The Forty Questions of the Soul

186. Further, at the left hand, Number 17, standeth Omnipotence, and it standeth without the l circle of nature also, which signifieth the Father's Mystery, which bringeth itself by the magia (that is, by the desire) into wrath, wherein the strong sounding life and strength is understood in the entrance of nature in the first three forms, viz. astringency, bitterness, and anguish; and therefore the word Wrath standeth in the space under the line, Number 18, which signifieth, that the wrath toucheth not the angle of the 2 Ternary, but is born in the desire.

3 Craft; Number 19.

187. Craft standeth at Number 19, under the word Omnipotence, which signifieth the essence coming out of the glass of the Mystery; which Craft, in the second Principle, is changed into a right understanding, and here in the magic fire it is but craft; for it is subtle and sharp, and a cause of the understanding.

1 Or bounds.

2 Or Number Three.

3 Or subtlety.

Devil; Number 20.

188. Over against Craft, Devil standeth, Number 20, in the space of the dark world, which signifieth the malice of the devil, in that he is departed from the point of the Ternary, and hath put his will into wrath and craft, on purpose to domineer over the meekness of God thereby, and to use the strength and power of the fire and wrath.

Devil's Art; Numbers 21, 22.

189. Under the word Craft, standeth Devil's Art, Numbers 21, 22. Devil standeth without the circle of nature, and Art standeth within the circle of nature, which signifieth, that the devil was created out of the Mystery of the Father, upon the line or stroke of the cross in the eternal nature, as well as the other angels: But he gat his Art, Number 22, in the magic l seeking of nature in the centre of the dark world, whereas he should have gotten it in the power of the Heart of God, and that is the cause of his fall and of his envy.

Will; Number 23.

190. Above the line, Number 23, standeth Will; signifying, that the devil hath raised up himself from the divine line (upon which he was created), as a proud spirit, who would fain have been his own lord, and have ruled by his own art and wit.

1 Or attraction.

Darkness; Number 24.

191. As also the pride and subtlety of men do now; who in the same manner raise themselves up from the line of God, from obedience, in own selfhood, in which the will cannot reach the divine power and light, but falleth into itself, into the dark anguishing magic fire; as above, over the word Will, is noted with Number 24, and first into Darkness; for reason loseth the divine understanding, and the divine desire, wherein it can receive the essence of God, and so impregnate itself with

2 power from God.

Fire; Number 25.

192. And then 3 it kindleth the Magic Fire of covetousness, so that it willeth to have 4 much, and never hath enough, as here, Number 25.

Anguish; Number 26.

193. And when it hath filled itself with covetousness, then the magic fire in the Anguish beginneth to burn, Number 26; for that which is thrown into the fire by covetousness, is fuel for the magic fire, wherein the fire burneth: and there Death is born; which must separate what covetousness hath brought in.

i Or fill.

2 Or virtue.

3 Or reason.

4 Or more.

Death; Number 27.

194. And herein also consisteth the grievous fall of Adam, who hath imagined as the devil did, and desired to have the variety of this world as his own: * He would be cunning, and get much 1 skill, and even the earthly and hellish source in the skill. Had he continued upon the stroke in the line of God, he had not been earthy, for the spirit of his will should have dwelt in God, and have f brought divine food into the body; but now he is in the Anguish, Number 26, and must again go through the Principle into Death, Number 27, where his body must be consumed in the Mystery.