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
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
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
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
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
eat and drink unworthily they eat and drink what is common to those that have not Eternal Life and but eat and drink the Elements only or what more is at most but Imagination grounded on and extended no farther than on the History Never the more enabled to enter into the Sufferings Dying and New Life of Christ. CHAP. XXIII Man's mistaken way towards a supposed Happiness 1. THE State of the Children of Adam is the same with Those Bebold I will hedge up thy ways with Thorns and wall a Wall that she shall not find her paths and she shall follow after her Lovers but she shall not overtake them and she shall seek them but shall not find them Then shall she say I will go and return to my first Husband for then it was better with me than now And God proceeds against the Apostate Adulteress to the end of v. 13. but in v. 14. and to the end of the Chapter returns her to him c. 2. Wise men in every Generation have sought in the Treasures of the Creation for Real Happiness and Rest And after they have div'd into the deep ransackt the many Mysteries obvious to Artists collected the scattered parcels of Felicity dispersed in the Earth pierced the Bowels of Nature as well Astral as Elementary Anatomised the Creatures and sum'd up their Totals Yet still could not overtake their Lovers but their way was wall'd up and some of them found theirs heâ—â—ed up perhaps with Thorns Many have sought the Living among the Dead every Creature eath told them it is not in Me. So their quest resulted in Dissatisfaction 3. Wise mens increase of Wisdom hath been the increase of Sorrow in which they lay down in the Grave forgetting and being forgotten their Thoughts perishing they left sad Memento's of the Vanity of every thing Those of them only have been truly Wise whom God hath led beyond their own into his School of the Love of Purity and Holiness as Job's three Friends Hermes and others such seem to be 4. For since the World by Wisdom knew not God those only were Truly Wise and still are who ceasing from things Visible are guided to things Eternal 5. Our Lesson is as to the Wisdom of This World to become Fools and as such to crucifie our Wills to the Lusts of the Eye Lusts of the Flesh and Pride of Life and as little Children who Will nothing but the supply of Necessities and do without Contract Bargain or Regret what the Father bids His Will is their Principle And as a reward of their Resigned Obedience they know no perplexing Cares forecasting Fears crafty Excuses Dissimulation Malice c. but have a calm Serene Face a Peaceable contented Mind a câ—earful Innocent Behaviour while awake and when they lie down fall sweetly aslâ—ep CHAP. XXIV The Lord's way home for Man to follow 1. BUT Man hath travelled with the Prodigal from This White State To him straying will he suffer one that heartily wisheth the good of Souls to say Stand still and consider if a Good End be better than a Bad a Good Way must be better than an Evil for the Evil Way tends to a Bad End 2. And to shew whether his way be not bad let him look narrowly heedfully and impartially into his own Heart and Inclination where he shall find a Body of Self-Love coveting to get All which comes from the first Form the Aâ—tringency 3. Next He shall find an eager Desire to be Exalted and Great above others which Pride cometh from the second Form of Nature the Attraction or Constringency 4. Next He shall perceive a contemning despising and envying of others That he thinks he exceeds in Worth and they him in Fortune or the like which he fretteth at This proceeds from the third Form of Nature the Anguish 5. And then he shall find violent Anger Rage and Fury when crost or curb'd by any one which cometh of the fourth Form of Nature the Fire 6. And under these four Heads Troops of Sins Appendixes to these which well consider'd may make him much rather than blessed Paul cry out Oâ— wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death He may now see how Evil in themselves these Disorders and hellish Principles are and how Evil to him how Dangerous to erect a Government in his private particular Soul opposite to the One entire gracious universal omnipotent Will and Government 7. When thus the Light of Jesus Christ ariseth it both sheweth the Malady and the Cure And this Light is not under a Bushel but as universal yet not seen by the wilfully Blind as the outward Sun to all Mens outward Senses The voice of Wisdom calls at every Mans Heart and where they listen it teacheth 7. To dye to the tyranny of their own Wills and so be like Children for Mens own Wills compass them about with sparks of their own kindling viz. Common Fire not that of the Altar which leads them in the Dark to lye down in Sorrow for as far as Adam did and we still do introduce our Wills into the third Principle we are like sad Eclipses in Hostility against the Heavenly