innermost Geniture of God and presseth in through the Astral and Fleshly Geniture it is clearly in Heaven 3. But the Out-birth of this World was Lucifer's Kingdom to the Stars and so far is the Wrath of God between which outmost Birth of this and the outmost Birth of that is a great gulph and are one to the other as Death is to Life or a Stone to a Man So that as to the Out-birth we cannot see the Angels nor they dwell with us but in the innermost they dwell with us 4. The second Birth or Geniture viz. the Astral standeth in the seven Fountain Spirits of this World in which the Holy Ghost also ruleth and helpeth to generate the third Holy Birth 5. The which third Holy Birth is the clear Holy Heaven which uniteth with the Heart of God and holdeth the Devil Captive in the Out-birth in the Anger Fire 6. Out of this Heart Jesus Christ in the Womb of the Virgin went into all the three Births that he might with his innermost take the Devil Captive in the Out-birth overcome the Wrath of God as a Victorious Prince and in the Power of his Birth in the Flesh press through all Men whereby he is become Lord and King of our Heaven and Earth over Sin Devil Death and Hell in whom we also press through the sinful corrupted Out-dead-birth of the Flesh through Death and the wrath of God into our Heaven in which Heaven now sitteth our King Jesus Christ as an Almighty Son on the Right Hand of God being present in all the three Births in this World in all corners and places bearing up all ruling in the Throne of the once potent and now expelled Lucifer 7. When Stephen saw Heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at the Right Hand of God his Spirit did not swing it self up into the upper Heaven aloft but penetrated into the innermost Birth Concerning the Constitution and Form of the Earth 8. Every thing must have a Root The Earth is come from the corrupted Salitter of the outmost Birth for in Earth and Stones is Death and in it is also a Life else Gold Silver and Vegetables could not grow therein 9. Three Births are in it the outmost is Death the second is Life pressing through it being in the Wrath Fire and that of Love and the third is the Holy Life 10. In the outmost is Gods Wrath else why engendereth it poysonous venemous Worms and creeping Things 11. The Earth hath more than one kind of Life for Herbs and Wood are not Earth nor is Fruit Wood nor is the vertue of the Fruit God for the outmost Birth containeth him not but he containeth the Out-birth Q. Why is the Earth so Mountany c 12. A. Where the sweet Water was chief much earthy palpable Water came to be 13. The corrupted Salitter was more abounding in one place than another Also 14. Where the Astringent Quality was chief in the bitterness in Mercurius much Earth and Stones were compacted 15. Where the Heat in the Light much Silver and Gold and some clear Stones 16. Where the Love in the Light the most precious Stones and finest Gold 17. Where are great Lakes and Seas over that Zenith there being not much Salitter there came to be a Valley for which resting place the thin Water sought resembling the Spirit of meekness not elevating it self as in the Bitter Fires quality the Devils did On the words the Evening and Morning were the first day is said 18. Evening and Morning reacheth only up from the Earth to the Moon taking its Original from the Light of the Sun which maketh the outward day and the outward Night Not that there was then a twofold Creation of Evening and Morning Query Whether by it be not meant by once turning about of the Earth whereby the Evening and Morning came to be that is by one Revolution 19. A. Man having a Threefold Birth tho' with his inward he uniteth with the Light of God cannot bring it perfectly back to his Astral and less to his outward Birth which tho' Moses did in part when his Face shone but could not see God perfectly and live even as an Apple on a Tree cannot bring its Smell and Taste back into the Tree nor Earth CHAP. XX. On the Creation in the Second Day Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters c. 1. THis Firmament divideth the impalpable inward pure Water from the outward palpable corrupted Water Wherein is Death which lyeth Captive below the Moon and is the House of the Devils Death and Hell where the fierce Wrath of God becometh kindled daily by the Devils through the great Sins of Men which mix with the Astral Birth in the Deep 2. But even those pure Waters have some of the Wrath in them and is that meant where 't is said The Heavens are not pure in his sight 3. The innermost holds the outward Water strongly Captive and the outward Earth also else with the Revolution of the Globe the Water would be divided or dissolved and the Earth crumble away Which Firmament is between the clear Deity and corrupt Nature 4. Yet the Deep above the Earth may be said to be a place where Gods Holiness dwelleth for the whole Holy Trinity dwelleth in the Centre under the Firmament of Heaven tho' that cannot comprehend him but dwelleth not there fully bodily and creaturely as the Angels and Souls of Men do 5. The Third Birth is the Almighty Holy Heart of God wherein Christs Natural Body sitteth for his Natural Body is not as John Calvin thought such as reacheth no farther than a little circumscribed place wherein it is 6. For if every Man in his Astral Spirit comprehendeth the whole Body of this World should not the Fountain Spirits in the Natural Body of Christ being out of the Fountain Spirits of Nature and his Heart out of the inward Birth viz. the Heart of God which comprehendeth all Angels and the Heaven of Heavens viz. the whole Father should not it comprehend the whole World and uphold it as the only Head Heart and King of it in his Hands are his Sheep whom none can pluck out CHAP. XXI 1. MAN is made out of the Seed viz. Matrix of the Earth wherein the Eye is Twofold one in God the other in this World out of the three Principles not out of the Wrath but out of the Birth of the Earth in the Astral Birth in the part of Love but Wrath hung to him which he should have put forth from himself as the Fruit putteth forth from it self the bitterness of the Tree but that he did not but reached back from the Love into the Wrath and lusted after his Dead or Mortal Mother to suck her Breasts and so brought his outermost Birth into Mortality and his Astral Birth or Life into the part of the Wrath. 2. Man's Soul or Spirit is generated out of the
which though it was benummed yet the Life was hid in it and generated the â—tars out of Nature so the Light rose up making its Seat in the House of Death which Death could comprehend as little as Wrath doth Meekness 2. As a Tree hath Life Vegetation and Sap producing Fruit which the dry Bark hath little of through which the living Power thrusteth forth Twiggs while the withered Rind harboureth Worms which at last destroy the Tree It is the Love which breaketh through the House of Death and is one Life with God 3. The Stars are come out of the Power of the seven Spirits of God for the Wrath of God was kindled by the Devil and the Out-birth as dross and scum was driven together whence came Earth and Stones for the Body of God as to this World could not remain in Death but the corrupted Nature with its palpability hath remained in Death and is the House of Devils therefore God created new Angels viz. Adam and would bar up Lucifer in the outer Darkness Q. Why had not this been done instantly and then he had not done so much Mischief 4. A. God purposed to make an excellent Angelical Army out of the Earth and all Vegetations after a Heavenly manner and then Extract the Heart or Kernel at last and separate it from Death and the Death of the Earth and Wrath therein should be Lucifer's who in the mean time should and now doth lye Captive in the Deep above the Earth 5. But that there are so many Stars of differing Operations shews God's Infiniteness and their continuance shews there shall be a constant Uniform Birth Q. When the Devil and his Angels fell why had not God instantly bolted him up in the place where he fell 6. A. What Sin hath the Salitter committed that it should stand totally in Eternal shame None therefore God willed to use iâ— as a Dwelling for the new Race of Angels Adam and his Children and leave only the kindled fierceness to the Devil which had it been all left to the Devil out of it could not a new Body have been built 7. The Stars are a sharp Birth and innermost Geniture which had theirfirst kindling from Heaven and God useth them as an Instrument to the wrestling fighting Birth and to anxiety for on the third Day the anxiety in the Birth of this World rub'd it self whence the Fire flash existed and the Light of the Stars kindled it self in the Water of Life till the third Day Nature was a dark Valley and then Life brake through Death and the new Birth began for so long Jesus Christ rested in Death The old Body which standeth in the austereness is a House to the Devil but the new to the Kingdom of Christ. CHAP. XXV 1. EVery Star hath a peculiar Property as may be perceived by the various curious Ornament of the blossoming Earth which variety should have kindled the old Body into so many Powers to break forth through the Wrath that the new Life might have all the Powers that eâ—er the old had before the times of the Wrath which new Body blossomed at the Creation but Nature being by Man more corrupted God Cursed the Ground for Man took hold of the Fruit of the old Body wherefore the Fruit of the new was hidden and the bestial Body had â—Eves Wrath Apples to Eat 2. Concerning the Sun As far as the middle Point or Centre hath kindled it self just so big is the Sun for that is the Sun The Light of the Meekness of the Sun uniteth with the pure Deity and were the great Heat taken away from the Sun it would be one Light with God but the Heat cannot comprehend the Light therefore the place of the Sun remaineth in the Body of God's Wrath. 3. The Sun hath its royal place to it self whence it moveth not but the Earth rouls about every 24 Hours and compasseth the place of the Sun once every Year as do the other Planets but Saturn Jupiter and Mars by reason of their great heighth cannot do it so soon 1. The Life of a Creature is in the Heat of the Heart so is the Sun to the whole Deep 2. The Gall is not existed from the Heart but yet is the Mobility or stirring of the Heart by a Vein that goeth from the one to the other so is Mars 3. The Brain is the Power of the Heart so is Jupiter The Astral Birth stands with one Root in the Holy Heaven and with the Corporeity is in the Wrath. CHAP. XXVI 1. SAturn is Cold and Astringent and takes not his Power from the Sun but as the Sun is the Heart of the Life so is Saturn the beginner of Corporeity and of all Formings and as Jupiter is of the Brain so is this of the Skull his place is in the midst between Jupiter and the general Sphere of the fixed Stars 2. Venus is a gracious kindler of Love in Nature for when the two Spirits of the Life and Mobility were risen up out of the place of the Sun viz. Mars and Jupiter then the Meekness as a Seed of the Water pressed downward with the Power of Light whence existed the Love of Life or Planet Venus mitigating the fierceness of Mars and humbling Jupiter else the Brains would break through the Brain Pan and transmute it self in high-mindedness in the manner of Proud Lucifer 3. Of Mercurius The seven Spirits of God are perfectly in every place but if in any one place they wrestle not triumphingly in that place is no Mobility but a deep Darkness such a House is the House of Flesh in Man such was the whole space of this World when the Deity in the 7 Spirits had withdrawn it self from the Devils and had so continued if the seven Planets and Stars had not risen from God's Spirits but the Heart of the Deity hideth it self in the Corporeity and Out-birth of this World which therefore is in great Anguish till the Heart of God will move it self again in the seven Spirits of God in this World and kindle them and then the Sun and Stars will pass away again to their first place and the Light of God shall fill all the Body of this World and when the anxiety tasteth the sweetness of the Light of God all is richly full of Joy and the whole Body triumpheth which now cannot be because the fierce captive Devil keeps House in the Out-brith of this World till the last Judgment Day and then the Heart of God with his Fan will cleanse his Flour and breaking through Proclaim bright Day 4. The Earth is the Fruit of the seventh Spirit of God but Man's Body is far more Noble being an Extracted Mass out of the Salitter out of the seventh Nature-Spirit 5. When the Seed is generated the Astringent Spirit draweth together a Mass out of the sweet Water that is out of the
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according â—o Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it â—orth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâ—s in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâ—ess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
more or less such are sick of Sacred Love so more or less feel they this And the more we die to our immoderate Lusts after the Dominion of the whole third Principle the more doth this Principle evidence it self in us And in such proportion as we enlighten our first Principle or Souls Original standing in the first four forms of Nature proceeding by Divine Power to enâ—indle the true Light in them in the same measure is our Root transplanted to grow in this Paradisical Field or Principle 7 Demonstration But we are to know by way of Explanation This to be a passing into Death and thro Death into Life of which the Holy Scripture is plentiful Nor may even Plato's description of Love be counted discordant to this who defines Love â—o be one 's dying to his own Body and living to the Body beloved 8. For the living to the Divine Light and Love of the second Principle which is the property of the Son of God is a dying to us and ours that is to our whole depraved Image much like as the Day is the Death of the Night 9 Demonstration The second Principle is shewed by the Sacrifices which were consumed by the Holy Fire whereby they died to their first Form and lived to a new one that is were transmuted into the holy Flame 10. And as what part of the Sacrifice would not enkindle into the holy Flame figuring This Principle fell to Ashes as into the perishing third Principle Even so see we much of the Regenerate Man stay below and be uncapable of the New Image but be as Ashes 11. Now we see that Ashes may be heated but Flame not Such is the Earthy Man and Sensual part yet we see after the procedure of a second work Men do transmute common Ashes into a Lucid and Transparent Body 12. So may our vile Bodies by the procedure of the second work the Resurrection be translated into a clarified Christalline Temple for our immense glorified Souls and they both be the Hallowed Habitation of our resigned humble divinely irradiated Spirits 13. And our illustrated Ashes glorified Souls and meek human Spirits being first clothed with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness and heavenly Humanity the Virgin of God's Wisdom will be both suitable guests for the New Jerusalem as a Bride adorned for her Husband and also be Eternal Temples for the Holy Ghost 14. Thus hath been given a glimpse what the second Principle is in it self and what its Operations are in us as to our first Principle It now rests to search what it is in the third Principle in us and in the whole Creation 15. In us it is our Principle of Divine Understanding directing to know our Creator the End of our Creation and wherein â—ies our true good The Eye thus enlightned informs the Affections that from the Reason offered they should 16. On the Principles of Justice pay the Debt we owe for our Being and the Means wrought for our Restauration to Well-being and of ingenuity willingly and thankfully to adore him as the only Fountain of Good and to esteem every thing in that degree as they partake of that Fulness to figure and resemble him 17. And on the Principles of Self interest to prevent eternal loss or be eternal gainers as our choice or rejecting shall render us capable or otherwise 18. These Notions and Beams of Light when the Understanding receiveth from the second Principle it offereth to the Judgment to consider of 19. The Judgment hath the Senses to consult who are grown so dim-sighted having from their youth been habituated to the Good or Evil of the third Principle that they cannot see beyond it but judge as the Beasts do of Pleasure or Pain nor can they see the least cause to deny themselves of any one thing they lust after whereof if denied they allarm the Passions which have their Root in the first Principle 20. The Passions are as furious violent impetuous Storms which often obscure and impose on the Eye of the Mind and sometimes immerse the Ship of the whole Man setting on fire and extremity the whole frame of Nature so that the Judgment wants power to get the Will right 21. Here the New Man as Child of the holy second Principle hath need enough to pray always fervently to knock wait use much abstinence with highest diligence to watch to stand on its guard to use much violence and severity and that often to fight the faithful Combate till he kill the Murtherers to die from day to day thereby to be pluckt as a brand out of the fire He shall find great necessity of help from Heaven to bind the Strong Man 22. But most especially in some persons whose originals having been strongly rooted in the first four Forms of the first Principle conveyed by Generation and perhaps also reinforced by their Constellation so that they have much of the Serpent in them In such Souls the work of Resignation to the Divine Conduct goes very hardly slowly sadly on with many recoils notable resistance and reluctance that they resemble the Child possessed with that kind that goeth not out but by prayer and fasting 23. Others having so deep Root their Wills being lapsed and wedded to the third Principle either having so great possessions as seem rather to be possessed with them than to possess them or having long enjoyment their Evils plead Prescription and Custom Some by their Constitution incline to delicacy or by their Constellation and Complexion to airiness many such find the Cross too heavy do look back the Pearl in their Account is too dear 24. Others Good Intentions are covered with so much rubbish that they will not be at the pains of removing it for indulgence to their ease and perhaps ensnaring reputation with men foils and pinions them Many of the above strive to enter but are never able therefore withdraw from the Yoke their Goodness is only as the morning dew 25. But the Judgment rightly informed sees all things as they are things present as if past things to come as if present it sees the Out-birth brave with a borrowed Goodness only entrusted to it to shadow the Grace and Glory of the true Fountain of Goodness It sees the World on fire the Heavens rolled up the Lord sitting on his Judgment-Throne sees the triumphs of the humble and tremblings of the proud 26. As for things visible the Glory of the visible Heavens figuring that of the true Heavens the Earth that of the Divine Salitter 'T is true in this dead Earth the surviving relicks of Good strive to produce perfect Bodies of several kinds but the Curse hindereth It would have Paradice bud and bear fruit holy and pure productions every where but it cannot for Death is entred at the door opened by the first Adam 27. Had indeed Life been received as offered by the second Adam Paradice might well have blossomed in the Out-birth and his Kingdom have come with
Ghost and the Virgin Mary Therefore was it that when the Lord did shed his Blood for Mankind he is truly said to pour out his Soul that Blood being the Chariot of his Soul Also out of his side pierced by the Spear came Water the Signifier and Chariot of his meek pure Spirit of dear love and purity as the Blood of the Soul united unto the Infinite Spirit of Love 9. When therefore this Water and this Blood fell to the Earth the Divine power being in and with it caused the Earth to tremble the Rocks to rend from their dark Coagulation the Graves as Prisons to open For the captivating power which the Salitter from the Fall of the Angels sustained and was invaded withal causing rocky coagulation and the Curse and Death by the Fall of Man casting the Earth into a deadly sâ—upor and sterility was as it were dismay'd broken enfeebled by the holy powers coming on it 10. This could not be concealed but as Jordan fled from Eliah's Mantle the Graves ceased to be Prisons opening their Doors the joynts and cement of the Rocks were loosed and they clave asunder and the drowsie Earth awakened and trembled 11. For as the wrath had shut up the Divine power in the Creation in Death in an inactivity or obscurity So the Divine Love hath by his Conquest over Death on the Cross with irresistible Might and Puissance opened the Doors broke the Chains and proclaimed the acceptable year leading Captivity Captive Q. 126. What did the Darkness signifie which at that time came over all Nature A. 1. The Root of five of the other seven Planets is the Sun but Saturn hath a distinct Centre Now the Sun is out of the Magical Spiritual Fire and Light World and that Worlds Fountain is the incomprehensible power of the Fathers property and the inaccessible Light of the Sons property And the Spiritual World is figured imaged represented actuated and expressed by the Sun and Saturn Especially by the Sun as it were by a Nature God 2. And therefore as if you stop the Efflux of a Fountain the stream ceaseth or if the Sap be obstructed the Fruit soon feels the defect or if you withdraw the Face from before a Looking glass the Glass retains not but loseth it Thus was it that the Out-birth of the third principle was over-cast ceasing its Lustre at the instant of the Lords Passion 3. The things signified by it were 1. That as Adam departed out of the Eternal day into the temporary Darkness so did temporary Darkness here shoulder out or exclude the day And as Adam Exchang'd a blessed repose exact order perfect peace and sweet rest for a state of Enmity Horror Torment and Death So now did the Lord enter into the Death Enmity c. to pass us through into Life and Rest. Again as Adam went out of the holy first and second principles in to the Bestial separate prophane Out-birth so did the same Out-birth pass now into Death and Impotence discovering it self thereby to be only a shadow their Order and Beauty borrow'd and dependant wholly on the Internal World and that no Creature World or Angel hath a Self-sufficiency so least of all hath this which is but a Picture of Eternal things It also signified the wrath of the first principle invading the second or out-breathed holy Life prevailing to the shutting up the Eye of the third principle Yet that after three hours viz. from the sixth to the ninth viz. after a threefold domination in and over the faln Humanity the Soul the Spirit and the Astral or Elementary Man making the Divine Man â—ry out and plead that it also might not be forsaken straightway upon a second cry and a resignation made viz. the second principles out-breath'd Image entreth Death and â—trook it dead then the Internal Light figur'd by the outward riseth again Q. 127. Why did Christ in his Death commend his Soul into his Fathers Hand What is the Hand of God A. 1. As previous to this Answer it must be enquir'd 1. What may be understood by Souls in general then what by this most holy one 2. What various acceptation we read concerning the Hands of God And come to the direct Answer 1. Souls in general are 1. Sometimes intending the Eternal Soul distinct from Spirit and Body 2. Sometimes it means the Body distinct from both Soul and Spirit 3. Sometimes it 's understood of the Soul and Spirit distinct from the Body 4. Sometimes it extends to the taking in of the whole Man as of the most holy Soul Spirit and Body of the Lord Jesus Christ who yielding up himself wholly unto his Father was as a whole Burnt â—ffering or Lamb without spot Sacrificed as the one alone once for all and for ever intire Sacrifice and Altar also and Incense fully making Atonement and Entring once and thenceforth Eternally into the Holy of â—olies 2. Thus as the true High Priest he entred the most holy place bringing in a new Priesthood of another Tribe viz. not of Levi but of Iudah also another order not of Aaron but of Melchizedeck by change of the Priesthood changing also the Law of direct necessity putting a period to figures as the daily Sacrifice the anniversary entring of the High-Priest into the holy place but rending the Vail c. 3. Of all which the Epistle to the Hebrews as that they were most immediately concerned to know doth copiously inculcate and convince 2. What may be understood by the Hands of the Father here spoken of 1. Sometimes it means his Mighty Power irresistible strength c. 2. Sometimes are signified by it his Infinite Omniscience and Omnipresence 3. Sometimes are intended his most wise and gracious ordering and providence 4. Sometimes it speaketh his most loving merciful careful preservation and shielding of his Children 4. In serious view of all which the Fathers Hands whereinto the Lord Jesus Bequeathed his Soul Spirit and Body may not only be taken in all these Acceptations but an infinitely more vast comprehension than all Creatures Saints or Angels can fathom or enumerate 5. Now to the answer it self be it known that the dear and only Eternal Son of the dear Eternal love of the Father having given his Disciples and all his purchas'd holy ones his peace for their incomparable privilege as the legacy of the Prince of Peace by Testament To the end it might never be frustrated ratified it by the Death of the Testator gives himself up wholly at once entring into death who himself was the Fountain of Life and breathing his last cry and groans into the Bosom or Hands of his Ever-living Infinitely-loving Omnipresent Father and thus through death re introduced life into the Humane Nature 6. And is it ask'd why It is answer'd Who but the whole Father could receive the whole Son Who less than the Infinite first principle could receive the Infinite second principle For tho'
naturally arising from the Eminence of his necessary Evangelical Work sharpen'd the Spirits of the Priests c. with Rage 5. We see with horror what the Effect of Judas knowing him was Objection But these are not significant to his state after the Resurrection Answ. Though the Objection be Digressive yet then consider 6. What use Antichrist makes of her Knowledge of this profound Humiliation Life Passion Resurrection viz. to be wholly sollicitous in the outside 1. Of Things 2. Times 3. Places viz. 4. 1. That the Things may be Figur'd Grav'd or Painted and those Products of Humane Fancy adored The â—iner Antichrist Talks Writes Preaches the Things as a History Believing which imaged History do flatter themselves to secure Eternal Blessedness though they live and die â—nmorâ—ified and in another Principle and propose to themselves to wit the third Principle and Self yet Pride themselves with woâ—â—â— â— Time they devise for Idleneâ—â— Licentiousness and Prophane Rioâ—ousness call'd Saints Days 3. Places they hallow of Assembling Consecrating stone Walls and Structures and one part of those must be more Sacred than the rest and name the Places by Saints Names c. 5. Whether any of the Disciples during that Forty days had not beheld him is not said therefore it may seem they all saw him and why not being seen of above Five hundred Brethren at once 6. But there is one thing still to be said which may be read and heard of but not known by Human Wit or Art or comprehended by Astral Reason viz. That Christ had nor hath more nor fewer Witnesses of his Resurrection than those who were risen with him risen in him and he risen in them these Children of the Day witness his Resurrection by his Voice to and in them they know his shape and most lovely form for his true Image is in them they Dine with him his heavenly Humanity is the Flesh and Blood their hungry Souls really truly and substantially do Eat and Drink their fiery Property is allayed by the meekness of his Living-water they as the Hem of Aaroâ—'s Vesture partake of some of the Holy Oil poured on his Head 7. Of these things Man's sharpest Penetration without Regeneration and Mortification discerneth as the blind sinful hardened Multitude would have done had they viewed the Lord after his Resurrection perhaps to gaze or adore the place they saw him at but persecure his Image never a jot the less Or be astonish'd as Saul's Company were seeing only the Light 8. This Resurrection is the subverting gaining upon and over the Disorders of the four Forms or Properties of the first Principle which without the vertue of the second would image the third Principle in them or Image themselves therein getting on meer Fig-leaves But in such where this Resurrection is beginning though in some it is like the uncovering of Fire for the Passions catch and burn the more being curb'd and put under a Law yet light is the natural consequent of that Combustion 9. In another Form Class or Degree of Christians who have made Progress this new life is more apparent who yet sometimes by their Drousiness their habitual Evils return and foil them for such are left a while as those Canaaâ—ices as Thorns and Goaâ—s to exercise their Faith Diligence and Circumspection c. 10. But in those excellent Souls the sealed ones where the Resurrection is moâ—â— conspicuous there as in Torches or Candles is little trouble intrinsically in emitting their flames of Light from any inward Defects but their burthen and disturbance is from blasts without either of the Sins of others which like many bordering Vapours conspire into a Fog to hinder the executing their Holy Purposes and bent of their Souls to enlighten the Spirits of those they converse with perhaps by Calumnies Or else their cross is from stormy Persecution to terminate their Course or torment them in it in all which they are with the sweet Spirit of the first-born from the Dead to encounter Oppoâ—ers and with unconquerable Patience to offer up themselves and abide by it content to pass through manâ— Deaths be Partakers of their Lord's Entertainment hold their Testimony and finish their Course for the day is breaking in such which may have Clouds but never shall Night invade it for it is the entrance on the holy pure Paradisical Life Q. 140. Why did Christ after his Resurrection converse Forty days on Earth before he went or was taken up to Heaven What doth that signifie A. 1. This Question Demands 1. Why Christ conversed 40 days c. Also 2. What iâ— signified To the first the Causes obâ—â—â—â—â— to commâ—â— understanding were 1. Tâ— confirm the Faith of the Disciples And 2 To found the Faith of successive Generations concerning the Resurrection 3. To Leave the obstinate Jews and others inexcusable 2. To the second what it signified 1. That as Adam in his time of tryal went out of the Eternal day into the two Principles of the dark Abyss and Out-birth so Christ now brought back the same two Principles harmoniously into the Eternal Day 2. To shew openly in his Body that was dead and is alive for ever the Victory over Death and Hell 3. To shew the Holy Paradisical Life which Adam should have continued in viz. The perfect Image of the Almighty Trinity in every of the three Principles That is how his first illustrated by the second was to be imaged and figured by the third over which he was to rule 1. By conserving his Pure Holy Virgin state as the second Adam did Also 2. To Eat and Drink as the Lord then did those 40 days in a Paradisical Heavenly manner in the Mouth only not with filthy Guts c. but as did the Angels with Abraham 3. To have comprehended and been able to pass through all the compressed or condensed Bodies irresistibly unapprehended not excluded but as light through Crystal penetrating all Astral and Elementary Existences as the Eye of Eternity doth time Q. 141. What is Christs going or Ascension to Heaven that he did visibly ascend Whither is he arrived and where is he now at present A. 1. This Deep is our World here was the Throne of Lucifer and in this World or Space is our Heaven yet not in this World but in the Heaven that comprehendeth this World but this World cannot comprehend it as Time cannot comprehend Eternity 2. The sharp Power and Omnipotence of the Father is the true Centre as of all Worlds so of Heaven and the gracious Omnipotence or true second Principle is the true Centre of Holiness and Purity in the whole Abyss of the Father and especially if it may be so spoken the Heaven of Heavens who as he is the Mediator the Christ the First-born of every Creature is on the Throne and is himself the Throne sitting on the right Hand of God that is at the place
Man at dissolution of the outward Life at one instant and by the same dissolution is it effected and compleated A. What Omnipotence may do is not for vile dust to comprehend for it is written I know thou canst do all things and the Thief on the Cross was a Monument of unsearchable Grace yet by the words of that Thief there seems not only a preparedness but a good degree of Conviction of guilt penitence sence and anguish under it inlightening to know the Lord Jesus Faith to direct and fortifie his petition and a seeing the unseen Kingdom yet so late a Repentance tho' thus manifested is the one only singular president on Record Q. 10. But it may be enquired what the dissolution of the outward Life of its own Nature contributeth hereunto A. It must be acknowledged that it banisheth for ever the outward Objects of our misimployed Affections and yet it followeth not that it takes away the desire gust or lust after them for the breaking of the outward Life or Elementary and Siderial Man or the Obligations and Ligaments of our Souls and Spirits is but as taking away the Skreen and opening to us the two inward Worlds which is as the unraking of Fire and enraging the Souls native forms of the unregenerate which the Astral and Elementary Man had been before the separation a mitigation of the Anguishes of so far is Mans dissolution from contributing to a Foundation or Beginning of the Divine Birth As it may be conceived by noting that tho' a proper Soil and apt Season may shoot a Mustard-seed sown unto a tall large stature Yet the richest Soil concurring Elements liberal Season benign Astral Influences with the Solar Rays uniting transmute not Tares into Wheat Thistles into Fig-trees nor Thorns into Vines 11. But where the Soul like Flax only smoketh with the Holy Fire and the Souls Fire is irradiated with true tho' weak Divine Light rightly directing the Eye of the Mind Causing the Will and Affections to press forward mourning sowing in tears smiting on the Breast in Anguish heaviness and good earnestness the dissolution of such a sincere beginning Pilgrim may be but as plucking up a Thorn Hedge to make the way more accessable disburthening an over-laden Ship the better to secure the whole the alighting from a froward unbroken or tired Horse which will neither carry the Rider nor can be carried by him So unsuitable a Companion doth the Soul begun to be regenerate find his Body with the distrustful cares distracting fears worldly sorrow and hateful pollutions thereof And so adverse are the Maxims of the Sensual Man to those of the New that they are on terms of Hostility so that if we live after the Flesh we shall die but if by the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live The Body's Vileness is pointed at by that Statute in Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil was not to be poured on Man's Flesh tho' not only both the Altars the Table Laver all the Vessels and Candlesticks but also the very Tabernacle was to be anointed therewith 12. How much are we less provident than the Brutes who know and use their season the Stork the Ant c. and under flattering Hopes of doing all at last neglect all for ever but when Harvest is come begin to sow regardless of what is written To day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts But besotted lost Man will promise himself that it is enough at death that the Priest can absolve me Others to say I believe Christ hath done all for me or because they acknowledge that all are sinners indulge themselves to be always sinners neglecting the great End of their Creation and of Divine Patience till the Creator is calling them for Accompt of His betrusted Talents as if they would then work out their Salvation when themselves are passive and unable to action and the night come when no man can work Obj. 3. 13. But we are told and that by some who detest the Roman Purgatory that something may be done to compleat the perfection of separate Souls after their separation from the Mortal Body who produce several Texts out of the Old Testament and out of the New also out of the Apocryphal antiquity to point at it or rather expresly to confirm it as out of the Old Deut. 26. 14. Isa. 61. 1. Zech. 9. 11 12. out of the New Matth. 12. 32. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 6. out of the Antient Writings call'd Apocrypha 2 Esdras 7. 37. Ecclesiasticus 7. 33. 2. Maccab. 44. 45. Let us therefore post-pone the first step to the New Birth till our bodily Letts be removed when without the obstructions of the Rebel Passions ending with cutting of the Temporal Thread we be adapted thereunto A. The Objection supposeth not that one who at separation of the Soul from the Outward Body after rejecting the Gospel being in fixt Enmity against God and the Kingdom of Resignation is remediable nor suggesteth that he who soweth himself a Tare Thorn or Thistle shall rise a Wheat Corn Vine or Fig-tree how therefore may it seem incumbent on me to oppose my self to the dint of the Texts produced 14. But rather as the Lord Christ in answer to the Question of the Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father keepeth in his own Power but prophesieth and chargeth on them on that occasion their immediate concern and business How much less is it for men to know what the operations of Father Son and Holy Ghost will be in perfecting separate Souls when out of the Circle of Time and Seasons For so strong a Fort hath Satan built in mens resolute Self-wills so impierceable are their Rocky Hearts that like Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the Spear and as the Servants of Atheistical Benhadad diligently catch every word seeming to favour their flattery of Impunity that they may treasure up wrath by impenitence more and more against the day of wrath 15. To these am I sent with happy Tydings that howsoever the Abyss of Mercy hath winked at the faults of the days of Ignorance yet now commandeth he all men every where to repent also with heavy Tydings that if in this their day they neglect so great Salvation how shall they escape Which Question none in Heaven Earth or Hell answereth Again if they that sinned against Moses Law died without Mercy and it might seem the bottom of Misery to die a merciless Death of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trampled under foot the Son of God and blasphemously counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace of how much sorer punishment is that Question but which either is unanswerable or which Eternity can only unfold 16. A murthered Body is the sorrow and pity
Astral and is the third Birth in him As an Apple on a Tree is the third Birth which though it be United with the Word of God in its innermost Birth yet the Wrath being in the Mother of its Body it remains palpable must dye and rot but at the last Judgment Day the Power of the Principle out of which the Apple groweth shall spring anew in Paradice and be a Fruit for Men in the other Life 3. And Man's Body hath the same Hope for though the bestial Body must putrifie yet its vertue liveth in the four Elements in the Word and there grows out of it beautiful Roses and if thy Soul standeth in the Love thou canst while thy Body liveth here live and reign with God in Heaven according to the Spirit of the Soul which the Devil seeth not 4. But for that thy Astral Birth standeth one part in the Wrath the Devil seeth into that part viz. of the Wrath into thy Heart where if thou give him any room he teareth that part of the Astral Birth which standeth in the Love out from the Word and then thy Heart is a dark Valley and if thou labour not quickly to kindle the Light again he kindleth the Wrath-fire and then thou art a Devil and into what thou hast sowed thy Seed that is thy Soul and in that part shall thy Body arise The striving of the seven Spirits in the Earth the Depth in the Centre 5. In the strife of the Astringency bitterness and sweet water the Astringency is Predominant which is dry The sweet quality is extensive and yielding yet the bitterness and sweet quality struggle till the Astringency dry and harden them and thence from their unwilling Captivity Anguish riseth up just as in a Dying Man in this anxiety Heat riseth whereby a Sweat exhaleth as in one yielding to the Captivity of Death That Sweat the Astringent and bitter qualities lay hold on as their Son which they had begotten on the sweet quality which they had killed 6. However the Astringent being strong and the Bitter swift from their Joy in their Son do stuff it that it swells and grows full and great And when the Astringent striveth to captivate the Bitter and the Body begins to be too streight or narrow and that the strife there be too great the Bitter must yield but cannot be kill'd but leaps aside and breaks out of the Body into Strings or Threads taking the Son's sap with it And this is Vegetation and growing of a Root in the Earth Q. How can God be in this Vegetation 7. A. That is the Vegetation of Nature and if the wrath Fire were not in the three Qualities viz. Astringent Sweet and Bitter God might plainly be seen but the Wrath makes the Astringent a cold Fire and its Attraction to be too hard and maketh the Sweet too thick and dark and the Bitter too raging and swelling else they might kindle that Fire from whence the Light would exist and from the Light the Love and from the same Fire-flash the Tone and then would be a Heavenly Body wherein the Light of God would and doth shine and then would be a Heavenly Fruit as it springeth up in Heaven and the Light would generate it self in the sweet-water and there would be a bright shining Heavenly Body where God is 8. But being the first three Qualities are benummed in Death they remain a dark Eternal Prison God's Wrath. Death and Hell a source of Torment Not that the three Qualities are reprobated even to the innermost but only the outward palpable Body and therein the outward Hellish 9. Thus is seen how the Kingdom of God and of Hell hang one to another as one Body and yet the one comprehendeth not the other but the Heat Light Love and Souâ—d are a kind of second Birth making the outward moveable and in the inward standeth the sound of God's Word which seeing it riseth up through the Astringent bitter Death and generateth a Body in the half-dead Water that Body is therefore Evil and Good which may thus be demonstrated 10. One taking a Surfeit by any mortiferous Herb Water or unwholsom Flesh let the same kind of Water Herb or Flesh be distilled or burnt whereby the outward Poison which standeth in Death is gone the Astral Vigour remaineth that Dead Body being gone wherewith if good Treacle be mixed which holdeth Captive the Wrath in the Astral Birth and give it the Sick in warm Drink then operateth the innermost Birth which hath diseased the Person and Cureth Whereby is seen that the Power of the Eternal Life wrestleth in the Dead Earth in Anguish but cannot bud till the Death be severed which hangeth to it for the Wrath is the Life of Death and of the Devil wherein standeth their corporeal Bodies or Being for the Dead Birth or Geniture is their Eternal House CHAP. XXII AFter other things in this Chapter are the seven times Refining of Silver and especially Gold till it become Triumphing CHAP. XXIII 1. THE earnest and severe Birth or Geniture out of which the Wrath of God Hell and Death are come to be hath been from Eternity in God but not accensible nor elevable not kindled or domineering without which severe Birth would be neither God Life nor Heaven Angel nor Creature The Gate of the Holy Trinity 2. The whole Birth of the Heaven of all Heavens this World the place of the Earth and of all Creatures and whatever can be thought of all that together is God the Father And in every the least circle imaginable is the whole Birth of God perfectly perpetually and irresistably but if in a Creature or Place the Light be extinguish'd there is the Austere Birth which lyeth hid in the Light in the innermost Kernel 3. The second Person is the Light which is continually generated out of all the Powers and enlighteneth again all the Powers of the Father an instance whereof is in the kindled Fires in this World the innate Son is the meek Joy and Delight of the Father Now the Father and the Son are equally great the one could not be without the other If the Jews Turks and Heathen will convert the Light will rise up in them gloriously 4. The third Person is the moving Spirit of Life Thus there is One God and Three distinct Persons neither of them can comprehend with-hold or fathom the Original of the other 5. If any will be Saints and not Devils let them generate in the meek holy Law of God else they shall Eternally generate in the austere severe Geniture oâ— God's Wrath. But the Deity is a very simple pure meek loving quieâ— unanimous Being through which the sharpness of the innermost Birth can never elevate it self but remains hidden CHAP. XXIV Of the incorporating or Compaction of the Stars 1. GOD moved the whole Body of Nature contained in the Extent of this World on the 4th Day
Miâ—d not enlightened by Divine Light reach them for like must be comprehended by like And tho' Heavenly Treasure be carried in an Earthy Vessel yet there must be a Heavenly Receptacle hid in the Earthy or the Heavenly cannot be comprised 13. Eternal Life is in a Twofold Source First That of the Originality viz. the fierceness according to which God calls himself a consuming Fire and this Principle we must have or else we should not be alive Yet if we stay in this without generating the Love and Humility our abode is in Pride Covetousness Envy and Anguish as the Devils 14. Let us look to it that seeing the Life in the Originality is both Inimicitious against it self and against the Regeneration and that the Life in the Love is Heavenly therefore we be content to be pierced wounded and to bear the Cross in Meekness and expect till at the day of Separation the Field of the first Principle in which groweth the Heavenly Fruit of the second Principle shall be taken away for then shall the Life springing up through Death be a Fruit to God in the new Man and thereunto dedicate our selves in our Meek Victorious Saviour THE THIRD BOOK OF Jacob Behmen CALLED THE Threefold Life in Man CHAP. I. Of the Root Beginning and Forms of Life 1. SEeing there is in us an incorruptible Life wherein is a Principle capable of the highest good yet by its Original is also in danger of Eternal Perdition and Misery and that here we are strangers posting away how necessary is it to search whence all these originate And this may be by going up the Stream to the Fountain 2. The outward Elementary Life is a Living Heat or Active Fire enlivening the Body and sustained by the Body the Body by the Food the Food by the Earth the Earth by the Water and the other Elements the Elements by the Fire of the Constellations their Fire inkindled by the Sun causing a Boiling in all So should that first outward cause cease the sude or seething and Generation of all also of Metals Fruits c. would cease as the Food failing the Body and its Life extinguisheth 3. Now this perishing Life hungering after a higher Life shews there is such and that is the Eternal Life of the Soul As is said in Moses God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul The Soul is also an ever induring Fire and must have Food which it presseth after from its original which is the Eternal Band the Forms of the Eternal Nature the Property of the Father but that Band of those Forms is of it self as a dry Breast whence it is that the Soul would have the Food in its own power but that also is as impossible as for the Eternal Nature to have the Light in its own power which cannot be for the Love shining in it or into it remaineth Lord therein because the Eternal Nature doth not comprehend it but rejoiceth in the Light which is another Principle which when it is received into the Soul it is a new Birth ingenerated in the Soul and this is done as truely as the Soul like a Branch is come from the Tree of the immediate Parent 4. And because Adam fell into the Astral Kingdom and our Elementary Body is infected therewith as sometimes the Body is with the Pestilence it was out of the power of the Soul to enter into the Divine Principle therefore of meer Infinite Grace did the Love the Son of God take our Humane Soul and brought it into the holy Life that we might every one by or for our particular selves press with our Soul in the Life of Christ into the new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ. No Meritorious Works on the one hand or lifeless feigned words of believing on the other avail at all but only a stedfast earnest resolution in the new Created Will bearing the Cross killing the old Will and arising in the Life of Christ bringeth the Glory Food and Paradise of the Soul else the Soul remains in the four Anguishes or Forms of the Eternal Band for ever wherein stands the Eternal Wrath and Hell Fire for ever And thus see we the Original in the first Principle and the Divine Light making the second Principle why then should not the Man to whom this Knowledge is graciously given speak of this as his Native Countrey not as of things afar off but that wherein he standeth and himself really is and not to be learnt of another Man as is barely an History unless himself enter into the new Birth in the Life of Christ that the Divine Light may shine in him 5. The Root whence is inkindled the Vital Fire consists of two Forms only the sour which is a strong shutting up and the bitter sting is an opener and those are what the Eternal Will in the desiring attracteth and is the wills something and darkness Then the sting of the bitterness would get loose which the sourness captivateth with strife tho' like a wâ—e is yet no pain for they are immaterial forms of Nature in the Eternal Will and this contrary commixture is as a confusion of Eternal Mobility and cause of the Multiplicity of Essences and are efficiently the Eternal Essences and Eternal Band. 6. The vast infinite space desireth narrowness or comprehension wherein to manifest it self as a Map doth in a few Inches a huge Territory a short Speech or Scene Abridge a large History a Minute Model Epitomize the Terrestrial and Celestial Orbs. And as all pourtraying Figures have shadows as foils to set off the rest so in the contraction of matter to manifest Infinity must be Darkness that one contrary may illustrate the other Nor is the vast infinite space a Creator but a Genitrix and the Word in with and of the Father the Generator as the Territory makes not of it self the Map also the words owe themselves to the speaker or speaking word 7. Nor is the word departed nor doth the Son depart from the Father but is inseparable as the Light of a Candle abideth with the Candle as saith the Son I am not alone but the Father is with me in the Father is a Centre in the Son is a Centre two Principles not divisible but inseparable Thus the second Will opening the Principle of Light is amiable pure and mild also Omnipotent to Create all things breaking and shining out of the Eternal Essences yet not comprehended by them but dwelling in it self CHAP. II. Of the Begun Life the Principles and Forms and Fall 1. THE stirring in every Life whether Sensitive or Vegetative must not be a strange or Heterogene Power for such would blow it out rather than help it but it must be the Creatures own Spirit proceeding in the Genitrix to be a Centre and Circle also of Life None should trust their Soulâ— with the Men whose Home is here for the Soul stands in the Original of the Essence of all
