Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Edited from the British Museum MS. Harl. 674 With an Introduction BY
EVELYN UNDERHILL
SECOND EDI ION !ondon "OHN M. W# $INS %& Cecil Court' Charin( Cross )oad &*%%
INTRODUCTION
HE little famil+ of m+stical treatises ,hich is -no,n to students as .the Cloud of /n-no,in( (rou0'. deser1es more attention than it has hitherto recei1ed from En(lish lo1ers of m+sticism2 for it re0resents the first e30ression in our o,n ton(ue of that (reat m+stic tradition of the Christian Neo0latonists ,hich (athered u0' remade' and .salted ,ith Christ4s salt. all that ,as 5est in the s0iritual ,isdom of the ancient ,orld. hat ,isdom made its definite entrance into the Catholic fold a5out #.D. 677' in the ,ritin(s of the 0rofound and nameless m+stic ,ho chose to call himself .Dion+sius the #reo0a(ite.. hree hundred and fift+ +ears later' those ,ritin(s ,ere translated 805 n96: into !atin 5+ "ohn Scotus Eri(ena' a scholar at the court of Charlema(ne' and so 5ecame a1aila5le to the ecclesiastical ,orld of the West. #nother fi1e hundred +ears ela0sed' durin( ,hich their influence ,as felt' and felt stron(l+' 5+ the m+stics of e1er+ Euro0ean countr+2 5+ St. Bernard' the ;ictorines' St. Bona1entura' St. homas #<uinas. E1er+ reader of Dante -no,s the 0art ,hich the+ 0la+ in the Paradiso. hen' a5out the middle of the &4th centur+' En(land=at that time in the hei(ht of her (reat m+stical 0eriod=led the ,a+ ,ith the first translation into the 1ernacular of the #reo0a(ite4s ,or-. In Dionise Hid Divinite, a 1ersion of the Mystica Theologia, this s0iritual treasure>house ,as first made accessi5le to those outside the 0rofessionall+ reli(ious class. Surel+ this is a fact ,hich all lo1ers of m+sticism' all .s0iritual 0atriots'. should 5e concerned to hold in remem5rance. It is su00osed 5+ most scholars that 805 n97: Dionise Hid Divinite, ,hich=a00earin( as it did in an e0och of (reat s0iritual 1italit+>><uic-l+ attained to a considera5le circulation' is 5+ the same hand ,hich ,rote the Cloud of Unknowing and its com0anion 5oo-s? and that this hand also 0roduced an En(lish 0ara0hrase of )ichard of St. ;ictor4s Ben a!in Minor, another ,or- of much authorit+ on the contem0lati1e life. Certainl+ the influence of )ichard is onl+ second to that of Dion+sius in this un-no,n m+stic4s o,n ,or-=,or-' ho,e1er' ,hich o,es as much to the dee0 0ersonal e30erience' and e3traordinar+ 0s+cholo(ical (ifts of its ,riter' as to the tradition that he inherited from the 0ast. Nothin( is -no,n of him? 5e+ond the fact' ,hich seems clear from his ,ritin(s' that he ,as a cloistered monde1oted to the contem0lati1e life. It has 5een thou(ht that he ,as a Carthusian. But the rule of that austere order' ,hose mem5ers li1e 805 n9@: in hermit>li-e seclusion' and scarcel+ meet e3ce0t for the 0ur0ose of di1ine ,orshi0' can hardl+ ha1e afforded him o00ortunit+ of o5ser1in( and endurin( all those tiresome tric-s and a5surd mannerisms of ,hich he (i1es so amusin( and realistic a descri0tion in the li(hter 0assa(es of the Cloud. hese 0assa(es 5etra+ the half>humorous e3as0eration of the tem0eramental recluse' ner1ous' fastidious' and h+0ersensiti1e' lo1in( silence and 0eace' 5ut com0elled to a dail+ and hourl+ com0anionshi0 ,ith 0ersons of a less contem0lati1e t+0e2 some findin( in e3tra1a(ant and meanin(less (estures an outlet for su00ressed 1italit+? others o1erflo,in( ,ith a terri5le cheerfulness li-e .(i((lin( (irls and nice Aa0in( Au((lers.? others so lac-in( in re0ose that the+ .can neither sit still' stand still' nor lie still' unless the+ 5e either ,a((in( ,ith their feet or else some,hat doin( ,ith their hands.. hou(h he cannot (o to the len(th of condemnin( these ha5its as mortal 805 n9*: sins' the author of the Cloud lea1es us in no dou5t as to the irritation ,ith ,hich the+ ins0ired him' or the distrust ,ith ,hich he re(ards the s0iritual claims of those ,ho fid(et. he attem0t to identif+ this m+sterious ,riter ,ith Walter Hilton' the author of The "cale of Perfection, has com0letel+ failed2 thou(h Hilton4s ,or-=es0eciall+ the e3<uisite fra(ment called the "ong of #ngels$certainl+ 5etra+s his influence. he ,or-s attri5uted to him' if ,e e3clude the translations from Dion+sius and )ichard of St. ;ictor' are onl+ fi1e in num5er. he+ are' first' The Cloud of Unknowing$the lon(est and most com0lete e30osition of its author4s 0eculiar doctrine=and' de0endin( from it' four short tracts or letters2 The %&istle of Prayer, The %&istle of Discretion in the "tirrings of the "oul, The %&istle of Privy Counsel, and The Treatise of Discerning of "&irits. Some critics ha1e e1en dis0uted the claim of the ,riter of the Cloud to the 805 n9&7: authorshi0 of these little ,or-s' re(ardin( them as the 0roduction of a (rou0 or school of contem0lati1es de1oted to the stud+ and
0ractice of the Dion+sian m+stical theolo(+? 5ut the unit+ of thou(ht and st+le found in them ma-es this h+0othesis at least im0ro5a5le. E1er+thin( 0oints rather to their 5ein( the ,or- of an ori(inal m+stical (enius' of stron(l+ mar-ed character and (reat literar+ a5ilit+2 ,ho' ,hilst he too- the frame,or- of his 0hiloso0h+ from Dion+sius the #reo0a(ite' and of his 0s+cholo(+ from )ichard of St. ;ictor' +et is in no sense a mere imitator of these masters' 5ut introduced a (enuinel+ ne, element into mediae1al reli(ious literature. What' then' ,ere his s0ecial characteristicsB Whence came the fresh colour ,hich he (a1e to the old Clatonic theor+ of m+stical e30erienceB Dirst' I thin-' from the com5ination of hi(h s0iritual (ifts ,ith a 1i1id sense of humour' -een 0o,ers of o5ser1ation' a ro5ust common>sense2 805 n9&&: a 5alance of <ualities not indeed rare amon(st the m+stics' 5ut here 0resented to us in an e3treme form. In his ea(er (aEin( on di1init+ this contem0lati1e ne1er loses touch ,ith humanit+' ne1er for(ets the so1erei(n 0ur0ose of his ,ritin(s? ,hich is not a declaration of the s0iritual fa1ours he has recei1ed' 5ut a hel0in( of his fello,>men to share them. Ne3t' he has a (reat sim0licit+ of outloo-' ,hich ena5les him to 0resent the result of his hi(hest e30eriences and intuitions in the most direct and homel+ lan(ua(e. So actual' and so much a 0art of his normal e3istence' are his a00rehensions of s0iritual realit+' that he can (i1e them to us in the 0lain ,ords of dail+ life2 and thus he is one of the most realistic of m+stical ,riters. He a5ounds in 1i1id little 0hrases=.Call sin a lu!&'( .Short 0ra+er 0ierceth hea1en.2 .No,here 5odil+' is e1er+,here (hostl+.2 .Who that ,ill not (o the strait ,a+ to hea1en' . . . shall (o the soft ,a+ to 805 n9&%: hell.. His ran(e of e30erience is a ,ide one. He does not disdain to ta-e a hint from the ,iEards and necromancers on the ri(ht ,a+ to treat the de1il? he dra,s his illustrations of di1ine merc+ from the homeliest incidents of friendshi0 and 0arental lo1e. # s-illed theolo(ian' <uotin( St. #u(ustine and homas #<uinas' and usin( ,ith ease the lan(ua(e of scholasticism' he is a5le' on the other hand' to e30ress the dee0est s0eculations of m+stical 0hiloso0h+ ,ithout resortin( to academic terminolo(+2 as for instance ,here he descri5es the s0iritual hea1en as a .state. rather than a .0lace.2 .Dor hea1en (hostl+ is as ni(h do,n as u0' and u0 as do,n2 5ehind as 5efore' 5efore as 5ehind' on one side as other. Insomuch' that ,hoso had a true desire for to 5e at hea1en' then that same time he ,ere in hea1en (hostl+. Dor the hi(h and the ne3t ,a+ thither is run 5+ desires' and not 5+ 0aces of feet.. 805 n9&F: His ,ritin(s' thou(h the+ touch on man+ su5Aects' are chiefl+ concerned ,ith the art of contem0lati1e 0ra+er? that .5lind intent stretchin( to God. ,hich' if it 5e ,holl+ set on Him' cannot fail to reach its (oal. # 0eculiar talent for the descri0tion and discrimination of s0iritual states has ena5led him to discern and set 5efore us' ,ith astonishin( 0recision and 1i1idness' not onl+ the stran(e sensations' the confusion and 5e,ilderment of the 5e(inner in the earl+ sta(es of contem0lation=the stru((le ,ith distractin( thou(hts' the silence' the dar-=and the unfortunate state of those theoretical m+stics ,ho' .s,ollen ,ith 0ride and ,ith curiosit+ of much cler(+ and letterl+ cunnin( as in cler-s'. miss that treasure ,hich is .ne1er (ot 5+ stud+ 5ut all onl+ 5+ (race.? 5ut also the ha00iness of those ,hose .shar0 dart of lon(in( lo1e. has not .failed of the 0ric-' the ,hich is God.. # (reat sim0licit+ characterises his 805 n9&4: doctrine of the soul4s attainment of the #5solute. Dor him there is 5ut one central necessit+2 the 0erfect and 0assionate settin( of the ,ill u0on the Di1ine' so that it is .th+ lo1e and th+ meanin(' the choice and 0oint of thine heart.. Not 5+ deli5erate ascetic 0ractices' not 5+ refusal of the ,orld' not 5+ intellectual stri1in(' 5ut 5+ acti1el+ lo1in( and choosin(' 5+ that ,hich a modern 0s+cholo(ist has called .the s+nthesis of lo1e and ,ill. does the s0irit of man achie1e its (oal. .Dor silence is not God'. he sa+s in the %&istle of Discretion, .nor s0ea-in( is not God? fastin( is not God' nor eatin( is not God? loneliness is not God' nor com0an+ is not God? nor +et an+ of all the other t,o such contraries. He is hid 5et,een them' and ma+ not 5e found 5+ an+ ,or- of th+ soul' 5ut all onl+ 5+ lo1e of thine heart. He ma+ not 5e -no,n 5+ reason' He ma+ not 5e (otten 5+ thou(ht' nor concluded 5+ understandin(? 5ut He ma+ 5e lo1ed and 805 n9&6: chosen ,ith the true lo1el+ ,ill of thine heart. . . . Such a 5lind shot ,ith the shar0 dart of lon(in( lo1e ma+ ne1er fail of the 0ric-' the ,hich is God.. o him ,ho has so lo1ed and chosen' and .in a true ,ill and 5+ an ,hole intent does 0ur0ose him to 5e a 0erfect follo,er of Christ' not onl+ in acti1e li1in(' 5ut in the so1erei(nest 0oint of contem0lati1e li1in(' the ,hich is 0ossi5le 5+ (race for to 5e come to in this 0resent life'. these ,ritin(s are addressed. In the 0rolo(ue of the Cloud of Unknowing ,e find the ,arnin(' so often 0refi3ed to mediae1al m+stical ,or-s' that it shall on no account 5e lent' (i1en' or read to other men2 ,ho could not understand' and mi(ht misunderstand in a dan(erous sense' its 0eculiar messa(e. Nor ,as this ,arnin( a mere e30ression of literar+ 1anit+. If ,e ma+ Aud(e 5+ the e3am0les of 0ossi5le misunderstandin( a(ainst ,hich he is careful to (uard himself' the almost tiresome reminders that all his remar-s are 805 n9&6: .(hostl+' not 5odil+ meant'. the standard of intelli(ence ,hich the author e30ected from his readers ,as not a hi(h one. He e1en fears that some .+oun( 0resum0tuous (hostl+ disci0les. ma+ understand the inAunction to .lift u0 the heart. in a merel+ 0h+sical manner? and either .stare in the stars as if the+ ,ould 5e a5o1e the moon'. or .tra1ail their fleshl+ hearts outra(eousl+ in their 5reasts. in the effort to ma-e literal .ascensions. to God. Eccentricities of this -ind he finds not onl+ foolish 5ut dan(erous? the+ outra(e nature' destro+ sanit+ and health' and .hurt full sore the sill+ soul' and ma-e it fester in fantas+ fei(ned of fiends.. He o5ser1es ,ith a touch of arro(ance that his 5oo- is not intended for these undisci0lined see-ers after the a5normal and the mar1ellous' nor +et for .fleshl+ Aan(lers' flatterers and 5lamers' . . . nor none of these curious' lettered' nor unlearned men.. It is to those ,ho feel themsel1es called to 805 n9&7: the true 0ra+er of contem0lation' to the search for God' ,hether in the cloister or the ,orld=,hose .little secret lo1e. is at once the ener(iEin( cause of all action' and the hidden s,eet sa1our of life=that he addresses himself. hese he instructs in that sim0le +et difficult art of recollection' the
