13 Hermes.pdf

The Thirteenth Book Of Sense and Understanding 1. Yesterday, Asclepius, I delivered a perfect Discourse; but now I think it necessary, in suite of that, to dispute also of Sense. 2. For Sense and Understanding seem to differ, because the one is material, the other essential. 3. But unto me, they appear to be both one, or united, and not divided in men, I mean. 4. For in other living Creatures, Sense is united unto Nature but in men to Understanding. 5. But the Mind differs from Understanding, as much as God from Divinity. 6. For Divinity is from or under God, and Understanding from the Mind, being the sister of the Word or Speech, and they the Instruments one of another. 7. For neither is the Word pronounced without Understanding, neither is Understanding manifested without the Word. 8. Therefore Sense and Understanding do both flow together into a man, as if they were infolded one within another. 9. For neither is it possible without Sense to Understand, nor can we have Sense without Understanding. 10. And yet it is possible (for the Time being) that the Understanding may understand without Sense, as they that fantasy Visions in their Dreams. 11. But it seems unto me, that both the operations are in the Visions of Dreams, and that the Sense is stirred up out of sleep, unto awaking. 12. For man is divided into a Body and a Soul; when both parts of the Sense accord one with another, then is the understanding childed, or brought forth by the Mind pronounced. 13. For the Mind brings forth all Intellections or Understandings. Good ones w hen it receiveth good Seed from God; and the contrary when it receives them from Devils. 14. For there is no part of the World void of the Devil, which entering in privately, sowed the seed of his