O Jesu, Thou end of the universe, in whom resteth, as in the final degree of perfection, every creature, Thou art utterly unknown to the wise of this world. For of Thee we affirm many antitheses that are yet most true, since Thou art alike Creator and creature, alike He that attracteth and He that is attracted, alike finite and infinite. They pronounce it folly to believe this possible, and because of it they flee from Thy Name, and do not receive Thy light whereby Thou hast illumined us. But, esteeming themselves wise, they remain for ever foolish, and ignorant, and blind. Yet if they would believe that Thou art Christ, God and Man, and would receive and handle the words of the Gospel as being those of so great a Master, then at last they would see most clearly that, in comparison with that light there hidden in the simplicity of Thy words,
all things else are naught but thickest shadows,
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and ignorance. Thus ’*tis only humble believers who attain unto this most gracious and lifegiving revelation. There is hidden in Thy most holy Gospel, which is heavenly food, as there was in the manna, sweetness to satisfy all desire, which can only be tasted by him that believeth and eateth. If any believeth and receiveth it, he shall prove and find the truth, because Thou didst come down from heaven and Thou alone art the Master of truth.
O good Jesu, Thou art the Tree of Life, in the Paradise of delights, and none.may feed upon that desirable life save from Thy fruit. Thou art, O Jesu, the food forbidden to all sons of Adam who, expelled from Paradise, seek their sustenance from the earth whereon they toil. Wherefore it behoveth every man to put off the old man of presumption and to put on the new man of humility, which is after Thy pattern, if he hope to taste the food of life within the Paradise of delights. The nature of the new and of the old Adam is one, but in the old Adam it is animal; in Thee, the new Adam, it is spiritual, for in Thee, Jesu, it is united unto God, who is Spirit. Wherefore, every man must needs be united in one spirit unto Thee, Jesu, even as he is by the human nature that is common to
himself and to Thee, to the end that thus in his own nature, which Thou, Jesu, dost share, he may be able to draw near unto God the Father, who is in Paradise. Now to behold God the Father, and Thee, Jesu, His Son, is to be in Paradise, and is glory everlasting. For he that stayeth outside Paradise cannot have such a vision, since neither God the Father nor Thou, Jesu, are to be found outside Paradise.
Every man, then, hath attained bliss who is united unto Thee, Jesu, as a limb unto the head. None can come unto the Father unless he be drawn by the Father. The Father drew Thy humanity, Jesu, by His Son, and by Thee,
Jesu, the Father draweth all men. Just as Thy
humanity, Jesu, is united unto the Son of God the Father, as unto the means whereby the Father drew it, even so the humanity of every man soever is united unto Thee, Jesu, as unto the one and only means whereby the Father draweth all men. Therefore without Thee, Jesu, *tis impossible for any man to attain bliss. Thou art, Jesu, the revelation of the Father. For the Father is invisible to all, and visible only to Thee, His Son, and, after Thee, to him who through Thee and Thy revelation shall be found worthy to behold Him. Thou
art, therefore, He that uniteth each of the blessed, and each of the blessed subsisteth in Thee, as that which is united in that which uniteth.
None of the wise men of this world can attain true bliss while he knoweth Thee not. None of the blessed can see the Father in Paradise save with Thee, Jesu. Antitheses are made true in the blessed, even as in Thee, Jesu, since he is united unto Thee in a rational, natural and single spirit. For every blissful spirit subsisteth in Thine, as that which is quickened in the lifegiver. Every blissful spirit beholdeth the invisible God and is united in Thee, Jesu, unto God the unapproachable and immortal. And thus in Thee the finite is united unto the infinite, and unto that which is beyond union, and the incomprehensible is possessed in an eternal fruition which is bliss most joyous and inexhaustible. Be merciful unto me, Jesu, be merciful, and grant me to behold Thee unveiled, and my soul is healed!
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