The Way of the Seven Fold Secret by Lilias Trotter
Lilias Trotter moved from England to Algiers in 1888, at the age of 35, and died there in 1928. In the latter stages of her mission there, she wrote specifically for Muslims influenced by mysticism. Lilias based The Way of the Sevenfold Secret on Christ's seven 'I am' sayings in John's gospel, and attempted to link them to the traditional seven steps taken by members of Sufi orders in their quest for union with God. This republication should enable readers to capture the essence of a woman whose legacy is vitally alive for our times
Lilias Trotter moved from England to Algiers in 1888, at the age of 35, and died there in 1928. In the latter stages of her mission there, she wrote specifically for Muslims influenced by mysticism. Lilias based The Way of the Sevenfold Secret on Christ's seven 'I am' sayings in John's gospel, and attempted to link them to the traditional seven steps taken by members of Sufi orders in their quest for union with God. This republication should enable readers to capture the essence of a woman whose legacy is vitally alive for our times
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I.<br />
THE SECRET OF SATISFACTION.<br />
you will remember, 0 our bro<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>the</strong> history in <strong>the</strong><br />
Tourat that is mentioned on <strong>the</strong> preceding page:<br />
that is to say <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> manna that came down from<br />
heaven to <strong>the</strong> children <strong>of</strong> Israel in <strong>the</strong> wilderness, when<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were in fear <strong>of</strong> dying from hunger. And as you<br />
know, <strong>the</strong>y lived <strong>by</strong> this heavenly food that God bestowed<br />
upon <strong>the</strong>m: every day, during 40 years, each man<br />
<strong>of</strong> that great host was satisfied, he and <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> his<br />
household.<br />
Till <strong>the</strong> manna was given <strong>the</strong>m from heaven, that<br />
wilderness was in truth a barren place, and empty <strong>of</strong> any<br />
hope <strong>of</strong> life. No corn could be raised in <strong>the</strong> sand, and<br />
moreover <strong>the</strong>y were always travelling on. If pasturage<br />
could be found for <strong>the</strong>ir flocks and herds, it was as much<br />
as could be hoped.<br />
But as it says in <strong>the</strong> Psalm,-"Man did eat angels'<br />
food",* and again " He satisfied <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong> bread <strong>of</strong><br />
heaven." t It had nothing to do with earth or with <strong>the</strong><br />
toil <strong>of</strong> man: it was <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> God. By <strong>the</strong> path <strong>of</strong><br />
miracle it lay, morning <strong>by</strong> morning on <strong>the</strong> barren soil,<br />
white and sweet and wonderful, enough fore-very man<br />
and woman and boy and girl in that· company. All <strong>the</strong><br />
name that <strong>the</strong>y could give it was "manna", meaning<br />
"what is this ?" For it was full <strong>of</strong> mystery. <strong>The</strong>y knew<br />
but one thing, it stood between <strong>the</strong>m and starvation: it<br />
was to <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> Bread <strong>of</strong> Life indeed.<br />
Now <strong>the</strong> words from <strong>the</strong> Gospel <strong>of</strong> St. John on <strong>the</strong><br />
first page <strong>of</strong> this chapter, tell us that <strong>the</strong> story <strong>of</strong> this<br />
mystery was but <strong>the</strong> figure <strong>of</strong> a deeper mystery; that is<br />
• Ps. 78.25 t Ps. JO~. 40.
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