Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
3 Or being, was created ; and how he is the image, 3 substance, inheritance 4 propriety, and child of the eternal, uncreated, and infinite God, and how he is created out of the substance of God, in which God hath his own substance and propriety, in whom he liveth and governeth with his spirit, by which God manageth his own work, and loveth him dearly as his own heart and substance ; for whose sake he created this world, with all the creatures that are therein, which for the most part, without the reason and government of man, could not live in such a 6 Or quaiifica- 6 condition [as they dol.
tion, or man- . . J nerofiife, 4. Ihe divine wisdom itself standeth in such a high consideration, and hath neither number nor end ; and therein is the love of God towards man known, in that man knoweth what his Creator is,
PREFACE XXI
and what he would have him do, and leave undone. And it is the most profitable thing for man in this world that he can search for, and seek after ; for herein he learneth to know himself, what matter and substance he is of; also from whence his understanding [cogitation, perceptibility] and sensibility are stirred, and how he is created out of the Substance of God. And as a mother bringeth1 essence or being.
forth a child out of her own substance, and nourisheth it therewith, and leave th all her goods to it for its own, and maketh it the possessor of them, so doth God also with man, his child ; he hath created him, and preserved him, and made him heir to all his eternal goods. In and by this consideration the divine knowledge buddeth and groweth in man, and the love towards God, as of a child to its parents, so that man loveth God his Father, for that he knoweth that he is his Father, in whom he liveth, is, and hath his being, who nourisheth him, preserveth him, and provideth for him ; for thus saith Christ our Brother, (who is begotten of the Father, to be a Saviour, and sent into this world), This is the eternal life, that they know thee to be tJie only true God, and whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ.
5. Now seeing we ourselves know that we are created out of God's own substance, and made his image, substance, and peculiar inheritance, it is therefore right that we should live in obedience to him, and follow him, seeing he leadeth us as a
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
father doth his children. And we have also his promise, that if we follow him, we shall obtain the light of the eternal life. Without such a consideration as this, we are altogether blind, and have no knowledge of God ; but we run on as dumb beasts, and we look upon ourselves and upon God's 1 which, creation as heifers look upon a l new door made to being strange, . , ~ , , , .
they start their stalls, and set ourselves against God and his and are afraid will, and so live in opposition and enmity, to the perdition of body and soul, and of God's noble creatures. We fall into this terrible and abominable darkness, because we will not learn to know
2 Or matter, ourselves, what we are, of what 2 substance, what we shall be, whether we are eternal, or whether we are wholly transitory, as the body is ; or whether
3 substance, also we must give an account of our 3 matters and doings, seeing we are made lords of all creatures, and of the whole creation, and have all this in our power to manage.
6. Even as we see, know, and find undeniably, that God will require an account of all our doings,
4 Or creation, how we have kept house with his 4 works, and that when we fall from him and his commandments, he will punish us terribly, of which we have fearful examples, from the beginning of the world, and among the Jews, Heathen, and Christians, especially the example of the Flood, and in Sodom and Gomorrah ; also in Pharaoh, and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, and ever since till this very time. Therefore it is indeed most necessary
PREFACE XX111
that we learn wisdom, and learn to know ourselves, how great vice and wickedness we carry about us, how horrible wolves are amongst us, which strive against God and his will.
3 Or being, was created ; and how he is the image, 3 substance, inheritance 4 propriety, and child of the eternal, uncreated, and infinite God, and how he is created out of the substance of God, in which God has his own substance and propriety, in whom he lives and governs with his spirit, by which God manags his own work, and loves him dearly as his own heart and substance ; for whose sake he created this world, with all the creatures that are therein, which for the most part, without the reason and government of man, could not live in such a 6 Or quaiifica- 6 condition [as they dol.
tion, or man- . . J nerofiife, 4. Ihe divine wisdom itself stands in such a high consideration, and has neither number nor end ; and therein is the love of God towards man known, in that man knows what his Creator is,
PREFACE XXI
and what he would have him do, and leave undone. And it is the most profitable thing for man in this world that he can search for, and seek after ; for herein he learns to know himself, what matter and substance he is of; also from whence his understanding [cogitation, perceptibility] and sensibility are stirred, and how he is created out of the Substance of God. And as a mother bringeth1 essence or being.
forth a child out of her own substance, and nourishes it therewith, and leave th all her goods to it for its own, and makes it the possessor of them, so does God also with man, his child ; he has created him, and preserved him, and made him heir to all his eternal goods. In and by this consideration the divine knowledge budds and grows in man, and the love towards God, as of a child to its parents, so that man loves God his Father, for that he knows that he is his Father, in whom he lives, is, and has his being, who nourishes him, preservs him, and provids for him ; for thus says Christ our Brother, (who is begotten of the Father, to be a Saviour, and sent into this world), This is the eternal life, that they know you to be tJie only true God, and whom you have sent, Jesus Christ.
5. Now seeing we ourselves know that we are created out of God's own substance, and made his image, substance, and peculiar inheritance, it is therefore right that we should live in obedience to him, and follow him, seeing he leads us as a
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
father does his children. And we have also his promise, that if we follow him, we shall obtain the light of the eternal life. Without such a consideration as this, we are altogether blind, and have no knowledge of God ; but we run on as dumb beasts, and we look upon ourselves and upon God's 1 which, creation as heifers look upon a l new door made to being strange, . , ~ , , , .
they start their stalls, and set ourselves against God and his and are afraid will, and so live in opposition and enmity, to the perdition of body and soul, and of God's noble creatures. We fall into this terrible and abominable darkness, because we will not learn to know
2 Or matter, ourselves, what we are, of what 2 substance, what we shall be, whether we are eternal, or whether we are wholly transitory, as the body is ; or whether
3 substance, also we must give an account of our 3 matters and doings, seeing we are made lords of all creatures, and of the whole creation, and have all this in our power to manage.
6. Even as we see, know, and find undeniably, that God will require an account of all our doings,
4 Or creation, how we have kept house with his 4 works, and that when we fall from him and his commandments, he will punish us terribly, of which we have fearful examples, from the beginning of the world, and among the Jews, Heathen, and Christians, especially the example of the Flood, and in Sodom and Gomorrah ; also in Pharaoh, and the Children of Israel in the Wilderness, and ever since till this very time. Therefore it is indeed most necessary
PREFACE XX111
that we learn wisdom, and learn to know ourselves, how great vice and wickedness we carry about us, how horrible wolves are amongst us, which strive against God and his will.