95. O how terrible is it to those that understand it, the soul trembleth at it, and it may well be afraid of this captivity, when the poor soul must be captivated by the devil, and must swim in [the lake of] God's anger. And this is the cause why God became man, that he might bring us again, in Ternarium Sanctum, into the angelical world.
96. And as we are all with Adam, gone out from God, for we have all Adam's soul and flesh, so God hath regenerated us all in Christ; and in Christ the divine kingdom standeth open, every one that will may enter in, whosoever putteth his will away from himself, and putteth it into Christ, and letteth all worldly reason go, though it have never so fair a lustre, shall be regenerated in Christ: and his soul attaineth the eternal flesh again, in which God became man, an incomprehensible flesh, of eternal substantiality.
97. The old Adamical [or mortal] flesh of death cometh not to be heavenly flesh: No, it belongeth to the earth, to death; but the eternal flesh is hidden in the old earthly man, and it is in the old man, as the fire in the iron, or as the gold in the [dark] stone.
98. This is the noble precious stone, (Lapis
Philosophorum), the Philosopher's Stone, which the Magi [or wise men] find, which tinctureth nature, and generateth a new son in the old. He who findeth that, esteemeth more highly of it than of this [outward] world. For the Son is many thousand times greater than the Father.
99. O thou bright Crown of Pearl, art thou not brighter than the sun? There is nothing like thee; thou art so very manifest, and yet so very secret, that among many thousand in this world, thou art scarcely rightly known of any one; and yet thou art carried [about] in many that know thee not.
100. Christ saith, Seek, and thou shaltfind.
It [the noble stone] must be sought for, a lazy person findeth it not, and though he carrieth it about with him, yet he knoweth it not. To whomsoever it revealeth itself, he hath all joy therein; for there is no end of its virtue [or glory] : He that hath it doth not give it away: and if he doth impart it to any, yet it is not profitable to him that is lazy, for he diveth not into its virtue, to learn that.
101. But the seeker findeth the Stone, and its virtue and benefit together, and when he findeth it, and knoweth that he is certain of it, there is greater joy in him than the world is able to apprehend, which no pen can describe, nor any tongue express, in an Adamical manner.
102. It is accounted the meanest of all stones in the Adamical eyes, and is trodden under foot, for it affordeth no lustre to the sight; if a man lights upon it, he casteth it away as an unprofitable thing; none enquire after it, though it be so very much sought for in this world. There is none on earth but desireth it. All the great ones and the wise seek it: Indeed they find one, and think it is the right: but they miss of it: they ascribe power and virtue to it: and think they have it, and will keep it: but it is not that: It needeth no virtue to be ascribed to it. All virtue lieth hidden in it.
103. He who hath it, and knoweth it, if he seeketh, he may find all things whatsoever are in heaven and in earth. It is the Stone which is rejected of the builders, and is the chief corner stone; upon whatsoever itfalleth, it grindeth to powder, and kindleth a fire therein. All universities seek it, but find it not by their seeking; sometimes it is found by one that seeketh it rightly. But others [that seek it in self, and for their own gain] despise it, and cast it away, and so it remaineth hidden still.
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
OF THE TRUE CORNERSTONE
1. IT doth most of all concern us men, in this world, to seek that which is lost. And therefore if we would seek, we must not seek without ourselves, we need no flattering hypocrites, nor such as tickle our ears to comfort us, and promise us many golden mountains if we will but run after them, and make much of them, and reverence them.
95. O how terrible is it to those that understand it, the soul trembls at it, and it may well be afraid of this captivity, when the poor soul must be captivated by the devil, and must swim in [the lake of] God's anger. And this is the cause why God became man, that he might bring us again, in Ternarium Sanctum, into the angelical world.
96. And as we are all with Adam, gone out from God, for we have all Adam's soul and flesh, so God has regenerated us all in Christ; and in Christ the divine kingdom stands open, every one that will may enter in, whosoever putts his will away from himself, and putts it into Christ, and letts all worldly reason go, though it have never so fair a lustre, shall be regenerated in Christ: and his soul attains the eternal flesh again, in which God became man, an incomprehensible flesh, of eternal substantiality.
97. The old Adamical [or mortal] flesh of death comes not to be heavenly flesh: No, it belongs to the earth, to death; but the eternal flesh is hidden in the old earthly man, and it is in the old man, as the fire in the iron, or as the gold in the [dark] stone.
98. This is the noble precious stone, (Lapis
Philosophorum), the Philosopher's Stone, which the Magi [or wise men] find, which tincturs nature, and generats a new son in the old. He who finds that, esteems more highly of it than of this [outward] world. For the Son is many thousand times greater than the Father.
99. O you bright Crown of Pearl, art you not brighter than the sun? There is nothing like you; you are so very manifest, and yet so very secret, that among many thousand in this world, you are scarcely rightly known of any one; and yet you art carried [about] in many that know you not.
100. Christ says, Seek, and you shaltfind.
It [the noble stone] must be sought for, a lazy person finds it not, and though he carries it about with him, yet he knows it not. To whomsoever it reveals itself, he has all joy therein; for there is no end of its virtue [or glory] : He that has it does not give it away: and if he does impart it to any, yet it is not profitable to him that is lazy, for he divs not into its virtue, to learn that.
101. But the seeker finds the Stone, and its virtue and benefit together, and when he finds it, and knows that he is certain of it, there is greater joy in him than the world is able to apprehend, which no pen can describe, nor any tongue express, in an Adamical manner.
102. It is accounted the meanest of all stones in the Adamical eyes, and is trodden under foot, for it affords no lustre to the sight; if a man lights upon it, he casts it away as an unprofitable thing; none enquire after it, though it be so very much sought for in this world. There is none on earth but desires it. All the great ones and the wise seek it: Indeed they find one, and think it is the right: but they miss of it: they ascribe power and virtue to it: and think they have it, and will keep it: but it is not that: It needs no virtue to be ascribed to it. All virtue lies hidden in it.
103. He who has it, and knows it, if he seeks, he may find all things whatsoever are in heaven and in earth. It is the Stone which is rejected of the builders, and is the chief corner stone; upon whatsoever itfalls, it grinds to powder, and kindls a fire therein. All universities seek it, but find it not by their seeking; sometimes it is found by one that seeks it rightly. But others [that seek it in self, and for their own gain] despise it, and cast it away, and so it remains hidden still.
THE SEVENTH CHAPTER
OF THE TRUE CORNERSTONE
1. IT does most of all concern us men, in this world, to seek that which is lost. And therefore if we would seek, we must not seek without ourselves, we need no flattering hypocrites, nor such as tickle our ears to comfort us, and promise us many golden mountains if we will but run after them, and make much of them, and reverence them.
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