Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Ch. 9] OF PARADISE, ETC. 149
bring a small grain of mustard-seed (from the 1 tree of paradise) into your soul ; and if you l Or fruit or abide in patience, then a great tree will grow out of that [seed], as you may well think that the like hath come to pass with this author. For he is to be esteemed as a very simple person, in comparison of the great learned men: But Christ saith, My Power is strong in the weak : Yea Father, it hath so pleased thee to hide these things from the ivise and prudent, and thou hast revealed them to babes and sucklings ; and that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in thy sight. And although now the children of the world are wiser in their generation than the children of light ; yet their wisdom is but a corruptible substance [essence or thing], and this wisdom continueth eternally.
46. Therefore seek for the noble Pearl ; it is much more precious than this [whole] world ; it will never more depart from you : And where the Pearl is, there will your heart be also : You need not here ask any further after paradise, joy, and the heavenly delightfulness ; seek but the Pearl, and when you find that, then you find paradise, and the kingdom of heaven, and you will be so taught, as being without it you cannot believe.
47. It may be, you will turmoil yourself [with nard labour], and seek for it in art, supposing to find 2 it there : 0 no, you need not ; it lieth not » this deep therein. The doctor that is without this way wisdom, knoweth it not. But if he also hath found this
p. 150
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
then he is a
[Ch. 9 person greater for the
1 Or a more Pearl, or Pubiicus. ' public benefit than I ; as St Paul was above the other Apostles, yet in one [and the same] way of gentle meekness, as becometh the children of God. Whatsoever is wanting here that you long after, seek further, and you will find the ground, according to the desire [or longing] of your soul.
THE TENTH CHAPTER
Of the Creation of Man, and of his Soul, also of God's l breathing in.
The pleasant Gate. ]. ~T~ HAVE perused many master-pieces of
-A- writing, hoping to find the 2 Pearl of the * The high and deep
Ground of Man ; but I could find nothing of that wisdom of which my soul lusted after. I have also found very many contrary opinions. And partly I have found some who forbid me to search [or seek], but I cannot know with what ground or understanding, except it be that the blind grudge at the eyes of them that see. With all this my soul is become very disquiet within, and hath been as full of [pain and] anguish as a woman at her travail, and yet nothing was found in it, till I followed the words of Christ, when he said, You must be born anew, if you will see the kingdom of God : which at first stopped up my heart, and I supposed that such a thing could not be done in this world, but [that it should first be done] at my departure out of this world. And then my soul first was in anguish to the birth, and would very willingly have tasted
p. 151
152 THE THREE PRINCIPLKS [Ch. 10 the Pearl ; and gave itself up in this way more vehemently to the birth, till at last it obtained a jewel. According to which [received jewel] I will write, for a Memorial to myself, and for a light to them that seek. For Christ said, None lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel, but setteih it upon a table, that all that are in the house may see by the light of it. And to this end he giveth the Pearl to them that seek, that they should impart it to the poor for their health, as he hath very earnestly commanded.
Ch. 9] OF PARADISE, ETC. 149
bring a small grain of mustard-seed (from the 1 tree of paradise) into your soul ; and if you l Or fruit or abide in patience, then a great tree will grow out of that [seed], as you may well think that the like has come to pass with this author. For he is to be esteemed as a very simple person, in comparison of the great learned men: But Christ says, My Power is strong in the weak : Yea Father, it has so pleased you to hide these things from the ivise and prudent, and you have revealed them to babes and sucklings ; and that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in your sight. And although now the children of the world are wiser in their generation than the children of light ; yet their wisdom is but a corruptible substance [essence or thing], and this wisdom continues eternally.
46. Therefore seek for the noble Pearl ; it is much more precious than this [whole] world ; it will never more depart from you : And where the Pearl is, there will your heart be also : You need not here ask any further after paradise, joy, and the heavenly delightfulness ; seek but the Pearl, and when you find that, then you find paradise, and the kingdom of heaven, and you will be so taught, as being without it you cannot believe.
47. It may be, you will turmoil yourself [with nard labour], and seek for it in art, supposing to find 2 it there : 0 no, you need not ; it lies not » this deep therein. The doctor that is without this way wisdom, knows it not. But if he also has found this
p. 150
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
then he is a
[Ch. 9 person greater for the
1 Or a more Pearl, or Pubiicus. ' public benefit than I ; as St Paul was above the other Apostles, yet in one [and the same] way of gentle meekness, as becomes the children of God. Whatsoever is wanting here that you long after, seek further, and you will find the ground, according to the desire [or longing] of your soul.
THE TENTH CHAPTER
Of the Creation of Man, and of his Soul, also of God's l breathing in.
The pleasant Gate. ]. ~T~ HAVE perused many master-pieces of
-A- writing, hoping to find the 2 Pearl of the * The high and deep
Ground of Man ; but I could find nothing of that wisdom of which my soul lusted after. I have also found very many contrary opinions. And partly I have found some who forbid me to search [or seek], but I cannot know with what ground or understanding, except it be that the blind grudge at the eyes of them that see. With all this my soul is become very disquiet within, and has been as full of [pain and] anguish as a woman at her travail, and yet nothing was found in it, till I followed the words of Christ, when he said, You must be born anew, if you will see the kingdom of God : which at first stopped up my heart, and I supposed that such a thing could not be done in this world, but [that it should first be done] at my departure out of this world. And then my soul first was in anguish to the birth, and would very willingly have tasted
p. 151
152 THE THREE PRINCIPLKS [Ch. 10 the Pearl ; and gave itself up in this way more vehemently to the birth, till at last it obtained a jewel. According to which [received jewel] I will write, for a Memorial to myself, and for a light to them that seek. For Christ said, None lights a candle and putts it under a bushel, but setteih it upon a table, that all that are in the house may see by the light of it. And to this end he gives the Pearl to them that seek, that they should impart it to the poor for their health, as he has very earnestly commanded.