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GOD from the beginning made Man, and left him in the hands of his own Counsel. He added his Command∣ments and Precepts; if thou wilt keep them, they will preserve thee. Fire and Water are set before thee, stretch forth thy hand to which thou wilt. Before Man is Life and Death, Good and Evil; that which he chuseth shall be given him, for the Wisdom of God is great, and he is
mighty in Power; his Eyes are towards them that fear him, and he knows every Work of Man: He has commanded none to do wickedly, neither has he given any a Licence to sin; but the Penitent he re∣stores to the way of Justice; and those that are failing in Perseverance he con∣firms, and appoints them the Lot of Truth. Turn to the Lord, and forsake thy Sins; pray before his Face, and les∣sen thy Offences. Be not rash with thy Mouth, nor let thy Heart be hasty to ut∣ter any thing before God; for God is in Heaven and thou art on Earth, there∣fore let thy Words be few. Before Pray∣er prepare thy Soul, and be not as one that tempts God. Go not after thine own Lusts, but turn away from thine own Will. If thou givest to thy Soul her Desires, it will make thee a Derision to her Enemies. A wise Man will fear in every thing; and in the occasion of Sin will take heed of being negligent. He that loves Danger shall perish therein, and he that despises small things, shall fall by little and little. Better is he that hath less Knowledge and Fears, than he that aboundeth in Understanding, and transgresses the Law of the Lord.
Res.] My Soul, what canst thou wish for more? Behold thy gracious Lord
offers thee to choose what thou wilt, and promises to give thee what thou choosest! O infinite Goodness! 'tis thy self alone I chuse, for thou art my on∣ly Happiness for ever. I see my Porti∣on hereafter depends on my Choice here, but my Choice, O Lord, depends on thee. Guide me with thy Holy Grace, that I withdraw my Affections from all vain and perishable Creatures, and fix them intirely on thee, my Lord and my God, and my eternal Felicity.