Book III. of Jesus Christ. xi9

confift in a Mind at large from the World, and the Friendfhip and familiar Converfation ofGod.But fuch SpiritualAdvantages cannot^in the nature of the thing, be imparted toany^ whofe AfFcd:ions are not entirely agreeable and infeparably united to mine. And this requires the total Refignation of a Man's felf ; and the daily Offering of his whole Spirit^ and Soul, and Body^ a holy^ lively and reafonahle Sacrifice unto me. 1 havb often faid it, and now repeat it once more ; That He who would receive Ally mitft in exchange give All, Do not then expert, or call in,any thing again ^ but give free- ly and cheerfully, and depend folely upon Me,with- out Doubts or Demurrs. Me thou fhalthave in return, and with me perfed Freedom and faving Knowledge. Prevail with thy felf to give up all without Intent or Power of Revocation ,- and pray earneftly, that thou may'ft gladly follow Chrift, in all his Sufferings and loweft State ^ that thou may'ft renounce all Property, and throw thy felf naked into his Embraces : that thou may'ft die to the World at prefent, and by fo doing) live to Me for ever. When this is done, all vain Ima- ginations will be banifli'd ; Luft will diilurb thee no more, nor Paffions ruffle, nor anxious Cares perplex thee ^ Exceffive Fears will run and hide their head y Inordinate Defires will ficken and die , Sorrow and Difquiet find no place ,• and if Temptations try, yet can they not moleft thee.
'/ 4 CHAP.
axo €)f tl^e gimitation Book III.
Chap. XLIII.
How to govern ones felf in the Affairs of the
WorU.
Cbrlfi.'] TYE fure, my Son, to take good heed, that Jj Bufinefs and Care never get within thee; but whatever Conftraint they may lay upon thy Acti- ons, and outward Attendan ways at its own difpofaL Do bufinefs^ but be not a Slave to it ; and remember, thy Prerogative is, to go- vern, and not to ferve the Things of the World. Thou art a Hebrew of the Spiritual Seed oi Abraham ^ affert thy Native Liberty, But why do I call thee a Free-born Son of Abraham ? Thou art a great deal Coloff. I. more, tranjlated out of Bondage into the glo-
rious Liberty of the Sons of God y Tar taker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Such Birth, fuch Hopes, fuch a Condition fliould raife and enable thy Soul, trample upon the prefent, and grafp at nothing lefs than Eternity. Caft only now and then a difdain- ful Glance upon this World, as a thing by the by ;huc keep thy Eye immoveablyand diredly fixtupon Hea- ven^ as thy fureProfped, thy majn Concern. It will ill become thy Quality to dwell upon Trifles, or fub- jed thy felf to things temporal. Thefethou muft make bend to thy Pleafure, fubmit and ferve thy Occafions. For fo their great Creator intended they (hould, who is t\\c Author and Lover of Order, and would have every Work of his contaia'd within its proper Poft and Station. If thou at any time art entangled in Difficulties, re- ly not upon Human Prudence, nor truft the falfe Reprefentations, with which thy Senfes, and v/orldly Affedions, or the miftaken Judgment of others fo difpofed, would impofe upon thee. But remember
fiipfes^