that he may kill thy evil inclinations.
Sink down into him beyond the Limits of Nature and Creature, and submit
thyself to him, that he may do with thee what he will, for thou art not
worthy to speak to him._ Accordingly the Soul took a resolution to sink
down, and to forsake its own will; and when it had done so there fell
upon it presently the greatest repentance that could be for the sins it
had committed; and it bewailed bitterly its ugly shape, and was truly
and deeply sorry that the evil Creatures did dwell in it. And because of
its sorrow it could not speak one word more in the Presence of God, but
in this repentance did consider the bitter Passion and Death of Jesus
Christ, viz., what great anguish and torment he had suffered for its
sake, in order to deliver it out of its anguish, and change it into the
Image of God. In which consideration it wholly sank down, and did
nothing but complain of its ignorance and negligence, and that it had
not been thankful to its Redeemer, nor once considered the great love he
had shown to it, but had idly spent its time, and not at all regarded
how it might come to partake of his purchased and proffered Grace; but
instead thereof had formed in itself the images and figures of earthly
things, with the vain lusts and pleasures of the World. Whereby it had
gotten such bestial inclinations that now it must lie captive in great
misery, and for very shame dared not lift up its eyes to God, Who hid
the light of his countenance from it and would not so much as look upon
it. And as it was thus sighing and crying it was drawn into the Abyss or
Pit of Horror, and laid as it were at the Gates of Hell there to perish.
Upon which the poor troubled Soul was, as it were, bereft of sense, and
wholly forsaken, so that it in a manner forgot all its doings, and would
willingly yield itself to Death, and cease to be a Creature. Accordingly
it did yield itself to Death, and desired nothing else but to die and
perish in the Death of its Redeemer Jesus Christ, who had suffered such
torments and death for its sake. And in this perishing it began to sigh
and pray in itself very inwardly to the Divine Goodness, and to sink
down into the mere Mercy of God.

Upon this there suddenly appeared unto it the Love of God, as a great
Light which penetrated through it, and made it exceedingly joyful. It
then began to pray aright, and to thank the Most High for such Grace,
and to rejoice abundantly that it was deliv