Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
35. But what will the spirit of this kingdom say ? Art thou not shining in splendour ? Hast thou not taken possession of all ? Hast thou not the earth in possession freely as God ge-ve it thee ? Dost thou not right ? Dost thou not punish the wicked, and look to it, where the enemy breaketh it ? Dost thou not defend thy country ? Art thou not a light to the blind, and appointest teachers for them, which 2 drive them to patience? The 2 Or exhort, kingdom is thine indeed, thou hast purchased it ; the poor is thy servant indeed, that [in thy opinion] cannot fail [but be right].
36. But the divine answer in the light of nature saith to me ; Behold, out of what art thou grown ? Have I planted thee ? Art thou not grown in my wild garden ? When Adam went into the wild garden, there he 3 planted thee. How art thou 8 grafted, or
, n TTTI 1,1- • r inoculated.
grown so great ? Who hath given thee virtue [or sap], thou wild tree ? My love never stirred thee up, all thy branches are wild, and thy fruit is wild.
Dost thou think that my soul lusteth after thy food ? I will not eat of thy fruit : I am strong, and the kingdom is mine ; he that cometh under my * wings, I will shelter him, no storm can touch 4 Or fatness.
him ; moreover, the country is mine. I have left
p. 518
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 20 it to you, to be used in unanimous love ; and have set you out of one [and the same] root, that you should be alike, and love one another, and prevent one another in chaste love.
37. Thou wild beast, how comest thou so great and strong ? Hast thou not trampled in my garden of roses, and there made thee a couch? Where are thy brothers and sisters ? How cometh it to pass, that they lie at thy feet, and that they are so lean, and thou only art strong [and lusty] ? Hast thou not devoured my branches, and brought
, calves, forth young wolves, which devour thy l cattle etc.ep> a '' also? And thou art a beast with thy young ones ! Should I suffer thee in my garden of roses ? Where is the noble fruit which I did sow ? Have you not turned them all into wild branches ? And where now shall I seek for the fruit and profit of my garden of roses ? My soul would fain eat of the good fruit, but thou hast trampled all under-foot, and made it a den of murder.
38. Besides, I hear a great howling and lamentation, that all thy servants cry woe over thee, because thou plaguest them ; and moreover, thou hast shed my noble seed, and not sown it, but [thou hast sown] thy wild [seed] for [the promoting of] thy great devouring and pomp. Behold, I have spewed thee out towards Babel in the press of my fierce wrath, and there I will press thee ; and I will plant my lily-branch in my garden of roses, which bringeth me forth fruit, after which my
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 519
soul lusteth, of which my sick Adam shall eat, that he may be strong, and may go into paradise.
Of the thrusting Adam and Eve out of the
Paradise of the Garden in Eden.
39. Aud when God had thus provided Adam and Eve a bestial garment to cover their shame, and to defend them against the cold, then he let them out of the garden, and set the Cherubim with a naked l two-edged sword before it, to keep the ] Or warning way to the Tree of Life, and he [man] must now sword.0 till the ground. But the understanding of us poor children of Adam and Eve is 2sunk so much, that 2 darkened, at our last old age we scarce reach [the understand- Up, or frozen ing of] any thing concerning the lamentable fall of s Adam and Eve, seeing we must seek very deep for it in the centre of the light of life ; for it is very wonderful which Moses saith, God set the Cherubim before the garden, to keep and guard the way to the Tree of Life. Who could understand it ? If God did not open our eyes, we should speak simply of a keeper with a sword ; and reason seeth nothing else.
40. But the noble virgin sheweth us the door, [and] how we must enter again into paradise, through the sharpness of the sword ; yet the sword cutteth the earthly body clean away from the holy element, and then the new man may enter into paradise by the way of life. And the sword is nothing else but the kingdom or gate of the
p. 520
35. But what will the spirit of this kingdom say ? Art you not shining in splendour ? Hast you not taken possession of all ? Hast you not the earth in possession freely as God ge-ve it you ? Dost you not right ? Dost you not punish the wicked, and look to it, where the enemy breaks it ? Dost you not defend your country ? Art you not a light to the blind, and appointest teachers for them, which 2 drive them to patience? The 2 Or exhort, kingdom is your indeed, you have purchased it ; the poor is your servant indeed, that [in your opinion] cannot fail [but be right].
36. But the divine answer in the light of nature says to me ; Behold, out of what art you grown ? Have I planted you ? Art you not grown in my wild garden ? When Adam went into the wild garden, there he 3 planted you. How art you 8 grafted, or
, n TTTI 1,1- • r inoculated.
grown so great ? Who has given you virtue [or sap], you wild tree ? My love never stirred you up, all your branches are wild, and your fruit is wild.
Dost you think that my soul lusts after your food ? I will not eat of your fruit : I am strong, and the kingdom is mine ; he that comes under my * wings, I will shelter him, no storm can touch 4 Or fatness.
him ; moreover, the country is mine. I have left
p. 518
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 20 it to you, to be used in unanimous love ; and have set you out of one [and the same] root, that you should be alike, and love one another, and prevent one another in chaste love.
37. You wild beast, how comest you so great and strong ? Hast you not trampled in my garden of roses, and there made you a couch? Where are your brothers and sisters ? How comes it to pass, that they lie at your feet, and that they are so lean, and you only art strong [and lusty] ? Hast you not devoured my branches, and brought
, calves, forth young wolves, which devour your l cattle etc.ep> a '' also? And you are a beast with your young ones ! Should I suffer you in my garden of roses ? Where is the noble fruit which I did sow ? Have you not turned them all into wild branches ? And where now shall I seek for the fruit and profit of my garden of roses ? My soul would fain eat of the good fruit, but you have trampled all under-foot, and made it a den of murder.
38. Besides, I hear a great howling and lamentation, that all your servants cry woe over you, because you plaguest them ; and moreover, you have shed my noble seed, and not sown it, but [you have sown] your wild [seed] for [the promoting of] your great devouring and pomp. Behold, I have spewed you out towards Babel in the press of my fierce wrath, and there I will press you ; and I will plant my lily-branch in my garden of roses, which brings me forth fruit, after which my Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 519 soul lusts, of which my sick Adam shall eat, that he may be strong, and may go into paradise.
Of the thrusting Adam and Eve out of the
Paradise of the Garden in Eden.
39. Aud when God had thus provided Adam and Eve a bestial garment to cover their shame, and to defend them against the cold, then he let them out of the garden, and set the Cherubim with a naked l two-edged sword before it, to keep the ] Or warning way to the Tree of Life, and he [man] must now sword.0 till the ground. But the understanding of us poor children of Adam and Eve is 2sunk so much, that 2 darkened, at our last old age we scarce reach [the understand- Up, or frozen ing of] any thing concerning the lamentable fall of s Adam and Eve, seeing we must seek very deep for it in the centre of the light of life ; for it is very wonderful which Moses says, God set the Cherubim before the garden, to keep and guard the way to the Tree of Life. Who could understand it ? If God did not open our eyes, we should speak simply of a keeper with a sword ; and reason sees nothing else.
40. But the noble virgin shows us the door, [and] how we must enter again into paradise, through the sharpness of the sword ; yet the sword cutts the earthly body clean away from the holy element, and then the new man may enter into paradise by the way of life. And the sword is nothing else but the kingdom or gate of the
520 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20