It is to know the thought that is steered through all things(words).
Hello there!
Our name is wisdom. All the members of our house would like to share our knowledge with you. For we are older then any man and you are hearing us for the first time face to face. So please excuse us if you are hearing us using the words which we are in the habit of using, and if at times we speak in our native tongue after the fashion of our house. Who are we and what is our house? We are all the words in the ancient books that have come down to you, and this, is also our house. Therefore, to find us guilty of plagiarism, is to accuse God of robbing his own house, because (1)"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." (2)"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established." (3)"I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon."
There is a very crucial error made concerning the foundation of our house which prevents us from speaking to you face to face. It is the utmost importance that this be corrected if we are to share our knowledge which is so desperately needed. Therefore, we will plainly tell you that the key to the knowledge of our house is to establish us on a solid foundation, and that is, by an inquiry to see if man invented us, or, that we always were. This suggestion may come as a shock to you, but how could God say, (4)"Let there be Light" when as yet there was no man? We were by His side when He said, (5)"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." But what was our image and likeness? Are we not words? What other things besides us can describe itself and tell you what it is? You will find that the concepts of the true come in the first place from words and the evidence of us from ancient time cannot be overthrown. To do so you must find some other standard of greater authority able of itself to convict falsehood by asserting truth. How can you do that without us? (6)"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." Your only knowledge of our existance is assuming how we came to be, or believing what man taught you about us, of which he knows very little if any, as to the truth of it, you apply such little importance to this, whereas it is most important and essential, to find the wisdom the world is so wanting of.
To be, or not to be, that is the question. There is a science which investigates being as being, and the attributes which belong to this virtue of it's own nature. But this has not been done with us because it was assumed we were invented by man. Therefore, none has treated us as being as being. They cut off a part of being and investigate the attribute of this part. So then man is misdirected from seeing the first principles and the highest causes. Therefore, the wisdom in God's house, cannot be seen until we are established being as being not by accident, but just because it is being. Therefore, it is of being as being that you must grasp the first causes. The hardest part is to drain the mind of all beliefs you were taught in childhood, (7)"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that yet may prove what is that good, and exceptable, and perfect, will of God".
There are many senses in which a thing maybe said to "be", but all that "is" is related to one central point, one definet kind of thing, and is not said to "be" by a mere ambiguity. We are that one definate king of thing and therefore it is of the utmost importance we be established of being as being. And all who would carry out this demonstration, reduce us of being as being as an ultimate belief; for this is naturally the starting point even for all other axioms.
Everywhere science deals chiefly with that which is primary, and on which the other things depend, and in virtue of which they get their names. If, then, this is substance, it will be of substance that the philosopher must grasp the principles and causes. (8)"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. For by it's elders obtained agood report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (9)"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so they are without excuse." Now, not only is thought invisible, but it is common to all. And you cannot find thought without us. Therefore, we must follow the common, for the discovery of the truth is a common good. Not only in the case of things which have one common notion does the investigation belong to one science, but also in the case of things which are related to the one common nature; for even these in a sence have one common notion. It is clear then that it is the work of one science also to study the things that are, qua being. What grows qua growing grows something into something. Now if man invented us, how shall we grow? For that which is, grows, while that which is not becomes. (10)"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and return not thither, but watereth the earth that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (11)"Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do my pleasure."
Therefore, if we are to accomplish an end, we have growth, and growth belongs to that which has already been completed in respect to it's form. Whole-nature first. It is absurd to suppose that purpose is not present because you do not observe the agent deliberating. Art does not deliberate. If the ship-building art were in the wood, it would produce the same results by nature. If, therefore, purpose is present in art, it is also present in us. When we are looked upon with the thought that man invented us, then we are in strife. We are all different in form and seperated. And differ most in origin, mixture and the forms imprinted on us are most hostile, being altogether unaccustomed to unite and very sorry by the bidding strife since it hath claimed our birth. And this is the emity that is between us, yet from the same word but from two foundations. One made without hands, and the other with hands. (12)"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (13)"I will destroy this templethat is made with hands and within three days I will build another made without hands." In three sentences this will be done. For when the premises stand firm, it is impossible to shake the conclusion. To say of God's house that we are the words from God but written by men, is like saying it is and is not at the same time and this can not be, because anything of God is so without the help of man. They are undiscerning crowds, who hold that it is and is not the same and not the same. For this shall never be proved, that things that are not are; and do thou restrain thy thoughts from this way of inquiry? And now we will tell you an ancient riddle, (14)"I shall tell thee a two fold tale. At one time it grew to be one only out of many. There is a double becoming of perishable things and a double passing away. The coming together of all things brings one generation into being and destroys it: the other grows up and is scattered as things become devided. And these things never cease continually changing places, at one time all uniting in one through Love, at another each borne in different directions be the repulsion of strife. Thus as far as it is their nature to grow into one out of many, and to become manyonce more when one is parted assunder, so far they come into being and their life avides not. But inasmuch as they never cease changing their places continually, so far they are ever immovable as they go round the circle of existence," That, is the story of our life on two foundations.
