him and gave him the superior Primacy in whose bright Light was perfect understanding 3. But he seeing himself so Triumphant moved the Spirit generated by the seven so hard and strongly that it became very fiery climbing up in the Fountain of the Heart 4. But had it moved gently and lovingly as the seven did before they became creaturely there had been generated a lovely mild Son like to the Son of God and then the Infinite Light the Son of God would have been delighted in and played with the small Light in Lucifer as with a young Son or dear little Brother 5. But let not the Devil make any believe Gods will was that he had some Men should be loft and so pervert Gods Truth defending the Devil by Lies 6. For know the whole Deity hath in its innermost Birth or Pith a very tart terrible sharpness in which 1. The Astringent quality is a very hard dark cold attracting like the extream Frost congealed Water when suppose the Sun totally taken away which austere attraction causeth fixation of the Body and the hardness drieth it up so that it subsisteth creaturely 7. The bitter quality is tearing cutting and penetrating driving the Astringent to Mobility From the fierce rubbing and raging of both which 8. A wrathful kindling proceedeth 9. And in this eager strife existeth a hard Tone or Noise penetrating all like a Tyrant according to which God calls himself an Angry Jealous God and in this consisteth Hell Enmity and Eternal Perdition And such a Creature is the Devil come to be 10. And in these is God an All-comprehensible All-fixing Sharp God 11. But in the strife and heat of these qualities ariseth the Light and in the Light and the Sweet Water the Flash of Life wherein all the foregoing qualities are made pleasant as a sour Apple by the Sun is made sweet and good yet the Taste of the other qualities remain in it The Head Spring and Fountain of Sin 12. Lucifer's qualifying Spirits having an Imaging Power in that Royal Body vehemently affected the high Light so triumphantly that they lifted up themselves to Pomp and Stateliness leaving the Angelical Obedience whereby the great bright flash became so bright as was intolerable to the Fountain Spirits against the right of Nature So that the bitter quality which Existeth in the sweet Water and is the cause of joy trembled and rub'd it self so hard in the Astringent that the Fountain or Quality of Heat was eagerly kindled Which bitter and hot Quality caus'd the Astringent to dry up the sweet Water wherein the Heavenly Heat and Light have their Being And thenceforth could not the Heat rise to a Flame or Light for the Light existeth in the Oyliness of the Water thus dryed up but glowed as red hot Iron or rather a very hard Stone in the greatest Heat 13. Not that the Spirit of the Water was devoured but its quality was turn'd into a dusky hot and sour Quality Which introduced extremity of Cold also whereby the whole Body grew fierce and wrathful And the bitter Quality raged and became a Poyson hence sprung the first Poyson which bitter poysonous Death comes also into poor Humane Flesh. 14. And now was Lucifer an Astringent hot bitter dark cold sour stinking poysonous Fountain And the Tone rose up through the bitter Qualities penetrating the Heat and Astringent hard Quality as a clap of Thunder 15. God created Angels out of himself that they might be harder and dryer compacted than the Ideas or Forms which through the qualifying of the Spirits of God in Nature rise up and through the moving of the Spirits pass away again that their Light in their hardness should shine brighter and the Tone of their Body should sound clearer and shriller than it did before either shine or sound in the Salitter which was thin and dim And therefore they lifted up themselves tho' they knew themselves to be but a piece of the total God supposing they were a fairer little Son than the Son of God himself and that they could qualifie operate and elevate themselves above the whole God and Rule and Govern all without Corrival or Supream Comptroller 16. Here lyes the Root of Covetousness Envy Pride and Wrath. All Lucifer's Angels fell with him for he was created out of the Kernel of the Salitter out of which they were created he their Lord they were all of one will with him which they would not suffer to be taken away 17. Q. Did not the Universal God know this before the Creation of the Angels 18. A. No. for if so it had been a Predestinate Will in God to have it so and had been no Enmity against God but God had created him a Devil God made him a King of Light and for Disobedience spewed him out of his Royal Throne 19. God knew this according to his Wrath in which he is not called God but a consuming â—ire but knew not this according to his Love according to which he is called God into which no fierceness entreth and so God is alone called God or Goodness 20 And what Gods Love knoweth sensibly or feelingly in it self that it also and that only it willeth 21. The Devils Prison is in upon and above the Earth up to the Moon till the last day And 22. Then their House will be in the place where the Earth now standeth and this will be called the Burning Hell but not in such a Form as it now standeth but separated in the kindled wrath Fire into a dark hot cold rugged hard bitter stinking Reliâ—ks dregs or dross CHAP. XVIII Of the Creation of Heaven and Earth 1. WHen the Astringent quality was predominant the hard dry Stones came to be 2. But where the Astringent and Bitter were equally predominant there sharp Gravel and Sand. 3. Where the Tone and Astringent in the Water there Copper Iron and Rocky Oar. 4. Where the Water there the wild Earth But the Bitter Spirit is the chief cause of the Black Earth 5. Yet the Heat in the Astringent chiefly helped to make the hardness and there it generated the noblest and preciousest Saâ—â—â—ter in the Earth as Gold Silver and precious Stones 6. But when the hot Spirit in the sweet Water was predominant in the Love the Astringent made the Oar of precious Stones c. CHAP. XIX Concerning Heaven what it is where it is and how it is 1. THat there is a pure glorious Heaven in all the three Births aloft above the deep of this World in which is Gods Being and the Holy Angels he is not Born of God that denieth Which comprizeth the Kingdoms of Michael and Uriel and continueth as it was from Eternity with which the innermost and holy Birth in this World uniteth being all one Body of God one Heart one Will one God all in all for the true Heaven is every where 2. When thy Spirit apprehendeth the
the snuff of a Candle is â—id in the Centre of the Light as is appâ—râ—nt iâ— Lucifer â— Now how we may conceiue that God is an â—â—gry zealous God and a gracious merciful God the seven Species or Circumstance must be 〈…〉 to win The 1. Astringent 2. Sweet 3. Bitter 4. Heat 5. 〈◊〉 6. Tone or Sound 7. The Body generated out of the other six Spirits 6. The sweet Quality flâ—eth from the bitter which is the cause of the growth of Fruit in Vegetables and the Astringent and bitter eagerly pursue it cloaths it and is the cause of a stalk and when it overtakes it strives to hinder its farther flight and so comes the knot in the stalks through which is a small Orifice the sweet Quality gets through that and then comes more stalk leaves and blossoms which by the external heat and light gets colours but the sweet Water is not a Mother strong enough to produce Fruit but the blossoms being fallen off the outward Heat with the united aid of all the Qualities bringeth the Fruit. 