flash of light kindleth itself, wherein the spirit in its rising up, in the same flash, seeth through all the spirits. 38. But in our corrupted flesh it [the rising up] is only like a tempest of lightning: for if I could in my flesh comprehend the flash (which I very well see and know how it is), I could clarify or transfigure my body therewith, so that it would shine with a bright light and glory. [" For from the flash cometh the light of the " Majesty."'] And then it would no more resemble and be conformed to the bestial body, but to the angels of God. 39. But hearken, Friend, tarry yet a little while, and then give the bestial body for food to the worms: But when the total God shall kindle the seven spirits of God in the corrupted earth, then, if that same Salitter which thou sowest in the earth will not be capable of the fire, then thy qualifying or fountain spirits, which thou didst sow in thy lifetime, and which are sown in thy departure from hence, will rise again in the same Salitter which thou hast sown, and will triumph therein, and become a body again. 40. But he that will be capable of the kindled fire of the seven spirits of God, he shall abide therein, and his qualifying or fountain spirits shall rise in hellish pain, which I shall demonstrate clearly in its due place. 41. I cannot describe unto thee the whole Deity by the circumference or extent of a circle, for it is immeasurable; but to that spirit which is in God's love it is not incomprehensible: That spirit comprehends it well, yet but in part; therefore take one part after another, and then you will see the whole.*
* See Cont of this B., par. 39 et seq., and Ch. 21, par. 66. 42. In this corruption we cannot get higher than with such a revelation, ** neither doth this world enclose itself any higher, both as to the beginning and the end. ** "In this corruption we cannot get higher than with such a revelation." That is, man can get no higher knowledge of the whole Deity, or of this world as to its beginning and end, than is vouchsafed to him as a revelation by the spirit that is in God's love. "I cannot describe unto thee... the immeasurable, but that spirit which is in God's love... comprehends it well, but only piecemeal, part by part (aber nur stückweise); therefore take one part after another, and then you will see the whole" (par. 41). [43. " I would very fain see somewhat higher " in this my anxious generating or birth, whereby " my sick Adam might be refreshed. 44. "But I look round about me in all the " world, and can find out nothing; all is sick, " lame and wounded: moreover, blind, deaf and " dumb "]. * * In Sparrow's translation, and also in the German ed. of 1656, these pars, are treated as part of J. B.'s original text, but Gichtel, in the 1682 ed., prints them as additions by J. B. in 1620. 45. I have read the writings of very high masters, hoping to find therein the ground and true depth; but I have found nothing, but a half dead spirit, which in anxiety travaileth* and laboureth for health, and yet, because of its great weakness, cannot attain perfect power. * "in anxiety travaileth." Sparrow invariably uses the later spelling, " travelleth." The German reads, " sich ängstet,"
" anxiously labours," i.e. frets or worries itself. 46. Thus I stand yet as an anxious woman in travail, and seek perfect refreshing, but find only the scent or smell or savour in its rising up, wherein the spirit examineth what power sticketh in the true cordial, and in the meanwhile refresheth itself in its sickness with that perfect smell or savour, till the true Samaritan doth come, who will dress and bind up its wounds and heal it, and bring it to the eternal inn or lodging, then shall it enjoy the perfect taste. 47. This herb, which I mean here, from whose fragrancy my spirit taketh its refreshing, every country ploughman doth not know it, nor every doctor, the one is as ignorant of it as the other; it groweth indeed in every garden, but in many it is quite spoiled and bad: for the quality of the soil or ground is in fault. And therefore men do not know it, nay the children of this Mystery do hardly know it; although this knowledge hath been very rare, dear and precious, from the beginning of the world to this time. 48. Though in many men a source or fountain and quality hath risen up, but then suddenly pride pressed after it, and spoiled all; whereupon it [pride] was loath to write it down in its mothertongue; it supposed that was too childish a thing to do, it must shew it in a deeper language, that the world should see that it is manly; and for its advantage it kept it [the source or fountain and quality] in secret, and daubed it with deep strange names, that men might not know it; such a beast is the devil's disease of pride. 49. But hear, thou simple mother, who bringest all the children into this world, who afterwards in their rising up are ashamed of thee and despise thee, and yet are thy children whom thou hast
