of it before it was completed so much did Satan hasten to make merry with it or a Bonfire of it and heaped Crosses and tribulation also Enemies enough upon me of purpose to Rob me of my Noble Pearl 37. He exceedingly also covered me with his Thorne bush by my Opponents that he might bereave me of my Jewel till after THREE Years it was sent to me Written from highly Learned People out of my writings who earnestly exhorted me to finish it Then I saw that ym writings were still Extant and wondered at it that it had so hapened to them and understood that they had had them in their hands for TWO Years before and that all along One Good Friend had given them to another to write out Copies of them 38. I understood Also that they were in the Hands of Many Men altogether unknowne to me and that Many enlightened and Honest Pious Hearts had great satisfaction therein who sought not Poyson but a right may to the Divine Life and Christian Conversation therein 39. Who doubtlesse had not such venomous Eyes that the Aspect of the Serpent so suddenly slipped into the Center of their Mind and sought to pervert it but have left it to the Spirit of God and asked Instruction which also they obtained 40. But some of them are so highly Learned and wise persons that the Libeller may not well compare himself with them but I have not heard that any of them should say that the Devill was sitting therein I firmly beleeve that he is sitting in the Libeller in Mind Eyes Heart and Thoughts and suddenly infected him and drave him on to strife 41. For he acknowledgeth himself in the Introduction that he read it over in haste and had not leisure enough surely the Serpent had very suddenly captivated him and after that left him no time to ponder it but only to make Sport with it Certainly if the Libeller had searched further he had found out the Authour 42. And if he had written to me never so little to know how I came by such Meanings and Writings I would have written to him of it very friendly and Christianly this would have become a Christian well especially an enlightened Mind 43. But S r Libeller I conceive thereby that your Artfull Mind is standing in BABEL and would thereby slay ABEL therefore you must answer it before the Judgment of God let this betold you you must know that you have opposed the A. B. C. 44. God hath bestowed so much Grace that in the Second Book which is made we have written much cleerer then in the Pirst and also then you have written in yours The sense is a little Deeper opened to US then to YOU 45. You must know that I see YOUR Writings much better then your self understand them you would flee or soare alost to shew your self and yet your writings are but a fighting with a shadow in the Mystery of God all would be well and men would be at peace if you were not found to be a Scorner as also having a proud unchristian Mind 46. Read my Three Books of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of JESUS CHRIST how we must be conceived and enter into the becoming Man or Incornation of Christ and become New-borne in Christ and how we with Christ must enter into his Death and be buryed with and in him dye with him and Continually slay the Old Man also continually rise with and in Him and Eternally live in Him 47. Also read the Book of the Threefold Life of Man and ye will find the Elernall Divine Nauture and also the Outward Nature of the Starres and Elements a little deeper and More fundamentally Described then in your Libell or Pasquill you will well see what Divine knowledge is Moreover what man is to doe and leave undone and What Faith and Blessedness or Salvation is 48. Also you will find your Crippled and altogether Misexpounded Gracious Election rightly in the Ground that will better accord with the Apostolick Faith and understanding then yours 49. Yours bringeth Men to Desperation to vanity and into meer anxiety of Spirit and not out of it again but mine brings them to the Light that they may see what the Holy Scripture understandeth by Gods Election 50. Also you find therein right knowledge of God and of the substance of all Substances whereas with you there is still a great Mist before it you boast of your knowledge yet Divine skill and knowledge standeth not in Reason but in the Light of God 51. If you will speak so highly of God you must understand and fundamentally know ALL the THREE Principles else your Speech continues to be only a fighting with a shadow and satisfieth not the Hungry Mind Read my Book of the Three Principles of the Divine Substance what will that availe you shall see whether I am a Man or no you should not seek in ME for a Devill as you have done in a very unchristian Manner towards me which ought highly to be reproved in you If you will rightly seek the Heretick whom you reproach you will find him in your own Bosome 52. For he is a HERETICK that wresteth the Scriptures falsly and you doe it not only to my meaning and with my words that are hidden to you which stand yet partly in a Magick understanding but you pervert the Scripture and draw it falsly to your Meaning of the Election of Grace and cast only a Mist before Mens Eyes driving them into Gods Anger and there let them Lye and go your way and moreover forbid any Man to search further about it 53. Yes indeed the Devill might thereby be manifested or revealed and that he would not have or likely my Book hath hit you upon the Calvinist Veine 54. I cannot remedy that if you or others will not read my Book let it alone it is not Printed who bid any write a Copy of it leave it to me I have written it only for my self it is nothing to you I have not run about with it and presented it to any body it is come forth without my will and Desire and without my knowledge as they that first came by it well know 55. But now that you lay to my Charge I have sought my same by it that is an untruth A Christian seeketh not his own honour but Gods honour and in his Love his Neighbour's CHRIST sought not his own honour but his Father 's He desired no honour from Man what should it be desired for then by me 56. The True knowledge of God is not from this World but from God why should a lodging then be sought for it here behold and Consider your self 57. I say with good ground in such a way you have no understanding of my writings you doe but fully them for me with a strange understanding as here further shall be set before your Eyes yet briefly and for the Readers sake who readeth the reproachfull
