and (what devil soever tempt him) will not fall out.  That divine part goes ever uprightly and freely, not stooping under the burden of a willing sin, not fettered with the gyves of unjust scruples.  He would not, if he could, run away from himself or from God; not caring from whom he lies hid, so he may look these two in the face.  Censures and applauses are passengers to him, not guests; his ear is their thoroughfare, not their harbour; he hath learned to fetch both his counsel and his sentence from his own breast.  He doth not lay weight upon his own shoulders, as one that loves to torment himself with the honour of much employment; but as he makes work his game, so doth he not list to make himself work.  His strife is ever to redeem and not to spend time.  It is his trade to do good, and to think of it his recreation.  He hath hands enough for himself and others, which are ever stretched forth for beneficence, not for need.  He walks cheerfully in the way that God hath chalked, and never wishes it more wide or more smooth.  Those very temptations whereby he is foiled strengthen him; he comes forth crowned and triumphing out of the spiritual battles, and those scars that he hath make him beautiful.  His soul is every day dilated to receive that God, in whom he is; and hath attained to love himself for God, and God for His own sake.  His eyes stick so fast in heaven that no earthly object can remove them; yea, his whole self is there before his time, and sees with Stephen, and hears with Paul, and enjoys with Lazarus, the glory that he shall have, and takes possession beforehand of his room amongst the saints; and these heavenly contentments have so taken him up that now he looks down displeasedly upon the earth as the region of his sorrow and banishment, yet joying more in hope than troubled with the sense of evils.  He holds it no great matter to live, and his greatest business to die; and is so well acquainted with his last guest that he fears no unkindness from him:  neither makes he any other of dying than of walking home when he is abroad, or of going to bed when he is weary of the day.  He is well provided for both worlds, and is sure of peace here, of glory hereafter; and therefore hath a light heart and a cheerful face.  All his fellow-creatures rejoice to serve him; his betters, the angels, love to observe him; God Himself takes pleasure to converse with him, and hath sainted him before his death, and in his death crowned him.

THE SECOND BOOK.

CHARACTERISMS OF VICES.

THE PROEM.