Page images
PDF
EPUB

J.Munde Sculp

Book 1: paye

در

IMITATION

OF

Jefus Chrift.

The First Book.

CHA P. I,

Of the Contempt of the Vanities of the World.

H

E that followeth me, shall not walk

in Darkness, but fhall have the John viij. 12. Light of Life, fays that Chrift, who declares himfelf The Light of the World. The true Importance and Design of which Words is doubtless to inftruct us, that the way to be truly Enlightened, and to deliver our felves from a Blindness of Heart is to make his Holy Life the Object of our Imitation, and to form our Difpofitions and Actions upon the perfect Model of that bright Example. But how fhall we follow a Pattern, which we but little think of? The first Step therefore toward thus Copying after him, is the employing our Thoughts, with great Frequency and ferious Attention, upon the Perfections of this Divine Original.

--2. The

2. The Doctrine taught by Chrift, excels all the Instructions deliver'd to Mankind, by all the holy Men that ever lived. And every Man, endued with a true Christian Spirit, will not fail there to find a hidden Manna, like that of old, fitted both to nourish, and minifter Delight to his Soul. The true Account then why Men hear the Gofpel, without any fenfible Relifh, or eager Defire, is, that they are not endued with the Spirit of Chrift. This is a Treasure found of them only whodefire to find it ; and a Man-must resolve and endeavour to form his whole Converfation upon the Principles of that Doctrine, before he can attain to a full Understanding of its Excellence, and feel an inward Satisfaction in the Study of it.

3. And here indeed lies the true Benefit of Meditation and Knowledge. For, without this, how poor and unprofitable a Thing is Speculation? What is a Man the better, for entering into the fublime Myfteries of the Trinity, and being able to difpute nicely upon that adorable Union if in the meanwhile he want that Meekness and Humility, without which he must needs lie under the Displeasure of the Trinity? Certain it is, that Diltinctions and Notions, tho' never fo fubtle or ferviceable to the Truth, do not make a Man Juft and Holy But a careful and confcientions Life recom mends us to the Favour and Love of God. I had ra-i ther be affected with a true, penitent Sorrow for Sin, than be able to resolve the most difficult Cafes about it. Suppole you had all the Bible faithfully treasured up in your Memory, and a perfect Comprehenfion of all the Moral Philofophy in the World; To what purpose ferves this mighty Stock of Rules, if not drawn our ins to Ufe by Charity, and feconded by Divine Grace? Kas Eccles. 2. nity of Vanities, all is Vanity, faid the Preach

L er; and his Obfervation admits of that fingle Exception, taken notice of in the Conclufion of his Book, Love God and keep his Commandments; for this

I

is

is the whole of Man. He, who would ap Chap.xii.13. prove himself wife in good earned, muit first by a juft Contempt of this World, raife himfelf up to the Defires and Endeavours after the Kingdom of Heaven.

4 Vanity most certainly it is, with great! Solicitude to feek, and place our Hope and Confidence in Riches, which are fure to perish. Vanity, to cherish our Am bition, and strive, by all poffible means, Ito attain a high and honourable Station. Vanity, to indulge the Defires of the Flesh, and court thofe Pleafures, which draw after them grievous and lasting Pains. Vanity moft exquifite, to be infinitely concerned for living long, and perfectly indifferent, or but coldly affected, concerning living well. Vanity moft fatal and ftupid, to determine our Thoughts and Cares to this Life prefent, and never look forward to that which is to comet To doat upon things that fly fwiftly from us, and cling faft about imaginary and tranfisory Delight; while we suffer our selves by thefe to be detained and divert ed from the Pursuit of substantial and eternal Joys.t

8.

5. Oh turn this Vehemence of Defire upon the right Object, and remember, to how little purpose it is placed on that which cannot give Contents fmce most true is that Obfervation, which ought to make us wifer, The Eye is not fatisfied with See i ing, nor the Ear filled with Hearing. Ufe Ecclef. 1. §. then thy utmost Diligence, to wean thy Soul from the Love of the Things that are seen, and fet thy Affections on Things that are not feen. For, be affured, that they, who follow their own fenfual Appetites, do lofe, onot only their Labour and Expectation, but also theit Innocence and Purity, the Peace of their own Conscience, and the Favour of Almighty God.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

HE Defire of Knowledge is natural to every

T Man, but what Advantage is it to be knowing,

if that Knowledge be not feasoned with Virtue and Religion? The vileft Peafant, and he, whom we in fcorn think leaft removed from a Brute, if he ferve God according to the best of his mean Capacity, is yet a better and more valuable Man, than the proudest Philofopher, who bufies himself in confidering the Motions of the Heavens, but beftows no Reflection at all upon those of his own Mind. The certain Confequence of knowing a Man's felf truly, is a mean Opinion of himself, and not being exalted with the Commendations of other People. And fuppofing my' Knowledge fo vaft and extenfive, that nothing this World contains were hid from it; yet what would all this avail me in the Sight of God, who, when he comes to Judgment will try me upon the Iffue, not of what I have known, but what I have done?

3.2. Restrain that extreme Defire of increafing Learning, which at the fame time does but increase Sorrow, by involving the Mind in much Perplexity and falfe Delufion. For fuch are fond of being thought Men of Wisdom, and refpected as fuch: And yet this boasted Learning of theirs confifts in many Things, which a Man's Mind is very little, if at all, the better for the Knowledge of. And fure, whatever they may think of the Matter, he who beftows his Time and Pains upon Things, that are of no Service for promoting the Hap piness of his Soul, ought by no means to be efteemed a wife Man. Words and Notions give no inward Satiffaction; but a Virtuous Life never fails to comfort and refresh the Mind, and to minifter the beft Antidote

2

againft

« PreviousContinue »