to the separate Self-Will and Lust Unites us to the Universal Will which is call'd most truly a New Birth or a being Born again 8. Thus may be seen that the self same Word which out of the seven Properties created the vast Imperial Spiritual World in the first and second Principles created also the Visible World four Elements and Stars and the in a great degree dead Earth and Waters to be the Image of the Image of the Omnipotent Trinity having something of all Powers in it And affording a suitable Medium to Cloath the Good and Evil Angels when needful for the Execution of their several contrary Offices Q. 21. Whereas God and his Word is only Good whence proceeded the Evil in the Essence of this World for there are Poisonous Worms Beasts Herbs or Weeds and Trees also Venom in the Earth and other things A. 1. To such as are meer Strangers to the Writings of Jacob Behmen the Answer here intended will seem obscure and brief but repetition of things spoken before and the laying open of Foundations may not be expected 2. We know not God in His Infinite Abyss that is in the Will to the Anguish but we may know Him as He manifesteth Himself in the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature wherein are four Anguishes 3. 1. Binding to which are referr'd all Astringent Bodies as resisting to be moderated by penetrating Compounds Thus the Barks of some Trees some Fruits and some Waters by their Excess of Compacting or Ligation are so obstinately Crude as to Petrifie some Bodies and impose intolerable Laws on others as the Barks of Oaks the Asian Gauls c. are Poison to Vegetation 4. 2. Constringency or Violence of Attraction to which Head must be referr'd in Minerals some Vegetables c. Mercurial Poisons 5. 3. Anguish Properly so call'd whereto is referr'd all akeing cold tormenting Venom as of Toads and in many Vegetables being a cold Fire 6. 4. Fire to which is referr'd all the fierce raging Poisons in the Basilisk Scorpions Spiders c. and in many Martial Vegetables and Corrosive Minerals 7. Now all these Properties in the Creation not proceeding to the enkindling of the Light and in the Light the Love and which would produce the Harmony of sound must be comprised in the Evil Principle shut up and sealed therein 8. As we see all those Sensitive Animals are either Mutes or that they have only a murmuring harsh discordant hissing croaking or other hideous Voice 9. Thus is it That though the infinitely Glorious Creator be Perfection of Superlative Goodness from Eternity in Eternity yet these separate pieces of the Creation including and shutting up themselves in the Wrath of the first Principle must needs be Unclean Inimicitious Evil Venomous and Poisonous remaining as a Caput Mortuum to the rest of the Creation Q. 22. Why must there be Strife or Contrariety in Nature A. 1. The Answer of the last foregoing Question opens this also for the Contrariety in Nature causeth Strife and the Strife Production of the same contended for And this is as Natural as for a Tree to have a Root or a Torch to have Matter whereon the fire may live to elevate the blaze 2. And if by striving it can reach no higher than the first four Forms there it produceth bitter stinking harsh sour inimicitious Properties in Transitories and in Eternals Tormenting Woe Anguish sharpened Rage Despair c. But if their Strife attain the Liberty if their Contrariety proceed to the Unity and enkindle the meek pleasant Light wherewith it is nourished fed and satisfied by which also is generated sweet delight and dear chast Love the Strife there is highly profitable And then the greater the Strife the more noble and exalted is the Rapture of Sublime Joy 3. For without contrariety that is contrary Properties is no strife and without strife is no production and without production all would be a stilness inactivity and unknown to it self 4. Thus the Properties which when separate are Authors of a Hellish Kingdom are also when they operate harmoniously the exalters of the Divine Blessed Kingdom of Love Whereby is apparent that the worst is in its due place as good and as liberally contributeth to the perfect harmony and happiness as the best both in the Out birth or World and in the Spiritual World whereof this is a shadow and representation Q 23. What is the ground of the four Elements How is the Division effected that out of one four are come to be A. 1. An Element is no Compound but one Simple Body of the greatest extent of any in the Outward World They are four Fire Air Water Earth 2. The Fire preys upon the Water and Air The Air is breathed out of the Water by the incitement of the Fire The Water is the contraction of Air by the vicinity of the astringent cold Earth but the Earth is one Body of no great intimacy with either of the other only a Sediment resulting from the separating power of the other three Elements 3. Nor yet may it be wondred that the four were once one and proceeded from one seeing they are still one differing only in the degrees of Rarity and Density for as the Earth drives up the Water so doth the Water raise up the Air and the Fire being violently active surmounts all 4. Come we now to consider how the one was separated into four to make which plain it was necessary when the Omnipotent God willed to make himself creaturely that the seven Properties should every one of them form their respective Powers into so many various Existencies And then there came out of the one pure Element which is the Mystery of all things an Heavenly Earth of Paradisâ—cal Salt or Divine Spiritual Salin Spirit or Property or Pure Holy Salitter An Humble Meek Spirit which was the Living Water A pure exalted Breath bringing the unconceiveable Joy Life and serene Tranquillity into the Divine Spiritual World 5. And lastly An holy cheering active Fire according to the Property of the second Principle without Rage Fierceness Curse or Wrath at all but generating the Light and Flame of Love 6. But when Lucifer and his Legions not keeping the sweet Order in which the Creator had enthron'd him and gloriously inâ—tated them would be Gods to themselves found resistance and a soveraign check at the Bounds of the Principle the total God had allotted them they grew displeased and gradually their Holy Love fire disappeared instead of which came a Raging Dark Fire whose fierceness dried up their Humble Sweet Meek Water and their Smoke became a Blackness suffocating the Serene Air. And their Royal Angelical Christalline Bodies became gross contracted crude rough deformed harsh bitter hot cold poisonous â—tinking prophane inimicitious filthy wrathful dark blasphemous Existencies 7. And thus were the four Elements polluted and wretchedly confounded into a dark disorderly commixture which the Antients call'd a Chaos The farther process from This Evil
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
which is the Light Holy Eternal Fountain of Joy but is infinite Nor must we conceive God not in the Body of the Stars and this World but is all and in all So Man his similitude whose inward hollowness signifieth the whole deep The whole Man Heaven and Earth The Flesh Earth the Blood Water the Breath Air the Windpipe and Arteries the deep from Stars to us wherein Fire Water and Air qualifie the Veins the Astral Influence the Guts the consuming power of the Stars the Heart the Element of Fire The Liver Water the Hands Gods Omnipotence the â—â—eet near and far off the whole Body to the Neck all within the Sphere of the Stars the Head Heaven with its Imperial Orâ—â—â—s and all the Sâ—â—â—â—s in a soft â—â—â—k power as the Brain is Heaven gives to the Stars they to all Creatures Life and Spirit 3. When we nominate the whole Creation Heaven Angels Men Visibles and all above Heaven is nominated the total God which hath made himself creaâ—â—â—ely tho' God in Prinity is unchangeable Obj. Will you say is not good and evil in nature and is evil come from God 4. â— There is a Gall in Mans Body without which he cannot live it making the Astral Spirits moveable and joyous but when it over-floweth and runneth to the Heart it kindleth the Element of Fire and the Fire kindleth the Astral Spirits which reign in the Blood in the Veins in the Element of Water and then the whole Body trembleth by the Wrath and Poyson of the Gall. The bitter quality is in God but not as in Man but is an Everlasting Power and Triumphing Joy wâ—â—â—h springing up maketh Heaven out of Heaven the Stars out of the Stars the Elements out of the Elements the Earth and Creatures moveable Whence also were Created Angels before the Creation of the Heavens CHAP. III. Of the Property of the FATHER c. 1. WHen Christ prayeth Matth. 6. to his Father which is in Heaven he doth not mean that Heaven can contain him but distinguisheth him thereby from the Father of Nature which the Stars and Elements is and because in â—eaâ—en the Fathers Luâ—â—â—e is very bright and pure God is the immediate Father of the Soul which thereforei hungereth after him The Father of Nature is the Father of our Bodies and â—henâ—e comes their nourishment All Powers and Properties in Heaven and Earth proceed from God the Father who if he may be likened to any thing it may be to the Globe of Heaven as by the Wheels in Eâ—eâ—ieâ— 1. for all the Powers are in the Father â—â—e in another as one Power in 〈◊〉 Clarity and Glory â—â—s 〈◊〉 and Iâ—finity no Creature nor Angel can search into â— Of God the Son he is not another and yet his Property is other than that of the â—â—â—her for he is the Heart and Cause of springing joy in all the Powers of the â—athâ—â— a fâ—â—ilitude whereof is the Sun which enlighteneth the whole deep Heaven Stars and Earth moving in the midâ—â—is the King and Heart of all the Stars 〈◊〉 the Son in the whole Father being a self subâ—â—â—ting Person The Father from 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 â—â—asâ—â—h not to generate the Son and the Son ceaseth â—ot to enlighten the Powers of the Father but the Son is not so mixt in the Father that his Person cannot be known nor seen if so it were but one Person but is another Person not another God 3. Of God the Holy Ghost He proceedeth from both is the holy Fountain of Joy a meek pleasunt Breath or still Voice which must be shewn by a fimilitude As the innumerable Stars and Sun created out of the Stars resemble the Father and the Son so the three Elements Fire Air and Water proceed from one Body viz. The Fire swells from the Sun and Stars the Air expands and 〈◊〉 alost from the Heat and the Water from the Air and in this motion is the Life of all Creatures that can be named and signifieth the Holy Ghost who câ—useth the living motion in all the Powers of the Father The Son and Holy 〈◊〉 nothing less or greater than the Father The Trinity 4. This Ternary is manifest in Man's Body and all Creatures also in Wood and Vegetables and in Stone and Minerals In Man's Heart Veins and Brain is a Spirit and all the Powers which move in the Heart Veins and Brain signifie the Father thence springeth up a Light of Understanding in the Power of which Knowledge the whole Body moveth signifying the Son which shineth back into the Heart Veins and Brain as the Son into the Father and from both Powers proceedeth forth Reason Skill and Wisdom to govern the whole Man and distinguish all that is extra corpus which is thy Spirit wherein thou excellest the Beast and wherein the Holy Spirit rules if thou be not a Child of Darkness v. 97. The Father is signified by the Power of thy whole Mind the Son by the Light in thy Mind the Holy Ghost by the Spirit of thy Mind The Soul containeth the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul the second the Astral or outward Spirit the third So in a Beast only Man is made by God himself out of the best Pith or Kernel of Nature to be his Angel and Similitude The Beast is made out of the wild Nature of this World through the Motion of the Stars and Elements In all Creatures are 1. The Power out of which the Body comes 2. The Sap or Heart 3. The flowing springing Spirit CHAP. IV. Of the Creation of Angels And first Of the Divine Quality 1. ALL the Powers are so in God as no Man can reach but by the Creation it may be clearly known Though all Powers are in the Father as the Astringent or harsh soft or gentle heat cold bitter sour sweet light sound or noise one in another as one Power yet not in the manner as in Nature for Lucifer's Elevation made the Powers impure separate and unclean but in God all are mild soft triumphing if he may be likened to any thing it must be to the Soul of Man enflamed by the Holy Ghost as a glimpse but in God all is Spirit The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost is a glimpse but in God all is Spirit 2. The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost moveth Eternally in all which in the Deep of the Father is like a Divine Salitter or Salnitrum to be likened to the Earth which before its Corruption was such not hard cold dark c. but like the clear pure Heaven in it all the Powers were fair and heavenly till Lucifer spoil'd it But the Fathers heavenly Salitter doth generate all manner of Divine Trees and Plants bearing Fruits of Life with heavenly colours smells tastes different every quality bearing his own Fruit as
God and hath Ability to speak of the indissolvable band but not of the infinite generating for the immeasurable space of the Dâ—ity hath neither Beginning nor End Of the sublime Gate of the Holy Trinity 4 The Father iâ— the Original Essence of all Essences in whom if the Son the second Principle were not Eternally generated the Father according to the first Principle would be a zealous wrathful dark Principle for the Son is as the Light out of the Fire the Heart Brightness and Love of the Father who is in his Son merciful reconciled and well pleased The Son is another manner of Person than the Father hath another centre of meer Jov and Love The Holy Ghost proceedeth from both in the enkindling of the Light as out of the Water Fountain of Humility is also an Almighty Spirit making out of the vertue of the Light an infinite number of Centres of a sweet smell and sweet tast The Description of Lucifer c. I Abridge not here having done it more fully in the 13th Chapter of Aurora page 250. CHAP. V. Of the third Principle the Creation of the Material World and farther clearing of the first and second Principles 1. A Principle is a Birth Therefore he that is Born of God may know the third Principle by his own new Birth The terror of God's Wrath the horror and anguish of his Estate Sin and Darkness was his first Principle His pure Divine Joy in being born again is his entring into the new Life or second Principle 2. In the first Principle is the indissoluble band which is Genitrix in it self inanimate wherein by the moving Spirit of God out of that incomprehensible Matrix the comprehensible visible Water proceeded in such various manner as the Spirit willed for out of the fifth Form of it was enkindled the fiery Heaven and Constellation or Quintessence where the Light originateth whence the Sun was Born which opened and enlivened the third Principle of the Material World as the Heart of God in Paradise doth in that pure immaterial Heaven opening the Eternal Power and Wisdom of God 3. The outward third Principle is the Similitude or Representation of the inward Paradisical World in which Angels and Man were â—reated and should not have known the Original of the four Elements wherein by the Fall of Lucifer was Evil and Good but now the Knowledge of it is highly necessary that we may fly from the bestial Man and learn to know the true Man CHAP. VI. Of the Separation in Creating the Third Principle 1. BY the Separation of the Creatures the Sun Stars Elements yea in our selves and in all things and their particular Properties the Eternal Mother is seen 2. The generated World becomes a Genitrix not sundered from the Eternal but by the Sun hath attain'd another Light and Life but is not the Eternal Light Life or Wisdom it self 3. Out of the Paradisical Heaven Water Spirit or Matrix is the Material Heaven created For when Lucifer would Domineer the dark Matrix attracted so as the Earth Stones Metals Salt c. proceeded which shut him up but the vertue remaining in the Matrix producing Light made also Gold Silver Copper c. The Spirit of God without departing from his own Eternal Paradisical Seat by the Fiat moved on the Material half deadned Water and created the Heaven which once separated from the dark Mist whereof was the Earth the Elements of Air Fire and Water though one in another appeared CHAP. VII Of the Eternal Birth of Heaven and generating the four Elements c. 1. NO Spirit nor Man can of his own Power possibly see into any other Principle but in which he is or is regenerated into Man whose Soul is out of the first Principle his Body outwardly of the Stars and Elements and inwardly of the one Element if illustrated by the second Principle hath great might of Miracles raising the Dead c. such may well see into the three Principles the Spirit of which it is Born searcheth the deep things of the Deity 2. Other Men Swim between the Vertue of the Stars and Elements as the Created Heavens do between the Divine and Hellish Kingdoms as doth Man also and to which of them he falls and yields himself in that is he regenerated 3. The Light of God is a cause of all the three Principles But for that there would be no longing and attraction in the dark Eternity and the Father is the first desiring and longing after the Son thence the Eternal Nature is ever longing So the brightness or Heart of the Father in the dark Matrix generateth the third Principle for so is God manifest who else would be Eternally hidden 4. Therefore O Noble Man though thou art stept with Adam out of Paradice into the third Principle set thy great desire and longing of thy Heart on the Heart of God and his Kingdom will be taken by force seek God in thy Soul there stands all the three Principles The Divine Birth it self the Pearl the Paradisical Garden do all stand open in a holy Soul 5. The true place of God is every where the Centre of the Earth he comprehendeth Hell it self All things are of him and from him And yet the out or procreated Birth is not from his Essence or Substance but from the Darkness And 1. The Fountain of the Darkness is the first Principle 2. The Vertue and Power of the Light is the second Principle 3. The Out-birth generated out of the Darkness by the power of the Light is the third Principle In a similitude 6. 1. Your Soul-giving Reason representeth God the Father 2. The Light shining in the Soul represents the Son 3. The vertue proceeding from that Light whereby the whole Body is directed represents the Holy Ghost 7. 1. The Darkness in you which longeth after the Light is the first Principle 2. The power of the Light by which you see in your Mind without Bodily Eyes is the second Principle 3. The vertue proceeding from the Mind impregnating it self whence the Material Body groweth is the third Principle Between each of which is an inclosure knot or stop 8. God â—ever'd the Fiery Starry Heaven or Quintessence from the watery Matrix else there would have been no end of generating of Stones That done the watery became clear and still the fiery longeth after the watery as the Husband of it and the watery as the Wife is impregnated thereby by which the Elements and all Minerals Vegetables c. as Children are proceeded 9. Every Form in the Matrix hath its visible Creatures but invisible to us unless they will manifest themselves for tho' the Elements are Members one of the other and receptacles one of the other yet each comprehendeth but it self Nor do the Spirits of the Air Water and Fire comprehend more than of their own Birth or peculiar World As the Body seeth not the Syderial and Elementary Spirit nor that
will into the Earthy as a common thing prophanely offering it up to God it brings fruit to perdition 4. For the Spirit of every Life appropriates its like to it self for one Property receiveth not another what the Soul willeth the thing received willeth the same for it is all Magical So the Devil was an Angel but when he willed Evil his heavenly substance became poison Yet is it not the Deities will that we perish but his Anger 's will and our will CHAP. IX Of the Life of Darkness wherein the Devils dwell of what kind it is The Sixth Point 1. THE Life of Darkness is a fierce false inimicitious stinging Essence having many Forms each would murther the other Nothing can cease the contrariety for the opposing it is as the blowing up of fire only God's Light can make it soft meek sweet and joyful But that cannot be for it is an Eternal Terror to the Darkness And if the Kingdom of Darkness should be enkindled with the Light the Light would have no Root no Fire no Omnipotency thus all must serve to God's Glory 2. The Life of the Darkness is a fainted poison Life like an Eternal dying Property It is also manifest that every Life existeth in poison which poison the Light both withstandeth and causeth that the poison faileth not 8. The Dark Life is especially in seven Properties with the Principle of the Centre of Nature The Light Life is also in seven Properties of the right of Nature So that what in the one giveth sadness that in the other giveth joy 4. What the malicious arrogant and wicked men do in this World that the Devils do in the Dark Worlds Property And what the poisonous Evil Creatures do in this World that do the other Creatures who also have Spiritual Bodies in the Dark World The whole Dark Worlds Dominion is principally in the first four Forms of Nature and from the fierce contrary Qualities are the Eternal Wonders manifested and brought to substance which substance parteth into three Fountains not rent one from the other but giving each to the other as Fire Light and Matter whereout Fire burneth 2. In Man is the substance of all substances carrying the Properties of Heaven and Hell in him which soever he awakeneth of that is the Soul capable Nor is it necessary to search farther 3. But Man having broke himself off from the first Image and Order must learn how to be regenerated by introducing the Meekness and Light to rule over his false and fierce Property and then the Law that pursued him ceaseth because the Law of Love and Meekness sets him free 4. Whatever departeth from its first will is pursued by the Law to restrain its wandering but when ever it is return'd to its right State and first Image and Order or by Death of the Outward Body is totally confirm'd in the erroneous will the Law and Strife ceaseth CHAP. X. Further of the sixth Point Of the four Elements of the Devil THE four Elements of the Devil are Pride Covetousness Envy Anger Gods four Elements are The Outward Worlds four Elements are The Devils four Elements are Humility Air Pride Meekness Earth Covetousness Patience Water Envy Love Fire Anger The discourse of the four Elements of the Dark World being both very plain and the Subject of several of this Authors other Writings The Extracts of it is forborn A Brief Exposition of the Small Six Points The first Point Of the Blood and Water of the Soul 1. THE Soul is a Magick Fire its Form is generated in the Light and though it self be no Substance yet it hath a Substance and Preservation which is its Flesh Blood and Water for the Tincture of Fire and Light in the Water makes Blood which is the Life of the Wisdom having in it all the Forms of Nature and all colours being another or second Magick Fire 2. According to the Light it is Divine Vertue and according to the Fire it is a sharpness of Transmutation and driveth up every thing to its highest pitch or degree 3. The Flesh and Blood of the Soul is the Divine Substantiality consisting in the highest Mystery and at the Death of the outward Body it retireth to the same and the outward Mystery goeth home to the inward And because each Magick fire hath its Clarity or Darkness therefore a final Day of Separation is appointed The second Point Of Election and Reprobation 1. God alone is all whose Infinite Abyssal Substance parteth into three Distinctions one in the other yet the one is not the other viz. The Fire world Dark-world and Light-world From the Desire comes the Centre of Nature and from that Centre the first three Forms who have no pain in them but the Fire causeth Pain 2. In the Fire is the Life tending to Light and Darkness which of them the Desire filleth it self with in that it burneth be it Heaven or Hell If it give it self to self Property it burneth in the Fire of dark Anguish but if to the Universal Will in Resignation it 's Fire burneth in the Light driving up no Substance but is in the Liberty of God 3. God's Predestination is not in the first Essence that is only a Mystery But Predestination passeth upon the introduced Substance be it the Wrath or Love for the Life is regenerated into one of them And in which of them the Will kindleth it self on that passeth the Election or Reprobation Hence is it that God causeth us to be Taught so doth the Devil each of them willeth that Man's will should converse and kindle it self in his Fire See the Book of Predestination The third Point What Sin is and how it is Sin 1. Two contrary Wills are an Enmity God is purely One without Source and though every Source be in him yet not manifested for the Good so subjecteth the Evil that it may be only a cause or Root of Light and Life 2. The Good or Light is as a Nothing inâ—o which when a Something entreth there must be a Spring to preserve that Something The Something is dark and the Qualities are manifold And Covetousness fiâ—leth the one wherein God dwelleth with multiplicity 3. Though an unfathomable dwelleth not in a fathomable yet God dwelleth in the highest or preciousest Life of Man therefore must the Will of Life tend and subject it self to the One in before and above every Creature for it is pregnant with that it lusteth after and no Fire-source subsisteth in the free Fire or Fire of the Liberty therefore can none Unite to God till they are emptied of their own Will till then God and Man are at Enmity Hence stands the immutable Law That Man depart from Self or be separated from the One. 4. Thus Sin is manifest to be a Will departing from God by awakening of and burning in the Root of Self-lust maketh it self a sole Lord a contrary opposite Will So Christ saith He that gathereth not with me scattereth 5. This
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day â—wallows up the Night or as the Fire illustrateth the heated Iron Yet was no more apprehended by the outward Elements though then in their best Purity than the Terrestrial doth the Celestial The Internal was to rule over the External the Heaven was the Husband to the Earth before the
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
keepeth its Light to its self or as Fire blazeth through Iron yet is not Iron So clear must be the Will which God's Unity is to possess till the Will be thus the Dragon existeth in it 4. Thus may Love and Anger be so unsevered as to be One only thing as Fire and Light The Power of the Anger caus'd the Fire Kingdom to form it self into a Den of Dragons which God permitted that he might not further disturb the Creation Q. 12. How can Man possibly know the Deep Unity A. 1. Reason imagineth God consulted with Himself about the Predestination But the out-flowing Names of the Powers is the Councel of God The wonder-doing Word it self in the Figures or Reflections of the Holy Names which Figures are call'd the Idea 2. The Eternal Nature imageth it self according to the Forms to Fire as hard sharp fierce c. in the No or Anger yet illustrated by the Yea or Light and they wrestle as a Love sport which brings the Imaging into Triumph and overcometh the Dragon 3. In This Strife Jesus sunk himself into the Humanity Redeeming Man and Ruleth till his Enemies be his Footstool 4. To shew the possibility for the Spirit to search the Depth of the Deity Know Man is an Image of God according to Love and Anger First The Soul is of the Eternal Central Fire whence all Creatures come but not out of the Pure God Secondly The Spirit of the Soul out of the Central Fire and Idea of the Light sprung from the Power of God is the Temple of the Holy Ghost in which Christ seedeth the Soul with His Flesh and Blood with Divine and Human Balsam 5. The outward Body is out of the four Elements and Astrum which Rule the Outward Life after which Adam lusted and broke himself from the Unity of God and the Will was captivated the true Spirit disappeared and the Idea inoperative which Right Spirit Jesus in drew again and restor'd with the Balsam of Love in the Light In This Light may the Soul search out all things operatively in the Understanding as did the Prophets of Old tho' incomprehensible to Outward Reason Q. 13. How and whither was the Dragon c. thrust seeing God fills all things c. A. 1. His Thrusting out was Effected by the name of the Holy Powers of the Throne which Lucifer had is severed from God's Holiness dwelleth under the Firmament and in all Quarters of the Earth betwixt Time and Eternity Also in the out-flown fierce Wrath of the four Elements but cannot touch the Good Power of the Elements 2. Tho' there are some Good Powers in which is wholly the Fire of the Light yet in Man is Good and Evil the Evil being captivated by the Good unless by Man's Will or by Turba Magna the Evil exceedeth the Good 3. The Expulsed Dragon is not the Central Fire of the Eternal Nature but an Efflux from it resembling Smoke 〈…〉 Hellish Den presents it self sometimes in the Upper Region where from great Heat and great Cold break Thunderbolts Also in great Wildernesses and in great Clefts and Concaves in the Earth where the Highly Damned Spirits and Souls of Men are horribly terrified But the Sun and Water hold them hidden as yet 4. God is to Hell as a Nothing as Light to Night as Life to Death The great Sharne Reproach Anguish and Torment of the Devil is that he is so near God yet cannot possibly attain him Q. 15. Had Hell a Beginning and may it have an End A. 1. God's Anger hath been from Eternity but not as Anger but as Fire hidden in Wood or a Stone 2. The enkindling was in the Fall of Lucifer And having an Eternal Foundation it can never cease unless the Creation totally be annihilated and that the receptibility of the Eternal Nature should extinguish and the Kingdom of Joy and Triumph cease There must be two Eternal Beginnings one in another the one to manifest the other Thus far the Extracts of the Answers of Jacob Behmen given to the first Thirteenth and part of the Fifteenth Question Here follow orderly the Answers of all such of the 177 Questions of Jacob Behmen which were left as far as yet appears unresolved by the blessed Author himself beginning at the 14th of those Questions Q. 14. What is Lucifer's Office in Hell with his Legions A. 1. What God's working in Hell is will be shewn in the 17 of these Answers as also what and where Hell is What is the Dragon is resolved by the blessed Jacob Behmen in the 11th Answer What the Dominion of Good Angels is will fall under the 19th all which may contribute much to the present Inquiry 2. The Dark World existeth of six of the seven separate Properties because the seventh is the rest of the other therefore not properly to be understood of That World where no Rest shall be for ever for Lucifer and his Angels as they are Creatures tho' revolted and in rebellion against the God of Love and Goodness yet are Subjects in His Kingdom of Wrath and ready Servants to the Active Fierceness thereof For tho' the Principle wherein they are Instruments be without beginning and as it is in God for ever unmanifested yet as it is in the Creatures the Secluded Angels it is a Fire of their own kindling wherein as being their Life they are more or less extreamly active and skilful according as their Tincture rooted in their Forms of Life is more or less fortified and excelling that in others for Puissance and Exquisiteness 3. Consider we that God's working in Hell must needs be in all the seven Properties of the Dark Abyss in the first four whereof the Apostate Angels are like ready Actives having no other Will or have they fitted themselves for any other work or use but to Image the Abyss of the first Principle some of them most strongly bear the Astringent impressed Powers others the restless Constringent Attraction others the Cruel Self-gnawing Worm of Anguish others the Raging Hot Fire that is severally one sort under the prevailing Tyranny of the one others of the other Tho' the whole four unite in every one in the Eternal Band as in some horrid Creatures here the Anguish of Cold Venom is prevalent yet in this Elementary Fabrick there is an allay of some contrary Property in some weak proportion else were the Creatures here as the horrid ones there But thus the Office of the Black Spirits is in all their Forms wholly extream tho' in one only is the Extremity in the highest degree their Natures are capable of as is seen in Diseased Bodies that one of the Humours is predominant 4. From these things is discernable what Lucifer's Office is in Hell which is to be the most copious ample compleat Image of the Jealousie Zeal Indignation Fierce Wrath or Devouring Fire proceeding from the Breath of the Almighty Father And the Will and Life of This Prince the Master piece of
