very thing among the learned. 62. But seeing God, in his great love, openeth to me the gate of his being, and remembereth the Covenant which he hath with man, therefore I will, according to my gifts, faithfully and earnestly unlock and set wide open all the gates of God, so far as God will give me leave. 63. It is not so to be understood as that I am sufficient enough in these things, but only so far as I am able to comprehend. 64. For the being of God is like a wheel, wherein many wheels are made one in another, upwards, downwards, crossways, and yet they continually turn, all of them together. 65. Which, indeed, when a man beholdeth the wheel, he highly marvelleth at it, and, in its turning, cannot at once learn to conceive and apprehend it: But the more he beholdeth the wheel, the more he learneth its form or frame; and the more he learneth, the greater longing he hath to the wheel; for he continually seeth somewhat that is more and more wonderful, so that a man can neither behold it, nor learn it enough. 66. Thus I also, what I do not enough describe in one place concerning this great Mystery, that you will find in another place; and what I cannot describe in this book, in regard of the largeness * of the Mystery, and my incapacity, that you will find in the others following. * " in regard of the largeness of the Mystery," etc. (von wegen der länge), "on account of length." It does not seem that J. B. here emphasises so much " the largeness of the Mystery," as the difficulty of writing at length concerning it, owing to his own incapacity to grasp it, as yet, in its fulness. The sentence containing these words might be rendered as follows: " and what I cannot describe in this book, on account of the length of such description, and on account also of my incapacity to give it, that you will find," etc. See Cont. of this B., par. 39 et seq., and Ch. 10, par. 41 et seq. 67. For this book is the first sprouting or vegetation of this twig, which springeth or groweth green in its mother, and is as a child that is learning to walk, and is not able to run apace at the first. 68. For though the spirit seeth the wheel, and would fain comprehend its form or frame in every place, yet it cannot do it exactly enough, because of the turning of the wheel: But when the wheel cometh about again, so that the spirit can again see the first apprehended or conceived form, then continually it learneth more and more, and always delighteth in and loveth the wheel, and longeth after it still more and more. Now observe: 69. The earth hath just such qualities and qualifying or fountain spirits as the deep above the earth or as heaven hath, and all of them together belong to one only body; and the whole or universal God is that one only body. But that thou dost not wholly and fully see and know him, sins are the cause thereof, with and by which thou, in this great divine body, liest shut up in the dead or mortal flesh; and the power or virtue of the Deity is hidden from thee, even as the marrow in the bones is hidden from the flesh. 70. But if thou, in the spirit, breakest through the death of the flesh, then thou seest the hidden God. For as the marrow in the bones penetrateth, presseth or breaketh through and giveth virtue, power and strength to the flesh, and yet the flesh cannot comprehend or apprehend the marrow, but only the power and virtue thereof, so no more canst thou see the hidden Deity in thy flesh, but thou receivest its power, and understandest therein that God dwelleth in thee. 71. For the dead or mortal flesh belongeth not to the birth of life, and therefore cannot receive or conceive the life of the light as a propriety; but the life of the light in God riseth up in the dead or mortal flesh, and generateth to itself, from or out of the dead or mortal flesh, another heavenly and living body, which knoweth and understandeth the light. 72. For this body is but a husk, from which the new body groweth— [" The new body groweth out of the heavenly " substantiality in the Word, out of the flesh " and blood of Christ, out of the mystery of " the old body."] —as it is with a grain of wheat in the earth. The husk or shell will not rise again, no more than it doth in the wheat, but will remain for ever in death and in hell. 73. Therefore man carrieth about with him here upon earth, in his body, the devil's eternal dwellinghouse. O thou fair excellent goddess! mayest thou not well prance and trick thyself therein, and in the meanwhile invite the devil into the new birth for a guest, will it not profit thee very much? Take heed that thou dost not generate a new devil, who will remain in his own house. 74. Behold the mystery of the earth: as that generateth or bringeth forth, so must thou generate or bring forth. The earth is not that body which groweth or sprouteth forth, but it is
