Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
18. So also the sound, where the love is predominant ; it bringeth most joyful tidings or news into all the forms of the birth, as also the fire in the love, that kindletb the love rightly in all the fountain-spirits, as is mentioned above ; and the love kindleth love in its essence. When the love is predominant in love, it is the sweetest, meekest, humblest, most loving fountain of all that springeth in all the fountains ; and it confirmeth and fixethp. 28 the heavenly birth, so that it is a holy divine essence or substance.
19. You must also mark the form of the waterspirit ; when that generateth its like, so that it is predominant in its regeneration or second birth, and that a centre is awakened in it, (which itself in its own essence doth not awaken, but the other fountain-spirits do it therein), it [the water-spirit] is still and quiet as a meek mother, and suffereth the others to sow their seed into it, and to awaken the centre in it, so that the fire riseth up, from 1 Or begtnneth whence the life l is moved. In this [form] the to stir. t J fire is not a hot burning [scorching] fire, but cool, mild, soft and sweet ; and the bitterness is no bitterness, but cool, mild, budding, and flowing forth, from whence the forming [or figuring and beauteous shape] in the heavenly glory proceedeth, and is a most beautiful substance ; for the sound also in this birth floweth forth most pleasantly and harmoniously, all as it were palpably or feelingly ; or in a similitude, as a word that cometh to be an essence, or a comprehensible substance. For in this regeneration that is brought to pass in the water-spirit, (that is, in the true mother of the regeneration of all the fountain-spirits), all is as it were comprehensible or substantial ; although no comprehensibility must be understood here, but spirit.
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
Of the l true Eternal Nature, that is, of the*0r right. numberless and endless 2 generating of the 2 begetting, or n • 7 /• i 77T 7-7- propagation.
Birth of the eternal Essence, which is the Essence of all Essences; out of which was generated, born, and at length created, this World, with the Stars and Elements, and all whatsoever moveth, stirreth, or liveth therein.
The open Gate of tlie Great Depth. 1. "i FERE I must encounter with the proud and _J — L seeming conceited wise, who doth but grope in the dark, and knoweth or understandeth nothing of the spirit of God, and must comfort both him and also the desirous longing Reader who loveth God, and must shew them a little door to the heavenly essence ; and shew them in what manner they should understand these writings, before I come to the 3 chapter itself. ' °r p°int2. I know very well, and my spirit and mind sheweth me as much, that many will be offended at the simplicity and meanness of the author, for offering to write of such high things ; and many will think (with themselves) he hath no authority
p. 29
p. 30
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 4
1 substance, or offspring.
to do it, aud that he doth very sinfully in it, and runneth clean contrary to God and his will, in presuming, being but a man, to go about to speak and say what God is.
18. So also the sound, where the love is predominant ; it brings most joyful tidings or news into all the forms of the birth, as also the fire in the love, that kindletb the love rightly in all the fountain-spirits, as is mentioned above ; and the love kindls love in its essence. When the love is predominant in love, it is the sweetest, meekest, humblest, most loving fountain of all that springs in all the fountains ; and it confirms and fixes
28 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 3 the heavenly birth, so that it is a holy divine essence or substance.
19. You must also mark the form of the waterspirit ; when that generats its like, so that it is predominant in its regeneration or second birth, and that a centre is awakened in it, (which itself in its own essence does not awaken, but the other fountain-spirits do it therein), it [the water-spirit] is still and quiet as a meek mother, and suffers the others to sow their seed into it, and to awaken the centre in it, so that the fire rises up, from 1 Or begtnns whence the life l is moved. In this [form] the to stir. t J fire is not a hot burning [scorching] fire, but cool, mild, soft and sweet ; and the bitterness is no bitterness, but cool, mild, budding, and flowing forth, from whence the forming [or figuring and beauteous shape] in the heavenly glory proceeds, and is a most beautiful substance ; for the sound also in this birth flows forth most pleasantly and harmoniously, all as it were palpably or feelingly ; or in a similitude, as a word that comes to be an essence, or a comprehensible substance. For in this regeneration that is brought to pass in the water-spirit, (that is, in the true mother of the regeneration of all the fountain-spirits), all is as it were comprehensible or substantial ; although no comprehensibility must be understood here, but spirit.
THE FOURTH CHAPTER
Of the l true Eternal Nature, that is, of the*0r right. numberless and endless 2 generating of the 2 begetting, or n • 7 /• i 77T 7-7- propagation.
Birth of the eternal Essence, which is the Essence of all Essences; out of which was generated, born, and at length created, this World, with the Stars and Elements, and all whatsoever moves, stirrs, or lives therein.
The open Gate of tlie Great Depth. 1. "i FERE I must encounter with the proud and _J — L seeming conceited wise, who does but grope in the dark, and knows or understands nothing of the spirit of God, and must comfort both him and also the desirous longing Reader who loves God, and must show them a little door to the heavenly essence ; and show them in what manner they should understand these writings, before I come to the 3 chapter itself. ' °r p°int2. I know very well, and my spirit and mind shows me as much, that many will be offended at the simplicity and meanness of the author, for offering to write of such high things ; and many will think (with themselves) he has no authority
p. 29
p. 30
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 4
1 substance, or offspring.
to do it, aud that he does very sinfully in it, and runns clean contrary to God and his will, in presuming, being but a man, to go about to speak and say what God is.