Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
[or power], speech, and 2 senses, and the noble and 2 Or thoughts, most precious mind ; then we find the cause whereof we have made such a long 'register con- * catalogue or relation.
cernmg the eternal birth ; for the speech, senses, and mind, have also such an original, as is abovementioned concerning the eternal birth of God, and it is a very precious gate [or exposition].
28. For behold, when the gate of this world in the child is made ready, so that the child is [become] a living soul out of the essences, and now [henceforth] seeth only [by or] in the light of the sun, and not in the light of God, then cometh the true 4 artificer, instantly in the twinkling of an eye, 4 the master, (when the light of the life kindleth), and figureth [that which is] his ; for the centre breaketh forth in all the three Principles. First, there are the four essences in the Fiat in the stern might of God, which there are the child's own, the worm of its soul, which standeth there in the house of the great anxiety, as in the originality. For the seed is sown in the will, and the will receiveth the Fiat in the tincture, and the Fiat draweth the will to it inwardly, and outwardly [draweth] the seed to a 6 mass ; for the • concretion, inward and outward 6 artificer is there. body.
29. When the will thus draweth to it, then it 6 Or m*8terbecometh inwardly and outwardly impregnated,
p. 316
and is darkened ; the will cannot endure this, viz. to be set in the dark, and therefore falls into great anxiety for the light ; for the outward materia [or matter] is filled with the elements, and the blood is choked [checked or stopped] ; and there then the tincture withdraweth, and there is then the right abyss of death, and so the inward [materia or matter] is filled from the essences of the virtue [or power], and in the inward there riseth up another will, out of the stern virtue of the essences, [that it might] lift itself up into the light of the meekness ; and in the outward standeth the desire to be severed, the impure from the pure, for that the outward Fiat doth.
30. We must consider, in the virtue [or power] of the virgin, that the will first is threefold, and each in its centre is fixed [stedfast or perfect] and pure, for it proceedeth out of the tincture. In the first centre there springeth up between the parents of the child the inclination [or lust], and the bestial desire to copulate ; this is the outward elementary centre, and it is fixed in itself. Secondly, there springeth up, in the second centre, the inclinable love to the copulating ; and although they were at the first sight angry and odious one to another, yet in the copulating the centre of love springeth up, and that only in the copulating ; for the one pure tincture receiveth [or catcheth] the other, and in or the copulating the l mass receiveth them both.
31. Now thus the love qualifieth [or mixeth]
Ch. 15] KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETERNITY 317
with the inward [one] element, and the element with the paradise, and the paradise is before [or in the presence of] God. And the outward seed hath its essences, which qualify first with the outward elements, and the outward elements qualify with the outward stars, and the outward stars qualify with the outward sternness [grimness, fierceness, frowardness], wrath and malice, and the wrath and malice in the fierceness [severity, or austereness] qualifieth with the original of the first fierceness of the abyss of hell; and the abyss qualifieth with the devils.
32. Therefore, 0 man ! consider what thou hast received with thy bestial body, to eat and to drink of evil and good, which God did forbid. Look here into the ground of the essences, and say not with reason, It was merely for disobedience, which God was so very angry at, that his anger could not be quenched. Thou art deceived, for if the clear Deity were angry, it would not have become man for thy sake to help thee ; look but upon the l mark, in the eternity, and then thou wilt 1 Or aim. find all.
33. Thus also the kingdom of darkness and of the devil is sown together in the copulating, and
[or power], speech, and 2 senses, and the noble and 2 Or thoughts, most precious mind ; then we find the cause whereof we have made such a long 'register con- * catalogue or relation.
cernmg the eternal birth ; for the speech, senses, and mind, have also such an original, as is abovementioned concerning the eternal birth of God, and it is a very precious gate [or exposition].
28. For behold, when the gate of this world in the child is made ready, so that the child is [become] a living soul out of the essences, and now [henceforth] sees only [by or] in the light of the sun, and not in the light of God, then comes the true 4 artificer, instantly in the twinkling of an eye, 4 the master, (when the light of the life kindls), and figures [that which is] his ; for the centre breaks forth in all the three Principles. First, there are the four essences in the Fiat in the stern might of God, which there are the child's own, the worm of its soul, which stands there in the house of the great anxiety, as in the originality. For the seed is sown in the will, and the will receives the Fiat in the tincture, and the Fiat draws the will to it inwardly, and outwardly [draws] the seed to a 6 mass ; for the • concretion, inward and outward 6 artificer is there. body.
29. When the will thus draws to it, then it 6 Or m*8terbecometh inwardly and outwardly impregnated,
316 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 15 and is darkened ; the will cannot endure this, viz. to be set in the dark, and therefore falls into great anxiety for the light ; for the outward materia [or matter] is filled with the elements, and the blood is choked [checked or stopped] ; and there then the tincture withdraws, and there is then the right abyss of death, and so the inward [materia or matter] is filled from the essences of the virtue [or power], and in the inward there rises up another will, out of the stern virtue of the essences, [that it might] lift itself up into the light of the meekness ; and in the outward stands the desire to be severed, the impure from the pure, for that the outward Fiat does.
30. We must consider, in the virtue [or power] of the virgin, that the will first is threefold, and each in its centre is fixed [stedfast or perfect] and pure, for it proceeds out of the tincture. In the first centre there springs up between the parents of the child the inclination [or lust], and the bestial desire to copulate ; this is the outward elementary centre, and it is fixed in itself. Secondly, there springs up, in the second centre, the inclinable love to the copulating ; and although they were at the first sight angry and odious one to another, yet in the copulating the centre of love springs up, and that only in the copulating ; for the one pure tincture receives [or catches] the other, and in or the copulating the l mass receives them both.
31. Now thus the love qualifies [or mixes]
Ch. 15] KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETERNITY 317 with the inward [one] element, and the element with the paradise, and the paradise is before [or in the presence of] God. And the outward seed has its essences, which qualify first with the outward elements, and the outward elements qualify with the outward stars, and the outward stars qualify with the outward sternness [grimness, fierceness, frowardness], wrath and malice, and the wrath and malice in the fierceness [severity, or austereness] qualifies with the original of the first fierceness of the abyss of hell; and the abyss qualifies with the devils.
32. Therefore, 0 man ! consider what you have received with your bestial body, to eat and to drink of evil and good, which God did forbid. Look here into the ground of the essences, and say not with reason, It was merely for disobedience, which God was so very angry at, that his anger could not be quenched. You are deceived, for if the clear Deity were angry, it would not have become man for your sake to help you ; look but upon the l mark, in the eternity, and then you will 1 Or aim. find all.
33. Thus also the kingdom of darkness and of the devil is sown together in the copulating, and