Section 2

But as I have hinted, the prin- cipal exercife ought always -to be the view of the divine pre- fence : this alfo we ought to per- form in the moll faithful manner we can : to call in our thoughts whenfoever they begin to wander. This is a fhort and effeftual way to combat all difl rations, becaufe if any would oppofe them dire£llyr they but irritate and encreafe them, whereas by ^ joking down in the view, an, d tence, and limply recoiled ing our- ■ . .j t . i j c i g . i i ' : ielves,
Method of Prayer. 19
felves, we combat them indireftly, and without thinking of them, though in a moft powerful manner.
I likewife admonifh all begin- ners not to run from one truth to another, or from one fubjeCt to another ; but to hold by one and the fame fo long as they find any relifh in it. This is the way quickly to enter and penetrate into the truths proposed, to tafte them, and to have them imprinted upon us.
I laid, 'ti-s difficult in the begin- ning for one to recoiled himfelf, becaufe of the habit that the foul has gotten to be wholly without in things relating to the body ; but when "tis a little accullom’d to re- colleflion-by the violence which it has done to itfelf, this becomes mighty eafy unto - it ; not only be- caufe it acquires this habit, but alfo becaufe Gdd- whoTeeks to commu- nicate himfelf to his creature, Tends ’it fu-ch abundant graces and fuch
an
20
A Short and-Eafy
an experimental tafte of his pre- fence, as render it molt eafy and delightful.
HOSE who cannot read,
are not hereby depriv’d of (the benefit of) prayer. JESUS CHRIST is the great book written without and within, which will teach them all things.
They ought to take this me- thod : firlt, They muft learn this fundamental truth, that the kingdom of God is within them ; Luke xvii. 21. and that there it muft be fought.
They who have the care of fouls ought to teach their people to pray,
Sect III.
For thofe who cannot read.
even
Method of Prayer. 2 1
even as they teach them the cate- chifm. They teach them the end for which they were created, but they don’t fufficiently inftruflthem how to come to the enjoyment of this end. I could wilh they would teach it them in this manner : namely, that they ought to begin by a pro- found aft of adoration, and of felf- abatement before God, and there- with Ihutting their bodily eves, en- deavour to open thofe of the foul ;
I then they are to gather it wholly in- ward, and to exercife themfelves direftly with the prefence of God, by a lively faith that God is in us'; notfulferingtheirthoughts and ima- ginations to wander abroad,! but keeping them in captivity and fub- jeftion as mucbas they are able.
Then let them fay thus the Lord’s Prayer underllanding in fome mea- fure what they fay, and believing ! that God, who is within their foul,
22
A Short and Ea fy
is very willing to be their Father. Being in this difpofition, let them beg their neceffaries of him, and having pronounced this word FA- THER, let them continue fome moments in filence with much re- verence, waiting that this their heavenly Father may be pleafed to difcover unto them his will.
At other times, the Chriftian confidering himfelf as a child that’s
through his repeated falls, and who has no power either to Hand on his legs, or make himfelf clean, let him lay open his fhameful condition to his father in an humble manner, adding every now and then fome expreflions of love and regret, and again remaining in filence. There- after going on with th eLord’s Play- er, let him pray this king of Glory to reign in him : giving up himfelf to him indeed, to the end that he
quite fpent, and all over
may
Method of Prayer. 23
nay do it, and furrendring to him he juft right which he hath over m him.
If he perceive an Inclination to
0 jjeace and filence, he ought not to e oroceed, but to abide in that ftate :i vhileit lafteth. After which he may
50 on to the next petition, viz. Thy mil be done in earth as it is done in hea- •jen. Mat.vi. 10. Whereupon thefe
1 mmble fuppliants are to defire that God may accomplifh all his will in hem and by them : they mull give their heart and their liberty unto God, that he my difpofe thereof at his pleafure ; and feeing that the peculiar work of the will fhould be to love, they muft defire to love, and afk of God his pure love. But this ought to be done in a calm and peaceful manner, and fo of the reft of the Lord’s- Prayer ; which the above-named perfons may very well teach them.
Again,
24
A Short and EaJ'y
Again, They may place them- felves as flieep before their Ihep- berd, and alk of him their true fubdantial food. 0 divine Jhep- herd ! Thou Jeededl thy Jheep with thy- felf, and thou art their daily bread.
They may alfo lay before him the neceflities of their families: but all muff, be done in this direft and principal view of faith that God is within us.
Whatfoever men figure out or reprefent unto themfelves as God, is not God ; a lively faith of his prefence is fufficient : for
we mud not form any image of God, tho’ we may indeed of Jefus Chnjl ; beholding him as a child, as crucified, or in any other date or myftery, provided that the foul do always feck him in its own centre. Again, Wemaycon- fider him as our Phyfician, and prefent unto him our wounds, that
from
Method of Prayer. 25
he may heal them : but ftill with- out any effort or violence, and ' with fome little filence interpofed from time to time, fo that the fi- lence may be mixed with action ; thus by degrees increafing the fi- lence, and leffening the difcourfe, until in the end by means of yield- ing gradually to the operation of God, he may get the afcendant in us ; as we fhall note hereafter.
