155. We may very well observe and consider the hidden spiritual world by the visible world: for we see that fire, [1] light, and air, are continually begotten in the deep of this world; and that there is no rest or cessation from this begetting; and that it has been so from the beginning of the world; and yet men can find no cause of it in the outward world, or tell what the ground of it should be: but reason says, God has so created it, and therefore it continues so; which indeed is true in itself; but reason knows not the Creator, which does thus create without ceasing; that is, the true [2] Archaeus, or separator, which is an effluence out of the invisible world, viz. the outflown Word of God; which I mean and understand by the word fiery Mercury.
[1] or water [2] distinguisher or divider
156. For what the invisible world is, in a spiritual working, where light and darkness are in one another, and yet the one not comprehending the other, that the visible world is, in a substantial working;
whatsoever powers and virtues in the outflown word are to be [1] understood in the inward spiritual world, the same we understand also in the visible world, in the stars and elements, yet in another Principle of a more holy [2] nature.
[1] or conceived [2] kind, quality, or condition
157. The four elements flow from the Archaeus of the inward ground, that is, from the four properties of the eternal nature, and were in the beginning of time so outbreathed from the inward ground, and compressed and formed into a working substance and life; and therefore the outward world is called a Principle, and is a subject of the inward world, that is, a tool and instrument of the inward [1] master, which [1] master is the word and [2] power of God.
[1] artificer or workman [2] or virtue
158. And as the inward divine world has in it an [1] understanding life from the effluence of the divine knowledge, whereby the angels and souls are meant; so likewise the outward world has a rational life in it, consisting in the outflown powers and virtues of the inward world; which outward [rational] life has no higher understanding, and can teach no further than that thing wherein it dwells, viz. the stars and four elements.
[1] or intellectual
159. The spiritus mundus is hidden in the four elements, as the soul is in the body, and is nothing else but an effluence and working power proceeding from the sun and stars; its dwelling wherein it works is spiritual, encompassed with the four elements.
160. The spiritual house is first a sharp magnetical power and virtue, from the effluence of the inward world, from the first property of the eternal nature; this is the ground of all salt and powerful virtue, also of all forming and substantiality.
161. Secondly, it is the effluence of the inward motion, which is outflown from the second [1] form of the eternal nature, and consists in a fiery nature, like a dry kind of water source, which is understood to be the ground of all metal and stones, for they were created of that.
[1] species, kind, or property
162. I call it the fiery Mercury in the spirit of this world, for it is them over of all things, and the separator of the powers and virtues; a former of all shapes, a ground of the outward life, as to the motion and sensibility.
163. The third ground is the perception in the motion and sharpness, which is a spiritual source of Sulfur, proceeding from the ground of the painful will in the inward ground: hence the spirit with the five senses arises, viz. seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling; and is the true essential life, whereby the fire, that is, the fourth form, is made manifest.
164. The ancient wise men have called these three properties Sulfur, Mercurius, and Sal, as to their materials which were produced thereby in the four elements, into which this spirit does coagulate, or make itself substantial.
165. The four elements lie also in this ground, and are nothing different or several from it; they are only the manifestation of this spiritual ground, and are as a dwelling place of the spirit, in which this spirit works.
155. We may very well observe and consider the hidden spiritual world by the visible world: for we see that fire, [1] light, and air, are continually begotten in the deep of this world; and that there is no rest or cessation from this begetting; and that it has been so from the beginning of the world; and yet men can find no cause of it in the outward world, or tell what the ground of it should be: but reason says, God has so created it, and therefore it continues so; which indeed is true in itself; but reason knows not the Creator, which does thus create without ceasing; that is, the true [2] Archaeus, or separator, which is an effluence out of the invisible world, viz. the outflown Word of God; which I mean and understand by the word fiery Mercury.
[1] or water [2] distinguisher or divider
156. For what the invisible world is, in a spiritual working, where light and darkness are in one another, and yet the one not comprehending the other, that the visible world is, in a substantial working;
whatsoever powers and virtues in the outflown word are to be [1] understood in the inward spiritual world, the same we understand also in the visible world, in the stars and elements, yet in another Principle of a more holy [2] nature.
[1] or conceived [2] kind, quality, or condition
157. The four elements flow from the Archaeus of the inward ground, that is, from the four properties of the eternal nature, and were in the beginning of time so outbreathed from the inward ground, and compressed and formed into a working substance and life; and therefore the outward world is called a Principle, and is a subject of the inward world, that is, a tool and instrument of the inward [1] master, which [1] master is the word and [2] power of God.
[1] artificer or workman [2] or virtue
158. And as the inward divine world has in it an [1] understanding life from the effluence of the divine knowledge, whereby the angels and souls are meant; so likewise the outward world has a rational life in it, consisting in the outflown powers and virtues of the inward world; which outward [rational] life has no higher understanding, and can teach no further than that thing wherein it dwells, viz. the stars and four elements.
[1] or intellectual
159. The spiritus mundus is hidden in the four elements, as the soul is in the body, and is nothing else but an effluence and working power proceeding from the sun and stars; its dwelling wherein it works is spiritual, encompassed with the four elements.
160. The spiritual house is first a sharp magnetical power and virtue, from the effluence of the inward world, from the first property of the eternal nature; this is the ground of all salt and powerful virtue, also of all forming and substantiality.
161. Secondly, it is the effluence of the inward motion, which is outflown from the second [1] form of the eternal nature, and consists in a fiery nature, like a dry kind of water source, which is understood to be the ground of all metal and stones, for they were created of that.
[1] species, kind, or property
162. I call it the fiery Mercury in the spirit of this world, for it is them over of all things, and the separator of the powers and virtues; a former of all shapes, a ground of the outward life, as to the motion and sensibility.
163. The third ground is the perception in the motion and sharpness, which is a spiritual source of Sulfur, proceeding from the ground of the painful will in the inward ground: hence the spirit with the five senses arises, viz. seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling; and is the true essential life, whereby the fire, that is, the fourth form, is made manifest.
164. The ancient wise men have called these three properties Sulfur, Mercurius, and Sal, as to their materials which were produced thereby in the four elements, into which this spirit does coagulate, or make itself substantial.
165. The four elements lie also in this ground, and are nothing different or several from it; they are only the manifestation of this spiritual ground, and are as a dwelling place of the spirit, in which this spirit works.