from eternity; and as to this depth, God himself knoweth not what he is: For he knoweth no beginning of himself, also he knoweth not anything that is like himself as also he knoweth no end of himself. 18. These seven generatings in all are none of them the first, the second, or the third, or last, but they are all seven, every one of them, both the first, second, third, fourth, and last. Yet I must set them down one after another, according to a creaturely way and manner, otherwise thou couldst not understand it: For the Deity is as a wheel with seven wheels made one in another, wherein a man seeth neither beginning nor end. Now observe: 19. I. First, there is the astringent quality, which is always generated from the other six spirits, which in itself is hard, cold, sharp like salt, and yet far sharper. For a creature cannot sufficiently apprehend its sharpness, seeing the sharpness is not singly and alone in a creature; but according to the manner and kind of the kindled hellish quality I know how it is: This astringent sharp quality attracteth or draweth together, and in the divine love holdeth or retaineth the forms and images, and so drieth them that they subsist or are fixed. 20. II. The second generating is the sweet water, which is also generated out of all the six spirits; for it is the meekness, which is generated out of the other six, and presseth itself forth in the astringent birth or geniture, and always kindleth again the astringent, and then quencheth and mitigateth it, that it be not too much astringent, as it might be in its own sharpness, if it were not for the water.
21. III. The third generating is the bitterness, which existeth out of the fire in the water; for it rubbeth and vexeth itself in the astringent and sharp coldness, and maketh the coldness moveable, from whence mobility existeth. 22. IV. The fourth generating is the fire, which existeth from the mobility or rubbing in the astringent spirit, and that is now a sharp burning, and the bitter is a stinging and raging. But when the firespirit rubbeth itself thus ragingly in the astringent coldness, then there is an anxious horrible quaking, a trembling, and a sharp, opposite, contentious generating. Observe here the Depth. 23. I speak here as to the kind and manner of the devil, as if the light of God had not yet kindled itself in these four kinds; and as if the Deity had a beginning; I can no other or nearer way offer it to your judgment, that you may understand it. 24. In this fourth rubbing is a very hard, and most horrible, sharp and fierce coldness, like a refined, melted, and very cold saltwater, which yet is not water, but such a hard kind of power and virtue that is like stones. 25. There is also therein a raging, raving, stinging and burning, and that water is continually as a dying man, when body and soul are parting asunder, a most horrible anxiety, a woeful, painful birth or geniture. 26. O Man! here consider thyself, here thou seest from whence the devil and his fierce, wrathful malice hath its original, as also God's wrath, and the hellish fire, also death and hell, and eternal damnation. Ye philosophers, observe that!
27. Now when these four generatings rub themselves one upon another, then heat gets the primacy and predominancy, and kindleth itself in the sweet water, and then instantly the light riseth up. Understand this rightly. 28. When the light kindleth itself, then the fireterror or crack cometh forth first. As when you strike upon a stone the firecrack is first, and then the light first conceiveth itself from the firecrack. 29. Now the firecrack in the water goeth through the astringent quality, and maketh it moveable, but the light generateth itself in the water, and becomes a shining light, and is an impalpable, meek, and most richly loving being, of which neither I nor any other creature can sufficiently write or speak, but I only stammer, like a child which would fain learn to speak. 30. That same light is generated in the midst or centre, out of these four species, out of the unctuosity or fatness of the sweet water, and replenisheth the whole body of this generating. But it is such a meek, pleasing, welldoing, good smelling and welltasting relish, that I know no similitude to liken it to, but where life is generated in the midst or centre of death; or as if a man did sit in a huge, scorching, hot, flaming fire, and were suddenly snatched out from thence, and set in such a very exceeding easy place of refreshment, where instantly all the smarting, scalding pains, which he felt afore by the burning of the fire, should suddenly pass away, and he be put into such a pleasing temper and soundness. Just so the generating of the four kinds or species are set or put into such a soft and meek welldoing and refreshment, as soon as the light riseth up in them. Thou must understand me here aright.