Answer What are the Dominions of Angels Evil and Good 1. David meditating the Heavens is transported into admiration What is Man c. But what place may be found low enough for Man to prostrate himself in who seriously considers his loathsom deformity by sin he is so far baser than the Outward Heavens which yet must pass away that he is viler than the Beast that perisheth for his subjection to vanity he owes to us is also viler than the Earth which bearing our Curse yet gratefully pays what it can for the Blessings showering on it and willingly serves the higher Influences of Nature to generate â—â—ble Concretes and were it delivered from our Curse would gladly travel for Paradisical Productions but our heavy Curse is so eating that it hath entred the Timber and Walls therefore must this House needs as that having the incurable Leprosie be pull'd down We are also viler than the poisonous abominable Reptiles for they are but figures of the Forms of the Black World but sinful Man is really united to them Man also considered as Reprobate is worse than the Devils both as he is lower by Creation and higher by aggravated transgression having trampled on the Only and most excellent Remedy freely offered for his recovery the Sacrifice of the most Holy of Holies the Only Eternal Son of God 2. And is there no Creature so vile as Man Hold this O my Soul for thy Contemplation remain confounded and astonished Let not thy Tongue smother what thy Intellect sees nor thy Pride refuse thy just Reproach flatter not paint not indulge not but depart out of thy self as now clotâ—ed with thy shame and filth cry to him whose Eternal Mercy is infinite for pity to cast his skirt over thee now in thy Blood And when thou contemplatest the sublime Wisdom excellent Power and irresistible Activity of the Angelical Hosts and remembrest that the subtilty of a Fox the strength of an Ass the nimbleness of a Fly the skill of a Bee surpass thee yet know if regenerate into the Image of Jesus Christ thou maist by humble Obedience and willing Child-like Resignation to the Conduct of the Councils from above obtain That Wisdom which the Old Serpent is short of thou maist â—ate sin in a measure as the Holy Angels do viz. really because it is sin and universally thou maist love Holiness Purity and Modesty sincerely in a measure the perfection of which Love is the Glory of the Heavenly Hosts Let not therefore the shame of thy nakedness so sink thee but that thy humble thoughts may offer up Volumes of Blessings for any possibility of recovery To Thee therefore who art all in all and infinitely above all be offered up my wretched all To Thee who art all pity be presented my mournful earnest prayer graciously lay hold on my feeble Faith let thy Wind blow Life on my dry Bones To Thee O Fountain of Goodness be given all my weeping praises and my whole Soul for ever On the 20th Question and Answer Out of what is the Visible World created c. 1. This Visible World is originated out of the Eternal thence sprung the Stars and four Elements of the one Element the Fire actuates separates and digests the other three Elements and the Father of Nature forms all according to the Will modell'd by the Wisdom and giveth the Tincture Thus the Fire-life in Man's Mortal Body helps three Concâ—ctions the first in the stomach as the Chilus nourishing by assimilation answering to the Air the second in the Mesentery and Liver as Blood answering to Water the third Concâ—ction is the passing by the Veins into the gross Members and by the Arteries to the more fine and to add to the Bones answering to Earth and Stones in each of which is a separation of the unprofitable part This Contemplation well raised David to say I am fearfully and wonderfully made And as in our Mortal Man there is something surviving viz. the Tincture so in the Out-birth the Soul of it and Tincture being out of the Eternal Nature and the first Principle is indissoluble but the Bestial Man sees not that but greedily catcheth at the Husk and Hogs-meat the excrementitious part 2. But thou Ohâ—my Spirit shew by thy humble meekness thy high extraction shew by thy Resignation to the universal Will of thy Creator that thou art his Child keep thy Lamp clean that being enkindled by the Fire from above thou maist enlighten the dark Forms of my Immortal Soul to know and live to God and will purely his will that my Souls heat may be a Love fire and that Love-fire may be a constant Fountain for thy Love-flame That as every individual Creature in their degree do unawares to themselves shew the Almighty Power and Infinite Wisdom of God thou being intrusted more than they all with five Talents maist prove them to ten and shew understandingly not only his Infinite Power and Wisdom but Infinite Goodness Grace Clemency Condescension Pity Love Bounty and Sweetness And thou Oh my Astral and gross Body beware lest the poor Brutes by serving thee while they live and dying to keep thee alive out-strip thee not so far as to witness against thee that thou hast prevented the end of thine own Creation and theirs by insatiably lusting to indulge and serve thy self thereby robbing thy Soveraign of the fruits of his Vineyard On the 21th Question and Answer Whence proceeded Evil as poisonous Creatures here c. 1. Out of the Dark Confusion by the Apostasie of Lucifer and his Legions the Fiat moving by the Separator to bring forth every Power strenuously willed to make it self creaturely so was it the seven Planets severally bear the seven separate Powers and according to them are impressed the Evil and Good Properties on Plants Minerals and Sensitives not that any one is wholly one but one is prevalent and the rest subservient Thus evil venomous loathsom voracious fierce Creatures and things have existence yet shineth the Sun descendeth the sweet drops on them and springeth up the fatness of the Earth for them 2. Behold here the overflowing Bounty of the gracious God who feeds the young Lions and young Ravens the Dragons and Serpents of the Wilderness Behold here also his Long-suffering who not only spares but heaps up outward blessings on far worse viz. obstinate hardened seared Rebels for whom he hath not spared his own Son and on whom he hath waited counselling entreating convincing resisting and dropping Line upon Line perhaps twenty forty and on some fifty years for ever blessed be that abused Creator that bleeding Redeemer that grieved Holy Ghost 3. Come hither all my Inward Powers prostrate your selves be enkindled by this Holy Fire learn to do good for evil blessing for cursing Be astonished O my Soul that ever thou didst return black ingratitude and trample on heavenly Blood and Bowels of Mercy that thou hast not only been as the worst of Beasts but much more vile and
Wonders of the great World he lusted the potence whereof remains in the Lust of a Woman by which is impressed a mark on the Child in her Womb. 4. His so Lusting enfeebled him that he slept and became impotent as to generating Magically with the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom Then God built a Woman out of him whom when he awaked he took as the Beasts do he drew Breath of the four Elements and kindled his Astral Spirit therewith 5. But the fierceness did not yet stick in them tho' the longing did which Eve by her little regarding the Commandment soon shewed And thus entred Sin Shame and the Evil from the divided Properties from the Elements to which disobedience had subjected them 6. For the Devil is this Worlds Executioner the Stars are the Councel and God is the King of the Land Such therefore as depart from God fall under the Councel who send some to the Rope Water Killing Stealing c. in all which the Devil is very active And at best the Councel helps to vain turmoil discontent and vexation The farther Extracts of this profound Chapter is here forborn being copiously treated in the 20 21 22 23 24 and 25th Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum CHAP. XVIII Of the Promised Seed Adam's Exile and Gods Curse 1. WHen fallen Man stood in great shame and horror fast bound by the Devil God the Father appear'd to him with his angry Mind of the Abyss into which he was now fallen And his most Gracious and Merciful Heart oppos'd it self to the Wrath placing it self highly in the Gate of Mans Life re-inlightning the Soul which yet stood trembling to hear Gods Sentence Because thou hast eaten of the Tree c. 2. Thenceforth the Holy Element withdrew from the Root of the Fruit and left it to the inkindled fierceness of the four Elements producing Thorns c. and the Fruit issuing in the Out-birth made for the Beasts became Mans Food who was become Earthy and now God would not cast his Heavenly Food which belonged to Angels to the Bestial Man 3. Now rose the Enmity of the Beasts to Man he was a Wolf to them and they as Lions to him 4. Before the Curse the tame Creatures were very near akin to the one Element with whom Man should have delight and others the wild ones to the four divided Elements 5. Now also the turmoiling Life of digging c. was necessary for death frailty c. in the four Elements succeeded the continual living Vertue of the Holy Element which was departed 6. God laid the burthen of managing the Creatures on Man when he was become like them but had God willed to have Bestial Men he had Created them such and given them no Commandment as neither have the Beasts any Law 7. God could well have Created Creatures to have the charge and labour of managing the Beasts as already there are Creatures in all the four Elements without a Soul yet somewhat adapted to such a conduct while Man might in Paradise have retained his Angelical Form 8. Eve's Sentence Thou shalt bear Children in pain c. establisht her perfectly to be a Woman of this World It should have been without a Woman and impregnation therefore was the Lord Jesus without the Seed of Man the Son of the Virgin 9. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ out of the Heart Word and Promise of God the Father through the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom is proceeded the Treader upon the Serpent who imaged it self in Adam's mind and Espousing therewith openeth Heaven for the Soul giving the Virgin for a Companion to instruct him in the way of God But because Mans Soul was too hard inkindled from the first Principle did not so instantly imprint it self therein but stood opposite to the Hellish Darts and in the Minds of those Men that yielded to Gods Wisdom did break the Serpents Head 10. But after long Tryal whether Men could by this way wholly yield themselves to God there came to be Murtherers unchast and domineering Spirited Men and but few clave to God then came the Deluge 11. The dread of Gods Judgments not prevailing God chose the Children of Sem to erect the Office of Preaching but Mans self-will ruled by the Stars prompted their blindness so that they would secure themselves by a Tower which God stopt by making their Language as confused as their Thoughts That by their scattering the holy Seed might be preserved but that not reclaiming them God out of the fierceness of the first Principle burnt Sodom and the five Kingdoms yet Sin sprouted as a Green Branch 12. Then God promis'd the chosen Generation to multiply them if they would obey him and prospered them in a strange Land to see if they would depend on him rais'd them up a Prophet wrought Wonders fed them from Heaven gave them a Law in the Zeal and Fire of the Spirit of the great World into which they were fallen gave them Circumcision and Sacrifice for that Man was Earthy their Prayers with a Token of Acceptance were heard through the Consumption of the Earthiness of their Sacrifices and Incense forbad theâ— Meats especially Swines Flesh which in the Fire giveth a stink as also it doth in the Souls first Principle and fuming darkeneth the Gates of the breaking of the Light 13. But nothing could ransom the Soul nor attain the Resurrection of the Body and bring the new Body out of the Holy Element till regenerated in the Son of the Virgin Therefore in the 3970. year the Angel Gabriel saluted Mary with that precious Message to her Astonishment and the Angels Admiration 4. Think not that the Word descended from the highest Heaven above the Stars and became Man No but the Word which God spake in Paradise which imaged it self in the Door of the Light of Life waiting perceptibly in the minds of the holy Men that same Word is become Man the same is entred again into the Divine Wisdom And the same Wisdom of God in the Word of God gave it self into Mary's Virgin Matrix uniting it self as aâ— Eternal propriety into tâ—e Essences and into the Tincture of the Element whic 〈…〉 ure before God And it was a going forth with the whole fulness of the De 〈…〉 hence also the Holy Ghost goeth forth making it greater than Adam or ever any Angel was being the blessing and might of all things in the Father Eternally 15. Not then nor ever separate from the Father every where present and is become a new Creature in Man and called God which new Creature is not generated of the Flesh and Blood of the Virgin but of the total fulness and union of the Holy Trinity and filleth all the Gates of the Holiness whose Depth Number and Name is Infinite 16. Yet the Corporeity of the Element of this Creature is inferior to the Deity for the Element is generated out of the Word Eternally And that the Lord should go into the Servant is
Miâ—d not enlightened by Divine Light reach them for like must be comprehended by like And tho' Heavenly Treasure be carried in an Earthy Vessel yet there must be a Heavenly Receptacle hid in the Earthy or the Heavenly cannot be comprised 13. Eternal Life is in a Twofold Source First That of the Originality viz. the fierceness according to which God calls himself a consuming Fire and this Principle we must have or else we should not be alive Yet if we stay in this without generating the Love and Humility our abode is in Pride Covetousness Envy and Anguish as the Devils 14. Let us look to it that seeing the Life in the Originality is both Inimicitious against it self and against the Regeneration and that the Life in the Love is Heavenly therefore we be content to be pierced wounded and to bear the Cross in Meekness and expect till at the day of Separation the Field of the first Principle in which groweth the Heavenly Fruit of the second Principle shall be taken away for then shall the Life springing up through Death be a Fruit to God in the new Man and thereunto dedicate our selves in our Meek Victorious Saviour THE THIRD BOOK OF Jacob Behmen CALLED THE Threefold Life in Man CHAP. I. Of the Root Beginning and Forms of Life 1. SEeing there is in us an incorruptible Life wherein is a Principle capable of the highest good yet by its Original is also in danger of Eternal Perdition and Misery and that here we are strangers posting away how necessary is it to search whence all these originate And this may be by going up the Stream to the Fountain 2. The outward Elementary Life is a Living Heat or Active Fire enlivening the Body and sustained by the Body the Body by the Food the Food by the Earth the Earth by the Water and the other Elements the Elements by the Fire of the Constellations their Fire inkindled by the Sun causing a Boiling in all So should that first outward cause cease the sude or seething and Generation of all also of Metals Fruits c. would cease as the Food failing the Body and its Life extinguisheth 3. Now this perishing Life hungering after a higher Life shews there is such and that is the Eternal Life of the Soul As is said in Moses God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul The Soul is also an ever induring Fire and must have Food which it presseth after from its original which is the Eternal Band the Forms of the Eternal Nature the Property of the Father but that Band of those Forms is of it self as a dry Breast whence it is that the Soul would have the Food in its own power but that also is as impossible as for the Eternal Nature to have the Light in its own power which cannot be for the Love shining in it or into it remaineth Lord therein because the Eternal Nature doth not comprehend it but rejoiceth in the Light which is another Principle which when it is received into the Soul it is a new Birth ingenerated in the Soul and this is done as truely as the Soul like a Branch is come from the Tree of the immediate Parent 4. And because Adam fell into the Astral Kingdom and our Elementary Body is infected therewith as sometimes the Body is with the Pestilence it was out of the power of the Soul to enter into the Divine Principle therefore of meer Infinite Grace did the Love the Son of God take our Humane Soul and brought it into the holy Life that we might every one by or for our particular selves press with our Soul in the Life of Christ into the new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ. No Meritorious Works on the one hand or lifeless feigned words of believing on the other avail at all but only a stedfast earnest resolution in the new Created Will bearing the Cross killing the old Will and arising in the Life of Christ bringeth the Glory Food and Paradise of the Soul else the Soul remains in the four Anguishes or Forms of the Eternal Band for ever wherein stands the Eternal Wrath and Hell Fire for ever And thus see we the Original in the first Principle and the Divine Light making the second Principle why then should not the Man to whom this Knowledge is graciously given speak of this as his Native Countrey not as of things afar off but that wherein he standeth and himself really is and not to be learnt of another Man as is barely an History unless himself enter into the new Birth in the Life of Christ that the Divine Light may shine in him 5. The Root whence is inkindled the Vital Fire consists of two Forms only the sour which is a strong shutting up and the bitter sting is an opener and those are what the Eternal Will in the desiring attracteth and is the wills something and darkness Then the sting of the bitterness would get loose which the sourness captivateth with strife tho' like a wâ—e is yet no pain for they are immaterial forms of Nature in the Eternal Will and this contrary commixture is as a confusion of Eternal Mobility and cause of the Multiplicity of Essences and are efficiently the Eternal Essences and Eternal Band. 6. The vast infinite space desireth narrowness or comprehension wherein to manifest it self as a Map doth in a few Inches a huge Territory a short Speech or Scene Abridge a large History a Minute Model Epitomize the Terrestrial and Celestial Orbs. And as all pourtraying Figures have shadows as foils to set off the rest so in the contraction of matter to manifest Infinity must be Darkness that one contrary may illustrate the other Nor is the vast infinite space a Creator but a Genitrix and the Word in with and of the Father the Generator as the Territory makes not of it self the Map also the words owe themselves to the speaker or speaking word 7. Nor is the word departed nor doth the Son depart from the Father but is inseparable as the Light of a Candle abideth with the Candle as saith the Son I am not alone but the Father is with me in the Father is a Centre in the Son is a Centre two Principles not divisible but inseparable Thus the second Will opening the Principle of Light is amiable pure and mild also Omnipotent to Create all things breaking and shining out of the Eternal Essences yet not comprehended by them but dwelling in it self CHAP. II. Of the Begun Life the Principles and Forms and Fall 1. THE stirring in every Life whether Sensitive or Vegetative must not be a strange or Heterogene Power for such would blow it out rather than help it but it must be the Creatures own Spirit proceeding in the Genitrix to be a Centre and Circle also of Life None should trust their Soulâ— with the Men whose Home is here for the Soul stands in the Original of the Essence of all
Christ which was cover'd or veiled by the outward Mortal Body and cannot be comprehended by the Mortal but is he that cometh down from Heaven gives it self under Bread and Wine into the Tincture of the Souls of those who go out from themselves into his Will thus was in Christ two Kingdoms a Heavenly and an Earthy the new Man born of God wherever he is receiveth this heavenly Flesh and Blood or holy Humanity for it is every where and had the predominance in Adam till he went back into the Lust of the outward earthy Principle wherein the Devil hath entrance to us poor Captives so that often the Soul turns its Will to the outward wherefore God by his Testament reneweth the Soul by this new Body How careful therefore should the Soul be that it go not back as did Adam For the Soul of Man hungereth and thirsteth after this Food being the word intended when Christ said Eat This is my Body and without this Substance God is not known it being the Manifestation of the Deity Yet doth the outward Humane Nature remain in Heaven palpably and apprehensibly seen by Men in that Form it was in here when upon â—arth and in that Body is seen nothing but the Majesty Clarity and Brightness which filleth the Angelical World 4. Now wherever the Majesty is there is the Substantiality which is the Body of the Word yet without Image for the Creature only is an Image or Formation like as the substantial Earth is come though in the Deep is only Air Water and Fire whereof the Sun though but one is the cause 5. We receive not in the Supper another Creature with a new Soul but we receive on our Soul the Body of Christ which is already the Eternal Creature whose Flesh and Blood filleth Heaven and which is such a Body to the Soul as can at the End of the World go with the Soul through the Fire of the Anger of God without feeling changing the Fire by the allay of Meekness into a meer Love deâ—ire a brightness of the Majesty Thus are we in God the Children of God Allelujah Concerning the Testament of Baptism 6. A Child hath by the Masculine Seed the Fires Tincture or that of the Soul and by the Feminine hath the Lights or Waters Tincture or that of the Spirit but by Adam's Fall both were corrupted so that the Fires Tincture or Soul was captivated by God's Eternal Wrath and the Water or Spirits Tincture was captivated by the Spirit of this great outward World and both had remained the Devil's Captives had not the Word of the Lord taken our Soul and Spirit and been made Flesh. Therefore he instituted Baptism for little Children being an Office managed by the Holy Ghost in whose Vertue the Soul's Water is made a Water of Life for the Water belongs to the Spirits Tincture and so the Spirit of the Soul receiveth the Vertue wrought by the Holy Ghost's Office which is the great Mystery Even as the Vertue convey'd to the hunger of the Soul's Fire is most immediately from the Vertue in the Flesh and Blood of the Son the second Person of the Trinity The Magia out of the Wonders 7. Where there is but one only Will there is no breaker nor Enmity but it draweth into it self and goeth out of it self in the same one free Will but where there are two Wills there is separation and contrariety for one Will goeth inward and the other outward and if it be in one thing or body that Kingdom hath intestine opposition Whence comes a third Will mixed of the two first Hence spring many needing a Judge but if they all be strong Wills they constitute severally every one a Judge and the flown out Will hates that whence it sprung because it hath got a contrary Will and it self proceeds to its highest number But seeing it can get no higher nor attain rest therefore at that place of inquiry the Prophet is born who sheweth the cause why the out flown Will instead of going to the Crown-number hath awakened the Turba or disturbance which shall have an end by rising of a new Kingdom whereof the Prophet is the Mouth which new Kingdom being generated out of the breaking causeth the Pride Covetousness and Envy of the strayed Wills like evil Twigs to be broken and wither And whereas they call themselves Children of the good Root the Prophet tells them they are Murtherous Wolves and if the Turba be grown up with it it breaketh the multiplicity 8. Now when the Father pours Oyl into the Wounds the Oyl it self becomes Poison which should have been a Remedy for the strayed Will hath made an Oyl by his own Wit and Art where with it feeds and actuates its earthy sensual desires so that the true Oyl is death to this Evil Will of the multiplicity for it calleth it self the Good Tree so there is no Remedy but it must be its own destroyer and the apostated Children are given to the Turba to be devoured one of another They boast themselves to know much but do it not but retaining the History deny the Power as their Father the Devil who knoweth as much as they doth it not 9. But the Mother of the Genitrix finding her Children become strange to her falling into lamentation and anguish doth conceive and bring forth a young Son on him she put a garment of childish simplicity and he became a Lilly Twig of Purity he shall break the Turba and doing the Divine Will remain in the house for ever whence the other by following the Devil revolted feigning to themselves good words blessing themselves for hearing and seeing what they hear and seâ— and taking the Covenant of God into the mouth while they hate to be reformed and dwell in falshood CHAP. XIV Of the Broad and Narrow Ways 1. THE Broad Way leading to the Abyss of Wrath is what we strongly incline to being as to the inward or first Principle the Soul 's Original understood of the four Anguishes in the way of craft cruelty pride revenge desire of Rule and Pomp And as to the outward the way of ease pleasure volupruousness with a swinish appetite to get and keep all 2. Our Temporary Nature is captive to the Bestial Properties whereto it is severally formed by the Spirit of this World according as the Wheel of the Outward Nature stood at the instant of the formation But if Men remain guided only thereby it giveth the Body to the Earth and the Soul to Hell Yet so broad is the Eâ—â—â— Way that the Travellers therein may as with full Sail traverse it tho' by constituâ—ion they be adapted to desire of deep search after knowledge skilful inspection into secret Mysteries many practical and speculative Arts and parts of Wisdom by quick Astral Reason Others tho' in the same broad Road may have excellent skill in disputes of Antient and Modern Religious Controversies and Traditions in Doctrine and Discipline they may be
from within as when Christ raised Lazarus by a power from within from the Centre of the Soul as so also shall we be raised at last for the Word with the three Principles dwells in us And all Souls are as it were one Soul being all propagated of one Soul therefore will they all hear the Voice of the Human Soul of Christ and arise with their Bodies 5. So when we pray it is not to a God afar off for God heareth in the Centre of the Soul of the repenting sinner pressing out of the anguish of the first Principle and out of the Spirit of this World into the holy second Principle which is also in the Soul for when we pray aright the Word which became Man having the Holy Ghost in it goeth from the Father and meeteth the pouring out Soul for the Body is not worthy but the new Body of the flesh of Christ when the Soul attains it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Then comes the Soul to God as the Prodigal Son with an humble submissive obedient Will from the Swine He knocks at his evil heart and breaks open the doors and the Father saith This my Son was lost and is found was dead and is alive The latter part of this Chapter is not extracted being a brief Exposition of the Lord's Prayer according to the Language of Nature which is little known CHAP. XVII Concerning God's Blessing in this World 1. THE Soul finds it self in such an Earthy Garment causing shame and is so choaked by the Devils smoky Pit which represents God a cruel severe Judge that stands at a catch to damn it or decreed its eternal perdition before the present World was that the Soul must needs be under total despair or great doubt at least of falling short of the Light of God for such is the Effect of shame and guilt Therefore the Soul by this misunderstanding starts back seeking some satisfaction from the Spirit of this World and support for the outward Life only or chiefly to be had by its own distrustfâ—â—â—arking and toiling in his own contrivances and subtle reason a consequent of the Curse whence so many potent delusions spring for he thus falls home to the Earthy Life for meat clothing and habitation 2. And this is contrary to the Life Man should have led for as God dwelleth in the Earth yet the Earth apprehendeth him not so Man should with the Soul have eaten the Divine Word of God's Love tho' the Body had been of the Matrix of the Earth yet not captivated in it but eating of the Blessing of God The Body was taken out of the Centre of the Fire and Waters Tincture the Soul out of the second Principle why then should the Body captivate the Soul 3. The Outward Life consists in three parts one in the dominion of the Stars another in the one Element divided into four and the other the dominion of God So that the Man who trusteth in God and not in his Reason the Spirit of God is with him blessing what he is hath and doth For seeing the Soul hath the Body of God how can God's Spirit forsake the outward Body which must open its Wonders God wants none and all are alike profitable to him the politick and the weak for with the outwardly wise he ruleth and with the outwardly simple he tilleth buildeth c. and this Worlds outward Spirit gives degrees to men here so according as the Soul is indued with Divine Power such are the degrees in Heaven yet all in one Love but God's Children are in this and that World as Good Herbs and sweet Flowers which yield their several Vertues in harmony to the Apothecary and the wicked are as poisonous Weeds Thorns and Thistles who separate themselves and their Off-spring into an evil Self-will and Property 4. Covetousness is madness driving Man Devil like to Torment others about a handful of Earth or a Stone of which the World hath enough and plague himself to get the Good of that he must speedily leave and the gnawing guilt which will never leave him This Man still runneth after that Care and Sorrow which runneth after him whereas every one if content hath a sufficient Portion from the Spirit of this World and of Care and Sorrow also as saith the Lord Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof But Man's mad Will is all to advance Pride whereas the Kingdom of God is Love and Humility and if Man suffers not himself to be captivated Heaven and Earth is his by God's free Donation so not only Heaven but the Sun Stars Elements Earth Sea and all is Man's by Natural Propriety To trust therefore in God is to build sure in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XVIII Of Death and Dying How Man is when he Dieth and how it is with him in Death 1. THE Life consisteth in three Parts 1. The Inward which is God's Eternal hidden Mystery in the Fire whence Life existeth 2. The Middle or Eternal Image of God wherein God seeth himself as a Man doth himself in a Glass 3. The Spirit of the great World which this Eternal Image got in the Creation as a Glass to see it self in so the out-principle figures the inward and the inward Image hath so gazed on the outward as that it hath received the outward which must break off again which because it is bound to the Eternal Centre of Nature therefore is the breaking in Death so very painful 2. The outward consisteth in the Sun's Tincture and its Dominion are the Planets and Stars each of which still drive on to its Limits and when it comes again to its place where it stood in the Creation all whereof it was Lord ceaseth for there it commenceth a new Age whence many a young Child in the Womb dieth for its Lord is at its Period And to hit the Point of our limited End it is required to know exactly the Number and Period of the Sign which is our Leader 3. How hardly can the Living Man express how it is with one that is Dead which himself hath not experimented A Dead Man's sence is ceased with extinguishing his Fire his Elementary Spirit evaporateth his Blood and Water pass into Water and Earth also therewith his Essences thus his Beginning finds End But because the corruptible hath an Eternal Root therefore the Eternal worketh in the Fragile and because the outward Imageth the Eternal it should bring its Wonders and Similitudes into the Eternal whence it is originated 4. The Souls Will worketh in the Centre or Eternal Root the Astral Spirit works in the Body adhering so to the Soul that the Soul often lusteth to do what the Starry Spirit doth and such Souls who get no higher fall into Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger whence if they convert not in those very works must the Soul Eternally dwell doing the Devils Will hating God loving Folly which was here and is there their only Treasure but only in the