out-goings 8. The true Divine Light of Jesus Christ where it is followed generateth a warm chearing dear â—ove to the New Man growing out of the Old as in a balance the New is lift up in that degree of Swiftness as the Old sinketh down It springeth out of the Old as a fair Flower out of the dark Earth as it were out of the Grave of the Old 9. This Light of Jesus Christ also so winneth on the Soul that it is resigned to the Guidance of true Wisdom being that of the Universal Holy Will For finding their own to be deceiving and deceived they become to it as Fools for Christ's sake not only content but habitually longing to know nor do nor be any thing but what their crucifyed Lord willeth in them 10. This Light having kill'd the perverted Will wrought Divine Love and Resignation doth betroth the Soul to the Virgin of Modesty and Purity again from whom Adam departed whom the Lord from Heaven the second Adam brought with him by him she was re-espoused to the Humane Nature no more to be Divorced For Man having Travelled by Art into Nature by his own Wisdom like a dark Head steered his own Will to the Designs of a Corrupt Heart and laboured all Night catching nothing wherewith being weary learns to Obey and be as a little Child and then finds rest yet in such degree and proportion as his continuance in Child-like Obedience is more or less Universal and Stedfast 11. Adam lost and we lose the Heavenly Virgin of Purity and Modesty by finding and living to the Lust of the third Principle viz. The seeming Wisdom guiding to obtain the mistaken satiety of Pleasure Profit and Honour by the Elementary palpable Transitory and
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-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
debilitate or commit a Rape upon that Virginity which is the Tincture of the holy World according to which he was Begotten by the Holy Ghost but it exalted to the highest the assumed Soul 7. Nor was his uniting our frail Astral and Elementary and Sensual Man unto the holy pure Element any Impeachment to the holy Element which in the instant of the Virgin Maries Conception was like a Tincture blessedly put into our Body in him but it was as the first Resurrection to our impair'd divided sleepy impure mortal Man 8. For thus the Soul in the Virgin was taken into the Trinity and the Body in the holy Element which is every where present and evermore pure before God was made Lord in the Heavenly World 9. Yet is thâ—s whole Heavenly Man a Creature tho' the First-born of every Creature and is the Food of our Souls neither is this a confounding the Deity with the Humanity of Christ no more than the Apple is the Tree Or the living Vertue of the Sun in the whole deep is the Sun it self 10. This Virgin of Wisdom is the Image of God the Delight of God the Spouse of Jesus Christ and of so high descent as to be possessed by God in the beginning of his way c. Read Prov. 8. from the 1. to the 31. verse but yet is not God or the Infinite Almighty Deity Thus see we how Christ was on Earth and in Heaven as Son of Man or in his Heavenly Humanity at once and is so still and it is his Office to expel bind vanquish and chain all Devils every where and reign in the Throne of expulsed Lucifer to kill Death and take away the Sting for Hell cannot withstand him 11. This is demonstrated by the Operative Astrum particularly by the seven Regal Stars See we not how Saturn tho' most remote is equally potent in coagulating petrifving giving weight c. as in Lead Stones c. as if he were at the nearest distance Also how Mercury in Jupiter causeth Sensitives and Plants to sprout up tall c. And how Mars Influenceth Men and confines Plants checks Oaks to he crooked knotty dwarfy Shrubs And how calmly and sâ—renely Venus Influenceth every where how the Moon acts Bodies the Circulations and Fluxes of Blood and the Tides which some call the Pulse of that Element How also the Sun chearfully bears witness to himself All these do variousâ— work through all the Creatures within their principle or as 't is term'd the Sphere of their activity all at once in all places of all kinds 12. And shall we straiten the sacred power of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy principle to narrower bounds than we can do the outward Sun which is his outside Image which at once dwells in all the Stars and whole deep in every Creature on and many under the Earth and in every piâ—e of Graâ—s 13. It is demonstrative in the four Elements the same Air fills all Cranies and with degrees of purity so doth it the deep as also the other three Elements in the Out-birth Only within or above the Firmament is another principle understood to be a holy Birth of which it were digressive to speak here 14. And shall we think the one holy pure Element the vertuous Eternal Mother of the more Impure Prophane and Mortal four Elements to have less vigor to operate in the holy principle as the Eternal living Body of Christ than they in the drowsy Travels of Mortality for Productions and Dissolutions 15. The like might be demonstrated by the outward principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury