Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Ch. 17] OP THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 395 the body ; and there was nothing else in them but enmity to itself, [proceeding] from the tart essences of the stars, wherein one source [or quality] striveth against the other, and one breaketh [or destroyeth] the other with greater pain and torment to the body, with trembling and shrieking ; and at last [comes] corruption and death, as it is before our eyes.
62. There the devil gat the game for the kingdom of this world to be his again, he gat an entrance into man, and he could reach into the essences of his soul ; for they were * now both in one kingdom. » Mar. and the
63. He [the devil] supposed, [saying], The king- both in the dom of this world is thine, thou shalt sport thyself grace.' according to thy power with the image of man, which should have possessed thy throne, his spirit is in thy kingdom ; and so [the devil] mocked God in his mind, [saying], Where is now thy noble image, which thou didst create to rule over my throne ? Am not I lord of the great might of the fire ? I will rule over thy throne, the might [or strength] and virtue is mine : I fly up above the thrones of virtue and strength, and no might [or power] can withstand me.
64. Yes indeed he flieth up above the thrones, but he cannot fly into the thrones ; he flieth up in the first eternal source of fire, which is stern, sour, dark, hard, cold, rough, and burning, but he cannot get through the open gate of the deep, into the light of God, but he flieth up aloft in his abyss, in the eternity, in the wrathful source [or quality] ofp. 396 hell, and reach eth nothing else. And therefore he is a prince (though in the abyss of hell), which was well enough known to man after his miserable fall.
65. And because I may not be well understood by the Keader, in that I write, that man dwelleth in the abyss of hell with the devils, therefore I will shew him the ground, that he may touch and handle it ; and if he will not feel it, yet it is given to him that he may know it, and it shall be a witness against him.
66. It is not without a cause, that Christ calleth the devil a prince of this world ; for he is so, according to the first Principle, according to the kingdom of wrath, and continueth so to eternity. But he is not so according to the kingdom of the four elements and stars ; for if he had full power in that, then there would be no vegetative [fruit] nor living creature upon the earth. He cannot master
1 that which the * exit of the four elements ; for he is in the issueth. originality, and there is a [whole] Principle be2jOr aspects tween ; only when the 2 constellations do awaken the of the stars.
fierce wrath of the fire, in the elements, as in a tempestuous storm, then he is master-juggler [in mischief], and rejoiceth himself [therein]. Though indeed he hath no power there either, except it be permitted him from the anger of God, then he is the hangman [or executioner], and executeth the 8 The sen- "right as a servant [minister or officer] ; but not as tence, judg- .
ment, or a judge, but as an executioner.
67. He is executioner in the kingdom of thisCh. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 397 world; the stars are the council, and God is the king of the land, and whosoever departeth from God, falleth into the council of the stars, which run many upon the sword, and make them lay violent hands upon themselves, and [bring] some to a rope, others to the water ; and there he is very busy, and is the driver or executioner.
68. Into this great misery man is fallen ; and he is fallen quite ^ome to the kingdom of the stars a into the bosom.
Ch. 17] OP THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 395 the body ; and there was nothing else in them but enmity to itself, [proceeding] from the tart essences of the stars, wherein one source [or quality] strives against the other, and one breaks [or destroys] the other with greater pain and torment to the body, with trembling and shrieking ; and at last [comes] corruption and death, as it is before our eyes.
62. There the devil gat the game for the kingdom of this world to be his again, he gat an entrance into man, and he could reach into the essences of his soul ; for they were * now both in one kingdom. » Mar. and the
63. He [the devil] supposed, [saying], The king- both in the dom of this world is your, you shall sport yourself grace.' according to your power with the image of man, which should have possessed your throne, his spirit is in your kingdom ; and so [the devil] mocked God in his mind, [saying], Where is now your noble image, which you did create to rule over my throne ? Am not I lord of the great might of the fire ? I will rule over your throne, the might [or strength] and virtue is mine : I fly up above the thrones of virtue and strength, and no might [or power] can withstand me.
64. Yes indeed he flies up above the thrones, but he cannot fly into the thrones ; he flies up in the first eternal source of fire, which is stern, sour, dark, hard, cold, rough, and burning, but he cannot get through the open gate of the deep, into the light of God, but he flies up aloft in his abyss, in the eternity, in the wrathful source [or quality] of
396 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 17 hell, and reach eth nothing else. And therefore he is a prince (though in the abyss of hell), which was well enough known to man after his miserable fall.
65. And because I may not be well understood by the Keader, in that I write, that man dwells in the abyss of hell with the devils, therefore I will show him the ground, that he may touch and handle it ; and if he will not feel it, yet it is given to him that he may know it, and it shall be a witness against him.
66. It is not without a cause, that Christ calls the devil a prince of this world ; for he is so, according to the first Principle, according to the kingdom of wrath, and continues so to eternity. But he is not so according to the kingdom of the four elements and stars ; for if he had full power in that, then there would be no vegetative [fruit] nor living creature upon the earth. He cannot master
1 that which the * exit of the four elements ; for he is in the issus. originality, and there is a [whole] Principle be2jOr aspects tween ; only when the 2 constellations do awaken the of the stars.
fierce wrath of the fire, in the elements, as in a tempestuous storm, then he is master-juggler [in mischief], and rejoics himself [therein]. Though indeed he has no power there either, except it be permitted him from the anger of God, then he is the hangman [or executioner], and executs the 8 The sen- "right as a servant [minister or officer] ; but not as tence, judg- .
ment, or a judge, but as an executioner.
67. He is executioner in the kingdom of this
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 397 world; the stars are the council, and God is the king of the land, and whosoever departs from God, falls into the council of the stars, which run many upon the sword, and make them lay violent hands upon themselves, and [bring] some to a rope, others to the water ; and there he is very busy, and is the driver or executioner.
68. Into this great misery man is fallen ; and he is fallen quite ^ome to the kingdom of the stars a into the bosom.