The Forty Questions of the Soul
11. And I would have you directed to our other writings, and there you shall find enough of this, for the wicked world is not worthy of an open, plain, and manifest discovery, because thereby the great secret, which belongeth only to the children of God, would be 1 defiled; for God will not have us 2 cast pearls before swine, but give them to the children for their delight; and thus do you also.
12. There is no need that the Mystery should he under worldly protection; that is a folly, and God is dishonoured by it, as if he were not able to protect it.
13. You should not look for the Mystery among the mighty, and 3 confide in them more than in others, for the 4 turba presently enters in with a law, and so the spirit of God is as it were bound, and so an Antichrist is brought forth.
14. Look upon Israel; when they rejected Samuel and their judges, and thought that if their doctrine were but under a worldly arm, and that they had but a king, then they would keep their Law; but it is known how they did: Did not their kings introduce the 5 turba, and make calves to be worshipped, and compel the people to adore their idols? This is mentioned out of my affection and good will.
15. But we give you no particular resolution of this question, you shall find enough of it in the other questions, and we dare not write any plainer.
1 Or touched.
2 Matt. vii. 6, xv. 26.
3 Or pin your faith upon their sleeves, and look for a religion from them.
4 persecution.
5 idolatry.
* "nearer the end." Here the German text goes on, "and the beginning hath found the end," and then proceeds, "and therefore it appeareth," etc.
THE THIRTY-NINTH QUESTION
What, and where is Paradise, with its Inhabitants?
1. WE have hinted, in the Enochian life, that it is in this world, yet as it were swallowed up in the Mystery; but it is not altered in itself, it is only withdrawn from our sight and our l source; for if our eyes were opened, we should see it.
2. Nay, God in his Ternary is with us; how then should paradise be lost? We have lost its 2 source and fruit in the outward life, as the devil lost God, when he wilfully exalted himself as a haughty spirit, and would be lord; so it is with us.
3. When Adam ate of the earthly fruit of good and evil, then he also gat an earthly life, good and evil, and was driven out of the fair garden of paradise, where heavenly fruit grew, into this earthly life.
4. Many have written wonderfully of paradise, but now their blindness appears in the daylight, whom yet we contemn not, for they were seekers. Every 3 age hath had its seekers, who have sought the 4 Mysterium; but it hath been a long time very dark in Babel.
1 property, or sense.
2 property, or working.
3 Or seculum.
4 Or hidden Mystery.
5. Now for these two hundred years it hath begun to open itself again; in which time the fall of Antichrist *hath discovered itself, and men have begun to storm Babel on one side, but her f strong l tower standeth firm still; indeed the whore hath been somewhat discovered, yet her 2 beast hath but grown the more lusty.
6. Therefore there is yet a wonderful time near at hand, wherein all things shall be altered: 3 many great mountains and hills shall be made plain; and a fountain shall flow out o/Zion, wherein the afflicted and distressed shall drink and be refreshed.
7. And they shall be led to the fresh pasture with a staff, and the shepherd shall rejoice with the sheep, that God is so gracious.
8. At that time silver and gold shall be as common as in Solomon's time, and his wisdom shall govern the whole earth: this is a wonder.
1 Or bulwark.
2 worldly authority.
3 Ezek. xxxviii. 20.
* "hath discovered itself," or "become evident." St Martin has, "s'est annoncee.' f "strong tower," or "stronghold."
THE FORTIETH QUESTION
Whether is Paradise mutable, and what shall it be afterwards?
1. AS little as God is mutable, so little is paradise mutable, for it is a part of the Deity; and when this outward dominion shall pass away, in the very place where the world now standeth, there will be mere paradise; for the earth will be of a heavenly essentiality, so that we shall be able to dwell anywhere, and be able to pass through and through it.
11. And I would have you directed to our other writings, and there you shall find enough of this, for the wicked world is not worthy of an open, plain, and manifest discovery, because thereby the great secret, which belongs only to the children of God, would be 1 defiled; for God will not have us 2 cast pearls before swine, but give them to the children for their delight; and thus do you also.
12. There is no need that the Mystery should he under worldly protection; that is a folly, and God is dishonoured by it, as if he were not able to protect it.
13. You should not look for the Mystery among the mighty, and 3 confide in them more than in others, for the 4 turba presently enters in with a law, and so the spirit of God is as it were bound, and so an Antichrist is brought forth.
14. Look upon Israel; when they rejected Samuel and their judges, and thought that if their doctrine were but under a worldly arm, and that they had but a king, then they would keep their Law; but it is known how they did: Did not their kings introduce the 5 turba, and make calves to be worshipped, and compel the people to adore their idols? This is mentioned out of my affection and good will.
15. But we give you no particular resolution of this question, you shall find enough of it in the other questions, and we dare not write any plainer.
1 Or touched.
2 Matt. vii. 6, xv. 26.
3 Or pin your faith upon their sleeves, and look for a religion from them.
4 persecution.
5 idolatry.
* "nearer the end." Here the German text goes on, "and the beginning has found the end," and then proceeds, "and therefore it appears," etc.
THE THIRTY-NINTH QUESTION
What, and where is Paradise, with its Inhabitants?
1. WE have hinted, in the Enochian life, that it is in this world, yet as it were swallowed up in the Mystery; but it is not altered in itself, it is only withdrawn from our sight and our l source; for if our eyes were opened, we should see it.
2. Nay, God in his Ternary is with us; how then should paradise be lost? We have lost its 2 source and fruit in the outward life, as the devil lost God, when he wilfully exalted himself as a haughty spirit, and would be lord; so it is with us.
3. When Adam ate of the earthly fruit of good and evil, then he also gat an earthly life, good and evil, and was driven out of the fair garden of paradise, where heavenly fruit grew, into this earthly life.
4. Many have written wonderfully of paradise, but now their blindness appears in the daylight, whom yet we contemn not, for they were seekers. Every 3 age has had its seekers, who have sought the 4 Mysterium; but it has been a long time very dark in Babel.
1 property, or sense.
2 property, or working.
3 Or seculum.
4 Or hidden Mystery.
5. Now for these two hundred years it has begun to open itself again; in which time the fall of Antichrist *has discovered itself, and men have begun to storm Babel on one side, but her f strong l tower stands firm still; indeed the whore has been somewhat discovered, yet her 2 beast has but grown the more lusty.
6. Therefore there is yet a wonderful time near at hand, wherein all things shall be altered: 3 many great mountains and hills shall be made plain; and a fountain shall flow out o/Zion, wherein the afflicted and distressed shall drink and be refreshed.
7. And they shall be led to the fresh pasture with a staff, and the shepherd shall rejoice with the sheep, that God is so gracious.
8. At that time silver and gold shall be as common as in Solomon's time, and his wisdom shall govern the whole earth: this is a wonder.
1 Or bulwark.
2 worldly authority.
3 Ezek. xxxviii. 20.
* "has discovered itself," or "become evident." St Martin has, "s'est annoncee.' f "strong tower," or "stronghold."
THE FORTIETH QUESTION
Whether is Paradise mutable, and what shall it be afterwards?
1. AS little as God is mutable, so little is paradise mutable, for it is a part of the Deity; and when this outward dominion shall pass away, in the very place where the world now stands, there will be mere paradise; for the earth will be of a heavenly essentiality, so that we shall be able to dwell anywhere, and be able to pass through and through it.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.