part of meditation. For, as often as this spiritual sleep shall sweetly oppress any one, that is to say, when the understanding is drowned as it were in a sleep, (but the will watching) let him quietly enjoy this delicate meat as long as it shall last. But when it is digested, let him return again to meditation, in which we must behave ourselves like a gardener; who, when he watereth a bed of his garden, after he hath once sprinkled it with water, expecteth awhile, until it be drunk in, then sprinkleth again, that at last it may thoroughly wet the earth, that it may become more fruitful.
But what the soul, cast into this heavenly sleep, and illuminated with the splendor of this eternal light doth enjoy — what satiety! what charity! what internal peace! — no tongue is able to express. This is that peace which exceedeth all understanding; this is that felicity, a greater than which cannot be imagined in this vale of misery.
There are many so inflamed with this fire of divine love, that their interiors, at the very memory of this blessed name, without any meditation at all before, do rest in joy. These need no more consideration or discourses to love God, than a mother needs motives to love her child, or the bride her husband. Others there are so absorbed in God, not only in prayer, but also in outward business, that they wholly forget themselves, and all creatures, for the love of him. Neither are these effects of divine love to be admired, seeing worldly