by Eternal Generation standing in the Majesty of the Sacred Trinity and in the Body of Mary equally alike at Once Q. 37. What the Spirit of Christ is which was Obedient and which he commended into his Fathers Hands A. 1. This is that great Jewel that Pearl Matth. 13. 46. The Philosopher's Stone and shining Sun not so noble The Heavenly and Earthy Mystery is in it Nothing in this World is like it but the mean Simplicity which standeth still and awakeneth not the Turba in such a Spirit is this Jewel hid as the Gold in the Stone 2. The Soul is the Original of Life as a Fire of God which should be turned into God's Eternal Will in the Magick seeking of which Will the Soul is originated and wherein lyeth the Deity with all the three Principles 3. And out of the Soul's Fire the Light is generated by blowing it self up by which it is its own Life and in the Lights Meekness is the Noble Tincture with two Forms one red of the Fire the other thin of the Water which generate the Life And in the Exit or going forth of that Power and Vertue which is free from the Fire is the Light of Life or true Spirit wherein is the Virgin the Image of God In this Spirit lye the Thoughts and Understanding and if it casteth away its own Soul's Fire Pomp and Wit it attains God's Image God's Body For it is so subtil that it Uniteth it self with God for it can and may enter into God And because this Spirit originateth out of the Fire-life and the Fire-life in the Abyss standeth in the quality of the Anger of God therefore Christ commended not this his Spirit into the fiery Life but into his Father's hands viz. into his Love-desire wherewith he reacheth after our Spirits when we enter into God 4. Thus is shewed what Christ's Spirit is and what our Spirit is viz. not the Soul it self but its Life's Spirit In the Trinity the Son hath the Spirit proceeding out of his Heart and Mouth the Heart is the flame of Love which meekneth the Father's Anger so is it in Man and no otherwise in one Syllable Q. 38. What are to be done at the End of the World A. Future things are to be answered only in a Magical manner or by way of Similitude because the future Wonders are all seen in the Turba And concerning this Question there is enough spoken in the Answers of the former Questions Q. 39. What and where Paradise is with its Inhabitants A. It is explained in the Enochian Life that Paradise is not altered only withdrawn from our source or quality if our Eyes were opened we should see it Nay God is with us only we have lost the Quality and Fruit of Paradise as the Devil hath lost God For Adam would eat of the Earthy Fruit whereby he got an Earthy Life and secluded himself the Garden where heavenly Fruit groweth Q. 40. Whether Paradise is alterable and what shall de afterwards A. 1. As little as God is alterable so little is Paradise When the outward Dominion shall pass away then shall in the place of this World be pure Paradise an Earth of heavenly substantiality No Night Heat Frost Old-Age Sickness Fear Sorrow Death nor Superiour but Christ in one Communion with the Angels then will the Tabernacle of God be with Men. 2. This Earth will be a Christalline Sea where God's lustre will be the Light It will be a Holy Priestly Life all speaking of God's Wisdom and Infinite Wonders all Fruits will grow to us according to our wish it will be a Life of meer Love and Delight for to this end hath God manifested himself in the created Images of Angels and Men that he might rejoyce himself in his Life's Essences Eternally Hallelujah This was the Author's Fourth Book Written Anno 1620. THE FIFTH BOOK Of the AUTHOR Jacob Behmen Consisting of Three PARTS Viz. First The Incarnation or becoming Man of Jesus Christ. The second Part is Of Christs Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection The third Part is Of the Tree of Christian Faith 1. TO the right knowing Christs Incarnation the Knowledge how Adam was and whereof made much importeth 2. Adam was made out of all the three Principles God the Fathers Property compared to Fire The Sons Property compared to Light The Spirits Property to the Wind or Air the out-birth proceeding from both God according to the first Principle is not called God but a consuming Fire 3. The Father is the Eternal Will the son the Eternal Meekness and the Impregnator the Spirit the Eternal Life 4. The Trinity Created the one holy Element called Centre of Nature Divine substantiality the substantiality of the Light Paradise the Mother of a giving Power Meekness and Substance to all Forms 5. Out of this one holy Element were made Angels and Men. Only Man was made not only of the one holy Element but as to the out-birth of the four Elements also over which he was to rule both Stars Elements and Creatures by his Power given him out of that one holy Element 6. Adam's Body was Paradisical Holy and of Power to penetrate Stone or Earth Immortal yet real Flesh and Blood but Holy and Heavenly He was both a Masculine and Feminine Virgin and was to propagate Magically for both the Tinctures were in him and to eat only Paradisical Food which needed neither Guts not Bestial Draught c. 7. But Adam did not continue so for the four Elements gaining Power over the one holy potent Element by which they were to have been governed he slept for he was not able to continue in the state wherein he was created so God divided the Tinctures and form'd of the Feminine a Woman giving her the half Cross in the head and to them the Members of distinction and propagation yet still in Paradise 8. And Eve being tempted by the Serpent tho' the Law of God was explained to her by her Husband fell and drew him also 9. But God had incorporated the Virgin of Wisdom in them which viz. the Eternal Virginity in the Covenant of Promise hath lain shut up in the Virgin Mary and in all Adam's Children in every Man's Light of Life wanting only this that the Soul's Spirit give it self up thereinto and in that Soul-Spirit God becometh generated again CHAP. VIII 1. FOR Christ is not become Man in the Virgin Mary only so that the Divine Substantiality did sit bolted up therein no the Divine Substantiality in the Water of Eternal Life entred into and became flesh and blood It made Heavenly Tincture and Divine Magia 2. So that we may say when with our imagination we enter into God that we enter into God's flesh and blood for the Word became Man and God is the Word 3. This takes not away the Creature of Christ We liken the Creature of Christ which is indeed a Body to the Sun which enlighteneth the whole
Deep one Power and Lustre receiveth the other The Deep with its Lustre is hidden but yet hath the power of the Sun in it 4. So Christ's Substantiality filleth Heaven and Paradise and swalloweth up the Earthiness also where it is received and obeyed 5. Thus Christ brought back what Adam lost and much more for the Word is every where become Man See the Extracts of the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the Three Principles The 2d Part being of Christ's Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection CHAP. I. Q. IS it said Was it not sufficient that God became Man why must he also die Could God no other way save Man What pleasure takes he in Death and Dying If God had by his Sons Death paid a Ransom for us why must we also die CHAP. V. Ver. 54. to the end Ans. 1. MAN had lost the Divine Substantiality and Angelical Property and imagined into the Out-birth viz. into the Earthy part was departed from the Divine Light into the Light of this World and captivated in the fierce Wrath of God which the Devil had kindled viz. the four first Forms according to which God calleth himself a consuming fire 2. The corrupted Out birth also had put a Body on him which it destroyed and swallowed up again in its essential fire 3. But being the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Holy Spirit of God out of the Eternal and so is an Angel 4. Therefore hath the Power of the Holy Light World the Heart of God resumed the same entring into the Human Essence which lay in the Anguish Chamber surrounded with Death and took to himself a Soul out of our Essence and our Mortal Life and introduced the Soul through Death through the earnest severe Fire of God the Father into the holy meek Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâ—iality into the fierce Wrath of the Father the Centre of the Anguish-Chamber the Fire World in the Soul Christ being the right Centre of the Holy Trinity is with the out gone Holy Spirit the flaming Majesty the Light-World 5. And whosoever will possess the Light-World and be an Angel must enter in through the same path bear old Adams Cross go forth through the harâ—â—â— astringent stern and malignant corrupted Adamical Man and slay him and be born anew out of the Anxious Wheel 6. But seeing we were not able to do this Christ gave himself into the Centre of the fierce Wrath in the Soul brake and extinguished it with his Love So that now when we go out of our selves to the death of sin we come into the death of Christ the path he hath prepared for us and leads to his Resurrection whereby we ascend into his Arms the unshut Light-World which is also Abraham's bosom the Paradise wherein we were created our true dear native Country 7. It consisteth not in this that we think it enough to pourtray and represent what Christ hath done and suffered for us and tell of a Faith in that but that we daily and hourly fight and slay the Evil Adam as to his will and doings with resigned and resolved earnestness and then we enter into Christ's Death in our living Bodies put on his Life in us become impregnated with the Kingdom of Heaven Get on us Christ's Thorny Crown and still be accounted one that is not worthy to live on the Earth through all which we must faithfully proceed on knowing we must either be Angels or Devils 8. In this Death nothing dieth to or in us but only the Earthy Evil dead Adam whose will and life we have here continually destroyed This Enemy departeth from us into the Essential Fire into the four Elements and into the Mystery and must at the end be tryed through the Fire of God and then our Bodies and Works must be given us again through that Fire whatever the Earthy Mystery had swallowed up But not such an Evil one for the Fire of God devoureth the Evil but such a one as we here in anxiety have sought a Divine Spiritual Substance like the Wonders and Wisdom of God 9. Hypocritical Reason saith Christ hath done all for us we cannot It is right Christ hath done what we cannot do he hath broken Death and restored a new Life and is in Heaven But 't is not knowing but doing the Devils know but what availeth that we know if we remain without and enter not into Christ in the way and passage he hath made for us doing good for evil in truth and simplicty CHAP. VII Ver. 75. 1. IT is not enough to cry Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Son he hath satisfied for my sins But I must enter into Christ's suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death become a Member in and with him Constantly crucifie the old Adam Always hang on Christ's Cross Become an obedient Child Tho' I plainly walk this way yet I have so evil a ghest in me that I still work too much evil must therefore continually strive and fight till I vanquish 2. Christ indeed hath in and for us broken Death and made way but what doth that comfort me unless I enter in that very way and path as a Pilgrim or Stranger here CHAP. IX CHrist's Sufferings c. 1. Men content them to participate of in the Lord's Supper v. 29. But his Divine Flesh and Blood is that which the wicked cannot participate of that is Sacramentally 2. They receive the four Elements in the Anger of God because they discern not the Lord's Body which is every where present in Heaven and Earth and is fed upon by the Heavenly Soul not as a sign as others dream not Spirit without Substance but the Substance of the Spirit Christ's Flesh which filleth the Light-World which the Word that became Man brought with it into the Virgin Mary and there became opened in its Flesh and Blood the assumed Human Essence 3. Yet was it at that very time while Christ lay in the Virgins Womb in Heaven in the one Element in all places It came not into Mary from many miles off but the Centre which Adam in God's Anger had shut up in death the Word of the Deity did unlock and bring in the Divine Substantiality not entring in but unshutting ingenerating and in this World exgenerating God and Man one person heavenly Substantiality and Virginity one only Man in Heaven and in this World See the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the three Principles The third part being of the Tree of Christian Faith CHAP. I. WHat Faith is 1. It is not our forcing the mind to belief of Articles which are the work of our Reason 2. But true Faith is one Spirit with God working in and with God is the might of God dwells in the liberty in God's Will inclined to his Love and Mercy is free from the fierce Wrath and Torment in Nature is not comprehended subsisteth in
Tincture of Love Mildness Softness Sweetness Yet in hard Bodies as of precious Stones Metals Trees c. is a high Tincture as we see the greatest sweetness in Marrow 8. God distinct from his moving manifestation is the greatest meekness but in his motion is called a God in Trinity for here the Divine will maketh it self an Object viz. the Wisdom through which the Original of all things descended 9. Now all things in the World that are soft meek rare or transparent as Air and Water is without pain and according to the unity of Eternity 10. And hard impressing Bodies as Wood Metals Stone Bone Fire Earth c. originate from the divine Inclusion from the Efflux introducing the Self-will of Nature as a noble Jewel and Sparkle of the Divine Motion of Divine Power caused by the Effluence of Divine Desire 11. Thus the Tincture hideth it self in the hardness but In transparency is alike equal to all things as in Water and Air. But the dry Water is the pearly Matter where centreth the subtile potent Unity 12. Therefore seek not the grand Secret in soft without the fiery Kind For as Rare and Transparent is next the Unity so the fiery Hardness is a dry Unity and Temperament and the noblest Concret of divine powerful Manifestation because where the Will is rent rests no great Might for there the Tincture is volatile whereby a Cure is attempted by the Salt or Soul only without the Spirit which unites not the Life's Enmity but kindles its Contrariety But unite the Properties in the Love so have ye the Pearl of the whole World CHAP. IV. Of the Will of God flowing OUT and in the perceptibility IN again into the ONE JOhn 1. 11 c. He came into or unto his own c. In which words lyeth the Divine Manifestation viz. the hidden Power or speaking Word of the Unity out-flown into his own the Creaturely Word or averted Will of Flesh and Blood which Self-power received not the Efflux of Divine Grace but would be its own Self-lord for it cannot inherit the Filiation But that Will which turneth it self about and coingenerateth with the Unity hath Power to become the Child of God For it is like or equal to all things which God willeth and worketh Hujus Argumenti hic scripsit Huc Autor Nil amplius A Brief Explanation of the Knowledge of God and of all things also of the true and false Light 1. THE hidden God out-breathing his distinguishable Power made his speaking Word substantial by creating the Body Soul and Spirit of Man who is an Abstract of all the three Principles and an Image of the speaking and spoken word 2. Whence so great knowledge of all things is in Him as to know the composition and dissolution of Nature for every Creature can see into its Mother those of the Elements into the out-spoken word 3. So Man after the manner as the out-breathing of the Eternal Will introduceth it self into the manifold Properties of Love and Anger Good and Evil and can frame it self into the multiplicity of Properties those into the desire and that into substance forming its Self-will out of the great Mystery 4. So if in this out-speaking there were no Divine Free Will the speaking would be under compulsion void of longing delight and be finite and inchoative which it is not But a breathing of the Abyss and Eternal Stilness a distributing it self into Powers and in them a several Self-will existeth whence originateth Nature and the creaturely Life with their various centers impressions magnetick desires perception and bodies according to the manner of the third Principle of Divine manifestation producing bodies evil and good manifold Earths Salts Stones Minerals in which the three Principles are mixt where every Centre breatheth it self yet all originate out of the Eternal One. 5. The first Centre is the out-breathing of the Abyss God bringing himself into Trinity The second Centre is called the Wisdom of God through which the Eternal Word breatheth it self into Infinity of multiplicity and that into longing delight the delight into desire the desire into Nature and Strife and Strife into Fire And through the dying of the Self hood through Fire into the Light The which Light is a second Principle and true great Mystery And the Fire is the first viz. the Eternal Nature 6. The first giveth Soul the second Spirit and this Lights Power through the Fire is the Mother of the Eternal Spirits Angels and Souls of Men. Also the hidden Spiritual Angelical Power-world the Mother of the outward World The third Centre is the Verbum fiat the natural Word of God the separator and maker of all Creatures in the inward and outward World The same speaker hath out of the Fire the Light and the Darkness made it self â—â—â—erial moving and perceptible out of which existed the third Principle the Visible World the life and substance whereof is come out of the Eternal Nature the Fire and out of the great Mystery the Light also out of the Darkness wâ—ich is the separation of Fire and Light Love and Enmity Good and Evil Joy and Pain 7. There are two sorts of Fire and two sorts of Light viz. according to the dark impression a cold Fire and a false Light originating in the stern might and imagination desiring a Self-will dominion The second Fire is a hot Fire and true Light originating in the Eternal One in the substance of Divine Geniture and that Light shineth in the Darkness and illustrateth it stanâ—ing in a perceptible Life The Life of Man is in it and he is the Light of the World 8. Therefore should Man lift up the Eyes of his understanding wherein God's Light desireth to shine into him and not be like a Beast which hath a temporary Light in a finite Separator in which Man 's palpable Body is 9. For his Spiritual Body is the true substantial word of Divine Property in which God speaketh and imageth himself into which if Man giveth not up his own will he is more hurtful to himself than the rude Earth which yieldeth to be made what its Separator will 10. But from the Devil False Will a false Light hath raised a false Separator in which the Stars and Elements have dominion 11. In this Man finding no quietness seeks his first Native Countrey for the true Man finds himself oppressed with a monstrous Separator environed with Enemies as a Rose in a bush of Thorns 12. Yet all his seeking brings not any true Life unless Grace become awakened to do which Man must sink down into a willing of nothing but Grace that it may overcome and mortifie him as the Sun doth the night 13. In that true Light the Man may see himself and the separation of every thing and work magically and divinely if he see the breathing in its inward ground according to the manner of speaking how out of one all proceed and one Centre out of another
its first sude boiling or vegetation CHAP. IV. The Birth of the Stars c. 1. THere are seven Forms in Nature which yet principally consist in three viz. Astringency Compunction and Anguish according to which there are seven Planets and no more and seven Metals fixt The Temporal Spirits hunger gaineth a Temporal Body and the Eternal Spirits hunger an Eternal Body both in each other but distinct as Time and Eternity 2. In Saturns Property the Lubet makes Lead and according to the Water Salt according to Saturns mortal Property Earth Stones c. according to the Liberty in Saturn Gold which he keeps shut up See verse the 27th to the 34th 3. There is in Man 1. The Divine Golden Man 2. The inward holy Body from Fire and Light like pure Silver if not corrupted 3. The Elemental Man like Jupiter 4. The Mercurial growing Paradisical Man 5. The Martial Soul-like Man 6. The Venerine according to the outward desire 7. The Solar a seer of the Wonders of God 4. Mercury in the internal was as the Word by which God created 5. Mars his impression is Anguish causing the Love-will to separate from him which is called God but the Anguish is God's Anger or Wrath of the Eternal Nature 6. Venus Metal is Copper receiving its toughness from Saturn its redness from Mars tho' Mars his Metal be Iron But Sol may tincture Mars and Venus into Gold for Venus longeth after Sol her Mother her Joy whence she hath a peculiar smiling twinkling Aspect 7. The Sun is a figure in the outward World of the heart of God each thing longeth after the Sun in Sulphur being the universal Tincture and what the first desire with Saturns impression makes evil the Sun restores to be good causing a pleasant temperature blooming and growing in all Creatures CHAP. V. Of the Sulphurian Death and how the Body is revived c. 1. MAN was created good according to and out of the three Worlds But the inward Lubet generated in the Centre viz. the fire wherein stands the Life by Lust enkindled the Divine Meekness wherein Joy consisteth turning from Eternal Liberty to Time from the one pure Element into the four Elements 2. Then did the Precious Gold of Heavenly Corporality which tinctur'd the outward Body disappear then also the dominion of Time destroyed its own contrived Spirit and so the Body passed away and died 3. The only Remedy is that Gods Love Desire Essentiality and Divine Water enter again into and quench the Souls wrath-Wrath-Fire For Mans Salvation consists in his full unfeigned desire after God so riseth the Meekness and Love tinctureth Death and Darkness in the four Elements and sever from the New Man who and the Heavenly Body remaineth only in it self So is it done in the transmutation of Metals See Verse the 12th and to the End of the Chapter De â—apide Philosophorum CHAP. VI. Of the generating Difference and Vegetation caus'd by Water and Oyl 1. ALL life and growth consist in the Lubet and the Desire The Lubet is out of the Liberty so God hath the free Lubet needeth nothing Himself as far as he is called God is all But the Desire is a hunger stirring up the Lubet to manifestation so the Lubet is the hungers Food and Essence 2. The free Lubet or Essence giveth an Oâ—â— and the Desire giveth a life to the Oyl The Oyl is a Light the Desire giveth the Fires Property so that it shineth In the Desire ariseth the Natural Spirit in the Lubet the Supernatural which yet is belonging to Nature not spontaneously but from its meek resignation to the Desires Property 3. But a twofold Property ariseth out of one Spirit thus a fiery according to the Property of the Desire and a joyful lucid according to the Liberty 4. The fiery giveth in its water Essence a sharpness or saltness and from the flery in its anguish Brimstorâ—e whence are Stones Earth and Meâ—als 5. The Oleous Property gives Meekness viz. Vegetation what the raging Mercury spoils the Lubet of the Love-oyl heals thus Good and Evil are in each Life the Evil comes when the Hunger Spirit too much impresseth its own Form To that it cannot receive the free Lubet to appeaâ—e its Hunger Whereas Nature's Property should be sincerely inclined to God's Love Eâ—s that it become not a dark raging poisonful Hunger but a Love desire which is called God's Nature for the hungry fiery desire is God's Anger in the outward 't is Fire but in the inward where it doth energize in the free Lubet it is the Divine Desire whence joyfulness proceedeth 6. All sharpness of taste is Salt all smell proceeds of Sulphur and Mercury distinguisheth all Motion in â—ast smell and power 7. In the strongest poisonful Mercury lyes the highest Tincture but not in its own Property but in an Oyl from the Light which is its Food If this be sever'd from him it is a mighty potent inkindler a lifter up of all sick â—ainting weak obscured lives for in this Oyl is the joyful Life a hunger after Life So in a Toad Viper Addeâ— â— lyes the highest Tincture if the oily Substance be reduced from the wrath of Mercury CHAP. VII How Adam and Lucifer were Corrupted through Imagination c. 1. VVHEN Adam was Created the Light of his Life shone in the pure Oyl of Divine Essentiality but by his Fall Mortal Water pene 〈…〉 so that his Mercury became a cold Poison which was before an Exaâ—â—aâ—ion 〈…〉 ss So came darkness into his Oyl and he died to the Divine Light 〈…〉 thereto by the Property of the Serpent for in the Serpent the wrath 〈…〉 and outward also was manifeâ—t whose subtilty Eve desired 2. Fo◠〈◊〉 much as the Serpent is not out of the Eternal Ground 〈◊〉 Angels and the Souls of Men but out of the Beginning where Fire and Light sever Eve should not have gone with her desire out of Eternity into time and be a Selfist but with a desire resign'd to God to the quiet still meek Liberty for each Hunger maketh it self an Essence according to the Property of the Hunger 3. The Devil went with his desire into himself into the Property of the Centre forsook the Eternal Lubet of Love and became a Poisonful Mercury or as an anxious Fire as Wood burnt to a Coal a dark glowing without Oyl or Water in it whence springeth a stinging Envy in his Lifes Forms where one Form hates the other in his aspiring Pride Out of the strife of which Properties when God said Let all sorts of Beasts come forth each according to his Kind or Property then came out of the divided Evil Properties Vipers Serpents Toads c. Not that the Devil made them but that there where God and the World sever the inward Wrath according to which God is called a Consuming Fire manifested it self in External figures of the inward wrath Kingdom 4. And because Adam died to God and lived
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
operation of the darkness is God's anger and the flagrat or manifestation of the light is his principle of Love These two not severed make one triumphant Kingdom wrestling to exalt the sublime joy of the holy sweet divine free will of God 7. But after severing become two Worlds viz. one the dark cold fierce harsh bitter stinging fire World The other the delightful loving sweet joyful ravishing holy World yet the holy World hath the Potence of the other as it s perfectly perpetual root or fountain As the natural heat in mans body is of such absolute necessity and use while moderated by due proportion of cold for That is the food of the heat but if either heat or cold domineer it becomes rapaciously ruinous 8. Now whereas it is said above that Darkness and Light are without beginning and coeternal And it being true that Angels as well as all other creatures had a beginning it may be asked how can it be true and in what sense understood that darkness should be without beginning seeing the Holy Ghost saith God is light and in him is no darkness at all Also what communion hath light with darkness 9. This tho' it be cleared in the following part of this discourse yet a little to open the way as we go that the inquirer may not be offended nor he that seeks occasion think he finds it it is answered by way of explanation 10. That it is not meant a Nescience Defect or Ignorance much less an evil in it self 11. But by it is understood an Adumbration like a dark crudity An eternal original to substance Might potence and essence A center or root austere and earnest like a hot and cold fire which principle is understood to be the Fathers property or first principle according to which he is called a jealous or zealous God and a consuming fire A Power-world in its own property secret hidden in and by the second principle of glorious Light and gracious Love as the night by the day or the wiek of a Candle by splendor of the light but is manifested and awakened by severation of the second principle from it in or upon any separate unclean spirit or creature 12. For tho' it was from eternity yet was in the highest harmony and so is in God in eternity undividable and inseparable from the most holy spiritual Light-world and Love principle yet in its own Abyss and distinct property it is as is above described 13. This after severing from the Love-principle is as the glowing fire the flame whereof is extinct in which principle the dark life burneth 14. And must needs be called the first because from it as from an eternal root of living fire the majestick splendor of glorious light is eternally generated which so is the second Eternal Principle 15. Thus these two principles in perfect unity as in Eternity they are in God are the One Only Highest absolute Compleat Good but where-ever the Light is withdrawn There is found a wrathful fierce evil spirit creature thing or world 16. For further explanation we may observe That the Holy Ghost who saith as above God is light and in him is no darkness at all saith also Fury is not in me And That yet besides in many other places of the same and other Prophets saith For behold the Lord will come forth with fire and with his Chariots like a whirlwind and render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Again When I shall execute Judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes 17. But God's so doing is called His coming forth of His Place and His strange work 18. Thus is found that the Astringent and Attracting Powers by their contrariety produce Anguish That Anguish a stinging raging pricking sense not by Agent and Patient but by violence and impatience This Raging Spirit cannot deliver it self from the strong bands of the Astringency whence by strugling Heat is excited the extremity whereof is fire 19. The food of the fire is cold as hath been said or for want of it the heat and fire would fall into anguish but Infinity hath no deficiency therefore the fire by rarefaction breaths the Sullen Cold into the Liberty called Air That again by condensation being imposed upon by its father the Cold falls to water which again by the inkindled Element is lickt up as its nutrition Thus by an immutable Law and Chain of Causes the Separators wisdom useth This great Machin to effect the parcels into an intire harmony CHAP. II. A Description of the seven Fountain Spirits 1. BUT before we consider the three Worlds existing on the Foundation of the above two Principles let the seven Fountain Spirits in the Divine Power of the Father be known represented by the seven Lamps before the Throne In the outward World by the seven Planets Among us by the six days of the Creation and One the seventh of Rest also by the seven simple Metals appropriated to the seven Planets the seven Stars in the Revelation with many the like important and more than speaking demonstrations 2. A method to be profitably used on this weighty Subject may be First To name define and describe them severally and distinctly Secondly To demonstrate them in some measure to the Reason of Mankind yea to the eye and senses thereby to give assurance that the blessed Author J. B. in his discovery of them was not beating the Air but building on a Rock not to be shaken 3. Definitions of the seven Fountain Spirits in the Divine Power of God the Father 4. The Astringent binding piercing compacting knitting Power secret and hidden in the Divine Power of the Fathers Salitter A sharp power like Salt whence existeth in the evil and mortal part a power locking up as are the outward earth and stones 5. An Attraction vanquishing the harsh Astringency which is both sweet mild meek and also bitter the stirring of the desire and cause of life whence also water originateth Out of these two Fountain Spirits is the heart or Son of God generated from Eternity in Eternity Also of them with the rest of the seven Spirits is the Son of God the Heart by Eternal generation to all Eternity as saith the Lord My Father worketh hitherto and I work 6. The Bitter or Anguish Fountain-Spirit a cause of the mind senses and thoughts a triumphing exalting of Joy to the highest degree to trembling in its own quality it forms all sorts of red colours in its own quality in the sweet quality white and blew in the astringent green dusky and mixt colours But if it be moved too much it kindleth the sweet and astringent and all becomes a raging tearing stinging burning poison like the torment of a plague-sore When enkindled in the Hellish Property it extinguisheth the Light perverteth the sweet quality into loathsom stink the Astringent into sharp dark coldness also
