is that true Spiritual Life is revived or stirred up in us 18. The New Man regenerated out of the Earthy Man being a Virgin may Sup with the Eternal Virgin and as the Lord while in our Flesh had the heavenly Flesh and Blood which swallowed up the other So we in His Meek pure Spirit carry it also in our Earthy Body and if we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood in the Body Power and Vertue of Jesus Christ that is in the Son by the Holy Ghost to the Father Then when the old one falls off we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood and our Works are no longer ours nor our Words ours but God doth all in us 19 To this Man every with-drawing Thought from an entire Subjection is his Cross for to him Honour and Contempt Sweet and Bitter Penury and Plenty Heavy and Light are no more any of these for he loves not the one nor flyes from the other but the Divine Will is his Joy and Content the thing sought and his full satisfaction Q. 43. Why did God Create in the Beginning but one Man and not forthwith a Man and a Woman together as He did the other Kinds of Creatures or other Species A. 1. God created the other Creatures to manifest his various divided Powers that in them he might severally Image every of them by those wrathful fierce ones in the dark World the loving Innocent ones of the Light World's Property and others of the meer Elementary World and that the seeming contrary and discording Properties might in distinct Forms and Creatures one excite the other to a general Harmony whereunto they still serve 2. But Man He created to a higher and more excellent Sphere for he was in one only Person to comprise as in an Epitomy the Image of the total God having his Root in the Eternal dark World or that of Fire His Life Glory Vertue and Fruit in the Eternal Light-world or second Principle of Love and Holiness and the third Principle being that of the purest Astral and Elementary World was but to Hang to him over which he was to bear rule 3. Nor could he have been God's compleat Image had not the Tincture of the Fire and also of the Light been incorporated in him that is both the Male and Female Properties 4. Therefore was it that he was but One Undivided to Image God who is distinguished into Three yet is One and Eternally the same Infinite and in Himself the Undividable One 5. And as the One God remaining but One diffuseth Himself into Multiplicity so should Adam had he remained an Undivided one Magically have propagated a Blessed Holy Numerous Progeny in perfect Modesty and Purity yet bearing in them all every Power of the Principles and every Property in great Harmony as are found in the Angelical World as well as in the Astral and Elementary 6. But when once Adam had his Eve rent from him we see what Misery Distraction Laceration and Wo soon follow'd by disappearing of the pure Virgin Modesty Q. 44. Was the first Man in such a habit of Condition created to Eternal Life or to Change and Alteration A. 1. When Men search the wretchedness of fallen Man's present Estate it may seem incredible that ever he was a glorious and compleat Image of God and of all Worlds 2. As one seeing the Ruins of a Royal City which Sword and Fire hath laid in Ashes heap'd into Rubbish Desolation plead Prescription and Years have cloathed the Hillocks in Green especially if some Earthquake had razed the Situation the Beholder of these Remains though credibly inform'd can scarce credit that ever it deserved half what perhaps Fame too sparingly reported it to be 3. Thus Men looking on their own feeble sickly filthy short liv'd Boâies can see little more than a Bestial Image But farther penetrating the Deâârmities of the Soul at Hostility against even God Himself and torn by Civil War within it self and by means of God's withdrawing abused Grace it is invaded by gross Darkness Little more can be seen but what is devillish 4 But Glory be to God in the highest that Jesus took this fallen Image and led it through Death into Eternal Life The sad Prospect of what Man is joyned with the Ignorance of what he was raiseth the blind Conceit that he was created to Alteration 5. But to shew how Excellent Man was by Creation and that he was not subject to Alteration yet that I may shun Repetition do return my self to the Answers of the 38 39 40 and 41st Questions Only lot it be remembred that God denounceth as the Wages of Disobedience Alteration Death and Deprivation of the Paradisical Glory 6. And that the Alteration was Translation to a better Place must needs be an Error springing from our Ignorance of what Paradise is and what that staâe is I return my self to the Answer of the 42. Question Q. 45. What manner of Image was Adam before his Eve In what Form and Condition was he when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both A. 1. He was so made as to possess the Throne of expulsed Lucifer he was therefore an Image of God's Power as well as his Holiness which made him the Object of Lucifer's Malice 2. And forasmuch as Lucifer affected to lift up himself in that part of God's Image entrusted to him consisting of Potence and Mightiness to such excess as eclipsed his holy pure lustre Therefore to prevent it in Adam there was added to him the third Principle for it was Matter for some humble Contemplation But Lucifer not balanced therewith Imaged in himself a desire of Rule above the End or Limit of Creature Nature 3. Adam was also lower than Lucifer because the Subjects of this Monarchy were only potentially or virtually existent not actually produced And it is found that gradual access to exercise of Authority is less obnoxious to inordinate Practices than instantaneous Entrance upon Soveraignty His gracious Creator saw it safer for him to be raising of Fruit than at once to enjoy a reaped Crop 4. But he was Privileged above the Angelical Hierarchy that had left their Habitation being a more compleat Image of God than they having one Principle more intrusted to him 5. His Fall was into that third Principle which though the Holy World should be withdrawn from him yet was not that Principle sinfully Evil in it self but the first Principle excluding thence the Holy World is Evil in it self into which the Angels fell 6. The third Principle God annexed to Adam for knowing he would not remain faithful in the Virgin State that into it infinite Love and Goodness might enter to help him again which Jehovah Christ did by re-uniting the Eternal Divine Virginity to the Sick infected Humanity 7. And thus Tinctured the Humanity enkindling in it a true Heavenly spark of holy Fire which when our Humanity in Christ yields it self up into it is a Sacrifice turned into a Love
be considered that this was no Life separate from the Elementary Body but as well it as the Essences of the Soul remained unchanged That Henâch's Time and Ministration shall be within the Circle of Time signified by this that he lived just so many years as are days in one year It shall be in and under the six Forms of Nature not entring as such into the Sabbath as himself was the sixth Generation only excluding Adam who should so have generated The whole Essences of the first Principle and the whole Elementary Body of the third Principle remaining really such shall be throughly irradiated and penetrated by the second Holy Love Principle yet so secretly tho' absolutely as shall not be reached by the outward Eye 3. But in This Administration shall not be Henoch's Translation much less the change or mutation spoken of by the Apostle Paul but they tho' being in shall be yet unknown to the World 4. To the second part of the Question What is become of Henoch so also of Moses and Elias I readily confess to have an impulse and clearness to speak only of Henoch and Elias and concerning them Do answer they are no farther from us than the third Principle or Out-birth can be removed I speak not of Mathematical Distance but Metaphysically of Principles and tho' the Out-birth or Astral World in its divided depravity imageth Hell and Death blended with the Divine Powers yet in its due place it imageth the first and second Principles in sweet Harmony yet still is but an Image 5. Henoch was not transmuted or risen again but translated and hath the third Principle in or on him it is not as with the Saints raised at the period of the Sufferings of our Redeemer for it was with them then raised as it will be with us in the Resurrection It is not with him as with Christ risen and ascended but rather as with Christ when transfigured but not wholly so neither but he is in the Astral Man without the Turba a Substantial Image of the Spiritual World in the Heavenly Harmony 6. It is said of Henoch Gen. 5. 24. he was not which is expounded by the Holy Ghost Heb. 11. 5. he was not found so and no otherwise is it understood of him and Elias 7. They are not in highest Exaltation as those who having laid down their Astral Man and are raised receiving it again in the New Body or Christ's Heavenly Flesh and Blood in the One Holy Element the Divine Substance whereof the Astral World is the Spring and Image which Off-spring and Image Henoch and Elias retain tho' haply in the highest Glory the same Image is yet capable of 8. Therefore was Elias Ministration expected to return as it did once in John the Baptist and again his and Enoch's are yet to do For thus what the Lord Jesus saith of himself is in this state also a fixed Truth John 12. 24. Except a Corn of Wheat fall into the ground and die iâ remaineth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit Q. 87. What doth Noah's Flood for Sin typifie and point out A. It points out the Judgment of the Great Day 1. That shall be as the other was inevitable 2. That Day after many Warnings through all Ages shall yet come suddenly even as the Deluge after 100 years premonition came as a surprize 3. That Day shall hasten and be shorten'd even as the other was promised to be forborn 120 years came in the one hundredth year after 4. There shall be as safe a Deliverance to all the Children of the Faith of Noah by the Antitype of the Ark as was the Ark to Noah and those with him 5. The True Ark of the Covenant having the first second and third Principle composing and establishing one Eternal Power or Heavenly World is typified by the first second and third Stories of Noah's Ark. This World will be much less excusable than that was among a multitude of Instances producible in this that the Judgment to come is News to few nor hath been as appears by this that tho' in the first publishing the Gospel to the Gentiles many laughed at the News of the Resurrection yet find we none so doing at the Judgment to come Nevertheless how few enquire for the Ark whereas in the first World the Deluge could not be foreknown but by believing the one only Noah 1. It figures Fallen Man as followeth 1. It points out That by Man's departure from the Order wherein he was set his Out-birth over-mastered him as did those Waters overwhelm all 2. As Waters whereof some are sweet others bitter fresh salt stinking or poisonous make all one Flood so all the Properties when separate though various in themselves make up one uncleanness 3. It figures the Universality of Man's Apostacy leaving no Man nor any part of Man exempt from the general Confusion like that of the Flood Q. 88. What doth Noah's Drunkenness signifie by reason whereof he cursed his Son Ham A. 1. Noah represented Adam several ways particularly as he was the beginner of the Second World or Monarchy as Adam was of the First Again Record is made of the Names of but three Sons of Adam viz. Cain Abel and Seth whereof one viz Cain only bare the Image of the Apostacy Noah had also three Sons whereof Ham only bare the same Cursed Image 2. Adam Lusted after This Worlds Property thereby falling from his Divine Understanding Creating Gratifying or Living in the Sensual Image which is signified by Noah's Drunkenness which clouded his Holy Image and uncovered his Shame and Brutish Image which is so evident as needs no enlargement 3. Ham was cursed for he was the Figure of Introduced Bestiality whereunto the Curse was annexed This was That False Lust taking pleasure in Shameful Nakedness therefore of Ham came the filthy and more than beastly Sodomites and the vile brutish Cananites whom Joshuah destroyed 4. But Ham's admission into the Ark shews that the very Mocking-spirited men are noâ of purpose reprobated but Salvation is tendred them The farther Answer is referr'd to the 34th Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum c. Q. 89. What is the Tower of Babel and wherefore were the Speeches there altered A. 1. The Tower of Babel is Fallen Man's Confidence his Home and his Defence Yet is a mistake having no Foundation but one continued Cheat for whilst Adam stood in the Temperature he needed no Tower for himself in God was a strong Tower standing as the Image and in the Might of all the three Principles and Harmony of all the seven Properties 2. But when Man had run into the multiplicity of the divided Properties the Holy United Powers could no longer be imaged by him as a Branch cut off a Tree retains a little of the worser part but nothing of the vigour of the Tree He became a degenerate Plant and was like a City infested with Intestine Fatal Broils so
tâe Humane Soul as it was deriv'd from Mary was finite yet as he was conceived by the seminal substance of the Holy Ghost it was Infinite being wholly so united to the Infinity 7. Behold and sink down and drown thy self Oh my Soul in the sweet Ocean of this free Master piece of Matchless love see the heighth depth length and breadth Know what passeth knowledge Conception Comprehension Make thy Heart the Footstool of it thy Soul a Sacrifice to it thy Spirit the amazed Witness of it thy Mind and Thoughts the Waiters on it thy Tongue and Pen the Trumpet of it Let Heaven and Earth adore it let Time and Eternity record it let Hell and the Children of Pride tremble at it but let the humble Man and broken Bones Inherit Inhabit and Rejoice in it for ever Q. 128. Why did some convert and turn again when they saw what was done at the dying of Christ And the High-Priests not Why must they be blind and hardened as to this Work A. 1. By the High-Priests are meant him that was such and those Rulers of most Eminence assisting and concurring with him This Question is double viz. Why some did convert And why such as the High Priests c. did not That some did as the Centurion c. Matth. 27. â4 seeing that which was done feared greatly saying Truely this was the Son of God Luke 2â 47. 4â And Luke records That the Centurion and all the people seeing c. Glorified God and all the people smote their Breasts and departed 2. For their dark Centre was terrified the stirred by remorse and compassion with and unto so patient and innocent a Lamb and that stirring moving on by conviction to great grief sorrow and mourning begat love and the love enkindled the holy Light of the second Divine principle of which number it 's said Longinus was who with his Spear pierced the Lords blessed side 3. But in the High-Priests c. The dark Zeal had like Fire drunk up the meek Water of Tenderness and Compassion so that the Light could not enkindle but they remain'd a dark Fire For it is manifest they by their impetuous Lusting proud grasping for Grandeur and Rule and their griping after heaping up abundance of the outward principle had by Covetousness like greedy Dogs or Swine formed their very Souls according to the four Auguishes of the first dark Hellish Impression 4. As Antichrist also whose Forerunners and Antitype these were hath done and still doth Therefore to distinguish a resolv'd hardened Persecutor from the Creaturely Devils is thus to be done that the persecuting Man hath on him the Bestial part of the Out-birth for mitigation which is a Door through which it is possible Grace may enter unless the impardonable sin hath judicially wholly shut him up 5. But the mitigating third principle excepted viz. the worst part of it the Antichristian Spirited-Man having shut out the second principle the Evil Angels and he are in one and the self-same principle 6. It is also certain that the Antichrist sometimes call'd the Whore sometimes Babylon sometimes the Mystery of Iniquity and Man of Sin is as such incureable and irrecoverable for it is an Enmity against Love and Meekness The Art of Physick gives that Disease for Incureable which is grounded on the Constitution the Disease of Antichrist is such and therefore Incureable for he is compos'd of the Enmity of the four forms of the first principle and is Enmity in the Abstract against the Divine Kingdom of Humility Meekness Love Peace and Divine Light and Joy Q. 129. What was Christs going to Hell where he overcame Death and the Devil A. 1. Great is Mans Misery on Earth by reason of wilful blindness When we hear of Christs going to Hell or overcoming Death and the Devil there we blindly grope with our Conceits imagining in our Reason a local motion to a place far off But that it may be plainly told what Christs going to Hell was it must first be orderly said 1. What Hell is and where Which is referr'd to the 17th Answer the 19 20 21 22 23 verses 2. What the Conquering Captain Christ is that Vanquished all the Devils every where It is answered It was Christ as he had made himself a Creature for his Body as a Creature is the whole holy pure Element which comprizeth this whole World The holy Body hath Heavenly Flesh and Blood and Water of Eternal Life which feedeth the Faithful Soul at the Lords Table 2. Anâ tho' it comprizeth this World Heaven Paradise and the Angelical World yet is a Creature but such a Creature as can be every where in the Deity for unto this Creature of Heavenly substantiality hath the Almighty Son of God espoused himself as a Body to remain in Eternity as in the time the Sun doth unto the Moon as in his own Body In every part of which Body the Trinity is always manifest Objection 3. But this crosseth the received Divinity which assigns ubiquity to be the peculiar distinction of the Creator from the Creature Also an imposing upon the Senses that one Creature is at London and at Quinsay at the same moment of time a thing denied to be in the Sphere of an Angel whose Wings are only illustrations of his almost instantaneous local motion implying he cannot be in two places at once Answer 4. The least divisible Body requires place and space and magnitude is the uniting of two or more divisibles 1. My Foot is not where my Head is but I am where either of them is 2. If my Head only is in the Air my Body only in the Water my Feet only in the Earth under Water yet I am in every of these at once 3. My Hand is at the Heâm my Eye on the Star my Heart with my God then am I at once in two Worlds 4. Again my Elementary and Sensual Man is in pain my Siderial Man in care the unmortified properties of my Eternal first Principle or old Man or Root of the Soul in much stubbornness anxiety and frowardness my regenerate new Man or humble meekened Spirit is rejoicing under the Cross in hope of Eternal Blessedness Yet am I but one little poor Creature tho' I am at once in one Visible and three Invisible Worlds 5. Now tho' what the new Man sees or feels hath or hopes for meets with resistance in the unmortified part of the first principle or earthy Vessel yet is it not so in Divine Bodies of Angels or perfected Spirits Who all by prevalence of their consonance and uninterrupted holy will have their Heterogeneous parts swallow'd up by their lustrous Harmony 6. All these things penetrated and pondered shall our straitned Souls confine the Immense Heavenly Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ For his becoming Man or Incarnation wherein he assumed our darkened Souls uniting them with the Divine Virgin of Wisdom as one Creature in himself did not straâten lessen
debilitate or commit a Rape upon that Virginity which is the Tincture of the holy World according to which he was Begotten by the Holy Ghost but it exalted to the highest the assumed Soul 7. Nor was his uniting our frail Astral and Elementary and Sensual Man unto the holy pure Element any Impeachment to the holy Element which in the instant of the Virgin Maries Conception was like a Tincture blessedly put into our Body in him but it was as the first Resurrection to our impair'd divided sleepy impure mortal Man 8. For thus the Soul in the Virgin was taken into the Trinity and the Body in the holy Element which is every where present and evermore pure before God was made Lord in the Heavenly World 9. Yet is thâs whole Heavenly Man a Creature tho' the First-born of every Creature and is the Food of our Souls neither is this a confounding the Deity with the Humanity of Christ no more than the Apple is the Tree Or the living Vertue of the Sun in the whole deep is the Sun it self 10. This Virgin of Wisdom is the Image of God the Delight of God the Spouse of Jesus Christ and of so high descent as to be possessed by God in the beginning of his way c. Read Prov. 8. from the 1. to the 31. verse but yet is not God or the Infinite Almighty Deity Thus see we how Christ was on Earth and in Heaven as Son of Man or in his Heavenly Humanity at once and is so still and it is his Office to expel bind vanquish and chain all Devils every where and reign in the Throne of expulsed Lucifer to kill Death and take away the Sting for Hell cannot withstand him 11. This is demonstrated by the Operative Astrum particularly by the seven Regal Stars See we not how Saturn tho' most remote is equally potent in coagulating petrifving giving weight c. as in Lead Stones c. as if he were at the nearest distance Also how Mercury in Jupiter causeth Sensitives and Plants to sprout up tall c. And how Mars Influenceth Men and confines Plants checks Oaks to he crooked knotty dwarfy Shrubs And how calmly and sârenely Venus Influenceth every where how the Moon acts Bodies the Circulations and Fluxes of Blood and the Tides which some call the Pulse of that Element How also the Sun chearfully bears witness to himself All these do variousâ work through all the Creatures within their principle or as 't is term'd the Sphere of their activity all at once in all places of all kinds 12. And shall we straiten the sacred power of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy principle to narrower bounds than we can do the outward Sun which is his outside Image which at once dwells in all the Stars and whole deep in every Creature on and many under the Earth and in every piâe of Graâs 13. It is demonstrative in the four Elements the same Air fills all Cranies and with degrees of purity so doth it the deep as also the other three Elements in the Out-birth Only within or above the Firmament is another principle understood to be a holy Birth of which it were digressive to speak here 14. And shall we think the one holy pure Element the vertuous Eternal Mother of the more Impure Prophane and Mortal four Elements to have less vigor to operate in the holy principle as the Eternal living Body of Christ than they in the drowsy Travels of Mortality for Productions and Dissolutions 15. The like might be demonstrated by the outward principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury And how they operate in degrees of Purity according to their several Subjects And in a word it may be demonstrated in whole Nature and every Travel it hath But it 's better to be contemplated than exposed into many words Thus the Lords descending to Hell to overcome Death and all Devils is evident not to have been a going a great way off c. but what and how it was and is effected Q. 130. How did Christ 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. preach to the Spirits which in the time of Noah believed not A. 1. Truth hath found worse Entertainment than the Lords seamless Coat for some pretenders to it have rejected what other pretenders have wrested Thus as Maâs wickedness makes him unworthy so makes it him unable to hear the truth But tho' we are justly offended at the fictitious Purgatory which Covetousness prompts to tell of yet we must submit to God in his Word all which magnifieth his Mercy and Goodness 2. The Spirits mentioned by Peter were of those overthrown in the Deluge which tho' * one Interprets expresly against the Text to be the preaching before the Flood The Error and Vanity thereof will appear by the following Particulars 3. 1. This Preaching was to Spirits not to Men in the Flesh and certainly they that perished in that Flood were Men living and dying in the Flesh. 2. The Text takes notice there were of that World but few to wit eight Souls saved which hath a serious consideration like that of God to Jonah concerning Popuâous Nineâeâ 3 It is said Christ was put to death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and Preached It is not said that Spirit by which Christ was quickened went and preached but he that was put to death and quickened went and preached 4. The first World Imaged the first Principle and Reuben Jacob's First-born figured the first World And yet Reuben tho' otherwise sinful in a high degree was the only innocent of all Joseph's Brethren of the severity used against him which might open a Door to them viz. the first World figured for the second principle graciously inclineth to inlighten the first Reuben is also readiest to reflect on their sin against Joseph in their distress in Egypt for he was the first Worlds figure as Joseph was the Figure of Jesus Christ. 5. It was to Spirits in Prison not to Men at large Christ when quickened from the dead did Preach which the same Apostle explaining according to this meaning saith 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached to them that are dead not living 6. The Apostle saith he preached to Spirits which were but sometimes disobedient also telling us when viz. in the days of Noah while the Ark was preparing implying they were not disobedient at this time of preaching To this sence are referr'd the words of the Prophesie of Zechary Q. 131. What doth Christs rest in the Grave signifie that he must lye Forty Hours in the Grave In the 98th Answer concerning Moses being Forty days on the Mount is what may be the compleat Answer hereunto to which this is referr'd Q. 132. Why must Christs Grave be guarded with Watchers What doth that signifie that the High-Priests should resist or oppose Gods Power and Might and would keep Christ in
Light of the second Principle there is generated in us the pure Love of the third Principle of which Love the Holy Ghost is the Author by this the Law is fulfilled and in and by it the Holy Ghost graciously seals the Regenerate to Eternal Salvation Who having been fed by the Flesh and Blood of the Lord Jesus have in part got his Heavenly Body on them which is attaining a measure of the Resurrection from the dead 6. This brings in Universality in the Room of Propriety one instead of many signified by the Tongues which tho' Cloven were all but one united and one only in every Language here see we the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven and the new Man thus progressed is the true and in some sort perfect Image of the Trinity for it is the first disappeared Image which Adam fell from And in this most excellent way doth the glorious Trinity work in Eternity in all Divine Creatures wherein the Three Persons Image themselves Q. 148. What is the Litteral Word and the Living Word Christ in his shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans Word but not Christ teaching in his Resurrection A. 1. The Literal Word did signifie in the Jewish Administration the Law of Circumcision c. call'd a killing Letter tho' even that were glorious as is intimated by Moses Face The Evangelizing by Preaching or Writing must then be much more glorious the Holy Writings of the Prophets Apostles and Saints are therefore exceeding precious and require great care and diligence to learn the Mysteries there intended and taught they are so good and important their Efficacy Majesty and End so Divine that the living Word and it are used as terms convertible but yet Metonymically As by the Cup is meant the Wine or by the Bag the Treasure 2. But the Living Word is the Eternal Creating Word and tho' no Language contains âet every Word of Men is of it and by it and when the Lord Jesus saith of the Holy Spirit he shall take of mine and give it unto you he means the so speaking as the Spirit should give utterance Such was this when the God of Spirits fell on them other speaking sprung from Babel is as far below the Life and Power of that as the Consonants are below the Vowels which produce but muâe âissings c. 3. And we may expect when God shall give to his one Heart one Soul one Love one Life of Faith Holiness Meekness Patience and Self-denial accounting nothing their own but as Members of the one Body to live as that white sweet first Age of those Guests at the Feast of Pentecost When God shall do this we may expect he will restore the Spirits of the Letters and give us Water at the pure Fountain until then as one people know not the Language of others so all people are strangers to this and as falshood causeth Men not to know others Minds by their Words so do Mens false Hearts make them unknown to themselves 4. Now why some of them who heard the Heavenly Tidings said these Men are full of sweet or new Wine was because themselves were Captivated in another Principle than that wherein the words were Born perhaps some in the deceits of the third Principle others in the wrath of the first so that they could no more comprehend the words of the Children of the day than the Creatures of the corrupt terrene Salitter can converse with the Aerial Creatures or the aquaâtrish with those of the Fire or then we poor Offspring of faln Adam can skill the Dialect of Angels 5. Mans Heart is naturally prepossest against Divine Understanding and the simplicity of truth not only from his disorder'd Original but especially by Maturity of Growth to fixedness in the humane Apostacy for Youth stands in a true Ground which makes Angels delight in them until the Serpents Foxes and Goats their Tutors Companions and Tempters have gravely taught them to be Fools in Fashion also false and by degrees to be obscene and impudent of Conversation O how great is Mans Misery on Earth how innumerable his Snares how multiply'd his Perils and Sorrows in this great and terrible Wilderness How Infinite is the forbearance of a contemned Father How compassionate the Redeerner to his daily Murtherers How long-suffering is the grieved Holy Spirit O the Heighth and Depth and Length and Breadth of that Love so abused by us The subsequent Question excuseth saying more to this Q. 149. How doth Christ himself teach presentially in the Office of Preaching and yet sitteth at the Right Hand of God Or among whom doth Christ teach what is a Shepherd or Pastor in the Spirit of Christ and a Teacher of the Letter without the Spirit of Christ each in his Office A. 1. How Christ is in Heaven and every where on Earth at once according to his Heavenly Humanity the 119 Answer from ver 3. to the End sheweth Also it is elsewhere shew'd the sitting of Christ at the Right Hand of the Power of God is at the place where Love quencheth Wrath therefore are the Sheep at the great Day placed on the Right Hand of the Judge 2. But now to the next part of the Question among whom doth Christ teach it must be answer'd the Light which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men for as every Countrey on Earth is visited by the splendor of the Sun and every Plant and Pile of Grass Influenced by him and so hath been from the Creation so also from Adam to the last Man hath Christ the only true Light shined and will shine 3. And as there are many places in some Countries and some Angles in every Countrey whereon the Suns Beams beat not directly yet is there no Vegetable which his Vigor Influenceth noâ Such is the Pâeâching Vertue of Christ to all present past and future 4. Again as every Mineral is not Gold nor every Fruit solar that the Suns veâtue should be totally prevalent in them but they all are helped the more to grow thereby in their own Property so that it is not the Suns fault that many are spoil'd Thus tho' Christ stands in the Door of every Mans Heart calls them waits the whole time of the Life of many and very long on all as a Judge as a Councellor and as a Monitor yet many grow hard and as evil Creatures the stronger in their own property by the desireable access of the Suns Rays Thus Impenitent Men do from Gods goodness treasure up wrath bless themselves say we shall have peace cry the Temple of the Lord c. and grow the more evil because God is most good and are the more daring the more they are intreated and strove with 5. Now to the latter part of the Question
if we eat it not and what it brings us to be if we do eat it is the Substance of the immediately foregoing Answer The place in Man wherein Christ's Flesh and Blood continues is the whole Mân for all is the Lords viz. the whole enlightned Man though in all parts of him God is not alike manifest 2. As he who sits on the Throne of a Kingdom iâ in ãâã of the Râââlity of the whâle Territory yet âspecially reââdânt in the Palace Râyââ thââ though the Flesh and Blood of Christ sit as Soveraign in the Spirit of thâ Mind of the now born Child of God which is ãâã his ãâã Man and thât wherein he is pâculiarly present yet is he thereby Owner aâd right ãâã of the whole Mââ and where this is received all is new And whereas it is writtân Behold I make all thiâââ nââ yet is iââxteââââ only in all th ãâ¦ã âo receive this Râââvation 3. It is true the Body hath the Honour to be the Antitype of the outer Court of the Temple of the Holy Ghost or the thing signified by a place without the Camp where the Sin-offering was to be Sacrificed the Body hath a rich and blessed hope not only to be raised again but that he shall change our vile Bodies and make them like his glorious Body Now though God was without the Camp as a Wall of Fire and in the Camp as Captain of his Host yet was he in his holy Place as at Home 4. The New Man strengthened by the Virgin of Wisdom is in its Wrestlings both with the Anguishes of the Fire-Soul or first Principle in us and with our Mortal Sensual Astral and Elementary Man or third Principle like to the good Properties of Nature labouring as it were in the very Fire to rescue themselves from the Curse and Wrath of the Dead Earth and indefatigably struggling to produce living Paradisical Fruits Precious Stones Odours c. in Power but cannot because the Curse hath introduced Corruption and Instability Thus goes it with the Divine stirrings where as it were ineffectually they approach our bestial Man so vastly unsuitable hath our Fall render'd us to the pure Paradisical State 5. But as the good Properties are much more prevalent in the benign Influence of the Syderial World where they find a flexible Will strenuously active and a kind of pure transparency and uninterrupted Serenity in the Form of Eternity So is the sacred Energy of Virgin Sophia approaching our Superior part viz our Spirits after Holy enkindlings in them whereas all those Applications to our vile Carcasses work so obscurely and faintly as sufficeth not to Tincture them to be out of the reach of Worms and Putrefaction 6. Thus is seen in what place or part in Man Christ's Flesh and Blood continueth which though before our Fall and when we shall attain the Resurrection of the Dead we stand as a well tun'd Instrument but now under the Fall as an Engine pull'd all in pieces 7. And whereas it is said continue IN us as usually we say the Soul IN the Body it is much more true and proper to say the Body is in the Soul for it comprehends the Body So and much more are we also in the Flesh and Blood or Body of Christ or in God's Body therefore it is written Put on the Lord Jesus Christ by whom our whole Man Soul Spirit and Body are comprehended The farther Answer is referred to the Book of the Two Testaments Q. 153. How is Man and how doth he become a Branch on the Vine Stock of Christ How doth Christ dwell in him and yet sit at the right hand of God in Heaven Also how can he sit at the right hand of God in Man and yet the outward Man not be he A. 1. Man was a noble Vine and became degenerate by his Fall into the Out-birth which shut him up from the Divine Birth into Enmity and under the Evil Influences of the Astral World over which he should have ruled The third Principle was that he took root in no wonder then that he bare Fruit to himself but concerning the Fall the 71 72 and 73 Answers are clear 2. And that Man might be grafted into the Vine Christ the Almighty second Principle took the Heavenly Humanity the Virgin Image whose love Adam exchanged for the Lust of a Woman and reimplanted it into the half-dead Humanity in Mary's Essences and so ingrafting fallen Man into the true Vine See 75 Answer from v. 3. to the 7th To the second part of this Question how Christ dwells in Man and yet sits at the right Hand of God in Heaven is shewn in the 77 108 113 129 and 141 Answers copiously 3. To the third part How can âe fit at the right hand of God in Man and the outward Man not be he Is answered that the outward Man is the Image of Wrath and Love yet he who sitteth at God's right Hand in Man viz. where Wrath is quenched by Love is not the outward Man for he is the Image or express Character of God according to his Love 'T is true Man he is but is the Heavenly Man who by Uniting to the outward Man became our Brother by killing the Will of the Erring Brother preserved the Brotherhood by cutting him off implanted him 4. In like manner we see the Fountain of all Natural Philosophy is the very knowledge of a certain real skill to stay an expiring Spirit at home where it is eminently necessary to transplant it into another of the same kind which wants the out-going Spirit to reinforce that other Species And what is all Sacred Theosophy but the very understanding of a certain Divine Art to receive and assimilate the evermore over-flowing Effluence of God's Bounty This is the regenerating and the receiving the Divine Universal Will which grows over-tops and Commands to the irradicating the private perverted one This is that Holy One sitting at the right Hand of God in Man which though it resemble the outward Man as a Substance doth its own shadow yet is no more the outward than a good potent Tincture is a decay'd or impotent thing to be tinctured because its Application is continually about such or than a Physician is a Malady because his Business is about Distempers Q. 154. What manner of Christian is the titulary Christian in Name only without or out of Christ who only comforteth himself and imputeth Christs Merits to himself and yet is unregenerate of the Spirit of Christ and liveth bestially Whether also doth he in such working or doing belong to Christ Or what doth he receive in Christ's Supper A. 1. He is one who knoweth nothing as he ought to know nor doth what he ought in any thing for all that know God worship him in Spirit which this Man is a Stranger to and is also no less a Stranger to himself and God of such a one will say I know him not Oh may we never know a state
Heathen have all of Them the Gospel more or less obscurely Preached in them For as they without the Written Law do the things contained in the Law so do they without the Written Gospel partake of the Mercy published by the Gospel 13. That is being conscious to themselves of their Faults yet find by the Smiles of the Heavens in the Fruitful Seasons and in the suitable Productions of the Earth that they receive Good for Evil which is the Vertue of the second Principle or Gospel written on the whole Creation Notwithstanding all which if they harden their Hearts they become Sinners against Law and Gospel the Law written in their Hearts and the Gospel shining in the Light of their Understandings so conspicuously that tho' some of Them Laughed at the news of the Resurrection we hear Them serious at the tâdings of the Judgment to come having every one of Them a Self-condemning Judge in his bosom 14. Love is strong as Death but This Love is much stronger only Sin and finally Impenitent Men Hell and Devils judge themselves unworthy of it But This hath knockt at the Door of every Sinners Heart and cryes How long ye simple Ones will ye Love Folly and Scorning and Hate your own Mercies 15. Abel and Seth had the Hearing Ear in that Line it most eminently descended by a continued Succession thro' all Generations yet sometimes thro' very dirty Channels for tho' all were such till This Seed took Root in some and bare Paradisical Fruit and made them fit for the Masters Table yet some were much more foul than others 2. He enters into Foul Hearts tho' himself be so High born and Purity it self that passing into Foul places cannot be defiled but as a Refiners Fire not comprehended by the Dross which yet it purgeth away A work only possible to Omnipotence A few Considerations of that which shall be the Wonder of Eternity follow CHAP. XXI Of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. IT ought Attentively to be pondered that when the Fulness of Time or Limit of the Covenant was come Jesus took Man's whole Nature of the Virgin Mary but inasmuch as she was the Daughter of Joachim and Anna and of Eve she could not be totally a Virgin of Purity Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one 2. That Jesus Christ neither came into a Clean Vessel nor took a Pure Nature on Him but made the Vessel Clean and the Polluted Nature to become Pure The misunderstanding of which caused the Colliâidiani to render to the Virgin Mary Divine Worship 3. We must know that when our Redeemer took our Nature on him He took it out of all the Virgin Mary's Essences as well those of her Soul given her out of the first Principle and those of her Spirit given her out of the second as those of her Body out of the third Principle All which Soul Body and Spirit were propagated by her immediate Parents Joachim and Anna. 4. We are to know the Lord destroyed not Those Essences for He came not to destroy but took them as they were And by the Divine New Man which He brought with Him and which Himself was Refined and Sanctified them in them to work Their and Our Eternal Salvation 5. We cannot say there was no Evil in the Root of the Essences He took from the Virgin Mary as was mentioned above But his Divine Conception Exempting Him from any the least Impression Stain or Spot did illustrate and clarifie them As Fire doth Iron the Tincture doth Metals or the Sun Transmutes the Harsh Sour and Ill Properties of Fruits 6. We are not to doubt whether the Lord took a Human Soul from the Virgin or no about which many have erred for how else had the Essences of Our poor Captivated Souls been rescued had not the second Adam as truly assumed a Human Soul as that whereof the first Adam consisted It was Our Souls that had Sin and Death and were to be Redeemed so Our Gracious Lord made His Soul which was also a True Human Soul the Offering for Sin 7. Nor need we fear that the Lord took not Our Mortal Flesh and Blood on Him but brought Heavenly Flesh in His Conception and only Heavenly Flesh for He took also Our True Body of Flesh and Blood on Him from the Virgin Mary He took our Weak Infirm Body subjected to Passions of Hunger Sleep c. wherein lay Wrath and the Curse all which He bare with the Sufferings incident thereunto as Temptations Scourgings Reproaches Piercings Crucifying Anguish Death Burial And raised the Self-same Body which gives us assurance of our Resurrection and opens a Door for the Body though now Mortal to partake with the Soul Eternal Life 8. We are to know that our new Bodies will be the same very true real Bodies we now have and not other Bodies though not consisting of Accidents not palpable yet substantial as is manifest by what follows 9. The Mutations in Nature are no destruction of Bodies as a Grain of Wheat being sown passeth several Mutations yet is still the same For whereas at first it dies it is only by the Separator resolved into the divers Kinds of its own Composition that it may be capable of Commixture and Unite assimilated Bodies to it and so Collect encrease of Mâter which it admits in no greater Proportion than to be the Father and Mother of all it self and augment and multiply it self by yet still is Wheat though hath the Increase of Quantity of many Grains of Wheat as an Oak is but an Accorn improved 10. Nature in orderly Motion goes forward and will not return into its Mystery by the Steps it went out till it hath compleated its Circulation You may as well return the Sun Eastward over us as make a Fruit become a Tree but in its orderly Motion first into a Fruit and Seed then is the new one the old renewed rather than another So is the new Body though Glorious not existent but by the dying of the old 11. As Adam's Fall made him not another Man but was still the Self-same in another a Monstrous Image as we also are deformed by that direful Fall So the Lord Jesus raising up his own Dead Body and cloathing it with Glory and Immortality and thereby giving us a Resurrection to be like him doth not make us to be other Men than now we are with loss of our Monstrosity and Access and recovery of the Glory we were created in and is by Him graciously purchased for us 12. We are to know That the Lord Jesus Christ when he assumed Flesh and Blood in the Virgins Womb was then not only there but then also sate and reigned in the whole infinite Abyss of the Father 13. We are also to know That after the Divine Nature or Infinite Godhead of Jesus Christ had assumed the Humane Nature He remained the self-same unmixed
