On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology — trans. C. E. Rolt
The translator’s English as printed (C. E. Rolt). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Eee DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE are, and to the things which are not, and is beyond both catesories.) And the title of “Existent” extends to all existent things and is beyond them. And the title “Life” extends to all living things and is beyond them. And the title of “Wisdom” extends to the whole realm of Intuition, Reason, and Sense-Perception, and is beyond them all.2
2. These Names which reveal the Providence of God our Discourse would now consider. For we make no promise to express the Absolute Super-Essential Goodness and Being and Life and Wisdom of the Absolute Super-Essential Godhead which (as saith the Scripture) hath Its foundation in a secret place ? beyond all Goodness, Godhead, Being, Wisdom, and Life; but we are considering the benignant Providence which is revealed to us and are celebrating It as Transcendent Goodness and Cause of all good things, and as Existent as Life and as Wisdom, and as productive Cause of Existence and of Life and the Giver of Wisdom, in those creatures which partake of Existence, Life, Intelligence, and
1 i. e. Extends both to good things and to bad things and is beyond the opposition between good and bad. The Good extends to bad things because evil is a mere distortion of good, and no evil thing could exist but for an element of good holding it together: its existence, qua existence, is good. See ch. iv. The Good is beyond the opposition between good and evil because on the ultimate plane nothing exists outside It. It is beyond relationships. Hence also beyond Existence, Life, and Wisdom, since these (as we know them) imply relationships.
2 Sense-perception is a direct apprehension of that which we actually touch, see, hear, taste, or smell; Reason or Inference is an indirect apprehension of that which we do not actually touch, see, etc. Intuition is a direct apprehension of that which (by its very nature) we do not touch, see, etc. Sense perception, Reason, and Intuition are refractions from the perfect Light of Divine Wisdom; but the Divine Wisdom is beyond them because God apprehends all things, not as existent outside Himself, but as existent in Himself, under the form of a single Unity which is identical with His own Being. The Godhead is a Single Desire wherein all the souls eternally exist as fused and inseparable elements. 8 See Ps. Xvi. 12.
are, and to the things which are not, and is beyond both categories.1 And the title of “Existent” extends to all existent things and is beyond them. And the title “Life” extends to all living things and is beyond them. And the title of “Wisdom” extends to the whole realm of Intuition, Reason, and Sense-Perception, and is beyond them all.2
2. These Names, which reveal the Providence of God, our Discourse would now consider. For we make no promise to express the Absolute Super-Essential Goodness and Being and Life and Wisdom of the Absolute Super-Essential Godhead, which (as Scripture says) has Its foundation in a secret place3 beyond all Goodness, Godhead, Being, Wisdom, and Life; but we are considering the benignant Providence that is revealed to us, and are celebrating It as Transcendent Goodness and Cause of all good things, and as Existent, as Life, and as Wisdom, and as the productive Cause of Existence and of Life and the Giver of Wisdom, in those creatures which partake of Existence, Life, Intelligence, and
1 i.e. It extends both to good things and to bad things and is beyond the opposition between good and bad. The Good extends to bad things because evil is a mere distortion of good, and no evil thing could exist but for an element of good holding it together: its existence, qua existence, is good. See ch. iv. The Good is beyond the opposition between good and evil because on the ultimate plane nothing exists outside It. It is beyond relationships. Hence It is also beyond Existence, Life, and Wisdom, since these (as we know them) imply relationships.
2 Sense-perception is a direct apprehension of what we actually touch, see, hear, taste, or smell; Reason or Inference is an indirect apprehension of what we do not actually touch, see, etc. Intuition is a direct apprehension of what (by its very nature) we do not touch, see, etc. Sense perception, Reason, and Intuition are refractions from the perfect Light of Divine Wisdom; but the Divine Wisdom is beyond them, because God apprehends all things not as existing outside Himself but as existing in Himself, under the form of a single Unity which is identical with His own Being. The Godhead is a Single Desire in which all souls eternally exist as fused and inseparable elements. 8 See Ps. Xvi. 12.