7. The Light riseth up only in the sweet Quality no thing can be kindled but that in which the sweet Quality is predominant for the Spirit riseth up only in the Water A Stone or Earth cannot be kindled because the Astringent and bitter Qualities are predominant in them only The Earth when the earthy quality is boyl'd out is brought as in Gun-powder to give a flash of Terror wherein the Devil in the anger of God representeth himself 8. But that the Water will not burn is because it is not the sweet Water but Elementary only Else Water were not Mortal Flesh shineth not but fat doth the sweet quality prevailing therefore lean Creatures are not merry Q. Where are the seven Spirits 9. A. All Heaven and this World and all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are comprehended in them Q. Seeing God is every where and is himself all How comes heat cold wrath and fierceness among the Creatures 10. A. The first four Forms are at Enmity with each other without the Light and yet are the cause of the Life 11. Know that all within the Stars was a holy Salitter and the place of Lucifer whose proud Elevation kindled the seven qualifying and Fountain-Spirits all was burning The Astringent compacted so vigorously that Stones were generated and so Cold that the sweet Water became Ice and part thick stinking and raging Poison 12. Whereupon Lucifer was thrust out and instantly insued the Creation of this World and the hard spoiled corrupt matter which had wrought out it self in the kindling the seven Qualities was driven together whence Earth and Stones came to be and after that all the Creatures were made of the kindled Salitter of the seven Spirits of God their kindling made the fierceness of one Property against another and the Creatures from the same impulse do bite and annoy each other 13. Upon which the Universal God hath Decreed the last Judgment to separate the Good unto the meek Delight which was before the kindling by Lucifer and give that which is fierce and wrathful to be an Habitation for the Devil for ever The Good Men being Eternally with their King Jesus Christ. CHAP. X. 1. THE sixth Fountain Spirit is the Sound Tone or Noise 1. Whence is the singing Melody of the Angels and all Colours and Beauty are from the Tone or Mercurius 2. Hardness is the Father but the whole Salitter is the Mother for if the hardness were both Father and Mother a Stone would sound and ring 3. But where the Light is generated out of the Heat there riseth the sound viz. The Astringent Quality rubbeth it self with the bitter making Heat rise up in the sweet Water the flash of Light distinguisheth there and iâ—pregnâ—teth the bitter and Astringent so that the moving Spirits would speak Then the flash coming from the bitter breaketh open the hard and the Tone goeth forth as it was decreed in the Centre in the middle of the Circle the Council of the seven Spirits 4. Therefore all the Veins and Powers go into the Tongue that the Noise may go forth gently 5. Of the seven Spirits six always generate the seventh without every one there would not be any one 6. But the Author saith his naming of but two or three to the Nativity of a Spirit is though he saw them all seven well yet because of his weakness he could not bear the speculating them all at once in their Perfection but in part 7. Otherwise if a thought through the Centre of Nature could penetrate all the Forms it were free from the Bond of Nature 8. From the flash comes the Light of the Majesty therefore if any one could in his flesh comprehend the flash kindling it self in the central Fountain of the Heart which the Author saith he very well saw how it is that Person could clarifie or transfigure his Body therewith and be like the Angels and no more bestial 9. The Soul hath the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul hath the second the Astral Spirit hath the third in the Elements 10. When a Fire riseth up in one of the Fountain Spirits it is not concealed from the Soul which may awaken the other Spirits and it hath a Prison and if the Fire become too big can shut up the kindled Spirit in the Astringent quality till it be allay'd and extinguished Else the Sap that is in the whole seven will become dry and then thou art a Hellish Firebrand But if thou take the evil Spirit and imprison it and turn a submissive Heart and Will to God contemning Honour Pleasure Riches Wantonness by bearing the Cross and being the Worlds Fools then will not the Fire at the last Judgment Day stick to thy sappy Spirits but after this anxious trouble God will in the Resurrection Crown thee and thou wilt be a Triumphing Angel 11. Q. Is there in God also any contrary Will amongst the Spirits of God 12. A. No tho' the great earnest severity of God may by the former Writings of the Spirit be seen yet in God is no disunion in him all the Spirits Love and Triumph as one Spirit but in the innermost secret geniture not apprehended by any Creature but in the flash it must be so for Life and Omniscience is thus begotten for tho' Lucifer kindled the Spirits of this World and made it all faint and half dead yet this World belongeth to the Body of God the Father as well as Heaven 13. And the whole Trinity is generated in the Heart of all Angels and Men except the Devil and Damned Men and in such a manner is God Almighty All-seeing c. and proveth the Hearts and Reins 14. Thus also all the Devils and Damned must in the Salitter which they have corrupted be his Eternal Priseners in Torment and Reproach 15. 1. The hardness
viz. the Wisdom of God the Tincture of the Light Source the original quality or essential property to Love and Anger Light and Darkness both according to time and Eternity Ternarius or number three in the Language of Nature the Divine Birth in the six Forms of Nature which are the six Seals of God Ternary call'd Ternarium Sanctum holy Flesh or holy Substance or Corporizing of Angels and holy Souls Tincture is in Angels and Glorified Saints the Virgin Love-fire In Man that which Adam's Fall caused almost wholly to disappear In Vegetables Animals and Minerals their Vertue Vitality or Life Spirit and Power Turba is taken for a fierce Wrath-fire which destroyeth a corruptible Body Sometimes for horrid Tempests or Hellish Blasts general Contagions awakened by common Sins call'd Turba Magna Sometimes for the Eternal Wrath-fire which swalloweth up an Evil Spirit without a Body and may be called Turba Maxima I. The seven Spirits of God or powers of Nature as they shew and manifest themselves in Love and Anger both in the Heavenly and Hellish Kingdom and also in the Kingdom of this World not Extracted out of the Mysterium Magnum but Transcribed page 22. Love Anger 1. Astringent Desire Heavenly Hellish Hardness Cold Covetousness Earthly Kingdom World Cold Hardness Bone Salt 2. Attraction or Compunction of Sense Compunction Envy Poyson Life Growth Sences 3. Anguish or Mind Enmity Sulphur Perceivance Pain 4. Fire or Spirit Pride Anger Spirit Reason Desire 5. Light or Love desire Love-fire Meekness Venus-sport Lifes Light 6. Sound or Understanding Divine Joy Speaking Crying Distinguishing 7. Body or Effence Heaven Body Wood Stone Earth Metal Herb. This was received from the Author Jacob Behmen in such a Form by Abraham Van Somerveldt II. The Ten Forms of Fire Extracted out of the Answer of the First of the Forty Questions of the Soul THE Eternal Liberty having and being in it self the Will Signified by Sem. The being Desirous Signified by Arphaxad The sharp drawing causing the Opposite Will Signified by Salah The Flash of Lightning caused by the Liberty and causing the Anguish By Eber. The Eternal Nature or great Mystery whence the two Kingdoms proceed Signified by Peleg The two Principles of Fire and Light Regu The Magia making its own Looking glass as Life is of Fire and Water By Serug The Turba that breaketh the outward Life Strength and Omnipotence Nahor The Virgin Tincture Love-fire Life of Angels and Holy Souls Signified by Terah The Entrance into the Holy Ternary Corporising of Angels and Holy Souls III. The Three Principles are THE Spring or Fountain of Darkness The Vertue or Power of Light The Outbirth generated out of the Darkness by the Power of the Light Represented by Similitudes viz. 1. Man's Soul giving Reason and Thoughts signifieth the Father 2. The Light shewing the Power of the Soul and how to direct it representeth the Son 3. The Mind resulting from this Light and governing the Body resembleth the Holy Ghost 1. The Darkness in us which longeth after the Light is the First Principle 2. The Vertue of the Light whereby we see Intellectually is the Second Principle 3. The longing Power proceeding from the Mind and that attracteth or impregnateth it self whence groweth the Material Body is the Third Principle There is an inclosure knot or stop between each Principle See Chap. 7. of the Book call'd The Three Principles Vers. 21 22 23. A Preface to the Book of Extracts AND The following Considerations by way of Enquiry into part of the Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen