shine," and doubt not that some will catch the glimpse of it. Then at once the fury of the Fire in which they have been living will be quenched and put into the hiddenness, and the light of everlasting life spring up: a feeble spark perhaps at first, but "shining more and more unto the perfect day."
GEORGE W. ALLEN.
BRETBY VICARAGE, BURTON-ON-TRENT.
THE FIRST CHAPTER
1. WHEN we consider the beginning of our life, and compare the same with the eternal life, which we have in the promise, we cannot say nor find that we are at home in this life. For we see the beginning and the end of the outward life, as also the total decay and final corruption of our bodies; and besides, we see or know of no returning into this [outward] life, neither have we any promise of it from the high and eternal Good.
2. Seeing then there is a life in us which is eternal and incorruptible, wherewith we strive after the highest good; and a life (from this world) which is finite and corruptible, and also a life in which the source and original cause of life standeth, wherein the highest danger of eternal perdition, misery, and calamity doth consist; therefore it is of necessity that we consider the beginning of life, from whence all these things proceed and have their original.
3. So now when we consider the life, what it is, then we find that it is a burning fire, which consumeth, and when it hath no more [fuel] to feed upon, it goeth out; as may be seen in all fires. For the life hath its nourishment from the body, and the body from the food; for when the body hath no more food, then it is consumed by the fire of the life, so that it fadeth and perisheth, as a fair flower, when it hath no water, withereth.
4. But seeing there is in man a life which is eternal and incorruptible, which is the soul, which is also a fire, and hath need of nutriment as well as the elementary life hath, therefore we ought to consider the property and food of that life, what that is which continually feedeth it, so that it never goeth out in eternity.
5. And thirdly we find in the life of our souls, that there is in it a greater hunger after another higher and better life, viz. after the highest good, which is called the divine life; insomuch that the soul is not contented with its own food, but it desireth, with great longing and panting, the highest and best good, not only for a pleasant habitation, but in a hunger for a food.
6. And so now we perceive, in our very great and true knowledge, that every life desireth its [own] mother, (out of which the life is generated) for a food; as the wood, which is the mother of the fire, that the fire desireth to have, and if it be severed from its mother it goeth out. In like manner, the earth is the mother of all trees and herbs, and they desire it; and the water (with the other elements) is the mother of the earth, or else it would be dead [or barren], and there would grow neither metals, trees, herbs, nor grass out of it.
7. We see especially, that the elementary life consisteth in a boiling, and is a [kind of] seething, and when it leaveth boiling it goeth out: also we know that the constellations kindle the elements, and the stars are the fire of the elements, and the sun kindleth the stars, so that there is a boiling and seething amongst them: but the elementary life is finite and corruptible, and the life of the soul is eternal.
8. Now seeing it is eternal, therefore it must also be from the eternal; as the dear Moses hath written very rightly of it, that God breathed into man the living breath, and so man is become a living soul.
9. Yet we cannot say, though indeed man standeth in a Threefold Life, that each life is
shine," and doubt not that some will catch the glimpse of it. Then at once the fury of the Fire in which they have been living will be quenched and put into the hiddenness, and the light of everlasting life spring up: a feeble spark perhaps at first, but "shining more and more unto the perfect day."
GEORGE W. ALLEN.
BRETBY VICARAGE, BURTON-ON-TRENT.
THE FIRST CHAPTER
1. WHEN we consider the beginning of our life, and compare the same with the eternal life, which we have in the promise, we cannot say nor find that we are at home in this life. For we see the beginning and the end of the outward life, as also the total decay and final corruption of our bodies; and besides, we see or know of no returning into this [outward] life, neither have we any promise of it from the high and eternal Good.
2. Seeing then there is a life in us which is eternal and incorruptible, wherewith we strive after the highest good; and a life (from this world) which is finite and corruptible, and also a life in which the source and original cause of life stands, wherein the highest danger of eternal perdition, misery, and calamity does consist; therefore it is of necessity that we consider the beginning of life, from whence all these things proceed and have their original.
3. So now when we consider the life, what it is, then we find that it is a burning fire, which consums, and when it has no more [fuel] to feed upon, it goes out; as may be seen in all fires. For the life has its nourishment from the body, and the body from the food; for when the body has no more food, then it is consumed by the fire of the life, so that it fads and perishes, as a fair flower, when it has no water, withers.
4. But seeing there is in man a life which is eternal and incorruptible, which is the soul, which is also a fire, and has need of nutriment as well as the elementary life has, therefore we ought to consider the property and food of that life, what that is which continually feeds it, so that it never goes out in eternity.
5. And thirdly we find in the life of our souls, that there is in it a greater hunger after another higher and better life, viz. after the highest good, which is called the divine life; insomuch that the soul is not contented with its own food, but it desires, with great longing and panting, the highest and best good, not only for a pleasant habitation, but in a hunger for a food.
6. And so now we perceive, in our very great and true knowledge, that every life desires its [own] mother, (out of which the life is generated) for a food; as the wood, which is the mother of the fire, that the fire desires to have, and if it be severed from its mother it goes out. In like manner, the earth is the mother of all trees and herbs, and they desire it; and the water (with the other elements) is the mother of the earth, or else it would be dead [or barren], and there would grow neither metals, trees, herbs, nor grass out of it.
7. We see especially, that the elementary life consists in a boiling, and is a [kind of] seething, and when it leaves boiling it goes out: also we know that the constellations kindle the elements, and the stars are the fire of the elements, and the sun kindls the stars, so that there is a boiling and seething amongst them: but the elementary life is finite and corruptible, and the life of the soul is eternal.
8. Now seeing it is eternal, therefore it must also be from the eternal; as the dear Moses has written very rightly of it, that God breathed into man the living breath, and so man is become a living soul.
9. Yet we cannot say, though indeed man stands in a Threefold Life, that each life is
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