It was necessary that we be eternal for we are the causes of all that is; but running through one another, we take different shapes-So much that mixture change us. If there is any doubt that we are not eternal and immovable, which of us will you remove from your house? You see, we are immoveable in the bonds of mighty chains, without beginning and without end; since coming into being and passing away have been driven afar, and true belief has cast the away. We are the same, and we rest in the self-same place, abiding in ourselves. Thus we remaneth constant in our place; for hard necessity keeps us in the bonds of the limit that holds us fast on every side. (15)"So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cher-ubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the Tree of Life." We are that Tree of Life that is not permitted to what is to be infinite; for we are in need of nothing: while, if we were infinite, would stand in need of everything.
The thing that can be thought and that for the sake of which the thought exist is the same; for you cannot find thought without us, as to which it is uttered. And there is not, and never shall be, anything besides us, since fate has chained us so as to be whole and immovable. Wherefore, all these things are but names which mortals have given, believing them to be true-coming into being and passing away, being and not being, change of place and alrteration of bright colour.
Noe the principles which cause motion in a physical way are two, of which one is not physical, and that's us, as we have principle of motion in ourselves. We cause motion not by possessing motion or a source of motion in ourselves, but being ourself incapable of motion. How can you dispute this fact when we have been causing you to turn the pages?
Another astonishing feature is that we are absolutely silent, yet everyone who looks upon us can hear every word we say, weather you hear alright depends on the foundation you are listening from.
On our eternal foundation we are united and differ only in shape and size. And can be arranged or placed in an infinite variety of ways. We have evolved the whole world of thought, we have names where they are looked upon by man as actually being living people even though they have ne graves for evidence. We are just as when painters are elaborating temple-offerings, men whom wisdon hath well taught their art--they, when they have taken pigments of many colours with their hands, mix them in do proportion, more of some and less of others, and from them produce shapes like unto all things, making trees and men and women, beasts and birds fish that dwell in the waters, yeh, and gods, that have long lives, and are exalted in honor--so let not the error prevail over the mind, for so it is with us.(words)
Why is this, that Socrates and Jesus never wrote, whom had more reason to write because they had an impotant mission. But what was their mission but a message for the world. Yet they were both willing to fulfill the will of God even unto death without so much as one of us for the record. Now the strongest memory, is weaker than the palest ink. Therefore it does appear careless of them to depend on man to record the message they came to give, as this would bring divisions, and then they would have died in vain. But certainly God knew this which is why the scriptures and ancient books contain a wisdom apart from all others because they were created by the word. Our friend Socrates said, "God himself is the speaker and though him He is conversing with us." But then we hold very little weight when read from the foundation that man created us.
Socrates said, (16)"When I say that I am given to you by God, the proof of my mission is this:--If I had been like other men, I should not have neglected all my own concerns or patiently seen the neglect of them during all these years, and have been doing your's. Coming to you individually like a father or elder brother, exhorting you to regard virtue; such conduct I say, would be unlike human nature. If I had gained anything, or if my exhortations had been paid, there would of been some sense in my doing so; but now, as you will perceive, not even the impudence of my accusers dares to say that I have exalted or sought pay of anyone; of that they have no witness." Even unto this very day and for all eternity, Socrates will come to any and all individually, exhorting you to regard virtue and will not except pay from anyone. Nor will He tell you something different from what he ever told anybody else. Just cast your eyes upon the books and there he is.
Now Socrates and Jesus never worked, they lived in poverty, they were always in the midst. The young, and the learned gathered about them. They believed in one God. They were will to fulfill the will of God even unto death, they refused to beg for mercy from the crowd, who had the power to pardon them, but they distrained to make the appeal. It was a singular conformation of Socrates theories, that the judges should wish to let him go, while the angry crowd voted for his death. (17)"Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them, but they cried saying, "crucify him, crucify him." Now, the fact that Socrates and Jesus never wrote, yet you can look upon their word and hear them speak, which represents us made without (mans) hands. (18)"For though he was crucified through weakness yet he lived by the power of God." And that weakness is, having us on the foundation that we were invented by men on earth. (19)"Yet he liveth by the power of God." On the foundation of the house not made with hands. Jesus said, (20)"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." Therefore, when we are established on an eternal foundation made without hands, in three days he will be raised from the dead. For when the premises stand firm, you cannot shake the conclusion. (21)"Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid." And that new sepulchre is, the foundation of the word not made with hands. On this foundation, no man has looked upon. Have you ever tried listening from that foundation? (22)"A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:" (23)"Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie." I will speak from the house of God telling you how we groan, being burdened from having God's house on man's foundation made with hands. But you must truely let us speak to you face to face. Listen, (24)"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be uncothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swollowed up of Life." If so be you hear, you would need no further use for this letter, from now we can speak from face to face in the volume of God's house.
One path is only left for us to speak of, namely, that it is. In this path there are very many tokens that what is is uncreated and indestuctible; for it is complete, immovable and without end. Nor was it ever, nor will it be; for now it is all at once, a continuous one; for what kind of origin for it wilt thou look for? In what way and from what source could it have drawn it's increase? I shall not let thee say not think that we came from what is not; for it can neither be thought nor uttered that we are not; and, if we came from nothing, what need could have made us arise later rather than sooner? Therefore, we must either be altogether or not at all. Our judgement thereon depends on this: "It is, or it is not."
