Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
the crack of the fire ; it [reason] is afraid of it [that countenance], and trembleth at it ; it saith continually to Moses, Speak thou with the Lord, for we are afraid, and moreover, altogether naked [and unclean].
35. It presenteth indeed the wrath of God to itself, and trembleth at its fall, but it knoweth not what hath happened to it ; it only presents the disobedience before itself, and maketh [as if] God were an angry malicious devil, that cannot be reconciled, having indeed put on the garment of anger (in Adam and Eve) on to itself in body and soul, and hath set itself (against the will of God) in the bath [or lake] of anger, on which God took
1 Or mercy, such l pity [or compassion], that he hath not spared his own Heart, to send it into the depth of anger, into the abyss of hell, [as also] into the death and breaking of the four elements from the eternal holy element, to help fallen man, and to deliver him out of the anger and death.
36. But the veil (in the death of Christ) was since taken away from the face of Moses, instead whereof the stars with the four elements have yet cast a mist and cloud (through the infection of the
2 Or the devil) before man ; for the 2 region of this world dom. hath generated the Antichrist, and set [him] before
3 Or darkness, the countenance of Moses, in a 3 cloud, as if he were
Christ; so that the countenance of Moses cannot be apprehended [or beheld]. Therefore we have need of the lily, which groweth through the TablesCh. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 383 of Moses (that were graven through) with its strong smell, which reacheth into the paradise of God ;
from whose virtue, the people [or nations] shall be so virtuous and strong, that they shall forsake the
Antichrist, and shall run through the darkness to
,the smell of the blossom. For the Breaker-through the Gates hath planted the lily, and he hath given it into the hand of the noble virgin, and this [lily]
groweth in the element wonderfully against the horrible storm of hell, and [against] the l kingdom a Or dominion.
of this world ; where then many 2 branches will fall 2 Or twigs.
to the ground, from whence Antichrist becometh blind, and groweth stark mad and raving in the fog and mist, and stirreth the 3 four elements in s the anger the [wrath or grim] fierceness; and then it is the four eieneedful for the children of God to awake from the m sleep of the fog ; this the spirit intimateth, in the light of nature, seriously and earnestly.
37. Therefore, according to our knowledge, we will set down an exposition of the fall of man, which is very perfectly manifested, and appeareth in the light of the day, and ^convinceth us. And we 4 overhave no need of the 5 fooleries of the Antichrist, 7^™^ or who with the blood and death of Christ doth but sy exP°8i' seek his own covetousness, pride, and voluptuousness, and draweth the veil of Moses before our eyes, that we should not see (through the Tables that were graven through) Joshua or Jesus, into the Promised Land of paradise ; that he may only sit and ride upon his horrible and devouringp. 384 beast of covetousness and pride, which [beast] is become so very great and strong, that it shadoweth the circuit of the earth, and ruleth so wonderfully
1 high and over 1 mountains and valleys, with his fierceness ;
low which [beast] yet shall be broken by the lily without hands. At which the [people or] nations shall wonder, and say : How art thou, 0 terrible and great might [and power], founded upon so weak and loose a ground !
38. Now then, if we consider the miserable fall of Adam and Eve, we need not to run long after the mad Antichrist, to fetch [or learn] wisdom from him ; he hath none. Let us only consider ourselves, and compare the heavenly and earthly images one with the other, and so we [shall] see the whole
2 Or drift. 2 root and ground thereof : We have no need of a
the crack of the fire ; it [reason] is afraid of it [that countenance], and trembls at it ; it says continually to Moses, Speak you with the Lord, for we are afraid, and moreover, altogether naked [and unclean].
35. It presents indeed the wrath of God to itself, and trembls at its fall, but it knows not what has happened to it ; it only presents the disobedience before itself, and makes [as if] God were an angry malicious devil, that cannot be reconciled, having indeed put on the garment of anger (in Adam and Eve) on to itself in body and soul, and has set itself (against the will of God) in the bath [or lake] of anger, on which God took
1 Or mercy, such l pity [or compassion], that he has not spared his own Heart, to send it into the depth of anger, into the abyss of hell, [as also] into the death and breaking of the four elements from the eternal holy element, to help fallen man, and to deliver him out of the anger and death.
36. But the veil (in the death of Christ) was since taken away from the face of Moses, instead whereof the stars with the four elements have yet cast a mist and cloud (through the infection of the
2 Or the devil) before man ; for the 2 region of this world dom. has generated the Antichrist, and set [him] before
3 Or darkness, the countenance of Moses, in a 3 cloud, as if he were
Christ; so that the countenance of Moses cannot be apprehended [or beheld]. Therefore we have need of the lily, which grows through the Tables
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 383 of Moses (that were graven through) with its strong smell, which reaches into the paradise of God ;
from whose virtue, the people [or nations] shall be so virtuous and strong, that they shall forsake the
Antichrist, and shall run through the darkness to
,the smell of the blossom. For the Breaker-through the Gates has planted the lily, and he has given it into the hand of the noble virgin, and this [lily]
grows in the element wonderfully against the horrible storm of hell, and [against] the l kingdom a Or dominion.
of this world ; where then many 2 branches will fall 2 Or twigs.
to the ground, from whence Antichrist becomes blind, and grows stark mad and raving in the fog and mist, and stirrs the 3 four elements in s the anger the [wrath or grim] fierceness; and then it is the four eieneedful for the children of God to awake from the m sleep of the fog ; this the spirit intimats, in the light of nature, seriously and earnestly.
37. Therefore, according to our knowledge, we will set down an exposition of the fall of man, which is very perfectly manifested, and appears in the light of the day, and ^convincs us. And we 4 overhave no need of the 5 fooleries of the Antichrist, 7^™^ or who with the blood and death of Christ does but sy exP°8i' seek his own covetousness, pride, and voluptuousness, and draws the veil of Moses before our eyes, that we should not see (through the Tables that were graven through) Joshua or Jesus, into the Promised Land of paradise ; that he may only sit and ride upon his horrible and devouring
384 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 17 beast of covetousness and pride, which [beast] is become so very great and strong, that it shadows the circuit of the earth, and ruls so wonderfully
1 high and over 1 mountains and valleys, with his fierceness ;
low which [beast] yet shall be broken by the lily without hands. At which the [people or] nations shall wonder, and say : How art you, 0 terrible and great might [and power], founded upon so weak and loose a ground !
38. Now then, if we consider the miserable fall of Adam and Eve, we need not to run long after the mad Antichrist, to fetch [or learn] wisdom from him ; he has none. Let us only consider ourselves, and compare the heavenly and earthly images one with the other, and so we [shall] see the whole
2 Or drift. 2 root and ground thereof : We have no need of a