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  1 Pre|     argument the existence of God, and whatsoever we believe of
  2 Pre|          one who contemplates God, and seeks to understand what
  3 Pre|           proof than itself alone; and alone would suffice to demonstrate
  4 Pre| demonstrate that God truly exists, and that there is a supreme
  5 Pre|        require for their existence and well-being; and whatever
  6 Pre|          existence and well-being; and whatever we believe regarding
  7 Pre|            Being.~Although I often and earnestly directed my thought
  8 Pre|            my thought to this end, and at some times that which
  9 Pre|           be successful; then more and more, though I was unwilling
 10 Pre|             though I was unwilling and shunned it, it began to
 11 Pre|      readers, of this very matter, and of some others, I have written
 12 Pre|          the contemplation of God, and seeks to understand what
 13 Pre|        bear the name of an author; and yet I thought they ought
 14 Pre|           on the Grounds of Faith, and its sequel as, Faith Seeking
 15 Pre|       these titles, many urged me, and especially Hugo, the reverend
 16 Pre|            name to these writings. And that this might be done
 17 1  |              It casts aside cares, and excludes all thoughts save
 18 1  | blessedness for which he was made, and found the misery for which
 19 1  |            ill with us. Our labors and attempts are in vain without
 20 1  |      mindful of him, think of him, and love him. The believer does
 21 1  |             your burdensome cares, and put away your toilsome business.
 22 1  |           some little time to God; and rest for a little time in
 23 1  |         thoughts save that of God, and such as can aid you in seeking
 24 1  |       seeking him; close your door and seek him. Speak now, my
 25 1  |            seek (Psalms xxvii. 8). And come you now, O Lord my
 26 1  |          God, teach my heart where and how it may seek you, where
 27 1  |         how it may seek you, where and how it may find you.~Lord,
 28 1  |        shall lead me to that light and into it, that I may see
 29 1  |        anxious in his love of you, and cast out afar from your
 30 1  |         face? He pants to see you, and your face is too far from
 31 1  |           He longs to come to you, and your dwelling-place is inaccessible.
 32 1  |           He is eager to find you, and knows not your place. He
 33 1  |            He desires to seek you, and does not know your face.
 34 1  |        face. Lord, you are my God, and you are my Lord, and never
 35 1  |          God, and you are my Lord, and never have I seen you. It
 36 1  |          is you that hast made me, and has made me anew, and has
 37 1  |          me, and has made me anew, and has bestowed upon me all
 38 1  |          all the blessing I enjoy; and not yet do I know you. Finally,
 39 1  |            was created to see you, and not yet have I done that
 40 1  |          which he was made! O hard and terrible fate! Alas, what
 41 1  |            Alas, what has he lost, and what has he found? What
 42 1  |          found? What has departed, and what remains? He has lost
 43 1  | blessedness for which he was made, and has found the misery for
 44 1  |            which nothing is happy, and that remains which, in itself,
 45 1  |            possessed in happiness, and miserably forsook his possession;
 46 1  |        suffer want in unhappiness, and feel a miserable longing,
 47 1  |          feel a miserable longing, and alas! we remain empty.~Why
 48 1  |            us away from the light, and cover us over with darkness?
 49 1  |     purpose did he rob us of life, and inflict death upon us? Wretches
 50 1  |    immortality into the bitterness and horror of death. Miserable
 51 1  |       sighing? I sought blessings, and lo! confusion. I strove
 52 1  |    confusion. I strove toward God, and I stumbled on myself. I
 53 1  |            sought calm in privacy, and I found tribulation and
 54 1  |            and I found tribulation and grief, in my inmost thoughts.
 55 1  |       smile in the joy of my mind, and I am compelled to frown
 56 1  |            Gladness was hoped for, and lo! a source of frequent
 57 1  |          source of frequent sighs!~And you too, O Lord, how long?
