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and heaven； tender and strong companion partaking of the lion and of
the lamb； Prayer！ Prayer will give you the key of heaven！ Bold and
pure as innocence； strong； like all that is single and simple； this
glorious； invincible Queen rests； nevertheless； on the material world；
she takes possession of it； like the sun； she clasps it in a circle of
light。 The universe belongs to him who wills； who knows； who prays；
but he must will； he must know； he must pray； in a word； he must
possess force； wisdom； and faith。
〃Therefore Prayer； issuing from so many trials； is the consummation of
all truths； all powers； all feelings。 Fruit of the laborious；
progressive； continued development of natural properties and faculties
vitalized anew by the divine breath of the Word； Prayer has occult
activity； it is the final worshipnot the material worship of images；
nor the spiritual worship of formulas； but the worship of the Divine
World。 We say no prayers；prayer forms within us； it is a faculty
which acts of itself； it has attained a way of action which lifts it
outside of forms； it links the soul to God； with whom we unite as the
root of the tree unites with the soil； our veins draw life from the
principle of life； and we live by the life of the universe。 Prayer
bestows external conviction by making us penetrate the Material World
through the cohesion of all our faculties with the elementary
substances； it bestows internal conviction by developing our essence
and mingling it with that of the Spiritual Worlds。 To be able to pray
thus； you must attain to an utter abandonment of flesh； you must
acquire through the fires of the furnace the purity of the diamond；
for this complete communion with the Divine is obtained only in
absolute repose； where storms and conflicts are at rest。
〃Yes； Prayerthe aspiration of the soul freed absolutely from the
bodybears all forces within it； and applies them to the constant and
perseverant union of the Visible and the Invisible。 When you possess
the faculty of praying without weariness； with love； with force； with
certainty； with intelligence； your spiritualized nature will presently
be invested with power。 Like a rushing wind； like a thunderbolt； it
cuts its way through all things and shares the power of God。 The
quickness of the Spirit becomes yours； in an instant you may pass from
region to region； like the Word itself； you are transported from the
ends of the world to other worlds。 Harmony exists； and you are part of
it！ Light is there and your eyes possess it！ Melody is heard and you
echo it！ Under such conditions； you feel your perceptions developing；
widening； the eyes of your mind reach to vast distances。 There is； in
truth； neither time nor place to the Spirit； space and duration are
proportions created for Matter； spirit and matter have naught in
common。
〃Though these things take place in stillness； in silence； without
agitation； without external movement； yet Prayer is all action； but it
is spiritual action； stripped of substantiality； and reduced； like the
motion of the worlds； to an invisible pure force。 It penetrates
everywhere like light； it gives vitality to souls that come beneath
its rays； as Nature beneath the sun。 It resuscitates virtue； purifies
and sanctifies all actions； peoples solitude； and gives a foretaste of
eternal joys。 When you have once felt the delights of the divine
intoxication which comes of this internal travail； then all is yours！
once take the lute on which we sing to God within your hands； and you
will never part with it。 Hence the solitude in which Angelic Spirits
live； hence their disdain of human joys。 They are withdrawn from those
who must die to live； they hear the language of such beings； but they
no longer understand their ideas； they wonder at their movements； at
what the world terms policies； material laws； societies。 For them all
mysteries are over； truth； and truth alone； is theirs。 They who have
reached the point where their eyes discern the Sacred Portals； who；
not looking back； not uttering one regret； contemplate worlds and
comprehend their destinies； such as they keep silence； wait； and bear
their final struggles。 The worst of all those struggles is the last；
at the zenith of all virtue is Resignation；to be an exile and not
lament； no longer to delight in earthly things and yet to smile； to
belong to God and yet to stay with men！ You hear the voice that cries
to you； 'Advance！' Often celestial visions of descending Angels
compass you about with songs of praise； then； tearless； uncomplaining；
must you watch them as they reascent the skies！ To murmur is to
forfeit all。 Resignation is a fruit that ripens at the gates of
heaven。 How powerful； how glorious the calm smile； the pure brow of
the resigned human creature。 Radiant is the light of that brow。 They
who live in its atmosphere grow purer。 That calm glance penetrates and
softens。 More eloquent by silence than the prophet by speech； such
beings triumph by their simple presence。 Their ears are quick to hear
as a faithful dog listening for his master。 Brighter than hope；
stronger than love； higher than faith； that creature of resignation is
the virgin standing on the earth； who holds for a moment the conquered
palm； then； rising heavenward； leaves behind her the imprint of her
white； pure feet。 When she has passed away men flock around and cry；
'See！ See！' Sometimes God holds her still in sight；a figure to whose
feet creep Forms and Species of Animality to be shown their way。 She
wafts the light exhaling from her hair； and they see； she speaks； and
they hear。 'A miracle！' they cry。 Often she triumphs in the name of
God； frightened men deny her and put her to death； smiling； she lays
down her sword and goes to the stake； having saved the Peoples。 How
many a pardoned Angel has passed from martyrdom to heaven！ Sinai；
Golgotha are not in this place nor in that； Angels are crucified in
every place； in every sphere。 Sighs pierce to God from the whole
universe。 This earth on which we live is but a single sheaf of the
great harvest； humanity is but a species in the vast garden where the
flowers of heaven are cultivated。 Everywhere God is like unto Himself；
and everywhere； by prayer； it is easy to reach Him。〃
With these words； which fell from the lips of another Hagar in the
wilderness； burning the souls of the hearers as the live coal of the
word inflamed Isaiah； this mysterious being paused as though to gather
some remaining strength。 Wilfrid and Minna dared not speak。 Suddenly
HE lifted himself up to die：
〃Soul of all things； oh my God； thou whom I love for Thyself！ Thou；
Judge and Father； receive a love which has no limit。 Give me of thine
essence and thy faculties that I be wholly thine！ Take me； that I no
longer be myself！ Am I not purified？ then cast me back into the
furnace！ If I be not yet proved in the fire； make me some nurturing
ploughshare； or the Sword of victory！ Grant me a glorious martyr