*WHEN Jesus is present, all is well; but when Jesus is absent every thing is hard. When Jesus speaketh not inwardly, we have no true comfort: but if Jesus speak but one word, we feel much consolation. Did not _Mary_ presently rise from the place where she wept, when _Martha_ said unto her, _The master is come and calleth for thee_? Happy the hour when Jesus calleth from tears to spiritual joy! How dry and cold art thou without Jesus! How foolish and vain if thou desirest any thing out of Jesus! *Is not this a greater loss, than if thou shouldest lose the whole world? 2. What can the world profit thee without Jesus? To be without Jesus is a grievous hell; and to be with Jesus a sweet paradise. If Jesus be with thee, no enemy can hurt thee. He that findeth Jesus, findeth a good treasure, yea, a good above all goods: And he that looseth Jesus, looseth too much, and more than the whole world. *He is most poor, that liveth without Jesus: and he is most rich that is well with Jesus. 3. It is a great skill to know how to converse with Jesus, and great wisdom to know and keep Jesus. Be humble and peaceable, and Jesus will be with thee. Be devout and quiet, and Jesus will stay with thee. Thou mayest soon drive away Jesus, if thou turnest aside to outward things. And if thou shouldest drive him away, unto whom wilt thou fly, and what friend wilt thou seek? *Without a friend thou canst not live well, and if Jesus be not above all friends unto thee, thou shalt be very sorrowful and desolate. Thou dost therefore foolishly, if thou dost trust or rejoice in any other. It is better for thee to have all the world against ♦thee, than Jesus offended with thee. ♦ “hee” replaced with “thee” Therefore of all things that are dear to thee, let Jesus alone be peculiarly thy beloved. *Love all for Jesus, but Jesus for himself. Jesus Christ alone is to be beloved; who alone is faithful above all friends. For him, and in him, let as well friends as foes be dear unto thee; pray to him for all these, that all may know and love him. *Never desire to be commended or beloved; for that appertaineth unto God. *Neither do thou desire that the heart of any should be set on thee; nor do thou set thy heart on any: but let Jesus be in thee, and in every good man. *4. Be pure and free within, and entangle not thy heart with any creature. And truly, unless thou be prevented and drawn by his grace, thou shalt never attain to this, to forsake and cast off all, that thou mayst be united to him alone. For when the grace of God cometh unto man, then he has power to do all things; and when that retires, he is poor and weak, and as it were, left only to affliction. Yet in this thou oughtest not to dispair; but to resign thyself to the will of God, and to bear all things that befal thee for the glory of Christ: for after winter followeth summer, and after a storm a great calm. CHAPTER IX.