18 MATHESIS. 



primary act is manifested, or operates under three forms, 

 which correspond to the 0, + and . 



These three ideas of the Eternal are all equivalent to 

 each other, are the same primary act, each of them being 

 whole and undivided, but each otherwise posited. The 

 positing primary act is the whole Eternal ; the posited is 

 likewise the whole Eternal, and that which is subtractive, 

 retrogressive, combining the two first, is also the whole 

 Eternal. Although all three ideas are equivalent to each 

 other, still the positing idea ranks first, the posited 

 second, and the combining third ; not as if they had first 

 arisen successively (this is impossible, for they are co- 

 existent, namely, before all time), nor as if they occupied 

 different positions (for they are everywhere) ; but only 

 according to their order and value. How one may be 

 three and three one, is thus rendered comprehensible 

 only by mathematics. 



68. The first idea is the original, that therefore which 

 is thoroughly independent, which having arisen from and 

 being based upon itself, has consequently emerged from 

 nothing else ; in short, it is the eternal idea, like the 

 mathematical = Nonas aoristos. Everything is pos- 

 sible with it ; it can propose and solve all problems, 

 knows therefore everything and creates everything. It 

 is the generative, creative and paternal idea, 



69. The two other ideas have emerged out of the first, 

 although apparently equivalent to it; yea, they have 

 themselves issued out of themselves. The second idea is, 

 therefore, Dyas aoristos, and corresponds to the mathe- 

 matical + ; the third idea is the Trias aoristos, and cor- 

 responds to the mathematical , so that by the three the 

 primary trinity + is completed. The first idea 

 labours or, what is more, rejoices from all eternity to 

 convert itself into the two others. The action or the 

 life of God consists in eternally manifesting itself, eter- 

 nally contemplating itself in unity and duality, eternally 

 dividing itself and still remaining one. The second idea 

 has issued next from the first, and is therefore related 

 to it as Son is to Father, when the ideas are viewed as 



