When the cares of life do not enter into the soul from without, and she abides in her nature, then she does not require prolonged toil to penetrate into and understand the wisdom of God. For her separation from the world and her stillness naturally move her toward the understanding of God’s creatures. And by this she is lifted up toward God; being astonished, she is struck with wonder, and she remains with God.
When water does not seep into the fountain of the soul from without, the natural water that springs up in her incessantly bubbles up with thoughts of God’s wonders; but when the soul is found without these things, it is either because she has received a cause for this from some alien recollection, or because the senses have stirred up turmoil against her by means of encounters with external things.