me unworthy man as to mark me with the Conquering signe of his beloved son Jesus Christ 6. At which signe of conquest the Devill is terrifyed that he must even burst for very anger and thereupon hath raised up a great tempest out of his Sea of death against me and hath cast his horrible floods upon me thinking thereby to overwhelme and drowne me 7. But his violent streames have hitherto beene altogether uneffectuall for the conquering Trophy of Jesus Christ hath defended me and smitten his poysonfull darting rayes unto the earth whereby Sathans pharisaicall murthering poyson hath been revualed in many hundred men who since that time have turned themselves to the marke of Christ so that I see with joy that all things must turne to the best to them that love God 8. The report or outcry which came unto you was nothing else but a pharisaicall revilement and scorne by meanes of a scandalous reproachfull lying Pamphlet of one sheet of paper in the Latin tongue wherein Sathan hath plainly set forth and laid open the pharisaicall heart which by Gods permission is so come about that the People might learne to know and flye from the Poyson of this pharisaicall heart 9. And I confidently beleeve that the grossest Devill did dictate that Pamphlet for his clawes are manifestly and plainely therein discovered that it may be clearly seen that he is a lyer and a murtherer and it shall be as a warning unto many that they have a better care unto their soules as this Pamphlet with us is almost by all the learned ascribed unto Satan 10. The cause of this rage and fury was by reason of the printed Booke concerning repentance and the true resignation which Booke hath been very profitable unto many 11. Which shrewdly vexed the pharisaicall spirit that such a ground should be manifested thinking that such a doctrine and life should be looked for and required of him also which is not well relished so long as men â—it in the lust of the flesh and serve the belly-God in carnall pleasure and delight 12. Know yet for a direction that his reproach and lyes doâ— but publish and manifest my Booke insomuch that every one both of the high learned and low degre doe desire to read it and have it in great request 13. Which Booke in a short time hath come through Europe and it is much made of yea in the Prince Electors Court of Saxony where I am invited to a conference with high People the which I have consented unto at the end of Leipfick Faâ—r to performe who knoweth what may be done whither the mouth of the bold slaunderer may not be stopped and the truth made known and manifest 14. I exhort and entreat you therefore to wait with patience in Christian love and joy for the coming and revelation of Jesus Christ and his appearance which shall soon breake forth and destroy the works of the Devill 15. I feare not the Devill if God will use me any longer for his Instrument he will no doubt defend me well enough for the truth needeth no defence her defence is this as Christ speaketh when you are persecuted for my name sake and when they speak all manner of evill of you falsely for my sake rejoyce your reward is in Heaven also he that is just let him be just still and he that is wicked let him be wicked still every one shall reap what he hath sowne 16. Seeing then my conversation is in Heaven and I as to my body and soul run thither where aforehand my spirit dwells in Christ what advantage then is temporall dignity and honour to me I onely suffer persecution in the body and not in the soulet 17 What need I feare the shell which covereth the Spirit when the shell is gone then am I wholy in Heaven with a naked face who will deprive and bereave me of this none why need I then feare the World in an Heavenly cause 18. If the cause and maâ—â—eâ— be evill why suffer I disgrace and reproach and stand in trouble misery and feare why doe I not get rid of it but is it good what need I then despaire seeing I know whom I serve namely Jesus Christ who makes me conformable to his Image 19. Is he dead and risen againe why should not I then be also willing to suffer dye and rise with him yea his Crosse is my daily dying and his Ascension into heaven is daily done in me 20 Yet I wait for the Crowne of conquest which Jesus Christ hath said up and am yeâ— in combate and wrestling as a Champion and I exhort you as my fellow-wrestler to fight a good fight in faith and waite in patience for the Revelation of Jesus Christ and still stand fast 21. For this smoaking fire-brand which now smoaketh shall shortly be consumed in the fire and then the remainder shall rejoyce then it will be manifest what I could have written unto you which for the present is slandered and reviled yet onely by the Ignorant 22. But the wise will observe mark and take notice of it for they observe the time and see the darknesse and also the dawning of the day 23. Beloved Mr Marcus that you and your Father are in good health doth rejoyce and glad me I have received the Box of comfits and returne you thankes for them 24. I would fain write againe to the Apothecary at Wildan in Livonia â—f I had but an opportunity to send that way I pray let me know when you have 25. That which my native Country casteth away other Nations shall take up I send to you and your Father each of you a copy of my Bookes somewhat for good friends for I heard that formerly you had gotten some of them for you all 27. I have none of the other writings at hand I would gladly have sent some of them to you but shortly I hope to come into those parts and then God willing I will bring some along with me and I commend you to the kind and gracious love of Jesus Christ Dated 5. March 1624. J B. THE FOURE AND THIRTIETH EPISTLE TO FREDERICK CRAUSSEN Our Salvation is in the life of Jesus Christ in Us. 1. DEARELY respected Sir all hearty wishes of the Divine Love and all bodily health and prosperity premised God be pleased according to his will to ease and turne away your crasie distemper 2. The state of my body is yet tolerable for which I thanke God but it is wholly besmeared with the Pharisaicall dirt of Aspersion that the Common sort can scarce discern or acknowledge me to be a man 3. So wholly and gtievously is Sathan enraged against meÌ„ and my printed Booke and doth so exceedingly rage and rave in the cheife pharisee as if he would devour me but yet for these three Weekes the great fire hath begun to be somewhat allayed in the he perceiveth â—hat many hundreds doe speake against him whom he
