Thou, who canst do all things, and ever lovest the profiting of my soul, increase in me thy grace, that I may fulfil thy works, and work out my own salvation. My Lord God, be not far from me; my God, consider and help me; for sundry thoughts have risen up against me, afflicting my soul. How shall I pass through them without hurt? How shall I utterly break them? _Christ._ I will go before thee, and will humble the great ones of the earth. I will open the doors of the prison, and reveal unto thee hidden secrets. _Christian._ Do Lord, as thou sayest, and let all evil thoughts fly before thy face. This is my hope, my only comfort to fly unto thee in every tribulation; to trust in thee, to call upon thee from my heart, and to expect patiently thy comfort. *3. Enlighten me, O good Jesus, with a clear shining inward light, and drive away all darkness from the habitation of my heart. Repress my wandering thoughts, and drive away those temptations which violently assault me. Fight strongly for me, and vanquish those evil beasts, these enticing lusts, that so peace may be obtained by thy power, and abundance of thy praise found in the holy court of a pure conscience. *Command the winds, and the tempests; say unto the sea, Be still, and to the north wind, Blow not, and there shall be a great calm. *4. Send forth thy light and thy truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for I am as the earth, without form, and void, until thou enlighten me. *Pour out thy grace from above, let thy heavenly dew distill upon my heart. *Supply streams of devotion, to water the face of the earth, that it may bring forth good and excellent fruit. Lift up my mind, which is pressed down by the weight of my sins. Draw up my whole desire to heavenly things; that having tasted the sweetness of supernatural happiness, it may be irksome to me even to think of earthly vanities. 5. Snatch me, and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of creatures; for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desire. *Join me unto thee with an inseparable band of love; for thou alone dost satisfy him that loveth thee, and without thee all things are frivolous. CHAPTER XIX. _Of avoiding curious enquiry into the life of others._ _Christ._ SON, be not curious, trouble not thyself with idle cares. What is this or that to thee? Follow thou me. For what is it to thee whether that man be such or no? Whether this man do or speak this or that? Thou shalt not need to answer for others, but shalt give account of thyself. Behold I know every one, and see all things that are under the sun, and understand how it is with every one; what he thinks, what he desires, and at what he aims. All things therefore are to be committed unto me; but do thou keep thyself in peace, and let him that acts, act as he will. Whatsoever he shall have done or said shall fall upon himself, for he cannot deceive me.