Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
ness remaineth overcome and feeble, which is now the water-spirit ; and the materia, or matter of the harshness, henceforth is like the brimstone-spirit, very thin, raw, aching, vanquished, and the sting in it is trembling; and it drieth and sharpeneth itself in the flash ; and being so very dry in the flash, it becometh continually more horrible and fiery, whereby the harshness or astringency is still more overcome, and the water-spirit continually greater. And so it continually refresheth itself in the water-spirit, and continually bringeth more matter to the fire-flash, whereby it is the more kindled ; for (in a similitude) that is the l fuel of1 Or wood, the flash or fire-spirit.
12. 2 Understand aright the manner of the 2 Or consider
. -I •» *- -ri r» • seriously, obexistence of this Mercunus. ihe word M E R, is serve, or first the strong, tart, harsh attraction ; for in that word (or syllable Mer) expressed by the tongue, you understand that it jarreth [proceeding] from the harshness, and you understand also, that the bitter sting or prickle is in it ; for the word MER is harsh and trembling, and every word [or syllable]
is formed or framed from its power or virtue, [and expresseth] whatsoever the power or virtue doth or suffereth. You [may] understand that the word
[or syllable] C U, is [or signifieth] the rubbing or unquietness of the sting or prickle, which maketh that the harshness is not at peace, but 8 heaveth * Or boiieth.
and riseth up ; for that syllable [thrusteth itself or]
presseth forth with the virtue [or breath] from thep. 8 heart, out of the mouth. It is done thus also in the virtue or power of the prima materia [or first matter] in the spirit, but the syllable C U having so strong a pressure from the heart, and yet is so presently snatched up by the syllable R I, and the whole understanding [sense or meaning] is changed into it; this signifieth and is the bitter prickly
'Orgeniture. wheel in the l generating, which vexeth and whirleth itself as swiftly as a thought : The syllable U S is [or signifieth] the swift fire-flash, that the materia, or matter, kindleth in the fierce whirling between the harshness and the bitterness in the swift wheel ; where you may very plainly understand [or observe] in the word, how the harshness is terrified, and how the power or virtue in the word sinketh down, or falleth back again upon the heart, and becometh very feeble and thin : Yet the sting or prickle with the whirling wheel, continueth in the flash, and goeth forth through the teeth out of the mouth ; where then the spirit hisseth like a fire a-kindling, and returning back again strengthened itself in the word.
13. These four forms are in the originalness of nature, and from thence the mobility doth exist, as also the life in the seed, and in all the creatures, hath its original from thence ; and there is no comprehensibility in the originalness, but such a virtue or power and spirit. For it is a poisonous
2 being, es- or venomous, hostile or inimicitious 2 thing : And sence, or . . t substance. it must be so, or else there would be no mobility,Ch. 1] FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE 9 but all [would be as] nothing, and the source of wrath or anger is the first l original of nature.
_ _ _ _ or originality.
14. Yet here 1 do not altogether Lmean °r] understand the Mercurius [mercury or quicksilver] which is in the third Principle 2of this created2 or. world, which the apothecaries use (although that hath the same virtue or power, and is of the same essence), but I speak [of that] in the first Principle, viz. of the originalness of the essence of all essences, of God, and of the eternal beginningless nature, from whence the nature of this world is generated. Although in the originalness of both of them there is no separation ; but only the outward and third Principle, the sidereal and elementary kingdom [region or dominion] is generated out of the first Principle by the Word and spirit of God out of the eternal Father, out of the holy heaven.
'B
THE SECOND CHAPTER
ness remains overcome and feeble, which is now the water-spirit ; and the materia, or matter of the harshness, henceforth is like the brimstone-spirit, very thin, raw, aching, vanquished, and the sting in it is trembling; and it dries and sharpens itself in the flash ; and being so very dry in the flash, it becomes continually more horrible and fiery, whereby the harshness or astringency is still more overcome, and the water-spirit continually greater. And so it continually refreshes itself in the water-spirit, and continually brings more matter to the fire-flash, whereby it is the more kindled ; for (in a similitude) that is the l fuel of1 Or wood, the flash or fire-spirit.
12. 2 Understand aright the manner of the 2 Or consider
. -I •» *- -ri r» • seriously, obexistence of this Mercunus. ihe word M E R, is serve, or first the strong, tart, harsh attraction ; for in that word (or syllable Mer) expressed by the tongue, you understand that it jarrs [proceeding] from the harshness, and you understand also, that the bitter sting or prickle is in it ; for the word MER is harsh and trembling, and every word [or syllable]
is formed or framed from its power or virtue, [and expresses] whatsoever the power or virtue does or suffers. You [may] understand that the word
[or syllable] C U, is [or signifies] the rubbing or unquietness of the sting or prickle, which makes that the harshness is not at peace, but 8 heavs * Or boiies.
and rises up ; for that syllable [thrusts itself or]
presses forth with the virtue [or breath] from the
8 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 1 heart, out of the mouth. It is done thus also in the virtue or power of the prima materia [or first matter] in the spirit, but the syllable C U having so strong a pressure from the heart, and yet is so presently snatched up by the syllable R I, and the whole understanding [sense or meaning] is changed into it; this signifies and is the bitter prickly
'Orgeniture. wheel in the l generating, which vexes and whirls itself as swiftly as a thought : The syllable U S is [or signifies] the swift fire-flash, that the materia, or matter, kindls in the fierce whirling between the harshness and the bitterness in the swift wheel ; where you may very plainly understand [or observe] in the word, how the harshness is terrified, and how the power or virtue in the word sinks down, or falls back again upon the heart, and becomes very feeble and thin : Yet the sting or prickle with the whirling wheel, continues in the flash, and goes forth through the teeth out of the mouth ; where then the spirit hisses like a fire a-kindling, and returning back again strengthened itself in the word.
13. These four forms are in the originalness of nature, and from thence the mobility does exist, as also the life in the seed, and in all the creatures, has its original from thence ; and there is no comprehensibility in the originalness, but such a virtue or power and spirit. For it is a poisonous
2 being, es- or venomous, hostile or inimicitious 2 thing : And sence, or . . t substance. it must be so, or else there would be no mobility,
Ch. 1] FIRST PRINCIPLE OF THE DIVINE ESSENCE 9 but all [would be as] nothing, and the source of wrath or anger is the first l original of nature.
_ _ _ _ or originality.
14. Yet here 1 do not altogether Lmean °r] understand the Mercurius [mercury or quicksilver] which is in the third Principle 2of this created2 or. world, which the apothecaries use (although that has the same virtue or power, and is of the same essence), but I speak [of that] in the first Principle, viz. of the originalness of the essence of all essences, of God, and of the eternal beginningless nature, from whence the nature of this world is generated. Although in the originalness of both of them there is no separation ; but only the outward and third Principle, the sidereal and elementary kingdom [region or dominion] is generated out of the first Principle by the Word and spirit of God out of the eternal Father, out of the holy heaven.
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THE SECOND CHAPTER