Yale Center for British Art
Doubt for Blake meant
closing oneself to the eternal truth which provides light to
illumine all of life. When Blake tells us us that:
"For man has closed
himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow chinks of his
cavern." (Marriage of Heaven & Hell)
he is remarking on our
failure to realize that there is more to 'sense' beyond the
material world which provides information to our five senses. To
limit oneself to what the world of time and space shows us, is
to live in a world of doubt. We deny the best part of being
human when we turn away from the soul to the natural world as
the source of meaning.
Doubt like darkness is
a void, an absence. When we sleep the mind closes itself to
external stimuli. Doubt is closing the mind to spiritual
consciousness. We know that in a wakeful state we can focus our
minds as we choose. Focusing the mind in the direction of
consciousness of the truths which bind us into one humanity
eliminates doubt. Focusing the mind egocentrically, as the
Selfhood directs us to do, sends us into a sleep which deprives
us of the liberty to affirm ourselves or our brothers.
Letter to Butts, Felpham, April 25: 1803, (E 728)
"Now I may say to you what perhaps I should not dare to say
to any one else. That I can alone carry on my visionary studies
in London unannoyd & that I may converse with my friends in
Eternity. See Visions, Dream Dreams, & prophecy & speak Parables
unobserv'd & at liberty from the Doubts of other Mortals. perhaps
Doubts proceeding from Kindness. but Doubts are always pernicious
Especially when we Doubt our Friends"
Everlasting Gospel, (E 520)
"Can that which was of Woman born
In the absence of the Morn
When the Soul fell into Sleep
And Archangels round it weep
Shooting out against the Light
Fibres of a deadly night
Reasoning upon its own Dark Fiction
In Doubt which is Self Contradiction
Humility is only Doubt
And does the Sun & Moon blot out
Rooting over with thorns & stems
The buried Soul & all its Gems
This Lifes dim Windows of the Soul
Distorts the Heavens from Pole to Pole
And leads you to Believe a Lie
When you see with not thro the Eye
That was born in a night to perish in a night
When the Soul slept in the beams of Light."
Songs & Ballads, (E 492)
"A Riddle or the Crickets Cry
Is to Doubt a fit Reply
The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile
Make Lame Philosophy to smile
He who Doubts from what he sees
Will neer Believe do what you Please
If the Sun & Moon should Doubt
Theyd immediately Go out"
Jerusalem, Plate 93, (E 253)
"In that terrible Day of Rintrahs Plow & of Satans driving the Team.
Ah! then I heard my little ones weeping along the Valley!
Ah! then I saw my beloved ones fleeing from my Tent
Merlin was like thee Rintrah among the Giants of Albion
Judah was like Palamabron: O Simeon! O Levi! ye fled away
How can I hear my little ones weeping along the Valley
Or how upon the distant Hills see my beloveds Tents.
Then Los again took up his speech as Enitharmon ceast
Fear not my Sons this Waking Death. he is become One with me
Behold him here! We shall not Die! we shall be united in Jesus.
Will you suffer this Satan this Body of Doubt that Seems but Is Not
To occupy the very threshold of Eternal Life. if Bacon, Newton, Locke,
Deny a Conscience in Man & the Communion of Saints & Angels
Contemning the Divine Vision & Fruition, Worshiping the Deus
Of the Heathen, The God of This World, & the Goddess Nature
Mystery Babylon the Great, The Druid Dragon & hidden Harlot
Is it not that Signal of the Morning which was told us in the Beginning"
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