6. When a Soul walks with Fear, doubting if it walk safely, and desires to be clearly rid of these fears and doubtings, the securest way is to submit to a Ghostly Father; because by the inter∣nal Light he clearly discovers what is Tempta∣tion, and what Inspiration, and distinguishes the motions that spring from Nature, from the Devil, and from the Soul it self, which ought totally to be Subjected to him who hath Experience, and he can discover the engagements, the idols and bad habits that hinder the Soul's flight; which by this means will not onely be delivered from the Snares of the Devil, but will proceed more in one Year, than it could have proceeded in a thousand, with other Guides of no Experi∣ence.
7. In the Life of the Illuminated Father, Fri∣er John Tauler, it is related what that Lay-man who went before him in the State of Perfection, says of himself, How that being taken off from the World, and desirous to be Holy, he gave himself to great Abstinence, till at length being extenuated and weak, he fell into a Dream, and heard a Voice from Heaven, which said to him, Man, if thou voluntarily kill thy self, before the time, thou shalt pay dear to thy self for it. Being full of terrour, he went into a Desart, and there imparted the way he had taken, and his Absti∣nence, to a holy Anchorite, who, by the favour of Heaven, freed him from that diabolical De∣lusion. He told him, That he followed that course of Abstinence that he might please God. But the Anchorite having asked him, By what