Concerning the first Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Abyss of the Father distinct from the second and third is understood to be an eternal indissoluble band and Original to Potence a center or root of substance an earnest longing to the birth of the majestick Light or Lustre an austere vigour like an eternal infinite hot and cold fire That this is so and in some measure what it is may be shewed to the very Senses 2. Demonstration The insensitive Creatures witness it The Rock where grows the Diamond the Oar whence proceeds the Gold the shell in which is fed the Pearl the Earth whence issue forth the plants do all figure their root the darkness or first Principle their substantial root center basis or immovable foundation 3. Again the Elements have the cold and heat to be founded on representing this Principle called the Eternal Darkness for from the degrees of cold and hot fire proceed not the Earth and Stones only but Air and Water 4. Lastly The Astral World whence spring the Elemental figures the same darkness as is most evidently seen in some of the Royal Stars called Planets Saturns condensing strong binding contraction impresseth in Lead Stone c. a dry hard and hardly to be penetrated weight so doth Mars confer on Iron c. both are substantial figures of the same Eternal Principle 5 Demonstration of the first Principle is in the Sensitive Creatures both evil and good The evil whose hurtful properties of venom stings poisonous fierce and cruel qualities shew they originate from the dark Principle and some of them especially love darkness some of them also are outwardly dark as that dangerous reptile called in some parts the Blind-worm c. 6. It is seen also in good Sensitive Creatures either as they partake of the hurtful property by being soon moved to choler and then mischievous and vindictive or else as the dark Principle takes hold of them clogging them with sluggish inactivity and depressed limbs dark bodies rough hides c. 3 Demonstration It is evident in Intelligent Creatures for into this Principle of Might and Potence the Pride of the Devils cast them in which their light being extinct they are shut up for ever 8 Demonstration It is evident in Rational Creatures viz. Man whose sad fall brought his human Soul which originated out of this Eternal Principle yet illustrated by the second to so great a degree into this that such men as shall continue Rebels to the Light of the Son of God which on Man's fall was inspoâ—â—â— again do remain a plain and terrible figure of this first Principle in the dark impression on their Souls for they being hardened and fixt in disobedience are as sealed up in utter enmity against the Divine Kingdom of Love and Purity 9 And such mens bodies are the drudges of their darker minds being as truly a figure of the Eternal Darkness as are those bodies of the hurtful Animals 10. But which is also to be bewailed the Children of the day have in the unmortified part of their Souls too lively Characters of this first Principle and their Bodies are made like those of the Elementary Creatures subject to vanity travelling in pain and distempers till as the effect of all comes the anguish of death for they are fallen under the Regiment of the Astral evil influences till their mortal shall put on immortality by the grace of the second Principle the free mercy of God in Jesus Christ. 11. As for the disobedient that climb up into the first Principle or fall into the third Principle shutting their Eyes against the second they must ever bear the Image they here conformed their minds to and grow up in for man having his root in the Power that is without beginning can find no end Oh therefore that we were wise that we understood this that we would consider our latter end 12. The out-birth into which Adams fall hath cast our mortal bodies is signified by the Earthen Vessels which having toucht some legally unclean thing could not be made clean and purified but must be broken such is the mortal body of all the Children of Adam 13. But those Vessels which were of Brass or other metal being washt c. were become clean for Metals are one step higher more noble deriving from the Astral Powers more immediately and with a purer tincture more simple less volatile than our fleshly Tabernacles CHAP. XII Of the Second Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Divine Wisdom and that of this World are on terms of hostility hence was it that when the Lord himself in the flesh preacht Salvation his Divine Wisdom explicated by the most familiar Parables highest Evidence and more than Angelical Skill was derided and blasphemed by many not of the lower ruder sort only but by the Rabbâ—es men skill'd in the Law of God according to the letter men of parts zealous and outwardly holy the Guides of the multitude men according to the Law blameless But the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus was understood very well by all such tho' otherwise weak in whom the love of it wrought obedience to it and who by the Spirit of Holiness were taught to refuse the pleasures of sin To them no Yoke so easie as Christ's nor any Load so unsupportable as that of sin These knew what it was to be born again without and not of the will of the flesh And Christ's Life and Doctrine was plain and so is still to such and none but such 2. If any such shall peruse these Lines their inward senses being unlockt they if they press after this Principle with earnestness may find it informing enlightning and assisting them 3. But to the full these are fulsom and offensive to the wise they are folly for this Principle divests them of their own self-will before it inducts them into the universal holy will And if Divine Discourses lead not to cleanse the heart it cumbreth the head and cloys the appetite and so Men do with Truths as Children with Birds either they crush them or let them fly away 4. But tho' the glory of the second Principle be so much above fallen Man's reach yet such efficacy hath it on the whose Creation as is demonstrable to any rational Creature for God hath not left himself without witness by giving Rain c. 5. To discourse this where may we not begin for it is every where infinite It is the glory in the Infinite Abyss of the Father It gave Glory Purity and the Vertue of the Angelical World It also gave the third Principle in this out-birth all the Excellency and Beauty it hath in it only the hellish Principle hath shut it self up from it and is dead to it 6 Demonstration That tho' no Language can express it yet every one that is regenerated doth in such measure as he hath attained the Regeneration know this for he liveth in it The
or suffering what he willeth him to obey and suffer 8. Now we are to know that from Eternity is the first second and third Principles according to the Fathers Sons and Holy Ghosts Properties the One living in the Other having all One holy free Omnipotent Will And that the Infinite Abyss wherein Eternally dwell the seven Spirits and in every the least imaginable Circle whereof dwells the whole Holy Trinity Abyss or immeasurable heighth depth length and breadth which Men and Angels can reach no number of nor conceive its immensity is as the Holy Body of God who is its Soveraign Creator Owner and as a Soul and Spirit to it 9. But this pure Abyss is Holy and as one Holy Element the Seventh the Laboratory of the other Six hath in it all Powers and Vertues out of which Heaven Angels and all Inferior Productions come for in it is the Divine Salitter and all Qualities in indissoluble Amity and perfect Harmony due Equality most dearly embracing each other being the Mystery of all the various Powers 10. And from the two first Principles therein by the Exit of the Holy Ghost were Throne Angels created according to the several Properties of the seven Fountains Spirits with their Hosts respectively having the great Might of the first Principle Glorified with the Majestick light of the second the Son of God 11. But Lucifer and his Angels extinguish'd in themselves the glorious Sweetness of the second by giving up their Will into the first four Forms which without the second are at Eternal Enmity 12. Also out of the Holy Element were created the two active Elements of Fire after the Property of the Father and Air wherein is Light after the Property of the Son Out of which two after dividing of the Properties in the Dark Deep the effect of the Fall of the Angels came the Mortal Water and Dead Earth in both which by the prevalence of the Astringency came Rocks and Stones 13. To cease that immoderate Coagulation the Word commanded Light expelling Lucifer at which the Holy Angels rejoyced Where wast thou when the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy for then was the Out-birth or third Principle founded by the Exit of the Holy Ghost 14. Then also out of the Holy Element and the divided Properties which Lucifer had brought into a confused Chaos or Dark Deep the Word spake the Astral Heavens the Seven Planets after the Properties of the Seven Fountains and all the other Stars and the Terrestial Ball after the infinite variety of the Properties 15. Also out of the Holy Element and the Astral Birth came the four Elements and out of the Elements the Transitory Creatures Some bare the Figure of the first four Forms separated from the Light as venomous Creatures Toads Torpedo's c. from the Anguish Scorpions Spiders Basilisks c. from the Fire for every Property would be Creaturely Some also figur'd the second Principle in Innocency Meekness and Love as Lambs Doves c. 16. Then in the Throne of secluded Lucifer and his Angels the Word spake Man such an Image of God as might not only be the second Race of Intellectualâ— but a compleat Image of all the three Principles That is his Soul out of the first Principle or Dark-Power-World his Spirit out of the second the Holy-Light World his Body out of the one Holy Element the Root of the four Elements so that he might by his Divine Holy Principle of Love and Meekness illustrate and sweetly use his first as the fallen Angels should have done He was also furnished with the third Principle which the Angels were not and in that respect a more compleat Image of God than they over which third Principle he might also beaâ— Rule by the Power of the Divine second Principle 17. And by his third in subordination to the second might Rule over the Astral Birth and Elementary not only as He was the Natural Lord in that Principle but ennobled also with the Light or Angelical Principle and therefore able and adapted to Rule over the Creation knowing what they were whence they sprung and whither they tended for all Properties were open in him therefore Adam could name them knowing their Parentage and Use. Thus the manifold Wisdom of God appeareth in every thing and summarily to be observed in these following 18. First from the first Principle glorified with the second according to the seven Fountains were created the Throne Angels Arch-Angels and their Hosts 19. The Creatures that derive immediately from the One Holy Element as the Paradisical Body of Adam that was more pure than seven times refined Gold and to have remained eternally 20. The Astral Birth of the Visible Heavens and their Invisible Powers Of Alliance Dependance and Affinity with which is Man's Astral Spirit called his Prophetick Evester which ordinarily predicts by Dreams a kind of Intuitive Impulses of approaching Good or Evil small also important natural Events c. 21. Out of the Astral seem to be born Those Mortal yet to the outward Eye mostly invisible Creatures in all the four Elements called Aerial Spirits prodigious Predicters of Wars by Armies in the Clouds Others also of the Fire Some Aquastrish and Those of our Horoscope Terrestrial and Subterranean that are about Minerals of which This Discourse is not sollicitous 22. Out of the Holy Element proceeded the two Elements and consequently the four more Pure and Paradifical than after the Curse 23. Hence by the steddy Conduct of the Separator or Father of Nature substituted by the Great Creators word and by the Spirit of the Tincture have sprung the Animal Vegetative and Mineral Kingdoms to the composition of every of which Naturalists find the Principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury more or less pure according to the Body which it composeth and the Tincture wherewith it is more or less sublimed and ennobled 24. But Lucifer by his renting from the total Unity thereby making the Properties separate prophane and unclean there proceeded out of the first four Forms hellish immortal fierce horrible poisonous Creatures to whom Death and Darkness the fierceness of the Properties is no woe or torment for it is their Life But Hell is therefore an intolerable Hell to Angels and Men because they were created to â—nother State in another Principle for another End 25. From all the three Principles with the Potence of the first Love fire of the second and moving Life of the third was Man created And as such with the Light of God which is not quite extinguished in him for when once awakened by Divine stirring and his hungry desire let none think it impossible he should see into the several Principles that are truly in him for the Child knoweth his Parents better and better as himself groweth to be a Man A breath of Air is like the whole Element a drop like the whole Ocean a
subsequent Questions concern the Creation of Man and that whereunto Adam had relation whilst he stood and when he fell from the 38 Question inclusive to the 78 exclusive The sixteen next Questions are of Adam's Off-spring down to Moses from the 78 Question inclusive to the 94 Question exclusive The eight following are of the Figures and Sacrifices in Moses and the Prophets from the 94 Question inclusive to the 102 exclusive The forty next Questions concern Christ his Birth Life Sufferings Death Descending Resurrection Appearing Conversing with his Disciples and Ascension from 102 inclusive to 142 exclusive The eighteen subjoyned Questions concern the Disciples their Pentecost the speaking with all Tongues what that Language was the Testaments what that Flesh and Blood is the power of Remission or the Keys from 143 inclusive to the 160 exclusive The next four Questions are concerning a true Christian and Antichrist Babel the Beast and the Whore from 160 inclusive to the 165 exclusive The last 13 Questions concern the slaying of the Beast what is the dying of and what dieth in a true Christian. Also what is the dying of the wicked call'd an Eternal dying The Souls separation from them both their several different Estates the Resurrection and final Judgment this Worlds Dissolution The Eternal Habitation and Joy of the Saints and the Eternal Prison of the accursed And whether they shall admit any alteration from the 165 Question inclusive to the end being the 177. Extracts of the Answers of the first Fourteen and part of the Fifteenth of the 177 Theosophick Questions The First whereof is Viz. Q. 1. What God is Distinct from Nature and Creature Ans 1. ALL Goodness in Nature manifesteth what God is in his Eternal Love Joy Mercy and Glory of Heaven And all Contrariety Misery and Evil in Nature shews his Eternal Wrath Fury and consuming Fire of Hell God by the Eternal Unity perfection of Clearness and Purity Eternally equally alike and at once through and through all every where whose immensity is Abyssal yet his Manifestation distinguishable but whatever hath Limits of number and measure is imagible 2. And wheresoever the Good moveth in his sweet Love there is God's flowing forth in the Idea or Object of the Eternal Desiring where the Love findeth it self as in Angels and Blessed Souls Q. 2. What is the Abyss of all Things where is no Creature the Unsearchable Nothing A. 1. The Abyss of all things is an habitation of God's Unity The Will is the Eternal Father of the Byss a meer Love-longing The finding Power of Love the Son generated by the Will The out-going Power of the desirous Love the Holy Ghost viz. the Spirit of Divine Life That which is gone out from the Will Love and Life is the Wisdom viz. Contemplation of the Unity which by Love brings it self into Powers Colours and Vertues 2. In the Unity rest all the six Powers being the Eternal Sabbath which Unity is call'd the Nothing because it is God himself being incomprehensible and inexpressible or ineffable Q. 3. What is God's Love and Anger How may it be only one thing A. 1. All things consist in Yea and Nay be it Divine Diabolical or Earthy The One viz. the Yea or Affirmation is meer Power Life Truth or God Himself The Nay or Negation manifesteth the Yea by its contrary They have two Centres as Day and Night Heat and Cold. The No is a reflex Image of the Yea. The Yea uncloseth and the Nay incloseth The Yea or Unity is an outflowing Exit or Emanation of the Nothing which yet is the Ground of all Beings The Nay is an indrawing own-hood or a something making a Byss or Ground whence come Forms or Properties 2. As 1. Sharpness causing Density and Cold the Cause of Temporal and Eternal Darkness 2. Attraction the Cause of all Separation and Motion 3. Perception the Cause of finding it self like a great Anguish 4. Fire from the Motion in the Darkness But in the Unity of God is a clear soft gentleness from these two Contraries originate this Worlds Fire and Water And from the enkindling of the outflown Will is the 5th viz. The great Love-fire in the Light For if the Unity stood not in the Fires might it would not be Operative but without Moving or Joy Whereas in it is the Holy Ghost himself 3. Hence comes the Eternal Nature's Fire whence are Angels and the Souls of Men but the clear Deity becomes not creaturely being an Eternal Unity yet dwelleth through Nature as Fire shineth through Iron Here we understand the the Potentiality of Angels and Souls who by loosing the Love-fire enter into Self-desire and the Anger fire 4. Out of this holiest Love fire is flown out a beam of the perceptible Unity the High Name Jesus who assuming the Humanity in the central Anger-fire gave it self into the Soul and by kindling again the Love-fire United it to God The 6th Property is the Sound or Distinctions in both Fires alike at once In the Devils and Damned who have no Understanding but sharp Wit to try the Foundation and abuse the Powers of Nature by Deceit and Voluptuousness In this Property stand the Holy Powers and Names and the wonder doing Word which the Evil Spirits by Transmutation misuse 5. Here is the whole Cabal or Magia where the imperceptible worketh in the perceptible Before this Door stands the Law of Moses Exod. 20. 2 3 7. not to misuse it on Pain of Eternal Punishment The 7th Property is substantiality whence existeth the Visible World In which is both the central Fires according to Love and Anger But the Holy Fire lyeth hidden by the curse with Sin as is to be seen by the Tincture yet if God will there is a possible Entrance 6. The outflown Holy fire is the Paradise which Man cannot find unless first it be found in himself Thus is the perceptible Unity or Love-fire and the Anger-fire or Root of the Eternal Nature which in its Centre is Eternal Darkness and Torment both from Eternity in Eternity yet with two Eternal Beginnings as is to be apprehended in the Fire and Light Q. 4. What was before Angels and the Creation were A. 1. Then was God with the two central Fires which were one Substance but distinguished as Fire and Light in them lay the one Element and the infinite Powers of generating Wonders Colours and Vertues in them lay the Idea of all inward Angelical Kingdoms and Souls and of all Creatures of this World in perfect Harmony 2. But when the central Fire with Self-desire moved to visible formation and stirred the Eternal Will of God in both Fires then the Idea to the Praise of God became Image like 3. In this the hellish Foundation also brake forth which God rejecting out of his Work shut up in Darkness remaining to this day as hungry Jaws longing to be creaturely 4. Into this Anger-fire Lucifer lusting powerfully to domineer over the
Meek Love of God lost the Throne of the central Love-fire possessing only that where hot and cold are in strife Being a Centre of the Visible World Q. 5. What was it of which the Angels were made What in the Word of God became Creaturely A. 1. The Substance of the Good Angels is out of the two central Fires of Fire and Light but their Idea Spirit or Powers are out of the Out-flowing Infinite Migâ—ty Holy Names of God 2. They are many and every Throne Angel according to the Peculiar of the various Names and Offices himself and his Legions are illustrated with 3. The Prince-Angels are as the Spirits of the Letters and the other as the joyning of Words and Sentences And as our Alphabet hath our whole understanding of all Substances So is God's Word of all things and the Angels are his Letters in the Divine Alphabet 4. And did not the Curse to prevent our abuse hinder Man having shut up himself in the NO So great is the Authority in what his Mouth carries that he might triumphantly do wonders as the Angels Deut. 30. 14. Rom. 10. 8. 5. If the Creatural Life stood not in an own Will in the Property to the Fire Lucifer could not have separated himself from the Good 6. The Angels are within and without this World yet in another Principle or World viz. in the One Element whereout came and still cometh the Four Elements and are Princes of the Constellations But some are of a more outward Chaos or Kind in the Four Elements call'd Starry Spirits viz. Ascendants Q. 6. What do Angels and why doth God's Power become Image-like A. 1. Out of the Mind come Thoughts and from them Imaginations whence Longing and Delight exist and we rule all things by the distinction of words So God viz. the Eternal Mind by His out-flowing Powers brought out the Angelical Idea and the Holy Angels are as God's Thoughts revealing His Mind as his Work Instruments to manifest the Eternal Powers they are as Strings in the great Harmony as our articulate Words so are they distinct Parts of the Love sport 2. And their great Joy and Knowledge of the Eternal Wisdom humbleth them before such Highness lest they lose that honour Their feeding is an indrawing of the Unity which is the Balsam that their Central Fire awake not the Wrath for the Devil's Fall is their Looking glass 3. The most gross Compaction of the Outward World is the out-flown Inward World in the two Central Fires The most Outward is the four Elements the next Inward is the Astral the third the Quintessence the fourth the Tincture the fifth the Clear God The more inwardly we reach the nearer God And were we awake from Adam's Earthy Love we might very well see Heaven Q. 7. What moved Lucifer to depart from God A 1. The Potence of Forming standing in the Transmutation viz. His Receiving Power therefore the out-flown Will in the Central Fire of the Eternal Nature made him elevate himself to despise the Resignation but would try the Properties of the Eternal Nature and so misused the Holy Name in himself and willed to domineer over the Thrones and brake himself off from the Unity Then instantly the Properties were manifest as hard sharp sour bitter stinging and the tormenting cold and hot fires Q. 8. How could an Angel become a Devil What is a Devil A. 1. He would not be under the speaking of the Unity which was Balsam to his Fire-Life but be his own speaking so his Fire could conceive no glance but the Holy Name and Central Love Fire withdrew 2. If he would be an Angel again his Fire Life must be killed with Love but This the Hellish Foundation neither will nor can do as Fire cannot endure Water 3. Their whole Life is a Despair Venem Dying Stink Sorrow Shame and Torment that he hath triâ—â—ed away the Divine Express Reflex Image and got the Form of Poisonous Venomous Beasts and Worms according to their various Properties of Pride Covetousness Envy c. all contrary to Wisdom Truth Love c. Thus good men have turned evil and fallen into Perdition Q. 9. Why did not the Omnipotent God prevent the Fall of Lucifer A. 1. Whilst Fire and Water are in a Vegetable they lovingly embrace each other but once sundred do never more desire each other but as Mortal Foes whenever they encounter the one dies 2. So Love and Anger where in Harmony bring the first Sweet Delight the other Life and Strength and are two Eternal Principles having each an Eternal Will Foundation and Centre of its own Therefore if the Anger will sever the Love doth not hinder with force Nor could the Love work otherwise than like it self else God would be at odds in himself But if the Created Image the No or Anger give its Will to the Yea or Love it would be chang'd into a Love-Fire 3. And tho' the Anger be an Eternal Principle and part of God's Omnipotence the fault was the Creatures for in the unimaged Power the Love doth ever burn And God's hardening is not sending a strange fierce Wrath into any but it is left to its own fierceness on which Judgment passeth The Anger is Love's manifestation and the Fallen Angels are the Looking glass of the Good Angels Q. 10. What did the Devil desire for which he left God A. He would be an Artist their Joy still is in Transmutation of themselves into Forms Subjection in Humility pleased him not but would be a God to himself and his Legions The Magick ground of Omnipotency pleas'd him which made him elevate himself above the Efflux of the Unity and prove the Properties but knew not how it would be with him when the Light should extinguish for then came Darkness and the cold sharpness of the Fierceness and he instantly at utter Enmity against God and all Angelical Hosts Q. 11. What was the Strife between Michael and the Dragon and what are they A. 1. Michael is the Figure of the Divine Power not as a Creature but as the opening and moving of the Eternity which name after in Jesus was ordained for Man 2. The Dragon is Hell manifested the Will of the Anger and the Wrath of the Properties as Heat Cold Woe the first Principle a Hunger and Thirst a Dying Quality Satan is the Will to Contradiction and Lies Belial the Lust to Uncleanness Belzebub a Source of Idol Gods Asmodâ—â— a Spirit of Fury and Madness Lucifer of Pride and stately climbing up 3. Their Strife was as of the first and second Principles as was That of Jesus in his forty days Temptation and of Israel while Moses was in the Mount In This Strife the Dragon is driven out of the Holy Name in This Strife Christ brought the Will of Man through Death and Hell to subsist in God unpassive that it may subsist in the Fire unapprehended by the Fire or as the Sun kindleth it self in the Elements yet
The Reason of all which is thus to be understood Adam our Root introduced Bitterness and the Fruit hath that Rellish And tho we were engrafted into the Noble Vine yet do we suffer our selves to degenerate into a Wild one producing Grapes of Sodom Adam as our Fountain flowed out unwholsom Water causing Barrenness though Christ as Elisha would have heal'd it with his Salt we go on to Poison our selves yet more the Man naturally Blind or Deaf is not so extreamly such as the resolvedly Blind and Deaf 7. Heaven is near us so is it to Hell yet at sufficient distance till the Will be turned to seek it Heaven is in us Thanks for ever be to God in Jesus Christ the Restorer and Heaven Restored yet still in its own Principle not in our Beastial Part but in the Light of our Life wherein the Candle of the Lord is put as a Tincture Wo to that Soul who rebelliously refuseth to be guided savour'd and tinctured by it To enter in at the straight Gate it is required that we die to the Old perverted Man and something more 8. Enoch and Eliah whil'st in the Body of the four Elements were so far tinctured as to be truly in Heaven yet in regard Adam had so far divided himself as to lose the Unity of the one pure Element when they were again become United in the One Holy Element they could not but disappear as to the Four Elements Q. 19. What are the Dominions or Thrones and Principalities of Angels Evil and Good in the Invisible World How is the Spiritual World of Eternity to be understood in the Visible World Are they also severed by Place and Abode Or what is the inward Foundation A. 1. To make an orderly Answer hereunto must first be shewn as an inward Foundation the Spiritual World of Eternity with what clearness may be and that it is in the Visible World and thence the Inhabitants of the Spiritual World may be the more satisfactorily discovered 2. To do which beginning below in the Out-birth Stone and Earth have the Commixture of the other Parts of the Creation to their Composition though named from one prevailing Property they have the occult sence of Sympathy and Antipathy as the Loadstone Bloodstone c. Stones have Water Fire Oyl Sulphur Mercury with the Salt as the Artist sees 3. And the Earth and Waters have the other two Elements in them and tho' captiv'd by the Curse have the Vertue of whole Paradise founded by the second Principle exerted by the good Astral Powers producing all Gems Gold Medicinal Earths and in the Fruits all Tasts Odours Sanative Herbs Nourishing and Cordial the inward Vertues of all which are real Heaven and Paradise labouring to deliver themselves under the Ashes and Curse from the oppressing hellish Properties 4. In the same who seeth not the Spiritual Evil World manifest in Dark Properties and Figures So that both the Spiritual Worlds are uncontroversibly in them 5. In the Outward Heavens this Truth is convinced by benign and malevolent Aspects powerfully influencing to the conception and propagation of a Good or Evil Will in every of the Creatures not Man excepted since his sad Fall 6. But Man whose Immortal Soul is of the first Principle of Might and Potence his Spirit of the second Principle of Love and Meekness his Outward Man consisting of the Mortal Soul that exerciseth the Outward Sensual Wiâ—l five Senses c. out of the Astral Heavens and his fleshly part out of the Elements whereinto it is miserably fallen Man thus hath the most strict Alliance most express Characters and most Catholick Conformity to the total God as he hath made himself creaturely in the Eternal Nature and Eternal Spiritual Worlds of Darkness and Light and in his Out-birth of both kinds So that he penetrateth Hell and Heaven into either of which he putteth the Nunger of his Will in that he is at home 7. If he resisteth the Holy Ghost he is one with the Devil in his Hellish Wrath who would be his own Law-giver making War against God and all the Holy Angels but by enkindling the Light of Christ Self-will dies a new one becomes natural which warreth against the Evil Angels subjecting it self to the Scepter of Christ the Captain of our Salvation having communion with the whole Holy Spiritual World 8. The Discording Will in the seven Properties make the Evil Spiritual World but where they are in perfect Harmony viz. having One and but One Universal Will united as are the three first Principles through the Infinite Abyss makes the Holy Spiritual World 9. Now as the Out birth which is the Off-spring of the inward hath Fountains and Streams and as the Natural Body hath Head and Members the Body Politick Magistracy and governed and in the Outward Heavens one Star differeth from another in glory Even so is it in the Holy Spiritual World Michael is call'd the Arch-Angel and that Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon c. 10. Thus the Throne or Arch Angel is to his Kingdom or Legions as the Tree to the Branches as was Adam to his Human Race or as is the Liver to the Veins 11. In that distinct sense the Apostle saith Whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers c. some are Cherubims viz. Images and Seraphims viz. Flames 12. All which the inspired Jacob Behmen rangeth under three Hiarchies each more peculiarly to one of the three distinct Principles having the Propriety of three Worlds like Nests of Spheres This from Stars to Stars was Lucifers the other two without and beyond it containing such part of the Infinite Abyss as exeeds all Human number In each of which as the Sun to the Stars is a Soveraign and under each of the Angelical Kings numerous rather innumerable almost infinite Hosts and all those severally excelling some according to one some more especially according to another of the seven Properties 13. In all which the Son of God and Sacred Trinity Reigns neither near to nor far from every the least imaginable point filling and comprehending all supporting all and delighting to behold it self in all 14. Nor can the Angelical Worlds be excluded out of place or included in any thing but Principles but as it is in the Spiritual World may be resembled to the Mind and Thoughts of Man which is limited in the Evil Man to the Dark Principle and in the Holy Man to the Heavenly Principle 15. As the outward Sun is not bounded by any part of its own deep in which it is King but only by the Darkness Thus the Holy Angels are with us as God's excellent Engines to protect and guard us knowing us as far as we are enriched with their Principle 16. They have the Supream Creature Authority under the Son of God over Kingdoms as is said Michael your Prince viz. of the Jews helped the Angel who coming to Daniel had been hindred by the Kings of Persia
