CHAPTER XXVIII
How, after a Union with the Divine Will, the inward Man standeth
immoveable, the while the outward Man is moved hither and thither.
Now, when this union truly cometh to pass and becometh established, the inward
man standeth henceforward immoveable in this union; and God suffereth the
outward man to be moved hither and thither, from this to that, of such things
as are necessary and right. So that the outward man saith in sincerity "I have
no will to be or not to be, to live or die, to know or not to know, to do or to
leave undone and the like; but I am ready for all that is to be, or ought to
be, and obedient thereunto, whether I have to do or to suffer." And thus the
outward man hath no Wherefore or purpose, but only to do his part to further
the Eternal Will. For it is perceived of a truth, that the inward man shall
stand immoveable, and that it is needful for the outward man to be moved. And
if the inward man have any Wherefore in the actions of the outward man, he
saith only that such things must be and ought to be, as are ordained by the
Eternal Will. And where God Himself dwelleth in the man, it is thus; as we
plainly see in Christ. Moreover, where there is this union, which is the
offspring of a Divine light and dwelleth in its beams, there is no spiritual
pride or irreverent spirit, but boundless humility, and a lowly broken heart;
also an honest blameless walk, justice, peace, content, and all that is of
virtue must needs be there. Where they are not, there is no right union, as we
have said. For just as neither this thing nor that can bring about or further
this union, so there is nothing which hath power to frustrate or hinder it,
save the man himself with his self-will, that doeth him this great wrong. Of
this be well assured.