* Begin therefore in the smallest matters, and most ordinary occasions, and accustom your mind to the daily exercise of this pious temper, in the lowest occurrences of life. And when a _contempt_, an _affront_, a little _injury_, _loss_, or _disappointment_, or the smallest events of every day, continually raise your mind to God in proper acts of resignation, then you may justly hope, that you shall be numbered amongst those that are resigned, and thankful to God in the greatest trials and afflictions. CHAPTER XIX. _Of the excellency and greatness of a devout spirit._ 1. I HAVE now finished what I intended in this treatise. I have explained the nature of devotion, both as it signifies a life devoted to God, and as it signifies a regular method of prayer. I have now only to add a word or two in recommendation of a life governed by this Spirit. And because in this _polite_ age, we have so _lived away_ the spirit of devotion, that many seem afraid even to be suspected of it, imagining _great devotion_ to be great _bigotry_; that it is founded in _ignorance_ and _poorness_ of spirit; and that _little_, _weak_, and _dejected_ minds, are generally the greatest proficients in it. It shall here be shewn, that great devotion is the _noblest_ temper of the _greatest_ and _noblest_ souls; and that they who think it receives any advantage from _ignorance_, are themselves entirely ignorant of the nature of devotion, the nature of God, and the nature of themselves. People of _fine parts_ and _learning_, or of great knowledge in _worldly matters_, may perhaps think it hard to have their _want_ of devotion charged upon their _ignorance_. But if they will be content to be tried by reason and scripture, it may soon be made appear, that a _want_ of devotion, wherever it is, either amongst the learned or unlearned, is founded in _gross ignorance_, and the _greatest blindness_ and _insensibility_ that can happen to a rational creature. And that devotion is so far from being the effect of a _little_ and _dejected_ mind, that it must and will be always _highest_ in the most _perfect_ natures. 2. And _first_, Who reckons it a sign of a _poor, little_ mind, for a man to be full of _reverence_ and _duty_ to his parents, to have the truest _love_ and _honour_ for his _friend_, or to excel in the _highest instances_ of gratitude to his benefactor? Are not these tempers, in the _highest_ degree, in the most exalted and perfect minds? And yet what is _high devotion_, but the highest exercise of these tempers, of _duty_, _reverence_, _love_, _honour_, and _gratitude_ to the amiable, glorious _parent_, _friend_, and _benefactor_ of all mankind?