Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
53. Therefore I am but the more cheerful, and care not for him ; he ruleth [and domineereth] over me no further than over the * house of sin, whose patron he * transitory himself is; he may take that quite away, and so I shall come into my native country. But yet he is not absolutely lord over it, he is but God's ape ; for as an ape (when its belly is full) imitateth all manner of tricks and pranks to make itself sport, and would fain seem to be the finest and the nimblest beast [it can], so also
p. 282
1Note, i desire doth he. l His power hanoreth on the great tree of not to write ° .
the exposition this world, and a storm of wind can blow it away.
of this yet. .
54. JNow seeing I have shewn the Reader, how the true element sticketh wholly hidden in the outward kindled [elements], for a comfort to him, that he may know what he [himself] is, and that he may not despair in such an earnest manifestation [or revelation as this is], therefore now I will go on with my conference between the elements, sun, and stars, where there is a continual wrestling and overcoming, in which the child in the mother's body [or womb] is figured ; and I freely give the Reader to know, ^hat indeed the true element Heth hidden in the outward man, which is the chest of the treasure [or cabinet of the precious gem and jewel] of the
8 in. soul, if it be faithful, and yield itself up 2to God.
55. So now when the heart, liver, lungs, bladder, stomach, and spirit, together with the other parts [or members] of the child, are figured in the mother's body, by the constellation and elements, then the region or regimen riseth up, which at length figureth [fashioneth or formeth] all whatsoever was wanting : And now it exceedingly concerneth us to consider
» Or senses, of the originality of speech, mind, and 3 thoughts, wherein man is an image and similitude of God, and wherein the noble knowledge of all the three Principles doth consist.
56. For every beast also standeth in the springing up of the life (formerly mentioned) in the mother's body, and taketh its beginning after the sameCh. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 283 manner in the [dam's or] mother's body, and its spirit liveth also in the stars and elements, and they have their [faculty of] seeing from the glance of the sun : And in the same [beginning of the life]
there is no difference between man and beast. For a beast eateth and drinketb, sinelleth, heareth, seeth, and feeleth, as well as man ; and yet they have no understanding in them, but only to feed and multiply. We must go higher, and see what the image of God is, which God so dearly loved, that he spent his Heart and Son upon it, and gave him to become man, so that he came to help man * be incarnate.
again after the fall, and freed and redeemed him again from the bestial birth, and brought him again into paradise, into the heavenly 2 region. 2 kingdom or
57. Therefore we must look after the ground [of it], how not only a bestial man, with bestial qualifications [or condition] is figured [or formed], but also a heavenly, and an image of God, to the honour of God and [the magnifying of] his deeds of wonder ; to which end he so very highly graduated man, that he had an eternal similitude and image c of his own substance. For to that end he hath manifested himself by heaven and earth, and created some creatures to [be] eternal, understanding, and rational spirits, to live in his virtue and glory, and some to [be] figures ; so that (when their spirit goeth into the ether and dissolveth) the spirits which are eternal might have their joy and recreation 3with them. »in.
p. 284
58. Therefore we must search and see, what kind of image that is, and how it taketh its beginning so, that man beareth an earthly, elementary, and also an heavenly image. And not only so, but he beareth also a hellish [image] on him, which is inclined [or prone] to all sins and wickedness ; and all this taketh beginning together with the beginning of the life.
53. Therefore I am but the more cheerful, and care not for him ; he ruls [and domineers] over me no further than over the * house of sin, whose patron he * transitory himself is; he may take that quite away, and so I shall come into my native country. But yet he is not absolutely lord over it, he is but God's ape ; for as an ape (when its belly is full) imitats all manner of tricks and pranks to make itself sport, and would fain seem to be the finest and the nimblest beast [it can], so also
282 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 14
1Note, i desire does he. l His power hanors on the great tree of not to write ° .
the exposition this world, and a storm of wind can blow it away.
of this yet. .
54. JNow seeing I have shown the Reader, how the true element sticks wholly hidden in the outward kindled [elements], for a comfort to him, that he may know what he [himself] is, and that he may not despair in such an earnest manifestation [or revelation as this is], therefore now I will go on with my conference between the elements, sun, and stars, where there is a continual wrestling and overcoming, in which the child in the mother's body [or womb] is figured ; and I freely give the Reader to know, ^hat indeed the true element Heth hidden in the outward man, which is the chest of the treasure [or cabinet of the precious gem and jewel] of the
8 in. soul, if it be faithful, and yield itself up 2to God.
55. So now when the heart, liver, lungs, bladder, stomach, and spirit, together with the other parts [or members] of the child, are figured in the mother's body, by the constellation and elements, then the region or regimen rises up, which at length figures [fashions or forms] all whatsoever was wanting : And now it exceedingly concerns us to consider
» Or senses, of the originality of speech, mind, and 3 thoughts, wherein man is an image and similitude of God, and wherein the noble knowledge of all the three Principles does consist.
56. For every beast also stands in the springing up of the life (formerly mentioned) in the mother's body, and takes its beginning after the same
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 283 manner in the [dam's or] mother's body, and its spirit lives also in the stars and elements, and they have their [faculty of] seeing from the glance of the sun : And in the same [beginning of the life]
there is no difference between man and beast. For a beast eats and drinketb, sinells, hears, sees, and feels, as well as man ; and yet they have no understanding in them, but only to feed and multiply. We must go higher, and see what the image of God is, which God so dearly loved, that he spent his Heart and Son upon it, and gave him to become man, so that he came to help man * be incarnate.
again after the fall, and freed and redeemed him again from the bestial birth, and brought him again into paradise, into the heavenly 2 region. 2 kingdom or
57. Therefore we must look after the ground [of it], how not only a bestial man, with bestial qualifications [or condition] is figured [or formed], but also a heavenly, and an image of God, to the honour of God and [the magnifying of] his deeds of wonder ; to which end he so very highly graduated man, that he had an eternal similitude and image c of his own substance. For to that end he has manifested himself by heaven and earth, and created some creatures to [be] eternal, understanding, and rational spirits, to live in his virtue and glory, and some to [be] figures ; so that (when their spirit goes into the ether and dissolvs) the spirits which are eternal might have their joy and recreation 3with them. »in.
284 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 14
58. Therefore we must search and see, what kind of image that is, and how it takes its beginning so, that man bears an earthly, elementary, and also an heavenly image. And not only so, but he bears also a hellish [image] on him, which is inclined [or prone] to all sins and wickedness ; and all this takes beginning together with the beginning of the life.