of the quenching of Wrath with Love he sitteth in the Throne and is himself the Reconciliation Q. Is it askt what is the Kingdom City Palace or Seat whither he ascended and where he is A. 3. He is himself the Seat Palace City and Kingdom Q. Is it askt how can this be intelligible to Mortals living in Houses of Clay A. What is and where are the Bounds in the outward World of the Light The shining Sun is its own Palace and Throne it also is in the whole Deep in the several Elements and Concrets as far as any thing is capable of it yet is it but a Figure or Representation of the true Eternal Son Q. It is said concerning his visible circumscriptive Body which rose again and was seen by his Disciples on Earth during his Forty days converse whom the Disciples saw ascend and of whom the two Men in shining Garments spake that he should in like manner descend Where is that Body A. 4. It is answered it is in its own Eternal Throne But it is to be considered if we in our astral Man can view in our Intellect the whole Globe of Earth and Seas and the whole Deep of the third Principle And were our more noble part freed from the Images our Syderial Spirit frameth what a view could it take of the Principles and Fountain Spirits whence it all sprung especially that which it lives in and delights in as how much of the Eternal World may a glorified Spirit know for the Child knows and seeth his Parents and the Lords very outward Body was Begotten of the Holy Ghost as Masculine Seed 5. If therefore such a poor finite Creature as Man the lower sort of Intellectuals who is the thing formed or building can mount so high and apprehend so much Whither cannot he ascend what cannot he do and comprehend who being Conceived of the Holy Ghost is the Builder of the House Who tho' he humbled himself to the form of a Servant and ascended as such to shew he was our Brother yet is Lord of all and in his Heavenly Humanity is not exclusible of place as Eternity is not excluded out of time Q. 142. What signifie the two Men in Shining Garments who said Ye Men of Galilee why look ye up after him This Jesus who is taken from you to Heaven will come a-again as you have seen him ascend or go into Heaven A. 1. Moses saith Out of the Mouth of Two Witnesses shall every Truth be established And the Lord saith if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two more Thus in the Temple were two Cherubims stretching out their two Wings and the Lord sent out his Disciples two and two 2. The signification of all which is that when the first Adam by not acting his Powers caused the dividing the Two Tinctures into distinct Male and Female which should have remained but one Error and Falshood soon crept in for the Two Tinctures were neither of them true but Deceit introduced it self into both because the true Virginity disappeared 3. And the Two Tinctures were united only in the second Adam to bear one Voice or Testimony for he Married the Humane Soul to Virgin Sophia Thus the two Men in shining Garments bear but one Testimony Hence was it that in Sacrificing of Fowl the Male and his Female made but one Offering 4. Also thus as the Lord who was then taken up into Heaven shall in like manner return again so the holy pure Virgin Sophia the Wisdom of God and Tincture of the Light who left the Humane Fire Soul of Adam and withdrew from him into her own Heaven But by the Incarnation of the second Adam the same Eternal Virginity came down and returned again to the Humane Soul of us poor unworthy miserable Men. Q. 143. Why must the Disciples of Christ yet wait ten days for his Ascention for the sending of the Holy Ghost Why was not that done instantly Here begins the Eighth Grand Distribution A. 1. It was 1. To compleat the Antitype being the time pointed at by the Feast of Weeks which Feast of Weeks is commanded several times viz. from the Morrow after the Sabbath of the Passover reckon seven Sabbaths is 49 and 1 is 50 or the Feast of Pentecost from the Lords Resurrection At the end of Forty days the Lord ascended and the Disciples were to wait at Jerusalem till the coming of the Holy Ghost which was ten days after The ten days to make up the Feast of Weeks was that they might be a secondary illustration whereto the seventh day or weekly Sabbath is suited 2. Nine of these ten days points at the whole course of the Race of a Christian in this World and the tenth is the Crown Summit or Perfection As the nine first forms of Fire are Crowned with the Heavenly Birth of the Paradisical Earth and Water of Life in the holy World which is obtained by adding thereunto the tenth form 3. This is figur'd by the nine Generations beginning with Seâ— and Abraham is the tenth in whose Seed cometh the Blessing upon all In like manner find we Angels Ministring to Christs Incarnation nine times and the two at his Ascention was the tenth See the first Verse of the 133 Answer So there were ten Lepers cleansed but one only returning with thanks it is said where are the nine Thus was the tenth day of their waiting the day of the gracious and glorious coming down of the Holy Ghost Q. 144. What is this that the Disciples must wait and continue together till the Holy Ghost came A. 1. Will any say it was for their outward safety 't is true obedience is the safe path But this was of its own Nature most hazardous against Jacob's method who divided his Family and Substance to preserve some but this keeping them together was as to Mans Judgment an exposing them to danger for first an Assembly is less secret than one also more obnoxious to the Jealousie of evil Eyes From the consequence whereof they had no outward defence of their own or Followers or the People which somewhat swayed with the Priests c. in their time of rage against the Lord whereas they were not entered so far into their Ministry as might promise popular respect Therefore their being together might be deemed by the Bloody Persecutors of the Lord a fit season at once to extirpate the Lords Sacred Embassy and Embassadors 2. Their waiting and continuing together was therefore an Eminent Touchstone of pure Love and incomparable Faith 1. In respect of their Work which was to witness what the Lord was Crucified for acknowledging viz. that himself was the Son of God 3. 2. In respect of the place Jerusalem the stage where the Shepherd was smitten where the Murtherers were Rulers whose Streets lately Consecrated with the holy Lord's walks Miracles and Heavenly Doctrines The Temple where he had often spoken like God not like Man Where was a
