{"collection":"Gnosticism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/gno/th3/th321.htm","path":"gno/th3/th321.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/gno/th3/th321.htm","text":"Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 3, by G.R.S. Mead, [1906]\n(Patrizzi (p. 42) runs this on to Ex. xix. without a break.\nText: Stob., Ethica, vii. 31, under heading: \u201cOf Hermes\u201d; G. (ii.) pp. 654, 655; M. ii. 100, 101; W. ii. 160, 161.\nM\u00e9nard, Livre IV., No. i. of \u201cFragments Divers,\u201d pp. 271, 272.)\nThere is, then, essence, reason, thought, 1 perception. 2\nOpinion and sensation move towards perception; reason directs itself towards essence; and thought sends itself forth through its own self.\nAnd thought is interwoven with perception, and entering into one another they become one form,\u2014which is that of the Soul [itself].\nOpinion and sensation move towards the Soul\u2019s perception; but they do not remain in the same state. Hence is there excess, and falling short, and difference with them.\nWhen they are drawn away from the perception, they deteriorate; but when they follow it and are obedient, they share in the perceptive reason through the sciences. 1\n2. We have the power to choose; it is within our power to choose the better, and in like way [to choose] the worse, according to our will. 2\nAnd if [our] choice clings to the evil things, it doth consort with the corporeal nature; [and] for this cause Fate rules o\u2019er him who makes this choice.\nSince, then, the intellectual essence 3 in us is absolutely free,\u2014[namely] the reason that embraces all in thought,\u2014and that it ever is a law unto itself and self-identical, on this account Fate does not reach it. 4\nThus furnishing it first from the First God, it 5 sent forth the perceptive reason, and the whole reason which Nature hath appointed unto them that come to birth.\nWith these the Soul consorting, consorteth with their fates, though [in herself] she hath no part [or lot] in their fates\u2019 nature.\n(Patrizzi (p. 42) adds the following to the preceding; it is not found in Stob\u00e6us, and appears to be a scholium.)\nWhat is necessitated by the interwoven harmony 1 of [all] the parts, in no way differs from that which is fated.\nI have supplied a temporary heading for the sake of uniformity. Our extract, however, seems to be taken from a lengthy treatise, and was probably one of the Sermons to Tat.\n84:1 \u03bd\u03cc\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1.\n84:2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ac\u03bd\u03bf\u03b9\u03b1.\n85:1 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bc\u03b1\u03b8\u03b7\u03bc\u1f04\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd.\n85:2 Reading \u1f11\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03af\u03c9\u03c2 for the meaningless \u1f00\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03af\u03c9\u03c2 of the text.\n85:3 Reading \u03bd\u03bf\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1f74 with Patrizzi, instead of \u03c3\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1f74 as with G. W. prefers \u1f00\u03c3\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 (incorporal).\n85:4 Sc. the reason.\n85:5 The Soul, or intellectual essence. The text is very obscure, and Wachsmuth does not seem to have improved it. Cf. C. H., xii. (xiii.) 8.\n86:1 Lit. interweaving.","title":"Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 3: I. Excerpts by Stob\u00e6us: Excerpt XX. The Power of Choice","type":"page"}