wise true and reall One and with all Divine perfect Vertues and Names ONE holy Church of GOD together and every person in the same one Christ one Man of God one holy unblameable wise Just One. 29. To the highest Praise of the Triune highly Praised God CHRIST JESUS who in them over them through them and to all in a Personall Manner with his most holy Name and seed is the Will accomplishment senses thoughts works and Life speech and all in all substantially visibly palpably inwardly and outwardly and to Eternall Times remaineth undivided and unalterably and hath and keepeth the Dominion 30. Not only in Heaven at the right hand of God but also in the Vnion with all the faithfull together and in and to every true faithfull person of Man and Woman kind is called and in Eternity remaineth here upon Earth one God one Christ who Ruleth from one End of the Heaven and from one End of the Earth to the other 31. And in such eternal stedfastnesse remaineth one eternal Lord in all over all through all and to all substantially and in Eternity is for ever esteemed so and in and with himself is honoured praised Magnified one Man-God one God-Man or one Humane Good God one Divine Good Man one Christ one Body one Soul Hitherto the Explainer HEreupon followeth my Answer and Explanation highly to be considered by the Reader 1. FIrst as concerning the Text Isaiah 54. 5. Which this Authour explaineth he hath much more confused it and brought it altogether out of a right and orderly understanding into a confused unintelligible matter thing or Substance and hath altogether confounded the Eternall birth of the holy Trinity wholly with the Creature 2. His intent is to search out the Birth or Geniture and Originall of all things or Substances he hath demersed himself into the Birth or Geniture of the Deity and highly elevated himself and set himself up to be totally like God and made himself a God and yet understandeth as little of it as the Cow doth of the Bell which it carryeth about her Neck only it heareth it sound and Ring 3. Secondly He involves all Heavenly and Earthly Creatures in the perdition of Man and will have them all regenerated and Redeemed again in Christ and maketh a Lamentable forced desolation of the right understanding by confounding one thing with another 4. Thirdly He totally and altogether confoundeth the Distinction between God and the Creature and forceth them together into one contrary to all Reason and Truth and setteth the earthly Man if he but beleeve totally with his mortall Substance in the Deity and giveth him full power or authority in Heaven and Earth quite contrary to the Ground of the holy Scripture and also contrary to visible or apparent things or Substances 5. He will be rule overpower know and understand all in all yes God himself and yet he understandeth not the Ground of a Fly in its Essence and Substance much lesse the Divine and uncreaturely and maketh a confused Wheel like a Drunkennesse 6. And if such flattering hypocrisie should once become totally beleeved then were the greatest Antichrist of all born or generated which setteth it self in the Seat or Throne of God and very audaciously giveth forth himself for GOD and presenteth his own great holiness without blemish in immortality 7. Quite contrary to the visible or apparent ground of all Truth and totally hideth the Man of Sinne in the Anger of God and maketh of him-a-dear Sonne of God in his outward Flesh and thus bringeth us so totally out of the true understanding that we should not understand how and in what manner Christ becometh generated or born IN us what the Heavenly and Earthly Man is 8. He will perswade us we are both inwardly and outwardly totally perfect holy and without all Blemish and Sinne we should but beleeve and then the naturall outward sinfull Man dyeth and becometh wholly and altogether changed into Christs Person so that Man here in this Time upon Earth is as he saith wholly and altogether Christ who in Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God and is on Earth a totall perfect God-Man inwardly and outwardly without defect 9. And there is nothing more wanting but that the poor Sinner who would faine repent and beleeve fall down before THIS great holy God which he himself will BE and worship him that he may receive him to Grace into this HIS Holinesse 10. For HE will needs be the Christ in ALL in Divine Omnipotence and Substance and distinguisheth not at all what God Christ and Man is what the Creature Humanity and God are in him Flesh and Spirit is all one moreover Mortality and Immortality 11. Yet I would very fain see him to know whether he be otherwise then other Men I have not all my Life long heard any tell of any such wonderfull Man in the World not in any