Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
59. And although the Church in Babel will prattle much here about the Election from the purpose of God, yet it hath as little knowledge thereof as the Babylonish tower, whose top should reach to heaven, [had] of God. As if it were not possible, that a child could go out of the anger into the love of God, whereas the love in the breaking of the anger doth l fully appear [or shine forth]; and it is for want of repentance, that man suffereth himself to be held by the devil.
60. And the hardening is not so wholly in the birth, that the soul (from the mother's womb) should be quite dead to God, or that God did not desire it. The anger is in the flowing [working or boiling] of the Father, and the Father is God indeed, and generateth his dear Heart and love (in the breaking of the gate in the habitation) out of himself. Should he then be at odds with himself, because his anger is under the root of his love ? Should he be at enmity against himself? His anger is his strength and omnipotence [or almightiness], and consuming fire ; and his Heart
2 Or humility, in the love is his 2 meekness ; and so now, that which approacheth and entereth into his anger, is captivated in the anger.
61. But it is possible to go out from the anger ; as his dear Heart is generated out of the anger, which [cooleth, pacifieth, or] stilleth the anger, and is rightly called the paradise or the kingdom of heaven. And his anger is not known in the
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 531
heaven ; and so there also, his election goeth always over the children of love, which belong to the kingdom of heaven. And St Paul speaketh no otherwise of his Election, but meaneth [it of]
them that draw near to him, and enter into his covenant, and give up themselves to him ; and these the Father draweth with the Holy Ghost, through the death of Christ into the pure element
[that is] before the Father. l Fear not thou [0] Isaiah xiiv. 2.
my servant Jacob, and thou 2 upright [one'] whom * honest,
Thaw chnwn sincere,'
CllOSen. obedient,
62. But that God (out of his purpose) should faithful one> harden the will of any, and mlike it dark, that is not true ; the spirit of God is withdrawn from the wicked, who only wrestle for the might [or power] of the fire, for he himself goeth out from God, and desireth not [to enjoy] God. God withdraweth himself from none. Man hath a free will, he may lay hold on what he will ; but he is held by two, by heaven and by hell, to which he yieldeth, he is in that.
63. Cain was not rejected in the mother's womb [or body] ; though it is plain, that God doth not love such a false [or evil] seed, yet it standeth free, it may press into the love, or into the anger, and 3 the one as well as the other will receive it, 3 Or both will as Paul also saith, To whom you yield yourselves re servants in obedience, his servants you are whom you obey ; whether it be in the obedience of God to righteousness, or of sin unto death.
p. 532
64. Now God will have no malicious soul [to be] in the love, but in the anger ; and he is the l searcher of the hearts, and knoweth well what is of the hearts. . ' -n r in man, and what he will do, even while [man] is in the seed, and will not cast the Pearl before swine ; and yet the false [or evil] seed is not [come] out of his will and purpose, else he must also have willed the devil to be a devil.
65. And know you not that the band of the eternity standeth free, and maketh itself? But
2 Or bom of that which inclineth to him, is also 2 generated in
God. And yet the love presseth not into the
3 AS the light anger, but the love is generated out of the 3 anger, is generated out of the and is wholly free ; and therefore the Heart of burning of the -...«..'. , . -,-, fire, and is God in the love, is another person than the 4 Father, free from the -i i • r •/>!/• -i • -i fire. and the issue, [or going forth from them] is the i8Aanotherght 5 Hol7 Ghost, who goeth not [back] again into the thing than anger.
the fire.
8 AS the air 66. Then why doth not the soul of man go also
goeth forth r, • i -t i> i • 11
59. And although the Church in Babel will prattle much here about the Election from the purpose of God, yet it has as little knowledge thereof as the Babylonish tower, whose top should reach to heaven, [had] of God. As if it were not possible, that a child could go out of the anger into the love of God, whereas the love in the breaking of the anger does l fully appear [or shine forth]; and it is for want of repentance, that man suffers himself to be held by the devil.
60. And the hardening is not so wholly in the birth, that the soul (from the mother's womb) should be quite dead to God, or that God did not desire it. The anger is in the flowing [working or boiling] of the Father, and the Father is God indeed, and generats his dear Heart and love (in the breaking of the gate in the habitation) out of himself. Should he then be at odds with himself, because his anger is under the root of his love ? Should he be at enmity against himself? His anger is his strength and omnipotence [or almightiness], and consuming fire ; and his Heart
2 Or humility, in the love is his 2 meekness ; and so now, that which approaches and enters into his anger, is captivated in the anger.
61. But it is possible to go out from the anger ; as his dear Heart is generated out of the anger, which [cools, pacifies, or] stills the anger, and is rightly called the paradise or the kingdom of heaven. And his anger is not known in the Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 531 heaven ; and so there also, his election goes always over the children of love, which belong to the kingdom of heaven. And St Paul speaks no otherwise of his Election, but means [it of]
them that draw near to him, and enter into his covenant, and give up themselves to him ; and these the Father draws with the Holy Ghost, through the death of Christ into the pure element
[that is] before the Father. l Fear not you [0] Isaiah xiiv. 2.
my servant Jacob, and you 2 upright [one'] whom * honest,
Thaw chnwn sincere,'
CllOSen. obedient,
62. But that God (out of his purpose) should faithful one> harden the will of any, and mlike it dark, that is not true ; the spirit of God is withdrawn from the wicked, who only wrestle for the might [or power] of the fire, for he himself goes out from God, and desires not [to enjoy] God. God withdraws himself from none. Man has a free will, he may lay hold on what he will ; but he is held by two, by heaven and by hell, to which he yields, he is in that.
63. Cain was not rejected in the mother's womb [or body] ; though it is plain, that God does not love such a false [or evil] seed, yet it stands free, it may press into the love, or into the anger, and 3 the one as well as the other will receive it, 3 Or both will as Paul also says, To whom you yield yourselves re servants in obedience, his servants you are whom you obey ; whether it be in the obedience of God to righteousness, or of sin unto death.
532 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20
64. Now God will have no malicious soul [to be] in the love, but in the anger ; and he is the l searcher of the hearts, and knows well what is of the hearts. . ' -n r in man, and what he will do, even while [man] is in the seed, and will not cast the Pearl before swine ; and yet the false [or evil] seed is not [come] out of his will and purpose, else he must also have willed the devil to be a devil.
65. And know you not that the band of the eternity stands free, and makes itself? But
2 Or bom of that which inclins to him, is also 2 generated in
God. And yet the love presses not into the
3 AS the light anger, but the love is generated out of the 3 anger, is generated out of the and is wholly free ; and therefore the Heart of burning of the -...«..'. , . -,-, fire, and is God in the love, is another person than the 4 Father, free from the -i i • r •/>!/• -i • -i fire. and the issue, [or going forth from them] is the i8Aanotherght 5 Hol7 Ghost, who goes not [back] again into the thing than anger.
the fire.
8 AS the air 66. Then why does not the soul of man go also
goes forth r, • i -t i> i • 11