Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
11. All malicious captivated men (whom he hath captivated) are his hounds, which hunt the poor soul with haughtiness, bravery, covetousness, unchastity, anger, cursing, and wrongful oppression, so that the poor soul is infected with these things, and is very often set upon the devil's horse, as one of the [devil's] captives, and then the devil will ride with it into hell into the anger of God. 0 how often doth he rob the poor soul of her fair garment
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(of the knowledge of God) ! How doth he rend away the word of God from their ears and hearts, as Christ saith clearly ! Now if it will not do as he willeth, and that it breaketh out of his garden, then he casteth his dirt and filth upon it ; and then he stirreth up all his blood-hounds, they must bawl at it, and cast more disgrace upon it ; and then it standeth as an owl among the birds, who one and other will have a fling and a pluck at it ; and so it is also with the poor soul, which steppeth, through earnest repentance (out of the devil's net), into the new regeneration.
12. On the contrary, those others (who feed upon the weeds of the devil in vices and sins) are in peace ; for he fasteneth them in the anger of God, and they are his blood-hounds wherewith he hunteth the hind, the poor soul, which would escape and storm his hellish kingdom. The devil would be well contented, though some souls should escape (though he had rather increase than weaken his kingdom) but that his kingdom would be broken by it, which he cannot like.
18. For as he goeth a-hunting in his kingdom, and catcheth the poor souls which way soever he can, and layeth wait for them by his servants, with all manner of vice and wickedness, and so continually setteth such looking-glasses before the soul, that it should behold itself in its own wickedness, and tickleth it also with fair promises of great honour, power, and authority, he setteth the poor despisedCh. 24] OF TRUE REPENTANCE 665 sort before the soul, and saith, Wilt thou only be the fool of the world, come along with me, I will give thee the kingdom of this world for a possession, as he said to Christ ; so in like manner, when the soul hath put on the kingdom of heaven, and yet sticketh in the dark valley in flesh and blood, and seeth the devil's l murdering of its brethren and » Or massâcrinflr sisters, then it cometh to be armed of God to fight against the devil, and to discover his 2 burrow. For 2 trap, snare,
... . . , or pitfall the love to its neighbour constrameth it to do so, because it would help to increase the kingdom of heaven ; therefore it teacheth and reproveth thus, it warneth against sin, and teacheth the way to the kingdom of heaven ; which indeed the bestial body doth not understand ; it goeth away, like the rude ass, and thinketh with the starry and elementary mind, as followeth.
14. 0 ! what mischief I do to myself, in making myself the fool of the world ! What do I get by it but scorn and disgrace ? I am not sure of my life, thereby I bereave me and mine of our daily bread and livelihood, and must always be expecting of death, and swelter in the scorn of people. 0 ! how suddenly thou committest a fault, and then thou art persecuted, and art thrown away like a rotten apple ! And what reward have those thou leavest behind thee, but to suffer [the more] for thy sake?
15. Thus man in flesh and blood judgeth, and when the devil understandeth it, how soon is he
p. 666
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 24
1 Or order.
J the devil.
11. All malicious captivated men (whom he has captivated) are his hounds, which hunt the poor soul with haughtiness, bravery, covetousness, unchastity, anger, cursing, and wrongful oppression, so that the poor soul is infected with these things, and is very often set upon the devil's horse, as one of the [devil's] captives, and then the devil will ride with it into hell into the anger of God. 0 how often does he rob the poor soul of her fair garment
664 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 24
(of the knowledge of God) ! How does he rend away the word of God from their ears and hearts, as Christ says clearly ! Now if it will not do as he wills, and that it breaks out of his garden, then he casts his dirt and filth upon it ; and then he stirrs up all his blood-hounds, they must bawl at it, and cast more disgrace upon it ; and then it stands as an owl among the birds, who one and other will have a fling and a pluck at it ; and so it is also with the poor soul, which stepps, through earnest repentance (out of the devil's net), into the new regeneration.
12. On the contrary, those others (who feed upon the weeds of the devil in vices and sins) are in peace ; for he fastens them in the anger of God, and they are his blood-hounds wherewith he hunts the hind, the poor soul, which would escape and storm his hellish kingdom. The devil would be well contented, though some souls should escape (though he had rather increase than weaken his kingdom) but that his kingdom would be broken by it, which he cannot like.
18. For as he goes a-hunting in his kingdom, and catches the poor souls which way soever he can, and lays wait for them by his servants, with all manner of vice and wickedness, and so continually setts such looking-glasses before the soul, that it should behold itself in its own wickedness, and tickls it also with fair promises of great honour, power, and authority, he setts the poor despised
Ch. 24] OF TRUE REPENTANCE 665
sort before the soul, and says, Wilt you only be the fool of the world, come along with me, I will give you the kingdom of this world for a possession, as he said to Christ ; so in like manner, when the soul has put on the kingdom of heaven, and yet sticks in the dark valley in flesh and blood, and sees the devil's l murdering of its brethren and » Or mass&crinflr sisters, then it comes to be armed of God to fight against the devil, and to discover his 2 burrow. For 2 trap, snare,
... . . , or pitfall the love to its neighbour constrams it to do so, because it would help to increase the kingdom of heaven ; therefore it teaches and reprovs thus, it warns against sin, and teaches the way to the kingdom of heaven ; which indeed the bestial body does not understand ; it goes away, like the rude ass, and thinks with the starry and elementary mind, as follows.
14. 0 ! what mischief I do to myself, in making myself the fool of the world ! What do I get by it but scorn and disgrace ? I am not sure of my life, thereby I bereave me and mine of our daily bread and livelihood, and must always be expecting of death, and swelter in the scorn of people. 0 ! how suddenly you committest a fault, and then you are persecuted, and art thrown away like a rotten apple ! And what reward have those you leavest behind you, but to suffer [the more] for your sake?
15. Thus man in flesh and blood judges, and when the devil understands it, how soon is he
p. 666
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 24
1 Or order.
J the devil.