CHAPTER XXXV
How there is deep and true Humility and Poorness of Spirit in a Man
who is "made a Partaker of the Divine Nature."
Moreover, in a man who is "made a partaker of the divine nature," there is a
thorough and deep humility, and where this is not, the man hath not been "made
a partaker of the divine nature." So Christ taught in words and fulfilled in
works. And this humility springeth up in the man, because in the true Light he
seeth (as it also really is) that Substance, Life, Perceiving, Knowledge,
Power, and what is thereof, do all belong to the True Good, and not to the
creature; but that the creature of itself is nothing and hath nothing, and that
when it turneth itself aside from the True Good in will or in works, nothing is
left to it but pure evil. And therefore it is true to the very letter, that the
creature, as creature, hath no worthiness in itself, and no right to anything,
and no claim over any one, either over God or over the creature, and that it
ought to give itself up to God and submit to Him because this is just. And this
is the chiefest and most weighty matter.
Now, if we ought to be, and desire to be,
obedient and submit unto God, we must also submit to what we receive at the
hands of any of His creatures, or our submission is all false. From this latter
article floweth true humility, as indeed it doth also from the former.[43] And unless this verily ought to be, and were
wholly agreeable to God's justice, Christ would not have taught it in words,
and fulfilled it in His life. And herein there is a veritable manifestation of
God; and it is so of a truth, that of God's truth and justice this creature
shall be subject to God and all creatures, and no thing or person shall be
subject or obedient to her. God and all the creatures have a right over her and
to her, but she hath a right to nothing: she is a debtor to all, and nothing is
owing to her, so that she shall be ready to bear all things from others, and
also if needs be to do all things for others. And out of this groweth that
poorness of spirit of which Christ said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (that
is to say, the truly humble), "for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." All this
hath Christ taught in words and fulfilled with His life.
[43] Namely, God's having a right to our
obedience.