35. Complain not too much of hinderances of devotion: if thou let men alone, they will let you alone: and if you desire not to converse with them, let them know it, and they will not desire to converse with thee.

36. Draw not to thyself the affairs of others, neither involve thyself in the suits and parties of great personages.

37. Know that if any trouble happen to thee, it is what thou hast deserved, and, therefore, brought upon thyself. But if any comfort come to thee, it is a gift of God, and what thou didst not deserve. And remember, that oftentimes when thy body complains of trouble, it is not so much the greatness of trouble, as littleness of thy spirit, that makes thee to complain.

38. He that knows how to suffer any thing for God; that desires heartily the will of God may be done in him; that studies to please others rather than himself; to do the will of his superior, not his own; that chooses the least portion, and is not greedy for the biggest; that takes the lowest place, and does not murmur secretly: he is in the best condition and state of things.

39. Let no man despair of mercy or success, so long as he

hath life and health.

40. Every man must pass through fire and water, before he can come to refreshment.

THURSDAY.

The Fifth Decad.

41. SooN may a man lose that by negligence, which hath, by much labour, and a long time, and a mighty grace, scarcely been obtained. And what shall become of us before night, who are weary so early in the morning? Woe be to that man who would be at rest, even when he hath scarcely a footstep of holiness appearing in his conversation!

42. So think, and so do, as if thou wert to die to-day, and at night to give an account of thy whole life.

43. Beg not a long life, but a good one: for length of days oftentimes prolongs the evil, and augments the guilt. It were well if that little time we live, we would live well.

44. Entertain the same opinions and thoughts of thy sin

and of thy present state, as thou wilt in the days of sorrow. Thou wilt then think thyself very miserable and very foolish, for neglecting one hour, and one day of thy salvation: think so now, and thou wilt be more provident of thy time and of thy talent. For there will a time come, when every careless man shall desire the respite of one hour for prayer and repentance, and I know not who will grant it. Happy is he that so lives, that in the day of death he rejoices, and is not amazed!

45. He that would die comfortably, may serve his ends by first procuring to himself a contempt of the world, a fervent desire of growing in grace, love of discipline, a laborious repentance, a prompt obedience, self-denial, and toleration of every cross accident for the love of Christ, and a tender charity.

46. While thou art well, thou mayest do much good, if thou wilt; but when thou art sick, neither thou nor I can tell what thou shalt be able to do. It is not very much, nor very good few men mend with sickness, as there are but few who, by travel and a wandering life, become devout.

47. Be not troubled, nor faint in the labours of mortification, and the austerities of repentance: for in hell one hour is more intolerable than a hundred years in the house of repentance and try: for if thou canst not endure God punishing thy follies gently, for a while, to amend thee, how wilt thou endure his vengeance for ever to undo thee?

48. In thy prayers wait for God, and think not every hearty prayer can procure every thing thou askest. These things which the saints did not obtain without many prayers, and much labour, and a shower of tears, and a long protracted watchfulness and industry, do thou expect also in its own time, and by its usual measures. Do thou valiantly, and hope confidently, and wait patiently, and thou shalt find thou wilt not be deceived.

49. Be careful thou dost not speak a lie in thy prayers, which, though not observed, is frequently practised by careless persons, especially in the forms of confession, affirming things which they have not thought, professing sorrow which is not, making a vow they mean not.

50. If thou meanest to be devout, and to enlarge thy religion, do it rather by increasing thy ordinary devotions,

than thy extraordinary. For if they be not regular, but come by chance, they will not last long. But if they be added to your ordinary offices, or made to be daily, thy spirit will, by use and custom, be made tender, and not willing to go less.

FRIDAY.

The Sixth Decad.

51. He is a truly charitable and good man, who, when he receives injuries, grieves rather for the malice of him that injures him, than for his own suffering; who willingly prays for him that wrongs him, and from his heart forgives all his faults; who stays not, but quickly asks pardon of others for his errors or mistakes; who sooner shows mercy than anger; who thinks better of others than himself; who offers violence to his appetite, and in all things endeavours to subdue the flesh to the spirit. This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a Christian.

