the Holy Trinity hath been hidden to all Creatures and yet is through the second moving of the Deity as a holy sweet Love-Sun become manifested 15. I must not say that in the Person CHRIST viz in the Man according to his humanity according to that part which he hath on him from us Men from our Body and Soul that is on to the Deity on to the Divine Substantiality or Heavenly Corporeity taken on to him That the Creature is ceased and taken up or that the Creature Soul and Body from us Men is unmeasurable 16. No for such a One is not our Eternall High Priest which I could never more see in the Form of Man for the Men when he went to Heaven said Ye shall SEE this JESUS come again as he is Ascended 17. Only the Deity in him and the Christ understand the divine property together with the Heavenly divine substantiality wherewith he saith John 3. 13. He was come from Heaven THIS is uncreaturely and yet IN every Man as an own Sun yet only in one point which shineth forth out of the fountain of this Sun indeed from no place or space but the place of this holy revelation or Manifestation is in ALL Men the Center of the Originall 18. This SUN is in all Men but this Sun is not revealed or manifested in all Men but only in the Desire to the Point which is CHRIST which point is JESUS out of JEHOVA 19. But concerning the Holy woman or wife which this Authour mentioneth which is holy and PERFECT wherein the Man CHRIST becometh generated needeth also a farre other Explanation 20. And though he sets down the Holy Christianity to be the woman or wife which I blame not yet a Man must not speak that concerning the outward Earthly Man for the Earthly Man is not Christs Spouse or Wife but the inward Spiritual which faded or disappeared in Adam the Heavenly which Christ as viz the Holy SUN vivifieth 21. But this Authours writing is altogether Contradictory and runnes counter against it selfe for here in this Point he writeth of this Spouse or Woman and Body thus which he NOT outwardly prepareth createth and maketh new but in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart from the beginning of the world instantly after the Fall in Grace Love and Mercy yes in the Faith espouseth betrotheth and uniteth to himself and prepareth it for his Eternall Rest In like manner also this holy Man CHRIST JESUS the Innocent Lamb of God yes the Triune highly praised Sonne of God God himself which was slain from the beginning of the world IN all Faithfull and Saints according to the Testimony of the Scripture 22. Before this Authour hath set down in another place that if CHRIST became manifest or revealed in Man then Nature falleth Totally away Now he sets it down that CHRIST in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart hath from the beginning of the world espoused and united himself with the Saints in the Faith which indeed were true if he did not speak it concerning the Man CHRIST but concerning the Promised CHRIST in the Covenant which first in Time fulfilled the Covenant 23. For Not CHRIST the Man who in the Time in the Limit of the Covenant manifested or revealed himselfe was slain in the Holy Patriarchs but the Children of Faith in whom the Covenant became manifested 24. CHRIST hath once given and offered up his holy Life in the sweet Love to his Father into his Anger which was manifested in the Humane Property and with the Love broken the Anger to pieces He hath not dyed in ALL the Saints from Adam to this time and suffered himself to be slain and put to death Only the Children of the Faith of the Covenant have suffered themselves to be put to death according to the MAN of SINNE that the word of Life in the Covenant in them might put on the new promised Life which would manifest it self in the Covenant with the future Sun of the New Life in the Spirit of the Covenant 25. So that when Christ would manifest himself in the Covenant in the Flesh he also in that Covenant which had manifested it selfe in them would be manifested in them with the divine Substantiality viz with Christs heavenly Flesh 26. For even after the Resurrection of Christ when he had assumed the Humanity and slain death it was not CHRIST that dyed any more in his Members in the Christians or was slain but Adam in Christs Death that Christs Spirit in the Soul and the holy Man might Live When Christ becometh born then should the Man of Sinne continually Dye till at last when the Outward body departeth it WHOLLY ceaseth 27. But if Christ the Lamb of God were become slain in the Old Patriarchs then the reconciliation was performed IN them and then it cometh not solely and onely from the Sonne of MARY 28. Abel was NOT the Lamb of God which was slain for Sinne Christ dyed not in Abel but in the BODY which he received from MARY 29. Abel and all the Martyrs dyed as to their own Bodies for the sake of the Covenant which opened it self in them they were slain and dyed as to their sinfull Adamicall Body and not as to the Holy Body which was shut up in the Covenant which Christ when he would manifest himself in the Covenant would manifest it to be an Eternall Life and holy Flesh in which he would dwell and be the power and Life thereof 30. When the Holy Scripture saith CHRIST was slain in the Saints then it understandeth then Members of the Body of CHRIST according to Christs humanity which HE the Christ assumed It understandeth not the Triune God that should suffer it selfe to be slain from the beginning of the world for doubtlesse God cannot dye That which dyeth is only the Body of Christs Members according to the humane Creature and not according to the Spirit of Christ 31. The Spirit of Christ hath therefore manifested it self in the Humanity and slain Death in his assumed Body that the Gates of Life in us should be opened for if I be murthered for the sake of Christs Name and the Testimony thereof then doth not Christ dye in me but Adam dyeth in Christs death and Christ in my dying becometh first rightly manifested 32. My dying is Christs Resurrection in ME for I dye away to the sinfull self-hood or Nothingnesse and live to the Resignation in the Spirit of Christ 33. Therefore this is a voyd and groundlesse thing that this Authour writeth that the Man Christ the Innocent Lamb of God God himself which from the beginning of the world according to the Testimony of the Scripture was slain in all the Saints and faithfull c. 34. The Triune God is not from the beginning of the world slain in his Saints the Scripture saith not so but the Faithfull Men were slain for Christs sake and NOT the Triune Christ IN them