THE Extracts of the Aurora was intended for the particular use of one only without his purpose of proceeding farther in the other Books or imparting that as can hardly escape any ones observation And tho' more be done than was at first designed yet oo little is done and with too many defects The proceedings in it like as of a Traveller through a spacious Territory hath been to comprehend and report the varieties there according to the degree of ability intentness and capacity of the passenger Or as one admitted into exquisite Gardens deckt with plenty of all curious flowers c. fills his hand with a few of those he best knows or most admires according to what skill he hath Or as one at a Royal Feast feeds only on what his appetite most relisheth Where the Writer hath contracted below the sublimity of the subject the Reader may with some ease supply that defect by recourse to and consulting the blessed Authors Books themselves To make them truly conspicuous were the work of a divinely irradiated Expositor not of an abridgement And thereto to adapt the minds of but the Sons of Wisdom is the Prerogative of the God of Wisdom for it would bring down Paradise as near us as mortals could bear so sweet a neighbourhood Prayer might help us to power to see as it were the voice of the Author J. B. or rather of God in him for that voice leads us thro' the creatures to the creating Word convincingly demonstrating not only that God is but what he is what he is not and what of him may be seen in every creature good bad and mixt angelical rational animal vegetative mineral and the dark earth Also in all Kingdoms paradisical astral elementary and the dark abyss And how he may be found in all things good bad and mixt in love and wrath Also whence man fell what and how low his fall and how to be restored by Jesus Christ. And all this not a new Doctrine but that which is substantial orderly firmly and naturally founded on the immovable principles and uncontroulable maxims of confessed Theology and Philosophy both sacred and natural Considerations by way of Inquiry and Search INTO THE Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely instructed JACOB BEHMEN Section or Chapter I. Of the two Principles Darkness and Light whence are come evil and good fierceness and meekness anger and love 1. TO begin with things nearest our outward senses Palpable bodies as Darkness Cold c. They condense croud throng and substantiate contrariwise Light and Heat rariâ—ie attenuate make thin or subtle and actuate bodies adapted thereunto 2. Both whilst in due proportion equally good and amicable but in what time or place soever either be extreamly prevalent and tyrannous they become instantly inimicitious and destructive 3. The consideration whereof and consequences deducible thence might cause J. A. Comenius to be offended with Campanella for founding all productions on the contest of two contrary Principles Backing his disgust on Grotius's Argument against the Manichees that of two contraries destruction might follow but no augmentation 4. But without strife springs no production and without contraries is no strife 5. The two Principles of Light and Darkness cannot be said to have beginning but are coeternal yet one the Light swalloweth up the other as the day doth the night 6. The flagrat or
State of things will fall under the Answers of the 33 34 35 36 and 37th Questions by whomsoever they shall by Divine Assistance be resolved Q. 24. Wherefore and to what use and benefit are the Stars created Ans. 1. This of the Stars includes the Sun and Moon for they also are two of the Royal Stars To the better discoursing which it may be orderly 1. To say what they are 2. What they figure and represent 3. What they are Instruments to do 2. They are in the Out-birth vigorous Engines of Omnipotence that by occult and Spiritual Powers can insensibly influence and act irresistible applications for the concreting or generating improving dissolving of all the various Bodies within the Sphere of their Activity or Principle being of the Outward World or Third Principle 3. Thus by similitude the Angels are call'd Stars As doth the Lord of Angels humble himself to be call'd a Star several times in the Sacred Records 4. What they represent and figure The four Forms or Anguishes of binding attracting Anguish and Fire represent the first whole Principle and do form Saturn Jupiter Mercury and Mars The two Forms of Majestick Light and dear Love figure the whole second Principle and do form Sol and Venus And the seventh Form of habitation a seeming change or inconstancy a seeming alteration of increase and diminution of Essence being the Scale and Method of the third Principle formeth the Moon with her Changes and Eclipses 5. The seven Royal Stars are like vowels or spirits of Letters and the innumerable others are like consonants forming infinite variety of syllables and words for as words are the opening of the secret lockt up Mind so are the Stars the opening of the Dark Mystery or Chaos shut up in the Anguish Chambers And as the various Properties of the several Principles are couched in and expressed by the vowels and spirits of the Letters peculiar to them so the seven Royal Stars are suited in and qualified by the three Principles and the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature 6. Thus the Stars figure God in his Almightiness Infinity and Eternity according to the first Principle In His Majestick Triumphant Kingdom of Light according to the second and in His Gracious Kingdom of Love according to the third Principle And are in the very third Principle the express word of what the Devils are in the Dark Abyss and of what the Holy Angels are in the Heavenly World In all which they are an Image of the Image of God so expresly that the Throne or Angelical Kings according to each of the seven Fountain Spirits are imaged by the seven Kingly Stars The Hosts and Legions of the seven Angelical Kings by the rest of the innumerable Constellations and lesser Glories 7. What they do instrumentally Moses saith they were for signs seasons days months and years Deborah makes them Warriors The Stars in their courses fought against Siâ—era The wise men found one of them a Harbinger to tell them of Christ's Incarnation 8. The wise Antients penetrated so far into their Properties Virtues and Orderly Applications in Human and all Terrene Bodies Affairs Governments that by true Natural Magick they could demonstrate their occult Energies by sensible Influences And the Egyptian Magi imitating Moses may not be concluded meerly Impostors tho' their Acquired Operations how really natural soever must humble themselves before the stupendious Fiat of the God of Nature The Babylionian Magi whereof Daniel and his Companions were could interpret and disclose Secrets And the wise men find the King of the Jews by clear Inductions and Conclusions of Natural Operations as are found Real Causes by Natural Consequents 9. But some Modern Pretenders to Wisdom little more than gaze on the Stars and take up with names and numbers and where they see more will entitle Satan to the honour of God's great excellent Works amongst his Creatures 10. Having thus made way be it known Man hath an Astral Spirit call'd by Some an Evester by others otherwise which laies hold on him at the enkindling of his Life when his Embrio in the Conception is ennobled by a Living Soul and that Astral Spirit sublimeth or debaseth his Intellect decorateth or incurvateth his Mind towards Good or Evil. This as the Separators Instrument doth model and distinguish into Sexes dispenseth such Peculiar Properties as their successive ascending Regiments by prevalence or precedency shall impress then and at the Birth the Internal Faculties more or less capacious c. The whole composure of Body the Eye Feature Stature Lineaments Voice Seal of the Palm Tincture of the Parts caâ—t of the Hair c. 11. The Stars are such Arbitrary Lords since Adam's heavy Fall subjected him thereunto that they can well proportion the Elementary Body of one a Mind well composed Atchievements successful his course renowned Another they load with an incumbring Body of Ill Symmetry perverse Humours and unprosperous and finish him with a Tragical Exit 12. The Astral Vertue is woven into