·--~· ~· __________ :. Spiritual Perftllion. Man !mows better how God lbould be honourd than himfelf does; and how ucprof.tabl~ they are to us, is evident; for being ufed without his \Varranc and PromifC, we cc:nnorexpe£1: the con v e~ance of hi~ Grace, and obta ining his Favour by them. Only Spi· rimal Religton, the Inward reahty, ts of value m h1s elleern. \V hen the Undedbndtng is fpiritually inlighrned, it eltecms the fimplicity of Gof~cl-wor!hi~ to be itstrue Beam~. 'Tis like the nakednefs of Paradlfe, the md1cauon ot the unlta~ned Punry cf our orll Parents in that ftate. 'Tis true, in the Wor!hip of God, we are to glori6e him U' ith ·our Bodies, to behave our [elves in fuch a manner, as may exprefs Reverence, and excite Affetl:ion; but the joining Humane Devices upon that pretence, is the Giare of confl: icnce, and has been fatal to rhe Peace of the Church. l· The Mind, when fpiritually illuminated, fees the true worth of the Saint· , though in an obfcure condition, and accordingly honours and loves them. 'Tis the character of one that {baiJ dweO in the holy hill of God, tiJ4t in his EJO a vile per{on i4 contemned; b1tt he pf,J. 1s. I' honours th<m tiMt {<ar th< Lord. Carnal Men are llruck with outward Splendour, bu r inward Beauty is not within their profpc£1:. They defpife the holy, who are poor aqd mean in their outward circumA:ances. But the Spiritual Man looks upon thofe who are lofty aod lawlefs, with Contempt, as beneath Men, in an igncminious bondage eo che1r Lulls: Butthe godly, who are dignified with the glo rious Titles of the Saints, and Sons of God, are moll precious and dear to him. It is cafie w Jmow a Picture well drnwn, if we are acquainted with the. P~r!on whom it r~prefe.ms : Thofc .who ~now v.:ha t Holinefs is in God, know what 1t ts 10 Men. Hohnefs ts the elfentJal pur1ty of hts Nature, whereby he is infinitely oppofite to all Moral Evil. Accordingly, thofe who are uodefiled w ith finful Evils, are certainly his Children. David fides them, The excellent, i" whom u all hio delight. It argues a clearer Spirit, and more facre~ Temper, to difcover the lbining excellencies of the Saints, notwithllanding their eclipfe by the intcrpofiog medium of their Afflt8ions. The Apoftle tells us of fame that wandrtd tn j1:er·ps sh1s H~b. 1 ' · 37 , and goats skim, being d~flitr~tt, A.lflifled, tormtnted, eonjintd t o dtm and eaves, of whom the. 38 World w,u no( worthy. , The Divine Image is renewed in the Saints, and fhines in their Lives, and makes them amiable in God's Eyes, and fa dear to hirnJ that he gives them in charge w rhe ~~IT~Is,.;~~::~it;t,i~~g~;h:~~r;h~;i~~c~~~~r~~1~~~n~~u{b~~~~s,b;o~~~;~Y t~~~ ;m~ Cl:ions. Without an internal Light t~eir value is not known. 3· To prefe rve an equal Temper of Mind, and teoour of Converfation, in the various turns and changes ot the prefent ftace, argues an el!:cellenc degree of Holinefs. The condition of Men in this World, is like rhe Sea, the Theatre of Inconllaocy . Their AffeCtions arc like the Winds, fome are Turbid, others Serene and Chearful ; fame Warm and Comforting, others Cold and -!harp; fome Placid and Gentle, others Stormy and Furious; and 'cis as d1fficult to regulate the AffeCl:tons, as to order thbfe difcord~n t Spirits in the 2\i'r. They are the moft depraved Faculties in Ma n : there are iOme foarks of Light and Purity in the Natural Confcience, but the Paflions are the Fountain~ of Sin and Folly. By their unruly Infurretl:ioo, the underltanding is depos'd, and men are' brought into a brutilh Servitude. They are fometimes Jealous to Rage, Sad to DeP pair, Dead with Fear, Drunk with Joy and fond Hopes of conceited Happinefs. To free us from their Vanity and Tyranny, is the moll Noble effeCt of Grace. · Now thefe dark Powers are never more unruly 'and turbulenr, than in the change Of ConditionS, whether Profperous or Calamitous. The obfetvation of Hjppo~ratls; 'cHat the change of Seafons-breeds Difeafes in the Body, is equally true in the change of' Mens Conditions with rcfpe£1: to thedilleropers of the Mind: efpecially iftwoCircumfiances are joyn'd, that the Changes be great and fudden: as 'tis an infu lferablc violence to J'ia· t'ure co paiS immediately from one Extreme to another. 'Tis argued on both fidei , Whether fudden and great Calamities do more di[order the Mind by Defpair, or fuddei! ':l nd great Profperity by vain Prefumption. This may be faid, that Affiiflons are more apt to rellore Rcofon that was loll in profperity, as is vifible by frequent Experience: and in fudden Pro!perity many have loll the Underllanding they had in a low Condition." r • ' Tis a point of high and holy Wifdom, little underltood and lefs pratlis'd, to m• noge Profperity with Humility and Difcretion, and bear adverlity with Pa ti ence, co polfdS rhe Soul, and guide it by. clear and ftedd}' Rules becoming every Condition. St. Paul de- Ph,iJ. 411 ll clares, I have learn'd m what{oever flate I am, to be content: I l·now how to be abafal . ttnd ' · I know how to abo1md: <Very whm and in all things I am inj/r11fl<d both to be fuU and to be N n n n hfl»gry,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=