History read of such a Wonder And if that be true which he saith then he must according to the Tenure of the Scripture shine seaven times brighter then the SUN and other Men and Living Creatures would be struck blind before him because of his Great Holinesse and Clarity or Brightnesse 12. But if he should say Men can not see that in him as indeed he doth neither hath any Man on Earth seen it in him or in any other Man especially being Heat and Cold as also Pain and Sicknesse take hold of him and that he continually cloatheth himself with the Cloathing of Beasts he sleepeth and waketh useth Earthly Food and Drink in the Curse of God and which is much more liveth in repreaching and cursing of honest people that love God 13. In that regard we yet very strongly doubt of his perfect holinesse and doe not hold his confusednesse for Gods Voyce out of Gods Holy Substance especially since we see that he yet understandeth nothing of the Divine and Naturall Birth or Geniture and eternall Revelation or Manifestation of all things or Substances how one originateth out of another and yet thus elevateth himself without Divine knowledge out of a meer litterall Conceit which yet he perverteth and styeth aloft without Wings before they are feathered 14. But seeing it is a subtile extravagant Errour wherewith likely honest hearts fearing God in Innocency might be seduced without sufficient searching into this extravagancy therefore I would have the Reader who loveth the Truth informed of this almost quite hidden Errour and will a little unfold the same that men may see the high insuperably superlative sence as he supposeth and therewithall a little to open the true ground which hath better Testimony and also agreeth with that which is visible or apparent 15. Not at all to contend with this confused Wheel and to defame him but for the sake of Christs Children whom Christ hath Redeemed with his Bloud to try whether many will not become better discerning and would learn to distinguish such an Errour and get a
AN APOLOGIE Concerning Perfection Being A Fundamentall Answer and Reply upon Esaiah Stiefel His Exposition of Four Texts of the Holy Scripture Written In the Year 1622. finished the 6. Aprill By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giler Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. THE PREFACE 1. COurteous Reader who lovest Truth There hath lately come to my hands a Treatise sent from Good friends concerning some Points of Conclusion which one hath explained and as to his sence sufficiently expounded at large 2. Thereupon I have been entreated by them also to give My apprehension or understanding and explanation upon those very Points 3. Seeing therefore I observe that in that very Explanation there are some Erroneous Opinions that run contrary to the Holy Scriptures and true Understanding which are of concernment to the Reader and may almost stagger him therefore I would take the labour and expresse it in a more rectified understanding 4. Not to disturb or judge any man but that the understanding thereof might be made more cleer for the sake of the Reader who with earnestnesse seeketh the PEARL of Divine Knowledge that it might introduce their hungry Minds into better security and Rest and so might have occasion to seek with the greater earnestnesse the Pearl of Divine knowledge and to refresh themselves therewith till we can attain the PERFECT enjoyment thereof in the other Life After this Tabernacle 5. Therefore will I set before me those Points of Couclusion together with the meaning of him that hath explained them and briefly and summarily peruse the understanding of the Points as also the understanding of the Expositour and shew the true Ground and bring it into a round currant expresse understanding at large and leave it to the Reader of the Divine knowledge to consider of The Points to be explained are these Four Texts of Scripture I. The First is Genesis the 1. Chapter Verse 27. God Created Man according to his Image II. The Second is 1 Timothy 3. 16. The Divine Mystery is apparently Great God is Manifested or Revealed in the Flesh III. The Third is Isaiah 54. 5. He who hath made thee is thy Husband his name is called the Lord of Hosts and the Redeemer the Holy One in Israel who is called the God of the whole World IV. The Fourth is 1 Corinthians 11. 