Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. I — G. R. S. Mead (1906)

7 Cf. what underlies Matt, xxvii. 52, 53.

through the Gate of the Heavens, through which all those who do not pass (H. he says) remain Dead.

S. The same Phrygians again call this very same [Man], after the transformation, God [or a God].1

C. For he becomes (H. he says) God when, rising from the
Dead, through such a Gate, he shall pass into Heaven.

This is the Gate (H. he says) which Paul, the Apostle, knew, setting it ajar in a mystery, and saying that he was caught up by an angel and came to the second, nay the third heaven, into Paradise itself, and saw what he saw, and heard ineffable words, which it is not lawful for man to utter.2

These (H. he says) are the Mysteries, ineffable [yet] spoken of by all, —

" — which [also we speak, yet] not in words taught of human wisdom, but in [words] taught of Spirit, comparing things spiritual with spiritual things. But the psychic man receiveth not the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness unto him." 3

And these (H. he says) are the Ineffable Mysteries of the
Spirit which we alone know.

Concerning these (H. he says) the Saviour said :

"No one is able to come to Me, unless my Heavenly Father draw him." *

For it is exceedingly difficult (H. he says) to receive and accept this Great Ineffable Mystery.

And again (H. he says) the Saviour said :

" Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord ! shall enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens, but he who doeth the Will of My Father who is in the Heavens " 5 —

— which [Will] they must do, and not hear only, to enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

1 Some words have apparently been omitted, corresponding to the final clause of the last sentence in S. See E., p. 101.

2 Cf. 2 Cor. xii. 2-4.

3 Of. 1 Cor. h. 13, 14.

4 Cf. John vi. 44. Instead of " Heavenly Father," T. R. reads " the Father who sent me." Compare with this the longest of the newest found logoi, concerning " them who draw us " towards self-knowledge or the " kingship within." (Grenfell and Hunt, op. cit., p. 15.) G Cf. Matt. vii. 21.

And again He said (H. he says) :

" The tax-gatherers and harlots go before you into the Kingdom of the Heavens." 1

For by " tax-gatherers " (reXwyai) are meant (H. he says)
those who receive the consummations2 (T«A.TJ) of the universal
[principles] ; and we (H. he says) are the " tax-gatherers " 3
[" upon whom the consummations of the aeons have come " * ].

For the "jconsummations " (H. he says) are the Seeds disseminated into the cosmos from the Inexpressible [Man], by means of which the whole cosmos is consummated ; for by means of these also it began to be.

And this (H. he says) is what is said :

" The Sower went forth to sow. And some [Seeds] fell by the way-side, and were trodden under foot ; and others on stony places, and they sprang up (H. he says), but because they had no depth, they withered and died.

" Others (H. he says) fell on the fair and good ground, and brought forth fruit — one a hundred, another sixty, and another thirty.

" He who hath (H. he says) ears to hear, let him hear ! " 6

That is (H. he says), no one has been a hearer of these
Mysteries, save only the gnostic, perfect [man].

This (H. he says) is the "fair and good ground" of which
Moses saith :

" I will bring you into a fair and good land, into a land flowing with milk and honey." 6

This (H. he says) is the " honey and milk " by tasting which the perfect [men] become free from all rule,7 and share in the Fullness.

This (H. he says) is the Fullness whereby all things that are generated both are and are full-filled from the Ingenerable [Man].

> Cf. Matt. xxi. 31. T. R. reads " The Kingdom of God."

2 Or perfectionings, or completions, or endings, or initiations ; also taxes — here a mystical synonym for pleromata (fullnesses) or logoi (words).

3 Or, collectors of dues.

4 1 Cor. x. 11.

6 Cf. the logos underlying Matt. xiii. 3 ff. = Mark iv. 3 ff. = Luke viii. 5 ff.

6 Slightly paraphrased from LXX. — Deut. xxxi. 20.

7 In that they are rulers of themselves, members of the " self-taught" Race — a,0afft\f6Tovs, that is, free from the Rulers of Destiny, or Karmic bonds.

(23) S. This same [Man] is called by the Phrygians
Unfruitful.

C. For He is unfruitful as long as He is fleshly and works the work of the flesh.

This (H. he says) is what is said : " Every tree that beareth not good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire." *

For these "fruits" (H. he says^ are the logic* living men only who pass through the third Gate.3

J. At anyrate they 4 say :