The kingdom of God in the soule, or within you discovered and demonstrated by cleare reasons, common similitudes, and certayne signes, teachinge the God-seekinge soul how shee shall find the same after a spirituall death within her, and constantly possesse and enjoy itt, accordinge to the words of Christ ... / composed by the Rd. Father Fa. Iohn Euangelist of Balduke Guardian, and maister of the nouices in Lonvayne [sic], and diffinitor of the Cappucyns in this Dutch prouince.

THE XXVI. CHAPTER.

How the Soule is to behaue herself when shee is through coldnes of Spiritt relented from the Deuyne Presence.

BVT albeit the soule enioying God be di∣ligent, and carefull to vse all the remedy which wee haue heere sett down agaynst all Exterior, and interior impediments, and is by faythfull Exercise arriued now to that Perfection that shee can at her pleasure con∣uert herself to her beloued without hinde∣rance, and continue Him in internall Rest, and Peace of Hart. Shee must neuettheles know that this perception or feeling will not be always perfectly alyke. For the ma∣nifestation of the deuyne presence in her, will be at one tyme more cleare, and euident, and with more satisfaction to the soule, yⁿ at another tyme. Yea sometymes shee will not be able to perceaue it, although shee cannot fynd any impediment on her part,

and conuerts herself vnto it after her accu∣stomed maner. Whereof wee also iudge it necessary to aduertise her, and as much as lyeth in our powr to instruct, and giue her Remedy against it; least perhaps obseruing this departure of the deuyne presence in her∣self, shee hath some doubt whither shee be in the right way, and also whither she stād still in naked fayth which is constant, and immutable: or at least hauing no such doubt, yet knowes not how shee is to behaue her∣self interiorly in this case, and so looseth much tyme, and Spirituall progres, as often happeneth; the caus of this change aboue all other impediments being vnknown vnto her, and much more the maner after which shee must carry herself heerin; that shee return not from the symple ope∣ration of the Spiri••t to the grosse working of her powrs, and senses, whereof shee is heere in great danger. For many fynding themselues in this internall disposition, estee∣me it to be an aridity, & departure from God, whereof they fynd many Bookes to treat of, and therefor that they must endure it to the end, and that Nothing more can be done. Or else think that they must resum their own working, and inflame themselues a new in the Loue of God; but by the first they fall into a fals rest, or idlenes: and by the second they return to a hurtfull Opera∣tion, and consequently both the one, and the

other do much hinder them from God.

The soule must therefor know that albeit shee receiue, and enioy the deuyne light in her (as wee haue often said) passiuely when as she is naked from all Creatures, and va∣cant from her own working neuertheles shee hath not the deuyne presence so, but must conuert herself vnto it by an intimate operation, eleuating herself (as hath beene said) by that internall Light to the very Topp of herself aboue all her powrs, and senses: or else sinking herself down into the depth of her nothing so that as a string on a Bow shee stand stretched out, and conuer∣ted to God. And although it be done with∣out Labour, neuertheles to the performan∣ce thereof goes all the possibility, and abili∣ty of the soule, and all the liuelynes, Agility, & Vigilancy of the whole Man who ist here wholy recollected before the secret presence of God. Now all humayn working is vnsta∣ble, & changeable, sometymes more, somety∣mes lesse: and when as for some short space they haue beene at their height they beginn to relent, and by little, and little come to no∣thing. But passing by the Corporall Powres (in whose operations it is manifest) wee experience this also in our vnderstanding which doth conuert itself to the selfe same obiect now with more quicknes, and liue∣lynes yⁿ with lesse, and comprehendeth more clearely at one tyme, yⁿ at another.

And when in the speculation of some subty∣le matter it hath beene long attentiue by lit∣tle, and little it relents, and becomes obfus∣cated, or darkned, which happeneth becaus the naturall powrs which on the Bodyes part are necessary to the working of the vn∣derstanding, are not always well disposed a like: and also in tyme grow slacker, and weaker till at last they come to nothing.

Now amongst all the Operations of the soule there is none more subtile, intimate, and forcyble yⁿ that wherewith shee retay∣neth God present vnto her, and therefor it must also diminish by little, and little, (when it continues long) and at last perish. For although it be more pure, and Spiri∣tuall yⁿ any other Operation in the soule Neuertheles it is not wholy free from the Corporall part. For albeit the soule stands eleuated in Spiritt shee is notwithstanding below vnited with the Body. Yea [as wee haue said] this intyme Operation to its in∣tegrity requyres all the possibility, & powr of the sowle; And becaus it is wholy against the senses; therefore is shee continually im∣pugned by them, and withdrawn from her interior obiect; against which, being shee with all possible diligence, and vigour must continually striue, and eleuate herself: The interior Attention to God doth by little, and little decay when the soule receiues no spe∣ciall assistance from aboue. Neither can it

continue for any long tyme; hence it appea∣reth that this departure of the deuyne pre∣sence doth not come by any fault of the sou∣les, or through any impediment on her side But becaus shee is yet vnited with she Bo∣dy of whose infirmity shee must likewise participate, and therefore the meanes also to helpe her when shee is thus falne, and ob∣scured must be different from the prece∣dent, and there can be no other yⁿ that shee stirr vp, and quicken Her faynting Spiritt with a new liuelynes, and Vigour.

