The Forty Questions of the Soul

88. As there is a threefold source in everything, and each is always the glass, begetter and cause of the other, nothing excepted, all things are according to the essence of the Ternary.

89. Seeing then there is a glass in the abyss, in which the source beholdeth itself; so it is also a figure and image of the source, which standeth before the source, and doth or bringeth forth nothing, but is a virgin of the source, wherein the wrathfulness of the flash 3 discerneth itself infinitely without number; and always openeth its wonders therein, by the bitter spirit of the 4 stirring essences.

1 stern.

2 Or zealous.

3 Or discovereth itself.

4 Or wriggling.

* "an angry, jealous (or zealous) God" (eiferig), "zealous." The usual word "eifersiichtig," "jealous," means literally, impelled by zeal.

• 90. Which hath its life in the flash, so that it flieth more swiftly than a thought;
• * and even the thoughts of the creatures are, and proceed herein, also the spirits of all living creatures are herein, with their root; each life according to its Principle.

91. And in this spirit of the fire-flash consisteth the great almighty life, for it is consuming; as the flash consumeth the darkness, and as the fire consumeth all things, and yet remaineth a life in itself; yet it is a hunger and thirst, and must have l essentiality, or else it remaineth a dark hungry fire; a will to devour and to enjoy nothing, a will to rage and sting, and to find nothing but itself; whence essentiality (viz. the water) and also 2 sulphur is generated, and generateth itself from eternity to eternity.

92. And here, my beloved Friend, seek the first root of the soul in the fire-life, and the second in the life of the light, in the Majesty, and so you shall find God's image and likeness, and the greatest 3 Mysteries of the Deity lying therein.

93. And although there be such an eye of the fierce wrath, wherein the earnest 4 severe fire-life taketh its original, yet it is not at all 5 severed from the life of the light, but is one only life that hath two Principles; for it burneth in two sources which are within one another; and it is one only spirit, having two distinctions, and two wills, one will dwelling in the fire, and the other in the light.

1 substance.

2 Or substantiality, or earth.

3 Or hidden secrets.

4 Or strong, or stern.

5 Or rent.

* "and even the thoughts," lit., "and although the thoughts."

94. And know certainly for a truth, that the dark fire-life is the abyss of hell; for it is the 1 severe anger of God.

95. But do not you seek, as Babel, that great city of confusion upon earth, hath sought; which we blame not for anything but her negligence and carelessness, and for seeking her own glory and power, and by that means hath ensnared herself in the wrathful anger of God; which hath a long time subjected her under its wonders, and drawn many souls into its source. Consider this.

96. In the 2 third book of our writings this is set down at large, and that book is somewhat easier to be understood than this is; but in this is the deepest ground of eternity, so far as a spirit can conceive, for it cannot bear more, yet it may be described more largely, but not more deeply, for it is comprehended in the abyss in both the Principles, for the soul ariseth in the abyss in both Principles, and in the spiritual will, in the eternity.

97. And yet if it be not wary and circumspect, the devil may easily ride in its chariot, viz. in its will; but if it be circumspect, and do cast itself into the will of the Majesty of God, then the Holy Ghost rideth in its will, and it is his chariot.

1 Or stern, or fierce.

2 Threefold Life.

98. And herein you may now finely search the ground of heaven and hell, of angels and devils, of evil and good, of life and death, if you seek, as we shall further direct you.

The Sixth Form of Fire.