92 HERMES TRISMEGISTUS. 



number, of one nature indeed, but of all shaped form (a). 

 For error of the Man there are distinctions in them (&), O 

 Child ! united in the operation. Temerity (c) is insepar- 

 able from Wrath, and they are also indistinguishable. 

 Suitably then according to the right reason they make the 

 departure, as if also eliminated by ten powers, that is by 

 the Decade. For the Decade, O Child ! is soul genera- 

 tive (d) ; for life and light are united there where the 

 number of the Unit hath been born of the Spirit. The 

 Unit (e) therefore according to reason hath the Decade and 

 the Decade the Unit. 



13. Tat. Father ! I behold the Universe and myself in 

 The Mind. 



Hermes. This is the Eegeneration, Child! the no 

 longer employing imagination upon the Body, that triply 

 divided (/), through this discourse concerning the Ee- 

 > generation on which I have made comment; that we 

 may not be calumniators of the Universe towards the 

 many, to whom God Himself does not will to reveal it. 1 



14. Tat. Tell me, Father ! has this the EocTy, that 

 constituted of Powers, ever dissolution ? 



Hermes. Speak well ! and utter not impossibles, since 

 thou wiliest sin, and the eye of thy mind be made impious. 

 The sensible body of the Nature is far off from the essen- 

 tial generation (g). For that is dissoluble but this indis- 

 soluble, and that mortal, but this immortal ; knowst thou 

 not that thou hast been born God 2 and Son of the One, 

 which also I ? 



(a) Tc&vTOftoptpov Bg foiet. (6) d; 



(c) irpovsrsiot. (rf) ij/vwyovog, (e) % tvec.$. 



(/) TO rpixy ^txffTXToif, i.e., Body, Soul, Spirit, (g) 



1 This passage is doubtful in meaning, with various readings, some 

 of which omit the negative. (See Parthey, 122, note). 



2 " I said ye are gods, and ye are all the children of the Highest. 

 The Sons of God," applied to men (Gen. vi. 2, 41 ; John x. 34, quoting 

 Psalm Ixxxii. 6). " The Sons of God came to present themselves 

 before the Lord" (Job i. 6, ii. 1). " Ye are the Sons of the living 

 God" (Hos. i. 10). " To them gave He right to become children of 

 God" (John i. 12). " For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, 



