the spirit ariseth which formeth it a creature out of the Ens and the spirit signeth it selfe in the Body what it is and so stands its figure CHAP. XXV How God drove Adam out of Paradise and laid the Cherub before the Garden WHen God had cursed the Serpent and the Earth then the Beast-Man was no longer profitable in Paradise for he could not any more enjoy the fruits of Paradise therefore he laid upon him the labour and toil of the world and drove him out of the Garden of Eden and placed the Cherub with the fire sword of judgement before it that if the new born virgin-child of the seed of the woman would again returne and enter into Paradise this Angel with the fire-sword should cut away the Serpents-beast from it and not any more suffer l l l Understand the beast it to come into Paradise 2. The Angel with the fire-sword is the right destroying Angel who carrieth death and life in his Sword he hath therein Gods Love and Anger and when man Dyeth in this world then he cometh before the Gates of Paradise before this Angel and even there the poor Soul must passe through this Garden judgement 3. Now if it be captivated in the Anger of God then it cannot passe through this judgement but if it be a virgin child born of the Seed of the woman then it may passe quite through this Sword and then the Angel cutteth off the Beast begotten of the Serpents Ens and even then the Soul is an Angell of God and serveth him in his Temple in Paradise and expecteth the Day of judgement viz. the Resurrection of the outward body when this Angell with the fiery Sword shall Sever the Earth from the Curse then the right humane body returnes again for it must also passe through this Sword and the Sword will cut off its Beast that he may be onely a Man and no more a Beast 4. The Speech of Moses concerning this Mystery is wholly hidden to the Earthly Man for Moses speaketh of an Angel and Sword and albeit the Outward figure was even just so for so was Adam driven out yet it hath far another A. B. C. internally the naturall man without Gods light understands nothing thereof 5. This Sword is in man when man converteth and entreth into sorrow for his committed Sins and casteth away the vanity and steppeth into the Infants Shirt then the morning Star ariseth in the spirit of Christ in the virgin-like m m m Or shut up Ens. occluse Ens in the true womans seed 6. And in this Anxious Sorrowfull Gate of true Repentance the Angel standeth with the fire-flaming sword and the virgin-Bud forceth quite through this fire-sword into Paradise viz. into the light into the life of Christ and groweth forth through this sword 7. And now the virgin-child standeth with its faire Rose in the New Plant in Paradise and the poore Soul which begetteth this child standeth the whole time of this life under the reach and Swinge of this fire-sword and is fast bound with a band to the grosse beast in the outward world where the virgin-child is sufficiently thrust at and wounded with this fire-sword for the fire-soul which in the fire-Sword of Gods Anger is bound to the Serpents Monster doth daily amuse it selfe upon the Serpent-Monster and Sinneth and even then this fire-sword doth cut away the Sins and devoures them into Gods Anger where they are examined and judged 8. Therefore the poore virgin-virgin-child which is borne out of the Soul must stand under Christs crosse in Christs death and the pierceing Sword of Tribulation and grief passeth quite through it it must suffer it selfe to be drawn quite through this flaming Sword and the fire burneth away the Abomination which the soul continually brings into it selfe from the Serpents n n n Or false Image Monster and even then it is in a Sore strait when that is cut off from the fire-soul which it faine would have from its Monster 9. Then must the virgin-child Supplicate the fire-soule and tender it the Love that it should onely forsake the Monster of the Serpent heere then ariseth strife and opposition for the part of the fire-soul hath introduced the Serpents Monster into it and desireth also to have its joy therein and loveth the Evill Beast 10. Then Sophia viz. the Second Principle viz. the Part of the light world doth speak against it and hence cometh up the Strife betwixt the Seed of the woman and the Seed of the Serpent and then man goeth up and down in Sorrow and Sadnesse trouble and perplexty sometimes the virgin-child prevailes and sometimes the Serpent-childe 11. And then the Devill stirs up and incenseth all Monsters against the virgin-child to strike it to mock it scorne it revile and laugh it to shame and make it ridiculous that it may by no meanes be known least the Devills Kingdome should become manifest 12. Thus the virgin-childe must be exercised by this in the Spirit of Christ and suffer it selfe to be whipped persecuted and injuriously reproved and often called one possessed by the Devill be cursed and continually accounted an off-scouring of the world untill the outward Beast hath finished its Course in its Constellation and then the Cherub cutteth off the grosse beast and lets it fall even unto the judgment of God and then the part of the fire-soule must forthwith force through the judgement of this Sword 13. Now if the fire-soul hath o o o Impressed taken in much vanity into it self viz. much of the Serpents craft and lust then the part of the fire-soule must stand p p p Or in under this Sword untill the fire of Gods Anger consumes this introduced vanity which to many a one is q q q Refining fire Purgatory enough which this present too too wise world will not beleeve and will be onely an Adopted child from without and so have an externall washing away of Sins in Grace but it hath another A. B. C. here God will not let the Serpens Ens neither in body nor Soule come into Paradise 14. The fire-soule must subsist in the fire of God and be so pure as the clear refined Gold for it is the husband of the Noble virgin Sophia which is from the womans Seed it is the fires Tincture and Sophia the lights Tincture if the Tincture of the fire be wholly and throughly pure then it s Sophia will be given to it and so Adam receiveth again into his armes his most pretious and endeared Bride which was taken from him in his sleep and is not any r r r Or from thence forward longer man or woman but a branch on Christs Pearl-tree which standeth in the Paradise of God 15. To the description whereof we need an Angels Tongue and yet we are understood well enough by our School-fellowes we have not written this for Swine for none but those onely who have been by and
same doth come or press in to God in the humanity of Christ viz. in the whole process of his suffering death and resurrection 33. A Christian is Christ in the inward humanity and a Jew is Christ in the figure and in the office of his law viz. according to nature but now Adam in his nature and Christ in the divine nature are but one person one onely Tree * * * Rom. 8.34 Who now is here that judgeth 34. Saint Paul saith ‖ ‖ ‖ Rom. 2.11 12 13 14 15. There is no respect of persons before God for as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law and they who have sinned in the law shall be judged by the Law for not the hearers of the law are just before God but the doers of the law shall be justified for when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law these having not the law are a law unto themselves which shew that the work of the law is written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness to them and their thoughts within themselves either accusing or excusing each other That is or signifieth thus much 35. When the Gentiles do apprehend Christ then they do apprehend the Law of nature to do uprightly for Christ is the beginning and the fullfilling of the law but the Jewes have the law now whosoever transgresseth and sinneth either the Jew in the law of nature or the Gentile who acknowledgeth Christ in the law of the fullfilling each shall be punished or judged in his law viz. the Jew in the law of God the Father in Christ and the Christian in the law of the Gospel viz. in the law of the Accomplishment 36. For here is no respect of name in that one saith I am a Jew the other I am a Christian the name maketh no difference in the Adoption of God but the spirit in the heart to do uprightly to obey God they all come in the Grace under the obedience of Christ unto God both the Jew and Christian. 37. For without Christ there is neither law nor Gospel Christ is the Righteousness which availeth before God in the law so that man without Christ hath no God now let him run either in the Law or Gospel if he runneth in the desire to obey God then he runneth in the law of the Accomplishment for Christ is the onely obedience which availeth before God both in the law and Gospel all men who give up themselves in obedience unto God they are received in Christs obedience viz. in the fullfilling of the obedience the Jew and the Christian and so likewise the heathen who hath neither the law nor Gospel 38. For if the Gentile desire to obey the onely God and yet knoweth him not according to the essence of his manifestation but presseth in to the obedience of God then he is a law unto himselfe and declareth indeed that God hath written his law in him which he hath fullfilled in his Son as Paul saith for he who knoweth the law and Gospell knoweth the same onely as a Gift of the Giver who hath given him the knowledge but he that doth not know it and yet desireth the power of the law and Gospel in him God in Christ knowes what he pleaseth 39. For Grace doth not onely lye in knowing that one knoweth the Grace in Christ but it lyeth in the pressing into that Grace and in the mercy of God One presseth in to mercy in the law the other in the Gospel and the third without the law and without the knowledge of the Gospel he that hath neither but hangs on the Grace of God the same is freely given without his knowledge of it 40. Even as the branch on the tree doth not know whence the Stock doth introduce the sapp and power into it it onely longeth and gaspeth after the power and vertue of the root and draweth with its desire the sap into its selfe even so likewise many an ignorant man doth long after his eternall mother out of whom he is arisen with Adam and cometh in his ignorance or un-knowing condition again unto the free gift of Grace which God freely bestowed on Adam in his fall for the Covenant and Grace passed from Adam upon all originally or by way of inheritance even as Sin passed from one upon all whosoever desireth the Grace of the onely God he obtaineth it in Christ who is the Grace it selfe 41. The Jewes will not beleeve the outward humanity of Christ and do deny the same but the Christians do beleeve it and yet defile the same with ungodly conversation and the one is as the other before God except the children of Faith among the Jewes and Christians whose defiled garment is washed in the bloud of Christ. 42. We do not hereby confirm or speak for the unbeleef of the Jewes and Gentiles that they should or might remain in blindness for the time of their visitation is * * * Text. born at hand that they shall see but we hereby disclose and lay open the wicked Antichrist among the Jewes and Christians in that every one boasteth of his Name and condemneth another the Jew in the Law and the Christian in the Gospel and the Heathen in his Superstition 43. Each of them will be Gods child in his knowledge and yet the disobedience and unbeleef is as great among one people as another and they are in the knowledge onely as a figure before God and none is saved by his knowledge onely for that I do beleeve and hold for a truth that Christ was born dyed and arose again from death for mee doth not make me a child of God the Devill knoweth it also but it doth not avail him I must putt on Christ in the desire of faith and enter into his obedience into his incarnation suffering and death and arise again in him and putt on the obedience of Christ and then I am a Christian and not before 44. The judging censuring and condemning others without Gods Command is onely the Antichrist among the Jewes and among the Christians without Gods mercy none cometh to the Son-ship we must all enter in through the free Mercy of God the Jew and Christian the knower and he that knoweth not our knowledge must be filled and abound with the love of Christ effectually so that we love one another else knowledge is not at all available if I bring not my knowledge with the desire into the Love of God wherewith he hath loved us in Christ and love my neighbour in the love of God in Christ with that love wherewith God generally loveth us and loved us when we were his Enemies then I have not as yet the love of God dwelling in mee 45. But how will he Love his brother who contemneth him for his knowledge sake did not God Love us when we knew nothing of his Love if a man hath not this Love of
