the Father and Mother the Son or Fruit cannot but must partake and bear a Simile of its Parents whence it proceeded for if the Foundation of any Creature be Evil the end must centre in the same for most of the great Out-rages Evils and Calamities that fall on and attend Mankind do arise and proceed from his acting and living under the Government of the disunited and self-ful Principles and Powers of his own Composition as was hinted before Therefore that Man should have the Knowledge of future Events either of this World or of that which is to come it would be a great addition of Evil and Misery to him seeing he transacts the Affairs of his Life under the conduct of such violent evil Principles and mischievous Methods Traditions and Customs But if Mankind had but one grain of true Wisdom and did see ever so little into themselves or own Magia then a Man would easily guess what Events such violent oppressive Methods of Life would produce and bring to pass both in the Evil and also in the Good for Nature and God's Law is always one and the same and true for ever for every Principle and governing Quality begets and brings forth Children like it self and endues them with all the Qualifications of the Father both in Body and Mind Soul and Spirit and where he is willing to presage or promise unto himself or Posterity any Good he must Live first and transact all the Methods of his Life in harmlessness and innocency avoiding Violence and all sorts and kinds of Oppression either to Man or Beast using all the Creatures to a good end and purpose and above all not to do or enter on any Action of Life without applying ourselves and taking the Advice of that Divine Power Principle and Advocate that dwells in the Centre of every Man's Soul whose Rule and Prescriptions if obeyed will render our present Momentary Lives comfortable and Dying-Beds easy and our future State most Happy My Dear Friend I doubt not when we shall meet in the Heavenly Regions but that we shall have a most undoubted Confirmation and Illustration of those Truths and wonderful Mysteries we have discoursed of in our Writings which the Ages to come will have cause to Praise God for who is the Giver of Gifts and the Revealer of Secrets to the Sons and Daughters of Wisdom from whom this Knowledge hath proceeded which undoubtedly in future Times will draw many into the innocent Method of God's Law which if Mankind Lived in would quickly ease the Soul of that great dread and fear of what shall happen after Death for nothing can hurt or perplex that Soul that hath lived a harmless Life neither in Time nor Eternity all Dread Fear and Srrrow comes in at the Door of Violence and Hurtfulness as also our not governing our selves nor the Creatures according to the Right of Nature and the one only Original Law and this great violent tormenting Monster doth first take its Birth in Man's Meats Drinks Exercises and Employments Words and Works are the Fruits that are generated from the central Powers and natural Spirits so that those evil Principles and Qualities are conveyed from one Generation to another the Children being Essentially endued with all the Principles Dispositions and Qualifications of the Father and that which makes another considerable addition to those Grand Fountains of Evil Violence and the breaking of God's Holy Union is the evil and preposterous Education of our Children and the wicked Examples and Precedents of Fathers Mothers and all concerned in Bringing them up so that what evil Qualifications are wanting in the Seed are made up and compleated in their Education which hath and doth take such deep root that every Generation are more and more Wicked notwithstanding the continual Preaching Teaching and Admonishing of the Clergy of all sorts and their threatning the Evil-doers with eternal Damnation and Happiness to those that do well and the Severity of the Magistrates too nevertheless all will not do because Precedents Examples and the continual practise of all Violence and Wickedness do take deeper root and make far greater Impression than Words and Precepts What great matter can be expected for Men to hear two or three hours Discourse of the excellency of Virtue and at the same time both Teachers as well as the Hearers do practise Evil and Violence all the Week Now when these things are understood and well considered how is it possible that Mankind can arrive at the Haven or Port of Rest or what satisfaction can that Soul have whose Methods of Life hath been in opposition to true Innocency and Virtue having lived and acted by and under all selfish violent and tyranical Spirits and Customs and though many of them be tolerated by Religion Laws and Tradition as those supream and highest Evils are viz. The Oppression and Killing those of our own kind and all the rest of the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth and Eating their Flesh too those violent Practises of Life the poor Soul can never excuse it self of or get over at the hour of Death when all the Natural or Spiritual Powers must be separated and the Soul left Naked to its Works which attracts a new Body to cloath it self with there can be no true satisfaction or content in that Soul that hath lived in Oppression and whose daily Practise hath been to break the Union both in himself and in all other things The Customs of Nations Laws of Princes and Ignorance will not obliterate those Evils that diametrically oppose God's eternal Law both of the Creation and his Divine Providence of Preservation whence do arise in Mens Minds and Souls in Sickness and at the hour of Death great Horror Trouble and Anxiety and through Blindness and Ignorance do place the cause of their dissatisfaction on some inferior Evil which they are guilty of too as was mentioned before Therefore he that would Live well and Die in Peace must first know God his Law and himself secondly do no Hurt thirdly do all the Good he can fourthly Live and Sustain his Life with harmless and innocent Meats and Drinks fifthly practise all innocent Employments sixthly observe the Rules of Justice Mercy and Clemency seventhly to Educate their Children in all Submission Honesty and Innocency and give them no Examples of Evil Violence or Oppression for in their tender Age the true and lasting Foundation of Unity true Virtue and innocent Methods of Government and Life are laid it being impossible for Mankind or any particular Person to act in a true and regular Method in Inclinations Words Works and Employments if he be ignorant of God's central Law planted in himself and the Qualities and Principles he is made and compounded of If this great and necessary Knowledge be wanting and not distinguished this Secret and wonderful Mystery of our selves being not known all Thoughts Inclinations Words and Works of Life are either done by chance or proceed
Inclination to continue a miserable Life doth not only proceed and arise from the sense Men have of Sin and the breaking of God's Law for which eternal Punishment is threatned though this seems to be sufficient cause to be the Root of each Man's fear of Death which doth not consist in his Transgressions but from that eternal Life and invisible Spiritual Power that supports and dwells in the Body which in all Creatures doth with the highest diligence imitate that Fountain from whence it proceeds 〈◊〉 it is not to be doubted that if a number of Men should be Educated and 〈◊〉 up and under Custom and Methâ—… that did not teach 〈◊〉 believe the Immortality of the Soâ—… 〈◊〉 Rewards for Virtuâ—… nor Punishments for Vice neverthelâ—… the fear and dread of all Violence Oppression and Death would be the same as now it iâ—… and with other Creatures for God's eternal Laws in Nature are the same yesterday to day and for ever or from Eternity to Eternity and Man makes Laws and imitates Customs that are varied and changed out of Evil into Good and out of Good into Evil but God's Law and 〈◊〉 in all the Operations of the Spiritual Powers are in a consâ—… fix'd Method and it is clear that the greatest Evil and 〈◊〉 thing that can be done to Man or any other sensible Creature is to put a Period to the Life before it hath obtained its highest Limit and this sort of Violence doth in all its Circumstances Diametrically oppose the Creating and likewise the Preserving Power of God and the greatest breach of Unity Now that which will make Death and the Thoughts thereof easiest is a clean harmless sober temperate and innocent Life Living within the Compass and Bounds of God's Law that is to do unto the whole Creation and Creatures as a Man would be done unto and if this was done nevertheless every one would Live eternally in this World if they could because the Spirit which is the Life of the Body hath an eternal Original and would be cloathed with a proportionable Body for no Spirit nor Spiritual Power can be known to it self or be a Self-subsisting Individual Creature or be capable of Joy or Sorrow neither in this World nor in that which is to come if it be not comprehended within the Circle of a Body and therefore the Philosophical Apostle Paul tells us that if the Dead rise not or if there be no Resurrection that is new Bodies they were the most miserable of all Creatures which is as if he had said that if after the Death of these Mortal Bodies if the Eternal Spirit or Immortal Soul did not obtain or cloath it self with a suitable Body that is an Immortal one then their Works and good Deeds could not follow them neither could the Holy Men and Saints be capable of enjoying those eternal Blessings promised to all those that observe the Laws of their Creator and keep his Commandments for if there be no new Bodies then the Soul and all the Spiritual Powers that circled and dwelt in this gross Body must of necessity at Death mingle themselves into and with the eternal Fountain and thereby be eternally Annihilated â—…s to Individuality or of being known to it self and consequently not capable either of Joy or Sorrow And note that according to the Disposition and Complexion of the Spiritual Powers such Bodies they are cloathed with and therefore it is not to be doubted but that every Man in the World to come shall be cloathed