Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
express the it according to our understanding. I1 or 1m is the name. ' Heart of God in the holy Ternary, for it is conceived [or comprehended], as thou mayest understand it, in the conception [or comprehending, or expressing] of the word. Ma is his entering into the humanity in the soul ; for that word [or syllable] presseth out from the heart ; and we understand that he conceived [or comprehended] the heart (viz. the virtue of the Father) in the soul, and goeth with the word [or syllable] nut aloft, which signifieth his ascension into heaven, as to his soul. El is the name of the great angel, which with the soul triumph eth above the heaven, not only in the heaven, but in the Trinity.
74. For the word Himmel [heaven] hath another meaning in the language of nature. The syllable Him goeth out from the heart (viz. out of the virtue of the Father) or out of the essences of the soul, and putteth forth upwards into the holy Ternary ; and then it compresseth it with both the lips, and bringeth the angel's name downwards
Ch. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 619
(viz. the syllable Mel) which signifieth the humility of the angels, that they do not exalt their heart in pride, flying into the Trinity ; but as Isaiah saith, that they cover their faces in humility (before the holy God) with their icings, and continually cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord 1 of hosts. l Zebaoth.
75. So now you understand that this angel is greater than any angel in heaven, for he hath a heavenly human body, and hath a human soul, and hath the eternal heavenly bride, the virgin of wisdom, and hath the holy Trinity ; and we can truly say [he is] a Person in the holy Trinity in heaven, and a true man in heaven, and in this world an eternal king, a Lord of heaven and earth.
76. His name Jesus sheweth it more properly in the language of nature ; for the syllable Je is his humbling [in-coming] out of his father, into the humanity; and the syllable sus is the bringing in of the soul above the heaven, into the Trinity ; as the syllable sus indeed presseth aloft through all.
77. Much more is understood in the name Christus, which comprehendeth not his incarnation, but goeth (as a man [that is] born) through death ; for the syllable Chris presseth through the death ; and the syllable tus signifieth his strong might, in that he thus goeth forth from death, and presseth through ; and it is very properly understood in the word, how he severed the kingdom of this world and the angelical man asunder, and continueth in
p. 620
God, in the angelical man, for the syllable tus is pure without death.
78. Though indeed here we shall be as one that is dumb to the world, yet we have written it for ourselves, for we understand it very well ; and it is plain enough to the tree of the lily. But that the Person of Christ, with his deeds and essence, might be rightly demonstrated to the Reader, that he might apprehend it aright, I therefore direct him to the temptation of Christ in the wilderness after his baptism ; whereat thou shouldst open thine eyes, and not speak like the spirit in Babel, which saith, We know not what his temptation was. And lay the fault upon the devil, that he was so impudent to presume to tempt Christ ; saying, moreover, We ought not to dive into it, [nor be so inquisitive about it], we will let that alone till we come thither [into the other life], and then we shall see what it is. Besides, they forbid him that hath eyes to see, none must search into it, [if they
» do] they are called enthusiasts, and are cried out upon for novelists [such as broach new opinions and pretend to new lights] and for heretics.
79. 0 ye blind wolves of Babel, what have we to do with you ? We are not generated from your the schools * kingdom. Why will you rend and tear our dear sities. Immanuel out of our hearts and eyes, and so would
8 Or heresy, make us blind ? Is it a 2 sin for us to enquire after God our salvation, and after our true native country? Sure it is much more 2sin to hearken
Ch. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 621
express the it according to our understanding. I1 or 1m is the name. ' Heart of God in the holy Ternary, for it is conceived [or comprehended], as you may understand it, in the conception [or comprehending, or expressing] of the word. Ma is his entering into the humanity in the soul ; for that word [or syllable] presses out from the heart ; and we understand that he conceived [or comprehended] the heart (viz. the virtue of the Father) in the soul, and goes with the word [or syllable] nut aloft, which signifies his ascension into heaven, as to his soul. El is the name of the great angel, which with the soul triumph eth above the heaven, not only in the heaven, but in the Trinity.
74. For the word Himmel [heaven] has another meaning in the language of nature. The syllable Him goes out from the heart (viz. out of the virtue of the Father) or out of the essences of the soul, and putts forth upwards into the holy Ternary ; and then it compresses it with both the lips, and brings the angel's name downwards
Ch. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 619
(viz. the syllable Mel) which signifies the humility of the angels, that they do not exalt their heart in pride, flying into the Trinity ; but as Isaiah says, that they cover their faces in humility (before the holy God) with their icings, and continually cry, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord 1 of hosts. l Zebaoth.
75. So now you understand that this angel is greater than any angel in heaven, for he has a heavenly human body, and has a human soul, and has the eternal heavenly bride, the virgin of wisdom, and has the holy Trinity ; and we can truly say [he is] a Person in the holy Trinity in heaven, and a true man in heaven, and in this world an eternal king, a Lord of heaven and earth.
76. His name Jesus shows it more properly in the language of nature ; for the syllable Je is his humbling [in-coming] out of his father, into the humanity; and the syllable sus is the bringing in of the soul above the heaven, into the Trinity ; as the syllable sus indeed presses aloft through all.
77. Much more is understood in the name Christus, which comprehends not his incarnation, but goes (as a man [that is] born) through death ; for the syllable Chris presses through the death ; and the syllable tus signifies his strong might, in that he thus goes forth from death, and presses through ; and it is very properly understood in the word, how he severed the kingdom of this world and the angelical man asunder, and continues in
620 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 22
God, in the angelical man, for the syllable tus is pure without death.
78. Though indeed here we shall be as one that is dumb to the world, yet we have written it for ourselves, for we understand it very well ; and it is plain enough to the tree of the lily. But that the Person of Christ, with his deeds and essence, might be rightly demonstrated to the Reader, that he might apprehend it aright, I therefore direct him to the temptation of Christ in the wilderness after his baptism ; whereat you should open your eyes, and not speak like the spirit in Babel, which says, We know not what his temptation was. And lay the fault upon the devil, that he was so impudent to presume to tempt Christ ; saying, moreover, We ought not to dive into it, [nor be so inquisitive about it], we will let that alone till we come thither [into the other life], and then we shall see what it is. Besides, they forbid him that has eyes to see, none must search into it, [if they
» do] they are called enthusiasts, and are cried out upon for novelists [such as broach new opinions and pretend to new lights] and for heretics.
79. 0 you blind wolves of Babel, what have we to do with you ? We are not generated from your the schools * kingdom. Why will you rend and tear our dear sities. Immanuel out of our hearts and eyes, and so would
8 Or heresy, make us blind ? Is it a 2 sin for us to enquire after God our salvation, and after our true native country? Sure it is much more 2sin to hearken
Ch. 22] THE NEW REGENERATION IN CHRIST 621