Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
doctor, nor of any strange language about it, it standeth written in our body and soul ; and when we see it, it terrifieth us so much, that we tremble at it, as Eve and Adam did in their fall.
39. And if we do not come to know [or have a glimpse of] the Treader upon the Serpent in the mark of the partition [or limit of separation] in the gate of the deep, between the world and the kingdom of hell, then we see [indeed] nothing else
3 persuade us but mere misery and death, which might 3well to awake. , /» i awaken us from sleep.
40. Do but behold thyself, thou blind mind, and
4 Or image, consider thyself, where is thy angelical 4form in thee ? Why art thou so angry, stern [fierce, froward]
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 385
and malicious ? Wherefore dost thou elevate thyself still in thy wickedness, in pride, in might
[or authority] and pomp, and boastest thyself for a brave and potent beast ? What is it that thou dost ? Wherefore hast thou let the spirit of this world into thee, which seduceth thee (as it listeth)
into high-mindedness, into [proud] stoutness, into
1 potency and pomp, into covetousness and lying, 1 authority, into falsehood and treachery, as also into sickness ness.
and corruption [or frailty] ?
41. What is it now that thou 2hast after thy 2 keepest or i -, T n r* • -i takest with corrupting, when thou diest f Consider thyself, thee. what is it that thou art [then]? Thou art a spirit : But what kind of source [or property] is it that thou hast in thee ? [Surely thou hast in thee] anger, wickedness, pride, self-seeking, wilfulness, (in raising up thyself after temporal pleasure, but finding none) ; [thou hast] a false mind in the spirit, full of lies and deceit, and murderous, [arising in thee] out of the essences. As thou wast upon earth towards men, just so it is [then] with such a spirit as is gone forth from thee out of the corruptible body of the elements. And where shall that [then] remain when this world perisheth ? Dost thou suppose that it shall [then] be an angel? Hath it an angelical quality [source or property] ? Is its source [or quality] in love, humility, and meekness ? Is it in the divine obedience, in the light of joy 1
42. 0 thou blind mind, with thy might andp. 25p. 386 stateliness, full of wickedness and devilish fierce wrath, [wilt thou know where thou art after thy body perisheth] ? Thou art even with all the devils, in the abyss of hell, if thou dost not turn, and by earnest unfeigned sorrow and repentance for thy abominations, enter into the angelical footsteps, that the Saviour and Treader upon the Serpent of fierce wrath, wickedness, lying, and deceit, may meet thee, and embrace thee in his arms, and [that thou] mayest be new-born in him,
1 the wisdom and be yielded up into the bosom of the l chaste and'mercy of , 1 i 1,1 , •
God. virgin, and become an angel ; or else thou art in the eternal death, in the eternal darkness, and canst not in all eternity reach the kingdom of God any more.
43. Or dost thou suppose, that I write of the
2 Or know- fall of man without 2 light and understanding?
Or that I do not look and see into the Holy Scripture, what that saith of it, [when I say] that man before his fall was angelical in his mind and body ? Then hear and see what Christ saith 8 Matth. xxii. of it, 8 In the resurrection of the dead they will
O A
neither marry nor be given in marriage, but they are as the angels of God. And such an image God created in the beginning, [according] to his similitude.
44. For an angry, malicious, proud self-seeking for honour, and dignity, a mendacious [or lying], thieving, robbing, murderous, lascivious, lecherous mind, is not the similitude of God. But an
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 387
doctor, nor of any strange language about it, it stands written in our body and soul ; and when we see it, it terrifies us so much, that we tremble at it, as Eve and Adam did in their fall.
39. And if we do not come to know [or have a glimpse of] the Treader upon the Serpent in the mark of the partition [or limit of separation] in the gate of the deep, between the world and the kingdom of hell, then we see [indeed] nothing else
3 persuade us but mere misery and death, which might 3well to awake. , /» i awaken us from sleep.
40. Do but behold yourself, you blind mind, and
4 Or image, consider yourself, where is your angelical 4form in you ? Why art you so angry, stern [fierce, froward]
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 385 and malicious ? Wherefore do you elevate yourself still in your wickedness, in pride, in might
[or authority] and pomp, and boastest yourself for a brave and potent beast ? What is it that you do ? Wherefore have you let the spirit of this world into you, which seducs you (as it lists)
into high-mindedness, into [proud] stoutness, into
1 potency and pomp, into covetousness and lying, 1 authority, into falsehood and treachery, as also into sickness ness.
and corruption [or frailty] ?
41. What is it now that you 2hast after your 2 keepest or i -, T n r* • -i takest with corrupting, when you diest f Consider yourself, you. what is it that you are [then]? You are a spirit : But what kind of source [or property] is it that you have in you ? [Surely you have in you] anger, wickedness, pride, self-seeking, wilfulness, (in raising up yourself after temporal pleasure, but finding none) ; [you have] a false mind in the spirit, full of lies and deceit, and murderous, [arising in you] out of the essences. As you were upon earth towards men, just so it is [then] with such a spirit as is gone forth from you out of the corruptible body of the elements. And where shall that [then] remain when this world perishes ? Dost you suppose that it shall [then] be an angel? Has it an angelical quality [source or property] ? Is its source [or quality] in love, humility, and meekness ? Is it in the divine obedience, in the light of joy 1
42. 0 you blind mind, with your might and
p. 25
386 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 17 stateliness, full of wickedness and devilish fierce wrath, [will you know where you are after your body perishes] ? You are even with all the devils, in the abyss of hell, if you do not turn, and by earnest unfeigned sorrow and repentance for your abominations, enter into the angelical footsteps, that the Saviour and Treader upon the Serpent of fierce wrath, wickedness, lying, and deceit, may meet you, and embrace you in his arms, and [that you] may be new-born in him,
1 the wisdom and be yielded up into the bosom of the l chaste and'mercy of , 1 i 1,1 , •
God. virgin, and become an angel ; or else you are in the eternal death, in the eternal darkness, and can not in all eternity reach the kingdom of God any more.
43. Or do you suppose, that I write of the
2 Or know- fall of man without 2 light and understanding?
Or that I do not look and see into the Holy Scripture, what that says of it, [when I say] that man before his fall was angelical in his mind and body ? Then hear and see what Christ says 8 Matth. xxii. of it, 8 In the resurrection of the dead they will
O A
neither marry nor be given in marriage, but they are as the angels of God. And such an image God created in the beginning, [according] to his similitude.
44. For an angry, malicious, proud self-seeking for honour, and dignity, a mendacious [or lying], thieving, robbing, murderous, lascivious, lecherous mind, is not the similitude of God. But an
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 387