Transformation of Nebuchadnezzar that his Hairs were as Birds Feathers and his Nails as Claws 14. Such a Subjection hath our Elementary Structure lapsed into by the Fall that it may as really be Transformed as an unburnt Earthen Vessel may And that tho' usually by consent of the Will as in Witches 15. Yet may it also be sometimes without consent and by the Arch Enemy be imposed on as was the Woman at Isenach who in a Conflict of fifteen or sixteen hours was Transformed into That of a Calf her Hands and Feet bent and like Horns or Hoofs her Tongue rough and dry her Body cold and swoln yet her Soul found to be safe and her Body by Prayer Restored to its Human Form 16. Man became vain in his Imagination and his foolish Heart was darkened They were Worshippers of Angels of the Host of Heaven of Devils of Brute Creatures of Garlick as in Egypt of Stocks Things almost incredible to us That Rational Creatures should make Their Hope and Confidence to be in Irrational till we reflect on all Nations in This Age pretending Improved Skill and Knowledge yet still do place Their Confidence in Money CHAP. XX. Of Mans Recovery how he was helped again by Christ and by what wonderful way and method Redemption was is wrought 1. WHO is sufficient to tell This what Vessel may carry This Treasure It was studied by the Holy Angels is the Ornament of Heaven will be the Song in Eternity It is the sum of what the Spirit of God hath been dictating to the Prophets pointing at by the Law and Ceremonies proclaiming by the Apostles and Saints in His Word in the Mouth of all his Servants thro' all Generations 2. Now tho' none can say how high the eighth Sphere is much less the Infinity beyond or without it yet every one can measure his own heighth being really part of it So as far as can be reached by So vile a Nothing some particle of the Abyss of Grace may in Childish Simplicity be stammer'd out and haply some Assistance given to Such Inquirer whose Inward Senses shall be opened in any degree of aptness to the Sublimity of the Matter and whose Spirit shall be Humbled and held back to the lowly manner of exhibiting the same 3. All Knowledge not leading us Humbly towards Jesus Christ is Ignorance and compared with the Light set up in us by Him is Blackness with the Vertue of it is Dung with the Holiness and Purity of it is Filthiness with the Order of it is Confusion and Amusement of Spirit with the Utility of it is meer Loss of precious Time 4. We have in the precedent Discourse beheld the direful shameful State Adam declined into by the Loss of the Divine Virgin of God's Wisdom with whom he should alwaies have lived in Purity Modesty and Perfection of Love Who whilst he stood his Soul was of the Might of Eternity his Spirit of the Pure Majestick Divine Light his Body out of the One Holy Element more Noble than seven times Refined Gold as the Shining Sun and capable to endure in Eternity 5. But Sin marr'd all his Holy Body degenerated as from Celestial Christal to Putrifying Carrion which must know Dissolution and for any Power remaining in him must have returned to the Divided Elements without hope of Recollection and Resurrection Which might cause some of the Antients who better knew what the body is come to be and what Principles and Elements compounded of than what at first it was much less what the Merciful Creator was about for Restoring his Lost Image It might strongly sway some Wise Men in several Ages to laugh at the Novelty of the Resurrection as did the Athenians 6. The Gracious and Merciful Creator pitying His Undone Creature of Love to His Own Precious disappeared Virgin Image having no motive from any want in Him of His Creature nor any worth in the Creature nor any ability remaining in His Creature to help Himself but of His Own Only Meer Free Grace and Goodness His Tender Bowels of Infinite Love wherewith His Compassions were enkindled did set Infinite Power and Wisdom on work to supplant the Serpent in Man by reimplanting again the Dear Bride of Purity and Modesty to whom Adam was at first Married but had adulterously causlesly and foolishly left having treacherously abandoned himself and betaken to the Divided Properties 7. God in-spake again the Ingrafted Word saying The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head which Word so reimplanted was like a spark of Fire falling into Tinder or like Seed sown or like Leven hid in three measures of Meal for it was a Living Power a Speaking Witness It was call'd the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Powerful Love of Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity who by That Power of Love filleth all places in the Heavens and Earth in His Own Holy Principle and This Love is Jesus Christ Himself 8. The second Adam and Holy Seed did not only come in the Fulness of Time into or in the Womb of the Virgin Mary when He took Flesh but then at the instant of Adam's Fall at the Father's in-speaking