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O my Son, write this firft Book , both for Humanity fake, and for Piety towards God.
2. For there can be no Religion more true or juft, then to know the things that are 5 and to acknowledg thanks for all things, to him that made them, which thing I (hall not ceafe continually to
jdo.
1 $. What then (hould a man do, O Father, to lead his life well *, fccijig there is nothing here true i
4. Be
z The firft Book of
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4. Be Pious and Religious, O my
Son y for he that doth fa, is the beft andhigheft Philofopher*, and with¬ out Philofophy, it isimpoflible ever to attain to the height and exa&nefs of Piety or Religion.
- 5. But he that fhall learn and ftudy
the things that are, and how they are ordered and governed, and by whom, and for what caufe, or to what end, will acknowledg thanks to the IHlcjfe* mart, as to a good .father, an excellent $ntfe, and a faithful fefetnajD, and he that gives thanks fhall be Pious of Religious, and he that is Religious fhall know both where the truth is, and- what it is, and learning that, he will be yet more and more Religious.
6. For never, O Son, fhall, or can that Soul, which while it is in the Body lightens and lifts up it felf to
know and comprehend that which is;
Good and T rue ,flide back to the con¬ trary : Bor it is infinitely enamored thereof, and forgetteth all Evils *, and
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1 into a cerfatnmopff nature, unfpeakably troubled, which yielded a fmoke as from fire ; and from whence proceed- ® ed a voyce unutterable, and very mournful, but inarticulate, infomuch that it feemed to have come from the
, LiSht*
f 6* Then from that Light, a certain l;olg W. ojd torn co it felf unto $afore, and out- flew the pure and unmixed Fire from the moyft Nature upward
I on high 5 it was exceeding itgijf, and
II fljarp, andopcratite withal. And the | Bfr which was alfo light, followed
the &>p?rtf and mounted up to iffrr, ffrom the Earth and the Water) info- much that it feemed to hang and de¬ pend upon it.
7. And the Earth, and the Water, flayed by thcmfclves fo mingled to- I gether, that the Earth could not be feen for the Water $ but they were moved, becaufe of the Spiritual ceioja that was carried upou them.
S. T hen faid poemancer unto me,
• Dofl
1 6 The fecond Book of
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Doft thou underhand this t&tiien, and what it meaneth? I fliall know,faid I : Then faid he , % am tfj.it Lfgftf , tfje SSshnut, tbp Mature tfjat appeareo out of oatknefs ; ana tfjat bright ano figfjful Ho;9 from tfje q^tnoc, is tfte &on of
9. How is that quoth I reply ed he, Underhand it : SCfjat tuljidj in ffjic f&t(j ano fjeatetb, tbe ®^ojp of tty 3to^t>, ano tty sptnoe, tty Jfatfjer, (ftoo, Differ not one from ettjer ; ano tty unien of tt)Cfe,ts &tfc.
SCrifmcg. I thank thee, pimano* But firft conceive well the Light in thy minde* and know it. , -i l
10. When he had thufc faid, for a long time we looked ftedfaftly one upon the other, infbmuch,that 1 trem*
bled at his SSOea or 5?ojm. _
11. But when he nodded to me, I beheld in my minde the Light that is in innumerable , and the truly indeh- nite ojnament or tuojtt) *, and that the fire is comprehended or contained in
©r by a moft great Power, and con- ftrained to keep its ftation.
12. Thefe things, I underftood, feeing the word of f t'manoer ; and when I was mightily amazed, he faid again unto me, Haft thou feenm thy minde that Archetypal Form, which was before the interminated and infi¬ nite Beginning { Thus ^rnianorr to - me : But whence quoth I, or where¬ of *are the Elements of Nature made ' pmtanoer. Of the Will and Counfel of God ; which taking the Word, and beholding the beautiful World ( in the Archetype thereof ) imitated it, and fo made this World, by the principles and vital Seeds or Soul-like productions of it felf.
1 3- For the spinoe being God, spate and female , fttfe and lu'g&f, brought forth by his wo;p ♦ another $Ptn&e, the Mloakman : Which being Gas of the and the falhi-
oned and formed feven other Ctotiem*
which in their Circles contain
* m
18 Tie fecond Book ot
' i %
the &cnfibic , whofe Govern¬ ment or Difpofition is called J?atc °r HDctfinp.
14. ^traightfoaE leaped out, or ex¬ alted it felf from the downward bom Elements of God >■ -tbeOTojDof (©cp, into the clean and pure Workmanihip of Nature > and was united to the Mojfeman, Spinbe, for it was Ccnfub* ffanftal • and fo the downward bom Elements of Nature were left with¬ out Reafon , that they might be the
onely Matter. ; ’IU
15. But the OTo&man, Spinue, to¬ gether with the containing the
Circles and Whirling them about, turned round as a Wheel his own Workmanfhips ; and fuffered them to be turned from an indefinite Begin-
ing, to an undeterminable End 5 for
they always begin where they end.
1 6. And the Circulation or running
round of thefe, as the Minde willcth,
out of the lower or downward-bom
Elements brought forth unreafona e
1
Hermes Trifmegijh
\ or bruitifh Creatures, for they had no
I reafon, the Air flying things, ahdthe I Water luch as fwim. - ;
. 17. And the Earth and the Water
i were feparated, either from other, as ’ the ^ttiDe would - and the Earth brought forth from her felf, fuch Living Creatures as fhe had, four foot¬ ed and creeping Beafts , wilde and tame.
I , Ig- But the jfaf&et of all things,
't the spinDe being Me and &ig&t I brought forth span, like unto himfelf* whom he loved as his proper Birt& 5 1 for he was all beauteous, having the
J Bimage of his jfahjer.
J t 1 9. For indeed God was exceed- j ingly enamored of his own Form or 1 Shape, and delivered unto it all his J 0wn Workmanfhips : But he feeing ; and undemanding the Creation of the j Workman in the whole, would needs alio himfelf fall to foojk, and fo was I leparated from the Father, being in the Iphere pf Generation orOperation.
Ci 20, Having
zo The fecond Book of
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20; Having all Power, he confider- ,
ed the Operations or Workmanfhips of the ^etoen 5 but they loved him, and every one made him partaker of j
his own O rder. 5
a 1. And he learning diligently,
and underftanding their Effence, and partaking their Nature, refolved to -■ oieree and break through the Ctttutn* | fmnce ofthe Circles , and to under- Hand the Power of him that fits upon 1
the Fire. 1
22. And having already all power 1
of mortal things, of the Living, and I of the unreafonable Creatures of the | World, Hooped down and peeped I through the i^attnoni?, and breaking 1 through the ftrength of the Circles, 1 fo fhewed and made manifeft the I downward -born Nature , the faitl and beautiful Shape or Form orj
God. .
23. Which when he faw, having
in it feif the unfatiabie Beauty, and
ail the Operation of the ^en , , fcetno;0i
Hermes TriJmegiJh
zi
ftetnojg , and the Form or Shape of God, he fmtleD for love, as if he had feen the Shape or Likenefs in the Wa¬ ter, pr the madow upon the Earth of the faireft Humane form. '
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24. And feeing in the Water a ihape, a fhape like unto himfelf, in himfelf he loved it, and would coha- bit with it 5 and immediately upon the refolution, enfued the Operation, and brought forth the unrcafpnable Image or Shape.
O i • • y • . i j
25. Nature prefently laying hold
of what it fo much loved, did wholly wrap her felf about it , and they were mingled, for they loved one an- other. r . • .
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26. And for this caufey^an, above all things that live upon garth , is double 5 mortal, becaufe of his Body3 and immoral, becaufe of the fubftan- tial Man : For being immortal, and having power of all things,- he yet fuffers mortal things ,• and fuch as are fubjeft to Fate or Deftiny.
C $ 27. And
9
The fecond Book of
27. And therefore being above all ^armotrp, he is made and become a fervant to ^arnionp. And being mapfooDtCe, or Male and Female , and watchful, he is governed by, and fub- je&ed to a Father, that is both Male and Female, and watchful.
. 28. After thefe things, I faid , act ms spinoe, ano 31 am in lots Until Iteafon.
%g. Then faid piman&er, This is the that to this day is hidden,
5 for Nature being mingled. witn Man, brought forth a Wonder moft wonderful * for he having the Nature of the barmens of the £>st>cn , from him whom I told thee, the Fire and the Spirit, Mature continued not, but forthwith brought forth {even Men all $palea and males», and fublime,oron high, accord¬ ing to the Natures of the Seven Go¬ vernors.
30. And after thefe things , 0>
pomanoer, quoth I, I am now come
into
Hermes T rifmegijh
\
/
into a great defire, and longing to hear, do not digrefs, or run out.
31. But he faid, Keep filence, Tor I have not yet finilhed the firft fpeech.
32. %x ifm. Behold, lamfilent.
33. ptman. The Generation there¬
fore of thefe ^etjen was after this maner, T he #ic being feminine, and the Water defirous of Copulation, took from the jflte its ripenefs , and from the (ether Spirit 5 and fo $afure produced bodies after the Species and Shape of men. '
34. And Man was made of Htfe and Htgljt into &oul and $$)inQe, of Jttte the &oul, of night the spiitue.
35. And fo all the Members of the gjsnfible Wo?lo , continued unto the period of the end, bearing rule, and generating.
3 6. Hear now the reft of that fpeech , thou fo much deftreft to hear,
- 37. When that perioD was fulfilled, ■ ; V - C 4 the
■ _
Z4- The fecond Book of
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the bond of all things was loofed and untied by the Will of God*, for all I living Creatures being l^ermripbJODifhal, or Q£ale and female, were loofed and untied together with Man *. and fo the Males were apart by thetnfelves, and the Females like wife.
4 '
38. And ftraight-ways God /aid to the Holy Word , Cucroafe in m> creaffng, ana multipip in multtiuDeaU pou mp Creatures ana me:femanahps. to let bint that is ensues teitb spiiwe, tote ’ bimfdf fo lie immortal * anb that the caufe of seat!) is t&e lobe of f pc boar, ano let Ijtm learn ah things that are. |
2 9. When he had thus faid,p,jo> ijisenre bp jfafe ans l^armonp, made the mixtures, and eftablifhed the Genera¬ tions, and all things were multiplied according to their kinde ^ and he that d knew himfelf, came at length to the $fcuperftantial of every way fubttantial good.
40. But he that through the
Error of Love, loved the HBoop, abid-
• eth
Kj^.y, 4 rf •* \ (
cth wandering, in darknefs, fenfible, fufFering the things of death.
41. SCrtfm. But. why do they that jare ignorant, fin fo much, that they ifliould therefore be deprived of im- jmortality ?
