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A28524 The first apologie to Balthazar Tylcken being an answer of the authour concerning his book the Aurora, opposed by an enemicitious pasquil or opprobrious libel, this answer written anno 1621 / by Jacob Behme, also called Teutonicus Philosophus ; Englished by John Sparrow.; Erste Schutz-Schrift wieder Balthasar Tilken. English Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665? 1661 (1661) Wing B3406; ESTC R14771 88,477 106

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The Reminder of Books written BY Jacob Behme viz. I. The First Apologie to Balthazar Tylcken for the AVRORA written Anno 1621. II. The Second Apologie in Answer to Balthazar Tylcken for Predestination And the Incarnation and Person of CHRIST and of the Virgin MARY Dated 3. July 1621. III. The Fouer Complexions written in March 1621. IV. The Considerations upon Esaiah Stiefel's Booke concerning The Threefold State of Man and the New 〈◊〉 Dated 8. April 1621. V. The Apologie in Answer to Esaiah Stiefel Concerning Perfection Dated 6. April 1622. VI. The Apologie in Answer to Gregory Rickter Primate of Gerlitz for the way to Christ c. 10. April 1624. VII Twenty five Epistles more then the 35. formerly Printed in English with 2. as prefaces before other of his Bookes the last of those heere printed is Dated 23. May 1624. 5 more after without Date which make 62. in all also 1. Epistle more of his own hand writing and 1. of Dr. Charles Weisners relating much of J. B's Life Englished BY JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert at the Sign of the Black Spread Eagle at the West End of St. Pauls 1662. The Englishers Preface to J. B's Apologies Courteous Reader IN the Life time of Jacob Behme some Learned Men there were of his own Country that highly prized and Esteemed his writings though others Judged and found fault with them to whom the Authour in his Answers hath clcerly made it appeare they have NOT understood his Meaning but injuriously made their own mistaken Sence the Ground of their Censure it is no wonder therefore that among us of another Language who have but a Translation wherein much of the accuratenes●● and apt expression of an Author is lost that men here also finde such fault with them as they doe but if it be examined their want of the true apprehension of them will be known to have caused that negligent and heedless Opinion that his writings are not to be understood yet it hath proceeded so farre that those who think they apprehend his Deepe Matter are suspected by some Academick wits to be but miss-led into such a conceit But those Eminent persons his countryMen and adversaries have not once charged him with writing things not Intelligible though indeed themselves have not rightly perceived the Authors meaning as is apparent in these FOUR Bookes of Apologie or Defence in answer to the few objections to some things contained in that Doctrine set down at Large in the Treatises of his Sublime Mysteries if they be read and weighed in the Balance of Due Consideration The FIRST Apologie was an Answer to Balthasar Tylcken who wrote a treatise against severall Clauses in the Aurora concerning the knowledge of God in and by Nature whereas though God in himself be totally Incomprehensible and unmanifested in his Abysse yet Nature is his Manifestation or Revelation for if his Omnipotent power did not shew it self by making it self discernable it would never be known but remaine hidden Eternally and indeed all the effects which we perceive to be wrought and produced at anytime in sensible things are brought to passe by the same Powers that have and doe and will work from Eternity to Eternity perceptibly in GOD. All that is in GOD is only Goodness his very wrath is his Fire and the cause of his Light and Glory in himself and therein is most just and Good also for the punishment of the perversness of his Creatures whom he made like himself very Good and gave them power to Continue so but they being Creatures were made out of Darkness and being Created and brought into the Light could and did love themselves and all Creatures without the Light or that loose the Light are but Darkness and by that meanes Exalted their Darkness above the Light in them which is truly Selfe-Love and the roote or spring of all Evill which God cannot DOE nor BE but that we might be able to get out of the perdition we are fallen into God in his infinite Love and Mercy to all men in and from Adam and Eve they two being one Flesh hath given in the Light of their Life the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of Christ his Sonne the Seede of the woman the Promised word the word of Faith in our Hearts which in US hath Power to overcome all the works of Darkness and to bring us to his