311 (I. 140)
MAN IS ALL THINGS
| Man is the Sum of Things. If he lack but a jot, The full scope of his wealth surely he knoweth not. |
312 (IV. 146)
THE HIGHEST NOBILITY OF MAN
| This is my true nobility, That I have power to be, while still On earth, a King, an Emperor, A God, or anything I will. |
313 (III. 111)
THE HUMAN HEART
| God, Devil and the World would all Invade my heart—such rivalry Doth prove it to be wondrous fair And of a high nobility. |
314 (V. 181)
THE GREEDIEST
| How greedy is a Heart! A thousand Worlds were all too few— 'Twould crave to have them all at once Ay, and more too. |
315 (V. 170)
ALL WORKS ARE ALIKE TO GOD
| Man's works are level before God. To Him the Saint is full as dear When he lifts up his cup to drink As when he lifts his voice in prayer. |
316 (V. 334)
GOD VALUETH THE WORK ACCORDING TO THE WORKER
| Know this for sure—the good man's sleep Is more of worth in God's own sight Than all the cry the sinner makes, Chanting and praying through the night. |
317 (V. 174)
WHAT THE SAINT DOTH, GOD DOTH IN HIM
| 'Tis God Himself who in the Saint Enacts the Saint's activities, God walks, stands, sleeps, wakes, eats and drinks, And the Saint's courage too is His. |
318 (VI. 154)
GOD DOETH ALL HIMSELF
| Himself God lays the cord to the shaft, Himself draws back the bow—that's why, When He Himself releases it, The arrow cleaves the target's eye. |
319 (I. 194)
WHAT ART THOU IN RESPECT OF GOD?
| Think not thou standest high with God Because thy works His favour claim: Even the labours of the Saints To Him are trifling as a game. |
320 (I. 119)
THOU MUST GO TO THE SOURCE
| Water is pure and clean when at the well-head quaffed: Drink'st thou not at the Spring, there's danger in the draught. |
321 (IV. 190)
THE CROSS MANIFESTETH WHAT IS HIDDEN
| Thou canst not know thyself in ease and cheer of heart; The Cross first showeth thee the man thou inly art. |
322 (V. 275)
SUFFERING IS MORE PROFITABLE THAN JOY
| Man, hadst thou only known the good And profit Suffering can bestow, Surely thou wouldst have chosen it Rather than Pleasure, long ago. |
323 (IV. 79)
THE BEST FRIEND AND ENEMY
| My Body is my dearest Friend, Likewise my bitterest Enemy; It bears me up and binds me down, As it doth list, contrarily. I hate it, yet I love it too, And when death comes to part us twain, How joyful will that parting be! And how that parting will be pain! |
324 (V. 135)
READINESS MODIFIES THE BLOW
| Is not the Wise Man sad at heart When Sorrow knocketh at his door?— He's made all ready long ago To welcome such a Visitor. |
325 (III. 88)
THERE MUST BE CRUCIFIXION
| Who in the world-to-come would go rose-gathering Must first know well how sharply this world's briars sting. |
326 (III. 89)
BEAUTY
| Beauty I dearly love, and yet I think that Beauty scarce adorns Aught that I see, unless I find It always set about with thorns. |
327 (V. 114)
IT IS FOLLY TO STRIVE FOR HONOUR
| What fools are we who keenly strive Honour to win and keep. God giveth Honour but to him Who holdeth Honour cheap. |
328 (V. 141)
THE ACTION OF THE WORLD IS A TRAGEDY
| Friend, envy not the World—it goes it own sweet way, Yet is its Action nothing but a Tragic Play. |
329 (V. 263)
HELL MUST BE TASTED
| None can escape the throat of Hell. The path thereto once must thou tread, And if alive thou go not in, Then surely shalt thou go in dead. |
330 (III. 146)
THE MIGHT OF SOULS
| The Soul is very strong—God's self Acknowledgeth 'tis even so. He cannot break from her embrace Unless she please to let Him go. |
331 (VI. 82)
THY WILL MAKETH THEE LOST
| By thy own Will thou'rt lost, by thy own Will thou'rt found, Thou by thy Will art freed, and by thy Will art bound. |
332 (V. 98)
GOD CANNOT CONTROL THE WILL
| Naught is there mightier than God; Yet hath He not the might to turn My Will from willing what it will, My yearning as it needs must yearn? |