42. pimano. Thou feemeft not to
have underftood what thou had heard. '
ij 43. Crtfm. P e rad venture I fees n fo 1 to thee *, but I both underftand and ijremember them.
| 44. ptmans. I am glad, for thy
1 fake, if thou underftoodeft them.
I 45. Sctifm. T ell me why are they : worthy of death , that are in (death ? ^ y
i.; 4 6. ptmanfc. Becaufe there goeth
lafad and dsfmal darknefs before its [ body ; of which darknefs is the moyft INature 5 of which moyft Nature, i the Body confifteth in the fenfible World, from whence death is de¬ prived : Haft thou underftood this aright?
I rfe- . , 47.
47* SCriftH* But why , or how, doth he that underftands himfelf, g or pafs into God i J
48. pirn. That which the Word of God faid, fay I : Becaufe the Fa-| ther of all things confifts of Life and Light, whereof Man is made. , M
4 p. sCrtfrn. Thou fayeft very well J ; 50. pim. God and the Father isl Light and Life , of which Man isj made. If therefore thou learn and! beleeve thy felr to be of the Life and! Light, thou (halt again pafs into! Life. I
51. Crtfm. But yet tell me more,
G my Minde, how I fhall go into Life. ]
52. pint* God faith. Let the Man
endued with a Minde, mark, confider, and know himfelf well. j
53. SCrifm. Have not all men a
minde i j
54. ptm. Take heed what thou fayeft, for I the Minde come unto men that are holy and good, pure and
‘m merciful
0
merciful, and that live pioufly and re- licrioufly ? and my prefenbe is a help junto them. And forthwith they know all things, and lovingly they fuppli- cate and propitiate the Father 5 and blefling him, they give him thanks, and fing hyms unto him, being or¬ dered and directed by filial AffeCtion, f and natural Love : And before they 1 give up their Bodies to the death of ’■them, they hate their Senfes5 know* ^ng their Works and Operations. ,
|r 55. Rather I that am the Minde it
felf, will not fuffer the Operations or “ Works , which happen or belong to 4 the body, to be finiihed and brought | to perfection in them 5 but being the ^ojtcr and SDcu^feeeper, Iwillfhutup t the entrances of Evil, and ct^t off | thoughtful defires of filthy works.
I 5 6. But to the fooli{h5and evil, and | wicked, and eriviou$, and covetous,
1 and murderous, and profane, lam far off giving place to the revenging SDe* f mon , which applying unto him the I ' fharpnefs
r
\
fharpnefs of fire , tormenteth fuch a man fenfible , and armeth him the more to all wickednefs, \that he may obtain the greater punifhment. J
57 . And fuch a one never ceafeth,
having unfulfillable defires,and unfati- able concupifcences , and always fighting in darknefs; for theSDmon afflids and tormenteth him continual¬ ly, and increafeth the fire upon him more and more. , ? >T
58. SCrifm. Thou haft, O Minde, mo ft excellently taught me all things, as I defired * but tell me moreover,
after the return is made , then i
what
$9. p imams. Firft of all, in the re- folution of the material Body, the Body it felf is given up to alteration,] and the form which it had, becometh invifible 5 and the idle maners are per- ! mitted, and left to the SDemon, and the Senfes of the Body return into i their Fountains, being parts, and again
made up into Operations. 1
/■-. , 6q. And!
i 60. And Anger and Concupifccnce ■go into the bruitilh, or unreasonable .Nature •, and the reft ftriveth upward
I '
by Harmony.
61. And to the firft zone itgivcth ' . had of increafing and
I 62. To the fccond, the machina¬ tion or plotting of evils , and one effectual deceipt or craft.
I S3. To the third, the idle deceipt
, of Concupifcence.
* 64. To the fourth, the aefire of
‘ Rule, and unfatiable Ambition.
65. To the fifth, prophane Bold- jnefs , and the headlong raftmefs of Confidence.
I 66. T o the fixth,Evil and ine ffe&u-
[ aloccafions of Riches.
] 67. And to the feventh ^one, tub-
tfle Falfhood, alwayes lying in !! wait.
f 68. And then being made naked
\ of all the Operations of Jarmans , lit cOmeth to the eighth Nature,
havm
having its proper power, and fingefi praifes to the Father with th^e things that are, and all they that are prefent re Joyce, and congratulate the coming of it 5 and being made like to them* with whom it converfeth, it heareth alfo the Powers that are above the eighth Nature, finging praife to God
*n a certain Voyce that is peculiar to them. 'i V
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69. And then in order they return unto the Father, and themfelves de-1 liver themfelves to the powers, and! becoming powers, they are in God. 1
70. This is the Good,and to them!
that know to be deified. I
71. Furthermore, why fayeftl thou^ What refteth , but that under- 1 (landing all men,thou become a guide J and way-leader to them that are wor-| thy 5 that the kinde of l£umanih? or* ^ankinoe, may be faved by God ? • 1
72. WhenptmanDst had thus faidl
unto me, he was mingled among thcl Powers. I
( • 73. But]
Hermes 1 rijmegijtus . 31
I ' * ’ ' , v ,
[ 73. But I giving thanks, and blef- Ing the Father of all things, rofe up, xing enabled by him, and taught the Nature, of the Nature of the whole, ind having feen the greatell: fight or pc
1 74. Arid I began to Preach unto
men, the beauty and fairnefs of Piety und Knowledg.
75. j2D pepeople^en, bojn atiD mane of ie (Earth, tobhb fjatie gttjen sour felbes ober ;jo D?ankennefs,anD fl®p,ano to the ignorance if ©oo , be fober, ano ceafe sour forfeit * obereto pou are nUutto , ano tnbtteo bp jtfuttifo, anD unreafonable Ueep*
; 7 6. And they that heard me,comci yillingly, and with one accord ; and |hen I faid further.
j 77. MbS^ £) Spen of tl>e iDff’fpjtng of be earth > tabs babe sou oeltbereD sous |kbes obernnf 0 Death, bahingpotoer to par# ake of im wtaKfp i Kepent ano change jour mtnbea, sou that bake together foalkefc ti Cot t ano babe been Darknco in tgnoz#
luce* V ' 0: v • st
78. jBPepart *
78. jSDepart from that Dark light, be pan takers of tminortalifp, ano leafcs lj, fo^fai corruption.
79. And fome of them that hear*) me. mocking and fcorning, went away and delivered themfelves up to tin way of death, s
80. But others calling therafelve; down before my feet, befought me, that they might be taught 5 but caufing them to rife up, became a guidi ©f mankinde, teaching them therea- Tons how, and by what means the; maybefaved. Andlfowed inth the words of Wifdom, and nouriihei them with Hmbrofian water of immcji
1 1 N i_
Si. And when it was Evening and the Brightnefs of the fame began wholly to go down, I commanded them to go down, I commanded them to give thanks to God 5 and when they had finished their thankfgiving, every one returned to his own lodg¬ ing. ' ■ ; 1
82. But
Hermes
nlmentus
\
! 82. But I wrote in my felf , the
j bounty and beneficence of pimanOer *
J and being filled with what I moft de- | fired, I was exceeding glad.
83. For the deep of the Body was the fober watchfulnefs of theminde =
_ • v ^ ' 4
and the {hutting of my eyes the true fight, and my filence great with child e , and full of good 5 and the pronouncing of my words, theblof- foms and fruits of good things. i] 84. And thus came to pafs or hap- !1 pened unto me, which I received from my minde,that is,ptmanOer, the Lord ■I of the Word •, whereby I became in¬ i' Ipired by God, with the Truth.
85. For which caufe , with my if Soul , and whole fircngth , I give dpraifc and blefiing unto God the
Facher.'
86, 10
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. 87. 'Ijelp ts
ana accomplifljeO bg bis ofon potoero*
88; l£cl2 t0 (2500, ffeaf act enjttnetb t Q be
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bno&m, ano 10 bncfcm cf jjis dfon, 0^ tfiofe
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89. ^o!p art thou, tfjaf bp % SHojb Ijaff
eftafalilbe& all thtnpr. j
90. %eig art tfjcu, cf iDbam all Mature is
tfce Image. ^ff
pi. l£o!p art tijea, febom Mature baf()
rot formes# ' .
92. $?Qly art tbcu that art ft ranger ffien
ail pofrer. ■ jM
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pr, Clipart tjjeu, tfjat art greafeet&en
aUercellcmp,
94- _ Ocig art tbou, fe bo art better ffjen
allpiaife, •]
9%. Accept tbefe reafonable Sacrifices frem a pure foul , ano a heart ft tetchy cut unto ($X. V v .. •■ .-1 ?i\m
96. £D thou unfpeafeable, unutterable, to
be pjaifeD toitb ftlence/ :|
‘ 7- Si befeecl) tpee, that 3 map nrber errs fi'sm tbefinofculeDg of ttjre, leofe mercifullp upon it it, at|B enable me, ana enlighten anti) ffjts blotters of rap fetnbe, Ant tbp te. ' |j
95* SD&eiefofce 3 bcitsbefba', ar:b bear
. imtnefo
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foitaete, m go into tpz litre ana
S'tg^f*
98. HBleCfeD art ttjou, jfatpev, f&p man Inoulo be fancttfieo tuitti tyet, as thou patt gitan&tmaUpofoei;.
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The Third Book
jfe
CALLED
ermon.
HE glory of all things, God, and that which is Divine , and the Divine Mature, the beginning of things that are
2. God, and the Minde, tore , and Matter, and Operation, or Working , and Neceffity , and the End, and Renovation.
g. For there were in the Cfoac*, an infinite darknefs m the Abyfs orbot- tomiefs Depth, and Water, and a febrile Spirit intelligible in Power 5 and there went out the Holy Light, and the Elements were 'coagulated
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From the Sand out of the moyft Sub- ftance.
4. And all the Gods diftinguiftxd
the Nature full of Seeds.
5. And when all things were in- terminated and unmade up, the light things were divided on high. And the heavy things were founded upon the moyft Sand, all things being Termi¬ nated or Divided by Fire *, and being fuftained or hung up by the Spirit, they were fo carried, and the
was feen in &et>en Ctrcle0.
6. And the Gods were feen in
their SlDeasof the Stars, with all their Signes, and the Stars were numbred with the Gods in them. And the Sphere was all lined with Ayr, carri¬ ed about in a circular motion by the Spirit of God.
7. And every God by his internal power, did that which was command¬ ed him 5 ? and there were made four footed things , and creeping things, and fuch as live in the Water,and fuch
D 3 as
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as flie, and every fruitful Seed, and Grafs, and the Flowers of all Greens, all which had fowed in themfelves the Seeds of .Regeneration.
