Life eternalLife eternall

Answ. Yes, but not to be wedded to them, but so weaned from them, that you may use them, as if you used them not; whereas there are some that have their hearts so glued to them, that it breaks their hearts, when they have their friends or children, or estates, or credit fail them, or if they be hindered from their livings, pleasure and conveniences: but he is in the happiest and best condition who can live alone, and can be content with God alone; that can fetch so much comfort and help from him, that he can he without friends and companions, without wife, and children; and if he be put into a country town far from all suitable acquaintance, yea if he be shut up in a close prison, yet he can walk with God, and do as Paul and Silas, have his heart filled with joy and peace through believing. This is the safety and strength of a man. For even as the body, the more sick it is, the more helps it needs; and the lamer it is, the more props it must have, ⟨p. 58⟩one for his arm, another for his legs, another for his back: whereas a strong man can walk upon his own legs, he needs no other help: even so the soul, the more sick and lame it is, the more it needs; but he which hath a strong inward man which is in health, let him have GOD, and shift him from vessel to vessel, from condition to condition, let him be stripped of all, yet he can go upon his legs and can live without all. So saith the Apostle Paul, Phil. 4.¹ I have learned in what estate soever I am, therewith to be content: that is, riches or not riches, honour or not honour, yet his mind had a bottom that he could stand alone, and be happy without them. Thus I say, the more a mans affection is enlarged to a multitude of things, the weaker he is, and more subject to be disquieted, by any thing: but the more his mind is contracted, and gathered into a narrow compass, and content with a greater simplicity of condition, the safer, and stronger he is, and less subject to be disquieted by any creature; because let come what will come, whatsoever condition he is put into, he hath a bottom to stand upon, he hath some thing to comfort his heart.

Answ. Yes, but not to bee wedded to them, but so weaned from them, that you may use them, as if you used them not; whereas there are some that have their hearts so glued to them, that it breaks their hearts, when they have their friends or children, or estates, or credit faile them, or if they bee hindred from their liuings, pleasure and conueniences: but hee is in the happiest and best condition who can live alone, and can bee content with God alone; that can fetch so much comfort and helpe from him, that hee can hee without friends and companions, without wife, and children; and if hee be put into a country towne farre from all sutable acquaintance, yea if he be shut up in a close prison, yet he can walke with God, and doe as Paul and Silas, have his heart filled with joy and peace through believing. This is the safety and strength of a man. For even as the body, the more sicke it is, the more helpes it needes; and the lamer it is, the more props it must have,