ON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE MACROCOSM.

The "Macrocosm" refers to the universe as a whole, viewed as a large-scale reflection of the "Microcosm" or human being.

...although the triangular figure is the least spacious of all shapes in the nature of things, nevertheless this threefold essence—on account of the Trinity of persons and their equality in the divinity—when compared to an equilateral triangle, is extended beyond all nature. It is so spacious in its own nature that it encompasses even the most capacious figure in the whole universe, namely the circular, within its own infinity. We have therefore described GOD in this place insofar as He is said to be within all things, namely, insofar as He is said to be present everywhere.

But truly, insofar as Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary Hellenistic figure to whom various mystical and alchemical writings are attributed. called the world the image of GOD himself, we say that the image and likeness of GOD himself is seen in the Spirit of the world, just as a human likeness is seen in a mirror. For nothing could be seen in the mirror of the world before GOD shone upon it; no more than a man's likeness can be perceived in a mirror without the light of fire or the Sun. GOD, however, before the creation of the world, shone only for Himself and reflected His own heat back into Himself, as Trismegistus testifies. But when He willed to create the world, He changed His form and all things were suddenly revealed, and all things were converted into light, as is held in the first book of the Pimander The Poimandres, the first treatise of the Corpus Hermeticum, describing the creation of the universe..

Therefore, the hidden GOD has now manifested His splendid face in the worldly mirror, His light having been put into action; and He constantly communicates His Idea to us and to His creatures through that most holy gift, because the Sages have said that this visible and external world was formed according to the example of the Craftsman. Just as the face of a man is seen in a mirror through reflection, so the threefold distinction of the one essence is reflected everywhere into the universal spirit of the world. The demonstration of this matter is visible to the eye in the following example.

That most divine and most beautiful object beheld in the water below, the worldly mirror.

The shadow, likeness, or reflection of the incomprehensible Triangle seen in the worldly mirror.