ual, that my hard understanding cannot, at this distance of
time, close with it; but, to make use of an illustration, it was
something like this. Suppose the Godhead to be a vast globe of light, a
globe larger than the whole world, and that all our actions are seen in
that all-embracing globe. It was something like that I saw. For I saw
all my most filthy actions gathered up and reflected back upon me from
that World of light. I tell you it was a piteous and a dreadful thing to
see. I knew not where to hide myself, for that shining light, in which
was no darkness at all, held the whole world within it, and all worlds.
You will see that I could not flee from its presence. Oh that they could
be made to see this who commit deeds of darkness! Oh that they but saw
that there is no place secret from God: but that all they do is done
before Him, and in Him! Oh the madness of committing sin in the
immediate presence of a Majesty so great, and to whose holiness all our
sin is so hateful. In this also I saw His great mercifulness in that He
suffers such a sinner as I am still to live.

ON THE SOUL

O my God, what unspeakable sufferings our souls have to endure because
they have lost their liberty, and are not their own masters! What
tortures come on them through that! I sometimes wonder how I can live
through such agony of soul as I myself suffer. God be praised who gives
me His own life in my soul, so that I may escape from so deadly a death!
My soul has indeed received great strength from His Divine Majesty. He
has had compassion on my great misery, and has helped me. Oh, what a
distress it is for my soul to have to return to hold commerce with this
world after having had its conversation in heaven! To have to play a
part in the sad farce of this earthly life! And yet I am in a strait
betwixt two. I cannot run away from this world. I must remain in it
till my discharge comes. But, meantime, how keen is my captivity; how
wretched in my own soul am I. And one of my worst distresses is this,
that I am alone in my exile. All around me people seem to have found
their aim and end in life in this horrible prison-house, and to have
said, Soul, take thine ease. But the life of my soul is a life of
incessant trouble. The cross is always on my shoulder; at the same time
I surely make some progress. God is the Soul of my soul. He engulfs
into Himself my soul. He enlightens and strengthens my soul. He attend