sundred but as God dwelleth in the world and yet the World is not God a Principle severeth them and as God with his Anger dwelleth in the Creature and yet also in the hiddennesse with the Love among the Anger and yet the Anger receiveth not the Love 37. For I can say that God dwelleth with the Love in the Devil but the Devil cannot receive it the Love is his Enemy as the water is the Fires Enemy and yet the Fire dwelleth in the Originall in the water so God dwelleth in all things but the thing is not capable of his Love so also the Earthly Seed of Mary wherein Sinne was was not capable of the Deity but it hung as another Principle to the Inward Seed in which God manifested himself 38. The Inner Man which now became Christ THAT took our Sinne upon it self and hung the Body upon which he had Laid Mans Sinne on the Crosse as a Curse of God For there hung the first Adam which God cursed for the sake of Sinne on the Crosse with the curse of Sinne and dyed to Sinne on the Crosse and in his dying he shed the Bloud of the holy man in Christ into the Mystery of the Soul and of the Outward Man wherein Death was 39. For the holy Bloud was conceived in the Holy Spirit and was immortall it was conceived IN the water of the Eternall Life in the Tincture of Gods Light in his sweet Love and had resolved it self into and appropriated it self with the Bloud of the disappeared Image 40. Now when this Bloud fell together into Death then Death Trembled before this holy Eternall Life the Anger trembled before the Love and fell in its Poyson and Fierce wrath which held us captive into its dying according to the kinde of the fierce wrath 41. And yet there is no dying or ceasing to be understood but it went in the terrour of the Love up in the divine Kingdome of joy as a Light becometh shining out of an anxious hot Source or Quality where all anxiety taketh an End 42. The Fierce wrath which before was evill and angry that was now the cause of the great Fiery Love and Kingdome of Ioy for nothing must passe Away in Man he must remain as God created him in Adam but he must again be transmuted into that very Image into that very resigned will and be obedient to God 43. For the Scripture saith The Son of God Christ became obedient to the Father even to the Death on the Tree of the Crosse so wholly must also our humane will be broken in Christs death and the Anger in HIS Bloud be Transmuted into the Love 44. And that is it which David saith Thou wilt not let thy Holy ONE see Corruption or Consumption Now when he shed his holy Bloud in the true Image of God in Christ then became the Poyson of the Anger in Adams Flesh Soul and Spirit sanctified and transmuted into Love and the Devils Den of Robbery wholly destroyed 45. There enmity ceased and God became IMMANUEL Man with God and God with Man for here Adams Flesh became Tinctured prepared for the Resurrection for Death brake in the Eternall New-born Life of CHRIST out of JESU 46. And here the Gate of Death viz the Eternall Darknesse in Mans Body and Soul became broken open and the Cherubine with the Sword which did cut off the humane Life from the Light of Nature was taken away and the fountain began to flow out of Sion viz out of Christs Spring in the whole Man so that man could now henceforth drink of the Water of the Holy Element and Eat ex verbo Domini of the Word of the Lord. 47. Thus now we are to consider our Imitation of or following after him we cannot say that we can do what God in JESU did through CHRIST in breaking the way for us No WE can NOT shed heavenly Bloud and transmute the Anger of God into Love else if that were any way possible then we must also as a Curse be Nailed to the CROSSE and though that should be yet our inward Man is not exalted into the degree of Christ to be wholly like him 48 For JESUS viz the totall fullnesse of the Deity dwelleth in CHRIST without Measure and in him viz in his Mother MARY was the Limit or Mark of the Covenant which God blessed in Paradise into THAT God looked and through it Gods Imagination entered in through the Jewish Sacrifices 49. God brake death in peeces only through him but we must introduce our Imagination and desire into him that our Tinder of the faded Image in him may begin to glimmer or Glow in the Spirit and power of Christ which apprehendeth the true hunger of the right Faith wherewith Man through the glowing or glimmering Tinder which if it be sincere and earnest at length becometh a shining Light of God in JESUS can break the Power of Sinne in the Flesh and keep it in subjection as a Churlish unruly evill Dog which can NOT altogether be freed from ITS Malignity or Malice till it break wholly and altogether 50. That the Shell into which the Devil hath introduced his Imagination and had his Den of Robbery therein be altogether dissipated that there be no more life therein and then so soon as the outward Man dyeth that the Soul be freed of the Evill Beast THEN it hath the open Gate in its beloved Image in which Christ hath opened himself with the Divine Love-Fire 51. And then is the Union already there the Bride cheereth her Bridegroom viz the Noble Virgin in the Love of Christ being awakened again which taketh the Soul viz its loving Bridegroom and Man or Husband into her Arms of the Divine desire and what is there done I have no Pen to write it with It is more than humane or Natural to write that 52. What Gods Love and sweetnesse is which the converted Man if he enter into his Father again and acknowledge himself a Swineheard and bewayle his by past Sinnes and seeketh the Fathers Grace and Favour experienceth when Christ his Bridegroom sets upon him the Virgin-like Garland or Crown where the Pearl of the divine reception of Grace at first becometh sown 53. What Joy the Virgin hath when it obtaineth Life again and receiveth its Bridegroom Christ how very amiably and blessedly it presents it self towards the soul and comprehendeth the soul viz its Man or Husband in its Love at which indeed Soul and Body tremble in Joy 54. Which those only know who have been Guests in this Place and this Authour who in the Letter will be PERFECT and new-born only and meerly with a litteral skill and knowledge it is likely hath yet never experienced and scarce tasted the Supper of Christ 55. Seeing he is but a Litteral Saint and a Contender and moreover a high-minded despiser of the children of Christ in their unlike Gifts and his holiness is confined meerly within