assumed a soul out of the in Death inclosed and now through Gods Motion Sprouting forth humane Essence into it self in which now Divine ability standeth for it is in the Word of the Light of Life and to that very will we must unite and give up our selves that it also may become MAN in US 78. In Adam the Ability was shut up in Death for the Divine Light Extinguished in Alams soul and in the Promise it stood before the soul for an Eye-Mark and in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ it was brought again into the soul and shone again in the Darknesse 79. Though indeed in it self it was not Extinguished but Adams soul was entered into the spirit of this World and gone forth out of the Divine Principle it had received the spirit of this World for a Lodging thus stood the Light in it self in the Shining and was covered as to the soul 80. For the soul is another Principle then the Light as the Fire hath another source or quality then the Light so the soul is a Magick-fire introduced into Adam out of the first Principle and with the Moving of the Deity in the Divine Fiat became generated a Creature 81 For its Essence it hath been alwayes from Eternity but in the Creature in the time of the Bodies Creation became formed to the Image of God and yet it is not solely or entirely the right Image but the Essentiall fire to the Image if it attain the Divine Ligh viz the Second Principle then the Divine similitude groweth out of it in which God Dwelleth and in which Gods Will standeth which hath Divine Power Might or Strength 82. But if not and that it standeth barely in his Magick-fire and will not introduce Gods will into it self then it bringeth the Will of the Originall viz of the first Principle or of the Kingdome of this World which standeth in the Ground of the first Principle into it self the Image whereof also the Magick fire of the soul receiveth whence CHRIST called the Pharisees a Generation of Adders and brood of Serpents and Hered a Fox understand according to the Image of the inward Man which through the Imagination becometh generated and born 83. Therefore it lveth in the Imagination which when it receiveth the Divine Lightening in the aspect or Countenance of 〈◊〉 Light of God becometh impregnate of the Word of God and then is FAITH generated which then Eateth of Christs flesh and Drinketh of his Blood and taketh the Divine substantiality into it self wherein the true similitude and the Image of God standeth which then Eateth ex Verbo Domini of the Word of the Lord and of the bread of God of which Christ saith Whosoever eateth my flesh and Drinketh my bloud he continueth in me and I in him 84. Read the Book of the Threefold Life there it is explained with all Circumstances and cleered there a Man may understand what a Principle is and much more in the Three Books of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and of or concerning his Mother MARY and also of the Eternall Mother where all is become brought forth out of the Center of Nature Also read the Three Principles there thou hast the Ground which is here too long to write neither doth the Libeller deserve it 85. Therefore I say still the true Christain Faith stands in no Conceit or Opinion much lesse in strife but in the New Birth out of the Word of Eternall Life which became Man and that must become Man in us or else we cannot see God as CHRIST saith to Nicodemus therein shineth the Light of God 86. We must give Divine sewell to our souls-fire if it be to burn in a Divine source or quality and if a Divine Light be to shine from it earthly fewell giveth an earthly source or quality and a Light according to that source or quality whatsoever a man kindleth in himself THAT burneth in him 87. But Gods kingdome standeth in Power in Love and Joy it searcheth after nothing for it hath all things beforehand only the soul searcheth it would enter into the kingdome of Rest and in the Earthly Body it sticketh in unquietnesse and therefore it searcheth after its Native Country out of which it went forth in Adam from Jerusalem to Jericho viz into it self into the originall of the first Principle and out of it self though the first Principle into the spirit of the outward World into the Multiplicity viz into the Stars and Elements into the source or torment-house where if findeth and learneth ARTS It will needs be as God and will know Evill and Good yes indeed it experienceth that It were better to be in Paradise 88. Therefore is all contention and strife concerning the kingdome of God only a fighting with a shadow a Babylonish work in the kingdome of Antichrist 89. A True Beleeving Christian ought not to strive or Contend with any about Religion let him strive only against himself against Flesh and Bloud and Endeavour for this how he may work the works of God in the Love of his Neighbour let him seek only Gods will and give himself up to that and Lead his Life in Obedience to the