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 Migâty 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 triââed 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 Asmodââ 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
flame Like as the right Tincture transmuteth Metals and the Elixir Tinctures Mans sickly Body 8. Now to say what was the Image Likeness Form and Fashion of Adam when he was neither Husband nor Wife and yet Both. He was as to his first Principle or Eternal Soul Potent and Mighty resembling him to the Father and to the Angels who are Mighty in Power In his second Principle or Divine Spirit he was as a God in Holiness Love Purity and Brightness which illustrated his first Principle joyning the Dove and Lamb to the Lyon In his third Principle he was Prince over the Astral Heavens a remainder whereof was in Joshuah who stopt the Sun and Moon And under his God Soveraign over the Elementary Worlds a remainder whereof is seen in Moses over the Waters and Elias over it and the fire 9. His Body was as those in the Resurrection with this difference that having both Tinctures he could have been Magically fruitful whereas they and the Angels are in that respect Barren and was all this in great Modesty Simplicity Wisdom Unity dear Love Holiness and immaculate Purity Q. 46. Had Adam before his Eve Masculine Members and such Bones Stomach Guts Entrails Teeth and also such things as we now have A. 1. Adam's Holy Virgin state exempted him from those impure deformed bestial Members for Propagation which yet pitying our Wo and Necessity is bore with by Divine Patience but the Filthiness of it is signified by the Circumsicion and is that whereof Nature it self as depraved as it is blusheth and is ashamed 2. And Bones were Strengths for the Saturnine Compaction could not petrefie to that excess till his Body which was derived from the Astral Root or one Element whence they were also breathed out became subjected to those Astral Powers which were to have continued his Servants and Subjects 3. The Teeth Stomach Gutts evacuating Vessels c. which we now have could not befal him while he remained in his Holy State for his food was holy pure heavenly such as might stand in Eternity for such was he not as yet confined under the Horoscope of Time 4. He stuft not himself with the Elements nor to speak strictly doth he so yet no nor do the Animals for the Elements feed the Plants and the Animal Creatures feed on the Plants produced by the Elements but Man on the Animal Creatures like a Wolf and on the Plants like an Animal But Adam's Food was Holy Paradisical Angelical Eternal needing no evacuation eaten only in the mouth not tartarous which the Law commanding the Israelites to carry out a Paddle to cover theirs without the Camp signifieth And that other Law prohibiting and strictly nominating unclean and clean Creatures pointeth at Q 47. If Adam also had been thus as we are now how was it possible he should in such a condition have been able to stand without suffering and corruption If Paracelsus thought by feeding on that whereof the Stars subsisted to extend his Thread of Life to what length he would it was a thing might soon be purposed 1. 'T is true the Elixir if duly and naturally collected epitomising the Universe must be granted to do much in tincturing the Vital Natural and Animal Spirits whereby the Astral and Elementary Man may be strongly fortified the Natural Balsam restored radically dregs obstructing the quick interiours of the Powers separated highly conducing to health And the long Lives before the Flood as well as many since seem to be referred to their happy Knowledge of this almost Paradisical Secret as an immediate eminent Second Cause 2. Yet must it not be denied that besides the Supream Law for abridging Man's Race the Astral Revolutions summon us to a period and the Volatile Nature of the Elementary Fabrick loosen the connexions of our Outward Man from Affinity to the fixed Inward Man in so manifest a degree that we bring from the Womb the Seeds of our Mortality our Bones are sensless dead and as to themselves dry already our need of frequent sleep pourtrays death our food is corruptible those few that attain the Winter of Age then fall to Ashes by their Cold Fire others fall to Ashes by the Hot Fire as it is written Your Fathers where are they Also like as it is said If there had been a Law that could have given Life verily Righteousness had come by the Law so had there been an happy Eternity attainable out of the Reliques of Adam we had been thence raised to Immortality but not by dying 3. But seeing there was no such therefore the Second Adam breaks through death into Eternity because Adam having subjected himself and us to the Stars and Elements therefore that part of us under that Rule must change as they who by wrestling vary their Powers nor are the Stars nor Elements themselves on a surer Basis but that the one must one day fall the other melt Q. 48. Should Adam's eating and drinking have been after a Paradisical manner without care distress and sorrow if he had stood out the Trial or Proba A. 1. It is written The Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink but Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Yet the Lord saith I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine till I drink it new in my Fathers Kingdom The Manna also by allusion is call'd Angels food 2. Adam's eating without care distress and sorrow was without distrust of want therefore without care without subtlety and disappointments therefore without distress without sorrow being ever a gainer having supply out of the Ocean needing only to abound in humble gratitude Adam's Paradisical food is sometimes signified by Bread of Life Water of Life a Tree of Life Manna New Wine c. 3. Those fruits are real and substantial more Divine than to be palpable of true Power and Vertue to nourish to Eternal Life therefore must be incorruptible having the forms of the fruits in this World for this is the representation of That tho' but as a dead dark shadow as the husk This hath the Curse in it but the fruits there have the purity realness or essence existing in and deriving from the Omnipotence and Lustre of the Second Principle 4. The dead fruits here which mold and perish figure those heavenly ones The faded stains of things here point at those living bright glorious colours the variety of these the infinity of those these Trees as it were pourtray those this very dead Earth in a sort figureth the Divine Salitter our Mortal Dead Water the Pure River of the Living Water our Air their Air which is of the Holy Ghost our musical Sounds hint at their ravishing living speaking Airs our plucking and eating our fruits figure their so doing the strength we receive and retain thereby figureth the same in them our seemingly delightful Objects figure their transcendent glorious Objects 5. But all in so vast disproportion as a dead Corps to a flourishing lively noble
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 âealeth 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 âody 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
this world into the outward understandeth it and is as Ezekiel's Vision having Eyes within and without and the Spirit goeth right forward wheresoever it goes 7. Now to shew how far Man may go and where he must stop note that the Fire after the seven Spirits is the eighth and the cause of the seventh Now tho' Life consists not in the Fire yet the Fire maketh two Tinctures 1. An inward after the Eternal Liberty and still Meekness where springeth the Majesty of the Liberty 2. An outward after the Oyl from the water of Venus where springs the outward splendor so the Fire hath the eighth number and the inward Tincture hath the ninth number so far and no farther ought we to go but stand there before the Cross of the number three where Angels and Men are to stand not reaching into the Centre of the Cross to Create as did Lucifer but cast their Minds down into the Tincture of Humility back into the ninth number fearing God and highly rejoicing before the tenth number with Songs of Hallelujahs to the Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts in this ninth is the Virgin Tincture of Wisdom Paradise and Heavenly Substantiality 8. For while we keep our will in humility tho' we search into the thousandth number our will is still Gods will but if we leave him and imagine into the Wonders we are Captives for imagination makes substance we must go out of that again into Humility Love Pureness Mercy c. or we shall not see God we must submissively seek the will of God and resign our whole self thereinto wherein we can do all but in our own will and nature we must not we can do nothing CHAP. XI Of the true Knowledge concerning Man 1. THE Earth is a peculiar Centre an Out-birth of the Eternal substantiality the Matrix whereof was corrupted by the Fall of Lucifer whence the upper Centre the Suns Heart drew forth from the Properties in the Earth which longed after the upper Paradisical Fruit of which Man only was capable to eat after an Angelical manner and which Adam stood in the Proba or tryal to have done till he slept but we see how it went with him for that we both eat and are eaten by the Earth 2. Of that Paradisical Earth wherein was the Heavenly Property was Adam's Body made for he was to be Lord over the Earth and to open the wonders of the Earth therefore God gave him a palpable yet a paradisical and not instantly an Angelical Body Man was made an Image of the uncreated Virgin of Gods Wisdom wherein the Astral and Elementary Powers stood but neither they nor the Matrix of the Earth could over-power Man for he had receiv'd the Eternal Substantiality 3. It is said God breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life this was not Air nor can it be a thing breathed in from without for God is the fulness of all things God longed after a visible Similitude of himself but his longing is only Majesty and Liberty his breathing was from within for Gods Holy Spirit hath awakened the Soul out of the Centre of the Fire of the Eternal Nature the fifth form where the two Kingdoms of Gods Love and Anger do part and brought it outwards into the Tincture of the outward Spirit into the Blood of the Heart opening it self according to the Centre of Nature and the Spirit of this world which reacheth into the Sun was breathed into him from without so became he a Living Soul ruling over Fire Air Water Earth and the Sun it self without Covetousness Pride Envy Anger Toil Care and Sickness but was a holy pure Virgin in meer Joy and Love-sport 4. The dividing of the Tinctures is shewn by dividing the Cross in the Brain-Pan God Created Man with the whole Cross but now 't is divided half to the Man and the other half to the Woman before Adam's being divided he could generate out of his will such a Man as himself having the three Centres in him without tearing as neither was the Centre of the Eternal Nature whence his Soul proceeded torn nor the Spirit of this world divided when the Spirit of God breathed it into him nor had he Members whereof to be ashamed his clothing was the Heavenly Tincture his Fall was his Lust after the out-principle and could not eat of the Word of the Lord. 5. The Male and Female Will to each other existeth out of the two Governments of one substance the Man soweth Flesh and Blood and the Noble Tincture of the Soul out of the Fire Tincture the Woman Spirit out of the Tincture of this World viz. of Venus giving a soft Spirit but Man is yielded faln home a Captive to the Spirit of this world making an Earthy Elementary Child so that if God had not become Man our Bodies had remained Beasts our Souls Devils and such we are till Born again in Christ and by him turned about to see into the tenth number again And if this be done when God awakens the Centre of the Eternal which is the Souls Fire the Holy Ghost shall burn forth from the Tincture of the Soul and the Soul be taken into the Majesty of God and her works without loss pass through the Fire but the Soul that turneth into this world when the substance hereof passeth into its Ether is without God in the Hellish Fire wanting the Oyl of the wise Virgins for this World neither gives it nor sells it for it hath it not The great Misery of Mans Destruction from the Womb. 6. While the Soul is in the Seed it is only a Fire of the Tincture and a Will of the Creature but when it becomes a Living Creature the Fruit is much as the Tree is and if it be forsaken of the Holy Powers the Will of the Soul by the Nature of the Fire formeth the Souls Spirit into the figure of horrible cruel crafty poysonous filthy Creatures Also in the Spirit of the Seed while it is a Sulphur viz. Unformed Matter is the Spirit of this World and the Constellation so that the outward Life is fallen quite under the Power of the Stars which strongly inclineth some to various Evils and Tragical Exits others to insnaring Honours which is done when a fixed Star having been fortified by the Sun's Vertue is inducted by the Father of Nature it can then powerfully impress its Imagination into the Seed conveying such or such a Property into the Creatures Elementary Life in Men and Beasts 7. Man thus making himself and Posterity miserable awakens the Wrath Kingdom in this World where the Devil is the Great Prince which awakening bringeth Tempests Wars Pestilence Fire Famine c. for had not Man opened the Anger the Devil had remained shut up without Power to touch a Fly or move a Leaf 'T is true that sometimes the Astral Powers make and give for a Tincture this Worlds Spirit and then by reason that the Spirit of the Soul
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-Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâiality 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 harâââ 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
its first sude boiling or vegetation CHAP. IV. The Birth of the Stars c. 1. THere are seven Forms in Nature which yet principally consist in three viz. Astringency Compunction and Anguish according to which there are seven Planets and no more and seven Metals fixt The Temporal Spirits hunger gaineth a Temporal Body and the Eternal Spirits hunger an Eternal Body both in each other but distinct as Time and Eternity 2. In Saturns Property the Lubet makes Lead and according to the Water Salt according to Saturns mortal Property Earth Stones c. according to the Liberty in Saturn Gold which he keeps shut up See verse the 27th to the 34th 3. There is in Man 1. The Divine Golden Man 2. The inward holy Body from Fire and Light like pure Silver if not corrupted 3. The Elemental Man like Jupiter 4. The Mercurial growing Paradisical Man 5. The Martial Soul-like Man 6. The Venerine according to the outward desire 7. The Solar a seer of the Wonders of God 4. Mercury in the internal was as the Word by which God created 5. Mars his impression is Anguish causing the Love-will to separate from him which is called God but the Anguish is God's Anger or Wrath of the Eternal Nature 6. Venus Metal is Copper receiving its toughness from Saturn its redness from Mars tho' Mars his Metal be Iron But Sol may tincture Mars and Venus into Gold for Venus longeth after Sol her Mother her Joy whence she hath a peculiar smiling twinkling Aspect 7. The Sun is a figure in the outward World of the heart of God each thing longeth after the Sun in Sulphur being the universal Tincture and what the first desire with Saturns impression makes evil the Sun restores to be good causing a pleasant temperature blooming and growing in all Creatures CHAP. V. Of the Sulphurian Death and how the Body is revived c. 1. MAN was created good according to and out of the three Worlds But the inward Lubet generated in the Centre viz. the fire wherein stands the Life by Lust enkindled the Divine Meekness wherein Joy consisteth turning from Eternal Liberty to Time from the one pure Element into the four Elements 2. Then did the Precious Gold of Heavenly Corporality which tinctur'd the outward Body disappear then also the dominion of Time destroyed its own contrived Spirit and so the Body passed away and died 3. The only Remedy is that Gods Love Desire Essentiality and Divine Water enter again into and quench the Souls Wrath-Fire For Mans Salvation consists in his full unfeigned desire after God so riseth the Meekness and Love tinctureth Death and Darkness in the four Elements and sever from the New Man who and the Heavenly Body remaineth only in it self So is it done in the transmutation of Metals See Verse the 12th and to the End of the Chapter De âapide 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 Oââ 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 Brimstorâe whence are Stones Earth and Meâals 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 appeaâe its Hunger Whereas Nature's Property should be sincerely inclined to God's Love Eâs 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 âast 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 âainting 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 ãâ¦ã so that his Mercury became a cold Poison which was before an Exaââaâion ãâ¦ã ss So came darkness into his Oyl and he died to the Divine Light ãâ¦ã thereto by the Property of the Serpent for in the Serpent the wrath ãâ¦ã and outward also was manifeât whose subtilty Eve desired 2. Foâ ãâã much as the Serpent is not out of the Eternal Ground ãâã 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
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 Uâigeniture 3. The Powers to the Production of the Word are God and the Magnetical Attraction Science or Root in the beginning of Nature That attraction of the Desire revealeth God's Majesty in the Power to Joy and Glory which is the Root of Darkness coming to the kindling of the Fire according to which God calleth himself an angry God and consuming Fire Wherein also the Divisibility Death and Dying and gross creaturely life existeth 4 Men that say God willeth Evil do accompt him a Devil for the willing Evil is a Devil they should distinguish God from Nature 5. In Nature as Metals c. having in them Evil and Good one thing is set against another not to be at Enmity but that the Mysterium Magnum should enter into distinction and be at an exulting Joy in the Eternal one 6. The Eternal Will Jehovah manifesteth its Word through Nature but taketh not Nature into him but the Word taketh Nature to it in the Science or Root 7. * God is called God only according to the Light in the Love-fire and Temperature not in the Divisibility CHAP. III. Of the Seven Forms and Creation 1. THE First Form of the Beginning to Nature is Astringency Father of Sal. The second Form is perceptibility the Wo c. Father of the Mercurial Life The third Form is Anguish Father of Sulphur arising from the strife of the other two The first ariseth from the Fathers The second from the Sons The third from the Spirits Property The first the Ground of Strength and Might The second of Distinction Speech and the five Senses The third of every Life of Light Love-fire and consuming fire of Joy and Sorrow The fourth Form is the kindling of the Fire where Light and Darkness sever here is the Shrieks Terror Poison Life Torment Hell resulting from the first Three The Trembling is at the great Meekness as when you pour water into the fire here riseth the flash at this parting riseth the Light out of the Temperature The Tincture goeth hence the Power of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia From v. 41 to 56. lye high Mysteries The fifth Form is the true Love-fire which severs it self from the painful Fire into the Light having all the Properties of the three first in joyfulness drawing into it the Tincture of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia This is the power of the Speaking Word the Water-spirit which flows into a Fountain of Eternal Life John 4. 14. Spiritual Blood Divine Substantiality Heavenly Corporeity of which Christ saith he came from Heaven and at the same instant was in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. The Food of the fiery Soul Angels c. The sixth Form the Sound Spiritual Senses all in the Temperature in which Adam was but Lust would tast the multiplicity of Properties and leave the Temperature and so the Properties departed each from other as heat cold dry moist hard soft harsh astringent sweet bitter and sour which God did forbid thence followed bestial Desires heat cold bitter stinging rushed in thence were brought in Poison Turba magna and Chamber of Death The seventh Form is where the Sound makes it self audible for the fifth Form is wholly Spiritual Luna and Saturn the beginning and end Thus the seven Spiritual Properties and Powers bring themselves into creaturely formation by the strife of the seven outward Properties for in the Temperature no Creature can be generated for it is the only One God but in the Exit the Wonders and Creature-Images may spring forth and exist CHAP. IV. Of the Original of the Creation 1. ALL Eternal Creatures have their Root in the Speaking Word The Temporary have theirs from the out spoken Word 2. The first Principle in the fiery Root which is the Centre of Nature ariseth not in the Trinity but where the Power of Distinction puts it self into Nature to perceive and move which first Principle in the Darkness is a cold aking fire according to which God calls himself an angry jealous or zealous God 3. The second Principle is where the Divine Root in the Fire parteth it self into the Light and introduceth it self into Nature to Manifestation of Divine Joyfulness according to which God calls himself a loving Merciful God that willeth nor can will Evil. 4. The third Principle is in the seven Days Work in which the seven Properties of Nature brought themselves into Substance which Substance is Holy Pure Good The one Element called the Eternal Heaven City of God Paradise 5. The Being of all Beings the Holy Spiritual World is the Expressing Word of God which bringeth it self into Substance in Love and Anger so that in the Impression of Darkness is understood Evil and yet in God is not Evil but in the Creatures Self-hood and yet there also is Good as far as the Creature standeth in the Temperature 6. The Angels were made in the seven Properties which drew themselves into three Hierarchies according to the three first Properties or Principles 7. The first Hierarchy standeth in the Father's Property in the fire of Strength the Tincture of the Substance of Nature 8. The second consists in the Light-fires Tincture the Son's Property in the Eternal Nature and is the Holiest 9. The third in the Self-hood of
Fire in Adam and passed on all Men and the gross bestial Property the Serpents Ens and enkinded Anger was in Abraham and his Childrens own Property as in the Children of Ham except the Line of Christ which was in God's Power and stood in them as Heaven doth in this World also in Hell or as the Day doth in the Night yet not confounded So in the angers Property Abraham and his Family smote the Heathen and rescued Lot so also have the Children of the Saints waged War 4. But such who would be call'd Christians do wage War not as Christians but as Heathens for the Christian is dead with Christ to Wrath and the four Elements and new born in Christ's Spirit of Love and Patience he is not of this World liveth not to himself but to God his Conversation is in Heaven Nor did Abraham desire ought he took the Goods he restored to the King of Sodom 5. Melchisedeck the Royal Priest was the real figure of Christ who blessed Abraham left the Turba after his fighting should return on him To him Abraham gave Tithes viz. the 10th Property of the Human fiery Tongue of the Soul And the Priest gave his Bread and Wine and Blessing thereinto viz. Love-fire Tincture of the Light Heavenly Substantiality that the Soul 's fiery Tincture might again become a compleat Image of God with Male and Female Property Heavenly Corporiety by the King of Salem viz. of Salvation CHAP. XXXIX God's Covenant with Abraham his Faith and Sacrifice 1. A Abraham's Faith was his receiving the Speaking Word of God viz. in the Promise into his Human Ens His Desire viz. the aim of the Covenant or formed Word and both these were formed into one Power and real Spiritual Substance For Faith is the taking hold of God's Will and Uniting it to ours 2. The Offerings were of three sorts of Beasts a Heifer a She-Goat and a Ram each three years old betokens the whole outward threefold Man of Salt Mercury and Sulphur The dividing them the twofold Limus of the Earth viz The gross Property out of the Dark World the other the Limus out of the Heavenly Worlds Property which lyes in one Compaction in the Earth whence Man was created The Turtle Dove the poor Soul captivated in the bestial Property The young Pigeon the inward disappeared Humanity Their not being divided shews nothing shall be taken from the Soul nor from the inward Man of the Heavenly Limus The Fowls which Abraham drove away the Essence of the wrathful Property of God's Anger in Man which hungreth after the Humanity and would devour the same Abraham's deep Sleep the Death of Christ. The horror the Wrath of God The darkness the dark World into which the Word should enter and resign its Will The enkindled Fire passing between the pieces the Holy Love-fire tincturing all into a pure Gold The Servitude in Egypt that Christ in his Members should be only a Pilgrim and that we are here in the Kingdom of the Heathen where God's Children must be embroiled in Servitude with them to which the Potent do compel the Poor whereto he must be subject else he resisteth the Kingdom of Nature viz the formed Word But if the Worldly Rulers rule only according to their Will and Lusts they will find that God will Judge them CHAP. XL. Of Hagar and Ismael 1. THE scope of this toucheth that of Predestination For as much as Ismael and Esau are erroneously taken to be of Eternal reprobation we are to know that Ismael representeth the Father's Property and Kingdom of Nature in Adam Isaac the Sons Property and Kingdom of Grace in the second Adam 2. Babel indeed blindly teacheth that God hath ordained a certain Number and Company to Damnation and the rest to Salvation but if so Nature must needs be limited confin'd and determin'd when to bring forth a Child of God or of Wrath and nothing would be in the Human Property free yea God himself must confine and shut up his unchangeable one Infinite Will into a Beginning and Limit which opens a Gate to horrid Prophaneness makes void God's Holy Laws and Rules renders needless the offers of Grace and bars up the Door of Repentance 3. Yet the Holy Name of God thus taken in Vain is from Eternity free and offers it self to all poor Sinners Thus the Angel met Hagar and blessed Ismael then in her Womb who figur'd the Runagate Adamical self Will for God inwardly calls all wicked Men not only in the Womb but all the time of their lives as the Sun shines all the Day 4. So God calls the Turks and Heathens figur'd by Cain Ham Ismael and Esau who are in the Kingdom of Nature as Ismael in Hagars Womb they went not to Isaac but to Abraham nor these to Christ's âerson but to God and he heareth them in Christ. They and painted Christendom are as the two Sons one promis'd but did it not the other said he would not but went and âid it so may they attain the Adoption though the letter Christians grumble at the returning Prodigal who is nevertheless embraced by the Father CHAP. XLI Of the Seal of the Covenant of Circumcision and of Baptism 1. GOD ratified his Covenant with Abraham by the Seal Circumcision shewing what Ens was Blessed also what must and what in Man must not inherit viz. not the gross Earthy Man conceived in the bestial Lust of Man and Woman 2. That Copulation is only born with by Divine Patience and Permission Man having lost the Magical Birth of Paradice and therefore was every Male circumcised on that Monstrous Member The bestial Seed of Man and Woman being the Seed of their own Will shall not put on the Covenant and Blessing but he who is not Born of the Will of Man nor of the Flesh but of God 3. The Earthy Members die in the Spiritual Birth through Christ's Death Externally 't is cut off in the Temporal Death and 't is Buried in the Eternal Death in the Nothing and a new Angelical Form shall arise 4. The Males were only Circumcised for Adam had both the Tinctures and was a Masculine Virgin It was to be on the eighth Day because six Days are the Man in Nature the Seventh is the Day of Rest which he had brought into disquietness by reason that the seventh Property the Heavenly Nature died in him therefore God gave him of Grace another Day viz. the Eighth which is Christ. Ismael was the first Man though a Mocker thus taken into Covenant for Christ came for Ismael's sake also though the Doctrine of some damâ Children from the Womb. 5. Baptism is for both Sexes on all Days shewing the need all have and Christ's Universal offer of God's Mercy also pointing out Christ's Humanity who was both Circumcised and Baptized and the First born from the Dead But the Ens of Faith by the Spirit was the Fire-baptism for both Jews and Christians CHAP. XLII Of the three Men
and whom he pleased he endeavoured to stir up the Magistracy to exercise their Jurisdiction in rooting out this supposed Church Weed And this he did with so much vehemency and pretence of Godly Zeal that the Senate took some notice of it and convened Jacob Behmen before them seizing his Book and admonishing him to imploy his Mind in the Affairs of his Trade and for the future leave off the writing any more Books wherein he saw was so much offence This occasion brought this Man first into publick notice for at the hearing of the Business such was the Unchristian Heat and Distemper of the Minister and so much the meekness of Jacob Behmen that it gave great advantage to his repute and credit to that inward School from whence he came out so well taught For afterwards this very Book which the Senate had seized on was by themselves presented to the Electoral Court Marshal at Dresden when he came to Gorlitts and was afterward by him sent to Amsterdam from whence I believe the first Impression came forth Upon the command of the Senate he abstained from writing seven years at the end of which a new Motion from on high seizing upon him and taking captive these rational Humane Prohibitions that held him bound he again writes out of what Principle and now moved his own words can best express Art saith he hath not written here neither was there any time to consider how to set it punctually down according to the right understanding of the Letters but all was ordered according to the direction of the Spirit which often went in haste so that in many words Letters may be wanting and in some places a Capital Letter for a word so that the Penmans Hand by reason he was not accustomed to it did often shake and tho' I could have written in a more accurate fair and plain manner yet the reason was this that the burning Fire did often force forward with speed and the Hand and Pen must hasten directly after it for it cometh and goeth as a sudden Shower And further he saith I can write nothing of my self but as a Child which neither knoweth nor understandeth any thing which neither hath ever been Learnt but only that which the Lord vouchsafeth to know in me according to the measure as himself manifests in me For I never desired to know any thing of the Divine Mystery much less understood I the way to seek and find it I knew nothing of it as it is the condition of poor Laymen in their Simplicity I sought only after the Heart of Jesus Christ that I might hide my self therein from the wrathful Anger of God and the violent assaults of the Devil and I besought the Lord earnestly for his Holy Spirit and his Grace that he would please to Bless and Guide me in him and take that away from me which did turn me from him and I resign'd my self wholly to him that I might not live to my own will but his and that he only might lead and direct me to the end I might be his Child in his Son Jesus In this my earnest and christian seeking and desire and wherein I suffered many a shrewd repulse but at last resolved rather to put my self in hazard than give over and leave off The Gate was opened to me that in one quaâter of an Hour I saw and knew more than if I had been many years together at an University at which I did exceedingly admire and thereupon turn'd my praise to God for it For I saw and knew the Being of all Beings the Byss and the Abyss and the Eternal Generation of the Holy Trinity the Descent and Original of the World and of all Creatures through the Divine Wisdom I knew and saw in my self all the three Worlds namely 1. The Divine Angelical Paradisical 2. And the Dark World the Original of the Nature to the Fire 3. And thirdly The External and Visible World being of a Procreation or Extern Birth from both the Internal and Spiritual Worlds and I saw and knew the whole-working Essence in the Evil and in the Good and the Mutual Original and Existence of each of them and likewise how the fruitful Bearing Womb of Eternity brought forth So that I did not only greatly wonder at it but did also exceedingly rejoice and presently it came powerfully into my Mind to set the same down in Writing for a Memorial for my self albeit I could very hardly apprehend the same in my External Man and express it with the Pen. Yet however I must begin to labour in these great Mysteries as a Child that goes to School I saw it as in a great deep in the Internal For I had a through view of the Universe as in a Chaos wherein all things are couched and wrapt up but it was impossible for me to explicate the same Yet it opened it self in me from time to time as in a young Plant albeit the same was with me for the space of Twelve years and it was as it were breeding and I found a powerful instigation within me before I could bring it forth into External form of Writing and whatever I could apprehend with the External Principle of my Mind the same I wrote down But however afterward the Sun did shine on me a good while but not constantly for the Sun did hide it self and then I knew not nor well understood my own labour So that Man must acknowledge that his Knowledge is not his own but from God who manifests the Ideas of Wisdom to the Soul of Man in whatmeasure he pleaseth In the Guidance of this Light and from this Principle he wrote these following Works 1. He wrote the first Book called Aurora 1612. 2. Of the Three Principles 1619. 3. Of the Threefold Life of Man 1620. 4. Answers to the Forty Questions of the Soul 5. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Of the Suffering Death and Resurrection of Christ. Of the Tâââ of Faith 6. Of the Six Points Great and Small 7. Of the Heavenly and Earthly Mystery 8. Of the last times to P. K. 9. Signaturâ Rerum 1621. 10. A Consolatory Book of the four Complexions 11. An Apology to Bathasar Tilken in two parts 12. Considerations upon Isaias Seâfeâ's Book 13. Of true Repentance 1622. 14. Of true Resignation 15. A Book of Regeneration 16. A Book of Predestination and Election of God 1623. 17. A Compendium of Repentance 18. Mysterium Magnum or an Exposition upon Genesis 19. A Table of the Principles or a Key of his Writings 1624. 20. Of the Super-sensual Life 21. Of the Divine Vision 22. Of the Two Testaments of Christ Baptism and the Supper 23. A Dialogue between the Enlightned and Uninlightned Soul 24. An Apology for the Book of true Repentance against a Pamphlet of the Primate of Gârlitâs Gregâry Richter 25. A Book of 177 Theosophick Questions 26. An Epitome of the Mysterium Magnum 27. The Holy Weeks or the Prayer-Book
