De docta ignorantia

Receive now, venerable father, the things which long since I desired to attain by the various ways of doctrines, but before could not, until returning from Greece on the sea, I believe by supernal gift from the father of lights, from whom is every best gift, I was led unto this, that I incomprehensibly embrace incomprehensibles in learned ignorance, through the transcendence of incorruptible truths humanly knowable. Which I have now completed in him, who is truth, in these little books, which from the same principle can be straitened or extended. But in these profundities every effort of our human genius must be, that it elevate itself unto that simplicity, where contradictories coincide; in which labors the concept of the prior book. The second elicits from it a few things concerning the universe above the common way of the philosophers, rare to many. And now we having finally embraced the third book concerning Jesus the superblessed, ever proceeding from the same foundation; and Jesus the Lord became continually greater to me in intellect and affection through the increase of faith. For no one having the faith of Christ can deny that by this way he is not more highly inflamed in desire, so that, after long meditations and ascensions, he sees the sweetest Jesus alone to be loved, and with joy leaving all things embraces him as the true life and sempiternal joy. In such a way he enters into Jesus; all things yield, and whatever scriptures can bring in no difficulty, nor this world, since here he is transformed into Jesus on account of the spirit of Christ dwelling in him; who is the end of intellectual desires, whom thou, most devoted father, with suppliant heart for me, most miserable sinner, be willing assiduously to entreat, that together we merit to enjoy him eternally.