Tryon's letters upon several occasions ... by Tho. Tryon.

LETTER VIII. Of Religion, and the Knowledg of Man's self.

SIR,

NOthing in the World could have been more acceptable than your Letter, Fraught with an earnest desire of being acquainted with such Truths, as will ascertain a Mans Happiness in this Life, and his Salvation in that which is to come. It is indeed a Noble Piece of Curiosity, to Enquire into the Nature of True Religion, and as much our Interest as 'tis our Duty: The Wise Man Comprehends the whole of Religion, in these few Words, (viz.) Fear God, and keep his Com∣mandments. But this Definition or Description being too General, I shall endeavour according to the Talent that is given me, to Illustrate it in several Particulars, that it may be the better and more easily understood.

THe Apostle St. Iames tells us in plain terms, that Pure and Undefiled Religion consists in Visiting and Relieving the Widow and Fatherless, &c. that is, the greatest and surest Evidences of the Truth and Sincerity of our Religion, are Works of Mercy.

This all Men consent to in Words, tho' not in Practice, the first Step is the Fear of God, the second the Knowledge of our selves, the third Temperance in Meats and Drinks, the fourth Cleanness in all our Foods and Methods of Conversation.

The Knowledge of God, our selves, and his Law, do open the Eyes of our Understanding, and teach us to distinguish be∣tween

Good and Evil: I mean those Secret and Internal Powers of both that are in our selves, and other things, by which means Man comes to obtain a good Genius or Director through the whole course of his Life: this is the Sum and Total of Religi∣on, which like a great and flourishing Tree, shoots its self forth into many fair and spreading Branches.

Your Food must be clean, and as near as you can, procured without Oppression and Violence; your Drink must be Water, and a due quantity is to be observed in both, (viz.) so much only as is requisite to the satisfaction of the Exigencies of Nature. We must be Merciful to all Creatures of an Inferior Order, and Especially to have a Sympathising Compassion for those of our own Kind. We are to use the greatest Care imaginable in the Education of our Children, who must in a little time after us, come to Govern the World: To be very diligent that they do not spend their precious Time in Vanity, (as the Custom of too many is) but continually Exercise them in some useful Arts and Sciences, that in time may become serviceable to themselves and others; to instruct them to distinguish the Forms they are Compounded of, and how every Creature is endued by Gods Eter∣nal Law, with an Influential Virtue, to Work on its Simily; so that whatsoever a Child, or any other Creature Eats, Drinks or, does, it has a particular Key or Power in it self, to open its own Gate, and there Incorporate with and strengthen its Simily.

This sort of Learning ought to be Insinuated, even in their Cradles, which would make it grow strong and Vigorous, as we daily see, if Men Practice Virtue, they will grow strong in well doing, and so on the contrary, for there is a wonderful and al∣most Insuperable Power in Habit and Custom.

Now if you would bring up your Children in Virtuous Exer∣cises, their Meats and Drinks must be Innocent and simple; by which the Principle of Wisdom and Unity is begotten. Our Meats and Drinks, are the Aliment and Substance of our Lives, and as it were the Basis and Grounds of our Spirits and Bodies in this visible World: For Man is by all Wise Men and Philoso∣phers, esteemed the Compleat Epitome or Image of God, and contains the true Properties and Qualitys of all things, both in the visible and invisible World, Man being like all things, and all things like him, so that each thing has a particular and natural Inclination to Work on him, and beget it's own Com∣plexion, is manifest beyond Contradiction.

If so, then whatever a Man applys and gives himself to, whether Virtue or Vice, that obtains the Ascendant in him: If he be adicted to Temperance, Sobriety and Order, then the good Genius obtains the Government, and attracts the Virtues of all things from without, and the Holy Powers from within, by which

method a Man Arrives to the true Unity in himself; the contrary is to be understood, if any one give themselves over to Evil, and Intemperate Courses of Life, for it is only the Practice of Good, that Moves the Holy Principles of Gods Eternal Love in Jesus Christ.

But Words and Notions, without a Suitable Confor∣mity in Actions, tho' never so strong in the beginning, do by degrees grow weak, and at last become of no Effect at all.

For this Reason many Sober Men that have Preached and Declared many Excellent Doctrines or Notions, in the first Dawning of the Day of Gods manifestation of his Love to their Souls, have afterwards by degrees grown very weak and Impotent; now this dwindling and debility, has only proceeded from their not making a Law of Practice agreeable to their Doctrine, and Educating their Children, &c. in the Powers and Virtues of this Law, which is really the Law of God, and under that conside∣ration, it should have been propounded unto them, by which means all the Forms and Powers of the Microcosm would have been Established in Innocence and Goodness, beyond the possi∣bility of ever being eradicated or weakned.

Sir, Be pleased to take this for a present Answer, I have much more to say, but the time obliges me to Conclude.

Your Friend to serve You.