8. As alfo the Generations of men, to the knowledg of the Divine Works, and a lively or working Tefti* mony of Nature, and a multitude of men, and the Dominion of all things under Heaven ? and the knowledg of good things, and to be increafed in
increafing , and multiplied in multi¬ tude. ' ; I r/SM
p. And every Soul in Fleih,by the wonderful working of the Gods in the Circles, to the beholding of Hea¬ ven, the Gods, Divine Works, and the Operations of Nature 5 and for Signes of good things , and the knowledg of the Divine Power, and to findeout every cunning workman- !
fhip of good things.
10. So it beginnetb to live in them, and to be wife according to the Ope- -j ration of the courfe of the circular
Gods t
megtjm .
I Gods} and to be refolved into that i which (hall be great Monuments, and | Remembrances of theeunning Works j done upon Earth, leaving them to be | read by the darknefs of times.
I n. $nd ;every Generation of j living Fleih, ofJFruit, Seed, and all Handicrafts, though they be loft,muft I of neceflity be renewed by thereno- 1 vation of the Gods, and of the N a- I ture of a Circle, moving in number 5 i for it is a Divine thing, that every worldly temperatqre mould be re- | mewed by nature 5 for in that which is Divine, is
| The end of the Fragments I of the third Book,
very unperfedl.
i '
1 ■
f v
s Speech , O 3Tclep««0, I dedicated to thee , this days it is fit to dedicate to SCat, becaufe it an Epi¬
tome of thofe general
Speeches that were fpoken to him.
2. God therefore, and the Father,
and the Good, O have the fame Nature, or rather -alfo the fame A6t and Operation. ‘ ' |
3. For there is one name orappel- lation of Nature and Increafc, which eoncerneth things’ changeable , and another about, things unchangeable ,
• . and
• ijmegmm . \ 4*
\ \ • r v x * - 1
and about things unmoveable, that is to fay, T hings Divine and Humane 5 every one of which, himfelf will have fo to be •, but action or operation's of another thing, or el few here, as we have taught in other things, Divine and Humane, which muft here alfo be
4. jfoi fjts jDpcraften oj att,ts Ijis anomie Cflfence, fo toil} all ffjtngs fo be.
5* For what, is God, and the Fa- ia. ther, and the Good, but the Being ot all things that yet are not, and die evidence it felf, of thofe things that arc?
6 . This is God, this is the Father, this is the Good, whereunto no other
• • •• j , •• ■
thing is prelent or approacheth.
7 For the tsagojio, and thel»uit, which is alfo a jrat&ef by J^arftctpaftor, is not for all that equally the caufe of Good, and of Life, to living Crea¬ tures : And if this be fo, he is alto¬ gether conftrained by the Will of the Good, without which, it is not pofiL
T- “ • . x ble
v
i
I ' .
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8. But the Father is the caufeof his Children, who hath % will both to j fowe and nourilh that which is good
ble, either to be, or to be begotten or made.
by the &un. ■
. v 9. For Good is always a dive or bufie in making 5 and this cannot be in any other, but in him that taketh nothing, and yet willeth all things to be 5 for I will not fay, O Cat, making them *, for he that maketh,is defedive in much time, in which fometimes he maketh not, as alfo of quantity and quality 5 for fometimes he maketh thofe things that have quantity and quality, and fometimes the con¬
trary. - \ 1 • ' •'?
10. But God is the Father, and the Good, in being all things . for he
v
(be known r This 'is the Good, O ECaf. 1
12. ffiaf. Thou haft filled us, 0 3?at’(jer, with a fight, both good and {fair, and the eye of my minde- is al- moft become more holy by the fight orfpe&acle.
I 13. SErifm. 3 foonDer nof at it, for tijthe flight of the £>tm, which being of a fiery finning Jarightnefs, maketh the eye blinde by ifiis exceflive Light, that gazeth upon it y rather the contrary, for it cnlight-
meth , and fo much increafeth the
f:
;’ight of the eye, as any man is able to Receive the influence of this intelligi-
A .
[T - - - ' - ~
{ 14. For it is more fwift and fharp ;o pierce, and innocent or harmlefs Withal, and full of immortality 5 and ;hey that are capable, and can draw W ftore of this fpe&acle, and fight, ’fo many times fall afleep from the ody, into this moll fair and beaute-
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fius Vifion-, which thing Cdms and
Saturn
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&afttrn our Progenitors., obtaine
unto. ;
15. SCaf. I would we a! fo, 0 Fa
ther, could do fo.
1 6. SCrtfaf* I would w£ could, Son 5 but for the prefent we are lefs intent to the Yifion , and cannot y open the eyes of our mindes to behol the incorruptible, and incompreheri- ftble Beauty of that Good : But then (hall we fecit, when we have nothing at all to fay of it. :y
17. For the knowledg of it, is a Divine Silence, and the reft of all the Senfes : For neither can he that un derftands that , underftand anything elfe , nor he that fees that, feeany thing elfe, nor hear any other thing, nor in fum, move the Body.
18. For ftiining ftedfaftly upon
and round about the whole Minde, i enlighteneth all the Soul ; and loofing it from the Bodily Senfes and Moti¬ ons, it drawcth it from the Body, an ehangeth it wholly into the Effenc of God. 15? , jfty
♦
ifmegijh
19. ^0? if fe pofstWe ft? t|e ^>sul , £D
g>oit) fo be Sctfieo Suljile vtt it loogetbin ttys H5oop of span, if tf contemplate tjje beawtp
)f tbe d5o3J). , N , .
20. SCaf. How doft thou mean dei¬ fying, Father l ,
' 21. Crtfm. There are differences,
O Son, of every Soul. > .
2%. SDat. But how doft thou again
divide the changes f E 23. SCrifm. Haft thou not heard in the general Speeches , that from pne Soul of the univerfe , are all thofe Souls , which in all the world are tofled up and down, as it were, and feverally divided f Of thefe Souls
there are1 many changes , fome into a
more fortunate eftate, and fome quite contrary $ for they which are of creep¬ ing things, are changed into thofe qt watery things $ and thole of things living in the water, to thofe of things living upon the Land 5 and Airy ones are changed into men, and humane
Souls, that lay hold of ^mortality*
V
, v , ,
f I
ine fourth Book of
\ t' V
• ( V \ ^' t ' V . y ** . I * • . •
are changed into t>em&n$.
24. And fo they go on into the Sphere or Region of the fixed Gods; for there are two quiers or companies of Gods, one of them that wander, and another of them that are fixed: And this is the moft perfect glory of the Soul.
f ■. / ^ r - ■ , / '
25. But the Soul entring into the Body of a Man , if it continue evil, fhall neither tafte of immortality, nor is partaker of the good.
26. But being drawn back the fame way , it returneth into creeping things. And this is the condemnation of an evil Soul.
27. Andthewickednefs of a Soul, is ignorance * for the Soul that knows nothing of the things that are, neither the Nature of them, nor that which is good, but is blinded, rufheth and dalheth againft the bodily Paflions* and unhappy, as it is, not knowing it felf, it ferveth ftrange Bodies, and
ones* carrying the Body as a
burthen.
burthen, and not ruling, but ruled. And this is the mifehief of the Soul.
28. On the contrary, the vertueof the Soul is Knowledg 5 for he that knows, is both good and religious-amd already Divine.
29. -2 Cat. But who is fuch a Oftes
O Father i
30. 2Drifm. He that neither fpealcSg, nor hears many things *, for hc,0 So% that heareth two fpeeches or hear¬ ings, fighteth in the fliadow.
I 3 u For God, and the Father Good, is neither fpoken nor heard [ 32. This being fo in all things are, are the Centra, becaufe they can¬ not be without them.
33* Knowledg differs much rom Senfe ^ for Senfe isofrhinj hat furmountit, but Knowledg is rl lend of Senfe.
34. Knowledg is the gift of God5
'or ail Knowledg is unbodily , Uanr ufeth the Minde as an Inftrument, as
* ( * f / r* «/ » c I ,
/
I
(
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4.8 T he fou rth B ook o
i ' p ■ 3 * /
3$. Therefore both ini and mat dial things, go both of them into bodies*, for, of eontrapofition,
'is, feitiu^ oti3 againfi another , and contrarictv’TaUtl)tngs muft confiff. And it is impomble it lhould be otherwife* ]
3 6. %i it. Who therefore is this material God ?
37. SDi ifjs:. The fair and beautiful World, and yet it is not good • for it is material, and eaiil.y paffible, nay, it is the fil'd of all piilible things $ and thefecondof the things that are, and needy or wanting, fomewhat elfe. And it was once made, and is always, and is ever in generation, and made,, and continually makes, or generates things that have quantity and qua-
r m ' :
3$. For it is moveable, and every material motion is generation 5 but the Intel le&ual (lability moves the mate* rial mo- ion after this maner. >|
39. Becaufe the World is a Sphere,
is, a head, and above thehead * there
x
T
tjiere is nothing material , as beneath the feet there is nothing intellectual.
40. The whole univerfe is materi- ,
al : The Minde is the head, and it is moved fpherically, that is like a- head .
• . • • i -
41 . Whatloevcr therefore is joyn- ed or united to the Membrane or
Film of this head , wherein the Soul
* ' ^ , 4 •
is, is immortal , and as in the Soul of a made Body, hath its Soul full of the Body* but thofe that are further from that Membrane, have the Body * full of Soul.
I 42. The whole is a living wight, and therefore confifteth of material, and intellectual,
43. And the World is the firft, and Man the fecond living Wight after tfie World , but th$ firft of things hat arc mortal 5 and therefore hath
pt her have ; lot onely not good, tong mortal ■■
■I
. 1
1 A * **
44- Per
k
50
: 44 ror the World is not good, as it m moveable , nor evil, as it isim.
•** »** *ft •*-'
45 , But teart is evil, both as he is
nioveabM, afokJ as he is mortal.
... 4f But the Soul of Man is ear- ili this mazier , ■ jB&fjc Spinog'ts; in
■I47.. T he spirit being diffufed, anu gomg through the'veih^ -and arteries, and bided, both ' moveth the living Create-/ and' after "ld certain maner
:th it.

> iki w, :
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%-M
f j? f " l y ‘
" 1»-» *. t>. Sw & fv., fom-e alfo have
cfiouglit the Soul to beBlood, beinj deceived in Nature, not knowing that 5 fete Spirit twill return into the Soul, and then the- blood i& .congealed, the veins ’add aitenes^emptied, an^
f . ^ a i i. 1-*n - ** A, ' * ‘ a •
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ne
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ebat
the" begirti is one and alone.