all the variety of Minerals distributing weight to one making Lead from Saturn so Mars harshness makes Iron Venus Copper those with the work of the power of Sol produceth Gold and so of the rest 13. Their Vertue is also as apparent in the other parts of the Creation as in Vegetables from the Cedar to the Hyssop or pile of Grass In Insects that there is infused both utmost diligence and providence which is observed in the Ant. What is the Spur of the delicate curious Bee the crafty industrious Spider the profitable Contexture of the Silk-worm with its Transmigration all proceeding from the strife of the Properties 14. In Sensitives and Animals are there Inscriptions some fitted by the first four Forms or some of the four for prey and hostility others by conjunction of more benevolent Aspects are mild some very docible So in the general Body of Nature by some call'd the Soul of the World are Sympathies and Antipathies c. In all which no cause is left to doubt but their Vertue is expresly eminent in the several Elementary Worlds Who sees not that all things bear their Impressions Some according to the Darkness and others the Light and some after the mixt Powers from their peeping up into Propriety till their being resumed by their several Ethers and first Principles 15. As the Stars are over under and incircle us so their Energies and Powers are in us and on us we are strong in their strength they are not ours more properly than that they are us even a very great part of us They are the Pilot of the Elementary part and the Chariot of our Eternal Soul And to our shame and sorrow it must be acknowledged they are in very many Lords paramount even over the High-born Noble Eternal Soul very many give up their Will to their Conduct for never laying hold of the Grace provided for them in the true Jubilee are voluntary Ear-boar'd Slaves 16. But
which penetrated the outermost and swallowed it up as Light doth Darkness This Holy World is the Tree of Life it self which in its Original should have been unknown to Adam even as the Tree of Good and Evil should have been unknown to him 6. He should have kept a Child-like resigned Mind which is attained after the corrupt Man consisting of the fierceness of the first and vanity of the third Principle is cut off by the sharpness of that Sword or become Fuel to the flame of it Then the New Man entreth irresistibly by that Guard and Eateth freely and for ever of the Tree of Life till then his Food is of the Tree of Good and Evil and what that Tree is follows 7 The Tree of Good and Evil was the only Tree of that sort that grew in Eden This Tree was Good as partaking of the Vertue of the second Principle though it self grew in the third and it was Evil as partaking of the dark Impression of the first Principle whereby is Poison as the Gall is the Exciter of Life in living Creatures and so that Death and Corruption is in this Worlds Fruits 8 Therefore was it forbidden Adam as being a Production of the Stars and Elements over which he was to Rule for though Adam was in the third Principle he was above it as Eternity is in yet above time God willed Adam to have remained in the Happy State therefore commanded his not touching that which would be Contagious and Mortal as it proved to be by opening in him the Evil of the divided Properties 9. It was in the midst of the Garden that is in the midst between the first and third Principles partaking of both as doth also the Tree of Life but this of Good and Evil hath not the vertue but shadow of the second Principle Q. 58. Wherefore did God Create this Tree seeing be knew well that Man would offend or lay hold on them and hurt himself thereby A. 1. The considering God's foreknowledge unto whom nothing can be casual but all Events which Time divides into past present and future are one instant act should make it seem that God's infinite Goodness would have inclined his Omnipotence to forbear the Creating the Tree of Good and Evil or have restrained it that exquisite Garden that it might at least have been no tempting bait to Adam or Eve's Curiosities Had not the Creator willed such dire Effects as that it should be the Eternal Perdition of so great a part of Adam's Offspring such Reasonings Human frailty calls Wisdom 2. But Predestination and Reprobation may not be here discussed because it falls under the seventieth Question whoever shall live to answer it wherefore it would be here Digressive 3. The Answer of this must be restrained to the Cause of God's creating that Tree of Good and Evil whereby the Transgression was occasioned In Answer whereunto it must be understood that when the Almighty willed to become Creaturely or to behold Himself in Images of Himself He moved the fiat in every of the three Principles viz. according to the first and second in the Triumph of all the seven Properties in the Eternal Nature or Temperature the Holy Heavenly Thrones Powers Dominions Princes and Hosts of Angels 4. Also according to the Out-birth or third Principle out of the great Mystery with the seven Properties but much less sublime was produced the Astral World in so beautiful order yet with such adverse qualities as they were for their excellency adored by some Ancients as Deities and deemed for their Contrarieties Immortal Gods at Civil Wars 5. Who yet being but an Image of the third Principle must by the Wrestlingwheel of Nature be resolved into their Aether not being allied to any Soul which can invest it or it self in a Root of the Eternal Band as Adam's Body was 6. Next out of the Astral for Matter by the insinuation of the Astral Spirit were the four Elements produced and with them and the Astral Spirit the Transitory Creatures and as an other Out-birth the Mineral and Vegetative Common-wealths 7. Lastly According to the three Principles with the seven Properties in due Temper and Harmony with a Soul out of the Potence of the first a Spirit out of the Holiness and Glory of the second and out of the out-flowing vertue of the third Principle was Man made a complete Image of the total God in his first and second he was an Angel in his third lower yet Lord of that Principle also his glorious Body had this excellency above the outward Sun that it was Unīted to an Eternal Soul and so exempt from suffering any Recess but capable of Eternal Splendor 8. From what hath been said it is Evident That the same cause why the Almighty Imaged Himself in the first and second Principles moved Himself in the third also part of which was the Trees of Good and Evil as our outward Eyes witness to us And the like Motive which induced Lucifer to Image in his Will the potence and strength of the first Principle which was his Root and whereof by the Grace and Glory of the second He was Lord in His glorious Body the like Motive induced Adam to Imprint in his Will the Lust after the fructifying Vertue of the third Principle whereof by right of Creation he is part and by Donation hath right of Soveraignty over it 9. And if there yet rest so eminent a Vigor in the Reliques of Man as appears in Women with Child and common Sympathies and Antipathies what was out of Adam's reach especially in the third Principle over which he was Lord being himself subject to none but God Could not his Magical Desire raise that unhappy Plant which he should not have done nor known Then came the severe Inhibition That of the Tree of Good and Evil thou mayest not Eat for in the day thou Eatest thereof thou shalt surely Die. 10 God created Man compleat which he could not have been especially as His Divine Image without the freedom of his own Faculties which the very Brutes have but lest in that one Tree he should harm himself unwarily or by ill exercise of his freedom the dangerous Tree is named it 's Situation described he is warned he is threaten'd on pain of immediate Death What can be more 11. If his Will had been chain'd it had been to take it away or as to speak a Contradiction What had that been but to Uncreate Him What had that been but to inflict the utmost severity on Him who was never yet a Sinner 12. What could confine Adam's Magical Will to call up such a Tree for Moses dividing the Sea Joshuah's stopping the Sun Eliah's calling down Fire his and Elisha's dividing Jordan were but Fragments of Adam's perfect Piece Q. 59. Why did God forbid Man these Trees What was the Cause thereof A. In the 57th Answer appears what this Tree is and why said to be in the midst of the Garden In the
