Discourse 23

On the Sign of the Discourse of the Knowledge of Truth. 23. Everything that is perceptible, whether an action or a word, is a sign of something concealed within, if it does not have a cause that serves it. But its function is habit. It is considered in two ways for recompense: the first, then, is that it comes to mind as a small thing. Strength or weakness of will, in the performance of evil or good deeds, is not determined by the chance occurrence of the will, but from the habit of being, the certainty of its freedom is established. Authority is given to the sign, and beyond freedom, the will has the ability to refuse at any time. Signs, whether good or evil, occur either in the sign itself, or as a cause, or as a consequence, or as an encounter, or as a recompense. For a cause, a good sign; for a consequence, that which is considered evil; for an encounter and a recompense, signs follow both. There is no sign of chance, for by chance nothing occurs in the sign, neither good nor evil. There is a governor who governs the wills of this world, and there is a guardian with each one of us, so that nothing is lost to him nor forgotten. But every sign is distinguished and separated from that guardian who commands, and in these four small things, its distinction occurs for the sake of the senses.

Prayer, then, is what reveals the practices that are fitting for its feeling: the mutability of these changes and the joyful fruitfulness. When it is good, it is effective and confirming. When it is evil, it gives a contrary change. Now, do not be disturbed that I said there is no event without a cause and without a governor. If it is possible that prayer with a changing order or arrangement exists, then believe that every event has a governor. Blessed is the one who understands every event that comes to him according to its hidden causes, and pursues its cause, and sees its governor. Whoever desires to become wise with God has no opportunity unless he becomes a stranger to the world and a helper to the glory of the Church. The human being is wonderful: by simplicity of soul he conceals the greatness of his work. At this, the angels marvel. The guardians of righteousness will be considered for you: involuntary compressions, in which those who are vigilant are found from time to time. There is no prayer that is accepted as easily as that which a man asks concerning the door of his thoughts, when, in his folly, he judges concerning himself that this question is not to be asked without hesitation.

When, then, you are fulfilling your duty and are confident in yourself, you will see your own standing as weak and your soul as simple in your eyes, and praise from the blessed will come upon you, for you truly stand in the way of God. And when you are disturbed, you will not perceive this within yourself, but rather, when you grope for your sign, you will see that it grieves you and that the thoughts of the inner man are disordered, for you are empty of truth and have chosen falsehood.