“It happened at this period, they say, that the before mentioned beautiful woman or goddess, gradually descended from heaven, even into the water, gross or corpulent like a woman who apparently would bring forth more than one child. Having gradually settled into the water, she did not go under it; but immediately at the place where she descended, some land appeared under her, whereon she remained sitting. This land increased, and in time became greater and dry around the place where she sat; like one who is placed on a bar, whereon the water is 3 or 4 feet deep, which by the ebbing of the tide becomes dry land.” “Thus they say — it occurred with this descended goddess. And that the land became of greater extent around her, until its extent was unbounded to the sight, when vegetation appeared; and in time fruitful and unfruitful trees began to grow throughout the world as it now appears. Whether the world of which you speak [that described in Genesis] originated at this time, we cannot say.” “At this period – - when those things were accomplished, this great person was overtaken in labor, and brought forth three distinct and different creatures. The first was like a deer as these now are, the second like a bear, and the third like a wolf in every respect. The woman suckled those animals in maturity, and remained a considerable time upon the earth, cohabiting with these several animals, and bringing forth at every birth more than one of a different species and appearance; from which have originated and preceded all the human beings, animals and creatures of every description and species, as the same now are and appear: –” “When all those subjects were brought to a state of perfection, and could continue, this common mother rejoiced greatly, and ascended up to heaven, where she will continue to – dwell, enjoying pleasure, and subsists in goodness and love, which her upper Lord will afford her, for which she is particluarly desirous, and God also loves her supremely above all things.” “Here on earth, in the meanwhile, the human species, and the animals after their kind, have multiplied and produced so many different creatures, and increased exceedingly: which every other thing that was created also does, as the same at present is seen. Therefore it is at this time, that all mankind, wherever they be, are always born with the nature of one or the other of the aforesaid animals. they are timid and innocent like the deer; they are brave, revengeful, and just of hand like the bear; or they are deceitful and blood-thirsty like the wolves. Although their dispositions are apparently somewhat changed this they attribute to the subtlety of men, who know how to conceal their wicked propensities.”
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 00:19:39 +0000