第98章

5."But yet (which is far better) they love Me above themselves and their own merits.For being caught up above themselves, and drawn beyond self-love, they go all straightforward to the love of Me, and they rest in Me in perfect enjoyment.There is nothing which can turn them away or press them down; for being full of Eternal Truth, they burn with the fire of inextinguishable charity.Therefore let all carnal and natural men hold their peace concerning the state of the Saints, for they know nothing save to love their own personal enjoyment.They take away and add according to their own inclination, not as it pleaseth the Eternal Truth.

6."In many men this is ignorance, chiefly is it so in those who, being little enlightened, rarely learn to love any one with perfect spiritual love.They are still much drawn by natural affection and human friendship to these or to those: and as they reckon of themselves in lower matters, so also do they frame imaginations of things heavenly.But there is an immeasurable difference between those things which they imperfectly imagine, and these things which enlightened men behold through supernatural revelation.

7."Take heed, therefore, My son, that thou treat not curiously those things which surpass thy knowledge, but rather make this thy business and give attention to it, namely, that thou seek to be found, even though it be the least, in the Kingdom of God.And even if any one should know who were holier than others, or who were held greatest in the Kingdom ofHeaven; what should that knowledge profit him, unless through this knowledge he should humble himself before Me, and should rise up to give greater praise unto My name? He who considereth how great are his own sins, how small his virtues, and how far he is removed from the perfection of the Saints, doeth far more acceptably in the sight of God, than he who disputeth about their greatness or littleness.

8."They are altogether well content, if men would learn to be content, and to refrain from vain babbling.They glory not of their own merits, seeing they ascribe no good unto themselves, but all unto Me, seeing that I of my infinite charity have given them all things.They are filled with so great love of the Divinity, and with such overflowing joy, that no glory is lacking to them, neither can any felicity be lacking.All the Saints, the higher they are exalted in glory, the humbler are they in themselves, and the nearer and dearer are they unto Me.And so thou hast it written that they cast their crowns before God and fell on their faces before the Lamb, and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.(7)9."Many ask who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, who know not whether they shall be worthy to be counted among the least.It is a great thing to be even the least in Heaven, where all are great, because all shall be called, and shall be, the sons of God.A little one shall become a thousand, but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.For when the disciples asked who should be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, they received no other answer than this, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.But whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same shall be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.(8)10.Woe unto them who disdain to humble themselves willingly with the little children; for the low gate of the kingdom of Heaven will not suffer them to enter in.Woe also to them who are rich, who have their consolation here;(9) because whilst the poor enter into the kingdom of God, they shall stand lamenting without.Rejoice ye humble, and exult ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God if only ye walk in the truth.

(1) Psalm cxix.137.(2) Psalm xix.9.(3) Corinthians xiv.33.(4)Psalm xxi.3.(5) John xv.19.(6) Wisd.vi.8.(7) Revelation iv.10; v.

14.(8) Matthew xviii.3.(9) Phillipians ii.21.