is the seventh Form or Seal of the Eternal Nature wherein the six Seals disclose themselves And natural Wisdom instead of finding the Heart of God by humble resignation hath found the Wonders of this World by Thunders Voices and Strife for when after the Apostles times Men left Love and Meekness and fell to Pomp and Pride the Golden Candlesticks and seven Stars withdrew and were hid and all became seven Seals The Glassy Sea is the Angelical World The Voices of the seven Thunders would be hid proceeding out of the stern Essences did we not put our Imagination into them and open them in us So that only the Lamb excepted none in Heaven nor Earth were worthy to open the Seals nor look thereon we were shut up by them under Death Darkness which only the Light in the Heart of God could open for Man was become an abominable Beast a Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns and ten Crowns on the ten Horns this Beast the hypocritical Woman rideth on is this the Ass Christ humbly rode on 4. It is hellish Pride and worldly Pomp on which the Woman of seeming Holiness rideth she pretendeth to the Keys of Heaven and makes Laws Decrees and Canons yet knoweth not the New Birth He only that is born of God in his inclined heart the Seals are opened But when and wheresoever the Lamb openeth the seventh Seal then and there the Whore the Beast and Dragon are cast into the Lake of Fire then doth the good Shepherd lead his Flock into green Pastures then they that mark hearken incline the heart mind and thoughts coming humbly with broken hearts are met and embraced in them Christ is born they have him in the Baptism Supper and hearing of the Divine Word in all places for the Holy Ghost satisfieth the longing of the contrite spirit CHAP. V. Of the Seventh Form of Nature the Corporeity 1. COrporeity subsisteth in the 7th Form of Nature and as all the other six Forms are a hunger and longing desire to each other so are all their desires to the seventh to have a Body or Rest and the desire of the Essences is to preserve and sustain the Body The whole Essence of all Essences is a continued hunger of propagating from its fulness so that when one Form attaineth the other a third riseth yet the two former vanish not but all keep one in the other their own respective Powers and so of the rest And tho' the still Eternity is the only true Rest yet is the seventh Form a substantial Body of Rest whereinto the six diffuse their vertues and the same seventh Form standeth and is the comprehensible Body of Darkness and Light 2. The sharp Fire in the Liberty holdeth its right and the anguish whence the Fire ariseth sinking as a death affordeth matter and weight as in my self I see the Fire the cause of feeling in the dead Corporeity which else in the anguish sinketh into weight and is burthensom as a stifling Now what as Fire ascendeth not or as weight sinketh not in death doth as anguish remain neither uppermost nor lowermost which as the begun anguish is the Centre of both and not getting up nor down presseth side-ways like the lower Branches of a growing Tree 3. The Deity longed to see the Wonders in the Eternal Nature and Innumerable Essences yet created all for the Light not for the Darkness for the Tincture is awakened in the Centre in the death of the Earth which is the life of all Gems Minerals Vegetatives and Animals And in the deep the Sun having the Tincture of the Fire is the Father and Life of all the Stars who in the beginning proceeded from its Centre not that they all sprang from them for as the Sun is the Centre of the uppermost in the Liberty so is Saturn or the Earth of the lowermost in death yet is there no dying but a transmutation for neither doth this World die but the Essences change to be what they were not and remain as figures for ever to the glory of God's works And if the gross Visibles were not created to the Darkness how much less the Spirits which are out of the Eternal Mind and therefore Eternal like as our Mind hath diversity of innumerable thoughts and those thoughts essentially potent when exalted as in that of a Woman with Child whose thoughts can magically impress foreign preternatural substances as well as heterogene incongruous figures on the fruit of her womb 4. When God willed the Fiat viz. the creating the Eternal Essences or Powers which flowed into substance which Eternal Essences before went forth without substance then time hads its beginning But the Holy Will still proceeded with the Powers into the love and delight in meekness contrariwise Lucifer's direful Fall was his delight of turning back his will to domineer in the Tincture of the Fire root his motion to which was the forms of the Genitrix before enkindling of the Light as sour bitter dark tart stinging envious for in the fourth form stands Love and Anger in opposition being the middle form of the seven having three drawing one way and the other three drawing the other Lucifer therefore was drawn of both but that the Root forms prevailed was because he saw the Divine or Second Birth proceed out of the Centre and himself standing in the Essences of the Nature of Eternity the great Fountain he therefore despised the Humility whereof Love and Light are the Off-spring and would rule over it and so was cast out of the uppermost Life into the nethermost Death and Darkness for he was offended to see the greatest Mysteries to stand in the greatest lowliness 5. The attaining the Divine Light consisteth in a fixt resolution wrought in us of Humility wherein the Love is generated But all Laws and Devices to attain it are fabulous and as the making costly works wherein the Artificer pleaseth only himself with things wholly unprofitable reaching no higher than imitation of useful things like also as there are many Spirits Aerial Aquastrish Terrestrial and in the Anguish which are not out of the Eternal Well-spring but from the beginning Will generated by the Tincture of Heaven in Nature which mutable at their time leaving only their shadow to manifest the wonders of God And from Eternity there hath been such a Government where the knowledge was only in God but at the coming out of the Angelical World an Intellect was also in the Creatures The Gate into the Holy Trinity 6. In no Creature in Heaven or this World stand the three Principles open as in Man The first Principle or Father tho' he standeth in the Liberty Eternal Stilness is not call'd Father as such but as he is the desiring Thus the Mind of a Man being one only Will is desiring yet therein out of the Eternal Will are innumerable Wills the first Will is Master and the other are recomprehended leading to Light and Darkness to Joy
and groaneth to have it Banished for the outward devoureth the inward if the inward continue not in strife 2. Yet the three Principles are one in another The Soul is the Jewel the Spirit is the finder of the Jewel the Earthy Spirit is the â—eeker the Earthy Body is the Mystery so three seekers belong to the Soul 3. We undervalue not the outward Life it shews Gods Wonders but let Men go with the inward into the outward for tho' the outward be a Beast yet the Wonders which have discovered themselves in a comprehensible substance belong with their figures not their substance to the inward 4. The inward understanding Spirit is Lord of the outward But if it let the outward be Lord that Man is a Beast and if it let the Fire-spirit viz. the Turba be Lord that Man is a Devil But the outward Life is Water to that Fire else how would many a Man become a Devil if the outward Life did not hinder it as is to be seen in the Gall which is a Fire Poyson but mixed with Water it allays the fierce Pomp of the Fire from going aloft above the Meekness of God as Lucifer did Q. 17. Whence and wherefore is there a contrariety of the Flesh and Spirit A. Water is a death to Fire but the contrariety is not totally such in Man because the Light ever causeth the Fire but rather such as between God and Hell for the Anger Fire sharpeneth the Divine hiddenness of Gods Eternal Majesty for it generateth the high Light in the free Liberty and thus the other or second World cometh to be out of the first The Soul is the Centre of Nature The Spirit is the precious Image tho' not sever'd as Fire and Light are not sever'd the Fire is fierce yet the cause of the Meek Light and in the Light is the Life The contrariety is that the inward Spirit hath Gods Body out of the meek substantiality the outward Spirit hath the great Wonders which lye in the Arcanum of the Souls â—ternness therefore the Love spirit hindereth that the fierce wrath destroyeth not the Soul bâ— inflaming it The contrariety is that the inward Spirit would be Lord and subdue and the outward would be Lord saying it hath the Mystery of which it hath but a Looking-glass Seek not the Mystery in the outward Spirit for there is but a Glimpse but go into the Cross and from the Cross back into the fourth Form there is Sun and Moon one in another Bring it into Anguish into Death Drive on that Magick Body so far till it be again what it was before the Centre in the will and then it is Magical and hungry after Nature it is a seeking in the Eternal seeking and would fain have a Body therefore give him for a Body Sol viz. the Soul and then it will suddenly make it a Body according to the Soul for the will sprouteth in Paradise with very fair Heavenly Fruit without spot or blemish The inward Spirit would have God the outward would have Bread which is also good in its place But beware thou let not the outward Spirit be Lord. Q. 18. How the Soul departs from the Body in the death of a Man A. There is need of the Eyes of all the three Principles to take Death Captive to see this sharp question The beginning which is Magical having found the limit casteth away the seeking the Looking-glass the Earthy Life And lets the Body depart without complaint for there is no woe done to the Soul but the Turba or Fire life the Matter or Earthy Life â—â—â—seth The Soul dwelleth in the will which hath a glance or lustre burning in it and the Fire becometh impotent and a darkness unless the Spirit hath Heavenly Substantiality if so it is swallow'd up in the Magia hath the same meek Body for a Sulphur and Eternally burneth in the Love-fire Thus Sickness unto Death is that the Turba hath kindled it self and destroyeth the introduced Medium The Life's Fire being withdrawn the Body goeth into its Aether when if the Soul's Fire hath not in its Spirit God's Body viz nothing of the Power of Humility to sink down in it self through Death into Life it is a dark Fire in great horror in the first four Forms of Nature The stern Astringency Bitterness Anguish and Fire without flaming The Covetous one hath Frost the Envious one Bitterness the falâ—e Deceitful one Anguish the Wrathful one Fire Hence consider the last Judgment to be such as at which the Devils do tremble Q. 19. How the Soul is Mortal or who it is Immortal A. The Soul is from the Eternal and continueth Eternally it came out of God's Mouth and at Death goeth into God's Mouth again But the wicked Soul hath lost its Image yet Immortal for the Eternal Nature dieth not also if the Anger Fire should die God's Majesty would extinguish which can never be The wicked Soul hath introduced a Substance into the Will thence comes wo it is a Dying yet only a Will of Dying an Anguish ever thinking if I had not done this or that I might have attained God's Salvation which Evil things done make Eternal Despair No Soul Dieth be it in God or in Hell but its Substance or Doings stand Eternally to the Glory of God's Wonders Q. 20. How the Soul comes or returns to God again A. Answer'd in the foregoing Answer Q. 21. Whither the Soul goeth when it Departeth c. be it saved or not saved A. 1. It goeth not out at the Mouth for it came not in at the Mouth but the Turba having broken the Earthy Life goes as a Conqueror unapprehended by Wood or Stone through the Anger of God and Death and then is in God's Body in Christ's Flesh and Blood seeth God's Majesty and the Angels face to face in the unsearchable World without end or limit 't is swift as a Thought is magical its words and deeds done here are â—ts House 2. The Heavenly Body of the Soul is from the pure Element out of which the four are come that gives Flesh the Tincture blood It s external substantiality is Paradise where spring all bright heavenly Fruits which the Soul may eat they are as pure as a Thought yet substantial with colours Power and palpable to be handled by the Soul Juicy full of the Water of Life 3. Only those who are gone out of their own Will into God's in this Life have Christ's Flesh on them but most go so out as by Faith hang by a thread and are in the still rest waiting for the last Judgment Day sunk down in Humility through Death yet a Cliff or Gulph is betwixt them and the Holy Souls in Christ's Flesh and Blood but are in the same Principle yet under the Altar 4. The wicked are in the innermost which is also the outermost Darkness and can appear again in the starry Spirit seeking rest make terrors in Houses
by Eternal Generation standing in the Majesty of the Sacred Trinity and in the Body of Mary equally alike at Once Q. 37. What the Spirit of Christ is which was Obedient and which he commended into his Fathers Hands A. 1. This is that great Jewel that Pearl Matth. 13. 46. The Philosopher's Stone and shining Sun not so noble The Heavenly and Earthy Mystery is in it Nothing in this World is like it but the mean Simplicity which standeth still and awakeneth not the Turba in such a Spirit is this Jewel hid as the Gold in the Stone 2. The Soul is the Original of Life as a Fire of God which should be turned into God's Eternal Will in the Magick seeking of which Will the Soul is originated and wherein lyeth the Deity with all the three Principles 3. And out of the Soul's Fire the Light is generated by blowing it self up by which it is its own Life and in the Lights Meekness is the Noble Tincture with two Forms one red of the Fire the other thin of the Water which generate the Life And in the Exit or going forth of that Power and Vertue which is free from the Fire is the Light of Life or true Spirit wherein is the Virgin the Image of God In this Spirit lye the Thoughts and Understanding and if it casteth away its own Soul's Fire Pomp and Wit it attains God's Image God's Body For it is so subtil that it Uniteth it self with God for it can and may enter into God And because this Spirit originateth out of the Fire-life and the Fire-life in the Abyss standeth in the quality of the Anger of God therefore Christ commended not this his Spirit into the fiery Life but into his Father's hands viz. into his Love-desire wherewith he reacheth after our Spirits when we enter into God 4. Thus is shewed what Christ's Spirit is and what our Spirit is viz. not the Soul it self but its Life's Spirit In the Trinity the Son hath the Spirit proceeding out of his Heart and Mouth the Heart is the flame of Love which meekneth the Father's Anger so is it in Man and no otherwise in one Syllable Q. 38. What are to be done at the End of the World A. Future things are to be answered only in a Magical manner or by way of Similitude because the future Wonders are all seen in the Turba And concerning this Question there is enough spoken in the Answers of the former Questions Q. 39. What and where Paradise is with its Inhabitants A. It is explained in the Enochian Life that Paradise is not altered only withdrawn from our source or quality if our Eyes were opened we should see it Nay God is with us only we have lost the Quality and Fruit of Paradise as the Devil hath lost God For Adam would eat of the Earthy Fruit whereby he got an Earthy Life and secluded himself the Garden where heavenly Fruit groweth Q. 40. Whether Paradise is alterable and what shall de afterwards A. 1. As little as God is alterable so little is Paradise When the outward Dominion shall pass away then shall in the place of this World be pure Paradise an Earth of heavenly substantiality No Night Heat Frost Old-Age Sickness Fear Sorrow Death nor Superiour but Christ in one Communion with the Angels then will the Tabernacle of God be with Men. 2. This Earth will be a Christalline Sea where God's lustre will be the Light It will be a Holy Priestly Life all speaking of God's Wisdom and Infinite Wonders all Fruits will grow to us according to our wish it will be a Life of meer Love and Delight for to this end hath God manifested himself in the created Images of Angels and Men that he might rejoyce himself in his Life's Essences Eternally Hallelujah This was the Author's Fourth Book Written Anno 1620. THE FIFTH BOOK Of the AUTHOR Jacob Behmen Consisting of Three PARTS Viz. First The Incarnation or becoming Man of Jesus Christ. The second Part is Of Christs Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection The third Part is Of the Tree of Christian Faith 1. TO the right knowing Christs Incarnation the Knowledge how Adam was and whereof made much importeth 2. Adam was made out of all the three Principles God the Fathers Property compared to Fire The Sons Property compared to Light The Spirits Property to the Wind or Air the out-birth proceeding from both God according to the first Principle is not called God but a consuming Fire 3. The Father is the Eternal Will the son the Eternal Meekness and the Impregnator the Spirit the Eternal Life 4. The Trinity Created the one holy Element called Centre of Nature Divine substantiality the substantiality of the Light Paradise the Mother of a giving Power Meekness and Substance to all Forms 5. Out of this one holy Element were made Angels and Men. Only Man was made not only of the one holy Element but as to the out-birth of the four Elements also over which he was to rule both Stars Elements and Creatures by his Power given him out of that one holy Element 6. Adam's Body was Paradisical Holy and of Power to penetrate Stone or Earth Immortal yet real Flesh and Blood but Holy and Heavenly He was both a Masculine and Feminine Virgin and was to propagate Magically for both the Tinctures were in him and to eat only Paradisical Food which needed neither Guts not Bestial Draught c. 7. But Adam did not continue so for the four Elements gaining Power over the one holy potent Element by which they were to have been governed he slept for he was not able to continue in the state wherein he was created so God divided the Tinctures and form'd of the Feminine a Woman giving her the half Cross in the head and to them the Members of distinction and propagation yet still in Paradise 8. And Eve being tempted by the Serpent tho' the Law of God was explained to her by her Husband fell and drew him also 9. But God had incorporated the Virgin of Wisdom in them which viz. the Eternal Virginity in the Covenant of Promise hath lain shut up in the Virgin Mary and in all Adam's Children in every Man's Light of Life wanting only this that the Soul's Spirit give it self up thereinto and in that Soul-Spirit God becometh generated again CHAP. VIII 1. FOR Christ is not become Man in the Virgin Mary only so that the Divine Substantiality did sit bolted up therein no the Divine Substantiality in the Water of Eternal Life entred into and became flesh and blood It made Heavenly Tincture and Divine Magia 2. So that we may say when with our imagination we enter into God that we enter into God's flesh and blood for the Word became Man and God is the Word 3. This takes not away the Creature of Christ We liken the Creature of Christ which is indeed a Body to the Sun which enlighteneth the whole
Deep one Power and Lustre receiveth the other The Deep with its Lustre is hidden but yet hath the power of the Sun in it 4. So Christ's Substantiality filleth Heaven and Paradise and swalloweth up the Earthiness also where it is received and obeyed 5. Thus Christ brought back what Adam lost and much more for the Word is every where become Man See the Extracts of the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the Three Principles The 2d Part being of Christ's Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection CHAP. I. Q. IS it said Was it not sufficient that God became Man why must he also die Could God no other way save Man What pleasure takes he in Death and Dying If God had by his Sons Death paid a Ransom for us why must we also die CHAP. V. Ver. 54. to the end Ans. 1. MAN had lost the Divine Substantiality and Angelical Property and imagined into the Out-birth viz. into the Earthy part was departed from the Divine Light into the Light of this World and captivated in the fierce Wrath of God which the Devil had kindled viz. the four first Forms according to which God calleth himself a consuming fire 2. The corrupted Out birth also had put a Body on him which it destroyed and swallowed up again in its essential fire 3. But being the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Holy Spirit of God out of the Eternal and so is an Angel 4. Therefore hath the Power of the Holy Light World the Heart of God resumed the same entring into the Human Essence which lay in the Anguish Chamber surrounded with Death and took to himself a Soul out of our Essence and our Mortal Life and introduced the Soul through Death through the earnest severe Fire of God the Father into the holy meek Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâ—iality into the fierce Wrath of the Father the Centre of the Anguish-Chamber the Fire World in the Soul Christ being the right Centre of the Holy Trinity is with the out gone Holy Spirit the flaming Majesty the Light-World 5. And whosoever will possess the Light-World and be an Angel must enter in through the same path bear old Adams Cross go forth through the harâ—â—â— astringent stern and malignant corrupted Adamical Man and slay him and be born anew out of the Anxious Wheel 6. But seeing we were not able to do this Christ gave himself into the Centre of the fierce Wrath in the Soul brake and extinguished it with his Love So that now when we go out of our selves to the death of sin we come into the death of Christ the path he hath prepared for us and leads to his Resurrection whereby we ascend into his Arms the unshut Light-World which is also Abraham's bosom the Paradise wherein we were created our true dear native Country 7. It consisteth not in this that we think it enough to pourtray and represent what Christ hath done and suffered for us and tell of a Faith in that but that we daily and hourly fight and slay the Evil Adam as to his will and doings with resigned and resolved earnestness and then we enter into Christ's Death in our living Bodies put on his Life in us become impregnated with the Kingdom of Heaven Get on us Christ's Thorny Crown and still be accounted one that is not worthy to live on the Earth through all which we must faithfully proceed on knowing we must either be Angels or Devils 8. In this Death nothing dieth to or in us but only the Earthy Evil dead Adam whose will and life we have here continually destroyed This Enemy departeth from us into the Essential Fire into the four Elements and into the Mystery and must at the end be tryed through the Fire of God and then our Bodies and Works must be given us again through that Fire whatever the Earthy Mystery had swallowed up But not such an Evil one for the Fire of God devoureth the Evil but such a one as we here in anxiety have sought a Divine Spiritual Substance like the Wonders and Wisdom of God 9. Hypocritical Reason saith Christ hath done all for us we cannot It is right Christ hath done what we cannot do he hath broken Death and restored a new Life and is in Heaven But 't is not knowing but doing the Devils know but what availeth that we know if we remain without and enter not into Christ in the way and passage he hath made for us doing good for evil in truth and simplicty CHAP. VII Ver. 75. 1. IT is not enough to cry Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Son he hath satisfied for my sins But I must enter into Christ's suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death become a Member in and with him Constantly crucifie the old Adam Always hang on Christ's Cross Become an obedient Child Tho' I plainly walk this way yet I have so evil a ghest in me that I still work too much evil must therefore continually strive and fight till I vanquish 2. Christ indeed hath in and for us broken Death and made way but what doth that comfort me unless I enter in that very way and path as a Pilgrim or Stranger here CHAP. IX CHrist's Sufferings c. 1. Men content them to participate of in the Lord's Supper v. 29. But his Divine Flesh and Blood is that which the wicked cannot participate of that is Sacramentally 2. They receive the four Elements in the Anger of God because they discern not the Lord's Body which is every where present in Heaven and Earth and is fed upon by the Heavenly Soul not as a sign as others dream not Spirit without Substance but the Substance of the Spirit Christ's Flesh which filleth the Light-World which the Word that became Man brought with it into the Virgin Mary and there became opened in its Flesh and Blood the assumed Human Essence 3. Yet was it at that very time while Christ lay in the Virgins Womb in Heaven in the one Element in all places It came not into Mary from many miles off but the Centre which Adam in God's Anger had shut up in death the Word of the Deity did unlock and bring in the Divine Substantiality not entring in but unshutting ingenerating and in this World exgenerating God and Man one person heavenly Substantiality and Virginity one only Man in Heaven and in this World See the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the three Principles The third part being of the Tree of Christian Faith CHAP. I. WHat Faith is 1. It is not our forcing the mind to belief of Articles which are the work of our Reason 2. But true Faith is one Spirit with God working in and with God is the might of God dwells in the liberty in God's Will inclined to his Love and Mercy is free from the fierce Wrath and Torment in Nature is not comprehended subsisteth in
help breathing it self again into the disappear'd Divine Property and into all the three Properties of the Humane even to the Thoughts and Senses breaking the will of self and of the Devil and hath brought the holy Life through Death into a Paradisical sprouting making Death and the Devil a reproach and shewing how the Eternal one can rule mightily over the Multiplicity and give an open Grace Gate for us poor Men to enter the Life of Christ. 3. We are therefore to come with ouâ— captivated will out of the Prison of Earth and Self and solely sink down into this Incorporated Grace which pressed from one viz. the first Man upon all and with the resign'd will sink down into the Hyperbyssal Supersensual Unsearchable Eternal one into the ground out of whiâ—h Life first sprung and then it reacheth the Temperature and true Rest. Argument How can a Man do that viz. that last above written being the Scripture saith The first Man is made to a Natural Life to rule the Creatures therefore mâ—st the Life go into the Earthy Properties Answer 1. The Humane Life is set in a reflex Image of the Divine Will in and with which God willeth and the Earthy Creatures are set in a representation of the Humane 2. And though Mans Life was set in Nature yet it was in the Temperature Without Christ we can do nothing but if Man sink into the Incorporated Grace of God and in Divine Hope rest from self-will and work and resign its will to work only what God speaketh it is beyond Nature And the Abyss God himself speaketh through him and manifesteth himself in and with him thus new-born in Christ who now ruleth over the outward Reason Life 3. Till this be done Man is no Child of Heaven but his will an Apostate just as the Devil and his Body an evil Beast and gathereth not with Gods Incorporated Grace but scattereth 4. As an Herb without Sap is burnt by the Sun while the Herb that hath Sap is warn'd So if Mans Essence hath not Ens from Gods Love and Meekness it impresseth it self into a fierce wrathful fiery sharpness and the Mind is totally rough covetous envious and stinging 5. Yet if the fiery Life eat of the Divine Love it is no more receiving as the Fires Property is but giving and working good in all as the Property of the Light for having eaten of the Bread which cometh down from Heaven it is quickned by it The Sun in a hard Stone where the Water is coagulated cannot work as in Metals Herbs and Trees because his Light and Vertue penetrateth not so is it in this CHAP. III. How Nature representeth and maketh visible the Divine Eternal and Abyssal Knowledge 1. THE Word is the Efflux of the Divine Will and Knowledge as the Thoughts and Senses are of the Mind yet the Mind remaineth totally but one So the Word was is and ever will be the Eternal Beginning flowing out and revelation of the Eternal one 2. And the Wisdom is the Eternal out-flown Beginning and cause of all Powers Colours Vertues and Properties 3. Their Powers are again an Efflux into the various Self-properties whence come the Multiplicity of Wills thence the Creaturely Life of the Eternal springeth viz. Angels and Souls 4. Not that Nature and Creature is here but the Spirit of God sporteth himself in forming Similitudes of the Powers of the Wisdom as doth the Mind with reflex Images which are the Thoughts and every Property hath its own Separator as hath the Eternal Unity whereby the Efflux of the Unity becomes perceptible in Infinite Multiplicity 5. For the Efflux sharpeneth it self superlatively by the Magnetick longing of the receiving Powers in the fiery kind wherein the Eternal One becomes Majestick and Light And the inkindling through Fire makes it a Kingdom of Joy The visible World with its Hosts is the out-flown word of Fire Light and Darkness separated by the Officer of Nature who hath imprinted each Body according to its own Property Of the Twofold Life in the Representation of the Divine Will 1. An Eternal 2. A Temporal 1. The Eternal is the sensible Life in the Eternal Fire and Light a spark of the out-flown or out-breathed will of God bound to will nothing but the out-breathed will of God a Separator and Instrument of Gods Omnipotent Glory wherewith he will rule all things having therefore given it Divine Understanding 2. The Temporal and Mortal Existence is the Efflux of the Separator of all Powers call'd the Soul of the World making the visible Creatures such a Similitude as wherein the Spiritual World of Fire Light and Darkness beholdeth it self hidden in and working through the Elementary World But the Visible possesseth not the Invisible so as to be chang'd thereinto but is only an Instrument whereby the Inward Powers Image themselves as in Herbs Trees Metals c. Of the Threefold Spirit in the Growing Powers 1. The outward Spirit is the gross Brimstone Salt and Mercury which coagulating it self in the four Elements and by drawing the Spiritual Separator to it the Signature is instantly perform'd 2. The second Spirit or Quintessence hath a Centre of its own viz. a Root of the four Elements being the Meek Joy of the painful Brimstone and Salt Spirit nourished from within of the Light of Nature and from without of the subtle Power of the Spirit of the World which fifth Essence is the right cause of all Vegetation and such a Joy of Nature as the Sun to the Elements 3. The third 's the Tincture of which see Chap. 12. of the three Principles The Tincture is that wherein all Powers lye in equality a Spiritual Fire and Light in one substance a Paradise the Mansion of Divine Power and of the Eternal Soul known to the Creature only in the Regeneration and to no ungodly one for such drive on a false will 4. It is not Elementary but issueth through the gross Elementary Spirit even into Taste and Smell But the Elements are a cause of the motion of the Tincture the sharpness of the Smell is Elementary but the vertue in the Smell is the Tincture which in Medicines Cureth for it imprinteth it self in such Balsams 5. As the voice to the Fig-tree Be thou withered did not that Miracle but the Power whence the voice proceeded As neither is the Confession of a thing Faith but that Intellectual Power is Faith out of which the Confession proceedeth wherewith Gods Spirit Co-worketh 6. Thus all whatsoever whether evil or good represent in their several Properties the hidden Spirit of the Separator of all things and the Elementary is the Efflux of the Tincture and Spiritual World for the visible moveable material World is the substance of the invisible immoveable spiritual World 7. So the desire of the Efflux out of the darkness is become sharp stern and gross and hath coagulated it self into Matter even unto the drossy Earth So out of the Light cometh the Noble
twofold Humanity viz. the Heavenly and Earthy that when these Warriours should smite the Earthy the other which came down from Heaven should escape 3. Jacob's Presents are Christs Prayers 4. His humbling himself saying I came over with my Staff only but am now two Bands so did Christ in the Garden whose two Bands were the Heavenly Humanity perish'd in Adam and that of the Limus of the Earth with both which Jacob viz. Christ was to return to his first Paradisical Countrey and Angelical Kindred 5. Sent five hundred and eighty Cattel viz. Christ sent out Lusts to the Anger of God 6. Jacob also sent his two Wives viz. Christ sent the twofold Spirit of Man viz. the Soul and the Spiritus Mundi viz. the inward Eternal Soul and the outward Soul 7. Two Handmaids viz. the twofold Humanity of the Body 8. The Eleven Children viz. the Eleven Apostles 9. And passed over the Brook Jabock viz. Kidron 10. Jacob's Twelfth Son lay yet unborn so now was Christs Twelfth Apostle not chosen in the room of Judas 11. Jacob staid alone and there wrestled a Man with him viz. the great love of God in the Name Jesus did wrestle with Gods Righteousness and Truth which was on Mount Sinai 12. All Night of the darkness of Gods Anger 13. The Ham of his Thigh was displaced viz. the Adamical Humanity was displaced but not broken to die Eternally He halted viz. being Lame to the Pride Vanity Malice Lasciviousness c. of this World 14. The Man said Let me go for the day viz. the Eternal day dawneth But Jacob viz. Christ said I will not let thee go until thou bless me viz. the Humanity 15. And the Man said What is thy Name He said Jacob. Then the Man said Thou shalt no more have a self name but Israel viz. a Tree of Life or Christian viz. a sprout on the Vine Christ. 16. And Jacob asked what is thy Name But Christ said why askest thou that is I am no stranger thy Name and mine shall be one But God without Nature and Creature is the Eternal one and Eternal good the Abyss and Profunâ—ity no place is found for him no Creature can Name him for all Names stand in the formed Word But God is the Beginningless Root of all Power the Vegetables know not how the Sun blesseth them 17. Man hath lamentably lost the five Vowels the Holy Ghosts Language for the whole New Testament is couched up in the Old 18. When God blessed Jacob he called the place Penuel that is where God is manifest in the Soul 19. And when he was departed thence the Sun viz. of Righteousness arose in him and he halted his self-will was lame in its ability 20. And the Children of Israel eat not of that Sinew to this day for they understood that Mystery and Instituted this Memorial viz. the displacing of their Bestial Wills which if the present Jews and Christians well understâ—od they would not hunt after Covetousness and Lust yet under Christs Purple Mantle CHAP. LXI Of Jacob and Esau meeting all Heart-burning turned to Joy c. 1. BLind Reason should learn the meaning of Gods Decree Rom. 9. 13. and Mal. 1. 2 3. for here was Esau the Type of the corrupted Adam and Jacob of Christ who came to help Adam and were of one Seed to shew Christ must become Flesh. And Jacob appeased Esau by his Humility as did Christ by his great Love in our Humanity in our Anger-soul appease the Anger of God when he gave up his Heavenly Blood with the Tincture of Love into the Anger of God for then was the Anger in the dark World turn'd into a Love-fire 2. Jacob seeing Esau coming with four hundred Men divided his Children to Leah and to Rachel and to both the Handmaids and passed before them and bowed seven times c. 3. When Christ in our Humanity entred his Sufferings Gods Anger in the four Elements met him Then Christ divided the Heavenly Worlds substance which he brought from God signified by Rachel from the Natural Humanity from Adam or Spiritus Mundi Typed by blear-ey'd Leah wherein yet the destroyer of the Serpent was Born as Judah of Leah while Rachel was Barren till Christs Spirit made her fruiâ—ful 4. And as Jacob set the Handmaids foremost so did Christ first cause the Earthy to pass through the sharpness of Death next Leah the Body out of the Limus of the Earth follow'd 5. And after her Rachel the Heavenly Limus with the Prince Joseph the Divine Worlds substance 6. Jacob bowed seven times in this Humility appeasing Esau so did Jesus through all the seven forms of Natures Life 7. As Jacob yielded up his Riches and Life to Esau to do what he would with him so did Christ to Gods Anger 8 Esau ran to meet him fell on his Neck wept and kissed him so when the Essence of Gods Anger in Man tasted the sweet Love in the Name and Blood of Jesus it was transmuted into Compassion 9. And Eâ—â—u beheld the Women and Children and said whose are these c. Man whiâ—e heâ—d in the Anger and Darkness was not known to the holy Image but Love made him known 10. Their order of coâ—ing to Esau shews how poor Eve's Children were brought through Christs Suffering and Death into the Countenance of God first the Body of Sin through Death then the Body out of the Limus of the Earth which in the Resurrection is esteemed strange therefore Typed by a Handmaid And lastly the fair Image Created in Adam 11. Jacob's Presents signifie the Children purchased bâ— Christ and given to the Father so shall Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father 12. Yet is Esau's Compassion and weeping on Jacob the Type of repenting Sinners sorrow 13. Esau said Let us go together Jacob saith The Children are tender c. I will follow softly c. When Christ in his Sufferings had appeas'd his Fathers Anger in the Kingdom of Nature the appeas'd Anger would instantly take the Journey viz. in the Life of Man But the Love said Man is too tender and may fall by Temptation in one day I will follow slowly with them to the end of the World 14. Esau would have left some of his Men with Jacob but Jacob said what needeth it viz. God the Father said Let me leave some Laws of my severe Righteousness but Christ saith Let me with my redeemed Children only find Grace in thy sight for they cannot fulfil thy Laws CHAP. LXII Of Dinah Deflour'd all the Males of Sichem slain by Simeon and Levi. 1. JAcob had Twelve Sons six of them were of Leah and Judah of whom came the Humanity of Christ was one of the â—ix 2. Then bare Leah Dinah which Daughter of Fleshly Love went after the Daughters of the Land a gadding lively prefiguring Christendom who instead of continuing in the humble simplicity of Jacob's Tents at Succoth and remaining a Stranger to the Customs and Behaviour
IACOBUS BOHME TEUTONICUS PHILOSOPHUS THEOSOPHUS CENTRALIS Jacob Behmen's Theosophick Philosophy UNFOLDED IN DIVERS Considerations and Demonstrations SHEWING The Verity and Utility of the several Doctrines or Propositions contained in the Writings of that Divinely Instructed AUTHOR ALSO The Principal Treatises of the said Author Abridged And Answers given to the Remainder of the 177 Theosophick Questions Propounded by the said JACOB BEHMEN which were left unanswered by him at the time of his Death As a help towards the better Understanding the Old and New Testament Also what Man is with respect to Time and Eternity Being an Open Gate to the Greatest Mysteries By EDWARD TAYLOR With a short Account of the LIFE of JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the Sign of the Temple next the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1691. THE Publishers Preface TO THE READER WE do with all Respects and Candidness present you with the Works of one who was a true and faithful Labourer in his Day his Pains hath been bestowed in watering and cultivating what was sown by another Hand And having imployed his Time and Talent well is entered into his Lord's rest enjoying that Peace which must necessarily result from a faithful Performance of a Trust given by our great Lord. We can give but a very short account of the Author but hope this Publication may produce a fuller from some of his Personal Acquaintance As we are informed it was one Mr. Edward Taylor an English Gentleman the latter part of his time he lived at Dublin in much Privacy and Retirement where he made this his Work and Business He died at Dublin about the Year 1684. His Manuscripts were preserved by the Care of a Friend and brought over hither where they have lain some time in Private But considering how much we are beholding to our Predecessors for their great Pains taken to inform us their Writings Published being a Testimony of their good Will to Posterity And also considering the Labour taken by this good Man for a Publick Benefit we could not in Justice to the Author deceased nor with the respect we owe to all Mankind as our Brethren suffer so Good and Profitable a Work to Perish under our Custody without incurring the guilt of Ingratitude if not of Inhumanity We have hereby indeavoured to set this Light in Publick View and that it may prove of use to direct the Course of any in this dark and dismal Passage towards the Haven of Rest is what we earnestly desire and seek He was a Devout Christian a Sincere Protestant living in the Communion of the Church of England and earnest he was in vindicating the Truth abhorring a bare outside Formality which only hath the Name and Profession but wants the Nature Life and Power of Religion He was not for making Rents and Divisions amongst Men by setting up a new Sect or having a People called after his Name thereby to gain Applause or to make himself great But made it his Business to Learn and Improve in the Knowledge and Understanding of the Divine and Natural Mysteries We are very apt to regret the loss of worthy Instruments such as have been raised up in an Extraordinary Manner and Eminently Qualified above their Brethren hoping that if we had enjoyed their good Converse we might have greatly benefited and improved thereby without doubt they have a great Happiness that injoy such a Benefit and improve it But we must consider that they are but Men and are indeed but Instruments or Vehicles and it is very rare but that the Purity and Excellency of Truth conveyed by them receives some Shadow or Soil from the Medium Their chief work hath been to direct us to the Fountain of Wisdom which is open at all times to all Persons ready to inform all that truly seek Wisdom there And from this Universal Fountain every one receives according to their Capacities And accordingly it is required that every one should Communicate or Prophecy according to their proportion of Faith received now Faith is every particular Man's Evidence and not anothers Thus although one may have a larger Measure or more Mysterious yet there is no disharmony but all tends to the Benefit of the whole And teaching all Wisdom that every one may be presented perfect in Christ. Although we cannot Comprehend all Truth let us remain humble sincere Searchers and in due time we shall be rewarded with her Treasures when the Captious Disdaining Mocking Spirits shall reap their Reward that is to be perfected in that Principle they have given themselves up to as Servants The Writings of the Divinely inspired Jacob Behmen called the Teutonick Philosopher have been by many received with great Satisfaction and have contributed towards the Extricating their Minds out of those Labyrinths and Difficulties wherein Evil Practice and Opinions kept up by Custom had involved them The greatest Objection raised against the said Writings have been their Abstruseness and Uncouth Expressions making them almost impossible to be understood which now is answered and removed Here being a Person raised up to bear Testimony to their Truth who by delivering his Sense in more usual and familiar words it is hoped may have render'd them clear In his Considerations on the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen He doth from the Types Figures and Sacrifices under the Law from things we are most conversant with through the whole Creation from Heaven and Earth and from Man himself Demonstrate the Truth of his Doctrine to be well-grounded upon the uncontroulable Maxims of Confessed Theology and Philosophy The 177 Theosophick Questions which were propounded by J. Behmen of which he lived to Answer but 13 and part of the 15th the rest of them lying unanswered till this Good Man being spirited thereto took up the task and hath performed it as an able Workman Answering the Remainder and hath given us some Meditations on part of the said Questions and Answers All treating of the highest Mysteries and yet what we in Duty ought to be most conversant about His Extracts of several of the Works of Jacob Behmen were intended for the use of those that had not or could not procure the said Writings and also to give a Summary Account of the whole which may be as an Introduction opening the Gates to us and promote a further Communication of these great and most useful Truths The Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians the Knowledge of that God whom they ignorantly adored Even so these Writings serve or tend to teach us by plain Demonstration what we like the Athenians are too Ignorant of It is written God is one which certainly is as true as where it is said There are three that bear Record in Heaven It is written Our God is a consuming Fire And yet said to be Light and Love and in him is no Darkness at all that he is meek merciful of everlasting kindness and that fury is not in him It
she can do all things And remaining in her self she maketh all things new And in all Ages entring into holy Souls she maketh them Friends of God and Prophets All good things together came to me with her and innumerable Riches in her hands And a greater than Solomon saith Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you This Certainly is not only our Duty but the great Affair most worthy our Enquiry and Industry That Work which Man alone is capacitated for by reason of his noble Extract and that which is alone a suitable reward to render him truely happy It is this Work and Wisdom that the Writings of Jacob Behmen and these following are conversant about laying the Foundation deep firm and solid and thereupon raising a regular and noble Building Here is described at large our Malady and Remedy both with respect to Time and Eternity for the Instruction and Teaching of those he calls his School-fellows and to the perusal of the said Writings we recommend the Candid Reader And shall conclude with a Testimony concerning the Writings of Jacob Behmen from an Ingenious and Learned Hand What soever the thrice great Hermes delivered as Oracles from his Prophetical Tripos or Pythagoras spake by Authority or Socrates debated or Aristotle affirmed yea whatever Divine Plato Prophesied or Plotinus proved this and all this or a far higher and profounder Philosophy is I think contained in the Teutonicks Writings And if there be any friendly Medium which can possibly reconcile those Ancient Differences between the Nobler Wisdom which hath fixt her Palace in Holy Writ and her stubborn Handmaid Natural Reason this happy Marriage of the Spirit and the Soul this wonderful consent of Discords in one Harmony we owe in great measure to Teutonicus his Skill Only let not the Non or Misunderstanding of the most rational Reader if not a little sublimed above the Sphere of common Reason be imputed as a fault to this Elevated Philosopher no more than 't was to the Divine Plotine whose highest Notions many even of his own School after much Study were not able to reach The way to profit in reading these Writings is to be possest with patience our Minds standing in singleness and simplicity and in this frame of Mind to seek diligently pray earnestly and to resign up our Wills intirely to the Guidance and Conduct of the Divine Love Importunity and Industry often prevails to the obtaining the desired End when Sloth and Negligence meets with Disappointments and Shame Let us humble our selves under the sense of our Misery and submit to the mortifying our corrupt Wills and proceed on to Experience a Separation or cleansing from all filthiness of the Flesh and more secret defilements of the Spirit through the Power and Energy of the Heavenly Fire the Divine Life the Breath or Word of God That knowing a Death unto Sin we may also know a Life unto Righteousness which in the true Heavenly Process being offered up to God as an acceptable Sacrifice a permanent fixed and immortal State may be manifest where there shall be no more going forth for ever If these following Sheets contribute in some measure towards the directing and assisting of any especially the honest Industrious Searcher it will greatly rejoice the Persons concerned it being their end and design in the present Publication Farewel Some Words used by Jacob Behmen explained near to his deep Sense AByss is an Infinity peculiar only to each of the Three Principles Amass is a Spirit or Will bringing it self into substance compaction or manifestation Anguish is the third Form of the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature made of the two first Forms and making the Sulphurous Spirit Centrum or Centre is the Flash standing in every Will to make an opening Three Principles Ch. 14. v. 67. Christ by the word Christ is meant the inward new Man in the Spirit of Christ understood inwardly Element call'd the one or holy Element is of or according to the second Principle generated Eternally out of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery which are according to the first but where-ever they generate the holy Element there is Paradise Ens the proper or peculiar Being or Essence Good or be it Evil of a thing Eternal Nature is of the first Principle and is that in which standeth two Kingdoms one the pure Virgin Wisdom of God the one holy Element the cause of the four Elements and Stars The other the severe fierce wrath According to which God calleth himself a consuming Fire It is therefore the great Mystery Expressed word comprizeth all Creatures Visible and Invisible Fiat the Eternal speaking Word or Creating Power proceeding from the Free-will of the Abyss Also the desire of the Soul taking the power of the holy Love Tincture and makes it Essential Flagrat or sudden fright terror shriek flash the severing the two Principles of Light and Darkness resembling that in Thunder and Lightning Gunpowder c. The pregnant Eccho of the sound of Eternity speaking by Magical Fire-breath Love or Anger Life in the Light Death in the Darkness Which is called the Salnitral Flagrat Idea is the Ens which with Man first is and then known But we wrong God unless we say it is because God seeth it 〈…〉 a Divine Sparkle captiv'd so as can only glimmer not shine forth Magia there are two Magia's one of the Unity the other of the Multiplicity or Astral Powers And two Magi in Man the Spirit of God and Reason into the latter the Devil easily insinuates Majesty the Light of the Glorious Son of God the second Principle according to which only God is called God for according to the first viz. the Fathers Property he is not called God but a consuming Fire Lubet a Longing Delight or Beneplacitum In God it is the free pregnant will to Manifestation in Nature and Creature without which all had been an Eternal stilness The Lubet in Man is the moving will to Good or Evil. Mysterium Magnum that out of which all Visible and Invisible Concreates proceeded it is of the first Principle Vide Eternal Nature Out-birth the visible palpable mortal part of this World call'd the Anger-fire Salniter is that which in the Sulphur is awakened by the heat arising into a Flagrat out of the Brimstony Watry and Earthy Properties whereby the Properties are Explicated Sathan is meant the Spirit of Error and not always a Creaturely Devil but the Property of such an Erroneous Spirit Salitter call'd Divine Salitter represented by the Earth but like the pure Heaven in it are moving springing Powers producing all manner of Divine Trees Plants c. with Heavenly Colours Smells Tasts whereof this Worlds Trees Gold Silver precious Stones c. are hard dead dark shadows But this Salitter and Mercurius i. e. Divine Mercurius is the Food of Angels and Holy Souls Sophia the true noble precious Image of Christ
