Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
48. Yet he soweth the Pearl in his afflicting anguish, and the devil covereth it in him, that he may not know it, neither doth he know himself; he soweth into the kingdom of God, and knoweth not his own seed, but the seed of sin, and of the hunter. And so he consenteth not to the sins which he committeth ; but the devil with his
4 sect * followers [or associates] overpower him, so that the Adamical man in the anger doth that which the new-born [man] in the holy element willeth not ; now though he doth it, yet the new man in the image doth it not, but the old man in the » Or in the 6 anger. And therefore there is in him a continual striving four . „ , , , • n elements. stnic, and he runneth continually to repentance ;
Ch. 21] THE CAINISH AND ABELLISH KINGDOMS 577
where yet the hidden man in the l anger cannot 1 Or in the reach the lily, but the hidden man [doth it]. ££$?
49. Therefore he standeth often in doubt and impatience ; and in such a man there is great strife; he knoweth not himself. He seeth and knoweth nothing else but his wickedness, and yet is born in God ; for his spirit continually breaketh the gate of the darkness, but then the anger in him doth hold him back that he cannot enter in, but yet sometimes he reacheth a glimpse, from whence the soul is cheered, and the Pearl is sown in a very dark valley.
50. And then when he considereth the sweet foretaste of the Pearl which he had, then the soul would fain go through, and it seeketh the Pearl ; but then cometh the black spirit, and covereth it from him, and then the storm and strife about the Pearl beginneth, each would have its right; the soul would have it, and then the devil covereth it, and casteth the wrath and 2 sin before it, that a Or infimithe soul should behold itself therein; then there way to the falleth to be weakness and neglect, so that the poor P( soul becometh weary, faint, and timorous, and so sitteth still, and thinketh continually of some other way to abstinence [or 3 amendment], how it might 3 comfort or best get the Pearl. rest'
51. But the 4 hunter is a cunning artist, who « driver, or cometh then with the region of this world, with worldly lusts of the flesh, with temporal honour and riches, and holdeth them before the poor soul,
p. 37
p. 578
1 husks, or that it might bite at his l swine's apples ; thus he crabs.
leadeth many a one for a long while, with his chains, captive in the anger of God.
52. But if the noble grain of mustard-seed be sown, then the noble virgin of God preserveth it, and maketh the poor soul continually careful to endeavour for abstinence, and to enter into fight with the devil. 0 what a wonderful way is it the children of God go in this miserable house of flesh ! which the reason of the hypocrites neither comprehendeth, nor can believe ; only they that have tried it, know it.
53. Though indeed the high precious knowledge is not [attained], except one hath overcome in the storm, and hath vanquished the devil, so that the soul hath once attained the heavenly gate, and gotten the garland of victory, which the lovely virgin of chastity setteth up, as a triumphant ensign of its conquest in its dear Champion, Christ,
* Or the and there riseth up the 2 wonderful knowledge, yet knowledge in the wonders not in perfection.
which neither eye hath seen, 54. For the old enemy is subtle, and strong, nor ear heard, .
nor ever who still assaulteth the soul again, to try now he entered into m. •» a •••*•» 11 the heart to may afflict and deceive it ; 11 he cannot overwhelm it with sins, then he beginneth an outward war
3 Or iniquity, with it, and stirreth up the children of 3 malice against it, so that they contemn, mock, deride, vilify it, and do all manner of evil to it ; and so they lay wait for its body and goods, they jeer, reproach, and scorn it, and account it as the offCh. 21]p. 579
48. Yet he sows the Pearl in his afflicting anguish, and the devil covers it in him, that he may not know it, neither does he know himself; he sows into the kingdom of God, and knows not his own seed, but the seed of sin, and of the hunter. And so he consents not to the sins which he committs ; but the devil with his
4 sect * followers [or associates] overpower him, so that the Adamical man in the anger does that which the new-born [man] in the holy element wills not ; now though he does it, yet the new man in the image does it not, but the old man in the » Or in the 6 anger. And therefore there is in him a continual striving four . „ , , , • n elements. stnic, and he runns continually to repentance ;
Ch. 21] THE CAINISH AND ABELLISH KINGDOMS 577 where yet the hidden man in the l anger cannot 1 Or in the reach the lily, but the hidden man [does it]. ££$?
49. Therefore he stands often in doubt and impatience ; and in such a man there is great strife; he knows not himself. He sees and knows nothing else but his wickedness, and yet is born in God ; for his spirit continually breaks the gate of the darkness, but then the anger in him does hold him back that he cannot enter in, but yet sometimes he reaches a glimpse, from whence the soul is cheered, and the Pearl is sown in a very dark valley.
50. And then when he considers the sweet foretaste of the Pearl which he had, then the soul would fain go through, and it seeks the Pearl ; but then comes the black spirit, and covers it from him, and then the storm and strife about the Pearl beginns, each would have its right; the soul would have it, and then the devil covers it, and casts the wrath and 2 sin before it, that a Or infimithe soul should behold itself therein; then there way to the falls to be weakness and neglect, so that the poor P( soul becomes weary, faint, and timorous, and so sitts still, and thinks continually of some other way to abstinence [or 3 amendment], how it might 3 comfort or best get the Pearl. rest'
51. But the 4 hunter is a cunning artist, who « driver, or comes then with the region of this world, with worldly lusts of the flesh, with temporal honour and riches, and holds them before the poor soul,
p. 37
578 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 21
1 husks, or that it might bite at his l swine's apples ; thus he crabs.
leads many a one for a long while, with his chains, captive in the anger of God.
52. But if the noble grain of mustard-seed be sown, then the noble virgin of God preservs it, and makes the poor soul continually careful to endeavour for abstinence, and to enter into fight with the devil. 0 what a wonderful way is it the children of God go in this miserable house of flesh ! which the reason of the hypocrites neither comprehends, nor can believe ; only they that have tried it, know it.
53. Though indeed the high precious knowledge is not [attained], except one has overcome in the storm, and has vanquished the devil, so that the soul has once attained the heavenly gate, and gotten the garland of victory, which the lovely virgin of chastity setts up, as a triumphant ensign of its conquest in its dear Champion, Christ,
* Or the and there rises up the 2 wonderful knowledge, yet knowledge in the wonders not in perfection.
which neither eye has seen, 54. For the old enemy is subtle, and strong, nor ear heard, .
nor ever who still assaults the soul again, to try now he entered into m. •» a •••*•» 11 the heart to may afflict and deceive it ; 11 he cannot overwhelm it with sins, then he beginns an outward war
3 Or iniquity, with it, and stirrs up the children of 3 malice against it, so that they contemn, mock, deride, vilify it, and do all manner of evil to it ; and so they lay wait for its body and goods, they jeer, reproach, and scorn it, and account it as the offCh. 21] THE CAINISH AND ABELLISH KINGDOMS 579