Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
anger, [proceeding] out of the originality of the mind. And secondly, the eternal holy chaste humility, which is generated out of the originality. And thirdly, the corruptible animal, wholly bestial, generated from the stars and elements, which holdeth the whole house in possession.
34. And it is here with the image of man, as St Paul said, To whom you give yourselves as servants in obedience, his servant you are, whether it be of sin unto death, or of the obedience of God unto righteousness, that driving [or property] you have. If a man yield his mind up to malice, pride, self, power, and force, to the oppressing of the miserable, then he is like the proud, haughty devil, and he is his servant in obedience, and loseth the image of God ; and out of the image cometh a wolf, dragon, or serpent to be, all according to his essences, as he standeth figured in the mind. But if he yield up himself to another swinish and bestial condition, as to a mere bestial voluptuous life, to gormandizing, gluttony, and drunkenness, and lechery, stealing, robbing, murdering, lying, cozening, and [cheating] deceit, then the eternal mind figureth him also in such an image as is like an unreasonable ugly beast and worm. And although he beareth the elementary image in this life, yet he hath indeed the image of an adder, serpent, and beast, hidden therein, which will be manifested at the breaking [or deceasing] of the body, and it belongeth not to the kingdom of God.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 361
35. But if he give himself up to the obedience of God, and 1 yield his mind up into God, to strive ' Or unite, against malice and wickedness, and the lusts and desires of the flesh, also against all unrighteousness of life and conversation, in humility under the cross, then the eternal mind figureth him in the image of an angel, who is pure, chaste, and virtuous, and he keepeth this image in the breaking of the body, and hereafter he will be married with the precious virgin, the eternal wisdom, chastity, and paradisical purity.
36. Here in this life he must stick between the door and the hinges, between the kingdom of hell, and the kingdom of this world, and the noble image must suffer much wrong [or be wounded], for he hath not only enemies outwardly, but also in himself; he beareth the bestial and also the hellish image of wrath in him, so long as this house of flesh 2 endureth. Therefore that causeth strife and 2 lasteth division against himself, and also without him, against the wickedness of the world, which the devil mightily 3presseth against him, and tempteth » Or driveth. him on every side, mis-leadeth, and wringeth him every where, and his own household in his body are his worst enemies ; therefore the children of God are bearers of the cross in this world, in this evil earthly image.
37. Now behold, thou child of man, (seeing thou art an eternal spirit) thou hast this to expect after the breaking [or deceasing] of thy body ; thou wiltp. 362 be either an angel of God in paradise, or a hellish ugly diabolical worm, beast, or dragon ; all accord1 hast behaved ing as thou hast l been inclined [or given to] here in this life ; that image which thou hast borne here in thy mind, with that thou shalt appear ; for there can no other image go forth out of thy body at the breaking [or deceasing of it], but even that which thou hast borne here, that shall appear in eternity.
38. Hast thou been a proud vainglorious, selfishly potent, and one that hast for thy pleasure sake oppressed the needy, then such a spirit goeth forth from thee, and then so it is in the eternity, where it can neither keep nor get anything for [to feed] its covetousness, neither can it adorn its body with anything, but with that which is there, and yet it climbeth up eternally in its pride, for there
2 Or working is no other 2 source in it ; and thus in its rising it party. pl reacheth unto nothing else but the stern might of the fire in its elevation ; it inclineth itself in its will continually in such a purpose as it did in this world ; as it was wont to do here, so all appeareth in its tincture, therein it climbeth up eternally in the abyss of hell.
anger, [proceeding] out of the originality of the mind. And secondly, the eternal holy chaste humility, which is generated out of the originality. And thirdly, the corruptible animal, wholly bestial, generated from the stars and elements, which holds the whole house in possession.
34. And it is here with the image of man, as St Paul said, To whom you give yourselves as servants in obedience, his servant you are, whether it be of sin unto death, or of the obedience of God unto righteousness, that driving [or property] you have. If a man yield his mind up to malice, pride, self, power, and force, to the oppressing of the miserable, then he is like the proud, haughty devil, and he is his servant in obedience, and loses the image of God ; and out of the image comes a wolf, dragon, or serpent to be, all according to his essences, as he stands figured in the mind. But if he yield up himself to another swinish and bestial condition, as to a mere bestial voluptuous life, to gormandizing, gluttony, and drunkenness, and lechery, stealing, robbing, murdering, lying, cozening, and [cheating] deceit, then the eternal mind figures him also in such an image as is like an unreasonable ugly beast and worm. And although he bears the elementary image in this life, yet he has indeed the image of an adder, serpent, and beast, hidden therein, which will be manifested at the breaking [or deceasing] of the body, and it belongs not to the kingdom of God.
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 361
35. But if he give himself up to the obedience of God, and 1 yield his mind up into God, to strive ' Or unite, against malice and wickedness, and the lusts and desires of the flesh, also against all unrighteousness of life and conversation, in humility under the cross, then the eternal mind figures him in the image of an angel, who is pure, chaste, and virtuous, and he keeps this image in the breaking of the body, and hereafter he will be married with the precious virgin, the eternal wisdom, chastity, and paradisical purity.
36. Here in this life he must stick between the door and the hinges, between the kingdom of hell, and the kingdom of this world, and the noble image must suffer much wrong [or be wounded], for he has not only enemies outwardly, but also in himself; he bears the bestial and also the hellish image of wrath in him, so long as this house of flesh 2 endures. Therefore that causes strife and 2 lasts division against himself, and also without him, against the wickedness of the world, which the devil mightily 3presseth against him, and tempts » Or drivs. him on every side, mis-leads, and wrings him every where, and his own household in his body are his worst enemies ; therefore the children of God are bearers of the cross in this world, in this evil earthly image.
37. Now behold, you child of man, (seeing you art an eternal spirit) you have this to expect after the breaking [or deceasing] of your body ; you will
362 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16 be either an angel of God in paradise, or a hellish ugly diabolical worm, beast, or dragon ; all accord1 have behaved ing as you have l been inclined [or given to] here in this life ; that image which you have borne here in your mind, with that you shall appear ; for there can no other image go forth out of your body at the breaking [or deceasing of it], but even that which you have borne here, that shall appear in eternity.
38. Hast you been a proud vainglorious, selfishly potent, and one that have for your pleasure sake oppressed the needy, then such a spirit goes forth from you, and then so it is in the eternity, where it can neither keep nor get anything for [to feed] its covetousness, neither can it adorn its body with anything, but with that which is there, and yet it climbs up eternally in its pride, for there
2 Or working is no other 2 source in it ; and thus in its rising it party. pl reaches unto nothing else but the stern might of the fire in its elevation ; it inclins itself in its will continually in such a purpose as it did in this world ; as it was wont to do here, so all appears in its tincture, therein it climbs up eternally in the abyss of hell.