Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
53. And now when the light of all the three Principles shineth, then the tincture goeth forth from all the three Principles, and it is highly [worthy] to be observed, that the middlemost Principle receiveth no light from nature; but as soon as the darkness is broken up [or dispelled], it shineth in most joyful habitableness, and [hath] the noble virgin dwelling in the joy, viz. in that tincture ; and the Deity appeareth so very highly and powerfully in man, that we cannot find it so in any other thing, let us take what else we will into our consideration.
54. In the first Principle is the fire-flash; and in the tincture thereof is the l terrible light of the i the dazzling sun, which hath its original very sharply out ofS?° the eternal originalness, out of the first Principle, with its root out of the fifth essence, through the element, which may be expounded in another place, it would be too long to do it here. And besides, it should be hidden ; he that knoweth it, will conceal it, as he would also [conceal] the springing-up of the stars and planets. For the cornered cap will needs have it under the jurisdiction of his schoollearning, though indeed he apprehendeth little or nothing at all in the light of nature. Let it remain [hidden] till the time of the lily, there it standeth
p. 330
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 15
1 free, discovered, or known.
2 appropriated), or yieldeth itself up to it.
3 Or as in death.
4 Or the refreshment.
5 numb.
all * open : And the tincture is [then] the light of the world.
55. And it is here very exactly seen how the third Principle 2uniteth itself with the first, and how they have one [only] will, for they proceed from one another ; and if the second Principle were not in the midst [between them] then they were but one [and the same] thing. But speaking here of the tincture in the life, we will therefore shew, in the light of nature, the true ground of all the three births.
56. The noble tincture is the dwelling-house of the spirit, and hath three forms ; one is eternal, and incorruptible ; the other is mutable [or transitory], and yet with the holy [or saints] continueth eternally ; but with the wicked it is mutable [or transitory], and flieth into the ether ; the third is corruptible 3in death.
57. The first tincture of the first Principle is properly the 4 habitation in the fire-flash, which is the source [life, or active property] in the gall, which maketh the brimstone-spirit (viz. the indissoluble worm of the soul, which ruleth powerfully in the sharp essences, and moveth and carrieth the body whithersoever the mind, in the second centre, will) to be its dwelling-house ; its tincture is like the fierce [austere or grim] and sharp might of God; it kindleth the whole body, so that it is warm, and that it grow not 6 stiff [or congealed with cold], and upholdeth the wheel in the crack
Ch. 15] KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETERNITY 331
in the essences, out of which the hearing ariseth. It is sharp, and proveth the smell of every thing in the essences; it maketh the hearing, though itself is neither the hearing nor smelling ; but it is the gate that letteth in good and evil, as the tongue and also the ear [doth]. All which cometh from hence, because that l its tincture hath its l the active life of the ground in the first Principle ; and the kindling of gall, the life happeneth in the sharpness, in the breaking through the gate of the eternal darkness.
53. And now when the light of all the three Principles shines, then the tincture goes forth from all the three Principles, and it is highly [worthy] to be observed, that the middlemost Principle receives no light from nature; but as soon as the darkness is broken up [or dispelled], it shines in most joyful habitableness, and [has] the noble virgin dwelling in the joy, viz. in that tincture ; and the Deity appears so very highly and powerfully in man, that we cannot find it so in any other thing, let us take what else we will into our consideration.
54. In the first Principle is the fire-flash; and in the tincture thereof is the l terrible light of the i the dazzling sun, which has its original very sharply out ofS?° the eternal originalness, out of the first Principle, with its root out of the fifth essence, through the element, which may be expounded in another place, it would be too long to do it here. And besides, it should be hidden ; he that knows it, will conceal it, as he would also [conceal] the springing-up of the stars and planets. For the cornered cap will needs have it under the jurisdiction of his schoollearning, though indeed he apprehends little or nothing at all in the light of nature. Let it remain [hidden] till the time of the lily, there it stands
p. 330
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 15
1 free, discovered, or known.
2 appropriated), or yields itself up to it.
3 Or as in death.
4 Or the refreshment.
5 numb.
all * open : And the tincture is [then] the light of the world.
55. And it is here very exactly seen how the third Principle 2uniteth itself with the first, and how they have one [only] will, for they proceed from one another ; and if the second Principle were not in the midst [between them] then they were but one [and the same] thing. But speaking here of the tincture in the life, we will therefore show, in the light of nature, the true ground of all the three births.
56. The noble tincture is the dwelling-house of the spirit, and has three forms ; one is eternal, and incorruptible ; the other is mutable [or transitory], and yet with the holy [or saints] continues eternally ; but with the wicked it is mutable [or transitory], and flies into the ether ; the third is corruptible 3in death.
57. The first tincture of the first Principle is properly the 4 habitation in the fire-flash, which is the source [life, or active property] in the gall, which makes the brimstone-spirit (viz. the indissoluble worm of the soul, which ruls powerfully in the sharp essences, and moves and carries the body whithersoever the mind, in the second centre, will) to be its dwelling-house ; its tincture is like the fierce [austere or grim] and sharp might of God; it kindls the whole body, so that it is warm, and that it grow not 6 stiff [or congealed with cold], and upholds the wheel in the crack
Ch. 15] KNOWLEDGE OF THE ETERNITY 331 in the essences, out of which the hearing arises. It is sharp, and proves the smell of every thing in the essences; it makes the hearing, though itself is neither the hearing nor smelling ; but it is the gate that letts in good and evil, as the tongue and also the ear [does]. All which comes from hence, because that l its tincture has its l the active life of the ground in the first Principle ; and the kindling of gall, the life happens in the sharpness, in the breaking through the gate of the eternal darkness.