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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28523	The fifth book of the authour, in three parts the first, Of the becoming man or incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Sonne of God, that is, concerning the Virgin Mary ... and how the Eternal word is become man : the second part is of Christ's suffering, dying, death, and resurrection ... : the third part is of The tree of Christian faith ... / written through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by Jacob Behme, the Teutonick philosopher ...; Von der Menschwerdung Jesu Christi. English	Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?	1659 (1659)	Wing B3405; ESTC R21119	198,807	274

the things vvhich vve perceive in this corruptible vvorld to be transitory are in the spiritual invvard uncreated world Eternal in Substance and cannot but endure for evermore which if it were considered we should find what all things are for they are to be found within our Souls and with our Inward Eyes and may be plainly seen discerned and known and so the holy Scriptures as we come to a greater measure of the knowledge of the Things not only that they are but what and how they are as this Author teacheth would come to be understood as to all those Mysteries of the Gospel of Christs Eternal Redemption and Salvation which he hath purchased for all Man-kind then which there is not any thing comparably desirably to be known by any of the Sons of Men which are here fundamentally and particularly explained more then in any other Book of the Authors wherein thou wilt find such Mysteries discovered as formerly thou couldst not have believed though one had told thee of them and which thou hast not so clearly understood though thou hast often read of them in the Scriptures And if all Jews Turks Heathens and others not yet true Christians should perceive the Things therein written they would instantly with willing and ready Hearts believe in God aright worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth and know the Only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and then be filled with Joy in the Holy Ghost and love Embrace and highly esteem the understanding of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament which nnot many yet care to be assured they understand them aright by the true knowledg of the Things written of therein Though also the Ground of all Mysteries are in this Book laid open which being apprehended may bring us at length to the full understanding of all that the Scriptures do contein except in what the spirit of God wil conceal as what the seven Thunders in the Revelations sounded forth which yet wil be made known to that soul what those things are that the Spirit wil not yet reveal but that the Father will reserve in his own power till the thing be neer to be accomplished though it may be understood by one or other holy soul in the Nature of the Thing with a Command not to make it known to others yet though we understand things never so perfectly in our Spirits souls heavenly Bodys in our Inward Man we enjoy them inwardly onely in assured hope but not as we shall do neither do we see them as we shall do when we so enjoy them as we do now this world with this outward Body both which wil be changed together at the End and though this body is sown in weakness at the resurrection thereof it is raised in power a spiritual incorruptible immortal Eternal body made conformable to Christs Glorious Body to such as have been partakers of him in this life this will be in that World where all Evil shall be done away first from sticking and adhereing to us as now in and by our Outward Man in this life and them also all corruption being done away as at the change of this world and resurrection of the Body that will be also released from those Clogs of imperfection which now hang on us Outwardly and on this whole now visible world and will do till all Things are separated by the Fire at the last day and every thing shall go to its own Place the wicked into everlasting Torment the Righteous to Eternal Bliss then Corruption shall put on Incorruption and God shall be all in all yet all things will remain to be what they then are though God will be all in Every one of them In the mean time we may attain Perfection in our souls spirits and new heavenly Bodys being therein truly members of Christ in us yet we should bring dovvn our Body dayly and Mortifie our Members that are on the Earth and learn to know how every one of us may justly account our selves even the Chief of sinners finding sin to be out of measure sinful and thereby strive through Godly sorrow to bring forth Indignation in us against it and how sinne dwels though we should not let it reign in our Mortal Bodys to obey it in the Lusts thereof and if by the spirit we thus mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live for then we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit wherein we are perfect even in this life And because this Treatise will so exceedingly further us in these several divine Considerations let me desire the Reader for his own Benefit to peruse it seriously and he will find as I have done more then now before he read it he can conceive though I viewing my self in the Looking-Glass of my sins may finde just cause to acknowledg myself one of the unworthiest of the Children of Men. 1658. 