Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
element [of the body] ; and then he was a fleshly man, and gat the fierceness of the first Principle, which the strong breaking-through to God, in the gate of the deep, did make to be hard l gristles and 1 Or joints, bones.
88. And we are seriously and highly to know (for it is seen in the light of life) that the marrow in the bones hath the noblest and highest tincture, wherein the spirit is sweetest, and the light clearest; which may be known in the fire, if you be not blind with your gainsaying; and it is accurately known, that those 2 places (where the hard bones 2 passages or now are) were wonders and virtue [or power], which have broken the gates of the darkness, in which [power] the angelical man in the light stood.
89. Therefore the providence of God, when Adam fell into longing [desire or lust], environed that virtue and strength with the might of the first Principle (viz. with the might of the stars and sharpness of God) that the source [or quality] of the first and third Principles might not so easily touch it ; and this was done in Adam's sleep, when God built Adam to [or for] this world, from whence Saint Paul also saith, That the natural man was created in the corruptible life of this world; which was done at the temptation of Adam, at that time when God made his natural wife out of him. But he was a holy image before, and 8he must be the samenheAdamicai again in his restoration at the last day.
p. 408
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 17
1 Or inventions, conceits, and notions.
2 gormandizing.
3 Adam and
Eve.
* qualify or mingle in them.
90. Though the devil and this world rage and rave against this, yet it is nevertheless the ground of truth, highly known in the wonders of God, and not from the fables or suppositions, such as the proud seeming holy or hypocritical world now ground their l babble upon, about the Cup of Jesus Christ, for the advancing of their pomp and haughtiness, their own honour and supposed wisdom, for their pleasure, and the 2 filling of their bellies, like the proud bride in Babylon, who rideth upon the evil beast, which devoureth the miserable ; therefore thus saith the spirit against Babel in the confusion, I have spewed thee out ; in the time of the wrath, thou shalt drink of the cup of thy pride, and thy source [or torment] shall rise up in eternity.
Of the Voice of God in the Garden of Eden, and the Conference between God and those z two, about Sin.
91. So now when Adam and his Eve (after the biting of the apple) beheld themselves, then they perceived the monstrous image and bestial form, and they felt in themselves the wrath of God, and the fierceness of the stars and elements ; for they took notice of the stomach and guts, into which they had stuffed the earthly fruit, which began to * take effect, and they saw their bestial shame ; and then they did lift up their minds towards paradise, but they found it not ; they ran trembling
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 409
with fear, and crept behind the trees ; for the wrath had stirred (their essences in the spirit) with the earthly fruit, and then came the voice of God in the centre of the gates of the deep, and called Adam, and said, Adam, Where art thou? And he said, Here am I: And I am afraid, for I am naked. And the Lord said, Who hath told thee that thou art naked? Hast thou eaten of the Tree, whereof I said unto thee, that thou shouldest not eat thereof? And he said, The woman gave to me, and I did eat. And he said unto the woman, Why hast thou done so? And she said, The serpent beguiled me, so that I did eat.
92. Here it may be seen very plainly, that the devil had lost his angelical image ; and cometh now in the form of a serpent, with his murderous lying, and * beguileth the woman. Because he had not 1 Or been able to overthrow Adam wholly, therefore he setteth upon the woman ; and promiseth her 2 wisdom, and the riches of this world, and that she 2 cunning, should be therein like God ; the devil mingled lies skill. and truth together, and said, She shall be as God ; but he meant, according to the kingdom of this world, and according to the first Principle of the [fierce] wrath, and let paradise out ; but Eve understood it, that she should continue in the paradise, in the divine and pleasant joy.
element [of the body] ; and then he was a fleshly man, and gat the fierceness of the first Principle, which the strong breaking-through to God, in the gate of the deep, did make to be hard l gristles and 1 Or joints, bones.
88. And we are seriously and highly to know (for it is seen in the light of life) that the marrow in the bones has the noblest and highest tincture, wherein the spirit is sweetest, and the light clearest; which may be known in the fire, if you be not blind with your gainsaying; and it is accurately known, that those 2 places (where the hard bones 2 passages or now are) were wonders and virtue [or power], which have broken the gates of the darkness, in which [power] the angelical man in the light stood.
89. Therefore the providence of God, when Adam fell into longing [desire or lust], environed that virtue and strength with the might of the first Principle (viz. with the might of the stars and sharpness of God) that the source [or quality] of the first and third Principles might not so easily touch it ; and this was done in Adam's sleep, when God built Adam to [or for] this world, from whence Saint Paul also says, That the natural man was created in the corruptible life of this world; which was done at the temptation of Adam, at that time when God made his natural wife out of him. But he was a holy image before, and 8he must be the samenheAdamicai again in his restoration at the last day.
p. 408
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 17
1 Or inventions, conceits, and notions.
2 gormandizing.
3 Adam and
Eve.
* qualify or mingle in them.
90. Though the devil and this world rage and rave against this, yet it is nevertheless the ground of truth, highly known in the wonders of God, and not from the fables or suppositions, such as the proud seeming holy or hypocritical world now ground their l babble upon, about the Cup of Jesus Christ, for the advancing of their pomp and haughtiness, their own honour and supposed wisdom, for their pleasure, and the 2 filling of their bellies, like the proud bride in Babylon, who rids upon the evil beast, which devours the miserable ; therefore thus says the spirit against Babel in the confusion, I have spewed you out ; in the time of the wrath, you shall drink of the cup of your pride, and your source [or torment] shall rise up in eternity.
Of the Voice of God in the Garden of Eden, and the Conference between God and those z two, about Sin.
91. So now when Adam and his Eve (after the biting of the apple) beheld themselves, then they perceived the monstrous image and bestial form, and they felt in themselves the wrath of God, and the fierceness of the stars and elements ; for they took notice of the stomach and guts, into which they had stuffed the earthly fruit, which began to * take effect, and they saw their bestial shame ; and then they did lift up their minds towards paradise, but they found it not ; they ran trembling Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 409 with fear, and crept behind the trees ; for the wrath had stirred (their essences in the spirit) with the earthly fruit, and then came the voice of God in the centre of the gates of the deep, and called Adam, and said, Adam, Where art you? And he said, Here am I: And I am afraid, for I am naked. And the Lord said, Who has told you that you are naked? Hast you eaten of the Tree, whereof I said unto you, that you shouldest not eat thereof? And he said, The woman gave to me, and I did eat. And he said unto the woman, Why have you done so? And she said, The serpent beguiled me, so that I did eat.
92. Here it may be seen very plainly, that the devil had lost his angelical image ; and comes now in the form of a serpent, with his murderous lying, and * beguils the woman. Because he had not 1 Or been able to overthrow Adam wholly, therefore he setts upon the woman ; and promises her 2 wisdom, and the riches of this world, and that she 2 cunning, should be therein like God ; the devil mingled lies skill. and truth together, and said, She shall be as God ; but he meant, according to the kingdom of this world, and according to the first Principle of the [fierce] wrath, and let paradise out ; but Eve understood it, that she should continue in the paradise, in the divine and pleasant joy.