Here is a sure place of refuge from the face of the wrath of the enemy: here whatever has been elsewhere contracted of uncleanness is amended and washed away.
Chap. LIII.
That the grace of God
is not communicated to the earthly minded.
1. Son, my grace is precious; it suffers not itself to be mingled with external things, or earthly consolations.
Thou must therefore cast away all impediments of grace, if thou desire to have it infused into thee.
Choose a secret place to thyself; love to dwell with thyself alone; seek not to be talking with any one; but rather pour forth devout prayers to God, that thou mayest keep thy mind in compunction, and thy conscience clean.
Esteem the whole world as nothing: prefer the attendance on God before all external things:
For thou canst not both attend to me, and at the same time delight thyself in transitory things.
Thou must be sequestered from thy acquaintance, and from those that are dear to thee, and keep thy mind disengaged from all temporal comfort.
So the blessed apostle Peter beseeches the faithful of Christ to keep themselves as strangers and pilgrims in this world. 1 Peter ii.