way
can
give
true
purity;
if
it
give
any
at
all,
it
is
only
superficial,
and
not
in
the
depth
of
the
heart,
where
the
impurity
is
seated.
Here
God
searches
the
inmost
recesses
of
the
soul
for
that
hidden
impurity
which
is
the
effect
of
the
self-esteem
and
self-love
which
He
designs
to
destroy.
Take
a
sponge
which
is
full
of
impuri-ties,
wash
it
as
much
as
you
will,
you
will
clean
the
outside,
but
you
will
not
render
it
clean
throughout
unless
you
press
it,
in
order
to
squeeze
out
all
the
filth.
This
is
what
God
does.
He
squeezes
the
soul
in
a
painful
manner,
but
He
brings
out
from
it
that
which
was
the
most
deeply
hidden.
I
say,
then,
that
this
is
the
only
way
in
which
we
can
be
purified
radically;
and
without
it
we
should
always
be
filthy,
though
outwardly
we
might
appear
very
clean.
It
is
necessary
that
God
should
make
the
soul
thoroughly
sensible
of
its
condition.
We
could
never
believe,
without
the
experience,
of
what
nature
left
to
itself
is
capable.
Yes,
indeed,
our
own
being,
abandoned
to
itself,
is
worse
than
all
devils.
Therefore
we
must
not
believe
that
the
soul
in
this
state
of
misery
is
abandoned
by
God.
