THE CLOUD OF UNKNOWING
(14th century)
All rational creatures... have in them, each one individually, one chief working power, which is called a knowing power, and another chief working power called a loving power; and of these two powers God, who is the maker of them, is always incomprehensible to the first, the knowing power. But to the second, which is the loving power, he is entirely comprehensible in each one individually.... Let those understand it who can do so by grace....
Pay careful heed, then to this exercise of grace, and to the wonderful way in which it works within your soul. For when rightly understood, it s nothing else than a sudden impulse, one that comes without warning, speedily flying up to God as the spark flies up from the burning coal. Marvellous also is the number of such impulses that can take place in one hour in a soul that is properly disposed for the exercise....
One can quickly understand the way of this working, and realise clearly that it is far removed from any fancy or false imagination or subtle opinion; for all these are brought about not only by that devout and humble simple impulse of love, but by a proud, speculative and over-imaginative reasoning. These proud and elaborate speculations must always be pushed down and heavily trodden under foot, if this exercise is to be truly understood in purity of spirit.
Whoever hears this exercise read or spoken of may think that he can or ought to achieve it by intellectual labour; and so he sits and racks his brains how it can be achieved and with such ingenious reasonings he does violence to his imagination, perhaps beyond its natural ability, so as to fashion a false way of working which fits neither body nor soul.... So for the love of God, take care in this exercise and do not labour with your senses or with your imagination in any way at all. For I tell you truly, this exercise cannot be achieved by their labour; so leave them and do not work with them....
If you were truly humble you would have the right feeling for this divine work, even as I say: that God gives it freely without any meriting.
To put it more clearly, let it do with you and lead you as it will. Let it be the one that works; you simply must consent to it. Simply look at it, and just let it be. Do not interfere with it, as though you wished to help it on, lest you spill it all. Try to be the wood and let lit be the carpenter; the house, and let it be the husbandman dwelling in the house. During this time be blind, and cut away all desire of knowing, for this will hinder you more than it will help you. It is enough that you feel moved in love by something, thought you do not know what it is.... If this is the way of it, then trust steadfastly that it is God alone who moves your will and your desire: he alone, entirely of himself, without any intermediary, either on his part or on yours.