Will of God let him draw himself away from this World for he is not at home in this world and let him seek his brother as a Member of his own Soul and take him along with him 90. As one Member wisheth and doth all Good to the other so will also a Beleeving Soul Continually have his fellow Member with it and endeavoureth for this how it may shew his Brother any Good it alwayes sheweth him its Light and with or by its Imagination sets it before the Eyes of the soul to be looked upon and saith Come I pray hither for which things sake this Pen hath written so very much which the Pasquill or Libeller doth not understand for the Sting is in him 91. O how miserably and horribly hath he written of the Propagation of Man and Of the will of God whereas a Man whom the Devill assaulteth enough besides might Despair upon it therein sticketh Heresie that a man dares pervert the will of God who only willeth Good and make of Gods will a will of Evill or Malice 92. How very blind is he as to the knowledge of God how altogether Nothing doth he know of the Eternall Nature and of the Originall of the Will what the will to Good and to Evill is He rejecteth my A. B. C. little Book and sets the Babylonish Grammar in the 〈◊〉 of it Art 〈◊〉 doe the thing 〈…〉 Mine is bestowed upon me of Grace in the Love of God I shall well stand with mine against your it is as the Sun and the Moon to one another An honest Man fearing God who seeketh but Gods will may very well distinguish my writings and thine asunder 94. Dost thou suppose that men are satisfied by them Can they satisfie the heart and poor
his own Bosom before he condemneth others and passeth his judgement upon them 249. Is not Mary extracted or begotten of Joachim and Anna also Naturally conceived and borne as all the children of Adam then let him demonstrate it else his conceit will till then remaine untrue 250. But if he say if Mary were begotten of Joachim and Anna then were Christ begotten of sinfull seed as his high flowne Spirit runneth on and supposeth Then I say to him once for all that he is altogether blinde in the Divine Mystery and understandeth nothing thereof 251. He speakes indeed of the High Blessing of Mary but he draweth it to a strange Seede out of which Mary was begotten or extracted but he saith not with any ground what kinde of seede that was whether it was barely the Spirit of God or whether it was heavenly Substantiality or the Seede in the Word or was also somewhat of humane Essence 252. For the Humane Essence is to Him throughout sinfull he will not at all be born of Man but of God in like manner as if God in Christ had introduced a strange humanity and he throughout explaines it so He will only be born in Christ as the Dew of the Morning 253. But Sir Libeller hearken we will not be so evill as you are we will readily of Good Will shew you the true Ground in the Mysterie if you will not goe in that way then goe aside we have other Eyes then you have Have you Art then have we Light 254. You are not our Judge though you condemne me I am a childe of God in Christ and my seeing is proceeded from Gods seeing Therefore I will from a Good heart shew you my open Face though you are not able to apprehend how Christ is become conceived aad born of Humane Essence without sinne and you conclude throughout that I speak of Christ as if he were proceeded from sinfull seed though all indeed is very groundlesly Judged and your meaning standeth in Babell Therefore observe my Confession of Faith and acknowledgement as it followeth Exactly 255. God sayd to Adam when he stood in Paradise and lived in the Divine source or quality and substantiality What day thou eatest of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill thou wilt dye the Death by Dying he meaneth not only the Outward Body which with the Beginning of Sinne first became Living 256. For the Outward Body fell not down instantly when Adam transgressed the Commandment and Dyed but he gat now the Great Life and became Lord before he was weak or impotent and the right Man potent or Mighty he formerly came behinde and waited on the Image of God and was a servant but when the Soul introduced Earthly source or quality then he was Lord and the Image was shut up in Death 257. The Spirit is the Life the Flesh is not the Life The heavenly Fleshes Life was Gods Spirit and the Earthly Fleshes Life was this Worlds Spirit 258. When the Earthly drew into the Heavenly and took the Dominion then the heavenly vanished or disappeared for the Spirit of the heavenly departed away out of the Earthlynesse into its Principle then stood the Image which was out of the Divine Substantiality in Death not in the fierce wrath of the Death of the Anger so that the heavenly Substantiality were become kindled in Gods Anger but as a vanished disappeared Substance without source or quality and Life 259. For that which is generated out of the Love that receiveth no fierce wrath into it self for the Lights Substantiality is water of Eternall Life the water maketh no fierce wrath but quencheth the Fires fierce wrath 260. If now the heavenly Image or Substantiality in Adam were taken out of the Heavenly Limbus then surely its Originall Mother was the Water of the Eternall Life which originateth from the Meeknesse or Desire of the Light of God as the Water in the Deepe of this world from the Meeknesse of the Sun 's Light Through Venus's Desire 261. What fierce wrath or Anger then would or could come into the heavenly Substantiality of the Holy Body in Adam Also that Substantiality was not at all the Life it self but the Spirit of God was the right Life in the holy Body 262. But when the Spirit of God departed then stood that Image as dead