from these material vessels, and outsides, and all earthly dross.
For with His simple and pure understanding, He pierceth
into our inmost and purest parts, which from His, as it
were by a water pipe and channel, first flowed and issued.
This if thou also shalt use to do, thou shalt rid thyself of that
manifold luggage, wherewith thou art round about encumbered.
For he that does regard neither his body, nor his clothing,
nor his dwelling, nor any such external furniture, must needs gain
unto himself great rest and ease. Three things there be in all,
which thou doest consist of; thy body, thy life, and thy mind.
Of these the two former, are so far forth thine, as that thou art
bound to take care for them. But the third alone is that which
is properly thine. If then thou shalt separate from thyself,
that is from thy mind, whatsoever other men either do or say,
or whatsoever thou thyself hast heretofore either done or said;
and all troublesome thoughts concerning the future, and whatsoever,
(as either belonging to thy body or life:) is without the
jurisdiction of thine own will, and whatsoever in the ordinary
course of human chances and accidents doth happen unto thee;
so that thy mind (keeping herself loose and free from all outward
coincidental entanglements; always in a readiness to depart:)
shall live by herself, and to herself, doing that which is just,
accepting whatsoever doth happen, and speaking the truth always;
if, I say, thou shalt separate from thy mind, whatsoever by sympathy
might adhere unto it, and all time both past and future, and shalt
make thyself in all points and respects, like unto Empedocles
his allegorical sphere, 'all round and circular,' &c., and shalt
think of no longer life than that which is now present:
then shalt thou be truly able to pass the remainder of thy days
without troubles and distractions; nobly and generously disposed,
and in good favour and correspondency, with that spirit which
is within thee.