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1. THou art to know, that thy Soul is the Center, Habitation, and King∣dom of God. That therefore, to the end the Sovereign King may rest on that Throne of thy Soul, thou oughtest to take pains to keep it clean, quiet, void, and peaceable; clean from guilt and defects; quiet
from fears; void of affections, desires, and thoughts; and peaceable in temptations and tribulations.
2. Thou oughtest always then to keep thine Heart in peace, that thou mayest keep pure that Temple of God, and with a right and pure in∣tention, thou art to work, pray, obey, and suffer, without being in the least moved, whatever it pleases the Lord to send unto thee. Because it is certain, that for the good of thy Soul, and for thy spiritual profit, he will suffer the envious enemy, to trouble that City of Rest, and Throne of Peace, with temptations, suggestions, and tribulations, and by the means of creatures, with painful troubles, and grievous persecu∣tions.
3. Be constant, and chear up thine heart in whatsoever disquiet, these tribulations may cause to thee. Enter within it, that thou may'st over∣come it, for therein is the Divine Fortress which defends, protects, and fights for thee. If a man hath a safe Fortress, he is not disquieted, though his enemies pursue him, because by re∣treating within it, these are disappointed and overcome. The strong Castle, that will make thee triumph over all thine enemies, visible and invisible, and over all their snares and tribula∣tions, is within thine own Soul, because in it resides the Divine Aid and Sovereign Succour. Retreat within it, and all will be quiet, secure, peaceable, and calm.
4. It ought to be thy chief and continual exercise, to pacifie that Throne of thy Heart,
that the Supreme King may rest therein. The way to pacifie it, will be to enter into thy self by means of internal recollection; all thy prote∣ction is to be Prayer, and a loving recollection in the Divine Presence. When thou seest thy self more sharply assaulted, retreat into that re∣gion of Peace, where thou'lt find the Fortress. When thou art more faint-hearted, betake thy self to this refuge of Prayer, the only Armour for overcoming the enemy, and mitigating tri∣bulation: thou oughtest not to be at a distance from it in a storm, to the end thou mayest, as another Noah, experience tranquillity, security, and serenity, and to the end thy will may be resigned, devote, peaceful, and courageous.
5. Finally, be not afflicted nor discouraged to see thy self faint-hearted, he returns to quiet thee, that still he may stir thee, because this Di∣vine Lord will be alone with thee, to rest in thy Soul, and form therein a rich Throne of Peace; that within thine own heart, by means of inter∣nal recollection, and with his heavenly grace, thou may'st look for silence in tumult; solitude in company; light in darkness; forgetfulness in pressures, vigour in despondency; courage in fear; resistance in temptation; peace in war; and quiet in tribulation.