"i ' 50,
one be-
V-,
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50. Arid the beginning is moved, at it may again be a beginning $ but
is one, is not
51. There are lUuvtu». ,
ai«) tije
ho span : God hath the World, and he World hath Man 5 and the ^orld is the Son of God, and Man
|pS*> ‘ v- ' •;i - *0"
s it were the OffTpring of the
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I, 52. For God is not ignorant of riari, but knows him perfectly, and /ill be known by him. This*onely ^healthful to man *, the Knowledg * : If his is the return of 4DM* this onely the Soul is made d, and not fometimes good, and
■■ » ~ . . 5. • m 4 /■»
metimes evil , but or n
■ , ... ...y ■ • . ' . ■ ■ ' •
ood.
tat What meancft thou, 0 hther i
U4. JCrifni- Confide r, O Son, the bulpf a^Childe, when as yet it hath, reived no difiblution of its Body
' £ 2
The fourth Book of
» *V \
which is hoc yec grown, but is very fmalh how then if it look upon it felf, it fees it felf beautiful, as not ha¬ ving been yet fpotted with the Paffi- ons of the Body , but as it were de* pending yet upon the Soul of the World.' •.
/ ,r. g ■ r ■ * • A . \
55- But when the Body is grown and^difttadeth , the Soul it ingenders Forget fulnefs,' and partakes no more of the fair, attB the h am, and Forget-
fulsiefsis Evilnels. . ' ' •
5 6: The like alfo happeneth to thetn jhat . go out of the Body : Foi whoi the Soul runs back into it felf, the Spirit is comrade d into the blood, and the Soul into the Spirit 5. but the Minde being made pure,, and free from tfiefe doathings $ and being Di¬ vine By Nature, taking a fiery Body, sahgeth abroad in every place, lcaviflg the- Soul to judgment, and to the gunifhmcnt It hath deferved. \.“
■ 57, %^L Why doft thou fay ft
0 T a$krf Ffias the Minde is feparatei
from
* i-j "*
rijmegijtw, 53
K, ; . Y '
B ' r m , ... f * V* l;
Prom the Soul, and the Soul from the Spirit? When even now thou faidft the Soul was the Cloathing, or Ap- parrel of the Mindc, and the Body of the Soul.
f ^8. 2Cfifm. O Son, he that hears muft co-underftand, and confpire in thought with him that fpeaks • yea, he muft have his hearing (wifter and r , then the voycc of the
V:‘ '
fpeakef.
I 59.Thedifpofiti :>n of thefe Gloat fl¬ ings or Covers , is done in the an Earthly Body •' for k is impolfible, iat the Minde fhould eftablilh or reft fclf, naked, and of it felf , in an arthly Body $ neither is the Earthly ody able to bear fuch immortality : fVnd therefore, that it might faffer fo >reat vertue, the Minde compared as t were, and took to it felf the pafiiblc 5ody of the Soul, as a Covering or a ploathing. And the Soul being alfo n fome fort Divine, ufeth the Spirit iS her Miniftcr and Servant*, and the F ' \ , • E 3 Spirit
j
* *>
■t
I
54.
Spirit governeth • the living thing;
60. When therefore the Mindeisj feparated , and departeth from the Earthly Body, presently it puts on its Fiery Coat, which it could not do, having to dwell in an Earthly Body.
61. For the Earth cannot , fuffer fire , for it is all burned of a fmall fpark ^ therefore is the water poured round about the Earth, asa Wall or defence, to withftand the dame oi fire.
• > 4h i
6 2. But theMinde being the moft fliarp or fwife of all the Divine Cogi¬ tations, and more (wife then all the Elements, hath the fire for its Body.
6-%. For theMinde which is the
Workman of all, ufeththe fire as his
Jnftrument in his workmanlhip $ 2nd
he that is the Workman of all, ufeth
it to the making of all things, as it is
ufed by man, to the making of Earth*
ly things onely • for the Mjnde that is
upon Earth, voyd, or naked of fire,
cannot do the bufinefs of men* not
' vT ' that
\ ,
I
that which is otherwife the affairs of
God.
64. But the Soul of Mail, and yet not every one, but that which is pious and religious,is Angelical arid Divine, And luch a Soul, after it is d eparted from the Body , having -"driven the ftrife of Piety, becomes either Minde or God.
65. And the ftrife of Piety is to know God, and to injurn no Man*, and this way it becomes Minde.
66. But an impious Soul abideth
/
in its own
it' felf,
* 4 y
feeking an earthly and human Body to enter iflto. r
67. For no other Body is capable of an Humane Soul, neither is it law¬ ful for, a Mans Soul to fall, info the
/
. \ 'i
/
For it is the Law or Decree of God, to preferve an Humane Soul from fo grCatacontume
158. Cat How tnen is the
of Mail punifhed, O Father*, ')
E 4
t
56
of
what is its greateft torment i V 6,9 • ^erm. Impiety, O my Son* for what Fire hath fo great a flame as as it ' Or what biting Beaft dothfo tear the Body, as it doth the Soul .
79. Or do ft thou not fee how many Evils the wicked Soul fuffereth, roar¬ ing and crying out, 3 am barnei>, 3 ant confumeo, 3 bnoto nottobat lo Tap, o^oo, 3 am DeboureD, uubappp njctcf), of ffcc ebils tfyst rompafa, ano lap fjolo upon me ; miier' able that 3 am> 3 nettfjer f® noj bear sttn
l&fng.
V- .Th.cfe are ‘he voyces of a
puniftied and tormented Soul, and not as many ♦ and thou, O Son, thinkeft, I that the Soul going out of the Body, grows bruitifh or enters into a Beaft ; which is a very great Error, for the j ■ Soul puniftied after this maner. 1 72. FortheMinde, when it is or- I dered or appointed to get a fiery Body for the fervices of God* coming
the
die wicked Soul being fcourged, turns it fclf to Murthers, and Contumelies , and Blafphemies, and divers Violen¬ ces, and other things by which men are injured.
I 73. But into a pious Soul , the j Minde entering,leads it into the Light 1 of Knowledg.
1 74. Andlucha Soul is never fat is -
f i fied with finging praife Co ©00, and \ {peaking well of ail men ; and both I' in words and deeds, always doing good in imitation of her Father.
f 75. Therefore, O Son, we mud i give thanks, and pray, that we may | obtain a good minde. i 79. The Soul therefore may be j- altered or changed into the better s r but into the worfe it is impoflible.
! 77- 3ut there is a communion of
I Souls ; and thofe of Gods, commu- - hjeate with thofe men ; and thofe of t men, with thofe of Beafts. j; 78. And the better always take of the worfe, Gods of Men, Men of
j. .« - ' „ • -v "’ - — * - - w ^ "
bruit
* *7 ) ** r
1
I
bruit Bealls, but God of all : For he is the belt of ail, and all things are left then he.
7 9. Therefore is the World fub- jed unto God, Man unto the World, and unreafonabk things to Man.
So. But God is above all, anda- bout all 5 and the beams of God are operations ? and the beams of the World are Natures 5 and the beams of Man are Srfs atiD Sciences.
81. And Operations do ad by the
World, and upon man by the natural beams of the World, but Natures work by the Elements, and man by Arts anq Sciences* 1
82. And this is the Government of the whole , depending upon the Nature of the 4ptte> and piercing or coming down by the 4Dne$EtfnDe, then which nothing is more Divine, and
mare efficacious or operative $ and nothing more uniting^ or nothing is more 0ne. The Communion of Gods
4
to Men, and of Meato Gods.
%
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4-^
i. 4. -J *>. *
A. X 4 A i * 'I ■', •
83. Thi$ is the ISonna genf^f .•, or
; bleflc& Soul that is
it / and, unharmv Soul that is it. . f
84. scat. And wherefore Father ?
85. SDttfm. 1 Know Son, that every Soul hath the; ^tnte ; for of that it is we; now fpeak , and pot of that Minifter, of which We’fajd be¬ fore, That he was fent from- the Judg* ment.
»*• t - ■ C ' ' *• * » * ■ ■ 1 ;• « ; j \ ' . : ■ *
86. For the Soul u without the Minde, can neither do, nor (ay any thing *, for many times the Minde flies away from the Soul , and in that hour the, SquI neither feeth nor heareth, but is like an unreafonable thing • fo greatis the power of the Minde.,
87. But neither brooketh. it an idle
or lazy Soul , but leaves fuch a one faftned to the Body, and by itpreffed
f
* -f
••
88. And fuch a Soulj O Son, hath no minde * wherefore neither , muft fuch a one be called a Man.
8p. For
X if V
8?. For Man is a Divine living thing, and is not to be compared to any bruit Beaft that lives upon Earth, but to them that are above in Heaven,
t » ^ ^ '** :f. / ''I
that are called Gods.
go. Rather, if we fhall be bold to
{peak the truth, he that is a man in¬
deed, is above them , or at leaft they are equal in power, one to the other t For none of the things in Heaven will | come down upon Earth , and leave the limits of Heaven , but a man
* * 'v *
afeends up into Heaven, and meafures it. ' ^ ‘ •
pi. And he knoweth what things are on high , and what below , and iearneth all other things exactly.
p2. At)d that which is the greatefl ©f all, heleaveth not the Earth, and yet is above : So great is the greatnefs of his Nature.
P5. Wherefore we rhuft be bold to fay, SC&at an Cartht? man, is a mortal ^00 j ano t^at tlje Ijeatjcnly d5oo, is an tm*
ntotfal - vlri
Meviim . 61
94. Wherefore, by thefe two arc all things governed, the World, and Man; but they and all things elfe, of that which is £Dne»
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and jet mofl mmifejl .
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His Difcourfe I will; alfo make to thee,
O "%at , that thou may ft not be igno¬ rant of the more excellent Name of God.
) •• ! y
2*. But do thou contemplate in thy m4’e , how that which to many feems hidden and unmanifeft, may be j moft manifeft unto thee. Ja__

parent, for whatsoever is apparent, is generated or made $ for it was made
— • i-ia i t
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■itiamfcft, but that which is not mani- fell is ever. ' . ‘
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not to be manl- fchecij for it is always.
5. '! And he maketh t
mamfeft^being onmanifefl , as being ;always, and fencing otter thin** inifeft, he is not made mamfeftflHH
6. Himfclf is not made , yet in fantalie hefantafieth all things, or in nppearancehe:;v-;',^i'v^ jFor appearance is on
hat are generated’ or made , for ap~ " { is. nothing bet generation* i / . *»ut he ' that is that is not
enerated, is alfo imappa®
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rent
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mgs appear.
