Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
the many benefits mentioned that would arise from the studying this author's writings, which may there be read. Among the rest there is a hint about reforming the laws, by degrees, in every nation ; and there is no doubt, but if those in whose hands it is to make laws did but consider what the spirit of God is, and may be stirred up in them, they would stir him up and make a reformation according to that spirit of love, the Holy Ghost. And then they would be God's true vicegerents ; they would be the fathers of their country, and deal with every obstinate rebellious member in the kingdom as a father would do with a disobedient child. 1 First tell him lovingly and shew him his faults ; if that will not do, he will inquire the reason, and study some course to remedy the cause that hindereth his amendment. But if he should go beyond the bounds of reason and be beside himself, he would take care of his safety, livelihood and cure. v God taketh such care for us all, though we be most obstinate enemies against him ; and we should do so for all our brethren, the sons of Adam ; though they be our enemies, we should examine their wants in all things, and supply them, that necessity may not compel them to be our enemies still, and offend God, that they may but live. If they will not be quiet when they have their wants supplied, and their wrongs redressed, but will turn murderers, and so deserve to live no longer, in mercy let them
TO THE READER XV11
be provided for as other more friendly children of the Commonwealth, and removed to live by themselves, in some remote uninhabited country, where they may have no occasion to do hurt among those whom they would not suffer to live quietly." But let them not there want that which may give them honest subsistence, as others who are willing to transplant themselves. And for those that desire to live quietly and peaceably at home, let all their earthly things be so ordered that they may easily understand what right and wrong are, by having most brief, plain and easy laws to be governed by, and have their wants considered and supplied. Then all hearts will bless the hands of such reformers, and love will cover all the ends of the earthy and the God of love will give us his blessing of peace all the world over, and then the King of Glory will dwell with men, and all the kingdoms of the earth will be his. Who would not desire such a thing, with me, The unworthiest of the children of men ?
J. S.
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
TO THIS BQOK
1. ~T\ /TAN can undertake nothing from the be- -LV_J_ ginning of his youth, nor in the whole course of his time in this world, that is more profitable and necessary for him, than to learn to know himself ; what he is, out of what, from whence, and for what he is created, and what his l office is. In ^uty, emsuch a serious consideration he will presently find, business is.
that he, and all the creatures that are, come all from
God ; he will also find, among all the creatures, that he is the most noble creature of them all ; from whence he will very well perceive how God's intent is towards him, in that he hath made him lord over all the creatures of this world, and hath endued him with 2 mind, reason, and understanding, above 2 Or sense.
all the rest of the creatures, especially with speech or language, so that he can distinguish everything that soundeth, stirreth, moveth, or groweth, and judge of everything's virtue, effect, and original ;
and that all is put under his hand, so that he can bend them, use, and manage them, according to his will, as pleaseth him.
xix
XX
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
2. Moreover, God hath given him higher and greater knowledge than this, in that he can penetrate into the heart of everything, and discern what essence, virtue, and property it hath, both in the creatures, in earth, stones, trees, herbs, in all moveable and immoveable things ; also in the stars and elements, so that he knoweth what substance and virtue they have, and that in their virtue, all
'growing. natural sensibility, Vegetation, Multiplication,
2orPLTe^0n and life, doth consist.
3. Above all this, God hath given him the understanding and perception to know God his Creator ; what and whence man is, how he is, and where he is, and out of what he proceeded, or
the many benefits mentioned that would arise from the studying this author's writings, which may there be read. Among the rest there is a hint about reforming the laws, by degrees, in every nation ; and there is no doubt, but if those in whose hands it is to make laws did but consider what the spirit of God is, and may be stirred up in them, they would stir him up and make a reformation according to that spirit of love, the Holy Ghost. And then they would be God's true vicegerents ; they would be the fathers of their country, and deal with every obstinate rebellious member in the kingdom as a father would do with a disobedient child. 1 First tell him lovingly and show him his faults ; if that will not do, he will inquire the reason, and study some course to remedy the cause that hinders his amendment. But if he should go beyond the bounds of reason and be beside himself, he would take care of his safety, livelihood and cure. v God takes such care for us all, though we be most obstinate enemies against him ; and we should do so for all our brethren, the sons of Adam ; though they be our enemies, we should examine their wants in all things, and supply them, that necessity may not compel them to be our enemies still, and offend God, that they may but live. If they will not be quiet when they have their wants supplied, and their wrongs redressed, but will turn murderers, and so deserve to live no longer, in mercy let them
TO THE READER XV11
be provided for as other more friendly children of the Commonwealth, and removed to live by themselves, in some remote uninhabited country, where they may have no occasion to do hurt among those whom they would not suffer to live quietly." But let them not there want that which may give them honest subsistence, as others who are willing to transplant themselves. And for those that desire to live quietly and peaceably at home, let all their earthly things be so ordered that they may easily understand what right and wrong are, by having most brief, plain and easy laws to be governed by, and have their wants considered and supplied. Then all hearts will bless the hands of such reformers, and love will cover all the ends of the earthy and the God of love will give us his blessing of peace all the world over, and then the King of Glory will dwell with men, and all the kingdoms of the earth will be his. Who would not desire such a thing, with me, The unworthiest of the children of men ?
J. S.
THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE
TO THIS BQOK
1. ~T\ /TAN can undertake nothing from the be- -LV_J_ ginning of his youth, nor in the whole course of his time in this world, that is more profitable and necessary for him, than to learn to know himself ; what he is, out of what, from whence, and for what he is created, and what his l office is. In ^uty, emsuch a serious consideration he will presently find, business is.
that he, and all the creatures that are, come all from
God ; he will also find, among all the creatures, that he is the most noble creature of them all ; from whence he will very well perceive how God's intent is towards him, in that he has made him lord over all the creatures of this world, and has endued him with 2 mind, reason, and understanding, above 2 Or sense.
all the rest of the creatures, especially with speech or language, so that he can distinguish everything that sounds, stirrs, moves, or grows, and judge of everything's virtue, effect, and original ;
and that all is put under his hand, so that he can bend them, use, and manage them, according to his will, as pleases him.
xix
XX
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
2. Moreover, God has given him higher and greater knowledge than this, in that he can penetrate into the heart of everything, and discern what essence, virtue, and property it has, both in the creatures, in earth, stones, trees, herbs, in all moveable and immoveable things ; also in the stars and elements, so that he knows what substance and virtue they have, and that in their virtue, all
'growing. natural sensibility, Vegetation, Multiplication,
2orPLTe^0n and life, does consist.
3. Above all this, God has given him the understanding and perception to know God his Creator ; what and whence man is, how he is, and where he is, and out of what he proceeded, or