The Forty Questions of the Soul
265. Then the last findeth the first again in itself, and so the last becometh the model and glass of the first, and the first of the last, and so it becometh an eternal band, and standeth in the will, in the desiring, seeking and finding, and the
2 Mysterium magnum is included in this essence.
266. But now the middlemost in the desire willeth to have a 3 fulfilling, wherein it may rest, or else all would be in an anguishing source: and the desiring draweth forth the middlemost of all forms, wherewith it satiateth its hunger, wherewith also it is in joy in itself in perfection; and so out of the anguish there cometh a love, a satiating of the source, and the middlemost is Sulphur, wherewith the spirit 4 refresheth itself in the will, for Sulphur hath two forms in it, viz. 5 power and light.
267. And this together is the essence born out of all forms, it is 6 matter, essentiality, corporality, the divine body, Christ's heavenly flesh, and it is the full satiating of the spirit in the O J also it is the rest, and the manifestation of the Deity; it subsisteth in the virgin of Wisdom.
i X. 10.
2 great Mystery.
3 Or satiating.
4 Or quickeneth or enliveneth.
5 Phur, Power; Sul, light.
6 materia, substantiality.
268. The cross is its * limit; and it is the essentiahty, which by sinking entereth into death, as is mentioned before, where the wrath remaineth in death; and it is
2 still as a death or a nothing, and the life sprouteth up out of it, in another Principle.
269. Itself is not the Principle, but the Principle is born in it, all glasses of the
3 magic are manifested in it, and all the wonders of the 4 genetrix; it containeth the Mysterium magnum, and out of it the spirit openeth the wonders of eternity: the spirit giveth it the essences, for it is the food for the hunger of the spirit.
270. It is an essence of wonders, without number and end; also it hath no beginning, for the spirit in the desire maketh it begin from eternity, and it continueth 5 to eternity: it is 6 the body of the Ternary (which is called God), and
6 the body of angels; so that the spirit subsisteth in an image, or else it would not be known.
271. Thus it knoweth itself in the image, and seeketh the best 7 magic, and it findeth what it seeketh, and eateth it, and thereby giveth its will to the divine body, so that there is a unity in the holy Principle.
272. For the wonders arise in the will of the corporeal spirit; which wonders take hold of the spirit of eternity, viz. of the Holy Ghost, and thus there is a sound and song proceeding from the eternal wonders, for the will of the corporeal spirit is therein.
1 Or end, pitch, bounds.
2 Or quiet.
3 magia.
4 Or bearer.
5 Or in.
6 Or a.
7 magia, unity.
273. And in these seven forms, the joy of the Deity is increased and perfected, for it is a satiating of the eternal desire, and it is the eternal food.
274. But seeing all essences arise from fire, therefore we will clearly set before you the Mysterium magnum, and shew you paradise; if any to whom this is told and discovered, will be blind, let him * l adventure it with Babel.
275. You know that every life consisteth in fire and water, and the essentiality is its body, and the body proceedeth from the power of the spirit; for it is the food of the spirit, and the spirit again is the food of the body, and the highest and greatest
2 nutriment is in itself; for the outward body could not sustain it, if the true life were not in itself.
276. Now then fire is the first cause of life; and light is the second cause; and the spirit the third cause; and yet there is but one essence, which closeth itself in one only body, and manifesteth itself, and so findeth by seeking.
277. And every essence 3 consisteth 4 of two essences, viz. of an inward and an outward, one seeketh and findeth the other; the outward is nature, the inward is spirit above nature; and yet there is no separation, but in that which is included in a time; there the time parteth the limit, so that the end findeth the beginning.
1 to perish.
2 Or nourishment.
3 is.
* "adventure, perish" (hinfahren), "depart."
265. Then the last finds the first again in itself, and so the last becomes the model and glass of the first, and the first of the last, and so it becomes an eternal band, and stands in the will, in the desiring, seeking and finding, and the
2 Mysterium magnum is included in this essence.
266. But now the middlemost in the desire wills to have a 3 fulfilling, wherein it may rest, or else all would be in an anguishing source: and the desiring draws forth the middlemost of all forms, wherewith it satiats its hunger, wherewith also it is in joy in itself in perfection; and so out of the anguish there comes a love, a satiating of the source, and the middlemost is Sulphur, wherewith the spirit 4 refreshes itself in the will, for Sulphur has two forms in it, viz. 5 power and light.
267. And this together is the essence born out of all forms, it is 6 matter, essentiality, corporality, the divine body, Christ's heavenly flesh, and it is the full satiating of the spirit in the O J also it is the rest, and the manifestation of the Deity; it subsists in the virgin of Wisdom.
i X. 10.
2 great Mystery.
3 Or satiating.
4 Or quickens or enlivens.
5 Phur, Power; Sul, light.
6 materia, substantiality.
268. The cross is its * limit; and it is the essentiahty, which by sinking enters into death, as is mentioned before, where the wrath remains in death; and it is
2 still as a death or a nothing, and the life sprouts up out of it, in another Principle.
269. Itself is not the Principle, but the Principle is born in it, all glasses of the
3 magic are manifested in it, and all the wonders of the 4 genetrix; it contains the Mysterium magnum, and out of it the spirit opens the wonders of eternity: the spirit gives it the essences, for it is the food for the hunger of the spirit.
270. It is an essence of wonders, without number and end; also it has no beginning, for the spirit in the desire makes it begin from eternity, and it continues 5 to eternity: it is 6 the body of the Ternary (which is called God), and
6 the body of angels; so that the spirit subsists in an image, or else it would not be known.
271. Thus it knows itself in the image, and seeks the best 7 magic, and it finds what it seeks, and eats it, and thereby gives its will to the divine body, so that there is a unity in the holy Principle.
272. For the wonders arise in the will of the corporeal spirit; which wonders take hold of the spirit of eternity, viz. of the Holy Ghost, and thus there is a sound and song proceeding from the eternal wonders, for the will of the corporeal spirit is therein.
1 Or end, pitch, bounds.
2 Or quiet.
3 magia.
4 Or bearer.
5 Or in.
6 Or a.
7 magia, unity.
273. And in these seven forms, the joy of the Deity is increased and perfected, for it is a satiating of the eternal desire, and it is the eternal food.
274. But seeing all essences arise from fire, therefore we will clearly set before you the Mysterium magnum, and show you paradise; if any to whom this is told and discovered, will be blind, let him * l adventure it with Babel.
275. You know that every life consists in fire and water, and the essentiality is its body, and the body proceeds from the power of the spirit; for it is the food of the spirit, and the spirit again is the food of the body, and the highest and greatest
2 nutriment is in itself; for the outward body could not sustain it, if the true life were not in itself.
276. Now then fire is the first cause of life; and light is the second cause; and the spirit the third cause; and yet there is but one essence, which closes itself in one only body, and manifests itself, and so finds by seeking.
277. And every essence 3 consists 4 of two essences, viz. of an inward and an outward, one seeks and finds the other; the outward is nature, the inward is spirit above nature; and yet there is no separation, but in that which is included in a time; there the time parts the limit, so that the end finds the beginning.
1 to perish.
2 Or nourishment.
3 is.
* "adventure, perish" (hinfahren), "depart."
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