djo (04/20/83)
The Voice of one crying in the Wilderness
The Argument. As the true method of knowledge is experiment the
true faculty of knowing must be the faculty which experiences.
This faculty I treat of.
PRINCIPLE 1st That the Poetic Genius is the true Man. and that
the body or outward form of Man is derived from the Poetic Genius.
Likewise that the forms of all things are derived from their Genius.
which by the Ancients was call'd an Angel & Spirit & Demon.
PRINCIPLE 2nd As all men are alike in outward form, So (and with
the same infinite variety) all are alike in the Poetic Genius.
PRINCIPLE 3rd No man can think write or speak from his heart, but
he must intend truth. Thus all sects of Philosophy are from the
Poetic Genius adapted to the weakness
(sorry)
weaknesses of every individual
PRINCIPLE 4. As none by travelling over known lands can find out
the unknown. So from already aquired knowledge Man could not aquire
more. therefore an universal Potic Genius exists.
PRINCIPLE 5. The Religeons of all Nations are derived from each
Nation's different reception of the Poetic Genius which is every where
call'd the Spirit of Prophecy.
PRINCIPLE 6. The Jewish & Christian Testaments are An original
derivation from the Poetic Genius. this is necessary from the
confined nature of bodily sensation
PRINCIPLE 7th As all men are alike (tho' infinitely various) So all
Religions & as all similars have one source.
The true Man is the source he being the Poetic Genius
--William Blake--