Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

terrors are the Illusions of Success. But one instant’s self-satisfac¬ tion or Expansion of thy Spirit, especially in this State of dryness, and thou art lost. For thou mayst attain the False Union with the Démon himself. Beware also of even the pride which rises from having resisted the temptations. But so many and so subtle are the wiles of Choronzon that the whole world could not contain their énumération. The answer to one and ail is the persistence in the literal fulfil- ment of the routine. Beware, then, last, of that devil who shall whisper in thine ear that the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life, and answer : Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground, and die, it abideth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Yet shalt thou also beware of disputation with the devil and pride in the cleverness of thine answers to him. Therefore, if thou hast not lost the power of silence, let it be hrst and last employed against him. 30. Concerning the Enflaming of the Heart. — Now learn that thy methods are dry, one and ail. Intellectual exercises, moral exercises, they are not Love. Yet as a man, rubbing two dry sticks together for long, suddenly found a spark, so also from time to time will true Love leap unasked into thy méditation. Yet this shall die and be reborn again and again. It may be that thou hast no tinder near. In the end shall corne suddenly a great flame and devouring, and burn thee utterly. Now of these sparks, and of these splutterings of flame, and of these beginnings of the Infinité Fire, thou shalt thus be aware. For the sparks thy heart shall leap up, and thy ceremony or médi¬ tation or toil shall seem of a sudden to go of its own will 3 and for the little fiâmes this shall be increased in volume and intensity; and for the beginnings of the Infinité Fire thy ceremony shall be caught up unto ravishing song, and thy méditation shall be ecstasy, and thy toil shall be a delight exceeding ail pleasure thou hast ever known. And of the Great Flame that answereth thee it may not be spoken; for therein is the End of this Magick Art of Dévotion. 31. Considérations with regard to the use of symbols. It is to — 398 —