or obtain a suitable Body proportionable to the Spirit and Soul and such as in the time of the Body did freely immerse and enter into all kinds of Fierceness and Violence Killing those of their own kind and all under-graduated Creatures their new Bodies shall obtain a Figure or Form in proportion And therefore the Scripture doth say and speak of the Heavenly City and Angelical Powers without the Gates are Bears and Dogs for the Spirit is the Original of the Body and not the Body of the Spirit and according to the Equality or Ineâ—…ality of the Spirit or Spiritual Powers such a Figure or Form that obtains for the great and wonderful variety of Forms of Bodies and Figures of things do arise and proceed from the variety of the Spirits and Spiritual Powers which could not have been manifested but only by means of the Body nor be known to themselves It is likewise further to be noted that Death doth at once obliterate and put a period to the five great Princes or Councellors called Senses in which by and through whom the living Powers and Spirits of Eternity do manage and transact all material things in this Visible World or Corporeal Body and at the same time Buries them in the great Abyssal Mystery separating the loving Husband from the affectionate and tender Wife and all other visible things that are near and dear to the Senses and innate Affections and all that claims an interest to the outward Corporality the sensitive Body and Spirit of this World have a right unto and are necessitated to plunge or leap into the grand Mystery of Eternity and that which doth increase and multiply the fear and dread thereof and makes it so exceeding timerous to pass through or over this Sea into Eternity is First Mens living and acting contrary to Gods innocent Laws of Nature and the embracing of evil Customs and Traditions most of which do diametrically oppose all the innocent uniform Powers and Laws of Concord the ignorances thereof being the greatest evil in this World for it is almost impossible for any Person to obtain the Unity if he doth not distinguish the Power of God in himself and the Principles of his own Nature and Composition and for this cause many of the Justest and best of Men that have noâ—… only been soberly and religiously inclined but have as it were transacted all their Affairs with softness and equity according to the settled Religion and Custom of the Nation and Place they are Educated in nevertheless those great and unnatural Evils Violences and Oppressions most or all Nations commit against God and his Holy innocent Law do so strong and powerfully spring and boil up in the center of Mans Soul so soon as the Eternal Spiritual Powers do see and feel that their body or circle of Corporality shall be taken away or they separated from them 〈◊〉 there is a great and wonderful Consternation or Tumult all the Centers Powers and Principles being awakened and as it were grating or rubbing one against another occasioning great Disorders and Agonys between the Nature Spiritual Powers and Principles all being unwilling to shift or quit their Body or natural â—…tation and be put to seek a new one and being as is mentioned before altogether ignorant of then doth arise in the Center of the Soul various Accusations of their not doing this or the other thing or of some mis-spent time or neglect of the â—…mon Duty of
the Rage and Fury of the Elements and violent fierce invading Powers of an Exorbitant or Adulterated Appetite Now it is likewise farther to be understood and considered that where the Sense of Seeing Feeling Hearing or the Sublime Sense of Smelling is short or not capable of discerning or judging the Innate Nature and Complexion of Animals by their Forms Shapes and Signatures This Sense of Tasting can readily open all the Doors and secret Gates of Nature's Cabinets and in a moments time find out and manifest all the hidden or central Mysteries of each thing This noble and great Sense is like Fire that has a Key in its self that can in a moments time unlock the hardest Coagulations of the Original Qualities and manifest what Principle or Property ruled in the Centre whether clean or unclean as is most manifest and clear in the Burning of various things Woollens Woods and the like the inward Power and Complexion thereof being very difficult to be understood and judged when such things remain entire This the Taste can do and therefore it may be justly stiled the Prince King or compleat Judge over Life and Death Wherefore the Creator and Preserver of all his Work hath placed this noble Officer in the principal Gate of the Microcosmical City viz. the Mouth that nothing might be suffered to pass into the Stomach or Nature's Magazin where all Foods and Drinks are promiscously Treasured up in order to sustain and support the whole Body besides the Creator hath ordained under the Conduct and Government of this Prince the Pallate several under-graduated Officers as Sentinels that are at all times ready to obey and execute the Orders and Commands of their Superior Prince viz. the Lips that can in a moment shut its Gates and withstand any thing that intrudes or is offensive the next is the Teeth which is a strong or powerful Officer or Centinel that can by its Innate power shut and keep out all the Enemies of the Body The next in order to the two former is the Attractive Power or mighty preserving Faculty of the Body for so soon as the Judge or Superior Power commands the Gates to be opened and the Teeth to macerate or break the Food to pieces but presently this third Officer the Attractive Faculty does with all power and vigour draw and Collect a fit and proper Menstruum or Moisture which doth render the Teeth Mouth and Tongue capable to Chew and Melt the Food into a soft pappy matter or substance fit for the Stomach and the better the Foods are Macerated or Chewed the easier they are of Digestion and the better Nourishment they afford unto the Body Likewise this Prince the Taste or Pallate hath another powerful Officer placed in this great Gate the Mouth or common Road that leads into the Metropolitan or Human City which is called the Expulsive Faculty by whose Innate power it can at the command of its Superiour Prince the Taste or Pallate immediately Expel or Spit forth and that with great vigour what Meat Drink or other thing is distasteful or unpleasing to the Pallate or Sense of Tasting so wonderfully hath our Creator guarded the Gate Road or common Passage that nothing might pass into the Body or Stomach but only what is proper and agreeable to sustain and preserve the Human Nature in a due regular Temperature and Union For if this Gate or common Passage be kept from being violated or forced upon by Adulterers and Thieves and that no unclean thing enters then all the whole Body and Mind is Sound Healthy and free from all cloudy Burthensom Diseases But on the other side if the Prince the Pallate or Superior Officer be adulterated and hath by intemperance and improper Meats and Drinks lost its intire and natural Taste or true distinguishing Power then presently all the under-graduated Officers and Centinels are thereby made heávy sleepy dull idle careless and impure and then this great or wonderful Gate or Road stands open to all Intruders and there is no Uncleanness nor Intemperance that is withstood but all Viciousness doth freely pass without any Examination of the said Officers or Centinels so that the Human City must needs be Defiled Wounded and Distempered For Meats and Drinks being the very Original and Substance both of the Body and Mind as we have largely discoursed elsewhere therefore the Lord hath placed so many powerful Officers and Watchmen in this Road or common Gate that thereby no unfit Meats nor Drinks might pass nor be admitted without a strict Examination of its Vertues Vices Cleanness or Uncleanness However all these Faculties and Officers must be Subservient to the higher Powers viz. the Will which is as we have said in some other Cases the Primum mobile of all the Actions of Life So that very often the Imaginative Powers being kindled or roused up by some Advice or Example either of Custom or the like that such and such things are good and profitable both for Heath and Physick whence arises and springs a potent Desire and strong Inclination and so commands the Pallate and all the Properties of the Mouth to send it into the Stomach and when it comes there your Will and Desire hath no power to call it back agree or disagree there it must abide till Nature can overcome and separate it and send the particular parts into all the Frontier Garrisons and Sally-ports where it oftentimes proves Oppressive And if the Power of the Expulsive Faculty did reside or any part of it in the Stomach as it doth in the Mouth many People would almost as frequently cast their Food up as they Eat it it being common for them to over-load their Stomachs with too large a quantity and of contrary qualities not but there is an Expulsive Faculty in the Stomach which doth as it were lye hid or sleeping and Nature doth very rarely call forth or rouse up this Property but only when she is sorely oppressed either with too great a quantity of Meats and Drinks or with things Hetrogenial or of contrary Qualities And whensoever this happens the Operations of the Stomach and all the Subservient Vessels thereof are in a meer Agonious or Tumultuous State and Condition by which it appears as clear as the Sun at Noon day that the Palate Taste and the Vessels or Servants thereunto belonging are the â—…roper and natural Judges of what is good and agreeable not only in quantity but also in quality If Order Temperance and Cleanness be observed in the use and custom of Simple Foods and natural Drinks otherwise the Taste or Palate is not a proper Judge For all the Senses and their under-graduated Officers are Servants to the Mind Will and Desire and to the Original Principles they arise and proceed from For this cause every Sense and other Quality and principle of the Body and also of the Judgment are subject to be adulterated and depraved And though there be many sorts of Meats and Drinks