for they need none and the Devils have NONE much lesse hath Christ redeemed all heavenly and earthly Creatures as this Authour conceiteth For the heavenly need no Redemption and the earthly are NOT created in the Eternall Life for indeed the earthly Creatures are NOW just as EVILL as before the Suffering and Death of Christ and so is the earth also yet or still in the Curse 60. In that regard this Omniscient Word is very Erroneous in this place And although indeed there is mention made in the holy Scriptures concerning the Redemption of the Creatures That all Creatures groane together with us to be delivered from vanity and that CHRIST shall Redeeme them 61. But it hath NOT this understanding to meane Oxen Calves Wolves Bares and other Beasts and Living Creatures BUT the Creation wherein the Vanity of the Curse of God which holdeth Captive in it self the Fair Paradise viz the GOOD part of the pure Element in this Worlds Substance THAT shall the Judge CHRIST in the Harvest Seperate and give the Chaffe to all Devills and Wicked Men to possesse 62. The Creatures are not yet redeemed they yet groane all this while to enter into the Mystery out of which they are gone forth it is but an erroneous Conceit which runneth contrary to any visible or apparent ground like a mad senslesse or raging Drunkennesse 63. Also the Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent as this Authour sets it down in Paradise after the Fall was not promised to the BEASTS and earthly Creatures he can not shew that though he so much appeale to the SCRIPTURE 64. It is false and standeth not in the Scripture with such a meaning and men should not think while he speaketh falsly that he speaketh only and solely out or from God he that beleeveth him will be deceived 65. The Authour Esaiah Stiefel sets these words down concerning the Regeneration of Christ viz With which this Triune God loved the WHOLE World with all its Births or Genitures and not only promised it to Man and the abovesaid heavenly and earthly Creatures first for a Redeemer through this Triune Deity but also Regenerated and presented IT livingly substantially operatively and actively in the precious Birth and assumption of humane Flesh and Bloud in the Womb of the Virgin MARY God Man in one Person visibly palpably and Substantially here upon Earth 66. But Jacob Behme inserts that Christ hath Regenerated NO earthly Creatures but MAN 67. And while this Author Esaiah Stiefel with or by these words includeth ALL Creatures be they what they will in Heaven and Earth in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of CHRIST and in his Redemption and saith cleerly it is so palpably and substantially now here upon Earth a Man may thereby well know what Spirits Child this Author Esaiah Stiefel is 68. Viz That he is stark drunk with or from the Stars and likely also from that evill Enemy the Devill which I offer the Reader to ponder of and doe pray God that he will give this Authour Esaiah Stiefel a better Mind and Thoughts to leave off such an Errour that Christs Children be not deluded 69. He saith also God hath in CHRIST even while we are here upon Earth if we doe but beleeve redeemed and delivered us from ALL Sinne and Lust of the Flesh yes from the Devill Death and ALL unrighteousnesse And I understand it so too but according to or as to that Will which entereth into Christ but he who liveth in self-hood in the flesh he is NOT yet free from Sinne he Sinneth Dayly in himself till death cut off Sinne and the source or quality of sinne from the Faith and good Will 70. At this place he should distinguish the Earthly Evill and the Heavenly good Will and Spirit asunder which he compriseth all together in Christs Redemption that he might be able to say HE hath no sinne and that he is GOD in CHRIST but the Earthly Hide or Husk is not Christ but belongeth to the Earth and to Death till it dyeth and giveth up the Sinne Life or Life of Sinne. 71. But that he saith the truly Faithfull is ONE Substance with Christ That I say also but according to the Inward Man and Soul the house of sinne is so long severed from Christ whiles it sinneth but when it dyeth to sinne then it standeth in the Rest to or for the Resurrection and Restoration 72. But for what vertues he ascribeth to the Faithfull man those all only and solely the * Inward Man hath the outward doth nothing that is good freely and willingly unlesse the Inward Compel him to it that is proved in the Authour himself he should cleerly distinguish that else no credit will be given to him against all Reason Sense and Experience 73. I am perswaded that there are more that be Christians then he yet they must all acknowledge themselves to be sinners For it is written All the Saints will call on thee for the forgivenesse of sinnes therefore these men ought to consider with themselves 74. But that he saith Christ in the Faithfull is ALL the Will and the Performance or Deed Mind or senses and Thoughts working speaking living and all in all substantially visibly palpably inwardly and outwardly This is agreeable to no Truth If Man doth any thing that is good from an inward driving that indeed is from God but he doth also much Evill from the Lusts of the Flesh and the Devils instigation and that Christ doth not but the outward sinfull Man whether it be by Words Deed or Thoughts 75. He telleth me much of such truly Faithfull as cannot sinne at all I beleeve not that such a ONE liveth in the World he is himself a great sinner and a scornfull proud surly Man I beleeve he is altogether Drunk in Sinne so that he knoweth not himself 76. I know also well that CHRIST in Man if he once dwelleth in him SINNETH not but the FLESHLY Man sinneth dayly he cannot rule from one Sea to another Christ can doe it well but Man cannot he is only an Instrument this high painting for Man ought not to be the Tenth part so much Man is as to the Outward but a STINKING Sack of Wormes full of filth and Evill Lusts one as well as another The Fourth Text. Now followeth the Text. 1 Corinthians 11. 12. As the Woman is from the Man so also the Man cometh by the Woman but all from God Now followeth the Answer of the Explainer upon this Text in Four Points I. IN this is especially required First what the Divine good Wife or Woman is which cometh from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God and taketh her Originall according to a Divine humane Manner II. Secondly How and in what Manner and kind She proceedeth from her God and Husband or Man III. Thirdly How also the Husband or Man God Christ is proceeded and Manifested through the divine
