Letter XVIII.

To the same.
My dear L.,

You have a Scruple about the wondrous Lives of the Fathers in the Deserts, because in such Contrariety to his Character, who went about doing good. But if you only consider what you have said of them yourself, that the reading of their Lives, at 'once struck you with the 'deepest Devotion, and made you think what a Noviciate you 'were in the Love of God,' you would have Reason enough to place them amongst the faithful, and true Disciples of Him, who went about doing Good. For what greater Good, than to do that to others, for so many Ages, which they have done for you? They are not written to raise an Emulation in you, to copy after them; nor is there any Reason to think, that their Story is not much exaggerated. But be that as it will, it is certain, they were the Salt of the World for that Time, and that the good Providence of God blessed his Church with them.

They are not for you to read, but as it were en passant, or for a little Change of Air, and their Particularity of Life no more concerns you, than that of John the Baptist.

God's last Dispensation to the World, is the opening the Ground, and Mystery of all Things, to which every Blindness, and Vanity, and Strife of Human Life must, sooner or later, be forced to give up itself.

The Children of this Dispensation have no Occasion to look backwards. It is like learning your A B C, when you are called and qualified to read.

Be not too fond of Abstemiousness, nor too much attached to a Milk Diet; let nothing be a Reason for your doing, or not doing any Thing of this Kind, but the Health and Strength of your Body. As soon as you are able to bear a stronger Diet, I would have you by all Means to use it. There is no more Harm in getting Strength from good Food, than from sound Sleep. And this Kind of Diet, is only to be used as a Remedy for a Time.

Dear Soul,
Adieu.
Feb. 9, 1754.
To the same.
My dear Friend,

THE Variety of Trials, you have lately met with, are but a Specimen of what you are to expect, in some Form or other, so long as you breathe the Air of this fallen World.--The longer we are without them, the more our Need of them is increased. And they never give great Smart, but where something is to be torn off, that sticks too close to us.--One Reflection upon these sacred Words, 'My Kingdom is not of this World:--The Son of Man hath not where to lay his Head,' are sufficient to take not only the Sting out of every Cross, that can here befall us, but even to make us afraid, and ashamed of being pleased with any Thing, that has the Name of Worldly Honour, and Prosperity.

You have no Reason to wonder at any Thing you see, or hear, of the Partiality, Selfishness, Envy, and Enmity, that so often breaks out between Brothers and Sisters of the same Blood.--For if Blood-Relations, considered as such, could have any true Goodness, or unselfish Regard to one another, we should not be under the Necessity of being born again from above.

Will it do you any good to tell you, that thus says my Heart, without speaking a Word. 'Let Nothing live in me, but the Redeeming Power of thy holy Jesus, Nothing pray in me but thy Holy Spirit.'--This is my Ship, in which, I would be always at Sea.--All that I seek, or mean, either for myself, or others, by every Height and Depth of Divine Knowledge, given us by God in his illuminated Behmen, is only for this End, that we may be more willing, and glad to become such little Children, as our Lord has told us, are the only Heirs of the Kingdom of God.

The Piercing Critic may, and naturally will grow in Pride, as fast as his skill in Words discovers itself.--And every kind of Knowledge, that shows the Scholar, the Orator, the Disputer, the Commentator, the Historian, his own Powers, and Abilities, are the same Temptation to him, that Eve had from the Serpent; and he will get no more good by the Love and Relish of such Knowledge, than she got by her Love of the Tree, that was so desirable to make one wise.

But he whose Eyes are opened, to see into this Mystery of all Things, sees Nothing but Death to himself, and to every Thing, that he had called, or delighted in as his own. This is the bold Depth of his Knowledge. And if you would know its aspiring Height, it consists in learning to know, that which the Angels and Twenty-four Elders above the Throne of God, knew, when they cast down their Crowns, before him that sat on the Throne, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, thou art worthy to receive Glory, and Honour, and Power; for thou hast created all Things, and for thy Pleasure they are, and were created.--It is to know that the Triune Majesty of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are the threefold Power, Life, Glory, and Perfection of every Creature, that sings praises to God, in Heaven and in Earth. This is the proud Knowledge of those, who are let into the Holy of Holies, opened by the Spirit of God in his chosen Instrument, Behmen. Which goes no deeper, than to see the Nothingness of Man, ascends no higher, than to know that God is All; which begets nothing in Man, but that which was begotten in Paul, when he cried out, "God forbid, that I should glory in any Thing, but the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."