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Concise-view-of-the-way-to-god
Unknown
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Concise-view-of-the-way-to-god — Unknown.
Author: Unknown
- 72 chapters
- 18 PDF pages
- 33,000 words
- ≈ 254 min read
- English
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Table of Contents
1converted, it begins to live by grace.
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min2reflect, and tells it that God is within, and must be sought there;
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min3soul, as it is a pledge of happiness to come; the road it is to pursue
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min4experience a salty knowledge. They never walk by the light of the
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min5have no appetite or liberty to go any other way; all else limits and
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min6and is easily hidden. This gives rise to great suffering, especially in
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min7influence, but walk in blindness, do they do the will of God? They
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min8stage to another, by a faith more or less certain, and experience
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min9purifies the attachment or tendency and natural taste that we have
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min10he so influenced it against itself that it had to cut off all its
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min11senses belongs to the second stage, which I have called the touch in
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min12has cost us so much trouble, and think ourselves forever relieved
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min13strength of resistance sinks and diminishes, and, as this stage
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min14and must follow the inward; so that when we are employed in active
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min15inward; and this is brought about by means of this strong stillness.
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min16and more frequent are our dry patches, and the greater our
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min17inward and outward desolation; for the one always follows the other.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min18labour, is here gradually taken away.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min19labour, is here gradually taken away.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min20soul be willing to be so desolated as to die wholly to self. For an
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min21they suffer more distress than others, yet they have less reason to
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min22to do what we did in the earlier stages; as this increases, we begin to
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min23which is not essential, work then begins on what is essential; and as
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min24way so far has been to cause the soul to pass, from its complexity,
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min25continue with what is spiritual, and end by leading the soul
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min26the soul together, so that it cannot continue to spread among a
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min27without, and what is worst of all, is delivered over to temptations;
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min28fights, and defends himself as well as he can, always managing to
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min29good, all sorts of weaknesses, defencelessness, no inner refuge; God
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min30my will was not in harmony with the corruption of nature and the
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min31beginning of God's loving activity, nature and the senses became, as
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min32extent of the designs of God, without being anxious about ourselves,
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min33suffering and wretched state, it is then that God appears; and if any
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min34remissions, which, while they provide space for taking breath, make
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min35without support, we can do nothing but die in the arms of Love.
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min36living heat, which only gradually disappears. All states cleanse the
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min37happens gradually; we vibrate between life and death, being
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min38finds himself living, and can never afterward doubt that he was dead
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min39continually inward toward the centre, until, having reduced the soul
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min40not in itself, but in God; especially when the life is well advanced.
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min41there are some who do not pass through these painful deaths; they
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min42earlier purifications, which are, indeed, a death in relation to the life
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min43expression or conception. It is called a departure, a separation from
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min44from everything that would be an obstacle to its perfect union with
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min45mystical death is not complete until it has passed into God. Until
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min46the means that produce it. This distaste is felt whenever these
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min47which are exactly the opposite to those which used to keep us alive;
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min48is, lose every self-appropriation; for we never know how strongly we
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min49united to Him in truth without any intermediary; for in losing
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min50over it, that it can no longer do anything but what He pleases and as
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min51the moment of resurrection, when God, causing it to pass into Him,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min52for clarity is opposed to faith, and they could not experience that,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min53living seed, which is no other than the Life and Spirit of the Word,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min54transformed into Him, as food is transformed into the one who has
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min55becomes annihilated in order to take on His. This goes on constantly
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min56attaches to the soul; giving his Love, full of Charity, to it. For the
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min57senses and faculties of their life to leave them dead; for though there
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min58remains, every means is left behind, and the future consists in our
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min59powers of the soul, and a cessation of every working, however
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min60experience. The soul is silent in the state of death, but its stillness is
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min61put off what it has. It receives willingly whatever impressions are
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min62these means; that they desire God only. He is anxious that they
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min63which we not only exist in God, but commune with Him. In a soul
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min64Trinity, where the Father of spirits imparts his spiritual creativity,
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min65it is not clear in reference to itself, but to those it speaks with; for
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min66inward and celestial life of the soul thus full of life in God, which He
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min67far advanced, that it goes its way without a thought for any creature
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min68them under the most abject humiliations and a feeble exterior,
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min69between God and the soul; it is no longer able to separate itself from
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min70a more extended quality in itself. Everything is expanded, God
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min71in Him; but it costs them nothing, for they will sacrifice everything
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min72paths; for, having no longer any anxiety about themselves, and
pp. 17–18 · ≈ 5 min
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min2reflect, and tells it that God is within, and must be sought there;
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min3soul, as it is a pledge of happiness to come; the road it is to pursue
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min4experience a salty knowledge. They never walk by the light of the
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min5have no appetite or liberty to go any other way; all else limits and
pp. 3–3 · ≈ 3 min6and is easily hidden. This gives rise to great suffering, especially in
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min7influence, but walk in blindness, do they do the will of God? They
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min8stage to another, by a faith more or less certain, and experience
pp. 4–4 · ≈ 4 min9purifies the attachment or tendency and natural taste that we have
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min10he so influenced it against itself that it had to cut off all its
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min11senses belongs to the second stage, which I have called the touch in
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min12has cost us so much trouble, and think ourselves forever relieved
pp. 5–5 · ≈ 3 min13strength of resistance sinks and diminishes, and, as this stage
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min14and must follow the inward; so that when we are employed in active
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min15inward; and this is brought about by means of this strong stillness.
