CHAPTER X
How the perfect Men have no other Desire than that they may be to
the Eternal Goodness what His Hand is to a Man, and how they have lost the Fear
of Hell, and Hope of Heaven.
Now let us mark: Where men are enlightened with the true light, they perceive
that all which they might desire or choose, is nothing to that which all
creatures, as creatures, ever desired or chose or knew, Therefore they renounce
all desire and choice, and commit and commend themselves and all things to the
Eternal Goodness. Nevertheless, there remaineth in them a desire to go forward
and get nearer to the Eternal Goodness; that is, to come to a clearer
knowledge, and warmer love, and more comfortable assurance, and perfect
obedience and subjection; so that every enlightened man could say: "I would
fain be to the Eternal Goodness, what His own hand is to a man." And he feareth
always that he is not enough so, and longeth for the salvation of all men. And
such men do not call this longing their own, nor take it unto themselves, for
they know well that this desire is not of man, but of the Eternal Goodness; for
whatsoever is good shall no one take unto himself as his own, seeing that it
belongeth to the Eternal Goodness, only.
Moreover, these men are in a state of
freedom, because they have lost the fear of pain or hell, and the hope of
reward or heaven, but are living in pure submission to the Eternal Goodness, in
the perfect freedom of fervent love. This mind was in Christ in perfection, and
is also in His followers, in some more, and in some less. But it is a sorrow
and shame to think that the Eternal Goodness is ever most graciously guiding
and drawing us, and we will not yield to it. What is better and nobler than
true poorness in spirit? Yet when that is held up before us, we will have none
of it, but are always seeking ourselves, and our own things. We like to have
our mouths always filled with good things, that we may have in ourselves a
lively taste of pleasure and sweetness. When this is so, we are well pleased,
and think it standeth not amiss with us. But we are yet a long way off from a
perfect life. For when God will draw us up to something higher, that is, to an
utter loss and forsaking of our own things, spiritual and natural, and
withdraweth His comfort and sweetness from us, we faint and are troubled, and
can in no wise bring our minds to it; and we forget God and neglect holy
exercises, and fancy we are lost for ever. This is a great error and a bad
sign. For a true lover of God, loveth Him or the Eternal Goodness alike, in
having and in not having, in sweetness and bitterness, in good or evil report,
and the like, for he seeketh alone the honour of God, and not his own, either
in spiritual or natural things. And therefore he standeth alike unshaken in all
things, at all seasons. Hereby let every man prove himself, how he standeth
towards God, his Creator and Lord.