Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
fire to sit in a temperate place of refreshment ; and tli us the flash in itself is so fierce and sudden, yea fiercer and more sudden than a thought, and out of the darkness in itself (in its kindling) seeth into the light ; and then is so very much terrified, that it lets its power (which it had in the fire) sink down. And this terror [or shriek or crack] is made in the sharpness of the flash ; and this now is the terror [shriek or crack] of great joy ; and there the re-comprehended will desireth the crack or joy in the meekness ; and the desiring is the attracting of the joy, and the attracting is the infecting [or mingling] in the will; and that
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[which is] attracted maketh the will swell [or be impregnated], for it is therein, and the will holdeth it [fast].
71. Now here is nothing which the will with the sharpness or essence could draw to it, but the meekness, the deliverance from the darkness ; this is the desire of the willing, and therein then standeth the pleasant joy, which the will draweth to itself; and the attracting in the will impregnateth the will, that it becometh full.
72. And thus the comprehended will is swelled [or impregnated] by the joy in the meekness, which it desireth (without intermission) to generate out of itself, for its own joy again, and for its sweet taste [or relish] in the joy. And the same will to generate, comprehendeth the meekness in the joy (which standeth in the swelled [or impregnated] will) and it bringeth the essences (or the attracting) of the willing again out of the will, before the will ; for the desiring draweth forth the swelling [or impregnation] out of the swelled [or impregnated] will, before the will ; and that [which habitation, is] drawn forth is the pleasant virtue, xjoy, and meekness. And this now is the desiring of the eternal will (and no more) but to eat and to draw again this virtue into it, and to be satiated therewith, and [it can] desire nothing higher or more 1 refreshing : for therein is the perfection [or fulness] of the highest *joy and meekness.
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 293
73. And so in this virtue (which is in God the Father, as is before mentioned) standeth the omniscience [or all knowledge] of what is in the originality in the eternity; where the flash then
1 discovereth itself in many thousand thousands 1 Or sparkieth
2 without number. For this virtue of joy in the 2^^ [refreshment or] habitation, is proceeded from the sharpness of the flash, and (in the sharpness of the al] -mightiness over the darkness) seeth [or looketh] again in the eternal sharpness in the dark mind ; and that mind inclineth itself to the virtue and desireth the virtue, and the virtue goeth not back again in the darkness, but 3beholdeth itself 3 As the sun therein, from whence [it is] that the eternal mind water!" the is continually longing [panting or lusting] after the virtue [or power] ; and the virtue is the sharpness, and the sharpness is the attracting. This is called the 4 eternal Fiat, which there createth and 4 Note, corporizeth what the eternal will in the almighty meekness (which there is the might and the breaking [or destroyer] of the darkness, and the building of the Principle), and what the will in the eternal [skill or] knowledge discovereth, and in itself conceiveth [apprehendeth, or purposeth], to do. And whatsoever giveth itself up to the meekness, that will the will create by the sharp Fiat which is the eternal essence. And this now is the will of God, whatsoever inclineth itself to him, and desireth him, that same he will create in the meekness; even all whatsoever (out of the many thousand
p. 294
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
1 Or his.
8 enter into resignation.
8 Or these infinite sparks.
4 Or bitterness of the frost.
6 Or unite themselves.
6 In true resignation.
7 Or recalling.
thousands, out of the infiniteness) inclineth itself in l its virtue to him.
fire to sit in a temperate place of refreshment ; and tli us the flash in itself is so fierce and sudden, yea fiercer and more sudden than a thought, and out of the darkness in itself (in its kindling) sees into the light ; and then is so very much terrified, that it lets its power (which it had in the fire) sink down. And this terror [or shriek or crack] is made in the sharpness of the flash ; and this now is the terror [shriek or crack] of great joy ; and there the re-comprehended will desires the crack or joy in the meekness ; and the desiring is the attracting of the joy, and the attracting is the infecting [or mingling] in the will; and that
292 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 14
[which is] attracted makes the will swell [or be impregnated], for it is therein, and the will holds it [fast].
71. Now here is nothing which the will with the sharpness or essence could draw to it, but the meekness, the deliverance from the darkness ; this is the desire of the willing, and therein then stands the pleasant joy, which the will draws to itself; and the attracting in the will impregnats the will, that it becomes full.
72. And thus the comprehended will is swelled [or impregnated] by the joy in the meekness, which it desires (without intermission) to generate out of itself, for its own joy again, and for its sweet taste [or relish] in the joy. And the same will to generate, comprehends the meekness in the joy (which stands in the swelled [or impregnated] will) and it brings the essences (or the attracting) of the willing again out of the will, before the will ; for the desiring draws forth the swelling [or impregnation] out of the swelled [or impregnated] will, before the will ; and that [which habitation, is] drawn forth is the pleasant virtue, xjoy, and meekness. And this now is the desiring of the eternal will (and no more) but to eat and to draw again this virtue into it, and to be satiated therewith, and [it can] desire nothing higher or more 1 refreshing : for therein is the perfection [or fulness] of the highest *joy and meekness.
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 293
73. And so in this virtue (which is in God the Father, as is before mentioned) stands the omniscience [or all knowledge] of what is in the originality in the eternity; where the flash then
1 discovers itself in many thousand thousands 1 Or sparkies
2 without number. For this virtue of joy in the 2^^ [refreshment or] habitation, is proceeded from the sharpness of the flash, and (in the sharpness of the al] -mightiness over the darkness) sees [or looks] again in the eternal sharpness in the dark mind ; and that mind inclins itself to the virtue and desires the virtue, and the virtue goes not back again in the darkness, but 3beholdeth itself 3 As the sun therein, from whence [it is] that the eternal mind water!" the is continually longing [panting or lusting] after the virtue [or power] ; and the virtue is the sharpness, and the sharpness is the attracting. This is called the 4 eternal Fiat, which there creates and 4 Note, corporizes what the eternal will in the almighty meekness (which there is the might and the breaking [or destroyer] of the darkness, and the building of the Principle), and what the will in the eternal [skill or] knowledge discovers, and in itself conceives [apprehends, or purposes], to do. And whatsoever gives itself up to the meekness, that will the will create by the sharp Fiat which is the eternal essence. And this now is the will of God, whatsoever inclins itself to him, and desires him, that same he will create in the meekness; even all whatsoever (out of the many thousand
p. 294
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
1 Or his.
8 enter into resignation.
8 Or these infinite sparks.
4 Or bitterness of the frost.
6 Or unite themselves.
6 In true resignation.
7 Or recalling.
thousands, out of the infiniteness) inclins itself in l its virtue to him.