But if the Love should proffer itself to a Soul, could not that Soul find it, nor lay hold of it, without going for it into Nothing? MASTER No verily. Men seek and find not, because they seek it not in the naked Ground where it lieth; but in something or other where it never will be, nor can be. They seek it in their _own Will_, and they find it not. They seek it in their _Self-Desire_, and they meet not with it. They look for it in an _Image_, or in an _Opinion_, or in _Affection_, or a natural _Devotion_ and _Fervour_, and they lose the substance by thus hunting after a shadow. They search for it in something sensible or imaginary, in somewhat which they may have a more peculiar natural inclination for, and adhesion to; and so they miss of what they seek, for want of diving into the Supernatural and Supersensual Ground, where the Treasure is hid. Now, should the Love graciously condescend to proffer itself to such as these, and even to present itself evidently before the Eye of their Spirit, yet could it find no place at all in them, neither could it be held by them, or remain with them. DISCIPLE Why not, if the Love should be willing and ready to offer itself, and to stay with them? MASTER Because the _Imaginariness_ which is in their own Will hath set itself up in the place thereof. And so this Imaginariness would have the Love in it, but the Love fleeth away, for it is its prison. The Love may offer itself; but it cannot abide where the _Self-Desire_ attracteth or imagineth. That Will which attracteth Nothing, and to which Nothing adhereth, is only capable of receiving it; for it dwelleth only in Nothing, as I said, and therefore they find it not. DISCIPLE If it dwell only in Nothing, what is now the office of it in Nothing? MASTER The office of the Love here is to penetrate incessantly into Something; and if it penetrate into, and find a place in Something which is standing still and at rest, then its business is to take possession thereof. And when it hath there taken possession, then it rejoiceth therein with its flaming Love-fire, even as the sun doth in the visible world. And then the office of it is without intermission to enkindle a fire in this Something which may burn it up; and then with the flames thereof exceedingly to enflame itself, and raise the heat of the Love-fire by it, even seven degrees higher. DISCIPLE O, loving Master, how shall I understand this? MASTER