Collectanea Hermetica (Volumes 1-10). William Wynn Westcott

For without number it is impossible there should be consistence or constitution, or composition, or dissolution.

      78. But Unities do both beget and increase Numbers, and again being dissolved, come into themselves.

      79. And the Matter is One.

      80. But this whole World, the great God, and the Image of the Greater, and united unto him, and conserving the Order and Will of the Father, is the fulness of Life.

      81. And there is nothing therein, through all the Eternity of the Revolutions, neither of the whole, nor of the parts which cloth not live.

      82. For there is nothing dead, that either hath been, or is, or shall be in the World.

      83. For the Father would have it as long as it lasts, to be a living thing; and therefore it must needs be God also.

      84, How therefore, O Son, can there be in God, in the Image of the Universe, in the fulness of Life, any dead things?

      85. For dying is corruption, and corruption is destruction.

      86. How then can any part of the incorruptible be corrupted, or of God be destroyed?

      87. Tat. Therefore, O Father, do not the living things in the World die, though they be parts thereof.

      88. Hermes. Be wary in thy Speech, O Son, and not deceived in the names of things.

      89. For they do not die, O Son, but as compound Bodies they are dissolved.

      90. But dissolution is not death; and they are dissolved, not that they may be destroyed, but that they may be made new.

      91. Tat. What then is the operation of Life? Is it not Motion?

      92. Hermes. And what is there in the World unmovable? Nothing at all, O Son.

      93. Tat. Why, doth not the Earth seem unmovable to thee, O Father?

      94. Hermes. No, but subject to many motions, though after a manner, it alone be stable.

      95. What a ridiculous thing it were, that the Nurse of all things should be unmovable, which beareth and bringeth forth all things.

      96. For it is impossible, that anything that bringeth forth, should bring forth without Motion.

      97. .And a ridiculous question it is, Whether the fourth part of the whole, be idle: For the word immovable, or without Motion, signifies nothing else, but idleness.

      98. Know generally, O Son, That whatsoever is in the World is moved either according to Augmentation or Diminution.

      99. But that which is moved, liveth also, yet it is not necessary, that a living thing should be or continue the same.

      100. For while the whole World is together, it is unchangeable, O Son, but all the parts thereof are changeable.

      101. Yet nothing is corrupted or destroyed, and quite abolished but the names trouble men.

      102. For Generation is not Life, but Sense; neither is Change Death, but Forgetfulness, or rather Occultation, and lying hid. Or better thus. For Generation is not a Creation of Life, but a Production of Things to Sense, and making them Manifest. Neither is Change Death, but an Occultation or Hiding of that which was.

      103. These things being so, all things are Immortal, Matter, Life, Spirit, Soul, Mind, whereof every living thing consisteth.

      104. Every living thing therefore is Immortal, because of the Mind, but especially Man, who both receiveth God, and converseth with him.

      105. For with this living wight [a creature] alone is God familiar; in the night by dreams, in the day by Symbols or Signs.

      106. And by all things doth he foretell him of things to come, by Birds, by Fowls, by the Spirit, or Wind, and by an Oak.

      107. Wherefore also Man professeth to know things that have been, things that are present, and things to come.

      108. Consider this also, O Son, That every living Creature goeth upon one part of the World, Swimming things in Water, Land wight [a creature]s upon the Earth, Flying Fowls in the Air.

      109. But Man useth all these, the Earth, the Water, the Air, and the Fire, nay, he seeth and toucheth Heaven by his Sense.

      110. But God is both about all things, and through all things, for he is both Act and Power.

      111. And it is no hard thing, O Son, to understand God.

      112. And if thou wilt also see him, look upon the Necessity of things that appear, and the Providence of things that have been, and are done.

      113. See the Matter being most full of Life, and so great a God moved with all Good, and Fair, both Gods, and Demons, and Men.

      114. Tat. But these, O Father, are wholly Acts or Operations.

      115. Hermes. If they be therefore wholly Acts or Operations, O Son, by whom are they acted or operated, but by God?

      116. Or art thou ignorant, that as the parts of the World, are Heaven, and Earth, and Water, and Air; after the same manner the Members of God, are Life, and Immortality, and Eternity, and Spirit, and Necessity, and Providence, and Nature, and Soul, and Mind, and the Continuance or Perseverance of all these which is called Good.

      117. And there is not any thing of all that hath been, and al1 that is, where God is not.

      118. Tat. What in the Matter, O Father?

      119. Hermes. The Matter, Son, what is it without God, that thou shouldst ascribe a proper place to it?

      120. Or what doth thou think it to be? peradventure some heap that is not actuated or operated.

      121. But if it be actuated, by whom is it actuated? for we have said, that Acts or Operations, are the parts of God.

      122. By whom are all living things quickened? and the Immortal, by whom are they immortalized? the things that are changeable, by whom are they changed?

      123. Whether thou speak of Matter, or Body, or Essence, know that all these are acts of God.

      124. And that the Act of Matter is materiality, and of the Bodies corporality, and of Essence essentiality; and this is God the whole.

      125. And in the whole, there is nothing that is not God.

      126. Wherefore about God, there is neither Greatness, Place, Quality, Figure, or Time; for he is All, and the All, through all, and about all.

      127. This Word, O Son, worship and adore. And the only service of God, is not to be evil.