The Forty Questions of the Soul
2. For it is more profitable to a man than the whole world; it is more precious than the sun, for the 4 noble stone of the wise men heth therein; it hath the heavenly and earthly 5 Mysterium magnum; and there is nothing in the world to be compared to it, but 6 sincere simplicity, which is quiet, and bringeth forth or stirreth up no turba; and that hath the jewel hidden in it.
3. As gold heth in the stone and is unconsumed, if a 7 robber cometh not with the earthly turba and destroyeth it, and yet attaineth it not; so self-reason is a robber in the 8 Mystery.
4. Therefore we may say upon good ground, that a simple 9 plain man, who in simplicity, without multiplicity of science, dependeth on God, hath the Mysterium magnum better and surer, and less decayed, than a high learned 10 doctor, who soareth aloft in reason, and n spoileth the jewel and setteth it in Babel; this will not be well relished, but that is nothing to us, we must speak the truth without
12 partiality.
1 Or obedient.
2 treasure, gem, or pearl.
3 Matt. xiii. 46.
4 Or the Philosopher's Stone.
5 great Mystery.
6 Or trusting in God, and enduring whatsoever he layeth upon us.
7 Or spoiler.
8 That is, in the cabinet where the Pearl lieth.
9 Layman.
10 Or father.
11 Or disputeth, and wrangleth about it.
12 Or respect of persons.
5. Now when we speak of Christ's spirit, reason thinketh it is the soul, or else the spirit of the outward life, which consisteth in the virtue and operation of the stars and elements; but it is not so, it is another thing wherein the image of God standeth; the outward spirit belongeth not to the Deity, but to the wonders.
6. We have spoken somewhat of it already; but because this question doth put us in mind of it again, mentioning, that when he died he commended it to his Father, therefore we must speak thereof, how it was.
7. You sufficiently perceive in what manner the soul is the * centre of nature, the original of life and mobihty, viz. God's fire, which should be continually converted into the eternal wdl of God, wherein it is originally born from the magical desire, and is a great secret come out of the eternal nothing, wherein all things are contained, even the Deity with all the three Principles, and every 2 being that can be named.
8. And you perceive that the light and spirit of the air proceed from the fire, and also that the fire doth again draw the spirit of the air into itself, and so always bloweth itself up; and so with the light, air, and 3 source of the fire, it is its own life.
1 centrum natures.
2 thing, essence, or substance.
3 Or property.
9. And further, we have spoken before of the noble tincture which ariseth in the light, in which the meekness of the light consisteth, and it cometh forth from the anguish, which is as a mortification, and springeth forth afresh through the mortifying anguish, as a life having another 1 property, where the property of the fire is a kind of tincture, like the driving forth of a spirit; and yet it is desiring, and thereby it attracteth the virtue of the light into itself, and maketh it an essence, viz. water.
10. And therein are two forms: One according to the source of fire, which is red, and therein the virtue, viz. Sulphur, and the other, which is like a thin meekness, yet having essentiality, is water; which the desiring tincture contracteth into one, and changeth it into blood.
11. Now the original in the blood, viz. fire, which is a warmth, that is, a tincture, is a life; and in the virtue of the tincture, the thin water of the life proceedeth, one
2 virtue proceeding forth from 3 another; and the virtue doth always re-assume that which goeth forth: and that which is gone forth is free from the fire, and also from the virtue; for it is gone forth, and yet it arose from the virtue.
2. For it is more profitable to a man than the whole world; it is more precious than the sun, for the 4 noble stone of the wise men heth therein; it has the heavenly and earthly 5 Mysterium magnum; and there is nothing in the world to be compared to it, but 6 sincere simplicity, which is quiet, and brings forth or stirrs up no turba; and that has the jewel hidden in it.
3. As gold heth in the stone and is unconsumed, if a 7 robber comes not with the earthly turba and destroys it, and yet attains it not; so self-reason is a robber in the 8 Mystery.
4. Therefore we may say upon good ground, that a simple 9 plain man, who in simplicity, without multiplicity of science, depends on God, has the Mysterium magnum better and surer, and less decayed, than a high learned 10 doctor, who soars aloft in reason, and n spoils the jewel and setts it in Babel; this will not be well relished, but that is nothing to us, we must speak the truth without
12 partiality.
1 Or obedient.
2 treasure, gem, or pearl.
3 Matt. xiii. 46.
4 Or the Philosopher's Stone.
5 great Mystery.
6 Or trusting in God, and enduring whatsoever he lays upon us.
7 Or spoiler.
8 That is, in the cabinet where the Pearl lies.
9 Layman.
10 Or father.
11 Or disputs, and wrangls about it.
12 Or respect of persons.
5. Now when we speak of Christ's spirit, reason thinks it is the soul, or else the spirit of the outward life, which consists in the virtue and operation of the stars and elements; but it is not so, it is another thing wherein the image of God stands; the outward spirit belongs not to the Deity, but to the wonders.
6. We have spoken somewhat of it already; but because this question does put us in mind of it again, mentioning, that when he died he commended it to his Father, therefore we must speak thereof, how it was.
7. You sufficiently perceive in what manner the soul is the * centre of nature, the original of life and mobihty, viz. God's fire, which should be continually converted into the eternal wdl of God, wherein it is originally born from the magical desire, and is a great secret come out of the eternal nothing, wherein all things are contained, even the Deity with all the three Principles, and every 2 being that can be named.
8. And you perceive that the light and spirit of the air proceed from the fire, and also that the fire does again draw the spirit of the air into itself, and so always blows itself up; and so with the light, air, and 3 source of the fire, it is its own life.
1 centrum natures.
2 thing, essence, or substance.
3 Or property.
9. And further, we have spoken before of the noble tincture which arises in the light, in which the meekness of the light consists, and it comes forth from the anguish, which is as a mortification, and springs forth afresh through the mortifying anguish, as a life having another 1 property, where the property of the fire is a kind of tincture, like the driving forth of a spirit; and yet it is desiring, and thereby it attracts the virtue of the light into itself, and makes it an essence, viz. water.
10. And therein are two forms: One according to the source of fire, which is red, and therein the virtue, viz. Sulphur, and the other, which is like a thin meekness, yet having essentiality, is water; which the desiring tincture contracts into one, and changes it into blood.
11. Now the original in the blood, viz. fire, which is a warmth, that is, a tincture, is a life; and in the virtue of the tincture, the thin water of the life proceeds, one
2 virtue proceeding forth from 3 another; and the virtue does always re-assume that which goes forth: and that which is gone forth is free from the fire, and also from the virtue; for it is gone forth, and yet it arose from the virtue.
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