3
to, or
19—
r\
is one to
to the $)ms front
to thee,
that
\
that thou mayeft know and ttnderftand fo great a Cod $ and that he would fhine one of his beams upon thee in thy underftanding. >,
, j o* For onely the llndcrftanding fees that which is not manifeft, or ap¬ parent^ as being it felf not manifeft of apparent ^ and if thou canft, O ■ JCif, it will appear to the eyes of thy minde.
li. For the Lord, voyd of envy, appeareth through the whole world. Thou may eft. fee. the intelligence, and take it in thy hands, and contemplate the Image of God. . 1
iu Bat if that which is in thee, be hoc known or apparent unto thee, j bow* {Hall he in thee be feen, andap pear unto thee by the eyes i
15. But if thou wilt fee him, con fider and underiftand the &Hn, con- ftder the coiu le of the {©am, confide? the order of the v ■
14. Who is he that keepeth order
for all order is circumfcribed orter* minated.in number and place. ,
*Mhc
[+
« Hermes Trifmegiflm . 6$
i .
15. The Sun is the greateft of the f-Gods in Heavcn^o whom all thehea- ! venly Gods give places as to a King and potentate 5 and yet he being fuch : a one, greater then the Earth or the Sea , is content to fuffer infinite lefTer iStars to walk and move above him- 'tlelf; whom doth he fear the while, O
1 16. Every one of thefe Stars that
are in Heaven, do not make the like, pr an eqyal courfe • who is it that fiath preferibed unto every one, the planer and the greatnefs of their courfe i
I 17. This Bear that turns round a- >out its own felf , and carries round he whole World with her , who »ofieffed and made fuch an Inftru-
nent. ' - • :
■p j £ v
I 18. Who hath fetthe bounds to he Sea i who hath eftabliifhed the iiarth? for there is fo me Body, O 'Mt, that is the Maker and Lord of lefe things. 3
■ Is 1 9, For
c
m *
it is impolTible, O Son, or number, or mea- furc , ihould be obferved without a
26, For no
can be made by
• ; y
y I
v*v* v/ i ' X
2 i. r-'p would it were pofliblc for thee, O my Son, to have wingS, and toflie into the Air , and being taken up in the midft,’ between Heaven and Earth, to fee the liability of the Earth, the fluid nefs of the Sea, the courfesof the Rivers, the large nefs of the Air, the fliarpnefs or fwiftnefsof the Fire, the motion of the Stars , and the fpeedinefs of the ‘Heaven, by which it goeth round about all thde.
22. G Son, what a happy fight it were, at one inftaht, to ice all-theft* that which is unmoveable moved,an that wfiich is hidden appear and be
nifeft
23. And if thou wilt fee
hold this Workman, even by ni
things that are upon Earth, and inutile 1
I
1-
'ijmegijm . 6j
i
ipeep, confider, O Son, how $)pan is taade and framed in the Womb 5. and examine diligently the skill, and cun- pg of the Workman, and learn who it was that wrought and fafhioned [he beautiful and Divine fhape of span- who circumfcribed and marked out his eyes ears ^ who opened his mouth, who flretched out and tied together his pews t who channelled the veins i ffho hardned and made ftrong the pones ? who clothed the flefh with
[kin ? who divided the fingers and
he joynts i who flatted, and made ►road the foals of the feet i who dig- ■ d the pores e who flretched out the fpleen Bmmts i who made the Liver broad s Vho made the Lights fpungy , and “ill of holes f who made the belly rge and capacious ? who fet to out- ard view, the more honorable parts, nd hid the filthy ones. >, r ' 24. See how many Arts in one I P 2 Matter.
v
V I
Matter, and how many Works in one Superfcripcion , and all exceedingly beautiful,and all done in meafure, and
yet all differing, , ;:j
25. Who hath made all thefe things? what Mother ? what Father $ faveonely God that is not manifeft i that made all things by his own
Win. •/ ; •
2 6. And no man fays that a flattie or an image is made without a Carver or a Painter, andwasthis Workman- fhip made without a Workman? 0 great Bliridnefs, O great Impiety, 0 great Ignorance.
27. Never, O Son Eaf,canft thou
deprive the Workmanfhip of the Workman, rather it is the bed Name of all the Names of God, to Cal1 him the jfatfier of all, for fo he is alone ; and this is his work to be the Father.
28. And if thou wilt force roe to
fay any thing more boldly, it is his
Eitence to be pregnant, or great with
all things, and to make them, v : ‘ ; 2p
i
2 And as without a Maker, it is tj impoffible that any thing ihould be made, fo ic is that he mould not ai¬ rways be, and always, be making all things in Heaven, in the Air, in the 1 Earth , in the Deep , in the whole | World , and in every part of the whole, that is, or that is not, -f' f’ i 30. For there is^ nothing id- the q whole World, that is not himfel^both ^ the things that are, and the things .. that are not.
• 31. For the things that are, he hath
made manifeft * and the things that are not, he hath hid in himfelf.
J 32. This is God that is better then 0 any name •, this is he that is fee ret 5 this is he that is mo ft manifeft ; this is %e that is to be feeh by the Minde^
: this is he that is viftble to the eye* [, this is he that hath no body * and this -Is he that hath many bodies, rather ■! there is nothing of any body, whiclf lifts not
I 33., For bt alone is all things.
f if 3 v 34. 8nn
4
r
34* tfnDfoj (1)13 caufe ppty all $ames,
becaKfc t)c w tp £Dne JFat&er ; ano t&emoje
$5*1 no $ame, b^caufe lie to tp ifat^cc of all.
35* Who therefore canblefs thee, or give thanks for thee, or to thee.
36. Which way /hall I look, when ,1 praife thee * upward ? downwards outward ? inward f
37. For about thee there is no maner,nor place, nor any thing elfe of all things that are.
% 3 8- But all things are in thee •, all things from thee , thou giveft all things, and takeft nothing •, for thou haft all things , and there is nothing that thou haft not. \
3,9' When fhall I praife thee, 0 Father - for it is neither poffible to comprehend thy hour, nor thy time ?
49. For what (ha'll I praife thee ? for what thou haft made, or for what thou haft not made thou haft manifefted , or for t
* H 4 X
41. Where-
1
41. Wherefore {hall I praife thee , as being of my felf, or having any
thing of mine own, or
, I 42 . For thou art what I am, thou I art what I do, thou art what I fay.
■ 43. Cfjcu art all flings, ano tijere is no*
tiling dfetljouartnch A
,i 44. « ait ffjcu, all f|tat is maor, am
fj | all t^at ts not maOe.
4 6. t^a£ ma&cfl) ana fram*
48. %fyi ©ffitj tljat cot?) all £jjtng?»
4 p. Of the Matter, the moft fub- Ltilc and (lender part is ^tr, of the Air ||the &ou!, of the Soul the spinoe, of the i Minde OeD.
i
Cod , O 0fcleprus > is in nothing but in Giod a* lone 5 or rather God hitn- felf is the Good always.
2. And ifit be fo,thcn j muft he be an Effence or Subftance, voyd of all motion and generation*, but nothing is voyd or empty of him. 1
* ft * * ■
3. And this Elfence hath about or in himfelf a Stable, and firm Operation, wanting nothing, moft full,and giving abundantly.
4. One thing is the Beginning of all things, for it givech all things 5
and
/
I The fixth Book, &c. 75
I . //* ■
it and when I name the Good, I mean I that which is altogether, and always 'Good.
I 5. This is prefent to none,but God ( ialone 5 for he wanteth nothing!, that
[he fhould defire to have it, nor can
*•
.any thing be taken from him • the ilofs whereof may grieve him • for tforrow isa part of evilnefs. . /
I 6. Nothing is ftronger then he,
S|1 that he ihould beoppofed by it-, nor ^ nothing equal to him, that he fhould iolbe in love with it nothing unheard » 31 of to be angry , with nothing wifer k to be envious at.
Jr 7* And none of thefe being in his ::: Elfence, what remains, but onely the {Good
8. For as in this, being fuch an iJpflenee, there is none of the evils ; fo in none of the other things lhallthe Good be found.
9- For in ail other things, are all thofe other thlngs,as well in the final! J as the great , and as well in the par-
" / ' j • ■ v ' ticulars.
ticulars, as in this living Creature « the greater, and mightieftof all.
10. For all things that are made or
generated, are full of Paflion , Gene¬ ration it felf being a Paflion • and where Paflion is there is not the Good; ‘Where the Good is, there is no Paflion *, where it is day, it is not night, and where it is night, it is not day. j
11. Wherefore it is impoflible, that in Generation fliould be the
1 * r ; .
Good, but onely in that which is not , generated or made. H
12 . Yet as the Participation of all
things is in the Matter bound, fo alfo of that which is Good. After this maner is the World good, as it maketh all things , and in the part of making or doing (tk^v) it is Good, but in all j other things not good . J
13. For it is paflible, and move- able, and the Maker of pafliblej things.
14. In Man alfo the Good is or-
• ■« ) ‘rs , ' v Apred
dered (oj f afeotl) Denomination') in com¬ panion of that which is evil*, for that
> which is not very evil, is here Good $ 'and that which is here called Good,
> is the leaft particle, or proportion of
ivii. ''o':
§ 1 5 . It is impoflible therefore, thac mhe Good Ihould be here pure from Evil *, for here the Good groweth E- vil, and growing Evil, it doth not ftill • abide Good $ and not abiding Good, it (becomes evil.
is 1 6. Therefore in God alone is the
%
ICood, or rather God is the Good.
)ii 17. Therefore, O Jifclepio^ there fijis nothing in men (fj among me^) but fiflihe name of Good, the thing it felf is ujJiot, 'for it is impoflible 5 for a material
uiBody rccciveth (ttf ccmpMjtnsetjj ) is
,.,?not as being on every fide encompafs- |ed, and coar&ed with evilnefs, and labors, and griefs, and defires, and wrath, and deceipts, and fooiilhopb Imions. \
Jf 18. And ip that which is the worft
• -
7 6 The fixth Book of
\ ’’ . N . ,,
of all, Hfc!rpt«3, every one of the fore- named things, is here beleevedtobe the greateft good , efpecialiy that fa. pream mifehief y&Tex^pU the plea-, j fures of the Belly, and the ring- leader of all evils : Error is here theabfence j of the Good. • j
ip. And I give thanks Unto God, that ] concerning the Knowledg of (Seen , 1 f put this affurance in mymindg, (hat it is impolfible it fhould be in the World.