then Christ divided his Deity and his humanity viz. the heavenly worlds substance which he brought from God in Our humanity and the kingdome of the Naturall humanity from Adam into two severall Principles for the Deity as to the Omnipotency stood yet still therefore sayth the Humanity on the Crosse * * * Mat. 27.46 Mark 15.34 Psal. 22.1 My God why hast thou forsaken mee 5. The two wives of Jacob with their children signifie heere in Christs state and condition the twofold soule viz. that from Time and that from Eternity and the two handmaydes with their children signifi◠heere in this state and condition of his the Heavenly and the Earthly corporeity viz. Lea in her bleereydness signifieth the * * * The spirit of the world in the Dust of the Earth· Spiritus Mundi in Limo terrae wherein the Corruption in Adam was effected wherein God promised the destroyer of the Serpent and wherein Christ should be manifested and therefore in Lea the Line of Christ viz. the destroyer of the Serpent in the type and prefiguration was borne viz. Judah and Rachel signifieth the Extinguished Ens of the heavenly worlds Substance wherein the true soule dwelleth which faded in Adams Fall and became unfruitfull as Rachel till God in the Spirit of Christ made her fruitfull as was done to Rachel 6. And as Jacob set the handmayds with their children formost so was the Earthly Image in the humane Nature set formost in the suffering of Christ which should passe through the sharpnes of Death next after would Lea that is the Body out of the Limus of the Earth wherein the Destroyer of the Serpent lay in the suffering of Christ follow and after that Rachel viz. the heavenly Limus with the Prince Joseph that is with the true Adamicall Image of the Divine worlds Substance and the Name JESUS passed into the suffering of Christ before as Jacob before his wives and childrens 7. And as the Name and power JESU viz. Gods Sweetnesse and Love saw and felt the wrath of God in the humane flesh and soule then the Name JESUS bowed it selfe through all the Seaven Formes of Natures Life wherein the Anger of God was become manifest that is he then pressed Essentially through the Centre of Nature through all the Seaven Formes of Nature quite through the wrathfull fire-source 8. As Jacob bowed himselfe seaven times to the Earth before the Anger of Esaw and appeased Esaw in this humility so also heere the Love in the Name JESU appeaseth the anger of the Fathers property in the fire in soule and body for the Naturall Life from the Spirit of the world viz. the soule from time which was breathed into Adams Nostrills must yeeld up its naturall Right and dye as Jacob yeelded up his riches and also his outward Life to his brother to do what he would with him thus also Christ yeelded up our Life to the anger of God and left it willingly but the Name JESUS went before and brought our Naturall Life quite through death and tooke it to himselfe againe and triumphed with our Naturall Life over and through Death 9. And as Esau his brother in this humility and submission ran to meete him and fell about his neck and kissed him and in great compassion wept upon his neck So also in like manner when the essence of the anger of God kissed and tasted the sweet love in the Name JESU in the bloud of Christ then it was transmuted and converted into such great compassion towards mankinde as Jeremiah in the Spirit declareth where he speaketh in this figure * * * Jer. 31.20 Ephraim my deare childe my heart is troubled I must have compassion on him Where he speaks concerning this compassion 10. And when Esaw wept upon Jacobs neck †††Gen. 33.5 6 7. He lift up his eyes and behold the women with the children and said Whose are these with thee Jacob answered They are the children which God hath bestowed upon thy servant And the handmayds drew neare with their children and bowed themselves before him Lea also drew near with her children and bowed themselves before him afterwards Joseph and Rachel drew neare and bowed themselves before him The inward Figure stands thus When the anger of God held man captive in the darknesse then was he not in the anger known to God's holy Image but when the love in the suffering of Christ in the humanity brake through the anger so that the anger was changed then the onely God looked on it againe in his Image and spake to the Name JESU saying Who are these that are with thee And JESUS answered God and sayd They are the children which God hath vouchsafed and bestowed upon his servant 11. For heere Christ presents himselfe as a Servant of God with his children that are borne in him in the Faith viz with us poore children of Eve and there passed through the death of Christ and were presented before the countenance of God first the handmaids with their children that is man that had been sinfull he sets him first in Gods countenance which Jacobs handmaids doe signifie 12. Afterwards there pressed forward the line of the Covenant with the spiritual Lea viz the first created Image out of the Limus of the earth wherein the * * * The 5 wounds of Christ. five Prints of the Nailes the wounds of Christ stood they should be shewne to the onely God that therein he should receive the handmaids children who all bowed themselves before God 13. Then afterwards came Joseph with his Mother viz. the Image of the heavenly world's substance and bowed before the onely God which had been angry with him 14. Men should not understand this in divided figures types or Images but as the properties of the humanity are manifested before God through the suffering of Christ in one onely Image viz. in Christ's humanity in the kingdome of the Restauration or Redemption viz. in the kingdome of heaven The reader should understand our sence properly for we write heere in the vision of all the Three Principles how it went and still to this day goeth with the new birth Our exposition will not beare any dividing of the figure or Creature wee understand it in one creature 15. Our earnest and hearty consideration is this that we may see and understand how we poore children of Eve were brought through Christ's suffring and death and set before Gods countenance and how first the soule with the body of sin must passe through death and in the Resurrection come againe with the body before God where the body from the Limus of the earth is esteemed strange in the presence of God Therefore it is prefigured in the type in the condition of a handmaid and then presently in that body the Prints of the Nailes the suffering of Christ is sett before God Out of which death of Christ the faire Image created in Adam appeareth
Ens which was taken in the Verbum Fiat and brought into a creaturall Image according to each property as also the Devills Ens before his Creatur ship was a virgin-like Ens of Angelicall property 26. This Serpents Ens was modellized and ingrafted in Adam and Eve for the desire of Eve took hold of this beastiall property and imprinted it into her selfe as a blemish or foule marke into the right pure Virginity into the Pregnant Matrix therefore God cursed the Image of the outward Serpent and bid her goe upon the belly and eat earth and herewith also the marke or blemish of the impressed monstrous Serpent was enstamped in Man 27. For as now the outward Serpent must goe upon the belly and eat earth which had brought its figure into the Matrix in Eves Belly so must now the Belly of Eve eat of the Cursed earth and the Matrix goeth as a subtill Serpent upon its belly and beguileth the limbus of of the fires Tincture thus it longeth after its Belly and Serpent-creeping whereas it is onely that this Serpents Matrix might exercise whoredome and effect a beastiall worke as Eve did deceive Adam so that he did eat of the fruit and as the outward Serpent was cursed so also the Serpents Matrix of the beastiall property in Eve from whence all her children are corrupted and are all borne of a monstrous Matrix which is a * * * Text an whore defloured Mayd in the sight of God for Adam had already corrupted it when as he stood in both Tinctures but when Eve was separated from Adam it came with her into Act. 28. And God said I will put enmity between thee and the woman between thy Seed Verse â—â— and her Seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt sting it on the Heele Now the ground doth lye herein for God did not meane hereby the outward beastiall Serpent i i i Extra Hominem without Man which hideth it selfe in holes and cranies of the Rocks and inhabiteth in the rude Solitary places of the earth but the monstrous Beastiall Serpent in Man which was figured in the womans Matrix 29. For when God called Adam when he hid himselfe among the Trees and was ashamed and feared then the voice of the holy Word entred againe into the vitall light and heere vvhen God said I will put enmity the Seed of the woman shall bruise the Serpents head then the holy voice of God went forth out of JEHOVAH which would once more move it selfe in time and manifest JESVS in the womans matrix in the disappeared heavenly Ens and incorporated it selfe anew with the holy Word therein as into an k k k Mark limit or Bound Ayme of an Eternall Covenant 30. And this word which did promise in-hest and incorporate it selfe into the Womans Seed was that same word which did move it selfe in Mary's Seed and opened the Name Jesus out of the Centre of the deepest Love in the word and quickned the disappeared heavenly Ens with introducing of the holy living Ens into the disappeared Ens of Mary 31. Understand the heavenly chast Virginity was againe revived in the Name of Jesus in the Seed of Mary in the motion of the Incorporated Word and this Incorporated or Engrafted or In-Spoken Word stood in Eve her Seed in the Matrix as an l l l Butt limit the Eternall Loves Eye-Marke Ayme of a certaine Covenant and was all along propagated in Eve's seed from man to man in the Heavenly part as a Sound or Incentive of the divine holy lights fire wherein the Name Jesus was all along propagated in an Ayme and Covenant as a glimmering Incentive untill the time of the Awakening or manifestation of it in Mary where the Covenant was m m m Text stood at the end fulfilled and the doores of the shut Chamber were againe opened and this is that Holy Fire out of which the Name Jesus was manifest which holy Fire did burne in the Jewish offerings which appeased or Atoned the Anger of God and bruised the head of the monstrous Serpent in man viz. the monstrous fire-Spirit and wil. 32. The bruising of the head is nothing else but to destroy the Abomination of the Serpent to take away its power by a right desire of Faith and by such a strong importunate Imagination of faith on the promised Word to take the same word and introduce it into the Serpents Ens and therewith destroy and ruine the Devills Theft-fort and thereby kill the matrix of the whorish desire and introduce the matrix with its desire into the virgin-like Ens into the Ayme of the Covenant 33. In which Covenant the n n n The female and male property Woman and Man shall and must Dye and the chast Virgin must be borne out of the Death in the word of the Covenant with both Tinctures of Peculiar Love and then the Serpent in its desire in the Anger of God will sting the virgin-childe of the new-birth in the Faith on the heel 34. For the Virgin-like child is fast bound by the heele with a strong chaine all this life time unto the monstrous Image and is not able to get quite rid of the Serpents chaine all this life-time this chaine is the brutall beastiall monstrous man in whom lieth the monster of the whore and Serpent a figure whereof we have in the Revelation of John where the woman standeth with the Crowne and twelve Stars upon the Moone 35. The Moon signifieth the beastiall man and the woman signifieth the virgin like matrix in the Ayme of the Covenant out of which the virgin-child is borne 36. When as Adam was man and woman and yet none of them both the virginity according to the lights Tincture in the holy Ens was poysoned and infected in him by false desire for the fiery property of the Soule carried or directed its lust into the earthlinesse and out of that virginity the woman by the adjoyning of all the Three Principles was made and the woman made her selfe monstrous by the Serpent and corrupted the virgin-like matrix and by her Lust did introduce a beastiall monstrous Serpentine o o o Or whorish property matrix thereinto infected with the Devills will and desire 37. Now this holy Virgin-like matrix in Eve was captivated by the monstrous property and the Image of the heavenly Ens did disappeare in her and in this heavenly Ens understand in the Right virgin-like Seed of chastity Sanctity and Purity which was captived in Eve by the monstrous Serpent and beastiall Whores-desire the word of God did p p p Inspire infuse or recall or apply it selfe as a Balsame that is put or promise it selfe inhest it selfe with the deare pretious and holy Name Jesus that it would againe introduce a living heavenly Ens into this captived disappeared Ens and bruise the head of the Serpents Ens viz. the Whores Monster and mortifie its
of these Serpentine wolvish Pharisees and also of the verball Titular Christendome 16. As the false Serpents-child is a monster and fool before the Angelicall world so likewise the children of darknesse doe account and esteeme the children of the light for fooles for there must be a contrary that the one might be manifest in the other if the Anger had not taken hold of the humanity and devoured it into it selfe then the deepest Love of God would not have been manifest in Man 17. But thus the Love taketh Cause by the Anger to overpower and prevaile over the same with its motion and manifestation as the same may be known in Christ the true Son of God gave himselfe into our Image which was awaked in the Anger that so he might be made manifest with his Love in the Anger and change the same into joy 18. Christ gave our humane Image to the Anger of his father to be devoured in death and brought his life into death and yet manifested his Love in the life which death had devoured and brought forth the life in Love through the death as a Grain of corn which is sown into the earth the same must dye in the earth but out of that mortifyed grain growes a fair new body even so the corrupt body of Adam shall and must be offered to death and the Anger and out of the Death and Anger the body of the divine Love shall be manifest 19. It was exactly Typified and prefigured in Cain and Abel how it would be in the Succeeding and future generations being Abel outwardly did beare the Earthly Image and yet in the Spirit he was an Image of heaven his outward body in the Corruption was onely a e e e Text Larva or strange disguâ—sed person visard before the outward world for there was another Spirit hidden therein which was not of the outward worlds Essence and property therefore because he was not wholly a right childe of the earthly world it would not suffer him being as a strange childe in it for the Devill was Prince in the wrathfull Essence in this world who would not that a childe of the light should spring forth through the wrathfull Essence and be in his Garden 20. Thus the Image or person of Cain and Abel is a true figure of the false and then also of the holy and true children of God of the outward Sinfull corrupt and mortall Man and of the inward now regenerate holy man when Christ with his Love-Kingdome ariseth from death out of the disappeared Ens then Adams earthly Image must dye in Christs death and if it now be that the outward body must yet live it is onely a scorne and foole before the Heavens Image and so also before the naturall f f f All naturall men life of this world 21. For so soon as Christ is borne the Sinfull life is condemned to death and standeth in scorne and open shame before all the false children in the Anger of God as an whore in g g g At the house of correction or whipt through the streets Bridewell whom other whores likewise help to deride and scoffe at and yet they doe but onely judge and condemn themselves thereby for if Christ be born then the judgement passeth upon the false beastiall life and that man must stand in the judgement of God as a malefactour and be termed a foole a Heretick and be jeered scoffed and reviled yea even utterly defyed and slaine that the Monster may be judged before Gods Anger