Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
must yet have a higher root from whence they proceed, which is not visible, but hidden ; especially if you look upon the starry heaven which endureth thus unchangeably ; therefore you ought to consider from whence it is proceeded, and how it subsisteth thus, and is not corrupted, nor riseth up above, nor falleth down beneath, though Indeed there is neither above nor beneath there. Now if you consider what preserveth all thus, and whence it is, then you find the eternal birth that hath no beginning, and you find the original of the eternal Principle, viz. the eternal indissoluble band : And then, secondly, you see the separation, in that the material world, with the stars and elements, are out of the first Principle, which containeth the outward and third Principle in it ; for you find in the elementary kingdom or dominion, a cause in every thing, wherefore it is, generateth, and moveth as it doth : But you find not the first cause, from 1 viz. the whence it is so: There are therefore *two several first and the . .
third Princi- Principles ; for you find in the visible things a corruptibility, and perceive that they must have a beginning, because they have an end.
26. And thirdly, you find in all things a glorious power and virtue, which is the life, growing and springing of every thing, and you find that therein lieth its beauty and pleasant welfare, from whence it stirreth. Now look upon an herb or plant, and consider it, what is its life which makes it grow ? And you shall find in the original, harshness, bitterCh. 4]p. 43
ness, fire, and water, and if you should separate these four things one from another, and put them together again, yet you shall neither see nor find any growing ; but if it were severed from its own mother that generated it at the beginning, then it remaineth dead ; much less can you bring the pleasant smell or colours into it.
27. Thus you see that there is an eternal root which affordeth this ; and if you could bring the colours and vegetation or growing into it, yet you could not bring the smell and virtue into it ; and thus you will find in the original of the smell and of the taste there must be another Principle, which the stock itself is not, for that Principle hath its original from the light of nature.
28. Now look upon the human life a little further, you neither see, find, nor apprehend any more by your sight than flesh and blood, wherein you are like other beasts ; secondly, you find the elements of air and fire which l work in you, and that it is 1 Or mingle i i • i t-f i 11 themselves.
but an animal or bestial lite, tor every beast hath the same in it, from whence proceedeth the lust to fill themselves, and to propagate themselves, as all plants, herbs, and grass, and yet you find no true understanding to be in all these living creatures ; for although the stars or constellations operate in 2 man, and afford him the senses, yet they are only 8 animal or
.. . bestial man.
such senses as belong to nourishment and propagation, like other beasts.
29. For the stars themselves are senseless, and
p. 44
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 4
1 Or upon a dark place.
2 Inward senses or thoughts.
must yet have a higher root from whence they proceed, which is not visible, but hidden ; especially if you look upon the starry heaven which endures thus unchangeably ; therefore you ought to consider from whence it is proceeded, and how it subsists thus, and is not corrupted, nor rises up above, nor falls down beneath, though Indeed there is neither above nor beneath there. Now if you consider what preservs all thus, and whence it is, then you find the eternal birth that has no beginning, and you find the original of the eternal Principle, viz. the eternal indissoluble band : And then, secondly, you see the separation, in that the material world, with the stars and elements, are out of the first Principle, which contains the outward and third Principle in it ; for you find in the elementary kingdom or dominion, a cause in every thing, wherefore it is, generats, and moves as it does : But you find not the first cause, from 1 viz. the whence it is so: There are therefore *two several first and the . .
third Princi- Principles ; for you find in the visible things a corruptibility, and perceive that they must have a beginning, because they have an end.
26. And thirdly, you find in all things a glorious power and virtue, which is the life, growing and springing of every thing, and you find that therein lies its beauty and pleasant welfare, from whence it stirrs. Now look upon an herb or plant, and consider it, what is its life which makes it grow ? And you shall find in the original, harshness, bitterCh. 4] OF THE TRUE ETERNAL NATURE 43 ness, fire, and water, and if you should separate these four things one from another, and put them together again, yet you shall neither see nor find any growing ; but if it were severed from its own mother that generated it at the beginning, then it remains dead ; much less can you bring the pleasant smell or colours into it.
27. Thus you see that there is an eternal root which affords this ; and if you could bring the colours and vegetation or growing into it, yet you could not bring the smell and virtue into it ; and thus you will find in the original of the smell and of the taste there must be another Principle, which the stock itself is not, for that Principle has its original from the light of nature.
28. Now look upon the human life a little further, you neither see, find, nor apprehend any more by your sight than flesh and blood, wherein you are like other beasts ; secondly, you find the elements of air and fire which l work in you, and that it is 1 Or mingle i i • i t-f i 11 themselves.
but an animal or bestial lite, tor every beast has the same in it, from whence proceeds the lust to fill themselves, and to propagate themselves, as all plants, herbs, and grass, and yet you find no true understanding to be in all these living creatures ; for although the stars or constellations operate in 2 man, and afford him the senses, yet they are only 8 animal or
.. . bestial man.
such senses as belong to nourishment and propagation, like other beasts.
29. For the stars themselves are senseless, and
p. 44
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 4
1 Or upon a dark place.
2 Inward senses or thoughts.