Six Theosophic Points, and Other Writings
Nor do they desire to come out, because of the great reproach of their horrible form and image. And wherever they go, yet they never enjoy any good; there is among them no refreshment. But they lie in hell as the dead, or as eternally hungry, fainting and thirsty; and are only an evil poisonsource. All is to them adverse and contrary. They have only a thirst after anguish and malice; these they devour eternally, and bring forth blasphemies upon themselves. The more horrible they can make their figure, the more pleasing that is to them. Like buffoons, who on earth would fain be always the greatest fools, give themselves a hideous appearance, and have their delight therein; so they do also eternally in hell, and accordingly they begin the game here on earth. As the tyrant delights when he can torment men, and spend their sweat in show and luxury, in foolish strange attire and behaviour, and ape the fool; so do also the devils in hell. And the luxury of this world in its strange garb is a true type of the hellish world.
37. AH the curious tassels and tufts which the proud man devises, and clothes his foolish man therewith, whereby he would be distinguished from the true children of God, are types of the hellish world. All his bedizenment, glittering show and ostentation, by which he withdraws himself from humility, is a hellish mirror; for the devil's pride will be like to none, it keeps itself distinct in this world. And the blind man understands not this, how the devil fools and deceives him, and thus only
THE SIXTH POINT ill
to mock God prefigures his own proud mask; so that the poor man does as he does, and thinks he is thereby fine, and better than other men, whereas we all arise and proceed from one body and spirit. But before God and his angels he is recognized only as a devil's mask, and is in the sight of heaven an abomination. As a fool in comparison with wisdom is but an abomination, so is also hypocritical pride an abomination before God and his angels, in presence of the noble image. The world still cleaves to this abomination, and therewith marks out the corrupt image of earthliness.
38, He who sees a proud man sees the heavy fall of Adam, and a type of the hellish world; a half devil and half man, to whom the devil has continual access. For he is the devil's servant in this world; the devil does his work thi'ough him, and the poor man knows it not, and so enters the devil's service to his eternal reproach. He thinks he is thereby fine and important, and is thereby in the sight of God only as a fool, who puts on strange clothing and takes to himself animal form.
p. 112
CHAPTER X
Of the four elements of the devil and of the dark world; how we shall know them in this outer world,
1. The first element of the dark world and of the devil is pride, the second covetousness, the third envy, the fourth anger. These four elements are everlastingly hatching a young son, who is called Falsehood. This son is also a true son of the corrupt Adam, whom he left behind him to be a lord of the world. He has become king in the world, and has possessed the whole world, and rules everywhere in the third principle. Whoever rightly knows this king, knows the four elements of the devil ; for in the dark world these four elements have entire dominion in spirit and body, and in all that is called being.
Nor do they desire to come out, because of the great reproach of their horrible form and image. And wherever they go, yet they never enjoy any good; there is among them no refreshment. But they lie in hell as the dead, or as eternally hungry, fainting and thirsty; and are only an evil poisonsource. All is to them adverse and contrary. They have only a thirst after anguish and malice; these they devour eternally, and bring forth blasphemies upon themselves. The more horrible they can make their figure, the more pleasing that is to them. Like buffoons, who on earth would fain be always the greatest fools, give themselves a hideous appearance, and have their delight therein; so they do also eternally in hell, and accordingly they begin the game here on earth. As the tyrant delights when he can torment men, and spend their sweat in show and luxury, in foolish strange attire and behaviour, and ape the fool; so do also the devils in hell. And the luxury of this world in its strange garb is a true type of the hellish world.
37. AH the curious tassels and tufts which the proud man devises, and clothes his foolish man therewith, whereby he would be distinguished from the true children of God, are types of the hellish world. All his bedizenment, glittering show and ostentation, by which he withdraws himself from humility, is a hellish mirror; for the devil's pride will be like to none, it keeps itself distinct in this world. And the blind man understands not this, how the devil fools and deceives him, and thus only
THE SIXTH POINT ill
to mock God prefigures his own proud mask; so that the poor man does as he does, and thinks he is thereby fine, and better than other men, whereas we all arise and proceed from one body and spirit. But before God and his angels he is recognized only as a devil's mask, and is in the sight of heaven an abomination. As a fool in comparison with wisdom is but an abomination, so is also hypocritical pride an abomination before God and his angels, in presence of the noble image. The world still cleaves to this abomination, and therewith marks out the corrupt image of earthliness.
38, He who sees a proud man sees the heavy fall of Adam, and a type of the hellish world; a half devil and half man, to whom the devil has continual access. For he is the devil's servant in this world; the devil does his work thi'ough him, and the poor man knows it not, and so enters the devil's service to his eternal reproach. He thinks he is thereby fine and important, and is thereby in the sight of God only as a fool, who puts on strange clothing and takes to himself animal form.
p. 112
CHAPTER X
Of the four elements of the devil and of the dark world; how we shall know them in this outer world,
1. The first element of the dark world and of the devil is pride, the second covetousness, the third envy, the fourth anger. These four elements are everlastingly hatching a young son, who is called Falsehood. This son is also a true son of the corrupt Adam, whom he left behind him to be a lord of the world. He has become king in the world, and has possessed the whole world, and rules everywhere in the third principle. Whoever rightly knows this king, knows the four elements of the devil ; for in the dark world these four elements have entire dominion in spirit and body, and in all that is called being.
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