life: and there it is surrounded with the Majesty of God; and the fair blessed virgin (the wisdom of God) meeteth it with her garland of pearls, and crowneth the soul as a heavenly conqueror.
54. What joy is here to the angels of God, and what joy the soul attaineth there, we have no pen to describe it, nor in this world any tongue to express i t; only we wish to the Reader, and all men, that they might themselves have experience of it, for which cause we set about this writing with much toil and deep labour.
55. For we write what we ourselves have known, and have seen with spiritual eyes; we speak it not to our own boasting, but that the Reader may know, that if he will follow us, what he is to expect from it; seeing he perceiveth how the world maketh a gazing stock of the children of God: But we shall after this short life have full recompense; and moreover, this garland is more delicious than this whole world: and though it be often covered and hidden from us, yet it dieth not.
56. For as the rough winter hideth the budding and flourishing of the earth, so that reason saith, All is dead; but when the spring cometh, then it beginneth to bud and blossom again; so also it is with the noble and fair garland of Christ; when that springeth again, then it produceth lilies without number; and every spring, when the mind is renewed in Christ, it multiplieth tenfold.
Of the Company and Assistance of the
Holy Angels.
57. As we that are men in this world, if we be the children of God, assist and help one another in necessity and distress, and readily deliver one another from misery and trouble; thus also it is in heaven, concerning the children of God, while the soul belongeth to the fellowship of angels; they affect the company of honest, virtuous, and chaste men, that fear God, and stand by them in necessity: for the Scripture saith, They are all ministering spirits, sent forth for the service of those that are to inherit the kingdom of God. They often avert the fiery darts of wickedness: what mischief would the devil often do, if he were not opposed and hindered by the throne-princes of the legions ! How often would he terrify and cast men down headlong to the ground!
58. But the angels are our servants and keepers, if we be Christians, and not beasts; though indeed the devil setteth upon Christians most of all; how very often would many be drowned and killed by a fall, who yet receive wonderful deliverance from angels: they are ready about people, who sing and speak of God; they have great delight among little infants, so that they many times manifest themselves to an infant, and play with it, if it be the child of God.
59. How many examples are there in the Scripture, of the angels leading and conducting the children of God; especially the example of Tobiah: though our school-rabbis will rather have it cast out of the Bible [than believe it] : but consider of the three angels with Abraham, and the two angels with Lot: also how they have plainly foretold and declared the conception of highly worthy men, [as of Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Samson, etc.] especially of John [the Baptist], and of CHRIST: consider what was done at his birth,
[to the shepherds in the field] and to the wisemen [ Or Magi]
of the east: and at length to Joseph [how he was directed] to go with Mary and the Babe into
Egypt: whereby we may sufficiently perceive their great carefulness about us; for they are God's ministers; he sendeth them to conduct us [through this valley of misery, through this world of thistles and thorns], and to defend us from the devil: O how great joy they have for one poor soul, when it is delivered from the snares of the devil, yea, more than for ninety-nine righteous, as Christ saith.
60. Therefore we should not so suddenly despair in adversity, when we are in necessity; when often suppose that the whole world is against us, yet the choir or host of angels, and the spirit of God, are with us; it is often with us as with the
Canaanitish woman, so that we cannot find the countenance of God; but we must wait for the proof, and trial must pass over the soul; the more
life: and there it is surrounded with the Majesty of God; and the fair blessed virgin (the wisdom of God) meets it with her garland of pearls, and crowns the soul as a heavenly conqueror.
54. What joy is here to the angels of God, and what joy the soul attains there, we have no pen to describe it, nor in this world any tongue to express i t; only we wish to the Reader, and all men, that they might themselves have experience of it, for which cause we set about this writing with much toil and deep labour.
55. For we write what we ourselves have known, and have seen with spiritual eyes; we speak it not to our own boasting, but that the Reader may know, that if he will follow us, what he is to expect from it; seeing he perceives how the world makes a gazing stock of the children of God: But we shall after this short life have full recompense; and moreover, this garland is more delicious than this whole world: and though it be often covered and hidden from us, yet it dies not.
56. For as the rough winter hides the budding and flourishing of the earth, so that reason says, All is dead; but when the spring comes, then it beginns to bud and blossom again; so also it is with the noble and fair garland of Christ; when that springs again, then it produces lilies without number; and every spring, when the mind is renewed in Christ, it multiplies tenfold.
Of the Company and Assistance of the
Holy Angels.
57. As we that are men in this world, if we be the children of God, assist and help one another in necessity and distress, and readily deliver one another from misery and trouble; thus also it is in heaven, concerning the children of God, while the soul belongs to the fellowship of angels; they affect the company of honest, virtuous, and chaste men, that fear God, and stand by them in necessity: for the Scripture says, They are all ministering spirits, sent forth for the service of those that are to inherit the kingdom of God. They often avert the fiery darts of wickedness: what mischief would the devil often do, if he were not opposed and hindered by the throne-princes of the legions ! How often would he terrify and cast men down headlong to the ground!
58. But the angels are our servants and keepers, if we be Christians, and not beasts; though indeed the devil setts upon Christians most of all; how very often would many be drowned and killed by a fall, who yet receive wonderful deliverance from angels: they are ready about people, who sing and speak of God; they have great delight among little infants, so that they many times manifest themselves to an infant, and play with it, if it be the child of God.
59. How many examples are there in the Scripture, of the angels leading and conducting the children of God; especially the example of Tobiah: though our school-rabbis will rather have it cast out of the Bible [than believe it] : but consider of the three angels with Abraham, and the two angels with Lot: also how they have plainly foretold and declared the conception of highly worthy men, [as of Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Samson, etc.] especially of John [the Baptist], and of CHRIST: consider what was done at his birth,
[to the shepherds in the field] and to the wisemen [ Or Magi]
of the east: and at length to Joseph [how he was directed] to go with Mary and the Babe into
Egypt: whereby we may sufficiently perceive their great carefulness about us; for they are God's ministers; he sends them to conduct us [through this valley of misery, through this world of thistles and thorns], and to defend us from the devil: O how great joy they have for one poor soul, when it is delivered from the snares of the devil, yea, more than for ninety-nine righteous, as Christ says.
60. Therefore we should not so suddenly despair in adversity, when we are in necessity; when often suppose that the whole world is against us, yet the choir or host of angels, and the spirit of God, are with us; it is often with us as with the
Canaanitish woman, so that we cannot find the countenance of God; but we must wait for the proof, and trial must pass over the soul; the more
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