but those that doe it are the children of the lusty pampered and well-fatned Anger of God whom the wrath of God useth for its Instrument for God is a Spirit therefore he accomplisheth his judgement by a materiall h h h By some outward substantiall meanes or Persons Image 22. For so soon as Abell did in his Offring put on or attract the Love of God in the Covenant anew into his humane desire and comprehended or amassed the same into his Essence then forthwith the judgement passed upon the externall mortall Man and Gods Sword of Anger tooke him which Cain executed and slew the outward body of Abel and at this time also the judgement passed upon the false Image of the Anger in Cain for he stood there and cryed My Sins are greater then can be forgiven me 23. This doth now hint and point at the figure of Christ how the Anger of the Father must i i i Or swallow up devoure the life of Christ in death and when as the Anger had devoured the life in death then the holy life of the deepest Love of God moved it selfe in the death and the Anger and devoured the death and anger into it selfe whereat the Earth trembled and the Rocks clove asunder and the Graves of the Saints opened 24. And so likewise the Love-fire k k k Good and evill now mixed and in contest one with the other and the Anger-fire in the place of this world which wrathfull fire was enkindled in the Creation when the Apostate Lucifer fell shall at the Last Day be again changed into the Divine joyfulnesse and be Avalled or swallowed up in the Love understand it shall be thus in the third Principle where Love and anger doe strive this Time one with anorher but l l l Lucifer HE remaineth in the darknesse in the first Principle 25. The true Cause wherefore Cain murthered Abel was by reason of their Offrings and worship of God viz. Religion as this Contention continueth still to this day the Cainicall Church is not yet one with the Abelicall 26. Now saith reason I see it well enough that all contention and strife ariseth from Religion but what is the ground and most undoubted cause and reason thereof behold this is the Cause set before thee the false Serpents childe which is Evill and good and then set before thee the virgins-childe borne of Christ and then thou hast the fundamentall Cause exactly drawn to the life before thine eyes 27. The Cainicall Church drives a suttle Trade with externall Ceremonies and will appease God with some externall thing or other it will be outwardly an accepted and adopted child it must down right be called honest godly holy and heavenly it adorneth and trimmeth up it selfe very finely and standeth mightly upon its Calling which it hath it selfe Ordained and Instituted it makes a very specious and Renowned shew in the white sheepes cloathing and therein lodgeth the High Priest of selfehood without Christs Spirit and rules and masters the worke of the outward letters and whosoever learneth to transpose and compose the same boldly and bravely according to their forme of forged opinions he is an high Priest in their Office and Order he putteth Christs garment of innocency on him for his Cloake and Covert 28. The other party of the confused cainicall Church cryeth out and holdeth forth the Goodly glistering childe to m m m
line their Age which the Spirit setteth down denoteth the * * * Note Times how long each Dominion and government both the worldly and Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall Kingdome should stand in its forme and Structure that is to say how long each * * * Beginning growing arising prevailing Monarchy of the Secular and wordly power and domination should continue and so likewise of the Spirituall Monarchy 33. And these * * * Or Monarchs Monarchies of the wonders are forthwith represented out of the first Twiggs springing from the beginning of the humane tree that is they are set forth in each line in Seven numbers from Adam through Cain even unto Lamech and in the other line from Adam unto Jared by which Numbers and Names the Spirit pointeth in each line especially at Seven of the forth-proceeding properties of the Tree and powers of the wonders intimating how the powers of the wonders should afterwards bring themselves into Goverments and how one figure should arise out of the other and how one should destroy and break down the other and set forth out of the destruction another forme as it hath been brought to passe in the * * * Ecclesiasticall and Temporall Spirituall and worldly Goverments for alwayes the worldly Government is to be understood with the Spirituall for the outward formed Word in the dominion and Regiment of nature doth evermore set forth its forme by with and in the Spirituall or Ecclesiasticall forme or manner of Discipline therefore observe and marke here with precise Exactnesse 34. There are Seaven Times appointed to proceed from the Tree of life in the word of power the first proceedeth from the pure life of Adam for before the creature the life was in the word whence it was brought pure into the Image this continued untill the fall from this pure life there springs forth a twigg in the inward Kingdome this same was Abel but being the fall hung on him externally this same pure life was carried through Death into the holy world this signifieth and pointeth at the Kingdome of Christ who should bring us through Death into the pure Life 35. The Second time begins with Seth for Moses saith that Adam was an hundred and thirty yeares old and begat a Son in his own likenesse and called him Seth understand he was such an Image as Adam wâ—s after the fall and was set in the Spirituall Line of the Wonders and Cain also with him in a worldly naturall line of the wonders for both * * * Secular and Ecclesiasticall Kingdomes goe together Seths time continueth till the Deluge and beareth the Supremacy even to the Deluge or Noahs floud 36. The Third time begins with Enos under Seths time and carrieth forth it selfe all along as a Spirituall Ministry or Knowledge of God under Seths time as an hidden Kingdome and continued till Abraham to whom the Covenant of Christ was established in the flesh 37. The Fourth time begins with Cainan which is the Spirituall forme in prayers and Spirituall offrings wherein the word formed it selfe in the wisdome and carried it selfe forth all along under Seths and Enos his time and manifested it selfe with Moses like as Enos his time was first truely manifested with Abraham with the promise in the Covenant this time of Cainan continued in its manifestation and dominion under Moses till Christ in the flesh 38. The fift time begins with Mahalaleel and t is the Reception or formation of the Angelicall forme viz. of the new Regeneration out of the Covenant and goeth Secretly all along under the Ministry of Enos under Seth and Cainan in the word of the promise through all the Three times and did manifest it selfe with the fulfilling of the Covenant in the humanity of Christ where the true Mahalaleel and Angelicall Image which did disappeare in Adam was again manifest in the humanity of Christ. 39. The Sixt time begins with Jared which is the spirituall Priesthood under the externall where outwardly Seth Enos Cainan Mahalaleel were in their Times in their Orders or outward formes as the ministry and preaching of Enos concerning God and his beeing and will so likewise the preaching of Abraham concerning the Covenant and Circumcision Also Moses with the Book of the Law under all these the inward Priest Jared went along hiddenly Inwardly this Spirituall Priesthood is Christ in the new man and outwardly in the selfe-elected Priests it is Babel 40. This Sixt time began in the Kingdome of Christ after the Death of the Apostles when as men chose themselves Teachers out of favour and outward respects that is it did even then first open it selfe out of the * * * Or vaile hiddennesse of the shaddow and put it selfe forth in the Churches of Stone where the Church stood in stead of the holy Temple of Christ then indeed the holy Jared viz. Christs voice ruled in Christs children internally but externally the Cherub with the Sword did onely bear rule for the outward authority which these selfe-elected Priests doe manage is the Sword of the Cherub which is signified in the Name Jared * * * That is in the word JARED the Language of Nature doth emphatically expresse that the Sword of the Cherub should Domineere the whole Time of the Sixt Seale among the Priests who should have taught the Love of Jesus but by this Sword they fall AMEN which powerfully forceth it selfe forth all along in the word in the language of Nature 41. This sixt time is hidden and manifest it is known and also not known for Christ said my Kingdome is not of this world So that this time hath been faine to passe away as it were in a Mystery under Antichrist where inwardly in the children of God Christs Kingdome hath been manifest but in the Rest who have also lived under this time and have been called Christians Babel and the Antichrist hath onely been manifest both in the Priests and their Hearers for they which have been borne of God have heard the true Jared viz. Christs voice in them but the other have heard onely the Outward voice in Babel viz. disputation and Contention about Christs Kingdome 42. For all warre which the Christians manage is onely the Sword of the Cherub proceeding from Babel true Christians wage no war for they have broken the Sword of the Cherub in the death of Christ and are dead with Christ and risen againe in him and they live no longer to the externall Might and Dominion for their Kingdome is manifest in Christ and is not of this world 43. This Sixt * * * Or sixt Seal Kingdome beginneth after the death of the Apostles and continueth with its outward Government even to Mount Zion till translated Enoch doth again appear in Spirit and power for Enoch is the propheticall Root and holdeth in his * * * Or Regiment Dominion Noah Moses and the Sword of Elias at the End of this
watchman and shewes them that it is in vaine that they shall not finde him on High but that he is even among them under the Letter and they have not known him 67. At this we doe exceedingly rejoyce that the time is borne that we are lead from the Towre of Babel and are able to see the holy God in the SensVAll Language Hallelujah The Towre is broken and fallen down at which our fathers have built themselves to Death and yet have not built it up the foundation thereof shall not be any more laid while the Earth standeth saith the spirit of wonders 68. The hidden Mystery of the Towre and the divided Languages is this mankinde had framed the Sensuall Language of the holy Spirit into a dumb forme and used the formed word of the humane understanding onely in a forme as in a contrived vessell or vehiculum they spake onely with the outward contrived vessell and understood not the word in its owne proper Language of Sense they understood noâ— that God was in the Speaking word of the understanding as at this Day the like comes to passe and is 69. But being God had in the beginning of the creation incorporated himselfe with his word into mans Image viz. into the properties of the Senses and would not be without Sense or in one onely conceived forme and likewise seeing that all things doe stand in growth Seeding and Harvest even now was the time of the humane Trees Blooming where the spirit of the Senses did put forth it selfe in its properties with Blossomes and manifested the properties through the Blossomes and out of the Blossomes brought forth the Fruit and like as every blossome doth open and put forth it selfe at the outmost part or highest of the stalke or branches of the Tree or stock even so the spirit of nature drove the children of men to the extreamest Height that they also would build them an High Tower like to an high Tree or tall stalke for it would manifest its blossome and fruits also in the highest of the stalke and upon the Towre which they would build up unto heaven the SensVAll Spirit opened it self with the Blossome 70. For mans will was that they would ascend up to God and the God of nature or Sense put forth himselfe in the same desire and will for they sought him onely in a circumscribed Locall outward manner and even so he applyed himselfe to them in a Conceived forme of Sence out of the contrived formed tongues and Languages wherein notwithstanding they were dumb and knew him not 71. They were entered with the Sence viz. with the b b b Or the spirit of their Minde Mentall spirit into Nature and nature had captivated them in the understanding therefore God also manifested himselfe to them with the Sensuall Spirit in the contrived forme of the tongues out of the seventy two properties 72. Properties through the Three Principles viz. through a threefold Sensuall Alphabet according to the Three worlds property viz. through * * * three times foure and twenty letters and they brought the Sensuall spirit of the letters in their contrived forme through the Tongue out of each Letter through the three Principles viz. into Three properties of tongues and Languages according to the property of the Trinity of the Deity 72. And hence arise seaventy two Languages out of one onely Sensuall tongue 72 Languages wherein all Speeches and Languages are contained and each Tongue and Language fell upon its people according as every Family of the Stock of the humane Tree had a property out of the formed word even such a Language befell them out of their Sense viz. out of the same property of the formed word 73. For the Sense of mans speech that he is able to speake doth come unto him originally out of the divine word which introduced it selfe with the Verbum Fiat into a creation now this word brought forth it selfe through the compacted properties according to their Compaction nature kinde forme and property for so distinct and various also are the Senses in the quality even in the place of this world far otherwise in one Country then in another and even so God did likewise form the Languages according to the property of every Land and Country 74. For being that people were to be dispersed into every Country and Climate he opened to each people a Language according as it should be in a Land which did apply it selfe unto the same quality of Sense and accord therewith so that the quality of the Country did not introduce the Turba into it if they with the word of their voice agreed to the Sound of the formed spirit in the Soule of the Great world in that place 75. For as the manifestation of the formed word was in the spirit of the world in every place even so the Spirit of God did forme through the nature of the properties the Language and speech in every Country first the seventy two head Languages out of nature and afterward the c c c Or Dialects of Language collaterall affinities proceeding from the Senses of every head Language as we plainly see that a man doth scarce finde in any place of the world among all the head Languages one and the same sence in any head Language within the compasse of fifteene or eighteene miles 15. or 18. miles According to the Elevation of the Pole Climate or Zenith and Nadir they alter and change almost every fifteen or eighteen miles all according as the properties of that Pole or Elevation are Look what kinde of property the Lubet hath in its predominant Constellation even such a property the vulgar people have in their Language and Speech CHAP. XXXVI Of the Antichristian babilonicall VVhore of all Nations Tongues and Speeches shewing what is contained under the Languages and Towre of Babel An open Gate of the Mystery of the Great Babilon CUrteous Reader I desire to warne thee in Love that thou wouldest not understand our Sence and meaning according to partiall affections to detract Revile or especially to contemne or despise any as from us much lesse to set upon them in their Office Function and Dignities out of passion but we shall speake in Generall Let every one prove himselfe he shall indeed finde the Great Mystery of the babilonicall Towre in himselfe and also the * * * Number of the Beast Number of the false Beast Let him but read our meaning with Patience and take himselfe along as to his evill innate hereditary property under the same as really the earthly mortall man in all men belongeth unto this text 2. we will here write what the time hath brought forth and manifested and if it were not manifest by Man yet the beasts should be driven to manifest the same for the time is * * * Or fulfilled borne and nothing can hinder the most High accomplisheth his worke 3. Moses saith Nimrod Hams
