And what I have said here of the Divine, is no less to be considered by
you in the participation of the Diabolical Essence and Nature, which is
the Power of Darkness, as to the manifold modes, degrees, and
appropriations thereof in the false Will. In this World there is strife
between them, but when this World hath reached in anyone the Limit, then
the Principle catcheth that which is its own, and so the Soul receiveth
companions accordingly, that is, either Angels or Devils.
To whom the Scholar again: Heaven and Hell then being in us at strife in
the time of this life, and God himself being also thus near to us, where
can Angels and Devils dwell?
And the Master answered him thus: Where thou dost not dwell as to thy
_Self-hood_ and to thine _own Will_, there the holy Angels dwell with
thee, and every where all over round about thee. Remember this well. On
the contrary, where thou dwellest as to thyself, or in Self-seeking, and
Self-will, there to be sure the Devils will be with thee, and will take
up their abode with thee, and dwell all over thee, and round about thee
everywhere, which God in his mercy prevent.
I understand not this, said the Scholar, so perfectly well as I could
wish. Be pleased to make it a little more plain to me.
The Master then spake: Mark well what I am going to say. Where the Will
of God in anything willeth, there is God manifested. And in this very
manifestation of God the Angels do dwell. But where God in any Creature
willeth not with the Will of that Creature, there God is not manifested
to it, neither can he be; but dwelleth in himself, without the
co-operation thereof, and subjection to him in humility. There God is an
unmanifested God to the Creature. So the Angels dwell not with such an
one; for wherever they dwell, there is the Glory of God; and they make
his Glory. What then dwelleth in such a Creature as this? God dwelleth
not therein; the Angels dwell not therein; God willeth not therein; the
Angels also will not therein. The case is evidently this; in that Soul
or Creature its own will is without God's Will; and there the Devil
dwelleth; and with him all that is without God, and without Christ. This
is the truth; lay it to heart.
The _Scholar_ said: It is possible I may ask several impertinent
questions; but I beseech you, good Sir, to have patience with me, and to
pity my ignorance, if I ask what may appear to you perhaps ridiculous,
or may not be at all fit for me to expect an answer to. For I have
several questions still to propound to you; but I am ashamed of my own
thoughts in this matter.
The _Master_ said: Be plain with me, and propose whatever is upon your
mind; yea, be not ashamed even to appear ridiculous, so that by querying
you may but become wiser.
The _Scholar_ thanked his Master for this liberty and said: How far then
are Heaven and Hell asunder?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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