Philosophumena; or, The refutation of all heresies, Volume I
David Hume · en
But from some such cause as this did the necessity of evil come
about.[309] When Elohim had built and fashioned [Sidenote: p. 232.] the
world from mutual pleasure, he wished to go up to the highest parts
of heaven and to see whether any of the things of creation lacked
aught. And he took his own angels with him, for he was (by nature) one
who bears upward, and left below Edem, for she being earth did not
wish to follow her spouse on high. Then Elohim coming to the upper
limit of heaven and beholding a light better than that which himself
had fashioned, said: “Open unto me the gates that I may enter in and
acknowledge the Lord: For I thought that I was the Lord.”[310] And a
voice from the light answered him, saying: “This is the gate of the
Lord (and) the just enter through it.” And straightway the gate was
opened, and the Father entered without his angels into the presence of
the Good One and saw “what eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it
entered into the heart of man.” Then the Good One says to him, “Sit
thou on my right hand.”[311] But the Father says to the Good One:
“Suffer me, O Lord, to overturn the world which I have made; for my
spirit is bound in men and I wish to recover it.” Then says the Good
One to him: “While with me thou canst do no evil; for thou and Edem
made the world from mutual pleasure. Let therefore Edem hold creation
[Sidenote: p. 233.] while she will;[312] but do thou abide with me.”
Then Edem knowing that she had been abandoned by Elohim was grieved,
and sat beside her own angels and adorned herself gloriously lest haply
Elohim coming to desire of her should descend to her.