was ordained viz. to an ill purpose and to their own damage to violate and oppress those of their own kind and all the innocent Inhabitants of the Earth breaking down all the Natural Laws and Bonds of Friendship between each other and destroying the Uniformity of all the under graduates This Sense is the greatest and most noble of all others for it makes the most hidden and mysterious things to appear and that which was and is inclosed in the very Centre of Darkness to become manifest that which was without motion to become Living that which was Cold to become Vigorous and full of Heat and Splendor by its peculiar power Mankind can as it were behold at once half the Globe Water and Earth with the wonderful Varieties and Mysteries therein contained In a word it is the Pleasure and Well-being of every Life and true Guide of all Actions The Eyes are the Gates through which the Spirits of life pass and repass having their ingress egress and regress through the whole Body on all sides by Pores but those that pass through the Eyes are more fine and transparent carrying with them a fiery powerful life and therefore if these two Gates are kept open too long the whole Body in a very little time becomes dull heavy and indisposed not being able to perform any Action or Exercise and this weight or heaviness will come on so strongly even like Death it self that all the powers of the Understanding and Mind cannot maintain the motion and vigour of the Body neither can the most choice Foods or Cordial Drinks but all become still and as it were benum'd For this cause persons may fast longer from Meats and Drinks than from Sleep therefore these Gates must be shut six or eight Hours in every twenty four or else Nature and our Bodies cannot subsist nor be able to go on with common business neither continue in a state of health so great is the necessity of Rest Therefore poor mean Meats and Drinks with a due proportion of Sleep will support and sustain Nature far bey ond the richest Foods and strongest Drinks with half the proportion of Sleep Wherefore all young People or Children ought to have their full time of Sleep and rest that making them strong lively and vigorous and fit for all Actions of Life Besides the Eye-lids are not only useful to preserve the fine thin pure Natural Spirits of Life from the usual motions by which all Actions and Exercises of life are performed but by their closing there is a kind of Cessation from their circular motions so that in this time of sleep the Spirits regain strength and vigour and thereby a new Life and Motion is Generated They likewise serve to many excellent uses in Nature so it defends this delicate tender Sight from all evils that may happen without in 50 60 or 70 years they are also of excellent use at all times or seasons to shut out the Light that the Evils Vanities Intemperances and Disorders lewd Sports and Plays that are daily Acted by Mankind to the great prejudice of himself and dishonour of God which all good Men ought to turn from and not so much as suffer this Glorious Light of Heaven to represent them to our understanding But above all to keep the Eye-lids of young People shut that they may not see the wickedness of this World at leastways as little as may be for vain things are the Pests and Distempers of every Age and whosoever avoids and shuns them as much as in him lies is the more happy And all Tutors and Parents instead of Tricking and Dressing their Children in Bravery and bringing them to Plays and Balls and Dancing Schools should represent to them all sorts of poor Tradesmen and Industrious People bringing them to places where they may see all sorts of poor indigent People who not only rise early but notwithstanding hard Labour and Pains fare very hard having ragged Cloaths and Shoes without Soles being all Dirty going about the Streets Cold and Hungry having no Food to Nourish them Also Weavers and Throwsters where great numbers of Boys and Girls are employed These and many others for want of Conduct and Education become barbarous in their Deportment Women as well as Men. These ought to be represented as Examples to those whose better circumstances will give them the advantage of Learning and Sobriety That it is not as some vainly imagine viz. Lost time to be well taught and skilled in several Arts and Sciences and that betimes too for Seeds Sown and Trees Planted in season bear the best Crop and brings forth the noblest Fruit and whatsoever thing you would not have your Children inclined to never let them see it for Children and young People use all Industry to imitate what they see Example and Precedent going beyond Precept The first is a compleat birth and substance the other but a Notion and no more than Air or Spirit without a Body which passes and repasses and is lost in an invisible breath or fume being quickly obliterated and forgot There are three degrees to be commenced before any thing in the mind of Man attains a compleat birth or come to be substantial the first degree is the Original thought or desire the second is this being modelled and banded to an fro by the five Councellors the inward Senses the Reason and Understanding being always at their Elbows to give necessary advice and this thought being represented to the Judgment to know whether it be fit or reasonable it should be Coyned into Words the next degree is putting these Words into Actions which does Crown the whole and makes the Birth substantial and compleat whether it be in the evil or in the good and can hardly ever be obliterated For instance if a Man think or imagine an evil thing and stop there he may easily repent and thereby annihilate it but if he bring this thought before the Judge by the Councellors and it is by them commanded to be Coyned into Words then if it be an evil thing it will be much harder repented of but if it proceed without Correction into Action then as is said before the case is much more difficult therefore Actions and Evil Precedents do Wound all People very deep more especially Children and young People therefore you ought not to let them see any thing that you would not have them practice as Soldiers in an Army Training fine Horses in their Furniture nor any sort of Shows or Games Fighting and Killing either of Man or Beast nor let them play with Dogs or such like Creatures for whatsoever is seen acted or practised takes deeper root than either that which is a Care Thought or Word every particular thing works on its likeness according to its power and whatsoever is done in the evil by Examples and Precedents the like is to be understood in the Vertuous and good courses of Life And were it possible to make Mankind intelligible
this great Sense of Life viz. the Feeling is universal and no part of the Body can subsist without it not so much as one moment and therefore when this Sense is Disordered or any Obstruction or Distemper invades it the whole becomes heavy dull and melancholy and Death quickly ensues so on the other side when it is in order the Motions and Circulations of the Body and Members are free from Obstructions then it is the true Pleasure of Life and all the other Senses are Subservient to this and rejoice in its Prosperity as being their Prince and King the Industry of all the others is to support and maintain this For if this Sense of Feeling sink none of the others are or can be well by the Innate Power of this Mankind and all Creatures viz. Animals distinguish between Joy and Sorrow Grief and Pain Sickness and Health Temperance and Gluttony also Hunger and Fullness Heat and Cold Weight or Lightness Hardness and Softness Fineness and Courseness Smoothness and Roughness Thickness and Thinness in a word in this Sense is apprehended and comprehended all Pleasures Touches and Embraces and as it were the very Centre of all natural Enjoyments both of the Body and Mind and therefore the great various and wonderful Powers of the whole Bows before it and with all endeavours each in its respective place to serve it with the highest diligence for the Life and Centre both of Joy Sorrow Pain and Pleasure is in this universal Sense Therefore all Powers yield their Obedience to it for this cause whensoever this Sense is Encountred or Invaded by any universal Disorder Intemperance or Uncleanness the Life of that part that suffers the Disorder immediately Perishes This the Learned call the Dead Palsy and several other Names they give this Disease which of all others is one of the most Dolorous and Melancholy which do attack and invade many Persons through disorderly Living and Intemperance Drinking and Eating both in Quantity and Quality such things that are too gross hard spirituous and of a strong fulsom Composition and Preparation from whence Juices of a proportionable Nature are Extracted which do infallibly generate thick gross Blood and impure Spirits which do as it were narrow stop and swell the Highways and natural Roads viz. The Porous Passages of the Body and the Nerves do by these thick Juices become stiff and Glewy so that the Blood and Spirits being touched with these Diseases and Infirmities cannot have their free Ingress Egress Regress and Circulation but are waylaied and stopt according to the degrees of these Obstructions the Diseases and the Distempers are more or less Now all Fumes and Vapours that many thousands of People especially Women are subject to as the Gout and all Obstructions Falling Sickness and several other cruel Maladies they are procured and likewise transferred from one Age to another for want of Wisdom Temperance and Cleanness in the Methods of Life for every Person does desire and incline to such and such Meats and Drinks Exercises and Communications according to the ruling Qualities and predominant Humours and their Equality and Inequality and the Nourishment Humours Blood Spirits and Dispositions are in proportion whence the Seed is Generated as being the Essence of all the natural Properties and Powers for this cause most or all the variety of new and old Diseases are transferred conveyed and intailed on their Posterity c. Therefore there is hardly found any Medicine capable to Câ—… them being so deeply rooted in the very Centre of Nature Now as these Diseases have encreased since Trade