world, as a spirit; even as the eternal spirit [goeth forth] out of the eternal centre of nature, out of the number ten. And as they have ordered themselves with their revolution in the three days, understand, before the sun [was], so they also remained standing in the Fiat in that order, and are not material or palpable, though as to the eternity it is a material being, but not as to us; but they are powers; an out-birth out of the eternal hidden and secret centre, and a similitude of the eternal, and have power and strength to shape and figure bodies and images, according to all the properties of every star.
17. Understand us thus: Out of the place of the sun, Ex loco solis, goeth forth the manifestation of all the stars and elements, and all the stars are the sun's children, even unto Saturn, which is the house of the sixfold spirit: for the planets are the spirit, and the crown, which is the uppermost, [is] the body; and is in that manner as we have mentioned before concerning the centre of nature, and concerning the thrones of the angels. Very great things are herein contained, which we justly conceal, because of the wickedness of the world, which if they knew them, they would misuse the powers of nature to their covetousness and falsehood.
18. Therefore we tell you, that those to whom the number ten is opened, have it also given them into their will to speak no more than what is requisite and necessary for the world, and that at all times as need requires, and is known in God.
19. Thus we give you to understand, how God on the Fourth Day created the sun, and with that leading spirit the stars also; and what they are, being together nothing else but a life according to the similitude of God, wherein the eternity hath manifested itself in a being.
20. On the Fifth Day God moved this being and life, and set the Fiat therein, and created out of the matrix all kinds of similitudes, according to every form in the spirit; and in this creation now hath the third kingdom, viz. the kingdom of anger, pressed hard in with it, and there went forth all manner of beasts, fowls, fishes, worms, and whatsoever moveth and liveth; all went forth out of the outward matrix, and stood upon the earth: and in the deep went forth all sorts of spirits of fire, (such as are the Ascendents and Phoenix); and in the air also all sorts of spirits, according to the substantiality of the air; and in the water, and in the earth, all sorts of spirits, every one according to the property of its mother [genetrix]; and the whole deep between the constellations, so far as the Word gave itself in unto the creation, is nothing but a life and stirring of spirits.
21. Now reason asketh, Seeing the devil dwelleth in this world, and hath his princely dominion there, whereabouts doth he then dwell? Behold, O man! Consider this well. There are in the whole deep no more than seven revolutions [or orbs], which roll and turn about like a wheel, or as the life windeth itself about the soul; and the heart, as the centre, standeth still, in the midst, that is, the Sun; and the revolutions about the Sun, are the six planets, as spirits of the centre, and the seventh revolution is the earth, which turneth itself once about in four and twenty hours, and runneth along in the course of the planets once a year, and besides, carrieth the Moon with it about the Sun, as the others do also, but some in shorter and some in much longer time: as first Saturn in twenty-nine years, in respect of his large course. But the
Moon, which runneth back, doth it every month, twelve times in a year, and passeth somewhat on yet further [in a thirteenth revolution] .
22. Now this together maketh the wheel of the birth; wherein standeth the Verbum Fiat, which hath driven the devil out from this circle, and so he dwelleth without this circle, and there is a great darkness about the crown of stars in the firmament, so that many stars in the firmament are not seen because of the darkness; and that otherwise hath a great signification as to men, which we would indeed make mention of, if the world were not so mad, and suffered the devil to drive it, who derideth all manner of revelations, that thereby he may blindfold men: It shall in the Last Time stand manifest to the children, which see with
world, as a spirit; even as the eternal spirit [goes forth] out of the eternal centre of nature, out of the number ten. And as they have ordered themselves with their revolution in the three days, understand, before the sun [was], so they also remained standing in the Fiat in that order, and are not material or palpable, though as to the eternity it is a material being, but not as to us; but they are powers; an out-birth out of the eternal hidden and secret centre, and a similitude of the eternal, and have power and strength to shape and figure bodies and images, according to all the properties of every star.
17. Understand us thus: Out of the place of the sun, Ex loco solis, goes forth the manifestation of all the stars and elements, and all the stars are the sun's children, even unto Saturn, which is the house of the sixfold spirit: for the planets are the spirit, and the crown, which is the uppermost, [is] the body; and is in that manner as we have mentioned before concerning the centre of nature, and concerning the thrones of the angels. Very great things are herein contained, which we justly conceal, because of the wickedness of the world, which if they knew them, they would misuse the powers of nature to their covetousness and falsehood.
18. Therefore we tell you, that those to whom the number ten is opened, have it also given them into their will to speak no more than what is requisite and necessary for the world, and that at all times as need requires, and is known in God.
19. Thus we give you to understand, how God on the Fourth Day created the sun, and with that leading spirit the stars also; and what they are, being together nothing else but a life according to the similitude of God, wherein the eternity has manifested itself in a being.
20. On the Fifth Day God moved this being and life, and set the Fiat therein, and created out of the matrix all kinds of similitudes, according to every form in the spirit; and in this creation now has the third kingdom, viz. the kingdom of anger, pressed hard in with it, and there went forth all manner of beasts, fowls, fishes, worms, and whatsoever moves and lives; all went forth out of the outward matrix, and stood upon the earth: and in the deep went forth all sorts of spirits of fire, (such as are the Ascendents and Phoenix); and in the air also all sorts of spirits, according to the substantiality of the air; and in the water, and in the earth, all sorts of spirits, every one according to the property of its mother [genetrix]; and the whole deep between the constellations, so far as the Word gave itself in unto the creation, is nothing but a life and stirring of spirits.
21. Now reason asks, Seeing the devil dwells in this world, and has his princely dominion there, whereabouts does he then dwell? Behold, O man! Consider this well. There are in the whole deep no more than seven revolutions [or orbs], which roll and turn about like a wheel, or as the life winds itself about the soul; and the heart, as the centre, stands still, in the midst, that is, the Sun; and the revolutions about the Sun, are the six planets, as spirits of the centre, and the seventh revolution is the earth, which turns itself once about in four and twenty hours, and runns along in the course of the planets once a year, and besides, carries the Moon with it about the Sun, as the others do also, but some in shorter and some in much longer time: as first Saturn in twenty-nine years, in respect of his large course. But the
Moon, which runns back, does it every month, twelve times in a year, and passes somewhat on yet further [in a thirteenth revolution] .
22. Now this together makes the wheel of the birth; wherein stands the Verbum Fiat, which has driven the devil out from this circle, and so he dwells without this circle, and there is a great darkness about the crown of stars in the firmament, so that many stars in the firmament are not seen because of the darkness; and that otherwise has a great signification as to men, which we would indeed make mention of, if the world were not so mad, and suffered the devil to drive it, who derids all manner of revelations, that thereby he may blindfold men: It shall in the Last Time stand manifest to the children, which see with
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