Manoah, to die no other death than the sight of that glory; and yet even that angel is fain to hide his face, as not able to behold the infinite majesty of God his Creator. When Moses did but talk with God in the mount for forty days, his face did so shine, that the Israelites could not look upon the lustre of his countenance; even the very presence of the Divine Majesty not only hath, but communicates, glory. Lord, that I could see but some glimpse of the reflection of those glorious beams of thine upon my soul! how happy should

I be in this vision, whose next degree is perfectly beatifical!

XIX.

As good, so evil is apt to be communicative of itself; and this so much more as it meets with subjects more capable of evil than good. The breath of a plague-sick man taints the air round about him; yea, the very sight of blear eyes infects the sound, and one yawning mouth stretcheth many jaws. How many have we known, that have been innocent in their retiredness, miserably debauched with lewd conversation. Next to being good, is, to consort with the virtuous. It is the most merciful improvement of a holy power to separate the precious from the vile; it is the highest praise of a constant goodness for a Lot to be righteous in the midst of Sodom.

XX.

We are all apt to put off the blame of our miscarriages from ourselves. Even in paradise we did so: 'It was the woman,' saith Adam: 'It was the serpent,' saith the woman. How have we heard fond gamesters cast the blame of their ill luck upon the standers by, which intermeddled nothing but by a silent eye-sight. So the idolatrous pagans of old, though flagitiously wicked, yet could impute their public judgments to none but the Christians, whose only innocence was their protection from utter ruin. So foolishly partial doth our self-love render us to our own demerits, that all are guilty save ourselves. Yea, rather than we will want shifts, our very stars shall be blamed. which are no more accessary to our harms, than our eyes are to

the eclipses of their most eminent lights. As, on the contrary, we are ready to arrogate unto ourselves those blessings which the mere bounty of divine providence hath cast upon us; whereto we could not contribute so much as a hand to receive them, but by the mercy of the giver. It cannot be well with me till I have learned to correct this palpable injustice in both; challenging to myself all my errors and guilt of sufferings, and yielding to God the praise of his own free and gracious benificence.

XXI.

How profitable and beneficial a thing is affliction, especially to some dispositions more than other! I see some trees that will not thrive unless their roots be laid bare; unless, besides pruning, their bodies be gashed and sliced: others, that are too luxuriant, except divers of their blossoms be seasonably pulled off, yield nothing. I see too rank corn, if it be not timely eaten down, may yield something to the barn, but little to the granary. I see some full bodies that can enjoy no health without strong evacuations, blood-lettings, fontinels. Such is the condition of our spiritual part; it is a rare soul that can be kept in any constant order without these smarting remedies-I confess mine cannot; how wild had I run if the rod had not been over me! Every man can say he thanks God for ease; for me, I bless God for my troubles.

XXII.

When I consider what an insensible atom man is, in comparison of the whole body of the earth; and what a mere centre-point the earth is, in comparison of the vast circumference of heaven; and