The God-Enlightened Guide

to be guided by GOD.

yet the soul mixes her own intentions into it, and thus she confuses the divine operation and throws it into disorder.

2. Having presupposed this truth, one must know as a general and infallible fundamental rule and maxim, that the entire guidance of GOD regarding souls is directed and founded upon the following three main principles.

(1) That GOD never does or works anything in souls except in these two ways: either immediately Directly, without any intervening person, means, or circumstance through GOD himself, or else in a mediate Indirectly, acting through an intermediary or instrument way through creatures original: Creaturen; in this mystical context, "creatures" refers to any created beings, people, or earthly events used by God as instruments, which are subordinate to GOD.

(2) Furthermore, that these two ways are entirely equal in the hand of GOD: for GOD creates just as excellent and glorious works in the one way as in the other, all as it is his holy will and pleasure.

(3) Finally, that the first way, namely the immediate guidance of GOD, is a very rare thing and is found in very few souls; indeed, GOD generally makes use of this immediate guidance regarding such special souls no sooner than after a long labor, after GOD has already sufficiently carved out and fashioned his image A common mystical metaphor: God is the sculptor and the soul is the stone being shaped into His likeness, and he subsequently wishes to complete this work of his through himself and bring it to perfection.

3. Therefore I say, that it is both universal, truthful, and certain, that GOD

Soul, Guidance of God, Main Principles, Immediate, Mediate, Creatures, Perfection