A Guide to True Peace; or A Method of Attaining To Inward and Spiritual Prayer

Link to Book on Google:

https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output...

Recently, Jim Wilson, in a few posts mentioned the book "A Guide to True Peace; or A Method of Attaining To Inward and Spiritual Prayer." I am thankful for his mention as I've completed my first reading and found it uplifting and edifying to the enrichment of the Presence within. 

It is a powerful testimony to the inward way an d freedom from outward forms of discipline through faith in the direct experience of the movement of the Spirit.

Here are some quotes that were of particular interest during my first reading:

From Chapters 4 and 5

Alas ! by wanting them to pray in elaborate forms, and to be curiously critical therein, you create their chief obstacles. The children have been led astray from the best of Fathers, by your endeavouring to teach them too refined, too polished a language.

The spirit of God needs none of our arrangements and methods : when it pleaseth him, he turns Shepherds into Prophets ; and so far from excluding any from the Temple of Prayer, he throws wide open the gates, that all may enter in; while " Wisdom crieth, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."

... beseeching you not to be retarded in your progress by any external exercises, not to rest in the shadow, instead of the substance. If the water of eternal life is shown to some thirsty souls, how inexpressibly cruel would it be, confining them to a round of external forms, to prevent their approaching it: so that their longing shall never be satisfied, but they shall perish with thirst ! O ye blind and foolish men, who pride yourselves on science, wisdom, wit, and power ! How well do you verify what God hath said, that his secrets are hidden from the wise and prudent, and revealed unto the little ones — the babes! Matt. xi. 25.

The sort of prayer to which we have alluded, is that of inward silence ; wherein the soul, abstracted from all outward things, in holy stillness, humble reverence, and lively faith, waits patiently to feel the divine presence, and to receive the precious influence of the Holy Spirit. And when you retire for this purpose, which should be your frequent practice, you should consider yourself as being placed in the presence of God, looking with a single eye to him, resigning yourself entirely into his hands, to receive from him whatsoever he may be pleased to dispense to you ; calmly endeavouring, at the same time, to fix your mind in peace and silence ; quitting all your own reasonings, and not willingly thinking on any thing, how good and how profitable soever it may appear to be. And should any vain imaginations present themselves, you should gently turn from them ; and thus faithfully and patiently wait to feel the Divine presence.

Through the book we are admonished against faith in outward forms and practices and toward the embracement of simply waiting on and a faithfulness in the grace and revelation of Presence. We are admonished against a faith in outward method. In essence, and ironically, the "Method" referred to in the very title is to de-methodize and trust only in the Presence which is True Peace. 

We are admonished to trust not in the abstract rational mind, the sciences, and wisdom of abstract thought that dims Presence and eternal life. 

On this page I will begin a chapter by chapter immersion study into the blessed piece. Thank you Jim for mentioning it.