she can do all things And remaining in her self she maketh all things new And in all Ages entring into holy Souls she maketh them Friends of God and Prophets All good things together came to me with her and innumerable Riches in her hands And a greater than Solomon saith Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you This Certainly is not only our Duty but the great Affair most worthy our Enquiry and Industry That Work which Man alone is capacitated for by reason of his noble Extract and that which is alone a suitable reward to render him truely happy It is this Work and Wisdom that the Writings of Jacob Behmen and these following are conversant about laying the Foundation deep firm and solid and thereupon raising a regular and noble Building Here is described at large our Malady and Remedy both with respect to Time and Eternity for the Instruction and Teaching of those he calls his School-fellows and to the perusal of the said Writings we recommend the Candid Reader And shall conclude with a Testimony concerning the Writings of Jacob Behmen from an Ingenious and Learned Hand What soever the thrice great Hermes delivered as Oracles from his Prophetical Tripos or Pythagoras spake by Authority or Socrates debated or Aristotle affirmed yea whatever Divine Plato Prophesied or Plotinus proved this and all this or a far higher and profounder Philosophy is I think contained in the Teutonicks Writings And if there be any friendly Medium which can possibly reconcile those Ancient Differences between the Nobler Wisdom which hath fixt her Palace in Holy Writ and her stubborn Handmaid Natural Reason this happy Marriage of the Spirit and the Soul this wonderful consent of Discords in one Harmony we owe in great measure to Teutonicus his Skill Only let not the Non or Misunderstanding of the most rational Reader if not a little sublimed above the Sphere of common Reason be imputed as a fault to this Elevated Philosopher no more than 't was to the Divine Plotine whose highest Notions many even of his own School after much Study were not able to reach The way to profit in reading these Writings is to be possest with patience our Minds standing in singleness and simplicity and in this frame of Mind to seek diligently pray earnestly and to resign up our Wills intirely to the Guidance and Conduct of the Divine Love Importunity and Industry often prevails to the obtaining the desired End when Sloth and Negligence meets with Disappointments and Shame Let us humble our selves under the sense of our Misery and submit to the mortifying our corrupt Wills and proceed on to Experience a Separation or cleansing from all filthiness of the Flesh and more secret defilements of the Spirit through the Power and Energy of the Heavenly Fire the Divine Life the Breath or Word of God That knowing a Death unto Sin we may also know a Life unto Righteousness which in the true Heavenly Process being offered up to God as an acceptable Sacrifice a permanent fixed and immortal State may be manifest where there shall be no more going forth for ever If these following Sheets contribute in some measure towards the directing and assisting of any especially the honest Industrious Searcher it will greatly rejoice the Persons concerned it being their end and design in the present Publication Farewel Some Words used by Jacob Behmen explained near to his deep Sense AByss is an Infinity peculiar only to each of the Three Principles Amass is a Spirit or Will bringing it self into substance compaction or manifestation Anguish is the third Form of the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature made of the two first Forms and making the Sulphurous Spirit Centrum or Centre is the Flash standing in every Will to make an opening Three Principles Ch. 14. v. 67. Christ by the word Christ is meant the inward new Man in the Spirit of Christ understood inwardly Element call'd the one or holy Element is of or according to the second Principle generated Eternally out of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery which are according to the first but where-ever they generate the holy Element there is Paradise Ens the proper or peculiar Being or Essence Good or be it Evil of a thing Eternal Nature is of the first Principle and is that in which standeth two Kingdoms one the pure Virgin Wisdom of God the one holy Element the cause of the four Elements and Stars The other the severe fierce wrath According to which God calleth himself a consuming Fire It is therefore the great Mystery Expressed word comprizeth all Creatures Visible and Invisible Fiat the Eternal speaking Word or Creating Power proceeding from the Free-will of the Abyss Also the desire of the Soul taking the power of the holy Love Tincture and makes it Essential Flagrat or sudden fright terror shriek flash the severing the two Principles of Light and Darkness resembling that in Thunder and Lightning Gunpowder c. The pregnant Eccho of the sound of Eternity speaking by Magical Fire-breath Love or Anger Life in the Light Death in the Darkness Which is called the Salnitral Flagrat Idea is the Ens which with Man first is and then known But we wrong God unless we say it is because God seeth it ãâ¦ã a Divine Sparkle captiv'd so as can only glimmer not shine forth Magia there are two Magia's one of the Unity the other of the Multiplicity or Astral Powers And two Magi in Man the Spirit of God and Reason into the latter the Devil easily insinuates Majesty the Light of the Glorious Son of God the second Principle according to which only God is called God for according to the first viz. the Fathers Property he is not called God but a consuming Fire Lubet a Longing Delight or Beneplacitum In God it is the free pregnant will to Manifestation in Nature and Creature without which all had been an Eternal stilness The Lubet in Man is the moving will to Good or Evil. Mysterium Magnum that out of which all Visible and Invisible Concreates proceeded it is of the first Principle Vide Eternal Nature Out-birth the visible palpable mortal part of this World call'd the anger-Anger-fire Salniter is that which in the Sulphur is awakened by the heat arising into a Flagrat out of the Brimstony Watry and Earthy Properties whereby the Properties are Explicated Sathan is meant the Spirit of Error and not always a Creaturely Devil but the Property of such an Erroneous Spirit Salitter call'd Divine Salitter represented by the Earth but like the pure Heaven in it are moving springing Powers producing all manner of Divine Trees Plants c. with Heavenly Colours Smells Tasts whereof this Worlds Trees Gold Silver precious Stones c. are hard dead dark shadows But this Salitter and Mercurius i. e. Divine Mercurius is the Food of Angels and Holy Souls Sophia the true noble precious Image of Christ
viz. the Wisdom of God the Tincture of the Light Source the original quality or essential property to Love and Anger Light and Darkness both according to time and Eternity Ternarius or number three in the Language of Nature the Divine Birth in the six Forms of Nature which are the six Seals of God Ternary call'd Ternarium Sanctum holy Flesh or holy Substance or Corporizing of Angels and holy Souls Tincture is in Angels and Glorified Saints the Virgin Love-fire In Man that which Adam's Fall caused almost wholly to disappear In Vegetables Animals and Minerals their Vertue Vitality or Life Spirit and Power Turba is taken for a fierce Wrath-fire which destroyeth a corruptible Body Sometimes for horrid Tempests or Hellish Blasts general Contagions awakened by common Sins call'd Turba Magna Sometimes for the Eternal Wrath-fire which swalloweth up an Evil Spirit without a Body and may be called Turba Maxima I. The seven Spirits of God or powers of Nature as they shew and manifest themselves in Love and Anger both in the Heavenly and Hellish Kingdom and also in the Kingdom of this World not Extracted out of the Mysterium Magnum but Transcribed page 22. Love Anger 1. Astringent Desire Heavenly Hellish Hardness Cold Covetousness Earthly Kingdom World Cold Hardness Bone Salt 2. Attraction or Compunction of Sense Compunction Envy Poyson Life Growth Sences 3. Anguish or Mind Enmity Sulphur Perceivance Pain 4. Fire or Spirit Pride Anger Spirit Reason Desire 5. Light or Love desire Love-fire Meekness Venus-sport Lifes Light 6. Sound or Understanding Divine Joy Speaking Crying Distinguishing 7. Body or Effence Heaven Body Wood Stone Earth Metal Herb. This was received from the Author Jacob Behmen in such a Form by Abraham Van Somerveldt II. The Ten Forms of Fire Extracted out of the Answer of the First of the Forty Questions of the Soul THE Eternal Liberty having and being in it self the Will Signified by Sem. The being Desirous Signified by Arphaxad The sharp drawing causing the Opposite Will Signified by Salah The Flash of Lightning caused by the Liberty and causing the Anguish By Eber. The Eternal Nature or great Mystery whence the two Kingdoms proceed Signified by Peleg The two Principles of Fire and Light Regu The Magia making its own Looking glass as Life is of Fire and Water By Serug The Turba that breaketh the outward Life Strength and Omnipotence Nahor The Virgin Tincture Love-fire Life of Angels and Holy Souls Signified by Terah The Entrance into the Holy Ternary Corporising of Angels and Holy Souls III. The Three Principles are THE Spring or Fountain of Darkness The Vertue or Power of Light The Outbirth generated out of the Darkness by the Power of the Light Represented by Similitudes viz. 1. Man's Soul giving Reason and Thoughts signifieth the Father 2. The Light shewing the Power of the Soul and how to direct it representeth the Son 3. The Mind resulting from this Light and governing the Body resembleth the Holy Ghost 1. The Darkness in us which longeth after the Light is the First Principle 2. The Vertue of the Light whereby we see Intellectually is the Second Principle 3. The longing Power proceeding from the Mind and that attracteth or impregnateth it self whence groweth the Material Body is the Third Principle There is an inclosure knot or stop between each Principle See Chap. 7. of the Book call'd The Three Principles Vers. 21 22 23. A Preface to the Book of Extracts AND The following Considerations by way of Enquiry into part of the Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen THE Extracts of the Aurora was intended for the particular use of one only without his purpose of proceeding farther in the other Books or imparting that as can hardly escape any ones observation And tho' more be done than was at first designed yet oo little is done and with too many defects The proceedings in it like as of a Traveller through a spacious Territory hath been to comprehend and report the varieties there according to the degree of ability intentness and capacity of the passenger Or as one admitted into exquisite Gardens deckt with plenty of all curious flowers c. fills his hand with a few of those he best knows or most admires according to what skill he hath Or as one at a Royal Feast feeds only on what his appetite most relisheth Where the Writer hath contracted below the sublimity of the subject the Reader may with some ease supply that defect by recourse to and consulting the blessed Authors Books themselves To make them truly conspicuous were the work of a divinely irradiated Expositor not of an abridgement And thereto to adapt the minds of but the Sons of Wisdom is the Prerogative of the God of Wisdom for it would bring down Paradise as near us as mortals could bear so sweet a neighbourhood Prayer might help us to power to see as it were the voice of the Author J. B. or rather of God in him for that voice leads us thro' the creatures to the creating Word convincingly demonstrating not only that God is but what he is what he is not and what of him may be seen in every creature good bad and mixt angelical rational animal vegetative mineral and the dark earth Also in all Kingdoms paradisical astral elementary and the dark abyss And how he may be found in all things good bad and mixt in love and wrath Also whence man fell what and how low his fall and how to be restored by Jesus Christ. And all this not a new Doctrine but that which is substantial orderly firmly and naturally founded on the immovable principles and uncontroulable maxims of confessed Theology and Philosophy both sacred and natural Considerations by way of Inquiry and Search INTO THE Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely instructed JACOB BEHMEN Section or Chapter I. Of the two Principles Darkness and Light whence are come evil and good fierceness and meekness anger and love 1. TO begin with things nearest our outward senses Palpable bodies as Darkness Cold c. They condense croud throng and substantiate contrariwise Light and Heat rariâie attenuate make thin or subtle and actuate bodies adapted thereunto 2. Both whilst in due proportion equally good and amicable but in what time or place soever either be extreamly prevalent and tyrannous they become instantly inimicitious and destructive 3. The consideration whereof and consequences deducible thence might cause J. A. Comenius to be offended with Campanella for founding all productions on the contest of two contrary Principles Backing his disgust on Grotius's Argument against the Manichees that of two contraries destruction might follow but no augmentation 4. But without strife springs no production and without contraries is no strife 5. The two Principles of Light and Darkness cannot be said to have beginning but are coeternal yet one the Light swalloweth up the other as the day doth the night 6. The flagrat or
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-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
Sperm or Seed to their maturity and declining who all by the due temper violent extream or fading of This Spirit have the proportion of increase or declination to Nullity for This as a Weather glass or Index shews their degrees of vigour or languishing 4. But let it suffice no longer to hold a Candle to the Sun which in conjunction with Mars is in the out-birth the great instrument which doth abundantly demonstrate and figure This 4th Spirit and on the 4th day was the Sun created or enkindled The 4 first Spirits thus distinctly known open us among many others the Scriptures following 5. This is the Condemnation that light c. and men love darkness c. because their deeds are evil that is they are comprised in the first four forms refusing to be enkindled by the light of the 5th form but remain by the Astringency immeasurably covetous by the attraction uncontroleably proud by the property of the anguish repleat and swoln with envy and by That of the fire have fierce furious anger Our lusts warring in our Members the cause of Wars which remain such till the light of God or second Principle enkindles it and so compose Peace Man is become like the Beast that Perisheth Like the Wolf and Swine by the astringent covetousness The Lion Horse Cock by the proud elevating attracting will Like the Toad Torpedo c. by the anguish Like Dogs Tigers c. by the furious fiery property Thus the Soul like the Traveller fell among Thieves where he perisheth till the good Samaritan takes pity 6. In these 4 Adam was dead till God inspoke the Word promising life the way of reviving is by enkindling light and in the light the Divine Love clearly typified by the Law of Sacrifices for as the Sacrifice gave it self up in a flame as of love to ascend leaving only its ashes which were His till then Impediments so is this Indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish on every Soul of Man that doth Evil These are the 4 murthering Spirits But glory honour and peace to every one that worketh righteousness c. Here are the three last Spirits of the seven viz. The 5th the Light or Love-fire signified by Glory The 6th the sound or spirit enabling to heavenly Songs of Praise signified by honour And the 7th the Body or Sabbath in which all the other six spirits being by the 5th and 6th brought into harmony do inhabit rest and dwell signified by Peace CHAP. VII Demonstrations of the Spirit producing Light and the Love fire 1. THis demonstrates it self in every thing more or less on this side the hellish Principle but the first four excluding Addition are in and in a sort compose comprehend and include the dark World and That is the harsh Astringency strong Attraction raging Anguish and hungry Fire These limit the first or hellish Principle which can never comprehend the Light for That never proceeds to enkindle it for it wants oil and must ever want it because their perpetual Enmity doth ever more dry it up 2. Now that which composeth Peace is where the fire proceedeth to the blowing up of Light the Meekness whereof satiateth the hungry Fire and becomes food for the other three Spirits who before like Milstones without Corn grind and impetuously rub and grate each other 3. This did Lucifer and his Legions till the gracious Jehovah not being pleas'd that so great a space of the Salitter as that now included by the Stars should remain under the Darkness which then cover'd that Deep call'd for Light which was this 5th Spirit and its appearing caus'd each of the other four to kiss and sweetly strengthen the other and draw all one way and not prey one on another 4. The Scripture saith Perfect love casts out fear for fear hath torment which it doth by taking away the enmity and harmonizing the first four forms of the discording Spirits Love is the fulfilling of the Law for it doth all suffers all and that always but until the 4th Spirit the Fire attains the Light and Love Spirit the first four neither do nor can fulfil the Law but undo all by their Dissonancy The three first years the fruits in Canaan were to be accompted as uncircumcised The 4th year to be of Praise to the Lord but not to be eaten till the 5th year The three first years signifie the three first Forms of the eternal Nature viz. Binding Attracting and Anguish which before enkindling of the other four Forms are enemicitious and the foundation of the hellish Principle But the 4th year was the fruit to be of Praise to the Lord more nearly than the other because out of it is enkindled the light and love-flame Yet the Tribes of God were not to eat it till the 5th year for then it became good nourishment by the enkindled Light and principle of Love and not before The sweet Perfume was only of four Heterogeneous Ingredients viz. Stacte or Stacus a bitter tasted Arabian flower and Onyca a sweet spice of each a like quantity signifying the two first Forms which are both alike strong or alike weak every where The third is Galbanum very stinking signifying the third Form the Anguish The fourth is pure Frankincense a Gum of sweet Odour to feed the Fire which Fire is the fourth Form Obj. Will any say How are we concern'd to penetrate into the distinct Forms and Properties of Nature call'd fountain Spirits Is not this the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which Adam fell by searching sounding and feeling after with neglect of the tree of Life Answ. It is true he should not have known this experimentally for his knowing the third Principle separated from the second was as fatal had not infinite Mercy interposed as the knowledge of this which is the first Principle had been to Lucifer and his Angels But Man being fallen it is as highly profitable to him to have the distinct understanding of this as it was hurtful to our first Parents for as the Physitian and Chyrurgeon ought to find the spring of disorders in the Sick or the depth of the Wound even so here our knowing this is as the spreading the snare in the sight of a Bird. This appears it that the Lord is the All in all things with the froward he will shew himself froward c. These four Fountains are the indissoluble band the root of all things visible and invisible the immediate cause and strong might of all eternal things and with the interposition of second causes may be truly said to be the cause of transitory Beings for these are the root of their roots the cause of their causes the instrumental first Mover of their Motion and Parent of their immediate Parents Daniel's vision of four Monarchies figureth the four first Forms all which excluding the 5th viz. the enkindling the Light are called four great Beasts 1. The first like a Lion viz. the
planted a seed or sperm whereon the Holy Ghost brooded and in six days hatcht the generation of the Heavens and Earth with their Hosts Thrones and Royalties Hence were founded the Ant and Elephant the Insects as well as Leviathan And but for this God would have been wholly an unsearchable God nor could any Creature Angel or other have been made 5. We say in things of our little Horoscope the end of Motion is Rest and shall the Originals whence all things exist want a Rest for themselves Must our six days toil end in one of rest and shall these supream Agents reach no Sabbath wherein to triumph in with and for the delight of the Lord of the Sabbath This seventh Spirit is therefore the quiet receptacle of them all 6. Out of which according to the harmony of the Divine Unity they never for one moment can possibly depart And over the Threshold of which according to the separate Property whereby they are rent from the glorious Unity they never put a foot or can for ever enter 7. Will therefore the Human Off-spring whose departure is as written by the Sun Beams reunite and do its first works those whereunto he was created and the pure works of the second Adam whereunto he was regenerated 8. Be it said forasmuch as by his departure he is so far degenerated that his Soul by a willing captivity is under the rage of the first four Spirits from whom the light is withdrawn His Spirit that was a meek divine Ruler hath lost its dominion to so great a degree of fierceness that the Astral rule all His Body which was formed out of the one pure Element out of which Element came also the four and to have been a perpetual figure of the holy third Principle as his Soul and Spirit were of the first and second And which body of his should have eaten Paradisical food is now a captive under the four Elements in so great rigour and vileness that Nature shames at its Beastiality till thus it travels thro' sorrow pain and shame to the dust But the Soul and Spirit may here be baptized and regenerated 9. And because the fruit cannot be brought back to the Tree but the Apple must first perish and the seed in it first die as doth the grain of Corn before it increase therefore the Soul and Spirit must also die the mystical death that is to its strange will to secure them against the second death or before they are capable of the first Resurrection 10. From the same ground is it that the Body also must die and lose its new gotten bestial Image before it can put on immortality and the Image of the heavenly whereunto Jesus came to conduct it 11. But we may know these things are not the work of faint wishes but call for striving watching praying fighting contending running working searching knocking that fruit may be produced by patience for Heaven may not be ascended by earthy wings therefore let the Earth beware of resisting when Heaven stoops descends and enters it 12. To subject mad Mankind to this its only good the gracious Jehovah on Adams departure left his Soul should be a Devil his Body a Beast and the Woman generate a Race of Monsters in the out-birth and of totally proud hellish spirits in the inward reimplanted the Word of Eternal Life as a seed or as a light shining in a dark place to which they only do well who take heed so as to obey such shall by the Divine Guide lose their All and be as a Fool or Child as to self-wisdom but proceeding that way under the Cross possess all things 13. For as there is no salvation in any other so is there no other way of entring there into The six names of the Tribes on Mount Gerizim to bless represent the six active Fountain Spirits according to the second principle and Gerizim the seventh or heavenly body where they rest And the other six on Mount Gebal to curse exhibit the same six Fountains according to the first principle or dark world The seven Pillars on which Wisdom built her house points out the seven Foundation Spirits The six Steps to Solomons Throne hath the same signification and the Throne it self the seventh whither they led and ascended was the Sabbath or Rest. So the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials signifie the same seven Fountains yet all hidden and according to the Darkness where neither can the Book be read till first the Seals be gradually opened the mind and voice of the Trumpets be distinguished till they be orderly sounded nor the things contained in the Vials discerned till severally effused by the Lamb and his successive Angels But the seven Golden Candlesticks are the seven according to the second Principle or light-Light-World seen all manifestly at once The same also are the seven Stars at once giving their splendor Again we read there were seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne which the Text saith are the seven Spirits of God We find and 't is observable the Revelation gives the Vision treble to each viz. To the dark impression by Seals Trumpets and Vials To the Light impression by Candlesticks Stars and Lamps So the seven lean Kine and blasted Ears signifies what we have the seven Properties The seven fat and good what God made the seven Properties to be CHAP. X. Of the Three Principles of the Divine Essence 1. BY a Principle is meant a chief beginning power a self-subsisting Life an original root foundation or in some sense a mystery or genus whence other Spirits Bodies Species or things originate as from a Supream Power And thus is God the only one Principle 2. And this one Principle is also three Eternal Births or Principles ever without ceasing begetting being begotten and proceeding by in and from each other of which all Worlds are conjunctly or severally an Image but very different according to the inscription stamp figure and degrees they attain or are capable of 3. And tho' the three Principles are by an indissoluble band ever inseparably one in God yet are they distinguishable 4. But in the Creatures in the separate Properties are terribly manifest which tho' Adam was not to have known in himself yet is it what we ought to know 5. God said Let us make Man in our Image after our likeness but saith not so of the other Creatures Man in his first make being most perfectly his figure and off-spring 6. Yet every of the other Creatures the Astral Elementary Vegetative Sensitive and the Dark World do all in their various kinds more or less perfectly represent him for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made his eternal Power and Godhead And as there are the united three bearing record in Heaven so are here an agreeing three bearing record on Earth viz. Spirit Water and Blood CHAP. XI
more or less such are sick of Sacred Love so more or less feel they this And the more we die to our immoderate Lusts after the Dominion of the whole third Principle the more doth this Principle evidence it self in us And in such proportion as we enlighten our first Principle or Souls Original standing in the first four forms of Nature proceeding by Divine Power to enâindle the true Light in them in the same measure is our Root transplanted to grow in this Paradisical Field or Principle 7 Demonstration But we are to know by way of Explanation This to be a passing into Death and thro Death into Life of which the Holy Scripture is plentiful Nor may even Plato's description of Love be counted discordant to this who defines Love âo be one 's dying to his own Body and living to the Body beloved 8. For the living to the Divine Light and Love of the second Principle which is the property of the Son of God is a dying to us and ours that is to our whole depraved Image much like as the Day is the Death of the Night 9 Demonstration The second Principle is shewed by the Sacrifices which were consumed by the Holy Fire whereby they died to their first Form and lived to a new one that is were transmuted into the holy Flame 10. And as what part of the Sacrifice would not enkindle into the holy Flame figuring This Principle fell to Ashes as into the perishing third Principle Even so see we much of the Regenerate Man stay below and be uncapable of the New Image but be as Ashes 11. Now we see that Ashes may be heated but Flame not Such is the Earthy Man and Sensual part yet we see after the procedure of a second work Men do transmute common Ashes into a Lucid and Transparent Body 12. So may our vile Bodies by the procedure of the second work the Resurrection be translated into a clarified Christalline Temple for our immense glorified Souls and they both be the Hallowed Habitation of our resigned humble divinely irradiated Spirits 13. And our illustrated Ashes glorified Souls and meek human Spirits being first clothed with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness and heavenly Humanity the Virgin of God's Wisdom will be both suitable guests for the New Jerusalem as a Bride adorned for her Husband and also be Eternal Temples for the Holy Ghost 14. Thus hath been given a glimpse what the second Principle is in it self and what its Operations are in us as to our first Principle It now rests to search what it is in the third Principle in us and in the whole Creation 15. In us it is our Principle of Divine Understanding directing to know our Creator the End of our Creation and wherein âies our true good The Eye thus enlightned informs the Affections that from the Reason offered they should 16. On the Principles of Justice pay the Debt we owe for our Being and the Means wrought for our Restauration to Well-being and of ingenuity willingly and thankfully to adore him as the only Fountain of Good and to esteem every thing in that degree as they partake of that Fulness to figure and resemble him 17. And on the Principles of Self interest to prevent eternal loss or be eternal gainers as our choice or rejecting shall render us capable or otherwise 18. These Notions and Beams of Light when the Understanding receiveth from the second Principle it offereth to the Judgment to consider of 19. The Judgment hath the Senses to consult who are grown so dim-sighted having from their youth been habituated to the Good or Evil of the third Principle that they cannot see beyond it but judge as the Beasts do of Pleasure or Pain nor can they see the least cause to deny themselves of any one thing they lust after whereof if denied they allarm the Passions which have their Root in the first Principle 20. The Passions are as furious violent impetuous Storms which often obscure and impose on the Eye of the Mind and sometimes immerse the Ship of the whole Man setting on fire and extremity the whole frame of Nature so that the Judgment wants power to get the Will right 21. Here the New Man as Child of the holy second Principle hath need enough to pray always fervently to knock wait use much abstinence with highest diligence to watch to stand on its guard to use much violence and severity and that often to fight the faithful Combate till he kill the Murtherers to die from day to day thereby to be pluckt as a brand out of the fire He shall find great necessity of help from Heaven to bind the Strong Man 22. But most especially in some persons whose originals having been strongly rooted in the first four Forms of the first Principle conveyed by Generation and perhaps also reinforced by their Constellation so that they have much of the Serpent in them In such Souls the work of Resignation to the Divine Conduct goes very hardly slowly sadly on with many recoils notable resistance and reluctance that they resemble the Child possessed with that kind that goeth not out but by prayer and fasting 23. Others having so deep Root their Wills being lapsed and wedded to the third Principle either having so great possessions as seem rather to be possessed with them than to possess them or having long enjoyment their Evils plead Prescription and Custom Some by their Constitution incline to delicacy or by their Constellation and Complexion to airiness many such find the Cross too heavy do look back the Pearl in their Account is too dear 24. Others Good Intentions are covered with so much rubbish that they will not be at the pains of removing it for indulgence to their ease and perhaps ensnaring reputation with men foils and pinions them Many of the above strive to enter but are never able therefore withdraw from the Yoke their Goodness is only as the morning dew 25. But the Judgment rightly informed sees all things as they are things present as if past things to come as if present it sees the Out-birth brave with a borrowed Goodness only entrusted to it to shadow the Grace and Glory of the true Fountain of Goodness It sees the World on fire the Heavens rolled up the Lord sitting on his Judgment-Throne sees the triumphs of the humble and tremblings of the proud 26. As for things visible the Glory of the visible Heavens figuring that of the true Heavens the Earth that of the Divine Salitter 'T is true in this dead Earth the surviving relicks of Good strive to produce perfect Bodies of several kinds but the Curse hindereth It would have Paradice bud and bear fruit holy and pure productions every where but it cannot for Death is entred at the door opened by the first Adam 27. Had indeed Life been received as offered by the second Adam Paradice might well have blossomed in the Out-birth and his Kingdom have come with
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
two Figures 3. The first Principle or Fathers Property as one entire Essence without dividing the Tinctures of Female from the Male which though cut in pieces whence all Multiplicity exists yet is still one not to be divided from it self as was the Burnt Sacrifice the only whole Offering without reserve 4. It figureth the Man before he had trod any steps towards his Fall for he was of the entire one though consisting of many Parts yet able wholly to go up to the Lord as the whole Burnt-offering did 5. The second grand Sacrifice was the Peace-offering which differed from the Burnt as was noted 1. In being as well of Female 2. Restrained only to the Herd and Flock whereas both Burnt and Sin-offerings might be also of Fowl and Meat-offering 3. It differed from the other two in that its Fat and Inward part was the Lords and the rest the Priests but not to be eaten by any legally unclean Person The Peace-offering had also a double Figure 1. It represented the second Person of the Glorious Trinity 1. In that in him the two Natures were united 2. In whom the two Tinctures Male and Female were resumed into one Person which we see in that the Sacrifices were of two and only of two Kinds Agen They were severed into two parts the Fat of the Inwards from the rest that was the Lords the rest the Priests but was Holy and not to be eaten by any legally unclean Person 2. 6. The Peace-offering was the Figure of the New Man in whom the disappeared Image which the first Adam lost is revived by which re-union the fallen Man is become new which renewed Man is sanctified to be the Priests part but the other viz. The renewing Image is Gods part So in the Revelation it 's said And hath made us Kings and Priests viz. according to these two Images 1. The Image of God or renewing Power 2. The renewed part the Consort Associate and Servant ever resigning it self to the Will of that Image of God or Renewer So that the Servant becomes also Holy and may not be toucht by any unclean Person Will or Spirit 7. The third grand Sacrifice was the Sin or Trespass-offering which differed from the two former 1. In the General It was to be only a Bullock 2. In Particular to the several sorts of Sinners and Occasions were appropriated several sorts of Sacrifices 3. In the Place where it was to be Sacrificed viz. The Fat at the Altar for Burnt-offerings but the Carcass Hide and Dung in a clean place without the Camp This figureth the third Principle as it comprehends the fallen Apostatized Man The Bullock figures the fallen Humanity the Fat the Heavenly Humanity or Restoring Tincture which was only the Lords and it alone worthy to be offered at the Altar But the Carcass Hide and Dung the sensual impure sinful Man was carried out of the Camp yet it must be to a clean place where it must be burnt not said to be offered for it was too vile But the Burnt-offering is call'd the continual Burnt-offering 8. A Monk of the same Monastery and time with Luther having compleated the time enjoyn'd them for Prayer added asking Whether he had not now done what was fully sufficient Had an audible Answer in these words viz. Redde mihi mediam Lunam solem canis iram Give me the Half-Moon the Sun and the Anger of the Dog 9. The words import to my understanding as follows by the Three Things required his whole three Principles or whole Man his Soul Spirit and Body for by the Anger of the Dog the first Principle is charactered which excluding the Light is cornprised in the first four Forms extendeth no higher than to fiery Rage and is the state or place called in the Revelations without where are Dogs 2. The Sun which was required to be given evidently signifieth the second Principle which the outward Sun representeth 3. The Half-Moon meaneth his third Principle which corporiseth the Elementary Concrets and influenceth their Mutations by her own Regular Laws in Conceptions Progressions Maturations and Transmutations Resolvings and Declensions of Terrestials and in the fluxes of the Tides 10. But if to another Man my Constructions square not be it left as that on which is hanged no stress but a great probability The three Principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury compose every thing that hath a created Being from the top of Heaven to the bottom of Hell as I may phrase it in the Dark light and mixt Worlds or Out-birth CHAP. XV. Of Jehovah and the Creation 1. LET us now after a View of the Three Principles come to a summary disquisition how brief soever yet that may some way assist the willing Mind how through the Creatures to discover some glimpse of the Omnipotent Majesty whose Offspring we are or rather whose Offspring we were really retaining in our depravity only some faint Reflections and nigh worn out Impressions of that dear beauteous Image we had 2. A glance of the Most High in the Face of his only Son is without Comparison infinitely preferrable to all the most sublime Speculation and Wisdom of Man for it is That we lost by the Fall and the knowledge of That is That we are taught to hope for in our Restoration by Jesus Christ. 3. And though it be hard yet possible to all in whom the Light hath so enkindled Love as they search for it as for hidden Treasure And because we are as one Purblind not able to see afar off we are to seek by things within our Ken and thence is it the Apostle saith The invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made his Eternal Power and Godhead 4. By his Eternal Power is understood according to the first Principle the indissoluble Band the Father's Property according to which he is a consuming Fire and that Work call'd his strange Work and his coming forth to that his coming out of his place 5. But by his Godhead is understood according to the second Principle or Son's Property in which he is Jehovah Gracious and Merciful long-suffering and abundant in Mercy and Truth Mercy it self forgiving Iniquity Transgression and Sin 6. Now to know God really and truly in any measure is to know the Son of God who is the Regenerator by the Co-operation of the Holy Ghost in some measure cleansing the Heart of every thing that may be call'd Self and subjecting it to the Obedience of the Holy Universal Will making it run with Delight and Joy in that Way which to the unmortified part is grievous 7. For his first four Forms having by the Grace of God generated the fifth the Love in the Light the Soul thus divinely irradiated falls very sick of Love and nothing can give Ease and Content longer than while he is following his Beloved either by patient waiting for him or doing
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
