HH 278 - The Innocence of Wisdom

HH 278

The innocence of wisdom is genuine innocence,
because it is internal,
for it belongs to the mind itself,
that is, to the will itself
and from that to the understanding.
And when there is innocence in these
there is also wisdom,
for wisdom belongs to the will and understanding.
This is why it is said in heaven
that innocence has its abode in wisdom,
and that an angel has
just so much of innocence as he has of wisdom.
This is confirmed by the fact
that those who are in a state of innocence
attribute nothing of good to themselves,
but regard all things as received
and ascribe them to the Lord;
that they wish to be led by Him and not by themselves;
that they love everything that is good
and find delight in everything that is true,
because they know and perceive
that loving what is good,
that is, willing and doing it,
is loving the Lord,
and loving truth is loving the neighbor;
that they live contented with their own,
whether it be little or much,
because they know
that they receive just as much as is good for them --
those receiving little for whom a little is useful,
and those receiving much for whom much is useful;
also that they do not themselves
know what is good for them,
the Lord alone knowing this,
who looks in all things that He provides
to what is eternal.