Blake seeks to provide the Golden String which can lead us through the labyrinth of our experience or his own poetry.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

BROTHERHOOD OF EDEN

Wikimedia
Illustration to Poems of Thomas Gray
The unity which may be achieved by attaining brotherhood on earth is a reflection of the Universal Brotherhood of Eden or Eternity. The multitude of Eternity can think and feel and act as one while maintaining infinite individualities. Perspective determines appearances: what seems to be multitude when seen from afar is beheld as one in greater proximity. This a reversal of earthly perspective which views things in its proximity as made of many parts, and distant things as without differentiation. What appears as the Brotherhood in Eden appears as Jesus to the individual man.

The Universal Brotherhood of Eden is both a Perfect Unity and a multitude. It exits through offering self to others. It, though multitude, takes on the appearance of a Man in Jesus. Our existence depends on this Universal Brotherhood which gives itself in love for Man. The work of Ololon, Los and Jesus are examples of the descent of the Brotherhood to redeem man.


Milton, Plate 23 [25], (E 119)
We were plac'd here by the Universal Brotherhood & Mercy
With powers fitted to circumscribe this dark Satanic death
And that the Seven Eyes of God may have space for Redemption.

Four Zoas, Night I, Page 3, (E 300) 
"a Perfect Unity    
Cannot Exist. but from the Universal                             
Brotherhood of Eden    
The Universal Man. To Whom be
Glory Evermore Amen" 

Milton, Plate 35 [39], (E 135)
"O how the Starry Eight rejoic'd to see Ololon descended!
And now that a wide road was open to Eternity,                   

By Ololons descent thro Beulah to Los & Enitharmon,

For mighty were the multitudes of Ololon, vast the extent
Of their great sway, reaching from Ulro to Eternity"

Jerusalem, Plate 31 [35], (E 177)
And the Divine voice came from the Furnaces, as multitudes without
Number! the voices of the innumerable multitudes of Eternity.
And the appearance of a Man was seen in the Furnaces;            
Saving those who have sinned from the punishment of the Law,
(In pity of the punisher whose state is eternal death,)
And keeping them from Sin by the mild counsels of his love.

Four Zoas, Night VIII, Page 110 [106], (E 380)
"He answerd her with tenderness & love not uninspird      
Los sat upon his anvil stock they sat beside the forge 
Los wipd the sweat from his red brow & thus began
To the delusive female forms shining among his furnaces

I am that shadowy Prophet who six thousand years ago
Fell from my station in the Eternal bosom. I divided
To multitude & my multitudes are children of Care & Labour 
O Rahab I behold thee I was once like thee a Son
Of Pride and I also have piercd the Lamb of God in pride & wrath
Hear me repeat my Generations that thou mayst also repent"

Letters, To Thomas Butts, (E 712)
    "Each grain of Sand
     Every Stone on the Land
     Each rock & each hill
     Each fountain & rill
     Each herb & each tree
     Mountain hill Earth & Sea
     Cloud Meteor & Star
     Are Men Seen Afar"

Four Zoas, Night I, Page 21, (E 310) 
"Then those in Great Eternity met in the Council of God
As one Man for contracting their Exalted Senses
They behold Multitude or Expanding they behold as one
As One Man all the Universal family & that one Man  
They call Jesus the Christ & they in him & he in them            
Live in Perfect harmony in Eden the land of life
Consulting as One Man above the Mountain of Snowdon Sublime"

Jerusalem, Plate 96, (E 255)
"Albion replyd. Cannot Man exist without Mysterious          
Offering of Self for Another, is this Friendship & Brotherhood
I see thee in the likeness & similitude of Los my Friend

Jesus said. Wouldest thou love one who never died
For thee or ever die for one who had not died for thee
And if God dieth not for Man & giveth not himself           
Eternally for Man Man could not exist. for Man is Love:
As God is Love: every kindness to another is a little Death
In the Divine Image nor can Man exist but by Brotherhood"

Matthew 12
[49] And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
[50] For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
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