12. As the Woman is from the Man so also the Man cometh by the Woman but all things from God J. B. UPon these alledged Texts the Expositour giveth his meaning in the following words and expressions to the sender of the Texts thus E. S. I. BEloved and Elect in CHRIST JESUS the Tri-une living God Governour and Lord of Heaven and Earth born of the Tri-une highly praised God and most holy Substance of the totall Perfect Tri-unity from Eternity and begotten to his Image in the Love of his Divine voyce to his most holy delight and most holy Joy and Pleasure from and in Eternity 2. Upon your last and lately sent Questions as they are written in order one after another I shall and have according to your desire answered them with God the Tri-une wisdome in Christ yes with that very wisdome Christ himselfe the Eternall most Holy Omniscience This which followeth to the holy Tri-une praise of God to the alone salvation of the Souls of all you that are holy and faithfull in and out of the Tri-une Heart and Mouth with the Eternall Powerfull and Living Word in with and out of all holy Members of Christ the highly praised God and shall or will in the Testimony of the Letter bring them forth to the day light The First Text. 3. And as is first mentioned and set down in the Text of the 1. of Genesis verse 27. and expressed in Scripture God Created Man according to his Image first of all in Adam 4. This Text hath been urged by you particularly in regard of the outward appearance of the German Text Gott schuff den Menschen Jhm Zum Bilde and therefore because of your unskilfulnesse therein you ought not so very much to be blamed yet you have alledged it slightly and contrary to the Divine Sence 5. Because the Hebrew Greek and Latine Text mentions it thus God Created Man in his Image From which it clearly and Manifestly appears that the Tri-une God in Christ his first begotten or born Son and most holy expresse Image of his invisible Deity before all Creatures hath created not only Man but also all Heavenly and Earthly Creatures yes all whatsoever was made John 1. In him and he hath made and brought them forth in Christ to his holy praise and Glory 6. Therefore your Exposition as you set it first in Adam cannot here be applyed and alledged as also your Scripture brought to prove it even To the Image of God Created he him a second time in Christ cannot avail or be allowed because all this came to passe before the fall of Adam 7. Whereas at that time there is no mention of the Regeneration in and through Christ and according to the Testimony of Scripture is not recorded for the Created Man to know from and with God 8. The Hebrew Greek and Latine Text also mentioneth that the Tri-une God In Christ his first begotten or born Expresse Image before all Creatures in whom and through whom he made all that is made hath Created Man according to his Image that is according to Christ his Divine Expresse Image 9. And as Christ was generated or born out of and with God in the Love of the Mother and divine voice from Eternity to his expresse Image of his totall perfect Substance from the greatest to the least and from the least to the greatest from Eternity 10. So he did in the Creation make man visible in Christ to and according to the Image of Christ and created him to his praise and Glory that he should through the obedience of Christ stedfastly be and appear like him in Innocency 11. This according to your meaning or sence of the Scripture is not done and Manifested a second time in Christ but a second time in the Creation of Man I. B. NOw followeth My Answer upon this forementioned Explanation and furthermore My Explanation 1. MEn finde in no place of the Holy Scirpture that Man is proceeded forth in Totally PERFECT Power authority Omnipotence Omniscience and that he had the same for his creaturely proper own 2. For that may not be said even of the Person of CHRIST as he conversed in this world visibly amongst us according to the Humanity received from US but only according to his Eternall Deity 3. For his Soule and Humanity hath also called and prayed to and in God and on the Mount of Olives said when he would goe into his suffering Father if it be possiâ—le let this Cup
for they need none and the Devils have NONE much lesse hath Christ redeemed all heavenly and earthly Creatures as this Authour conceiteth For the heavenly need no Redemption and the earthly are NOT created in the Eternall Life for indeed the earthly Creatures are NOW just as EVILL as before the Suffering and Death of Christ and so is the earth also yet or still in the Curse 60. In that regard this Omniscient Word is very Erroneous in this place And although indeed there is mention made in the holy Scriptures concerning the Redemption of the Creatures That all Creatures groane together with us to be delivered from vanity and that CHRIST shall Redeeme them 61. But it hath NOT this understanding to meane Oxen Calves Wolves Bares and other Beasts and Living Creatures BUT the Creation wherein the Vanity of the Curse of God which holdeth Captive in it self the Fair Paradise viz the GOOD part of the pure Element in this Worlds Substance