CHAP. XXIII.

Of Four things that bring great Peace.

I.

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, I will now teach thee the
to Peace, and to true Liberty.

SON,

THE SOUL.

way

Be pleas'd, O Lord, to do as thou hast faid; for fuch Inftruction will be pleasant to hear.

JESUS-CHRIST.

Make it thy business, Son, to do another's will, rather than thine own. Prefer evermore a moderate fortune before abundance.

Seek always the lowermoft place, and to be fubject and obedient to every body. Let this be thy conftant wifh and prayer, that the will of GOD may be perfectly fulfilled in thee. Behold fuch a man enters directly into the Region of Peace and Quiet,

THE

THE SOUL.

II. Lord, this fhort Inftruction of thine containeth in it much perfection. It is concife in words, but full of fenfe, and abundant in fruit. For could it be faithfully obferv'd by me, trouble and disorder would not fo eafily fpring up in me. For whenever I feel my felf difquieted, and opprefs'd in fpirit, I find my felf to have gone afide from this Doctrine. But do thou, who canft do all things, and evermore lovest the soul's Proficience, encrease in me thy grace more and more; to the end I may be able to fulfil thy Inftruction, and to accomplish my own Salvation.

III.

A Prayer against evil Thoughts.

O not far from me, O my GOD: my GOD, hafte thee to help me: For a multitude of Thoughts are rifen up against me, and terrible fears, afflicting my foul. How fhall I pafs them unhurt? How shall I break my way through them?

I will go before thee, and will humble the lofty ones of the earth. I will open

the

the doors of the prison, and will reveal unto thee hidden fecrets'.

THE SOUL.

Do, Lord, according to thy faying, and let all evil Thoughts flee before thee. This is my hope, and only comfort, to fly to thee in every tribulation, to truft in thee, from the bottom of my heart to call upon thee, and patiently to wait thy confolation.

IV.

A Prayer for Illumination of Soul.

Ε

Nlighten me, fweetest Saviour, with the bright beams of internal light; and chafe away from the habitation of my heart, all the clouds and darkness that hang upon it. Call home my thoughts, restrain all their wandrings, and repulse the temptations which furioufly affault me. Fight thou my battels, and with an invincible arm flay mine enemies; even all thofe evil lufts and paffions, that are ever striving to destroy me; that by virtue of thy power Peace may enfue, and thy holy Temple, that is, my purified Soul, may refound with abundant hallelujahs and fongs of praise.

• Ifai, xlv. 2, 3.

b Pfal. lxviii. 1.

Command

Command the winds and the tempefts Say unto the Sea, Peace, be ftill; and to the north-wind, Blow no more; and there fhall immediately be a profound calm.

V. Send forth thy Light and thy Truth, that they may fhine upon this barren, unfruitful foil, for fuch is my heart, till warmed and inlightened by thee. Send down thy grace from above: Water my heart plenteously with the dew of Heaven: Let the fhowers of devotion descend to moisten the face of the earth, and to cause it to produce good and excellent fruits. Raife up. my foul prefs'd down with the weight of my fins, draw up all my affections, and fix them upon heavenly things; that the delicious taste of the Bread of Angels may give me a holy difdain and loathing of the Garlick and Onions of Egypt.

VI. Snatch me away forthwith, and refcue me from all the deceitful pleasures, and fhort-liv'd comforts of the creatures: For no created thing is capable of giving ample content, and full fatisfaction to my defires. Knit and unite me to thy felf by a band of love never to be diffolv'd; fince thou alone canft fuffice thy Lover, and without thee all things are vanity and emptinefs.

c Matk iv. 32.

CHAP,

CHAP. XXIV.

Of the fhunning of all curious Inquiry into the Life and Converfation of others.

I.

SON

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, avoid Curiofity, and trouble not thy felf with vain unprofitable cares. What is this or that to thee? Follow thou me. For what is it to thee, whether that man be fo, or fo; or this man, thus, or thus, and do, or fpeak this or that? Thou art not obliged to answer for others, but fhalt give account for thy felf; Why therefore doft thou perplex and intangle thy felf? Behold I know all men: Nothing that is done under the Sun, efcapes my obfervation: I know how it is with every man; what he thinks, what he defires, and what is the aim and drift of all his actions. All things therefore are to be left to me: But do thou ftudy thy own peace, and leave. the unquiet to be as unquiet as they please.. Whatsoever they fhall have done or faid, fhall come upon them, because they cannot deceive me.