Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
27. For there remain no more than two Principles eternally, the third [Principle] wherein he liveth here, perisheth ; and if he desireth not now the second [Principle], then he must remain in the first original eternally with the devils ; for after this time it will be no otherwise, there is no source which can come to help him [hereafter] ; for the kingdom of God goeth not back into the abyss, but it riseth up forward in the light of meekness ; this we speak seriously and in earnest, as it is highly known in the light of nature, in the ray of the
3 noble virgin. « the wisdom of God.
The Gate of the Difference between Man and Beast.
28. My dear and loving reason, bring thy five senses hither, and consider thyself, according to the things above-mentioned, what thou art, how thou wast created the image of God, and how thou in Adam (by the infection of the devil) didst let thy spirit of this world take possession of thy paradise, which now sitteth in the room of paradise. Wilt thou say that thou wast created thus [as]
p. 358
to this world in Adam at the beginning ? Then behold and consider thyself; and thou shalt find another image in thy mind and speech. Animal 29. Every l beast hath a mind, 2 having a will, or living „ . , , .
creature. and the nve senses therein, so that it can distm8 of* guish therein what is good or ill for it. But where remain the senses in the will [that come] out of the gates of the deep, where the will discovereth itself [or glim m ere th] in the first Principle in infinitum [infinitely], out of which the understanding proceedeth, so that man can see into all things into their essences, how high they are graduated, whereupon followeth the distinction [or different articulation] of the tongue ? For if a beast had them, then it could also speak, and distinguish voices, and speak of the things that are in substance [or being], and search into the originality. But because it is not out of the eternal, therefore it hath no understanding in the light of nature, be it never so nimble and crafty ; neither doth its strength and force avail to the lifting it up into understanding ; no, it is all in vain.
30. Man only hath understanding, and his senses reach into the essences and qualities of the stars and elements, and search out the ground of all things in the region of the stars and elements : And this now hath its original in man, in the eternal element, he being created out of the [eternal] element, and not out of the out-births of the four elements. And therefore the eternityCh. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 359 seeth into the l beginning out-birth in the corrupt!- 1 inceptive, bility ; and the 2 beginning in the out-birth cannot 20r inception, see into the eternity, for the 2 beginning taketh its original out of the eternity, out of the eternal mind.
31. But that man is so very blind and ignorant, or void of understanding, is because he lieth captive in the regimen [or dominion] of the stars and elements, which many times figure [or fashion] a wild beast in the mind of man, a lion, a wolf, a dog, a fox, a serpent, and such like ; though indeed man getteth no such body, yet he hath such a mind ; of which Christ spake to the Jews, and called some of them wolves, foxes, and serpents. Also John the Baptist said so of the Pharisees, and we see apparently, how many men live wholly like beasts, according to their bestial mind, and yet are so audacious, that they judge and condemn those that live in the image of God, and 3 subdue their bodies. 3 tame, or bring under
32. But if he speaketh or judgeth anything well, subjection, he speaketh not from the bestial image of the mind, wherein he liveth, but he speaketh from the hidden man, which is hidden in the bestial [man], and judgeth against his own bestial life ; for the hidden law of the eternal nature standeth hidden in the bestial man, and it is in a hard restraint, and judgeth [or condemneth] the [malicious] wickedness of the 4 carnal mind. 4 fleshly.
33. Thus there are three in man that strive against one another, viz. the eternal proud malicious
p. 360
27. For there remain no more than two Principles eternally, the third [Principle] wherein he lives here, perishes ; and if he desires not now the second [Principle], then he must remain in the first original eternally with the devils ; for after this time it will be no otherwise, there is no source which can come to help him [hereafter] ; for the kingdom of God goes not back into the abyss, but it rises up forward in the light of meekness ; this we speak seriously and in earnest, as it is highly known in the light of nature, in the ray of the
3 noble virgin. « the wisdom of God.
The Gate of the Difference between Man and Beast.
28. My dear and loving reason, bring your five senses hither, and consider yourself, according to the things above-mentioned, what you are, how you were created the image of God, and how you in Adam (by the infection of the devil) did let your spirit of this world take possession of your paradise, which now sitts in the room of paradise. Wilt you say that you were created thus [as]
358 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16 to this world in Adam at the beginning ? Then behold and consider yourself; and you shall find another image in your mind and speech. Animal 29. Every l beast has a mind, 2 having a will, or living „ . , , .
creature. and the nve senses therein, so that it can distm8 of* guish therein what is good or ill for it. But where remain the senses in the will [that come] out of the gates of the deep, where the will discovers itself [or glim m ere th] in the first Principle in infinitum [infinitely], out of which the understanding proceeds, so that man can see into all things into their essences, how high they are graduated, whereupon follows the distinction [or different articulation] of the tongue ? For if a beast had them, then it could also speak, and distinguish voices, and speak of the things that are in substance [or being], and search into the originality. But because it is not out of the eternal, therefore it has no understanding in the light of nature, be it never so nimble and crafty ; neither does its strength and force avail to the lifting it up into understanding ; no, it is all in vain.
30. Man only has understanding, and his senses reach into the essences and qualities of the stars and elements, and search out the ground of all things in the region of the stars and elements : And this now has its original in man, in the eternal element, he being created out of the [eternal] element, and not out of the out-births of the four elements. And therefore the eternity
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 359 sees into the l beginning out-birth in the corrupt!- 1 inceptive, bility ; and the 2 beginning in the out-birth cannot 20r inception, see into the eternity, for the 2 beginning takes its original out of the eternity, out of the eternal mind.
31. But that man is so very blind and ignorant, or void of understanding, is because he lies captive in the regimen [or dominion] of the stars and elements, which many times figure [or fashion] a wild beast in the mind of man, a lion, a wolf, a dog, a fox, a serpent, and such like ; though indeed man getts no such body, yet he has such a mind ; of which Christ spake to the Jews, and called some of them wolves, foxes, and serpents. Also John the Baptist said so of the Pharisees, and we see apparently, how many men live wholly like beasts, according to their bestial mind, and yet are so audacious, that they judge and condemn those that live in the image of God, and 3 subdue their bodies. 3 tame, or bring under
32. But if he speaks or judges anything well, subjection, he speaks not from the bestial image of the mind, wherein he lives, but he speaks from the hidden man, which is hidden in the bestial [man], and judges against his own bestial life ; for the hidden law of the eternal nature stands hidden in the bestial man, and it is in a hard restraint, and judges [or condemns] the [malicious] wickedness of the 4 carnal mind. 4 fleshly.
33. Thus there are three in man that strive against one another, viz. the eternal proud malicious
360 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16