Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
there watching, as a cat watcheth for a mouse, saying, 0 ! who can tell, whether that be true or no, which thou teachest, thou hast not seen it ; neither hath any come from the dead, and told it thee. There are many dead, that have taught just as thou dost; and yet doth not the world stand in its old l course, at one time as at another? They were counted fools, and so art thou, and after thee again things will be still as they were before. To what purpose then is thy care and pains ?
16. At length 2he cometh with a subtle snare, and saith, through the spirit of the great world in the mind, in himself, O, the heavens have caused thee to be born to it, that thou dost such foolish tricks, and would play juggling feats in thee, thy gifts are not from God ; God hath never spoken with thee ! And what canst thou know then ? Leave off, let it alone, thou mayest be a Christian well enough, and be quiet ; let the priests teach,
8 livings, pay, they have their 3 wages for it. What hast thou or hire for it.
to do with it ? Beloved Reader, with these blows this pen was once thrown to the ground, and the driver would have broken it, but the breath of God took it up again ; therefore it shall write what happened to it, to be an example for all wellwishers ; and it is an exceeding precious one.
17. Now when the devil had thus thrown it down, then it was silent, and desired not only to write no more, but the devil rushed in upon it, and beat it along, and would have broken it. He came forthCh. 24] OF TRUE REPENTANCE 667 with his sour apples, and held them before the soul of this pen, and would have it eat of his dainties ; also he strowed sugar upon them [as he did for Eve]. If he had gotten the soul again into his chains, how would he have been revenged on it ! as was afterwards known in the storm, where his mind was known very well. Now when it was thus, the lily faded and lost its fragrant smell, the Pearl did hide itself, and the virgin of the Pearl stood mourning, and the noble mind sank down in great unquietness.
18. Indeed the driver said at the beginning, that it should have rest with being quiet ; but it was rest only to flesh and blood, and yet it was no quietness either, but a furtherance to the hunting. But when the mind found itself in great unquietness of soul, it recollected the soul, and sought the Pearl which the soul had before, and supposed that it lay as a treasure in the l case of the soul, but » Or cabinet it was gone ; and then the mind sought that [Pearl] in body and soul, and behold it was not there, it could not be found ; and there was nothing to be seen but the devil's sour apples, which were strowed before the soul, that it should feed on them. But the soul stood in great perplexity, and would not eat of its evil fruit ; it called its virgin, but she sat as if she were asleep.
19. Thus the soul stood with great longing and desire ; also was many times in great combat with the hunter, who would still throw it to the ground. When it set itself in opposition against him, then
p. 668
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 24
1 Barmhertzigkeit, mercifulness.
2 Note, No pen in this world can sufficiently describe it.
3 the wisdom of God.
there watching, as a cat watches for a mouse, saying, 0 ! who can tell, whether that be true or no, which you teachest, you have not seen it ; neither has any come from the dead, and told it you. There are many dead, that have taught just as you do; and yet does not the world stand in its old l course, at one time as at another? They were counted fools, and so art you, and after you again things will be still as they were before. To what purpose then is your care and pains ?
16. At length 2he comes with a subtle snare, and says, through the spirit of the great world in the mind, in himself, O, the heavens have caused you to be born to it, that you do such foolish tricks, and would play juggling feats in you, your gifts are not from God ; God has never spoken with you ! And what can you know then ? Leave off, let it alone, you may be a Christian well enough, and be quiet ; let the priests teach,
8 livings, pay, they have their 3 wages for it. What have you or hire for it.
to do with it ? Beloved Reader, with these blows this pen was once thrown to the ground, and the driver would have broken it, but the breath of God took it up again ; therefore it shall write what happened to it, to be an example for all wellwishers ; and it is an exceeding precious one.
17. Now when the devil had thus thrown it down, then it was silent, and desired not only to write no more, but the devil rushed in upon it, and beat it along, and would have broken it. He came forth
Ch. 24] OF TRUE REPENTANCE 667
with his sour apples, and held them before the soul of this pen, and would have it eat of his dainties ; also he strowed sugar upon them [as he did for Eve]. If he had gotten the soul again into his chains, how would he have been revenged on it ! as was afterwards known in the storm, where his mind was known very well. Now when it was thus, the lily faded and lost its fragrant smell, the Pearl did hide itself, and the virgin of the Pearl stood mourning, and the noble mind sank down in great unquietness.
18. Indeed the driver said at the beginning, that it should have rest with being quiet ; but it was rest only to flesh and blood, and yet it was no quietness either, but a furtherance to the hunting. But when the mind found itself in great unquietness of soul, it recollected the soul, and sought the Pearl which the soul had before, and supposed that it lay as a treasure in the l case of the soul, but » Or cabinet it was gone ; and then the mind sought that [Pearl] in body and soul, and behold it was not there, it could not be found ; and there was nothing to be seen but the devil's sour apples, which were strowed before the soul, that it should feed on them. But the soul stood in great perplexity, and would not eat of its evil fruit ; it called its virgin, but she sat as if she were asleep.
19. Thus the soul stood with great longing and desire ; also was many times in great combat with the hunter, who would still throw it to the ground. When it set itself in opposition against him, then
p. 668
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 24
1 Barmhertzigkeit, mercifulness.
2 Note, No pen in this world can sufficiently describe it.
3 the wisdom of God.