as were destructive of its Unity_; from, whence it appear'd to them that
he believ'd a sort of Multiplicity in the Godhead, which is horrid
Blasphemy. Now I make no Question but that the worthy Doctor _Algazâli_
was one of those which attain'd to the utmost degree of Happiness, and
to those heights which are proper _to_ those who enjoy the _UNION_; but
as for his secret or incommunicable Books, which contain the manner of
_Revelation_, they never came to my hands: and that pitch of knowledge
which I have attain'd to, is owing to his other works and to _Avicenna_,
which I read and compar'd with the Opinions of the present Philosophers,
till at length I came to the Knowledge of the Truth. At first indeed, by
way of Enquiry and Contemplation;but afterwards I came to have a perfect
sense, and then I found that I could say something which I could call my
own. Now I was resolv'd that you should be the first, to whom I would
Communicate what I knew about these matters, both upon the account of
the Intimacy of our Friendship, and your Candor and Integrity. Only
observe, that my discovering to you the Ends which I attain'd in this
way, without proving the Principles to you first, by which those Ends
are attain'd, will do you no more Service, than any other Story which
you receive by tradition, or any thing told you in general, of which you
don't know how to make a particular application. Presuming that you will
accept it kindly, not for any merit of the Author, but upon the account
of our Friendship and Acquaintance; and I heartily desire that you
mayn't stop here, but aspire to a loftier degree: for this is so far
from being able to bring you to those heights, that is not sufficient to
save you. Now I would lead you by the same paths which I have walk'd in
before you, and make you steer by the same Compass, till you arrive at
the same Point, and see with your own Eyes what I have seen before you,
so as not to take it on trust any longer from me, but to experience it
yourself. But this is a matter which will not only require considerable
Time, but also that you are free and disingag'd from all manner of