CHAPTER XXII
How sometimes the Spirit of God, and sometimes also the Evil Spirit
may possess a Man and have the mastery over him.
It is written that sometimes the Devil and his spirit do so enter into and
possess a man, that he knoweth not what he doeth and leaveth undone, and hath
no power over himself, but the Evil Spirit hath the mastery over him, and doeth
and leaveth undone in, and with, and through, and by the man what he will. It
is true in a sense that all the world is subject to and possessed with the Evil
Spirit, that is, with lies, falsehood, and other vices and evil ways; this also
cometh of the Evil Spirit, but in a different sense,
Now, a man who should be in like manner
possessed by the Spirit of God, so that he should not know what he doeth or
leaveth undone, and have no power over himself, but the will and Spirit of God
should have the mastery over him, and work, and do, and leave undone with him
and by him, what and as God would; such a man were one of those of whom St.
Paul saith: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God,"[26] and they "are not under the law, but
under grace,"[27] and to whom Christ saith:
"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you."[28]
But I fear that for one who is truly possessed
with the Spirit of God, there are a hundred thousand or an innumerable
multitude possessed with the Evil Spirit. This is because men have more
likeness to the Evil Spirit than to God. For the Self, the I, the Me and the
like, all belong to the Evil Spirit, and therefore it is, that he is an Evil
Spirit. Behold one or two words can utter all that hath been said by these many
words: "Be simply and wholly bereft of Self." But by these many words, the
matter hath been more fully sifted, proved, and set forth.
Now men say, "I am in no wise prepared for this
work, and therefore it cannot be wrought in me," and thus they find an excuse,
so that they neither are ready nor in the way to be so. And truly there is no
one to blame for this but themselves. For if a man were looking and striving
after nothing but to find a preparation in all things, and diligently gave his
whole mind to see how he might become prepared; verily God would well prepare
him, for God giveth as much care and earnestness and love to the preparing of a
man, as to the pouring in of His Spirit when the man is prepared.
Yet there be certain means thereunto, as the
saying is, "To learn an art which thou knowest not, four things are needful."[29] The first and most needful of all is, a
great desire and diligence and constant endeavour to learn the art. And where
this is wanting, the art will never be learned. The second is, a copy or
ensample by which thou mayest learn. The third is to give earnest heed to the
master, and watch how he worketh, and to be obedient to him in all things, and
to trust him and follow him. The fourth is to put thy own hand to the work, and
practise it with all industry. But where one of these four is wanting, the art
will never be learned and mastered. So likewise is it with this preparation.
For he who hath the first, that is, thorough diligence and constant,
persevering desire towards his end, will also seek and find all that
appertaineth thereunto, or is serviceable and profitable to it. But he who hath
not that earnestness and diligence, love and desire, seeketh not, and therefore
findeth not, and therefore remaineth ever unprepared. And therefore he never
attaineth unto that end.
[26] Rom. 8:14.
[27] Rom. 6:14.
[28] Matt. 10:20.
[29] See note 31.