THAT shall the Judge CHRIST in the Harvest Seperate and give the Chaffe to all Devills and Wicked Men to possesse 62. The Creatures are not yet redeemed they yet groane all this while to enter into the Mystery out of which they are gone forth it is but an erroneous Conceit which runneth contrary to any visible or apparent ground like a mad senslesse or raging Drunkennesse 63. Also the Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent as this Authour sets it down in Paradise after the Fall was not promised to the BEASTS and earthly Creatures he can not shew that though he so much appeale to the SCRIPTURE 64. It is false and standeth not in the Scripture with such a meaning and men should not think while he speaketh falsly that he speaketh only and solely out or from God he that beleeveth him will be deceived 65. The Authour Esaiah Stiefel sets these words down concerning the Regeneration of Christ viz With which this Triune God loved the WHOLE World with all its Births or Genitures and not only promised it to Man and the abovesaid heavenly and earthly Creatures first for a Redeemer through this Triune Deity but also Regenerated and presented IT livingly substantially operatively and actively in the precious Birth and assumption of humane Flesh and Bloud in the Womb of the Virgin MARY God Man in one Person visibly palpably and Substantially here upon Earth 66. But Jacob Behme inserts that Christ hath Regenerated NO earthly Creatures but MAN 67. And while this Author Esaiah Stiefel with or by these words includeth ALL Creatures be they what they will in Heaven and Earth in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of CHRIST and in his Redemption and saith cleerly it is so palpably and substantially now here upon Earth a Man may thereby well know what Spirits Child this Author Esaiah Stiefel is 68. Viz That he is stark drunk with or from the Stars and likely also from that evill Enemy the Devill which I offer the Reader to ponder of and doe pray God that he will give this Authour Esaiah Stiefel a better Mind and Thoughts to leave off such an Errour that Christs Children be not deluded 69. He saith also God hath in CHRIST even while we are here upon Earth if we doe but beleeve redeemed and delivered us from ALL Sinne and Lust of the Flesh yes from the Devill Death and ALL unrighteousnesse And I understand it so too but according to or as to that Will which entereth into Christ but he who liveth in self-hood in the flesh he is NOT yet free from Sinne he Sinneth Dayly in himself till death cut off Sinne and the source or quality of sinne from the Faith and good Will 70. At this place he should distinguish the Earthly Evill and the Heavenly good Will and Spirit asunder which he compriseth all together in Christs Redemption that he might be able to say HE hath no sinne and that he is GOD in CHRIST but the Earthly Hide or Husk is not Christ but belongeth to the Earth and to Death till it dyeth and giveth up the Sinne Life or Life of Sinne. 71. But that he saith the truly Faithfull is ONE Substance with Christ That I say also but according to the Inward Man and Soul the house of sinne is so long severed from Christ whiles it sinneth but when it dyeth to sinne then it standeth in the Rest to or for the Resurrection and Restoration 72. But for what vertues he ascribeth to the Faithfull man those all only and solely the * Inward Man hath the outward doth nothing that is good freely and willingly unlesse the Inward Compel him to it that is proved in the Authour himself he should cleerly distinguish that else no credit will be given to him against all Reason Sense and Experience 73. I am perswaded that there are more that be Christians then he yet they must all acknowledge themselves to be sinners For it is written All the Saints will call on thee for the forgivenesse of sinnes therefore these men ought to consider with themselves 74. But that he saith Christ in the Faithfull is ALL the Will and the Performance or Deed Mind or senses and Thoughts working speaking living and all in all substantially visibly palpably inwardly and outwardly This is agreeable to no Truth If Man doth any thing that is good from an inward driving that indeed is from God but he doth also much Evill from the Lusts of the Flesh and the Devils instigation and that Christ doth not but the outward sinfull Man whether it be by Words Deed or Thoughts 75. He telleth me much of such truly Faithfull as cannot sinne at all I beleeve not that such a ONE liveth in the World he is himself a great sinner and a scornfull proud surly Man I beleeve he is altogether Drunk in Sinne so that he knoweth not himself 76. I know also well that CHRIST in Man if he once dwelleth in him SINNETH not but the FLESHLY Man sinneth dayly he cannot rule from one Sea to another Christ can doe it well but Man cannot he is only an Instrument this high painting for Man ought not to be the Tenth part so much Man is as to the Outward but a STINKING Sack of Wormes full of filth and Evill Lusts one as well as another The Fourth Text. Now followeth the Text. 1 Corinthians 11. 