25. December London John Sparrow The First Chapter Why the Becoming man or Incarnation of Iesus Christ hath not hitherto been rightly understood Also Of the two Eternal Principles and of the Temporary Principle 1. WHen Christ asked his Disciples Whom do the people say that the Sonne of man is They answered Some say thou art Elijah some that thou art John the Baptist or one of the Prophets 2. He asked them and said Whom say ye then that I am 3. Them answered him Peter Thou art Christ the Son of the living God 4. And he answered them and said Of a truth Flesh and Blood hath not revealed that unto thee but my Father in Heaven And upon this he made known unto them his Suffering Dying and Resurrection 5. To signifie that self Reason in the wit and wisdome of this world could not in its own Reason know nor apprehend this Person who was both God and Man 6. But he would for the most part be rightly known only those that would wholly yeild up themselves to him and for his name sake suffer the Cross Tribulation and Persecution who would earnestly cleave to him 7. As indeed it so came to pass then also That even while he conversed visibly amongst us in this world he was least known by the Wise in Reason 8. And though he went up and down in divine VVonders doing Miracles yet outward Reason was so blind and void of understanding that those great wonders were by the wisest in the Arts and Sciences of Reason ascribed to the Devil 9. And as at the time when he walked visibly in this world he remained unknown by the wse in their own Reason so he still remaineth unknown to outward Reason 10. From hence is so much contention disputation and strife arisen about his Person in that outward Reason supposeth it can reach fathome and search out what God and Man is and how God and Man can be one Person 11. Which strife hath filled the circuit and face of the Earth self Reason continually supposing

things but if they love themselves more then God in them then their Perdition is of themselves Hath not God shed abroad his Love in our Hearts Can any rightly say Lord Lord but by the Holy Spirit And are not the Father the Word and Spirit which bear record in Heaven One And do not the Spirit the Water and the Bloud which bear record on the Earth agree in One Also is not the Kingdom of Heaven within us And doth it not consist in Peace Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost and then must not all needs be in us And we may thereby apprehend and understand it rightly though yet we know it not nor ever read it or though it had not been related in the Holy Scriptures How many Thousand Endless Mysteries are Treasured up in the hidden wisdom of God in Christ and in him in us when we find him and partake of him in him we have them all and from his fulness receive Grace for Grace how narrowly therefore should we search and observe the exact words of the Scripture which so surely as an Index point us to these invaluable things and use that powerful word in our Hearts by which hearing Comes and direction and power of understanding those things not onely which are expressed inwardly or outwardly but even whatsoever is hidden in Christ in whom all fulness dwels and then can any thing be impossible to be apprehended or known by a Soul that hath the very Thing in it self where nothing can be hid from its inward Eyes And since God worketh in us both to wil and to do why refuse we to will and to do by hearkening and yeelding to the Lusts of our own Hearts being Servants in Obedience to the Evil and not of God who is likewise in us with his Grace fulness we thinking nevertheless that we can neither will nor do endeavouring to bring Scripture to prove it to the quenching of the Spirit the manifestation whereof is given to every one to profit withal and this is effected in those that understand not how to satsfie themselves in the meaning of those Scripture Arguments that are alledged for proofs not considering that God worketh in us to be able through him in us so that there is himself his power and ability in our Selves though not Self-ability as of our selves for the Most Holy Man born of the fleshly Seed of Father and Mother of himself as of himself is not able to think a Good Thought but there is none so wicked except he be altogether uncapable to desire Conversion and so is a Devil but doth at some time or other in this life think a Good Thought which testifies the good work of God in his-heart and soul and is the stirring of the Divine Word therein in which is Light but Men love darkness rather then Light though it Ever Eternally shone in the Darkness and is the very light of their life in them and that because their Deeds are Evil and they will not follow to will and do according to