If the love and word of Christ " dwell in us richly in all wisdom," we shall desire to be much with Christ in our spirits, and to shut out all possible interruptions and hinderances in our communion with him. This is our great happiness, and the true life of God in the soul of man.

CHAPTER XXII.

On the Opinion of Carnal Men.

THE judgment which natural men form of spiritual life, is altogether wild and extravagant, gross and injurious. "The things of God himself are foolishness unto them, neither can they know them, because they are spiritually discerned." And can

those think rightly of the people of God, who have not the faculties to think rightly of the things which render them distinct from other men, and which are the very grounds and principles of God's conduct towards them? And ought a Christian to be moved exceedingly at the judgment of ignorance and error?

This world's opinion of all divine things is indeed very foolish and vain. It condemns what it hath not seen, and despises what it doth not know. It laughs at the wisdom of God, which it is too weak to apprehend, and sets up its own mutable reason, which is but folly, in its stead. A few years shall lay it low; and the wisest of the worldly-wise will be the first to

condemn themselves for the madmen and the fools. Wisd. v. 4.

Be satisfied, then, fellow-christian, with the just judgment of God. Thou canst not be more despised than thy Saviour was. He indeed deserved no scorn,

but thou much more than thou canst have. If they called the Master of the house "Beelzebub," shall those, who are of the household, think to escape a hard name?—No; let them bear it for his sake: it will never disgrace them in heaven.

CHAPTER XXIII.

On the Esteem of Good Men.

THOUGH a nice sense of honour, consistent with his profession, becomes a Christian; yet, an over-nice care to get honour from any man is neither the duty nor practice of the Christian life.

Be not too anxious, my brother, for the good opinion even of the best of men, nor altogether judge of thy state by so uncertain a rule. Concern of this kind seems to argue a too fond regard of thy carnal self, or of thy own state in the world. If they show disrespect, and if it arise from mistake; rejoice that thy true hidden life depends not on the opinion of mortals, but on the love and just judgment of an unerring Redeemer. The opinion of others can neither make nor unmake thee, as a Christian. But if their disesteem be founded in truth, fear not to dive to

the bottom of thine own undeservings, and cease not to pray for grace to correct them. Be not offended with thy brethren in either case; for this will lead to ruptures, neither for their profit nor thine. The glory of God and of his truth is also concerned, which should fill thee with the greater forbearance and caution in all thy dealings with "the household of faith." Pray for wisdom to examine thy cause faithfully, and to know the worst that can be found of thyself, and to see into the truth or mistake of others. And if, in thine own conscience, the right be with thee, be thankful for the mercy, and cease not, because they need it, to pray for them who are in the wrong. Thy true charity should relieve, in this way, their spiritual necessity, and so rise, with that lawful triumph of a Christian, by a holy and inward superiority of meekness and of truth.

Beware of anger and offence. The wrath of man cannot work the righteousness of God. Be humbled by every disesteem, whether just or unjust, within thyself. This is gaining a step in the great inward and spiritual progress of self-renunciation; for which end, these means, though unpleasant to proud nature, may have been mercifully and providentially ordained.

Fear not to see the worst of thine own infirmities: tremble rather, lest they should be hidden from thee. When thou art made truly low in thine own eyes, the slights and contempts even of good men, proceeding, as they usually do, not from grace but common infirmities, will not over-much vex thee. It is the fondness of self, and the pride of our hearts, which render all outward insult and injury distressing

and painful. He that thinks little of himself, can bear to be thought little of by others: but he that is lifted up within, is grieved when he cannot find that tribute of respect which his own foolish fondness hath ordained for himself.

The best remedy for spiritual disorder is spiritual prayer. Corruption inflicts or feels pain; and grace should subdue corruption. It is the true wisdom of a Christian to set his faith, and not the passions of his unholy nature, at work upon evil. Grace will teach him not to huff, or snort, or resent, or speak great swelling words of carnal indignation; but to bear and forbear, and pray, and wait, and entreat according to the occasion. When the rough north wind of trial rages and raves, then the graces of the Christian should more abundantly flow. All this is difficult, without a doubt; but will not a gracious success be afterwards a comfort to the believer, both as it affords a real proof of the true life of Christ within him, and an occasion of glorifying God before men? And if it answer these ends, how great is his reason to be thankful!

When gracious men see all this work upon thee, they will honour God in his own gifts: but, if they do not, it is in no man's power to alter thy condition with him. Be deeply thankful that thou hast found mercy; and show forbearance to those who need it from thee.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Weakness is Impatient.

It is not strength, but weakness, which complains. He that is strong, can well bear the infirmities of the weak: he that is weak cannot bear at all, but is overwhelmed with his own. A father in Christ can put up with the frowardness and indiscretion of the babe in Christ; but the latter, having his mind but little exercised, is full of dislikes, and always wants his own will and way: otherwise, he complains.

This weakness is commonly captious; fonder of finding errors than healing them, and more able to discover the grounds of difference than wisely to take up the points of unity. Sincere, yet quarrelsome; troubled, yet headstrong; young in the faith, yet presuming; fond of parties and persons, of modes and of forms of doctrine, with warm heart and little experience; all this is the character of most young or weak professors. When they grow older in grace, they become wiser in the kingdom, more catholic, patient, forbearing, candid, and forgiving. They see a thousand mistakes and wilfulness in their own first profession; and these incline them, through an increase of wisdom and strength, to suffer kindly the infirmities and frailties of others. They then love pardon what is

what is real, encourage what is weak,

childish, endure what is troublesome, correct what is evil, and pray, not rave, when they see but slow improvements.