07 Hermes.pdf

The Seventh Book His Secret Sermon of Regeneration, and the Profession of Silence, to His Son Tat I. Tat: In the general Speeches, O Father, discoursing of the Divinity, thou speakest enigmatically, and didst not clearly reveal thyself, saying, That no man can be saved before Regeneration. 2. And when I did humbly entreat thee, at the going up the Mountain after thou hadst discoursed unto me, having a great desire, to learn this Argument of Regeneration; because among all the rest, I am ignorant only of this thou toldst me thou wouldst impart it unto me, when I would estrange myself from the World: whereupon I made myself ready, and have vindicated the understanding that is in me, from the deceit of the World. 3. Now then fulfill my defects, and as thou saidst instruct me of Regeneration, either by word of mouth or secretly; for I know not, O Trismegistus, of what Substance, or what Womb or what Seed a Man is thus born. 4. Hermes: O Son, this Wisdom is to be understood in silence, and the Seed is the true Good. 5. Tat: Who soweth it, O Father. For I am utterly ignorant and doubtful. 6. Hermes: The Will of God, O Son. 7. And what manner of Man is he that is thus born? For in this point, I am clean deprived of the Essence that understandeth in me. 8. Hermes: The Son of God will be another, God made the universe, that in everything consisteth of all powers. 9. Tat: Thou tellest me a Riddle, Father, and dost not speak as a Father to his Son. 10. Hermes: Son, things of this kind are not taught, but are by God, when he pleaseth, brought to remembrance. 11. Tat: Thou speakest of things strained, or far fetched, and impossible, Father; and therefore I will directly contradict them. 12. Hermes: Wilt thou prove a stranger, Son, to thy Fathers kind.