Miâ—d not enlightened by Divine Light reach them for like must be comprehended by like And tho' Heavenly Treasure be carried in an Earthy Vessel yet there must be a Heavenly Receptacle hid in the Earthy or the Heavenly cannot be comprised 13. Eternal Life is in a Twofold Source First That of the Originality viz. the fierceness according to which God calls himself a consuming Fire and this Principle we must have or else we should not be alive Yet if we stay in this without generating the Love and Humility our abode is in Pride Covetousness Envy and Anguish as the Devils 14. Let us look to it that seeing the Life in the Originality is both Inimicitious against it self and against the Regeneration and that the Life in the Love is Heavenly therefore we be content to be pierced wounded and to bear the Cross in Meekness and expect till at the day of Separation the Field of the first Principle in which groweth the Heavenly Fruit of the second Principle shall be taken away for then shall the Life springing up through Death be a Fruit to God in the new Man and thereunto dedicate our selves in our Meek Victorious Saviour THE THIRD BOOK OF Jacob Behmen CALLED THE Threefold Life in Man CHAP. I. Of the Root Beginning and Forms of Life 1. SEeing there is in us an incorruptible Life wherein is a Principle capable of the highest good yet by its Original is also in danger of Eternal Perdition and Misery and that here we are strangers posting away how necessary is it to search whence all these originate And this may be by going up the Stream to the Fountain 2. The outward Elementary Life is a Living Heat or Active Fire enlivening the Body and sustained by the Body the Body by the Food the Food by the Earth the Earth by the Water and the other Elements the Elements by the Fire of the Constellations their Fire inkindled by the Sun causing a Boiling in all So should that first outward cause cease the sude or seething and Generation of all also of Metals Fruits c. would cease as the Food failing the Body and its Life extinguisheth 3. Now this perishing Life hungering after a higher Life shews there is such and that is the Eternal Life of the Soul As is said in Moses God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul The Soul is also an ever induring Fire and must have Food which it presseth after from its original which is the Eternal Band the Forms of the Eternal Nature the Property of the Father but that Band of those Forms is of it self as a dry Breast whence it is that the Soul would have the Food in its own power but that also is as impossible as for the Eternal Nature to have the Light in its own power which cannot be for the Love shining in it or into it remaineth Lord therein because the Eternal Nature doth not comprehend it but rejoiceth in the Light which is another Principle which when it is received into the Soul it is a new Birth ingenerated in the Soul and this is done as truely as the Soul like a Branch is come from the Tree of the immediate Parent 4. And because Adam fell into the Astral Kingdom and our Elementary Body is infected therewith as sometimes the Body is with the Pestilence it was out of the power of the Soul to enter into the Divine Principle therefore of meer Infinite Grace did the Love the Son of God take our Humane Soul and brought it into the holy Life that we might every one by or for our particular selves press with our Soul in the Life of Christ into the new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ. No Meritorious Works on the one hand or lifeless feigned words of believing on the other avail at all but only a stedfast earnest resolution in the new Created Will bearing the Cross killing the old Will and arising in the Life of Christ bringeth the Glory Food and Paradise of the Soul else the Soul remains in the four Anguishes or Forms of the Eternal Band for ever wherein stands the Eternal Wrath and Hell Fire for ever And thus see we the Original in the first Principle and the Divine Light making the second Principle why then should not the Man to whom this Knowledge is graciously given speak of this as his Native Countrey not as of things afar off but that wherein he standeth and himself really is and not to be learnt of another Man as is barely an History unless himself enter into the new Birth in the Life of Christ that the Divine Light may shine in him 5. The Root whence is inkindled the Vital Fire consists of two Forms only the sour which is a strong shutting up and the bitter sting is an opener and those are what the Eternal Will in the desiring attracteth and is the wills something and darkness Then the sting of the bitterness would get loose which the sourness captivateth with strife tho' like a wâ—e is yet no pain for they are immaterial forms of Nature in the Eternal Will and this contrary commixture is as a confusion of Eternal Mobility and cause of the Multiplicity of Essences and are efficiently the Eternal Essences and Eternal Band. 6. The vast infinite space desireth narrowness or comprehension wherein to manifest it self as a Map doth in a few Inches a huge Territory a short Speech or Scene Abridge a large History a Minute Model Epitomize the Terrestrial and Celestial Orbs. And as all pourtraying Figures have shadows as foils to set off the rest so in the contraction of matter to manifest Infinity must be Darkness that one contrary may illustrate the other Nor is the vast infinite space a Creator but a Genitrix and the Word in with and of the Father the Generator as the Territory makes not of it self the Map also the words owe themselves to the speaker or speaking word 7. Nor is the word departed nor doth the Son depart from the Father but is inseparable as the Light of a Candle abideth with the Candle as saith the Son I am not alone but the Father is with me in the Father is a Centre in the Son is a Centre two Principles not divisible but inseparable Thus the second Will opening the Principle of Light is amiable pure and mild also Omnipotent to Create all things breaking and shining out of the Eternal Essences yet not comprehended by them but dwelling in it self CHAP. II. Of the Begun Life the Principles and Forms and Fall 1. THE stirring in every Life whether Sensitive or Vegetative must not be a strange or Heterogene Power for such would blow it out rather than help it but it must be the Creatures own Spirit proceeding in the Genitrix to be a Centre and Circle also of Life None should trust their Soulâ— with the Men whose Home is here for the Soul stands in the Original of the Essence of all
is the seventh Form or Seal of the Eternal Nature wherein the six Seals disclose themselves And natural Wisdom instead of finding the Heart of God by humble resignation hath found the Wonders of this World by Thunders Voices and Strife for when after the Apostles times Men left Love and Meekness and fell to Pomp and Pride the Golden Candlesticks and seven Stars withdrew and were hid and all became seven Seals The Glassy Sea is the Angelical World The Voices of the seven Thunders would be hid proceeding out of the stern Essences did we not put our Imagination into them and open them in us So that only the Lamb excepted none in Heaven nor Earth were worthy to open the Seals nor look thereon we were shut up by them under Death Darkness which only the Light in the Heart of God could open for Man was become an abominable Beast a Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns and ten Crowns on the ten Horns this Beast the hypocritical Woman rideth on is this the Ass Christ humbly rode on 4. It is hellish Pride and worldly Pomp on which the Woman of seeming Holiness rideth she pretendeth to the Keys of Heaven and makes Laws Decrees and Canons yet knoweth not the New Birth He only that is born of God in his inclined heart the Seals are opened But when and wheresoever the Lamb openeth the seventh Seal then and there the Whore the Beast and Dragon are cast into the Lake of Fire then doth the good Shepherd lead his Flock into green Pastures then they that mark hearken incline the heart mind and thoughts coming humbly with broken hearts are met and embraced