Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
32. Now as is mentioned before, when the joy riseth up from the mother, as the light cometh into her (which yet she cannot l comprehend) then the » Or take joy (in the ascending will) hath a centre in it again and generateth out of itself again a very soft and pleasant source [or fountain], an humble, amiable source, which is immaterial ; for then there can be generated nothing that is more pleasant and full of joy [and refreshment], therefore here is the end of nature ; and this is the warmth of the Barm, or as 1 may say the Barmhertzigkeit [the mercifulness]. For here nature neither seeketh nor desireth further any 2 birth more : it is the perfection. * Or working.
p. 144
33. Now in this pleasant source, the moving spirit (which in the original, in the kindling, was the bitter aching spirit) springeth forth very joyfully without removing, and it is the Holy Ghost ; 1 well-spring, and the sweet l source [or fountain] which is generated in the centre from the light, is the Word or Heart of God ; and in this joy is the paradise ; and the birth is the eternal Trinity : In this you must dwell, if you will be in paradise ; and the same must be born [or generated] in you, if you will be the child of God, and your soul must be in it, or else you cannot enjoy nor see the kingdom of God.
3 sure, or 34. Therefore the 2 stedfast faith and confidence thus bringeth us into God again : For it getteth
8 to the. the divine centre 3of regeneration in the Holy
Ghost, or else there is nothing that availeth: Other
4 works. matters which men do here, are but 4 essences, which follow him in the shadow, wherein he shall stand ; for as there is the birth in the holy Deity, which in the original standeth in the willing [desiring] and aching property, before the light [breaketh forth], so also must thou, 0 man (that art gone forth out of paradise), in anguish, longing, and in a desirous will, go into the birth again, and so thou shalt attain paradise again, and the light of God.
35. Behold, thou reasonable soul, to thee I speak, and not to the body, thou only apprehendest it : When the birth is thus continuallyCh. 9] OP PARADISE, ETC. 145 generated, then every form hath a centre to the regeneration ; for the whole divine essence [or substance] standeth in continual and in eternal generating (but unchangeably) like the mind of man, the thoughts being continually generated out of the mind, and the will and desirousness out of the thoughts. Out of the will and desirousness [is] the work [generated] which is made a substance, in the will, and then the mouth and hands go on to perform what was substantial in the will.
36. Thus also is the eternal birth, wherein the virtue [or power] is continually generated from eternity ; and out of the virtue the light ; and the light causeth and maketh the virtue. And the light shineth in the eternal darkness, and maketh in the eternal mind the [desiring] attracting will ; so that the will in the darkness generateth the thoughts, the lust and the desirousness, and the desirousness is the attracting of the virtue, and in the attracting of the virtue is the mouth that expresseth the Fiat, and the Fiat maketh the materia [or matter], and the spirit separateth it, and formeth it according to the thoughts.
37. Thus is the birth (and also the first original)
of all the creatures ; and 2 it standeth yet in such « th a 8 birth in the essence ; and after such a manner creatures. it is, out of the eternal thoughts (viz. the wisdom 5 Or working. of God) by the Fiat, brought out of the matrix ;
but being come forth out of the darkness, out of
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p. 146
1 Or out of the 1 out-birth, out of the centre, (which yet was substance. generated in the time, in the will), therefore it is not eternal, but corruptible [or transitory], like a thought ; and though it be indeed material, yet
2 Or working every 2 source taketh its own into itself again, and property. . . . . . , „ , maketh it to be nothing again, as it was before the beginning.
32. Now as is mentioned before, when the joy rises up from the mother, as the light comes into her (which yet she cannot l comprehend) then the » Or take joy (in the ascending will) has a centre in it again and generats out of itself again a very soft and pleasant source [or fountain], an humble, amiable source, which is immaterial ; for then there can be generated nothing that is more pleasant and full of joy [and refreshment], therefore here is the end of nature ; and this is the warmth of the Barm, or as 1 may say the Barmhertzigkeit [the mercifulness]. For here nature neither seeks nor desires further any 2 birth more : it is the perfection. * Or working.
144 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 9
33. Now in this pleasant source, the moving spirit (which in the original, in the kindling, was the bitter aching spirit) springs forth very joyfully without removing, and it is the Holy Ghost ; 1 well-spring, and the sweet l source [or fountain] which is generated in the centre from the light, is the Word or Heart of God ; and in this joy is the paradise ; and the birth is the eternal Trinity : In this you must dwell, if you will be in paradise ; and the same must be born [or generated] in you, if you will be the child of God, and your soul must be in it, or else you cannot enjoy nor see the kingdom of God.
3 sure, or 34. Therefore the 2 stedfast faith and confidence thus brings us into God again : For it getts
8 to the. the divine centre 3of regeneration in the Holy
Ghost, or else there is nothing that avails: Other
4 works. matters which men do here, are but 4 essences, which follow him in the shadow, wherein he shall stand ; for as there is the birth in the holy Deity, which in the original stands in the willing [desiring] and aching property, before the light [breaks forth], so also must you, 0 man (that art gone forth out of paradise), in anguish, longing, and in a desirous will, go into the birth again, and so you shall attain paradise again, and the light of God.
35. Behold, you reasonable soul, to you I speak, and not to the body, you only apprehendest it : When the birth is thus continually
Ch. 9] OP PARADISE, ETC. 145
generated, then every form has a centre to the regeneration ; for the whole divine essence [or substance] stands in continual and in eternal generating (but unchangeably) like the mind of man, the thoughts being continually generated out of the mind, and the will and desirousness out of the thoughts. Out of the will and desirousness [is] the work [generated] which is made a substance, in the will, and then the mouth and hands go on to perform what was substantial in the will.
36. Thus also is the eternal birth, wherein the virtue [or power] is continually generated from eternity ; and out of the virtue the light ; and the light causes and makes the virtue. And the light shines in the eternal darkness, and makes in the eternal mind the [desiring] attracting will ; so that the will in the darkness generats the thoughts, the lust and the desirousness, and the desirousness is the attracting of the virtue, and in the attracting of the virtue is the mouth that expresses the Fiat, and the Fiat makes the materia [or matter], and the spirit separates it, and forms it according to the thoughts.
37. Thus is the birth (and also the first original)
of all the creatures ; and 2 it stands yet in such « th a 8 birth in the essence ; and after such a manner creatures. it is, out of the eternal thoughts (viz. the wisdom 5 Or working. of God) by the Fiat, brought out of the matrix ;
but being come forth out of the darkness, out of
p. 10
146 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 9
1 Or out of the 1 out-birth, out of the centre, (which yet was substance. generated in the time, in the will), therefore it is not eternal, but corruptible [or transitory], like a thought ; and though it be indeed material, yet
2 Or working every 2 source takes its own into itself again, and property. . . . . . , „ , makes it to be nothing again, as it was before the beginning.