outward touches. Allelujah.”^51 Clearly God’s Spirit made deep impressions upon
Ambrose’s soul. The comparison suggests that this was a strongly palpable
experience that deeply touched and transformed his soul. The language of melting,
cheering, and warming the heart has long been used by contemplative writers in their
attempt to articulate their knowing and loving God. The remaining dates of this
retreat produced a similar cycle of renewed awareness of sin and negligence followed
by confession that in turn brought a renewed experience of God’s presence and
promises. The concluding words of his last entry for this year’s retreat serve as a
helpful summary of his experience, “[n]ow the Spirit left in my soul a sweet scent and
favour behind it. Allelujah. Amen, Amen.”^52
There were other retreat experiences when Ambrose’s soul soared to the
suburbs of heaven. May 20, 1641 captures this overwhelming experience, “[t]his day
in the Evening the Lord in his mercy poured into my soul the ravishing joy of his
blessed Spirit. O how sweet was the Lord unto me? I never felt such a lovely taste of
Heaven before: I believed this was the joyful sound, the Kisses of his mouth, the
Sweetnesses of Christ, the Joy of his Spirit, the new wine of his kingdom; it continued
with me about two days.”^53 There are a number of significant themes from this two-
day encounter. Ambrose specifically mentions he experienced each member of the
Trinity. Joy is the dominant affection, mentioned three times. Sweetness is
51
spiritual duties in which he experienced God: watchfulness, self Ambrose, Media (1657), 88-9. Ambrose specifically mentions the following -tryal (i.e. self-
examination), experience, evidences, meditation, life of faith, prayer, reading the
Word, self-denial, and saints suffering, 73-5. cf. Media (1650), 112 for Ambrose’s
“consideration of Eternity.” 52
53 Ambrose, Media (1657), 90.^
Ambrose, Media (1650), 71. This event was so significant that it was recorded
again later in Media in a slightly different version. There Ambrose describes it as
“Spiritual, heavenly ravishing loveMedia (1650), 111, cf. 134 for a third reference to this experience. -trance” that was a “blessed foretaste of heaven.”