Mysterium Magnum (1656) - Page 11

[Page number] 5

CHAP. 3. Of the Center of the Eternal Nature.

One world is in the other, and all are only one. But one is spiritual, the other corporeal, just as the soul and body are in each other original: "foul" (OCR error for "soul"). Also, time and eternity are but one thing, yet they have distinct beginnings. The spiritual world in the internal [Principle] has an eternal beginning, and the outward world has a temporal one. Each has its birth in itself, but the Eternal Speaking Word rules through and over all. Yet it can neither be apprehended nor conceived by either the spiritual or external world as if it stood still. Instead, it works from eternity to eternity, and its work p Or operate is conceived; for it is the Formed Word, and the working Word is its life and is incomprehensible. For it is without any essence, like a bare understanding only, or a power that q Or works itself out in the essence brings itself into essence.

11. In the inward spiritual world, the Word conceives itself into a spiritual essence as one single element, in which the four elements lie hidden. But when God—namely, the Word—moved this one element, then the hidden properties manifested themselves as the four elements.

CHAP. III.

How out of the Eternal Good, an evil has come to be, which in the Good had no beginning of evil; and of the origin r Or [unclear] of the Dark World, or Hell, where the devils dwell.

1. Now then, since light and darkness, as well as pain and its source Böhme uses "Source" to describe the "springing" or "quality" (Qual) of a thing, often associated with a painful tension or drive, are seen in the outward world, and yet all originally proceed from the Eternal Mystery—namely, from the inward spiritual world—and the inward spiritual world proceeds out of the Eternal Generating and Speaking Word, we must consider how evil has come to be out of the Eternal Good. How could evil arise when it had no beginning within the Good? From where do darkness, pain, and their source arise? And then, from where does a luster or light arise in the darkness?

2. For we cannot say that the Eternal Light or the Eternal Darkness is created; otherwise, they would exist within time and have a comprehensible beginning, and of this they are devoid. For they are * Note concomitant in the generation, yet not in the wisdom or generation of the Word of the Deity. Instead, they take their origin in the desire of the Speaking Word.

3. For in the Eternal Speaking Word (which is s Beyond or without devoid of all nature or beginning) there is only the Divine understanding or sound. There is neither darkness nor light, neither thick nor thin, neither joy nor sorrow. Furthermore, there is no sensibility or t Finding or apprehension perceptibility. It is merely a power of the understanding in one source, will, and dominion. There is neither friend nor foe to it, for it is the only Good, and nothing else.

4. Seeing...