der
it is thus said and established, that the beginning of the beard cometh
from the supernal CHSD, _Chesed_, Mercy.

Concerning which it is written, "LK IHVH HGDVLH VHGBVRH VHTHPARTH, _Leka,
Tetragrammaton; Ha-Gedulah, Ve-Ha-Geburah, Ve-Ha-Tiphereth_, Thine, O
Tetragrammaton, Gedulah, (another name for Chesed), Geburah, and Tiphereth
(the names of the fourth, fifth, and sixth Sephiroth, which Protestants
usually add to the end of the Lord's Prayer, substituting, however,
Malkuth for Gedulah), Thine, O Tetragrammaton, are the Mercy, the Power,
and the Glory (or Beauty)." And all these are so, and thus it (the beard)
commenceth.

Therefore the nine (conformations) arise from and depend from the beard;
and thus it commenceth from before the ears. But (the conformations)
remain not in permanence save through another cause, as we have before
laid down.

For whensoever the universe hath need of mercy, the Influence, Mezla, of
the Ancient One is uncovered; and all those conformations which exist in
the most adorned beard of Microprosopus are found to be entirely mercies,
yet so that they can exercise vengeance against the haters of the
Israelites, and against those who afflict them.

But the whole ornament of the beard consisteth in those locks which hang
down, because all things depend thencefrom.

All those hairs which are in the beard of Microprosopus are hard and
rigid, because they all subject the judgments when the Most Holy Influence
is manifested.

And when there is to be contention, then He appeareth like unto a brave
hero, victorious in war. And then that becometh bare of hair which is bare
of hair, and that becometh bald which is bald.

Moses commemorated these nine conformations a second time, Num. xiv. 17,
when there was need to convert them all into mercy.

For although he recite not now the thirteen conformations (of the beard of
Macroprosopus), yet from this idea the thing depended; for he did not
allow himself to enter into those conformations simply that he might
enumerate them.

But unto the Influence directed he his meditation, and made mention
thereof. As it is written, Num. xiv. 17, "And now, I beseech thee, let
KCH, _Kach_, the Power of Tetragrammaton, be great!"

What is to be understood by KCH, IHVH, _Kach Tetragrammaton_, the Power of
Tetragrammaton? Thus is MZLA QDISHA, _Mezla_, _Qadisha_, the Holy
Influence, called, even the Concealed with all Concealments. And from the
Influence that