The Dialogue

How GOD, wishing to show to this devoted soul that the three steps of the holy Bridge, signify in particular the three states of the soul, tells her that she should rise above herself, to consider this truth.

" As I have told thee above, how they ought to walk, who live in common charity, that is, observing the command ments and counsels in thought, now I wish to tell thee of those who have begun to mount the staircase, and want to follow the perfect way, that is, to observe the commandments and counsels in act, in three states, which states I will show thee now, explaining them in particular. There are three degrees and states of the soul — as there are three steps, which steps I explained to thee in general as the powers of the soul — of which one state is imperfect, one more per fect, and the other most perfect. The first state is to Me as that of a mercenary servant, the second as of a faithful servant, and the other as of a son who loves Me, without any consideration. These are the three states of the soul, which can and do belong to many creatures, and sometimes all to one creature. They can and do belong to one creature when, with perfect solicitude, he runs by the aforesaid way, using his time in such a way that, from the servile state he arrives at the free state, and, from the free state, at the filial. Arise above thyself and open the eye of thy intellect and behold these travelling pilgrims as they pass, some im perfectly and others perfectly, on the way of the command ments, and some most perfectly keeping the way of the counsels. Thou wilt see, then, whence comes imperfection, and whence comes perfection, and how greatly the soul who

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has not rooted out of herself the roots of self-love, is deceived. For in every state in which man may be, it is necessary to destroy this self-love."