without Life and the Soul lived of the Earthly Fire-fewell though indeed it is not quite Earthly Essence yet that Earthly Essence is generated from the first Principle wherein also the Soul standeth 263. Therefore also the Soul lusted after that source or quality there was given to the Soul a heavenly Body of which it should Eate and Not of BOTH Body's It should set or put its Lust or longing and Imagination only into the Heavenly then would the Soul-Fire have had the Earthly Body in the Dark World only hanging to it 264. But when it would eate of Both then came the Dark Body to have power or strength and Light and ruled over the right humane Body Thus sinne began in the Soul-Fire for it became kindled with the fierce wrathfull Essence and so now the Soul Fire burnt in that very source or quality and the Divine Light of the Soul which shone in the meek heavenly Substantiality extinguished 265. For in the Beginning the right humane Essence of the Soul was the fewell to its Life's burning but afterwards the Earthly Essence was it and that is now the Sinne and the Opposite Will and the Soul hath no Image or Body which remaineth Eternally unlesse it be through Christ Regenerated out of its first Substantiality through the Death of Christ 266. Therefore it is that many kindes of Figures appeare in the Souls Image in the inward all according to what its desire is to a Substance as the Image of wilde Beasts also Serpents and Toads In whatsover Essence and Will the Souls-Fire liveth and burneth according to that Essence is also the FIAT in the Will-Spirit and it Imageth or frameth such an Image so now when the outward Body deceaseth then standeth that Image thus in such a forme and source or quality 267. In the Time of the Earthly Life it may alter its will and then also its Fiat altereth the Figure but after the Dying of the Body it hath nothing more wherein it can alter its Will as is to be seene by the Devills 268. Therefore sayd Christ To must become borne anew through Water and the Holy Spirit or ye cannot see the kingdome of God understand out of Gods Water out of the water of the first right Image wherein the Holy Spirit dwelleth in which christ is become conceived and born 269. That Water hath not taken sinne into its Essence for that cannot be for that which is out of or from Gods meeknesse becometh not kindled in the fierce wrath of God but is as an impotency or weaknesse shut up in Death viz in the stillnesse in the still nothing 270. Adam
will of necessity be forbidden you WITHOUT the Spirit to search what God is Gods Spirit searcheth it self else none can search God If God be not in the Spirit the Libeller needs not forbid it to search Number VII 574. THe Libeller saith further But why do not all seek Grace in Christ but endeavour to set up their own righteousnesse THAT a Man must leave to the Secret Councill of God which is possible for No Man to reach 475. Hearken Libeller Make thy breath longer Put away Pride and State Covetousnesse Envy and Malice and the brave little sonne Falshood out of the way and then the wicked would seek it the Lust and pleasure of this world Lyeth in the way Take a Besom and sweep Feare out of the World and then all Men would seek the Grace 476. Yet thou seekest also with all thy diligence how thou mayst Condemn me also thou wilt set up only thy own righteousnesse against thy brother whom thou shouldst Love as thy self Thou searchest into many Scriptures that thou mayst judge him Smell but into thy Bosome Number VIII 477. THere the Libeller supposeth he hath catched a Mouse which must crouch under him upon that where the Authour sets it down That God knew not of Lucifers Fall beforehand there he hath certainly got him in his clutches O now he will tumble and touse him 478. Hearken Libeller That place is not expressed out of the Magick understanding I will stand to it with you in what I have written but hearken doest thou suppose it is not true doest thou understand the Principles doest thou know what is done in the Dark World The Will of the Dark world is not manifest in Heaven God doth not cumber himself with the will of the firce wrath 479. His fierce wrath and Anger hath known it very well the fierce wrath is a cause of the Fall but no such Imagination Entereth into his Love there is not the least sparkle of the Devill or Darknesse manifest in his Love but a Meere Love desire so also God calleth himself a God according to the Love and Meeknesse and according to THAT now the Question is Answered 480. Else if a Man saith To God are all his works Manifest from Eternity then a Man must say God hath been in all things from Eternity He is in every thing in the Essence as the source or quality in every thing is Psal 18. 26 27. as it is there written With the perverse thou art perverse 481. The very Abysse and also Hell is Gods in Hell there is hellish Skill and knowledge and in Heaven heavenly and in this World Historicall according to the First Principle all Malice is from Eternity known to God but Men call not that God but Gods Anger according to such a meaning was the Authours Mind thought or sence so written only for himself 482. He understood the sence well but he knew not of the Libeller else he had set it down more simply and plainly When a Man speaks of the Totall God according to Love and Anger according to ALL Worlds then he saith rightly To God hath all his works been knowne from Eternity 483. But hearken Libeller hast thou not seen how the Center of Nature was described in my Book couldest thou not search after it assuredly thou hadst come to the Ground or foundation It is not my meaning here now at this time to metion any thing further of the Mysterie of Omniscience