hath advanced so likewise have improper Compositions and Hetrogenial Preparations gotten great footing in the World bâ—… which every Age doth produce a new Off-spring of Diseases 〈◊〉 known or hardly heard of before as in this Nation since Stroâ—… Beer Ale and Wine became common Drinks and our comâ—… Foods compounded and mixed with Spices Sugar Spanish Fâ—… and several other Ingredients we say since this there aâ—… great number of cruel Distempers started up in Man's Body 〈◊〉 were not heard of before for every sort of Meat and Drâ—… hath the Key in its self to seek embrace and feel out its own likeness and hath an Innate Power in its Bosom or Centre to generate an Off-spring of its own Nature in proportion to the Nourishment such a thing affords as the Gout Stone Rhumatism Rickets and many Leprous or Scabby Diseases which within 70 80 100 or 200 years have been Midwifed into our Nation Now it is to be observed that all the other four Senses when they have gratified themselves and taken Pleasure even to the highest degree of Luxury Do slip their Necks out of the Collar as the Proverb has it leaving all their evil Works and Deeds of Darkness to this poor and most deplorable Sense of Feeling who is bound under the Iron Gates of various severe and intollerable Diseases all their malignant Influences the Taste Smell Hearing and Seeing shut their Gates and take their Rest but the Feeling is rarely ever quiet or easy Sleep and Rest gives them Resurrection and a new Life but the Feeling remains uneasy every Member and Joint akes and the whole Body is Indisposed Sleep being nothing else but a Transitory Death or an Occultation to a Renovation and therefore no Man nor other Creature can Subsist and Live except they Die near or altogether a third part of the time that is alotted them So that our Lives are a constant or continual Dying this being Matter of Fact why should Mankind be so fearful and timerous of Death seeing he that Lives 100 years is Dead more than 30 of it which time is an unaccountable to him as those that are really in Eternity where there is neither Time nor Place Near and Far off being altogether the same and no Man would be more concerned to Die than he is to Sleep if he had not broken the Law of his Maker by invading and bringing Desolation on all the Host of Heaven and Earth which is the Secret and Original of Mankinds Fear and the true cause of his Uneasiness and Perplexity for in this World there is no Creature that Lives without a continual Dying or becoming as it were Invisible Do not all the Herbs Fruits Seeds and Grains and whatever else appears in Bodies Shapes and Forms They we say do daily Die that they may be capable to reinvest themselves in new vigorous Bodies and do not all the Beasts of the Field every moment as it were enter into Death that they may be able to maintain a short Momentary Life though the Beasts do not enter so deeply into Death as Man Their Sleep being but a kind of waking in comparison of Mans for what Creature in the World is so drowsy and heavy as Man Nor is there any thing that sleeps so sound and deep or do require so much as he except some few that are called by the name of Sleepers whose Nature Original
a proportionable Body and doth agree with the original Spiritual Power that governed in Spirit For this cause all the Words Works and Actions of Mankind are in their Original nothing else but a Magick or Spiritual invisible transparent Power which doth move and work by several degrees of progressions circular motions and births All these Powers by the help and management of the Judge and five Grand Councellors are Midwifed into the World and become substantial so that all things are Created Made and most wonderfully Generated out of nothing its ground or original being a Magical or Spiritual Power which when understood and distinguished are all Wonderful and Amazing and therefore what Knowledge what Understanding and Distinguishing is so Noble so Great so Divine and Beneficial to Mankind as the true uses of his Senses in himself for so soon as this Divine Sight or Union is in any competent degree obtained then all the Magical and Corporal Spiritual Powers feel and gently touch each other in which consist the highest harmony and solace of the Mind which happy State or Condition of the Soul is called Regeneration or an obtaining some degrees of the first original State and Condition Man was Created in For the fall of Mankind was and is still Magical and Incorporeal viz. in the very Center of his Life for he did by and from the power of his Free Will and consent of the five Grand Councellors penetrate into stir up and awaken the sleeping poysonous fierce Original Qualities and dark Magical Fires which immediately occasioned unequal Motions and Operations whereby each form becomes discontented and invades each others right and so the union of the still quiet and Spiritual Powers became of a terrible selfish nature and being divided in their Government Domineer over each other and then was Man immediately hid from the Divine Vision and the Holy Union hid from him For so soon as these fierce invading forms and qualities had obtained the Government and broken the Simplicity and Innocency of the blessed Union each form did with the highest diligence Court and Covet all things both inwardly and outwardly that was agreeable to its own nature that it â—…ight throughly be increased and strengthened and these disunited Powers of Man's Soul would not nor could not be satisfâ—…ed but had and still have a longing strong desire after Corporality or to Cloath themselves with suitable matter or Bodies and these insulting Powers have gotten the Dominion in the Free Will which is the Primum Mobile or chief Governor of all that Microcosm Man then each Quality longed and lusted strongly and vigorously after proportionable Food that they might thereby be strengthened and increased and so become Corporeal for from this very Ground did always and doe at this day spring those voracious gross and unclean Desires and Inclinations in the Mind and Souls of Mankind for every Desire and earnest Inclination is a swift Spiritual Property or Power proceeding from the awakened Magia of evil or good according to the equality or inequality of the Forms and Powers And if this invisible Thought or Imagination be brought before the Judges and the five Councellors and not cut off or condemned to the Dark Cell of Oblivion but permitted to pass into the World viz. to be Coined into Words and from thence into Actions which do compleat the Birth and then this Desire bare Thought or incoporeal Inclination becomes substantial and Corporeal so that that which was a nothing is by the Husbandman's Management and Cultivation made substantial and becomes a gross Corporeal Body and if that bare Thought Inclination or Desire be evil in its Original Forms or Magick Powers and the Judge and Councellors do propagate it that it arrives to Actions or a compleat birth such go on in their own way and attract all evil and fierceness to its self as proper suitable Matter for every Spiritual Power or Quality when it hath Cloathed its self with a suitable body does still more violently carry on the government and innate nature of its Original and is endued with all the Qualifications and Inclinations that did arise in the first Magick Thought For all things both in the evil and likewise in the good do eternally go on in their Law if the Judge and Councellors do not prohibit the Birth and annihilate the first Thought or Intention which is in their Province to do but if they admit it to pass through all the degrees and properties of Nature and it obtains Corporality then the Law stamps its Soul or Signature on it and so it proves of great difficulty to obliterate and destroy it This was and is still the fall and depravation of Mankind from the Union of God and all united Vertues and good Powers The Magick dark Powers of his Mind and Soul he suffered to be violently awakened which as is before mentioned long after a proportionable Food that they might become Corporal Now the command that he should not eat of the Central fruit that grows in the dark Magick where each form is divided in its government having their Operations in inequalities and the Judge and Councellors concurring then the Senses agreed to the eating all gross unclean violent Foods and such that cannot be procured without Oppression Mans fall was first Magical before it could be Corporal and so is every evil or wicked Action that is done or committed and as the Fall and Man's passing out of the Union of and from God was done in the Mind and from the Central powers of the Wrath and unequal Operations of the Forms and Qualities even so and from the same Center must Regeneration begin its work And first the Eye of the Mind and all the intelligible Powers Councellors and Judges must have the distinguishing Powers made clear and manifest or else no Man can distinguish between the two grand fountains of good and evil And if this Glorious Sight be once obtained then it will be easy to reconcile the divided Forms and Magick Spiritual Powers of the Mind for as the original Disunion began in the Center of Life in that place where the Tragedy was committed must the Redemption and Reconciliation be effected The Fall of Man as was before mentioned was nothing else but breaking the Union of his own Composition when each form quality fountain and spirit advanced it self in domineering and self-will by which all the intelligible Fountains Spirits and Principles operated in Divisions and Tumultuousness so that the Body and Mind was and is filled with pain and horror And what was the first Man's Fall and Degeneration is still every Mans fall that lives in and under the divided forms and disunited powers of their Minds and where the intelligible forms and powers have lost their innate sight and distinguishing properties then the Heart akes and the whole Body and Mind becomes uneasy and in this state and condition the feeling Sense or Power loseth all its harmonical Union true Pleasure and
