26. For a sincere Christian doth not wholly know himself, he seeth nothing but his vices, in which the devil striveth against him, they are continually before him; but in this world he knoweth not his sanctity [or holiness]; for Christ hideth such people under his cross, so that the devil doth not see them. Therefore be watchful and sober, and resist the subtle devil, that you may live eternally.
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER
Of Praying and Fasting, and due Preparation to the Kingdom of God. What Praying is, and bringeth to Effect: What the Power of it is, and what the final use and benefit of it is.
1. FOR the instruction and comfort of the sincere simple Christianity, and for a constant awakening of ourselves, that we might be found worthy to hear the voice of the noble bridegroom, who calleth his bride, and will bring her home !
A very lovely Gate.
2. A hungry spirit that is weary and faint, is desirous of the still meekness and rest, that it may go forth from the source [force or power] of the driver, and may satiate itself with meekness and stillness, and so with that which is the desire of its life, whereby it may sustain its body.
3. Thus, my dearly beloved mind, thou art generated out of the eternal still meekness, and wert (before the time of this world) in the wisdom of God, [in the eternal virgin]; the meekness of the love of God was thy source [or property], and thou wast a fruitful rain in thy still eternal mother [the eternal nature], where thou wast not yet created a spirit: Consider thyself, how great unquietness thou art now in: Thou art immeasurably hungry, thou always thirsteth after the food, and source [or property] of thy mother: O that the time of refreshment were come ! This doth the poor soul wish and pant after: One day crieth to another, the morning crieth to the evening, and the night longeth after the day, and there is no place nor rest (from the driver [persecutor, tormentor]) for the poor soul, the driver taketh hold of its very throat; and though it hideth itself, yet it findeth no place nor rest free from the source [or property] of its driver:
He driveth it further and further, till it findeth the bosom of its mother, where it layeth down itself, and is as one that is escaped in a great battle, who dareth not lift up his head for fear of the enemy.
4. My dear children in Christ, and all you that have given up yourselves in Christ, to the kingdom of heaven, you elect in Christ; thus it is with our souls: Our souls stick in such great unquietness; and as it is with a soldier in a fight, who is continually in expectation of death, where the enemies press upon him on every side, and strike at him, and continually desire his death; or, as it is with one that is fallen into a deep sea, and swimmeth there, and seeth no shore, and continually expecteth death, where the water goeth into his mouth, who sigheth and desireth help from above; or, like one that is falling into a deep pit, where no help is discerned, who also expecteth help from above.
5. So it is also with the poor soul, it is fallen into a dark dungeon, and swimmeth in a dangerous and deep water, where it is encompassed with enemies on every side, who all strike at it: Every one would murder it, and it seeth no help about it; if it searcheth through its body, through its flesh and blood, also through marrow and bones, it findeth they all are its enemies, which leadeth it into the abyss.
6. The spirit of this world (in flesh and blood) draweth it, and boweth it down to the ground, in the deep of the waters, and continually desireth to drown it; for it would only maintain and pamper the bestial life.
26. For a sincere Christian does not wholly know himself, he sees nothing but his vices, in which the devil strives against him, they are continually before him; but in this world he knows not his sanctity [or holiness]; for Christ hides such people under his cross, so that the devil does not see them. Therefore be watchful and sober, and resist the subtle devil, that you may live eternally.
THE SIXTEENTH CHAPTER
Of Praying and Fasting, and due Preparation to the Kingdom of God. What Praying is, and brings to Effect: What the Power of it is, and what the final use and benefit of it is.
1. FOR the instruction and comfort of the sincere simple Christianity, and for a constant awakening of ourselves, that we might be found worthy to hear the voice of the noble bridegroom, who calls his bride, and will bring her home !
A very lovely Gate.
2. A hungry spirit that is weary and faint, is desirous of the still meekness and rest, that it may go forth from the source [force or power] of the driver, and may satiate itself with meekness and stillness, and so with that which is the desire of its life, whereby it may sustain its body.
3. Thus, my dearly beloved mind, you are generated out of the eternal still meekness, and were (before the time of this world) in the wisdom of God, [in the eternal virgin]; the meekness of the love of God was your source [or property], and you were a fruitful rain in your still eternal mother [the eternal nature], where you were not yet created a spirit: Consider yourself, how great unquietness you are now in: You are immeasurably hungry, you always thirsts after the food, and source [or property] of your mother: O that the time of refreshment were come ! This does the poor soul wish and pant after: One day cries to another, the morning cries to the evening, and the night longs after the day, and there is no place nor rest (from the driver [persecutor, tormentor]) for the poor soul, the driver takes hold of its very throat; and though it hides itself, yet it finds no place nor rest free from the source [or property] of its driver:
He drivs it further and further, till it finds the bosom of its mother, where it lays down itself, and is as one that is escaped in a great battle, who dars not lift up his head for fear of the enemy.
4. My dear children in Christ, and all you that have given up yourselves in Christ, to the kingdom of heaven, you elect in Christ; thus it is with our souls: Our souls stick in such great unquietness; and as it is with a soldier in a fight, who is continually in expectation of death, where the enemies press upon him on every side, and strike at him, and continually desire his death; or, as it is with one that is fallen into a deep sea, and swimms there, and sees no shore, and continually expects death, where the water goes into his mouth, who sighs and desires help from above; or, like one that is falling into a deep pit, where no help is discerned, who also expects help from above.
5. So it is also with the poor soul, it is fallen into a dark dungeon, and swimms in a dangerous and deep water, where it is encompassed with enemies on every side, who all strike at it: Every one would murder it, and it sees no help about it; if it searches through its body, through its flesh and blood, also through marrow and bones, it finds they all are its enemies, which leads it into the abyss.
6. The spirit of this world (in flesh and blood) draws it, and bows it down to the ground, in the deep of the waters, and continually desires to drown it; for it would only maintain and pamper the bestial life.
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