He who is not divinely enlightened will not be sublimely pure. He who has not clear apprehension of TAO will find this beyond his reach. And he who is not enlightened by TAO,--alas indeed for him! What then is TAO?--There is the TAO of God, and the TAO of man. Inaction and compliance make the TAO of God: action and entanglement the TAO of man. The TAO of God is fundamental: the TAO of man is accidental. The distance which separates them is great. Let us all take heed thereto! CHAPTER XII. THE UNIVERSE. _Argument_:--The prëeminence of TAO--All things informed thereby--The true Sage illumined thereby--His attributes--His perfection--Man's senses his bane--Illustrations. Vast as is the universe, its phenomena are regular. Countless though its contents, the laws which govern these are uniform. Many though its inhabitants, that which dominates them is sovereignty. Sovereignty begins in virtue and ends in God. Therefore it is called divine. The term here used has been elsewhere rendered "infinite." Of old, the empire was under the sovereignty of inaction. There was the virtue of God,--nothing more. Meaning, of course, TAO. In other words, all things existed under their own natural conditions. Words being in accordance with TAO, the sovereignty of the empire was correct. Delimitations being in accordance with TAO, the duties of prince and subject were clear. Abilities being in accordance with TAO, the officials of the empire governed. The point of view being always in accordance with TAO, all things responded thereto. Under the reign of inaction, the natural prevailed over the artificial. (1) The sovereign could utter no cruel mandate. (2) Sovereign and subject each played his allotted part. (3) The right men were in the right place. (4) All things were as they were, and not as man would have them. Thus, virtue was the connecting link between God and man, while TAO spread throughout all creation. Men were controlled by outward circumstances, applying their in-born skill to the development of civilised life. This skill was bound up with the circumstances of life, and these with duty, and duty with virtue, and virtue with TAO, and TAO with God. Therefore it has been said, "As for those who nourished the empire of old, having no desires for themselves, the empire was not in want. They did nothing, and all things proceeded on their course. They preserved a dignified repose, and the people rested in peace." We are not told who said these words. They are not in the _Tao-Tê-Ching_; and yet if Lao Tzŭ did not utter them, it is difficult to say who did. The _Record_ says, "By converging to ONE, all things may be accomplished. By the virtue which is without intention, even the supernatural may be subdued." How much more _man_? Kuo Hsiang says the _Record_ was the name of a work ascribed to Lao Tzŭ. The Master said, "TAO covers and supports all things,"--so vast is its extent. Each man should prepare his heart accordingly.