of the others, but the Father generateth the Son, and the Son is the Father's heart, and his love and his light, and is an original of joy, and the beginning of all life. 79. And the Holy Ghost is the spirit of life, and a former, framer and creator of all things, and a performer of the will in God; that hath formed and created out of or from the body, and in the body of the Father, all angels and creatures, and holdeth and formeth all still, daily, and is the sharpness and the living spirit of God: As the Father speaketh or expresseth the Word, out of or from his powers, so the spirit formeth or frameth them. Of the great Simplicity of God. 80. Come on, brave Sir, upon thy brown nag! thou who ridest from heaven into hell, and from hell into death, and therein the sting of the devil lieth. View thyself here, thou worldlywise man, that art full of base wit, cunning, and subtle policy. 81. Take notice, ye worldlywise lawyers, if you will not come before this lookingglass, even before the bright and clear face of God, and view yourselves therein, then the spirit presenteth to you the birth or geniture in the innermost astrin gent circle; where wit, cunning and prudence are generated, where the sharpness of the anxious birth or geniture of God is, for there your prudence, cunning and deepreaching wit are generated. 82. Now if you will be gods, and not devils, then make use of the holy and meek law of God; if not, then you shall for ever eternally generate in the austere and severe birth or geniture of God. Thus saith the spirit, as the word of God, and not of my dead or mortal flesh. 83. Thou must know that I do not suck it out from the dead or mortal reason, but my spirit qualifieth, mixeth or uniteth with God, and proveth or searcheth the Deity, how it is in all its births or genitures in its taste and smell: And I find that the Deity is a very simple, pure, meek, loving and quiet being; and that the birth of the Ternary of God generateth itself very meekly, friendly, lovingly and unanimously, and the sharpness of the innermost birth can never elevate or swell itself into the meekness of the Ternary, but remaineth hidden in the deep. 84. And the sharpness in the hidden secrecy is called God's WRATH; and the being of meekness in the Ternary or Trinity is called GOD. Here nothing goeth out of, or forth from, the sharpness which perisheth, or which doth kindle the wrath, but the spirits play very gently one with another, like little children when they rejoice one with another, where every one hath his work, and so they play one with another, and lovingly caress one another. 85. In such a work also the holy angels exercise themselves; and in the Ternary of God there is a very meek, pleasant, and sweet being, where the spirit always elevateth itself in the tone [melody, music]; and one power moveth the other, as if there were a rising up of lovely song, and play upon stringed instruments. 86. And as is the rising up of the spirits in every place, so the tone also formeth itself, but very meekly, and incomprehensibly to the bodies of the angels, but very comprehensibly to the animated or soulish birth or geniture of angels: and as the Deity presenteth itself in each place, so the angels also present themselves: For the angels were created out of this being, and have among them their princes of the qualifying or fountain spirits of God, as these princes are in the birth or geniture of God. 87. Therefore as the being of God presents or sheweth forth itself in the birth or geniture, so do the angels also; and whatsoever be the power which at any time is predominant in the birth of God, and rejoiceth out of the heart of God in the Holy Ghost, the prince of that power in the angels beginneth his hymn of praise before all the others, and jubilateth with his host; now it is one, then the other; for the birth or geniture of God is like a wheel. 88. But when the heart of God sheweth forth itself with its clarity or brightness, then there riseth up the whole host or army of all the three kingdoms of the angels; and in this rising up of the heart of God the Man JESUS CHRIST is King and Chief. He leadeth the royal chorus or choir, with all the holy souls of men, till the Last Judgment Day. And then the holy men are perfect angels, and the wicked, perfect devils, and that in its eternity. 89. Here view thyself , thou witty, subtle world, and consider from whence thy prudence, subtlety and wit proceed. Now thou wilt say to me: 90. Dost not thou seek after deeper subtlety than we? Thou wilt [wishest to] climb into the most hidden secrets of God, which is not fit for any man to go about. We seek only after human prudence and subtlety, but thou wouldst be equal with God, and know all; how God is in every thing, both in heaven and in hell, in devils, angels and men. Therefore, sure it is not unlawful to seek for a cunning, sharp wit, and
