for we know that the soul dwelleth in the heart:
Its own substance is the centre of the seven spirits of nature: The six spirits are the government of the life, and the seventh is the tincture of the substantiality, for its substantiality is blood and flesh which maketh the tincture, though the tincture is not blood and flesh, but a virgin without generating; yet the six spirits in the tincture continually generate one another, as is mentioned before concerning the centre of nature; but the brightness of the noble pearl of the soul is especially known in the tincture, for therein it attaineth
God's power and spirit; and there getteth its right name [Seel], SOUL; for, as God is above nature, which cannot comprehend him, so the virgin [Sophia, Wisdom] in the tincture is a spirit above the spirits of nature, which belong to the centre: and yet the virgin, without the spirits of nature, would not be; even as the Number Three of God, without the eternal nature, would not be known: so also the soul.
27. The six spirits of nature contain the eternal centre, with which the darkness and anger of God is comprehended, for the original of mobility consisteth therein; for the fire existeth therein, though indeed it standeth but in four forms, and in the fifth form springeth up the true life, and in the sixth the understanding; and then first there is in the seventh another spirit, which is not the centre in the anguish source [or property] ; for in the seventh form there is another source [or property] : Indeed the first six forms rule therein, and are the life of the source, and a cause of the life; but they make together one spirit, which liveth in the blood, water, and air.
28. And though it be so, that we are, through the heavy fall of Adam, brought into the outward dominion, so that the soul swimmeth in the palpable [or visible water], yet the eternal water, viz. the mother of the water, is hidden in the outward, in which the soul is an angel: We give you to understand that the soul is a spirit, as God the Holy Ghost is, who goeth forth from the Father and the Son, and is the mobility of the Deity; for the Father standeth still, and hath moved himself but once, viz. in the creation; but the spirit hath the Word of the Father, and performeth all things through the Word.
29. And thus, also, the soul is a spirit generated out of the eternal centre of nature, out of its own spirits of its own nature, not strange ones, which [soul] hath the word, which compriseth itself in the six forms of nature upon the wheel of the cross, and performeth all things through the Word; for it is the spirit and life of the Word, and moveth upon the wings of the wind as a flash or blaze; it formeth the Word, and produceth it, and the six spirits are its counsellors; though there are but five, for the sixth is the form of the Word itself, but the five contain the five senses.
30. Where we woefully find, and have great cause to lament it, how our father Adam hath here introduced the evil, poisonous, earthly dominion, so that the poor soul is thus wholly captivated by the spirit of this world, which f loweth forth, and worketh powerfully in the soul; so that often and hourly there breaketh forth out of the word of the soul the evil of the abyss; in which the devil mingleth himself, and possesseth our hearts outwardly, and then also most inwardly, viz. in the first four forms of nature, and turneth us away from the will of God, into all abominations and wickedness which are in him: And as he now observeth how man is qualified, viz. what spirit is predominant according to the dominion of his body, [whether it be pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, unchastity, wantonness, voluptuousness, and such like], accordingly he assaulteth [or tempteth] him continually, and effecteth such great wickedness with the soul, as no tongue can express; for in the outward dominion there are also seven forms, viz. the seven planets, which rule the outward-man, and reach into the bottom of the soul, if without ceasing it do not resist, and reject the evil malignant influences [influxes or instigations] : In the same the devil hath a powerful access to the soul, but yet he hath not that dominion, nor any complete power therein, unless the Turba Magna in the anger of God be kindled [as in judgments, pestilence, thunder, and the like
for we know that the soul dwells in the heart:
Its own substance is the centre of the seven spirits of nature: The six spirits are the government of the life, and the seventh is the tincture of the substantiality, for its substantiality is blood and flesh which makes the tincture, though the tincture is not blood and flesh, but a virgin without generating; yet the six spirits in the tincture continually generate one another, as is mentioned before concerning the centre of nature; but the brightness of the noble pearl of the soul is especially known in the tincture, for therein it attains
God's power and spirit; and there getts its right name [Seel], SOUL; for, as God is above nature, which cannot comprehend him, so the virgin [Sophia, Wisdom] in the tincture is a spirit above the spirits of nature, which belong to the centre: and yet the virgin, without the spirits of nature, would not be; even as the Number Three of God, without the eternal nature, would not be known: so also the soul.
27. The six spirits of nature contain the eternal centre, with which the darkness and anger of God is comprehended, for the original of mobility consists therein; for the fire exists therein, though indeed it stands but in four forms, and in the fifth form springs up the true life, and in the sixth the understanding; and then first there is in the seventh another spirit, which is not the centre in the anguish source [or property] ; for in the seventh form there is another source [or property] : Indeed the first six forms rule therein, and are the life of the source, and a cause of the life; but they make together one spirit, which lives in the blood, water, and air.
28. And though it be so, that we are, through the heavy fall of Adam, brought into the outward dominion, so that the soul swimms in the palpable [or visible water], yet the eternal water, viz. the mother of the water, is hidden in the outward, in which the soul is an angel: We give you to understand that the soul is a spirit, as God the Holy Ghost is, who goes forth from the Father and the Son, and is the mobility of the Deity; for the Father stands still, and has moved himself but once, viz. in the creation; but the spirit has the Word of the Father, and performs all things through the Word.
29. And thus, also, the soul is a spirit generated out of the eternal centre of nature, out of its own spirits of its own nature, not strange ones, which [soul] has the word, which comprises itself in the six forms of nature upon the wheel of the cross, and performs all things through the Word; for it is the spirit and life of the Word, and moves upon the wings of the wind as a flash or blaze; it forms the Word, and produces it, and the six spirits are its counsellors; though there are but five, for the sixth is the form of the Word itself, but the five contain the five senses.
30. Where we woefully find, and have great cause to lament it, how our father Adam has here introduced the evil, poisonous, earthly dominion, so that the poor soul is thus wholly captivated by the spirit of this world, which f lows forth, and works powerfully in the soul; so that often and hourly there breaks forth out of the word of the soul the evil of the abyss; in which the devil mingls himself, and possesses our hearts outwardly, and then also most inwardly, viz. in the first four forms of nature, and turns us away from the will of God, into all abominations and wickedness which are in him: And as he now observes how man is qualified, viz. what spirit is predominant according to the dominion of his body, [whether it be pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, unchastity, wantonness, voluptuousness, and such like], accordingly he assaults [or tempts] him continually, and effects such great wickedness with the soul, as no tongue can express; for in the outward dominion there are also seven forms, viz. the seven planets, which rule the outward-man, and reach into the bottom of the soul, if without ceasing it do not resist, and reject the evil malignant influences [influxes or instigations] : In the same the devil has a powerful access to the soul, but yet he has not that dominion, nor any complete power therein, unless the Turba Magna in the anger of God be kindled [as in judgments, pestilence, thunder, and the like
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