For in Abraham the inheritance of the true Sonship was again manifested but Ismael was not born of the inheritance of the Sonship but of the rejected Seed but now God offered again out of free-Grace his holy inheritance in Abraham that he would generate the rejected Seed in this new Mother which gave in it selfe into Abrahams Seed again in himselfe to a childlike Seed 57. Not that the rebellious Runagate Adamicall will in the Selfe-hood in Ismael should be received into this Mother no the same is wholly cast out with Ismael in all respects from the filial Inheritance he cannot be born anew unless he dye to his selfe and own willing and come in a converted will to God in Christ as the lost Son who neither wills nor desires any thing from a naturall proper Right but onely that the Lord of the Goods would have Mercy on him and receive him again to be a Day-labourer This converted will God doth * * * Text. Engraft or in-linage take in to his gratious free-given inheritance viz. into the goods of Abraham in Christ and maketh it to be Heir in Isaac's goods viz. in Isaacks freely given Inheritance in Christ. 58. Ismael was cast out from Abrahams viz. from Gods goods that he might come unto his Son to whom he gave the whole inheritance and entreat him for the filial inheritance for the naturall Adamicall man had lost it and that which was lost was again freely given to the Covenant of Abraham viz. to the blessed Seed that is to the man Christ and he now doth freely give it unto them who come unto him 59. All men who come unto God the Father and pray unto him for the Eternall * * * Or Sonship Adoption unto all them he giveth the Adoption in his Son Christ unto whom he hath freely granted the whole inheritance viz. the Hierarchie of mankinde viz. the possession of the Throne of the Angelicall World even in the place of this world and given unto him all the power of rule and dominion as he said Matth. 28.18 all power in Heaven and in Earth is given to mee of my Father 60. For God the Father ruleth the place of this world in his Son Christ and all men who now come unto God they come to him in Christ who is the Lord viz. the mouth of his Father 61. Christ is the Staffe wherewith he guides and feeds his sheep in Christs voyce all poor Sinners who turn to God are born to a new will and life and in the filial birth in Christs voyce they dye wholly unto the own will of selfehood in Christs death 62. For Christ is dead to the humane Selfehood in the Fathers Anger and buried with the will of Selfe in the eternall death and is risen again in his Fathers will and liveth and ruleth to all eternity in his Fathers will 63. God the Father introduced his Voyce and Word viz. his manifestation into the Seed of Abraham viz. into mans will of Selfe and brought that will of the humane Selfehood with his own introduced voyce into the death and into hell which death and hell were manifest in the Selfehood of mans own will and in the Power of his manifested voyce He did destroy the death and hell in the Voyce and Word of mans Selfehood so that man should not any more will to himselfe but what he now willeth the same he must will in the manifested voyce of God 64. So long as Ismael * * * Or would take the inheritance willed in the voyce of his scorning contemning Selfe he could not be heir of these introduced free-given goods but when he hath turned to God and forsaken the will of Selfe then God also sendeth the Angel to him even while he is in his Mothers Wombe and saith * * * Gen. 16.9 Return again to the free and humble thy selfe under her hand and thou shalt live 65. For Ismael was run away from God in the wombe which signifies the fugitive runagate nature of man in Selfehood and in the Mothers wombe God sent him an Angel to recall him noting that * * * Note all wicked men are called inwardly by the voyce of God while they are yet in the wombe and also the time of their whole life in their own essence and beeing Onely the naturall will of Selfehood stoppeth its hearing so that the voyce of God is not manifest therein 66. That is like as the Sun shineth all the day long and giveth it selfe unto every Essence which will but receive its power so likewise the voyce of God soundeth through all men to recall and reclaim them the whole time of their life so soon as the Seed is sown in the wombe the voyce of God is sounding or working therein to a good fruit but on the contrary also the voyce of Gods Anger soundeth in the Essence of mans Selfehood there is a continuall combate betwixt them as with heat and cold that which gets victory of that is the fruit this strife continueth as long as man liveth in this world 67. Therefore we declare with good ground that men ought not to make conclusions concerning the children of Gods Saints as if God had so out of his purpose begotten one to condemnation and hardned him that he could not come to the Adoption and chosen in himselfe another that he could not be lost it is a meer groundlesse fiction There is no footing or foundation at all for it either in the book of Nature or in the holy Scripture it proceeds from the Abyss and bottomless smoaky pit of darkness and hypocrisie 68. By the * * * Or the Stems Tribes of the Saints in whom the divine Covenant hath opened it selfe viz. by the Patriarchs as Adam Noah Abraham Isaac and Jacob there are alwayes two figures represented viz. Christ and Adam a good and an evill man 69. Cain Ham Ismael and Esau were types of the corrupt man and Abel Sem Isaac and Jacob were types of Christ who opened himselfe in this line and set himselfe forth before the corrupt children of Adam as a light and Preacher to convert them 70. For * * * Joh. 3.17 God hath not sent his Son to condemn the world viz. the poor corrupt man but he hath therefore sent him into the world among the Godless crew of evill men to teach and call them and those who have a willing desire to hear he will save even those that have but a sparkle of the divine Ens which is capable of hearing in them The quickning and renewing voyce of Christ doth cry and call in that little spark which is in all these that is it bloweth up that little spark that it may become a divine fire 71. And that we may open wide the eyes of the blind Selfe-named Christendome and also of the Jewes in their boasting that they may not so brag and stand upon their knowledge as if they onely were
eternall blessing that is to say not the gross earthly beastiall Man which is conceived and born in the lust of the flesh out of the Beastiall lust of Man and Woman which did involve or insinuate it selfe into Adam according to the Brutish and beastiall property of the divided life's Essence upon this the Covenant and blessing doth not passe but upon the Ens of the Word formed out of the heavenly worlds property out of the Limus of the Earth not upon the introduced Serpents Ens out of the dark worlds Ens and property but upon the Soule and its right Body which was created to it in Adam 2. And we here see by the Circumcision the Types that the beastiall copulation of man and woman is an abomination before the holinesse of God which yet is boarne withall by divine patience and permission seing now it cannot be otherwise with Man he having lost the magicall birth of Paradise for here God set forth the figure in the Circumcision that every Male must be circumcised on this member of the propagation of the masculine seed in that man soweth his own will out of the property of nature in his seed therefore God set forth the figure with the Circumcision both of the earthly Seed and also of the member and will for the spirit in the Covenant must out off through Christs death this figure in the inward spirituall man together with this beastiall will and desire 3. For the beastiall gross earthly Seed of the man or woman shall not put on the Covenant and blessing as Christ also said but He * * * Joh. 1.13 who is not born of the will of man nor of the flesh but of God the beastiall birth with its members must be cut off through the Temporall death and dye in the spirituall birth through Christs death and be buried in the eternall death viz. in the nothing 4. But being the Covenant of God had incorporated it selfe in Abrahams seed to a propagation God did here set before him by the Circumcision the person of Christ in whose death this Beast and Monster should dye and out of his death a new Angelicall form should come forth for the Circumcision was not the Atonement but the apprehended or conceived Ens of faith was the Atonement out of which Ens of faith Christ should be born but the Circumcision was the Signe that the Ens of faith in the word of God should cuâ— off the earthly Seed 5. For the living word of God looked into the Covenant and in the Covenant the humane Seed of the heavenly part lay disappeared and in the disappeared Ens stood the Aym or Limit of the new Regeneration in Christs motion where the word of the divine Tincture and power would again move it selfe in the true humanity created in Adam and also it did move it selfe in the Spirit of the children of faith so that they were received and accepted of God in the Spirit upon the Promise of the motion or manifestation of the shut-up Ens as dear innate children Note 6. Not that they had put on Christ in the flesh before his manifestation but indeed the same Ens in their faith and this same received or in-taken Ens of Faith was the Circumcision which circumcised the heart and minde and rent in twain the sinfull vaile and pointed at the cutting off of the earthly introduced Serpents Ens in Adam viz. of the earthly Seed and the earthly members to the Beastiall propagation it shewed that Christ when the incorporated Ens of faith should manifest it selfe in the humanity should and would cut off this Beast and destroy the life of death and hell therein 7. We must not look upon the Circumcision onely and barely as a signe or figure for it is the Seal of the Covenant which stood as a Seal imprinted on the Ens of faith for the Spirit of the promised word to the new-birth was in the Seale as among the Christians it is in the Seale of Baptisme 8. And therefore God said that soule that shall contemn this Covenant shall be rooted out from among his people and commanded the Natives and strangers to be Circumcised although they were not of the Seed of Abraham to signifie that the Covenant passed upon all people who would but receive the Ens of faith even there the Circumcision should be don 9. For that was not the right Circumcision which was don outwardly on the flesh but it was the Signe onely of the Circumcision the true Circumcision was effected in the Ens of faith in the Covenant in the power of the word and Holy Spirit where the word in the spirit of Christ doth cut off the Serpents Ens from the right humane Ens of the heavenly Part viz. it cuts off the Ens of the dark world introduced and insinuated through Adams evill desire and the Devils in-flying poysonfull desire 10. The Baptisme of the Christians and the Circumcision of the Jewes hold wholly one and the same Right among the Jewes the Circumcision was effected or performed in the word of power the Holy Spirit baptized them with the holy fires Baptisme understand it baptized their true man corrupt and withered in Adam the same was Tinctured with this Baptisme viz. in the Ens of faith for the Ens of faith was the Baptisme of the Jewes where the Holy Spirit did inwardly baptise them unto Christs humanity 11. But now being this same word of faith viz. the Ens of faith hath put on the humanity and quickned it in it selfe to life this same Spirit doth now Baptize with water pointing at the humanity of Christ Note for the water of eternall life viz. the heavenly worlds substance was disappeared in Adam and made alive again in Christs heavenly Ens being also the water of the heavenly Powers introduced into our in him assumed humanity therefore the humanity of Christ was the first-born from the dead 12. And with this same heavenly water which Gods word and power introduced into the humanity of Christ from heaven understand from the holy spirituall world viz. from the Second Principle the Holy Spirit of Christ doth baptize the Christians in their Baptisme of water which externally is also but a Signe of the internall Seale in which Seale the Holy Ghost baptizeth 13. And therefore Christ hath appointed the Seale of the Circumcision into a baptisme of water being the fire-baptisme in the Covenant is become manifest in the water of life in the humanity so that this fire-baptisme viz. the flaming-Love-word is made flesh therefore Christ said John 3. We must now be born anew through the water and spirit else we shall not see God 14. For in the water wherein the flaming Love-word in the Ens of the Covenant hath manifested it selfe in our heavenly disappeared water which is become incarnate all the children of Christ must be new-born and take this water in their faith's desire in which water the eternall flaming
