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IT is of no small availe, for attaining spirituall perfection, and the purity and tranquillity of the soule in God; that up∣on whatsoever shall be spoken, thought or done concerning us, we presently re∣curre in silence to the inward secret of our
heart and mind; and there sequestred from all other objects, and wholly recol∣lected within our selves, we call our selves to a strict account, for discovery of the bare truth of what we make our inquiry about. And there we shall find that it will be no advantage for us, but rather much prejudice, to be praised and honoured from without, if in the mean time our heart within us reproacheth us of faulti∣nesse and guilt. And as it profiteth one nothing to be praised by men, whiles his owne conscience accuseth him: so on the other side, he is never the worse for being contemned, reproached, and persecuted, whiles in the tribunall of his owne heart he findeth himselfe innocent and irrepre∣hensible: Or rather, upon such occasions, he hath reason to rejoyce in our Lord with patience, silence, and tranquillity. For no adversity can hurt him in whom iniquity raigneth not. And since it is a certain truth, that as no evill remaineth unpunished, so no good passeth without reward; let us beware of expecting or re∣ceiving ours like hypocrits, from men: but referr that wholly and soly to God, to give it us, not in this life, but in Eternity that lasteth for ever. It is then evident,
that no action we can doe, can be nobler or better, then alwaies, in all our tribulations, and accidents whatsoever, to resort into the secret of our owne soule; and there in∣vocate our Lord Jesus Christ, our helper in our temptations and tribulations; and humble our selves through acknowledg∣ment of our owne sinfulnesse; and praise God our Father, that correcteth and com∣forteth when he judgeth fit. And let us be sure to receive all things, either concern∣ing our selves or others, prosperous or adverse, with equanimity, and with a ready and confident resignation of our selves into the hand of his infallible and Fatherly providence. And by doeing thus, we shall obtaine the remission of our sinns, the delivering us from all bitternesse, the contemning of sweetnesse and security up∣on us, the infusion of grace and mercy in∣to us, the setling and strengthening us in the familiarity of God, our sucking abun∣dant consolations from him, and our firme adhesion and union with him. Let us therefore beware of imitating those, who through hypocrisie, and after a Pharisaicall manner, do strive to appear better, and otherwise then they are; and do labour to give men a better conceit of
themselves then in their owne hearts they know they deserve; and do hunt after out∣ward humane prayse and glory, whiles their soules within are full of impotent passions and desires, and grievous sinns. Certainly whosoever shall seek after such vanities, which is the extremity of folly and madnesse, the reall good we have formerly mentioned will fly from him; and reproach and shame will in the end betide him. Keep therefore continually before thine eyes the bad that is in thee, and thy unaptnesse to all good. Know thy self aright, that thou mayest be humbled. And considering thy great sinns, and the excessive evills that are in thee, repine not at being esteemed the most unworthy, vile, and abject creature in the world: but repute thy selfe among other men, like drosse mingled with gold, like darnel growing among wheat, like chaffe ming∣led with corn, like a wolfe among sheep, and like satan among the children of God; and shunn all honour or preference from others, fly with all might and maine from the infection of this pestilence, from the poyson of praise, and from the vanity of ostentation; least according to the royall Prophet, the sinner be praised in
the desires of his owne soule. Ps. 9. For according to the other, They who speake thee blessed, doe deceive thee, and doe de∣stroy the way of thy stepps. Isay. 3. And our Saviour threateneth us with woe, when men shall blesse us, and speake well of us.