whom the Christians enjoy the rich and large Country of Georgia and those Christians not leven'd and perverted with Idolatry 3. But Persecution stands rooted in the first Principle in which it is apparent how Brethren in Profession betray Brethren in Truth and in Deed because they all consist of the self-same four Forms and part asunder only in the Fourth for the Children of the day only generate out of their Fire-divine Eternal Light and the other proceed no farther than the Fire generating no other Light than â— false one viz. as may consist with the false Maxims of the third Principle a Serpentine Wisdom 4. Thence is it that from the natural strife of those divided Properties and Rage of the Fire proceeds the cruel Persecutions therefore the High Priests and Teachers of the Law with the unbelieving Jews were the Lord 's bitter Enemies As was Cain the false Sacrificer to Abel for that Abel by enkindling the true Light sacrificed his own Affections Will and Heart which Cain reserved and so his offering was lame and disregarded 5. Nor may iâ— seem strange that the Teachers of the Law should be at Enmity against the Fulfiller of it for they were only Ministers of the Letter and the Letter killeth Thus Antichrist who succeeds the Jewish Priests in killing Christ in his Members would bind the Children whom God hath made free but cannot 6. Thus Ishmael the Son of the Bond woman persecutes Isaac and would have been the Heir These if they can acquire Power in the third Principle destroy the Sons of the free Woman if they cannot they call the Civil or Military Assistants whom they mis-inform as Haman did then stir up such a Fox as Hâ—rod whose jealousie of losing what the Lord would not foul His fingers with prompts him to Cruelty But more particular might I have been here would it not anticipate what will fall under the 154 Question concerning the titular Christian and the 162 Question concerning Antichrist by whomsoever God shall open their Answers which is therefore here forborn Q. 119. Why must Christ suffer and die Was God to do it for such a revenge sake that he might attone and reconcile or appease himself Could he not otherwise forgive Sin A. I have no reason to vary my often mention'd design of declining Repetitions therefore must refer the Solution of this to the 107 Answer Q. 120. What is the figure of the two Murtherers which hanged on a Cross on each â—ide of Christ And why must Christ die on a wooden Cross and not otherwise A. Adam's terrible Fall was accompanied with dividing the Tinctures as is manifest in the 43d Answer which brake and parted him into a Woman as is shew'd in the 65th Answer And as more links of that heavy chain follow'd the extremities of Heat and Cold as appears in the â—0th Answer agreeable to the separate Properties in the Tree of Good and Evil discover'd in the 57th Answer All which is made more obvious in the Birth of Cain and Abel to every of which Answers for laying open the thing sought in the first part of this Question I refer my self 1. Yet farther for Answer we must know that Adam when fallen hung between the enraged Properties of the first Principle and the third Principle as it were leaning on both using the Out-birth to meeken the extorting Provocations of the four Anguishes And having lost the Divine Vision had his doleful abode betwixt Hell and this World which is the thing figur'd by the two Thieves the one whereof was forgiven 2. Thus is it that Publicans and Sinners signified by those of the third Principle enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the Scribes and Pharisees who as in the 118th Question is clear'd do stand in the Zeal and Wrath of the first Principle to persecute and worry them in whose Hearts the Day-Star or second Principle is risen 3. Now that the Lord did die on a wooden Cross and not otherwise was That as the Civil Magistrate is God's Ordinance for Execution of vindictive Justice as being of the third Principle which third is the Instrument or Figure of the first and second as is evidenced in the first part of the 118th Answer So the wood of the Cross was of a Plant of the same Principle by Eating the Good and Evil Fruit whereof Adam fell thereinto 4. Therefore was it proper to be the bitter and Blessed or Evil and Good Instrument framed for the Lord 's suffering Death whereon in him hung all the three Principles who though he was Lord of Glory yet like a patient Lamb for the Slaughter bare this ur expressible Anguish as if himself had been a Transgressor to the pouring out of his Soul to the Death Q. 121. How did Christ slay Death on the Cross How came that to pass A. 1. That Christ the Son of the Blessed God should Die offends the Turks and Pagans That He lived so humbly and died so contemptibly offended the Jews but the Proud lives of us Professors of the Name of Christ we in the mean time believing Him so meek and lowly a Master must needs offend not only Jews and Turks but Christianity it self and above all the Holy God 2. What consideration can tread down Mans loftiness if the looking on our crucified Jesus will not Who can chuse but infinitely rather than Thomas concerning Lazarus say Let us go that we may die with him No less than thus to do can secure us against the second Death for he that is dead is free from Sin Wherefore saith the Apostle speaking of this Death I die daily 3. Christ did slay Death on the Cross with his Dying by laying off the filthy Garments Adam had wove himself into that is carrying the Monstrosity wherewith the Souls Essences were charged clog'd and immured as a Sacrifice into Death and through or out of Death again into the Liberty of Immortality as the burnt Sacrifices precipitating their dark Matter arose into a Radiant lustrous flame 4. Adam made himself and us justly Debtors to Death but the Lord not only discharged but brought Death into his Debt as at large might be shewn He disarm'd it and takes away his Dominion so that he reigneth over it thus hath this Rose of Sharon perfum'd our Graves 5. It is in the Answer said we may as easily return the Sun backward over us as change Nature's regular Motions of proceeding from a Seed to a Root then a Fruit and then a Seed which Seed must first die before it multiply 6. Wherefore it was that faln Man's monstrous Image was necessarily lead into Death and the monstrosity left there before the new Image was raised for the new ariseth by the falling off of the old as saith the Lord a grain of Wheat bringeth not forth much Fruit except it die but abideth alone Thus came Death to be slain by the Death of the Lord of life Q. 122. Why must Christ be nail'd to the Cross
the Grave A. 1. If it be clearly known what the High-Priests were and what Figure they bear it may also be known why they would resist God and strive to keep Christ in the Grave And what they were and figur'd is manifest in the 128 Answer They were as to their fiery Zeal Captives in the Properties of the first Principle without enkindling the Light of the â—econd which makes Men free Their heat as to their Law was rooted in Enmity which is the true cause of all Persecutions 2. For if they had been moderated by the Maxims of the third as obscure as they are Tho' the Divine Light had been withheld and not enkindled yet cruel Persecution could not would not thence naturally have proceeded See 118 Answer 3. It is written Cast not Pearls before Swine left they trample them under their Feet which Swine are the Bestial Men in the third Principle Again Cast not holy things to Dogs lest they turn again and rent you These are they of the Wrath Principle or first Principle whose Root is in the dark fiery property and anguish of that first Principle So that a Hog is better than a Dog 4. Whenever we are shutting out the Rebukes of God in his Providences against our wilful Contrivances or the Convictions from his Word Preached or written or the just Reproofs of good or bad Men for our faults or the checks of our own Hearts and Gods Witness in our Consciences and would by our partiality and indulgence to our selves flatter our selves hide our evils like Adam seek excuses stifle silence extenuate or any way palliate the Matter charg'd on us then are we as those Watchers keeping Christ as much as in us lyes from the Resurrection out of the Grave Q. 133. Why did the Evangelist say that the Angel removed the great Stone from the Door or Mouth of the Sepulchre Could not Christ have riâ—en else out of the Grave A. 1. This is the eighth Angelical Ministration to Christ recorded by the Evangelists there being ten in all viz. 1. To Mary before the Conception 2. To Joseph concerning her 3. To the Shepherds at the Nativity 4. To Joseph to fly from Herod into Egypt 5. To return on the death of Herod 6. To â—he Lord aâ—ter his Fasting and being Tempted 7. Again to the Lord in his Agony in the Garden 8 This removing the Stone 9 Two Angels in the Sepulchre after his Resurrection 10. Two Angels at the Ascention 2. By reason of Mans folly and slownes of Heart to believe the great and important Doctrine of Christs being risen did it please the Lord to condescend this way to help Mans Infidelity and confirm their weak Faith And therefore came the Angel of the Lord and rouled back the Stone and sate upon it and there was a great Earthquake and the Keepers did shake and became as dead Men for the countenance of the Angel was as Lightning 3. There was no need oâ— the Lords part to roul away the Stone for his Heavenly holy Body which enâ—red to the Apostles the Doors being shut could not be detained by the Stone of the Sepulchre For the Heavenly Humanity is not included nor exclusible by any thing but passeth unapprehended through all things being Lord of all living in himself in his own holy Principle the Eternal Liberty 4. But the poor Earthy Children of faln Adam being Captives in the third Principle have need enough of all Gods gracious Condescendings to work Faith and confirm our Confidence and ground our hope for which gracious ends was the glorious Messenger of Irresistible Majesty sent on this Errand But so obstinate and great â—s Mans hardness of Heart that all this and what followed were needful to settle a Foundation for his Apostles and Martyrs to build their and our Faith upon But for ever blessed be the Almghtâ— God that all his gracious Promises and Purposes are abundantly ratified and opened for he is for ever the yea and Amen 5. Thus as Adam in the Face of good and bad viz. of the Holy and Hellish Worlds felâ— into impotence into the Our birth of the third Principle So the second Adam bâ— the Ministry of the glorious Ambassador of the mighty power World whose Countenance was as lightning and in presence of the astonished Souldiers figuring the Hellish Principle raised the right Humane Nature And thus also must we if we will arise with our Head be as Passives suffering the Lord to exercise all his Rights in and on us with a resigned sence of our inability wretchedness and vanity Q. 134. What is the power of Christs Resurrection through Death How did he make a Triumphant shew of Death on his Body What was it then that he did with it A. In the 45th Answer is shew'd what Adam was before his Fall In the 69th Answer is what Adam's Fall plung'd him and us into and in the 121st what the death of Christ and effect of it is Every of which three Answers being duly consider'd will conduce much to the opening of this We come to search what the power of Christs Resurrection is whereby he Triumphed over all opposite Powers and Principalities and made a shew thereof in his Body 1. The Fall and Curse brought wrath into Adam's several Principles viz. the four properties of the first into Enmity and Rage Also so captivated obscured and buried the Transparency of his second Principle that the Virgin of Divine Wisdom totally disappearing retir'd into her own Heaven thenceforth he became wholâ—y impotent and utterly dead to the Divine Magia only the Siderial Magia did â—it as Councellor in his Earthy Reason whereinto the Serpentine subtilty can familiarly insinuate 2. But so much of the Tincture remained in him as is inseparable from the several Existencies and for the sake whereof the very Out-birth of the Creatures shall in their Idea's have a Resurrection by Vertue of the Tincture in them 3. His third Principle was also as wretched as its Capacity extended to for the Astral Man was under a series of Evil Cross Conjunctions and Aspects The Elementary was brutish degenerate and like the worst of Beasts Where was now the dear first precious Image of Modesty when he was now half Devil and half Beast 4. Of this fierce State and Death it is said O Death I will be thy Death which is done by introducing of Life and the Life thus enkindled is as the Tincture transmuting Metals by feeding their hunger by such part of the vertue of the second Principle which the hunger longeth after and is capable of 5. And the Divine Love fire begotten and arising in the Soul is the Soul's Resurrection of which it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part of the first Resurrection for of such the second Death shall have no Power 6. The great Doctrine of the Resurrection hath had many Enemies besides the Athenians who laught at it for the Sadduces amongst the
stretch beyond the sphere of his own activity and what if it be said an Angel can do but so were he to speak it for all Eternal Creatures live either in the holy or prophane Worlds or in both They that live in the Light-World as far as they see the Centre of the Dark-World in themselves may speak and no farther viz not what That Darkness is in others or what the perplexed Hellish Charms Cheats and Intricacies are for the Holy ones live far above them and the Battle managed by Michael and his Angels against the Dragon and his is not with the Dragons Weapons but with the quite contrary As bright Torches â—ight with black Vapours or the starry Region with opposing Exhalations 7. We must come then to consider them who live in both Dark and Light making a third Principle by their mixed production and in them may be found the figure of an Umpire or Interpreter As he who reads two Languages can tell him who knows neither what is written in both if he hath the Tongue also That third person is of Thus was it the first Adam could give names to all Creatures for he had the Properties of them all in himself either according to the Forms of his first Principle or according to the Astral Powers of his third wherein he was infallible having the splendor of the second for his Guide but his departure from his Pure State degraded him of the Judicatory as a man is deprived in the night of the view of what the Sun priviledged him with or as one immured in a dark Cavern sees not what a lofty Mountain gave him prospect of or as Nebuchadnezzar ceased as to Royalty when he had only a Beasts heart 8. And in this State all Adams posterity find themselves as of themselves ignorant of the Creator and therefore also strangers to themselves and rightly knowing nothing Therefore the Son of the Virgin that he might be the Light of the World brought again the Virgin Image into the Humanity openeth the pure Eye and gives such a proportion of discriminating Wisdom as our hunger adapts and capacitates us for in the Regeneration hence it 's written the Spiritual Man judgeth all things but he himself is judged of no man But to which of the Angels hath God said at any time Be thou a Judge Those glorious and mighty Agents are Princes in one only Principle viz. the Holy Divine One not in the first nor third tho some of them are enthroned according to the Holy Impression of Potence in the first and others have the Dominion according to the Infinite Variety of the third Principle but all breath only the Air of the second yet are neither the one Hierarchy or the other Judges of Men or Devils While yet the Lord saith of his Twelve they should sit on twelve Thrones judging the twelve Tribes and our Apostle saith Know you not that we shall judge Angels viz. Evil Angels 9. Now to say how this Judgment is effected It 's answered 1. The Principles and Properties are all wide open unto the second Adam for out of them He created every World as without Him was not any thing made that was made and this as He is the Son of God before whom all Worlds and Individuals drawing Air and living of in or from either Principle or Property shall stand at That day and ever did as open as a City on a Hill 2. The Principle and Properties are all really in Him as He is the Son of Man and His throughly penetrating them is a consequence of His perfect knowing Himself His own Heavenly Humanity 3. The Principles and Properties will be at That day known to each other as well as each to its self Now is the Dark World much hidden from the Light World and the Light wholly incomprehensible to the Dark Now also the Hellish and Heavenly Principles are under a disguise so that men catch at the Bait of the Dark World and eschew and flie the cross leading to the Holy World The Treasures of Egypt weigh down the Reproach of Christ. But then shall the Principles and the Good and Evil of the Properties be so open to the Holy Children that they may penetrate and contemplate the Wrath Kingdom without being impressed incited or imposed upon by it and they shall view contemn scorn and judge the fixt Enmity of those burning in the Wrath of the Dark Central Fire Then also the Love flame of the Holy Virgin Souls united to their raised glorified Bodies shall be so evident to the Vassals of the inimicitious World as may fully convince them to their eternal anguish and shame what kind of Birth-right Glory Felicity and Blessedness which must endure to perpetuity they profanely desperately and madly sold and exchanged for a Mess of Pottage and Death in the Pot for faded painted imaginary Toys Trifles and Cheats 10. But what need more to convince of the Truth that there must be such a day or to shew the order how it is effected seeing the Holy Scriptures abound with Accounts of This Judgment which is spoken of where it is call'd a fearful looking for of Judgment Again the Judgment was set c. may have boldness in the day of Judgment Heb. 10. 27. Dan. 7. 10. c. 1 Joh. 4. 17. Mat. 11. 22. 2 Pet. 2. 9. Rom. 14. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 3. Also see the Answer of J. B. to the 30th of the 40 Questions concerning the Soul and the 27th Chapter of the three Principles Q. 172. How is the Resurrection of the dead effected What riseth again A. 1. It may justly be complained that reading is opprest with excess of enlarged Writings being therein as unsuccessfully transgressive as the hopes of the Hypocrite to be heard for his much speaking It therefore seems more suitable to the shortness of Mans Life straitness of his leisure discomposure of his Spirits feebleness of his penetrating faculty and weakness of his retention to avoid all vain repetitions and commend the reperusal of things once read as the most ready rather than to new shape many ways that which is but one thing and once done already In order therefore to the clearing of this Answer let it be considered what Adam was before his Fall which is discoursed in the 45 Answer Next what dire Effects that Fall of his had treated of in the 69 Aeswer Again what Man 's Death and Resurrection is as in the 6th verse of the 121 Answer And what Man 's faln State Death Christs Resurrection and raising of Man and what of him riseth are which is the substance of the whole 16 verses of the 134 Answer So that the Answer is made before this Question comes in its Order here to be considered 2. Yet because I dare not dismiss this important Doctrine being so much opposed even at this very day not only by many Hellish Atheists transforming themselves into Brutish Animals but not understood by some pretending
