Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
no nearer way for him to come to the knowledge of the third Principle, than by considering the new birth, how the soul is new born by the love of God in the light, and how it is translated out of the prison or dungeon of darkness into the light by ap. 64Ch. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 65 second birth. And now if you consider that darkness wherein it must be without the new birth ; and consider what the Scripture saith, and what every one findeth by experience, that falleth into the wrath of God, and whereof there are terrible examples ; that the soul must endure irksome torment in itself, in the birth of the life of its own self, so long as it is in the wrath of God ; and then that if it be born again, exulting great joy ariseth in it ; and thus you find very clearly and plainly two Principles, as also God, paradise, and the kingdom of heaven.
3. For you find in the root of the original of the spirit of the soul, in itself, in the substance of the eternal birth and incorruptible eternal band of the soul, the most exceeding horrible inimicitious irksome l source, wherein the soul (without the light J Or torment, of God) is like all devils, wherein their eternal property, source consisteth, being an enmity in itself, a will striving against God [and goodness], it desireth nothing that is pleasant or good, it is a climbing up of pride in the strength of the fire, a bitter [fierce, odious malice, or] wrathfulness against paradise, against God, against the kingdom of heaven ; also against all creatures in the second and third Principles, lifting up themselves alone [against all this], as the bitterness 2 in the fire doth. 2 in wrath, or
4. Now the Scripture witnesseth throughout, ai and the new-born man findeth it so, that when the soul is new-born in the light of God, then onp. 5p. 66 the contrary it findeth, how very humble, meek, courteous, and cheerly it is ; it readily beareth all manner of crosses and persecution ; it turneth the body from out of the way of the wicked ; it regardeth no reproach, disgrace, or scorn, put upon it from the devil, or man ; it placeth its confidence, refuge, and love, in the Heart of God ; it is very cheerful ; it is fed by the Word of God, in which there is a paradisical exulting and triumph ; it cannot be [hurt, or so much as] touched by the devil. For it is in its own substance (wherein it stands in the first Principle of the indissoluble band) enlightened with the light of God ; and the Holy Ghost, who goeth forth out of the eternal 1 generation, l birth of the Father in the Heart, and in the light working.' of the Heart of God, he goeth forth in it, and establisheth it the child of God.
5. Therefore all that it doth (seeing it liveth in the light of God) is done in the love of God ; the devil cannot see that soul, for the second Principle, wherein it liveth, and in which God and the kingdom of heaven stand, as also the angels, and paradise, is shut up from him, and he cannot get to it.
6. In this consideration you may find what I understand by a Principle. For a Principle is nothing else but a new birth, a new life : Besides, there is no more than one Principle wherein there is an eternal life, that is, the eternal Deity. And that would not have been manifested, if God hadCh. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 67 created no creatures in himself (viz. angels and men), who understand the eternal and indissoluble band, and l how the birth of the eternal light is in l Or the
/-. j manner.
(jrOd.
7. Thus now herein is understood how the divine essence in the divine Principle hath wrought in the root of the first Principle, which is the begettress, matrix, or genetrix in the eternal birth in the 2 limbus, or in the original water-spirit ; by which 2 Limbus sig-
. , . r> i nifieth a seed,
no nearer way for him to come to the knowledge of the third Principle, than by considering the new birth, how the soul is new born by the love of God in the light, and how it is translated out of the prison or dungeon of darkness into the light by a
p. 64
Ch. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 65 second birth. And now if you consider that darkness wherein it must be without the new birth ; and consider what the Scripture says, and what every one finds by experience, that falls into the wrath of God, and whereof there are terrible examples ; that the soul must endure irksome torment in itself, in the birth of the life of its own self, so long as it is in the wrath of God ; and then that if it be born again, exulting great joy arises in it ; and thus you find very clearly and plainly two Principles, as also God, paradise, and the kingdom of heaven.
3. For you find in the root of the original of the spirit of the soul, in itself, in the substance of the eternal birth and incorruptible eternal band of the soul, the most exceeding horrible inimicitious irksome l source, wherein the soul (without the light J Or torment, of God) is like all devils, wherein their eternal property, source consists, being an enmity in itself, a will striving against God [and goodness], it desires nothing that is pleasant or good, it is a climbing up of pride in the strength of the fire, a bitter [fierce, odious malice, or] wrathfulness against paradise, against God, against the kingdom of heaven ; also against all creatures in the second and third Principles, lifting up themselves alone [against all this], as the bitterness 2 in the fire does. 2 in wrath, or
4. Now the Scripture witnesses throughout, ai and the new-born man finds it so, that when the soul is new-born in the light of God, then on
p. 5
66 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 5 the contrary it finds, how very humble, meek, courteous, and cheerly it is ; it readily bears all manner of crosses and persecution ; it turns the body from out of the way of the wicked ; it regards no reproach, disgrace, or scorn, put upon it from the devil, or man ; it places its confidence, refuge, and love, in the Heart of God ; it is very cheerful ; it is fed by the Word of God, in which there is a paradisical exulting and triumph ; it cannot be [hurt, or so much as] touched by the devil. For it is in its own substance (wherein it stands in the first Principle of the indissoluble band) enlightened with the light of God ; and the Holy Ghost, who goes forth out of the eternal 1 generation, l birth of the Father in the Heart, and in the light working.' of the Heart of God, he goes forth in it, and establishes it the child of God.
5. Therefore all that it does (seeing it lives in the light of God) is done in the love of God ; the devil cannot see that soul, for the second Principle, wherein it lives, and in which God and the kingdom of heaven stand, as also the angels, and paradise, is shut up from him, and he cannot get to it.
6. In this consideration you may find what I understand by a Principle. For a Principle is nothing else but a new birth, a new life : Besides, there is no more than one Principle wherein there is an eternal life, that is, the eternal Deity. And that would not have been manifested, if God had
Ch. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 67 created no creatures in himself (viz. angels and men), who understand the eternal and indissoluble band, and l how the birth of the eternal light is in l Or the
/-. j manner.
(jrOd.
7. Thus now herein is understood how the divine essence in the divine Principle has wrought in the root of the first Principle, which is the begettress, matrix, or genetrix in the eternal birth in the 2 limbus, or in the original water-spirit ; by which 2 Limbus sig-
. , . r> i nifies a seed,