other qualities. 106. For example: If the sweet quality hath the predominance thou canst kindle all things in this world, and so make them burn and give light, but where the other qualities are predominant thou canst kindle nothing; for though thou mayest bring heat into a thing yet thou canst not bring the spirit into it, to make it give light. Therefore all qualities are the children of the sweet quality, or of the sweet water, because the spirit riseth up only in the water. 107. Art thou a rational man, in whom is the spirit and understanding? then look all about in the world, for there thou wilt find it thus. 108. Thou canst kindle wood that it give light, for the water is chief upper regent, or predominant therein; so likewise in all sorts of herbs on earth, wherein the sweet water is predominant. 109. Thou canst not kindle light in a stone, because the astringent or harsh quality is chief or predominant therein: neither canst thou kindle light in earth, unless the other qualities be first vanquished and boiled out of it, which is seen in gunpowder; yet this light is but a flash or a spirit of terror, wherein the devil in the anger of God representeth himself, which I will describe and demonstrate more largely in another place. Objection. 110. But thou wilt say that a man cannot kindle the water to make it give light. Answer. 111. Yes, dear man, here lieth or sticketh the Mystery. The wood which thou kindlest is not very fire, but a dark or opaque stock, still the fire and light take their original from thence. 112. But thou must understand this concerning the sweet quality of the water, and not concerning the stick or block; but it is to be understood concerning the unctuosity [oiliness] or fatness which is the spirit therein. 113. Now in the elementary water on earth the sweetness is not the chief or upper regent, but the astringent, bitter and sour quality; else the water were not mortal, but were as that water is out of which heaven is created. 114. That I will demonstrate to thee thus, viz. that the astringent, sour and bitter quality is predominant in the elementary water on earth. 115. Take rye, wheat, barley, oats, or what you will, wherein the sweet quality is predominant, soak or steep it in the elementary water, afterwards distil it, then the sweet quality will take away the predominancy from the others; and afterwards kindle that water, and then you will see the spirit which is remaining in the water of the unctuosness or fatness of the corn, which overcame the water. 116. This thou seest also in flesh: The flesh neither burneth nor shineth nor giveth light, but its fat burneth and shineth or giveth light. Question. 117. Thou mayest perhaps ask, How comes that to pass, or in what manner is it so? Answer. 118. Behold, in flesh the astringent or sour, and the bitter qualities are predominant; and in the fat the sweetness is chief and predominant; therefore fat creatures are always merrier and frolicker than the lean, because the sweet spirit floweth more abundantly in them than in the lean. 119. For the light of nature, which is the spirit of life, shineth more in them than in the lean: For in that light in the sweet quality standeth the triumphing or the joy, for the astringent or harsh and bitter qualities triumph therein, for they rejoice that they are refreshed, fed, given to drink and enlightened from the sweet and light quality. 120. For in the astringent or harsh quality there is no life, but an astringent, cold, hard death; and in the bitter quality there is no light, but a dark, bitter and raging pain, a house of trembling, horror, and fierce, wrathful, fearful misery. 121. Therefore when they are guests feasting at the sweet and light quality, then are they affected, and pleasant, very joyful and triumphing in the creature. 122. Therefore no lean creature is merry, unless it be that heat is predominant therein: That is, though it be lean, and hath little of the fat or oil in it, yet perhaps sweetness is very abundant there. 123. On the other side, many creatures have much fatness, and yet are very melancholy or sad, which is because their fatness is inclined to the condition of the elementary water, wherein the astringent or harsh, and bitter qualities are somewhat strong.
other qualities. 106. For example: If the sweet quality has the predominance you can kindle all things in this world, and so make them burn and give light, but where the other qualities are predominant you can kindle nothing; for though you may bring heat into a thing yet you can not bring the spirit into it, to make it give light. Therefore all qualities are the children of the sweet quality, or of the sweet water, because the spirit rises up only in the water. 107. Art you a rational man, in whom is the spirit and understanding? then look all about in the world, for there you will find it thus. 108. You can kindle wood that it give light, for the water is chief upper regent, or predominant therein; so likewise in all sorts of herbs on earth, wherein the sweet water is predominant. 109. You can not kindle light in a stone, because the astringent or harsh quality is chief or predominant therein: neither can you kindle light in earth, unless the other qualities be first vanquished and boiled out of it, which is seen in gunpowder; yet this light is but a flash or a spirit of terror, wherein the devil in the anger of God represents himself, which I will describe and demonstrate more largely in another place. Objection. 110. But you will say that a man cannot kindle the water to make it give light. Answer. 111. Yes, dear man, here lies or sticks the Mystery. The wood which you kindlest is not very fire, but a dark or opaque stock, still the fire and light take their original from thence. 112. But you must understand this concerning the sweet quality of the water, and not concerning the stick or block; but it is to be understood concerning the unctuosity [oiliness] or fatness which is the spirit therein. 113. Now in the elementary water on earth the sweetness is not the chief or upper regent, but the astringent, bitter and sour quality; else the water were not mortal, but were as that water is out of which heaven is created. 114. That I will demonstrate to you thus, viz. that the astringent, sour and bitter quality is predominant in the elementary water on earth. 115. Take rye, wheat, barley, oats, or what you will, wherein the sweet quality is predominant, soak or steep it in the elementary water, afterwards distil it, then the sweet quality will take away the predominancy from the others; and afterwards kindle that water, and then you will see the spirit which is remaining in the water of the unctuosness or fatness of the corn, which overcame the water. 116. This you seest also in flesh: The flesh neither burns nor shines nor gives light, but its fat burns and shines or gives light. Question. 117. You may perhaps ask, How comes that to pass, or in what manner is it so? Answer. 118. Behold, in flesh the astringent or sour, and the bitter qualities are predominant; and in the fat the sweetness is chief and predominant; therefore fat creatures are always merrier and frolicker than the lean, because the sweet spirit flows more abundantly in them than in the lean. 119. For the light of nature, which is the spirit of life, shines more in them than in the lean: For in that light in the sweet quality stands the triumphing or the joy, for the astringent or harsh and bitter qualities triumph therein, for they rejoice that they are refreshed, fed, given to drink and enlightened from the sweet and light quality. 120. For in the astringent or harsh quality there is no life, but an astringent, cold, hard death; and in the bitter quality there is no light, but a dark, bitter and raging pain, a house of trembling, horror, and fierce, wrathful, fearful misery. 121. Therefore when they are guests feasting at the sweet and light quality, then are they affected, and pleasant, very joyful and triumphing in the creature. 122. Therefore no lean creature is merry, unless it be that heat is predominant therein: That is, though it be lean, and has little of the fat or oil in it, yet perhaps sweetness is very abundant there. 123. On the other side, many creatures have much fatness, and yet are very melancholy or sad, which is because their fatness is inclined to the condition of the elementary water, wherein the astringent or harsh, and bitter qualities are somewhat strong.
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