did implant himself to overthrow the work of the Devil 9. And stood at the Door of Adam and Eve and alwaies standeth at the Door of every Child of Theirs ever since none excepted in the Light of Their Life Preaching Salvation and with the Mighty Power of the Holy Ghost reproveth Sin convinceth of Righteousness judgeth Disobedience and warneth all more or less of the Judgment to come 10. This Living Word or Word of Life hath call'd it self by several names for all names are in it It is the Refiners Fire a Light shining in a Dark place Emmanuel The Saviour The Hope of Israel The Rock of Ages The Redeemer Love Wisdom Righteousness The Holy Thing Life Eternal where-ever and in whomsoever Obedience is yielded It is of invincible Strength will any lay hold on it brings irresistible Arguments will any lay them up in their Hearts uninterrupted Peace will any sit still under its Counsels His Weapons can neither be warded nor blunted His Defensives are impenetrable 11. The Word replanted in Adam and Eve after Their Disobedience is call'd an Ingrafted Word tho' it was carried downward chiefly or most visibly in the direct Line thro' Seth to Enoch who was in the Sabbath as the Seventh Day of whom came Metâ—usalaâ— who as the longest Liver recorded figured Eternity yet was the same in Them as a Priesthood to be Leaders and Stars to Their Brethren The same Principle being with less Brightness in others also for neither is the Sun visible but to Them who have a Receiving Power So nor were the rest of Mankind wholly Blind but had Their Talents entrusted to Them And this Line of the Holy Seed were as the Lord's Candlesticks and Lamps whereat others were to enkindle their weaker Lights 12. It may be noted that the
sprung out of the four Elements animated by the Astral Powers and Properties all which proceeded from the one Element and seven Fountain Spirits concerning which the Answers of the 23 24 and 25 Questions particularly discoursed 2. The Mortal transitory Creatures have their Root in the Dark Out-birth yet some more out of one Element and Property and some especially out of other Elements and Properties of which much might be said as also of the permanence of their Ideas or Figures but that the Answers of the other subsequent Questions will meet with those things if God shall vouchsafe Light to any to answer them 3. Briefly now the transitory Creatures bear the Figures and but the Figures or shadows of every Principle every Property and every Element and consequently of all Worlds That the Lord God Almighty may be adored admired and known in proportion and according to the capacity of us His Creatures by some more intimately by others with a more remote less perfect and less distinct Knowledge as the Image they are entrusted to contemplate is more or less express improved and kept bright and serene by our viewing Divinity in them 4. They also bear all Figures that the Lord may behold Himself in those His Wonders Imaged in by and through all things for all things are in Him from Him and for Him for whom waits all Honour Love Subjection and Obedience for ever Q. 34. What was the Archeuâ— or Separator of their Kind or Species and Property which formed them and still to this day formeth them A. The Answer of the last Question derives their Original from the four Elements and this must tell what Architect contriveth their Structure 'T is true the Elements and their Products are the Matter whereof they are but what divides the Matter into Portions and those Parts into Method and exact order with different Sexes Colours and Qualities Good Evil and Mixt 1. Are they made of the Earth Why eat they not Earth For every Creature subsisteth of its own Root or Mother but they subsist by the Astral Productions in the Elements and must do so or of meer Earth The Earth and the other outward Elements would be still Barren were they not pusht on and moved by their immediate Causes 2. Hence 't is clear the Transitory Creatures proceeded from the Aquastrish Womb of the Elements which may be well call'd their Mother or Female Matrix and the fiery Part or Masculine Limbus is their immediate Father but the animating Vertue of the Stars is their Quintessence or Tincture the which Astral Spirit is their Separator and gives them various Colours Properties active or sluggish Fabricks of nimble Wings or unweldy Bulks As doth the same Tincture also cause those great varieties of Colours of the many Thousands of different Flowers Herbs and Vegetatives 3. This is not barely like a Refiner's Fire which segregates Metals and thrusts and divides to each in the Crucible all its own Gold to Gold or Copper to Copper for that Mechanick Skill tortures and mortifies the Matter rather than exalts or improves it 4. But he that is enabled from above prosperously to Transmute Augment and Tincture Metals must remove Obstructions of Mortal Heterogeneous Parts and then knows how to animate fortifie and fructifie the United Homogeneous Parts And do all with such a Fire as that wherewith the Astral Powers generate Minerals produce Animals and feed and cause their so great growth which is done by satiating and converting their constant Anguish and Hunger which Anguish and Hunger is not radicated at all but transmuted into constant Joy Love and Victory and the Light World awakened therein Q. 35. What are the six Days Work of the Creation and the Sabbath A. The six Days Work of the Creation and the Sabbath being severally and at large treated of in the 12 13 14 15 and 16th Chapters of the Mysterium Magnum may not be toucht here Q. 36. What is the Difference or Distinction of the Mortal Creatures And what is their Chaos wherein each Kind liveth and wherein are they distinct and severed one from