our secret discourse as you know you must yet be patient to goe on in that knowne proâ—esse a good while and in this beginning no other will be admitted it may well in the seventh yeare be accomplished in this processe for it must bee opened through all the six Properties of the spirituall Ground albeit it is already opened through the Sunne yet the Key is scarce come into the first or second degree of the Centre of nature for each property among the six formes of the spirituall life hath a sundry or peculiar Sunne in it from the strength influence and originall of the light of nature that is of the Essentiall Sunne and are to be opened in order as their birth and originall is 9. First Saturnes Sunne is opened through the Key of the outward Sunne that the Severation of nature is discerned Secondly Jupiters Sun is opened and then the powers are discerned as a blossoming Tree and hither to you are come 10. Thirdly Mars Viz. the fire-soule is opened and then Virgin Venus appeareth in her white robes and playeth with the soule to see if it might move the same to the desire of Love it goeth out and in up and downe with the soule and lovingly accolates with it to see whether it would introduce the fugitive properties of selfe-will where the soule departed out of the temperature into the fugitive life of the divided properties of the body againe into her that Virgin Venus might be againe animated or Soulized and re-obtaine the Fires Tincture wherein its joy and its life consisteth 11. For Virgin Venus is the splendor of the white in the Sunne understood in this place but the ability to the shining is not its owne the spirituall water is its owne propriety which water ariseth out of the fire where the separation beginneth in the Salniter in Mars his Sun then Virgin Venus separates it selfe in it selfe and covereth her selfe with a Copper Vesture for Mars would have her for a propriety but he desiles her exceedingly in his malignity and spatters in earth and rust for he cannot have her as his espoused unlesse he gives her his owne fire will for a propriety and that hee willeth not and therefore they strive a long time they are marryed ones but they are faithlesse to each other 12. And even then comes the Sun and openeth the Sun of Mercury which is the fourth Key where you shall see great wonders how God hath created the Heaven and the Earth and moreover the ground of the foure Elements and if you then rightly observe you shall see your owne proper Genius unfolded before you and see how the Word is become Man Viz. the expressed Word in the re-expressing or speaking it selfe forth into the severation of the Powers you will see how Virgin Venus is severed and how the formes of nature doe take her into them and goe about in a pitifull estate with her and take her into their owne Domination and change themselves in her into a purple colour they would murther but shee is their Baptisme to the new life in this place 13. The fifth Key is Virgin Venus her selfe wherewith shee openeth her Gold Viz. the Sunne that shee giveth her will and faire Garland to the murtherers so that shee standeth as one impregnate or humbled then supposeth the Artist that he hath the new child but he is far enough from it till the birth thereof 14. The sixth Key is Luna when the Sun openeth this then Mars Jupiter and Saturne must all forsake their owne will and let their fugitive aspiring Pompe fall for the Sun in Luna taketh them into the Incarnation then the Artist beginneth to be sad and thinketh he hath lost but his hope shall not be ashamed for the Moone in its opened Sun is so hungry after the true Sun that shee attracteth it with force and effect into them whereupon Mars quaileth in his wrath and dyeth away in his owne right and then Virgin Venus receiveth him and insinuates with her love into him whereby Mars in Jupiter and Saturne is quick in this love of a joyfull life and all the six properties doe give their will in to Venus and shee giveth her will to the Sunne and then the life is borne that standeth in the Temperature 15. Deare Mr Doctor the pen is not to be trusted yet have a care unto the worke it will be so and no otherwise move it not least Mercury be enraged before his opening for outwardly he is evill but inwardly he is good and the true life yet Mars is â—ne cause to life also they proceed not so plainely and punctually in the order with their opening albeit the opening is done in Order but the sensall wheel turneth it self about and windeth inwardly till Saturne cometh with his will into the internall ground and then he standeth in the Temperature and produceth no longer inclinations but all that you now see are the revolting fugitive spirits and Vaunt with Virgin Venus but they live all in Whoredome and they must be converted and turne into the inner ground that they may be fixed this is done so long till Virgin Venus looseth her materiall grosse impure water in which the