(3) But since it will henceforth be fully revealed, as in a clear Looking Glass, therefore it may well be conceived, that the great Day of the Revelation of God is now near at Hand, wherein the Fierceness and the kindled Fire will be separated from the Light.

(4) It will be noted that while these Seven Veils serve to conceal the Real Self—in the sense of imposing limitations and shape to it, yet at the same time it reveals the presence of Spirit by means of its outlines. The ancient teachers were wont to illustrate this concealing-revealment by means of a bit of thin gauzy drapery suspended across the space of an open door or open window into which the breeze is blowing. The drapery covers (and thus conceals) the moving wind, yet at the same time it shows a form representing the movement and presence of the wind, and thus reveals the latter. Another favorite illustration was that of an invisible hand, of itself impossible of being perceived, but upon which was placed seven gloves, one over the other. The gloves were filled, and the presence of the hand revealed; but each glove, in turn, is mistaken for the hand itself. The hand is able to feel but faintly, and to act clumsily when the gloves are all on it, but as each glove is taken off it feels more sensitively, and performs more delicate actions; but without at least one of the gloves it is not apparent at all, even to the eyes of its owner.

(6) Wherefore instruction, which reveals hidden things, is called illumination, as it is the teacher only who uncovers the lid of the ark, contrary to what the poets say, that "Zeus stops up the jar of good things, but opens that of evil."

(3) Such is the hateful cloak thou wearest - that throttles thee [and holds thee] down to it, in order that thou may'st not gaze above, and having seen the Beauty of the Truth, and Good that dwells therein, detest the bad of it; having found out the plot that it hath schemed against thee, by making void of sense those seeming things which men think senses. For that it hath with mass of matter blocked them up and crammed them full of loathsome lust, so that thou may'st not hear about the things that thou should'st hear, nor see the things thou should'st see.

(101) But if God did but once put away that Duskishness, which moves about the Light, and that thy Eyes were opened, then in that very Place where thou standest, sittest, or liest, thou shouldst see the glorious Countenance or Face of God and the whole heavenly Gate.

(5) Let us now briefly consider each of these Veils with which Spirit is concealed, and yet revealed.

(8) in the Koran is fulfilled: "We have stripped the veil from off thee and thy sight today is keen."

(18) Although such Revelations have been hidden [or concealed] from the Beginning of the World, yet because it must now go into its Ether, and into the Breaking-through, therefore all stands naked, whatsoever has been hidden in Nature; and there shall very great Things (which have been hidden) be revealed [or manifested;] and this Mystery is the Break of Day. Therefore it is Time to awake, for the Awakening of the Dead is near at Hand.

(60) this signifies, that the corrupted Fierceness is thrust out eternally from the Light of God, but the inward Spirit, which is loaded therewith against its Will, shall be let again in its first House.

(71) when the Light of the sweet Water comes into it, then it willingly, friendly, and freely yields up its Birth thereunto, and makes it dry, and shining bright. And

(13) When the Chains of the Driver are broken, and the thorny Bush is burnt, then one may go more safely by the Thorns of the Burner; and then this Mysterium [or hidden Secret] may well stand in the Light; for it is great and wonderful, and reaches into the Gate of the Father.

(16) For when the shining Light, by reason of the hard, dry, and rough Matter, became extinguished, then it was together dried up and incorporated in the Heat, which is the Father of the Light. Yet you must understand it thus, Viz.

(146) So it goes also in the Soul, when it presses or breaks quite through in its Fight or Combat, then it beholds the Deity, as a Flash of Lightning; but the Source, Quality, or Fountain of Sins, covers it suddenly again: For the Old Adam belongs to the Earth, and does not, with this Flesh, belong to the Deity. [Or into.]

(10) Since the senses' light is gross and dense, When you cannot see the senses' light with the eye, How can you see with the eye the Light of the mind? As the senses' light is hidden in these gross veils, Must not that Light which is pure be also hidden? Like the senses, this world is ruled by a hidden Power. It confesses its impotence before that hidden Power, Which sometimes exalts it and sometimes lays it low, The hand is hidden, yet we see the pen writing;

(5) But to those whose unwisdom is destroyed by wisdom of the Self, like the sun wisdom illuminates that Supreme.

(68) But if in a Creature, or in any Place, the Light be extinguished, then is the austere Birth or Geniture there, which lies hid in the Light in the innermost Kernel: And this now is one Part.

(1) I say, when as much as may be, it is known, felt and tasted of the soul. For the lack lieth altogether in us, and not in it. In like manner the sun lighteth the whole world, and is as near to one as another, yet a blind man seeth it not; but the fault thereof lieth in the blind man, not in the sun. And like as the sun may not hide its brightness, but must give light unto the earth (for heaven indeed draweth its light and heat from another fountain), so also God, who is the highest Good, willeth not to hide Himself from any, wheresoever He findeth a devout soul, that is thoroughly purified from all creatures. For in what measure we put off the creature, in the same measure are we able to put on the Creator; neither more nor less. For if mine eye is to see anything, it must be single, or else be purified from all other things; and where heat and light enter in, cold and darkness must needs depart; it cannot be otherwise. But one might say, “Now since the Perfect cannot be known nor apprehended of any creature, but the soul is a creature, how can it be known by the soul?” Answer: This is why we say, “by the soul as a creature.” We mean it is impossible to the creature in virtue of its creature-nature and qualities, that by which it saith “I” and “myself.” For in whatsoever creature the Perfect shall be known, therein creature-nature, qualities, the I, the Self and the like, must all be lost and done away.

(37) And as an Herb (by the pleasant Sun-shine) grows out of the Earth, so our new Man in Christ grows out of the old, sour, cold, harsh Man of our earthly Flesh [and Blood.] And that is the true Light of the Pearl, when we apprehend it truly and really (in the Knowledge) in the new Man; and it is the Sword wherewith we can fight against the Devil. Only we must take the Sword of the Death of Christ into our Hand, which cuts so sharply, that the Devil must fly away. Or Evil.