out of which (in the kindling) ariseth the consuming fire, and the pleasant refreshing light], viz. one in the fierceness of the fire, which flieth out aloft above the centre, with the four wrathful severe forms; and the other in the light of the meekness, which remaineth standing immoveably, and hath also all the power of the centre, in which power the spirit of the Deity and of the Majesty is known; wherein standeth the [rain-] bow with the cross of the Number Three; for the Majesty is here the brightness of the Deity; and here the eternal liberty without [or beyond] nature, (which hath but one only will), getteth the strength, power, majesty, and glory; for the eternity is thus revealed [or manifested], which otherwise would be as it were a still nothing, in the creature's esteem and account.
37. Above this still soft humility the devil leadeth the soul of man in its will out aloft in the fire-flash; for herein, according to the spirit of this world, consisteth the dominion of the sun, which giveth might and strength to the outward man, and also the light and power of the outward senses, so that reason cometh to see; and the outward spirit getteth great outward skill and wisdom, according to the dominion of this world.
38. Also herein all subtleties of the essences and senses disclose themselves, which the devil very well observeth: If any, in the upper dominion, according to the spirit of this world, be a child of the sun, then he [the devil], in the centre of nature without ceasing, slippeth into the fire-flash of the soul, where the fire and heat exist, and always bringeth in with him the other three poisonous forms in the original: He bringeth the soul out aloft over the cross above the meekness of the Majesty, in the wrathful fire-flash, so that it groweth proud, lascivious, and fierce; he maketh it to contemn meekness and humility, and so it flieth forth in its own wit, in the fierceness of the flash, above God and the kingdom of heaven, [and scorneth all that belongeth to God and to eternal life] .
39. And all this, (dear brethren in Babel), proceedeth from hence; that you are void of the divine wit and understanding, so that you fly above the wheel of nature in your own wit; you should stay in the cross in humility, and your soul should be inverted and inclined into the meek Majesty of God; but now you fly upon the wheel of the fire in your pride, aloft over the Deity; and this the devil doth to you in subtle craftiness, that he may thus lead you, that thereby the kingdom of God might not be known; you seek the kingdom of God in art; but art hath the six forms of the wheel of nature; the Deity hath another centre in the cross; for the divine spirit separateth itself from the fire, and yet is not quite asunder from it; but it maketh another Principle, which consisteth in meekness, in mere love and joy; the forms of nature are therein a mere power of love; for it is an accomplishment of the eternal will, out of which nature existeth, and the wrathful kingdom is an accomplishment of the eternal hunger and thirst, which cannot be otherwise in eternity, for the essence of all essences is thus.
40. For it is sufficiently known to us (seeing God is merely good) that he created nothing evil; for that which was not from eternity, was not in the creation.
41. God created no hell, nor any devils, but angels: Only Lucifer hath turned himself away from the meekness, and is flown out above the cross of the Number Three, and hath himself awakened the fire of anger in the flash, which had from eternity remained hidden in secret, which is now his hell and habitation; he can now be no otherwise than covetous, envious, anxious, and wrathful; there is no other property [quality or living faculty] or source in him; for his own mother, out of which he was brought forth and created, holdeth him now, so that he is a devil with all his legions.
42. Therefore, dear children, since we know that we are thus environed with hell and the devils, in the anger of God, it is very necessary for us
out of which (in the kindling) arises the consuming fire, and the pleasant refreshing light], viz. one in the fierceness of the fire, which flies out aloft above the centre, with the four wrathful severe forms; and the other in the light of the meekness, which remains standing immoveably, and has also all the power of the centre, in which power the spirit of the Deity and of the Majesty is known; wherein stands the [rain-] bow with the cross of the Number Three; for the Majesty is here the brightness of the Deity; and here the eternal liberty without [or beyond] nature, (which has but one only will), getts the strength, power, majesty, and glory; for the eternity is thus revealed [or manifested], which otherwise would be as it were a still nothing, in the creature's esteem and account.
37. Above this still soft humility the devil leads the soul of man in its will out aloft in the fire-flash; for herein, according to the spirit of this world, consists the dominion of the sun, which gives might and strength to the outward man, and also the light and power of the outward senses, so that reason comes to see; and the outward spirit getts great outward skill and wisdom, according to the dominion of this world.
38. Also herein all subtleties of the essences and senses disclose themselves, which the devil very well observes: If any, in the upper dominion, according to the spirit of this world, be a child of the sun, then he [the devil], in the centre of nature without ceasing, slipps into the fire-flash of the soul, where the fire and heat exist, and always brings in with him the other three poisonous forms in the original: He brings the soul out aloft over the cross above the meekness of the Majesty, in the wrathful fire-flash, so that it grows proud, lascivious, and fierce; he makes it to contemn meekness and humility, and so it flies forth in its own wit, in the fierceness of the flash, above God and the kingdom of heaven, [and scorns all that belongs to God and to eternal life] .
39. And all this, (dear brethren in Babel), proceeds from hence; that you are void of the divine wit and understanding, so that you fly above the wheel of nature in your own wit; you should stay in the cross in humility, and your soul should be inverted and inclined into the meek Majesty of God; but now you fly upon the wheel of the fire in your pride, aloft over the Deity; and this the devil does to you in subtle craftiness, that he may thus lead you, that thereby the kingdom of God might not be known; you seek the kingdom of God in art; but art has the six forms of the wheel of nature; the Deity has another centre in the cross; for the divine spirit separates itself from the fire, and yet is not quite asunder from it; but it makes another Principle, which consists in meekness, in mere love and joy; the forms of nature are therein a mere power of love; for it is an accomplishment of the eternal will, out of which nature exists, and the wrathful kingdom is an accomplishment of the eternal hunger and thirst, which cannot be otherwise in eternity, for the essence of all essences is thus.
40. For it is sufficiently known to us (seeing God is merely good) that he created nothing evil; for that which was not from eternity, was not in the creation.
41. God created no hell, nor any devils, but angels: Only Lucifer has turned himself away from the meekness, and is flown out above the cross of the Number Three, and has himself awakened the fire of anger in the flash, which had from eternity remained hidden in secret, which is now his hell and habitation; he can now be no otherwise than covetous, envious, anxious, and wrathful; there is no other property [quality or living faculty] or source in him; for his own mother, out of which he was brought forth and created, holds him now, so that he is a devil with all his legions.
42. Therefore, dear children, since we know that we are thus environed with hell and the devils, in the anger of God, it is very necessary for us
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.