The Way to Christ

Now if the Soul continue constant, and getteth the Victory over the Devil in all his Assaults, disestfceming all temporal Things for the Love of its noble Sophia , then the precious Qarlan'd will be set upon it for a Token or Ensign of Victory.

Here the Virgin (which manifesteth herself in the dear Name of fESUS CHRIST , the Treader tipon the Serpent , Qod's Anointed ) cometh to the Soul, and kisseth it with her sweetest.

Of True Repentance. 2 i

Love in the Essence most inwardly, and impresseth her Love into its Desire for a Token of Victory. And here Adam in his Heavenly Phrt riseth again from Death in Christ . Of which I cannot write, for therejs no Pen in this World that can express it ! It is the Wedding of the Lamb , where the noble Pearl is sown with very great Triumph, though in the Beginning it be small , like a Qrain of Mustard-seed, as Christ saith. *

Now when the Wedding is over, the Soul must take heed that this Pearl-Tree or Tree of Faith spring and grow, as it hath promised the Virgin . For then the Devil will presently come with his furious Storm, the ungodly People, who will scoff at, contemn, and cry down this^Way for Madness ; and then -a Man must enter into the Process of Christ , under his Cross. Here it will appear indeed and in Truth, what Sort of a Christian he is. For heTnust <iuffer himself to be proclaimed a Fool and ungodly Wretch ; nay his greatest Friends , who favoured him, or flattered him in the Lusts of the Flesh, will now be his Enemies , and though they know not why, will hate him. Thus it is that Christ hideth his Bride wholly under the Cross , that she may not be known in this World ; The Devil also striveth that these Children may be hidden from the World , lest haply many such Branches should grow in that Garden which he supposeth to be his.

This I have set down for the Information of the Christianminded Reader, that he may know what to do, if the same should befall him.

A very earnest
PRAYER in Temptation.

Against God’s Anger in the Conscience, and also against Flesh and Blood, when the Temptation cometh to the Soul, and wrestleth with it.

P

M OST deep Love of God in Christ Jesus , leave me not in this Distress. I confess I am guilty of the Sins which now rise up in my Mind and Conscience ; and if thou forsake me I must perish. But hast thou not promised me in thy Word, saying, if a Mother could forget her Child, which can hardly be, yet thou wilt not forget me ? Thou hast set me as a Sign in thine Hands ‘which were pierced through with sharp Nails, and in thy open

2 a The U^ay to Qhrist .

Side whence Blood and Water gushed out. Poor Wretch that I am, I am caught in thy Anger, and can in my Ability do nothing before thee; I sink myself down into thy Wounds ancl Death.

0 great Mercy of God, I beseech thee* deliver me from the Bonds of Satan. I have no Refuge in any Thing, but only in thy Holy Wounds and Death ! Into thee I sink down in the Anguish of my Conscience, do with me what thou wilt. In thee I will now live or die, as pleaseth thee, let me but die and perish in thy Death ; do but bury me into thy Death , that the Anguish of Hell may not touch me. How can I excuse myself before thee, that knowest my Heart and Reins, and settest my Sins before rhine Eyes? I am guilty of them, and yield myself unto thy Judgment ; accomplish thy Judgment upon me, through the Death of my Redeemer Jesus Christ.