necessar+ 0reliminar+ of an+ true communion ,ith the s0iritual order' in ,hich all sensual ima(es' all memories and thou(hts' are as he sa+s' .trodden do,n under the cloud of for(ettin(. until .nothin( li1es in the ,or-in( mind 5ut a na-ed intent stretchin( to God.. his .intent stretchin(.=this lo1in( and 1i(orous determination of the ,ill=he re(ards as the central fact of the m+stical life? the 1er+ heart of effecti1e 0ra+er. Onl+ 5+ its e3ercise can the s0irit' freed from the distractions of memor+ and sense' focus itself u0on )ealit+ and ascend ,ith .a 0ri1+ lo1e 0ressed. to that .Cloud of /n-no,in(.=the Di1ine I(norance of the Neo0latonists=805 n9&@:,herein is .-nit u0 the (hostl+ -not of 5urnin( lo1e 5et,i3t thee and th+ God' in (hostl+ onehead and accordin( of ,ill.. here is in this doctrine somethin( ,hich should 5e 0eculiarl+ con(enial to the acti1istic tendencies of modern thou(ht. Here is no taint of <uietism' no in1itation to a s0iritual lim0ness. Drom first to last (lad and deli5erate ,oris demanded of the initiate2 an all>round ,holeness of e30erience is insisted on. .# man ma+ not 5e full+ acti1e' 5ut if he 5e in 0art contem0lati1e? nor +et full+ contem0lati1e' as it ma+ 5e here' 5ut if he 5e in 0art acti1e.. O1er and o1er a(ain' the em0hasis is laid on this acti1e as0ect of all true s0iritualit+=al,a+s a fa1ourite theme of the (reat En(lish m+stics. .!o1e cannot 5e laE+'. said )ichard )olle. So too for the author of the Cloud ener(+ is the mar- of true affection. .Do forth e1er' more and more' so that thou 5e e1er doin(. . . . Do on then fast? let see 805 n9&*: ho, thou 5earest thee. Seest thou not ho, He standeth and a5ideth theeB. rue' the ,ill alone' ho,e1er ardent and industrious' cannot of itself set u0 communion ,ith the su0ernal ,orld2 this is .the ,or- of onl+ God' s0eciall+ ,rou(ht in ,hat soul that Him li-eth.. But man can and must do his 0art. Dirst' there are the 1irtues to 5e ac<uired2 those .ornaments of the S0iritual Marria(e. ,ith ,hich no m+stic can dis0ense. Since ,e can 5ut 5ehold that ,hich ,e are' his character must 5e set in order' his mind and heart made 5eautiful and 0ure' 5efore he can loo- on the tri0le star of Goodness' ruth' and Beaut+' ,hich is God. E1er+ (reat s0iritual teacher has s0o-en in the same sense2 of the need for that ,hich )olle calls the .mendin( of life.=re(eneration' the re5uildin( of character=as the 0re0aration of the contem0lati1e act. Dor the author of the Cloud all human 1irtue is com0rised in the t,in 805 n9%7: <ualities of Humilit+ and Charit+. He ,ho has these' has all. Humilit+' in accordance ,ith the doctrine of )ichard of St. ;ictor' he identifies ,ith self> -no,led(e? the terri5le 1ision of the soul as it is' ,hich induces first self>a5asement and then self>0urification=the 5e(innin( of all s0iritual (ro,th' and the necessar+ antecedent of all -no,led(e of God. . herefore s,in- and s,eat in all that thou canst and ma+st' for to (et thee a true -no,in( and a feelin( of th+self as thou art? and then I tro, that soon after that' thou shalt ha1e a true -no,in( and a feelin( of God as He is.. #s all man4s feelin( and thou(ht of himself and his relation to God is com0rehended in Humilit+' so all his feelin( and thou(ht of God in Himself is com0rehended in Charit+? the self>(i1in( lo1e of Di1ine Cerfection .in Himself and for Himself. ,hich Hilton calls .the so1erei(n and the essential Ao+.. o(ether these t,o 1irtues should em5race the sum of his res0onses 805 n9%&: to the /ni1erse? the+ should (o1ern his attitude to man as ,ell as his attitude to God. .Charit+ is nou(ht else . . . 5ut lo1e of God for Himself a5o1e all creatures' and of man for God e1en as th+self.. Charit+ and Humilit+' then' to(ether ,ith the ardent and industrious ,ill' are the necessar+ 0ossessions of each soul set u0on this ad1enture. heir 0resence it is ,hich mar-s out the true from the false m+stic2 and it ,ould seem' from the detailed' 1i1id' and often amusin( descri0tions of the sanctimonious' the h+0ocritical' the self>sufficient' and the self>decei1ed in their .di1erse and ,onderful 1ariations'. that such a test ,as as (reatl+ needed in the .#(es of Daith. as it is at the 0resent da+. Sham s0iritualit+ flourished in the mediae1al cloister' and offered a constant o00ortunit+ of error to those +oun( enthusiasts ,ho ,ere not +et a,are that the true freedom of eternit+ .cometh not ,ith o5ser1ation.. #ffectations of sanctit+' 805 n9%%: 0retense to rare m+stical e30eriences' ,ere a fa1ourite means of ad1ertisement. Cs+chic 0henomena' too' seem to ha1e 5een common2 ecstasies' 1isions' 1oices' the scent of stran(e 0erfumes' the hearin( of s,eet sounds. Dor these su00osed indications of Di1ine fa1our' the author of the Cloud has no more res0ect than the modern 0s+cholo(ist2 and here' of course' he is in a(reement ,ith all the (reatest ,riters on m+sticism' ,ho are unanimous in their disli-e and distrust of all 1isionar+ and auditi1e e30erience. Such thin(s' he considers' are most often hallucination2 and' ,here the+ are not' should 5e re(arded as the accidents rather than the su5stance of the contem0lati1e life=the harsh rind of sense' ,hich co1ers the s,eet nut of .0ure (hostliness.. Were ,e trul+ s0iritual' ,e should not need them? for our communion ,ith )ealit+ ,ould then 5e the direct and ineffa5le intercourse of li-e ,ith li-e. 805 n9%F: Moreo1er' these automatism are amon(st the most dan(erous instruments of self>dece0tion. .Ofttimes'. he sa+s of those ,ho deli5eratel+ see- for re1elations' .the de1il fei(neth <uaint sounds in their ears' <uaint li(hts and shinin( in their e+es' and ,onderful smells in their noses2 and all is 5ut falsehood.. Hence it often ha00ens to those ,ho (i1e themsel1es u0 to such e30eriences' that .fast after such a false feelin(' cometh a false -no,in( in the Diend4s school2 . . . for I tell thee trul+' that the de1il hath his contem0lati1es' as God hath His.. )eal s0iritual illumination' he thin-s' seldom comes 5+ ,a+ of these 0s+cho>sensual automatism .into the 5od+ 5+ the ,indo,s of our ,its.. It s0rin(s u0 ,ithin the soul in .a5undance of (hostl+ (ladness.. With so (reat an authorit+ it comes' 5rin(in( ,ith it such ,onder and such lo1e' that .he that feeleth it ma+ not ha1e it sus0ect.. But all other a5normal e30eriences =.comforts' sounds and 805 n9%4: (ladness' and s,eetness' that come from ,ithout suddenl+.=should 5e set aside' as more often resultin( in frenEies and fee5leness of s0irit than in (enuine increase of .(hostl+ stren(th.. his health+ and manl+ 1ie, of the m+stical life' as a (ro,th to,ards God' a ri(ht em0lo+ment of the ,ill' rather than a short cut to hidden -no,led(e or su0ersensual e30erience' is one of the stron(est characteristics of the ,riter
of the Cloud) and constitutes 0erha0s his (reatest claim on our res0ect. .Mean onl+ God'. he sa+s a(ain and a(ain? .Cress u0on Him ,ith lon(in( lo1e.? .# (ood will is the su5stance of all 0erfection.. o those ,ho ha1e this (ood ,ill' he offers his teachin(2 0ointin( out the dan(ers in their ,a+' the errors of mood and of conduct into ,hich the+ ma+ fall. he+ are to set a5out this s0iritual ,or- not onl+ ,ith ener(+' 5ut ,ith courtesy( not .snatchin( as it ,ere a (reed+ (re+hound. at s0iritual 805 n9%6: satisfactions' 5ut (entl+ and Ao+ousl+ 0ressin( to,ards Him Whom "ulian of Nor,ich called .our most courteous !ord.. # (lad s0irit of dalliance is more 5ecomin( to them than the (rim determination of the fanatic. .Shall I' a (nat ,hich dances in h+ ra+' Dare to 5e re1erent.. Durther' he communicates to them certain .(hostl+ de1ices. 5+ ,hich the+ ma+ o1ercome the ine1ita5le difficulties encountered 5+ 5e(inners in contem0lation2 the distractin( thou(hts and memories ,hich torment the self that is stru((lin( to focus all its attention u0on the s0iritual s0here. he stern re0ression of such thou(hts' ho,e1er s0iritual' he -no,s to 5e essential to success2 e1en sin' once it is re0ented of' must 5e for(otten in order that Cerfect Goodness ma+ 5e -no,n. he .little ,ord God'. and .the little ,ord !o1e'. are the onl+ ideas ,hich ma+ d,ell in the contem0lati1e4s mind. #n+thin( else s0lits his attention' and soon 0roceeds 5+ 805 n9%6: mental association to lead him further and further from the consideration of that su0ersensual )ealit+ ,hich he see-s. he 0rimal need of the 0urified soul' then' is the 0o,er of Concentration. His ,hole 5ein( must 5e set to,ards the O5Aect of his cra1in( if he is to attain to it2 .!oo- that nothing li1e in th+ ,or-in( mind' 5ut a na-ed intent stretchin( into God.. #n+ thou(ht of Him is inade<uate' and for that reason defeats its o,n end=a doctrine' of course' directl+ tracea5le to the .M+stical heolo(+. of Dion+sius the #reo0a(ite. .Of God Himself can no man thin-'. sa+s the ,riter of the Cloud, '#nd therefore I ,ould lea1e all that thin( that I can thin-' and choose to m+ lo1e that thin( that I cannot thin-. . he uni1erses ,hich are amena5le to the intellect can ne1er satisf+ the instincts of the heart. Durther' there is to 5e no ,ilful choosin( of method2 no fuss+ acti1it+ of the surface>intelli(ence. he 805 n9%7: m+stic ,ho see-s the di1ine Cloud of /n-no,in( is to 5e surrendered to the direction of his dee0er mind' his transcendental consciousness2 that .s0ar- of the soul. ,hich is in touch ,ith eternal realities. .Meddle thou not there,ith' as thou ,ouldest hel0 it' for dread lest thou s0ill all. Be thou 5ut the tree' and let it 5e the ,ri(ht2 5e thou 5ut the house' and let it 5e the hus5andman