Astringent Binding mighty Power the lofty Babilon 2. The second like a Bear viz. the strong cruel Attraction the inflexible unalterable inexorable Empire of the Medes and Persians 3. The third like a Leopard for anguish is compos'd of several ingredients like as are the colours of the sported Leopard as is also the belly of a Toad And the Greek Empire is said to have consisted of about a Hundred and forty sorts of People or Nations 4. The fourth Beast was dreadful and terrible not likened to any Beast but being as fire is said to devour and break in pieces such were the Romans But one like the Son of Man came and to him was given dominion and glory an everlasting kingdom here is the 5th form viz. the enkindling of the light signified Represented also by the 4 Winds of Heaven 4 wings of a Fowl and 4 heads Thus Lazarus having lain in the Grave four days the true light raised him They are figur'd by four Chariots but Horses in three of them of differing colours one from the other but the 4th was of Horses of differing colours among themselves viz. Grizled and Bay expounded by the Angel to be four Spirits of the Heavens which go forth from standing before the God of the whole Earth Will any think it to be without a mystery that Elisha was wroth with Joash King of Israel for smiting on the Ground but three times saying Thou shouldst have smote five or six times then hadst thou smote the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them for the Prophet had promised he should consume them But Joash being held by his wickedness in the first four forms smote but thrice for had he as the Prophet saith smote five times he had enkindled the Light of the Liberty in his forms as an addition had he smote six times he had brought the illustrated forms into Harmony of Love whereby his Enemies the oppressing Assyrian viz. the Enmity had been consumed Will any think it was without a Mystery that the Prophet Amos eight times reciteth For three Transgressions of Damasâ—us of Gaza Tirus Edom Amon Moab Judah Israel and for four I will not turn away the Panishment thereof For 't is apparent that the three or four first forms comprise all Sin But if the vigorous true Light be enkindled it flameth to a Love of God and is Death to Sin by discovering it awakening it and working it out cleansing the Conscience destroying the Enmity of the first four forms and so creating Peace to them that were far off making them nigh But it may be granted there is an Ingredient of Light admitted into and retained by the first four Forms but it is as that the Apostle Paul saith Science falsly so call'd Such is this it is an insinuation of a faint false delusory-Light comprehending the Craft Subtlety Sophistry Serpentine wisdom to abuse the Senses and mis-imploy the out-born Natural Powers to jugling Deceits uniting Earthiness and Sensuality to devilish Designs Of this Wisdom the Lord saith If the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness Very apt and pertinent to this Discourse is it to consider That though the Perfume ascending from us was compounded of very unlike Parts some of them also very Unpleasant yet the Holy Oyl descending on us was compounded of five Kinds all excellent Good Delightful and Pleasant for we understand that the 5th form enkindles the Light which makes the four first from the Discords to be â— Harmony and a rich Concord Such are all Go'ds approaches to us as Joseph's Law in Egypt was That four Parts should be the Peoples and but the 5th Part to be Pharoah's figuring this 5th form's being taken as the Lord's Part only who is meant by Pharoah Divine Love hath its Root in the Centre of the Essence of the first four Spirits but most immediately in the Light and that from the Fire And the Activity of the four first Spirits as a perpetual Rotation causeth that Love can never Cool Thus is it strong as Death for Love is that Name which the God of Life is known to us by whom thus to know is Life Eternal The Instrument in the Out-birth of this Spirit is Venus CHAP. VIII Demonstration being of the Sound Tone Noise or Voice SHall there be need to demonstrate this which Heaven and Earth Ring of And Hell after its capacity hath also some impressions of It may suffice briefly to shew This to be a distinct Fountain for that it is the Result only of the United Operation of the five precedent Spirits meeting in the seventh is no Argument why This also should not be one for any one could not be without every one The Astringency had not what to bind but that the matter is produced by the other properties and so of the rest 1. As the light is the opening of the darkness thro' the fourth Fountain the fire so is the voice of the first four Fountains thro' the opening of the light revealing the Kingdom of Joy with its Beauty Colours and Ornament where-ever it is treasur'd 2. As we see fire sleeping in a Flint awakened by a stroke so doth the tone or sound start up and disperse it self so far as its vigour conquereth the resistance of contrary motions or solids and then expireth 3. As the life lies in a swound in vegetables till revived by the return of the Spring or as odours lie coucht in dead earth till midwif'd by the Sun thro' the stalks of flowers So the varieties of Infinity remain secret and dumb as in the mystery till this Oratory publisheth till this Herald proclaim it who by its continual motion speaks all and shews all The Representer of this sixth Fountain Spirit is in the out-birth Mercurius CHAP. IX Demonstration of the Body generated out of the other six Fountains 1. IF a mighty Prince should in regulating a world of laborious Subjects directed by a Council of men experienced in exquisite Art wanting neither time or other requisite to accomplish some stupendious structure or vast piece of magnificence should after all be able to accomplish only trifles were strange Or rather what could not mens highest prudence served with the confluence of abundance of willing agents sufficient helps and competent time atchieve acquire and bring to effect 2. And see we not what the six overflowing Fountain Spirits ranged by omnipotence conducted by infinite Wisdom exercising from eternity their irresistible Powers have conceived travell'd with brought forth and improved as the Holy One hath willed 3. And can any doubt they who have served to found and lay the Top-stone of infinite numbers of Fabricks in the Astral Elementary and Terrestrial Worlds should be unfurnished with a Royal Palace for themselves 4. This seventh Fountain Spirit is their Body Mansion and Sabbath the eternal Rest eternally generated In This they work their hallowed wonders in this they
Concerning the first Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Abyss of the Father distinct from the second and third is understood to be an eternal indissoluble band and Original to Potence a center or root of substance an earnest longing to the birth of the majestick Light or Lustre an austere vigour like an eternal infinite hot and cold fire That this is so and in some measure what it is may be shewed to the very Senses 2. Demonstration The insensitive Creatures witness it The Rock where grows the Diamond the Oar whence proceeds the Gold the shell in which is fed the Pearl the Earth whence issue forth the plants do all figure their root the darkness or first Principle their substantial root center basis or immovable foundation 3. Again the Elements have the cold and heat to be founded on representing this Principle called the Eternal Darkness for from the degrees of cold and hot fire proceed not the Earth and Stones only but Air and Water 4. Lastly The Astral World whence spring the Elemental figures the same darkness as is most evidently seen in some of the Royal Stars called Planets Saturns condensing strong binding contraction impresseth in Lead Stone c. a dry hard and hardly to be penetrated weight so doth Mars confer on Iron c. both are substantial figures of the same Eternal Principle 5 Demonstration of the first Principle is in the Sensitive Creatures both evil and good The evil whose hurtful properties of venom stings poisonous fierce and cruel qualities shew they originate from the dark Principle and some of them especially love darkness some of them also are outwardly dark as that dangerous reptile called in some parts the Blind-worm c. 6. It is seen also in good Sensitive Creatures either as they partake of the hurtful property by being soon moved to choler and then mischievous and vindictive or else as the dark Principle takes hold of them clogging them with sluggish inactivity and depressed limbs dark bodies rough hides c. 3 Demonstration It is evident in Intelligent Creatures for into this Principle of Might and Potence the Pride of the Devils cast them in which their light being extinct they are shut up for ever 8 Demonstration It is evident in Rational Creatures viz. Man whose sad fall brought his human Soul which originated out of this Eternal Principle yet illustrated by the second to so great a degree into this that such men as shall continue Rebels to the Light of the Son of God which on Man's fall was inspoâ—â—â— again do remain a plain and terrible figure of this first Principle in the dark impression on their Souls for they being hardened and fixt in disobedience are as sealed up in utter enmity against the Divine Kingdom of Love and Purity 9 And such mens bodies are the drudges of their darker minds being as truly a figure of the Eternal Darkness as are those bodies of the hurtful Animals 10. But which is also to be bewailed the Children of the day have in the unmortified part of their Souls too lively Characters of this first Principle and their Bodies are made like those of the Elementary Creatures subject to vanity travelling in pain and distempers till as the effect of all comes the anguish of death for they are fallen under the Regiment of the Astral evil influences till their mortal shall put on immortality by the grace of the second Principle the free mercy of God in Jesus Christ. 11. As for the disobedient that climb up into the first Principle or fall into the third Principle shutting their Eyes against the second they must ever bear the Image they here conformed their minds to and grow up in for man having his root in the Power that is without beginning can find no end Oh therefore that we were wise that we understood this that we would consider our latter end 12. The out-birth into which Adams fall hath cast our mortal bodies is signified by the Earthen Vessels which having toucht some legally unclean thing could not be made clean and purified but must be broken such is the mortal body of all the Children of Adam 13. But those Vessels which were of Brass or other metal being washt c. were become clean for Metals are one step higher more noble deriving from the Astral Powers more immediately and with a purer tincture more simple less volatile than our fleshly Tabernacles CHAP. XII Of the Second Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Divine Wisdom and that of this World are on terms of hostility hence was it that when the Lord himself in the flesh preacht Salvation his Divine Wisdom explicated by the most familiar Parables highest Evidence and more than Angelical Skill was derided and blasphemed by many not of the lower ruder sort only but by the Rabbâ—es men skill'd in the Law of God according to the letter men of parts zealous and outwardly holy the Guides of the multitude men according to the Law blameless But the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus was understood very well by all such tho' otherwise weak in whom the love of it wrought obedience to it and who by the Spirit of Holiness were taught to refuse the pleasures of sin To them no Yoke so easie as Christ's nor any Load so unsupportable as that of sin These knew what it was to be born again without and not of the will of the flesh And Christ's Life and Doctrine was plain and so is still to such and none but such 2. If any such shall peruse these Lines their inward senses being unlockt they if they press after this Principle with earnestness may find it informing enlightning and assisting them 3. But to the full these are fulsom and offensive to the wise they are folly for this Principle divests them of their own self-will before it inducts them into the universal holy will And if Divine Discourses lead not to cleanse the heart it cumbreth the head and cloys the appetite and so Men do with Truths as Children with Birds either they crush them or let them fly away 4. But tho' the glory of the second Principle be so much above fallen Man's reach yet such efficacy hath it on the whose Creation as is demonstrable to any rational Creature for God hath not left himself without witness by giving Rain c. 5. To discourse this where may we not begin for it is every where infinite It is the glory in the Infinite Abyss of the Father It gave Glory Purity and the Vertue of the Angelical World It also gave the third Principle in this out-birth all the Excellency and Beauty it hath in it only the hellish Principle hath shut it self up from it and is dead to it 6 Demonstration That tho' no Language can express it yet every one that is regenerated doth in such measure as he hath attained the Regeneration know this for he liveth in it The
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
or suffering what he willeth him to obey and suffer 8. Now we are to know that from Eternity is the first second and third Principles according to the Fathers Sons and Holy Ghosts Properties the One living in the Other having all One holy free Omnipotent Will And that the Infinite Abyss wherein Eternally dwell the seven Spirits and in every the least imaginable Circle whereof dwells the whole Holy Trinity Abyss or immeasurable heighth depth length and breadth which Men and Angels can reach no number of nor conceive its immensity is as the Holy Body of God who is its Soveraign Creator Owner and as a Soul and Spirit to it 9. But this pure Abyss is Holy and as one Holy Element the Seventh the Laboratory of the other Six hath in it all Powers and Vertues out of which Heaven Angels and all Inferior Productions come for in it is the Divine Salitter and all Qualities in indissoluble Amity and perfect Harmony due Equality most dearly embracing each other being the Mystery of all the various Powers 10. And from the two first Principles therein by the Exit of the Holy Ghost were Throne Angels created according to the several Properties of the seven Fountains Spirits with their Hosts respectively having the great Might of the first Principle Glorified with the Majestick light of the second the Son of God 11. But Lucifer and his Angels extinguish'd in themselves the glorious Sweetness of the second by giving up their Will into the first four Forms which without the second are at Eternal Enmity 12. Also out of the Holy Element were created the two active Elements of Fire after the Property of the Father and Air wherein is Light after the Property of the Son Out of which two after dividing of the Properties in the Dark Deep the effect of the Fall of the Angels came the Mortal Water and Dead Earth in both which by the prevalence of the Astringency came Rocks and Stones 13. To cease that immoderate Coagulation the Word commanded Light expelling Lucifer at which the Holy Angels rejoyced Where wast thou when the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy for then was the Out-birth or third Principle founded by the Exit of the Holy Ghost 14. Then also out of the Holy Element and the divided Properties which Lucifer had brought into a confused Chaos or Dark Deep the Word spake the Astral Heavens the Seven Planets after the Properties of the Seven Fountains and all the other Stars and the Terrestial Ball after the infinite variety of the Properties 15. Also out of the Holy Element and the Astral Birth came the four Elements and out of the Elements the Transitory Creatures Some bare the Figure of the first four Forms separated from the Light as venomous Creatures Toads Torpedo's c. from the Anguish Scorpions Spiders Basilisks c. from the Fire for every Property would be Creaturely Some also figur'd the second Principle in Innocency Meekness and Love as Lambs Doves c. 16. Then in the Throne of secluded Lucifer and his Angels the Word spake Man such an Image of God as might not only be the second Race of Intellectualâ— but a compleat Image of all the three Principles That is his Soul out of the first Principle or Dark-Power-World his Spirit out of the second the Holy-Light World his Body out of the one Holy Element the Root of the four Elements so that he might by his Divine Holy Principle of Love and Meekness illustrate and sweetly use his first as the fallen Angels should have done He was also furnished with the third Principle which the Angels were not and in that respect a more compleat Image of God than they over which third Principle he might also beaâ— Rule by the Power of the Divine second Principle 17. And by his third in subordination to the second might Rule over the Astral Birth and Elementary not only as He was the Natural Lord in that Principle but ennobled also with the Light or Angelical Principle and therefore able and adapted to Rule over the Creation knowing what they were whence they sprung and whither they tended for all Properties were open in him therefore Adam could name them knowing their Parentage and Use. Thus the manifold Wisdom of God appeareth in every thing and summarily to be observed in these following 18. First from the first Principle glorified with the second according to the seven Fountains were created the Throne Angels Arch-Angels and their Hosts 19. The Creatures that derive immediately from the One Holy Element as the Paradisical Body of Adam that was more pure than seven times refined Gold and to have remained eternally 20. The Astral Birth of the Visible Heavens and their Invisible Powers Of Alliance Dependance and Affinity with which is Man's Astral Spirit called his Prophetick Evester which ordinarily predicts by Dreams a kind of Intuitive Impulses of approaching Good or Evil small also important natural Events c. 21. Out of the Astral seem to be born Those Mortal yet to the outward Eye mostly invisible Creatures in all the four Elements called Aerial Spirits prodigious Predicters of Wars by Armies in the Clouds Others also of the Fire Some Aquastrish and Those of our Horoscope Terrestrial and Subterranean that are about Minerals of which This Discourse is not sollicitous 22. Out of the Holy Element proceeded the two Elements and consequently the four more Pure and Paradifical than after the Curse 23. Hence by the steddy Conduct of the Separator or Father of Nature substituted by the Great Creators word and by the Spirit of the Tincture have sprung the Animal Vegetative and Mineral Kingdoms to the composition of every of which Naturalists find the Principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury more or less pure according to the Body which it composeth and the Tincture wherewith it is more or less sublimed and ennobled 24. But Lucifer by his renting from the total Unity thereby making the Properties separate prophane and unclean there proceeded out of the first four Forms hellish immortal fierce horrible poisonous Creatures to whom Death and Darkness the fierceness of the Properties is no woe or torment for it is their Life But Hell is therefore an intolerable Hell to Angels and Men because they were created to â—nother State in another Principle for another End 25. From all the three Principles with the Potence of the first Love fire of the second and moving Life of the third was Man created And as such with the Light of God which is not quite extinguished in him for when once awakened by Divine stirring and his hungry desire let none think it impossible he should see into the several Principles that are truly in him for the Child knoweth his Parents better and better as himself groweth to be a Man A breath of Air is like the whole Element a drop like the whole Ocean a
Heathen have all of Them the Gospel more or less obscurely Preached in them For as they without the Written Law do the things contained in the Law so do they without the Written Gospel partake of the Mercy published by the Gospel 13. That is being conscious to themselves of their Faults yet find by the Smiles of the Heavens in the Fruitful Seasons and in the suitable Productions of the Earth that they receive Good for Evil which is the Vertue of the second Principle or Gospel written on the whole Creation Notwithstanding all which if they harden their Hearts they become Sinners against Law and Gospel the Law written in their Hearts and the Gospel shining in the Light of their Understandings so conspicuously that tho' some of Them Laughed at the news of the Resurrection we hear Them serious at the tâ—dings of the Judgment to come having every one of Them a Self-condemning Judge in his bosom 14. Love is strong as Death but This Love is much stronger only Sin and finally Impenitent Men Hell and Devils judge themselves unworthy of it But This hath knockt at the Door of every Sinners Heart and cryes How long ye simple Ones will ye Love Folly and Scorning and Hate your own Mercies 15. Abel and Seth had the Hearing Ear in that Line it most eminently descended by a continued Succession thro' all Generations yet sometimes thro' very dirty Channels for tho' all were such till This Seed took Root in some and bare Paradisical Fruit and made them fit for the Masters Table yet some were much more foul than others 2. He enters into Foul Hearts tho' himself be so High born and Purity it self that passing into Foul places cannot be defiled but as a Refiners Fire not comprehended by the Dross which yet it purgeth away A work only possible to Omnipotence A few Considerations of that which shall be the Wonder of Eternity follow CHAP. XXI Of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. IT ought Attentively to be pondered that when the Fulness of Time or Limit of the Covenant was come Jesus took Man's whole Nature of the Virgin Mary but inasmuch as she was the Daughter of Joachim and Anna and of Eve she could not be totally a Virgin of Purity Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one 2. That Jesus Christ neither came into a Clean Vessel nor took a Pure Nature on Him but made the Vessel Clean and the Polluted Nature to become Pure The misunderstanding of which caused the Colliâ—idiani to render to the Virgin Mary Divine Worship 3. We must know that when our Redeemer took our Nature on him He took it out of all the Virgin Mary's Essences as well those of her Soul given her out of the first Principle and those of her Spirit given her out of the second as those of her Body out of the third Principle All which Soul Body and Spirit were propagated by her immediate Parents Joachim and Anna. 4. We are to know the Lord destroyed not Those Essences for He came not to destroy but took them as they were And by the Divine New Man which He brought with Him and which Himself was Refined and Sanctified them in them to work Their and Our Eternal Salvation 5. We cannot say there was no Evil in the Root of the Essences He took from the Virgin Mary as was mentioned above But his Divine Conception Exempting Him from any the least Impression Stain or Spot did illustrate and clarifie them As Fire doth Iron the Tincture doth Metals or the Sun Transmutes the Harsh Sour and Ill Properties of Fruits 6. We are not to doubt whether the Lord took a Human Soul from the Virgin or no about which many have erred for how else had the Essences of Our poor Captivated Souls been rescued had not the second Adam as truly assumed a Human Soul as that whereof the first Adam consisted It was Our Souls that had Sin and Death and were to be Redeemed so Our Gracious Lord made His Soul which was also a True Human Soul the Offering for Sin 7. Nor need we fear that the Lord took not Our Mortal Flesh and Blood on Him but brought Heavenly Flesh in His Conception and only Heavenly Flesh for He took also Our True Body of Flesh and Blood on Him from the Virgin Mary He took our Weak Infirm Body subjected to Passions of Hunger Sleep c. wherein lay Wrath and the Curse all which He bare with the Sufferings incident thereunto as Temptations Scourgings Reproaches Piercings Crucifying Anguish Death Burial And raised the Self-same Body which gives us assurance of our Resurrection and opens a Door for the Body though now Mortal to partake with the Soul Eternal Life 8. We are to know that our new Bodies will be the same very true real Bodies we now have and not other Bodies though not consisting of Accidents not palpable yet substantial as is manifest by what follows 9. The Mutations in Nature are no destruction of Bodies as a Grain of Wheat being sown passeth several Mutations yet is still the same For whereas at first it dies it is only by the Separator resolved into the divers Kinds of its own Composition that it may be capable of Commixture and Unite assimilated Bodies to it and so Collect encrease of Mâ—ter which it admits in no greater Proportion than to be the Father and Mother of all it self and augment and multiply it self by yet still is Wheat though hath the Increase of Quantity of many Grains of Wheat as an Oak is but an Accorn improved 10. Nature in orderly Motion goes forward and will not return into its Mystery by the Steps it went out till it hath compleated its Circulation You may as well return the Sun Eastward over us as make a Fruit become a Tree but in its orderly Motion first into a Fruit and Seed then is the new one the old renewed rather than another So is the new Body though Glorious not existent but by the dying of the old 11. As Adam's Fall made him not another Man but was still the Self-same in another a Monstrous Image as we also are deformed by that direful Fall So the Lord Jesus raising up his own Dead Body and cloathing it with Glory and Immortality and thereby giving us a Resurrection to be like him doth not make us to be other Men than now we are with loss of our Monstrosity and Access and recovery of the Glory we were created in and is by Him graciously purchased for us 12. We are to know That the Lord Jesus Christ when he assumed Flesh and Blood in the Virgins Womb was then not only there but then also sate and reigned in the whole infinite Abyss of the Father 13. We are also to know That after the Divine Nature or Infinite Godhead of Jesus Christ had assumed the Humane Nature He remained the self-same unmixed
Glorious second Person as before And yet that by taking the Humanity from the Virgin Mary He really became what he was not before viz. a real Son of Man with a true Humane Soul Body and Spirit as we are and capable to Suffer and Die 14. We are to know the Humane Nature or Creature in the Ascention and Glorification was not swallowed up by the Divine Nature as a flame of a Candle is by the Sun extinguish'd But the Humane Nature now Glorified remains for ever a Glorified Body being the same true individual Humane Nature or Man which was Crucified Dead Buried and raised up by his Almighty Power as the first Fruit Original and Author of the General Resurrection 15. That the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Womb of the Virgin became as truly a Man as we are who have our Souls Spirits and Bodies propagated by our immediate Parents Yet that besides the infinite Dignity of his Almightiness as the second Person and Son of God by Eternal Generation which united Himself to His created Humane Soul Spirit and Body I say besides all this He was the true created Son of God and so was a true Heavenly Man and a Virgin of Holiness Purity and Modesty And so begotten by the Holy Ghost 16. In which respect He was no Son of Man even as neither was the first Adam but as truly the Son of God by Creation as with respect to His Godhead He was by Eternal Generation And though the words Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee may be understood of the Eternal Generation for the Father ceaseth not to beget His Eternal Son from Eternity and in Eternity yet the words may well be applicable to this Heavenly Humanity whereof both David and Paul speak 17. But because this 12th Note last asserted is hard to be understood since Man's Fall partly because it is of so Noble Extraction and seeming to be of so rare mention in the Holy Scriptures so remote from Sense and Man's dull Apprehension of so excellent Nature and so highly profitable and advantageous to be known Also that the penetrating into the Knowledge of it requires Divine Wisdom enlightned Understanding it calleth for highest Attention as that plainly teacheth the Way God took and still taketh for recovery of lost Mankind It is farther clear'd by what follows more especially by the following Pag. 32. in Chap. 22. 18. We ought to know that the Divine Substance which United to it the Essences of the Humane Soul in Mary came not thither descending from the highest Heaven or great Local Distance But the Word which God inspake again in Paradice imaging it Self in the Light of Man's Life and waiting in all the Holy Men being the Word of Divine Wisdom out of the Tincture of the Holy Element which is every where and pure before God that Word took to it for an Eternal Propriety the Essences of Man's Soul in and of Maries Virgin Matrix Not entring in but unlocking ingenerating and unshutting what Adam had bolted up in Death 19. That though this Word were not the Almighty second Person of the Trinity yet was it the Word of Wisdom which Adam turned from and in disobeying it he and we all rebel against God more immediately than if we should stubbornly reject the Command of an Angel of God This Word of Divine Wisdom is a Virgin of Purity and here became the Bride to the Humane Soul for as the Soul had the Tincture of the Fire This brought the Tincture of the Light and the Uniting of the Heavenly Image of Purity to the Image that was Impure did Tincture the Fire-Soul and both became one Self-subsisting Eternal Man 20. We are also to know That for asmuch as the two Tinctures were at the instant of the Virgin Maries saying Be it unto me c. United and were become One Man the Image the first Man did bear yet seeing the Fire-Soul did once treacherously choose an Earthy Lust instead of Divine Love 21. To the end it might be now powerfully Tinctured no more to recede and that the whole Humane Nature might be led through Death into Eternal Life therefore did the Lord mighty to save take the whole Man by being Bridegroom to the Virgin Sophia and for that the Man or Creature stood in the Holy Element which is pure and every where yet is the same Element Inferior to Omnipotence it was needful Grace and Love should Unite the Creature to the Deity which raised it above all it lost in the first Adam 22. For the Lord became as a Servant to advance and secure his Servant both the Image it once had and add to it more which will be the stupendious Contemplation of Eternity but all this by the Lord's Incarnation was brought to pass 23. So that here was One and that One consisted of the true Almighty Son of God and the Holy Virgin of Wisdom the Tincture of the Light viz. His Heavenly Flesh and Blood Also of the Essences of Man's Eternal Soul the Temporary Astral Soul and Elementary Body So that not only the Eternal Fire-Soul is meekened nourished and fed to live Eternally but the outward Soul and Elementary Body are secured of a Resurrection by the raising of the Holy Astral and Elementary Body of the Lord Jesus Christ the first Fruits of them that slept leaving nothing unraised but the Linnen Cloaths in the Sepulchre CHAP. XXII Of the Heavenly New Man or Divine Humanity of Jesus Christ what it is where it is and how to be participated of by us IT is written That ye put off c. the Old Man v. 23. and be renewed c. and v. 24 that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Q. What is This New Man which we are to put on A. It is Jesus Christ as it is written put on the Lord Jesus Christ c. so are we said to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven call'd a Building of God 1. So we find cloathed with Humility cloathed with Honour cloathed with Shame intended not as a Covering but as Transmutation of Us from one contrary to another as the Woman cloathed with the Sun her Divine Light instead of her Darkness Q. What of Christ may we put on and be cloathed with and wherewith to be cloathed upon 2. Not His Almightiness for that His Omnipotence is what no Creature can behold and reach so is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory upholding all things by the Word of his Power Nor the Body Soul and Spirit He received from the Virgin Mary That was Earthy a Soul Body and Spirit descending from Eve That being born of the flesh was flesh As such which he humbled himself to take he was the Son of Man and our Brother so also we put him not on As such he remains for That Humanity of Christ which he had from
Meek Love of God lost the Throne of the central Love-fire possessing only that where hot and cold are in strife Being a Centre of the Visible World Q. 5. What was it of which the Angels were made What in the Word of God became Creaturely A. 1. The Substance of the Good Angels is out of the two central Fires of Fire and Light but their Idea Spirit or Powers are out of the Out-flowing Infinite Migâ—ty Holy Names of God 2. They are many and every Throne Angel according to the Peculiar of the various Names and Offices himself and his Legions are illustrated with 3. The Prince-Angels are as the Spirits of the Letters and the other as the joyning of Words and Sentences And as our Alphabet hath our whole understanding of all Substances So is God's Word of all things and the Angels are his Letters in the Divine Alphabet 4. And did not the Curse to prevent our abuse hinder Man having shut up himself in the NO So great is the Authority in what his Mouth carries that he might triumphantly do wonders as the Angels Deut. 30. 14. Rom. 10. 8. 5. If the Creatural Life stood not in an own Will in the Property to the Fire Lucifer could not have separated himself from the Good 6. The Angels are within and without this World yet in another Principle or World viz. in the One Element whereout came and still cometh the Four Elements and are Princes of the Constellations But some are of a more outward Chaos or Kind in the Four Elements call'd Starry Spirits viz. Ascendants Q. 6. What do Angels and why doth God's Power become Image-like A. 1. Out of the Mind come Thoughts and from them Imaginations whence Longing and Delight exist and we rule all things by the distinction of words So God viz. the Eternal Mind by His out-flowing Powers brought out the Angelical Idea and the Holy Angels are as God's Thoughts revealing His Mind as his Work Instruments to manifest the Eternal Powers they are as Strings in the great Harmony as our articulate Words so are they distinct Parts of the Love sport 2. And their great Joy and Knowledge of the Eternal Wisdom humbleth them before such Highness lest they lose that honour Their feeding is an indrawing of the Unity which is the Balsam that their Central Fire awake not the Wrath for the Devil's Fall is their Looking glass 3. The most gross Compaction of the Outward World is the out-flown Inward World in the two Central Fires The most Outward is the four Elements the next Inward is the Astral the third the Quintessence the fourth the Tincture the fifth the Clear God The more inwardly we reach the nearer God And were we awake from Adam's Earthy Love we might very well see Heaven Q. 7. What moved Lucifer to depart from God A 1. The Potence of Forming standing in the Transmutation viz. His Receiving Power therefore the out-flown Will in the Central Fire of the Eternal Nature made him elevate himself to despise the Resignation but would try the Properties of the Eternal Nature and so misused the Holy Name in himself and willed to domineer over the Thrones and brake himself off from the Unity Then instantly the Properties were manifest as hard sharp sour bitter stinging and the tormenting cold and hot fires Q. 8. How could an Angel become a Devil What is a Devil A. 1. He would not be under the speaking of the Unity which was Balsam to his Fire-Life but be his own speaking so his Fire could conceive no glance but the Holy Name and Central Love Fire withdrew 2. If he would be an Angel again his Fire Life must be killed with Love but This the Hellish Foundation neither will nor can do as Fire cannot endure Water 3. Their whole Life is a Despair Venem Dying Stink Sorrow Shame and Torment that he hath triâ—â—ed away the Divine Express Reflex Image and got the Form of Poisonous Venomous Beasts and Worms according to their various Properties of Pride Covetousness Envy c. all contrary to Wisdom Truth Love c. Thus good men have turned evil and fallen into Perdition Q. 9. Why did not the Omnipotent God prevent the Fall of Lucifer A. 1. Whilst Fire and Water are in a Vegetable they lovingly embrace each other but once sundred do never more desire each other but as Mortal Foes whenever they encounter the one dies 2. So Love and Anger where in Harmony bring the first Sweet Delight the other Life and Strength and are two Eternal Principles having each an Eternal Will Foundation and Centre of its own Therefore if the Anger will sever the Love doth not hinder with force Nor could the Love work otherwise than like it self else God would be at odds in himself But if the Created Image the No or Anger give its Will to the Yea or Love it would be chang'd into a Love-Fire 3. And tho' the Anger be an Eternal Principle and part of God's Omnipotence the fault was the Creatures for in the unimaged Power the Love doth ever burn And God's hardening is not sending a strange fierce Wrath into any but it is left to its own fierceness on which Judgment passeth The Anger is Love's manifestation and the Fallen Angels are the Looking glass of the Good Angels Q. 10. What did the Devil desire for which he left God A. He would be an Artist their Joy still is in Transmutation of themselves into Forms Subjection in Humility pleased him not but would be a God to himself and his Legions The Magick ground of Omnipotency pleas'd him which made him elevate himself above the Efflux of the Unity and prove the Properties but knew not how it would be with him when the Light should extinguish for then came Darkness and the cold sharpness of the Fierceness and he instantly at utter Enmity against God and all Angelical Hosts Q. 11. What was the Strife between Michael and the Dragon and what are they A. 1. Michael is the Figure of the Divine Power not as a Creature but as the opening and moving of the Eternity which name after in Jesus was ordained for Man 2. The Dragon is Hell manifested the Will of the Anger and the Wrath of the Properties as Heat Cold Woe the first Principle a Hunger and Thirst a Dying Quality Satan is the Will to Contradiction and Lies Belial the Lust to Uncleanness Belzebub a Source of Idol Gods Asmodâ—â— a Spirit of Fury and Madness Lucifer of Pride and stately climbing up 3. Their Strife was as of the first and second Principles as was That of Jesus in his forty days Temptation and of Israel while Moses was in the Mount In This Strife the Dragon is driven out of the Holy Name in This Strife Christ brought the Will of Man through Death and Hell to subsist in God unpassive that it may subsist in the Fire unapprehended by the Fire or as the Sun kindleth it self in the Elements yet
Extraction as to its Original It is always Morning with it bearing equal date with God's other Attributes and so with God himself 9. God being infinitely all that he is is also infinitely Just and Almighty True and Faithful we can no more say his Grace and Love to have Priority than the Light of a Candle can precede the firing the wiek or than Man's Intellect could precede the enkindling his Humane Soul or than the Fruit can prevent the Tree or That the Root 10. Can we well conceive the Eternal Permanence of God's Goodness and why not his Infinite Power and Justice is there room to doubt that to be a part of him 11. Must the Fruit and Flower live and not the Root must the Eye see if the Man dye or the Candle shine when the Wiek is cold Then may the Principle of Sweetness Meekness Grace and Love survive the Principle of Strength Might Potence and Wrath. The last Branch of the Question is Why hath God poured forth Eternal Wrath 12. God according to the first Principle is not called God but a consuming Fire nor is he called God according to the out-birth or third outward Principle for the Devil is called the God of this World though Divine Omnipotence guides and restrains in all Occurrences for no place or space excludes him for God is in it or more properly it in Him comprehended by Him yet God's infinite Abyss of Love and Goodness is His Heaven That his Throne 13. When God created Angels the first race of Intellectuals known to us they were made out of Himself of his Abyss of Might and His Abyss of Goodness or of His first and second Principles Darkness and Light in such Excellency as are the Angels who so continue 14. When also God created Man His second race of Intellectuals it was out of the two former Principles in Conjunction with the third yet in such sweet order as we know little of a glimpse whereof is seen in the resigned humble regenerate Soul who lives in God and hath there His Possessions and Reversions about that is employ'd His Fear Care Grief also His only Delight and Satisfaction both for time and for ever yet all this is but a glimpse of what we were at first and shall be at last 15. These things being premised give us a prospect what good beautiful excellent Creatures Angels and Men were and should all have continued to be 16. For if God had willed the one to be Devils the other to be inwardly so and outwardly Beasts How is it they were all created Divine and perfectly Good 17. But they directly against the confessed Will of the gracious Creator who never did nor ever can will any thing sinfully Evil but Good and only Good both the fallen Angels and Adam formed in themselves a Will perverse to the Sovereign Will shutting up their whole selves from the only true Guide and Eternal Light and Wisdom and so became Dark and such Fools for whose back is the rod and being Estranged snuffed at Reproof grew into Scorning Enmity and Diametrical contrariety and hatred of Holy things 18. Their own private will became their God for having broken the sweet Bands of Love they made a League with Hell and Death for the Divine Light withdrawing or rather they declining its Councels the dark fierce fire became their very Essence and Life under the domineering Power whereof the fallen Angels by their departure from the sweet Kingdom of Love and Peace have forever subjected themselves into which obstinate hardened Men also throw themselves And this is so contrary to God that his Spirit loatheth them and withdraweth and his so withdrawing is God's pouring out Eternal Wrath and the way how and cause why it is the Eternal Perdition Q. 17. Whereas God is and remaineth Eternally undivided what then is his working in the Place of Hell Is there indeed a certain Place of Hell or not A. 1. Here on a Position premised is a Question proposed and a second Question occasionally put It seems fit to strengthen the Concession by explaining it 2. That although every part of the Creation consisteth of various Heterogeneous and contrary Properties all which is not only derived from God but their Life Motion and Being is in Him yet 〈…〉 e from Eternity in Eternity the same undivided One 3. For if an Infinite were divided into Parts the Parts must also be Infinite and then must be more than one Infinite which were a Contradiction as equally vain as to say that Almightiness doth divide it self against Almightiness 4. But that the Infinite Almighty comprehendeth all Properties in perfect Supream Excellency is clear and that Himself remaining still in Himself can yet make Himself creaturely in Infinite Multiplicity is as clear and visible 5. The outward Sun consisting of Light and Heat can by its Beams help Generation of Infinite Productions Good and Bad even poisonous perilous Images of the dark World and this principally by His Heat but by His Light can attenuate penetrate and change gross dark Bodies yet Himself as the outward Agent of Omnipotence remain untouch'd unaltered unaffected unsubjected in any degree whatsoever by his so doing to the things wrought 6. For alluding to the instance in the Answer to the last preceding Question If Sin like a Burning-glass contract the hot Beams it may be intolerable to the Sinner or Object opposed to it yet is the glorious Sun still the unaltered same 7. The Gardner Roots up dryes and burns the Weeds The Sovereign Power guards the Peaceable and curbs the implacable But if the good Plant would wear out the strength of the Weed by extracting and transfusing into it self part of its Nutritive Property the good Plant may degenerate into a Wild one or Weed Also if a private Person shall unauthorized make himself a Judge or Publick Arbitrator he may fall into a Crime on the other hand for these things are the Gardener's Work to whom Vengeance belongeth Mens own Vindictive Desire is touching pitch 8. Now to Answer directly what God's Working in Hell is It is answered That his working there is only according to the first Principle according to which he is not called God but a consuming Fire 9. God's working in Hell convinceth Atheism to be an Error The Devils believe so as to make them tremble Men were loth to believe God made the World and Them though so evident as to leave them inexcusable this they are now assured of by His destroying both It and Them 10. God's working in Hell openeth every Book of Conscience Dives extenuates not his Crimes but roars out his Torments That Place of Darkness affords Light enough to read Guilt by and thereby give Immortality to that Worm 11. God's working there restores the Memory Dives had not forgotten his former calling of Abraham Father as if That would have Privileged him nor had he forgotten his Brethren who perhaps had run Parallel with him in
is that true Spiritual Life is revived or stirred up in us 18. The New Man regenerated out of the Earthy Man being a Virgin may Sup with the Eternal Virgin and as the Lord while in our Flesh had the heavenly Flesh and Blood which swallowed up the other So we in His Meek pure Spirit carry it also in our Earthy Body and if we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood in the Body Power and Vertue of Jesus Christ that is in the Son by the Holy Ghost to the Father Then when the old one falls off we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood and our Works are no longer ours nor our Words ours but God doth all in us 19 To this Man every with-drawing Thought from an entire Subjection is his Cross for to him Honour and Contempt Sweet and Bitter Penury and Plenty Heavy and Light are no more any of these for he loves not the one nor flyes from the other but the Divine Will is his Joy and Content the thing sought and his full satisfaction Q. 43. Why did God Create in the Beginning but one Man and not forthwith a Man and a Woman together as He did the other Kinds of Creatures or other Species A. 1. God created the other Creatures to manifest his various divided Powers that in them he might severally Image every of them by those wrathful fierce ones in the dark World the loving Innocent ones of the Light World's Property and others of the meer Elementary World and that the seeming contrary and discording Properties might in distinct Forms and Creatures one excite the other to a general Harmony whereunto they still serve 2. But Man He created to a higher and more excellent Sphere for he was in one only Person to comprise as in an Epitomy the Image of the total God having his Root in the Eternal dark World or that of Fire His Life Glory Vertue and Fruit in the Eternal Light-world or second Principle of Love and Holiness and the third Principle being that of the purest Astral and Elementary World was but to Hang to him over which he was to bear rule 3. Nor could he have been God's compleat Image had not the Tincture of the Fire and also of the Light been incorporated in him that is both the Male and Female Properties 4. Therefore was it that he was but One Undivided to Image God who is distinguished into Three yet is One and Eternally the same Infinite and in Himself the Undividable One 5. And as the One God remaining but One diffuseth Himself into Multiplicity so should Adam had he remained an Undivided one Magically have propagated a Blessed Holy Numerous Progeny in perfect Modesty and Purity yet bearing in them all every Power of the Principles and every Property in great Harmony as are found in the Angelical World as well as in the Astral and Elementary 6. But when once Adam had his Eve rent from him we see what Misery Distraction Laceration and Wo soon follow'd by disappearing of the pure Virgin Modesty Q. 44. Was the first Man in such a habit of Condition created to Eternal Life or to Change and Alteration A. 1. When Men search the wretchedness of fallen Man's present Estate it may seem incredible that ever he was a glorious and compleat Image of God and of all Worlds 2. As one seeing the Ruins of a Royal City which Sword and Fire hath laid in Ashes heap'd into Rubbish Desolation plead Prescription and Years have cloathed the Hillocks in Green especially if some Earthquake had razed the Situation the Beholder of these Remains though credibly inform'd can scarce credit that ever it deserved half what perhaps Fame too sparingly reported it to be 3. Thus Men looking on their own feeble sickly filthy short liv'd Boâ—ies can see little more than a Bestial Image But farther penetrating the Deâ—â—rmities of the Soul at Hostility against even God Himself and torn by Civil War within it self and by means of God's withdrawing abused Grace it is invaded by gross Darkness Little more can be seen but what is devillish 4 But Glory be to God in the highest that Jesus took this fallen Image and led it through Death into Eternal Life The sad Prospect of what Man is joyned with the Ignorance of what he was raiseth the blind Conceit that he was created to Alteration 5. But to shew how Excellent Man was by Creation and that he was not subject to Alteration yet that I may shun Repetition do return my self to the Answers of the 38 39 40 and 41st Questions Only lot it be remembred that God denounceth as the Wages of Disobedience Alteration Death and Deprivation of the Paradisical Glory 6. And that the Alteration was Translation to a better Place must needs be an Error springing from our Ignorance of what Paradise is and what that staâ—e is I return my self to the Answer of the 42. Question Q. 45. What manner of Image was Adam before his Eve In what Form and Condition was he when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both A. 1. He was so made as to possess the Throne of expulsed Lucifer he was therefore an Image of God's Power as well as his Holiness which made him the Object of Lucifer's Malice 2. And forasmuch as Lucifer affected to lift up himself in that part of God's Image entrusted to him consisting of Potence and Mightiness to such excess as eclipsed his holy pure lustre Therefore to prevent it in Adam there was added to him the third Principle for it was Matter for some humble Contemplation But Lucifer not balanced therewith Imaged in himself a desire of Rule above the End or Limit of Creature Nature 3. Adam was also lower than Lucifer because the Subjects of this Monarchy were only potentially or virtually existent not actually produced And it is found that gradual access to exercise of Authority is less obnoxious to inordinate Practices than instantaneous Entrance upon Soveraignty His gracious Creator saw it safer for him to be raising of Fruit than at once to enjoy a reaped Crop 4. But he was Privileged above the Angelical Hierarchy that had left their Habitation being a more compleat Image of God than they having one Principle more intrusted to him 5. His Fall was into that third Principle which though the Holy World should be withdrawn from him yet was not that Principle sinfully Evil in it self but the first Principle excluding thence the Holy World is Evil in it self into which the Angels fell 6. The third Principle God annexed to Adam for knowing he would not remain faithful in the Virgin State that into it infinite Love and Goodness might enter to help him again which Jehovah Christ did by re-uniting the Eternal Divine Virginity to the Sick infected Humanity 7. And thus Tinctured the Humanity enkindling in it a true Heavenly spark of holy Fire which when our Humanity in Christ yields it self up into it is a Sacrifice turned into a Love
