and
that the Devil was so nigh it in that condition, who injected evil
thoughts into the Will of the Soul, and had so much power over it
thereby that it was near damnation and sticking fast in the Abyss or
bottomless pit of Hell in the Anger of God, it would have even despaired
of Divine Mercy; but that the Power, Virtue and Strength of the first
stirring of the Grace of God, which had before bruised the Soul, upheld
and preserved it from total despair. But still it wrestled in itself
between Hope and Doubt; whatsoever Hope built up, that Doubt threw down
again. And thus was it agitated with such continued disquiet, that at
last the World and all the glory thereof became loathsome to it, neither
would it enjoy worldly pleasures any more; and yet for all this could it
not come to Rest.

THE ENLIGHTENED SOUL CAME AGAIN, AND SPOKE TO THE TROUBLED SOUL

On a time the enlightened Soul came again to this Soul, and finding it
still in so great trouble, anguish, and grief, said to it.

What dost thou? Wilt thou destroy thyself in thy anguish and sorrow? Why
dost thou torment thyself in thy own Power and Will, seeing thy torment
increaseth thereby more and more? Yea, if thou shouldst sink thyself
down to the bottom of the sea, or fly to the uttermost coasts of the
morning, or raise thyself above the stars, yet thou wouldst not be
released. For the more thou grievest, tormentest, and troublest thyself,
the more painful thy nature will be; and yet thou wilt not be able to
come to Rest. For thy Power is quite lost, and as a dry stick burnt to a
coal cannot grow green and spring afresh by its own power, nor get sap
to flourish again with other trees and plants; so neither canst thou
reach the Place of God by thy own power and strength, and transform
thyself into that Angelical Image which thou hadst at first. For in
respect to God thou art withered and dry, like a dead plant that hath
lost its sap and strength, and so art become a dry tormenting Hunger.
Thy Properties are like Heat and Cold which continually strive one
against the other, and can never unite.

THE DISTRESSED SOUL SAID

What then shall I do to bud forth again, and recover the first Life,
wherein I was at rest before I became an Image?

THE ENLIGHTENED SOUL SAID

Thou shalt do nothing at all but forsake thy own Will, viz., that which
thou callest _I_, or _thyself_. By which means all thy evil properties
will grow weak, faint, and ready to die; and then thou wi