15 Hermes.pdf

The Fifteenth Book Of Truth to His Son Tat 1. Hermes: Of Truth, O Tat, it is not possible that man being an imperfect wight, compounded of imperfect Members, and having his Tabernacle consisting of different and many Bodies, should speak with any confidence. 2. But as far as it is possible, and just, I say, That Truth is only in the Eternal Bodies, whose very Bodies be also true. 3. The Fire is fire itself only, and nothing else; the Earth is earth itself and nothing else; the air is air itself and nothing else; the water, water itself and nothing else. 4. But our Bodies consist of all these; for they have of the Fire, they have of the Earth, they have of the Water, and Air, and yet there is neither Fire, nor Earth, nor Water, nor Air, nor anything true. 5. And if at the Beginning our Constitution had not Truth, how could men either see the Truth, or speak it, or understand it only, except God would? 6. All things therefore upon Earth, O Tat, are not Truth, but imitations of the Truth, and yet not all things neither, for they are but few that are so. 7. But the other things are Falsehood, and Deceit, O Tat, and Opinions like the Images of the fantasy or appearance. 8. And when the fantasy hath an influence from above, then it is an imitation of Truth, but without that operation from above, it is left a lie. 9. And as an Image shews the Body described, and yet is not the Body of that which is seen, as it seems to be, and it is seen to have eyes, but it sees nothing, and ears, but hears nothing at all; and all other things hath the picture, but they are false, deceiving the eyes of the beholder, whilst they think they see the Truth, and yet they are indeed but lies. 10. As many therefore as see not Falsehood, see the Truth. 11. If therefore we do so understand, and see every one of these t