21 days 17. How mighty their Strength and transcendent their Nature and perfect soever to behold the Most High yet their sweet humble modest Love notwithstanding their sublime Purity is such that they disdain not to serve and dandle such vile wretched Creatures as Man such is the flaming Love they abound with to Christ that they vouchsafe to do for us what sinful abjects even scorn to do for their poor Brethren by constant watching care c. As they did for the Child lost in a Wood for a time in Franconia whom a Snow falling they fed and guided at last homeward The Innocency Chastity and Modesty of Children is that why Angels delight them and no marvel seeing the Lord of Angels gave a little Child as a Pattern of Humility to his Apostles for Children some more eminently have Angelical Sparkles of Paradice in them and before knowing Evil have lively Figures of the Children of the Resurrection 18. And seeing there never was nor can be more than three Universal Principles out of some or all of them must all things originate immediately or mediately 19. Whence 't is plain that Angels and Man's Spirit are of one substance even as the Fire in the luminous Globes is the same with that which being sunk down by the Separator is confined in the Bowels of the Earth for generating of Metals c. 20. The Angels are so near of kin to us that they appear in Human Form And tho' they are not Almighty but depend for Eternal Subsistence and Food from God's Infinite Store yet are they far above all Human Might and Power 21. 1. Because they are not at all detained from action by their own Bodies 22. 2. Because they can have no Resistance from any Elementary Bodies simple or compound in exercise of any of their proper Powers and Offices The Terrestrial Globe hinders not their seeing a Pin's point were it in the Centre of it 23. 3. Because they dwelling in Eternity need not time whence it is that tho' they are but in one place at once yet can instantly be in another not so slowly as Light or Lightening for that needs some time to pass from East to West for altho ' perhaps it hath no detention from its own gravity yet is subjected to some resistance by interposing Atoms and space or distance 24. Their Expedition is otherwise than our Thoughts for our Thoughts being reposed require time to dissipate obstructions immuring them and collect Requisites having first been informed by the Affections or Senses but these sublime Agents being above all such inferior Laws can instantly effect what time must measure it self out to us to think 25. Thus was it an Angel slew in one night 18 5000 of Sennacherib's Army as before all the first-born of all the Land of Egypt passing by all where the Blood was on the Lintel 26. 4. Because of their Noble Transcendent Nature perfectly fixt in them Their Saturnine Property is not their burthen but their most strong Compaction and so of the other Properties Yet how perfectly soever they are honoured with the Majestick Names they admit more as by adventitious occurrents not unfitly call'd Improved and Acquired Experience of the works of Infinite Grace Mercy and Bounty of God to Apostate Penitent Converts at which they rejoyce 27. Angels have the Senses of Seeing Touching Hearing c. yet without Organs whence they are affected with Delight and Dislike Earnest Desire Joy Grief Pleasure and Pain Their Understanding is vast and perfect for they penetrate all Creatures of their Principle Simple or Compound as far at least as their Principle is an Ingredient which yet is bounded by the adverse Principle for the Holy Angels are as Children to the Sinful Tricks of the impure separate World as are the Evil ones to them The infinite God only comprehends all Things as one and all Time and Eternity as present But the Good Angels see not things above them in their own very Principle for they desire to look or pry into the Mystery of the Incarnation by which lost Mankind are found Q. 20. Out of what is the Visible World Created seeing the Scripture saith God made all things by his Word how is the same to be understood A. 1. First By way of Simile A Wheat Corn is sowed there is produced a Blade Ear Husk or Chaff The Ear Straw and Chaff as an Appurtenance to the Corn or an Accident is likened to the Visible World the Grain of Corn to the fixed Harmony produced into Existence by the Power of the Seven Fountain Spirits The Spirit of the Grain to the Quintessence and the Quintessence is the one Element having in it the Mystery and vertue of the Four Elements and the Power of the Holy World and God himself is likened to the Husbandman 2. Thus as the Son is the Infinite Majesty Light and Speaking Word Express Image of the Father and as the Holy Ghost is the Infinite Breath of Father and Son So is the Holy Spiritual World the Image of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Heavenly Powers Vertues Colours and infinite Variety and Harmony of it And as the Paradisical Principle is the Image of God's Holiness and the dark Abyss the Image of God's Potence so is the Out-birth the Image of the two Spiritual Worlds in the Good and Evil Properties whereof it is Composed And the Varieties therein Image the Varieties of the Eternal Mansions and these Creatures all those Eternal Creatures of all Kinds 3. Another Simile may be the enkindling of a common Fire the hunger whereof attracts the Circumambient Air for Nourishment yet the Fiâ—e remains an hungry fierceness still the Air by way of Supplement to the vacuity endeavoured by the Fire becomes it self enkindled into a Radiant Flame the operation whereof is various first at nearest distance are hot active Productions also luminous active Productions Secondly At greater remove are other less fiery and luminous yet excellent Productions of both Kinds viz. with the Temperament of Fire and Light 3. At the most remote Extream bounding the stream of the Fires spherical activity are produced sluggish dark cold glâ—â—inous Passive rather than Active Bodies 4. The first Production of the Fire shews us the two Spiritual Worlds of Fire and Light The second the Angelical World in which are the Souls and Spirits of Mankind 5. The third the Out-birth consisting of the visible Heavens and this poor sorry Ball of Earth and Waters 6. Over this Out-birth of the third Principle Man should have continued Ruler and have subsisted in his Divine Principle but falling into it became much a Bâ—â—it into the sluggish cold passive Principle as to his Body and entred into the dark Principle with his Soul and Spirit 7. Out of which the infinite Grace of the Almighty Saviour by dying Himself to the third Principle taught us so to do redeemed the Body and by bringing in the Righteousness of Perfect Obedience teacheth us to die
that it can hold no commerce abroad or like a man distracted who cannot advise nor be advised being a stranger to himself as well as to common Prudence 3. For Man having passed from the Unity into Self became a God to himself and so there were as many Gods as Nations as Families yea as Men Then could they no more speak the One Language than abide steddy in One Power whereof they had deprived themselves 4. Therefore was the One Language confounded into many as One United Power was distracted into many feeble ones But to shew what the One Language was and the possibility or impossibility or restoring it and way how cannot come under the present Question but falls of its own accord under the 145 146 and first part of the 147 Questions whoever God shall enable to arrive at their solution Q. 90. What was the Covenant of or with Abraham concerning the Blessing and also the Circumcision What doth that signifie A. 1 It was not a Litteral or Verbal stipulation as the Covenants amongst Men are and as we are too apt to conceit and deem it Yet is it the subject of many and in some respects of all the holy words and writings imparted to us 2. It is the again iâ—kindled holy power of the Eternal Divine World which was ingrafted and inspoken into the darkened Souls of Adam and Eve creating peace and order there as the Light had done in the Chaos in order to the Creation of the Out birth or World figured by tâ—e Tincture which transmuteth and innobleth base Metals to Gold And as the holy Fire inflamed the Sacrifices the Inspoken Grace set on Fire Mans cold Affections for he was given to that end as a Covenant to the people 3. This was the Holy Seed sowed into the Light of the Life of Adam and Eve which was their Salvation Yet pointing to and being the Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come yesterday to day and for ever but at the time of the limit of the Covenant took Flesh. 4. This according to the Flesh was to descend and be in one line only from Adam to Seth thence to Sem Abraham and Tribe of Judah and took the Womans Seed in the Virgin Mary 5. But according to the Spirit and Divine Life wherewith and by which it was in the fulness of time begotten it was not only in that Line but in every of Adam's Children as an Ingrafted Word as truely in Cain and in his Race as in Seth and in his Race 6. This was grieved at the Heart by the old World vexed by the Israelites in the Wilderness and as Gods formed Word is his witness in Men judging and importuning from Age to Age. This like the small Grain of Mustard-seed grows up to such a Tree as whose top reacheth Heaven 7. This was the Covenant and Blessing given Abraham and with respect to the Union it hath with the Son of God was both the Food of Adam's Soul and of Abraham's Faith and the Author of his Faith and Confidence 8. And now being come to the Circumcision having set a Law to my self to avoid repetitions all I can do refer to the 8th and 9th Sections of that short Tract call'd Considerations on the Scope of J. Behmen compared with the 41st Chap. of the Mysterium Magnum is said to be Epitomized or Abridged in the Book of Extracts in every of which it is so largely opened that to touch it here would be Tautology and superfluous recitals Q. 91. What Figure is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah How was it effâ—cted A. 1. The destruction of Sodom c. is the Figure of the destruction of Babel sometimes call'd the Antichrist sometimes the Whore sometimes the Man of Sin a Man for his daring Courage a Whore for Unfaithfulness and Impudence And these do figure Sodom c. 2. 1. In their State and Grandeur 2. In their Sin 3. In their Downfal Their State consisted 1. In their Oâ—ulence being richly perfectly Scituated thus do Babylon Antichrist and the Whore covet and possess the Fat of the Earth 2. Their State and Grandeur Sodom c. were Cities Royal Cities having Kings and Pomp. 3. In their security by their numbers as Cities in a well watered Land Like the second thus doth Antichrist ally it self by Policy to Chief Magistracy Like the third thus doth Antichrist establish her self by outward force 3. In their Sin Sodom's Sins were 1. Pride 2. Fulness of Bread 3. Idleness Thus Babylon and the Whore is said to be in Scarlet with a Golden Cup in her Hand not got by Industry but already in her Hand And is distinguishable and an Enmity with the Servants of Christ for 1. Christs Servants are like their Lord humbled to the Earth 2. If not poor outwardly as for the most part they are yet are always as having nothing 3. Not Idle for they are working out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 4. In their Downfal sudden and unexpected Sodom's was not in the silence and horrors of the Night Season but when the risen Sun had renewed their hopes of Safety Thus is it said of Babylon who said I sit as a Queen c. in one hour is her c. 2. That Sodom's Ruine was immediately from above Thus the Apostle saith of Antichrist Whom the Lord shall destroy by the Spirit of his Mouth and Brightness of his coming Therefore shall Babylon fall irresistibly 3. The Fall of Sodom was â—otal final and irrecoverable or irreparable in every of which it figures Antichrist for to express it it 's said that a Mighty Angel took up a great Stone like a Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall the great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 4. In the fall of Antichrist those that will come out of her shall be received figured by the escape of Lot and his two Daâ—ghters as saith the Holy Ghost Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins nor receive of her Plagues Thus Antichrist and Babel might well and fitly be call'd Spiritually Sodom and Egypt 5. To the secâ—nd part of the Question viz. How it was effected It 's answer'd 1. Not by the Helâ—ish Fire for the Fuel and Matter of that Fire must be Eternal 2. Not by the â—ire which shall sweep and reduce the Out-birth to it first principles before the last Judgment for that would have dissolv'd the Elements 6. But it was effected by the flagrat of the Elementary Fire which was fully sufficient to execute Divine Vengeance on the Elementary part of Sodom c. Q. 92. Wherefore did Lot's Wife become a Pillar of Salt how is it to be understood A. 1. For a dreadful warning to all succeeding times of the effect of Covetousness We are not to be trusted with the World till we are dead to it as Paul saith
the Lamb was eaten as in haste and with bitter Herbs The Supper as in a Table gesture of such as have attained rest not by violent killing as That but by a free Issue of the highest and sweet Tincture as is That producing Bread and Wine and remaining in them 2. So high is it that it hath been thought by some of the Learned tho' erroneously that the Spirit of Wine is the true Fire of Nature 3. That it might be a Medium for conveyance for so great was the Precipice down which Man fell that he must be followed or for ever lost but tho' he fell into the Mortal Elementary State and the Elements of Bread and Wine blessed for his use yet these are not the Medium The Tincture is a Virgin a Servant to Virgin Sophis who tho' it be not purely Divine yet is such a Servant indeed as in whom is no guile 3. The Tincture whence issueth the Corn and Vine is the middle Earth betwixt the Heavenly or Paradifical Earth as the most superior and the Mortal as the most inferior This is therefore the proper Medium Here the Souls fiery hunger in the Promise meets the Divine Love and Grace the Living Word or Power World bringing in and with the Flesh and Blood of Christ's Heavenly Humanity which is the Emmanuel the Hope the Joy and Eternal Spouse of the Fire Soul and the Lord Husband and Crown of the enlightened renewed meek Spirit fore here the two Tiâ—ctures are united for â—ver and is neither Male nor Female but our Christ is all in all Q. 157. Whether is the True Testamentary Enjoyment or Participation bound meerly to the Apostolical Practice and Observation or whether also men may have Power or Authority to alter and change This Ordinance as is done now-a-days A. 1. Amongst men the Law making Power only hath Authority to change and alter Laws And a Testator dying no one may alter the Will and Testament ratified by the deceased On much higher and surer Reason is it therefore that no man or all men may alter or change This Ordinance or reject any of God's Institutions no more than two or three School-boys can root up the Basis of Philosophy or two or three Thieves or other Criminals change the publick Statuâ—es of a State or Kingdom 2. This will be acknowledged in words but when men come to measure Heavenly Mysteries by the Form of Words and Those Words by the Standard of Reason and That Reason corrupted by their Lusts disputes are raised without end and Obstinacy is the Disputant for the unregenerate man hath a perverse Will so that such of them as can attain the most exact Form of Godliness are only thereby the more confirmed in their Ungodliness 3. Could such do every Outward Ordinance with direct exactness of every gesture speak the words and only those spoken and done by the Lord himself without the Regenerating Spirit of Christ they would transgress the Rule still be in the Livery of Christ Traitors to Him fight against Him under His own Banners the Lord's Supper will be to such as the Sop to Judas who did after kiss and betray Such men receive the Heavenly Dews but bear fruit to self and That fruit the Grapes of Sodom they err in every work of their hands their very plowing is sin their Metonymies and other Tropes are airy distinctions of the words of the Institution like the endless Genealogies of the unbelieving Jews 4. Thus we see men guided by the Properties of the first Principle clothing their Hypocrisie by the Images and Maxims of the third do turn That blessed Ordinance which was to be as a Bond of Peace into Enmity And what wonder they should endeavour to impose their dark notions on others by hostile force as wild Beasts are to be dealt with not having the Light of the second to guide their Understandings as Children of the day But the new Nature of Gods Child is fed by that whereof it is Begotten and because the love of every such is sincere their hunger is earnest and is in proportion satisfied as it is in power and vigor excited Q. 158. Whether also is the Testament powerful in the alter'd or chang'd Ordinance or not A. 1. The misapprehending of this Question may either on the one hand encourage to make unwarrantable alterations arbitrarily or persist in them after being found to be such Or on the other hand unnecessarily to decline all Communion or despair of Vertue from the Ordinance because something said or done at the Administration seem not expresly commanded in the form recorded in the Institution Wherefore 2. To make way to the Answer 1. Something must be said to the Institution of the Sacrament it self 2. Something to the partakers 1. In the Sacrament are 1. The Form and Materials 2. The Force and Vertue 3. The Medium 1. The Form and Materials are meant in the words take eat this and take drink this this intends the Elements or Accidents of Bread and Wine 2. The force and Vertue meant by the words this is my Body is my Blood viz. are that Heavenly Flesh and Blood of Christ the Food of the Eternal Soul It is Christs Spiritual Humanity whereby he doth substantially inhabit the Souls of all who open to him their hungry and thirsty Mouth sups with them and is himself the true Bread and Water of Eternal Paradisical Divine Life 3. 3. The Place or Medium and this is not Christ himself tho' in his Heavenly Humanity he is not shut out of any Heaven for he is in or rather is all Heavenly Places Also the Medium neither can be the Elements of Bread and Wine for they are Mortal Accidents not Substances But the Tincture whence groweth the Bread and Wine is the Medium for that is Pure and Immortal and for the sake whereof the Idea of the Creatures shall be raised into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 4. Something preparatory to the Answer is concerning the partakers of the Sacrament be the subdivisions how many soever there will be found at last but two sorts The Wise and the Unwise both call'd Virgins The one really and in Heart the other feigned and only in shew The one those of the day generated in the Glory and Love of the second principle the other of darkness in the works of the first principle 5. The Child of wrath can eat only and drink the Elementary part which hath in it the good and evil properties the Imaged Powers of Wrath and Love extending only to his Mortal Elementary Life wherewith neither his Eternal Soul nor Eternal Spirit of the Mind are really fed but starve and therefore so eats he and drinks he Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body viz. not receiving nourishment from the Heavenly Food the Lords real Body but only the Elementary And his Astral or Siderial Spirit cannot receive so much as the pure Medium and keep it
Consider common Fire it is not Light no more than a Rose is a Tree or the Root of a Lilly is the Flower Tho' by the way we may digress to observe that an Eminent Pen endeavours by many in their kind ingenious Arguments to prove Light to be Fire in a less degree but granting the vigour of the Fire to be in the Light or by the affluence of the Air to be the enkindler of the Light yet will it not follow that the Light is Fire unless the whole Deep is therefore the Sun because the Sun's vigour enlivens it For grant That Author's Arguments to arrive at what he levels them the distinct Properties will result into a Chaos whose various Vertues mutually produce consubstantiate figure and cohabit each the other yet the one no more the other than Heat is Cold or Light is Darkness It would also confound the Son with the Father and those two to be only terms convertible a thing so far from truth as not to be esteemed only short of it but rather diametrically opposite to it But passing by this consider we as was said common Fire that hath an attractive hungry fierceness in it like that in a heated Stone and that fierceness must be perpetuated if the Light be not generated by it but is the Fire of Hell but when the Light begotten by it as from a Fountain is resigned unto it and shineth in it then and there is the meek Vertue united with the strong might of the Fire thereby turning all into a Majestick splendor so bringing the Copy as a fit due conformity to the Original because the alone perfection of the multiplicity is its arriving at the Unity 23. Now come we to the last and God shall be all in all here may be taken a prospect of the Holy of Holies An Angel's Royal Hand were well employed in drawing these Lines and Measures but then still it must be with a Reed and the Computation must suit with the Cubit of a Man the Language also must be flammering wretched and as it were foolish else it descends not to the fallen Human Understanding And as none knows the things of a man but the Human Understanding Spirit so none those of God but the Holy Spirit of God What is vile dust to penetrate this Woe to us that we are of unclean Lips and vain in our imagination 24. Truth tells us that our Omnipotent God hath three Delights viz. 1. In his Son in whom is his delight 2. In the Excellent made so by his Son 3. In Exercising Mercy The two last viz. the Excellent and Exercising of Mercy dwell in the Son as in their Ocean Centre or Fountain and issue through him as Sap through a Tree and That Tree grows in our Impotent Humanity Now after the delivering up the Kingdom to the Father God's becoming all in all is the uniting all these three Delights to the Almighty Power-World where the Joy is incomprehensible and the Increase of it Endless and Infinite for then Almightiness of Strength and Wisdom hath replenisht it self with Almightiness of Love and Goodness the Unity hath reassumed the Multiplicity What words may express This most Holy Dominion 25. Can it be pourtrayed by the Joy of a tender-hearted Parent all whose dear Children having been miserably captiv'd by a barbarous malicious Enemy are by the prudent Conduct and prosperous Atchievement of their eldest Brother compleatly rescued May it be apprehended by the Joy of the Harvest when the loaden Sheaves crowning the Fields do seasonably enrich the Barns and Granaries Or of the Vintage when the bowed Branches dropping into the Press overflow it Or by the lost Son the lost Groat the lost Sheep the Joy of the Bridegroom over the Bride all which are faint resemblances and dim shadows of the Delight of the Eternal Father Also what is the Content of an Earthly Monarch whose Victorious Arms subject his Enemies and his seasonable Succours secure his Friends What is the Triumph of the Sun in the Firmament when his Spicy Beams revive the Face of Nature grown pale by his long absence and call up a smiling Spring These are weak figures and dark similes of the Delight of the Sun of Righteousness And what is the sweet Satisfaction the tender Mother hath by seeing all her dear Babes for whom she travell'd to whom she had drawn out her Breasts over whom she had long unweariedly watcht and cared of whom she had been a compassionate Comfort and Assistant in their Froward Fits various Anguishes Sicknesses and Hazards as so many Deaths at last all thriveâ— to perfect stature of Body excellent Endowments of Mind exact chearful Dutifulness to their Father and by Him all advanced to wear Crowns By this may be tho' obscurely represented the Delight of God's Holy Spirit Lastly What was the Joy of the lately oppressed Tribes when delivered at the Red Sea and occasion'd the Song of Moses What was also their Joy when God turned back the Captivity of Sion from the Chaldean when they were as men in a dream and what the Joy of them who having washed their Garments in the Blood of the Lamb and had been brought out of Fiery Tryals do come to receive their White Robes and Palms by which may be seen the Joy of the Redeemed of the Lord in that Holy of Holy days Thus are the sublimost Affairs offered in a most familiar homely manner with a low voice and flat style for so the Wisdom of God descends and delights to cloath it self while Man's Wisdom would flourish in enticing words puft up with empty sounds Obj. 26. But some by way of opposition may say that God ever was is and shall all be in all as it is written Of him for him and through him are all things and in him we live move and have our Being Ans. A confused knowledge of things doth but little difference men from Brute Creatures Let us therefore summarily remember what dispersedly in the Answers foregoing and the blessed Jacob Behmers Writings is large and clear viz. That the gracious Creator spake the Paradisical or Angelical World out of himself according to every Property of the Eternal Nature and according to the holy second Principle which till there was a rent by the receding of Lucifer into the by-path of his private Self-will the whole remained an exact Image and true Copy of the Original where the Name of God was perfectly spoken and God was all in all 27. And out of and as an Image of the Paradisical Principle and with the Properties of the Power-World did God speak forth the Astral-World an Image of both Inward-Worlds which as a Child of the other two had as the Children of Men have a Centre of its own and tho' it were a Copy of the Inward-Worlds yet was another a third Principle issuing into the multiplicity and as far as it so remaineth God is all in all in it also 28. In and over
hast had something in thee to stout it out against the Charâ—s of Divine Love God glorifies his Almightiness Wisdom and Goodness in Evil Creatures his Justice by the Devils so that if we be wicked what loseth he and if we be righteous is it not for our selves On the 22th Question and Answer Why must there be Strife in Nature 1. By Nature is meant the Outward Nature where strife ariseth out of contrariety and contrariety founded in the dividing of the Properties which dividing should have been hidden from Adam had he continued in the Harmony but his Fall opened the Enmity in his Soul in his Spirit in his Astral Man and in his Body which then was bâ—coâ—e Bestial And the Peace Man composeth is the consequence of ignorance or stupâ—dity which our Saviour when he comes breaks and draws a Sword against 2. The reason is because the Peace of our making is a stifling or violent stopping of the Natural Issues of the Striving Properties no more like the true Rest than Adam's Sleep was like the Paradisical Life but the Lord's Rest and Peace is when the six working Properties result in the seventh and the four Forms generate the fifth yet neither the sixth nor the fourth cease to be or to work but in their working attain the true end of their work 3. Is it thus O my Soul beware of indulging drowning and burying thy self in stupid ease but as the Infinite Father worketh hitherto generating the Son and the Son worketh in the Father and the Holy Ghost goeth out continually with Power and Vertue so also in thy very little wretched poor faculties co-operate with highest longing and desire in this happy strife bring the strong Forms of thy first Principle into the meek Light of thy second and let all issue into Divine Love and Delight which will be a third till thou flame and thou be as fuel dying and rising again always more bright and flaming Fear not to die daily but study press pray and practise it that thou maist every day be renewed and transformed into the Image of him a glance of whose gracious countenance hath a ravishing Power and covers thee with shame and confusion and yet with excess of humble trembling Joy it shakes yet confirms it kills yet revives And if a glance be so noble and powerful what were a steddy look and then what losest thou straying into outward divertisements those deluding flatterers Lookest thou on any thing without a design to see thy great Lord in it it renders thee loss of time bows thee down like the Beast is thy snare and thou dost unnaturally lay hands on thy self be thine own deceiver making thy sences thy tempters lest there should be want of Devils but to strive against this is a Holy War Art thou my Soul unwilling pray the Divine Will may make thee an imprest Souldier Faintest thou Love hath Eagles wings Fearest thou Faith hath a whole Armoury Thinkest thou this Combate is above Thee to atchieve what were all the Spirits of the Just made perfect but the Children of sinners and themselves sinners pluckt out of the Fire Captives redeemed by our Lord Jesus Look on that Eye my Soul who ever looks on thee and all days will be holy days all places holy places and thou ever in the best company thou art capable of such as will teach thee to lead thy natural strife into supernatural triumph On the 23th Question and Answer On the Dividing the One Element into four 1. Like as the Monuments of former Ages the Tower of Babel the Egyptian Pyramids the undertakings of Archimedes c. do commemorate the Archievements and Skill of the Framers so do the works of God speak the great Jebovab Whence the Psalmist The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Elements shew his handy-work The four Elements are according to the four Forms 2. Behold how out of one are all things infinitely proceeded for out of the Unity is breathed the multiplicity so that when we bring our multiplicity forward as we ought we return into the Unity O my Soul let the multiplicity of the very Out-birth of the third Principle be but taught to know its distance and thou maist live in the Unity rule over the Multiplicity and bring out of the four Elements their Glory and Vertue for the praise of the Almighty Soveraign that in an outward way yet having Eyes within they like the four Beasts before the Throne without ceasâ—â—g say Holy holy holy c. And again when thou diest to the Tyranny of the four Forms of thy Root thou ascendest by their Harmony into the several branches bearing good fruit 3. What tho' thy Sting be sharp may it but stir thee up the more vigorously to the work of God in thee What tho' thy Fire be hot may it be the incentive to a radiant Love-flame What if thy Anguish be greatly ponderous and oppressive if it ballance steddy and fix thee to a glorious perseverance Courage then thou art on a short Voyage to a vast Country Are not all the Elements doing their several Offices Is not every Pile of Grass obeying its Ordinance and levelling at the End of its Institution Is not the whole Faâ—ily of the very innocent Creatures preparing themselves to live and die for thy pleasure profit and necessity And wilt thou not do and suffer for him whose thou art and who hath vouchsafed to make himself of meer Grace to be thine and which conformity in thee is for thine own absolutely necessary overflowing Eternal superabundant Advantage thou hast but these three things make thy choice either to go back into Egypt stand still and fall in the Wilderness or go on after thy Captain into the Land flowing with Milk and Honey On the 24th Question and Answer Wherefore and to what Benefit are Stars Created The Stars are the Revelation or Immense palpable finite dissolvible Body of the Infinite Eternal Holy Substantial World and that 1. In their Splendor especially in the glorious shining Sun But how dirty and vile is Man O my Soul how art thou darkened every little Storm clothes thee in Rags and casts filth on those Rags every recess of true Light leaveâ— thee languishing as one Foot were in the Grave whilst their Beauties are in their Principle lifted far above such mutations fix then thine Eye on thy Sun and like the Flower of the Sun turn ever to him and only to him wherein alone lyes thy chief good 2. In their variety wherein they are admirable particularly in the seven Royal ones So are there in Saturn Mars Mercury and Jupiter when cross aspected an intolerable ligation anguish rage and proud elevation in the Sun Moon and Venus a scorching Fire Inconstancy and Impurity in all which the Eternal dark Principle openeth it self but in their benevolent Aspect is an Harmonious Noble Transcendent Excellency figuring the Paradisical Holy Principle But how much in thee O my Soul is there not
Excellency to Sensitives from the Ant to the Elephant their activity comeliness usefulness cunning and seminal Power But above all to Man a vigorous beautiful Body a prudent capacity and prosperous success furnishing him with such Abilities as may be applicable to preserve himself and others by implanting improving and repairing things profitable and extirpating and preventing the noxious also ennobling him with such Endowments whereby he may rule over and give conduct to the Inferiour Creatures and use the Creation the Earth Water Air Fire and Wind as his Servants to do his Work without Wages or Limitation of Time c. The Ruler of the day and Mistress of the Night are his Directors On the 25th Question and Answer Of the Temporal Natures Light and Darkness whence they sprung and exist Seeing they sprung from exist by and are manifestations of the two incomprehensible Principles the holy Light World and the dark Wrathful World how large a Field of Meditation is here to us Men who are little Worlds The Experience of one Man hath been that his Closet approaches in the Evening hath been more confused perplext and impure and his most early Morning access more simple chearful and vigorous the former seeming not only toucht with the days contagion but at the entrance of the figure of the dark Abyss whereas his Morning hath been a Sally of the Soul out of a Dungeon more transported with a new Glory figuring the Resurrection Which seems to be one reason the Christians about an hundred years after the Incarnation used to meet at certain days before Sun-rising to Sing Hymns to Jesus Christ c. Hence those in whom Christ is risen are the Children of the day for New Ierusalem knows no Night If therefore thou my Soul art risen with Christ the things over which thou art risen are to thee dead dry withered trash and thou art entred by the first Resurrection into the new fruitful growing state But where are the steps of thy growth is it in the figure or similitude of the New Birth Hast thou a Lamp without Oyl A fair Building not rightly founded Livest thou on the Letter without the Life Art thou receiving Seed but choaking it with the outward Principle Art thou one of the Grains that shall be fann'd away Or hast thou entred the true second Principle Do thy Original forms generate the true Light whereof the outward Light is but a shadow and therewith the Divine Love whereof the highest outward delight is but a weak Similitude Is there in thee a deep humble foundation and a springing up of Life through Death as a structure on that profound Basis. If so the day is dawned and the Day-Star risen else not a dim weak sight yet infallibly informs when 't is day and when not and why should it be so mysterious to our Intellect But so dismal is Mans Fall that the Children of Darkness may more unerringly doom themselves such than those of the day can be assured of their progress therein While that often good beginnings are flatter'd as if the Prize were won and yet themselves degenerate into wild Grapes and wild Olives and the awakened Souls are often under various Misrepresentations fears and impressions proceeding sometimes from real and sometimes from supposed causes as it happens to a distressed Traveller in an unknown Countrey or as to a laden Ship labouring under successive Surges Seeing therefore the day and night we carry about in our Bosoms figur'd by the natural day and night is truely Heaven and Hell what highest diligence is necessary to introduce and stir up the one and what dreadful earnest cautions are requisite like Sea marks where the Ships have been split to shun the other On the 26th Question and Answer Of the separation of the Water above the Firmament from the Water which is underneath the Firmament and of the Created Heaven in the midst of the Water 1. The Created Heaven out of the midst of the Water being the outward Heaven partaking of both Waters is like the Tree bearing the Forbidden Fruit which stood in the midst of the Garden between the inward and outward Principles and partaking by Figure of the inward but really was of the outward The Water above the Firmament is a part of holy Paradise and that under the Firmament our palpable Mortal Water yet a similitude of the other for as this is our condensed Air and our Air as the Breath of Fire so is that holy living Water the meekness of the Heavenly which Air is exalted from the Incomprehensible Forms of the holy Fire And as our Water hath a cleansing property to the outward Man so hath that a purifying power to the inward As ours gives reception to the Light which no sooner looks on it but through it So is that the Vehicle or Transparent Habitation of the Eternal Light not to be understood so grosly as the Blood is of the Life of Creatures but in a sense agreeable to the Spiritual Power and Property thereof 2. And as Luoifer not obtaining his inordinate desire excited his Central Fire to the drying up of his meek Water wherein his Light shone his Light thenceforth disappeared So when Man 's dark implacable Lust thirsting for Domination Revenge or to compass some other evil according to the fierce Anguish of the Fire Soul is quenched overcome and kill'd by the sinking down humble subjection and true resignation of the Will to the Divine Councel and Conduct a new Life is generated of Childlike Obedience by the arising of this Water of the upper Springs which cleanse and become in that Soul a Well of Living Water springing up to Eternal Life For his Water is the Eternal Light and Eternal Love substantiated in such degree as this holy living Water can be capable so to be signified by that in the Brass Lâ—wer between the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the Altar wherein the Priests were to wash that they died not 3. Why Oh my Soul are thy daily and hourly thoughts so low and impure It is not the defect of a Fountain of that above the Firmament but because thou usest it not Why sometimes feelest thou the Fire of prevailing Wrath proceeding from Impatience that from Pride that from Ignorance of God and thy self but because thou drawest not by an earnest thirst this living Water nor finkest into it Why is it by the returns of thy old Habits thou so often defilest thy self and so seldom washest in these Waters Did not the Priests wash as often as Sacrifice was it not daily Morning and Evening wants not the Earth the former and latter Rain So let Oh my Lord my cleansing be frequent and constant as was that of the Priests Let it be real as the Fire of the Altar and the Water in the Laver was real Let my cleansing be universal and extend to all the active Properties as they washed both Hands and Feet and their Fire consumed the whole Burns Offering
