Chapter V
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
God reveals them to him through His own Spirit. But whatever human understanding attains according to this mode by a sort of ecstasy of mind, the watchtower of the third consideration does not grasp it because of the immeasurable constriction of its limitation.
In fact, whatever human experience sees when snatched away by means of ecstasy of mind pertains to another kind of contemplation and not to this kind. Therefore, why marvel if the limitation of its knowledge constricts the human mind especially in that consideration where the mind labors with great helplessness of sense with respect to those things which ought to be investigated? For whatever it gathers by means of thinking or discovers by means of the similitude of visible things concerning knowledge of invisible things, this is found to be almost nothing in comparison with truth.
Why is it that no measure at all is prescribed for the crown, while a measure is portrayed so carefully in the description of the propitiatory? I think that it is clearly meant to be understood from this why there should be so much lack of gold in this present work.
Chapter V How strongly the mind is able to pursue this contemplation and how it advances to it by much consideration and knowledge of itself
He who seeks to abound in the gold of wisdom ought to pursue this fourth contemplation according to his strength and to exert himself vigorously in constructing the propitiatory. For a work of this sort is very pleasing in every way, and in this work every person offers of his own accord almost always more than is necessary—not to say as much as suffices. An abundance of gold will never be lacking for the one who pursues this work vigorously.
If you seek a reason, accept a reason. When you begin to pursue spiritual contemplations and to rise up through consideration of your spirit to contemplation of spirits and to make spiritual things from spiritual things in this way, you also begin in a like manner to be spiritual. In this contemplation you will undoubtedly complete what you began to be in the preceding contemplation, namely spiritual. Do you know sufficiently that the spiritual person judges all
THE MYSTICAL ARK
things, of what sort this knowledge will be, and how great will be the abundance of this gold that is able to judge all things? Do you still wish it to be shown openly to you from what source you can provide this abundance of gold for yourself? Does it go beyond comprehension that the kingdom of God is within us? Behold, you say, the kingdom of heaven is within us but is gold within us in a similar way? Why not, I say.
So! Have you forgotten that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field? Behold, from what source an abundance of gold abounds abundantly to you. You have it at hand. Dig it up, if you will. Go quickly, sell what you have, purchase this field, and seek the hidden treasure. Whatever in the world you crave, whatever in the world you hesitate to part with, expend it freely for freedom of the heart. After purchasing the field, dig in the depths of it, exulting no doubt like persons who dig up a treasure and rejoice greatly when they have discovered a sepulcher.
It is necessary to seek this treasure in the depths because wisdom is drawn from a hidden place.
But wretched me; from what source does gold come to me for the gilding, the crown, and the propitiatory?
I do not have silver and gold, and from what and how can these things be made? By what art, I ask, can I procure this gold for myself?
I am not able to dig; I blush to beg.
I know what I shall do.
I shall go quickly to my Father, the Father of mercies from whom comes every good gift and every perfect gift, because He who gives copiously to everyone and does not reproach them is rich toward all. And so I pour out my prayer in His presence; I announce before Him my poverty and lack of gold; and I shall say to Him: Lord, you know my lack of wisdom; my property is like as nothing before you; give me understanding. Lord, and I have gold and am rich.
Since I am weak, guard my soul and I shall have a propitiatory of the sort I crave. O how great an abundance of gold existed for him who was able to sing in truth: "I have understood more than all who teach me.
I have understood more than the elders because I have sought your commandments" (Ps. 118:99-100). O what kind of propitiatory he had who sang confidently before the Lord: "You have protected me from the assembly of the wicked, from the multitude of those working iniquity" (Ps. 63:3). Late but at last Paul made a propitiatory for himself when he declared openly, "I am aware of nothing against
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
myself (1 Cor.
4:4). Without great counsel he would not have known how to cleanse the ark of his conscience and without a golden propitiatory he would not have been able to keep clean the secret places of the heart. But up to this time, when he had been persecuting the Church of God, I think that he did not have a propitiatory. However, since he did this unknowingly and did not have the gold from which he might make himself a propitiatory it was reckoned to him for an indulgence. In what way was he able to make the propitiatory when he saw nothing with open eyes? But after he received the light of his eyes (Acts 9:17-18) he became a man who sees his poverty and henceforth takes more attentive care of himself; and he returned into himself and learned by experience that the kingdom of heaven is undoubtedly within us. For after finding the treasure hidden in a field he was enriched very much; and after being made famous he began to possess much property, beyond measure, more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Finally listen to someone glorying not so much about the gold as about the treasure: "However, we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Cor. 4:7). O man of riches; O man truly made famous!
Was not that man who spoke of wisdom among the perfect the richest among all the Easterners? But what are we to say concerning that person who not lately like Paul but from the beginning of life has made for himself a propitiatory by which he also has preserved the purity of his heart? For this reason he also said: "For my heart does not reproach me with regard to all my days" (fob 27:6). Finally if you also desire to fulfill the Lord's command, guard your heart with all care and you have begun to make the sort of propitiatory the Lord requires from you. Learn by an example what it is advantageous to do; hear how David points himself out to you as an example: "I was meditating in the night with my heart; I was busily engaged and I searched my spirit"
(Ps.
76:7). He was meditating with his heart; you also meditate with your heart. He searched his own spirit; you also search your own spirit. Occupy yourself with the field; pay attention to yourself. While pursuing this exercise you will undoubtedly discover the treasure hidden in a field.