rioufly and abundantly. A Man must not weigh grains in the accounts of his Repentance; but for a great fin have a great forrow, and a great severity, and in this take the ordinary advices; though it may be a less rigour might not be insufficient: ἀκριβοδίκαιον, or Arithmetical measures, especially of our own proportioning, are but arguments of want of Love and of forwardness in Religion: or else are instruments of scruple, and then become dangerous. Use the Rule heartily and enough, and there will be no harm in thy errour, if any should happen.

4. If thou intendest heartily to serve God, and avoid fin in any one instance, refuse not the hardest and most fevere advice that is prescribed in order to it, though possibly it be a stranger to thee; for whatsoever it be, custom will make it easie.

5. When any inftruments for the obtaining any vertue or restraining any vice are propounded, observe which of them fits thy person, or the circumftances of thy need, and use it rather than the other; that by this means thou maist be engaged to watch and use spiritual arts and observation about thy Soul. Concerning the managing of which, as the interest is greater fo the neceffities are more, and the cases more intricate, and the accidents and dangers greater and more importunate; and there is greater skill required than in the securing an estate, or restoring health to an infirm body. I wish all Men in the World did heartily believe so much of this as is true; it would very much help to do the Work of God.

Thus (my Lord) I have made bold by your hand to reach out this little scroll of cautions to all those, who by feeing your Honour'd Name set before my Book, shall by the fairness of such a Frontispiece be invited to look into it. I must confess it cannot but look like a Design in me, to borrow your Name and beg your Patronage to

my

my Book, that if there be no other worth in it, yet at least it may have the splendour and warmth of a burning-glass, which borrowing a flame from the Eye of Heaven, shines and burns by the rays of the Sun its Patron. I will not quit my felf from the fufpicion; for I cannot pretend it to be a Present either of it self fit to be offer'd to such a Personage, or any part of a just return (but I humbly defire you would own it for an acknowledgment) of those great endearments and nobleft usages you have past upon me. But so, Men in their Religion give a piece of Gum, or the fat of a cheap Lamb, in Sacrifice to him that gives them all that they have or need: and unless he who was pleased to employ your Lordship as a great Minifter of his Providence in making a Promise of his good to me, the meanest of his fervants, [That he would never leave me, nor forsake me] shall enable me by greater services of Religion to pay my great debt to your Honour, I must still increase my score, fince I shall now spend as much in my needs of pardon for this boldness, as in the Reception of those Favours by which I stand accountable to your Lordship in all the bands of service and gratitude; though I am in the deepest sense of duty and affection,

My most Honoured Lord,

Your Honour's most Obliged and

most Humble Servant,

JER. TAYLOR.

23 Rules for employing our Sect. I. Of Sobriety in the
ibid.

Sect. IV. Of Humility, 82 Death unseasonable,

3 Degrees of Obedience 153 I. Of the Internal Actions of

2 Signs of true Faith, 187
8 Means and Instruments to

ibid. obtain Faith,

2 Duties of Superiours, as Sect. II. Of Christian Hope,

5 Duties of Parents to their The 5 Acts of Hope, 192

160 5 Rules to govern our Hope,