The Forty Questions of the Soul
5 artificer; one 6 worketh fire in the centre, and the other maketh tincture and water, and the third maketh the earthly 7 Mysterium magnum.
18. And yet it is not any new thing, but the very seed of man and woman, and is only 8 conceived in the mixture, and so only a twig groweth out of the tree.
1 Or bound, term, goal, or end.
2 masculine.
3 feminine.
4 ab extra, or externally.
5 work-master, workman, or smith.
6 forgeth or striketh fire, schmiedet.
7 great Mystery.
8 Or bred forth.
THE NINTH QUESTION
Which Way doth the Soul unite itself with the Body?
1. IT is explained before, that all the three Principles are in one another, and they generate a child according to their similitude, and they are all in one another, till the turba destroyeth the body; and then the soul is in the inward body, viz. in the divine body; or if it be false, in the turba, which giveth a body to it, according to the imagination; all according to the abominations it hath committed.
2. The soul standeth in the blood of the heart, there it hath its seat and original; the outward water and blood mingle themselves, but it doth not wholly receive the water of the blood, but it is captivated by the imagination.
3. It receiveth indeed naturally the inward water, but it receiveth not the Majesty with the tincture of the light, but only by the imagination; therefore many times a child is 1 more blessed than one that is old, who 2 hath the devil for his guest.
4. But there are not many born 3 holy, except only from good seed; and yet many times a wrathful turba insinuateth itself, according to some powerful constellation; as it is seen that honest parents many times have 4 wicked children, but God knoweth who are his.
5. You see it in Jacob and Esau, that strove in their mother's 5 womb; also in Cain and Abel; in Isaac and Ishmael; and many others.
1 Or in a better condition.
2 Or harboureth the devil.
3 Or saints.
4 Or evil.
5 Or body.
THE TENTH QUESTION
Whether is the Soul Ex Traduce, and propagated after a human bodily
Manner; or every Time new created, and breathed in from God?
1. 1 VERY much wonder what kind of understanding and philosophy the world now hath, that it cannot * 1 resolve this; yet I do not blame you; for I know such questions are agitated by those that account themselves learned doctors in the schools and universities, who make great disputations about it. I cannot but wonder at the proud blindness, that there is no knowledge at all of God in 2 reason.
2. Now therefore, ye wise men, behold yourselves what you are, and what you understand; you understand even nothing of the Mystery, how will you then be teachers? It were better for you to carry a shepherd's crook in your hand, than to put on the garment of Christ.
3. O! you shall give an account for your seducing of the world; and yet you vaunt yourselves, as if ye were God, and arrogate divine 3 power to yourselves: Take heed what you do; you shall see against whom you have 4 kicked: I fear you are for the most part of you in Babel; awake, it is day.
1 griinden.
2 reason of the outward man.
3 Or might, or authority. Jus Divinum.
4 Or striven.
* "resolve" {griinden), "fathom."
4. To you, my beloved Friend, I give this answer: That the soul is not every time new created and breathed in, but is propagated after a human manner, as a
1 branch groweth out of a tree, or, as I may better render it, as a man setteth or soweth corn or seed, and so a spirit and body groweth out of it.
5. And this only is the difference; that the three Principles are always in 2 strife about man, each would fain have him; so that many times a wonderful turba is introduced, while yet he remains in the seed.
6. But if the parents, both father and mother, have their souls clothed with Christ's flesh, the divine essentiality, then it cannot be: For Christ saith, 3 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; yet the turba in time can enter in, 4 with the reason.
5 artificer; one 6 works fire in the centre, and the other makes tincture and water, and the third makes the earthly 7 Mysterium magnum.
18. And yet it is not any new thing, but the very seed of man and woman, and is only 8 conceived in the mixture, and so only a twig grows out of the tree.
1 Or bound, term, goal, or end.
2 masculine.
3 feminine.
4 ab extra, or externally.
5 work-master, workman, or smith.
6 forgs or striks fire, schmiedet.
7 great Mystery.
8 Or bred forth.
THE NINTH QUESTION
Which Way does the Soul unite itself with the Body?
1. IT is explained before, that all the three Principles are in one another, and they generate a child according to their similitude, and they are all in one another, till the turba destroys the body; and then the soul is in the inward body, viz. in the divine body; or if it be false, in the turba, which gives a body to it, according to the imagination; all according to the abominations it has committed.
2. The soul stands in the blood of the heart, there it has its seat and original; the outward water and blood mingle themselves, but it does not wholly receive the water of the blood, but it is captivated by the imagination.
3. It receives indeed naturally the inward water, but it receives not the Majesty with the tincture of the light, but only by the imagination; therefore many times a child is 1 more blessed than one that is old, who 2 has the devil for his guest.
4. But there are not many born 3 holy, except only from good seed; and yet many times a wrathful turba insinuats itself, according to some powerful constellation; as it is seen that honest parents many times have 4 wicked children, but God knows who are his.
5. You see it in Jacob and Esau, that strove in their mother's 5 womb; also in Cain and Abel; in Isaac and Ishmael; and many others.
1 Or in a better condition.
2 Or harbours the devil.
3 Or saints.
4 Or evil.
5 Or body.
THE TENTH QUESTION
Whether is the Soul Ex Traduce, and propagated after a human bodily
Manner; or every Time new created, and breathed in from God?
1. 1 VERY much wonder what kind of understanding and philosophy the world now has, that it cannot * 1 resolve this; yet I do not blame you; for I know such questions are agitated by those that account themselves learned doctors in the schools and universities, who make great disputations about it. I cannot but wonder at the proud blindness, that there is no knowledge at all of God in 2 reason.
2. Now therefore, you wise men, behold yourselves what you are, and what you understand; you understand even nothing of the Mystery, how will you then be teachers? It were better for you to carry a shepherd's crook in your hand, than to put on the garment of Christ.
3. O! you shall give an account for your seducing of the world; and yet you vaunt yourselves, as if you were God, and arrogate divine 3 power to yourselves: Take heed what you do; you shall see against whom you have 4 kicked: I fear you are for the most part of you in Babel; awake, it is day.
1 griinden.
2 reason of the outward man.
3 Or might, or authority. Jus Divinum.
4 Or striven.
* "resolve" {griinden), "fathom."
4. To you, my beloved Friend, I give this answer: That the soul is not every time new created and breathed in, but is propagated after a human manner, as a
1 branch grows out of a tree, or, as I may better render it, as a man setts or sows corn or seed, and so a spirit and body grows out of it.
5. And this only is the difference; that the three Principles are always in 2 strife about man, each would fain have him; so that many times a wonderful turba is introduced, while yet he remains in the seed.
6. But if the parents, both father and mother, have their souls clothed with Christ's flesh, the divine essentiality, then it cannot be: For Christ says, 3 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; yet the turba in time can enter in, 4 with the reason.
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