marvelous Light the Light of Eternall Life which also teacheth us to deny our selves and all ungodly Lusts of the Flesh to take up our Crosse with Patience and so follow or imitate Christ in Newness of Life and inward hearty Holiness of Conversation God indeed Cannot deny himself because his Darkness that is his wrath is alwayes subservient to his Light and Love which Eternally is his Life and cannot be otherwise but WE must Deny our selves and then our Darkness will give it self up into the Light also in us If we follow or be like his Light we are Children of the Light which ruleth in us and if we live according to his Darkness we are Children of Wrath and at length if we convert not shall be confirmed Children of Perdition All that have the dispositions or qualities inwardly or Outwardly of Love and Gentleness Kindness lowliness or humility sincerity Truth righteousness vertue honesty chastity temperance purity and Holiness are undeniably GOOD On the Contrary the wrathfull fierce Envious proud surly churlish wanton vaine stubborne obstinate crafty false Lyars injurious intemperate violent are accounted bad or EVILL and they are so indeed now that which is Evill cannot be like Gods Love but here is the generall mistake all Men consist both of an Outward and Inward Man that which the outward Esteemes Good is so as it is a similitude of that which is inwardly Good but since the outward Man which is framed of the Earth hath gotten the Predominancy in the Fall of Adam who thereupon dyed to the Inward Man that which most pleaseth the outward doth make it the more strong and rebellious against the power of the Inward and so by outward Good things not knowing how to use them by little and little destroyeth the Inward and therefore God in his Bowells of Compassion sends us that which is fittest for us to the weakening or dayly Killing and slaying of our Outward Man by tribulations afflictions Crosses and Contradictions or oppositions from others for the making us Conformable to the Image of CHRIST who was Tempted persecuted and afflicted and as the Apostle says he that will live Godly in this world must suffer Persecution this measure our Authour had from some as is manifest by their Objections and striving to bring his marvelous Gifts into dislike with those that knew not but the Censures cast upon him were right thereupon for the vindication of the Truth and for the sakes of those that were but beginners in the ways of Christ he then answered to the things that were laid to
formes for as the Genetrix is so is also the will-spirit out of the Genetrix 193. Thus understand also concerning Mans Soule which is also a Magick-fire-source or quality out of the Eternall Center out of the Eternall Nature for after God created the body out of the Substantiality then he introduced the Spirit out of all the Three Principles thereinto He should be a similitude and Image of God understand according to and out of all the Three Worlds viz out of the Eternall Fires Nature and out of the Lights Nature and then out of this outward worlds Nature wherein the outward Man liveth 194. For God breathed into him the Living Breath and then Man became a living soul Now what can God breath other out of himself then himself for God is the substance of all substances but all is not called or known to be God He calleth himself a GOD only according to his Heart according to the property of the Light world viz according to the Love and Meeknesse according to the second Principle 195. God breathed into the Created Image the Spirit out of all the Three Worlds viz that is to say Himself viz the Eternall beginninglesse Magick fire-source or quality out of all formes of the Eternall Nature that is the first Principle and it is the property of the Father who according to Nature calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire 196. And then the Center of the Light as a Sparkle out of his Heart out of which the Divine Will goeth forth which appropriateth or uniteth it self to God againe and Imagineth according to its Mother viz according to Gods Love and Meeknesse That is the Second Principle wherein the Angelicall world consisteth 197. And Thirdly the Spirit-Aire with the Spirit of this outward world out of the Starres and Elements viz the Third Principle Thus Man became an Entire Totall Image according to God out of all the Three Worlds An Image of God wherein God dwelleth wherein God beheld found and manifested or revealed himself 198. Now the Eternall Word was his Law of his spirituall Nature that this introduced and in-breathed spirit of Man should introduce its Imagination into no other source or quality but only into Gods Love and Meeknesse It should eate only of the Divine Substantiality and drink the water of the Eternall Life and then its