The thre and seventy chapitre. How that after the licnes of Moyses, of Beseleel, and of Aaron, medeling hem aboute the Arke of the Testament, we profite on thre maners in this grace of contemplacion; for this grace is figured in that Arke.
The Three Guardians of the Ark
Moses, Bezalel, and Aaron each had a distinct role in relation to the Ark of the Covenant.
There were three men who were chiefly occupied with this Ark of the Old Testament: Moses, Bezalel, and Aaron. Moses learned on the mountain of our Lord how it was to be made. Bezalel wrought it and made it in the valley, after the example that was shown on the mountain. And Aaron had it in his keeping in the temple, to feel it and see it as often as he liked.
Three Ways of Growing in Contemplation
We advance in the grace of contemplation by pure grace, by grace-assisted spiritual skill, or by the teaching of others, patterned after Moses, Bezalel, and Aaron.
In the likeness of these three, we advance in three ways in this grace of contemplation. Sometimes we advance only by grace, and then we're like Moses, who for all the climbing and labor he put into going up the mountain could come to see it only seldom; and yet that sight came only by our Lord's showing it when he was pleased to show it, and not for any merit of his labor.1 Sometimes we advance in this grace by our own spiritual skill, helped by grace, and then we're like Bezalel, who could not see the ark until he had made it by his own labor, helped by the pattern that was shown to Moses on the mountain.2 And sometimes we advance in this grace by other people's teaching. And then we're like Aaron, who had it in his keeping and was accustomed to see and feel the ark whenever he wished—the ark that Bezalel had crafted and made ready beforehand for his hands.3
An Appeal to Take Up the Work
The author humbly offers his teaching as Bezalel and urges the reader to be like Aaron, actively working in contemplation for both their sakes.
Look! Spiritual friend, in this work—though it's spoken in a simple and unlearned way—I take on, though I'm a wretch unworthy to teach any creature, the office of Bezalel, making and somehow setting before your hands the manner of this spiritual ark.4 But you can work far better and more worthily than I do if you'll be Aaron—that is to say, continually working in it for yourself and for me. So do that, I beg you, for the love of God Almighty. And since we're both called by God to work in this work, I beg you for God's love to make up in your part what is lacking in mine.
Read the original Middle English
Thre men ther weren that most principaly medelid hem with this arke of the Olde Testament: Moyses, Bezeleel, Aaron. Moyses lernid in the mounte of oure Lorde how it schuld be maad. Bezeleel wrought it and maad it in the vaale, after the ensaumple that was schewid in the mounteyne. And Aaron had it in kepyng in the temple, to fele it and see it as ofte as hym likid.
At the licnes of thees thre, we profite on thre maners in this grace of contemplacion. Somtyme we profite only by grace, and than we ben licnid unto Moises, that for alle the clymbyng and the travaile that he had into the mounte, might not com to se it bot seeldom; and yit was that sight only by the schewyng of oure Lorde whan hym likid to schewe it, and not for any deseert of his travayle. Somtyme we profite in this grace by oure owne goostly sleight, holpyn with grace, and than ben we licnid to Bezeleel, the whiche might not se the arke er the tyme that he had mad it by his owne travayle, holpen with the ensaumple that was schewid unto Moises in the mounte. And somtyme we profite in this grace by other mens teching. And than be we licnid to Aaron, the whiche had it in keping and in costume to see and fele the arke when hym list, that Bezeleel had wrought and maad redy before to his handes.
Lo! goostly freende, in this werk, thof it be childly and lewdely spoken, I bere, thof I be a wreche unworthi to teche any creature, the ofice of Bezeleel, makyng and declaryng in maner to thin handes the maner of this goostly arke. Bot fer betir and more worthely then I do, thou maist worche yif thou wilt be Aaron; that is to sey, contynuely worching therin for thee and for me. Do then so, I prey thee, for the love of God Almighty. And sithen we ben bothe clepid of God to worche in this werk, I beseche thee for Goddes love fulfille in thi partye that lackith of myne.
Notes
- 1 ↩deseert rendered as merit (deserving), not as wilderness.
- 2 ↩goostly sleight rendered as spiritual skill (craft of contemplation), not deceit.
- 3 ↩costume rendered as custom/habit, not clothing.
- 4 ↩ME 'lewdely' here means unlearnedly/crudely (unlettered), not sexually vulgar; 'childly' means simple/childlike rather than childish as insult.
The Cloud of Unknowing companion
A daily portion of stillness
Chosen Portion delivers one short contemplative reading and a guided moment of silence each day — the ascent, one step at a time.
Chosen Portion is the paced doorway into this collection: it portions the dense mystical treatises into one daily reading plus guided silence, exactly as the 14-day plan teaches.
- Daily bite-sized excerpts from the contemplative classics, never a wall of text
- A built-in timed stillness practice that grows from 2 minutes to 10
- Gentle progression through the tradition — the app remembers where you are on the ascent