The rulers devour their matter so that souls may not be fashioned.
"This then they accomplished continuously before their power was diminished in them and they waned and became exhausted, or powerless. It came to pass then, when they became powerless, that their power began to cease in them, so that they became exhausted in their power, and their light (which was in their region) ceased and their kingdom was destroyed, and the universe became quickly raised up.
"It came to pass then, when they had perceived this at the time, and when the number of the cipher of Melchisedec (the Receiver of the Light), happened, then had he to come out again and enter into the midst of the rulers (of all the æons) and into the midst of all the rulers (of the Fate and of those of the sphere); and he threw them into agitation, and made them quickly abandon their circles. And forthwith they were constrained, and cast forth the power out of themselves, out of the breath (of their mouth) and the tears (of their eyes) and the sweat (of their bodies).
"And Melchisedec (the Receiver of the Light) purifieth them, as he doth continually; he carrieth their light into the Treasury (of the Light). And all the rulers (of the æons) and the rulers (of the Fate) and those of the sphere turn to the matter of their refuse; they devour it and do not let it go and become souls in the world. They devour then their matter, so that they may not become powerless and exhausted and their power cease in them and their kingdom become destroyed, but in order that they may delay and linger a long time until the completion of the number of the perfect souls who shall be in the Treasury (of the Light).