A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [14]
pure mirror of all discipline and meekness! O Thou aspect of
graciousness to all the saints, how very blessed is he who is found worthy
of Thy sweet espousals!
Eternal Wisdom,--Many are called to them, but few are chosen.
The Servant.--Gentle Lord, either they have broken with Thee, or Thou
with them.
Eternal Wisdom.--Lift up, therefore, thy eyes, and behold this vision.
The Servant lifted up his eyes and was terrified, and, with a deep
sigh, said: Woe to me, dear Lord, that ever I was born! Do I see aright, or
is it only a dream? I saw Thee before in such richness of beauty, and such
tenderness of love; now I see nothing but a poor, outcast, miserable pilgrim
who stands wretchedly leaning on his staff before an old decayed city. The
trenches are in ruins, the walls falling down, only that, here and there,
the high tops of the old timber work still project aloft; and in the city is
a great multitude of people; among them are many that look like wild beasts
in a human form: and the miserable pilgrim goes wandering about to see if
any one will take him by the hand. Alas! I behold the multitude drive him
with insult away, and hardly look at him, because of the things about which
they are busy. And yet some, but only a very few, offer to give him their
hands; this the other wild beasts come and prevent. Now I hear the miserable
pilgrim begin to sigh woefully, and cry aloud: O heaven and earth have pity
on me--me who have garnered up this city with such bitter toil, and who am
so badly welcomed in it, while those who have spent no labour upon it are
yet so kindly received!
Lord, such is what has been shown me in the vision. O Thou eternal God,
what does it mean? Am I right or wrong?
Eternal Wisdom.--This vision is a vision of pure truth. Hearken to a
lamentable thing; O let it touch thy heart with pity! I am the miserable
pilgrim whom thou didst see. At one time I was in great honour in that city,
but now I am brought down to great misery and driven out.
The Servant.--Dearest Lord! what is this city, what are the people in
it?
Eternal Wisdom.--This decayed city is an image of that spiritual life
in which I was once so worthily served. And while they were living in it so
holily and securely, it begins in many places to fall very much to ruin; the
trenches begin to decay, and the walls to crack, that is to say, devout
obedience, voluntary poverty, secluded purity in holy simplicity, begin to
disappear, and, at last, to such a degree that nothing is to be seen
standing, except the high timber work of mere exterior observance. As to the
great multitude, the beasts in human form, they are worldly hearts under
spiritual disguises, who, in the vain pursuit of transitory things, drive Me
out of their souls. That a few should, nevertheless, offer to give Me their
hands, but are hindered by the rest, signifies that some men of good
intentions and devout feelings are perverted by the speech and evil example
of others. The staff on which thou didst see Me stand leaning, is the cross
of My bitter passion, with which I admonish them at all times to think on My
sufferings, and to turn, with the love of their hearts to Me alone. But the
cry of misery thou didst hear is My death which even here begins to cry
aloud, and ever cries aloud, because of those in whom neither My
unfathomable love nor My bitter death is able to do so much as to expel the
worm of sinful thoughts from their hearts.
The Servant.--O Lord, how it cuts through my very heart and soul to
think Thou art so lovable, and yet, in spite of all Thy advances, art in
many hearts so utterly despised. Ah! tender Lord, what will Thy advances be
to those who, though they see Thee in the miserable shape in which Thou art
rejected by the multitude, yet stretch out their hands to Thee with sincere
faith and love?
Eternal Wisdom.--Those who for My sake give up perishable affections,
and receive Me with sincere faith and love, and remain constant to the end,
will I espouse with My divine
graciousness to all the saints, how very blessed is he who is found worthy
of Thy sweet espousals!
Eternal Wisdom,--Many are called to them, but few are chosen.
The Servant.--Gentle Lord, either they have broken with Thee, or Thou
with them.
Eternal Wisdom.--Lift up, therefore, thy eyes, and behold this vision.
The Servant lifted up his eyes and was terrified, and, with a deep
sigh, said: Woe to me, dear Lord, that ever I was born! Do I see aright, or
is it only a dream? I saw Thee before in such richness of beauty, and such
tenderness of love; now I see nothing but a poor, outcast, miserable pilgrim
who stands wretchedly leaning on his staff before an old decayed city. The
trenches are in ruins, the walls falling down, only that, here and there,
the high tops of the old timber work still project aloft; and in the city is
a great multitude of people; among them are many that look like wild beasts
in a human form: and the miserable pilgrim goes wandering about to see if
any one will take him by the hand. Alas! I behold the multitude drive him
with insult away, and hardly look at him, because of the things about which
they are busy. And yet some, but only a very few, offer to give him their
hands; this the other wild beasts come and prevent. Now I hear the miserable
pilgrim begin to sigh woefully, and cry aloud: O heaven and earth have pity
on me--me who have garnered up this city with such bitter toil, and who am
so badly welcomed in it, while those who have spent no labour upon it are
yet so kindly received!
Lord, such is what has been shown me in the vision. O Thou eternal God,
what does it mean? Am I right or wrong?
Eternal Wisdom.--This vision is a vision of pure truth. Hearken to a
lamentable thing; O let it touch thy heart with pity! I am the miserable
pilgrim whom thou didst see. At one time I was in great honour in that city,
but now I am brought down to great misery and driven out.
The Servant.--Dearest Lord! what is this city, what are the people in
it?
Eternal Wisdom.--This decayed city is an image of that spiritual life
in which I was once so worthily served. And while they were living in it so
holily and securely, it begins in many places to fall very much to ruin; the
trenches begin to decay, and the walls to crack, that is to say, devout
obedience, voluntary poverty, secluded purity in holy simplicity, begin to
disappear, and, at last, to such a degree that nothing is to be seen
standing, except the high timber work of mere exterior observance. As to the
great multitude, the beasts in human form, they are worldly hearts under
spiritual disguises, who, in the vain pursuit of transitory things, drive Me
out of their souls. That a few should, nevertheless, offer to give Me their
hands, but are hindered by the rest, signifies that some men of good
intentions and devout feelings are perverted by the speech and evil example
of others. The staff on which thou didst see Me stand leaning, is the cross
of My bitter passion, with which I admonish them at all times to think on My
sufferings, and to turn, with the love of their hearts to Me alone. But the
cry of misery thou didst hear is My death which even here begins to cry
aloud, and ever cries aloud, because of those in whom neither My
unfathomable love nor My bitter death is able to do so much as to expel the
worm of sinful thoughts from their hearts.
The Servant.--O Lord, how it cuts through my very heart and soul to
think Thou art so lovable, and yet, in spite of all Thy advances, art in
many hearts so utterly despised. Ah! tender Lord, what will Thy advances be
to those who, though they see Thee in the miserable shape in which Thou art
rejected by the multitude, yet stretch out their hands to Thee with sincere
faith and love?
Eternal Wisdom.--Those who for My sake give up perishable affections,
and receive Me with sincere faith and love, and remain constant to the end,
will I espouse with My divine