52. No man can have felicity in two states of things; if he takes it in God here, in him he shall have it hereafter; for God will last for ever. But if he takes felicity in things of this world, where will his felicity be when this world is done? Either here alone, or hereafter, must be thy portion.

53. Avoid those things in thyself, which in others do most displease thee. And remember, that as thine eye observes others, so art thou observed by God, by angels, and by men.

54. He that puts his confidence in God only, is neither overjoyed in any great good thing of this life, nor sorrowful for a little thing. Let God be thy love and thy fear, and he also will be thy salvation and thy refuge.

55. Do not omit thy prayers for want of a good oratory or place to pray in,-nor thy duty, for want of temporal encouragements. For he that does both upon God's account, cares not how or what he suffers, so he suffer well, and be the friend of Christ; nor where nor when he prays, so he may do it frequently, fervently, and acceptably.

56. Very often remember and meditate upon the wounds and stripes, the shame and the pain, the death and the

burial, of our Lord Jesus; for nothing will more enable us to bear our cross patiently, injuries charitably, the labour of religion comfortably, and censuring words and detractions with meekness and quietness.

57. Esteem not thyself to have profited in religion, unless thou thinkest well of others, and meanly of thyself: therefore, never accuse any but thyself, and he that diligently watches himself, will be willing enough to be silent concerning others.

58. It is no great matter to live lovingly with goodnatured, with humble, and meek persons: but he that can do so with the froward, with the wilful and the ignorant, with the peevish and perverse, he only hath true charity: always remembering, that our true solid peace, the peace of God, consists rather in complying with others, than in being complied with, in suffering and forbearing, rather than in contention and victory.

59. Simplicity in our intentions, and purity of affections, are the two wings of a soul, investing it with the robes and resemblances of a seraphim. Intend the honour of God principally and sincerely, and mingle not thy affections with any creature, but in just subordination to God, and to religion; and thou shalt have joy, if there be any such thing in this world. For there is no joy but in God, and no sorrow but in an evil conscience.

60. Take not much care what or who is for thee, or against thee. The judgment of none is to be regarded, if God's judgment be otherwise. Thou art neither better nor worse in thyself, for any account that is made of thee by any but by God alone: secure that to thee, and he will secure all the rest.

SATURDAY.

The Seventh Decad.

61. BLESSED is he that understands what it is to love Jesus, and contends earnestly to be like him. Nothing else can satisfy or make us perfect. But be thou a bearer of his cross, as well as a lover of his kingdom. Suffer tribulation for him, or from him, with the same spirit thou receivest

consolation follow him as well for the bitter cup of his passion, as for the loaves; and remember, that if it be a hard saying, "Take up my cross and follow me," it is a harder saying, "Go, ye cursed, into everlasting fire."

62. No man can always have the same spiritual pleasure in his prayers: for the greatest saints have sometimes suffered the banishment of the heart; sometimes are fervent, sometimes they feel a barrenness of devotion: for this spirit comes and goes. Rest, therefore, only in God, and in doing thy duty and know, that if thou beest overjoyed to-day, this hour will pass away, and temptation and sadness will succeed.

63. In all afflictions, seek rather for patience than for comfort. If thou preservest that, this will return. Any man would serve God, if he felt pleasure in it always; but the virtuous does it, when his soul is full of heaviness, and regards not himself, but God, and hates that consolation that lessens his compunction; but loves any thing, whereby he is made more humble.

64. That which thou dost not understand when thou readest, thou shalt understand in the day of thy visitation: for there are many secrets of religion, which are not perceived till they be felt, and are not felt but in the day of a great calamity.

65. He that prays despairs not. But sad is the condition, of him that cannot pray. Happy are they that can, and do, and love to do it.

66. He that will be blessed in his prayers, must make his prayers his rule. All our duty is there set down, because in all our duty we beg the divine assistance: and remember, that you are bound to do all those duties, for the doing of which you have prayed for the divine assistance.

67. Be doing actions of religion as often as thou canst, and thy worldly pleasures as seldom; that if thou beest surprised by sudden death, it may be odds but thou mayest be taken at thy prayers.

68. Watch, and resist the devil in all his temptations and snares his chief designs are these; to hinder thy desire in good; to put thee by from any spiritual employment, from prayers especially, from the meditation of the passion, from the remembrance of thy sins, from humble confession