Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
17. For the ''locus or space of this world was sal place of , . TITT •• -\ i • i i this world, as their angelical [dominion orj kingdom, where they creating Word were in the place of this world.
itseif!P' 18. But though we speak of the paradisical essence, and also of the Principle of this world, of its power and wonderful birth, and what the divine and eternal wisdom is, yet it is impossible for us to
8 fountain or utter and express it [all] ; for the 8 lake of the deep well-spring. 111- -•/•,-, • i can be comprehended in no spirit (whether it be angel or man) ; therefore the innumerable eternal
9 Or working. 9 birth and wisdom maketh a wonderful eternal joy in paradise. This innumerable power and wisdom may now also be known by us men, in the third Principle, if we will take it into our consideration ;
• narrowness or a corner.
Ch. 5] OP THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 73 if we look upon the starry heaven, the elements and living creatures, also upon trees, herbs, and grass, we may behold in the material world the similitude of the paradisical incomprehensible world ; for this world is proceeded out of the first root, wherein stand both the material, and also the paradisical spiritual world, which is without beginning or transitoriness.
19. And now if we meditate and consider of the original of the four elements, we shall clearly find, see, and feel the original in ourselves, if we be men and not beasts, full of malice and gainsayings against God and the l matrix of this world. For » mother, the
. . , . ,, , . - eternal nature, the original is as well known in man, as m the or root. deep of this world ; although it seemeth wonderful to the unenlightened man, that any should [be able] to speak of the original of the air, fire, water, and earth, as also of the starry heaven ; he supposeth this impossible to be known ; thus he 2 swimmeth 2 giideth in his own mother, and desireth not to know it, thoughts neither was it good for man to know it ; but since in the fall of Adam hath cast us headlong into it, it is highly necessary for us to know it, that we may fly from the bestial man, and learn to know the true man.
20. And if you open the eyes of your mind, you will see that fire is in water, as may be seen in a storm of lightning, and yet it is no durable fire, though it be true fire, which setteth houses on fire, and burneth them. So also you may see that there
p. 74
THE THREE PRINCIPLES'
[Ch.
Or womb. The temporary matrix is the temporary nature, and the eternal matrix is the eternal nature.
a Or awakened.
3 astringent attraction.
goeth forth from it a mighty forcible air, and that they are in one another ; and besides, you see that water is generated in the storm.
21. But you will not find this root here, you must look into the l matrix, and there it is wholly manifest, and you may know it in all things, for the matrix of this world standeth in the eternal matrix, from which paradise and the kingdom of heaven have their original. Now as the eternal matrix is a birth that goeth forth, where, in the original, there is harshness, darkness, hardness, and anguish, so you may see, that when the spirit of God hath 2 kindled the inward matrix, then it becometh stirring, working, and active.
22. For there is in the original, first, 3 harshness, which attracteth, shutteth up, maketh darkness, and sharp cold ; but the tartness cannot endure the attracting ; for the attracting in the cold maketh in the bitterness a sting [or prickle], which rageth and resisteth against the hard death, but not being able to come away out of the tartness (being its mother wherein it standeth), therefore it rageth very horribly, as if it would break the harshness [in pieces] ; it flieth out upwards and sideways, and yet findeth no rest, till that the birth of the harshness fall into an aching horrible essence, like a brimstone-spirit, very rough, hard, stinging in itself [or kindling in itself], like a whirling wheel, and that the bitterness flieth up very swiftly, from whence proceedeth a twinkling flash ; at which the
Ch. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 75
17. For the ''locus or space of this world was sal place of , . TITT •• -\ i • i i this world, as their angelical [dominion orj kingdom, where they creating Word were in the place of this world.
itseif!P' 18. But though we speak of the paradisical essence, and also of the Principle of this world, of its power and wonderful birth, and what the divine and eternal wisdom is, yet it is impossible for us to
8 fountain or utter and express it [all] ; for the 8 lake of the deep well-spring. 111- -•/•,-, • i can be comprehended in no spirit (whether it be angel or man) ; therefore the innumerable eternal
9 Or working. 9 birth and wisdom makes a wonderful eternal joy in paradise. This innumerable power and wisdom may now also be known by us men, in the third Principle, if we will take it into our consideration ;
• narrowness or a corner.
Ch. 5] OP THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 73 if we look upon the starry heaven, the elements and living creatures, also upon trees, herbs, and grass, we may behold in the material world the similitude of the paradisical incomprehensible world ; for this world is proceeded out of the first root, wherein stand both the material, and also the paradisical spiritual world, which is without beginning or transitoriness.
19. And now if we meditate and consider of the original of the four elements, we shall clearly find, see, and feel the original in ourselves, if we be men and not beasts, full of malice and gainsayings against God and the l matrix of this world. For » mother, the
. . , . ,, , . - eternal nature, the original is as well known in man, as m the or root. deep of this world ; although it seems wonderful to the unenlightened man, that any should [be able] to speak of the original of the air, fire, water, and earth, as also of the starry heaven ; he supposes this impossible to be known ; thus he 2 swimms 2 giids in his own mother, and desires not to know it, thoughts neither was it good for man to know it ; but since in the fall of Adam has cast us headlong into it, it is highly necessary for us to know it, that we may fly from the bestial man, and learn to know the true man.
20. And if you open the eyes of your mind, you will see that fire is in water, as may be seen in a storm of lightning, and yet it is no durable fire, though it be true fire, which setts houses on fire, and burns them. So also you may see that there
p. 74
THE THREE PRINCIPLES'
[Ch.
Or womb. The temporary matrix is the temporary nature, and the eternal matrix is the eternal nature.
a Or awakened.
3 astringent attraction.
goes forth from it a mighty forcible air, and that they are in one another ; and besides, you see that water is generated in the storm.
21. But you will not find this root here, you must look into the l matrix, and there it is wholly manifest, and you may know it in all things, for the matrix of this world stands in the eternal matrix, from which paradise and the kingdom of heaven have their original. Now as the eternal matrix is a birth that goes forth, where, in the original, there is harshness, darkness, hardness, and anguish, so you may see, that when the spirit of God has 2 kindled the inward matrix, then it becomes stirring, working, and active.
22. For there is in the original, first, 3 harshness, which attracts, shutts up, makes darkness, and sharp cold ; but the tartness cannot endure the attracting ; for the attracting in the cold makes in the bitterness a sting [or prickle], which rags and resists against the hard death, but not being able to come away out of the tartness (being its mother wherein it stands), therefore it rags very horribly, as if it would break the harshness [in pieces] ; it flies out upwards and sideways, and yet finds no rest, till that the birth of the harshness fall into an aching horrible essence, like a brimstone-spirit, very rough, hard, stinging in itself [or kindling in itself], like a whirling wheel, and that the bitterness flies up very swiftly, from whence proceeds a twinkling flash ; at which the
Ch. 5] OF THE THIRD PRINCIPLE 75