III. Be afraid of seeking or finding comfort in any thing, but God alone; for that which gives thee comfort, takes so much of thy heart from God. “What is a pure heart? One to which God alone is totally, and purely sufficient; to which nothing relishes, or gives delight, but God alone.” IV. That state is best, which exerciseth the highest faith in, and fullest resignation to God. V. What is it you want and seek, but that God _may be all in all in you_? But how can this be, unless all worldly good and evil become as nothing to you? “O my soul! abstract thyself from every thing. What hast thou to do with changeable creatures? Waiting and expecting thy bridegroom, who is the author of all creatures, let it be thy sole concern, that he may find thy heart free and disengaged, as often as it shall please him to visit thee.” Be assured of this, that sooner or later, we must be brought to this conviction, that every thing in ourselves by nature is evil, and must be entirely given up; and that nothing that is created, can make us better than we are by nature. Happy, therefore, and blessed are all those inward or outward troubles, that hasten this conviction in us; that with the whole strength of our souls, we may be driven to seek _all_ from and in God, without the least thought, hope, or contrivance after any other relief: then it is, that we are made truly partakers of the cross of Christ; and from the bottom of our hearts shall be enabled to say, with St. _Paul_, _God forbid that I should glory in any thing, save the cross of our Lord |Jesus Christ|; by which I am crucified to the world, and the world is crucified to me_. *Give up yourself to God without reserve. This implies such a state of heart, as does nothing of itself, from its own reason, will or choice, but stands always in an absolute dependance upon being led by the Spirit of God into every thing that is according to his will; in singleness of heart meeting every thing that every day brings forth, as something that comes from God, and is to be received, and gone through by you, in such an heavenly use of it, as you would suppose the holy Jesus would have done, in such occurrences.――This is an attainable degree of perfection; and by having Christ and his Spirit always in your eye, and nothing else, you will never be left to yourself, nor without the full guidance of God. * * * * * LETTER ♦VIIa. ♦ second letter “VII”, added “a” suffix To Mr. _T. L._ IT matters not my friend, what you are upon, whether you would save a man from _deism_, _debauchery_, or _suicide_; you must begin in the same place, from one and the same ground, and this as unavoidably, as every fruit must have its beginning from the root, and from the root in its right state.