11. For when the soul is blessed, then God blesseth the body also, for the soul carrieth an heavenly body in the old Adamical one: And so his meat and drink is blessed, and all that the whole man doth and hath: he obtaineth a wonderful blessing which his reason cannot apprehend: he must labour and trade, for therefore he is created into the outward world, that he should manifest God's wonders with his skill and trading [handicraft and business] .
12. All trades, businesses, and conditions, are God's ordinance; every one worketh the wonders of God: and so now, if the soul stand in the hand of God in his love, then the body is in God's works of wonder; and God hath no displeasure at its business or doings, whatsoever it doth, whereby it getteth its food and living.
13. The outward life consisteth in three parts: one is the dominion of the stars; the second is the [one] element divided into four parts, as into the four forms, of fire; air, water, and earth; the third is the dominion of God; for the spirit of God moves upon the water, upon the capsula [surface], upon the matrix. What man soever puts his trust in
God, and doth not wholly set his heart upon his reason, hath the spirit of God for a creator;
which spirit of God hath the Verbum Fiat, and createth continually: it blesseth him in body and soul, in the house and in the field, in the work of his hands, his business and trading; whatsoever he doth, the spirit of God is continually in it, and createth [or effecteth it] .
14. How should it be otherwise? The soul hath the body of the spirit of God; How can the spirit of God then forsake the outward body, which must open its wonders?
15. Man doth well enough in every thing that is not false or wicked, and if it be not contrary to God and the love of mankind: If a man did only cast stones into the sea (if his brother be pleased with it, and that he get his living by it) then he is as acceptable to God as a preacher in a pulpit: for what careth God for the labour? He hath not any need of that.
16. Man hath free will [choice or liberty]; he may recreate himself upon earth, in what work he will; let him do whatsoever he will, it all standeth in the wonders of God. A swineherd is as acceptable to God (as a doctor), if he be honest, and trusteth only in God's will; the simple is as profitable to him as the wise; for with the wise he ruleth and governeth, and with the simple he buildeth and tilleth the ground; they are all his labourers in his works of wonder.
17. Every one hath an employment [or calling] wherein he spendeth his time; all are alike to him; only, the spirit of this world hath its pitch, which it distributeth in its might, as the spirit of God doth in heaven; there are great distinctions and degrees there also; as the spirit or soul is endued with divine power and virtue, so accordingly is its degree of exaltation in heaven, also its beauty and clarity, or glory, but all in one love.
18. Every angel and soul hath joy in another's power and beauty: as the flowers of the earth do not grudge at one another, though one be more beautiful and fuller of virtue than another; but they stand kindly one by another, and enjoy one another's virtue: and as a physician puts many sorts of herbs together, and every one of them affordeth its virtue, and all benefit the sick, so we all please God, if we give up ourselves into his will; we stand all in his field.
19. And as the thorns and thistles grow out of the earth, and choke and spoil many a good herb or flower; so also doth the wicked, who trusteth not in God, but buildeth upon himself, and thinketh with himself, I have my God in my chest: I will covet, and leave my children great treasure behind me, that they also may sit in my place of honour and dignity, that is the best way. And thereby he spoileth many a good heart, and maketh it take base and wicked courses, and thinketh that to be
11. For when the soul is blessed, then God blesses the body also, for the soul carries an heavenly body in the old Adamical one: And so his meat and drink is blessed, and all that the whole man does and has: he obtains a wonderful blessing which his reason cannot apprehend: he must labour and trade, for therefore he is created into the outward world, that he should manifest God's wonders with his skill and trading [handicraft and business] .
12. All trades, businesses, and conditions, are God's ordinance; every one works the wonders of God: and so now, if the soul stand in the hand of God in his love, then the body is in God's works of wonder; and God has no displeasure at its business or doings, whatsoever it does, whereby it getts its food and living.
13. The outward life consists in three parts: one is the dominion of the stars; the second is the [one] element divided into four parts, as into the four forms, of fire; air, water, and earth; the third is the dominion of God; for the spirit of God moves upon the water, upon the capsula [surface], upon the matrix. What man soever puts his trust in
God, and does not wholly set his heart upon his reason, has the spirit of God for a creator;
which spirit of God has the Verbum Fiat, and creates continually: it blesses him in body and soul, in the house and in the field, in the work of his hands, his business and trading; whatsoever he does, the spirit of God is continually in it, and creates [or effects it] .
14. How should it be otherwise? The soul has the body of the spirit of God; How can the spirit of God then forsake the outward body, which must open its wonders?
15. Man does well enough in every thing that is not false or wicked, and if it be not contrary to God and the love of mankind: If a man did only cast stones into the sea (if his brother be pleased with it, and that he get his living by it) then he is as acceptable to God as a preacher in a pulpit: for what cars God for the labour? He has not any need of that.
16. Man has free will [choice or liberty]; he may recreate himself upon earth, in what work he will; let him do whatsoever he will, it all stands in the wonders of God. A swineherd is as acceptable to God (as a doctor), if he be honest, and trusts only in God's will; the simple is as profitable to him as the wise; for with the wise he ruls and governs, and with the simple he builds and tills the ground; they are all his labourers in his works of wonder.
17. Every one has an employment [or calling] wherein he spends his time; all are alike to him; only, the spirit of this world has its pitch, which it distributs in its might, as the spirit of God does in heaven; there are great distinctions and degrees there also; as the spirit or soul is endued with divine power and virtue, so accordingly is its degree of exaltation in heaven, also its beauty and clarity, or glory, but all in one love.
18. Every angel and soul has joy in another's power and beauty: as the flowers of the earth do not grudge at one another, though one be more beautiful and fuller of virtue than another; but they stand kindly one by another, and enjoy one another's virtue: and as a physician puts many sorts of herbs together, and every one of them affords its virtue, and all benefit the sick, so we all please God, if we give up ourselves into his will; we stand all in his field.
19. And as the thorns and thistles grow out of the earth, and choke and spoil many a good herb or flower; so also does the wicked, who trusts not in God, but builds upon himself, and thinks with himself, I have my God in my chest: I will covet, and leave my children great treasure behind me, that they also may sit in my place of honour and dignity, that is the best way. And thereby he spoils many a good heart, and makes it take base and wicked courses, and thinks that to be
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