it all which the Fiat holdeth fast thereby Creating the Head c. And by the hard Terror is made the Skull and in the Contest and Terror of the departing Essences come the various Veins 11. The stifling in the Matrix is the first dying by which the Essences so sever from Heaven that the Virgin cannot be generated which Adam should have done without Woman or rending his Body 12. Further of the Incarnation The Fiat so holdeth in the Terror that the filling in of Elements hardeneth to be Bones So the Elementary Man riseth and the Heavenly falleth And the Stiches and Aches Women feel come from the Sympathy the Tincture of their Bodies have with the Tincture in the Matrix In this Anguish a sting enkindleth a Fire and in the Fire a Light of Joy which is the beginning of Life 13. In the fourth Month the Light of Life makes the harshness calm and meek here springeth a longing and vertue coming from the Light and this delight in the Love is the Noble Tincture which is the Child 's own And the Spirit generated out of the Anguish in the flash of the Fire is the true real Soul CHAP. XIV Of the Birth and Propagation of Man The very Secret Gate 1. MANS Paradisiâ—al Life sprung up in the Holy Ghost in the Divine Light in the place of the four Elements Whence when he departed into the Principle of the Spirit of this World that withdrew and this made him like other Beasts desiring only to fill it self and propagate By that Spirit is he figur'd in the Mothers Womb Life Birth Nourishment good or evil success is given and at last corruption 2. And were not Mans Essences out of Gods Eternity he like the Spirit of other Creatures had gone into its Ether and in this Life had worn the rough Hide but he is left with full Power to yield himself to which of the first or second Principle he will Hence is it that Regeneration is of absolute necessity to the blessed Restoration 3. Of the strong Gate of the indissoluble Band. The three Essences viz. Harshness or Sourness Bitterness and Fire make like the Trinity the indissoluble Band. The first is the Fiat and sting of the second and both the cause of the third and from all three in anxiety ariseth the twinkling flash out of which the Angels are Created who by their longing after the Heart of God were enlightened by the Divine Wisdom But Lucifer's Pride cast him back into the anxious Fire without Light 4. The Gate of the Sydereal or Starry Spirit By the great longing of the darkness after the light was this World Created which desire must continue else no good Creature could be 6. But the Starry Spirit would be King of the Essences of the Soul which ought not to be It longeth to find the Virgin in Man where once it was but the Virgin consisting in the vertue of the second Principle is out of reach 6. Every thing groaneth after the Divine Vertue to be freed from the Vanity of the Devil which panting should it cease the World would be a meer Hell 7. But that the Creatures may attain it they must wait till their dissolution when in their Figure and in their Ether they get a place in Paradise 8. The more the Spirit of the World wrestleth and that the Soul by approaching the Heart of God resisteth the more eager still is the Spirit of the World There the King the Vertue of the Sâ—n is so triumphant that it sublimeth all the Essences of the Stars to their highest Summit And here the Essences of the Soul can see in the Light of the Virgin it s own Original 9. The depth in the Centre That Fire we see with our Eyes is not the Element of Fire but the fiery Wrath come to be such by the inkindling when the Devils fell out of the one holy Element in which one Element is Meekness and Rest not Heat and Cold which have a contrary will 10 Because therefore the fierceness would rule over meekness God caused the Sun to come forth thereby opening four Centres 1. It made the harshness thin and pleasant as Water 2. By the Water the fierceness in the flash was extinguisht 3. The Motion and Egress whereof became Air. 4. And what the sour fierceness had attracted to it was thrust out as the Earth swimmeth in the Water these seek in anxiety to retreat again into the one Element which cannot be till the number to the praise of God be full according to the Eternal Mind 1. The most precious Gate in the Root of the Lilly 1. The longing or attracting willing and desiring are the three beginningless and indissoluble Band. Hence originateth the Eternal Mind in that the Will goeth out of the attracting Activity into Meekness Hence also originateth the Eternal Anguish Gods original fierceness Hence likewise originateth the Eternal mixture where the flash discovereth it self in many thousand thousands The going forth out of the darkness without intermission opening still a new Centre or Principle in infinitum 2. The Gate of God the Father The attracting of the Will impregnateth it self with meekness being deliver'd from darkness wherein standeth the pleasant joy for in the appearing of the sharpness breaking the darkness standeth the Omnipotence and is as when a Man is instantly come out of a scorching Fire to sit in a temperate refreshment herein is the perfection of the highest Joy and Meekness 3. The Will of God is that whatsoever inclineth it self to him he will create in meekness To which the Worm in the Spark inclineth whether to the sharp fierceness in the Fire or the sharp flash to the Regeneration in the second Principle of meekness in that it standeth in Eternity 4. The deep of the darkness and of the Light are alike great and are both without beginning and end the firm Bar of a whole Principle is between them And the will to Love Resignation Meekness and sharp Regeneration is the bound or limit of these two Principles 5. The Gate of the Son of God The will from Eternity impregnateth it self and hath an Eternal Desiring and bringeth forth Eternally the Eternal Son and Child of Meekness Vertue or Power expressing and speaking forth the depth of the Deity and the Eternal Wisdom of God 6. The Gate of Gods Wonders in the Rose of the Lilly The Holy Trinity dwelling in it self generating out of it self comprehended by nothing having no place of rest or limit but is the unsearchable Eternity and Infinity hath an Eternal Will going forth of the Mouth and Heart of God by the Holy Ghost In which going forth by the sharpness of the Fiat all Essences are and yet this is not God but a chast Virgin of the Wisdom of God This Virgin openeth Gods Wonders in the Eternal Essences These reveal'd Wonders become a substance And this substance is the one Element wherein all Essences are And the fair chast
Virgin of Gods Wisdom discovereth her self infinitely without number oâ— end in Powers Colours and Arts at which the Deity rejoiceth And that Joy is call'd Paradise because of the sharp generating of the infinity of the pleasant Fruit of the Lilly What it is no Earthy Tongue or Pen is sufficient all we can say of it is less than Dross to Gold and our Speech is as a drop or glimpse or sparkle CHAP. XV. Of the Knowledge of the Eternity in the Corruptibility of the Essence of all Essences 1. IN the Original Essence of all Essences we find but one whence is from Eternity generated the other both are in Divine Omnipotence have different Inclinations mix not nor can be dissolved 2. In the Eternal Original is also the Virgin of Wisdom whose longing after a Similitude Created the Angels opening a Fountain to every Essence whence came the Names of Principalities Thrones c. And out of each many thousand thousands 3. But Lucifer and his Servants like a Tree and its Branches moved by the stern Matrix bearing only the guilt of his own Fall kindled the Element whence came the four Elements and out of it came Earth and Stones and became execrated out of Paradise 4. But the Virgin rediscovered in the Out-birth the Similitude which the Fiat made substantial a meer Quinta Essentia And God Created the Sun the Similitude of his own Heart which put all the Out-birth into Meekness that all this after dissolution might in Paradise be a shadow of his substance and not only made the outward Creation but also out of the Quinta Essentia figur'd Spirits 5. And in the room of the fallen Angels made Man of all the three Principles but to live in the second and rule over the other two to whom the Virgin of Gods Wisdom Espoused her self opening â—n him a Centre to many thousand thousands in perfect chast Meekness without rending his Body but the Spirit of the great World so overcame Adam that he became Earthy the Virgin departed 6. But still the Virgin calleth and is ready to return to all that seek her with humble earnestness 'T is a Lie tâ—â—aâ— one is not elected the possibility of humble seeking is in every one Pâ—idâ— enâ—â—iâ—eth one more strongly than another but forceth none There is need of the Trader upon the Serpent in the Womb because all the three Prinâ—iples do there imprâ—nâ— themselves 7. And tho' the Devil dare not â—mage himseâ—f tiâ—â— Mâ—â—s understanding inclines to evil yet let none presume on the Devils Impotency for tho the Child be in Innocence the Seed is not which is of feâ—rful consideration to Parents especially evil ones 8. Dâ—ligently and deeply to be considered Pure Love which reacheth Paradise is wholly modest As in two young people whose Limbus and Matrix have attained the Blossom of the Nâ—â—le Tiâ—cture how hearty faithful pure Love bear they to each other But a 〈…〉 they ake each other the burning Love infecteth and the Ashes of Lust turns â—â—em oftentimes to spiteful Enmity Whence may be seen God willed not the Bestial Copâ—lation but the pure fiery Paradisical Love 9. When all the parts of the Child are formed 't is still so Bestial an Image that if it perish before the enkindling of the Light viz. the Spirit of the Soul nothing of the Figure appears before God at the Restitution but its shape and shadow 10. The Life of the Soul standeth in the three Principles The first discovereth it self in the Fire flash standing over the Heart in the Gall The second is generated of the first and is the pleasant joy Oh happy they who experience the governing power of it The third Principle presseth after the Tincture of the Soul but attaineth only the Light of the Sun and Stars whose qualifying with the Soul brings many Diseases into the Essences as the Plague c. and at last Death The Extracts of the rest of this Excellent Chapter I forbear contenting my self with what hath been done in the Aurora c. on that subject CHAP. XVI Of the Mind Understanding Senses Thoughts Threefold Spirit Tincture Inclination of a Child in the Womb of the Divine Hellish and Earthy Image c. 1. THE Mind standeth in three Kingdoms The first is Eternal the second is Eternally generated the third transitory If the first generateth not the second it goeth into the Abyss The Gate of the second goeth into Paradise 2. So can our Mind being a sparkle breathed in from the Eternal Mind speculate things remote from the Senses and penetrate Wood Stone Bone and Marrow without rending the dark Bodies The third Kingdom that of the Sun Stars and Elements wrestle with the first Kingdom yield themselves to it as to their Father 3. The second standeth between these two Regions from the Rays whereof spring the Gates of the Senses filling all with joy The Tincture whereof causeth all Vegetation And in Animals especially in Man the Blood of the Heart in which the Soul Swimmeth is incomparably sweet therefore God forbiddeth eating Blood for the Bestial Life ought not to be in Man lest the Spirit be infected by it 4. The Consteliations make not a Child an Image of God but at highest a lusty subtle pleasant Beast In some the Image of a dangerous evil Beast in others of a tame merry â—east according as the Constellations stood at the Incarnation and Birth of the Child 5. The first Principle saith Go forth in stern might The second in Love and Wisdom The third in sustaining and adorning the Body to which the Soul obeys of these three his Servant he is 6. If thou desirest the second Birth know thou art here in Prison call to him that hath the Key of the Gate of the Deep and thou wilt break through as the day breaketh and find the chast Virgin waiting for thee who is ever warning thee of evil Whom if thou follow despising the good and evil of the World she will joyfully conduct thy wandered Soul into its true Native Countrey CHAP. XVII Of the Lamentable Fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise 1. ADam stood forty days before his sleep in an Angelical Image yet had a Body out of the one Element out of the which one Element issued also the four Elements and of the Quintessence of the four are the Stars and are as the Husband and the four Elements the Wife The Heart of both is the one Element and of the Essence and Vertue of that one Element is Paradise 2. Adam had the Eternal Essences of the first Principle behind him The Divine Light of the second Principle before him both were as Fire and Light The outward World of Stars and four Elements under him and were impotent as to him his Breath was that of the Holy Ghost Paradisical 3. As long as he set his Heart on the Heart of God the other two Kingdoms as to their divided properties were hidden But in his reflecting on the great hidden
and Sorrow Meekness and Fierceness thus it is in the Father's Nature This twofold desiring in one substance are two Centres that to Meekness not severed from the other is the second or Son and is therefore call'd the Son because generated out of the Father's Nature call'd the Word because he is the Glance or Majesty of the Eternal Liberty call'd a Person because he is a Self-subsisting Essence not the Birth of Nature but the Life and Understanding of Nature and call'd the Heart of the Father because he is the Vertue and Power of the Centre of Nature as the Heart is in the Body and call'd the Light of the Father because he takes his Lustre out of the sharpness of the Eternal Nature and call'd wonderful for by him out of the Father's Essences are all things brought to Light the Father and Son are as Fire and Light 7. The Holy Ghost is the third the Breath or Noise is that which makes the Will manifest and the Heart also The Noise is the awakener of Life framer of the Sences or Reason and bringer of one Essence into another Thus the third Person is a Self-subsisting Essence going in triumph with the Essences the Father and manager of the Sword of Omnipotence the destroyer of Malice and Evil the opener of the Genitrix in the Darkness All which is thus shewed in Man his Body tho' it hath the Essences were senceless without the Spirit Again the Spirit is not the Understanding and Light it self for the Light is the blossom and originateth in the Tincture of the Fire and the Spirit is the blower up of the Fire CHAP. V. Of the Virgin the Wisdom of God and of the Angelical World and of the Holy Trinity 1. GOD is only One every where present the Mind therefore asketh if the Spirit goeth out from God whither goeth he seeing he remaineth in the mouth of God as a Spirit in a Body to which it is answered he goeth forth revealing God as in the seven Lamps and opening gradually the seven Seals but the seven Thunders being in the dark Matrix of Fierceness he hideth and â—ealeth not to be known till they are past and the whole Mystery of God's Kingdom opened by the seventh Angel And the Glassy Sea is the Water Spirit whence the Fiat made not only the outward Element of Water but every thing for in this seventh Form in great Holiness is the Father revealed in this Angelical World 2. Thus the Father's Will maketh the cause of Nature which is a Darkness consisting of the four first Forms to become seven and thence infinitely the seventh being their Body in this Earth for the Fathers Nature in the Wrath makes this Corporeal in which the Devil as Prince in the Wrath is called Prince of this World And the same is also in the deep of the Astral Wheel Just so is it also in the inward Holy World which is not severed from this but this severed by a Principle from that for there is no Angle where the inward World is not 3. The Angelical World of Love and humble Joy is the Sons and at the flash two Kingdoms sever Love and Wrath there is made the Cross with the two Centres as Light hath another Centre than Fire tho' not separated and on this Cross Birth is the Heart or Son of God generated from Eternity in Eternity at this Cross lie the Holy Children of the Virgin Image and in the Wisdom of the Serpent are the Children of this World The Holy Ghost goeth forth from the Father through the Son as the Air from Fire and Light revealing in the Angelical substantiality and this is meant by Ternarius Sanctus The highly Precious Gate for Man to consider of 4. The Wisdom of God is an Eternal Virgin of Purity in whom the Holy Ghost hath discovered the Image of Angels and of Man also of the third Principle she is the great secret Mystery which unapprehended goeth in the Powers and Anger of the Father opening the Wonders in the Forms and Seals of Nature Through her hath the Holy Ghost not only made Corporeal Existences out of both Matrixes of the substantiality but a limit to them where the seven Forms shall go into their Ether as after the six days Work or six Creations they enter the seventh being their Eternal Rest and the time of the seventh Seal and Trumpet yet both Mothers shall stand before the Trinity in the Eternal Figure for the glory of God's works of wonder 5. Tho' this Virgin be incorporeal yet is the Spirits Corporeity and Visibility her heavenly similitude is the Beauty and Lustre of all Fruits the Vertue of all Jewels and Vegetables she may be as the Tincture of the Holy Element wherein the Paradisical growing consisteth and the seven Forms as the holy delight of the Angels wrestle being a fulfilling of the will of every Life she is not circumscribed every Divine Creature as the Angels and holy Souls of men hath this Virgin in the Light of their Life in this we see the Majesty of the Deity We comprehend not the Trinity the Spirit of the Soul standing in the Divine Centre seeth it but imperfectly for the Soul is but out of one Form of Nature as there are several sorts of Angels yet can the Soul introduce it self into all forms the Trinity only is perfect God is manifest in a creaturely form in Angels and whole Angelical World for they are not out of the substantiality which is without understanding but out of the Centre of the seven Forms of the Eternal Nature out of each Form a Throne Angel and out of each Throne his Angel so was it a whole Dominion fell with Lucifer And the Dominions among Men which yet are all but Stewards originate here tho' a sort of proud Clergy would rule over them The Distinction between the Substantiality and the Element also between Paradice and Heaven 6. The Substantiality is in Heaven the Corporeity of the seven Spirits is call'd God's Body also the Body of our Regenerate Soul it is Christ's Body given us to eat in his Testament comprehensible to the Spirit of the Soul tho' not palpable to our outward sences yet in it self without understanding And the one Element doth lead the Principle in the Substantiality as a movable Life it is not the Spirit of God himself but the Spirit hath this Element as a â—ody 7. Heaven is call'd in the Meekness the Water Spirit and is the outward inclosure or Firmament parting the Principle and Paradice is the springing up out of the Essences through all Forms through the one Element through the Substantiality and through Heaven as the flourishing of a rich springing Rosy Garden and therefore was Adam therein that is in that Principle and also in this World The Gates of this World also the Language of Nature 8. All our knowledge of God is his own Revelation of himself for the Spirit of God hath imaged the Wisdom of God
in the Wonders of this World so evidently that in the Wheel of the Stars and Planets also in our Orb and every Creature that they are an apparent similitude and figure of God according to Love or Anger generating Fire Air Water and Earth That is to say the extremity impurity mortality and gross death of them image the Wrath and the good property in every of them images Paradice where tho' there be but one Element yet in it are the four hidden and on their enkindling and severing become active and comprehensible or palpable to the Creatures which from Eternity was in God yet invisible and immaterial 9. The Language of Nature is treated of from 84th v. to the end of this Chapter which being also dispersed in several places of the blessed Authors excellent Writings it is to be wished were all contracted and paraphrased on in one distinct Treatise not only to shew us the Monuments of our Ruins by the Fall but also stir us up to press inward out of the shadow and figure into the substance which is the inward Power-Worlds CHAP. VI. Of the World and also of Paradise The two Gates of high Consideration 1. MAN is a Child of Eternity but this World is an Out-birth from the Eternal Nature as its Root and an Out-birth is corruptible its grosness originates in the Anger and the Stars are out of the Centre of Nature in all seven Forms and out of each a Centre so that by the wrestlings so very many have proceeded which are a certain number tho innumerable in our account and their being so set a number shews they must be resolved into their Ether for in every Eternal Centre is a springing up without number as is found in Man's Spirit and Soul by the Constellations of the Mind thoughts arise without number and out of one innumerable others which clearly prove our Eternity 2. The Birth of the Eternal Nature is Infinite and perpetually springing up every where in all places as if we imagine a Circle as little as an Attom the least of quantities and in that Circle is the whole Trinity whole Birth of the Eternal Nature so that Eternity is in every place yet maketh no place for it is the Out-birth that maketh place it also maketh Beginning and End for the Infinite Three is without Beginning and End yeâ— as before this Beginning there was nothing but God aâ—d that after the End of these things shall be nothing but God so God is the α and ω the Beginning and the End 3. And forasmuch as the Eternity generateth nothing but what is like it though it self be unchangeable therefore as man is so is Eternity all the three Principles are in him one in another as one â—et in the Creation are three From the Eternal Centre is made the Eternal Substantiality as a Body or weakness being a sinking down and the Spirit is a springing up whence comes Motion Penetration and Multiplication and when the Spirit did create the Substantiality into an Image breathing the Spirit of the Trinity into it the whole Essences even all Forms of Nature the Power to Light and Darkness and the whole Eternity it instantly blossom'd and became the Paradise or Angelical World 4. In the Darkness is the Genitrix in the Light is the Wisdom the first imaged by Devils the other by Angels as a Similitude of the whole Eternal Being to speak in a creatural manner of it And Lucifer imaging beyond the Meekness of the Trinity inkindled in himself the Matrix of Fire and that of Nature becoming Corporeal then was the second Form of the Matrix viz. the Meekness of the Substantiality inkindled whence Water originated out of which was made an Heaven to captivate the Fire and of that Fire and Water came the Stars 5. Then did Man who was God's Image form and imagine in himself the awakened Spirit of the Air four Elements and Constellations which though it were breathed into him Man's Divine Spirit should have over-ruled as the Holy Spirit of God ruleth over all but they became his Lord and instantly captivated him then the Stars Death Vanity and the Elementary Life wrought in him And now if he would enter into God again he must in himself be new-born in God or lost Eternally he is now in the midst between Heaven and Hell to which of these Spirits he yieldeth his he is if Man form in his Spirits the fierceness of Pride c. God loseth nothing for the Image of God in Man withdraweth untoucht into its Principle leaving Man to form himself into the Image of the Serpent and the Spirit forms the Body into its Deformity or otherwise as the Seal the Wax 6. The Eternal Nature doth generate it self Eternally which this World resembleth thus it is a high round Globe figuring Eternity and Infinity wherein by the seven Planets are shewn the seven Spirits of Nature by the great Deep the Eternal Liberty by the Sun in the midst of the seven as a Point or Centre in a Cross the Heart of God by the lustre God's Majesty by the Constellations the Effects or Products of the Fountain Spirits by the Earth the Eternal Death for as the Earth compared with the vigorous outward upper Dominion is as Death so the fierce Matrix is as a Death compared to God yet is not Death but Eternal Torment 7. Not that it is with the Heart of God as with the Sun to be only in one circumscriptive place but as the Centre of a Cross signifying the Trinity in a Globular Rainbow wherein the Red signifies the Father's Property in the glance of Fire Yellow the Son's Lustre and Majesty Blew the Substantiality the dusky Brown the Kingdom of Darkness and on such a Rainbow will Christ sit to Judge and thus is he undivided every where and in that Man who is Born of God is the whoâ—e undivided Heart of God the Son of Man Christ sitting in the circle of his Life upon the Rainbow at the right Hand of God for that Man is Christ's Member his Body his Brother his Flesh his Spirit Power Majesty Heaven Paradise Element Stars Earth and all is that Mans who in Christ is above Hell and Devils though his Earthy Life be under Heaven Stars Elements Hell and Devils 8. Man's Creation was the speaking of that into Substance which was in God in the Virgin of his Wisdom in Eternity not Male and Female which when divided was one Earthy the other Bestial but the new Birth restores that very Eternal Image the Eternal Virginity wherein Christ became Man uniting it to the fallen Man in the Mortal Virginity for Mary had all the three Principles being of the Seed of Joachim and Anna. The Soul of Christ was out of Maries Essences conceived in the Eternal Virgin which Eternal Virgin came into Substantiality uniting with the Human earthy Essences 9. The Eternal Virgin gave to Christ's Human Soul the Heavenly Body and Mary the Earthy the
flaming Iron which emitteth two Spirits viz. a hot one able to awaken another Fire from its own Centre and another an airy one which though it hath all powers of the Fire yet not the Tincture of the Fire but only the Spirit of the Fire a faint Life for in the Eternity is no Death Hence is it that Life must proceed only from the Seed of the Male Tincture in the Matrix of the Female 9. Every Creature Inanimate Sensitive c. is formed according to the Tincture in the Spirit of the Species of them as may be found by the order of the several days of the Creation for on the first day God Created the Material Water which hath an impotent Life and is a Bar to the Devils Anger Fire And when God said let there be Light the Light of the Tincture opened it self which God separated from the darkness viz. shut up the fierce Fire Lucifer kindled which originateth in the darkness and let the Qintessence burn in the fat of the Water Spirit as doth the Fire of the Life in a Beast 10. The Tincture is in the Blood the Life burneth in the Tincture and God keeps the Centre of the Fire in the darkness and so every Life is in his own hand for if he let the Fire into the Tincture the Spirit is in the Hellish Fire The Tincture was divided into a Fire Life and Light Life the Fire Life was to be a Firmament between the Holy Meekness the Heart of God and the weak Air between both which God dwelleth The Fire Spirit of the Tincture hath Eternity for its Root the Air Spirit hath the awakened substantiality ruling the outward Life of Beasts Trees c. having a weak Tincture 11. Thus see we Life standeth in Fire and Air also the Original of Blood such Creatures that have it are more noble than those that have it not for such have a false Tincture proceeded from the will of the Devil as is seen in Vipers and other Venemous Reptils for such lothsom ugly Bodies are figur'd in Hell not from the divided Tincture but from the fierce dark Spiritual substance 12. When the Water covering the Created Earth was separated and the Earth dry the collected Water was call'd Sea signifying in the Language of Nature a covering in reproach to the Devil whose power was drown'd By the Water above the Firmament separated from that below is meant the Blood wherein is the Tincture of Living Creatures and that beneath is the Elementary Water in which two consist two Kingdoms 1. The Soul in the Blood in the Tincture and because the Tincture is from Eternity therefore must the figures remain in Eternity And 2. The Air Spirit in the Water which is corruptible for it had a beginning 13. After the Earth and Elements were formed the fiery Tincture was as a shining Light then God suffered the Centre of Nature to open with its proper will out of the Essences and the whole Principle became but one Body whereof the Sun was the Heart and the six other Planets the Spirits at the Centre of the Heart the other Stars are its Essences all just as the Deity hath been from Eternity whence came a true Life Reason Sences and Understanding yet a Bestial one and Spirit of the Air manifesting God in a figurative form which this world sheweth if we consider the Centre and thence go on in the Light of the Majesty to the number three The Discourse and Figure of the Planets and Signs from the 63d v. to the end of this Chapter being it self Summary is recommended to be perused entirely as the Author left it CHAP. X. Of the Creation of every Being and how Man may find himself and all Mysteries to and only to the ninth Number 1. TO seek the Mysteries of Nature in the Stars and Elements is vain neither Luna nor Mercury will lead you to Sol but if you take the Spirit of the Tincture following of which to Sol some have been laid hold on by the Spirit of the Heavenly Tincture and been brought into the liberty of the Majesty where they have known the noble Stone and stood amazed at Mans blindness 2. The number is but three stay at the Cross or ten but nine is only attainable then take Saturn as a Male and Fire-Tincture and Luna as the Female and Air Spirit go thus gradually in the Wheel to Sol go then on through the Suns Fire and being through it lay hold by means of the Tincture on the Eternity which is the ninth number bring that on the Cross which is the tenth the very end of nature here handle the Stone it is Fire-proof free from the Wrath and Out-birth its splendor is in the Majesty its Body out of the Eternal Substantiality 3. If now the seeker willeth the splendor of this world let him go from the inward into the outward Luna which break into a thousand parts giving it such proportion of Sol as its hunger desireth and it is made bright and perfect but we ought justly to rest satisfied in the tenth number for this world is but dross and dung therefore Christ saith Seek first the Kingdom of God and all other things shall be added All lyeth in the willing for the will maketh the desire the outward will must enter into the inward and deny it self as if it were dead to the outward because Adam turning his will to the outward caus'd him to die to the inward but if we turn back into the inward we see God and the Eternity and are the Similitude of what God is and are as we were Created 4. It is more easie to the inward Man in the Divine Will to see the ground of the Creation of this world than for the outward to know what the Sences inform To create is to comprehend what is first figur'd in the will as doth a Builder frame in his will a Model of what he is to Erect In the Creation the six Properties stand in every quadrat of the Circle of Time which divides the Day into Morning Noon Evening and Midnight 5. On the fifth day the Fiat opened the Matrixes of all Similitudes and the Wrath Kingdom pressed hard to be imaged with it when were produced all Fowls and Fishes then also all sorts of Spirits of the Fire Air Water and Earth went forth so that the whole deep even to the Constellations is nothing but a Life and stirring of Spirits The Devils place is in the darkest towards the Constellations and so poor a Creature is he as not to touch any of the seven Governments 6. The describing the order of Powers cannot be sufficiently seen by the orderly Wheel of the Magi nor can it be written for Reason to penetrate being more subtle going inwards towards the Sun that is upwards downwards and side-ways towards the meek substantiality but the Spirit of the Soul if it look with its own Eye into the inward and with the Eye of
