Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

• 20. Therefore you must know for certain, that Eve was created out of all Adam's essences. But there were no more ribs nor members broken from Adam ; which appeareth by the feebleness and weakness of the woman, and also by the command of God, who said, Thy will shall be in subjection under thy man [or husband], and he shall be thy lord [or ruler]. Because the man is whole and perfect, except a rib, therefore the woman is a help for him, and must help him to do his work in humility and subjection ; and the man must know
• - that she is very weak, being out of his essences ; he must help her in her weakness, and love her as his own essences : In like manner the woman must put her essences and will into [the essences and will of] the man, and be friendly towards her man [or husband] ; that the man may take delight in his own essences in the woman ; and that they two might be but one only will. For they are one flesh, one bone, one heart, and generate children in one [only] will, which are neither the man's nor the woman's alone, but of both together, as if they were from one only body. And therefore the severe commandment of God is set before the children, that they should with earnestness and

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THE THREE PRINCIPLES

[Ch. 13

1 Note, the Author lived not so long to perform his purpose upon the Book of Exodus.

2 Klee.
Trifolium.

3 spiritum.

<0r habitation.

subjection honour their father and mother, upon pain of temporary and eternal punishment : l Of which I will write concerning the Tables of Moses.

Concerning the Propagating of the Soul.
The Noble Gate.

21. The mind hath from the beginning of the world had so very much to do about this gate, and hath continually so searched therein, that I cannot reckon the wearisome heap of writers [about it]. But in the time of the lily this gate shall flourish as a bay-tree [or laurel-tree] ; for its branches will get sap from the virgin, and therefore will be greener than 2 grass, and whiter than the [whitest] roses, and the virgin will bear the pleasant smell thereof upon her pearly garland, and it will reach into the paradise of God.

22. Seeing then the mystery presenteth itself to us, therefore we will open the blossom of the sprout : Yet we would not have our labour givei to the wolves, dogs, or swine, which root in 01 garden of delight, like [wild] boars, but to thos that seek, that the sick Adam may be comforted.

23. Now if we will search after the tincture, what it is in its highest degree, we shall find the 3 spirit : For we cannot say, that the fire is th( tincture, nor the air either. For the fire is wholly contrary to the tincture ; and the air doth stifle it ; it is a very pleasant 4 refreshment ; its root, out of which it is generated, is indeed the fire : But

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I may rightly mention the seat where it sitteth, I cannot say otherwise, but that it is between the three Principles, viz. [between] the kingdom of

God, the kingdom of hell, and the kingdom of this world, in the midst, and [it] hath none [of the three] for its own, and yet it is generated from all three : And it hath as it were a several Principle, which yet is no Principle, but a bright pleasant habitation. Neither is itself the spirit, but the spirit dwelleth in it, and it so reneweth the spirit, that l it becometh clear and visible. Its true name 1 the spirit.

is Wonderful, and none can name [that name], but he to whom it is given, he nameth it only in himself, and not without [or outwardly], it hath no place of its rest in the substance, and yet resteth continually in itself, and giveth virtue and beauty to all things, as the 2 glance of the sun giveth light, 2 Or sunshine.

virtue and beauty to all things in this world ; and it is not the thing itself, though indeed it worketh in the thing, and maketh the thing grow and blossom, and yet it is found really [to be] in all things, and it is the life and heart of all things, but it is not the spirit which is generated out of the essences.