Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
continually ride l after thee ; he will still sit upon ' use all the thy beast, and be lord also, and ride over the authority he bended knees, and thus the kingdom of this world dost.*8 is a right den of thieves, and in the presence of God a lake of abominations.
- 113. The spirit of thy stout beast is the hellish
- * worm ; the crowned bride that sitteth upon it is 2 dragou or the false woman [or whore] of Babel : She drinketh be only out of the cup of whoredom and abominations, her drink in that cup is the fierceness of the anger of God, of which the people [or nations] drink, and become drunk, and so in their drunkenness they become murderers, robbers, thieves, false perfidious mockers, jesters, scorners, proud, high-minded, selfhonourers, stern malicious people ; there is no end of the number of those that hate one another; every one supposeth his way is right, and that he walketh in the right path ; if his brother and sister go not in the same way with him, he scorneth them, and calleth them heretics ; and so one wolf biteth another ; his way is in his own opinion, as his master teacheth him, who yet never regardeth anything but his 3 belly-god, that his esteem and3 his own
i i elected god glory may be great among men ; thus one hypocrite mautinZ deceiveth the other, and they are scorners and persecutors one of another among themselves ; and one is a wolf as well as another ; and the poor Abel (who standeth in true resignation, and relieth upon God) must continually be 4 their footstool, he is 4 as the dust
,• n , , . under their continually murdered in a twofold manner. seat.
p. 554
114. One is, that he is deceived, and goeth along into Babel, and is murdered, as to the kingdom of heaven. The other is, that if he remain constant, then the devil (with Cain) will not endure him, but nmrdereth him outwardly, as to the body, or taketh away his good name and credit,
1 with ail and l covereth him so that he may not be manner of . .
slanders and known, that so the kingdom oi Cam and the Antichrist may remain in Babel ; of which we know well how" to speak by our own experience, if wrath and auger did please us. But it fareth very well with our Abel, and our being scorned springeth up in the blossoming of the lily, whereat we will rejoice well enough, when we return again from Jericho to Jerusalem to our father Abel.
115. And now what hast thou to expect, thou proud bride of Babel, for thy stately pride, from the spirit of this world, that thou servest it so faithfully ? Behold, thou hast a threefold [reward to expect] ; First, that the spirit of this world leave thee, and depart from thee, and tear away thy proud body from thee, and turn it to dust and ashes ; and it taketh thy goods, power, and pomp, and giveth them to another, and tormenteth him for a while therein.
116. And secondly, that it receive all thy purposes and deeds, and set them in the tincture of thy soul, and make of it another dwelling-house for thy soul, that it may not send thee so naked away from it.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 555
117. And then, thirdly, that it hath brought thy soul out of heaven into the pleasures of this world, and now leaveth it in its misery, wholly naked and bare, sitting in its filthiness, and goeth away and regardeth no more where the soul is, or how it is with it, if it l were in the abyss of hell [it were all » Or should one to the spirit of this world] ; this thou hast to g° expect for thy recompense from the spirit of this world, because thou hast so truly served it.
118. Therefore, 0 Cain I flee away from the spirit of this world, there is a fire (out of the root of the originality) from the Lord of heaven in it ; thy swelled secret kingdom is kindled, that men may see [or know] thee in every place ; thou shalt
continually ride l after you ; he will still sit upon ' use all the your beast, and be lord also, and ride over the authority he bended knees, and thus the kingdom of this world do.*8 is a right den of thieves, and in the presence of God a lake of abominations.
- 113. The spirit of your stout beast is the hellish
- * worm ; the crowned bride that sitts upon it is 2 dragou or the false woman [or whore] of Babel : She drinks be only out of the cup of whoredom and abominations, her drink in that cup is the fierceness of the anger of God, of which the people [or nations] drink, and become drunk, and so in their drunkenness they become murderers, robbers, thieves, false perfidious mockers, jesters, scorners, proud, high-minded, selfhonourers, stern malicious people ; there is no end of the number of those that hate one another; every one supposes his way is right, and that he walks in the right path ; if his brother and sister go not in the same way with him, he scorns them, and calls them heretics ; and so one wolf bits another ; his way is in his own opinion, as his master teaches him, who yet never regards anything but his 3 belly-god, that his esteem and3 his own
i i elected god glory may be great among men ; thus one hypocrite mautinZ deceives the other, and they are scorners and persecutors one of another among themselves ; and one is a wolf as well as another ; and the poor Abel (who stands in true resignation, and relies upon God) must continually be 4 their footstool, he is 4 as the dust
,• n , , . under their continually murdered in a twofold manner. seat.
554 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 20
114. One is, that he is deceived, and goes along into Babel, and is murdered, as to the kingdom of heaven. The other is, that if he remain constant, then the devil (with Cain) will not endure him, but nmrders him outwardly, as to the body, or takes away his good name and credit,
1 with ail and l covers him so that he may not be manner of . .
slanders and known, that so the kingdom oi Cam and the Antichrist may remain in Babel ; of which we know well how" to speak by our own experience, if wrath and auger did please us. But it fars very well with our Abel, and our being scorned springs up in the blossoming of the lily, whereat we will rejoice well enough, when we return again from Jericho to Jerusalem to our father Abel.
115. And now what have you to expect, you proud bride of Babel, for your stately pride, from the spirit of this world, that you servest it so faithfully ? Behold, you have a threefold [reward to expect] ; First, that the spirit of this world leave you, and depart from you, and tear away your proud body from you, and turn it to dust and ashes ; and it takes your goods, power, and pomp, and gives them to another, and torments him for a while therein.
116. And secondly, that it receive all your purposes and deeds, and set them in the tincture of your soul, and make of it another dwelling-house for your soul, that it may not send you so naked away from it.
Ch. 20] ADAM AND EVE'S GOING OUT OF PARADISE 555
117. And then, thirdly, that it has brought your soul out of heaven into the pleasures of this world, and now leaves it in its misery, wholly naked and bare, sitting in its filthiness, and goes away and regards no more where the soul is, or how it is with it, if it l were in the abyss of hell [it were all » Or should one to the spirit of this world] ; this you have to g° expect for your recompense from the spirit of this world, because you have so truly served it.
118. Therefore, 0 Cain I flee away from the spirit of this world, there is a fire (out of the root of the originality) from the Lord of heaven in it ; your swelled secret kingdom is kindled, that men may see [or know] you in every place ; you shall