quently good. (3.) It is my Defire, Delight, and Practice, to hear the 'Word of God preach'd. (4.) I have < a great Efteem for all that Love and Fear God, of what Perfwafion foever. (5.) When I have done any Action that I think is pleafing to 'God, 'tis my great Joy and Heart's 'Delight. (6.) When I have done any ill Action, or committed any Sin, it is the Grief of my Soul. (7.) It is a very great Trouble to me, to hear the Name of God profaned, or his Word undervalued, or Evil fpoken of. (8.) I have been always averse to Law-Suits, and to my Power ' am a Peace-maker. (9.) I have been always willing and defirous to keep Holy the Lord's-day. (10.) There is not that Perfon living that I envy or hate, or seek to be reveng'd on; if any hate me, I pray God forgive them, for I forgive them freely. (11.) Tho' I have been a vile Sinner, yet, I hope, I can truly fay, that I am a penitent Sinner, and defire from the Bottom of my Heart to forrow for all my Sins, and to amend my Life; good Lord, help me fo to do. (12.) I had rather have a Heart to love God God above all, to love him perfectly, than have all the Riches, Honours, and Pleafures in this World. I would rather lofe all Things, than the Grace and Favour of God, and the Benefit of Christ, and the holy Spirit. I hope, I can truly fay with Mr. Corbet, as far as I am able to dif< cern my own Heart and Ways, I have C chofen the Lord for my Portion; I take up my Reft in him, and not in the Creature; to love, fear, and admire, and bless him, and to have Communion with him, is my chief Joy. I am heartily grieved for loving "God fo little; yet I am certain, I love nothing more than God; and in my Efteem and Choice, I prefer a fpiritual heavenly Life above all things upon Earth. C Lord, I love Thee, for I am grieved at thy Abfence, and rejoice in thy Prefence; I love thofe that are like & Thee; I love the Place and Duties where Thou are wont to meet thy People; I am grieved when Thou art difhonoured by my self or others; I • would have a Heart to love, and look, and long for thy coming and appearing in Glory. Hís particular Actions he examined by the twelve Queftions in Mr. H's Communicants Companion, Chap. 4. which he transcribed and enlarg'd upon, concluding: I have, to the best of my Knowledge, examin'd my felf upon thefe Queries, and find that in many Things I have fallen fhort, through "Negligence and humane Frailty; but in fome Things, Confcience witneffeth for me, that, according to my Ability, I have kept my Integrity; ‹ and I trust for the Time to come, ‹ that, through the Affiftance of Almighty God, I fhall walk more circumfpectly. VI. His Contentment with his Lot, and gracious Contempt of this World. Though he lived upon a Rack-rent, yet he was very well pleafed with the little he had of this World. Thus he writes: It hath been my great Happinefs, through the Goodness of God to me, that my Paffage through the < World thus far, hath been mostly pleafant and plentiful; I have had Agur's Defire, neither Poverty nor Riches, being ever content with what God appointed for me. I always had . a very grateful Efteem of my own Condition, and have not been fubject to murmur and repine. It is my Trouble (faith he) that the Care and Bufinefs of the World ⚫ doth often take my Thoughts off from better Things; but I am endeavouring to bring my worldly Affairs into lefs Compafs, that I may hang the World loofe about me, may use it as if I us'd it not; fetting my Affe&tions on Things above, and feeking * first the Kingdom of God, not doubting, but that then other Things fhall be added. There is not one Day of entire Peace in these Things, but either fomething · troubles, or nothing fatisfies; we may be happy without Riches and Honours, but cannot be happy without Grace: 'Tis Madness in Men to lose their immortal Souls for the Drofs and Dung of this World. He that ⚫ fets his Heart upon this World, can never feek the World to come as he ought: Therefore, O my Soul, ufe all the Care and Diligence imaginable, to take thine Affections off from the Vanities of this World. Thus little do the Things of Time appear to thofe, thofe, to whom the great Things of Eternity are reveal'd by Faith. Arch-Bishop Tillot fon faith, Nothing 'doth fo befot the Mind, and extinguish in it the Sense of divine Things, as fenfual Pleasures do; if we fall in Love ' with them, they will fteal away our Hearts from God. Let my Soul there'fore despise theWorld,and devote itself wholly to the Fear and Service of God. • Worldly Things often hinder the good Defigns of good Men, and as for bad Men, they carry them headlong to Ruine; for they fwim down the • Stream of Pleasure, not confidering what Account they have to make, nor • how it will be with them, when they lie gafping and groaning on their Death-beds. He had but little (in Comparison) of the good Things of this prefent Time, yet he often faid, I have enough of this World, and as much as I defire: And that he would not thank any one to give him 100l. per Annum, for (faid he). I have enough to mantain me, and am content with it; and if I had fuch an Addition to what I have, instead • of doing me good, it might perhaps do me hurt. Thus Godliness with Cor |