12. As the Woman is from the Man so also the Man cometh by the Woman but all from God Now followeth the Answer of the Explainer upon this Text in Four Points I. IN this is especially required First what the Divine good Wife or Woman is which cometh from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God and taketh her Originall according to a Divine humane Manner II. Secondly How and in what Manner and kind She proceedeth from her God and Husband or Man III. Thirdly How also the Husband or Man God Christ is proceeded and Manifested through the divine
Humane Wife or Woman IV. And Fourthly How also this Feminine Man or Masculine Wife or Woman One in Eternity cometh out of the Divine Humane Eternity Unity and hath its Eternall beginning in God without End and without ceasing keepeth it in Eternity with and in God in Eternall Unity The First Point Of the Fourth Text. I. 1. NOw concerning the divine Good wife or woman which cometh from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God and hath her original out of him according to a Divine humane Manner that is a faithfull Body and Soul or the faithful Souls Body in indivisible unceaseable Unity 2. Not begotten out of the perished Substance of the fallen Adam and naked fleshly Lust and perdition of the whole Substance of the fallen Man and proceeded to the Light and become visible but through Christ the Triune divine Substance generated from Eternity 3. It is a totall New through Faith prepared Divine good Man in Body and Soul yes out of Christ the expresse Image of the Totall holy Divine Triune good Substance yes proceedded forth through himself and in the world become manifested to the Faith and in the Faith visibly apparently corporeally and palpably A True Good Divine Holy Faithful Visible and Comprehensible to all the truly Faithfull 4. But to the unfaithfull wicked perished in Sinne persevering Adamical world an Invisible Incomprehensible Man participating of all good holy divine Properties in and with Christ the Triune highly praised God the Husband or Man in Eternal undivisible Unity operatively and substantially and according to his own kind and property a visible holy truly faithful divine good MAN Here followeth my answer upon this first Point together with an Explanation of the right understanding 1. JAcob Behme saith we would fain see a cleer demonstration in the outward visible operative comprehensible substance since it hath not yet proved it self in any Man since Adams Fall and yet this Man speaketh of a visible palpable operative substance which is totally divine Perfect and without blemish of Sinne which worketh meer holy unblameable works in Gods Love-will 2. But seeing the Holy Scripture speaketh in No place of such a thing that such a one hath been after the Fall who hath been born totally Holy without blemish but without difference all are concluded under Sinne as it is written They are all Sinners and want the Glory which they should have with God 3. And yet this man giveth himselfe forth That he is so totally and altogether God in Christ and the Glorious Antitype of this New Bride of Christ and yet likewise no Man can say that hath been present with him that he is any otherwise then all other sinfull Men are 4. And therefore from his giving forth we are not at all assured but desire that he would powerfully and effectually shew it in himself that Men might with truth see that God hath done some speciall thing in him that it is so as he saith but seeing we yet all of us find our selves in no such Perfection and cannot say so of our fleshly Birth or Geniture for we should be found as Lyars before God if we did come before him and say we were come holy and totally righteous from our Mothers womb and if he should prove us and find us faulty then he would not suffer it to avail us 5. In Our Father CHRIST teacheth us we should pray to God and say Lead us not into Temptation for if he should tempt us we should not be found pure and it might well be as Isaiah saith From the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot there is no soundnesse in thee but meer wounds botches and putrified sores which cannot be healed 6. Also Christ had in vain taught his Disciples to pray Forgive us our Trespasses IF they had had none Also men find from the beginning of the world in the Old and New Testament how very often honest people have begotten evill children