ii THE LOVE OF GOD 293 



natural light of sense and reason, proceeding from the 

 known to the unknown, in successive stages, but 

 suddenly and at one stroke. There is no need of 

 expense of time, laborious study, ! , active inquiry, to 

 secure it ; but it enters into us as readily as the solar 

 light is present, without lapse of time to him who 

 turns to it, and lays himself open to receive it. 1 When 

 the soul is thus wholly turned to God to the Idea of 

 Ideas the mind is lifted up to the unity above essence, 

 and becomes all love, all simplicity and unity. The 

 soul is permeated at once with the desire or love of 

 the divine beauty in itself, " without similitude, figure, 

 image, or form " a desire or love which is its own 

 realisation. 



1 Lag. 741. 14. 



