Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
39. But hast thou been a base slanderer, liar, deceiver, false murderous man, then such a spirit proceedeth from thee, and that desireth in the eternity nothing else but mere falsehood ; it spitteth out from its fiery jaws, fiery darts full of abomination and reproach ; it is a continual stirrer and breaker in the fierce sternness, devouring in itself,Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 363 and consuming nothing ; all its [things, beings, essences, works, or] l substances appear in its l Or whataoJ . . ever he hath tincture : its image is figured according as its mind ever been, hath been here.
40. Therefore I say, a beast is better than such a man, who giveth himself up into the hellish images ; for a beast hath no eternal spirit, its spirit is from the spirit of this world, out of the 2 cor- 2 Or fragility, ruptibility, and passeth away with the body, till [it cometh] to the figure without spirit, that [figure] remaineth standing ; seeing that the eternal mind hath by the virgin of the eternal wisdom of God discovered itself in the out-birth, for the manifesting of the great wonders of God, therefore those [creaturely figures], and also the figured wonders, must stand before 8 him eternally ; although no 3 God or the eternal mind.
bestial figure or shadow sunereth or doth anything, but is as a shadow or painted figure [or limned picture].
41. Therefore in this world all things are given into man's power, because he is an eternal spirit, and all other creatures [are] no other than a figure in the wonders of God ; and therefore man ought well to consider himself, what he speaketh, doth, and purposeth, in this world ; for all his works follow after him, and he hath them eternally before his eyes, and liveth in them. Except it be, that he is again new regenerated out of evil and falsehood, through the blood and death of Christ, in the water and the Holy Ghost, and then he breaketh forthp. 364 out of the hellish and earthly image, into an angelical [image], and cometh into another kingdom, into which its untowardness [or vices] cannot follow, and that [untowardness, waywardness, or vice] is drowned in the blood of Christ, and the image of God is renewed out of the earthly and hellish.
42. Thus we are to consider, and highly to know in the light of nature, the ground of the kingdom of heaven, and of hell, as also [the ground] of the kingdom of this world, and how man in the mother's body inheriteth three kingdoms, and how man in this life beareth a threefold image, which
1 Or pur- our first parents by the first sin a inherited for us ;
chftsccl therefore we have need of the Treader upon the Serpent, to bring us again into the angelical image. And it is needful for man to tame his body and mind [or bring them under subjection], with great earnestness [and labour], and to submit himself under the cross, and not to hunt so eagerly after pleasure, riches, and the bravery of this world, for therein sticketh perdition.
43. Therefore said Christ, A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven ; because they take such delight in pride, haughtiness, and fleshly voluptuousness, and the noble mind is dead to the kingdom of God, and continueth in the eternal darkness. For the image of the spirit of the soul sticketh in the mind ; and to whatsoever the mind inclineth and giveth up itself, in that isCh. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 365 the spirit of the soul figured by the eternal Fiat.
44. Now if the spirit of the soul remaineth unregenerated in its first Principle (which it hath inherited out of the eternity, with the beginning of its life), then also (at the breaking [or deceasing] of its body) there proceedeth out of its eternal mind such a creature, as its continual will hath been here in this life.
39. But have you been a base slanderer, liar, deceiver, false murderous man, then such a spirit proceeds from you, and that desires in the eternity nothing else but mere falsehood ; it spitts out from its fiery jaws, fiery darts full of abomination and reproach ; it is a continual stirrer and breaker in the fierce sternness, devouring in itself,
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 363 and consuming nothing ; all its [things, beings, essences, works, or] l substances appear in its l Or whataoJ . . ever he has tincture : its image is figured according as its mind ever been, has been here.
40. Therefore I say, a beast is better than such a man, who gives himself up into the hellish images ; for a beast has no eternal spirit, its spirit is from the spirit of this world, out of the 2 cor- 2 Or fragility, ruptibility, and passes away with the body, till [it comes] to the figure without spirit, that [figure] remains standing ; seeing that the eternal mind has by the virgin of the eternal wisdom of God discovered itself in the out-birth, for the manifesting of the great wonders of God, therefore those [creaturely figures], and also the figured wonders, must stand before 8 him eternally ; although no 3 God or the eternal mind.
bestial figure or shadow suners or does anything, but is as a shadow or painted figure [or limned picture].
41. Therefore in this world all things are given into man's power, because he is an eternal spirit, and all other creatures [are] no other than a figure in the wonders of God ; and therefore man ought well to consider himself, what he speaks, does, and purposes, in this world ; for all his works follow after him, and he has them eternally before his eyes, and lives in them. Except it be, that he is again new regenerated out of evil and falsehood, through the blood and death of Christ, in the water and the Holy Ghost, and then he breaks forth
364 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16 out of the hellish and earthly image, into an angelical [image], and comes into another kingdom, into which its untowardness [or vices] cannot follow, and that [untowardness, waywardness, or vice] is drowned in the blood of Christ, and the image of God is renewed out of the earthly and hellish.
42. Thus we are to consider, and highly to know in the light of nature, the ground of the kingdom of heaven, and of hell, as also [the ground] of the kingdom of this world, and how man in the mother's body inherits three kingdoms, and how man in this life bears a threefold image, which
1 Or pur- our first parents by the first sin a inherited for us ;
chftsccl therefore we have need of the Treader upon the Serpent, to bring us again into the angelical image. And it is needful for man to tame his body and mind [or bring them under subjection], with great earnestness [and labour], and to submit himself under the cross, and not to hunt so eagerly after pleasure, riches, and the bravery of this world, for therein sticks perdition.
43. Therefore said Christ, A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven ; because they take such delight in pride, haughtiness, and fleshly voluptuousness, and the noble mind is dead to the kingdom of God, and continues in the eternal darkness. For the image of the spirit of the soul sticks in the mind ; and to whatsoever the mind inclins and gives up itself, in that is
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 365 the spirit of the soul figured by the eternal Fiat.
44. Now if the spirit of the soul remains unregenerated in its first Principle (which it has inherited out of the eternity, with the beginning of its life), then also (at the breaking [or deceasing] of its body) there proceeds out of its eternal mind such a creature, as its continual will has been here in this life.