the Temptation did deny his wife and said that she was not his wife that so he might but preserve himselfe by the suttlety of Reason and we see here also how that that very thing by which he thought in Reason to keep himselfe from mischiefe must reprove and teach him as we see how Abimilech reproved him in that he had denied his wife with whom he had almost sinned if the Lord had not warned him and the exposition is this 4. If we see a man whom the Spirit of God driveth and by whom he oftentimes speaketh we must not so take it up and thinke that he is something more then other men as Abraham was no more then others in his own Reason the selfe-reason in them is as wavering dubious and imperfect as in other men and That what they know and teach of God is not their own propriety as we see here in Abraham how he out of fear did not spare his Sarah but denied her out of a timerous conjecture though Abimilech had taken her away from him to be his Concubine that so he might but live and it might be well with him for her sake 5. Thus God proveth his children that they might see that they in their own ability are no more then all other sinfull men and that men should not so set by them and hold them for a God thus oftentimes God permits them to go astray and erre and yet then he rebukes them also by those whom they ought to teach as we see here in Abimilech how he must reprove Abraham and make him ashamed that he would not spare his wife for a small fears sake but would deny her 6. And although it doth fall out that sometimes we see such a man whom God driveth to erre yet we ought not therefore presently wholly to reject him and set him at nought and think that he is wholly without God as the world doth but think that God doth thus set his children under the Cross to prove them that they should learn to know themselves and then the Sun ariseth again upon them as here it did upon Abraham when God had suffered him to go unto Gerar that is into his naturall rationall life wherein he committed a great offence before Abimilech A twofold Sun did afterwards arise and shine on him viz. one was that Abimilech did acknowledge him and learned to fear the Lord and gave the Land for a possession unto Abraham he gave him also Gifts for rebuke as the Reproof of the Saints is that men should fear at Gods reproof Thus the Sun of King Abimilechs favour arose upon him And then the other Sun which shoan on him was that Sarah conceived and a branch sprang forth unto him out of the line of the Covenant from the divine Suns Power and Isaac was born unto him 7. And that we may understand the very truth we see how allwaies the Crosse stands by the children of God and Adam and Christ are continually sett by each other as here Abimilech and Abraham and Ismael and Isaac and also the man of right reason and the corrupt nature against reason which uncessantly sifts and trys reason as we may see it here in Hagar and Sarah which also were set one against another that one did exercise the other as Hagar in the property of corrupt nature viz in Adams life and Sarah in Christs Person so that Hagar did exercise and prove the naturall Sarah that shee pressed forth out of the Reason or carnall * * * Or naturall carnall wisdome wisdome of the flesh into God 8. And we have here in Sarah and her Maid Hagar with her Son Ismael and with Isaac Sarahs Son how Sarah cast out the Bond-woman with her Son which seemed grievous to Abraham and yet was right in the sight of God such an excellent mirrour as we finde not the like again in the Bible shewing how Christ and the naturall man dwell * * * Sojourn together by one another and how the naturall man with Ismael and his mother must be wholly cast out from the right of Inheritance and selfe-will that the naturall own will is no heir of God 9. And when the resigned will hath wholly cast * * * Vnderstand the selfe-assuming will of nature which seekes to be master in man him out then the poor nature of man sitteth in its rejected will in fear and trembling and utterly despairs of life as here Hagar with her Son Ismael when shee was cast out from Abraham she wandered in the wildernesse of Beer-sheba that is in the brokenness of her heart and looked upon her selfe as one wholly forsaken and as one quite spent and faint despaired of her own and her Sons life for shee had lost the Inheritance and the favour of her Mistress also and all her goods and there was neither water nor bread for to preserve life and they were as given up to death for shee went and sat a stones cast from the child because she would not see him dye and when she had even wholly given on her selfe to dye then the Angel came again unto her and called her and comforted her and shewed her also a fountaine and told her that she should not be so afraid of death her Son must yet become a great Nation The inward figure of this is thus 10. When Isaac that is Christ is born in the Convert then the spirituall new-born will rejecteth its own evill nature it contemneth it and condemneth it to death casteth it out also from it selfe with its Son the mocker viz the false interpreter and perverter of the truth as if it would even burst the same in the Minde so very an hatefull enemy the new-born spirituall will becomes to the naturall will in its Evill qualities viz. to Ismael the Son of the naturall will who is onely a mocker scoffer pharisaicall censurer lyar backbiter and unrighteous 11. And when the new-born will hath thus cast out the evill nature with its wicked children from it selfe then the poor forsaken nature stands in great distress trembling and desertion for the internall holy Soul doth forsake it and then it even gives up it selfe wholly to death and wandreth in it selfe in the wilderness and looketh upon it selfe as a foolish and simple one who is every ones by-word and laughing stocke 12. And then when the nature doth willingly give it selfe thereunto that it also will now dye wholly to its selfeness and dispaires wholly on it selfe as a poor forsaken woman that is deprived of all the worldly glory riches beauty and the pleasure of the outward life also being wholly cast out from its former desire and almost quite forlorn so that the own desire begins to faint and quail within it selfe then comes the Angel of God to the nature and comforts it and bids it not to despair and gives it also water to drink that is some faithfull upright man or some inward ray and beam of
light from the new-birth of Christ in the heart which comforts it in its forsaken condition and helps to nourish and cherish it and tells it that it shall not dye but become a great Nation but not in its innate and inbred heritage viz. in the evill Selfe-will but in Beer-sheba that is in the true Contrition in the wilderness viz. in the valley of teares in the desertion that is the poor nature must work in this forsakenness and in its present banishment and exile from the sensible and full enjoyment of Paradise bring forth much fruit which fruit the Angel brings again into Abrahams Tent to be a sojourner of Christ. 13. That is we must understand when Christ is born in man he rejecteth the vanity of nature with the will which worketh and desireth vanity and maketh the naturall will to be Servant whereas before it was Lord and Master but Nature standeth in the wilderness in the vanity of death encompassed with Sin and now it must work and bring forth fruit and yet it looketh upon it selfe as wholly impotent and as one wholly cast out from the inward spirituall will of Christ and in it selfe it seems as one foolish and contemned of the world and every way beaten off from its own will and then it begins even to sinck and quail in it selfe and to leave off from its own will and all things are of small esteem with it That which before did rejoyce it that now is against it and it stands allwaies as if it should dye it hopeth and doubteth that is it hopeth amendment that it might yet once be delivered from the scornfull contempt and be set again into the honour of its selfehood but it dryeth up also it s well of water and Gods anger appears in its sight that is all its friends depart from it with whom before in its Temporall goods and prosperity it had pleasure respect and honour so that it looks upon it selfe as continually a dying 14. And when this comes to passe then it is right in the way to Beer-sheba and wandreth in the wilderness for it knowes not what it shall do it is every ones scorn whatsoever it lookes upon rebukes it for a fool in that its power is taken from it that it must now forgo the beauty riches and honour of the world and all whatsoever might advance and preferre it in Temporalls and yet it would fain have them but yet it is drawn from them by the inward man in Christs spirit and * * * Blamed or upbraided reproved in these Temporalls for unrighteous and abominable 15. And then indeed it enters right into Beer-sheba viz. into the Contrition of the heart and setts reason by the empty water-pott of Hagar and goeth a stones cast from its Son Ismael viz. from the own desire of nature and stands and compells also the thoughts of nature and will not give any thing any longer to its own children viz. to the Sences and cogitations of the minde but casteth them away as children that now must dye a stones cast that is a while from it selfe that it might not see the death of its children so wholly doth Hagar viz. the nature with its Son give up it selfe to the minde for the mortification of the selfehood of the own will sits also and mournes in it selfe in Beer-sheba viz. in the broken and contrite heart and wholly despairs of its Reason would fain dye that it might be but freed from the miserable forlorn condition 16. And then when it is thus prepared that it quite despairs of its Selfe gives up it selfe wholly into the death of selfehood then cometh the Angel of God to Hagar that is to the poor forsaken and dying nature and saith What aileth thee Hagar God hath heard the voice of the Lad where he lyeth arise take up the Lad and hold him in thy hand for I will make him a great Nation and then God openeth the eyes of Hagar viz. of nature and shee sees a well of water and then filleth her bottle with water and gives the Lad drink who growes in the desart and is a good Archer and dwels even in the wilderness of Paran and must take an Egyptian wife The inward exceeding pretious and worthy figure of this stands thus 17. When man hath put on Christ in Faith and is entered into right true Repentance and hath in his minde forsaken the whole world even all its honour goods and things temporall then the poor nature of man doth thus stand in the mortification of selfe as is above-mentioned concerning Hagar and her Son for it desireth also to dye even to the Senses and cogitations of the minde and to enter wholly into Resignation 18. And when it stands thus in the thoughts of death having given up its will and cogitations into mortification then the inward Voice of Gods Word manifests it selfe in the Minde and * * * Thoughts meditations Senses and even there the divine word heareth the voyce of the childs crying viz. the troubled disconsolate Minde in its * * * Cogitations meditations thoughts for it soundeth therein in the divine voice and saith in the divine voice to nature viz. to Hagar What aileth thee thou troubled and perplexed nature fear not God hath heard the voice of the Lad viz. of thy thoughts which thou hast offered up in the desire to God Arise that is lift up thy selfe to God in this resignation and stand up in the voice which hath gratiously heard thee and looked upon thee and take thy cogitations viz. thy Son by the hand of faith and guide and govern the powers of the Minde they shall not dye but live and go for I will make them a great Nation that is to a great divine understanding and capacity in divine Mysteries and God openeth unto nature the fountain of living water so that it receiveth into the Bottle of its essence in it selfe of Gods well-spring and therewith it gives the Lad viz. the Sences or powers of the minde drink 19. And then God is with this Lad of the Thoughts and he groweth great in the wilderness that is in the corrupt nature the right discreet and intellectuall child groweth great in the Spirit of the Lord and becomes an Archer that is an Archer of the Lord and his brethren who shootes the Birdes of prey and the wild Beasts understand he shooteth down out of his Spirit the evill beasts and birds in his brethren with the holy Spirit he teacheth them and reproveth them with divine Arrowes 20. But he must dwell in the wilderness of Paran viz. in the corrupt flesh and in the wilderness amongst ungodly People and there he must be an Archer of God and his Mother viz. nature gives him an Egyptian woman that is nature layeth a fleshly woman by the noble Minde born in Christs Spirit with which the noble new-born Minde must sit in wedlock and be plagued with this Idolatrous fleshly