But this shee is not able to do, for the Spiritt is the Topp, and highest powr of the soule which when it is inflamed, and fer∣uent, can inflame, and sett on fyre the infe∣rior Powrs but shee cannot expect the sa∣me of them when as it is relented, & grown faynt, but must receiue that from aboue. And although the soule in this internall cold∣nes did apply herself to good Considera∣tions, Meditations or Other Operatiue ex∣ercises; neuertheles shee would not be able to eleuate her Spiritt to its former feruour and alacrity; but rather putt herself further from God by returning back to the workes of her powrs, and senses. And neuertheles the soule may not in this state stand still, and expect till the Spiritt of itself, or by a new influx from God be awaked, and enflamed. For there is no stopping, and standing still for her; but a Continuall going backwards

or forwards. What Remedy yⁿ for her? To God shee cannot ascend, and to her powres, and senses shee may not descend; the only Remedy therefor is, that shee in this Case hold herself by the deuyne Light which doth continually flow, and shyne in her, as-long as shee declynes not from the absolute Ab∣negation of all Creatures, And perfect Re∣signation of herself. By this therefor shee may remayn, and heereby aboue all Images and operations of her senses, and Powrs shee will remayn vnmediated from God, and her Spirit fitt, and prepared to be ele∣uated agayn to the deuyne Contemplation.

Now the only Meanes by which the soule can retayn in her this deuyne Light, when shee is not actually thereby Conuerted to God, or some externall obiect purely for God: [as heereafter wee will teach] is that which before wee haue giuen her, when shee first begun to obserue that L••ght in Her; wee told her then that shee must re∣ceiue the same ••assiu••ly permitting it to flow in her interiorly, and symply obseru∣ing this influxion; or also casting her interior sig••t swiftly, and in a Moment vppon the same, and both these by meanes of the In∣terior Inclination. [which wee then also spoke of] Lo this knowledg doth not only serue the soule in the beginning to come by degrees to that internall Light, and to the deuyne presence: but also when as shee hath

obtayned them, but cannot actually retayn them, by reason of the relenting, and fayn∣ting of her Spiritt; to remayn at least wise in the very next degree to God. And there∣for that soule which will not loose her belo∣ued, nor depart from his Vnion, ought to embrace this foresaid maner of retayning that deuyne light present in Her [whis is an Excellent inuention of the Louing soule that shee may at least wise remayn sitting with the spowse vnder the shadow of her belo∣ued when shee cannot enioy at the full his face] and also endeauour to fynd it, in her∣self by internall Exercise, and learn to make vse thereof with the difference aboue rela∣ted: or else shee will be forced to forsake oftentymes this deuyne presence euen with danger neuer to return thyther agayn. For if in tyme of dereliction, and remission of Spiritt shee haue not this present helpe, shee must of necessity now, and then fall into her nature, and senses. For betweene na∣ture, and Spiritt there is no place to rest in, one Moment.

Hence the soule enioying God shall after this maner help herself interiorly when as through remissenes, and fayntnes the no∣ble obiect of the Diety Ecclypseth, and shall presently conuert herself by meanes of this Interior Louing Inclynation of her Hart to the vse of the deuyne Light, and by the same to the adhesion, or at least to the remembrance

of God before expressed with which shee must so fully Content herself as though shee were yet actually continuing in the Con∣templation of God. For all Interior Muta∣tion [which by Gods permission, or natu∣rall disposition happeneth in Her] shee must hold herself so alike: and vnchangea∣ble, That shee do not suffer herselfe in the least maner to feele the Aboundance, or Penury wherin shee interiorly is: other wi∣se shee would cast herself out of her blissed nothing which cannot feele, nor reguard, or take Motice of any Thing that is done in her, or about her; and shee would thereby conuert herself agayn to her owne Image, and work. Shee may, yea shee ought al∣ways according to her possibility to seeke to be vnited to God in the neerest, and per∣fectest manner; and to contemplate, and enioy his deuyne presence in the best, & clea∣rest maner: And yet therin shee must haue no other why, or wherefore yⁿ Gods will, & pleasure, and more assurance of her nothing, and therefor albeit shee loose her Obiect of the hidden d••ety in Her, or cannot behold the same in her accustomed clearenes shee must therin remayn wholy alike as ready to little, as to Much, to lack, or want; as to the hauing, or possessing.

Notes

• A very actiue doing, which sumes nothing & is all that can be done.
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prayer penetra∣tes H••a∣uen the old Pro∣uerb. is heere verified short, & s〈…〉〈…〉
• To kee∣pe ones nothing the b••st tem••dy in al de∣reliction or fa••n∣ting of the Spi∣rit.