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The Tenth Book
The Mind to Hermes
1. Forbear thy speech, O Hermes Trismegistus, and call to mind those
things that are said: but I will not delay to speak what comes into my
mind, since many men have spoken many things, and those very
different, concerning the Universe and Good; but I have not learned
the Truth.
2. Therefore, the Lord make it plain to me in this point; for I will
believe thee only, for the manifestation of these things.
3. Then said the Mind how the case stands.
4. God and all.
5. God, Eternity, the World, Time, Generation,
6. God made Eternity, Eternity the World; the World Time, and Time
Generation.
7. Of God, as it were the Substance, is the Good, the Fair, Blessedness,
Wisdom.
8. Of Eternity, Identity, or Selfness.
9. Of the World, Order.
10. Of Time, Change.
11. Of Generation, Life, and Death.
12. But the Operation of God, is Mind and Soul.
13. Of Eternity, Permanence, or Long-lasting, and Immortality
14. Of the World, Restitution, and Decay or Destruction.
15. Of Time, Augmentation and Diminution.
16. And of Generation, Qualities.
17. Therefore Eternity is in God.
18. The World in Eternity.
19. Time in the World.
20. And Generation in Time.
21. And Eternity standeth about God.
22. The World is moved in Eternity.
23. Time is determined in the World.
24. Generation is done in Time.
25. Therefore the Spring and Fountain of all things is God.
26. The Substance Eternity.
27. The Matter is the World.
28. The Power of God is Eternity.
29. And the Work of Eternity is the World not yet made, and yet ever
made by Eternity.
30. Therefore shall nothing be at any time destroyed, for Eternity is
incorruptible.
31. Neither can anything perish, or be destroyed in the World, the
World being contained and embraced by eternity.
32. But what is the Wisdom of God? Even the Good, and the Fair and
Blessedness, and every Virtue, and Eternity.
33. Eternity therefore put into the Matter Immortality and
Everlastingness; for the Generation of that depends upon Eternity,
even as Eternity doth of God.
34. For Generation and Time, in Heaven, and in Earth, are of a
double Nature; in Heaven they are unchangeable and incorruptible,
but on Earth they are changeable and corruptible.
35. And the Soul of Eternity is God; and the Soul of the World
Eternity; and of the Earth, Heaven.
36. God is in the Mind, the Mind in the Soul1 the Soul in the Matter,
all things by Eternity.
37. All this Universal Body, in which are all Bodies, is full of Soul, the
Soul full of Mind, the Mind full of God.
38. For within he fills them, and without he contains them,
quickening the Universe.
39. Without he quickens this perfect living thing the World, and
within all living Creatures.
40. And above in Heaven he abides in Identity or Selfness, but below
upon Earth he changeth Generation.
41. Eternity comprehendeth the World, either by Necessity, or
Providence, or Nature.
42. And if any man shall think any other thing, it is God that
actuateth, or operateth this All.
43. But the operation or Act of God, is power insuperable, to which
none may compare anything, either Human or Divine.
44. Therefore, O Hermes, think none of these things below, or the
things above, in any wise like unto God, for if thou dost thou errest
from the Truth.
45. For nothing can be like the unlike, and only and One; nor mayest
thou think that he bath given of his Power to any other thing.
46. For who after him can make anything, either of Life, or
Immortality; of Change or of Quality, and himself what other thing
should he make.
47. For God is not idle, for then all things would be idle; for all things
are full of God.
48. But there is not anywhere in the world such a thing as Idleness;
for Idleness is a name that implieth a thing void or empty, both of a
Doer and a thing done.
49. But all things must necessarily be made or done both always and
according to the nature of every place.
50. For he that maketh or doth is in all things, yet not fastened or
comprehended in anything, nor making or doing one thing, but all
things.
51. For being an active or operating Power and sufficient of himself
for the things that are made, and the things that are made are under
him.
52. Look upon, through me, the World is subject to thy sight, and
understand exactly the Beauty thereof.
53. A Body immarcessible, than the which, there is nothing more
ancient, yet always vigorous and young.
54. See also the seven Worlds set over us, adorned with an everlasting
Order, and filling Eternity, with a different course.
55. For all things are full of Light, but the Fire is nowhere.
56. For the friendship and commixture of contraries and unlike
became Light shining from the Act or Operation of God, the Father of
all Good, the Prince of all Order, and the Ruler of the seven Worlds.
57. Look also upon the Moon, the forerunner of them all, the
Instrument of Nature, and which changeth the Matter here below.
58. Behold the Earth, the middle of the whole, the firm and stable
Foundation of the Fair World, the Feeder and Nurse of Earthly
things.
59. Consider moreover, how great the multitude is of immortal living
things, and of mortal ones also; and see the Moon going about in the
midst of both, to wit, of things immortal and mortal.
60. But all things are full of Soul, and all things are properly moved
by it; some things about the Heaven, and some things about the
Earth, and neither of those on the right hand to the left; nor those on
the left hand to the right; nor those things that are above, down.
ward; nor those things that are below, upwards.
61. And that all these things are made, O beloved Hermes, thou
needst not learn of me.
62. For they are Bodies, and have a Soul, and are moved.
63. And that all these should come together into one, it is impossible
without some thing, to gather them together.
64. Therefore there must be some such ones, and he altogether One.
65. For seeing that the motions are divers, and many, and the Bodies
not alike, and yet one ordered swiftness among them all; It is
impossible there should be two or more Makers.
66. For one order is not kept by many.
67. But in the weaker, there would be jealousy of the stronger and
thence also Contentions.
68. And if there were one Maker of mutable and mortal living wights,
he would desire so to make immortal ones, as he that were the Maker
of immortal ones, would do to make mortal.
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