Chapter II. That God's Voice offers it self to all, and presents it self to the Soul that's unwilling to hear it

Nor need we much to labour to come to hear this Voice, the labour will be rather to stop thine ears that thou maist not hear it. For the Voice it self offers it self, intrudes it self; nor does it cease continually to knock at every one's door. In fine, Forty years, says he, I have been very neer to that generation, and have said they always err with their heart. He is still very neer unto us, he still speaks, and perhaps there is not who hears him. He still says, these err with their heart, Psal. 94. He is still very near unto us, he still speaks, and perhaps there is not who hears him. He still says, these err with their heart: still Wisdom cries in the streets. Transgressors, return to your heart. For this is the beginning of our Lord's speaking; and this Word seems to have gone before to all those who are converted to their heart, not only calling them back, but also bringing them back again, and setting them before their own face: for it is not only a Voice of power, but also a Ray of light, telling men of their sins, and enlightning the hidden things of darkness. Nor is there any difference betwixt the internal Voice and Light, the same Son of God being the Word of the Father, and the Splendor of his Glory; and the substance also of the Soul, in its kind spiritual, and uncompounded, without any distinction of senses is whole seeing, if we may call it a whole, and also in like manner whole hearing. For what is done by that either Ray of Light or Word, but that only the Soul is made to know it self? For the Book of Conscience is opened, the miserable order of the Life is unfolded, a sad Story is repeated, Reason is enlighten'd, and the unfolded Memory is exhibited to certain eyes, as it were of the Soul. But both is not so much any thing of the Soul, as the Soul it self: so that the same is both the beholder, and the beholded: the Soul set before her own face, and by sturdy apparitors, to wit, of thoughts sent into her, she is compelled, as a guilty Criminal, to appear before her own Tribunal. And who is able to undergo this Judgment without being troubled? My Soul is troubled at my self, (says the Prophet of our Lord,) Psal. 142. and doest thou wonder that thou canst not be set before thy face without reprehension, without turbation, without confusion?