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State, than formerly he ufually to do; and therefore to fhew him how this Confideration must be managed, that it may in truth conquer and fubdue his inordinate affections,and make them fubject to the best of Mafters, I fhall lay down fome neceffary helps to Confideration, and these are, to mention no more, Retirement and Prayer.

I. Retirement. Though I readily grant, (and do commend it too) that Men, as they are walking with others, or travelling, or going abroad about their neceffary occafions, or ftanding in their Shops, or other Rooms, where company goes in and out, may think, that the courfe they have taken hitherto is not fafe, and therefore it's high time to change and alter it: Yet feeing those thoughts are too much diverted by fenfual objects, and apt to go no farther than the mind or understanding, and reach no deeper than fpeculation; it must neceffarily follow, that Retirement is requifite, to make it reach the affections, and to spread it as far as the Life and Converfation.

By Retirement, I do not mean abfconding, or hiding ones felf in a corner in the Country, or ina Wilderness, but retiring in our own Houfes. Let the place we live in be never fo populous, to be fure we have Chambers to be private in; and as the Rich may make their best Room a Defart for this work, fo the poorest may convert any corner in their Houfes into a place for this Exercise; it's not the neatnefs of a Clofet that cleanseth the Soul from filthinefs, nor the curiofity and convenience of a With-drawingroom,

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room, that fits the heart for him that made it; but as Chrift made fometimes a Mountain, fometimes a Ship, fometimes a Crofs, his pulpit; fo a Man may make a Meadow, a Field, a Wood, a Garret, any corner of his House, a place fit to retire in, to confider seriously how the cafe ftands between God and his own Soul. I know what Men do commonly object, the very fame thing they object against Confideration it felf,and whereof we have fufficiently fpoke in the fecond Impediment, viz. That they have a great deal of bufinefs, and that they can fpare no time for this Retirement. Bufinefs, no doubt, must be done. But there is a time for every thing, and a season for every purpofe under Heaven, and then fure there must be a time for this fpiritual Retirement too; if there be not, we are obliged to find time for it: He that cannot, or rather will not, had as good fay, he hath no time to be faved; and he that cannot fometimes neglect the concerns of his Body, or Eftate, for the concerns of his better part, derides Salvation, and does not believe that there is fuch a thing, or if there be, that it is of fo much value, as the Dirt and Dung he grovels in. It's true, Manaffes's retirement was forced, much against his will, yet ftill it was privacy that contributed much to his amendment; for while he was encompaffed with his Courtiers and Flatterers and his fawning Crew, he thought Religion a thing below him, and a New Creature but a canting term; but being alone, none but God and his calamity about him, having nothing to take off his thoughts from reflecting on his Apoftacy, be

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hold how Confideration melts him, his Confcience fets upon him, makes him afhamed of his unfaithfulness to his God, makes the Tears ftand in his Eyes; and fo great is his Change, that he who had exceeded the Nations round about him in Idolatry, and Lewdness, immediately takes away all the ftrange Gods, and the Idols out of the Houfe of the Lord, and all the Altars that he had built on the Mount of the Houfe of the Lord, and in Jerufalem, and caft them out of the City, and commanded Judab to ferve the Lord, 2 Chron. 33. 15, 16.

So pleasing is this Retirement to God, that he doth exprefly call himself, Our Father which fees in fecret, Matth. 6.4. When Chrift had a mind his Difciples fhould fee his Glory, he doth not carry them to Jerufalem, leads them not into the Market-place, doth not mingle them with the Multitude, bids them not attend him at Herod's Court; for he knew, these places would rather diftract, than help, their Devotion: But he fummons them to go up with him into a high Mountain apart, bids them retire from fecular Bufinefs, leave their fenfual affections at home, feparate themselves from fuch Worldly employments, as were apt to take up their Minds, that their thoughts might be more at liberty to contemplate his Glory, and the Transfiguration might affect them more, and make the deeper impreffions upon them.

Come, my People, enter thou into thy Chamber, and but thy doors about thee, and hide thy felf,

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faid God to the finful Men of Ifrael, when he bid them turn and repent, Ifa. 26.20. To fhew, that a Chamber is a fitter place for their work than a Theatre, and a Closet more proper than a Hall or Dining-room, and locking our felves up, a better preparative,than delighting in variety of company.

It was, I confefs, too lavish an expreffion which the Hermit in Sulpitius ufed, That he who was vifited by Men could not be vifited by Angels; yet in fome refpect he said true; and he that doth not love to be alone fometimes, is not like to receive the vifits of thefe Miniftring Spirits.

It was in retirement, that Elijah raised the dead Child, Reg. 17. 19. and by the River Chebar it was in a lonely place, that God appeared to Ezechiel; fo he revealed himself to Mofes in the Bufh, when at a great distance from Men, and Crouds of People: And therefore it was excellent advice Saint Chryfoftom gave to a Man, who intended for Salvation, Depart from the High-way, and tranfplant thy felf in some inclofed ground, for it is hard for a Tree that ftands by the way-fide to keep her fruit till it be ripe.

What St. Bafil faith of a Solitary Life, may in a great measure be applied to fuch retirement. It is the School where Men are taught Celestial Doctrine, and Divine Arts and Sciences are infufed by nothing fo foon, as by this Discipline. This is a Garden of Delights, where Virtues, like glittering Flowers, fend forth their grateful Odours. Here grows the Red Rofe, fervent Charity. Here rifes the Milk-white Lilly, Chastity.

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Here the Myrtle of Mortification is seen, and the Frankincense of Prayer is here to be found. O Retirement, the Joy of Sanctified Minds,and the Seat of all Spiritual Gufts; Thy Virtue is the fame with that of the Babylonian Furnace, for by Faith thou keepest off the burning Heats of Luft. Thou art that Oven, where the Veffels of Honour are prepared. Great Store-house of Heavenly Wares, where all the rich Merchandife of the Spirit is hoarded up. Vaft Shop of Spiritual Exercises, where the Soul comes to be restored to her Creator's Image, and returns to the Purity of her Original.

Thou makeft indeed the Lips pale with Fafting, but makeft the Soul fat and flourishing. Thou makeft the Good Man ftand in the Caftle of his own clarified Mind, and look down with Contempt on this nether World!

Sacred Tent, where our holy War is carried on, Camp of God, Tower of David, where hang a Thousand Shields, all fit to keep off the fiery Darts of the Devil! Field, where the Lord's Battles are fought, where the Soul fights against the Flesh, and the Flesh against the Soul.

O Retirement! The happy place where Vices die, and Virtues live, and where Men learn what it is to arrive to Perfection. Great Ladder of Jacob, whereby Men_climb to Heaven, and Angels come down to Men. Sweet and golden Way, whereby a Chriftian goes home to his Father's House! Bath of the Soul! Death of Sin! Purgatory of Filthinefs! Thou destroyeft the fecret Intrigues of Pride, wafheft away the naftiDd4 nefs

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