DISCIPLE

But it is very hard to be always looking forwards into Eternity, and
consequently to attain to the single eye, and simplicity of Divine
Vision. The entrance of a soul naked into the Will of God, shutting out
all imaginations and desires, and breaking down the strong partition
which you mention, is indeed somehow very terrible and shocking to human
nature in its present state. O what shall I do, that I may reach this
which I so much long for?

MASTER

My Son, let not the Eye of Nature with the Will of the Wonders depart
from that Eye which is introverted into the Divine Liberty, and into the
Eternal Light of the Holy Majesty. But let it draw to thee by union
with that heavenly internal Eye those wonders which are externally
wrought out and manifested in visible Nature. For while thou art in the
world, and hast an honest employment, thou art certainly by the Order of
Providence obliged to labour in it, and to finish the work given thee,
according to thy best ability, without repining in the least; seeking
out and manifesting for God's glory the Wonders of Nature and Art. Since
let the Nature be what it will it is all the Work and Art of God. And
let the Art also be what it will, it is still God's Work and his Art,
rather than any art or cunning of man. And all both in Art and Nature
serveth but abundantly to manifest the wonderful Works of God, that he
for all and in all may be glorified. Yea, all serveth, if thou knowest
rightly how to use them, only to recollect thee more inwards, and to
draw thy Spirit into that majestic Light wherein the original patterns
and forms of things visible are to be seen. Keep, therefore, in the
Centre, and stir not from the Presence of God revealed within thy Soul;
let the world and the devil make never so great a noise and bustle to
draw thee out, mind them not; they cannot hurt thee. It is permitted to
the Eye of thy Reason to seek food, and to thy hands by their labour to
get food for the terrestrial body. But then this Eye ought not with its
desire to enter into the food prepared, which would be covetousness; but
must in resignation simply bring it before the Eye of God in thy Spirit,
and then thou must seek to place it close to this very Eye, without
letting it go. Mark this lesson well.

Let the hands or the head be at labour, thy Heart ought nevertheless to
rest in God. God is a Spirit; dwell in the Spirit; work in the Spirit;
pray in the Spirit; and do every thing in