The Soul's Conflict with Itself

8. It should be our wisdom likewise to place our selves in the best conveniency ¹of all outward helps which may have a kind working upon our fancy; and to take heed of the contrary, as time, place, and objects, &c. There be good hours, and good messengers of Gods sending, golden opportunities, wherein God uses to give a meeting to his children, & breathes good thoughts into them. Even the wisest and holiest men, (as David and Solomon, &c.) had no further safety then they were careful of well using all good advantages, and sequestring themselves from such objects as had a working power upon them; by suffering their souls to be led by their fancies, and their hearts to run after their eyes, they betrayed and robbed themselves of much grace and comfort, thereupon Solomon cries out with grief and shame from his own experience, Vanity of vanities, &c. ²Fancy will take fire before we be aware. Little things are seeds of great matters; Job knew this, and therefore made a covenant with his eyes. But a fools ⟨p. 196⟩³eyes are in the corners of the earth, saith Solomon.⁴

8. It should be our wisedome likewise to place our selves in the best conveniency ¹of all outward helps which may have a kinde working upon our fancie; and to take heed of the contrary, as time, place, and objects, &c. There bee good houres, and good messengers of Gods sending, golden opportunities, wherein God uses to give a meeting to his children, & breathes good thoughts into them. Even the wisest and holiest men, (as David and Solomon, &c.) had no further safety then they were carefull of well using all good advantages, and sequestring themselves from such objects as had a working power upon them; by suffering their soules to bee led by their fancies, and their hearts to runne after their eyes, they betrayed and robbed themselves of much grace and comfort, thereupon Solomon cries out with griefe and shame from his own experience, Vanitie of vanities, &c.