Motives to holy living, or, Heads for meditation divided into consideratins, counsels, duties : together with some forms of devotion in litanies, collects, doxologies, &c.

§. 103.

And this, which I have said, although it appear ob∣scure, yet who will put it in practice, shall easily under∣stand it &c. And, since it so much concerns us not to go on [in our Devotions] slowly, let us discourse a little how we may inure our selves to so good a way of pro∣ceeding in them. Let us therefore make account, that within us there stands a Palace of most rich workman∣ship, its Edifice consisting all of Gold, and precious Stones, in fine every way such as is suting to so great a Lord; and that you are in part the cause, that this Edifice is such, as indeed it is; (for there is no Fabrick at all of so great beauty as a Soul pure, and replenished with ver∣tues, which by how much greater they are, so much greater is the lustre of those precious Stones;) and that in this Palace lodgeth that great King, who is pleased to make himself your guest; and that he is there seated in a Throne of the greatest value, which is your Heart. This will seem at the first to you but a thing imperti∣nent, that I should make such a fiction, to make you

understand it;

yet it may help much you especially &c. Again, Chapter 29th; She proceeds thus on the same subject.

The Soul's entring within her self into this Paradice together with her God, and locking the door after her against all things, which are in the world. Ye may know, that it is not at all a thing super-natural; but, that it depends on our Will, and that we are able to do it, with that help of God, without which we are able to do nothing at all, not so much as to have of our selves one only good thought. For this is not a silence of the faculties, but a shutting them up within them∣selves.