Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

deep anguish of death ; it must break through two kingdoms, and it sticketh here 2 between the door 2 in the chink, and the hinges, and is continually infected with Sng oTthe those things which keep it back and plague it ; it door' sticketh as it were in a press.

74. If it straineth to God [ward], then the devil holdeth it on one side with one band, and the

1 Or assault world with another band ; and they l set upon it ;

the devil handleth it in fierceness [sternness, fro wardness], or wrath, which is a source [or quality], and sin, which cannot attain to the kingdom of God ; and the world leadeth it into pride, covetousness,

2 or budding and fleshly lust, so that the 2 essences of the soul JjK£tal grow full [or impregnated] with the fleshly will ; for the will of the mind draweth these things into the soul, and so the soul (from that which is attracted)

3 muddy. becometh wholly unclean, 3 swelled and dark, and cannot attain the light of God ; its essences, that should give up themselves to God, cannot : For they are too rough, and cannot get into the light, that kindleth not itself in its essences. The gates of the deep must be broken open first, and then the essences [of the soul, may]

4 beyond. press into the liberty, 4 without the darkness ;

5 Or big with but if the mind be 5 filled, then it cannot [come pride, covet- . i T i -\ n i • 2ousness, envy, into the liberty], and then begmnetn horror, fear, distress, and despair of the kingdom of God, and this maketh mere torment [woe, pain, and smart] in the soul.

75. Thus thou shalt know in what manner it is sin before God ; thou hast in thyself the [one eternal pure] element, which is a joy in the presence of God ; and now if thou rage and rave with the source [quality or property] of hell, then thou touchest [or troublest] the element ; and thou stirrestCh. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 401 up the l wrath [and makest it] to go forth, and 1 Or fierce thou doest as the devil did, when he awakened [or gt stirred up] and kindled the fierce x wrath in the Fiat, whereby the l fierceness generated earth and stones ; thou sinnest [piercing] into the heaven in the presence of God, upon which the Prophets complained in many places, that the disobedient did grieve their God. Though (in himself) he felt no pain, yet his wrath was kindled in the first Principle, in the gate of the deep, wherein the soul stand eth, and that is a mere abomination before him.

76. Behold, all whatsoever thou lettest into thy mind (if thy soul be not inclined [or yielded up] to God, so that it 2 believeth and trusteth in him) then * st all whatsoever thou doest is sin ; for thou bringest an earthly mind into the gate of the deep, where the spirit of God [moveth, walketh, or] goeth, and thou defilest the element which is in the presence of God.