Progress as no other Creature had for of none of them was it said as of Man though not a few of them were ordain'd and still do propagate themselves otherwise than by distinct Male and Female as well in the Sensitive as in the Vegetative and Mineral Republick See the 54 Answer v. 1. and 43 Answer v. 3 4. 3. And the being not good may be noted from the Consequence of dividing the Tinctures that it succeeded as to an Army broken or a Besieged City one part Parling with the Enemy without Privity of the other concerning which the above quoted Answers speak much 4. Yet so propitious was Infinite Goodness and Wisdom at this Stand and Ebb of his Creature as to provide so suitable an Expedient not only that might prevent a worse state but which might also bring forth an Incomprehensible glorious Master-piece and Miracle of astonishing Love and Condescention the Lord Jesus Christ of and for whom are all things 5. Thus is it manifest how at first it was very Good after that how it was said it was not Good which may lead them that list to penetrate that when the End shall find the Beginning how the undivided Tinctures making the Virgin state shall be again and for ever very good as saith the Lord himself speaking of the Children of the Resurrection that they neither Marry c. but are in that respect as the Angels of God 6. Which state is amply signified that it should have been by the Lord 's recommending it to all to whom Power for it should be given also in that it was a Way traced out by his own Example pursued by our Apostle and others and Prophesied in the Revelations Q 62. Why caused God or did suffer a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam when he built a Wife out of his Rib What doth it mean A. 1. Sleep is a Perquisite or Appendix to Time a Foreigner to Eternity the result of a Conflict or Strife whereinto the vanquished retireth as doth the Matrix or watry Element when it is over-powred by the Fiery or Astral 2. And though Adam had not actually tasted the Fruit afterward forbidden yet had his Imagination penetrated into and his desire drawn forth the Tree on which followed the Severe or earnest Inhibition Then he as one overcome slept or swouned which the Divine Life in the Resurrection knoweth not 3 He slept to the Angelical World and awakened to the outward for Sleep is a respite or an arrest of the exercise of the Divine and Rational Faculties also as Death is to the Elementary outward Life 4. Not that it was imposed by Power without him from foreign Will and Necessity but was a necessary Supplement with reference to Adam himself which is the thing meant and taught us by this deep Sleep which God is said to have caused to fall on him Q. 63. How was the Wife or Woman made out of Adam What doth the Rib taken out of his Side signifie of which God made the Wife as Moses writeth A. 1. Moses saith God took one of Adam's Ribs out of his Side and thereof made a Woman Will any understand the Text so grosly as that his Bones were then as ours are dry dead rocky obnoxious to the penetration of Fire dissolution of Time c. Such a Thought is rather applicable to Bestiality than the Eternity 2. We are therefore to know the Rib whereof the Woman was made signified part of Adam's Strength for such were the Bones he then had and not such dead petrified weighty Substances as ours no more than his Flesh which was created for Eternity was like our Bestial Flesh at the Root of which is a Worm 3. And because Adam's Bone or Strength was a Composition of all his Essences Principles and Properties therefore it is rightly said a Rib or Bone and Substance nor is it any new Phrase to put one part for the whole the Scripture abounding in all parts of it with that manner of speaking 4. Also that it is said to be taken out of Adam's Side may signifie the procedure to be from the Noble and Central Part and into the Side literally did enter Longinus Spear when the Lord of Glory was Crucified 5. Eve was that Child which Adam should have gloriously produced which had he done Divinely Powerfully Actively Magically according to the excellency of his Creation-right it might have been call'd his doing it awake then also had that Child been as compleat as himself but being brought forth by an assisting Power and as to him passively and unknowingly may we be call'd his Sleep therefore less vigorous and perfect than his own Structure Thus the second Temple which was raised in an Eclipse of Times could not reach the excellent Fabrick of the first Temple 6. Yet forasmuch as Eve was brought forth though in some weakness yet with no offence to the Modesty and Virginity of the Divine Sophia of God's Wisdom therefore was she Holy though by the reason of her feebleness very near to a precipice of Danger Q. 64. Did Eve also receive a Soul and Spirit from Adam's Soul and Spirit or a nâ—â— strange one peculiarly or severally given of God A. 1. Had nothing been taken from Adam whereof to make Eve but a Rib and that had been such a Bone only as ours is come to be Eve's Production had not been from all Adam's Essences but such she was only Man hath most especially the â—irâ—â— Tincture and Woman most especially the Lights Tincture The Man more of the fâ—â—â—t or Soulâ— Principle the Woman more of the second or Spirits Principle 2. Thus Eve cannot be said to have a Soul and Spirit new and peculiarly from God but to partake with Adam of the same Soul and Spirit as may be proved as follows 3. To deny Eve part of Adam's Soul and Spirit because for her Structure the Text only mentions a Rib would with like force argue that she was not of his flesh 4. If Eve were not of one Soul and Spirit with Adam their Posterity must either every of them have new created Souls and so be unconcerned with their first Parents Transgression or uninclined to their immediate Parents Good or Evil habits The former of which opposeth Religion the latter Sence and Experience Or else the Children must have each two Souls and two Spirits one from each of their Parents which were a Solecism and morally a Contradiction by making two Eternities 5. If the Woman had another Soul and Spirit then that with Adam it must be out of other Principles but other Principles whence Soul and Spirit can be there are none for it were as absurd to make new Eternal Principles as to make new Gods 6. If the Soul and Spirit of Eve had not been one with and part of that of Adam's then the Lord Jesus who took a Soul from the Virgin Mary had not taken Man's or the Male Soul and so Men were not redeemed which is
third Principle Will it be said the Tempter should have been character'd and here is only the Temptation 5. It 's answered we may know the Evil Tree by the corrupt fruit Again the Tempter is dangerous to us for the sake of the Temptation What could the Fisher do without his Net or Bait Again tho' Eve were but little and Adam less propense to the sugar'd potion yet we have abundant thirst like one in an inflaming Fever desires drink 6. 'T was therefore necessary our Second Adam should be able to say the Tempter cometh but findeth nothing in me To prevent Ruine we must imprison our domestick Foes to avoid their betraying us to the common Enemy 7. Every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and enticed which saith not only that our own lusts are our Temptations but that it is what every man is obnoxious to 8. It is of sad consideration that many who abandon the Wit Craft and Subtilty of the Fox in great measure may yet betray themselves to the curious Art Contemplative Ingenuity and Innate Wisdom of the Serpent falling also far below the Divine especially in This. 9. That the Wisdom from above is not only good-natur'd as peaceable gentle easie to be entreated full of mercy and good fruits but is also high-born viz. pure humble self-emptying denying annihilating mortifying judging condemning leaving loathing witnessing for God against it self and all others Adding to Faith Patience to Experience Hope with which Faith Patience and Hope enduring all things waiting in extremity with quiet resolution 10. True it is that much penetrating speculation and knowledge natural and acquired for advance of reputation with improvement of Property and Self-pleasing is the Serpents Dust and Meat but the former are bits he cannot rellish they are his bane poison and death Q. 68. Why did the Serpent perswade Eve and not Adam to lust after the fruit What was the fruit on which they both did eat death A. 1. Whether an envenomed Shaft pierce the heart through the breast or through the side it is equally mortal Such was the Serpents Temptation and Eve might more easily be seduced because the breach was begun in her very Structure and Constitution by the separation of the Female Tincture Again the Woman was as a scattered party who are more suddenly made a prey of than the Body of any Army 2. The Temptation might take hold of her most readily being her self a kind of Temptation having drawn Adam from his pure chast precious dear Virgin-state therefore the Tempter awaited her and prevailed by a kind of assimilation 3. Naturalists observe Assimilation effects much in motion as in the hastening of Bodies to their several Centres not only in rarity and density and the version of the Needle but in velocity and penetration that the Arrow headed with Wood and the Woodden Wedge shall pierce and cleave Wood by more ready insinuation than Iron 4. And This squares most with the Apostles humbling charge on that Sex that the Woman was first in the Transgression c. not barely with respect to the Serpent or Temptation it self but her declension inclination and propinquity to curiosity which still is found amongst them preparing her to swallow the Bait. 5. But I spare them for the above hints pondered may suffice rather adding that men should be the more compassionate and assistant knowing they are Man's weaker part and of his own Essences 6. To say farther what was the fruit on which they did both eat Death little is enough but refer to the 7th 8th and 9th verses of the 57th Answer concerning the Tree of Good and Evil which shews it to be of the third Principle no better nor worse than That we eat of yet mortal Poison to their Paradisical Life 7. And a little to digress let it be considered that the Lord's blessing the Meat when he did eat with his Disciples teacheth us to know and remember the peril lest the Evil Properties in the Creation should so steal themselves into our Meat or Drink as to associate with heighten and strengthen the Evil Properties in us 8. Therefore we find some character'd who make provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof and of the Rich Man that fared deliciously every day and of others feeding themselves without fear A sin prevailing by Assimilation with our voracious licencious wanton Appetites willingly indulging our selves to forget that the Provisions for our Lord and his Disciples were a few Loaves and a few little Fishes and those he multiplied or augmented by Miracle yet the Loaves were but of Barley in a Country abounding with Wheat Milk Honey c. Q. 69. What was the sin and how it is become a sin that the same is an Enmity of God A. 1. What the Tree of Good and Evil was and why forbidden the 7th 8th and 9th verses of the 57th Answer explaineth How excellent Adam's first State was is somewhat distinctly in the whole 52 Answer How he fell and how low is touched in the 51 Answer a review of all which will be eminently assistant to the searcher and a large contribution to the Answer of this Yet farther 't is answered 2. That as Lucifer and his Angels by imaging in their Bodies the Forms of the first Principle left the glorious holy 2d Principle whereby their Tincture became not only impure â—separate and unclean but falshood and filthiness in the abstract 3. So Adam being Ruler by Creation right in the third Principle imaged in the Spirit of his Will Mind and Soul a hunger of the same third Principle grasping the shadow as painted Food instead of the substantial Quintessence and Bread of Eternal Life departed out of the Unity wherein he possessed all and every good perfectly at once for ever into a few little parcels of fading good blended and interlaced with Volumes of multiform exquisite real steddy permanent Evils 4. What the Will is the Man is Thus the Will of Lots Wife 's captivating her by the Accommodations of their late opulent Seat she is by the Astringent Property fixed a Pillar of Salt Also Nebuchadnezzar placing his chief Glory in such stuff as must be rubbish becomes a Beast or Fowl for the Magical Will hath as even in Witches appears the over-match to the Forms of Elementary and Astral Concretes because the Magia is the Power of the Will or Hand of the Mind having its Root in the Potence of the first Principle or Eternal Band. 5. Thus our first Parents by impressing in their Originally Noble Breasts the Good and Evil Properties could not retain the Divine Image As the Eye looketh not at once upward and downward therefore the pure Love Delight Joy and Heavenly Man disappeared and the Dead Form resigned The Apostle saith Death reigned As Iron when the Lustre of the Fire is gone or a Lamp extinguished so no more could he be Divine and Sensual Earthy and Heavenly 6. This departure was his
he feared they that found him should kill him for there was no Man besides him but Adam but it must be the Inward Man that might be kill'd for to That there were Enemies enough 2. The â—ark God set upon Cain must not therefore be understood to be on his skin or flesh but on his Inward Man to withstand the Spiritual Enemies That Mark therefore must be an Opposite Power to that of the Evil Spirits which must be confessed to be the Covenaâ—t of Grace Jesus Christ which was inspoken imprinted and set upon him 3. The Threatning He that slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold must be an Inward Vengeance for Outward it could not be on Inward Enemies but to be understood thus that if any Spirit slay Cain's Inward Life vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold that is Eternally in all his seven Forms of Life 4. Thus Grace was extended to Cain nor may we think Cain was the Only Cause of that Murther for his Propagation in the divided Properties was his first mover and as Cain had Grace extended to him he being the figure of the False Church So is Grace extended by Christ to such of That Church as shall come out of it into the Resignation 5. And Abel's sincere giving up of himself as well as the Offering enkindled the Love-fire in his Lifes Forms who by propagation was otherwise out of the divided Properties but therein he was the Figure of Christ's Humble Church Q. 84. Wherefore said Lamech Cain's Successor to his Wives Zilla and Ada Lamech shall be avenged seventy and seven fold what doth this mean and signifie A. This Mystery prophesied by Lamech calls for these Considerations 1. What he was from Cain viz. 1. The seventh 2. Why to his Wives spake he this viz. because by the Woman came the first Evil and Vengeance And to his two Wives pointing at the divided Properties 2. The next is the thing spoken I have slain or would have slain a man to my wounding or in my wound and a young man to or in my hurt 3. No one is named to have been slain actually but That and the other Reading would have slain signifies an Internal Slaughter And if Cain be avenged seven-fold truly Lamech seventy and seven-fold shews the Vengeance was not against the person of Lamech as it had not been against That of Cain 4. Whence we are to know that the Holy Ghost signifies by the Man or young Man slain or that he would have slain the Heavenly Man against whom Cain was the figure of Eâ—mity 5. And Lamech the seventh from him saw the holy Power World acted by the Mental Tongue or Language of Nature would withdraw and vengeance should be taken by the dividing of the High Tongue into seventy Languages which was done at Babel 6. And under This Hurt and Evil the World still groans But where the Divine Power Rules men speak one Language tho' imperfectly but they who are under subjection of the multiplicity speak Confusion and run into the Abyss of Disorder and Enmity Concerning which I here say the less because it will be met with if God will open in any one understanding to answer the 89th Question Q. 85. What was the greatest sin of the Old World or first Terreâ—tial Human World A. 1. Their greatest sin was their leaving the Divine Substance of the second Principle and going into the Out birth or third Principle which is only a shadow figure image or representer of the Substance whereby they mistook that for their chief food which is not so 2. It is written All that is in the World is the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life and they are charged with the Lust of the Eye and the Lust of the Flesh And after it follows God saw that their wickedness was great on the Earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts or desires and purposes were only evil continually 3. The Heart is the Parent the Thoughts the First-born And as Water is best known by tasting at the Fountain so is the Heart by the Thoughts Imaginations or makings for so signifies the word Imaginations shewing Man's Soul to have a kind of Creating Power 4. And if Man chuseth as they did the things of This World for their Chief Good that his Choice is his God and his Love makes him to be the Propriety of the thing chosen 5. Such men are therefore call'd the Children of This World for that Man rather lives where he loves than where he is And what Man chuseth for his Chief Good loves and lives in his desire unto puts confidence in here during all the Union of the Soul with the Body That is the Substance his Will feeds on and That is his and all he hath for ever 6. If it be God it is heightened and perfected if it be the World it is more wretchedly depraved which being a Substance fixt in his Will the same he shall for ever inâ—atiably desire but never reach and therefore be his Torment and Anguish in Eternity 7. Who hath bewitched men therefore that they chuse not and practise what their Reason cannot but dictate to them as depraved as it is to be best And That is That Divine Love and Eternal Life which Christ in God is more elegible than the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life 8. What cure is there when men depart from God's Goodness God is but one and hath but one Son eternally generated of his Substance and That Son can die but once our resistance of his Calls makes God by Ezekiel say I am broken with their whorish heart which had departed from me and with their Eyes which go a whoring after their Idols Like to what he said to the first World It repeâ—ted the Lord that he made Man and it grieved him at the heart c. Q. 86. What is the Henochian Life What is become of Henoch or where â—â—th Henoch reâ—â—tined so also of Moses and Eâ—â—as A. 1. Not without many haesitations come â— to this almost singular Question Many Recoils from my attempts to adventure speaking of so secret a Mystery My heart meditateth terror to see it self groveling But it must be said the Henochian Life is a Life of Faith for the Holy Ghost saith Henoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found c. And tho' the Administration of the Henochian Life be so rarely found as it is and hath been and that the Writing on it might seem to anticipate and forerun the discovery of it yet for the sake of the Sons of Wisdom to whom only it shall appertain it is answered and let such be directed 2. To consider Christ's Life in the Wilderness who after his abandoning the Food of the divided Properties in the third Principle forty days being in the temperature was then ministred unto by Angels Let it
humble that Sex who being the divided Tincture were first in the Transgression Q. 106. How was God viz. the Word made Flesh What hath he assumed from Man A. 1. In the 75 81 and 90 Answers and in the 15 particulars of the 21th Chapter of the little Treatise call'd Considerations c. on the Scope of Jacob Behmen much relating to the present Enquiry is opened Yet it seems fit to say farther viz. 1. That because Man's going into the third Principle had subjected him to the Mortal Bestial Flesh in the Wrath and Curse if the Word had not assumed and been made Flesh the Plaister had not been as broad as the Wound The Elementary part viz. that of the four Elements must for ever have remained Captive in Death and passed away with the melting and dissolution of them into their Aether without Recollection or Resurrction 2. At the same instant therefore of the Virgin Mary's Conception the Word in or of the second Principle was by the Vehicle or Medium of the Holy Element Conceived in the Light of her Life taking her's viz. our Eternal Human Soul and Spirit or Light generated out of the Souls Essences and both Soul and Spirit became as one in an Eternal Band with the Word like as the Masculine and Feminine Tinctures unite in ordinary Conceptions 3. In the same moment also by the genuine Right of Nature as the Divine Lubet of the two Principles breath out the third Principle attracting the Powers thereof for their manifestation and by the same immutable Law as by which common Fire attracts Air did This Holy Divine Conception call to it the Astral Powers and Spirit and those for their Associates brought as their house and clothing the four Elements being of the like necessity as the Body of a living Creature follows the Head Thus the Word became Flesh yet as incomprehensible not only to the Flesh but also to the fallen Humane Nature as the Eternal Soul is to the Astral or as the Astral Spirit is to the dead Earth 4 But as truely as the Eternal Humane Soul and Spirit the Tincture the Astral Soul the Animal Spirits and Sences and the Elementary Body or Bulk compose and form one Man so truely did the Word of the Almighty Son of God the Virgin of Gods Wisdom the disappeared Image of the Heavenly Humanity assume and unite with Mans Humane Soul Spirit and Tincture enter also into the Astral Vigor and Powers also enter and assume the Elementary Flesh and consecrat circumcise and hallow them and thus become one perfect compleat person God and Man 5. The decay of the Lungs is hard to be restored because applications thither are obstructed their Porter so curiously guards the entrance as that Air only may have admission wherefore the Wall is sometimes broken by Inscition to send injections to the part impaired tho' with great hazard But our Almighty Restorer hath entred the whole Man every crevice and secret of Soul and Body is all Superficies an open Field at Noon day to the Omniscience of gracious Love 6. When my dull Spirits a little penetrate this incomprehensible condescention my powers yield up themselves prostrate tremble and flame my Soul finds himself as one living among the dead it hath something to say and do which it wants apt Organs to express and prosecute And if my obscure Soul find himself unequally yoaked what a stoop did Infinite Goodness make to bear our griefs and take on him the chastisement of our peace be as a Lamb dumb before the Shearers Yea under the Merciless Murtherers and Tormentors pour out his Soul He hid not his sweet Face from shame and spitting that by his stripes we his cruel Enemies might be healed Q. 107. Wherefore would God became Man could he not forgive Man his Sins without becoming Man A. The Minds of Men have been very apt to err about the Doctrine of forgiving sin thinking it to be like verbal Remissions among Men or at a Bar of Judgment 1. One party pretend possession of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven by succession to Peter who himself had no promise of them but as he was one of the Apostles which when it was performed was to him and the rest alike Yet still that Party plead prescription and saying a form of words like a Charm great sinners are told they are pardoned yet probably by such who are often greater sinners than themselves 2. Another party less gross in words yet no less remiss in Practice and Conversation expect pardon of an Age of sins by a Death-bed pretended sorrow and words of hope and confidence in the Merit of the Lord Jesus without any conformity all their Life to his Death and Resurrection 3. Had the putting sinful Man into a Blessed state been so easie Would the only begotten Son of God have taken our disorder'd Souls and vile bestial Bodies born the Curse fulfilled all Righteousness encountred and been slain by Death a shameful death passed through a Sea of streights grief and pain exerted a Series of miraculous power No No. 4. Man was estranged from God had lost his noble Image was partly a Devil and partly a Beast it was then absolutely necessary he who alone was mighty to save should do all he did Or Man was past any help and all hope of Restoration and Pardon 5. Therefore did God become Man the Word was made Flesh to appease the wrath of the forms of the first principle by inkindling Divine Light in them therewith also was Mans Spirit which was like a Phantasm or like a foolish Night Fire inflamed with Sacred Love and Mans Astral and Elementary parts were Tinctur'd into a due Subjection to his more noble part as they to the Divine 6. Thus the great Captain entred through Death to break the Gates of it restoring the Virgin Image in our Humanity of himself he saith John 17. 19. And for their sakes sanctifie I my self that they also may be sanctified The pardon of sin produceth a mortifying of self a rising in a new Life a sacrificing every Lust a Love sickness to the Lord a War with the Enemies a Heart broken and melted a new tender one receiv'd this is true Gospel forgiveness Q. 108. How was the uniting of the Deity and Humanity in this becoming Man A. 1. God Created Adam an Image of the whole three principles both first and third fully illustrated by the holy second principle yet was his very third principle of the holy Paradisical Element wherein was the pure modest chaste Virgin of Divine Wisdom vouchsafed to Man as his Bride But neither is the Virgin holy Element nor Paradise God but the Virgin is the Tincture of the Light and the holy Element the Flesh and Blood of Christ whence was Adam and the Angels 2. These things foreknown way is made to answer the Divine secret sought after in this Question and requireth the Eyes of all the three principles as they stand in the
9. Here may be noted that never was Subjection Patience Humility and Obedience to Parents and all placed over us enforced by any so cogent and irrefragable Argument as it is by this Subjection of the Lord Jesus Christ to them Even to Joseph no otherwise His Parent than by Espousal to Mary and that not for a short time but a Tract of many Years even after His being among the Doctors about the Business of the Almighty Father 10. In admiration of this Condescention behold here Oh my Soul the only Son of the only God the Soveraign of all Worlds that He might pluck thee as a Firebrand out of the Fire of thine own kindling content to burn Himself that He might Redeem thee from dark Chains of Everlasting Vassalage became Himself a Servant subject to His Inferior Subjects because Man revolted from his Obedience to God God obediently subjected Himself to Man The Wisdom of God learnt Obedience by the things which he suffer'd 11. Doth my Soul beg to know His sweet Name Where dwells He and who or what is He like I am told He was like a Servant no Thing Creature or World may be liken'd to Him but that His dwelling is with the humble many times in old Cottages and strong Prisons And that one of His great Names is but a Monosyllable viz. LOVE 12. A Name that calls for Love and commands Obedience for the delight found in Love That Heart therefore that reading and meditating this and weeps not the heart that groans not bleeds not melts not breaks not flames not is not the Heart of a true Man but of a Beast or a Devil Metamorphos'd iâ—to Human shape 13. The third Mystery is of His Thirty Years privacy the Types of which are in the 110th Answer and in the first part of that Answer is the Ground why Thirty Years was the due proportion of time for compleating actual Righteousness 14. Else it may seem marvellous that He who was the Light of this and all Worlâ—s could with-hold any of His infinite diffusive Vertue Also that seeing He was only the saving Light and Fountain of Salvation without whom the World perisheth should conceal His Glory His Omnipotence not being obnoxious to the Conâ—agion of Sinners with whom He might converse which our impotence exposeth us to 15. May we not on this occasion be warn'd to put a strong bridle and restraint on our Tongues the Herald of our impetuous Lusts in our Applications to others knowing how often it wounds us and others and inverts the End for which it was vouchsafed us 17. May I not hence also convince my self that very much of my Work is within rather than abroad and that God's Holy Work with us is entirely within Men for the bestial part of us is the Monstrous Image got by departure from God so alienated that all Communications and Approaches to it must be Image-like if intelligible to us faln Men. 17. And whereas the Divine Work is agitated in Man's superior part it causeth a departure from the brutish Man therefore was this of our Lord 's most inwardly a Sacred silence privacy or secresie for so great a part of his Pilgrimage in Flesh on Earth wherein he was literally separate from Sinners 18. How cross to this is the precipitance of our rushing to speak our supposed Knowledge and of unmortified Mens hypocritical Stage-Plays in Pulpits and other publick Oratories 19. How opposite to this is our needless associating for Curiosity with Company to whom we cannot do and from whom we may not hope for Good 20. How diametrically thwart to this is that River of Thoughts like swarms of Locusts which are uncontroulably allow'd to consume our precious Fruit and these Thoughts are mostly generated in the stinking Lakes of discomposing converse with bestial people 21. Christ's sweating Blood in his Agony was when his Sufferings came to the breaking of the fourth Form which is the Fire for then did the other Forms severally grow prevalent surrounding him with Death that state being such as Men mean when they say the Heart is broken for in the Heart is the fire-Fire-life All which did our dear Lord bear because Adam had enkindled in himself a Fire which had not Gracious Love even then interposed and been inspoken had soon devour'd him 22. The Lord was betray'd by Judas his pretended Friend and Servant for such seemed the Serpent to Eve and by a Kiss a fatal false Friendship of Eve to Adam thus we still fall by mistaking Enmity for Friendship perishing for want of Knowledge 23. Our Saviour was apprehended and bound for Adam our Undoer going out of the Liberty was bound by the prevailing Anguishes of the first Principle and Mortality of the third Principle 24. Jesus the Eternal Light was thus dealt with by Night because Adam went out of the Eternal Day into Eternal Darkness therefore was the Lord carried to the Murtherers by Night 25. Our King the Lord of Glory was mocked reproached derided and scorn'd by vile Men because Adam had introduced such odious shame as made him the scorn of the Devils 26. The Prince of our Peace was scourged though the Innocent Lamb of God for Adam awakening all the Properties made not only the Essences to be inwardly Raging but his outward Body as that of the Beast to be subjected to the Whip which the gracious Lord refus'd not to endure for us 27. The Son of God Heir of all Things and King of Immortality was Crown'd as if he had been a false King with Thorns because Adam would in his Pride be like God and wear this World's Crown 28. And as all these were but Fore-runners or Entrance of Adam on the borders of Everlasting Destruction whereinto he was plunging his whole Man and Posterity so all these things were done to the second Adam and meekly endur'd by Him before His Passion 29. And all this was to make a plain and terrible Demonstration to all Mankind that Sin unrepented of becomes a Substance crying for all inward and outward Vengeance for ever See 25 Chap. of the Three Principles Q. 118. Why must the very Teachers of the Law bring Christ to the Judgment and yet must be put to Death by the Heathenish Magistracy What doth that signifie A. 1. That so it was appears Now to answer why it was so Let it be noted that Persecutions proceed not out of the second Principle for in that all are United in Love and Meekness nor out of the third wherein Civil Magistracy standeth for that of its own Nature if not unwarily heated persecuteth none as is found in Christian Republicks who have no oppressive interest to advance or support Persecution introduceth not its sting 2. Nor in such only but in the Mahometan Monarchies is not Religion as such persecuted but Conquests made for the greatning their poor outward Momentary Power And this is found not only among the Turks but Persians under
whom the Christians enjoy the rich and large Country of Georgia and those Christians not leven'd and perverted with Idolatry 3. But Persecution stands rooted in the first Principle in which it is apparent how Brethren in Profession betray Brethren in Truth and in Deed because they all consist of the self-same four Forms and part asunder only in the Fourth for the Children of the day only generate out of their Fire-divine Eternal Light and the other proceed no farther than the Fire generating no other Light than â— false one viz. as may consist with the false Maxims of the third Principle a Serpentine Wisdom 4. Thence is it that from the natural strife of those divided Properties and Rage of the Fire proceeds the cruel Persecutions therefore the High Priests and Teachers of the Law with the unbelieving Jews were the Lord 's bitter Enemies As was Cain the false Sacrificer to Abel for that Abel by enkindling the true Light sacrificed his own Affections Will and Heart which Cain reserved and so his offering was lame and disregarded 5. Nor may iâ— seem strange that the Teachers of the Law should be at Enmity against the Fulfiller of it for they were only Ministers of the Letter and the Letter killeth Thus Antichrist who succeeds the Jewish Priests in killing Christ in his Members would bind the Children whom God hath made free but cannot 6. Thus Ishmael the Son of the Bond woman persecutes Isaac and would have been the Heir These if they can acquire Power in the third Principle destroy the Sons of the free Woman if they cannot they call the Civil or Military Assistants whom they mis-inform as Haman did then stir up such a Fox as Hâ—rod whose jealousie of losing what the Lord would not foul His fingers with prompts him to Cruelty But more particular might I have been here would it not anticipate what will fall under the 154 Question concerning the titular Christian and the 162 Question concerning Antichrist by whomsoever God shall open their Answers which is therefore here forborn Q. 119. Why must Christ suffer and die Was God to do it for such a revenge sake that he might attone and reconcile or appease himself Could he not otherwise forgive Sin A. I have no reason to vary my often mention'd design of declining Repetitions therefore must refer the Solution of this to the 107 Answer Q. 120. What is the figure of the two Murtherers which hanged on a Cross on each â—ide of Christ And why must Christ die on a wooden Cross and not otherwise A. Adam's terrible Fall was accompanied with dividing the Tinctures as is manifest in the 43d Answer which brake and parted him into a Woman as is shew'd in the 65th Answer And as more links of that heavy chain follow'd the extremities of Heat and Cold as appears in the â—0th Answer agreeable to the separate Properties in the Tree of Good and Evil discover'd in the 57th Answer All which is made more obvious in the Birth of Cain and Abel to every of which Answers for laying open the thing sought in the first part of this Question I refer my self 1. Yet farther for Answer we must know that Adam when fallen hung between the enraged Properties of the first Principle and the third Principle as it were leaning on both using the Out-birth to meeken the extorting Provocations of the four Anguishes And having lost the Divine Vision had his doleful abode betwixt Hell and this World which is the thing figur'd by the two Thieves the one whereof was forgiven 2. Thus is it that Publicans and Sinners signified by those of the third Principle enter the Kingdom of Heaven before the Scribes and Pharisees who as in the 118th Question is clear'd do stand in the Zeal and Wrath of the first Principle to persecute and worry them in whose Hearts the Day-Star or second Principle is risen 3. Now that the Lord did die on a wooden Cross and not otherwise was That as the Civil Magistrate is God's Ordinance for Execution of vindictive Justice as being of the third Principle which third is the Instrument or Figure of the first and second as is evidenced in the first part of the 118th Answer So the wood of the Cross was of a Plant of the same Principle by Eating the Good and Evil Fruit whereof Adam fell thereinto 4. Therefore was it proper to be the bitter and Blessed or Evil and Good Instrument framed for the Lord 's suffering Death whereon in him hung all the three Principles who though he was Lord of Glory yet like a patient Lamb for the Slaughter bare this ur expressible Anguish as if himself had been a Transgressor to the pouring out of his Soul to the Death Q. 121. How did Christ slay Death on the Cross How came that to pass A. 1. That Christ the Son of the Blessed God should Die offends the Turks and Pagans That He lived so humbly and died so contemptibly offended the Jews but the Proud lives of us Professors of the Name of Christ we in the mean time believing Him so meek and lowly a Master must needs offend not only Jews and Turks but Christianity it self and above all the Holy God 2. What consideration can tread down Mans loftiness if the looking on our crucified Jesus will not Who can chuse but infinitely rather than Thomas concerning Lazarus say Let us go that we may die with him No less than thus to do can secure us against the second Death for he that is dead is free from Sin Wherefore saith the Apostle speaking of this Death I die daily 3. Christ did slay Death on the Cross with his Dying by laying off the filthy Garments Adam had wove himself into that is carrying the Monstrosity wherewith the Souls Essences were charged clog'd and immured as a Sacrifice into Death and through or out of Death again into the Liberty of Immortality as the burnt Sacrifices precipitating their dark Matter arose into a Radiant lustrous flame 4. Adam made himself and us justly Debtors to Death but the Lord not only discharged but brought Death into his Debt as at large might be shewn He disarm'd it and takes away his Dominion so that he reigneth over it thus hath this Rose of Sharon perfum'd our Graves 5. It is in the Answer said we may as easily return the Sun backward over us as change Nature's regular Motions of proceeding from a Seed to a Root then a Fruit and then a Seed which Seed must first die before it multiply 6. Wherefore it was that faln Man's monstrous Image was necessarily lead into Death and the monstrosity left there before the new Image was raised for the new ariseth by the falling off of the old as saith the Lord a grain of Wheat bringeth not forth much Fruit except it die but abideth alone Thus came Death to be slain by the Death of the Lord of life Q. 122. Why must Christ be nail'd to the Cross
the Grave A. 1. If it be clearly known what the High-Priests were and what Figure they bear it may also be known why they would resist God and strive to keep Christ in the Grave And what they were and figur'd is manifest in the 128 Answer They were as to their fiery Zeal Captives in the Properties of the first Principle without enkindling the Light of the â—econd which makes Men free Their heat as to their Law was rooted in Enmity which is the true cause of all Persecutions 2. For if they had been moderated by the Maxims of the third as obscure as they are Tho' the Divine Light had been withheld and not enkindled yet cruel Persecution could not would not thence naturally have proceeded See 118 Answer 3. It is written Cast not Pearls before Swine left they trample them under their Feet which Swine are the Bestial Men in the third Principle Again Cast not holy things to Dogs lest they turn again and rent you These are they of the Wrath Principle or first Principle whose Root is in the dark fiery property and anguish of that first Principle So that a Hog is better than a Dog 4. Whenever we are shutting out the Rebukes of God in his Providences against our wilful Contrivances or the Convictions from his Word Preached or written or the just Reproofs of good or bad Men for our faults or the checks of our own Hearts and Gods Witness in our Consciences and would by our partiality and indulgence to our selves flatter our selves hide our evils like Adam seek excuses stifle silence extenuate or any way palliate the Matter charg'd on us then are we as those Watchers keeping Christ as much as in us lyes from the Resurrection out of the Grave Q. 133. Why did the Evangelist say that the Angel removed the great Stone from the Door or Mouth of the Sepulchre Could not Christ have riâ—en else out of the Grave A. 1. This is the eighth Angelical Ministration to Christ recorded by the Evangelists there being ten in all viz. 1. To Mary before the Conception 2. To Joseph concerning her 3. To the Shepherds at the Nativity 4. To Joseph to fly from Herod into Egypt 5. To return on the death of Herod 6. To â—he Lord aâ—ter his Fasting and being Tempted 7. Again to the Lord in his Agony in the Garden 8 This removing the Stone 9 Two Angels in the Sepulchre after his Resurrection 10. Two Angels at the Ascention 2. By reason of Mans folly and slownes of Heart to believe the great and important Doctrine of Christs being risen did it please the Lord to condescend this way to help Mans Infidelity and confirm their weak Faith And therefore came the Angel of the Lord and rouled back the Stone and sate upon it and there was a great Earthquake and the Keepers did shake and became as dead Men for the countenance of the Angel was as Lightning 3. There was no need oâ— the Lords part to roul away the Stone for his Heavenly holy Body which enâ—red to the Apostles the Doors being shut could not be detained by the Stone of the Sepulchre For the Heavenly Humanity is not included nor exclusible by any thing but passeth unapprehended through all things being Lord of all living in himself in his own holy Principle the Eternal Liberty 4. But the poor Earthy Children of faln Adam being Captives in the third Principle have need enough of all Gods gracious Condescendings to work Faith and confirm our Confidence and ground our hope for which gracious ends was the glorious Messenger of Irresistible Majesty sent on this Errand But so obstinate and great â—s Mans hardness of Heart that all this and what followed were needful to settle a Foundation for his Apostles and Martyrs to build their and our Faith upon But for ever blessed be the Almghtâ— God that all his gracious Promises and Purposes are abundantly ratified and opened for he is for ever the yea and Amen 5. Thus as Adam in the Face of good and bad viz. of the Holy and Hellish Worlds felâ— into impotence into the Our birth of the third Principle So the second Adam bâ— the Ministry of the glorious Ambassador of the mighty power World whose Countenance was as lightning and in presence of the astonished Souldiers figuring the Hellish Principle raised the right Humane Nature And thus also must we if we will arise with our Head be as Passives suffering the Lord to exercise all his Rights in and on us with a resigned sence of our inability wretchedness and vanity Q. 134. What is the power of Christs Resurrection through Death How did he make a Triumphant shew of Death on his Body What was it then that he did with it A. In the 45th Answer is shew'd what Adam was before his Fall In the 69th Answer is what Adam's Fall plung'd him and us into and in the 121st what the death of Christ and effect of it is Every of which three Answers being duly consider'd will conduce much to the opening of this We come to search what the power of Christs Resurrection is whereby he Triumphed over all opposite Powers and Principalities and made a shew thereof in his Body 1. The Fall and Curse brought wrath into Adam's several Principles viz. the four properties of the first into Enmity and Rage Also so captivated obscured and buried the Transparency of his second Principle that the Virgin of Divine Wisdom totally disappearing retir'd into her own Heaven thenceforth he became wholâ—y impotent and utterly dead to the Divine Magia only the Siderial Magia did â—it as Councellor in his Earthy Reason whereinto the Serpentine subtilty can familiarly insinuate 2. But so much of the Tincture remained in him as is inseparable from the several Existencies and for the sake whereof the very Out-birth of the Creatures shall in their Idea's have a Resurrection by Vertue of the Tincture in them 3. His third Principle was also as wretched as its Capacity extended to for the Astral Man was under a series of Evil Cross Conjunctions and Aspects The Elementary was brutish degenerate and like the worst of Beasts Where was now the dear first precious Image of Modesty when he was now half Devil and half Beast 4. Of this fierce State and Death it is said O Death I will be thy Death which is done by introducing of Life and the Life thus enkindled is as the Tincture transmuting Metals by feeding their hunger by such part of the vertue of the second Principle which the hunger longeth after and is capable of 5. And the Divine Love fire begotten and arising in the Soul is the Soul's Resurrection of which it is said Blessed and holy is he that hath part of the first Resurrection for of such the second Death shall have no Power 6. The great Doctrine of the Resurrection hath had many Enemies besides the Athenians who laught at it for the Sadduces amongst the
part which readily uniting with the four dark Anguishes of the first Principle becomes a fixt Enmity to the Holy Powers See the 118 Answer v. 5. Antichrist as it is a fixed Enmity is incurable being like a Disease grounded on the Constitution See the 128 Answer v. 6. Q. 163. What is Babel or Babylon the Beast and the Whore in the Apocalypse or Revelations A. 1. Babel the Beast and the Whore is the World's Trinity for all that is so in as to be of the World is the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and the Pride of Life the best of the Evil World as far as the Holy Powers are withdrawn lock'd up or excluded is in those three Lusts Comprized and Anatomized 2. The Beast hath its Foundation in the Elementary Man Babel in the Astral but the Whore in both and all of them in the Dust and are themselves no other Dust but such as the Wind from above shall scatter and drive away Thus the inquiring Mind may by considering find what these three are and how varied in their Root and Original It is next to be shewn how they are distinguish'd in their Progress and Operation 3. The Beast becomes more and more Sensual some more coveting rest and self-pleasing like such Beasts who greedily covet fulness in contempt of the Creator's Design and wilful Ignorance of the stare the starving Soul lost by the Fall and the means conducing to its recovery being far from pleasing and pampering the Flesh but these Swinish Lusts would fain be sated with the Husks of things Another sort are fierce dogged unsociable others haughty others lustful filthy c. But the Apocalyptical Beast includeth all these adding success by great access of Power among wretched Mankind who either by Fraud or Force obtain outward Magistracy or Soveraignty these the World goeth or wondereth after 4. The Progress or Operation of Babel is the exercise of Man's Reason in things truly known only in the Regeneration thus Babel is the Centre where all the straight or arch lines of Confusion drawn by the Beast or Whore meet Here all Ages and all Nations and Languages do agree in disagreement and are so far from knowing the true God that they know nothing truly much less themselves or others seeming and but seeming to be ever learning but still at Enmity against Truth 5. The Progress or Operation of the Whore is that Spirit in Man which dissembleth the inward Naughtiness with the outward guise of Holiness Purity and Devotion this Whore never was a Wife but in the time and place of Espousal was rejected abandoned and separated or repudiated called a Divorcement but improperly never being really Married for her Filthiness so clave to her that her unstedfastness and unfaithfulness appears in her adulterous Eyes her impudent Forehead her feigned Dialect her disdainful Deportment Now as the Whore is sensual she rooteth in and as one with the Beast for which cause the Antichristian Spirit ever strengtheneth it self by Uniting with the Temporal Magistracy and Authority And as the Whore is the Ape or Counterfeit of the Holy Work wrought in Mens Wills it being only pictured in her Intellect without affecting the Soul or Mind much less subjecting the Will so is the Whore a Builder of Babel concerning which Whore reference is made to the last foregoing Answer concerning Antichrist 6. It seems fit also to say something of the Attainments Results or Summits of these three The Whore can attain to sit as a Queen to ride on the Beast to induce the Kings of the Earth to drink the Wine of her Fornication in all this she deceiveth others but she is not a Queen also the hope concerning her self that she shall see no sorrow shall fail for she shall be hated they shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire so she deceives her self as effectually as others 7. The Beast having its Rod in the Elementary World and its satiety therein being filled therewith is when broken by the Turba resolved thereinto so that such as still the Out cries of their Eternal Souls therewith have their whole Life but a deceitful Dream and when the Elements drop off awake into Horror and Nakedness 8. The Summit and Result of Babel is to be alway doing what cannot be done as that figure the Tower was never finished they are the foolish Builder which is still beginning but never compleats any one thing instead of compleating order they end in Anguish 9. The Fulness and Attainment of the Beast is of the three the most truly effected for as in the Mire and Dust he dwells of that he fills himself he hath no higher Lust Profit Ease Pleasure and outward Honour he Designs and if he hath it and can bound his Desires to the Proportion obtainable by him he is best of the three for his Life is a pleasant Dream his Misery is out of his present view his Eternal part being choak'd cries not out but he rejoyceth in the good success his Craft Violence or Cruelty hath the present is his Heaven Futurities are in his Esteem airy Speculations but the Evil Day if perhaps at the Door seems to be very far off his Misery is that sure-footed Death must come and undeceive him and convince him that his Thoughts having perishing Objects do themselves perish Thus the Beast like the light of a Gloworm being only the issues of the Senses Babel being like the Light of a Candle as the Product of depraved Reason these two Lights are United by the Whore who undertaketh by them to shew Heaven to others which is as easie and demonstrable as it is with a Candle in a close Night to shew the clouded Stars whereas Heaven can only be seen by its own Light as even the outward Heaven is Q. 164. What is the Ruin of the Beast and how is it effected that the seven headed Beast should become cast into the Abyss A. 1. When a Vegetative as a Tree or Plant attaineth its fulness it issueth into Flowers Fruits c. whereunto if its vigor inable it not it declines and steps backward towards its first Mover so do Sensitives and rational Creatures But because the Astral Worlds that they may figure Eternity have a Prerogative Royal it is only required of them in Conformity to the Universal Order to condescend to a resemblance of the rest by Revolutions 2. The Number of the Beast is 666. far below the 1000 the Crown Number And all his seven Properties are included in the six working Forms never attaining the true Seventh which is the only rest So that the Beast wants Vigor to bear Fruit but having brought all his seven no higher or farther than the limit of six there grovelleth therein is bounded and those bounds are as those Lucifer and his Legions find themselves immutably confin'd by as by Adamantine Chains of condensed Darkness the Beast is not so near rest as 6 is to 7 but
into everlasting Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish who can dwell with devouring Fire under the Wrath of the Lamb Q. 167. What is the Dying of a true Christian What of him Dyeth A. 1. The Dying here inquired is call'd a Sleep which alludes to Adam who not exerting his Power became as one fainting and fell into a deep Sleep in which time his Female Property was divided from him and he slumbered to the Unity of the Paradisical Life and then was opened in him the divided state partly and but partly Paradisical for it was a begun Declension into the Dividings of the Astral Multiplicity And by Eves and his Eating the Fruit of the third Principle soon wrought in them dismal Effects for he lived no longer according to the Universal Will but set up a private Self-will as Law-maker ceasing to Rule over the Astral Powers he fell under them and so sadly as to be relieved and collect support and food from them given up to their contrary Properties and became a Beast as to his outward Body the deadness of part whereof degraded him so far as to render him by his Bones Skin and other insensible Parts to the baseness of Vegetatives and all this not transient as are some Astral Impressions but as a strong Prison out of which is no escape but by demolishing the Walls and Fabrick This is the desolate Wilderness which was signified by the going of the the Lord Jesus out of Canaan into the Wilderness to be there Forty days teÌ„mpted of the Devil after Fasting 2. Thus may a glimpse be seen what Adam's Sleep and after that his Fall introduced It chang'd his first Principle by darkning the Divine Eye of his second from great Power and active Vigor such as is that of the mighty Angels into Discord Rage Envy Fury c. and it chang'd his third Principle from so great Purity Transparency and Aptitude to have done Eternally the Offices of his great Soul and Divine Spirit into a gross obscene filthy palpable feeble sickly bestial perishing Carcass or Sack of Worms 3. Now when the Sun of Righteousness descends into this dark Dungeon he more or less according to the growth of the Regenerate Child by his pure meek Spirit appeaseth the Disorders of the Soul and halloweth it directing correcting and confirming a resolved will to obey as simply as a little Child and to persevere as a strong Man in Christ by which the Internal Man is in great part made God's Child and Image reaching toward the Love flame pressing strongly thitherward and groans to be with the Lord but still is the Body as little affected as the Bark of a Tree with the Virtue of the Fruit or as a Candlestick with the lustre of the Taper or as the Earth with the Astral Vertue rouâ—ing the Principles of Sulphur and Mercury in the saline Spirit in and through it 4. What can be done with this Body If it were possible to affect it so as the East-India Nut-tree doth that the Mercurial Vertue arising with Sulphur into a Nutmâ—g on a Clove for the Stud the Bark should be a Cinnamon it were somewhat but our Carcass is as senseless of the inward Man's Divine Work as the Bone is the Respondence and Intercourse the Spirits have through the Arteries and venal Channels or as the Beasts Hide is of the Astral Impulses moving the Animal Therefore it must like a Husk shell off and the Natural Body as a Grain of Wheat be sowed into the Elements whence it derived as the Corn into the Earth and die before it can increase and rise a spiritual Body 5. Thus dieth the Elementary part of the true Christian. How dieth the Wise-Man as the Fool returning into the Mouth whence it was spoken The Astral Body also rather disappears than dies but being dissolved from the ancient Obligations to the bestial Body it may remain at the Will of the Noble Soul to be its Chariot wherewith as a Medium it sometimes doth vouchsafe a loving Visit to his dear Christian Friend yet in the Body but most easily when such a one sleepeth as to the Elementary Man and seeth heareth and toucheth with his Astral Man for then may the precious separate Soul if it desires it as familiarly have access and converse with his dear Friend or Brother as two Men of one Language may and this hath been and may be to the great Satisfaction and Edification of the surviving Christian though not frequently because of Mens unworthiness or for fear of Impostures and especially because the Lord only is abundantly and infinitely all-sufficient by his own Omnipotence and Omnipresence 6. As Adam slept to the Holy Paradifical Virgin state and awaked to the bestial World's Adulterous state so the true Christian's Death is a sleeping to that sleep of his viz. The filthy sickly cumbring prophane Elementary Life and an awaking to the pure holy triumphant dear sweet child-like angelical Endless Life it transfers him out of the howling Wilderness of Temptation into Eternal Canaan out of a Dungeon into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God out of the Turba of perplexing Multiplicity and restless wrestling of contrary Properties into the equal Temperature and Calm harmonious complete Unity the private Self being extinct he entreth the Universal sacred Freedom of the Lord's Redeemed ones Q. 168. What is the Dying of the wicked in that it is called an Eternal Dying A. 1. It hath been often inculcated in these Writings that all Men are in all the three Principles of one Blood but their difference is notorious for though they are almost the same in their first and third Principles and much what alike though not without great distance of degrees in their second Principle yet here is the immense difference that in some their second Principle like the House of Saul impairs and gradually as it were insensibly extinguisheth to a dismal blackness to be felt at length and in others the Regeneration calmly yet with irresistible sweet force more and more opens that Principle which as the House of David improves and flourisheth 2. From these dear Children if their Progress hath been Crown'd with Perseverance their third Principle is like Trash and dusty Rubbish scatter'd about a firm built Structure fully finished which Death like an impetuous Storm with rapid Motion disperseth or as a mounting Torrent of Water violently bears away leaving the Fabrick unconcern'd But the third Principle is to the other his Fortress Confidence Retreat Refuge Rest Joy Hope Treasure and his all therefore Death at once surprizing him and snatching that away he and it perish together his only home falleth for want of Foundation the Cistern he hath hewn is broken having no Water in it nor can hold it if any were entrusted thereinto which shews the fault to be in the very bottom else it might hold some Water but the truth is it hath no bottom at all The World to the one is either as it is to
