Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
105. For all thrones are in God the Father, and without him is nothing ; he is the band of the eternity ; but his love in the body of Christ (as in his throne) holdeth the anger in the band of eternity (together with the devils) captive. And you must understand, that all is creaturely, his lover and also his anger ; and as is mentioned before^ so the difference [distinction or division] is aCh. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 725 birth ; and so it cannot be said, that the devils dwell far from Christ, no, they are near, and yet in eternity cannot reach to him ; for they cannot see the clear Deity in the light, but are * blinded by it ; 1 AS and we shall in eternity not see nor touch them, as that see in at present we see them not, because they are in blinded by™ another Principle, and so that Principle remaineth. * 'un'
106. Thus, my dear mind, know, 2that the2 AS the sun
» f-n • • i . i8 the centre creature of Christ is the centre of this throne, of ail that from whence every life proceedeth, viz. whatsoever and' spring is heavenly ; for in that centre is the Holy Trinity, elements!^ and not alone in this centre, but also in all angelical thrones, also in the souls of holy men ; only we must thus speak, that it may be understood. Now the body (understand the creature, the man Christ) is set in the midst of this throne, and standeth also in heaven (understand in this Principle) sitting 3 in » Or with, his throne at the right hand of God the Father.
107. The right hand of God is where the love quencheth the anger, and generateth the paradise, that must needs be the right hand of God, where the angry Father is called God in the love and light of his Heart, which is his Son ; and this bodily throne (viz. the whole body of Christ) is wholly at the right hand of God. But when it is said, at the right hand of God, then understand the most inward root of the sharp might of the Father, wherein the omnipotence consisteth, where the Father himself goeth forth into the reconceived will, into the meekness, and openeth the gate (in
p. 726
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 25 the dispelling of the darkness) in himself ; thus Christ is set therein, and sitteth thus at the right hand of the virtue [or power] and omnipotence, in such a manner as we cannot more highly express it with our tongue, we understand it well in the spirit ; therefore it is not needful for you to search any further into it, but only look that you attain the body of Christ, and then you have God and the kingdom of heaven; but we must write thus, because of the errors in the world, and for their longings sake that are therein.
108. But when you ask : Doth Christ sit or stand, or lie along ? Then thou ask, as if an ass should ask about his sack he carrieth, how the man made it; yet the ass must have provender given him, that he may carry the burthen the longer. Behold, Christ sitteth in himself, and standeth in himself, he needeth no chair, nor footstool ; his power is his stool, there is neither above nor beneath there. And as you see in the vision of Isaiah, that was full of eyes behind and before, above and beneath, so the body of Christ, the Holy Trinity shineth in the whole body, and needeth no sun nor daylight.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Of the 1 Feast of Pentecost. Of the Sending of the i Whitsuntide.
Holy Ghost to his Apostles, and the Believers.
The Holy Gate of the Divine Power.
1. HVTOW saith reason, if Christ ascended thus
105. For all thrones are in God the Father, and without him is nothing ; he is the band of the eternity ; but his love in the body of Christ (as in his throne) holds the anger in the band of eternity (together with the devils) captive. And you must understand, that all is creaturely, his lover and also his anger ; and as is mentioned before^ so the difference [distinction or division] is a
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 725 birth ; and so it cannot be said, that the devils dwell far from Christ, no, they are near, and yet in eternity cannot reach to him ; for they cannot see the clear Deity in the light, but are * blinded by it ; 1 AS and we shall in eternity not see nor touch them, as that see in at present we see them not, because they are in blinded by™ another Principle, and so that Principle remains. * 'un'
106. Thus, my dear mind, know, 2that the2 AS the sun
» f-n • • i . i8 the centre creature of Christ is the centre of this throne, of ail that from whence every life proceeds, viz. whatsoever and' spring is heavenly ; for in that centre is the Holy Trinity, elements!^ and not alone in this centre, but also in all angelical thrones, also in the souls of holy men ; only we must thus speak, that it may be understood. Now the body (understand the creature, the man Christ) is set in the midst of this throne, and stands also in heaven (understand in this Principle) sitting 3 in » Or with, his throne at the right hand of God the Father.
107. The right hand of God is where the love quenches the anger, and generats the paradise, that must needs be the right hand of God, where the angry Father is called God in the love and light of his Heart, which is his Son ; and this bodily throne (viz. the whole body of Christ) is wholly at the right hand of God. But when it is said, at the right hand of God, then understand the most inward root of the sharp might of the Father, wherein the omnipotence consists, where the Father himself goes forth into the reconceived will, into the meekness, and opens the gate (in
p. 726
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 25 the dispelling of the darkness) in himself ; thus Christ is set therein, and sitts thus at the right hand of the virtue [or power] and omnipotence, in such a manner as we cannot more highly express it with our tongue, we understand it well in the spirit ; therefore it is not needful for you to search any further into it, but only look that you attain the body of Christ, and then you have God and the kingdom of heaven; but we must write thus, because of the errors in the world, and for their longings sake that are therein.
108. But when you ask : Does Christ sit or stand, or lie along ? Then you ask, as if an ass should ask about his sack he carries, how the man made it; yet the ass must have provender given him, that he may carry the burthen the longer. Behold, Christ sitts in himself, and stands in himself, he needs no chair, nor footstool ; his power is his stool, there is neither above nor beneath there. And as you see in the vision of Isaiah, that was full of eyes behind and before, above and beneath, so the body of Christ, the Holy Trinity shines in the whole body, and needs no sun nor daylight.
THE TWENTY-SIXTH CHAPTER
Of the 1 Feast of Pentecost. Of the Sending of the i Whitsuntide.
Holy Ghost to his Apostles, and the Believers.
The Holy Gate of the Divine Power.
1. HVTOW says reason, if Christ ascended thus