Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
8 well-doing, and it is the beauty or the 2 welfare of a thing, that or flourishing, . . * or beneficial- which is lovely and dearest in it : In a creature itCh. 2] WHAT GOD AND THE DIVINE NATURE ARE 13 is the light by which the creature seeth [or perceiveth] : and therein reason and the senses consist, and it is the spirit which is generated out of the PHUR The word or syllable PHUR, is the prima materia [or first matter], and containeth in itself in the third Principle the l macrocosm, from x Or great which the elementary dominion, or region, or essence is generated : But in the first Principle it is the essence of the most inward birth, out of which God generateth or begetteth his Son from eternity, and thereout the Holy Ghost proceedeth ; understand out of the S U L and out of the P H U R. And in man also it is the light which is generated out of the sidereal spirit, in the 2 second centre of a Or second
, . ground of the the microcosm ; but in the spiraculum and spirit of little world, the soul, in the most inward centre, it is the light of God, which that soul only hath which is in the love of God, for it is only kindled and blown up from the Holy Ghost.
8. Observe now the depth of the divine 3 birth ; 3 Or of the
011 r* • • if eternal divine there is no oulphur in Uod, but it is generated from working, him, and there is such a virtue or power in him. For the syllable P H U R is [or signifieth] the most inward virtue or power of the original source or spring of the anger of the fierce tartness, or of the mobility, as is mentioned in the first chapter, and that syllable PHUR hath a fourfold form [property or power] in it, as first, harshness [or astringency], and then bitterness, fire, and water : the harshness is attractive, and is rough, cold and sharp, andp. 14 maketh all hard, hungry, and full of anguish ; and that attracting is a bitter sting or prickle, very terrible, and the first swelling or boiling up existeth in the anguish ; yet because it cannot rise higher from its seat, but is thus continually generated from beneath, therefore it falleth into a turning or wheeling, as swift as a thought, irf great anguish, and therein it falleth to be a twinkling flash, as if a steel and flint, or stone, were strongly struck together, and rubbed one against another.
9. For the harshness is as hard as a stone [or flint], and the bitterness rusheth and rageth like a 1 as the wheel l breaking wheel, which breaketh the hardness, and striketh fire stirreth up the fire, so that all falleth to be a terrible round™1 2 crack of fire, and flieth up ; and the harshness or !iromiblhlig' or astringency breaketh in pieces, whereby the dark thunderclap. » J tartness is terrified and sinketh back, and becometh as it were feeble or weak, or as if it were killed and dead, and runneth out, and becometh thin, and yieldeth itself to be overcome : But when the
'Orreflecteth. strong flash of fire 3shineth back again upon or into the tartness, and is mingled therein, and findeth the harshness so thin and overcome, then it is much more terrified ; for it is as if water were thrown upon the fire, which maketh a crack : Yet when the crack or terror is thus made in the overcome harshness, thereby it getteth another source [con4 Or shriek, dition or property], and a 4 crack, or noise of great joy, proceedeth out of the wrathful fierceness, and riseth up in fierce strength, as a kindledCh. 2] WHAT GOD AND THE DIVINE NATURE ARE 15 light : For the crack, in the twinkling of an eye, becometh white, clear, and light ; for thus the kindling of the light cometh in that very moment, as soon as the light (that is, the new crack of the fire) is infected or x impregnated with the harshness, l Or filled.
the tartness or astringency kindleth, and shrieketh, or is affrighted by the great light that cometh into it in the twinkling of an eye, as if it did awake from death, and becometh soft or 2 meek, lively and 2 Or lovely.
joyful ; it presently loseth its dark, rough, harsh, and cold virtue, and leapeth or springeth up for joy, and rejoice th in the light ; and its sting or prickle, which is the bitterness, that triumpheth in
8 well-doing, and it is the beauty or the 2 welfare of a thing, that or flourishing, . . * or beneficial- which is lovely and dearest in it : In a creature it
Ch. 2] WHAT GOD AND THE DIVINE NATURE ARE 13 is the light by which the creature sees [or perceives] : and therein reason and the senses consist, and it is the spirit which is generated out of the PHUR The word or syllable PHUR, is the prima materia [or first matter], and contains in itself in the third Principle the l macrocosm, from x Or great which the elementary dominion, or region, or essence is generated : But in the first Principle it is the essence of the most inward birth, out of which God generats or begetts his Son from eternity, and thereout the Holy Ghost proceeds ; understand out of the S U L and out of the P H U R. And in man also it is the light which is generated out of the sidereal spirit, in the 2 second centre of a Or second
, . ground of the the microcosm ; but in the spiraculum and spirit of little world, the soul, in the most inward centre, it is the light of God, which that soul only has which is in the love of God, for it is only kindled and blown up from the Holy Ghost.
8. Observe now the depth of the divine 3 birth ; 3 Or of the
011 r* • • if eternal divine there is no oulphur in Uod, but it is generated from working, him, and there is such a virtue or power in him. For the syllable P H U R is [or signifies] the most inward virtue or power of the original source or spring of the anger of the fierce tartness, or of the mobility, as is mentioned in the first chapter, and that syllable PHUR has a fourfold form [property or power] in it, as first, harshness [or astringency], and then bitterness, fire, and water : the harshness is attractive, and is rough, cold and sharp, and
14 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 2 makes all hard, hungry, and full of anguish ; and that attracting is a bitter sting or prickle, very terrible, and the first swelling or boiling up exists in the anguish ; yet because it cannot rise higher from its seat, but is thus continually generated from beneath, therefore it falls into a turning or wheeling, as swift as a thought, irf great anguish, and therein it falls to be a twinkling flash, as if a steel and flint, or stone, were strongly struck together, and rubbed one against another.
9. For the harshness is as hard as a stone [or flint], and the bitterness rushes and rags like a 1 as the wheel l breaking wheel, which breaks the hardness, and striks fire stirrs up the fire, so that all falls to be a terrible round™1 2 crack of fire, and flies up ; and the harshness or !iromiblhlig' or astringency breaks in pieces, whereby the dark thunderclap. » J tartness is terrified and sinks back, and becomes as it were feeble or weak, or as if it were killed and dead, and runns out, and becomes thin, and yields itself to be overcome : But when the
'Orreflects. strong flash of fire 3shineth back again upon or into the tartness, and is mingled therein, and finds the harshness so thin and overcome, then it is much more terrified ; for it is as if water were thrown upon the fire, which makes a crack : Yet when the crack or terror is thus made in the overcome harshness, thereby it getts another source [con4 Or shriek, dition or property], and a 4 crack, or noise of great joy, proceeds out of the wrathful fierceness, and rises up in fierce strength, as a kindled
Ch. 2] WHAT GOD AND THE DIVINE NATURE ARE 15 light : For the crack, in the twinkling of an eye, becomes white, clear, and light ; for thus the kindling of the light comes in that very moment, as soon as the light (that is, the new crack of the fire) is infected or x impregnated with the harshness, l Or filled.
the tartness or astringency kindls, and shrieks, or is affrighted by the great light that comes into it in the twinkling of an eye, as if it did awake from death, and becomes soft or 2 meek, lively and 2 Or lovely.
joyful ; it presently loses its dark, rough, harsh, and cold virtue, and leaps or springs up for joy, and rejoice th in the light ; and its sting or prickle, which is the bitterness, that triumphs in