some a Pageantry a Comedy a Feather in his Cap or as to others or to him at other times his Burthen Snare place of Tentation Care Sorrow occasion of Sin Shame and Punishment his place of Exile and at best more or less his Daliâ—aâ— and many a Groan it costs him whose Home and Treasure is elsewhere 3. But to the sinking Man it is his Harlot his Leaden Weight or Milstone his Idol his only Heaven and though he sees it disappearing and vanishing it being his sole Attractive he hugs it courts it lives for it dies for it and dies Eternally for it That which is the Quintessence of Tragedies is his only Comedy nor can it be otherwise for neither hath he any thing else sees loves knows nor longs for any thing beyond it but ever looks on all Futurities through the Glass made of Materials here He would have endless Stores obtain'd to satiate his insatiable Covetousness a boundless Dominion to gratifie his proud Lusts vast Power to execute his Revenge and Malice that all Creatures might be Instruments and if he could the Creator too might contribute to his Will of raging Fury 4. From which Root it is that the most abject People because they cannot â—end in pieces all they impotently hate will not fail to imprecate and causelesly Curse which extends mostly to Image in their own Souls only the Model of Hell though sometimes it toucheâ—â— the Tincture by the Magia exalted yet in the dark Impression of it and so reacheth both in the inward World and in the shadow of it the outward Principle unto such Persons and Things as are subject and stand as a Harmony with the Impression themselves are of that is within the reach of their Chain Hence dark Witchcraft springeth 5. Now when those fall short of the subject they level at every such falleth out with himself for his Eternity is a continual greedy desire of what can never be had accompanied with like constant despair of obtaining it producing consequently a perpetual Rotation of Rage and Fury all which like the parts of a Wheel shut him up at the Nave or Centre thereof immoveably unalterably A glimpse whereof is when Men in this World are arraigned by the Out-cries of guilty Consciences let loose upon them 6. Thus is it with dying of the Wicked who fall into the Central implacable Forms of the first Principle and the God of Life dwelling in the infinite Light and Glory of the all-comprehending second Principle being for ever withdrawn to the distance of a whole Principle from them because the Darkness comprehendeth him not that Life of theirs must needs be an Eternal Dying and they be kill'd in their own House as for a figure Isâ—â—â—sheth the Son of Saâ—â— was And as the sleep of the Holy Children is the Death of their Disease so the Dying of the other is the Life of their Disease and the total Privation extinguishing or extermination of the slender Remainders of their Health This Life is a Sickness to both only the one feels it to be so the other is insensible of it and the passing hence is to the one a forgetting of the sickness and sorrow here and to the othâ—â— an awakening to the sick frame whereof here he had no â—â—nce or right Apprehension Q. 169. Whither goeth the Soul when it partâ—â—â— from the Bâ—â—y be it Blessed to me A. So evident is this in the Answers of the 21. 23 24. and 26 of J. Behmen's Book of the Forty Questions and in other parts of his Divine Self-Evidencing Writings Also in the Answer of the 166 Question particularly in the 9th Verse and elsewhere in these Answers that it is here wholly forborn Q. 170. What are the Doings and Life of Souls till the last Judgment Day A. 1. The Answer of the 22th of Jacob Behmen's Forty Questions of the Soul is totally a Solution of this Question something also concerning it is in the Answer of the 166 of the present Questions which if accurately inspected might lead the Enquirer to the Summit of his Desires But this Question restraining to the time present as to the Doings of separate Souls in that state without the outward Body simply considered without either Retrospect to their passed state or Prospect to their Futurities although the Hebrew admit no Present Tense yet thus abstractedly divested of past and to come as far as is possible something may be told only by way of Representation in some low Similitudes pertinent hereunto for hardly otherwise can the dull Reason penetrate such a Secret or the enlightned Mind either 2. 1. The Reapers cut down Wheat not fully ripe and Tares green the keeping of both some time may prepare them one for good use the other to be scatter'd by the Fan but the solar Spirit in the unripe Wheat and Martial Spirit in the Tares sleep not but proceed to conquer the adverse Properties and mature the Mass or Territory whereof they are Regents 2. There are two Trees Fell'd the one for Timber for curious Uses the other a knotty unsound one for Fuel the lying of them both a while makes as well the one as the other more fit for their several contrary uses 3. If this Life be a Seed-time and Heaven the Harvest there interpasseth some time which is a patient waiting time 4. If this Life be the Transgressing time the Night of Violence and committing Facts and the Lake of Fire be the Execution there useth to pass some Occurrences requiring Deliberation between the Fact and Judgment as between the Fact and Execution or Recompence for the Fact 5. If this Life be a time of Sacrifice and the glorious Kingdom the returns of God to those Petitions which is the time of the restitution of all things the Sacrificers must allow some time of waiting at or under the Altar for the returns of those Sacrifices 3. But from all these it follows not but the state of the Perfect may be exceedingly Good and greatly Blessed though when they shall put on their new Garments it shall be best of all for that is the time of the restitution of all things nor doth it follow but in that very state there will be degrees of Happiness according to the degrees of their passing into the fifth Form where is the opening of the Divine Power-world as there are of Stars in Glory Neither also doth it follow that the state of the accursed is capable of mitigation for their estate is not so bad but that it is capable of being more wretched yet not of being more tolerable and yet 't is so Dark as admits not the least glance of Light as even in this Life they grow actually more and more Vile So in that state though it be the worst they ever knew yet still posteth it on without stop recoil or respite ever hurrying them on towards the Tempest of Eternal fierceness 4. Here is the Antipodes to the black Fiction of
Atheists and Sadduces who would make themselves believe that the whole inward Man is Mortal and annihilable such who not only judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life but uncapable of Eternal Existence while they grant it to this Mass of Crumbling Earth and Mortal Water and are so extreamly degenerated from the Diviine Image Man was ennobled with that as their outward Life extends not to that length activity and occult Excellencies of many Brutes as Beasts little Animals and some Birds so the infatuated Atheists would that their Souls and Spirits might also run the same Fate and be as tranfient as the vilest of Insects Here is also Diametrical opposition to others who say the whole inward Man is fellow Prisoner with the bestial Flesh till the general Resurrection but the Answers of the two immediately preceding Questions shew what of the Blessed sleepeth and what of the Wicked is Arrested by the King of Terrors And for farther Answer hereunto see the Answer to the 22th of the 40 Questions of J. Behmen of the Soul 5. The Doings of Souls till the last Judgment may stand here in the very words of the Book of Extracts viz. They all meaning the Holy Souls abound with great inward Joy and wait to put on their bright fair new Body out of the old their Joy and Hope is different as Labourers Expectations are who at the End of the Week receive every one according to their degrees of Labour and Diligence Those who have put on Christ's Body here are as one who having overcome his Enemies in Fight represents the Victory before his King who receives him with great Joy and Honour The Expectation of the wicked Soul is as an imprison'd condemn'd Malefactor still listening when any thing stirs and the Executioner comes all their passed Wickedness stands before them in such different Aggravations as they had here Q. 171. What is the last Judgment how is it Effected A. 1. That there shall be such a great general final Day of Judgment grates on the Ears of Atheists but against them the very Devils will rise in Judgment but others there are who would be accounted more religious than many who shut up themselves from the acknowledgment of that Judgment Day and though they are not practically Atheists who put the Evil Day from them yet do these raze it out of their Intellect restraining the Judgment Day of God to his declaring for or against us and our actions here only during this our Pilgrimage all in their Judgment is the Judgment before Death or Resurrection To whom may be said that as they who said the Resurrection is past already did thereby overthrow the Faith of some so they that say the Great Day of Judgment is past already undermine the Faith of many overthrow the Faith of some and direct their force against Truth it self whereon is founded all true Faith which is well founded 2. It is true that Christ in the Light of our Life is from from Age to Age and for ever till Ages cease a Judge in the faln Humanity speaking by his living Word in the Consciences and written Testimony in the Intellect and Memory being the words of his Prophets and Holy ones and evidence of our rightly informed Brethren and Fellow-Members in our Ears by his being a swift Witness by severe Visitations before our Eyes also by Eminent gracious Providences and in the Creation the Earth Elements and Creatures to our other Senses wherein may be read frowns and smiles variously dispensed which are perpetuated in their Seasons as long as Sin is perpetrated unto all reclaimable Transgressors this God doth by his Stars who have a Voice which every Nation hears for with them the Psalmist saith he Preacheth by them and by them both judgeth and fighteth 3. Again the Lord teacheth us to judge our selves which is every ones part but not to judge others for Man's Judgment must be restrained to things not extended to Persons from which we are warn'd and caution'd yet are Men very propense aptand sharp to the latter but very averse partial and slack to the former Men judge Men which is to be noted both after the dark and light Worlds Impressions after the dark thus the four Anguishes composing the first Principle judge each other thence is it that from the Astringency the Covetous judgeth and is judged by the Prodigal again the Covetous as he is a Self-lover and so is timorous judgeth and is reproached by the rash fiery furious one again the Covetous as he is drawn shameless to base fawning ways for profit sake judgeth and is judged by the haughty Proud one Again the insatiable Thirst of heaping up taking from the covetous mind his rest renders him the trouble of his own Life House and Cohabiters yet prompts him to judge the contrary inclination for sloth and dronishness while that other judgeth him so wretchedly slavish that he distrusteth almost his own hands to hoard up his Idols And so of the rest of the Properties resembling the Builders of Babel 4. But God hath given all Judgment to his Son some glimmerings of His Infinite Glory are found in them whose four Forms generate the fifth for in the meek Resignation arising to the Divine Love-fire and Pure Breathings directed by Heavenly Light Judgment proceedeth toward Victâ—ry And it is represented by the fifth Letter in the Hebrew Alphabet which is only as an aspiration or breathing from within outwardly conforming exactly in that respect to the Language of Nature standing united to That of the New Nature for the fifth Form producing the second Birth and being produced by it leads the Creature to the giving up its all in a flame of Love in Jesus Christ to the Father which flame he feels blown up by the Holy Ghost 5. Thus we have seen what God's judging in This mixt World is also what Man 's judging here is according to the Dark World's accusing dividing Properties and also what Man 's judging is according to the little part of the Light World we share of here by which it is evident that all this is to That day of days as a blinking Candle is to the Sun it self Such was the report Paul gave of That day as made Felix tremble tho' an Infidel for as it hath been elsewhere noted tho' some have laught at the Doctrine of the Resurrection none have been so fool-hardy and mad as to slight the report of the General Judgment Enoch the seventh from Adam figuring the end of the six working days or Properties and by his Translation and Son Methusalah the entring on Eternity prophesied of This day all the Prophets Apostles and Holy ones confirm it Christ the Judge himself preacht it with the order manner and particularities of it The Devils knew it and therefore argued Art thou come to torment us before our time 6. He that would say what That great Judgment is can never do it but by parsels and then also cannot
Eternity their four Forms are attoned by his Light their Discord by his Unity is composed his Presence kills their lofty Thoughts it also makes them alive to him his Fire refineth them they are always prostrate at his Feet mortified and mortifying continually and makes them a Living Sacrifice day by day till Death become their intimate associate and safe retreat from the Storm Yet these things are so secretly done in the new Heart that the Heart it self can better conceive it than the Brain but how can the Idea thereof be comprehended by us who are comprehended by it When we would form it we cannot for we viz. our new Man is formed by it How can we express it seeing we are the Letters by which it expresseth it self It is far above the Languages got at Babel but when the Spirits of the Letters shall be restored the renewed Spirit shall find a Tongue to be a Herauld for the King of Kings put to silence all contrary discording sounds and Dethrone all other Rule Authority and Power in us Amen 3. 17. That then is or cometh the End the Judgment being ended the End hath found the Beginning When the Six Working Days of the Week are ended Masters use to Reckon with their Hirelings and give them their Wages then followeth the Day of Rest. When the six working Properties have wrought their designed end in any Creature they give up themselves into the seventh wherein to rest the doing whereof bringeth the End into the Beginning when the Wheat is in the Barn and the Tares cast away the Harvest is ended 18. A few words are offer'd to be consider'd concerning the End 1. Whether the Elements shall be dissolved at the instant of the Resurrection or not remain till the compleat End of the Judgment Day Answ. It may seem otherwise for they must as Conservatories be opened that is the Earth viz. Hell or the Grave must deliver up the Dead which shall be therein or how else shall the Mighty men call to the Rocks to cover them also the â—ea deliver the Dead conserved therein the Air the words it treasur'd in it 2. Whether the Elements may not remain and yet the Sun Moon and Stars be resolved into their Aether Answ. As there was Light the three first days of the Creation out-spoken by the Word which was as a dispersed Light before the collecting the same into the Sun Moon and Stars so may the collected Light pass back into the dispersed Light to form that one Great Day which is not to admit of Revolutions of Night and Day but only the Day and Night of the two Incomprehensible Principles which may be both in one place at one time without justling one the other and be the full End of Specifick and revolved Time may be at the Commencement or Morning of that Day and the full entring on Eternity not be till the End or Evening of that Day when the Judge shall give to each World the Inhabitants thereof as their Magick Wills have severally tinctured and formed them thereunto whether of the Day Love and Purity or of Blackness Wrath and Abominations And this is the absolute Period of the Genus and Thing which we call Time 19. The End of Time may be demonstrated in the regenerated Children thus When the Holy Fire of God on the Altar in the Soul hath separated the Earthy part from the new Man so that by resignation of the Will the Love flame is raised up the Spirit of that Man entreth into God and in a measure into such rest as ends the multiplicity and possesseth the Eternal Unity for his earthy salt corrupt Sulphur and Mortal Mercury is changeable into the Saline Property Paradisical Flesh or Sulphur and Spiritual Mercury by the Holy Tincture whereof in this Separation the renewed Image becomes capable And if the inward new Man be enabled to press forward it may in this very most secret Path attain the Resurrection from the Dead in the outward Man and be translated into the Life of Enoch Thus also we see that Antimony calcin'd by the solar Rays through Burning Glasses may both be augmented to almost half in weight and also changed from a strong rank great Poison to a vigorous Balsam and potent Fortifier of decaying Nature shewing us how the Mutations of time cease and how to enter into a fixt serene Eternity 20. The End of Time may be also demonstrated in the Sons of Perdition thus That after all Warnings Judgments and Convictions they have met with they finally fix in Enmity and are Imaged into a private perverse Will the Circumferential Applications are restrained by the Central Fire which also stops up the Fountain of pure meek Water and clouds the Divine solar Influences of Light and therefore receive no increase as was said of Antimony but are subjected to a perpetuated Vanity nor can such be renewed but are obdurated they are not like Antimony transmuted from Poison to a sublimated Cordial but recede more fiercely into the endless Anguishes as Evaporation by Heat makes cold Poison the more deadly here also the Times of successive Good and Evil strife of Flesh and Spirit Resolves and Doubts are ceased and these Men are become Sensual in the most outward part stubborn and obstinate in the Astral which should be the rational part and furious haughty false and filthy in the Will of the Eternal Man So in the most outward sensitive part are meer Animals in the rational part stubborn besotted Fools and in the Immortal Souls Devils and all fixt so that if the Divine Sun should graciously shine on him he would but as a filthy heap of Horse-dung or a stinking watry Ditch generate the greater and more dangerous venomous loathsome reptils continually 21. That then the Kingdom shall be delivered up to the Father and God shall be all in all The Lord's Prayer Establisheth all the parts of it with this word For ihine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever of him and from him are all things and therefore also all things are for him they are the Manifestation of his Power and of his Love Infinite Power were Defective without Infinite Wisdom also Infinite Wisdom were impotent without Infinite Power again Infinite Power and Infinite Wisdom were infinitely Dreadful without Infinite Goodness but all three United is infinitely sufficient to support the weakest of the Lord 's little ones and blow to atoms the highest vastest Puissance of the Princes of the dark World the God of this World and hold them shut up for ever 22. The Lord Jesus saith in his Prayer concerning his to his Father Thine they were and thou gavest them me but that Grand Administration must be such as if it were said by the Lord Mine they are and I give them back to thee where lies a Mystery not obvious to any but the enlightened Mind which shall be spoken in a simple familiar way
3. 11. Matth. 5. 22 29. 2 Pet. 2. 17. Isaiah 30. 33. Jude 6. 13. Luk. 10. 24. Rev. 20. 10 14. Rev. 14. 11. Isaiah 33. 14. Much also may be understood by considering the Answer of the blessed J. Behmen to the 34th of the 40 Questions concerning the Soul Something also apt and pertinent may be found by review of the 17 of these Answers from Verse 8th to 19th The 21st Answer throughout and the two first Verses of the 22th Answer 6. The Eternal Pain or Torment of the Wicked may be thus in part apprehended That as the Saints are invested with Eternal Joy by the Uniting of the Tinctures and Harmonizing of the Properties in them by the gracious Immanuel and so the sad Rent in the first Adam abundantly is made up united and restored by the second Adam by introducing and reviving in our Humanity the disappeared Virgin Image which had been as a Lamb slain by dividing of the Tinctures so that Man is again the compleat Image of the Holy Trinity with an intimate real indwelling of the Eternal Son in them 7. Thus the Eternal Torment of the Wicked consisteth in the irreconcileable implacable Enmity of the Properties in them at first divided and disordered by Adam It is observed old Friends once at variance are the more hardly appeased by how much the Bonds of mutual Amity and Endearments have been violated how much more is it here where the old Union is separated into Diametrical Opposition in its self to its own Structure and Existence and the Antipathy of the same Necessity of Nature as are the Properties themselves of Perpetuity 8. That Duel is most vigorous doubtful durable and fatal where the Combatants are of equal Force and Activity thus at the meeting of two steady contrary Currents is a continual Whirlpool and the Strife of contrary Elements is as impetuous as Life and Death the congress of opposite Properties bursteth out Thunder Claps and Air pent stirs up Earthquakes and Gunpowder dissipates by violent Expulsion the Opposition wherewith it stands charg'd 9. What outragious fierceness then like a Torrent must the Enmity of the damned Soul Burn in what Thunders must their Horror vent it self by whose Parts are not barely divided but Discordance it self not Enemies but Enmity For as those Souls had whilst with the Body no Food but that of the third Principle which was no more proportionable to their Hunger than painted Food to sustain the outward Life of Man or Beast or painted Fire to heat us So then the Soul 's extream Hunger incessantly yet necessarily as it were devours it self as Men Famishing to Death are said to gnaw their own Flesh and the damned Souls Flesh or Food is its own Faculties which are filled with the four Anguishes of the first or dark fierce Principle and in this respect is the Associate of all Devils and as the outward Body is encreased and as it were composed of the Vapour of the outward Elementary Food of the third Principle producing it So these Wicked Souls are as it were composed and consist of the Anguishes of the dark World 10. The Spirit of such Souls and their Tincture which is as the Eye or Treasure of the Soul looketh imageth and impresseth in it self the uncontrouled dark Powers viz. all impious blasphemous Lusts and impure proud wrathful Desires this is in the inward Centre of the Soul also in his Spirit and Tincture stands as a Memory or Record as to the out-birth the vile depressed Will of all cruel Bears and Tygers the insatiable desire of the Swine Wolf and Horseleech the Malice of Dogs and Toads the Wrath of Vipers and Dragons for they had imaged in themselves by the Magical degenerate Lusts of the separate private Self-will the Properties of all fierce cruel horrid griping poisonous filthy loathsom hateful Creatures 11. In the Spirit of the Soul remains a Will to Voluptuousness Superiority Revenge c. which may break out into Malediction Blasphemy and Monstrous Malicious Abominations but can proceed no farther than the Will and insatiable consuming Desire for the desire to Good or Evil and in Good and Evil is real and the Genuine Natural Issue of the Soul Actions may be dissembled Words gilded but Desires are entire solemn things thus their restless Desires and furious impetuous Wills are their real all and though the Magical Might and Power of the Will in the Spirit of a Zealous Soul is very puissant in all such who have all the Principles in some Harmony yet in these abandoned vile Wretches where all is depressed into Discord under blackness of darkness the Will is under Chains and Impotence only of Power most abundantly to torture it self 12. All the Horrors here are weak resemblances of the inexpressible Hell of the Damned and above all the Rebels against the Gospel that reject and defile that Garment which the God of Grace hath spun out of his own Bowels and dyed and washed in his own Blood For if all the Dreadful things here as the wasting Sword poisonous venomous Beasts insulting domineering Tyrants cruel voracious Wild Beasts devouring Fire astonishing Thunder and Earthquakes sudden Inundations wretched Famines desolating Contagions general Plagues and other noisom Messengers of Mortality if all these and such other are but Counterfeits Similes Figures or Shadows of the true real substantial everlasting dark Abyss what are the Originals and very Essences themselves which Form that fierce Principle where the Worm dieth not nor is the Fire quenched where Death flyes from them and Omnipotence establisheth a Life to subsist under the infinite Wrath of Omniporence call'd the wrath to come and shall after a Million of this World's Ages be still call'd the wrath to come 13. To the third and last part May there be any Alteration effected To resolve which we should first consult the Sacred Scriptures That the Joy of the Saints shall be Eternal who but the Lord himself must we hear in this thing Matth. 19. 29. John 10. 28. Chap. 3. v. 16. Chap. 4. v. 14. the like amongst many others is found Isaiah 61. 7. Rom. 6. 12. And that the Torment of the Wicked must be Everlasting also is told us by the Judge who is Truth it self Matth. 25. 41. and again v. 46. also it 's found 2 Thess. 1. 9. Isaiah 61. 7. Jude 6. v. 7. Rev. 22. 11. 14. This though it need no Confirmation yet it may be profitable by way of illustration to consider the Answer the last of the Forty Questions made by the blessed Jacob Behmen also somewhat pertinent thereunto in the 175th of these Answers from Verse 5. to the end Again in the 16th of these Answers from the 7th Verse to the 12th Exclusive 15. Now that Truth may appear what it really is how apt soever Man is to flatter himself Let it be considered that there is but one only Infinite Original of all Power Eternally generating his Delight the Son of God in whom is
of Infinite power of the Jehovah so neither can it terminate but that second Death be ever a Dying Life while the God of Life liveth This is that King of the Kings of Terror this shakes the heart of a Rock of Adamant this as a World of Lead lyeth on the dark Troops while yet the most exquisit Tortures if transient and finite bring Cordials with them to the faintest of Christ's Followers sugaring the bitterest Pills to the humble patient tormented persecuted Children of whom the World is not worthy this also serves Gall in every Dish to him who could engross the Out-principles Delights for Methuselah's Age. But Eternity is as Incomprehensible as the Eternal God as far beyond Men and Angels as Infinity is beyond our short narrow shallow and superficial Measures This God this Christ this Holy Principle is our God our Christ our Holy Life for ever and ever and were there any thing after for ever it were ours too 2. Look then O my Soul fixedly on this Freehold and disdainfully on all visible and invisible melting Idols and airy bubbles breathe press pant sweat freeze suffer fight run watch persevere till thy dry husk crumble and fall off and thou shalt reap once and for ever more than Eye or Heart can see or conceive On the 16th Question and Answer Why is God's wrath Eternal c Let God be true and every Man a Lyar who saith he is Light in him is no Darkness at all But yet if the Creature shall put out its own Eyes it is Darkness having extinguished the holy Light in it self Again he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God for God is love but when Evil Angels and Men fix themselves in Enmity they causelesly quarrel with God live no more in that love but enter into wrath in their own Evil Principle This being so O my Soul search thy self what black veils are there excluding the bright holy eternal Light of God See also if there be an unmortified impenitent repining impatient Spirit swaying and prevailing in thee that thou be estranged from the meek love of God leading thee Captive in the inward Kingdom of dark Fierceness and then that the Devil perswade thee not that God willeth thy Destruction and thou to excuse thy wilful Rebellion Blaspheme the God of Eternal Light and pure Love On the 17th Question and Answer What is God's work in Hell is Hell a local place 1. The Holy Eternal Jehovah is in himself undivided yet as he operates in all the seven Forms of the seven Fountain Spirits moving to make himself Creaturely so all divided Properties derive from him and are radically in him and the multiplicity is as a very little thing comprehended in the infinite Unity Thus the Fire which is the Life of all Creatures is often their Death but when it generates the Light is the Joy of such where it so proceeds if it generate the Holy intellectual Light the Fire is made Holy and the whole Existence is Angelical and Paradisical but if it dwindle into an Image or meer Representation of the true Light it degenerates into a Shadow and if the Light that is in any be Darkness how great is that Darkness 2. Come up hither my Soul and see what Light thy Fire yieldeth grows it toward the Harmony resigning it self into the Unity then thou hast thy Fruit unto Holiness and thy End everlasting Life Or is it captiv'd in the Wrath of the divided Properties laboureth it in Building Babel striveth it to be its own Lord and Law-giver is self its first Mover and Ultimate End then shalt thou of the Flesh reap Corruption the Disunion makes Disorder the Disorder causeth Aversion that again begets Anguish that issues into utter Enmity that finally into Rage 3. Oh then my Soul return into thine impregnable Fortress step back into thy Child-like Innocence Meekness and Simplicity Hast thou in Adam lost thy dear Virgin Purity yet blush away thine adulterous Apostasie and with torn Hair flowing Eyes and a broken Spirit acknowledge thy unworthiness implore to be as one of the hired Servants and thou wilt find thy Father hath bowels a kiss of his will break thy Heart melt thee as Wax impress in thee his New Life wherein the various Properties draw all one way Divine Love will crucifie Self-love and Self-will and kill the Enmity as the fresh blushing morning doth the Fogs of the night With-hold nothing from him whose are all things and all Worlds whose thou art and who spared not his One Only dearest dear Son for thee to attone thy divided inimicitious Properties ransom thee from the Principle of Wrath exempt thee from the Eternal Dark Abyss free thee from the Hell of Hells thy exceeding sinfulness and to bring thee who wast a Devil inwardly and a Beast outwardly to be a Child among the Spirits of just men made perfect by his Mighty Salvation On the 18th Question and Answer Where is Heaven is it a local place c. 1. What a taking Travel were it to pass with and thro' Temporal Pleasures to Eternal Joy If so what throngs would resort by treading down the side banks to widen that narrow way But thou hast learnt O my Soul that the pleasing of the flesh is the Paradice of Fools consider thou therefore that it is abundantly sufficient advantage by passing through as many deaths as are days in thy Pilgrimage here and through as many horrid Hells to at last to step safely into our Fathers House How acceptable were the contemplation of Heaven if it were enough to entitle us to it without wetting a foot to sit on an easie Chair and take a prospect in the Holy Scriptures and other Books of what some Travellers thither have left on Record which will do the work when the viewing the World on a Card will entitle us to the Kingdoms of it 2. But because there are Legions of Lusts binding hand and foot there is much to be done and much help to be sought striving mortifying working crucifying fasting resigning patience lying low being often in the furnace And because there is a devouring Lion opposing maliciously there is need of great Faith constant strong Prayer and Watching Because also the Wisdom and Glory of this perishing World opposeth there is need to become Fools to be accounted the Off-scouring of it to pass through the Good and Evil without being impressed and swayed by either but in meekness blessing them that curse us praying for despiteful Persecutors and lying dead to present desirable things that thou maist be raised by the first Resurrection And now my Soul thou seest that Heaven is no empty speculation but entring is opening Heaven And the Lord Jesus who is the Heaven of Heavens in thee with a mighty Power utterly unconceivable to the top of Man's Wisdom and the acâ—test deepest search of all the unregenerate World and to the Children of the Resurrection known but as in a Glass darkly On the 19th Question and
a Dart thrust through the Liver the Fountain of Blood the Hair and Nails will after being cut grow a Tooth may supply a former Tooths place but the Tincture spoil'd is as the Heart and Brain pluck'd out Salt savours all things but if it hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted Of the Tincture comes the Growth and Lustre and so is as our Mother if any one reproach and prophane it he becomes mortally guilty He that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to Death On the 33 Question and Answer Of the Original of the Creatures of the mortal Life 1. When I look towards the Circumference and see the winged Troops should not I find Coelestial Inclinations in all of them where yet I find many filthy many cruel many ravenous I look towards the Centre and are there in the Deep any but dark undigested uncleannesses yet there I observe almost all clean many fair more greatly nourishing some adorn'd with rare Pearls and in the dark cold Earth the Triumphs of Nature in precious Stones and Minerals And looking round me my Fellow-Commoners are so various as to figure all Principles all Worlds all Properties to Infinity No Star so noble but it's Energy is Imaged in some no Conjunction so malevolent but is figur'd on others 2. The dark World hath its Subjects and Idea's Saturn in that Impression owns the Wolf Horseleech c. Mercury the Fox and dangerous Reptils Mars the Tyger and Dog Sol the Lyon Venus the Ostrich and Vultures Jupiter deformed Apes Baboons and Monkeys Luna unweldy Bruits And among my Brethren of Adam's Apostate race Saturn sways the Meagre Griping Carking Raking Insatiable Mercury the sly circumventing Crew Mars the insociable outragious Rabble Sol the daring seeker of Self and Domination Venus the shameless obscene cruel Adulteress Jupiter the filthy Hermaphrodite and Semihomines Luna those who are a burthen to others and over-load to themselves Yet according to the Light World is a Book written with shining living Letters accurately Engraven according to all Properties in which our Old Man may meditate his derogating from the Copy viz. The simplicity of the Dove and Lamb and in which the New Man may as in a Glass behold his own Face may observe how the Heavens hear the Earth groaning for Drought and descend in sweet distilling Bottles the Earth hears the shriveling Seed and drying Roots and the Corn and Fruits hear hungry Men and starving Beasts and when all are filled by the overflowing of Infinite Goodness how do the Blossoms breathe and the laden Boughs shew their Satisfaction the Herds return with flowing Udders and in the Flocks the Ews pay their Lambs what bounty lent them how do the Subterranean Minerals extend their stretch'd out Arms towards the four Cardinal Points and the hidden Treasure excite Man's Diligence 3. But what part bearest thou my Soul in this Harmony Art thou Hoarse Is thy sound only like that when the Earth is knockt on Doth all flow to thee and for thee and art thou only as a Grave to bury them in run they all to thee as Jordan into the Dead Sea Must all these Voices of Divine Love be heard seen felt tasted smelled renewed increased and continued and thou as Barren as Arabia's Sands thy Heart as impenetrable and sensless as the Mountains of Ice and Rocks of Adamant Wo were me if every Pile of Grass must be a Witness against me Hath thy Redeemer not only given thee all these but open'd for thee to thee in thee Heaven it self and his own Heart which is the Heaven of Heavens and art thou on Earth and Cold Why burneth not thy Heart why flame not thy Affections why dyest thou not as a Burnt-offering and risest not in this sweet Fire of humble earnest endless Seraphick Love On the 34th Question and Answer On the Separator of every Species of every Property 1. This Meditation exalts my grovelling Thoughts towards him without whom was not any thing made that was made yet this Archeus is no more than the great Instrument of Omnipotence who when call'd the Father of Nature it 's only meant the Father in Nature bearing the Image of the Father who alone is God blessed forever Nor are the Astral Powers though various infinite and different also seeming opposite to be call'd many because not one is broken from the United Harmony but mutually embrace each other no perverseness among them that is left to the Prince and Legions of the Abyss of the dark World 2. All the Properties and Astral Powers are an Egress of the Fountain Spirits as they are of the one Will and by figuring and propagating their Energies are as a Body Politick whose many parts compose into a Republick Thus is the whole one only Separator Father and Mother in Nature for whole Nature is an Hermaphrodite in it the Tinctures being inviolably United potently proceed in Magical Masculine and Feminine Virgin Purity doing all as Adam should have done and with so equal a hand that the Excellency of one is ballanced by another kind of Excellency in another The Pith and Brain needs the Bark and Skull is Gold most valuable Iron is most useful the Powerful hand that lays the Contexture of the Whale and Elephant is altogether as admirable in the little Insects 3. Now as by a numerous well-accoutred Host is shewn the Puissance of their Prince by the greatness of a River the large Tract of Land whence it descends So by this steady unwearied skilful prosperous mighty Architect is demonstrated the Eternity Wisdom Infinity Omnipotency of the Glorious Creator who is represented by this his excellent Agent And as with Veneration Men receive the Decrees of the Wisdom of a State with submission the Commands of a Soveraign Authority and with Circumspection observe the Precepts of Physick wherein life is concern'd with how much greater reason are we obliged or rather by genuine sweetness charm'd to the Laws of Nature to be Loyal to the Government studious of the Institutions and faithful in holding the Secrets thereof if entrusted to us for as the Eternal Nature is in God so the Temporal Nature is of God in which also God and Heaven is as Eternity is in time Grant therefore O our God and Father which art in Heaven that I may hallow thy Name in Nature lest if I do not thy Will shewn on Earth in things seen I be not entrusted with the Knowledge of things in Heaven which are not seen On the 35th Question and Answer On the six days work of the Creation and the Sabbath 1. The six days Work demonstrate the six working Properties and they being distinct do yet every of them generate another and all six meet to generate the seventh yet when they concenter in the seventh do not there cease to Work which were as impossible as for them to cease to be but if they Work in the seventh their Operations are heavenly sweetly harmoniously triumphantly
as saith our Lord My Father worketh hitherto and I work 2. Hath not Man brought himself in a most wretched degree oâ— the Curse by the Fall of Toil and Labour and Confusion of Language it is on the Work and Word what hath and is man more A great aggravation of this Misery is either when we sit down under Bondage in Soul and Body feeding among Swine having a Beast's Heart as Nebuchadnezar and groan not after working in God and for God which would gradually deliver from the Curse Also when we mistake our present working-time and flatter our selves with undue and imaginary rest whereas we are here in the Seed time in a Journey in the six days of Work 2. But thou my Soul spare no pains spur thy lazy Assoâ—iate my Body subject it to the Cross to free you both from the Cross endure patiently die daily and having done all stand empty thy self lose thy self pour out thy self Let not thy Will be bought but pay it to the Owner give and resign it gladly and irrevocably As to thy Name be content it should wither as if blasted with the East Wind be willing to be nameless the Memory of it to be as written on the Sand and while here to be a Fool a Child an off-scouring any thing or nothing yet must not thy work stop let it proceed chearfully till thy Body like the Matter of a Taper be consumed if then thou art found so doing no sooner shall this Candle expire but the Sun will rise who shall never set and the Sabbath enter at the end of the Week On the 36th Question and Answer Of the difference of the Mortal Creatures their Chaos kind and how distinguish'd 1. Had we the Intellect of an Angel the distinct Properties would be as an Index by their Idea to the voluminous Book of the great Mystery and the Idea of the Creatures as it were pourtray the Potent Will and Properties of the Abyss Or had we Adam's bright Eye we might read their Names in the Language of Nature and in them the Names Power and Vigor of our own three Principles but falling so far below both as that many of the Bruits themselves may instruct us in several things How weak are our Enquiries how perplext our Aphorisms and Process The ancient Magi direct us to know the seven Properties by the seven regal Stars and Governors which are the Spirits of the seven Metals and impress the Vertues of the seven precious Stones while many of Modern Pretenders to Wisdom having lost the Spirit Life and Essence of Nature fill their Heads only with the Names Mood Figure and Grasp at Shadows of things 2. Behold how various are the Species how curious the Symmetry how agil the Composure even of many Insects how wonderful the Transmigration and Product of the Silk-worm the Confection of the Bee with her Feminine Monarchy how crafty the Nets of the Spiders how providently laborious the Ant wherewith our Lord upbraids our slothfulness and we gratifie our Pride with the Silk and our Palate with the Honey instead of searching out and adoring of the most High in these his little Creatures yet are these little ones great compar'd with those to the bare Eye invisible and only visible in good Glasses which sits spinning in Sage leaves and yet how many Atoms may that Creature be divided into Consider we their Sympathy and Society not only of Flocks and Herds but of Birds of Prey as Rooks Stares Storks also their Antipathy as the Thresher and Sword-fish against the Whale 3. But now how highly necessary is it that from this open Door all should impartially search themselves to see whether their Spirits are imaged according to the Evil Creatures and if they find the Powers of the dark World predominant that they learn to die to them else they die in them shall rise in them and live everlastingly in them and of what infinite concern endless Misery is all reasonable Creatures may judge Whereas if by the Spirit of Life we mortifie the Deeds that is the lusts of the Body of Sin we shall by the same Spirit be raised now in the first Resurrection which excludes the second Death and begets the Divine Life springing up through Death by self-emptying where no Creature nor all of them hath any room but the Lord and those only to Contemplate his Grace and Infinity in On the 37th Question and Answer To what end and wherefore were the mortal Creatures made 1. When the gracious Creator placed Man here it was in a Farm well stockt but that which meets my Meditation on the present Subject in the last Paragraph of the Answer which is the Eternity of them in their Idea how fading and transitory soever they are The glorious Work of the Creation is not a bare Pageantry it must cease as to its present Forms but not vanish into a non-entity for it shall bud forth for the sake of it's Tincture by the strife of the Properties to the Glory of the God of Glory and as Instances or Trophies of the Victory the weak Members of the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ have obtain'd by their Lord's strength fortifying them to trâ—ad his steps and follow him in the Regeneration 2. By the reverting of those Figures shall the blessed see how meekly the patient Lambs and other good Creatures pour'd out their lives how quick and punctually the Fowls contributed as did the Quails and Raven how readiâ—y the Inhabitants of the Water yield themselves as those to the Apostles Nets how liberally the Olive and other Fruit Trees pour'd forth their fatness and the Elements their several Stores And to the cursed Rejecters of God shall all Creatures be plain material Demonstrations of their Abuses by Man's Excess and Cruelty the toil of the laborious Oxe the sweat of the macerated Horse the life of a multitude of other Creatures profusely lavished away to pamper base sordid Lusts run as with one cry not as the Lambs against a devouring Wolf or the Turtle against the Vulture but that as those Devils in Humane shape should ransack the Indies and four Elements to humour their insatiable Lusts. 3. What Arguments my Soul may be drawn hence for Sobriety Moderation Humility Thankfulness Improvement of the Strength given us liberal breaking to the Poor and Mercy to the Dumb Creatures of doing all not only as before the Omniscient Eye who will be a swift Witness before the good Angels Devils our own Consciences but the whole Creation also who as they the Creatures partake of the Properties and Tincture are branches of the whole Astral and Elementary Creation shall in their Aethers be more than a meer History viz. an express material Representation and Wiâ—ness for or against thee in the other Country though the Fool and Atheist will not know it On the 38th Question and Answer Of that whence Man's Body was taken 1. If they to whom the Word of God came are called God's what was
for him for to give him more Divine Light were but as Water to increase his Fire And God willeth to have no fiery Spirit in Paradise his Brimstone Spirit is inkindled and remaineth unquenchable desiring to get above the Meekness of the Heart of God which shuts him up Eternally CHAP. XI Of all Circumstances of the Temptation 1. WHen God did set the Fiat in the Will to Create Angels he separated all the Properties as hard four bitter harsh fierce soft c. as we see are in the various properties of the Stars and created the Princely Throne Angels as so many Fountains Then in each Fountain came forth a Centre in many Thousand Thousands and every Host got a Will such as was the Fountain or Prince whence they proceeded giving their will to him as the Stars do to the Sun Tho' all thoroughly irradiated with Divine Splendor yet had every Host some one of the Properties of the first Principle most Eminent in them 2. Of the Princes one is fallen and his Host for standing in the fourth form his Fire Elevated him above the End of Nature 3. The Fiat in the Creation separated the Matrix also of the Out-birth created after the other according to the forms of the inward World and out of the Properties of the first Principle came Creatures of all sorts good and bad as Lambs Doves c. as also Wolves Toads also in the separation of Vegetables are good and hurtful Plants And that the evil is also profitable is seen for that in every Creature is a poysonous Gall being the cause of Life 4. Adam was created of all the three Principles but in perfect clarity an Image of his Creator and Epitomy of all Creatures 5. In the Garden of Eden were all Paradisical Trees pleasant to look on and good for Food wherein tho' they sprung out of the Earth yet in them was imprinted the Divine Vertue of the second Principle and yet were truely in the third Principle Death stuck only in that Tree of Good and Evil that was able to bring Man into another Image 6. God willed not Adam should eat of it for he not only barely warned him of the danger but forbad him with a severe Menace 7. Nor was he Created with a distinct Female as other Creatures that on his Fall he might the better be helped 8. Nor will'd he should need any other clothing than Glory else would have given him a Hide as other Creatures But as a Heavenly Man he should have eaten Heavenly Fruit. Now follows the Gate of the Temptation Adam had all the three Principles or Worlds in him and in all he looked on without him 9. The Heart of God would have him to abide in Paradise being his similitude The Kingdom of Wrath would have this great Lord because he proceeded out of the Eternal Mind of the Darkness that through him might be shew'd great power The Kingdom of this World would have him be his Housholder for that he lived in it and was part of it saying Eat and Drink not only Divine Food thou art not yet a meer Spirit eat not that which is incomprehensible Eat my sweet drink my strong which is comprehensible 10. Here Adam thought seeing I am on the Earth and that it is mine I will use it as I list 11. Then came the Inhibition on pain of Death not to eat the Earthy Food wherein was mixt the evil for the Tree was neither better nor worse than that we have But God saw his eager imagination so set on the Earthy Fruit that he could not generate a perfect Paradisical Man but an Infected one out of himself that would fall to be corruptible did let a sleep fall on him CHAP. XII Further of the Circumstances of the Temptation 1. MOses at the Bush was commanded to pull off his Shoes shewing his Earthy Birth God gave the Law at Sinai and establisht it in clarity but by Thunders c. in the Spirit of the great World for in Gods Heart is only Love and Kindness because after the Fall Men lived therein viz. in the Spirit of the great World 2. The Law demanding obedience and the false voluptuousness of Israel were in strife Forty days till they fell to their sinful Calf And Christs tryal Forty days c. shew the time of Adam's Temptation Of Adam's Sleep 1. Adam's sleep was his being Captivated by the â—triving Stars and Elements whose wrestling so far overcame him that his Tincture became enfeebled and he as dead who should as we in the Resurrection have Eternally with open Eyes beheld the Infinite Glories This God so greatly loathed that Adam could not long continue in Paradise The Highest Gate of the Life of the Tincture 2. The Tincture is that which separateth the pure from the impure and graduateth to the highest all sorts of Life in all Creatures Yet in some strong in others weak It s Birth is from the Vertue of the Deity and imprints it self in all things yet so secretly that none of the ungodly can know it It is Eternal but the Spirit given it by the Fiat is according to the kind of every Creature At first it was implanted in Jewels Gems Metals 3. It was generated in the fifth form that of Love out of the Heart of God And tho' its Spirit in the third Principle abide not for ever yet for the sake thereof the very figures of this World shall remain for ever But in the second Principle the Tincture standing in the Spirit and Substance in Angels and Men is Eternally fixt The Tinctures Essences 4. It is the flash of Life and Lustre whose Root is Fire causing the faculty of seeing in all Creatures It Chrystallizeth impure Water separateth the Light from Darkness imageth it self in what it hath made pure making it also sweet shining like Oyl and Fire Mixt with the Matrix of VVater by the mixture becomes fixt and thick and by the Property of the Fire is colour'd Red and is the Blood in which the Noble Life existeth Of the Death and Dying 5. In so great and hourly danger stands the Noble Life in the Tincture and hath so many potent Enemies that either on the Efflux of the Blood the Tincture flyeth away or on the over-prevalency of any one of the four Elements or ill Conjunction of the Constellations darting their Poisons the Band of Life breaketh and the flash goeth out in Meekness How the Heavenly Tincture was in Adam before the Fall and shall be in us after this Life 6. Adam's three Principles whereof he was were three Births the one not comprehended by the other viz. The Worm or Brimstone Spirit generated out of the Eternal Will of the Father The Virgin or Wisdom of God And the Spirit of this World The two latter were given to him to his right and left 7. The second was to illustrate the first in the power whereof he was to rule over the third It is