gave in themselves into the barrenness of the matrix in Rebecca and opened her whereupon she conceived both natures properties from a twofold seed of Isaac 24. Not that we are to think or understand that Jacob was wholly conceived of the Ens of faith but as well of the Adamicall Sinfull nature as Esau onely the kingdome of Grace in the Covenant set forth its figure in the Ens of faith in him and in Esau the kingdome of nature viz. the right corrupt Adamicall nature did set forth its figure not as a separation sundry partition or Rejection but to signifie that Christ should be conceived and born with his holy divine Ens in the Adamicall corrupt nature and destroy death and the strong hold of Sin together with the self-raised desire to ownhood and propriety in selfe and mortifie the same with the Love desire in the divine Ens and ruinate the Devills rampant fort of prey which he hath built up to himselfe therein and change the wrath of God according to the eternall nature in the Centre of the dark fiery worlds property into divine love and joy and Tincture the Adamicall nature with the holy Tincture of the Love-fire 25. Therefore the corrupt Adamicall nature in its Type was represented in the wombe in Esau with the type of Christ in Jacob and they both must be formed of one seed to signifie that Christ should give in himselfe to our corrupt nature and redeem our corrupted right Adamicall nature from corruption and introduce it into his own holy nature in himselfe 26. Also God did represent in Esau the figure of his wrath and the Devills Might who had possessed the kingdome of nature in man and shewes how he would fight and exercise great enmity against the Ens of faith and the kingdome of Grace which should deprive him of his strength 27. Reason saith wherefore should God permit the Devill to fight against the kingdome of his Grace hear and hearken thou very blind and altogether ignorant Reason Learn the A. B. C. in the Centre how Gods Love and the kingdome of Grace and Mercy would not nor could not be manifest without Strife and Enmity and then thou hast here no further Question go forward into the centre of this Book and thou findest the ground 28. And when the strife between the two kingdomes began in these children in the wombe so that they strove or spurned against each other Rebecca became discontented and troubled at it and said * * * Gen. 25 2â— 23. If it should be thus with mee wherefore am I with child and shee went to enquire of the Lord and the Lord said unto her two Nations are in thy wombe and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowells and one people shall be stronger then the other and the greater shall serve the lesser 29. These two Nations which were conceived of one seed in Rebecca are on one part the Man of the Adamicall selfish nature in Selfness viz. the Originall of man and on the other part the new spirituall man regenerated of the kingdome of Grace in the Covenant these came out of one seed one out of the Adamicall nature onely and he was the Greater or Elder viz. the first man which God created in his Image which became corrupt and dyed as to God the other came indeed out of the same Adamicall nature but the kingdome of Grace in the Ens of Faith had given in it selfe unto it as a Conquerour and this was as to the Adamicall nature the younger but God was manifest in him therefore the greater should serve and be subject to the lesser who was the Least according to the humane property but the greatest in God 30. And yet we do not see that Esau was subject to Jacob but it is the spirituall figure shewing how the kingdome of nature in man should be broken by the children of God and made subject to the kingdome of Grace viz. to the divine humility and wholly dive it selfe into the divine humility and be born anew of the humility thus the Spirit of God shewed this by the Answer to Rebecca saying that it should be a striving or fighting kingdome where indeed the first corrupt man being the greater or elder in nature should strive against the lesser viz. the Spirit of Christ in his lowliness and humility and persecute him but the Adamicall man must at last be obedient and subject unto the humility of Christ if he will be Abrahams child and heir but if not then he must be so long cast out from Abrahams and Christs goods till he doth humble himselfe and freely yeeld under Christs humility and forsake the own-hood of the greater and elder Selfe and Enmity assumed in Adam 31. By Rebecca's trouble discontent impatience and regrett in that she runneth to enquire of the Lord wherefore the strife was in her that the children did so struggle together is signified thus much unto us that when Christ doth manifest himselfe in the Adamicall nature then begins and ariseth the strife of both these kingdomes viz. the Devils kingdome in Gods Anger in the Serpents Ens and also Christs kingdome when Christ bruiseth the Serpents head then ariseth great disquietness in the mind for the Serpent stingeth Christ viz. the new birth on the heel and then ariseth this kicking and spurning viz. a lamentable and wofull distresse and then saith reason in the minde with Rebecca if it should be thus with me wherefore am I entered into the divine Impregnation into Repentance am not I thereby come onely into disquietness and thereby become a Fool to the world and to my reason also and then ariseth the combate and Sathans bruising in the minde with Anguish and grief and then the minde knowes not whither to betake it selfe but runneth into Penitency and asketh the Lord wherefore it goeth so with it 32. And then the Lord shewes him in his language that Christ now is in him in hell and assaulteth the Devills strong rampant fort of prey whereupon there is such contest and disquietness in him and shewes him how his reason and the Adamicall nature viz. the greater part of his life must be broken and dive it selfe wholly into Resignation into the deepest humility into the process of Christ under his Cross and become a stranger to it selfe yea it s own Enemy and go with the Reason and the Greater Adamicall will into its Nothing 33. And when this is don then Esau viz. the Adamicall nature is indeed born and cometh forth alwayes first but Jacob viz. the spirit of Christ cometh soon after and deprives Esau of the kingdome and power and maketh nature a Servant and then Esau viz. nature must serve Jacob viz. the spirit of Christ then it is even here as the Son said unto the Father * * * John 17.6 Father the men were thine and thou hast given them mee * * * Joh. 10.28 and I give unto them
also that God will not work in the love of our selves in that wee love and honour one another according to fleshly lust worldly honour and Riches where Men flock together associate and love one another according to their Greatnesse State Riches Glory Beauty Bravery and Pleasure of this World 29. But the Spirit of God requireth humble faithfull and sincere love where the soule is resigned up into God and seeketh not its owne pleasure or selfe-love but looketh upon the way of God and joyneth it selfe to the humble children who love God and constantly give him thanks there God manifesteth himselfe and worketh in them that they beare fruit to the Lord. 30. Jacob first served seaven yeares for Rachell which himselfe had chosen in his owne Love yet she was not given to him for the first seaven yeares service but Lea was unknowne to him layd by him Jacob desired Rachel as wages for his service yet seeing the Covenant of the Lord lay in the Line of Christ in him therefore he first received the spirituall wages of the Grace of God 31. For Christ is the wages of Gods children as they must serve their Lord for worldly wages so God first payeth them with his Covenant of Grace and then afterwards they receive also Temporall wages As Jacob must first receive the Gift of God as God appointeth it for him though it went very ill as to Reason afterwards he also received the wages according to his will for which he must serve yet seaven yeares more 32. Which seaven yeares in the inward Ground in this Figure signifie the seaven properties of the Naturall Life which must be given up to the service of God into which God gives himselfe for wages in a co-working power where the seaven formes of Life first help the Lord to beare a spirituall Figure and Image or Type and to manifest the Line of Christ then afterwards that same spirituall forme discovereth also the Naturall forme and beareth a Prince in the Naturall Life in whom God worketh and through whom he ruleth the world as is to be seene by Jacob. 33. He served seaven yeares for Rachell but being he feared God the divine wages viz. the Line of Christ was first given him afterwards God blessed also the humane selfe-Love according to the kingdome of Nature in him so that of Rachel whom he had taken in naturall selfe-Love he begat a Prince and wise Man even Joseph by whom the Spirit of God ruled and made him a Lord and Governour 34. And this figure presents to us that first Christ should be borne in us and so then Christ in us beareth also the Naturall Man with understanding and wisdome and appointeth him to his service in the kingdome of Nature and also in the kingdome of Grace as he did Joseph CHAP. LVIII How Jacob served his * * * Stepfather Father in Law Twenty yeares and begat Twelve Sonnes and One Daughter and how God blessed him that he gat great Riches and how Laban often changed his wages and yet could not hurt him what is to be understood thereby Vpon the 30 Chapter of Genesis 1. WEE see in this History especially Gen. XXX how it goeth with the Children of God in this world how they must live in meere Crosses and adversitie as Jacob did with his wives for * * * Gen. 30.1 when Rachel saw that shee was barren shee envied Lea her sister to signifie that Man 's own Love seeketh not the honour of God but it selfe as now Rachel envied Lea because shee had a Name that God had blessed her and sayd to Jacob * * * Gen. 30.1 Give mee Children also if not I die 2. Where wee see how the wayes of God are quite hidden to Reason although Reason standeth in the figure of the divine wonders as here Rachell which here signifieth the owne Adamicall Nature which desireth of Jacob the lifes power from the blessing of God and if it get not the same it must die which indeed the Spirit of zeale in her desire doth very well signifie according to her inward Ground in the Covenant of God but her Reason understood it not but onely desired Children that shee might be delivered from disgrace but her inward Ground stood hidden and panted through the humane Nature to manifest it selfe in the humane Essence Therefore the inward Ground in the Covenant of Grace signifieth through its own Adamicall Essence that if the inward ground should not be manifested through the humane Essence it must then die Eternally Therefore sayth Reason Give me children or else I die which seemeth outwardly to be an Opposition and discouragement But the Spirit of God hath here its figure under which it hath its signification 3. And then wee see in both these Sisters who yet were Daughters of Gods Covenant in the Promise how the Poyson of the Serpent in the wrath of God in flesh and bloud so vehemently sets against the Line of Christ in the Covenant and alwayes despiseth the same and as a proud Lucifer elevates and puffeth up the Rationall humane ownhood of selfe-will and would have the Dominion 4. As heere Rachel despiseth her sister because shee was outwardly fairer and more beautifull then Lea in that Lea in the sight of the world was simple and bleareyd and Rachell had the Spirit of the world in Reason Elegantly as an Ornament and so the Adamicall Nature in Rachell ruled over the Manifested blessing of the Covenant in Lea to signifie that the Line of Christ in this world would be manifested in a meane simple and despised forme in Men of such like dispositions which Men would by the Reason pomp and beauty of the world be esteemed fooles and bleareyd who in such scorne and disregard would goe away and * * * Psal 125.5 sow in Teares but in their inward Ground in the Line of Christ would beare and at the End reape in Joy to signifie that * * * John 18.36 Christs Kingdome is not of this world that in this world it must be throwne into Gods Anger and disdaine and into death and by this throwing in satiate the Anger of God with Love and Meeknesse and with Love spring forth through the Anger and Death and bring the proud Lucifer in the humane owne will and fleshly Lust to scorne and to nought as an unstable Life which Life cannot overpower the Divine humility 5. Which humility Springeth under all scorne and also breaketh through death and the anger of God and maketh Death to be Life and taketh from Hell the victory and changeth the sting of the false Serpents Essence with sweet Love as we see here by Lea who although shee was envied by her sister as by Reason yet the Line of Christ in the Covenant springeth forth in her under all scorne and maketh her fruitfull and Rachell Barren till shee gave her Mayd to her Husband for a Wife which signifieth the Adamicall viz. the servile Line
†††Matth. 27.5 Judas must first in his falshood and Treachery in the old Adam with sorrow for his committed sinne hang himselfe and as to his owne ability despaire and dye and then will Benjamin viz. the new Creature in Christ first be borne and * * * Acts 1.26 Mathias viz. the first Created Adam be Elected an Apostle 25. For Mathias was indeed borne before the Passion of Christ and was with Christ but he was then first an Apostle when Christ in him was dead from sinne and Judas had hanged himselfe thus also the Adamicall Man which shall be an Apostle or Christian is indeed borne aforehand before Christ suffereth in him but Christ must first arise from the Dead in him and Judas viz. the Serpents will must hang himselfe and dye to his owne evill will in the Death of Christ and then first is the ‖ ‖ ‖ Adams Man a Christ. Adamicall Man a Christian It is not the Historicall Man by an imputed Grace wherein Judas still liveth under the Purple Mantle of Christ that is a Christian as Babell playeth finely under the vayle concerning the virginity of her Daughter Dinah that the faire dainty Damsell may play the whore and finely sleepe with her Pandor Judas and lye with her Lovers in the Bed of Fornication 26. Great things are prefigured in this Text for the Text sayth †††Gen 35.17 18. When shee was in sore Labour in the Birth of Benjamin the Midwife sayd to her Feare not for thou shalt have this sonne also But her soule being ready to depart that shee must die shee called him Benoni that is shee looked upon the inward ground upon the New Birth what he would be in Christ and regarded not the Name of the outward Creature 27. For Benoni is altogether a Spirituall Name after an Angelicall kinde and manner for shee sayd in Spirit when the Midwife comforted her concerning it that shee should have this sonne also I have him no more in the world the outward passeth away and it pointeth at the Angelicall New Name * * * Gen. 35.18 but his Father called him Benjamin as with the Name of this world that he should represent how a Christian must be borne under the Crosse of Christ in smart paine at which also his Mother looked as if shee should say through smart paine and sorrow wee come to Life as this sonne of my smart and sorrow 28. Then sayth the Spirit †††Gen. 35.19 20. Thus Rachel dyed and was buried in the way towards Ephrath which is now called Bethlehem And Jacob set up a Pillar upon her Grave and that is the Pillar of Rachels Grave unto this Day This is a secret mysticall Figure that Rachel dyed and is buried at the Citie Bethlehem and it signifieth that shee shall there rise againe through the Birth of Christ for Christ should there be borne 29. And it is signified that when wee shall flie to Bethlehem to the Birth of Christ then shall Benjamin viz. the New spirituall Man be borne of Rachell viz. of the Mother of the Old Adamicall Man in the Spirit of Christ and then presently will the Mother yeeld up her birth-right to