fome fa!fe glaffe,oratadifi ance, which makes them fo admire them ; but if they could fee them truly in themfelves, oh how uncomely would they be? or if they could fee them as compared to Chrifi, oh how vain would they be? honours and greatnelfe in that refpect would appear as bubbles, pleafures and delights in that refpeCI: would appear as lbadows. 2. Converfe but a little with any evil thing on this fide Chrifi; · Have as li~tle to do with the world, the finful pleafures, profits, riches, manners of it as poffibly you can. the lelfer the better; things of this 'world have a glutinous q~alit:y, ' if you leNhe heart lie any whileamongfr them, ~t wil,l cleave unto them,and ifit once cleave to them, there will be no way but either repentance or heil-fiJ;"e muft par~ them. 3. Be more and better acquainted with Jefus Chrift; get nearer to him , be more in communion with him , get more tafi:es ofChrift and heaven, and earth wiil relilh the worfe for them. Oh when I look on Chrifi, ·and confider, that he that was the Lord o( heaven and earth, put himfelf into fo poor ;tnd low ajcondition, meerly f-or the redeeming of his Elect, how _. I'hil. 3 ,s. £hould this but deadden my heart to the world? I account all < things but lof{e for the excellency of the k._nowledge of Chrift {efus my Lord, and account them but dung that I may win Chrift. If Cbrift be in view, all the world then is but dung, and drolfe, and lolfe.in comparifon; the glory ofChrift will darken all other· things in the world. . · 4 · Set before U\ toe examplesoffuch Saints, who accounted themfelves pilgrims and ftrangers upon earth. The Apofile fieb. 1 1, r 3 . gives you a Catalogue of fuch, who confeffed that they wereftrangers and pilgrims on theearth,and fee how they are ufed,thCJ were 3 7 , floned, they were f aJVen afunder, were tempted, wereJlaine with the [word, they wandredabout in jbe(p-skjns, andgoat-skjns , being de38. ftitute, ajfiiEl:ed, tormented; who werethefe? they were they of whom the world was not worthy. Oh when you read, or hear how - joyfully thefe fervants of t.he mofi high went through their wil- ' derneffe. condition , methinks this !hould take off your hearts from earthly things. , . 5. Go in your meditations to heaven, and keep there a while; the minde that is in heaven cannot attend thefe earthly things; would aman leave his plougq and harveft in the field to runne · • ·· with
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