Equall Concordance as God created the First Soul they stand in the Elevation in the Multiplicity of the Wills and not in One Will in the Multiplicity of the Wills is the Turba for one Will is the Enmity of the other and they cannot be broken for their originall is out of the Eternity from the Center of Nature 75. Vnlesse Gods Light kindle it self in them then they become in the Light transmated into One Will and then the Enmity and contrary will in the Center of the Life of the soul ceaseth also then the outward-Life in the Child is together inthe Flesh of perdition and is subject to Death 76. For as the Properties in the Souls Life are in strife and Contrariety so also are the Properties of the outward Life for in Adam all went forth out of the equall concordance and now one kindleth the other and the strife between heat and cold also Evill and Good continueth so long as the OUTWARD Life continueth 77. Therefore it is a wrong Exposition of the Author where he saith Holy Faithfull Parents generate altogether CHRIST yes that Christ himself is the work of Humane Propagation which a Cow would almost laugh at to see its like in the outward Man so that he doth more foolishly than a Beast Christ dwelleth in Heaven in his own Principle and the outward Man upon Earth in his own Principle 78. The holy good wise or woman whereof he speaketh much without sufficient understanding generateth not the outward Beastial Man of the Four Elements but the Inward of the pure Element God driveth not on the work of humane propagation HE hath given it to MAN into his own will in Christ God drave it on but without humane Concurrence out of his own Predestinate purpose 79 Now if this Authour can generate children without Man then we will beleeve him that God hath begotten a Christ-Child out of him or out of his Wife if without Man she is impregnate from Gods word 80. But he will fail in that Adam hath squandered this power as we have expressed concerning it at large in the Book of the Three Principles also in the Book of the Threefold Life as also in the first Part of the Incarnation of Christ 81. The Conjunction of the Seeds is cleerly in strife and contrary Will and in the strife and contrary Will is the Life in the Childe manifest and not in the Slime but in the Anguish in the choaked Bloud The beginning of Life in a Childe is a DYING of the Masculine and Feminine Tincture of the Seed and out of this dying goeth a new own Life up 82. As the Light shineth from the Candle so we are to conceive in like manner that the Man and Wife only sowe the BODY of the Lifes Candle out of which the Life in the dying viz in the anguish-Fire in the choaking of the first Bloud wherein the Childe becometh Man is generated not as a dying of Consumption but in the anguish of the dying Source or Quality the First Principle viz the true Fire-Soul in its Principle becometh manifest 83. It is not conceiting will do it but understanding the Center of Nature how a Life originateth not only to say Christ and God doth a thing but to know WHAT God Christ and Man is each in IT self 84. Man must understand the Principles and not with Historicall conceit with Literall knowledge and confound one thing in another such a Master as this Authour will needs be viz a God that is Omniscient he should before-hand know very well and not so sottishly with such loud cry come and draw up without Ground and understanding 85. Men know also well that the Holy Woman or Wife viz the Virginity is from God but it hath not the might of Generating It is in Adam with the Wife Eve squandered it cannot generate more unlesse the Generatour viz CHRIST were before-hand generated in it and then it generateth the Soul its Bridegroom otherwise in the WILL that is it transmuteth it into ITS Love and setteth Christs Garland or Crown of victory upon it NOw followeth The Second Point of the Fourth Text The Explainers own Words 1. BUt how and in what measure manner and kind She from her God and Man CHRIST JESU goeth cometh is Created or Made and prepared hence now the Triune God and Lord signifieth in the Testimony of Holy Scripture for the better and cleerer knowledge of the holy Marriage-state and wonderful divine Union of Man and Wife in one Flesh for a Type and Looking-Glasse giveth therein through the Divine knowledge and wisdom to acknowledge and consider 2. How and in what measure manner and kind the holy woman or wife and faithfull humane visible Flesh and Bloud under the Masculine and Feminine Sex from CHRIST the Triune highly praised God her Man or Husband proceeded was made and prepared 3. And as true Christian honest faithful marryed people whom God joyneth together for here I speak not of those marryed people who highly esteem outward bravery riches honourable familyes and outward Name whom the Lust of the Flesh and of the Eye in this world bringeth together and causeth to marry yes truly faithful Christian Marryed people who many times never saw one another with their eyes 4. As all truly faithful Christian People will to the highest praise of God in their hearts with God the Triune Eternal Truth and Seal give Testimony with me that oftentimes very wonderfully and strangely their whole person altogether unknowing are brought together and joyned by the Triune God JESUS CHRIST 5. In that the LORD giveth and incorporateth in the Masculine heart his holy Love towards the Feminine Image which before as it often cometh to passe he never saw much lesse found any desire after such a One at any time which in her presenteth the holy divine Love and voyce with all manner of friendly richly amiable words and works towards the feminine Image accordingly 6. And by all manner of outward Modesty and Chast Service or Ministry and Conversation without ceasing in care day and night is diligent in and doth not give over till through the divine good power and working it presseth into the midst and Center of the feminine heart and with its powerful burning operation it Imageth to it self the Masculine person and bindeth with it self the very divine Good Holy Chaste Love 7. In both which Christian hearts this Triune divine fire-burning Love in the holy Divine working reception and growing doth not cease till it bring both these Masculine and Feminine Persons into one 8. So that they through this powerfull working in the Love are one Heart one Soul one Body one Flesh and Bloud as indeed in the Love of the Divine voyce each calleth or nameth the other his own heart Soul and undivided own propriety 9. And then in this Chast Divine richly amiable working through the divine power in holy and not unchast fleshly mixture and