20. For the World isthefulncfs !
y , / ■
of evi’ntls ^ but God is the fulnefs of j Good, or Good of God.\ E I
21. For theeminencics of all 2p*j
pearing Beauty , are in the Eifence j more pure , and more fincere , and peradventure they are alfo the Eifen' j ces of it. I
2 2 . For we muft be bold to fay, j £fcleptus , That the Eifence of God^J ' if he have an Eifence, is ?b i&hbv that! which is fair or beautiful 5 but no 1
good is comprehended in this World, j
23. For I
l
For all things that are to the eye^ are Idols , and as it were ftiadows ; but thofe things that are not fubjed to the eye, are ever, efpe- 1( daily the Cttence of the Fair and the
nr-
24. And as the eye canrtBt fee ,Cod, ib neither the Fair, and the ’ Good.
25. For thefe are the parts of God that partake the Nature of the.whole, proper , and familiar unto him alone, infeparable , moft lovely , whereof either God is enamoured, or they are enamoured of God.
26. If thou canft underftand God,
thou fhalt underftand the and
the dSisD, which is moft ihining , and 'enlightening , and moft enlightened
lb y God. ' . ” ,
27. For that Beauty is above com¬ panion, and that Good is inimitable,
5 God himfelf.
28. As therefore thou underftand^- ft God , fo underftand the Fair, and
the
( '
/ ^
' * . \
theGa°d. forthefe arc incommuni*
cable to any other living Creatures
becapie they are infcparable from God. j
‘ sp. If thou feck concerning God
tliou ffekeft oraskeft alfo of the Fair, for there is one way that leads to the fame thing, . that is ^ietg with tofu* te&S. #
30. Wherefore, they that are igno-
rant, and go not in the way of Piety, dare call Man Fair and Good, never feeing fo much as in a dream, what Good is 5 but being infolded and wrapped upon all evil, and beleeving that the evil is the Good, they by that means, both ufe it unfatiably, and are afraid to be deprived of it ; and there¬ fore they ftrive by all poffible means, that they may not onely have it, but
alfo encreafe it.’
31. Such, O Sfdeptu* , are the Good and Fair things of men, which we can neither love nor hate 5 for this is the hardeft thing of all,that we have
need
i
/.
_ I
' • 7
m
*f
l '
V
Mount
in the
elsion of oi
lence.
\
To his Son Tat.
$af.'In the general Speech rK es, O Father, difeourfing] H of the 2Dil»tmtif , thou
enigmatically
and didft nptcleerly re-] veal thyfelf, faying. That no man can be faved before ^generation.
2. And when I did humbly
/ • thee.
Hermes Trifmegijlm. Si
i thee, at the going up to the Mountain,
m fll H • ^ Ih
('after thou hadft difcourfed unto me3 iihaying a great deftre to learn this •argument of Regeneration j becaufe jamong all the reft, I am ignorant one- sly of this thou toldft me thou wouldft Impart it unto me , when I would eftrange my felf from the World ; whereupon 1 made my felf ready, and have vindicated the underftanding that is in me, from the deceit of the World.
I 3. Now then fulfil my defeifts , and as thou faidft inftrudt me of Re* jeneraftoit, either by word of mouth, )r fecretly ; for I know not, O HDrif* ncgite, of what Subftance,or what Womb, or what Seed a Man is thus iitorn. - •
I 4. O Son, this Wifdom is
||p. be underftood in filence, and the
* * * y
Seed is the true Good.
or I am utterly ignorant, and doubt
1
8z The feventh Boole of
6. ferm. The Will of God, o Son. :
■ 7. And what mailer of Man is he, that i am clean deprived of the EiTence that underflandeth in me. j
8. fe t m. The Son of God will be another, God made the univerfe, that in every thing confifteth of all
V'
r
\ 0,
9. % ft. Thoutelleft me a Riddle Father, and doft not fpeak as a Father to his Son.
10. ^erm. Son, things of this kinde, are not taught, but are by God, J when he pleafeth, brought £0 re¬ membrance.
n. Cat Thou fperikefl of things
{trained, or far fetcht, and impoflibk, Fuherf. and therefore I will dirt dtly
3 » • t
A i > A
V
I ,
12. i'crm. Wilt thou prove a llranger Son, to rhy fathers ki t$V Do not envy me, pardon me, I am thy Natural Son ; r 5 - difcourfe
or
t,\
. \
If
f
difcourfe unto me the maner of
generation*
14. What (hall I fay, G my Son then this, That I fee in my felf an urn* fained fight or fpe&acle, made by the mercy of God; and I am gone out of my felf, into an immortal body, and am not now what I was before, but was begotten in Minde.
15. This thing is not taught, nor is it to be feen in this formed Element 5 for which the firft compounded form was neglected by me , and that I am now feparated from it ; for I have both the touch, and the meafure of it , yet am I now efiranged from
*
f
j /
16, Thou feefi, O Son, with thine eyes butthough thou look never fo ftedfaftly upon me, with ,the Body, and bodily fight, thoucanft not fee,
nor under ftand what I am now.
17. Cat* Thou haft driven me, O Father , into no frnall fury and
■ ' G 2 •
' ♦
eventli Book of
diftradlion of minde,forI do not now
x fee my fell.
i i^erm. I would, O Son, that ' thou aifo were gone out of thy felf like them that dream in their fleep. * j
\g. SEat. Then tell me this, who
is the Author and Maker of Regene¬ ration 1 4
20. ferm. The Childe of God, one Mdn by the Will of God. f j
t ' 2i> Cat. Now, O Father, thou haft put me to filence for ever, and all my former thoughts have quite left, and forfaken me 5 for I fee the great- nefs, and fhape of all things here be¬ low , and nothing but faifhood in them all.
22. And fithence this mortal Form is daily changed, and turned by time into increafe, and diminution, as being faifhood : What therefore is true, o |
, SDrifme&rois t
27, OCiltm* That, O Son, which is not troubled, nor bounded 5 not coloured, not figured, not changed 5 1 ■ , tnat
that which is naked, bright, compre- henfible onely of it felf, unalterable.
it
1
$
I '
y
t
*
V
It
1,1
24. % ah Now I am mad, indeed Father h for when I thought me to have been made a wife man by thee, with thefe thoughts thou haft quite dulled all my fenfes.
2 5 . ^crm. Y et is it fo, as I fay , O Son , ttjat lafeetft onelp upon that which is carried upward as Fire, that which is carried downward as Earth, that which is may ft as Water, and that which blqweth, or is fwbjed to blaft as Air 5 how can he fenfibly un¬ derhand, that which is neither hard, nor moyft, nor tangible, nor perfpi- cuous , feeing it is onely underftood in power , and operation : But I bc- feech and pray to thcSputce, which alone can underhand the ^iteration, which is in God.
2 6. 2£af. Then am I, O Father,
utterly unable to do it . r ^
27. God forbid Son, rather
G 3 draw
V ,
knote Uni) and he 'will come , be but tolling, ano it fijalbeoone ♦ quiet for make idle) the Senfes of the Body, purging thy felf from unreafonable bruitjfh torments of matter.
28. Mut Have I any (revengers
or tormentors in my felf, ifatijerf
29. friR. Yea, and thofe, rtojc a Few, but many, and fearful ones. >
30. SSCsL ' t do not know them, Father.
31. Ipfcnn. One Torment Son is
Sgttojance, a fecond, a third,
intemperance, a fourth, Conraptfoitrt, a fifth, 32 n tuff trie, a fixth, Cctofcufmfs, a feverith, jBDecctt , an eighth, a ninth, jrr^uoe oj 0m!e, a
eleventh jK3fbnef0, a twelfth, spaltct&afhefg, ; . '
32. They are in number twelve, and under thefe many moe • Tome
do force the inwardly placed Man to
I
2 2. And they do not Suddenly , or eafilv depart from him that hath ob¬ tained mercy of God *, apd herein confifts, both the maner, and the rea-
fonof ^generation. tJ *
24. Fortherft, O Son, hold thy peace, and pra.ife God in filence , and by that means , the mercy 0* (j0d will not ceafe , or be wanting unto
Kv . ^ \ • • S WV . V
* •>' V *
1 t r *
ff,
i
$
US • , 1 # o
2 5 . Therefore rejoyce, my Son,
from henceforward, being purged by
the powers of God, to the Knowledg
of the Truth. . c y
2^. For the revelation or uoa i^
come to us, and when that came* all
Ignorance was caft out. . •
; 37. The knowledg of Joy is come
unto us, and when that comes, Sor¬ row fliail: flie away to them that are
capable of it. c
■ 28. I call unto Joy, the power of Temperance, a power whofeA^ttue
is moft fweet : Let us take her unto
ourfclves, O Son, moft willingly, tor
G 4 how
i
how at her coming hath Ihe put awa*
Intemperance ? v' ;|j
39* Now I call the fourth, Conti- nence, the power which is over Con cupifcence. This,0 Son, isthe ftable and firm foundation of Juftice. 1
40. For fee how without labor, (he hath chafed away Injuftice * and we are juftified, O Son, when Injuftice is
. . 4r<> The fixth Vertue which come; into us, I call Communion, which is againft Covetoufnefs. '
. 42* And when that (Covetoufnefs)
is gone, I call Truth 5 and when flie
cometh , Error and Deceit vaniili- cth.
43* See* O Son, how the Good is fulfilled by the accefs of Truth -, for by this means. Envy is gone from us . for Truth is accompanied with the Good , together alfo with Life and
Light.
44. And there came no more any eorm^nt of Darknefs, but being over¬
come,
- - - - ... : - . .. .. - — - - - . . a _ _
[ come, they all fled away fuddenly, and t tomultuarily.
45. Thou haft underftopd, O Son,
the maner of Regeneration 3 for upon the coming of thefe Ten, die Intel- f ledtual Generation is perfe&ed , and I then.it driveth away the T welve 3 and
| we have feen it in the Generation it
I felf. . ; , \ : . . .
46. Whofoever therefore hath of
I I ^ this Generation ,
^which is according to God, he leaving
all bodily fenfe, knoweth him felf to f confift of divine things, and rejoyceth, being made by God ftable and unmu-
J
I \
47. 2Caf. O Father, I conceive and underftand, not by the fight of mine il.eyes, but by the Intelleduai Operati¬ on, which is by the Powers. I am in Heaven, in the Earth, in the Water* t jn thc Air 3 I am in living Creatures, in Plants, in the Womb, every
, / j. ■ , 1.
