Angelus Silesius - Time

Eternity is time And time eternity, Except when we ourselves. Would make them different be.

Things in eternity Are all at once in prime, No after nor before Is there, as here in time.

Who would expect it so? From darkness light is brought, Life rises out of Death, and Something comes from Naught.

Two eyes our souls possess: While one is turned on time, The other seeth things Eternal and sublime.

My heart below is strait, On top 't is wide and stout. It must have room for God. But earthly things keep out.

O Christian once thou must Down into Hell be led. If not while still in life, Thou must go down when dead.

Trust me, my friend, if God Should bid me not to dwell In heaven, I'd stay here Or go, as lief, to Hell.

When quitting time, I am Myself eternity. I shall be one with God, God one with me shall be.

What did eternal God Before time had begun? He loved Himself and thus Begot He God, the Son.

What you for others wish, You for yourself suggest. If you don't wish them well, Your own death you request.

A soul redeemed and blessed No more knows otherhood. It is with God one light And one beatitude.

In Heaven life is good: No-one has aught alone. What one possesses, there All others too will own.

Plurality God loathes, Therefore He has decreed That all men should in Christ Be only one indeed.

Beware man of thyself, Self's burden thou wilt rue. It will impair thee more, Than thousand devils do.

Three enemies has man: Himself, Satan, the world; The first will be the last That to the ground is hurled.

Were e'en in Christ himself, Some little will at all, However blessed he be, Surely from grace he'd fall.

The highest worship is Like unto God to grow, Christlike to be in life, In habit, and love's glow.

Like unto Christ is he Who truly loves his foe, For persecutors prays, And renders good for woe.