a raging (which doth so sting in that will) that the longing becometh very sour and strongly attracting, that it might hold the sting fast, whereby the sting, as a stirring life, affordeth mobility, in which the longing attaineth the first crack [or shriek] of trembling, from whence ariseth a contrary anguish: for in the anguish of the longing (in the hard attracting) is caused a sharp coldness: and the attraction is eager, bitter and stinging, so that it affordeth a terrible strong power, which the sting cannot endure, but would fain break away, and yet it cannot: For its own mother that generateth it, holdeth it, and so, seeing it cannot get away upwards, it runneth round like a wheel, and breaketh asunder the contraction, from whence the essences of multiplicity arise.
15. And this is the right centre: for in the wheel existeth the nature of mobility and of the essences: and it is a band of the spirit, though without feeling [perception] or understanding: but in this form only, is it called the centre: for it is the circle of life, which the desiring hath shut up, out of the still wideness, into narrowness: although it is not comprehensible, but every where merely spirit and form of nature.
16. Seeing then that the Raver maketh such a stinging bitter wheel (in the sharp cold) therefore the centre is so terrible, like a great anguish, where the life is continually broken [or destroyed], and by the essences is also built [again] in such a manner, and is like to life and death.
17. The philosophers and high knowers [naturalists] of. nature, write, that nature consisteth in three2 things, viz. in Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, which is very right: but the simple will understand nothing therein: and although the apprehension of it was open to the wise [so that they understood it] yet at this present time very few understand the centre, but they have it in the history, as also [they have] the divinity or theology from the mouth of the Apostles, which at present is also no other than a history, without the power and the living spirit (which was among the Apostles), as is clearly testified by their contentious disputations, lip-labour and dead letter [in their teachings].
18. Now seeing we have through the divine grace attained the light, and are able to know the centre, which is the birth of our life, we have power to demonstrate it, and shew what is comprised and understood in the three words, Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt: not that we thereby despise the ignorant blindness: but as a Christian we would willingly afford and shew them the light. And although our speech seemeth simple, yet our knowledge, meaning, and apprehension is very deep: none should be offended at the simple speech: as if we had not the deep apprehension. Let him but read it with a true earnestness, and consider seriously of it, in the fear of God, and he shall find well enough what spirit's child we are in this writing; but we would have him faithfully warned, concerning the scorners and hypocrites.
19. As is mentioned concerning the Sulphur, the centre is and may very well be called PHUR: but if the light be generated, the light that shineth out of the PHUR is called SUL, for it is the soul thereof. And as I say of the dark centre, wherein the divine light is generated, the same I say also of nature: though indeed they are one: but we must so speak, that we might bring it into the thoughts of the Reader, that he might incline his mind to the light, and so attain it.
20. For the two forms, viz. sharp cold, and bitter stinging, which are generated by the longing in eternal will, they hold the centre, and make the wheel of the essences, whence the senses [Or thoughts], as also perception and mobility continually arise eternally.
21. Now these two forms are in very great and terrible anguish, in themselves, without the other forms that are generated out of them. For the attracting sharp sourness is like to hard stones, and the sting of the attracting is the breaker of the astringency: and so it is like a wheel, and may well be called PHUR: as the language of nature in that syllable doth declare.
22. Therefore though the two forms enter so terribly in themselves into the will, and hold the
a raging (which does so sting in that will) that the longing becomes very sour and strongly attracting, that it might hold the sting fast, whereby the sting, as a stirring life, affords mobility, in which the longing attains the first crack [or shriek] of trembling, from whence arises a contrary anguish: for in the anguish of the longing (in the hard attracting) is caused a sharp coldness: and the attraction is eager, bitter and stinging, so that it affords a terrible strong power, which the sting cannot endure, but would fain break away, and yet it cannot: For its own mother that generats it, holds it, and so, seeing it cannot get away upwards, it runns round like a wheel, and breaks asunder the contraction, from whence the essences of multiplicity arise.
15. And this is the right centre: for in the wheel exists the nature of mobility and of the essences: and it is a band of the spirit, though without feeling [perception] or understanding: but in this form only, is it called the centre: for it is the circle of life, which the desiring has shut up, out of the still wideness, into narrowness: although it is not comprehensible, but every where merely spirit and form of nature.
16. Seeing then that the Raver makes such a stinging bitter wheel (in the sharp cold) therefore the centre is so terrible, like a great anguish, where the life is continually broken [or destroyed], and by the essences is also built [again] in such a manner, and is like to life and death.
17. The philosophers and high knowers [naturalists] of. nature, write, that nature consists in three2 things, viz. in Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, which is very right: but the simple will understand nothing therein: and although the apprehension of it was open to the wise [so that they understood it] yet at this present time very few understand the centre, but they have it in the history, as also [they have] the divinity or theology from the mouth of the Apostles, which at present is also no other than a history, without the power and the living spirit (which was among the Apostles), as is clearly testified by their contentious disputations, lip-labour and dead letter [in their teachings].
18. Now seeing we have through the divine grace attained the light, and are able to know the centre, which is the birth of our life, we have power to demonstrate it, and show what is comprised and understood in the three words, Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt: not that we thereby despise the ignorant blindness: but as a Christian we would willingly afford and show them the light. And although our speech seems simple, yet our knowledge, meaning, and apprehension is very deep: none should be offended at the simple speech: as if we had not the deep apprehension. Let him but read it with a true earnestness, and consider seriously of it, in the fear of God, and he shall find well enough what spirit's child we are in this writing; but we would have him faithfully warned, concerning the scorners and hypocrites.
19. As is mentioned concerning the Sulphur, the centre is and may very well be called PHUR: but if the light be generated, the light that shines out of the PHUR is called SUL, for it is the soul thereof. And as I say of the dark centre, wherein the divine light is generated, the same I say also of nature: though indeed they are one: but we must so speak, that we might bring it into the thoughts of the Reader, that he might incline his mind to the light, and so attain it.
20. For the two forms, viz. sharp cold, and bitter stinging, which are generated by the longing in eternal will, they hold the centre, and make the wheel of the essences, whence the senses [Or thoughts], as also perception and mobility continually arise eternally.
21. Now these two forms are in very great and terrible anguish, in themselves, without the other forms that are generated out of them. For the attracting sharp sourness is like to hard stones, and the sting of the attracting is the breaker of the astringency: and so it is like a wheel, and may well be called PHUR: as the language of nature in that syllable does declare.
22. Therefore though the two forms enter so terribly in themselves into the will, and hold the
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