14. Reason lighted at this Sun is the true house of Knowledge else but a Constellation of the Visible World all other seeking out of the resignation to the Divine Love Grace and Will is a shadow for it cannot know how God hath through his Word made himself perceptible findable creatural and formal 15. He is the Bottom and Bottomless and to the Creature in its ability as a nothing yet through all Nature and Creature is the somewhat wherewith he makes himself visible both according to Time and Eternity All things even the four Elements exist from the Divine Imagination Signatura Rerum CHAP. I. Of the Signature what it is and that it lies exactly in the Mind of Man 1. EVery thing spoken or taught of God without knowledge of the Signature is dumb for it is not sufficient to my understanding that I hear and read what another teacheth and writeth of God unless his Similitude and Signature by entring into mine own imprinteth it really and fundamentally for so only hath he the Hammer that strikes my Bell. 2. Hence we know all Human Properties have one only Root for one like tone catcheth and moveth another either in good or evil and doth assimilate into one Form one Will one Spirit and Understanding 3. The Signature is no Spirit but the receptacle As a prepared Lute is dumb till toucht by the Spirit of the Will and what strings he toucheth sound according to their property 4. The Signature lies so well compos'd in Man that he wants only the true Spirit of the high might of Eternity to strike his Instrument if that be quickened in Man and doth act the Mind so speaketh the Mouth 5. Man hath the Forms of the three Worlds in him being the compleat Image of God and there are three Masters contest for his Form in his Incarnation but the predominant only tunes his Instrument and the other two lie hid and as soon as he is born his innate genuine Form appears by his words and conversation And so great is the difference in the procreation that one Brother or Sister doth not as the other 6. Yet one Fiat doth not alwaies keep the dominion for sometimes an Evil Man is by a contra tune viz. the meek loving Spirit of a Good Man moved to cease his iniquity and repent his hidden Lute or Form being played upon Contrariwise in a Good man is stirr'd up the Form of Anger by the Wrath Spirit of a wicked man So is the will broken by the coming of a stronger will As the bitter sour quality of the fruit is by the potent influence of the Sun made pleasant And as a good Herb receiving a contra Essence from a bad Soil cannot sufficiently shew its real genuine vertue but if replanted into a good Soil its vertue and smell is recovered Thus a wild Beast being over-aw'd and tam'd hath another property unless its innate Form be stirr'd up Also we see the inward gives external Character of Good or Evil in Man Beasts and Vegetables The Form and Sound in Animals the smell and tast in Herbs and Flowers c. shewing to what it is good and profitable 7. And because by the desire sound and voice all Creatures shew the inward Spirit Man may know both them himself and the Essence of all Essences wherein lieth the greatest understanding The Signature is the Language of Nature for every thing sheweth its Mother giving will to the Form CHAP. II. Of the Combate in all Beings Of Antipathy and Sympathy And of the Corruption and Cure of each thing 1. THE opposition of one Being to another causeth pains and sickness yet if this were not Nature would not be revealed but be an Eternal Stilness for the contra Will makes the motion and seeking The Cure is when the Will findeth its assimilate and therein its satisfaction and highest joy and rest As every pallate desireth to tast its like 2. Man's Life consisteth in a threefold Essence 1. The Eternal Nature the Fire's Property 2. The Light the Divine Essentiality 3. The outward World 3. The satisfaction of the Will is the Liberty which if it seek outwards it attracteth Darkness but if it enter inwards the Lustre of the Liberty shineth and satiateth the Anguish extinguishing the Wrath. 4. No joy can arise from the still nothing for we see that from the poisonful Gall ariseth joy and sorrow because therein is the twofold Will one to the Fire the original of Nature the other to the Light which is the Cure and Liberty of the Will and if obtained maketh triumphant joy 5. The Properties lie in the Essence as a well tun'd Instrument with many strings which stand still and the Spirit viz. the Egress is the real life he may play as he pleaseth to Evil or Good to Love or Anger The Properties are one in another as one but sever themselves being different and when they enter one the other comes Enmity and a flagrat As when the Sun stirreth up the Fires Form in the Salnitre that Ethereal blaze penetrateth the cold Salt Spirit and dismayeth it whose instant flight causeth the Thunder claps by opening the astringent Chamber whence follows a cool Wind with Hail and Rain CHAP. III. Of the Grand Mystery of all Beings 1. WIthout Nature God is a Mystery an Abyssal Eye of Eternity and the same Eye is a Will to manifestation 1. To Nature 2. To Vertue Power and Joy 2. The desire is egressive and the Egress is the Spirit of the Will a moving forming the infiniteness of the Mystery and this Signature or Form is the Eternal Wisdom of the Deity 3. Here is understood the Trinity but how the Will ariseth in the Abyss which is called Father we must not know but distinguish the Deity from Nature namely how the Deity manifesteth it self with the Eternal Generation 4. God is a pure Spirit and the Eternal Nature is his Corporeal Essence The external Birth is a similitude of the dark Fire and light World and each Property sees its Mother The Soul sees the inward Eternal Nature The Spirit of the Soul sees the Angelical and Light World The Sidereal Spirit sees the Birth and Property of the Stars and Elements 5. The Essence of this World consists of Sulphur Mercury and Sal. Sul is the free Lubet of the Eternal Abyss in the Internal Sull is God and Phur is Nature viz the Eternal Nature a hard attraction the cause of Fire and Sul the cause of the Lustre in the Fire but the Light riseth not in the Sulphur alone but in Mercury is the dividing made and its true real body is Sal. 6. The Astringency makes gross Stones c. Mercury and the Lubet Metals And of the freeing from the wrath by the light and meekness comes the precious Stones Gold c. for all things consist in these three Forms Sulphur Mercury and Sal as well the inward heavenly Quires as the very Plants and Stones all stand according to
Covenant of God with Noah 1. THat Ham was admitted sheweth an open Gate to all Men and that the Election passeth when the Souls Free-will goeth out of good into evil 1. The Mystery of the three Sons of Noah 2. The three Stories of the Ark 3. The three Men that appeared to Abraham 4. Especially Christ Moses and Elias at the Transfiguration denote the Trinity and three Principles The seven pair of clean Beasts shew the seven Properties of the Natural Life of the unclean but one pair represents only the Property of the Dark World 2. The Raining just Forty days points at Adams time of Proba in which he introduced the Turba 3. Gods Promising respite 120 years and bringing the Deluge in 100 points out that God will shorten time in the Conclusion of all Beings The Ark being rested at the end of Forty days Noah sends out a Raven signifying the Earthy Man which flew to and fro but return'd not to the Ark. 4. After seven days he sent forth a Dove signifying the Children of God who finding no rest in this World return to the Ark. After seven days more he sent forth a second Dove who return'd in the Evening with an Olive Leaf the Unction After other seven days he let fly the third Dove which denotes Antichrist flying out of the Ark but will no more forsake the World to return to the Ark. CHAP. XXXIII Of the beginning of the second Monarchy and of the Covenant of God with Noah c. 1. I Have set my Bow in the Clouds c. The Rainbow is a Token of Gods Covenant a representation to Man of all the three Principles out of which he was Created viz. the red and dark brown betoken the first Principle viz. the dark Fire-world the Kingdom of Gods Anger The white and yellow shew the second Principle the Majestick Colour the holy World Gods Love The green and blue is the third Principles Colour the blue from the Chaos the green from the Salt peter where in the flagrat the Sulphur and Mercury do sever and produce various Colours which betoken the inward Worlds hidden in the four Elements 2. The Rainbow also betokens Christ the Judge who shall then appear in all the three Principles viz. in the first or fiery into which the Turba in all Beings shall be swallowed up In the second or that of the Light to defend all his in Love and Meekness from the Flames of Fire In the third or Kingdom of Nature in his Assumed Humanity all the formed Word shall be manifest before him according to good and evil 3. Also the Rainbow is a reflex contra-glance of the Sun and in it the Chaos or hidden World out of which the four Elements with the hidden Humanity shews it self And if the Sun be in a good Aspect it may with the Astrum produce a wonderful Birth both in Animals and Vegetables For there the Chaos doth open it self which Saturn hungrily attracts The Sun enkindles Mars and so makes Mercury quick and active which Saturn amasseth and the Fiat of the outward World becomes a flying Life And Saturn may take the distilling Dew into it self which after falls on the Water and by some Fishes being eaten up may coagulate in them and become precious Pearls For the Paradisical Property doth open it self all along in the Chaos if it be not hindered by evil malignant Aspects For the Chaos is the Root of Nature and yieldeth it self nothing but a good Property but by an evil Constellation may be changed into evil as a good Man may by evil Company CHAP. XXXIV How Noah Cursed Ham and the Mysteries concerning the three Sons c. 1. NOah's Drunkenness sheweth how Adam by Lusting after this Worlds Property was overcome therewith and introduced the Bestial Lusts standing in nakedness and shame then did the Monster of false Lusts whereof Ham was the Figure mock the precious Image by introducing the shame 2. Sem did Typifie the fair Image of God in the Light the Sons Property who stood in the Covenant Japhet did Typifie the Soul the Fathers Property 3. The Garment to cover the shame is the new Heavenly Virgin Humanity in the Covenant the precious Sophia which should open it self out of the Angelical World This Garment Sem alone did not lay over the shame but Japhet the poor Soul must help by resignation 4. They went backward by Repentance for if Christ must lay the Garment to cover us the Soul must not dispute but resign its will and go back 5. Ham must be a Servant of Servants the mocking Spirit must never rule but always be kept under Of Ham came the Beastly Sodomites and Brutish Canaanites whom Joshua destroy'd 6. Japhet were the Gentiles who walked according to the Light of Nature which is Tenant to the Light of Grace for so they lived in Sem's Tents 7. Thus was the Tree of the second Monarchy in the same three Properties as the first was The Second Part. CHAP. XXXV How the Humane Tree by the Children of Noah hath spread it self c. 1. THE long Lives before the Flood were because the Divine Powers of the formed Word were then undivided But when the Language of Nature was divided at Babel the stem of Nature was faint and enfeebled Seventy seven is the whole number of the Divine Manifestation seventy two are Babel the five are holy 2. The Sons of Japhet are recorded to be seven Japhet noteth the first Principle out of which riseth Nature viz. The first seven Properties of Nature and the seven free Arts. 3. After which from two of Japhets Sons are named seven to spring whose Names signifie the Kingdom of Humane Rule In the fourteenth aâ—e the Prophetical and Apocalyptical Number and in them lye couched the Angelical will for in the wise Heathen the inward holy Kingdom beheld it self they law by the Light of Nature the restitution of all things and they shall when the covering is taken off dwell in the Tents of Sem. 4. Ham had Cush and of him came Nimrod the Hunter Man was fallen under the wrath in Nature and the wild Nature must be awed by a more mighty Hunter than it self and be caught torn and destroyed But 't is lamentable that tame Beasts which are none of his Game should be devoured But they also are outwardly but Beasts before God and have the Hunters hide on them Ham's Children and Grand Children are numbred twenty nine himself makes thirty for Ham sold the Righteous One for thirty pieces And in the thirtieth year Christ separated himself to his Office 5. Sem is said to be the Father of all the Children of Eber which Eber was the third degree after Sem but the mark of the Covenant was that chiefly intended Eber had two Sons Peleg and Jocktan in these two were the Seed of Adam and Christ divided as after in Isaac and Ishmael Jacob and Esau. Jocktan had fourteen Names hinting the Humane Kingdom 6. Peleg
who appeared to Abraham in the Plain of Mamre c. 1. THE three Men signified the Trinity in highest Humility In the heat of the Day when the Humanity was enflam'd with highest Rage under God's Indignation Appear'd to Abraham viz. to Adam's Children in the Souls Tent. Abraham bow'd himself viz. in his Faith 's Ens. The three Measures of Meal the three Principles or three Worlds in Man and kneaded the Heavenly Humanity must be mixed with ours The tender Calf the Limus of the Earth which is as a Beast before God 2. The Lord asked for Sarah he said she is in the Tent viz. covered with earthiness that is sees not who is with me Sarah laughed and fearing lyed the Figure of Eve CHAP. XLIII Of the Ruin of Sodom and Gomorrah how foretold to Abraham 1. GOD saith I am come down to see if the Sin of Sodom be so great as the cry of it which is come up viz. God according to the Property of the Anger seeth in the Devils and false Souls but his Love-eye seeth not into the Apostate Souls 2. Reason knows not what God is nor where he dwells God is every Essence and dwelleth through every Essence but possesseth no Locality nor doth need space for Habitation 3. But as far as he is called God is no Essence but through all things and giveth himself in an Energetical way but worketh not from without into it but from within out of it to his Manifestation 4. The cry going up and God's coming down is thus 5. Inward is above outward is below the Angelical World is said to be above and the formed outward below as when a Fire is kindled the light is above the substance or matter below 6. For the being within without the substance is the being above 7. Abraham's Praying for Sodom shews Abraham to be a figure of Christ withholding the severe Righteousness from falling on Man but there were only three capable of Mercy 8. And whereas there went but two Angels towards Sodom viz. not the Person of Christ but God's Truth and Righteousness The Truth brought out Lot and the Righteousness remained in Sodom 9. Lot knew them and bowed humbling himself before the Lord but they at first denied to go in with him because his Wife by whom the earthy Matrix is signified could not go through the Judgment 10. The Men bid Lot call all his together but his Sons that were to Marry his Daughters would not for the wrath in them was so strong as to withhold though the Truth drew them as it did also Lots Wife by which she was transmuted as a terrible Example till the last Judgment CHAP. XLIV Of Lot's Departure out of Sodom and the terrible overthrow of that whole Region 1. THE Angels took Lot his Wife and Daughters by the Hand they were inwardly taken by the hand of Faith in the Covenant So were the Men of Sodom taken by the hand of their Essence and brought into Judgment and Execution 2. The Sun was Externally risen so was Internally the Sun of God's Truth the Sun of the Covenant on Lot and the scorching Sun of God's Anger on Sodom This figure concerns Babel 3. Lot obtain'd the saving of Zoar and himself in it as oftentimes God's Children do with-hold great Plagues from falling on People The Angel saith I can do nothing till thou come thither God's Anger becomes impotent as it were where the Sons of Love are present It rained Brimstone and Fire from the Lord c. 4. It was not the Hellish Fire which at the End shall purge the Floor if so the four Elements had been changed for that inward Fire consumes Earth Stones and Elements but this Fire was generated in Turba Magna an Egest or Thunder-clap And though it be no palpable Matter yet is a spiritual Substance in which Mercurius doth enkindle and there the flagrat doth fix itself into a Substance 5. The first Principle did behold the third with a darting flash or aspect As if the inward dark spiritual World should move itself the outward with the four Elements would forthwith be swallow'd up 6. Lot's Wife was apprehended in the Proba and remain'd in the Salt Spirit for that Covetousness was most predominant in her 7. Lot's Daughters caus'd him to drink Wine and lay with him that they might receive the Holy Seed which is not so as reason censureth but that Ammon and Moab might spring from one Root in Affinity with Abraham's Line CHAP. XLV How God defended Abraham and Sarah 1. ABraham's continual Travels figureth Christianity which goeth from place to place as a Stranger without any continuing abode 2. His being still protected sheweth the particular care of God still as then over every one of his Children 3. His being faint and timorous when he came to Pharoah and Abimelech shews we are not to go in our Strength Abraham's Will of self looking only on itself was dismay'd yet in him was the great Might over all Powers but it belonged not to the Human Ownhood neither doth Christ in his Children belong to the Human Ownhood but to the humble resign'd Will. 4. So in Abraham and in all Christians are a twofold Will one of this World always standing in fear the other according to the second Principle the Kingdom of Heaven the poor captive Soul's Will which immerseth its self into God's Mercy in Hope CHAP. XLVI Of Isaac's Birth and casting out Ismael and Hagar and what it means 1. Lot being out and Sodom destroyed Abraham removed shewing that where Christ's Kingdom is corrupt he will depart 2. He lived under King Abimelech viz. the Man of ingenious reason At Gâ—rar viz. the austere Life of Nature 3. In this removal Abraham followed his reason Reason-light is the winnowing cross of God's Children this brought his Fear also his Reproof from Abimelech whom he should have Taught 4. God's Children are in themselves weak as all others yet not to be rejected for the Cross always stands by them as Abimelech by Abraham Ismael by Isaac Hagar by Sarah 5. Sarah ejects her and she wanders in the Wilderness of brokenness of Heart then gave her Self and Son to die but the Angel comforts her That is in the Figure 6. When Christ is Born in the Convert the new-born Will rejecteth its own evil Nature the Mocker then doth the poor forsaken Nature wander and give up itself to Death till the Angel comes and comforts it that is some faithful upright Man or some beam of Light from Christ in the Heart to give Living Water for of this Child must come a Nation Christ must be Born as a fair blossom out of the wild Earth 7. These precious Figures have remained speechless to the World because of Man's Vanity but now the Mystery of the Kingdom of God shall be finished and the Child of Perdition be revealed Man's unworthiness causeth Truth to be hidden wherefore it was Christ preach'd in Parables 8
in our Humanity but Christ would have it for a Natural Right 4. By Canaan understand the holy Chrystalline World or Earth which shall be manifest 5. By the two fold Cave or Pit of Machpelah is signified Man hath a two fold Humanity one out of the Divine Ens and Heavenly Essence the other out of time this Worlds substance both which should be put into an Eternal Sepulchre and lye in its original Mother leaving the one will in Death so that God might alone live rule and will in the Soul and Mans Life be only his Instrument For the Soul hath turn'd itself aside from the only Eternal Word into self-hood This Distemper and unlikeness must be buried and put again into a two fold Cave and thence come into the Temperature the Essence whence the Body and Soul did arise CHAP. L. Of Abraham's sending his Servant for a Wife for Isaac 1. ABraham is herein the Figure of God the Father Isaac in that of Christ Abraham's Servant in that of Nature The Canaanites in that of the introduced Serpents Ens the Besâ—ial Man which shall not Inherit Here God makes his Servant Nature by whom he governeth Essentially bind itself that it will not introduce the Serpents Ens the dark Worlds Bestial Canaanitish Property for Gods Childrens Yoke-fellow but Nature must take substance out of Abraham's true Humane Essence in pure Love of the Heavenly Matrix that so the New Birth might be holy in its Virginity as to the inward Man 2. Nature saith How if c. viz. the right Humane Ens will not follow me And God said Beware c. viz. go not according to thy Reason but an Angel shall go before thee viz. the Divine Will for self-will and reason must not Lord it but Nature must be a Servant do as it is commanded and commit it to God to bring on the â—ternal Marriage But iâ— the Humane Will will not follow the Messenger hath discharged his Office The Rain ascends not up again without Fruit Nature must declare that God hath given Christ all his Goods and now desireth Man to be his Wife And the Servant sware c viz. When God put his Holy Word with the formed Wisdom into the Natural Ens of Mary then the Humane Nature sware Obedience 3. And the Servant took ten Camels and went to the City of Nahor in Mesopotamia viz. the ten Forms of the three Principles to the Natural and Supernatural Life viz. seven Forms of the Centre of Nature and three Forms of the three distinctions of the Principles which are they whereby God causeth all things and the Goods of the Lord are the formed Wisdom of the great Wonders and Powers 4. And the Servant caused the Camels to kneel by the Well near the City at Evening At or in the last time or days of the World The will of the Fathers Nature the Mystery of the Nature of the three Principles the Carriers of the formed Word hath laid it self down by the Well-spring of God the Divine Fountain 5. The Silver and Golden Jewels Bracelets and Ear-rings given to Rebekah signifie the Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ which is not given wholly into the power of the Fire-soul in this Life lest it become haughty as Lucifer and Adam but Virgin Sophia meant by Rebekah remaineth with her Bridegroom Christ in the second Principle 6. The Spices signifie the Holy Spirit Then they sate down to eat viz. the Marriage Feast the Joy whereof none but the Children of Christ know And when Rebekah saw Isaac c. When the disappear'd Humanity discovers Christ in it self it falleth into deepest Humility and is ashamed vailing its Face before Gods Holiness and Clarity that it hath lain so long Captive in the Bestial Man but Christ taketh it into his Arms and leadeth it into his Mothers Tent into the Heavenly Worlds Essence And then was Isaac comforted for his Mother for the disappeared Matrix which was lost in Adam now re-obtain'd in Virgin-like Chaâ—tity for his Spouse CHAP. LI. Of Abraham's taking Keturah to Wife and of his Six Sons and Death 1. ABraham was old when he had Isaac to shew Christ was to be in the old Age of the World and Sarah was old that so the Divine Ens might have the preheminence over the Humane and she must have but one for so is Christ and all are Branches in the one Tree viz. Christ in all 2. But Abraham by Keturah had six Sons signifying the six Properties of the formed Nature the operation of the six days Isaac viz. Christ is the seventh the Sabbath Of these six sprang six Nations to them he gave gifts of his Goods tho' not the In eritance yet had the free Gift of Grace So every Man hath Christ as the free Gift of Grace in him none predestinated to destruction for by those six are signified all Adam's Children 3. In the right Adamical Man out of which the Earth had its Original is the Covenant of the Free gift but the own-self-made-gross-earthy Adam who by Lust made himself a Beast is not capable of the Gift in the Covenant but the right Man as a Tincture in gross Lead mortifieth the Saturnine will and changeth it into Gold swalloweth up the gross Man viz. the dark Worlds Property 4. The Jews Christians and Heathens have all this Gift and Christ is the only available obedience all Men therefore who give up themselves in obedience to God are received in Christs obedience for Names are not accepted 5. My believing that Christ was Born Died and Rose for me makes me not a Christian but I must put on Christ enter into his Obedience and Sacrifice arise in him and Live in him 6. When Abraham had brought his Lifes Forms into right order he resigned up himself into Mortification tired with the Life of self reâ—â—ed in God CHAP. LII The History of Isaac Birth of Esau and Jacob. 1. AFter Abraham's Death God blessed Isaac and he lived by the Well Labairoi viz. the Well of Living and Seeing his Soul dwelt by the Fountain of Divine Love The desire of the Soul is the Fiat which takes the holy Love Tincture into it self and makes it Essential as the Metalline Ens gives its deâ—ire into the Suns Tincture that out of them both the fair and precious Gold is generated So doth the Deity inhabit in the Soul and co worketh but is not comprehended 2. The Souls Magical Fire by the Divine Love desire is inkindled into a shining Lustre so doth the Souls Magical Fire become the Bridegroom to the precious Sophia but the Mortal Soul from the Stars or four Elements attains it not in this Life but that Soul that cometh from the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Divine Lubet through the Word whereby the Divine longing formeth the Wisdom into Substance This Soul is that which is betrothed to Sophia 3. Ishmael had twelve Sons six of the Inward
fifth shall be Pharaoh's viz. This Seed shall cherish the four Elements of the Body and four Properties of the Souls Fire-life but the fifth viz. The Love-fire in the Light is the Lords herein is the Soul an Angel and Gods Kingdom of Divine Joy is in us 8. The Priests Field the heavenly Worlds Substance Christ buyeth not with his Blood as the averted Soul was bought for that never received the Turba in it but in the Fall disappeared and the Soul was blind concerning it into this was the Word inspoken again in Paradise and is filled with Christs Flesh and Blood It is in the Soul through the Soul and of the Soul but hath another Principle as Light hath than Fire from which Fire and Light proceeds Air and a dewy Water which again nourisheth the Fire 9. The History of the Five Books of Moses is this in the Figure The Exit out of Canaan and return into Canaan shews how Man went out of Paradise to be a Bondslave of Gods Anger and there be afflicted persecuted and tormented and how the right Adamical Man should with great Hosts and Armies and much purchased Goods got in the Divine Operation enter again into the Promised Land CHAP. LXXV How Jacob blesseth the two Sons of Joseph and preferreth the Youngest c. 1. JOseph brought Manasseh in his left Hand towards Jacob's right Hand and Ephraim his youngest in his right Hand towards Jacob's left Hand These two signifie the inward Man the Eldeâ—t the fiery Soul the Youngest the Spirit of the Soul the Power of the Light the second Principle That with its Love it might be set before God's left Hand viz. his Anger and break the Serpents Head The Soul he setteth before his right Hand to receive the Blessing but that could not be Israel stretched his right Hand and put upon Ephraim's Head God would not give the Government to the first Birth viz. to the fiery Soul seeâ—ng i◠〈◊〉 turâ—ed away its will from God but laid his Hand of Omnipotency on the Image of the Ligâ—t so was the second Birth uppermost in the Dominion 2. Jacob gave Joseph above his Brethren a piece of Ground which he got from the Amorites by his Sword and by his Bow which signifieth Christendom got by the Sword of the Spirit of Christ. CHAP. LXXVI THIS Chapter though excellent is with part of the 77th referr'd to the Abridgment the Author himself makes of all the Twelve in the close of the 77th Chapter CHAP. LXXVII 1. REuben beareth the Image or Figure of the first World who was fickle though in the greatest Dominion 2. Simeon beginneth with Noah and hath Levi viz. Sem with him but Simeon was the Sword of Ham and Japhet 3. Levi beginneth with Moses whose Sword cuts very sharply 4. Judah beginneth under the Prophets and is manifest in the Incarnation of Christ. 5. Zebulon cohabiteth in and with the Kingdom of Christ representing Christendom who sits pleaâ—antly for she is a new Love 6. Issachar was the time of Christendoms being settled in Rest and Dominion yet must bear the â—ross of Christ and was about 300 years after Christ. 7. Dan began the Potency of Christendom when they set up Kings Emperors Popes and Pompous consecrated Places The Aâ—der and Serpent sate in Judicature cloak'd under Christ's Name Then saith the Spirit of Christ I wait for thy Salvation O Lord now is Truth bitten in the heels 8. Gâ—d beâ—inneth the time of Universities and Schools when with might of Arms Mer sâ—t up Antichrist in Christ's Chair by baâ—ling Disputes so bring in Tradition and Canons making the Tail to be the Head 800 years since 9. Asher began the time of flattering Antichrist for fat Bread about 600 years ago and nearer 10. Naphtaly beginneth the searching deep Disputes about God's Council and Predestination that Men might cover themselves with a Mantle of plausible Maxims acute Logick this hath continued to this time 11. Joseph beginneth Christ's remanifestation he Ejecteth the Adder and Joseph's Brethren must now be ashamed of their Unfaithfulness and Selling him for now their subtiltâ— craft c. and Babylon is fallen and become the Habitation of Abominable Beasts but Joseph flourisheth 12. Benjamin â—eginneth with Josâ—ph's Evening to divide the Spoil of the first Christendom he is the first and last time he begiâ—â—â—th to devour Antichrist as a Wolf yet is but a Wolf So Jacob having finished all these Sayings drew up his Feet on the Bed and departed Shewing that when God will recall the unfolded Nature in the strife of time into himself strife shall cease and be drawn into the Temperature CHAP. LXXVIII Jacob's Burial in Canaan accompanied with all the Children of Israel and many of the Egyptians 1. SHEWS Christ's powerful Exit hence to Paradise and that when Christ will bring home his Bride he will have many of the Heathen with him also 2. Their Weeping and Mourning shew in the Magi Eternal Joy 3. Joseph's Brethrens fear and falling down before him and Joseph's weeping and gracious Answer not only of Pardon but to provide for them and theirs is a mighty comfort to Joseph's Brethren viz. to the Repenting Sinner under Anguish for his first committed Sins who saith they shall not only be Pardoned but turn'd into the best 4. Joseph's Desire of an Oath to carry his Bones out of Egypt to his Fathers signifies God's Oath in Paradise that Christ would come again to his Brethren and â—â—ay forever with them Amen This was the Author's Eighteenth Book FINIS Some Brief Remarks concerning the Life and Conversation of the Blessed Jacob Behmen Collected out of the Relations published concerning him JAcob Behmen was Born in the year 1575. at a Town in the upper Lusatia named Old Seidenburg distant from Gorlitâ—â— about a Mile and a half his Parents were of the poorer sort yet of sober and honest demeanour His Education and Breeding was suitable to their Wealth his first Imployment being the care of the common Cattel amongst the rest of the Youths of the Town But when grown Elder he was placed at School where he learned to read and write and was from â—heâ—ce put an Apprentice to a Shoemaker in Gorâ—iâ—â—s with whom having served his Time in the year 1594 he Married one Kaetherine the Daughter of John Hunshman a Citizen of Gorlitts by her he had four Sons living in the state of Matrimony thirty years His Sons he did in his Life time place to several honest Trades He fell sick in Silesia of a hot burning Ague but was at his desire brought to Gorlitts and there died the 18th of November 1624. being in the 50th year of his Age and was Buried in the Church-yard A Hieroglyphical Monument was Erected over his Grave by a Friend which had remained but a while but was razed and embezelled by the rude Hands of the envious As to his Personage I may truly say it was not such as was Amiable among the Children of Men