momentary Pleasure the poor Sense of Feeling is compell'd to endure many of years pain here and eternally hereafter So that the four outward Senses and their passions and intemperances do not only add perplexity to the Body and Feeling Power but the five inward Senses of the Soul and Intellect do still suffer greater misfortunes viz. perpetual Discord and Anxiety and therefore there is no method nor way to obtain the true and natural Pleasure of this noble great and universal Sense and Power of Feeling but only by Temperance Order and cleanness of the other four Senses which method of Life will by degrees open an Intellectual Eye of distinguishing the Compounded Powers of a Mans self and the two grand Fountains of Eternity Love and Light Anger and Fierceness how to avoid the one and Embrace the other For Cleanness Humility Self-denial and Temperance do wonderfully advance and strengthen the Unity and Eye of Understanding and there is nothing does so much disperse and dissipate the thick Clouds of Darkness and depraved Understanding as Cleanness Innocence and the avoiding all oppositions and violences which was are and ever will be the forbidden Fruit the eating thereof became the Substance both of the Corporeal and Incorporeal Powers of Man which did immediately open the Gates of their own Principles and by degrees did Captivate all the innocent harmonical Powers and Properties and then the fierce wrathful invading and unclean Spirits and Principles obtained the Government This was and is called mans Fall or degeneration from Unity then and not before was this Sense perplexed with pain then Man was hid or Captivated in those fierce dark invading turbulent Principles and Powers and the Divine Principle or Eye of Wisdom or Distinguishing was hid from Man and he was aâ—… it were stript of all his Ornaments being left Naked he was forthwith invaded by all the disorders and evils both of the Body and Mind This was the depravation of Mankind and the Original of the opposition and contrary Will in Man which deplorable state and miserable condition cannot be cured but only by 〈◊〉 Medicine Compounded of Innocency Charity Humility Temperance Cleanness and Order in Meats and Drinks Communications and Imployments which are only capable to reinvest all the great and wonderful Senses and Councellors unto their Ancient or Primitive State of Pleasure and Unity where each Sense and intellectual Spiritual Power doth See Hear Smell Taste and Feel both in a Corporeal and incorporeal Consort of Love in Innocency and harmless operation each Principle and Power bringeth all its Works Fruits and productions into the Magazine or great Power of the Sense of Feeling in which all the united Powers of the Michrocosmical World rejoyce that they feel themselves Centered in the Blessed Fountain of God's Eternal Love and Light Which is according to God's Eternal Law every Principle and Quality does its own business and Eternally goes on in its own Method both in the Evil and in the Good For Time and Eternity are one notwithstanding the most Learned as they call them are of another opinion And therefore those that in the time the Soul dwells in the Body do enter with their Wills and Desires into this or the other thing or Principle must dwell in the same Quality to Eternity if it do not uncloath it self of all Stupidity Uncleanness Violence and Wrath for it is these evil Qualities that do Torment this great and wonderful Power of Feeling both in Time and Eternity the trouble and anxiety of the Soul being both the same in the Body as in the Invisible World whatever some may judge to the contrary and it doth suffer both Corporeally and Incorporeally And therefore all that would enjoy the true Pleasures both of Time and Eternity and know the Riches true Delight and Union of this universal Sense the Feeling must Redeem their Time and Cloath themselves with their Original Cleanness and Inocency and live in the simplicity of their Ancient Law not contenting themselves with a groundless hope as most men do some more some less for no Man hopes for what he enjoys or Lives in but for those things he is Ignorant of and is far from seeing or knowing whether the thing hoped for will ever come to pass Therefore he who hopes always fears for hope and fear are brethren dwelling in the House of Darkness and Death And though this be a hard Chapter for some to Read nevertheless it is Matter of Fact for had not Man broken the Law of his Maker then had he not lost his way and by Consequence had had no Cause or Reason to hope to find it nor to fear he should not for the true State of Mans Intellect and Mind is to Understand Distinguish and Enjoy And there is nothing more true than where Hope Fear Joy and Grief Dwells all the Intellectual Powers of the Mind are Ignorant Dark and Blind they being turbulent Passions of the Mind that come in with Mans Transgressions Hope is a Deluding Inticing Airy Thin Quality and if a Man catcheth or layeth hold on it he cannot hold it but it leapeth forth no Bounds nor Limits can Master it If a Man's hopes chance to come to pass it is so Volatile that it inclines the Mind to some other thing which the desire of obtaining doth mightily stir up all the Silent or Magick Powers of the Intellect thereby causing great disquietness of the Soul and hard Pain and Labour even to the hazard both of Health and sometimes of Life and if it be obtained the Diseases of the Body or Mind are no nearer the Cure or Satisfaction No this is a slippery Spark much like the Philosophers Mercury which is almost impossible to Fix which hath deluded many thousands who have been deceived in their Imaginations and fallen into many Calamities without any Satisfaction How many have been deceived by being well Stocked and Freighted with this Airy Notion Hope which is endued with such a Magick Spell or Power that few or none escape its Charms but it leads Mankind with great inclination out of one thing into another which tire the Body and perplex the Mind always running before standing at a distance but never out of sight enticeing Mankind with her Airy Baubles and Novelties that Man doth not need never arriving to a quiet and fixed Harbour And when a Man hath for many Years or perhaps all his Life thus been perplex'd and disquieted he is no nearer a Fixation or Satisfaction than at first but many times farther off and must pass into the Eternal Regions altogether unknown And therefore there is no greater Character or Mark of Man's Depravation or Fall than this night of Hope and various Desires after that which when Attained we are as far or farther from Union and Content than before Therefore he that would enjoy the Illuminating Truth with a clear Sight and distinguishing Understanding must neither possess himself with Hope nor Fear Joy nor Sorrow for they
his Imaginations Words and Works for every Tree bears Fruits according to its Qualifications and Original Principles If Man would be so wise to stand still and give himself the leisure to consider these things then might he see into his own Essences and Qualitys and how every particular thing is supported by its Simile and that from hence springs such direful inclinations after these Bloody Bestial Meats and Foods Must it not be from the insulting Powers and divided Forms and Qualitys and proportionable Essences in the Central Powers for every Inclination and Desire doth proceed and arise from some Central Quality that wants Food to support it and according to the nature and quality of the Essences such a Mouth it hath and such Food it calls for Now if Men did in the least see into the Mysteries of themselves and understood any thing of this we should not need Arguments to convince them of the truth of what we have in several of our Writings endeavoured to make them sensible of viz. their deplorable State and Condition YOURS T. T. LETTER XX. Of the Right and Left Hands SIR I Have yours and also considered your Question viz. for what cause and reason Mankind in most Nations do teach their Off-spring not only to distinguish their Hands by the terms of Right and Left but all Parents as Fathers Mothers Nurses and Tutors do industriously accustom and teach them to use on all occasions one Hand more than the other that is the Right Hand which is a true Sign and Manifestation of mans Depravity and that he hath lost his way acting in the Dark without any true consideration sight or from Principles as we have more largely treated and shewed in our Writings For Nature nor Gods Law knows nothing of neither Right nor Left but they are words or terms by which the Antients distinguished good and evil Principles and not the Hands or Members of the Body as in the Cases of the Ninivites where it is said there were so many Thousands that did not know nor distinguish their Right Hands from their Left that is good from evil which to do is the greatest Blessing and highest degree of Illumination whatever some dull Souls may imagine to the contrary Now man is the only visible Creature that doth contain the true nature and property both of the visible and invisible World as being a compleat Image of God and of Nature being most wonderfully made and in him is contained all Mysteries both of Time and Eternity And so much as any Man doth truly know of himself and to that degree as he doth distinguish the Principle and in Words Powers and Operations of his own Composition so far he is capable to penetrate into and know of all Created Beings so that it is most clear and true that Man is compleat in all the Spiritual and Corporal Powers Principles and Properties there being nothing wanting to compleat Mans external and internal Happiness and Union but true Wisdom Sight and Understanding and to distinguish the use of the powers and principles he himself contains that is to understand the right from the wrong the evil from the good and how to compose unite and bring the great and most wonderful variety of his Nature into Unity or an equal Temperature this being wanting all his Actions and Methods of Life are done by chance or rather left-handedly that is from evil principles dulness and horrid Stupidity all the properties and qualifications of MansMind and the Members of his Body are equally useful when known and the Harmony neither of the one nor of