Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
31. And God is immense [immeasurable], and the similitude is also immeasurable ; he is in the similitude, and the similitude comprehendeth him not ; the similitude is his work, and he is the Master- Workman thereof ; the constellation is his instrument, and the l matrix, with the elements, are i the create r -in /» i • i i heaven.
the matena [matter or materials] out of which the
2 Master cutteth and fashioneth his work. 2 the Fiat.
32. Now the master always worketh on and on without consideration, what he lighteth upon that he maketh ; for the consideration is in the work. And therefore it is that the whole nature standeth inp. 120 anguish and longing, to be freed from the vanity ; as also the Scripture witnesseth. Because it tasteth the paradise in itself, and in the paradise the perfection, therefore it groaneth and lifteth itself up towards the light of God and paradise, and so bringeth forth in its anguish always something that is fairer, higher, and new ; as niay sufficiently be found and understood in the mind of man ; and it is very visible to a small understanding, that in works always some special thing is brought to light, and if you be not blind, you may see this in men, beasts, yea even in herbs and grass.
33. Thus on the fourth day, by the Fiat, out of the virtue, he prepared the similitude of his substance [and fitted it] to be a matrix, which should generate all whatsoever was a similitude of his substance, out of the wisdom which was in him from eternity ; that so all forms might be brought forth and become visible, which were from eternity in the matrix. And the similitude of the unsearchable manifold varieties and virtues are the stars, which altogether give [or send] their virtue into the matrix of the heaven, and the heaven giveth that same spirit to the creatures. This is the course of all creatures after the same essence [or substance], and they are formed after the same spirit, which is their virtue, spirit, and life.
34. When God had finished this on the fourth day, he saw it, and considered it, and it was good, as Moses writeth. Then God desired in his externalCh. 8] OF THE CREATION OF THE CREATURES 121 will, that this kingdom or Principle [of this world] should also be creaturely, like the perfect paradisical kingdom, that there should be living creatures therein. And the will set the virtue (that is, the Word) in the Fiat ; and then the matrix generated all manner of [living] creatures on the fifth day, every one after its kind. You must understand by the word kind, as many various [forms] as the matrix is [of] ; as you may observe it in the constellation.
35. Now I shall fall into the school of the master in his l Pontificalibus, who will ask out of what the J cornered cap beasts, fowls, fishes, and worms were made ; for he of his degree.
will have it, that all of them were made out of the earth, and will prove it out of Moses, and he understandeth as much of Moses as of paradise, which he will have to be altogether corporeal. Therefore there is a gross deadness in the understanding ;
and though I write plain enough, yet I shall be still dumb to that deadened soul which is void of understanding, and yet I cannot help it ; for it is said, You must be born anew, if you will see the
2 kingdom of God. Would you fain know [out of 2 the divine
... n -. . ._ region or wnat the beasts are made], then lay aside your government. 8 bonnet of pride that is in your mind, and walk 3 cap or hood i • i T • f 11 ofself-conalong into the paradisical garden of roses, and there ceited wisdom you shall find an herb ; if you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, so that you shall see and know what Moses hath written.
36. The * glosses that are put upon Moses from 4 and margi-
* nal notes.
reason, will not shew you paradise, much less the
p. 122
Creator. The Prophets and Apostles learned more in the paradisical school in one hour, than the
1 the univer- doctors in their l schools in thirty years. One's own
31. And God is immense [immeasurable], and the similitude is also immeasurable ; he is in the similitude, and the similitude comprehends him not ; the similitude is his work, and he is the Master- Workman thereof ; the constellation is his instrument, and the l matrix, with the elements, are i the create r -in /» i • i i heaven.
the matena [matter or materials] out of which the
2 Master cutts and fashions his work. 2 the Fiat.
32. Now the master always works on and on without consideration, what he lights upon that he makes ; for the consideration is in the work. And therefore it is that the whole nature stands in
120 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 8 anguish and longing, to be freed from the vanity ; as also the Scripture witnesses. Because it tastes the paradise in itself, and in the paradise the perfection, therefore it groans and lifts itself up towards the light of God and paradise, and so brings forth in its anguish always something that is fairer, higher, and new ; as niay sufficiently be found and understood in the mind of man ; and it is very visible to a small understanding, that in works always some special thing is brought to light, and if you be not blind, you may see this in men, beasts, yea even in herbs and grass.
33. Thus on the fourth day, by the Fiat, out of the virtue, he prepared the similitude of his substance [and fitted it] to be a matrix, which should generate all whatsoever was a similitude of his substance, out of the wisdom which was in him from eternity ; that so all forms might be brought forth and become visible, which were from eternity in the matrix. And the similitude of the unsearchable manifold varieties and virtues are the stars, which altogether give [or send] their virtue into the matrix of the heaven, and the heaven gives that same spirit to the creatures. This is the course of all creatures after the same essence [or substance], and they are formed after the same spirit, which is their virtue, spirit, and life.
34. When God had finished this on the fourth day, he saw it, and considered it, and it was good, as Moses writes. Then God desired in his external
Ch. 8] OF THE CREATION OF THE CREATURES 121 will, that this kingdom or Principle [of this world] should also be creaturely, like the perfect paradisical kingdom, that there should be living creatures therein. And the will set the virtue (that is, the Word) in the Fiat ; and then the matrix generated all manner of [living] creatures on the fifth day, every one after its kind. You must understand by the word kind, as many various [forms] as the matrix is [of] ; as you may observe it in the constellation.
35. Now I shall fall into the school of the master in his l Pontificalibus, who will ask out of what the J cornered cap beasts, fowls, fishes, and worms were made ; for he of his degree.
will have it, that all of them were made out of the earth, and will prove it out of Moses, and he understands as much of Moses as of paradise, which he will have to be altogether corporeal. Therefore there is a gross deadness in the understanding ;
and though I write plain enough, yet I shall be still dumb to that deadened soul which is void of understanding, and yet I cannot help it ; for it is said, You must be born anew, if you will see the
2 kingdom of God. Would you fain know [out of 2 the divine
... n -. . ._ region or wnat the beasts are made], then lay aside your government. 8 bonnet of pride that is in your mind, and walk 3 cap or hood i • i T • f 11 ofself-conalong into the paradisical garden of roses, and there ceited wisdom you shall find an herb ; if you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, so that you shall see and know what Moses has written.
36. The * glosses that are put upon Moses from 4 and margi-
* nal notes.
reason, will not show you paradise, much less the
122 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 8
Creator. The Prophets and Apostles learned more in the paradisical school in one hour, than the
1 the univer- doctors in their l schools in thirty years. One's own