from the other six qualifying or fountain spirits, wherein the qualifying or fountain spirits generate themselves again, and shew forth them selves infinitely, wherein forms and images rise up, and wherein the heart of God, or the holy clear Deity in the middle or central seat, generateth itself above nature, in that centre wherein the light of life riseth up. 50. But now in man's body, in the government or dominion of the birth or geniture, there are three several things, each of them being distinct, and yet they are not divided asunder one from another; but all three together are one only man, after the kind and manner of the Ternary or Trinity in the divine being [or essence]. 51. The flesh is not the life, but is a dead, inanimate being, which, when the government or dominion of the spirit ceaseth to qualify or operate therein, soon becometh a dead carcass, and putrefieth and turneth to dust or ashes. 52. But now no spirit can subsist in its perfection without a body, for as soon as it departeth from the body it loseth its government or dominion. For the body is the mother of the spirit, in which the spirit is generated, and in which it receiveth its strength and power. The spirit is and remaineth a spirit when it is separated and departed from the body, but it loseth its rule, dominion or government. 53. These three dominions or regimens are the whole man, together with flesh and spirit; and they have severally, for their beginning and dominion or government, a sevenfold form, after the kind and manner of the seven spirits of God, or of the seven planets.
54. Now as the dominion or government of God's eternal, beginningless, infinite birth or geniture is, so also is the beginning and rising or springing up of the seven planets and the stars; and just so also is the rising or springing up of mans life. Now observe: 55. When thou mindest, thinkest and considerest what there is in this world, and what there is without, besides or distinct from this world, or what the essence of all beings is, then thou speculatest, contemplatest, meditatest in the whole body of God, who is the essence of all beings; and that is a beginningless, infinite being. 56. But it hath in its own seat no mobility, rationality or comprehensibility, but is a dark deep, which hath neither beginning nor end. In the dark deep is neither thick nor thin, opaque nor transparent, but it is a dark chamber of death, where nothing is perceived, neither cold nor warmth, for it is the end of all things. 57. This, now, is the body of the deep, or the very real chamber of death. 58. But in this dark valley there are the seven spirits of God, which have neither beginning nor end, and the one is neither the first, second, third or last. 59. In these seven dominions or regimens the regimen divideth itself into three distinct beings, where the one is not without the other, nor can they be divided the one from the other. But those seven spirits do each of them generate one another, from eternity to eternity.
60. The first dominion or regimen standeth or consisteth in the body of all things, that is, in the whole deep, or the being or essence of all beings or essences, which hath, in all corners and places thereof, in itself the seven spirits in possession, or in propriety indivisibly, or irresistibly, for its proper own. 61. Now if these seven spirits in any one place wrestle not triumphingly, then in that place there is no mobility, but a deep darkness; and although the spirits are perfect in that place, yet that place is a dark house; as you may perceive and understand by a dark cave or room close shut up, in which the kindled spirits of the planets and stars cannot kindle the elements. 62. But now the root of the seven spirits is everywhere all over, but when there is no wrestling, then it standeth still and quiet, and no mobility is perceived. 63. And such a house is the whole deep without, within, and above all heavens; which house is called the Eternity. And such a house also is the house of flesh in man, and in all creatures. 64. And this being, together,* comprehendeth the eternity, which is not called God, but the unalmighty body of nature, wherein, indeed, the Deity is immortal or not dead, but standing hidden in the kernel of the seven spirits; and yet not comprehended or understood.** * "And this being, together." "Together" is a literal rendering of the German. St M. has used, "entier," "in its wholeness." ** " and yet not comprehended or understood." The idea is that the " kernel of the seven spirits" does not comprehend
from the other six qualifying or fountain spirits, wherein the qualifying or fountain spirits generate themselves again, and show forth them selves infinitely, wherein forms and images rise up, and wherein the heart of God, or the holy clear Deity in the middle or central seat, generats itself above nature, in that centre wherein the light of life rises up. 50. But now in man's body, in the government or dominion of the birth or geniture, there are three several things, each of them being distinct, and yet they are not divided asunder one from another; but all three together are one only man, after the kind and manner of the Ternary or Trinity in the divine being [or essence]. 51. The flesh is not the life, but is a dead, inanimate being, which, when the government or dominion of the spirit ceases to qualify or operate therein, soon becomes a dead carcass, and putrefies and turns to dust or ashes. 52. But now no spirit can subsist in its perfection without a body, for as soon as it departs from the body it loses its government or dominion. For the body is the mother of the spirit, in which the spirit is generated, and in which it receives its strength and power. The spirit is and remains a spirit when it is separated and departed from the body, but it loses its rule, dominion or government. 53. These three dominions or regimens are the whole man, together with flesh and spirit; and they have severally, for their beginning and dominion or government, a sevenfold form, after the kind and manner of the seven spirits of God, or of the seven planets.
54. Now as the dominion or government of God's eternal, beginningless, infinite birth or geniture is, so also is the beginning and rising or springing up of the seven planets and the stars; and just so also is the rising or springing up of mans life. Now observe: 55. When you mindest, think and considerest what there is in this world, and what there is without, besides or distinct from this world, or what the essence of all beings is, then you speculatest, contemplatest, meditatest in the whole body of God, who is the essence of all beings; and that is a beginningless, infinite being. 56. But it has in its own seat no mobility, rationality or comprehensibility, but is a dark deep, which has neither beginning nor end. In the dark deep is neither thick nor thin, opaque nor transparent, but it is a dark chamber of death, where nothing is perceived, neither cold nor warmth, for it is the end of all things. 57. This, now, is the body of the deep, or the very real chamber of death. 58. But in this dark valley there are the seven spirits of God, which have neither beginning nor end, and the one is neither the first, second, third or last. 59. In these seven dominions or regimens the regimen divids itself into three distinct beings, where the one is not without the other, nor can they be divided the one from the other. But those seven spirits do each of them generate one another, from eternity to eternity.
60. The first dominion or regimen stands or consists in the body of all things, that is, in the whole deep, or the being or essence of all beings or essences, which has, in all corners and places thereof, in itself the seven spirits in possession, or in propriety indivisibly, or irresistibly, for its proper own. 61. Now if these seven spirits in any one place wrestle not triumphingly, then in that place there is no mobility, but a deep darkness; and although the spirits are perfect in that place, yet that place is a dark house; as you may perceive and understand by a dark cave or room close shut up, in which the kindled spirits of the planets and stars cannot kindle the elements. 62. But now the root of the seven spirits is everywhere all over, but when there is no wrestling, then it stands still and quiet, and no mobility is perceived. 63. And such a house is the whole deep without, within, and above all heavens; which house is called the Eternity. And such a house also is the house of flesh in man, and in all creatures. 64. And this being, together,* comprehends the eternity, which is not called God, but the unalmighty body of nature, wherein, indeed, the Deity is immortal or not dead, but standing hidden in the kernel of the seven spirits; and yet not comprehended or understood.** * "And this being, together." "Together" is a literal rendering of the German. St M. has used, "entier," "in its wholeness." ** " and yet not comprehended or understood." The idea is that the " kernel of the seven spirits" does not comprehend
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