Yet tell - me further , this
one
; * ' ^
V v
V
one thing . How arc the torments of Darknefs , being in number T welve, driven aw ly and expelled by the Ten powers ' What is the maner ;of it,
%xitn igtftas i / ~ ’
49. ^etm. This Tabernacle , 0 Son, confifts of the Zodiacal Circle; and this confiding of twelve numbers, the 3! sea of one ; but all formed Na¬ ture admit of divers Conjugations 10
the deceiving of Man, §T
50. And though they be different in themfelves , yet are they unitedii pra&ice ( as for example, Rathnefsis. infeparable from Anger) and they are alfo indeterminate : Therefore with good Reaibn, do they make their de¬ parture, being driven away by theTcii powers •, that is to fay , By the
51. For the number of Ten,
Son, is the Begetter of Souls, m
there Life and light are united, vrtei the number of tKnitp is born 0 1
Vv
. Ther^
*
if 52. Therefore according to Rea- fon , Unity hath the number of T cn, arid the number of Ten hath Unity, f 53. SDat O Father , I now fee ;he Univerfe , and my felf in the inde.
54. ^erm. This is Hegcnerahoitv O jjSon, that we fliould not any longer lx our imagination upon this Body, [ubjed to the three dimenfions, ac- rding to this Speech which we have ow commented^ That we may not t all calumniae the Univerfe. • r 5G Sat Tell me, O Father, This pody that confifts of Powers, tall it rtfever admit of any DiTolution ?
5^.». Good word s Son, and
Ynpt; things impdflible 5 -for fo thou felt fin, and the eye of thy
ft ■
grow
^ 57- The fenfible Body of Nature s far from the Efiential Generation $ or that islubjed to DiiTolution, but mis not • i and that is mortal, but this mmofral. Doft thou not know that
b , \
'■ .V ■ : '' thou
\
\
/ t
pi The feventh Book of
>4’ 1 . ^ ' . • * , %
thou art born a God, and the Son of the One, as I am i ■£
58. How fain would I, 0 Father , hear that praife given by a Hymn, which thou faidft,thou heardft from the Powers , when I was in the
narp.
59. pern. As pimanBcr faid by way of Oracle to the aDctonary-t Thou doft well, O Son, to ddire the Solu¬ tion of the tabernacle, for thou art
ified.
60. ptman&er, the Minde of abfo-
lute Power and Authority , hath de¬ livered no more unto me, then thofe that are written • knowing that of my felf, I can underftand all things, and hear , and fee what I will. And he commanded me to do thofe things that are good ♦, and therefore all the Powers that are in me fing. 1
6 1. 2Caf. I would hear thee,Q Fa¬ ther, and underftand thefc things.
6z. ^erm. Be quiet,, O Son, and
now hearken to that harmonious bleb
..Si ' m
fing and thankfgiving • the hymn of Regeneration , which I did not deter¬ mine to have fpoken of fo plainly, but to thyfelf in the end of all.
I 63. Wherefore this is not taught, h ,but hid in fiience.
[ 64. So then , O Son , do thou, jftanding in the open Air , worihip, jlooking to the North Wind, about jthc going down of the Sun ; and to xhe South,whcn the Sunarifecho And how keep fiience Son.
11
The Secret Song.
:i;
The Holy Speech.
•sc
- 0
||gj
LEt al] the Nature of the world
[yum,
■f entertain the hearing of this
X
S
i 66. Be opened, O Earth, and let ll the T reafure of the Rain be open-
id.
67. You Trees tremble not, fori
1 will
/St
B
The feventh
■A
* > > ¥
willfing, and praife the Lord of the Creation, and the 3U, and the £>ne,
68. Be opened you Heavens, ye Winds ftand fttU, and let the immata al Circle of God 3 receive theft
words. "..V/""* it;T W
69. For I will fing, and praife hir
that created ali things, that fixed th Earth, ancfhung up the Heavens, an commanded the fweet Water to com out of the £Dtcan, into all the Wor! inhabited , and not inhabited, totht life, and nourifhmentof all things, Q men. ■ F
70. That commanded the fire to fliir.e for every a&ion, both to Gods
and Men. ’iH
71. Let us altogether give bin b! effing, wh ch rid eth upon the Hej vens,the Creator of all Nature. ' j
72. This is he that is the Eye I
the Mindc, and Will accept the
• of my Powers.
7?. O all ye Powers that arc®
me, praife the and the a'f.
'' ' ' -74*
r-
1
I 74. Sing together with my Will, 1 all you Powers that are in me.
i
75. O Holy Knowledg, being en¬ lightened by thee, I magnifie the in¬ telligible Light , and rejoyce in the Joy of the Minde.
I 7 6. All my Powers fing praife ^Withme, and thou my Continence, fing praife. my Righteoufnefs by me 5 praife that which is righteous. \
77. O Communion which is in
me, praife the ZlL , ,
78. By me the SCrnffj lings praife to the SDittfij, the Good praifeth the
i Good, f ^ ' ' 1
79- O Life, O Light from us, unto ou, comes this praife and thankfgi- «ving. ' ; _ . ' •
80. X give thanks unto thee , O father, the operation or ad of my (powers.
|J 81. I give thanks unto thee , O the Power of my operations.
82. By me thy Word fings praife ‘unto thee, receive by me this reafon-
able
m
The feventh Book
able (or verbal) Sacrifice in words.
83. The powers chat are in me,- cry thefe things, they praife! the ail, they fulfil cjay Will 5 thy Will and
- Councel is from thee unto thee.
84. O ail , receive a reafonable Sacrifice from all things. C IT
i> vj. / " * V ' • 1
85. Oilife, fave all that is in us «, O llight enlighten, O Cvfi the Spirit-, for the Minde guidcth (or feedeth - the Word : O Spirit bearing Work¬ man.
$6. Thou art Con, thy cryeth thefe things unto thee through , by the F re, by the ir,- by the Earth, by ; the Water , by the Spirit: > by thy Creatures.
87. From eternity I have found (means to) blefs and praife thee, and I have what I feek 5 for I reft in thy
Will.
88. 2C*\ O Father, 1 fee thou haft fung this Song of praife and bleffing, with thy whole Will} and therefore
have I put and placed it in mv W
. - ■ d : rv s* i$to*
Sp. ¥£«?rm. Sayin t * MO Son.
* \ ^ "r ’/ . * }
90. Caf. I do mean M iiny Intcl-
tligible World * for
i ; * - rj/ / i - — -v*
; - Song of praife, my Mindt is enlighf^ n. j and gladly would I “ ’ "
-giving
^enm NptraiTdy,0 Son. %Ul In my Minde>- Q Fa-
** V- ••Jr ^ vi
>4r ' ^ V -‘-“ii !«*♦» 4*4. >
nd Contemplate, I infufi into thee -
*'&' a » f v > - >/"* «•». 1 /« **• " -
/ ;
k, , t.
■"Author of thy fucceed hns, I fend Unto Gbd thcfeheafortablc
i . f '* f . .. j V .fl T f
n;4 vH * u f >jm fta! 03
* *3
■*_ I
94- 0(000, tfjou art Spa
tf tfje IL o^o, tfjou art (fie Spinpe, accept
reafanablc Sacrifices ■■H
4 * ■ *. • * fVT/ ' . r 7 i
trc& of me. IIPmpHU
P5* *For all things are done as the indewilleth.
£1 96. Thou,0 Soo5fend this accept- tble Sacrificeto God, the Father of
H all
* ^
if"
e ieventh boo
v*
all things • but propound italfo, o Son, by word.
97. fCif. I thank thee. Father
thou haft advifed and inftru&ed me5 thus to give prai fe and thank s .
98. l^erm. I am glad, O Son, to
fee the Truth bring forth the Fruits of Good things 3 and fuch immortal Branches. |
, 99. And learn this of me : Above
all other Vertues entertain Silence! and impart unto no man, O Son, the] tradition of Regeneration, leaft we be reputed Cal umniators : For we both have now fufficiently meditated, I in fpeaking, thou in hearing. And now thou doft intelle and our Father.
C
r »
r
w
y.
a. *,
JOO
tie
, > V
nth Book o
\
and if you cannot all do fo, yet do as manyasy oucan.
» • v- ***&»■ ■'»&* «,■ •* i '.a
h ::^«%For the malice of Ignorance
foroundeth aU the Earth , and cor- ruptetli the S nd j Oiui Up in the Body, not lurrering it to arrive at the Havens of Salvation.
jIq Suffer nft yqur felvestohfc car¬ ried with the great Bream , but Hem the tide, you that can lay hold of the Haven of Safety, and make your full cour^rowarOT it d ■ 1
5 . Seek one that may lead you by the hand, and conduct you to the door ••of and Khowf dg, where the
cleer Light ii that is pure from Dark-1 nefs , where there is not one drunker, srefober , - and in .their he: whofcplepr^t^
4 i
t \ f
y •» t'-i -# f >
4 * ft T
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m
. 6. „ for he, cannot be
* w' ' i . i » — . m '■ y f ' * f ■. .
cars, - ln^-vyords^j but onely in mind e and
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O
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tear a pccccs, • and
♦
mime
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and break t h rnu^h- I weareft ; • the Web bf • ihd
{ foundation of all JVf i&hief f TR¥&6nd: tiof Corruption *, the dark Coverture 5 fine living Death $ the fenfible Car^ leafs *, the Sepulchre , carried about irwith-- us v; the do we# $ ^/^ch
(tin what he loves us, hates 11$, envies lis. 1 !
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8. Such is the hurtful Apparel , Wherewith thou artcloarlted. which [draws and pulls thee downward by fits own felf *, left looking up, and fee¬ ding the beauty of Truth , and the [Good that is repofed therein thou iouldft hate the wickednefs of this garment, and underhand the traps Ii:and ambulhes which it hath laid for
lit ■ ’ -- >■
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Therefore doth it labor to make MjooSydiofe things that feem, and are }y the Senfes, judged and determined $ and the things that are truly, it hides, and cnvellopeth in much matter, fill-
ling what it prefents unto thee, with
f H a hateful
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mentm.
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O 0fclepius , is it not in
2. &fclep. Yes in¬ deed.
* v •
3. ^erm. Muft not that, in which a thing is moved , of neceifity be greater then the thing that is
[ *w % ^
(moved i
I 4. Of neceifity. * ,
H 4 5. And
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5 . And that which moveth is iE
not ftrongcr then that which is shoved i
Sr&ftkp* It is Wronger.
7. That in which a thin®
_ 5 muft it not needs have a
Nature, contrary to that of the thin®
that is moved ? r ■
-
8..&fclcp. It mu/| needs,
9. ’wzirfe' Is not this great World j a Body , then which . there is no greater i 1
iozl&ftUp. Yes, confelfedly ?
