Exegesis on the Soul

The soul is a feminine being from the Father's house; she fell into the body, was defiled by many lovers, and now grieves for her lost virginity.

1The wise men of old gave the soul a feminine name. Indeed, she is female in her nature as well. She hath even her womb.

2So long as she was alone with the Father, she was a virgin, and was in form androgynous. But when she fell down into a body, and came into this life, then she fell into the hands of many robbers.

3And the wanton creatures passed her among themselves and used her. Some made use of her by force, while others persuaded her by the gift of false promises. In short, they defiled her, and she lost her virginity.

4And in her body she played the harlot; and gave her body unto everyone, supposing the one to whom she had given herself in adulteries to be a husband.

5Such is the nature of those false adulterers — that they play the husband for a season, and then desert her, and proceed unto another. So is the soul left bereaved; she finds herself, again and again, abandoned.

6And every time she submitted unto these adulterers, she was defiled. Yet she would not turn away. She put her hope upon them; she expected of them what she could only have received from her true Husband. But they gave her only sorrow.

7And when she had at length perceived the deceit and discovered the difficulty in which she was placed — that she was as one weeping for her own children, lamenting them, in that they had been carried into captivity from her, having become as men in foreign lands — she repented.

8And she turned her face away from those false adulterers. And she fled unto her Father, that she might be received again.

9It is fitting therefore for the soul to pray unto the Father, that He might cleanse her once again from the defilement; and that He might restore her unto her former condition.

10When the Father hath compassion upon her — for she hath suffered much — and when He turneth her womb that it may be inward — for the womb of the soul, like that of women, is normally turned outward; but having become inward by His mercy, she becometh once again a virgin and an androgyne.

11Such is the regeneration of the soul. It is not a thing of the flesh; it is not a baptism of water alone. It is rather the cleansing of the inner being; the turning back of the womb; the recovery of the original glory.

12It is fitting that the soul, regenerated thus, should now bear the fruits of the Spirit — and that her children should be holy, and not as those defiled offspring which she bore in her time of harlotry.

13The prophet Jeremiah said: O thou that hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet return unto me, saith the Lord, and I will receive thee. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lain with.

14By the wayside thou hast sat for them, even as a Bedouin in the desert. Thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and thy wickedness.

15Thus saith the Lord: Have ye not, even from of old, called me Father, and the Husband of thy youth? Will the Lord God then turn His face away from thee?

The Father sends the soul her true Bridegroom; the marriage is celebrated; the soul is restored, and gives birth to good children.

1When the Father saw her in such a condition, He had pity upon her. For she had been miserable. She had not begun to feel any joy in this world; she had been overcome with sorrow.

2Therefore the Father, when He saw her sigh — saw her repent of the harlotry she had committed — saw also her cry out unto His name, that He might help her, weeping with all her soul, saying: Save me, O Father; behold, I shall recount unto Thee my harlotry, in that I have departed from my house. Restore me unto Thyself again. Behold the kidnappings I have endured, and the violations of every kind, and the deceitfulness, and how I was sold and how I have been bound, oppressed by tyrants, in cruel and chequered slavery — therefore He had pity upon her.

3Then He sent unto her her Bridegroom from above. And the Bridegroom is the firstborn Son. He came down unto her unto the bridal chamber, which had been prepared.

4And she beheld Him; and she rejoiced. She gave herself unto Him alone; she received Him alone; she set aside her former adulterers. She remembered them no more; rather, she remembered her true Husband alone.

5And the bridal chamber was filled with sweet odours. And the Bridegroom and the bride exulted together. And the marriage was celebrated; and they became one.

6And from that union there came forth good children — namely, the virtues, the graces of the Spirit, and the gifts of holiness. For when the soul is joined unto the Bridegroom, she beareth fruits that are not corruptible.

7Such is the regeneration of the soul. It is the renewing of her youth. It is the restoration of her honour. It is the receiving back of her original glory.

8Therefore, my brethren, let us pray for one another, that we may be restored. Let us put off the works of the flesh; let us put on the garment of light. Let us cleave unto the Bridegroom; let us forsake the false lovers.

9For the Father hath compassion upon every soul that turneth unto Him. He is not far off; He is at the door. Open ye unto Him; He shall come in, and shall sup with you, and ye with Him.

10Blessed is the soul that hath returned unto her Father. Blessed is the soul that hath been received in the bridal chamber. Blessed is the soul that hath borne good children unto the Bridegroom; for she shall not be put to shame in the day of consummation.

11Glory be unto the Father, who receiveth the wandering soul; and unto the Son, the Bridegroom, who taketh her unto Himself; and unto the Holy Spirit, who is the perfume of the bridal chamber. Forever and ever. Amen.