HERE BEGINNETH THE TWO AND THIRTIETH CHAPTER
Of two ghostly devices that be helpful to a ghostly beginner in the work of this
book.
NEVERTHELESS, somewhat of this subtlety shall I tell thee as me think. Prove
thou and do better, if thou better mayest. Do that in thee is, to let be as thou
wist not that they press so fast upon thee betwixt thee and thy God. And try to
look as it were over their shoulders, seeking another thing: the which thing is
God, enclosed in a cloud of unknowing. And if thou do thus, I trow that within
short time thou shalt be eased of thy travail. I trow that an this device be
well and truly conceived, it is nought else but a longing desire unto God, to
feel Him and see Him as it may be here: and such a desire is
charity, and it obtaineth always to be eased.
Another device there is: prove thou if thou wilt. When thou feelest that thou
mayest on nowise put them down, cower thou down under them as a caitiff and a
coward overcome in battle, and think that it is but a folly to thee to strive
any longer with them, and therefore thou yieldest thee to God in the hands of
thine enemies. And feel then thyself as thou wert foredone for ever. Take good
heed of this device I pray thee, for me think in the proof of this device thou
shouldest melt all to water. And surely me think an this device be truly
conceived it is nought else but a true knowing and a feeling of thyself as thou
art, a wretch and a filthy, far worse than nought: the which knowing and feeling
is meekness. And this meekness obtaineth to have God Himself mightily
descending, to venge thee of thine enemies, for to take thee up,
and cherishingly dry thine ghostly eyen; as the father doth the child that is in
point to perish under the mouths of wild swine or wode biting bears.
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