CHAPTER I. OF CHRIST SPEAKING INWARDLY TO THE FAITHFUL SOUL. WILL hearken what the Lord God will speak in me. Blessed is the soul which heareth the Lord speaking within her, and receiveth from His mouth the word of consolation. Blessed are the ears that gladly receive the pulses of the Divine whisper, and give no heed to the many whisperings of this world. Blessed indeed are those ears which listen not after the voice which is sounding without, but for the Truth teaching within. Blessed are the eyes which are shut to outward things, but intent on eternal things. Blessed are they that enter far into inward things, and endeavour to prepare themselves, more and more, by daily exercises, for the receiving of heavenly secrets. Blessed are they who are glad to have time to spare for God, and who shake off all worldly impediments. 2. Consider these things, O my soul, and shut up the door of thy sensual desires, that thou mayest hear what the Lord thy God shall speak in thee. Thus saith thy Beloved, I am thy Salvation, thy Peace, and thy Life; keep thyself with Me, and thou shalt find peace. Let go all transitory things, and seek those that be everlasting. What are all temporal things, but snares? and what can all creatures avail thee, if thou be forsaken by the Creator. Bid farewell, therefore, to all things else, and labour to please thy Creator, and to be faithful unto Him, that so thou mayest be able to attain unto true blessedness. CHAPTER II. THAT THE TRUTH SPEAKS WITHIN US WITHOUT NOISE OF WORDS. 66 PEAK, Lord, for Thy servant heareth. I am Thy servant, grant me understanding, that I may know Thy testimonies. Incline my heart to the words of Thy mouth let Thy speech distil as the dew. The children of Israel in times past said unto Moses, Speak thou unto us, and we will hear: let not the Lord speak unto us lest we die." Not so, Lord, not so, I beseech Thee: but rather with the prophet Samuel, I humbly and earnestly entreat, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Let not Moses speak unto me, nor any of the prophets, but rather do thou speak, O Lord God, the inspirer and enlightener of all the prophets; for Thou alone without them canst perfectly instruct me, but they without Thee can profit nothing. 2. They indeed may utter words, but they cannot give the Spirit. Most beautifully do they speak, but if Thou be silent, they inflame not the heart. They teach the letter, but Thou openest the sense: they bring forth mysteries, but Thou unlockest the meaning of sealed things. They declare Thy commandments, but Thou helpest us to fulfil them. They point out the way, but Thou givest strength to walk in it. They work outwardly only, but Thou instructest and enlightenest the heart. They water, but Thou givest the increase. They cry aloud in words, but Thou impartest understanding. 3. Let not Moses therefore speak unto me, but Thou, O Lord my God, the everlasting Truth; lest I die, and prove unfruitful, if I be only warned outwardly, and not inflamed within : Lest it turn to my condemnation,-the word heard and not fulfilled, known and not loved, believed and not observed. Speak therefore, Lord, for Thy servant heareth; for Thou hast the words of eternal life. Speak Thou unto me, to the comfort, however imperfect, of my soul, and to the amendment of my whole life, and to Thy praise and glory and honour everlasting. |