Glorious second Person as before And yet that by taking the Humanity from the Virgin Mary He really became what he was not before viz. a real Son of Man with a true Humane Soul Body and Spirit as we are and capable to Suffer and Die 14. We are to know the Humane Nature or Creature in the Ascention and Glorification was not swallowed up by the Divine Nature as a flame of a Candle is by the Sun extinguish'd But the Humane Nature now Glorified remains for ever a Glorified Body being the same true individual Humane Nature or Man which was Crucified Dead Buried and raised up by his Almighty Power as the first Fruit Original and Author of the General Resurrection 15. That the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Womb of the Virgin became as truly a Man as we are who have our Souls Spirits and Bodies propagated by our immediate Parents Yet that besides the infinite Dignity of his Almightiness as the second Person and Son of God by Eternal Generation which united Himself to His created Humane Soul Spirit and Body I say besides all this He was the true created Son of God and so was a true Heavenly Man and a Virgin of Holiness Purity and Modesty And so begotten by the Holy Ghost 16. In which respect He was no Son of Man even as neither was the first Adam but as truly the Son of God by Creation as with respect to His Godhead He was by Eternal Generation And though the words Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee may be understood of the Eternal Generation for the Father ceaseth not to beget His Eternal Son from Eternity and in Eternity yet the words may well be applicable to this Heavenly Humanity whereof both David and Paul speak 17. But because this 12th Note last asserted is hard to be understood since Man's Fall partly because it is of so Noble Extraction and seeming to be of so rare mention in the Holy Scriptures so remote from Sense and Man's dull Apprehension of so excellent Nature and so highly profitable and advantageous to be known Also that the penetrating into the Knowledge of it requires Divine Wisdom enlightned Understanding it calleth for highest Attention as that plainly teacheth the Way God took and still taketh for recovery of lost Mankind It is farther clear'd by what follows more especially by the following Pag. 32. in Chap. 22. 18. We ought to know that the Divine Substance which United to it the Essences of the Humane Soul in Mary came not thither descending from the highest Heaven or great Local Distance But the Word which God inspake again in Paradice imaging it Self in the Light of Man's Life and waiting in all the Holy Men being the Word of Divine Wisdom out of the Tincture of the Holy Element which is every where and pure before God that Word took to it for an Eternal Propriety the Essences of Man's Soul in and of Maries Virgin Matrix Not entring in but unlocking ingenerating and unshutting what Adam had bolted up in Death 19. That though this Word were not the Almighty second Person of the Trinity yet was it the Word of Wisdom which Adam turned from and in disobeying it he and we all rebel against God more immediately than if we should stubbornly reject the Command of an Angel of God This Word of Divine Wisdom is a Virgin of Purity and here became the Bride to the Humane Soul for as the Soul had the Tincture of the Fire This brought the Tincture of the Light and the Uniting of the Heavenly Image of Purity to the Image that was Impure did Tincture the Fire-Soul and both became one Self-subsisting Eternal Man 20. We are also to know That for asmuch as the two Tinctures were at the instant of the Virgin Maries saying Be it unto me c. United and were become One Man the Image the first Man did bear yet seeing the Fire-Soul did once treacherously choose an Earthy Lust instead of Divine Love 21. To the end it might be now powerfully Tinctured no more to recede and that the whole Humane Nature might be led through Death into Eternal Life therefore did the Lord mighty to save take the whole Man by being Bridegroom to the Virgin Sophia and for that the Man or Creature stood in the Holy Element which is pure and every where yet is the same Element Inferior to Omnipotence it was needful Grace and Love should Unite the Creature to the Deity which raised it above all it lost in the first Adam 22. For the Lord became as a Servant to advance and secure his Servant both the Image it once had and add to it more which will be the stupendious Contemplation of Eternity but all this by the Lord's Incarnation was brought to pass 23. So that here was One and that One consisted of the true Almighty Son of God and the Holy Virgin of Wisdom the Tincture of the Light viz. His Heavenly Flesh and Blood Also of the Essences of Man's Eternal Soul the Temporary Astral Soul and Elementary Body So that not only the Eternal Fire-Soul is meekened nourished and fed to live Eternally but the outward Soul and Elementary Body are secured of a Resurrection by the raising of the Holy Astral and Elementary Body of the Lord Jesus Christ the first Fruits of them that slept leaving nothing unraised but the Linnen Cloaths in the Sepulchre CHAP. XXII Of the Heavenly New Man or Divine Humanity of Jesus Christ what it is where it is and how to be participated of by us IT is written That ye put off c. the Old Man v. 23. and be renewed c. and v. 24 that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Q. What is This New Man which we are to put on A. It is Jesus Christ as it is written put on the Lord Jesus Christ c. so are we said to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven call'd a Building of God 1. So we find cloathed with Humility cloathed with Honour cloathed with Shame intended not as a Covering but as Transmutation of Us from one contrary to another as the Woman cloathed with the Sun her Divine Light instead of her Darkness Q. What of Christ may we put on and be cloathed with and wherewith to be cloathed upon 2. Not His Almightiness for that His Omnipotence is what no Creature can behold and reach so is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory upholding all things by the Word of his Power Nor the Body Soul and Spirit He received from the Virgin Mary That was Earthy a Soul Body and Spirit descending from Eve That being born of the flesh was flesh As such which he humbled himself to take he was the Son of Man and our Brother so also we put him not on As such he remains for That Humanity of Christ which he had from
Aâtral World 12. When Man makes these idolatrously the object of his Love Hope Delight and Confidence as the rich Man in the Gospel did which should be used only as a Picture or Glass through which to Contemplate by Divine Skill the Eternal Powers represented by them He catcheth at a Shadow worships the Ass on which he was to Ride 13. It is evident his thus Living to his third Principle was his and is our Dying to and Loss of the second Principle and 't is as clear the Dying to the Third that is only giving it leave to hang to us as an old loose Garment or looking through it as through a Cloud or Medium on the Sun or regarding it as a Letter much blotted for the Esteem we bear to the Hand whence it came or as a much faded imperfect Portraicture of an Absent Friend or as a Perspective-Glass Thus only to use it is rightly to Live to it which is really to Die to it and so to Die to it is really to Live to the second Principle and to reunite to the Eternal Chast Holy Modest pure Virgin which disappeared on Adam's disobedient Lusting for the Lusting awakeneth the Knowledge of Evil and Good which the Virgin abhorreth and left Man should be quite stranged 14. Therefore to Extricate us of this miserable Toil came the Son of the Virgin whose Doctrine teacheth us That it is a greater Blessedness to give than to receive for that the Holy Light World consisting in the Might and Vertue of the second Principle cannot be supported and receive Nourishment from the divided Properties of the third which consisteth of Transitory mutable Powers because what is of Good in those outflown Powers is the free Gift out of the Abyss of the true and greatest Blessedness the second Principle 15. All therefore who Die not to the Lesser cannot Live to the Greater Blessedness if we Die not to all things but Christ we are unworthy of Him Whatever is divided from Him is Dead for He only is Life and God is called God according to His infinite Abyss of Light Love Life Goodness and second Principle for according to the first is a consuming Fire 16. Man living to the Cheating Pleasure of the third Principle is Dead as the Widow is said to be who liveth in Pleasure We startle at being Adulterers Idolaters c. yet so we are while we Live that is till we Die with Christ. Till we pass through Death that is truly and really Die to the Wrath fierâeness and Dark Anguish of the first Principle the Root of the Soul as to the Father's Property And until we Die to the Deceitful Volatil Bewitching Pampering Lust of the third Principle whereinto Man's outward Body like those of the Beasts is fallen wherein also lodgeth the Curse till This be we are Dead as to God But being indeed mortified to both these we arâ in the same degree raised again to live the Life of Jesus Christ a Life of Love Humility Patience chearful Submission and Obedience as our Progress to the Death of both these extends and ascends or amounts unto 17. For the Death to these two Principles as to their Prevalence is such an emptying us of our selves as enables without Reluctance to Pray the Lord to exercise his whole Will in us and on us regarding in nothing its Greatness or Contemptibleness its Sweetness or Bitterness its Gratefulness or grating Temper but only esteeming every thing without Reflection or Sticking ever equally acceptable that the Divine Will shall direct and allot us to do or submit to 18. And this Life of Sacrifice hath a thankful Reverence in it and is as whole as the Burnt ones were without the least reserve This Life is no longer ours for we are first Dead But is the Life of Christ the meek Child like Life taught us by the Cross of Christ the Footsteps of the Lord are plain and conspicuous in this good Path. 19. It is both in Word and in Power but neither is the Word or Power ours but 't is the Holy Word and Power whence Adam departed as the fallen Angels had done before and in which Word and Power the Blessed Angels converse and are Established In which Adam might have lived Gloriously without knowing the Cross as do the Angels 20. But the restored Image grows not but under the Cross Thus did Abel under the Hate of Cain Enoch and Noab under the Pressures of the highly wicked old World Lot under the filthy Sodomites And infinitely above all thus did our Almighty Saviour whom if we will follow it must be in Deepest Humility bearing his Cross which must be also ours divesting our selves of all Self-pleasing and whatsoever fallen Man calls and thinks to be his for this is the Holy Soul's weaning time when as Heirs of the Faith of Abraham they also keep a great Feast as he did at weaning Isaac 21. This Feast is a real feeding on the Heavenly Flesh and Blood of Christ a Drinking of the Water that becomes a Spring of Water in us to Eternal Life It is a Life hid with Christ in God a walking with God and a putting on the Lord Jesus Christ the Marriage Supper and Wedding Garment a Peace passing the understanding of all except the Children who are regenerated and to them only known in such measure ordinarily as they have made Progress in Mortification and so grow in the new pure Image of God restored us by Jesus Christ. 22. For a close let all be warn'd not to contemn if they understand not some things and so judge themselves unworthy of this Childrens Bread The Reason why so few understand the Holy Scriptures which yet many often read is because few give up their Wills to Obey and Regeneration is the Necessary Qualification to attain true Wisdom Hence is it that from a Corrupt Mind though refinedly Penetrating the Writings of the Blessed Jacob Behmen are Seal'd up and as if Dumb from such were the very Sermons of the Lord himself who so spake as never Man spake hidden And none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Here endeth the Considerations c. The 177 Theosophick Questions of the blessed Jacob Behmen divide themselves into Ten grand Distributions or Kinds being of so many various Aspects viz. THE first four Questions are most immediately concerning God in his Infinite Abyss The ten following concern Angels good and bad from the fifth Inclusive to the fifteenth Exclusive The 23 next succeeding are of the Creation in general ranged into three distinct Eminencies deduced from the 3 Principles making in all 37. viz. 1. That out of the first Principle or dark Abyss in the 15th 16th and 17th Questions 2. That out of the second Principle the Angelical holy World in the 18th and 19th Questions 3. That out of the third Principle the Visible Creation and contrariety in it from the 20th Question inclusive to the 38 exclusive The one and forty
his Sin 12. God's working there confirms perpetual Existence to all there where every black Machination ever stands in its own Substance not barely a Shadow but permanent without Vizard or Varnish in Horrid real Forms 13. There God receives the Glory of His Truth in all His Threatnings There the Voice of the infinitely precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God which had been trampled on as if it had been an Unholy Thing hath due Audience and exact punctual Answers Also the Cry of all the Blood and Tears of all His murthered and oppressed Members from Abel to the last Man hath ample satisfactory Answers 14. There God receives the Debt due to His abused Patience and due to the Holy Ghost who had been continually striving and as long rejected grieved scorned and his sweet Councils gracious and safe Motions reproached and blasphemed 15. There God reigns in all the Seven Forms of Nature according to the Dark Impression for the wicked Impenitent Will whereunto the very Gospel of Jesus Christ hath been a savour of Death unto Death this very Obstinate Will is here a sweet savour to the Divine and here immutable Justice for the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness 16. Is there indeed a Place of Hell or not That there is a Hell Atheists only deny and what Hell is the Children of the Day know little of nor should Adam or his Children have known it for it was not prepared for them but as it is written Prepared for the Devil and his Angels 17. Man grew up into that Principle as it were by Accident yet are like to have no small share of it 'T is true Lucifer and his Legions were Sinners of elder Date and fell from a higher Seat as it were down a greater Precipice But Man hath sinn'd against means incomparably fit of invaluable Price and freely and frequently tendered to restore him 18. Oh that Men were wise that they knew This that they would consider their latter End Consider this you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men. Will Men employ no serious Thoughts on this but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath c. 19. Now whether Hell be a Place It 's answered Hell is a Principle consisting of fixt Enmity against God's gracious Nature against all the Holiness Truth Love and Goodness and all this as it consists of the Evil of Evils that is to say Sin Hell also is a fixt Hatred against all God's out-goings in His Mercy and Bounty giving Beauty and Order to all his Creation Celestial and Out-birth and this Hell is as by the Evil of Deprivation And as Hell is an Evil of Sence and Torment it takes in all the Horrors generated in the Womb of the fierce part of the whole Seven Fountain Spirits as far as the Bounds of the first Principle 20. We are farther to know that a Principle cannot want Place but dwells in its self for Place cannot contain or comprehend a Principle 21. An Explanatory Similitude or Instance is found in Man What part of him is the Place or Receptacle of Wickedness It 's answer'd no part of a hardened impenitent Sinner refuseth to be its Dwelling-place his whole Soul Spirit and Body and it like a Contagion invadeth all Places and Persons fitted to receive it that either by Word Work Writing President Wish or otherwise he can extend himself unto 22. But in a Man wherein the Divine Word is awakened and is prevalent the Darkness or hellish Principle can encroach no farther than its own unsanctified unhallowed part And if any Man follow the Lord fully he is fenced as the Cherubim doth Paradise so that the Dark Powers are shut out of that Man 23. Shortly then as much of the Infinite Abyss as shall not be ennobled and enriched by the sweet Vertue Purity and Splendor of the Holy Powers shall be the place of the Everlasting Hell or Lake of Fire Q. 18. Where is the Place of Heaven where the Angels dwell How is the same distinguished from Hell Is the same also a certain circumscribed Place How is it to be understood A. 1. If I am understood by a very few what wonder seeing the Lord Jesus saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God The Question where Heaven is presupposeth the Knowledge of what it is but to speak what it is will be met with when God shall excite and instruct any one to answer the following Questions It seems therefore fit to restrain my self here to the Limit of this Question and observing that Boundary It 's answered 2. Heaven being a Principle cannot be circumscribed even as God is not comprehended but comprehends the whole infinite Abyss So neither is Heaven excluded out of any place nor included in any place but possesseth the infinite Liberty for it both contains and is contained in all the three Principles Yet is so in them as not to touch nor be touched by the first Principle in its fierceness but in its Might and Potence Nor the third in its divided Out-birth but in its Quintessence as it stands in the Holy Element and that in the Wisdom and as it is purely the out-spoken Word 3. And all this in the entire Concordance with the Majesty and Divine Omnipotence of the second Principle which in all the Seven Fountain Spirits hath Eternal Dominion So that where ever the Love and Goodness of God manifesteth it self there is Heaven yet dwelling in it self in its own Divine Principle streaming through the activity of some or all of the Seven Fountain Spirits as they severally move themselves in some places or things more brightly in others more obscurely as is seen in the mixt World 4. But the Illustrious Principle whereof the Spirits of Just Men made perfect are capable is most Triumphant in the uninterrupted unveiled paradisical Part or World for there the Fire of the first Principle and the effluenced spoken Matter of the third are irradiated sublimed and crowned by the Splendor of the second In this place or part of the Principle stands the Eternal weight of Glory for the General Assembly and Church of the First-born 5. Now seeing our gracious Creator made us at first Heavenly though we became Earthy and Heaven being the Country whence we sprung also that it is so near us it being said it is not excluded out of any place And that it was on our first Departure re-implanted or inspoken again into us It may be demanded how is it we are commanded to strive to enter in at the strait Gate c. Also Many shall strive to enter in and shall not be able Again Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Again We are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the World with many the like sad Characters of us 6.
is that I answer the Divine Flesh and Blood of Christ his heavenly Body the one holy Element the Quintessence in the Eternal World 6. Will you ask what is that I answer again What is it that feeds the Soul in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper What is it transforms the starving fallen Man into an Angelical Divine Will enables him till then a Stranger to live the Life of Christ in Love Meekness Resignation thankful Obedience cheerful Suffering having one Spirit one Will one Life with Christ Is not this the Old Wine whereof whoso drinketh desireth not the New for he saith the Old is better 7. This Flesh and Blood is Meat and Drink indeed Oh my Soul taste and see how good the Lord is 'T is so sweet that this World 's bitter Cup rellished with this Tincture is Acceptable and this World's sweetest Products to him that hath tasted this are unpleasant and in comparison of this is Vanity 8. But more particularly Adam's Eating must have been suitable to the several Desires he had and those Desires are according to the several Spirits and Capacities and those Spirits answer to and are modell'd by the several Principles whereof he was founded 9. Those Principles are Three as to avoid tediousness which I studiously shun do refer my self to the 8th Verse of the Answer of the 45th Question where the Principles are explicated and something in fallen Man may be produced to Demonstrate this great Truth 10. It is undeniable that in us Men are three Spirits The Animal or Soulish Spirit the Vital Spirit and the Nutritive Spirit these also are to be found in a very obscure Figure in the Beasts but in Man they grow from three Eternal Roots The Animal Spirits live in the first Principle whence also as a Figure were breathed the four Forms in the Astral Spirit The Vital Spirit is in the second Principle The Nutritive Spirit in the third 11. Adam's Soul did Eat of the Meek Heavenly Holy Flesh and Blood or Life and Love of the Almighty Son of God or second Principle it could not be fed by Spirit for it Self was Spirit In this Divine Light and Meekness dwelt Adam's Vital Spirit as a twig on a Vine and his Nutritive Spirit was fed by the Holy part of the third Principle 12. In this Principle of Holy Paradisical Excellency flourish all Eternal pure Fruits whose unexpressibly Exquisite and Incomprehensible Varieties real Entities or Substances are no more but shadowed and that darkly under the Curse by this World's Excellencies 13. Those Divine Productions are the Quintessence Eternally fixed in the Temperature consisting of all the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature in Triumphant Harmony and these were the Fruits on which Adam should and Blessed Men shall live Eternally Q. 53. What was the Earth with its Fruits before the Curse when it was call'd Paradise A. What Paradise is was shewn in the Answer of the 42 Question And the Trees in Paradice are will be met with in the 56 Question And that This Worlds fruits were not those of Paradice is plain in the Answer of the 4 Question 1. The thing here enquired is what the Earth and its fruits were before the Curse therefore that if the fruits of the Earth before the Curse were call'd Paradice it was not properly but figuratively as representing Paradice which it did tho' very imperfectly in many parts 2. For if we understand by the fruits the Plants it must be acknowledged that seeing the Fall of the Angels stirred up disorders in the great Mystery which introduced a Darkness in the Deep whereby the Properties being separate from the Harmony were unclean and every Property willed to be creaturely Thence came out Evil Plants whose extremities shewed them degenerated from the Temperature also evil Beasts c. 3. 'T is true the second Principle so influenced the whole Creation and blessed it that the Evil part was subjected under the Good the Evil was thus very good to shew the various Powers of the incomprehensible World the Earth also and all its fruits might then well be called good because the Divine part had the Dominion and from it the whole was denominated 4. For the Good Powers were so far exempted from the Evil that they could not be affected or impaired by them unless they first laid off their own Good Property voluntarily which Adam did introducing not only Pollution into himself and posterity but Enmity into all the contrary Qualities in the Creatures who tho' contrary in their Qualities and proper Constitutions were as harmless each to other before as the Wormwood is to the Liquorice Root which extracting the bitter Quality leave the other the more easie attraction of the sweet nourishment yet was the one as really bitter as the other was sweet 5. Yet all those contraries tho' not in the perfect Harmony and Temperature by the Divine Blessing were very good and thus was every thing before the Curse good Q. 54. Should the Propagation possibly haue been without Man and Wife seeing in the Resurrection of the dead they shall not be Man nor Wife but like the Angels of God in Heaven A. 1. That Propagation was to have been is clear because all mankind was not made at once But that it was not to have been by Husband and Wife distinct as are the Male and Female of other Creatures appears in that when the Man was made he was expresly said to be Male and Female after which the Creator said all was very good 2. 1. Then it followed that the Creation was blessed 2. The Creatures distinguished by sundry names 3. The scituation of Eden described 4. The Geographical courses of the four Rivers assigned to which point of Heaven they inclined 5. The Countries of their Travels and Peregrination particularized 6. The proper Treasures of Pison the first of them noted 3. All which we may not think but the Holy Ghost apparently to signifie a Mystery of intervening thus all orderly recorded The Jewish Rabbins can note intermission of time by an accent or little addition to an Hebrew Letter and a prolongation by protraction of the spirits of their characters and an abrupt cutting off by a small dash and shall we see nothing by interposing a Volume of six branches between Adam's Creation and that of Eve 4. So that much time why not forty years viz. a year for a day tho' he was not in time but in eternity may be proportioned in which was his probation and in which all these things are stated passing after the Creation of Adam the Male and Female Man before the extracting and building of the Woman out of and distinct from him 5. And tho' the time be not in plain words in Moses yet is signified year for year by the Israelites forty years Trial in the Wilderness in which they liv'd like Adam on Paradisical Manna and again like him who should have been confirmed but missed by unstedfastness so
53d is shewn what this Worlds Fruits were when at best And in the last preceding Answer what introduced it into the midst of Adam's Garden aud where that is to which severally to avoid Repetitions is this referr'd 1. Which well pondered little may suffice for Answer of this For though Adam was God's total Image by having the third Principle on him yet he was not in it nor of it but Lord of it and it as it were hung to him As the Lord Jesus Christ was in the outward World but not of it but of and in Heaven So was Adam in the Garden of Eden but not of it but of and in Paradise 2. Again Adam's Body was no otherwise one with the Astral Spirit than as allied or as Brother to it proceeding from the same Holy Element yet was to out-live it even for ever because his Body was conjunct with an Eternal Soul and Divine Spirit whereas the Astral Spirit hath its Age and recess into its Aether 3. But the Tree of Good and Evil was Corruptible having it's Root in the Elementary World influenced only the Astral in which the separated Properties were so awakened as it consisted of Heterogeneous Good and Evil Parts Even those of the Dark World radically impressed 4. So that it was Death and Poison to the Paradisical Heavenly Man for it generated Putrefaction and a filthy Draught and Bestiality wherefore the Gracious Creator did so severely or expresly and strictly forwarn and forbid Man that Tree Q. 60. Wherefore should Man rule over all the living Creatures or Beasts of the Earth How and to what End could that have been A. Negatively it is answered That Adam while he stood had no need neither 1. Of their Milk or Carcasses for Food or Skins or Fleeces for Cloaths because Corruption contributeth nothing to Incorruption and an Incorruptible Body as Heaven wants not Earth 2. Nor their Strength for Labour or Culture for the Proââââons needed by him were Pure and Heavenly The Effect of the Curse it was that it was said in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread 3. Nor their Courage or Velocity for offence or speed for no Opposition needed no Counter-force and no Extremity needed no Speed 4. Nor their assimilating or Antipathetick Powers for Medicine because no Sickness needs no Physick no penetration of Bodies nor impairing of Parts no need of assimilating or restorative Applications 2 5. They wanted not him 1. To be Justice of the general Peace for tho' they were of adverse qualities yet innoxious till ushered in by the Curse as the effect of Sin irritated and arm'd them against Man and against each other Their innocence was their defence their Contrarieties were no more offensive to each other than contrary Colours are or Flowers of different Kinds 2. 6. They wanted not him to raise them a subsistence for their Creator had provided so for them as they should be no burthen to him nor his Divine Off-spring he cares for the Ravens A. 7. Positively to shew how and to what end his Rule should have been It 's answered Adam and his Heavenly Offspring should have used all the Creatures as Letters standing in several Volumes Sections Sentences and Words in the Book of the Creation declaring what the Creator is what He willeth and what He doth 8. And though the Creatures are Dumb as are Characters of Letters yet the Divine Powers of the Spiritual Worlds are spoken in and by the Creatures more expresly than are our Minds signified by Writings or our Passions by articular Sounds And hath Art fram'd Accents Aspirations Liquids c. Much more hath the Infinite Powers spoken themselves and the Holy Names of God in the several Pieces of the Creatures shewing the Principles Properties and Figures of the Eternal Worlds 9. And as Adam's holy Offspring had blessedly Multiplied and Paradise gloriously open'd it self so the Creatures had in their low Sphere born a part in that Triumphant Theatre nor had they been subject to Vanity Pain Impotence and Misery by Want Weakness or Drudgery for that the Curse subjected them to 10. But during their respective times had sweetly delighted themselves and Man in Ecchoing and in their measure assisting the High Praises of the Infinite Gracious Lord and when their Parts were acted have gone off the Stage with Swan-like farewels into their first Principles and Aethers 11. Adam gave them Names according to their Roots and Designs wherein they shall be in their Idea's before the new Blessed Men successively produced and as it were perpetuated by the wrestling of the Properties for neither in this sence shall Man's Disobedience frustrate the purpose of God or give Period to the Glory of his Creation Work for the Spiritual Worlds will obtain their Desires of imaging themselves for ever As saith our Apostle Because the Creature it self shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 12. Nor are the Creatures useless but serve our God's Designs And 't is observable even Sathan useth if he may the most accute Wits while God by Men of low Parts doth confound the Wise for so though Sathan used the Serpents apt Wisdom in his cheating Imposture God honoured the Ass the silliest of Creatures to divulge such Truth as was necessary for a Prophet's Instruction and Reprehension Whence we may observe if under their Vanity they are of such excellent uses what would they have been had they retained their Primitive Excellencies Q. 61. Why did God say it is not good for Man to be alone whereas yet in the Beginning he looks upon all his Works and said They are very Good yet of Man only he saith 'T is not good that this Man should be alone Why was it not good A. In the 43 Answer it is shewn why God created but one Man at first and not Man and Woman together and in the 45th Answer what Form and Fashion he was when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both In the 46th appears Adam had not at first Man-like Members Guts c. In the 47th That had such been he could not have stood in Eternity whereof it cannot be denied he was by Creation capable 1. All which duly weighed evidence why it was said at first all was very good for then was Man a compleat Image of God in all the three Principles illustrated by the second viz. his Soul in the Eternal Band his Spirit in the Divine Holy Triumphant World his Body out of the Holy Element having both Tinctures of Fire and Light enriched and fortified by all the seven Properties Having further the Authority over the Creation like a God the Intellect of an Angel and Innocency of a Dove 2. And whereas afterward it is said It is not good for Man to be alone it was not from any defect in the Creator's Work for that as above appears was perfect to a high degree but the Creature had ceased his
shall pass away and be folded up as a Scroul 4. That it was a compaction of the Mass of the Salitter Sulphur and Mercurius of the deep all of which were much darkened corrupted and confused by the Fall of the Angels 5. Yet was this earthy Globe in its first make before the Curse very Beautiful and Good 6. And as in Mans Body so much of it is dead hard Bones foul Guts stomach and gross Flesh so that its first contexture seems worn out yet it was and shall be glorious though sown in dishonour 7. Thus also this Globe consisting now of much raging deep the unhabitable frozen North and South Extreams other parts of parched Wildernesses and Desarts also rocky useless places and barren Heaths sandy and Montainous Territories Yet is a remainder of Fertility and Excellency here seeming to be left so to shew something of what once it was as Vespasian is said to have left two or three Towers undemolisht tho' desolate to shew what Jerusalem had been 8. The Earth before the Curse must have known no sterility the Air no storms nor intemperature the Seasons no unhealthiness the Brute Creatures no hostility nor hurtfulness 9. For tho' the properties were in all yet had the Gracious Creators blessing so ordered and bounded them that they could not be manifest to divide and discord among themselves for the good properties had the Dominion and the other were serviceable in their places to the great ends of the Creation viz. That the Divine and Spiritual World might be expresly Imaged in such exact order as the great variety of the Creatures and Creation were fitted for 10. But Eve and Adam biting the Apple divided the properties so that the evil became prevalent and the good disturbed thereby could not influence as before and Gods withdrawing the Vertue and Influence of the Spiritual World from them the transitory Creatures which were of their own Nature passive became penetrated throughly by the evil Thus those of hot and others of cold quality were made such in an intense degree and consequently destructive Poyson and Venom also in Vegetables thus came the destroyers in the Earth Air and Seas 11. Adam and his Race should if they had stood have been as the Angel which John saw with one Foot on the Land and the other on the Sea so should Adam and his Race have had one Foot on this Principle and the other on Eternity but transgression set us adrift and sunk us and for our sakes the whole Creation Q. 77. How was Adam and Eve cast out of Paradice into this World What was the Cherub with the naked Sword before Paradise A. 1. Job from Opulency and Renown washing his steps with Butter and the Rock poured him out Oyl falling to Nakedness Sores and Contempt had this vast disproportion to Adam's Fall that his Inward Man not only retain'd stability but shone the brighter 2. Nebuchadnezzar's degenerating and transforming into a Brute was also exdeedingly disproportionable because he had little to lose wanting the Indowment especially the Internals wherewith Adam was glorified 3. And Men that taste of the good Word and of the powers of the World to come yet after that fall into final Apostacy and Darkness which from the best a fallen Man as Man can attain to the worst a damned Sinner faâls into hath yet a great disproportion to Adam's Exclusion had not Infinite Grace interposed for as no Sinner mounts higher than feigned Happiness but Adam's was real and sublime so no Damned Wretch sinks more or comparatively but few with him but Adam sunk a World which must add to him a world of Woes Thus far I have digressed to give some glimpse of the greatness of the Fall 4. Now to shew how they were ejected Paradise into this World the review of the 71 answer will be very helpful We must farther know that it was not a precipitance from a more lofty to a more low or other local station but a departure out of one principle into another asleep or dying a Nescience or Oblivion of Divine Tranquillity and peaceable Fruition of Eternity and an awakening to the Turmoils Impotence Discords Pain Care Sorrow Enmity and Anguish of Mortality and Confines of time in the third principle or Out-birth and by an Inviolable connexion fixed to the Everlasting wrath of the first principal or dark Abyss 5. To know now what the Cherub and Sword before Paradise is it must be fore-known that Cherubims signifie Images viz. Gods Image particularly that of his Justice that is Gods Righteousness and severe Justice this hath a Sword cutting off or away whatever cannot stand in the proba all such are as Fuel to that Flaming Sword 6. Will any say these are Novel Allegories not demonstrable but of uncertain sound let such consider 1. What we fell from our Reason saith from a pure state capable of Eternity 2. What we fell into our Sences answer to an impure Bestial Mortal one 3. How may we re enter the reason common to all rational Creatures tells it may not be by the old filthy Garment we thus got for a weight that presseth us down must be put off if we would rise again what thus we foolishly put on we must wisely put away 7. The Sword of Divine Justice cuts off the Monstrosity because the Mortal Earthy cannot enter the Heavenly Having put on Immortality it may but that Robe is Christs Heavenly Flesh and Blood his Holy Heavenly Body or Gods Body in this we pass the Cherub 8. But this Cherub and Sword is in us Thus the Lord saith No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven the Son of Man he saith not the Son of God which is in Heaven for the Divine principle was not only in him but he in it and he was it 9. Let us know Heaven is in us viz. the Divine principle is in us yet we may be far from being in it until following the Captain of our Salvation we yield in his strength to have our Earthy man Crucified otherwise keeping our Right Eye Right Hand or Foot we with both Eyes Hands and Feet shall be Excluded shutting our selves out for ever This 78th Question begins the Fifth Grand Distribution Q. 78. Why was or did the first Man Born of a Woman become a Murtherer A. Before Eve's Conception of Cain the following things did precede viz. 1. Adam's non-exerting his power to produce a glorious Race of Intellectuals to succeed for ever the room of Lucifer's secluded Angels which defect of Adam's came from his somewhat declining to the third principle and Eclipsed his Magical Vertue and Lustre 2 Next follow'd the dividing of the Tinctures and thence forming Eve 3. The departure of Adam and Eve from the pure Virgin Modesty and going into the wanton Lust of the Out-birth or Beastial principle making a false Tincture 4 A Self-will to Rule for Eve would have been a Goddess hereby making an evil
humble that Sex who being the divided Tincture were first in the Transgression Q. 106. How was God viz. the Word made Flesh What hath he assumed from Man A. 1. In the 75 81 and 90 Answers and in the 15 particulars of the 21th Chapter of the little Treatise call'd Considerations c. on the Scope of Jacob Behmen much relating to the present Enquiry is opened Yet it seems fit to say farther viz. 1. That because Man's going into the third Principle had subjected him to the Mortal Bestial Flesh in the Wrath and Curse if the Word had not assumed and been made Flesh the Plaister had not been as broad as the Wound The Elementary part viz. that of the four Elements must for ever have remained Captive in Death and passed away with the melting and dissolution of them into their Aether without Recollection or Resurrction 2. At the same instant therefore of the Virgin Mary's Conception the Word in or of the second Principle was by the Vehicle or Medium of the Holy Element Conceived in the Light of her Life taking her's viz. our Eternal Human Soul and Spirit or Light generated out of the Souls Essences and both Soul and Spirit became as one in an Eternal Band with the Word like as the Masculine and Feminine Tinctures unite in ordinary Conceptions 3. In the same moment also by the genuine Right of Nature as the Divine Lubet of the two Principles breath out the third Principle attracting the Powers thereof for their manifestation and by the same immutable Law as by which common Fire attracts Air did This Holy Divine Conception call to it the Astral Powers and Spirit and those for their Associates brought as their house and clothing the four Elements being of the like necessity as the Body of a living Creature follows the Head Thus the Word became Flesh yet as incomprehensible not only to the Flesh but also to the fallen Humane Nature as the Eternal Soul is to the Astral or as the Astral Spirit is to the dead Earth 4 But as truely as the Eternal Humane Soul and Spirit the Tincture the Astral Soul the Animal Spirits and Sences and the Elementary Body or Bulk compose and form one Man so truely did the Word of the Almighty Son of God the Virgin of Gods Wisdom the disappeared Image of the Heavenly Humanity assume and unite with Mans Humane Soul Spirit and Tincture enter also into the Astral Vigor and Powers also enter and assume the Elementary Flesh and consecrat circumcise and hallow them and thus become one perfect compleat person God and Man 5. The decay of the Lungs is hard to be restored because applications thither are obstructed their Porter so curiously guards the entrance as that Air only may have admission wherefore the Wall is sometimes broken by Inscition to send injections to the part impaired tho' with great hazard But our Almighty Restorer hath entred the whole Man every crevice and secret of Soul and Body is all Superficies an open Field at Noon day to the Omniscience of gracious Love 6. When my dull Spirits a little penetrate this incomprehensible condescention my powers yield up themselves prostrate tremble and flame my Soul finds himself as one living among the dead it hath something to say and do which it wants apt Organs to express and prosecute And if my obscure Soul find himself unequally yoaked what a stoop did Infinite Goodness make to bear our griefs and take on him the chastisement of our peace be as a Lamb dumb before the Shearers Yea under the Merciless Murtherers and Tormentors pour out his Soul He hid not his sweet Face from shame and spitting that by his stripes we his cruel Enemies might be healed Q. 107. Wherefore would God became Man could he not forgive Man his Sins without becoming Man A. The Minds of Men have been very apt to err about the Doctrine of forgiving sin thinking it to be like verbal Remissions among Men or at a Bar of Judgment 1. One party pretend possession of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven by succession to Peter who himself had no promise of them but as he was one of the Apostles which when it was performed was to him and the rest alike Yet still that Party plead prescription and saying a form of words like a Charm great sinners are told they are pardoned yet probably by such who are often greater sinners than themselves 2. Another party less gross in words yet no less remiss in Practice and Conversation expect pardon of an Age of sins by a Death-bed pretended sorrow and words of hope and confidence in the Merit of the Lord Jesus without any conformity all their Life to his Death and Resurrection 3. Had the putting sinful Man into a Blessed state been so easie Would the only begotten Son of God have taken our disorder'd Souls and vile bestial Bodies born the Curse fulfilled all Righteousness encountred and been slain by Death a shameful death passed through a Sea of streights grief and pain exerted a Series of miraculous power No No. 4. Man was estranged from God had lost his noble Image was partly a Devil and partly a Beast it was then absolutely necessary he who alone was mighty to save should do all he did Or Man was past any help and all hope of Restoration and Pardon 5. Therefore did God become Man the Word was made Flesh to appease the wrath of the forms of the first principle by inkindling Divine Light in them therewith also was Mans Spirit which was like a Phantasm or like a foolish Night Fire inflamed with Sacred Love and Mans Astral and Elementary parts were Tinctur'd into a due Subjection to his more noble part as they to the Divine 6. Thus the great Captain entred through Death to break the Gates of it restoring the Virgin Image in our Humanity of himself he saith John 17. 19. And for their sakes sanctifie I my self that they also may be sanctified The pardon of sin produceth a mortifying of self a rising in a new Life a sacrificing every Lust a Love sickness to the Lord a War with the Enemies a Heart broken and melted a new tender one receiv'd this is true Gospel forgiveness Q. 108. How was the uniting of the Deity and Humanity in this becoming Man A. 1. God Created Adam an Image of the whole three principles both first and third fully illustrated by the holy second principle yet was his very third principle of the holy Paradisical Element wherein was the pure modest chaste Virgin of Divine Wisdom vouchsafed to Man as his Bride But neither is the Virgin holy Element nor Paradise God but the Virgin is the Tincture of the Light and the holy Element the Flesh and Blood of Christ whence was Adam and the Angels 2. These things foreknown way is made to answer the Divine secret sought after in this Question and requireth the Eyes of all the three principles as they stand in the
