GOD; and for this reafon they are follicitous to make provifion for themfelves Some again offer up the whole at first, but afterwards when Temptation knocks at the door, they revoke the Grant, and return to themselves; and for this reason they make no confiderable improvement in virtue. Thefe fhall not attain to the true liberty of the pure Heart, nor to the grace and divine fweets of my heavenly friendfhip and familiarity; unless they antecedently make a total refignation, and a daily Sacrifice and Oblation of themfelves me; without which the Beatifick Union neither confifteth, nor can confist.

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III. I have often faid it, and now repeat it once more: Relinquish thy felf, refign thy felf, and thou shalt enjoy a profound reft and tranquillity of Heart. Give all in exchange for all: Call in nothing, re-demand nothing again of thy felf: Abide purely, and confidently in me, and thou fhalt have me. Thou shalt obtain liberty of Heart, and the Spirit of Darkness shall never be able to bring thee into bondage. Let this be thy whole endeavour, let this be thy Prayer, let this be thy defire, that thou mayft be enabled to ftrip thy felf of all propriety, and in nakednefs to follow naked Jefus: To die to thy

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felf,

felf, and to live eternally to me. Then fhall all vain fantafies and imaginations, all worldly difquietudes, and fuperfluous unprofitable cares, vanifh. Then also fhall immoderate fear retire, and inordinate love fhall die away.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

Of keeping a good Government of our felves in our outward Affairs: And of Recourfe to GOD in Dangers.

I.

SON

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, thou oughteft carefully to aim at this, that in every place, and action, or outward occupation, thou mayft be inwardly free, and mafter of thy felf; and that all things may be fubject to thee, and not thou fubject to them: That thou mayft be the abfolute Lord and Governour of thy own actions; not a fervant, or flave, but a true free-born Ifraelite, and a genuine fon of Abraham; yea, tranflated into the inheritance and liberty of the Sons of GOD: Who ftand upon prefent things, and take a view of the things of Eternity: Who

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caft a glance only upon tranfitory things, and look directly upon heavenly: Whom temporal things draw not to cleave unto them, but are themselves rather drawn by them to serve excellent purposes, even as they were ordain'd by GoD, and intended by the Sovereign Work-master, who hath left nothing in his whole Creation irregular, or un-appointed to fome worthy end.

II. Furthermore, if in every event thou dependeft not upon outward appearance, or human prudence, nor vieweft what thou feeft, or hearest, with an eye of flesh; but immediately upon any difficulty enterest with Mofes into the Tabernacle to seek GOD; thou shalt fometimes hear the Divine Oracle; and return greatly instructed both as to things prefent, and to come. For Mofes had always recourfe to the Tabernacle for the deciding of doubts and controverfies; and made Prayer his weapon and refuge for the warding off dangers, and escaping the malice of enemies and wicked men. So oughteft thou in like manner to fly into the clofet of thy heart, and earnestly to implore the direction and affiftance of Divine Grace. For Joshua, and the Children of Ifrael are for this reafon expreffly faid to have been beguiled by the Gibeonites, because

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because they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord; but giving too eafy credit to smooth flattering fpeeches, were deluded by a pretended piety.

CHAP. XXXIX.

That a Man ought not to be too eager and earneft in the Management, nor over careful about the Success of his Affairs.

I.

SON

JESUS-CHRIST.

ON, commit thy caufe evermore to me, I will give it a happy iffue in due feafon. Wait my difpofition, and thou fhalt find the benefit thereof.

THE SOUL.

Lord, I moft willingly commit all my concerns to thee; because my own thought and contrivance can avail little. I with I troubled not my felf about future contingencies, but did with all readiness fubmit them to thy good pleasure.

a Josh. ix. 14.

JESUS

JESUS-CHRIST.

II. Son, oftentimes a man purfues with great eagerness fomething which he hath fet his heart upon; but when he hath obtained it, he begins to be of another mind; becaufe mens affections do not continue long fix'd upon the fame object, but drive them rather from one thing to another. It is therefore of no fmall confequence, for a man to forego his own inclinations, even in matters of no great importance.

III. True fpiritual Proficience confifteth in the renouncing of a man's felf: And he that hath thus renounc'd, is arriv'd at a ftate of great freedom and fecurity. Yet notwithstanding the Old Enemy, that profefs'd Antagonist of all good men, never giveth over tempting; but night and day lays dangerous ambufcades, to enfnare (if poffible) and undo the unwary Soul. Watch and pray, faith the Lord, that ye enter not into temptation".