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(133) There is Fire even in a Stone, but if you do not strike upon it, the Fire remains hidden, but if you strike it, then the Fire springs forth; and then if any combustible Matter be near it, that will take Fire and burn, and so it comes to be a large Fire; and thus it is also with Man, when he kindles the resting Wrath-fire, which is otherwise at rest. Of the Night. [Nacht.]

(26) But that the Fierceness does terribly burn now at present, it needs no Proof here, for it is known as clear as the Day by woeful Experience. Behold there rises up yet a little Fire, in the Opposition against the Wrath, out of a singular special Love-restraint of God: When this grows weak also, then is the End of this Time.

(48) For if the Earth be once kindled, then in the Wrath burns the Fire; and in the Love the Light; and then all will be separated, for the one cannot comprehend the other any more.

(91) yet the Fire gives or represents to us a Mystery of the eternal Nature, and of the Deity also, wherein a Man is to understand two Principles of a twofold Source, viz. I. a hot, fierce, astringent, bitter, anxious, consuming One in the Fire-source. And out of the Fire comes the II. viz. the Light, which dwells in the Fire, but is not apprehended or laid hold on by the Fire; also it has another Source then the Fire has, which is Meekness, wherein there is a Desire of Love, where then, in the Love-desire, another Will is understood than that which the Fire has.

(25) But thus saith the Spirit; as soon as the Fierceness overcomes the Opposition of Love in this World, then the Fire kindles itself, and then there is no more Time in this World.

(1) Iximiprus saith:—I testify that the beginning of all things is a Certain Nature, which is perpetual, coequalling all things, and that the visible natures, with their births and decay, are times wherein the ends to which that nature brings them are beheld and summoned.* Now, I instruct you that the stars are igneous, and are kept within bounds by the air. If the humidity and density of the air did not exist to separate the flames of the sun from living things, then the Sun would consume all creatures. But God has provided the separating air, lest that which He has created should be burnt up. Do you not observe that the Sun when it rises in the heaven overcomes the air by its heat, and that the warmth penetrates from the upper to the lower parts of the air? If, then, the air did not presently breathe forth those winds whereby creatures are generated, the i Sun by its heat would certainly destroy all that lives. But the Sun is kept in check by the air, which thus conquers because it unites the heat of the Sun to its own heat, and the humidity of water to its own humidity. Have you not remarked how tenuous water.

is drawn up into the air by the action of the heat of the Sun, which thus helps the water against itself? If the water did not nourish the air by such tenuous moisture, assuredly the Sun would overcome the air. The fire, therefore, extracts moisture from the water, by means of which the air conquers the fire itself. Thus, fire and water are enemies between which there is no consanguinity, for the fire is hot and dry, but the water is cold and moist.. The air, which is warm and moist, joins these together by its concording medium; between the humidity of water and the heat of fire the air is thus placed to establish peace. And lock ye all how there shall arise a spirit from the tenuous vapour of the air, because the heat being joined to the humour, there necessarily issues something tenuous, which will become a wind. For the heat of the Sun extracts something tenuous out of the air, which also becomes spirit and life to all creatures. All this, however, is disposed in such manner by the will of God, and a coruscation appears when the heat of the Sun touches and breaks up a cloud.

The Turba saith:—Well hast thou described the fire, even as thou knowest concerning it, and thou hast believed the word of thy brother.

(12) When a house is burning, and the fire may fall upon the next house and seize upon the straw and like stuff within it, we carry this stuff away from it; and in like manner must we straightway cast out the things by touch whereof the spirit is inflamed with the fire of wrath, for fear lest the substance of our merit be consumed.

(30) though indeed it be in the hidden Kernel of the Fire’s Quality or Original, yet that Fire is not kindled or burning, for it is generated in the sweet Water.