And why must his âide be open'd with a Spear out of which Blood and Water ran How do these signifie in the Figure A. 1. Christ being nail'd to the Cross a Plant or Product of the third Principle shews us how we are fixed to the loading burthensom part of that Principle whence we cannot dis-engage or free our selves though being over-loaden therewith we should greatly desire it but must patiently wait the whole time of our life till God shall do it 2. And as Christ refused not His Cross no not the carrying it though the Burthen exceeded the strength of His afflicted wounded Body for that one was compelled to help him to bear it thus neither should faln Man refuse his own nor help to bear another's Burthen 3. And as Christ refused neither to be nail'd to it nor did remove His blessed Body from it but thereon meekly poured out His very Soul and breathed out His Spirit and was taken off by others so will the regenerate Man spend and be spent for his God 4. And as out of Adam's Side being rent open went out a Female Property which Wound otherwise incurable was repaired by the piercing Jesus holy Innocent Side because as the separating the Female from the Male Property introduced so great an Evil the Consequence whereof was Deâilement Misery Lamentation and Wo. 5. So the piercing the Lord's Side was the opening the Divine Fountain whence issued Blood and Water that is the Virgin Tincture of Soul and Spirit the holy Fire and Light the first and second Principles in Inseparable Harmony which introduced that Good viz. the bringing forth Righteousness Salvation and sacred Love wherein consists the pure Heavenly Virgin Image that out of which Adam departed and died or disappeared to him the Bride of Christ and Joy and Delight of the Eternal World and General Assembly and Church of the First-born Q. 123. Why must Christ be reproached on the Cross A. 1. One accounted it the Complement of Misery when a Captive in much Torment begâd his severe Governess whose Slave he was in old Rome for Ease or some Mitigation who was so wholly regardless as to be all the while Painting her Face a Scene calculated very fitly to the present Mother of Harlots in Rome Antichristian 2. But what is the anguish and torture all Creatures are capable of if compared with this super abundant grief sorrow and load the weight of a World of Sin pressed our Lord with To all which that no part might be exempted was added that His blessed Eyes where Love and Mercy sate Triumphant and His Prayer-hearing Ears must see the scornful gestures of Prophane Heads wagging at Him in Scorn not bowing to Worship Him and hear the Taunts of vile and blasphemous Spectators the very Passers by and a Thier under Execution joyning to aggravate it So was the 53 of Isaiah fulfill'd in the 27 Matthew 3. And what shall we say was not the Cup bitter enough till cruel Mockings were wrung into it but thus it was that as Adam by the loss of his Innocence purity and brightness fell into guilt filthiness and scorn reproached by the Devils by the first and third Principles by the in of Cain his own and the rest of his sinful Posterity by every Essence whence he fell and every separate unclean Property into which he fell All this did He who hid not His Face from Shame and Spitting receive as if it had been His own Due and His own Procurement 4. And into this Shame Mocking and Reproach must every Child of the Regeneration submissively enter and accompt it their peculiar Privilege to suffer their own Shame by the Lord's designation we suffer righteously yet the Lord calls it a suffering for Him 5. His reproach was Moses Riches and the Apostles Joy His Chains are all pure Gold but all the Lord's Children must remember that their Cross is fully as long as themselves being the Principle into which they fell and that they are nail'd to it But though the Lord's Crown were Thorns there is at the End of our light and momentary Afflictions and Cross a Crown of Righteousness and Eternal weight of Glory coming by the meer free Gift of gracious Love Q. 124. Whether was also the Divine Power in the Blood which Christ shed or poured into the Earth Q. 125. Why did the Earth tremble when Christ bung on the Cross A. The latter of these Questions depends on the opening of the former so that one Answer will sâffice to both 1. The whole scope of the Gospel teacheth us that Christ was truly God and truly man for that the Deity graciously United it Self to the Humanity in the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus 2. We are also to know that though God may be distinguished as into three yet not at all divided Seeing therefore that God assumed the Humanity and became Man we may not after that Unity divide Him from that Humanity which He United himself with though we distinguish the Deity from the Humanity left we seem to divide Him from Himself What therefore God hath joyned together let no man put asunder 3. By the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ He Himself who is God Blessed for ever became a God-Man in an inseparable indissâluble Union And a little to disgress the Human Nature of us poor Men is so strongly allied espoused or betroathed and adopted by the same incarnation that it is most stupendious admirable and ravishing How can a poor Earthen Vessel bear the serious contemplating of it 4. For were Man sensible how near God is to us who as of our selves are wretchedness and vanity in the abstract it must be with the regenerate Children as it was with the Women departing quickly from the Sepulchre with Fear and great Joy and with others as with the Souldiers they would be as dead Men. 5. But the third principle is an Eclipse to the prospect of the Soul awakened by the Sun of Righteousness and an allay to their holy affecting Meditations and is also a mitigation and flattering gilded Dream to the willingly deluded Captives 6. And now to step back to our Work we must say that the Humane Soul of the Lord Jesus being of Divine Conception was inseparable from his Deity therefore the Blood he shed for us Sinners had Divine power in it for that Souls Masculine Seed was out of the Fountain Spirits pure before God as of the Eternal Divine substance of the Holy Ghost 7. And as Fire kindleth combustible Matter So was the Feminine Seed he receiv'd from the Virgin Mary which was also our Soul according to which he is our Flesh and Blood and our Brother united and incorporated with the Divine substance maâing one Heavenly Humanity in an indissoluble Band. 8. Thus as a Child receiveth a Soul from the Souls of Father and Mother so this Heavenly Humane Soul of the Lord Jesus dwelling in his holy precious Blood was one and but one received from the Holy
Ghost and the Virgin Mary Therefore was it that when the Lord did shed his Blood for Mankind he is truly said to pour out his Soul that Blood being the Chariot of his Soul Also out of his side pierced by the Spear came Water the Signifier and Chariot of his meek pure Spirit of dear love and purity as the Blood of the Soul united unto the Infinite Spirit of Love 9. When therefore this Water and this Blood fell to the Earth the Divine power being in and with it caused the Earth to tremble the Rocks to rend from their dark Coagulation the Graves as Prisons to open For the captivating power which the Salitter from the Fall of the Angels sustained and was invaded withal causing rocky coagulation and the Curse and Death by the Fall of Man casting the Earth into a deadly sâupor and sterility was as it were dismay'd broken enfeebled by the holy powers coming on it 10. This could not be concealed but as Jordan fled from Eliah's Mantle the Graves ceased to be Prisons opening their Doors the joynts and cement of the Rocks were loosed and they clave asunder and the drowsie Earth awakened and trembled 11. For as the wrath had shut up the Divine power in the Creation in Death in an inactivity or obscurity So the Divine Love hath by his Conquest over Death on the Cross with irresistible Might and Puissance opened the Doors broke the Chains and proclaimed the acceptable year leading Captivity Captive Q. 126. What did the Darkness signifie which at that time came over all Nature A. 1. The Root of five of the other seven Planets is the Sun but Saturn hath a distinct Centre Now the Sun is out of the Magical Spiritual Fire and Light World and that Worlds Fountain is the incomprehensible power of the Fathers property and the inaccessible Light of the Sons property And the Spiritual World is figured imaged represented actuated and expressed by the Sun and Saturn Especially by the Sun as it were by a Nature God 2. And therefore as if you stop the Efflux of a Fountain the stream ceaseth or if the Sap be obstructed the Fruit soon feels the defect or if you withdraw the Face from before a Looking glass the Glass retains not but loseth it Thus was it that the Out-birth of the third principle was over-cast ceasing its Lustre at the instant of the Lords Passion 3. The things signified by it were 1. That as Adam departed out of the Eternal day into the temporary Darkness so did temporary Darkness here shoulder out or exclude the day And as Adam Exchang'd a blessed repose exact order perfect peace and sweet rest for a state of Enmity Horror Torment and Death So now did the Lord enter into the Death Enmity c. to pass us through into Life and Rest. Again as Adam went out of the holy first and second principles in to the Bestial separate prophane Out-birth so did the same Out-birth pass now into Death and Impotence discovering it self thereby to be only a shadow their Order and Beauty borrow'd and dependant wholly on the Internal World and that no Creature World or Angel hath a Self-sufficiency so least of all hath this which is but a Picture of Eternal things It also signified the wrath of the first principle invading the second or out-breathed holy Life prevailing to the shutting up the Eye of the third principle Yet that after three hours viz. from the sixth to the ninth viz. after a threefold domination in and over the faln Humanity the Soul the Spirit and the Astral or Elementary Man making the Divine Man âry out and plead that it also might not be forsaken straightway upon a second cry and a resignation made viz. the second principles out-breath'd Image entreth Death and âtrook it dead then the Internal Light figur'd by the outward riseth again Q. 127. Why did Christ in his Death commend his Soul into his Fathers Hand What is the Hand of God A. 1. As previous to this Answer it must be enquir'd 1. What may be understood by Souls in general then what by this most holy one 2. What various acceptation we read concerning the Hands of God And come to the direct Answer 1. Souls in general are 1. Sometimes intending the Eternal Soul distinct from Spirit and Body 2. Sometimes it means the Body distinct from both Soul and Spirit 3. Sometimes it 's understood of the Soul and Spirit distinct from the Body 4. Sometimes it extends to the taking in of the whole Man as of the most holy Soul Spirit and Body of the Lord Jesus Christ who yielding up himself wholly unto his Father was as a whole Burnt âffering or Lamb without spot Sacrificed as the one alone once for all and for ever intire Sacrifice and Altar also and Incense fully making Atonement and Entring once and thenceforth Eternally into the Holy of âolies 2. Thus as the true High Priest he entred the most holy place bringing in a new Priesthood of another Tribe viz. not of Levi but of Iudah also another order not of Aaron but of Melchizedeck by change of the Priesthood changing also the Law of direct necessity putting a period to figures as the daily Sacrifice the anniversary entring of the High-Priest into the holy place but rending the Vail c. 3. Of all which the Epistle to the Hebrews as that they were most immediately concerned to know doth copiously inculcate and convince 2. What may be understood by the Hands of the Father here spoken of 1. Sometimes it means his Mighty Power irresistible strength c. 2. Sometimes are signified by it his Infinite Omniscience and Omnipresence 3. Sometimes are intended his most wise and gracious ordering and providence 4. Sometimes it speaketh his most loving merciful careful preservation and shielding of his Children 4. In serious view of all which the Fathers Hands whereinto the Lord Jesus Bequeathed his Soul Spirit and Body may not only be taken in all these Acceptations but an infinitely more vast comprehension than all Creatures Saints or Angels can fathom or enumerate 5. Now to the answer it self be it known that the dear and only Eternal Son of the dear Eternal love of the Father having given his Disciples and all his purchas'd holy ones his peace for their incomparable privilege as the legacy of the Prince of Peace by Testament To the end it might never be frustrated ratified it by the Death of the Testator gives himself up wholly at once entring into death who himself was the Fountain of Life and breathing his last cry and groans into the Bosom or Hands of his Ever-living Infinitely-loving Omnipresent Father and thus through death re introduced life into the Humane Nature 6. And is it ask'd why It is answer'd Who but the whole Father could receive the whole Son Who less than the Infinite first principle could receive the Infinite second principle For tho'
wide open So that in the resignation it lives one Life with Christ in God and hath its passage through one Death with Christ to God and is in the Resurrection thus begun in one Spirit by the Eternal Spirit the heavenly Flesh and Blood or Humanity of Christ is its Food it is God's Body or Christ's Body the pure Element and Virgin of Wisdom and Modesty is his Companion 5. For thus his violent griping Astringency is sated by the Lord 's infinite giving yielding Power and Vertue this causeth him instead of violent Attraction to be like a water'd Garden breathing out his sweet Odours His Anger and Rage is foil'd and kill'd by calm serene Meekness Humility Patience and Sweetness His Envy by Love which grows to a kind of Emulation to give if it were possible more than any Saint or Angel yea as much if he could to God and for God as he receives from him 6. This Soul loseth himself for he is not his own but in an excellent sence is besides himself as the Brethren of the dear Jesus said of him and would have laid hands on him This Door thus opened gives such access that the Soul once and ever and once for all gives all without the least reserve and so hath nothing and yet then and for ever receives all and hath all for losing his own poor narrow miserable beggerly all he finds himself rich with Eternal fulness which still he surrenders with deepest Humility 7. But how can words export what the Soul cannot contain or broken Letters express what a broken Heart breaketh and melteth in the Contemplation of How can the shallow brutish outward Man fathom what the New and Spiritual Man is swallowed up with These things are the matter at the time of Sacrifice but what it is always the Hour of Prayer it is always the time of Sacrifice in this Temple Amen Q. 136. What doth the Pilgrimage or Journey of the two Disciples from Jerusalem to Emaus signifie where they complained in Anxiety for their Master and yet Christ walked among them and enquired of them and taught them and yet they knew him not A. 1. This Journey is fitly compared to that of Hagar who by leaving her Mistriss Sarah was in great Anxiety and then comforted and instructed by the Angel and shew'd the Well Lahairoy and that both with respect to Hagar whose hope concerning her only Son was like to the over-whelming sorrow of these two Disciples their only hope being on the Lord's restoring the Kingdom was reduced to a great degree of despair distrust and offence at their fail'd hopes Also with respect to the Angel appearing to Hagar at the needful time of her despair and which is the first recorded to have appeared So is this at as needful a time and on a most important Exigent of Despair and the first day of the Lord's Resurrection 2. And now founding the Discourse by alluding to this Parallel it will be obvious what signification this Historical Occurrence hath viz. That as Hagar figured the state of Bondage as did Mount Sinai which our Apostle teacheth us were an Alâegory Only by the way it may be noted had not so good Authority explain'd it thus but that the self same Exposition had been made of it by â Modern Pen though guided in some measure by the same Spirit our letter Wise men would probably have call'd it Enthusiaâm So doth this Journey of the two Disciples from Jerusalem to Emaus sigââfie the ãâã of a ãâã quitting Divine faithful waiting on God in any obscure Dispensation when the Providences are too deep and high for their faint feeble dull disquisition and reach then they depart from Abraham's abounding stedfastness of precious Faith to Hagar's dry Bottle of Reason but like Cleopas in Anguish say we trusted this Man should have redeemed Israel viz. this or that should or should not have been c. implâing their trust is expiring 3. The Bridegroom was taken from them now was the day of fasting and heaviness the Shepherd was smitten now were they scattered This was the hour of the power of Darkness such as God's Children usually meet with esâecially the beginners who having tasted a time of love think presently to have all they hope for Dreaming of the Journeys end at first setting out when conârariwise their Mr. is taken from their head inward or outward Temptations perhaps both like a Torrent sweep them downward 4. Then are they apt and usually do let go the exercise of the Divine Magia where Faith and Love support each other and betake them to the Astraâ Magia their own Reason where in disconsolate anxiety they shew their Hope is giving up the Ghost 5. The Lord 's joyning himself unto them signifies such a time of recollection as is a day neither dark nor light they are seen and that in mercy but their infidelity with-holds them from seeing It is neither Day nor Night their Understanding outruns their Eyes their Hearts burn but till farther discovery their fire gives little light but in the Evening it shall be light it was so with them viz. when our Reason the Issue and Child of the third Principle doth set as when their Evening was come then the true Eternal Light in Jesus discovers it self breaking the heavenly Bread and the same hour they return to Jerusalem 6. But let all such offended poor Disciples know the Lord may be with them while they are surrounded with Laments let them stay for he will not tarry long but if they wholly depart they may lye down sadly 60 Furlongs from Jerusalem as is too grievously to be seen in the Potent Eastern Nations who are lain down under the Doctrine of Siderial Reason their Regulation of the third Principle As far also as the Western World is with-held by Antichristian Maxims they feed upon Ashes the ârash and fictitious Formula's of the same third Principle joyn'd with the cruel Properties of the first 7. And lastly It must be noted that by the Lord 's appearing to them in their anxious state is sigâified the natural Production of Divine Power and Glory out of the anxious wheel the struggling of the four mighty Forms of the first Principle as out of its natural Root or Centre More might be said but none will deny that which is said to be according to the Analogy of Faith Q. 137. Why did Christ after his Resurrection first appear to a Woman and not to his Disciples A. 1. More generally 1. To shew his Prime and Particular regard to a Soul excelling in Love to God did he first shew himself to Mary Magdalen to whom much had been forgiven therefore she loved much And 2. it was to proceeâ in God's usual Method who standeth not in need of the Wisdom Ability and Excellency of Men to work his Designs but doth it for and in Babes and by them to and for others 3. Again to give preference to the Holy Zeal and Fervour which
Garden which he had often frequented The Judgment Hall where he had been reviled crown'd with Thorns mocked scourged and condemned Also Calvary where they mercilesly crucified Mercy it self remained all Monuments of the greatest Love and Patience and extream Malice and ferine Cruelty In this City which should have worn Sackcloth with these sad Objects and under these Rulers were they to dwell and be confined 4. 3. With respect to the time being that of the Bridegrooms being taken from them of their having Tribulation ten days the time when their Enemies were Flesht by having their Hands Embrewed in the Blood of the Lord Jesus As cruel wild Beasts tasting the Blood of their prey and the time before descending of power from on high to revive them 5 But they must wait on this service in this place at this time signifying to us that the time of the Christians Life is the exercise of Faith Obedience and Trial of the sincerity of Love a time of beholding sad Objects as was this of theirs of hearing sinful sounds the being harassed by Oppressive Rulers converse with or amongst malicious ensnaring dangerous Enemies inward Terrors and Tempests and outward Storms and Outrages from the powers of the dark World 6. So that the distressed Soul can find no succour or guidance from the Imaged Powers of the outward Astral World but must sink down from them and constantly wait the Breathings of the true speaking Light World left if the outward Magia be our level design and home the dark Magus do by it insinuate into us and we thereby form the will of the Spirit of this World into our Eternal Souls which neither can ââed them cloth them nor guide them but if thus they proceed till the four Elements fall off they shall find themselves miserably cheated This waiting of the Apostles directs us therefore to wait for the Whispers of the Word behind us so call'd we having gone out from it and turn'd our Backs on it Q. 145. What is the Feast of Pentecost How was the shedding or pouring forth of the Holy Ghost effected And how did the Bands of the Tongues of the Lords Disciples become unloosed A. 1. Our Fall in Adam brought us from the Paradisical Feasting to the toilsom Life to a state affording no other Food for the four properties of our first Principle which was the Centre of the Soul but the third Principle Which is rightly a feeding on Ashes and a Shadow If Men can live by looking on their own Picture so might Adam's Soul by the third Principle It was worse with him than it is with an Elementary Body who can subsist a little while by feeding on it self 2. Now the Feast of Pentecost was bringing back through the Lords Incarnation the vertue of the holy World viz. the Paradisical Bread and Water of Life for the Soul to feast on The true Flesh and Blood of Christs Heavenly Humanity this pure Water of Meekness is in the Soul a Well of Living Water springing up to Eternal Life 3. The pouring forth of the Holy Ghost was thus effected The Darkness into which the Soul had cast it self caused a violent anguish that anguish of its own Nature generates a fierce hungry Fire And higher than this the Humane Soul of its own ability since its Captivity goeth not Now such Souls as can get no satiety in the Spirit of their will from God but go to the third Principle do as Sâul who waited not for Samuel but considering his streights Offered a Burnt-offering himself and so lost the Kingdom But so did not the Lords Disciples for they waited till the Lord came Where is he that learneth the lesson this Mystery unfoldeth He shall hear and understand the things which none of the divided Languages can possibly express and sometimes may see and penetrate what it is not lawful to utter 4. Pluck out the Earthy guessing and pretended seeing stop the Ear against the delusive Charmer then shall not the outward Reason like the Sun dazle nor Thunder or the roaring of the Sea amuse the raging Waves shall be countermanded and thy Ark will be in inward Tranquillity 5. The pouring out of the Holy Ghost did enkindle the Souls Anguish and Fire into a Light and Divine serenity of meek Love Now as the blinking Lamp flaming from a small spark enlighteneth a little Boom and the greater Fire of a Torch yields a more eminent Lustre So the greater the Anguish the greater the Fire and the greater also is the Light when the Lord enkindles it to a Love flame that according to its exalted vivacity it be proportionably as it weâe Tinctured reaching hard after the Resurrection from the dead 6. Now were the Bands of their Tongues unloosed by their opening the power World in this World for by how much we are by wrath and death Captivated by so much are we impotent But where the Spirit of God unites with Mans Spirit it frees him from all restrictive Ligaments that with the Word there may be power But the following Question âreating of this Suâââct âoââ is not âeresaid to this third Branch Q. 146. How is the difference or distinction of Languages among them to be understood that they have all at one instant spoken all Languages at once in one sence so that people of all Nations understood them A. 1. Man's Fall cast him from the unity into the multiplicity Before which Fall he stood in the one holy power his Word being in God was by his Almightiness Mighty ruling in through and over the multiplicity his Words were as many Arrows in a Quiver penetrating all things As the Arrow out of a Bow of Steel doth the Air. But Mans Fall into the multiplicity disarm'd him render'd him impotent only some have a little power to see into one property some into another but were all Mens Abilities united it were but some pieces of the multiplicity far short of the Unity 2. Man is an Image of the whole Trinity and the Astral and Elementary Worlds Image Heavenly Things and Places while Man therefore kept his station he was in the Divine Centre but his departure thence dejected him into the circumference Wheel of Nature or Out-birth thenceforth was the Centre or Holy Fountain hid 3. The Lord Jesus Christ as he is the only Begotten Son of God is the Eternal speaking Word which may be understood to be Eternally generated out of the Eternal Father or first Principle as our four Forms or Anguishes generate naturally the Liberty or Light which is call'd the fifth This is the first Word the creating speaking holy Word from Eternity 1 John 1 2 3. 4. The next is the created Word the holy World wherein the Almighty Word doth through the Virgin of Divine Wisdom Image himself It may be compared to a holy Eternal Book whereof the Angels are Golden Letters sounded in Divine Harmony In which Book the Almighty with delight reads his own glorious ineffable tremendous
ready to imbitter our way double our crosses aggravate our scandals pervert our purposes and make much sorrowful if not shameful work for Repentance So that the Pilgrim who is in real earnestness had need to pray without ceasing bear his Lord's Cross tho' in anxiety of his own Soul live the life of humble Patience in passing through this so Thorny a path in our comfortless Desert beset with snares pollutions and deaths also to bear with the infirmities of others to shun Evil Influences from them and that the Love of our dear God may sink the price of our own Repute our desire of Ease and of our whole self that God and only God may be at last our all in all in us and over us which the God of Grace and Infinite Compassions assist us in unto the end Q. 175. What will the Holy or Saints and Damned each of them do and leave undone A. 1. The blessed Iacob Behmen's Answer of the 32 Question of the 40 Questions of the Soul sheweth the condition and glory of Souls in the Life to come and the Answer of the 34th of those Questions telleth the miserable horrible Estate of the Damned The Answer of the 167 of these Questions treats of what concerns the Holy Ones and the 168th is of the Wicked as is also the 9th verse of the 166. On this Subject review the 170 Answer 2. Yet without reciting the Reviews something must be added That the Holy Ones being gathered into the Unity do the work of the one in their various measures and having one Will with the Eternal One have a proportion of the Wisdom and Power of the one and in That Wisdom and Power can enter into the Variety and as the Variety is part of the Infinity they have a creaturely prospect and open door into the Infinity 3. And for as much as they are the Image of all the Principles and an exquisite composition of all the Properties therefore when the Resignation of their Will in Jesus Christ translates them into the Kingdom of God what can then withhold it self from them but that all the Properties should operate triumphantly in them Only this is their limit that as their Life is the Holy Kingdom they can skill nothing but the Works of the Principle wherein the Holy Kingdom standeth but yet are comprehensive of all the Principles in the manner of Creature-comprehension according as when the Three in One was the profound Harmony before the speaking forth of the Multiplicity but they cannot see into much less Image in themselves the separate impure divided Properties as neither can the Outward Sun see Darkness tho' the Eye thereof go into every Country because where ever it looks the Darkness disappears so that in the Light the Image of Darkness cannot be impressed tho' the Light can impress its Image on the Darkness and shine in it 4. And seeing the General Assembly of the Lord Jesus Christ the first-born hath the Power Wisdom and Love of the first-born in an Eternal Community as the Natural Body hath the Animal Vital and Nutritive Spirits in an intire Community what then can be too mysterious for them to contemplate for in themselves is the Echo or Pulse beating of every thing World and Existence they can therefore at once as it were diffect every thing and what can be too strong for them to sway who are in Jesus Christ compleatly furnishâ with ability for working the works of God which is the highest Good the most excellent Creature is capable to do or to will 5. Now to tell what the Damned do and leave undone is unfolded by knowing 1. The Principle in which they are comprehended 2. Themselves 3. By knowing and considering God 1. The Principle they are shut up in is the first the strong might of the dark Abyss consisting of the fierceness of the four Anguishes they are everlastingly under those Adamantine Chains and must needs leave undone those things which are out of the reach of that Chain And it may be understood thus there are Lands and Seas near both Poles where the extremity of condensed cold arrests the Seas and they are an Icy Rock and the Lands and Mountains are bound by Stone-cleaving Frosts and under a Region of Snow so that Sea and Land are in a fixt Barren inactivity and while continued darkness dwells on it the Principle of the dark Abyss as sever'd from the other Principles is in part figur'd by it 6. 2. By considering the Damned themselves they are as utterly unable to enkindle the least glance of Divine Light in them as the Icy Seas and Mountains of dark Frost are to create to themselves another Sun and Fructifie to the production of the Rich Vertues and Ornaments of Eden the Garden of God 7. 3. By considering the Holy God from whom as he is the Infinite Goodness the One Gracious Will and Abyss of Love they have rent themselves and become dead to his Divine Life and at the same instant are become alive to his Wrath As one awaking to rage and fury dies to patience and meekness hereby they become a sweet savour to the hunger of that anger as it is written upon the wicked it shall Rain Snares Fire Brimstone and an horrible Tempest for the Righteous God loveth Righteousness The rise progress and perpetuity of the fierceness of Gods Wrath tho' an Eternal Principle is yet Gods strange Work and is their only Work wholly their Life tho' a dying one their Centre and home tho' a horrid one 8. All they think is confusion and distracting Anguish all they do is the outward Expressions of their inward fierce Impressions they are resisting the Infinite Power of Omnipotence and in their fixt Enmity against the Gracious Holy Love of God are united and become one with the Devils in the Principle of Gods devouring Fire and consuming Fierceness As Molten Glass hath one will with the Fire to scorch and burn as it And tho' Damned Humane Creatures and Devils are one with themselves and one with in or under the Principle of the wrath of God it is not with them as with Molten Metal which by the action of the Fire are made conforming Passives and all the contrariety hereunto evaporated separated or transformed into it for Man was Imaged in a Divine Pure Paradisical Principle with all the three Principles powerfully fixt For the Creator willed not to lose the end of his Creation having given him a Soul rooted in the Eternal Band of the forms of the first Principle a Spirit out of the Eternal Substance of the Light a Tincture out of the Spiritual World and a Body out of the Eternal Nature whereof the Astral Heavens are a figure So that his second Principle is not volatiâe or evaporable tho' capable of being darkened nor his third Principle so to be separated as to be annihilable tho' Mortal for a time therefore the fiery Property of the Soul is such as subsisteth
Let me Oh thou God of my Spirit neither begin much less end with the outside washing which is my self washing of my self But let my Soul my Inside my Heart Will Designs Desires and my secret Thoughts be washt by thee for without that I have no part in thee Let this washing last longer than the possibility of my polluting my self can endure and let me be washt from my self which is the foulest sink on this side Hell Then and not till then shall I know what the Water above the Firmament is and can do for such a black Creature who of himself must cry unclean unclean On the 27th Question and Answer Of the Male and Female Kinds Whence is their Desire to each other And of the necessity of it 1. We are taught to pray Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven But seeing that Man hath now by dividing the Tinctures who till then Imaged the Divine Kingdom got such a will as is on Earth among the Brute Beasts losing the Heavenly Image what remains but that the will be taught subjection and long for groan after earnestly desire and accordingly pray to be restored here to be as they are in Heaven where by the reunion of the Tinctures they Image their God Yet tho' the Rent of the Tinctures be irreparable in the bulk of Mankind here and that God of pity to his Creatures hath extracted Good out of Evil bearing by Divine Patience that in Man whereof Nature it self as deprav'd as it is shameth at It nevertheless remains our Souls Work and Duty to learn what his dear disappear'd Virgin Image is studiously and sollicitously to seek that his first Love the Free Woman the Jerusalem from above which withdrew when Adam slept bitterly to bemoân that loss and account the finding that precious Pearl worthy of all pains care and highest diligence and having found it then to sell all to buy it 2. But now my Soul seeing thou art so Beastly in thy Earthy Elementary and Astral part infecting thy noble Eternal part behold with abhorrence thy filthiness by a true impartial Glass Where is the Modesty of a Virgin state which doth the will of God in Heaven That purity which descended from Heaven and when Men became degenerate returned thither Why hast thou suffered the Virgin to wait at thy Door and Window calling as to her Bridegroom Exciting sometimes a Transport of Love other times shame again Joy to Trembling or Grief to Astonishment Finding thy self in so strange a Lodging as was Nebuchadnezzar when a Beasts Heart was given him If thou compare thy self with thy self in some days past perhaps thou maist flatter thy Judgment into Partiality and if thou compare thy self with others seeming more filthy thou maist be apt to pride thy self but if thou reflect on thy pollutions and the pure holy Virgin how great will be thy monstrosity how wretched vile and naked Come therefore daily to this perfect Standard just Balance true Glass and bewail thy defection bear the shame of thy deformity be humbled to the Dust as great Malefactors and miserable Captives whom nothing but Death can set free and redeem are dejected 3. And will nothing till Death intirely free me O my God and that my Soul hath no share of the natural Death which could it taste would only reprieve not deliver Let therefore that Death of Death the Mysterious Death of the Cross which opens the Door to the first Resurrection be powerfully vouchsafed so shall I be saved from this Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth and my Heart and Mouth be fill'd with thy pure praises for ever On the 28th Question and Answer Of the Principles of the Spirit of this World 1. The Psalmist meditating the frame of his Body saith it is fearful and wonderful The Fabrick of the whole Creation must needs be so likewise for 't is a Mirrour shewing evidently and distinctly all Worlds Powers and Properties not as a dead record but in a living Image by an Articulate voice with as many demonstrations and Tongues as here are forms All convincing that Man of great stupidity who sees not God hears not his voice reads not Lectures of his Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness in this his Theatre The day is the Child of the second Principle the Night derives its Fountain from the first time is not fatherless the Principles of the Spirit of this World being various such must needs the Creatures be 2. It went with Man as with one drunk regardless of the top of the Stairs missing the first falls down all the rest or as one sleeping on the Brow of a Precipice or brink of a River whence if he tumbles it is to the bottom thus he who should have had Dominion over the Astral Powers losing the Reins is not only hurried by them but subjected to the Extremities of the Elements and domineer'd overby the sickly Humours Wants and Excesses of the Bestial Flesh and corrupting uncleanness of this Bag of Worms 3. If thou my Soul delightest in this 't is as a Fool in throwing Darts art thou proud of thy Bodies features as well may an unsound Man of his Ulcers or a Vassal of his Shackles thus to be present in the Body is to be absent from the Lord whose gracious presence removed makes Hell Return then Oh my Soul my Spirit and my Inward Powers into your rest live in the incombustâble Body put on the Humility Modesty and Sacred Flaming Love being the Heavenly Flesh of Jesus Christ then will this Worlds Spirit own Subjection no longer be a Clog or Lord but a Staff and Servant To this O thou Almighty Arm strengthen me O thou Glorious Sun inlighten me O thou Sacred Breath enliven me for without thee what can I do who am faln to be weakness darkness and dead under this outward Worlds Tyranny On the 29th Question and Answer Of the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things 1. The Psalmist complains I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me but the Sperm or Seed of all things is without iniquity standing in the fifth form of Fire being in its Existence a Mirror wherein the Abyssal Will beholdeth it self and in its operation a transition unto or imager of the Multiplicity 2. But how much doth Man who was created Good by seeking out many Inventions run against the order of Nature for out of the dark Earth sprout excellent Vegetatives with various cheering Odours delightful Colours and âasts and nourishing Vertues out of the Mortal Waters are generated vast numbers and kinds of Fish also Amber Pearl Coral c. all more excellent than the Water their Mother which is corrupt as is the Earth Yet Man tho' proceeding from an Immaculate Sperm or Virgin Seed originally is become vile and filthy moving retrograde and is more and more degenerate earthy sensual and devilish 3. Wert thou O my Soul the Image of thy God how wouldst thou
