ploughshare£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Sword¡¡of¡¡victory£¡¡¡Grant¡¡me¡¡a¡¡glorious¡¡martyrdom¡¡in
which¡¡to¡¡proclaim¡¡thy¡¡Word£¡¡¡Rejected£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡bless¡¡thy¡¡justice¡£¡¡But¡¡if
excess¡¡of¡¡love¡¡may¡¡win¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡that¡¡which¡¡hard¡¡and¡¡patient¡¡labor
cannot¡¡attain£»¡¡then¡¡bear¡¡me¡¡upward¡¡in¡¡thy¡¡chariot¡¡of¡¡fire£¡¡¡Grant¡¡me
triumph£»¡¡or¡¡further¡¡trial£»¡¡still¡¡will¡¡I¡¡bless¡¡thee£¡¡¡To¡¡suffer¡¡for
thee£»¡¡is¡¡not¡¡that¡¡to¡¡triumph£¿¡¡Take¡¡me£»¡¡seize¡¡me£»¡¡bear¡¡me¡¡away£¡¡¡nay£»¡¡if
thou¡¡wilt£»¡¡reject¡¡me£¡¡¡Thou¡¡art¡¡He¡¡who¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡evil¡£¡¡Ah£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»
after¡¡a¡¡pause£»¡¡¡¨the¡¡bonds¡¡are¡¡breaking¡£
¡¨Spirits¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pure£»¡¡ye¡¡sacred¡¡flock£»¡¡come¡¡forth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hidden
places£»¡¡come¡¡on¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡luminous¡¡waves£¡¡¡The¡¡hour¡¡now¡¡is£»
come£»¡¡assemble£¡¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡sing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Sanctuary£»¡¡our¡¡songs
shall¡¡drive¡¡away¡¡the¡¡final¡¡clouds¡£¡¡With¡¡one¡¡accord¡¡let¡¡us¡¡hail¡¡the
Dawn¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Eternal¡¡Day¡£¡¡Behold¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡of¡¡the¡¡one¡¡True¡¡Light£¡¡¡Ah£»
why¡¡may¡¡I¡¡not¡¡take¡¡with¡¡me¡¡these¡¡my¡¡friends£¡¡¡Farewell£»¡¡poor¡¡earth£»
Farewell£¡¡¨
CHAPTER¡¡VII
THE¡¡ASSUMPTION
The¡¡last¡¡psalm¡¡was¡¡uttered¡¡neither¡¡by¡¡word£»¡¡look£»¡¡nor¡¡gesture£»¡¡nor¡¡by
any¡¡of¡¡those¡¡signs¡¡which¡¡men¡¡employ¡¡to¡¡communicate¡¡their¡¡thoughts£»¡¡but
as¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡speaks¡¡to¡¡itself£»¡¡for¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡Seraphita
revealed¡¡herself¡¡in¡¡her¡¡true¡¡nature£»¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer
enslaved¡¡by¡¡human¡¡words¡£¡¡The¡¡violence¡¡of¡¡that¡¡last¡¡prayer¡¡had¡¡burst
her¡¡bonds¡£¡¡Her¡¡soul£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡white¡¡dove£»¡¡remained¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡poised
above¡¡the¡¡body¡¡whose¡¡exhausted¡¡substances¡¡were¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be
annihilated¡£
The¡¡aspiration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Soul¡¡toward¡¡heaven¡¡was¡¡so¡¡contagious¡¡that
Wilfrid¡¡and¡¡Minna£»¡¡beholding¡¡those¡¡radiant¡¡scintillations¡¡of¡¡Life£»
perceived¡¡not¡¡Death¡£
They¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡on¡¡their¡¡knees¡¡when¡¡HE¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡Orient£»
and¡¡they¡¡shared¡¡his¡¡ecstasy¡£
The¡¡fear¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord£»¡¡which¡¡creates¡¡man¡¡a¡¡second¡¡time£»¡¡purging¡¡away
his¡¡dross£»¡¡mastered¡¡their¡¡hearts¡£
Their¡¡eyes£»¡¡veiled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡things¡¡of¡¡Earth£»¡¡were¡¡opened¡¡to¡¡the
Brightness¡¡of¡¡Heaven¡£
Though£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Seers¡¡of¡¡old¡¡called¡¡Prophets¡¡by¡¡men£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡filled
