Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God
in dangers
“My Son, for this thou must diligently make thy endeavour, that in
every place and outward action or occupation thou mayest be free
within, and have power over thyself; and that all things be under thee,
not thou under them; that thou be master and ruler of thy actions, not
a slave or hireling, but rather a free and true Hebrew, entering into
the lot and the liberty of the children of God, who stand above the
present and look upon the eternal, who with the left eye behold things
transitory, and with the right things heavenly; whom temporal things
draw not to cleave unto, but who rather draw temporal things to do them
good service, even as they were ordained of God to do, and appointed by
the Master Workman, who hath left nought in His creation without aim
and end.
2. “And if in any chance of life thou stand not in outward appearances,
nor judgest things which are seen and heard by the fleshly sense, but
straightway in every cause enterest with Moses into the tabernacle to
ask counsel of God; thou shalt hear a divine response and come forth
instructed concerning many things that are and shall be. For always
Moses had recourse to the tabernacle for the solving of all doubts and
questionings; and fled to the help of prayer to be delivered from the
dangers and evil deeds of men. Thus also oughtest thou to fly to the
secret chamber of thy heart, and earnestly implore the divine succour.
For this cause we read that Joshua and the children of Israel were
deceived by the Gibeonites, that they asked not counsel at the mouth of
the Lord,(1) but being too ready to listen to fair speeches, were
deceived by pretended piety.”
(1) Joshua ix. 14.