 58 1  |        When will you look upon us, and hear us? When will you enlighten
 59 1  |            you enlighten our eyes, and show us your face? When
 60 1  |         with us. Pity our toilings and strivings toward you since
 61 1  |            let me not return empty and despised. And if, before
 62 1  |         return empty and despised. And if, before I eat, I sigh,
 63 1  |         eat. Lord, I am bowed down and can only look downward;
 64 1  |           head; they overwhelm me; and, like a heavy load, they
 65 1  |      depths. Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me, when
 66 1  |           let me find you in love, and love you in finding. Lord,
 67 1  |       finding. Lord, I acknowledge and I thank you that you has
 68 1  |          you, may conceive of you, and love you; but that image
 69 1  |         image has been so consumed and wasted away by vices, and
 70 1  |          and wasted away by vices, and obscured by the smoke of
 71 1  |         made, except you renew it, and create it anew. I do not
 72 1  |            which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek
 73 2  |           heart, There is no God. ~AND so, Lord, do you, who do
 74 2  |        that you are as we believe; and that you are that which
 75 2  |         are that which we believe. And indeed, we believe that
 76 2  |         understands what be hears, and what he understands is in
 77 2  |           be in the understanding, and another to understand that
 78 2  |           it in his understanding, and he understands that it exists,
 79 2  |           this, he understands it. And whatever is understood,
 80 2  |       exists in the understanding. And assuredly that, than which
 81 2  |          greater can be conceived, and it exists both in the understanding
 82 2  |          both in the understanding and in reality.~ ~
 83 3  |           not to exist is not God.~AND it assuredly exists so truly,
 84 3  |            conceived not to exist; and this is greater than one
 85 3  |           conceived not to exist;. and this being you are, O Lord,
 86 3  |            conceived not to exist; and rightly. For, if a mind
 87 3  |            rise above the Creator; and this is most absurd. And,
 88 3  |           and this is most absurd. And, indeed, whatever else there
 89 3  |       truly than all other beings, and hence in a higher degree
 90 3  |           does not exist so truly, and hence in a less degree it
 91 3  |             except that he is dull and a fool?~ ~
 92 4  |          same to say in the heart, and to conceive.~But, if really,
 93 4  |      because he said in his heart; and did not say in his heart,
 94 4  |        signifying it is conceived; and in another, when the very
 95 4  |          who understands what fire and water are can conceive fire
 96 4  |       greater cannot be conceived. And he who thoroughly understands
 97 5  |       better to be than not to be; and he, as the only self-existent
 98 5  |       alone exists through itself, and creates all other things
 99 5  |           just, truthful, blessed, and whatever it is better to
100 6  |           or at once compassionate and passionless? For, if only
101 6  |            senses encompass a body and are in a body, how are you
102 6  |      things in the highest degree; and not as an animal cognises,
103 7  |            by virtue of impotence, and nothing has power against
104 7  |          you can not be corrupted, and can not lie, nor make what
105 7  |        done not to have been done, and the like. --how are you
106 7  |          what is not for his good, and of what he ought not to
107 7  |           what he ought not to do; and the more capable of them
108 7  |          more power have adversity and perversity against him;
109 7  |            perversity against him; and the less has he himself
110 7  |            to be" for "not to be," and "to do" for what is really
111 7  |         sit is not to do anything, and to rest is to do nothing.~
112 7  |        more powerful are adversity and perversity against him,
113 7  |            perversity against him, and the more powerless is he
114 7  |         nothing through impotence, and nothing has power against
115 8  |            How he is compassionate and passionless. God is compassionate,
116 8  |         how are you compassionate, and, at the same time, passionless?
117 8  |          you do not feel sympathy; and if you do not feel sympathy,
118 8  |        then, are you compassionate and not compassionate, O Lord,
119 8  |           terms of our experience, and not compassionate in terms
120 8  |          you do save the wretched, and spare those who sin against
121 8  |         those who sin against you; and not compassionate because
122 9  |       CHAPTER IX.~How the all-just and supremely just God spares
123 9  |        just God spares the wicked, and justly pities the wicked.
124 9  |           is good to the righteous and the wicked than he who is
125 9  |           good even to the wicked, and should make the wicked good.
