Note 77 — THE UNITY OF GOD[73]

Air, earth, water, and fire are God’s servants. To us they seem lifeless, but to God living. In God’s presence fire ever waits to do its service, Like a submissive lover with no will of its own. When you strike steel on flint fire leaps forth; But ’tis by God’s command it thus steps forth. Strike not together the flint and steel of wrong, For the pair will generate more, like man and woman. The flint and steel are themselves causes, yet Look higher for the First Cause, O righteous man! For that Cause precedes this second cause. How can a cause exist of itself without precedent cause? That Cause makes this cause operative, And again helpless and inoperative. That Cause, which is a guiding light to the prophets, That, I say, is higher than these second causes, Man’s minds recognise these second causes, But only prophets perceive the action of the First Cause. E. Whinfield: Masnavi, 2nd ed. 1898. p. 16.