the condition of those
Contemplators, who have not yet attain'd to the _UNION_ [with GOD] is
exactly like that of the Blind Man; and the Notion which a Blind Man has
of Colours, by their description, answers to those things which
_Avenpace_ said were _of too noble a nature to be any ways attributed,
to the Natural Life,_ and, _which God bestows upon such his Servants as
he pleases_. But the condition of those who have attain'd to the
_UNION_, to whom God has given that which I told you could not be
properly express'd by the word _POWER_, is that second State of the
Blind-man cur'd. Take notice by the way, that our Similitude is not
exactly applicable in every case; for there is very seldom any one found
that is born _with his Eyes open_, that can attain to these things
without any help of Contemplation.

Now (my Dear Friend) I do not here, when I speak of the Ideas of the
_Contemplative_, mean what they learn from the Study of Physicks; nor by
the notions of those who have attain'd to the _UNION_, what they learn
from the Study of Metaphysicks (for these two ways of learning are
vastly different, and must by no means be confounded.) But what I mean
by the Ideas of the _Contemplative_ is, what is attain'd by the Study of
Metaphysicks, of which kind is that which _Avenpace_ understood; and in
the apprehension of these things, this condition is necessarily
requir'd, _viz_. that it be manifestly and clearly true; and then there
is a middle sort of Speculation, between that, and those who have
attain'd to the _UNION_, who employ themselves in these things with
greater perspicuity and delight.

Now _Avenpace_ blames all those that make any mention of this pleasure
which is enjoy'd in the _UNION_, before the Vulgar; besides he said,
that it belonged to the imaginative Faculty; and promis'd to write a
Book about it, in which he design'd to give an account of the whole
matter, and describe the condition of those who were so happy as to
attain it clearly and perspicuously; but we may answer him with the Old
Proverb, _viz. Don't say a thing is sweet before you taste on't_; for he
never was so good as his word, nor performed any thing like it. But 'tis
probable that the reason why he did not, was either because he was
streightn'd for Time, being taken up with his Journey to _Wahran_; or
else, because he was sensible, that if he should undertake to give a
description of that State, the Nature of such a kind of Discourse, would
un