with¡¡the¡¡terror¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Most¡¡High£»¡¡yet¡¡like¡¡them¡¡they¡¡continued¡¡firm
when¡¡they¡¡found¡¡themselves¡¡within¡¡the¡¡radiance¡¡where¡¡the¡¡Glory¡¡of¡¡the
SPIRIT¡¡shone¡£
The¡¡veil¡¡of¡¡flesh£»¡¡which£»¡¡until¡¡now£»¡¡had¡¡hidden¡¡that¡¡glory¡¡from¡¡their
eyes£»¡¡dissolved¡¡imperceptibly¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡left¡¡them¡¡free¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡the
Divine¡¡substance¡£
They¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the¡¡twilight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Coming¡¡Dawn£»¡¡whose¡¡feeble¡¡rays
prepared¡¡them¡¡to¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡True¡¡Light£»¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡Living¡¡Word£»
and¡¡yet¡¡not¡¡die¡£
In¡¡this¡¡state¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡perceive¡¡the¡¡immeasurable¡¡differences
which¡¡separate¡¡the¡¡things¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡from¡¡the¡¡things¡¡of¡¡Heaven¡£
LIFE£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡borders¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they¡¡stood£»¡¡leaning¡¡upon¡¡each¡¡other£»
trembling¡¡and¡¡illuminated£»¡¡like¡¡two¡¡children¡¡standing¡¡under¡¡shelter¡¡in
presence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡conflagration£»¡¡That¡¡Life¡¡offered¡¡no¡¡lodgment¡¡to¡¡the
senses¡£
The¡¡ideas¡¡they¡¡used¡¡to¡¡interpret¡¡their¡¡vision¡¡to¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡to
the¡¡things¡¡seen¡¡what¡¡the¡¡visible¡¡senses¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡are¡¡to¡¡his¡¡soul£»¡¡the
material¡¡covering¡¡of¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡essence¡£
The¡¡departing¡¡SPIRIT¡¡was¡¡above¡¡them£»¡¡shedding¡¡incense¡¡without¡¡odor£»
melody¡¡without¡¡sound¡£¡¡About¡¡them£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡stood£»¡¡were¡¡neither
surfaces£»¡¡nor¡¡angles£»¡¡nor¡¡atmosphere¡£
They¡¡dared¡¡neither¡¡question¡¡him¡¡nor¡¡contemplate¡¡him£»¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡the
shadow¡¡of¡¡that¡¡Presence¡¡as¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡rays¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tropical¡¡sun£»
fearing¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡lest¡¡the¡¡light¡¡should¡¡blast¡¡them¡£
They¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡were¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡without¡¡being¡¡able¡¡to¡¡perceive¡¡how¡¡it
was¡¡that¡¡they¡¡stood£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dream£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡confines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Visible¡¡and
the¡¡Invisible£»¡¡nor¡¡how¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Visible¡¡and¡¡how¡¡they
beheld¡¡the¡¡Invisible¡£
To¡¡each¡¡other¡¡they¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨If¡¡he¡¡touches¡¡us£»¡¡we¡¡can¡¡die£¡¡¨¡¡But¡¡the
SPIRIT¡¡was¡¡now¡¡within¡¡the¡¡Infinite£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡not¡¡that¡¡neither
time£»¡¡nor¡¡space£»¡¡nor¡¡death£»¡¡existed¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡a¡¡great¡¡gulf¡¡lay
between¡¡them£»¡¡although¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡themselves¡¡beside¡¡him¡£