d,ellin( therein.. In the %&istle of Privy Counsel there is a 0assa(e ,hich e30resses ,ith sin(ular com0leteness the author4s theor+ of this contem0lati1e art=this silent +et ardent encounter of the soul ,ith God. Cra+er' said Mechthild of Ma(de5ur(' 5rin(s to(ether t,o lo1ers' God and the soul' in a narro, room ,here the+ s0ea- much of lo1e2 and here the rules ,hich (o1ern that meetin( are laid do,n 5+ a master4s hand. .When thou comest 5+ th+self'. he sa+s' .thin- not 5efore ,hat thou shalt do after' 5ut forsa-e as ,ell (ood thou(hts as e1il thou(hts' and 805 n9%@: 0ra+ not ,ith th+ mouth 5ut list thee ri(ht ,ell. #nd then if thou au(ht shalt sa+' loo- not ho, much nor ho, little that it 5e' nor ,ei(h not ,hat it is nor ,hat it 5emeaneth . . . and loo- that nothin( li1e in th+ ,or-in( mind 5ut a na-ed intent stretchin( into God' not clothed in an+ s0ecial thou(ht of God in Himself. . . . his na-ed intent freel+ fastened and (rounded in 1er+ 5elief shall 5e nou(ht else to th+ thou(ht and to th+ feelin( 5ut a na-ed thou(ht and a 5lind feelin( of thine o,n 5ein(2 as if thou saidest thus unto God' ,ithin in th+ meanin(' 4 hat ,hat I am' !ord' I offer unto hee' ,ithout an+ loo-in( to an+ <ualit+ of h+ Bein(' 5ut onl+ that hou art as hou art' ,ithout an+ more.4 hat meedar-ness 5e th+ mirror' and th+ ,hole remem5rance. hin- no further of th+self than I 5id thee do of th+ God' so that thou 5e one ,ith Him in s0irit' as thus ,ithout de0artin( and scatterin(' for He is th+ 5ein(' and in Him thou art that thou art? 805 n9%*:not onl+ 5+ cause and 5+ 5ein(' 5ut also' He is in thee 5oth th+ cause and th+ 5ein(. #nd therefore thin- on God in this ,or- as thou dost on th+self' and on th+self as thou dost on God2 that He is as He is and thou art as thou art' and that th+ thou(ht 5e not scattered nor de0arted' 5ut 0ro1ed in Him that is #ll.. he conce0tion of realit+ ,hich underlies this 0rofound and 5eautiful 0assa(e' has much in common ,ith that found in the ,or- of man+ other m+stics? since it is ultimatel+ deri1ed from the (reat Neo0latonic 0hiloso0h+ of the contem0lati1e life. But the ,riter in1ests it' I thin-' ,ith a dee0er and ,ider meanin( than it is made to 5ear in the ,ritin(s e1en of )u+s5roec-' St. eresa' or St. "ohn of the Cross. .Dor He is th+ 5ein(' and in Him thou art that thou art? not onl+ 5+ cause and 5+ 5ein(' 5ut also' He is in thee 5oth th+ cause and th+ 5ein(.. It ,as a dee0 thin-er as ,ell as a (reat lo1er ,ho ,rote this2 one 805 n9F7: ,ho Aoined hands ,ith the 0hiloso0hers' as ,ell as ,ith the saints. . hat mee- dar-ness 5e th+ mirror.. What is this dar-nessB It is the .ni(ht of the intellect. into ,hich ,e are 0lun(ed ,hen ,e attain to a state of consciousness ,hich is a5o1e thou(ht? enter on a 0lane of s0iritual e30erience ,ith ,hich the intellect cannot deal. his is the .Di1ine Dar-ness.=the Cloud of /n-no,in(' or of I(norance' .dar- ,ith e3cess of li(ht.=0reached 5+ Dion+sius the #reo0a(ite' and ea(erl+ acce0ted 5+ his En(lish inter0reter. .When I sa+ dar-ness' I mean a lac-in( of -no,in( . . . and for this reason it is not called a cloud of the air' 5ut a cloud of un-no,in( that is 5et,i3t thee and th+ God.. It is .a dar- mist'. he sa+s a(ain' .,hich seemeth to 5e 5et,een thee and the li(ht thou as0irest to.. his dimness and lostness of mind is a 0arado3ical 0roof of attainment. )eason is in the dar-' 5ecause lo1e has entered .the m+sterious 805 n9F&: radiance of the Di1ine Dar-' the inaccessi5le li(ht ,herein the !ord is said to d,ell' and to ,hich thou(ht ,ith all its stru((les cannot attain..
.!o1ers'. said Catmore' .0ut out the candles and dra, the curtains' ,hen the+ ,ish to see the (od and the (oddess? and' in the hi(her communion' the ni(ht of thou(ht is the li(ht of 0erce0tion.. hese statements cannot 5e e30lained2 the+ can onl+ 5e 0ro1ed in the e30erience of me indi1idual soul. .Whoso deser1es to see and -no, God rests therein'. sa+s Dion+sius of that dar-ness' .and' 5+ the 1er+ fact that he neither sees nor -no,s' is trul+ in that ,hich sur0asses all truth and all -no,led(e.. . hen'. sa+s the ,riter of the Cloud$,his0erin( as it ,ere to the 5e,ildered neo0h+te the dearest secret of his lo1e =.then ,ill He sometimes 0erad1enture send out a 5eam of (hostl+ li(ht' 0iercin( this cloud of un-no,in( that is 5et,i3t thee and Him? and sho, thee some of His 805 n9F%: 0ri1it+' the ,hich man ma+ not' nor cannot s0ea-.. HHHHHHH Numerous co0ies of the Cloud of Unknowing and the other ,or-s attri5uted to its ,riter are in e3istence. Si3 manuscri0ts of the Cloud are in the British Museum2 four on 1ellum IHarl. 674' Harl. *6*' Harl. %F7F' and )o+al &7 C. 331ii.J' all of the &6th centur+? and t,o on 0a0er I)o+al &7 C. 331ii. of the &6th centur+' and )o+al &7 D. 1. late &6th centur+J. #ll these a(ree fairl+ closel+? e3ce0t for the facts that Harl. %F7F is incom0lete' se1eral 0a(es ha1in( disa00eared' and that Harl. *6* (i1es the su5stance of the ,hole ,or- in a sli(htl+ shortened form. he 0resent edition is 5ased u0on Harl. 674? ,hich has 5een transcri5ed and collated ,ith )o+al &7 C. 331i.' and in the case of s0eciall+ o5scure 0assa(es ,ith )o+al &7 C. 331ii.' )o+al &7 D. 1.' and Harl. %F7F. O51ious errors and omissions ha1e 5een corrected' and se1eral 805 n9FF: o5scure readin(s elucidated' from these sources. he Cloud of Unknowing ,as -no,n' and read' 5+ En(lish Catholics as late as the middle or end of the &7th centur+. It ,as much used 5+ the cele5rated Benedictine ascetic' the ;enera5le #u(ustine Ba-er I&676>&64&J' ,ho ,rote a lon( e30osition of the doctrine ,hich it contains. ,o manuscri0ts of this treatise e3ist in the Benedictine Colle(e of St. !aurence at #m0leforth? to(ether ,ith a transcri0t of the Cloud of Unknowing dated &677. Man+ references to it ,ill also 5e found in the 1olume called Holy *isdo!, ,hich contains the su5stances of #u(ustine Ba-er4s ,ritin(s on the inner life. he Cloud has onl+ once 5een 0rinted2 in &@7&' 5+ the )e1. Henr+ Collins' under the title of The Divine Cloud, ,ith a 0reface and notes attri5uted to #u(ustine Ba-er and 0ro5a5l+ ta-en from the treatise mentioned a5o1e. his edition is no, out of 0rint. he MS. from ,hich it 805 n9F4: ,as made is un-no,n to us. It differs ,idel+' 5oth in the matter of additions and of omissions' from all the te3ts in the British Museum' and re0resents a distinctl+ inferior recension of the ,or-. # man(led renderin( of the su5lime %&istle of Privy Counsel is 0refi3ed to it. hrou(hout' the 0ith+ sa+in(s of the ori(inal are either mis<uoted' or e30anded into con1entional and fla1ourless sentences. Numerous e30lanator+ 0hrases for ,hich our manuscri0ts (i1e no authorit+ ha1e 5een incor0orated into the te3t. #ll the <uaint and humorous turns of s0eech are omitted or toned do,n. he res0onsi5ilit+ for these crimes a(ainst scholarshi0 cannot no, 5e determined? 5ut it seems li-el+ that the te3t from ,hich Dather Collins4 edition ,as=in his o,n ,ords=.mostl+ ta-en. ,as a &7th>centur+ 0ara0hrase' made rather in the interests of edification than of accurac+? and that it re0resents the form in ,hich the ,or- ,as -no,n and used 805 n9F6: 5+ #u(ustine Ba-er and his contem0oraries. he other ,or-s attri5uted to the author of the Cloud ha1e fared 5etter than this. Dionise Hid Divinite still remains in MS.2 5ut the %&istle of Prayer, the %&istle of Discretion, and the Treatise of Discerning of "&irits, to(ether ,ith the 0ara0hrase of the Ben a!in Minor of )ichard of St. ;ictor ,hich is su00osed to 5e 5+ the same hand' ,ere included 5+ Henr+ Ce0,ell' in &6%&' in a little 1olume of se1en m+stical tracts. hese are no, accessi5le to the (eneral reader? ha1in( 5een re0rinted in the .Ne, Medie1al !i5rar+. I&*&7J under the title of The Cell of "elf+ knowledge, ,ith an admira5le introduction and notes 5+ Mr. Edmund Gardner. Mr. Gardner has collated Ce0,ell4s te3t ,ith that contained in the British Museum manuscri0t Harl. 674? the same 1olume ,hich has 0ro1ided the 5ase> manuscri0t for the 0resent edition of the Cloud. his edition is intended' not for the 805 n9F6: student of Middle En(lish' nor for the s0ecialist in mediae1al literature? 5ut for the (eneral reader and lo1er of m+sticism. M+ o5Aect has 5een to 0roduce a reada5le te3t' free from learned and critical a00aratus. he s0ellin( has therefore 5een modernised throu(hout2 and e3ce0t in a fe, instances' ,here 0hrases of a s0ecial charm or <uaintness' or the alliterati1e 0assa(es so characteristic of the author4s st+le' demanded their retention' o5solete ,ords ha1e 5een re0laced 5+ their nearest modern e<ui1alents. One such ,ord' ho,e1er' ,hich occurs constantl+ has (enerall+ 5een retained' on account of its im0ortance and the difficult+ of findin( an e3act su5stitute for it in current En(lish. his is the 1er5 .to list'. ,ith its adAecti1e and ad1er5 .list+. and .listil+'. and the su5stanti1e .list'. deri1ed from it. .!ist. is 5est understood 5+ com0arison ,ith its o00osite' .listless.. It im0lies a (lad and ea(er acti1it+' or sometimes an ener(etic 805 n9F7: desire or cra1in(2 the ,ish and the ,ill to do somethin(. he noun often stands for 0leasure or deli(ht' the ad1er5 for the ,illin( and Ao+ous 0erformance of an action2 the .0uttin( of one4s heart into one4s ,or-.. he modern .lust'. from the same root' su((ests a 1iolence ,hich ,as e30ressl+ e3cluded from the Middle En(lish meanin( of .list.. M+ heartiest than-s are due to Mr. Da1id In,ard' ,ho transcri5ed the manuscri0t on ,hich this 1ersion is 5ased' and throu(hout has (i1en me s-illed and untirin( assistance in sol1in( man+ of the 0ro5lems ,hich arose in connection ,ith it? and to Mr. ". #. Her5ert' #ssistant>-ee0er of Manuscri0ts in the British Museum' ,ho has read the 0roofs' and also dated the manuscri0ts of the Cloud for the 0ur0oses of the 0resent edition' and to ,hose e30ert -no,led(e and unfailin( -indness I o,e a dee0 de5t of (ratitude. E;E!KN /NDE)HI!!. 805 n9F*:
Glossary
Beholdin( Boisterous Cler(+ Con Counsel Doomsman E1en>christian Dairhead Dorso55ed Dorsun-en !et !e,d Namel+ Onehead OutL Cincher )a1ishin( )ec-less )on-er )onner S,inWittin( Wode )e(ard' consideration. )ou(h' 1iolent' uns-ilful' crude. !earnin(. o -no,' or 5e a5le. S0iritual ad1iser or director. "ud(e. Nei(h5our. Beaut+. Soa-ed or 0enetrated. Immersed. o hinder. /nlettered' or i(norant. S0eciall+. /nion. #las. # co1etous or ni((ardl+ 0erson. Ecstas+. Indifferent. # ,his0erer. # (ossi0 or tale>5earer. o la5our. $no,led(e. Mad' furious. 805 n94&:
Here e!"##e$% a oo& o' (o#$e)*la$"o#, $%e +%"(% "s (alle, $%e CLOUD OF UNKNOWING, "# $%e +%"(% a so-l "s o#e, +"$% GOD.