troublesom sleep he prodigally lavisheth 3. Come dwell here or hereabouts my Soul 't is not vain to behold and consider what Vanities Incircle thee What fierce or desperate Men madly venture on which they can try but once and what Men overwhelm'd with the painted present pleasures do with a Transport of Consternation undergo that do thou neither Court nor Fly Man here is like Jerusalem when Besieged by Titus the Devil and his Engines the Snares of the World like the Roman Legions begirt him waiting at all his Avenues And his Domestick disorders like the three Sects within are at Mortal Enmity God hath sent thee my Soul a voice warning hence and directing whither hear and obey and the outward death shall land thee at Jerusalem which is from above learn thy general and thine own particular Business find thy Constitution Sin do thy Days Work studiously calmly and cheerfully dwell at home that is within and the vigorous eager Maxims of the Worldly-wise and their Storms as well as the flattering shews abroad and other Mens Opinion of thee will be to thee as Tragedies and Comedies in the Antipodes On the 41st Question and Answer The Idea or Express Reflex Image of God in Man wherein God worketh and dwelleth 1. This Image was figur'd by the Tabernacle Temple Jerusalem and Mount Sion their Holiness Exquisiteness and Impregnableness a glance of it shone in Moses Face This when Adam fell into the outward Worlds Principle withdrew and had not the same been reimplanted he had remained part Devil and part Beast and but that it continueth striving in Man he should still be so and where final resistance is that Man is a Devil and a Beast Everlastingly for Men without Humane Intellect are Brutes and without the Divine Image Devilish for this Seal differenceth the Sheep from the Goats Mans rejecting this is Gods rejecting of Man for tho' the want of it makes the Devils miserable yet Mans despising the tenders of it is an Aggravation to the opposition the Devils make against it This is the Light that cannot be hid why should it What were Men without Eyes or this deep without the Sun What Business hath Mortal Man here but to get it Blessed is he that hath part of this first Resurrection and that so shineth as to lead any other into the knowing and love of it and living in it 2. Contrariwise wretched are those who sit down with the Image Shadow or Similitude of it this is every where in reputation Antichrist adorns it self therewith the Politick Statesman pretends to it to ratifie his Magistracy over the Persons of his Subjects as Antichrist over Mens Consciences while the real pure Image of God in Man is every where decry'd and persecuted Thus did the Jews kill the Prophets and Men of the same Spirit garnish their Sepulchres Men deal in matters of this vast import as if that glorious Spiritual Image were like the Wooden Gods of the Blind Heathen or as if it were as some Flowers Beautiful to the Eye but without Smell or Taste Thus while the holy Souls of Christs Followers went for the perishing Loaves the Souldiers had his Garment and the Relick-Mongers pretend to some of the Wood of the supposed Cross. Therefore is the outer Court given to be trodden down of the Gentiles EXTRACTS Of several of the WORKS OF Jacob Behmen Beginning with his first Book CALLED AURORA OR Morning Redness CHAP. I. Page 33. v. 1. Of searching out the Divine Being in Nature of both the Qualities of Good and Bad. 1. THough Flesh and Blood cannot conceive the Being of God the Spirit when enlightened from God may By considering the Powers in Nature the Outward Heavens and Earth Holy Angels Men Devils Heaven and Hell By considering all which are found the two Qualities Good and Bad one in the other in all the Outward World 2. A Quality is the Mobility boiling springing or driving of a thing 3. The seven Qualities are call'd sometimes seven Sources Species Kinds Manners Cirâ—â—â—stanâ—â—s â—â—nditioâ—â— Poweâ—â— Oâ—erationâ— of Faculâ—â—es also the 〈◊〉 Spirits which give Model or Frame the Power Vertue Constitution Substance Esâ—â—nce Being â—â—â—ure Shape Coâ—ouâ— Taste and Distinction to all things which ever were are shall or can be in from or to Eternity in all Creatures Heaven Hell or this World Also the Forms or Properties of Nature which is the Salitter or Power of God and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Spirits of God in the Revelations four times 4. Heat consumeth expelleth or hardeneth Light in it is its heart and joy making all things living and moving â—â—erceneâ— maketh the Light moveable the Light subsisteth in God without Hâ—â—t out not â—o in Nature 5. Cold is the allâ—â— of the fierceness of Heat making all things pleasant but hath a fierceness which is the House of Death from Heat proceedeth Air which temper'd with Cold doth in the bitter quality become dewy from Cold comes Water which temper'd with Heat would else as Earth c. be congeal'd Heat consumeth the Water Cold crowdeth the Air in the Meekness of the Air reigneth the Holy Ghost but Air in its fierce Elevation destroyeth in the fierceness of the Water is a deadly Spring in which all living things rot 6. The Bitter quality is the Mother of Life for it a tracteth the Water and dissipateth it and becomes separable from this quality have Leaves and Grass their green Colour where it dwelleth meekly it is the Heart and Joy a gsimpse of Heavenly Joy the Holy Ghost moveth in it but in its fierce Elevation it is the very House of Dâ—ath for it kindlein the Blâ—ment of Fire 7. The Sweet quality is a Joy of the Life the Mâ—â—sion of the Holy Ghost 't is Love and Mercy Fragrant good Taste giveth Fair Yellow White and Ruddy Colour but in the fierce source its Death and Corruption if kindled in the Water Bitterness it breeds the botchy Plague or Pestilence if in the Heat Bitterness it ingendereth a spreading Plague infecting the Air. 8. The Sour quality cooleth is a still joy to the Spirit But in its evil source it beginneth sadness 9. The Astringent or Saltish quality is a good Temper to bitter sweet and sour But in its fierceness in the Fire begets the Stone or Gravel if in the Water Scabs Pox Leprosie CHAP. II. The Visible Heavens and Earth and all Creatures have a good and evil Source or Will except the Holy Angels and Devils 1. THE Sun is the Heart King and Joy of the Stars and all Creatures The whole Creation is the Body of God being enlightened by the Holy Ghost which they only are who relye not on themselves but set their desires on him Man comes to know God by the Creation for as Mans Spirit informs and replenisheth his Body so doth the Holy Ghost dwell in the good qualities of every thing 2. We are to conceive that in the Body of the Stars is the Triumphing Holy Trinity
living Word attracted Maries Essences or Faculties into the Eternal Virginity and so in Nine Months there was a compleat Man in Soul Spirit and Flesh but the Virgin of Eternity never till then did put on Flesh except in Adam before the Fall but â—ow the Word united to the Soul is not though united one and the same with the Soul but the Soul being out of the Centre of Nature remained intirely the same Creature and the Word being out of the Majesty penetrated it like as a dark black piece of â—ron is flaming and shining by the Fire penetrating it but the Iron comprehendeth not but is comprehended by the Light of the Fire So the Deitâ— dwelleth in the Soul yet the Soul remaineth a Soul still but if the flaming Iron fall into Water it is soon as other Iron again as it was with Adam 10. Adam departed and Christ became Man to return us into the Angelical World wherein Man attains the Eternal incomprehensible Flesh of Eternal Substantiality which is hidden in the old earthy Flesh as Gold in the Stone This true most precious Stone of Philosophers tinctureth the old for this is as a Son yet a Thousand times greater than the Father this bright Crown of Pear s is most manifâ—st yet most secret who so finds it hath such Joy as no earthy Tongue or Pen can describe CHAP. VII The Hypocritical and real Christian the Gates of the Firmamental Heaven with Stars c. The Threefold Life of Man and right noble Spiritual Stone 1. MAN's greatest Concern is to seek that which is lost not hypocritically without our selves for all the hearing of Heaven and the new Birth Preached Singing Repetitions Reading all Books having the Bible without Book Talking and Despising the Simple requiring they be guided by Man's Art and Eloquence and resting there is a continuing of Men as in a dark Dungeon and no more than casting a Stone into Water which is taken out again as hard as before And Mens deepest Reason Opinions of the Pope Luther Calvin or Schwenkfield and all Contention Disputation and that accounted high University Study though the Soul fill it self therewith only leaves the Soul in doubt on the shaking Foundation of vain flattering Hopes if still there be an unholy unchang'd Heart 2. But simply with the Publican God be merciful unto me a sinner gather all thy captivating Sins and in great earnestness knock seek consult not thy Earthy Reason sensual Love and self Will and then that Soul entreth into the Temple of Christ instead of Disputing bring earnest Resignation let thy Contention be such only as was Jacob's Wrestling God's Invitation and inviolable Promises are the Ground of that Faith which makes Hell tremble produceth the new Birth giveth the noble Stone and then the little grain of Mustard-seed growing in the Storms of Reproach and Temptation becoming a Tree attaineth the Angelical Garland of Pearl for then may the Soul say Though this World hath my outward Body Captive yet I have the Regenerator in my Soul that will make me free which is as putting a Stone into Fire which makes an effectual change on 't though Water do not as is above mentioned 3. Saith any one seeing the Devil is gone into Enmity Why doth not God annihilate him A. That which is Eternal breaketh or dissolveth not like that which hath a Beginning but though the Devils were not in the Form of a Spirit from Eternity yet their Essences were from Eternity but the putting their Will into the stern Matrix of the Centre of Nature captivated them therein but in their Essences remain as a Looking-glass for Angels and Souls of Men. Say also any If the World be so dangerous for Man Why hath God set and continued him in it A. Should God reduce the third Principle into its Aether before effecting what wonders were foreseen in the Wisdom from Eternity it cannot be but also in time must the Forms of Nature be substantial 4. The Infinite God being Threefold in Persons willed to move himself according to the Property and Nature of each Person As 1. The Father's Property moved to create Angels c. to bear his Image and behold his glorious Power 2. The Son's Property moved once and never more in Eternity to become Man by whom the glorious Majesty of the Trinity is shewn unto Angels and Men in an express Character and living Image 3. The Holy Ghost's Nature will move it self at the Resurrection at returning this World into its Aether and will set the Wonders passed in time into Eternal substantiality He is the Joy and Mover of the Creatures and of Paradise through whom will be seen the Power and Vertue of every thing 5. This World with Stars and Elements shew the Eternal Centre and Being of all Forms whereon Adam who was the Image of the Trinity doated and was capâ—iv'd as Lucifer was by the fierce Matrix He was one not two the Light shone in him and he should have propagated an Angelical Kingdom was Lord over Fire Air Water and Earth could remove Mountains no Death was in him Paradisical Fruit grew for him he was a Virgin after the Form of Eternal Sophia he was pure and was to place his Will on himself for God was in him and he in God But seeing two Divine Forms in himself one Paradisical within himself the other without him he thought to Eat of both viz. the Paradisical and the mixed of Good and Evil till he sunk into a sleep which signifieth Death where the Spirit of this World formed him into such a Man as we now are and Eve into a Woman and when they had eaten the Spirit of this World captivated their Souls their Essences were Earthy their Flesh and Blood Bestial so that they begat Children in two Kingdoms viz. of Wrath and Love the first a Murtherer the second Holy for the word of Grace and Covenant had on their Fall set it self in the Light of their Life 6. This Word was and for ever is the only noble spiritual Philosopher's Stone Christ. This Stone was in all the Holy Men from Adam downward whereby they both were Good and did Good but the Men of lower outside Principles or Rationists have a counterfeit scholastick glistering pleasant Stone which they think is right and they hotly persecute the true precious Stone to advance their own which outside Stone of theirs is only a Stone of the great Building of this World for it initiateth Childhood in wantonness and bravery requiring Covetousness and crafty Guile to support it so they set the Paradisical Garland of Blossoming Youth on the Serpents Head learn to contemn them as simple who have the true Stone because they live as not of the World but Childlike and go through and out of the World weeping yet bearing precious seed 7. From v. 62. to the end is as it were a recital of the often treated of the Eternal Being compar'd to Fire and Light as Anger and Love
Strength and Meekness the Original Forms and Principle of Light to v. 73. The Stars are a Quintessence or fifth Essence distinct from the four Elements as the Fat in a Creature causeth the Fountain of Life to burn they are not only Fire and Water but have all the Properties of hard soft bitter sweet sour dark and whatever the Earth hath and every Star a several prevalent Property according as in the Eternal Centre of Nature they stood open when the Eternity mov'd it self in the Creation 8. The Air mixeth with all sorts of Forms therefore is unconstant sometimes awakening one Form in the Centre anon another The whole Deep is like the Mind of a Man which beholds some things cursorily some other fixedly bringing it to substance setting Hands and Feet to work as the Will hath conceived and framed it so this Spirit of the Deep though without Divine Understanding formeth by the vigor of the Constellations the Spirit of our Adamical Man also of all Beasts Fowls Herbs Plants Trees Metals Precious Stones Fishes c. and is the cause of Wisdom in Arts Polity Governments among fallen Mankind And this is called the third Principle or awakened Life of God not Eternal but that in which the great Wonders are made visible Substances whose Figures remain as a Picture for the Glory of God and Joy of the Angels and Men but their Essences shall be reduced into the Aether as it was before the Creation of the World yet shall all stand in the Eternal Nature with its colours and figures and there will be a springing blossoming and growing yet without feeling any fire or fierceness for the Essences will then be no more a Substance and therefore it affordeth no fire but the fire is an Eternal Darkness and gnawing call'd the Eternal Death CHAP. VIII How by the outward World is opened the Eternal World How a Man may seek and find himself Whence is his Beginning and what his End 1. AS the enlivening Spirit in the deep animates all Creatures as if they were one Body each according to their Kind so the Light of Eternity within this World incomprehensible to this Worlds Spirit having all the Properties also in it yet with no such inkindled Essences is the Life of the blessed Inhabitants thereof Their Fire though mighty is yet without Pain or Consumption burning in the soft delicate desire of dear Love and highest Joy this Fire maketh Majesty springeth and blossometh for ever in such Earth as is call'd Divine Substantiality or Holy Ternary stored with perfect Goodness exempt from all kind of Evil. 2. And as the whole third Principle of Astral and Elementary Bodies are as one Body so the Infinite Holy God Heaven Angels Men Paradise with all Divine Things and Properties are but one Body call'd God Majesty and Eternity wherein the Majesty is the Light the Holy Ghost the Air and Spirit Every Angel and Man is like the total God and the Holy Ghost proceeds forth in him also As in a flaming piece of Iron the Iron resembleth the Creature its flame of Light the Deity its Heat the Creatures Spirit the Air proceeding from it the Holy Ghost but now we live in Anguish Cares Labour Fear Trembling Affliction and cloathed with fallen Adam's Skin yet also in the Hope of Israel 3. And because the Soul stands between two Eternal Principles and the Body meerly in the Spirit of this Worlds Earthy state caring little for the Soul therefore must the Body be kept under its necessities only not its wanton desires answer'd The Soul also must watch and pray not please it self in its own ability but ever humble it self to the Divine Will and Mercy These things are irksom to the Body and cross to the Self will of the Soul but the view of Eternity must sway all for the Body is an unconstant Neighbour and Death a sudden Guest And as the danger so the power God hath graciously given the Soul is very great As it is written to them he gave power in Christ to be the Sons or Children of God 4. Man finds in himself more than is in the Beast for the Beast hath no higher Will than to fill and nourish it self and multiply according to the property of their Centre and every Life desireth the best that is in its Mother or Centre which shews what the best of the Centre or Mother whence they are is but Man sees into the property and vanity of every thing here and therefore a higher Life above the Elementary Transitory Food The Beast hath a Tincture else the Fire of their Life would devour them but their Fire and Tincture is but Elementary and Astral and consequently fragil but Man hath a desire after an Eternal Life and shews it by his desire to perpetuate his Memory here by his Off-spring or otherwise if he could For tho' he enter community with the Beasts in his third Principle yet he hath a Fire-life out of the Eternity wherein the Forms are in Anguish and that not being the right Life hath a Tincture of Divine substantiality of Meekness which is the Light which quencheth the wrath of his Fire-soul wherein is the Intellect satiating the Anguish which tincture Lucifer caused to disappear as a shadow shutting himself up in Death and Fierceness 5. Is it said why did God suffer Lucifer to fall A. He was a Prince and Throne Angel a Son of the first Creation or Morning and cause of the Out-birth in the third Principle therefore Christ called him the Prince of this World He had also a Free-will like us Men and we often do things contrary to God as making Forts Castles and sumptuous Houses for our state So Lucifer would be as a Creator which in it self was no more his Fall than Adam's imagining which caused the Tree of Temptation to grow which therefore was severely forbidden yet which of it self was not Adam's Fall but Lucifer's Fall was when he awakened the Matrix of the Fire over the Meekness of God that Fire became and now is his Hell which God captivated with Heaven or Water and moved himself to the Creation as the pleasant Sun shuts up the Astringent cold turning Ice into Water making Fish c. to live and grow And the cause of the Sea and unfathom'd deeps is that there the Fire was greatly enkindled as when Sodom c. were a Habitation of the Devil who would have dwelt there in his fiery fierceness God allay'd his stoutness bringing Water on that place 6. The Souls dissatisfaction here shews it in a captivity for its true Rest and Heaven was shut up in it having in Adam put its desire into the Principle of this World great is the perplexity that an Eternal Creature should be Immur'd and Married to another Principle have another Mother and Centre which as soon as it breaks as dissolve it doth leaves the Soul in indigence and darkness This pos'd the understanding non-plust the wisdom of all Creatures
as far as he is called God but hath as the Sun one only Will to give out himself in Life and Power to all things and is without ground place or time take away Nature and Creature and all is God forego the out-spoken Word and you find the speaking Word 4. The nearest way to find God is for Man who is his Image to fink down from all imprinted Images Disputes and Strife depart from Self-will and Desire and demerse it self solely into the single Love of God which he in Christ hath after Man's Fall first introduced into the Humanity 5. Let Man go forth from all Images when he will understand the Eternal speaking Word but when he would know whence Evil and Good proceeded and God's calling himself an angry Jealous God let him look towards the Eternal Nature to the out-spoken and formed Word and then to Nature the Beginning Temporal Nature wherein lyeth the Creation of this World CHAP. II. Of the Original of Gods speaking Word c. 1. CReaturely Reason thinketh God from Eternity by Predestinate purpose resolved his Wrath on some should reveal his Majesty and on others his Love and Mercy as Fire doth Light If so then there must have been Thoughts Consultation and Cause of it But he is only one nor can only one thing be at strife in it self whence Consultation should arise to decide it 2. Every thing springing from a Beginning less Ground hath nothing before it can destroy it unless it bring it self into a Heterogene Will incongruous to that whence it sprung and so separate it self from the total intireness as did the Devils and Soul of Man break it self into a peculiar off from the intire Will and Divine Uâ—igeniture 3. The Powers to the Production of the Word are God and the Magnetical Attraction Science or Root in the beginning of Nature That attraction of the Desire revealeth God's Majesty in the Power to Joy and Glory which is the Root of Darkness coming to the kindling of the Fire according to which God calleth himself an angry God and consuming Fire Wherein also the Divisibility Death and Dying and gross creaturely life existeth 4 Men that say God willeth Evil do accompt him a Devil for the willing Evil is a Devil they should distinguish God from Nature 5. In Nature as Metals c. having in them Evil and Good one thing is set against another not to be at Enmity but that the Mysterium Magnum should enter into distinction and be at an exulting Joy in the Eternal one 6. The Eternal Will Jehovah manifesteth its Word through Nature but taketh not Nature into him but the Word taketh Nature to it in the Science or Root 7. * God is called God only according to the Light in the Love-fire and Temperature not in the Divisibility CHAP. III. Of the Seven Forms and Creation 1. THE First Form of the Beginning to Nature is Astringency Father of Sal. The second Form is perceptibility the Wo c. Father of the Mercurial Life The third Form is Anguish Father of Sulphur arising from the strife of the other two The first ariseth from the Fathers The second from the Sons The third from the Spirits Property The first the Ground of Strength and Might The second of Distinction Speech and the five Senses The third of every Life of Light Love-fire and consuming fire of Joy and Sorrow The fourth Form is the kindling of the Fire where Light and Darkness sever here is the Shrieks Terror Poison Life Torment Hell resulting from the first Three The Trembling is at the great Meekness as when you pour water into the fire here riseth the flash at this parting riseth the Light out of the Temperature The Tincture goeth hence the Power of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia From v. 41 to 56. lye high Mysteries The fifth Form is the true Love-fire which severs it self from the painful Fire into the Light having all the Properties of the three first in joyfulness drawing into it the Tincture of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia This is the power of the Speaking Word the Water-spirit which flows into a Fountain of Eternal Life John 4. 14. Spiritual Blood Divine Substantiality Heavenly Corporeity of which Christ saith he came from Heaven and at the same instant was in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. The Food of the fiery Soul Angels c. The sixth Form the Sound Spiritual Senses all in the Temperature in which Adam was but Lust would tast the multiplicity of Properties and leave the Temperature and so the Properties departed each from other as heat cold dry moist hard soft harsh astringent sweet bitter and sour which God did forbid thence followed bestial Desires heat cold bitter stinging rushed in thence were brought in Poison Turba magna and Chamber of Death The seventh Form is where the Sound makes it self audible for the fifth Form is wholly Spiritual Luna and Saturn the beginning and end Thus the seven Spiritual Properties and Powers bring themselves into creaturely formation by the strife of the seven outward Properties for in the Temperature no Creature can be generated for it is the only One God but in the Exit the Wonders and Creature-Images may spring forth and exist CHAP. IV. Of the Original of the Creation 1. ALL Eternal Creatures have their Root in the Speaking Word The Temporary have theirs from the out spoken Word 2. The first Principle in the fiery Root which is the Centre of Nature ariseth not in the Trinity but where the Power of Distinction puts it self into Nature to perceive and move which first Principle in the Darkness is a cold aking fire according to which God calls himself an angry jealous or zealous God 3. The second Principle is where the Divine Root in the Fire parteth it self into the Light and introduceth it self into Nature to Manifestation of Divine Joyfulness according to which God calls himself a loving Merciful God that willeth nor can will Evil. 4. The third Principle is in the seven Days Work in which the seven Properties of Nature brought themselves into Substance which Substance is Holy Pure Good The one Element called the Eternal Heaven City of God Paradise 5. The Being of all Beings the Holy Spiritual World is the Expressing Word of God which bringeth it self into Substance in Love and Anger so that in the Impression of Darkness is understood Evil and yet in God is not Evil but in the Creatures Self-hood and yet there also is Good as far as the Creature standeth in the Temperature 6. The Angels were made in the seven Properties which drew themselves into three Hierarchies according to the three first Properties or Principles 7. The first Hierarchy standeth in the Father's Property in the fire of Strength the Tincture of the Substance of Nature 8. The second consists in the light-Light-fires Tincture the Son's Property in the Eternal Nature and is the Holiest 9. The third in the Self-hood of
Nature playeth in the Properties as the four Elements do in the starry Powers into this Lucifer hath given up himself with his Root into Lust of Phantasie and hath left the Temperature introducing false evil Magick 10. Their Will is meer Pride also Covetousness from the Astringency and multitude of Properties a stinging Envy from the Fire a despairing from the Anguish 11. The Angels were created before the time of the third Principle The Devil lifting up himself was in the Power of the first Principle so came his mighty Kingdom of Phantasie which caused the Mother of Nature the Wrath of God in which Compression came Earth and Stones not that the Devil caused that but caused the cause of that in the lump whereof they would do juggling feats but that is also withdrawn so that he is the poorest of Creatures Obj. Though the Angels fell God might have re-infused his Love into them 12. Answ. The Devils whilst Angels Eternal Creatures stood in their free will in the Temperature to what they would incline themselves that they would be and so establish and confirm themselves If he had after sate in the Holy Power of Light he would attract only the source of Torment and Poison as if a â—oad were put on a heap of Sugar 13. But as the Sun for Days and Months shines on warms and pierceth a Thistle which yet the more strongly grows to be such so the Devil would be and no otherwise but is in God as Night is in the Day shut up in the Centre of Nature not manifested CHAP. V. Of the Original of Man THE Original of every Creature may be found by their Being and Food for every one represents its Root and will feed of its Mother there being in the express word 1. The Property of the dark wrathful Nature whence came venemous evil Beasts and Worms which would dwell in dark holes from the Sun 2. There are some from the Kingdom of Phantasie the Spiritus Mundi as Apes c. that play tricks and hunt vex and worry others 3. There are quiet good friendly tame Creatures the Model of the Angelical World yet evil Properties mix among the tame The Creatures of time are of the four Elements but the Body of Man is out of the Temperature whence came the four Elements Earth Stone c out of the quintessence wherein Heat Cold c. stood in equal ballance and weight So that being deeper that is greater than the Creatures was to rule in and over them Not that Man's Bestial Properties were then creaturely or manifest but the Ens of all Beings lay in the Human Ens. Adam did eat Paradisical Fruit in the Temperature not to be swallowed down into a Carkass for the Worms but the Centres of distinction and separation were in the mouth He was naked yet clothed with glorious Paradise and was totally a Christalline Image a Masculine Virgin yet with both Tinctures in the Temperature had he stood Man's propagation had been Magical As the Sun penetrateth Glass or Christal without breaking it But God well seeing Man would not stand ordained him a Saviour and Regenerator before the foundation of the World CHAP. VI. Of Man's Fall and of his Wife 1. GOD having made Man saith Gen. 1. 31. All was very good and yet Gen. 2. 18. saith It is not good for Man to be alone and therefore made the Woman out of him Q. Why was not the Woman made at first as the Female was of all other Creatures A. 2. Because perfect Love is not in one only Tincture Man could not stand eternally but in two and those the Fathers and Sons Properties he had both and so was the Image of the one only God undivided Fire and Light 3. But when the Lights and Waters Tincture his Paradisical Rose Garden wherein he loved himself was severed from him into a Wife he could not in the Image he afterwards came to be stand eternally Q. 4. Why did God divide him into two Images he foresaw what would be before the Creation and therefore it must be his predestinate purpose that he should be what he came to be by his Fall A. God's fore-knowledge and his fore-ordination are not the same thing God created no Devil had it been Divine predeterminate purpose that such should be he had been created so The only Will of God gave it self into an Angelical figure but the fiery Science or Root according to the Property of the Dark World pressed forth and begoâ— it self into a predestinate purpose So when the Light became creaturely the dark cold painful Fire pressed the Image of Phantasie into the Will which Will did generate contrary to the temperature and so was thrust out from God No one should dare to say a Will is given it ab extra but the Will to Evil and Good existeth within the Creature God generateth as far as he is called God nothing evil and opposite to himself but heat and cold come from one Root the Enmity riseth in the place of distinction The Science of the Soul which could frame it self to evil could also frame it self to good for God is no way the cause of Man's Fall or of the Devils but the division or variety of the manifested Word being drawn into Properties and the influence of the Dark World drew Man from the temperature Now this Divisibility of the manifested Word of God is not called God but God as far as he is called God willeth only good yet may be said to will evil and good in the good Angels he willeth good and in the evil Angels he willeth evil and whatsoever hath separated it self to evil willeth evil Vide from v. 70. to the end of the 6th Chapter The fiery Science of Eve's Soul imagined into the crafty subtilty of the Serpent and desired to know evil and good which first she gazed on and then admired then tryed did eat and finding she fell not presently down dead gave to Adam who had plunged himself in it when he stood in the Image of God but yet had not eaten it into the body till that very time CHAP. VII 1. v. 118. Q. ALL are dead in Adam therefore some are predestinated to Life others reprobated and how can the Child help it if God will not have it v. 132. Q. What can the Child help it that it becomes a Thistle Child v. 133. Q. And are not men at coming into the World excluded by Reprobation A. 2. That evil Parents introduce pride falshood malice covetousness cruel cursings laid on them by cause given and so the Ens of a Serpent Dog Wolf Goat Swine Toâ—d Fox Lion or other Beast is formed in the Child that is its Reprobation And how can the Love of God help it that Adam left the Temperature and turned his Free Will into the Tree of Evil and Good And now from the Fountain of the Actual