hath a good Constellation at the time of the Spirits awakening it gives him a Friendly lovely outside whereby such a one can give good flattering words from a false heart for he dwelleth in two Kingdoms in this World is he a History Hypocrite and his Soul in the Anger Kingdom with the Devils 8. But the Grace of God appeared by Christ's becoming Man to bring our Human Souls out of Death and the Abyss of Anger into the Tenth Number the Eternal Tincture to be again the Similitude of God upon the Cross whence the Soul originated And then when the Soul is turned into the Will of God in great Humility having Christ's Body it passeth through Death or from Death to Life in the Death of Christ through the Anger of God into the Ninth Number before the Holy Trinity and is imbraced by the Majesty The great open Gate of Antichrist 9. Antichrist in Men professing Christ is a contrary will to the Divine Will yet a Counterfeit of it but as the Soul becomes born of God more or less in such proportion the renewed Will quits the Principles and Dictates of corrupt Reason and self Desires cover'd by Hypocrisie and by a sincere faithful Love rooted in the Life of Christ a holy Flame of self-evidencing Light ariseth giving a distinct discovery of Antichrist before which it falls and by which it is destroy'd for the going from Antichrist is the going from the Fire into the Light The highly Precious Gate also the Gate of Immanuel 10. Is it askt How can Christ's Body be ours How can we dwell in the Body of Christ It is Answer'd As we have Adam's Flesh Soul and Spirit which Christ becoming Man hath yet remaineth God but receiv'd in the fair Virgin of Wisdom the Eternal Flesh which Adam's was before dividing of the Properties and the Property of our earthy Flesh so Christ's Soul is ours and his Body ours and his Virgin ours whereby we live in Christ when we give up our selves to him wherein also he liveth in us and will at last present us wholly pure with the Heavenly Flesh Blood Tincture and Majesty of Christ. Thus also he liveth in us and we are his Members Temple and Body 11. Where one saith Here is Christ and another There it is because they have lost the Key for the Body and Blood of Christ is in the Eternity and not shut up by space or place but as the Sun shineth from East to West and whose Light fills the World how much more doth Christ fill every part of his Incarnation And when we desire his Flesh and Blood we receive it and are fed by it for as the Father gives Being and upholdeth all so the Son gives Vertue and Light The Congregation of Christ is in every Nation where Men turn from their Sins to God be they Greeks Turks Asians Africans c. God respects not Persons nor Opinions but seeks the Heart those who call on the only true God in plain Simplicity are in Christ but the Tyrannous Proud Covetous Malicious Blood-thirsty Antichrist with their endless Contentions and Disputations offend the Heathens whose Life and Customs are far more Innocent and Pious and when Antichrist's Lyes have stifled him broken his Murthering Sword and laid him in the Pit then shall Christ feed his Lambs and the Turk be of the Fold of the Lambs 12. The whole World is full of God the inward holy Life dwelleth in God and the inward dark Abyss standeth in God's Wrath the strife is which may Image us into it self in this outward Life here God sets Light and Darkness before us and all the teaching here is to warn of the severe Property of the Fire for every thing hath Free-will with an Inclination to its Property therefore we must either embrace the true Good or the certain Evil. Young Children are our School-masters with all our Cunning we are but Fools to them who first play with themselves and after one with another this the Devil grudg'd us and made us fall out at our Play and so we quarrel till we go to sleep and then others Act over again the same quarrels and all is about a defiled Garment which yet is not ours while we should obediently search for a new fair Garment when amongst the Roses Lillies and Flowers we shall in our own Country sing the Song How the Driver who did set us at variance is captivated CHAP. XII Of the true Christian Life and Conversation What Man is to do c. COnsidering well the 34 first Verses of this 12th Chapter it may be comprised mostly in these words He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God The Way we must walk through this World into the Kingdom of God We must if we will so walk Crucifie Self Repent Convert from Evil hourly pass out of Death into Life we must not take pleasure in our selves but so humble our selves before the clear Countenance of the Trinity before whom we always stand and look on Jesus who always sitteth on the Rainbow in us I say we are so to converse without Self-pleasing that our ways may please God the heavenly Hoasts and Man The rest of this sweet Chapter is of various and copious Rules and Monitions yet so conspicuous that the perusal is rather to be recommended than the particulars extracted Only this asserteth That a Self-defence against outward Force or War having only a desire of Self-defence is not against God for he whose House is on Fire may quench it CHAP. XIII Of Christ's Precious Testaments the Lord's Supper and Baptism 1. VVHEN Christ's Apostles and Disciples met together after fervent Exhortation of one another They took brake divided amongst them and did eat Bread in commemoration of Christ's giving his Body for us on the Cross as himself had commanded So also took they the Cup in their hand saying one to another Take this Cup and drink the Blood of our Lord which he shed on the Cross for Remission of our Sins to shew forth his Death till he come again to Judgment and bring us into himself This was the true great Paschal Lamb inââituted by Christatier they had eaten the Passover 2. He gave them and they did eat and drink his Flesh and Blood not his earthy and mortal Flesh and Blood to be chewed with their earthy Teeth and swallow'd for that Body of his was not divided amongst them but he gave them his immortal holy Body and Blood new and unknown to the earthy Man yet which did hang in or was United to the outward on the Cross this holy Body became as a Body to their Souls making them his Members 3. As the Eternal Virginity Substantiality and Wisdom wherein was the promised Word gave it self into the perished Tincture became a new Man at the Incarnation in the Virgin Mary so the new Body of
Concerning the first Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Abyss of the Father distinct from the second and third is understood to be an eternal indissoluble band and Original to Potence a center or root of substance an earnest longing to the birth of the majestick Light or Lustre an austere vigour like an eternal infinite hot and cold fire That this is so and in some measure what it is may be shewed to the very Senses 2. Demonstration The insensitive Creatures witness it The Rock where grows the Diamond the Oar whence proceeds the Gold the shell in which is fed the Pearl the Earth whence issue forth the plants do all figure their root the darkness or first Principle their substantial root center basis or immovable foundation 3. Again the Elements have the cold and heat to be founded on representing this Principle called the Eternal Darkness for from the degrees of cold and hot fire proceed not the Earth and Stones only but Air and Water 4. Lastly The Astral World whence spring the Elemental figures the same darkness as is most evidently seen in some of the Royal Stars called Planets Saturns condensing strong binding contraction impresseth in Lead Stone c. a dry hard and hardly to be penetrated weight so doth Mars confer on Iron c. both are substantial figures of the same Eternal Principle 5 Demonstration of the first Principle is in the Sensitive Creatures both evil and good The evil whose hurtful properties of venom stings poisonous fierce and cruel qualities shew they originate from the dark Principle and some of them especially love darkness some of them also are outwardly dark as that dangerous reptile called in some parts the Blind-worm c. 6. It is seen also in good Sensitive Creatures either as they partake of the hurtful property by being soon moved to choler and then mischievous and vindictive or else as the dark Principle takes hold of them clogging them with sluggish inactivity and depressed limbs dark bodies rough hides c. 3 Demonstration It is evident in Intelligent Creatures for into this Principle of Might and Potence the Pride of the Devils cast them in which their light being extinct they are shut up for ever 8 Demonstration It is evident in Rational Creatures viz. Man whose sad fall brought his human Soul which originated out of this Eternal Principle yet illustrated by the second to so great a degree into this that such men as shall continue Rebels to the Light of the Son of God which on Man's fall was inspoâââ again do remain a plain and terrible figure of this first Principle in the dark impression on their Souls for they being hardened and fixt in disobedience are as sealed up in utter enmity against the Divine Kingdom of Love and Purity 9 And such mens bodies are the drudges of their darker minds being as truly a figure of the Eternal Darkness as are those bodies of the hurtful Animals 10. But which is also to be bewailed the Children of the day have in the unmortified part of their Souls too lively Characters of this first Principle and their Bodies are made like those of the Elementary Creatures subject to vanity travelling in pain and distempers till as the effect of all comes the anguish of death for they are fallen under the Regiment of the Astral evil influences till their mortal shall put on immortality by the grace of the second Principle the free mercy of God in Jesus Christ. 11. As for the disobedient that climb up into the first Principle or fall into the third Principle shutting their Eyes against the second they must ever bear the Image they here conformed their minds to and grow up in for man having his root in the Power that is without beginning can find no end Oh therefore that we were wise that we understood this that we would consider our latter end 12. The out-birth into which Adams fall hath cast our mortal bodies is signified by the Earthen Vessels which having toucht some legally unclean thing could not be made clean and purified but must be broken such is the mortal body of all the Children of Adam 13. But those Vessels which were of Brass or other metal being washt c. were become clean for Metals are one step higher more noble deriving from the Astral Powers more immediately and with a purer tincture more simple less volatile than our fleshly Tabernacles CHAP. XII Of the Second Principle in four Demonstrations 1. THE Divine Wisdom and that of this World are on terms of hostility hence was it that when the Lord himself in the flesh preacht Salvation his Divine Wisdom explicated by the most familiar Parables highest Evidence and more than Angelical Skill was derided and blasphemed by many not of the lower ruder sort only but by the Rabbâes men skill'd in the Law of God according to the letter men of parts zealous and outwardly holy the Guides of the multitude men according to the Law blameless But the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus was understood very well by all such tho' otherwise weak in whom the love of it wrought obedience to it and who by the Spirit of Holiness were taught to refuse the pleasures of sin To them no Yoke so easie as Christ's nor any Load so unsupportable as that of sin These knew what it was to be born again without and not of the will of the flesh And Christ's Life and Doctrine was plain and so is still to such and none but such 2. If any such shall peruse these Lines their inward senses being unlockt they if they press after this Principle with earnestness may find it informing enlightning and assisting them 3. But to the full these are fulsom and offensive to the wise they are folly for this Principle divests them of their own self-will before it inducts them into the universal holy will And if Divine Discourses lead not to cleanse the heart it cumbreth the head and cloys the appetite and so Men do with Truths as Children with Birds either they crush them or let them fly away 4. But tho' the glory of the second Principle be so much above fallen Man's reach yet such efficacy hath it on the whose Creation as is demonstrable to any rational Creature for God hath not left himself without witness by giving Rain c. 5. To discourse this where may we not begin for it is every where infinite It is the glory in the Infinite Abyss of the Father It gave Glory Purity and the Vertue of the Angelical World It also gave the third Principle in this out-birth all the Excellency and Beauty it hath in it only the hellish Principle hath shut it self up from it and is dead to it 6 Demonstration That tho' no Language can express it yet every one that is regenerated doth in such measure as he hath attained the Regeneration know this for he liveth in it The
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
spark like the whole Origin a clod like the whole Ball. CHAP. XVI Man's Estate before his Fall 1. MAN being ranged a little lower than the Angels yet with one Principle more hath a Spirit penetrating as theirs if brought into an earnest hunger to search and knock Let none forbid so doing for God delights to be sought and known by such can he be most loved and admired that most discover of him 2. And those his Children who know most clearly what they fell from will strive most to be recovered and those that penetrate deepest into that dismal plight whereinto they have plunged themselves must needs be most profoundly Humbled and Those that find the prosecuting of their own Wills to be a Fighting against God their Restorer will be easiest prevailed with to lay down their Arms Die to their Wills Resign themselves to His Conduct Repair to His School Bear His Yoke at any price Buy the Pearl Fight the Battle of Faith that they may lay hold of Eternal Life Wisdom calls They only are the Sons of Wisdom who will hear I come now to the following most Important Points and Enquiries 1. What Man was before his Fall 2. By what degrees he fell 3. What Fallen Mans Estate was and is 4. What may be his Recovery 1. Concerning Man's Estate before his Fall 3. God made Man in or after His Image as hath been shewn how he was God's Image viz. an Extract out of all the Three Principles The Ignorance whereof befel Audeus in the fourth Century after the Incarnation who said God had Hands and Feet 4. But God's Image was to express in Adam that He had in Harmony His whole First Principle and all things subordinate to It so that the four Forms did mightily establish him and This Harmony stood by the Love-Fire and Holy Light of the Second Principle by which also he could Rule over his Third Principle 5. He was so perfectly God's Image as that he was capable of Eternity without any necessity in his own constitution to make him obnoxious to Mortality Else how is his Death denounced the Penalty of his Disobedience 6. Nor could he be clogg'd before he fell with a Dark Body stuft with the Elements and built upon Bones to bear it up as may appear by four Evidences Evidence 1. The Elemental Fruits are Mortal therefore are proper Food to support the Transitory Creatures that feed on them Evidence 2. Bones proceed as Stones also do from the too hard coagulation of the Astringency producing in the Saline Element the Principle of Mortal Salt Evidence 3. The food from the four Elements requires a gross Elementary Carcass to digest and draught to evacuate their Earthy Part both inconsistent with the Purity and Eternity of Paradise Evidence 4. The Elements themselves pass into their Ethers and cease as to their present Existence when the Mystery shall be fulfilled and the End hath found the Beginning 7. Adam was a Virgin of Purity with both Masculine and Feminine Tinctures as is evident for 't is said when Adam only was made Male and Female created he them so compleat was He as able to Increase and Multiply and Blessed thereunto v. 28. By both Tinctures not by two Persons for Eve's being made is not recorded till Gen. 2. 21. 8. Will any say Adam and Eve were made at once Gen. 1. 27. Gen. 2. 28. but only the Order more at large given 9. It is answered by the Holy Ghost where the Apostle convinceth by One Argument the reasonableness of the Woman's Subjection because of the Priority of Man's Creation 10. This must also be noted the Woman was not given him as were the Females to other Creatures Also that before her being made God said all was Very Good Rested from his Creating work Blessed a Sabbath Planted Eden Watered it caused it to Grow and the Sacred Records name the Rivers and several quarters whitherward their Effluxes directed themselves what Lands they washed c 11. But farther that the Propagation of Adam's Race should have been by Adam alone is demonstrable among many other produceable by the following Arguments 12. There was no Rending of the body to have been for Rending is inconsistent with the Happy Perfect Eternal State of Union dividing the Properties caus'd Enmity as in Heat Cold c. 13. The hanging on him the Bestial Genitals is That whereof Nature it self as depraved as now it is is Ashamed of and Blusheth at The Soul hideth it self all it can from This Monstrous filthy Brutish Deformity which it would not do had it been it self of no higher Extraction This the very Fallen Man well sees to be a New Strange Hateful Image whereto therefore It would not be subjected by the Creation 14. The Law of Circumcision on That Member shews God's displeasure at That New gotten way like the Beastial Propagation 15. The Lord Jesus His preferring the Chast Virgin Life tho' of pity to our Impotence and Infirmity restraining them only to it to whom power is extended thereunto signifieth as himself said in another case not very forreign to this that in the beginning it was not so 16. The sad and affonishing Effect as the first fruit of Copulation after dividing of the Tinctures was when Eve brought forth Cain she said I have got a Man from the Lord more truly rendred I have got a Man The Lord intimating that she thought That Son was the Seed promised should break the Serpent's Head But he prov'd as the Seed of the Serpent the Murtherer of him who bare the Image of the promised Seed which was so great a consternation that she conceived no more till after 70 years 17. The disregard God sheweth towards That Divided Image who also in the Transgression shewed a disregard towards the Inhibition of the Most High God which disregard for Humbling That Sex appears 1. By enjoyning Their Subjection and she to have power on her Head because of the Angels that is to say Those flaming glorious Virgins in whom the Tinctures are in inseparable Union are God's immediate Vicegerents and would not that the separate Tincture should forget its Declension and forgo or surmount its Station but be Modest Submissive and Humble 2. By not admitting them any Token of Resumption into the Covenant under the Law whereas the Males had That of Circumcision 3. By admitting and enjoyning only the Males to Worship at Jerusalem thrice every year and when the Women came they came only into a Court at the Lord's House more remotely scituate than the place for the Males 4. By the little mention of the bringing forth any Woman before the Floud and without Record of the Age of any Woman in the whole Old and New Testament Sarah only excepted 18. The Law of Uncleanness after Child-bearing shews how impure This way of Propagation is for the Woman having brought forth a Man-child was unclean seven days and to
continue without touching any hallowed thing or approaching the Sanctuary 33 days But if she had a Maid-child her Legal Uncleanness was for fourteen days and not to be purified till sixty six days Whereas seven days sufficed for cleansing a Leper or one who had an Issue Those on the eighth day might come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation as before 19. All which evinceth the Human Birth by the Woman to have much more in it than bodily Pollution since separating the Tinctures For the Leprosie was a bodily Pollution in a high degree but the cleansing the Woman being near Five times as much for a Man-child and near Ten times as much for a Maid-child is a too pregnant Testimony that the Impurity of This Propagation is exceeding great which moved David's Confession I was Born in Inquity and in Sin did my Mother Conceive me 20. Man's Propagation after Separating the Tinctures is defiled with much Immodesty and Lust so that it derives Filth Sin and Shame as by a Torrent down a Precipice from one Dark Soul to another For abating the Impetuousness of which Isaac the Son of the Promise was not only of Abraham when Old but of Aged Sarah with whom it was ceased to be after the manner of Women and Lust was withered and the eminent Joseph Samuel and other choice Servants of God were of great Modesty and obtained by Prayer 21. But at once fully to convince us of our Impure Descent from Adam and Eve the Lord Jesus was of the Virgin CHAP. XVII Of a Virgin-Propagation Q. 1. WILL any ask Could a Virgin-Propagation possibly have been A. The Lord speaketh nothing in vain and He it was that said God is able of These Stones to raise Children unto Abraham But 2. It is answered That tho' the above Arguments may challenge the force of Demonstration to enlightened Reason yet because the Senses often make Mutinous Resistance to solid Reason the Senses shall be by what follows gratified as far as the Sublimity of the Subject may expose it self to the view and touch Demonstrations to the Senses of a Virgin-Propagation 3. Light with little loss penetrateth Glass so plentifully as can improve Generation by contraction of its Central and Original Property thro' Burning-glasses by which also it can destroy as 't is said Archimedes did the Roman Navy at Syracusa and we see Light not only walking thro' Christal but Multiplying by the Motion 4. And can any think Adam's Pure Body whilst capable of Eternity had not Less in it obstructive to his Magical Will for Divine Imployment or rather More Assisting Power than Condensed Ponderous Glass or Christal have of opposition or furtherance of the Solar Raies Was not His whole Man fortified by Harmony for Vigorous Operations 5. See we not the subtle Atoms of Fire insinuate thro' the Pores of Gross Iron Pots to the evaporating of Liquor with the ascending Breath whereof the subtle fiery Atoms cloath themselves and take wing till only Dregs uncapable of Light be captiv'd in the Pot and finally the Iron become Lustrous as if it also willed no longer to be Iron but Fire and Light See we not Fiery Atoms as calmly enter the finer Pores of Silver Vessels and with like facility make passage through the most exquisite Pores of Golden Vessels 6. And should not That Glorious Creatures Body a glimpse whereof was Moses Shining Face and Wondrous Works have been more Potent to work His Creators Will in His Own Principle than these Dead Instances Consider we also the Healing Emanations from the Bodies of the Disciples as the Power of Raising the Dead c. 7. See we not the due affection of the Blood drawn out of the Veins with That remaining in the Veins And if That which issued out at one Orifice be kindly treated abroad how it dispatcheth quick Messengers to impart the Vertue thereof not only to that Wound whence it issued but to as many other as the Body hath suffered by 8. And shall we abridge the Magical-Child of the kind Assisting Intercourse of Its natural Parent of what the Absent Man and Cold Blood is privileged with 9. A Woman Great with Child doth often Impress Magically on the Fruit of her Womb Cherries Strawberries c. things She Longed Earnestly for as well as other tokens of âll Created by her Passions of Fear others do Mortally Wound by their Anguish Despair c. Others Exalt to expressions of Joy by the raised Serenity of the Mother's Spirit as the Babe in the Womb of Elizabeth leapt at the Salutation of the Virgin Mary 10. If therefore such Vigour remain as the Relique of Languishing Magick-Power in so great a degree Dead and almost forgotten and that in the weaker Sex of the divided Tincture of Mortal Man when Rowsed shall any doubt but That sufficient Virtue and Majesty Sate enthroned in Adam whilst perfectly Enriched and Ennobled with both the Tinctures Who was a Spark of God's Omnipotence Divinely to effect what His Creator blessed him to viz. to Multiply the New Race bearing God's compleat Image instead of the Apostate Angels who by extinguishing the Kingdom of Love implanted in their Creation had let loose awakened and introduced into themselves the Wrath of the first Principle and so perverted God's Holy Work by the Wrath of the first four Spirits 11. We see an Ability of Propagation in the Universal Sperm issuing at the Conduct Pipes of the three Principles The Eye observes it in Shell-fish Trees Flowers Herbs having their various kinds in their respective Seeds with their Tinctures of Male and Female united or Fire and Light in one And though these last the Vegetative Tribe be more remote than the Sensitive yet every one gives Pregnant Testimony to illustrate and lead to the most Noble 12. And shall any think Man whose Original exempted him had he persever'd and fixt and set him on high far above the reach of any the least approach of Mortality as Sorrow Weariness Sickness Sleep could admit the Defect of any thing that might tend to impeach his Perfection Should not he be fully able to perform all the Parts of what might concern the perpetuating his Race by communicating his Heat and Light as the Sun doth his in pure Modesty and highest humble Love that his Divine Offspring might have assisted in that holy Paradisical Imployment 13. It seemed needful to be thus Large to be a High and Powerful Incitement to all the Sons of Wisdom to fix their Souls on noble Divine Objects by the Example of the Sons of Princes who level at Kingdoms 14. Let therefore the Sons of God pity and pray for and never envy gods of clay who covet Crowns of glittering Earth stuft with Thorns washt with Tears and Blood of oppressed Innocents often supported by Fraud and not seldom blown off by the breath of Curses justly caus'd 15. At best the centre of Cares surrounded by ravennous hungry Vultures I say Let not
the Children of the Day cast their Eyes on these nor suffer themselves to be encircled and enchanted with such Mockeries but set their whole Hearts on the Everlasting Inheritance forfeited by Adam and Eve but redeemed by the Promised Seed the Humble Son of the Eternal Virginity the Glorious Lord Jesus 16. This hath also been the larger insisted on to keep us in constant Self-abasement that every of us hath so Prodigally wasted our Heavenly Portion and fed among Swine Abandoned our dear pretious Virgin Image of Purity and Modesty and become Shameless and Filthy with the Deformity of the Lustful Beasts that have no Law Also to facilitate explicate and introduce what follows which is to Enquire according to the Method proposed CHAP. XVIII Of some Steps by which Adam declined towards his heavy Fall 1. THAT Man having both Tinctures was perfect Male and Female and so was very good hath been shewed from Scripture and proved to the enlightned Reason and demonstrated to the very Senses though now they are so dull 2. Also That Man should have have Exerted his Holy Ability of Will and United it to his Excellent Power is plain But he did it not is as plain by neglect whereof it was said It is not good that Man should be alone but a Meet help should be made him Then God cast Adam into a deep sleep took from him a Rib of That made a Woman What a strange change see we so vast so sudden an Alteration 3. Was Adam good perfectly so to walk with God like a God in a Heavenly or Paradisical state for ever Wants he a Help by Substraction to receive Addition 4. Will any one penetrate into this to them or him be it said Seeing Adam would not stir up both the Tinctures which in great Might were United in him but would in this also be an Angel to remain barren as they Whereas he as a Centre or Fountain should have streamed out a new Race therefore the Gracious Creator let him sleep as one in a Swoun then divided from him the Female Tincture and the lesser part of his Essence or Strength signified by a Rib which is part of the out-guard of the Internal Organs of Life and therewith built a She-Man 5. Both were Holy but Danger of Transgressing was near hence came the severe Penal Law That they should not Eat of the Forbidden Fruit viz That of the third Principle wherein were the Properties of Good and Evil both of the Astral and Elementary World And the knowledge of both the Properties was in the Fruit for he was to Rule over and not receive into himself the third Principle the Properties in it were divided by reason of the disorder caused by the Fall of Lucifer and therefore meat only for the Transitory Creatures Now come we to the Degrees by which Man declined 6. Step must be his not Exerting Executing and Exercising the Power his gracious Creator invested him with 7. Step was his Sleep Sleep or Swouning is Death 's Elder Brother a Debility to the Motion of Sensitive Creatures an Inability in a great measure to Action every Inclination to it is Hostility against an Eternal perfect state Noah's sleep shew'd the Figure of Adam's shameful Sleep And Lot's Sleep figur'd somewhat worse than Shame as the Consequence of Adam's sleep yet both effected by their declining in the third Principle in opposition to which Daniel calls the Angels Watchers 8. Step was his being divided Dividing by dissection or discontinuance of Parts is Diminution and so Diametrically opposite to entireness warring against Union For if the least divisible Part be severed or cut off from any Body wanting the least degree of Infinity that whence it is dissected how immense soever is made less till the Section do as really and locally Re-unite as before it separated 9. But Eves being taken from Adam made her a Numerical Self was a Local serving as truly distinct as the Female from the Male of other Creatures nor could the Tinctures re-unite to be as before in pure Virgin Modesty but she became no Restorer but a Help to prevent a worse state but how a Help may be demonstrated thus 10. The strugling of the three first Forms generateth the fourth as the contest of the two first begets the third so the discord of the fourth doth wrestle till it produce the fifth and so of the rest This while they were in sweet Harmony in one only individual Adam he might like the Sun irresistibly have diffused and shed his potent Influence but after one rending must follow a farther rending of the Body But a bare incision to divide without Separation or any part of discontinuance of Parts may be only such as may stir up to Action though not without thwarting reluctance or regret which may farther appear 11. A Tree partly by its secure situation from shaking jogging stormy pushes or rugged touches may have its Mercurial Vertue slumbering as Fire in Ashes the Sulphur in it be num'd and the whole in a Lethargy when by cleaving the Root with a wooden Wedge that part is awakened and the contrary qualities of its Composition mutually and gradually excite and call one another till like a a Clock-work they conspire and joyn Hands to bring on their great End But if the Plant voluntarily consent wholly to give up its Will to breathing out its Odour and Fruit what need concussion or slashing or any cleaving or dividing at all 12. And though this dividing of Adam was as the Lancet of a merciful Chirurgeon yet every Wound of a Friend supposeth Necessity and consequently incongruous with the perfection of entire Peace and Union Though also these Demonstrations speak plainest after Eves Transgression yet may we scrutiny by the Effect into what occasioneth it 13. Step was Adam's Lusting after Eve for when he took her in his Lust where was then his Modesty Divine Virginity and Purity The heavenly Virgin withdraws from every the least appearance of Unchastity or Inconstancy 14. Step was the Tree of Temptation Adam having a little declined from his Primary Perfection which brought the Necessity of dividing him yet reigning as a Mighty Powerful Son of the Almighty God in all the three Principles and being subject only to God what wonder was the sprouting of that Plant in Obedience of his Royal Magical desire which was so Potent in all the three Principles as to any thing in them irresistible What could hinder seeing he had divided himself from himself but that a Plant with divided Properties of Good and Evil should put forth its Fruit in the third Principle and offer it self to the touch and tast of him who was immediate Lord both in Right and Possession in and over the same third Principle 15. Step was Eve who being less than the half of the new Enthroned Prince and curiously Eying the fair Form and charm'd by the Serpent's subtle Rhetorick Took and Eat of
the Virgin remains a Creature not so mixt as to be confounded and swallowed up by the Deity 3. The two Men in White testified he should so Descend as they had seen him Ascend as is also asserted in the 11th Particular of the Incarnation 4. But the New Man is the Heavenly New Man or Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ being the humble pure Virgin of Wisdom which Adam lost and as it were died to him disappeared retiring into its own Ether The first Adam had as it were repudiated This Chast Holy Image This is by the second Adam the Lord from Heaven restored and married to His and in His to our Earthly Humanity It was His at the instant when the Holy Ghost overshadowed the Virgin Mary It is Ours when by the Holy Ghost we are begotten again and That Divine Image is awakened and stirred up in us 5. Of This let none marvel that my weak hand begs Strength and delights to speak for This is That dear pretious Image of Virginity Purity and Modesty whose Eternal Perfect Sweet Love was by Apostate Adam exchanged for the Lust of a Woman which soon sway'd him to Mortality 6. This as the Sun to the outward World would have been Man's Guide being her self out of the Abyss of Infinite Wisdom This the Promised Seed bringing with him still sweetly and convincingly woo's at the Door of every Man's Heart 7. But in regard she is Heavenly she can have no acquaintance with one that is resolved to be Earthy she will be Married only to That Soul that It regenerateth which Nicodemus understood not at first and none ever can who like not to be divorced from the Old Man and die daily To others these Writings are Sounds not Substances for This Tree of Life may not be toucht by them who love That of Good and Evil. 8. This Heavenly Humanity that disappear'd when Adam fell yields the Water of Life which becomes a Well springing up to Eternal Life This is the Childrens Bread It fills Paradise feeds the Angels and all the Blessed for ever 9. This is the Quintessence of Things the Holy Element whence streamed out the four Elements It is the Life and Vertue of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery It is That Pearl which whoso finds and buys is a cheap Bargain whatever it costs 10. This is Christ's Heavenly Flesh and Blood wherewith he feeds His in the Sacramental Feast But being come now to That which men make occasion of Controversie it may be profitable to discourse it John 6. from 47. v. to 59. v. And again in 63. v. it is said I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven v. 53. Except ye eat his Flesh and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you 11. The Jews understanding This as many still do to be meant of his outward Flesh and Blood said and that rightly How can This Man give us his Flesh to eat for That had been so understood not intended by him and Canibal-like to them 12. But the Lord interprets himself first Negatively in 63. v. not his outward Flesh as they thought to be meant profiteth nothing But Affirmatively v. 50. and 58. the Lord himself is express That the Flesh he meant was also Bread and that Bread was the Bread which came down from Heaven viz. the Word of God Hence arise Two controversial Points different from each other and both from the Truth 13. One Party say they eat the outward flesh which being eaten they swallow into their Beastial Carkass This the other Party opposeth saying That flesh though now glorified remains a Circumscriptive Creature therefore may not be eaten every where at once and that it is not Many but One therefore may not be eaten at all This last Party in opposition to the former yet farther say they eat That Flesh and drink That Blood only by Faith or Imagination but know nothing of the Heavenly Flesh or Humanity but still understand only the outward Flesh. Though the Lord is express in This that it is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing and that his words are Spirit and Life and that it is That Bread which came or cometh down from Heaven 14. The Mouth and Eating of the Soul are real and substantial though not Palpable yet not Imaginary 15. It was not the outward Flesh and Blood they did eat and drink for He sate with them when they did eat and drink Shewing plainly that the Sacramental Flesh and Blood is the Divine Flesh and Blood that came down from Heaven 16. In This Enoch walked with God and fed so heartily on This Food that the Food of the third Principle would no longer down with him This New Wine made the Bottle New This like the Tincture that transmuteth Metals Enflamed and Translated his whole Man so that his very third Principle was swallowed up by the Divine second Principle By This all the Holy Men before Christ's Incarnation were nourished in their Pilgrimage on Earth and by This were carried home to their Native Country 17. This was the Rock that followed them in the Wilderness for they did all eat the same spiritual meat and drink the same spiritual drink and That Rock was Christ. 18. This is the Tree of Life which is Angels Food and had never returned to be the Food of the Fallen Posterity of Adam had not the second Adam opened a door in our hearts thro' which to enter and given as a mouth to eat it and receive Life and Vigour from it This First-Born of every Creature was Heir of all things 19. But This is not the Only begotten Son for so He is the true second Person of the Trinity and Lord of all things but This is the Created Son or Word who is the Heir of all things This is the New Man it is not said This is the Omnipotent God but That Holy Heavenly Image of God wherein the first Adam was Created and which on his Disobedience disappeared as to him and as to him was Dead and said to be the Lamb slain 20. This did the Only begotten Son of God bring with Him He who was the True Second Person of the Trinity did Reunite This in himself to the Fallen and so by Him Restored Human Nature and having made Men Priests made them also Kings reigning over the first and third Principles in Man irradiating and divinely governing the first and sacrificing the Wills-Lusts and misplaced Love to the third Principle 21. This Holy Thing was begotten by the Holy Ghost as the Pure Heavenly Humanity united to the Earthly or Fallen Humane Nature comprising the Essences of the Virgin Mary as a Daughter of Eve 22. The Lord saith He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath Eternal Life He saith not He that eateth and drinketh it worthily hath Eternal Life but he that eateth and drinketh For none can be said to eat That Flesh and drink That Blood that
Horrour and stupendious Epitome of the Dark Centre doth therein subsist ever enkindling in his own Body and every Member of it being the whole Dominion of the Dark Troops one entire supply as out of a Fountain of Fury Rage and Fierceness as naturally as do issue Contagious Emanations from a Plague Sore or the Mortal Fumes from the Dead Sea affecting the Birds attempting to flie over it as is reported 5. And this He doth really as the Sun doth the glorious bright Beams or the Ocean swelleth the Veins of Springs which empty back into it or as Fogs ascend from corrupt Lakes and in This God's Infinite Abyss of the first Principle is as the bottomless Deep to a fragment of a thin Superficies or the Heat of the Sun to an Object through the Burning-glass affording an unsearchable immediate supply of the Treasure of Wrath with an hungry desire thereunto Thus doth the Breath of the Lord like a River of Brimstone enkindle that Lake where they have made themselves as Fuel fully ready dry 6. And as a good Graft or Branch inoculated into a Crab-stock produceth fruits of its own property tho' it be fed by the sour Stock haply delightful warm spicy grateful quite other than the Crab it self so contrariwise doth Lucifer and his Hellish Legions appropriate to themselves only That out of the Abyssal Principle wherein themselves inhabit whereof they subsist and whereby they are shut up and comprehended which their depraved Bodies can only assimilate that is the six working Properties enraged to extremity by the withdrawing of the Divine Holy Principle 7. And as Lucifer and his Angels did in the time of this World abuse all the Holy Names and Powers they could reach profaning them to effect their filthy Impostures so shall they desire ever to do but the Astral Influences which like Gold and Poisonous Mercury commixed yielding matter for their fallacious Jugling being once withdrawn then can they only in their Black Magick excessively and insatiably hunger to repeat as before their Blasphemies but remain impotent and no more seise on it than a man can on a shadow nor reach it than Dogs the Moon they bark at because all the good Intermixing Powers are for ever withdrawn into their several peculiar Ethers 8. Also as the Evil Legions do according to their various Orders and Properties more exceed some in one some in another of the four Central Forms of the Dark Abyss So Lucifer as the Centre of them all abounds at once in every one in the most capacious degree of a Creature Thus we see some Fish found on one Coast Arm or Channel some other sorts on another quarter latitude or bosom yet in the Sea are all sorts at once So That once Brightest of Angels and now Blackest of the Deformed Furies is the Comprehender of the various Anguishes and all in the extreamest degree a Creature possibly may and in that respect according to the Dark Impression imageth most exactly the Infinite first Principle 9. And tho' Lucifer and his numerous Legions who are as much his and have a Will as fixedly dependant on and with his as the Leaves do on the Will of the Tree have refused and been unworthy the Honour and Blessedness of retaining the Image and serving the Glory of the Holy dear Principle of Love and Goodness but by forming themselves according to Enmity Filthiness and Deceit would break their Order stray and think to free themselves from the Bands of the Almighty be their own Lords exercise a peculiar Tyranny by which Exorbitant Lust they willed to quit the Duty they owed the Universal Soveraign and sought a Happiness beyond the limit thereof he would be a Mock-God assume Rule Authority and Self-Soveraignty Yet did as one who would put out his own Eyes that himself might be invisible 10. Wherefore now if he will no longer be a Child of the Day he must be a Captive in the Darkness if he will not serve his God in the fulness of all things he must serve the Forms of Enmity in the want of all things if he will shut himself up from the golden State of Purity wherein he lived for the delight of his God he must be an Anguish Fountain as Ruâây Iron which yet is of use among other parts of the Creation and his own Rigour is his clog as bitter Astringency curbs the corroding Anguish of Mars The Magistrate hath Executioners for Capital Crimes who have not a contrary Will to the Justice of their Lord though adverse to his Clemency The Prince hath Armed Troops whose will is the same with his Imperial Commands to prosecute his Enemies with Fire and Sword and whose Life like that of Beasts and Birds of Prey is to prosper in the Destruction of others 11. Here may the Apostles words be applied Behold the goodness and severity of God to them that fell severity but to thee goodness if thou continue in his goodness Let it not be thought that by the Rebellion of Lucifer God hath lost the least part of His infinite Glory for as Lucifer and his Legions are gone into a Will Desire and Hunger opposite or adverse to the delighted or well-pleasing Will of the Goodness and loving Kindness of God in his Son the Lord Jesus Christ the Image of whom they bare yet are they gone no farther but to be comprehended in and made one Will Desire and Hunger in and with the fierce Wrath and Vengeance of the Almighty Father in His first Principle without generating His Delight his Son the Lord Jesus Christ the least doubt whereof is derogatory to the Glory of God's Omipotence nor can they possibly have any other Will but that of Enmity and Wrath being departed from that of Love for Love is the Cement Chain or Ligament the want whereof renders every Property at utter Hatred and loathing of any other Property Now though in the Holy World are all the Powers yet without the least Dissonance because Love fills them all Object 12. But the Mind of some may Judge that to say that Lucifer and his Angels have one Will with the Property and Wrath of the Father seems absurd for God having no greater fixt Enemy than the Devil That Enemy cannot have one Will with God And that to say there is something in God which is not God is to say there is something in God which is not himself which were rather Madness than Folly rather Blasphemy than Error for it divides the Infinite One from the Infinite One A. 1. By way of Concession 1. Lucifer and his Legions are at Enmity against God 2. There is nothing in God but what is God 3. That God cannot be divided from or against Himself for an Infinite cannot be divided against an Infinite 13. 2. It is answered by way of Solution 1. That though Lucifer and his Angels are at Enmity against God yet it follows not but they may be subservient to his Omnipotence as we see