Body had Continued Paradisicall 199. The Body had paradisicall fruit to Eate which grew for it IN all fruits The outward Body of this world was in the source or quality of the Light world as it were swallowed up and yet it was there As the Light swalloweth up the Darknesse and holdeth it captive in it self and yet the Darknesse remaineth but in the Light is not Manifested 200. So also should the outward 〈◊〉 of this world as also the inward source or quality of the Fire out of the first Principle stand hidden in the Paradisicall Substantiality and source or quality and Man should bring his life and will into the Paradisicall source or quality 201. He should set or put his Spirits Imagination into the Heart of God viz into the Lights Center and then had the Soul continually eaten of the Lights Substantiality understand the soulish Fire had conceived or received the divine source or quality into it self and had burned forth in the divine source or quality viz in Love and Meeknesse 202. Through that burning or Life would the divine Substance have been introduced into the outward Body viz heavenly Fesh and the Holy Body would have stood in the Tincture of the second Principle and the outward Dominion of the Outward World would have stood hidden in the Inward World and have been manifested in the Outward 203. Such a Body also was created in the Beginning viz out of the inward Substantiality of the pure Element which is manifested in Paradise and an outward Body of or from the Foure Elements which stood manifested in the outward World but the inward should leade the Dominion and hold the outward as it were swallowed up as the Light doth the Darknesse 204. Understand each Principle should stand free and barely in it self and set or put its Imagination or Desire into God and then would Gods light have filled all in All and the Earnest severe Fire-source or quality of the first Principle viz the Eternall Nature of the Dark World as also the outward Nature and source or quality of the Starres and Elements would not have been manifested 205. Man would have lived in the Divine Love source or quality and would have continued Immortall and incorruptible no sicknesse neither want necessity nor Death would have touched him 206. Therefore now if such a desire is to be in Man out of which the Will-Spirit should barely be inclined or directed into God then must Divine Substantiality needs be in the Souls Fire out of which such a Will-Spirit might exist 207. For out of no Earthly source or quality nor out of the Dark Worlds source or quality doth any divine desire exist Earthlinesse knoweth nothing of God also the Dark World hath no Divine Love or Desire in it self 208. Whereby we know that we according to the second Principle viz according to the Paradisicall Angelicall World have had flesh and bloud out of the heavenly Essence and Substantiality which was the right Body of the Soul and therein stood the Image of Heaven 209. And the Spirit 〈◊〉 the Magick-Fire of the Soul which shined in the power of the 〈◊〉 was the true similitude of God according to the Trinity of GOD the Image wherein God dwelleth and wherewith God manifesteth himselfe For that very Spirit is like all Angells in Substance and Beeing of which Christ faith Math. 22. 30. That in the Resurrection they are like the Angells of God 210. When God had created Adam he then stood in the Paradisicall World viz in the Image of God but God knowing how he with his Noble Jewell between the Inward Dark World and then also the outward Elementary World stood fast bound to BOTH therefore he gave to the Souls Nature the Law and Cormandment and said Thou shalt not eate of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill for on what Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the Death that is dye away from the Divine World and in THEE will the Dark World and then also the Outward world become manifested and get the Dominion in THEE 211. As also then it was so done when Adam began and set or put his Desire and Imagination into the Outward World then the souls fire did Eat of the forbidden Fruit and brought the Earthly source or quality and the substantiality of this World into his Noble Image into the Paradisicall Angelicall World 212. He brought the earthly source or quality and substance into the Pure Elementary Flesh which was created out of the Divine substantiality so his light extinguished that is he went with his will-spirit
