A FORETASTE OF ETERNAL LIFE
Some have asked whether it is possible for the soul, while it is
still in the body, to reach so great a height as to gaze into eternity, and
receive a foretaste of eternal life and blessedness. This is commonly denied;
and in a sense the denial is true. For indeed it cannot come about, so long as
the soul is occupied with the body, and the things which minister to the body
and belong to it, and to time and created things, and is disturbed and troubled
and distracted by them. For the soul that would mount to such a state, must be
quite pure, entirely stripped and bare of all images; it must be wholly separate
from all creatures, and above all from itself. Many think that this is
impossible in this present life. But St Dionysius claims that it is possible, as
we find from his words in his letter to Timothy, where he says: "In order to
behold the hidden things of God, thou shalt forsake sense and the things of the
flesh, and all that can be perceived by the senses, and all that reason can
bring forth by her own power, and all things created and uncreated which reason
can know and comprehend, and thou shalt stand upon an utter abandonment of
thyself, as if thou knewest none of those things which I have mentioned, and
thou shalt enter into union with Him who is, and who is above all existence and
knowledge." If he did not think this to be possible in this present time, why
did he teach it and urge it upon us in this present time? But you ought to know
that a master has said, about this passage of St Dionysius, that it is possible,
and may come to a man so often that he may become accustomed to it, and be able
to gaze into eternity whenever he will. And a single one of these glances is
better, worthier, higher, and more pleasing to God than all that the creature
can do as a creature. He who has attained to it asks for nothing more, for he
has found the kingdom of heaven and eternal life here on earth. viii.
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