Songs of Innocence, 18, (E 12)
"The Divine Image.
To Mercy Pity Peace and Love,
All pray in their distress:
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.
For Mercy Pity Peace and Love,
Is God our father dear:
And Mercy Pity Peace and Love,
Is Man his child and care.
For Mercy has a human heart
Pity, a human face:
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.
Then every man of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine
Love Mercy Pity Peace.
And all must love the human form,
In heathen, turk or jew.
Where Mercy, Love & Pity dwell,
There God is dwelling too"
Northrop
Frye, in Fearful Symmetry, has something to say about
the progress of man through the Eyes of God and the formidable
opposition to the transition to the Eighth Eye which is waged by
Satan as the adversary to God and man.
"The
crucified Christ is the visible form of Man's dream state, and
whatever is completely visible is transparent, that means the
crucified Christ is a prism or lens of reality, that is, an eye,
which Man is slowly trying to open. The word 'eye' associates
itself at once with another part of Blake's symbolism. Seven
Eyes of God, seven increasingly clear visions of the unity of
God and Man in one body, in one city, have completed their work,
and we are now searching for the eighth. He is still elusive,
still hiding in the forests, as Blake says, and when we do get
him we will have a new perception of God which will be a final
confirmation of either the Blakean or the Lockian view of
reality, either a newborn God or an Antichrist. Of Antichrist
Paul says: 'And ye know now what withholdeth that he might be
revealed in time', and Blake adds, 'But you cannot behold him
until he be revealed in his system.' He also tells us to look
through and not with our own eyes." (Page 401) 2nd Thessalonians 2
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
[5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
[6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
Jerusalem, Plate 43 [29], (E 191) "Then the Divine Vision like a silent Sun appeard above Albions dark rocks: setting behind the Gardens of Kensington On Tyburns River, in clouds of blood: where was mild Zion Hills Most ancient promontory, and in the Sun, a Human Form appeard And thus the Voice Divine went forth upon the rocks of Albion I elected Albion for my glory; I gave to him the Nations, Of the whole Earth. he was the Angel of my Presence: and all The Sons of God were Albions Sons: and Jerusalem was my joy. The Reactor hath hid himself thro envy. I behold him. But you cannot behold him till he be reveald in his System Albions Reactor must have a Place prepard: Albion must Sleep The Sleep of Death, till the Man of Sin & Repentance be reveald. Hidden in Albions Forests he lurks: he admits of no Reply From Albion: but hath founded his Reaction into a Law Of Action, for Obedience to destroy the Contraries of Man[.] He hath compelld Albion to become a Punisher & hath possessd Himself of Albions Forests & Wilds! and Jerusalem is taken!"
Inferno, Canto II, 139-141
Dante and Virgil enter the wood
|
Satan has not yet been revealed in his system but the Divine Vision makes itself known to mankind offering itself as the Divine Humanity.
Jerusalem, Plate 44 [30], (E 193)
"And the Divine hand was upon them bearing them thro darkness
Back safe to their Humanity as doves to their windows:
Therefore the Sons of Eden praise Urthonas Spectre in Songs
Because he kept the Divine Vision in time of trouble.
They wept & trembled: & Los put forth his hand & took them in
Into his Bosom: from which Albion shrunk in dismal pain;
Rending the fibres of Brotherhood & in Feminine Allegories
Inclosing Los: but the Divine Vision appeard with Los
Following Albion into his Central Void among his Oaks.
And Los prayed and said. O Divine Saviour arise
Upon the Mountains of Albion as in ancient time. Behold!
The Cities of Albion seek thy face, London groans in pain
From Hill to Hill & the Thames laments along the Valleys"
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