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Anonymous
The Cloud of Unknowing
A Spiritual Guide to Contemplative Prayer
Editor: Evelyn Underhill
e-artnow, 2021
Contact: [email protected]
EAN 4064066500009
Table of Content
Introduction
Prayer
Prologue
Chapter 1. Of four degrees of Christian men’s living; and of the course of his calling that this book was made unto.
Chapter 2. A short stirring to meekness, and to the work of this book.
Chapter 3. How the work of this book shall be wrought, and of the worthiness of it before all other works.
Chapter 4. Of the shortness of this word, and how it may not be come to by curiosity of wit, nor by imagination.
Chapter 5. That in the time of this word all the creatures that ever have been, be now, or ever shall be, and all the works of those same creatures, should be hid under the cloud of forgetting.
Chapter 6. A short conceit of the work of this book, treated by question.
Chapter 7. How a man shall have him in this work against all thoughts, and specially against all those that arise of his own curiosity, of cunning, and of natural wit.
Chapter 8. A good declaring of certain doubts that may fall in this word treated by question, in destroying of a man’s own curiosity, of cunning, and of natural wit, and in distinguishing of the degrees and the parts of active living and contemplative.
Chapter 9. That in the time of this work the remembrance of the holiest Creature that ever God made letteth more than it profiteth.
Chapter 10. How a man shall know when his thought is no sin; and if it be sin, when it is deadly and when it is venial.
Chapter 11. That a man should weigh each thought and each stirring after that it is, and always eschew recklessness in venial sin.
Chapter 12. That by Virtue of this word sin is not only destroyed, but also Virtues begotten.
Chapter 13. What meekness is in itself, and when it is perfect and when it is imperfect.
Chapter 14. That without imperfect meekness coming before, it is impossible for a sinner to come to the perfect Virtue of meekness in this life.
Chapter 15. A short proof against their error that say, that there is no perfecter cause to be meeked under, than is the knowledge of a man’s own wretchedness.
Chapter 16. That by Virtue of this work a sinner truly turned and called to contemplation cometh sooner to perfection than by any other work; and by it soonest may get of God forgiveness of sins.
Chapter 17. That a Very contemplative list not meddle him with active life, nor of anything that is done or spoken about him, nor yet to answer to his blamers in excusing of himself.
Chapter 18. How that yet unto this day all actives complain of contemplatives as Martha did of Mary. Of the which complaining ignorance is the cause.
Chapter 19. A short excusation of him that made this book teaching how all contemplatives should have all actives fully excused of their complaining words and deeds.
Chapter 20. How Almighty God will goodly answer for all those that for the excusing of themselves list not leave their business about the love of Him.
Chapter 21. The true exposition of this gospel word, “Mary hath chosen the best part.”
Chapter 22. Of the wonderful love that Christ had to man in person of all sinners truly turned and called to the grace of contemplation.
Chapter 23. How God will answer and purvey for them in spirit, that for business about His love list not answer nor purvey for themselves
Chapter 24. What charity is in itself, and how it is truly and perfectly contained in the work of this book.
Chapter 25. That in the time of this work a perfect soul hath no special beholding to any one man in this life.
Chapter 26. That without full special grace, or long use in common grace, the work of this book is right travailous; and in this work, which is the work of the soul helped by grace, and which is the work of only God.
Chapter 27. Who should work in the gracious work of this book.
Chapter 28. That a man should not presume to work in this work before the time that he be lawfully cleansed in conscience of all his special deeds of sin.
Chapter 29. That a man should bidingly travail in this work, and suffer the pain thereof, and judge no man.
Chapter 30. Who should blame and condemn other men’s defaults.
Chapter 31. How a man should have him in beginning of this work against all thoughts and stirrings of sin.
Chapter 32. Of two ghostly devices