another A. None can call this Question too curious for God who made nothing in Vain made not all Creatures but to be of high Consideration and the Lord sending us to learn Providence and Industry of the Aâ—â— doth much more establish his almost Infinite Number of Creatures to be for vast Uses grand Speculation and Importance It having been shewn whence they were produced and by what Power divided it must now be shewn what their Differences and distinct Kinds are 1. Moses teaching the order of the Creation saith Let them meaning the Creatures of the Out-birth come forth every one after their Kind By which word Kind is understood their several Properties and of the Properties are seven and no more which Patronize all Creatures and every of the seven is as clearly distinguish'd in the Animals as in Minerals and Pretious Stones 2. And though they are all in and of one Principle yet in them may all the three Principles be evidently distinguished according to the Order engraved on them by the Sacred Hand of the Creator in Conformity to all His other more Divine and Illustrious Works for His Words are His Works 3. As First The Dark Matrix like a Fountain issued those of the first four Forms viz. The Cold Astringent Tenacious greedy Animals which are a numerous Family some more some less vigorous as Wolves Swine c. 4. Next the Attractive constringent restless Quality or Kind as Foxes Serpents c. 5. Another of the despairing anguishing Property as Dogs some Venomous Creatures c. Therefore is a Mad Dog so Contagious 6. The Fourth is of a fiery rapacious ravenous voracious haughty Tribe as Lions Vultures Eagles c. 7. The Fifth Sort or Kind are of a merry airy Inclination some more thus as Birds others more according to the Spirit of the World as some other Birds Apes c. And of the same Kind more especially principl'd with Love as far as the Out-birth is capable of it as Lambs Turtle Doves some more laxe or rather lustful as wanton Creatures 8. The Sixth is the Property of the Sound in harmonious sweet Singing-birds Chirping their Musical Notes to the Praise of the glorious Creator 9. The last are great bulky unweldy huge lumpish Beasts and the Chaos of them is part of themselves or that whereof their various Properties shew them to be part for the Will of every of them willeth its Property and thereby willeth it self and would be much more so yet knoweth not what it self is Q. 37. To what End or wherefore were the Mortal Creatures created A. 1. The more Perfect of them are composed together with the Internal Organs of Flesh Blood Bones Scales Skin Hair Feathers of which I may be excused from Curiosity not being on Natural History or Dissection Thus is Man of Flesh c. his Nails resembling
to be risen with Christ and guided by his Light within them Let it be observed by such who wilfully oppose or not regarded at their Peril And for satisfaction of such who are willing to know the truth viz. That Christ had a true Natural Humane Body of Flesh and Blood from Mary Heb. 2. 24. For asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death which is the Devil Q. 3. But is it askt how is this Body and Humane Soul the same of ours It 's answer'd 1. By way of Concession that it was so far other than ours as it had the Holy Ghost instead of Mans Masculine Seed 2. Yet took he as the above Text with many others plainly tell us part of our Flesh and Blood and so was our Brother that is such as the Children had part of were of or are partakers of and this is also ours of what Nation soever we are for it is written Acts â—7 16. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on the Face of the Earth Q. 4. Is it ask'd what of this was raised again It 's Answer'd all of it for the Women and after that the Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter saw there was nothing left in the Sepulchre after the Resurrection but the Linnen Cloaths wherein he had been wrapped Q. 5. May it be fully so with other Bodies Answer Matth. 27. 52 53. And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many And it must be remembred that it shall be so with ours at the last day it was the Faith of Martha who saith unto him John 11. 24. I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Q. 6. May it not be otherwise with us our Bodies must putrifie and the Incorruptible only rise Answer our Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 53. Our Mortal shall put on Immortality and our Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and all this as a consequence of Christs Death and Burial according to the Scriptures also of his rising again and after his rising again was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve after that of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6. Q. 7. Shall it be a Resurrection of all Answer The Lord saith Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Let it therefore no longer be charged justly on us as formerly on the Jewish Rabbies That we err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1 Thes. 4. 14 15. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep c. Q. 8. How is it effected Answer As Lazarus was raised That voice which gave Being to all call'd him up and that voice shall call all up every one in his own Order May it never be said of us as of the Jews Because they knew not him nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him So may it not be said now Because they consult not frequently nor heedfully regard nor will understand the holy Words and Writings of the Lord his Apostles c. which they may daily read they yet sit down with a confused Notion of this great Doctrine and bury their drowsie Intellect some with dark Heathenish Maxims begetting Atheism in Judgment and Practice a degree worse than Devils 9. Other some there are having a glimpse of a true Light wherewith they think themselves rich and to have need of nothing and there shut it and themselves up without proving it by searching like the Bereans and without improving it by trimming their Lamps But not imploying themselves in the Lords methods do obscure or bury their Talent and so by degrees let their foolish Heart be darkened not only in this but in many other of the plain and precious Truths of the Kingdom of God which great evil and defection is as ever heretofore in all other forms accompanied with sharp Censures of others and peremptory unwarranted Injunctions of their own Reason Whereas the more we approach the Divine Life the more comprehensive is that Soul the more ready to bear and forbear to do and suffer to become all or any thing to all that it may beget of that meek Spirit in others to be swift to hear to have an open naked Breast whereon it begs the Lord Jesus to write his whole Pleasure is so vile in his own absurd Judgment that is easily induced to think highly of others Q. 173. How doth this World pass away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward A. 1. To some this Question may seem only curious and to others so occult as if incogniscible to a third sort such as if possible to be resolv'd were needless because it fruitlesly anticipates say they the thing which in its season shall demonstrate it self But on serious mature inspection it is found possible important and greatly necessary to be known and believed 2. It is said that when Cortis with a Brigade of Spanish Horse and Infantry Invaded the West Indies and had charged them of the Republick of Tlaxcallan upon the Fall of any Spaniard either Man or Horse care was taken so to bury them that the Americans might not know it which made them despair of withstanding such whom they thence concluded to be Immortal Thus not to discover the end of this present World which the dark World and the Prince of it would conceal were to insinuate as if it were indissoluble and consequently uncreated and so Brutishly to introduce Atheism and Atheism is that fatal Evil which may be justly accounted the worst of Errors of the worst of Men. 3. But this World had a beginning and shall have an end as it is written Psal. 102. 25 26. Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hand They shall perish c. They all shall wax old as doth a Garment c. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. And tho' no History scarcely records any who mock'd at the coming of the Lord yet is it Prophesied 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. That in the last days Scoffers shall come even at that which will then be at the Door saying Where is the promise of his coming c. For such Mens Lusts Biass them to abuse Gods long-suffering ver 9. Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18. 31. 32. 2 Pet. 3. 10. And it is told
a Dart thrust through the Liver the Fountain of Blood the Hair and Nails will after being cut grow a Tooth may supply a former Tooths place but the Tincture spoil'd is as the Heart and Brain pluck'd out Salt savours all things but if it hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted Of the Tincture comes the Growth and Lustre and so is as our Mother if any one reproach and prophane it he becomes mortally guilty He that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to Death On the 33 Question and Answer Of the Original of the Creatures of the mortal Life 1. When I look towards the Circumference and see the winged Troops should not I find Coelestial Inclinations in all of them where yet I find many filthy many cruel many ravenous I look towards the Centre and are there in the Deep any but dark undigested uncleannesses yet there I observe almost all clean many fair more greatly nourishing some adorn'd with rare Pearls and in the dark cold Earth the Triumphs of Nature in precious Stones and Minerals And looking round me my Fellow-Commoners are so various as to figure all Principles all Worlds all Properties to Infinity No Star so noble but it's Energy is Imaged in some no Conjunction so malevolent but is figur'd on others 2. The dark World hath its Subjects and Idea's Saturn in that Impression owns the Wolf Horseleech c. Mercury the Fox and dangerous Reptils Mars the Tyger and Dog Sol the Lyon Venus the Ostrich and Vultures Jupiter deformed Apes Baboons and Monkeys Luna unweldy Bruits And among my Brethren of Adam's Apostate race Saturn sways the Meagre Griping Carking Raking Insatiable Mercury the sly circumventing Crew Mars the insociable outragious Rabble Sol the daring seeker of Self and Domination Venus the shameless obscene cruel Adulteress Jupiter the filthy Hermaphrodite and Semihomines Luna those who are a burthen to others and over-load to themselves Yet according to the Light World is a Book written with shining living Letters accurately Engraven according to all Properties in which our Old Man may meditate his derogating from the Copy viz. The simplicity of the Dove and Lamb and in which the New Man may as in a Glass behold his own Face may observe how the Heavens hear the Earth groaning for Drought and descend in sweet distilling Bottles the Earth hears the shriveling Seed and drying Roots and the Corn and Fruits hear hungry Men and starving Beasts and when all are filled by the overflowing of Infinite Goodness how do the Blossoms breathe and the laden Boughs shew their Satisfaction the Herds return with flowing Udders and in the Flocks the Ews pay their Lambs what bounty lent them how do the Subterranean Minerals extend their stretch'd out Arms towards the four Cardinal Points and the hidden Treasure excite