The Journey to Eternal Peace.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Mechthild, of Magdeburg and Bevan, Frances
It will be best to describe Matilda’s spiritual life as far as possible from her own words. She gives us in parables the history of her [53] soul. Sometimes it seems well to give these in full, at other times to give the sense whilst omitting repetitions.
She tells us that for a long time she was without rest or peace, knowing not only the guilt, but the power of sin, and she looked hither and thither for that which would meet her need. And the mind, as it were, disputed with the soul, for the mind would have her to seek her peace in the things that could be seen. And thus it said—
“O soul, in the Magdalen’s bitter tears
Do the streams of comfort flow.”
But the soul made answer—
“Hold thy peace,
For my need thou dost not know.
The comfort I crave is joy divine,
I needs must drink the unmingled wine.”
“Soul, if as a virgin pure thou art,
A river of love will fill thy heart.”
“And if in troth it so might be,
The fountain of love is not in me.”
“Rejoice in the blood the martyrs shed.”
“In the path of the martyrs I daily tread,
But I have not found my rest.”
“In the wisdom the Lord’s apostles taught,
Is there peace, O soul, for thee.”
[54]
“I have the Wisdom that is the best,
He abideth ever with me.”
“The angels in heaven are bright and fair,
For solace, O soul, betake thee there.”
“The joy of the angels is grief to me,
If the Lord of the angels I may not see.”
“In fastings and labours manifold,
Did John in the wilderness toil of old,
And so may peace be thine.”
“To labour and suffer my heart is fain,
But love is more than all toil and pain.”
“O soul, the Virgin is kind and sweet,
And fair the Child on her breast,
And thou, adoring, before her feet
Shalt find thy rest.”
“My Beloved is mine, and I am His,
I seek the joy where the Bridegroom is;
For a full-grown bride am I.”...
Then doth the mind warn the soul, saying—
“In His terrible glory no foot hath trod,
A devouring fire dread to see;