thus without doubt the possibility hath yet been with none that they have begotten Children meerly out of CHRIST like this Authour I would fain see his Wife Children whether they have another skin on since they are so Holy 7. I have been told how partly they are finely uncircumcised but if their Holinesse were hidden from us then that were good counsell and advice that Men should keep them by themselves that they might not mixe with the sinfull children of Adam but get children among themselves only and raise up a NEW World 8. Then men might justly call that People SION and a marriage State and say Here is the Lord but since it sheweth not it self yet in the work in power and Life therefore we are not yet sufficiently assured of this Bride for a good discourse or Romance without Life doth not assure us 9. But that he saith Men can NOT see the Holy People that is very wonderfully spoken For was not Christ himself AFTER his Resurrection in the Flesh SEEN Shall we then beleeve without the power of the proof seeing it is without the Ground of the Scripture therefore it will be very hard to perswade us 10. Who will assure us this when Saint Paul saith If an Angell from Heaven should command bring another Gospel then he brought let him be accursed and he neverthelesse in his Epistle hath concluded all under Sinne and hath spoken of a twofold Man that If he sinneth yet he doth it Not but the Sinne in the Flesh doth it Also with the Flesh he serveth the Law of Sinne and with the will out of Christ he serveth God 11. And Saint Peter saith It is signified unto me that I must lay off this Earthly Tabernacle Therefore we cannot be assured of this totall holy Perfection upon Earth Outwardly and Inwardly in the totall humane Substance without feeling Experience 12. And though this Man speaketh plainly SO of himself yet we beleeve him not unlesse he assureth us of it in Power for it might probably be only an Imagination and not in Deed or in Substance and then we were very silly people that we should without ground and assurance so proudly present our self before God as if we had NO Guiltinesse I suppose it would be fine humility before God for a stinking loathsome Sinner to present himself before God and say I am Holy and am GOD himself in Divine Omnipotency I cannot Erre nor Sinne. 13. Dear Brethren look to it it is not farre from this nor is much wanting that a new Antichrist is generated or Born Germany hath certainly with its security caused it in that men live so securely or carelesly under Christs Purple-Mantle and tickle our selves with Christs sufferings and do but only fatten or 〈◊〉 the Man of Sinne under it and this is a certain Image of humane security and negligence in that we boast we are good Christians 14. And say we are Christs Children and moreover Holy and will
be distinguished from other People therefore God sheweth us in this Image that we stand with the Mouth trimmed and adorned before him but the Spirit is a false or wicked Man As this Authour saith We should call our selves Holy and deny the Earthly Name and firmly beleeve we are NO Sinners but God in Christ born Totally Holy 15. And when this seeming Holy World existeth then is the knowledge or acknowledgement of Sinne totally Dead and although God should blame us yet would the flattering Hypocrite Murmure against God and say he did him wrong and then is the enmity against God generated and Sinne totally blind 16. No Man would know more of Sinne and though likely we were totally sinfull before God yet then is the time of which Christ said Dost thou suppose that when the Sonne of Man shall COME that he shall find FAITH on the Earth there would be NO Faith in Power but only meer Faith of a History so that we will not beleeve if any should charge us as guilty of Sinne thus there would be a fine secure negligent or carelesse SION like Life 17. Whatsoever we did then it were all Good there would be accounted no Sinne in the world none would be said to have sinned Christ must do all and though many were very Theeves yet no MAGISTRACY or Government would be usefull for CHRIST ruleth all in all 18. Where there is no Sinne there is also no punishment then also men would need no Superiour to Judge for every one judgeth himselfe and whatsoever he doth that doth God through him which indeed would run contrary to the Angellicall Government and against the Government of the Inward and Outward Nature 19. I admonish all Readers of His writings very sincerely from a true heart as a brother for our eternall salvations sake diligently and well to ponder and consider what is hidden under this giving forth the bring Holy and how the Devill thinketh to take us with a New 〈◊〉 seeing he perceiveth that his smoak-hole shall be