The Forty Questions of the Soul

353. Only we give you to understand this, that the Ternary longed to have children like itself out of itself, and so hath manifested itself in angels, and in the soul of Adam, and is become an image; like a tree which bringeth forth fruit, and beareth a twig out of itself; for that is the right manner of eternity, and no other.

354. fit is no strange glass; but indeed one glass out of the other, and one essence out of the other, and all seek the beginning; and it is all a wonder.

355. This is the entrance; and now we will answer the rest of the Questions; but briefly, for you see already in this description all your 4 Questions. But for your longing's sake, and to satisfy the simple, who have not our knowledge, we will go through with them.

1 Rom. viii. 16.

2 imagineth, or dreameth.

3 Or is clothed withal.

4 answered.

* "teacheth" (rumpelt), "rattles on." The word "rumpeln" applies to the noisy, confusing shaking of a clumsy vehicle. It also means to mix up everything in disorder.

f "It is no strange glass," lit., "There is nothing that is strange [alien], but only one glass," etc.

THE SECOND QUESTION
What are the Essences, Substance, Nature, and Property of the Soul?

1. THE essences of the soul come out of the centre of nature, out of the fire, with all forms of nature: All the three Principles lie in the soul: All that God hath, and can do, and that God is in his 1 Ternary, that the soul is in its essences, as the virtue of a tree is in the twig that groweth out of it.

2. The substance of the soul is heavenly, created out of the heavenly divine essentiality; yet the will of it is free, either to demerse itself and esteem itself nothing, and so to eat of the love of God, as a twig feedeth upon a tree; or to rise up in its fire and be a tree of itself; and of which soever it eateth, of that it getteth 2 essentiality, viz. 3 a creaturely body.

3. The nature of the soul is the 4 centre itself, having seven spirits to propagate itself with; it is * a whole substance come out of all substances, and a similitude of the 5 Ternary, if it dwell in God; if not, then it is a similitude of Lucifer and all devils, as its property is.

1 Or Trinity.

2 Or substantiality.

3 Or the body of a creature.

4 the same with the centre of nature in the whole nature.

5 Number Three or Trinity.

* "a whole substance," or "a complete [perfect] substance."

*

4. The property of the first soul was created according to both mothers, and thereupon came the 1 temptation; and therefore it was commanded not to eat of good and evil, but of heavenly paradisical fruit, having the will and property of it obedient to God.

5. But all properties lie in it, it may awaken and let in what it will; and whatsoever it awakeneth and letteth in, is pleasing to God, if its will be in the love of God, in humility and obedience; and then it may do what 2 miracles it will, for then they all make for the glory of God.

1 proba, or trial.

2 wonders.

* "thereupon came the temptation," etc., lit., "thereupon came the temptation, and the command not to allow itself to be seduced into eating of good and evil, but only of heavenly and paradisical fruit, and it [the soul] should have directed [inclined] its will and property in God." St Martin's rendering of the last words is good, Elle aurait du par set volonte et set propriete se gouverner en Dieu.

THE THIRD QUESTION
How is the Soul created the Image of God?

1. THIS hath been satisfied already. The l Ternary, and all the three Principles, did long to have a whole similitude in essence and property, of the Essence of all essences.

2. And this longing was awakened in the Heart of God as a great wonder.

3. And the awakening was thus: The 2 astringent Fiat (viz. the desiring attraction) * contracted all into one; and this was an image of the similitude of God, of Heaven, of this world, and of the world of anger: The whole Fiat 3 in the Word of the Lord created all things out of the kingdom of God, and out of the kingdom of anger.