The Forty Questions of the Soul
25. Therefore be not led about, and gulled with 2 toys and trifles, as hitherto ye have been, in Babel; where this and that hath been 3 disputed about the soul and its spirit; one this way, and another that way; there is no ground among them, but mere fiction and opinion.
26. Understanding is born in God, not in the schools from art; yet we despise it not; for art, if it be born in God, is a tenfold Mystery, for it always attaineth the
4 tenth number in 5 reason, much better than a 6 plain man; for it can of many numbers make one. 7
1 fountain, property.
2 rattles, fooleries, shells, specious shows, or imitation, or mimic tricks.
3 Or prated.
4 Or perfection.
5 Or wit, and understanding.
6 Or simple layman.
7 sum, or total.
27. But it standeth not in self- ability; no: one must enter in by the cross as well as the other, let him be a doctor, or a l mean man: God's secrets will admit no doctors, but scholars into them; yet a learned 2 scholar may go very far.
28. Had but this hand the high art, and also these high gifts, you would well see it; but God will have it as it is: It is indeed his pleasure, to 3 make the wisdom of this world foolishness, and to give his power to the weak, that 4 all may bow down before him, and acknowledge, that he only is the Lord that doth whatsoever he will.
1 Or layic.
2 discipulus.
3 1 Cor. i. 20.
4 all life, or creatures.
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH QUESTION
What are the Things that shall come to pass at the end of the World?
1. BELOVED Friend, it is not fit for me to answer this your question, neither is it in my own power; and besides, it is not fit for any to ask it, for it is the secret counsel of God: none should esteem himself to be equal with God, and to foreknow all things.
2. Our knowledge *consisteth in the spirit and will of God; when that moveth, then go on in the heavenly magia, and enter into the wonders of the earthly: Now is the prophet born, for he standeth upon the 1 crown, and speaketh magically of the beginning of the wonders, and their turba; and sheweth how they shall come to an end, and be destroyed, and brought again into the first.
3. For all prophets speak from the turba; f they discover that which is false, and declare what is better, which entereth into the will of God.
1 Or at the end of a time, or age.
* "consisteth," lit., "stands."
t "they discover" (sie zeigen an), "they shew," or "they point out," "expose."
4. Therefore be pleased not to * urge us with this question, for we should be captivated in the turba by it: you may understand enough in all the questions, what is to be done hereafter; we have hinted it to you clearly enough.
5. We dare not speak any otherwise, than 1 in a magical manner, of things to come; because the wonders to come are all seen in the turba: now when the spirit seeth them, then it declareth clearly and plainly how the turba is loaded with evil or good.
6. But it seeth that all things are mixed; for God is become man, and sets his mercy everywhere in the anger, and hindereth perdition; therefore the prophet must speak magically, and not in express and plain terms: for it often cometh to pass, that, though a thing be evil in its 2 essence, yet there 3 soon groweth a sprout out from the wickedness which 4 destroyeth the turba, and causeth a conversion.
7. Therefore God admonisheth you to subdue the firmamental heaven, and to oppose it; and so the evil which the firmamental heaven poureth forth is many times turned into that which is better.
8. Otherwise, if all should of necessity come to pass which the firmamental heaven hath, then we should need no teaching, for that would be a certain, constant, and perpetual calendar.
9. You know well, what Daniel, Ezekiel, and David say in their prophecies; especially the Revelation of Jesus Christ: In them lieth all that shall hereafter come to pass; and they also spake 5 magically of things to come.
1 Or by way of similitude, or in parables.
2 Or work.
3 As at Nineveh, in Jonah's time.
4 Or keepeth back vengeance.
5 in mystical terms, which outward reason could not comprehend.
* "urge" (beschwereri), "burden," or "trouble."
10. But in our writings you have them more clearly, for the time is now * nearer the end; and therefore it appeareth the more plainly what shall be done at the end.
25. Therefore be not led about, and gulled with 2 toys and trifles, as hitherto you have been, in Babel; where this and that has been 3 disputed about the soul and its spirit; one this way, and another that way; there is no ground among them, but mere fiction and opinion.
26. Understanding is born in God, not in the schools from art; yet we despise it not; for art, if it be born in God, is a tenfold Mystery, for it always attains the
4 tenth number in 5 reason, much better than a 6 plain man; for it can of many numbers make one. 7
1 fountain, property.
2 rattles, fooleries, shells, specious shows, or imitation, or mimic tricks.
3 Or prated.
4 Or perfection.
5 Or wit, and understanding.
6 Or simple layman.
7 sum, or total.
27. But it stands not in self- ability; no: one must enter in by the cross as well as the other, let him be a doctor, or a l mean man: God's secrets will admit no doctors, but scholars into them; yet a learned 2 scholar may go very far.
28. Had but this hand the high art, and also these high gifts, you would well see it; but God will have it as it is: It is indeed his pleasure, to 3 make the wisdom of this world foolishness, and to give his power to the weak, that 4 all may bow down before him, and acknowledge, that he only is the Lord that does whatsoever he will.
1 Or layic.
2 discipulus.
3 1 Cor. i. 20.
4 all life, or creatures.
THE THIRTY-EIGHTH QUESTION
What are the Things that shall come to pass at the end of the World?
1. BELOVED Friend, it is not fit for me to answer this your question, neither is it in my own power; and besides, it is not fit for any to ask it, for it is the secret counsel of God: none should esteem himself to be equal with God, and to foreknow all things.
2. Our knowledge *consists in the spirit and will of God; when that moves, then go on in the heavenly magia, and enter into the wonders of the earthly: Now is the prophet born, for he stands upon the 1 crown, and speaks magically of the beginning of the wonders, and their turba; and shows how they shall come to an end, and be destroyed, and brought again into the first.
3. For all prophets speak from the turba; f they discover that which is false, and declare what is better, which enters into the will of God.
1 Or at the end of a time, or age.
* "consists," lit., "stands."
t "they discover" (sie zeigen an), "they show," or "they point out," "expose."
4. Therefore be pleased not to * urge us with this question, for we should be captivated in the turba by it: you may understand enough in all the questions, what is to be done hereafter; we have hinted it to you clearly enough.
5. We dare not speak any otherwise, than 1 in a magical manner, of things to come; because the wonders to come are all seen in the turba: now when the spirit sees them, then it declares clearly and plainly how the turba is loaded with evil or good.
6. But it sees that all things are mixed; for God is become man, and sets his mercy everywhere in the anger, and hinders perdition; therefore the prophet must speak magically, and not in express and plain terms: for it often comes to pass, that, though a thing be evil in its 2 essence, yet there 3 soon grows a sprout out from the wickedness which 4 destroys the turba, and causes a conversion.
7. Therefore God admonishes you to subdue the firmamental heaven, and to oppose it; and so the evil which the firmamental heaven pours forth is many times turned into that which is better.
8. Otherwise, if all should of necessity come to pass which the firmamental heaven has, then we should need no teaching, for that would be a certain, constant, and perpetual calendar.
9. You know well, what Daniel, Ezekiel, and David say in their prophecies; especially the Revelation of Jesus Christ: In them lies all that shall hereafter come to pass; and they also spake 5 magically of things to come.
1 Or by way of similitude, or in parables.
2 Or work.
3 As at Nineveh, in Jonah's time.
4 Or keeps back vengeance.
5 in mystical terms, which outward reason could not comprehend.
* "urge" (beschwereri), "burden," or "trouble."
10. But in our writings you have them more clearly, for the time is now * nearer the end; and therefore it appears the more plainly what shall be done at the end.
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