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Chapter XVIII - That a man should not be a curious searcher of the sacrament, but a
humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith
The Voice of the Beloved
Thou must take heed of curious and useless searching into this
most profound Sacrament, if thou wilt not be plunged into the
abyss of doubt. He that is a searcher of Majesty shall be
oppressed by the glory thereof.(1) God is able to do more than
man can understand. A pious and humble search after truth is to
be allowed, when it is always ready to be taught, and striving
to walk after the wholesome opinions of the fathers.
2. Blessed is the simplicity which leaveth alone the difficult
paths of questionings, and followeth the plain and firm steps of
God's commandments. Many have lost devotion whilst they sought
to search into deeper things. Faith is required of thee, and a
sincere life, not loftiness of intellect, nor deepness in the
mysteries of God. If thou understandest not nor comprehendest
the things which are beneath thee, how shalt thou comprehend
those which are above thee? Submit thyself to God, and humble
thy sense to faith, and the light of knowledge shall be given to
thee, as shall be profitable and necessary unto thee.
3. There are some who are grievously tempted concerning faith and
the Sacrament; but this is not to be imputed to themselves but
rather to the enemy. Care not then for this, dispute not with
thine own thoughts, nor make answer to the doubts which are cast
into thee by the devil; but believe the words of God, believe His
Saints and Prophets, and the wicked enemy shall flee from thee.
Often it profiteth much, that the servant of God endureth such
things. For the enemy tempteth not unbelievers and sinners,
because he already hath secure possession of them; but he
tempteth and harasseth the faithful and devout by various means.
4. Go forward therefore with simple and undoubting faith, and
draw nigh unto the Sacrament with supplicating reverence. And
whatsoever thou art not enabled to understand, that commit
without anxiety to Almighty God. God deceiveth thee not; he is
deceived who believeth too much in himself. God walketh with the
simple, revealeth Himself to the humble, giveth understanding to
babes, openeth the sense to pure minds, and hideth grace from the
curious and proud. Human reason is weak and may be deceived; but
true faith cannot be deceived.
5. All reason and natural investigation ought to follow faith,
not to precede, nor to break it. For faith and love do here
especially take the highest place, and work in hidden ways in
this most holy and exceeding excellent Sacrament. God who is
eternal and incomprehensible, and of infinite power, doth great
and inscrutable things in heaven and in earth, and His wonderful
works are past finding out. If the works of God were of such
sort that they might easily be comprehended by human reason, they
should no longer be called wonderful or unspeakable.
(1) Proverbs xxv. 27 (Vulg.).
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