Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
59. And further, we must look, where then the own will sticketh, [whereby] man can in [his] own power yield up himself how he will, [either] to the kingdom of heaven, or to the kingdom of hell. To this looking-glass we will invite them that hunger and thirst after the noble knowledge, and shew them the ground, whereby they may in their minds be freed from the errors and contentious controversies in the antichristian kingdom. Whosoever now shall rightly apprehend this gate,
1 being of ail he shall understand the 1 essence of all essences; substance of and if he rightly consider it, [he shall so] learn all substances. n , _. i « .i_ -i> i to understand what Moses, and all the rropnets, and also what the holy Apostles have written, and in [or from] what kind of spirit every one hath spoken ; also what hath ever been, and what shall or can be afterwards.
The most precious Gate in the Root of the Lily.
60. Now if we consider the three Principles, and how they are in their original, and how they generate themselves thus, then we [shall] find the essence of
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 285
all essences, how the one goeth out of the other thus, and how the one is higher graduated than the other, how the one is eternal, and the other corruptible, and how the one is fairer and better than the other : Also thus we [shall] find wherefore the one willeth [to go] * forward, and the other 2 backward : 1 in Also, [thus we shall] find the love and desire, and2in'self the hate [and enmity] of every thing.
61. But' now we cannot say of the originalness of the essence of all essences otherwise, than that in the original there is but one only essence, out of which now goeth forth the essence of all essences ; and that one essence is the eternal mind of God, that standeth [hidden] in the darkness, and that same essence hath longed from eternity, and had it in the will to generate the light : And that longing is the source [or eternal working property], and that will is the springing up. Now the springing up maketh the stirring and the mobility, and the mobility maketh the attracting in the will, and the will maketh again the longingness, so that the will always longeth after light : And this is an eternal band, that is without beginning and without end ; for where there is a willing, there is also desiring, and where there is a desiring, there is also, in the will's desiring, an attracting of that which the will desireth. Now the desiring is sour, hard, and cold, for it draweth to it, and holdeth it ; for where there is nothing, there the desiring can hold nothing ; and therefore if the will desireth top. 286 hold anything, the desiring must be hard, that the will may comprehend it ; and being there was nothing from eternity, therefore the will also could comprehend and hold nothing.
59. And further, we must look, where then the own will sticks, [whereby] man can in [his] own power yield up himself how he will, [either] to the kingdom of heaven, or to the kingdom of hell. To this looking-glass we will invite them that hunger and thirst after the noble knowledge, and show them the ground, whereby they may in their minds be freed from the errors and contentious controversies in the antichristian kingdom. Whosoever now shall rightly apprehend this gate,
1 being of ail he shall understand the 1 essence of all essences; substance of and if he rightly consider it, [he shall so] learn all substances. n , _. i « .i_ -i> i to understand what Moses, and all the rropnets, and also what the holy Apostles have written, and in [or from] what kind of spirit every one has spoken ; also what has ever been, and what shall or can be afterwards.
The most precious Gate in the Root of the Lily.
60. Now if we consider the three Principles, and how they are in their original, and how they generate themselves thus, then we [shall] find the essence of
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 285 all essences, how the one goes out of the other thus, and how the one is higher graduated than the other, how the one is eternal, and the other corruptible, and how the one is fairer and better than the other : Also thus we [shall] find wherefore the one wills [to go] * forward, and the other 2 backward : 1 in Also, [thus we shall] find the love and desire, and2in'self the hate [and enmity] of every thing.
61. But' now we cannot say of the originalness of the essence of all essences otherwise, than that in the original there is but one only essence, out of which now goes forth the essence of all essences ; and that one essence is the eternal mind of God, that stands [hidden] in the darkness, and that same essence has longed from eternity, and had it in the will to generate the light : And that longing is the source [or eternal working property], and that will is the springing up. Now the springing up makes the stirring and the mobility, and the mobility makes the attracting in the will, and the will makes again the longingness, so that the will always longs after light : And this is an eternal band, that is without beginning and without end ; for where there is a willing, there is also desiring, and where there is a desiring, there is also, in the will's desiring, an attracting of that which the will desires. Now the desiring is sour, hard, and cold, for it draws to it, and holds it ; for where there is nothing, there the desiring can hold nothing ; and therefore if the will desires to
286 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 14 hold anything, the desiring must be hard, that the will may comprehend it ; and being there was nothing from eternity, therefore the will also could comprehend and hold nothing.