the Spirit of Christ and die to her right of Nature and then will the Spirituall Eternall Birth begin and Eve passe away for there Jacob setteth up the Grave-stone or Pillar and the Spirit sayth it is her Grave-stone unto this Day to signifie that it poynteth at the future and that this Grave-stone should continue and Christ be borne there where Rachel died 30. In this Historie of the Acts of Jacob wee see cleerly that the Spirit hath in this description a figure under which it signifieth For Rachel was big with Benjamin when Jacob departed from Laban when * * * Gen. 31·34 35. shee sat upon the Idol-Gods when her Father sought for them and shee sayd it is with mee after the manner of Women so that I cannot rise up before thee But now the Text relateth how Jacob first pitched his Tents before Sichem and dwelt there and afterwards went first to Bethel and then Rachel brought forth so that it appeareth that the Spirit speaketh wholly in the figure for the Acts doe all follow very Orderly one after another in the figure of Christ as it hath come to passe with Christ which ought well to be Observed 31. The Spirit of Moses sayth further * * * Gen. 35.20 21 22. And Israel went forth and spread his Tents on the otherside of the Tower of Edar And it came to passe when Israell dwelt in that Land that Reuben went and slept with Bilha his Fathers Concubine and it came before Israel What manner of figure is this which is very deeply hidden but the Circumstances make it as cleare as the Sun 32. Israel went on the other side of the Great Babylonicall Towre and dwelt there with the Children of that People which may well be a pretty way from Ephrath Bethlehem but the Spirit hath heere its figure under which it signifieth that is when Jacob had taken away the strange Gods from his people and also their Ear-rings and buried them and built the Altar of the Lord Converting to God and were sitting in Rest and Ease then the naturall fleshly Man turned againe to the Lust of the children of Babel even as the Text sayth 33. Jacob went and dwelt there and then Reuben lay with his fathers Concubine viz. with Bilha Rachels handmayd the Mother of Dan and Naphthali and committed * * * Blutschande Incest which was worse then that of Sichem with Dinah but the Spirit hath thus with this action presented a figure pointing at the future how it would come to passe how Israel would turne away from the Divine Ordinance from the Altar of their God and mixe their fathers Worship and service of God with Naturall whoredome viz. with heathenish Sacrificing to Idolls as is to be seene by Jeroboam and the Spirit signifieth thereby that the first Adamicall Man would have onely fleshly desires and Lusts. 34. For Reuben was the first sonne of Jacob by Lea viz. by her of whom also sprang the Line of Christ to signifie that every one that would be called Jewes or Christians and are Generated out of those stocks would forsake God and lye with their fathers Concubines viz. commit fornication with the Idolatry humane Inventions and bablings of the Pharisees and Scribes and with their Lawes and Cannons and forget the Truth of God and of his Commandements in their Hearts and †††Einbilden make to themselves Images of these imprint those whoredomes in their Hearts Lusts. 35. For Reuben was indeed Jacobs first sonne as Adam also was the first Man but the Line of Christ was not manifested in Reuben as also not in Adam but it was manifested in Abel and in Judah and as Adam in Spiritu Mundi in the spirit of the
now no more as spies before Joseph but as earnest hungry Men viz. with an Earnest hungry Life which from all its powers and vertues hungereth after Gods Mercy after the food of Jesus Christ. 22. Heere now beginneth the earnestnesse in feare and Trembling and this is the true going forth after heavenly food wherein the Conscience stands in anxiety and Reason despaires of its owne ability and thinketh alas God is angry with mee where shall I seeke for Grace I am not worthy of it I have trampled it underfoote I must stand ashamed before God Into what Deepe shall I goe where I may dare to lift up my face to God and bewaile my wants to him 23. Then comes the poore Conscience in need and with trembling before God and hath not many Confessions or words for it accounteth it selfe too unworthy to speake one word before God but setteth it selfe before his face and boweth downe to the Ground and thus in it selfe demerseth it selfe into the Most meere and deepest Mercy of God into Christs wounds suffering and death and beginneth from its most inward Ground to sigh and to fly into Grace and wholly give up it selfe thereto as Josephs brethren came thus the second time before Joseph and fell downe before him 24. And when Joseph saw them thus that they were all there and stood so humbly before him he had so great Compassion upon them that he could not speake a word neither but turned him and wept And this is the state and condition wherein the inward ground of the heavenly worlds substance which faded in Adam into which God a-againe inspoke or inspired his Word of Grace in Paradise for an Ensigne Banner Mark and Limitt became living againe in this Compassion wherein Christ is assuredly borne in Man in this ground and now instantly ariseth through his sufferings from Death in Man and there sitteth at the right hand of his Father which right hand is the fiery soule from the Fathers property in the word of the Eternall Nature and presenteth the soule in this ground before the Anger of God and satisfieth and filleth it with Love 25. And heere a Christian beginneth to be a Christian for he is one in Christ and is no more a spie and verball or Mouth-Christian but that is in the most inward Ground and heere Simeon is loosed and * * * Rom. 8.1 there is no more Condemnation to those that are thus in Christ Jesus although perhaps the Outward body is in this world and subjected to vanity yet it hurteth it now no more but every fayling which it now committeth in the flesh must turne to serve for the best to it For now it beginneth to kill the works and contrivance of the flesh and continually to Crucifie the Old Adam for its whole life is now a meere repentance and Christ in it doth help it to work repentance and bringeth it now to his Glorious feast or Banquett as Joseph did his brethren when they came againe to him when he commanded to make ready and gave them of his Table 26. Thus now Christ feedeth the Converted soule with his flesh and bloud and in this feast or Banquett is the †††Rev. 19.7.9 Wedding of the Lamb whosoever hath been a Guest heere he understandeth our sence and minde and no other doth they are all of them but Spies though perhaps they suppose they understand it yet there is no right understanding of this feast or Banquett in any Man unlesse he hath been at it and tasted of it himselfe for it is a very impossible thing for Reason to apprehend it without Christs spirit in himselfe who is himselfe the food at this feast or Banquet of Joseph 27. And it is told thee Babell in thy spying by Josephs feast or Banquett that thou deludest Christendome in that by this feast thou pointest them to the Resurrection of the Dead thou Errest a Christian must * * * John 6.53 eate the flesh of the sonne of Man here or he hath no life in him †††1 Cor. 15 28 In the Resurrection God will be all in all ‖ ‖ ‖ Col. 3.1 Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in Man heere and presenteth him with his Body and with his Innocent Bloud that was shed and that he covereth the soule withall and floweth into it with the same when Gods Anger will stirre being instigated by the desire of the flesh 28. O thou poore old Jacob of †††Or inspecting Spying Christendome let thy hungry sonnes who are very leane for great hunger in the Conscience goe to Joseph keep them no longer back in thy feare what I pray thee is thy feare thou supposest that if this Ground should come to light in the world thou shouldst loose thy sonnes whom thou lovest but who are thy sonnes there is thy owne honour in that thou thinkest to sit in the Stead of Christ upon Earth Also there is thy Lucifer of fleshly honour which thou takest care for and thy countenance is dejected about it if a man should require an Apostolique Life from thee and seeke thee in the Processe and Imitation of Christ it pleaseth thee better that thou livest in honour and voluptuousnesse of flesh in Spying and honourest thy Belly and so bringest thy poore Christianity under a vayle 29. O thou poore old Jacob trouble not thy selfe so about temporall momentany things see how it went with old Jacob when he let all his sonnes goe from him to Joseph how Joseph caused him to be fetched to him and did so much Good to him and his children and nourished them in the famine and placed them in a better Land and so it will goe also with thee if thou wilt let thy sonnes goe to Joseph but if thou wilt henceforth keepe them back longer then thou must starve thou and thy children and be famished in Misery sayth the Spirit of Wonders by Josephs feast or Banquett 30. O Israell Mark this Text very well it concerneth thee and hath cleerely concerned thee but that thou art yet blinde in thy hungry misery and waitest for the sword of the Turba that shall awaken thee since thou wilt needs have it 31. Every one thinketh if three parts of Men were destroyed then I should have good dayes with those that remaine and then wee would be honest and vertuous and leade an upright honest life Also men gaze about to see whence that Salvation will come which is so much written off and say and thinke Salvation will enter into the Lust of the flesh from without Men alwayes gape for an Earthly Kingdome of Christ. 32. O Israell if thou knewest these present times wherein thou livest in blindnesse thou wouldest repent in Sackcloath Ashes thou lookest for the * * * Signall-Star such a Starre as lead the Wisemen to Christ. Matth. 2.2 Signall-Starre and it hath appeared it shineth whosoever hath Eyes may see it it is indeed as
with his Guilt of Eternall Death into his innocent Death and is dead from the sinnes and wickednesse in himselfe and in this dying of Christ Gods righteousnesse in the Anger requireth a Christian Man to be 47. But if he walke out of this path and not in it then sayth righteousnesse thou art a Theefe and hast wrongfully got this Cup of Christ in thy Sack I will sett thee before my Judgement and Sentence as Joseph did to his brethren when he caused them to be fetched back to the sentence of his Judgement 48. Therefore hath a Christian who walketh under the Banner of Christs Crosse no Excuse when God by his Steward viz. by the Children of this world causeth him to be layd hold on in the righteousnesse of his Anger and chargeth him for a Theefe and an unrighteous person also for a Stranger Innovator * * * Novice Novellist Enthusiast Foole and the like when Men loade him with all his faults and the infirmities of naturall sinfull flesh and without ceasing blame him as wicked and unrighteous and condemne him to the damnation of the temporall and Eternall Death and though he is not in the sight of the world nor as to the world Guilty yet he is lyable to beare the scorne suffering and death of Christ after him as a Christian is lyable to take upon him the whole processe in the footsteps of Christ and to follow Christ therein and to suffer all in Christ and wholly to put on Christ in his derision contempt suffering and death and to beare his Crosse and scorne after him that he may enter into Christs Kingdome as a Member of the body of Christ that hath suffered with him and hath dayly dyed to the Anger of God in the Death of Christ from his actuall sinnes 49. For All Sinnes Blasphemies and untruths which are imputed to him wrongfully from the world which he is not outwardly Guilty of in the fact that he suffereth in the processe of Christ as a Christian and therein drinketh out of the Cup of Christs Crosse who hath innocently suffered for his sinnes 50. For if he be not guilty of them in his Life yet he is guilty of them in the inherited sinne and hath inherited them also in the seede out of which he is proceeded they lye in his * * * Ground of his Nature and Heart Ground he cannot excuse himselfe before God in the processe of Christ he is guilty of all Adamicall sinnes 51. But this is his Comfort that God manifesteth them by the children of his Anger in this world and so as a Curse by the Children of Anger fastneth them to the Crosse of Christ and in this Manifestation drowneth them in him in the Bloud and Death of Christ in that he still cleaveth to God as Christ to his Father and suffered himselfe to be accused of sinnes which he had not committed but had onely inherited them and so they were taken from him and given to the Anger of God in his Judgement that he might condemne them 52. For thus also Joseph in this figure appeased his just Anger towards his Brethren they were all Guilty towards him but he charged them not with their Guilt but charged them onely with his Cup for he had cleerly forgiven them all their Trespasses but onely concerning the Cup he would not hold them Guiltlesse and yet of right they were not Guilty of it but he had layd it in as his bounty and made them guilty of it 53. Thus also hath God given us his Grace of meere Love after that wee were cleerly guilty of Eternall Judgement and hath layd Christ and Grace in the Sack of our Life with his Suffering Death with his Cup of the Crosse concerning which he doth not hold us Guiltlesse wee are all Guilty thereof and have not this by a Naturall right but it is layd into us without our knowledge therefore wee cannot release our selves of it except wee cast Christ wholly from us and give our selves againe to the Anger of God and then Death Hell and the Anger of God make us Guilty and hold us captive in them but at present Man may lay hold on which he will 54. But that Joseph caused the Cup to be thrust into his Brother Benjamins Sack it hath this figure that Christ dwelleth in the inward Man viz. in his Paradisicall brother and hath this Cup of the Crosse in his Hand out of which the guilty soule and the Body must drink he thrusteth it into his brothers sack for that inward ground is his Brother but the other brethren must drink of it this brother of Christ holdeth it in him for he is Christs Member and habitation 55. Therefore sayth Josephs Steward by whomsoever the Cup is found he shall be my servant but ye shall be quitt viz. the inward ground the true Josephs viz. Christs brother hee is Christs servant who serveth his Lord and brother and must hold the Cup in his Sack the other * * * Conditions or qualities formes of Life of Nature are free and cannot hold the Cup for Christ. 56. For they are not the right Sack to put it in but the Ground of the Heavenly Worlds Substance is the Sack to which the Holy Cup of Christ doth belong which powreth the Ground of Nature out of it therefore must Josephs Brother be made guilty of the Cup because he stood in the figure of the inward Man wherein Christ would manifest himselfe with his Cup of the Crosse and so the other brethren viz. the poore soule together with the body be quitt and released from the Guilt 57. Therefore sayth Josephs Steward he is my servant who hath the Cup he shall serve mee but ye shall be quitt that is Christ is in this inward Benjamin Josephs Brother and serveth God with overcoming of Death and the Anger of God in Man and so all the other brethren viz. the Naturall Life shall be quitt from Guilt and Paine and it standeth excellently in the Figure 58. Moses sayth further * * * Gen. 44.11 12 13. And they hastened and layd every one his sack off on to the Earth and every one tooke his Sack off and searched and began at the Eldest and so to the youngest and there they found the Cup in Benjamins Sack and then they rent their Cloaths and loaded every one his Asse and went againe into the Citie 59. When Adam was fallen into sinne then the Law and Command fetched him back againe charged him with the sinne and Theft that he had eaten of the wrong fruit with a wicked mouth therefore must he returne againe into the Citie viz. into the Earth out of which the body was proceeded and there lay downe his Sack into the Earth and there Gods righteousnes searcheth into all the naturall Properties viz. Truth and righteousnes which availeth before God viz. the Image of Heaven and began from the first forme of Nature and so on