the other cannot be made up or compleated if any property of the Mind or Member of the Body be wanting or defaced but all goes on in a right line or method are known distinguished and practised there being as is said before no Left-hand in Gods Law This Hand comes in at the Door of Ignorance where the Union of the parts are broken and divided where each Form Quality Inclination and Disposition becomes self-ful and sets up for Mastery which is the principle of the Mind and Spiritual Powers and also in the Members of the Body is rightly called the Left Hand as taking its Birth from Selfefulness or evil Principles being by Men so understood as when any Man does a thing badly that is termed Left-handedly and when a Man meets with Misfortunes in his Business such a one will be ready to say That he got over the Left Shoulder and this word is seldom used but when any thing is done irregular or when Losses and Misfortunes happen and if Man had not lost the Knowledge of God himself and of the Law of Nature the Operation of the Left Hand would not have had any Being in him but his Mind and Intellectual Powers being divided or stray'd from their Union or Harmony then they become Left-handed that is all the Out-goings Inclinations and Actions both of the Mind and Members of the Body have their Operations and Power of Action from Inequality that is from the Influences of the Evil Genius or Left Hand And as Mankind is fallen into the highest degree of Ignorance and Blindness in the Principles of his Mind and Understanding from whence the Power of all Actions in the Members proceed or take their Birth which is the Original Foundation not only of this Error in the Use of the Hands but likewise of all the other Members of the Body for where the Eye of the Mind is put out and where Ignorance possesseth there is no end of Error and Misfortune which can never be regulated till Men distinguish in themselves the Right Hand way from the Left that is Evil from Good Right from the Wrong Union from Disunion Discord from Concord and Equality from Inequality for from the Left Hand proceeds all disasterous and extream Operations and Methods both in the Mind and Members of the Body Nothing is done well that is done left-handedly that is from Ignorance and Blindness Is it not wonderfully strange and as it were miraculous too that in so many hundred Ages as have passed that Mankind should not know the right and proper Use of their principal Members of the Body by whose Actions the Life is preserved but when any Man is endued with a distinguishing Mind and doth thereby penetrate into the gross Ignorance and Degeneration of Mens Minds and Intellects then it will appear to be no wonder that Mankind does know no better for if the Mind be Dark and Ignorant all the Commands and Directions do issue forth and proceed in proportion for all Conduct both good and evil do proceed from within and therefore such as the Mind is suitable are the Actions and Methods of Life The Virtue and Vice of every Tree is discovered by its Fruit. In a word If your Understanding and Mind be left-handed all the Actions and Motions of your Members are in proportion and as the degrees of Wisdom or Ignorance all proceeds accordingly and
and desire to be made manifest that is to be known to its self which cannot be any other way but by being cloathed with a Corporeal Body for a Spirit or an Inâ—…e Power cannot become Individual if it be not cloathed with a suitable Body they being like a Circle in which all the Spiritual invisible Principles and Powers do act and become â—…nown to themselves and thereby be made capable of Joy Hoâ—… Fear and Sorrow It is likewise to be understood as was before mentioned that the Spirit of each Creature is before the Body and the Desire the Cause and Original thereof and as the Learned Apostle Paul saith the Body is Dead without the Spirit and 〈◊〉 Spirit is not nor cannot be known to its self nor Enjoy or Sâ—…fer without the Body and every particular Creature or Being is endued with all the Principles Properties and Qualities of the Eternal Father or Invisible Fountain of Unity and are all the true and natural Sons thereof and therefore each Sensitive Creature doth from an Innate Disposition and Spiritual Inclination desire to be like its Father that hath Begotten it for the Son doth contain the true Nature and Properties of the Father and therefore not only Man but all other inferiour Creatures are the Likeness and Image of him from whence they proceed and had their Birth each according to its Kind and Graduation and as the Original Forms and Powers were more equal or unequal inferior or superior whence proceed the great and wonderful variety of visible Creatures both in the Animal Vegitable and Mineral Kingdoms in this World for accordiâ—… 〈◊〉 the degrees equality and inequality of the Spiritual Quaâ—… and Powers such were the Desires which did naturally 〈◊〉 vehemently attract a proportionable Matter out of all thiâ—… for a Covering our Body and that Sal Nitral or Spiritual Poâ—… and Virtue that did Predominate or had the Ascendant Sigâ—… the Body with a Character and the Inclinations Dispositioâ—… Shapes Figures and Forms were accordingly so that the â—…dation of the variety of Bodies and Complexions proceed 〈◊〉 the degrees of the Invisible or Spiritual Powers And for this Cause it is no wonder that every Creature 〈◊〉 hath obtained that high degree of Sensation and is thereby caâ—…le of enjoying or suffering either Pleasure or Pain 〈◊〉 with the highest diligence endeavour to avoid all Violence 〈◊〉 and Death and desire to Live for Ever seeing that 〈◊〉 sprung from the eternal and unsearchable Fountain of Unity for every Creatures Actions Inclinations and Desires are all â—…cording to the Composition of the Spiritual Properties and 〈◊〉 lities all which have an eternal Original whence the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Desire in all Creatures do spring and arise of Living 〈◊〉 Ever and notwithstanding the Inferiors have no cause of Dread nor Sense on them of any World or being after this either Good or Evil nevertheless they fear and dread all kinds of â—…rt Violence Oppression and consequently shun and avoid â—…th with as much Cunning and Wisdom as Men and do 〈◊〉 the highest Diligence Industry and Prudence endeavour to â—…serve themselves and Off-spring nay they rather exceed 〈◊〉 besides they have not transgressed their natural Law and â—…fore they cannot be oppressed with any fear of Pain or Sorâ—… after this Life but the Original of all fear of Hurt Violence 〈◊〉 Death doth proceed from the Spirit or Spiritual Powers 〈◊〉 hath cloathed or incircled themselves in Matter or Corpoâ—… Bodies which the Spiritual Properties and Powers would preserve and keep as an Habitation for Ever for by means of 〈◊〉 Corporeal Body or Matter the variety of the Spiritual Proâ—…ties are encircled and so become a Self-subsisting Creature known to its self as was mentioned before and is thereby renâ—…ed capable both of Pain and Pleasure Joy or Sorrow for that which is Eternal doth naturally desire what is like it self 〈◊〉 therefore those Spiritual Beings and Powers that have the like motion and Sensation of all Creatures cannot by all the â—…ning Rhetorick in the World be perswaded on any account oâ—… be made willing to Die or be separated from their Bodies 〈◊〉 nothing is able to abliterate those Inclinations Dispositions and Qualifications of the Spiritual Powers cloathed with material Bodies they received from the Grand or Eternal Fountain the Father and Creator of all Beings so that the natural Disposition 〈◊〉 Desire of all Sensitive Creatures is to preserve their Bodies 〈◊〉 Ever which is like themselves and according to their Oriâ—…al Natures for no Spiritual Power can 〈◊〉 contrary to its 〈◊〉 and its Original Fountain or Father that Made or Created it And for this Cause the Under-graduates do all of them fear and dread Hurt Violence and Oppression or any thing that seems to tend to put a Period to their Lives as the like Actions 〈◊〉 Mankind and much more if it be possible for as they know 〈◊〉 Hurt nor do no Injury to their Knowledge but Live within the Limits of the Law their Creator prescribed them For this Cause all or most of the inferior Creatures do fear all kinds of Violence more than Mankind for the more harmless and innocent any Creature is the greater is the Opposition between the Species of Hurtfulness and Violence so that the Creaâ—… Fears and Calamities are thereby encreased and all Opâ—… is the harder to be undergone For this Cause the more innocent a Creature is the greater 〈◊〉 and Evil it is to Oppress that Creature and therefore Man's Violence Oppression and Killing the Beasts is an extraordinary Evil and Sin against God and his Law for Killing stands in eternal Opposition to the Creating Power of God which proceeds from Eternity to Eternity and this Eternal Spiritual preserving Power being the compleat Life and Essential Being of all Creatures whence proceeds and springs an eternal desire of Life or to Live for Ever according to its Innate Nature so that it is the greatest Sin that can be committed against that wonderful Mystery and Creating Power of God as being most opposite not only to the Creation but also to all the Eternal Spiritual Powers that are cloathed with material Bodies for the true Life Power Motion and Actions of all visible Bodies â—…esides in the Spirits which hath an eternal Original as was mentioned before and therefore not willing to be oppressed hurt oâ—… to have its Body any way destroyed for the Body is the Sâ—…rits natural Right and will not part with it unless necessity compeâ—…s And for these Reasons the highest Evil and Punishment that can be done to Mankind is to put a Period to Life and therefore the Laws of most Countries do not indict or compel Meâ—… to Die but only on the committing of great Evils The continuation of Life is strangelâ—… precious in the Central Qualities and Spiritual Powers of every Corporeal Creature and will not Man choose a miserable troubled laboâ—…ious Life of Vexation rather than a short and easy Death and this Desire and earnest
