36S PARACELSUS 



of speculations, misconceptions, and erroneous theories — 

 she will hold up before you a mirror in which you will 

 see the truth* But he who is not true himself will not 

 see the truth as it is taught by Nature, and it is far 

 easier to study a number of books and to learn by heart 

 a number of scientific theories than to ennoble one's 

 own character to such an extent as to enter into perfect 

 harmony with Nature and to be able to see the truth." 



If " theosophy " means the clear perception and 

 understanding of truth, there can be no true philo- 

 sophy, religion, or science without theosophy, the under- 

 standing of truth being the only basis upon which all 

 true knowledge rests. 



No one can, therefore, be truly called a theosophist 

 who does not possess the knowledge of his own divine 

 self, which enables his person to know all things as 

 only God knows them. This power is in possession of 

 no mortal man, but belongs to the god in man. Only 

 when man has found the god in him can he partake of 

 divine wisdom. 



Man is a mixed being ; he is a centre or focus in 

 which the three kingdoms — i.e., the three forms of mani- 

 festation of the primordial Will, the world of darkness 

 or fire, the world of spiritual light, and that of external 

 nature— are active, and in which the powers of either of 

 these three kingdoms may become conscious and mani- 

 fest. If he is a temple of the holy spirit, God will 

 reveal His wisdom in him ; if he is a dwelling of evil 

 will, the devil will become personified in him ; if the 

 world of mind, intellect, emotion, &c. — i.e., the " heaven " 

 of the external world — is reflected within his soul, and 

 his mind becomes absorbed by it, he will be a child 

 of the world. 



It is most true and certain that if there were no 

 natural world, Nature could not become manifested in 

 man, and it is equally true that if there were no God 

 and no devil — i.e., no supreme power for good and no 



