~---------E==P~I~ST.~.I~I~l~.------~--,-~z6~9 A ~~~~~ll~~~~~~A~A~~~~~~l~t~~~A~l~~~~~~~~~t~l~~~~~ll~~l ~~ .. l'lr>l"f<E!.!J<Ol'JO'Jii~!!!1!Ia~<!ne.li~ltaE:Ji~ THE SECOND DECAD· To Sir RoBERT DAR cY. E p, I. Thttjlau ofatrue, hu1 wtake ChrijliAII. B OF you as~e how I fare: Sometimes, ncJ man better; and, ifthe fault were not mineowne, Alwaits. Not char I can command health,and bid the world fmile whenllill.How pollible is it for a man robe happy without thefe1 yea, io fpighcofchem ~ Thefe things can neither augment, n0r impaire rhofe comforts that come from above.What ufe,what fighr is thereofthe ftars,when the Sun lhines!then only can I find my fdfe happy,•vhen(ovcrlooking thefe earthly rhi9gs) I can lerch my joy from heaven. I tell him that knowes it, rh< contentmenrs rhat earth can afford her bdl favourites areweal«, imperfeCt, changeable, momencany; and fuch, as ever end in complaint. C We farrow chat we had them ; and, while we have them, we dare nor truil ehem : Thofe from above are full, and confiant. What an heaven doe I fede io my felfe, when (after many trav<rfes ofmeditation) I find in my heart afeeling polfe/lion of my God! When lean walke, and converfe with the God ofheaven,notwirhouc an openoelfe ofheart and familiaririe : When my foule harh caught fail, and fenfible hold of my Saviour;and eitherpulls him downe to itfelfe, or rather lifts up it felfeto him; and can ar.t dare Cecretly avottch, I knowwhom I have beleeved: When I can looke upon all this inferiour creation, wirh the eyes of a llranger,and am tranfported to my home in my thoughts; folacing my fdfe in the view and meditJtion ofmy fu. rure glory, and that prcfenr ofrhe Saints: When I fee wherefore I was made, and my confcience tells met havedonerhac for which I came; doneit, not foas lean D boaft, bur fo as iris accepted; while my weaknefl'<s are pat·doned, and my aets meafurcdbymydefires, and myddires byrhdr finceride: Llftly, when I can find my felfe (upon holy rdolurion) made firme and fquare, fit ro enrertaine all events; the good with moderate regard, the evill with courage and patience, both with rhankes; firongly fetled to good purpofes, conftanr and cbeerfull in devotion ; ond in a word, ready for God, yea, full ofGod. Sometimes I can be rhus , and pity rhe poore and miferable profperity<>fthegodlelfe;aod laugh at their mnnthes ofvanity,and farrow at my owne: But then againe (for why lhould I !hame to confetre it ~ ) rhe world rhrulls it felfe betwixt meand heav<n ; and, by his dorke and indigelled parts, eclipf.. erh that lightwhich lhined to my fonle. Now, a fcnfdelfe dulnelfe overtakes me and befors me;. my lull rodevorionislittle, my joy none atall: Gods face is hid and E I am troubled. Then I begin ro compare my fdfe with others, and thinke, Are all men rhus blocki01 and earthen! or am I alone worfe then rl)e reft,and fingular in my wretchednefl'c ~ Now I carry my carcafle up and do~vne carddly, and (as dead bodies rubbed, without heate) l doe in vaine force upon my felfe ddights, which others laugh at: I endevour my wonted worke, but without an heart; there is nothing is nor tedious to me, no nor my ftli'e. Thus I am, rill I fingle my fdfeoutalone, ro him tharalonecan revi~e me: I reaCon with my ftlfc, and conferr< with him; I chide my felle, and intreat him : and after fame fpiriruall fpeeches interchanged, I renue my familiarity with him; and he the tokens of his love to me. Loe; then Ilive againe, and applaud my felfe in this happinefl'e, aod wi01 it might ever continue, and rbinke bafelyof the world in comparifon ofir. Thus I hold on, rifiog and falling; neither know, whether I lhould A a -~ · more
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