Spiritital PerfediOJi. immediate and unfeigned Hfue of the Soul, whofe praife u not of /Vfen, that cannot by their moll fearching fight dive into the Heart; but of God, who is the maker and fearcher df the Heart. Briefly, As between Friends, Converfation increafes Love, aod Love incrc1fi:-s Convcrfation, fo between God and a Saint, Communion increafes Love, and Love Cacrimu7~ioT~ forgive Injuries, and overcome Evil rvit/; Good, difcovers a Chrift ian to b~ divine~ ly Excellent. Love is the brightell: lleam of th~ divine Beauty. wherei n God doth moll: delight and excel. The returmng good for !'Vil IS the noblell: effctt of Love, wheretn our nearell: refemblance of God confill:s. We have the Example of it in the highell: deg ree d f ~~~~~~;~1~~~ 0~i!~!~~~!n~:v:~sr~ntf[e~v~~·y:~~is0~~~~1c:n~i~~~J~e~~~~n~is ~~~~r~;, ~~ ~ infinitely obliging: the Miferies he fuffer'd were extreme, a Death equally ignominious and cruel: the Dignity of his perfon was truly Infinite. Yet in the extremity of his fuf. ferings, when the fenfe of Injuries is moll: quick and exafperating, in the midll: of t heir fcornfullnfultings, he earnell:ly prayed for their Pardon; Fathtr forgive them, they kn' w Luko ,~l not what they do. He might have call'd upon tho righteous 1 udge of the World, the revenger of opprell: Innocence, tO have dell:roy'd them by Fire from Heaven: but he addreffes his Requell: by that Title that was moll endearing him tO God, Father forz, ive them, 'tis the defire of thy Son, dying in Obedience to thy Will, they know nottheg rratnefs ofthei> guilt. Now the marc we are conforrn'd to oU:r meek and forgivi ng Saviour, the more we approach to Perfettion. And the more the Corrupt Nature in us is provok'd, and fierce up· on Revenge, the doiug good for evil is the more fure proofof excellent Vertue, and clear ViClory over our [elves. 8. The more receptive petfons are of Spiri.tual Counfel and Admonition, for the pre· venting or recovery from Sm, they are the more holy. 'Tis Da:vid'sdeGre, Let tl~e rig_/,. Pial. '<~-'·S· ttom{mitt me~ it fhali be a kindnejJ; and let him reprove me, it f/:ialt be an excellent ost rvhuh fba/1 not break my htad. There is no Counfel fo truly valuable, as that which proceeds from Wifdom and Love in matters of importance. If a Friend difcovers by indications and fymptoms, a difeafe that infenfibly has feiz'd on us ,does not his compaffionate Advice endear him to us? How much rather lhould we meekly and thankfully receive a prudent and feafonable reproof of a Spiritual Friend, for the healing our Souls, whofe Difeafes are far more dangerous, and lefsdifcernible than thofe of the Body. 'Tis the moll: facred and beneficial Office of Frieodfhip, and like the Compaffiooate Love of the Angel to Lot, in leading him out of Sodom. And as the moll: excellent Metal Gold, •is moll: pliant and eafily wrought on, fo the moft excellent Tempers are moll: teceptible of holy Counfel. Yet the Natural Man is very averfe from a meek fubmiffion to reproof (or Sin. A vicious Self-love, of which Pride is the produttiop, makes us ro overvalue our Reputation : now to reprove, implies a fuperiority, which occafions impatience and difdain. Though the Duty be perform'd with prudence and tendernefS, and refpeClive Modell:y, yet 'tis ufually very unacceptable. Men Will excufe and extenuate, and fometimes defend their Sins; nay, fometimes recoil with Indignation upon a faithful Reprover. 'Tis as ~angerpus to gi~e an Admonition to fame proud ~pirits, as 'tis to take.a Thorn out of a Lyons foot. 'TIS therefore evident, that. when a JUll: Reproof is receiv'd with MeeknefS and Acceptance, there is a great love of Holinefs, as when one takes a very unpleafant Medicine, it argues an earnell: deore of Health. He is an e.xcellenr. Saint, that when Confcieoce has • not by its direttive Of!ice prevented his falling into Sin, and a fincerc Friend endeavours to refiore him, is not angry at the Reproof, but forry he deferves it. Latlly, The dcliberaredefire of death, that we may arrive at the ll:ate of perfec.t Holinefs, is the effeEl of exceflent Grace.. There is no defire more natural and ll:\·ong, thanof the enjoyment and commuance of Ltfe : There IS no fear more mfuperablc, than of certain and inevir ~ ble death. Thofe who do not fear it at adiftance, are !truck whh Terrors at the afpcEl •nd approaches of it. Caroal Men,1whofe Heaven is here, at the fear fui apprehenfions and forefightofit, are ready to link into defpair. Nay, holy Men, who have the profpctt of Cceletlial Hapemefs beyond Death, and believe that the pangs of Deat h arc throws for theu· dehverance to Eternal Ltfe, are apt to il1rink at the thoughrs of their di!folution. If the change from an earthly to a heavenly th ee, were not by our bdJJg uncloth'd, but tobeelotlidllponwith glory, (which St. Par~! declare• ro be the deore of N ature ) the. hopes of ~eing C?ritl in his glory, and being transformed inw his likenefs, would fo Inflame their AffettiOns, that they would be impatient of being abfent from him . B.u~ the neceqity of ?ying, ~hat we may afcend into his reviving prefcnce, is {0 bitter, that diVIne grace IS rcqmfite to mduce us to confent to it. St. Peur was an ardent lover of Cbriil,
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