of which makes them utter Strangers to themselves and to all the wonderful Mysteries of Gods Law and for this cause Mankind ever since he hath transgressed the Holy Laws of God and exceeded the limits and bounds of the innocent Methods and Operations of Nature hath been as it were forced and compelled to make strict and severe Laws against the wicked Enormities and Violences he committed against his own Kind and likewise to all the innocent Inhabitants of Heaven and Earth and had not some of the more Wise fixed on Mankind those Laws of retalliation viz. of Rewards and Punishments Man would quickly have destroyed the whole Creation and have raced himself off the Earth so that it is as clear as the Sun at Noon-day that if Mankind had not Dishonoured his Creation and defaced his noble Image by suffering that great and wonderful power the free and unbounded Will to enter into evil Principles and consequently Practices by vertue whereof he was Superior to all the visible Creatures of this World then we say if this had not been done Mankind would not have had any more occasion to have made Laws with promises of Rewards and Punishments than the Undergraduated Creatures of the Field have for so soon as Man had entered into Cruelty and Revenge and so broke himself off from the Commands and Laws of God and of the Heavens that he instantly became his own Law-maker and was thereby subjected to all the Influences Laws and Customs of the Sublunary Planets Stars and Constellations and is principally governed by them in all Nations and therefore as Mankind is departed from the simple Methods of Gods Law into evil Principles and Methods of Life by which means he hath rendred himself uncapable of the benevolent Influences and Powers of Gods Law and also of the sweet and fructifying Dews of the Heavenly Bodies but on the other side by his cruel and unnatural Methods of Life he is only capable to attract or draw unto himself the Venom and weak Influences out of all things Elements and Constellations for all things of this great Being or visible World are compounded of the two Grand Principles of Good and Evil and into what Man doth enter with his free unbounded Will that same Principle obtains the Government and becomes his Ascendant or Governing Constellation whether it be Good or Evil and this Grand Truth every sensible Man must grant that each principle or quality hath a Key in its own Bosom both in the Evil and in the Good to penetrate the depth of all things and to influence and to be influenced by its Similie the Good searcheth the whole Globe of the Heavens and Earth and wheresoever it findeth its Similie there it rejoyceth and is thereby strengthened The like is to be understood of the evil Genius every Star Sign and Planet hath great influence and power in his own Orb or Circle for in them all Learned in the Astral or Mathematical Science each Planet or Constellation delights and hath a Similie with its own Nature but when those great Luminaries are out of their Orbs or meet with contrary Natures then they are said to be weak and impotent and their Influences are in proportion from whence the Notion of Strength and Weakness of the Planets proceed every particulaâ—… thing both in the Heaven and in the Earth is best pleased and delighted in that which is nearest and most like it self this every one doth know more or less and therefore if Mankind would have the benevolent and sweet Influences both of the Heaven and of the Earth and of those of his own Kind too then let him with his Will enter into Temperance Patience Order and into all vertuous courses of Life and then he will quickly obtain that Blessed Magnet that will attract and influence the good in the Earth and in the Heavens and the good likewise in the whole Universe will naturally and powerfully influence him all the great Governing Stars and Constellations will befriend him with their vertuous Influences The contrary is to be understood of him who suffers his Will and Desire to enter into the Methods and Principles of evil and violent courses of Life such a one draws unto himself the Evils and Venoms out of all things both of Heaven and Earth Others object and say viz. if each Mans good and ill Fortune Health and Sickness Death and Life Honour and Dishonour Riches and the contrary do depend on the time of Birth the Ascendant Governing Stars and Constellations together with the Friendly Aspects and Configurations the Heavenly Bodies have with each other they say if this be true how comes this to pass that a Hundred Thousand Men come into the Field of Mars Fifty Thousand on a side and within the compass of one day or twelve hours time there are Slain Sixty or Seventy thousand on both sides this doth startle and amuse all Men that are ignorant of the Government and Powers of the Heaven and Earth making conclusions and measuring all things according to their narrow Capacities and Sensuality knowing nothing of Gods Law themselves nor the Simpathetical Methods of Nature for as we have mentioned before Mankind having by Disobedience and Fraud broken the Laws of God and consequently of the Heavens and the great ruling Powers thereof and therefore he is not now in the common Capacity of those Creatures that have kept their first Law and Station they were Created in so that now by the power of his free Will he is rendred capable to Create Chuse and Ordain Earthly Stars Constellations Governors and Princes in this Sublunary World or dark Earthly Globe and thereby he is become a compleat Citizen of the Earthly Regions and consequently as subject to the Influences of those Earthy Gods Governors and Princes as those Creatures are to the Heavenly Constellations and Governors that have not broken their Law but kept their first Station and as these most wonderful and amazing Luminaries Stars and Constellations do by their circular Motions Configurations and Simpathetical Operations govern and rule their Subjects or inferior Creatures that have not broken their first bounds and limits of Gods Law and a regular exact Method and Order as is most clear and manifest by every days Experience to the Vulgar The like is to be understood of the Degraded Legions or Creatures called Men who have as is mentioned before broken their Original or Heavenly Laws and so are no more subject to the Laws Orders and Methods of the Heavens and ruling Princes of their own making for so soon as Man had Degraded himself and fallen from and out of the power of the Heavenly Government and so become depraved then immediately from the same ignorant blind and wicked Principle as by Similie he did and doth to this day chuse and advance proportionable Governors and Princes to rule over them and do therethereby oblige themselves under the Penalties of cruel and severe Laws and so becomes subject to
times and tho' they are the swiftest of any others in Motion yet none of them can hold out so long for most certain it is that the swifter and quicker the motion of any Creature is the sooner the same is tired and wants rest Wherefore it 's a weak Imagination in any to suppose that several of our Birds that are not seen in the Winter fly into Foreign Countries beyond the Seas of which Sea-faring Men and Travellers know nothing at all not but that there are various sorts of Fowls and Birds seen 500 or it may be 1000 Leagues off at Sea but then they are such whose Constitutions are more or as much Watry as Earthy and Airy and that cannot only rest on the Water but also get great part of their Food from that Element being much of the Nature of our Ducks Swans and the like so that upon the whole 't is no ways probable that our Summer Birds do remove themselves into Transmarine Countries to Winter nor to make their Exits in but rather according to their Airy Original Die in places more agreeable to their Natures as I before noted so that the wonderful and most amazing Wisdom of the Great and ever Blessed Creator appears in through and over all his Works in that every particular specifick Body and sensible Creature is made compleat and wants nothing that can render it more Happy provided it keep within the bounds of its own Circle and Law and no additions then can contribute to its farther Blessing and tho' the degrees are wonderful and various as to Virtue and the contrary and that each from their own Qualifications have obtained their Names which originally distinguished their Natures according to the Meliority of them or otherwise yet the meanest and lowest degrees of Created Beings even the Reptiles of the Earth are altogether as compleat and happy in themselves as those that are in Nature and Composition many degrees higher Graduated so that the meanest have no Inclination to change Conditions with the highest nor the highest with the lowest every individual Species being content to dwell with in its own bounds wherein its Happiness consists and upon this ground there is no sensible Creature in the World that is miserable but only such as have broken the Bounds and natural Limits of their and others that are forc'd to break it so that upon the whole Man must be the only miserable Creature under Heaven both in respect to the Depravation of his own Nature and his having by Fraud and Cunning spread his Malignity and evil Influences thro' and over all the Under-graduates of Animals forcing many of them to act and yield Obedience to his violent Hands contrary to the Law wherein God had Circumscribed and their own natural Instinct Sir If I have made any undue Excursions in this my endeavouring to answer your desire I hope you will excuse me and attribute it to the barrenness of the Subject and not to any other design in me than to serve you as becomes SIR Your Friend and Servant T. T. LETTER XXXVII Of FERMENTATION SIR T IS much more out of Complaisance to your Desires than any real Opinion I have of my own Ability I shall attempt to answer the Abstruce Questions you were pleased to propose unto me in your Letter of the 26th of September concerning the wonderful Power of Fermentation together with the Reasons why the Fat Flesh and Blood of Animals cannot be fermented nor separated as all Vegetations can be nor one Quality Changed nor Transmuted into another AND first I am to observe to