read The Three Principles and thou wilt find it it would here require too long a Discourse and besides it is not necessary 484. But a Man cannot say that God is the Essence but in the Eternall Nature the Essences Exist and in Gods Magia Nature doth exist He is IN All but nothing apprehendeth him as is before-mentioned He possesseth himself as the Light possesseth it self it dwelleth in the Fire without Source or Torment Number IX 485. THe Libeller hath many Conceits and a totall strange understanding especially upon that where it standeth written by the Authour thus That Lucifer was a Part of or out of God there he will be simply blind and understand nothing as it is moant he will know nothing of Gods Eternall Nature he understandeth by Nature only the Outward World he will by no means understand that an Eternall Spirit as Angells and Souls of Men is proceeded out of Gods Eternall Nature and Substance 486. My Libeller Open thou thy Eyes and observe that I. by the Eternall Nature out of which the Angells are Created understand not the Divine Principle can you not see a similitude of it in Fire and Light Thou seest thy self very well that the Fire is Nature and not the Light out of the Light can nothing be created only out of the Substantiality viz out of the Meeknesse can a thing be created that is Substance 487. Yet now a living Spirit cannot be made out of Substance the Life is not Substance but a desire of Substance 488. A Spirit as Angells and Souls are is out of the Magia or Desire of the Fire-source or quality proceeded out of the Formes to Nature viz out of the Center for Nothing is Eternall unlesse it be proceeded out of the Center of the Eternall property 489. The Center is a Desire to the Manifestation of the Abysse in a Ground of the Nothing in somewhat to manifest or reveale the hidden Mystery of the Eternall Divine Substance 490. The Light hath another Center God is understood or meant by the Light the Heart of God is the Center of the Light and the Magick Desire is the Center of the Fire and in the Fire is the Liberty viz the Nothing manifest spoken after a Creaturely Manner 491. God is in respect of the Creature as a Nothing and yet he is indeed ALL in the Fire his Majesty becometh manifest in the Fire is the finding of the Nothing God himself findeth himself from Eternity in himself He is not Nature as to what concernes the Name God The Nature becometh born or Generated in the Will of the Eternall Nothing 492. There is but ONE only Will which is the ABYSSE which is desirous of the foundation or Ground viz of the Manifestation or Revelation of it self and in that desire becometh the Nature manifested and the desire maketh the Nature that driveth it self from one desiere to another one forme of the Desire maketh the other even to the Fire there is the Principle and Life generated 493. The Fiat is the Mother viz the desiring or the hunger as a Man may call it It maketh the Desire to be Substance according to the forme of the Property it figureth the Willing into a forme or shape wherein we understand the Center of the Spirit 494. Now then GOD himself is the Abysse and also the Bysse or Ground in the Fire all becometh Manifest both the Nature and also the Light of the Majesty In the Fire
Soul viz in the Fathers Principle in the sound for it hath by its entrance into the Anger set the Looking Glasse of his Covenant viz the Virgin of the Divine Wisdome before the Soul that it should behold it self therein 555. The Wisdome saith continually Come then saith the Devill behinde it also Come now to which so Ever it goeth thereby it becometh Elected for a Childe 556. God letteth no Soul which hath Light to Extinguish its Light out of his predestinate purpose The Free-Will Extinguisheth it The Devill set himself in the forme of an Angel before the Soul that it might Imagine in Evill and Good thus then its Imagination eateth of Evill and Good and so the Soul becometh blinde and captivated in its Imagination 557. Else if God did harden any out of his predestinate purpose and did let his Light Extinguish out of his predestinate purpose then would not that be true which David saith in the 5. Psalme Thou art not a God that willest Evill indeed he permitteth it to come to passe that an honest vertuous Man becometh Evill when the Will inclineth into Evill then he letteth his Light Extinguish 558. But not out of his predestinate purpose so that he would not saine have that very Man surely he receiveth him if he cometh againe so long as a Man liveth in this Tabernacle he hath power to become the Childe of God for the Apostle saith also thus He hath given us power to become the Children of God 559. Understand not out of or from the Will of the Flesh viz of the outward World that belongeth not to Gods Kingdome but out of or from the Will of the Souls Spirit which becometh Generated or born in God For Gods predesfinate purpose is that the right Divine Will should alwayes become Generated out of the Soul which is done when the Soul entereth into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ in that it becometh Generated or born againe to be Gods childe 560. For the Souls-Fire becometh introduced into Christs Death and Sprouteth againe with a New faire blossome out of the Death of Christ forth into the Divine Liberty into the Angelicall World 561. That very Blossome or Spirituall Will is Gods Will and in that very Will-Spirit the Soul is an Angel for it possesseth the Second Principle viz Gods Majesty it continually introduceth Divine Substantiality viz Christs Flesh which filleth the Heaven so that the Soul eareth of Christs Flesh and drinketh his Bloud John 6. out of the Water of the Meeknesse of the