Darts and Poison used against some noxious Creatures and some hurtful Beasts against other hurtful Beasts also Fire many ways how wrathful soever it is of its own Nature And shall any thing render it self so Perverse Vain or Evil that the Infinite God cannot Extract his own Glorious Ends out of it Fire Thunder Haâl-stones c. are treasured against the day of Battel a Lion to kill the deceived Prophet a Bear them that repreached Elisha he calls for the Sword Pestilence Famine Caterpillars Barrenness and is there Evil in the City and the Lord hath not done it And as this World is the Image of the Eternal so the Evils here are the lively Figures of those and as many Mens Sins like so many filthy Exhalations generating Toads in the lower Region as over the Isle of Jersey is said to be done conspire into a General Contagion of Sweeping Plagues whereby the Transgressors excluding themselves the Kingdom of Purity and Love are Instruments of their own Misery so in that Abyss they act continually the Tragedy of their own desperate Horror and yet therein do the Will of the Almighty God who comprehends the dark Abyss and are one Will with his Wrath devouring Fire and fierce Indignation 14. Though there is nothing in God but what is God it must be understood of Powers as they are in God so his Principle of Infinite Potence and Wrath as it is in God generating the Glorious Love delight His Son and being Eternally undividable from His Goodness and Grace it is God but as God makes Himself Creaturely that is spoke forth the Creation out of Himself and as the Creature perverteth his own Way misimployeth his entrusted Talent then are the Properties which are only distinguishable as they are in God but separate Divided and Evil as they are in the Creatures yet those Evil Properties have one will bent hunger and fierce or rapid Inclination with the Principle of the Wrath Zeal and Jealousie of God which is most righteous and just in God but most cruel ferine inimicitious wicked and unclean in the Evil Angels and Reprobate Souls 15. That God cannot be divided from God for it were to be divided from Himself as impossible as to feign two Infinites which were brutish weak and vile to think and which nothing above spoken can be construed to imply yet that all Powers come from Him shews uncontroulably they are all distinctly in Him but not divisibly as they are in him for in the Infinite God all is infinitely Good The Evil is only as the Properties are separated in the Creatures who extinguish in themselves the Vital Spirit of them the pure Universal Life which kept sweet Order and Harmony by the Bonds of Love but once dissolved Antipathy and Death domineers in the Dark Wrath yet God according to the first Principle gives or is the Essence and Immortality thereof For as in Him we live move and have our Being viz. our Eternal Blessedness and Transitory Being of Good and Evil so by Him and in Him according to the Property of the first Principle hath the whole Dark World theirs as well their Being or Existence as their Tincture Immutability or Perpetuity 16. And this is plainly demonstrable in the Creatures both in the cruel fierce wild one's and in the gentle tame Beasts but especially in Man See we an impious injurious implacable malicious Man causelesly yet sollicitously hunting pursuing ensnaring and tormenting his Neighbour with how great Delight and Pleasure he sees his unrighteous Projects succeed Wherein hath a grinning kind of Satisfaction one Property being proud of the other which makes him insult like those that shall kill the Witnesses Rejoyce Feast and send Gifts one to another For their first Principle enthroned ruling over is at rest in their third but when their Designs prove Abortive an Evil Spirit from God troubles them and do as Saul want David's Harp to blunt the Point and Edge of their Forms of Life which now sharpen grow fierce grate rub and torture one the other turning as in Haman the confluence of all other good into Gaul and Wormwood because their first Principle cannot generate the second being Strangers to the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them on loosing the Charms of the third do like a Mill wanting Corn grind themselves and the Powers do all form themselves into Hostility immediately entring into an irreconcileable Conflict 17. See we also an upright perfect Man though he entirely wisheth the Good of all Men yet when he seeth a vile Person hatching and perpetrating his Outrages on the Lamb-like Innocents and that also he sees the Righteous God either by His own immediate propitious Hand or by spiriting the oppressed or any other to defend or avenge Him What kind of solace and thankful frame appears in this Pious Observer Exalting Him to a real Delight and Joy for there being the self-same Forms of Life composing the Holy Soul as the other though not the Holiness of the Soul for that is a Divine awakening as a Flame out of a dark Fire the sweetness such a one shareth by seeing the Peaceable delivered or Vengeance taken on the fixed Enemy whose desperate Resolutions pusht him on to destroy is much more than it can be of content to the Blood-thirsty when their Plots prosper as it is written Rejoyce over her my People and ye holy Apostles and Prophets 18. Thus see we Revenge to be so sweet that often it requires sowre Sauce our first Principle being so strong that it is obnoxious to catch as Tinder while it is as a burning Coal to the Hand of him that carries it and though we sadly Experiment it yet how propense are all Men as Men to rush on those Pikes to sat our Hunger after it which erroneously deem a real Felicity to be in it And thus to the penetrating Mind is God obscurely yet distinctly imaged in bad Men but evidently in good Men but Lucifer is obscurely yet distinctly shewn in good Men expresly character'd in bad Men. See the Answer of Jacob Behmen to the 8th of these Questions Here begins the Third Grand Distribution which compriseth the 23 next following Questions Q. 15. Hath the Foundation of Hell taken a Temporary Beginning or hath it been from Eternity or how may it subsist Eternally or not A. That part of Answer to this weighty Question which the God of Wisdom vouchsafed to make by his Eminent Servant the Author in the four Verses beginning the Answer is full and clear to such of his Children who are Proficients in the rest of his Precious Writings but for the sake of other sincere faithful Enquirers who are less conversant in them it may be requisite to add something more 5. Now It is granted That neither Men nor Angels should have known it had not their depravity awakened it thus it is a dear bought Knowledge and what Men buy dear it is fit they should have Yet though
his Sin 12. God's working there confirms perpetual Existence to all there where every black Machination ever stands in its own Substance not barely a Shadow but permanent without Vizard or Varnish in Horrid real Forms 13. There God receives the Glory of His Truth in all His Threatnings There the Voice of the infinitely precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God which had been trampled on as if it had been an Unholy Thing hath due Audience and exact punctual Answers Also the Cry of all the Blood and Tears of all His murthered and oppressed Members from Abel to the last Man hath ample satisfactory Answers 14. There God receives the Debt due to His abused Patience and due to the Holy Ghost who had been continually striving and as long rejected grieved scorned and his sweet Councils gracious and safe Motions reproached and blasphemed 15. There God reigns in all the Seven Forms of Nature according to the Dark Impression for the wicked Impenitent Will whereunto the very Gospel of Jesus Christ hath been a savour of Death unto Death this very Obstinate Will is here a sweet savour to the Divine and here immutable Justice for the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness 16. Is there indeed a Place of Hell or not That there is a Hell Atheists only deny and what Hell is the Children of the Day know little of nor should Adam or his Children have known it for it was not prepared for them but as it is written Prepared for the Devil and his Angels 17. Man grew up into that Principle as it were by Accident yet are like to have no small share of it 'T is true Lucifer and his Legions were Sinners of elder Date and fell from a higher Seat as it were down a greater Precipice But Man hath sinn'd against means incomparably fit of invaluable Price and freely and frequently tendered to restore him 18. Oh that Men were wise that they knew This that they would consider their latter End Consider this you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men. Will Men employ no serious Thoughts on this but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath c. 19. Now whether Hell be a Place It 's answered Hell is a Principle consisting of fixt Enmity against God's gracious Nature against all the Holiness Truth Love and Goodness and all this as it consists of the Evil of Evils that is to say Sin Hell also is a fixt Hatred against all God's out-goings in His Mercy and Bounty giving Beauty and Order to all his Creation Celestial and Out-birth and this Hell is as by the Evil of Deprivation And as Hell is an Evil of Sence and Torment it takes in all the Horrors generated in the Womb of the fierce part of the whole Seven Fountain Spirits as far as the Bounds of the first Principle 20. We are farther to know that a Principle cannot want Place but dwells in its self for Place cannot contain or comprehend a Principle 21. An Explanatory Similitude or Instance is found in Man What part of him is the Place or Receptacle of Wickedness It 's answer'd no part of a hardened impenitent Sinner refuseth to be its Dwelling-place his whole Soul Spirit and Body and it like a Contagion invadeth all Places and Persons fitted to receive it that either by Word Work Writing President Wish or otherwise he can extend himself unto 22. But in a Man wherein the Divine Word is awakened and is prevalent the Darkness or hellish Principle can encroach no farther than its own unsanctified unhallowed part And if any Man follow the Lord fully he is fenced as the Cherubim doth Paradise so that the Dark Powers are shut out of that Man 23. Shortly then as much of the Infinite Abyss as shall not be ennobled and enriched by the sweet Vertue Purity and Splendor of the Holy Powers shall be the place of the Everlasting Hell or Lake of Fire Q. 18. Where is the Place of Heaven where the Angels dwell How is the same distinguished from Hell Is the same also a certain circumscribed Place How is it to be understood A. 1. If I am understood by a very few what wonder seeing the Lord Jesus saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God The Question where Heaven is presupposeth the Knowledge of what it is but to speak what it is will be met with when God shall excite and instruct any one to answer the following Questions It seems therefore fit to restrain my self here to the Limit of this Question and observing that Boundary It 's answered 2. Heaven being a Principle cannot be circumscribed even as God is not comprehended but comprehends the whole infinite Abyss So neither is Heaven excluded out of any place nor included in any place but possesseth the infinite Liberty for it both contains and is contained in all the three Principles Yet is so in them as not to touch nor be touched by the first Principle in its fierceness but in its Might and Potence Nor the third in its divided Out-birth but in its Quintessence as it stands in the Holy Element and that in the Wisdom and as it is purely the out-spoken Word 3. And all this in the entire Concordance with the Majesty and Divine Omnipotence of the second Principle which in all the Seven Fountain Spirits hath Eternal Dominion So that where ever the Love and Goodness of God manifesteth it self there is Heaven yet dwelling in it self in its own Divine Principle streaming through the activity of some or all of the Seven Fountain Spirits as they severally move themselves in some places or things more brightly in others more obscurely as is seen in the mixt World 4. But the Illustrious Principle whereof the Spirits of Just Men made perfect are capable is most Triumphant in the uninterrupted unveiled paradisical Part or World for there the Fire of the first Principle and the effluenced spoken Matter of the third are irradiated sublimed and crowned by the Splendor of the second In this place or part of the Principle stands the Eternal weight of Glory for the General Assembly and Church of the First-born 5. Now seeing our gracious Creator made us at first Heavenly though we became Earthy and Heaven being the Country whence we sprung also that it is so near us it being said it is not excluded out of any place And that it was on our first Departure re-implanted or inspoken again into us It may be demanded how is it we are commanded to strive to enter in at the strait Gate c. Also Many shall strive to enter in and shall not be able Again Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Again We are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the World with many the like sad Characters of us 6.
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 Fiâe 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 glââinous 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 Bââit 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
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 Paradisâcal 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 inâtated 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 âtinking 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
State of things will fall under the Answers of the 33 34 35 36 and 37th Questions by whomsoever they shall by Divine Assistance be resolved Q. 24. Wherefore and to what use and benefit are the Stars created Ans. 1. This of the Stars includes the Sun and Moon for they also are two of the Royal Stars To the better discoursing which it may be orderly 1. To say what they are 2. What they figure and represent 3. What they are Instruments to do 2. They are in the Out-birth vigorous Engines of Omnipotence that by occult and Spiritual Powers can insensibly influence and act irresistible applications for the concreting or generating improving dissolving of all the various Bodies within the Sphere of their Activity or Principle being of the Outward World or Third Principle 3. Thus by similitude the Angels are call'd Stars As doth the Lord of Angels humble himself to be call'd a Star several times in the Sacred Records 4. What they represent and figure The four Forms or Anguishes of binding attracting Anguish and Fire represent the first whole Principle and do form Saturn Jupiter Mercury and Mars The two Forms of Majestick Light and dear Love figure the whole second Principle and do form Sol and Venus And the seventh Form of habitation a seeming change or inconstancy a seeming alteration of increase and diminution of Essence being the Scale and Method of the third Principle formeth the Moon with her Changes and Eclipses 5. The seven Royal Stars are like vowels or spirits of Letters and the innumerable others are like consonants forming infinite variety of syllables and words for as words are the opening of the secret lockt up Mind so are the Stars the opening of the Dark Mystery or Chaos shut up in the Anguish Chambers And as the various Properties of the several Principles are couched in and expressed by the vowels and spirits of the Letters peculiar to them so the seven Royal Stars are suited in and qualified by the three Principles and the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature 6. Thus the Stars figure God in his Almightiness Infinity and Eternity according to the first Principle In His Majestick Triumphant Kingdom of Light according to the second and in His Gracious Kingdom of Love according to the third Principle And are in the very third Principle the express word of what the Devils are in the Dark Abyss and of what the Holy Angels are in the Heavenly World In all which they are an Image of the Image of God so expresly that the Throne or Angelical Kings according to each of the seven Fountain Spirits are imaged by the seven Kingly Stars The Hosts and Legions of the seven Angelical Kings by the rest of the innumerable Constellations and lesser Glories 7. What they do instrumentally Moses saith they were for signs seasons days months and years Deborah makes them Warriors The Stars in their courses fought against Siâera The wise men found one of them a Harbinger to tell them of Christ's Incarnation 8. The wise Antients penetrated so far into their Properties Virtues and Orderly Applications in Human and all Terrene Bodies Affairs Governments that by true Natural Magick they could demonstrate their occult Energies by sensible Influences And the Egyptian Magi imitating Moses may not be concluded meerly Impostors tho' their Acquired Operations how really natural soever must humble themselves before the stupendious Fiat of the God of Nature The Babylionian Magi whereof Daniel and his Companions were could interpret and disclose Secrets And the wise men find the King of the Jews by clear Inductions and Conclusions of Natural Operations as are found Real Causes by Natural Consequents 9. But some Modern Pretenders to Wisdom little more than gaze on the Stars and take up with names and numbers and where they see more will entitle Satan to the honour of God's great excellent Works amongst his Creatures 10. Having thus made way be it known Man hath an Astral Spirit call'd by Some an Evester by others otherwise which laies hold on him at the enkindling of his Life when his Embrio in the Conception is ennobled by a Living Soul and that Astral Spirit sublimeth or debaseth his Intellect decorateth or incurvateth his Mind towards Good or Evil. This as the Separators Instrument doth model and distinguish into Sexes dispenseth such Peculiar Properties as their successive ascending Regiments by prevalence or precedency shall impress then and at the Birth the Internal Faculties more or less capacious c. The whole composure of Body the Eye Feature Stature Lineaments Voice Seal of the Palm Tincture of the Parts caât of the Hair c. 11. The Stars are such Arbitrary Lords since Adam's heavy Fall subjected him thereunto that they can well proportion the Elementary Body of one a Mind well composed Atchievements successful his course renowned Another they load with an incumbring Body of Ill Symmetry perverse Humours and unprosperous and finish him with a Tragical Exit 12. The Astral Vertue is woven into all the variety of Minerals distributing weight to one making Lead from Saturn so Mars harshness makes Iron Venus Copper those with the work of the power of Sol produceth Gold and so of the rest 13. Their Vertue is also as apparent in the other parts of the Creation as in Vegetables from the Cedar to the Hyssop or pile of Grass In Insects that there is infused both utmost diligence and providence which is observed in the Ant. What is the Spur of the delicate curious Bee the crafty industrious Spider the profitable Contexture of the Silk-worm with its Transmigration all proceeding from the strife of the Properties 14. In Sensitives and Animals are there Inscriptions some fitted by the first four Forms or some of the four for prey and hostility others by conjunction of more benevolent Aspects are mild some very docible So in the general Body of Nature by some call'd the Soul of the World are Sympathies and Antipathies c. In all which no cause is left to doubt but their Vertue is expresly eminent in the several Elementary Worlds Who sees not that all things bear their Impressions Some according to the Darkness and others the Light and some after the mixt Powers from their peeping up into Propriety till their being resumed by their several Ethers and first Principles 15. As the Stars are over under and incircle us so their Energies and Powers are in us and on us we are strong in their strength they are not ours more properly than that they are us even a very great part of us They are the Pilot of the Elementary part and the Chariot of our Eternal Soul And to our shame and sorrow it must be acknowledged they are in very many Lords paramount even over the High-born Noble Eternal Soul very many give up their Will to their Conduct for never laying hold of the Grace provided for them in the true Jubilee are voluntary Ear-boar'd Slaves 16. But
of these Waters on whose Face dwelt the Darkness when first the Spirit of God began to move thereon Q. 27. What is the Ground of the Male and Female Kind in the Essence of this World Whence is the Conjunction and Desire arisen Could not the same be effected in one only Ground without dividing A. The Question having three Branches requires a distinct Answer to each part 1. To the first it must be said The Male and Female Essence of this World have their Root in the very Properties whereof the World it self consisteth And tho' the same Tinctures be an Image of the two Spiritual Worlds and of the Principles yet the dividing of the Tinctures are not in the Divine World for though they are there yet are United and so are not two but one Potent glorious Power 2. Will any say Why differs the Copy from the Original It 's answer'd The four Elements though divided are a Figure of the inward World yet the inward World consisteth in one undivided Element whence the four proceeded 3. Now this is a manifest dividing of the Tincture of the Fire from that of the Light which the Elementary Creatures bear in two distinct Bodies divided each from other for as the four several Properties of the first Principle longed to be Creaturely and attained their Images in the several Transitory Creatures so the two Tinctures longed and obtained their Images in the two distinct Sexes of the Transitory Creatures 4. To the second Part whence the Conjunction and Desire is arisen which is for that they come from one only Root and are there really one only Tincture therefore being divided do they so exceedingly desire one the other as is seen among the many Kinds of Birds and Beasts Also in the Properties of the Minerals for we may see how Mars naturally incorporated and digested with and made tough by Venus and then brought into an Hunger and fed by Sol transmuteth into the desired Metal or Solar Body This Desire Nature sheweth in Mulberry-Trees and that of the Vine and Elm c. And not only in Minerals Vegetatives and Animals 5. But in the Sympathies of the outward Universe is this apparent as in every Element and part of Element who all retire to their several Centres as soon as they get dismist from their Obligations to other different Elements Also in the Union of Will between the Loadstone and Needle more especially in Man the bare Instances whereof would be a Volume one whereof may be 6. We see how exceedingly every Man is affected with the Good or Ill Opinion others have of him drawing a kind of Life or Death from their Affections or Ill Humours shewing the Souls of all Men to have but one only Root Body or Fountain and the Severals to be but Drils or Twigs 7. To the third Part Whether it could not have been otherwise c. 'T is answer'd The Male and Female Tinctures are originally one glorious Power-World in which all Properties are United but when that one Element or Divine Eternal Nature was moved to give out the Astral Heavens and four Elements in their divided Properties Those Beasts Birds and Fishes which were distinguished into Male and Female Sexes and did propagate themselves by Commixture were the most apt Expressions of the Astral Spirit and Powers and plainest Characters of the inward distinct Wills For granting that World whereof this is an Image the longing Desire it had to be Imaged it could not possibly be otherwise For though the Female and Male Properties are shewn obscurely in the Spawn and Melt of Fishes but not so conspicuous as in those greater Kinds of Fishes which bring forth young large full-formed Fishes Also not so plainly in Insects as in more mature Sensitives nor in Immoveables as in Insects yet perceptible it is in every of them 8. But all this relates to Temporary Creatures Extracts of the Stars and Elements having no Original Right but Usurping Dominion over Man's pure holy Humane Body for that being out of the Quintessence was capable of Eternity therefore not out of the Stars which shall fall into their Ether nor out of the four Elements which shall dissolve and be Melted by their Central Fire 9. The dividing of the Tincture into two distinct Sexes in Man was no otherwise needful but as a Chirurgeon impresseth an Incision to save a maimed Limb from a Gangrene To man thus it became also of absolute necessity because he was fallen headlong from his Magistracy over both the Astral and Elementary Powers to be a poor Captive under their Domination Q. 28. What are the Principles of the Spirit of this World of the Superior or Inferior Being A. 1. A Principle is a New Birth or New Life The Eternal Deity is the only One Principle wherein is Eternal Life the Creation of Angels and Men are its manifestation yet is there another Principle rightly call'd the first which is also Eternal but not of Life Eternal but of Death where-ever the Divine Principle is not manifest 2. Into which when Lucifer and his Legions had thrown themselves Man was created to supply that place And lest when he should fall he might become a Devil also the third Principle was created to help him And were it not out of the Question and that perhaps it may fall under another Question to be answered by a more enlighten d hand it should be here shewn how the Man's concern in This Created World was what adequated and priviledged him tho' fallen to a possibility of being recovered which here not without some reluctancy I must be content to omit in this place 3. Now restraining my self to the limits of the Question with all brevity 't is answered That the most or innermost Principle of This Worlds Spirit is the Powers of the Stars in all the Creation The Light of the Sun and the Astral World is out of the second Principle And were not some Wrath in the Sun shewn by the intolerable Heat it might unite with the Light of the Eternal Spiritual World but as it is the Tincture in it is the most noble of all Visibles as a God in Nature not only wholly useless to Evil Angels but a check to many of their works for they like Adulterers love the Twy-light 4. The next Birth or Principle downward in the Spirit of this World inferior to the Astral is the Elementary which is not so remote from the wrathful or first Principle as is the former but are another or second Birth the Stars being reckoned the first Whence it is that Man 's Elementary part since the Fall is transitory gross and sluggish like as the Bodies of Beasts for the Spirit of this World doth in this Birth boil up the half dead Salitter gross Sulphur and infected Mercury So that the Body were a lump did not the Sun's lustre or glance give him Eyes and it with the other powers of the Stars in the Properties of the first Principle
enkindle the other Senses making it thereby a poor Cottage but badly furnished to serve the Noble Eternal Soul and sweet penetrating intelligent Spirit 5. But the Sun c. is a Principle deeper shewn among other ways by their secret irresistible Agitations and vigorous Influences on all adapted Subjects as also by their unaltered steadiness 6. The last and lowest Principle in the Spirit of this World is the wrathful mortal transient mutable Birth This is one sad consequence of Man's departure from and prophaning of the Holy Powers and of the Evil Angels introducing the dark fierceness of the Properties of the first Principle into the Mystery or Chaos out of which the Fiat by the Separator produced This whole Outward World For the Evil had planted it self in the deep of this Out-birth probably bounded by the Primum Mobile and was call'd by Moses a darkness on the face of the deep 7. And this fierceness is part of the heavy Load thorny Cross severe School and rigorous trying Fire of the Regenerate Sons of God The same is also part of the Over-load Plague and Torment of the Rebellious who in their Anguish curse and look upward And the same is also the vanity and misery the Creatures groan and travel in pain under who shall be delivered from it But the Spirit of This cannot look into the Divine World and if it endeavours to snatch the Virgin Image it is but as a Thief Q. 29. What is the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things A. 1. By Sperm is meant a Seed Root or Ens yielding matter or substance out of which Form is produced And by all things meant in the Question is understood all the Out-world consisting of Stars Elements and their Concretes To which thus understood it is answered 2. That there is an Immediate Cause of all things that may be call'd a Root Seed or Sperm for to believe the Visible World to be its own Cause were Heathenism 3. The Answer is brancht 1. Negatively That this Immediate Cause or Sperm cannot be one of the Principles for in one Principle all Varieties and Properties are not found but in This World is a commixture of all Varieties and Properties Not an Herb or Flower purely a simple but a composition made up of many Properties 4. Nor can This Sperm be all the three Principles themselves for so is nothing below Infinity no not the Divine World but the Omnipotent is the alone Possessor of all the three Principles in him only they all subsist 5. Nor infinitely less can it be God a thought of which were derogatory to the Purity and unapproachable Light and Holiness of His Nature and Essence 6. If therefore the Sperm be not one Principle having but part of the Properties nor all three united because they are inseparably in the One God and that all Properties owe their Fountains to them This Sperm can but only be a product from the same Principle according to and after all the Properties It is therefore not a beginner of Existence but a begun Existence not a beginner of Life but a begun Life 7. Now for an Affirmative Answer The Sperm of all Visible things is a Spiritual and to our outward Eyes Invisible Ens consisting of and containing all the Powers Properties Vertues Varieties and every distinct Genus and Species potentially which the Visible World hath in its multiform express divided parcels 8. It must be confessed to be the great Mystery great because in its womb lie all things A Mystery because all is wrapt up in it and spring from it 9. It is also the Eternal Nature Nature being generated by the Principle and furnished with the Native Birth of all the Properties Eternal as it is the Root of the Temporary Creation and its Centre Retreat and Aether 10. It may also be call'd a Quintessence as it contains in Union all the four Elements and Astral Birth It is the Image and Imager the impresser and bringer into Forms of the whole three Principles and seven Fountain Spirits the Mirrour of all Forms and Powers Is it objected God's Creating all things by His Word is a giving Being where none was exclusive of all Intermediate Causes and the Out-birth was a substance from a Nullity or Vacuum 11. It is answered It is no derogation of Omnipotence having out of himself spoken an excellent Image of himself a Power-world or other Creature that the same generateth more even to Infinity The Trees Fowl Fish Man as well as Elements had all seed in themselves Thus a Carpenter makes Tools and with them makes more 12. The Apostle saith That by Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God so that the things that are seen were not made of things that do appear he saith not they were made of no pre-existent matter but not of things that do appear 13. And Moses recording the Generation of Heaven and Earth saith And the Earth was without Form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep And again The Spirit of God moved on the face of the Waters Loe âere is something call'd Earth something call'd Water and some space call'd deep before so much as Light was call'd for But how the Earth Water and Space prove this great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence to have priority of Existence and what that Matter and Space import will fall under the Questions yet behind more properly than here whomsoever God shall enlighten to make Answers to them Q. 30. What is the distinction or difference of the Sperm or Seed betwixt Metals Stones and Vegetables viz. Herbs Trees and Earthy things or Mineral Earths A. 1. David saith With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward The Light and Heat of the Sun exciteth the Mercury and Sulphur to germinate in the Saline Property and so prosper all Vegetations in quite contrary Qualities with equal vigour 2. For as we may not multiply Principles nor Properties so neither may we Sperms all of which may be distinguished rather than divided 3. Their known number and distributions are fully sufficient to methodize innumerable Concretes not admitting the least disorder or confusion but yet abounding with infinite variety and every individual duly ranged into an exact order and subjection as of all the seven so especially of some one who hath peculiar Superiority 4. Hence is it that the Roots Herbs Fruits and Seeds sort themselves after the seven Properties and in them the Sperm is various either as the Spirit of the World or Astral Spirit impresseth the Infusing Matter or Sperm in some according to the Evil Dark Impression and such have much malignity some especially ãâã mortally vitiated 5. Others in which the Astral Spirit impresseth on the infused Sperm a vertue according to the Light Divine Kingdom subliming those Vegetatives to be cordial sanative and restorative All as the
is that true Spiritual Life is revived or stirred up in us 18. The New Man regenerated out of the Earthy Man being a Virgin may Sup with the Eternal Virgin and as the Lord while in our Flesh had the heavenly Flesh and Blood which swallowed up the other So we in His Meek pure Spirit carry it also in our Earthy Body and if we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood in the Body Power and Vertue of Jesus Christ that is in the Son by the Holy Ghost to the Father Then when the old one falls off we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood and our Works are no longer ours nor our Words ours but God doth all in us 19 To this Man every with-drawing Thought from an entire Subjection is his Cross for to him Honour and Contempt Sweet and Bitter Penury and Plenty Heavy and Light are no more any of these for he loves not the one nor flyes from the other but the Divine Will is his Joy and Content the thing sought and his full satisfaction Q. 43. Why did God Create in the Beginning but one Man and not forthwith a Man and a Woman together as He did the other Kinds of Creatures or other Species A. 1. God created the other Creatures to manifest his various divided Powers that in them he might severally Image every of them by those wrathful fierce ones in the dark World the loving Innocent ones of the Light World's Property and others of the meer Elementary World and that the seeming contrary and discording Properties might in distinct Forms and Creatures one excite the other to a general Harmony whereunto they still serve 2. But Man He created to a higher and more excellent Sphere for he was in one only Person to comprise as in an Epitomy the Image of the total God having his Root in the Eternal dark World or that of Fire His Life Glory Vertue and Fruit in the Eternal light-Light-world or second Principle of Love and Holiness and the third Principle being that of the purest Astral and Elementary World was but to Hang to him over which he was to bear rule 3. Nor could he have been God's compleat Image had not the Tincture of the Fire and also of the Light been incorporated in him that is both the Male and Female Properties 4. Therefore was it that he was but One Undivided to Image God who is distinguished into Three yet is One and Eternally the same Infinite and in Himself the Undividable One 5. And as the One God remaining but One diffuseth Himself into Multiplicity so should Adam had he remained an Undivided one Magically have propagated a Blessed Holy Numerous Progeny in perfect Modesty and Purity yet bearing in them all every Power of the Principles and every Property in great Harmony as are found in the Angelical World as well as in the Astral and Elementary 6. But when once Adam had his Eve rent from him we see what Misery Distraction Laceration and Wo soon follow'd by disappearing of the pure Virgin Modesty Q. 44. Was the first Man in such a habit of Condition created to Eternal Life or to Change and Alteration A. 1. When Men search the wretchedness of fallen Man's present Estate it may seem incredible that ever he was a glorious and compleat Image of God and of all Worlds 2. As one seeing the Ruins of a Royal City which Sword and Fire hath laid in Ashes heap'd into Rubbish Desolation plead Prescription and Years have cloathed the Hillocks in Green especially if some Earthquake had razed the Situation the Beholder of these Remains though credibly inform'd can scarce credit that ever it deserved half what perhaps Fame too sparingly reported it to be 3. Thus Men looking on their own feeble sickly filthy short liv'd Boâies can see little more than a Bestial Image But farther penetrating the Deâârmities of the Soul at Hostility against even God Himself and torn by Civil War within it self and by means of God's withdrawing abused Grace it is invaded by gross Darkness Little more can be seen but what is devillish 4 But Glory be to God in the highest that Jesus took this fallen Image and led it through Death into Eternal Life The sad Prospect of what Man is joyned with the Ignorance of what he was raiseth the blind Conceit that he was created to Alteration 5. But to shew how Excellent Man was by Creation and that he was not subject to Alteration yet that I may shun Repetition do return my self to the Answers of the 38 39 40 and 41st Questions Only lot it be remembred that God denounceth as the Wages of Disobedience Alteration Death and Deprivation of the Paradisical Glory 6. And that the Alteration was Translation to a better Place must needs be an Error springing from our Ignorance of what Paradise is and what that staâe is I return my self to the Answer of the 42. Question Q. 45. What manner of Image was Adam before his Eve In what Form and Condition was he when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both A. 1. He was so made as to possess the Throne of expulsed Lucifer he was therefore an Image of God's Power as well as his Holiness which made him the Object of Lucifer's Malice 2. And forasmuch as Lucifer affected to lift up himself in that part of God's Image entrusted to him consisting of Potence and Mightiness to such excess as eclipsed his holy pure lustre Therefore to prevent it in Adam there was added to him the third Principle for it was Matter for some humble Contemplation But Lucifer not balanced therewith Imaged in himself a desire of Rule above the End or Limit of Creature Nature 3. Adam was also lower than Lucifer because the Subjects of this Monarchy were only potentially or virtually existent not actually produced And it is found that gradual access to exercise of Authority is less obnoxious to inordinate Practices than instantaneous Entrance upon Soveraignty His gracious Creator saw it safer for him to be raising of Fruit than at once to enjoy a reaped Crop 4. But he was Privileged above the Angelical Hierarchy that had left their Habitation being a more compleat Image of God than they having one Principle more intrusted to him 5. His Fall was into that third Principle which though the Holy World should be withdrawn from him yet was not that Principle sinfully Evil in it self but the first Principle excluding thence the Holy World is Evil in it self into which the Angels fell 6. The third Principle God annexed to Adam for knowing he would not remain faithful in the Virgin State that into it infinite Love and Goodness might enter to help him again which Jehovah Christ did by re-uniting the Eternal Divine Virginity to the Sick infected Humanity 7. And thus Tinctured the Humanity enkindling in it a true Heavenly spark of holy Fire which when our Humanity in Christ yields it self up into it is a Sacrifice turned into a Love
