Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
desirej ; and say not in thyself, I stand in the dark, the Lord seeth me not, [nor] what I think and do. He standeth in the gate of the mind, where the soul standeth (before the clear face of God) in the opened gate ; and all thy abominations are known before God, and thou makest the element of God blush [or change colour] with them ; thou grievest the chaste virgin (which dwelleth in her own centre, and is given to be a companion to thee in thy mind) and makest her sad ; she warneth thee of the way of the ungodly ; if thou followest [her counsel], and turnest, and breakest in unto her, by earnest repentance, then she crowneth thee in thy mind with wisdom and understanding, that thou mayest then very well avoid the devil ; but if thou dost not, then thou fallest out of one sin and abomination into another, and makest thy measure full and running over, and then the devil helpeth thee into his kingdom, and thou art very 8 rod or whip, serviceable to him ; for thou art a true 3 scourge to the children of God, not only with reproaching, but also in deeds [or in the work of thy hands]
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 403
which the devil dare not do; thou doest him acceptable service. He tickleth thee finely with the name fof God], so that thou bringest forth * of a godly, from thy lips, and teachest it; but thy heart is ajSS^S thief and a murderer, and thou art wholly dead godly di™e< to the kingdom of heaven.
79. Therefore, 0 thou beloved mind! examine thyself to what thou art inclined; whether thou art inclined to righteousness, love, fidelity, and truth, also to chastity, modesty, and mercifulness ; if so, it is well for thee ; but if not, then dive into thy bosom, and consider thy fleshly heart, and try it, wrap thy 2 senses together, and put them 2 Or thoughts, in prison, and storm thy fleshly heart, that the elements in thee may quake and tremble. The flattering and lying devil (who hath possessed thy fleshly heart) shall feel these 3 strokes (which he 'earnest will not like), and then he must be gone, and thou E^Lce. wilt be of another mind : This is no 4 conceit from 4 Or invena mind not opened ; itself hath tried this, and tlOQ' therefore it shall stand for a Memorial, and a continual monitor; and whosoever pleaseth, let him try it, and he shall find wonders indeed.
80. Now when Adam and his wife had eaten of the earthly fruit, then they were ashamed one of another, for they perceived the bestial members for
* propagation ; and they broke off e boughs, and held • bodily. them before their7 shame; and the voice of God 8 Or branches of leaves.
went into the garden, highly into their minds, and * privities. they hid themselves behind the trees in the garden.
p. 404
81. Here we see clearly, yes we feel, that God (in the beginning) created no such image with bestial members for propagation, for that which
Or privities. God created for eternity, that hath no l shame before it. Yet also they then first perceived that they were naked ; the elements had taken possession of them, and yet put no earthly garment [like the beasts' hairy skin] upon them ; for the spirit of man was not from the essences and properties of the elements [as the spirit of the beasts], but [man] was out of the eternal.
82. And here in this place there is nothing more palpable, than that it is seen and known, that Adam had no bestial form before his sleep, before his wife [was formed] ; for he was neither man nor woman, but a chaste virgin without bestial form ; he had no l shame nor breasts, neither had he need of them ; he should have generated in love and chastity (without pain or opening of his body) a virgin as himself was ; and it should have been possible, that the whole host of angelical men should have proceeded out of one only man, (as the angels did), out of one fountain, if he had stood in the temptation ; even as all those (who come to the only Arch- Shepherd, to his rest) were redeemed (by one only man) from the eternal death and torment of hell.
83. Here now we find, that they heard the voice of God in the garden ; for the element, which is before God, wherewith man qualifieth [or mixeth],
Ch. 17] OP THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 405
desirej ; and say not in yourself, I stand in the dark, the Lord sees me not, [nor] what I think and do. He stands in the gate of the mind, where the soul stands (before the clear face of God) in the opened gate ; and all your abominations are known before God, and you makest the element of God blush [or change colour] with them ; you grievest the chaste virgin (which dwells in her own centre, and is given to be a companion to you in your mind) and makest her sad ; she warns you of the way of the ungodly ; if you followest [her counsel], and turnest, and breakest in unto her, by earnest repentance, then she crowns you in your mind with wisdom and understanding, that you may then very well avoid the devil ; but if you do not, then you fallest out of one sin and abomination into another, and makest your measure full and running over, and then the devil helps you into his kingdom, and you are very 8 rod or whip, serviceable to him ; for you are a true 3 scourge to the children of God, not only with reproaching, but also in deeds [or in the work of your hands]
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 403 which the devil dare not do; you do him acceptable service. He tickls you finely with the name fof God], so that you bring forth * of a godly, from your lips, and teachest it; but your heart is ajSS^S thief and a murderer, and you are wholly dead godly di™e< to the kingdom of heaven.
79. Therefore, 0 you beloved mind! examine yourself to what you are inclined; whether you art inclined to righteousness, love, fidelity, and truth, also to chastity, modesty, and mercifulness ; if so, it is well for you ; but if not, then dive into your bosom, and consider your fleshly heart, and try it, wrap your 2 senses together, and put them 2 Or thoughts, in prison, and storm your fleshly heart, that the elements in you may quake and tremble. The flattering and lying devil (who has possessed your fleshly heart) shall feel these 3 strokes (which he 'earnest will not like), and then he must be gone, and you E^Lce. will be of another mind : This is no 4 conceit from 4 Or invena mind not opened ; itself has tried this, and tlOQ' therefore it shall stand for a Memorial, and a continual monitor; and whosoever pleases, let him try it, and he shall find wonders indeed.
80. Now when Adam and his wife had eaten of the earthly fruit, then they were ashamed one of another, for they perceived the bestial members for
* propagation ; and they broke off e boughs, and held • bodily. them before their7 shame; and the voice of God 8 Or branches of leaves.
went into the garden, highly into their minds, and * privities. they hid themselves behind the trees in the garden.
404 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 17
81. Here we see clearly, yes we feel, that God (in the beginning) created no such image with bestial members for propagation, for that which
Or privities. God created for eternity, that has no l shame before it. Yet also they then first perceived that they were naked ; the elements had taken possession of them, and yet put no earthly garment [like the beasts' hairy skin] upon them ; for the spirit of man was not from the essences and properties of the elements [as the spirit of the beasts], but [man] was out of the eternal.
82. And here in this place there is nothing more palpable, than that it is seen and known, that Adam had no bestial form before his sleep, before his wife [was formed] ; for he was neither man nor woman, but a chaste virgin without bestial form ; he had no l shame nor breasts, neither had he need of them ; he should have generated in love and chastity (without pain or opening of his body) a virgin as himself was ; and it should have been possible, that the whole host of angelical men should have proceeded out of one only man, (as the angels did), out of one fountain, if he had stood in the temptation ; even as all those (who come to the only Arch- Shepherd, to his rest) were redeemed (by one only man) from the eternal death and torment of hell.
83. Here now we find, that they heard the voice of God in the garden ; for the element, which is before God, wherewith man qualifies [or mixes],
Ch. 17] OP THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 405