AND that we may find out the trueft rules for the obtaining peace and quiet, let us seriously attend to this one confideration, that evil is not fo much in things, as in our felves; and if the evil which difquiets us be not in outward things, neither is the good which must give us reft to be found in them. All unquietness arifes from the mind. This therefore is the first thing we must do, namely, get acquaintance with our own hearts, and fee there the caufe of all our griefs; for nothing will heal us without our felves.

For want of this eafy obfervation it is, that men labour for peace, at endless expences, both of pains, money, and time; yet never purchase it. Some feek for it in company and chearful fociety, which they think can put away trouble; but still they confider not, that they carry the disease about them, which cannot be fo cured. Others feek for it in a contrary way of a folitary life, by quitting the affairs of the world, and retiring from fociety; but all this while they retire not from themselves, and the evil fpirit which is in them is not yet caft out: So while they thought they

had

had ended their trouble, they did but change it; while they shake off all, they are dif quieted, because they have not fhaken off themselves: Their own foolish opinions, appetites, paffions, and defires remain unmortified; and, though they fhould never fee mankind, they will have vexation enough from these. Others feek for it in travel, and removing from place to place; but this will not effect the bufinefs neither, as long as they have themfelves in company. Others leave off fome evil practices, which they find to disturb them; but as long as the body of fin is remaining, they are not fettled.

"

Here therefore we must begin, in the mortification of ourfelves. If we be not quieted within, every thing in the world will make us miferable; if we be, then nothing can harm us. If our falfe opinions, unreafonable defires, fond affections, ungrounded hopes, be alive; we are no longer quiet, than the world pleaseth. Our peace is at the mercy of every report, of every man's mouth, and all the feveral accidents of evil that are in the world. If we be fick,

and are afraid to die; if we be in pain, and

have no patience; if we be scorned, and are proud; if we be leffened in our estates, and are covetous; then nothing can help us from being miferable. But, on the contrary, if we do not fear death fo much as an ill life, if we think impatience and murmuring worse than any bodily disease, if we think pride to be the greatest reproach and the highest disgrace, and take covetousness to be the greatest beggary and the basest poverty; there is no harm a man can feel by death, or fickness, or fcorn, or want.

When all the alterations in the world will not quiet us, one alteration will; and that is, the change of our opinions concerning things, and our estimate of them. By this one, more will be done, than by ten thousand changes. Even an heathen could fay, Be not inthralled to pleasure or pain, to hope or fear, to life or death, and thou art free. What he said in this case, we may say in all other; nothing can overcome him, that is not firft overcome by his own imaginations and paffions. man perhaps is poor and defpifed: What of that, if he hath not this beggarly thought alfo,

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alfo, that riches and honour make a man? Another may have a bad opinion of him : But what then? if he himself hath not also a foolish opinion, that mens cenfures are greatly to be regarded.-In every thing, let us rule but our felves, and we shall be at ease.

HAVING laid this foundation, the next rule I fhall propofe is this, Know thy duty, and do it. An ignorant person, or a wicked person, can have no true peace. Therefore we must be inquifitive into the gospel, and labour to understand what we have to do; and then resolve heartily, and endeavour seriously to do it; and, finally, inquire what remedy there is, if we fail and fall short, after these hearty and serious endeavours. Now the fum of the gospel is this; that we live foberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. And where after all our care we fail; if we confess our fins, and repent thereof and amend, God is faithful and just to forgive us our fins; and the blood of Chrift cleanseth us from all unrighteousness.

VO L. III.

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In the next place; in the doing of our duty, let us make a prudent choice of the fitteft means. Prudence faves men a great deal of labour in the doing of their duty, and a great deal of trouble afterwards; that is, it keeps us from being molested, either by our selves or others. The purchase of peace is worth all our study; and if we can obtain it by art and prudent compliances, we shall find that we are gainers by our labour. Rafhnefs and violence fometimes create us more trouble, than men would otherwife have brought upon us. We run our felves into broils and tumults, and kindle flames about us, when other men would let us live in peace, and not disturb us. Let us therefore not only be innocent, and mean well; but wife alfo, and manage well. Next after honefty and integrity, let us ftudy prudence and difcretion; fo as not to be alike zealous in all things, nor paffionate and hafty in any thing; but, as St. James adviseth, to fhew out of a good converfation, our works with meeknefs of wisdom.

AND.