Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

50. And behold, I tell you a Mystery ; as all whatsoever Adam was guilty of must stand yet [and be manifested] in this world on the body of Christ, and must be seen in this world, so also you shall see this temple (before the time that the incorruptible shall wholly swallow up the corruptible) in the lily in the wonders ; where the l anger * fierceness i i TI -n-i .11-1 and tyranny.

opposeth the lily, till it be reconciled in love, and till the 2 driver be put to open shame (as was done 2 oppressor.

also in the death 'of Christ) which the Jews hope for. But their sceptre is broken, and the life standeth in the birth of Christ ; yet they come from the ends of the world, and go out from

Jericho again into the holy Jerusalem, and eat with the Lamb ; this is a Wonder ; but the

3 driver is taken captive, and therefore we speak 3 persecutor, iTli. suppressor, thus wonderfully ; and at present we shall not be oppressor, or understood, till the 3 hunter is destroyed; and then our life cometh to us again, and standeth in the 4 valley of Jehosaphat. 4 Or victory.

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The other Gate of the Sufferings of Christ.

51. It is clearly shewn to us, wherefore the man Christ must thus suffer himself to be mocked, despised, scourged, crowned [with thorns], and crucified ; also why he must endure to be cried out upon for one that had a devil ; and wherefore he must be so spoken against by the wise and prudent ; also wherefore the simple people only hung to him, and but some few of the honourable and rich of this world. Though indeed we shall not please every one, yet we speak not our own words, but we speak (in our knowledge and driving in the spirit) that which is shewn us of God : Therefore uDderstand [and consider] it aright.

1 innocent. 52. Behold, the l guiltless man Christ was set in our stead, in the anger of the Father ; he must reconcile [and satisfy] not only all that which Adam had made himself guilty of, by his going forth from paradise into the kingdom of this world, and so fell foully in the presence of God, and was scorned of all the devils ; but [he must make atonement for] all that which was done afterwards, and which is still done, or [will be] done by us.

53. And this we set before your eyes, in the knowledge of God, and in true earnest sincerity ; not that we will despise any man, and exalt ourselves ; we would rather be banished from this world, than that we should seek our own praise in pride ; that is but dung and dross, and the spirit

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of knowledge would not stay with us ; this ought well to be considered. Therefore we will write (in our knowledge)^ for ourselves, and leave the event to God.

54. Behold, when Adam entered into this world, pride wrought in him ; he would be as God, as Moses saith, the serpent (the devil) persuaded him to it. He [man] would have the third Principle working and flowing in him, and thereby he lost God, and the kingdom of heaven. But that it is true that pride acted in man, look upon (7am, he would be lord alone, he would not that his brother should be accepted before God, fearing that he should then get the dominion, and therefore he slew him.

55. And so Cain and his successors have set up a potent kingdom, from whence dominion proceedeth, whereby one brother aspireth above another, and have made them slaves. And thus horrible tyranny hath been hatched, and the potent hath done whatsoever he listed ; he hath oppressed the needy at his pleasure ; he hath got to him the kingdom of the earth, and therewith exerciseth tyranny, wickedness, and wrong, and yet men must say to him, It is right ; he hath contrived all sorts of policy and cunning devices, and made laws of them [and established them for right], and afterwards sold them to others for rights, and hath brought up his children with wickedness and falsehood. He hath beaten down

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