Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
that was to have power over the tilth essence 01 this nature. world. For man was in one only essence [or substance], and there was also but one only man that God thus created, and he could have lived for ever. And although God had brought the stars again into their ether, and also had withdrawn the matrix of the elements, and the elements also, back into nothing, yet man would have continued still. Besides, he had the paradisical centre in him, and he could have generated again out of himself, out of his will, and have awakened the centre ; and so should have been able, in paradise, to generate an angelical 3 host, without misery or anguish, also 3 Or company, without tearing [rending or dividing of himself] ; and such a man he ought to have been, if he mustp. 158 continue in paradise, and be eternal without decay ; for paradise is holy, and in that respect man also ought to have been holy, for the virtue [and power] of God and paradise consisteth in holiness.
The deep Gate of the Soul.
13. The soul of man, which Go$ hath breathed into him, is out of the eternal Father ; yet understand it aright ; there is a difference, [to be observed, you must] understand, [that it is] out of his unchangeable will, out of which he generateth his Son and Heart from eternity, out of the divine centre, from whence the Fiat goeth forth, which maketh separation, and hath in 1 it all the essences of the eternal birth [or all manner of things which are in the eternal birth]. Only the birth of the Son of God, that very centre which the Son of God himself is, he hath not ; for that centre is the end of nature, and not creaturely. This is the highest centre of the fire-burning love and mercy of God, the perfection [or fulness]. Out of this centre no creature cometh, but it appeareth [or shineth] in the creature, viz. in angels, and in the souls of holy men ; for the Holy Ghost, and the omnipotence [or almightiness] which frameth the eternal will in the eternal Father, goeth forth out of this [centre].
14. Now therefore the soul standeth in two gates, and toucheth two Principles, viz. the eternal darkness, and the eternal light of the Son of God,
Ch. 10] THE CREATION OP MAN, AND HIS SOUL 159 as God the Father himself doth. Now as God the Father l holdeth his unchangeable eternal will to J keepeth or generate his Heart and Son, so the angels and souls keep their unchangeable will in the Heart of God. Thus it [the soul] is in heaven and in paradise, and enjoyeth the unutterable joy of God the Father which he hath in the Son, and it heareth the inexpressible words of the Heart of God, and rejoiceth at the eternal, and also at the created images, which are not in essence [or substance], but in figure.
15. There the soul eateth of all the words of God ; for the same are the food of its life ; and it singeth the paradisical 2 songs of praise concerning 2 Hallelujahs, the pleasant fruit in paradise, which groweth in the divine virtue [or power] of the divine limbus, which is the food of the 3 body ; for the body eateth of 3 the heavenly
, 7 . T ,.,.,.. i , , and eternal the Limbus, out ot which it is, and the soul eateth paradisical of God and of his Word, out of which it is.
that was to have power over the tilth essence 01 this nature. world. For man was in one only essence [or substance], and there was also but one only man that God thus created, and he could have lived for ever. And although God had brought the stars again into their ether, and also had withdrawn the matrix of the elements, and the elements also, back into nothing, yet man would have continued still. Besides, he had the paradisical centre in him, and he could have generated again out of himself, out of his will, and have awakened the centre ; and so should have been able, in paradise, to generate an angelical 3 host, without misery or anguish, also 3 Or company, without tearing [rending or dividing of himself] ; and such a man he ought to have been, if he must
158 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 10 continue in paradise, and be eternal without decay ; for paradise is holy, and in that respect man also ought to have been holy, for the virtue [and power] of God and paradise consists in holiness.
The deep Gate of the Soul.
13. The soul of man, which Go$ has breathed into him, is out of the eternal Father ; yet understand it aright ; there is a difference, [to be observed, you must] understand, [that it is] out of his unchangeable will, out of which he generats his Son and Heart from eternity, out of the divine centre, from whence the Fiat goes forth, which makes separation, and has in 1 it all the essences of the eternal birth [or all manner of things which are in the eternal birth]. Only the birth of the Son of God, that very centre which the Son of God himself is, he has not ; for that centre is the end of nature, and not creaturely. This is the highest centre of the fire-burning love and mercy of God, the perfection [or fulness]. Out of this centre no creature comes, but it appears [or shines] in the creature, viz. in angels, and in the souls of holy men ; for the Holy Ghost, and the omnipotence [or almightiness] which frams the eternal will in the eternal Father, goes forth out of this [centre].
14. Now therefore the soul stands in two gates, and touches two Principles, viz. the eternal darkness, and the eternal light of the Son of God,
Ch. 10] THE CREATION OP MAN, AND HIS SOUL 159 as God the Father himself does. Now as God the Father l holds his unchangeable eternal will to J keeps or generate his Heart and Son, so the angels and souls keep their unchangeable will in the Heart of God. Thus it [the soul] is in heaven and in paradise, and enjoys the unutterable joy of God the Father which he has in the Son, and it hears the inexpressible words of the Heart of God, and rejoics at the eternal, and also at the created images, which are not in essence [or substance], but in figure.
15. There the soul eats of all the words of God ; for the same are the food of its life ; and it sings the paradisical 2 songs of praise concerning 2 Hallelujahs, the pleasant fruit in paradise, which grows in the divine virtue [or power] of the divine limbus, which is the food of the 3 body ; for the body eats of 3 the heavenly
, 7 . T ,.,.,.. i , , and eternal the Limbus, out ot which it is, and the soul eats paradisical of God and of his Word, out of which it is.