in the Spirit of Christ in all Gods Children is that whereby they bring to nought the works of the Devil 5. But Cain's Offering is the Type of Verbal Titular Christendom Who relye only on the Offering and teach that Christs Testaments absolve from Sin tho' themselves remain Impenitent Domineering Murtherers CHAP. XXVIII Of Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel 1. THE cause of that was as still it is a â—trife about Religion The Devil envied Man who was to succeed in the Throne whence he was become Apostate But the Death of Abel's outward Body is a Figure that the Bestial Man must be devour'd that out of Death may spring forth Eternal Life till then must be maintain'd a resolute Conflict And Abel as to the Heavenly part is a Figure of Christ. 2. And Cain in the Wrath is a Figure of the Enmity and Darkness in the Eternal Nature but outwardly a Figure of the Pharisees who Crucified the Lord And of all Persecutors to the end of the World CHAP. XXIX How the Adamical Tree hath put forth it self into Branches and Pullulation 1. THE seventeen first verses is a profound Tract how from Adam c. sprung evil and good ver 18. Cain in the Language of Nature signifieth a Source out of the Centre of the fiery Desire and Self-will out of the fiery might of the Soul viz. out of the first Principle 2. Habel in the Language of Nature signifieth an out-breathed Angel viz. from the second Principle and as a Type of Christ went out Childless for Christ was to generate a new Humane Tree 3. Therefore was it that Adam generated Seth which in the Language of Nature signifying a forth-running or leap where the Love-will riseth out of the Fire-will From him went the Line of the Covenant 4. Cain begat Hanock and Built a City which he called also Hanock signifying an outward selfish Dominion Hanock begat Irad signifying a Potentate or Tyrant Irad begat Mehujael signifying an assuming of the outward and inward Centre of Nature an Earthy God that would possess Riches and Domination out of this Name came Babel Mahujael begat Methusael signifying that mine is the Divine Might I am the Ordnance of God which indeed was true but only according to the first Principle Methusael begat Lamech signifying the sending of the Angel over the fleshly Life 5. Lamech took two Wives viz. a Twofold Effence and Will Ada signifying that â—ain would be honest and Zilla signifying fleshly Joy and Pleasure Ada bare Jubal a plain Man of him were such as kept Cattle but the other was Jubal signifying Temporal Joy viz. the Harp and Organ Zilla bare Tubal Cain it hath an excellent understanding shewing how the Sulphurous Mercurial Wheel opens it self in the Generation of Metals and his Sisters Name was Naemâ— here â—yeth the precious Pearl a Heavenly Property a Virgin of Purity by the dying of the outward Man Naemâ— becomes manifest And Lamech said I have sâ—ain a Man to my Wound and a young Man to my Hurt The Man was Abel the young Man was Christ. 6. Cain was to be Avenged sevenfold if any of the evil Spirits should kill him vengeance should be on such-Spirit by all the seven Properties of the dark World and the mark God set on him was the mark of the Covenant But Lamech was the seventh from Adam and spake Prophetically of what should befal his Posterity viz. should lose the unity and fall into the seventy Languages so that the ten Forms of Fire should open themselves in every of the seven Properties of Nature is seventy and thereto belong the seven unchangeable Forms of the Eternal Nature is seventy seven CHAP. XXX Of the Line of the Covenant 1. THE Covenant was to the Line of Seth as to the outward that they should be Preachers of it But it was as well to the Line of Cain in the Spirit even as Sin passed on the Line of Seth as on others for the Covenant was made to Adam and to the Virgin Image thereby to be restored 2. The evil Beast of the Godless Form God Predestinated to Condemnation but the Covenant is in the Life whose Free will soever resigneth to it in every such Christ riseth and the strange Beast dieth 3. Sâ—th signifieth in the Language of Nature a forth-breathing Spring out of the Life through the first Centre of the Soul Seth begat Enos which signifies a Divine Lâ—beâ— The fifth was Kenan signifying a forth-going re-conceived Lubet or desire of Divine Contemplation The sixth was Mahalaleel signifying an Angelical Form of an Angelical Kingdom 4. The seventh was Jared signifying a Priest or Prince of the Spiritual Kingdom as Irad was of the worldly Dominion The Office of Jared is Twofold outwardly 't is Moses and inwardly Christ as Lamech had two Wives And Jared begat Enoch signifying the out-breathed Breath of the Divine Good Pleasure The seven Generations have these Figures 5. 1. Adams purity before the Fall and Abel to whom the Fall hung and his being Murthered point out Christ who should bring us through Death into the pure Life 2. Seth's time continued to the Deluge 3. Enos time goes under Seth's and till Abraham 4. Canaan's time goes under Seth and Enos and until Christ in the Flesh. 5. Mahalaleel goes during Christ in the Flesh and the time of the Apostles of Christ. 6. Jared began after the death of the Apostles and ruled inwardly in Christs Children and outwardly the Cherub with the Sword bare rule This sixth time is known and yet hidden and passed under Antichrist as in a Mystery 6. True Christians wage no War for they having broken the Sword of the Cherub are dead and risen with Christ and live not to External Might his Kingdom not being of this World This sixth time continues till Translated Enoch appears in Spirit and Elias Sword comes then falls the outward Jared Babel 7. And God will restore the Spirits of the Letters CHAP. XXXI Of Enoch's Wonderful Line 1. ENoch begat Methusalah of the highest Age signifying a forth proceeding Voice Methusalah begat Lamech as the Lamech in Cain's Line had two Wives or Wills so this begat Noah signifying the end and the beginning 2. Noah had three Branches Sem signifying an out breathing Divine Lubet Ham signifying a strong breathing out of the Centre of Nature Japhet signifying an Appendix of Sem viz. a Natural Wonder Sem is a Type of the Light World Japhet of the Fire World Ham an Image of the Out-birth 3. The Sons of God looked on the Daughters of Men c. viz. those in whom Gods Spirit manifested it self looked according to the Lusts of the Flesh. And Giants viz. Tyrants were Born viz. Men whose Pride would receive no rebuke Therefore came the Deluge and after the three Families were sever'd It repented God that he had made Man and grieved him c. viz. according to the Creation of the formed Word not the Eternal speaking Word CHAP. XXXII Of the
of the proud wanton Daughters of the Land mixeth with the Heathenish Wisemen in Fleshly Lust and bringeth forth a Bastard half Christian and half Heathen compos'd of the Profession of Christ and the Heathenish Notions viz. Philosophy Schools Colledges Heathenish Festivals c. 3. And as Simeon and Levi after the Men of Shechem had Circumcised themselves yet Murthered not only guilty Hemor but all the Males tho' Innocent so hath Christendom dealt by many Nations who having conformed to some of their Opinions yet are causlesly kill'd by the Antitype of Simeon and Levi. Therefore are the Potent Countries of the East departed from these Murtherous Pretenders to Religion to the Doctrine of Reason CHAP. LXIII How Jacob leaves Sichem Rachel bare Benjamin Isaac died 1. AFter Simeon and Levi had Murthered the Males of Sichem Jacob by command of God removed to Bethel after he had first taken away from his people their Idols and Ear rings and buried them under an Oak And at Sichem built an Altar Which hath this Figure That when the Spiritual Whoredom of the Jews and Christians had drawn on them Wars and Miseries God commanded his people to withdraw and erect an Altar of Humility and Fear in their Hearts 2. Then are their Idolatries Wars and Pride buried in Gods Anger in his hungry wrath viz. under an Oak which hath a Magnetick Tenacious Attractive Property making a hardness and blackness there will their Sins and Blasphemies lye buried till the Earth can no longer cover them But the fear of the Lord will fall on the pursuers of those that so depart and Build Gods Altar in them 3. God appear'd to Jacob in Bethel which Bethel signifies a condescention of the Deity in the Humanity 4. And they went from Bethel and it was a Field breadth from Ephrath where Rachel brought forth Benjamin but in hard labour so as she died 5. Adam was gone a Field breadth from Gods Altar viz. out of the Spiritua World into the Earthy where with the Death of the old Man the new must be Born 6. So also when Christ had consummated his Passion and Judas had perished Matthias was chosen an Apostle 7. After this Reuben defiled Bilhah Rachel's Maid his Fathers Concubine This Concubine representeth the Stone Churches in which God generateth his Children but the Adamical Man playeth the Hypocrite in them for none that is dead câ—â— awaken another that is dead nor can one that is Blind shew the way to another that is Blind but both will fall into the Pit their Ministers having lost the true Divine Power Reuben was given to fleshly Lust and Self-love and in that regard rejected of God 8. Yet those places though no more holy than other places hurt no Man being at first well intended yet their Ministers who Officiate for Honour and Profit without the Divine Unction are Adulterers and as profitable to the Church as a fifth Wheel to a Waggon 9. Jacob's returning to his Father and Isaac's Death at Hebron where he was a Stranger shews Gods Children to be all Strangers here and must all go to their Fathers Countrey viz. the Angelical World CHAP. LXIV Esau's Genealogy his own Name and Posterity and of Joseph 1. ESau's Children and Childrens Children being set down with so great observation is not without its Figure We must know we may not condemn him to Hell but that he and his Posterity bare the Image of the Earthy Glory Might and Power 2. From his own Name Esau the sau being cut off viz. the Swinish Bestial Property there remains the E the Angelical Property 3. And the Spirit calls him Edom which dom in the High Tongue signifies Red as Tinctured by the Blood of Jesus But of his Children more is said in another place viz. of this Authors Writings The remainder of Chap. 64. follows beginning the Third Part. Mysterium Magnum The Third Part. CHAP. LXIV Of Joseph Jacob's Son 1. JAcob had cast his Natural Love on Rachel being Fair but she was unfruitful till their Age had wither'd fleshly Love A Child they desired prayed for and obtain'd which represented the pure and right Adamical Humanity in its Primitive Chastity and fear of God as the first Adam in Innocency 2. For in Leah viz. in the simplicity and lowliness arose the Line of Christ. A Christian should stand at once in Christs Image and in Adam's such was Joseph therefore Jacob most lov'd him sprung from his chast Love to Rachel wherein Christ had imprinted and revealed himself in this copious Figure of Regeneration 3. Thence was it Joseph discover'd all falshood of his Brethren to his Father as did Christ reprove the World for sin 4. Joseph's Natural Brethren in the Type of Christendom became his Enemies 5. His Vision that he should be a Prince over his Father and Brethren points at the new Man undergoing all hatred Reproach and Persecution 6. Sometimes God raiseth up some honest pious Ruler like Reuben the eldest Brother to restrain their Cruelty yet not so wholly to oppose but divert them that he may deliver willing them to throw him into a Pit 7. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of Silver and Christ for thirty to shew the Humanity of Christ is higher and more perfect than the Humanity of others For he was not from the Seed of Man but sprung from the natural Property of the Lights Tincture which assum'd the Fires Property viz. the Adamical Soul 8. A Christian is sold into the hands of Men to suffer but Christ not only suffered in the hands of Men but gave himself up also to the wrath of God thence came the Sweating Blood 9. The whole acts of Joseph paint out how Adam's Children come to be Christians by being put by the process of Christ into the Figure and be made an Image of Christ. 10. Also how God in the process of Christ sets Christ at the Right Hand of God As Joseph after he had been brought through the process of Christ was set at the Right Hand of Pharaoh CHAP. LXV Of Judah and Thamar and how they Figure Christ and Adam 1. THE Figure of Judah and Thamar interrupts the History of Joseph for his represents the demeanour of the true Christian. Theirs a Christians growth out of Adam's Image 2. Judah Figur'd here the old and new Adam Thamar the Earthy and also the new Eve 3. Judah went away from his Brethren and saw a Canaanitish Woman c. so did Adam go in his Lust from his Fathers House into the four Elements 4. Judah begot three Sons the first he called Er viz. self-will signifying the first World before the Deluge The second the Mother call'd Onan the World next after the Flood Onan O no my Lord drown me no more The third she call'd Selah a recomprehension viz. the time of the Law of Nature offering righteousness to Man and laying open of Sin which reached till Christ. 5. Judah gave this first Son a Wife call'd Thamar
Heathen have all of Them the Gospel more or less obscurely Preached in them For as they without the Written Law do the things contained in the Law so do they without the Written Gospel partake of the Mercy published by the Gospel 13. That is being conscious to themselves of their Faults yet find by the Smiles of the Heavens in the Fruitful Seasons and in the suitable Productions of the Earth that they receive Good for Evil which is the Vertue of the second Principle or Gospel written on the whole Creation Notwithstanding all which if they harden their Hearts they become Sinners against Law and Gospel the Law written in their Hearts and the Gospel shining in the Light of their Understandings so conspicuously that tho' some of Them Laughed at the news of the Resurrection we hear Them serious at the tâ—dings of the Judgment to come having every one of Them a Self-condemning Judge in his bosom 14. Love is strong as Death but This Love is much stronger only Sin and finally Impenitent Men Hell and Devils judge themselves unworthy of it But This hath knockt at the Door of every Sinners Heart and cryes How long ye simple Ones will ye Love Folly and Scorning and Hate your own Mercies 15. Abel and Seth had the Hearing Ear in that Line it most eminently descended by a continued Succession thro' all Generations yet sometimes thro' very dirty Channels for tho' all were such till This Seed took Root in some and bare Paradisical Fruit and made them fit for the Masters Table yet some were much more foul than others 2. He enters into Foul Hearts tho' himself be so High born and Purity it self that passing into Foul places cannot be defiled but as a Refiners Fire not comprehended by the Dross which yet it purgeth away A work only possible to Omnipotence A few Considerations of that which shall be the Wonder of Eternity follow CHAP. XXI Of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. IT ought Attentively to be pondered that when the Fulness of Time or Limit of the Covenant was come Jesus took Man's whole Nature of the Virgin Mary but inasmuch as she was the Daughter of Joachim and Anna and of Eve she could not be totally a Virgin of Purity Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one 2. That Jesus Christ neither came into a Clean Vessel nor took a Pure Nature on Him but made the Vessel Clean and the Polluted Nature to become Pure The misunderstanding of which caused the Colliâ—idiani to render to the Virgin Mary Divine Worship 3. We must know that when our Redeemer took our Nature on him He took it out of all the Virgin Mary's Essences as well those of her Soul given her out of the first Principle and those of her Spirit given her out of the second as those of her Body out of the third Principle All which Soul Body and Spirit were propagated by her immediate Parents Joachim and Anna. 4. We are to know the Lord destroyed not Those Essences for He came not to destroy but took them as they were And by the Divine New Man which He brought with Him and which Himself was Refined and Sanctified them in them to work Their and Our Eternal Salvation 5. We cannot say there was no Evil in the Root of the Essences He took from the Virgin Mary as was mentioned above But his Divine Conception Exempting Him from any the least Impression Stain or Spot did illustrate and clarifie them As Fire doth Iron the Tincture doth Metals or the Sun Transmutes the Harsh Sour and Ill Properties of Fruits 6. We are not to doubt whether the Lord took a Human Soul from the Virgin or no about which many have erred for how else had the Essences of Our poor Captivated Souls been rescued had not the second Adam as truly assumed a Human Soul as that whereof the first Adam consisted It was Our Souls that had Sin and Death and were to be Redeemed so Our Gracious Lord made His Soul which was also a True Human Soul the Offering for Sin 7. Nor need we fear that the Lord took not Our Mortal Flesh and Blood on Him but brought Heavenly Flesh in His Conception and only Heavenly Flesh for He took also Our True Body of Flesh and Blood on Him from the Virgin Mary He took our Weak Infirm Body subjected to Passions of Hunger Sleep c. wherein lay Wrath and the Curse all which He bare with the Sufferings incident thereunto as Temptations Scourgings Reproaches Piercings Crucifying Anguish Death Burial And raised the Self-same Body which gives us assurance of our Resurrection and opens a Door for the Body though now Mortal to partake with the Soul Eternal Life 8. We are to know that our new Bodies will be the same very true real Bodies we now have and not other Bodies though not consisting of Accidents not palpable yet substantial as is manifest by what follows 9. The Mutations in Nature are no destruction of Bodies as a Grain of Wheat being sown passeth several Mutations yet is still the same For whereas at first it dies it is only by the Separator resolved into the divers Kinds of its own Composition that it may be capable of Commixture and Unite assimilated Bodies to it and so Collect encrease of Mâ—ter which it admits in no greater Proportion than to be the Father and Mother of all it self and augment and multiply it self by yet still is Wheat though hath the Increase of Quantity of many Grains of Wheat as an Oak is but an Accorn improved 10. Nature in orderly Motion goes forward and will not return into its Mystery by the Steps it went out till it hath compleated its Circulation You may as well return the Sun Eastward over us as make a Fruit become a Tree but in its orderly Motion first into a Fruit and Seed then is the new one the old renewed rather than another So is the new Body though Glorious not existent but by the dying of the old 11. As Adam's Fall made him not another Man but was still the Self-same in another a Monstrous Image as we also are deformed by that direful Fall So the Lord Jesus raising up his own Dead Body and cloathing it with Glory and Immortality and thereby giving us a Resurrection to be like him doth not make us to be other Men than now we are with loss of our Monstrosity and Access and recovery of the Glory we were created in and is by Him graciously purchased for us 12. We are to know That the Lord Jesus Christ when he assumed Flesh and Blood in the Virgins Womb was then not only there but then also sate and reigned in the whole infinite Abyss of the Father 13. We are also to know That after the Divine Nature or Infinite Godhead of Jesus Christ had assumed the Humane Nature He remained the self-same unmixed
Glorious second Person as before And yet that by taking the Humanity from the Virgin Mary He really became what he was not before viz. a real Son of Man with a true Humane Soul Body and Spirit as we are and capable to Suffer and Die 14. We are to know the Humane Nature or Creature in the Ascention and Glorification was not swallowed up by the Divine Nature as a flame of a Candle is by the Sun extinguish'd But the Humane Nature now Glorified remains for ever a Glorified Body being the same true individual Humane Nature or Man which was Crucified Dead Buried and raised up by his Almighty Power as the first Fruit Original and Author of the General Resurrection 15. That the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Womb of the Virgin became as truly a Man as we are who have our Souls Spirits and Bodies propagated by our immediate Parents Yet that besides the infinite Dignity of his Almightiness as the second Person and Son of God by Eternal Generation which united Himself to His created Humane Soul Spirit and Body I say besides all this He was the true created Son of God and so was a true Heavenly Man and a Virgin of Holiness Purity and Modesty And so begotten by the Holy Ghost 16. In which respect He was no Son of Man even as neither was the first Adam but as truly the Son of God by Creation as with respect to His Godhead He was by Eternal Generation And though the words Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee may be understood of the Eternal Generation for the Father ceaseth not to beget His Eternal Son from Eternity and in Eternity yet the words may well be applicable to this Heavenly Humanity whereof both David and Paul speak 17. But because this 12th Note last asserted is hard to be understood since Man's Fall partly because it is of so Noble Extraction and seeming to be of so rare mention in the Holy Scriptures so remote from Sense and Man's dull Apprehension of so excellent Nature and so highly profitable and advantageous to be known Also that the penetrating into the Knowledge of it requires Divine Wisdom enlightned Understanding it calleth for highest Attention as that plainly teacheth the Way God took and still taketh for recovery of lost Mankind It is farther clear'd by what follows more especially by the following Pag. 32. in Chap. 22. 18. We ought to know that the Divine Substance which United to it the Essences of the Humane Soul in Mary came not thither descending from the highest Heaven or great Local Distance But the Word which God inspake again in Paradice imaging it Self in the Light of Man's Life and waiting in all the Holy Men being the Word of Divine Wisdom out of the Tincture of the Holy Element which is every where and pure before God that Word took to it for an Eternal Propriety the Essences of Man's Soul in and of Maries Virgin Matrix Not entring in but unlocking ingenerating and unshutting what Adam had bolted up in Death 19. That though this Word were not the Almighty second Person of the Trinity yet was it the Word of Wisdom which Adam turned from and in disobeying it he and we all rebel against God more immediately than if we should stubbornly reject the Command of an Angel of God This Word of Divine Wisdom is a Virgin of Purity and here became the Bride to the Humane Soul for as the Soul had the Tincture of the Fire This brought the Tincture of the Light and the Uniting of the Heavenly Image of Purity to the Image that was Impure did Tincture the Fire-Soul and both became one Self-subsisting Eternal Man 20. We are also to know That for asmuch as the two Tinctures were at the instant of the Virgin Maries saying Be it unto me c. United and were become One Man the Image the first Man did bear yet seeing the Fire-Soul did once treacherously choose an Earthy Lust instead of Divine Love 21. To the end it might be now powerfully Tinctured no more to recede and that the whole Humane Nature might be led through Death into Eternal Life therefore did the Lord mighty to save take the whole Man by being Bridegroom to the Virgin Sophia and for that the Man or Creature stood in the Holy Element which is pure and every where yet is the same Element Inferior to Omnipotence it was needful Grace and Love should Unite the Creature to the Deity which raised it above all it lost in the first Adam 22. For the Lord became as a Servant to advance and secure his Servant both the Image it once had and add to it more which will be the stupendious Contemplation of Eternity but all this by the Lord's Incarnation was brought to pass 23. So that here was One and that One consisted of the true Almighty Son of God and the Holy Virgin of Wisdom the Tincture of the Light viz. His Heavenly Flesh and Blood Also of the Essences of Man's Eternal Soul the Temporary Astral Soul and Elementary Body So that not only the Eternal Fire-Soul is meekened nourished and fed to live Eternally but the outward Soul and Elementary Body are secured of a Resurrection by the raising of the Holy Astral and Elementary Body of the Lord Jesus Christ the first Fruits of them that slept leaving nothing unraised but the Linnen Cloaths in the Sepulchre CHAP. XXII Of the Heavenly New Man or Divine Humanity of Jesus Christ what it is where it is and how to be participated of by us IT is written That ye put off c. the Old Man v. 23. and be renewed c. and v. 24 that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Q. What is This New Man which we are to put on A. It is Jesus Christ as it is written put on the Lord Jesus Christ c. so are we said to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven call'd a Building of God 1. So we find cloathed with Humility cloathed with Honour cloathed with Shame intended not as a Covering but as Transmutation of Us from one contrary to another as the Woman cloathed with the Sun her Divine Light instead of her Darkness Q. What of Christ may we put on and be cloathed with and wherewith to be cloathed upon 2. Not His Almightiness for that His Omnipotence is what no Creature can behold and reach so is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory upholding all things by the Word of his Power Nor the Body Soul and Spirit He received from the Virgin Mary That was Earthy a Soul Body and Spirit descending from Eve That being born of the flesh was flesh As such which he humbled himself to take he was the Son of Man and our Brother so also we put him not on As such he remains for That Humanity of Christ which he had from