is the Seperation between Gods Name and Natures Name also between the Love-source or quality and the Naturall fierce wraths source or quality 495. In the Fire exist Two Principles viz Two Magia's Two desirous Wills viz the Lights and the Fires 496. The Light is a desire of Love Meeknesse and Substantiality and that is in the Eternity called God The Light is the Majesty the Lights desire is the Other or second Center or the Heart of God the Substantiality is Gods Substance it is the Water source or quality or the Spirit of the Eternall Joys Life 497. And the Fire maketh in the Water-source or quality the Tincture or Life so that Gods Substantiality is a Life That very Lights Substantiality is the Words or Hearts Cerporeity wherein the Great Mystery of the Will of the Abysse viz the Wisdome becometh Manifest 498. And the Fire is another Principle then the Light it hath a fierce wrathfull stinging consuming Desire climing up in Might and Pomp it willeth to consume and swallow up all into it self it is a cause of the Covetousnesse its Bitternesse is a Cause of the Envy for it is the sting of Death and Anger 499. And here goe back into the Formes to Fire and then thou wilt find the Dark World and the hellish fierce Wrath and in the Fire GODS Anger which the Light viz his Heart holdeth captive in the Love-Source or Quality and allayeth or meekeneth the Fires fierce-Wrath 500. For the Water of the Eternall Life generated or born out of the Meeknesse viz Gods Substantiality maketh out of the Divine Fire-source or quality another source or quality viz the climibing up of the Divine Joys Kingdome The Fire-source or quality must only be a cause of the Life and of the Light as also of the Spirit and of the Joys Kingdome 501. And heare the Name God severeth it self in the Trinity viz In the First Center to Nature viz the Eternall Will of the Fiat which in the Fire is a sterne severe zealous Substance and in the Light the cause of the Joys Kingdome and of the Spirit of Life That is the Father of all Substances also of his Sonnes viz of the second Centers of the Love-desires 502. And The Other or second Center of the power of the Light is his Sonne or Heart and maketh in himself and in the Father the Second Principle viz the Angelicall World that is our right Fathers or Native Country which Christ brought into US againe 503. And The Spirit going forth from the Fire in the Light is the Third Person in the Light in the Love and the Joy-source or quality He is called God the Holy Spirit understand according to the Sonnes Center and according to the Fires Center he is called The Anger-Spirit of the Father 504. In the Dark World HE is the Life of the Hellish source or quality out of all Formes to Nature In the Fire HE is the Flame of the fierce wrathfull Anger of God the Father and in the Light HE is the flame of the Great Love of God He is the right Life of God and is also the Life of all the Three Principles of all the Three Worlds in each World according to its property and is only knowne or acknowledged and rightly called God the Holy Spirit according to the Love viz according to property of the Sonne of God Else he is called the Spirit of the Nature of all things or Substances 505. Seeing we here goe so deep we will therefore shew you somewhat more out of true Love and not out of a Desire so totally to reproach you because of your unskilfulnesse or ignorance for we know you better then you do your selfe and though we are zealous over you yet it should be understood heartily as a reproofe of your high climbed stately proud Will over the Spirit of God from which I have my knowledge 506. Consider of the Principle of Fire and see how the Dead ariseth and how he dieth Behold the Fire is a great hungry desire after Substance and if it cannot have that then it extinguisheth 507. Here consider the Great desire of the Father after the Sonne viz. of the first Principle after the second how the Father thus in great desire loveth the Sonne for he is his life else were the Fathers Life a dry fainting hunger like the Devills and the Dark World for the Fire burneth not without the Substance of the Water-Spirit 508. Here consider what befell the Devill when he lost Gods Love and Meeknesse then he remained to be a dry hunger in the fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature thus it goeth also with the Soul of Man for they originate all alike out of the Eternall Nature 509. Now see further what in the Center of the Fire is the Possibility and Substance you understand now that the fierce wrathfull Fire-source must have Substance and that the Fire-source or quality it self longeth after Substance and if the Fire get the Substance or the Substantiality of the Water-source or quality into it self then the Fire consumeth that Substantiality and then is the dying of the Substantiality for the Substantiality goeth againe into the Still Eternity without besides or beyond Nature viz into the Nothing 510. And you see rightly that yet there is no Dying but the Light goeth forth out of that very Death out of the Consumtibility forth and the Light is then first the power of the