the Fiat viz in the hunger of the desire Material and originateth out of the power of the Flesh and of the Spirit both of the Man and of the Woman 93. In the Man the Spirit is fiery that soweth the Fiery Tincture in the Woman the Spirit is watery according to the Light that soweth the Spirits Tincture in the Inward Kingdome the Image of the faded Substantiality and in the outward the Aires property out of the abomination of the Earthlinesse 94. Her seed is in the outward totally Cagastrish or drossy but if She be Holy then it is in the Inward according to the saded Image Iliastrish that is halfe Paradisicall for it beareth the Rose-Garden wherein God became Man it beareth according to the second Principle the house of PARADISE but in the Outward Principle it beareth the Childe of the existed abomination out of Adams Lust and in the Third Principle viz in the Earthlinesse it beareth the Dying viz the Death and Earthlinesse 95. The Man beareth in his Seed in the first Principle the Fire-world viz the Fathers Property out of which the Father manifesteth his Sonne viz his Love viz Venus'es Matrix that is the second Principles Property in him but in his Seed not manifested but only as a Glimmering Tinder or Mother so far as he is holy and in the Third Principle he beareth in the Sulphur and Mercury in his Seed the awakened Anger of God in which the abomination against God existed and became Manifested in Venus'es Matrix viz in the Womans Property 96. These Properties become with the Seeds of Man and Woman in the Conjunction brought into ONE there the TWO Tinctures receive one another in great Joyfulnesse as it is found by experience when the Seed goeth forth How the Tincture lifteth up it self in Joy whence mans Life is moved as a Joyfull aspect enough understood by those that are OURS 97. And the Two Tinctures espouse themselves thus instantly in the Sulphur of the Seed into One and awaken the Mercury viz the Work-master of the Life so that he laboureth in the Seed and awakeneth the Lifes forms in the Sulphur 98. And if the Mercury be not potent enough then it draweth the Mothers Menstruum to it self and bringeth it into the Seed of the Conjunction then it maketh the Seed in Menstruo to be FLESH in which yet there is a materiall poyson and the great abomination against the holynesse and purity as is sufficiently understood by all Lovers of Mysteries what kind of poyson lyeth in the Menstruum which desttoyeth and poysoneth any tender plant of the Earth as is undenyable 99. Now in this Menstruum and poyson is the Seed come to be Flesh and both the Tinctures are therein and have their nourishment from their Substance and the true Life in Soul and Spirit existeth out of THAT 100. Where now in this is the totall holinesse without blemish according to this Authour Let him shew it me here and then I will esteem him for the Bride of Christ as he will needs be so in his outward Flesh 101. The Scripture saith Man is sown in dishonour but riseth up in power Here is understood the second Principle in which the Word of Life standeth together in that Espousall but not in the Evill sinfull Flesh which is full of kindled affections and false or wicked desires 102. But if the Seed be of wicked Parents then is the Mother Tinder in the second Principle not stirring but if the Parents be Holy then is the Seed manifested in the Threefold Life viz in the Threefold Essence but if not then is the Divine Mother or Tinder not Manifested according to the Love-power but onely according to the Anger and according to the outward world 103. And though it be so that honest marryed people beget children and joyn themselves together with Love-desire yet it hath NOT this meaning or understanding That the Imagination or Desire of Man and Wife is holy and that Christs Spirit driveth on the Imagination as this Author supposeth Indeed the Noble Soul is ashamed of it 104. The Imagination ariseth out of the Tinctures which kindle the Mercury with their Lust and the Mercury kindleth the Spirit of the Life and now existeth the Lust and Will in the Heart viz a vehement desire the tenderer the Complexion is the Nobler also is the Tincture in its sweet desire 105. But if also it be shot with a fiery Dart in Venus'es desire then is the Life kindled so that it is as it were more than halfe Mad with Love Thoughts and yet knoweth not what is happened to it 106. Must all this now be holy then would the Secret WHOREDOMES where oftentimes one vehemently and fierily loveth anothers Wife and in like manner one Woman anothers husband and so is shot with this Dart be also Holy also when two young persons look upon one another whence instantly Venus shooteth with her fiery Dart then must that also be Holy whereas indeed the Dart often goeth forth in false or wicked Lust 107. And though it be at the best yet it is a thing that is in all Beasts it is Naturall Men find some Beasts that are even ashamed of it wherein it appeareth that Nature it self is ashamed of it and when men will give it the best and rightest name then it is called an abomination before Gods holinesse being a thing existed out of Sinne through Adams-Fall which indeed is boarn with all under divine patience seeing it cannot be otherwise of which we could take many Examples in the Holy Scripture 108. Look upon the people Israel when God would give them the Law at Mount Sinai and manifest or reveal himself with his voyce then he commanded the Young People which were loaden with such burning Lust to abstain from their WIVES and that pointed not only at the Marriage work but also at the * Imagination 109. When David came to Nob to the Priest Abimelech and there was no Bread but the Holy Bread the Priest said to David if the young Men had abstained from Women then would he give to them and David said the Women were left these Three dayes 110. Herein Men have a very cleer example that even the People of David ought not to eat of the holy Bread if they had touched Women then were they unclean and David had shut up the Women therefore from the Young Men that they should not be Made unclean with the Women through burning and Lust for they were in the warres that they should not be an abomination before God and so God suffer them to fall in Battell 111. And Saint Paul saith 1 Corinth 7. 5. concerning Marryed persons That they should not depart one from another unlesse it be with both their consent that they may apply themselves unto Prayer Saint Paul meaneth that Men should FORBEAR the Marriage work when they will Repent viz enter into true sorrow with Prayer before God It is just