from eternity; and as to this depth, God himself knows not what he is: For he knows no beginning of himself, also he knows not anything that is like himself as also he knows no end of himself. 18. These seven generatings in all are none of them the first, the second, or the third, or last, but they are all seven, every one of them, both the first, second, third, fourth, and last. Yet I must set them down one after another, according to a creaturely way and manner, otherwise you could not understand it: For the Deity is as a wheel with seven wheels made one in another, wherein a man sees neither beginning nor end. Now observe: 19. I. First, there is the astringent quality, which is always generated from the other six spirits, which in itself is hard, cold, sharp like salt, and yet far sharper. For a creature cannot sufficiently apprehend its sharpness, seeing the sharpness is not singly and alone in a creature; but according to the manner and kind of the kindled hellish quality I know how it is: This astringent sharp quality attracts or draws together, and in the divine love holds or retains the forms and images, and so dries them that they subsist or are fixed. 20. II. The second generating is the sweet water, which is also generated out of all the six spirits; for it is the meekness, which is generated out of the other six, and presses itself forth in the astringent birth or geniture, and always kindls again the astringent, and then quenches and mitigats it, that it be not too much astringent, as it might be in its own sharpness, if it were not for the water.
21. III. The third generating is the bitterness, which exists out of the fire in the water; for it rubbs and vexes itself in the astringent and sharp coldness, and makes the coldness moveable, from whence mobility exists. 22. IV. The fourth generating is the fire, which exists from the mobility or rubbing in the astringent spirit, and that is now a sharp burning, and the bitter is a stinging and raging. But when the firespirit rubbs itself thus ragingly in the astringent coldness, then there is an anxious horrible quaking, a trembling, and a sharp, opposite, contentious generating. Observe here the Depth. 23. I speak here as to the kind and manner of the devil, as if the light of God had not yet kindled itself in these four kinds; and as if the Deity had a beginning; I can no other or nearer way offer it to your judgment, that you may understand it. 24. In this fourth rubbing is a very hard, and most horrible, sharp and fierce coldness, like a refined, melted, and very cold saltwater, which yet is not water, but such a hard kind of power and virtue that is like stones. 25. There is also therein a raging, raving, stinging and burning, and that water is continually as a dying man, when body and soul are parting asunder, a most horrible anxiety, a woeful, painful birth or geniture. 26. O Man! here consider yourself, here you seest from whence the devil and his fierce, wrathful malice has its original, as also God's wrath, and the hellish fire, also death and hell, and eternal damnation. You philosophers, observe that!
27. Now when these four generatings rub themselves one upon another, then heat gets the primacy and predominancy, and kindls itself in the sweet water, and then instantly the light rises up. Understand this rightly. 28. When the light kindls itself, then the fireterror or crack comes forth first. As when you strike upon a stone the firecrack is first, and then the light first conceives itself from the firecrack. 29. Now the firecrack in the water goes through the astringent quality, and makes it moveable, but the light generats itself in the water, and becomes a shining light, and is an impalpable, meek, and most richly loving being, of which neither I nor any other creature can sufficiently write or speak, but I only stammer, like a child which would fain learn to speak. 30. That same light is generated in the midst or centre, out of these four species, out of the unctuosity or fatness of the sweet water, and replenishes the whole body of this generating. But it is such a meek, pleasing, welldoing, good smelling and welltasting relish, that I know no similitude to liken it to, but where life is generated in the midst or centre of death; or as if a man did sit in a huge, scorching, hot, flaming fire, and were suddenly snatched out from thence, and set in such a very exceeding easy place of refreshment, where instantly all the smarting, scalding pains, which he felt afore by the burning of the fire, should suddenly pass away, and he be put into such a pleasing temper and soundness. Just so the generating of the four kinds or species are set or put into such a soft and meek welldoing and refreshment, as soon as the light rises up in them. You must understand me here aright.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.