Forty questions of the soul concerning its original, essence, substance, nature or quality and property, what it is from eternity to eternity : framed by a lover of the great mysteries, Doctor Balthasar Walter, and answered in the year 1620 / by Jacob Behme, called Teutonicus Philosophus ; Englished by John Sparrow ...

The Fifth Power of the Souls Will or Spirit.

20. Fifthly, The Soul hath might or ability, that, it may and can seek or search out all Wonders or o Works, which are in Na∣ture, viz. Arts and Sciences, Languages, Building, Tilling or Planting, and Destroy∣ing; it can subdue the Starry Heaven; as h Joshua commanded the Sun that it stood still, and Moses the Sea, that it stood up, also he commanded the Darkness, and it came; also it can make or produce the Earthly Life; o as Moses the Lice & Frogs, also Serpents and other Won∣ders.

21. Also it hath Death in its power or might, that it can over-power that, if it ride upon the Brides-Chariot; it can sub∣due and over-power the Devil, if it be in God.

22. There is nothing which it cannot subdue: only understand it aright, The Soul hath such might or ability from its Original, and such a Spirit it could have

given forth out of it self, if it had not let in the Earthly Great Turba, which now giveth the stop: unless it be so, that the holy Spirit rideth upon its Chariot; as with Moses, Elias, and all the Prophets, with Christ and his Disciples, also still continual∣ly, with the holy Children of God: they have all this Power or Authority, they can awaken or raise the Dead, heal the Sick, and expel all Diseases, it is natural, the Spirit only ruleth therewith, over the Turba.

24. But there is this on the other side to be considered, that the Soul knoweth very well what covenant, compact or agreement it hath with the Devil, and what propriety or part he hath in it; it goeth not naked, unless it be so, that the Spirit of God con∣duct it, so that it hath him for a shield or defence, so that the Devils suttlety cannot press or slip into it.

25. It makes no wonder, unless God's Spirit awaken or stir it up, it giveth God the Honour and Glory, and attributeth the might & power to him; it doth as a hum∣ble Child, and remaineth standing under the Cross, and letteth the Devil bluster over it, but it self sprouteth in Humility and Meekness through Death into the E∣ternal

Life, and bringeth forth much fruit in Patience.

26. Thus the Devil can do nothing to that Soul, it is as it were dead to him; he may with his Turba in the Earthly Life, with his helpers and instruments, wicked and ungodly Men, make a stir and rack∣et, but he hath only scorn and derision in the presence of God for it, for he is a proud arrogant spirit, and would fain be above God's Wonders, but an Humility can bind him, or subdue him.

27. In such a manner may every man escape the false and wicked Magus, and al∣so the Nigromancer; for no power takes hold on them where God dwelleth: As Christ h in his Death overcame the De∣vil and Death: so also we in Christ; for the Word that became Man dwelleth in us, and in that Word, we can rule over the Devil and Hell, there is no hinderance.

28. Thus we give you for an Answer, up∣on this Question, that the Soul in its Original is greatly powerful, it is able, and can do much, but only in that Prin∣ciple

into which it looketh or standeth, is its power and might; for the Devil cannot rule over God: Its might or power is not given to it, as a King giveth Might, Power, Authority or Favour to any, but it standeth in Natures-right, therefore we are Children of the Omnipo∣tency of God, and inherit his Goods in the Omnipotency.

Notes

• o

  Inventions.
• h

  Josh. 10. 12, 13.
• o

  Exod. 14. 21. 10. 22. 8. 6. 16. 7. 12, &c.
• h

  Heb. 2. 14.