Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
30. 0 no : But the devil, who is a cause of the 1 wrathfulness. Adam was made good out of the pure element, but the longing [desire or lust] of the devil deceived him^ so that he went into the spirit of this world.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 515
31. And now it cannot be otherwise, the two kingdoms wrestle one with another in the children
O
of men ; the one is the kingdom of Christ, [generated] through the new birth into paradise ; that (in this world) is miserable and contemned, there are not many that desire it, for it hath mere scorn and contempt from the devil and his followers ; it consisteth in righteousness and truth, and that is not valued in this world, and therefore it must lie at the rich man's door with poor Lazarus, and at his feet. If any do but let it appear that they are the children of God, then the devil' will away with them presently, or else will put them to such scorn and disgrace, that they cannot be known ; that so the devil may continue to be the great prince upon earth, and that the world may not learn to know him.
32. The other kingdom is that of Antichrist, with a golden [splendour or] glance, prancing in state, glistering on every side. Every one saith, It is a happy thing, for it adorneth itself most sumptuously, and setteth its seat over the hills and mountains ; every one saluteth it [or doeth it reverence]. It draweth the tincture of the earth to itself, that it may glister alone ; it bereaveth the kingdom of Christ of its temporal [food, livelihood, or] bread ; it devoureth the sweat of the needy, and saith to him, You are mine, I am your God, I will set you where I please ; you are the dog that lieth at my feet ; if I had a mind to it, I could hunt you outp. 516 of my house, you must do what I will. And the needy worm must say, I am your poor servant, do but spare my life. And if he squeeze out the sweat of his brows, so that he smarts, which
1 lord or his J master consumeth [or spendeth], then he superior. , . . . ..
growetn impatient with his master, and curseth him, and seeketh out ways of lying and deceit, and by what way he might make his heavy burthen lighter.
33. And then if he findeth his master so unjust, that he riseth up against him, and taketh away
2 Or false. his 2 unrighteous bread, which he thinketh to eat * Or piagueth. under a soft yoke, and 3 worrieth him to the uttermost, and leaveth him no time to escape, he sticketh full of impatience under that heavy burthen, and grumbleth and murmureth, and seeketh all evil devices to ease his yoke, that he might eat hisbread in quietness ; and yet it will not be, the driver [hunter, cruel tyrant his master] is behind him, and taketh away his bread, and feedeth him with sorrow under his yoke.
34. And then he studieth cunning and deceit, and casteth about [to find] which way he may, by shifts and tricks, fill his belly and live ; he curseth his master secretly, and though he stealeth away covertly by some slight the bread of another needy man, yet that must be right [with him] ; and his master doth not regard it, so he eateth not of his cost, and so that he continue to be his dog under his yoke. Thus the master [lord or superior] iaCh. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 517 unrighteous and l wicked, and maketh also that 1 evil or false, his servant is unrighteous and * wicked ; whereas otherwise (if he might eat his bread under an easy yoke) he would not be so cursed, and cunning in thievery.
30. 0 no : But the devil, who is a cause of the 1 wrathfulness. Adam was made good out of the pure element, but the longing [desire or lust] of the devil deceived him^ so that he went into the spirit of this world.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 515
31. And now it cannot be otherwise, the two kingdoms wrestle one with another in the children
O
of men ; the one is the kingdom of Christ, [generated] through the new birth into paradise ; that (in this world) is miserable and contemned, there are not many that desire it, for it has mere scorn and contempt from the devil and his followers ; it consists in righteousness and truth, and that is not valued in this world, and therefore it must lie at the rich man's door with poor Lazarus, and at his feet. If any do but let it appear that they are the children of God, then the devil' will away with them presently, or else will put them to such scorn and disgrace, that they cannot be known ; that so the devil may continue to be the great prince upon earth, and that the world may not learn to know him.
32. The other kingdom is that of Antichrist, with a golden [splendour or] glance, prancing in state, glistering on every side. Every one says, It is a happy thing, for it adorns itself most sumptuously, and setts its seat over the hills and mountains ; every one saluts it [or does it reverence]. It draws the tincture of the earth to itself, that it may glister alone ; it bereavs the kingdom of Christ of its temporal [food, livelihood, or] bread ; it devours the sweat of the needy, and says to him, You are mine, I am your God, I will set you where I please ; you are the dog that lies at my feet ; if I had a mind to it, I could hunt you out
516 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20 of my house, you must do what I will. And the needy worm must say, I am your poor servant, do but spare my life. And if he squeeze out the sweat of his brows, so that he smarts, which
1 lord or his J master consums [or spends], then he superior. , . . . ..
growetn impatient with his master, and curses him, and seeks out ways of lying and deceit, and by what way he might make his heavy burthen lighter.
33. And then if he finds his master so unjust, that he rises up against him, and takes away
2 Or false. his 2 unrighteous bread, which he thinks to eat * Or piagus. under a soft yoke, and 3 worries him to the uttermost, and leaves him no time to escape, he sticks full of impatience under that heavy burthen, and grumbls and murmurs, and seeks all evil devices to ease his yoke, that he might eat hisbread in quietness ; and yet it will not be, the driver [hunter, cruel tyrant his master] is behind him, and takes away his bread, and feeds him with sorrow under his yoke.
34. And then he studies cunning and deceit, and casts about [to find] which way he may, by shifts and tricks, fill his belly and live ; he curses his master secretly, and though he steals away covertly by some slight the bread of another needy man, yet that must be right [with him] ; and his master does not regard it, so he eats not of his cost, and so that he continue to be his dog under his yoke. Thus the master [lord or superior] ia
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 517 unrighteous and l wicked, and makes also that 1 evil or false, his servant is unrighteous and * wicked ; whereas otherwise (if he might eat his bread under an easy yoke) he would not be so cursed, and cunning in thievery.