understanding and of the Thoughts or Senses Thus Death ariseth out of the Fire-Life viz into another World viz into the Eternall Nothing into the Liberty without besides or beyond Nature 511. And you see now that the Light dwelleth in the Fire without Source Quality or Torment and knoweth nothing of the fierce wrath of the Fire for it is in its Essence a Love Desire Thus have I written that the Deity viz. Gods Center knew nothing of the fall of the fierce wrathfull Devills but the first Principle know it viz the Father according to the Fires Nature and according to the Desire and according to the hunger in the Dark world 512. Here consider beloved Men and brethren in Christ what the suffering and dying of CHRIST as also OUR Dying is How our Soul must in Christs Death be introduced into the Center of the Hell of Gods Anger into the Principle of Gods Fire and go quite through the source or quality of the consumptibility into the other World viz into the Liberty into the Center of the Love of God 513. For Adam's Soul had turned it self out and was Dead to the Light in the Substantiality and therefore the second Adam brought the Soul againe into the Fire viz into Gods Anger-source or quality and kindled the Light againe in Death and there the Light shone againe in the Darknesse That was Death to Death and a Pestilence to the Anger viz to Hell 514. The Soul was gone forth out of the Liberty of God into the Nature of this World viz
like a Beast and is not the Noble Image which is saded and disappeared in Death which is created out of heavenly substantiality 578. But that thou wilt not allow me this that in Man understand in the Third Principle a humane Image according to the Angelicall World out of the Heavenly substantiality hath stood in the Inward yet I say that Gods Spirit that in the Second Principle goeth forth out of the First viz out of the Souls Fire of the Father into the Second out of the Love and Light Fire into the Sonne was never at all without substance for it is the Driver forth of the Divine power and substantiality 579. Hath now the Light and Spirit of God been in Man viz in Adam then also hath Gods substantiality been therein For no Fire burneth in Gods Love unlesse it have DIVINE substantiality 580. Therefore saith Christ Whosoever eateth NOT the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no part in HIM He understandeth the Corporeity of his unmeasurable Eternall Divine Substantiality in the Water of the Eternall Life and in the Tincture of the Power out of the Fire and Light in the Glance or Lustre of the Divine Wisdome out of the Words Body 581. Now if Adam hath been a totall sumilitude according to God then he must not only have had Earthly Substance for his Body if the Soul had had only Earthly source or quality to Eat then it had not had the prohibition but it had also the Corporeity of the Second Principle out of the Heavenly Substantiality that was the right Angelicall Image which became created in the Fiat of the Word 582. But the Outward Fiat according to the Outward Principle Created the Outward Man and God the Holy Spirit breathed himself thereinto according to the source or quality and property of all the Three Principles into the outward Image according to its outward Property viz the Spirit of the Great World Majoris Mundi of the outward World and the Angelicall Divine World according to the Love of Gods Heart and according to the Eternall Nature viz according to the Fire-World viz according to the Fathers Property the right Soulish viz the Center of the whole Man 583. In Brief what is it that Men should make many words Man was a Totall similitude according to God according to all the Three Worlds and their Properties and that he must be againe or must be a hunger-Spirit in the Dark World 584. What he maketh of himself that he is He standeth here in the Field or Soyle either there groweth out of him an Herb on Gods Table or an Herb in Gods fierce Wrath what kind of Essence so ever he will bring in the growing according to the relish of that it will also get a Mouth for it will eat either of the Love or of the Anger 585. The matter is not about the high knowledge only but about the tast or relish that any becometh the Bread of God which God Eateth It lyeth little in the knowing but all in the DOING it must be DOING the Evill Branches must be Cut off that good Wine may grow 586. We should not judge and condemn one another for the knowledge sake The Plow-Man knoweth lesse then the Doctor but he goeth many times before the Doctor into the kingdome of Heaven let us fall upon DOING that we may get Divine Essence into our Sprout let us reach after the LOVE and then we have ALL. 587. MY high Knowledge maketh me not happy or saved for I know not my self it is not Mine but Gods Spirit