the [particular] virtue of nature, out of which they had gotten their first beginning, shall subsist in God eternally. 28. But here thou must elevate thy mind in the spirit, and consider how the whole nature, with all the powers which are in nature, also the wideness, depth and height, also heaven and earth, and all whatsoever is therein, and all that is above the heavens, is together the body or corporeity of God; and the powers of the stars are the fountain veins in the natural body of God in this world. 29. Thou must not conceive that in the body of the stars is the triumphing Holy Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in which there is no evil, for it is the lightholy, eternal fountain of joy, which is indivisible and unchangeable, which no creature can sufficiently apprehend or express; which dwelleth and is above the body of the stars in itself, whose depth no creature is able to measure or fathom. 30. But we must not so conceive as if God were not at all in the corpus or body of the stars, and in this world: For when we say, ALL, or from eternity to eternity, or All in All, then we understand the entire GOD. 31. For a similitude or example take man, who is made after the image or similitude of God, as it is written [Gen. i. 27]. 32. The interior or hollowness in the body of man is, and signifieth, the deep between the stars and the earth. 33. The whole body with all its parts signifieth heaven and earth.
34. The flesh signifieth the earth, and is also from earth. 35. The blood signifieth the water, and is from the water. 36. The breath signifieth the air, and is also air. 37. The windpipe and arteries* wherein the air qualifieth or operateth, signify the deep between the stars and the earth, wherein fire, air and water qualify in an elementary manner, and so the warmth, the air, and water, qualify also in the windpipe and arteries, as they do in the deep above the earth. * "The windpipe and arteries." Curiously enough, the original has here the word "Blase" bladder, which St M. has rendered literally. It is, however, clear from the context that J. B. meant the breathing organs, and used the word Blase on account of its likeness to the verb " blasen," to blow. 38. The veins signify the powerful flowings out + from the stars, and are also the powerful outgoings of the stars; for the stars with their powers reign in the veins, and drive forth the form, shape and condition in men. + "powerful flowings out" (Kraftgänge), or "powerful currents," or again, "passages." The German word applies both to the "flowing" and to the channel for the same. 39. The entrails or guts signify the operation of the stars, or their consuming of all that which is proceeded from their power, for whatsoever they themselves have made that they consume again, and remain still in their virtue and power; and so the guts also are the consuming of all that which man thrusteth and stuffeth into his guts, even all whatsoever groweth from the power of the stars. 40. The heart in man signifieth the heat or the element of fire, and it is also the heat; for the heat in the whole body hath its original in the heart. 41. The windpipe and arteries signify the element of air, and the air ruleth also therein. 42. The liver signifieth the element of water, and it is also the water; for from the liver cometh the blood in the whole body into all the members. The liver is the mother of the blood. 43. The lungs signify the earth, and are also of the same quality. 44. The feet signify near and afar off; for near and afar off are all one in God: And so man by means of his feet can come and go near and far off; let him be where he will, he is in nature neither near nor afar off; for in God these are one thing. 45. The hands signify God's omnipotence; for as God in nature can change all things, and make of them what he pleaseth, so man also can with his hands change all things which grow in or proceed from nature, and can make with his hands out of them what he pleaseth: He ruleth with his hands the work and being of the whole nature, and so they very well signify the omnipotence of God. Now observe here further, 46. The whole body to the neck signifieth and is the round circle or sphere of the stars, as also the deep within or between the stars, wherein the
the [particular] virtue of nature, out of which they had gotten their first beginning, shall subsist in God eternally. 28. But here you must elevate your mind in the spirit, and consider how the whole nature, with all the powers which are in nature, also the wideness, depth and height, also heaven and earth, and all whatsoever is therein, and all that is above the heavens, is together the body or corporeity of God; and the powers of the stars are the fountain veins in the natural body of God in this world. 29. You must not conceive that in the body of the stars is the triumphing Holy Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in which there is no evil, for it is the lightholy, eternal fountain of joy, which is indivisible and unchangeable, which no creature can sufficiently apprehend or express; which dwells and is above the body of the stars in itself, whose depth no creature is able to measure or fathom. 30. But we must not so conceive as if God were not at all in the corpus or body of the stars, and in this world: For when we say, ALL, or from eternity to eternity, or All in All, then we understand the entire GOD. 31. For a similitude or example take man, who is made after the image or similitude of God, as it is written [Gen. i. 27]. 32. The interior or hollowness in the body of man is, and signifies, the deep between the stars and the earth. 33. The whole body with all its parts signifies heaven and earth.
34. The flesh signifies the earth, and is also from earth. 35. The blood signifies the water, and is from the water. 36. The breath signifies the air, and is also air. 37. The windpipe and arteries* wherein the air qualifies or operats, signify the deep between the stars and the earth, wherein fire, air and water qualify in an elementary manner, and so the warmth, the air, and water, qualify also in the windpipe and arteries, as they do in the deep above the earth. * "The windpipe and arteries." Curiously enough, the original has here the word "Blase" bladder, which St M. has rendered literally. It is, however, clear from the context that J. B. meant the breathing organs, and used the word Blase on account of its likeness to the verb " blasen," to blow. 38. The veins signify the powerful flowings out + from the stars, and are also the powerful outgoings of the stars; for the stars with their powers reign in the veins, and drive forth the form, shape and condition in men. + "powerful flowings out" (Kraftgänge), or "powerful currents," or again, "passages." The German word applies both to the "flowing" and to the channel for the same. 39. The entrails or guts signify the operation of the stars, or their consuming of all that which is proceeded from their power, for whatsoever they themselves have made that they consume again, and remain still in their virtue and power; and so the guts also are the consuming of all that which man thrusts and stuffs into his guts, even all whatsoever grows from the power of the stars. 40. The heart in man signifies the heat or the element of fire, and it is also the heat; for the heat in the whole body has its original in the heart. 41. The windpipe and arteries signify the element of air, and the air ruls also therein. 42. The liver signifies the element of water, and it is also the water; for from the liver comes the blood in the whole body into all the members. The liver is the mother of the blood. 43. The lungs signify the earth, and are also of the same quality. 44. The feet signify near and afar off; for near and afar off are all one in God: And so man by means of his feet can come and go near and far off; let him be where he will, he is in nature neither near nor afar off; for in God these are one thing. 45. The hands signify God's omnipotence; for as God in nature can change all things, and make of them what he pleases, so man also can with his hands change all things which grow in or proceed from nature, and can make with his hands out of them what he pleases: He ruls with his hands the work and being of the whole nature, and so they very well signify the omnipotence of God. Now observe here further, 46. The whole body to the neck signifies and is the round circle or sphere of the stars, as also the deep within or between the stars, wherein the
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