Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
20. Although indeed we can say this with ground of truth, that the constellation imageth and formeth no man, as to [make him to be] the similitude and image of God ; but [it formeth only] a beast in the will, manners, and senses ; and besides that, it hath no might nor understanding, to be able to figure [or form] a similitude of God : Though indeed it elevateth itself in the highest [it can], in the will after the similitude of God, yet it generCh. 16]p. 353
ateth only a pleasant, subtle, arid lusty beast in man (as also in other creatures) and no more. Only the eternal essences, which are propagated from Adam in all men, they continue with the hidden element (wherein the image consisteth) standing in man, but yet altogether hidden, unless the new birth in the water, and the Holy Ghost [or spirit] of God [be attained].
21. And thereupon it comes, that man many times in the dwelling of the brains, and of the heart, as also in all the five senses, in the region [or dominion] of the stars, is in his mind l often like 1or suddenly. a wolf, a churlish dog, crafty, fierce, and greedy ; and l often like a lion, stern, cruel, sturdy and active in devouring of his prey ; l often like a dog, snappish, envious, malicious ; often like an adder and serpent, subtle, venomous, stinging, poisonous, slanderous in his words, and mischievous in his deeds, ill-conditioned and lying, like the quality of the devil in the shape of a serpent at the Tree of Temptation ; l often like a hare, timorous, or fearful, starting and running away ; 1 often like a toad, whose mind is so very venomous, that it poisoneth a tender [or weak] mind to the temporal death by its imagination, (which many times maketh witches and sorcerers, for the first ground serveth enough to it) ; l often like a tame beast ; and 1 often like a merry beast, etc. all according as the constellation stood, in 2 its incarnation in 2 the child's.
the wrestling wheel, with its virtue of the quinta
p. 23
354 THE THREK PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16
1 in the mind esseutia, so is the starry mind on l its region » or nativity. %ure(l '> although the hour of man's 2birth altereth » Or over- much, and doth 3 hold in the first, whereof I will powereth the , /•,••,! • > -L- j_u first com- write hereafter in its place, concerning man s birth plexion of the r , • • i hour of the |_or nativity J.
wbSS'g 22. And now if the glance out of this mind, out of this or any other form not here mentioned, glanceth [or darteth] through the eyes, then it catch eth up its own form out of everything, as its starry kingdom is most potent at all times of the heaven, in the good or in the bad, in falsehood or in truth. And this is brought before the king, and there must the five counsellors try it, which yet
4 Or poisoned, are unrighteous knaves themselves, being 4 infected from the stars and elements, and so set in their region [or dominion]. And now those [counsellors] desire nothing more than the kingdom of this world ; and to which sort the starry house of the brains and of the heart is most of all inclined, for that the five counsellors also give their advice, and will have it, be it for pomp, pride, stateliness, riches, beauty, or voluptuous life, also for art and
8 Or virtue. 6 excellency of earthly things, 6 and for poor Lazarus soil is notck there is no thought ; there the five counsellors are very soon agreed, for in their own form they are all unrighteous before God ; but according to the region of this world they are very firm. Thus they counsel the king, and the king giveth it to the spirit of the soul, which gathereth up the essences, and falleth to with hands and mouth.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 355
20. Although indeed we can say this with ground of truth, that the constellation imags and forms no man, as to [make him to be] the similitude and image of God ; but [it forms only] a beast in the will, manners, and senses ; and besides that, it has no might nor understanding, to be able to figure [or form] a similitude of God : Though indeed it elevats itself in the highest [it can], in the will after the similitude of God, yet it generCh. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 353 ats only a pleasant, subtle, arid lusty beast in man (as also in other creatures) and no more. Only the eternal essences, which are propagated from Adam in all men, they continue with the hidden element (wherein the image consists) standing in man, but yet altogether hidden, unless the new birth in the water, and the Holy Ghost [or spirit] of God [be attained].
21. And thereupon it comes, that man many times in the dwelling of the brains, and of the heart, as also in all the five senses, in the region [or dominion] of the stars, is in his mind l often like 1or suddenly. a wolf, a churlish dog, crafty, fierce, and greedy ; and l often like a lion, stern, cruel, sturdy and active in devouring of his prey ; l often like a dog, snappish, envious, malicious ; often like an adder and serpent, subtle, venomous, stinging, poisonous, slanderous in his words, and mischievous in his deeds, ill-conditioned and lying, like the quality of the devil in the shape of a serpent at the Tree of Temptation ; l often like a hare, timorous, or fearful, starting and running away ; 1 often like a toad, whose mind is so very venomous, that it poisons a tender [or weak] mind to the temporal death by its imagination, (which many times makes witches and sorcerers, for the first ground serves enough to it) ; l often like a tame beast ; and 1 often like a merry beast, etc. all according as the constellation stood, in 2 its incarnation in 2 the child's.
the wrestling wheel, with its virtue of the quinta
p. 23
354 THE THREK PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16
1 in the mind esseutia, so is the starry mind on l its region » or nativity. %ure(l '> although the hour of man's 2birth alters » Or over- much, and does 3 hold in the first, whereof I will powers the , /•,••,! • > -L- j_u first com- write hereafter in its place, concerning man s birth plexion of the r , • • i hour of the |_or nativity J.
wbSS'g 22. And now if the glance out of this mind, out of this or any other form not here mentioned, glancs [or darts] through the eyes, then it catch eth up its own form out of everything, as its starry kingdom is most potent at all times of the heaven, in the good or in the bad, in falsehood or in truth. And this is brought before the king, and there must the five counsellors try it, which yet
4 Or poisoned, are unrighteous knaves themselves, being 4 infected from the stars and elements, and so set in their region [or dominion]. And now those [counsellors] desire nothing more than the kingdom of this world ; and to which sort the starry house of the brains and of the heart is most of all inclined, for that the five counsellors also give their advice, and will have it, be it for pomp, pride, stateliness, riches, beauty, or voluptuous life, also for art and
8 Or virtue. 6 excellency of earthly things, 6 and for poor Lazarus soil is notck there is no thought ; there the five counsellors are very soon agreed, for in their own form they are all unrighteous before God ; but according to the region of this world they are very firm. Thus they counsel the king, and the king gives it to the spirit of the soul, which gathers up the essences, and falls to with hands and mouth.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 355