35. Certain Things Worthy of Mark Con Cerning the Holy Spirit

ALSO in this intention of mind, apart from perception, it contemplates, and all the rivers of divinity flow forth into the highest part of the soul's kingdom, whence the whole kingdom of the soul is inflamed and looms with a great fire, which is the Holy Spirit, flaming in the furnace of the divine unity ; in which excel lent unity an incomprehensible love flows through all spirits and illuminates them. This fruitful unity is truly a treasure, hid in the field of the soul which, who finds by digging, and when found takes, he sells and abandons himself and all things / in order that he may possess this field, that I is, these delights. And the Holy Spirit of God is the treasure of the soul since He is the bond, and embrace and penetration of . j love,; penetrating and embracing all intro- 179 i8o THE HOLY SPIRIT verted spirits in fruitful unity. And in the same way is He chanty, which makes His lovers to fail and to be consumed with a tide of love. He Himself is the Finger of God, Who 'founded heaven, earth, and all creatures according to their nature. More over each of those who turn themselves above nature to Him He has rewarded in accordance with their dignity, and with His own self all these whom He has endowed with gifts, He has conjoined and united. Moveover, ( He is a most vast ocean wherefrom all good jhings have flowed forth. Yet nevertheless innumerable and boundless good things have remained in Him. He is a burning and brilliant Sun Divine, who has adorned the kingdom of the soul with those seven principal and supernatural rays that are His own seven sublime gifts. * He again is a boundless Fire, wherein all introverted spirits are trans formed and illumined in grace and glory, liquefied in the furnace of divine unity like unto gold, each enjoying and tasting God in accordance with their condition and dignity, notwithstanding that this 'divine Fire burns indiscriminately ; but because different metals — say copper, lead, iron, tin, silver and gold in this incomprehensible fire at the same time are fused together into one, and the several metals, that is the several spirits perceive, feel and suffer the transformation of the essential love of God in accordance with the proper excellence, nobility and dignity of these things, although that very love itself may flow forth in common, thence arises the distinction or difference of the fruition. Further that love, inexhaustible and infinite in accordance with fruition is essential, not active ; for through the overflowing of this essential charity, the Father and the Son and all spirits cleaving to Them have flowed forth and are inundated above action into fruition ; and through the flowing forth of the selfsame charity from the Father and the Son, all virtues are achieved in all creatures, and completed. Thus there fore divine charity 'is active in accordance with its emanation, urging and arousing a man to the cultivation of all the virtues. But as far as it flows within, it is essential, inun dating all united to itself by a certain incomprehensible taste. This is therefore an immense abyss, to which all distinguished minds belong by fruition ; and in which they are plunged by the love of their own selves. That is the splendid Sun, which radiating and flaming in the highest summit of the soul, draws again the intellect into contemplation and enlightenment, and makes it without fail to bend its way to eternity. That is the living and inexhaustible fountain, which from the innermost flows forth with seven chief streams which are the seven gifts, fertilising the king dom of the soul with all the virtues. More over the distinguished spirits having followed up this living and gushing streamlet to its vital source, whence that fountain derives its origin, thereupon flow forth and are inun dated from clearness to clearness, and from joys to joys. For there the honeyed drops of ineffable joys distil, which make them dissolve and flow forth in the raptures of divine blessedness. And these are the Seraphs, loftiest and supreme spirits of the age-long kingdom, burning and melting in the gaze of the fruitful, divine unity. And whosoever obtain this gift of divine wisdom for this reason, are like these seraphic spirits, each in accordance with his own enlightening and clearness. For these is also a difference of clearness in seraphic spirits, of love and fruition ; so that all spirits both in grace and glory differ and are distinguished by know ledge, by love and by taste. But he who obtains the lowest rank in the light of glory, knows love, and tastes and experiences more joys than he who excels most in grace. And though God may communicate and bestow these joys indiscriminately and equally, yet those who perceive them are unequal. Meanwhile nevertheless as far as they enjoy unity, they all superabound. But where they have lost themselves in that darkness of divine solitude there remains nothing left, nor is there anything beyond; since there is no giving or receiving, but a merely simple essence in which God and those like God are both united, immersed and have lost themselves : nor are they ever able to find themselves in this boundless essence, since there is in the same place a certain pure and most simple simplicity, and this is the chief and highest beatitude of the Kingdom of God. Nevertheless J&pse^dbra^^ earth

THE HOLY SPIRIT are like these seraphic spirits, are compelled to submit themselves and to descend to acts of charity and the carrying out of all the virtues. For as they are loftier and more distinguished so also they are more compassionate for all in their wealth or needs, whether bodily or spiritual. And God Himself indeed enjoys His Own Self beyond all the saints in a boundless fashion, seeing that His introversion is without foundation, and His essence allows of no limit. For unless His essence were without experience .of this limit it would not there be perfect fruition, but in that seJfsame limitless essence the action of the Persons ceases. Therefore God enjoys beyond all created spirits, who have deeply attained excellence and gifts, by a fixed definite measure ; but nevertheless He Himself with all His gifts, both spiritual and corporal, flows forth actively both in heaven and earth. Christ even in accordance with His own created soul, both was»*and is the highest and chief contemplative and lover of all who have ever existed, and most enjoys fruition beyond all. But that is in accordance with His own divinity which we enjoy. Nevertheless He never failed anyone, for neither will He ever fail : since none the less He offers Himself in common to all who desire Him. But those who desire Him not, undoubtedly He grieves over their cha nge, and He prays the Father for all and to the Same He offers Himself and His entire Passion. Thus in the same way, however many are the highest saints on the heavenly Thrones, who when they were on earth were courteous to all, even are now in that Supernal Kingdom, and are praying and entreating for us. The most high seraphs also, and whosoever belong to their rank, as on earth, so in heaven pray much more ardently and de sire than those of other ranks : truly those are they who know more clearly and love more ardently, and therefore also are more courteous, and more keenly thyst and desire the honour of God and the salvation of men : and to those who arc like them, those words of Christ apply when He says : — " Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God." For these lofty spirits have made peace with God, together with all their powers, and with all creatures, and i $6 THE HOLY SPIRIT they have adorned and ordered all things, each in its own dignity and nobility ; and they possess in true peace the Kingdom of God, ''withdrawn into the abyss of the divine unity or simplicity, j And this is the supreme excellence of that Kingdom and of eternal blessedness. And for this reason this king dom is not unfittingly likened to the supreme heaven, which is a certain pure and simple clearness, the immutable origin and beginning of all corporal things, and the created and corporal kingdom of God and of all the Saints. These are the right ways therefore whereby the Lord hath led the just through straight paths into a certain perpetual peace and tranquillity. And thus now at length the four out of the five principal parts are com pleted by us.