But observe. There is no way to attain this without a total despair of all human help. When a man is brought to such an inward, full conviction, as to have no more hope from all human means, than he hopes to see with his hands, or hear with his feet, then it is, that he is truly prepared to die to sin; that is, to give up all thoughts of having or doing any thing that is good, in any other way but that of a meek, humble, patient, total resignation of himself to God. All that we do before _this conviction_ is in great ignorance of ourselves, and full of weakness and impurity. Let our zeal be ever so wonderful, yet if it is not led and guided by this conviction, it is full of delusion. For God must do all, or all is nothing; but God cannot do all, till all is expected from him; and all is not expected from him, till _despairing_ of ever human help, we trust in Christ alone for a patient, meek, humble, total resignation to God.
And now, my dear friends, I have brought you to the very place for which I desired this day’s conversation; which was, to set your feet upon sure ground, with regard to the _spirit of love_. For all that variety of matters, through which we have passed, has been only a variety of proofs, that the _spirit_ of divine love can have no place, in any fallen creature, till it wills and _chooses_ to be dead to _all sin_ in a patient, meek, humble resignation to the power and mercy of God.
And from this state of heart also, it is, that the _spirit_ of prayer is born, which is the desire of the soul turned to God. Stand, therefore, steadfastly in _this will_, let nothing else enter into your mind, have no other contrivance, but every where, and in every thing to nourish, and keep up _this state_ of heart, and then the light of heaven, and the love of God, will begin their work in you, will bless and sanctify every power of your fallen soul, you will be in a readiness for every kind of virtue and good work, and will know what it is to be led by the Spirit of God.
_Theogenes._ But permit me to mention a fear that rises in me. Suppose I should find myself so overcome with my own selfish tempers, as not to be able to sink from them, into this meek, humble, patient, full resignation to God; what must I then do, or how shall I have the benefit of what you have taught me?
*_Theophilus._ You are then at the very time, and place of receiving the fullest benefit from it. For tho’ this patient, meek resignation is to be exercised with regard to all outward things; yet it chiefly respects our inward state, the troubles, perplexities, weaknesses, and disorders of our fallen souls. When you are most sensible of these, seek for help no other way, but wholly leave and give up yourself to be helped by the mercy of God. And thus, be your state what it will, you may always have the full benefit of this short, and sure way of resigning yourself to God. And the greater your distress is, the nearer you are to the greatest and best relief, provided you have but patience to expect it all from God. For nothing brings you so near divine relief, as the _extremity_ of distress; for the goodness of God hath no other _name_ or _nature_, but the helper of all that wants to be helped; and nothing can possibly hinder your finding this goodness of God, and every other gift and grace that you stand in need of; nothing can hinder or delay it, but your turning from the only fountain of living water, to some broken cistern of your own making; to this or that opinion, division, or subdivision amongst Christians, carnally expecting some mighty things either from _Samaria_, or _Jerusalem_, _Paul_, or _Apollos_, which are only to be had, by worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth; which is then only done, when your whole heart and soul and spirit trust wholly and solely to the operation of that God, in whom we live, move, and have our being. And be assured of this, that we have neither more nor less of the divine operation within us, because of this or that outward form, but strictly in that degree, as our faith, and hope, and trust, and dependance upon God, is more or less.
*What a folly then to be so often perplexed about the way to God? For nothing is the way to God, but our heart; God is no where else to be found; and the heart itself cannot find him, but by its _own love_ of him, _faith_ in him, _dependance_ upon him, _resignation_ to him, and expectation of all from him.