The Forty Questions of the Soul

26. Thou art in the world: hast thou an honest 3 calling void of deceit? Continue in it, work, labour, finish thy business, as necessity requireth; seek out wonders, both in the earth and other elements; let the art be what it will, it is all the work of God: seek silver and gold in the earth, and make artificial works of them: build and plant: All serves to manifest God's works of wonder.

But mark this 4 A. B. C.

27. Thou must not give thy spirit leave to enter into, and fill itself therewith, and so make a mammon of it, and 5 set itself therein, as in a darkness, else it is but a fool in the sight of God, and the devil's ape, and its will is wholly fixed therein; and so thy noble image is altered according to thy imagination in the spirit, and according to thy will, which sticks in covetousness, and so thou losest God's image.

1 Or the understanding of the whole Scripture is contained in it.

2 sight, or vision.

3 Or employment.

4 Or Lesson.

5 Or make its nest therein.

28. For that is magical, it is as subtle as a spirit, yea, much more subtle; it is much more subtle and thin than the soul itself; it is as God, who dwelleth in the eternal liberty, unapprehended by anything; for it is thinner than anything, and so is thy noble image.

29. And yet it consisteth 1 in heavenly flesh and blood, and is an essentiality come out of the divine body; it is Christ's flesh and blood, and thy soul dwelleth therein;

2 it is the fire of the Majesty therein.

30. And the Holy Ghost sitteth in the heart of the image, and proceedeth from the image with voices, languages, wonders, sounds, and songs.

31. If thou art 3 upright, thou bringest thy wonders into this image; and do it thus: Set thy left will upon the work which thou doest, and consider that thou art God's servant in the vineyard of God, and labour faithfully.

32. And direct thy right will upon God, and that which is eternal, and think not thyself secure at any time; think that thou art but at thy day-labour, and must always listen for the voice when thy Master shall bid thee come home.

1 Or of.

2 the soul.

3 faithful, and sincere.

33. Give reason no 1 room to say, This is my treasure, it is mine, I have enough, I will gather much, that I may get honour in the world, and leave much to my children.

34. But consider, that thy children are God's children, and thou God's servant; that thy work is God's work, and that thy money, goods, mind, and blood are in God's hand; he may do what he will with them: When he calleth thee home to thine own country, then he may take thy labour and give it to another.

35. And give thy heart no 2 room to suffer the spirit of thy will to bring in haughtiness into the image, but cast down thy will continually in humihty before God; and so thy image always entereth with thy will in humihty into the Majesty of God; and so thy image is continually enlightened with the high triumphing light of God.

36. 0! how cheerful is the soul, when its anguish-source of fire 3 tasteth God's light; how exceeding 4 courteous is it! O! how it boweth itself before God!

37. Thus the soul and the image in the spirit are all three in one another, for they are one essence according to the Holy Trinity: My beloved Brother, we answer to this Question of yours thus, that the soul cannot be any other way enlightened than thus, its illumination is only after this manner.

1 Or leave.

2 Or leave.

3 Or perceiveth.

4 Or friendly.

38. The soul is in this world, and also in God; here in this life it is a servant of God's wonders, which it should open with one eye, and with the other bring them into the beginning before God, and set and cast all its doings into God's will, and by no means say of anything in this world, This is mine, I am lord of this, for it lieth if it say so.

39. All is God's, thou art a servant, and shouldst walk in love and humility towards God, and thy brother: for thy brother's soul is a fellow-member with thy soul, thy brother's joy in heaven with God is also thy joy, his wonders are also thy wonders.

40. For in heaven God is All in All, he filleth all, the Holy Ghost is the life in all; there is mere joy, there is no sorrow, there all is God's; also all belong to the image of God; all things are common; one rejoiceth at the power, brightness, and beauty of another; there is no malice or envy, for all that remaineth in death and hell.