it much that I should serve thee, whom all creatures are bound to serve?

It ought not to seem much unto me to serve thee; but this rather seemeth much and marvellous unto me, that thou vouchsafedst to receive into thy service one so poor and unworthy, and to join him with thy beloved servants.

3. Behold, all is thine which I have, and whereby I serve thee. And yet, contrariwise, thou rather

servest me than I thee.

Behold, heaven and earth, which thou hast created for the service of man, are all ready at hand, and do daily perform whatsoever thou dost command.

And this is little: Thou hast also appointed the angels to the service of man.

But that which excelleth all is this, that thou, thou thyself, hast vouchsafed to serve man, and promised to give thyself unto him.

4. What shall I give thee for all these thousands of benefits? Would I could serve thee all the days of my life! Would I were able, at least for one day, to do thee worthy service!

Verily, thou art worthy of all service, of all honour, and everlasting praise.

Verily, thou art my Lord, and I thy poor servant, that am bound to serve thee with all my might, neither ought I ever to be weary of praising thee.

This I wish to do, this I desire; and whatsoever is wanting unto me, vouchsafe, I beseech thee, to supply.

CHAPTER X.

The Desires of our Hearts are to be Examined.

Christ.-SON, thou must learn many things which thou hast not yet well learned.

Christian.-What are these, Lord?

Christ. That thou frame thy desires wholly according to my pleasure: and be not a lover of thyself, but a zealous follower of my will.

Thy desires often inflame thee, and that vehemently; but consider whether thou art moved rather for my honour or for thy own profit.

If I be the cause, thou wilt be well content, howsoever I shall ordain :

But if there lurk in thee any self-seeking, behold, this is it that hindereth thee, and weigheth thee down.

2. Beware, therefore, thou lean not too much upon any desire conceived without asking my counsel; lest afterward it repent thee, and thou dislikest what before pleased thee, and which thou zealously desiredst as the best.

For every affection that seemeth good, is not presently to be followed; nor every affection that at first seemed evil, to be avoided.

It is expedient to use restraint, even in good desires and endeavours, lest by importunity of desire, thou incurrest distraction of mind, and by thy want of self-government, be a scandal to others, or, being gainsayed by others, thou be suddenly troubled, and fall.

But thou oughtest to use violence, and resist manfully thy sensual appetites, and respect not what the flesh would or would not; but rather to labour, that even perforce it be subject to the spirit.

Thou dust, learn to obey. Thou earth and clay, learn to humble thyself, to bow down beneath the feet of all men. Learn to break thine own will, and to yield thyself to all subjection.

3. Be zealous against thyself, and suffer not pride to live in thee.

Show thyself so lowly, such a little child, that every one may go over thee, and tread thee as the dirt of the streets under their feet.

Vain man what hast thou to complain of? Vain sinner, what canst thou answer to them that reproach thee, who hast so often offended God, and so many times deserved hell? But mine eye hath spared thee, because thy soul was precious in my sight.

That thou mightest know my love, and always remain thankful for my benefits.

And that thou mightest continually study true subjection and humility, and patiently endure to be despised.

CHAPTER XI.

We must consider the sacred Judgments of God, lest we be exalted on account of our good deeds.

Christian.-THOU thunderest forth thy judgments over me, O Lord; thou shakest all my bones with fear and trembling, and my soul is sore afraid.

I stand astonished when I consider that the heavens are not pure in thy sight.

If thou hast found wickedness in angels, and hast not pardoned them, what shall become of me? Stars fell from heaven: and am I, who am dust, proud.

2. There is, therefore, no sanctity, if thou, O Lord, withdraw thine hand.

No wisdom availeth, if thou cease to govern. No strength helpeth, if thou leave off to defend. No chastity is secure, if thou do not protect it. Νο vigilance profits, if thy sacred watchfulness be not present.

For if we be left, we sink and perish; but if thou visit us, we are raised up and live.

:

We are inconstant, but by thee we are established we grow cold, but by thee we are inflamed. 3. O how meanly and humbly ought I to think of myself! How nothing ought I to esteem it, if I seem to have any good!

O Lord, with what profound humility I ought to submit myself to thy inscrutable judgments, where I find myself to be a nothing, a very nothing! O unmeasurable height impassable sea, where I find myself to be nothing, how altogether nothing! Where then is the hiding place of glory? Where is the confidence I once conceived of my own virtue ? All vain glorying is swallowed up in the depths of thy judgments over me.

4. What is all flesh in thy sight?

Shall the clay glory against him that framed it ? How can he be lifted up with vain words, whose heart is truly subject to God?

All the world cannot lift him up, whom the truth hath subjected unto itself; neither shall he be moved with the tongues of all his praisers, that hath settled his whole hope upon God.

For as for them that speak, behold, they are all nothing; they shall pass away as doth the sound of their words: but the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

CHAPTER XII.

How we are to be affected, and what we are to say, in every thing which we desire.

Christ.-SON, say thus in every thing, "Lord, if it be pleasing to thee, let this be thus.

"Lord, if it be to thy honour, let this be done in thy name.

"Lord if thou seest it expedient for me, and knowest it to be profitable, then grant me to use this unto thy honour.

. "But if thou knowest it will be hurtful unto me, and not profitable to the health of my soul, take away this desire from me.'

For every desire proceedeth not from the Holy Ghost, though it seemeth unto man right and good.

It is hard to judge rightly, whether a good spirit, or the contrary incline thee to desire this or that, or whether thou art moved by thine own spirit.

Many are deceived in the end, who at first seem to be led by a good spirit.

2. Always, therefore, whatsoever seemeth desirable to thee, let it be desired and prayed for in the