alwayes by the Serpents seed the unfaithfull wicked world slain persecuted despised scorned and put to Death in which regard also the Death of all Saints was before the Lord very highly dearly and preciously Esteemed 13. So he hath also in his divine fullnesse and perfect Seed and word of God the pure faithfull womans and Virgins Sonne God and Man in one Person the right Seed Sonne and Word of God of the perfect faithful Flesh and Bloud the totall persecution enmity hatred and envy of the abominable Satanicall Serpents Seed of the wofull Devill substantially united in all unfaithfull unrepentant children of the world hath taken upon him for the sake of the redemption of all the faithfull of his body and holy woman 14. And through his innocent suffering and dying hath paid the penalty and debt of all the Sinnes of the world on his most holy body and woman reconciled it with the Deity in himself overthrown all Enmity between God and Man and in and according to this his most holy totall or UNIVERSALL Redemption through his guiltlesse Crosse with and in divine union through God and out of the infancy to a perfect Man presented himself to his totall holy Church or Congregation 15. In and with which he now according to his most holy prediction Hosea 2. I will Espouse my selfe with thee in Eternity I will betroth my self with thee in Grace and Mercy Yes in the Faith I will unite and bind my self with thee with this his holy unreproveable undefiled Church and perfect Bride and most holy Sulamith Canticles Reconcileth and espouseth in Eternity 16. In which he now according to his own most holy revelation of himself here upon Earth Esaiah 9. The Eternal Father in an undivided Person God and Man ONE Eternall Generatour TRIUNE God and Lord yes ALL in ALL his beloved totall perfect Bride his holy body and woman wherein he Eternally generateth his holy Seed his holy Word Will Work and Performance substantially livingly and powerfully 17. And to his Eternall praise laud and honour in this his holy Church holy Jerusalem and perfect City of the perfect appearing divine Peace which is kept in Heaven but now on Earth in this ending ceasing Last time of the world manifesteth himself in the Eternall Unity of his body and woman the undefiled untransitory unfadable Inheritance 18. And the receiving his holy kingdom and Dominion according to the Testimony of the Holy Scripture Dan 7. under the whole Heaven in his Saints his united woman and Eternally ruling it to be openly proclaimed 19. The Bride the Woman of all faithfull Flesh and Bloud according to the Testimony of the Scripture Revelations 22. hath called Come LORD JESU the Bridegroom and Man Christ appeareth and saith in the unity of his Wife or Woman Here I am Here I am Here will I dwell this is my Rest Eternally 20. Here thou wilt with the beloved woman of all faithfull Flesh and Bloud in divine unity of thy Man with this Scripture Explanation for further holy consideration in and with thy united Bridegroom according to thy desire for Love and divine will acknowledge and receive this 21. In which the Triune highly praised Sonne and Word of God the fullnesse of the Deity generated from Eternity the most holy seed of the Woman from the beginning of the World after the Fall of Adam and Eve as also the regenerated new faithfull flesh and bloud the woman in that which is in Part and perfect holy substance is discovered to thee and manifested to the Eternall and in Eternall unchangeable Union 22. NOT Tinctured according to the Cabalisticall Theophrasticall Roso-Crucian kind and transmuted out of the unfaithfull Substance into the Faithfull 23. But according to the Testimony of the Scripture a New Birth not out of the old sinfull Substance but in the Center and inward Heart in the Love of the divine voyce a new beginning a New Heart a New Flesh and Bloud a New faithfull Person as to Body and Soul a Faith not born out of the unbeleef but out of God 24. A Body a Woman a Man an unity of the Woman a Seed a faithfull visible good Substance of God A Christ a Lord a God a Spirit Substantially opperatively livingly powerfully and actively the self-subsisting Eternall ONE onely blessednesse or salvation an undefiled unfadable untransitory inheritance reserved in Heaven 25. But now in this Last Time revealed or manifested to all over all through all and in all faithfull with himself the Triune Eternall God an Eternall REST and holy City and habitation of the highest of all and lowest of All in Heaven and upon Earth which is and is called in All Eternall Eternity according to the Testimony of Scripture of Ezekiel the last Chapter A Wedding City Here is the LORD Psal 48. 1 2. Very greatly and highly to be praised is The Mountain SION the fair Branch with which the whole Land is Comforted Yours alwayes willingly A. V. E. Esaiah Stiefell HEre followeth My Answer upon this Fourth Point of the Fourth Text. 1. T Fourth Point I would even leave unexplained if it were produced by the Authour in a right understanding but he jumbleth all together and sticketh his erroneous meaning therein and maketh much more a Confusion of it then a right explanation But seeing I have explained the contents of it above almost in every particular I will therefore only expound the chief matters and extract the Erroneous Opinions out of his Confusion for the sake of the Reader 2. Concerning the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ concerning which the Authour here mentioneth That the Seed of the Holy Trinity in the Totall divine Substance is become Man or Incarnate in the Totall Holy Perfect totally united with the Deity virgin MARY and hath taken HER Flesh and Soul upon him and so made MARY the Genetrix of God viz the holy word of God as he writeth and that MARY was before new born in the Faith e er she was impregnate or with Childe with the Saviour 3. This needs yet a sharper explanation and exposition and it had stood this Master in hand that will needs be Perfect and Omniscient to have unsolded this Mystery and not to have confused it so that a man cannot know what he understandeth thereby but only that a Man may see his secret in sown Grain or Seed spring up therein 4. He will not herewith satisfie the seeking Mind which enquireth after the Ground and lead him into the Center of Nature he must put on other Stieffeln or Bootes if he will ride with Christs Spirit over Death and Hell and say how Gods Anger is quenched Death broken to peeces and the Devills Kingdome IN Man destroyed 5. His explanation is much more erroneous and an obscuring the understanding of the seeking Mind than an Expounding He hâ—nteth some high Points concerning the manner of the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and produceth none 6.
