Letter (number unidentified). To Don Alvaro de Mendoza, Bishop of Avila, Toledo, January 27, 1577

The bantering letter ' or ' Vejamen ' : a criticism of the explanations written on the sentence : Seek thyself in Me ' by Francisco de Salcedo fulian de Avila St. fohn of the Cross, and Lorenzo de Cepeda,

JESUS!

UNLESS forced by obedience, I should certainly neither answer nor accept the office of judge for several reasons. But the reason is not, as the sisters say here that, as my brother has entered the competition, my affedlion for him might seem to varp my justice, for I am much attached to all the others as they helped me to bear my troubles while my brother came when we had almost drained the chalice. Still, he had a share in it and will have more, please God! May God give me grace to say nothing that may deserve my being denounced to the Inquisition considering the state to which my head has been reduced by the business and letter writing I have done since last night. But obedience can do anything, so I will comply with your Lordship's order — well or ill. — I should have liked a little time to enjoy the papers; however there is no help for it.

Criticism of Francisco de Salcedo, The words in question appear to have been spoken by the Bridegroom of our souls, Who says: Seek thyself in Me.' Señor Francisco shows that he has misunderstood this by dwelling with such stress on the fadl that God dwells in everything, for the Spouse knows that God dwells in all things. The essay also says much about the understanding and union. But it is well known that the understanding does not ad: during union, and if it does not adl, how can it seek? I am much pleased with David's words: I will hearken to what the Lord shall say within me, for this peace in the powers (signified by the 'people') is highly to be esteemed. But I do not intend to praise anything that has been written, so I will only say that the text is not appropriate, as the motto tells us not to hearken' but to 'seek.'

Worst of all, unless the writer retrads, I must denounce him to the Inquisition (which has its quarters close by) for after having declared throughout the article: St. Paul says this,' and the Holy Ghost declares that,' Señor Francisco de Salcedo states that he has written nonsense. Let him withdraw these words at once, or he will see what will happen.

Father Julian begins well and ends badly, so he will not win the palm, for he is not asked to explain how uncreated and created light unite but how we are to seek ourselves in God. Nor did we want to know whether, when the soul is so near to its Creator, it feels while united to Him that there is any difference between them. I do not think the mind can occupy itself with these questions at such a time ; or it would understand very well the difference between the Creator and the creature. He adds: when the soul is purified.' I do not think that either virtues or purification suffice here, for it is a supernatural favour bestowed by God on whom He chooses, and if anything could prepare the way, it would be love. However, I forgive the writer his mistakes because he is not so tedious as my Father, Fray John of the Cross. The teaching of the latter would be excellent for any one who wished to go through the Exercises used bv the Society of Jesus, but it is beside the question here. Ours would be a hard case if we could not seek God until we were dead to the world. Neither the Magdalen, nor the Samaritan woman, nor the Canaanitess were dead to the world when they found Him. Fray John of the Cross also says much on the souls' becoming one with God in union, but when this takes place and He has bestowed this favour on the soul. He does not tell it to seek Him for it has found Him.

The Lord deliver me from people who are so spiritual that, cost what it may, they want to bring everybody to perfed: contemplation. In spite of all this, we thank him for having explained so fully to us what we did not ask to learn. It is always well to talk of God, for profit comes to us from whence we least expefted it.

This has been the case with Señor Lorenzo de Cepeda, to whom we are much obliged for his verses and answer. If he has got out of his depth on the subjedl, for the sake of the pleasure his poem gave us we pardon the want of humility in treating of such sublime subjedts to which he pleads guilty in his answer. We thank him too for advising us unasked to practise the prayer of quiet — as though it lay in our power ! He already knows the penalty incurred by such condudt. God grant that since he has been so near the honey, he may carry some away with him, for he consoles me greatly, though I realize that he has need to blush for himself. I cannot say which of these papers is the best as, without injustice I find defeéls in all of them. Will your Lordship beg the writers to amend — and perhaps I too should amend lest, like my brother, I seem wanting in humility. All the competitors aimed so high that they have overshot the mark, for as I said, when the soul enjoys union with God, He does not tell it to seek Him for it has found Him,

I kiss your Lordship's hands repeatedly for honouring me with your letter. I do not answer it lest I should weary you still more by my nonsense.

Your Lordship's unworthy servant and subjedt, Teresa de Jesus.