Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
33. And now seeing the holy [thing] is in all places, and seeing the soul is a spirit, thereforeOh. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 601 there is nothing wanting, but that our soul comprehend the holy [thing], so that it hath that for its own, and if once it be united with that, then it attracteth [and putteth] on the pure element, wherein God dwelleth.
34. And therefore thus we say of Mary : She hath comprehended the holy heavenly eternal virgin of God, and put on the holy and pure element, [together] with the paradise, and yet was truly a virgin in this world [generated] by Joachim and Anna. But she was not called a holy pure virgin according to her earthly birth ; the flesh which she had from Joachim and Anna was not pure, without spot ; but her holiness and purity is according to the heavenly Virgin. Besides, she 1 the wisdom
J . . * ofGod.
brought not the heavenly virgin to her out 01 her own ability ; for the angel said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most high shall over-shadow thee; therefore that holy [thing] that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.
35. Here understand [and consider] it rightly ; the virtue [or power] is the heavenly virgin, for she is the 2 mercy of God ; and the holy [thing] a mercifulness.
is the centre in that [virtue or power], and that is the eternal birth of the Holy Trinity ; and the
Holy Ghost (which goeth forth out of the centre of God) overshadowed the humanity of Mary.
Thou must not think that the corrupted humanity hath comprehended the holy Deity as its own, sop. 602 that we might as it were say, that Mary (in her corrupted humanity) is like God : No ; the very pure element together with the paradise is inferior to God ; and though indeed we are generated out of his [power or] virtue, yet that [virtue] is substantial, and God is purely spirit ; for the name of God hath its original in the centre of the spirit, and not in the heaven ; only the light in the centre is the holy [thing], and [the light] hath Or of nature, no centre, for it is the end of l all things.
36. Therefore we say of Mary, that she hath received the heavenly pledge, which was unknown to nature, and which she (in her outward man) knew not at all, viz. the heavenly chaste virgin of God ; and in that [she received] the eternal Word of God the Father, which continueth eternally in the Father ; out of which the Holy Ghost goeth forth eternally, wherein the whole Deity is comprehended.
37. We cannot say, that the heavenly virgin of 2Barmhertz- the 2 mercy of God (viz. that which entered into c ' Mary out of the council of God) is become earthly ; but we say, that the soul of Mary hath comprehended the heavenly virgin ; and that the heavenly virgin hath put the heavenly new pure garment of the holy element out of the chaste virgin of God, viz. out of the [Barmhertzigkeit, mercifulness, or] mercy of God, on to the soul of Mary, as a new regenerated man ; and in that same she hath conceived the Saviour of all the world, and borneCh. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 60S him into this world. Therefore he said to the Jews, I am from above, but you are from beneath, and oj this world. I am not of this world. And he said also to Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world.
This (night Highly to be Considered.
33. And now seeing the holy [thing] is in all places, and seeing the soul is a spirit, therefore
Oh. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 601 there is nothing wanting, but that our soul comprehend the holy [thing], so that it has that for its own, and if once it be united with that, then it attracts [and putts] on the pure element, wherein God dwells.
34. And therefore thus we say of Mary : She has comprehended the holy heavenly eternal virgin of God, and put on the holy and pure element, [together] with the paradise, and yet was truly a virgin in this world [generated] by Joachim and Anna. But she was not called a holy pure virgin according to her earthly birth ; the flesh which she had from Joachim and Anna was not pure, without spot ; but her holiness and purity is according to the heavenly Virgin. Besides, she 1 the wisdom
J . . * ofGod.
brought not the heavenly virgin to her out 01 her own ability ; for the angel said to her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the most high shall over-shadow you; therefore that holy [thing] that shall be born of you, shall be called the Son of God.
35. Here understand [and consider] it rightly ; the virtue [or power] is the heavenly virgin, for she is the 2 mercy of God ; and the holy [thing] a mercifulness.
is the centre in that [virtue or power], and that is the eternal birth of the Holy Trinity ; and the
Holy Ghost (which goes forth out of the centre of God) overshadowed the humanity of Mary.
You must not think that the corrupted humanity has comprehended the holy Deity as its own, so
602 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 22 that we might as it were say, that Mary (in her corrupted humanity) is like God : No ; the very pure element together with the paradise is inferior to God ; and though indeed we are generated out of his [power or] virtue, yet that [virtue] is substantial, and God is purely spirit ; for the name of God has its original in the centre of the spirit, and not in the heaven ; only the light in the centre is the holy [thing], and [the light] has Or of nature, no centre, for it is the end of l all things.
36. Therefore we say of Mary, that she has received the heavenly pledge, which was unknown to nature, and which she (in her outward man) knew not at all, viz. the heavenly chaste virgin of God ; and in that [she received] the eternal Word of God the Father, which continues eternally in the Father ; out of which the Holy Ghost goes forth eternally, wherein the whole Deity is comprehended.
37. We cannot say, that the heavenly virgin of 2Barmhertz- the 2 mercy of God (viz. that which entered into c ' Mary out of the council of God) is become earthly ; but we say, that the soul of Mary has comprehended the heavenly virgin ; and that the heavenly virgin has put the heavenly new pure garment of the holy element out of the chaste virgin of God, viz. out of the [Barmhertzigkeit, mercifulness, or] mercy of God, on to the soul of Mary, as a new regenerated man ; and in that same she has conceived the Saviour of all the world, and borne
Ch. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 60S him into this world. Therefore he said to the Jews, I am from above, but you are from beneath, and oj this world. I am not of this world. And he said also to Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world.
This (night Highly to be Considered.