When once the prefence of God is given, and the foul begins by little and little to relifh the filence and ftillnefs, this experimental fenfe of the divine prefence intro- duceth it into the fecond de- gree of prayer ; which is at- tained both by fuch as can read, and fuch as cahnot, by taking .he method above defcribed ; tho’ indeed God does favour fome pri- 1 vileged fouls with it even from the (aeginning.
C Sect
s6
A Short and Eafy
Sect. IV.
Of the Second Degree of Prayer . HIS we call the prayer of
fimplicity ; for when the foul hath exercifed itfelf for fome time, as aforefaid, it feels by degrees that it can recolleft itfelf more eafily, and prayer becomes eafy, fweet. and delightful ; it knows now that this is the way to find God, for it feels the favour of his oint- ments. But then it mull alter its method, and fee to perform faithfully and couragioufly what I am a going to fay, without bein^ troubled at what may be alledgec concerning it.
Firjt, So foon as the foul recoh lefleth and placeth itfelf in the pre fence of God with faith, let it con)
tmu
Method of Prayer 27
tinue thus a little in awful fi- lence.
But if from the beginning, it feels fome little fenfe of the divine prefence, let it flop there without troubling itfelf about any thing, or of proceeding further ; and let it hold fouljwhat is given it, fo long as it laft- aie,|eth. If this paffeth away, then let Wit ftir up its will by fome tender af- %,|fe£tion ; and if by the means of the ;eet,firft affection it finds itfelf placed thaoagainin its fweet peace, let it con- fontinue therein. We muff blow the oinwBre gently, and when it is once alterjcindled, ceafe to blow it more ; for iorffltf one fhould go on to blow ftill, he ■.'natj.voul d but extinguifh it. being1 1 advife above all, thatno one may erfever conclude his prayer without continuing for fome time towards recoH-he end in a refpedtful filence. leprfrTis likew-ife of great importance itcon-or the foul to go to prayer with tinue C 2 courage,
28 A Short and Eafy
courage, and that it bring along with it a pure and difinterefted love : let it not go fo much to re- ceive any thing from God, as to do his will. For a fervant who ferves his matter only according as he rewards him, is indeed unwor- thy of any reward at all. Go therefore to prayer, not feeking any thing, but only to be as he pleafeth. / This will preferve in you an evennefs of fpirit, and keep you from wondering either at God's repulfes, or your own dri- nelfes.
Sect. V.
o/sp iritual Drynefs.
THOUGH God hath no other defire, but to communicate himfelf to the foul that loves and
feeks
Method of Prayer. 29
feekshim; yet he often hideth him- felf, that he may rouze it' from its lazinefs, and oblige it to feek after him with love and fidelity. But O ! With what bounty doth he re- ward the faithfulnefs of his beloved foul ? And- how much are his withdrawings followed with di- vine confolations ! Some are apt to think, that ’tis a greater fign of fidelity, and argues more of one’s love, to feek him with the preffing efforts of the head, and the force of one’s own aftivity ; or that thefe will quickly make him return. No: believe me (dear fouls) this is not at all the conduct of this ftate of prayer ; for ’tis neceffarv, that with a loving patience, a contrite, lowly, and humble regard, a frequent, but peaceable affehtion, and a refpeft- ful filence, ye wait for the return | of your Beloved. You will let him 1 fee, bv this manner of afling, that C 3 ’tis
30 A Short and Eafy
’tis him alone, and his good plea- fure, that you love, and not the pleafure you may have in loving him. Therefore, Be not impatient in the times of darknefsfuffer the delays andfufpenfionsofthe confolations of God: he refigned under every Jlate of mind, and thereby jhall the divine life grow and be renewed , Ecclus. ii. 1, 2, 3.
Be ye always patient in prayer, and though ye fhould not make any other all your life-time, but to wait in a humble, refign’d and con- tented fpirit, for the return of your Beloved ; Oh ! you fhould pray to excellent purpofe : in the mean time you might pour out fome ex-* preffions of love. This way of proceeding doth mightily pleafe Cod ; and more powerfully pre- vails with him than any other !
Sect.
Method oj Prayer .. 3*1
Sect. VI.
Of Refgnation.
ERE refismation and
O
the entire furrender of our- felves unto God mull begin ; namely, by being convinced, that whatfoever befals us from one mo- ment to another, and whatfoever we want, is in the order and will of God. This conviction will render us content with every thing, and make us look upon all that happens to us as coming from God, and not from the creature. I ear- neltly befeech and conjure you my dearefi brethren, whofoever you be that are willing indeed to give yourfelves unto God, never to take back yourfelves again, when ye have once given yourfelves to
him 1
32 A Short and Eafy
him ; but believe, that a thing which is given away, is no more at your difpofal.