805 n94F:
0oint of this contem0lati1e act? if such men mi(ht see it' the+ 805 n94@: should 5+ the (race of God 5e (reatl+ comforted there5+. his 5oo- is distin(uished in se1ent+ cha0ters and fi1e. Of the ,hich cha0ters' the last cha0ter of all teacheth some certain to-ens 5+ the ,hich a soul ma+ 1eril+ 0ro1e ,hether he 5e called of God to 5e a ,or-er in this ,or- or none. 805 n94*:
HE WO #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) Of the ,onderful lo1e that Christ had to man in 0erson of all sinners trul+ turned and called to the (race of contem0lation HE H)EE #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) Ho, God ,ill ans,er and 0ur1e+ for them in s0irit' that for 5usiness a5out His lo1e list not ans,er nor 0ur1e+ for themsel1es HE DO/) #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) What charit+ is in itself' and ho, it is trul+ and 0erfectl+ contained in the ,or- of this 5oo-. HE DI;E #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) hat in the time of this ,or- a 0erfect soul hath no s0ecial 5eholdin( to an+ one man in this life HE SIM #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) hat ,ithout full s0ecial (race' or lon( use in common (race' the ,or- of this 5oo- is ri(ht tra1ailous? and in this ,or-' ,hich is the ,or- of the soul hel0ed 5+ (race' and ,hich is the ,or- of onl+ God HE SE;EN #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) Who should ,or- in the (racious ,or- of this 5ooHE EIGH #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) hat a man should not 0resume to ,or- in this ,or- 5efore the time that he 5e la,full+ cleansed in conscience of all his s0ecial deeds of sin HE NINE #ND WEN IE H CH#C E) hat a man should 5idin(l+ tra1ail in this ,or-' and suffer the 0ain thereof' and Aud(e no man HE HI) IE H CH#C E) Who should 5lame and condemn other men4s defaults HE ONE #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Ho, a man should ha1e him in 5e(innin( of this ,or- a(ainst all thou(hts and stirrin(s of sin HE WO #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Of t,o (hostl+ de1ices that 5e hel0ful to a (hostl+ 5e(inner in the ,or- of this 5ooHE H)EE #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) hat in this ,or- a soul is cleansed 5oth of his s0ecial sins and of the 0ain of them' and +et ho, there is no 0erfect rest in this life HE DO/) #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) hat God (i1eth this (race freel+ ,ithout an+ means' and that it ma+ not 5e come to ,ith means HE DI;E #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Of three means in the ,hich a contem0lati1e 0rentice should 5e occu0ied? in readin(' thin-in(' and 0ra+in( HE SIM #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Of the meditations of them that continuall+ tra1ail in the ,or- of this 5ooHE SE;EN #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Of the s0ecial 0ra+ers of them that 5e continual ,or-ers in the ,or- of this 5ooHE EIGH #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Ho, and ,h+ that short 0ra+er 0ierceth hea1en HE NINE #ND HI) IE H CH#C E) Ho, a 0erfect ,or-er shall 0ra+' and ,hat 0ra+er is in itself? and' if a man shall 0ra+ in ,ords' ,hich ,ords accord them most to the 0ro0ert+ of 0ra+er HE DO) IE H CH#C E) hat in the time of this ,or- a soul hath no s0ecial 5eholdin( to an+ 1ice in itself nor to an+ 1irtue in itself HE ONE #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) hat in all other ,or-s 5eneath this' men should -ee0 discretion? 5ut in this none HE WO #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) hat 5+ indiscretion in this' men shall -ee0 discretion in all other thin(s? and surel+ else ne1er HE H)EE #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) hat all ,ritin( and feelin( of a man4s o,n 5ein( must needs 5e lost if the 0erfection of this ,or- shall 1eril+ 5e felt in an+ soul in this life HE DO/) #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) Ho, a soul shall dis0ose it on its o,n 0art' for to destro+ all ,ittin( and feelin( of its o,n 5ein( HE DI;E #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) # (ood declarin( of some certain deceits that ma+ 5efall in this ,orHE SIM #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) # (ood teachin( ho, a man shall flee these deceits' and ,or- more ,ith a listiness of s0irit than ,ith an+ 5oisterousness of 5od+ HE SE;EN #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) # sli(ht teachin( of this ,or- in 0urit+ of s0irit? declarin( ho, that on one manner a soul should she, his desire unto God' and on +e contrar+' unto man
HE EIGH #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) Ho, God ,ill 5e ser1ed 5oth ,ith 5od+ and ,ith soul' and re,ard men in 5oth? and ho, men shall -no, ,hen all those sounds and s,eetness that fall into the 5od+ in time of 0ra+er 5e 5oth (ood and e1il HE NINE #ND DO) IE H CH#C E) he su5stance of all 0erfection is nou(ht else 5ut a (ood ,ill? and ho, that all sounds and comforts and s,eetness that ma+ 5efall in this life 5e to it 5ut as it ,ere accidents HE DID IE H CH#C E) Which is chaste lo1e? and ho, in some creatures such sensi5le comforts 5e 5ut seldom' and in some ri(ht oft HE ONE #ND DID IE H CH#C E) hat men should ha1e (reat ,ariness so that the+ understand not 5odil+ a thin( that is meant (hostl+? and s0eciall+ it is (ood to 5e ,ar+ in understandin( of this ,ord in, and of this ,ord u& HE WO #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Ho, these +oun( 0resum0tuous disci0les misunderstand this ,ord in, and of the deceits that follo, thereon HE H)EE #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Of di1ers unseeml+ 0ractices that follo, them that lac- the ,or- of this 5ooHE DO/) #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Ho, that 5+ 1irtue of this ,or- a man is (o1erned full ,isel+' and made full seeml+ as ,ell in 5od+ as in soul HE DI;E #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Ho, the+ 5e decei1ed that follo, the fer1our of s0irit in condemnin( of some ,ithout discretion HE SIM #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Ho, the+ 5e decei1ed that lean more to the curiosit+ of natural ,it' and of cler(+ learned in the school of men than to the common doctrine and counsel of Hol+ Church HE SE;EN #ND DID IE H CH#C E) Ho, these +oun( 0resum0tuous disci0les misunderstand this other ,ord u&) and of the deceits that follo, thereon HE EIGH #ND DID IE H CH#C E) hat a man shall not ta-e ensam0le of Saint Martin and of Saint Ste0hen' for to strain his ima(ination 5odil+ u0,ards in the time of his 0ra+er HE NINE #ND DID IE H CH#C E) hat a man shall not ta-e ensam0le at the 5odil+ ascension of Christ' for to strain his ima(ination u0,ards 5odil+ in the time of 0ra+er2 and that time' 0lace' and 5od+' these three should 5e for(otten in all (hostl+ ,or-in( HE SIM IE H CH#C E) hat the hi(h and the ne3t ,a+ to hea1en is run 5+ desires' and not 5+ 0aces of feet HE ONE #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) hat all 5odil+ thin( is su5Aect unto (hostl+ thin(' and is ruled thereafter 5+ the course of nature' and not contrari,ise HE WO #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Ho, a man ma+ ,it ,hen his (hostl+ ,or- is 5eneath him or ,ithout him and ,hen it is e1en ,ith him or ,ithin him' and ,hen it is a5o1e him and under his God HE H)EE #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Of the 0o,ers of a soul in (eneral' and ho, Memor+ in s0ecial is a 0rinci0al 0o,er com0rehendin( in it all the other 0o,ers and all those thin(s in the ,hich the+ ,orHE DO/) #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Of the other t,o 0rinci0al 0o,ers' )eason and Will' and of the ,or- of them 5efore sin and after HE DI;E #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Of the first secondar+ 0o,er' Ima(ination 5+ name? and of the ,or-s and of the o5edience of it unto )eason' 5efore sin and after HE SIM #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Of the other secondar+ 0o,er' Sensualit+ 5+ name? and of the ,or-s and of the o5edience of it unto Will' 5efore sin and after HE SE;EN #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) hat ,hoso -no,eth not the 0o,ers of a soul and the manner of her ,or-in(' ma+ li(htl+ 5e decei1ed in understandin( of (hostl+ ,ords and of (hostl+ ,or-in(? and ho, a soul is made a God in (race HE EIGH #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) hat no,here 5odil+' is e1er+,here (hostl+? and ho, our outer man calleth the ,or- of this 5oo- nou(ht HE NINE #ND SIM IE H CH#C E) Ho, that a man4s affection is mar1elousl+ chan(ed in (hostl+ feelin( of this nou(ht' ,hen it is no,here ,rou(ht HE SE;EN IE H CH#C E) hat ri(ht as 5+ the defailin( of our 5odil+ ,its ,e 5e(in more readil+ to come to -no,in( of (hostl+ thin(s' so 5+ the defailin( of our (hostl+ ,its ,e 5e(in most readil+ to come to the -no,led(e of God' such as is 0ossi5le 5+ (race to 5e had here HE ONE #ND SE;EN IE H CH#C E)
hat some ma+ not come to feel the 0erfection of this ,or- 5ut in time of ra1ishin(' and some ma+ ha1e it ,hen the+ ,ill' in the common state of man4s soul HE WO #ND SE;EN IE H CH#C E) hat a ,or-er in this ,or- should not deem nor thin- of another ,or-er as he feeleth in himself HE H)EE #ND SE;EN IE H CH#C E) Ho, that after the li-eness of Moses' of BeEaleel and of #aron meddlin( them a5out the #r- of the estament' ,e 0rofit on three manners in this (race of contem0lation' for this (race is fi(ured in that #rHE DO/) #ND SE;EN IE H CH#C E) Ho, that the matter of this 5oo- is ne1er more read or s0o-en' nor heard read or s0o-en' of a soul dis0osed thereto ,ithout feelin( of a 1er+ accordance to the effect of the same ,or-2 and of rehearsin( of the same char(e that is ,ritten in the 0rolo(ue HE DI;E #ND SE;EN IE H CH#C E) Of some certain to-ens 5+ the ,hich a man ma+ 0ro1e ,hether he 5e called of God to ,or- in this ,or#ND HE)E ENDE H HE #B!E OD HE CH#C E)S 805 n964: GHOS !K D)IEND IN GOD' I 0ra+ thee and I 5eseech thee that thou ,ilt ha1e a 5us+ 5eholdin( to the course and the manner of th+ callin(. #nd than- God heartil+ so that thou ma+est throu(h hel0 of His (race stand stiffl+ in the state' in the de(ree' and in the form of li1in( that thou hast entirel+ 0ur0osed a(ainst all the su5tle assailin( of th+ 5odil+ and (hostl+ enemies' and ,in to the cro,n of life that e1ermore lasteth. #men. 805 n966:
e1en accordin( to one time onl+. So that man 805 n97*: shall ha1e none e3cusation a(ainst God in the Doom' and at the (i1in( of account of dis0endin( of time' sa+in(' . hou (i1est t,o times at once' and I ha1e 5ut one stirrin( at once.. But sorro,full+ thou sa+est no,' .Ho, shall I doB and sith this is thus that thou sa+est' ho, shall I (i1e account of each time se1erall+? I that ha1e unto this da+' no, of four and t,ent+ +ears a(e' ne1er too- heed of timeB If I ,ould no, amend it' thou ,ottest ,ell' 5+ 1er+ reason of th+ ,ords ,ritten 5efore' it ma+ not 5e after the course of nature' nor of common (race' that I should no, heed or else ma-e satisfaction' for an+ more times than for those that 5e for to come. Kea' and moreo1er ,ell I ,ot 5+ 1er+ 0roof' that of those that 5e to come I shall on no ,ise' for a5undance of frailt+ and slo,ness of s0irits' 5e a5le to o5ser1e one of an hundred. So that I am 1eril+ concluded in these reasons. Hel0 me no, for the lo1e of "ES/SL. 805 n9@7: )i(ht ,ell hast thou said' for the lo1e of "ES/S. Dor in the lo1e of "ES/S? there shall 5e thine hel0. !o1e is such a 0o,er' that it ma-eth all thin( common. !o1e therefore "ES/S? and all thin( that He hath' it is thine. He 5+ His Godhead is ma-er and (i1er of time. He 5+ His manhood is the 1er+ -ee0er of time. #nd He 5+ His Godhead and His manhood to(ether' is the truest Doomsman' and the as-er of account of dis0ensin( of time. $nit thee therefore to Him' 5+ lo1e and 5+ 5elief' and then 5+ 1irtue of that -not thou shalt 5e common 0ercei1er ,ith Him' and ,ith all that 5+ lo1e so 5e -nitted unto Him2 that is to sa+' ,ith our !ad+ Saint Mar+ that full ,as of all (race in -ee0in( of time' ,ith all the an(els of hea1en that ne1er ma+ lose time' and ,ith all the saints in hea1en and in earth' that 5+ the (race of "ES/S heed time full Austl+ in 1irtue of lo1e. !oL here lieth comfort? construe thou clearl+' and 0icthee some 0rofit. 805 n9@&: But of one thin( I ,arn thee amon(st all other. I cannot see ,ho ma+ trul+ challen(e communit+ thus ,ith "ES/S and His Aust Mother' His hi(h an(els and also ,ith His saints? 5ut if he 5e such an one' that doth that in him is ,ith hel0in( of (race in -ee0in( of time. So that he 5e seen to 5e a 0rofiter on his 0art' so little as is' unto the communit+? as each one of them doth on his. #nd therefore ta-e heed to this ,or-' and to the mar1ellous manner of it ,ithin in th+ soul. Dor if it 5e trul+ concei1ed' it is 5ut a sudden stirrin(' and as it ,ere unad1ised' s0eedil+ s0rin(in( unto God as a s0ar-le from the coal. #nd it is mar1ellous to num5er the stirrin(s that ma+ 5e in one hour ,rou(ht in a soul that is dis0osed to this ,or-. #nd +et in one stirrin( of all these' he ma+ ha1e suddenl+ and 0erfectl+ for(otten all created thin(. But fast after each stirrin(' for corru0tion of the flesh' it falleth do,n a(ain to some thou(ht 805 n9@%: or to some done or undone deed. But ,hat thereofB Dor fast after' it riseth a(ain as suddenl+ as it did 5efore. #nd here ma+ men shortl+ concei1e the manner of this ,or-in(' and clearl+ -no, that it is far from an+ fantas+' or an+ false ima(ination or <uaint o0inion2 the ,hich 5e 5rou(ht in' not 5+ such a de1out and a mee- 5lind stirrin( of lo1e' 5ut 5+ a 0roud' curious' and an ima(inati1e ,it. Such a 0roud' curious ,it 5eho1eth al,a+s 5e 5orne do,n and stiffl+ trodden do,n under foot' if this ,or- shall trul+ 5e concei1ed in 0urit+ of s0irit. Dor ,hoso heareth this ,oreither 5e read or s0o-en of' and ,eeneth that it ma+' or should' 5e come to 5+ tra1ail in their ,its' and therefore the+ sit and see- in their ,its ho, that it ma+ 5e' and in this curiosit+ the+ tra1ail their ima(ination 0erad1enture a(ainst the course of nature' and the+ fei(n a manner of ,or-in( the ,hich is neither 5odil+ nor (hostl+=trul+ this man' ,hatsoe1er he 5e' is 0erilousl+ 805 n9@F: decei1ed. Insomuch' that unless God of His (reat (oodness she, His merciful miracle' and ma-e him soon to lea1e ,or-' and mee- him to counsel of 0ro1ed ,or-ers' he shall fall either into frenEies' or else into other (reat mischiefs of (hostl+ sins and de1ils4 deceits? throu(h the ,hich he ma+ li(htl+ 5e lost' 5oth life and soul' ,ithout an+ end. #nd therefore for God4s lo1e 5e ,ar+ in this ,or-' and tra1ail not in th+ ,its nor in th+ ima(ination on no,ise2 for I tell thee trul+' it ma+ not 5e come to 5+ tra1ail in them' and therefore lea1e them and ,or- not ,ith them. #nd ,een not' for I call it a dar-ness or a cloud' that it 5e an+ cloud con(ealed of the humours that flee in the air' nor +et an+ dar-ness such as is in thine house on ni(hts ,hen the candle is out. Dor such a dar-ness and such a cloud ma+est thou ima(ine ,ith curiosit+ of ,it' for to 5ear 5efore thine e+es in the li(htest da+ of summer2 and also contrari,ise in the 805 n9@4: dar-est ni(ht of ,inter' thou ma+est ima(ine a clear shinin( li(ht. !et 5e such falsehood. I mean not thus. Dor ,hen I sa+ dar-ness' I mean a lac-in( of -no,in(2 as all that thin( that thou -no,est not' or else that thou hast for(otten' it is dar- to thee? for thou seest it not ,ith th+ (hostl+ e+e. #nd for this reason it is not called a cloud of the air' 5ut a cloud of un-no,in(' that is 5et,i3t thee and th+ God. 805 n9@6:
Dor althou(h it 5e full 0rofita5le sometime to thin- of certain conditions and deeds of some certain s0ecial creatures' ne1ertheless +et in this ,or- it 0rofiteth little or nou(ht. Dor ,h+B Memor+ or thin-in( of an+ creature that e1er God made' or of an+ of their deeds either' it is a manner of (hostl+ li(ht2 for the e+e of th+ soul is o0ened on it and e1en fi3ed thereu0on' as the e+e of a shooter is u0on the 0ric- that he shooteth to. #nd one thin( I tell thee' that all thin( that thou thin-eth 805 n9@7: u0on' it is a5o1e thee for the time' and 5et,i3t thee and th+ God2 and insomuch thou art the further from God' that au(ht is in th+ mind 5ut onl+ God. KeaL and' if it 5e courteous and seeml+ to sa+' in this ,or- it 0rofiteth little or nou(ht to thin- of the -indness or the ,orthiness of God' nor on our !ad+' nor on the saints or an(els in hea1en' nor +et on the Ao+s in hea1en2 that is to sa+' ,ith a s0ecial 5eholdin( to them' as thou ,ouldest 5+ that 5eholdin( feed and increase th+ 0ur0ose. I tro, that on no,ise it should hel0 in this case and in this ,or-. Dor althou(h it 5e (ood to thin- u0on the -indness of God' and to lo1e Him and 0raise Him for it' +et it is far 5etter to thin- u0on the na-ed 5ein( of Him' and to lo1e Him and 0raise Him for Himself. 805 n9@@:
under the cloud of for(ettin(. Insomuch' that if an+ thou(ht 0ress u0on thee to as- thee ,hat thou ,ouldest ha1e' ans,er them ,ith no more ,ords 5ut ,ith this one ,ord. #nd if he 0roffer thee of his (reat cler(+ to e30ound thee that ,ord and to tell thee the conditions of that ,ord' sa+ him2 hat thou ,ilt ha1e it all ,hole' and not 5ro-en nor undone. #nd if thou ,ilt hold thee fast on this 0ur0ose' 5e thou sure' he ,ill no ,hile a5ide. #nd ,h+B Dor that thou ,ilt not let him feed him on such s,eet meditations of God touched 5efore. 805 n9*6:
#nd for this reason it is that I 5id thee 0ut do,n such a shar0 su5tle thou(ht' and co1er him ,ith a thic- cloud of for(ettin(' 5e he ne1er so hol+ nor 0romise he thee ne1er so ,ell for to hel0 thee in th+ 0ur0ose. Dor ,h+' lo1e ma+ reach to God in this life' 5ut not -no,in(. #nd all the ,hiles that the soul d,elleth in this deadl+ 5od+' e1ermore is the shar0ness of our understandin( in 5eholdin( of all (hostl+ thin(s' 5ut most 805 n9&7%: s0eciall+ of God' min(led ,ith some manner of fantas+? for the ,hich our ,or- should 5e unclean. #nd unless more ,onder ,ere' it should lead us into much error. 805 n9&7F:
#nd if it 5e a thin( that 0leaseth thee' or hath 0leased thee 5efore' there riseth in thee a 0assin( deli(ht for to thinon that thin( ,hat so it 5e. Insomuch' 805 n9&&7: that thou restest thee in that thou(ht' and finall+ fastenest thine heart and th+ ,ill thereto' and feedest th+ fleshl+ heart there,ith2 so that thee thin- for the time that thou co1etest none other ,ealth' 5ut to li1e e1er in such a 0eace and rest ,ith that thin( that thou thin-est u0on. If this thou(ht that thou thus dra,est u0on thee' or else recei1est ,hen it is 0ut unto thee' and that thou restest thee thus in ,ith deli(ht' 5e ,orthiness of nature or of -no,in(' of (race or of de(ree' of fa1our or of fairhead' then it is Cride. #nd if it 5e an+ manner of ,orldl+ (ood' riches or chattels' or ,hat that man ma+ ha1e or 5e lord of' then it is Co1et+se. If it 5e daint+ meats and drin-s' or an+ manner of deli(hts that man ma+ taste' then it is Glutton+. #nd if it 5e lo1e or 0lesaunce' or an+ manner of fleshl+ dalliance' (losin( or flatterin( of an+ man or ,oman li1in( in this life' or of th+self either2 then it is !echer+. 805 n9&&&:
and 0erfectl+ lost and for(otten all ,ittin( and feelin( of his 5ein(' not loo-in( after ,hether he ha1e 5een hol+ or ,retched. But ,hether this fall oft or seldom to a soul that is thus dis0osed' I tro, that it lasteth 5ut a full short ,hile2 and in this time it is 0erfectl+ mee-ed' for it -no,eth and feeleth no cause 5ut the Chief. #nd e1er ,hen it -no,eth and feeleth the tother cause' communin( there,ith' althou(h this 5e the chief2 +et it is im0erfect mee-ness. Ne1ertheless +et it is (ood and not,ithstandin( must 5e had? and God for5id that thou ta-e it in an+ other manner than I sa+. 805 n9&&*:
contem0lati1e' 5+ the assent of his counsel and his conscience for to 0rofer a mee- stirrin( of lo1e to his God' 0ri1il+ 0ressin( u0on the cloud of un-no,in( 5et,i3t him and his God. When our !ord said to Mar+' in 0erson of all sinners that 5e called to contem0lati1e life' . h+ sins 5e 805 n9&%7: for(i1en thee'. it ,as not for her (reat sorro,' nor for the remem5erin( of her sins' nor +et for her mee-ness that she had in the 5eholdin( of her ,retchedness onl+. But ,h+ thenB Surel+ 5ecause she lo1ed much. !oL here ma+ men see ,hat a 0ri1+ 0ressin( of lo1e ma+ 0urchase of our !ord' 5efore all other ,or-s that man ma+ thin-. #nd +et I (rant ,ell' that she had full much sorro,' and ,e0t full sore for her sins' and full much she ,as mee-ed in remem5rance of her ,retchedness. #nd so should ,e do' that ha1e 5een ,retches and accustomed sinners? all our lifetime ma-e hideous and ,onderful sorro, for our sins' and full much 5e mee-ed in remem5rance of our ,retchedness. But ho,B Surel+ as Mar+ did. She' althou(h she mi(ht not feel the dee0 heart+ sorro, of her sins=for ,h+' all her lifetime she had them ,ith her ,hereso she ,ent' as it ,ere in a 5urthen 5ounden to(ether and laid u0 full 0ri1il+ in the hole of her 805 n9&%@: heart' in manner ne1er to 5e for(otten=ne1ertheless +et' it ma+ 5e said and affirmed 5+ Scri0ture' that she had a more heart+ sorro,' a more doleful desire' and a more dee0 si(hin(' and more she lan(uished' +eaL almost to the death' for lac-in( of lo1e' althou(h she had full much lo1e Iand ha1e no ,onder thereof' for it is the condition of a true lo1er that e1er the more he lo1eth' the more he lon(eth for to lo1eJ' than she had for an+ remem5rance of her sins. #nd +et she ,ist ,ell' and felt ,ell in herself in a sad soothfastness' that she ,as a ,retch most foul of all other' and that her sins had made a di1ision 5et,i3t her and her God that she lo1ed so much2 and also that the+ ,ere in (reat 0art cause of her lan(uishin( sic-ness for lac-in( of lo1e. But ,hat thereofB Came she therefore do,n from the hei(ht of desire into the dee0ness of her sinful life' and searched in the foul stin-in( fen and dun(hill of her sins? searchin( 805 n9&%*: them u0' 5+ one and 5+ one' ,ith all the circumstances of them' and sorro,ed and ,e0t so u0on them each one 5+ itselfB Na+' surel+ she did not so. #nd ,h+B Because God let her ,it 5+ His (race ,ithin in her soul' that she should ne1er so 5rin( it a5out. Dor so mi(ht she sooner ha1e raised in herself an a5leness to ha1e oft sinned' than to ha1e 0urchased 5+ that ,or- an+ 0lain for(i1eness of all her sins. #nd therefore she hun( u0 her lo1e and her lon(in( desire in this cloud of un-no,in(' and learned her to lo1e a thin( the ,hich she mi(ht not see clearl+ in this life' 5+ li(ht of understandin( in her reason' nor +et 1eril+ feel in s,eetness of lo1e in her affection. Insomuch' that she had ofttimes little s0ecial remem5rance' ,hether that e1er she had 5een a sinner or none. Kea' and full ofttimes I ho0e that she ,as so dee0l+ dis0osed to the lo1e of His Godhead that she had 5ut ri(ht little s0ecial 5eholdin( 805 n9&F7: unto the 5eaut+ of His 0recious and His 5lessed 5od+' in the ,hich He sat full lo1el+ s0ea-in( and 0reachin( 5efore her? nor +et to an+thin( else' 5odil+ or (hostl+. hat this 5e sooth' it seemeth 5+ the (os0el. 805 n9&F&:
#ND ri(ht as Martha com0lained then on Mar+ her sister' ri(ht so +et unto this da+ all acti1es com0lain of contem0lati1es. Dor an there 5e a man or a ,oman in an+ com0an+ of this ,orld' ,hat com0an+ soe1er it 5e' reli(ious or seculars=I out>ta-e none=the ,hich man or ,oman' ,hiche1er that it 5e' feeleth him stirred throu(h (race and 5+ counsel to forsa-e all out,ard 5usiness' and for to set him full+ for to li1e contem0lati1e life after their cunnin( and their conscience' their counsel accordin(? as fast' their o,n 5rethren and their sisters' and 805 n9&F6: all their ne3t friends' ,ith man+ other that -no, not their stirrin(s nor that manner of li1in( that the+ set them to' ,ith a (reat com0lainin( s0irit shall rise u0on them' and sa+ shar0l+ unto them that it is nou(ht that the+ do. #nd as fast the+ ,ill rec-on u0 man+ false tales' and man+ true also' of fallin( of men and ,omen that ha1e (i1en them to such life 5efore2 and ne1er a (ood tale of them that stood. I (rant that man+ fall and ha1e fallen of them that ha1e in li-eness forsa-en the ,orld. #nd ,here the+ should ha1e 5ecome God4s ser1ants and His contem0lati1es' 5ecause that the+ ,ould not rule them 5+ true (hostl+ counsel the+ ha1e 5ecome the de1il4s ser1ants and his contem0lati1es? and turned either to h+0ocrites or to heretics' or fallen into frenEies and man+ other mischiefs' in slander of Hol+ Church. Of the ,hich I lea1e to s0ea- at this time' for trou5lin( of our matter. But ne1ertheless here 805 n9&F6: after ,hen God 1ouchsafeth and if need 5e' men ma+ see some of the conditions and the cause of their failin(s. #nd therefore no more of them at this time? 5ut forth of our matter. 805 n9&F7:
im0erfectl+ she ma+' 5ut not 0erfectl+=He added and said' that Mar+ had chosen the 5est 0art? the ,hich should ne1er 5e ta-en from 805 n9&4F: her. Dor ,h+' that 0erfect stirrin( of lo1e that 5e(inneth here is e1en in num5er ,ith that that shall last ,ithout end in the 5liss of hea1en' for all it is 5ut one. 805 n9&44:
#ND trul+ an ,e ,ill lustil+ conform our lo1e and our li1in(' inasmuch as in us is' 5+ (race and 5+ counsel' unto the lo1e and the li1in( of Mar+' no dou5t 5ut He shall ans,er on the same manner no, for us (hostl+ each da+' 0ri1il+ in the hearts of all those that either sa+ or thin- a(ainst us. I sa+ not 5ut that e1ermore some men shall sa+ or thin- some,hat a(ainst us' the ,hiles ,e li1e in the tra1ail of this life' as the+ did a(ainst Mar+. But I sa+' an ,e ,ill (i1e no more heed to their sa+in( nor to their 805 n9&6%: thin-in(' nor no more cease of our (hostl+ 0ri1+ ,or- for their ,ords and their thou(hts' than she did=I sa+' then' that our !ord shall ans,er them in s0irit' if it shall 5e ,ell ,ith them that so sa+ and so thin-' that the+ shall ,ithin fe, da+s ha1e shame of their ,ords and their thou(hts. #nd as He ,ill ans,er for us thus in s0irit' so ,ill He stir other men in s0irit to (i1e us our needful thin(s that 5elon( to this life' as meat and clothes ,ith all these other? if He see that ,e ,ill not lea1e the ,or- of His lo1e for 5usiness a5out them. #nd this I sa+ in confusion of their error' that sa+ that it is not la,ful for men to set them to ser1e God in contem0lati1e life' 5ut if the+ 5e secure 5efore of their 5odil+ necessaries. Dor the+ sa+' that God sendeth the co,' 5ut not 5+ the horn. #nd trul+ the+ sa+ ,ron( of God' as the+ ,ell -no,. Dor trust steadfastl+' thou ,hatsoe1er that thou 5e' that trul+ turnest thee from the ,orld unto God' that one of these 805 n9&6F: t,o God shall send thee' ,ithout 5usiness of th+self2 and that is either a5undance of necessaries' or stren(th in 5od+ and 0atience in s0irit to 5ear need. What then rec-eth it' ,hich man ha1eB for all come to one in 1er+ contem0lati1es. #nd ,hoso is in dou5t of this' either the de1il is in his 5reast and ree1eth him of 5elief' or else he is not +et trul+ turned to God as he should 5e? ma-e he it ne1er so <uaint' nor ne1er so hol+ reasons she, there a(ain' ,hatnot e1er that he 5e. #nd therefore thou' that settest thee to 5e contem0lati1e as Mar+ ,as' choose thee rather to 5e mee-ed under the ,onderful hei(ht and the ,orthiness of God' the ,hich is 0erfect' than under thine o,n ,retchedness' the ,hich is im0erfect2 that is to sa+' loo- that th+ s0ecial 5eholdin( 5e more to the ,orthiness of God than to th+ ,retchedness. Dor to them that 5e 0erfectl+ mee-ed' no thin( shall defail? neither 5odil+ thin(' nor (hostl+. Dor 805 n9&64: ,h+B he+ ha1e God' in ,hom is all 0lent+? and ,hoso hath Him=+ea' as this 5oo- telleth=him needeth nou(ht else in this life. 805 n9&66:
Dor as all men ,ere lost in #dam and all men that ,ith ,or- ,ill ,itness their ,ill of sal1ation are sa1ed or 805 n9&67: shall 5e 5+ 1irtue of the Cassion of onl+ Christ2 not in the same manner' 5ut as it ,ere in the same manner' a soul that is 0erfectl+ dis0osed to this ,or-' and oned thus to God in s0irit as the 0roof of this ,or- ,itnesseth' doth that in it is to ma-e all men as 0erfect in this ,or- as itself is. Dor ri(ht as if a lim5 of our 5od+ feeleth sore' all the tother lim5s 5e 0ained and diseased therefore' or if a lim5 fare ,ell' all the remnant 5e (ladded there,ith=ri(ht so is it (hostl+ of all the lim5s of Hol+ Church. Dor Christ is our head' and ,e 5e the lim5s if ,e 5e in charit+2 and ,hoso ,ill 5e a 0erfect disci0le of our !ord4s' him 5eho1eth strain u0 his s0irit in this ,or- (hostl+' for the sal1ation of all his 5rethren and sisters in nature' as our !ord did His 5od+ on the Cross. #nd ho,B Not onl+ for His friends and His -in and His homel+ lo1ers' 5ut (enerall+ for all man-ind' ,ithout an+ s0ecial 5eholdin( more to one than to another. Dor all that ,ill lea1e sin 805 n9&6&: and as- merc+ shall 5e sa1ed throu(h the 1irtue of His Cassion. #nd as it is said of mee-ness and charit+' so it is to 5e understood of all other 1irtues. Dor all the+ 5e trul+ com0rehended in this little 0ressin( of lo1e' touched 5efore. 805 n9&6%:
sa, and felt all the creatures that should 5e 5eneath him' 0roudl+ 0ress a5o1e him' 5et,i3t him and his God. 805 n9&6*:
Do on then' and tra1ail fast a,hile' I 0ra+ thee' and suffer mee-l+ the 0ain if thou ma+est not soon ,in to these arts. Dor trul+ it is th+ 0ur(ator+' and then ,hen th+ 0ain is all 805 n9&7@: 0assed and th+ de1ices 5e (i1en of God' and (raciousl+ (otten in custom? then it is no dou5t to me that thou art cleansed not onl+ of sin' 5ut also of the 0ain of sin. I mean' of the 0ain of th+ s0ecial foredone sins' and not of the 0ain of the ori(inal sin. Dor that 0ain shall al,a+s last on thee to th+ death da+' 5e thou ne1er so 5us+. Ne1ertheless' it shall 5ut little 0ro1o-e thee' in com0arison of this 0ain of th+ s0ecial sins? and +et shalt thou not 5e ,ithout (reat tra1ail. Dor out of this ori(inal sin ,ill all da+ s0rin( ne, and fresh stirrin(s of sin2 the ,hich thee 5eho1eth all da+ to smite do,n' and 5e 5us+ to shear a,a+ ,ith a shar0 dou5le>ed(ed dreadful s,ord of discretion. #nd here5+ ma+est thou see and learn' that there is no soothfast securit+' nor +et no true rest in this life. Ne1ertheless' herefore shalt thou not (o 5ac-' nor +et 5e o1erfeared of th+ failin(. Dor an it so 5e that thou ma+est ha1e (race to destro+ the 0ain 805 n9&7*: of thine foredone s0ecial deeds' in the manner 5efore said=or 5etter if thou 5etter ma+est=sure 5e thou' that the 0ain of the ori(inal sin' or else the ne, stirrin(s of sin that 5e to come' shall 5ut ri(ht little 5e a5le to 0ro1o-e thee. 805 n9&@7:
See 5+ the 0roof. In this same course' God4s ,ord either ,ritten or s0o-en is li-ened to a mirror. Ghostl+' the e+es of th+ soul is th+ reason? th+ conscience is th+ 1isa(e (hostl+. #nd ri(ht as thou seest that if a foul s0ot 5e in th+ 5odil+ 1isa(e' the e+es of the same 1isa(e ma+ not see that s0ot nor ,it ,here it is' ,ithout a mirror or a teachin( of another than itself? ri(ht so it is (hostl+' ,ithout readin( or hearin( of God4s ,ord it is im0ossi5le to man4s understandin( that a soul that is 5linded in custom of sin should see the foul s0ot in his conscience. 805 n9&@7: #nd so follo,in(' ,hen a man seeth in a 5odil+ or (hostl+ mirror' or ,ots 5+ other men4s teachin(' ,herea5outs the foul s0ot is on his 1isa(e' either 5odil+ or (hostl+? then at first' and not 5efore' he runneth to the ,ell to ,ash him. If this s0ot 5e an+ s0ecial sin' then is this ,ell Hol+ Church' and this ,ater confession' ,ith the circumstances. If it 5e 5ut a 5lind root and a stirrin( of sin' then is this ,ell merciful God' and this ,ater 0ra+er' ,ith the circumstances. #nd thus ma+est thou see that no thin-in( ma+ (oodl+ 5e (otten in 5e(inners and 0rofiters' ,ithout readin( or hearin( comin( 5efore2 nor 0ra+in( ,ithout thin-in(. 805 n9&@@:
