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the wisdom of God, who best obeys his provi dence, who enters furthest into his designs, and does all he can, that God's will may be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.

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A devout man makes a true use of his reason. He sees through the vanity of the world, discovers the corruption of his nature, and the blindness of his passions. He lives by a law, which is not visible to vulgar eyes; he enters into the world of spirits; he compares the greatest things; sets eternity against time; and chooses rather to be for ever great in the pres ence of God, when he dies, than to have the greatest share of worldly pleasures, whilst he lives.

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He, who is devout, is full of these great thoughts; he lives upon these noble reflections, and conducts himself by rules and principles, which can be apprehended, 'admired, and loved only by reason.

There is nothing therefore, which shows so great a genius, nothing, which so raises us above vulgar spirits, nothing, which so plainly declares a heroick greatness of mind, as great devotion.

When you suppose a man to be a saint, or all devotion, you have raised him as much above

all other conditions of life, as a philosopher is above an animal... 1 bad

Lastly. Courage and bravery are words of a great sound, and seem to signify a heroick spirit; yet humility, which seems to be the lowest, meanest part of devotion, is a more certain argument of a noble and courageous mind.

For humility contends with greater enemies, is more constantly engaged, more violently assaulted, bears more, suffers more, and requires greater courage to support itself, than stances of worldly bravery.

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A man, who dares to be poor and contemptible in the eyes of the world, to approve himself to God; who resists and rejects all human glory, who opposes the clamour of his passions, who meekly puts up with all injuries and wrongs, and dares stay for his reward, till the invisible hand of God gives to every one his proper place, endures a much greater trial, and exerts a nobler fortitude, than he, who is bold and daring in the fire of battle. ;,

For the boldness of a soldier, if he be a stranger to the spirit of devotion, is rather weakness than fortitude; it is at best but mad passion, and heated spirits, and has no more true valour

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in it, than the fury of a tiger. For as we cannot lift up a hand, nor stir a foot, but by a power, which is lent us from God; so bold actions, which are not directed by the laws of God, as so many executions of his will, are no more true bravery, than sedate malice is christian patience.

Reason is our universal law, which obliges us in all places, and at all times; and no actions have any honour, but so far as they are instances of our obedience to reason.

It is as base and cowardly, to be bold and daring against the principle of reason and justice, as to be bold and daring in lying and perjury.

Would we therefore exercise a true fortitude, we must do all in the spirit of devotion,be valiant against the corruptions of the world, and the lusts of the flesh, and the temptations of the devil. For to be daring and courageous against these enemies is the noblest bravery of which a human mind is capable.

I have made this digression for the sake of those, who think great devotion to be bigotry and poorness of spirit; that by these considerations they may see, how poor and mean all

other tempers are, if compared to it; that they may see, that all worldly attainments, whether of greatness, wisdom, or bravery, are but empty sounds; and that there is nothing wise, or great, or noble in a human spirit, but rightly to know and heartily worship and adore the great God, who is the support and life of all spirits, whether in heaven or on earth.

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THE

CHRISTIAN MONITOR.

NO. VI.

CONTAINING

A TREATISE

ON

SELF KNOWLEDGE.

BY JOHN MASON.

PRINTED BY MUNROE & Francis, court STREET.

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