Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
45. Now if thou hast had an envious [spiteful] dogged mind, and hast grudged everything to others, (as a dog doth with a bone which himself cannot eat), then there appeareth such a doggish mind, and according to that source [or property] is its worm of the soul figured, and such a will it keepeth in the eternity, in the first Principle. And there is no revoking, all thy envious wicked proud works appear in thy * source, in thy own i or active 2 tincture of the worm of the soul, and thou must live eternally therein ; nay, thou canst not conceive or apprehend any desire [or will] to abstinence [or forbearance of it], but thou art God's and the holy souls' eternal enemy.
46. For the door of the deep to the light of God appeareth to thee no more ; for thou art now a perfect creature in the first Principle. And now though thou dost elevate thyself, and wouldst break open the door of the deep, yet that cannot be [done] ; for thou art a whole spirit, and not merely in the will only, wherein the door of the
p. 366
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 16
1 Or limit of separation.
2 Or figured therein.
3 Or second birth.
4 Or unite or give up thy mind.
deep can be broken open ; but thou fliest out aloft over the kingdom of God, and canst not enter in ; and the higher thou fliest, the deeper thou art in the abyss, and thou seest not God yet, who is so near thee.
47. Therefore it can only be done here in this life (while thy soul sticketh in the will of the mind) so that thou breakest open the gate of the deep, and pressest in to God through a new birth ; for here thou hast the highly worthy noble virgin of the divine love for thy assistance, who leadeth thee in through the gate of the noble bridegroom, who standeth in the centre in the parting l mark, between the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell, and generateth thee in the water and life of his blood and death, and therein drowneth and washeth away thy false [or evil] works, so that they follow thee not [in such a source and property], that thy soul be not 2 infected therein, but according to the first image in man before the fall, as a new, chaste, and pure noble virgin's image, without any knowledge of thy untowardness [or vices], which thou hadst here.
48. Thou wilt ask, What is the New 3 Regeneration ? Or how is that done in man ? Hear and see, stop not thy mind, let not thy mind be filled by the spirit of this world, with its might and pomp. Take thy mind, and break through [the spirit of this world] entirely, 4 incline thy mind into the kind love of God ; make thy purposeCh. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 367 earnest and strong, to break through the pleasure of this world with thy mind, and not to regard it ;
consider that thou art not at home in this world, but that thou art a strange guest, captivated in a close prison, cry and call to him, who hath the key of the prison ; yield thyself up to him, in obedience, righteousness, modesty, chastity, and truth. And seek not so eagerly after the kingdom of this world : it will stick close enough to thee without that; and then the chaste virgin will meet thee in thy mind, highly and deeply, and will lead thee to thy bridegroom, who hath the key to the gate of the deep ; thou must stand before him, who will give thee to eat of the heavenly manna, which will J refresh thee, and i or quicke thou wilt be strong, and struggle with the gate of the deep, and thou wilt break through as the
May-break; and though thou liest captive
in the night, yet the rays of the break of will appear to thee in the paradise, in which place day"star> thy chaste virgin standeth, waiting for thee with the joy of the angels, who will very kindly receive thee in thy new-born mind and spirit.
49. And though indeed thou must 8walk here 'swim or with thy body in the dark 4 night among thorns bathe*
, * ° * In contempt and thistles (so that the devil and also this world and dis* esteem.
doth rend and tear thee, and not only buffet, despise, , deride, and vilify thee outwardly, but also many times stop thy dear mind, and lead it captive in the lust of this world into the bath [orp. 368 lake] of swine), yet then the noble virgin will help thee still, and will call upon thee to desist
45. Now if you have had an envious [spiteful] dogged mind, and have grudged everything to others, (as a dog does with a bone which himself cannot eat), then there appears such a doggish mind, and according to that source [or property] is its worm of the soul figured, and such a will it keeps in the eternity, in the first Principle. And there is no revoking, all your envious wicked proud works appear in your * source, in your own i or active 2 tincture of the worm of the soul, and you must live eternally therein ; nay, you can not conceive or apprehend any desire [or will] to abstinence [or forbearance of it], but you are God's and the holy souls' eternal enemy.
46. For the door of the deep to the light of God appears to you no more ; for you are now a perfect creature in the first Principle. And now though you do elevate yourself, and would break open the door of the deep, yet that cannot be [done] ; for you are a whole spirit, and not merely in the will only, wherein the door of the
p. 366
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 16
1 Or limit of separation.
2 Or figured therein.
3 Or second birth.
4 Or unite or give up your mind.
deep can be broken open ; but you fliest out aloft over the kingdom of God, and can not enter in ; and the higher you fliest, the deeper you are in the abyss, and you seest not God yet, who is so near you.
47. Therefore it can only be done here in this life (while your soul sticks in the will of the mind) so that you breakest open the gate of the deep, and pressest in to God through a new birth ; for here you have the highly worthy noble virgin of the divine love for your assistance, who leads you in through the gate of the noble bridegroom, who stands in the centre in the parting l mark, between the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell, and generats you in the water and life of his blood and death, and therein drowns and washes away your false [or evil] works, so that they follow you not [in such a source and property], that your soul be not 2 infected therein, but according to the first image in man before the fall, as a new, chaste, and pure noble virgin's image, without any knowledge of your untowardness [or vices], which you had here.
48. You will ask, What is the New 3 Regeneration ? Or how is that done in man ? Hear and see, stop not your mind, let not your mind be filled by the spirit of this world, with its might and pomp. Take your mind, and break through [the spirit of this world] entirely, 4 incline your mind into the kind love of God ; make your purpose
Ch. 16] THREEFOLD SPIRIT AND WILL 367 earnest and strong, to break through the pleasure of this world with your mind, and not to regard it ;
consider that you are not at home in this world, but that you are a strange guest, captivated in a close prison, cry and call to him, who has the key of the prison ; yield yourself up to him, in obedience, righteousness, modesty, chastity, and truth. And seek not so eagerly after the kingdom of this world : it will stick close enough to you without that; and then the chaste virgin will meet you in your mind, highly and deeply, and will lead you to your bridegroom, who has the key to the gate of the deep ; you must stand before him, who will give you to eat of the heavenly manna, which will J refresh you, and i or quicke you will be strong, and struggle with the gate of the deep, and you will break through as the
May-break; and though you liest captive
in the night, yet the rays of the break of will appear to you in the paradise, in which place day"star> your chaste virgin stands, waiting for you with the joy of the angels, who will very kindly receive you in your new-born mind and spirit.
49. And though indeed you must 8walk here 'swim or with your body in the dark 4 night among thorns bathe*
, * ° * In contempt and thistles (so that the devil and also this world and dis* esteem.
does rend and tear you, and not only buffet, despise, , deride, and vilify you outwardly, but also many times stop your dear mind, and lead it captive in the lust of this world into the bath [or
368 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 16 lake] of swine), yet then the noble virgin will help you still, and will call upon you to desist