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18. If souls please thee, let them be loved in God; for they also
are mutable, but in Him are they firmly established, else would they
pass, and pass away. In Him, then, let them be beloved; and draw
unto Him along with thee as many souls as thou canst, and say to
them, "Him let us love, Him let us love; He created these, nor
is He far off. For He did not create them, and then depart; but
they are of Him, and in Him. Behold, there is He wherever truth
is known. He is within the very heart, but yet hath the heart
wandered from Him. Return to your heart, O ye transgressors, and
cleave fast unto Him that made you. Stand with Him, and you shall
stand fast. Rest in Him, and you shall be at rest. Whither go ye
in rugged paths? Whither go ye? The good that you love is from
Him; and as it has respect unto Him it is both good and pleasant,
and justly shall it be embittered,s because whatsoever cometh from Him
is unjustly loved if He be forsaken for it. Why, then, will ye
wander farther and farther in these difficult and toilsome ways? There
is no rest where ye seek it. Seek what ye seek; but it is not there
where ye seek. Ye seek a blessed life in the land of death; it is not
there. For could a blessed life be where life itself is not?"
19. But our very Life descended hither, and bore our death, and
slew it, out of the abundance of His own life; and thundering He
called loudly to us to return hence to Him into that secret place
whence He came forth to us first into the Virgin's womb, where
the human creature was married to Him, our mortal flesh, that it
might not be for ever mortal, and thence "as a bridegroom coming
out of his chamber, rejoicing as a strong man to run a race." For
He tarried not, but ran crying out by words, deeds, death, life,
descent, ascension, crying aloud to us to return to Him. And He
departed from our sight, that we might return to our heart, and there
find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here. He would not
be long with us, yet left us not; for He departed thither, whence
He never departed, because "the world was made by Him." And in
this world He was, and into this world He came to save sinners, unto
whom my soul doth confess, that He may heal it, for it hath sinned
against Him. O ye sons of men, how long so slow of heart? Even
now, after the Life is descended to you, will ye not ascend and
live? But whither ascend ye, when ye are on high, and set your mouth
against the heavens? Descend that ye may ascend,n and ascend to
God. For ye have fallen by" ascending against Him." Tell them
this, that they may weep in the valley of tears, and so draw them with
thee to God, because it is by His Spirit that thou speakest thus
unto them, if thou speakest burning with the fire of love.
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