53d is shewn what this Worlds Fruits were when at best And in the last preceding Answer what introduced it into the midst of Adam's Garden aud where that is to which severally to avoid Repetitions is this referr'd 1. Which well pondered little may suffice for Answer of this For though Adam was God's total Image by having the third Principle on him yet he was not in it nor of it but Lord of it and it as it were hung to him As the Lord Jesus Christ was in the outward World but not of it but of and in Heaven So was Adam in the Garden of Eden but not of it but of and in Paradise 2. Again Adam's Body was no otherwise one with the Astral Spirit than as allied or as Brother to it proceeding from the same Holy Element yet was to out-live it even for ever because his Body was conjunct with an Eternal Soul and Divine Spirit whereas the Astral Spirit hath its Age and recess into its Aether 3. But the Tree of Good and Evil was Corruptible having it's Root in the Elementary World influenced only the Astral in which the separated Properties were so awakened as it consisted of Heterogeneous Good and Evil Parts Even those of the Dark World radically impressed 4. So that it was Death and Poison to the Paradisical Heavenly Man for it generated Putrefaction and a filthy Draught and Bestiality wherefore the Gracious Creator did so severely or expresly and strictly forwarn and forbid Man that Tree Q. 60. Wherefore should Man rule over all the living Creatures or Beasts of the Earth How and to what End could that have been A. Negatively it is answered That Adam while he stood had no need neither 1. Of their Milk or Carcasses for Food or Skins or Fleeces for Cloaths because Corruption contributeth nothing to Incorruption and an Incorruptible Body as Heaven wants not Earth 2. Nor their Strength for Labour or Culture for the Proââââons needed by him were Pure and Heavenly The Effect of the Curse it was that it was said in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread 3. Nor their Courage or Velocity for offence or speed for no Opposition needed no Counter-force and no Extremity needed no Speed 4. Nor their assimilating or Antipathetick Powers for Medicine because no Sickness needs no Physick no penetration of Bodies nor impairing of Parts no need of assimilating or restorative Applications 2 5. They wanted not him 1. To be Justice of the general Peace for tho' they were of adverse qualities yet innoxious till ushered in by the Curse as the effect of Sin irritated and arm'd them against Man and against each other Their innocence was their defence their Contrarieties were no more offensive to each other than contrary Colours are or Flowers of different Kinds 2. 6. They wanted not him to raise them a subsistence for their Creator had provided so for them as they should be no burthen to him nor his Divine Off-spring he cares for the Ravens A. 7. Positively to shew how and to what end his Rule should have been It 's answered Adam and his Heavenly Offspring should have used all the Creatures as Letters standing in several Volumes Sections Sentences and Words in the Book of the Creation declaring what the Creator is what He willeth and what He doth 8. And though the Creatures are Dumb as are Characters of Letters yet the Divine Powers of the Spiritual Worlds are spoken in and by the Creatures more expresly than are our Minds signified by Writings or our Passions by articular Sounds And hath Art fram'd Accents Aspirations Liquids c. Much more hath the Infinite Powers spoken themselves and the Holy Names of God in the several Pieces of the Creatures shewing the Principles Properties and Figures of the Eternal Worlds 9. And as Adam's holy Offspring had blessedly Multiplied and Paradise gloriously open'd it self so the Creatures had in their low Sphere born a part in that Triumphant Theatre nor had they been subject to Vanity Pain Impotence and Misery by Want Weakness or Drudgery for that the Curse subjected them to 10. But during their respective times had sweetly delighted themselves and Man in Ecchoing and in their measure assisting the High Praises of the Infinite Gracious Lord and when their Parts were acted have gone off the Stage with Swan-like farewels into their first Principles and Aethers 11. Adam gave them Names according to their Roots and Designs wherein they shall be in their Idea's before the new Blessed Men successively produced and as it were perpetuated by the wrestling of the Properties for neither in this sence shall Man's Disobedience frustrate the purpose of God or give Period to the Glory of his Creation Work for the Spiritual Worlds will obtain their Desires of imaging themselves for ever As saith our Apostle Because the Creature it self shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 12. Nor are the Creatures useless but serve our God's Designs And 't is observable even Sathan useth if he may the most accute Wits while God by Men of low Parts doth confound the Wise for so though Sathan used the Serpents apt Wisdom in his cheating Imposture God honoured the Ass the silliest of Creatures to divulge such Truth as was necessary for a Prophet's Instruction and Reprehension Whence we may observe if under their Vanity they are of such excellent uses what would they have been had they retained their Primitive Excellencies Q. 61. Why did God say it is not good for Man to be alone whereas yet in the Beginning he looks upon all his Works and said They are very Good yet of Man only he saith 'T is not good that this Man should be alone Why was it not good A. In the 43 Answer it is shewn why God created but one Man at first and not Man and Woman together and in the 45th Answer what Form and Fashion he was when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both In the 46th appears Adam had not at first Man-like Members Guts c. In the 47th That had such been he could not have stood in Eternity whereof it cannot be denied he was by Creation capable 1. All which duly weighed evidence why it was said at first all was very good for then was Man a compleat Image of God in all the three Principles illustrated by the second viz. his Soul in the Eternal Band his Spirit in the Divine Holy Triumphant World his Body out of the Holy Element having both Tinctures of Fire and Light enriched and fortified by all the seven Properties Having further the Authority over the Creation like a God the Intellect of an Angel and Innocency of a Dove 2. And whereas afterward it is said It is not good for Man to be alone it was not from any defect in the Creator's Work for that as above appears was perfect to a high degree but the Creature had ceased his
is still greater if it perpetrate the purpos'd Evil 't is heavier yet 6. If it extend to many of the True Worshippers or if it could to all it is become the Blackness of Darkness drawing on themselves all the righteous blood-shed from Abel to the day of doing or willing the Evil. 7. What need much be said the Hunter or Persecutor is known for tho' the Goatish Creature may undiscerned associate among the Sheep till the Judgment of the great day yet the Wolf is notoriously distinguisht from the Lord's Flock of Lambs 8. They are the figure of the Christian and Antichristian Churches to the end of time Also here to the considering mind it is evident that cruel Persecutions rise not but from the strong stern lofty bitter Forms of the first Principle who are so cruel each to other in an Intestine Wrath that it is exceedingly more facil for the Sons of the Humble Light Principle sweetly to yield up themselves a Sacrifice than for the Evil Ones to perpetrate it and still or quiet their own clamorous Consciences in and after the fact but such bitter persecuting Spirit existeth not in nor resulteth from the third Principle or due Natural Magistracy Q 81. In what Grace was the first World saved without the Law What was their Justification A. 1. Tho' the 75th Answer contributes much to the solution of this Question yet the more plain full and direct Answer of this is That the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Almighty Son of the Father was and is and is to come the only alone Redeemer Justifier and Saviour by him for him are all things to whom all Knees shall bow and all Tongues confess him by uniting the Heavenly Humanity to the Seed of the Woman 2. In the Volume of the Book it is written of Him He is in His own holy Principle in the Light of the Life or Heart of every Man that cometh into the World He cannot be comprehended by space for all Heavens are comprehended by Him He is a Branch in the Infinite second Principle whence is the Divine Virgin of Wisdom 3. He was inspoken by the Father into Adam and Eve at That needful Time as a Refiners Fire or as the Holy Fire which descended and transmuted the material Sacrifices or as a Tincture ennobleth Metals He is to the Soul as it is to the Body to the Understanding as the Light of the outward World to the Eye to the Deadness of the Soul the Animation Food to its Hunger an Appeaser to its Tumults reducing her of meer Grace from the Multiplicity to the Unity such was He to the Old World and in the fulness of Time the Divine Wisdom and Purity assumed the Woman's Seed 4. For at the instant of the Father's inspeaking Christ did re-implant Himself in the Light of the Life of Adam's and Eve's Souls to dispossess the Strong Man and through all Generations doth stand in the Door of the Heart of every Child of theirs none excepted reproving Sin warning of the Judgment to come and Preaching Salvation This is the Light shining in a Dark place the name of This is Infinite Love and it is also the Word of Reconciliation To Him give all the Prophets witness and also all the Holy Ones which have been since the World began 5. Here are no Novelties nor in any of the blessed Jacob Behmens Writings may such be found But whereas men have dark confused notions of God like those of Athens dedicating their Altar to the unknown God of Him therefore whom men ignorantly worship do Jacob Behmens Writings give a clear certain demonstrable and distinct knowledge and of all things and Worlds also of all Creatures from the most holy Angelical Princes of Eternity to the most despicable excrescence of Time Q. 82. Was Cain condemned for his sins Or whether did Cain become damned in respect of his sins What was his doubt or despair of Grace A. 1. The heinousness of his sin appears 1. That Abel provoke't him not who in truth of heart offered but Cain only in shew the one really did what the other only pretended to do Aggravation that on fall of his Countenance and rising of his Wrath the Lord reprehended and warned him before his perpetrating the fact 3. Aggravation his false and stubborn Answer after he had done it before Sentence I know not Am I my Brother's keeper 4 Aggravation his desperate Answer after Sentence My punishment is greater than I can bear or my sin is greater than can be forgiven 5 Aggravation that he went out from the presence of the Lord to marrying and building So that were there no more in the Text it had left him in a most desperate forlorn state His sin therefore under these Aggravations must of its own Nature and by its own Writ condemn him 2. But Cain is under a twofold consideration one as to his own Person and so he was a Sacrificer a Priest and Worshipper of the True God Nor may it be doubted but that the Offering in it self was well warranted for God's approbation of Abel shews it had Divine Institution yet was Cain a Worshipper with an Evil Heart that is an unresigned Spirit but a Self-will and therefore not accepted 3. Cain is to be considered as a Figure of the Formal Hypocritical Worshippers and of them 1. Such who pretend to worship the True God 2. That in the Outward Form of what they do suit their Worship much according to the Letter 3. That yet are strangers to the Spirit Life and Power of Divine Worshipping 4. That have some Outward Dignity Priority or Authority over the humble resigned Worshippers As Ishmael and Esau had the Primogeniture of Isaac and Jacob. 5. That they have a strong disposition and preparedness to Anger and Envy against the Faithful Worshippers and do make all such Approaches to their hurt as they can As did Balaam and Corah with whom Cain is ranked 6. Such as when they can hurt or kill have so great impenitence as hardens them against Self-accusing and impudence to deny their Evil Facts 4. Now to close the Answer It is true all such Churches or Persons as are figured by Cain are whilst they continue unregenerate seeking to please the Self-will in a lost desperate state under the first four Forms and shut up in the first Principle 5. But forasmuch as God did set a Mark on Cain thereby defending him against the destroyers all this may be without his particular personal condemnation Q. 83. Why did God make a Mark on Cain and said he or whosoever that slayeth Cain his blood shall be avenged sevenfold A. 1. Cain said From thy face shall I be hid also every one that findeth me shall kill me It could not be the Outward Man there meant for that could not be hid from God but the Inward might fall into Darkness and so be as it were hid Noâ was it the Outward Man that
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 iâkindled 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 tâe 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 effâcted 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 Oâulence 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 âotal 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 Daâghters 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 secând part of the Question viz. How it was effected It 's answer'd 1. Not by the Helâish Fire for the Fuel and Matter of that Fire must be Eternal 2. Not by the âire 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
9. Here may be noted that never was Subjection Patience Humility and Obedience to Parents and all placed over us enforced by any so cogent and irrefragable Argument as it is by this Subjection of the Lord Jesus Christ to them Even to Joseph no otherwise His Parent than by Espousal to Mary and that not for a short time but a Tract of many Years even after His being among the Doctors about the Business of the Almighty Father 10. In admiration of this Condescention behold here Oh my Soul the only Son of the only God the Soveraign of all Worlds that He might pluck thee as a Firebrand out of the Fire of thine own kindling content to burn Himself that He might Redeem thee from dark Chains of Everlasting Vassalage became Himself a Servant subject to His Inferior Subjects because Man revolted from his Obedience to God God obediently subjected Himself to Man The Wisdom of God learnt Obedience by the things which he suffer'd 11. Doth my Soul beg to know His sweet Name Where dwells He and who or what is He like I am told He was like a Servant no Thing Creature or World may be liken'd to Him but that His dwelling is with the humble many times in old Cottages and strong Prisons And that one of His great Names is but a Monosyllable viz. LOVE 12. A Name that calls for Love and commands Obedience for the delight found in Love That Heart therefore that reading and meditating this and weeps not the heart that groans not bleeds not melts not breaks not flames not is not the Heart of a true Man but of a Beast or a Devil Metamorphos'd iâto Human shape 13. The third Mystery is of His Thirty Years privacy the Types of which are in the 110th Answer and in the first part of that Answer is the Ground why Thirty Years was the due proportion of time for compleating actual Righteousness 14. Else it may seem marvellous that He who was the Light of this and all Worlâs could with-hold any of His infinite diffusive Vertue Also that seeing He was only the saving Light and Fountain of Salvation without whom the World perisheth should conceal His Glory His Omnipotence not being obnoxious to the Conâagion of Sinners with whom He might converse which our impotence exposeth us to 15. May we not on this occasion be warn'd to put a strong bridle and restraint on our Tongues the Herald of our impetuous Lusts in our Applications to others knowing how often it wounds us and others and inverts the End for which it was vouchsafed us 17. May I not hence also convince my self that very much of my Work is within rather than abroad and that God's Holy Work with us is entirely within Men for the bestial part of us is the Monstrous Image got by departure from God so alienated that all Communications and Approaches to it must be Image-like if intelligible to us faln Men. 17. And whereas the Divine Work is agitated in Man's superior part it causeth a departure from the brutish Man therefore was this of our Lord 's most inwardly a Sacred silence privacy or secresie for so great a part of his Pilgrimage in Flesh on Earth wherein he was literally separate from Sinners 18. How cross to this is the precipitance of our rushing to speak our supposed Knowledge and of unmortified Mens hypocritical Stage-Plays in Pulpits and other publick Oratories 19. How opposite to this is our needless associating for Curiosity with Company to whom we cannot do and from whom we may not hope for Good 20. How diametrically thwart to this is that River of Thoughts like swarms of Locusts which are uncontroulably allow'd to consume our precious Fruit and these Thoughts are mostly generated in the stinking Lakes of discomposing converse with bestial people 21. Christ's sweating Blood in his Agony was when his Sufferings came to the breaking of the fourth Form which is the Fire for then did the other Forms severally grow prevalent surrounding him with Death that state being such as Men mean when they say the Heart is broken for in the Heart is the Fire-life All which did our dear Lord bear because Adam had enkindled in himself a Fire which had not Gracious Love even then interposed and been inspoken had soon devour'd him 22. The Lord was betray'd by Judas his pretended Friend and Servant for such seemed the Serpent to Eve and by a Kiss a fatal false Friendship of Eve to Adam thus we still fall by mistaking Enmity for Friendship perishing for want of Knowledge 23. Our Saviour was apprehended and bound for Adam our Undoer going out of the Liberty was bound by the prevailing Anguishes of the first Principle and Mortality of the third Principle 24. Jesus the Eternal Light was thus dealt with by Night because Adam went out of the Eternal Day into Eternal Darkness therefore was the Lord carried to the Murtherers by Night 25. Our King the Lord of Glory was mocked reproached derided and scorn'd by vile Men because Adam had introduced such odious shame as made him the scorn of the Devils 26. The Prince of our Peace was scourged though the Innocent Lamb of God for Adam awakening all the Properties made not only the Essences to be inwardly Raging but his outward Body as that of the Beast to be subjected to the Whip which the gracious Lord refus'd not to endure for us 27. The Son of God Heir of all Things and King of Immortality was Crown'd as if he had been a false King with Thorns because Adam would in his Pride be like God and wear this World's Crown 28. And as all these were but Fore-runners or Entrance of Adam on the borders of Everlasting Destruction whereinto he was plunging his whole Man and Posterity so all these things were done to the second Adam and meekly endur'd by Him before His Passion 29. And all this was to make a plain and terrible Demonstration to all Mankind that Sin unrepented of becomes a Substance crying for all inward and outward Vengeance for ever See 25 Chap. of the Three Principles Q. 118. Why must the very Teachers of the Law bring Christ to the Judgment and yet must be put to Death by the Heathenish Magistracy What doth that signifie A. 1. That so it was appears Now to answer why it was so Let it be noted that Persecutions proceed not out of the second Principle for in that all are United in Love and Meekness nor out of the third wherein Civil Magistracy standeth for that of its own Nature if not unwarily heated persecuteth none as is found in Christian Republicks who have no oppressive interest to advance or support Persecution introduceth not its sting 2. Nor in such only but in the Mahometan Monarchies is not Religion as such persecuted but Conquests made for the greatning their poor outward Momentary Power And this is found not only among the Turks but Persians under
of the quenching of Wrath with Love he sitteth in the Throne and is himself the Reconciliation Q. Is it askt what is the Kingdom City Palace or Seat whither he ascended and where he is A. 3. He is himself the Seat Palace City and Kingdom Q. Is it askt how can this be intelligible to Mortals living in Houses of Clay A. What is and where are the Bounds in the outward World of the Light The shining Sun is its own Palace and Throne it also is in the whole Deep in the several Elements and Concrets as far as any thing is capable of it yet is it but a Figure or Representation of the true Eternal Son Q. It is said concerning his visible circumscriptive Body which rose again and was seen by his Disciples on Earth during his Forty days converse whom the Disciples saw ascend and of whom the two Men in shining Garments spake that he should in like manner descend Where is that Body A. 4. It is answered it is in its own Eternal Throne But it is to be considered if we in our astral Man can view in our Intellect the whole Globe of Earth and Seas and the whole Deep of the third Principle And were our more noble part freed from the Images our Syderial Spirit frameth what a view could it take of the Principles and Fountain Spirits whence it all sprung especially that which it lives in and delights in as how much of the Eternal World may a glorified Spirit know for the Child knows and seeth his Parents and the Lords very outward Body was Begotten of the Holy Ghost as Masculine Seed 5. If therefore such a poor finite Creature as Man the lower sort of Intellectuals who is the thing formed or building can mount so high and apprehend so much Whither cannot he ascend what cannot he do and comprehend who being Conceived of the Holy Ghost is the Builder of the House Who tho' he humbled himself to the form of a Servant and ascended as such to shew he was our Brother yet is Lord of all and in his Heavenly Humanity is not exclusible of place as Eternity is not excluded out of time Q. 142. What signifie the two Men in Shining Garments who said Ye Men of Galilee why look ye up after him This Jesus who is taken from you to Heaven will come a-again as you have seen him ascend or go into Heaven A. 1. Moses saith Out of the Mouth of Two Witnesses shall every Truth be established And the Lord saith if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two more Thus in the Temple were two Cherubims stretching out their two Wings and the Lord sent out his Disciples two and two 2. The signification of all which is that when the first Adam by not acting his Powers caused the dividing the Two Tinctures into distinct Male and Female which should have remained but one Error and Falshood soon crept in for the Two Tinctures were neither of them true but Deceit introduced it self into both because the true Virginity disappeared 3. And the Two Tinctures were united only in the second Adam to bear one Voice or Testimony for he Married the Humane Soul to Virgin Sophia Thus the two Men in shining Garments bear but one Testimony Hence was it that in Sacrificing of Fowl the Male and his Female made but one Offering 4. Also thus as the Lord who was then taken up into Heaven shall in like manner return again so the holy pure Virgin Sophia the Wisdom of God and Tincture of the Light who left the Humane Fire Soul of Adam and withdrew from him into her own Heaven But by the Incarnation of the second Adam the same Eternal Virginity came down and returned again to the Humane Soul of us poor unworthy miserable Men. Q. 143. Why must the Disciples of Christ yet wait ten days for his Ascention for the sending of the Holy Ghost Why was not that done instantly Here begins the Eighth Grand Distribution A. 1. It was 1. To compleat the Antitype being the time pointed at by the Feast of Weeks which Feast of Weeks is commanded several times viz. from the Morrow after the Sabbath of the Passover reckon seven Sabbaths is 49 and 1 is 50 or the Feast of Pentecost from the Lords Resurrection At the end of Forty days the Lord ascended and the Disciples were to wait at Jerusalem till the coming of the Holy Ghost which was ten days after The ten days to make up the Feast of Weeks was that they might be a secondary illustration whereto the seventh day or weekly Sabbath is suited 2. Nine of these ten days points at the whole course of the Race of a Christian in this World and the tenth is the Crown Summit or Perfection As the nine first forms of Fire are Crowned with the Heavenly Birth of the Paradisical Earth and Water of Life in the holy World which is obtained by adding thereunto the tenth form 3. This is figur'd by the nine Generations beginning with Seâ and Abraham is the tenth in whose Seed cometh the Blessing upon all In like manner find we Angels Ministring to Christs Incarnation nine times and the two at his Ascention was the tenth See the first Verse of the 133 Answer So there were ten Lepers cleansed but one only returning with thanks it is said where are the nine Thus was the tenth day of their waiting the day of the gracious and glorious coming down of the Holy Ghost Q. 144. What is this that the Disciples must wait and continue together till the Holy Ghost came A. 1. Will any say it was for their outward safety 't is true obedience is the safe path But this was of its own Nature most hazardous against Jacob's method who divided his Family and Substance to preserve some but this keeping them together was as to Mans Judgment an exposing them to danger for first an Assembly is less secret than one also more obnoxious to the Jealousie of evil Eyes From the consequence whereof they had no outward defence of their own or Followers or the People which somewhat swayed with the Priests c. in their time of rage against the Lord whereas they were not entered so far into their Ministry as might promise popular respect Therefore their being together might be deemed by the Bloody Persecutors of the Lord a fit season at once to extirpate the Lords Sacred Embassy and Embassadors 2. Their waiting and continuing together was therefore an Eminent Touchstone of pure Love and incomparable Faith 1. In respect of their Work which was to witness what the Lord was Crucified for acknowledging viz. that himself was the Son of God 3. 2. In respect of the place Jerusalem the stage where the Shepherd was smitten where the Murtherers were Rulers whose Streets lately Consecrated with the holy Lord's walks Miracles and Heavenly Doctrines The Temple where he had often spoken like God not like Man Where was a
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 Tiâctures are united for âver 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 Statuâes 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
hath a very Dim sight and sees such things only by similitudes which impose mistakes And the Eternal Soul is like jarring untun'd Strings of an Instrument So that the holy new Principle is buried drown'd and out-sounded 3. How may the Heavenly Man be distinguisht from all pretended Christians seeing there is given him a white Stone and a new Name which none can read but he that hath it And how obscure the Characters ingraved in that white Stone are may appear in this that when the Lord said to the Twelve one of you shall betray me they all severally askt Master Is it I So that he only who had not the white Stone was able to know who it was and by consequence who were not Traytors but Faithful And yet notwithstanding all that hath been said the right Christian may be known partly by comparing him with the contrary Characters of the Titulary Christian and partly by something visible in him who is the Christian in Heart 4. The Character of the Titulary Christian is he makes the profit pleasure and pride of things on Earth his great and constant aim and it cannot be otherwise pretend he what he will for this is his home his all his treasure where else can be his Heart 5. His first Principle is uneasie to him unless he hath somewhat to go into for his first four Properties being by his loss of the Divine World in the Fall at perpetual enmity and in respect of his dark Principle separately considered he is a Tormentor or Hell to himself therefore laying hold on the third Principle which is all he can reach his hungry Fire and Rage is mitigated as Men in pain and grief are a little eased by delightful Objects diverting the regret of their Melancholy as Children by Toys do cease crying 6. Thus the prosperity of the Fool shall slay him it made him say Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry Did I not studiously shun many words much might profitably be said shewing how according to this the Lord Jesus doth Character the Scribes and Pharisees which were Hypocrites and what the whole reprehensions of the Prophets and Apostles in all the holy Records say of this out-cast state who all with one continued cry did in all Ages perswade recal and warn Man from the Image and Shadow to the true Eternal holy substance and condemn his obstinate refusal The Holy Ghost convincing him of his stupid Lust to his Chains and Prison willing him to leave off his grave Cloths 7. But the Faithful Christian is distinct from the Titular Christian in this that his main aim bent of his will stream of his affections bottom of his real designs desires and longings are not after and stay not in the figure but penetrate into the substance lives to groans and thirsts after the Inward Man 8. Nothing he finds can compose true peace but reuniting the Light World to him which is done only by the death of the Enmity not the death of the Enemies for then the Soul were Mortal if the Powers or Properties could be kill'd but the Regenerate Man dies to the Self-will and Lusts to which the Titular Christian is a great resolute stranger And that it is said he dies to the Sensual Man is so true that it cannot be otherwise for the sensual Life is to the Life of the new Man the resigned Inward Man as sickness is to health which by the true Physician is drove away 9. And tho' Men have the Heavenly and Hellish Properties in them that which soever they awaken that Fire burneth and becomes the Life of the Man suppressing the contrary property yet is not the prevailing Property of these two easily distinguishable in the Out-birth but very obscure Even as the Light of the Sun by the interposition of gross palpable Fogs and Exhalations is less visible than the Lustre of a Bright Moon in a serene Air. Q. 161. What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdom of God is inwardly revealed or manifested How doth he walk and converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once A. 1. The last preceding Answer distinguisheth a Christian from another Man so that to the first second and third parts of this it may suffice to say that the Christian properly such hath inwardly his first principle consisting of the four Anguishes the Root or Fire and indissoluble Band of the Soul illustrated and regulated by the Love Fire which is the Divine Holy Life out of the second principle In respect whereof he walks and converseth in Heaven as in an Angelical state in great purity and simplicity as such are they dear Children and were not the third Principle annexed to them were in the Holy Eternal Paradise already 2. But were they not invested by the Out-birth or Astral World they could not be the compleat Image of the Trinity which in that respect the Angels themselves are not Therefore according to the Astral Man the regenerate Soul is properly the Temple of the Holy Ghost but the Holy Angels themselves wanting that Principle are not said to be so 3. Thence it is our Apostle dehorting from polluting it by Harlots But that we keep our Bodies pure and chaste tells us they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which if we defile we destroy Gods Temple and that who doth so him will God destroy for as the whole third Principle is the propriety of the Holy Ghost so peculiarly is Mans Outward Man or Astral Man his Temple 4. In the outward Man of some of Gods Holy Children therefore the inward Power World so manifesteth it self that it giveth vigour of the Eternal Holy World into the Tincture of their Astral Man as in the Prophets and Apostles to enter into their Diseased Brother and bring his weak Faith both into a potent and good order with such Energy as fortifies the Paralitick separates the impurity of the Leper calms the rage of the Calenture revives the drooping stays the departing and sometimes recalls the departed outward Life Gods Spirit awakening the Magical Virtue of his Children all things are possible Q. 162. What is the Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity A. 1. Although the Holy Ghost describes Antichrist his Rise his Character and the method of his destruction adding that there are many Antichrists Yet so mysterious is he that it is proverbial that Antichrist is the Philosophers Stone in Divinity His shelter is the Darkness his defence the Word and Power of Hell and wicked pretended Christians Of this Vizard of Darkness the Divine Light divests him and the Divine strength consumes him the brightness of the Lords coming discovers him and the Spirit of his Mouth destroys him How then can any be deliver'd from the Tyranny of Antichrist who are strangers to Christ or any know Christ who are willingly in servitude to Antichrist 2. The time of Antichrists discovery and destruction is certainly
