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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 there is nothing wise, or great, or noble in a human spirit, but rightly to know, and heartily to worship and adore the great God, who is the support and life of all spirits, whether in heaven or on earth.

APPENDIX.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE REV. WILLIAM LAW, IN AN SWER TO ONE, REQUESTING A CONVERSATION ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE.

As to your intention of a visit here, I can say nothing, to encourage it; and, though my countenance would have no forbidding airs put on by myself; yet, as old age has given me her own complexion, I might perhaps bear the blame of it. But my chief objection against a visit of this kind, is the reason, you give for it, viz.; for my instructive conversation on the spiritual life. An appointment for religious conversation has a taking sound; and passeth for a sign of great progress in goodness. But, with regard to myself, such a meeting would rather make me silent, than a speaker in it; first, because I hurt myself, and am only acting a part, if I speak to persons on spiritual matters, either sooner or further, than the Spirit of God (which bloweth when and where it listeth) would de resisted in me, if I held my tongue; secondly, because it is deluding the persons, I speak to, and helping them to be content with an imaginary falsehood, if, as a spiritual assistant, I speak to them of any thing, but that, which is their own evil, or their own good; for true edification arises only from such knowledge, and not from devout harangues on the spiritual life in general, though set forth in the most enlivened words. The spiritual life is nothing else, but the working of the Spirit of God within us; and therefore our own silence must be a great part of our preparation for it; and much speaking, or a delight in it, will be often no small hindrance of that good, which we can only have from hearing, what the Spirit and Voice of God speaketh within us. This is not enough known

by religious persons; they rejoice in kindling a fire of their own, and delight too much in hearing their own voice; and so lose that inward unction from above, which alone can new create their hearts. To speak with the tongues of men or angels on religious matters is a much less thing, than to know, how to stay the mind upon God, and abide with him in the closet of our hearts, observing, loving, adoring, and obeying his holy power within us.

Rhetoric, and fine language about the things of the Spirit, is a vainer babble, than in other matters; and he, who thinks to grow in true goodness by hearing or speaking flaming words or striking expressions, as is now much the way of the world, may have a great deal of talk, but will have but little of his "conversation in heaven."

I have written very largely of the spiritual life; and he, who has read it and likes it, has of all men the least reason to ask me any questions, or make any visit on that subject.

He understands not my writings, nor the end of them, who does not see that their whole drift is to call all Christians to God and Christ within them, as the only possible life, light, and power of all goodness, they can ever have; and therefore they turn my readers as much from myself, as from any other, "Lo here! or Lo there!"

I invite all people to "The marriage of the Lamb," but no one to myself.

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