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ever the shorter it is the better it accordeth with the work of the Spirit. And such a word is this word
GOD or this word LOVE. Choose thee whether thou wilt, or another; as thee list, which that thee
liketh best of one syllable. And fasten this word to thine heart, so that it never go thence for thing
that befalleth.
This word shall be thy shield and thy spear, whether thou ridest on peace or on war. With
this word, thou shalt beat on this cloud and this darkness above thee. With this word, thou shall
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The Cloud of Unknowing Anonymous
smite down all manner of thought under the cloud of forgetting. Insomuch, that if any thought
press upon thee to ask thee what thou wouldest have, answer them with no more words but with
this one word. And if he proffer thee of his great clergy to expound thee that word and to tell thee
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the conditions of that word, say him: That thou wilt have it all whole, and not broken nor undone.
And if thou wilt hold thee fast on this purpose, be thou sure, he will no while abide. And why? For
that thou wilt not let him feed him on such sweet meditations of God touched before.
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30
The Cloud of Unknowing Anonymous
HERE BEGINNETH THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
A good declaring of certain doubts that may fall in this word treated by question, in
destroying of a man s own curiosity, of cunning, and of natural wit, and in distinguishing
of the degrees and the parts of active living and contemplative.
BUT now thou askest me, What is he, this that thus presseth upon me in this work; and whether
it is a good thing or an evil? And if it be an evil thing, then have I marvel, thou sayest, why that
he will increase a man s devotion so much. For sometimes me think that it is a passing comfort to
listen after his tales. For he will sometime, me think, make me weep full heartily for pity of the
Passion of Christ, sometime for my wretchedness, and for many other reasons, that me thinketh
be full holy, and that done me much good. And therefore me thinketh that he should on nowise be
evil; and if he be good, and with his sweet tales doth me so much good withal, then I have great
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marvel why that thou biddest me put him down and away so far under the cloud of forgetting?
Now surely me thinketh that this is a well moved question, and therefore I think to answer
thereto so feebly as I can. First when thou askest me what is he, this that presseth so fast upon thee
in this work, proffering to help thee in this work; I say that it is a sharp and a clear beholding of
thy natural wit, printed in thy reason within in thy soul. And where thou askest me thereof whether
it be good or evil, I say that it behoveth always be good in its nature. For why, it is a beam of the
likeness of God. But the use thereof may be both good and evil. Good, when it is opened by grace
for to see thy wretchedness, the passion, the kindness, and the wonderful works of God in His
creatures bodily and ghostly. And then it is no wonder though it increase thy devotion full much,
as thou sayest. But then is the use evil, when it is swollen with pride and with curiosity of much
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clergy and letterly cunning as in clerks; and maketh them press for to be holden not meek scholars
and masters of divinity or of devotion, but proud scholars of the devil and masters of vanity and of
falsehood. And in other men or women whatso they be, religious or seculars, the use and the working
of this natural wit is then evil, when it is swollen with proud and curious skills of worldly things,
and fleshly conceits in coveting of worldly worships and having of riches and vain plesaunce and
flatterings of others.
And where that thou askest me, why that thou shalt put it down under the cloud of forgetting,
since it is so, that it is good in its nature, and thereto when it is well used it doth thee so much good
and increaseth thy devotion so much. To this I answer and say That thou shalt well understand
that there be two manner of lives in Holy Church. The one is active life, and the other is
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zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plcs-sysunia.htw.pl
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