For thus he may continue one, and the selfsame, and unshaken in the midst of so many various events, directing continually the single eye of his intention unto me. 3. And the purer the eye of the intention is, the more steadily doth he pass through various storms. But in many things the eye of a pure intention waxeth dim, for it quickly looketh upon any delightsome object that occurs. And it is rare to find one that is wholly free from all blemish of self- seeking. So the Jews of old came to Bethany to Martha and Mary, not for Jesus alone, but to see Lazarus also. The eye of thy intention therefore is to be purged, that it may be single and right, directed unto me beyond the manifold earthly objects that come between. CHAPTER XXVI. _That God is sweet above all things, and in all things, to him that loveth._ _Christian._ MY God and my all. What would I have more, and what greater happiness can I desire? O sweet and pleasing word! But to him that loveth the word; not the world, nor those things that are in the world. My God and my all! Enough is said to him that understandeth; and to him that loveth it is pleasant to repeat it often. For when thou art present, all things please; but when thou art absent, all things disgust. Thou givest quiet of heart, and much peace, and pleasant joy. Thou makest us think well of all things, and praise thee in all things: neither can any thing please long without thee. *But that any thing may be pleasant, thy grace must be present, and it must be seasoned with the sweetness of thy wisdom. 2. What is not tasteful unto him who tasteth thee? And him who delighteth not in thee, what can delight? *3. O thou everlasting light, surpassing all created lights, dart the beams of thy brightness from above, piercing the most inward parts of my heart. Purify, rejoice, enlighten, and enliven my spirit, with all the powers thereof, that I may cleave unto thee with abundance of joy and triumph. *O when will that blessed hour come, when I shall be filled with thy presence, and thou be unto me all in all! As long as this is not granted me, I shall not have full joy. Alas! the kingdom of my soul is not yet in peace. 4. But thou that rulest the raging of the sea, and stillest the waves thereof when they arise, arise and help me: Scatter the people that delight in war, destroy them in thy might. Display thy greatness, and let thy right hand be glorified; for there is no other hope nor refuge for me, but in thee, my Lord God. CHAPTER XXVII. _Of a pure and entire resignation of ourselves, for the obtaining freedom of heart._ _Christ._ SON, forsake thyself, and thou shalt find me. Stand without chusing any thing and without seeking to have any thing as thy own. Resign thyself, without resuming thy claim.