Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
he grudged that his brother should have anything ; especially when he saw that he was accepted before God, that vexed him, and he thought that Abel should come to be lord on earth ; in his sacrifice, he regarded not the fear of God, though he, as a seeming holy man [or hypocrite] sacrificed also ; but he regarded only the 1 region. 1 the highest place of
83. And here the antichristian kingdom took its earthly dominion.
beginning, where men 2 give God good words, and > Or speak their heart is possessed with covetousness, and seek StoeGeJ. after nothing but power and authority, to domineer over the needy and miserable, who trust and rely upon God. Therefore Antichrist hath his god in his chest, and in the strength of his power, and behind his cloak there hangeth a fox. He prayeth, yet he desireth nothing else but the kingdom of this world ; his heart doth not leave off to persecute and to hunt poor Abel. But Abel prayeth to the Lord, and his heart inclineth itself to the love of God, in the true image, for he desireth the kingdom of heaven, and the blessing of God here, for his 3 maintenance. 3 necessity, or
-VT , , ., , . subsistence of
84. JNow the devil cannot endure that a holy the body. Church should grow up in his dominions, he will murder Abel still, as he did then ; because Cain feared not God, therefore the devil gat an access to him, and stirred up the inbred wrath in Cain against Abel, that he slew him. Here surely all the devils danced at it, and thought, Now is the kingdom ours again ; whereat Adam and Eve werep. 540 much amazed and affrighted, when they saw that he whom they accounted for a prince, became a murderer ; and, as the history saith, they copulated [or knew one another] no more in seventy years after.
85. Now it being thus, therefore they sought for quite another Treader upon the Serpent ; also now they inclined their heart to God, so that seventy years after this murder, they begat a very upright [virtuous] holy son that feared God, (who established again the pure Church of the fear of' God and promised Seed of the Woman), whose name was Seih ; who also begat a very upright [virtuous] son, whose name was Enos, and then men began to preach openly [or plainly] of God ; and the Christian Church always rose up like a small flock, in spite of all the ragings of the devils.
86. But Cain exalted himself to be a lord over his kindred ; from whence arose the dominion, and rule or government of this world, all (according to the influence of the stars) generated per spiritum
1 Or macro- majoris mundi [by the spirit of the * great world], and is not, as Cain supposed, so ordained by the clear Deity.
87. It is true indeed, when the world became so evil, malicious, and murderous, then there must needs be judges and magistrates, that the fierce wrath might be stopped by punishment and fear ; but if thou hadst continued in love, then thou shouldst have had no lords, but loving brothers and cosm.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 541
sisters. 0 Cain \ thy potent kingdom cometh not from God, but hath its influence from the starry heaven in anger, which domineereth over thee, and many times giveth thee tyrants, who consume thy sweat in pride, and this thou hast for thy paradise.
88. St Paul writeth very well, that there is no [power, authority, or] magistracy, but of God ;
but he sayeth, it is an 1 avenger of the wicked, and 1 Or for the
, i • • -i • i i punishment beareth not the sword in vain ; herein thou hast of evil doers. ground enough, that God useth the worldly government, and the sword thereof, for the wicked's sake, under which thou must now (for the sake of sin) bear thy yoke, because thou art a continual devourer and murderer ; do but behold thyself, together with the avenging sword, perhaps thou wilt see thyself.
he grudged that his brother should have anything ; especially when he saw that he was accepted before God, that vexed him, and he thought that Abel should come to be lord on earth ; in his sacrifice, he regarded not the fear of God, though he, as a seeming holy man [or hypocrite] sacrificed also ; but he regarded only the 1 region. 1 the highest place of
83. And here the antichristian kingdom took its earthly dominion.
beginning, where men 2 give God good words, and > Or speak their heart is possessed with covetousness, and seek StoeGeJ. after nothing but power and authority, to domineer over the needy and miserable, who trust and rely upon God. Therefore Antichrist has his god in his chest, and in the strength of his power, and behind his cloak there hangs a fox. He prays, yet he desires nothing else but the kingdom of this world ; his heart does not leave off to persecute and to hunt poor Abel. But Abel prays to the Lord, and his heart inclins itself to the love of God, in the true image, for he desires the kingdom of heaven, and the blessing of God here, for his 3 maintenance. 3 necessity, or
-VT , , ., , . subsistence of
84. JNow the devil cannot endure that a holy the body. Church should grow up in his dominions, he will murder Abel still, as he did then ; because Cain feared not God, therefore the devil gat an access to him, and stirred up the inbred wrath in Cain against Abel, that he slew him. Here surely all the devils danced at it, and thought, Now is the kingdom ours again ; whereat Adam and Eve were
540 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20 much amazed and affrighted, when they saw that he whom they accounted for a prince, became a murderer ; and, as the history says, they copulated [or knew one another] no more in seventy years after.
85. Now it being thus, therefore they sought for quite another Treader upon the Serpent ; also now they inclined their heart to God, so that seventy years after this murder, they begat a very upright [virtuous] holy son that feared God, (who established again the pure Church of the fear of' God and promised Seed of the Woman), whose name was Seih ; who also begat a very upright [virtuous] son, whose name was Enos, and then men began to preach openly [or plainly] of God ; and the Christian Church always rose up like a small flock, in spite of all the ragings of the devils.
86. But Cain exalted himself to be a lord over his kindred ; from whence arose the dominion, and rule or government of this world, all (according to the influence of the stars) generated per spiritum
1 Or macro- majoris mundi [by the spirit of the * great world], and is not, as Cain supposed, so ordained by the clear Deity.
87. It is true indeed, when the world became so evil, malicious, and murderous, then there must needs be judges and magistrates, that the fierce wrath might be stopped by punishment and fear ; but if you had continued in love, then you should have had no lords, but loving brothers and cosm.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 541 sisters. 0 Cain \ your potent kingdom comes not from God, but has its influence from the starry heaven in anger, which domineers over you, and many times gives you tyrants, who consume your sweat in pride, and this you have for your paradise.
88. St Paul writes very well, that there is no [power, authority, or] magistracy, but of God ;
but he says, it is an 1 avenger of the wicked, and 1 Or for the
, i • • -i • i i punishment bears not the sword in vain ; herein you have of evil doers. ground enough, that God uses the worldly government, and the sword thereof, for the wicked's sake, under which you must now (for the sake of sin) bear your yoke, because you are a continual devourer and murderer ; do but behold yourself, together with the avenging sword, perhaps you will see yourself.