Eternall Life 562. Therefore I say with good Ground It is not Gods predestinate purposed Will that any one Man becometh Lost but it is from the Will of his fierce Wrath and Anger and of the Dark World and of the Devill 563. Therefore he is a false or wicked Judger and an Advocate of Gods Anger who will Judge and blame God and knoweth not the difference of what God is in Love and Anger and knoweth not whence an Evill and Good Will Originateth and yet will be a Judger he cryeth continually God God it is that doth a thing 564. The Prophets and Apostles have often called the Totall God according to Love and Anger as also according to all the Three Principles by ONE WORD but yet a Man should use a right understanding and make a distinction between Gods Love-Will and his Anger-Will 565. We see very plainly in Man that he willeth Evill and Good he would alwayes saine be an Angel and would also faine have the Pride in Covetousnesse and the Power of this World Men should search whence every Will taketh its Originall and not alwayes say God God God willeth it 566. He willeth only that which is like himself his Love viz the Right Name of God willeth only that we should Love God and our Neighbour and Continue in his desire and will HE willeth nothing else but that all Men should turne to him and goe out from fierce Wrath into the Love For the Love of God and of our Neighbour is the whole Law and the Prophets 567. On the Contrary his fierce Wrath and Anger which is the Roote of the outward World willeth its like to have sewell or wood for its Fire 568. Now being Gods Love hath set before Man the Looking-Glasse of his Wisdome in the becoming Man or Incarnation of himself why then doth he goe into the Anger Looking-Glasse and letteth the Devill sway him God indeed sendeth Prophets and Teachers out of his predestinate purpose who reveale and signifie to the World his Anger why doth Man follow Sinne 569. That must needs be a wonderfull thing that God should cause any to be called to come to HIM and yet would harden him out of his predestinate purpose that he Could not then God would be unrighteous Indeed the Lust of the Flesh and of the Devill hardeneth the Soul and holdeth it Captive 570. If God had willed the Evill or the Fall of Man then he would not have forbidden Adam the Tree of Good and of Evill viz the Lust or Pleasure of this World But if he hath forbidden him and hath also hardened him that he could not doe Gods Will who would now be righteous God or Man 571. As the Libeller supposeth that it is out of Gods predestinate purpose that two unlike sonnes were generated out of Adam an Evill and a Good and will make thereof two sorts of Seed hearken make two sorts of Souls and then it may be 572. When Adam became Earthly then he became drawne of the Spirit of this World and Gods Anger became Stirring in him then did the Soul give way that the Devill through the Spirit of the Outward World thrust in Evill Seed into the Soulish Essence for propagation which the Constellation of the Configuration hath increased so that a fratricide or brother Murtherour became generated but was that Gods predestinate purpose 573. Had not Adam made himself Earthly then would not Gods fierce wrath have become Manifest or revealed in him also then would the Constellation have had no power over the Soulish Seed 474. For the outward Kingdome should not have possessed and governed Man in the inward Image it should have been as an impotency or weaknesse in Man He was Paradisicall 575. But that it standeth written the Outward Man was Created to a Naturall Life thereby it is understood that Nature is a Ruler or Manifester of the Wisdome of God and then in the Mortall fall Eve is understood to be a Woman and not a Virgin of this World 576. Whereas it could not be otherwise and that Adam stood not in the Proba or Tryall he let him fall into the sleep of the Eternall Life and made a Naturall fleshly Woman out of him out of his Matrix and Rib. 577. For the spirit of the outward World had captivated Adam and introduced its substantiality into his Imagination whence he is such a Naked sfinking hard palpable cold bitter and hot Man
expected in me and so how much I want of the Infinite effect of being able to dwell with the Eternall Burnings I may well account my self one of the unworthiest of the children of Men John Sparrow The First APOLOGIE To Balthazar Tylcken Being An Answer of the Authour concerning his Book the AVRORA Opposed by an Enemicitious Pasquil or Opprobrious Libel This Answer Written Anno 1621. By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. A brief and well intended Answer of the Authour concerning his Book AVRORA against the enimicitions Pasquil or Libel in respect of some opposed and falsly recited Articles or Conclusions and ill-understood by this Libeller 1. INto what Calamity Misery Anxiety and great Perplexity we are plenged by the heavy fall of Adam is dayly demonstrated in that we have not only thereby obscured and darkened our Noble Image so that we cannot any more see or apprehend the Divine Light unlesse we become borne of God againe but also we have thereby awakened and made stirring in US the Originall fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature so that the fierce wrath venome and poyson thereof is become Springing up and burning in us 2. Which is rightly called GODS Anger-Fire which should not become stirring and Manifest but continue shut up in the Center for it should remaine shut up in the Love in the Divine Light and be only a cause of Life and Mobility 3. Which so long as it remaineth shut up in the Light is a Spring or Fountaine of Joy and Knowledge but if the Light Extinguisheth is an