Their¡¡souls¡¡were¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡in¡¡its¡¡fulness¡¡a¡¡knowledge¡¡of
the¡¡faculties¡¡of¡¡that¡¡Life£»¡¡they¡¡could¡¡have¡¡only¡¡faint¡¡and¡¡confused
perceptions¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡suited¡¡to¡¡their¡¡weakness¡£
Were¡¡it¡¡not¡¡so£»¡¡the¡¡thunder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡LIVING¡¡WORD£»¡¡whose¡¡far¡off¡¡tones
now¡¡reached¡¡their¡¡ears£»¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡meaning¡¡entered¡¡their¡¡souls¡¡as¡¡life
unites¡¡with¡¡body£»one¡¡echo¡¡of¡¡that¡¡Word¡¡would¡¡have¡¡consumed¡¡their
being¡¡as¡¡a¡¡whirlwind¡¡of¡¡fire¡¡laps¡¡up¡¡a¡¡fragile¡¡straw¡£
Therefore¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡only¡¡that¡¡which¡¡their¡¡nature£»¡¡sustained¡¡by¡¡the
strength¡¡of¡¡the¡¡SPIRIT£»¡¡permitted¡¡them¡¡to¡¡see£»¡¡they¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡only
which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hear¡£
And¡¡yet£»¡¡though¡¡thus¡¡protected£»¡¡they¡¡shuddered¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Voice¡¡of¡¡the
anguished¡¡soul¡¡broke¡¡forth¡¡above¡¡themthe¡¡prayer¡¡of¡¡the¡¡SPIRIT
awaiting¡¡Life¡¡and¡¡imploring¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cry¡£
That¡¡cry¡¡froze¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡marrow¡¡of¡¡their¡¡bones¡£
The¡¡SPIRIT¡¡knocked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡SACRED¡¡PORTAL¡£¡¡¡¨What¡¡wilt¡¡thou£¿¡¨¡¡answered¡¡a
CHOIR£»¡¡whose¡¡question¡¡echoed¡¡among¡¡the¡¡worlds¡£¡¡¡¨To¡¡go¡¡to¡¡God¡£¡¨¡¡¡¨Hast
thou¡¡conquered£¿¡¨¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡conquered¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡through¡¡abstinence£»¡¡I
have¡¡conquered¡¡false¡¡knowledge¡¡by¡¡humility£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡conquered¡¡pride¡¡by
charity£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡conquered¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡by¡¡love£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡paid¡¡my¡¡dues¡¡by
suffering£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡purified¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡faith£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡longed¡¡for¡¡Life
by¡¡prayer£º¡¡I¡¡wait¡¡in¡¡adoration£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡resigned¡£¡¨
No¡¡answer¡¡came¡£
¡¨God's¡¡will¡¡be¡¡done£¡¡¨¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡SPIRIT£»¡¡believing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡about
to¡¡be¡¡rejected¡£
His¡¡tears¡¡flowed¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡like¡¡dew¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡heads¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡kneeling
witnesses£»¡¡who¡¡trembled¡¡before¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡of¡¡God¡£
Suddenly¡¡the¡¡trumpets¡¡sounded£»the¡¡last¡¡trumpets¡¡of¡¡Victory¡¡won¡¡by
the¡¡ANGEL¡¡in¡¡this¡¡last¡¡trial¡£¡¡The¡¡reverberation¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡space
as¡¡sound¡¡through¡¡its¡¡echo£»¡¡filling¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡shaking¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡which
Wilfrid¡¡and¡¡Minna¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡an¡¡atom¡¡beneath¡¡their¡¡feet¡£¡¡They¡¡trembled
