Definition and Use of Ravishment in the Writings of Isaac Ambrose
Ambrose provides his readers with a clear awareness of his usage of
ravishment through two examples from Looking unto Jesus. Early in this work he
articulates the power and necessity of ravishment to draw a person out from him or
herself:
Therefore they were willed to come forth of their doores: even so, if we will
behold the great King, Jesus Christ, in his most excellent glory (a sight able to
satisfie the eye, and to ravish the heart) we must come out of our doors, we
must come out of our selves, otherwise we cannot see his glory; we are in our selves shut up in a dark dungeon, and therefore we are called upon to come
forth into the clear light of faith, and with the eyes of faith to behold in daily
meditation the glory of Christ Jesus.^2
Later as he is describing the practice of loving Jesus for his great work of salvation he
writes, “[i]t pleased thee, my Lord, out of thy sweet ravishments of thy heavenly love,
to say to thy poor Church, turne away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me;
but oh let me say to thee, turne thine eyes to me, that they may overcome me; my
Lord, I would be thus ravished, I would be overcome; I would be thus out of my selfe,
that I might be all in thee.” Significantly this citation rightly recognizes that the
bridegroom is the person who is being ravished by the bride in Canticles. However,
Ambrose quickly reverses the relationship and begs the bridegroom to ravish him, as
the bride. Immediately Ambrose adds this “is the language of true love to Christ.”^3
Clearly for him ravishment is a term that expresses being overcome by God’s greater
power that draws a person out from darkness and transforms that person’s sight so
that he or she might perceive the glory of Jesus. There is also a reciprocal nature that
lovingly responds to Christ for his great love and freedom first shared.
2
3 Ambrose, Ambrose, Looking Unto JesusLooking Unto Jesus, 12., 505 (incorrectly numbered 513).^