doing what it would is not from its Wisdom but the Heavens Contra conjunctions 4. But if it be restrain'd from Sin that is not by the Aâ—tral Aspects but by the Regeneration whose strife cannot yet swallow up the earthy but the fire is sometimes blown up again 5. So great is our Misery Let none be secure for sometimes the whole Man running to Evil loseth the Pearl 6. The Soul is bound with two Chains the one is the root of its original Poison and Anger remediable only by him who is Love it self the other that of the Flesh and Blood and Region of the Stars therefore God assumed a Human Soul from ours and a new heavenly Body like to our glorious Body before the Fall and not only to cloath the Soul with it but really Unite it in the Essences and so became a Creature in all the three Principles And by separating the third passed thence by Death as a flower out of the Earth captivating Death by treading on the Head of it in the new Body 7. So by kindling the Love in the Soul captivateth the Devil in the Eternal Prison of Anger for in the Light is the Holy Trinity which the Devil neither can nor dare behold so saith Paul O Death where is thy Sting O Hell where is thy Victory 8. The causes why Christ must not only die but in so many sorts suffer are as follow Man's Fall made all the Essences of the first four Forms predominant so that had not the Eternal Word given it self into the Centre of the fifth Form opening another Centre of Love the Soul in this Body had been captive in an Eternal Prison 9. And when in Jesus Christ the fourth Form came to be broken all the Forms stirred and environ'd him and in him us with Death which made the bloody Sweat and the outward Man cry Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me 10. And as Adam by going out of the fifth Form viz. the Angelical into the fourth became the scorn of the Devils so the Pharisees who lived in the Spirit of this World must have their pleasure on Christ for a terrible Example That what we fill our Souls with becomes a substance in the figure and must come under the Judgment of God 11. And as Adam would in his Pride be like God and wear this Worlds Crown Christ must in this World be crown'd with Thorns as a false King of or in it 12. And as after Adam's entring into the Spirit of this World he had a Rib broken from his Side for a Wife so did Blood by scourging flow from Christ's Body and his blessed Side pierced and opened 13. And as Adam departed out of the Eternal Day into the Eternal Night so was Christ bound in the dark Night and carried before the angry Murtherers 14. And as Adam chang'd his Angelical for this gross Body so was Christ loaden with the heavy wooden Cross. 15. And as upon Adam's Disobedience the fierce wrathful Essences pierced him so must Christ be pierced in his Hands Feet by sharp Nails fixing him to his Cross. 16. And as when Adam's Soul entred the fourth Form the Cross-birth was stirred so hath the Man on his Brain the one half of the Cross and the Woman the other 17. And as Adam then hung between the Kingdom of Hell and this World so did Christ between the two Malefactors the one whereof was forgiven entring with Christ into Paradise 18. The great Secret The Love of God or the second Principle became Man taking the Human Soul which was out of the first viz. the Anger and Body out of the third viz. the Our-birth so there hung on the Cross all the three Principles then commending his Spirit to his Father he bowed the head and departed 19. His Father is all the Kingdom Power and Glory So the Love is his Heart and Light His Anger is his strength and darkness the Father took the Soul into the Trinity and in the Soul the loâ—t Paradise sprung up 20. And by the rising of another â—un in Death viz. in the Father's Anger the outward Sun which was generated out of the pure Element the Body of Christ loâ—t its Light 21. And at the Holy Lifes going into Death the Rocks rent And those who had put their trust in the Messiah as Patriarchs Prophets c. when Christ's Mortal had put on Immortality got their new Bodies out of Christ's Holy Body and Vertue 22. Of Christs rest in the Grave That the Soul of Christ leaving his Body in the Grave descended into Hell a great way off and there chaineâ— the Devils is nothing so For all the three Principles hung on the cross why not also reâ—â—ed in the Grave with the Body forty Hours for the Heavenly Body was not Dead but the Earthy only His Soul came with the Light into the Anger causing 〈…〉 radise to revive which made the Devils tremble and captivated them for the Light is their terror and shame 23. Of Christ's Resurrection There was no need of rolling away the Stone save to strengthen the weak Faith of his Disciples for he comprehended all things 24. He appeared a Creature in our Human Dimensions yet the fulness of the Deity was in him and his Body is the whole Princely Throne of the whole Principle without end or limit 25. As our inward Body is unlimited in the Resurrection in the Body of Christ yet visible and palpable in Heavenly Flesh and Blood and so can in the Heavenly Figure be great or little without hurt or want there being no need of compressing the Parts of that Body 26. Vain is the Contention about the Sacrament for Christ's Heavenly Flesh and Blood is really received by the Faithful and it is as great as Heaven 27. The Forty days before his Ascension of the Proba or Tryal was such a life as Adam should have liv'd having all the Principles except the four Elementary ones He shew'd himself without outward Glory did eat yet all Heavenly and Paradisical in the Mouth not into the Body and entred the Doors being shut 28. So should Adam have liv'd in and above the World above the Stars and Elements in Meekness and Divine Love without Death and Frailty 29. To this state we make some approaches when in Obedience to Christ's Laws we do Good for Evil and overcome the World by being Dead to it 30. Of Christ's Ascension Christ ascended in sight of many to shew he is our Brother Will you ask whither ascended he Into his Throne the right Hand of God that is where Love quencheth Anger and generateth Paradise in the whole Father 31. But the place of this World according to the Heavenly Principle is the Throne and Body of Christ also all the third Principle is his 32. And the Devil who dwelleth in the place of this World in the first Principle is our Christ's Captive for the Father is the band of Eternity but his Love
in the Body of Christ holdeth the Anger together with all Devils Eternal Prisoners as Darkness stands shut up before the Eternal Day CHAP. XXVI Pentecost The sending of the Holy Ghost 1. ON the seventh Day after Moses ascended the Mount was he call'd and the Lord spake with him And Christ when he was ascended into his Throne was on the ninth Day glorify'd and the Holy Ghost went forth from the Centre of the Trinity into the whole Holy Element also opened the Doors of the great Wonders 2. So that the Apostles spake with the Languages of all Nations for the Holy Ghost went out of all Essences and filled the Essences of all Men who had but an earnest desire to it 3. And the hard palpable Body of Christ was received into the Holy Ternary only the source of this World was destroy'd in Death And though he be swallow'd up as to our sight and apprehension yet shall he come again at the last Judgment Day and manifest himself in that same very Body to good and bad CHAP. XXVII Of the Last Judgment 1. AT the time before the Fire of Nature causeth every thing to dissolve melt and pass into its Aether cometh the Judge of the Living and Dead and with him the Angelical World Then all not comprehended in the Body of Christ shall howl tremble yell roar blaspheme gnaw their Tongues and would hide themselves in Holes and Caves from the Terror of the Lord. They Curse the Heavens Constellations and Stars that inclined and drew them to Evil they Curse the Earth that bare them and buried them not sooner They Curse their Parents that brought them up and had not strangled them They Curse their Priests that flattered and misled them They Curse their Superiors whose Cruelty and Evil Example influenced them They Curse their ungodly Associates that accompanied them The Tears of those they had oppressed like fiery Serpents sting them Their abused Authority Wealth and Might stand in the Tincture in the Substance of Eternity 2. The Devils also stand trembling they see how every Fire burneth in its own life in themselves they feel the Hellish Fire in the fierce Wrath. 3. The Angelical World in the Light Lustre and Brightness is as the Sun in Triumphant Hallelujahs 4. The Angelical Quire of Holy Men stand there before the Eyes of them that Murther'd Opprest and Reproacht them for the Truths sake whose Guilt like Mountains of Lead holds them down and Speechless 5. And then the King calls and enthrones all his Members And pronounceth that formidable and irrevocable Sentence on the Wicked that they depart from him c. 6. At the Moment of Departing pass away the Heavens Sun Moon Stars Earth and Elements and time shall be no more 7. Nor can the Holy Principle touch the other any more to Eternity nor conceive a Thought of the other The Parents of their wicked Offspring or Children of their wicked Parents or Relations but Eternal Joy fills surrounds and Crowns them See more in the Answer of the 30th of the 40 Questions AN APPENDIX OR THE Threefold Life in Man I. The Life of the Spirit of this World II. Of the Life of the Originality of all Essences III. Of the Regeneration and Paradisical Life 1. BY the Ternarius Sanctus in the Aurora and the three Principles is not meant Holy Earth but the Holy Body out of the Vertue of the Trinity and properly of the Gate of God the Father whence all things proceed as of one only substance 2. For in the Creation proceeds from one only Fountain good and evil life and death joy and sorrow love and hate appearing in all things especially in Man 3. So find we the Threefold Life in Man in the Gate of God the Father See we also how joy is turn'd into sorrow and again joy return'd and by the prevalence of either a substance is made according to which the Mind commanding the Thoughts and collecting them sets the Hands Mouth Feet c. to obey what the Mind willeth and though all the forms of Nature are in Man yet that which is predominant causeth all other to lye as if dead and become as a nothing 4. There are especially three forms in the Mind all superior to the outward for the Mind is anxiously desirous and can see feel smell taste and hear what the outward Senses know not 5 And if the Divine form be Paramount it is in God and the other two are as half dead 6. But the Mind can raise the Spirit of this World of Covetousness Pride c. which instantly openeth the first form out of the Eternal Indissoluble Band in falshood envy malice c. To whom therefore you yield your selves Servants his you are whether of Sin or Righteousness 7. This Life is the sowing and growing time and in the time of this Elementary Life the mind may open which of the three Principles it will but at the dissolution of the Body the Mind standeth in one only Principle having lost the Key of the other two for when the stalk is cut it is no longer a Plant but a Fruit and can stand no longer nor open no other Principle but be Eternally in that which he here kindled 8. But if God hath regenerated us to enter through the Death of Christ into his Life then hath our Immanuel who abâ—sed himself to enter into our Humanity exalted us to enter into the Holy Flesh and Image Adam lost which is out of the pure Element And then the Trinity worketh really in us and we stand in the Life Body and Property of Christ and our new Man standeth in that out of which Heaven and Paradise is generated and the Earthy Man doth but hang to it 9. Put on therefore a true earnest purpose desire and resolution which is Repentance and the Regenerator is ready deep in the Mind in the Light of Life to help the earnest Wrestler and so soweth himself as a Grain of Mustard-seed or as a Root to a new Creature and if the Souls earnestness be great the earnestness in the Regenerator is also great 10. But this is known by them only that feel and experiment how the Regenerator changeth the proud fierceness into humble Love for the new Man is not of this World but hidden in the old For the true knowledge of God is in no Man till he be Regenerate 11. Christ gave not the Flesh and Blood of his Creatures to his Disciples but the Body of the pure Element wherein God dwelleth and is present every where in all Creatures but comprized in another Principle to eat and drink under Earthy Bread and Wine And as the outward Man is Baptized of the Elemenâ—ary Water so is the new Man with the pure Element which appeareth only in the second Principle 12. No Reader understandeth this Author rightly unless he be Born of God it is not folded up in an Historical Art But as Earthy Eyes cannot see God so neither can a
in the Wonders of this World so evidently that in the Wheel of the Stars and Planets also in our Orb and every Creature that they are an apparent similitude and figure of God according to Love or Anger generating Fire Air Water and Earth That is to say the extremity impurity mortality and gross death of them image the Wrath and the good property in every of them images Paradice where tho' there be but one Element yet in it are the four hidden and on their enkindling and severing become active and comprehensible or palpable to the Creatures which from Eternity was in God yet invisible and immaterial 9. The Language of Nature is treated of from 84th v. to the end of this Chapter which being also dispersed in several places of the blessed Authors excellent Writings it is to be wished were all contracted and paraphrased on in one distinct Treatise not only to shew us the Monuments of our Ruins by the Fall but also stir us up to press inward out of the shadow and figure into the substance which is the inward Power-Worlds CHAP. VI. Of the World and also of Paradise The two Gates of high Consideration 1. MAN is a Child of Eternity but this World is an Out-birth from the Eternal Nature as its Root and an Out-birth is corruptible its grosness originates in the Anger and the Stars are out of the Centre of Nature in all seven Forms and out of each a Centre so that by the wrestlings so very many have proceeded which are a certain number tho innumerable in our account and their being so set a number shews they must be resolved into their Ether for in every Eternal Centre is a springing up without number as is found in Man's Spirit and Soul by the Constellations of the Mind thoughts arise without number and out of one innumerable others which clearly prove our Eternity 2. The Birth of the Eternal Nature is Infinite and perpetually springing up every where in all places as if we imagine a Circle as little as an Attom the least of quantities and in that Circle is the whole Trinity whole Birth of the Eternal Nature so that Eternity is in every place yet maketh no place for it is the Out-birth that maketh place it also maketh Beginning and End for the Infinite Three is without Beginning and End yeâ— as before this Beginning there was nothing but God aâ—d that after the End of these things shall be nothing but God so God is the α and ω the Beginning and the End 3. And forasmuch as the Eternity generateth nothing but what is like it though it self be unchangeable therefore as man is so is Eternity all the three Principles are in him one in another as one â—et in the Creation are three From the Eternal Centre is made the Eternal Substantiality as a Body or weakness being a sinking down and the Spirit is a springing up whence comes Motion Penetration and Multiplication and when the Spirit did create the Substantiality into an Image breathing the Spirit of the Trinity into it the whole Essences even all Forms of Nature the Power to Light and Darkness and the whole Eternity it instantly blossom'd and became the Paradise or Angelical World 4. In the Darkness is the Genitrix in the Light is the Wisdom the first imaged by Devils the other by Angels as a Similitude of the whole Eternal Being to speak in a creatural manner of it And Lucifer imaging beyond the Meekness of the Trinity inkindled in himself the Matrix of Fire and that of Nature becoming Corporeal then was the second Form of the Matrix viz. the Meekness of the Substantiality inkindled whence Water originated out of which was made an Heaven to captivate the Fire and of that Fire and Water came the Stars 5. Then did Man who was God's Image form and imagine in himself the awakened Spirit of the Air four Elements and Constellations which though it were breathed into him Man's Divine Spirit should have over-ruled as the Holy Spirit of God ruleth over all but they became his Lord and instantly captivated him then the Stars Death Vanity and the Elementary Life wrought in him And now if he would enter into God again he must in himself be new-born in God or lost Eternally he is now in the midst between Heaven and Hell to which of these Spirits he yieldeth his he is if Man form in his Spirits the fierceness of Pride c. God loseth nothing for the Image of God in Man withdraweth untoucht into its Principle leaving Man to form himself into the Image of the Serpent and the Spirit forms the Body into its Deformity or otherwise as the Seal the Wax 6. The Eternal Nature doth generate it self Eternally which this World resembleth thus it is a high round Globe figuring Eternity and Infinity wherein by the seven Planets are shewn the seven Spirits of Nature by the great Deep the Eternal Liberty by the Sun in the midst of the seven as a Point or Centre in a Cross the Heart of God by the lustre God's Majesty by the Constellations the Effects or Products of the Fountain Spirits by the Earth the Eternal Death for as the Earth compared with the vigorous outward upper Dominion is as Death so the fierce Matrix is as a Death compared to God yet is not Death but Eternal Torment 7. Not that it is with the Heart of God as with the Sun to be only in one circumscriptive place but as the Centre of a Cross signifying the Trinity in a Globular Rainbow wherein the Red signifies the Father's Property in the glance of Fire Yellow the Son's Lustre and Majesty Blew the Substantiality the dusky Brown the Kingdom of Darkness and on such a Rainbow will Christ sit to Judge and thus is he undivided every where and in that Man who is Born of God is the whoâ—e undivided Heart of God the Son of Man Christ sitting in the circle of his Life upon the Rainbow at the right Hand of God for that Man is Christ's Member his Body his Brother his Flesh his Spirit Power Majesty Heaven Paradise Element Stars Earth and all is that Mans who in Christ is above Hell and Devils though his Earthy Life be under Heaven Stars Elements Hell and Devils 8. Man's Creation was the speaking of that into Substance which was in God in the Virgin of his Wisdom in Eternity not Male and Female which when divided was one Earthy the other Bestial but the new Birth restores that very Eternal Image the Eternal Virginity wherein Christ became Man uniting it to the fallen Man in the Mortal Virginity for Mary had all the three Principles being of the Seed of Joachim and Anna. The Soul of Christ was out of Maries Essences conceived in the Eternal Virgin which Eternal Virgin came into Substantiality uniting with the Human earthy Essences 9. The Eternal Virgin gave to Christ's Human Soul the Heavenly Body and Mary the Earthy the
how to help no Prince or Throne Angel could contrive a Remedy Then said Jehovah Christ Lo I come to do thy Will O God and his own Arm wrought Salvation by becoming Man entring Death with his Humane Soul brake the seven Seals of the Centre of Nature hung the old Adam as a Curse on the Cross kindled again the Divine Fire in the Soul cast away the Earthiness and powerfully through Death introduced Life The highly precious Gate Thus the Regenerate may see that as Christ did cast away from him by Death only the Spirit of this VVorld and raised himself so shall they in his VVord and Heart which is every where present and in his Flesh and Blood not in the corrupt Body be raised for the inward Body Adam had in Paradise is only capable of being clothed upon with the Flesh of Christ In this new Body fixeth the new Regenerate Soul but the old corrupt Flesh only hangeth to the new Body yet comprehends it not The which old Body conceived from the Spirit of this VVorld being at the last day raised therewith only in a figure in which figure all Mans works follow him passeth into its Ether yet remaineth in its figure So likewise the corrupt Bodies of the wicked at the last Judgment shall be presented with their Mother the Spirit of this world and the Souls shall hear the sentence then shall the Bodies pass with their Mother and stand as a Figure and their works in the figure shall follow them into the Abyss CHAP. IX Concerning the Threefold Life Also the Inclination and whole Government of Man in this Life 1. MAN's whole Race is a strife 'twixt the Devil and the Soul and the Spirit of this worâ—d and the Soul for this worlds Spirit hath apprehension tho not Divine planted in its Matrix and this world stood in the Eternal wisdom as an invisible figure before the Creation and by Creation became a proper Principle to the end it might bring all its wonders and works into Existence and appear Eternally in their figure 2. Man only being capable to exhibit this worlds wonders of Arts and the Spirit and Life of Metals precious Stones Earths Celestial Influences c. therefore hath the Spirit of this world longed to draw Man into it That precious Stone of Philosophers may be found in Metals by him who understandeth this Author in the Centre of Natures progress to the Cross of the Trinity and Glance of the Majesty which this worlds Spirit hath a Natural longing to reveal 3. The first Birth of things are not pleasant as in Trees but the Fruit is a second Birth and what is desir'd by Man which points us to our Noble Birth and high Descent which was Divine for when the Kingdom of the Anger did press into the Fruits the Paradisical Principle did almost wholly withdraw Yet though Toads Serpents poysonous Herbs bitter Properties Thistles c. originate in the wrathful Matrix yet as the evil Properties explicate the inward worlds they are as good and concur to the same end with the best but the evil and good eaten by Adam being such as we now eat was his eating of Death because thereby the Spirit of this world captivated him as doth both it and the Devils Kingdom rule in Man still Of the great strife about Man 4. Hell saith my Anger is his Root he is therefore by Nature mine This world pleads possession of Man in its Body and his Community of Nutrition from it God saith I â—ave set my Heart upon Man and Regenerated him he proceeded out of me I have sought and found him again he is mine to reveal my wonders Pursuant to this one of three things winneth him either 1. His desire of Honour Glory and Power which is the Devils Will. 2. His desire of Riches Opulence and Fulness in which he is a Beast of this World 3. He the somewhat sensible Sinner but not the Swine greatly feareth Hell and the Devil and weakly panteth after Heaven but the other two draw so violently that many through desperation engulph themselves into the Abyss Of the Devil changing himself into an Angel of Light 5. When the Sinner begins to be sensible of his evil and danger the Devil willingly permits him to go to the Stone Churches then flatters him that his diligent so doing makes him godly and devout Where often thoughts are sowen in him of Pride Lust c. also of contempt of others especially if the Preacher be a Reviler If the Soul be yet afraid and would repent and pray the Devil clouds the understanding introduceth doubts and promiseth amendment to Morrow he rehearseth words but prayeth not for the Soul cannot reach the Centre of Nature where the Fire should be struck but his words in this Worlds Spirit vanish into Air or Gods Name is taken in vain 6. But Prayer is a great or at least a true going of the Soul to be spoken to of God and brought out of the House of Sin into the House of God Which when the Devil opposeth we are to oppose the more for we have in Christ far greater power than he But if the Devil covers the Heart by heaps of Sin we are not to dispute or despair but to lay them on the Devils Back and lay up in our Hearts Gods most merciful Calls and earnest Will towards us shewn by the Sufferings Wounds Death and dear Love and Pity of Christ to Sinners for there is no other Will in God but to do as the Father to the Prodigal Son therefore to doubt of Gods gracious Intents is to sin greatly The Gates of the deep Ground concerning Man 7. The knowing what Man is in the variety of form feature and different driving Will hath been controverted since the beginning because the Gates thereof were sunk with Adam's Fall but the Spirit of the Soul of the Regenerated Man knoweth himself in all the three Principles to have but one only Rule though in three Principles the prevalence of either denominates the Man We are as a Seed sowen in a Field by the Lust of Man and Woman the Mover whereunto is that the Tincture now divided to the Male giving Life and Soul and the substantiality now peculiar to the Female giving Spirit and Existence were in Eternity one wherein this world stood as a Figure and the Tincture over-shadowed by the Wisdom was received thereinto as the Body doth the Spirit yet could not be brought into substance visible to Angels who are in a substance unless God had moved the Eternity 8. In the moving of the Trinity was moved the Centre of Nature whereby the Tincture became substantial and the substantiality became material yet not divided wherein when the Fiat was awakened forth came all sorts of Beasts c. The Tincture took substance and the Spirit of the substance took on it a Body the first had the Centre of Life the other only an impotent Life which may be demonstrated by a
flaming Iron which emitteth two Spirits viz. a hot one able to awaken another Fire from its own Centre and another an airy one which though it hath all powers of the Fire yet not the Tincture of the Fire but only the Spirit of the Fire a faint Life for in the Eternity is no Death Hence is it that Life must proceed only from the Seed of the Male Tincture in the Matrix of the Female 9. Every Creature Inanimate Sensitive c. is formed according to the Tincture in the Spirit of the Species of them as may be found by the order of the several days of the Creation for on the first day God Created the Material Water which hath an impotent Life and is a Bar to the Devils Anger Fire And when God said let there be Light the Light of the Tincture opened it self which God separated from the darkness viz. shut up the fierce Fire Lucifer kindled which originateth in the darkness and let the Qintessence burn in the fat of the Water Spirit as doth the Fire of the Life in a Beast 10. The Tincture is in the Blood the Life burneth in the Tincture and God keeps the Centre of the Fire in the darkness and so every Life is in his own hand for if he let the Fire into the Tincture the Spirit is in the Hellish Fire The Tincture was divided into a Fire Life and Light Life the Fire Life was to be a Firmament between the Holy Meekness the Heart of God and the weak Air between both which God dwelleth The Fire Spirit of the Tincture hath Eternity for its Root the Air Spirit hath the awakened substantiality ruling the outward Life of Beasts Trees c. having a weak Tincture 11. Thus see we Life standeth in Fire and Air also the Original of Blood such Creatures that have it are more noble than those that have it not for such have a false Tincture proceeded from the will of the Devil as is seen in Vipers and other Venemous Reptils for such lothsom ugly Bodies are figur'd in Hell not from the divided Tincture but from the fierce dark Spiritual substance 12. When the Water covering the Created Earth was separated and the Earth dry the collected Water was call'd Sea signifying in the Language of Nature a covering in reproach to the Devil whose power was drown'd By the Water above the Firmament separated from that below is meant the Blood wherein is the Tincture of Living Creatures and that beneath is the Elementary Water in which two consist two Kingdoms 1. The Soul in the Blood in the Tincture and because the Tincture is from Eternity therefore must the figures remain in Eternity And 2. The Air Spirit in the Water which is corruptible for it had a beginning 13. After the Earth and Elements were formed the fiery Tincture was as a shining Light then God suffered the Centre of Nature to open with its proper will out of the Essences and the whole Principle became but one Body whereof the Sun was the Heart and the six other Planets the Spirits at the Centre of the Heart the other Stars are its Essences all just as the Deity hath been from Eternity whence came a true Life Reason Sences and Understanding yet a Bestial one and Spirit of the Air manifesting God in a figurative form which this world sheweth if we consider the Centre and thence go on in the Light of the Majesty to the number three The Discourse and Figure of the Planets and Signs from the 63d v. to the end of this Chapter being it self Summary is recommended to be perused entirely as the Author left it CHAP. X. Of the Creation of every Being and how Man may find himself and all Mysteries to and only to the ninth Number 1. TO seek the Mysteries of Nature in the Stars and Elements is vain neither Luna nor Mercury will lead you to Sol but if you take the Spirit of the Tincture following of which to Sol some have been laid hold on by the Spirit of the Heavenly Tincture and been brought into the liberty of the Majesty where they have known the noble Stone and stood amazed at Mans blindness 2. The number is but three stay at the Cross or ten but nine is only attainable then take Saturn as a Male and Fire-Tincture and Luna as the Female and Air Spirit go thus gradually in the Wheel to Sol go then on through the Suns Fire and being through it lay hold by means of the Tincture on the Eternity which is the ninth number bring that on the Cross which is the tenth the very end of nature here handle the Stone it is Fire-proof free from the Wrath and Out-birth its splendor is in the Majesty its Body out of the Eternal Substantiality 3. If now the seeker willeth the splendor of this world let him go from the inward into the outward Luna which break into a thousand parts giving it such proportion of Sol as its hunger desireth and it is made bright and perfect but we ought justly to rest satisfied in the tenth number for this world is but dross and dung therefore Christ saith Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added All lyeth in the willing for the will maketh the desire the outward will must enter into the inward and deny it self as if it were dead to the outward because Adam turning his will to the outward caus'd him to die to the inward but if we turn back into the inward we see God and the Eternity and are the Similitude of what God is and are as we were Created 4. It is more easie to the inward Man in the Divine Will to see the ground of the Creation of this world than for the outward to know what the Sences inform To create is to comprehend what is first figur'd in the will as doth a Builder frame in his will a Model of what he is to Erect In the Creation the six Properties stand in every quadrat of the Circle of Time which divides the Day into Morning Noon Evening and Midnight 5. On the fifth day the Fiat opened the Matrixes of all Similitudes and the Wrath Kingdom pressed hard to be imaged with it when were produced all Fowls and Fishes then also all sorts of Spirits of the Fire Air Water and Earth went forth so that the whole deep even to the Constellations is nothing but a Life and stirring of Spirits The Devils place is in the darkest towards the Constellations and so poor a Creature is he as not to touch any of the seven Governments 6. The describing the order of Powers cannot be sufficiently seen by the orderly Wheel of the Magi nor can it be written for Reason to penetrate being more subtle going inwards towards the Sun that is upwards downwards and side-ways towards the meek substantiality but the Spirit of the Soul if it look with its own Eye into the inward and with the Eye of
hath a good Constellation at the time of the Spirits awakening it gives him a Friendly lovely outside whereby such a one can give good flattering words from a false heart for he dwelleth in two Kingdoms in this World is he a History Hypocrite and his Soul in the Anger Kingdom with the Devils 8. But the Grace of God appeared by Christ's becoming Man to bring our Human Souls out of Death and the Abyss of Anger into the Tenth Number the Eternal Tincture to be again the Similitude of God upon the Cross whence the Soul originated And then when the Soul is turned into the Will of God in great Humility having Christ's Body it passeth through Death or from Death to Life in the Death of Christ through the Anger of God into the Ninth Number before the Holy Trinity and is imbraced by the Majesty The great open Gate of Antichrist 9. Antichrist in Men professing Christ is a contrary will to the Divine Will yet a Counterfeit of it but as the Soul becomes born of God more or less in such proportion the renewed Will quits the Principles and Dictates of corrupt Reason and self Desires cover'd by Hypocrisie and by a sincere faithful Love rooted in the Life of Christ a holy Flame of self-evidencing Light ariseth giving a distinct discovery of Antichrist before which it falls and by which it is destroy'd for the going from Antichrist is the going from the Fire into the Light The highly Precious Gate also the Gate of Immanuel 10. Is it askt How can Christ's Body be ours How can we dwell in the Body of Christ It is Answer'd As we have Adam's Flesh Soul and Spirit which Christ becoming Man hath yet remaineth God but receiv'd in the fair Virgin of Wisdom the Eternal Flesh which Adam's was before dividing of the Properties and the Property of our earthy Flesh so Christ's Soul is ours and his Body ours and his Virgin ours whereby we live in Christ when we give up our selves to him wherein also he liveth in us and will at last present us wholly pure with the Heavenly Flesh Blood Tincture and Majesty of Christ. Thus also he liveth in us and we are his Members Temple and Body 11. Where one saith Here is Christ and another There it is because they have lost the Key for the Body and Blood of Christ is in the Eternity and not shut up by space or place but as the Sun shineth from East to West and whose Light fills the World how much more doth Christ fill every part of his Incarnation And when we desire his Flesh and Blood we receive it and are fed by it for as the Father gives Being and upholdeth all so the Son gives Vertue and Light The Congregation of Christ is in every Nation where Men turn from their Sins to God be they Greeks Turks Asians Africans c. God respects not Persons nor Opinions but seeks the Heart those who call on the only true God in plain Simplicity are in Christ but the Tyrannous Proud Covetous Malicious Blood-thirsty Antichrist with their endless Contentions and Disputations offend the Heathens whose Life and Customs are far more Innocent and Pious and when Antichrist's Lyes have stifled him broken his Murthering Sword and laid him in the Pit then shall Christ feed his Lambs and the Turk be of the Fold of the Lambs 12. The whole World is full of God the inward holy Life dwelleth in God and the inward dark Abyss standeth in God's Wrath the strife is which may Image us into it self in this outward Life here God sets Light and Darkness before us and all the teaching here is to warn of the severe Property of the Fire for every thing hath Free-will with an Inclination to its Property therefore we must either embrace the true Good or the certain Evil. Young Children are our School-masters with all our Cunning we are but Fools to them who first play with themselves and after one with another this the Devil grudg'd us and made us fall out at our Play and so we quarrel till we go to sleep and then others Act over again the same quarrels and all is about a defiled Garment which yet is not ours while we should obediently search for a new fair Garment when amongst the Roses Lillies and Flowers we shall in our own Country sing the Song How the Driver who did set us at variance is captivated CHAP. XII Of the true Christian Life and Conversation What Man is to do c. COnsidering well the 34 first Verses of this 12th Chapter it may be comprised mostly in these words He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God The Way we must walk through this World into the Kingdom of God We must if we will so walk Crucifie Self Repent Convert from Evil hourly pass out of Death into Life we must not take pleasure in our selves but so humble our selves before the clear Countenance of the Trinity before whom we always stand and look on Jesus who always sitteth on the Rainbow in us I say we are so to converse without Self-pleasing that our ways may please God the heavenly Hoasts and Man The rest of this sweet Chapter is of various and copious Rules and Monitions yet so conspicuous that the perusal is rather to be recommended than the particulars extracted Only this asserteth That a Self-defence against outward Force or War having only a desire of Self-defence is not against God for he whose House is on Fire may quench it CHAP. XIII Of Christ's Precious Testaments the Lord's Supper and Baptism 1. VVHEN Christ's Apostles and Disciples met together after fervent Exhortation of one another They took brake divided amongst them and did eat Bread in commemoration of Christ's giving his Body for us on the Cross as himself had commanded So also took they the Cup in their hand saying one to another Take this Cup and drink the Blood of our Lord which he shed on the Cross for Remission of our Sins to shew forth his Death till he come again to Judgment and bring us into himself This was the true great Paschal Lamb inâ—â—ituted by Christatier they had eaten the Passover 2. He gave them and they did eat and drink his Flesh and Blood not his earthy and mortal Flesh and Blood to be chewed with their earthy Teeth and swallow'd for that Body of his was not divided amongst them but he gave them his immortal holy Body and Blood new and unknown to the earthy Man yet which did hang in or was United to the outward on the Cross this holy Body became as a Body to their Souls making them his Members 3. As the Eternal Virginity Substantiality and Wisdom wherein was the promised Word gave it self into the perished Tincture became a new Man at the Incarnation in the Virgin Mary so the new Body of
from within as when Christ raised Lazarus by a power from within from the Centre of the Soul as so also shall we be raised at last for the Word with the three Principles dwells in us And all Souls are as it were one Soul being all propagated of one Soul therefore will they all hear the Voice of the Human Soul of Christ and arise with their Bodies 5. So when we pray it is not to a God afar off for God heareth in the Centre of the Soul of the repenting sinner pressing out of the anguish of the first Principle and out of the Spirit of this World into the holy second Principle which is also in the Soul for when we pray aright the Word which became Man having the Holy Ghost in it goeth from the Father and meeteth the pouring out Soul for the Body is not worthy but the new Body of the flesh of Christ when the Soul attains it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Then comes the Soul to God as the Prodigal Son with an humble submissive obedient Will from the Swine He knocks at his evil heart and breaks open the doors and the Father saith This my Son was lost and is found was dead and is alive The latter part of this Chapter is not extracted being a brief Exposition of the Lord's Prayer according to the Language of Nature which is little known CHAP. XVII Concerning God's Blessing in this World 1. THE Soul finds it self in such an Earthy Garment causing shame and is so choaked by the Devils smoky Pit which represents God a cruel severe Judge that stands at a catch to damn it or decreed its eternal perdition before the present World was that the Soul must needs be under total despair or great doubt at least of falling short of the Light of God for such is the Effect of shame and guilt Therefore the Soul by this misunderstanding starts back seeking some satisfaction from the Spirit of this World and support for the outward Life only or chiefly to be had by its own distrustfâ—â—â—arking and toiling in his own contrivances and subtle reason a consequent of the Curse whence so many potent delusions spring for he thus falls home to the Earthy Life for meat clothing and habitation 2. And this is contrary to the Life Man should have led for as God dwelleth in the Earth yet the Earth apprehendeth him not so Man should with the Soul have eaten the Divine Word of God's Love tho' the Body had been of the Matrix of the Earth yet not captivated in it but eating of the Blessing of God The Body was taken out of the Centre of the Fire and Waters Tincture the Soul out of the second Principle why then should the Body captivate the Soul 3. The Outward Life consists in three parts one in the dominion of the Stars another in the one Element divided into four and the other the dominion of God So that the Man who trusteth in God and not in his Reason the Spirit of God is with him blessing what he is hath and doth For seeing the Soul hath the Body of God how can God's Spirit forsake the outward Body which must open its Wonders God wants none and all are alike profitable to him the politick and the weak for with the outwardly wise he ruleth and with the outwardly simple he tilleth buildeth c. and this Worlds outward Spirit gives degrees to men here so according as the Soul is indued with Divine Power such are the degrees in Heaven yet all in one Love but God's Children are in this and that World as Good Herbs and sweet Flowers which yield their several Vertues in harmony to the Apothecary and the wicked are as poisonous Weeds Thorns and Thistles who separate themselves and their Off-spring into an evil Self-will and Property 4. Covetousness is madness driving Man Devil like to Torment others about a handful of Earth or a Stone of which the World hath enough and plague himself to get the Good of that he must speedily leave and the gnawing guilt which will never leave him This Man still runneth after that Care and Sorrow which runneth after him whereas every one if content hath a sufficient Portion from the Spirit of this World and of Care and Sorrow also as saith the Lord Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof But Man's mad Will is all to advance Pride whereas the Kingdom of God is Love and Humility and if Man suffers not himself to be captivated Heaven and Earth is his by God's free Donation so not only Heaven but the Sun Stars Elements Earth Sea and all is Man's by Natural Propriety To trust therefore in God is to build sure in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XVIII Of Death and Dying How Man is when he Dieth and how it is with him in Death 1. THE Life consisteth in three Parts 1. The Inward which is God's Eternal hidden Mystery in the Fire whence Life existeth 2. The Middle or Eternal Image of God wherein God seeth himself as a Man doth himself in a Glass 3. The Spirit of the great World which this Eternal Image got in the Creation as a Glass to see it self in so the out-principle figures the inward and the inward Image hath so gazed on the outward as that it hath received the outward which must break off again which because it is bound to the Eternal Centre of Nature therefore is the breaking in Death so very painful 2. The outward consisteth in the Sun's Tincture and its Dominion are the Planets and Stars each of which still drive on to its Limits and when it comes again to its place where it stood in the Creation all whereof it was Lord ceaseth for there it commenceth a new Age whence many a young Child in the Womb dieth for its Lord is at its Period And to hit the Point of our limited End it is required to know exactly the Number and Period of the Sign which is our Leader 3. How hardly can the Living Man express how it is with one that is Dead which himself hath not experimented A Dead Man's sence is ceased with extinguishing his Fire his Elementary Spirit evaporateth his Blood and Water pass into Water and Earth also therewith his Essences thus his Beginning finds End But because the corruptible hath an Eternal Root therefore the Eternal worketh in the Fragile and because the outward Imageth the Eternal it should bring its Wonders and Similitudes into the Eternal whence it is originated 4. The Souls Will worketh in the Centre or Eternal Root the Astral Spirit works in the Body adhering so to the Soul that the Soul often lusteth to do what the Starry Spirit doth and such Souls who get no higher fall into Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger whence if they convert not in those very works must the Soul Eternally dwell doing the Devils Will hating God loving Folly which was here and is there their only Treasure but only in the
Eternity as a nothing and yet is all 3. But if it becometh apprehended then it is entred into Reason as into a Prison where it works the wonders in the Fire of Nature but in the Liberty the wonders of God and so is the Companionness or Play-fellow of Sophia the Wisdom of God CHAP. II. WHY Faith and Doubting dwell together 1. Tho' Faith is God's Image viz. the desiring seeing and mind an Eternal Figure yet in the time of the Body it may change it self into the Anguish Fountain 2. For Faith in its original is only a Will which Will is a Seed and that Seed must the Soul being a Fire-spirit sow into the Liberty of God and so will a Tree grow on which the Soul feedeth to allay and meeken its Fire and becometh powerful and giveth still its vertue to the Root of this Tree which groweth in the Spirit of God even into the wonders of the Majesty of God and springeth in the Paradise of God 3. There is a continual vehement strife in Man while he is in the Tabernacle of this Earthy Life unless he so earnestly sink down in himself that he introduce the Lifes-fire into the Liberty of God and then is dead as to reason and liveth to God which is an highly precious Life and rarely found for it is like the first Image that God created The mortal only hangeth to it but this right Life is in another Principle and World and is the first right Paradifical Human Life 4. That Earthy Human Life into which Adam fell originateth in the Mothers Womb moving chiefly in Fire Air Water and Earth or Flesh tinctur'd inform'd and made rational by the constellations to pleasure or displeasure being no more but a Bestial life reason looketh no higher 5. Yet Man's great panting after a higher and Eternal Life is a Magick seeking a Mystery implanted at his Creation it lieth in Reason but Reason nor the Spirit of this World comprehendeth it not It is a secret Spring opening in another Principle hidden in the Anguish held captive by the Spirit of this World which the outward Lifes Reason hath might to suppress so that it is flifled cometh not to the light generateth not abideth hidden and when the Body breaketh the Will hath not wherewith to open the Mystery which Mystery is God's Kingdom but the Fire or Souls Spirit abideth in Eternal Darkness 6. The Mystery being God's Kingdom giveth a longing desire standing hidden in the Soul incomprehensible to Nature and hath its Root in the Souls Fire This Will is no parting or renting from the Soul but becometh one Spirit with God and so is the Soul's Garment and the Soul in that Will and Spirit is become environ'd and hidden in God tho' it dwelleth in the Body 7. This is the right earnest Faith a Child of God and dwelleth in another World It is not an Historical Will Reason knoweth there is in it self a desire after God and yet holdeth that very desire captive from entring into the Life of God in the lusts of the flesh in the Sidereal Magia saying To morrow thou shalt go forth to God introducing Self-ability of finding and is surrounded with Opinion and Conjecture keeping from the Liberty of God 8. But the Will that sinketh it self out from Reason into Obedience and Love to God is an obedient humble Child and accepted for it is pure and God's similitude And seeing God is free in himself from the Evil so must the Will and then tho' God be no accepter of persons nor will let sin into himself yet he will accept the humble free obedient Will for whatcomes to him into his Liberty he will not cast off CHAP. III. Whence comes Good and Evil Joy and Sorrow Love and Anger Life and Death 1. THO' from the Eternal Substance all proceedeth Good and Evil c. yet we cannot say that Evil and Death come from God in God is no Evil nor Death nor in Eternity doth any Evil go into him The Eternity manifesteth it self by similitudes 2. In the Eternal Nature is the Magia of Life where one Form desireth and awakeneth the other whence the Essences of multiplicity exist and out of which the wonders the Created Beings are generated and out of the same Fire of Nature the fierce Wrath proceedeth 3. In God's Will is a desiring which causeth the Magia out of which existeth the multiplicity yet the multiplicity it self is not God's willing which is free from all substance but in the desiring or longing of the Will Nature generateth it self with all Forms viz out of the Eternal Magia 4. What Spirit soever imagineth with the Will into Nature is the Child of Nature and one Life with Nature but whosoever goeth forth from the Reason of Nature with its will and longing into the Free Will of God and therein abideth is one Spirit in and with God and is God's Child and the Nature Spirit is God's wonder or Creature CHAP. IV. How to attain the Liberty of God How God's Image is destroyed The State of the Wicked after the dying of the Body 1. WHere our will and heart is there is also our Treasure Is our will in God's Will then have we the great Mystery out of which this World as a similitude is generated and have both the eternal and corruptible yea we bring the wonders of our corruptible works into the eternal 2. But if we turn our desiring from the Eternal into the Earthy Mystery our will is captivated and hangeth only to the Looking-glass and attaineth not the Liberty of God 3. And when the Body dieth the Soul retaineth the Image of those things in its Will-Spirit wherewith it is become infected be it Pride Covetousness Malice or any other abominations for the wicked Will having captivated and destroyed the Noble Image and lost the Liberty is the Root of its own Image and draweth the Mystery to it self VVhere on the other part the right VVill is regenerated in Christ and entreth into the Liberty for in the VVill through Faith we attain the Noble Virgin Image that Adam lost CHAP. V. Why the Wicked convert not What the most smarting thing in Conversion is c. 1. THE wicked multitude have the Noble Jewel hidden in them in the Divine Principle and can very well go forth with their VVill-Spirit into the VVill of God but the self-honouring life-pleasing them so well that they obstinately let the fierce wrath hold them Gods Spirit desireth the Soul setting its Magia towards it the Soul needs only to open the Door and it goetâ— voluntarily in 2. But the most smarting bitter thing in Conversion is to break the Will-spirit from the Earthy substance and its Treasure the beloved Lusts and Self and from falshood by sincere earnest turning about of the Will into Gods Love which is the Divine Mystery that Gods Spirit may blow up the Divine sparkle And this must be or he is but a Bestial Man a Jugler and
