14. But the Devil is entered into its seven Forms of Life of the Centre , viz., into its own Self conceited Reason , and continually bringeth his Desire into this trimmed Virgin, which the Stars receive. He is her Beast on which she rideth, well adorned with her own Powers of Life, as may be seen in the Revelation of St.John . Thus hath this Child of Self taken into its Possession the outward Q/ance of Divine Holiness , viz., the Light of Reason , and supposeth itself to be the fair Child in the House, though the Devil hath his Lodging within it all the while.
1 5. And thus it is with all those that have been once enlightened by GOD, and afterwards go forth again from true Resignation , and wean themselves from the pure Milk of their Mother, viz., true Humility .
Chapter II.
H ERE Reason will object and say, ‘Is it not right for a ‘ Man to attain the Light of God, and also the Light ‘of the outward Nature and Reason, that he may be ‘able to order his Life wisely, as the Scripture ‘ directeth ?’
2. Yes, it is very right ; nothing can be mc/re profitable to A Man, neither is he Capable of any Thing better ; nay, it is a Treasure above all Earthly Treasures for a Man to have the Light of Qod and of Time , for it is the Eye of Time and of Eternity.
3. But mark, how thou oughtest to use it ; when the Light of Qod first manifesteth itself in the Soul, it shineth forth as Light
Of \ True Resignation. 43
from a Candle, and kindleth the outward Light of Reason immediately ; yet it yieldeth not itself wholly up to Reason, so as to be under the Dominion of the outward Man. No, the outward Man beholdeth himself in this through-shining Lustre, as he doth his Likeness in a Looking-Glass ; whereby he presently learneth to know himself ; which is good and profitable for him.
4. Now when he doth so, Reason, which is the Creaturely Self, cannot do better than to behold itself in the Self of the CreUture , and not enter with the Will of the Desire into the Centre in seeking itself. If it doth, it breaketh itself off from the Substance of God, (which riseth together with the Light of God, of which the Soul ought to eat, and refresh itself therewith,) and eateth of the outward Substance and Light, and thereby draweth the Venom into itself again.
5. *The WJll of the Creature ought to sink wholly into itself with all its Reason and Desire, accounting itself an unworthy Child that is no w'hit worthy of this so high a Qrace ; nor should it arrogate any Knowledge or Understanding to itself or desire of Gob to have any Understanding in its Creaturely Self ; but sincerely and simply sink down into the Qrace and Love of God in Christ fesus, and desire to be as it were dead to itself and its own Reason, in the Divine Life, and wholly resign itself to the Spirit of God in Love, that He may do how and what he will with it, as with His own Instrument.
6. Its own Reason ought not to enter upon any Speculation in Divine or in the Qround of human Matters ; nor to will and desire any thing but the Qrace of God in Christ. And as a Child continually longeth after the Breasts of the Mother, so must its Hunger be continually entering into the Love of God, and not suffer itself to be broken off from that Hunger by any Means. When the outward Reason triumpheth in the Light, saying, I have the true Child, then the Will of the Desire must bow itself down to £he Earth, and bring itself into the deepest Humility and most simple Ignorance, and say, ‘ Thou art foolish, and hast nothing ‘but the Grace of God.’ Thou must wrap thyself up in that Belief with great Humility, and become nothing at all in thyself, and neither know nor love thyself. All that thou hast, or is in thee, must ‘esteem itself as nothing but a mere Instrument of God ; and thou must bring thy Desire only into God’s Mercy, and go forth from all thy* own knowing and willing ; and esteem it as nothing at all, nor ever entertain any Will to enter into it again.
• 7. As soon as this is done, the natural Will becometh weak and faint, and then the Devil is not able to sift it thus any more with his evil Desire , for the Places of his Rest become very power44 T/fo Way to Qhrist .
L i
14. But the Devil is entered into its seven Forms of Life of the Centre , viz., into its own Self conceited Reason , and continually brings his Desire into this trimmed Virgin, which the Stars receive. He is her Beast on which she rids, well adorned with her own Powers of Life, as may be seen in the Revelation of St.John . Thus has this Child of Self taken into its Possession the outward Q/ance of Divine Holiness , viz., the Light of Reason , and supposes itself to be the fair Child in the House, though the Devil has his Lodging within it all the while.
1 5. And thus it is with all those that have been once enlightened by GOD, and afterwards go forth again from true Resignation , and wean themselves from the pure Milk of their Mother, viz., true Humility .
Chapter II.
H ERE Reason will object and say, ‘Is it not right for a ‘ Man to attain the Light of God, and also the Light ‘of the outward Nature and Reason, that he may be ‘able to order his Life wisely, as the Scripture ‘ directs ?’
2. Yes, it is very right ; nothing can be mc/re profitable to A Man, neither is he Capable of any Thing better ; nay, it is a Treasure above all Earthly Treasures for a Man to have the Light of Qod and of Time , for it is the Eye of Time and of Eternity.
3. But mark, how you oughtest to use it ; when the Light of Qod first manifests itself in the Soul, it shines forth as Light
Of \ True Resignation. 43
from a Candle, and kindls the outward Light of Reason immediately ; yet it yields not itself wholly up to Reason, so as to be under the Dominion of the outward Man. No, the outward Man beholds himself in this through-shining Lustre, as he does his Likeness in a Looking-Glass ; whereby he presently learns to know himself ; which is good and profitable for him.
4. Now when he does so, Reason, which is the Creaturely Self, cannot do better than to behold itself in the Self of the CreUture , and not enter with the Will of the Desire into the Centre in seeking itself. If it does, it breaks itself off from the Substance of God, (which rises together with the Light of God, of which the Soul ought to eat, and refresh itself therewith,) and eats of the outward Substance and Light, and thereby draws the Venom into itself again.
5. *The WJll of the Creature ought to sink wholly into itself with all its Reason and Desire, accounting itself an unworthy Child that is no w'hit worthy of this so high a Qrace ; nor should it arrogate any Knowledge or Understanding to itself or desire of Gob to have any Understanding in its Creaturely Self ; but sincerely and simply sink down into the Qrace and Love of God in Christ fesus, and desire to be as it were dead to itself and its own Reason, in the Divine Life, and wholly resign itself to the Spirit of God in Love, that He may do how and what he will with it, as with His own Instrument.
6. Its own Reason ought not to enter upon any Speculation in Divine or in the Qround of human Matters ; nor to will and desire any thing but the Qrace of God in Christ. And as a Child continually longs after the Breasts of the Mother, so must its Hunger be continually entering into the Love of God, and not suffer itself to be broken off from that Hunger by any Means. When the outward Reason triumphs in the Light, saying, I have the true Child, then the Will of the Desire must bow itself down to £he Earth, and bring itself into the deepest Humility and most simple Ignorance, and say, ‘ You are foolish, and have nothing ‘but the Grace of God.’ You must wrap yourself up in that Belief with great Humility, and become nothing at all in yourself, and neither know nor love yourself. All that you have, or is in you, must ‘esteem itself as nothing but a mere Instrument of God ; and you must bring your Desire only into God’s Mercy, and go forth from all your* own knowing and willing ; and esteem it as nothing at all, nor ever entertain any Will to enter into it again.
• 7. As soon as this is done, the natural Will becomes weak and faint, and then the Devil is not able to sift it thus any more with his evil Desire , for the Places of his Rest become very power44 T/fo Way to Qhrist .
L i
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.