Man at dissolution of the outward Life at one instant and by the same dissolution is it effected and compleated A. What Omnipotence may do is not for vile dust to comprehend for it is written I know thou canst do all things and the Thief on the Cross was a Monument of unsearchable Grace yet by the words of that Thief there seems not only a preparedness but a good degree of Conviction of guilt penitence sence and anguish under it inlightening to know the Lord Jesus Faith to direct and fortifie his petition and a seeing the unseen Kingdom yet so late a Repentance tho' thus manifested is the one only singular president on Record Q. 10. But it may be enquired what the dissolution of the outward Life of its own Nature contributeth hereunto A. It must be acknowledged that it banisheth for ever the outward Objects of our misimployed Affections and yet it followeth not that it takes away the desire gust or lust after them for the breaking of the outward Life or Elementary and Siderial Man or the Obligations and Ligaments of our Souls and Spirits is but as taking away the Skreen and opening to us the two inward Worlds which is as the unraking of Fire and enraging the Souls native forms of the unregenerate which the Astral and Elementary Man had been before the separation a mitigation of the Anguishes of so far is Mans dissolution from contributing to a Foundation or Beginning of the Divine Birth As it may be conceived by noting that tho' a proper Soil and apt Season may shoot a Mustard-seed sown unto a tall large stature Yet the richest Soil concurring Elements liberal Season benign Astral Influences with the Solar Rays uniting transmute not Tares into Wheat Thistles into Fig-trees nor Thorns into Vines 11. But where the Soul like Flax only smoketh with the Holy Fire and the Souls Fire is irradiated with true tho' weak Divine Light rightly directing the Eye of the Mind Causing the Will and Affections to press forward mourning sowing in tears smiting on the Breast in Anguish heaviness and good earnestness the dissolution of such a sincere beginning Pilgrim may be but as plucking up a Thorn Hedge to make the way more accessable disburthening an over-laden Ship the better to secure the whole the alighting from a froward unbroken or tired Horse which will neither carry the Rider nor can be carried by him So unsuitable a Companion doth the Soul begun to be regenerate find his Body with the distrustful cares distracting fears worldly sorrow and hateful pollutions thereof And so adverse are the Maxims of the Sensual Man to those of the New that they are on terms of Hostility so that if we live after the Flesh we shall die but if by the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live The Body's Vileness is pointed at by that Statute in Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil was not to be poured on Man's Flesh tho' not only both the Altars the Table Laver all the Vessels and Candlesticks but also the very Tabernacle was to be anointed therewith 12. How much are we less provident than the Brutes who know and use their season the Stork the Ant c. and under flattering Hopes of doing all at last neglect all for ever but when Harvest is come begin to sow regardless of what is written To day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts But besotted lost Man will promise himself that it is enough at death that the Priest can absolve me Others to say I believe Christ hath done all for me or because they acknowledge that all are sinners indulge themselves to be always sinners neglecting the great End of their Creation and of Divine Patience till the Creator is calling them for Accompt of His betrusted Talents as if they would then work out their Salvation when themselves are passive and unable to action and the night come when no man can work Obj. 3. 13. But we are told and that by some who detest the Roman Purgatory that something may be done to compleat the perfection of separate Souls after their separation from the Mortal Body who produce several Texts out of the Old Testament and out of the New also out of the Apocryphal antiquity to point at it or rather expresly to confirm it as out of the Old Deut. 26. 14. Isa. 61. 1. Zech. 9. 11 12. out of the New Matth. 12. 32. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 6. out of the Antient Writings call'd Apocrypha 2 Esdras 7. 37. Ecclesiasticus 7. 33. 2. Maccab. 44. 45. Let us therefore post-pone the first step to the New Birth till our bodily Letts be removed when without the obstructions of the Rebel Passions ending with cutting of the Temporal Thread we be adapted thereunto A. The Objection supposeth not that one who at separation of the Soul from the Outward Body after rejecting the Gospel being in fixt Enmity against God and the Kingdom of Resignation is remediable nor suggesteth that he who soweth himself a Tare Thorn or Thistle shall rise a Wheat Corn Vine or Fig-tree how therefore may it seem incumbent on me to oppose my self to the dint of the Texts produced 14. But rather as the Lord Christ in answer to the Question of the Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father keepeth in his own Power but prophesieth and chargeth on them on that occasion their immediate concern and business How much less is it for men to know what the operations of Father Son and Holy Ghost will be in perfecting separate Souls when out of the Circle of Time and Seasons For so strong a Fort hath Satan built in mens resolute Self-wills so impierceable are their Rocky Hearts that like Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the Spear and as the Servants of Atheistical Benhadad diligently catch every word seeming to favour their flattery of Impunity that they may treasure up wrath by impenitence more and more against the day of wrath 15. To these am I sent with happy Tydings that howsoever the Abyss of Mercy hath winked at the faults of the days of Ignorance yet now commandeth he all men every where to repent also with heavy Tydings that if in this their day they neglect so great Salvation how shall they escape Which Question none in Heaven Earth or Hell answereth Again if they that sinned against Moses Law died without Mercy and it might seem the bottom of Misery to die a merciless Death of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trampled under foot the Son of God and blasphemously counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace of how much sorer punishment is that Question but which either is unanswerable or which Eternity can only unfold 16. A murthered Body is the sorrow and pity
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 ââble 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 clotâed 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 âate 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 Concâctions 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 Concâction 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 Ohâmy 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
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 ââeet near and far off the whole Body to the Neck all within the Sphere of the Stars the Head Heaven with its Imperial Orâââs and all the Sââââs in a soft âââk 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 creaâââely 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 wâââh 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 âeaâen the Fathers Luâââe 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 âhenâe 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 Eâeâieâ 1. for all the Powers are in the Father ââe in another as one Power in ãâã Clarity and Glory ââs ãâã and Iâfinity 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 âââher for he is the Heart and Cause of springing joy in all the Powers of the âathââ a fââilitude whereof is the Sun which enlighteneth the whole deep Heaven Stars and Earth moving in the midââis the King and Heart of all the Stars ãâã the Son in the whole Father being a self subâââting Person The Father from ãâã to ãâã ââasââh not to generate the Son and the Son ceaseth âot 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 ãâã 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 câuseth the living motion in all the Powers of the Father The Son and Holy ãâã 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
the snuff of a Candle is âid in the Centre of the Light as is appârânt iâ Lucifer â Now how we may conceiue that God is an ââgry zealous God and a gracious merciful God the seven Species or Circumstance must be ãâ¦ã to win The 1. Astringent 2. Sweet 3. Bitter 4. Heat 5. ãâã 6. Tone or Sound 7. The Body generated out of the other six Spirits 6. The sweet Quality flâeth from the bitter which is the cause of the growth of Fruit in Vegetables and the Astringent and bitter eagerly pursue it cloaths it and is the cause of a stalk and when it overtakes it strives to hinder its farther flight and so comes the knot in the stalks through which is a small Orifice the sweet Quality gets through that and then comes more stalk leaves and blossoms which by the external heat and light gets colours but the sweet Water is not a Mother strong enough to produce Fruit but the blossoms being fallen off the outward Heat with the united aid of all the Qualities bringeth the Fruit. 7. The Light riseth up only in the sweet Quality no thing can be kindled but that in which the sweet Quality is predominant for the Spirit riseth up only in the Water A Stone or Earth cannot be kindled because the Astringent and bitter Qualities are predominant in them only The Earth when the earthy quality is boyl'd out is brought as in Gun-powder to give a flash of Terror wherein the Devil in the anger of God representeth himself 8. But that the Water will not burn is because it is not the sweet Water but Elementary only Else Water were not Mortal Flesh shineth not but fat doth the sweet quality prevailing therefore lean Creatures are not merry Q. Where are the seven Spirits 9. A. All Heaven and this World and all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are comprehended in them Q. Seeing God is every where and is himself all How comes heat cold wrath and fierceness among the Creatures 10. A. The first four Forms are at Enmity with each other without the Light and yet are the cause of the Life 11. Know that all within the Stars was a holy Salitter and the place of Lucifer whose proud Elevation kindled the seven qualifying and Fountain-Spirits all was burning The Astringent compacted so vigorously that Stones were generated and so Cold that the sweet Water became Ice and part thick stinking and raging Poison 12. Whereupon Lucifer was thrust out and instantly insued the Creation of this World and the hard spoiled corrupt matter which had wrought out it self in the kindling the seven Qualities was driven together whence Earth and Stones came to be and after that all the Creatures were made of the kindled Salitter of the seven Spirits of God their kindling made the fierceness of one Property against another and the Creatures from the same impulse do bite and annoy each other 13. Upon which the Universal God hath Decreed the last Judgment to separate the Good unto the meek Delight which was before the kindling by Lucifer and give that which is fierce and wrathful to be an Habitation for the Devil for ever The Good Men being Eternally with their King Jesus Christ. CHAP. X. 1. THE sixth Fountain Spirit is the Sound Tone or Noise 1. Whence is the singing Melody of the Angels and all Colours and Beauty are from the Tone or Mercurius 2. Hardness is the Father but the whole Salitter is the Mother for if the hardness were both Father and Mother a Stone would sound and ring 3. But where the Light is generated out of the Heat there riseth the sound viz. The Astringent Quality rubbeth it self with the bitter making Heat rise up in the sweet Water the flash of Light distinguisheth there and iâpregnâteth the bitter and Astringent so that the moving Spirits would speak Then the flash coming from the bitter breaketh open the hard and the Tone goeth forth as it was decreed in the Centre in the middle of the Circle the Council of the seven Spirits 4. Therefore all the Veins and Powers go into the Tongue that the Noise may go forth gently 5. Of the seven Spirits six always generate the seventh without every one there would not be any one 6. But the Author saith his naming of but two or three to the Nativity of a Spirit is though he saw them all seven well yet because of his weakness he could not bear the speculating them all at once in their Perfection but in part 7. Otherwise if a thought through the Centre of Nature could penetrate all the Forms it were free from the Bond of Nature 8. From the flash comes the Light of the Majesty therefore if any one could in his flesh comprehend the flash kindling it self in the central Fountain of the Heart which the Author saith he very well saw how it is that Person could clarifie or transfigure his Body therewith and be like the Angels and no more bestial 9. The Soul hath the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul hath the second the Astral Spirit hath the third in the Elements 10. When a Fire riseth up in one of the Fountain Spirits it is not concealed from the Soul which may awaken the other Spirits and it hath a Prison and if the Fire become too big can shut up the kindled Spirit in the Astringent quality till it be allay'd and extinguished Else the Sap that is in the whole seven will become dry and then thou art a Hellish Firebrand But if thou take the evil Spirit and imprison it and turn a submissive Heart and Will to God contemning Honour Pleasure Riches Wantonness by bearing the Cross and being the Worlds Fools then will not the Fire at the last Judgment Day stick to thy sappy Spirits but after this anxious trouble God will in the Resurrection Crown thee and thou wilt be a Triumphing Angel 11. Q. Is there in God also any contrary Will amongst the Spirits of God 12. A. No tho' the great earnest severity of God may by the former Writings of the Spirit be seen yet in God is no disunion in him all the Spirits Love and Triumph as one Spirit but in the innermost secret geniture not apprehended by any Creature but in the flash it must be so for Life and Omniscience is thus begotten for tho' Lucifer kindled the Spirits of this World and made it all faint and half dead yet this World belongeth to the Body of God the Father as well as Heaven 13. And the whole Trinity is generated in the Heart of all Angels and Men except the Devil and Damned Men and in such a manner is God Almighty All-seeing c. and proveth the Hearts and Reins 14. Thus also all the Devils and Damned must in the Salitter which they have corrupted be his Eternal Priseners in Torment and Reproach 15. 1. The hardness
innermost Geniture of God and presseth in through the Astral and Fleshly Geniture it is clearly in Heaven 3. But the Out-birth of this World was Lucifer's Kingdom to the Stars and so far is the Wrath of God between which outmost Birth of this and the outmost Birth of that is a great gulph and are one to the other as Death is to Life or a Stone to a Man So that as to the Out-birth we cannot see the Angels nor they dwell with us but in the innermost they dwell with us 4. The second Birth or Geniture viz. the Astral standeth in the seven Fountain Spirits of this World in which the Holy Ghost also ruleth and helpeth to generate the third Holy Birth 5. The which third Holy Birth is the clear Holy Heaven which uniteth with the Heart of God and holdeth the Devil Captive in the Out-birth in the Anger Fire 6. Out of this Heart Jesus Christ in the Womb of the Virgin went into all the three Births that he might with his innermost take the Devil Captive in the Out-birth overcome the Wrath of God as a Victorious Prince and in the Power of his Birth in the Flesh press through all Men whereby he is become Lord and King of our Heaven and Earth over Sin Devil Death and Hell in whom we also press through the sinful corrupted Out-dead-birth of the Flesh through Death and the wrath of God into our Heaven in which Heaven now sitteth our King Jesus Christ as an Almighty Son on the Right Hand of God being present in all the three Births in this World in all corners and places bearing up all ruling in the Throne of the once potent and now expelled Lucifer 7. When Stephen saw Heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at the Right Hand of God his Spirit did not swing it self up into the upper Heaven aloft but penetrated into the innermost Birth Concerning the Constitution and Form of the Earth 8. Every thing must have a Root The Earth is come from the corrupted Salitter of the outmost Birth for in Earth and Stones is Death and in it is also a Life else Gold Silver and Vegetables could not grow therein 9. Three Births are in it the outmost is Death the second is Life pressing through it being in the Wrath Fire and that of Love and the third is the Holy Life 10. In the outmost is Gods Wrath else why engendereth it poysonous venemous Worms and creeping Things 11. The Earth hath more than one kind of Life for Herbs and Wood are not Earth nor is Fruit Wood nor is the vertue of the Fruit God for the outmost Birth containeth him not but he containeth the Out-birth Q. Why is the Earth so Mountany c 12. A. Where the sweet Water was chief much earthy palpable Water came to be 13. The corrupted Salitter was more abounding in one place than another Also 14. Where the Astringent Quality was chief in the bitterness in Mercurius much Earth and Stones were compacted 15. Where the Heat in the Light much Silver and Gold and some clear Stones 16. Where the Love in the Light the most precious Stones and finest Gold 17. Where are great Lakes and Seas over that Zenith there being not much Salitter there came to be a Valley for which resting place the thin Water sought resembling the Spirit of meekness not elevating it self as in the Bitter Fires quality the Devils did On the words the Evening and Morning were the first day is said 18. Evening and Morning reacheth only up from the Earth to the Moon taking its Original from the Light of the Sun which maketh the outward day and the outward Night Not that there was then a twofold Creation of Evening and Morning Query Whether by it be not meant by once turning about of the Earth whereby the Evening and Morning came to be that is by one Revolution 19. A. Man having a Threefold Birth tho' with his inward he uniteth with the Light of God cannot bring it perfectly back to his Astral and less to his outward Birth which tho' Moses did in part when his Face shone but could not see God perfectly and live even as an Apple on a Tree cannot bring its Smell and Taste back into the Tree nor Earth CHAP. XX. On the Creation in the Second Day Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters c. 1. THis Firmament divideth the impalpable inward pure Water from the outward palpable corrupted Water Wherein is Death which lyeth Captive below the Moon and is the House of the Devils Death and Hell where the fierce Wrath of God becometh kindled daily by the Devils through the great Sins of Men which mix with the Astral Birth in the Deep 2. But even those pure Waters have some of the Wrath in them and is that meant where 't is said The Heavens are not pure in his sight 3. The innermost holds the outward Water strongly Captive and the outward Earth also else with the Revolution of the Globe the Water would be divided or dissolved and the Earth crumble away Which Firmament is between the clear Deity and corrupt Nature 4. Yet the Deep above the Earth may be said to be a place where Gods Holiness dwelleth for the whole Holy Trinity dwelleth in the Centre under the Firmament of Heaven tho' that cannot comprehend him but dwelleth not there fully bodily and creaturely as the Angels and Souls of Men do 5. The Third Birth is the Almighty Holy Heart of God wherein Christs Natural Body sitteth for his Natural Body is not as John Calvin thought such as reacheth no farther than a little circumscribed place wherein it is 6. For if every Man in his Astral Spirit comprehendeth the whole Body of this World should not the Fountain Spirits in the Natural Body of Christ being out of the Fountain Spirits of Nature and his Heart out of the inward Birth viz. the Heart of God which comprehendeth all Angels and the Heaven of Heavens viz. the whole Father should not it comprehend the whole World and uphold it as the only Head Heart and King of it in his Hands are his Sheep whom none can pluck out CHAP. XXI 1. MAN is made out of the Seed viz. Matrix of the Earth wherein the Eye is Twofold one in God the other in this World out of the three Principles not out of the Wrath but out of the Birth of the Earth in the Astral Birth in the part of Love but Wrath hung to him which he should have put forth from himself as the Fruit putteth forth from it self the bitterness of the Tree but that he did not but reached back from the Love into the Wrath and lusted after his Dead or Mortal Mother to suck her Breasts and so brought his outermost Birth into Mortality and his Astral Birth or Life into the part of the Wrath. 2. Man's Soul or Spirit is generated out of the
which though it was benummed yet the Life was hid in it and generated the âtars out of Nature so the Light rose up making its Seat in the House of Death which Death could comprehend as little as Wrath doth Meekness 2. As a Tree hath Life Vegetation and Sap producing Fruit which the dry Bark hath little of through which the living Power thrusteth forth Twiggs while the withered Rind harboureth Worms which at last destroy the Tree It is the Love which breaketh through the House of Death and is one Life with God 3. The Stars are come out of the Power of the seven Spirits of God for the Wrath of God was kindled by the Devil and the Out-birth as dross and scum was driven together whence came Earth and Stones for the Body of God as to this World could not remain in Death but the corrupted Nature with its palpability hath remained in Death and is the House of Devils therefore God created new Angels viz. Adam and would bar up Lucifer in the outer Darkness Q. Why had not this been done instantly and then he had not done so much Mischief 4. A. God purposed to make an excellent Angelical Army out of the Earth and all Vegetations after a Heavenly manner and then Extract the Heart or Kernel at last and separate it from Death and the Death of the Earth and Wrath therein should be Lucifer's who in the mean time should and now doth lye Captive in the Deep above the Earth 5. But that there are so many Stars of differing Operations shews God's Infiniteness and their continuance shews there shall be a constant Uniform Birth Q. When the Devil and his Angels fell why had not God instantly bolted him up in the place where he fell 6. A. What Sin hath the Salitter committed that it should stand totally in Eternal shame None therefore God willed to use iâ as a Dwelling for the new Race of Angels Adam and his Children and leave only the kindled fierceness to the Devil which had it been all left to the Devil out of it could not a new Body have been built 7. The Stars are a sharp Birth and innermost Geniture which had theirfirst kindling from Heaven and God useth them as an Instrument to the wrestling fighting Birth and to anxiety for on the third Day the anxiety in the Birth of this World rub'd it self whence the Fire flash existed and the Light of the Stars kindled it self in the Water of Life till the third Day Nature was a dark Valley and then Life brake through Death and the new Birth began for so long Jesus Christ rested in Death The old Body which standeth in the austereness is a House to the Devil but the new to the Kingdom of Christ. CHAP. XXV 1. EVery Star hath a peculiar Property as may be perceived by the various curious Ornament of the blossoming Earth which variety should have kindled the old Body into so many Powers to break forth through the Wrath that the new Life might have all the Powers that eâer the old had before the times of the Wrath which new Body blossomed at the Creation but Nature being by Man more corrupted God Cursed the Ground for Man took hold of the Fruit of the old Body wherefore the Fruit of the new was hidden and the bestial Body had âEves Wrath Apples to Eat 2. Concerning the Sun As far as the middle Point or Centre hath kindled it self just so big is the Sun for that is the Sun The Light of the Meekness of the Sun uniteth with the pure Deity and were the great Heat taken away from the Sun it would be one Light with God but the Heat cannot comprehend the Light therefore the place of the Sun remaineth in the Body of God's Wrath. 3. The Sun hath its royal place to it self whence it moveth not but the Earth rouls about every 24 Hours and compasseth the place of the Sun once every Year as do the other Planets but Saturn Jupiter and Mars by reason of their great heighth cannot do it so soon 1. The Life of a Creature is in the Heat of the Heart so is the Sun to the whole Deep 2. The Gall is not existed from the Heart but yet is the Mobility or stirring of the Heart by a Vein that goeth from the one to the other so is Mars 3. The Brain is the Power of the Heart so is Jupiter The Astral Birth stands with one Root in the Holy Heaven and with the Corporeity is in the Wrath. CHAP. XXVI 1. SAturn is Cold and Astringent and takes not his Power from the Sun but as the Sun is the Heart of the Life so is Saturn the beginner of Corporeity and of all Formings and as Jupiter is of the Brain so is this of the Skull his place is in the midst between Jupiter and the general Sphere of the fixed Stars 2. Venus is a gracious kindler of Love in Nature for when the two Spirits of the Life and Mobility were risen up out of the place of the Sun viz. Mars and Jupiter then the Meekness as a Seed of the Water pressed downward with the Power of Light whence existed the Love of Life or Planet Venus mitigating the fierceness of Mars and humbling Jupiter else the Brains would break through the Brain Pan and transmute it self in high-mindedness in the manner of Proud Lucifer 3. Of Mercurius The seven Spirits of God are perfectly in every place but if in any one place they wrestle not triumphingly in that place is no Mobility but a deep Darkness such a House is the House of Flesh in Man such was the whole space of this World when the Deity in the 7 Spirits had withdrawn it self from the Devils and had so continued if the seven Planets and Stars had not risen from God's Spirits but the Heart of the Deity hideth it self in the Corporeity and Out-birth of this World which therefore is in great Anguish till the Heart of God will move it self again in the seven Spirits of God in this World and kindle them and then the Sun and Stars will pass away again to their first place and the Light of God shall fill all the Body of this World and when the anxiety tasteth the sweetness of the Light of God all is richly full of Joy and the whole Body triumpheth which now cannot be because the fierce captive Devil keeps House in the Out-brith of this World till the last Judgment Day and then the Heart of God with his Fan will cleanse his Flour and breaking through Proclaim bright Day 4. The Earth is the Fruit of the seventh Spirit of God but Man's Body is far more Noble being an Extracted Mass out of the Salitter out of the seventh Nature-Spirit 5. When the Seed is generated the Astringent Spirit draweth together a Mass out of the sweet Water that is out of the
for him for to give him more Divine Light were but as Water to increase his Fire And God willeth to have no fiery Spirit in Paradise his Brimstone Spirit is inkindled and remaineth unquenchable desiring to get above the Meekness of the Heart of God which shuts him up Eternally CHAP. XI Of all Circumstances of the Temptation 1. WHen God did set the Fiat in the Will to Create Angels he separated all the Properties as hard four bitter harsh fierce soft c. as we see are in the various properties of the Stars and created the Princely Throne Angels as so many Fountains Then in each Fountain came forth a Centre in many Thousand Thousands and every Host got a Will such as was the Fountain or Prince whence they proceeded giving their will to him as the Stars do to the Sun Tho' all thoroughly irradiated with Divine Splendor yet had every Host some one of the Properties of the first Principle most Eminent in them 2. Of the Princes one is fallen and his Host for standing in the fourth form his Fire Elevated him above the End of Nature 3. The Fiat in the Creation separated the Matrix also of the Out-birth created after the other according to the forms of the inward World and out of the Properties of the first Principle came Creatures of all sorts good and bad as Lambs Doves c. as also Wolves Toads also in the separation of Vegetables are good and hurtful Plants And that the evil is also profitable is seen for that in every Creature is a poysonous Gall being the cause of Life 4. Adam was created of all the three Principles but in perfect clarity an Image of his Creator and Epitomy of all Creatures 5. In the Garden of Eden were all Paradisical Trees pleasant to look on and good for Food wherein tho' they sprung out of the Earth yet in them was imprinted the Divine Vertue of the second Principle and yet were truely in the third Principle Death stuck only in that Tree of Good and Evil that was able to bring Man into another Image 6. God willed not Adam should eat of it for he not only barely warned him of the danger but forbad him with a severe Menace 7. Nor was he Created with a distinct Female as other Creatures that on his Fall he might the better be helped 8. Nor will'd he should need any other clothing than Glory else would have given him a Hide as other Creatures But as a Heavenly Man he should have eaten Heavenly Fruit. Now follows the Gate of the Temptation Adam had all the three Principles or Worlds in him and in all he looked on without him 9. The Heart of God would have him to abide in Paradise being his similitude The Kingdom of Wrath would have this great Lord because he proceeded out of the Eternal Mind of the Darkness that through him might be shew'd great power The Kingdom of this World would have him be his Housholder for that he lived in it and was part of it saying Eat and Drink not only Divine Food thou art not yet a meer Spirit eat not that which is incomprehensible Eat my sweet drink my strong which is comprehensible 10. Here Adam thought seeing I am on the Earth and that it is mine I will use it as I list 11. Then came the Inhibition on pain of Death not to eat the Earthy Food wherein was mixt the evil for the Tree was neither better nor worse than that we have But God saw his eager imagination so set on the Earthy Fruit that he could not generate a perfect Paradisical Man but an Infected one out of himself that would fall to be corruptible did let a sleep fall on him CHAP. XII Further of the Circumstances of the Temptation 1. MOses at the Bush was commanded to pull off his Shoes shewing his Earthy Birth God gave the Law at Sinai and establisht it in clarity but by Thunders c. in the Spirit of the great World for in Gods Heart is only Love and Kindness because after the Fall Men lived therein viz. in the Spirit of the great World 2. The Law demanding obedience and the false voluptuousness of Israel were in strife Forty days till they fell to their sinful Calf And Christs tryal Forty days c. shew the time of Adam's Temptation Of Adam's Sleep 1. Adam's sleep was his being Captivated by the âtriving Stars and Elements whose wrestling so far overcame him that his Tincture became enfeebled and he as dead who should as we in the Resurrection have Eternally with open Eyes beheld the Infinite Glories This God so greatly loathed that Adam could not long continue in Paradise The Highest Gate of the Life of the Tincture 2. The Tincture is that which separateth the pure from the impure and graduateth to the highest all sorts of Life in all Creatures Yet in some strong in others weak It s Birth is from the Vertue of the Deity and imprints it self in all things yet so secretly that none of the ungodly can know it It is Eternal but the Spirit given it by the Fiat is according to the kind of every Creature At first it was implanted in Jewels Gems Metals 3. It was generated in the fifth form that of Love out of the Heart of God And tho' its Spirit in the third Principle abide not for ever yet for the sake thereof the very figures of this World shall remain for ever But in the second Principle the Tincture standing in the Spirit and Substance in Angels and Men is Eternally fixt The Tinctures Essences 4. It is the flash of Life and Lustre whose Root is Fire causing the faculty of seeing in all Creatures It Chrystallizeth impure Water separateth the Light from Darkness imageth it self in what it hath made pure making it also sweet shining like Oyl and Fire Mixt with the Matrix of VVater by the mixture becomes fixt and thick and by the Property of the Fire is colour'd Red and is the Blood in which the Noble Life existeth Of the Death and Dying 5. In so great and hourly danger stands the Noble Life in the Tincture and hath so many potent Enemies that either on the Efflux of the Blood the Tincture flyeth away or on the over-prevalency of any one of the four Elements or ill Conjunction of the Constellations darting their Poisons the Band of Life breaketh and the flash goeth out in Meekness How the Heavenly Tincture was in Adam before the Fall and shall be in us after this Life 6. Adam's three Principles whereof he was were three Births the one not comprehended by the other viz. The Worm or Brimstone Spirit generated out of the Eternal Will of the Father The Virgin or Wisdom of God And the Spirit of this World The two latter were given to him to his right and left 7. The second was to illustrate the first in the power whereof he was to rule over the third It is
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 Paradisiâal 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 Sân 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
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 tâe Essences and into the Tincture of the Element whic ãâ¦ã ure before God And it was a going forth with the whole fulness of the De ãâ¦ã 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
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 aâd that after the End of these things shall be nothing but God so God is the α and Ï 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 âet 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 whoâe 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
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 âow 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 âron 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 manifâst 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 capâiv'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
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 âarth 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 deâire 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 Eâââ Way that the Travellers therein may as with full Sail traverse it tho' by constituâion 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
time of the Body hath the Souls Will-ability to withdraw thence and turn into the Meekness and the Holy Will where with the Water of Eternal Life the Fire is quenched and the Soul hath Ability through Jesus Christ to draw by a renewed Will out from the Evil Lusts but those Souls who at deceasing of the Body even then enter into the Will of God having little of the Heavenly Substantiality do lye in rest in great Humility in the Delight of Paradise or the one Element but not in the Majesty in hope of farther increase of Heavenly Light at Christ's great appearing 5. But the Zealous Souls who here did put on the Body of God and were Obedient under the Cross in Righteousness and Truth their Works in their strong Will follow them so great is their Glory Power Might and Majesty as no Tongue can express they are God's Children his Wonder Power Strength Vertue Love Praise and Glory all whatsoever the Will desireth is there in full Perfection and Eternal Power God's Kingdom consists in Power to conceive of which must be brought a Heavenly Mind to such God's Spirit will shew the Heavenly Substance for it is much easier for the enlightened to see the Heavenly Substance than the Earthy 6. The Soul dwelleth not in the outward Spirit but is thereby hindred from exercise of its Natural Principle which is the Eternal so is it that Antichrist puts Holiness in that which comes in at Peoples Ears in Sermons which often coming from an Hypocritical Ground covereth the Soul that it enters not into it self and bring the outward into Obedience of the inward by forsaking Sin and Hypocrisie but rest in a conjectural Knowledge as of Matter without Spirit T is true if an Evil Man speaks God's Words he that is of God hearing hears God's Word but the wrathful or otherwise Evil Spirit in Man is not appeased or amended by its like for he is not thereby awakened Forty Questions OF THE SOUL Answered by Jacob Behmen Quest 1. VVHence the Soul existed from the Beginning of the World Answ. To understand the Substance of all Substances consider outward Fire which burneth out of a harsh astringent Matter The Fire is a sharp desiring which in great Anguish entreth into it self and graspeth after the Liberty and catcheth it and so flameth And though in the Eternal is no such Fire to be understood as shineth in the outward yet it is so in the inward in the harsh desiring The outward remaineth a Darkness and within it self in the Will of the Eternal Liberty it is a Light shining in the still Eternity In âire are ten Forms or distinct manner of Differences all generated in the Will being the Eternal Wills Propriety therefore it is Gods and the Liberty which hath the Will is God himself The first Form of Fire is the Eternal Liberty which hath the Will and is in it self the Will The second Form is That it is desirous The third Form is a sharp drawing where originateth the Eternal Enmity and Opposite Will The fourth Form is the Flash of Lightning caused by the Liberty and is the cause of the Anguish source The fifth Form is the Eternal Nature in which standeth two Kingdoms viz. One an Image of God the pure Virgin Wisdom the cause of the Firmament Elements and Stars and the other a Similitude of the severe fierce Wrath according to which God calleth himself a consuming Fire The sixth Form The two Principles one whereof is the cause of the other the Fire-life is the cause of the Light-life and the Light-life the Lord of the Fire-life one is Life the other is Food of the Life The seventh Form is one Magia going always out of the other and is the others Looking glass In Fire and Water Life consisteth The first cause of Life is Fire The second is Light The third is Spirit Every thing consisteth in an inward and âââward Substance The eighth Form is the Turba which breaketh the comprized Life again and sheweth such things to the Beginning as were not from Eternity but came to be in the compriâed time but the Turba must be understood in a twofold Form A fierce wrathful Fire in a corruptible Body the Spirit without a Body must be swallowed up in the Eternal Wrath-fire But the otherâs a Light and Love-fire and the Spirit which hath a Body viz. An incorruptible Body hiâden Man old or first Adamical Man Christ's Flesh remaineth Eternally in God's Body such a one is no more in it self but hath died to its own Will and the Love-will satiateth or filleth the Fire of the Original and then liveth Eternally The ninth Foâm is the Virâin Tincture the Loâe Meekness Humility an unsearchable incorruptible Life a Fire and yet no Fire it burneth but consumeth not it is the Life of Angels and Holy Souls The tenth Form is the entrance into the Holy Ternary in which Angels and Holy Souls become corporized in the Heavenly Substantiality Although their Number belongeth to the place between the 5th and 6th Numbers To Answer yet further to this first Question It is said That though the Child knoweth its Father and Mother well yet knoweth not the time and place of its Begetting If we say Angels and Souls have been from Eternity the Propagation of Souls will not admit it It is therefore summarily answered That the Soul originateth out of God from Eternity without Ground or Number and endureth in its Eternity but the beginning to the moving of the Creature which is done in God should not be mention'd only the Number Three hath delighted to have Children like it self and out of it self and so hath revealed it self in Angels and in the Soul of Adam and passed or transmigrated it self into an Image as a Tree doth into the Fruit for that is the right manner of Eternity Q. 2. What the Soul is in the Essence Substance Nature and Property A. 1. Its Essences are out of the Centre of Nature all the three Principles lye therein and is as a branch out of the Holy Trinity 2. It 's Substance is out of the heavenly Substantiality 3. It s Will is free âo ãâã down and account it self nothing and sprout only as a branch out of God's Tree Or otherwise to climb up in its own Will into the Fire 4. It s Nature is the Centre it self with the seven Spirits to propagate with 5. It is a total Substance out of all Substances and Similitude of the Trinity if it be in God if not is a Similitude of all Devils It s Property was in the first Soul created of both Mothers on which followed the Command and Tryal it should not have lusted after Evil and Good but only have eaten Paradisical Fruit but all Properties lye in it it may awaken and let in what it will Q. 3. How the Soul is Created to the Image of God A. The pleasure of the
