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  "work": {
    "slug": "suso",
    "name": "Heinrich Suso"
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      "slug": "rhineland-mystics",
      "name": "Rhineland Mystics",
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  "chapter": {
    "num": 3,
    "slug": "vol-1-02-chapter-ii",
    "title": "Chapter  II.",
    "of": 51,
    "words": 709,
    "text": "## Chapter  II.\n\nOf  the  preliminary  combats  of  a  beginner. \nSoon  after  this  impression  had  been  made \nupon  his  soul  by  God,  there  began  within  him \ncertain  preliminary  combats,  in  which  the  enemy \nsought  to  lead  him  astray  from  his  salvation. \nThe  inward  impulse,  which   he  had  received \n\n\n8  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nfrom  God,  urged  him  to  turn  away  entirely \nfrom  every  thing  which  might  be  a  hindrance \nto  him.  The  tempter  met  this  with  the  sug- \ngestion : — Bethink  thee  better.  It  is  easy  to \nbegin,  but  it  is  hard  to  bring  to  completion. \nThe  voice  within  put  forward  God's  might  and \naid.  The  opposing  voice  replied,  that  God's \npower  was  beyond  doubt,  but  that  His  willing- \nness was  doubtful.  This,  however,  was  clearly \nproved  to  him ;  for  the  kind  God  has  vouched \nfor  it  in  the  good  promise,  which  He  uttered \nwith  His  divine  mouth,  that  He  would  verily \nand  indeed  help  all  those  who  should  begin  this \nwork  in  His  name. \n\nWhen  grace  had  gained  the  victory  in  him \nin  this  combat,  there  came  a  hostile  thought  in \nfriendly  form,  counselling  him  thus  : — It  may \nbe  all  right,  that  thou  shouldst  amend  thy  life ; \nbut  do  not  set  about  it  so  impetuously.  Begin \nwith  such  moderation,  that  thou  mayest  be  able \nto  bring  it  to  completion.  Thou  shouldst  eat \nand  drink  heartily,  and  treat  thyself  well ;  and \nat  the  same  time  be  on  thy  guard  against  sins. \nBe  as  good  as  thou  pleasest  within  thyself,  and \nyet  with  such  moderation  that  the  world  with- \nout may  not  take  fright  at  thee,  as  the  saying \nis.     Is  the  heart  good,  all  is  good.     Surely  thou \n\n\nCOMBATS  OF  A  BEGINNER.  9 \n\nmayest  be  merry  with  people,  and  still  be  a \ngood  man.  Others  too  wish  to  go  to  heaven, \nand  yet  do  not  lead  a  life  of  exercises  such  as \nthine.  These  and  the  like  temptations  pressed \nhim  hard.  But  the  Eternal  Wisdom  overthrew \nfor  him  these  deceitful  counsels  thus  : — The \nman  who  tries  to  hold  by  the  tail  that  slippery \nfish,  the  eel,  and  to  begin  a  holy  life  lukewarmly, \nwill  be  deceived  in  both  cases ;  for  when  he \nthinks  he  has  them,  they  will  have  slipped \nfrom  him.  He  too,  who  seeks  with  tender \ntreatment  to  get  the  better  of  a  pampered  and \nrefractory  body,  wants  common  sense.  He  who \nwould  possess  this  world,  and  yet  serve  God \nperfectly,  tries  for  what  is  impossible,  and  seeks \nto  falsify  God's  own  teaching.  Wherefore,  if \nthou  art  minded  to  forsake  all,  do  so  to  good \npurpose.  He  tarried  somewhat  long  in  these \nthoughts ;  but  at  last  taking  courage,  he  turned \nhimself  away  from  every  thing  with  all  his \nmight. \n\nHis  untamed  spirit  had  in  the  beginning  to \ndie  many  deaths  in  breaking  away  from  frivo- \nlous companions.  Sometimes  nature  overcame \nhim,  and  he  would  go  to  them  to  cheer  himself; \nbut  it  commonly  fell  out,  that  he  went  to  them \nmerry,  and  left  them  sad;  for  their  talk  and \n\n\n10  LIFE  OF  BLESSED  HENRY  SUSO. \n\nsports  were  no  pleasure  to  him,  and  his  were \nunendurable  to  them.  At  times,  when  he  came \nto  them,  they  would  try  his  patience  with  such \nwords  as  these.  One  would  say : — What  strange \nways  thou  hast  taken  up !  Another  would  an- \nswer : — An  ordinary  life  is  the  safest.  While \na  third  would  add: — It  will  never  come  to  a \ngood  end.  Thus  they  passed  him  on  from  one \nto  another.  But  he  kept  silence,  as* one  dumb, \nand  he  thought  within  himself: — Ah,  gentle \nGod!  there  is  nothing  better  to  be  done  than \nto  flee  from  them.  If  thou  hadst  not  heard \nthese  cruel  words,  they  could  have  done  thee \nno  hurt. \n\nOne  thing  was  a  sore  suffering  to  him.  He \nhad  no  one  to  whom  he  could  pour  out  his \ngrief,  and  who  pursued  the  same  end  in  the \nsame  way,  that  he  had  been  called  to  pursue  it. \nTherefore  he  went  on  his  way  in  wretchedness, \npining  for  love;  and  with  mighty  efforts  he \nwithdrew  himself  from  creatures, — a  practice \nwhich  afterwards  became  very  sweet  to  him. \n\n\nSUPERNATURAL  KAPTURE.  11",
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