Man's Diligence 3. But what part bearest thou my Soul in this Harmony Art thou Hoarse Is thy sound only like that when the Earth is knockt on Doth all flow to thee and for thee and art thou only as a Grave to bury them in run they all to thee as Jordan into the Dead Sea Must all these Voices of Divine Love be heard seen felt tasted smelled renewed increased and continued and thou as Barren as Arabia's Sands thy Heart as impenetrable and sensless as the Mountains of Ice and Rocks of Adamant Wo were me if every Pile of Grass must be a Witness against me Hath thy Redeemer not only given thee all these but open'd for thee to thee in thee Heaven it self and his own Heart which is the Heaven of Heavens and art thou on Earth and Cold Why burneth not thy Heart why flame not thy Affections why dyest thou not as a Burnt-offering and risest not in this sweet Fire of humble earnest endless Seraphick Love On the 34th Question and Answer On the Separator of every Species of every Property 1. This Meditation exalts my grovelling Thoughts towards him without whom was not any thing made that was made yet this Archeus is no more than the great Instrument of Omnipotence who when call'd the Father of Nature it 's only meant the Father in Nature bearing the Image of the Father who alone is God blessed forever Nor are the Astral Powers though various infinite and different also seeming opposite to be call'd many because not one is broken from the United Harmony but mutually embrace each other no perverseness among them that is left to the Prince and Legions of the Abyss of the dark World 2. All the Properties and Astral Powers are an Egress of the Fountain Spirits as they are of the one Will and by figuring and propagating their Energies are as a Body Politick whose many parts compose into a Republick Thus is the whole one only Separator Father and Mother in Nature for whole Nature is an Hermaphrodite in it the Tinctures being inviolably United potently proceed in Magical Masculine and Feminine Virgin Purity doing all as Adam should have done and with so equal a hand that the Excellency of one is ballanced by another kind of Excellency in another The Pith and Brain needs the Bark and Skull is Gold most valuable Iron is most useful the Powerful hand that lays the Contexture of the Whale and Elephant is altogether as admirable in the little Insects 3. Now as by a numerous well-accoutred Host is shewn the Puissance of their Prince by the greatness of a River the large Tract of Land whence it descends So by this steady unwearied skilful prosperous mighty Architect is demonstrated the Eternity Wisdom Infinity Omnipotency of the Glorious Creator who is represented by this his excellent Agent And as with Veneration Men receive the Decrees of the Wisdom of a State with submission the Commands of a Soveraign Authority and with Circumspection observe the Precepts of Physick wherein life is concern'd with how much greater reason are we obliged or rather by genuine sweetness charm'd to the Laws of Nature to be Loyal to the Government studious of the Institutions and faithful in holding the Secrets thereof if entrusted to us for as the Eternal Nature is in God so the Temporal Nature is of God in which also God and Heaven is as Eternity is in time Grant therefore O our God and Father which art in Heaven that I may hallow thy Name in Nature lest if I do not thy Will shewn on Earth in things seen I be not entrusted with the Knowledge of things in Heaven which are not seen On the 35th Question and Answer On the six days work of the Creation and the Sabbath 1. The six days Work demonstrate the six working Properties and they being distinct do yet every of them generate another and all six meet to generate the seventh yet when they concenter in the seventh do not there cease to Work which were as impossible as for them to cease to be but if they Work in the seventh their Operations are heavenly sweetly harmoniously triumphantly
Astringent Binding mighty Power the lofty Babilon 2. The second like a Bear viz. the strong cruel Attraction the inflexible unalterable inexorable Empire of the Medes and Persians 3. The third like a Leopard for anguish is compos'd of several ingredients like as are the colours of the sported Leopard as is also the belly of a Toad And the Greek Empire is said to have consisted of about a Hundred and forty sorts of People or Nations 4. The fourth Beast was dreadful and terrible not likened to any Beast but being as fire is said to devour and break in pieces such were the Romans But one like the Son of Man came and to him was given dominion and glory an everlasting kingdom here is the 5th form viz. the enkindling of the light signified Represented also by the 4 Winds of Heaven 4 wings of a Fowl and 4 heads Thus Lazarus having lain in the Grave four days the true light raised him They are figur'd by four Chariots but Horses in three of them of differing colours one from the other but the 4th was of Horses of differing colours among themselves viz. Grizled and Bay expounded by the Angel to be four Spirits of the Heavens which go forth from standing before the God of the whole Earth Will any think it to be without a mystery that Elisha was wroth with Joash King of Israel for smiting on the Ground but three times saying Thou shouldst have smote five or six times then hadst thou smote the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them for the Prophet had promised he should consume them But Joash being held by his wickedness in the first four forms smote but thrice for had he as the Prophet saith smote five times he had enkindled the Light of the Liberty in his forms as an addition had he smote six times he had brought the illustrated forms into