ecause it
is an hateful and deadly thing. And it is impossible that these two
should stand together, or subsist in one person; the one driving out the
other by a necessity of nature. For _Love_ possesses Heaven, and dwells
in itself, which is dwelling in Heaven; but that which is called I, this
vile self-hood, possesses the world and worldly things; and dwells also
in itself, which is dwelling _in Hell_, because this is the very root of
Hell itself. And, therefore, as Heaven rules the World, and as Eternity
rules Time, even so ought Love to rule the natural temporal Life; for no
other method is there, neither can there be of attaining to that Life
which is supernatural and eternal, and which thou so much desirest to be
led into.

DISCIPLE

Loving Master, I am well content that this Love should rule in me over
the natural Life, that so I may attain to that which is supernatural and
supersensual; but, pray tell me now, why must Love and Hatred, friend
and foe, thus be together? Would not Love alone be better? Wherefore, I
say, are Love and Trouble thus joined?

MASTER

If Love dwelt not in Trouble, it could have nothing to love. But its
substance which it loves, namely the poor soul, being in trouble and
pain, it hath thence cause to love this its own substance and to deliver
it from pain, that so itself may by it be again beloved. Neither could
any one know what Love is, if there were no Hatred; or what friendship
is, if there were no foe to contend with. Or, in one word, if Love had
not something which it might love, and manifest the virtue and power of
love in working out deliverance to the Beloved from all pain and
trouble.

DISCIPLE

Pray what is the virtue, the power, the height, and the greatness of
Love?

MASTER

The virtue of Love is NOTHING and ALL, or that _Nothing visible_ out of
which All Things proceed. Its power is through All Things; its height is
as high as God; its greatness is as great as God. Its virtue is the
principle of all principles; its power supports the Heavens and upholds
the Earth; its height is higher than the highest Heavens, and its
greatness is even greater than the very Manifestation of the Godhead in
the glorious light of the Divine Essence, as being infinitely capable of
greater and greater manifestations in all Eternity. What can I say
more? Love is higher than the Highest. Love is greater than the
Greatest. Yea, it _is in a certain sense_ greater than God; while yet,
in