Adulterers wantonize with her in false-will that so she may become holy spirituall and then the sun shineth in her which changeth the nature into love 16. Loving Mr Doctor the Phylosophicall body is the spirituall water from the fire and light Viz. The power of the fire and of the light when it is severed from its grossâ—esse through the opening of all the properties of nature then it is rightly spirituall then the Solar spirit receiveth no other property at all into it selfe save onely that which is able to reach its sensall Sun in the opened for the sun taketh nothing into it selfe but its likenesse it taketh its Heaven out of the earth if you will understand me aright for it is its food whence it generates a young Sun in it selfe which is also called Sol but it is a body therefore I say unto you keep you diligently and precisely to it you shall well rejoyce if God let you live so long if onely you have the right Father which I have sounded for and am greatly in love with him 17. This is well knowne to me for I have lately seen it at which I doe not onely wonder but rejoyce therein much is revealed to me and albeit I might write somewhat more largely yet it is not necessary in this processe also the pen is not to be trusted it may be done another time and I pray you to keep this Letter secret and in faithfulnesse if I come to you I may entrust you with somewhat which I have lately seen and received yet I shall goe so far as I dare if opportunity give way and the troubles which are nigh hinder me not then I come to Breslaw about Shrovetide and so I may visit you
and Pastours of Jesus Christ they runne and yet are not sent much lesse doth God owne them and what they doe they doe for their honour and Belleys sake and they would not runne neither if they did not obtaine it in their Course of spirituall whoredome and hypocrisie 18. They have turned the right and exceeding precious Mystery of God to a Mystery of their Whoredome and pleasure and therefore the spirit calleth it Babel a Confusion where men doe practice an hypocriticall Service and worship of God acknowledging him with the tongue but denying him in the power where men doe dissemble and flatter God with the lipps but in the heart they embrace and love the Dragon in the Revelation 19. Such as these we must not be if we would obtaine the Divine Mystery and be capable of the light but wholly approve our way to God and resigne our selves up to him that Gods light may shine in us that he may be our intelligence knowing willing and also doing we must become his Children if we will speake of his Being and walke or labour in the same for he commits not his work unto a Stranger who hath not learnt his Worke or the Mystery of his Wonders in Nature and Grace 20. I have read over your Bookes and therein have found your great diligence with very much labour in that you have gathered together the Texts of the holy Scripture in great abundance I understand likewise that you are in good earnest about it and that you would faine clearely prove and set forth thereby the darke termes and places of the Scripture concerning the last Times also concerning the first Resurrection of the dead and also concerning the thousand yeares Sabbath likewise you would manifest and set forth the ruine of Babel and the new building in Zyon of which the Scripture speaketh in many places 21 First what concerneth Babel how it hath growne up and how it shall againe be destroyed is sufficiently manifest the Destroyer is already on foot and is now about the worke he hath long since made a beginning however the World will not see or take any notice of it 22. Men cry Mordio murder confusion and destruction to there adversaries and yet there is no strange Enemy but it is the Turba onely which hath growne up in the middest of Babel in her wickednesses and unrighteousnesses that hath found the limit and destroyeth onely that which for a long time hath been naught uselesse and selvish the which should at all times have beene rejected for where God should have been honoured and loved and our neighbour also as a man loveth himselfe there men have set up in Gods stead the abominable and bestiall coveteousnesse deceit falsehood and wicked craft under an hypocriticall shew and pretence of holinesse and have minded and loved falshood in the place of God and so have made of the Mystery an abominable vicious Babel full of reproachings revilings and contentions where they have with sweet speeches and enticing words of mans wisedome with feigned glosses and expositions of Scripture blindfolding our eyes and binding our consciences have led us captive in a very deceitfull way to the glory and Magnificence of the great Whore so that she hath fatted her adulterous Brat and domineered over our body and soule goods and estate 23. This Bastard is now at odds with himselfe about the great prey and spoyle and doth it selfe discover its owne wickednesse and great shame so that we may see what good ever was in her for the great wickednesse which shee hath committed doth plague her and no strange thing whereby it may be seene that her whoredome hath been manifold and that the Devill had beset and caught us in manifold Nets and that one whoredome or Mystery of hipocricy and iniquity runnes in opposition to another and are malicious biting devouring destroying and slaying each other in an hostile manner 24. For the great Paine is come upon her and shee shall now bring forth the great iniquity wherewith shee in become fully pregnant and therefore shee cryeth out because of her travell and woe which is fallen upon her and shee speaketh of the child which shee shall bring forth Viz. of Murther Covetousnesse and Tyranny she