subsequent Questions concern the Creation of Man and that whereunto Adam had relation whilst he stood and when he fell from the 38 Question inclusive to the 78 exclusive The sixteen next Questions are of Adam's Off-spring down to Moses from the 78 Question inclusive to the 94 Question exclusive The eight following are of the Figures and Sacrifices in Moses and the Prophets from the 94 Question inclusive to the 102 exclusive The forty next Questions concern Christ his Birth Life Sufferings Death Descending Resurrection Appearing Conversing with his Disciples and Ascension from 102 inclusive to 142 exclusive The eighteen subjoyned Questions concern the Disciples their Pentecost the speaking with all Tongues what that Language was the Testaments what that Flesh and Blood is the power of Remission or the Keys from 143 inclusive to the 160 exclusive The next four Questions are concerning a true Christian and Antichrist Babel the Beast and the Whore from 160 inclusive to the 165 exclusive The last 13 Questions concern the slaying of the Beast what is the dying of and what dieth in a true Christian. Also what is the dying of the wicked call'd an Eternal dying The Souls separation from them both their several different Estates the Resurrection and final Judgment this Worlds Dissolution The Eternal Habitation and Joy of the Saints and the Eternal Prison of the accursed And whether they shall admit any alteration from the 165 Question inclusive to the end being the 177. Extracts of the Answers of the first Fourteen and part of the Fifteenth of the 177 Theosophick Questions The First whereof is Viz. Q. 1. What God is Distinct from Nature and Creature Ans 1. ALL Goodness in Nature manifesteth what God is in his Eternal Love Joy Mercy and Glory of Heaven And all Contrariety Misery and Evil in Nature shews his Eternal Wrath Fury and consuming Fire of Hell God by the Eternal Unity perfection of Clearness and Purity Eternally equally alike and at once through and through all every where whose immensity is Abyssal yet his Manifestation distinguishable but whatever hath Limits of number and measure is imagible 2. And wheresoever the Good moveth in his sweet Love there is God's flowing forth in the Idea or Object of the Eternal Desiring where the Love findeth it self as in Angels and Blessed Souls Q. 2. What is the Abyss of all Things where is no Creature the Unsearchable Nothing A. 1. The Abyss of all things is an habitation of God's Unity The Will is the Eternal Father of the Byss a meer Love-longing The finding Power of Love the Son generated by the Will The out-going Power of the desirous Love the Holy Ghost viz. the Spirit of Divine Life That which is gone out from the Will Love and Life is the Wisdom viz. Contemplation of the Unity which by Love brings it self into Powers Colours and Vertues 2. In the Unity rest all the six Powers being the Eternal Sabbath which Unity is call'd the Nothing because it is God himself being incomprehensible and inexpressible or ineffable Q. 3. What is God's Love and Anger How may it be only one thing A. 1. All things consist in Yea and Nay be it Divine Diabolical or Earthy The One viz. the Yea or Affirmation is meer Power Life Truth or God Himself The Nay or Negation manifesteth the Yea by its contrary They have two Centres as Day and Night Heat and Cold. The No is a reflex Image of the Yea. The Yea uncloseth and the Nay incloseth The Yea or Unity is an outflowing Exit or Emanation of the Nothing which yet is the Ground of all Beings The Nay is an indrawing own-hood or a something making a Byss or Ground whence come Forms or Properties 2. As 1. Sharpness causing Density and Cold the Cause of Temporal and Eternal Darkness 2. Attraction the Cause of all Separation and Motion 3. Perception the Cause of finding it self like a great Anguish 4. Fire from the Motion in the Darkness But in the Unity of God is a clear soft gentleness from these two Contraries originate this Worlds Fire and Water And from the enkindling of the outflown Will is the 5th viz. The great Love-fire in the Light For if the Unity stood not in the Fires might it would not be Operative but without Moving or Joy Whereas in it is the Holy Ghost himself 3. Hence comes the Eternal Nature's Fire whence are Angels and the Souls of Men but the clear Deity becomes not creaturely being an Eternal Unity yet dwelleth through Nature as Fire shineth through Iron Here we understand the the Potentiality of Angels and Souls who by loosing the Love-fire enter into Self-desire and the Anger fire 4. Out of this holiest Love fire is flown out a beam of the perceptible Unity the High Name Jesus who assuming the Humanity in the central Anger-fire gave it self into the Soul and by kindling again the Love-fire United it to God The 6th Property is the Sound or Distinctions in both Fires alike at once In the Devils and Damned who have no Understanding but sharp Wit to try the Foundation and abuse the Powers of Nature by Deceit and Voluptuousness In this Property stand the Holy Powers and Names and the wonder doing Word which the Evil Spirits by Transmutation misuse 5. Here is the whole Cabal or Magia where the imperceptible worketh in the perceptible Before this Door stands the Law of Moses Exod. 20. 2 3 7. not to misuse it on Pain of Eternal Punishment The 7th Property is substantiality whence existeth the Visible World In which is both the central Fires according to Love and Anger But the Holy Fire lyeth hidden by the curse with Sin as is to be seen by the Tincture yet if God will there is a possible Entrance 6. The outflown Holy fire is the Paradise which Man cannot find unless first it be found in himself Thus is the perceptible Unity or Love-fire and the Anger-fire or Root of the Eternal Nature which in its Centre is Eternal Darkness and Torment both from Eternity in Eternity yet with two Eternal Beginnings as is to be apprehended in the Fire and Light Q. 4. What was before Angels and the Creation were A. 1. Then was God with the two central Fires which were one Substance but distinguished as Fire and Light in them lay the one Element and the infinite Powers of generating Wonders Colours and Vertues in them lay the Idea of all inward Angelical Kingdoms and Souls and of all Creatures of this World in perfect Harmony 2. But when the central Fire with Self-desire moved to visible formation and stirred the Eternal Will of God in both Fires then the Idea to the Praise of God became Image like 3. In this the hellish Foundation also brake forth which God rejecting out of his Work shut up in Darkness remaining to this day as hungry Jaws longing to be creaturely 4. Into this Anger-fire Lucifer lusting powerfully to domineer over the
flame Like as the right Tincture transmuteth Metals and the Elixir Tinctures Mans sickly Body 8. Now to say what was the Image Likeness Form and Fashion of Adam when he was neither Husband nor Wife and yet Both. He was as to his first Principle or Eternal Soul Potent and Mighty resembling him to the Father and to the Angels who are Mighty in Power In his second Principle or Divine Spirit he was as a God in Holiness Love Purity and Brightness which illustrated his first Principle joyning the Dove and Lamb to the Lyon In his third Principle he was Prince over the Astral Heavens a remainder whereof was in Joshuah who stopt the Sun and Moon And under his God Soveraign over the Elementary Worlds a remainder whereof is seen in Moses over the Waters and Elias over it and the fire 9. His Body was as those in the Resurrection with this difference that having both Tinctures he could have been Magically fruitful whereas they and the Angels are in that respect Barren and was all this in great Modesty Simplicity Wisdom Unity dear Love Holiness and immaculate Purity Q. 46. Had Adam before his Eve Masculine Members and such Bones Stomach Guts Entrails Teeth and also such things as we now have A. 1. Adam's Holy Virgin state exempted him from those impure deformed bestial Members for Propagation which yet pitying our Wo and Necessity is bore with by Divine Patience but the Filthiness of it is signified by the Circumsicion and is that whereof Nature it self as depraved as it is blusheth and is ashamed 2. And Bones were Strengths for the Saturnine Compaction could not petrefie to that excess till his Body which was derived from the Astral Root or one Element whence they were also breathed out became subjected to those Astral Powers which were to have continued his Servants and Subjects 3. The Teeth Stomach Gutts evacuating Vessels c. which we now have could not befal him while he remained in his Holy State for his food was holy pure heavenly such as might stand in Eternity for such was he not as yet confined under the Horoscope of Time 4. He stuft not himself with the Elements nor to speak strictly doth he so yet no nor do the Animals for the Elements feed the Plants and the Animal Creatures feed on the Plants produced by the Elements but Man on the Animal Creatures like a Wolf and on the Plants like an Animal But Adam's Food was Holy Paradisical Angelical Eternal needing no evacuation eaten only in the mouth not tartarous which the Law commanding the Israelites to carry out a Paddle to cover theirs without the Camp signifieth And that other Law prohibiting and strictly nominating unclean and clean Creatures pointeth at Q 47. If Adam also had been thus as we are now how was it possible he should in such a condition have been able to stand without suffering and corruption If Paracelsus thought by feeding on that whereof the Stars subsisted to extend his Thread of Life to what length he would it was a thing might soon be purposed 1. 'T is true the Elixir if duly and naturally collected epitomising the Universe must be granted to do much in tincturing the Vital Natural and Animal Spirits whereby the Astral and Elementary Man may be strongly fortified the Natural Balsam restored radically dregs obstructing the quick interiours of the Powers separated highly conducing to health And the long Lives before the Flood as well as many since seem to be referred to their happy Knowledge of this almost Paradisical Secret as an immediate eminent Second Cause 2. Yet must it not be denied that besides the Supream Law for abridging Man's Race the Astral Revolutions summon us to a period and the Volatile Nature of the Elementary Fabrick loosen the connexions of our Outward Man from Affinity to the fixed Inward Man in so manifest a degree that we bring from the Womb the Seeds of our Mortality our Bones are sensless dead and as to themselves dry already our need of frequent sleep pourtrays death our food is corruptible those few that attain the Winter of Age then fall to Ashes by their Cold Fire others fall to Ashes by the Hot Fire as it is written Your Fathers where are they Also like as it is said If there had been a Law that could have given Life verily Righteousness had come by the Law so had there been an happy Eternity attainable out of the Reliques of Adam we had been thence raised to Immortality but not by dying 3. But seeing there was no such therefore the Second Adam breaks through death into Eternity because Adam having subjected himself and us to the Stars and Elements therefore that part of us under that Rule must change as they who by wrestling vary their Powers nor are the Stars nor Elements themselves on a surer Basis but that the one must one day fall the other melt Q. 48. Should Adam's eating and drinking have been after a Paradisical manner without care distress and sorrow if he had stood out the Trial or Proba A. 1. It is written The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Yet the Lord saith I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine till I drink it new in my Fathers Kingdom The Manna also by allusion is call'd Angels food 2. Adam's eating without care distress and sorrow was without distrust of want therefore without care without subtlety and disappointments therefore without distress without sorrow being ever a gainer having supply out of the Ocean needing only to abound in humble gratitude Adam's Paradisical food is sometimes signified by Bread of Life Water of Life a Tree of Life Manna New Wine c. 3. Those fruits are real and substantial more Divine than to be palpable of true Power and Vertue to nourish to Eternal Life therefore must be incorruptible having the forms of the fruits in this World for this is the representation of That tho' but as a dead dark shadow as the husk This hath the Curse in it but the fruits there have the purity realness or essence existing in and deriving from the Omnipotence and Lustre of the Second Principle 4. The dead fruits here which mold and perish figure those heavenly ones The faded stains of things here point at those living bright glorious colours the variety of these the infinity of those these Trees as it were pourtray those this very dead Earth in a sort figureth the Divine Salitter our Mortal Dead Water the Pure River of the Living Water our Air their Air which is of the Holy Ghost our musical Sounds hint at their ravishing living speaking Airs our plucking and eating our fruits figure their so doing the strength we receive and retain thereby figureth the same in them our seemingly delightful Objects figure their transcendent glorious Objects 5. But all in so vast disproportion as a dead Corps to a flourishing lively noble
third Principle Will it be said the Tempter should have been character'd and here is only the Temptation 5. It 's answered we may know the Evil Tree by the corrupt fruit Again the Tempter is dangerous to us for the sake of the Temptation What could the Fisher do without his Net or Bait Again tho' Eve were but little and Adam less propense to the sugar'd potion yet we have abundant thirst like one in an inflaming Fever desires drink 6. 'T was therefore necessary our Second Adam should be able to say the Tempter cometh but findeth nothing in me To prevent Ruine we must imprison our domestick Foes to avoid their betraying us to the common Enemy 7. Every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and enticed which saith not only that our own lusts are our Temptations but that it is what every man is obnoxious to 8. It is of sad consideration that many who abandon the Wit Craft and Subtilty of the Fox in great measure may yet betray themselves to the curious Art Contemplative Ingenuity and Innate Wisdom of the Serpent falling also far below the Divine especially in This. 9. That the Wisdom from above is not only good-natur'd as peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits but is also high-born viz. pure humble self-emptying denying annihilating mortifying judging condemning leaving loathing witnessing for God against it self and all others Adding to Faith Patience to Experience Hope with which Faith Patience and Hope enduring all things waiting in extremity with quiet resolution 10. True it is that much penetrating speculation and knowledge natural and acquired for advance of reputation with improvement of Property and Self-pleasing is the Serpents Dust and Meat but the former are bits he cannot rellish they are his bane poison and death Q. 68. Why did the Serpent perswade Eve and not Adam to lust after the fruit What was the fruit on which they both did eat death A. 1. Whether an envenomed Shaft pierce the heart through the breast or through the side it is equally mortal Such was the Serpents Temptation and Eve might more easily be seduced because the breach was begun in her very Structure and Constitution by the separation of the Female Tincture Again the Woman was as a scattered party who are more suddenly made a prey of than the Body of any Army 2. The Temptation might take hold of her most readily being her self a kind of Temptation having drawn Adam from his pure chast precious dear Virgin-state therefore the Tempter awaited her and prevailed by a kind of assimilation 3. Naturalists observe Assimilation effects much in motion as in the hastening of Bodies to their several Centres not only in rarity and density and the version of the Needle but in velocity and penetration that the Arrow headed with Wood and the Woodden Wedge shall pierce and cleave Wood by more ready insinuation than Iron 4. And This squares most with the Apostles humbling charge on that Sex that the Woman was first in the Transgression c. not barely with respect to the Serpent or Temptation it self but her declension inclination and propinquity to curiosity which still is found amongst them preparing her to swallow the Bait. 5. But I spare them for the above hints pondered may suffice rather adding that men should be the more compassionate and assistant knowing they are Man's weaker part and of his own Essences 6. To say farther what was the fruit on which they did both eat Death little is enough but refer to the 7th 8th and 9th verses of the 57th Answer concerning the Tree of Good and Evil which shews it to be of the third Principle no better nor worse than That we eat of yet mortal Poison to their Paradisical Life 7. And a little to digress let it be considered that the Lord's blessing the Meat when he did eat with his Disciples teacheth us to know and remember the peril lest the Evil Properties in the Creation should so steal themselves into our Meat or Drink as to associate with heighten and strengthen the Evil Properties in us 8. Therefore we find some character'd who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof and of the Rich Man that fared deliciously every day and of others feeding themselves without fear A sin prevailing by Assimilation with our voracious licencious wanton Appetites willingly indulging our selves to forget that the Provisions for our Lord and his Disciples were a few Loaves and a few little Fishes and those he multiplied or augmented by Miracle yet the Loaves were but of Barley in a Country abounding with Wheat Milk Honey c. Q. 69. What was the sin and how it is become a sin that the same is an Enmity of God A. 1. What the Tree of Good and Evil was and why forbidden the 7th 8th and 9th verses of the 57th Answer explaineth How excellent Adam's first State was is somewhat distinctly in the whole 52 Answer How he fell and how low is touched in the 51 Answer a review of all which will be eminently assistant to the searcher and a large contribution to the Answer of this Yet farther 't is answered 2. That as Lucifer and his Angels by imaging in their Bodies the Forms of the first Principle left the glorious holy 2d Principle whereby their Tincture became not only impure â—separate and unclean but falshood and filthiness in the abstract 3. So Adam being Ruler by Creation right in the third Principle imaged in the Spirit of his Will Mind and Soul a hunger of the same third Principle grasping the shadow as painted Food instead of the substantial Quintessence and Bread of Eternal Life departed out of the Unity wherein he possessed all and every good perfectly at once for ever into a few little parcels of fading good blended and interlaced with Volumes of multiform exquisite real steddy permanent Evils 4. What the Will is the Man is Thus the Will of Lots Wife 's captivating her by the Accommodations of their late opulent Seat she is by the Astringent Property fixed a Pillar of Salt Also Nebuchadnezzar placing his chief Glory in such stuff as must be rubbish becomes a Beast or Fowl for the Magical Will hath as even in Witches appears the over-match to the Forms of Elementary and Astral Concretes because the Magia is the Power of the Will or Hand of the Mind having its Root in the Potence of the first Principle or Eternal Band. 5. Thus our first Parents by impressing in their Originally Noble Breasts the Good and Evil Properties could not retain the Divine Image As the Eye looketh not at once upward and downward therefore the pure Love Delight Joy and Heavenly Man disappeared and the Dead Form resigned The Apostle saith Death reigned As Iron when the Lustre of the Fire is gone or a Lamp extinguished so no more could he be Divine and Sensual Earthy and Heavenly 6. This departure was his
