206 Rules and helps to Chr:flian meekneff '. till noon, to refolve that from this time till noon, whatever befalls me I will manifefl no paillon, but I will rather take it into confideration after noon, or the next day then now, one , ould think this were not impo:fible,for a man though of a very hafly fpirit, yet to be relolved for one day that what ever falls out to beare with it that day : -- But you will fay,this wil not mortifie that corruption of pai lon . But though it will .not ,mortifie it, yet you cannot imagine what polder 'there will :be in keeping down your paflîon but for a while : As fire, we know, if it be but fmothered, -it may be put out that way ; and that man or woman that can but overcome themfelves for one day, Will find fuch fweetnefs that day, that they will begin to think with themfelves, why may not I covenant for to morrow too,and then they will find fo much fweetnefs for that day,they will think they may refolve for the next day. O if you could but' overcome your felves for a day , you finde fo much -good , as it would exceedingly helpe you againll another .day. But thirdly, This _covenanting will not be fuffìcient except there be humiliation for that that s pail : Thofe that onely re- folve to fet upon a duty, and are not humbled for the want of the duty before, they are like to doe little good by their refo- lutions, you mull therefore if you would overcome your felves, and fet upon any thing that God requires of you, you mull be humbled for that that's pall.Phyfitians ufe to purge out choller by bitter things, and thofe that would tame wild creatures it is by keeping them in the dark : So humiliation for the diflem- pers of paffion is a fpecial manes to purge out paflìon, and to tame and quiet the fpirits of men and women : many of you that have been overcome in froward fitts and you have feen the - inconveniency of them, and it maybe after you have thought, ô this- is ill,and you hope you fhall do fo nó more,but although you think you will do fo no more, yet except you be humbled for that you have done you will fall to it again,and fo it's a rule in all other things, that thofe who doe refolve to'amend in any particular, if they be not humbled for that that's pall, they will fall to their fin againe; it's a very remarkable example that we have
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