Part 6 (1/2)
And in that I said; _It is higher than the highest and greater than the greatest_; thou mayst hereby perceive as in a glimpse the supreme height and greatness of _Omnipotent Love_ which infinitely transcends all that human sense and reason can reach to. The highest Archangel and greatest Powers of Heaven, are in comparison of it, but as dwarfs. Nothing can be conceived higher and greater in G.o.d himself, by the very highest and greatest of his creatures. There is such infinity in it as comprehends and surpa.s.ses all the divine attributes.
But in that it was also said, _Its greatness is greater than G.o.d_; that likewise is very true in the sense wherein it was spoken. For Love can there enter where G.o.d dwelleth not, since the most high G.o.d dwelleth not in darkness, but in the Light, the h.e.l.lish darkness being put under his feet. Thus, for instance, when our beloved Lord Jesus Christ was in h.e.l.l, h.e.l.l was not the mansion of G.o.d or of Christ, h.e.l.l sees not G.o.d, neither was it with G.o.d, nor could it be at all with him; h.e.l.l stood in the darkness and anxiety of Nature, and no light of the Divine Majesty did there enter; G.o.d was not there, for he is not in the darkness nor in the anguish; but Love was there; and Love destroyed Death and conquered h.e.l.l. So also when thou art in anguish or trouble, which is _h.e.l.l within_, G.o.d is not the anguish or trouble, neither is he in the anguish or trouble; but his Love is there, and brings thee out of the anguish and trouble into G.o.d, leading thee into the light and joy of his presence. When G.o.d hides himself in thee, Love is still there, and makes him manifest in thee. Such is the inconceivable greatness and largeness of Love, which will hence appear to thee as great as G.o.d _above Nature_ and greater than G.o.d _in Nature_, or as considered in his manifestative glory.
Lastly, whereas I said, _Whosoever finds it finds Nothing and all Things_; that is also certain and true. But how finds he _Nothing_? Why, I will tell thee how. He that findeth it findeth a supernatural, supersensual Abyss, which hath no ground or Byss to stand on, and where there is no place to dwell in; and he findeth also nothing is like unto it and therefore it may fitly be compared to _Nothing_, for it is deeper than any _Thing_, and is as Nothing with respect to All Things, forasmuch as it is not comprehensible by any of them. And because it is Nothing respectively, it is therefore free from All Things, and is that only Good, which a man cannot express or utter what it is, there being Nothing to which it may be compared, to express it by.
But in that I lastly said; _Whosoever finds it finds All Things_; there is nothing can be more true than this a.s.sertion. It hath been the Beginning of All Things; and it ruleth All Things. It is also the End of All Things; and will thence comprehend All Things within its circle. All Things are from it, and in it, and by it. If thou findest it thou comest into that ground from whence All Things are proceeded, and wherein they subsist; and thou art in it a King over all the works of G.o.d.
Here the Disciple was exceedingly ravished with what his Master had so wonderfully and surprisingly declared, and returned his most hearty and humble thanks for that light which he had been an instrument of conveying to him. But being desirous to hear further concerning these high matters, and to know somewhat more particularly, he requested him that he would give him leave to wait on him the next day again; and that he would then be pleased to show him _how_ and _where_ he might find this which was so much beyond all price and value, and whereabout the seat and abode of it might be in human nature, with the entire process of the discovery and bringing it forth to light.
The Master said to him: This then we will discourse about at our next conference, as G.o.d shall reveal the same to us by his Spirit, which is a searcher of All Things. And if thou dost remember well what I answered thee in the beginning, thou shalt soon come thereby to understand that hidden mystical wisdom of G.o.d; which none of the wise men of the world know; and where the Mine thereof is to be found in thee shall be given thee from above to discern. Be silent therefore in thy spirit, and watch unto prayer; that, when we meet again to-morrow in the love of Christ, thy mind may be disposed for finding that n.o.ble Pearl, which to the World appears _Nothing_, but to the Children of Wisdom is _All Things_.
DIALOGUE II
The Disciple being very earnest to be more fully instructed how he might arrive at the supersensual life, and how, having found all things, he might come to be a king over all G.o.d's works, came again to his Master next morning, having watched the night in prayer, that he might be disposed to receive and apprehend the instructions that should be given him by a divine irradiation upon his mind. And the Disciple, after a little s.p.a.ce of silence, bowed himself, and thus brake forth.
DISCIPLE
O my Master, my Master! I have now endeavoured to recollect my soul in the presence of G.o.d, and to cast myself into the Deep where no creature doth nor can dwell; that I might hear the voice of my Lord speaking in me, and be initiated into that high life whereof I heard yesterday such great and amazing things. But alas I neither hear nor see as I should.
There is still such a part.i.tion wall in me which beats back the heavenly sounds in their pa.s.sage, and obstructs the entrance of that light whereby alone divine objects are discoverable, as till this be gone I can have but small hopes, yea, even none at all, of arriving at those glorious attainments which you pressed me to, or of entering into _that where no creature dwells_, and which you call _Nothing_ and _All Things_. Wherefore be so kind as to inform me what is required on my part, that this part.i.tion which hinders may be broken or removed.
MASTER
This part.i.tion is the creaturely will in thee, and this can be broken by nothing but the Grace of self-denial, which is the entrance into the true following of Christ, and totally removed by nothing but a perfect conformity with the Divine Will.
DISCIPLE
But how shall I be able to _break_ this creaturely will which is in me, and is at enmity with the Divine Will? Or what shall I do to follow Christ in so difficult a path, and not to faint in a continual course of self-denial or resignation to the Will of G.o.d.
MASTER
This is not to be done by thyself; but by the light and grace of G.o.d received into thy soul, which will, if thou gainsay not, break the darkness that is in thee, and melt down thy old will, which worketh in the darkness and corruption of Nature, and bring it into the obedience of Christ, whereby the part.i.tion of the creaturely self is removed from betwixt G.o.d and thee.
DISCIPLE
I know that I cannot do it of myself. But I would fain learn how I must receive this Divine Light and Grace into me, which is to do it for me, if I hinder it not my own self. What is then required of me in order to admit this Breaker of the part.i.tion, and to promote the attainment of the ends of such admission?
MASTER
There is nothing more required of thee at first than not to resist this grace, which is manifested in thee; and nothing in the whole process of the work, but to be obedient and pa.s.sive to the Light of G.o.d s.h.i.+ning through the darkness of thy creaturely being, which comprehendeth it not, as reaching no higher than the _Light of Nature_.
DISCIPLE
But is it not for me to attain, if I can, both the Light of G.o.d, and the Light of the outward Nature too, and to make use of them both for the ordering of my life wisely and prudently?
MASTER
It is right so to do. And it is indeed a treasure above all earthly treasures to be possessed of the Light of G.o.d and Nature operating in their spheres, and to have both the Eye of Time and Eternity at once open together, and yet not to interfere with each other.
DISCIPLE