Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
85. Now see the lily, thou noble mind, full of anguish and afflictions of this world ; behold, the Holy Trinity hath an eternal will in itself, and the will is the desiring, and the desiring is the eternal essences, wherein then standeth the sharpness (viz. the Fiat) which goeth forth out of the heart, and out of the mouth of God by the Holy Ghost [or Spirit] of God. And the will [that is] gone forth out of the spirit, [that] is the divine virtue, which conceiveth [or comprehendeth] the will, and holdeth it, and the Fiat createth it [viz. that virtue], so that in it, as in God himself, all essences are, and [so that] the blossom of the light in it may spring up [and blossom] out of the Heart of God ; and yet this is not God, but [it is] the chaste virgin of the eternal wisdom and understanding, of which I treat often in this book.
86. Now the virgin is [present] before God, and
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THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
1 uniteth.
2 hovereth.
8 Or God's fruit
Mnclineth herself to the spirit from which the virtue proceedeth, out of which she (viz. the chaste virgin) is ; this is now God's companion to the honour and joy of God ; the same appeareth or discovereth herself in the eternal wonders of God. In the discovery, she becometh longing after the wonders in the eternal wisdom, which yet is herself, and thus she longeth in herself, and her longing is the eternal essences, which attract the holy virtue to her, and the Fiat createth them, so that they stand in [or become] a substance ; and she is a virgin, and never generateth any thing, neither taketh any thing into her ; her inclination standeth in the Holy Ghost, who goeth forth from God, and attracteth nothing to him, but 2 moveth before God, and is the 3 blossom [or branch] of the growth.
87. And so the virgin hath no will to conceive [or be impregnated with] anything ; her will is [only] to open the wonders of God ; and therefore she is in the will in the wonders, to discover [or make] the wonders [appear] in the eternal essences ; and that virgin-like will createth the sour Fiat in the essences, so that it is [become] a substance, and standeth eternally before God, wherein the eternal wonders of the virgin of the wisdom of God are revealed.
88. And this substance is the eternal element, wherein all essences in the divine virtue stand open, and are visible : and wherein the fair and
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 301
chaste virgin of the divine wisdom always discovereth herself according to the number of the infiniteness, out of the many thousand thousands without end and number. And in this discovering there go forth out of the eternal element, colours, arts, and virtues, and the Sprouts of the lily of bruits. God ; at which the Deity continually rejoiceth itself in the virgin of the wisdom ; and that joy goeth forth out of the eternal essences, and is called paradise, in regard of the sharpness of the generating [or bringing forth] of the pleasant fruit of the lily [in infinitum or] infinitely ; where then the essences of the lily spring up in wonders in many thousand thousands without number, of which you have a similitude in the [springing or blossoming earth.
85. Now see the lily, you noble mind, full of anguish and afflictions of this world ; behold, the Holy Trinity has an eternal will in itself, and the will is the desiring, and the desiring is the eternal essences, wherein then stands the sharpness (viz. the Fiat) which goes forth out of the heart, and out of the mouth of God by the Holy Ghost [or Spirit] of God. And the will [that is] gone forth out of the spirit, [that] is the divine virtue, which conceives [or comprehends] the will, and holds it, and the Fiat creates it [viz. that virtue], so that in it, as in God himself, all essences are, and [so that] the blossom of the light in it may spring up [and blossom] out of the Heart of God ; and yet this is not God, but [it is] the chaste virgin of the eternal wisdom and understanding, of which I treat often in this book.
86. Now the virgin is [present] before God, and
p. 300
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 14
1 unites.
2 hovers.
8 Or God's fruit
Mnclins herself to the spirit from which the virtue proceeds, out of which she (viz. the chaste virgin) is ; this is now God's companion to the honour and joy of God ; the same appears or discovers herself in the eternal wonders of God. In the discovery, she becomes longing after the wonders in the eternal wisdom, which yet is herself, and thus she longs in herself, and her longing is the eternal essences, which attract the holy virtue to her, and the Fiat creates them, so that they stand in [or become] a substance ; and she is a virgin, and never generats any thing, neither takes any thing into her ; her inclination stands in the Holy Ghost, who goes forth from God, and attracts nothing to him, but 2 moves before God, and is the 3 blossom [or branch] of the growth.
87. And so the virgin has no will to conceive [or be impregnated with] anything ; her will is [only] to open the wonders of God ; and therefore she is in the will in the wonders, to discover [or make] the wonders [appear] in the eternal essences ; and that virgin-like will creates the sour Fiat in the essences, so that it is [become] a substance, and stands eternally before God, wherein the eternal wonders of the virgin of the wisdom of God are revealed.
88. And this substance is the eternal element, wherein all essences in the divine virtue stand open, and are visible : and wherein the fair and
Ch. 14] BIRTH AND PROPAGATION OF MAN 301 chaste virgin of the divine wisdom always discovers herself according to the number of the infiniteness, out of the many thousand thousands without end and number. And in this discovering there go forth out of the eternal element, colours, arts, and virtues, and the Sprouts of the lily of bruits. God ; at which the Deity continually rejoics itself in the virgin of the wisdom ; and that joy goes forth out of the eternal essences, and is called paradise, in regard of the sharpness of the generating [or bringing forth] of the pleasant fruit of the lily [in infinitum or] infinitely ; where then the essences of the lily spring up in wonders in many thousand thousands without number, of which you have a similitude in the [springing or blossoming earth.