Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
have no knowledge or perception, yet their soft operation in the water maketh a seething, flowing forth, or boiling up one of another, and in the tincture of the blood, they cause a rising, seeing, feeling, hearing, and tasting. Therefore consider from whence the tincture proceedeth, wherein the noble life springeth up, that thus becometh sweet from harshness, bitterness, and fire, and you shall certainly find no other cause of it than the light : But whence cometh the light, that it can shine l in a dark body ? If you say it cometh from the light of the sun, then what shineth in the night, and enlighteneth your 2 senses and understanding so, that though your eyes be shut, you perceive and know what you do ? Here you will say, the noble mind doth lead you, and it is true. But whence hath the mind its original? You will say, the 3 Or thoughts 3 senses make the mind stirring ; and that is also senses. true. But whence come they both ? What is their birth or offspring? Why is it not so with the beasts ?
30. My dear Reader, if you be able, * break open all, and look into the pith, yet you shall not find it, though you should seek in the deep, in the stars, in the elements, in all living creatures, in stones, plants, trees, and in metals ; also in heaven and earth, you shall not find it. Now you will say, Where then shall I find it ? Dear Reader, I cannot so much as lend you the key that will lead you to it. But I will direct you where you shall find it ;
4 Or answer this question.
Ch. 4] OF THE TRUE ETERNAL NATURE 45
it lieth in the third chapter of the Evangelist St John, in these words : You must be born anew, by water, and by the Holy Ghost. This spirit is the key : When you attain it, receive it, and go before the first Principle, out of which this world and all creatures are created, and open the first root, from which such visible and sensible things did spring.
31. But you will say, this is only God, and he is a spirit, and hath created all things out of nothing. Tis very true, he is a spirit, and in our sight he is as nothing : And if we had not some knowledge of him by the creation, we should know nothing of him at all. And if he himself had not been from all eternity, there could nothing have ever been.
32. But what do you think there was before the times of the world, out of which the earth and stones proceeded, as also the stars and elements ? That out of which these proceeded was the root. But what is the root of these things ? Look, what do you find in these things ? Nothing else but fire, bitterness, and harshness [or astringent sourness], and these three are but one thing, and hence all things are generated. Now this was but a spirit before the times of the world, and yet you cannot find God in these three forms. The pure Deity is a light which is incomprehensible, and unperceivable, also almighty and all-powerful. Where is it then that men may find God?
33. Here open your noble mind, see, and search further. Seeing God is only good, from whencep. 46 cometh the evil ? And seeing also that he alone is the life, and the light, and the holy power, as it is undeniably true, from whence cometh the anger of God? From whence cometh the devil, and his [evil] will? Also hell-fire, from whence hath that its original ? Seeing there was nothing before the time of this world, but only Goo!, who was and is a spirit, and continueth so in eternity, from whence then is the first materia, or matter of evil ? For reason giveth this judgment, that there must needs have been in the spirit of God a will to generate the source or fountain of anger.
have no knowledge or perception, yet their soft operation in the water makes a seething, flowing forth, or boiling up one of another, and in the tincture of the blood, they cause a rising, seeing, feeling, hearing, and tasting. Therefore consider from whence the tincture proceeds, wherein the noble life springs up, that thus becomes sweet from harshness, bitterness, and fire, and you shall certainly find no other cause of it than the light : But whence comes the light, that it can shine l in a dark body ? If you say it comes from the light of the sun, then what shines in the night, and enlightens your 2 senses and understanding so, that though your eyes be shut, you perceive and know what you do ? Here you will say, the noble mind does lead you, and it is true. But whence has the mind its original? You will say, the 3 Or thoughts 3 senses make the mind stirring ; and that is also senses. true. But whence come they both ? What is their birth or offspring? Why is it not so with the beasts ?
30. My dear Reader, if you be able, * break open all, and look into the pith, yet you shall not find it, though you should seek in the deep, in the stars, in the elements, in all living creatures, in stones, plants, trees, and in metals ; also in heaven and earth, you shall not find it. Now you will say, Where then shall I find it ? Dear Reader, I cannot so much as lend you the key that will lead you to it. But I will direct you where you shall find it ;
4 Or answer this question.
Ch. 4] OF THE TRUE ETERNAL NATURE 45 it lies in the third chapter of the Evangelist St John, in these words : You must be born anew, by water, and by the Holy Ghost. This spirit is the key : When you attain it, receive it, and go before the first Principle, out of which this world and all creatures are created, and open the first root, from which such visible and sensible things did spring.
31. But you will say, this is only God, and he is a spirit, and has created all things out of nothing. Tis very true, he is a spirit, and in our sight he is as nothing : And if we had not some knowledge of him by the creation, we should know nothing of him at all. And if he himself had not been from all eternity, there could nothing have ever been.
32. But what do you think there was before the times of the world, out of which the earth and stones proceeded, as also the stars and elements ? That out of which these proceeded was the root. But what is the root of these things ? Look, what do you find in these things ? Nothing else but fire, bitterness, and harshness [or astringent sourness], and these three are but one thing, and hence all things are generated. Now this was but a spirit before the times of the world, and yet you cannot find God in these three forms. The pure Deity is a light which is incomprehensible, and unperceivable, also almighty and all-powerful. Where is it then that men may find God?
33. Here open your noble mind, see, and search further. Seeing God is only good, from whence
46 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 4 comes the evil ? And seeing also that he alone is the life, and the light, and the holy power, as it is undeniably true, from whence comes the anger of God? From whence comes the devil, and his [evil] will? Also hell-fire, from whence has that its original ? Seeing there was nothing before the time of this world, but only Goo!, who was and is a spirit, and continues so in eternity, from whence then is the first materia, or matter of evil ? For reason gives this judgment, that there must needs have been in the spirit of God a will to generate the source or fountain of anger.