may come and that this Principle is derived from the Holy God May I yet believe that from the same Fountain issued reprobation of an indefinite number of Angels and Men compelling them to be really guilty black Criminals abandoned wholly to hardened sinful resolutions adverse blasphemous will and to be fuel for everlasting Burnings that the good of shewing his power and wrath might thence be extracted 16. The will of the Father is the reason of the Child And God commands me to forgive that I may be like him do good for evil And that I who am less than a drop to his Infinite Abyss and Ocean of Mercy should yet shew so much Mercy as to help the Beast of my Enemy fallen under his Burthen How can I then think that this God of Infinite Bowels did from Eternity reprobate any of his Intelligent or Rational Children and Creatures to be Back-broken or design snares and pits into which they must necessarily fall and be precipitated 17. It is written what if God willing to shew his wrath c. having endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction It saith not that God fitted them for destruction But it saith of God that he had endured them with long-suffering but in ver 23. It is written of the Vessels of Mercy that he viz. God had afore prepared them unto Glory which distinction is very weighty and significant 18. Again the Judge himself tells us the manner of the great irrevocable sentence viz. Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom c. But in ver 41. He saith Depart from me ye cursed into Everlasting Fire c. But saith not ye cursed of my Father as before ye blessed of my Father signifying evidently that men make themselves accursed which deserves heedfully to be pondered See the answer of the fifteenth Question throughout particularly the ninth verse Quest. 71. How were the Eyes of Adam and Eve opened that they saw they were naked which before they knew not 1. It is manifest Adam and Eve were an Image of God in all the three Principles but they should have lived a reâ—igned life in the second contemplating the Greatness and Glory of God in the first Principle but not have entred into it as Lucifer had done also should have seen how the third did Image God and over that Adam was to rule but not subject himself to it by becoming an Image of it or receiving nourishment from it for his so doing as in the foregoing answers hath often been inculcated the transitory Food having in it the divided properties is Bestial Mortal and Putrefactive and Adam and all his Off-spring became thereby as the Beasts 2. Therefore entring into that unsuitable state their Eyes were opened to behold their Nakedness for they were appointed to a Paradiâ—ical Glorious state else they had been furnished with Hides Fleeces Furrs Feathers or Scales 3. But falling into the principle for which they were not provided they were as naked and unfit as we are to fly into the Air whereto Wings are requisite or to live in the deep whereto Fins and other peculiarities must adapt Creatures 4. But their Eyes were so open'd to the Out-birth as shut them to the Divine Birth My Hand is but a small part of me and given me for good uses as was the third Principle given them but with my Hand I can hide the whole Heaven from my Eyes and so did they for by shutting the Divine Eye they opened the outward dark one as on departure of the Sun we see the Houses Trees c. obscurely 5. Had I lived in the time before Adam's death and had spoken with him I might have found him groping by the strength of his memory after the things which I should have sued to him for the knowledge of all which he by the infallible Light saw distinctly and had exquisite knowledge of before he Fell Like one who hath a Candle in his Room and seeth every thing plainly but that once extinguished must by memory direct his Feet and Hands to grope out any thing he would find Q. 72. What was Adam's and Eve's Shame that they hid themselves behind or by the Trees of Paradise Whence came their fear and terrour A. 1. When they had imagined into the third Principle that is so far penetrated into it as to Lust after it then did the Eye affect the Heart for the strong Magical Will and Mind conforms the whole Man especially the Body which is as the shadow of the inner Man who is the Substance 2. This Lusting when it proceeded to actual Eating awakened the Properties of the first and third Principles that is the Hellish and Bestial in the innermost Man which was before irradiated with Divine Love and true Sublime Wisdom filled with the Spirit of Holiness Tranquillity and Angelical Excellencies this most inward Image of God according to the second Principle was invaded by the inletting of the four Forms of the first Principle which compose the Kingdom of Wrath. 3. Their outward Man given them out of the one Element whence proceeded also the Astral World receiv'd by the awakened Lust the Will of all the Evil Beasts in the divided Properties as of Goats Cocks Boars Bulls Foxes Dogs Wolves Bears Tygers Lions Crockodils Vultures Serpents Vipers Toads c. 4. Thus Man who was the Quintessence and exquisite Abridgement of the Creation as to the third Principle in having their total Energy in pure Heavenly Harmony without Admission into him of any of their divided Evils now by Lusting hath taken into him every of their hateful Properties and become a Beast of all Beasts 5. For their imperfect Evil Properties by Transplantation into his excellent Nature are sublimed into real Wrath and Obstinacy and Premeditated Rebellion against the Kingdom of Divine Love and Grace defiling him with bestial Lusts which in them is filthy but in him sinfully so 6. And Adam and Eves Body which was heavenly before hereby became dark opake sluggish bony deadish and fragil obnoxious to wounds sickness the Turba Mortality and Dissolution into Ashes 7. No wonder then their shame horror and fear should drive and pursue them to hide behind the Trees from that glorious Face whence they had withdrawn themselves and before whom they were no longer able to look up 8. For their Monstrous Image was notorious even such as made them contemned by the very brute Creatures who withdrew theawe fear and service from them which they were to have paid they were scorn'd by the Devils a shame to themselves how much more then were they sunk in the All-observing Eye of the Infinite God Q. 73. How did Adam and Eve really Die in the Fall to the Kingdom of Heaven and Paradise and yet live naturally to this World A. 1. To answer this it must be told what the Life of God was in Adam and Eve which Life consisted in an entire Union with the Universal
he was then as tho' two dead Bodies come not of their own accord one to the other they may be brought together but they embrace not each other and being parted again grieve not 2. Man is what he wills for the Magical power of the Will especially if it be strengthened by the Astral Spirit is by far an over-match to the Elementary as is the Eternal Soul to the Astral now and especially after dying of the Body Therefore when Adam and Eve's will were gone into the Out-birth of the third principle the Lord tells him Dust thou art 3. Lot's Wife looking back was a captivating her self again so directly against Gods goodness and Mercy that it is said Remember Lot's Wife And is a figure of all Apostates like those Israelites after the Babylonish Captivity who returned to Egypt to their own destruction 4. Thus those who in their simplicity are come a little way out of the Antcihristian Yoak and Cheats yet suffering themselves to be drawn back by the advantages of this World are near Lot's Wife's condition So the Israelites long'd for the Flesh-pots And Demas and Judas drew back to perdition Q. 93. Wherefore did the Daughters of Lot lye with their Father and first made him Drunk that they might be with Child by their Father whence arose two Potent Nations what doth this Figure signifie A. Such as can see no more in Noah's Drunkenness than what the Letter recorded nor in this of Lot but the Incest c. would make the Holy Scripture to be only a bare Narrative like other common Histories 1. But the figure of Lot shews how Adam and in him we all went out of the Paradisical order into the Bestiality of the Out-birth whereby we were overwhelmed and as one drunk and hath made his and our propagation so far estranged from the Divine purity in which Adam before the dividing of the Tinctures should have propagated his holy Race as may be best figur'd by inordinate incestious Bestial Lust. 2. And wheteas this came in his sleep shews the sleep of Adam and our death neither of which should have been had the Divine order been observed 3. Again as of this came two potent Nations Moab and Ammon we see how near of Kin the faln impure incestuous bastard brood of faln Mankind are to the holy Seed the Lord Incarnate for Lot was Abram's Brother Ha ran's Son so they were of Consanguinity as betwixt Abraham the Man of the Covenant and Lot the Figure of the Lords sacred ones and redeemed of whom came these Incestuous productions 4. For Ammon and Moab were not so forreign to Israel but that God commended to them the care of his people to be their covert from the spoiler in requital of Abraham's rescuing Lot from the four Kings 5. This openeth a Door of hope to all the faln Mankind tho' in Adam sinfully conceived as David confesseth yet the Covenant placeth it self in and near unto us viz. in our Souls and the Lord himself humbled himself to become our Brother 6. And lastly Whereas the two Daughters of Lot did this to preserve a holy Seed of their Father which was but an impure Bastard Seed thereby they figured Eve who thought her first-born had been the holy promised Seed saying I have got a Man the Lord which was Cain the accursed Seed Q. 94 What doth the figure of Moses signifie that he must be drawn out of the River or Lake of Water and be preserved to such a great Office The Sixth Grand Distribution A. 1. What can figure the wretchedness misery and helpless state of all faln Adams woful Offspring more to the Life than Moses lying in an Ark of Bulrushes amongst the Flags in the River Nilus Where neither his Father or Mother after they had hidden him three Months could better provide for him 2. To an Infant cast out in the Green Field was even Jerusalem compared but this figure was something more for the Field will support the Body but not the Water without an Ark. The Earth also hath besides Men several Creatures that may shew kindness to an out-cast Infant but the Water hath none also that River wanteth not devouring Creatures He was sentenc'd to die as soon as he was born his very Existence was a Capital Crime 3. The figure thus considered hath these express significations viz. 1. Moses his so forlorn Estate is the true circumstance of every Child of Adam 2. Amram and Jochebed are Adam and Eve 3. Pharaoh Gods severe Justice 4. Pharaoh's Daughter the Divine Virgin Sophia 5. Her Maid Servant the Inspoken Grace in us and outwardly the Prophets Apostles and Preachers of Righteousness 6. The Ark of Bulrushes all the conveniences our first Parents could leave us 7. The Sister of Moses our dearly affectionate Guardian Angel 8. The River the dissolution and mortality of our Astral and Elementary Man 9. The devouring Crocodiles the Evil Angels 10. His being drawn out saved nursed and honoured the Regeneration 4. The figure tells us that all Persons and Nations Jerusalem as others are by the heavy Fall as wretchedly helpless in as absolute peril and of themselves as ignorant of the same as was that out cast Infant With this grand addition that as they grow in the wisdom of the World they wade deeper into the miry Flags are more hazarded and sinfully hardned till in a moment they go down into the Grave as a prey to the Destroyer 5 Virgin Sophia stirs up the Inspoken Grace by the Ministry ordinarily of the outward publishers of the Glad-tydings whereby Man is carefully nursed and safely preserved notwithstanding the Decree gone forth against him by the severe Justice from perishing by the River or evil Monsters the mortality of our Astral and Elementary Man from the Devils 6. And the sweet loving blessed Angels figur'd by the Sister of Moses are concerned Spectators of our calamitous state and willingly ready by their Ministry to help save and retrieve us But all such dark obstinate Men and Women who will not quit their Ark of Bulrushes but load themselves with the slime and be defiled with the pitch wherewith it is covered do grow unactive and unweldy as to Divine Works and stick faster and sink deeper into the filth becoming an unavoidable prey to the Destroyers Out of which perswade us O Lord to suffer our selves to be drawn Q. 95. Why did the Lord appear to Moses in a fiery flaming Bush when he chose him A. 1. It hath been often shew'd that Man's Fall was his going into the third Principle or Out birth therefore did God doom him to the toiling about Earth which was by the Curse made Barren for the first Principle meekned and glorified by the Properties of the second doth where it entreth into the third Principle triumphantly make it a Paradise 2. But the afflicted Sons of Abraham groan'd under the toil of the third Principle which they inherited from Adam
Ghost and the Virgin Mary Therefore was it that when the Lord did shed his Blood for Mankind he is truly said to pour out his Soul that Blood being the Chariot of his Soul Also out of his side pierced by the Spear came Water the Signifier and Chariot of his meek pure Spirit of dear love and purity as the Blood of the Soul united unto the Infinite Spirit of Love 9. When therefore this Water and this Blood fell to the Earth the Divine power being in and with it caused the Earth to tremble the Rocks to rend from their dark Coagulation the Graves as Prisons to open For the captivating power which the Salitter from the Fall of the Angels sustained and was invaded withal causing rocky coagulation and the Curse and Death by the Fall of Man casting the Earth into a deadly sâ—upor and sterility was as it were dismay'd broken enfeebled by the holy powers coming on it 10. This could not be concealed but as Jordan fled from Eliah's Mantle the Graves ceased to be Prisons opening their Doors the joynts and cement of the Rocks were loosed and they clave asunder and the drowsie Earth awakened and trembled 11. For as the wrath had shut up the Divine power in the Creation in Death in an inactivity or obscurity So the Divine Love hath by his Conquest over Death on the Cross with irresistible Might and Puissance opened the Doors broke the Chains and proclaimed the acceptable year leading Captivity Captive Q. 126. What did the Darkness signifie which at that time came over all Nature A. 1. The Root of five of the other seven Planets is the Sun but Saturn hath a distinct Centre Now the Sun is out of the Magical Spiritual Fire and Light World and that Worlds Fountain is the incomprehensible power of the Fathers property and the inaccessible Light of the Sons property And the Spiritual World is figured imaged represented actuated and expressed by the Sun and Saturn Especially by the Sun as it were by a Nature God 2. And therefore as if you stop the Efflux of a Fountain the stream ceaseth or if the Sap be obstructed the Fruit soon feels the defect or if you withdraw the Face from before a Looking glass the Glass retains not but loseth it Thus was it that the Out-birth of the third principle was over-cast ceasing its Lustre at the instant of the Lords Passion 3. The things signified by it were 1. That as Adam departed out of the Eternal day into the temporary Darkness so did temporary Darkness here shoulder out or exclude the day And as Adam Exchang'd a blessed repose exact order perfect peace and sweet rest for a state of Enmity Horror Torment and Death So now did the Lord enter into the Death Enmity c. to pass us through into Life and Rest. Again as Adam went out of the holy first and second principles in to the Bestial separate prophane Out-birth so did the same Out-birth pass now into Death and Impotence discovering it self thereby to be only a shadow their Order and Beauty borrow'd and dependant wholly on the Internal World and that no Creature World or Angel hath a Self-sufficiency so least of all hath this which is but a Picture of Eternal things It also signified the wrath of the first principle invading the second or out-breathed holy Life prevailing to the shutting up the Eye of the third principle Yet that after three hours viz. from the sixth to the ninth viz. after a threefold domination in and over the faln Humanity the Soul the Spirit and the Astral or Elementary Man making the Divine Man â—ry out and plead that it also might not be forsaken straightway upon a second cry and a resignation made viz. the second principles out-breath'd Image entreth Death and â—trook it dead then the Internal Light figur'd by the outward riseth again Q. 127. Why did Christ in his Death commend his Soul into his Fathers Hand What is the Hand of God A. 1. As previous to this Answer it must be enquir'd 1. What may be understood by Souls in general then what by this most holy one 2. What various acceptation we read concerning the Hands of God And come to the direct Answer 1. Souls in general are 1. Sometimes intending the Eternal Soul distinct from Spirit and Body 2. Sometimes it means the Body distinct from both Soul and Spirit 3. Sometimes it 's understood of the Soul and Spirit distinct from the Body 4. Sometimes it extends to the taking in of the whole Man as of the most holy Soul Spirit and Body of the Lord Jesus Christ who yielding up himself wholly unto his Father was as a whole Burnt â—ffering or Lamb without spot Sacrificed as the one alone once for all and for ever intire Sacrifice and Altar also and Incense fully making Atonement and Entring once and thenceforth Eternally into the Holy of â—olies 2. Thus as the true High Priest he entred the most holy place bringing in a new Priesthood of another Tribe viz. not of Levi but of Iudah also another order not of Aaron but of Melchizedeck by change of the Priesthood changing also the Law of direct necessity putting a period to figures as the daily Sacrifice the anniversary entring of the High-Priest into the holy place but rending the Vail c. 3. Of all which the Epistle to the Hebrews as that they were most immediately concerned to know doth copiously inculcate and convince 2. What may be understood by the Hands of the Father here spoken of 1. Sometimes it means his Mighty Power irresistible strength c. 2. Sometimes are signified by it his Infinite Omniscience and Omnipresence 3. Sometimes are intended his most wise and gracious ordering and providence 4. Sometimes it speaketh his most loving merciful careful preservation and shielding of his Children 4. In serious view of all which the Fathers Hands whereinto the Lord Jesus Bequeathed his Soul Spirit and Body may not only be taken in all these Acceptations but an infinitely more vast comprehension than all Creatures Saints or Angels can fathom or enumerate 5. Now to the answer it self be it known that the dear and only Eternal Son of the dear Eternal love of the Father having given his Disciples and all his purchas'd holy ones his peace for their incomparable privilege as the legacy of the Prince of Peace by Testament To the end it might never be frustrated ratified it by the Death of the Testator gives himself up wholly at once entring into death who himself was the Fountain of Life and breathing his last cry and groans into the Bosom or Hands of his Ever-living Infinitely-loving Omnipresent Father and thus through death re introduced life into the Humane Nature 6. And is it ask'd why It is answer'd Who but the whole Father could receive the whole Son Who less than the Infinite first principle could receive the Infinite second principle For tho'
into everlasting Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish who can dwell with devouring Fire under the Wrath of the Lamb Q. 167. What is the Dying of a true Christian What of him Dyeth A. 1. The Dying here inquired is call'd a Sleep which alludes to Adam who not exerting his Power became as one fainting and fell into a deep Sleep in which time his Female Property was divided from him and he slumbered to the Unity of the Paradisical Life and then was opened in him the divided state partly and but partly Paradisical for it was a begun Declension into the Dividings of the Astral Multiplicity And by Eves and his Eating the Fruit of the third Principle soon wrought in them dismal Effects for he lived no longer according to the Universal Will but set up a private Self-will as Law-maker ceasing to Rule over the Astral Powers he fell under them and so sadly as to be relieved and collect support and food from them given up to their contrary Properties and became a Beast as to his outward Body the deadness of part whereof degraded him so far as to render him by his Bones Skin and other insensible Parts to the baseness of Vegetatives and all this not transient as are some Astral Impressions but as a strong Prison out of which is no escape but by demolishing the Walls and Fabrick This is the desolate Wilderness which was signified by the going of the the Lord Jesus out of Canaan into the Wilderness to be there Forty days teÌ„mpted of the Devil after Fasting 2. Thus may a glimpse be seen what Adam's Sleep and after that his Fall introduced It chang'd his first Principle by darkning the Divine Eye of his second from great Power and active Vigor such as is that of the mighty Angels into Discord Rage Envy Fury c. and it chang'd his third Principle from so great Purity Transparency and Aptitude to have done Eternally the Offices of his great Soul and Divine Spirit into a gross obscene filthy palpable feeble sickly bestial perishing Carcass or Sack of Worms 3. Now when the Sun of Righteousness descends into this dark Dungeon he more or less according to the growth of the Regenerate Child by his pure meek Spirit appeaseth the Disorders of the Soul and halloweth it directing correcting and confirming a resolved will to obey as simply as a little Child and to persevere as a strong Man in Christ by which the Internal Man is in great part made God's Child and Image reaching toward the Love flame pressing strongly thitherward and groans to be with the Lord but still is the Body as little affected as the Bark of a Tree with the Virtue of the Fruit or as a Candlestick with the lustre of the Taper or as the Earth with the Astral Vertue rouâ—ing the Principles of Sulphur and Mercury in the saline Spirit in and through it 4. What can be done with this Body If it were possible to affect it so as the East-India Nut-tree doth that the Mercurial Vertue arising with Sulphur into a Nutmâ—g on a Clove for the Stud the Bark should be a Cinnamon it were somewhat but our Carcass is as senseless of the inward Man's Divine Work as the Bone is the Respondence and Intercourse the Spirits have through the Arteries and venal Channels or as the Beasts Hide is of the Astral Impulses moving the Animal Therefore it must like a Husk shell off and the Natural Body as a Grain of Wheat be sowed into the Elements whence it derived as the Corn into the Earth and die before it can increase and rise a spiritual Body 5. Thus dieth the Elementary part of the true Christian. How dieth the Wise-Man as the Fool returning into the Mouth whence it was spoken The Astral Body also rather disappears than dies but being dissolved from the ancient Obligations to the bestial Body it may remain at the Will of the Noble Soul to be its Chariot wherewith as a Medium it sometimes doth vouchsafe a loving Visit to his dear Christian Friend yet in the Body but most easily when such a one sleepeth as to the Elementary Man and seeth heareth and toucheth with his Astral Man for then may the precious separate Soul if it desires it as familiarly have access and converse with his dear Friend or Brother as two Men of one Language may and this hath been and may be to the great Satisfaction and Edification of the surviving Christian though not frequently because of Mens unworthiness or for fear of Impostures and especially because the Lord only is abundantly and infinitely all-sufficient by his own Omnipotence and Omnipresence 6. As Adam slept to the Holy Paradifical Virgin state and awaked to the bestial World's Adulterous state so the true Christian's Death is a sleeping to that sleep of his viz. The filthy sickly cumbring prophane Elementary Life and an awaking to the pure holy triumphant dear sweet child-like angelical Endless Life it transfers him out of the howling Wilderness of Temptation into Eternal Canaan out of a Dungeon into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God out of the Turba of perplexing Multiplicity and restless wrestling of contrary Properties into the equal Temperature and Calm harmonious complete Unity the private Self being extinct he entreth the Universal sacred Freedom of the Lord's Redeemed ones Q. 168. What is the Dying of the wicked in that it is called an Eternal Dying A. 1. It hath been often inculcated in these Writings that all Men are in all the three Principles of one Blood but their difference is notorious for though they are almost the same in their first and third Principles and much what alike though not without great distance of degrees in their second Principle yet here is the immense difference that in some their second Principle like the House of Saul impairs and gradually as it were insensibly extinguisheth to a dismal blackness to be felt at length and in others the Regeneration calmly yet with irresistible sweet force more and more opens that Principle which as the House of David improves and flourisheth 2. From these dear Children if their Progress hath been Crown'd with Perseverance their third Principle is like Trash and dusty Rubbish scatter'd about a firm built Structure fully finished which Death like an impetuous Storm with rapid Motion disperseth or as a mounting Torrent of Water violently bears away leaving the Fabrick unconcern'd But the third Principle is to the other his Fortress Confidence Retreat Refuge Rest Joy Hope Treasure and his all therefore Death at once surprizing him and snatching that away he and it perish together his only home falleth for want of Foundation the Cistern he hath hewn is broken having no Water in it nor can hold it if any were entrusted thereinto which shews the fault to be in the very bottom else it might hold some Water but the truth is it hath no bottom at all The World to the one is either as it is to