all those whose Immortal Souls derived them from Human Generation are Enlightned by Jesus Christ he stirs up and makes to grow the seed hidden in them shewing them how to dye to the Old Man the Will of the four Forms or Properties and are New Born by the blowing up of the Light Meek Holy Powers all such are established in Divine willing working and persevering And in all such Persons the starry Spirits are serviceable Agents kept under due Order and Discipline and being kept so are of excellent Profit and Advantage to the helping on the Soul like a Ship to her Haven 17. The Starry Spirit is in this Man like the Waters which sometimes have cross Currents the Elementary Body is the Ship the Soul the Merchandize the Word or Lord Jesus the Helms-man the Spirit of Grace the Gale Now though the Starry Properties are often cross Tides oppposite Streams to the hindrance of the Voyage so violent as carry with them all untackl'd Ships who like dead Fishes are precipitated with the Stream yet the regenerated will finds such a steady Pilot for his Guide and such vigorous Gales from above that the Ship against its own Nature wasteth the Merchandize through over and against the thwarting Streams to its longed for Haven By all which we see to what Profit the Stars were Created the thing proposed Q. 25. What is the Ground of the Temporal Nature Light and of the Darkness from whence doth the same arise or out of what did they Exist A. 1. The Temporal Light and Darkness are the manifest Figures of the Eternal second and first Principles As the desire of Rest moves Men to Motion So the longing after the Light agitates the Eternal Matrix of the first Principle to a constant employing the four Properties of it that they may enter into the Light whereby they become known which else would be an Eternal stilness 2. Thus a violent suffocating rubbing or breaking causeth an extending in some Bodies an impressing in others a discontinuance of Parts in others and extracts Heat Fire and the vertue of Light out of cold moist and compacted Bodies to this is referred the vertue of the Usnea on the Skulls of strangled Persons 3. For the Contracting Property interrupted by the Attracting depresseth to Anguish and those three sharpen themselves into a fourth viz. Fire yet not one nor all of these are known to themselves but remain Captive in gross Darkness till the Light be enkindled in them As a Man having all the Properties Proportions and Forms of other Men is still unknown to himself if he hath no Understanding for wanting the Light and Knowledge he is below the Wit Craft Memory and Docility of many Beasts Birds c. 4. And yet is worse if at rest in that dark State Whereas the noble Faculties irradiated by the Light makes Man though naked rule over the Bruits whom Nature hath arm'd with defensive Hides Scales Hoofs also offensive Horns Teeth Tallons c. 5. Now whence the Temporal Light ariseth is evident to come from the Eternal Light as the Temporal dark Matrix deriveth from the Eternal dark Matrix Yet though in the Temporal Matrix Mystery or Chaos was potentially all Properties but without Ability of stirring up it self into a flaming Lustre till the Divine Power or fiat call'd up the Light as Jesus did Lazarus for till then it was lock'd up as fire in a Flint green Sticks or wet Hay not touching each other 6. Nor could the âight till severed from the Darkness officiate to attenuate and form the crude Matter to be fruitful but was as Fire under Ashes inoperative unactive Wherefore the Light was severed that it might as force United is be most Powerful Yet when it was severed and collected by enkindling the place of the Sun and Orbs of the Stars it was no otherwise withdrawn than as a Conquering Prince having added some Province to his Empire on his retiring leaves such part of his Army as may cause continually due Execution of his Pleasure 7. So the Sun and Stars have no other entire Separation than consisteth with the leaving a competent Portion of their Vertue every where to effect by Conjunction all needful Operations It is left in every of the Elements as we see also the Elements have among themselves a mutual Commixture of each others Property and all as hath been said of them some Proportion of the Vertue of the Light the Hellish Part and Principle only excepted Q. 26. What is the Heaven created out of the midst of the Water And what is the Separation of the Water above the Firmament from the Water underneath the Firmament A. To answer this it is necessary to distinguish what is meant by the Above the Midst and Underneath for a Firmament is fixt in the midst between the Waters Above and those Underneath If Above were meant above the Middle Region or Stars then Beneath may be on or in the Earth and the Midst must be a space or local distance 1. But First God is every where Heaven is also in the World though this World be not in Heaven the Above and Beneath therefore must be otherwise understood than locally 2. Where an Hour-glass is measuring of Time Eternity is also in every Minute of it yet is so Above as Incomprehensible to Time 3. The New Man is Above yet so with and in the Old as to Rule and Act it and so divided from the Old as to be Incomprehensible to it 4. We find a Water call'd Living Water which who Drinks it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up to Eternal Life This is also the Water of Regeneration Except ye be born of Water c. These Waters none doubts are those Above yet must be Drunk where the Divine Life is being the true Eternal Life and of such as shall be cleansed 5. There is a Divine Love and there is an outward Love or Lust They are one from Above the other Beneath yet not sever'd by place but by a fixt Firmamament Gulph or Principle And if they were as like each other as true and false Light or as Tin and Silver yet coming of different Properties are uncompoundable as Silver and Tin incorporate and Sowder not 6. Thus the Waters which are Above the Firmament are Holy Pure Heavenly those Underneath are our Mortal Waters wherein is the Wrath yet wherein also may the Holy Waters which are Above penetrate as Heaven doth this World for the outward Water cannot Subsist and Unite with it or Comprehend it as neither can this World be in Unite with or Comprehend the Holy Heaven Therefore how near soever the inward or outward Waters are one to the other they are immoveably sundered till the Judgment of God burn off the Curse at the time of the Separation 8. And the Holy Heaven may as well be said to be Created and Creating out of those Living Waters as the outward Heaven to have been Created out
the Scales c. They have also Craft Wrath Love every of the Five Senses Invention Providence Memory c. 2. To call them moving Plants is too low but only that it leadeth the Mind to view the Harmony of all the Creatures how they variously some more clearly others more obscurely Image and Shadow every of the three Principles and the seven Properties of the Eternal World 3. Whence they sprung appears by several Answers of the foregoing Questions particularly in that of the 33th 4. And now among the many Glorious Ends of their Creation the following brief hints are some They are at fourth Degree from the Principles and Properties created 1. To Figure the Dark Abyss 2. The Light World though very obscurely 3. The Out-birth or outward World of the Stars and Elements with the almost infinitely various Tendencies Inclinations and Impulses of them By every of which the Almighty Creator uncovereth his veiled Omnipotence infinite Grace and Wisdom 5. The Contemplation of them is both a pleasant and a perplexing Laboratory or serious Book for Man's Study and as it were a Play-Book for the Angels whose piercing understandings read the Effects by the Causes while declined Man gropeth by the Information of the Senses at a piece-meal guess of the Causes from Experience of the Effects 6. It must be confest that Adam being as to his Body or third Principle in his first and pure state Lord of the Mystery whence they proceeded could more sensibly discover and Epitomize them than the Angels as the Lord Jesus had a feeling of our Infirmities by His gracious humbling Himself to be as one of us But Adam's bright Eyes were darkened by the dismal lapse 7. Men may see themselves in the brute Creatures 1. All Unregenerate Men are figured either by the greedy ones 2. Or by the haughty proud Beasts 3. Or by the envious Reptils where by the way may be observed that Envy is found among the Poorer sort for the venomous Creatures are rather creeping than going 4 Or by the cruel wrathful ones And all these are of the first Principle without proceeding to enkindle the Light of the second Principle and are call'd by the Names of those Creatures in the Sacred Records 8. Other Creatures there are that figure the Light World or second Principle by their Innocence Love Usefulness and Loveliness in which they glorifie the Creator and like a dark Shadow pourtray the same 9. There are other Creatures more especially of the Out-world or World's Spirit as those that have Lunary Bodies produced improved and transacted by her Mutations which extends very far also to the whole Creation 10. My last Consideration restraining my self to brevity is somewhat abstracted which is That their Root is not so Ignoble and Vile but their Forms and Idea's for the sake of their Tincture have a prospect into Perpetuity each into their natural Aethers as is signified by the Apostle that the Creatures Travel in pain groaning under forced and as to them causless Vassalage shall be deliver'd into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God where the Drunkard's Horse shall like Balaam's Ass convince mens Madness and cruel Excess The abused toil of the Laborious Ox the innocent life of the Patient Lambs both employed to nourish filthy Lusts the cruel Delight of Hunting to the heart-breaking of the Deer and Hare c. shall at last be material Witnesses of Man's aggravated Guilt perpetuated Apostacy and lawless Irregularities Q 38. Whence was Man Created as to his Body The Fourth grand Distribution A. 1. Not of the Earth for the brute Animals are more nobly descended not of the four Elements which are the Matrix of the Earth for of that Matter are the Brutes form'd and the Elements are Transient and must melt or resolve into their first Principles Not of the Astral Out-birth for the Stars shall fall that is cease their present Order and pay the Debt of their various Properties to the Aether whence they were separated 2. But because Adam's Body was of Eternal Duration had he not âinned it could not derive from a fading Root as Eternity is not founded on Mortality which forceth our search to ascend a step higher 3. It shall therefore be to the Divine Salitter which also hath the Water-spirit in it from both which the Stars were breathed And this Divine Salitter as it hath in it all the Powers of the Properties together with the Divine Sulphur and Mercury is call'd the great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence 4. Out of this was Created Adam's Holy pure Paradisical Body capable of Eternal Life This Divine Saliter J. B. calls the Holy Ternary that is a Celestial Paradisical pure Earth whence grows Heavenly holy Fruits and near unto it no Curse ever can enter or approach for thereinto cometh nothing that defileth Of this Dust of this Ground Moses spake that God formed Man But they who suppose it to be our dead Dust wherein is the Wrath and Fierceness do not only err by means of the Veil before Moses's Face but also by reason of the Veil on their own Hearts and Eyes 5. The Apostle saith The first Man is of the Earth earthy The second is the Lord from Heaven 6. That it could not be this nor the Elements nor the Astral Birth is clear but therefore that it must be the Heavenly Earth is of forcible Consequence The Apostle saith not what Adam was or was extracted from but what he is or is come to be but if he had so said yet the Proportion betwixt the second and first admits no Comparison 7. Between a Mote in the Sun and the whole Glorious Sun is some Proportion for the least of Quantities taken from the greatest of Bodies below Infinity hath Proportion to that whence it was for it leaves the other really lessened but all created Worlds bear no Proportion with the Infinite Son of God for all breathed out from an Infinite leaves still an Infinite and the Infinite is not lessened by it 8. The Apostle therefore in this place either doth not speak of Adam's first state or doth not lessen his Extraction but adoreth the Glory of the second Adam as the Work-master excelleth the Work made for when of the Angels it is written And hath made them all ministring Spirits Of the Son it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Also Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever c. Q. 39. What was the Inspiration or Breathing in whereby Man became a living Soul A. 1. The Inspiration of Man's Soul was out of the first Principle the Father's Property which consisteth of the first four Forms of Nature of this Living Root sprung his Immortal Living Soul 2. Yet so is it that wherever or in whomsoever the second Principle is shut out that Exclusion is truly call'd the Death of the Soul for the Living Soul by that Deprivation enters or remaineth in Death which though
improperly may be called an Immortal Death being a Death to the Glorious second Holy light Principle 3. The Soul is taken sometimes for the two first Principles I saw the Souls of them who had been slain c. for here the third Principle was asleep Sometimes it 's taken for the whole Man If thou wilt make thy Soul an Offering for Sin c. The Lord Jesus offered up all the three Principles meant here by his Soul and as was shadow'd by the whole burnt Sacrifice But in this Question Soul is restrained only to the first Principle because other Questions particularly reach the other two The above brief Answer may here suffice because Jacob Behmen so largely resolveth it in the Answer of the first of the Forty Questions of the Soul Q. 40. What is the Immortal Life in Man viz. the Soul and what is the outward Life in him A. 1. The Principle of Man's Immortal Life is what the Answer of the last foregoing Question renders it that is a Life sprung from the wrestling of the first four Forms of the first Principle They generate a strong stern eager sting prickle poison Life or bitter Root which as doth the Gall in living Bodies strikes up or enkindles Life 2. This being rooted in the Eternal Beginning or from the Eternal Abyss of the Father's Property can never find End or limit of Race But Either is according to the Fountain and Essence of its own Nature dark raging and fierce for ever or in the Holy Principle of Love in the Light World happy for ever 3. It must now be told what the outward Life of this World in Man is and must be sadly acknowledged to be Earthy and Sensual here is the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life So that it may be said Shut the âive Windows that our House may be truly Light within 4. The Beasts live as Man doth having all the five Senses as he in some of them more sharp also some of them extend the Thread of their time to greater Measure are generally more exempt from Sickness wholly Privileged from careful Perturbations in good Measure without fear of future Events or Sorrow c. 5. So that Mans outward Life or third Principle as now it is from first to last renders him of all Creatures the most Miserable And his restless striving to satiate the Lusts of this Worlds Spirit by Wealth Greatness c. is an additional Sorrow and Vexation which some of the Ancients skilfully mitigated by wise Moderation and Contentation 6. Who sees not how much more grievous this Pilgrimage and Travel is to Man than to any other Creature Because his Creator made him for the Excellent Holy Sweet Paradisical Life Even as Hell is most intolerable to Evil Angels and lost Men who were created to be Inhabitants of Heaven whereas it is no Wo to those horrible Creatures that figure the fierceness of the Properties for that is their Life 7. Yet it is true the poor Brute Animals groan under the Curse Man subjected them to for they should have been harmless Figures of the Astral and Elementary Powers 8. To conclude the Answer of this Question let it be seriously considered That if Man will think to feed his Immortal Principle with Mortal Food viz. his Soul with this third Principle he doth as a cruel Murtheress who to still her unhappy Nurse-Child instead of Food amuses its Eyes with Objects and its Ears with Sounds and answers its hungry Laments with louder Noises till she hath forced it to sleep who so pines and destroys it 9. But the Love of God in Jesus Christ is the true real Food of the Soul it is true not like Shews and Sounds which are delusive also real and substantial not a Shadow which every thing here else is as to the Soul This Love as Food generateth its like in the Soul and strengthensit This Love as Physick Purgeth out all other Love and it reigneth and remaineth for ever Q. 41. What is the Idea or exact express reflex Image of God in Man wherein God worketh and dwelleth A. If a Volume were written to Answer this Question as well might be by reason of the Excellency and Importance of the Subject yet still it would be as under Locks and Seals from the fallen Adam until he enter into the Knowledge at the right Door of that he lost by his Fall 1. The Doctrine of the Resurrection was call'd Babling by the studious Athenians for Man is dead to the Holy Divine Image and in all who so abide the outward Astral Spirit and Elementary Body is the only Bridle of Suspension and Mitigation of the hellish Image or dark Principle 2. But had Man no more he were in no better state than the brute Beasts for in the Astral and Elementary they are in common with Man and in the dark Principle he is one with the Evil Angels 3. Yet so exceeding Great and Adorable was God's Grace Love and Pity that the same Grace was like a Seed inspoken into him at the Fall which in all by whom Obedience is yielded beareth Fruit to Eternal Life but it lyes as Dead in such who bury it under the Dominion of the Astral Spirit or that choak it under the Thorns of the Elementary Body 4. And all Impenitent Rejecters of God's regenerating Grace how subtle and studiously penetrating soever have no part nor lot in this Matter but are absolute Strangers guided by an unreasonable Model of Humane Reason resulting from the Information of the Sences twisted with the Maxims of Serpentine Wisdom 5. Nevertheless the Poor in Spirit that dyeth to its own Will and Lusts hath lively Characters of the Idea of the Divine Image and Birth for such a dying enters the Soul into the first Resurrection 6. God's Image is not in the Earthquakes of the first Principle nor in the Lightning and Thunders of the third Principle but most nearly in the small still voice of the Proclaiming his Gracious Merciful Long suffering Name for that is the second Holy Principle 7. And this speaking Almighty Word cannot be more than stammer'd by words no more than Omnipotence can be comprehended by Concrets With what Eye can a Sinner behold the unexpressible loveliness of That ravishing Face where dwells That Majesty which is the Express Image of the Father and before whom the Angels cover their Faces I must say when a drop of that Ocean of Love and Mercy blesseth my Soul I melt I stammer I am astonished Lord what is Man 8. God's exact Image consisteth of all the three Principles The first and third in perfect Order being thorowly illustrated by the second The mighty longing of the first like a Hunger produceth or begetteth the meek Will and glorious Majestick Principle of Light according to which God is called God And of the longing and will proceedeth the desiring which is a Love-spirit producing Millions and Miriads to Infinity of Variety
beautiful exquisite person or as a contemptible soâtish natural Ideot to the most acute accomplisht profound contemplative experienced Philosopher or as a leprous deformed loathsom Body to the most rare perfect healthy one or as a maimed impotent treacherous Slave chained for term of Life in a stinking Dungeon to a prosperous renowned Captain at the Head of a mighty Victorious Army For how much a glorious pure blessed State exceeds a vile wretched perishing State so much doth the Food Adam had transcend ours That was the quintessence life and one holy Element this is the excrescence of the four Elements travelling and clogg'd by the Curse Q. 49. Should Adam in Paradise have eaten such fruit as the heavenly eating shall be after this time or where into should he have eaten where should the same have continued seeing all the Beings of this World are earthy and transitory and he only was an Eternal Heavenly Image and needed not the Vanity A. 1. Christ in His beginning of Miracles gave His best Wine at last which is applicable to us by way of allusion who are strayed when at last we return to our Native Paradifical Country 2. This Question leads me not to say what Adam's food was to have been for that falls under the 52 Question therefore restraining my self to the present enquiry which is whether his eating had been the same which shall be and where it should have been seeing he only needed not the Vanity and that this World hath nothing in it but what is transitory To which I answer 3. Paradice is the similitude manifestation and revealed Image of the incomprehensible God and is such a similitude as is in its infinite extent variety purity and eternity incomprehensible being in all such places and for ever more or less visible where God is more or less manifest in his Grace and Love for it is God's opened Book to Angels and the Blessed So that it cannot be said to have a Beginning End or Limit of Extent 4. In this blessed state or place was Adam's whole Man whose Third Principle as well as his First shone throughly and gloriously in the Lustre of the Divine Second Principle yet did his First and Third remain really such as they shall also continue to be in the Blessed after the Resurrection 5. Adam was in the Garden of Eden but was also in Paradice or the Heavenly State nor needed he nor should he have tasted the fruit of the Third Principle for that was poison to him Thus may be seen where his food lay and that tho he were in the Garden of Eden he was of a higher Principle as far above it Q. 50. Whether did the four Elements also Rule in Adam in his Innocency or but one only in the equality of likeness of the four Elements Did he also before he fell feel heat and cold A. 1. Adam's Body was not made of the four Elements if he had they had Ruled there 2. For first every Concrete is subject to the Powers whence it originateth but the very Beasts derive from a more noble Ruler viz. the Astral Spirit also 3. Because contrary Properties in Principles must produce contrary Qualities in Bodies compounded of them unless their contraries accord in a harmonious Cement now the divided Elements remain ever in irreconcileable equal distance 4. Because tho' Time is in Eternity comprehensibly and Eternity in Time incomprehensibly yet a transitory Root may not found an Eternal Tree thus from the transitory Elements come Vegetatives c. but such was not Adam's Body for it was capable of Eternity not measurable by Time 5. For these Reasons the four Elements were not Rulers in him but one in the likeness of the four but that one was holy consisting of all Powers in the perfection of Temperature whence were breathed the Astral Worlds and four Elements 6. But the Elements divided according to the four Anguishes of the Eternal dark Abyss or first Principle one into raging fierceness of Cold another in a clogging Body another into Evaporating and the other into scorching consuming Heat which it still is and over which and the Astral World was Adam put as over the rest of the Lords Handy-work far above the Extremities of the four Elements and precipitant driving of the Stars Q. 51. Should any thing have been able to Kill or Destroy Adam A. 1. That which hath a Temporary Root must from the Necessity of its own Structure suffer Mutation not that any Ens may properly be said to be annihilated but the Fabrick must separate and the Parts be resumed into their proper Aethers or first Principles 2. But so was not Adam therefore could not Perish from the Ruin of his own Foundation yet leaving the Place and Order where with his Gracious Creator had vested him he transform'd himself from the precious Image he had into such Deformity that for the Virgin to continue his Yoke-fellow longer was as impossible as it is for a Living Man to put off his Body and dwell in the Body of a Dead Man 3. This was Adam's being kill'd who as the Rebel Angels by imaging in themselves the Forms and Puissance of the first Principle withdrew them from the Meekness and Love of the second So Adam by imaging in his Will the Vanity of the Out birth or third Principle the Powers of the first became severally enraged his second Holy Principle obscured and his glorious Body otherwise Eternal became dark gross and bestial 4. For the Magical Soul and evil Spirit impressed on it the Image it had it self been infected with Thus the Immortal Man died that is Sin transmuted him into a degenerate deformed impure state Q. 52. What should have been Adam's Condition and Estate upon Earth What should he have done if he had continued in Paradise A. 1. When Good Angels humble themselves to become visible to the outward Eye they come as Strangers and when Evil ones intrude they borrow wherewith to hide their horrid Form but Adam was by his third Principle natural Proprietor and at Home 2. Yet as the Lord Jesus saith speaking of Children Their Angels always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven so at once they behold the Face of God and carefully Nurse the Children committed to them Thus also was Adam in the Garden of Eden as a Prince and Natural Lord by Donation of the Creation and then also walking with God in Paradise or Heaven and an Image of the Almighty Three beholding the Son of God who is as the Delight Heart or Face of the Father 3. As to what Adam's Food should have been 't is answered 1. Negatively Not the Earthy Meat or Mortal Water not that of the Elements nor Stars or Astral Spirit for all those have their Periods and are Transitory 4. But his Food was Bread and Water of Life Paradisical Food Immortal Fruits Angelical Pure and Eternally Substantial wherein no Vanity could insinuate 5. Will you say what
Progress as no other Creature had for of none of them was it said as of Man though not a few of them were ordain'd and still do propagate themselves otherwise than by distinct Male and Female as well in the Sensitive as in the Vegetative and Mineral Republick See the 54 Answer v. 1. and 43 Answer v. 3 4. 3. And the being not good may be noted from the Consequence of dividing the Tinctures that it succeeded as to an Army broken or a Besieged City one part Parling with the Enemy without Privity of the other concerning which the above quoted Answers speak much 4. Yet so propitious was Infinite Goodness and Wisdom at this Stand and Ebb of his Creature as to provide so suitable an Expedient not only that might prevent a worse state but which might also bring forth an Incomprehensible glorious Master-piece and Miracle of astonishing Love and Condescention the Lord Jesus Christ of and for whom are all things 5. Thus is it manifest how at first it was very Good after that how it was said it was not Good which may lead them that list to penetrate that when the End shall find the Beginning how the undivided Tinctures making the Virgin state shall be again and for ever very good as saith the Lord himself speaking of the Children of the Resurrection that they neither Marry c. but are in that respect as the Angels of God 6. Which state is amply signified that it should have been by the Lord 's recommending it to all to whom Power for it should be given also in that it was a Way traced out by his own Example pursued by our Apostle and others and Prophesied in the Revelations Q 62. Why caused God or did suffer a deep Sleep to fall upon Adam when he built a Wife out of his Rib What doth it mean A. 1. Sleep is a Perquisite or Appendix to Time a Foreigner to Eternity the result of a Conflict or Strife whereinto the vanquished retireth as doth the Matrix or watry Element when it is over-powred by the Fiery or Astral 2. And though Adam had not actually tasted the Fruit afterward forbidden yet had his Imagination penetrated into and his desire drawn forth the Tree on which followed the Severe or earnest Inhibition Then he as one overcome slept or swouned which the Divine Life in the Resurrection knoweth not 3 He slept to the Angelical World and awakened to the outward for Sleep is a respite or an arrest of the exercise of the Divine and Rational Faculties also as Death is to the Elementary outward Life 4. Not that it was imposed by Power without him from foreign Will and Necessity but was a necessary Supplement with reference to Adam himself which is the thing meant and taught us by this deep Sleep which God is said to have caused to fall on him Q. 63. How was the Wife or Woman made out of Adam What doth the Rib taken out of his Side signifie of which God made the Wife as Moses writeth A. 1. Moses saith God took one of Adam's Ribs out of his Side and thereof made a Woman Will any understand the Text so grosly as that his Bones were then as ours are dry dead rocky obnoxious to the penetration of Fire dissolution of Time c. Such a Thought is rather applicable to Bestiality than the Eternity 2. We are therefore to know the Rib whereof the Woman was made signified part of Adam's Strength for such were the Bones he then had and not such dead petrified weighty Substances as ours no more than his Flesh which was created for Eternity was like our Bestial Flesh at the Root of which is a Worm 3. And because Adam's Bone or Strength was a Composition of all his Essences Principles and Properties therefore it is rightly said a Rib or Bone and Substance nor is it any new Phrase to put one part for the whole the Scripture abounding in all parts of it with that manner of speaking 4. Also that it is said to be taken out of Adam's Side may signifie the procedure to be from the Noble and Central Part and into the Side literally did enter Longinus Spear when the Lord of Glory was Crucified 5. Eve was that Child which Adam should have gloriously produced which had he done Divinely Powerfully Actively Magically according to the excellency of his Creation-right it might have been call'd his doing it awake then also had that Child been as compleat as himself but being brought forth by an assisting Power and as to him passively and unknowingly may we be call'd his Sleep therefore less vigorous and perfect than his own Structure Thus the second Temple which was raised in an Eclipse of Times could not reach the excellent Fabrick of the first Temple 6. Yet forasmuch as Eve was brought forth though in some weakness yet with no offence to the Modesty and Virginity of the Divine Sophia of God's Wisdom therefore was she Holy though by the reason of her feebleness very near to a precipice of Danger Q. 64. Did Eve also receive a Soul and Spirit from Adam's Soul and Spirit or a nââ strange one peculiarly or severally given of God A. 1. Had nothing been taken from Adam whereof to make Eve but a Rib and that had been such a Bone only as ours is come to be Eve's Production had not been from all Adam's Essences but such she was only Man hath most especially the âirââ Tincture and Woman most especially the Lights Tincture The Man more of the fââât or Soulâ Principle the Woman more of the second or Spirits Principle 2. Thus Eve cannot be said to have a Soul and Spirit new and peculiarly from God but to partake with Adam of the same Soul and Spirit as may be proved as follows 3. To deny Eve part of Adam's Soul and Spirit because for her Structure the Text only mentions a Rib would with like force argue that she was not of his flesh 4. If Eve were not of one Soul and Spirit with Adam their Posterity must either every of them have new created Souls and so be unconcerned with their first Parents Transgression or uninclined to their immediate Parents Good or Evil habits The former of which opposeth Religion the latter Sence and Experience Or else the Children must have each two Souls and two Spirits one from each of their Parents which were a Solecism and morally a Contradiction by making two Eternities 5. If the Woman had another Soul and Spirit then that with Adam it must be out of other Principles but other Principles whence Soul and Spirit can be there are none for it were as absurd to make new Eternal Principles as to make new Gods 6. If the Soul and Spirit of Eve had not been one with and part of that of Adam's then the Lord Jesus who took a Soul from the Virgin Mary had not taken Man's or the Male Soul and so Men were not redeemed which is
Will which Union is so absolute compleat and perfect thaâ the Holy Angels and Blessed Men may be said to have no Will at all and their Unchangeable Happiness is their resigned Life wherein they lose themselves and find all for ever 2. As a Family is wholly at the guidance of the Lord of it so are they but on setting up an adverse Will the makers of the breach dye to the Will and Conduct of the Father of that Family and those making themselves their own Lords cut themselves off from the Family 3. Or as a Twig while it continues in the Fruit-tree hath one Will with the Tree but when once it is rent off and grafted into another Stock it gets another Will and another Life to bear other be it bitter sour or otherwise Evil Fruit. 4. Thus Adam and Eve impregnated themselves with the third Principle receiving a bestial Life from it and putrefying Nourishment their Divine Will Appetite and Knowledge did thenceforth immediately Die and was Extinguish'd Thus a well Educated Child apostatizing from his first Principles degenerating into contrary Practices dyeth to them and loseth his first Love Q. 74. What was the Voice of God in the Word when the Day grew cool How did God recall Adam How is this to be understood A. 1. By the cool of the Day is understood the time when Adam's Eternal Day was grown cool that is his Temperature was faln to Extremities of heat and cold also alluding to the End of a Natural Day which though hot closeth coldly 2. By the Voice of God is understood God's Anger in their Essences for they had awakened the Turba or Wrath in themselves Heaven they were at Enmity with 'twixt it and them was a firm inclosure of a whole Principle they might see Devils deriding them and Fear the Fate of Lucifer the Holy Angels had quit all intercourse with them nor could they help them 3. While this sad Knell was rung them their Fear of God's Voice was not only at that of his Wrath in them but that of his Love and Pity to which they were estranged such as the Earth trembled at when the Blood of the Lord descended on it from the Cross. 4. The Voice of the Lord moved and walked in the Gates of the Deep in Fire and Light in the first and second Principles and recalled them But concerning the recalling them the following Questions will require to Discourse of Q. 75. What is the Seed of the Wife or Woman and bruising and Treading upon of the Serpent What did God speak or breath again into them Was the same nothing else but an ouââard Promise or an Incorporation of the effectual working Grace A. 1. The Womans Seed is not the Fire Soul which standeth in the first Eternal Principle It is not the Astral nor Elementary Principle or Power arising thence It is not the Eternal Son of God the second Person or Divine second Principle though the Lord in humbling Himself to take our Nature often calls Himself the Son of Man It is neither of these for the first is too hot the second too cold the third infinitely too high 2. But that which is properly the Seed of the Woman here intended is the Heavenly Humanity or true Virgin Image of God the pure Sophia consisting of Divine Wisdom and Modesty which was Married to Adam till his Transgression made a Divorce 3. This is that Grace which was here again inspoken into Adam and Eve and this is the Pearl which is to be searched after with all diligence which was not only barely promised but brought in the Word and ingrafted into the Light of their Life 4. This is the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the fallen World not only intentionally but actually for being in every of Adam's Offspring witnessing for God was resisted and slain in its strivings with the old World and downward 5. But where-ever the bent of the Will inclines to obey and subject it self to the Divine Councils in such was restored the joy of their Salvation ever pointing at the Lord who being the true Son of the Virgin in the fulness of time bringing this Virgin by taking Maries Essences consisting of all the principles and properties and making of two one by that power which is able to subdue all things unto himself 6. But so heavenly and pure is this that one that hath it cannot shew it to one that hath it not much less give it to such but he that hath it can stammer and speak by parcels and darkly by Parables for such what he saith will seem tho' it be not far from every one of us 7. He can give the other some directions where to dig for it also what it is like and what it is not like But Men are exceedingly perverted from it by the many Images their Astral Spirit imposeth on their Understandings So that the Invitations of pure simple and self-emptying Truth can hardly get audience more hardly obtain to be considered and penetrated but with highest difficulty get obedience from us and due Soveraignty over us 8. Men use their outward Senses so much and are so full of Objects occurring to them that they are strangers to the very existence of the Inward Sences forgetting what the Apostle saith That which we have seen with our Eyes heard with our Ears and our Hands have handled of the Word of Truth c. 9. The Men guided chiefly by the outward Sences are Sensual and Brutish and yet too much of that sticks to us all Such Maxims will not believe a Rock to be a shadow and Faith a substance they consider not that Visibles are transient and that which is not seen is Eternal whereof Faith is the evidence 10. Thus is the Lord from Heaven call'd the Son of God Son of Man and Seed of the Woman and is so at once perfectly and unchangeably 11. And fallen Man when once reunited to God by the death of the monstrous Image and restored to this new first pure Virgin Image are by this Seed of the Woman made the Sons of God See more to this purpose in the 81st and 90th Answers Q. 76. What is the Curse of the Earth what is thereby brought to pass A. 1. This Earthy Globe is very much unlike to what it was as our Bodies are also to that Adam's was for as Adam's Body was the Epitome of the whole Out-birth So this Globe was an Image of the Astral World and all the Properties and the Divine Principle did penetrate it as the Sun doth the Fruits so that the Earth was as much paradisical as it was capable to be but it had these bounds 2. That it could not be purer than the Root whence it proceeded viz. the Astral and Elementary and of those Heavens it may be said they are not pure in his âight 3. That it could not be more permanent than its Root and none doubts but of these it may be said they
is still greater if it perpetrate the purpos'd Evil 't is heavier yet 6. If it extend to many of the True Worshippers or if it could to all it is become the Blackness of Darkness drawing on themselves all the righteous blood-shed from Abel to the day of doing or willing the Evil. 7. What need much be said the Hunter or Persecutor is known for tho' the Goatish Creature may undiscerned associate among the Sheep till the Judgment of the great day yet the Wolf is notoriously distinguisht from the Lord's Flock of Lambs 8. They are the figure of the Christian and Antichristian Churches to the end of time Also here to the considering mind it is evident that cruel Persecutions rise not but from the strong stern lofty bitter Forms of the first Principle who are so cruel each to other in an Intestine Wrath that it is exceedingly more facil for the Sons of the Humble Light Principle sweetly to yield up themselves a Sacrifice than for the Evil Ones to perpetrate it and still or quiet their own clamorous Consciences in and after the fact but such bitter persecuting Spirit existeth not in nor resulteth from the third Principle or due Natural Magistracy Q 81. In what Grace was the first World saved without the Law What was their Justification A. 1. Tho' the 75th Answer contributes much to the solution of this Question yet the more plain full and direct Answer of this is That the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Almighty Son of the Father was and is and is to come the only alone Redeemer Justifier and Saviour by him for him are all things to whom all Knees shall bow and all Tongues confess him by uniting the Heavenly Humanity to the Seed of the Woman 2. In the Volume of the Book it is written of Him He is in His own holy Principle in the Light of the Life or Heart of every Man that cometh into the World He cannot be comprehended by space for all Heavens are comprehended by Him He is a Branch in the Infinite second Principle whence is the Divine Virgin of Wisdom 3. He was inspoken by the Father into Adam and Eve at That needful Time as a Refiners Fire or as the Holy Fire which descended and transmuted the material Sacrifices or as a Tincture ennobleth Metals He is to the Soul as it is to the Body to the Understanding as the Light of the outward World to the Eye to the Deadness of the Soul the Animation Food to its Hunger an Appeaser to its Tumults reducing her of meer Grace from the Multiplicity to the Unity such was He to the Old World and in the fulness of Time the Divine Wisdom and Purity assumed the Woman's Seed 4. For at the instant of the Father's inspeaking Christ did re-implant Himself in the Light of the Life of Adam's and Eve's Souls to dispossess the Strong Man and through all Generations doth stand in the Door of the Heart of every Child of theirs none excepted reproving Sin warning of the Judgment to come and Preaching Salvation This is the Light shining in a Dark place the name of This is Infinite Love and it is also the Word of Reconciliation To Him give all the Prophets witness and also all the Holy Ones which have been since the World began 5. Here are no Novelties nor in any of the blessed Jacob Behmens Writings may such be found But whereas men have dark confused notions of God like those of Athens dedicating their Altar to the unknown God of Him therefore whom men ignorantly worship do Jacob Behmens Writings give a clear certain demonstrable and distinct knowledge and of all things and Worlds also of all Creatures from the most holy Angelical Princes of Eternity to the most despicable excrescence of Time Q. 82. Was Cain condemned for his sins Or whether did Cain become damned in respect of his sins What was his doubt or despair of Grace A. 1. The heinousness of his sin appears 1. That Abel provoke't him not who in truth of heart offered but Cain only in shew the one really did what the other only pretended to do Aggravation that on fall of his Countenance and rising of his Wrath the Lord reprehended and warned him before his perpetrating the fact 3. Aggravation his false and stubborn Answer after he had done it before Sentence I know not Am I my Brother's keeper 4 Aggravation his desperate Answer after Sentence My punishment is greater than I can bear or my sin is greater than can be forgiven 5 Aggravation that he went out from the presence of the Lord to marrying and building So that were there no more in the Text it had left him in a most desperate forlorn state His sin therefore under these Aggravations must of its own Nature and by its own Writ condemn him 2. But Cain is under a twofold consideration one as to his own Person and so he was a Sacrificer a Priest and Worshipper of the True God Nor may it be doubted but that the Offering in it self was well warranted for God's approbation of Abel shews it had Divine Institution yet was Cain a Worshipper with an Evil Heart that is an unresigned Spirit but a Self-will and therefore not accepted 3. Cain is to be considered as a Figure of the Formal Hypocritical Worshippers and of them 1. Such who pretend to worship the True God 2. That in the Outward Form of what they do suit their Worship much according to the Letter 3. That yet are strangers to the Spirit Life and Power of Divine Worshipping 4. That have some Outward Dignity Priority or Authority over the humble resigned Worshippers As Ishmael and Esau had the Primogeniture of Isaac and Jacob. 5. That they have a strong disposition and preparedness to Anger and Envy against the Faithful Worshippers and do make all such Approaches to their hurt as they can As did Balaam and Corah with whom Cain is ranked 6. Such as when they can hurt or kill have so great impenitence as hardens them against Self-accusing and impudence to deny their Evil Facts 4. Now to close the Answer It is true all such Churches or Persons as are figured by Cain are whilst they continue unregenerate seeking to please the Self-will in a lost desperate state under the first four Forms and shut up in the first Principle 5. But forasmuch as God did set a Mark on Cain thereby defending him against the destroyers all this may be without his particular personal condemnation Q. 83. Why did God make a Mark on Cain and said he or whosoever that slayeth Cain his blood shall be avenged sevenfold A. 1. Cain said From thy face shall I be hid also every one that findeth me shall kill me It could not be the Outward Man there meant for that could not be hid from God but the Inward might fall into Darkness and so be as it were hid Noâ was it the Outward Man that