you that the Animal Ferment of the Stomach is not only higher Graduated as appears by its Virtue in Turning or Transmuting the Insensible into Sensible Creatures but by not dividing or separating the Original Forms and Qualities from their natural Operations or Phlegmy gross Bodies as common Fermentation does or according to that way and manner as Artists Ferment the Juices of Herbs Fruits and Grains whereby the gross Body is destroyed or sunk into 〈◊〉 stinking Liquor that invests the Original fiery Principles of their natural or gentle Methods but only by a fiery turbulent rendring thunder-like Motion and before which all those unbounded Powers and Principles were still and quiet being incircled in the Embraces of the sweet Quality and phlegmy Body as tho' no such fierce invading Fires or Principles had been there Now this comes to pass because Fermentation opposes all the regular Motions of Nature and the Eternal Law of the Creator as being a Death and total Destruction to Multiplication and Progression and not unlike unto the Deaths of Animals which cannot be effected without terrible fierce Agonies and indeed the dividing the Spirit from the Body without such a fierce turbulent and irresistible Motion is not to be done as is clearly evinced in all sweet Liquors or Juice whatever who when their sleeping silent Powers or original Properties are disturbed as they are in a full or strong Ferment all the Art in the World cannot incircle or tame them But the Fermentation of Food in our Stomachs as well as of all Beasts is performed after another manner imperceptible to the Creature wherein all is quiet and silent provided the Meats and Drinks be of a suitable Quality and not too great in Quantity And these sweeter Juices or Spirits that Nature draws or extracts for her Support are not divested of or separated from their natural Cloathing or Bodies neither are the sweet Qualities of such Foods Transmuted into fiery Spirits or first Principles for in such Cases the Body and Life could not be supported and continued but instead thereof the Nutriment is divided and distils its Virtues into Body and Spirits that is into Blood from whence are made and generated Flesh Bones Fat Spirits Inclinations Dispositions Words and all Actions of Life and for this reason the more equal our Meats and Drinks are the better is the Nutriment and consequently all the Off-springs proceeding from thence hence it is that the frequent Eating and Drinking unequal Foods never fail to beget and lay open the fierce Gates and invading Powers of Inequality called Sickness and particularly the Drinking of strong Spirits or Brandy does always prove baneful except in a Medicinal way because the original Principles are divested of their Body and Transmuted into a fiery Circle out of which there is no deliverance or progression so that you see the Stomach or Chymical Furnace does that in a silent Method which the outward Fermentation performs in a tumultuous Manner for in the first Elaboratory Natures Fires are so mild and friendly thâ—…t they do not disinherit the original Principles and Forms of their native Right or Propriety nor divide them into self-ful Desire or Transmute their beloved Spouse I mean the sweet and most aimable Quality into original Fires as the other does no no the original fierce Principles of all Food put into the Stomach do still notwithstanding the digesting melting
and to distinguish between the two Grand Fountains of good and evil in themselves and to know from what root each Thought Word and Action takes its Birth and from whence each Invention Employment Art and Trade doth proceed and are Midwifed into the World then would this discourse be valuable unto the Sons of Men and they would without invitation repent themselves of their mistaken Conduct both in themselves and in the Education of their Children but if Men Act and Teach without either sight or true knowledge what can be expected nothing that proceeds from them can be more certain than the Judgment of Blind and Deaf Men in the distinction of Colours and delicate Airs of Musick as is mentioned before Seeing is a most wonderful Sense and the only power by which all the various Forms Figures and Shapes of things are represented and communicated to the intellectual or imaginative faculties and Man being an Epitome the whole Nature and forms of things by which there is a secret conveyance and each thing hath power to communicate and awaken the hidden or sleeping Magia of Nature by its own Key that can unlock all Gates and raise up awaken and strengthen its own property which by continual management of the strong Will and Desires such and such a form or quality comes by degrees to obtain the Ascendant getting the Government in the Mind which does in a short time betray the Judgment and becloud the Understanding and then all appears to be rational and though the Customs bâ—… ever so Inimical and Prejudicial to Nature and doth Diametrically oppose the Health and Well-being both of the Body and Mind nevertheless all goes down and many are so blinded with false Opinion and Tradition that no Pains Cost Labour or Trouble shall Deter them from being in the Fashion or to do what they see others do what a great charge and pains do too many Thousands take to maintain their Fantastical Dresses how frequently do they put themselves upon the Rack both of their Bodies Minds and Purses in a word what would not young People do that they may appear in the Fashion or be equal with those that are in the highest Mode will not they use all Wicked Methods of Life as Whoreing Robbing Stealing nay Murder it self and indeed what Wickedness is there that Youth and Children will not practice to get Money to consume on their Lusts and Invading Passions Now if Fathers Mothers and others did in any degree consider these things they would not so readily Teach Nourish and Permit these Devilish Spiteful Powers and Qualitys as they do neither would they be so easie and give Money to Dancing and Fencing-Masters nor would they suffer them to see Poppets and other foolish Plays and Games no no they would be as far from these things as the East from the West People never so much as once think of the evil that may ensue when their Children Servants and others go to Shows Fairs and playing in the Streets and at Neighbours Houses which doth wonderfully pollute them nay is it not frequent for many of our modest Dames both in Country and City to spend some part of their time when they are at Worship and Church in gazing looking and noting those Persons or Gallants that are most in the Mode or have gotten the newest Fashion or finest piece of Lace Point bravest or richest Silks Now seeing these fine things hath so deeply and so centrally awakened the imaginative and secret powers of the Mind that they can hardly eat their Dinner before they have informed their Husbands and Companions of the richness of such a Neighbours Gown and Head-dress of the newest Mode often undervaluing the Station Income or Estate of those Sparkish Madams The like is among the Proud young Sons and Daughters telling their Parents how brave rich and fashionable such and such a Neighbours Children are endeavouring to imitate and exceed them shewing their Discontents if they are not satisfied which frequently occasions great Disturbances in private Familys For Parents and Guardians foreseeing the Inconveniences that attend such things though it be too late in the day Therefore many do use all endeavours to Plant and Sow good Seed but the ground or humane earth is not capable to receive it being as it were choaked or over-run with pestiferous Weeds which the Parents have so early Planted that neither the Fear of God nor the Instructions and Threats of Fathers and Mothers can obliterate or root out having taken such deep footing in the imaginative and intellectual faculties of Nature the very Beauty of the Mind being so early sullyed by ill Methods and Managements And yet most People would have their Children Vertuous Sober Temperate and Modest fearing God whereas they have Sowed in their tender years the Seeds of Luxury Pride and Idleness which are the three Sons of the evil Daemons so that there is much more Mischief than Thousands imagine in the wrong use of this Sense But did your Offspring behold the beauty of Order Temperance Form proper Preparations of Meats and Drinks Cleanness Industry Silence good methods of Learning and Speaking or any other vertuous course of Life Children and young People would as readily imitate observe follow and practise theâ—… as now they do all kind of Viciousness and Evil the Divine Principle Holy Light and Love of God in Jesus Christ is as near to Mankind as the Evil Principles and the one is as ready to exert its power as the other as each is and shall be encouraged by the Primum Mobile the Will for into whatsoever the Will and Desires of Mankind do enter whether it be good or evil that power or principle is awakened and strengthened in the very Center of Life and will quickly obtain the Ascendant provided a contrary Will do not timely intervene so that many Thousands of ignorant People are deceived before they think or know any thing of it These are some of the Thoughts relating to your Question which at present occurr to Memory hoping that what is herein Inserted may give you satisfaction and be acceptable From your ready Friend T. T. LETTER V. Of the Sense of Feeling SIR IN Answer to yours touching that most wonderful Sense of Feeling I shall endeavour according to my Abilities to satisfy your earnest desire First Therefore you may observe that it is the Centre of Life and of all the other Senses for if this be wanting in the whole or in any particular Member the Melancholy House of Death immediately seizes but any of the other four may be lost or wanting and oftentimes two of them nay three and yet the Life continued in vigour Therefore the All-wise Creator hath placed them in particular Cells or Apartments in the Head that if any one two or three of them should be hurt distempered or lost the whole might not be in danger of sinking into Death though Nature is not compleat if any one be Lost or Disordered but