316 Spiritual Perfection. learn'd inwhatfoever !late I am, to be con- tent : I know how to be abafed, and I know how to abound : every where and in all things I am i;sJlruc`led both to befull and to be hun- gry, both to abound, and toflier need. In Profperity he was lowly and temperate, ready to relign all at the firff call of the Giver. In Adverfity he was content, as ifhe had a fecret Treafure, a conceal'd Fountain iffuing from within, he was Rich in his deep Poverty ; for 'tis not acquiring Poffeflions, but the retrench- -ing our Defires , that makes us truly Rich. All the Gold and Silver of the Weft-Indies, and the Pearls and Jewels of the EaJt, cannot truly enrich the,Soul. This Leffon he had learnt in the School of Heaven, and by Experience and Ex- ereife made it Familiar to him, as our Saviour learnt obedience by his Suer- ings. This is a Duty as difficult as excellent: therefore a wife and holy Man either confcious of his own weaknefs, or fufpi- cious of his ftrength, fo earneffly depre- Prov. 3°. s, 9. cated the Extremes : Give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with food con- venientfor me, left I be full and deny thee, and fay, who is the Lord? Or left I be poor andfteal, and take the name of the Lord in vain. He was not without doubt or dangez
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