under¡¡an¡¡anguish¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡the¡¡dread¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mystery¡¡about¡¡to¡¡be
accomplished¡£
A¡¡great¡¡movement¡¡took¡¡place£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡the¡¡Eternal¡¡Legions£»¡¡putting
themselves¡¡in¡¡motion£»¡¡were¡¡passing¡¡upward¡¡in¡¡spiral¡¡columns¡£¡¡The
worlds¡¡revolved¡¡like¡¡clouds¡¡driven¡¡by¡¡a¡¡furious¡¡wind¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡all
rapid¡£
Suddenly¡¡the¡¡veils¡¡were¡¡rent¡¡away¡£¡¡They¡¡saw¡¡on¡¡high¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡star£»
incomparably¡¡more¡¡lustrous¡¡than¡¡the¡¡most¡¡luminous¡¡of¡¡material¡¡stars£»
which¡¡detached¡¡itself£»¡¡and¡¡fell¡¡like¡¡a¡¡thunderbolt£»¡¡dazzling¡¡as
lightning¡£¡¡Its¡¡passage¡¡paled¡¡the¡¡faces¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pair£»¡¡who¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡to
be¡¡THE¡¡LIGHT¡¡Itself¡£
It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Messenger¡¡of¡¡good¡¡tidings£»¡¡the¡¡plume¡¡of¡¡whose¡¡helmet¡¡was¡¡a
flame¡¡of¡¡Life¡£
Behind¡¡him¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡swath¡¡of¡¡his¡¡way¡¡gleaming¡¡with¡¡a¡¡flood¡¡of¡¡the
lights¡¡through¡¡which¡¡he¡¡passed¡£
He¡¡bore¡¡a¡¡palm¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sword¡£¡¡He¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡SPIRIT¡¡with¡¡the¡¡palm£»¡¡and
the¡¡SPIRIT¡¡was¡¡transfigured¡£¡¡Its¡¡white¡¡wings¡¡noiselessly¡¡unfolded¡£
This¡¡communication¡¡of¡¡THE¡¡LIGHT£»¡¡changing¡¡the¡¡SPIRIT¡¡into¡¡a¡¡SERAPH¡¡and
clothing¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glorious¡¡form£»¡¡a¡¡celestial¡¡armor£»¡¡poured¡¡down¡¡such
effulgent¡¡rays¡¡that¡¡the¡¡two¡¡Seers¡¡were¡¡paralyzed¡£
Like¡¡the¡¡three¡¡apostles¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡Jesus¡¡showed¡¡himself£»¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡the
dead¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡their¡¡bodies¡¡which¡¡denied¡¡them¡¡a¡¡complete¡¡and¡¡cloudless
intuition¡¡of¡¡THE¡¡WORD¡¡and¡¡THE¡¡TRUE¡¡LIFE¡£
They¡¡comprehended¡¡the¡¡nakedness¡¡of¡¡their¡¡souls£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to
measure¡¡the¡¡poverty¡¡of¡¡their¡¡light¡¡by¡¡comparing¡¡ita¡¡humbling¡¡task
with¡¡the¡¡halo¡¡of¡¡the¡¡SERAPH¡£
A¡¡passionate¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡plunge¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡mire¡¡of¡¡earth¡¡and¡¡suffer
trial¡¡took¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡them£»trial¡¡through¡¡which¡¡they¡¡might
victoriously¡¡utter¡¡at¡¡the¡¡SACRED¡¡GATES¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡that¡¡radiant
Seraph¡£
The¡¡Seraph¡¡knelt¡¡before¡¡the¡¡SANCTUARY£»¡¡beholding¡¡it£»¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡face¡¡to
face£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡raising¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡thitherward£»¡¡¡¨Grant¡¡that¡¡these
two¡¡may¡¡have¡¡further¡¡sight£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡love¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡and¡¡proclaim¡¡His
word¡£¡¨
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which¡¡held¡¡the¡¡Seers¡¡had¡¡momentarily¡¡annihilated¡¡their¡¡physical
bodies£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡it¡¡raised¡¡their¡¡spirits¡¡above¡¡those¡¡bodies£»¡¡certain¡¡it