knoweth it self in ME he allures Me therewith to himself when he departeth or withdraweth then I know Nothing 588. I have not my knowledge at all from Man why should I then long contend with Man about it no Man can either give it me or take it away from me 589. I deal foolishly in that I Strive with thee for thou canst take nothing from me but it is done for the sake of other people which through thy Mouth abuse my knowledge else I would for thy Cursings and Judgings not lift up a Finger 590. Thou shoudst Converse in Love as a Christian if thou wouldst be Gods childe but if thou Judgest thy brother into Hell-Fire for the sake of his Gift what will become of thee how doest thou know what is befallen him that he runneth on thus How dost thou know upon what Branch or Roote God hath ingrasted him Thou wert not at all by when he did sow the Spirit of his Wisdome 591. You say it is from the Devill and there was Joy in Heaven in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary especially in the Fathers Nature when this Seed was sowne I would NOT give the little Graine that was sowen into me for all this worlds good It is more deare to me than Heaven and Earth and thou treadest it underfoote do but see what manner of Angel thou art 592. Thou writest much and if thou shouldst goe with thy writings to the Center there would be no body at home thou gatherest many Texts of Scripture together which in themselves are GOOD that thou mightst settle a framed Opinion concerning that thou knowest no Ground for 593. Thou canst not bring the Opinion into the Center and then bring it out againe there is no Spirit of Depth in thee but collected Matter from others Mouthes and thy own Mouth understandeth it not 594. But I write what I my self understand and what I can bring into the Ground of the Center 595. Art thou a Master then shew thy self one give me a writing concerning the Center of the Eternall and also of the outward Nature let it be seen what thou canst do prove it in the Light of Nature and not from a strange Mouth Speak from your own knowledge and then I will Answer thee 566. Let thy contemining alone and do thou direct it to the honour of God and make if serve the profit and salvation of Man that it may be a Sprour upon Gods Table and I will Answer thee that thou wilt Wonder and if thou meanest piously wilt highly rejoyce thou wouldst neither seek nor find any Devill in Me. 597. There is a great earnestnesse in me to seek my Eternall kingdome in God God hath not promised me a Scorpion instead of an Egge he would not give me to the Devill when I prayed so earnestly to him for his Holy Spirit 598. The Devill sets not upon a Man a spirituall high Triumphant Crowne or Garland of Victory in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary when a Man Fights against him He hath none of THAT which hath been done to this Spirit which thou callest a Devill and whence its knowledge proceeded 599. I write not for my own Fame which is in God but to Teach Men what they may expect from God if they will but come to the Ring or Lists of this Earnest Fight unlesse the outward voluptuousnesse in soft pleasure of the Flesh
the Father of the House Beelzebub what will they doe to those of his Houshold faith Christ When they persecute you and hate you for my Names sake then doe you rejoyce for great is your Reward in the Kingdome of Heaven 620. Men say an Enemies Mouth never speaks Good there is nothing so Evill but some men make it worse My Book is not Evill it meddles with none only thou makest it Evill thou expoundest it in an Evill sence and my sence was right and Good when I made it 621. Thou fayest there is an evill spirit in me if there were a good spirit in thee then thou wouldst make the Evill to be Good and wouldst not pervert all 622. Gods Spirit seeketh only Good he contends with none he Loveth Man and where he is in a Man there he driveth on to Love and Humility towards his Neighbour he Teacheth and instructeth Gently and Meekly he lifts not up the Horns also he comes not with Thunder and Ligntning as the Anger in the Fathers Nature upon Mount Sinai and with Elias did but with a still meek Voyce as at the day of Pentecost 623. God hath in Christ regenerated us in the Love not in his fires property that we should meet together one with another with a Modest and amiable condiscention and behaviour in a friendly Will and intention and heartily admonish one another as brethren 624. We should help up the weak and erroneous and friendly instruct them in the way and not from the narrow path plunge them into the Water or else cast them into Gods Anger in Hell-fire as the Libeller doth where he saith Hell Fire is thine 625. Christ saith Whosoever saith unto his Brother thou Fool he is guilty of Hell Fire or Raiha he is guilty of