Holy rules and helps to devotion both in prayer and practice In two parts. The fourth edition. Written by the right reverend father in God, Bryan Duppa, late Lord Bishop of Winton, in the time of his sequestration.

THe second step or act of the Soul, is, To look to the directing of the Inten∣tion, to fix it entirely upon God, and take it off from all earthly things: For as the least Grain and Atom of dust offends the eye, so this In∣tention admits of no mix∣ture, no vanity of being seen or heard at your Prayers, no curiosity of thinking to climb up by this Ladder into the secrets of God, no spiritual Pride, in reflecting upon your self as more devout than others; for as it must be sincere, so it must be hum∣ble, directed to the Glory of God alone; which in this ascent of your Soul, must

be always in your eye, as the Centre in which all the lines of Prayer must meet. But then this Intention of the Supplicant must be accom∣panied with some Offering too: For it was Gods Com∣mand to his People, that none should come into his presence with empty hands. Being therefore come into his presence, deal generously and freely with him, offer him the thing which he most desires, even thy heart, with all the thoughts and affecti∣ons of it, to be disposed by him, not only during the time of Prayer, but for all thy life. For this Offering of thy Heart to God, if it makes way for thy Prayer,

and breaks through those Clouds which thy sins have interposed between God and thee.