11. l^eim And is knot (olid, as filled \yith .many great Indies, and in-, deed,, with all the- Bodies that are c r X*. It is fo. r
1 3 . | r^cr m . And 'is, not the
p and a Body that is moved i
14. $fdep, It is,
15. ^erm, Tjien what a kinde of place muft it be, wherein it is moved, and of what Nature f Muft knot be much bigger, that it may receive the
continuity of Motion i and left that
-r a , . u which
impiKP j mm JJII I I
which is moved, fhould for want of room, be flayed, and hindered in the I Motion J
B. u ^ v s v 4 ... - " j| y.jy n ry- jf s
j 1 6. afdep* It mufl needs be an ini’ menfe thing, Cnfmtgt$u% but of what Nature
t 17. l^erm, Ora contrary Nature, O dfdeptns 5 but is not the Nature of things unbodily, contrary ;o a body ?
18. $fclep« ConfefTedly.
19. Therefore the place is | unbodily ^ but that which is unbodily, I is either Tome Divine thing,' or God
\
himfelf. And byfome thing Divine, n I do not mean that which was made or begotten.
20. If therefore it be Divine, it is
► ' 1 ■ * * . ,
i anElTence or Sub fiance * but if it be
40 t J
J; God, - it is above ECen.cc 5 but he is
« • /*"> • mm* • « « ' *
otaerw
- :
2 1 .Tor the firfl, God is intelligible, , not to himfelf, but to ns5 for that I which is intelligible, is fubjed to that T which linderftandech by Senfe.
I -2t Therefore God is nqt inteiligi-
1
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t
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/
ble to himfelf-, for not being any other thing from that which is underftood, he cannot be underftood by him'
fclf.
23. But he is another thing from us 5 and therefore is he underftood by us.- 1
J
24. If therefore Place be intelli¬ gible, it is not Place but God 5 but if God be intelligible, he is intelligible not as Place, but as a capable Opera* tion.
2 5 . Now every thing that is moved, ; is moved, not in or by that which is moved , but in that which ftandeth or refteth, and that which moveth I ftandeth or refteth •, for it is impofl&blc .1 it ftiould be moved with it. 1
26, ftfdep. How then, O giftus, are thofe things that are here moved with the things that are moved i for thou fay eft, that the Spheres that wander are moved by the Sphere that wanders not. 1
z-j. That, O flfclcpinfc is !
Hjlii i|HH' not ]
I
ri mepi tm.
not a moving together, but a counter* motion $ for they are not moved after a like maner, but contrary one to the other : And contrariety hath a ftand
ing refiftance of motion.for the slvTiTuvaz
*** rt . - * _
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i I
or refiftance, is a ftaying of motion 28. Therefore the wandring Spheres being moved contrarily to that Sphere which wandereth not, fhall have one from another contrarie¬ ty fiand ing of it felf. i 29. For this Bear which thou feett . neither rife nor go down, but turning e always about the fame ; doft thou * think it moveth or ftandeth mil ?
30. fiCclep. 'I think it moves, mefltftus.
31* What motion, O &fcleptus i 32. Mkp- A motion that is al¬ ways carried about the fame.
1
iff
]}[r 33. But the Circulation which is
about the fame, and the motion about
f r* « ^ - . • « « . _
j the fame,are both hidden by Station I for that which is about the fame, for , bids that which is above the fame*
/
1 v*
if it (land to that which is about the
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34. And fo the contrary motion ftands faft always, being always c ha- bliihed by the contrariety.
35. But I will give thee concern¬ ing this matter, an earthly example that may he feen with eyes,
36. Look upon any of thefe living Creatures upon Earth, as Man forex, ample, and fee him fwiming * for as the Water is carried one way, the re- lu&adon or refinance of his feet and hands is made a ft at ion to the man, that he fhould not be carried with the Water, nor fink underneath it,
37. Hfdep. Thou haft laid down a very cleer example, 2£rtfni£gjtta;»
Therefore every moti¬ on is in ftation, and is moved of fta- tion.
3P.The motion then of the World, and of every material living thing , happcneth not to be done by thofe things that are without the World *
but
il
w
I
tit:
tit-
in'
n
I
but by thofe things within it, a Soul, or Spirit , or fame other unbodily thing, to thofe things which are with- out it*
40. for an inanimated Body doth not now, much h?fs a Body if it be wholly inanimate.
41. 0fclep. What meaneth thou by this,03Dtifmcgito^Wood and Stones, and all other inanimate things, are they not moving Bodies ?
42. By no means, O 0fcle* plug, for that within the Body which moves the inanimate thing, is not the Body 5 that moves both as well the Body of that which beareth, as the
J » v ' *
Body of that which is born 5 for one dead or inanimate thing, cannot move another ; that which moveth, muff needs be alive if it move.
43. Thou feeft therefore how the Soul is furcharged, when it carrieth two Bodies.
44. And now it is manifeft , tha* the things that are moved are moved
moved, O SDtifmfegtto, muft needs be moved in that which is void or empty,
/ ■ * r r J . 1
46. Be advifed, O &&lepit», for of all the things thatare,there is nothin*
can never be made empty. |
48. 0ulep. Are there not therefore fome things that are empty, O SDrif* tnrgiffu?, as an empty Barrel,an empty Hog {head, an empty Well, an empty Wine* P refs, and many fuch like t 4.9. ^crm. O the groilnefs of thy Error, O Sfdrptti^ thofe things that ] are moft full and replenifhed , d oft j thou account them voyd and empty i '] 50. $c?ep. What may be thy
51.
5i* Is not the Air a Body t 52. 0fc!ep. It is a Body.
53- ^ernr4 Why then this Body, doth it not pafs through all things that are'* and palling through them, fill them 1 and that Body doth it not con- 4 fill of the mixture of the four > there
It
empty, are full of Ayr.
[ 54. Therefore thofe things that
thou called empty, thou oughteft to r call them hollow, not empty - for
they exift and are full of Ayr and
s
55. 3'dep* This reafon is all contradi&ion, O SDtifmegtto, but
what fliall we call the Place, in which the whole Univerfe is moved
jf- 56. ^erm. Call it incorporeal, O
■; MWepius* .
!| 57. 0fdep. What is that incorpo-
sl real orunbodily i
58. l^erm. The Minde and Reafon, f the whole, wholly comprehending it fclf, free from all Body, undeceive-
able.
4
M J&r
I
able, in vi fib! e, impaffib Ie from a Body it felf, Banding faft in k felf, cabbie of all things , and that favor of the s that are.
59- Whereof the •.arche^pal Etghb the 0rdjet^e of the Soul, are as it were Beams. ‘3 6o» 0ft Up. Why then , what is
God * v;? ■r’ ;j|
6t. 3|eraf That which is none of tbefe things, yet is, and is the caufe of Being to all y and every one of the things that are 5 for he left nothing
deffitute of Being. 3
61. And all things are made of things that are, and not of things that afefioc-, ror .the things that are not, have not the nature to be able to be thade % and again, the things that are, have not the nature never to be, or nottobe aealUi / : • li
1 ML
63. dfdcp* What doft thou then
lay at leng thy 4hat God is
* / / *
64. #ermfGad is not a Minde,but the Gaufe that the Minde is ; not a
» 4 % t* \ \ f m 0
, 1 - Spirit,
Spirit, but the Caufe that the Spirit
!% 5 not Light , but the Caufe that
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we two /
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which are proper to him alone, and
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to no other.' . o -4
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66. For neither of all the other,
Which are called Gods, nor qf Men, |lior 2Dtmon«, or Angels, can anyone fee, though never fo iittlc, sood, fave
1 s-' j « i i ) its* ' J’l Pi . CP
onely God alone.
’l' 67. And 'this- He is, fift =, hut all other thingsare fcparable From the nature of Good . 4 • - m
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n
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From the nature of si 68. For the Body and the
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tartcontain
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For the Cat
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, IS
!,ts great as the ^xiftence of all things,
_ _ * A A A t v'. a
is is the Good , even
1 ■ * * * j y. c\ * ,*fa«\rs> *
• JO', £, * 'J t » .H , 5 ' . '
/
at any time, call ought elfe Good, for fo thou ihait be impious, or any elfe God, but onely the Good, for fo thou (halt again be im pious .
72 . In; Word it is often faid by all men the Good, but alt men do not underftand what it is 5 but Ignorance they call both the Gods,, and fome men Good , that can never either be or be made fo.
73. Therefore all the other are honored w^h the title and appella¬ tion of God, but God is the Go0(
"* ■ / >■' : .1 >/. 1 ■ ■ , • •' .
not according to Heaven , but N; ture.
- . * - . »■>
74. For there is one Nature
God, even the Good , and one
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of them both, from whence ail arc
- . f ... - ’ *
klnacs. ? * >
: C .y. ■9vX' — * ■£.* • " r * i[
75. For he that is Good , is t! giver of all things,and takes nothing and therefore God gives all things jl
V \
and receives nothing.
j $ . The other title and app?M*i
. tioH)
r:i ; r ? ' ; u'
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tion , is the Father > ^ecauft $f :his ‘dng ail thing? $ for it is a Father to make, j 77. Therefore it hath been the igreateft and moft Religious care in
■ U V > *" W # -
[this life, to them that are wile, and lswel- minded, to beget children.
78, As likewife, it is the greateft isfortune and impiety, for any to be eparated from men, without chil¬ dren 5 and this man is puniflied after 'death by the Simons , and the punifh- ent is this. To have the Soul of 'this childlefs man, adjudged and con¬ demned, to a Body that neither hath the nature of a man, nor of a woman, Ivhich is an accurfcd thing under the
:f 7 9. Therefore, O 0fcicptus, never congratulate any man that is child- efs • but on the contrary , pity his ’misfortune, knowing what punifh- entf abides, and is prepared for ini.
80. Let fo many, and fuch maner
I 2 of
rr*i rT~r i
1 he 1 eath
o F
X
Hermes
t r i
v
A
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nlmemm
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f
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h 1
Tlte Minde to Hermes.
K. 4
ff * t
Orbear thy Speech, O derates SDrifutegtfftts , and call to minde to
thofe things that are
faid : but I will not delay to fpeak what
“omes into my minde, lithence many nen have fpoken many things , and :hofe very different , concerning the Qniverfe, and Good $ but I have not (earned the Truth.
2. T herefore , the Lord make it
I 3 plain
■ i r ,
1
-0 * '
it% The tenth Book of
X f >
>lain to me in this point • for I will
rlffS « =. . 2 ji ir: H
ii
v* ***** - - *d
3. Then faid thcMindehow the cafe {lands.
4. God and All .
5 God, Eternity, the World,
Time, Generation.
6. God fifi&de ] _ / y. __ .
the World , the World Time , and Time Generation. 1
7. Of God , as it were the Sub- ftance,is the t&*foorJr.
8. Of Eternity, Identity, or Self*
9. ur the world, Order.
10. Of Time, Change.