6. But it hath more respect to the Covenant that the children of the Covenant in their Adamicall Nature would be a neere Cohabitation in Hope and that the Outward Man would not apprehend the Kingdome of Christ but would be a neere co-habitation with it where Christ should dwell in the inward Ground viz. in the Spirituall World and Adam in this * * * World or outward Life Time of the Life and yet be a co-habitation 7. For as the Spirit hath by Judah declared Christ in the flesh so now heere he declareth that the outward Man would not be Christ but be a Co-habitation of Christ Christ would possesse the inward Ground as he also sayth My Kingdome is not of this world Therefore the outward mortall Man should not say of it selfe I am Christ for he is onely a Co-habitation of Christ as the outward world is onely a Co habitation or neere neighbourhood to the Kingdome of Christ for Christ is the inward Spirituall world hidden in the outward visible world as the Day is hidden in the night and yet they dwell one by neere and with the other VI. The Testament of Issachar 8. * * * Gen. 49 14 15. Issachar is a strong boned Asse and he lodgeth in valleys between the Borders or Hills of the Country and he saw Rest that it was Good and the Land that it was pleasant and fruitfull but he hath bowed his shoulders to beare and is become a Tribute servant In this Testament of Issachar the Spirit pointeth first at the outward figure of this Tribe or Stock shewing where they should dwell viz. in the midst of the Land in Good ease and Rest but yet be Tributary but the powerfull figure looketh upon the inward Ground viz. upon the humane Nature 9. For when †††Gen. 30.18 Lea bare Issachar shee sayd God hath rewarded mee in that I gave my Mayde to my husband and shee called him Issachar that is a divine wages or reward for shee had given Rachell her Sonnes Mandrakes that shee suffered Jacob to sleepe with her this night upon which shee conceived this sonne therefore shee called him a recompence from God 10. But the Spirit sayth in this figure he would be a boned strong Asse and lodge between the Borders which outwardly in its habitation was just so but in the inward figure he sayth The man which is obteined from God by prayer is indeed a Gift and wages but his Adamicall Nature is onely a Boned strong Asse for the burthen who beareth the Adamicall Sack but he dwelleth with his Minde between the Borders viz. between God and the Kingdome of this world his Minde presseth into the Borders of God and the Body dwelleth in the World 11. Therefore the Minde must be as a Boned servile slavish Asse which though it sitteth at ease and rest in a good habitation in the Borders of God yet it must beare the burthen of sinnes and of Death in the earthly Sack and there is no buying it off with the Mandrakes before the Death of the Earthly Man also no praying to God for it avayleth that thereby the Boned strong Asse might come to divine Liberty It must remaine an Asse till Christ in himselfe bringeth it into the Eternall Rest The Adamicall hurt and losse is so great that the Asse must leave the Sack in the Death of Christ else he will not be rid of it 12. But he addeth the cause why he must remaine a Boned strong Asse for he sayth He saw the Rest that it was good and the Land that it was pleasant that is that the Minde would alwayes desire to rest in the Lust and pleasure of the flesh and would desire to take care of the Earthly Lust and in that regard the Minde must be a servile Asse and servant of Gods Anger and so seperateth the Naturall Adamicall Man from the Seede of the Covenant viz. from the person of Christ so that the Naturall Adamicall Man in its inbred Nature is but this Asse with the Sack till Christ possesseth his Kingdome in him no Covenant or praying availeth but that Adam must in this world remaine an Asse till the Sack be gone and then he is called a new childe in Christ which new childe in this Life is the inward Ground but the boned strong Asse is the new childes instrument upon which the Sack is carried for the servility of Gods Anger continueth so long as the Sack lasteth VII The Testament of Dan. 13. * * * Gen. 49.16 17 18. Dan will be a Judge among his People as any other Generation in Israell Dan will be a Serpent in the way and an Adder on the path and will bite the horse in the Heeles that his rider shall fall back O Lord I waite for thy Salvation This is a powerfull figure of the outward power and authority of humane Officers in the Kingdome of this World and is so strongly prefigured that it is terrible to reade if a man rightly discerne the figure and yet in the presence of God it standeth in its own proper figure thus The Spirit sayth Dan will be a Judge among his people as one of the Generations or Tribes in Israell In the Figure it standeth thus 14. Dan standeth in the figure of all outward Officers from those of highest authority and power even to the * * * Ordering of a Mans own private affaires or employment◠Government of the humane Life it selfe therefore the Spirit fayth of him he shall be in his owne might and power as one Man is to another In the presence of God he is not esteemed greater in his owne Nature then a Servant or Minister for he serveth God in his Office as another servant doth his Lord and Master the Office is Gods wherein he sitteth as a Judge The Office is the Authority and power and he himselfe is before God as another Man 15. But the Spirit sayth Dan will be a Serpent on the way and an Adder on the path that is this Judge in Gods Office would draw poyson out of the power and authority viz. selfe-will and say of himselfe the authority is mine the Office is mine that is called on the way for the way which they should goe is Gods viz. true righteousnes then sayth Dan that Land and Country this Citty that Village those Goods that Money is mine it is my owne I will use it to my owne profit advantage and honour and live in this Office as I will 16. And this very selfehood is the Serpent and venomous Adder on the way for it walketh very dangerous steps upon the paths of righteousnesse it turneth righteousnesse into Selfehood to doe what it will it sayth I am a Lord the Citty Land and Country the Village or Authority and power is mine I may doe with the people what I will they are mine and so sucketh poyson out of Gods Office of a Judge and thereby afflicteth the miserable and
viz. the free gift of the Father doth dwell in the inward true man which God created in Adam yet the gross Beast viz. the earthliness and vanity shall and trust in every respect be cast away from Christ yea Every man who desireth to be a Christian must cast out the earthly will which longeth and breatheth after vanity and Selfe â—â—st 21. As Abraham in this figure did not spare his owne children but cast them out so likewise a Christian must not spare or forbeare his children viz. his own lust and vaine desire and all whatsoever doth hang or depend thereon but dayly and hourely cast them out by the understanding out of the true Temple of Christ viz. out of Gods free gift and crucifie the old Adam else if it be not thus effected the old selfe-willed Adam crucifyeth Christ in him and so Christ indeed must hang on the Cross and be putt to death 22. And this figure also Concerning Abraham's casting out his naturall children doth signifie that when Christ viz. the true Isaac came into the flesh viz. into the humanity Abrahams naturall children viz. the Jewes should under the kingdome of Christ be cast out from the naturall goods viz. from all Dominion from Countrey and Kingdome and their Rule and Dominion should cease for the Dominion belongs onely unto Christ viz. to Christendom for Christ brought an Eternall Kingdome with him the goods were all his as Abrahams goods belonged to Isaac 23. And although it hath not dominion over all as Isaac had possession and rule of that onely which his father left him for the naturall children of Abraham born of Kethura became afterwards heathen and ruled over the outward goods as children of the outward nature yet Abrahams children who were in the Covenant under Circumcision must when Christ did manifest himselfe be cast out to signifie that the earthly man also viz. Selfe in the Serpents Ens which is on the children of the Covenant must be cast away from God 24. Thus in Abraham and his Son Isaac the figure of the Kingdome of Christ was represented but when Christ came into the flesh God putt away the figure and took from the externall children of Isaac the outward goods of the Land Canaan to intimate that now the holy Land of Canaan is become manifest where Isaac's children shall take possession of the true promised inheritance in Christ and no longer have the figure onely but the Essence of the figure viz. the perfect substance and now forsake the outward goods with the figure and putt on Christ in the flesh 25. But that the Jewes viz. Isaac's and Abrahams children viz. the children in Christs figure did not all turn unto Christ when he did manifest himselfe in the flesh hath this meaning God gave them the law of nature where in the law the Government of nature was understood externally and internally Christ viz. the Covenant and the promised free gift of God in Paradise so that the law of nature was to be Christs Sojourner and the true man also was to live under the law of nature in a * * * Note Right rationality and yet bring his own nature into Christs house and thus the figure of the law must continue among some of Abrahams children viz. amongst some of the Jewes to signifie that the law is Christs Sojourner 26. Understand that the nature of man shall remain for it is not so rejected of God as if clean another new man should arise out of the old but the new man shall arise out of Adam's nature and property and out of Gods in Christs nature and property so that man is become an Adam-Christ and Christ a Christ-Adam a Man-God and a God-Man and therefore the figure continued still among the Jewes and for this cause they were not all converted to Christ that so nature might keep its figure and due right for it shall deliver up its children under the Law viz. the figure of Christ to God the Father in Christ but its figure shall be proved in the fire of God so that it shall be known who hath been the true child of the naturall Law in the figure of Christ that hath been born in the spirit in the law out of the figure of Christ and who hath not 27. It is not hee that hath the words and Title of the law that is a Jew born in the figure and in the law but he who is born of the promise in Abrahams faith he that liveth in the figure of Christ viz. in the law in profession and practice with mouth and heart the same the law of God in Christs figure hath comprehended and will bring him into the fullfilling of the figure 28. For it doth not onely depend on mans knowing that Christ hath given himselfe into the law and is become the fullfilling in the law as the Titular Christian boasteth but it depends on Gods * * * Ordinance Order on the mercy of God whosoever hath been a true Jew and hath put on Abrahams faith in the law he hath putt on the Ens of Christ which Abraham conceived or apprehended which Ens of faith the humanity of Christ hath fullfilled and it is hidden to him what it is for he worketh in the office of nature in the law of God which Christ hath taken into himselfe and fullfilled so that he serveth God in the office of nature and the Office of nature serveth Christ for it is become Christs own propriety 29. For unto him all power is given both in heaven and on earth Matth. 28. under which power the office of nature also is in the law for God in the spirit of Christ is Even the selfe same who gave the law and the office of nature to do Righteousness together with the figure of the kingdome of Christ with the Ens of faith to Abraham and Moses and he is also the very same who fullfilled the Faith and the law 30. Thus the Jew worketh in his faith in Christs office viz. in the Law wherewith Christ governeth in nature and hath putt on Christ in the Covenant and in the Ens of faith in Christs figure which Christ hath fullfied 31. For the Christian who confesseth Christ in the flesh worketh in his Faith in the flesh of Christ and hath the Law of nature viz. Gods officer to do uprightly in his faith for Christ ruleth in the Law of God which he hath fullfilled and made a Servant in his children and killeth the law of Sin through the fullfilling of his Love in his bloud and death both in them who live in the dominion of his Law and also in them who live in the dominion of his Conquest as the Christians do 32. For the faith which presseth or cometh in unto God in the law in the figure in the Covenant the same cometh unto God in the Ens of Abrahams faith out of which Christ was born and he that cometh in unto God in the fullfilling of the