The Tree of Faith, or The Tree of Life

...so that it may be most carefully preserved and surrounded by the pure Love-Fire, kindled original: "blown up" by the Holy Spirit original: "Holy Ghost". May this be its shelter from all the invading spirits that watch so diligently to break in, to prune original: "crop" and drain away its strength. Because of this, O my God, a holy, reverential original: "awful"; in the 17th century, this meant "full of awe" rather than "bad." fear is upon me, because I know well what damage and ruin it has suffered. This has kept it at a low and small stature, preventing what might have been a Conquest of the World and a great, miraculous work.

Therefore now, my God, what must be done for its preservation? Let me into the secret original: "Make me privy in the Secrecy" of acting out so wise a role—one that few or none in this recent age have discovered. And why is this so, except because no skillful artist In this mystical context, an "artist" refers to a practitioner or "spiritual alchemist" who knows how to work with divine mysteries. in this Mystery of Faith has been...