Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
1 Or doings, from thy ungodly ^ays.
50. Look well to it, stop not thy mind and understanding; when thy mind saith Turn, do
8 the evil. 2 it not, then know that thou art so called by the dear virgin ; and turn instantly, and consider where thou art lodged, in how hard a house of bondage thy soul lieth imprisoned ; seek thy native country, from whence thy soul is wandered, and whither it ought to return again.
8 the counsel 51. And then if thou wilt follow3 it, thou wilt of God. find in thyself, not only after this life, but in this life also in thy regeneration, that she will very worthily meet thee, and out of what kind of spirit this author hath written.
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER
Of the horrible, lamentable, and miserable Fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise.
Man's Looking-Glass.
1. ~f~F the gate of the deep were not opened to me in my mind (so that I can see the strife that is against the kingdom of God) then I should also suppose, that the matter [of the fall] was merely a disobedience about the biting of an apple, as the text in Moses barely passeth it over, though Moses hath written wholly rightly.
2. For [the matter] was about the earthly eating and drinking, wherewith the paradisical man was captivated by the spirit of this world, which now must qualify [or mix] with all men. This the Holy Scripture witnesseth, and also reason, that man is not at home in the elementary kingdom of this world. For Christ said, My kingdom is not of this world : And to his Apostles he said, / have called you out from this world : Also, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Also we see that the kingdom of this world dieth to man, and [passeth away or] breaketh.
369 24
p. 370
p. 17
1 Before the fall.
2 Or fragile.
* Or stirring property of the four elements.
Seeing then, that Adam did bear the image of the kingdom of God (which was eternal and incorruptible, and stood in paradise) therefore we can with no ground say, that he *did bear the image of the kingdom of this world. For this world is transitory and 2 corruptible : But the image in Adam was not transitory, or corruptible. Also if we will say, that Adam (before his fall) lived in the source [or property] of the four elements, then we can no way maintain that Adam was not a corruptible image. For at the end, the four elements must pass away, and go into the eternal element.
4. Besides, he would have been subject to the 3 source, for heat and cold would have ruled over him ; which we may see plainly in Moses, that God first after the fall (by the spirit or angel of the counsel of this world) made clothes of skins, and put them [then first] upon them ; as the veil of Moses doth cover it, that men cannot see his face, as is to be seen by [the people of] Israel. Besides, if he had been merely of earth, and of the four elements, then he might have been burnt in the fire, or drowned in the water, and be stifled in the air ; also wood and stone could have bruised him and destroyed him, and yet it is written, that he [the Adamical man] at the day of the restitution shall pass through the fire, and be approved, and the fire shall not hurt him.
5. Now no other man shall rise [again] but thatCh. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 371 which God created in the beginning; for he is created out of the eternal will, as to his soul, which was breathed into him ; and his body is created out of the eternal element, which was and is paradise ; and the four issues (of the four elements)
out of the one [eternal] element, l are this world, 1 Or constiwherein Adam was not created.
1 Or doings, from your ungodly ^ays.
50. Look well to it, stop not your mind and understanding; when your mind says Turn, do
8 the evil. 2 it not, then know that you are so called by the dear virgin ; and turn instantly, and consider where you are lodged, in how hard a house of bondage your soul lies imprisoned ; seek your native country, from whence your soul is wandered, and whither it ought to return again.
8 the counsel 51. And then if you will follow3 it, you will of God. find in yourself, not only after this life, but in this life also in your regeneration, that she will very worthily meet you, and out of what kind of spirit this author has written.
THE SEVENTEENTH CHAPTER
Of the horrible, lamentable, and miserable Fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise.
Man's Looking-Glass.
1. ~f~F the gate of the deep were not opened to me in my mind (so that I can see the strife that is against the kingdom of God) then I should also suppose, that the matter [of the fall] was merely a disobedience about the biting of an apple, as the text in Moses barely passes it over, though Moses has written wholly rightly.
2. For [the matter] was about the earthly eating and drinking, wherewith the paradisical man was captivated by the spirit of this world, which now must qualify [or mix] with all men. This the Holy Scripture witnesses, and also reason, that man is not at home in the elementary kingdom of this world. For Christ said, My kingdom is not of this world : And to his Apostles he said, / have called you out from this world : Also, Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
3. Also we see that the kingdom of this world dies to man, and [passes away or] breaks.
369 24
p. 370
THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 17
1 Before the fall.
2 Or fragile.
* Or stirring property of the four elements.
Seeing then, that Adam did bear the image of the kingdom of God (which was eternal and incorruptible, and stood in paradise) therefore we can with no ground say, that he *did bear the image of the kingdom of this world. For this world is transitory and 2 corruptible : But the image in Adam was not transitory, or corruptible. Also if we will say, that Adam (before his fall) lived in the source [or property] of the four elements, then we can no way maintain that Adam was not a corruptible image. For at the end, the four elements must pass away, and go into the eternal element.
4. Besides, he would have been subject to the 3 source, for heat and cold would have ruled over him ; which we may see plainly in Moses, that God first after the fall (by the spirit or angel of the counsel of this world) made clothes of skins, and put them [then first] upon them ; as the veil of Moses does cover it, that men cannot see his face, as is to be seen by [the people of] Israel. Besides, if he had been merely of earth, and of the four elements, then he might have been burnt in the fire, or drowned in the water, and be stifled in the air ; also wood and stone could have bruised him and destroyed him, and yet it is written, that he [the Adamical man] at the day of the restitution shall pass through the fire, and be approved, and the fire shall not hurt him.
5. Now no other man shall rise [again] but that
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 371 which God created in the beginning; for he is created out of the eternal will, as to his soul, which was breathed into him ; and his body is created out of the eternal element, which was and is paradise ; and the four issues (of the four elements)
out of the one [eternal] element, l are this world, 1 Or constiwherein Adam was not created.