"The
Prophets"
by Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin
Who
shall give to man the intelligence to understand the march of
the Word?
God
hath spoken with His mouth of His prophets: this is what ye shall know if the One
who prophesies is true, or if He doth not speak with a lying spirit:
When what he telleth of doth come
to pass, ye shall then believe in the truth of the prophet.
But
hath He not consummated all the Law? And since the Great Sign,1 have
not all the old signs become fragile?
Must
there not appear prophets of error and falsehood, who shall have even the power
of seducing the elect?
I
see them do marvelous works; I see them announcing events which shall occur.
I
see them, like Elijah, make fire come down from Heaven.
Woe
to future times, when falsehood will so well resemble the truth!
At
all times, take precautions against imitators. Ever since man was
sold to be subjugated unto sin, sin useth him as well as wisdom.
It
will thus be necessary for man to dig more deeply into himself, so as to find
new signs there.
The
prophet, is he humble and sweet? Doth he preach the reign of God, and not his
own?
Doth
he manifest with his tears and his sobs the ardors of charity? Is he ready to
give his life for his brothers? Doth he join to these virtues a doctrine, sound
and well-tried?
Turn
towards him, follow in his footsteps, attach thyself to his spirit; charity
of heart and soundness of doctrine are
gifts which cannot be feigned.
Even
though thou walkest in the midst of confusion and darkness, a luminous circle
shall surround thee, and keep thee safe.
The
more time advances towards the fullness of its disorder, the more man must move
towards his consummation of light.
How
can he advance to this term, if he doth not allow himself to penetrate the
spirit of life, and rush with ardor towards it, as if compelled there by a
devouring hunger?
No!
There is no joy comparable to that of treading the paths of wisdom and truth!
--Chant 9 from THE MAN OF DESIRE (L’HOMME DE DESIR) (1790)
translated by Seth Edwards, 2016
title by Robert Amadou
NOTES:
1. The
Crucifiction, or perhaps the life and ministry of Christ in general.
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