The Forty Questions of the Soul
29. And then the astringent Fiat, in the fiery essence of the soul, figureth for the soul an image of the imagination that is in its will: whatsoever the essential fire of the soul desireth, that will be figured in the soul, viz. * earthly figures: that which the will of the heart casteth itself into, that image the Fiat of the soul will make; that is, as far as the third Principle, and the spirit of the stars and elements have power.
30. So that if the will of the soul casteth itself into the kingdom of this world, then the outward kingdom hath power to bring its imagination into the inward Principle; and if the inward Fiat perceiveth that in the fire of the soul, then it becometh pregnant with it, and retaineth it.
31. And then the soul hath the image of a beast in the third Principle, and that cannot be destroyed for ever, except the will of the soul returneth again out of the earthly lust, and pierceth into the love of God again, and then it getteth the image of God again, which may be done only in this life, while the soul is essentially in its 2 aether, in the growing of its tree; but after this life it cannot be done.
1 sternness, sharpness, or eagerness.
2 ground, or soil, or bed of earth.
* "earthly figures," etc., lit., "earthly figures, wherein the soul's will entereth, as avarice, pride, or whatever it may be that the will of the heart casteth itself into."
32. Thus you may understand what the soul, spirit, image, and turba are. The soul dwelleth in itself, and is an essential fire; and its image standeth in itself, in the imagination in the light of the soul, if it cleave to God; if not, then it is in anxiety in the wrath of darkness, and is an * abominable l image, or an image of the devil.
33. The turba of the soul, which destroyeth the divine image, is the essential wrathfulness; and it is caused by the imagination, or false love and 2 representation, and therefore all lieth in the imagination: the image consisteth in that which we permit to come into our desire.
34. It is very necessary for us to strive continually against the earthly reason of flesh and blood, and to yield the spirit of our wills into the mercy and love of God, and always cast ourselves into the will of God, and not account earthly 3 goods and pleasure our treasure, setting our desire therein, which will destroy the image; for it is a turba of the image of God, and bringeth earthly properties into the image.
1 vizard, or monster.
2 Or imaging.
3 Or profit.
* "abominable image" (Larva), "mask," or "larva" grub.
35. l To sum up all: Christ said, 2 Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also; according to which 3 God will judge the secrets of mankind, and sever the clean from the unclean; and give that which is false to the turba of the fire to be devoured; and that which is holy, which is entered into God he will introduce into his kingdom. AMEN.
1 Or to conclude.
2 Matt. vi. 21.
3 Rom. ii. 16.
[ Here the printed book includes Bohme's The Claris
(pages numbered separately, i— vi and 1—52). ]
(Note ed.: an electronic text version of the Clavis has been prepared earlier.
It can be found in the archive.org)
A CATALOG OF THE BOOKS
WRITTEN BY JACOB BEHMEN
1. Anno 1612. He wrote the first book called Aurora, the Rising of the Sun, and he, being accused as author thereof, this book was laid up by the Magistrate at Gorlitz, at Court, and command given him that he should henceforth (being a simple layman) refrain writing of books, which did not belong to his profession and condition. Whereupon he did refrain for seven years, but afterwards, being stirred up again by the Holy Spirit of God, and also being encouraged thereto by the entreaty and desires of some people that feared God, he betook himself to his pen again, and proceeded in writing, and perfected, with good leisure and deliberation, the rest which follow, viz.:
2. Anno 1619. The second book, Of the Three Principles, together with^i Appendix of the Threefold Life of Man.
29. And then the astringent Fiat, in the fiery essence of the soul, figures for the soul an image of the imagination that is in its will: whatsoever the essential fire of the soul desires, that will be figured in the soul, viz. * earthly figures: that which the will of the heart casts itself into, that image the Fiat of the soul will make; that is, as far as the third Principle, and the spirit of the stars and elements have power.
30. So that if the will of the soul casts itself into the kingdom of this world, then the outward kingdom has power to bring its imagination into the inward Principle; and if the inward Fiat perceives that in the fire of the soul, then it becomes pregnant with it, and retains it.
31. And then the soul has the image of a beast in the third Principle, and that cannot be destroyed for ever, except the will of the soul returns again out of the earthly lust, and pierces into the love of God again, and then it getts the image of God again, which may be done only in this life, while the soul is essentially in its 2 aether, in the growing of its tree; but after this life it cannot be done.
1 sternness, sharpness, or eagerness.
2 ground, or soil, or bed of earth.
* "earthly figures," etc., lit., "earthly figures, wherein the soul's will enters, as avarice, pride, or whatever it may be that the will of the heart casts itself into."
32. Thus you may understand what the soul, spirit, image, and turba are. The soul dwells in itself, and is an essential fire; and its image stands in itself, in the imagination in the light of the soul, if it cleave to God; if not, then it is in anxiety in the wrath of darkness, and is an * abominable l image, or an image of the devil.
33. The turba of the soul, which destroys the divine image, is the essential wrathfulness; and it is caused by the imagination, or false love and 2 representation, and therefore all lies in the imagination: the image consists in that which we permit to come into our desire.
34. It is very necessary for us to strive continually against the earthly reason of flesh and blood, and to yield the spirit of our wills into the mercy and love of God, and always cast ourselves into the will of God, and not account earthly 3 goods and pleasure our treasure, setting our desire therein, which will destroy the image; for it is a turba of the image of God, and brings earthly properties into the image.
1 vizard, or monster.
2 Or imaging.
3 Or profit.
* "abominable image" (Larva), "mask," or "larva" grub.
35. l To sum up all: Christ said, 2 Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also; according to which 3 God will judge the secrets of mankind, and sever the clean from the unclean; and give that which is false to the turba of the fire to be devoured; and that which is holy, which is entered into God he will introduce into his kingdom. AMEN.
1 Or to conclude.
2 Matt. vi. 21.
3 Rom. ii. 16.
[ Here the printed book includes Bohme's The Claris
(pages numbered separately, i— vi and 1—52). ]
(Note ed.: an electronic text version of the Clavis has been prepared earlier.
It can be found in the archive.org)
A CATALOG OF THE BOOKS
WRITTEN BY JACOB BEHMEN
1. Anno 1612. He wrote the first book called Aurora, the Rising of the Sun, and he, being accused as author thereof, this book was laid up by the Magistrate at Gorlitz, at Court, and command given him that he should henceforth (being a simple layman) refrain writing of books, which did not belong to his profession and condition. Whereupon he did refrain for seven years, but afterwards, being stirred up again by the Holy Spirit of God, and also being encouraged thereto by the entreaty and desires of some people that feared God, he betook himself to his pen again, and proceeded in writing, and perfected, with good leisure and deliberation, the rest which follow, viz.:
2. Anno 1619. The second book, Of the Three Principles, together with^i Appendix of the Threefold Life of Man.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.