CHAPTER V.

_Of the consideration of one’s self._

WE should not trust too much to ourselves, because we have often neither grace nor understanding.

There is but little light in us, and that we quickly lose by negligence.

We reprehend small things in others, and pass over greater in ourselves.

We quickly feel and weigh what we suffer from others, but we mind not what others suffer from us.

He that rightly considers his own work, will find little cause to judge hardly of another.

2. The inward Christian prefereth the care of himself before all other cares.

*He that diligently attendeth unto himself, easily holds his peace concerning others.

Thou wilt never be inwardly religious, unless thou pass over other men’s matters, and look especially to thyself.

If thou attend wholly unto God and thyself, thou wilt be little moved with whatsoever thou seest abroad.

Where art thou, when thou art not with thyself? And when thou hast run over all, what hast thou profited, if thou hast neglected thyself?

If thou desirest peace of mind, thou must reject all other cares, and look only to thyself.

3. Thou shalt profit much, if thou keep thyself free from all temporal cares.

Thou shalt greatly fail, if thou esteem any thing of this world.

*Let nothing be great, nothing high, nothing pleasing to thee, but only God himself, or that which is of God.

*Esteem all comfort vain, which proceedeth from any creature.

*A soul that loveth God, despiseth all things but God.

*God alone, who is everlasting, immense, filling all things, is the comfort of the soul, and the true joy of the heart.

The End of the SEVENTH Volume.