Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

47. Then saith the mind, Wherefore doth God let it move so long in the anxiety ? Alas ! when will it be that I shall see the virgin? Hearken, thou noble and highly worthy mind, it must all enter in, [and serve] to the glory of God, and praise God ; as it is written, All tongues shall praise God ; let it pass till the number to the praise of God be full, according to the eternal mind.

48. Thou wilt say, How great is that [number] then ? Behold, tell the stars in the firmament ; tell the trees, the herbs, and every [spire of] grass, if thou canst ; so great is the number that shall enter in, to the glory and honour of God. For in the end all stars pass again into the element, into the mother ; and there it shall appear, how much good they haVe brought forth here by their working. For the shadow and the image of every [thing or] substance shall appear before God, in the element, and stand eternally ; in the same thou shalt have great joy, thou shalt see all thy works therein ; also all the afflictions thou hast suffered, they shall be altogether changed into great joy, and shall refresh thee indeed ; wait but upon the LORD ; the spirit intimateth, that when the time of the lily is 2expired, a Orcome then this shall be done.

49. Therefore it is that God keepeth it hidden so long (as to our sight) that the number of the glory

p. 280

of his kingdom may be great ; but before him it is but as the twinkling of an eye. Have but patience, this world will most certainly be dissolved, together with the fierceness which must abide in the first Principle ; therefore do thou beware of that.

1 figures or 50. My beloved Reader, I bring in my Hypes of parables. • « 5 > the essences of the incarnation in the mother s body, in a [colloquy or] conference of the spirit with the

2 Note. essences and elements. 2I cannot bring it to be understood in any easier way : Only you must know, that there is no conference, but it is done most certainly so in the essences, and in the spirit. Here you will say to me, thou dost not dwell in the

3 Wast incar- incarnation, and see it ; thou 3 didst once indeed nate in thy 111 mother's become man, but thou knewest not how, nor what womb. r . .

[was done then] ; neither canst thou go again into thy mother's body [or womb] and see how it came to pass there. Such a doctor was I also ; and in my own reason I should be able to judge no otherwise, if I should stick still in my blindness. But thanks be to God, who hath regenerated me, by water and the Holy Ghost, to [be] a living creature, so that I can (in this light) see my great in-bred [native] vices, which are in my flesh.

51. Thus now I live in the spirit of this world in my flesh, and my flesh serveth the spirit of this world, and my mind [serveth] God : My flesh

4 kingdom or is generated in this world, and hath its 4 region [or dominion.

government] from the stars and elements, which dwell in it, and are the master of the [outward]

Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OP MAN 281

1 life ; and my mind is 2 regenerated in God, and 1 Or body. loveth God. And although I cannot comprehend of°G0gde"eratod and hold the virgin (because my mind falleth into sins) yet the spirit of this world shall not always hold the mind captive.

52. For the virgin hath given me her promise, not to leave me in any misery, she will come to help me in the Son of the Virgin. I must but hold to him again, and he will bring me well enough again to her into paradise ; I will give the venture, and go through the thistles and thorns, as well as I can, till I find my native country again, out of which my soul is wandered, where my dearest virgin dwelleth. i rely upon her faithful promise, when she appeared to me, that she would turn all my mournings into great joy ; and when I laid upon the mountain towards the 3 north, so that all the 3 Or midnight trees fell upon me, and all the storms and winds beat upon me, and Antichrist gaped at me with his open jaws to devour me, then she came and comforted me, and married herself to me.