so that if in this life we would enjoy the peace of paradise, we must
accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, affectionate conversation with
Him: we must hinder our spirits wandering from Him upon any occasion:
we must make our heart a spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him
incessantly: we must watch continually over ourselves, that we may not
do, nor say, nor think anything that may displease Him. When our minds
are thus employed about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and
consolation.
I know that to arrive at this state, the beginning is very difficult;
for we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know
also that we can do all things with the grace of GOD, which He never
refuses to them who ask it earnestly. Knock, persevere in knocking, and
I answer for it that He will open to you in His due time, and grant you
all at once what He has deferred during many years. Adieu. Pray to Him
for me, as I pray to Him for you. I hope to see Him quickly.
FIFTEENTH LETTER
From his death-bed. Repeats the same exhortation to knowledge, that
we may love.
GOD knoweth best what is needful for us, and all that He does is for our
good. If we knew how much He loves us, we should be always ready to
receive equally and with indifference from His hand the sweet and the
bitter; all would please that came from Him. The sorest afflictions
never appear intolerable, but when we see them in the wrong light. When
we see them in the hand of GOD, who dispenses them: when we know that
it is our loving FATHER, who abases and distresses us: our sufferings
will lose their bitterness, and become even matter of consolation.
Let all our employment be to know GOD: the more one knows Him, the more
one desires to know Him. And as knowledge is commonly the measure of
love, the deeper and more extensive our knowledge shall be, the greater
will be our love: and if our love of GOD were great we should love Him
equally in pains and pleasures.
Let us not amuse ourselves to seek or to love GOD for any sensible
favours (how elevated soever) which He has or may do us. Such favours,
though never so great, cannot bring us so near to GOD as faith does in
one simple act. Let us seek Him often by faith: He is within us; seek
Him not elsewhere. Are we not rude and deserve blame, if we leave Him
alone, to busy ourselves about trifles, which do not please Him and
perhaps offend Him? 'Tis to be feared these trifles will one day cost
us dear.
Let us begin to be devoted to Him in good earnest. Let us cast
everything besides out of our hearts; He would possess them alone. Beg
this favour of Him. If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon
see that change wrought in us which we aspire after. I cannot thank Him
sufficiently for the relaxation He has vouchsafed you. I hope from His
mercy the favour to see Him within a few days. Let us pray for one
another.
[He took to his bed two days after and died within the week.]
Appendix A - The electronic edition.
It is a privilege to release this Public Domain edition of Brother
It would appear from internal evidence to have been first published
between 1670 and, say, 1700. The text given here is taken from a 16vo
paperback pamphlet of unknown date; Edgar Charles Barton was Book
Steward of the Epworth Press from the time of the Methodist Union of
1932 until 1948, which gives the limits within which the edition came
out.
In order to distinguish this version from a subsequent corrected copy,
I label this release 1.0; and to facilitate ARCHIE location, request
that all distributed copies bear the name BLPPOG10.xxx
John Harris e-mail: harris@cix.compulink.co.uk
mail: 24
tel: +44 272 738386 (fax same number, call voice first)
27th January 1994,
end of book: THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD
THE BEST RULE OF A HOLY LIFE