Now observe: 5. Now when upon the third day the fireflash rose up out of the light, which was shining in the sweet water, which flash is the bitter quality which generateth itself out of the kindled terror or crack of fire in the water: 6. Then the whole nature of this world became springing, boiling and moving in the earth, as well as above the earth, and everywhere, and began to generate itself again in all things. 7. Out of the earth sprang up grass, herbs and trees; and in the earth, silver, gold, and all manner of ores came to be; and in the deep above the earth sprang up the wonderful forming of power and virtue. 8. But that thou mayest understand what manner of substance and condition all these things and births or genitures have, I will describe all in order one after another, that thou mayest rightly understand the ground of this Mystery. I will treat, 1. Of the earth. 2. Of the deep above the earth. 3. Of the incorporating or compacting of the bodies of the stars. 4. Of the seven chief qualities of the planets, and of their heart, which is the sun. 5. Of the four elements. 6. Of the outward comprehensible or palpable birth or geniture, which existeth out of this whole regimen or dominion. 7. Of the wonderful proportion and fitness or dexterity of the whole wheel of nature. 9. Before this lookingglass 1 will now invite all lovers of the holy and highlytobeesteemed arts of philosophy, astrology, and theology, wherein I will lay open the root and ground of them. 10. Though I have not studied nor learned their arts, neither do I know how to go about to measure their circles; I take no great care about that. However, they will have so much to learn from hence, that many will not comprehend the ground thereof all the days of their lives. 11. I have no use for their tables, formulae or schemes, rules and ways, for I have not learned from them, but I have another teacher or schoolmaster, which is the whole or total NATURE. 12. From that whole nature, together with its innate, instant birth or geniture, have I studied and learned my philosophy, astrology, and theology, and not from men, or by men. 13. But seeing men are gods, and have the knowledge of God the only Father, from whom they are proceeded or descended, and in whom they live, therefore I despise not the canons, rules and formulae of their philosophy, astrology, and theology: For I find, that for the most part they [the philosophers, etc.] stand upon a right ground, and I will diligently endeavour to go according to their rules and formulae. 14.* For I must needs say that their scheme of formulation is my master; from it I have the first elements of my knowledge, and it is not my purpose to controvert or amend their formulae (for I cannot do it, neither have I learned them), but rather leave them where they are. * A new translation of this par. has been substituted for Sparrow's rendering. 15. I will not, however, build upon their ground, but as a laborious, careful servant I will dig away the earth from the root, that thereby men may see the whole tree, with its root, stock, branches, twigs and fruits; and they may also see that my writing is no new thing, but that their philosophy and my philosophy are one body, one tree, bearing one and the same sort of fruit. 16. Neither have I any command to bring in complaints against them, to condemn them for anything, except for their wickedness and abominations, as pride, covetousness, envy and wrath, against which the spirit of nature complaineth very exceedingly, and not I: For what can I do, that am poor dust and ashes, also very weak, simple, and altogether unable? 17. Only the spirit sheweth thus much: that to them is delivered and entrusted the weighty talent, and the key; and they are drowned in the pleasures of the flesh, and have buried their weighty talent in the earth, and have lost the key in their proud drunkenness. 18. The spirit hath a long time waited on them, and importuned them that they would once open the door, for the clear day is at hand; yet they walk up and down in their drunkenness, seeking for the key, when they have it about them, though they know it not; and so they go up and down in their proud and covetous drunkenness, always seeking about like the country man for his horse, who all the while he went seeking for him was riding upon the back of that very horse he looked for. 19. Thereupon, saith the spirit of nature, seeing they will not awake from sleep and open the door, I will therefore do it myself. 20. What could I, poor, simple layman, teach
Now observe: 5. Now when upon the third day the fireflash rose up out of the light, which was shining in the sweet water, which flash is the bitter quality which generats itself out of the kindled terror or crack of fire in the water: 6. Then the whole nature of this world became springing, boiling and moving in the earth, as well as above the earth, and everywhere, and began to generate itself again in all things. 7. Out of the earth sprang up grass, herbs and trees; and in the earth, silver, gold, and all manner of ores came to be; and in the deep above the earth sprang up the wonderful forming of power and virtue. 8. But that you may understand what manner of substance and condition all these things and births or genitures have, I will describe all in order one after another, that you may rightly understand the ground of this Mystery. I will treat, 1. Of the earth. 2. Of the deep above the earth. 3. Of the incorporating or compacting of the bodies of the stars. 4. Of the seven chief qualities of the planets, and of their heart, which is the sun. 5. Of the four elements. 6. Of the outward comprehensible or palpable birth or geniture, which exists out of this whole regimen or dominion. 7. Of the wonderful proportion and fitness or dexterity of the whole wheel of nature. 9. Before this lookingglass 1 will now invite all lovers of the holy and highlytobeesteemed arts of philosophy, astrology, and theology, wherein I will lay open the root and ground of them. 10. Though I have not studied nor learned their arts, neither do I know how to go about to measure their circles; I take no great care about that. However, they will have so much to learn from hence, that many will not comprehend the ground thereof all the days of their lives. 11. I have no use for their tables, formulae or schemes, rules and ways, for I have not learned from them, but I have another teacher or schoolmaster, which is the whole or total NATURE. 12. From that whole nature, together with its innate, instant birth or geniture, have I studied and learned my philosophy, astrology, and theology, and not from men, or by men. 13. But seeing men are gods, and have the knowledge of God the only Father, from whom they are proceeded or descended, and in whom they live, therefore I despise not the canons, rules and formulae of their philosophy, astrology, and theology: For I find, that for the most part they [the philosophers, etc.] stand upon a right ground, and I will diligently endeavour to go according to their rules and formulae. 14.* For I must needs say that their scheme of formulation is my master; from it I have the first elements of my knowledge, and it is not my purpose to controvert or amend their formulae (for I cannot do it, neither have I learned them), but rather leave them where they are. * A new translation of this par. has been substituted for Sparrow's rendering. 15. I will not, however, build upon their ground, but as a laborious, careful servant I will dig away the earth from the root, that thereby men may see the whole tree, with its root, stock, branches, twigs and fruits; and they may also see that my writing is no new thing, but that their philosophy and my philosophy are one body, one tree, bearing one and the same sort of fruit. 16. Neither have I any command to bring in complaints against them, to condemn them for anything, except for their wickedness and abominations, as pride, covetousness, envy and wrath, against which the spirit of nature complains very exceedingly, and not I: For what can I do, that am poor dust and ashes, also very weak, simple, and altogether unable? 17. Only the spirit shows thus much: that to them is delivered and entrusted the weighty talent, and the key; and they are drowned in the pleasures of the flesh, and have buried their weighty talent in the earth, and have lost the key in their proud drunkenness. 18. The spirit has a long time waited on them, and importuned them that they would once open the door, for the clear day is at hand; yet they walk up and down in their drunkenness, seeking for the key, when they have it about them, though they know it not; and so they go up and down in their proud and covetous drunkenness, always seeking about like the country man for his horse, who all the while he went seeking for him was riding upon the back of that very horse he looked for. 19. Thereupon, says the spirit of nature, seeing they will not awake from sleep and open the door, I will therefore do it myself. 20. What could I, poor, simple layman, teach
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