If you ask what this one, true, simple way is: it is the way of _patience_, _meekness_, _humility_ and _resignation_ to God. This is the _truth_ and _perfection_ of dying to oneself; it is no where else, but in this state of heart. _Theogenes._ The excellency and perfection of these virtues, I acknowledge; but alas, Sir, how will this prove the way of _overcoming oneself_ to be so _simple_ and _immediate_, as you speak? For is it not the doctrine of almost all men, and all books, and confirmed by our own woeful experience, that much length of time, and exercise, and variety of practices and methods are necessary, and scarce sufficient to the attainment of _any one_ of these four virtues? _Theophilus._ When Christ our Saviour was upon earth, was there any thing more simple and plain, than the way to him? Did Scribes, Pharisees, Publicans, and Sinners want any length of time, or exercise of rules and methods before they could have admission to him, or have the benefit of faith in him? _Theogenes._ I don’t understand why you put this question, nor do I see how it can relate to the matter before us. _Theophilus._ It not only relates to, but is the very _truth_ of the matter before us: for when I refer you to patience, meekness, humility, and resignation to God, as the one simple, plain, immediate, way of dying to yourself. I call it so, for no other reason, but because you can as _easily_ and _immediately_, without art or method, have all the benefit of these virtues, as Publicans and Sinners by their turning to Christ, could be helped, and saved by him. _Theogenes._ But, good Sir, would you have me believe, that my _turning_ and _giving_ up myself to these virtues, is as certain and immediate a way of my being possessed of their power, as when sinners turned to Christ to be helped, and saved by him? Surely this is too short a way, and has too much of miracle in it, to be now expected. *_Theophilus._ I would have you strictly believe all this, in the fullest sense of the words. And also to believe, that the reasons why you, or any one else, are for a long time vainly endeavouring after, and hardly ever attaining these virtues, is because you seek them in the way they are not to be found, in a _multiplicity_ of human rules, methods, and contrivances, and not in that _simplicity_ of faith, in which, those who applied to Christ, immediately obtained that which they asked of him?