Rules and helps to Chr flian meennefje. 205, through Gods mercy I have found this, that when I have been; able to overcome my paffìon, I have had the fweetef+time that ever I have had in all my life : when I could deny my felfe,and exercife meeknefs, ô the quiet of any 'heart, it was worth a' world, and (hail I loofe this for a trifle, now for a toy, ô the poore trifles and toyes that men and women do cart away the quietnefs of their ipirits for, as if they were nothing worth : If a man had a golden ball in his hand, and any in the (+reel íhould cart dirt upon him, would it not be accounted a folly in him to throw his golden ball at them againe that caf+ dirt upon him, ro revenge himfelfe that way ;; truly thus you doe, you that have any of this grace of meeknefs in your hearts, and ever have had any quietnefs through the exercife of this grace, now there comes a temptation, fuch moue Both things difpleafng to you; and croffes you will, how do you revenge your (elves; you çaft this golden ball away upon them,that is, the qùietnefs ana meeknefs of your fpirits, you loofe this upon them : Ac- count it at.a high rate, and therefore loofe it nor for a little That's the -fi rft rule. A fecoiid rule to helpe'us againf+paflìon, from the exercife of teeknefs and quietnefs, it is often to covenant with God (yet in the ftrength of Chrif +) and though it be but for a little time, as thus, why may you not covenant thus with God, you that find that you are overcome in your ;paffion, and you fay you are troubled for them, and would fame get viegory over them to,the exercife of this grace of meeknefs, why may you nor when you rife in the morning thus bethink your felves,' why '(is like this day there may fall fomewhat out that may flir:- my paffìon, and take away the comfort of meeknefs that I have had ; w 11 Ile covenant, (though Gods inabling of me ) now this da, , that what ever (ball befall me, this day I will be qui- et till night, ar leaf+, fie beare it but till that time, and upon this con:îderation,that if there be any carafe for me to be furred and angry, I may be f +irred and angry afterwards for it, and .:I may right my felfe as well afterwards asthis day,bur for this day Tam refolved that I will fet my {-elf::: to curb my natl.= and my will for this One dày, and if you think that be too long,do it but till
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