uncovereth her faire feature and sheweth what shee is in the heart now he that will not know her there is no remedy for him 25. The Revelation saith Goe out from her my people that you may not be partakers of her Plagues for shee hath filled her Cup full with the abominations of her Whoredome in the anger of God the same Shee shall drinke off and bee forced to burst Her selfe thereby 26. And this is that which I say of Babel that shee is a Whore and shall suddenly breake in pieces and be destroyed and no stranger shall doe it the spirit of her owne mouth doth strangle her her owne Turba destroyeth her Shee cryeth for vengeance and murder upon Heresie and yet shee doth it not for Gods sake but for her Adulterous Bratt and Belley-God For otherwise if it were for God shee would enter into his Command and will of Love where Christ saith Love one another for thereby men shall know that you are my Disciples 27. The Kingdome of God doth not consist in Warre and revilings or in an externall shew in delicious dayes herein the Children of God are not to be found but in Love in patience in hope in faith under the Crosse of Jesus Christ thereby groweth the Church of God unto the Sacred Ternary to an heavenly Paradiâ—icall Essence and the new Angelicall man hidden in the old springeth forth in God and this is my certaine knowledge briefly comprized concerning this Article in my Writings you may see further of it 28. Secondly concerning Zyon I speake and declare according to my knowledge even as the spirit sheweth it to me that there shall surely come an ending and removall of the Deceit or Mystery of iniquity wherewith men are blinded and Zyon shall be found onely of the Children of Faith not in generall as if there should be no wicked man 29. For the Oppressour shall be a cause that Zyon is borne when men shall see how Babel is an Whore then many Children shall be found in Zyon and seeke the Lord but the Oppressour shall dog them and cry them downe for Hereticks also persecute and put to death and where one is killed there shall ten yea an hundred rise up in his roome 30. But the Generall Zyon appeareth first in greatest Misery when Babel commeth to ruine then it shall stand desolate and miserable and the Children of Zyon shall then say How hath the Lord forsaken us Come we beseech you let us seek his face let us cease from strife and Warre Have we not alas made our Country desolate Is not all store and Provision wasted and spent Are we not Brethren Wherefore doe wee fight We will now enter into Love and
soul as a triumph as he goeth forth from God the Father through the word or mouth of the sonne that is from the Heart of the sacred Ternary out of the Divine essentiality and thus he goeth or proceedeth forth out of the being or essence of the noble lilly-twig which springeth forth and groweth out of the fire of the soul which lilly-twig is the true Image of God for it is the new-born or regenerated spirit of the soul the spirit of Gods will the Triumphing Chariot of the holy spirit in which he rideth into the sacred Ternary into the Angelicall World 39. And with this twig or Image of God renewed in us as is before mentioned we are in Christ without this World in the Angelicall World of which the old Adam hath no understanding or perceivance also it knoweth it not as the rough stone knoweth not the Gold which yet groweth in it The Gate of the true knowledge of the Threefold life 40. Man is the true Similitude or Image of God as the pretious man Moses testifyeth not onely an Earthly Image for the sake whereof God would not have become man and put forth unite and espouse his heart and spirit in deepest love after the fall unto it but he is Originally out of the Being of all Beings out of all the three Worlds Viz. out of the innermost Nature-world which is also the most outward and is called the darke World whence the principle of the fiery Nature taketh its rise as is declared at large in my Booke of the threefold life 41. And secondly he is out of the light or Angelicall World out of the true Being of God and then thirdly he is out of this externall World of the Sunne Stars and Elements an entire Image of God out of the Being of all Beings 42. His first Image stood in Paradise in the Angelicall World but he lusted after the externall World that is after the Astrall and Elementall World which hath swallowed up and covered the precious Image of the internall Heaven and ruleth now in the similitude as in its owne propriety 43. Therefore 't is sayd You must be borne againe or else you cannot see the Kingdome of God And therefore it is that the word or heart of God entred into the humane Essence that wee with our soule might be able in the power of the word or heart of God to beget and bring forth againe out of our soule a new Twig or Image like unto the first 44. Therefore the old Carcasse must rot putrifie and perish for it is unfit for the Kingdome of God it carryeth nothing but its owne Mystery into its first beginning that is its wonders and workes understand in the Essence of the first Principle which is immortall and incorruptible being the Magicall fire of the soule 45. And not this alone but he must bring and unite the End with the Beginning for the externall World is generated out of the internall and created into a comprehensible Being the wonders whereof belong unto the Beginning and they were knowne from Eternity in the wisedome of God that is in the Divine Magia not in the Being or essentiality but in the mirrour of the Virgin-like wisedome of God whence the Eternall nature doth alwayes arise or take its Originall from Eternity 46. And to this end the poore soule standeth in the prison of the Astrall and Elementall