248 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING Christian life, consisteth so much in resisting the devil, mortifying the flesh, and overcoming the world ! And it is God's business in his inward works of grace, and his outward teachings, and sharp afflictions, and examples of others, to convince them of the vanity and vexation of the world, and thoroughly to wean them from it; and yet that it should be so high in their estimation, and sit so close to their hearts, that they cannot bear the loss of it without such discontent, disquiet, and distraction of mind ! Yea, though when all is gone, they have their God left them, they have their Christ still whom they took for their treasure ; they have opportunities. for their . souls, they have the sure promise of glory, yea, and a promise, that "all , things shall work together for their good ; " yea, and for that one thing that is taken from them they have yet an hundred outward mercies re- maining, that yet even believers should have so much unbelief! and have their faith to seek, when they should use it, and live by it ! And that God should seem so small in their eye, as not . to satisfy or quiet them, unless they have the world with him; and that the world should still seem so amiable, when God bath done so much to bring it into contempt ! Truly this (and more) shows that the work of mortification is very imperfect in professors, and that we bend not the force of our daily strivings and endeavors that way. If Christians did bestowas much time and pains inmor- tifying the flesh, and getting down the interest of it in, the soul, that Christ's interest maybe advanced, as they.do about contro- versies, external duties, formalities, tasks of devotion, and self-tor- menting fears, O whatexcellent Christiansshould we.then be !' And bow happily would mostof our disquiets be removed! Alas, ifwe are so unfit to part with one outward comfort now, upon the dis- posal of our Father's providence, how should we forsake all for Christ? O, what shall we do at death, when all' must be parted with ! As ever, therefore,youwould live in trueChristian peace, set more by Christ, and less by the world, and all things in it; and hold all that youpossess so loosely, that it may not be grievous to you when you must leave them. So much for the troubles that arise from your body and outward state. All the restshall be directed for the curing of those troubles that arise immediately frommore spiritual causes. Direct. III. 'Be sure that you first lay sound apprehensions of God's nature in your understanding, and ldy them deeply.' Tisis is the first article of your creed, and the first part of"life eternal, to knowGod!" His substance is quite past human un- derstanding ; therefore never make any attempt to reach to the knowledge of it, or to have any positive conceiving ofit, for they will be all but idols, or false conceptions ; but his attributes are
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