Evill Opposite Poyson wherein nothing qualifyeth or operateth but meere self Enmity or Hatred where instantly all Love and desire of Good hath an End 4. As we poor Children of Eve must now feele in us with great paine sorrow and Misery how that fierce wrath stirreth driveth and vexeth us so that now we no more converse one with another in Love as Children of God but very venomously spitefully hatefully murtheringly and enimicitiously doe maliciously persecute dispise slander and reproach also rob Murther and doe all manner of Evill and alwayes wish death fierce wrath and all Evill one to another 5. Which great Misery and Evill is sufficiently to be traced in this Libell and out of what manner of Mind knowledge and Will it is flowen forth in that he undertakes not only to Misconstrue the words but also to wrest the whole understanding into a false meaning or sense and to pronounce the Authour to be a Devill and in a very vaunting reproachfull spitefull Malicious and Odious manner likeneth the Authours Will or Intent thought or sence and mind to the Devill without any knowledge of him who he is how he is or what Spirit 's Child he is whether he seeks God or this World 6. Thus he takes upon him to infinuate his innate poyson into the Heart thought or sense and Will or intention of the Authour all which is very horrible lamentable and Miserable in that he knoweth not himself or from what Mind his Zeal proceeds and in whose driving he runneth 7. He cannot see that his whole writing is a meer venomons Pasquil or Libel and Evill meaning or intention for though that which is spoken is not reproveable by him yet he can not leave it unreproached whereby a man may cleerly see out of what Spirit and Mind it is flowen forth and how the miserable fierce wrath hath ruled in him and yet he dares set in his Title that it is Christian-like and well intended 8. But if he would set any thing better in the room of it it might indeed be born with But I can find in all his Writing no Divine Knowledge and Light which yet he highly boasteth of as if he had an enlightened Mind and Thoughts and were Exercised therein 9. An Enlightened Mind or thoughts if the Light be from God proceedeth friendly and lovingly and instructeth a Man what he should Doe and leave undone it owneth others in a brotherly Duty it hunteth not Mens Minds into the Jawes of the Devill but they are Gentle in reproving and teaching with Good instruction They reprove in Generally they catch not hold of a Man Privately particularly and Singly and make not a Den of Theevery or Murther by the Good Way side 10. An Enlightened Mind which hath Exercised Thoughts as the Libeller would seem to have knoweth the Gifts of God that they are without End or Number that God Leadeth his Children Wonderfully and giveth to one a Divers gift to Expresse than to another as the Apostle also witnesseth the same 11. That God giveth to one from the gift of his Spirit to do Miracles or Wonders to another to interpret Tongues to a Third to Prophesie to a Fourth to speak with Tongues c. and all from the One only Spirit of God which thus speaketh from the Great Wonders of the eternall Wisdome of God and thus Driveth and teacheth the Children of God that the unmeasurable Wisdome of God may appear in his Children 12. If the Spirit of God ruleth in a Man then he is NOT Crafty suttle Deceitfull trecherous Lying astonishing ambitious but reproveable teachable and Meek he is not thorney prickley Misconstruing and vainly frivolous he suddenly apprehends what is in a Man and from what Spirit he Speaketh For the Spirit of God it self knoweth it self very well in a Man it needeth no Witnesse it tryeth the Heart and the Reins Soul and Body it speaketh the Truth and disgraceth or reproacheth no man it drives on all to that which is good and proveketh Men to Righteousnesse 13. But this whole Libell or Pasquil is nothing Else but a Misconstruing poysoning and disgracing he draweth the Scripture by the hair of the Head and corrupteth it that he may but take occasion to prick with Thorns besides he hath no right understanding of the Scripture that must serve him as he will have it meane that he may therewith satisfie his fierce wrath and bring it as fuell to his ficrce Fire that it may burn farre and neere and so make shew of his Deep knowledge though he should thereby tread his Brother Abel under his feet 14. And yet his knowledge which he hath here brought forth to the Day Light Concerning GODS Will is as to one part in Bibell and he largely buildeth the Babylonish Tower therewith as it shall be set before his eyes which for my part I doe unwillingly but now necessity requires I must doe it 15. Not for my own sake but for the sake of those whom he hath kindled with his envious fire and poysoned and hath insinuated into them very Erroneous Opinions especially concerning Gods Election of Grace therefore it behoveth me to cleere my meaning how I have apprehended it in Divine knowledge and how also it