near to the Devil And after this time there is no remedy more for the Souls Fire is naked and cannot be quenched with Gods Meekness but a Gulph or Principle is between them 3. Man is the Image of God and so standeth in a threefold Life the first is the Souls Life existing chiefly in seven Forms according to the Spirit of Nature The second is in the Image generated out of the Eternal Nature out of the Souls Fire standing in the Light The meek pure amiable Spirit The first the Fire is the cause of the second the Light Thus are two Worlds one in another onâ— not comprehending the other But at Death divides into two Principles of Anger and Love 4. As we in Adam went out of the Meek Spirit into the outward Life of fierceness God became Man to lead us through the Anguish Fire through Death into the Light and love-Love-life 5. The Prince Christ breaking the Bar or Fort of Death and so destroy'd the Devils Kingdom for the Light of God and the Water of Meekness is his Death 6. The third Life is the outward Created Life from the Sun Stars and Elements Man should have used the outward as a Looking-glass to the Eternal and Gods Honour But he did put his Will-spirit into the outward Principle by wicked Lust longing after the Earthy Life and so went out of Paradise which sprouteth through Death into the second Principle and went into Death and destroy'd his Noble Image This we Inherit from Adam but from the second Adam the Regeneration by which we must enter through his Incarnation with him into Death and through Death or Annihilation sprout into the Paradisical World into the Eternal Substantiality of the Liberty of God CHAP. VI. What Lust can do How we are fallen in Adam and helped again in Christ and yet that it is not easie to be a Right Christian. 1. DEstruction came and still cometh out of Lust. The outward Spirit of Man which is a similitude of the inward by Lusting after it infected the inward which not feeling present death gave room to the outward who then became Host of the House and so the fair Image disappeared for it fell among Murtherers the stern Spirits of the Lives original of which Cain was afraid then came the good Samaritan Christ who becâ—me Man 2. As Adam's Soul had opened the Fires Essences and let in the Earthy so Gods Heart opened the Lights Essences and compassed the Soul with Heavenly Flesh wherewith when the Soul became impregnated it went with its will into the Paradise Life Hence came Christs Temptation to try whether he could eat of the Word of the Lord and would enter through Death into Gods Life which was fulfilled on the Cross where Christs Soul went through the Fire of the fierce wrath through the stern source through Death and sprouted forth again into the Holy Paradise We must die unto our Earthy willing and continually become Regenerated into the new World 3. The right will must couragiously Fight against the corrupt will sinking down from Earthy Reason into Christs Death so that it will hazard the Earthy Life upon it And he that thus sinketh down passeth through Gods fierce wrath through all the holding â—ords of the Devil into the Paradise of God into the Life of Christ. And the more the noble Pearl Tree is sought the more strongly it groweth and suffereth it self not to be suppressed tho' it cost the outward Life which must but hang to us as it did to Christ. CHAP. VII To what end this World was Created 1. THE two Eternal Mysteries Mans strife about the Image And where the â—ree of Faith beareth Fruit. 2. The inward World desires a Similitude of it self which the Angelical World standing only in the light could not be This therefore standing in a twofold Genitrix of Love and Anger and Man being in a threefold Life from the Fire Light and Out birth clearly represents Who was Created to manifest the same Mystery and bring the Wonders into Forms according to the Eternal Mystery 3. The Noble Image the true Paradisical Man is strove for 1. By the stern Fire life 2. By the Divine Life 3. By the outward Life and thus being drawn of three There is great need of Fighting Hope Faith Humble Prayer and Patience that the Tree may grow which the outward Man nor Reason knoweth not but is very well known to the Noble Image The Cross Scorn Tribulation and Persecution attend him every hour for he is unknown to his Brethren all suppose his own Folly plagueth him but great will his Harvest be CHAP. VIII In what manner God forgiveth Sins and how Man becometh a Child of God 1. MAN is not to bring his Conscience into the History and hope for pardon in the manner of an Earthy Judicatory and yet remain wicked He must be a Son it is elâ—e as if a Servant should comfort himself that his Lord would give him his Estate not considering he is not his Son Whereas whosoever is Born of God in Christ is a partaker of Christs Sufferings Dying and Resurrection for a continual Battel must be till the Reason and Will of the corrupt Flesh be subjected 2. And if the Earthy Reason be strong it goeth often sadly and there is requir'd not only strict Sobriety but Watching Fasting and Prayer to â—ame it that Gods Spirit may find place to generate some faâ—r little Branches out of the Tree of Faith which under the Cross Anguish and Tribulation may bear Fruit with Patience These three Parts or Books were the Authors fifth Book THE Great Six Points The First POINT CHAP. I. Of the first sprout of Life out of the first Principle whereby we may distinguish the Divine Being from Nature 1. TEXT 1. The first or Abyssal Will without and beyond Nature is like an Eye or Looking-glass yet retains Nature 2. This Will is the cause of the Desiring The Desiring is the cause of the Essences The Essences are the cause of every Life for Life lyeth in them as a hidden Fire which burneth not 3. In the Will all the Forms of Nature from Eternity tho' but as a nothing in respect of Nature yet are truely and entally or really but not essentially in the Will 4. The Eternal Will which comprizeth the Eye wherein standeth the Seeing or Wisdom is the Father 5. The Eternal Wisdom comprizing a Centre out of the Abyss is the Form Heart and Son 6. The entring Eternally into it self to the Centre is the Spirit for it is the finder and then goeth forth manifesting the Wisdom of the Father and Son 2. TEXT 1. Thus the Abyssal being of the Trinity generateth to it self a Centre of Rest viz. the Eternal Word or Heart wherein is understood a threefold Spirit where the one is ever the cause of the other and is not measurable fathomable divisible nor circumscriptive dwelling in it self as a substance equally alike and at once filling
all things but hidden to the things not dwelling in the things for it self hath a substance in it self after the manner of Eternity 2. The first Eternal Principle is Magical and like a hidden Fire is Eternally known in its Colours in the figure in the Wisdom of God as in a Looking-glass The opening of which Mystery openeth the three Principles according to the Trinity 3. The Magical Centre of the first Principle is Fire which as also the second is as a Spirit without palpable substance therefore the longing is to generate the third where the Spirit of the Principles might manifest it self by Similitude In this desiring Powers Colours and Virtues come to be 4. And for as much as every desiring is attractive The first Principle impregnateth it self with Nature and the second with Light And this meek Fire of the Majesty of the second being set opposite to the Fire of the first quenching its wrath puts it into an Essential Substance thereby and the first giveth the second power strength and might being together an Eternal Band that without the one the other could not be 5. What the first Principle is wholly and alone in it self The first Will willeth to be free from the darkness and by desiring cannot attain it for the desiring is a stern attraction So that out of the thin rare liberty where nothing is a darkness comes And the greater the desiring the greater will be the attraction The drawing giveth sting and the attracted giveth hardness from the desiring comes the feeling thence also comes the third form viz. the Anguish which is as it were the Centre where Life and Will originate 6. Hence it is the Will would flee but is withheld by the harshness so that it becomes whirling as a Wheel and the greater the Anguish the greater the whirling and the greater the bitter sting of the Essences and Multiplicity But in the whirling the Essences become a mixed will where lye innumerable multiplicity of Existencies or Beings justly called the Eternal Mind 7. The first will which is called Father and is in it self the Liberty desireth Nature and Nature groaneth after the liberty from the Anguish The conception of which in the Imagination causeth a shriek of joy and when it attaineth the liberty the shriek becomes a flash in the meekness breaking the sting of Death and passeth into the Kingdom of Joy and so into the Love for the meekness draweth the Joy into it and that is the Water of Eternal Life 8. And when the Fire drinketh the Water of Eternal Life it giveth forth the Light of the Majesty where dwell the Father and the Son And the Holy Spirit is the Life of it opening the meek substantiality viz. Colours Wonders and Vertues That is called the Divine Wisdom the House of the Holy Trinity and in its Colours and Vertues the Spirit hath all the Angelical Quires 9. The second substance of the shriek is an Inimicitious Quality exciting a panting to be loosed from the quality of Anguish Whence in the Fathers Will ariseth pity compassion and mercifulness 10. Hence also cometh the Gall into Creatures which tho'it be a Poyson is the cause of Life viz. of Mobility for Death is the Root of Life as may be seen in Christs Death and also in our own 11. The Souls Fire uniteth with the Eternal Nature The right Souls Spirit is one Spirit with God The Images Corporeity is of the Substance wherein the Faithful shall live Eternally CHAP. II. What the Principle is or what they all three are Further of the First Point 1. WHen Life findeth it self where none is that is a Principle Fire is a Property so is Light for tho' it be caused by the Fire it is not the Fires Property and the wrathful Anguish is the cause of both 2. But the Will to the Anguish called Father a Man cannot search out We only fathom how the Anguish gains the highest Perfection in the Holy Trinity and manifesteth it self in the three Principles What Essence is and how it originateth because thence spring the Senses and Thoughts and the Wonder of all Beings 3. The third Principle of the Stars and Elements manifesteth the other two And that which in moving attained the fierce wrath became the Globe of the Earth Thence is it that out of it while the Centre of Nature is in it and it freed from Death the pure Child of the Eternal substance may be extracted as in Gold Tho' by defect of attaining the Eternal Fire Life is not so brought out of Death save only in Man and what is beyond Man belongs to God and we wait the Renovation in the end of time 4. of the Substance and Property of the three Principles The first Principle standing in the Fire of the Will The second in the Will to the Light the one giving its desire into the other yet are not mixt each retaineth its Property yet dwelleth in the other The third hath the Properties of both yet is neither It is an awakener manifester and similitude of the Eternal yet is not the Eternal but is become a substance in the Eternal desire 5. The Creation was an awakening of the Power and Form which was in the Eternal Will and because it was in the beginning comprized in the Eternal therefore must the substance in this World together with the figure go into the Eternal 6. But whatsoever became comprized in the desire out of the beginning recâ—des into its Ether becoming what it was when it was no substance So this Worlds substance being a coagulated Vapour returns into the Magia or Mystery whereof it served a while to be a manifester 7. For nothing attains the liberty of Eternity that subsisteth not in the Willfire of the Eternal in which the Light can bring its lustre and dwell and that it be as subtle as the Lights substantiality 8. Mans Soul may if it will become generated out of the fierce wrath into Renovation by forsaking the Earthy renew what he hath generated out of the Eternal which else remaineth in the quality of Torment For whatever is not like to the Love fire Light and Water cannot subsist in the liberty but remains in an opposite Will in the dark Torment it awakened in it self 9. The right Man out of the new Birth is three Worlds the Eternal Light World shineth through all whatsoever is thin rare or transparent and thereby capable of it which can no more be hinder'd than the Sun can be that it should not shine 10. The Properties of the first Principle sprout making Sulphur Mercurius and Sal. 11. The second Principle sprouteth in it self making Love a Friendly Vertuous Pioâ—s Humble Patient Will to stoop and bear with evil in others ever hidden to the old Man lashing it forward as a lazy Ass denies him the worldly Jollity it lusteth after and makes him a Servant it with standeth the evil Influences of the Stars and the fierce Devil and Malicious Men so
far as they are holy and capable of it which their possessing the second Principle enables them to be 12. The third Principle hath its sprouting but it is in Warring the cold against the heat and every thing against its contrary The cold gives substance the heat Spirit the Light Meekness And then the Fire consumes all both Evil and Good 13. Seeing therefore Man hath the two inward Principles in strife let him beware which he makes Lord for that will be his Lord Eternally when Death hath broken the Ballance CHAP. III. The Second Point 1. IN the Light World which is Gods Kingdom is rightly known no more but one Principle into which the four Properties give up their Will being chang'd into a desire of Love in Meekness That which in the Light World is well doing triumphing Joy and Pleasant Songs is in the dark a stinging Enmity Horror and Trembling 2. Therefore is the anxious evil the Light worlds Original and all is Gods but the Light only call'd Gods Kingdom the other his fierce Wrath which Kingdom hath the Constellations of the greatest and most severe eager might 3. That which melodiously ringeth in the Light rumbleth and thumpeth in the dark The cause of the ringing in Metals is that in the moving of the Aâ—l subâ—â—antiaâ— God in the Creation the Metalline Tincture became shut up in the â—aâ—â—â—ess 4. In the dark World are many sorts of Spirits or Hellish Worms according to their Constelâ—ations and Properties without uâ—derstanding or woe for iâ— is their Life as in this are unreasonable and hurtful Beasts Toads Serpents c. for all Properties would be Creaturely 5. The Principles are not at strife but in a constant league But Death and Anguish is the cause of Fire and Fire is the cause of all Life To the Abyâ—s it gives sting and fierceness else there would be no Mobility To the Light-world Essence else there would be no production but an Eternal Arcanum To this World it gives Essence and springing so is it the cause of all things 6. The Anguish of the dark World caus'd by Fire panteth after the liberty and the liberty longeth after manifestation thus is the Harmony between the Principles but in the Essences is strife else all things would be nothing 7. God Created Creatures in each Principle therein should they continue but when they introduce into themselves another thaâ— makes he Enmity as did the Devil introduce Pride and the fierce Wrath of the first Principle And Man into this World where he hath necessity and strife to make him go out again which if he with Divine Might doth at any time the Spirit of this World will drive on the Children of this World to hate plague and kill them whereto the Devil helpeth to drive them from among his Slaves 8. Man therefore is highly concerned to know that being in this World as a Prisoner he should not enter into the Earthy Malady but constantly go hence into the Light-world But if he press not thereinto with earnestness he like an Ape only imitates or plays Jugling Tricks for which the Devil derides him for thereby he gives his Body to this World and his Soul to the dark Abyss 9. Thus is seen that the Creatures of each Principle desire not those of the other nor can they see each other there being a Gulph between them CHAP. IV. Of the Original of Contrariety in the springing of Life The Third Point 1. VVHere is one only will there is no strife but where many are is contrariety unless one rule over the rest there then doth multiplicity harmonize for the harsh Anguish and bitter Properties are at Civil Hostility and Fire is the Incendiary setting them all into great Anguish Exasperating the respective Enmities till Light be produced and crowned King There it ruleth lovingly and rewards them with Meekness which appeaseth and well-pleaseth them all Thus is multiplicity reduced to an united will called the mind which by Imagination can create evil and good 2. The Mind inkindling it self inkindleth the whole Body and Spirit be it in Wrath or Love As is the Matter such is the Flame be it Brimstone or sweet Oyl and such is the favour 3. In the Souls Fire stands the Light of Life and in the Light of Life the Noble Image When therefore the Souls Fire in the fierce quality introduceth Earthy Matter into it the Noble Image withdraws The consequence of our hard and heavy Fall bringing on us so great danger and misery 4. Therefore hath Christ taught us Patience Meekness and Love for we are captives in God's fierce Wrath between Anger and Love so that if the Will-Spirit before the dissolution of the Body hath attained God's Love as a sparkle somewhat may be done but not without such irksom tediousness to break the dark fierceness which would extinguish it and that is Purgatory and how great Enmity Terror and Anguish the Life is in before it can in the sparkle sink down into the Liberty of God he well findeth who so nakedly with as it were only a glimmering Twilight departeth this World 5. It is therefore of absolute necessity that we take the Cross by entring into Humility Patience and the Meek Life therewith to break the will of the Dark fierce Centre and this World's Voluptuousness nor by wrong to excite Rage in thy Brother for that hindereth the Kingdom of God but thy meek self denial will further it that by beholding that Spirit in thee thy Brother may be convinced and judge himself seeing thy valuing more God's Love than temporal goods knowing thy self to be only a stranger But if the Evil-doer will not convert his Evil in the Anger of God gnaweth him to cause him to return If yet he hardeneth himself in wickedness he becomes a total Evil Tree devouring his own abominations growing for his dark God Lucifer The above is the Contents of the latter part of the fourth Point but the first part of the fourth Point contains viz. CHAP. V. How the Holy Tree of Eternal Life sprouteth through All the three Principles yet not comprehended 1. THE Divine Power and Light dwelleth in it self every where in Nature yet not toucht by any thing that is not of its Property not comprehended but as the Sun shineth in all the Elements yet not laid hold on by any and what the Sun doth in the third Principle the Light of God doth in the Forms of the Eternal Nature attoneing the Schism and Enmity of them that Light shineth through the Darkness but not comprehended by it 2. The three Principles comprehend not one the other unless the Will by falling into Death give up its Essences into the Light 3. The Devil is the poorest of Creatures The Sun is not profitable to him he cannot stir a leaf nor pile of Grass unless the anger be in it his Will neither goeth no can go into the Lights Property He goeth not readily but hateth every thing that sprouteth in and
its first sude boiling or vegetation CHAP. IV. The Birth of the Stars c. 1. THere are seven Forms in Nature which yet principally consist in three viz. Astringency Compunction and Anguish according to which there are seven Planets and no more and seven Metals fixt The Temporal Spirits hunger gaineth a Temporal Body and the Eternal Spirits hunger an Eternal Body both in each other but distinct as Time and Eternity 2. In Saturns Property the Lubet makes Lead and according to the Water Salt according to Saturns mortal Property Earth Stones c. according to the Liberty in Saturn Gold which he keeps shut up See verse the 27th to the 34th 3. There is in Man 1. The Divine Golden Man 2. The inward holy Body from Fire and Light like pure Silver if not corrupted 3. The Elemental Man like Jupiter 4. The Mercurial growing Paradisical Man 5. The Martial Soul-like Man 6. The Venerine according to the outward desire 7. The Solar a seer of the Wonders of God 4. Mercury in the internal was as the Word by which God created 5. Mars his impression is Anguish causing the Love-will to separate from him which is called God but the Anguish is God's Anger or Wrath of the Eternal Nature 6. Venus Metal is Copper receiving its toughness from Saturn its redness from Mars tho' Mars his Metal be Iron But Sol may tincture Mars and Venus into Gold for Venus longeth after Sol her Mother her Joy whence she hath a peculiar smiling twinkling Aspect 7. The Sun is a figure in the outward World of the heart of God each thing longeth after the Sun in Sulphur being the universal Tincture and what the first desire with Saturns impression makes evil the Sun restores to be good causing a pleasant temperature blooming and growing in all Creatures CHAP. V. Of the Sulphurian Death and how the Body is revived c. 1. MAN was created good according to and out of the three Worlds But the inward Lubet generated in the Centre viz. the fire wherein stands the Life by Lust enkindled the Divine Meekness wherein Joy consisteth turning from Eternal Liberty to Time from the one pure Element into the four Elements 2. Then did the Precious Gold of Heavenly Corporality which tinctur'd the outward Body disappear then also the dominion of Time destroyed its own contrived Spirit and so the Body passed away and died 3. The only Remedy is that Gods Love Desire Essentiality and Divine Water enter again into and quench the Souls Wrath-Fire For Mans Salvation consists in his full unfeigned desire after God so riseth the Meekness and Love tinctureth Death and Darkness in the four Elements and sever from the New Man who and the Heavenly Body remaineth only in it self So is it done in the transmutation of Metals See Verse the 12th and to the End of the Chapter De â—apide Philosophorum CHAP. VI. Of the generating Difference and Vegetation caus'd by Water and Oyl 1. ALL life and growth consist in the Lubet and the Desire The Lubet is out of the Liberty so God hath the free Lubet needeth nothing Himself as far as he is called God is all But the Desire is a hunger stirring up the Lubet to manifestation so the Lubet is the hungers Food and Essence 2. The free Lubet or Essence giveth an Oâ—â— and the Desire giveth a life to the Oyl The Oyl is a Light the Desire giveth the Fires Property so that it shineth In the Desire ariseth the Natural Spirit in the Lubet the Supernatural which yet is belonging to Nature not spontaneously but from its meek resignation to the Desires Property 3. But a twofold Property ariseth out of one Spirit thus a fiery according to the Property of the Desire and a joyful lucid according to the Liberty 4. The fiery giveth in its water Essence a sharpness or saltness and from the flery in its anguish Brimstorâ—e whence are Stones Earth and Meâ—als 5. The Oleous Property gives Meekness viz. Vegetation what the raging Mercury spoils the Lubet of the Love-oyl heals thus Good and Evil are in each Life the Evil comes when the Hunger Spirit too much impresseth its own Form To that it cannot receive the free Lubet to appeaâ—e its Hunger Whereas Nature's Property should be sincerely inclined to God's Love Eâ—s that it become not a dark raging poisonful Hunger but a Love desire which is called God's Nature for the hungry fiery desire is God's Anger in the outward 't is Fire but in the inward where it doth energize in the free Lubet it is the Divine Desire whence joyfulness proceedeth 6. All sharpness of taste is Salt all smell proceeds of Sulphur and Mercury distinguisheth all Motion in â—ast smell and power 7. In the strongest poisonful Mercury lyes the highest Tincture but not in its own Property but in an Oyl from the Light which is its Food If this be sever'd from him it is a mighty potent inkindler a lifter up of all sick â—ainting weak obscured lives for in this Oyl is the joyful Life a hunger after Life So in a Toad Viper Addeâ— â— lyes the highest Tincture if the oily Substance be reduced from the wrath of Mercury CHAP. VII How Adam and Lucifer were Corrupted through Imagination c. 1. VVHEN Adam was Created the Light of his Life shone in the pure Oyl of Divine Essentiality but by his Fall Mortal Water pene 〈…〉 so that his Mercury became a cold Poison which was before an Exaâ—â—aâ—ion 〈…〉 ss So came darkness into his Oyl and he died to the Divine Light 〈…〉 thereto by the Property of the Serpent for in the Serpent the wrath 〈…〉 and outward also was manifeâ—t whose subtilty Eve desired 2. Fo◠〈◊〉 much as the Serpent is not out of the Eternal Ground 〈◊〉 Angels and the Souls of Men but out of the Beginning where Fire and Light sever Eve should not have gone with her desire out of Eternity into time and be a Selfist but with a desire resign'd to God to the quiet still meek Liberty for each Hunger maketh it self an Essence according to the Property of the Hunger 3. The Devil went with his desire into himself into the Property of the Centre forsook the Eternal Lubet of Love and became a Poisonful Mercury or as an anxious Fire as Wood burnt to a Coal a dark glowing without Oyl or Water in it whence springeth a stinging Envy in his Lifes Forms where one Form hates the other in his aspiring Pride Out of the strife of which Properties when God said Let all sorts of Beasts come forth each according to his Kind or Property then came out of the divided Evil Properties Vipers Serpents Toads c. Not that the Devil made them but that there where God and the World sever the inward Wrath according to which God is called a Consuming Fire manifested it self in External figures of the inward wrath Kingdom 4. And because Adam died to God and lived
to Death it was necessary God should regenerate him from the Essence of time the Mortal Oyl which God had Cursed viz. withdrawn from to the Essence of Eternity the Living Oyl which God's Love-desire penetrateth So doth the Womans Seed break the Serpent's Head deprive the Wrath of its might put it into Divine Joyfulness the dead Soul ariseth the Anger was Master but in the Light is become a Servant From the 24th Verse exclusive to the End of the Chapter is de Lapide Philosophorum CHAP. VIII Of the Seething and Growth in the Earth and the Separation of the several Kinds of Creatures 1. ALL things consist of a sulphurous Property The visible as the likeness of the Eternal proceed in Generation according to the right of Eternity in the Limit of Measure Weight and space of Time which is as a dead Instrument of Eternity Now for accomplishing all God hath substituted the Soul of the great World his Officer and over him the understanding wherewith he ruleth the Officer shewing him the Severation Degrees and Process for Sulphur contains all Mercury enliveneth and Salt impresseth and fixeth that it fall not to Ashes Mercury by boyling in Sulphur produceth two Forms viz. One Oleous from the Liberty of the Divine Power the other Mortal from the dissolution of the Salnitral flagrat Mercury is the Officers Faber which in the Oily Property doth pullulate willing always to fly from the Anguish as his Death not to be captivated thereby from which strife proceedeth Growth in the Mortal Property it is the Life of Death Hell and the Anger of God but in the oleous good Property is a Heavenly Light 3. And because the Essence of Eternity is hid in the anxious Mercury these and the other Writings of this Author teach how to bring the desire out of the poisonful Mercury into the inclosed Essence of Eternity and reassume that for a Body and therewith Tincture the Essence of time and reunite the inward and outward World to have only one Will viz. A Love Hunger so that no Will to Evil can arise any more And may be attained like as we see Eternity Travelling through time with longing to be free from Vanity which when the Hunger of Mercury obtains it becomes joyful is pregnant making the free Lubet Corporeal in him whence come good Herbs Metals Silver Gold Pearls c. all according to the prevalency of one of the seven Forms of Nature and the Boiling or Sude in each place CHAP. IX Of the Signature Shewing how the Internal doth sign the External 1. THE Kingdom of God consists in Power and the outward visible World is a Figure or Signature of the Spiritual and Eternal Powers both the inward and outward are especially in seven Properties or Forms each the cause of the other none is first or last of them 2. That of the seven which is Superior in any Creature or thing chiefly signeth that Body and the other Forms adhere to it But the Artist with the true Mercury by subjecting the Superior and exalting an Inferior Property may cause the Spirit to obtain another Will giving other tast odour colour sound and shape than before viz. Life and Good or Death and Evil prevailing 4. The Properties are Labourers in the Heavenly Earthy and dark impression also So the inward Mercury is the Eternal speaking Word both in the Holy Light World in the outward and in the opposite perverse World 5. That where Saturn is most potent is of colour greyish black or grey or whitish Buds in Vegetables of touch hard of tast sharp or salt the Eye of a dark blew a lean long Body or Stalk If it as usually it doth awaken Mars it curbs the heighth and is crooked knotty bushy as in Oak shrubs 6. Where Venus is next Saturn not hindred by Mars the Sude in that Saturnin Sulphur makes a tall great Man Beast Tree or Herb. 7. If Jupiter be stronger in Saturn than Venus and both than Mars it makes an excellent fair vertuous potent Body of good taste its Eyes whitish blue 8. But if Mercury be betwixt Venus and Jupiter and Mars weakest then is this Property in Saturn graduated in the highest Power and Vertue in word and work If it be in Vegetables they are long of middle-sized stalk of curious form fair white or blue Bloâ—â—oms which if the Sum influenceth incline to yellow and if Mars hinder not be it in Man or other Creature is Soveraign Universal Vertue exempted from false Influences but is rarely found being near to Paradise 9. But if Mars be next Saturn superiour to Venus and Jupiter and Mercury cast an opposite Aspect all is poyson'd and the Creature prone to evil which if the Moon also Influenceth Witchcraft is manifest 10. If a Blossom be reddish streak'd with white Venus is there but if only reddish with dark streaks a rough Skin on the Stalk or Leaf a loathsom taste it obscureth Life for there lodgeth the Basilisk It is Pestilential but if the Artist extracteth the Mercurial Poyson and feedeth Mars with Jupiter and Venus it becomes a Love-fire in Sol and an Antidote 11. This Property makes the Voice or Sound gross dull yet inclining to be shrill by reason of Mars false and flattering the Visage hath red Pimples or Streams in blinking rouling or unsteady Eyes 12. But if Mars be next Saturn and Jupiter under it Mercury weak Venus opposite it produceth good hot Herbs for hot Diseases rough and pricky yet the stalk is fine and thin the Flower brownish 13. Saturn alone hurteth in Mars-like Diseases for it awakeneth Mercury in the cold Property 14. Nor may the undigested hot Mars be used in which Mercury is inflamed but both be first sublimed into Joy 15. An Herb in the aforesaid Property grows not high is rough in such degree as Mars hath strength in it and to be used only externally but the fine subtle part is expulsive and near to Mans Life being then most potent 16. But if Mercury be next Saturn and next him the Moon and Venus and Jupiter beneath and weak then all is Earthy at best let Mars be where he will but if Mars be too near is also poysonous unless Venus opposeth by whose Power it hath a greenish Colour 17. If Venus be next Saturn and the Moon not oppos'd by Mars and Jupiter be powerful then in that Constellation all is pleasant the Herb slender single and soft the Blossoms white unless Mercury by Sol and Mars intermix yellow and red 18. There are three Salts in Vegetables chiefly Medicineable which the Spirit of the Sun makes operative 1. Salt of Jupiter of pleasant Smell and Taste inwardly from the liberty of the Divine Essence and Externally of the Sun and Venus 2. Salt of Mars is fiery bitter and austere 3. Salt of Mercury is anxious and raging inclined to heat and cold assimilating it self to each Property where it is in Jupiter's Salt it causeth
potent Joy 19. In Mars's Salt it makes Pangs and Stiches and Woe In Saturn's Salt Swellings Anguish and Death if not oppos'd by Jupiter and Venus for they two oppose and temper Mars and Mercury yet by Mars and Mercury is the Life in Jupiter Venus and Sol where would else be a stilness thus is the worst as profitable as the best 20. And when the Physician hath reconciled Mars and Mercury with Venus and Jupiter that they all obtain one will the Sun of Life will revive and correct the nauseat of the Disease into a pleasant Jupiter This is only applicable to the Vegetative or Sensitive Soul of the Elementary Body 21. The rational Soul hath its Diseases springing from care and distress till it lead to heaviness and Death cured by removing the causes of that care c. 22. So Sin hath poyson'd the Mental Soul by Inflaming his Eternal Mercury which with the sting of his Mars burns in the horrible impression of his Saturn his Venus is Imprison'd his Intellectual Jupiter Infatuated his Sun quenched his Moon dark 23. To Cure this he must with Venus the Love of God and Jupiter the Divine Understanding quench and appease the flaming Mercury and raging Mars So is the Soul Tinctured with Love his Sun then shineth and Jupiter rejoiceth for Divine Love begetteth a Divine Will so Tiâ—ctured as able to die to self-will which Death doth attain the nothing wherein is no Turba to touch or hurt the Soul who now doth neither see know nor live but according to the resignation 24. Here doth Christ break the Serpents Head and God become all in all 25. It is possible to live without sickness but very difficult to bring the inward into the outward as the Sun illustrateth Water because the opposite will hath introduced wrath in the outward Body it must die and putâ—ifie and enter again into the nothing into the beginning of the Creation out of which it departed wâ—th Adam CHAP. X. Of the Inward and Outward Cure of Man 1. TO Cure Man God brought not a strange thing into him nor did cast away the Humanity but with the like of that which was corrupted introduced a Divine Prâ—perty into him In Man was the expressed Word or Eternal Mercury inspoken which was the Soul with the Properties of all the three Worlds Fire Light and Love 2. Adam should have put his desire into the humble meek light and love but he made in himself the hunger after evil and good and so could not Tincture his Fire-world and outward World with Love 3. To restore Mans right Image God introduced the holy Mercury in the fiery Love-starne with such a desire of Divine Essentiality as makes Divine Corporality which reinkindled the Light of the Eternal Sun in the Humane Property so that the Humane Jupiter of Divine Understanding might again appear 4. So is the outward Cure done Mans Mercury was inkindled a Mercury must Cuâ—e it but that must first it self be inkindled in Venus and Jupiter which also gives it the Suns Property Not with dark cold Saturn unless first sweetly appeas'd with Venus and Jupiter so will the Sun shine in Saturn and Death be chang'd into Life 5. The Knowledge how God restores the Universal is learnt by study of the process of Christ from his first Incarnation to his Ascention The Essence of Venus shut up in Death must be Baptiz'd in the Water of the Eternal Essence By which the Imprison'd Incentive as Fire falling into Tinder gloweth Then must the outward Food be withdrawn and the hungry Desire be tempted whether it will go into God and be fed with Manna let the Essence of time by resignation be subject to that of Eternity and so possess the Elected Throne whence Lucifer fell or desire the Earthy Kingdom of Good and Evil for outward Dominion If its will remain in Gods Love-fire the Water is turn'd to Wine so is the outward Cure also done 6. But before the Universal Restoration be manifest all the seven Properties must be Chrystalized each Form by a peculiar process forsaking their will in the wrath and come into the Loves Property wherein is no Turba all which Christ did in the Humanity before the Body was glorified 7. When therefore the Frozen Mouth in Saturn of all the Properties is opened and that Food given to their hunger wherein is no Turba the flagrat of Joy in Love dismayeth the wrath and is as a Transmutation but not fixt the Angelical Properâ—ies appear in view 8. In Christs Temptation the speaking Mercury in the Light was given to the expressed Mercury of the Fires Property because Adam's Fires Property had quenched the Lights Property Christ was tempted to depart out of the Resignation into a desire of selfish Propriety of worldly Avarice and Dominion to the Knowledge and Kingdom of Good and Evil where pain and wrath is manifest but in the Resignation is sacred Love and no Breath of Anger as in the Light of the Fire is no pain of Fire manifest 9. The Mother and Womb of all Beings is Sulphur Mercury is her Life Mars her Sense Venus her Love Jupiter her Understanding Luna her Corporeal Essence Saturn her Husband 10. In the Philosophick work the Artist raiseth in the first Kingdom the dead Apostate Child shut up in Saturn opening by degrees Paradise again by Gods permission In the second Kingdom Luna Corporally feeds where the outward Mercury hath not laboured So Christ fed the 5000. 12. In the third Kingdom Jupiter Christ made Babes wise so the Artist seeth the new Life rise up the four Elements appear with all Colours 13. In the fourth Kingdom of the Mercurial Orb Christ restor'd the Deaf Dumb and Lepers so the Artist sees how Heaven severs it self from the Earth and again sinks into it Coloureth and purifieth the Matter appearing in Antimony 14. In the fifth Kingdom Christ ejected the Devils so the Artist will see how Jupiter in Mercury drives up a black twinkling fiery Vapour out of the Matter sticking like Soot a hunger of the Poyson in Mercury the Devils Property 15. In the sixth Kingdom Christ in Venus loved his and humbly washed his Disciples Feet gave himself up to be mock'd beaten and crucified so the Artist will see as soon as the material Devil the dark fiery steam is gone the Virgin very Glorious which the Artist will be apt to think is the Philosophick Child but in the tryal finds it to be a Woman not the Virgin with the Tincture of Fire and Light for now Saturn Mars and Mercury oppose but Jupiter and Luna hold with Venus but when the Power of wrath cometh Luna changeth her will viz. Colour and cryeth with the common people signified by her Crucifige CHAP. XI The Process of Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection Symbolized in the Philosophick Work THIS whole Chapter consisting of eighty verses being a profound pursuit especially of the sixth Kingdom and the Essence
as far as he is called God but hath as the Sun one only Will to give out himself in Life and Power to all things and is without ground place or time take away Nature and Creature and all is God forego the out-spoken Word and you find the speaking Word 4. The nearest way to find God is for Man who is his Image to fink down from all imprinted Images Disputes and Strife depart from Self-will and Desire and demerse it self solely into the single Love of God which he in Christ hath after Man's Fall first introduced into the Humanity 5. Let Man go forth from all Images when he will understand the Eternal speaking Word but when he would know whence Evil and Good proceeded and God's calling himself an angry Jealous God let him look towards the Eternal Nature to the out-spoken and formed Word and then to Nature the Beginning Temporal Nature wherein lyeth the Creation of this World CHAP. II. Of the Original of Gods speaking Word c. 1. CReaturely Reason thinketh God from Eternity by Predestinate purpose resolved his Wrath on some should reveal his Majesty and on others his Love and Mercy as Fire doth Light If so then there must have been Thoughts Consultation and Cause of it But he is only one nor can only one thing be at strife in it self whence Consultation should arise to decide it 2. Every thing springing from a Beginning less Ground hath nothing before it can destroy it unless it bring it self into a Heterogene Will incongruous to that whence it sprung and so separate it self from the total intireness as did the Devils and Soul of Man break it self into a peculiar off from the intire Will and Divine Uâ—igeniture 3. The Powers to the Production of the Word are God and the Magnetical Attraction Science or Root in the beginning of Nature That attraction of the Desire revealeth God's Majesty in the Power to Joy and Glory which is the Root of Darkness coming to the kindling of the Fire according to which God calleth himself an angry God and consuming Fire Wherein also the Divisibility Death and Dying and gross creaturely life existeth 4 Men that say God willeth Evil do accompt him a Devil for the willing Evil is a Devil they should distinguish God from Nature 5. In Nature as Metals c. having in them Evil and Good one thing is set against another not to be at Enmity but that the Mysterium Magnum should enter into distinction and be at an exulting Joy in the Eternal one 6. The Eternal Will Jehovah manifesteth its Word through Nature but taketh not Nature into him but the Word taketh Nature to it in the Science or Root 7. * God is called God only according to the Light in the Love-fire and Temperature not in the Divisibility CHAP. III. Of the Seven Forms and Creation 1. THE First Form of the Beginning to Nature is Astringency Father of Sal. The second Form is perceptibility the Wo c. Father of the Mercurial Life The third Form is Anguish Father of Sulphur arising from the strife of the other two The first ariseth from the Fathers The second from the Sons The third from the Spirits Property The first the Ground of Strength and Might The second of Distinction Speech and the five Senses The third of every Life of Light Love-fire and consuming fire of Joy and Sorrow The fourth Form is the kindling of the Fire where Light and Darkness sever here is the Shrieks Terror Poison Life Torment Hell resulting from the first Three The Trembling is at the great Meekness as when you pour water into the fire here riseth the flash at this parting riseth the Light out of the Temperature The Tincture goeth hence the Power of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia From v. 41 to 56. lye high Mysteries The fifth Form is the true Love-fire which severs it self from the painful Fire into the Light having all the Properties of the three first in joyfulness drawing into it the Tincture of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia This is the power of the Speaking Word the Water-spirit which flows into a Fountain of Eternal Life John 4. 14. Spiritual Blood Divine Substantiality Heavenly Corporeity of which Christ saith he came from Heaven and at the same instant was in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. The Food of the fiery Soul Angels c. The sixth Form the Sound Spiritual Senses all in the Temperature in which Adam was but Lust would tast the multiplicity of Properties and leave the Temperature and so the Properties departed each from other as heat cold dry moist hard soft harsh astringent sweet bitter and sour which God did forbid thence followed bestial Desires heat cold bitter stinging rushed in thence were brought in Poison Turba magna and Chamber of Death The seventh Form is where the Sound makes it self audible for the fifth Form is wholly Spiritual Luna and Saturn the beginning and end Thus the seven Spiritual Properties and Powers bring themselves into creaturely formation by the strife of the seven outward Properties for in the Temperature no Creature can be generated for it is the only One God but in the Exit the Wonders and Creature-Images may spring forth and exist CHAP. IV. Of the Original of the Creation 1. ALL Eternal Creatures have their Root in the Speaking Word The Temporary have theirs from the out spoken Word 2. The first Principle in the fiery Root which is the Centre of Nature ariseth not in the Trinity but where the Power of Distinction puts it self into Nature to perceive and move which first Principle in the Darkness is a cold aking fire according to which God calls himself an angry jealous or zealous God 3. The second Principle is where the Divine Root in the Fire parteth it self into the Light and introduceth it self into Nature to Manifestation of Divine Joyfulness according to which God calls himself a loving Merciful God that willeth nor can will Evil. 4. The third Principle is in the seven Days Work in which the seven Properties of Nature brought themselves into Substance which Substance is Holy Pure Good The one Element called the Eternal Heaven City of God Paradise 5. The Being of all Beings the Holy Spiritual World is the Expressing Word of God which bringeth it self into Substance in Love and Anger so that in the Impression of Darkness is understood Evil and yet in God is not Evil but in the Creatures Self-hood and yet there also is Good as far as the Creature standeth in the Temperature 6. The Angels were made in the seven Properties which drew themselves into three Hierarchies according to the three first Properties or Principles 7. The first Hierarchy standeth in the Father's Property in the fire of Strength the Tincture of the Substance of Nature 8. The second consists in the Light-fires Tincture the Son's Property in the Eternal Nature and is the Holiest 9. The third in the Self-hood of
Sins of the Parents and Ancestors come Thistle Children and there lieth the hardening CHAP. VIII v. 115. EVery Child is generated out of the Properties of the Seed of the Parents and like them tho' often the Constellations alter in the Configuration with Authority and Power It is objected How can the Child help it It is answered The Child and the Parents are one Tree When did the Sun alter a branch on a sour Crab-tree so that it became sweet and should God go quite contrary to the predestinate purpose of his out-spoken or expressed word for a Thiâ—tles sake v. 177. The Will to partition existeth in the Ens to the Creature and the Will to the Holy Life existeth out of God in Christ. See chap. 10. v. 110 129 to 135 145 151 153. also chap. 11 130. to the end And chap. 13. per tot especially the 15th v. to the 40th After all which followeth an excellent Appendix of Repentance And lastly the Clavis See more concerning Free Will c. in the Mysterium Magnum Chap. 26. This being the Author's 16th Book was written Anno 1623. BAPTISM AND THE Lord's Supper The first Part being of Baptism CHAP. I. First Book of Baptism 1. THAT Christ's communication of himself to the Soul by his Testaments is not in an Image-like way as the reason of one part of men judgeth nor are the Testaments only Signs and Symbols to keep what he hath done for us in lively remembrance as others dispute 2. But the Inward World being Paradise whence sprung the Outward World Christ filleth and ruleth visibly and the Outward invisibly and penetrateth the faithful Soul as Fire doth Iron or the Sun doth the Plant which it nourisheth and matureth till it becomes wholly solar and the Fruit ripe and tender yet is not the Sun rent or any part broken off but the power of the Sun dwelleth in the Plant. CHAP. II. 1. MAN's Fall was the breaking its desire from the Love and Meekness of God into its own which became a wrathful fiery Soul whence the Eternal Darkness existed so that it wanted for remedy the Spiritual Oyl and Water wherein Divine Love and Meekness might flow into it again and make all a Love-flame 2. To this flowing in again there must be a Medium Subject or Antitype whereby the Human Faith might receive Divine Vertue and kindle the Light which Medium was the Circumcision and Sacrifices Baptism and the Supper for God did set in the Human Heavenly Being perished in Adam his new Grace Covenant 3. So that the holy Sacrificers before the Floud did see the Soul sacrificed in the Fire of God's Wrath and through that in spoken Covenant changed into a Love-fire the false will being burnt and dying and a new-born Child of Meekness in the Light was apparent as Light severeth from Smoke and how the Soul through Christ's death would give up it self and be changed into an Angel But this was not common Fire 4. But when Mens vanity prevailed with the Souls false Fire over the holy Fire the Floud the Type of Baptism and God's Meekness overthrew them to shew what the holy Water of Eternal Life would do And then was renewed the Covenant with Abraham and Isaac by Circumcision on that same Member to shew the unclean bestial Birth should be cut off from the Virginity Adam had and should have stood in CHAP. III. 1. ALL the three Worlds Properties or three Principles in Man needed Baptism viz. The first which is the Eternal Nature whence sprung the true Eternal Soul Secondly The heavenly Ens which was vanished in Adam that holy Lights Power the true Eternal Spirit Thirdly The Outward Worlds substance the Astral Soul with its Body out of the Limus of the Earth standing in the four Elements and therefore the great holy Fire of Love manifested in the Humanity of Christ must baptize this our threefold Humanity that each Principle might be baptized with its like viz. 2. The Fathers holy Fire The Sons holy Light The holy Spirits Life 3. The first is the sound to continual Repentance a concussion and trembling with Fire wherein is seen the bitterness of sin and sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. And when the Self-will is shaken through Repentance then the holy Oyl of Love penetrateth and by the anointing of Love healeth those wounds 4. And the Holy Ghost manageth the Office baptizing with a new Life 5. But Man's third Principle the right Adamical Man out of the four Elements is baptized with the Outward Worlds substance the Water 6. By the aforesaid Adamical Man is meant the Spiritus Mundi viz. the right Astral Soul which at the last day shall come again and be tryed 7. Note Man hath an immortal Soul and a mortal Soul viz. the Astral but it was Christ's heavenly Blood that fell with the other which made the Earth tremble 8. He that is himself baptized with the holy Anointing hath Faith which may enable him to baptize else he effecteth nothing but is as the Font-stone but to the believing Parents Child the work is not wholly powerless for the sake of the unworthy hand for if Parents have put on the Anointing why not their Children whom they generate out of the Property of their Seed The Lord's Supper Part II. CHAP. II. 1. THE Soul is the Fathers Fire The holy Love-fire of the Divine Ens heavenly Flesh and Power in the Light being Christ's substance tinctureth he Soul with the Tincture of supernatural glance and life 2. As sweet Oyl put into common dark Fire ariseth into a Light so is Christ received by the mouth of Faith become the Light of the World by kindling again the vanished heavenly Ens of Adam and shining in the unlocked Paradisical ground which is the City of God where the Holy Ghost dwelleth in Man of which Christ saith Joh. 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood continueth in me and I in him which is a real and substantial eating and drinking Christ's heavenly Flesh and Blood 3. The Holy Flesh and Blood is taken into the Soul which cometh freely as the Sun doth into Water which retaineth its heat and light or as Fire penetrateth Iron and gives it heat and light 4. Also 't is the whole Christ as they did eat the whole Paschal Lamb. 5. The Bread and Wine is the Medium in which the Heavenly Humanity of Christ meets the unlocked awakened Word of Promise and Grace Covenant which is hid in Man 6. By the Bread and Wine said here to be the Medium is not meant the gross Elements of Bread and Wine but the Tincture or Quintessence whence cometh or groweth Bread and Wine Chap. 3. ver 24. CHAP. III. How the Disciples of Christ did Eat and Drink Christs Flesh and Blood 1. NOT the palpable Fleshly Humanity but the Spiritual Humanity the Virtue and Power of his Body and Blood his own Mumia in which was the Divine and Humane Power
