its proportions, even unto the stature of a perfect man in
Christ Jesus.

The soul, having now passed into God, is in its proper place, and will
be happy, provided it remains fixed and separate from its former manner
of acting.

Reason may at times oppose with all its strength, and cause some fears,
some hesitations; but, being fixed in God, it is impossible for the
soul to change its course; and, after the experience of many useless
sufferings, having their origin in self, it suffers itself to be drawn
in the current of love. There is now no more of violence to nature.
The soul is in its natural state. The ease and naturalness of this
state causes, at times, some fear, some anxiety. It is as much the
nature of man, originally, and in his new creation in the likeness of
Christ, to be in God, and to be there in perfect enlargement,
simplicity, and innocence, as it is the nature of water to flow in its
channel. When man is as he should be, his state is one of infinite
ease and without limitations, because he is created sovereign, or
master of himself, and cannot be subjected by anything created,
although he is subjected to God, if that may be called subjection,
which brings the soul into affinity with God, and makes it partaker of
his nature.

Be therefore persuaded, that God uses no violence in dealing with the
soul. This commotion in the soul, arises from the resistance of man's
will to divine operations. When the soul is disenfranchised of all
that is opposed to the will of God; when it is not arrested either by
desires or repugnancies, it runs without stopping or weariness in the
way. This is what is called death,--death to self; but the soul was
never so much alive; it now lives the true life, the life of God.

When the soul becomes one with God by the loss of its own will and
life, it has purposes, and it is important to follow them; but they are
purposes in God, and have in them nothing of self. All that has
rapport to self is no more, and God is all. Being passed into God, the
soul is changed and transformed in him. This is what the mystics call
_Resurrection_. But the word used in this way, does not bear its usual
signification. To resuscitate is to revive the former life. But in
this case, the will, or natural life is consumed, and gives place to
the will or life of God. Thus the Holy Spirit operates effectively in
the soul, transforming it into the likeness of the Son of God.

Now the soul