_Christian._ Lord, how often shall I resign myself? And wherein shall I forsake myself? *_Christ._ Always and every hour, as well in little things as in great; I except nothing, but require that thou be naked and void of all things. Otherwise how canst thou be mine, and I thine, unless both within and without thou art free from all self-will? 2. Some resign themselves, but with some exception; for they put not their whole trust in God, and therefore they study how to provide for themselves. *Some also at first offer all; but afterwards being assaulted with temptation, return again to that which they had left, and therefore they go not forward in virtue. These shall not attain to the true liberty of purity of heart, nor to the favour of my sweetest familiarity, unless they first make an entire resignation, and a daily oblation of themselves unto me. 3. I have often said unto thee, and now again I say the same; forsake thyself, resign thyself, and thou shalt enjoy much inward peace. * Give all for all; seek nothing, require back nothing, abide purely and with a firm confidence in me, and then thou shalt enjoy me. *Thou shalt be free in heart, and darkness shall not have any power over thee. *Let this be thy prayer, let this be thy desire; that being stript of all selfishness, thou mayst follow naked the naked Jesus, and dying to thyself, mayst live eternally with me. CHAPTER XXVIII. _Of the good government of ourselves in outward things, and of recourse to God in danger._ _Christ._ SON, thou oughtest with all diligence to endeavour, that in every place and action of business, thou be inwardly free, and master of thyself, and that things be under thee, and not thou under them. That thou mayst be lord of thy actions, not a servant or a hireling, but rather a freeman, and a true Hebrew, enjoying the liberty of the sons of God: Who stand above the things that are present, and view the things which are eternal: *Who look on transitory things with the left eye, and with the right behold the things of heaven: Whom temporal things cannot draw to cleave unto them; but they rather draw temporal things to serve them, in such a way as they are appointed by the Creator of all, who hath left nothing in his creatures without due order. 2. If thou remainest stedfast in all events, and dost not weigh by the outward appearance, the things which thou seest and hearest; but presently in every affair dost enter with _Moses_ into the tabernacle, to ask counsel of the Lord, thou shalt hear the divine oracle, and return instructed, concerning many things both present and to come. Always fly to the closet of thy heart, earnestly craving the Divine favour. For the scripture testifieth, that therefore were _Joshua_ and the children of _Israel_ deceived by the _Gibeonites_, because they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.