more can be expected, then prophesying shall cease.]
49. Therefore let none blindfold themselves, but consider what such a warning and revelation signifieth, which at present is propounded to the world. This is the time of the overthrow of the dragon, with the whore of Babel, which shall go down into the abyss. Now, he that will not flee, yet let him have warning of it. He that will bring the whore's marks forth into the light, will have great ignominy and reproach by it; we speak what we ought: The day dawneth, the sun will suddenly arise, account it not for a fiction, it is concluded and known in Ternario Sancto: Look into the Scripture in the Revelation, which the sophisters had rather it were cast out of the Bible; but the understanding of it will soon bud forth: and then the pedlars of the beast and of the whore will stand in great shame, and none will buy their wares any more. No sword destroyeth the whore, but her own mouth choketh her, for there are nothing but lies and blasphemies in it; and yet she seemeth as if she were God. Therefore say we, let everyone look to his own doing: Lift up your heads, as Christ saith, for the time of your redemption draweth near, you are baptized with water, but he that will baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with the fire of his wrath, is already on his way; be not wilfully blind.
50. Thus understand us rightly concerning the life of man, as we have now mentioned: This last forementioned life, is singly [solely, or alone] in the beasts, for it hath its original only in the Principle of this world, in the matrix of nature, which is everywhere such a spirit, and such a life, in itself.
51. And in man the life is two-fold: for man hath also the life of this [outward] Principle in him: but he desireth also another life, which is higher and better than this.
52. And now, where there is a desire, there is a mother, which is the desire itself; for no desire can make itself, it must arise out of a will; and the will must come out of the tincture, which is the life of the will.
53. Thus we know, and have searched out, that in the tincture of the Principle of this world, viz. in the life of this world, there is also another tincture, which we have an apprehension of in ourselves. If there were not another tincture, the life would desire nothing more.
54. Yet we cannot say, that the outward life desireth anything more: It desireth nothing else but its own mother, viz. the Principle of this world, for it is only a spirit therein; for no Principle desireth another; a Principle is a peculiar life, and hath its centre to nature;
and therefore we call it a Principle, because there is a total dominion in it, as there is in the eternity; which dominion desireth nothing more nor higher, but only that which may be generated in its own centre; as you may easily perceive it by the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell; for the kingdom of heaven desireth nothing but the divine Being: but hell [desireth] that which is wrathful, murderous, fiery, sour, soaring, astringent; and whatsoever is in the property of anger in the fire.
55. Now, there being in us a desire after the highest good, and after the eternity, that desire must needs proceed out of the eternal and highest will, out of the highest Being; and its life is also out of the highest tincture: for where there is a desire, there is fire; for the fire desireth substantiality, that it may have whereon to feed, and yet itself can make no substantiality, but it maketh the tincture, and the tincture maketh the substantiality, as is above mentioned.
56. Now, the tincture is a creature, for it hath
more can be expected, then prophesying shall cease.]
49. Therefore let none blindfold themselves, but consider what such a warning and revelation signifies, which at present is propounded to the world. This is the time of the overthrow of the dragon, with the whore of Babel, which shall go down into the abyss. Now, he that will not flee, yet let him have warning of it. He that will bring the whore's marks forth into the light, will have great ignominy and reproach by it; we speak what we ought: The day dawns, the sun will suddenly arise, account it not for a fiction, it is concluded and known in Ternario Sancto: Look into the Scripture in the Revelation, which the sophisters had rather it were cast out of the Bible; but the understanding of it will soon bud forth: and then the pedlars of the beast and of the whore will stand in great shame, and none will buy their wares any more. No sword destroys the whore, but her own mouth choks her, for there are nothing but lies and blasphemies in it; and yet she seems as if she were God. Therefore say we, let everyone look to his own doing: Lift up your heads, as Christ says, for the time of your redemption draws near, you are baptized with water, but he that will baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with the fire of his wrath, is already on his way; be not wilfully blind.
50. Thus understand us rightly concerning the life of man, as we have now mentioned: This last forementioned life, is singly [solely, or alone] in the beasts, for it has its original only in the Principle of this world, in the matrix of nature, which is everywhere such a spirit, and such a life, in itself.
51. And in man the life is two-fold: for man has also the life of this [outward] Principle in him: but he desires also another life, which is higher and better than this.
52. And now, where there is a desire, there is a mother, which is the desire itself; for no desire can make itself, it must arise out of a will; and the will must come out of the tincture, which is the life of the will.
53. Thus we know, and have searched out, that in the tincture of the Principle of this world, viz. in the life of this world, there is also another tincture, which we have an apprehension of in ourselves. If there were not another tincture, the life would desire nothing more.
54. Yet we cannot say, that the outward life desires anything more: It desires nothing else but its own mother, viz. the Principle of this world, for it is only a spirit therein; for no Principle desires another; a Principle is a peculiar life, and has its centre to nature;
and therefore we call it a Principle, because there is a total dominion in it, as there is in the eternity; which dominion desires nothing more nor higher, but only that which may be generated in its own centre; as you may easily perceive it by the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell; for the kingdom of heaven desires nothing but the divine Being: but hell [desires] that which is wrathful, murderous, fiery, sour, soaring, astringent; and whatsoever is in the property of anger in the fire.
55. Now, there being in us a desire after the highest good, and after the eternity, that desire must needs proceed out of the eternal and highest will, out of the highest Being; and its life is also out of the highest tincture: for where there is a desire, there is fire; for the fire desires substantiality, that it may have whereon to feed, and yet itself can make no substantiality, but it makes the tincture, and the tincture makes the substantiality, as is above mentioned.
56. Now, the tincture is a creature, for it has
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