And how they operate in degrees of Purity according to their several Subjects And in a word it may be demonstrated in whole Nature and every Travel it hath But it 's better to be contemplated than exposed into many words Thus the Lords descending to Hell to overcome Death and all Devils is evident not to have been a going a great way off c. but what and how it was and is effected Q. 130. How did Christ 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. preach to the Spirits which in the time of Noah believed not A. 1. Truth hath found worse Entertainment than the Lords seamless Coat for some pretenders to it have rejected what other pretenders have wrested Thus as Maâ—s wickedness makes him unworthy so makes it him unable to hear the truth But tho' we are justly offended at the fictitious Purgatory which Covetousness prompts to tell of yet we must submit to God in his Word all which magnifieth his Mercy and Goodness 2. The Spirits mentioned by Peter were of those overthrown in the Deluge which tho' * one Interprets expresly against the Text to be the preaching before the Flood The Error and Vanity thereof will appear by the following Particulars 3. 1. This Preaching was to Spirits not to Men in the Flesh and certainly they that perished in that Flood were Men living and dying in the Flesh. 2. The Text takes notice there were of that World but few to wit eight Souls saved which hath a serious consideration like that of God to Jonah concerning Popuâ—ous Nineâ—eâ— 3 It is said Christ was put to death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and Preached It is not said that Spirit by which Christ was quickened went and preached but he that was put to death and quickened went and preached 4. The first World Imaged the first Principle and Reuben Jacob's First-born figured the first World And yet Reuben tho' otherwise sinful in a high degree was the only innocent of all Joseph's Brethren of the severity used against him which might open a Door to them viz. the first World figured for the second principle graciously inclineth to inlighten the first Reuben is also readiest to reflect on their sin against Joseph in their distress in Egypt for he was the first Worlds figure as Joseph was the Figure of Jesus Christ. 5. It was to Spirits in Prison not to Men at large Christ when quickened from the dead did Preach which the same Apostle explaining according to this meaning saith 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached to them that are dead not living 6. The Apostle saith he preached to Spirits which were but sometimes disobedient also telling us when viz. in the days of Noah while the Ark was preparing implying they were not disobedient at this time of preaching To this sence are referr'd the words of the Prophesie of Zechary Q. 131. What doth Christs rest in the Grave signifie that he must lye Forty Hours in the Grave In the 98th Answer concerning Moses being Forty days on the Mount is what may be the compleat Answer hereunto to which this is referr'd Q. 132. Why must Christs Grave be guarded with Watchers What doth that signifie that the High-Priests should resist or oppose Gods Power and Might and would keep Christ in
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according â—o Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it â—orth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâ—s in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâ—ess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
the Oleous and Love Property a sweet Spiritual Essence pleasant smell in the Fire and Light the one Element in the lustre it gives the precious Tincture in the Salnitral flagrat is the sude of growth and pullulation it also holds Sulphur and Mercury from severing from each other yet in the Salnitral flagrat they pass into the four Elements 9. The Properties are as so many hungry Desires eating of their several likenesses the hunger of Time eateth of Time and that of Eternity of Eternity but Man's Original being from two Principles may by dying to the dark Self-hood bring his hunger into God's Kingdom and feast with the five Divine Senses on the Divine Mercury Yet so great was our Fall that the outward Man apprehends this only by Imagination though the inward Man penetrateth it as the Sun doth Water which yet remaineth Water CHAP. XV. How in the Will of the great Mystery a Good and Evil Will ariseth and the one introduceth it self into the other 1. THE great Mystery was from Eternity whence the one Element which also was from Eternity proceeded in the Motion whereof the free Lubet of Eternity proceeded as a Spirit which Spirit is Gods 2. And in or from the desire to Nature the Properties proceeded having their Root in the great Mystery as Air out of Fire uncontroulably and incorruptibly 3. In the desire of Essence in the one Element arose the four Elements with manifold Wills whence variety and contrariety came as Heat and Cold Fire and Water c. each a Death to the other all things under that Dominion are in a continual strife dying and Enmity no other way to be remedied but by the