en_ was the time for us to make good and effectual acts of
resignation, whereof one alone would oftentimes very much promote our
spiritual advancement.

That as for the miseries and sins he heard of daily in the world, he
was so far from wondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was
surprised that there were not more, considering the malice sinners
were capable of; that for his part he prayed for them; but knowing
that GOD could remedy the mischiefs they did when He pleased, he gave
himself no farther trouble.

That to arrive at such resignation as GOD requires, we should watch
attentively over all the passions which mingle as well in spiritual
things as in those of a grosser nature; that GOD would give light
concerning those passions to those who truly desire to serve Him. That
if this was my design, viz., sincerely to serve GOD, I might come to
him (B. Lawrence) as often as I pleased, without any Fear of being
troublesome; but if not, that I ought no more to visit him.

SECOND CONVERSATION.

That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and
that having resolved to make the love of GOD the _end_ of all his
actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method.
That he was pleased when he could take up a straw from the ground for
the love of GOD, seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His
gifts.

That he had been long troubled in mind from a certain belief that he
should be damned; that all the men in the world could not have
persuaded him to the contrary; but that he had thus reasoned with
himself about it: _I engaged in a religious life only for the love of_
GOD, _and I have endeavored to act only for Him; whatever becomes of
me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely
for the love of_ GOD. _I shall have this good at least, that till
death I shall have done all that is in me to love Him_. That this
trouble of mind had lasted four years; during which time he had
suffered much. But that at last he had seen that this trouble arose
from want of faith; and that since then he had passed his life in
perfect liberty and continual joy. That he had placed his sins betwixt
him and GOD, as it were, to tell Him that he did not deserve His
favors, but that GOD still continued to bestow them in abundance.

That in order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and
referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some
diligence: b