flash of light kindls itself, wherein the spirit in its rising up, in the same flash, sees through all the spirits. 38. But in our corrupted flesh it [the rising up] is only like a tempest of lightning: for if I could in my flesh comprehend the flash (which I very well see and know how it is), I could clarify or transfigure my body therewith, so that it would shine with a bright light and glory. [" For from the flash comes the light of the " Majesty."'] And then it would no more resemble and be conformed to the bestial body, but to the angels of God. 39. But hearken, Friend, tarry yet a little while, and then give the bestial body for food to the worms: But when the total God shall kindle the seven spirits of God in the corrupted earth, then, if that same Salitter which you sowest in the earth will not be capable of the fire, then your qualifying or fountain spirits, which you did sow in your lifetime, and which are sown in your departure from hence, will rise again in the same Salitter which you have sown, and will triumph therein, and become a body again. 40. But he that will be capable of the kindled fire of the seven spirits of God, he shall abide therein, and his qualifying or fountain spirits shall rise in hellish pain, which I shall demonstrate clearly in its due place. 41. I cannot describe unto you the whole Deity by the circumference or extent of a circle, for it is immeasurable; but to that spirit which is in God's love it is not incomprehensible: That spirit comprehends it well, yet but in part; therefore take one part after another, and then you will see the whole.*
* See Cont of this B., par. 39 et seq., and Ch. 21, par. 66. 42. In this corruption we cannot get higher than with such a revelation, ** neither does this world enclose itself any higher, both as to the beginning and the end. ** "In this corruption we cannot get higher than with such a revelation." That is, man can get no higher knowledge of the whole Deity, or of this world as to its beginning and end, than is vouchsafed to him as a revelation by the spirit that is in God's love. "I cannot describe unto you... the immeasurable, but that spirit which is in God's love... comprehends it well, but only piecemeal, part by part (aber nur stückweise); therefore take one part after another, and then you will see the whole" (par. 41). [43. " I would very fain see somewhat higher " in this my anxious generating or birth, whereby " my sick Adam might be refreshed. 44. "But I look round about me in all the " world, and can find out nothing; all is sick, " lame and wounded: moreover, blind, deaf and " dumb "]. * * In Sparrow's translation, and also in the German ed. of 1656, these pars, are treated as part of J. B.'s original text, but Gichtel, in the 1682 ed., prints them as additions by J. B. in 1620. 45. I have read the writings of very high masters, hoping to find therein the ground and true depth; but I have found nothing, but a half dead spirit, which in anxiety travails* and labours for health, and yet, because of its great weakness, cannot attain perfect power. * "in anxiety travails." Sparrow invariably uses the later spelling, " travells." The German reads, " sich ängstet,"
" anxiously labours," i.e. frets or worries itself. 46. Thus I stand yet as an anxious woman in travail, and seek perfect refreshing, but find only the scent or smell or savour in its rising up, wherein the spirit examines what power sticks in the true cordial, and in the meanwhile refreshes itself in its sickness with that perfect smell or savour, till the true Samaritan does come, who will dress and bind up its wounds and heal it, and bring it to the eternal inn or lodging, then shall it enjoy the perfect taste. 47. This herb, which I mean here, from whose fragrancy my spirit takes its refreshing, every country ploughman does not know it, nor every doctor, the one is as ignorant of it as the other; it grows indeed in every garden, but in many it is quite spoiled and bad: for the quality of the soil or ground is in fault. And therefore men do not know it, nay the children of this Mystery do hardly know it; although this knowledge has been very rare, dear and precious, from the beginning of the world to this time. 48. Though in many men a source or fountain and quality has risen up, but then suddenly pride pressed after it, and spoiled all; whereupon it [pride] was loath to write it down in its mothertongue; it supposed that was too childish a thing to do, it must show it in a deeper language, that the world should see that it is manly; and for its advantage it kept it [the source or fountain and quality] in secret, and daubed it with deep strange names, that men might not know it; such a beast is the devil's disease of pride. 49. But hear, you simple mother, who bring all the children into this world, who afterwards in their rising up are ashamed of you and despise you, and yet are your children whom you have
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