for him for to give him more Divine Light were but as Water to increase his Fire And God willeth to have no fiery Spirit in Paradise his Brimstone Spirit is inkindled and remaineth unquenchable desiring to get above the Meekness of the Heart of God which shuts him up Eternally CHAP. XI Of all Circumstances of the Temptation 1. WHen God did set the Fiat in the Will to Create Angels he separated all the Properties as hard four bitter harsh fierce soft c. as we see are in the various properties of the Stars and created the Princely Throne Angels as so many Fountains Then in each Fountain came forth a Centre in many Thousand Thousands and every Host got a Will such as was the Fountain or Prince whence they proceeded giving their will to him as the Stars do to the Sun Tho' all thoroughly irradiated with Divine Splendor yet had every Host some one of the Properties of the first Principle most Eminent in them 2. Of the Princes one is fallen and his Host for standing in the fourth form his Fire Elevated him above the End of Nature 3. The Fiat in the Creation separated the Matrix also of the Out-birth created after the other according to the forms of the inward World and out of the Properties of the first Principle came Creatures of all sorts good and bad as Lambs Doves c. as also Wolves Toads also in the separation of Vegetables are good and hurtful Plants And that the evil is also profitable is seen for that in every Creature is a poysonous Gall being the cause of Life 4. Adam was created of all the three Principles but in perfect clarity an Image of his Creator and Epitomy of all Creatures 5. In the Garden of Eden were all Paradisical Trees pleasant to look on and good for Food wherein tho' they sprung out of the Earth yet in them was imprinted the Divine Vertue of the second Principle and yet were truely in the third Principle Death stuck only in that Tree of Good and Evil that was able to bring Man into another Image 6. God willed not Adam should eat of it for he not only barely warned him of the danger but forbad him with a severe Menace 7. Nor was he Created with a distinct Female as other Creatures that on his Fall he might the better be helped 8. Nor will'd he should need any other clothing than Glory else would have given him a Hide as other Creatures But as a Heavenly Man he should have eaten Heavenly Fruit. Now follows the Gate of the Temptation Adam had all the three Principles or Worlds in him and in all he looked on without him 9. The Heart of God would have him to abide in Paradise being his similitude The Kingdom of Wrath would have this great Lord because he proceeded out of the Eternal Mind of the Darkness that through him might be shew'd great power The Kingdom of this World would have him be his Housholder for that he lived in it and was part of it saying Eat and Drink not only Divine Food thou art not yet a meer Spirit eat not that which is incomprehensible Eat my sweet drink my strong which is comprehensible 10. Here Adam thought seeing I am on the Earth and that it is mine I will use it as I list 11. Then came the Inhibition on pain of Death not to eat the Earthy Food wherein was mixt the evil for the Tree was neither better nor worse than that we have But God saw his eager imagination so set on the Earthy Fruit that he could not generate a perfect Paradisical Man but an Infected one out of himself that would fall to be corruptible did let a sleep fall on him CHAP. XII Further of the Circumstances of the Temptation 1. MOses at the Bush was commanded to pull off his Shoes shewing his Earthy Birth God gave the Law at Sinai and establisht it in clarity but by Thunders c. in the Spirit of the great World for in Gods Heart is only Love and Kindness because after the Fall Men lived therein viz. in the Spirit of the great World 2. The Law demanding obedience and the false voluptuousness of Israel were in strife Forty days till they fell to their sinful Calf And Christs tryal Forty days c. shew the time of Adam's Temptation Of Adam's Sleep 1. Adam's sleep was his being Captivated by the â—triving Stars and Elements whose wrestling so far overcame him that his Tincture became enfeebled and he as dead who should as we in the Resurrection have Eternally with open Eyes beheld the Infinite Glories This God so greatly loathed that Adam could not long continue in Paradise The Highest Gate of the Life of the Tincture 2. The Tincture is that which separateth the pure from the impure and graduateth to the highest all sorts of Life in all Creatures Yet in some strong in others weak It s Birth is from the Vertue of the Deity and imprints it self in all things yet so secretly that none of the ungodly can know it It is Eternal but the Spirit given it by the Fiat is according to the kind of every Creature At first it was implanted in Jewels Gems Metals 3. It was generated in the fifth form that of Love out of the Heart of God And tho' its Spirit in the third Principle abide not for ever yet for the sake thereof the very figures of this World shall remain for ever But in the second Principle the Tincture standing in the Spirit and Substance in Angels and Men is Eternally fixt The Tinctures Essences 4. It is the flash of Life and Lustre whose Root is Fire causing the faculty of seeing in all Creatures It Chrystallizeth impure Water separateth the Light from Darkness imageth it self in what it hath made pure making it also sweet shining like Oyl and Fire Mixt with the Matrix of VVater by the mixture becomes fixt and thick and by the Property of the Fire is colour'd Red and is the Blood in which the Noble Life existeth Of the Death and Dying 5. In so great and hourly danger stands the Noble Life in the Tincture and hath so many potent Enemies that either on the Efflux of the Blood the Tincture flyeth away or on the over-prevalency of any one of the four Elements or ill Conjunction of the Constellations darting their Poisons the Band of Life breaketh and the flash goeth out in Meekness How the Heavenly Tincture was in Adam before the Fall and shall be in us after this Life 6. Adam's three Principles whereof he was were three Births the one not comprehended by the other viz. The Worm or Brimstone Spirit generated out of the Eternal Will of the Father The Virgin or Wisdom of God And the Spirit of this World The two latter were given to him to his right and left 7. The second was to illustrate the first in the power whereof he was to rule over the third It is
Church 1. ADam having a Garment lent him by the great World is let go out of the Garden and a Cherubim with a flaming Sword is set to guard the Way to the Tree of Life which is the Kingdom of the fierceness in God's Anger which must cut away the Earthy Body from the Holy Element that the new Man may press into the second Principle the Way to the Tree of Life in Paradise Our gross Flesh is the Hedge before the Paradise Would you enter press through the Sword of Death Christ the great Champion will help you who though by his entering haâ—h shew'd and made the Way more easie yet the Sword is still before it 2. Christ took the Book of the first Principle out of the hand of the Ancient of Days and opened the seven Seals or Spirits of the Operation of God The seven Candlesticks are his Humanity the seven Stars the Deity See the four first Chapters of this Book 3. When Eve bare Cain she said I have a Man from the Lord meaning what the Apostles thought of Christ that he should erect a Worldly Kingdom and break the Serpent's Head by the Spirit of this World and its might And here lay the Foundation of the two sorts of Churches one as Cain's standing in the might of the Spirit of this World the other of Abel pressing on the Mercy of God in Faith and Resignation But from the Evil Tree of Adam and Eve's lust sprung the evil murtherous branch Cain 4. That Cain the First-born should be so wicked and a Murtherer is for that Eve was the Child which Adam should if he had not been overcome in great Modesty have generated but his Matrix being impregnated by the Spirit of the great World therefore first was framed out of it a fleshly Woman and her first Fruit became Evil as well as the Limbus of Adam After Abel's Death 70 Years passed before Seth. CHAP. XXI Of Cain's Kingdom and Antichristian Church and of Abel's Kingdom and true Christian Church 1. THE two Eternal Principles of Fierceness and Meekness do strive from Eternity to Eternity for without the fierceness the Meekness would be a still nothing without Mobility and without the Meekness the Fierceness would be a dark gnawing as in Hell Adam's first Principle was throughly illustrated with the second and his Body out of the one Element out of which Element came the four Elements 2. Adam was drawn of both and so is Man still but Man hath the ballance of both Scales The Mind is the Centre of the ballance the Senses or Thoughts are the Weights which the Mind passeth out of one Scale into the other The one is the Kingdom of the Fierceness the other of the Regeneration Thus hath Man the Kingdom of Heaven in the Word of the Divine Vertue given into his Power the Kingdom of Hell in the Root of it in a Bridle and the Kingdom of this World according to the Humanity from Adam Consider we well which we suffer the Mind to be charged with and over-ballanced by for of that we are the very Image 3. Man is a Field the Mind the Sower the three Kingdoms the Seed Look which thou sowest for that thou reapest and at the dissolving of the Body that thou art If thou give thy Field thy self up to this World thou standest only in two Principles that of this World and that of the fierce Wrath. 4. But he that is generated out of Darkness into the Light knoweth both the fierce Eternity and the Out-birth but cannot search out the Light for he is therewith environ'd and therewith ruleth like a Prince in Heaven over Hell and Earth and all are profitable to him for by the first his high exulting Paradisical Joy springeth up and in the third are God's variety of Wonders as in Glasses represented 5. Thus may be seen how Cain's Evil worldly Kingdom and hypocritical Antichristian Church is founded Also how Abel's meek Light righteous Kingdom and his regenerated and resigned spiritual Church is perfected The victorious Gate of the poor Soul In the three last Pages of this Chapter is a sweet and consolatory Incitement and Exhortation that the Soul advance by Perseverance with disregard of the Old Man compar'd to a Wild unruly Beast that it may attain the victorious Garland of Pearl to Crown the New Man with CHAP. XXII Of the new Regeneration in Christ out of the Old Adamical Man 1. THE Scripture saith Christ was conceived and born without Sin of a pure Virgin But since Adam's Fall no pure Virgin is generated of Man's Seed therefore the pure Eternal Virgin of God's Wisdom putting it self into Mary became not thereby Earthy but Mary by putting on the chast Virgin as a pure Garment of the Holy Element or as a new regenerated Man the Soul of Mary comprehended the same and in that same she conceived and did bear into the World the Saviour of all the World 2. And as Mary bare the Heavenly in the old Earthy Man which was her own yet comprehended not the new So the Word entred into the Eternal Virgin in the Heavenly Matrix in the Body of Mary and became a Heavenly Man out of the new regenerated Man in the Soul of Mary and hath brought the Soul of Mary again into the Holy Father so that the Souls of Men were new born again in the Soul of Christ. 3. The Soul of Christ was no strange Soul brought from Heaven but as all Souls are generated so was Christ's though in his Holy Body which was become Maries own And Christ with his entrance into Death sever'd his Holy Man from the fierceness of the Anger and from the Kingdom of this World 4. As the pure Element which is truly every where in which God dwelleth hath attracted to it this World as a Body and yet this Out-birth comprehendeth it no more than the Body doth the Soul So truly hath Christ in the Body of the Virgin Mary attracted to him our Human Essences and so is our Brother which Essences comprehend not his Deity nor can the new Man comprehend it otherwise than the Body doth the Soul 5. In our Human Essences Christ died and his Deity of his Holy Man in the pure Element bereaved Death of its Power and opened a Gate for us all to be separate from the Devil the World and the bestial Body of the four Elements whereof only the shadow is to remain Who then shall not have the Image of our Immanuel shall have the Image of that which his Heart hath been set upon here 6. To Demonstrate Highest things by a Similitude 1. The Almighty Father is as the Fire of the whole Holy Constellations 2. The Son as the Sun which is the Heart and Joy of the Deep 3. The Holy Ghost as the Air. 4. The Virgin of God's Wisdom as the Spirit of the great World 5. The Holy Ternary as the Earth 6. The Heavenly Aquaster as the Water call'd also the Holy
doing what it would is not from its Wisdom but the Heavens Contra conjunctions 4. But if it be restrain'd from Sin that is not by the Aâ—tral Aspects but by the Regeneration whose strife cannot yet swallow up the earthy but the fire is sometimes blown up again 5. So great is our Misery Let none be secure for sometimes the whole Man running to Evil loseth the Pearl 6. The Soul is bound with two Chains the one is the root of its original Poison and Anger remediable only by him who is Love it self the other that of the Flesh and Blood and Region of the Stars therefore God assumed a Human Soul from ours and a new heavenly Body like to our glorious Body before the Fall and not only to cloath the Soul with it but really Unite it in the Essences and so became a Creature in all the three Principles And by separating the third passed thence by Death as a flower out of the Earth captivating Death by treading on the Head of it in the new Body 7. So by kindling the Love in the Soul captivateth the Devil in the Eternal Prison of Anger for in the Light is the Holy Trinity which the Devil neither can nor dare behold so saith Paul O Death where is thy Sting O Hell where is thy Victory 8. The causes why Christ must not only die but in so many sorts suffer are as follow Man's Fall made all the Essences of the first four Forms predominant so that had not the Eternal Word given it self into the Centre of the fifth Form opening another Centre of Love the Soul in this Body had been captive in an Eternal Prison 9. And when in Jesus Christ the fourth Form came to be broken all the Forms stirred and environ'd him and in him us with Death which made the bloody Sweat and the outward Man cry Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me 10. And as Adam by going out of the fifth Form viz. the Angelical into the fourth became the scorn of the Devils so the Pharisees who lived in the Spirit of this World must have their pleasure on Christ for a terrible Example That what we fill our Souls with becomes a substance in the figure and must come under the Judgment of God 11. And as Adam would in his Pride be like God and wear this Worlds Crown Christ must in this World be crown'd with Thorns as a false King of or in it 12. And as after Adam's entring into the Spirit of this World he had a Rib broken from his Side for a Wife so did Blood by scourging flow from Christ's Body and his blessed Side pierced and opened 13. And as Adam departed out of the Eternal Day into the Eternal Night so was Christ bound in the dark Night and carried before the angry Murtherers 14. And as Adam chang'd his Angelical for this gross Body so was Christ loaden with the heavy wooden Cross. 15. And as upon Adam's Disobedience the fierce wrathful Essences pierced him so must Christ be pierced in his Hands Feet by sharp Nails fixing him to his Cross. 16. And as when Adam's Soul entred the fourth Form the Cross-birth was stirred so hath the Man on his Brain the one half of the Cross and the Woman the other 17. And as Adam then hung between the Kingdom of Hell and this World so did Christ between the two Malefactors the one whereof was forgiven entring with Christ into Paradise 18. The great Secret The Love of God or the second Principle became Man taking the Human Soul which was out of the first viz. the Anger and Body out of the third viz. the Our-birth so there hung on the Cross all the three Principles then commending his Spirit to his Father he bowed the head and departed 19. His Father is all the Kingdom Power and Glory So the Love is his Heart and Light His Anger is his strength and darkness the Father took the Soul into the Trinity and in the Soul the loâ—t Paradise sprung up 20. And by the rising of another â—un in Death viz. in the Father's Anger the outward Sun which was generated out of the pure Element the Body of Christ loâ—t its Light 21. And at the Holy Lifes going into Death the Rocks rent And those who had put their trust in the Messiah as Patriarchs Prophets c. when Christ's Mortal had put on Immortality got their new Bodies out of Christ's Holy Body and Vertue 22. Of Christs rest in the Grave That the Soul of Christ leaving his Body in the Grave descended into Hell a great way off and there chaineâ— the Devils is nothing so For all the three Principles hung on the cross why not also reâ—â—ed in the Grave with the Body forty Hours for the Heavenly Body was not Dead but the Earthy only His Soul came with the Light into the Anger causing 〈…〉 radise to revive which made the Devils tremble and captivated them for the Light is their terror and shame 23. Of Christ's Resurrection There was no need of rolling away the Stone save to strengthen the weak Faith of his Disciples for he comprehended all things 24. He appeared a Creature in our Human Dimensions yet the fulness of the Deity was in him and his Body is the whole Princely Throne of the whole Principle without end or limit 25. As our inward Body is unlimited in the Resurrection in the Body of Christ yet visible and palpable in Heavenly Flesh and Blood and so can in the Heavenly Figure be great or little without hurt or want there being no need of compressing the Parts of that Body 26. Vain is the Contention about the Sacrament for Christ's Heavenly Flesh and Blood is really received by the Faithful and it is as great as Heaven 27. The Forty days before his Ascension of the Proba or Tryal was such a life as Adam should have liv'd having all the Principles except the four Elementary ones He shew'd himself without outward Glory did eat yet all Heavenly and Paradisical in the Mouth not into the Body and entred the Doors being shut 28. So should Adam have liv'd in and above the World above the Stars and Elements in Meekness and Divine Love without Death and Frailty 29. To this state we make some approaches when in Obedience to Christ's Laws we do Good for Evil and overcome the World by being Dead to it 30. Of Christ's Ascension Christ ascended in sight of many to shew he is our Brother Will you ask whither ascended he Into his Throne the right Hand of God that is where Love quencheth Anger and generateth Paradise in the whole Father 31. But the place of this World according to the Heavenly Principle is the Throne and Body of Christ also all the third Principle is his 32. And the Devil who dwelleth in the place of this World in the first Principle is our Christ's Captive for the Father is the band of Eternity but his Love
