Three Principles of the Divine Essence Chap. 8-16 - meuser

our Labour given to the Wolves, Dogs, or Swine, which root in
our Garden of Delight, like [wild] Boars, but to those that seek,
that the sick Adam may be comforted.
23. Now if we will search after the Tincture, what it is in its
highest Degree, we shall find the d Spirit: For we cannot say,
that the Fire is the Tincture, nor the Air neither. For the Fire
is wholly contrary to the Tincture; and the Air stifles it; it is a
very pleasant e Refreshment; its Root, out of which is generated,
is indeed the Fire: But if I may rightly mention the Seat where
it sits, I cannot say otherwise, but that it is between the three
Principles, viz. [between] the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of
Hell, and the Kingdom of this World, in the Midst, and [it] has
none [of the three] for its own, and yet it is generated from all
three: And it has as it were a several Principle, which yet is no
Principle, but a bright pleasant Habitation. Neither is itself the
Spirit, but the Spirit dwells in it, and it so renews the Spirit, that
f it becomes clear and visible. Its true Name is Wonderful, and
none can name [that Name,] but he to whom it is given, he
names it only in himself, and not without [or outwardly,] it has
no Place of its Rest in the Substance, and yet rests continually
in itself, and gives Virtue and Beauty to all Things, as the
g Glance of the Sun gives Light, Virtue and Beauty to all Things
in this World; and it is not the Thing itself, though indeed it
works in the Thing, and makes the Thing grow and blossom,
and yet it is found really [to be] in all Things, and it is the Life
and Heart of all Things, but it is not the Spirit which is generated
out of the Essences.
24. The Tincture is the pleasant Sweetness and Softness in a
fragrant Herb and Flower, and the Spirit thereof is bitter and
harsh, and if the Tincture were not, the Herb would get neither
c Klee. Trifolium.
d Spiritum.
e Or Habitation.
f The Spirit.
g Or Sunshine.
Blossom nor Smell; it gives to all Essences Virtue to grow. It is
also in Metals and Stones; it makes that the Silver and Gold
grow, and without it [the Tincture,] there is nothing in this
World could grow. Among all the Children in Nature, [it only]
is a Virgin, and has never generated any Thing out of itself;
neither can it generate, and yet it makes that all Things impregnate.
It is the most hidden Thing, and also the most manifest; it
is h a Friend of God, and a Play­fellow of Virtue; it suffers
itself to be detained by nothing, and yet it is in all Things; but
if any Thing be done to it against the Right of Nature, then it
flies [away] and that very easily: It stands not fast, and yet it
continues immoveable; it continues in no Kind of Decaying of
any Thing; all the while that it stands in the Root of Nature, not