Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
1 Or issuing 14. But if now the l essences of the first Principle faculties, or of the soul have been so very conversant about [or addicted to] the kingdom of this world, so that the essences of the soul have sought after the pleasures of this world only, in temporary honour, power, and bravery ; then the soul (or the essences out of the first Principle) keepeth the starry region to it still, as its dearest jewel, with a desire to live therein ; but then [the starry region] hath the mother (viz. the four elements) no more, and therefore it consumeth, with the time itself, in the essences out of the first Principle ; and so the essences of the first Principle continue raw [or naked, without a body].
15. And here standeth the 2 purgatory. Thou blind world, if thou canst do anything, then help
8 Or strong, thy soul through the 3 strait gate. Now here, if the Treader upon the Serpent hath not hold of the cord, then it must indeed continue in the first Principle. Here now is the great life, and also the great death, where the soul must enter into the one or the other, and that is its eternal country afterwards. For the third Principle falleth away, and leaveth the soul, and it can use that no more in eternity.
* Exit. Of the 4 Going-forth of the Soul.
16. Seeing then that man is so very earthly, therefore he hath none but earthly knowledge, except he be regenerated in the gate of the deep.
2 Or refining fire.
Ch. 19] ENTERING OF THE SOULS TO GOD 479
He always supposeth that the soul (at the deceasing of the body) goeth only out at the mouth ;
and he understandeth nothing concerning its x deep1 deep essential virtues or essences above the elements. When he seeth a blue faculties,
, f i • which are of a vapour go forth out 01 the mouth ot a dying man higher origi-
.... i i i \ n*l than ^e
(which maketh a strong smell all over the chamber) four elements, then he supposeth that is the soul.
17. 0 no, beloved reason, it is not so ; the soul is not seen nor comprehended in the outward elements; but that is the brimstone -spirit, the spirit of the third Principle ; for as when thou puttest out a candle, a filthy smell and stink cometh from it, which was not before when the candle did burn, so here also, when the light of the body breaketh, then the brimstone-spirit is smothered, from whence that vapour and deadly stink proceedeth, with its working [spirit, or infecting] poison.
18. Understand [or consider] it aright; it is the source-spirit [or working spirit] out of the gall which kindleth the heart, whereby the life was stirred, which is choked as soon as the tincture in the blood of the heart is extinguished. The right soul hath no need of such going-forth, it is much more subtle than the brimstone-spirit, though (in the lifetime) it is in one only substance.
19. But when the spirit of the four elements parteth, then the right soul (which was breathed j into Adam) standeth in its Principle ; for it is so subtle that it cannot be comprehended ; it goethp. 480 through flesh and bones, also through wood and 1 breaketh or stone, and l stirreth none of them.
diaturbeth. r ...
20. It may be comprehended [as lollowetnj : It it
2beenena- hath 2 promised somewhat in the time of the body,
moured, and not broken off and hath not recalled it, then that word, and the from it. . i i i • / i • i i earnest promise, comprenendetn it, (which we ought to be silent in, here) ; or else there is nothing that comprehendeth it, but only its own Principle wherein it standeth, whether it be the kingdom of hell, or of heaven.
21. It goeth not out at the mouth like a bodily substance ; it is raw [or naked] without a body, and instantly passeth (at the departure of the four elements) into the centre, into the gate of the deep, [in the hidden eternity] ; and that which it is clothed withal, that it comprehendeth, and keepeth it : If its treasure be voluptuousness, might [or power], honour, riches, malice, wrath, lying, or the falsehood of the world, then the fierce might of the essences out of the first Principle comprehendeth these things, through the sidereal
3 buddeth or spirit, and keepeth them, and 3 worketh therewith floweth.
1 Or issuing 14. But if now the l essences of the first Principle faculties, or of the soul have been so very conversant about [or addicted to] the kingdom of this world, so that the essences of the soul have sought after the pleasures of this world only, in temporary honour, power, and bravery ; then the soul (or the essences out of the first Principle) keeps the starry region to it still, as its dearest jewel, with a desire to live therein ; but then [the starry region] has the mother (viz. the four elements) no more, and therefore it consums, with the time itself, in the essences out of the first Principle ; and so the essences of the first Principle continue raw [or naked, without a body].
15. And here stands the 2 purgatory. You blind world, if you can do anything, then help
8 Or strong, your soul through the 3 strait gate. Now here, if the Treader upon the Serpent has not hold of the cord, then it must indeed continue in the first Principle. Here now is the great life, and also the great death, where the soul must enter into the one or the other, and that is its eternal country afterwards. For the third Principle falls away, and leaves the soul, and it can use that no more in eternity.
* Exit. Of the 4 Going-forth of the Soul.
16. Seeing then that man is so very earthly, therefore he has none but earthly knowledge, except he be regenerated in the gate of the deep.
2 Or refining fire.
Ch. 19] ENTERING OF THE SOULS TO GOD 479
He always supposes that the soul (at the deceasing of the body) goes only out at the mouth ;
and he understands nothing concerning its x deep1 deep essential virtues or essences above the elements. When he sees a blue faculties,
, f i • which are of a vapour go forth out 01 the mouth ot a dying man higher origi-
.... i i i \ n*l than ^e
(which makes a strong smell all over the chamber) four elements, then he supposes that is the soul.
17. 0 no, beloved reason, it is not so ; the soul is not seen nor comprehended in the outward elements; but that is the brimstone -spirit, the spirit of the third Principle ; for as when you puttest out a candle, a filthy smell and stink comes from it, which was not before when the candle did burn, so here also, when the light of the body breaks, then the brimstone-spirit is smothered, from whence that vapour and deadly stink proceeds, with its working [spirit, or infecting] poison.
18. Understand [or consider] it aright; it is the source-spirit [or working spirit] out of the gall which kindls the heart, whereby the life was stirred, which is choked as soon as the tincture in the blood of the heart is extinguished. The right soul has no need of such going-forth, it is much more subtle than the brimstone-spirit, though (in the lifetime) it is in one only substance.
19. But when the spirit of the four elements parts, then the right soul (which was breathed j into Adam) stands in its Principle ; for it is so subtle that it cannot be comprehended ; it goes
480 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 19 through flesh and bones, also through wood and 1 breaks or stone, and l stirrs none of them.
diaturbs. r ...
20. It may be comprehended [as lollowetnj : It it
2beenena- has 2 promised somewhat in the time of the body,
moured, and not broken off and has not recalled it, then that word, and the from it. . i i i • / i • i i earnest promise, comprenendetn it, (which we ought to be silent in, here) ; or else there is nothing that comprehends it, but only its own Principle wherein it stands, whether it be the kingdom of hell, or of heaven.
21. It goes not out at the mouth like a bodily substance ; it is raw [or naked] without a body, and instantly passes (at the departure of the four elements) into the centre, into the gate of the deep, [in the hidden eternity] ; and that which it is clothed withal, that it comprehends, and keeps it : If its treasure be voluptuousness, might [or power], honour, riches, malice, wrath, lying, or the falsehood of the world, then the fierce might of the essences out of the first Principle comprehends these things, through the sidereal
3 budds or spirit, and keeps them, and 3 works therewith flows.