(71) The outward Earth is a bitter Stink, and is dead, and that every Man understands to be so. But the Saltiter is destroyed or killed through the Wrath; for thou canst not deny, but that God's Wrath is in the Earth, otherwise it would not be so astringent, bitter, sour, venomous and poisonous, neither would it engender such poisonous, venomous, evil Worms and creeping Things. But if thou shouldst say, that God has created them thus out of his Purpose, that is as much as if thou shouldst say, that God himself is Evil, Malice, Malignity or Wickedness.

(39) Neither ought any Man to say, that he is generated in the Wrath-fire of the total Corruption, or Perdition, out of God's predestinate Purpose. No; the corrupted Earth does not stand neither in the total Wrath-fire of God, but only in its outward Comprehensibility or Palpability, wherein it is so hard, dry, and bitter.

(17) But seeing the Light in the outermost Birth was extinguished, the Heat also was captivated in the Comprehensibility or Palpability, and could no more generate its Life. From thence Death came into Nature, so that Nature or the corrupt Earth could no more help it, and thereupon another Creation of Light must needs follow, or else the Earth would have been an eternal indissolvable Death; but now the Earth generates or brings forth Fruit in the Power and Kindling of the created Light. Now one might ask: What is the Condition then of this twofold Birth or Geniture? Is God then extinguished in the Kindling of the Wrath-fire, in the Place of this World, so that nothing is there else but a mere Wrath-fire? Or is the one only God become a twofold God? Answer.

(44) For if the Earth was quite forsaken of God, then it could never bring forth any good Fruit, but mere bad and evil Fruit. But seeing the Earth stands yet in God's Love, therefore his Wrath will not burn therein eternally, but the Love which has overcome will spew out the Wrath-fire. And

(26) O Man! Here consider thyself, here thou seest, from whence the Devil and his fierce wrathful Malice has its Original, as also God's Wrath, and the hellish Fire, also Death and Hell, and eternal Damnation. Ye Philosophers, observe that!

(46) It is the Firmament between the clear Deity and the corrupt Nature, which thou must break through when thou intendest to come to God; and it is that very Firmament which does not quite stand in the Wrath, neither is it altogether or perfectly pure; concerning which it is written, 'The very Heavens are not pure in the Sight of God.' And at the last Judgment-Day the Wrath will be purged from them. For it is written, Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my Word shall not pass away, says Christ. [Mark 13. 31.] [Matth. 24. 35.] [Job 15. 15.]