126 9  |        wicked, if you are all just and supremely just? For how,
127 9  |            For how, being all just and supremely just, do you anything
128 9  |        Lord, good to the righteous and the wicked, can you save
129 9  |       wicked, if this is not just, and you do not anything that
130 9  |       dwell? Truly, in the deepest and most secret parts of your
131 9  |        flows.~For you are all just and supremely just, yet you
132 9  |        good, both to the righteous and the wicked, is better than
133 9  |          good to the wicked alone; and he who is good to the wicked,
134 9  |          wicked, both by punishing and sparing them, is better
135 9  |            are all supremely good. And, although it appears why
136 9  |         reward the good with goods and the evil with evils; yet
137 9  |        wonderful, why you, the all and supremely just, who lacks
138 9  |        bestows goods on the wicked and on those who are guilty
139 9  |           your compassion appears, and yet is not clearly seen!
140 9  |         those who sin against you; and in the depth of your goodness
141 9  |         reward the good with goods and the evil with evils, out
142 9  |          bestow goods on the evil, and it is known that the supremely
143 9  |            what abundant sweetness and what sweet abundance do
144 9  |            you are supremely good, and supremely good only because
145 9  |      supremely just. Help me, just and compassionate God, whose
146 9  |   compassion born of your justice? And do you spare the wicked,
147 9  |           not be conceived better; and that you should work so
148 9  |            requiting (retribuendo) and not by sparing, and that
149 9  |   retribuendo) and not by sparing, and that you should make good
150 9  |            those who are not good, and not the wicked also. In
151 9  |           should spare the wicked, and make good souls of evil.~
152 9  |       justly ought not to be done; and what ought not to be done
153 9  |            ought not to pity them. And, if you ought not to pity
154 9  |            you pity them unjustly. And if It is impious to suppose
155 10 |             How he justly punishes and justly spares the wicked. --
156 10 |         good should receive goods, and the evil, evils? How, then,
157 10 |          should punish the wicked, and, at the same time, spare
158 10 |         way, do you justly punish, and, in another, justly spare
159 10 |     consistent with their deserts; and when, on the other hand,
160 10 |           according to our nature, and not according to yours;
161 10 | contradiction you do justly punish and justly spare.~ ~
162 11 |         ways of God are compassion and truth; and yet God is just
163 11 |          are compassion and truth; and yet God is just in all his
164 11 |      through his supreme goodness: and condemns those rather than
165 11 |            be conceived more just; and this you would in no wise
166 11 |          render goods to the good, and not evils to the evil. For,
167 11 |          he who requites both good and evil according to their
168 11 |   according to your nature, O just and gracious God, both when
169 11 |            both when you do punish and when you sparest.~Truly,
170 11 |        paths of the Lord are mercy and truth (Psalms xxv. 10);
171 11 |            truth (Psalms xxv. 10); and yet the Lord is righteous
172 11 |            ways (Psalms cxlv. 17). And assuredly without inconsistency:
173 11 |            punish should be saved, and that those whom you do will
174 11 |            just which you do will; and that alone unjust which
175 11 |          are good in sparing also; and this may be the reason why
176 11 |          through supreme goodness; and why you do condemn the latter
177 11 |         omnipotent, compassionate, and passionless, as you are
178 11 |            good, blessed, eternal: and whatever it is better to
179 12 |        very life whereby he lives; and so of other like attributes. ~
180 12 |        very life whereby you live; and the wisdom wherewith you
181 12 |            wherewith you are wise; and the very goodness whereby
182 12 |          are good to the righteous and the wicked; and so of other
183 12 |          righteous and the wicked; and so of other like attributes.~ ~
184 13 |           alone is uncircumscribed and eternal, although other
185 13 |        spirits are uncircumscribed and eternal. --No place and
186 13 |            and eternal. --No place and time contain God. But he
187 13 |           he is himself everywhere and always. He alone not only
188 13 |             but you are everywhere and always. And since this can
189 13 |         are everywhere and always. And since this can be said of
190 13 |          alone are uncircumscribed and eternal. How is it, then,