Rejignation is that which is of the greatelt confequence in the whole Chriftian path : nay, ’tis the key of the whole fpiritual life. Who- foever doth fully refign himfclf, Hi all in a fhort time become per- fetfly united unto Chrift. Wemuft therefore keep firmly to refigna- tion, without attending to reafon- ing fuggeftions. A great faith makes a great refignation : we ought to commit ourfelves unto God, Hoping againft ail hope, Rom. iv. 18.
Rejignation is a putting off all care of ourfelves, that we mav leave all that concerns us entirely to the condubl of God. All Chriftians are exhorted thus to for- fake and refign themfelves ; for our Lord faid unto all in general.
Matt.
■
Method of Prayer. 33
; Matt. vi. 25. Take ye no thought for : the morrow : for your heavenly Fa- ther knoweth what ye ftand in need of. Prov. iii. 6. Think on him in all thy ways, and he will direct thy paths. Ch.‘ xv i. 3. Commit thy ways unto the Lord, aud he will efablfh thy thoughts . Again, Pfalm xxxvii. 5. Commit thy whole way unto the Lord : trujl alfo in him, and he himfelf will do it.
Our refignation then ought to be an entire forfaking and aban- doning our all unto God, both : with refpefr to time and eternity forgetting ourfelves in agreatmea- fure, and thinking on God only : by this means the heart remains always free, contented, and difen- gaged.
As to the praftice of this virtue, it confibs in a continual forfaking and lofing all felf-will in the will of God; in renouncing all particular inclinations, how good foever they
34 d Short and Eafy
feem to be, as foon as we feel them arife in us, that we may always ftand in the indifference, willing only what God hath willed, and be indifferent as to all things that regard either the body or the foul, temporal or eternal goods ; forgetting what is paft, giving up the time prefent unto God, and leaving to his providence that which is to come ; being con- tented with what happens every moment, feeing it brings along with it the eternal order of God concerning us, and which is a de- claration of his will ; not attribut- ing any thing that befals us to the creature, but beholding all things in God, and confidering them as coming infallibly from his hand, our own fin only excepted.
Suffer yourfelves therefore to be governed by God, as it fhall pleafe him. both with re-
fpeQ;
Method of Prayer. 35
fpeft to your outward and inward (late.
B
Sect. VII.
Of Sufferings .
E content.to fuffer whatfoever God {hall fee fit to lay upon you. If you love him purely, you will in this life feek him, as much on mount Calvary , as upon Tabor.
You mull love him (I fay) as much upon Calvary as Tabor, fince that is the place where he difcovers the moft of his love.
Do not like to thofe Perfons who give themfelves unto him at one time, andtake themfelvesback again at another. They give themfelves up to be careffedj but they draw
back
it
36 A Short and Eafy
back themfelves again when they are crucified, or at leaft go to feek for their confolation in the crea- ture.
No, no, (dear fouls) you will never find true confolation, but in the love of the crofs, and an entire refignation of your wills. He that hath no rehjh of the crofs, favoureth not the things that be of God! Matt, xvi. 23. ’Tisimpoffible to love God without loving the crofs; and in- deed a heart which hath the relilh of the crofs, findeth even the moil bitter things to be fweet, pleafant and delightful. The hungry foull fndeth bitter things fweet , Prov. xxvii. 7. Becaufe the more it hun- gers after God, the more doth it hunger after the crofs. The crofs bringeth the foul to God, and God giveth the crofs to purify the foul.
The great fign of the . internal
ad-
Method of Prayer. 3 7
advancement is, if one advanceth i in the crofs. Refignation and ■ the crofs go hand in hand toge- ther.
il Whenfoever any thing occurs to in which you feel a repugnancy refign yourfelves immediately to God with relpebl to this very thing, and give up yourfelves .as a facrifice unto him ; then ye fhall fee that oi|when the crofs cometh, it will not be fo very heavy, becaufe ye have willingly accepted it. Which not- withftanding will not keep you from feeling the weight of it ; as fome in imagine, that the feeling the crofs is not to buffer : for to feel buffer- ing is one of the principal parts of buffering itfelf. Jefus Chrift chofe to buffer the utmoft fharpnefs of bufferings. We often bear the crofs in wcaknefs, at other times with D ftrensth :
S8 A Short and Eajy
ftrength : , all ought to be equal to us in the will of God.
Sect. VIII.
Of the Myfleries of our Redemption through Jefus Chrijl,
SOME may objeft unto me, that at this rate one cannot have any fenfe of the myjleries impref-| fed upon him : but ’tis quite other- wife, for thefe are given in reality! to the foul. Jefus Chrijl to whom we refign ourfelves, and whom we follow as the way, whom we hear as the truth, and who animat-j eth us as the life, Jo. xiv. 6. Unit- ing himfelf to the foul, makes it to bear all his feveral dates. Now to bear the dates or conditions of Je-\ Jus Chrijl, is a far greater thing than