117. But that the astringent and bitter spirit doth so grumble and murmur, when the spirit from the heart goeth through its house, and ruleth powerfully, signifieth that the wrath of God, together with the devils, are, in the house of this world, set in opposition to the love, so that both these, all the time of this world, must fight and strive one against the other, as two armies in the field; from whence also wars and fightings among men, and among beasts, and all creatures, have their original. 118. But that the astringent and the bitter qualities conceive themselves together with the word, and unite and agree one with the other, and yet the spirit of the heart alone speaketh forth the word at the mouth, signifieth that all creatures, which were produced and put forth by the word alone, viz. the beasts, fowls, fishes, worms, trees, leaves, herbs and grass, were formed from the whole body, being good and evil. 119. And that in all these there would stand both the angry and corrupt quality, and also the love of God; and yet all would be driven on by the spirit of love, though those two would disturb, rub, plague, squeeze and vex each other. Note. 120. Whereby then, in many a creature the wrathfire would be so very hard kindled that the body, together with the spirit, will afford and produce an eternal wrathSalitter in hell. 121. For the spirit, which is generated in the heart, must in its body walk through the midst or centre of the hellish gates, and may very easily be kindled; they are as wood and fire, which will burn, if thou pourest no water in among them.
122. O man, thou wast not, by the Word, created together with and as the beasts, from good and evil; and if thou hadst not eaten of good and evil, then the wrathfire would not have been in thee; but by that means thou hast also gotten a bestial body: It is done: The love of God take pity, and have mercy in that behalf. 123. But, that after the conceiving and compacting of the word together in the astringent quality at the hinder gums upon the tongue, the mouth openeth itself wide, and the compacted and united spirit goeth forth together at the mouth, which spirit is generated out of the heart and also out of the astringent and bitter quality, signifieth that the creatures would live in great anguish and adversity, and would not be able to generate through one body, but through two. 124. For the astringent and bitter quality receives the power from the spirit out of the heart, and infecteth or affecteth itself therewith: Therefore is nature now become too weak in the spirit of the heart, and is not able to deliver [itself from] its own innermost birth of the heart; and for that cause nature hath brought forth a male and a female. 125. Thus it denoteth also the evil and the good will in the whole or universal nature, and in all the creatures; that there would be a continual wrestling, fighting and destroying; from whence this world is rightly called a valley of misery, full of crosses, persecutions, toils and labours. For when the spirit of creation entered into the midst, and interposed its power, it was fain to make and form the creation in the midst or centre of the kingdom of hell.
126. Now seeing the outermost birth or geniture in nature is twofold, that is, both evil and good, therefore it is that there is a perpetual tormenting, squeezing, lamenting and howling; and the creatures in this life are subject to torments and afflictions, so that this evil world is justly called a murderous den of the devil. 127. But that the astringent and bitter spirit sitteth still in its seat at the hinder gums on the tongue, and thrusteth forth * the word at the mouth, and yet cannot get away from thence, signifieth that the devil and the wrath of God would indeed be domineering in all the creatures, yet would not have full power in them, but must stay in prison; and that there they would belch forth or blow into all the creatures, and plague them, but would not overcome them, unless the creatures themselves are minded to tarry there in that place. * "thrusteth forth" (bellet), "soundeth forth," or "crieth forth." The literal meaning is, "barketh forth." 128. Just as the meek spirit of the heart goeth through the astringent and bitter quality, and overcometh it; and though it be indeed infected with the astringent and bitter spirit, yet it teareth and breaketh thorough, as a conqueror: But if it should wilfully sit still in the hollow hole * in the astringent and bitter spirit, and suffer itself to be taken captive, and would not fight, then the fault were its own. * " in the hollow hole." This rendering is correct according to the 1682 ed., but the 1715 and 1730 eds. have, "in der Hölle," " in hell." 129. Thus it is also with those creatures that will continually sow and reap in the hellish fire,
117. But that the astringent and bitter spirit does so grumble and murmur, when the spirit from the heart goes through its house, and ruls powerfully, signifies that the wrath of God, together with the devils, are, in the house of this world, set in opposition to the love, so that both these, all the time of this world, must fight and strive one against the other, as two armies in the field; from whence also wars and fightings among men, and among beasts, and all creatures, have their original. 118. But that the astringent and the bitter qualities conceive themselves together with the word, and unite and agree one with the other, and yet the spirit of the heart alone speaks forth the word at the mouth, signifies that all creatures, which were produced and put forth by the word alone, viz. the beasts, fowls, fishes, worms, trees, leaves, herbs and grass, were formed from the whole body, being good and evil. 119. And that in all these there would stand both the angry and corrupt quality, and also the love of God; and yet all would be driven on by the spirit of love, though those two would disturb, rub, plague, squeeze and vex each other. Note. 120. Whereby then, in many a creature the wrathfire would be so very hard kindled that the body, together with the spirit, will afford and produce an eternal wrathSalitter in hell. 121. For the spirit, which is generated in the heart, must in its body walk through the midst or centre of the hellish gates, and may very easily be kindled; they are as wood and fire, which will burn, if you pourest no water in among them.
122. O man, you were not, by the Word, created together with and as the beasts, from good and evil; and if you had not eaten of good and evil, then the wrathfire would not have been in you; but by that means you have also gotten a bestial body: It is done: The love of God take pity, and have mercy in that behalf. 123. But, that after the conceiving and compacting of the word together in the astringent quality at the hinder gums upon the tongue, the mouth opens itself wide, and the compacted and united spirit goes forth together at the mouth, which spirit is generated out of the heart and also out of the astringent and bitter quality, signifies that the creatures would live in great anguish and adversity, and would not be able to generate through one body, but through two. 124. For the astringent and bitter quality receives the power from the spirit out of the heart, and infects or affects itself therewith: Therefore is nature now become too weak in the spirit of the heart, and is not able to deliver [itself from] its own innermost birth of the heart; and for that cause nature has brought forth a male and a female. 125. Thus it denots also the evil and the good will in the whole or universal nature, and in all the creatures; that there would be a continual wrestling, fighting and destroying; from whence this world is rightly called a valley of misery, full of crosses, persecutions, toils and labours. For when the spirit of creation entered into the midst, and interposed its power, it was fain to make and form the creation in the midst or centre of the kingdom of hell.
126. Now seeing the outermost birth or geniture in nature is twofold, that is, both evil and good, therefore it is that there is a perpetual tormenting, squeezing, lamenting and howling; and the creatures in this life are subject to torments and afflictions, so that this evil world is justly called a murderous den of the devil. 127. But that the astringent and bitter spirit sitts still in its seat at the hinder gums on the tongue, and thrusts forth * the word at the mouth, and yet cannot get away from thence, signifies that the devil and the wrath of God would indeed be domineering in all the creatures, yet would not have full power in them, but must stay in prison; and that there they would belch forth or blow into all the creatures, and plague them, but would not overcome them, unless the creatures themselves are minded to tarry there in that place. * "thrusts forth" (bellet), "sounds forth," or "cries forth." The literal meaning is, "barks forth." 128. Just as the meek spirit of the heart goes through the astringent and bitter quality, and overcoms it; and though it be indeed infected with the astringent and bitter spirit, yet it tears and breaks thorough, as a conqueror: But if it should wilfully sit still in the hollow hole * in the astringent and bitter spirit, and suffer itself to be taken captive, and would not fight, then the fault were its own. * " in the hollow hole." This rendering is correct according to the 1682 ed., but the 1715 and 1730 eds. have, "in der Hölle," " in hell." 129. Thus it is also with those creatures that will continually sow and reap in the hellish fire,
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