and groaneth to have it Banished for the outward devoureth the inward if the inward continue not in strife 2. Yet the three Principles are one in another The Soul is the Jewel the Spirit is the finder of the Jewel the Earthy Spirit is the âeeker the Earthy Body is the Mystery so three seekers belong to the Soul 3. We undervalue not the outward Life it shews Gods Wonders but let Men go with the inward into the outward for tho' the outward be a Beast yet the Wonders which have discovered themselves in a comprehensible substance belong with their figures not their substance to the inward 4. The inward understanding Spirit is Lord of the outward But if it let the outward be Lord that Man is a Beast and if it let the Fire-spirit viz. the Turba be Lord that Man is a Devil But the outward Life is Water to that Fire else how would many a Man become a Devil if the outward Life did not hinder it as is to be seen in the Gall which is a Fire Poyson but mixed with Water it allays the fierce Pomp of the Fire from going aloft above the Meekness of God as Lucifer did Q. 17. Whence and wherefore is there a contrariety of the Flesh and Spirit A. Water is a death to Fire but the contrariety is not totally such in Man because the Light ever causeth the Fire but rather such as between God and Hell for the Anger Fire sharpeneth the Divine hiddenness of Gods Eternal Majesty for it generateth the high Light in the free Liberty and thus the other or second World cometh to be out of the first The Soul is the Centre of Nature The Spirit is the precious Image tho' not sever'd as Fire and Light are not sever'd the Fire is fierce yet the cause of the Meek Light and in the Light is the Life The contrariety is that the inward Spirit hath Gods Body out of the meek substantiality the outward Spirit hath the great Wonders which lye in the Arcanum of the Souls âternness therefore the Love spirit hindereth that the fierce wrath destroyeth not the Soul bâ inflaming it The contrariety is that the inward Spirit would be Lord and subdue and the outward would be Lord saying it hath the Mystery of which it hath but a Looking-glass Seek not the Mystery in the outward Spirit for there is but a Glimpse but go into the Cross and from the Cross back into the fourth Form there is Sun and Moon one in another Bring it into Anguish into Death Drive on that Magick Body so far till it be again what it was before the Centre in the will and then it is Magical and hungry after Nature it is a seeking in the Eternal seeking and would fain have a Body therefore give him for a Body Sol viz. the Soul and then it will suddenly make it a Body according to the Soul for the will sprouteth in Paradise with very fair Heavenly Fruit without spot or blemish The inward Spirit would have God the outward would have Bread which is also good in its place But beware thou let not the outward Spirit be Lord. Q. 18. How the Soul departs from the Body in the death of a Man A. There is need of the Eyes of all the three Principles to take Death Captive to see this sharp question The beginning which is Magical having found the limit casteth away the seeking the Looking-glass the Earthy Life And lets the Body depart without complaint for there is no woe done to the Soul but the Turba or Fire life the Matter or Earthy Life âââseth The Soul dwelleth in the will which hath a glance or lustre burning in it and the Fire becometh impotent and a darkness unless the Spirit hath Heavenly Substantiality if so it is swallow'd up in the Magia hath the same meek Body for a Sulphur and Eternally burneth in the Love-fire Thus Sickness unto Death is that the Turba hath kindled it self and destroyeth the introduced Medium The Life's Fire being withdrawn the Body goeth into its Aether when if the Soul's Fire hath not in its Spirit God's Body viz nothing of the Power of Humility to sink down in it self through Death into Life it is a dark Fire in great horror in the first four Forms of Nature The stern Astringency Bitterness Anguish and Fire without flaming The Covetous one hath Frost the Envious one Bitterness the falâe Deceitful one Anguish the Wrathful one Fire Hence consider the last Judgment to be such as at which the Devils do tremble Q. 19. How the Soul is Mortal or who it is Immortal A. The Soul is from the Eternal and continueth Eternally it came out of God's Mouth and at Death goeth into God's Mouth again But the wicked Soul hath lost its Image yet Immortal for the Eternal Nature dieth not also if the Anger Fire should die God's Majesty would extinguish which can never be The wicked Soul hath introduced a Substance into the Will thence comes wo it is a Dying yet only a Will of Dying an Anguish ever thinking if I had not done this or that I might have attained God's Salvation which Evil things done make Eternal Despair No Soul Dieth be it in God or in Hell but its Substance or Doings stand Eternally to the Glory of God's Wonders Q. 20. How the Soul comes or returns to God again A. Answer'd in the foregoing Answer Q. 21. Whither the Soul goeth when it Departeth c. be it saved or not saved A. 1. It goeth not out at the Mouth for it came not in at the Mouth but the Turba having broken the Earthy Life goes as a Conqueror unapprehended by Wood or Stone through the Anger of God and Death and then is in God's Body in Christ's Flesh and Blood seeth God's Majesty and the Angels face to face in the unsearchable World without end or limit 't is swift as a Thought is magical its words and deeds done here are âts House 2. The Heavenly Body of the Soul is from the pure Element out of which the four are come that gives Flesh the Tincture blood It s external substantiality is Paradise where spring all bright heavenly Fruits which the Soul may eat they are as pure as a Thought yet substantial with colours Power and palpable to be handled by the Soul Juicy full of the Water of Life 3. Only those who are gone out of their own Will into God's in this Life have Christ's Flesh on them but most go so out as by Faith hang by a thread and are in the still rest waiting for the last Judgment Day sunk down in Humility through Death yet a Cliff or Gulph is betwixt them and the Holy Souls in Christ's Flesh and Blood but are in the same Principle yet under the Altar 4. The wicked are in the innermost which is also the outermost Darkness and can appear again in the starry Spirit seeking rest make terrors in Houses
Omnipotence of Eternity and the Spirit of God will then go forth in two Principles in the Anger viz. in the Fire as the severe Wrath of the Fire-life and in the Light of the Love as a flame of the Divine Majesty and in the Spirit of this World as a Wonder of Life then will the Dead and those who shall be then alive be call'd and those who have the Noble Image will shew it and those who have lost it will shew the Bestial Image they have got The Earth must deliver up the Phur or Body The Water the Essences The Air all the Words it hath received into it or served to make See the last Chapter of the three Principles Q. 31. What manner of New Glorified Bodies the Souls will have This is sufficiently declared before They will have fair bright Works of Faith as every one is indued with the Power of Love and Purity but very different for the Works of many will almost all remain in the Fire and themselves hardly escape for that as one Star excelleth another so they and every one will receive God's lustre as his vertue or power is capable of the Light for after this Life there will be no bettering but every one remains as he entred in Q. 32. What other Form State and Condition Joy and Glory will there be to Souls in that other Life A. 1. Paradice was in us but Adam's lusting after the outward Spirit drew him and us into it and lost the Substance whereof this Worlds Fruits Colours c. is a dead dark shadow but our restitution thereinto will be Eternal Joy in the spring of all Flowers Trees Herbs Fruits c. which shall be Angelical as our Heavenly Bodies no need of Teeth and Entrails we eat in the Mouth all is Power and Vertue 2. The Kingdom consisteth not in Eating and Drinking but there are Divine Songs of Praise as Children in a Ring on a Mount 3. We shall all know each other by our new Names which in the Language of Nature is understood but the Turba being left in the Fire none is concerned for his Relations as Parents Children Friends who are in Hell 4. We are all there but one Sex the first Image Heavenly Virgins full of Modesty and Purity And shall there speak the great Mysteries of the Divine Magia and the Song in Reproach and Scorn of the Driver Rev. 15. 3. Q. 33. What kind of Matter our Bodies shall have in the other Life A. 1. Christ saith None goeth to Heaven but the Son of Man which is in Heaven John 3. 13. He spake not only of his Deity but the Son of Man the Word that became Flesh in which Flesh and Blood we must âive Eternally if we will be in God Adam had the Virgin of God's Wisdom but when he fell was divided and the Woman framed and he had the bestial deformity whereof we are ashamed 2. But Christ is become Man in that Virgin Image of God's Wisdom is become Flesh in the Water of Eternal Life which Virgin and Water when Adam fell withdrew and stood in its own Principle Christ became Man in a pure Vessel i. e. in the first Image for the sake of the Soul he assum'd from Mary and the outward Man hung to him And when we are new born we put on Christ and are new born out of Christ's Flesh and Blood 3. The converting Sinner becomes God's Child in Christ and in that very Body consisting of heavenly Flesh and Blood which yet is real substantial and visible to be felt and handled by our heavenly Hands shall we have Heaven Thus shall we have Christ's and God's Body which filleth Heaven for our substantiality is out of the Eternal and must Eternally be in the same and not in gross bestial Flesh. Q. 34. What is the lamentable horrible miserable Estate of the Damned A. This is sufficiently answered above God's Anger is their Habitation their Blasphemy and Abominations are their boast their whole Life is one continual fear horrour anguish despair and a gnawing Worm Fruits grow to them out of their Principle outwardly fair but within is fierce wrath all their cursed Practises on Earth follow them thither and that would they do there Q. 35. What the Enochian Life is and how long it lasteth A. The Father of Enoch is Jared significant in the Language of Nature Enoch begat Methuselah who attained the greatest Age. After which Enoch was taken up with both Bodies The outward was swallowed up and is in the Mystery and the inward is a heavenly Mystery so he liveth in two Mysteries in Paradise but hath still the Turba in the Mystery and in the heavenly Mystery hath God's Body Paradise is still upon Earth at hand not vanished but as it were swallowed up by the Curse yet lyeth as a Mystery uncorrupted Enoch is not gone out of this World he is God's Preacher and after the Turba hath overcome the World he must be silent till the six Seals and Angels of the Turba have poured out their Vials then cometh Enoch again and reproveth the World after which the World becometh fat and their Turba also Methuselah dieth and the Deluge of Fire by Elias cometh O ye Elect desire not to live after Enoch's taking up but while he Preacheth is the Golden Time Q. 36. What the Soul of the Messiah or Christ is A. 1. Christ's Soul is Human conceived in Mary in a twofold Virgin The outward Mortal Life in Mary was no pure Virgin no Daughter of Eve is so nor was Eve more than half a Virgin Adam was the other half for Adam's Fall divided the Tinctures which were one total entire Virgin before in pure Love and Chastity both Tinctures of Fire and Light being in a mixture with Power to generate a Spirit out of the Fires Tincture but the Earthy life captivating him he imagined into Eve Where was then his Modesty His Imagination became bestial Of great love to the lost Image and that it might become One again did the Word which spake forth the Soul at first become incarnate 2. So to the Soul of Mary the Heavenly Virgin of God's Wisdom is put on but in the Soul's Principle not in the Earthy Flesh And in that very Virgin hath the word assumed the Seed of the Woman the Soul's Seed as also the first Images Seed which had stood so long time in the Mystery broken off which he made again one whole intire Image by remixing the Water of Eternal Life with the Soul's Spirit 's Water for the Word took hold of the Soul's Tincture and the Holy Spirit of the Spirit 's Tincture and both became one Soul 3. Yet did the Creature remain distinct from God's Spirit but God's Spirit cohabited therein And out of God's Tincture and Water and Maries Tincture and Water came one Flesh and Blood Thus was he Maries true Natural Son with Soul and Body and also God's true Son
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
Eternity as a nothing and yet is all 3. But if it becometh apprehended then it is entred into Reason as into a Prison where it works the wonders in the Fire of Nature but in the Liberty the wonders of God and so is the Companionness or Play-fellow of Sophia the Wisdom of God CHAP. II. WHY Faith and Doubting dwell together 1. Tho' Faith is God's Image viz. the desiring seeing and mind an Eternal Figure yet in the time of the Body it may change it self into the Anguish Fountain 2. For Faith in its original is only a Will which Will is a Seed and that Seed must the Soul being a Fire-spirit sow into the Liberty of God and so will a Tree grow on which the Soul feedeth to allay and meeken its Fire and becometh powerful and giveth still its vertue to the Root of this Tree which groweth in the Spirit of God even into the wonders of the Majesty of God and springeth in the Paradise of God 3. There is a continual vehement strife in Man while he is in the Tabernacle of this Earthy Life unless he so earnestly sink down in himself that he introduce the Lifes-fire into the Liberty of God and then is dead as to reason and liveth to God which is an highly precious Life and rarely found for it is like the first Image that God created The mortal only hangeth to it but this right Life is in another Principle and World and is the first right Paradifical Human Life 4. That Earthy Human Life into which Adam fell originateth in the Mothers Womb moving chiefly in Fire Air Water and Earth or Flesh tinctur'd inform'd and made rational by the constellations to pleasure or displeasure being no more but a Bestial life reason looketh no higher 5. Yet Man's great panting after a higher and Eternal Life is a Magick seeking a Mystery implanted at his Creation it lieth in Reason but Reason nor the Spirit of this World comprehendeth it not It is a secret Spring opening in another Principle hidden in the Anguish held captive by the Spirit of this World which the outward Lifes Reason hath might to suppress so that it is flifled cometh not to the light generateth not abideth hidden and when the Body breaketh the Will hath not wherewith to open the Mystery which Mystery is God's Kingdom but the Fire or Souls Spirit abideth in Eternal Darkness 6. The Mystery being God's Kingdom giveth a longing desire standing hidden in the Soul incomprehensible to Nature and hath its Root in the Souls Fire This Will is no parting or renting from the Soul but becometh one Spirit with God and so is the Soul's Garment and the Soul in that Will and Spirit is become environ'd and hidden in God tho' it dwelleth in the Body 7. This is the right earnest Faith a Child of God and dwelleth in another World It is not an Historical Will Reason knoweth there is in it self a desire after God and yet holdeth that very desire captive from entring into the Life of God in the lusts of the flesh in the Sidereal Magia saying To morrow thou shalt go forth to God introducing Self-ability of finding and is surrounded with Opinion and Conjecture keeping from the Liberty of God 8. But the Will that sinketh it self out from Reason into Obedience and Love to God is an obedient humble Child and accepted for it is pure and God's similitude And seeing God is free in himself from the Evil so must the Will and then tho' God be no accepter of persons nor will let sin into himself yet he will accept the humble free obedient Will for whatcomes to him into his Liberty he will not cast off CHAP. III. Whence comes Good and Evil Joy and Sorrow Love and Anger Life and Death 1. THO' from the Eternal Substance all proceedeth Good and Evil c. yet we cannot say that Evil and Death come from God in God is no Evil nor Death nor in Eternity doth any Evil go into him The Eternity manifesteth it self by similitudes 2. In the Eternal Nature is the Magia of Life where one Form desireth and awakeneth the other whence the Essences of multiplicity exist and out of which the wonders the Created Beings are generated and out of the same Fire of Nature the fierce Wrath proceedeth 3. In God's Will is a desiring which causeth the Magia out of which existeth the multiplicity yet the multiplicity it self is not God's willing which is free from all substance but in the desiring or longing of the Will Nature generateth it self with all Forms viz out of the Eternal Magia 4. What Spirit soever imagineth with the Will into Nature is the Child of Nature and one Life with Nature but whosoever goeth forth from the Reason of Nature with its will and longing into the Free Will of God and therein abideth is one Spirit in and with God and is God's Child and the Nature Spirit is God's wonder or Creature CHAP. IV. How to attain the Liberty of God How God's Image is destroyed The State of the Wicked after the dying of the Body 1. WHere our will and heart is there is also our Treasure Is our will in God's Will then have we the great Mystery out of which this World as a similitude is generated and have both the eternal and corruptible yea we bring the wonders of our corruptible works into the eternal 2. But if we turn our desiring from the Eternal into the Earthy Mystery our will is captivated and hangeth only to the Looking-glass and attaineth not the Liberty of God 3. And when the Body dieth the Soul retaineth the Image of those things in its Will-Spirit wherewith it is become infected be it Pride Covetousness Malice or any other abominations for the wicked Will having captivated and destroyed the Noble Image and lost the Liberty is the Root of its own Image and draweth the Mystery to it self VVhere on the other part the right VVill is regenerated in Christ and entreth into the Liberty for in the VVill through Faith we attain the Noble Virgin Image that Adam lost CHAP. V. Why the Wicked convert not What the most smarting thing in Conversion is c. 1. THE wicked multitude have the Noble Jewel hidden in them in the Divine Principle and can very well go forth with their VVill-Spirit into the VVill of God but the self-honouring life-pleasing them so well that they obstinately let the fierce wrath hold them Gods Spirit desireth the Soul setting its Magia towards it the Soul needs only to open the Door and it goetâ voluntarily in 2. But the most smarting bitter thing in Conversion is to break the Will-spirit from the Earthy substance and its Treasure the beloved Lusts and Self and from falshood by sincere earnest turning about of the Will into Gods Love which is the Divine Mystery that Gods Spirit may blow up the Divine sparkle And this must be or he is but a Bestial Man a Jugler and
near to the Devil And after this time there is no remedy more for the Souls Fire is naked and cannot be quenched with Gods Meekness but a Gulph or Principle is between them 3. Man is the Image of God and so standeth in a threefold Life the first is the Souls Life existing chiefly in seven Forms according to the Spirit of Nature The second is in the Image generated out of the Eternal Nature out of the Souls Fire standing in the Light The meek pure amiable Spirit The first the Fire is the cause of the second the Light Thus are two Worlds one in another onâ not comprehending the other But at Death divides into two Principles of Anger and Love 4. As we in Adam went out of the Meek Spirit into the outward Life of fierceness God became Man to lead us through the Anguish Fire through Death into the Light and Love-life 5. The Prince Christ breaking the Bar or Fort of Death and so destroy'd the Devils Kingdom for the Light of God and the Water of Meekness is his Death 6. The third Life is the outward Created Life from the Sun Stars and Elements Man should have used the outward as a Looking-glass to the Eternal and Gods Honour But he did put his Will-spirit into the outward Principle by wicked Lust longing after the Earthy Life and so went out of Paradise which sprouteth through Death into the second Principle and went into Death and destroy'd his Noble Image This we Inherit from Adam but from the second Adam the Regeneration by which we must enter through his Incarnation with him into Death and through Death or Annihilation sprout into the Paradisical World into the Eternal Substantiality of the Liberty of God CHAP. VI. What Lust can do How we are fallen in Adam and helped again in Christ and yet that it is not easie to be a Right Christian. 1. DEstruction came and still cometh out of Lust. The outward Spirit of Man which is a similitude of the inward by Lusting after it infected the inward which not feeling present death gave room to the outward who then became Host of the House and so the fair Image disappeared for it fell among Murtherers the stern Spirits of the Lives original of which Cain was afraid then came the good Samaritan Christ who becâme Man 2. As Adam's Soul had opened the Fires Essences and let in the Earthy so Gods Heart opened the Lights Essences and compassed the Soul with Heavenly Flesh wherewith when the Soul became impregnated it went with its will into the Paradise Life Hence came Christs Temptation to try whether he could eat of the Word of the Lord and would enter through Death into Gods Life which was fulfilled on the Cross where Christs Soul went through the Fire of the fierce wrath through the stern source through Death and sprouted forth again into the Holy Paradise We must die unto our Earthy willing and continually become Regenerated into the new World 3. The right will must couragiously Fight against the corrupt will sinking down from Earthy Reason into Christs Death so that it will hazard the Earthy Life upon it And he that thus sinketh down passeth through Gods fierce wrath through all the holding âords of the Devil into the Paradise of God into the Life of Christ. And the more the noble Pearl Tree is sought the more strongly it groweth and suffereth it self not to be suppressed tho' it cost the outward Life which must but hang to us as it did to Christ. CHAP. VII To what end this World was Created 1. THE two Eternal Mysteries Mans strife about the Image And where the âree of Faith beareth Fruit. 2. The inward World desires a Similitude of it self which the Angelical World standing only in the light could not be This therefore standing in a twofold Genitrix of Love and Anger and Man being in a threefold Life from the Fire Light and Out birth clearly represents Who was Created to manifest the same Mystery and bring the Wonders into Forms according to the Eternal Mystery 3. The Noble Image the true Paradisical Man is strove for 1. By the stern Fire life 2. By the Divine Life 3. By the outward Life and thus being drawn of three There is great need of Fighting Hope Faith Humble Prayer and Patience that the Tree may grow which the outward Man nor Reason knoweth not but is very well known to the Noble Image The Cross Scorn Tribulation and Persecution attend him every hour for he is unknown to his Brethren all suppose his own Folly plagueth him but great will his Harvest be CHAP. VIII In what manner God forgiveth Sins and how Man becometh a Child of God 1. MAN is not to bring his Conscience into the History and hope for pardon in the manner of an Earthy Judicatory and yet remain wicked He must be a Son it is elâe as if a Servant should comfort himself that his Lord would give him his Estate not considering he is not his Son Whereas whosoever is Born of God in Christ is a partaker of Christs Sufferings Dying and Resurrection for a continual Battel must be till the Reason and Will of the corrupt Flesh be subjected 2. And if the Earthy Reason be strong it goeth often sadly and there is requir'd not only strict Sobriety but Watching Fasting and Prayer to âame it that Gods Spirit may find place to generate some faâr little Branches out of the Tree of Faith which under the Cross Anguish and Tribulation may bear Fruit with Patience These three Parts or Books were the Authors fifth Book THE Great Six Points The First POINT CHAP. I. Of the first sprout of Life out of the first Principle whereby we may distinguish the Divine Being from Nature 1. TEXT 1. The first or Abyssal Will without and beyond Nature is like an Eye or Looking-glass yet retains Nature 2. This Will is the cause of the Desiring The Desiring is the cause of the Essences The Essences are the cause of every Life for Life lyeth in them as a hidden Fire which burneth not 3. In the Will all the Forms of Nature from Eternity tho' but as a nothing in respect of Nature yet are truely and entally or really but not essentially in the Will 4. The Eternal Will which comprizeth the Eye wherein standeth the Seeing or Wisdom is the Father 5. The Eternal Wisdom comprizing a Centre out of the Abyss is the Form Heart and Son 6. The entring Eternally into it self to the Centre is the Spirit for it is the finder and then goeth forth manifesting the Wisdom of the Father and Son 2. TEXT 1. Thus the Abyssal being of the Trinity generateth to it self a Centre of Rest viz. the Eternal Word or Heart wherein is understood a threefold Spirit where the one is ever the cause of the other and is not measurable fathomable divisible nor circumscriptive dwelling in it self as a substance equally alike and at once filling
far as they are holy and capable of it which their possessing the second Principle enables them to be 12. The third Principle hath its sprouting but it is in Warring the cold against the heat and every thing against its contrary The cold gives substance the heat Spirit the Light Meekness And then the Fire consumes all both Evil and Good 13. Seeing therefore Man hath the two inward Principles in strife let him beware which he makes Lord for that will be his Lord Eternally when Death hath broken the Ballance CHAP. III. The Second Point 1. IN the Light World which is Gods Kingdom is rightly known no more but one Principle into which the four Properties give up their Will being chang'd into a desire of Love in Meekness That which in the Light World is well doing triumphing Joy and Pleasant Songs is in the dark a stinging Enmity Horror and Trembling 2. Therefore is the anxious evil the Light worlds Original and all is Gods but the Light only call'd Gods Kingdom the other his fierce Wrath which Kingdom hath the Constellations of the greatest and most severe eager might 3. That which melodiously ringeth in the Light rumbleth and thumpeth in the dark The cause of the ringing in Metals is that in the moving of the Aâl subââantiaâ God in the Creation the Metalline Tincture became shut up in the âaâââess 4. In the dark World are many sorts of Spirits or Hellish Worms according to their Constelâations and Properties without uâderstanding or woe for iâ is their Life as in this are unreasonable and hurtful Beasts Toads Serpents c. for all Properties would be Creaturely 5. The Principles are not at strife but in a constant league But Death and Anguish is the cause of Fire and Fire is the cause of all Life To the Abyâs it gives sting and fierceness else there would be no Mobility To the light-Light-world Essence else there would be no production but an Eternal Arcanum To this World it gives Essence and springing so is it the cause of all things 6. The Anguish of the dark World caus'd by Fire panteth after the liberty and the liberty longeth after manifestation thus is the Harmony between the Principles but in the Essences is strife else all things would be nothing 7. God Created Creatures in each Principle therein should they continue but when they introduce into themselves another thaâ makes he Enmity as did the Devil introduce Pride and the fierce Wrath of the first Principle And Man into this World where he hath necessity and strife to make him go out again which if he with Divine Might doth at any time the Spirit of this World will drive on the Children of this World to hate plague and kill them whereto the Devil helpeth to drive them from among his Slaves 8. Man therefore is highly concerned to know that being in this World as a Prisoner he should not enter into the Earthy Malady but constantly go hence into the Light-world But if he press not thereinto with earnestness he like an Ape only imitates or plays Jugling Tricks for which the Devil derides him for thereby he gives his Body to this World and his Soul to the dark Abyss 9. Thus is seen that the Creatures of each Principle desire not those of the other nor can they see each other there being a Gulph between them CHAP. IV. Of the Original of Contrariety in the springing of Life The Third Point 1. VVHere is one only will there is no strife but where many are is contrariety unless one rule over the rest there then doth multiplicity harmonize for the harsh Anguish and bitter Properties are at Civil Hostility and Fire is the Incendiary setting them all into great Anguish Exasperating the respective Enmities till Light be produced and crowned King There it ruleth lovingly and rewards them with Meekness which appeaseth and well-pleaseth them all Thus is multiplicity reduced to an united will called the mind which by Imagination can create evil and good 2. The Mind inkindling it self inkindleth the whole Body and Spirit be it in Wrath or Love As is the Matter such is the Flame be it Brimstone or sweet Oyl and such is the favour 3. In the Souls Fire stands the Light of Life and in the Light of Life the Noble Image When therefore the Souls Fire in the fierce quality introduceth Earthy Matter into it the Noble Image withdraws The consequence of our hard and heavy Fall bringing on us so great danger and misery 4. Therefore hath Christ taught us Patience Meekness and Love for we are captives in God's fierce Wrath between Anger and Love so that if the Will-Spirit before the dissolution of the Body hath attained God's Love as a sparkle somewhat may be done but not without such irksom tediousness to break the dark fierceness which would extinguish it and that is Purgatory and how great Enmity Terror and Anguish the Life is in before it can in the sparkle sink down into the Liberty of God he well findeth who so nakedly with as it were only a glimmering Twilight departeth this World 5. It is therefore of absolute necessity that we take the Cross by entring into Humility Patience and the Meek Life therewith to break the will of the Dark fierce Centre and this World's Voluptuousness nor by wrong to excite Rage in thy Brother for that hindereth the Kingdom of God but thy meek self denial will further it that by beholding that Spirit in thee thy Brother may be convinced and judge himself seeing thy valuing more God's Love than temporal goods knowing thy self to be only a stranger But if the Evil-doer will not convert his Evil in the Anger of God gnaweth him to cause him to return If yet he hardeneth himself in wickedness he becomes a total Evil Tree devouring his own abominations growing for his dark God Lucifer The above is the Contents of the latter part of the fourth Point but the first part of the fourth Point contains viz. CHAP. V. How the Holy Tree of Eternal Life sprouteth through All the three Principles yet not comprehended 1. THE Divine Power and Light dwelleth in it self every where in Nature yet not toucht by any thing that is not of its Property not comprehended but as the Sun shineth in all the Elements yet not laid hold on by any and what the Sun doth in the third Principle the Light of God doth in the Forms of the Eternal Nature attoneing the Schism and Enmity of them that Light shineth through the Darkness but not comprehended by it 2. The three Principles comprehend not one the other unless the Will by falling into Death give up its Essences into the Light 3. The Devil is the poorest of Creatures The Sun is not profitable to him he cannot stir a leaf nor pile of Grass unless the anger be in it his Will neither goeth no can go into the Lights Property He goeth not readily but hateth every thing that sprouteth in and
uniteth with the Sun's Power CHAP. VI. The outward manifestation of the inward three Worlds How God is in all things How all the World might be a meer Sun What Man is And wherein God beholdeth himself Further of the 4th Point 1. THE Earthy Tincture hath no communion with the Heavenly though the outward proceedeth out of the inward and yet the Tincture of the precious Metals hath communion with the Heavenly 2. The Dark World hath the first Centre the Light the second whence behold our danger for if we cast our selves into the Earthy seeking that captivateth us the Dark Abyss is our Lord and the Sun our Temporal God 3. The three Worlds are not sever'd for the Eternal Abyssal substance may not sever it self The outward is the place which comprehends not the inward but is comprehended by it what the inward giveth forth out of it self that it also possesseth and cometh not into a place but was there bâfore-hand 4. Thus God dwelleth in all things but no more comprehended than the face is by the Looking-glass or the Sun by the Water tho' the outward hungreth after the inward and can receive the inward into it but the inward cannot receive the outward for it dwelleth not in the outward but in it self nor is the inward remote from the outward as the Sun from the Water but as the Water hath the Suns Property in it else could not catch the Suns Lustre And this World would all be a meer Sun if God would kindle and manifest it for every thing animate and inanimate and all the four Elements receive the Suns glance 5. If Man who is all the three Worlds standeth in them in equal harmony without introducing the one World into the other saving that he by the Light-World rule the Dark and Outward Worlds then is he God's similitude and the Outward World must catch the Light as the Water doth the Suns glance But if the Water be mixt with Earth it receives not the Suns Light No more can the Human Spirit the Light of God unless it remain pure and then that Man's Life is such a Looking glass as wherein God beholds and finds himself as also in the Angels and Beauties of Heaven for in the Dark World is no Looking glass capable of the Light But if the Water be mixt with Earth it must sink down from the Earths dark fierceness wherein it was captive before it be capable of seeing the Light 6. So what Man imagineth after it receiveth if he hath filled himself with the Earthy hunger he must be new born that he may with Christ break the Earthy Darkness and with Authority introduce the clear pure Looking-glass of the Deity CHAP. VII How a Life passeth out of Joy into Misery The fifth Point 1. LIfe is like a terrible flash but when it receiveth the Light it passeth into meekness and joy but because it sprung from its Mother the Dark World it hath power either to retire thither or proceed forward by the Fires Anguish to kindle the Light Its perdition is therefore evident it inclineth to the multiplicity to be its own Lord but yieldeth not to the Liberty beyond Nature for if it did then would the Liberty kindle the Love-fire and become a light viz. a clear Looking-glass of God's Majesty In that manner as the second Principle hath kindled it self from Eternity for entring into the Liberty it arrives at that which was before Nature and was the cause of Nature 2. The Soul hath three Eyes or Looking glasses in the time of this World and seeth with that only to which it turneth it self tho' by right of Nature it hath but one viz. the fourth Form of the Dark VVorld viz. Fire and into which it goeth with its will of that it receiveth its spiritual substance 3. And if it go into the Dark World or Outward World the Light World is hidden and as dead as Fire is in Wood. Here should Man prove himself what World is Lord in him If wrath envy deceit pride avarice bestial unchastity c. be his desire he may make Register accompt and inventory that certainly he is not a Man but a Dog Goat Beast Serpent or Toad And when the four Elements forsake him his Souls Image is form'd by the Hellish Fiat into that Property of theirs that most strââgly drew his delight 4. Yet he that hourly striveth against the Evil Properties and though he be damped by the Evil his constant desire to repentance sheweth God's fire glimmereth in him and when the outward Body with its damp breaketh and can no more hinder the glimmering week then the Divine Fire kindleth and figureth him after the Image of the strongest Property he here introduced into his desire But if he continue not his serious desire he may desperately perish 5. But he whose desire is so potent that he can subdue his Evil Nature and pass into humble Patience contemn the glistering of the World do good for evil and can yield himself and all his to do and suffer misery for God's sake In that Man the Divine Power floweth up the Noble Image dwelleth and Jesus is born 6. The Devil knoweth him not only is inraged and irritateth incarnate Devils and Men Beasts to plague him This Man is the surest never dieth but the outward Kingdom that was a hinderance to him falleth from him and as he tasted what God is and bare the heavenly substance here so now much more and is eternally perfected CHAP. VIII Further of the 5th Point The True Human Essence or Substance is not Earthy nor out of the Dark World but out of the Substance of God 1. THE right substantial Man is of the Light World there is a Gulph of Death 'twixt that and the Dark World and Outward World yet is it shut up-in the Outward World Christ is come to save what is lost and will suffer it self to be helped unless it be a totally Devilish fruit of evil Parents But while there is any small Tinder of Divine stirring the Child is capable by Baptism to have the Light glimmering in that part given Adam out of the Angelical World not that Earthy part he introduced and so far as the Divine Power stirreth is the Child baptized after life in the womb by the Holy Ghost 2. Obj. What can the Child do to it that the Parents are wicked Answ. The Evil Man is shut up in Body and Soul why not in the Seed Must God turn the seed of Thistles into Wheat and throw Pearls to Swine The Sun maketh nor desireth any Weed but giveth to all Vegetables Life but the Soil produceth the Evil. Many times the wicked Parents cause Curses to stick to their wicked Consorts and should not their wills be done to them 3. And being both wicked what can an Evil Beast beget but an Evil Beast baptized in God's fierce Wrath So also it receiveth the Lord's Supper without distinguishing the Lord's Body and put it and its own
