The Forty Questions of the Soul
6. All this, yea, and much more, he hath conceived in his will, and therewith the image of the spirit of the soul hath been filled, and all this standeth in his figure; and whenever the body 2 dieth, then the turba compriseth all this in the spirit.
7. And then if the spirit would now enter into itself, the turba goeth with it and seeketh the ground, viz. the root of the soul, and so the fire is but 3 kindled by it.
1 had gotten an office.
2 Or returns to earth.
3 inflamed.
8. And you must know, that the souls of the wicked have no mitigation, their best ease and joy is when they climb up in the will, in their l works which they did here, and continually desire to do them more still; it grieveth them that they did not afflict the honest more than they did; their will is just as it was here.
9. They are spirits of pride, like the devil, also of covetousness, and so they swallow down their abominations which they committed here; their joy is only to think how they will contemn God, and be their own lords; this is their recreation and refreshment, and no other.
10. For how should they receive any other refreshment? They dare not for shame lift up their eyes to God, nor dare they fly to the saints, whom they have here scorned; they are ashamed to do that, for their falsehood continually smiteth them on the face, and their malice and falsehood rise up from eternity to eternity.
11. When but the least thought of the last day cometh into their minds, then fear and horror stir in them; they had rather let that thought alone, and recreate themselves in haughtiness.
12. And this is also a wonder, and the greatest wonder of all, that an 2 angel should become such a furious 3 devil; and so the power of God's anger cometh to be manifested: for God hath manifested himself according to both 4 eyes, in love and anger; and it is left free to man, he may go into which of them he will; God throweth none into wrath, the soul casteth itself into it.
1 employment or office.
2 Or an image of love.
3 Or mad, senseless image of anger and wrath.
4 the eye of love, and the eye of wrath.
13. But you must know that the wrath hath set its 1 throat wide open, and draweth mightily, and desireth to devour all; for it is the covetousness and the pride insulting over humility.
14. And so also love and humility have opened their mouth, and draw with all their powers, and would draw man into love, into heaven.
15. Now into which of these the soul entereth, in that it remaineth and groweth, whether in love or in anger; in that tree it standeth, and there is no deliverance in eternity from thence; here in this life the soul stands in a balance in the angle, and may (though it hath been evil) be born again in love, but when the balance breaketh, then it is gone; it is afterwards in its own country, in its Principle.
16. Who shall break that which is eternal, where no breaker can be found? for it is its own maker: Whence then shall another turba come, when a thing is in the eternity where no limit is?
17. But that you may yet see that God willeth not evil, and maketh his will known unto you; he sendeth you prophets and teachers, and giveth them his spirit, that they may give you warning: Now if you refuse to obey, then you stay still willingly in the anger, which is your 2 wages and kingdom.
18. God 3 afflicteth you to break you off from your own will, from your voluptuous, proud, and dissolute hfe: But if you go on, you shall hereafter surely taste the hellish dregs.
1 Or jaws.
2 dwelling, or prison.
3 sends you crosses.
19. We teach you the cross, and the devil teacheth you pleasure: Now you may take which you will, and that you shall have, be it love or wrath.
20. We labour for you, but you contemn us; what should we do more for you? We are even your very slaves; if you will not accept us, be it at your peril, and get you gone with that which is your own, and we will take that which is ours, and so we are parted for ever.
21. We will still work in our day-labour, and do what is commanded us; at the harvest we shall appear before one another, and then you will know us, and do that to yourselves there which you have here done to us; we will not hide this from you, but speak what we see.
6. All this, yea, and much more, he has conceived in his will, and therewith the image of the spirit of the soul has been filled, and all this stands in his figure; and whenever the body 2 dies, then the turba comprises all this in the spirit.
7. And then if the spirit would now enter into itself, the turba goes with it and seeks the ground, viz. the root of the soul, and so the fire is but 3 kindled by it.
1 had gotten an office.
2 Or returns to earth.
3 inflamed.
8. And you must know, that the souls of the wicked have no mitigation, their best ease and joy is when they climb up in the will, in their l works which they did here, and continually desire to do them more still; it grievs them that they did not afflict the honest more than they did; their will is just as it was here.
9. They are spirits of pride, like the devil, also of covetousness, and so they swallow down their abominations which they committed here; their joy is only to think how they will contemn God, and be their own lords; this is their recreation and refreshment, and no other.
10. For how should they receive any other refreshment? They dare not for shame lift up their eyes to God, nor dare they fly to the saints, whom they have here scorned; they are ashamed to do that, for their falsehood continually smits them on the face, and their malice and falsehood rise up from eternity to eternity.
11. When but the least thought of the last day comes into their minds, then fear and horror stir in them; they had rather let that thought alone, and recreate themselves in haughtiness.
12. And this is also a wonder, and the greatest wonder of all, that an 2 angel should become such a furious 3 devil; and so the power of God's anger comes to be manifested: for God has manifested himself according to both 4 eyes, in love and anger; and it is left free to man, he may go into which of them he will; God throws none into wrath, the soul casts itself into it.
1 employment or office.
2 Or an image of love.
3 Or mad, senseless image of anger and wrath.
4 the eye of love, and the eye of wrath.
13. But you must know that the wrath has set its 1 throat wide open, and draws mightily, and desires to devour all; for it is the covetousness and the pride insulting over humility.
14. And so also love and humility have opened their mouth, and draw with all their powers, and would draw man into love, into heaven.
15. Now into which of these the soul enters, in that it remains and grows, whether in love or in anger; in that tree it stands, and there is no deliverance in eternity from thence; here in this life the soul stands in a balance in the angle, and may (though it has been evil) be born again in love, but when the balance breaks, then it is gone; it is afterwards in its own country, in its Principle.
16. Who shall break that which is eternal, where no breaker can be found? for it is its own maker: Whence then shall another turba come, when a thing is in the eternity where no limit is?
17. But that you may yet see that God wills not evil, and makes his will known unto you; he sends you prophets and teachers, and gives them his spirit, that they may give you warning: Now if you refuse to obey, then you stay still willingly in the anger, which is your 2 wages and kingdom.
18. God 3 afflicts you to break you off from your own will, from your voluptuous, proud, and dissolute hfe: But if you go on, you shall hereafter surely taste the hellish dregs.
1 Or jaws.
2 dwelling, or prison.
3 sends you crosses.
19. We teach you the cross, and the devil teaches you pleasure: Now you may take which you will, and that you shall have, be it love or wrath.
20. We labour for you, but you contemn us; what should we do more for you? We are even your very slaves; if you will not accept us, be it at your peril, and get you gone with that which is your own, and we will take that which is ours, and so we are parted for ever.
21. We will still work in our day-labour, and do what is commanded us; at the harvest we shall appear before one another, and then you will know us, and do that to yourselves there which you have here done to us; we will not hide this from you, but speak what we see.
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