Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
17. Therefore the eternal Word, or Heart of God, wrought thus in the dark and spiritual matrix, which in itself, in the originalness without the light, would be [as it were] dumb [or senseless], and hath generated a corporeal and palpable [or comprehensible] similitude of its essence, in which all the forms were brought forth out of the eternal formation, and brought into essence. For out of the spiritual form, the corporeal [form] is generated, and the eternal Word hath created it by the Fiat, to stand thus.
18. Now then, out of these forms, out of the matrix of the earth, by the Fiat, in the Word,Ch. 11] CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TEMPTATION 185 went forth all the creatures of this world ; also trees, herbs, and grass, every one according to its kind ; as also worms, evil and good, as every form in the matrix of the genetrix had its original. And thus it was also with the fruits in the paradise of this world in the Garden of Eden ; when the word was spoken, Let there come forth all sorts of trees and herbs, then out of all forms [or the genetrix or womb] trees and herbs came forth and grew, which were altogether good and pleasant ; for the word in the Fiat had 1 imprinted itself in ' imaged or imagined.
all the forms.
19. But then the darkness and source [or pain] were in the midst in the centre, wherein death, the wrathfulness, decay, and the corruptibility did stick ; and if that had not been, this world would have stood for ever, and Adam would not have been tempted: 2They also, like a 3 death (or a2 the darkness,
. /• , -i \ T i i ,1 an(l source, or corrupting worm 01 the source) did work together, pain. and generate the Tree of Good and Evil in the3morsmidst of its seat [or place], because death stuck in the midst of the centre, by which this world will be kindled in the fire at the end of the days. And this source is even the anger of God, which by the Heart or light of God in the eternal Father is continually put into the meekness ; and therefore the Word or Heart of God is called the eternal mercifulness of the Father.
20. Seeing then all the forms of the eternal nature were to come forth [it is so come to pass],p. 186 as you may see in toads, adders, worms, and evil beasts ; for that is the form which sticketh in the midst in the birth of all creatures, viz. the poison [venom], or brimstone-spirit ; as we see that all creatures have poison and gall ; and the life of the creatures sticketh in the power [or might] of it [the poison] ; as you may find before in this book, in all the chapters, how the eternal nature taketh its original, how it worketh, and how [or after what manner] its essence [being or substance] is.
21. Now thus the tree of the strong [tartness, or wrath] (which is in the midst of nature) grew also in the midst of the Garden of Eden ; and was (according to the ability of its own form which it hath from the eternal quality in the originalness) the greatest and the mightiest [tree]. And here it may be seen very clearly, that God would have preserved and had man to be in paradise, for he forbad him this tree, and caused other fruit enough [besides] to grow in the forms and essences.
The Gate of the Tempting.
22. St Paul saith, God foresaw [or elected] man, before the ground [or foundation] of the world was laid : Here we find the ground so very [plain or] fair, that we have a delight to write on,
1 Wisdom. and to seek the l Pearl. For behold, in the eternal wisdom of God, before the creation of the world, the fall of the devils, and also of man, appeared in the eternal matrix, and was seen. For the eternal
Ch. 11] CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TEMPTATION 187
Word in the eternal light knew very well, that if it came to manifest the fountain of the eternal birth, that then every form would break forth ; yet it was not the will of the love in the Word of the light, that the forms of the tart [sour, strong wrath] should elevate themselves above the meekness ; but it had such a mighty [or potent] form, that it is so come to pass.
17. Therefore the eternal Word, or Heart of God, wrought thus in the dark and spiritual matrix, which in itself, in the originalness without the light, would be [as it were] dumb [or senseless], and has generated a corporeal and palpable [or comprehensible] similitude of its essence, in which all the forms were brought forth out of the eternal formation, and brought into essence. For out of the spiritual form, the corporeal [form] is generated, and the eternal Word has created it by the Fiat, to stand thus.
18. Now then, out of these forms, out of the matrix of the earth, by the Fiat, in the Word,
Ch. 11] CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TEMPTATION 185 went forth all the creatures of this world ; also trees, herbs, and grass, every one according to its kind ; as also worms, evil and good, as every form in the matrix of the genetrix had its original. And thus it was also with the fruits in the paradise of this world in the Garden of Eden ; when the word was spoken, Let there come forth all sorts of trees and herbs, then out of all forms [or the genetrix or womb] trees and herbs came forth and grew, which were altogether good and pleasant ; for the word in the Fiat had 1 imprinted itself in ' imaged or imagined.
all the forms.
19. But then the darkness and source [or pain] were in the midst in the centre, wherein death, the wrathfulness, decay, and the corruptibility did stick ; and if that had not been, this world would have stood for ever, and Adam would not have been tempted: 2They also, like a 3 death (or a2 the darkness,
. /• , -i \ T i i ,1 an(l source, or corrupting worm 01 the source) did work together, pain. and generate the Tree of Good and Evil in the3morsmidst of its seat [or place], because death stuck in the midst of the centre, by which this world will be kindled in the fire at the end of the days. And this source is even the anger of God, which by the Heart or light of God in the eternal Father is continually put into the meekness ; and therefore the Word or Heart of God is called the eternal mercifulness of the Father.
20. Seeing then all the forms of the eternal nature were to come forth [it is so come to pass],
186 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 11 as you may see in toads, adders, worms, and evil beasts ; for that is the form which sticks in the midst in the birth of all creatures, viz. the poison [venom], or brimstone-spirit ; as we see that all creatures have poison and gall ; and the life of the creatures sticks in the power [or might] of it [the poison] ; as you may find before in this book, in all the chapters, how the eternal nature takes its original, how it works, and how [or after what manner] its essence [being or substance] is.
21. Now thus the tree of the strong [tartness, or wrath] (which is in the midst of nature) grew also in the midst of the Garden of Eden ; and was (according to the ability of its own form which it has from the eternal quality in the originalness) the greatest and the mightiest [tree]. And here it may be seen very clearly, that God would have preserved and had man to be in paradise, for he forbad him this tree, and caused other fruit enough [besides] to grow in the forms and essences.
The Gate of the Tempting.
22. St Paul says, God foresaw [or elected] man, before the ground [or foundation] of the world was laid : Here we find the ground so very [plain or] fair, that we have a delight to write on,
1 Wisdom. and to seek the l Pearl. For behold, in the eternal wisdom of God, before the creation of the world, the fall of the devils, and also of man, appeared in the eternal matrix, and was seen. For the eternal
Ch. 11] CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE TEMPTATION 187
Word in the eternal light knew very well, that if it came to manifest the fountain of the eternal birth, that then every form would break forth ; yet it was not the will of the love in the Word of the light, that the forms of the tart [sour, strong wrath] should elevate themselves above the meekness ; but it had such a mighty [or potent] form, that it is so come to pass.