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-Dark-world and light-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 inâo 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 fiâleth 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
help breathing it self again into the disappear'd Divine Property and into all the three Properties of the Humane even to the Thoughts and Senses breaking the will of self and of the Devil and hath brought the holy Life through Death into a Paradisical sprouting making Death and the Devil a reproach and shewing how the Eternal one can rule mightily over the Multiplicity and give an open Grace Gate for us poor Men to enter the Life of Christ. 3. We are therefore to come with ouâ captivated will out of the Prison of Earth and Self and solely sink down into this Incorporated Grace which pressed from one viz. the first Man upon all and with the resign'd will sink down into the Hyperbyssal Supersensual Unsearchable Eternal one into the ground out of whiâh Life first sprung and then it reacheth the Temperature and true Rest. Argument How can a Man do that viz. that last above written being the Scripture saith The first Man is made to a Natural Life to rule the Creatures therefore mâst the Life go into the Earthy Properties Answer 1. The Humane Life is set in a reflex Image of the Divine Will in and with which God willeth and the Earthy Creatures are set in a representation of the Humane 2. And though Mans Life was set in Nature yet it was in the Temperature Without Christ we can do nothing but if Man sink into the Incorporated Grace of God and in Divine Hope rest from self-will and work and resign its will to work only what God speaketh it is beyond Nature And the Abyss God himself speaketh through him and manifesteth himself in and with him thus new-born in Christ who now ruleth over the outward Reason Life 3. Till this be done Man is no Child of Heaven but his will an Apostate just as the Devil and his Body an evil Beast and gathereth not with Gods Incorporated Grace but scattereth 4. As an Herb without Sap is burnt by the Sun while the Herb that hath Sap is warn'd So if Mans Essence hath not Ens from Gods Love and Meekness it impresseth it self into a fierce wrathful fiery sharpness and the Mind is totally rough covetous envious and stinging 5. Yet if the fiery Life eat of the Divine Love it is no more receiving as the Fires Property is but giving and working good in all as the Property of the Light for having eaten of the Bread which cometh down from Heaven it is quickned by it The Sun in a hard Stone where the Water is coagulated cannot work as in Metals Herbs and Trees because his Light and Vertue penetrateth not so is it in this CHAP. III. How Nature representeth and maketh visible the Divine Eternal and Abyssal Knowledge 1. THE Word is the Efflux of the Divine Will and Knowledge as the Thoughts and Senses are of the Mind yet the Mind remaineth totally but one So the Word was is and ever will be the Eternal Beginning flowing out and revelation of the Eternal one 2. And the Wisdom is the Eternal out-flown Beginning and cause of all Powers Colours Vertues and Properties 3. Their Powers are again an Efflux into the various Self-properties whence come the Multiplicity of Wills thence the Creaturely Life of the Eternal springeth viz. Angels and Souls 4. Not that Nature and Creature is here but the Spirit of God sporteth himself in forming Similitudes of the Powers of the Wisdom as doth the Mind with reflex Images which are the Thoughts and every Property hath its own Separator as hath the Eternal Unity whereby the Efflux of the Unity becomes perceptible in Infinite Multiplicity 5. For the Efflux sharpeneth it self superlatively by the Magnetick longing of the receiving Powers in the fiery kind wherein the Eternal One becomes Majestick and Light And the inkindling through Fire makes it a Kingdom of Joy The visible World with its Hosts is the out-flown word of Fire Light and Darkness separated by the Officer of Nature who hath imprinted each Body according to its own Property Of the Twofold Life in the Representation of the Divine Will 1. An Eternal 2. A Temporal 1. The Eternal is the sensible Life in the Eternal Fire and Light a spark of the out-flown or out-breathed will of God bound to will nothing but the out-breathed will of God a Separator and Instrument of Gods Omnipotent Glory wherewith he will rule all things having therefore given it Divine Understanding 2. The Temporal and Mortal Existence is the Efflux of the Separator of all Powers call'd the Soul of the World making the visible Creatures such a Similitude as wherein the Spiritual World of Fire Light and Darkness beholdeth it self hidden in and working through the Elementary World But the Visible possesseth not the Invisible so as to be chang'd thereinto but is only an Instrument whereby the Inward Powers Image themselves as in Herbs Trees Metals c. Of the Threefold Spirit in the Growing Powers 1. The outward Spirit is the gross Brimstone Salt and Mercury which coagulating it self in the four Elements and by drawing the Spiritual Separator to it the Signature is instantly perform'd 2. The second Spirit or Quintessence hath a Centre of its own viz. a Root of the four Elements being the Meek Joy of the painful Brimstone and Salt Spirit nourished from within of the Light of Nature and from without of the subtle Power of the Spirit of the World which fifth Essence is the right cause of all Vegetation and such a Joy of Nature as the Sun to the Elements 3. The third 's the Tincture of which see Chap. 12. of the three Principles The Tincture is that wherein all Powers lye in equality a Spiritual Fire and Light in one substance a Paradise the Mansion of Divine Power and of the Eternal Soul known to the Creature only in the Regeneration and to no ungodly one for such drive on a false will 4. It is not Elementary but issueth through the gross Elementary Spirit even into Taste and Smell But the Elements are a cause of the motion of the Tincture the sharpness of the Smell is Elementary but the vertue in the Smell is the Tincture which in Medicines Cureth for it imprinteth it self in such Balsams 5. As the voice to the Fig-tree Be thou withered did not that Miracle but the Power whence the voice proceeded As neither is the Confession of a thing Faith but that Intellectual Power is Faith out of which the Confession proceedeth wherewith Gods Spirit Co-worketh 6. Thus all whatsoever whether evil or good represent in their several Properties the hidden Spirit of the Separator of all things and the Elementary is the Efflux of the Tincture and Spiritual World for the visible moveable material World is the substance of the invisible immoveable spiritual World 7. So the desire of the Efflux out of the darkness is become sharp stern and gross and hath coagulated it self into Matter even unto the drossy Earth So out of the Light cometh the Noble
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-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 âââerial 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 wâich 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 stanâing 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
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
potent Joy 19. In Mars's Salt it makes Pangs and Stiches and Woe In Saturn's Salt Swellings Anguish and Death if not oppos'd by Jupiter and Venus for they two oppose and temper Mars and Mercury yet by Mars and Mercury is the Life in Jupiter Venus and Sol where would else be a stilness thus is the worst as profitable as the best 20. And when the Physician hath reconciled Mars and Mercury with Venus and Jupiter that they all obtain one will the Sun of Life will revive and correct the nauseat of the Disease into a pleasant Jupiter This is only applicable to the Vegetative or Sensitive Soul of the Elementary Body 21. The rational Soul hath its Diseases springing from care and distress till it lead to heaviness and Death cured by removing the causes of that care c. 22. So Sin hath poyson'd the Mental Soul by Inflaming his Eternal Mercury which with the sting of his Mars burns in the horrible impression of his Saturn his Venus is Imprison'd his Intellectual Jupiter Infatuated his Sun quenched his Moon dark 23. To Cure this he must with Venus the Love of God and Jupiter the Divine Understanding quench and appease the flaming Mercury and raging Mars So is the Soul Tinctured with Love his Sun then shineth and Jupiter rejoiceth for Divine Love begetteth a Divine Will so Tiâctured as able to die to self-will which Death doth attain the nothing wherein is no Turba to touch or hurt the Soul who now doth neither see know nor live but according to the resignation 24. Here doth Christ break the Serpents Head and God become all in all 25. It is possible to live without sickness but very difficult to bring the inward into the outward as the Sun illustrateth Water because the opposite will hath introduced wrath in the outward Body it must die and putâifie and enter again into the nothing into the beginning of the Creation out of which it departed wâth Adam CHAP. X. Of the Inward and Outward Cure of Man 1. TO Cure Man God brought not a strange thing into him nor did cast away the Humanity but with the like of that which was corrupted introduced a Divine Prâperty into him In Man was the expressed Word or Eternal Mercury inspoken which was the Soul with the Properties of all the three Worlds Fire Light and Love 2. Adam should have put his desire into the humble meek light and love but he made in himself the hunger after evil and good and so could not Tincture his Fire-world and outward World with Love 3. To restore Mans right Image God introduced the holy Mercury in the fiery Love-starne with such a desire of Divine Essentiality as makes Divine Corporality which reinkindled the Light of the Eternal Sun in the Humane Property so that the Humane Jupiter of Divine Understanding might again appear 4. So is the outward Cure done Mans Mercury was inkindled a Mercury must Cuâe it but that must first it self be inkindled in Venus and Jupiter which also gives it the Suns Property Not with dark cold Saturn unless first sweetly appeas'd with Venus and Jupiter so will the Sun shine in Saturn and Death be chang'd into Life 5. The Knowledge how God restores the Universal is learnt by study of the process of Christ from his first Incarnation to his Ascention The Essence of Venus shut up in Death must be Baptiz'd in the Water of the Eternal Essence By which the Imprison'd Incentive as Fire falling into Tinder gloweth Then must the outward Food be withdrawn and the hungry Desire be tempted whether it will go into God and be fed with Manna let the Essence of time by resignation be subject to that of Eternity and so possess the Elected Throne whence Lucifer fell or desire the Earthy Kingdom of Good and Evil for outward Dominion If its will remain in Gods Love-fire the Water is turn'd to Wine so is the outward Cure also done 6. But before the Universal Restoration be manifest all the seven Properties must be Chrystalized each Form by a peculiar process forsaking their will in the wrath and come into the Loves Property wherein is no Turba all which Christ did in the Humanity before the Body was glorified 7. When therefore the Frozen Mouth in Saturn of all the Properties is opened and that Food given to their hunger wherein is no Turba the flagrat of Joy in Love dismayeth the wrath and is as a Transmutation but not fixt the Angelical Properâies appear in view 8. In Christs Temptation the speaking Mercury in the Light was given to the expressed Mercury of the Fires Property because Adam's Fires Property had quenched the Lights Property Christ was tempted to depart out of the Resignation into a desire of selfish Propriety of worldly Avarice and Dominion to the Knowledge and Kingdom of Good and Evil where pain and wrath is manifest but in the Resignation is sacred Love and no Breath of Anger as in the Light of the Fire is no pain of Fire manifest 9. The Mother and Womb of all Beings is Sulphur Mercury is her Life Mars her Sense Venus her Love Jupiter her Understanding Luna her Corporeal Essence Saturn her Husband 10. In the Philosophick work the Artist raiseth in the first Kingdom the dead Apostate Child shut up in Saturn opening by degrees Paradise again by Gods permission In the second Kingdom Luna Corporally feeds where the outward Mercury hath not laboured So Christ fed the 5000. 12. In the third Kingdom Jupiter Christ made Babes wise so the Artist seeth the new Life rise up the four Elements appear with all Colours 13. In the fourth Kingdom of the Mercurial Orb Christ restor'd the Deaf Dumb and Lepers so the Artist sees how Heaven severs it self from the Earth and again sinks into it Coloureth and purifieth the Matter appearing in Antimony 14. In the fifth Kingdom Christ ejected the Devils so the Artist will see how Jupiter in Mercury drives up a black twinkling fiery Vapour out of the Matter sticking like Soot a hunger of the Poyson in Mercury the Devils Property 15. In the sixth Kingdom Christ in Venus loved his and humbly washed his Disciples Feet gave himself up to be mock'd beaten and crucified so the Artist will see as soon as the material Devil the dark fiery steam is gone the Virgin very Glorious which the Artist will be apt to think is the Philosophick Child but in the tryal finds it to be a Woman not the Virgin with the Tincture of Fire and Light for now Saturn Mars and Mercury oppose but Jupiter and Luna hold with Venus but when the Power of wrath cometh Luna changeth her will viz. Colour and cryeth with the common people signified by her Crucifige CHAP. XI The Process of Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection Symbolized in the Philosophick Work THIS whole Chapter consisting of eighty verses being a profound pursuit especially of the sixth Kingdom and the Essence
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according âo Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it âorth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâs in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
Sins of the Parents and Ancestors come Thistle Children and there lieth the hardening CHAP. VIII v. 115. EVery Child is generated out of the Properties of the Seed of the Parents and like them tho' often the Constellations alter in the Configuration with Authority and Power It is objected How can the Child help it It is answered The Child and the Parents are one Tree When did the Sun alter a branch on a sour Crab-tree so that it became sweet and should God go quite contrary to the predestinate purpose of his out-spoken or expressed word for a Thiâtles sake v. 177. The Will to partition existeth in the Ens to the Creature and the Will to the Holy Life existeth out of God in Christ. See chap. 10. v. 110 129 to 135 145 151 153. also chap. 11 130. to the end And chap. 13. per tot especially the 15th v. to the 40th After all which followeth an excellent Appendix of Repentance And lastly the Clavis See more concerning Free Will c. in the Mysterium Magnum Chap. 26. This being the Author's 16th Book was written Anno 1623. BAPTISM AND THE Lord's Supper The first Part being of Baptism CHAP. I. First Book of Baptism 1. THAT Christ's communication of himself to the Soul by his Testaments is not in an Image-like way as the reason of one part of men judgeth nor are the Testaments only Signs and Symbols to keep what he hath done for us in lively remembrance as others dispute 2. But the Inward World being Paradise whence sprung the Outward World Christ filleth and ruleth visibly and the Outward invisibly and penetrateth the faithful Soul as Fire doth Iron or the Sun doth the Plant which it nourisheth and matureth till it becomes wholly solar and the Fruit ripe and tender yet is not the Sun rent or any part broken off but the power of the Sun dwelleth in the Plant. CHAP. II. 1. MAN's Fall was the breaking its desire from the Love and Meekness of God into its own which became a wrathful fiery Soul whence the Eternal Darkness existed so that it wanted for remedy the Spiritual Oyl and Water wherein Divine Love and Meekness might flow into it again and make all a Love-flame 2. To this flowing in again there must be a Medium Subject or Antitype whereby the Human Faith might receive Divine Vertue and kindle the Light which Medium was the Circumcision and Sacrifices Baptism and the Supper for God did set in the Human Heavenly Being perished in Adam his new Grace Covenant 3. So that the holy Sacrificers before the Floud did see the Soul sacrificed in the Fire of God's Wrath and through that in spoken Covenant changed into a Love-fire the false will being burnt and dying and a new-born Child of Meekness in the Light was apparent as Light severeth from Smoke and how the Soul through Christ's death would give up it self and be changed into an Angel But this was not common Fire 4. But when Mens vanity prevailed with the Souls false Fire over the holy Fire the Floud the Type of Baptism and God's Meekness overthrew them to shew what the holy Water of Eternal Life would do And then was renewed the Covenant with Abraham and Isaac by Circumcision on that same Member to shew the unclean bestial Birth should be cut off from the Virginity Adam had and should have stood in CHAP. III. 1. ALL the three Worlds Properties or three Principles in Man needed Baptism viz. The first which is the Eternal Nature whence sprung the true Eternal Soul Secondly The heavenly Ens which was vanished in Adam that holy Lights Power the true Eternal Spirit Thirdly The Outward Worlds substance the Astral Soul with its Body out of the Limus of the Earth standing in the four Elements and therefore the great holy Fire of Love manifested in the Humanity of Christ must baptize this our threefold Humanity that each Principle might be baptized with its like viz. 2. The Fathers holy Fire The Sons holy Light The holy Spirits Life 3. The first is the sound to continual Repentance a concussion and trembling with Fire wherein is seen the bitterness of sin and sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. And when the Self-will is shaken through Repentance then the holy Oyl of Love penetrateth and by the anointing of Love healeth those wounds 4. And the Holy Ghost manageth the Office baptizing with a new Life 5. But Man's third Principle the right Adamical Man out of the four Elements is baptized with the Outward Worlds substance the Water 6. By the aforesaid Adamical Man is meant the Spiritus Mundi viz. the right Astral Soul which at the last day shall come again and be tryed 7. Note Man hath an immortal Soul and a mortal Soul viz. the Astral but it was Christ's heavenly Blood that fell with the other which made the Earth tremble 8. He that is himself baptized with the holy Anointing hath Faith which may enable him to baptize else he effecteth nothing but is as the Font-stone but to the believing Parents Child the work is not wholly powerless for the sake of the unworthy hand for if Parents have put on the Anointing why not their Children whom they generate out of the Property of their Seed The Lord's Supper Part II. CHAP. II. 1. THE Soul is the Fathers Fire The holy Love-fire of the Divine Ens heavenly Flesh and Power in the Light being Christ's substance tinctureth he Soul with the Tincture of supernatural glance and life 2. As sweet Oyl put into common dark Fire ariseth into a Light so is Christ received by the mouth of Faith become the Light of the World by kindling again the vanished heavenly Ens of Adam and shining in the unlocked Paradisical ground which is the City of God where the Holy Ghost dwelleth in Man of which Christ saith Joh. 6. 56. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood continueth in me and I in him which is a real and substantial eating and drinking Christ's heavenly Flesh and Blood 3. The Holy Flesh and Blood is taken into the Soul which cometh freely as the Sun doth into Water which retaineth its heat and light or as Fire penetrateth Iron and gives it heat and light 4. Also 't is the whole Christ as they did eat the whole Paschal Lamb. 5. The Bread and Wine is the Medium in which the Heavenly Humanity of Christ meets the unlocked awakened Word of Promise and Grace Covenant which is hid in Man 6. By the Bread and Wine said here to be the Medium is not meant the gross Elements of Bread and Wine but the Tincture or Quintessence whence cometh or groweth Bread and Wine Chap. 3. ver 24. CHAP. III. How the Disciples of Christ did Eat and Drink Christs Flesh and Blood 1. NOT the palpable Fleshly Humanity but the Spiritual Humanity the Virtue and Power of his Body and Blood his own Mumia in which was the Divine and Humane Power
which is a true Humane Substance of Flesh and Blood a Spiritual Flesh out of which the visible Image groweth not only by Faith in remembrance of his Sufferings Death c. as is ignorantly said but really Christs Paradisical Humanity presseth into their Souls as a sparkle of Fire falleth into Tinder and turneth the whole Tinder into Fire and Light 2. The Divine Flesh and Blood of Christ cannot be receiv'd but by a Mouth fit to receive it 3. The Mortal Flesh comprehendeth it no more than the gross Stone doth the Tincture of fine Gold that is in it 4. A Man cannot say I am Christ because Christ dwelleth and worketh in me no more than the Herb can say I am the Sun because the Sun worketh in it CHAP. IV. What the Wicked partake of and how a Man should prepare that he may be Worthy 1. HE that receives this without Repentance that is turning from Sin receiveth as Judas his own Judgment and Condemnation for his wicked Will desireth not to die in Christs Death but only to arise and live with his Sins in Christs Resurrection yet in the Spirit of Lucifer he treadeth on the Death of Christ and participateth indeed on Christs Anguish Death and going into Hell but in the Spirit of the Devil without rising to newness of Life Better it were he did not touch or meddle with it 2. They talk of Absolution and Pardon of Sin but leave it not and so Sathan as he did to Judas after the Sop entreth These Crucifie Christ. 3. But they that rightly prepare die to Sin resign themselves to God have the Spirit of Christ erecting his Kingly Office and Pallace in their Hearts a living Conqueror over Death and Hell these rightly receive Christs Flesh and Blood CHAP. V. Of the Disputes c. about Christs Testaments 1. ONE Party say the Bread and Wine is substantially changed into Christs Flesh and Blood and so will receive Christ into the Bestial and Mortal Man 2. Another Party say it is only a Sign that the Body of Christ was broken and died for us and deny the substantial participation 3. The third Party say Christ is participated with and under the Bread and Wine that is Christs Flesh and Blood is eaten and drunk with and under the Bread and Wine but yet know nothing of the right Adamical Humanity and deny the substantial Inhabiting of Christ. 4. For they will not know how the participation is wrought but rely barely on the dead Letter hence come such Contentions that are really Spiritual Murther and in the end come to outward Murther Every one for the Idol of his own Opinion but the Kingdom of God is inwardly within thee the outward imputed Grace without the Innate Filial Grace is false 5. Let the Sufferings and Death of Christ be fulfilled in us and we shall be the Children of Christ and not the Children of Images This was the Authors 22d Book Mysterium Magnum PART I. The First Part contains the nine first Chapters of Genesis and thirty fourth Chapter of the Book whence these Extracts are called the Great Mystery Exposition of Genesis CHAP. I. What God manifested is and of the Trinity 1. GOD is the One the Will of the Abyss the Will of the Wisdom The Wisdom is his Delight and Manifestation he begetteth himself from Eternity to Eternity in which Eternal Generation are 1. The Will 2. The Mind of the Will 3. The Egress from the Will and Mind 2. The Will is the Father the Mind is the Wills Heart and Seat the Egress is the Spirit and Power of the Will and Mind The Lubet Motion Life and Eye of the Deity A speaking Word 3. God is no where far from or near unto any thing Infinitely more deep than any thought can reach comprehended only by himself CHAP. II. Of the Word or Heart of God 1. THE Word is in the Will a nothing but with the Conception in the Lubet of the Will is an Eternal Generation This Eternal speaking Word maketh a Mystery call'd the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Powers Colours and Virtue whereof as out of a great Eternal Mystery was formed by Coagulation the Spiritual World Which two are as Soul and Body 2. And tho' the speaking Word rule through and over all yet cannot be comprehended by either but in the inward World conceiveth it self into a Spiritual Essence as one only Element wherein the four lye hidden but when the Word moved the one Element the hidden Properties did manifest themselves as there are four Elements CHAP. III. How out of the Eternal Good an Evil is come to be the Original of the Dark World VVE cannot say that Eternal Light or Eternal Darkness is Created for they are not comprehended in time but Concomitant in their Generation But not in the Word of the Deity but Originate in the desire of the speaking Word For the free Lubet wherein is the Wisdom could not have sensible perceivance of its own Vertue Smell Taste and Colours if it brought not it self into a desire like a hunger and so bring it self from Abyss into Byss by over-shadowing Attraction And remains a Property viz. a darkness For where a Property is there is a something yielding obscurity Unless something else viz. a Lustre fill it and then 't is Light yet remaineth a Darkness in the Property And this is the Eternal Original of the Darkness So that we are to understand 1. The free Lubet the wisdom which is no Property but is one with God 2. The desire of the free Lubet which in the hunger or coagulation comprehends the free Lubet and maketh it self out of the free Lubet For the desire is the Fathers Property And the free Lubet the wisdom is the Sons Property Tho' God here until the Manifestation through the Fire in the Light is not called Father or Son but set down thus to shew to what Person in the Deity Nature and to what the Power in Nature is to be ascribed The desire proceeding from the will of the Abyss is the first form and it is the Fiat The free Lubet is God who governeth the Fiat the Centre of Nature And both together are the Eternal Word and in the desire are the seven Properties of Nature The profound distinct Discourse of them taketh up the remainder of this Chapter and the fourth fifth and sixth CHAPTERS CHAP. VII Of the Holy Trinity and Divine Essence THE Eternal and Temporal Nature especially consists in the dark world in the four first Forms Astringent Bitter Anguish and Fire But the Powers in all are understood in the Light or Love-desire or Love-fire 1. For the first ground is the one 2. The free Lubet viz. the Wisdom 3. The Love desire wherein the free Lubet exacuateth it self through Nature into a Kingdom of Joy 4. The Oyly Spirit wherein the Lubet amaffeth it self in the Meekness and coamaffeth the Lustre the Power whereof is
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day âwallows 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
bloody sweat his being contemned crowned with Thorns his mixt draught of Gall and Vinegar this made the Earth tremble 2. They dreaded now the Lord's voice for the Turba of the Dark World awakened its sad knell In the cool of the day that is when Adam's Eternal day in the Temperature was awakened into cold and heat 3. But in the Lord's voice was the holy Light world Christ the second Principle who in deepest Love espoused it self again to the disappeared heavenly Ens And the holy Word re-entring into the vital Light did reincorporate it self in the Woman's seed which in time did move its self in Mary's seed quickening the disappear'd heavenly Virginity by introducing the holy living Ens. 4. This ingrafted Word was inspoken into Eves Matrix as a limit of a certain Covenant which was all along propagated in Eves seed from Man to Man in the heavenly part as a glimmering incentive of the Divine holy Lights fire until the awakening of it in Mary where the Covenant was fulfilled by the most holy name Jesus signified by the holy Fire in the Jewish Sacrifices kept from prophane strange Fire 5. This bruised or brake the Serpents head that is did infuse inspire recal in-hest the right Virgin Purity with the precious holy name Jesus who introduced the living heavenly Ens into the disappeared captiv'd Ens and mortified the Serpents desire in flesh and blood 6. For the Child of the Man and Woman is a Bastard nor shall inherit but the chaât Virgins Child born out of the death of the brutal and bestial Man and Woman with both Tinctures of peculiar Love He is the Heir who dieth not and at the Resurrection shall take on it the pure Limus of the Earth viz. the third Principle as a Garment CHAP. XXIV The Cause of the Curse and of the Body of Sickness 1. THE Curse was that the holy Element Tincture or Ens which had budded and bare fruit through the Earth holding captive the Property of the four Elements hid withdrew kept it self secret and became a mystery to Man in his awakened vanity who remained with a half Serpentine desire of Earthy hunger half dead between Time and Eternity chain'd till he should return to Earth wâence he was as to one part extracted and be sown into the Earth but as a fixt Metal is not destroyed but the Artist brings thence excellent Gold so the fixt part of the Human Body waits only for the Divine Artist to raise it which because it must be tryed by Fire such as the Ens is such shall be the enkindled Fire 2. All wicked Serpentine works shall as Quick-silver evaporate But if Man's Human Soul hath impressed into the mortal part of the Limus of the Earth by Divine Desire and Faith a Divine Ens it lieth as precious Gold shut up in Lead or Dross as a glimmering âincentive waiting till the great Artist release it to burn and shine 3. Our gracious God not only gave his holy living Word for cure of all whose minds casting away abominations immerse themselves thereinto but knowing Man would not stand caus'd all Medicinal Herbs for hunger and health to grow for him Thus Man hath his Cure the Devil hath not 4. God created Man naked what ever is in the World is his but it is common but the hunger for Propriety Power and Domination is of the Serpent 5. Therefore must we become as little Children and so rule over the besâial Man So great is the Enmity God hath put between the two seeds in Man who now is according to the outward Man a Beast according to the inward an Angel or Devil CHAP. XXV How God drove Adam out of Paradise and laid the Cherub before the Garden v. 18. 1. LUcifer's Fall tainted the Limus of the Earth before it was brought into compaction Adam's outward Body was taken out of the Limus of the Earth Him God set to be Judge by his Word having the Judicial Sword against the Devil's enkindled wickedness v. 17. 2. Also God seeing Adam's first Body should fall to ruine brought him and Eve into Paradise that afterward they and their Children might by Regeneration re-enter thither in the Spirit of Christ through the Fire-Sword 3. When Man dieth if the Soul be captivated in God's Anger and be not a Virgin Child it cannot pass the Sword v. 5. 4. This Sword is also in Man the Virgin-bud forceth through in the anxiety of true Repentance Then riseth the Morning Star in the occluse or shut up Gate of the true Womans seed v. 13. 5. Yet at death if the Soul hath taken in much of the Serpents craft or lust it stands under God's Anger till the Consumption of the introduced vanity which to many is Purgatory enough 6. For the Fire-Soul must be as pure as the clear refined Gold to be the Husband of the Noble Virgin Sophia the Lights Tincture to speak which needs an Angels Tongue 7. Before the Foundation of the World God chose this Limus out of which he would make Man in Christ Jesus For the Ens thereof had somewhat of false lust by reason of the Devils introduced desire therefore a time of the Judgment of Severation was then founded and a new Limus out of the tainted one CHAP. XXVI Of the Propagation of Man in this World and of Cain the Murtherer of his Brother THIS Chapter treating copiously of Free Will and Predestination the Extract of it is forborn and it 's referr'd to the Extracts of the Book of Election CHAP. XXVII Of Abel's and Cain's Sacrifices 1. THE Souls Free-will originating from the Abyss is thin or subtile and must amass or conceive it self into something wherein to work As Gods Free-will conceived or massed it self with the inward Spiritual World and works through it and that Worlds Free-will amassed the outward World and works through it 2. And because that which the Soul had amassed was distempered with Sin âacrificing came In the inkindling whereof by Magical and love-Love-fire not ordinary Fire the Free-will of the Soul and of the Heavenly part of the Body did immass into a substance As a Figure of the New-birth in Christ and by consuming the Bestial Man did press in before the Holiness of God For here the Lubet of God did meet the Inspired Free-will of the Heavenly Humanity Here is the sinful Man consumed by Gods Anger-fire and cut off by the flaming Fire-Sword of the Cherub and the Serpents Head bruised 3. The Souls Free-will which was Inspired wholly pure into Man is in the Covenant in Jesus attoned and again Tinctured by Gods Love-fire as Brass or Iron is tinged and changed to Gold For the Earthy part wherein lay the Curse being consumed the Essence became Spiritual Even so the Soul by Sorrow and Repentance introduceth it self into a Divine desire which is called Faith 4. Also the words of the Prayer of Abel and Israel became amassed into an Incorruptible Essence And this desire of Faith or Essence