in them Christ is born they have him in the Baptism Supper and hearing of the Divine Word in all places for the Holy Ghost satisfieth the longing of the contrite spirit CHAP. V. Of the Seventh Form of Nature the Corporeity 1. COrporeity subsisteth in the 7th Form of Nature and as all the other six Forms are a hunger and longing desire to each other so are all their desires to the seventh to have a Body or Rest and the desire of the Essences is to preserve and sustain the Body The whole Essence of all Essences is a continued hunger of propagating from its fulness so that when one Form attaineth the other a third riseth yet the two former vanish not but all keep one in the other their own respective Powers and so of the rest And tho' the still Eternity is the only true Rest yet is the seventh Form a substantial Body of Rest whereinto the six diffuse their vertues and the same seventh Form standeth and is the comprehensible Body of Darkness and Light 2. The sharp Fire in the Liberty holdeth its right and the anguish whence the Fire ariseth sinking as a death affordeth matter and weight as in my self I see the Fire the cause of feeling in the dead Corporeity which else in the anguish sinketh into weight and is burthensom as a stifling Now what as Fire ascendeth not or as weight sinketh not in death doth as anguish remain neither uppermost nor lowermost which as the begun anguish is the Centre of both and not getting up nor down presseth side-ways like the lower Branches of a growing Tree 3. The Deity longed to see the Wonders in the Eternal Nature and Innumerable Essences yet created all for the Light not for the Darkness for the Tincture is awakened in the Centre in the death of the Earth which is the life of all Gems Minerals Vegetatives and Animals And in the deep the Sun having the Tincture of the Fire is the Father and Life of all the Stars who in the beginning proceeded from its Centre not that they all sprang from them for as the Sun is the Centre of the uppermost in the Liberty so is Saturn or the Earth of the lowermost in death yet is there no dying but a transmutation for neither doth this World die but the Essences change to be what they were not and remain as figures for ever to the glory of God's works And if the gross Visibles were not created to the Darkness how much less the Spirits which are out of the Eternal Mind and therefore Eternal like as our Mind hath diversity of innumerable thoughts and those thoughts essentially potent when exalted as in that of a Woman with Child whose thoughts can magically impress foreign preternatural substances as well as heterogene incongruous figures on the fruit of her womb 4. When God willed the Fiat viz. the creating the Eternal Essences or Powers which flowed into substance which Eternal Essences before went forth without substance then time hads its beginning But the Holy Will still proceeded with the Powers into the love and delight in meekness contrariwise Lucifer's direful Fall was his delight of turning back his will to domineer in the Tincture of the Fire root his motion to which was the forms of the Genitrix before enkindling of the Light as sour bitter dark tart stinging envious for in the fourth form stands Love and Anger in opposition being the middle form of the seven having three drawing one way and the other three drawing the other Lucifer therefore was drawn of both but that the Root forms prevailed was because he saw the Divine or Second Birth proceed out of the Centre and himself standing in the Essences of the Nature of Eternity the great Fountain he therefore despised the Humility whereof Love and Light are the Off-spring and would rule over it and so was cast out of the uppermost Life into the nethermost Death and Darkness for he was offended to see the greatest Mysteries to stand in the greatest lowliness 5. The attaining the Divine Light consisteth in a fixt resolution wrought in us of Humility wherein the Love is generated But all Laws and Devices to attain it are fabulous and as the making costly works wherein the Artificer pleaseth only himself with things wholly unprofitable reaching no higher than imitation of useful things like also as there are many Spirits Aerial Aquastrish Terrestrial and in the Anguish which are not out of the Eternal Well-spring but from the beginning Will generated by the Tincture of Heaven in Nature which mutable at their time leaving only their shadow to manifest the wonders of God And from Eternity there hath been such a Government where the knowledge was only in God but at the coming out of the Angelical World an Intellect was also in the Creatures The Gate into the Holy Trinity 6. In no Creature in Heaven or this World stand the three Principles open as in Man The first Principle or Father tho' he standeth in the Liberty Eternal Stilness is not call'd Father as such but as he is the desiring Thus the Mind of a Man being one only Will is desiring yet therein out of the Eternal Will are innumerable Wills the first Will is Master and the other are recomprehended leading to Light and Darkness to Joy
Christ which was cover'd or veiled by the outward Mortal Body and cannot be comprehended by the Mortal but is he that cometh down from Heaven gives it self under Bread and Wine into the Tincture of the Souls of those who go out from themselves into his Will thus was in Christ two Kingdoms a Heavenly and an Earthy the new Man born of God wherever he is receiveth this heavenly Flesh and Blood or holy Humanity for it is every where and had the predominance in Adam till he went back into the Lust of the outward earthy Principle wherein the Devil hath entrance to us poor Captives so that often the Soul turns its Will to the outward wherefore God by his Testament reneweth the Soul by this new Body How careful therefore should the Soul be that it go not back as did Adam For the Soul of Man hungereth and thirsteth after this Food being the word intended when Christ said Eat This is my Body and without this Substance God is not known it being the Manifestation of the Deity Yet doth the outward Humane Nature remain in Heaven palpably and apprehensibly seen by Men in that Form it was in here when upon â—arth and in that Body is seen nothing but the Majesty Clarity and Brightness which filleth the Angelical World 4. Now wherever the Majesty is there is the Substantiality which is the Body of the Word yet without Image for the Creature only is an Image or Formation like as the substantial Earth is come though in the Deep is only Air Water and Fire whereof the Sun though but one is the cause 5. We receive not in the Supper another Creature with a new Soul but we receive on our Soul the Body of Christ which is already the Eternal Creature whose Flesh and Blood filleth Heaven and which is such a Body to the Soul as can at the End of the World go with the Soul through the Fire of the Anger of God without feeling changing the Fire by the allay of Meekness into a meer Love deâ—ire a brightness of the Majesty Thus are we in God the Children of God Allelujah Concerning the Testament of Baptism 6. A Child hath by the Masculine Seed the Fires Tincture or that of the Soul and by the Feminine hath the Lights or Waters Tincture or that of the Spirit but by Adam's Fall both were corrupted so that the Fires Tincture or Soul was captivated by God's Eternal Wrath and the Water or Spirits Tincture was captivated by the Spirit of this great outward World and both had remained the Devil's Captives had not the Word of the Lord taken our Soul and Spirit and been made Flesh. Therefore he instituted Baptism for little Children being an Office managed by the Holy Ghost in whose Vertue the Soul's Water is made a Water of Life for the Water belongs to the Spirits Tincture and so the Spirit of the Soul receiveth the Vertue wrought by the Holy Ghost's Office which is the great Mystery Even as the Vertue convey'd to the hunger of the Soul's Fire is most immediately from the Vertue in the Flesh and Blood of the Son the second Person of the Trinity The Magia out of the Wonders 7. Where there is but one only Will there is no breaker nor Enmity but it draweth into it self and goeth out of it self in the same one free Will but where there are two Wills there is separation and contrariety for