of the others, but the Father generats the Son, and the Son is the Father's heart, and his love and his light, and is an original of joy, and the beginning of all life. 79. And the Holy Ghost is the spirit of life, and a former, framer and creator of all things, and a performer of the will in God; that has formed and created out of or from the body, and in the body of the Father, all angels and creatures, and holds and forms all still, daily, and is the sharpness and the living spirit of God: As the Father speaks or expresses the Word, out of or from his powers, so the spirit forms or frams them. Of the great Simplicity of God. 80. Come on, brave Sir, upon your brown nag! you who ridest from heaven into hell, and from hell into death, and therein the sting of the devil lies. View yourself here, you worldlywise man, that art full of base wit, cunning, and subtle policy. 81. Take notice, you worldlywise lawyers, if you will not come before this lookingglass, even before the bright and clear face of God, and view yourselves therein, then the spirit presents to you the birth or geniture in the innermost astrin gent circle; where wit, cunning and prudence are generated, where the sharpness of the anxious birth or geniture of God is, for there your prudence, cunning and deepreaching wit are generated. 82. Now if you will be gods, and not devils, then make use of the holy and meek law of God; if not, then you shall for ever eternally generate in the austere and severe birth or geniture of God. Thus says the spirit, as the word of God, and not of my dead or mortal flesh. 83. You must know that I do not suck it out from the dead or mortal reason, but my spirit qualifies, mixes or unites with God, and proves or searches the Deity, how it is in all its births or genitures in its taste and smell: And I find that the Deity is a very simple, pure, meek, loving and quiet being; and that the birth of the Ternary of God generats itself very meekly, friendly, lovingly and unanimously, and the sharpness of the innermost birth can never elevate or swell itself into the meekness of the Ternary, but remains hidden in the deep. 84. And the sharpness in the hidden secrecy is called God's WRATH; and the being of meekness in the Ternary or Trinity is called GOD. Here nothing goes out of, or forth from, the sharpness which perishes, or which does kindle the wrath, but the spirits play very gently one with another, like little children when they rejoice one with another, where every one has his work, and so they play one with another, and lovingly caress one another. 85. In such a work also the holy angels exercise themselves; and in the Ternary of God there is a very meek, pleasant, and sweet being, where the spirit always elevats itself in the tone [melody, music]; and one power moves the other, as if there were a rising up of lovely song, and play upon stringed instruments. 86. And as is the rising up of the spirits in every place, so the tone also forms itself, but very meekly, and incomprehensibly to the bodies of the angels, but very comprehensibly to the animated or soulish birth or geniture of angels: and as the Deity presents itself in each place, so the angels also present themselves: For the angels were created out of this being, and have among them their princes of the qualifying or fountain spirits of God, as these princes are in the birth or geniture of God. 87. Therefore as the being of God presents or shows forth itself in the birth or geniture, so do the angels also; and whatsoever be the power which at any time is predominant in the birth of God, and rejoics out of the heart of God in the Holy Ghost, the prince of that power in the angels beginns his hymn of praise before all the others, and jubilats with his host; now it is one, then the other; for the birth or geniture of God is like a wheel. 88. But when the heart of God shows forth itself with its clarity or brightness, then there rises up the whole host or army of all the three kingdoms of the angels; and in this rising up of the heart of God the Man JESUS CHRIST is King and Chief. He leads the royal chorus or choir, with all the holy souls of men, till the Last Judgment Day. And then the holy men are perfect angels, and the wicked, perfect devils, and that in its eternity. 89. Here view yourself , you witty, subtle world, and consider from whence your prudence, subtlety and wit proceed. Now you will say to me: 90. Dost not you seek after deeper subtlety than we? You will [wishest to] climb into the most hidden secrets of God, which is not fit for any man to go about. We seek only after human prudence and subtlety, but you would be equal with God, and know all; how God is in every thing, both in heaven and in hell, in devils, angels and men. Therefore, sure it is not unlawful to seek for a cunning, sharp wit, and
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