Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
28. Seeing now we have spoken of the tincture, as of the house of the soul, so we will speak also of the soul, what it is, and how it can be propagated, wherein we can the better bring the tincture to 1 light. The soul is not so subtle >s the tincture ; but it is powerful and hath great might [or ability]. It can by the tincture (if it rideth upon the virgin's bride-chariot 2in the tincture) turn mountains upside-down, as Christ said ; which is done in the pure faith, in the place where the tincture is master, which doth it, and the soul giveth the thrust; whereas yet no power can be discerned. Even as the earth 3moveth upon the heavenly tincture, whereas there is not more than one only tincture in the heaven, and in this world, yet [it is] of many sorts, according to the essence of every thing. In the beasts it is not as in men, also not in fishes as in beasts ; also in stones and gems otherwise ; also otherwise in angels, and in the spirit of this world.
29. But in God, angels, and in the virgin-like souls (understand pure souls) it is alike ; where yet it is only 4 for God. The devil hath also a tincture, but a false one (and it standeth not in the fire) wherewith he can gripe that man in the heart that letteth him in, as a [sly soothing] flattering false thief, that insinuateth himself, desiring to steal, concerning whom Christ warneth us, that we should watch.
Ch. 13] OF THE CREATING OF THE WOMAN 239
30. And now if we will speak of the soul, and of its substance and essences, we must say that it is the l roughest [thing] in man ; for it is the origin- J Or crudest, ality of the other substances [or things]. It is digested, or fiery, harsh, bitter, and strong, and it resembleth a great [and] mighty power, its essences are like brimstone : Its gate or seat out of the eternal originality is between the fourth and the fifth forms in the eternal birth, and in the 2 unbeginning 2 Or indissoluble band.
band, of the strong might of God the Father, where the eternal light of his Heart (which maketh the second Principle) generateth itself, and if * it * the soul, wholly lose the bestowed virgin of the divine virtue [or power] (out of which the light of God generateth itself, which is given to the soul to be its pearl, as is mentioned above) then it becometh, and is, a devil, like all other [devils] in essences, form, and in 4 quality also. 4 active
. property.
31. But if it put its will D forward into meekness 6 into true (viz. into the obedience of God) then it is in the resi^ationsource [or of the quality and property] of the Heart of God, and receiveth divine virtue, and then all its rough essences become angelical and joyful ; and then its rough essences are very serviceable to it, and are better and more profitable to it, than that it were altogether sweet in the originality ; in which [being sweet] there would be no strength, nor such mighty power as in the harsh, bitter, and fiery [essences].
32. For the fire in the essence cometh to be a
p. 240
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 13
1 pleasant or l soft meek light, and is nothing else but a zealous delightful.
[or eager] kindling of the tincture, and the harsh essence causeth that the divine virtue can draw it to itself, and taste it, for in the [sour or] harsh essence the taste doth consist, in nature : In like manner the bitter essence serveth to [make] the moving rising joy, fragrancy and growing ; and out of these forms the tincture goeth forth, and it is the house of the soul ; as the Holy Ghost [goeth forth] from the Father and the Son, so also the tincture goeth forth from the light of the fiery soul, and then also from its virtuous [or powerful]
2 is like. essences, and so it 2resembleth the Holy Ghost, but yet the Holy Ghost of God is a degree higher ; for he goeth forth from the centre of the light wholly in the fifth form, from the Heart of God, at the end of nature.
28. Seeing now we have spoken of the tincture, as of the house of the soul, so we will speak also of the soul, what it is, and how it can be propagated, wherein we can the better bring the tincture to 1 light. The soul is not so subtle >s the tincture ; but it is powerful and has great might [or ability]. It can by the tincture (if it rids upon the virgin's bride-chariot 2in the tincture) turn mountains upside-down, as Christ said ; which is done in the pure faith, in the place where the tincture is master, which does it, and the soul gives the thrust; whereas yet no power can be discerned. Even as the earth 3moveth upon the heavenly tincture, whereas there is not more than one only tincture in the heaven, and in this world, yet [it is] of many sorts, according to the essence of every thing. In the beasts it is not as in men, also not in fishes as in beasts ; also in stones and gems otherwise ; also otherwise in angels, and in the spirit of this world.
29. But in God, angels, and in the virgin-like souls (understand pure souls) it is alike ; where yet it is only 4 for God. The devil has also a tincture, but a false one (and it stands not in the fire) wherewith he can gripe that man in the heart that letts him in, as a [sly soothing] flattering false thief, that insinuats himself, desiring to steal, concerning whom Christ warns us, that we should watch.
Ch. 13] OF THE CREATING OF THE WOMAN 239
30. And now if we will speak of the soul, and of its substance and essences, we must say that it is the l roughest [thing] in man ; for it is the origin- J Or crudest, ality of the other substances [or things]. It is digested, or fiery, harsh, bitter, and strong, and it resembls a great [and] mighty power, its essences are like brimstone : Its gate or seat out of the eternal originality is between the fourth and the fifth forms in the eternal birth, and in the 2 unbeginning 2 Or indissoluble band.
band, of the strong might of God the Father, where the eternal light of his Heart (which makes the second Principle) generats itself, and if * it * the soul, wholly lose the bestowed virgin of the divine virtue [or power] (out of which the light of God generats itself, which is given to the soul to be its pearl, as is mentioned above) then it becomes, and is, a devil, like all other [devils] in essences, form, and in 4 quality also. 4 active
. property.
31. But if it put its will D forward into meekness 6 into true (viz. into the obedience of God) then it is in the resi^ationsource [or of the quality and property] of the Heart of God, and receives divine virtue, and then all its rough essences become angelical and joyful ; and then its rough essences are very serviceable to it, and are better and more profitable to it, than that it were altogether sweet in the originality ; in which [being sweet] there would be no strength, nor such mighty power as in the harsh, bitter, and fiery [essences].
32. For the fire in the essence comes to be a
p. 240
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 13
1 pleasant or l soft meek light, and is nothing else but a zealous delightful.
[or eager] kindling of the tincture, and the harsh essence causes that the divine virtue can draw it to itself, and taste it, for in the [sour or] harsh essence the taste does consist, in nature : In like manner the bitter essence serves to [make] the moving rising joy, fragrancy and growing ; and out of these forms the tincture goes forth, and it is the house of the soul ; as the Holy Ghost [goes forth] from the Father and the Son, so also the tincture goes forth from the light of the fiery soul, and then also from its virtuous [or powerful]
2 is like. essences, and so it 2resembleth the Holy Ghost, but yet the Holy Ghost of God is a degree higher ; for he goes forth from the centre of the light wholly in the fifth form, from the Heart of God, at the end of nature.