2

By praying thus one is enlightened about the knowledge of the stages in

the ascension to God. For since, relative to our life on earth, the world

is itself a ladder for ascending to God, we find here certain traces [of

His hand], certain images, some corporeal, some spiritual, some temporal,

some aeviternal; consequently some outside us, some inside. That we may

arrive at an understanding of the First Principle, which is most spiritual

and eternal and above us, we ought to proceed through the traces which are

corporeal and temporal and outside us, and this is to be led into the way

of God. We ought next to enter into our minds, which are the eternal image

of God, spiritual and internal; and this is to walk in the truth of God. We

ought finally to pass over into that which is eternal, most spiritual, and

above us, looking to the First Principle; and this is to rejoice in the

knowledge of God and in the reverence of His majesty.