(73) At first it glows, but when thou stirrest the Source or Fountain of the Heart more violently, then it is as when thou blowest the Fire, so that the Flame is kindled; and then it is high Time to quench it, else the Fire will be too great, and then it burns and consumes, and does Hurt to its Neighbour. Question. [Neighbour] [blowest]

(79) This Fire is the most dangerous and hurtful, and has spoiled most since the World began, and it is a very hard Matter to quench it; for when it is kindled, it burns in the sweet Water in the Flash of Life, and must be quenched through Bitterness, which is scarce a Water, but much rather is a Fire.

(109) Thou canst not kindle Light in a Stone, because the astringent or harsh Quality is Chief or Predominant therein: Neither canst thou kindle Light in Earth, unless the other Qualities be first vanquished and boiled out of it, which is seen in the Gunpowder, which yet is but a Flash or a Spirit of Terror, wherein the Devil in the Anger of God represents himself, which I will describe and demonstrate more largely in another Place. Objection.

(92) For the Fire will consume all, and causes a high Rising in the Source, and the Meekness of the Light causes Entity or Substantiality; viz. in the eternal Light it causes the Water-spirit of eternal Life: and in the third Principle of this World, it causes Water, together with the Existence or Original of the Air.

(1) 'Fire (tegas) is better than water. For fire united with air, warms the ether. Then people say, It is hot, it burns, it will rain. Thus does fire, after showing this sign (itself) first, create water. And thus again thunderclaps come with lightnings, flashing upwards and across the sky. Then people say, There is lightning and thunder, it will rain. Then also does fire, after showing this sign first, create water. Meditate on fire.

(74) Neither can the Wrath take hold of it or apprehend it, but the Wrath remains in the Terror or Crack of the Fire-flash, and makes the Mobility in the dead Body of the Earth and the Water.

(34) But that also the Element of Fire is, and rules in the Deep of the Air and Water, thou seest in Tempests of Lightning; also thou perceivest, how the Light of the Sun kindles the Element of Fire on the Earth with its Reflection, although many times aloft in the upper Region towards the Moon it is very cold.

(3) For if the works which take place from the appearance of these powers are such as you say, viz. if they are arrogant and false, yet the operations about fire of true spirits are genuine and true. For, as in all other things, such as are principal primarily begin from themselves, and impart to themselves that which they give to others; as, for instance, in essence, in life, and in motion; thus also the natures which supply all beings with truth, primarily proclaim the truth of themselves, and precedaneously unfold the essence of themselves to the spectators. Hence, likewise, they exhibit to theurgists a fire which is of itself visible. For it is not the province of heat to refrigerate, nor of light to darken or conceal any thing; nor with any other nature which essentially performs a certain thing, is a power present of at the same time effecting the contrary. But things which do not possess a [true] nature, and which are contrary to things that exist essentially; these are able to receive contraries, and are adapted to fall into evil.

(20) And if you open the Eyes of your Mind, you will see that Fire is in Water, as may be seen in a Storm of Lightening, and yet it is no durable Fire, though it be true Fire, which sets Houses on Fire, and burns them. So also you may see that there goes forth from it a mighty forcible Air, and that they are in one another; and besides, you see that Water is generated in the Storm.

(9) Therefore let every one have a Care how he uses his Reason, that he may therewith stand in great Honour in the Wonders of God. We know that this World shall perish in the Fire; it shall be no Fire of Straw or Wood, that would turn no Stones to Ashes, and further to Nothing; neither will there any Fire gather together, into which this World shall be thrown; but the Fire of Nature kindles itself in all Things, and will melt or dissolve the Body of every Thing, or whatsoever is palpable, and turn it to Nothing.

(20) such are those, who contrary to the kindled Wrath-fire, with their Love, Meekness, and industrious earnest Desires, and Kindlings of Love with their Prayers, quench the Wrath-fire, and press on against the kindled Fierceness. And

(58) But when the Fire tastes the mild Sweet and pliant Taste, then is it mitigated and forms itself into a meek Warmth, very lovingly, and there rises up a very friendly Life in the Fire, and penetrates the astringent Quality with this pleasing, lovely, gentle Warmth, and allays or stills the cold Fire, and mollifies or supples the Hardness, attenuates the Thick, and makes the Dark to be Light.