that it can hold no commerce abroad or like a man distracted who cannot advise nor be advised being a stranger to himself as well as to common Prudence 3. For Man having passed from the Unity into Self became a God to himself and so there were as many Gods as Nations as Families yea as Men Then could they no more speak the One Language than abide steddy in One Power whereof they had deprived themselves 4. Therefore was the One Language confounded into many as One United Power was distracted into many feeble ones But to shew what the One Language was and the possibility or impossibility or restoring it and way how cannot come under the present Question but falls of its own accord under the 145 146 and first part of the 147 Questions whoever God shall enable to arrive at their solution Q. 90. What was the Covenant of or with Abraham concerning the Blessing and also the Circumcision What doth that signifie A. 1 It was not a Litteral or Verbal stipulation as the Covenants amongst Men are and as we are too apt to conceit and deem it Yet is it the subject of many and in some respects of all the holy words and writings imparted to us 2. It is the again iâkindled holy power of the Eternal Divine World which was ingrafted and inspoken into the darkened Souls of Adam and Eve creating peace and order there as the Light had done in the Chaos in order to the Creation of the Out birth or World figured by tâe Tincture which transmuteth and innobleth base Metals to Gold And as the holy Fire inflamed the Sacrifices the Inspoken Grace set on Fire Mans cold Affections for he was given to that end as a Covenant to the people 3. This was the Holy Seed sowed into the Light of the Life of Adam and Eve which was their Salvation Yet pointing to and being the Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come yesterday to day and for ever but at the time of the limit of the Covenant took Flesh. 4. This according to the Flesh was to descend and be in one line only from Adam to Seth thence to Sem Abraham and Tribe of Judah and took the Womans Seed in the Virgin Mary 5. But according to the Spirit and Divine Life wherewith and by which it was in the fulness of time begotten it was not only in that Line but in every of Adam's Children as an Ingrafted Word as truely in Cain and in his Race as in Seth and in his Race 6. This was grieved at the Heart by the old World vexed by the Israelites in the Wilderness and as Gods formed Word is his witness in Men judging and importuning from Age to Age. This like the small Grain of Mustard-seed grows up to such a Tree as whose top reacheth Heaven 7. This was the Covenant and Blessing given Abraham and with respect to the Union it hath with the Son of God was both the Food of Adam's Soul and of Abraham's Faith and the Author of his Faith and Confidence 8. And now being come to the Circumcision having set a Law to my self to avoid repetitions all I can do refer to the 8th and 9th Sections of that short Tract call'd Considerations on the Scope of J. Behmen compared with the 41st Chap. of the Mysterium Magnum is said to be Epitomized or Abridged in the Book of Extracts in every of which it is so largely opened that to touch it here would be Tautology and superfluous recitals Q. 91. What Figure is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah How was it effâcted A. 1. The destruction of Sodom c. is the Figure of the destruction of Babel sometimes call'd the Antichrist sometimes the Whore sometimes the Man of Sin a Man for his daring Courage a Whore for Unfaithfulness and Impudence And these do figure Sodom c. 2. 1. In their State and Grandeur 2. In their Sin 3. In their Downfal Their State consisted 1. In their Oâulence being richly perfectly Scituated thus do Babylon Antichrist and the Whore covet and possess the Fat of the Earth 2. Their State and Grandeur Sodom c. were Cities Royal Cities having Kings and Pomp. 3. In their security by their numbers as Cities in a well watered Land Like the second thus doth Antichrist ally it self by Policy to Chief Magistracy Like the third thus doth Antichrist establish her self by outward force 3. In their Sin Sodom's Sins were 1. Pride 2. Fulness of Bread 3. Idleness Thus Babylon and the Whore is said to be in Scarlet with a Golden Cup in her Hand not got by Industry but already in her Hand And is distinguishable and an Enmity with the Servants of Christ for 1. Christs Servants are like their Lord humbled to the Earth 2. If not poor outwardly as for the most part they are yet are always as having nothing 3. Not Idle for they are working out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 4. In their Downfal sudden and unexpected Sodom's was not in the silence and horrors of the Night Season but when the risen Sun had renewed their hopes of Safety Thus is it said of Babylon who said I sit as a Queen c. in one hour is her c. 2. That Sodom's Ruine was immediately from above Thus the Apostle saith of Antichrist Whom the Lord shall destroy by the Spirit of his Mouth and Brightness of his coming Therefore shall Babylon fall irresistibly 3. The Fall of Sodom was âotal final and irrecoverable or irreparable in every of which it figures Antichrist for to express it it 's said that a Mighty Angel took up a great Stone like a Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall the great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 4. In the fall of Antichrist those that will come out of her shall be received figured by the escape of Lot and his two Daâghters as saith the Holy Ghost Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins nor receive of her Plagues Thus Antichrist and Babel might well and fitly be call'd Spiritually Sodom and Egypt 5. To the secând part of the Question viz. How it was effected It 's answer'd 1. Not by the Helâish Fire for the Fuel and Matter of that Fire must be Eternal 2. Not by the âire which shall sweep and reduce the Out-birth to it first principles before the last Judgment for that would have dissolv'd the Elements 6. But it was effected by the flagrat of the Elementary Fire which was fully sufficient to execute Divine Vengeance on the Elementary part of Sodom c. Q. 92. Wherefore did Lot's Wife become a Pillar of Salt how is it to be understood A. 1. For a dreadful warning to all succeeding times of the effect of Covetousness We are not to be trusted with the World till we are dead to it as Paul saith
out of the four Forms of the first Principle blowing up his Light and Love Form which is a fifth as a Brother to the four who becomes a Leader a Deliverer as was Moses 8 And whereas the Red Sea was no other of its own Nature but a hindrance to them yet by Miracle became Defensive and Instrumental to their safety by overwhelming their Enemy Pharoah c. hath this meaning that Man's fragil fleeting earthy Life shall be driven out of the way as was the Red Sea into two Parts signifying the parting of Man's Astral Spirit from his Elementary Body giving open passage towards Canaan 9. And whereas the Sea was on each side a Wall to them and such a defence as over-whelmed their Enemies it shews that their inward and outward Enemies can follow us no farther than to the dividing of our Astral and Elementary Man but are there stop'd and over-whelm'd 10. Spiritually also was the Sea and Cloud a figure of the Baptism and we that is our first Principle is Buried with him in Baptism in and by the Spirit of Holiness and Love Q. 98. Why must Moses remain Forty Days upon Mount Sinai when God gave him the Law A. 1. To signifie a certain Proportion of time wherein Adam was in the tryal or Proba and the which Mount Sinai was a figure of Bondage in which Adam enthrall'd himself and us all which was often repeated As 1. By Moses remaining once and the second time forty days in the same Mount. 3. It rained forty days then came the Deluge 4. Esau lived 40 years then Married two Evil Women 5. Israel's forty Journeys in the Wilderness 6. Their being forty years there 7 Goliah's challenging the Host of Israel forty days and then kill'd 8. Eliah's fasting forty days 9. Christ fasted forty days and was then tempted 10. Was forty hours in the Grave And 11. Was forty days on Earth after His Resurrection 2. This forty days stay of Moses once and again on Mount Sinai the Mount of Bondage as the Apostle construeth shews us that the whole time of Man's Life is a time of Straits and Thraldom 3. And whereas Moses was twice on that Mount and each time forty days and did neither Eat nor Drink it shews that Mankind was doubly distrest that is in his Soul by the four Anguishes of the first Principle and thereby is kept as Cain said lest whosoever that meets him should kill him viz. in fear of Eternal Separation from God it 's true Life 4. And by the second time of Moses remaining forty days on the Mount is pointed us how also Man's Body is imposed on influenced by composed of and subjected unto the four Elements that is to its rigorous heat and extream cold oppressing and swaying it to Pain Sorrow Sickness and Mortality 5. So that hereby both Soul and Body are excluded the true Food and detained in a place of Abstinence and Deprivation from the Paradisical Eating and Drinking whereof Moses fasting was a Representation Q. 99. What is the Law in one Total Sum A. 1. The Lord Jesus teaching which is the First and great Commandment saith Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy might and with all thy strength and that the Second was like to it Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self and that on these two hang all the Law and the Prophets Again reneweth it giving the New Commandment that you love one another and that so shall all men know you are my Disciples 2. And our Apostle saith Love is the fulfilling of the Law But seeing the Law was given because of Transgression therefore to the restoring that Love which is the fulfilling of the Law it is necessary we know what kind of Love our Transgression deprived us of and how and what an ill Bargain we made that deprived us of that Love 3. But to avoid Repetition of things I refer to the 45th 46th and 47th Answers for should I give my self liberty to wade in this sweet River it would be a Volume and swell more deep and high till it issueth into the Ocean of Eternity where dwells that Love which casts out Fear for Fear hath Torment My Soul for ever bless the God of Love who hath Pitied and Redeemed thee Q. 100. What were the Offerings of Moses How was Sin blotted out and appeased through these Offerings A. 1. The 79th Answer contributes largely to the Answer of this to which this is referr'd It is further answered That the legal Sacrifices were of three grand sorts viz. 1. The Burnt-offerings 2. The Peace-offerings 3. The Sin-offerings answering to the three Principles The first or Burnt-offering consisted of four Kinds viz. 1. The Herd 2. The Flock 3. The Fowls 4. The Meat-offerings figuring the four Forms of the first Principle 2. The Peace-offering which was only of two Kinds viz. 1. The Herd 2. The Flock signifying the two Tinctures Male and Female United by Jesus Christ interposing the Peace of the second Principle 3. The Sin-offering which was only of one Kind viz. A Bullock signifying the third Principle which is but one only and that a figure of the inward Spiritual Worlds and should only have accompanied Man as his shadow doth 2. By these three Distributions was the whole Man consisting of Soul Spirit and Body offered up and what had he more It was therefore accepted where-ever heartily done and sincerely intended but the bare Performances had no Acceptation as we see by Cain's offering but a coming under the Lord's reprehension as the vain Repetitions and thinking to be heard for much speaking 3. Such Offerings the Prophet compares to the cutting off a Dog's Head and to Swine's Blood Sincerity without meer outside Service and Hypocrifie is intimated by the inwards that were strictly charged to be offered but the skin was the offerer's part only in the Sin offering it was to be burnt as the World thereby signified shall be 4. As for Acceptance it is plain in the Epistle to the Hebrews That it was impossible the Blood of Bulls c. should do away sin But the Acceptation Value and Vertue was in the Sacrificer's Faith and Hope Expectation and Affection to the one Sacrifice signified by the Incense and sweet Odors offered on the golden Altar viz. The true High Priest offering up Himself outwardly once for all and inwardly often to every one Q. 101. What is the Ground of the Prophetical Prophesyings By what Knowledge and Spirit did the Prophets in the Old Testament Prophecy A. 1. In the Old Testament the word Prophesie is not always restrained to future Events nor is it in the New for as the Prophets Exhort to present Duty Dehort from prevailing Sin and on Obedience or Rebellion prophesie Good or denounce Evil So in the New Testament Prophecy is understood in the same fence viz. to Exhortation and Monition as we read one Praying
or Prophesying c. Also He that prophesieth let him prophesie according to the proportion of Faith 2. But this Question intending chiefly things to come we must say There are two sorts of False and two sorts of true Prophets viz First to describe the false 1 They are such as do Lying Wonders and predict Events of Publick and Private Importance going no farther than into the imaged formed word the occult qualities of Nature and outward Causes and Consequents contracted to wonderful Good and Evil Uses into which Satan can easily insinuate himself 3. 2. Such as have a Spirit of Prophesie but not a Spirit of Holiness such was Balaam and such the Lord mentions who shall say Lord Lord we have prophesied in thy Name c. And these have their Water out of the Fountain but receive and keep it in foul Vessels God is so bountiful a House-keeper that his Wine is given running over so that some falls into such Mensold Bottles 4. 3. The Children of Wisdom the regenerated holy ones who live in God and have their Names written in the Book of Life having Divine senses opened These Prophesies according to their proportion of Faith for Love and Faith begot them They prophesie of their own Death which comes to pass for they die daily they are Priests and Prophets what they want in skill and Power they have in love to his Service These as Prophets and Priests shall have boldness in the day of the Lord which they wait for being Children of the day and are true Prophets yet without that Gift of Prophecy this Question levels at and yet of these it is said the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 5. 4. Those of the Lord 's Holy ones who are gifted by the Spirit of Prophecy some more eminently familiarly frequently and as it were continually before whom the Doors of the spiritual World lye Night and Day wide open 6. They as Watchmen see the contest of the Properties and what weight of sin over-ballanceth the contra-ponderating Wrestlers for the Magical Power of their Souls uniteth with the Universal as the Tincture of Gold doth with the Sun's Tincture they as evidently see the Displeasure of the Almighty as by Man's face may his delight or dislike of any extream occurrence be discerned 7. This is so intimate that the Lord saith he doth nothing but what he tells or shews to his Servants the Prophets For as there is but one God and his Spirit is but one and that Man is a compleat Image of the whole Almighty God and having the Work of that one Spirit begetting in him the true Divine second Principle he can as clearly when gifted to this distinct office hear and see the Power whence himself and all things are as a Glass can reflect a Face for all lyes in himself though like Hagar we see not the Fountain till God's Angel shew it though it be as that in and before us For such a Man is as a well tun'd Musical Instrument the Sounds are all distinct ready when ever the Spirit of God shall play on it And the simile sutes well for Man's original Numbers and Measures answer exactly to the Number of the Notes in Musick which are 3 and 7 and not one more or less and this Harmony is signified in the Harp Organ c. used in the legal Administration 9. And as Men are affected with the elevating of the Airs to Delight and with the solemnity into seriousness with the harshness into regret and with the solid composure into excess of Melancholy so ought all to be with the Lord's Voice in his Prophets 10. To such it is shewn many times what time place manner and other circumstances may sitly hide the Lord 's redeemed ones if the Decree be not gone forth for they see where when and how the Destroyer comes by which such may escape who are not to witness by their Blood and be Crown'd with Martyrdom 11. Some have been Leaders as Moses Deliverers and Judges as Samuel c. And as a figure of the Heavenly Worlds concurrence and assistance to the Magical Vertue of the faithful Soul was the Oracle near the Mercy Seat the Urim and Thummim Ephod c. Some have been Prophets for more private and particular Occasions as Agabus c. 12. We are farther to know he that liveth the Life of Jesus Christ lives at the Fountain of Wisdom having all the Principles and Properties in due subordination to the Divine Life whereby he knows God the Creation Heavenly Hellish the Out-world and Himself 13. Yet all this in part he comprehends not that wherewith himself is comprehended he seeth a part of every thing but not the whole of any part As a Mathematician hath a true distinct knowledge of both Globes which he can describe and measure while yet he knoweth not fully that spot of Earth whereon his Feet tread 14. And though the Natural Philosopher penetrateth much farther and the Divine Philosopher deepest of all yet how little a part know we of him even of things existent how much less of Futurities 15. And if Daniel heard the Angel praying How long wilt thou not have Compassion on Jerusalem against whom thou hast had Indignation these threescore and ten years and if the Lord Jesus said of that day and hour knoweth no man no not the Son which I submissively understand to be meant thus viz. 16. Not the Son as he is the opened Treasure of Grace and Love of the second Principle but the Father that is as he is the secret Treasure of the Justice and Vengeance of the first Principle How very little and poor is the utmost faln Man's Race can attain 17. But hence we discern that the Knowledge and Spirit whence the Prophets in the Old Testament did Prophesie Good was by the Spirit in them opening those things out of the second Principle and the Spirit and Knowledge whence the Prophets either brought Evil Denunciations which should succeed was out of the first wrath Principle or by which they call'd down immediate Evil as Eliah the Fire was the same 18. But that it might not as a Coal burn the hand of the Bearer it was wrapt up in the Prophets holy Divine second Principle 19. For as it is hard for a Captain who hath Personal Enemies in the adverse Camp to carry on his Force vigorously and at the same time pursuing his Success wholly lay aside the Sentiments of all personal private Wrongs so is it hard for a Prophet to bring the Turba on others without his own entring into it either before in or after the stroak How needful is it therefore that sinful men should be inhibited to revenge themselves Q. 102. What is Christ of whom the Prophets Prophesied in the Old Testament The Seventh grand Distribution A. According to the constant design of avoiding Repetitions the Answer of this Question is referr'd to the review and perusal of
the 75th 81st and 90th Answers which laid together are a compleat Answer to the present Question according to what I have attain'd Q. 103. What was John Baptist Christ's forerunner A. 1. The Lord saith of him That among them that are Born of Women there hath not risen a greater Prophet than John the Baptist that is in the Father's first Administration nevertheless he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he that is in the more clear day and Manifestation of Christ. 2. The Lord saith also of him This is Elias which was for to come as saith the Prophet I will send you Elijah the Prophet c. And Isaiah saith The Voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord c. The same saith John of himself Let it be said What is the Voice that crieth and what the Wilderness wherein he crieth And the Question lyeth open 3. 1. The Voice is not properly the Voice of Jesus Christ for this was Preparatory to his coming 2 Nor was it the Voice properly of the Holy Ghost for his Administration succeeded that of Christ's 3 Nor a bare Human Voice for so much Power and Conviction was in it that all men acknowledged him a Prophet and his Baptism not of Men but from Heaven 4. The Wilderness was not of Earth Rocks and wild Beasts for such are not prepared for Christ But Man stray'd out of the Garden is the Wilderness here meant that was cried in and unto to repent because of the near approach of the Kingdom of Heaven 5. The Voice crying in the Wilderness is the Father's drawing as saith the Lord Jesus Christ No man cometh to me except the Father draw him 6. Elias in the Spirit of Zeal is John the Baptist's Antitype figuring as did John the Baptist more eminently and immediately the Father's fiery Zeal in the Holy first Principle for Elias and John's Administration was in the Father's Property 7. The great Confluence of all Judea c. to his Baptism shews the Universality of the Father's Applications Convictions and Drawings 8. The reprehension of the Scribes and Pharises calling them Generation of Vipers c. Shews the Father's drawings to Repentance to be not only general but particularly in and to his resolved and designed Enemies Also shews the rejection of Man's Wisdom and outward Formality even in the true Religious Institutions 9. Thus the Groans of Penitent Souls and Impenitent Mens Gripes the Mournings of the one and the Stings and Horrors of the other proceed from the Father's condemning Convictions whereof John the Baptist's Ministry and himself is the representation Q. 104. What kind of Virgin was Mary in whom God became Man before she Conceived A. 10. The Virgin Mary was of low Estate and Degree Daughter of Joachim and Anna not as such wholly pure as some feign but came from faln Eve Much less was she the Virgin Sophia for the first Adam had repudiated himself and all his from that Heavenly Virginity and gone into Adultery into Lust. 11. So that of Mary it may be said as Daniel of himself This is not revealed to me for any Wisdom that is in me more than in any âiving Or as Peter saith of himself and John Why look ye on us as if by our Power and Holiness we had done this c. 12. But though Mary before she conceived was in Soul and Body such as other Daughters of Eve who by the Regeneration were in the Holy Element Yet to say what she came to be in and after her conceiving will fall under the Answers of the two following Questions Q. 105. Why must Mary be first Espoused or Betrothed to Old Joseph before she Conceived of the Holy Ghost A. 1. An Espousal of the sort here signified is a solemn mutual Contract between two of different Sexes exclusive of all others such was This of the Virgin to Joseph a thing usual with the Jews To which allude both the Prophet The Love of thine Espousals and again Paul I have Espoused you to me The above definition hath these parts viz. 1. It must be mutual between two 2. Of different Sexes 3. Exclusive of all others 4. Solemn 2. By this Espousal is signified that the Virgin of Wisdom the promised Seed was Espoused to Man's Soul This Virgin Sophia is the Tincture in the Holy Element in Paradice viz. the Holy Ternary or Heavenly Earth 3. As the Spirit or as some have call'd it the Soul of the Outward World is to This Out-world and Elements a giving Mind Sense and Virtue to the Creatures Such is the pure Sophia in the Eternal Glorious World The Soul and it were as one but by the Apostasie became two 4. Again This Holy Pure Virgin is Espoused to Man's Soul or Fiery Property ' her self being of the Tincture of the Light World and so were they of two Sexes 5. Also This Espousal is exclusive of all others for the Soul must cleave to her and not joyn it self to the first or third Principles 6. And the Solemnity is no less than that which either enters the Soul into the Life Eternal and Love Kingdom which else is precipitated into the fierce Wrath. 7. Now that Mary's Espousal should precede her Conception by the Holy Ghost was To shew what Infinite Grace did immediately on the heavy Fall For Man even ready to be devoured by the third Principle and to devour himself by his first is by this Espousal the Covenant of Grace stayed from the Abyssal Fall which stop or betrothing must needs be now or never That it was only an Espousal and that before the actual Conception was to shew that Man could not be entrusted at least not yet with so inestimable a value To signifie an intermission or intervention of Time or Ages to pass and occur before performance of what had been promised being as the Apostle phraseth it the end viz. us upon whom the Ends of the World are come as had said the Angel to Daniel To shew what a vast distance Man had removed himself that his Restoration must be wrought by tract of time as men creep out of Chronical Diseases so that the time of Espousal was as saith the Apostle My little Children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be formed in you as till an Embrio mature to a compleatness or a Seed to be a Tree To attest the Genealogy of the Lord 's Earthy Humanity to be of David For besides the express frequent plain and full Testimonies by the Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ's Lineage both Genealogies in Matthew from Abraham for satisfying the Jews and in Luke to Adam for comfort of the Gentiles do pitch on Joseph wherein Mary is included because none married out of their own Tribe and consequently none Espoused out of it The certainty of Mary's Genealogy is demonstrated only by her Espousal with Joseph to keep
process and passing from one part of the Law of Righteousness which he fulfilled into another to fulfil that as the Ark was gradually Built and the Temple erected Cubit after Cubit 8. Joseph and David had first a youthful privacy and then severe figures given them to bear sometimes to be as it were given up and lost and again passing that almost swallowed up of another Thus also is the Christian taught to add unto Faith Patience Experience c. 9. The Lords process from state to state is the Epitomy of the Birth of the Eternal Powers the liberty of the will floweth into a desiring thence into sharp attracting thence into anguish thence into the Eternal Nature c. through all the forms of Fire to the 10th or Crown and punctum of Sol. 10. As out of the Anguishes of the first principle is generated the love and joy of the second which the Christian feels and the searching mind sees in every very outward power Now for that the subsequent Questions will lead to inquire into the admirable process of the Lords humbling and emptying himself What is written may suffice to this answer Q. 111. Why did Christ suffer himself to be Baptized by John with Water whereas he himself was both the Baptism and Baptizer which should Baptize with the Holy Ghost A. This Question made John the Baptist adding I have need to be Baptized of thee to which the Lord answered Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness for the Lord of the Law by taking Mans fallen Nature on him having so far made himself subject to it as that he must fulfil it and that thereby he might introduce into the Humanity a suitable will of walking agreeably to it found Baptism part of that Righteousness 2. And yet in Moses according to the Letter yea until John is no mention of it in express words only the Apostle makes this Baptism to be meant by their passing through the Red Sea and under the Cloud 3. Christ Jesus by taking on him fallen Mans Nature took on him that which stood and consisted in and of all the three principles and every of the three principles in the fain Adam were depraved standing in need of Baptism 4. The first principle or Soul stood in need of the Baptism of Repentance from dead works for Mans Soul had stray'd imaging in it the dead Out-birth which is dead to it The second needed the Baptism of the Holy Ghost working Faith in or towards God which was it John meant when he said I have need to be Baptized of thee The third or Aââral and Elementary Man of the Out-birth needed the outward Baptism which outward is as a Medium to the other 5. And we find all three in one Breath orderly by the Author to the Hebrews viz. not laying again c. 1. Repentance from dead Works 2. Faith towards God 3. The Doctrine of Baptisms thus stand the principles in the regenerate Man 6. And as the Sea was the Instrument to cover the Enemy for his destruction and the Cloud cover'd the Israelites for their defence so the outward Baptism shews us the burying of the old Man and the washing and arising of the new Man 7. In the first sence we are defended from the oppressing disorders of the old Man shut up in the first principle and in the other we are restored by the rising of the second principle in the new Man which is the first Resurrection teaching the Song of Moses and of the Lamb. 8. And tho' the siderial Man comprehend not what is done to it yet seeing it shared in the disobedience it is buried by the Baptism of Water Seeing also it shall share in the Resurrection and Eternal Salvation it must be washed in Baptism 9. Thus see we why Christ suffered himself to be Baptized with Water as in the Question is demanded also why all his Servants under the Evangelical Administration are to do it not only as a Litteral but also as a Foundation Duty Q. 112. Wherefore must Christ after his Baptism he tempted Forty days in the Wilderness What doth it mean that a God-man should be tempted And why must the Devil tempt him before he began his Works of Wonder A. 1. Adam was tempted and fell in it and his fâll open'd a Door in the Humane Nature through which the Tempter entreth for his first principle is drawn by the Forms whereof it is compounded into an adverse will against the meekness and resignation so that the Tempter entring the breach widens it And the third principle which Man Imageth in his Soul is the Kingdom whereof the Prince of Darkness is a God 2. The Devil useth the passive powers of the out-world in themselves good to his direful Machinations and other powers which by their being separate and in that respect in themselves evil are as Tools ready made wherewith to exercise as far as his Chain reacheth fatal designs to bring Tragedies on Places and Persons 3. And all Men whose Intellects the remains of their second principle are confin'd in the limits either of their disorder'd first or third principles how politick speculatively penetrating seemingly wise or rigorously superstitious soever are all yet Vassals Drudges and Ear-bor'd Slaves to the wicked one at his will 4. But where ingenious Nature simply follows its own dictates as undebauched Childhood or Youth that Intellect is little serviceable to the Hellish powers even as the outward Sun and Moon are little useful to them Tho' at the same time the Spring that feeds that ingenuity derives from the first not from the new Man and second Adam or Regeneration nor is its Life from the Divine Light 5. It is also too manifest that the Children of the day in whom Christ is formed being immur'd in Bestial Flesh propagated by Apostate sinful Man and Woman and having the Tincture of their Souls impaired lye open to the Tempter and have great necessity of Divine aid continually to humble themselves pray fast watch sight strive wrestle and use all diligence left they enter into Temptation 6. Now the Lord Jesus taking the Humane Nature on him did undergo the evil and bear the load of Temptation being one eminent part of his process for us but the Tempter not seeing the purity of his Conception being quite another principle too deep by far for him might conceive hope of like success as he had against Eve who was a kind of Virgin and the Lord being made of a Virgin But the Lord saith the Tempter cometh but hath nothing in me 7. Now that the process of Temptation should succeed the Baptism of the Lord teacheth us that the New Man's Advances in the Way of Obedience is a time of holy fear care and humbling the Soul it being the more not the less liable to various multiplyed terrible Temptations and in that the Lord was tempted he is able to succour them that are Tempted
8. Why the Temptation lasted forty days is referr'd to the 78 Answer Also why a God-Man should be Tempted is shewn above His Temptation must needs be of the Devil or otherwise as from without his Divinity and Purity exempting him from such variety as we poor miserable Creatures are surcharged with from within our Souls and outward Man and Objects of our Sences are as so many Snares Serpents and Devils in us about us and waiting way laying us 9. And lastly that all this must precede his working of Wonders and Miracles teaches us the method of the Eternal World also is manifest in all Created Existencies viz. That from the anguishes of the first four forms should result the glory of the second Principle or other three Properties But I close here because if God will that I live to meet with more of the dear precious golden inestimable Contemplation of the Process of Christ it may fall under the 117 Question Q. 113. How was Christ in Heaven and also on Earth both at once A. 1. Men may not think Heaven and this World to be so sever'd as that Heaven cannot be said to be here till the present World pass away for though this World cannot be in Heaven by reason of its Impurity yet Heaven is in this World for it comprehends it and is the whole second Principle where-ever the Infinite God is in his Love there is Heaven 2. This understood it must be acknowledged Heaven is in every Heart that loves God but every Child of God is not yet in Heaven for they are so present in the Body as that they are absent from the Lord that is their love c. hath an allay of Dross 3. But the Lord Jesus Christ and also the first Adam before his Fall were as Men or in their Humanity in Heaven for their love was perfect and it must be noted that the Lord saith not the Son of God but the Son of Man which is in Heaven I farther refer this Answer to the 77th and 108th Answers Q. 114. Why did Christ upon Earth teach before the People concerning the Kingdom of Heaven in Similitudes or Parables A. 1. We read All these things spake he to the multitude in Parables and without a Parable spake he not unto them 1. Adding that it might be fulfilled c. I will open my mouth in Parables seeing therefore the Text gives that for a Reason must we not receive it as such The second is The Reason the Lord Himself gives His Disciples To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom but to them it is not given The Text also gives viz. with many other Parables c. as they were able to hear it The fourth is drawn from the Lord's warning and inhibition Cast not Pearls before Swine nor Holy things to Dogs of whom it is said by the Lord I speak to them c. because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not nor do they understand Of them also it is said Make the hearts of this People fat make their Eyes heavy c. 2. Summarily then the Children by means of their weakness were not able to hear it otherwise than in Parables though to them apart they were open'd and the Multitude by reason of their Wickedness were not worthy to hear it otherwise because the proud Rejecters of God were inwardly devilish and outwardly bruitish and are call'd Dogs and Swine to whom the Childrens Bread might not be given for God resisteth the Proud 3. Because Man was fallen into the third Principle over which he should have been Ruler so that the regenerate themselves were outwardly bruitish and in their inward and best part were as young Children to them the Gracious Lord vouchsafed to bow down and as it were lisp and to feed them with Milk 4. For as much now as Man was gone out of the Unity into the Multiplicity God of infinite Bowels follows him into it and there teacheth him by the Earth Corn Fruits Stones Thorns Sheep Fowls Ants c. Making them speak to him pursue convince and judge him by the Good and Obedience of the very Oxe and Ass gratefulness of the Earth for Rain and Bounty of Heaven in the Seasons and when nothing will do he makes the Stone cry out of the Wall and Beam out of the Timber to answer leaving such not only without excuse but accused by the whole Creation Nevertheless by these Parabolical Applications call'd the foolishness of Preaching was Power found to save them that Believe Q. 115. Why hath not Christ himself described his Gospel with Letters in Writing but only taught and left it afterwards to his Apostles to write down A. It may be supposed and argued who so sufficient as the Omnipotence of the Son of God Who could so exactly discover the Mysteries therein as the Author thereof Who could so challenge and command Belief as he who is Truth it self with the like reasonings 1. But we must know that the Three glorious Persons have Three distinct Operations viz. The Almighty Father or Infinite first Principle doth Eternally beget and generate as his Love Delight or Heart the Eternal Son whom he giveth The Almighty Son or Infinite second Principle is Eternally begotten every where in the Abyss giving Himself who is the Light of Divine Life having Life in Himself is Himself the Gospel written in the Heart Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ. The Almighty Spirit Holy Ghost or Infinite third Principle doth Eternally proceed from the Father and Son and Eternally publish propagate figure declare image and manifest the first Principle and the second also the first in the second infinitely through the whole Abyss 2. Thus was the carrying on publishing abroad or prospering this wonderful Work of the Arm of the Lord to restore lost Man being like making dry Bones live the proper operation of the third not of the second Person Therefore saith the Lord to the Disciples What I tell you in the ear preach you on the house tops Again He that believeth the works that I do shall he do and greater works c. And saith the Spirit when he cometh shall convince the World c. 3. Thus Abraham figured the Father's property or operation giving his Son a Sacrifice Isaac the Son's property giving himself but Jacob that of the Holy Ghost multiplying first into 12 Branches then became as the Stars and the Evil Seed only professing are like as the sand for multitude sand for their earthiness 4. Thus as the Lord saith the Father hath born witness of me And again speaking of the Holy Ghost saith for he shall take of mine and give it unto you not filling Jerusalem only but the whole World with his Doctrine Q. 116. Why must it be the very High Priests and Scribes or Scripture learned who taught the People that must speak against or
9. Here may be noted that never was Subjection Patience Humility and Obedience to Parents and all placed over us enforced by any so cogent and irrefragable Argument as it is by this Subjection of the Lord Jesus Christ to them Even to Joseph no otherwise His Parent than by Espousal to Mary and that not for a short time but a Tract of many Years even after His being among the Doctors about the Business of the Almighty Father 10. In admiration of this Condescention behold here Oh my Soul the only Son of the only God the Soveraign of all Worlds that He might pluck thee as a Firebrand out of the Fire of thine own kindling content to burn Himself that He might Redeem thee from dark Chains of Everlasting Vassalage became Himself a Servant subject to His Inferior Subjects because Man revolted from his Obedience to God God obediently subjected Himself to Man The Wisdom of God learnt Obedience by the things which he suffer'd 11. Doth my Soul beg to know His sweet Name Where dwells He and who or what is He like I am told He was like a Servant no Thing Creature or World may be liken'd to Him but that His dwelling is with the humble many times in old Cottages and strong Prisons And that one of His great Names is but a Monosyllable viz. LOVE 12. A Name that calls for Love and commands Obedience for the delight found in Love That Heart therefore that reading and meditating this and weeps not the heart that groans not bleeds not melts not breaks not flames not is not the Heart of a true Man but of a Beast or a Devil Metamorphos'd iâto Human shape 13. The third Mystery is of His Thirty Years privacy the Types of which are in the 110th Answer and in the first part of that Answer is the Ground why Thirty Years was the due proportion of time for compleating actual Righteousness 14. Else it may seem marvellous that He who was the Light of this and all Worlâs could with-hold any of His infinite diffusive Vertue Also that seeing He was only the saving Light and Fountain of Salvation without whom the World perisheth should conceal His Glory His Omnipotence not being obnoxious to the Conâagion of Sinners with whom He might converse which our impotence exposeth us to 15. May we not on this occasion be warn'd to put a strong bridle and restraint on our Tongues the Herald of our impetuous Lusts in our Applications to others knowing how often it wounds us and others and inverts the End for which it was vouchsafed us 17. May I not hence also convince my self that very much of my Work is within rather than abroad and that God's Holy Work with us is entirely within Men for the bestial part of us is the Monstrous Image got by departure from God so alienated that all Communications and Approaches to it must be Image-like if intelligible to us faln Men. 17. And whereas the Divine Work is agitated in Man's superior part it causeth a departure from the brutish Man therefore was this of our Lord 's most inwardly a Sacred silence privacy or secresie for so great a part of his Pilgrimage in Flesh on Earth wherein he was literally separate from Sinners 18. How cross to this is the precipitance of our rushing to speak our supposed Knowledge and of unmortified Mens hypocritical Stage-Plays in Pulpits and other publick Oratories 19. How opposite to this is our needless associating for Curiosity with Company to whom we cannot do and from whom we may not hope for Good 20. How diametrically thwart to this is that River of Thoughts like swarms of Locusts which are uncontroulably allow'd to consume our precious Fruit and these Thoughts are mostly generated in the stinking Lakes of discomposing converse with bestial people 21. Christ's sweating Blood in his Agony was when his Sufferings came to the breaking of the fourth Form which is the Fire for then did the other Forms severally grow prevalent surrounding him with Death that state being such as Men mean when they say the Heart is broken for in the Heart is the Fire-life All which did our dear Lord bear because Adam had enkindled in himself a Fire which had not Gracious Love even then interposed and been inspoken had soon devour'd him 22. The Lord was betray'd by Judas his pretended Friend and Servant for such seemed the Serpent to Eve and by a Kiss a fatal false Friendship of Eve to Adam thus we still fall by mistaking Enmity for Friendship perishing for want of Knowledge 23. Our Saviour was apprehended and bound for Adam our Undoer going out of the Liberty was bound by the prevailing Anguishes of the first Principle and Mortality of the third Principle 24. Jesus the Eternal Light was thus dealt with by Night because Adam went out of the Eternal Day into Eternal Darkness therefore was the Lord carried to the Murtherers by Night 25. Our King the Lord of Glory was mocked reproached derided and scorn'd by vile Men because Adam had introduced such odious shame as made him the scorn of the Devils 26. The Prince of our Peace was scourged though the Innocent Lamb of God for Adam awakening all the Properties made not only the Essences to be inwardly Raging but his outward Body as that of the Beast to be subjected to the Whip which the gracious Lord refus'd not to endure for us 27. The Son of God Heir of all Things and King of Immortality was Crown'd as if he had been a false King with Thorns because Adam would in his Pride be like God and wear this World's Crown 28. And as all these were but Fore-runners or Entrance of Adam on the borders of Everlasting Destruction whereinto he was plunging his whole Man and Posterity so all these things were done to the second Adam and meekly endur'd by Him before His Passion 29. And all this was to make a plain and terrible Demonstration to all Mankind that Sin unrepented of becomes a Substance crying for all inward and outward Vengeance for ever See 25 Chap. of the Three Principles Q. 118. Why must the very Teachers of the Law bring Christ to the Judgment and yet must be put to Death by the Heathenish Magistracy What doth that signifie A. 1. That so it was appears Now to answer why it was so Let it be noted that Persecutions proceed not out of the second Principle for in that all are United in Love and Meekness nor out of the third wherein Civil Magistracy standeth for that of its own Nature if not unwarily heated persecuteth none as is found in Christian Republicks who have no oppressive interest to advance or support Persecution introduceth not its sting 2. Nor in such only but in the Mahometan Monarchies is not Religion as such persecuted but Conquests made for the greatning their poor outward Momentary Power And this is found not only among the Turks but Persians under