Death of the Multiplicity of Wills and Resignation of all Self Wills and Lust to the one Will viz. the one Element the right of Eternity a dying to Self-fulness and Lust which like a disobedient Child striveth against its Mother and is its own Enemy and Destroyer unless Mortified in the Death of the Lord Jesus 4. The resign'd Will is not at all careful save only to bring its desire into its Eternal Mother and united with her be it self a Nothing this the Self-will calls foolishness but the resign'd Will doth as a potent Champion continually bruise the Serpents head 5. The Elemental and Sydereal Man is only the Instrument wherewith Man's Soul laboureth in the resigned Will for thereto it was Created but the Soul in Adam makes it Lord and Master 6. The resigned Will hath no rest in this Cottage but is still in Combat and the good Angels defend him from Satan's fiery Darts v. 25. The Doctrines of Christ's Satisfaction which teach not also the Death to Self in Man and resigning of the Will in Obedience as a new-born Child are flattery and words from without not in the Speaking Voice of God Christ's Dove which teacheth the bearing Fruit in Patience budding forth always as a fair Flower out of the Earth 7. The knowing Doctor and Disputant attaineth not as such what the humble Herdsman by dying to his false Will doth for a Christian is the most simple and plain Man upon Earth having nothing of his own to lose all being given up already nor any thing to seek for himself but for the Lord being dead to himself what he possesseth as an ownhood is only as a Steward Servant or Distributer 8. But all arrogated Authority which is introduced to self-hood and extraduced it self quite from God is Sacrilegious The self-will generates it a Form according to the prevalency impressing most vigorously in the enmity of his inâ—â—re depraved Nature both inward and outward But the resigned Will is formed by the Model of Eternity as an Instrument of Musick into the Love-harmony where is no Turba but the end of Nature Rest whence first it sprung a meer ravishing delight of all the Senses where God is all in all CHAP. XVI Of the Eternal Signature and Heavenly Joy and why were produced Good and Evil. 1. WHAT God is in his Eternal uninchoative Generation that is also the Creation not in Omnipotence but like an Apple which is not the Tree to manifest the Glory which was in the Eternal Mystery As one only Air melodiseth variously in several Pipes and Organs sounding also in each Note in some pleasant in other harsh Thus in Eternity is one only Spirit the Manifester of all the Works of God 2. The seven Superior Stars and all the lesser as so many Kingdoms figure the Angelical Principalities and most Inferior Existences as one Clockwork 3. Let none therefore blame the Creator as if he made it Evil for the Creatures departure from the equal accord makes that Evil which was very Good as did Lucifer who leaving the Harmony brought him to the cold dark Fire out of which is the hot Fires Generation In the Holy he is Holy so Angels and Men praise him in the might of Love and Devils praise him in the might of Wrath God's Wrath is his Joy not as if he lived in impotency but in Fiery Might as a Potent King in the dark Principle in trembling Anguish So in the Divine Angelical Creatures is a trembling Joyfulness in the Holy Light and Fire of Love 4. Thus is all a Fire in their severed Properties the one the Poison and Death to the other yet if there were no Wrath there would be no Love as no Fire no Light 5. God is himself-all but called God only according to the Light of Love but in the Darkness a consuming Fire 6. The Creature when departed out of the first Harmony becomes an Enemy to the Being of all Beings â—ven Hell and Nature in the Wrath Property is the Devils Enemy for that he would be Lord in that wherein he was not created 7. Every Spirit of Angels and Man was created out of the two Eternal Principles of Love and Anger Light and Darkness in equal weight and may take to it self a Lubet either of Good or Evil and what Property the Will-spirit of the Creature awakeneth by that it is ruled for dying to the one it liveth to the other 8. He is elected that dyeth to Sin in Christ's Death and by Divine earnest Desire breaking the Sinful Will so persevereth as by the new birth to rise in Christ's Resurrection Christ calleth to gather as the Hen her Chickens but they would not 't is not said they could not He that blameth God despiseth his Mercy introduced by him into the Humanity and bringeth Judgment on his own Soul and Body Gods Election of Grace CALLED Predestination CHAP. I. What the Only God is or the Sole Will what it is 1. THE Abyssal Will is the Father The conceiv'd innate Will of the Abyss the Son 2. The Exit of the Abyss through the conceived Ens the Holy Spirit 3. The Lord our God is One only God that neither willeth nor can will Evil for if he did there were a Rent in him and some cause of Contrariety
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
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
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