it which is the Obedience to the divine Light in them though God hath given even his whole self unto them to Convert them wherein they are able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth them and yet will not but neglect so great Salvation And these Comfortable words expressed in the holy Scriptures are faithful and the Things certain and undeniably true though the Scriptures had never made mention of them and are all of them to be discerned known and throughly understood in the Things themselves by and in every Soul but our want is that we seek not The Consideration whereof should move us earnestly to labour to understand more and more where and how that word is to be found felt seen and known as this Book doth exceedingly help us that we may infallibly Experimentally and understandingly Testifie unto the Truth of the Holy Scriptures by the through Examination of the Things it speaketh of seeing the Scripture directs to that which is to be understood no way but in the Things themselves as all that is written of is to be known Experimentally whether it be Natural or Divine solely by comparing the writing by and with the Things else all is but a Notional and Imaginary Supposition or Opinion without understanding but by the knowing of Things we should by degrees cease from Contention and rightly certainly and infallibly know God and the Wonders he hath wrought and can and will work in all things especially in the Souls of Holy Men some of whom out of the good hidden treasure of the living word in the Heart have committed to writing those few things conteined in the Scriptures being few in respect of the Infinite Depths of the Deity and so proceeding forward from Grace to Grace from Knowledge to knowledg we may attain to the measure of the fulness of the stature of a Man in Christ and not be alwaies children in understanding but even strong Men in Christ The Apostle Johns words If we say we have no sin we deceive our Selves May they be taken as meant speaking of others and not himself included what then shall we think was become of his Earthly Old Adam of his outward Flesh and Bloud wherein he was Mortal had he not that when he said so that he might justly exclude himself from having any sinne as having laid of this life and body he might have done having the new heavenly Body and not the old Earthly one about him at all in which Mortal flesh and Bloud onely which Christ himself took of the Seed of the Virgin Mary he became Sinne for us and could die else it had not been possible as is largely cleared in this Treatise Though if there be no Consent of the Soul it may truly be said by any one with the Apostle Paul It is no more I that do the Evil which I would not but Sinne that dwelleth in me Yet of this Mortal Corruptible Flesh which dyeth and remains in Corruption in the Grave and will not be changed till the General Resurrection of all the Dead at the last day of that it may be always said as he likewise saies of himself after he was rapt into the Third Heaven and not of others onely I know that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no Good thing And that is it in which Evil was present vvith him vvhen he vvould do Good for vvith his Flesh he served the Lavv of Sinne Can any serve God with his Flesh but vvith the Mind he can and doth vvhen he vvilleth the Good Yet vvhy are the Mysteries of the Bible so little understood but because we apprehend not that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit and all Graces as also Sinne are invvardly in Every soul the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh in every one and so the love and vvrath of God is in all things either hidden or manifested and that all

within the Old Adam shall follow after him and the Evill or Malignity of the Old Adam shall be burnt up in Gods fire and be given to the Devil for food 56. Now saith Reason being the New Man in this world in the Old is onely in the becoming Man or Incarnation then it is not PERFECT 57. This is no otherwise then as with a child where the seed with two Tinctures viz the Masculine and Feminine is sowen the one in the other and a Child cometh out of it 58. For as soon as a Man Converteth and turneth himselfe to God with heart Minde thoughts and will and goeth out from his wicked wayes and giveth himselfe up wholly sincerely and Earnestly into God then in the fire of the soul in the old perished or Corrupted Image the Impregnation beginneth 59. And the Soul apprehendeth in it selfe the Word that moved it selfe in Mary in the Center of the Holy Trinity which in Mary with the Modest highly blessed heavenly Virgin the wisedom of God gave in it selfe into the halfe dead Virgin and became a True Man 60. That very Word which in Mary in the Center of the Holy Trinity moved or roused it selfe which united or Espoused it selfe with the half dead shut up virginity apprehendeth the Soulish Fire and then instantly in the Souls Image viz in the souls Light in the Meckness viz in the shut up virgin-like wisdom the Impregnation begineth 61. For Mans love-Tincture