GARDEN

OF THE

SOUL. original: "Lust-hof des Gemoeds." While "Lust-hof" literally translates to "pleasure-garden," in this religious context it refers to a place of spiritual cultivation and peace. "Gemoed" encompasses the mind, heart, and inner spirit.

The First CHAPTER.

How mindfulness original: "aandagtigheid." In 17th-century devotional writing, this refers to a state of focused prayer, spiritual presence, or "attentiveness" to God. must be preserved through the inner approach to God; and the fleeing from the fleeting desires of this world.

There is nothing that grieves us so much as when we do not feel inner devotion, which we lose by turning too much toward things that are outside of ourselves and which cannot help our soul. Therefore the Prophet Isaiah says: Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which cannot satisfy you? original: "Esaias." This is a citation of Isaiah 55:2. And he speaks the truth: for what soul was ever satisfied by vanity?