Kingdome that it might be a Labourer and reunite the wonders of the externall Nature with the light World and bring them into the beginning and though it must now be bruised and pressed and endure much yet it is the Servant in Gods Vineyard which prepareth the precious Wine that is drunk in the Kingdome of God it is the onely cause of the understanding that the desire worketh in the Mystery and manifesteth and bringeth forth to light the hidden wonders of God as we see plainely how man doth search out and reveale the wonders of Nature 47. Therefore we must not be amazed and strangely perplexed when as many times the noble Image is hid that we cannot receive any refreshment or comfort but we must know that then the poor soule is put into the Vineyard that it should worke and bring the fruit to be set upon Gods Table 48. It hath then a Twig or Branch of the wilde Vine given unto it it must trim and dresse that and plant in into the Divine and Heavenly Mystery it must unite it with the Kingdome of God this is to be understood thus 49. As a plant or grift that is set doth worke so long till it putteth forth its branches and then its fruit so must the twig grift or scion of the soule which standeth overshadowed in a darke valley continually labour that it might come to bring forth fruit which is the noble and precious knowledge of God when the same is growne in it that the Soule knoweth God then it yeeldeth its faire fruits which are good Doctrines Workes and Vertues it leadeth to the Kingdome of God it helpeth to plant and build the Kingdome of God and then it is a right labourer in the Vineyard of Christ 50. And thus that of which I teach write and speake is nothing else but the same which hath beene wrought in me otherwise I could know nothing of it I have not scrap't it together out of histories and so made opinions as the Babilonicall School doth where men Eagerly contend about words and opinions I have by Gods grace obteined eyes of my owne and am able in my selfe to worke in Christs vineyard 51. I speake plainly and freely that whatsoever is patcht together from Conjecture and opinion wherein man himselfe hath â—o Divine knowledge whereupon he makes conclusions that I say is Babel an whoredome for conceit or thinking must not doe it yea not any opinion or conjecturall apprehension but the knowledge of God in the holy Ghost 52. The Children of God have spoken as they were driven by the holy spirit they have planted many and divers Trees but they all stand upon one root which is the internall Heaven none can finde the same unlesse he likewise stand upon the same roote and therefore the externall Heaven cannot finde them out or explain them by art 53. The words of the holy Children of God remain as an hidden Mystery unto the Earthly man and though he thinkes that he understands them yet he hath no more then a darkesome hystoricall glimps of them as we see now adayes how men doe wrangle and contend about Christs doctrine and worship and fight about Gods will how he must be served whereas he is not served or worshipped with any opinion but in the spirit of Christ and in truth men serve God 54. It depends not on what ceremonies and manners we doe use every one laboureth in his worke and gifts from his owne Constellation and property but all are driven and lead from one and the same spirit
be found in the History but in true affiance and in the right resignation into the life and into the Doctrine of Christ Therein the holy Ghost shall appeare with wonders and powers which Babel at present in her inventions forged hypocrisies doth not beleeve yet however it certainely commeth and is already on foot yet hidden from the World 18. I have sent you by Mr. Fabian the whole worke of the Second Booke but I know not whether you have received it for since that time by reason of my Journey I have not spoken with Mr. Fabian if not then you may demand it of him And so I commit you to the meeke Love in the life of Jesus Christ the Sonne of God Given in haste Goerlits Friday before the Advent 1619. The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower the Righteous flye unto it and is exalted THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH EPISTLE TO CHARLES of ENDERN 1. NOBLE Right Honourable Sir my humble ready and willing Service with all Cordiall wishes of Gods love and grace to your new creature in the New man in the body of Jesus Christ as also all temporall prosperity and blessing for the earthly body premised 2. I have considered your Noble heart and minde which is enkindled and enflamed not onely towards God but likewise towards his Children in love which hath exceedingly rejoyced me in Christ and I must in a speciall manner consider of the true earnestnesse and zeale which I know and acknowledge for you have endeavoured much about my few Writings of the first part and not regarded the murthering or confounding cryes of the Oppressour but sought after it your selfe to read it and to copy it out with your owne hand 3. Which give mee perswasion that God hath opened a little gate of his wisedome unto you which was fast shut to the Oppressor being he sought for it in Art and Pride therefore it was concealed to him for he was offended at the hand of the Writer and did not minde what is written in the holy Scripture My power is mighty in the weake and how Christ thanked his Father that he had hid it from the prudent and wise and revealed it unto Babes And sayd further Yea further For so it hath pleased thee 4. Also I am verily perswaded and convinced in my spirit that you have not done it out of any Curiosity but as it becommeth the Children of God which seeke the precious Pearle and are desirous of it which