Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
20rgoeth. [earnest] and highly desirous kindled spirit 2 is as a fire, to which the earthly body ought to be subject, and will grudge no pains to serve the desirous fiery mind. And although it hath nothing to expect for its labour but scorn and contempt from the world, yet it must be obedient to its lord, for its lord is mighty, and itself is feeble, and its lord leadeth, [driveth], and preserveth it, and yet in its [ignorance, or want of] understanding, it knoweth nothing of what it doth, but it liveth like all the beasts. And yet its will is [not] to live thus, but it must follow the worthy mind, which searcheth after the wisdom of God ; and the mind must follow the light of nature; for God manifesteth [or revealeth] himself in that light, or else we should know nothing of him.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 341
3. And now when we consider our mind, in the light of nature, and what that is, which maketh us zealous [or earnest], which burneth there [in] as a light, and is desirous [thirsty or covetous] like fire, which desireth to receive from that place where it hath not sown, and would reap in that country where the body is not at home [or dwelleth not], then the precious virgin of the wisdom of God meeteth us, in the middlemost seat in the centre of the light of life, and saith, The light is mine, and the [power or] virtue and glory is mine, also the gate of knowledge is mine, I live in the light of nature, and without me you can neither see, know, nor understand anything of my virtue [or power]. I am thy bridegroom in the light ; and thy desire [or longing] after my virtue [or power] is my attracting in myself ; I sit in my throne, but thou knowest me not ; I am in thee, and thy body is not in me. I distinguish [or separate], and thou seest it not. I am the light of the senses, and the root of the senses is not in me, but near me. I am the bridegroom of the root, but she hath put on a rough coat. I [will] not lay myself in her arms till she putteth that off, and then I will rest eternally in her arms, and adorn the root with my virtue [and power], and give her my beautiful form, and will espouse myself to her with my Pearl.
4. There are three things which the mind hath in it, and which rule it, yet the mind in itself is the desirous will. And those three things are threep. 342 kingdoms, or Principles ; one is eternal, and the second is eternal, but the third is corruptible ; the one hath no beginning ; the second is without beginning, eternally generated ; and the third hath a beginning and end, and corrupteth again [or perisheth].
5. And, as the eternal mind in the great unsearchable depth, is from eternity, so is the indis1 Or perpetual soluble baud, and the spirit in the l source, which perty. continually generateth itself, never decay eth, and
20rgoeth. [earnest] and highly desirous kindled spirit 2 is as a fire, to which the earthly body ought to be subject, and will grudge no pains to serve the desirous fiery mind. And although it has nothing to expect for its labour but scorn and contempt from the world, yet it must be obedient to its lord, for its lord is mighty, and itself is feeble, and its lord leads, [drivs], and preservs it, and yet in its [ignorance, or want of] understanding, it knows nothing of what it does, but it lives like all the beasts. And yet its will is [not] to live thus, but it must follow the worthy mind, which searches after the wisdom of God ; and the mind must follow the light of nature; for God manifests [or reveals] himself in that light, or else we should know nothing of him.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 341
3. And now when we consider our mind, in the light of nature, and what that is, which makes us zealous [or earnest], which burns there [in] as a light, and is desirous [thirsty or covetous] like fire, which desires to receive from that place where it has not sown, and would reap in that country where the body is not at home [or dwells not], then the precious virgin of the wisdom of God meets us, in the middlemost seat in the centre of the light of life, and says, The light is mine, and the [power or] virtue and glory is mine, also the gate of knowledge is mine, I live in the light of nature, and without me you can neither see, know, nor understand anything of my virtue [or power]. I am your bridegroom in the light ; and your desire [or longing] after my virtue [or power] is my attracting in myself ; I sit in my throne, but you know me not ; I am in you, and your body is not in me. I distinguish [or separate], and you seest it not. I am the light of the senses, and the root of the senses is not in me, but near me. I am the bridegroom of the root, but she has put on a rough coat. I [will] not lay myself in her arms till she putts that off, and then I will rest eternally in her arms, and adorn the root with my virtue [and power], and give her my beautiful form, and will espouse myself to her with my Pearl.
4. There are three things which the mind has in it, and which rule it, yet the mind in itself is the desirous will. And those three things are three
342 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16 kingdoms, or Principles ; one is eternal, and the second is eternal, but the third is corruptible ; the one has no beginning ; the second is without beginning, eternally generated ; and the third has a beginning and end, and corrupts again [or perishes].
5. And, as the eternal mind in the great unsearchable depth, is from eternity, so is the indis1 Or perpetual soluble baud, and the spirit in the l source, which perty. continually generats itself, never decay eth, and