The Forty Questions of the Soul

23. * Unless the Holy Ghost ride upon its chariot, as it did in Moses and Elias, and in all the Prophets, also in Christ and his disciples, and always still in the 3 holy children of God; they all have this power; they can raise the dead and heal the sick, and expel all diseases; it is natural, the spirit only ruleth therewith over the turba.

24. f But it hath this for an objection, that the soul knoweth well, whether it hath made any compact with the devil, and whether he hath anything to do with it; it will not go naked, except the spirit of God drive it, and except it have him for a shield, lest the subtlety of the devil should insinuate itself.

25. It doth no 4 wonder, except the spirit of God 5 stir it up; it attributeth the power to God, and giveth him the glory; it doth as a humble child, and standeth still under the cross, and letteth the devil $go rushing away over it; but it sprouteth forth in humility and meekness, through death into eternal life, and bringeth forth much fruit in patience.

1 Or give, or afford.

2 turba magna.

3 Note, the soul must now seek this power in Jesus Christ.

4 Or miracles.

5 Or awaken.

* "Unless" (Es set dann), "If therefore."

f "But it hath this for an objection" (dieses habet zurn Gegen-Bericht) , "the counter- statement to this is," or "on the other hand."

X "go rushing away" (rauscheri), to make a rushing noise or roar, like wind, water or fire.

26. And so the devil can do nothing to it, it is as it were dead 1 to him; he may make a stir and racket with his turba in the earthly hfe, with his helpers the wicked men; but this he hath as a scorn, in the sight of God: for he is a proud spirit, and would be above the wonders of God, but humility can 2 bind him.

27. After this manner every man may escape the false 3 magician, and also the necromancer; for no power can touch him in whom God dwelleth: and as Christ in his death overcame death and the devil, so also can we in Christ, for the Word which became man dwelleth in us, and in the Word we can rule over the devil and hell; nothing can hinder us.

28. And thus we give you for an answer to this Question, that the soul in its original is greatly powerful, it can do much; but its power is only in that Principle wherein it is, for the devil cannot rule over God.

29. Its power is not given to it, as a king giveth favour and power to a man, but it consisteth in a natural right; therefore we are children of the omnipotence of God, and inherit his goods in the omnipotence.

1 Or before.

2 Or subdue.

3 Or magus.

THE SEVENTH QUESTION
Whether is the Soul Corporeal, or not Corporeal?

1. THAT thing which comes from no beginning, hath also nothing: But if it be somewhat, then it seeketh its beginning in itself; for every spirit dwelleth in the deepest abyss of its 1 essence: And if it must make the essence to itself, then it can dwell in nothing that can give it anything, but in itself, in its own essence.

2. When God created the soul, then the Holy Ghost 2 clothed it with the tincture; for one part of the soul consisted in the tincture; it was 3 naked of itself, as the glowing fire is naked, and is clothed when it hath the tincture.

3. But you understand, that *the growing proceedeth from the warmth; that is the driver forth of the tincture, it driveth the twig out of its root, viz. out of its own fire, be it cold or hot fire.

1 Or being.

2 Or encompassed.

3 without a body, raw or red.

4 Or source.

* "the growing proceedeth," etc., or, "from the warmth proceedeth the growing, which is an impulse of the tincture, and impels the twig," etc., or else, "from the warmth proceedeth the growing, that is, an impulsion of the tincture which actuateth the twig," etc.

4. For darkness hath the cold fire so long till it attaineth the anguish, and then it kindleth itself in the heat, as you see in a herb, if it cometh into another * property.