if it be found is the most precious Jewell which man loveth farre beyond his earthly life for it is greater then the World and more faire beautifull and excellent then the Sun it rejoyceth Man in tribulation and begets him out of darknesse to the light it giveth him a certaine spirit of hope in God and leadeth him upon the right path and goeth along with him into death and brings him forth to life out of death it quelleth the anguish of Hell and it is very where his light it is Gods friend in his love it affordeth him Reason and Discretion to governe his earthly body it leadeth him from the false and evill way and whosoever doth obtaine and keep it him it Crowneth with its Garland 5. Therefore noble Sir I have no other cause to write unto you but from a desire of unseighned love towards the Children of God that I might but refresh and recreate my selfe with them I doe it not for temporall goods or gifts albeit you have tendred your kind and loving favours to me though a stranger in a curteous and friendly manner but for the hope of Jsrael that I may highly rejoyce with the Children of God in the life to come and my labour which here I undergoe in love towards them shall then be well recompensed when I shall so rejoyce with my Brethren and every ones work shall follow him 6. Therefore I am in right earnest being that a Sparkle of the pretious Pearl is given to me and Christ faithfully warneth us not to put it under the table or to bury it in the Earth and thereupon we ought not so much to feare man that can kill the body onely and then is able to doe no more but we ought to feare him that can destroy body and soule and cast them into Hell 7. And though in my time I shall receive but little thankes from some who love their Belly more then the Kingdome of Heaven yet my Writings have their gifts and stand for their time for they have a very pretious worthy earnest Birth and descent and when I consider my selfe in my poor low unlearned and simple person I doe then wonder more then my very adversary 8. But seeing I know Experimentally in power and light that it is a meer gift of God who also giveth me a driving will thereunto that I must write what I know and see therefore I will obey God rather then man least my Office and Stewardship be taken away from me againe and given unto another which would Eternally grieve me 9. But seeing Sir that you have obtained a longing and delight to read the same and that as I verily hope from the providence and appointment of God therefore I shall not conceale it from you seeing that God the most High hath called you through his wonderfull Counsell to publish the first Worke when I thought the Oppressour had devoured it but even then it sprung forth as a green Twig wholly unknowne to me 10. And though I know nothing of my Selfe what God is about to doe and his Counsell and way also which he will goe is hidden from me and I can say nothing of my selfe also the Oppressour might impute it to me for a Pedentick Pride that I would thus onely arrogantly vaunt with my small gifts which were of grace given to me and thereby set forth the thoughts and imaginations of my heart for my owne vaine glory and boasting 11. Yet I declare in the presence of God and testifie it before his judgement where all things shall appeare and every one shall give an account of his doings that I my selfe know not what is hapned to me or how it goeth with me save onely that I have a driving will 12. Also I know not what I shall write for when I write the Spirit doth Dictate the same to me in great wonderfull knowledge so that I often cannot tell whether I as to my Spirit am in this World or no and thereat I doe exceedingly rejoyce and therein sure and certaine knowledge is imparted to me 13. And the more I seeke the more I finde and alwayes deeper that I many times account my sinfull person too weake and unworthy to set upon such high Mysteries where then the spirit sets up my Banner and sayth Arise thou shalt live therein Eternally and be Crowned therewith Why art thou amazed 14. Therefore Noble Sir I give you to understand in few words the ground and cause
time given me out of his wel-spring of Grace 3. And albeit I have no ability to doe it at my pleasure yet my minde is so wholly enkindled in its Centre that I would very heartily and readily impart it to my bretheren in Christ and I continually entreat the Lord that he would be pleased to open the hearts of men that they might understand the same and that it may come in them to a right quick essentiall and living effect and operation 4. And from a syncere intention I would not conceale from you that I since the new Yeare upon the desire of some learned men and persons of quality have written a treatise of Election or of Gods will concerning man and so expressed and inlarged it out of such a ground or deep soundation that all Mysteries both of the outward visible Elementall and then also of the hidden spirituall World may be therein discerned and thereunto I have in an especiall manner alleadged the sayings of the holy scripture which speake of Gods will to harden and then of his un-willingnesse to harden and so tuned or harmonized them together that the right understanding and meaning of the same may be seen 5. And it is so proved and demonstrated that I hope in God that it shall give furtherance and occasion to take away that strife and controversy in the Churches which is known and manifest that the time is nigh and at hand that the contentions about Religion shall enter into the Temperature but with great ruination of the false Kingdome in Babel that hath set up it selfe in Christs stead together with other great alterations concerning which although men