be totally without blemish We desire to see a sign or token thereof let him Set that before us that we may acknowledge it and see it on him and THEN we will beleeve him 126. And let him leave others whom God hath gifted in Part undisgraced else we will say of him that he hath neither Part nor Perfection but only a bare Imagination and Vain spiritual pride which is instigated by the driving of Satan who fain would erect such a flattering seeming Holinesse 127. Seeing he perceiveth that the Man of Sinne shall be revealed or manifested therefore he will set such a Glistering Chappell neer it That Sinne might no more be known or acknowledged and that he might still under such a Glistering Cloak have his hypocrisie and Church totally Blind in Sinne. 128. For that is the Devills manner when he seeth that Sinne in Man becometh manifested or discovered then he casteth over Sinne 〈◊〉 a fine Glistering Trimmed or adorned Cloak and giveth it into 〈◊〉 perswasion that he is Holy Perfect and Righteous 129. Thus he layeth the Man of Sinne in a Fine soft Bed and covereth him with Christs Purple Mantle to try whether he might under such a cover sift and betray him Thus will he also do at this Time for he observeth that the Man of Sinne shall be manifested and that Babel shall be discovered 130. Therefore he cometh very finely and Lovely Covered with a shining Luster or appearance and would cover the Adamicall evill child totally that it should no more be called sinfull it shall deny its sinfull Name in the vanity and call it self totally Christ and holy and saith it is a Lye if the Earthly beastiall Man calleth it self after its own self Beastiall Property 131. O beloved Brethren and fellow Members of Christ all that read this be faithfully warned and admonished cover NOT the Man of Sinne with Christs Purple Mantle and lay him not at all in his Bed of Best but uncover him continually before GOD and cast him dayly and hourly into the GRAVE into Christs Death CRUCIFIE him without ceasing all the while ye live in this vanity of this Flesh 132. Let him have no REST hold him for your Enemy who hath devoured your Noble Pearly Jewel viz the PARADISE presse generate or pierce him with Christs Death that you may attain your Pearl again out of Christs Death in his Resurrection out of this Tabernacle where it lyeth shut up in Death acknowledge your selves only for poor SINNERS before GOD and go continually with the Prodigall lost and yet returning Son to the Father and pray to him for Grace 133. Our whole life should be a continuall RESISTANCE 〈…〉 even a continuall SINNING and though indeed the 〈…〉 Branch new generated or Born IN Christs Spirit 〈…〉 yet the Earthly Man IN Soul and Body sinneth and which continually to break or destroy the Noble †Rose-Bud again and altogether obscure it 134. The more Divine OYL is introduced into the 〈◊〉 Rose-Bud out of the Wounds and Death of CHRIST the fresher and fairer it groweth and the fairer it Blossomed 135. Here is the Field where the fruit groweth let man be perswaded to such sluggishnesse and to lye on such a soft Bed as to think he IS fairly grown and quite or full BLOSSOMED O No no by no means 135. But continually without ceasing draw divine 〈…〉 selfe in the Greatest Humility from and out of Gods Love 〈…〉 Honey out of the fair Blossomes or Flowers for as soon as 〈…〉 cure or carelesse and thinketh he is HOLY Honey then the 〈◊〉 bringeth to him Poyson in the vanity which the own-self 〈…〉 own self Lust or Longing sucketh into it self 137. The Man that would fain grow and bear fruit in Gods Kingdome can not do better then to suck all his power and vertue which he will use for the growing or Springing of his Life through CHRISTS Bloud and Death and continually cast his vanity to the Ground before the Truth and Clarity of God and continually be as if he were a DYING where he mightily presseth on to the Death of SINNE 138. * No City or place of REST belongeth to Sinne and vanity for so soon as Sinne Resteth THEN groweth the desire to vain Lust or pleasure But while the Death and destroyer or Breaker in pieces is UPON it then it dyeth without ceasing away from vain Lust or Pleasure and the fair Rose-bud groweth out of this dying which becometh carryed in GODS Hand to a Joy and rejoycing of the DEITY 139. Dear Brethren I have made this explanation out of a 〈◊〉 mind not at all with intent to scorn or disgrace the †Authour for I know his miserable confusednesse more then he doth himself and wish him from my Heart that he will yet be humble and know himself that he yet standeth in the Field or Soil where the fruit groweth and not boast himself before the time of fruit 140. For most certainly and truly there will be A SION as I then my self Hope that the Man of Sinne will be manifested or revealed and seek himself in GODS MERCY then must follow a constant continuall Repenting Life wherein Man knoweth and acknowledgeth himself to be in the 〈◊〉 and continually presseth from vanity out from vain Lust and pleasing into Gods Mercy 141. The poor sinfull Man must only with the poor Lazarus Lay himself at Gods feet under his Table and at his Dore and desire the Crummes from Gods Table and continually cloath himself in the Ganaanitish Woman with Heart and totall Mind 142. NO Flattery or Hypocrisie attaineth the Pearly Jewell for it lyeth buried in NO place but in the Death of the Earthly MAN THAT must be gone and then it is manifested the Adamicall Death must be changed into Christs Death if any would find the Pearl of Christ 143. CHRIST prayed to his Father so that he sweat a Bloudy Sweat when he would brake or destroy Death in the Flesh Now if we will bee and his Children and be generated or born out of HIS Death then 〈◊〉 we also dye with him in his Death and continually introduce our 〈…〉 great desire into HIS Bloudy Sweat and drown the awakened vain Lust and Pleasure IN his Bloudy Sweat 144. It must be sincere and earnest and not comforting and flattering Hypocrisie NOT to say to the Old Adam Thou art Christs Flesh No NO only Say †In me lyeth Sinne and vanity O God have Mercy upon Me in CHRIST thy dear Sonne and break and destroy my SINNE and VANITY in thy Death and bring me in HIS victory and Resurrection forth out of Death 145. Make thou Sinne and Death Nothing and grow THOU in CHRIST forth out of ME bring my Soul forth out of the Jawes of Death and vanity in CHRIST that I may 〈◊〉 to THEE and NOT to my selfe 146. Man in self-hood should ascribe no Divine Substance or Thing to himself but in all things give the honour to God and account himselfe