191 13 |         said to be uncircumscribed and eternal?~Assuredly you are
192 13 |           same time be in another. And this is seen to be true
193 13 |          the same time everywhere. And this is understood to be
194 13 |          alone. But circumscribed, and, at the same time, uncircumscribed
195 13 |         somewhere else as a whole, and yet not everywhere. And
196 13 |            and yet not everywhere. And this is recognised as true
197 13 |         peculiarly uncircumscribed and eternal; and yet other spirits
198 13 |       uncircumscribed and eternal; and yet other spirits also are
199 13 |           also are uncircumscribed and eternal.~ ~
200 14 |                   CHAPTER XIV.~How and why God is seen and yet
201 14 |            How and why God is seen and yet not seen by those who
202 14 |      goodness, eternal blessedness and blessed eternity; and that
203 14 |  blessedness and blessed eternity; and that it is every where and
204 14 |         and that it is every where and always.~For, if you have
205 14 |        being which you have found, and which you have conceived
206 14 |          be, with so certain truth and so true certainty? But,
207 14 |          whom it found to be light and truth? For how did it understand
208 14 |             except by seeing light and truth? Or, could it understand
209 14 |          except through your light and your truth?~Hence, if it
210 14 |        Hence, if it has seen light and truth, it has seen you;
211 14 |         you, it has not seen light and truth. Or, is what it has
212 14 |        what it has seen both light and truth; and still it has
213 14 |         seen both light and truth; and still it has not yet seen
214 14 |            Lord my God, my creator and renewer, speak to the desire
215 14 |           strains to see you more; and sees nothing beyond this
216 14 |           both darkened in itself, and dazzled by you. Doubtless
217 14 |            its own insignificance, and overwhelmed by your infinity.
218 14 |   contracted by its own narrowness and overcome by your greatness.~
219 14 |           everything that is true, and outside which is only nothingness
220 14 |          which is only nothingness and the false? How boundless
221 14 |          whatsoever has been made, and by whom, and through whom,
222 14 |            been made, and by whom, and through whom, and how it
223 14 |            whom, and through whom, and how it has been made from
224 16 |           it is too bright for me. And yet, whatsoever I see, I
225 16 |            of the light.~O supreme and unapproachable light! O
226 16 |      unapproachable light! O whole and blessed truth, how far are
227 16 |            you are wholly present, and I see you not. In you I
228 16 |            you not. In you I move, and in you I have my being;
229 16 |            in you I have my being; and I cannot come to you. You
230 16 |            you. You are within me, and about me, and I feel you
231 16 |           within me, and about me, and I feel you not.~ ~
232 17 |         from my soul in your light and your blessedness; and therefore
233 17 |        light and your blessedness; and therefore my soul still
234 17 |        still walks in its darkness and wretchedness. For it looks,
235 17 |        wretchedness. For it looks, and does not see your beauty.
236 17 |          your beauty. It hearkens, and does not hear your harmony.
237 17 |           your harmony. It smells, and does not perceive your fragrance.
238 17 |         your fragrance. It tastes, and does not recognize your
239 17 |        your sweetness. It touches, and does not feel your pleasantness.
240 17 |           my soul have grown rigid and dull, and have been obstructed
241 17 |         have grown rigid and dull, and have been obstructed by
242 18 |            life, wisdom, eternity, and every true good. --Whatever
243 18 |            are not parts, but one, and the very whole which God
244 18 |         even in concept divisible.~AND lo, again confusion; lo,
245 18 |         confusion; lo, again grief and mourning meet him who seeks
246 18 |         meet him who seeks for joy and gladness. My soul now hoped
247 18 |            hoped for satisfaction; and lo, again it is overwhelmed
248 18 |            I desired now to feast, and lo, I hunger more. I tried
249 18 |          rise to the light of God, and I have fallen back into
250 18 |          darkness I was conceived, and in the cover of darkness
251 18 |         all lost, who kept easily, and wickedly lost to himself
252 18 |           wickedly lost to himself and to us that which when we
253 18 |         soul recover its strength, and with all its understanding
254 18 |     blessedness, you are eternity, and you are every true good.
