hearing the Word Ambrose declares, “[o]h what meltings, chearings, warmings of the
Spirit had such a one? and such a one? the Word was to them as honey ....I wonder at
Saints that tell of so much sweetnesse, and comfort and ravishing of heart.”^100
Finally, the Spirit can work through spiritual practices as acknowledged by Ambrose
from his personal retreat experience, “[t]he unspeakable joy of Gods Spirit, which
sometimes I have felt in and after Ordinances and especially once, when for the space
of two dayes I was carried away into extasie and ravishment.”^101 His colleague John
Angier had a similar experience, “oh how inlarged was he in those Days and Duties!
he seemed to be transported into Extasies of Admiration.”^102
Additionally, while most of these experiences are mediated through spiritual
duties or meditation on Scripture some are the result of direct causality. Peter’s post-
Easter experience reflects this, “Christs apparitions are ravishing sights; if he but
stand on the shore, Peter throws himselfe over-board to come to Christ.”^103 And
again as he speaks of loving Jesus for his coming into the world through his
incarnation, “me-thinks the very sight of Christ incarnate is enough to ravish thee
with the apprehension of his infinite goodnesse: see how he calls out, or (as it were)
draws out the soul to union, vision, and participation of his glory!”^104 These samples
of direct causality illustrate the “ravishing” power of Jesus’ glory. That is when
people see Jesus in the splendor of his beauty and holiness, such as Peter at the
100
482, 492 for Scripture’s ability to ravish. Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 809, cf. 490, 773, 817 and Media (1657), 54, 233,
(^101) Ambrose, Media (1657), 214, cf. 36, 162, and 256 for the use of spiritual duties in
ravishment. 102
103 Heywood, Narative of John Angier, 44.^
Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 769. Peter’s experience is the same at Jesus’
Transfiguration. Looking Unto Jesus, 459. On the importance of the Transfiguration
see 104 McGinn, Foundations of Mysticism, 67, 206-7, 222.
other examples of direct causality. Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 338, cf. 213, 273, 481, 505, 725, 769, 908, 990 for