apprehendeth Gods Love-Tincture and the seed is sown in the Holy Spirit in the Souls Image as in Our Book of the Threefold Life of Man is written at large 62. Now behold When the virgin-like Marks in Gods love appear then may this twig or branch be born for in God ALL is PERFECT 63. But being it sticketh covered in the Old Adam and standeth onely as it were in the Essence as a ●●●d therefore there is great danger concerning it for many attain this Twig or Branch first at their last End 64. And though indeed he hath brought it along with him out of his Mothers body or womb yet it becometh perished or corrupt and broken and made earthly by many 65. Thus it goeth also with the poor sinner when he repenteth but afterwards becometh an Evil Man it goeth with him as befell Adam who was a fair Glorious Image Created and highly Englightned from God 66. But when he suffered Lust to overcome him he became Earthly and his fair Image became captivated in the Earthly source or quality in the Anger of God and thus it goeth continually 67. But this we say according as we have received enlightning in the Grace of God and have wrestled much for the Garland that they that in the Earnest continue stedfast or Constant till his Twig or Branch get a Bud or little blossom his Twig or branch will not easily be broken in one or more storms for that which is weak hath also a weak life 68. We speak not thus in or as concerning the Deity but Naturally it is thus and indeed also all is done Naturally for the Eternal hath also its Nature and the one doth but proceed out of the other 69. If this world bad not been poysoned by the Malignity and fierce wrath of the Devil then Adam had continued in this world in Paradise and there would have been no such fierce wrath in the Starres and Elements 70. For the Devil was a King and great Lord in the place of this world and he hath awakened the fierce wrath 71. God therefore created the Heaven out of the midst of the Waters that the fiery Nature viz the fiery Firmament might be captivated with the water-Heaven that its fierce wrath might be quenched 72. Else if the water should be gone or pass away Men would plainly see what would be in this world nothing else but a cold stern harsh astringent and fiery burning yet onely Dark for there could be no Light for the Light subsisteth meerly in the Meekness so there can also be no shining fire except it have meek substantiality 73. Therefore it is known to US that God hath burned the heavenly substantiality into water which was done Naturally 74. When God the Father moved himselfe and the Devil fell who would be a fire-Lord over the Meekness then there was such a Bolt thrust in before his poysoned Malignity so that now he is Gods Ape or Mimick and not Lord a raver and fulfiller in the Anger-source or quality 75. Therefore being we know this that we are environed with the Anger we should have a care of our selves and not so slightly and meanly Esteem our selves for we are not onely from this world but also in lik manner from the divine World which standeth hidden in this world and is neer us 76. We can live and be in Three worlds at once if we sprout forth with the virgin-like Image out of the Evil life 77. Eor we live in the first Principle in the fire-world in the fire as to the Essential-soul viz as to the fire-source or quality in the Center of Nature of Eternity 78. And then with the right pure Virgin Image we live in the Light-flaming Paradise-world although in the place of this world the same is not manifest yet in the virgin Image in the Holy Spirit and in the word that dwelleth in the virgin-like Image becometh known 79. And then Thirdly with the Old Adam we live in this Corrupted sickly world with the Devil in his kindled sickness or Longing therefore it is said be Watchful or Circumspect 80. Christ saith Be simple as Doves and subtle as Serpents take heed to your selves 81. In Gods Kingdome we need wo subtilty we are onely Children in the bosome of the Mother but in this world we must be watchfull or Circumspect or look to our selves 82. We carry the Noble Treasure in an Earthly Vessel it is soon done to loose God and the Kingdom of Heaven which after this time is more to be attained 83. We are here in the soyl and in the seed we stand here in the growing if it fall out that the Stalk be once broken yet the root is there still so that another stalk may grow 14. Here the Door of Grace standeth open to Man there is no sinner so great but if the Convert he may be regenerated or new born out of the Evil Malignity 85. But whosoever wilfully and ob●●inately casteth his root into the Devils Mire and as to his growing or sprouting out again despairs or resloves against it who will help him that will not himself be helped also God will not have him who himself will not 86. But if in his will he converts to God then God will have him for he which willeth in Gods Anger him will Gods anger have But he which willeth in the Love him will Gods love have 87. Paul saith To whom you give your selves as Servants in Obedience either of sinne to Death or of