to fly into humility; and therefore Christ teacheth us so very earnestly to study meekness, love, and mercy, that we should love one another, and should not so eagerly endeavour after the spirit of this world; for the devil slippeth into it, and seduceth us: We should watchfully take heed of pride, for the devil flieth into it; and of anger, for that is the devil's sword, wherewith he commiteth all murders.
43. O how lamentable a thing it is that the soul is thus blinded that it knoweth not the heavy shackles and bands wherein it lieth captive ! The fire of hell riseth up to its very lips, the whole world is full of snares which the devil hath laid to catch the poor soul: If the eyes of the outward man should be opened, he would be terribly affrighted: All whatsoever man doth but touch or look upon, there is a net and snare of the devil in it; and if the Verbum Domini, the Word of the Lord, which is become man, were not in the middle, so that the hidden eternal substantiality of the Word is a body, there would none be saved: the devil would catch and devour all souls.
44. Therefore, dear children, Christ hath well told us, That the kingdom of God in us is small as a grain of mustard- seed; but he that endeavoureth seriously, and striveth after it, to him it groweth great as a tree, and the devil must needs let it alone; and though he often breaketh off a twig, yet the stock standeth still.
45. Christ warned the rich young man to beware of covetousness, and told him, that a camel would easier go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man enter into the kingdom of heaven; and the cause of all this is, that the soul entereth into lust, and into the dominion of this world: for if the soul wholly giveth up itself into the lust, pleasure, and dominion of this world, then the devil doth not sift [or tempt] it so strongly, but carrieth it in his triumphant chariot, from one abomination and wickedness to another: his chariot is Venus, viz. the love of the flesh, wherein the soul continually endeavoureth after temporary power, authority, and honour, after riches, beauty, and the desires of the flesh, after bestial inordinate copulation; though indeed the soul doth not so eagerly desire it, unless it be totally infected: but it is only from hence that the soul in Adam hath lusted after it, and is captivated therewith; and the devil continually maketh it stirring, he continually tickleth the soul therewith, that it might confidently and freely eat of the forbidden fruit.
46. We find that the human life is Threefold, with three spirits together in one, as if it were but one spirit, and it is indeed but one life; but it hath three dominions, each of which hath its own mother, which afibrdeth or generateth it; the centre of nature, with its forms [or properties], is the eternal life; for it is the fire-life; and the spirit, which is generated and goeth forth out of the centre of nature, which dwelleth in the tincture, is the eternal life of the soul; and the air-spirit, with the qualities or properties of the dominion of the stars, is the beginning, ending, and transitory life, which is the bestial life, [the animal life which we have in common with beasts] .
47. Now the soul is generated only out of the first two, and the third is breathed into it; not that it should enter into it, and give up itself thereto, as Adam hath done; but that the soul should mightily rule over it, and therein open the great wonders of God, which from eternity were beheld in the wisdom of God; for the third dominion is generated and created out of the first;
to fly into humility; and therefore Christ teaches us so very earnestly to study meekness, love, and mercy, that we should love one another, and should not so eagerly endeavour after the spirit of this world; for the devil slipps into it, and seducs us: We should watchfully take heed of pride, for the devil flies into it; and of anger, for that is the devil's sword, wherewith he commits all murders.
43. O how lamentable a thing it is that the soul is thus blinded that it knows not the heavy shackles and bands wherein it lies captive ! The fire of hell rises up to its very lips, the whole world is full of snares which the devil has laid to catch the poor soul: If the eyes of the outward man should be opened, he would be terribly affrighted: All whatsoever man does but touch or look upon, there is a net and snare of the devil in it; and if the Verbum Domini, the Word of the Lord, which is become man, were not in the middle, so that the hidden eternal substantiality of the Word is a body, there would none be saved: the devil would catch and devour all souls.
44. Therefore, dear children, Christ has well told us, That the kingdom of God in us is small as a grain of mustard- seed; but he that endeavours seriously, and strives after it, to him it grows great as a tree, and the devil must needs let it alone; and though he often breaks off a twig, yet the stock stands still.
45. Christ warned the rich young man to beware of covetousness, and told him, that a camel would easier go through the eye of a needle, than a rich man enter into the kingdom of heaven; and the cause of all this is, that the soul enters into lust, and into the dominion of this world: for if the soul wholly gives up itself into the lust, pleasure, and dominion of this world, then the devil does not sift [or tempt] it so strongly, but carries it in his triumphant chariot, from one abomination and wickedness to another: his chariot is Venus, viz. the love of the flesh, wherein the soul continually endeavours after temporary power, authority, and honour, after riches, beauty, and the desires of the flesh, after bestial inordinate copulation; though indeed the soul does not so eagerly desire it, unless it be totally infected: but it is only from hence that the soul in Adam has lusted after it, and is captivated therewith; and the devil continually makes it stirring, he continually tickls the soul therewith, that it might confidently and freely eat of the forbidden fruit.
46. We find that the human life is Threefold, with three spirits together in one, as if it were but one spirit, and it is indeed but one life; but it has three dominions, each of which has its own mother, which afibrds or generats it; the centre of nature, with its forms [or properties], is the eternal life; for it is the fire-life; and the spirit, which is generated and goes forth out of the centre of nature, which dwells in the tincture, is the eternal life of the soul; and the air-spirit, with the qualities or properties of the dominion of the stars, is the beginning, ending, and transitory life, which is the bestial life, [the animal life which we have in common with beasts] .
47. Now the soul is generated only out of the first two, and the third is breathed into it; not that it should enter into it, and give up itself thereto, as Adam has done; but that the soul should mightily rule over it, and therein open the great wonders of God, which from eternity were beheld in the wisdom of God; for the third dominion is generated and created out of the first;
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