living Word attracted Maries Essences or Faculties into the Eternal Virginity and so in Nine Months there was a compleat Man in Soul Spirit and Flesh but the Virgin of Eternity never till then did put on Flesh except in Adam before the Fall but â—ow the Word united to the Soul is not though united one and the same with the Soul but the Soul being out of the Centre of Nature remained intirely the same Creature and the Word being out of the Majesty penetrated it like as a dark black piece of â—ron is flaming and shining by the Fire penetrating it but the Iron comprehendeth not but is comprehended by the Light of the Fire So the Deitâ— dwelleth in the Soul yet the Soul remaineth a Soul still but if the flaming Iron fall into Water it is soon as other Iron again as it was with Adam 10. Adam departed and Christ became Man to return us into the Angelical World wherein Man attains the Eternal incomprehensible Flesh of Eternal Substantiality which is hidden in the old earthy Flesh as Gold in the Stone This true most precious Stone of Philosophers tinctureth the old for this is as a Son yet a Thousand times greater than the Father this bright Crown of Pear s is most manifâ—st yet most secret who so finds it hath such Joy as no earthy Tongue or Pen can describe CHAP. VII The Hypocritical and real Christian the Gates of the Firmamental Heaven with Stars c. The Threefold Life of Man and right noble Spiritual Stone 1. MAN's greatest Concern is to seek that which is lost not hypocritically without our selves for all the hearing of Heaven and the new Birth Preached Singing Repetitions Reading all Books having the Bible without Book Talking and Despising the Simple requiring they be guided by Man's Art and Eloquence and resting there is a continuing of Men as in a dark Dungeon and no more than casting a Stone into Water which is taken out again as hard as before And Mens deepest Reason Opinions of the Pope Luther Calvin or Schwenkfield and all Contention Disputation and that accounted high University Study though the Soul fill it self therewith only leaves the Soul in doubt on the shaking Foundation of vain flattering Hopes if still there be an unholy unchang'd Heart 2. But simply with the Publican God be merciful unto me a sinner gather all thy captivating Sins and in great earnestness knock seek consult not thy Earthy Reason sensual Love and self Will and then that Soul entreth into the Temple of Christ instead of Disputing bring earnest Resignation let thy Contention be such only as was Jacob's Wrestling God's Invitation and inviolable Promises are the Ground of that Faith which makes Hell tremble produceth the new Birth giveth the noble Stone and then the little grain of Mustard-seed growing in the Storms of Reproach and Temptation becoming a Tree attaineth the Angelical Garland of Pearl for then may the Soul say Though this World hath my outward Body Captive yet I have the Regenerator in my Soul that will make me free which is as putting a Stone into Fire which makes an effectual change on 't though Water do not as is above mentioned 3. Saith any one seeing the Devil is gone into Enmity Why doth not God annihilate him A. That which is Eternal breaketh or dissolveth not like that which hath a Beginning but though the Devils were not in the Form of a Spirit from Eternity yet their Essences were from Eternity but the putting their Will into the stern Matrix of the Centre of Nature captivated them therein but in their Essences remain as a Looking-glass for Angels and Souls of Men. Say also any If the World be so dangerous for Man Why hath God set and continued him in it A. Should God reduce the third Principle into its Aether before effecting what wonders were foreseen in the Wisdom from Eternity it cannot be but also in time must the Forms of Nature be substantial 4. The Infinite God being Threefold in Persons willed to move himself according to the Property and Nature of each Person As 1. The Father's Property moved to create Angels c. to bear his Image and behold his glorious Power 2. The Son's Property moved once and never more in Eternity to become Man by whom the glorious Majesty of the Trinity is shewn unto Angels and Men in an express Character and living Image 3. The Holy Ghost's Nature will move it self at the Resurrection at returning this World into its Aether and will set the Wonders passed in time into Eternal substantiality He is the Joy and Mover of the Creatures and of Paradise through whom will be seen the Power and Vertue of every thing 5. This World with Stars and Elements shew the Eternal Centre and Being of all Forms whereon Adam who was the Image of the Trinity doated and was capâ—iv'd as Lucifer was by the fierce Matrix He was one not two the Light shone in him and he should have propagated an Angelical Kingdom was Lord over Fire Air Water and Earth could remove Mountains no Death was in him Paradisical Fruit grew for him he was a Virgin after the Form of Eternal Sophia he was pure and was to place his Will on himself for God was in him and he in God But seeing two Divine Forms in himself one Paradisical within himself the other without him he thought to Eat of both viz. the Paradisical and the mixed of Good and Evil till he sunk into a sleep which signifieth Death where the Spirit of this World formed him into such a Man as we now are and Eve into a Woman and when they had eaten the Spirit of this World captivated their Souls their Essences were Earthy their Flesh and Blood Bestial so that they begat Children in two Kingdoms viz. of Wrath and Love the first a Murtherer the second Holy for the word of Grace and Covenant had on their Fall set it self in the Light of their Life 6. This Word was and for ever is the only noble spiritual Philosopher's Stone Christ. This Stone was in all the Holy Men from Adam downward whereby they both were Good and did Good but the Men of lower outside Principles or Rationists have a counterfeit scholastick glistering pleasant Stone which they think is right and they hotly persecute the true precious Stone to advance their own which outside Stone of theirs is only a Stone of the great Building of this World for it initiateth Childhood in wantonness and bravery requiring Covetousness and crafty Guile to support it so they set the Paradisical Garland of Blossoming Youth on the Serpents Head learn to contemn them as simple who have the true Stone because they live as not of the World but Childlike and go through and out of the World weeping yet bearing precious seed 7. From v. 62. to the end is as it were a recital of the often treated of the Eternal Being compar'd to Fire and Light as Anger and Love
how to help no Prince or Throne Angel could contrive a Remedy Then said Jehovah Christ Lo I come to do thy Will O God and his own Arm wrought Salvation by becoming Man entring Death with his Humane Soul brake the seven Seals of the Centre of Nature hung the old Adam as a Curse on the Cross kindled again the Divine Fire in the Soul cast away the Earthiness and powerfully through Death introduced Life The highly precious Gate Thus the Regenerate may see that as Christ did cast away from him by Death only the Spirit of this VVorld and raised himself so shall they in his VVord and Heart which is every where present and in his Flesh and Blood not in the corrupt Body be raised for the inward Body Adam had in Paradise is only capable of being clothed upon with the Flesh of Christ In this new Body fixeth the new Regenerate Soul but the old corrupt Flesh only hangeth to the new Body yet comprehends it not The which old Body conceived from the Spirit of this VVorld being at the last day raised therewith only in a figure in which figure all Mans works follow him passeth into its Ether yet remaineth in its figure So likewise the corrupt Bodies of the wicked at the last Judgment shall be presented with their Mother the Spirit of this world and the Souls shall hear the sentence then shall the Bodies pass with their Mother and stand as a Figure and their works in the figure shall follow them into the Abyss CHAP. IX Concerning the Threefold Life Also the Inclination and whole Government of Man in this Life 1. MAN's whole Race is a strife 'twixt the Devil and the Soul and the Spirit of this worâ—d and the Soul for this worlds Spirit hath apprehension tho not Divine planted in its Matrix and this world stood in the Eternal wisdom as an invisible figure before the Creation and by Creation became a proper Principle to the end it might bring all its wonders and works into Existence and appear Eternally in their figure 2. Man only being capable to exhibit this worlds wonders of Arts and the Spirit and Life of Metals precious Stones Earths Celestial Influences c. therefore hath the Spirit of this world longed to draw Man into it That precious Stone of Philosophers may be found in Metals by him who understandeth this Author in the Centre of Natures progress to the Cross of the Trinity and Glance of the Majesty which this worlds Spirit hath a Natural longing to reveal 3. The first Birth of things are not pleasant as in Trees but the Fruit is a second Birth and what is desir'd by Man which points us to our Noble Birth and high Descent which was Divine for when the Kingdom of the Anger did press into the Fruits the Paradisical Principle did almost wholly withdraw Yet though Toads Serpents poysonous Herbs bitter Properties Thistles c. originate in the wrathful Matrix yet as the evil Properties explicate the inward worlds they are as good and concur to the same end with the best but the evil and good eaten by Adam being such as we now eat was his eating of Death because thereby the Spirit of this world captivated him as doth both it and the Devils Kingdom rule in Man still Of the great strife about Man 4. Hell saith my Anger is his Root he is therefore by Nature mine This world pleads possession of Man in its Body and his Community of Nutrition from it God saith I â—ave set my Heart upon Man and Regenerated him he proceeded out of me I have sought and found him again he is mine to reveal my wonders Pursuant to this one of three things winneth him either 1. His desire of Honour Glory and Power which is the Devils Will. 2. His desire of Riches Opulence and Fulness in which he is a Beast of this World 3. He the somewhat sensible Sinner but not the Swine greatly feareth Hell and the Devil and weakly panteth after Heaven but the other two draw so violently that many through desperation engulph themselves into the Abyss Of the Devil changing himself into an Angel of Light 5. When the Sinner begins to be sensible of his evil and danger the Devil willingly permits him to go to the Stone Churches then flatters him that his diligent so doing makes him godly and devout Where often thoughts are sowen in him of Pride Lust c. also of contempt of others especially if the Preacher be a Reviler If the Soul be yet afraid and would repent and pray the Devil clouds the understanding introduceth doubts and promiseth amendment to Morrow he rehearseth words but prayeth not for the Soul cannot reach the Centre of Nature where the Fire should be struck but his words in this Worlds Spirit vanish into Air or Gods Name is taken in vain 6. But Prayer is a great or at least a true going of the Soul to be spoken to of God and brought out of the House of Sin into the House of God Which when the Devil opposeth we are to oppose the more for we have in Christ far greater power than he But if the Devil covers the Heart by heaps of Sin we are not to dispute or despair but to lay them on the Devils Back and lay up in our Hearts Gods most merciful Calls and earnest Will towards us shewn by the Sufferings Wounds Death and dear Love and Pity of Christ to Sinners for there is no other Will in God but to do as the Father to the Prodigal Son therefore to doubt of Gods gracious Intents is to sin greatly The Gates of the deep Ground concerning Man 7. The knowing what Man is in the variety of form feature and different driving Will hath been controverted since the beginning because the Gates thereof were sunk with Adam's Fall but the Spirit of the Soul of the Regenerated Man knoweth himself in all the three Principles to have but one only Rule though in three Principles the prevalence of either denominates the Man We are as a Seed sowen in a Field by the Lust of Man and Woman the Mover whereunto is that the Tincture now divided to the Male giving Life and Soul and the substantiality now peculiar to the Female giving Spirit and Existence were in Eternity one wherein this world stood as a Figure and the Tincture over-shadowed by the Wisdom was received thereinto as the Body doth the Spirit yet could not be brought into substance visible to Angels who are in a substance unless God had moved the Eternity 8. In the moving of the Trinity was moved the Centre of Nature whereby the Tincture became substantial and the substantiality became material yet not divided wherein when the Fiat was awakened forth came all sorts of Beasts c. The Tincture took substance and the Spirit of the substance took on it a Body the first had the Centre of Life the other only an impotent Life which may be demonstrated by a
Deep one Power and Lustre receiveth the other The Deep with its Lustre is hidden but yet hath the power of the Sun in it 4. So Christ's Substantiality filleth Heaven and Paradise and swalloweth up the Earthiness also where it is received and obeyed 5. Thus Christ brought back what Adam lost and much more for the Word is every where become Man See the Extracts of the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the Three Principles The 2d Part being of Christ's Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection CHAP. I. Q. IS it said Was it not sufficient that God became Man why must he also die Could God no other way save Man What pleasure takes he in Death and Dying If God had by his Sons Death paid a Ransom for us why must we also die CHAP. V. Ver. 54. to the end Ans. 1. MAN had lost the Divine Substantiality and Angelical Property and imagined into the Out-birth viz. into the Earthy part was departed from the Divine Light into the Light of this World and captivated in the fierce Wrath of God which the Devil had kindled viz. the four first Forms according to which God calleth himself a consuming fire 2. The corrupted Out birth also had put a Body on him which it destroyed and swallowed up again in its essential fire 3. But being the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Holy Spirit of God out of the Eternal and so is an Angel 4. Therefore hath the Power of the Holy Light World the Heart of God resumed the same entring into the Human Essence which lay in the Anguish Chamber surrounded with Death and took to himself a Soul out of our Essence and our Mortal Life and introduced the Soul through Death through the earnest severe Fire of God the Father into the holy meek Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâ—iality into the fierce Wrath of the Father the Centre of the Anguish-Chamber the Fire World in the Soul Christ being the right Centre of the Holy Trinity is with the out gone Holy Spirit the flaming Majesty the Light-World 5. And whosoever will possess the Light-World and be an Angel must enter in through the same path bear old Adams Cross go forth through the harâ—â—â— astringent stern and malignant corrupted Adamical Man and slay him and be born anew out of the Anxious Wheel 6. But seeing we were not able to do this Christ gave himself into the Centre of the fierce Wrath in the Soul brake and extinguished it with his Love So that now when we go out of our selves to the death of sin we come into the death of Christ the path he hath prepared for us and leads to his Resurrection whereby we ascend into his Arms the unshut Light-World which is also Abraham's bosom the Paradise wherein we were created our true dear native Country 7. It consisteth not in this that we think it enough to pourtray and represent what Christ hath done and suffered for us and tell of a Faith in that but that we daily and hourly fight and slay the Evil Adam as to his will and doings with resigned and resolved earnestness and then we enter into Christ's Death in our living Bodies put on his Life in us become impregnated with the Kingdom of Heaven Get on us Christ's Thorny Crown and still be accounted one that is not worthy to live on the Earth through all which we must faithfully proceed on knowing we must either be Angels or Devils 8. In this Death nothing dieth to or in us but only the Earthy Evil dead Adam whose will and life we have here continually destroyed This Enemy departeth from us into the Essential Fire into the four Elements and into the Mystery and must at the end be tryed through the Fire of God and then our Bodies and Works must be given us again through that Fire whatever the Earthy Mystery had swallowed up But not such an Evil one for the Fire of God devoureth the Evil but such a one as we here in anxiety have sought a Divine Spiritual Substance like the Wonders and Wisdom of God 9. Hypocritical Reason saith Christ hath done all for us we cannot It is right Christ hath done what we cannot do he hath broken Death and restored a new Life and is in Heaven But 't is not knowing but doing the Devils know but what availeth that we know if we remain without and enter not into Christ in the way and passage he hath made for us doing good for evil in truth and simplicty CHAP. VII Ver. 75. 1. IT is not enough to cry Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Son he hath satisfied for my sins But I must enter into Christ's suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death become a Member in and with him Constantly crucifie the old Adam Always hang on Christ's Cross Become an obedient Child Tho' I plainly walk this way yet I have so evil a ghest in me that I still work too much evil must therefore continually strive and fight till I vanquish 2. Christ indeed hath in and for us broken Death and made way but what doth that comfort me unless I enter in that very way and path as a Pilgrim or Stranger here CHAP. IX CHrist's Sufferings c. 1. Men content them to participate of in the Lord's Supper v. 29. But his Divine Flesh and Blood is that which the wicked cannot participate of that is Sacramentally 2. They receive the four Elements in the Anger of God because they discern not the Lord's Body which is every where present in Heaven and Earth and is fed upon by the Heavenly Soul not as a sign as others dream not Spirit without Substance but the Substance of the Spirit Christ's Flesh which filleth the Light-World which the Word that became Man brought with it into the Virgin Mary and there became opened in its Flesh and Blood the assumed Human Essence 3. Yet was it at that very time while Christ lay in the Virgins Womb in Heaven in the one Element in all places It came not into Mary from many miles off but the Centre which Adam in God's Anger had shut up in death the Word of the Deity did unlock and bring in the Divine Substantiality not entring in but unshutting ingenerating and in this World exgenerating God and Man one person heavenly Substantiality and Virginity one only Man in Heaven and in this World See the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the three Principles The third part being of the Tree of Christian Faith CHAP. I. WHat Faith is 1. It is not our forcing the mind to belief of Articles which are the work of our Reason 2. But true Faith is one Spirit with God working in and with God is the might of God dwells in the liberty in God's Will inclined to his Love and Mercy is free from the fierce Wrath and Torment in Nature is not comprehended subsisteth in
near to the Devil And after this time there is no remedy more for the Souls Fire is naked and cannot be quenched with Gods Meekness but a Gulph or Principle is between them 3. Man is the Image of God and so standeth in a threefold Life the first is the Souls Life existing chiefly in seven Forms according to the Spirit of Nature The second is in the Image generated out of the Eternal Nature out of the Souls Fire standing in the Light The meek pure amiable Spirit The first the Fire is the cause of the second the Light Thus are two Worlds one in another onâ— not comprehending the other But at Death divides into two Principles of Anger and Love 4. As we in Adam went out of the Meek Spirit into the outward Life of fierceness God became Man to lead us through the Anguish Fire through Death into the Light and Love-life 5. The Prince Christ breaking the Bar or Fort of Death and so destroy'd the Devils Kingdom for the Light of God and the Water of Meekness is his Death 6. The third Life is the outward Created Life from the Sun Stars and Elements Man should have used the outward as a Looking-glass to the Eternal and Gods Honour But he did put his Will-spirit into the outward Principle by wicked Lust longing after the Earthy Life and so went out of Paradise which sprouteth through Death into the second Principle and went into Death and destroy'd his Noble Image This we Inherit from Adam but from the second Adam the Regeneration by which we must enter through his Incarnation with him into Death and through Death or Annihilation sprout into the Paradisical World into the Eternal Substantiality of the Liberty of God CHAP. VI. What Lust can do How we are fallen in Adam and helped again in Christ and yet that it is not easie to be a Right Christian. 1. DEstruction came and still cometh out of Lust. The outward Spirit of Man which is a similitude of the inward by Lusting after it infected the inward which not feeling present death gave room to the outward who then became Host of the House and so the fair Image disappeared for it fell among Murtherers the stern Spirits of the Lives original of which Cain was afraid then came the good Samaritan Christ who becâ—me Man 2. As Adam's Soul had opened the Fires Essences and let in the Earthy so Gods Heart opened the Lights Essences and compassed the Soul with Heavenly Flesh wherewith when the Soul became impregnated it went with its will into the Paradise Life Hence came Christs Temptation to try whether he could eat of the Word of the Lord and would enter through Death into Gods Life which was fulfilled on the Cross where Christs Soul went through the Fire of the fierce wrath through the stern source through Death and sprouted forth again into the Holy Paradise We must die unto our Earthy willing and continually become Regenerated into the new World 3. The right will must couragiously Fight against the corrupt will sinking down from Earthy Reason into Christs Death so that it will hazard the Earthy Life upon it And he that thus sinketh down passeth through Gods fierce wrath through all the holding â—ords of the Devil into the Paradise of God into the Life of Christ. And the more the noble Pearl Tree is sought the more strongly it groweth and suffereth it self not to be suppressed tho' it cost the outward Life which must but hang to us as it did to Christ. CHAP. VII To what end this World was Created 1. THE two Eternal Mysteries Mans strife about the Image And where the â—ree of Faith beareth Fruit. 2. The inward World desires a Similitude of it self which the Angelical World standing only in the light could not be This therefore standing in a twofold Genitrix of Love and Anger and Man being in a threefold Life from the Fire Light and Out birth clearly represents Who was Created to manifest the same Mystery and bring the Wonders into Forms according to the Eternal Mystery 3. The Noble Image the true Paradisical Man is strove for 1. By the stern Fire life 2. By the Divine Life 3. By the outward Life and thus being drawn of three There is great need of Fighting Hope Faith Humble Prayer and Patience that the Tree may grow which the outward Man nor Reason knoweth not but is very well known to the Noble Image The Cross Scorn Tribulation and Persecution attend him every hour for he is unknown to his Brethren all suppose his own Folly plagueth him but great will his Harvest be CHAP. VIII In what manner God forgiveth Sins and how Man becometh a Child of God 1. MAN is not to bring his Conscience into the History and hope for pardon in the manner of an Earthy Judicatory and yet remain wicked He must be a Son it is elâ—e as if a Servant should comfort himself that his Lord would give him his Estate not considering he is not his Son Whereas whosoever is Born of God in Christ is a partaker of Christs Sufferings Dying and Resurrection for a continual Battel must be till the Reason and Will of the corrupt Flesh be subjected 2. And if the Earthy Reason be strong it goeth often sadly and there is requir'd not only strict Sobriety but Watching Fasting and Prayer to â—ame it that Gods Spirit may find place to generate some faâ—r little Branches out of the Tree of Faith which under the Cross Anguish and Tribulation may bear Fruit with Patience These three Parts or Books were the Authors fifth Book THE Great Six Points The First POINT CHAP. I. Of the first sprout of Life out of the first Principle whereby we may distinguish the Divine Being from Nature 1. TEXT 1. The first or Abyssal Will without and beyond Nature is like an Eye or Looking-glass yet retains Nature 2. This Will is the cause of the Desiring The Desiring is the cause of the Essences The Essences are the cause of every Life for Life lyeth in them as a hidden Fire which burneth not 3. In the Will all the Forms of Nature from Eternity tho' but as a nothing in respect of Nature yet are truely and entally or really but not essentially in the Will 4. The Eternal Will which comprizeth the Eye wherein standeth the Seeing or Wisdom is the Father 5. The Eternal Wisdom comprizing a Centre out of the Abyss is the Form Heart and Son 6. The entring Eternally into it self to the Centre is the Spirit for it is the finder and then goeth forth manifesting the Wisdom of the Father and Son 2. TEXT 1. Thus the Abyssal being of the Trinity generateth to it self a Centre of Rest viz. the Eternal Word or Heart wherein is understood a threefold Spirit where the one is ever the cause of the other and is not measurable fathomable divisible nor circumscriptive dwelling in it self as a substance equally alike and at once filling