which is a true Humane Substance of Flesh and Blood a Spiritual Flesh out of which the visible Image groweth not only by Faith in remembrance of his Sufferings Death c. as is ignorantly said but really Christs Paradisical Humanity presseth into their Souls as a sparkle of Fire falleth into Tinder and turneth the whole Tinder into Fire and Light 2. The Divine Flesh and Blood of Christ cannot be receiv'd but by a Mouth fit to receive it 3. The Mortal Flesh comprehendeth it no more than the gross Stone doth the Tincture of fine Gold that is in it 4. A Man cannot say I am Christ because Christ dwelleth and worketh in me no more than the Herb can say I am the Sun because the Sun worketh in it CHAP. IV. What the Wicked partake of and how a Man should prepare that he may be Worthy 1. HE that receives this without Repentance that is turning from Sin receiveth as Judas his own Judgment and Condemnation for his wicked Will desireth not to die in Christs Death but only to arise and live with his Sins in Christs Resurrection yet in the Spirit of Lucifer he treadeth on the Death of Christ and participateth indeed on Christs Anguish Death and going into Hell but in the Spirit of the Devil without rising to newness of Life Better it were he did not touch or meddle with it 2. They talk of Absolution and Pardon of Sin but leave it not and so Sathan as he did to Judas after the Sop entreth These Crucifie Christ. 3. But they that rightly prepare die to Sin resign themselves to God have the Spirit of Christ erecting his Kingly Office and Pallace in their Hearts a living Conqueror over Death and Hell these rightly receive Christs Flesh and Blood CHAP. V. Of the Disputes c. about Christs Testaments 1. ONE Party say the Bread and Wine is substantially changed into Christs Flesh and Blood and so will receive Christ into the Bestial and Mortal Man 2. Another Party say it is only a Sign that the Body of Christ was broken and died for us and deny the substantial participation 3. The third Party say Christ is participated with and under the Bread and Wine that is Christs Flesh and Blood is eaten and drunk with and under the Bread and Wine but yet know nothing of the right Adamical Humanity and deny the substantial Inhabiting of Christ. 4. For they will not know how the participation is wrought but rely barely on the dead Letter hence come such Contentions that are really Spiritual Murther and in the end come to outward Murther Every one for the Idol of his own Opinion but the Kingdom of God is inwardly within thee the outward imputed Grace without the Innate Filial Grace is false 5. Let the Sufferings and Death of Christ be fulfilled in us and we shall be the Children of Christ and not the Children of Images This was the Authors 22d Book Mysterium Magnum PART I. The First Part contains the nine first Chapters of Genesis and thirty fourth Chapter of the Book whence these Extracts are called the Great Mystery Exposition of Genesis CHAP. I. What God manifested is and of the Trinity 1. GOD is the One the Will of the Abyss the Will of the Wisdom The Wisdom is his Delight and Manifestation he begetteth himself from Eternity to Eternity in which Eternal Generation are 1. The Will 2. The Mind of the Will 3. The Egress from the Will and Mind 2. The Will is the Father the Mind is the Wills Heart and Seat the Egress is the Spirit and Power of the Will and Mind The Lubet Motion Life and Eye of the Deity A speaking Word 3. God is no where far from or near unto any thing Infinitely more deep than any thought can reach comprehended only by himself CHAP. II. Of the Word or Heart of God 1. THE Word is in the Will a nothing but with the Conception in the Lubet of the Will is an Eternal Generation This Eternal speaking Word maketh a Mystery call'd the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Powers Colours and Virtue whereof as out of a great Eternal Mystery was formed by Coagulation the Spiritual World Which two are as Soul and Body 2. And tho' the speaking Word rule through and over all yet cannot be comprehended by either but in the inward World conceiveth it self into a Spiritual Essence as one only Element wherein the four lye hidden but when the Word moved the one Element the hidden Properties did manifest themselves as there are four Elements CHAP. III. How out of the Eternal Good an Evil is come to be the Original of the Dark World VVE cannot say that Eternal Light or Eternal Darkness is Created for they are not comprehended in time but Concomitant in their Generation But not in the Word of the Deity but Originate in the desire of the speaking Word For the free Lubet wherein is the Wisdom could not have sensible perceivance of its own Vertue Smell Taste and Colours if it brought not it self into a desire like a hunger and so bring it self from Abyss into Byss by over-shadowing Attraction And remains a Property viz. a darkness For where a Property is there is a something yielding obscurity Unless something else viz. a Lustre fill it and then 't is Light yet remaineth a Darkness in the Property And this is the Eternal Original of the Darkness So that we are to understand 1. The free Lubet the wisdom which is no Property but is one with God 2. The desire of the free Lubet which in the hunger or coagulation comprehends the free Lubet and maketh it self out of the free Lubet For the desire is the Fathers Property And the free Lubet the wisdom is the Sons Property Tho' God here until the Manifestation through the Fire in the Light is not called Father or Son but set down thus to shew to what Person in the Deity Nature and to what the Power in Nature is to be ascribed The desire proceeding from the will of the Abyss is the first form and it is the Fiat The free Lubet is God who governeth the Fiat the Centre of Nature And both together are the Eternal Word and in the desire are the seven Properties of Nature The profound distinct Discourse of them taketh up the remainder of this Chapter and the fourth fifth and sixth CHAPTERS CHAP. VII Of the Holy Trinity and Divine Essence THE Eternal and Temporal Nature especially consists in the dark world in the four first Forms Astringent Bitter Anguish and Fire But the Powers in all are understood in the Light or Love-desire or Love-fire 1. For the first ground is the one 2. The free Lubet viz. the Wisdom 3. The Love desire wherein the free Lubet exacuateth it self through Nature into a Kingdom of Joy 4. The Oyly Spirit wherein the Lubet amaffeth it self in the Meekness and coamaffeth the Lustre the Power whereof is
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day â—wallows up the Night or as the Fire illustrateth the heated Iron Yet was no more apprehended by the outward Elements though then in their best Purity than the Terrestrial doth the Celestial The Internal was to rule over the External the Heaven was the Husband to the Earth before the
in the Spirit of Christ in all Gods Children is that whereby they bring to nought the works of the Devil 5. But Cain's Offering is the Type of Verbal Titular Christendom Who relye only on the Offering and teach that Christs Testaments absolve from Sin tho' themselves remain Impenitent Domineering Murtherers CHAP. XXVIII Of Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel 1. THE cause of that was as still it is a â—trife about Religion The Devil envied Man who was to succeed in the Throne whence he was become Apostate But the Death of Abel's outward Body is a Figure that the Bestial Man must be devour'd that out of Death may spring forth Eternal Life till then must be maintain'd a resolute Conflict And Abel as to the Heavenly part is a Figure of Christ. 2. And Cain in the Wrath is a Figure of the Enmity and Darkness in the Eternal Nature but outwardly a Figure of the Pharisees who Crucified the Lord And of all Persecutors to the end of the World CHAP. XXIX How the Adamical Tree hath put forth it self into Branches and Pullulation 1. THE seventeen first verses is a profound Tract how from Adam c. sprung evil and good ver 18. Cain in the Language of Nature signifieth a Source out of the Centre of the fiery Desire and Self-will out of the fiery might of the Soul viz. out of the first Principle 2. Habel in the Language of Nature signifieth an out-breathed Angel viz. from the second Principle and as a Type of Christ went out Childless for Christ was to generate a new Humane Tree 3. Therefore was it that Adam generated Seth which in the Language of Nature signifying a forth-running or leap where the Love-will riseth out of the Fire-will From him went the Line of the Covenant 4. Cain begat Hanock and Built a City which he called also Hanock signifying an outward selfish Dominion Hanock begat Irad signifying a Potentate or Tyrant Irad begat Mehujael signifying an assuming of the outward and inward Centre of Nature an Earthy God that would possess Riches and Domination out of this Name came Babel Mahujael begat Methusael signifying that mine is the Divine Might I am the Ordnance of God which indeed was true but only according to the first Principle Methusael begat Lamech signifying the sending of the Angel over the fleshly Life 5. Lamech took two Wives viz. a Twofold Effence and Will Ada signifying that â—ain would be honest and Zilla signifying fleshly Joy and Pleasure Ada bare Jubal a plain Man of him were such as kept Cattle but the other was Jubal signifying Temporal Joy viz. the Harp and Organ Zilla bare Tubal Cain it hath an excellent understanding shewing how the Sulphurous Mercurial Wheel opens it self in the Generation of Metals and his Sisters Name was Naemâ— here â—yeth the precious Pearl a Heavenly Property a Virgin of Purity by the dying of the outward Man Naemâ— becomes manifest And Lamech said I have sâ—ain a Man to my Wound and a young Man to my Hurt The Man was Abel the young Man was Christ. 6. Cain was to be Avenged sevenfold if any of the evil Spirits should kill him vengeance should be on such-Spirit by all the seven Properties of the dark World and the mark God set on him was the mark of the Covenant But Lamech was the seventh from Adam and spake Prophetically of what should befal his Posterity viz. should lose the unity and fall into the seventy Languages so that the ten Forms of Fire should open themselves in every of the seven Properties of Nature is seventy and thereto belong the seven unchangeable Forms of the Eternal Nature is seventy seven CHAP. XXX Of the Line of the Covenant 1. THE Covenant was to the Line of Seth as to the outward that they should be Preachers of it But it was as well to the Line of Cain in the Spirit even as Sin passed on the Line of Seth as on others for the Covenant was made to Adam and to the Virgin Image thereby to be restored 2. The evil Beast of the Godless Form God Predestinated to Condemnation but the Covenant is in the Life whose Free will soever resigneth to it in every such Christ riseth and the strange Beast dieth 3. Sâ—th signifieth in the Language of Nature a forth-breathing Spring out of the Life through the first Centre of the Soul Seth begat Enos which signifies a Divine Lâ—beâ— The fifth was Kenan signifying a forth-going re-conceived Lubet or desire of Divine Contemplation The sixth was Mahalaleel signifying an Angelical Form of an Angelical Kingdom 4. The seventh was Jared signifying a Priest or Prince of the Spiritual Kingdom as Irad was of the worldly Dominion The Office of Jared is Twofold outwardly 't is Moses and inwardly Christ as Lamech had two Wives And Jared begat Enoch signifying the out-breathed Breath of the Divine Good Pleasure The seven Generations have these Figures 5. 1. Adams purity before the Fall and Abel to whom the Fall hung and his being Murthered point out Christ who should bring us through Death into the pure Life 2. Seth's time continued to the Deluge 3. Enos time goes under Seth's and till Abraham 4. Canaan's time goes under Seth and Enos and until Christ in the Flesh. 5. Mahalaleel goes during Christ in the Flesh and the time of the Apostles of Christ. 6. Jared began after the death of the Apostles and ruled inwardly in Christs Children and outwardly the Cherub with the Sword bare rule This sixth time is known and yet hidden and passed under Antichrist as in a Mystery 6. True Christians wage no War for they having broken the Sword of the Cherub are dead and risen with Christ and live not to External Might his Kingdom not being of this World This sixth time continues till Translated Enoch appears in Spirit and Elias Sword comes then falls the outward Jared Babel 7. And God will restore the Spirits of the Letters CHAP. XXXI Of Enoch's Wonderful Line 1. ENoch begat Methusalah of the highest Age signifying a forth proceeding Voice Methusalah begat Lamech as the Lamech in Cain's Line had two Wives or Wills so this begat Noah signifying the end and the beginning 2. Noah had three Branches Sem signifying an out breathing Divine Lubet Ham signifying a strong breathing out of the Centre of Nature Japhet signifying an Appendix of Sem viz. a Natural Wonder Sem is a Type of the Light World Japhet of the Fire World Ham an Image of the Out-birth 3. The Sons of God looked on the Daughters of Men c. viz. those in whom Gods Spirit manifested it self looked according to the Lusts of the Flesh. And Giants viz. Tyrants were Born viz. Men whose Pride would receive no rebuke Therefore came the Deluge and after the three Families were sever'd It repented God that he had made Man and grieved him c. viz. according to the Creation of the formed Word not the Eternal speaking Word CHAP. XXXII Of the
Also we must know whoever will understand the Old Testament must set before him the two Types externally Adam the earthy Man and internally Christ and change both these into one and so he may apprehend Moses and the Prophets CHAP. XLVII Of the Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham and what it points at 1. BEershebah a bruising to Death is the same Fountain which the Angel shewed Hagar which Abraham viz. Christ digged and there afterwards preached the Eternal God The Covenant between Abimelech and Abraham is the Covenant of Christ with the Humanity where he sware not to destroy the Humanity as he said he was not come to condemn the World Abimelech viz. the Soul out of the Father's Property Picholl the outward Nature the third Principle Field-Captain or Officer of the Soul Abraham is Christ in the Humanity Now Abimelech's restoring Abraham's Wife saying he knew not c. signifieth That the Soul of Adam knew not Christ in the Tincture of Heavenly Venus therefore went into Self-lust but when God shewed it to the Soul the Soul said I knew not that God's Wife the Holy Tincture the Heavenly Matrix was in me 2. But now I restore whatever I have taken of the Divine Worlds Property it is thy Wife then all the Women of Abimelech and his Servants Eves Daughters were healed 3. Christ here sweareth not to shew any unkindness to the Human Property nor to the Children nor to the Grandchildren or Nephews viz those springing out of the wild Property where often a wicked Husband or Wife are joyned to a godly one and so those Children spring from the wild Property 'T is said Thou shalt do according to the kindness that I have done unto thee viz in restoring thy Wife thy Image shalt thou do to me and to the Land viz. the outward Man wherein thou viz. Christ sojournest art a Stranger Which Christ Sweareth As I live saith c. Then Abraham Christ reproved Abimelech the Soul that the Soul's Servants the Essences of Nature had taken away the Well the Essence from the Heavenly Corporality viz. Christ's Body in Adam for Christ's Holy Fountain sprung up in the fiery Essence of the Soul which being taken to Self-Power the Heavenly Image disappeared And Abimelech the Soul answered I knew not till this Day viz. that the Devil had deceived me 4. Then Abraham viz. Christ took Sheep his Children the Jews and Oxen the Gentiles and gave them to the Father of whose Property the Soul is by an everlasting Covenant And set seven Ewe Lambs apart viz. the seven Properties of the Natural Humanity of Christ manifested in us A part viz. a distinct Person 5. We poor Jews and Gentiles may not say we are Christ but his House he is a part with the Divine Property But in right resignation when Man's Will is Dead to Self Christ only liveth in it such Eternally witness that Christ digged the Well At Beersheba the place of Contrition Christ planted Trees Heavenly Branches Preached c. and remained there a long time viz. all the time of the Natural Life CHAP. XLVIII Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac 1. ABraham is represented in Adams stead Isaac in Christs Humanity The Voice is God the Fathers so is Christ Offered by Adam's Children the Jews to the Fathers Fire Thy Son whom thou lovest viz. thy will brought into Self-love in the devoration of which in Gods Wrath-fire the true Man Created in Adam must be form'd and preserv'd as Gold or Silver in the Crucible where Copper and all Impurities evaporate On Mount Moriah which God not we chuseth 2. Christ wholly resigns up our Humane Will of self to his Father in his Death for all and in all Men As when the stock of a Tree dyeth the Branches die also and as the Tree reneweth its Youth as the Râ—d of Aaron did it introduceth new Life into its â—ranches Abraham rose early teaching immediate obedience And girt his Ass the Bestial Man with power Took with him two young Men one the Soul from the first Principle the other the Spirit of the outward Life Clave the Wood as Adam clave Gods Love and Anger On the third day pointing at Adam's sleep to the Angelical World and the time of Christs Resurrection Afar off the Final Offering of Christ above two Thousand years The two young Men to tarry with the Ass till Christ is Offered and come again Abraham took the Knife and Fire Gods Anger and Death Isaac said Here is the Wood the Sins of all Men and the Fire Gods Wrath but where is the Lamb Abraham's Ens of Faith saw the Lamb. Abraham bound Isaac so was Christ and so must our self-wills be bound and resign'd to God in entire earnestness The Angel calleth hurt not Nature as he had done to Hagar at Beersheba He saw a Ram hung c. shews death kills not the true Man but the pushing Beast hung in the Devils Thickets of Thorny Cares and Vanity Next follows the Blessing increase and prevalency And Abraham return'd with his Son and two young Men to Beersheba into the toil and labour of this World so God exerciseth his people not always in operation of the Spiritual Figures but in weakness and infirmities in the Kingdom of Nature And sometimes again under the Cross and so they grow as in a Field sometimes Storms sometimes Sun-shine 3. Nahor Abraham's Brother had eight Sons by Milcah of whom came great Nations the Assyrians who tho' they sprung not from the Ens of Faith in the Line of Christ the Blessing of Abraham passed on them CHAP. XLIX Of Sarah's Death and Abraham's Hereditary Sepulchre 1. WHile Abraham lived he was a Stranger no continuing abode had he but when his Sarah died he would have a certain Possession of a peculiar and Hereditary Sepulchre for his Wife himself and Children which he would not have to be given him but bought it of the Sons of Heth and Ephron for four hundred Sheckles of Silver viz. the Cave of Machpelah The inward Figure of which is That 2. When Isaac viz. Christ is come the two fold Body returns back to its original Mother the Eternal and Temporal Nature When the Saints die to self the outward Life The resigned Life will no longer stand in a strange Serpentine one it cannot of due right take the first true Field but it must be purchased Thus Abraham in the Figure of Christ doth of the Sons of Heth who stand in the Fathers Figure And that Christs Ransom is signified by four hundred Sheckles hath this meaning The first is the true Magical Fire the second is the Light the third the holy sound of the Mental Tongue the fourth the conceived Ens of the other Properties forming the holy Life This is the pure Silver 3. And whereas the Children of Heth would freely have given it yet at last took Money for it So hath God the Father freely given the Kingdom of Grace to Christ
in our Humanity but Christ would have it for a Natural Right 4. By Canaan understand the holy Chrystalline World or Earth which shall be manifest 5. By the two fold Cave or Pit of Machpelah is signified Man hath a two fold Humanity one out of the Divine Ens and Heavenly Essence the other out of time this Worlds substance both which should be put into an Eternal Sepulchre and lye in its original Mother leaving the one will in Death so that God might alone live rule and will in the Soul and Mans Life be only his Instrument For the Soul hath turn'd itself aside from the only Eternal Word into self-hood This Distemper and unlikeness must be buried and put again into a two fold Cave and thence come into the Temperature the Essence whence the Body and Soul did arise CHAP. L. Of Abraham's sending his Servant for a Wife for Isaac 1. ABraham is herein the Figure of God the Father Isaac in that of Christ Abraham's Servant in that of Nature The Canaanites in that of the introduced Serpents Ens the Besâ—ial Man which shall not Inherit Here God makes his Servant Nature by whom he governeth Essentially bind itself that it will not introduce the Serpents Ens the dark Worlds Bestial Canaanitish Property for Gods Childrens Yoke-fellow but Nature must take substance out of Abraham's true Humane Essence in pure Love of the Heavenly Matrix that so the New Birth might be holy in its Virginity as to the inward Man 2. Nature saith How if c. viz. the right Humane Ens will not follow me And God said Beware c. viz. go not according to thy Reason but an Angel shall go before thee viz. the Divine Will for self-will and reason must not Lord it but Nature must be a Servant do as it is commanded and commit it to God to bring on the â—ternal Marriage But iâ— the Humane Will will not follow the Messenger hath discharged his Office The Rain ascends not up again without Fruit Nature must declare that God hath given Christ all his Goods and now desireth Man to be his Wife And the Servant sware c viz. When God put his Holy Word with the formed Wisdom into the Natural Ens of Mary then the Humane Nature sware Obedience 3. And the Servant took ten Camels and went to the City of Nahor in Mesopotamia viz. the ten Forms of the three Principles to the Natural and Supernatural Life viz. seven Forms of the Centre of Nature and three Forms of the three distinctions of the Principles which are they whereby God causeth all things and the Goods of the Lord are the formed Wisdom of the great Wonders and Powers 4. And the Servant caused the Camels to kneel by the Well near the City at Evening At or in the last time or days of the World The will of the Fathers Nature the Mystery of the Nature of the three Principles the Carriers of the formed Word hath laid it self down by the Well-spring of God the Divine Fountain 5. The Silver and Golden Jewels Bracelets and Ear-rings given to Rebekah signifie the Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ which is not given wholly into the power of the Fire-soul in this Life lest it become haughty as Lucifer and Adam but Virgin Sophia meant by Rebekah remaineth with her Bridegroom Christ in the second Principle 6. The Spices signifie the Holy Spirit Then they sate down to eat viz. the Marriage Feast the Joy whereof none but the Children of Christ know And when Rebekah saw Isaac c. When the disappear'd Humanity discovers Christ in it self it falleth into deepest Humility and is ashamed vailing its Face before Gods Holiness and Clarity that it hath lain so long Captive in the Bestial Man but Christ taketh it into his Arms and leadeth it into his Mothers Tent into the Heavenly Worlds Essence And then was Isaac comforted for his Mother for the disappeared Matrix which was lost in Adam now re-obtain'd in Virgin-like Chaâ—tity for his Spouse CHAP. LI. Of Abraham's taking Keturah to Wife and of his Six Sons and Death 1. ABraham was old when he had Isaac to shew Christ was to be in the old Age of the World and Sarah was old that so the Divine Ens might have the preheminence over the Humane and she must have but one for so is Christ and all are Branches in the one Tree viz. Christ in all 2. But Abraham by Keturah had six Sons signifying the six Properties of the formed Nature the operation of the six days Isaac viz. Christ is the seventh the Sabbath Of these six sprang six Nations to them he gave gifts of his Goods tho' not the In eritance yet had the free Gift of Grace So every Man hath Christ as the free Gift of Grace in him none predestinated to destruction for by those six are signified all Adam's Children 3. In the right Adamical Man out of which the Earth had its Original is the Covenant of the Free gift but the own-self-made-gross-earthy Adam who by Lust made himself a Beast is not capable of the Gift in the Covenant but the right Man as a Tincture in gross Lead mortifieth the Saturnine will and changeth it into Gold swalloweth up the gross Man viz. the dark Worlds Property 4. The Jews Christians and Heathens have all this Gift and Christ is the only available obedience all Men therefore who give up themselves in obedience to God are received in Christs obedience for Names are not accepted 5. My believing that Christ was Born Died and Rose for me makes me not a Christian but I must put on Christ enter into his Obedience and Sacrifice arise in him and Live in him 6. When Abraham had brought his Lifes Forms into right order he resigned up himself into Mortification tired with the Life of self reâ—â—ed in God CHAP. LII The History of Isaac Birth of Esau and Jacob. 1. AFter Abraham's Death God blessed Isaac and he lived by the Well Labairoi viz. the Well of Living and Seeing his Soul dwelt by the Fountain of Divine Love The desire of the Soul is the Fiat which takes the holy Love Tincture into it self and makes it Essential as the Metalline Ens gives its deâ—ire into the Suns Tincture that out of them both the fair and precious Gold is generated So doth the Deity inhabit in the Soul and co worketh but is not comprehended 2. The Souls Magical Fire by the Divine Love desire is inkindled into a shining Lustre so doth the Souls Magical Fire become the Bridegroom to the precious Sophia but the Mortal Soul from the Stars or four Elements attains it not in this Life but that Soul that cometh from the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Divine Lubet through the Word whereby the Divine longing formeth the Wisdom into Substance This Soul is that which is betrothed to Sophia 3. Ishmael had twelve Sons six of the Inward
and six of the Outward Nature of the Humane Property They were afterward Potent Renowned Nations Whereas Isaac and his Children were as Pilgrims shewing Christs Dominion is not of this World and yet the Kingdoms of this World shall fall before Him 4. Esau and Jacob's strife in the Womb shews that when Christ first manifests himself in the Adamical Nature the strife of the two Kingdoms begins The Serpent stingeth the New Birth Christ on the Heel a woful Distress but Christ assaults the Head And tho Esau be First-born Jacob comes soon after and deprives him and makes Esau the Kingdom of Nature his Servant And in that Esau came forth First and was Red and all over Rough The Red betokeneth the Fathers Nature in the Fire the Rough the Earthy Bestial Nature CHAP. LIII How Esau contemn'd his Birthright and sold it for a Mess of Pottage 1. THere is in this a Twofold Figure for Outwardly it is the Figure of the Earthy Man who carelessy and profanely gives away the Heavenly Substance to satiate its Lustful Will and fill its Carnal Belly But Inwardly Esau had the Souls Centre viz. Adam's Nature for a natural due Right which was Faint and wearied by the Driver This would Jacob who betokened the Power of the other Adam Christ have him This Day viz. from That day forward wholly to give up and Resign And would give him the Divine Ens. And in This Inward Understanding Abraham was the Field Ishmael the Root and Isaac the Fruit Also now Isaac the Field Esau the Root and Jacob the Fruit. And we see the Blossom and Fruit hath far a more subtle pure Property than the Stalk and Root by influence of the Solar Rays 2. The meaning of this Figure is that the evil Adamical Mans Will must be resigned up It is Rejected and availeth not in the Kingdom of God Not that the Person of Esau was intended as Babel ignorantly teacheth to be by Gods Soveraignty Reprobated and Hated CHAP. LIV. How Isaac by reason of the Famine went down to Abimelech at Gerar c. 1. HEre is shewed the Kingdom of Grace and Nature The Famine shews Adams Temptation wherein he should have fed on the Word of God and not gone into the strange Kingdom of the Stars and Elements where he Denied his Wife viz. the Heavenly Genitress in him and brought his Lust into the Bestial Property 2. And that Isaac grew so Great there that Abimelech was afraid of him shews Gods Blessing on the Kingdom of Christ. 3. The Servants of King Abimelech's stopping the Wells digged by the Servants of Isaac sheweth that Abraham and Isaac having digged in the Ens of their Faith the Knowledge of the Messiah the same is obscured and stopped up by the Earthy Reason And then they digged and said we have found Water and Isaac call'd it Sheba hinting at Saba the Saboth Christ call'd also Beer-sheba viz. the Contrition or Breaking where the Saboth through Death brings forth the Fountain of Life 5. That Esau lived Forty years and then took two Evil Women to Wife points at Adam's Forty days in the Proha and then took two Evil Wives viz. one of the Bestial Property of the four Elements the other the Astral which were a vexation and grief of Heart to Isaac and Rebekah all their Life Thus as the whole Old Testament is a Figure of the New so is the New of the Future Eternal World CHAP. LV. Of Isaac's Blessing Jacob unknowingly when he was Old and ready to Die The Gates of the Great Mystery of the whole Bible 1. REason from this Figure conjectureth 1. That Rebekah lov'd Jacob more than Esau. 2. That it was from Gods Predestinate Purpose because Esau was not worthy of it 2. But rightly to interpret it The Patriarch Isaac is the Figure of God the Father Esau of the depraved Humane Nature Jacob of the New Birth in the Humanity of Christ Rebekah of the Virgin Mary 3. The Fathers Blessing would bring it self into Adam but his Heavenly Ens was extinct and the Kingdom of Nature so Poyson'd that it must be Dissolv'd for Adam's Fiery Tincture by being awakened in the wrath became an Earthy Image and mortified the Heavenly so that the Kingdom of Nature was in its own power uncapable of the Fathers Blessing and could not be remedied only by a Blessing the Blessing must become a Substance the Fathers Blessing turn'd it self on the Adamical Female Lights Tincture and from the power Thereof did assume the Souls Nature and then bruise the fiery Serpents Head and transmute the Souls fiery Will into a Love-fire or Meekness viz. the power of the Light 4. Esau was Hairy or Rugged signifying the gross Bestial Property and Christ did put on our Hairy Beast-like Skin to make us capable of the Blessing and destroy our Death of the Bestial Property Even as Jacob could not get the Blessing without having the hairy Garment on 5. Isaac's feeling Esau s hairy Garment on Jacob signified the Fathers reaching into the Essence of Christ whether it were the first Image Created in Adam whence was Christs Agony and Bloody Sweat 6. And as Isaac found outwardly Esau's Skin but inwardly heard Jacob's Voice yet Blessed him instead of Esau So had Christ our Rugged Humane Property yet God said This is my Beloved Son c. and Blessed our Humanity 7. The Blessing given Jacob denotes that the New Man in Christ should take away the Scepter and Might from the Devil and Man of Sin and be Lord over his Brethren the Adamical Nature in Flesh and Blood 8. The Corn and Wine and Dew of Heaven shew God blessed our Humanity in Christ with the Earth and Resurrection 9. Esau's bringing his Venison and Isaac's Astonishment shew that Gods holy People would have the Will of their Reason be done Their Misery is that Reason entreth into its Dominion which knoweth not the ways of God 10. Esau was Blessed also with the Dew of Heaven and Fatness of the Earth should live by his Sword and when he should have the Dominion should break the Yoke 11. But Isaac doth not say Live thou by thy Sword but Thou wilt Live so c. wherein he Prophesieth that the corrupt Nature would be a Tyrant and Murtherer and doth not justifie the use of outward Weapons and Violence but that he through his Anger should serve the Anger of God and so his hatâ—â—g Jacob noteth what the Great Ones of the World should do for the Devil rageth that the Kingdom of Christ should take away his Throne CHAP. LVI Of Jacob's Leaving his Parents for fear of Esau and of his Vision of the Ladder 1. JAcob having the Blessing and Unction soon departed from his Fathers House and left all to Esau so did Christ of whom this is a Figure after he had anointed our Humanity fled with it out of our Adamical House to the first Paradisical House So must the Christian fly the Depraved Nature begin
Lev. 1. 2,4,5 Argum. 8. â—emonst 1. â—emonst 2. Demonst. 3. Demonst. 4. Demonst. 5. 2. 1. 2. 3. Demonst. 1. Demonst. 2. 4. 5. 6. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. Mart. Luthers Colloquies Chap. 35. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Demonst. 1. Demonst. 2. Demonst. 3. 9. 10. 11 12. Psal. 2. 7. Hebr. 1. 5. 13. 14. 15. Eph. 4. 22 23 24. Rom. 13. 14. 2 Cor. 5. 1 2. Psal. 104. 1. Psal. 109. 29. Rev. 12. 1. Negat A. 1. Negat A. 2. Acts 1. 11 12. A. 3. Affirmatively The Lord's Supper First Error about the Lord's Supper Second Error What is not and what is received in the Lord's Supper Who the Heir of all things is and who he is not a Hos. 2. 6. b v. 27. God's gracious method to recall men Worldly Wisdom's vain attempts The effect of Man's Wisdom The way to true Wisdom 1. Disswaâ—ives from Death 2. 3. 4. 1. Perswasives to Life 2. 3. 4. What that Death is that gives true Life Dan. 12. v. 10. Rom. 1. 19 20. 1. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Math. 17. 20. * Trismigistâ—s in his Poiâ—ander 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. a Answer 17. from v. 3. to the 15. b From v. 16. to the end c Answer 19. from v. 16. to the end 1. 2. 3. 1 Q. Jude 14. 15. Exod. 14. 24 25. Exod. 30. 19 27. Numb 7. 8. 11. Rev. 6. 16. 2 Q. 3 Q. 1 Q. A. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 2 Q. A. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. What is mean by the Sperm What the Sperm is not What the Sperm is Obj. Ans. 2 Sam. 22. 27. Saturn Mercury Jupiter Mars Sol Venus Luna 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. 2. 3. Rom. 8. Gen. 2. 7. Obj. A. Rev. 1. Q. A. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. * Fortyer divers years John 3. 13. Gal. 3. 28. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 1. 2. 3. 2. 1. 2. 3. 3. 1. 2. 3. Psal. 104. 6. 4. 1. 2. Exod. 15. 27. 3. Gen. 2. 9. Rev. 22. 2. 2. Argument 1. Arg. 2. Arg. 3. Arg. 4. Rom. 9. 22. Matth. 25. 34. ver 41. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 2. Q. A. 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Ezek. 6. 9. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. * Isa. 41. 6. 1. 1. 2. 3. 2. 1. 2. 3. 3. 1. Rev. 18. 17. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 8. 3. Rev. 18. 21. Rev. 18. 4. 4. 1. 2. By what it was not effected By what it was effected Luke 17. 37. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Rom. 13. 10. 1. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 2. 1. 2. 3. 1. The first sort of False Prophets 2. The second sort of False Prophets 3. The first sort of True Prophets 4. The second sort of True Prophets Mal. 4. 5 6. Isai. 40. 3. 1. 2. 3. Dan. 2. 30. Acts 3. 12. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 1. 2. 1. 3. The Angels served Christ ten times Gen. 41. 46. 2 Sam. 5. 4. Gen 6. 15. 1 Kings 6. 2. 1 Cor. 10. 2. Mark 1. 4. Acts 13. 14. Heb. 6. 2. Heb. 2. 18. Mat. 13. 34. 1. Psal. 78. 2. 2. Mat. 13. 11. 3. Mark 4. 24. 4. Mat. 7. 6. Mat. 13. 13. Acts 28. 27. Isai. 6. 10. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 3. Mat. 10. 27. John 14. 12. John 5. 37. 1. 2. 3. 4 Mystery 1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 1. Mystery 2. Luke 2. 51. Mystery 3. Direct Answ. Mystery 4. 1. Mystery 5. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Joh. 12. 24. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1 Thes. 5. 23. Levit. 7. 21. Jam. 5. 20. Josh. 10. 28. Exod. 1. 5. Deut. 32. 27. 1 Kings 18. 46. Psal. 95. 5. Acts 4. 28. Psal. 31. 15. Deut. 33. 3. 1. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. * Scaliger 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Zech. 9. 11. Mat. 27. 63 64. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 2 Cor. 15. 12. to the End * 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 7. 8. Isai. 26. 19. 1. 2. 3. 4 5. 6. Rev. 20. 1. 1. 2. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Obj. Answ. 6. 1. 2. 3. II. 1 Cor. 15. 1. 2. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. Deut. 17. 6. Mat. 18. 9. 1. 2. 3. 1 Sam. 13. 6. Acts 29. 2. Rom. 2. 27 29. 2 Cor. 3. 6. 1 John 1,2,3 Doctores Scholastici i. e. illusorii vel â—udicri Mat. 16. 19. Joh. 20. 21 22. Mat. 18. 18. Luke 11. 58. * Mark 2. 7. Numb 14. 17. Obj. A. Mark 16. 17. 18. Jam. 5. 20. Acts 1. 38. 1. 2. Acts 1. 11 12. 2 Q. A. Joh. 6. 56. * Vers. 53. John 6. 63. 1 Cor. 11. 25. 1. 2. 3. 1. 1. 2. 3. 2. 2 Thess. 2. 1. a v. 2. b v. 3. c v. 7. d v. 11. 2 3. v. 7. 4. v. 8. Simile The Root of the three Their Progress Their highest Attainments Rom. 12. 1. Rom. 2. 2 Saâ— 4. 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Psal. 19. 3. 1. 2. 3. Q. 1. A. 1. Q. 2. A. Q. 3. A. Q. 4. A. Q. 5. A. Rev. 20. 5. Ezek. 8 8 c. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 15. 24 〈◊〉 ver 28. What remains after the last dissolution 1 Simile of what remains 2 Simile of what remains 1 Cor. 15. 23. to v. 28. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1. The general Resurrection demonstrated by the first 2. 1 Cor. 15. 24. 3. Q. 1. A. Q. 2. A. End of Time demonstrated 1. End of Time demonstrated 2. 4. John 17. 6. What Christ's delivering up the Kingdom is 5. Prov. 8. 30. Isa. 42. 1. Psal. 16. 3. Micah 7. 18 1 John 3. 9. Phil. 3. 15. Heb. 10. 14. Psal. 51. 5. Gal. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 5. 6. Act. 14. 22. 2. 3. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. .7 Exod. 30. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. Amos 2. Page 34. What a Quality is Heat 35. Cold. 37. Bitter 39. Sweet 40. 41. 44. 46. Man resembleth the Creation 51. Good out of Evil as Life out of the Gall. God the Father 58. God the Son 64. God the Holy Ghost P. 68. The Trinity represented 1. Angels made out of all the Powers of the Father Angels are in Human Form How Angels and Men are Images of the Trinity Paradiâ—ical Fruits Of Angels 7 Species 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. P. 133. 134. 140. 141. Vegetations 143. 144. 8. 145. 172. The direful Effects of Lucifer's Fall 175. 176. 2. 3. The 7 Spirits of God 6 still generateth the 7th 4. P. 187. 6. 7. Majestick Light 192. The 7 Spirits in Harmony 13. 14. 15. The Discord of the 7 Spirits P. 202. The 7 Spirits in the Light are Omnipotent 206. 232. The various Excellencies of Angels Astringent Water Bitter Heat Love Tone Total Nature p. 234. Arch or Throne Angel what he is 264. Cause of Baptism 266. How the outward World figureth the Eternal World 269. 275. Lucifer's dismal fall gradually shown P. 282. Tyranny of the four first forms 285. Evil producing good 290. 299. Lucifer's dreadful voluntary and
Jews believed it not and too many at this day oppose it because they misunderstand that and other Divine Truths so that may still be the Lamentation My People perish for want of knowledge They that said in the Apostles days the Resurrection is past already were not perhaps aware that they overthrew the Faith of some it being the same as if they had said there was no Resurrection Object Some may say Man having a visible palpable elementary Body and an invisible astral Spirit or Soul Author of the five Senses at least that acts the Organs neither of those parts can share in the Resurrection for the Stars shall fall and the Elements dissolve Let them tell me too our Flesh is Grass Dust we are of the Earth earthy and like the Beast that perisheth If therefore the Syderial Root and four Elements return into their Aether can the Products thence subsist his Body being dependant on a transient Principle whereof 't is compounded With what Body therefore shall he arise A. 1. 8. Christ had a visible palpable Body as ours from the astral World and four Elements though by reason of his being begotten of the Holy Ghost was infinitely Superior and more Noble yet in his Resurrection was his Elementary also raised to Immortality and Glory 9. The Apostle saith If the Dead rise not 1. Then Christ is not raised 2. Your Faith is vain 3. Ye are yet in your Sins 4. Our Preaching is vain 5. We are found false Witnesses 6 Those that sleep in Christ are perished 7. Our hope is vain 8. We of all men are most miserable But therefore that Christ is risen and become the first fruits of them that slept A. 2. If our Body as far degenerate as it is become had no higher Extraction than barely the astral World and four Elements it might have no other Resurrection or Perpetuity but be as the Beast But how then was it to have endured to Eternity had not Sin broken it It had therefore its Root in the Eternal spiritual World whereof the outward World and the Spirit thereof viz. The Spirit of the great World are a figure and Representation A. 3. 11. It is relatively Eternal being United to the Eternal Soul joyned to the Holy Body it obeyeth and beareth suffereth and doth the Holy Will of God as the Souls Instrument and Companion And the wicked Souls direful confederate in all their black Machinations beastly selfish Maxims and fordid Prostitutions and therefore in both must have a Resurrection to receive according to their Works 12. But the Bodies of wicked People are as a ready prepared Engine whose every part is curiously composed by Exquisite symmetry liberally oyl'd to whirl as an Automatae down a steep Mountain whil'st the Bodies of holy Souls are as a Bullock unaccustomed to the Yoak or a lazy Ass to struggle through a narrow deep way with a leaden load up a weary heighth So that look how much of extraordinary Assistance or rather violent Inducement the Evil man's Body is to his Soul so much perplexing Impediment hath the regenerate Child from his Body 13. Infidelity suggests so many Improbabilities as may make one Impossibility of the Resurrection to which is opposed Omnipotence Shall that Infinite Power whose Hand gives Being to every thing and World from the Angelical Tâ—rones to the vile Insect and Minute-parts of every pile of Grass be insufficient to rally Man's dissever'd Limbs number the Hairs and not the Members record all Mens Actions Words Thoughts and forget the whole Bulk and Fabrick 14. As to the last part of the Objection with what Body shall they rise To this the Apostle replies Thou Fool that which thou sowest is not quicken'd except it die and the Body which shall be viz. not the self same Grain but the self-same Kind riseth be it Wheat or any other and the self-same Tincture in the Crop as was in the Seed only our Corruption Dishonour and Weakness is changed into Incorruption Glory and Power 15 The Sons of Wisdom can see the Transmutation of Metals The Naturalist the death dissolution and reforming and vivifying of Craw-fish The curious Observer the Transmigration of the Silk Worm Every one that kindles a fire the triumph of the flame on change of the Accidents of the Fuel The Physitian the consent of Bodies and Parts by sympathy and of Actives and Passives Who sees not the Loadstone single out one filing of Steel from a heap of Sand. The Plowman and Gardener see out of the dark Earth arise Corn Fruits Flowers of other colour odour taste c. than the Earth yet acknowledge they the Earth hath all the Vertues Properties and Powers of them obscurely in it 16. Why then should it seem impossible that He that raised up Jesus Christ from the Dead should be able to quicken our Mortal Bodies though literally mortified when Death shall be swallow'd up of Victory as saith the Prophet Thy dead Men shall live together with my dead Body shall they arise Awake and sing you that dwell in the dust for thy dew shall be as the dew of Herbs c. Q. 135. What manner of Door hath Christ through Death opened in our Humanity in the Anger and Righteousness of God where by we may enter into God How is that done A. 1. As it is not the Wind abroad but that in the Earth that causeth Earthquakes so neither could Man's mortal inward Wound be cured by outward Applications for because Man was become inwardly a Hell to himself and outwardly lock'd up in the Curse of the Out-birth wherein he had secluded and shut up himself from the Divine Light as in the 69th Answer is discoursed 2. It was therefore past all Remedy unless Heaven would mercifully introduce it self into the Soul in the light of his Life Then did the gracious Principle of Love by bringing the Eternal Virgin back into the lockâ— up Humanity become a Saviour Like as the Fiat or speaking Word did in the Beginning by the Light compose Order amongst the Confusions of the Properties of the Chaos So the Lord of the Light-Holy-World came into the averâ—ed Will of the Humanity and there implanted it self as a Tincture being Himself the Omnipotence of the Kingdom of Divine Love into the Anger and severe Righteousness of God in Man 3. Thus came it into Man's enraged first Principle like sweet Oyl or Incense into a dark hungry fire which raiseth it into a Radiant sweet flame and Iustre As when the Humane Intellect returned into Nebuchadnezzar his bestial Image was exalted So when the Divine dear Love embraceth and is enkindled in Man's angry fierceness it potently attracts by assimilation some Divine Breathings and makes impressions of it self As in Esau at his meeting Jacob. 4. The Door by which the Soul goeth into God is opened as Jacob by yielding up himself passed through a Death appeasing Esau for by this the Soul 's bolted and barred-up Door is unshut and set
wide open So that in the resignation it lives one Life with Christ in God and hath its passage through one Death with Christ to God and is in the Resurrection thus begun in one Spirit by the Eternal Spirit the heavenly Flesh and Blood or Humanity of Christ is its Food it is God's Body or Christ's Body the pure Element and Virgin of Wisdom and Modesty is his Companion 5. For thus his violent griping Astringency is sated by the Lord 's infinite giving yielding Power and Vertue this causeth him instead of violent Attraction to be like a water'd Garden breathing out his sweet Odours His Anger and Rage is foil'd and kill'd by calm serene Meekness Humility Patience and Sweetness His Envy by Love which grows to a kind of Emulation to give if it were possible more than any Saint or Angel yea as much if he could to God and for God as he receives from him 6. This Soul loseth himself for he is not his own but in an excellent sence is besides himself as the Brethren of the dear Jesus said of him and would have laid hands on him This Door thus opened gives such access that the Soul once and ever and once for all gives all without the least reserve and so hath nothing and yet then and for ever receives all and hath all for losing his own poor narrow miserable beggerly all he finds himself rich with Eternal fulness which still he surrenders with deepest Humility 7. But how can words export what the Soul cannot contain or broken Letters express what a broken Heart breaketh and melteth in the Contemplation of How can the shallow brutish outward Man fathom what the New and Spiritual Man is swallowed up with These things are the matter at the time of Sacrifice but what it is always the Hour of Prayer it is always the time of Sacrifice in this Temple Amen Q. 136. What doth the Pilgrimage or Journey of the two Disciples from Jerusalem to Emaus signifie where they complained in Anxiety for their Master and yet Christ walked among them and enquired of them and taught them and yet they knew him not A. 1. This Journey is fitly compared to that of Hagar who by leaving her Mistriss Sarah was in great Anxiety and then comforted and instructed by the Angel and shew'd the Well Lahairoy and that both with respect to Hagar whose hope concerning her only Son was like to the over-whelming sorrow of these two Disciples their only hope being on the Lord's restoring the Kingdom was reduced to a great degree of despair distrust and offence at their fail'd hopes Also with respect to the Angel appearing to Hagar at the needful time of her despair and which is the first recorded to have appeared So is this at as needful a time and on a most important Exigent of Despair and the first day of the Lord's Resurrection 2. And now founding the Discourse by alluding to this Parallel it will be obvious what signification this Historical Occurrence hath viz. That as Hagar figured the state of Bondage as did Mount Sinai which our Apostle teacheth us were an Alâ—egory Only by the way it may be noted had not so good Authority explain'd it thus but that the self same Exposition had been made of it by â— Modern Pen though guided in some measure by the same Spirit our letter Wise men would probably have call'd it Enthusiaâ—m So doth this Journey of the two Disciples from Jerusalem to Emaus sigâ—â—fie the 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 quitting Divine faithful waiting on God in any obscure Dispensation when the Providences are too deep and high for their faint feeble dull disquisition and reach then they depart from Abraham's abounding stedfastness of precious Faith to Hagar's dry Bottle of Reason but like Cleopas in Anguish say we trusted this Man should have redeemed Israel viz. this or that should or should not have been c. implâ—ing their trust is expiring 3. The Bridegroom was taken from them now was the day of fasting and heaviness the Shepherd was smitten now were they scattered This was the hour of the power of Darkness such as God's Children usually meet with esâ—ecially the beginners who having tasted a time of love think presently to have all they hope for Dreaming of the Journeys end at first setting out when conâ—rariwise their Mr. is taken from their head inward or outward Temptations perhaps both like a Torrent sweep them downward 4. Then are they apt and usually do let go the exercise of the Divine Magia where Faith and Love support each other and betake them to the Astraâ— Magia their own Reason where in disconsolate anxiety they shew their Hope is giving up the Ghost 5. The Lord 's joyning himself unto them signifies such a time of recollection as is a day neither dark nor light they are seen and that in mercy but their infidelity with-holds them from seeing It is neither Day nor Night their Understanding outruns their Eyes their Hearts burn but till farther discovery their fire gives little light but in the Evening it shall be light it was so with them viz. when our Reason the Issue and Child of the third Principle doth set as when their Evening was come then the true Eternal Light in Jesus discovers it self breaking the heavenly Bread and the same hour they return to Jerusalem 6. But let all such offended poor Disciples know the Lord may be with them while they are surrounded with Laments let them stay for he will not tarry long but if they wholly depart they may lye down sadly 60 Furlongs from Jerusalem as is too grievously to be seen in the Potent Eastern Nations who are lain down under the Doctrine of Siderial Reason their Regulation of the third Principle As far also as the Western World is with-held by Antichristian Maxims they feed upon Ashes the â—rash and fictitious Formula's of the same third Principle joyn'd with the cruel Properties of the first 7. And lastly It must be noted that by the Lord 's appearing to them in their anxious state is sigâ—ified the natural Production of Divine Power and Glory out of the anxious wheel the struggling of the four mighty Forms of the first Principle as out of its natural Root or Centre More might be said but none will deny that which is said to be according to the Analogy of Faith Q. 137. Why did Christ after his Resurrection first appear to a Woman and not to his Disciples A. 1. More generally 1. To shew his Prime and Particular regard to a Soul excelling in Love to God did he first shew himself to Mary Magdalen to whom much had been forgiven therefore she loved much And 2. it was to proceeâ— in God's usual Method who standeth not in need of the Wisdom Ability and Excellency of Men to work his Designs but doth it for and in Babes and by them to and for others 3. Again to give preference to the Holy Zeal and Fervour which