PLATE 14 of The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, by William BLAKE
The ancient tradition that the world will be consumed in
fire at the end of six thousand years is true. as I have heard
from Hell.
For the cherub with his flaming sword is hereby commanded
to leave his guard at [the] tree of life, and when he does, the whole
creation will be consumed, and appear infinite, and holy whereas
it now appears finite & corrupt.
This will come to pass by an improvement of sensual
enjoyment.
But first the notion that man has a body distinct from
his soul, is to be expunged; this I shall do, by printing in the
infernal method. by corrosives, which in Hell are salutory and
medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the
infinite which was hid.
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would
appear to man as it is, infinite.
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things
thro' narrow chinks of his cavern.
