Number Three [or Trinity], is numbered to thrice four- andtwenty, (as indeed the Number Three doth manifest itself in three kingdoms and persons, and according to the Number Three all is threefold, but according to the creatures all is twofold), then the sum is seventy-two in number, which signify, and are, the seventy-two languages, which signify Babel, a confusion and wonder.
79. If we should go on here, we should shew you the whore and the beast, which the Revelation speaketh of, and moreover all the wonders which have been since the world began: The greatest secret lieth herein, and is called Mysterium Magnum, the Great Mystery, and all the controversies in matters of religion and faith arise from hence, and all willing, evil and good.
80. The Seven Spirits, wherein the Son of Man consisteth, in the Revelation, are the seven spirits of nature; one of them is the kingdom, and the six are the centre of nature, / viz. the] heavenly: if this be set down according to the human number, it maketh the number twelve, and according to the two kingdoms, viz. the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this world, out of which the faithful are generated, then there are four-and-twenty spirits, which are the Elders before the throne of God, who worship God, and the slain Lamb: consider it well.
81. We further intimate, concerning this world's centre of nature, thus: The birth of life windeth itself like a wheel inwards into itself, and when it cometh to the innermost point, then it attaineth the Liberty, yet not [the Liberty] of God, but only the tincture out of which the life burneth.
82. For that which will catch hold of God must pass through the fire; for no substantiality reacheth God, unless it subsist in the fire: understand in a peculiar fire: If that should kindle, the world would melt away. We mean not the fire of the out-birth, which is no fire, but only a sharp fierceness, which consumeth the outward substantiality which springeth from the water, viz. wood and flesh, but doth not stir the inward fire in stone.
83. Therefore observe it; the Liberty, without the nature of this world, is only the eternity without substance. Now, as the eternal centre generateth itself out of the desiring of the eternal willing, as is mentioned before; so hath also the other centre of the Third Principle, (through the Word Fiat in the out-birth, out of the eternal,) generated itself [in like manner] .
84. For from the first creation of the first day, the outward centre of nature had wound itself thrice about, (understand before the sun and stars were corporeally created), and had attained six forms, three superior, and three inferior; and there are always twelve of them that belong to one form of the centre, where there is always a sign; understand, the signs [of the zodiac] in the eighth sphere (in the crown).
85. Saturn, with his harsh, strong, attracting and cold, is one form and spirit in the centre, which shutteth up the abyss, and maketh darkness in the deep, and attracteth the substantiality of the outward power of this principle, and the centre windeth about like a wheel; and that which is concrete standeth over against Saturn, as in a wheel, and is called Mond [the Moon] in respect of its property, which would be too large to set down in writing.
86. Then the wheel windeth further inwards into itself, and maketh Jupiter: For Saturn, with its attracting, desireth the Liberty of the divine substance, but he maketh Him [the brain] ; for it catcheth with its desire the power of the Liberty, and not the Liberty of the divine Majesty itself which is without substance.
87. But because there is understanding in the power, and yet the power cannot in its own might awaken the understanding, therefore Jupiter desireth a life in the power, and that is about on the wheel Mercury: for the wheel is always winding about, and Mercury is a stirrer, a maker of a sound and a noise, and yet hath not the life, for that existeth in the fire; and therefore it desireth the fierce stormy turbulency, which striketh up the fire; and that about on the wheel is Mars, which is a rager, stormer, and striker up of the fire.
Number Three [or Trinity], is numbered to thrice four- andtwenty, (as indeed the Number Three does manifest itself in three kingdoms and persons, and according to the Number Three all is threefold, but according to the creatures all is twofold), then the sum is seventy-two in number, which signify, and are, the seventy-two languages, which signify Babel, a confusion and wonder.
79. If we should go on here, we should show you the whore and the beast, which the Revelation speaks of, and moreover all the wonders which have been since the world began: The greatest secret lies herein, and is called Mysterium Magnum, the Great Mystery, and all the controversies in matters of religion and faith arise from hence, and all willing, evil and good.
80. The Seven Spirits, wherein the Son of Man consists, in the Revelation, are the seven spirits of nature; one of them is the kingdom, and the six are the centre of nature, / viz. the] heavenly: if this be set down according to the human number, it makes the number twelve, and according to the two kingdoms, viz. the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this world, out of which the faithful are generated, then there are four-and-twenty spirits, which are the Elders before the throne of God, who worship God, and the slain Lamb: consider it well.
81. We further intimate, concerning this world's centre of nature, thus: The birth of life winds itself like a wheel inwards into itself, and when it comes to the innermost point, then it attains the Liberty, yet not [the Liberty] of God, but only the tincture out of which the life burns.
82. For that which will catch hold of God must pass through the fire; for no substantiality reaches God, unless it subsist in the fire: understand in a peculiar fire: If that should kindle, the world would melt away. We mean not the fire of the out-birth, which is no fire, but only a sharp fierceness, which consums the outward substantiality which springs from the water, viz. wood and flesh, but does not stir the inward fire in stone.
83. Therefore observe it; the Liberty, without the nature of this world, is only the eternity without substance. Now, as the eternal centre generats itself out of the desiring of the eternal willing, as is mentioned before; so has also the other centre of the Third Principle, (through the Word Fiat in the out-birth, out of the eternal,) generated itself [in like manner] .
84. For from the first creation of the first day, the outward centre of nature had wound itself thrice about, (understand before the sun and stars were corporeally created), and had attained six forms, three superior, and three inferior; and there are always twelve of them that belong to one form of the centre, where there is always a sign; understand, the signs [of the zodiac] in the eighth sphere (in the crown).
85. Saturn, with his harsh, strong, attracting and cold, is one form and spirit in the centre, which shutts up the abyss, and makes darkness in the deep, and attracts the substantiality of the outward power of this principle, and the centre winds about like a wheel; and that which is concrete stands over against Saturn, as in a wheel, and is called Mond [the Moon] in respect of its property, which would be too large to set down in writing.
86. Then the wheel winds further inwards into itself, and makes Jupiter: For Saturn, with its attracting, desires the Liberty of the divine substance, but he makes Him [the brain] ; for it catches with its desire the power of the Liberty, and not the Liberty of the divine Majesty itself which is without substance.
87. But because there is understanding in the power, and yet the power cannot in its own might awaken the understanding, therefore Jupiter desires a life in the power, and that is about on the wheel Mercury: for the wheel is always winding about, and Mercury is a stirrer, a maker of a sound and a noise, and yet has not the life, for that exists in the fire; and therefore it desires the fierce stormy turbulency, which striks up the fire; and that about on the wheel is Mars, which is a rager, stormer, and striker up of the fire.
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