Herm. 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 onely in the Eternall Bodies, whose very Bodies be also true.
3. The Fire is fire it self only, and nothing else; the Earth is earth it self, and nothing else; p. 221 the Air is air it self, and nothing else; the Water, water it self, 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 any thing 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 onely, 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 Falshood, & Deceit, O Tat and Opinions like the Images of the fantasie, or appearance.
8. And when the fantasie p. 222 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, whilest they think they see the Truth, and yet they are indeed but lies.
10. As many therefore as see not Falshood, see the Truth.
11. If therefore we do so understand, and see every one of these things as it is then we see and understand true things.
12. But if we see or understand any thing besides, or otherwise, than that which is, we p. 223 shall neither understand, nor know the Truth.
13. Tat. Is Truth therefore upon Earth, O Father?
14. Herm. Thou dost not misse the mark, O Son. Truth indeed is no where at all upon Earth, O Tat, for it cannot be generated, or made.
15. But concerning the Truth, it may be that some men, to whom God will give the good seeing Power, may understand it.
16. So that unto the Minde and Reason, there is nothing true indeed upon Earth.
17. But unto the true Minde and Reason, all things are fantasies or appearances, and opinions.
18. Tat. Must we not therefore call it Truth, to understand and speak the things that are?
19. Herm. But there is nothing true upon Earth.
20. Tat. How then is this true, That we do not know any thing true? how can that be done here?
21. Herm. O Son, Truth is the most perfect Vertue, and the highest Good it self, not troubled by Matter, not encompassed by a Body, naked, clear, unchangeable, venerable, unalterable Good.
22. But the things that are here, O Son, are visible, incapable of Good, corruptible, passible, dissolveable, changeable, continually altered, and made of another.
23. The things therefore that are not true to themselves; how can they be true?
24. For every thing that is altered, is a lie, not abiding in what it is; but being changed p. 225 it shews us always, other, and other appearances.
25. Tat. Is not man true, O Father?
26. Herm. As far forth as he is a Man, he is not true, Son; for that which is true hath of it self alone its constitution, and remains, and abides according to it self, such as it is.
27. But man consists of many things, and doth not abide of himself; but is turned and changed, age after age, Idea after Idea, or form after form; and this while he is yet in the Tabernacle.
28. And many have not known their own children after a little while; and many children likewise have not known their own Parents.
29. Is it then possible, O Tat, that he who is so changed, is not to be known, should be p. 226 true? no, on the contrary, he is Falshood, being in many Appearances of changes.
30. But do thou understand the True to be that which abides the same, and is Eternal, but man is not ever, therefore not True; but man is a certain Appearance, and Appearance is the highest Lie or Falshood.
31. Tat. But these eternall Bodies, Father, are they not true through they be changed?
32. Herm. Everything that is begotten, or made, and changed, is not true; but being made by our Progenitor, they might have had true Matter.
33. But these also have in themselves: something that is false, in regard of their change.
34. For nothing that remaines not in it self, is True.
35. Tat. What shall one say then, Father, that only the Sun, which besides the Nature of other things, is not changed but abides in it self, is Truth?
36. Herm. It is Truth, and therefore he is only intrusted with the Workmanship of the World, ruling and making all things, whom I do both honour, and adore his Truth; and after the One, and First, I acknowledge him the Workman.
37. Tat. What therefore dost thou affirm to be the first Truth, O Father?
38. Herm. The One and Only, O Tat, that is not of Matter, that is not in a Body, that is without Colour, without Figure or Shape, Immutable, Unalterable, which always is; but Falshood, O Son, is corrupted.
39. And corruption hath laid hold upon all things on Earth, and the Providence of the True encompasseth, and will encompasse them.
40. For without corruption, there can no Generation consist.
41. For Corruption followeth every Generation, that it may again be generated.
42. For those things that are generated, must of necessity be generated of those things that are corrupted, and the things generated must needs be corrupted, that the Generation of things being, may not stand still or cease.
43. Acknowledge therefore the first Workman by the Generation of things.
44. Consequently the things that are generated of Corruption, are false; as being sometimes p. 229 one thing, sometimes another: For it is impossible, they should be made the same things again; and that which is not the same, how is it true?
45. Therefore, O Son, we must call these things fantasies or appearances.
46. And if we will give a man his right name, we must call him the appearance of Manhood; and a Childe, the fantasie or appearance of a Childe; an old man, the appearance of an old man; a young man, the appearance of a young man; and a man of ripe age, the appearance of a man of ripe age.
47. For neither is a man, a man; nor a childe, a childe; nor a young man, a young man; nor an old man, an old man.
48. But the things that pre-exist, and that are, being changed, are false.
49. These things understand thus, O Son, as these false Operations, having their dependance from above, even of the Truth it self.
50. Which being so, I do affirm, that Falshood is the Work of Truth.
The End of the Fifteenth Book.