the Name JESUS is the holy divine Life viz the Divine Seed out of the word of the Deity the Womans Seed is his assumed Substance 81. And therefore HE is called the Womans Seed because he is from the woman viz from the heavenly Virginity which faded or disappeared in Adam and as to another part from the outward worlds substance in which the Name JESUS viz Gods seed destroyed or brake in peeces Death and Gods Anger 82. The womans Seed is a totall humane Seed from Soul and Body but it must be rightly understood as to THAT Seed wherein Adam might have generated Magically if his Longing or Lust had not plunged it self into vanity Evill and Good and awakened the Abomination as is before mentioned and here following in the Fourth Point 83. Now if I will in this place speak so highly of the divine Womans Seed then I must distinguish Gods and the Womans Seed and must rightly shew How Gods Seed viz the Name JESUS out of the word of the divine Sound or Life hath united it self with the womans Seed and given up it self into ONE Person which is called CHRIST 84. The Name JESUS is the anointing of the Womans Seed and in the anointing he is called CHRIST the Sonne of God the Seed of the Woman hath a given power and the Seed of the Woman is under or beneath God as the Body is beneath the Soule but the Name JESUS is the Giver 85. This Authour mixeth ALL TOGETHER and that for TWO Causes one is because himself doth not rightly understand it the other because he may advance all humane things and give forth himselfe onely for CHRIST viz for the Divine power and Omniscience and therefore he rejecteth all ART and PRAYER it self and calleth it a Forgotten thing as if it were without power or powerlesse and did not attain that which is Eternall 86. He will needs perswade us that the Womans Seed CHRIST God and Man is according to BOTH Natures totally ONE and that will HE Himself be But the humane Nature continueth indeed Eternally beneath the Diety though it is not devided for all that yet the Substance is not AS the Spirit 87. God with or by creating Man hath not created to himselfe a GOD which is of his own Substance but an Image of a Similitude according to himself viz a Manifestation of his unsearchable divine Substance in which he manifesteth himself to his own Joy of himself and Deeds of WONDER 88. And hath given to Man again to seek and to reveal or manifest the wonders of God in THIS worlds substance to his viz man 's own Joy delight and longing pleasure that God might be praised known and acknowledged in ALL works and Substances or THINGS HEre followeth The Authour Esaiah Stiefel's Fourth Point of the Fourth Text. 1. HItherto hath been Mentioned How Christ the Triune highly praised God and Man the holy Seed the living substantiall powerfull word of God hath appeared according to Measure from the beginning of the world in all the Saints his wife or woman and been manifested in the Eyes and Hearts of the Faithfull 2. Hereupon now it is rightly acknowledged by all the Called Elect truly faithfull Christians that this most holy womans Seed the Eternall Birth of God before all Creatures the Triune highly praised Sonne and living totally substantiall powerfull word of God and most holy Seed of the totall fullnesse of the Triune Deity 3. In the holy body and woman or wife of God the pure chast undefiled Virgin MARY humane Nature yet through and in the FAITH of the New-and re-generated holy pure flesh and bloud in unity hath taken to himself the pure humane Body and Soul to the undivided Eternall union and united it 4. And hath been generated and Manifested in and out of the faithfull Love and Wife or Spouse or Woman of God the Holy Virgin Mary a little infant and visible holy Creature the Sonne of God and Man in ONE Person 5. And as the greatest and least yes the totall fullnesse of the Divine Substance in the kingdome of Heaven from the least to the greatest here upon Earth in the Flesh of the least of all and most despised and unworthy generated in the Holy divine Unity such a Man and little childe which is equally in the Most high highnesse of all the great Triune GOD and LORD 6. This Perfect holy Seed and Word of God in one holy pure undefiled Person God and Man in the union of the woman Body and Soul through the Faith out of God and this his holy Seed regenerated viz the right Bridegroom which hath united and taken to himself the Bride of all faithfull good divine holy Flesh and Bloud in his holy humane Person 7. Concerning which the faithful witnesse John the Baptist and Fore-runner of Christ mentioneth this He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroome 8. In this perfect totall divine totall humane holy substance in one Person hath this Triune God and Man CHRIST JESUS delivered his wife or woman of his Body yes faithfull Body and Soul to and in a Masculine and Feminine Person who from the beginning to the end of the World have put their FAITH and trust in him in this his holy becoming Man or Incarnation from all Sinne Death Devil Hell world and ALL worldly Lust of the Flesh and of the Eye temporal and Eternal Damnation through his holy Passion dying and bloud shedding 9. And through his Innocent Death hath rescued from the Guilty Death and sinfull will and out of the shameful Kingdome of the abominable Satan Thief Lyar and Murtherour and set us in his own kingdome of Glory with himself to the Eternall Endlesse Joy and holy peace out of the Eternal Satanical sadnesse misery anguish necessity disquietnesse hatred envy and enmity of the mischievous Devils yes set us in the Eternal rest and blessednesse or Salvation 10. Now as this Perfect Triune Seed and word of God the totall fullnesse of the Deity in visible union of the Humane yet faithfull Nature a little Infant hath been and appeared which according to the testimony of the Scripture like other faithful Children grew to visible palpable greatnesse and was received to wisdom Age and Grace or favour with God and faithfull Men. 11. Which also the most holy high divine Triune Majesty exalted in and to himself from hours dayes and years in his visible Holy Person Gloriously and also at last here upon Earth visibly through his holy innocent Suffering and Dying Joyful Resurrection and Ascention made PERFECT and himself presented for a perfect Man or Husband of his totall Bride all the faithfull Holy Flesh and Bloud of his totall Church or Congregation in holy undivided Eternall Unity 12. And as he was from the beginning of the world in all Saints his Woman or Wife and faithfull Flesh and Bloud viz a child and Sonne of God of the Faithfull Flesh and Bloud of his womans Seed