The Soul's Conflict with Itself

We read of great Princes who after ¹some bloody designs, were as terrible to themselves as they were formerly to others, and therefore could never endure to be awaked in the night, without Music, or some like diversion. It may be, we may be cast into such a condition, (where we have none in the world to comfort us) as in contagion sickness, when none may come near us, we may be in such an estate wherein no friend will own us. And therefore let us labour now to be acquainted with God and our own hearts; an• acquaint our hearts with the comfort of the holy Ghost, then, though we have not so much as a book to look on, or a friend to talk with, yet we• ⟨p. 67⟩may look with comfort into the book of our own heart, and read what God hath written there by the finger of his ²spirit: all books are written to amend this one book of our heart and conscience; by this means we shall never want a Divine to comfort us, a Physician to cure us, a Counsellor to direct us, a Musician to cheer us, a Controller to check us, because (by help of the word and spirit) we can be all these to our selves.

We read of great Princes who after ¹some bloody designes, were as terrible to themselves as they were formerly to others, and therefore could never endure to be awaked in the night, without Musique, or some like diversion. It may bee, wee may bee cast into such a condition, (where we have none in the world to comfort us) as in contagio• sicknesse, when none may come neare us, we may be in such an estate wherein no friend will owne us. And therefore let us labour now to bee acquainted with God and our owne hearts; an• acquaint our hearts with the comfor• of the holy Ghost, then, though wee have not so much as a booke to looke on, or a friend to talke with, yet we• ⟨p. 67⟩