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ness, and self-love, of 45g them indul hines rectally, that I am and to throw the whole aside. hotful principle in almost every cony or do, and am ashamed of of it but still it rises again and letten detected; and therefore Tutually to cast myself, with

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joice in the will of the Lord, and be as much pleased when his work prospers in other hands, as in our own. And thus indeed they would rejoice, if this corrupt self did not mix with and seek its own establishment in the most spiritual exercises of our souls. We too much forget, that we are only instruments, and that we can do no more of ourselves for God, than our pens can write down our thoughts, when not taken up by our hands.

All this may serve to show, what a severe jealousy we should hold concerning ourselves. We should not only pray, but watch unto prayer; we should both perform our religious duties with zeal, and should examine well the zeal with which we perform them; we should abound in every work and labour of love, and should intreat for wisdom and grace, that flesh and self may not abound in them too; we should ask again and again for a single eye and a simple heart, that all the glory of every good may be given to God its right owner, and that we may be kept in our true place, admiring his mercy, and showing forth, with humble simplicity, his honour and praise.

CHAP. V.

ON THE DIFFERENT APPEARANCES OF
GRACE IN DIFFERENT PERSONS.

THERE are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, who worketh all in all. Some believers are remarkable for the strength of their faith in trials even unto death; others for their liveliness and activity in duty; others for their wisdom, conduct, and prudence both in temporals and spirituals; others for their zeal in defence of the truth; others for their knowledge in the mysteries of the truth; others for their patience, meekness, and gentleness; others for their submission to the will of God; others for outward usefulness in the church; and others for an inward and spiritual life of communion with God. But all these are the various gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will, and not the talents or abilities of fallen nature. They are also given to every man, who hath them, to profit withal, according to his place in the church or in the world. He, who hath one of these graces, should not undervalue or despise him who hath another; for the Giver is the same, though his gifts may be granted for different ends.

Very often particular graces are bestowed to counteract and oppose particular corrup tions, of which the Lord himself can be the

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only true judge. The situations of some christians require gifts of grace, which might be less necessary, or less manifestative of the divine glory in others, than they would be in them. The Lord distributeth wisely and kindly to all his people, according to their day and duty, or according to his own designs in them and for them. But they are all of them his workmanship, and could, not more in grace than in nature, either create or fashion themselves.

This should teach thee, my fellow christian, a lesson of forbearance to thy brethren. It is notalways right, that thou shouldest judge another by thine own pattern. He may have graces, not less pleasing to God nor less useful in their purpose, than those which are given to thee. Art thou a warm and active christian? Condemn not him, whose endowments may be more placid and contemplative than thine. He, who now creeps as a snail in humble silence, may, by one lift of divine power, get into heaven before thee and perhaps be raised higher there than thou. God judgeth not like man, according to the outward show, but according to thesecret riches of his love. Art thou a quiet and retired believer? Do not censure him, who is called forth to more stirring duty than thou art. Though his work may seem less spiritual to thee, it may be to introduce designs of providence and grace, which only God can foreknow, and which may be the

means of carrying out his saving power far and wide. Some of the first reformers were less remarkable for a quiet and gentle spirit, than others who have followed them; but these last do not seem so fit instruments for grappling with papal outrage and tyranny, as they were. When rough work is to be done, men use the axe and the saw; but, for gentler operations, the plane, the razor, or the knife. These last would not cut down a forest; nor would the first serve to polish or smoothe.

Honour then the work and blessing of God upon his people, in what form soever it may be found. Every member hath his appointed office from him. It is self-love and conceit, which disparage others; and these we will not call gifts from above, but rather worms from beneath, which seek to gnaw the root of the vine. Covet, indeed, and earnestly, the best gifs; but the love of God and man is, after all, the more excellent way.

CHAP. VI.

ON THE DIFFERENCE OF MYSELF FROM

MYSELF.

LORD, how variable a creature am-I! Unstable as water, changeable as wind, different as the weather, when I am left, in any in-. stance or degree, to myself. One of our English kings, from his slackness was called