very thing among the learned. 62. But seeing God, in his great love, opens to me the gate of his being, and remembers the Covenant which he has with man, therefore I will, according to my gifts, faithfully and earnestly unlock and set wide open all the gates of God, so far as God will give me leave. 63. It is not so to be understood as that I am sufficient enough in these things, but only so far as I am able to comprehend. 64. For the being of God is like a wheel, wherein many wheels are made one in another, upwards, downwards, crossways, and yet they continually turn, all of them together. 65. Which, indeed, when a man beholds the wheel, he highly marvells at it, and, in its turning, cannot at once learn to conceive and apprehend it: But the more he beholds the wheel, the more he learns its form or frame; and the more he learns, the greater longing he has to the wheel; for he continually sees somewhat that is more and more wonderful, so that a man can neither behold it, nor learn it enough. 66. Thus I also, what I do not enough describe in one place concerning this great Mystery, that you will find in another place; and what I cannot describe in this book, in regard of the largeness * of the Mystery, and my incapacity, that you will find in the others following. * " in regard of the largeness of the Mystery," etc. (von wegen der länge), "on account of length." It does not seem that J. B. here emphasises so much " the largeness of the Mystery," as the difficulty of writing at length concerning it, owing to his own incapacity to grasp it, as yet, in its fulness. The sentence containing these words might be rendered as follows: " and what I cannot describe in this book, on account of the length of such description, and on account also of my incapacity to give it, that you will find," etc. See Cont. of this B., par. 39 et seq., and Ch. 10, par. 41 et seq. 67. For this book is the first sprouting or vegetation of this twig, which springs or grows green in its mother, and is as a child that is learning to walk, and is not able to run apace at the first. 68. For though the spirit sees the wheel, and would fain comprehend its form or frame in every place, yet it cannot do it exactly enough, because of the turning of the wheel: But when the wheel comes about again, so that the spirit can again see the first apprehended or conceived form, then continually it learns more and more, and always delights in and loves the wheel, and longs after it still more and more. Now observe: 69. The earth has just such qualities and qualifying or fountain spirits as the deep above the earth or as heaven has, and all of them together belong to one only body; and the whole or universal God is that one only body. But that you do not wholly and fully see and know him, sins are the cause thereof, with and by which you, in this great divine body, liest shut up in the dead or mortal flesh; and the power or virtue of the Deity is hidden from you, even as the marrow in the bones is hidden from the flesh. 70. But if you, in the spirit, breakest through the death of the flesh, then you seest the hidden God. For as the marrow in the bones penetrats, presses or breaks through and gives virtue, power and strength to the flesh, and yet the flesh cannot comprehend or apprehend the marrow, but only the power and virtue thereof, so no more can you see the hidden Deity in your flesh, but you receivest its power, and understandest therein that God dwells in you. 71. For the dead or mortal flesh belongs not to the birth of life, and therefore cannot receive or conceive the life of the light as a propriety; but the life of the light in God rises up in the dead or mortal flesh, and generats to itself, from or out of the dead or mortal flesh, another heavenly and living body, which knows and understands the light. 72. For this body is but a husk, from which the new body grows— [" The new body grows out of the heavenly " substantiality in the Word, out of the flesh " and blood of Christ, out of the mystery of " the old body."] —as it is with a grain of wheat in the earth. The husk or shell will not rise again, no more than it does in the wheat, but will remain for ever in death and in hell. 73. Therefore man carries about with him here upon earth, in his body, the devil's eternal dwellinghouse. O you fair excellent goddess! may you not well prance and trick yourself therein, and in the meanwhile invite the devil into the new birth for a guest, will it not profit you very much? Take heed that you do not generate a new devil, who will remain in his own house. 74. Behold the mystery of the earth: as that generats or brings forth, so must you generate or bring forth. The earth is not that body which grows or sprouts forth, but it is
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