now will hardly believe me yet in a short time shall really appeare and shew themselves and this beloved Sir I would not for your further consideration and christian meditation omit to hint unto you c. THE THIRTIETH EPISTLE IMMANVEL 1. MY very Christian Brother and Friend all Cordiall wishes of Divine Love and further illumination with true persevering constancy and patience patiently to endure the Crosse of Christ premised 2. God in the very beginning of your knowledge hath Sealed you with the mark of Christ unto a further confirmation and hath Crowned you to be a Champion that you should worke as a true owner in his Service 3. And I exhort you as a Christian that you would with Prayer and supplication commit the cause to God in patience and stand qnietly under the Crosse of Christ and be diligent in your Talent entrusted to you you shall see great wonders and your Talent will be more and more pleasant and beloved for so Christ hath also taught us that we should forsake all for his Name sake and cleave onely unto him for he requireth a pure resigned soule in that he will dwell 4. You have no cause to be amazed or terrifyed God knoweth well for what use he employeth you commit your selfe onely to him in Patience and strive against reason which gainsayeth and contradicts and so you will dye unto the World and live unto Christ and then you will exercise your warfare aright for his loves sake and therefrom gain the Noble Crowne of eternall life where we shall rejoyce and injoy one another eternally 5. God hath planted him a Rose Garden in your young heart take heed that the Devill sow not thornes and thistles therein there will soon come another time that your Rose-bud shall bring forth its fruits strive not to be in Office but stand still unto the most high to what he will have you let the smoak of the Devill passe away rejoyce rather at this reproach in the mark of Christ c. THE ONE AND THIRTIETH EPISTLE Our Salvation is in the life of Jesus Christ 1. DEARE Sir and Christian Brother all faithfull Cordiall and syncere desires of my spirit of true Divine light power and knowledge with intimate joy in the Divine contemplation and in our Eternall fraternity in the life of Christ 2. I have received your Letter which you sent and I rejoyce in the Lord my God who doth so richly and abundantly impart his grace unto us and so open our hearts that we in the conjecture of our Gifts desire to Search into his wisedome and wonders 3. And your tendred friendship is very pleasing and acceptable to me and according as this letter doth import I acknowledge you for a springing and very desirous branch on the Vine Christ and also for my member and fellow twig on this Corall and I wish in the power of my knowledge that it may be a true constant and immoveable earnestnesse as I make no doubt but the pretious Coralline branch of the new birth is begotten in you out of Christs spirit and wisdome 4. Thereupon I also would faine with all my heart impart my little sap strength and influence out of Gods gifts unto my fellow-branches and twigs and helpe to quicken and refresh them in my weake power and also receive enjoyment of their gifts as we are obliged and bound mutually to doe for each other both from the command of God and also in the right of Nature unto which I am in an especiall manner driven in my gifts and for which sake I have spent much time and paines yet in great desire longing and delight and it hath been continually my earnest hope and the very drift and ayme of my desire to serve my Brethren in the Lord in the Vineyard of Christ 5. And though I am a simple man and un-expert and un-experienced in Scholastick Learning and Arts neither have I ever been â—ayned up to exercise my selfe in the workes of high masters and to comprehend great Mysteries in my Reason but in my outward occupation I have been a Tradesman wherein I have honestly maintained my selfe a long time yet my inward occupation and exercise hath with very earnest strong desire entred into the mortification of my sinfull man inherited from the corrupt Adam how I might dye to my selfehood and selfe will in the death of Christ and arise in his will to a new spirit and will of Divine renovation of minde and understanding 6. Thereupon I once so strongly and sixedly resolved rather to for one my earthly life then to desist from this Purpose and Combate and â—hat I have suffered therein and therefore the Lord knowes who so led me through his judgement of my sinnes but afterwards Crowned me with the fairest tryumphing aspect of his Divine Kingdome of joy which to expresse I have no Pen sufficient but doe willingly beteeme and heartily wish it to the Reader of this Epistle and to all the Children of God 7. And from this Tryumphing light or joyfull convincing illumination of God that hath been given to me which I hitherto have written for many yeares for I obtained therein so much grace as to see and know my owne Booke which I my selfe am Viz. the Image of God and moreover to
