which must be wholly separated from the spirit, with all its members; that all the objects of groveling desire, and complacency in them, may be crucified: anger, wrath, malice, filthy communication, having put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created us. Let us be clothed with kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another; and above all things, putting on charity, which is the bond of perfectness: that we may grow in the pure life and enjoyment of those spiritual gifts, which exceedingly refresh and quicken the heart amidst discouragements, or persecution, or whatever it be, that may arise to weaken our faith, that we may be purified as in the furnace of affliction, resigning ourselves, and all we call our own, to him alone, to whom our body, soul, and spirit must be dedicated; whose is the kingdom,

and the power and the glory. To such alone our Saviour says, "he that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, and followed me in the Regeneration, shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

Chapter XV.

WHILE endeavouring to pursue that path which alone leads to life, we should avoid feeding the soul with unprofitable imaginations, which are as the shadow over the noon day sun, obscuring for a time his refulgent light from our view, though he shines with equal lustre behind the cloud. So is the mind when overshadowed by reasonings. The sweet meditation and divine presence of our Holy Redeemer is obscured from our souls by our not sufficiently guarding against that enemy who is continually laying his snares to entrap us, either in thought, word, or in deed, and through which we suffer loss; if we do not flee to the cross, and "cast down every imagination, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring

into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Faith and perseverance must here unite. We need faith, to believe that, by the power of the Son of Righteousness, we may overcome these imaginations; and perseverance, that we faint not, but pursue our journey through this vale of tears, till we have put all our enemies under our feet, of which these vain thoughts form a part: that we may, by checking and endeavouring to restrain these wandering and flighty notions whenever they arise, have our minds enlightened by him who shines into the dark and benighted soul: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (r) For through him we have access by one spirit unto the Father. It is declared, "the natural man receiveth not the things

(r) Col. 1. 14, 17.

of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (s) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father hath sent in Jesus' name, will teach us all things, and bring all things to our remembrance whatsoever he hath said unto us. (t) That his peace may remain with us. In the world we shall have tribulation, but in him peace.

Who then is among us that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon his God: (u) not upon our own strength must we trust, for of ourselves we can do nothing as we ought; no! not even think a good thought. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap cor

(s) 1 Cor. 2. 14.

(t) John, 14. 26. (u) Isai. 50. 10.

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