2o8 Eiftr ILittlr jFlotorrs of 



to the joys of the Bleffed, and yet again 

 to the loving and extraordinary embrace 

 of Chrift. And efpecially upon a certain 

 day was the flame of Divine Love once 

 kindled in his heart, and this fire burned 

 within him for the fpace of three years, 

 in which time he received marvellous con- 

 folations and Divine vifitations and was 

 ofttimes rapt in God ; and did speedily 

 appear all on fire and aflame with the 

 love of Chrift : and this was on the holy 

 Mount of Vernia. But inafmuch as God 

 is ftrangely watchful of his children, giv- 

 ing them, according to their various ne- 

 ceffities, now confolation, now tribulation, 

 now profperity, and now adverfity, accord- 

 ing as He fees it needful to uphold them in 

 the way of humihty, or the more to enkindle 

 their defire after celeftial things, it pleafed 

 the Divine Bounty, after the three years, to 

 take away from the faid Brother John that 

 bright beam and that flame of Divine Love, 

 and to deprive him of allfpiritual confolation. 

 For the which Brother John was left with- 

 out light and without the love of God, and 

 was quite comfortlefs and aflfli6led and 

 fad ; wherefore he wandered through the 

 wood, roaming hither and yon, calling with 



groans 



