Isaac Sírio — Tratados Místicos
Traduzidos para o inglês por A. J. Wensinck; obra publicada em 1923
::XXXII::
ON THE AIM OF GUARDING THE HEART AND ON SUBTLE SPECULATION THAT LOOKS INTO THE APARTMENT
Let there not be hidden to thy knowledge the power that lies in spiritual songs, when we use it with understanding. For it turns the deliberation away from the world. It also drives distraction from the mind, though it is reputed to be useful for children ( only ). The unsteady mind profits by it at once. Spiritual allurements are more valuable against the affections than the force of knowledge. When thou art alone, guard thy heart by them if thou possessest not yet the force to be watchful in thy being, through contemplation which is familiar intercourse with the knowledge of discernment; or — if this is not ( sufficient ) — by the constant recollection of the departure from the body and by the recollection of things expected and hoped for; this must be accompanied by ( the fulfilling of ) the duties which cause delight, namely: the withdrawal from things which cause emotions, and the little observances within the cell. If, after long slavery, thou findest that thy harbour is to be reached with freedom, pursue it ( in this way ). If thou seest that this is a foolish method, combine it with ( the practice of ) the law. For here it is easy to be rectified.
While with these and such variations thou advancest with insight, in a ship loaded with the treasures of the cell — a great festival full of the marchandise of the virtuous — then look with subtlety at the unequal children which are born to thee from apperceptible variations. Thou wilt namely see how every spiritual delight is preceded by the pains of the cross; r how the pleasure of sin, however, is born from bodily comfort; ( and thou wilt see ) why in the harbour of chastity, spiritual love is caused by spiritual contemplation, which heals the mind. There is nothing secondary without a preceding cause, nor a third virtue without a foregoing one. Thou wilt find growing in the womb of chastity the wings with which the mind ascends unto divine love, in which one may venture to approach the cloud.
This insight will give a man a considerable force, so as to mingle watchfulness with his affairs, and incitement unto zealous efforts.
Behaviour without eyes will prove idle. For it quickly brings about dejectedness on account of distraction. Pray our Lord that He endow thy behaviour with eyes. Then joy will begin to sprout; then troubles will become sweet to thee as honey comb; then thou wilt think thy enclosure a festival chamber.
It is not possible to vanquish the affections without apper-ceptible virtues, nor fortuitous distraction without intercourse with spiritual knowledge. Our mind is an agile thing; if it is not bound to an object with discernment, it will not cease to be distracted. And if the antecedents have not been fulfilled, there is no room for such a process. For there is no peace without victory over the enemies. And if peace does not reign, ( how is it possible ) to find that which lies beyond peace ?
Affections are the fence of hidden virtues. If they are not vanquished first by the manifest virtues, it is not possible to see what lies within them. For it is not possible for one standing without a wall, to speak about what is within. It is not possible to see the sun in a cloud, nor the natural virtues of the soul among the trouble of perpetual affections.
Pray God that He may give thee to perceive spiritual allurements. If these take hold of thy soul the world will depart from thee and thou from the world. But they cannot be perceived without solitude and emaciation and attentive intercourse with recitation. Without the latter thou must not pray for the former. If thou prayest for the former without ( these virtues ), they will change quickly and become of a bodily nature. Who is able to understand, will understand. It has pleased the wise Lord that we should eat this bread with sweat; not for malignity, but lest we should be attacked by a malady of the stomach and die.
Every virtue which is the mother of a second, which is anterior to it, is a viper to the souls of those who find it, it they do not cast it from them quickly.
PÁGINAS: toc
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