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min16and more frequent are our dry patches, and the greater our
pp. 6–6 · ≈ 3 min17inward and outward desolation; for the one always follows the other.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min18labour, is here gradually taken away.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min19labour, is here gradually taken away.
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min20soul be willing to be so desolated as to die wholly to self. For an
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min21they suffer more distress than others, yet they have less reason to
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min22to do what we did in the earlier stages; as this increases, we begin to
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min23which is not essential, work then begins on what is essential; and as
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min24way so far has been to cause the soul to pass, from its complexity,
pp. 7–7 · ≈ 4 min25continue with what is spiritual, and end by leading the soul
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min26the soul together, so that it cannot continue to spread among a
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min27without, and what is worst of all, is delivered over to temptations;
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min28fights, and defends himself as well as he can, always managing to
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min29good, all sorts of weaknesses, defencelessness, no inner refuge; God
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min30my will was not in harmony with the corruption of nature and the
pp. 8–8 · ≈ 4 min31beginning of God's loving activity, nature and the senses became, as
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min32extent of the designs of God, without being anxious about ourselves,
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min33suffering and wretched state, it is then that God appears; and if any
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min34remissions, which, while they provide space for taking breath, make
pp. 9–9 · ≈ 4 min35without support, we can do nothing but die in the arms of Love.
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min36living heat, which only gradually disappears. All states cleanse the
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min37happens gradually; we vibrate between life and death, being
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min38finds himself living, and can never afterward doubt that he was dead
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min39continually inward toward the centre, until, having reduced the soul
pp. 10–10 · ≈ 4 min40not in itself, but in God; especially when the life is well advanced.
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min41there are some who do not pass through these painful deaths; they
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min42earlier purifications, which are, indeed, a death in relation to the life
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min43expression or conception. It is called a departure, a separation from
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min44from everything that would be an obstacle to its perfect union with
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min45mystical death is not complete until it has passed into God. Until
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min46the means that produce it. This distaste is felt whenever these
pp. 11–11 · ≈ 4 min47which are exactly the opposite to those which used to keep us alive;
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min48is, lose every self-appropriation; for we never know how strongly we
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min49united to Him in truth without any intermediary; for in losing
pp. 12–12 · ≈ 3 min50over it, that it can no longer do anything but what He pleases and as
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min51the moment of resurrection, when God, causing it to pass into Him,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min52for clarity is opposed to faith, and they could not experience that,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min53living seed, which is no other than the Life and Spirit of the Word,
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min54transformed into Him, as food is transformed into the one who has
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min55becomes annihilated in order to take on His. This goes on constantly
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min56attaches to the soul; giving his Love, full of Charity, to it. For the
pp. 13–13 · ≈ 3 min57senses and faculties of their life to leave them dead; for though there
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min58remains, every means is left behind, and the future consists in our
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min59powers of the soul, and a cessation of every working, however
pp. 14–14 · ≈ 4 min60experience. The soul is silent in the state of death, but its stillness is
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min61put off what it has. It receives willingly whatever impressions are
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min62these means; that they desire God only. He is anxious that they
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min63which we not only exist in God, but commune with Him. In a soul
pp. 15–15 · ≈ 4 min64Trinity, where the Father of spirits imparts his spiritual creativity,
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min65it is not clear in reference to itself, but to those it speaks with; for
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min66inward and celestial life of the soul thus full of life in God, which He
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min67far advanced, that it goes its way without a thought for any creature
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min68them under the most abject humiliations and a feeble exterior,
pp. 16–16 · ≈ 3 min69between God and the soul; it is no longer able to separate itself from
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min70a more extended quality in itself. Everything is expanded, God
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min71in Him; but it costs them nothing, for they will sacrifice everything
pp. 17–17 · ≈ 4 min72paths; for, having no longer any anxiety about themselves, and
pp. 17–18 · ≈ 5 min
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