come of which it was told me three yeares since by a Vision namely OF REFORMATION the end event or time when it shall come to passe I commit to God I know it not yet perfectly 30. And herewith I commend you unto the love of Jesus Christ Dated the 8. of May 1624. THE FIVE AND THIRTIETH EPISTLE A LETTER From JACOB BEHMEN Written from DRESDEN to GERLITZ in the Time of his Persecution Dated the 13. of June 1624. TO Doctor KOBERN Immanuel 1. MY very deare sir and Christian Brother I heartily desire the continuall working of the Love of Jesus Christ in you that your Tree of Pearle may grow great under the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ in such stirring and exercise and that we may all in that power withstand in the Faith and in the meeknesse of Christ the wrathfull enemy of Christ which at present roareth like a raging Lyon and setteth himselfe mighty against Jesus and his Children that we may with Paul fight a good fight and at length get the prize Our Salvation thereby and not for temporall honour and pleasure sake deny Christ in the Truth once acknowledged it would be very hard to recover it againe 2. For my part I thanke God in Christ Jesus that he hath signed me with his Markes and dayly maketh me like unto his Image whom I pray that I may continue stedfast also that he would deliver my Enemies from the abominable death of Eternall horrour wherein at present they lye captivated and know it not and bring them also into the light that they may know this way and come into our Eternall Fraternity 3. Yet to speake judiciously of these things we certainely see before our eyes that this way is wholly opposite to the Devill because he rageth so much against it without cause it is indeed a very great wonder that he should make so great a stirre against so small a piece of Devotion sure it must needes not relish but savour ill with him wheras there are many greater Bookes full of Foppery and Folly and partly of Idolatry to be found which he doth not oppose but his spite is onely against the Way to Christ that none might walke in that way 4. For at this very time especially hee thinketh to set up his Kingdome powerfully and yet he seeth at present that it hath breaches in it every where For the Assaylant breaketh in hither from many Quarters especially from the North and we can doe no better at present then not to regard this Enemy but overcome him with Patience under the Crosse of Christ with earnest Repentance and so at length he will become feeble and faint and this Firebrand will have an end 5. For he is but a â—fiery flash of Gods Anger which must bee quencht with Divine Love and humility wee must in no way add fuell to it to make it burne but kill it with Christs Victory as Christ with his Love overcame the wrath of God and Hell and bruised Death and mightily ruled over all his Enemies and then such Enemies in the Anger of God shall not long prevaile as Christ hath taught us that we should feed our Enemies with Meate and Drinke and rejoyce when they afflict us for his sake our recompence is in Heaven 6. It is not good out of our owne selfe purpose to use a †Worldly Sword or Weapon against such an enemy of Christ for â—o he would be but the stronger but with Patience and Prayer we shall well overcome him I regard not his unjust revilings I have a good Conscience concerning him the time is comming apace that such an Enemy will be cut in pieces by the Sword of Gods power 7. It is fit we should consider the Time for Babel burneth in the whole World and there is woe in every Street onely men see it not yet but are blinde concerning it 8. I give you very great thankes for your Brotherly faithfulnesse and Christian care in that you have taken of my Wife some things into your keeping if the High Priest will needs assault my House let him doe it that it may be knowne in all Countries what a maker of uproares he is it will tend much to the honour of him and his he will get a great deale of credit in the Electorall Counsell for having stormed my House by his trusty Officers and broken the Windows if others should doe or cause such a thing the Counsell would not suffer them in the City 9. Therefore I much marvell that they make such an uproare in Gerlitz and without cause occasion the raising such a Clamour abroad against the City if the ground should be enquired after it will sound but odly neverthelesse it must be so for the time is Borne there will suddenly come somewhat else this is but a signe Type or Figure seeing they have so solemnely celebrated the Feast of the Holy Ghost therefore he must needs powerfully assist them whereby it may be very well discerned what spirit they are the Children of which Spirit they serve and this will give us so much the more cause to avoyd them I suppose it is loathsome enough it stinketh of Pharisaicall Pitch and Hellish Soot O that God would once have pitty on the simple people who are so very blinde and doe pull downe the judgement of God upon themselves which will shortly be poured forth 10. Their stability is very well seene that which they approve of at one time the same they disallow at another time O if some Jesuits should come and remand the Church from Luther againe what good Papists would they make 11. But let it goe as it doth Silence is best they hunt after a Gnat and thinke they have caught Venison but there lyeth couched a small Graine of Mustard seed of the Crosse in it which put Christ to death that shall burst their Guts and grow to be a great Tree and this none can resist 12. My Wife need not cause any Window-shuts to be made if they will breake them they may and then the fruits of the High Priest will be seene let her have a little Patience if shee can not get a place in Gerlitz I will get a place for her some where else where shee shall have quiet enough but let her stay within at home and not goe out except upon necessity and let the Enemy rage he will not eate her up 13. I must waâ—te yet a while here and â—â—pect what God shall please to doe for I have but newly gotten a littâ—e acquaintance among the Great ones here which happeneth daily and I am well yet thankes be to God but I have not had any opportunity to desire any thing for my Protection from the Lords the Prince Elector being gone a Journey and some of the chiefe Lords with him 14. Though I doe not rely upon any Worldly protection but will adventure it on Gods name and trust him