in the Spirit of Christ in all Gods Children is that whereby they bring to nought the works of the Devil 5. But Cain's Offering is the Type of Verbal Titular Christendom Who relye only on the Offering and teach that Christs Testaments absolve from Sin tho' themselves remain Impenitent Domineering Murtherers CHAP. XXVIII Of Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel 1. THE cause of that was as still it is a âtrife about Religion The Devil envied Man who was to succeed in the Throne whence he was become Apostate But the Death of Abel's outward Body is a Figure that the Bestial Man must be devour'd that out of Death may spring forth Eternal Life till then must be maintain'd a resolute Conflict And Abel as to the Heavenly part is a Figure of Christ. 2. And Cain in the Wrath is a Figure of the Enmity and Darkness in the Eternal Nature but outwardly a Figure of the Pharisees who Crucified the Lord And of all Persecutors to the end of the World CHAP. XXIX How the Adamical Tree hath put forth it self into Branches and Pullulation 1. THE seventeen first verses is a profound Tract how from Adam c. sprung evil and good ver 18. Cain in the Language of Nature signifieth a Source out of the Centre of the fiery Desire and Self-will out of the fiery might of the Soul viz. out of the first Principle 2. Habel in the Language of Nature signifieth an out-breathed Angel viz. from the second Principle and as a Type of Christ went out Childless for Christ was to generate a new Humane Tree 3. Therefore was it that Adam generated Seth which in the Language of Nature signifying a forth-running or leap where the Love-will riseth out of the Fire-will From him went the Line of the Covenant 4. Cain begat Hanock and Built a City which he called also Hanock signifying an outward selfish Dominion Hanock begat Irad signifying a Potentate or Tyrant Irad begat Mehujael signifying an assuming of the outward and inward Centre of Nature an Earthy God that would possess Riches and Domination out of this Name came Babel Mahujael begat Methusael signifying that mine is the Divine Might I am the Ordnance of God which indeed was true but only according to the first Principle Methusael begat Lamech signifying the sending of the Angel over the fleshly Life 5. Lamech took two Wives viz. a Twofold Effence and Will Ada signifying that âain would be honest and Zilla signifying fleshly Joy and Pleasure Ada bare Jubal a plain Man of him were such as kept Cattle but the other was Jubal signifying Temporal Joy viz. the Harp and Organ Zilla bare Tubal Cain it hath an excellent understanding shewing how the Sulphurous Mercurial Wheel opens it self in the Generation of Metals and his Sisters Name was Naemâ here âyeth the precious Pearl a Heavenly Property a Virgin of Purity by the dying of the outward Man Naemâ becomes manifest And Lamech said I have sâain a Man to my Wound and a young Man to my Hurt The Man was Abel the young Man was Christ. 6. Cain was to be Avenged sevenfold if any of the evil Spirits should kill him vengeance should be on such-Spirit by all the seven Properties of the dark World and the mark God set on him was the mark of the Covenant But Lamech was the seventh from Adam and spake Prophetically of what should befal his Posterity viz. should lose the unity and fall into the seventy Languages so that the ten Forms of Fire should open themselves in every of the seven Properties of Nature is seventy and thereto belong the seven unchangeable Forms of the Eternal Nature is seventy seven CHAP. XXX Of the Line of the Covenant 1. THE Covenant was to the Line of Seth as to the outward that they should be Preachers of it But it was as well to the Line of Cain in the Spirit even as Sin passed on the Line of Seth as on others for the Covenant was made to Adam and to the Virgin Image thereby to be restored 2. The evil Beast of the Godless Form God Predestinated to Condemnation but the Covenant is in the Life whose Free will soever resigneth to it in every such Christ riseth and the strange Beast dieth 3. Sâth signifieth in the Language of Nature a forth-breathing Spring out of the Life through the first Centre of the Soul Seth begat Enos which signifies a Divine Lâbeâ The fifth was Kenan signifying a forth-going re-conceived Lubet or desire of Divine Contemplation The sixth was Mahalaleel signifying an Angelical Form of an Angelical Kingdom 4. The seventh was Jared signifying a Priest or Prince of the Spiritual Kingdom as Irad was of the worldly Dominion The Office of Jared is Twofold outwardly 't is Moses and inwardly Christ as Lamech had two Wives And Jared begat Enoch signifying the out-breathed Breath of the Divine Good Pleasure The seven Generations have these Figures 5. 1. Adams purity before the Fall and Abel to whom the Fall hung and his being Murthered point out Christ who should bring us through Death into the pure Life 2. Seth's time continued to the Deluge 3. Enos time goes under Seth's and till Abraham 4. Canaan's time goes under Seth and Enos and until Christ in the Flesh. 5. Mahalaleel goes during Christ in the Flesh and the time of the Apostles of Christ. 6. Jared began after the death of the Apostles and ruled inwardly in Christs Children and outwardly the Cherub with the Sword bare rule This sixth time is known and yet hidden and passed under Antichrist as in a Mystery 6. True Christians wage no War for they having broken the Sword of the Cherub are dead and risen with Christ and live not to External Might his Kingdom not being of this World This sixth time continues till Translated Enoch appears in Spirit and Elias Sword comes then falls the outward Jared Babel 7. And God will restore the Spirits of the Letters CHAP. XXXI Of Enoch's Wonderful Line 1. ENoch begat Methusalah of the highest Age signifying a forth proceeding Voice Methusalah begat Lamech as the Lamech in Cain's Line had two Wives or Wills so this begat Noah signifying the end and the beginning 2. Noah had three Branches Sem signifying an out breathing Divine Lubet Ham signifying a strong breathing out of the Centre of Nature Japhet signifying an Appendix of Sem viz. a Natural Wonder Sem is a Type of the Light World Japhet of the Fire World Ham an Image of the Out-birth 3. The Sons of God looked on the Daughters of Men c. viz. those in whom Gods Spirit manifested it self looked according to the Lusts of the Flesh. And Giants viz. Tyrants were Born viz. Men whose Pride would receive no rebuke Therefore came the Deluge and after the three Families were sever'd It repented God that he had made Man and grieved him c. viz. according to the Creation of the formed Word not the Eternal speaking Word CHAP. XXXII Of the
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 Gârar 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
Also we must know whoever will understand the Old Testament must set before him the two Types externally Adam the earthy Man and internally Christ and change both these into one and so he may apprehend Moses and the Prophets CHAP. XLVII Of the Covenant of Abimelech and Abraham and what it points at 1. BEershebah a bruising to Death is the same Fountain which the Angel shewed Hagar which Abraham viz. Christ digged and there afterwards preached the Eternal God The Covenant between Abimelech and Abraham is the Covenant of Christ with the Humanity where he sware not to destroy the Humanity as he said he was not come to condemn the World Abimelech viz. the Soul out of the Father's Property Picholl the outward Nature the third Principle Field-Captain or Officer of the Soul Abraham is Christ in the Humanity Now Abimelech's restoring Abraham's Wife saying he knew not c. signifieth That the Soul of Adam knew not Christ in the Tincture of Heavenly Venus therefore went into Self-lust but when God shewed it to the Soul the Soul said I knew not that God's Wife the Holy Tincture the Heavenly Matrix was in me 2. But now I restore whatever I have taken of the Divine Worlds Property it is thy Wife then all the Women of Abimelech and his Servants Eves Daughters were healed 3. Christ here sweareth not to shew any unkindness to the Human Property nor to the Children nor to the Grandchildren or Nephews viz those springing out of the wild Property where often a wicked Husband or Wife are joyned to a godly one and so those Children spring from the wild Property 'T is said Thou shalt do according to the kindness that I have done unto thee viz in restoring thy Wife thy Image shalt thou do to me and to the Land viz. the outward Man wherein thou viz. Christ sojournest art a Stranger Which Christ Sweareth As I live saith c. Then Abraham Christ reproved Abimelech the Soul that the Soul's Servants the Essences of Nature had taken away the Well the Essence from the Heavenly Corporality viz. Christ's Body in Adam for Christ's Holy Fountain sprung up in the fiery Essence of the Soul which being taken to Self-Power the Heavenly Image disappeared And Abimelech the Soul answered I knew not till this Day viz. that the Devil had deceived me 4. Then Abraham viz. Christ took Sheep his Children the Jews and Oxen the Gentiles and gave them to the Father of whose Property the Soul is by an everlasting Covenant And set seven Ewe Lambs apart viz. the seven Properties of the Natural Humanity of Christ manifested in us A part viz. a distinct Person 5. We poor Jews and Gentiles may not say we are Christ but his House he is a part with the Divine Property But in right resignation when Man's Will is Dead to Self Christ only liveth in it such Eternally witness that Christ digged the Well At Beersheba the place of Contrition Christ planted Trees Heavenly Branches Preached c. and remained there a long time viz. all the time of the Natural Life CHAP. XLVIII Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac 1. ABraham is represented in Adams stead Isaac in Christs Humanity The Voice is God the Fathers so is Christ Offered by Adam's Children the Jews to the Fathers Fire Thy Son whom thou lovest viz. thy will brought into Self-love in the devoration of which in Gods Wrath-fire the true Man Created in Adam must be form'd and preserv'd as Gold or Silver in the Crucible where Copper and all Impurities evaporate On Mount Moriah which God not we chuseth 2. Christ wholly resigns up our Humane Will of self to his Father in his Death for all and in all Men As when the stock of a Tree dyeth the Branches die also and as the Tree reneweth its Youth as the Râd of Aaron did it introduceth new Life into its âranches Abraham rose early teaching immediate obedience And girt his Ass the Bestial Man with power Took with him two young Men one the Soul from the first Principle the other the Spirit of the outward Life Clave the Wood as Adam clave Gods Love and Anger On the third day pointing at Adam's sleep to the Angelical World and the time of Christs Resurrection Afar off the Final Offering of Christ above two Thousand years The two young Men to tarry with the Ass till Christ is Offered and come again Abraham took the Knife and Fire Gods Anger and Death Isaac said Here is the Wood the Sins of all Men and the Fire Gods Wrath but where is the Lamb Abraham's Ens of Faith saw the Lamb. Abraham bound Isaac so was Christ and so must our self-wills be bound and resign'd to God in entire earnestness The Angel calleth hurt not Nature as he had done to Hagar at Beersheba He saw a Ram hung c. shews death kills not the true Man but the pushing Beast hung in the Devils Thickets of Thorny Cares and Vanity Next follows the Blessing increase and prevalency And Abraham return'd with his Son and two young Men to Beersheba into the toil and labour of this World so God exerciseth his people not always in operation of the Spiritual Figures but in weakness and infirmities in the Kingdom of Nature And sometimes again under the Cross and so they grow as in a Field sometimes Storms sometimes Sun-shine 3. Nahor Abraham's Brother had eight Sons by Milcah of whom came great Nations the Assyrians who tho' they sprung not from the Ens of Faith in the Line of Christ the Blessing of Abraham passed on them CHAP. XLIX Of Sarah's Death and Abraham's Hereditary Sepulchre 1. WHile Abraham lived he was a Stranger no continuing abode had he but when his Sarah died he would have a certain Possession of a peculiar and Hereditary Sepulchre for his Wife himself and Children which he would not have to be given him but bought it of the Sons of Heth and Ephron for four hundred Sheckles of Silver viz. the Cave of Machpelah The inward Figure of which is That 2. When Isaac viz. Christ is come the two fold Body returns back to its original Mother the Eternal and Temporal Nature When the Saints die to self the outward Life The resigned Life will no longer stand in a strange Serpentine one it cannot of due right take the first true Field but it must be purchased Thus Abraham in the Figure of Christ doth of the Sons of Heth who stand in the Fathers Figure And that Christs Ransom is signified by four hundred Sheckles hath this meaning The first is the true Magical Fire the second is the Light the third the holy sound of the Mental Tongue the fourth the conceived Ens of the other Properties forming the holy Life This is the pure Silver 3. And whereas the Children of Heth would freely have given it yet at last took Money for it So hath God the Father freely given the Kingdom of Grace to Christ
twofold Humanity viz. the Heavenly and Earthy that when these Warriours should smite the Earthy the other which came down from Heaven should escape 3. Jacob's Presents are Christs Prayers 4. His humbling himself saying I came over with my Staff only but am now two Bands so did Christ in the Garden whose two Bands were the Heavenly Humanity perish'd in Adam and that of the Limus of the Earth with both which Jacob viz. Christ was to return to his first Paradisical Countrey and Angelical Kindred 5. Sent five hundred and eighty Cattel viz. Christ sent out Lusts to the Anger of God 6. Jacob also sent his two Wives viz. Christ sent the twofold Spirit of Man viz. the Soul and the Spiritus Mundi viz. the inward Eternal Soul and the outward Soul 7. Two Handmaids viz. the twofold Humanity of the Body 8. The Eleven Children viz. the Eleven Apostles 9. And passed over the Brook Jabock viz. Kidron 10. Jacob's Twelfth Son lay yet unborn so now was Christs Twelfth Apostle not chosen in the room of Judas 11. Jacob staid alone and there wrestled a Man with him viz. the great love of God in the Name Jesus did wrestle with Gods Righteousness and Truth which was on Mount Sinai 12. All Night of the darkness of Gods Anger 13. The Ham of his Thigh was displaced viz. the Adamical Humanity was displaced but not broken to die Eternally He halted viz. being Lame to the Pride Vanity Malice Lasciviousness c. of this World 14. The Man said Let me go for the day viz. the Eternal day dawneth But Jacob viz. Christ said I will not let thee go until thou bless me viz. the Humanity 15. And the Man said What is thy Name He said Jacob. Then the Man said Thou shalt no more have a self name but Israel viz. a Tree of Life or Christian viz. a sprout on the Vine Christ. 16. And Jacob asked what is thy Name But Christ said why askest thou that is I am no stranger thy Name and mine shall be one But God without Nature and Creature is the Eternal one and Eternal good the Abyss and Profunâity no place is found for him no Creature can Name him for all Names stand in the formed Word But God is the Beginningless Root of all Power the Vegetables know not how the Sun blesseth them 17. Man hath lamentably lost the five Vowels the Holy Ghosts Language for the whole New Testament is couched up in the Old 18. When God blessed Jacob he called the place Penuel that is where God is manifest in the Soul 19. And when he was departed thence the Sun viz. of Righteousness arose in him and he halted his self-will was lame in its ability 20. And the Children of Israel eat not of that Sinew to this day for they understood that Mystery and Instituted this Memorial viz. the displacing of their Bestial Wills which if the present Jews and Christians well understâod they would not hunt after Covetousness and Lust yet under Christs Purple Mantle CHAP. LXI Of Jacob and Esau meeting all Heart-burning turned to Joy c. 1. BLind Reason should learn the meaning of Gods Decree Rom. 9. 13. and Mal. 1. 2 3. for here was Esau the Type of the corrupted Adam and Jacob of Christ who came to help Adam and were of one Seed to shew Christ must become Flesh. And Jacob appeased Esau by his Humility as did Christ by his great Love in our Humanity in our Anger-soul appease the Anger of God when he gave up his Heavenly Blood with the Tincture of Love into the Anger of God for then was the Anger in the dark World turn'd into a love-Love-fire 2. Jacob seeing Esau coming with four hundred Men divided his Children to Leah and to Rachel and to both the Handmaids and passed before them and bowed seven times c. 3. When Christ in our Humanity entred his Sufferings Gods Anger in the four Elements met him Then Christ divided the Heavenly Worlds substance which he brought from God signified by Rachel from the Natural Humanity from Adam or Spiritus Mundi Typed by blear-ey'd Leah wherein yet the destroyer of the Serpent was Born as Judah of Leah while Rachel was Barren till Christs Spirit made her fruiâful 4. And as Jacob set the Handmaids foremost so did Christ first cause the Earthy to pass through the sharpness of Death next Leah the Body out of the Limus of the Earth follow'd 5. And after her Rachel the Heavenly Limus with the Prince Joseph the Divine Worlds substance 6. Jacob bowed seven times in this Humility appeasing Esau so did Jesus through all the seven forms of Natures Life 7. As Jacob yielded up his Riches and Life to Esau to do what he would with him so did Christ to Gods Anger 8 Esau ran to meet him fell on his Neck wept and kissed him so when the Essence of Gods Anger in Man tasted the sweet Love in the Name and Blood of Jesus it was transmuted into Compassion 9. And Eââu beheld the Women and Children and said whose are these c. Man whiâe heâd in the Anger and Darkness was not known to the holy Image but Love made him known 10. Their order of coâing to Esau shews how poor Eve's Children were brought through Christs Suffering and Death into the Countenance of God first the Body of Sin through Death then the Body out of the Limus of the Earth which in the Resurrection is esteemed strange therefore Typed by a Handmaid And lastly the fair Image Created in Adam 11. Jacob's Presents signifie the Children purchased bâ Christ and given to the Father so shall Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father 12. Yet is Esau's Compassion and weeping on Jacob the Type of repenting Sinners sorrow 13. Esau said Let us go together Jacob saith The Children are tender c. I will follow softly c. When Christ in his Sufferings had appeas'd his Fathers Anger in the Kingdom of Nature the appeas'd Anger would instantly take the Journey viz. in the Life of Man But the Love said Man is too tender and may fall by Temptation in one day I will follow slowly with them to the end of the World 14. Esau would have left some of his Men with Jacob but Jacob said what needeth it viz. God the Father said Let me leave some Laws of my severe Righteousness but Christ saith Let me with my redeemed Children only find Grace in thy sight for they cannot fulfil thy Laws CHAP. LXII Of Dinah Deflour'd all the Males of Sichem slain by Simeon and Levi. 1. JAcob had Twelve Sons six of them were of Leah and Judah of whom came the Humanity of Christ was one of the âix 2. Then bare Leah Dinah which Daughter of Fleshly Love went after the Daughters of the Land a gadding lively prefiguring Christendom who instead of continuing in the humble simplicity of Jacob's Tents at Succoth and remaining a Stranger to the Customs and Behaviour
IACOBUS BOHME TEUTONICUS PHILOSOPHUS THEOSOPHUS CENTRALIS Jacob Behmen's Theosophick Philosophy UNFOLDED IN DIVERS Considerations and Demonstrations SHEWING The Verity and Utility of the several Doctrines or Propositions contained in the Writings of that Divinely Instructed AUTHOR ALSO The Principal Treatises of the said Author Abridged And Answers given to the Remainder of the 177 Theosophick Questions Propounded by the said JACOB BEHMEN which were left unanswered by him at the time of his Death As a help towards the better Understanding the Old and New Testament Also what Man is with respect to Time and Eternity Being an Open Gate to the Greatest Mysteries By EDWARD TAYLOR With a short Account of the LIFE of JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the Sign of the Temple next the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1691. THE Publishers Preface TO THE READER WE do with all Respects and Candidness present you with the Works of one who was a true and faithful Labourer in his Day his Pains hath been bestowed in watering and cultivating what was sown by another Hand And having imployed his Time and Talent well is entered into his Lord's rest enjoying that Peace which must necessarily result from a faithful Performance of a Trust given by our great Lord. We can give but a very short account of the Author but hope this Publication may produce a fuller from some of his Personal Acquaintance As we are informed it was one Mr. Edward Taylor an English Gentleman the latter part of his time he lived at Dublin in much Privacy and Retirement where he made this his Work and Business He died at Dublin about the Year 1684. His Manuscripts were preserved by the Care of a Friend and brought over hither where they have lain some time in Private But considering how much we are beholding to our Predecessors for their great Pains taken to inform us their Writings Published being a Testimony of their good Will to Posterity And also considering the Labour taken by this good Man for a Publick Benefit we could not in Justice to the Author deceased nor with the respect we owe to all Mankind as our Brethren suffer so Good and Profitable a Work to Perish under our Custody without incurring the guilt of Ingratitude if not of Inhumanity We have hereby indeavoured to set this Light in Publick View and that it may prove of use to direct the Course of any in this dark and dismal Passage towards the Haven of Rest is what we earnestly desire and seek He was a Devout Christian a Sincere Protestant living in the Communion of the Church of England and earnest he was in vindicating the Truth abhorring a bare outside Formality which only hath the Name and Profession but wants the Nature Life and Power of Religion He was not for making Rents and Divisions amongst Men by setting up a new Sect or having a People called after his Name thereby to gain Applause or to make himself great But made it his Business to Learn and Improve in the Knowledge and Understanding of the Divine and Natural Mysteries We are very apt to regret the loss of worthy Instruments such as have been raised up in an Extraordinary Manner and Eminently Qualified above their Brethren hoping that if we had enjoyed their good Converse we might have greatly benefited and improved thereby without doubt they have a great Happiness that injoy such a Benefit and improve it But we must consider that they are but Men and are indeed but Instruments or Vehicles and it is very rare but that the Purity and Excellency of Truth conveyed by them receives some Shadow or Soil from the Medium Their chief work hath been to direct us to the Fountain of Wisdom which is open at all times to all Persons ready to inform all that truly seek Wisdom there And from this Universal Fountain every one receives according to their Capacities And accordingly it is required that every one should Communicate or Prophecy according to their proportion of Faith received now Faith is every particular Man's Evidence and not anothers Thus although one may have a larger Measure or more Mysterious yet there is no disharmony but all tends to the Benefit of the whole And teaching all Wisdom that every one may be presented perfect in Christ. Although we cannot Comprehend all Truth let us remain humble sincere Searchers and in due time we shall be rewarded with her Treasures when the Captious Disdaining Mocking Spirits shall reap their Reward that is to be perfected in that Principle they have given themselves up to as Servants The Writings of the Divinely inspired Jacob Behmen called the Teutonick Philosopher have been by many received with great Satisfaction and have contributed towards the Extricating their Minds out of those Labyrinths and Difficulties wherein Evil Practice and Opinions kept up by Custom had involved them The greatest Objection raised against the said Writings have been their Abstruseness and Uncouth Expressions making them almost impossible to be understood which now is answered and removed Here being a Person raised up to bear Testimony to their Truth who by delivering his Sense in more usual and familiar words it is hoped may have render'd them clear In his Considerations on the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen He doth from the Types Figures and Sacrifices under the Law from things we are most conversant with through the whole Creation from Heaven and Earth and from Man himself Demonstrate the Truth of his Doctrine to be well-grounded upon the uncontroulable Maxims of Confessed Theology and Philosophy The 177 Theosophick Questions which were propounded by J. Behmen of which he lived to Answer but 13 and part of the 15th the rest of them lying unanswered till this Good Man being spirited thereto took up the task and hath performed it as an able Workman Answering the Remainder and hath given us some Meditations on part of the said Questions and Answers All treating of the highest Mysteries and yet what we in Duty ought to be most conversant about His Extracts of several of the Works of Jacob Behmen were intended for the use of those that had not or could not procure the said Writings and also to give a Summary Account of the whole which may be as an Introduction opening the Gates to us and promote a further Communication of these great and most useful Truths The Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians the Knowledge of that God whom they ignorantly adored Even so these Writings serve or tend to teach us by plain Demonstration what we like the Athenians are too Ignorant of It is written God is one which certainly is as true as where it is said There are three that bear Record in Heaven It is written Our God is a consuming Fire And yet said to be Light and Love and in him is no Darkness at all that he is meek merciful of everlasting kindness and that fury is not in him It
is also written God sware by two Immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lye And because he could Swear by no greater he Sware by himself That Blessing he would Bless Abraham And Curse him that Cursed Abraham Here are two Principles clearly express'd and both called Immutable The one Wrath and Fury and a consuming Fire The other Love Meekness and Light ineffable Had Man stood in his Primitive State totally resigned to the Divine Love he had not known the Principle of Wrath but it had remained more hidden than the bitterness of the Root is in the most pleasant Fruit. But when Man was fallen into the state of Evil and Good the Infinite Love of God descends in order to restore him and then sets before him Blessings on the one hand and Cursings on the other These great Truths are at large treated of and explained and by them we are Taught what Use and Improvement to make thereof How can we tell what God's Mercy is till we come to know him that is Merciful And what Christ's Merits are till we know Christ in us and him Crucified For if we content our selves with an Historical Knowledge it is to be feared it will be attended with an Hypocritical Obedience The Law that all true Christians ought to square their Actions by is the New Commandment else they are not known to be Christ's Disciples All those worthy Instruments that have Taught or Writ from the Holy Aointing directed their Hearers or Readers to him that is the true Teacher that they might receive their Knowledge from the same Root with themselves And then unto such they wanted no Epistle of Recommendation they being their Epistle written with the Spirit of the Living God not in Tables of Stone but in the fleshly Tables of the Heart known and read of all Men. To such the Language of the Scriptures comes to be more clear and can discern the Correction Instruction and Comfort held forth in them and how they are able to furnish the Man of God to every good Work Also why there is no Ability in them to furnish any man else but as they Convert and become new Men. The great Affair of Man's Happiness depending upon the Conversion of his Will for as the first Man by turning his Will from God into this World from the Unity and Harmony he at first was placed in and so was truly Honourable into Multiplicity Selfhood Lust and Enmity thereby became an abominate to God's Holiness attracting a Bestial Body and a Mind darkned Ignorant and Estranged from God It is real Resignation that brings a Death upon Self-hood and that must continually be performed that the Enmity being mortified the resigned Will may become an Instrument in God's Hand to be agitated thereby for his Servants we are whom we yield Obedience unto Here ariseth the strife and warfare in Man The Corrupt Will in Self-hood accounts it folly and madness to submit to Death when the Pleasures and Voluptuousness of this VVorld might be lived in and injoyed But the resigned sees that as at first it precipitated Man from that Happy state in which he was placed so the tendency and end thereof is to fill us with Eternal sorrow and misery Thus it is to become Fools that we may be made VVise and Poor that we may be made Rich as having Nothing yet possessing all things This is the State which Reason's splendid Schools Do nominate the Paradise of Fools Whatever specious Pretences to Religion may be made by any though very fair and beautiful to shew where this corrupt Will in Self-hood is unmortified and the Path of Resignation not trod that Religion is vain deceitful and destructive As the Prophet Isaiah declared in the Name of the Lord For as much as this people draw near me with their Mouth and with their Lips do honour me but have removed their Heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of Men Therefore the Wisdom of their Wisemen shall perish and the Understanding of their Prudent Men shall be hid Our Saviour reciting this place of the Prophet saith But in vain do they Worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men. The Wisdom of this World which is Foolishness with God existing in the perverted Will of Man which hath broken it self off from God and stands upon its own bottom by this Wisdom the World neither can know or worship God The Wisdom of God in his Servants stands in an humble Resignation of themselves to the Divine Love in order to a Regeneration of their Wills which is not effected but by slaying this opposite Will in which stands the Enmity in order to know a new Life generated and as long as Truth and Error Light and Darkness are in this World so long must and will this Warfare be continued happy is he that goes off a Conqueror for his Garland or Crown is sure to him And as the World by Wisdom knew not God so hath it fared likewise in respect to the inquiries made concerning Nature From hence it is the Apostle Paul gives a caution To beware lest any Man should spoil them through Philosophy and vain Deceit after the Tradition of Men after the Rudiments of this World and not after Christ. An empty and vain Philosophy hath been introduced and kept up in the World by Men of corrupt minds estranged from God and therefore ignorant of Nature For it is as impossible truely to know Nature separate and removed from God as it is to know God in the Wisdom of this World or truely to worship him with a Heart removed far from him What hopes was left after the miserable Fall of Man when God cursed the Earth for Mans sake but only the Descent of God or the Incarnation of Jesus Christ that inspoken Word of Life in order to a happy Restoration and Renovation For as all things were made by this Eternal Word so all things are upheld by it This is the Healer of our Wounds and Repairer of our Breaches This Word is declared by Moses and by the Apostle Paul to be near us even in our Hearts and in our Mouths that we need not say Who shall ascend into Heaven or descend into the Deep to fetch it This was the Rock in the Wilderness This is the Stone of Fire in Ezekiel The Stone with seven Eyes upon it in Zechariah The White Stone with the New Name in the Revelation This is the Salt which we ought to have in our selves This is the Water and Spirit whereof we must be Born again King Solomon was indued with great Wisdom and may properly be said to have been an Eminent Philosopher take his Description of Wisdom and where it is to be found She is the Breath of the Power of God and a pure influence flowing from the Glory of the Almighty Therefore can no defiled thing fall into her And being but one
possible for a Soul by reaching back into the might of the Fire or first four forms and becoming false to the Virgin the Wisdom of God to shut the Door of the Virgin and lose the good of the third Principle which cannot be obtained again but by a new Birth wrought by the Holy Ghost Such a Regeneration restores true Honour and Joy but without it at the Death of the Body the Soul remains a Serpent or Worm that never dies and the figures only of the other two principles remain to compleat its horrour that he may see what an Angelical Form he hath irrecoverably lost Thus Adam lost the Virgin by his Lust and got the Woman in his Lust. 8. By the above appears what Adam was viz. having the Tincture of the perfect Male and Female Properties 9. The Temptation was the Spirit of the VVorld being the third Principle like a young Man of good Complexion Vertuous and Beautiful having forty days and nights sweet Converse and Embraces of a perfectly Fair curiously Featur'd modest Virgin of Gods Wisdom in meer Joy with command that their Will be most stedfast so as not in the least thought to desire one another but as chastly as if they were each unknown or unseen to the other and so to remain in the Proba forty days and nights 10. The Spirit which God had breathed into Adam was the chast Virgin which Adam's worldly Spirit should have loved with a pure Mind but he desired her with Terrene Lust which was his Fall 11. But by being Born again of Water which is in the Centre and of the Holy Spirit the Soul is cleansed from impure Affections and inflam'd with Divine and Sacred Love CHAP. XIII Of Creating the Woman 1. Adam's Tincture being wearied in the strife of the three Principles his Lust Spirit prevailing he sunk into sleep his Heavenly Body became Flesh and Blood his strength Bones the Virgin withdrew into her Heavenly Ether where she waiteth to see if any will by the new Birth receive her for their Bride 2. Adam's Angelical Kingdom was gone he now must generate a worldly Kingdom by a Female as other Beasts Which that God abominated appears by his making Man at first without a Female and said all was very good also that the first Child was a Murtherer and that God cursed the Earth c. 3. But God that he might help vanquisht Adam of one of his Ribs built a Woman That is The Fiat stood in the Centre and sever'd the Matrix from the Limbus took part of Adam's substance viz. of his Spirit Flesh and Bones which then were not so hard till Eve did bite the Apple So they were two yet undivided in Nature and both must generate one Man which before one should have done 4. A pleasant Gate As little as the Spirit of the Soul could be helped except the Virgin by entring into the Abyss of the Spirit of the Soul which is near the Hell of Gods fierce anger had regenerated by Jesus Christ so little could the rent in Adam's hollow side whence the Rib was taken be made perfect except the second Adam had suffered the Wound in the same place to pour out his precious Blood and so repair the first Adam's breach made in the same place 5. Further of the Woman Eve was not made of the Rib only but of all Adam's Essences yet of no more Members than the Rib which causeth her feebleness and is by Gods command in subjection to the Man and to be friendly to him Also the Man must help her and love her as his own Essences And they being but one Flesh Bone and Heart must have but one will And their Children are neither of the one nor of the other but of both As if only of one which causeth the severe command that they honour and be in subjection to Father and Mother on pain of Temporary and Eternal Punishment 6. The Noble propagation of the Soul The Tincture is generated from all the three Principles yet hath neither for its own but is a bright Habitation in which the Spirit dwelleth It reneweth the Spirit that it becometh clear and visible It s Name is Wonderful known only to them that have it It giveth Vertue to and is the Life and Heart of all things It is the fragrancy of Herbs and Flowers and causeth them as also Silver and Gold to grow though of all the Children of Nature it be a Virgin and generateth nothing out of it self It is the Friend and Play-fellow of God The way to it is very near Whosoever findeth it dare not reveal it nor can he for no Language can express it yet it is not God It may be over-powered and used in Metals if it be pure it can make pure Gold of Iron and Copper and make a little grow to be a great deal It s way is as subtle as the thoughts of a Man for thence rise the thoughts 7. The propagation in the Flesh So great is the subtilty and might of the Tincture as to penetrate the Marrow in the Bones of another which Witches know and practise for their Master Lucifer thought to exalt his false Tincture above Gods 8. The Male and Female Tinctures tho' different yet both long after the Virgin the Tincture of the Male goeth out of the Limbus that of the Female out of the Matrix And in the delicate Complexions where the Tincture is most noble and clear the ardent vigour of each thinketh to find the Virgin in the other tho' it be in neither And from the mixed desire groweth the Body and in the wrestling the Conqueror giveth the marks of distinction The Spirit of the great World thinketh it hath the Virgin which it hath not 9. The secret Gate of Women The Seed is sown in the Lust of the Tinctures and the harsh sour Fiat supposing it to be the Virgin attracteth the Seed to it with great joy desiring the Limbus of God in Paradise but the Spirit of the great World insinuateth and filleth the Tincture with the Elements whence comes a loathing against the fulness for the Virgin Tincture relisheth not such grossness but retires into its Ether Then the Spirit of the Sun Stars and Elements doth by the Fiat attract and foster the Child 10. In the first Month the harsh Fiat in which ruleth the Spirit of the Stars perceiving the Blood of the Mother wherein is the Tincture to be sweeter than its own Essence it longeth to image it self therein and Create Adam In the second Month the Matter is sever'd into Members according to the predominance of such Stars as are then most potent In the third Month the joy the Fiat got in the Tincture of the Blood withdraweth and the harsh Essences in Terror would fain like a flash depart but are withheld and made hard making the Skin inclosing the Child then the Tincture flasheth upward in the Terror taking the power of all the Essences with