Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
go into its l ether, and nothing else - shall remain l Or recepof it besides the figure. Now this was the tree which stood in the midst of the garden in Eden, whereby Adam must be tempted in all essences ; for his spirit should rule powerfully over all essences, as the holy angels, and God himself doth.
40. Besides, he was created by the Word, or Heart of God, that he should be his image and similitude, very powerfully in all the three Principles, [and be] as great as a prince or throne-angel. But this tree standing thus in the garden, and of all the trees that only did bear earthly fruit, therefore Adam looked so often upon it, because he knew that it was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the virtue of the tree pressed him to it so very hard (which virtue was also in him) that the one lust infected [poisoned or mingled with] the other : And the spirit of the great world pressed Adam so very hard, that he became infected, and his virtue [or power] was overcome. Here the paradisical man was undone, and then said the Heart of God, It is not good that man [should] be alone, we will make him a help [or consort] to be with him.
41. Here God saw his fall, and that he could not stand, because Adam's imagination and lust was so eager after the kingdom of this world, and after the earthly fruit, and that Adam would not generate a perfect paradisical man out of himself,
p. 196
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 11 but an infected [poisoned man], according to the lust, and would fall into corruptibility. And the text in Moses soundeth further very right, thus, And God let a deep sleep fall upon man, and he slept \orfelLasleep}.
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER
Of ike Opening of the Holy Scripture, that the
Circumstances may be highly considered.
The Golden Gate, which God affordeth to the last World, wherein the LUy shall flourish [and blossom].
1. ~T~ OVING Reader, I had need have an -J — J angelical tongue for this description, and thou an angelical mind, and then we should well understand one another : But seeing we have them not, therefore we will express the great deeds of God with the earthly tongue, according to our [received] gift and knowledge, and open the Scripture to the Reader, and give him occasion to consider further, whereby the Pearl might be sought and found at last ; therefore we will work in our day-labour, l according to our duty, till the 2 Pearl i and lead
Of the lily be found. come after us
2. Reason asketh : How long was Adam in paradise before his fall, and how long did the temptation last? I cannot tell thee that, out of Moses' description of the creation, for it is for great cause concealed : Yet I will shew thee the
* Or search wonders of God, and 3 expound them, according to into them.
p. 197
p. 198
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 12
1 Or understand.
2 Or fire flaming.
8 in the spirit of the great world.
4 in the law.
8 the law.
his chosen.
the knowledge that is given me, whereby thou mayest the better learn to * consider the temptation and the fall of Adam.
3. Beloved reason, look into the glass of the actions and deeds of God. When God appeared to Moses in the 2 burning bush, he said, Pull off thy shoes ; for here is a holy place : What was that? Answer: God shewed [Moses~\ thereby his earthly birth. For he would give him a law, wherein man should live (if it were possible), and attain salvation : But who was it that gave the law, and commanded man to live therein ? Answer : It was God the Father, out of his centre, and therefore it was done with fire and thunder ; for there is no fire and thunder in the Heart of God, but kind love.
4. Hereupon reason will say, Is not God the Father one [and the same] essence with the Son ? Answer : Yes, [they are] one essence and will. By what means then did he give the law ? Answer : By the spirit of the great world ; because Adam after the fall, and all men, lived 3 therein, therefore it must be tried, whether man could live 4 therein, in confidence towards God. Therefore he established it with great wonders [or miracles], and gave 6it clarity [shining brightness or glory] ; as may be seen in Moses, who had a [glorious bright] shining face. And when he had chosen to himself this people, he destroyed the children of unbelief, and brought 6them out with wonders into theT wilderCh. 12]p. 199
go into its l ether, and nothing else - shall remain l Or recepof it besides the figure. Now this was the tree which stood in the midst of the garden in Eden, whereby Adam must be tempted in all essences ; for his spirit should rule powerfully over all essences, as the holy angels, and God himself does.
40. Besides, he was created by the Word, or Heart of God, that he should be his image and similitude, very powerfully in all the three Principles, [and be] as great as a prince or throne-angel. But this tree standing thus in the garden, and of all the trees that only did bear earthly fruit, therefore Adam looked so often upon it, because he knew that it was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and the virtue of the tree pressed him to it so very hard (which virtue was also in him) that the one lust infected [poisoned or mingled with] the other : And the spirit of the great world pressed Adam so very hard, that he became infected, and his virtue [or power] was overcome. Here the paradisical man was undone, and then said the Heart of God, It is not good that man [should] be alone, we will make him a help [or consort] to be with him.
41. Here God saw his fall, and that he could not stand, because Adam's imagination and lust was so eager after the kingdom of this world, and after the earthly fruit, and that Adam would not generate a perfect paradisical man out of himself,
p. 196
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 11 but an infected [poisoned man], according to the lust, and would fall into corruptibility. And the text in Moses sounds further very right, thus, And God let a deep sleep fall upon man, and he slept \orfelLasleep}.
THE TWELFTH CHAPTER
Of ike Opening of the Holy Scripture, that the
Circumstances may be highly considered.
The Golden Gate, which God affords to the last World, wherein the LUy shall flourish [and blossom].
1. ~T~ OVING Reader, I had need have an -J — J angelical tongue for this description, and you an angelical mind, and then we should well understand one another : But seeing we have them not, therefore we will express the great deeds of God with the earthly tongue, according to our [received] gift and knowledge, and open the Scripture to the Reader, and give him occasion to consider further, whereby the Pearl might be sought and found at last ; therefore we will work in our day-labour, l according to our duty, till the 2 Pearl i and lead
Of the lily be found. come after us
2. Reason asks : How long was Adam in paradise before his fall, and how long did the temptation last? I cannot tell you that, out of Moses' description of the creation, for it is for great cause concealed : Yet I will show you the
* Or search wonders of God, and 3 expound them, according to into them.
p. 197
p. 198
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 12
1 Or understand.
2 Or fire flaming.
8 in the spirit of the great world.
4 in the law.
8 the law.
his chosen.
the knowledge that is given me, whereby you may the better learn to * consider the temptation and the fall of Adam.
3. Beloved reason, look into the glass of the actions and deeds of God. When God appeared to Moses in the 2 burning bush, he said, Pull off your shoes ; for here is a holy place : What was that? Answer: God showed [Moses~\ thereby his earthly birth. For he would give him a law, wherein man should live (if it were possible), and attain salvation : But who was it that gave the law, and commanded man to live therein ? Answer : It was God the Father, out of his centre, and therefore it was done with fire and thunder ; for there is no fire and thunder in the Heart of God, but kind love.
4. Hereupon reason will say, Is not God the Father one [and the same] essence with the Son ? Answer : Yes, [they are] one essence and will. By what means then did he give the law ? Answer : By the spirit of the great world ; because Adam after the fall, and all men, lived 3 therein, therefore it must be tried, whether man could live 4 therein, in confidence towards God. Therefore he established it with great wonders [or miracles], and gave 6it clarity [shining brightness or glory] ; as may be seen in Moses, who had a [glorious bright] shining face. And when he had chosen to himself this people, he destroyed the children of unbelief, and brought 6them out with wonders into theT wilderCh. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 199