one Will goeth inward and the other outward and if it be in one thing or body that Kingdom hath intestine opposition Whence comes a third Will mixed of the two first Hence spring many needing a Judge but if they all be strong Wills they constitute severally every one a Judge and the flown out Will hates that whence it sprung because it hath got a contrary Will and it self proceeds to its highest number But seeing it can get no higher nor attain rest therefore at that place of inquiry the Prophet is born who sheweth the cause why the out flown Will instead of going to the Crown-number hath awakened the Turba or disturbance which shall have an end by rising of a new Kingdom whereof the Prophet is the Mouth which new Kingdom being generated out of the breaking causeth the Pride Covetousness and Envy of the strayed Wills like evil Twigs to be broken and wither And whereas they call themselves Children of the good Root the Prophet tells them they are Murtherous Wolves and if the Turba be grown up with it it breaketh the multiplicity 8. Now when the Father pours Oyl into the Wounds the Oyl it self becomes Poison which should have been a Remedy for the strayed Will hath made an Oyl by his own Wit and Art where with it feeds and actuates its earthy sensual desires so that the true Oyl is death to this Evil Will of the multiplicity for it calleth it self the Good Tree so there is no Remedy but it must be its own destroyer and the apostated Children are given to the Turba to be devoured one of another They boast themselves to know much but do it not but retaining the History deny the Power as their Father the Devil who knoweth as much as they doth it not 9. But the Mother of the Genitrix finding her Children become strange to her falling into lamentation and anguish doth conceive and bring forth a young Son on him she put a garment of childish simplicity and he became a Lilly Twig of Purity he shall break the Turba and doing the Divine Will remain in the house for ever whence the other by following the Devil revolted feigning to themselves good words blessing themselves for hearing and seeing what they hear and seâ— and taking the Covenant of God into the mouth while they hate to be reformed and dwell in falshood CHAP. XIV Of the Broad and Narrow Ways 1. THE Broad Way leading to the Abyss of Wrath is what we strongly incline to being as to the inward or first Principle the Soul 's Original understood of the four Anguishes in the way of craft cruelty pride revenge desire of Rule and Pomp And as to the outward the way of ease pleasure volupruousness with a swinish appetite to get and keep all 2. Our Temporary Nature is captive to the Bestial Properties whereto it is severally formed by the Spirit of this World according as the Wheel of the Outward Nature stood at the instant of the formation But if Men remain guided only thereby it giveth the Body to the Earth and the Soul to Hell Yet so broad is the Eâ—â—â— Way that the Travellers therein may as with full Sail traverse it tho' by constituâ—ion they be adapted to desire of deep search after knowledge skilful inspection into secret Mysteries many practical and speculative Arts and parts of Wisdom by quick Astral Reason Others tho' in the same broad Road may have excellent skill in disputes of Antient and Modern Religious Controversies and Traditions in Doctrine and Discipline they may be
uniteth with the Sun's Power CHAP. VI. The outward manifestation of the inward three Worlds How God is in all things How all the World might be a meer Sun What Man is And wherein God beholdeth himself Further of the 4th Point 1. THE Earthy Tincture hath no communion with the Heavenly though the outward proceedeth out of the inward and yet the Tincture of the precious Metals hath communion with the Heavenly 2. The Dark World hath the first Centre the Light the second whence behold our danger for if we cast our selves into the Earthy seeking that captivateth us the Dark Abyss is our Lord and the Sun our Temporal God 3. The three Worlds are not sever'd for the Eternal Abyssal substance may not sever it self The outward is the place which comprehends not the inward but is comprehended by it what the inward giveth forth out of it self that it also possesseth and cometh not into a place but was there bâ—fore-hand 4. Thus God dwelleth in all things but no more comprehended than the face is by the Looking-glass or the Sun by the Water tho' the outward hungreth after the inward and can receive the inward into it but the inward cannot receive the outward for it dwelleth not in the outward but in it self nor is the inward remote from the outward as the Sun from the Water but as the Water hath the Suns Property in it else could not catch the Suns Lustre And this World would all be a meer Sun if God would kindle and manifest it for every thing animate and inanimate and all the four Elements receive the Suns glance 5. If Man who is all the three Worlds standeth in them in equal harmony without introducing the one World into the other saving that he by the Light-World rule the Dark and Outward Worlds then is he God's similitude and the Outward World must catch the Light as the Water doth the Suns glance But if the Water be mixt with Earth it receives not the Suns Light No more can the Human Spirit the Light of God unless it remain pure and then that Man's Life is such a Looking glass as wherein God beholds and finds himself as also in the Angels and Beauties of Heaven for in the Dark World is no Looking glass capable of the Light But if the Water be mixt with Earth it must sink down from the Earths dark fierceness wherein it was captive before it be capable of seeing the Light 6. So what Man imagineth after it receiveth if he hath filled himself with the Earthy hunger he must be new born that he may with Christ break the Earthy Darkness and with Authority introduce the clear pure Looking-glass of the Deity CHAP. VII How a Life passeth out of Joy into Misery The fifth Point 1. LIfe is like a terrible flash but when it receiveth the Light it passeth into meekness and joy but because it sprung from its Mother the Dark World it hath power either to retire thither or proceed forward by the Fires Anguish to kindle the Light Its perdition is therefore evident it inclineth to the multiplicity to be its own Lord but yieldeth not to the Liberty beyond Nature for if it did then would the Liberty kindle the Love-fire and become a light viz. a clear Looking-glass of God's Majesty In that manner as the second Principle hath kindled it self from Eternity for entring into the Liberty it arrives at that which was before Nature and was the cause of Nature 2. The Soul hath three Eyes or Looking glasses in the time of this World and seeth with that only to which it turneth it self tho' by right of Nature it hath but one viz. the fourth Form of the Dark VVorld viz. Fire and into which it goeth with its will of that it receiveth its spiritual substance 3. And if it go into the Dark World or Outward World the Light World is hidden and as dead as Fire is in Wood. Here should Man prove himself what World is Lord in him If wrath envy deceit pride avarice bestial unchastity c. be his desire he may make Register accompt and inventory that certainly he is not a Man but a Dog Goat Beast Serpent or Toad And when the four Elements forsake him his Souls Image is form'd by the Hellish Fiat into that Property of theirs that most strâ—â—gly drew his delight 4. Yet he that hourly striveth against the Evil Properties and though he be damped by the Evil his constant desire to repentance sheweth God's fire glimmereth in him and when the outward Body with its damp breaketh and can no more hinder the glimmering week then the Divine Fire kindleth and figureth him after the Image of the strongest Property he here introduced into his desire But if he continue not his serious desire he may desperately perish 5. But he whose desire is so potent that he can subdue his Evil Nature and pass into humble Patience contemn the glistering of the World do good for evil and can yield himself and all his to do and suffer misery for God's sake In that Man the Divine Power floweth up the Noble Image dwelleth and Jesus is born 6. The Devil knoweth him not only is inraged and irritateth incarnate Devils