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that Men ought to chufe the livelieft hours, or the hours when their Spirits are most active, and freest from drowzinefs, for fo great a work. When Men are drowzy and fleepy, Confiderations may often come in, but they are fo weak and faint, that they leave the Soul as cold as they found it, and put it into the Circumftances of that Man in the Gospel, who took Men for Walking Trees, faw fomething, but knew not what to make of it, or what name to give it.

While I am difcourfing thus, methinks I fee the fenfual Reader fmile; Retirement, thinks he, this were to make my felf a Prisoner in the foft times of Peace, and to deprive my felf of that freedom, which God and Nature hath given me: This were to go into a Monaftery, and submit to the severities of a Convent; this, at the best, can only befit a Priest, but can be no qualification of a Gentleman: Indeed, if Gentlemen had no Heaven to gain, no Hell to avoid, if God had made them Beasts, as too many do make themselves, we fhould not be difpleafed at this rambling talk; but it's an old trick, where Men have averfion from a Duty, to reprefent it in a difmal drefs, and to take off the burthen from their own Shoulders, and to bind it upon others. If they could fatisfie God with these fhufflings, as easily as they do their own Confciences, they were fafe, but that the great Day muft decide; and when the Archangel fhall found his Trumpet, to gather the Dead from all parts of the World, and God, who prescribed to all Men but one way to happiness, fhall make a ftrict examination how every one

hath

hath obferved the Rules and Statutes of that way; it will appear, that this Retirement, in order to a ferious pondering of our actions, was a duty incumbent on fome people else, besides Minifters. He that retires upon this account, doth indeed imprison himself, but it is, that he may attain to true and perfect liberty, triumph over the flavery of Sin, lead his Corruption captive, and free himself from the dregs and drofs which corrupted Nature hath brought upon him: Little doth the fenfual Man think what felicity he robs himself of, by scorning this Retirement. Here Heaven would look more beautiful to him than in a crowd; here he might in a manner, with St. Stephen, fee the Heavens open, and his Saviour standing at the right hand of God; here he might truly enjoy himself, and look with pity on thofe Men, who, like Spirits, which are fometimes feen in Mines, with great labour, do nothing at all to any purpose; and when they have tired and wearied themselves in the World, like Flies, burn themfelves in that Candle about which they have been hovering.

Come, Sinner, prepare thy Pencil, mingle the richest Colours thou canft get, draw thy finful careless life, give it a beautiful Virgin's Face; draw all the Charms that thy Fancy can find out; here, draw the Adoration the World pays unto her, there the bows and cringes, whereby both great and fmall infinuate into her favour. On her Head draw a Tree, whofe Fruit is Gold, and the Dew thereof hardens into Pearls; let her right Hand grasp a Crown, and her left drop

gifts on her Clients and Votaries. But then, when this proud Peacock is drawn thus, in all her dazling Circles, forget not to draw her ugly Feet, I mean, an unquiet, roaring, disturbed, distracted, trembling Contcience; for into this difmal fhape, doth that lovely Mermaid end. On the other fide, I'll paint a Wilderness, a Grove, which wife Nature made, and in it I'll represent a devout Soul kneeling, and, with the Publican, fmiting upon her Breaft; then will I draw Heaven, and out of that Heaven, Grace and Mercy in the fhape of an Angel, flying down with this Meffage, Fear not, I have redeemed thee, thou art mine; and holding a Bottle under to catch her Tears: Immediately upon this, the Holy Ghost shall be seen defcending, fpreading his Beams, and warming that Soul, and invigorating it to refift the World, the Flesh, and the Devil: By and by the Glory of God fhall appear, and crown all with Peace, and Joy, and infinite Content, and Eternal Hallelujahs.

And now, Sinner, which of thefe Pictures wouldst thou chufe? Do not the homely Feet of the former fright thee? Can all the Beauty thou feeft in that painted Harlot, countervail the mifery it dies into? Is an ever-gnawing Confcience matter of sport and laughter? When all thefe painted Gaudes must break into a dismal Dungeon, wilt thou laugh a while, that thou may'st mourn and lament for ever? But if thou art fo fond of this dangerous Garden, that nothing can reclaim thee from being delighted with it; take thy choice, give me the other Landskip.

I know this World, Men are fo fond of, e'er long will have an end, and their pleasures will have an end, and their Sins will have an end, and their Glory will have an end; but where these end, God's Justice and Indignation begins: Bleffed is the Man that hath then the God of Jacob for his Refuge, the Lord will deliver him in the time of trouble. What if I enjoy none of the World's wanton Solaces? I know where better and stronger Confolations are to be had: What if Thorns and Briars furround my Lilies and Rofes? I know they are but to preferve them, and to hinder the Devil from tearing them to pieces: Thefe Thorns are my fafeguard, which will, e'er long, be done away, and when I am out of the reach of all Enemies, my Lilies will continue fresh, and flourishing for ever: What need I covet the World, when I am made to live above the World? What fhould I love this Earth for, when I have a God to love? Why should I dote on Nature, when I am in the ftate of Grace? God hath made me many glorious Promises; How can I forbear rejoycing under the Thoughts of them? By Grace I am made partaker of the Divine Nature; Wonderful Dignity! Being advanced fo high, Why fhould I be enamoured with a little Duft? When God hath made me a King, Why should I debase my self, or ftoop to the mean employment of a Peafant? I know God doth not fee as Man doth fee, a Soul that loves him above all, is more esteemed

Vid. Eufeb. Nierem.

de ador. lib. 1. c. 12. & feq.

in his fight, than the proudeft Monarch; nor do rags fright him from fixing his Habitation there, where he meets with an humble, broken Heart: Let others glory in their great Titles, in this I'll glory, that I am a Child of God. Who can exprefs the Honour God bestows on thofe that give their Hearts to him? To be a Child of God is infinitely greater Honour than to be of Kin to Princes, or to have the Blood of Nobles running in my Veins. A Father expreffes greater endearments to him that participates of his Nature, and draws his substance from him, than to him that's only like him in the Face; How far greater love then may I conceive in God to a Child, which by Grace is a partaker of Divine Nature, than to the blessed Angels themselves? The whole Creation in a manner participates of the Divine Nature; but all other Creatures are but Pictures, painted Images of that glorious Nature; he that is a Child of God, is a lively Image of his Father which is in Heaven, and he hath Fellowship and Communion with the Father, and his Son Jefus Chrift. What Mysteries are these things to a poor Worldling? But oh! how comfortable to him that feels the good Spirit bearing witnefs with his Spirit, that he is a Child of God! If God be my Father, then all the Riches he hath are mine; if he be my Father, he cannot but take special care of me; for, Can a Mother forget her fucking Child, that he should not have compassion on the Fruit of her Womb; yea, she may forget, yet will I not forget thee, behold I have engraven thee on the palms of my band, Ifa. 49. 15, 16. Ee

Fathers