Harmony of Love whereby his Enemies the oppressing Assyrian viz. the Enmity had been consumed Will any think it was without a Mystery that the Prophet Amos eight times reciteth For three Transgressions of Damasâ—us of Gaza Tirus Edom Amon Moab Judah Israel and for four I will not turn away the Panishment thereof For 't is apparent that the three or four first forms comprise all Sin But if the vigorous true Light be enkindled it flameth to a Love of God and is Death to Sin by discovering it awakening it and working it out cleansing the Conscience destroying the Enmity of the first four forms and so creating Peace to them that were far off making them nigh But it may be granted there is an Ingredient of Light admitted into and retained by the first four Forms but it is as that the Apostle Paul saith Science falsly so call'd Such is this it is an insinuation of a faint false delusory-Light comprehending the Craft Subtlety Sophistry Serpentine wisdom to abuse the Senses and mis-imploy the out-born Natural Powers to jugling Deceits uniting Earthiness and Sensuality to devilish Designs Of this Wisdom the Lord saith If the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness Very apt and pertinent to this Discourse is it to consider That though the Perfume ascending from us was compounded of very unlike Parts some of them also very Unpleasant yet the Holy Oyl descending on us was compounded of five Kinds all excellent Good Delightful and Pleasant for we understand that the 5th form enkindles the Light which makes the four first from the Discords to be â— Harmony and a rich Concord Such are all Go'ds approaches to us as Joseph's Law in Egypt was That four Parts should be the Peoples and but the 5th Part to be Pharoah's figuring this 5th form's being taken as the Lord's Part only who is meant by Pharoah Divine Love hath its Root in the Centre of the Essence of the first four Spirits but most immediately in the Light and that from the Fire And the Activity of the four first Spirits as a perpetual Rotation causeth that Love can never Cool Thus is it strong as Death for Love is that Name which the God of Life is known to us by whom thus to know is Life Eternal The Instrument in the Out-birth of this Spirit is Venus CHAP. VIII Demonstration being of the Sound Tone Noise or Voice SHall there be need to demonstrate this which Heaven and Earth Ring of And Hell after its capacity hath also some impressions of It may suffice briefly to shew This to be a distinct Fountain for that it is the Result only of the United Operation of the five precedent Spirits meeting in the seventh is no Argument why This also should not be one for any one could not be without every one The Astringency had not what to bind but that the matter is produced by the other properties and so of the rest 1. As the light is the opening of the darkness thro' the fourth Fountain the fire so is the voice of the first four Fountains thro' the opening of the light revealing the Kingdom of Joy with its Beauty Colours and Ornament where-ever it is treasur'd 2. As we see fire sleeping in a Flint awakened by a stroke so doth the tone or sound start up and disperse it self so far as its vigour conquereth the resistance of contrary motions or solids and then expireth 3. As the life lies in a swound in vegetables till revived by the return of the Spring or as odours lie coucht in dead earth till midwif'd by the Sun thro' the stalks of flowers So the varieties of Infinity remain secret and dumb as in the mystery till this Oratory publisheth till this Herald proclaim it who by its continual motion speaks all and shews all The Representer of this sixth Fountain Spirit is in the out-birth Mercurius CHAP. IX Demonstration of the Body generated out of the other six Fountains 1. IF a mighty Prince should in regulating a world of laborious Subjects directed by a Council of men experienced in exquisite Art wanting neither time or other requisite to accomplish some stupendious structure or vast piece of magnificence should after all be able to accomplish only trifles were strange Or rather what could not mens highest prudence served with the confluence of abundance of willing agents sufficient helps and competent time atchieve acquire and bring to effect 2. And see we not what the six overflowing Fountain Spirits ranged by omnipotence conducted by infinite Wisdom exercising from eternity their irresistible Powers have conceived travell'd with brought forth and improved as the Holy One hath willed 3. And can any doubt they who have served to found and lay the Top-stone of infinite numbers of Fabricks in the Astral Elementary and Terrestrial Worlds should be unfurnished with a Royal Palace for themselves 4. This seventh Fountain Spirit is their Body Mansion and Sabbath the eternal Rest eternally generated In This they work their hallowed wonders in this they
planted a seed or sperm whereon the Holy Ghost brooded and in six days hatcht the generation of the Heavens and Earth with their Hosts Thrones and Royalties Hence were founded the Ant and Elephant the Insects as well as Leviathan And but for this God would have been wholly an unsearchable God nor could any Creature Angel or other have been made 5. We say in things of our little Horoscope the end of Motion is Rest and shall the Originals whence all things exist want a Rest for themselves Must our six days toil end in one of rest and shall these supream Agents reach no Sabbath wherein to triumph in with and for the delight of the Lord of the Sabbath This seventh Spirit is therefore the quiet receptacle of them all 6. Out of which according to the harmony of the Divine Unity they never for one moment can possibly depart And over the Threshold of which