PURITY OF MIND AND UNITY OF PURPOSE
A MAN is raised up from the earth by two wings -- simplicity
and purity. There must be simplicity in his intention and purity in
his desires. Simplicity leads to God, purity embraces and enjoys Him.
If your heart is free from ill-ordered affection, no good deed
will be difficult for you. If you aim at and seek after nothing but
the pleasure of God and the welfare of your neighbor, you will enjoy
freedom within.
If your heart were right, then every created thing would be a
mirror of life for you and a book of holy teaching, for there is no
creature so small and worthless that it does not show forth the
goodness of God. If inwardly you were good and pure, you would see all
things clearly and understand them rightly, for a pure heart
penetrates to heaven and hell, and as a man is within, so he judges
what is without. If there be joy in the world, the pure of heart
certainly possess it; and if there be anguish and affliction anywhere,
an evil conscience knows it too well.
As iron cast into fire loses its rust and becomes glowing
white, so he who turns completely to God is stripped of his
sluggishness and changed into a new man. When a man begins to grow
lax, he fears a little toil and welcomes external comfort, but when he
begins perfectly to conquer himself and to walk bravely in the ways of
God, then he thinks those things less difficult which he thought so
hard before. |
Of a pure mind and simple intention
By two wings is man lifted above earthly things,
even by simplicity and purity. Simplicity ought to be in the
intention, purity in the affection. Simplicity reacheth towards God,
purity apprehendeth Him and tasteth Him. No good action will be
distasteful to thee if thou be free within from inordinate affection.
If thou reachest after and seekest, nothing but the will of God and
the benefit of thy neighbour, thou wilt entirely enjoy inward
liberty. If thine heart were right, then should every creature be a
mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine. There is no creature so
small and vile but that it showeth us the goodness of God.
2. If thou wert good and pure within, then
wouldst thou look upon all things without hurt and understand them
aright. A pure heart seeth the very depths of heaven and hell. Such
as each one is inwardly, so judgeth he outwardly. If there is any joy
in the world surely the man of pure heart possesseth it, and if there
is anywhere tribulation and anguish, the evil conscience knoweth it
best. As iron cast into the fire loseth rust and is made altogether
glowing, so the man who turneth himself altogether unto God is freed
from slothfulness and changed into a new man.
3. When a man beginneth to grow lukewarm, then he
feareth a little labour, and willingly accepteth outward consolation;
but when he beginneth perfectly to conquer himself and to walk
manfully in the way of God, then he counteth as nothing those things
which aforetime seemed to be so grievous unto him. |