of the quenching of Wrath with Love he sitteth in the Throne and is himself the Reconciliation Q. Is it askt what is the Kingdom City Palace or Seat whither he ascended and where he is A. 3. He is himself the Seat Palace City and Kingdom Q. Is it askt how can this be intelligible to Mortals living in Houses of Clay A. What is and where are the Bounds in the outward World of the Light The shining Sun is its own Palace and Throne it also is in the whole Deep in the several Elements and Concrets as far as any thing is capable of it yet is it but a Figure or Representation of the true Eternal Son Q. It is said concerning his visible circumscriptive Body which rose again and was seen by his Disciples on Earth during his Forty days converse whom the Disciples saw ascend and of whom the two Men in shining Garments spake that he should in like manner descend Where is that Body A. 4. It is answered it is in its own Eternal Throne But it is to be considered if we in our astral Man can view in our Intellect the whole Globe of Earth and Seas and the whole Deep of the third Principle And were our more noble part freed from the Images our Syderial Spirit frameth what a view could it take of the Principles and Fountain Spirits whence it all sprung especially that which it lives in and delights in as how much of the Eternal World may a glorified Spirit know for the Child knows and seeth his Parents and the Lords very outward Body was Begotten of the Holy Ghost as Masculine Seed 5. If therefore such a poor finite Creature as Man the lower sort of Intellectuals who is the thing formed or building can mount so high and apprehend so much Whither cannot he ascend what cannot he do and comprehend who being Conceived of the Holy Ghost is the Builder of the House Who tho' he humbled himself to the form of a Servant and ascended as such to shew he was our Brother yet is Lord of all and in his Heavenly Humanity is not exclusible of place as Eternity is not excluded out of time Q. 142. What signifie the two Men in Shining Garments who said Ye Men of Galilee why look ye up after him This Jesus who is taken from you to Heaven will come a-again as you have seen him ascend or go into Heaven A. 1. Moses saith Out of the Mouth of Two Witnesses shall every Truth be established And the Lord saith if he will not hear thee take with thee one or two more Thus in the Temple were two Cherubims stretching out their two Wings and the Lord sent out his Disciples two and two 2. The signification of all which is that when the first Adam by not acting his Powers caused the dividing the Two Tinctures into distinct Male and Female which should have remained but one Error and Falshood soon crept in for the Two Tinctures were neither of them true but Deceit introduced it self into both because the true Virginity disappeared 3. And the Two Tinctures were united only in the second Adam to bear one Voice or Testimony for he Married the Humane Soul to Virgin Sophia Thus the two Men in shining Garments bear but one Testimony Hence was it that in Sacrificing of Fowl the Male and his Female made but one Offering 4. Also thus as the Lord who was then taken up into Heaven shall in like manner return again so the holy pure Virgin Sophia the Wisdom of God and Tincture of the Light who left the Humane Fire Soul of Adam and withdrew from him into her own Heaven But by the Incarnation of the second Adam the same Eternal Virginity came down and returned again to the Humane Soul of us poor unworthy miserable Men. Q. 143. Why must the Disciples of Christ yet wait ten days for his Ascention for the sending of the Holy Ghost Why was not that done instantly Here begins the Eighth Grand Distribution A. 1. It was 1. To compleat the Antitype being the time pointed at by the Feast of Weeks which Feast of Weeks is commanded several times viz. from the Morrow after the Sabbath of the Passover reckon seven Sabbaths is 49 and 1 is 50 or the Feast of Pentecost from the Lords Resurrection At the end of Forty days the Lord ascended and the Disciples were to wait at Jerusalem till the coming of the Holy Ghost which was ten days after The ten days to make up the Feast of Weeks was that they might be a secondary illustration whereto the seventh day or weekly Sabbath is suited 2. Nine of these ten days points at the whole course of the Race of a Christian in this World and the tenth is the Crown Summit or Perfection As the nine first forms of Fire are Crowned with the Heavenly Birth of the Paradisical Earth and Water of Life in the holy World which is obtained by adding thereunto the tenth form 3. This is figur'd by the nine Generations beginning with Seâ and Abraham is the tenth in whose Seed cometh the Blessing upon all In like manner find we Angels Ministring to Christs Incarnation nine times and the two at his Ascention was the tenth See the first Verse of the 133 Answer So there were ten Lepers cleansed but one only returning with thanks it is said where are the nine Thus was the tenth day of their waiting the day of the gracious and glorious coming down of the Holy Ghost Q. 144. What is this that the Disciples must wait and continue together till the Holy Ghost came A. 1. Will any say it was for their outward safety 't is true obedience is the safe path But this was of its own Nature most hazardous against Jacob's method who divided his Family and Substance to preserve some but this keeping them together was as to Mans Judgment an exposing them to danger for first an Assembly is less secret than one also more obnoxious to the Jealousie of evil Eyes From the consequence whereof they had no outward defence of their own or Followers or the People which somewhat swayed with the Priests c. in their time of rage against the Lord whereas they were not entered so far into their Ministry as might promise popular respect Therefore their being together might be deemed by the Bloody Persecutors of the Lord a fit season at once to extirpate the Lords Sacred Embassy and Embassadors 2. Their waiting and continuing together was therefore an Eminent Touchstone of pure Love and incomparable Faith 1. In respect of their Work which was to witness what the Lord was Crucified for acknowledging viz. that himself was the Son of God 3. 2. In respect of the place Jerusalem the stage where the Shepherd was smitten where the Murtherers were Rulers whose Streets lately Consecrated with the holy Lord's walks Miracles and Heavenly Doctrines The Temple where he had often spoken like God not like Man Where was a
what is a Shepherd or Pastor in the Spirit of Christ. It is answer'd Christ is the alone Shepherd of Souls for alluding as before to the outward Sun As the Sun directeth the Creatures to get good and prevent evil by his daily steddy course such is Christs providential guiding us by his working for and sacred Epistles written to us and by assisting us by some loving Brother he substitutes this is his outward Pastoral Office 6. Again as the Sun not only directs the Creatures to the place of their Food but by his vertue makes it to be Food so that they are fed by his secret vertue in the things fed on and the things themselves are but the Medium Thus is the Soul fed by Christ by whom the Medium is caused and the Soul by him also hath a preparedness and capacity thereunto and the good Shepherd thus gives his Life and Vertue for and to the Sheep and they feed on him But Men calling themselves Shepherds are only at best as Ink and Paper wherewith the Lord Jesus writes his good pleasure teaching others to read it So is the Church call'd the Epistle of Jesus Christ. 7. And to the last part of the Question What is a Teacher of the Letter without the Spirit of Christ in his Office It is answer'd he is dead for it is the Spirit only that quickeneth both in respect of himself is sensual not having the sacred Spirit and in respect to his Work the Letter killeth Therefore tho' a regenerated Child may receive some strength from the Teacher of the Letter yet the Divine Principle by him who is himself only in the Anguish of the first Principle viz. the Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger or in the Image or Shadow thereof the third Principle properly call'd the Valley or Shadow of Death the unregenerate Souls are by such misled into the Ditch 8. What is that power then whence the Blind Guides issue and derive Authority From the holy Spirit of Christ it is not for that is pure peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits If they were founded in the Regeneration they would proceed in the Divine Impulse but being sprung in the Astral Magia which is but the Figure or Shadow of the Eternal World the driving is from without and being so from beneath cannot ascend higher Preachers in that Spirit are only the Apes and Counterfeits of the Divine Living Spirit and the Super-intendents or Ordainers of them are Men neither Authorized by the Law nor Gospel Thus after the choice Youth of Christian people are prepossest with Aristotle's Heathenish and dry Breasts of Philosophy like the Children prostituted to Mâlock They are spirited by Men who by a fatal Name are call'd School-Doctors 9. These come abroad with unmortified Luâts imperious Wills imposing Principles in contempt of the humility simplicity and plainness of the Doctrine of Christ and of the Self-denial Charity and Love in the practice of Christianity but will be Teachers of the Multitude yet being ignorant of God of Nature and of themselves being very great strangers to Christ in whom only are all the Treasures of true Wisdom Q. 150. What is the Office of the Keys How may they become rightly used or who is worthy or âit for this Office or whether is he himself the Office Or whether hath he freely given it to man so that he may without Christ's Spirit forgive Sins or how is it done A. 1. People of the Roman Communion say Their Bishop hath the Keys of Heaven left him by Peter but why they derive from Peter they should shew for Peter was the Apostle to the Circumcision they were Gentiles and Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles Thus far they are as the Jews that as the Jews Persecuted the Head these do the Members 2. But were it so they derived rightly from Peter which cannot be and Peter only from the Words of the Lord Jesus which were a direct Error as of such who know not the Scriptures to think yet let it be observ'd the Lord said to Peter I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom c. It is not there said I do give c. Nor seems he then fit being ignorant of and offended at the Notice of Christ's designed Sufferings his Answer on that occasion caus'd the Lord to say after this Promise Get thee behind me Sathan c. But when that Promise was performed it was to the other Apostles equally with Peter for when the Lord Jesus shew'd himself to them he breath'd on them saying receive ye the Holy Ghost whose Sins ye remit c. 3. But we read of the Lawyers who took away the Key of Knowledge as these do for the Pardon of Sin is not like the Remission of Mens Penalties by a Magistrate at a Bar but is a great Work therefore said the Jews VVho can forgive Sins but God alone And Moses interceeding for Israel saith Let the Power of my Lord be great and Pardon c. It was Power that created the World but great Power goes to the forgiving of Sin 4. But Power of Remission and Retention of Sin was given by the Lord Jesus to the Apostles together with a Commission to go and Preach the Gospel wherein more was meant than what was conferred on the rest of the World for it was not only a Power of bare Verbal Declaration which others might do but a Delegation of Commissionary Authority All Sin is against God those against Men are against God as Men stand related to God and as they Transgress the Righteous Law of God Therefore no Sin can be Pardoned but by him against whom Sin is committed And 't is the Infinite can extend Infinite Mercy which only can secure a sinful Creature against Infinite Wrath. 5. Men may as Ambassadors declare their Lord's terms of Reconciliation in general to all and they may ratifie Peace with particular Persons if they are directed by the unerring Spirit of God to discern them from all others but Samuel himseâf was mistaken by the goodly Presence of David's elder Brother Such an Error in this Case may both invalidate the Absolution and Shipwrack the Man into a Lethargy Presumptuous Dream Slumber or translate him to Fools Paradise 6. And it may be doubted this discriminating Eye is dimn or shut when the Concomitants disappear for now the glorious Effusion of the Holy Ghost enabling to take up Serpents drink any deadly thing heal the Sick eject Devils Prophesie speak with new Tongues are all controverted as a misunderstood History rather than to be things practicable by the Pretenders to that great work of Pardon 7. Let it not therefore be thought a designed Sacriledge of part of Ecclesiastical Authority to warn all to see they have salt in themselves and not be led by the Eyes of others and those also Eyes confessedly defective But that the Apostles did this was because they
the Lamb was eaten as in haste and with bitter Herbs The Supper as in a Table gesture of such as have attained rest not by violent killing as That but by a free Issue of the highest and sweet Tincture as is That producing Bread and Wine and remaining in them 2. So high is it that it hath been thought by some of the Learned tho' erroneously that the Spirit of Wine is the true Fire of Nature 3. That it might be a Medium for conveyance for so great was the Precipice down which Man fell that he must be followed or for ever lost but tho' he fell into the Mortal Elementary State and the Elements of Bread and Wine blessed for his use yet these are not the Medium The Tincture is a Virgin a Servant to Virgin Sophis who tho' it be not purely Divine yet is such a Servant indeed as in whom is no guile 3. The Tincture whence issueth the Corn and Vine is the middle Earth betwixt the Heavenly or Paradifical Earth as the most superior and the Mortal as the most inferior This is therefore the proper Medium Here the Souls fiery hunger in the Promise meets the Divine Love and Grace the Living Word or Power World bringing in and with the Flesh and Blood of Christ's Heavenly Humanity which is the Emmanuel the Hope the Joy and Eternal Spouse of the Fire Soul and the Lord Husband and Crown of the enlightened renewed meek Spirit fore here the two Tiâctures are united for âver and is neither Male nor Female but our Christ is all in all Q. 157. Whether is the True Testamentary Enjoyment or Participation bound meerly to the Apostolical Practice and Observation or whether also men may have Power or Authority to alter and change This Ordinance as is done now-a-days A. 1. Amongst men the Law making Power only hath Authority to change and alter Laws And a Testator dying no one may alter the Will and Testament ratified by the deceased On much higher and surer Reason is it therefore that no man or all men may alter or change This Ordinance or reject any of God's Institutions no more than two or three School-boys can root up the Basis of Philosophy or two or three Thieves or other Criminals change the publick Statuâes of a State or Kingdom 2. This will be acknowledged in words but when men come to measure Heavenly Mysteries by the Form of Words and Those Words by the Standard of Reason and That Reason corrupted by their Lusts disputes are raised without end and Obstinacy is the Disputant for the unregenerate man hath a perverse Will so that such of them as can attain the most exact Form of Godliness are only thereby the more confirmed in their Ungodliness 3. Could such do every Outward Ordinance with direct exactness of every gesture speak the words and only those spoken and done by the Lord himself without the Regenerating Spirit of Christ they would transgress the Rule still be in the Livery of Christ Traitors to Him fight against Him under His own Banners the Lord's Supper will be to such as the Sop to Judas who did after kiss and betray Such men receive the Heavenly Dews but bear fruit to self and That fruit the Grapes of Sodom they err in every work of their hands their very plowing is sin their Metonymies and other Tropes are airy distinctions of the words of the Institution like the endless Genealogies of the unbelieving Jews 4. Thus we see men guided by the Properties of the first Principle clothing their Hypocrisie by the Images and Maxims of the third do turn That blessed Ordinance which was to be as a Bond of Peace into Enmity And what wonder they should endeavour to impose their dark notions on others by hostile force as wild Beasts are to be dealt with not having the Light of the second to guide their Understandings as Children of the day But the new Nature of Gods Child is fed by that whereof it is Begotten and because the love of every such is sincere their hunger is earnest and is in proportion satisfied as it is in power and vigor excited Q. 158. Whether also is the Testament powerful in the alter'd or chang'd Ordinance or not A. 1. The misapprehending of this Question may either on the one hand encourage to make unwarrantable alterations arbitrarily or persist in them after being found to be such Or on the other hand unnecessarily to decline all Communion or despair of Vertue from the Ordinance because something said or done at the Administration seem not expresly commanded in the form recorded in the Institution Wherefore 2. To make way to the Answer 1. Something must be said to the Institution of the Sacrament it self 2. Something to the partakers 1. In the Sacrament are 1. The Form and Materials 2. The Force and Vertue 3. The Medium 1. The Form and Materials are meant in the words take eat this and take drink this this intends the Elements or Accidents of Bread and Wine 2. The force and Vertue meant by the words this is my Body is my Blood viz. are that Heavenly Flesh and Blood of Christ the Food of the Eternal Soul It is Christs Spiritual Humanity whereby he doth substantially inhabit the Souls of all who open to him their hungry and thirsty Mouth sups with them and is himself the true Bread and Water of Eternal Paradisical Divine Life 3. 3. The Place or Medium and this is not Christ himself tho' in his Heavenly Humanity he is not shut out of any Heaven for he is in or rather is all Heavenly Places Also the Medium neither can be the Elements of Bread and Wine for they are Mortal Accidents not Substances But the Tincture whence groweth the Bread and Wine is the Medium for that is Pure and Immortal and for the sake whereof the Idea of the Creatures shall be raised into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 4. Something preparatory to the Answer is concerning the partakers of the Sacrament be the subdivisions how many soever there will be found at last but two sorts The Wise and the Unwise both call'd Virgins The one really and in Heart the other feigned and only in shew The one those of the day generated in the Glory and Love of the second principle the other of darkness in the works of the first principle 5. The Child of wrath can eat only and drink the Elementary part which hath in it the good and evil properties the Imaged Powers of Wrath and Love extending only to his Mortal Elementary Life wherewith neither his Eternal Soul nor Eternal Spirit of the Mind are really fed but starve and therefore so eats he and drinks he Damnation to himself not discerning the Lords Body viz. not receiving nourishment from the Heavenly Food the Lords real Body but only the Elementary And his Astral or Siderial Spirit cannot receive so much as the pure Medium and keep it
so because the evil properties domineering in the Soul makes the Tincture false which in its self is true as also it is in the Devils 6. Thus we see the Air of its self sweet and wholesome in a City greatly infected with the Plague is by the Emanation of many Sick and Expiring Bodies by that contagion corrupt So the discord of the dark Soul invades the serenity of the Tincture and maims it of its Inclination and Ability to good and Invigorates it with the Rage of its own perverse Affections 7. Now to the humble obedient Child the Supper is a Feast giving nourishment suitable to his Hunger his Fire Soul and Principle of strength is meeken'd his drooping Spirit cheered his Astral Spirit composed into order some of the Properties restrained other properties stirred on and others sweetly encouraged and the disappeared Image of the Virgin by the Body and Blood of the second Adam restored 8. Come we now to the Doubt Whether the alter'd Ordinance retain power to do good It is answer'd That if the alter'd Administration fall short of shewing the End of its Institution or hath so great additions as so to cloud the thing signified as it cannot be rightly discerned or the change be such as doth race out the Ordinance its self the Essentials are departed and it is no more an Ordinance of Christ than a dead Corps is a Man the power disappears when the thing it self is not 9. It is true if the Soul remain so doth some measure of power as a Man may live yet have lost a Leg or Arm but dismembering is often Mortal to the Natural Body and not seldom so in lameing the Service of God carry such to the Ruler will he accept it But wo to such who innovate to them are the Curses of Gods Book added Also where Sacriledge is found it rends that Name out of Gods Book of Life and where the intire alteration is there Hell hath enlarg'd it self 10. Yet in every Age and Place where the Divine Love is or hath been begotten the Hunger is ever a receiver of such quantity of Manna as is according to every one's eating We see the outward Sun through Clouds Showers and ill Vapours in and under the Earth and Seas doth great good work and shall we streighten the unlimitable Divine Grace and Power Is the holy Child at any time driven into the Wilderness and goeth not God thither with him He that instructs us in Dreams in the Creation in evil Creatures and by many things evil as in themselves that brings good out of evil confirms us by our falls that brought Almonds out of Aaron's dry Rod shall not he also out of weakness create strength He doth out of the cruel Anguishes of the Lion-like first Principle bring the most sweet Honey of the holy second Principle Which is still a Riddle but the day of God dawneth and will proceed to a perfect day in all such in whom he of whom Samson was a shadow shall slay the enmity of the four dark forms by introducing Divine Light and the holy Power World Q. 159. What do the Learned when they reproach one the other about Christs Testaments and the precious Covenant of Grace And disgrace one another and give up one another to the Devil about it Whether do they also manage the Office of Christ whether is that right or wrong whether also is this done as a Minister of Christ Or whom do they serve thereby A. 1. Their reproaching each other usually proceeds either from outward prosperity or desire of Superiority whence come Wars come they not from your Lusts which War in your Members When Joseph had open'd to his Brethren a prospect of approaching prosperity he seasonably warn'd them not to fall out by the way As soon as Constantine had given the Christians a general Jubilee from the frequent Persecutions of more than two hundred years up riseth Arrius and other Hereticks Titular Christians persecuting the real Christians As saith the Apostle He that was after the Flesh Ishmael persecuted him that was after the Spirit for which there are many Reasons briefly thus 2. The counter Christian being shut up in the first four forms of Nature to stifle his intestine tumults sallies out into the third Principle which is the great figure of his proper radical disorders the World therefore being his only home he will be Master there especially over them who both are and own themselves to be strangers 3. But God keeps peace among his Children by his Rod which is so Moral an Argument of conserving peace that the penitent Thief urg'd it on the other viz. Dost thou not fear God seeing thou art under the same condemnation On the swelling of Severn by a great Flood Islands were made on some of them Lambs and Foxes saved themselves where the very Foxes tho' hungry were observed to keep a Civil Community with the Lambs being all under one Consternation 4. Mans departure from the Unity into the Multiplicity brings his Lifes forms into Enmity But Heavenly Peace the Sister of Sacred Love is Born at the reducing him from the Multiplicity into the Unity again 5. If therefore the love of the World and the things of the World viz. as it is figur'd and impressed by the evil dark Powers be the cause of strife introducing the contrariety and multiplicity Then the Love of the Heavenly Father whence we departed being regenerated in us by his only Son in the method of Self-abasing which is the Cross of the Christian as far as he is unmortified This love thus begotten makes peace and this appeased mind which also was in the Lord Jesus Christ divides the World into two parts only viz. the humble afflicted Children of Sacred Love those of the day and the proud unmortified Workers of evil in the Kingdom of Darkness Whereby it is that the renewed Image hath only Enmity for its Enemy Q. 160. Which is the very mark of a right Christian upon Earth whereby Men may distinguish him from a Titulary Christian Here begins the Ninth Grand Distribution A. In the 154 Answer is much to the opening of this 1. The Christian in Heart and Life is very precious and as secret as precious Thus precious Metals are the most secret being resembled by baser so precious Stones have their counterfeits and Nature is much of it imitated by Art even as the out-issued or out flown Nature of this World is but a Figure of the two Eternal Worlds all therefore-to be seen here are not the things themselves but Shadows Figures and Representations and those but as in a Glass darkly 2. What wonder then that the Christian is unknown to others and to himself also in great measure when Paul saith of himself lest while I Preach to others I my self be a Cast-away The new Man is not very apparent to him in whom he is when yet is at a good growth and sometimes wholly obscur'd for the Astral Man
hath a very Dim sight and sees such things only by similitudes which impose mistakes And the Eternal Soul is like jarring untun'd Strings of an Instrument So that the holy new Principle is buried drown'd and out-sounded 3. How may the Heavenly Man be distinguisht from all pretended Christians seeing there is given him a white Stone and a new Name which none can read but he that hath it And how obscure the Characters ingraved in that white Stone are may appear in this that when the Lord said to the Twelve one of you shall betray me they all severally askt Master Is it I So that he only who had not the white Stone was able to know who it was and by consequence who were not Traytors but Faithful And yet notwithstanding all that hath been said the right Christian may be known partly by comparing him with the contrary Characters of the Titulary Christian and partly by something visible in him who is the Christian in Heart 4. The Character of the Titulary Christian is he makes the profit pleasure and pride of things on Earth his great and constant aim and it cannot be otherwise pretend he what he will for this is his home his all his treasure where else can be his Heart 5. His first Principle is uneasie to him unless he hath somewhat to go into for his first four Properties being by his loss of the Divine World in the Fall at perpetual enmity and in respect of his dark Principle separately considered he is a Tormentor or Hell to himself therefore laying hold on the third Principle which is all he can reach his hungry Fire and Rage is mitigated as Men in pain and grief are a little eased by delightful Objects diverting the regret of their Melancholy as Children by Toys do cease crying 6. Thus the prosperity of the Fool shall slay him it made him say Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry Did I not studiously shun many words much might profitably be said shewing how according to this the Lord Jesus doth Character the Scribes and Pharisees which were Hypocrites and what the whole reprehensions of the Prophets and Apostles in all the holy Records say of this out-cast state who all with one continued cry did in all Ages perswade recal and warn Man from the Image and Shadow to the true Eternal holy substance and condemn his obstinate refusal The Holy Ghost convincing him of his stupid Lust to his Chains and Prison willing him to leave off his grave Cloths 7. But the Faithful Christian is distinct from the Titular Christian in this that his main aim bent of his will stream of his affections bottom of his real designs desires and longings are not after and stay not in the figure but penetrate into the substance lives to groans and thirsts after the Inward Man 8. Nothing he finds can compose true peace but reuniting the Light World to him which is done only by the death of the Enmity not the death of the Enemies for then the Soul were Mortal if the Powers or Properties could be kill'd but the Regenerate Man dies to the Self-will and Lusts to which the Titular Christian is a great resolute stranger And that it is said he dies to the Sensual Man is so true that it cannot be otherwise for the sensual Life is to the Life of the new Man the resigned Inward Man as sickness is to health which by the true Physician is drove away 9. And tho' Men have the Heavenly and Hellish Properties in them that which soever they awaken that Fire burneth and becomes the Life of the Man suppressing the contrary property yet is not the prevailing Property of these two easily distinguishable in the Out-birth but very obscure Even as the Light of the Sun by the interposition of gross palpable Fogs and Exhalations is less visible than the Lustre of a Bright Moon in a serene Air. Q. 161. What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdom of God is inwardly revealed or manifested How doth he walk and converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once A. 1. The last preceding Answer distinguisheth a Christian from another Man so that to the first second and third parts of this it may suffice to say that the Christian properly such hath inwardly his first principle consisting of the four Anguishes the Root or Fire and indissoluble Band of the Soul illustrated and regulated by the Love Fire which is the Divine Holy Life out of the second principle In respect whereof he walks and converseth in Heaven as in an Angelical state in great purity and simplicity as such are they dear Children and were not the third Principle annexed to them were in the Holy Eternal Paradise already 2. But were they not invested by the Out-birth or Astral World they could not be the compleat Image of the Trinity which in that respect the Angels themselves are not Therefore according to the Astral Man the regenerate Soul is properly the Temple of the Holy Ghost but the Holy Angels themselves wanting that Principle are not said to be so 3. Thence it is our Apostle dehorting from polluting it by Harlots But that we keep our Bodies pure and chaste tells us they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which if we defile we destroy Gods Temple and that who doth so him will God destroy for as the whole third Principle is the propriety of the Holy Ghost so peculiarly is Mans Outward Man or Astral Man his Temple 4. In the outward Man of some of Gods Holy Children therefore the inward Power World so manifesteth it self that it giveth vigour of the Eternal Holy World into the Tincture of their Astral Man as in the Prophets and Apostles to enter into their Diseased Brother and bring his weak Faith both into a potent and good order with such Energy as fortifies the Paralitick separates the impurity of the Leper calms the rage of the Calenture revives the drooping stays the departing and sometimes recalls the departed outward Life Gods Spirit awakening the Magical Virtue of his Children all things are possible Q. 162. What is the Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity A. 1. Although the Holy Ghost describes Antichrist his Rise his Character and the method of his destruction adding that there are many Antichrists Yet so mysterious is he that it is proverbial that Antichrist is the Philosophers Stone in Divinity His shelter is the Darkness his defence the Word and Power of Hell and wicked pretended Christians Of this Vizard of Darkness the Divine Light divests him and the Divine strength consumes him the brightness of the Lords coming discovers him and the Spirit of his Mouth destroys him How then can any be deliver'd from the Tyranny of Antichrist who are strangers to Christ or any know Christ who are willingly in servitude to Antichrist 2. The time of Antichrists discovery and destruction is certainly
seen in raging furious desperate men from thenceforth wanting a Mouth capable to eat Paradisical Food therefore God cursed the Earth that it also should no more be able to produce nor be intrusted with Living Holy Fruits of the Heavenly Power-World for the Heavenly Humanity once withdrawn Man was no longer a Subject Member Citizen or Child of God's Kingdom but a Beast and in the Bestial Astral and Elementary Kingdom at Enmity with the Holy Pure Sweet Eternal Order 5. Therefore Christ taketh the Kingdom by bringing again the holy disappeared Power-World or Heavenly Humanity into the captivated dark debilitated Humanity call'd an Ingrafted Word also a Seed growing to a Tree A Leven levening the whole A Refiner and is as a sparkle enkindling the whole and as in germination of a Seed the gross matter given it from the Elements dieth or as of the burnt Sacrifice the Elementary part is by the fire of the Altar separated into a Vapour and Salt Just so Christ entred the corrupted Man and leading it through Death became the true Separator He brought the holy Virgin Image the alone Heavenly Virginity which is signified by the Salt thrown by Elisha to heal the Fountain not only the Stream For This Divine Power healeth the Tincture and the Tincture being cured like the healed Spring by its new got Magical Might and Puissance is a Co-worker with God in regenerating the whole Man As the Subterranean Fire doth draw one way with the Solar Fire in propagating and advancing the Generation of Metals ejection of Fountains and sanative hot Baths 6. This Kingdom is not taken but purchased by the Blood of the King of it and what this Blood was see the 124 Answer 2 6 8 and 9 verses but this Kingdom is such that it is the scope of all the Writings of the holy Ones from Adam the first Man to the unknown day and hour of the end of this dying World Men who would fain be Atheists have said the great ingredient of their mortal fatal contagious Madness hath been the observing how little affected the Conversations of such shew them to be who profess the knowledge love and fear of an Infinite Powerful Omniscient and Omnipresent Glorious and Gracious Father Son and Holy Ghost thinking they could not so converse did they indeed believe what themselves say 7. But the reason thereof hath been the deceiving Spirit for there hath all along been such Sacrificers as Cain such as have the Faith of Simon Magus the Prophesyings of Balaam the Humility of Ahab the Repentance of Judas the Abstinence of the Foolish Virgins the priviledge of the Tares to be the Guest without a Wedding Garment the Branch yet wither'd and cut off the Wife but Divorced the Building without Foundation those who after cleansing take seven worse Spirits whose goodness is like the Morning Dew Stars but either fallen or wandering ones Teachers but yet at last Cast-aways All these professing themselves of Christs are really of the Devils Kingdom 8. For that which these attain is at highest but Faith as it is an act of the understanding which gives a false faint Light without Life and Heat while the Faithful Subjects are actuated and moved by a Faith that purifieth the Heart and subjecteth the Will proceeding from strength to strength for as purifying Faith worketh from Love so it increaseth Love Simplicity and Innocency and there is founded the Kingdom of Patience It is true Mahometans the dark Ethnicks and Barbarians call those things Vices and those Vertues which we call so and by that Rule They accuse or excuse themselves or others But the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God not only condemns our evil but tenders us Life Eternal it kills us to save us that is it sends us out of our selves by resignation of our separate perverse will that we may be regenerated unto the holy universal comprehensive will Whereby is obtain'd and convey'd not only self-abasing but purging and saving Mercy of Free Grace as only of meer Alms from God This Grace proceeding from pure pity and undeserved goodness is of all things in the World the most disagreeable to Mans unmortified proud Heart most cross to his own will therefore the most sublimely divinely true 9. Faln Mans dejecting himself may be call'd Humiliation Anguish and a Spirit of Bondage but the top of this is but uncloathing the Man who is thereby neither wash'd nor cleansed but the Conscience still polluted the proud Devils must yet see their own deformity with Anguish thus this Spirit in Man shuts him up in the first four Forms or Properties But it is the Spirit of God by the Faith of the Gospel which is generated in the fifth growing to a Flame of Love by the Holy Blood of the true second Adam only washeth the Soul and sprinkleth the Conscience from dead Works How miserable then must those Men be who are willingly ignorant of the power and infinite value of Christs Heavenly Blood and yet themselves undervaluing it are pretended Perfectists yet declare so great an aversion to this as if they would know nothing of that which the Apostle Paul desir'd only to know Contemning the inquiry into that Mystery which the Angels desire to look into But to help the sincere Mind towards the Understanding of the Heavenly condescention in the Lords Incarnation the reperusal of the 106 Answer is seriously recommended And what kind of Subjects Christ taketh into his Kingdom are Character'd in the 117 Answer from ver 3. to the 8th And what the inestimable Blood of this Lamb of God is see the 77th Answer ver 7 8 and 9. The Kingdom is taken by the Glorious King of it without hands As the Angel saith of the Stone to Daniel even as the outward Sun conveys not his Light and enlivening Heat by the violence of stormy Winds but is calmly and sweetly his own Vehicle under whose glorious dear Sway and Scepter may the Lord bring our whole Man and every part of it for ever that this which is the Kingdom of Gods patience may be that of his Power concerning things pertaining to this Kingdom the Lord discoursed with his Disciples in the forty days after his Resurrection But yet this Kingdom suffereth violence tho' it doth none and the violent take it by force for it requires that all diligence be used that Men work out their Salvation with fear and trembling that they ask seek knock search dig watch fight strive wrestle suffer wait comparatively hate Father Mother Wife Child and our own Life Pray without ceasing looking to Jesus c. for as the King entred by the Cross so must the Subjects Q. 166. What is the true new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ Is it done in this time or after this time A. 1. Here is a question consisting of two parts 1. What the true new Regeneration is 2. What time is it wrought in Both of them are secrets the first done by
