Confessions

^14. But as yet “by faith, not by sight,” for “we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope.” As yet deep calls unto deep but in “the noise of Your waterspouts.” And as yet does he that says, I “could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,” even he, as yet, does not count himself to have apprehended, and forgets those things which are behind, and reaches forth to those things which are before, and groans being burdened; and his soul thirsts after the living God, as the hart after the water-brooks, and says, “When shall I come?” “desiring to be clothed upon with his house which is from heaven;” and calls upon this lower deep, saying, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” And, “Be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be children,” that in “understanding you may be perfect;” and “O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?” But now not in his own voice, but in Yours who sent Your Spirit from above; through Him who “ascended up on high,” and set open the flood-gates of His gifts, that the force of His streams might make glad the city of God. For, for Him does “the friend of the bridegroom” sigh, having now the first-fruits of the Spirit laid up with Him, yet still groaning within himself, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of his body; to Him he sighs, for he is a member of the Bride; for Him is he jealous, for he is the friend of the Bridegroom; for Him is he jealous, not for himself; because in the voice of Your “waterspouts,” not in his own voice, does he call on that other deep, for whom being jealous he fears, lest that, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so their minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in our Bridegroom, You only Son. What a light of beauty will that be when “we shall see Him as He is,” and those tears be passed away which “have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God?”