255 18 |           is: in some sort plural, and diverse from itself; and
256 18 |           and diverse from itself; and either in fact or in concept
257 18 |          so truly a unitary being, and so identical with yourself,
258 18 |        conception. Therefore, life and wisdom and the rest are
259 18 |         Therefore, life and wisdom and the rest are not parts of
260 18 |           of you, but all are one; and each of these is the whole,
261 18 |          the whole, which you are, and which all the rest are.~
262 18 |            that you have no parts, and that your eternity, which
263 18 |          which you are, is nowhere and never a part of you or of
264 18 |     everywhere you are as a whole, and your eternity exists as
265 19 |            eternity you have been, and are, and will be; and to
266 19 |            you have been, and are, and will be; and to have been
267 19 |        been, and are, and will be; and to have been is not to be
268 19 |          not to be destined to be; and to be is not to have been,
269 19 |             so that it is not now; and that nothing of it is destined
270 19 |           to-morrow; but yesterday and to-day and to-morrow you
271 19 |           but yesterday and to-day and to-morrow you are; or, rather,
272 19 |            all time. For yesterday and to-day and to-morrow have
273 19 |           For yesterday and to-day and to-morrow have no existence,
274 20 |           exists before all things and transcends all things, even
275 20 |     eternity which is still to be, and have no longer that part
276 20 |             HENCE, you do permeate and embrace all things. You
277 20 |        things. You are before all, and do transcend all. And, of
278 20 |         all, and do transcend all. And, of a surety, you are before
279 20 |       sense; but you, in no sense. And certainly, what in no sense
280 20 |     eternal, because your eternity and theirs is present as a whole
281 20 |        ever present with yourself, and since that to which they
282 21 |           ages of time themselves, and can be called the age of
283 21 |           ages of time themselves. And these are indeed an age,
284 21 |           endless immeasurability. And, although you are so great,
285 21 |            things are full of you, and exist in you; yet you are
286 22 |             He alone is what he is and who be is. --All things
287 22 |           need God for their being and their well-being. ~THEREFORE,
288 22 |            Lord, are what you are; and you are he who you are.
289 22 |          is one thing in the whole and another in the parts, and
290 22 |          and another in the parts, and in which there is any mutable
291 22 |         not altogether what it is. And what begins from non-existence,
292 22 |         begins from non-existence, and can be conceived not to
293 22 |            conceived not to exist, and unless it subsists through
294 22 |          returns to non-existence; and what has a past existence,
295 22 |             this does not properly and absolutely exist.~But you
296 22 |            way, you are as a whole and forever. And you are he
297 22 |            as a whole and forever. And you are he who you are,
298 22 |           he who you are, properly and simply; for you have neither
299 22 |    non-existent. But you are life, and light, and wisdom, and blessedness,
300 22 |           you are life, and light, and wisdom, and blessedness,
301 22 |             and light, and wisdom, and blessedness, and many goods
302 22 |           wisdom, and blessedness, and many goods of this nature.
303 22 |         many goods of this nature. And yet you are only one supreme
304 22 |        all-sufficient to yourself, and need none; and you are he
305 22 |           yourself, and need none; and you are he whom all things
306 22 |           need for their existence and wellbeing.~ ~
307 23 |            good is equally Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. And
308 23 |           equally Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. And this is
309 23 |          and Son, and Holy Spirit. And this is a single, necessary
310 23 |        Being, which is every good, and wholly good, and the only
311 23 |       every good, and wholly good, and the only good. --Since the
312 23 |            Since the Word is true, and is truth itself, there is
313 23 |         which proceeds from Father and Son unequal to the Father
314 23 |      Father or the Son, for Father and Son love themselves and
315 23 |            and Son love themselves and one another in the same
316 23 |    simplicity nothing can be born, and from it nothing can proceed,
317 23 |         true, as you are truthful. And, hence, it is truth itself,
318 23 |           no other truth than you; and you are of so simple a nature,
319 23 |         the one love common to you and to your Son, that is, the
320 23 |          that you do love yourself and him, and he, you and himself,
321 23 |          do love yourself and him, and he, you and himself, to
322 23 |      yourself and him, and he, you and himself, to the whole extent
323 23 |         whole extent of your being and his. Nor is there anything
324 23 |           else proceeding from you and from him, which is not unequal
325 23 |        which is not unequal to you and to him. Nor can anything
326 23 |      Trinity at once, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; seeing that
327 23 |            supremely simple unity, and the supremely unitary simplicity
328 23 |          nay, which is every good, and a single entire good, and
329 23 |          and a single entire good, and the only good.~ ~
330 24 |     Conjecture as to the character and the magnitude of this good. --
331 24 |         good is the creative life!~AND now, my soul, arouse and
332 24 |           AND now, my soul, arouse and lift up all your understanding,
333 24 |            all your understanding, and conceive, so far as you
334 24 |         you can, of what character and how great is that good!
