safe, when I least expect it, I find myself sometimes overcome with a small blast.

5. Behold, therefore, Lord, my low estate, and my frailty, every way known unto thee.

Have mercy on me, and deliver me out of the mire, that I stick not fast therein, and that I may not be cast down altogether.

6. O mighty God of Israel, the zealous lover of faithful souls, let it please thee to consider the labour and sorrow of thy servant, and assist him in all whatsoever he undertaketh.

Strengthen me with heavenly strength, lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not yet fully subject to the spirit, prevail.

CHAPTER XVI.

We are to rest in God above all his gifts and Benefits.

Christian.-ABOVE all things and in all things, O my soul, thou shalt ever rest in the Lord: for he is the everlasting rest of the saints.

Grant me, O most loving Jesus, to rest in thee above all creatures :

Above all health and beauty, above all glory and honour, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and subtilty, above all riches and arts, above all joy and gladness, above all hope and promise, above all desert and desire:

Above all gifts and presents that thou canst impart unto us; above all joy and triumph, that the mind of man can receive and feel:

Lastly, above angels and archangels, and above all the hosts of heaven, above all visible and invisible things, and above all that thou art not, O my God.

2. For thou, my Lord God, art best above all ; thou alone art most high; thou alone most powerful; thou alone most full and sufficient; thou alone most sweet and overflowing with comfort; thou alone most lovely and loving; thou alone most noble and glorious above all things, in whom all good things are together, and most perfectly, and ever have been and shall be:

And therefore it is too little, whatsoever thou bestowest on me besides thyself, or revealest unto me of thyself, or promisest, whilst thou art not seen and fully obtained:

For surely my heart cannot truly rest, unless it rest in thee, and surmount all gifts and creatures whatsoever.

3. O my beloved Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, the most pure Lover, the Governor of all creatures! O that I had the wings of true liberty, that I might fly away, and be at rest in thee!

O when shall it be granted me, in quietness of mind, to see how sweet thou art, my Lord God!

When shall I fully gather up myself into thee, that by reason of my love to thee, I may not feel myself, but thee alone, above all sense or measure, in a manner not known unto every one?

4. O Jesus, the brightness of the eternal glory, thou comfort of the banished soul, with thee is my tongue without a voice, and my silence speaketh unto thee.

How long doth my Lord delay to come? Let him come unto me, his poor servant, and make me glad. Let him put forth his hand, and deliver me from all trouble.

Come, O come; for without thee I shall have no joyful hour; for thou art my joy, and without thee my table is empty.

A wretched creature I am until thou comfortest me with the light of thy presence, and settest me at liberty.

5. Let others seek what they please instead of thee; but for me, nothing else doth, or shall delight me, but thou only, my God, my hope, iny everlasting salvation.

I will not hold my peace, nor cease to pray, until thy grace return, and thou speak inwardly unto me.

Christ.-Behold, I am here; behold, I come unto thee, because thou hast called upon me. Thy tears and the distress of thy soul, thy humiliation, and the contrition of thy heart, have inclined and brought me unto thee.

Christian.-Lord, I have called thee, and have desired to enjoy thee, being ready to cast away all things for thee. For thou first hast stirred me up that I might seek thee.

Blessed be thou, therefore, O Lord, that hast showed thy goodness to thy servant, according to the multitude of thy mercies.

6. What hath thy servant more to say before thee, but greatly to humble himself in thy sight, and be always mindful of his own iniquity and vileness.

For there is none like unto thee in all that is wonderful in heaven and earth.

Thy works are very good, thy judgments true, and by thy providence all things are governed.

Praise, therefore, and glory be unto thee, O Wis dom of the Father! Let my mouth, my soul, and all creatures together, praise and bless thee.

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the Remembrance of the many Benefits of God.

Christian.-OPEN, O Lord, my heart in thy law, and teach me to walk in thy commandments.

Grant me to understand thy will and remember thy benefits that henceforward I may be able worthily to give thee thanks. But I know and confess, that I am not able to give thee due thanks for the least of thy favours.

I am less than the least of all thy benefits: and when I consider thy bounty, the greatness thereof maketh my spirit to faint.

2. All that we have in our souls and bodies, and whatsoever we possess outwardly or inwardly, naturally or supernaturally, are thy benefits and speak thee bountiful, merciful, and good, from whom we have received all good things.

Although one has received more, another less; all notwithstanding are thine, and without thee even the least cannot be had.

He that hath received greater, cannot extol himself above others: for he is greater and better, that ascribeth least unto himself, and is more humble and devout in rendering thanks.

And he that esteemeth himself vilest of all men, is fitter to receive greater blessings.

3. And he that hath received fewer, ought not to repine nor envy them that have greater store ; but attend rather unto thee, and highly praise thy goodness, who bestowest thy gifts so bountifully, so freely and so willingly, without respect of persons. All things proceed from thee, and therefore in all things thou art to be praised.

Thou knowest what is fit to be given to every man, and why one man hath less and another more. It is not ours, but thine to judge, who dost exactly know what is meet for every one.

4 Nothing, therefore, ought so to rejoice him that loveth thee, and acknowledgeth thy benefits, as thy will in him, and the good pleasure of thy eternal appointment.

With this he ought to be so contented and comforted, that he would be as willing to be the least, as another is to be greatest.

He is as peaceable and contented in the last as in the first place.

He is as willing to be despised and contemned, and to be of no esteem or account, as to be preferred in honour above all others, and to be greater in the world.

For thy will, and the love of thy glory, ought to be preferred above all things;

And to comfort him more, and please him better, than all the benefits which either he hath received or may receive.