a Councill what is he worthy or guilty of who calleth his Brother a Devill and judgeth or condemneth him to Hell fire O Man Consider thy self convert from such uncouth Paths 626. We have indeed here is this valley of Misery before hand in the way of our Pilgrimage a very small narrow Bridge into Gods Kingdome why should we our selves first throw one another down doth one goe astray then let the other shew him the way let us deal one by another as Brethren 627. We all are born blind now then if sight be afforded us of Grace why then doth not one Brother afford Eyes to the Other Every one seeth as God hath favourably afforded him according as sight is given to him why will one brother hate the other for the sake of that because he knoweth not what the Lord hath given to him 628. O how Miserable is this Time of Ours how the Devill hunteth for us with Snares and Nets so that one Brother reproacheth dispiseth contemneth and slayeth the Other that he may captivate us in Gods Anger How doth he not afford us the high honour which he had but lost it with Pride 629. Dear Brethren beware of Pride especially those that are generated out of much Learning Knowledge it is the Pride of Reason and it is Mans worst Enemy it hath set up nothing but Wars and contemning of others 630. Syrach saith The higher thou art the humblyer behave thy self Pride goeth before a Fall Our Reason-knowledge is folly if Gods Spirit in us kindle not the knowledge if I knew all Scriptures outwardly and had not the Spirit of understanding what were my knowledge other then a Conceit 631. That is not Divine knowledge that any confirm an Opinion with many Texts of Scripture collected and put together for every Text hath its proper understanding in the place it standeth according to the Matter treated of oftentimes it signifieth much otherwise then the purpose it is drawn by one for to HIS Opinion 632. The Right knowledge standeth in this where any will Judge there his knowledge in him should be confirmed from the Spirit of God it must goe forth from the Center and not from a strange Mouth 633. Or dost thou suppose that Gods Spirit hath ceased to speak or that it is Dead so that the Spirit which moveth in Gods seeing dare not say any more Thus saith the Lord. 634. The Spirit sheweth it what it should speak only it bewares and defends it self from the intermixture of the Spirit of this World and from the Imagination of the Devill that the right humane will spirit which goeth forth out of the souls fire into the Light be not infected with its Malignity or Curse 635. There is no better Medicine or Antidote then the Desire of Love and the Humility so long as it goeth on and judgeth in Love and Humility in the seeing of the Divine Power so long is his Word GODS WORD for it is approved by the Spirit of God it goeth upon the wings of the Wind in the pure humane will-spirit as David saith The Lord Rideth upon the Wings of the Wind. 636. You find by no Prophet or Apostle that any hath spoken from anothers Mouth but from his own Gift somtime the Spirit hath brought in a Text and thereby cleered other Scriptures but the Maine Matter hath been set downe out of his own Spirit and Mouth 637. Who hath prohibited us that we should not dare to speak out of the Gifts of our Spirit but that we should only speak with a strange Mouth from our Spirit as the Libeller would have it 638. Who hath made a Law that a man should take away the Speech from the Spirit and change it into another Forme but even the Antichrist who hath set himself to be Lord over Gods Spirit and hath changed the Mouth of the holy Children into his Colour and Will 639. Indeed the High Apostles have not commanded it but they said Keep in Remembrance JESUS CHRIST who dyed for us and rose againe and did bid us Teach and Preach that they have barred up the Spirit of no Man or commanded his Tongue to be altogether changed into THEIR Words They have all of them indeed spoken together every one out of his own Tongue and yet out of ONE Spirit which was CHRISTS 640. We have still at this very Day the very SAME Spirit if so be we are born or generated out of HIM dare it not then now speak what is Necessary at this Time what is the Cause that the Center of the Holy Trinity Manifesteth or Revealeth it selfe even Mens Seeking their Desiring 641. Men strive now about the Person of Christ about Gods Election and Men raise Wars and reproaches about it and that Gods Love will have no more to be and he will rather manifest or reveale himself that Men should yet see what he doth and so goe out from strise about Gods Will into a right Apostolick life and no more contend about the knowledge as is done hitherto for a long time in Babel 642. But that now thus a simple Mouth must speak such great Things and NOT one highly Learned Ask