BRIEF MESSAGE

TO THE

R E A D E R.

A decorative woodcut drop cap 'N' featuring acanthus leaf and floral patterns within a square frame.
No one who enters the garden of these emblems Zinnebeelden: symbolic images or poems used to illustrate a moral or religious lesson should think that all these little flowers have grown from our own soil: the majority, which are of the highest color and the sweetest scent, we have gathered original: "geleezen" — this Dutch term punningly means both "read" and "harvested/gleaned" from the gardens of the high-worthy friends of God; those who have attained the contemplative and united life, and have been planted here for the delight of the spirit.

There are many, sprouted from a most noble soil, which contain a very sweet honey for the hungry mind Gemoed: the inner heart or seat of the soul's emotions, which, like a little honeybee, does not only take pleasure in the elegance of the flowers, but draws its necessary nourishment from them.

There are some here to awaken the soul from the sleep of sin; others to refresh the soul in its dejection, anxiety, and temptation; others to make it fall in love with the Origin Oorſprong: referring to God as the source of all things of all beauties. Some smell of precious truth; some of love; some lure the soul to union with God: there are also those which, with their noble scent and color, show us a glimpse of the joyful Paradise; an eternal pleasure-garden luſtgaarde: a garden of delights of the angels and blessed souls.