according to the separate Property whereby they are rent from the glorious Unity they never put a foot or can for ever enter 7. Will therefore the Human Off-spring whose departure is as written by the Sun Beams reunite and do its first works those whereunto he was created and the pure works of the second Adam whereunto he was regenerated 8. Be it said forasmuch as by his departure he is so far degenerated that his Soul by a willing captivity is under the rage of the first four Spirits from whom the light is withdrawn His Spirit that was a meek divine Ruler hath lost its dominion to so great a degree of fierceness that the Astral rule all His Body which was formed out of the one pure Element out of which Element came also the four and to have been a perpetual figure of the holy third Principle as his Soul and Spirit were of the first and second And which body of his should have eaten Paradisical food is now a captive under the four Elements in so great rigour and vileness that Nature shames at its Beastiality till thus it travels thro' sorrow pain and shame to the dust But the Soul and Spirit may here be baptized and regenerated 9. And because the fruit cannot be brought back to the Tree but the Apple must first perish and the seed in it first die as doth the grain of Corn before it increase therefore the Soul and Spirit must also die the mystical death that is to its strange will to secure them against the second death or before they are capable of the first Resurrection 10. From the same ground is it that the Body also must die and lose its new gotten bestial Image before it can put on immortality and the Image of the heavenly whereunto Jesus came to conduct it 11. But we may know these things are not the work of faint wishes but call for striving watching praying fighting contending running working searching knocking that fruit may be produced by patience for Heaven may not be ascended by earthy wings therefore let the Earth beware of resisting when Heaven stoops descends and enters it 12. To subject mad Mankind to this its only good the gracious Jehovah on Adams departure left his Soul should be a Devil his Body a Beast and the Woman generate a Race of Monsters in the out-birth and of totally proud hellish spirits in the inward reimplanted the Word of Eternal Life as a seed or as a light shining in a dark place to which they only do well who take heed so as to obey such shall by the Divine Guide lose their All and be as a Fool or Child as to self-wisdom but proceeding that way under the Cross possess all things 13. For as there is no salvation in any other so is there no other way of entring there into The six names of the Tribes on Mount Gerizim to bless represent the six active Fountain Spirits according to the second principle and Gerizim the seventh or heavenly body where they rest And the other six on Mount Gebal to curse exhibit the same six Fountains according to the first principle or dark world The seven Pillars on which Wisdom built her house points out the seven Foundation Spirits The six Steps to Solomons Throne hath the same signification and the Throne it self the seventh whither they led and ascended was the Sabbath or Rest. So the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials signifie the same seven Fountains yet all hidden and according to the Darkness where neither can the Book be read till first the Seals be gradually opened the mind and voice of the Trumpets be distinguished till they be orderly sounded nor the things contained in the Vials discerned till severally effused by the Lamb and his successive Angels But the seven Golden Candlesticks are the seven according to the second Principle or Light-World seen all manifestly at once The same also are the seven Stars at once giving their splendor Again we read there were seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne which the Text saith are the seven Spirits of God We find and 't is observable the Revelation gives the Vision treble to each viz. To the dark impression by Seals Trumpets and Vials To the Light impression by Candlesticks Stars and Lamps So the seven lean Kine and blasted Ears signifies what we have the seven Properties The seven fat and good what God made the seven Properties to be CHAP. X. Of the Three Principles of the Divine Essence 1. BY a Principle is meant a chief beginning power a self-subsisting Life an original root foundation or in some sense a mystery or genus whence other Spirits Bodies Species or things originate as from a Supream Power And thus is God the only one Principle 2. And this one Principle is also three Eternal Births or Principles ever without ceasing begetting being begotten and proceeding by in and from each other of which all Worlds are conjunctly or severally an Image but very different according to the inscription stamp figure and degrees they attain or are capable of 3. And tho' the three Principles are by an indissoluble band ever inseparably one in God yet are they distinguishable 4. But in the Creatures in the separate Properties are terribly manifest which tho' Adam was not to have known in himself yet is it what we ought to know 5. God said Let us make Man in our Image after our likeness but saith not so of the other Creatures Man in his first make being most perfectly his figure and off-spring 6. Yet every of the other Creatures the Astral Elementary Vegetative Sensitive and the Dark World do all in their various kinds more or less perfectly represent him for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made his eternal Power and Godhead And as there are the united three bearing record in Heaven so are here an agreeing three bearing record on Earth viz. Spirit Water and Blood CHAP. XI