which is manifest in itself, manifests itself also out
of itself, and pours out its imagination; and thus
renews that which was seized or made by the
motion in desire, that the end may again enter
into the beginning.
20. For nothing can enter into the freedom of the
Eternal, except it be like the Eternal, subsist in the
fire of the will, and be as subtle as the light's sub-
stantiality, that is, as a water which can dwell in
a being wherein the light can dwell, and convey
its lustre through. This is not laid hold of by the
centrum naturae, and though it be the property of
Nature, yet it is something eternal.
21. Thus we give you to understand that all
that is born in this world, which has substance,
which proceeds not from the eternal Essence,
inherits not the Eternal; but its figure persists
magically in the eternal Mystery, for it went origin-
ally at creation out of the Eternal. But its body
and the entire substance of the source passes away,
as a smoke is consumed; for it is from the begin-
ning, and goeth into the end.
22. But whatever arises from the eternal Essence,
from the essentiality of the eternal Light, cannot
pass away. That only in it perishes, which, pro-
ceeding from the temporal, has entered into the
Eternal; as the outer flesh, which through imagina-
tion was in man introduced into the Eternal; that
must be consumed like smoke.
28. But whatever originating from the eternal
Imagination is re-introduced into the Eternal,
persists eternally; and that which is born from the