ASPIRATIONS.

Jefus Chrift, fon of David, I remember well that thy forefather did by his harp chase away a devil from Saul; and wilt not thou, who art the father of all bleffed harmonies, drive away from me so many little fpirits of affections, appetites and paffions, which trouble and difcompose my heart: this poor foul, which is the breath of thy mouth, and daughter of thy infinite bounties, is, like the fun under a cloud, poffeffed with many wicked fpirits; but it hath none worse than that of felf-love. Look upon me, O Lord, with thine eyes of mercy, and send me not away with filence, fince thou art the word. Rather call me dog, so that I may be fuffered to gather up the crumbs which fall from thy table. Whatfoever proceeds from thy mouth is facred, and must be taken by me as a relic. If thou fay I fhall obtain my defire, I fay I will have no other than what thou inspireft; and I can be contented with nothing but what shall be thy bleffed will and pleasure.

The Gofpel for Friday the first week in Lent, St. John v.

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Of the probatic pond.

FTER these things there was a feftival day of the Jews, and Jefus went up to Ferufalem and there was at Jerufalem, upon Probatica, a pond, which in Hebrew is named Bethfada, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of fick perfons, of blind, lame, withered, expecting the firring of the water. And an angel of our Lord defcended at a certain time into the pond, and the water was stirred. And he that had gone down first into the pond, after the ftirring of the water, was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he was holden. And there was a certain man there that had been eight and thirty years in this infirmity. Him when Jefus had feen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time in that cafe, he faid to him, Wilt thou be made whole? The fick man anfwered him, Lord, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond: for whilst I come another goeth down before me. Jefus faid to him, arife, take up thy bed and walk. And forthwith he was made whole: and he took up his bed, and walked. And it was the fabbath that day. The Jews therefore jaid to him that was healed, it is the

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fabbath

fabbath, thou mayft not take up thy bed. He anfwered them, he that made me whole, he faid to me, take up thy bed and walk. They afked him therefore, what is that man that faid to thee take up thy bed and walk? But he that was made whole knew not who it was: for Jefus fhrunk afide from the multitude ftanding in the place. Afterwards Jefus finding him in the temple, faid to him, Behold, thou art made whole; fin no more, left fome worse thing chance to thee. That man went his way and told the Jews that it was Jefus that made him whole.

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MORALITIES.

LL the world is but one great hofpital, wherein fo many perfons languish, expecting the moving of the water, and the time of their good fortune. The angels of earth, which govern our fortunes go not fo faft as our defires. But Jefus, who is the great angel of council, is always ready to cure our maladies, to fupport our weakness, and make perfect our virtues. We need only to follow his motions and inspirations to meet with everlasting reft. It is a lamentable thing that fome can patiently expect the barren favours of men twenty or thirty years together, and yet will not continue three days in prayer to feek the ineftimable graces of God, 2. The

2. The first step we must make toward our falvation, is, to defire it. That man is worthy to be eternally fick who fears nothing else but the lofs of his bodily health. Men generally do all that they poffibly can to cure their corporeal infirmities; they abide a thousand vexations, which are but too certain, to recover a health which is moft uncertain. And as for the paffions of the mind, fome love the fevers of their own love, and their worldly ambition, above their own life. They fuck the head of a venomous afp, and are killed by the tongue of a viper. They will not part with that which kills them; and if you take from them the worm which makes them itch, or the Executioner who doth indeed torment them, they believe you take away the chiefeft of their felicity. Happy is that foul which holds nothing fo dear in this world but will forfake it willingly to find God, and will fpare nothing to gain paradife.

3. There is nothing more common, nor fo rare, as man. The world is full of vicious and unprofitable men: But to find one very compleat in all good things, is to find a direct Phoenix. There are more bufineffes without men than men without bufineffes. For how many charitable employments E 2 might

might many lazy and idle perfons find out? So many poor mens affairs continue at a ftand, fo many miferable creatures languish, fo many defolate perfons long to find fome man, who, with little trouble to himself, would take some small care of their affairs, and make up a little piece of their fortunes. Jefus is the man of God defired of all ages; to him we must apply ourselves, fince he is both life and truth. By him we may come to all happiness, by him we may live in the fountains and ftreams of life, and in him we may contemplate the chiefeft of all truths.

ASPIRATIONS.

FHAT patience have I in committing fins, and how impatient am I in my fufferings for them? I am ever most ready to execute vice, and unwilling to abide the punishment. O good God, there are many years in which I have retained an inclination to this diforder, to that fin. My foul is bound as it were with iron chains in this unhappy bed; will there be no angel to move the water for me? But art not thou the Lord and prince of angels? Then I moft humbly beseech thee, O bleffed Saviour, to command, and by thy only word my affairs will go well, and receive a happy dispatch;

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