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according â—o Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it â—orth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâ—s in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâ—ess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
the Oleous and Love Property a sweet Spiritual Essence pleasant smell in the Fire and Light the one Element in the lustre it gives the precious Tincture in the Salnitral flagrat is the sude of growth and pullulation it also holds Sulphur and Mercury from severing from each other yet in the Salnitral flagrat they pass into the four Elements 9. The Properties are as so many hungry Desires eating of their several likenesses the hunger of Time eateth of Time and that of Eternity of Eternity but Man's Original being from two Principles may by dying to the dark Self-hood bring his hunger into God's Kingdom and feast with the five Divine Senses on the Divine Mercury Yet so great was our Fall that the outward Man apprehends this only by Imagination though the inward Man penetrateth it as the Sun doth Water which yet remaineth Water CHAP. XV. How in the Will of the great Mystery a Good and Evil Will ariseth and the one introduceth it self into the other 1. THE great Mystery was from Eternity whence the one Element which also was from Eternity proceeded in the Motion whereof the free Lubet of Eternity proceeded as a Spirit which Spirit is Gods 2. And in or from the desire to Nature the Properties proceeded having their Root in the great Mystery as Air out of Fire uncontroulably and incorruptibly 3. In the desire of Essence in the one Element arose the four Elements with manifold Wills whence variety and contrariety came as Heat and Cold Fire and Water c. each a Death to the other all things under that Dominion are in a continual strife dying and Enmity no other way to be remedied but by the Death of the Multiplicity of Wills and Resignation of all Self Wills and Lust to the one Will viz. the one Element the right of Eternity a dying to Self-fulness and Lust which like a disobedient Child striveth against its Mother and is its own Enemy and Destroyer unless Mortified in the Death of the Lord Jesus 4. The resign'd Will is not at all careful save only to bring its desire into its Eternal Mother and united with her be it self a Nothing this the Self-will calls foolishness but the resign'd Will doth as a potent Champion continually bruise the Serpents head 5. The Elemental and Sydereal Man is only the Instrument wherewith Man's Soul laboureth in the resigned Will for thereto it was Created but the Soul in Adam makes it Lord and Master 6. The resigned Will hath no rest in this Cottage but is still in Combat and the good Angels defend him from Satan's fiery Darts v. 25. The Doctrines of Christ's Satisfaction which teach not also the Death to Self in Man and resigning of the Will in Obedience as a new-born Child are flattery and words from without not in the Speaking Voice of God Christ's Dove which teacheth the bearing Fruit in Patience budding forth always as a fair Flower out of the Earth 7. The knowing Doctor and Disputant attaineth not as such what the humble Herdsman by dying to his false Will doth for a Christian is the most simple and plain Man upon Earth having nothing of his own to lose all being given up already nor any thing to seek for himself but for the Lord being dead to himself what he possesseth as an ownhood is only as a Steward Servant or Distributer 8. But all arrogated Authority which is introduced to self-hood and extraduced it self quite from God is Sacrilegious The self-will generates it a Form according to the prevalency impressing most vigorously in the enmity of his inâ—â—re depraved Nature both inward and outward But the resigned Will is formed by the Model of Eternity as an Instrument of Musick into the Love-harmony where is no Turba but the end of Nature Rest whence first it sprung a meer ravishing delight of all the Senses where God is all in all CHAP. XVI Of the Eternal Signature and Heavenly Joy and why were produced Good and Evil. 1. WHAT God is in his Eternal uninchoative Generation that is also the Creation not in Omnipotence but like an Apple which is not the Tree to manifest the Glory which was in the Eternal Mystery As one only Air melodiseth variously in several Pipes and Organs sounding also in each Note in some pleasant in other harsh Thus in Eternity is one only Spirit the Manifester of all the Works of God 2. The seven Superior Stars and all the lesser as so many Kingdoms figure the Angelical Principalities and most Inferior Existences as one Clockwork 3. Let none therefore blame the Creator as if he made it Evil for the Creatures departure from the equal accord makes that Evil which was very Good as did Lucifer who leaving the Harmony brought him to the cold dark Fire out of which is the hot Fires Generation In the Holy he is Holy so Angels and Men praise him in the might of Love and Devils praise him in the might of Wrath God's Wrath is his Joy not as if he lived in impotency but in Fiery Might as a Potent King in the dark Principle in trembling Anguish So in the Divine Angelical Creatures is a trembling Joyfulness in the Holy Light and Fire of Love 4. Thus is all a Fire in their severed Properties the one the Poison and Death to the other yet if there were no Wrath there would be no Love as no Fire no Light 5. God is himself-all but called God only according to the Light of Love but in the Darkness a consuming Fire 6. The Creature when departed out of the first Harmony becomes an Enemy to the Being of all Beings â—ven Hell and Nature in the Wrath Property is the Devils Enemy for that he would be Lord in that wherein he was not created 7. Every Spirit of Angels and Man was created out of the two Eternal Principles of Love and Anger Light and Darkness in equal weight and may take to it self a Lubet either of Good or Evil and what Property the Will-spirit of the Creature awakeneth by that it is ruled for dying to the one it liveth to the other 8. He is elected that dyeth to Sin in Christ's Death and by Divine earnest Desire breaking the Sinful Will so persevereth as by the new birth to rise in Christ's Resurrection Christ calleth to gather as the Hen her Chickens but they would not 't is not said they could not He that blameth God despiseth his Mercy introduced by him into the Humanity and bringeth Judgment on his own Soul and Body Gods Election of Grace CALLED Predestination CHAP. I. What the Only God is or the Sole Will what it is 1. THE Abyssal Will is the Father The conceiv'd innate Will of the Abyss the Son 2. The Exit of the Abyss through the conceived Ens the Holy Spirit 3. The Lord our God is One only God that neither willeth nor can will Evil for if he did there were a Rent in him and some cause of Contrariety
Also we must know whoever will understand the Old Testament must set before him the two Types externally Adam the earthy Man and internally Christ and change both these into one and so he may apprehend Moses and the Prophets CHAP. XLVII Of the Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham and what it points at 1. BEershebah a bruising to Death is the same Fountain which the Angel shewed Hagar which Abraham viz. Christ digged and there afterwards preached the Eternal God The Covenant between Abimelech and Abraham is the Covenant of Christ with the Humanity where he sware not to destroy the Humanity as he said he was not come to condemn the World Abimelech viz. the Soul out of the Father's Property Picholl the outward Nature the third Principle Field-Captain or Officer of the Soul Abraham is Christ in the Humanity Now Abimelech's restoring Abraham's Wife saying he knew not c. signifieth That the Soul of Adam knew not Christ in the Tincture of Heavenly Venus therefore went into Self-lust but when God shewed it to the Soul the Soul said I knew not that God's Wife the Holy Tincture the Heavenly Matrix was in me 2. But now I restore whatever I have taken of the Divine Worlds Property it is thy Wife then all the Women of Abimelech and his Servants Eves Daughters were healed 3. Christ here sweareth not to shew any unkindness to the Human Property nor to the Children nor to the Grandchildren or Nephews viz those springing out of the wild Property where often a wicked Husband or Wife are joyned to a godly one and so those Children spring from the wild Property 'T is said Thou shalt do according to the kindness that I have done unto thee viz in restoring thy Wife thy Image shalt thou do to me and to the Land viz. the outward Man wherein thou viz. Christ sojournest art a Stranger Which Christ Sweareth As I live saith c. Then Abraham Christ reproved Abimelech the Soul that the Soul's Servants the Essences of Nature had taken away the Well the Essence from the Heavenly Corporality viz. Christ's Body in Adam for Christ's Holy Fountain sprung up in the fiery Essence of the Soul which being taken to Self-Power the Heavenly Image disappeared And Abimelech the Soul answered I knew not till this Day viz. that the Devil had deceived me 4. Then Abraham viz. Christ took Sheep his Children the Jews and Oxen the Gentiles and gave them to the Father of whose Property the Soul is by an everlasting Covenant And set seven Ewe Lambs apart viz. the seven Properties of the Natural Humanity of Christ manifested in us A part viz. a distinct Person 5. We poor Jews and Gentiles may not say we are Christ but his House he is a part with the Divine Property But in right resignation when Man's Will is Dead to Self Christ only liveth in it such Eternally witness that Christ digged the Well At Beersheba the place of Contrition Christ planted Trees Heavenly Branches Preached c. and remained there a long time viz. all the time of the Natural Life CHAP. XLVIII Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac 1. ABraham is represented in Adams stead Isaac in Christs Humanity The Voice is God the Fathers so is Christ Offered by Adam's Children the Jews to the Fathers Fire Thy Son whom thou lovest viz. thy will brought into Self-love in the devoration of which in Gods Wrath-fire the true Man Created in Adam must be form'd and preserv'd as Gold or Silver in the Crucible where Copper and all Impurities evaporate On Mount Moriah which God not we chuseth 2. Christ wholly resigns up our Humane Will of self to his Father in his Death for all and in all Men As when the stock of a Tree dyeth the Branches die also and as the Tree reneweth its Youth as the Râ—d of Aaron did it introduceth new Life into its â—ranches Abraham rose early teaching immediate obedience And girt his Ass the Bestial Man with power Took with him two young Men one the Soul from the first Principle the other the Spirit of the outward Life Clave the Wood as Adam clave Gods Love and Anger On the third day pointing at Adam's sleep to the Angelical World and the time of Christs Resurrection Afar off the Final Offering of Christ above two Thousand years The two young Men to tarry with the Ass till Christ is Offered and come again Abraham took the Knife and Fire Gods Anger and Death Isaac said Here is the Wood the Sins of all Men and the Fire Gods Wrath but where is the Lamb Abraham's Ens of Faith saw the Lamb. Abraham bound Isaac so was Christ and so must our self-wills be bound and resign'd to God in entire earnestness The Angel calleth hurt not Nature as he had done to Hagar at Beersheba He saw a Ram hung c. shews death kills not the true Man but the pushing Beast hung in the Devils Thickets of Thorny Cares and Vanity Next follows the Blessing increase and prevalency And Abraham return'd with his Son and two young Men to Beersheba into the toil and labour of this World so God exerciseth his people not always in operation of the Spiritual Figures but in weakness and infirmities in the Kingdom of Nature And sometimes again under the Cross and so they grow as in a Field sometimes Storms sometimes Sun-shine 3. Nahor Abraham's Brother had eight Sons by Milcah of whom came great Nations the Assyrians who tho' they sprung not from the Ens of Faith in the Line of Christ the Blessing of Abraham passed on them CHAP. XLIX Of Sarah's Death and Abraham's Hereditary Sepulchre 1. WHile Abraham lived he was a Stranger no continuing abode had he but when his Sarah died he would have a certain Possession of a peculiar and Hereditary Sepulchre for his Wife himself and Children which he would not have to be given him but bought it of the Sons of Heth and Ephron for four hundred Sheckles of Silver viz. the Cave of Machpelah The inward Figure of which is That 2. When Isaac viz. Christ is come the two fold Body returns back to its original Mother the Eternal and Temporal Nature When the Saints die to self the outward Life The resigned Life will no longer stand in a strange Serpentine one it cannot of due right take the first true Field but it must be purchased Thus Abraham in the Figure of Christ doth of the Sons of Heth who stand in the Fathers Figure And that Christs Ransom is signified by four hundred Sheckles hath this meaning The first is the true Magical Fire the second is the Light the third the holy sound of the Mental Tongue the fourth the conceived Ens of the other Properties forming the holy Life This is the pure Silver 3. And whereas the Children of Heth would freely have given it yet at last took Money for it So hath God the Father freely given the Kingdom of Grace to Christ
in our Humanity but Christ would have it for a Natural Right 4. By Canaan understand the holy Chrystalline World or Earth which shall be manifest 5. By the two fold Cave or Pit of Machpelah is signified Man hath a two fold Humanity one out of the Divine Ens and Heavenly Essence the other out of time this Worlds substance both which should be put into an Eternal Sepulchre and lye in its original Mother leaving the one will in Death so that God might alone live rule and will in the Soul and Mans Life be only his Instrument For the Soul hath turn'd itself aside from the only Eternal Word into self-hood This Distemper and unlikeness must be buried and put again into a two fold Cave and thence come into the Temperature the Essence whence the Body and Soul did arise CHAP. L. Of Abraham's sending his Servant for a Wife for Isaac 1. ABraham is herein the Figure of God the Father Isaac in that of Christ Abraham's Servant in that of Nature The Canaanites in that of the introduced Serpents Ens the Besâ—ial Man which shall not Inherit Here God makes his Servant Nature by whom he governeth Essentially bind itself that it will not introduce the Serpents Ens the dark Worlds Bestial Canaanitish Property for Gods Childrens Yoke-fellow but Nature must take substance out of Abraham's true Humane Essence in pure Love of the Heavenly Matrix that so the New Birth might be holy in its Virginity as to the inward Man 2. Nature saith How if c. viz. the right Humane Ens will not follow me And God said Beware c. viz. go not according to thy Reason but an Angel shall go before thee viz. the Divine Will for self-will and reason must not Lord it but Nature must be a Servant do as it is commanded and commit it to God to bring on the â—ternal Marriage But iâ— the Humane Will will not follow the Messenger hath discharged his Office The Rain ascends not up again without Fruit Nature must declare that God hath given Christ all his Goods and now desireth Man to be his Wife And the Servant sware c viz. When God put his Holy Word with the formed Wisdom into the Natural Ens of Mary then the Humane Nature sware Obedience 3. And the Servant took ten Camels and went to the City of Nahor in Mesopotamia viz. the ten Forms of the three Principles to the Natural and Supernatural Life viz. seven Forms of the Centre of Nature and three Forms of the three distinctions of the Principles which are they whereby God causeth all things and the Goods of the Lord are the formed Wisdom of the great Wonders and Powers 4. And the Servant caused the Camels to kneel by the Well near the City at Evening At or in the last time or days of the World The will of the Fathers Nature the Mystery of the Nature of the three Principles the Carriers of the formed Word hath laid it self down by the Well-spring of God the Divine Fountain 5. The Silver and Golden Jewels Bracelets and Ear-rings given to Rebekah signifie the Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ which is not given wholly into the power of the Fire-soul in this Life lest it become haughty as Lucifer and Adam but Virgin Sophia meant by Rebekah remaineth with her Bridegroom Christ in the second Principle 6. The Spices signifie the Holy Spirit Then they sate down to eat viz. the Marriage Feast the Joy whereof none but the Children of Christ know And when Rebekah saw Isaac c. When the disappear'd Humanity discovers Christ in it self it falleth into deepest Humility and is ashamed vailing its Face before Gods Holiness and Clarity that it hath lain so long Captive in the Bestial Man but Christ taketh it into his Arms and leadeth it into his Mothers Tent into the Heavenly Worlds Essence And then was Isaac comforted for his Mother for the disappeared Matrix which was lost in Adam now re-obtain'd in Virgin-like Chaâ—tity for his Spouse CHAP. LI. Of Abraham's taking Keturah to Wife and of his Six Sons and Death 1. ABraham was old when he had Isaac to shew Christ was to be in the old Age of the World and Sarah was old that so the Divine Ens might have the preheminence over the Humane and she must have but one for so is Christ and all are Branches in the one Tree viz. Christ in all 2. But Abraham by Keturah had six Sons signifying the six Properties of the formed Nature the operation of the six days Isaac viz. Christ is the seventh the Sabbath Of these six sprang six Nations to them he gave gifts of his Goods tho' not the In eritance yet had the free Gift of Grace So every Man hath Christ as the free Gift of Grace in him none predestinated to destruction for by those six are signified all Adam's Children 3. In the right Adamical Man out of which the Earth had its Original is the Covenant of the Free gift but the own-self-made-gross-earthy Adam who by Lust made himself a Beast is not capable of the Gift in the Covenant but the right Man as a Tincture in gross Lead mortifieth the Saturnine will and changeth it into Gold swalloweth up the gross Man viz. the dark Worlds Property 4. The Jews Christians and Heathens have all this Gift and Christ is the only available obedience all Men therefore who give up themselves in obedience to God are received in Christs obedience for Names are not accepted 5. My believing that Christ was Born Died and Rose for me makes me not a Christian but I must put on Christ enter into his Obedience and Sacrifice arise in him and Live in him 6. When Abraham had brought his Lifes Forms into right order he resigned up himself into Mortification tired with the Life of self reâ—â—ed in God CHAP. LII The History of Isaac Birth of Esau and Jacob. 1. AFter Abraham's Death God blessed Isaac and he lived by the Well Labairoi viz. the Well of Living and Seeing his Soul dwelt by the Fountain of Divine Love The desire of the Soul is the Fiat which takes the holy Love Tincture into it self and makes it Essential as the Metalline Ens gives its deâ—ire into the Suns Tincture that out of them both the fair and precious Gold is generated So doth the Deity inhabit in the Soul and co worketh but is not comprehended 2. The Souls Magical Fire by the Divine Love desire is inkindled into a shining Lustre so doth the Souls Magical Fire become the Bridegroom to the precious Sophia but the Mortal Soul from the Stars or four Elements attains it not in this Life but that Soul that cometh from the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Divine Lubet through the Word whereby the Divine longing formeth the Wisdom into Substance This Soul is that which is betrothed to Sophia 3. Ishmael had twelve Sons six of the Inward
