(17) But when the only good Father visits it, it is sanctified, and gleams with light. And he who possesses such a heart is so blessed, that "he shall see God."

(50) Yes, dear man, now boast thyself that thou hast hit it well! Indeed thou, above others, knowest God! Behold, thou blind man, wherever love riseth up in meekness, there the heart of God riseth up. For the heart of God is generated in the meek water of the kindled light, be it in man, or anywhere else without man; it is everywhere generated in the centre, between the outermost and the innermost birth or geniture.

(9) This opening of a window in the heart towards the unseen also takes place in conditions approaching those of prophetic inspiration, when intuitions spring up in the mind unconveyed through any sense-channel. The more a man purifies himself from fleshly lusts and concentrates his mind on God, the more conscious will he be of such intuitions. Those who are not conscious of them have no right to deny their reality.

(54) If man's eyes were but opened, he would see God everywhere in his heaven; for heaven stands in the innermost birth or geniture everywhere.

(21) But if not, then it will be with thee as it was with the wise Heathen, who gazed and stared on the creation, and would search and sift it out by their own reason; and though with their fictions and conceits they came before God's countenance or face, yet they were not able to see it, but were stark blind in the knowledge of God.

(6) "Blessings will be on those who have not seen but yet have believed.

(18) And the man who hears this, full of faith and free from malice, even he shall attain the happy worlds of the righteous, freed from all evil.

(1) HERE I must encounter with the proud and seeming conceited Wise, who does but grope in the Dark, and knows or understands nothing of the Spirit of God, and must comfort both him, and also the desirous longing Reader who loves God, and must show them a little Door to the heavenly Essence; and show them in what Manner they should understand these Writings, before I come to the Chapter itself.

(11) The Lord said: It is very hard to see this form of Mine, which you have seen. Even the gods are ever eager to see this form.

(3) "Blessed are you who have prior knowledge of the stumbling blocks and who flee alien things. "Blessed are you who are reviled and not esteemed on account of the love their lord has for them. "Blessed are you who weep and are oppressed by those without hope, for you will be released from every bondage.

(91) For his way which is before him is for the most part hidden from me: But following after him the spirit seeth, even into the highest and profoundest depth.

(13) He who sees the Supreme Lord abiding alike in all beings, and not perishing when they perish— verily he alone sees.

(4) A man may go into the field and say his prayer and be aware of God, or, he may be in Church and be aware of God; but, if he is more aware of Him because he is in a quiet place, that is his own deficiency and not due to God, Who is alike present in all things and places, and is willing to give Himself everywhere so far as lies in Him. He knows God rightly who knows Him everywhere. St Bernard saith, "How is it that mine eye and not my foot sees heaven? Because mine eye is more like heaven than my foot is. So, if my soul is to know God, it must be God-like."

(16) source of peace and joy to others will be to him a source of misery. He, in whose heart the love of God has prevailed over all else, will derive more joy from this vision than he in whose heart it has not so prevailed; just as in the case of two men with equally powerful eyesight, gazing on a beautiful face, he who already loves the possessor of that face will rejoice in beholding it more than he who does not. For perfect happiness mere knowledge is not enough, unaccompanied by love, and the love of God cannot take possession of a man's heart till it be purified from love of the world, which purification can only be effected by abstinence and austerity. While he is in this world a man's condition with regard to the Vision of God is like that of a lover who should see his beloved's face in the twilight, while his clothes are infested with hornets and scorpions, which continually, torment him. But should the sun arise and reveal his beloved's face in all its beauty, and the noxious vermin leave off molesting him, then the lover's joy will be like that of God's servant, who, released from the twilight and the tormenting trials of this world, beholds Him without a veil.

(45) It is enough for me that I have seen thy face whilst ]l amj yet alive; yea, true is the vision which I saw at Bethel. Blessed be the Lord my God for ever and ever, and blessed be His name."

(22) For who shall judge them, if their heart do qualify, unite or operate with God? For though they do not know him, and yet work and labour in his spirit, in righteousness, and in the purity of their heart, in true love one to another, they testify assuredly that the law of God is in their heart [1 Rom. ii. 15].

(58) Blessed are ye, ye righteous and elect, For glorious shall be your lot.

(41) To the pure of heart come also a quiet spirit, one-pointed thought, the victory over sensuality, and fitness to behold the Soul.

(35) Behold! thou blind Heathen; behold! thou render, perverter, obscurer and wrester of the Scriptures, open thy eyes wide, and be not ashamed at this simple plainness; for God lies hid in the centre, and is yet much more simple and plain; but thou seest him not.

(2) And if he ask thee, “What is that God?” say thou, that it is God that made thee and bought thee, and that graciously hath called thee to thy degree. “And in Him,” say, “thou hast no skill.” And therefore say, “Go thou down again,” and tread him fast down with a stirring of love, although he seem to thee right holy, and seem to thee as he would help thee to seek Him. For peradventure he will bring to thy mind diverse full fair and wonderful points of His kindness, and say that He is full sweet, and full loving, full gracious, and full merciful. And if thou wilt hear him, he coveteth no better; for at the last he will thus jangle ever more and more till he bring thee lower, to the mind of His Passion.