Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
57. Behold, the worm is the eternal, and in itself peculiarly [a Principle], the other two [Principles] are given to it, each by a birth ; the one to the right, the other to the left. Now it is possible for it to lose both the forms and births- that are given to it ; for if it reach back into the strong [or tart power, or] might of the fire, and become false to the virgin, then she departeth from it, and [she] continueth as a figure in the centre, and then
1 Or wisdom the door of the l virgin is shut.
of Gou. -.-y • /» i »i r~ T i •• •
58. Now if thou wilt [turn] to the virgin again, then thou must be born anew through the water in the centre, and [through] the Holy Ghost ; and then thou shalt receive her again with greater honour and joy ; of which Christ said, There will be more joy in heaven for one sinner that repenteth, than for ninety and nine righteous, who need no repentance ; so very gloriously is the poor sinner received again of the virgin, that 2it must no more be a shadow, but a living and understanding creature, and [an] angel of God. This joy none can express, only a regenerate soul knoweth it ; which the body understandeth not ; but it trembleth, and knoweth nob what is done to it.
59. These two forms, or Principles, the worm loseth at the departing of the body ; although indeed it continueth in the figure, which yet is but
3 Or gnawing, of a serpent, and it is a 3 torment to it, that it was
Ch. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 223
an angel, and is now a horrible fierce poisonous worm and spirit ; of which the Scripture saith, That the worm of the wicked dieth not, and their plague [torment or source] continueth eternally. If the worm had had no angelical and human form, then its source [torment or plague] would not have been so great ; but that causeth it to have an eternal anxious desire, and yet it can attain nothing ; it knoweth the shadow of the glory [it had], and can never more live therein.
60. This therefore in brief is the ground of what can be spoken of the fall of Adam, in the highest depth. Adam hath lost the * virgin by his lust, » Divine and hath received the 2 woman in his lust, which is 2 Or wife a 'cagastrish person, and the virgin waiteth still 3 Subject to n f i • r nil i MI corruption, continually tor him [to seej whether he will step and mingled again into the new birth, and then she will receive him again with great glory. Therefore, thou child of man, consider thyself; I write here what I certainly know, and he that hath seen it witnesseth it ; or else I also should not have known it.
1 Schleppen, begirt, surrounded.
2 With fragility, or with the earthly tabernacle.
3 The divine brightness.
Of the Creating of the Woman out of Adam.
The fleshly, miserable, and dark Gate.
1. ~T~ CAN scarce write for grief, but seeing it J- cannot be otherwise, therefore we will for a while wear the garment of the woman, but yet live in the virgin ; and although we receive [or suffer] much affliction in the [garment of the] woman, yet the virgin will recompense it well enough. And thus we must be * bound with the 2 woman till we send her to the grave, and then she shall be a shadow and a figure ; and the virgin shall be our bride and precious crown. She will give us her 3 pearl and crown, and clothe us with her ornaments, for which we will give the venture for the lily's sake. And though we shall raise a great storm, and though Antichrist tear away the woman from us, yet the virgin must continue with us, because we are married to her ; let every one take its own, and then I shall have that which is mine.
2. Now when Adam was thus in the Garden of Eden, and the three Principles having produced such a strife in him, his tincture was quite wearied,
p. 224
Ch. 13] OF THE CREATING OF THE WOMAN 225
57. Behold, the worm is the eternal, and in itself peculiarly [a Principle], the other two [Principles] are given to it, each by a birth ; the one to the right, the other to the left. Now it is possible for it to lose both the forms and births- that are given to it ; for if it reach back into the strong [or tart power, or] might of the fire, and become false to the virgin, then she departs from it, and [she] continues as a figure in the centre, and then
1 Or wisdom the door of the l virgin is shut.
of Gou. -.-y • /» i »i r~ T i •• •
58. Now if you will [turn] to the virgin again, then you must be born anew through the water in the centre, and [through] the Holy Ghost ; and then you shall receive her again with greater honour and joy ; of which Christ said, There will be more joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety and nine righteous, who need no repentance ; so very gloriously is the poor sinner received again of the virgin, that 2it must no more be a shadow, but a living and understanding creature, and [an] angel of God. This joy none can express, only a regenerate soul knows it ; which the body understands not ; but it trembls, and knows nob what is done to it.
59. These two forms, or Principles, the worm loses at the departing of the body ; although indeed it continues in the figure, which yet is but
3 Or gnawing, of a serpent, and it is a 3 torment to it, that it was
Ch. 12] OPENING OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURE 223 an angel, and is now a horrible fierce poisonous worm and spirit ; of which the Scripture says, That the worm of the wicked dies not, and their plague [torment or source] continues eternally. If the worm had had no angelical and human form, then its source [torment or plague] would not have been so great ; but that causes it to have an eternal anxious desire, and yet it can attain nothing ; it knows the shadow of the glory [it had], and can never more live therein.
60. This therefore in brief is the ground of what can be spoken of the fall of Adam, in the highest depth. Adam has lost the * virgin by his lust, » Divine and has received the 2 woman in his lust, which is 2 Or wife a 'cagastrish person, and the virgin waits still 3 Subject to n f i • r nil i MI corruption, continually tor him [to seej whether he will step and mingled again into the new birth, and then she will receive him again with great glory. Therefore, you child of man, consider yourself; I write here what I certainly know, and he that has seen it witnesses it ; or else I also should not have known it.
1 Schleppen, begirt, surrounded.
2 With fragility, or with the earthly tabernacle.
3 The divine brightness.
Of the Creating of the Woman out of Adam.
The fleshly, miserable, and dark Gate.
1. ~T~ CAN scarce write for grief, but seeing it J- cannot be otherwise, therefore we will for a while wear the garment of the woman, but yet live in the virgin ; and although we receive [or suffer] much affliction in the [garment of the] woman, yet the virgin will recompense it well enough. And thus we must be * bound with the 2 woman till we send her to the grave, and then she shall be a shadow and a figure ; and the virgin shall be our bride and precious crown. She will give us her 3 pearl and crown, and clothe us with her ornaments, for which we will give the venture for the lily's sake. And though we shall raise a great storm, and though Antichrist tear away the woman from us, yet the virgin must continue with us, because we are married to her ; let every one take its own, and then I shall have that which is mine.
2. Now when Adam was thus in the Garden of Eden, and the three Principles having produced such a strife in him, his tincture was quite wearied,
p. 224
Ch. 13] OF THE CREATING OF THE WOMAN 225