council [or counsel] of reason. 116. Then man first knoweth what the devil is, how much an enemy he is to him, and how great his power is; also how he must fight with him very secretly every day, hour and moment. 117. Which thing reason, or the outward birth or geniture of man, without the experience of this fight or battle, cannot comprehend. For the third or outermost birth or geniture in man, which is the carnal or fleshly birth, and which man through the first fall in his lust hath raised and prepared for himself, is the devil's castle or fort of prey or robbery and dwellinghouse, wherein the devil, as in a bulwark, fighteth with the soul, and giveth it many a hard knock on the head.* * "knock on the head" (Kopfstoss)—an obsolete word which denotes a blow given from above on the top of some object. 118. Now this birth of the flesh is not the mansionhouse of the soul, but in its strife the soul goeth in with its light into the divine power, and fighteth against the murder of the devil.* * "fighteth against the murder of the devil"="fighteth against the murder that is being committed by the devil." 119. On the other hand, the devil with his poison shooteth and darteth at the seven qualifying or fountain spirits which generate the soul, intending to destroy and to kindle them, that thereby he may get the whole body for his own propriety. 120. Now if the soul would willingly bring its light and knowledge into the human mind, then it must fight and strive hard and stoutly, and yet hath a very narrow passage to enter in at; it will often be knocked down by the devil, but it must stand to it here, like a champion in the battle. And if it now gets the victory, then it hath conquered the devil; but if the devil prevails and gets the better, then the soul is captivated. 121. But seeing the fleshly birth or geniture is not the soul's own proper house, and that it cannot possess it as an inheritance, as the devil doth, therefore the fight and the battle lasteth as long as the house of flesh lasteth. 122. But if the house of flesh be once destroyed, and that the soul is not yet conquered or vanquished in its house, but is free and unimprisoned, then the fight is ended, and the devil must be gone from this spirit eternally. 123. Therefore this is a very difficult article to be understood; nay, it cannot be understood at all, except by experience in this fight. Though I should write many books thereof, yet thou wouldst understand nothing of it, unless thy spirit stand in such a birth or geniture, and that the knowledge be generated in thyself; otherwise thou canst neither comprehend nor believe it. 124. But if thou comprehendest this, then also thou understandest the strife or the fight which the angels held with the devils. For the angels have not flesh nor bones, no more have the devils. 125. For their bodily or corporeal birth standeth only in the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, but the animated or soulish birth in the angels uniteth, mixeth or operateth with God; but it is not so in the devils. 126. Therefore thou must here know, that the angels with their animated or soulish birth, in which they qualify and unite with God, have striven and fought in God's power and spirit against the kindled devils, and turned them out from the light of God, and driven them together into a hole, that is, into a narrow court, quarter or compass, like a prison, which is the place or space in, upon and above the earth, up to the moon, which is a goddess of the earthly birth or geniture. 127. So far reacheth their extent now, till the last day, and then they will get a house in that place where the earth now is and standeth, and this will be called the burning hell. [" That is, in the outermost birth in the darh " ness, wherein they reach not the second Prin " ciple and source or fountain of the light."] 128. Lord Lucifer, wait for it, and in the meanwhile take this for an assured prophecy concerning it; for thou wilt get the kindled Salitter in the outermost birth or geniture, (which thou thyself hast so prepared and fitted), to be thy eternal house to dwell in. 129. But not in such a form as [that in which] it now standeth, but all will be separated in the kindled wrathfire; and the dark, hot, cold, rugged, hard, bitter, stinking refuse, will be left thee for an eternal inn and lodging. 130. Thou wilt be such an eternal, almighty god therein, as a prisoner in a deep prison or dungeon, where thou wilt neither attain nor see the eternal light of God. But the kindled bitter wrath of God will be thy boundaries, out of which thou canst never get.
council [or counsel] of reason. 116. Then man first knows what the devil is, how much an enemy he is to him, and how great his power is; also how he must fight with him very secretly every day, hour and moment. 117. Which thing reason, or the outward birth or geniture of man, without the experience of this fight or battle, cannot comprehend. For the third or outermost birth or geniture in man, which is the carnal or fleshly birth, and which man through the first fall in his lust has raised and prepared for himself, is the devil's castle or fort of prey or robbery and dwellinghouse, wherein the devil, as in a bulwark, fights with the soul, and gives it many a hard knock on the head.* * "knock on the head" (Kopfstoss)—an obsolete word which denotes a blow given from above on the top of some object. 118. Now this birth of the flesh is not the mansionhouse of the soul, but in its strife the soul goes in with its light into the divine power, and fights against the murder of the devil.* * "fights against the murder of the devil"="fights against the murder that is being committed by the devil." 119. On the other hand, the devil with his poison shoots and darts at the seven qualifying or fountain spirits which generate the soul, intending to destroy and to kindle them, that thereby he may get the whole body for his own propriety. 120. Now if the soul would willingly bring its light and knowledge into the human mind, then it must fight and strive hard and stoutly, and yet has a very narrow passage to enter in at; it will often be knocked down by the devil, but it must stand to it here, like a champion in the battle. And if it now gets the victory, then it has conquered the devil; but if the devil prevails and gets the better, then the soul is captivated. 121. But seeing the fleshly birth or geniture is not the soul's own proper house, and that it cannot possess it as an inheritance, as the devil does, therefore the fight and the battle lasts as long as the house of flesh lasts. 122. But if the house of flesh be once destroyed, and that the soul is not yet conquered or vanquished in its house, but is free and unimprisoned, then the fight is ended, and the devil must be gone from this spirit eternally. 123. Therefore this is a very difficult article to be understood; nay, it cannot be understood at all, except by experience in this fight. Though I should write many books thereof, yet you would understand nothing of it, unless your spirit stand in such a birth or geniture, and that the knowledge be generated in yourself; otherwise you can neither comprehend nor believe it. 124. But if you comprehendest this, then also you understandest the strife or the fight which the angels held with the devils. For the angels have not flesh nor bones, no more have the devils. 125. For their bodily or corporeal birth stands only in the seven qualifying or fountain spirits, but the animated or soulish birth in the angels unites, mixes or operats with God; but it is not so in the devils. 126. Therefore you must here know, that the angels with their animated or soulish birth, in which they qualify and unite with God, have striven and fought in God's power and spirit against the kindled devils, and turned them out from the light of God, and driven them together into a hole, that is, into a narrow court, quarter or compass, like a prison, which is the place or space in, upon and above the earth, up to the moon, which is a goddess of the earthly birth or geniture. 127. So far reaches their extent now, till the last day, and then they will get a house in that place where the earth now is and stands, and this will be called the burning hell. [" That is, in the outermost birth in the darh " ness, wherein they reach not the second Prin " ciple and source or fountain of the light."] 128. Lord Lucifer, wait for it, and in the meanwhile take this for an assured prophecy concerning it; for you will get the kindled Salitter in the outermost birth or geniture, (which you yourself have so prepared and fitted), to be your eternal house to dwell in. 129. But not in such a form as [that in which] it now stands, but all will be separated in the kindled wrathfire; and the dark, hot, cold, rugged, hard, bitter, stinking refuse, will be left you for an eternal inn and lodging. 130. You will be such an eternal, almighty god therein, as a prisoner in a deep prison or dungeon, where you will neither attain nor see the eternal light of God. But the kindled bitter wrath of God will be your boundaries, out of which you can never get.
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