Direct. 10. But the greatest help to self-denial is, To retire from the Creature into God, and live in the love of him, and employ the soul continually upon him. Men will not be frightened from self love. It must be another more powerful Love that must draw them from it. And that can be none but the Love of God. When you have soundly discerned a surer friend than self, a wiser, a better, an abler Governor and Defender, and one that much more deserveth all your Love and Care; then you will turn away from self, and never till then. See therefore that you espouse no Interest but God's; and then you will have nothing to call you from him: Let love so close you with him and unite you to him, that you may know no Happiness but his Love and Glory, and see with no other Light than his: and know no will but the will of God; nor meddle with any work which for matter and end you cannot call the work of God. Then you have indeed denied your selves, when you are nothing, have nothing, and do nothing, but as from God, and by him and for him: Own not any self but in and for God, and then you may love and seek it freely; or this is to be called a loving and seeking of God and not of self. Own not any Knowledge, but that which is from the Light of God, by his word, works, Spirit and Ordinances, and which leadeth you to God in Holiness and Peace, and guideth you in his service, and then you need not condemn your selves of self-conceitedness, or a selfish understanding. Know not any will in your selves, but that which is caused by the will of God, and directed by it, and intended to fulfil it; So that you maybe able to say of every desire of your soul, I desi•e this because that God would have me desire it, and I am resolved to follow his will in the seeking of it, and the end of my ⟨p. 410⟩desire is that I may please him, and his will may be done,] and then you may say, you have conquered self-will. O see then that you be more with God: and study his Mind and Will, his Excellency, Sufficiency and Love, and remember that you are a dependent being, that are nothing but in and by him, and therefore should know no interest but him and his interest, nor possess any thing but for him, nor know any will or way but his will and way, and so let his be yours, and yours be his, by a holy resignation, conformity, and subserviency unto his;
Direct. 10. But the greatest help to self-denial is, To retire from the Creature into God, and live in the love of him, and employ the soul continually upon him. Men will not be frightned from self love. It must be another more powerful Love that must draw them from it. And that can be none but the Love of God. When you have soundly discerned a surer friend than self, a wiser, a better, an abler Governour and Defender, and one that much more deserveth all your Love and Care; then you will turn away from self, and never till then. See therefore that you espouse no Interest but God's; and then you wil have nothing to call you from him: Let love so close you with him and unite you to him, that you may know no Happiness but his Love and Glory, and see with no other Light than his: and know no will but the will of God; nor meddle with any work which for matter and end you cannot call the work of God. Then you have indeed denyed your selves, when you are nothing, have nothing, and do nothing, but as from God, and by him and for him: Own not any self but in and for God, and then you may love and seek it freely; or this is to be called a loving and seeking of God and not of self. Own not any Knowledge, but that which is from the Light of God, by his word, works, Spirit and Ordinances, and which leadeth you to God in Holiness and Peace, and guideth you in his service, and then you need not condemn your selves of self-conceitedness, or a selfish understanding. Know not any will in your selves, but that which is caused by the will of God, and directed by it, and intended to sulfil it; So that you maybe able to say of every desire of your soul, I desi•e this because that God would have me desire it, and I am resolved to follow his will in the seeking of it, and the end of my ⟨p. 410⟩desire is that I may please him, and his will may be done,] and then you may say, you have conquered self-will. O see then that you be more with God: and study his Mind and Will, his Excellency, Sufficiency and Love, and remember that you are a dependent being, that are nothing but in and by him, and therefore should know no interest but him and his interest, nor possess any thing but for him, nor know any will or way but his will and way, and so let his be yours, and yours be his, by a holy resignation, conformity, and subserviency unto his;
