Spiritual Marriage and - Durham e-Theses - Durham University

affections [would not become] disordered.”^106 The senses are also important in Ambrose’s anthropology serving as the “windows o ...

imagination to dramatize the seriousness of an event. After guiding his readers through a meditation on the horrors of hell he d ...

[i.e. imagination] will make every creature a ladder to heaven.”^118 Because of the importance of imagination in Ambrose’s teach ...

typically limiting himself to sight and sound. Toon’s assessment of Baxter that “[w]hile he does not go as far as Ignatius Loyol ...

against making idols is at the root of Baxter’s concern. While Ignatius also influenced Granada, the latter’s style appears more ...

into that Paradise above.”^133 This is not surprising given the Puritan strong dependency upon Scripture. It also echoes Bernard ...

earlier in this chapter. To the question “how can our souls enjoy this Godhead?” Ambrose replies, “[t]he understanding is filled ...

this critical topic.^144 Based on his immediate reference to Rutherford’s Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist and comments includ ...

Word, self-denial, and the saint’s suffering. The only variation is that self-denial was practiced near the end rather than in i ...

attentiveness and responsiveness to God. Whether Ambrose, or any one else, experiences God in a contemplative way, is always det ...

practices, but this sort of intensity may seem more unusual among the Reformed.^157 However, not every one was able to endure th ...

Christian course, [and has] often entertained Christ Jesus at Supper in their hearts.”^162 Additionally Ambrose makes a direct c ...

contemplation.”^165 Second, beyond the wisdom of paying attention to a person’s individual temperament Ambrose declares, “prospe ...

periods ranging from his heavenly existence before his birth to the second coming. Each of these nine categories begins with the ...

tended to conflate the distinction between Roman Catholic and Puritan meditation.^175 Further, Wakefield interestingly suggests ...

loving, embracing.”^179 While there is some overlap between both of these lists it is difficult to gauge their impact upon Ambro ...

others must also and that the purpose for resting is to refresh their bodies and souls so that they “may more cheerfully return ...

contemplated since Ambrose takes readers through a complete cycle from the time before Jesus’ birth until the final judgment. Am ...

reached. Contemplation was a means of providing a glimpse of heaven. Ambrose asserts the obvious reason for hungering for heaven ...

meditation. Previously the Holy Spirit’s essential responsibility for creating the bond of spiritual marriage was noted. Now the ...