ni(h conformed 5+ (race to the ima(e and the li-eness of God his ma-er' 5e soon heard of GodL Kea' thou(h it 5e a full sinful soul' the ,hich is to God as it ,ere an enem+? an he mi(ht throu(h (race come for to cr+ such a little s+lla5le in the hei(ht and the dee0ness' the len(th and the 5readth of his s0irit' +et he should for the hideous noise of his cr+ 5e al,a+s heard and hel0ed of God. See 5+ ensam0le. He that is th+ deadl+ enem+' an thou hear him so afraid that he cr+ in the hei(ht of his s0irit this little ,ord .fire'. or this 805 n9&*6: ,ord .out.? +et ,ithout an+ 5eholdin( to him for he is thine enem+' 5ut for 0ure 0it+ in thine heart stirred and raised ,ith the dolefulness of this cr+' thou risest u0=+ea' thou(h it 5e a5out mid,inter4s ni(ht=and hel0est him to slac- his fire' or for to still him and rest him in his distress. Oh' !ordL since a man ma+ 5e made so merciful in (race' to ha1e so much merc+ and so much 0it+ of his enem+' not,ithstandin( his enmit+' ,hat 0it+ and ,hat merc+ shall God ha1e then of a (hostl+ cr+ in soul' made and ,rou(ht in the hei(ht and the dee0ness' the len(th and the 5readth of his s0irit? the ,hich hath all 5+ nature that man hath 5+ (raceB #nd much more' surel+ ,ithout com0arison' much more merc+ ,ill He ha1e? since it is' that that thin( that is so had 5+ nature is nearer to an eternal thin( than that ,hich is had 5+ (race. 805 n9&*6:
mean these t,o ,ords=sin and God. With this (eneral -no,in(' that an thou haddest God' then shouldest thou lacsin2 and mi(htest thou lac- sin' then shouldest thou ha1e God. 805 n9%7%:
thereto a full accordin( a5leness to recei1e this (race on th+ 0art' this na-ed ,ittin( and feelin( of th+ 5ein( ma+ on no,ise 5e destro+ed. #nd this a5leness is 805 n9%&&: nou(ht else 5ut a stron( and a dee0 (hostl+ sorro,. But in this sorro, needeth thee to ha1e discretion' on this manner2 thou shalt 5e ,ar+ in the time of this sorro,' that thou neither too rudel+ strain th+ 5od+ nor th+ s0irit' 5ut sit full still' as it ,ere in a slee0in( de1ice' all forso55ed and forsun-en in sorro,. his is true sorro,? this is 0erfect sorro,? and ,ell ,ere him that mi(ht ,in to this sorro,. #ll men ha1e matter of sorro,2 5ut most s0eciall+ he feeleth matter of sorro,' that ,otteth and feeleth that he is. #ll other sorro,s 5e unto this in com0arison 5ut as it ,ere (ame to earnest. Dor he ma+ ma-e sorro, earnestl+' that ,otteth and feeleth not onl+ ,hat he is' 5ut that he is. #nd ,hoso felt ne1er this sorro,' he ma+ ma-e sorro,2 for ,h+' he felt +et ne1er 0erfect sorro,. his sorro,' ,hen it is had' cleanseth the soul' not onl+ of sin' 5ut also of 0ain that it hath deser1ed for sin? and thereto it 805 n9%&%: ma-eth a soul a5le to recei1e that Ao+' the ,hich ree1eth from a man all ,ittin( and feelin( of his 5ein(. his sorro,' if it 5e trul+ concei1ed' is full of hol+ desire2 and else mi(ht ne1er man in this life a5ide it nor 5ear it. Dor ,ere it not that a soul ,ere some,hat fed ,ith a manner of comfort of his ri(ht ,or-in(' else should he not 5e a5le to 5ear the 0ain that he hath of the ,ittin( and feelin( of his 5ein(. Dor as oft as he ,ould ha1e a true ,ittin( and a feelin( of his God in 0urit+ of s0irit' as it ma+ 5e here' and sithen feeleth that he ma+ not=for he findeth e1ermore his ,ittin( and his feelin( as it ,ere occu0ied and filled ,ith a foul stin-in( lum0 of himself' the ,hich 5eho1eth al,a+s 5e hated and 5e des0ised and forsa-en' if he shall 5e God4s 0erfect disci0le learned of Himself in the mount of 0erfection=so oft' he (oeth ni(h mad for sorro,. Insomuch' that he ,ee0eth and ,aileth' stri1eth' curseth' and 5anneth? and shortl+ to 805 n9%&F: sa+' him thin-eth that he 5eareth so hea1+ a 5urthen of himself that he careth ne1er ,hat 5etides him' so that God ,ere 0leased. #nd +et in all this sorro, he desireth not to un5e2 for that ,ere de1il4s madness and des0ite unto God. But him listeth ri(ht ,ell to 5e? and he intendeth full heartil+ than-in( to God' for the ,orthiness and the (ift of his 5ein(' for all that he desire unceasin(l+ for to lac- the ,ittin( and the feelin( of his 5ein(. his sorro, and this desire 5eho1eth e1er+ soul ha1e and feel in itself' either in this manner or in another? as God 1ouchsafeth for to learn to His (hostl+ disci0les after His ,ell ,illin( and their accordin( a5leness in 5od+ and in soul' in de(ree and dis0osition' ere the time 5e that the+ ma+ 0erfectl+ 5e oned unto God in 0erfect charit+=such as ma+ 5e had here=if God 1ouchsafeth. 805 n9%&4:
#ND therefore for God4s lo1e 5e ,ar+ in this ,or-' and strain not thine heart in th+ 5reast o1er>rudel+ nor out of measure? 5ut ,or- more ,ith a list than ,ith an+ ,orthless stren(th. Dor e1er the more Mistil+' the more mee-l+ and (hostl+2 and e1er the more rudel+' the more 5odil+ and 5eastl+. #nd therefore 5e ,ar+' for surel+ ,hat 5eastl+ heart that 0resumeth for to touch the hi(h mount of this ,or-' it shall 5e 5eaten a,a+ ,ith stones. Stones 5e hard and dr+ in their -ind' and the+ hurt full sore ,here the+ hit. #nd surel+ such rude 805 n9%&*: strainin(s 5e full hard fastened in fleshliness of 5odil+ feelin(' and full dr+ from an+ ,ittin( of (race? and the+ hurt full sore the sill+ soul' and ma-e it fester in fantas+ fei(ned of fiends. #nd therefore 5e ,ar+ ,ith this 5eastl+ rudeness' and learn thee to lo1e listil+' ,ith a soft and a demure 5eha1iour as ,ell in 5od+ as in soul? and a5ide courteousl+ and mee-l+ the ,ill of our !ord' and snatch not o1erhastil+' as it ,ere a (reed+ (re+hound' hun(er thee ne1er so sore. #nd' (amin(l+ 5e it said' I counsel that thou do that in thee is' refrainin( the rude and the (reat stirrin( of th+ s0irit' ri(ht as thou on no,ise ,ouldest let Him ,it ho, fain thou ,ouldest see Him' and ha1e Him or feel Him. his is childishl+ and 0la+in(l+ s0o-en' thee thin- 0erad1enture. But I tro, ,hoso had (race to do and feel as I sa+' he should feel (ood (amesome 0la+ ,ith Him' as the father doth ,ith the child' -issin( and cli00in(' that ,ell ,ere him so. 805 n9%%7:
s0irit. Such a comfort and such a s,eetness shall not 5e had sus0ect2 and shortl+ to sa+' I tro, that he that feeleth it ma+ not ha1e it sus0ect. But all other comforts' sounds and (ladness and s,eetness' that come from ,ithout suddenl+ and thou ,ottest ne1er ,hence' I 0ra+ thee ha1e them sus0ect. Dor the+ ma+ 5e 5oth (ood and e1il? ,rou(ht 5+ a (ood 805 n9%%6: an(el if the+ 5e (ood' and 5+ an e1il an(el if the+ 5e e1il. #nd this ma+ on no,ise 5e e1il' if their deceits of curiosit+ of ,it' and of unordained strainin( of the fleshl+ heart 5e remo1ed as I learn thee' or 5etter if thou 5etter ma+est. #nd ,h+ is thatB Surel+ for the cause of this comfort? that is to sa+' the de1out stirrin( of lo1e' the ,hich d,elleth in 0ure s0irit. It is ,rou(ht of the hand of #lmi(ht+ God ,ithout means' and therefore it 5eho1eth al,a+s 5e far from an+ fantas+' or an+ false o0inion that ma+ 5efall to man in this life. #nd of the tother comforts and sounds and s,eetness' ho, thou shouldest ,it ,hether the+ 5e (ood or e1il I thinnot to tell thee at this time2 and that is 5ecause me thin- that it needeth not. Dor ,h+' thou ma+est find it ,ritten in another 0lace of another man4s ,or-' a thousandfold 5etter than I can sa+ or ,rite2 and so ma+est thou this that I set here' far 5etter than it is here. But ,hat 805 n9%%7: thereofB herefore shall I not let' nor it shall not no+e me' to fulfil the desire and the stirrin( of thine heart? the ,hich thou hast she,ed thee to ha1e unto me 5efore this time in th+ ,ords' and no, in th+ deeds. But this ma+ I sa+ thee of those sounds and of those s,eetnesses' that come in 5+ the ,indo,s of th+ ,its' the ,hich ma+ 5e 5oth (ood and e1il. /se thee continuall+ in this 5lind and de1out and this Mist+ stirrin( of lo1e that I tell thee2 and then I ha1e no dou5t' that it shall not ,ell 5e a5le to tell thee of them. #nd if thou +et 5e in 0art astonished of them at the first time' and that is 5ecause that the+ 5e uncouth' +et this shall it do thee2 it shall 5ind thine heart so fast' that thou shalt on no,ise (i1e full (reat credence to them' ere the time 5e that thou 5e either certified of them ,ithin ,onderfull+ 5+ the S0irit of God' or else ,ithout 5+ counsel of some discreet father. 805 n9%%@:
That !en should have great wariness so that they understand not .odily a thing that is !eant ghostly) and s&ecially it is good to .e wary in understanding of this word 'in,' and of this word 'u&.' #ND therefore lean mee-l+ to this 5lind stirrin( of lo1e in thine heart. I mean not in th+ 5odil+ heart' 5ut in th+ (hostl+ heart' the ,hich is th+ ,ill. #nd 5e ,ell ,ar+ that thou concei1e not 5odil+ that that is said (hostl+. Dor trul+ I tell thee' that 5odil+ and fleshl+ conceits of them that ha1e curious and ima(inati1e ,its 5e cause of much error. Ensam0le of this ma+est thou see' 5+ that that I 5id thee hide th+ desire from God in that that in thee is. Dor 0erad1enture an I had 5idden thee 805 n9%F4: she, th+ desire unto God' thou shouldest ha1e concei1ed it more 5odil+ than thou dost no,' ,hen I 5id thee hide it. Dor thou ,ottest ,ell' that all that thin( that is ,ilfull+ hidden' it is cast into the dee0ness of s0irit. #nd thus me thin-eth that it needeth (reatl+ to ha1e much ,ariness in understandin( of ,ords that 5e s0o-en to (hostl+ intent' so that thou concei1e them not 5odil+ 5ut (hostl+' as the+ 5e meant2 and s0eciall+ it is (ood to 5e ,ar+ ,ith this ,ord in, and this ,ord u&. Dor in misconcei1in( of these t,o ,ords han(eth much error' and much deceit in them that 0ur0ose them to 5e (hostl+ ,or-ers' as me thin-eth. Some,hat ,ot I 5+ the 0roof' and some,hat 5+ hearsa+? and of these deceits list me tell thee a little as me thin-eth. # +oun( disci0le in God4s school ne, turned from the ,orld' the same ,eeneth that for a little time that he hath (i1en him to 0enance and to 0ra+er' ta-en 5+ counsel in confession' 805 n9%F6: that he 5e therefore a5le to ta-e u0on him (hostl+ ,or-in( of the ,hich he heareth men s0ea- or read a5out him' or 0erad1enture readeth himself. #nd therefore ,hen the+ read or hear s0o-en of (hostl+ ,or-in(=and s0eciall+ of this ,ord' .ho, a man shall dra, all his ,it ,ithin himself'. or .ho, he shall clim5 a5o1e himself.=as fast for 5lindness in soul' and for fleshliness and curiosit+ of natural ,it' the+ misunderstand these ,ords' and ,een' 5ecause the+ find in them a natural co1et+se to hid thin(s' that the+ 5e therefore called to that ,or- 5+ (race. Insomuch' that if counsel ,ill not accord that the+ shall ,or- in this ,or-' as soon the+ feel a manner of (rum5lin( a(ainst their counsel' and thin-= +ea and 0erad1enture sa+ to such other as the+ 5e=that the+ can find no man that can ,it ,hat the+ mean full+. #nd therefore as fast' for 5oldness and 0resum0tion of their curious ,it' the+ lea1e mee- 0ra+er and 0enance o1er 805 n9%F6: soon? and set them' the+ ,een' to a full (hostl+ ,or- ,ithin in their soul. he ,hich ,or-' an it 5e trul+ concei1ed' is neither 5odil+ ,or-in( nor (hostl+ ,or-in(? and shortl+ to sa+' it is a ,or-in( a(ainst nature' and the de1il is the chief ,or-er thereof. #nd it is the readiest ,a+ to death of 5od+ and of soul' for it is madness and no ,isdom' and leadeth a man e1en to madness. #nd +et the+ ,een not thus2 for the+ 0ur0ose them in this ,or- to thin- on nou(ht 5ut on God. 805 n9%F7:
