The Soul's Conflict with Itself

We should therefore set our sel• to have most care of that, which Go• cares most for: which he breathed i• to us at first, set his own image upon, gave so great a price for, and values above all the world besides. Shall all our study be to satisfy the desires […] the flesh, and neglect this?

Wee should therefore set our sel• to have most care of that, which Go• cares most for: which he breathed i• to us at first, set his owne image upon, gave so great a price for, and values above all the world besides. Shall all our study bee to satisfie the desires 〈…〉 the flesh, and neglect this?

Is it not a vanity to prefer the casket before the jewel, the shell before the pearl, the gilded potsherd before the treasure? and is it not muc• more vanity to prefer the outward ⟨p. 73⟩condition before the inward? The soul is that which Satan and his hath most spite at, for in troubling our bodies or estates, he aims at the vexation of our souls. As in Job, his aim was to abuse that power God had given ¹him over His children, body and goods, to make him out of a disquieted spirit blaspheme God. It is an ill method to begin our care in other things, and neglect the soul, as Ahithophel, ²who set his house in order, ³when he should have set his soul in order first. Wisdom begins at the right end. If all be well at home, it comforts a man though he meets with troubles abroad. Oh (saith he) I shall have rest at home, I have a loving wife and dutiful children; so whatsoever we meet withal abroad, if the soul be quiet, thither we can retire with comfort. See that all be well within, and then all troubles from without cannot much annoy us.