Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

scouring of the world; they upbraid it for its infirmities; if it do but reprove their faults and unrighteousness, - then it must be an hypocrite [with them].

55. Not only the children of malice do thus, but the devil many times bringeth the children of God, by his snares, to be against it, so that in their blindness they grow furious and raging, as Saul at Jerusalem did against Stephen. Thus the poor soul must be afflicted among thorns and thistles, and continually expect when the evil world shall tear away the body.

The victorious Gate of the poor Soul.

56. Now saith reason, What is the best counsel and remedy for the poor soul? What shall it do in this bath of thorns and thistles? Behold, we will shew thee the counsel of the * virgin, as1 Or wisdom it is given us for a victorious comfort, and we °f will write it for a firm Memorial to ourselves; for it may come, that we ourselves may stand in need of it, as we have already for a tedious while sweltered in this bath of thorns and thistles, wherein we also attained this garland ; and therefore we must not be silent, but set forth the gift of the virgin, which helpeth against all the 2 gates * Or power, of the devil.

57. Behold, thou poor soul in thy bath of thorns, where is thy home? Art thou at home in this

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world ? Wherefore then dost thou not seek the favour and friendship of the world ? Wherefore dost thou not hunt after temporal honour, after pleasure and riches, that it may go well with thee in this world ? Why dost thou make thyself a fool to the world, and art every one's owl and footstool ? Wherefore dost thou suffer thyself to be despised and abused by those that are inferior to thee, and know less than thou ? Why shouldst thou not be stately and brave with those seeming holy hypocrites ? And then thou wouldst be beloved, and nobody would abuse thee ; and thou wouldst be more safe and secure in thy body and goods, than in this way, wherein thou art but the world's owl and fool.

58. But my loving virgin saith, 0 thou my beloved companion, whom I have chosen, go with me, 1 am not of this world. I will bring thee out of this world into my kingdom, there is mere pleasant rest and welfare ; in my kingdom is mere

1 hunter, joy, honour, and glory, there is no x driver in it.

oppressor.' I will adorn thee with the glory of God, and put on thee my bright ornament. I will make thee a lord in heaven, and a judge over this world ; tbou shalt help to judge the l driver in his wickedness ; he shall be laid at thy feet for a footstool, and he shall not open his jaws against thee, but he shall be barred up for ever in his fierce gate ; thou shalt eat at my table, there shall be no grudging nor want ; my fruit is sweeter and pleasanter than

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the fruit of this world, thou shalt never have any woe arise from it ; all thy doings shall be pleasant cheerfulness and amiable discourse : mere humility in great love shall shine before thee. All thy companions are so very beautiful, thou shalt have joy in them all. Wherefore dost thou esteem thy corruptible life? Thou shalt enter into an incorruptible life that shall endure eternally.

59. But I have a little against thee: I have drawn thee out of the thorny bath, wherein thou wast a wild beast, and have figured thee for my image, and yet thy wild beast standeth in the thorny bath, which I will not take into my bosom, thou standest yet in xthy wild beast; now when i in the four the world taketh its wild beast which belongeth £H5 in thereto, then I will take thee, and so every one blood< shall have its own.

60. Wherefore dost thou love that wild beast so much, which doth but afflict thee ? And besides, thou canst not take it with thee, neither doth it belong to thee, but to the world; let the world do what it will with it, stay thou with me; it is but a little while before thy beast breaketh, and then thou art unbound, and abidest with me.

61. But I also have a law in my love, viz. I not only desire [to have] thee, but also thy brothers and sisters which are in the world, who are yet in