Chapter 190

What Images You Must Fear

Are you afraid of images? You must fear not all images, but only phantasmal ones—and only those that relate to God’s nature, which is invisible and entirely beyond imaging. All things relating to creatures can be imaged and imagined. And the Lord Savior, according to his incarnate economy, can be imagined. Moreover, during prayer you must not hold images in your mind; rather, standing noetically before God who is invisible, you should speak reverent words to him. This is what you must seek, and you will find (Matt. 7:7).

(Letter 907. Vol. 5, p. 182)