An effectual prescription against the anguish of all diseases and against all other afflictions to which the nature of man is subject. Penn'd, and publish'd, and approv'd, from the author's experience of it: but more especially from the experience of very many much greater and better men, the latchet of whose shoes he is not worthy to untie.

§. VI.

But now however the glorious Grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST is very sufficient of it self to make us perfect in St. Paul's Lesson, to be abased, and to abound, and in all stations to be content; and will never be wanting unto us, but when we are wanting unto it, and when we are wanting unto our selves; Yet he ex∣pects and requires, that we negociate with the Talents entrusted to us, the Talent of Reason, as well as Grace. He expects that we work out our own Salvation;* 1.1 he expects that we stir up his Grace within us;* 1.2 that we labour and cooperate,* 1.3 and work together with him, (whilst he worketh in us both to will and to do,) that we receive not his Grace in vain. The Art of Contentment and Rejoycing doth not cease to be an Art, by being a Divine and a Christian Art. Nor are the Rules of it the worse, for being taught in the School of Reason. And so 'tis pertinent to consider, how far the Rule of Epi∣ctetus may conduce to our Proficiency, whilst we con St. Paul's Lesson. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Our troubles do not arise from things themselves, but from our opinions of them. Let us rectify our opinions, concerning those things which are within our own Power, and those other things which are quite without it; and then instead of labour in vain to bring our condition to

our minds, (which most Men do, tho 'tis im∣possible to be done) we shall employ our selves intirely in bringing our minds to our condi∣tion. At which pitch if we arrive, we are qualified with our Apostle to Rejoyce ever∣more. Whereas for want of this Attainment, no such thing as True Ioy is to be had, or so much as hoped for, whilst we are in this un∣certain and fickle World.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phil. 2. 12, 13.
• * 1.2

  2 Tim. 1. 6.
• * 1.3

  2 Cor. 6. 1.