335 24 |         pleasantness of all goods; and not such as we have experienced
336 24 |            delectable things, what and how great is the delight
337 25 |            CHAPTER XXV.~What goods and how great, belong to those
338 25 |       blessed from the blessedness and joy of others.~WHO shall
339 25 |         WHO shall enjoy this good? And what shall belong to him,
340 25 |          what shall belong to him, and what shall not belong to
341 25 |           shall wish shall be his, and whatever he shall not wish
342 25 |           For, these goods of body and soul will be such as eye
343 25 |         for the goods of your soul and your body? Love the one
344 25 |            in which are all goods, and it suffices. Desire the
345 25 |          good which is every good, and it is enough. For, what
346 25 |            nature. If it is a long and sound life that pleases
347 25 |           a healthful eternity is, and an eternal health. For the
348 25 |           for ever (Wisdom v. 15), and the salvation of the righteous
349 25 |          God more than themselves, and one another as themselves.
350 25 |         one another as themselves. And God shall love them more
351 25 |     themselves; for they love him, and themselves, and one another,
352 25 |          love him, and themselves, and one another, through him,
353 25 |          one another, through him, and he, himself and them, through
354 25 |       through him, and he, himself and them, through himself. If
355 25 |           will whatever they will; and what he shall will cannot
356 25 |        cannot fail to be. If honor and riches, God shall make his
357 25 |            God shall make his good and faithful servants rulers
358 25 |       shall be called sons of God, and gods; and where his Son
359 25 |      called sons of God, and gods; and where his Son shall be,
360 25 |         also, heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (
361 25 |       rather that good, will never and in no wise fail them; as
362 25 |            it of their own accord; and that God, who loves them,
363 25 |            him against their will; and that nothing more powerful
364 25 |         from them against his will and theirs.~But what, or how
365 25 |             is the joy, where such and so great is the good! Heart
366 25 |         innumerable blessed angels and sainted men, where none
367 25 |           shall it contain so many and so great joys? And doubtless,
368 25 |            many and so great joys? And doubtless, seeing that every
369 25 |      rejoices in the other's good, and as, in that perfect felicity,
370 25 |         compare, more than himself and all the others with him;
371 25 |          God, more than in his own and that of all the others with
372 25 |          God with all their heart, and all their mind, and all
373 25 |         heart, and all their mind, and all their soul, that still
374 25 |          that still all the heart, and all the mind, and all the
375 25 |           heart, and all the mind, and all the soul shall not suffice
376 25 |      rejoice with all their heart, and all their mind, and all
377 25 |         heart, and all their mind, and all their soul, that all
378 25 |          soul, that all the heart, and all the mind, and all the
379 25 |           heart, and all the mind, and all the soul shall not suffice
380 26 |      according as they shall love; and they shall love according
381 26 |            they shall know.~My God and my Lord, my hope and the
382 26 |           God and my Lord, my hope and the joy of my heart, speak
383 26 |          heart, speak unto my soul and tell me whether this is
384 26 |           us through your Son: Ask and ye shall receive, that your
385 26 |          found a joy that is full, and more than full. For when
386 26 |         than full. For when heart, and mind, and soul, and all
387 26 |          For when heart, and mind, and soul, and all the man, are
388 26 |         heart, and mind, and soul, and all the man, are full of
389 26 |      according as they shall love; and they shall love according
390 26 |         will know you, Lord, then! and how much they will love
391 26 |           far they shall know you, and how much they shall love
392 26 |         that I may rejoice in you. And if I cannot attain to full
393 26 |            you advance in me here, and there be made full. Let
394 26 |          the love of you increase, and there let it be full, that
395 26 |          joy may be great in hope, and there full in truth. Lord,
396 26 |          you do counsel us to ask; and you do promise that we shall
397 26 |            Lord, who are the Three and the One God, blessed for
398 26 |          One God, blessed for ever and ever. Amen.~