'"] banished thence where they willingly would have
harbor: how came they to thy house, to thy heart, and to find
entertainment in thy soul? The Lord keep them in every imagination
of the thoughts of thy heart for ever, and incline thine heart to
seek him more and more.
And since the whole world have slighted and despised and counted
foolish the thoughts wherewith thy soul is exercised, what strong
and mighty supporter is it upon and with which thou bearest up thy
spirit, and takest encouragement in this thy forlorn, unoccupied,
and singular way, for so I dare say it is with the most? But
certainly it is something above thyself, and that is more mighty to
uphold thee than is the power, rage, and malice of all the world to
cast thee down, or else thou couldst not bear up, now the stream and
the force thereof are against thee.
OBJECTION. "I know my soul is an excellent thing, and that the world
to come and its glories, even in the smallest glimpse thereof, do
swallow up all the world that is here; my heart also doth greatly
desire to be exercised about the thoughts of eternity, and I count
myself never better than when my poor heart is filled with them; and
as for the rage and fury of this world, it swayeth very little with
me, for my heart is come to a point; but yet for all that, I meet
with many discouragements, and such things as indeed do weaken my
strength in the way.
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