(5) Conformably, also, to what has been said, the fire of the Gods, indeed, shines forth with an indivisible and ineffable light, and fills all the profundities of the world, in an empyrean, but not in a mundane, manner. But the fire of archangels is impartible indeed, but is seen to possess about itself an abundant multitude, either preceding or following after itself. The fire of angels is divided, except that it exhibits itself in the most perfect ideas. That of dæmons is still more shortly circumscribed by a distribution into parts, is effable, and does not astonish the sight of those that have seen more excellent natures. The fire of heroes has, after a certain manner, the same things as that of dæmons, but at the same time falls short of the most accurate similitude to it. Moreover, with respect to archons, the fire of those that are of a more elevated order, is more pellucid; but of those that are material, is more dark. And the fire of souls is seen to be much divided and multiform, and is comingled from many of the natures that are in the world. Again, the fire of the Gods appears to be entirely stable. That of archangels is tranquil; but that of angels is stably moved. The fire of dæmons is unstable; but that of heroes is, for the most part, rapidly moved. The fire of those archons that are of the first rank is tranquil; but of those that are of the last order is tumultuous. And the fire of souls is transmuted in a multitude of motions.

(30) Also the Power of the kindled Body, in the Power proceeded forth without and beyond the Fire, qualifies, mixes, or unites gently, pleasantly, and very sensibly; and herein rightly is understood the Divine Being.

(4) 'That which is the subtile portion of fire, when consumed, rises upwards, and becomes speech.

(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.

(13) For observe it, although now in the Harshness there be Bitterness, Fire, Sound, Water, and that out of the springing Vein of the Water there flows Love (or Oil) from whence the Light arises and shines; yet the Harshness retains its first Property, and the Bitterness its Property, the Fire its Property, the Sound or the Stirring its Property, and the overcoming the first harsh or tart Anguish, (viz. the returning down back again) or the Water-Spirit, its Property, and the springing Fountain, the pleasant Love, which is kindled by the Light in the tart or sour Bitterness, (which now is the sweet [Source or] springing Vein of Water,) its property; and yet this is no separable Essence parted asunder, but all one whole Essence or Substance in one another. And each Form or Birth takes its own Form, Virtue, Working and Springing up from all the Forms; and the whole Birth now retains chiefly but these four Forms in its generating or bringing forth; viz. the rising up, the falling down, and then through the turning [of the Wheel in the sour, harsh,] tart Essence, the putting forth on this Side, and on that Side, on both Sides like a Cross; or, as I may so say, the going forth from the Point [or Center] towards the East, the West, the North and the South: For from the Stirring, Moving, and Ascending of the Bitterness in the Fire-Flash, there exists a cross Birth. For the Fire goes forth upward, the Water downward, and the Essences of the Harshness sideways.

(75) Hearken, thou hast the sweet Water in thee, pour that into the Fire, and then it goes out: If thou lettest it burn, then it consumes in thee the Sap, that is, in all the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits, so thou wilt become dry.

(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.

(139) now it burns jointly or equally alike in all the Qualities of the kindled Fire, and the Fire burns forth from the Qualities: For all Qualities burn, and that Fire is one Fire, and not many several Fires. And

(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.

(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.

(1) This is the truth. As from a blazing fire sparks, being like unto fire, fly forth a thousandfold, thus are various beings brought forth from the Imperishable, my friend, and return thither also.

(64) Continuing: "Philosophers say there is no true solution of the body without a proceeding coagulation of the spirit, for they are interchangeably mixed in a due proportion, whereby the bodily essence becomes of a spiritual penetrating nature. On the other hand, the incomprehensible spiritual essential virtue is also made corporeal by the fire, because there is made between them so near a relation or friendship, like as the heavens operate to the very Depth of Earth, and producing from thence all the treasures and riches of the whole World.

(22) And the Flash of Fire in the Light trembles and triumphs thus continually, and the Hardness is always the Body, which retains, preserves, and dries it.

(64) Now these Qualities are mixed in the Body, as if they were all but one Quality; and yet each Quality moves or boils in its own Power, and so goes forth.

(2) All things descend from Heaven to Earth, to Water and to Air. ’Tis Fire alone, in that it is borne upwards, giveth life; that which [is carried] downwards [is] subservient to Fire. Further, whatever doth descend from the above, begetteth; what floweth upwards, nourisheth. ’Tis Earth alone, in that it resteth on itself, that is Receiver of all things, and [also] the Restorer of all genera that it receives. This Whole, therefore, as thou rememberest, in that it is of all,—in other words, all things, embraced by nature under “Soul” and “World,” are in [perpetual] flux, so varied by the multiform equality of all their forms, that countless kinds of well-distinguished qualities may be discerned, yet with this bond of union, that all should seem as One, and from “One” “All.” III

(19) Afterwards, the fire and halo melt the metal of Shatvaîrô, in the hills and mountains, and it remains on this earth like a river.

(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.

(99) But if the Fire be too hot in the fifth and sixth Melting, then the new Life, which has generated itself in the Love in the Rising up of the Light’s Power out of the Water, is kindled again in the Fierceness in the Wrath-fire, and the mineral Oar becomes a burnt Scum and Dross, and the Chemist has Dirt instead of Gold.

(39) For when he and all his Angels had kindled in their Bodies the qualifying or fountain Spirit of the Fire, then the Unctuosity, Marrow or Fatness burnt in the sweet Water, and the Flash or Terror, which rises up fiercely in the Birth of the Light, became raging and tearing, burning and stinging, and a Being or Substance of a mere opposite or contrary Will. And