The Forty Questions of the Soul

37. But this is wholly thrown to the ground; and now there is so learned a school that it contemneth all Gods 1 wonders: but it is Babel, and not the spirit of God: it is envious pride; they stand up and cry, Come ye all to me; here is Christ, here is the Gospel: Indeed there is pride, covetousness, ambition, and self-seeking and vainglory, an exaltation of proud Babel.

38. It is even the old Antichrist, and they are young twigs sprung out of the old tree; and they have stirred up the turba with their strong wrathful sap; which turba shall root up the whole tree, for God hath cursed it: it is wholly evil, and wormeaten; it must fall.

• 39. For it is a young tree grown out of the root, out of the old root, which shall
• * discover what the old tree hath been in its wonders.

40. Yet we would not despise any, but only speak of our wonders, and say that the servant shall enter into the house, and be free; for the time is at hand that he should eat with the son, and be merry and rejoice with him.

41. Thus we answer this your Question summarily, that indeed the holy souls do certainly know of our holy works, and approve of them; but they do not at all regard false works; for they dwell in another Principle, into which no evil work can come, neither do they look upon, or regard it; they do not inquire after that which belongeth to the devil, they know nothing but that which reacheth to their Principle.

1 Or miracles.

* "discover" (verklaren) , "transfigure" or "glorify." In this particular case the meaning is "reveal," or "shew forth."

42. Children, parents, friends, and strangers are all alike to them; for in heaven we are all brethren: They take no greater care of parents or children than they do of others, unless they serve God; and then their service of God is acceptable and joyful to them, but they enter not into their 1 turba.

43. For after the last day honest parents shall know nothing of their children which are in hell; therefore it is sufficiently and plainly known to us, that they now also take no care about wicked matters.

1 The evil which they do, or suffer justly.

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH QUESTION

Whether do the Souls l departed know and understand this or that Business and Art whereof, while they were in the Body, they had sufficient Skill?

1. THIS is as in the following Question: All their works appear to them in their will, after a magical manner: they see them, but the figure of them shall then first be given them at the day of restoration, so that they shall be able rightly to behold their works; for they must first be tried by the fire, and whatsoever is false *must remain with its 2 turba in the fire, according to the words of 3 Christ.

2. But it is strange that men should ask whether they know arts or no. Without question they know all arts, how deeply soever they are grounded, but they dare not 4 awaken them that they should appear in their spirit; for arts are born in the centre of nature, out of those essences wherein the wonders lie, which they sought in this world, so far as hath been opened to them in the Mystery.

1 Or in death.

2 uncleanness, or dross.

3 The words of Christ in Paul.

4 Or bring them into act.

* "must remain with its turba," etc., lit., "the turba thereof must remain in the fire."

3. A soul that is without the divine body, doth not willingly enter into the Mystery for art; it stands still in its rest; it feareth the turba; it giveth God the glory.

4. But those souls that are highly enlightened, who have heavenly essentiality in their spirit, they have the skill and knowledge of heavenly things, and of whatsoever lieth hidden in the Mystery; especially those who have been conversant with the Mystery in this life: *the other search not into the Mystery.

5. For every one continueth in his x calling, in that which he delighted in here; although there be no such working, yet they have their joy in it; for in heaven there is a humble, simple children's life.