In the uncertainty of aU events here, labour to frame that contentment in and from our own selves which the things themselves will not yield ; frame peace by freeing our hearts from too much fear, and riches by free- ing our hearts from covetous desires. Frame a sufficiency out of content- edness. If the soul itself be out of tune, outward things will do no more good than a fair shoe to a gouty foot.
And seek not ourselves abroad out of ourselves in the conceits of other men. A man shall never live quietly that hath not learned to be set hght- by of others. He that is little in his own eyes will not be troubled to be little in the eyes of others. Men that set too high a price upon themselves, when others will not come to their price, are discontent. Those whose condition is above their worth, and their pride above their condition, shall never want sorrow ; yet we must maintain our authority, and the image of God in our places, for that is God's and not ours ; and we ought so to carry ourselves as we approve ourselves to their consciences, though we have not their good words. ' Let none despise thy youth,' saith St Paul to Timothy, 1 Tim. iv. 12 — that is, walk so before them as they shall have no cause. It is not in our own power what other men think or speak, but it is in our power, by God's grace, to live so that none can think ill of us, but by slandering, and none believe ill but by too much credulity.
3. "When anything seizeth upon us, we must take heed we mingle not our own passions ivith it ; we must neither bring sin to, nor mingle sin with, the suffering ; for that will trouble the spirit more than the trouble itself. We are more to deal with our own hearts than with the trouble itself. We are not hurt till our souls be hurt. God will not have it in the power of any creature to hurt our souls, but by our own treason against ourselves.
Therefore we should have our hearts in continual jealousy, for they are ready to deceive the best. In sudden encounters some sin doth many times discover itself, the seed whereof lieth hid in our natures, which we think ourselves very free from. Who would have thought the seeds of murmuring had lurked in the meek nature of Moses ? that the seeds of murder had lurked in the pitiful heart of David ? 2 Sam. xii. 9, that the seeds of denial of Christ, Matt. xxvi. 72, had lien hid in the zealous affec- tion of Peter towards Christ ? If passions break out from us, which we are not naturally inclined iinto, and over which by grace we have got a great conquest, how watchful need we be over ourselves in those things,
THE soul's conflict. 165
wliich, by temper, custom, and company we are carried unto ! and what cause have we to fear continually that we are worse than we take ourselves to be !
There ax'e many unruly passions he hid in us, until they be drawn out by something that meeteth with them ; either —
(1.) By icay of opposition, as when the truth of God spiritually un- folded meets with some beloved corruption, it swelleth bigger. The force of gunpowder is not knowTi until some spark light on it ; and oftentimes the stillest natures, if crossed, discover the deepest corruptions. Some- times it is drawn out by dealing with the opposite spirits of other men. Oftentimes retired men know not what lies hid in themselves.
(2.) Sometimes by crosses, as many people, whilst the freshness and vigour of their spirits lasteth, and while the flower of age, and a full supply of all things continueth, seem to be of a pleasing and cahn disposition ; but afterwards, when changes come, like Job's \nh, they are discovered, Job ii. 9. Then that which in nature is unsubdued, openly appears. tk (3.) Temptations likewise have a searching j)Oiver to bring that to light in us which was hidden before. Satan hath been a mnnower and a sifter of old, Luke xsii. 3. He thought if Job had been but touched in his body, he would have cursed God to his face, Job i.
Some men, out of policy, conceal their passion until they see some ad- vantage to let it out, as Esau smothered his hatred until his father's death. Aperta perdunt odia vindictce locum. When the restraint is taken away, men, as we say, shew themselves in their pure naturals. Unloose a tiger or a lion, and you know what he is. Solve leonem et seniles.
(4.) Fui'ther, let its see more evenj day into the state of our own souls. "What a shame is it that so nimble and swift a spirit as the soul is, that can mount up to heaven, and from thence come down into the earth in an instant, should, whilst it looks over all other things, overlook itself! that it should be skilful in the story abnost of all times and places, and yet igno- rant of the stoiy of itself ! that we should know what is done in the com*t and country, and beyond the seas, and be ignorant of what is done at home in our own hearts ! that we should live kuo'mi to others, and 3-et die un- known to ourselves ! that we should be able to give account of anything better than of ourselves to ourselves ! This is the cause wh}^ we stand in our own light, why we think better of ourselves than others, and better than is cause ; this is that which hindereth all reformation, for how can we reform that which we are not willing tp see, and so we lose one of the surest evidences of our sincerity, which is, a willingness to search into our hearts, and to be searched by others. A sincere heart will ofler itself to trial.