manifested 20. Therefore will he now drive us wholly forth from the acknowledgement of Sinner that we should be wholly secure or negligent and understand no Sinne more and supposeth that we in our present evill life which we have shall finely learn to cover our selves With Christs Purple Mantle and introduce us totally into security and carelesness and so keep us from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Sinnes and entrap or take US all 21. But dear Brethren observe and convert or turn away from security and acknowledge your selves to be the lost and returning Sonne to the Father and say continually you have shamefully spent your inheritance and that the Father hath received you again for his Sonne he hath done it of Grace and Favour 22. Be not proud again say not to the Father divide the inheritance between us continue only in humility under the servitude of a Sonne as CHRIST hath set before us in his Similitudes or Parables if God will effect any thing New with us he will well manifest it with power we suppose words without demonstration are too little in so high a matter whereon salvation and blessednesse depends 23. But therewith I set before the Reader the true ground what Adam and Christ are in ONE Person and which Man is without Sinne therefore Mark this which followeth 24. The Kingly Prophet of God David Was a man after Gods own Heart as the Scripture testifieth of him in whom was the Spirit of God and he prophesied of Christ but he said In Sinne was I born in Sinne did my Mother conceive me which also manifested it self in him so that he had neer the Spiritual Man also a sinfull Man IN him which was a Murtherour and an Adulterour as the like may be seen in the Patriarchs 25. But who will now say of David that he was not holy Seeing he was a Man after Gods Heart who also will say that his Murther and Adultery was without Sinne The Man that in David was a Prophet THAT was no Sinner but that which was a Murtherer was a Sinner and yet it was but one only MAN in one Person but in two Properties viz one Heavenly and one Earthly 26. The Spirit of God speaketh of things to COME and of CHRIST concerning the Heavenly Property and the fleshly desire into which the Devill introduced his desire speaketh out of the Earthly Property out of the Earthly cursed Life viz out of the Murther and Vnchastity 27. In ALL men lyeth the Heavenly Image which disappeared in Adam but it liveth in one and in another it is Vnlively That Heavenly Image viz the second Principle is that out of which CHRIST was conceived and born out of JESUS 28. For God is in all places but not Manifest in all things but if he manifesteth himself in the disappeared Substance then is Christ born who dwelleth in his Principle and the Earthly Man of the Earthly part in the Curse of God dwelleth in its own Principle in it self 29. The Spirit of Christ dwelleth in the inward Substance of the disappeared Image from the Divine worlds Substance that dyed in Adam and the Elementary Spirit dwelleth in the Four-Elementary Flesh 30. The Spirit of Christ hath Spiritual Flesh for it taketh the Spiritual Flesh which dyed in Adam on again for a Body and Maketh it living THAT is in its Flesh holy but the outward Spirit of the four Elements in the Earthly Flesh is longing after falshood and wickednesse and bringeth its Lust against the Inward Man for the Devil sifteth it 31. And that is it which the Scripture saith The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit understand against the inward Divine Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh And God said to the Serpent in the Outward Flesh of Adam I will put Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and of the Serpent 32. The Inward Spirituall Flesh is Heavenly the Devill cannot possesse that for if the Soul forsake that and go out from it then is THAT vanished or disappeared and as a Nothing In the wicked it is as a Nothing 32. But when the wicked turneth himself to God and turneth the Will of the Soul to God then is Christ out of the disappeared Seed born a Man and is set before the Devill in the outward Flesh for a Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent which hindreth and breaketh the Will of the evill Flesh so that Sinne is NOT committed 34. And THEN there is a constant Enmity Christ Governeth in his Heavenly Flesh through the outward and striketh the Outward Lust to the Ground then cometh the Anger of God in the Center of the Soul and will also have its fierce wrathfull Government and the Devill with the false or wicked Lust crouds himself thereinto 35. And the Elementary Spirit hungers constantly after its Mother the Elements and then the Devill bringeth the Lust aloft and wheeleth the desire about then the Hand