is the True Ground and Apostolick Foundation 16. His reproaching and contempt giveth me and My Conscience no stumbling block but it rejoyceth me that I shall suffer reproach and contempt for the sake of the Deare Name of JESUS CHRIST and I account it as sent from God and an Exercise of Faith 17. For our Saviour CHRIST left us this at last that when they would persecute contemne despise reproach us and speak all manner of Evill of us for his Name sake if it be false that we should then rejoyce and be glad For if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub what will they may they not doe concerning them of his Houshold the Disciple is not better then his Master 18. In Persecution the Crosse and Tribulation we shall Enter into the Kingdome of God The Crosse Driveth us on to Consider that we should continually Cruefie our Corrupt perished Man and give our selves up continually into the Love of God in Christ that the New Man in us may arise grow and Live in God 19. Also I Desire not to rage against the Writer of this Libel or to contemne him but to answer for my self against his Malicious charge against me for he treateth therein against God and the Love of our Neighbour also against his own Conscience in that he layes to my charge and falsly wresteth my Writings which he himself doth not understand therefore he judgeth his own Heart seeing he knoweth nothing of me and yet pronounceth me a Devill 20. Surely that I should write concerning my self as if I were a Great Master of the Scriptures or Arts and Sciences of the Schools or Universities of this World that is NOT so I am a poor simple Man and have my Skill and high knowledg not from Art or from Reason neither have I sought so Great Art but from my Youth up have sought only the salvation of my Soul how I might inherit and possesse the Kingdome of God 21. But after I found in me a powerfull Opposition viz. the Driving in Flesh and Bloud and the Mighty strife between the Womans and the Serpents Seed I then once set my self so hard in strife against the Serpents Seed and my own Corrupt Nature yet through the assistance of God that I supposed I should overcome and break that innate evill Will and Inclination and unite my self to the Love of God in Christ to hide my self in the Heart or Bosome of God from the terrible Tempest of the Anger of God and the fierce wrath of the Devill that Gods Spirit might rule Drive and Lead me 22. I purposed to keep my self as Dead in my innate forme and Condition till the Spirit gat a form in me and that I laid hold on him that I might lead my Life through and in Him 23. Also I purposed to Will nothing but what I apprehended in his Will and Light he should be my Will and Deed which indeed was not possible for me to Doe and yet I stood in the Earnest purpose and resolution and in very earnest strife and Battle against my self 24. And what thereupon came to pass none may well know but God and my ownsoul for I would rather lose my Life then Depart from that 25. Thus I wrestled in Gods assistance a good space of Time for the victorious Garland or Crowne of Victory which I afterwards with the breaking open of the Gate of the Deep in the Center of Nature attained with very great Joy whereupon in my soul a Wonderfull Light Sprung up which was strange to the wild Nature 26. Wherein I first apprehended what God and Man was and what God had to Doe with Man Which I never understood before neither did seek in such a way but as a Child that hangeth to its Mother and longeth after her so did my soul after this Light but with no knowledge beforehand what should or would come to passe but as as a simple Child 27. I little understood the high Articles of Faith before only after the Manner of poor Lay people much lesse Did I understand Nature till the Light in the eternall Nature began to shine to me whence I became so very much Delighted and ravished that I began and would needs write downe my knowledge for a Memoriall 28. For the Spirit picrced through and through like Lightning and saw into the Ground of the Eternity or as a Tempest passeth on what it Driveth that it Driveth so it went in me I began to write as a Child at Schoole and I wrote thus in my apprehension and zealous Driving continually on and on and only for my self 29. I supposed all my life Long not to be knowne thereby to any Man but minded to keep it by me all my Life long for a Memoriall though indeed it was continually given to me to write of Things to Come as if it were for Many as if it were a work laid upon me which I must undergoe 30. I found mightile the will of the New kindled Light-spirit but my soul was to it and in it as a Child without understanding It went thus into its Mothers Garden of Roses and Did as a Servant in Obedience and all was given me after a Magicall Manner to set it Down in Paper 31. For I wrote only my Mind sense or Thoughts as I understood in the Deep and made no Exposition upon it for I supposed not that it should come to be read by other I would keep it for my self else if I had knowne that it should have been read abroad I would have written more clearly 32. Also the Labour of my Spirit in it and with it was a continuall Exercise wherein my soul Dived the longer the deeper into the Mystery of the Eternall Nature as a Schollar which goeth to School and strenuously execiseth himself 33. For the Spirit of the Light loved my Soul exceedingly as the impartiall Reader will see therein how the Spirit hath exercised it self and repeated many things very often and ever Deeper and Cleerer from one step to another it was the right Jacobs Ladder upon which my soul climbed up through Gods Will whom it also pleased so to exercise me and to bring me into the Heavenly School into the Holy Ternary 34 Concerning which the Libeller knows Nothing as his reproachfull writings testifie that he understandeth nothing therein but writeth like a History from the School of this World which I leave to its owne worth but he boasteth unjustly of Enlightened Eyes seeing he useth them for a reproach against the Children of God 35. Now this is THAT Book which I wrote in my Childhood when I was but an A. B. C. Schollar which the Libeller takes upon him to Judge But it was taken away from me by Satans Suttlety who thought to make merry with it so that I knew not of it in Three Years where it was I supposed it was quite gone a great while before 36. Moreover I was bereaved