world.
65. And the other being, viz. the house of terror
in itself, in death, in the darkness of the hostile
source (Qual), which must stand thus in order that
there may be an eternal longing in this anguish to
be freed from the source. For this longing makes
the first will to Nature eternally desirous to come
to the aid of its being. Whence then in the
Father's will mercy arises, which enters with free-
dom into the anguish, but cannot remain in the
anguish, but goes forth in fire into the source of
love.
66. That is, his other will, or his heart, issues in
him as a fountain of love and mercy, from whence
compassion has its origin, so that there is a pity
on distress and misery, and a sympathy ; viz. here,
the Father's will, which is free, reveals itself in the
fierceness of Nature, so that the fierce wrathfulness
is mitigated.
67. But nevertheless on one part the terrible
wheel of fierceness continues independently. For
in the terror a mortification is brought about, not
indeed a still death, but a mortal life; and re-
sembles the worst thing, as is an aqua fortis or a
poison in itself. For such a thing must be, if the
centrum naturae is to subsist eternally.
68. And on the other part life proceeds out of
death, and death must therefore be a cause of life.
Else, if there were no such poisonous, fierce, fervent
source, fire could not be generated, and there could
be no essence nor fiery sharpness ; hence also there
would be no light, and also no finding of life.