and Men Beasts to plague him This Man is the surest never dieth but the outward Kingdom that was a hinderance to him falleth from him and as he tasted what God is and bare the heavenly substance here so now much more and is eternally perfected CHAP. VIII Further of the 5th Point The True Human Essence or Substance is not Earthy nor out of the Dark World but out of the Substance of God 1. THE right substantial Man is of the Light World there is a Gulph of Death 'twixt that and the Dark World and Outward World yet is it shut up-in the Outward World Christ is come to save what is lost and will suffer it self to be helped unless it be a totally Devilish fruit of evil Parents But while there is any small Tinder of Divine stirring the Child is capable by Baptism to have the Light glimmering in that part given Adam out of the Angelical World not that Earthy part he introduced and so far as the Divine Power stirreth is the Child baptized after life in the womb by the Holy Ghost 2. Obj. What can the Child do to it that the Parents are wicked Answ. The Evil Man is shut up in Body and Soul why not in the Seed Must God turn the seed of Thistles into Wheat and throw Pearls to Swine The Sun maketh nor desireth any Weed but giveth to all Vegetables Life but the Soil produceth the Evil. Many times the wicked Parents cause Curses to stick to their wicked Consorts and should not their wills be done to them 3. And being both wicked what can an Evil Beast beget but an Evil Beast baptized in God's fierce Wrath So also it receiveth the Lord's Supper without distinguishing the Lord's Body and put it and its own
potent Joy 19. In Mars's Salt it makes Pangs and Stiches and Woe In Saturn's Salt Swellings Anguish and Death if not oppos'd by Jupiter and Venus for they two oppose and temper Mars and Mercury yet by Mars and Mercury is the Life in Jupiter Venus and Sol where would else be a stilness thus is the worst as profitable as the best 20. And when the Physician hath reconciled Mars and Mercury with Venus and Jupiter that they all obtain one will the Sun of Life will revive and correct the nauseat of the Disease into a pleasant Jupiter This is only applicable to the Vegetative or Sensitive Soul of the Elementary Body 21. The rational Soul hath its Diseases springing from care and distress till it lead to heaviness and Death cured by removing the causes of that care c. 22. So Sin hath poyson'd the Mental Soul by Inflaming his Eternal Mercury which with the sting of his Mars burns in the horrible impression of his Saturn his Venus is Imprison'd his Intellectual Jupiter Infatuated his Sun quenched his Moon dark 23. To Cure this he must with Venus the Love of God and Jupiter the Divine Understanding quench and appease the flaming Mercury and raging Mars So is the Soul Tinctured with Love his Sun then shineth and Jupiter rejoiceth for Divine Love begetteth a Divine Will so Tiâ—ctured as able to die to self-will which Death doth attain the nothing wherein is no Turba to touch or hurt the Soul who now doth neither see know nor live but according to the resignation 24. Here doth Christ break the Serpents Head and God become all in all 25. It is possible to live without sickness but very difficult to bring the inward into the outward as the Sun illustrateth Water because the opposite will hath introduced wrath in the outward Body it must die and putâ—ifie and enter again into the nothing into the beginning of the Creation out of which it departed wâ—th Adam CHAP. X. Of the Inward and Outward Cure of Man 1. TO Cure Man God brought not a strange thing into him nor did cast away the Humanity but with the like of that which was corrupted introduced a Divine Prâ—perty into him In Man was the expressed Word or Eternal Mercury inspoken which was the Soul with the Properties of all the three Worlds Fire Light and Love 2. Adam should have put his desire into the humble meek light and love but he made in himself the hunger after evil and good and so could not Tincture his Fire-world and outward World with Love 3. To restore Mans right Image God introduced the holy Mercury in the fiery Love-starne with such a desire of Divine Essentiality as makes Divine Corporality which reinkindled the Light of the Eternal Sun in the Humane Property so that the Humane Jupiter of Divine Understanding might again appear 4. So is the outward Cure done Mans Mercury was inkindled a Mercury must Cuâ—e it but that must first it self be inkindled in Venus and Jupiter which also gives it the Suns Property Not with dark cold Saturn unless first sweetly appeas'd with Venus and Jupiter so will the Sun shine in Saturn and Death be chang'd into Life 5. The Knowledge how God restores the Universal is learnt by study of the process of Christ from his first Incarnation to his Ascention The Essence of Venus shut up in Death must be Baptiz'd in the Water of the Eternal Essence By which the Imprison'd Incentive as Fire falling into Tinder gloweth Then must the outward Food be withdrawn and the hungry Desire be tempted whether it will go into God and be fed with Manna let the Essence of time by resignation be subject to that of Eternity and so possess the Elected Throne whence Lucifer fell or desire the Earthy Kingdom of Good and Evil for outward Dominion If its will remain in Gods Love-fire the Water is turn'd to Wine so is the outward Cure also done 6. But before the Universal Restoration be manifest all the seven Properties must be Chrystalized each Form by a peculiar process forsaking their will in the wrath and come into the Loves Property wherein is no Turba all which Christ did in the Humanity before the Body was glorified 7. When therefore the Frozen Mouth in Saturn of all the Properties is opened and that Food given to their hunger wherein is no Turba the flagrat of Joy in Love dismayeth the wrath and is as a Transmutation but not fixt the Angelical Properâ—ies appear in view 8. In Christs Temptation the speaking Mercury in the Light was given to the expressed Mercury of the Fires Property because Adam's Fires Property had quenched the Lights Property Christ was tempted to depart out of the Resignation into a desire of selfish Propriety of worldly Avarice and Dominion to the Knowledge and Kingdom of Good and Evil where pain and wrath is manifest but in the Resignation is sacred Love and no Breath of Anger as in the Light of the Fire is no pain of Fire manifest 9. The Mother and Womb of all Beings is Sulphur Mercury is her Life Mars her Sense Venus her Love Jupiter her Understanding Luna her Corporeal Essence Saturn her Husband 10. In the Philosophick work the Artist raiseth in the first Kingdom the dead Apostate Child shut up in Saturn opening by degrees Paradise again by Gods permission In the second Kingdom Luna Corporally feeds where the outward Mercury hath not laboured So Christ fed the 5000. 12. In the third Kingdom Jupiter Christ made Babes wise so the Artist seeth the new Life rise up the four Elements appear with all Colours 13. In the fourth Kingdom of the Mercurial Orb Christ restor'd the Deaf Dumb and Lepers so the Artist sees how Heaven severs it self from the Earth and again sinks into it Coloureth and purifieth the Matter appearing in Antimony 14. In the fifth Kingdom Christ ejected the Devils so the Artist will see how Jupiter in Mercury drives up a black twinkling fiery Vapour out of the Matter sticking like Soot a hunger of the Poyson in Mercury the Devils Property 15. In the sixth Kingdom Christ in Venus loved his and humbly washed his Disciples Feet gave himself up to be mock'd beaten and crucified so the Artist will see as soon as the material Devil the dark fiery steam is gone the Virgin very Glorious which the Artist will be apt to think is the Philosophick Child but in the tryal finds it to be a Woman not the Virgin with the Tincture of Fire and Light for now Saturn Mars and Mercury oppose but Jupiter and Luna hold with Venus but when the Power of wrath cometh Luna changeth her will viz. Colour and cryeth with the common people signified by her Crucifige CHAP. XI The Process of Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection Symbolized in the Philosophick Work THIS whole Chapter consisting of eighty verses being a profound pursuit especially of the sixth Kingdom and the Essence