the Incorporated Covenant in the Seed of the Woman but they look'd only on the outward Eve and committed Whoredom with her but the inward Eve was fruitless Therefore God slew Er the old World and bid the new Marry Thamar and raise up Seed to his Brother viz. in the Covenant but the second Son brought this Seed into Vanity as did Nimrod then the Lord slew him also viz. Sodom and Gomorrah and the Canaanites whom â—â—â—â—el drove out Then said Judah to Thamar remain a Widdow till my third Son Salah be grown up 6. But the Woman was not given to the Law but Judah Gods Word and Power must raise up this Womans Seed which was fulfilled in Mary 7. The Pledges given were his Ring Bracelet and Staff The Ring is the Soul the Bracelet the â—â—â—ward â—â—rit of Spirituâ— Mundi the Staff the Body Then she put on again her Widows Apparel so do Gods Children after Christ is conceiv'd in great Joy in them that the noble Seed be not known they do after this Union enter again into the state of Mourning as of a forsaken Widow 8. And as Judah committed and intended Whoredom so did the Jewish Priests in their outward Sacrifices which God boâ—e with but mixed himself only with the Faith in the Body Soul and Spirit of Man 9. Tho' the precious Line of the Covenant pressed in Perez through Judah's Whoredom yet it shews Mans Misery that even the children of God in their corrupt Nature in their Wedâ—ock have nothing chast and pure in the sight of God but is Bestial and a Whoredom 10. How then should we pray that Christ would enter with his Heavenly Virgin Seed and change it into the Paradisical Image again 11. Such a Figure we see also in David with Bâ—thsheba under whose Murther and Adultery God set the Line of the Covenant in the middle And after again in Solomon who had so many Wives and â—oncâ—bines and joyned himself to Idolatrous Women To shew Christ should set himself in the midst amongst the Heathen and tear away their Idolatry and convert their Hearts to himself 12. Of the Twins the first put forth his Hand and the Midwife tyed a red Thread on it but he pulled back his Hand and the other came out first First the Humane Nature according to Adam's right and self-will puts forth about this Humanity of Christ the red Thread with shedding of Blood is bound then must it return again into the Word then cometh the inward new Man first Thus is modellized Christs breach through Hell Death and Wrath of the first Principle CHAP. LXVI How Joseph was sold to Potiphar And of his Chastity and Fear of God 1. POtiphar having bought Joseph set him over his whole House so must the Christian let the Government be Christs then shall his twenty pieces of Silver become thirty pieces viz. the Adamical Humanity be exalted 2. The Wife of Joseph's Master cast her Eves on Joseph viz. The Whorish Eve the Bestial Lust in the Prison of Flesh and Blood wherein is the Serpents â—ting assaulteth the new regenerate Child who must converse in this World with such impure Lusts for which cause the Body must die and rot and this Bestial Spirit be destroyed for in it the Devil draweth the Noble Virgin Child the chast Joseph who saith I will not lye with thee nor be near thee thou art the Wife of the Spirit of this World 3. Joseph was alone and she caught him and he fled and left his Garment c. The Soul is alone the Spirit of God not stirring in it and then doth the Devil by the Whorish Woman storm the Soul in the Lifes Essence to defile the precious Virgin Child for the Serpent would copulate with the Soul but the chast Divine Child flies viz. hides it self in its own Principle that it comes not near this Whore in Flesh and Blood thus strongly the Divine Purity shields it self 4. Gods Children have no danger greater than worldly Exaltation for that is the Throne of Pride Lust Cruelty Wrath and of the Prince of this World which is not resisted but by giving up self as did Joseph and Daniel 5 Then his Master put him in Prison c. This figureth the final Tryal of the Child of God who is resigned wholly to God and dead to himself and his own will As a Prisoner condemn'd expecting Death knoweth not how to get comfort from any Creature But liveth in the unsearchable will standing again in the first Image is a similitude and spark of the One and the All. 6. It is better not to know than to will according to self for the will of that which knoweth not passeth away with the creaturely Life but the will to self rendeth it self off from the intire will into restless inquietude which is the Source and Torment of all the Damned the strife of the will bringing Enmity 7. But God is the will of the intirely resigned Man in him Sin ceaseth and tho' Gods will of Anger stir in him to bring down Fire as Elias yet all is right for God doth it by him as an Instrument Night is turn'd into day the Curse and Malice of the World into Paradise as did Joseph's Prison and Daniel's Den lift them up CHAP. LXVII Of Joseph's Expounding the Dreams of Pharoah's Butler and Baker 1. THE Art of Astronomy according to Astrology may Interpret But Joseph got by resignation into the total and in it the Divine Eye which sees the ground of all 2. Every Man hath the Image of his Constellation in himself and when time comes for kindling the Magick Image to work the Astral Spirit seeth what Figure it self hath in the Elements But the Elements affording only a Bestial Figure the Astral Spirit hath only a Bestial appearance So a Beast dreameth according to Fanâ—y as doth a Bestial Animal Man But there is great difference betwixt the false wicked Soul which daily willeth and figureth Bestial things and the pious Divine Soul wherein Gods Spirit is manifest 3. But the right Visions are when Mans will resteth in God then it seeth with Gods Eyes for then the Astral Spirit cannot model it self into the fancy CHAP. LXVIII Pharoah Dreaming saw seven Fat Kine c. 1. THese Dreams were shewn Pharaoh out of the Centre of Nature therefore the Natural Magicians who saw only into the working of Nature in the Constellation understood them not but Joseph being a Divine Magus understood them 2. The Egyptian Art Magick was common but being abus'd to Witchcraft was â—upprest by the Divine Magia in the Kingdom of Christ. And it was well that thereby the Heathens Faith in their Idols which tho' they had their ground in Nature were above their Sphere worshipt for Gods Might be rooted out of Mens Hearts 3. But Titular Christendom is surcharg'd with such Magi as have only an empty babling of supernatural Magick without natural understanding of God or Nature but make Images of
little Paper Book in their Pockets into which their Friends do write some remarkable Sentence and Subscribe their Names and this Book is called Album Amicorum into such as these our Author wrote these following Verses Weme Zeit i st wie Ewigkeit Und Ewigkeit wie die Zeit Der i st befreyt vom allem streit Englished Unto that Man whose time and ever Is all the same and all together His Battel 's done his Strife is ended His Soul is safe his Life 's amended Or To him who wisely doth not sever This fleeting Time and State for ever And to this Maxim frames his Life Is freed from anxious Care and Strife On Sunday November 18. 1624. early in the Morning he called his Son and asked him If he heard the Excellent Musick he replied No Open saith he the Door that it may be the better heard afterward he asked What the Clock had struck and was told it had struck two He said It is not yet my time three Hours hence is my time In the mean while he spake these words O thou strong God of Hosts deliver me according to thy Will O thou Crucified Lord Jesus Have mercy upon me and receive me into thy Kingdom When it was near about Six he took leave of his Wife and Son Blessed them and said Now I go hence into Paradise and bidding his Son turn him he fetch'd a deep Sigh and Departed Thus have you had a short Account of the Journey of this Blessed Man on Earth with his last Farewel And it is well worthy of Remark that although he was indued with such rare and singular Gifts he sought not to make himself the Head of some Church and separate a People into some peculiarity of outward Form and Discipline But sought earnestly to promote in himself and others that Universal Love Uprightness and Serviceableness we owe to the whole Creation The Seven Spirits of God or Powers or Forms in Nature Binding 1 Attraction 2 Anguish 3 Fire 4 Light 5 Sound 6 Body 7 are the Seven Spirits Might The Ten Forms of Fire OF the Ten Forms of Fire know the Skill The Liberty both hath and is the Will Next's Strong Desire Third's sharp Drawing Might Makes An opposing Will. Fourth flash of Light Brings Anguish And in the Fifth Form doth Lye Th' Eternal Nature or Great Mystery Sixth The two Principles of Fire and Light The Seventh Magia with reflecting Sight The Eighth the Turba Ends the outward Life Ninth Virgin Tincture Pacifying Strife The Tenth makes holy Flesh and holy Earth Of Angels and Blest Souls the holy Birth Figur'd by Sem 1 Arphaxad 2 Selah 3 and Eber 4 Peleg 5 Regu 6 next whom do stand Serug 7 Nabor 8 with Terah 9 and the Blest Abram 10 whose Seed Sanctifies all the Rest. THREE and but three Principles Comprehend Eternal Things and those that have an End The First such Darkness as doth Light Desire Which till it Gain is a fierce Anguish Fire The Second A Meek Yielding Loving Light Majestick Potent Sacred Sweet and Bright The Third Resulting as from Fire and Light Brings Good from Evil Day from Pitchy Night Impregnates fully with Redundant Bliss Each Great or Little thing that Blessed is Did in Six Days the whole Creation hatch Still Swaddles Feeds and over it doth watch ERRATA PAge 30. Line 47. wants a Comma at Creature p. 77. l. 4. place the Parenthesis at Bodâ—es p. 79. Penult for eacht read each p. 102. l. 2. for It is r. Is it p. 181. l. 38. for Rod r. Root p. 277. l. 10. place the Parenthesis at through p. 322. Q. 19. for who r. how p. 396. for Enkinded r. Enkindled The General Heads of the following Treatise COnsiderations by way of Inquiry and Search into the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely Instructed Jacob Behmen Page 1 The 177 Theosophick Questions of Jacob Behmen Answered shewing their Scope and Design Page 41 Meditations and Contemplations on some of the preceding Questions and Answers Page 219 Extracts of the Works of Jacob Behmen beginning with his Book called Aurora Page 241 The Three Principles of the Divine Essence Page 260 The Threefold Life in Man Page 288 The Forty Questions of the Soul Page 315 The Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Page 320 The Six Great Points Page 337 And Six Smaller Points Page 345 A Brief Summary of the Earthy and Heavenly Mysteries Contracted and Comprized in Nine Texts Page 347 Of the Divine Vision or Contemplation Page 349 A Brief Explanation of the Knowledge of God and of all things also of the True and False Light Page 354 Signatura Rerum Page 356 Gods Election of Grace call'd Predestination Page 369 Baptism and the Lords Supper Page 375 Mysterium Magnum Page 379 Extracts of the Life of Jacob Behmen Page 425 A Brief TABLE A. OF the Abyss of all things Page 42 Of Abraham and his Seed and of the Line of the Covenant Page 395 How Abraham's Travails figureth Christianity Page 400 Of Abraham's rescuing Lot Page 396 Of the Covenant made betwixt Abraham and Abimelech Page 401 Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac Sarah's Death and the rest of the History of Abraham what it all points at Page 402 to 404 Of Abraham's Bosom what it is Page 324 Of Adam's Eyes being opened Page 102 Of Adam and Eves Shame Page 103 Of Adam and Eves Death Page 104 Out of what the Angels were made Page 44. 59 Of the Work of the Angels Page 44. 244 Of their Dominions Thrones and Principalities Page 57. 221. 246. 294 Of Antichrist what it is Page 178. 306 Of the Antichristian Church Page 279 Of the Archeus Separator or Workman Page 73. 233. 263 B. BAbel what it is Page 180. 394 Of Baptism Page 132. 373. 398. The Beast in the Apocalypse what it is Page 180. 395 What the Ruin of the Beast is Page 182 Of God's Blessing in this World Page 312 Of the Water and Blood what they are Page 168. 172 Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ really enjoyed what it is Page 168. 172 Of the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Page 168. 173 C. OF Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel Page 109. 390 Of Cain's Despair of Grace Page 111 Whether Cain was Damned in respect of his Sin Page 111 Of the Mark set on Cain what it was Page 112 Of the Kingdom of Cain Page 279 Of the Chaos whence it proceeded Page 62. 63 Of the Cherub with the naked Sword before Paradise what it was Page 107 Of Childrens Baptism Page 281. 308 Of Christ what he is Page 31. 32. 105 Of his Incarnation Page 32. 275. 329 Of his heavenly Humanity and how participated of by us Page 35. 105. 306. Of the Uniting the Deity and Humanity in his becoming Man Page 129 Why he conversed 30 Years on Earth before he entred on his Office Page 131 How it is that he increased in favour with God and Man Page 131 Why he was Baptiz'd of
its first sude boiling or vegetation CHAP. IV. The Birth of the Stars c. 1. THere are seven Forms in Nature which yet principally consist in three viz. Astringency Compunction and Anguish according to which there are seven Planets and no more and seven Metals fixt The Temporal Spirits hunger gaineth a Temporal Body and the Eternal Spirits hunger an Eternal Body both in each other but distinct as Time and Eternity 2. In Saturns Property the Lubet makes Lead and according to the Water Salt according to Saturns mortal Property Earth Stones c. according to the Liberty in Saturn Gold which he keeps shut up See verse the 27th to the 34th 3. There is in Man 1. The Divine Golden Man 2. The inward holy Body from Fire and Light like pure Silver if not corrupted 3. The Elemental Man like Jupiter 4. The Mercurial growing Paradisical Man 5. The Martial Soul-like Man 6. The Venerine according to the outward desire 7. The Solar a seer of the Wonders of God 4. Mercury in the internal was as the Word by which God created 5. Mars his impression is Anguish causing the Love-will to separate from him which is called God but the Anguish is God's Anger or Wrath of the Eternal Nature 6. Venus Metal is Copper receiving its toughness from Saturn its redness from Mars tho' Mars his Metal be Iron But Sol may tincture Mars and Venus into Gold for Venus longeth after Sol her Mother her Joy whence she hath a peculiar smiling twinkling Aspect 7. The Sun is a figure in the outward World of the heart of God each thing longeth after the Sun in Sulphur being the universal Tincture and what the first desire with Saturns impression makes evil the Sun restores to be good causing a pleasant temperature blooming and growing in all Creatures CHAP. V. Of the Sulphurian Death and how the Body is revived c. 1. MAN was created good according to and out of the three Worlds But the inward Lubet generated in the Centre viz. the fire wherein stands the Life by Lust enkindled the Divine Meekness wherein Joy consisteth turning from Eternal Liberty to Time from the one pure Element into the four Elements 2. Then did the Precious Gold of Heavenly Corporality which tinctur'd the outward Body disappear then also the dominion of Time destroyed its own contrived Spirit and so the Body passed away and died 3. The only Remedy is that Gods Love Desire Essentiality and Divine Water enter again into and quench the Souls Wrath-Fire For Mans Salvation consists in his full unfeigned desire after God so riseth the Meekness and Love tinctureth Death and Darkness in the four Elements and sever from the New Man who and the Heavenly Body remaineth only in it self So is it done in the transmutation of Metals See Verse the 12th and to the End of the Chapter De â—apide Philosophorum CHAP. VI. Of the generating Difference and Vegetation caus'd by Water and Oyl 1. ALL life and growth consist in the Lubet and the Desire The Lubet is out of the Liberty so God hath the free Lubet needeth nothing Himself as far as he is called God is all But the Desire is a hunger stirring up the Lubet to manifestation so the Lubet is the hungers Food and Essence 2. The free Lubet or Essence giveth an Oâ—â— and the Desire giveth a life to the Oyl The Oyl is a Light the Desire giveth the Fires Property so that it shineth In the Desire ariseth the Natural Spirit in the Lubet the Supernatural which yet is belonging to Nature not spontaneously but from its meek resignation to the Desires Property 3. But a twofold Property ariseth out of one Spirit thus a fiery according to the Property of the Desire and a joyful lucid according to the Liberty 4. The fiery giveth in its water Essence a sharpness or saltness and from the flery in its anguish Brimstorâ—e whence are Stones Earth and Meâ—als 5. The Oleous Property gives Meekness viz. Vegetation what the raging Mercury spoils the Lubet of the Love-oyl heals thus Good and Evil are in each Life the Evil comes when the Hunger Spirit too much impresseth its own Form To that it cannot receive the free Lubet to appeaâ—e its Hunger Whereas Nature's Property should be sincerely inclined to God's Love Eâ—s that it become not a dark raging poisonful Hunger but a Love desire which is called God's Nature for the hungry fiery desire is God's Anger in the outward 't is Fire but in the inward where it doth energize in the free Lubet it is the Divine Desire whence joyfulness proceedeth 6. All sharpness of taste is Salt all smell proceeds of Sulphur and Mercury distinguisheth all Motion in â—ast smell and power 7. In the strongest poisonful Mercury lyes the highest Tincture but not in its own Property but in an Oyl from the Light which is its Food If this be sever'd from him it is a mighty potent inkindler a lifter up of all sick â—ainting weak obscured lives for in this Oyl is the joyful Life a hunger after Life So in a Toad Viper Addeâ— â— lyes the highest Tincture if the oily Substance be reduced from the wrath of Mercury CHAP. VII How Adam and Lucifer were Corrupted through Imagination c. 1. VVHEN Adam was Created the Light of his Life shone in the pure Oyl of Divine Essentiality but by his Fall Mortal Water pene 〈…〉 so that his Mercury became a cold Poison which was before an Exaâ—â—aâ—ion 〈…〉 ss So came darkness into his Oyl and he died to the Divine Light 〈…〉 thereto by the Property of the Serpent for in the Serpent the wrath 〈…〉 and outward also was manifeâ—t whose subtilty Eve desired 2. Fo◠〈◊〉 much as the Serpent is not out of the Eternal Ground 〈◊〉 Angels and the Souls of Men but out of the Beginning where Fire and Light sever Eve should not have gone with her desire out of Eternity into time and be a Selfist but with a desire resign'd to God to the quiet still meek Liberty for each Hunger maketh it self an Essence according to the Property of the Hunger 3. The Devil went with his desire into himself into the Property of the Centre forsook the Eternal Lubet of Love and became a Poisonful Mercury or as an anxious Fire as Wood burnt to a Coal a dark glowing without Oyl or Water in it whence springeth a stinging Envy in his Lifes Forms where one Form hates the other in his aspiring Pride Out of the strife of which Properties when God said Let all sorts of Beasts come forth each according to his Kind or Property then came out of the divided Evil Properties Vipers Serpents Toads c. Not that the Devil made them but that there where God and the World sever the inward Wrath according to which God is called a Consuming Fire manifested it self in External figures of the inward wrath Kingdom 4. And because Adam died to God and lived
to Death it was necessary God should regenerate him from the Essence of time the Mortal Oyl which God had Cursed viz. withdrawn from to the Essence of Eternity the Living Oyl which God's Love-desire penetrateth So doth the Womans Seed break the Serpent's Head deprive the Wrath of its might put it into Divine Joyfulness the dead Soul ariseth the Anger was Master but in the Light is become a Servant From the 24th Verse exclusive to the End of the Chapter is de Lapide Philosophorum CHAP. VIII Of the Seething and Growth in the Earth and the Separation of the several Kinds of Creatures 1. ALL things consist of a sulphurous Property The visible as the likeness of the Eternal proceed in Generation according to the right of Eternity in the Limit of Measure Weight and space of Time which is as a dead Instrument of Eternity Now for accomplishing all God hath substituted the Soul of the great World his Officer and over him the understanding wherewith he ruleth the Officer shewing him the Severation Degrees and Process for Sulphur contains all Mercury enliveneth and Salt impresseth and fixeth that it fall not to Ashes Mercury by boyling in Sulphur produceth two Forms viz. One Oleous from the Liberty of the Divine Power the other Mortal from the dissolution of the Salnitral flagrat Mercury is the Officers Faber which in the Oily Property doth pullulate willing always to fly from the Anguish as his Death not to be captivated thereby from which strife proceedeth Growth in the Mortal Property it is the Life of Death Hell and the Anger of God but in the oleous good Property is a Heavenly Light 3. And because the Essence of Eternity is hid in the anxious Mercury these and the other Writings of this Author teach how to bring the desire out of the poisonful Mercury into the inclosed Essence of Eternity and reassume that for a Body and therewith Tincture the Essence of time and reunite the inward and outward World to have only one Will viz. A Love Hunger so that no Will to Evil can arise any more And may be attained like as we see Eternity Travelling through time with longing to be free from Vanity which when the Hunger of Mercury obtains it becomes joyful is pregnant making the free Lubet Corporeal in him whence come good Herbs Metals Silver Gold Pearls c. all according to the prevalency of one of the seven Forms of Nature and the Boiling or Sude in each place CHAP. IX Of the Signature Shewing how the Internal doth sign the External 1. THE Kingdom of God consists in Power and the outward visible World is a Figure or Signature of the Spiritual and Eternal Powers both the inward and outward are especially in seven Properties or Forms each the cause of the other none is first or last of them 2. That of the seven which is Superior in any Creature or thing chiefly signeth that Body and the other Forms adhere to it But the Artist with the true Mercury by subjecting the Superior and exalting an Inferior Property may cause the Spirit to obtain another Will giving other tast odour colour sound and shape than before viz. Life and Good or Death and Evil prevailing 4. The Properties are Labourers in the Heavenly Earthy and dark impression also So the inward Mercury is the Eternal speaking Word both in the Holy Light World in the outward and in the opposite perverse World 5. That where Saturn is most potent is of colour greyish black or grey or whitish Buds in Vegetables of touch hard of tast sharp or salt the Eye of a dark blew a lean long Body or Stalk If it as usually it doth awaken Mars it curbs the heighth and is crooked knotty bushy as in Oak shrubs 6. Where Venus is next Saturn not hindred by Mars the Sude in that Saturnin Sulphur makes a tall great Man Beast Tree or Herb. 7. If Jupiter be stronger in Saturn than Venus and both than Mars it makes an excellent fair vertuous potent Body of good taste its Eyes whitish blue 8. But if Mercury be betwixt Venus and Jupiter and Mars weakest then is this Property in Saturn graduated in the highest Power and Vertue in word and work If it be in Vegetables they are long of middle-sized stalk of curious form fair white or blue Bloâ—â—oms which if the Sum influenceth incline to yellow and if Mars hinder not be it in Man or other Creature is Soveraign Universal Vertue exempted from false Influences but is rarely found being near to Paradise 9. But if Mars be next Saturn superiour to Venus and Jupiter and Mercury cast an opposite Aspect all is poyson'd and the Creature prone to evil which if the Moon also Influenceth Witchcraft is manifest 10. If a Blossom be reddish streak'd with white Venus is there but if only reddish with dark streaks a rough Skin on the Stalk or Leaf a loathsom taste it obscureth Life for there lodgeth the Basilisk It is Pestilential but if the Artist extracteth the Mercurial Poyson and feedeth Mars with Jupiter and Venus it becomes a Love-fire in Sol and an Antidote 11. This Property makes the Voice or Sound gross dull yet inclining to be shrill by reason of Mars false and flattering the Visage hath red Pimples or Streams in blinking rouling or unsteady Eyes 12. But if Mars be next Saturn and Jupiter under it Mercury weak Venus opposite it produceth good hot Herbs for hot Diseases rough and pricky yet the stalk is fine and thin the Flower brownish 13. Saturn alone hurteth in Mars-like Diseases for it awakeneth Mercury in the cold Property 14. Nor may the undigested hot Mars be used in which Mercury is inflamed but both be first sublimed into Joy 15. An Herb in the aforesaid Property grows not high is rough in such degree as Mars hath strength in it and to be used only externally but the fine subtle part is expulsive and near to Mans Life being then most potent 16. But if Mercury be next Saturn and next him the Moon and Venus and Jupiter beneath and weak then all is Earthy at best let Mars be where he will but if Mars be too near is also poysonous unless Venus opposeth by whose Power it hath a greenish Colour 17. If Venus be next Saturn and the Moon not oppos'd by Mars and Jupiter be powerful then in that Constellation all is pleasant the Herb slender single and soft the Blossoms white unless Mercury by Sol and Mars intermix yellow and red 18. There are three Salts in Vegetables chiefly Medicineable which the Spirit of the Sun makes operative 1. Salt of Jupiter of pleasant Smell and Taste inwardly from the liberty of the Divine Essence and Externally of the Sun and Venus 2. Salt of Mars is fiery bitter and austere 3. Salt of Mercury is anxious and raging inclined to heat and cold assimilating it self to each Property where it is in Jupiter's Salt it causeth