Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

1. Let your unlikeness to Christ be matter of your great humiliation. It should be your trouble, that you have been so long learning, and have learned Christ no better: That so much of the old Man remains to be put off; that no more of the new man is put on. Look upon the passions and lusts of the flesh as so many foul blemishes, as so many deforming wrinkles of the Old Adam; the more of these, there is in you; they make you the more unlike to him who is altogether lovely. Be humbled for your sin, and hate it; that's the way to be rid of it. Sin cannot stand before a perfect hatred, but languishes and dies away; whereas love to it is the life and strength of it.

2. Study more the admirable excellency and fairness of the copy Christ has set you. And how desirable it is still to be growing up more and more into him in all things. The beauty of Men and Angels is black to Christ's fairness; to be like Him, is to have that which truly deserves the name of excellency; With open face and intentive eyes behold, as in a glass, the glory of your Lord, that you may be changed into the same image; and become glorious your selves, 2 Cor 3. ult.

2. Study more the admirable excellency and fairness of the copy Christ has set you. And how desireable it is still to be growing up more and more into him in all things. The beauty of Men and Angels is black to Christ's fairness; to be like Him, is to have that which truly deserves the name of excellency; With open face and intentive eyes behold, as in a glass, the glory of your Lord, that you may be changed into the same image; and become glorious your selves, 2 Cor 3. ult.

3. Being sensible of your own impotency, live by Faith on the Son of God. Remember 'tis in Him that you have both righteousness and strength,