Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
macrocosm, of this world. Eve spake no otherwise, than as the Apostles thought, that Christ was to erect a worldly kingdom ; so Eve thought that her son (as a strong champion) should break the head of the devil, and set up a glorious kingdom ; from whence instantly a twofold understanding [or different condition] followed, and two sorts of Churches ; the one [built or relying] upon the mercy of God ; and the other, upon their own might [authority or power]. And therefore Cain could not endure his brother, because Abel pressed hard upon the mercy of God, and Cain [relied] upon his own power [might and authority]. He thought himself to be the lord of the whole world, as his mother had instructed him ; and therefore now he would break the head of the serpent in his own might as a warrior [or soldier], and began with his brother Abel, for his faith relied not on God, but on his own power ; and here the serpent did sting the Treader upon the Serpent in the heel the first time.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 523
The Gate of the Mysteries, [or the Exposition of the hidden Secrets}.
45. Reason saith, How might that come to pass, that the first man born of a woman was [so evil] a malicious murderer ? Behold, thou immodest vile whorish world, here thou shalt find a glass ; behold thyself [and see] what thou art. Here again the great secrets meet us in the light of nature, very clearly and plainly to be understood. For Adam and Eve were entered into the spirit of this world, and the region of the four stars, with the infection of the devil, had miserably possessed them. And although they did somewhat stick to the word of the promise, yet the true longing and love towards God was very much extinguished ; and on the contrary, the longing and desire after this world was kindled in them ; and besides, they gat (from the region of the stars) a bestial lust [or wanton desire] towards one another, so that their tincture thus became a fierce bestial [lust or] longing ; for they had no law but the light of nature, which they suppressed, and kindled themselves in wanton [lust], to which the devil helped them.
46. And now when Eve *was impregnated, her i now began to
, ,. , r , be conceived tincture was wholly murderous and talse, tor ner with child, spirit in the love looked not upon God with a total trust and confidence. Also the wisdom of God stood hidden in the centre of the light of her life.
p. 524
1 Or incline. Eve did not l unite [or yield herself] to it with love and confidence, but much rather to the lust of this world ; she must bring it to pass, if anything were to be done ; and being her trust was not in God, so also God was not in her, but in his own centre [or Principle] ; and the wrath began to flow forth [boil or work] ; and this is that which Christ said, An evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit ; and so out of a false tincture grew a sour evil root, and consequently such a tree and fruit. Also that which
2 Or copula- goeth forth [is] as the tincture in the 2 mixture was, tion.
and such a child is generated, for the spirit of the life generateth itself out of the essences.
47. And seeing Adam was gone out of Paradise into the spirit of this world, therefore now the strife was already between the two kingdoms (viz. the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell) about the children of Eve ; and here it is seen that the wrath had the victory ; and the spirit of God complaineth, not without cause, [saying], / am as a grape-gatherer that gleaneth, and yet fain would eat of the best fruit.
48. But the fault lieth in man ; if he did put his trust in the love of God, then the kingdom of God would have the victory ; but if he putteth it in his evil lust and wantonness, in himself, in his own ability [or power], then he is captivated by the wrath, and his body and soul are in the wrath. But when he putteth his mind and confidence in God, then he goeth out from the wrath, and the
macrocosm, of this world. Eve spake no otherwise, than as the Apostles thought, that Christ was to erect a worldly kingdom ; so Eve thought that her son (as a strong champion) should break the head of the devil, and set up a glorious kingdom ; from whence instantly a twofold understanding [or different condition] followed, and two sorts of Churches ; the one [built or relying] upon the mercy of God ; and the other, upon their own might [authority or power]. And therefore Cain could not endure his brother, because Abel pressed hard upon the mercy of God, and Cain [relied] upon his own power [might and authority]. He thought himself to be the lord of the whole world, as his mother had instructed him ; and therefore now he would break the head of the serpent in his own might as a warrior [or soldier], and began with his brother Abel, for his faith relied not on God, but on his own power ; and here the serpent did sting the Treader upon the Serpent in the heel the first time.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 523
The Gate of the Mysteries, [or the Exposition of the hidden Secrets}.
45. Reason says, How might that come to pass, that the first man born of a woman was [so evil] a malicious murderer ? Behold, you immodest vile whorish world, here you shall find a glass ; behold yourself [and see] what you are. Here again the great secrets meet us in the light of nature, very clearly and plainly to be understood. For Adam and Eve were entered into the spirit of this world, and the region of the four stars, with the infection of the devil, had miserably possessed them. And although they did somewhat stick to the word of the promise, yet the true longing and love towards God was very much extinguished ; and on the contrary, the longing and desire after this world was kindled in them ; and besides, they gat (from the region of the stars) a bestial lust [or wanton desire] towards one another, so that their tincture thus became a fierce bestial [lust or] longing ; for they had no law but the light of nature, which they suppressed, and kindled themselves in wanton [lust], to which the devil helped them.
46. And now when Eve *was impregnated, her i now began to
, ,. , r , be conceived tincture was wholly murderous and talse, tor ner with child, spirit in the love looked not upon God with a total trust and confidence. Also the wisdom of God stood hidden in the centre of the light of her life.
524 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20
1 Or incline. Eve did not l unite [or yield herself] to it with love and confidence, but much rather to the lust of this world ; she must bring it to pass, if anything were to be done ; and being her trust was not in God, so also God was not in her, but in his own centre [or Principle] ; and the wrath began to flow forth [boil or work] ; and this is that which Christ said, An evil tree brings forth evil fruit ; and so out of a false tincture grew a sour evil root, and consequently such a tree and fruit. Also that which
2 Or copula- goes forth [is] as the tincture in the 2 mixture was, tion.
and such a child is generated, for the spirit of the life generats itself out of the essences.
47. And seeing Adam was gone out of Paradise into the spirit of this world, therefore now the strife was already between the two kingdoms (viz. the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell) about the children of Eve ; and here it is seen that the wrath had the victory ; and the spirit of God complains, not without cause, [saying], / am as a grape-gatherer that gleans, and yet fain would eat of the best fruit.
48. But the fault lies in man ; if he did put his trust in the love of God, then the kingdom of God would have the victory ; but if he putts it in his evil lust and wantonness, in himself, in his own ability [or power], then he is captivated by the wrath, and his body and soul are in the wrath. But when he putts his mind and confidence in God, then he goes out from the wrath, and the