e1er the+ 805 n9%4&: do' it is for the lo1e of God and for to maintain the truth. No, trul+ I ho0e that unless God she, His merciful miracle to ma-e them soon lea1e off' the+ shall lo1e God so lon( on this manner' that the+ shall (o starin( mad to the de1il. I sa+ not that the de1il hath so 0erfect a ser1ant in this life' that is decei1ed and infect ,ith all these fantasies that I set here2 and ne1ertheless +et it ma+ 5e that one' +ea' and man+ one' 5e infect ,ith them all. But I sa+ that he hath no 0erfect h+0ocrite nor heretic in earth that he is not (uilt+ in some that I ha1e said' or 0erad1enture shall sa+ if God 1ouchsafeth. Dor some men are so cum5ered in nice curious customs in 5odil+ 5earin(' that ,hen the+ shall ou(ht hear' the+ ,rithe their heads on one side <uaintl+' and u0 ,ith the chin2 the+ (a0e ,ith their mouths as the+ should hear ,ith their mouth and not ,ith their ears. Some ,hen the+ should s0ea- 0oint ,ith their fin(ers' either on their 805 n9%4%: fin(ers' or on their o,n 5reasts' or on theirs that the+ s0ea- to. Some can neither sit still' stand still' nor lie still' unless the+ 5e either ,a((in( ,ith their feet or else some,hat doin( ,ith their hands. Some ro, ,ith their arms in time of their s0ea-in(' as them needed for to s,im o1er a (reat ,ater. Some 5e e1ermore smilin( and lau(hin( at e1er+ other ,ord that the+ s0ea-' as the+ ,ere (i((lin( (irls and nice Aa0in( Au((lers lac-in( 5eha1iour. Seeml+ cheer ,ere full fair' ,ith so5er and demure 5earin( of 5od+ and mirth in manner. I sa+ not that all these unseeml+ 0ractices 5e (reat sins in themsel1es' nor +et all those that do them 5e (reat sinners themsel1es. But I sa+ if that these unseeml+ and unordained 0ractices 5e (o1ernors of that man that doth them' insomuch that he ma+ not lea1e them ,hen he ,ill' then I sa+ that the+ 5e to-ens of 0ride and curiosit+ of ,it' and of unordained she,in( and co1et+se of -no,in(. 805 n9%4F: #nd s0eciall+ the+ 5e 1er+ to-ens of unsta5leness of heart and unrestfulness of mind' and s0eciall+ of the lac-in( of the ,or- of this 5oo-. #nd this is the onl+ reason ,h+ that I set so man+ of these deceits here in this ,ritin(? for ,h+' that a (hostl+ ,or-er shall 0ro1e his ,or- 5+ them. 805 n9%44:
hat this is sooth' it seemeth 5+ this that follo,eth. he de1il is a s0irit' and of his o,n nature he hath no 5od+' more than hath an an(el. But +et ne1ertheless ,hat time that he or an an(el shall ta-e an+ 5od+ 5+ lea1e of God' to ma-e an+ ministration to an+ man in this life? accordin( as the ,or- is that he shall minister' thereafter in li-eness is the <ualit+ of his 5od+ in some 0art. Ensam0le of this ,e ha1e in Hol+ Writ. #s oft as an+ an(el ,as sent in 5od+ in the Old estament and in the Ne, also' e1ermore it ,as she,ed' either 5+ his name or 5+ some instrument or <ualit+ of his 5od+' ,hat his matter or his messa(e ,as in s0irit. On the same manner it fareth of the fiend. Dor ,hen he a00eareth in 5od+' he fi(ureth in some <ualit+ of his 5od+ ,hat his ser1ants 5e in s0irit. 805 n9%67: Ensam0le of this ma+ 5e seen in one instead of all these other. Dor as I ha1e concei1ed 5+ some disci0les of necromanc+' the ,hich ha1e it in science for to ma-e ad1ocation of ,ic-ed s0irits' and 5+ some unto ,hom the fiend hath a00eared in 5odil+ li-eness? that in ,hat 5odil+ li-eness the fiend a00eareth' e1ermore he hath 5ut one nostril' and that is (reat and ,ide' and he ,ill (ladl+ cast it u0 that a man ma+ see in thereat to his 5rain u0 in his head. he ,hich 5rain is nou(ht else 5ut the fire of hell' for the fiend ma+ ha1e none other 5rain? and if he mi(ht ma-e a man loo- in thereto' he ,ants no 5etter. Dor at that loo-in(' he should lose his ,its for e1er. But a 0erfect 0rentice of necromanc+ -no,eth this ,ell enou(h' and can ,ell ordain therefore' so that he 0ro1o-e him not. herefore it is that I sa+' and ha1e said' that e1ermore ,hen the de1il ta-eth an+ 5od+' he fi(ureth in some 805 n9%6&: <ualit+ of his 5od+ ,hat his ser1ants 5e in s0irit. Dor he enflameth so the ima(ination of his contem0lati1es ,ith the fire of hell' that suddenl+ ,ithout discretion the+ shoot out their curious conceits' and ,ithout an+ ad1isement the+ ,ill ta-e u0on them to 5lame other men4s defaults o1er soon2 and this is 5ecause the+ ha1e 5ut one nostril (hostl+. Dor that di1ision that is in a man4s nose 5odil+' and the ,hich de0arteth the one nostril from the tother' 5eto-eneth that a man should ha1e discretion (hostl+? and can disse1er the (ood from the e1il' and the e1il from the ,orse' and the (ood from the 5etter' ere that he (a1e an+ full doom of an+thin( that he heard or sa, done or s0o-en a5out him. #nd 5+ a man4s 5rain is (hostl+ understood ima(ination? for 5+ nature it d,elleth and ,or-eth in the head. 805 n9%6%:
do,n,ards' nor on one side nor on other' nor for,ard nor 5ac-,ard' as it is of a 5odil+ thin(. Dor ,h+' our ,orshould 5e (hostl+ not 5odil+' nor on a 5odil+ manner ,rou(ht. 805 n9%67:
5eho1eth to ha1e a full 5us+ 5eholdin(' that this stirrin( stretch neither u0 5odil+' nor in 5odil+' nor +et that it 5e an+ such stirrin( as is from one 0lace to another. #nd althou(h that it 5e sometime called a rest' ne1ertheless +et the+ shall not thin- that it is an+ such rest as is an+ a5idin( in a 0lace ,ithout remo1in( therefrom. Dor the 805 n9%66: 0erfection of this ,or- is so 0ure and so (hostl+ in itself' that an it 5e ,ell and trul+ concei1ed' it shall 5e seen far remo1ed from an+ stirrin( and from an+ 0lace. #nd it should 5+ some reason rather 5e called a sudden chan(in(' than an+ stirrin( of 0lace. Dor time' 0lace' and 5od+2 these three should 5e for(otten in all (hostl+ ,or-in(. #nd therefore 5e ,ar+ in this ,or-' that thou ta-e none ensam0le at the 5odil+ ascension of Christ for to strain thine ima(ination in the time of th+ 0ra+er 5odil+ u0,ards' as thou ,ouldest clim5 a5o1e the moon. Dor it should on no,ise 5e so' (hostl+. But if thou shouldest ascend into hea1en 5odil+' as Christ did' then thou mi(htest ta-e ensam0le at it2 5ut that ma+ none do 5ut God' as Himself ,itnesseth' sa+in(2 . here is no man that ma+ ascend unto hea1en 5ut onl+ He that descended from hea1en' and 5ecame man for the lo1e of man.. #nd if it ,ere 0ossi5le' as it on no,ise ma+ 805 n9%66: 5e' +et it should 5e for a5undance of (hostl+ ,or-in( onl+ 5+ the mi(ht of the s0irit' full far from an+ 5odil+ stressin( or strainin( of our ima(ination 5odil+' either u0' or in' on one side' or on other. #nd therefore let 5e such falsehood2 it should not 5e so. 805 n9%67:
#ND for this' that thou shalt 5e a5le 5etter to ,it ho, the+ shall 5e concei1ed (hostl+' these ,ords that 5e s0o-en 5odil+' therefore I thin- to declare to thee the (hostl+ 5emeanin( of some ,ords that fall to (hostl+ ,or-in(. So that thou ma+est ,it clearl+ ,ithout error ,hen th+ (hostl+ ,or- is 5eneath thee and ,ithout thee' and ,hen it is ,ithin thee and e1en ,ith thee' and ,hen it is a5o1e thee and under th+ God. #ll manner of 5odil+ thin( is ,ithout th+ soul and 5eneath it in nature' 805 n9%74: +eaL the sun and the moon and all the stars' althou(h the+ 5e a5o1e th+ 5od+' ne1ertheless +et the+ 5e 5eneath th+ soul. #ll an(els and all souls' althou(h the+ 5e confirmed and adorned ,ith (race and ,ith 1irtues' for the ,hich the+ 5e a5o1e thee in cleanness' ne1ertheless' +et the+ 5e 5ut e1en ,ith thee in nature. Within in th+self in nature 5e the 0o,ers of th+ soul2 the ,hich 5e these three 0rinci0al' Memor+' )eason' and Will? and secondar+' Ima(ination and Sensualit+. #5o1e th+self in nature is no manner of thin( 5ut onl+ God. E1ermore ,here thou findest ,ritten th+self in (hostliness' then it is understood th+ soul' and not th+ 5od+. #nd then all after that thin( is on the ,hich the 0o,ers of th+ soul ,or-' thereafter shall the ,orthiness and the condition of th+ ,or- 5e deemed? ,hether it 5e 5eneath thee' ,ithin thee' or a5o1e thee. 805 n9%76:
to ha1e God that no man ma+ -no,. Dor I tell thee trul+' that I had rather 5e so no,here 5odil+' ,restlin( ,ith that 5lind nou(ht' than to 5e so (reat a lord that I mi(ht ,hen I ,ould 5e e1er+,here 5odil+' merril+ 0la+in( ,ith all this ou(ht as a lord ,ith his o,n. !et 5e this e1er+,here and this 805 n9%*&: ou(ht' in com0arison or this no,here and this nou(ht. )ec- thee ne1er if th+ ,its cannot reason of this nou(ht? for surel+' I lo1e it much the 5etter. It is so ,orth+ a thin( in itself' that the+ cannot reason thereu0on. his nou(ht ma+ 5etter 5e felt than seen2 for it is full 5lind and full dar- to them that ha1e 5ut little ,hile loo-ed thereu0on. Ne1ertheless' if I shall soothlier sa+' a soul is more 5linded in feelin( of it for a5undance of (hostl+ li(ht' than for an+ dar-ness or ,antin( of 5odil+ li(ht. What is he that calleth it nou(htB Surel+ it is our outer man' and not our inner. Our inner man calleth it #ll? for of it he is ,ell learned to -no, the reason of all thin(s 5odil+ or (hostl+' ,ithout an+ s0ecial 5eholdin( to an+ one thin( 5+ itself. 805 n9%*%:
therefore I do it not. Dor ,hoso hath ears' let him hear' and ,hoso is stirred for to tro,' let him tro,2 for else' shall the+ not. 805 n9%**:
5e 5oth called of God to ,or- in this ,or-' I 5eseech thee for God4s lo1e fulfil in th+ 0art ,hat lac-eth of mine. 805 n9F7@:
hol+ desire s0ea-eth Saint #ustin and saith' that all the life of a (ood 805 n9F&6: Christian man is nou(ht else 5ut hol+ desire. Dare,ell' (hostl+ friend' in God4s 5lessin( and mineL #nd I 5eseech #lmi(ht+ God' that true 0eace' hol+ counsel' and (hostl+ comfort in God ,ith a5undance of (race' e1ermore 5e ,ith thee and all God4s lo1ers in earth. #men. HE)E ENDE H HE C!O/D OD /N$NOWING.