is¡¡that¡¡they¡¡felt¡¡within¡¡them¡¡a¡¡rending¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pure¡¡from¡¡the¡¡impure¡£
The¡¡tears¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Seraph¡¡rose¡¡about¡¡them¡¡like¡¡a¡¡vapor£»¡¡which¡¡hid¡¡the
lower¡¡worlds¡¡from¡¡their¡¡knowledge£»¡¡held¡¡them¡¡in¡¡its¡¡folds£»¡¡bore¡¡them
upwards£»¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡forgetfulness¡¡of¡¡earthly¡¡meanings¡¡and¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of
comprehending¡¡the¡¡meanings¡¡of¡¡things¡¡divine¡£
The¡¡True¡¡Light¡¡shone£»¡¡it¡¡illumined¡¡the¡¡Creations£»¡¡which¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡them
barren¡¡when¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡source¡¡from¡¡which¡¡all¡¡worldsTerrestrial£»
Spiritual£»¡¡and¡¡Divine¡derived¡¡their¡¡Motion¡£
Each¡¡world¡¡possessed¡¡a¡¡centre¡¡to¡¡which¡¡converged¡¡all¡¡points¡¡of¡¡its
circumference¡£¡¡These¡¡worlds¡¡were¡¡themselves¡¡the¡¡points¡¡which¡¡moved
toward¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡their¡¡system¡£¡¡Each¡¡system¡¡had¡¡its¡¡centre¡¡in¡¡great
celestial¡¡regions¡¡which¡¡communicated¡¡with¡¡the¡¡flaming¡¡and¡¡quenchless
MOTOR¡¡OF¡¡ALL¡¡THAT¡¡IS¡£
Thus£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡to¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worlds£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡the
smallest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worlds¡¡to¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beings¡¡who
compose¡¡it£»¡¡all¡¡was¡¡individual£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡was£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡One¡¡and
indivisible¡£
What¡¡was¡¡the¡¡design¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Being£»¡¡fixed¡¡in¡¡His¡¡essence¡¡and¡¡in¡¡His
faculties£»¡¡who¡¡transmitted¡¡that¡¡essence¡¡and¡¡those¡¡faculties¡¡without
losing¡¡them£¿¡¡who¡¡manifested¡¡them¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡Himself¡¡without¡¡separating
them¡¡from¡¡Himself£¿¡¡who¡¡rendered¡¡his¡¡creations¡¡outside¡¡of¡¡Himself¡¡fixed
in¡¡their¡¡essence¡¡and¡¡mutable¡¡in¡¡their¡¡form£¿¡¡The¡¡pair¡¡thus¡¡called¡¡to
the¡¡celestial¡¡festival¡¡could¡¡only¡¡see¡¡the¡¡order¡¡and¡¡arrangement¡¡of
created¡¡beings¡¡and¡¡admire¡¡the¡¡immediate¡¡result¡£¡¡The¡¡Angels¡¡alone¡¡see
more¡£¡¡They¡¡know¡¡the¡¡means£»¡¡they¡¡comprehend¡¡the¡¡final¡¡end¡£
But¡¡what¡¡the¡¡two¡¡Elect¡¡were¡¡granted¡¡power¡¡to¡¡contemplate£»¡¡what¡¡they
were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡back¡¡as¡¡a¡¡testimony¡¡which¡¡enlightened¡¡their¡¡minds
forever¡¡after£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡action¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Worlds¡¡and¡¡of
Beings£»¡¡the¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡effort¡¡with¡¡which¡¡they¡¡all¡¡converge
to¡¡the¡¡Result¡£
They¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡divers¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Infinite¡¡forming¡¡one¡¡living¡¡melody£»
and¡¡each¡¡time¡¡that¡¡the¡¡accord¡¡made¡¡itself¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡a¡¡mighty
respiration£»¡¡the¡¡Worlds¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡t
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