Man at dissolution of the outward Life at one instant and by the same dissolution is it effected and compleated A. What Omnipotence may do is not for vile dust to comprehend for it is written I know thou canst do all things and the Thief on the Cross was a Monument of unsearchable Grace yet by the words of that Thief there seems not only a preparedness but a good degree of Conviction of guilt penitence sence and anguish under it inlightening to know the Lord Jesus Faith to direct and fortifie his petition and a seeing the unseen Kingdom yet so late a Repentance tho' thus manifested is the one only singular president on Record Q. 10. But it may be enquired what the dissolution of the outward Life of its own Nature contributeth hereunto A. It must be acknowledged that it banisheth for ever the outward Objects of our misimployed Affections and yet it followeth not that it takes away the desire gust or lust after them for the breaking of the outward Life or Elementary and Siderial Man or the Obligations and Ligaments of our Souls and Spirits is but as taking away the Skreen and opening to us the two inward Worlds which is as the unraking of Fire and enraging the Souls native forms of the unregenerate which the Astral and Elementary Man had been before the separation a mitigation of the Anguishes of so far is Mans dissolution from contributing to a Foundation or Beginning of the Divine Birth As it may be conceived by noting that tho' a proper Soil and apt Season may shoot a Mustard-seed sown unto a tall large stature Yet the richest Soil concurring Elements liberal Season benign Astral Influences with the Solar Rays uniting transmute not Tares into Wheat Thistles into Fig-trees nor Thorns into Vines 11. But where the Soul like Flax only smoketh with the Holy Fire and the Souls Fire is irradiated with true tho' weak Divine Light rightly directing the Eye of the Mind Causing the Will and Affections to press forward mourning sowing in tears smiting on the Breast in Anguish heaviness and good earnestness the dissolution of such a sincere beginning Pilgrim may be but as plucking up a Thorn Hedge to make the way more accessable disburthening an over-laden Ship the better to secure the whole the alighting from a froward unbroken or tired Horse which will neither carry the Rider nor can be carried by him So unsuitable a Companion doth the Soul begun to be regenerate find his Body with the distrustful cares distracting fears worldly sorrow and hateful pollutions thereof And so adverse are the Maxims of the Sensual Man to those of the New that they are on terms of Hostility so that if we live after the Flesh we shall die but if by the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live The Body's Vileness is pointed at by that Statute in Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil was not to be poured on Man's Flesh tho' not only both the Altars the Table Laver all the Vessels and Candlesticks but also the very Tabernacle was to be anointed therewith 12. How much are we less provident than the Brutes who know and use their season the Stork the Ant c. and under flattering Hopes of doing all at last neglect all for ever but when Harvest is come begin to sow regardless of what is written To day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts But besotted lost Man will promise himself that it is enough at death that the Priest can absolve me Others to say I believe Christ hath done all for me or because they acknowledge that all are sinners indulge themselves to be always sinners neglecting the great End of their Creation and of Divine Patience till the Creator is calling them for Accompt of His betrusted Talents as if they would then work out their Salvation when themselves are passive and unable to action and the night come when no man can work Obj. 3. 13. But we are told and that by some who detest the Roman Purgatory that something may be done to compleat the perfection of separate Souls after their separation from the Mortal Body who produce several Texts out of the Old Testament and out of the New also out of the Apocryphal antiquity to point at it or rather expresly to confirm it as out of the Old Deut. 26. 14. Isa. 61. 1. Zech. 9. 11 12. out of the New Matth. 12. 32. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 6. out of the Antient Writings call'd Apocrypha 2 Esdras 7. 37. Ecclesiasticus 7. 33. 2. Maccab. 44. 45. Let us therefore post-pone the first step to the New Birth till our bodily Letts be removed when without the obstructions of the Rebel Passions ending with cutting of the Temporal Thread we be adapted thereunto A. The Objection supposeth not that one who at separation of the Soul from the Outward Body after rejecting the Gospel being in fixt Enmity against God and the Kingdom of Resignation is remediable nor suggesteth that he who soweth himself a Tare Thorn or Thistle shall rise a Wheat Corn Vine or Fig-tree how therefore may it seem incumbent on me to oppose my self to the dint of the Texts produced 14. But rather as the Lord Christ in answer to the Question of the Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father keepeth in his own Power but prophesieth and chargeth on them on that occasion their immediate concern and business How much less is it for men to know what the operations of Father Son and Holy Ghost will be in perfecting separate Souls when out of the Circle of Time and Seasons For so strong a Fort hath Satan built in mens resolute Self-wills so impierceable are their Rocky Hearts that like Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the Spear and as the Servants of Atheistical Benhadad diligently catch every word seeming to favour their flattery of Impunity that they may treasure up wrath by impenitence more and more against the day of wrath 15. To these am I sent with happy Tydings that howsoever the Abyss of Mercy hath winked at the faults of the days of Ignorance yet now commandeth he all men every where to repent also with heavy Tydings that if in this their day they neglect so great Salvation how shall they escape Which Question none in Heaven Earth or Hell answereth Again if they that sinned against Moses Law died without Mercy and it might seem the bottom of Misery to die a merciless Death of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trampled under foot the Son of God and blasphemously counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace of how much sorer punishment is that Question but which either is unanswerable or which Eternity can only unfold 16. A murthered Body is the sorrow and pity
into everlasting Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish who can dwell with devouring Fire under the Wrath of the Lamb Q. 167. What is the Dying of a true Christian What of him Dyeth A. 1. The Dying here inquired is call'd a Sleep which alludes to Adam who not exerting his Power became as one fainting and fell into a deep Sleep in which time his Female Property was divided from him and he slumbered to the Unity of the Paradisical Life and then was opened in him the divided state partly and but partly Paradisical for it was a begun Declension into the Dividings of the Astral Multiplicity And by Eves and his Eating the Fruit of the third Principle soon wrought in them dismal Effects for he lived no longer according to the Universal Will but set up a private Self-will as Law-maker ceasing to Rule over the Astral Powers he fell under them and so sadly as to be relieved and collect support and food from them given up to their contrary Properties and became a Beast as to his outward Body the deadness of part whereof degraded him so far as to render him by his Bones Skin and other insensible Parts to the baseness of Vegetatives and all this not transient as are some Astral Impressions but as a strong Prison out of which is no escape but by demolishing the Walls and Fabrick This is the desolate Wilderness which was signified by the going of the the Lord Jesus out of Canaan into the Wilderness to be there Forty days teÌmpted of the Devil after Fasting 2. Thus may a glimpse be seen what Adam's Sleep and after that his Fall introduced It chang'd his first Principle by darkning the Divine Eye of his second from great Power and active Vigor such as is that of the mighty Angels into Discord Rage Envy Fury c. and it chang'd his third Principle from so great Purity Transparency and Aptitude to have done Eternally the Offices of his great Soul and Divine Spirit into a gross obscene filthy palpable feeble sickly bestial perishing Carcass or Sack of Worms 3. Now when the Sun of Righteousness descends into this dark Dungeon he more or less according to the growth of the Regenerate Child by his pure meek Spirit appeaseth the Disorders of the Soul and halloweth it directing correcting and confirming a resolved will to obey as simply as a little Child and to persevere as a strong Man in Christ by which the Internal Man is in great part made God's Child and Image reaching toward the Love flame pressing strongly thitherward and groans to be with the Lord but still is the Body as little affected as the Bark of a Tree with the Virtue of the Fruit or as a Candlestick with the lustre of the Taper or as the Earth with the Astral Vertue rouâing the Principles of Sulphur and Mercury in the saline Spirit in and through it 4. What can be done with this Body If it were possible to affect it so as the East-India Nut-tree doth that the Mercurial Vertue arising with Sulphur into a Nutmâg on a Clove for the Stud the Bark should be a Cinnamon it were somewhat but our Carcass is as senseless of the inward Man's Divine Work as the Bone is the Respondence and Intercourse the Spirits have through the Arteries and venal Channels or as the Beasts Hide is of the Astral Impulses moving the Animal Therefore it must like a Husk shell off and the Natural Body as a Grain of Wheat be sowed into the Elements whence it derived as the Corn into the Earth and die before it can increase and rise a spiritual Body 5. Thus dieth the Elementary part of the true Christian. How dieth the Wise-Man as the Fool returning into the Mouth whence it was spoken The Astral Body also rather disappears than dies but being dissolved from the ancient Obligations to the bestial Body it may remain at the Will of the Noble Soul to be its Chariot wherewith as a Medium it sometimes doth vouchsafe a loving Visit to his dear Christian Friend yet in the Body but most easily when such a one sleepeth as to the Elementary Man and seeth heareth and toucheth with his Astral Man for then may the precious separate Soul if it desires it as familiarly have access and converse with his dear Friend or Brother as two Men of one Language may and this hath been and may be to the great Satisfaction and Edification of the surviving Christian though not frequently because of Mens unworthiness or for fear of Impostures and especially because the Lord only is abundantly and infinitely all-sufficient by his own Omnipotence and Omnipresence 6. As Adam slept to the Holy Paradifical Virgin state and awaked to the bestial World's Adulterous state so the true Christian's Death is a sleeping to that sleep of his viz. The filthy sickly cumbring prophane Elementary Life and an awaking to the pure holy triumphant dear sweet child-like angelical Endless Life it transfers him out of the howling Wilderness of Temptation into Eternal Canaan out of a Dungeon into the glorious Liberty of the Sons of God out of the Turba of perplexing Multiplicity and restless wrestling of contrary Properties into the equal Temperature and Calm harmonious complete Unity the private Self being extinct he entreth the Universal sacred Freedom of the Lord's Redeemed ones Q. 168. What is the Dying of the wicked in that it is called an Eternal Dying A. 1. It hath been often inculcated in these Writings that all Men are in all the three Principles of one Blood but their difference is notorious for though they are almost the same in their first and third Principles and much what alike though not without great distance of degrees in their second Principle yet here is the immense difference that in some their second Principle like the House of Saul impairs and gradually as it were insensibly extinguisheth to a dismal blackness to be felt at length and in others the Regeneration calmly yet with irresistible sweet force more and more opens that Principle which as the House of David improves and flourisheth 2. From these dear Children if their Progress hath been Crown'd with Perseverance their third Principle is like Trash and dusty Rubbish scatter'd about a firm built Structure fully finished which Death like an impetuous Storm with rapid Motion disperseth or as a mounting Torrent of Water violently bears away leaving the Fabrick unconcern'd But the third Principle is to the other his Fortress Confidence Retreat Refuge Rest Joy Hope Treasure and his all therefore Death at once surprizing him and snatching that away he and it perish together his only home falleth for want of Foundation the Cistern he hath hewn is broken having no Water in it nor can hold it if any were entrusted thereinto which shews the fault to be in the very bottom else it might hold some Water but the truth is it hath no bottom at all The World to the one is either as it is to
to be risen with Christ and guided by his Light within them Let it be observed by such who wilfully oppose or not regarded at their Peril And for satisfaction of such who are willing to know the truth viz. That Christ had a true Natural Humane Body of Flesh and Blood from Mary Heb. 2. 24. For asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death which is the Devil Q. 3. But is it askt how is this Body and Humane Soul the same of ours It 's answer'd 1. By way of Concession that it was so far other than ours as it had the Holy Ghost instead of Mans Masculine Seed 2. Yet took he as the above Text with many others plainly tell us part of our Flesh and Blood and so was our Brother that is such as the Children had part of were of or are partakers of and this is also ours of what Nation soever we are for it is written Acts â7 16. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on the Face of the Earth Q. 4. Is it ask'd what of this was raised again It 's Answer'd all of it for the Women and after that the Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter saw there was nothing left in the Sepulchre after the Resurrection but the Linnen Cloaths wherein he had been wrapped Q. 5. May it be fully so with other Bodies Answer Matth. 27. 52 53. And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many And it must be remembred that it shall be so with ours at the last day it was the Faith of Martha who saith unto him John 11. 24. I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Q. 6. May it not be otherwise with us our Bodies must putrifie and the Incorruptible only rise Answer our Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 53. Our Mortal shall put on Immortality and our Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and all this as a consequence of Christs Death and Burial according to the Scriptures also of his rising again and after his rising again was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve after that of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6. Q. 7. Shall it be a Resurrection of all Answer The Lord saith Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Let it therefore no longer be charged justly on us as formerly on the Jewish Rabbies That we err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1 Thes. 4. 14 15. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep c. Q. 8. How is it effected Answer As Lazarus was raised That voice which gave Being to all call'd him up and that voice shall call all up every one in his own Order May it never be said of us as of the Jews Because they knew not him nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him So may it not be said now Because they consult not frequently nor heedfully regard nor will understand the holy Words and Writings of the Lord his Apostles c. which they may daily read they yet sit down with a confused Notion of this great Doctrine and bury their drowsie Intellect some with dark Heathenish Maxims begetting Atheism in Judgment and Practice a degree worse than Devils 9. Other some there are having a glimpse of a true Light wherewith they think themselves rich and to have need of nothing and there shut it and themselves up without proving it by searching like the Bereans and without improving it by trimming their Lamps But not imploying themselves in the Lords methods do obscure or bury their Talent and so by degrees let their foolish Heart be darkened not only in this but in many other of the plain and precious Truths of the Kingdom of God which great evil and defection is as ever heretofore in all other forms accompanied with sharp Censures of others and peremptory unwarranted Injunctions of their own Reason Whereas the more we approach the Divine Life the more comprehensive is that Soul the more ready to bear and forbear to do and suffer to become all or any thing to all that it may beget of that meek Spirit in others to be swift to hear to have an open naked Breast whereon it begs the Lord Jesus to write his whole Pleasure is so vile in his own absurd Judgment that is easily induced to think highly of others Q. 173. How doth this World pass away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward A. 1. To some this Question may seem only curious and to others so occult as if incogniscible to a third sort such as if possible to be resolv'd were needless because it fruitlesly anticipates say they the thing which in its season shall demonstrate it self But on serious mature inspection it is found possible important and greatly necessary to be known and believed 2. It is said that when Cortis with a Brigade of Spanish Horse and Infantry Invaded the West Indies and had charged them of the Republick of Tlaxcallan upon the Fall of any Spaniard either Man or Horse care was taken so to bury them that the Americans might not know it which made them despair of withstanding such whom they thence concluded to be Immortal Thus not to discover the end of this present World which the dark World and the Prince of it would conceal were to insinuate as if it were indissoluble and consequently uncreated and so Brutishly to introduce Atheism and Atheism is that fatal Evil which may be justly accounted the worst of Errors of the worst of Men. 3. But this World had a beginning and shall have an end as it is written Psal. 102. 25 26. Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hand They shall perish c. They all shall wax old as doth a Garment c. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. And tho' no History scarcely records any who mock'd at the coming of the Lord yet is it Prophesied 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. That in the last days Scoffers shall come even at that which will then be at the Door saying Where is the promise of his coming c. For such Mens Lusts Biass them to abuse Gods long-suffering ver 9. Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18. 31. 32. 2 Pet. 3. 10. And it is told
us how this World shall pass away viz. 1. Unexpectedly as a Thief 2. Suddenly in the Night 3. Violently with a great noise 4 Universally the Heavens Earth and Elements 5. Irreparably The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth be burnt up and that the Heavens being on Fire shall be dissolved ver 12. And this tremendous Truth is not only really and litterally but demonstrably so 4. To the second part of the Question viz. what remaineth thereof afterward see the Answer of the 30th Question of the 40 Questions of the Soul and the 27 Chap. of the three Principles ver 6 and ver 20. But to speak yet farther on this latter part what remains of it the World afterward viz. after dissolution of the present frame or fashion I must seem and but seem to digress which tho' to some it be obscure will be plain to the Mind initiated into and irradiated with the Theosophick Wisdom The Out-birth is the Figure of the two Eternal Worlds or Principles having all the Properties according to the two different contrary Impressions And this Out-birth in the Womb of the Eternal Mystery was by the earnest Magick longing and will originated which will is as the Voice or Mouth of the great Mystery and the properties are as the Instruments or Fingers of the creating word the first viz. the Voice is the Father Soveraign or Lord of the Separator or Father of Nature and the latter viz. the Properties are his Limbs or Members working by the Astral Powers for Generation of all the Creatures of the Out-birth 5. This Father of the external Nature or Outward World invigorated by the might of the Properties hath ability unweariedly to work universally in and through the whole Out-birth and being the Image of the first born of every Creature who standeth incomprehensibly in the Eternal Rooting Powers this his Image and Servant is innobled with such energy as both to form and animate the productions of the whole Out-birth yet who will be so foolish as to take him either to be the First-born Son of God or the Father which is in Heaven whom the Son teacheth us to direct our Prayer to as the Object of all Adoration or the Holy Infinite third Person or Subsistence tho' his Office is in the third Principle but is a Creature potently furnished and fortified to stamp engrave delineate and shadow Living Images of the two Inward Worlds And hath the Seals and Magical impresses but not the Eternal Holy Incomprehensible Magia for that the Divine Virgin of Wisdom is a Possessor of generating the real Worlds themselves for-ever whereof this is only the figure 6. And this Father of Nature call'd by some the Soul of the outward Universe hath a Tincture under his dispensation such as of which the Out-birth is capable to be enriched with And this also of both Impressions viz. of the light and dark Worlds Figures but it hath not the holy meek divine Tincture for that the Divine Sophia the Virgin of Wisdom is glorified with But the Tincture and Magia which the Father of Nature is distributer of is yet so noble as to be holy in the holy Vessels but not so fixed and compleat as to hallow unholy Vessels but so flexible as is vitiated into a false Magia and counterfeit Tincture and so applicable to the Impostures of Evil Angels and their Humane Vassals that they to their Eternal Damnation may and do prophanely abuse and prostitute this Tincture and Magia 7. Thus what the Virgin of Gods Wisdom is in the Heavenly Birth to the Angelical World and other Paradisical Inhabitants such is this Father of Nature in the Out-birth and not only the two Eternal Worlds have their Figures and manifest Portraitures in this but the very holy creating Word and Virgin of Wisdom of which no visible figure can be hath above all this grand Separator or Father of the External Nature for it's plain audible Herauld immediate substitute and express Representer Yet so secret as only to be found by the Inlighten'd Mind and tho' seen in all things yet discerned understood and perceived by very few and for the sake of those very few are these things thus opened 8. From all which it may easily be deduced what of this World shall remain viz. Nature in its Virtual Form and Dress the real Entities with their Tincture their subââantial tho' not palpable Bodies that is to say the true substance of every Individual Figure the Idea of every thing which the Father of Nature hath produced to shadow and reveal the hidden Holy and Power Worlds therefore of necessary consequence the Father or Separator must needs remain to Marshal his Hosts in their Eternal successive Scenes for the most High and Holy God will not lose the end of his Work But his goodness must be for ever extensive diffusive communicative for his Glory Amen Nor is it possible he should lose the least part of the Order by him fixed of declaring himself but that by the things he hath made may be shewn his Eternal Power and Godhead because for that purpose they were produced 9 I compare the World to a Seed which tho' it die having lost its Husk Chaff and very Sulphurean and Saline Body is yet regenerated by its Mercurial renovation into another yet as it were the self-same hence saith the Lord There is nothing hid or covered which shall not be made manifest The Idea of the Drunkards Horse like Balaam's Ass shall convince the madness of the Rider and Eccho his own repeated causless Sufferings and Groans under the Tyranny of his more Savage Owner The Flocks shall bleat again and shew how their Lives have been lavished to satiate the voluptuous Gluttony of their Wolvish Owners The Vine and Fatness of the Field shall shew how their Blood and Strength was exhausted for the Lusts of the proud while the Bellies of the Indigent were shrunk up For as by the Chymist the Flegm of the Plant is separated away and the faeces precipitated yet the Spirit Essence and Idea retained so is it here Also as the washing of a Man who hath many Wounds in his Body covered all over with Blood shews how many how great and where those Orifices are so is it here Likewise as the drawing back of the extended Shadows and Curtains of the Night lays open and exposeth like Ezekiel's Vision the Idols and undermining Works of Darkness so will it be then Or as the wiping of the slime and filth sticking to a Looking-glass makes all appear therein clearly so will that transcendent work be yet neither is the Seed perished the Plant utterly lost the wounded Man quite expired nor the Looking glass broken in pieces 10. Therefore as the Lord would preserve a Pot of Manna wherewith the Tribes of Israel had been sustained in the Wilderness and as the Lord Jesus would have the Fragments of the Bread and Fish Basketed wherewith he had fed by Miracle so
Eternity their four Forms are attoned by his Light their Discord by his Unity is composed his Presence kills their lofty Thoughts it also makes them alive to him his Fire refineth them they are always prostrate at his Feet mortified and mortifying continually and makes them a Living Sacrifice day by day till Death become their intimate associate and safe retreat from the Storm Yet these things are so secretly done in the new Heart that the Heart it self can better conceive it than the Brain but how can the Idea thereof be comprehended by us who are comprehended by it When we would form it we cannot for we viz. our new Man is formed by it How can we express it seeing we are the Letters by which it expresseth it self It is far above the Languages got at Babel but when the Spirits of the Letters shall be restored the renewed Spirit shall find a Tongue to be a Herauld for the King of Kings put to silence all contrary discording sounds and Dethrone all other Rule Authority and Power in us Amen 3. 17. That then is or cometh the End the Judgment being ended the End hath found the Beginning When the Six Working Days of the Week are ended Masters use to Reckon with their Hirelings and give them their Wages then followeth the Day of Rest. When the six working Properties have wrought their designed end in any Creature they give up themselves into the seventh wherein to rest the doing whereof bringeth the End into the Beginning when the Wheat is in the Barn and the Tares cast away the Harvest is ended 18. A few words are offer'd to be consider'd concerning the End 1. Whether the Elements shall be dissolved at the instant of the Resurrection or not remain till the compleat End of the Judgment Day Answ. It may seem otherwise for they must as Conservatories be opened that is the Earth viz. Hell or the Grave must deliver up the Dead which shall be therein or how else shall the Mighty men call to the Rocks to cover them also the âea deliver the Dead conserved therein the Air the words it treasur'd in it 2. Whether the Elements may not remain and yet the Sun Moon and Stars be resolved into their Aether Answ. As there was Light the three first days of the Creation out-spoken by the Word which was as a dispersed Light before the collecting the same into the Sun Moon and Stars so may the collected Light pass back into the dispersed Light to form that one Great Day which is not to admit of Revolutions of Night and Day but only the Day and Night of the two Incomprehensible Principles which may be both in one place at one time without justling one the other and be the full End of Specifick and revolved Time may be at the Commencement or Morning of that Day and the full entring on Eternity not be till the End or Evening of that Day when the Judge shall give to each World the Inhabitants thereof as their Magick Wills have severally tinctured and formed them thereunto whether of the Day Love and Purity or of Blackness Wrath and Abominations And this is the absolute Period of the Genus and Thing which we call Time 19. The End of Time may be demonstrated in the regenerated Children thus When the Holy Fire of God on the Altar in the Soul hath separated the Earthy part from the new Man so that by resignation of the Will the Love flame is raised up the Spirit of that Man entreth into God and in a measure into such rest as ends the multiplicity and possesseth the Eternal Unity for his earthy salt corrupt Sulphur and Mortal Mercury is changeable into the Saline Property Paradisical Flesh or Sulphur and Spiritual Mercury by the Holy Tincture whereof in this Separation the renewed Image becomes capable And if the inward new Man be enabled to press forward it may in this very most secret Path attain the Resurrection from the Dead in the outward Man and be translated into the Life of Enoch Thus also we see that Antimony calcin'd by the solar Rays through Burning Glasses may both be augmented to almost half in weight and also changed from a strong rank great Poison to a vigorous Balsam and potent Fortifier of decaying Nature shewing us how the Mutations of time cease and how to enter into a fixt serene Eternity 20. The End of Time may be also demonstrated in the Sons of Perdition thus That after all Warnings Judgments and Convictions they have met with they finally fix in Enmity and are Imaged into a private perverse Will the Circumferential Applications are restrained by the Central Fire which also stops up the Fountain of pure meek Water and clouds the Divine solar Influences of Light and therefore receive no increase as was said of Antimony but are subjected to a perpetuated Vanity nor can such be renewed but are obdurated they are not like Antimony transmuted from Poison to a sublimated Cordial but recede more fiercely into the endless Anguishes as Evaporation by Heat makes cold Poison the more deadly here also the Times of successive Good and Evil strife of Flesh and Spirit Resolves and Doubts are ceased and these Men are become Sensual in the most outward part stubborn and obstinate in the Astral which should be the rational part and furious haughty false and filthy in the Will of the Eternal Man So in the most outward sensitive part are meer Animals in the rational part stubborn besotted Fools and in the Immortal Souls Devils and all fixt so that if the Divine Sun should graciously shine on him he would but as a filthy heap of Horse-dung or a stinking watry Ditch generate the greater and more dangerous venomous loathsome reptils continually 21. That then the Kingdom shall be delivered up to the Father and God shall be all in all The Lord's Prayer Establisheth all the parts of it with this word For ihine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever of him and from him are all things and therefore also all things are for him they are the Manifestation of his Power and of his Love Infinite Power were Defective without Infinite Wisdom also Infinite Wisdom were impotent without Infinite Power again Infinite Power and Infinite Wisdom were infinitely Dreadful without Infinite Goodness but all three United is infinitely sufficient to support the weakest of the Lord 's little ones and blow to atoms the highest vastest Puissance of the Princes of the dark World the God of this World and hold them shut up for ever 22. The Lord Jesus saith in his Prayer concerning his to his Father Thine they were and thou gavest them me but that Grand Administration must be such as if it were said by the Lord Mine they are and I give them back to thee where lies a Mystery not obvious to any but the enlightened Mind which shall be spoken in a simple familiar way
Consider common Fire it is not Light no more than a Rose is a Tree or the Root of a Lilly is the Flower Tho' by the way we may digress to observe that an Eminent Pen endeavours by many in their kind ingenious Arguments to prove Light to be Fire in a less degree but granting the vigour of the Fire to be in the Light or by the affluence of the Air to be the enkindler of the Light yet will it not follow that the Light is Fire unless the whole Deep is therefore the Sun because the Sun's vigour enlivens it For grant That Author's Arguments to arrive at what he levels them the distinct Properties will result into a Chaos whose various Vertues mutually produce consubstantiate figure and cohabit each the other yet the one no more the other than Heat is Cold or Light is Darkness It would also confound the Son with the Father and those two to be only terms convertible a thing so far from truth as not to be esteemed only short of it but rather diametrically opposite to it But passing by this consider we as was said common Fire that hath an attractive hungry fierceness in it like that in a heated Stone and that fierceness must be perpetuated if the Light be not generated by it but is the Fire of Hell but when the Light begotten by it as from a Fountain is resigned unto it and shineth in it then and there is the meek Vertue united with the strong might of the Fire thereby turning all into a Majestick splendor so bringing the Copy as a fit due conformity to the Original because the alone perfection of the multiplicity is its arriving at the Unity 23. Now come we to the last and God shall be all in all here may be taken a prospect of the Holy of Holies An Angel's Royal Hand were well employed in drawing these Lines and Measures but then still it must be with a Reed and the Computation must suit with the Cubit of a Man the Language also must be flammering wretched and as it were foolish else it descends not to the fallen Human Understanding And as none knows the things of a man but the Human Understanding Spirit so none those of God but the Holy Spirit of God What is vile dust to penetrate this Woe to us that we are of unclean Lips and vain in our imagination 24. Truth tells us that our Omnipotent God hath three Delights viz. 1. In his Son in whom is his delight 2. In the Excellent made so by his Son 3. In Exercising Mercy The two last viz. the Excellent and Exercising of Mercy dwell in the Son as in their Ocean Centre or Fountain and issue through him as Sap through a Tree and That Tree grows in our Impotent Humanity Now after the delivering up the Kingdom to the Father God's becoming all in all is the uniting all these three Delights to the Almighty Power-World where the Joy is incomprehensible and the Increase of it Endless and Infinite for then Almightiness of Strength and Wisdom hath replenisht it self with Almightiness of Love and Goodness the Unity hath reassumed the Multiplicity What words may express This most Holy Dominion 25. Can it be pourtrayed by the Joy of a tender-hearted Parent all whose dear Children having been miserably captiv'd by a barbarous malicious Enemy are by the prudent Conduct and prosperous Atchievement of their eldest Brother compleatly rescued May it be apprehended by the Joy of the Harvest when the loaden Sheaves crowning the Fields do seasonably enrich the Barns and Granaries Or of the Vintage when the bowed Branches dropping into the Press overflow it Or by the lost Son the lost Groat the lost Sheep the Joy of the Bridegroom over the Bride all which are faint resemblances and dim shadows of the Delight of the Eternal Father Also what is the Content of an Earthly Monarch whose Victorious Arms subject his Enemies and his seasonable Succours secure his Friends What is the Triumph of the Sun in the Firmament when his Spicy Beams revive the Face of Nature grown pale by his long absence and call up a smiling Spring These are weak figures and dark similes of the Delight of the Sun of Righteousness And what is the sweet Satisfaction the tender Mother hath by seeing all her dear Babes for whom she travell'd to whom she had drawn out her Breasts over whom she had long unweariedly watcht and cared of whom she had been a compassionate Comfort and Assistant in their Froward Fits various Anguishes Sicknesses and Hazards as so many Deaths at last all thriveâ to perfect stature of Body excellent Endowments of Mind exact chearful Dutifulness to their Father and by Him all advanced to wear Crowns By this may be tho' obscurely represented the Delight of God's Holy Spirit Lastly What was the Joy of the lately oppressed Tribes when delivered at the Red Sea and occasion'd the Song of Moses What was also their Joy when God turned back the Captivity of Sion from the Chaldean when they were as men in a dream and what the Joy of them who having washed their Garments in the Blood of the Lamb and had been brought out of Fiery Tryals do come to receive their White Robes and Palms by which may be seen the Joy of the Redeemed of the Lord in that Holy of Holy days Thus are the sublimost Affairs offered in a most familiar homely manner with a low voice and flat style for so the Wisdom of God descends and delights to cloath it self while Man's Wisdom would flourish in enticing words puft up with empty sounds Obj. 26. But some by way of opposition may say that God ever was is and shall all be in all as it is written Of him for him and through him are all things and in him we live move and have our Being Ans. A confused knowledge of things doth but little difference men from Brute Creatures Let us therefore summarily remember what dispersedly in the Answers foregoing and the blessed Jacob Behmers Writings is large and clear viz. That the gracious Creator spake the Paradisical or Angelical World out of himself according to every Property of the Eternal Nature and according to the holy second Principle which till there was a rent by the receding of Lucifer into the by-path of his private Self-will the whole remained an exact Image and true Copy of the Original where the Name of God was perfectly spoken and God was all in all 27. And out of and as an Image of the Paradisical Principle and with the Properties of the Power-World did God speak forth the Astral-World an Image of both Inward-Worlds which as a Child of the other two had as the Children of Men have a Centre of its own and tho' it were a Copy of the Inward-Worlds yet was another a third Principle issuing into the multiplicity and as far as it so remaineth God is all in all in it also 28. In and over
of Infinite power of the Jehovah so neither can it terminate but that second Death be ever a Dying Life while the God of Life liveth This is that King of the Kings of Terror this shakes the heart of a Rock of Adamant this as a World of Lead lyeth on the dark Troops while yet the most exquisit Tortures if transient and finite bring Cordials with them to the faintest of Christ's Followers sugaring the bitterest Pills to the humble patient tormented persecuted Children of whom the World is not worthy this also serves Gall in every Dish to him who could engross the Out-principles Delights for Methuselah's Age. But Eternity is as Incomprehensible as the Eternal God as far beyond Men and Angels as Infinity is beyond our short narrow shallow and superficial Measures This God this Christ this Holy Principle is our God our Christ our Holy Life for ever and ever and were there any thing after for ever it were ours too 2. Look then O my Soul fixedly on this Freehold and disdainfully on all visible and invisible melting Idols and airy bubbles breathe press pant sweat freeze suffer fight run watch persevere till thy dry husk crumble and fall off and thou shalt reap once and for ever more than Eye or Heart can see or conceive On the 16th Question and Answer Why is God's wrath Eternal c Let God be true and every Man a Lyar who saith he is Light in him is no Darkness at all But yet if the Creature shall put out its own Eyes it is Darkness having extinguished the holy Light in it self Again he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God for God is love but when Evil Angels and Men fix themselves in Enmity they causelesly quarrel with God live no more in that love but enter into wrath in their own Evil Principle This being so O my Soul search thy self what black veils are there excluding the bright holy eternal Light of God See also if there be an unmortified impenitent repining impatient Spirit swaying and prevailing in thee that thou be estranged from the meek love of God leading thee Captive in the inward Kingdom of dark Fierceness and then that the Devil perswade thee not that God willeth thy Destruction and thou to excuse thy wilful Rebellion Blaspheme the God of Eternal Light and pure Love On the 17th Question and Answer What is God's work in Hell is Hell a local place 1. The Holy Eternal Jehovah is in himself undivided yet as he operates in all the seven Forms of the seven Fountain Spirits moving to make himself Creaturely so all divided Properties derive from him and are radically in him and the multiplicity is as a very little thing comprehended in the infinite Unity Thus the Fire which is the Life of all Creatures is often their Death but when it generates the Light is the Joy of such where it so proceeds if it generate the Holy intellectual Light the Fire is made Holy and the whole Existence is Angelical and Paradisical but if it dwindle into an Image or meer Representation of the true Light it degenerates into a Shadow and if the Light that is in any be Darkness how great is that Darkness 2. Come up hither my Soul and see what Light thy Fire yieldeth grows it toward the Harmony resigning it self into the Unity then thou hast thy Fruit unto Holiness and thy End everlasting Life Or is it captiv'd in the Wrath of the divided Properties laboureth it in Building Babel striveth it to be its own Lord and Law-giver is self its first Mover and Ultimate End then shalt thou of the Flesh reap Corruption the Disunion makes Disorder the Disorder causeth Aversion that again begets Anguish that issues into utter Enmity that finally into Rage 3. Oh then my Soul return into thine impregnable Fortress step back into thy Child-like Innocence Meekness and Simplicity Hast thou in Adam lost thy dear Virgin Purity yet blush away thine adulterous Apostasie and with torn Hair flowing Eyes and a broken Spirit acknowledge thy unworthiness implore to be as one of the hired Servants and thou wilt find thy Father hath bowels a kiss of his will break thy Heart melt thee as Wax impress in thee his New Life wherein the various Properties draw all one way Divine Love will crucifie Self-love and Self-will and kill the Enmity as the fresh blushing morning doth the Fogs of the night With-hold nothing from him whose are all things and all Worlds whose thou art and who spared not his One Only dearest dear Son for thee to attone thy divided inimicitious Properties ransom thee from the Principle of Wrath exempt thee from the Eternal Dark Abyss free thee from the Hell of Hells thy exceeding sinfulness and to bring thee who wast a Devil inwardly and a Beast outwardly to be a Child among the Spirits of just men made perfect by his Mighty Salvation On the 18th Question and Answer Where is Heaven is it a local place c. 1. What a taking Travel were it to pass with and thro' Temporal Pleasures to Eternal Joy If so what throngs would resort by treading down the side banks to widen that narrow way But thou hast learnt O my Soul that the pleasing of the flesh is the Paradice of Fools consider thou therefore that it is abundantly sufficient advantage by passing through as many deaths as are days in thy Pilgrimage here and through as many horrid Hells to at last to step safely into our Fathers House How acceptable were the contemplation of Heaven if it were enough to entitle us to it without wetting a foot to sit on an easie Chair and take a prospect in the Holy Scriptures and other Books of what some Travellers thither have left on Record which will do the work when the viewing the World on a Card will entitle us to the Kingdoms of it 2. But because there are Legions of Lusts binding hand and foot there is much to be done and much help to be sought striving mortifying working crucifying fasting resigning patience lying low being often in the furnace And because there is a devouring Lion opposing maliciously there is need of great Faith constant strong Prayer and Watching Because also the Wisdom and Glory of this perishing World opposeth there is need to become Fools to be accounted the Off-scouring of it to pass through the Good and Evil without being impressed and swayed by either but in meekness blessing them that curse us praying for despiteful Persecutors and lying dead to present desirable things that thou maist be raised by the first Resurrection And now my Soul thou seest that Heaven is no empty speculation but entring is opening Heaven And the Lord Jesus who is the Heaven of Heavens in thee with a mighty Power utterly unconceivable to the top of Man's Wisdom and the acâtest deepest search of all the unregenerate World and to the Children of the Resurrection known but as in a Glass darkly On the 19th Question and
hast had something in thee to stout it out against the Charâs of Divine Love God glorifies his Almightiness Wisdom and Goodness in Evil Creatures his Justice by the Devils so that if we be wicked what loseth he and if we be righteous is it not for our selves On the 22th Question and Answer Why must there be Strife in Nature 1. By Nature is meant the Outward Nature where strife ariseth out of contrariety and contrariety founded in the dividing of the Properties which dividing should have been hidden from Adam had he continued in the Harmony but his Fall opened the Enmity in his Soul in his Spirit in his Astral Man and in his Body which then was bâcoâe Bestial And the Peace Man composeth is the consequence of ignorance or stupâdity which our Saviour when he comes breaks and draws a Sword against 2. The reason is because the Peace of our making is a stifling or violent stopping of the Natural Issues of the Striving Properties no more like the true Rest than Adam's Sleep was like the Paradisical Life but the Lord's Rest and Peace is when the six working Properties result in the seventh and the four Forms generate the fifth yet neither the sixth nor the fourth cease to be or to work but in their working attain the true end of their work 3. Is it thus O my Soul beware of indulging drowning and burying thy self in stupid ease but as the Infinite Father worketh hitherto generating the Son and the Son worketh in the Father and the Holy Ghost goeth out continually with Power and Vertue so also in thy very little wretched poor faculties co-operate with highest longing and desire in this happy strife bring the strong Forms of thy first Principle into the meek Light of thy second and let all issue into Divine Love and Delight which will be a third till thou flame and thou be as fuel dying and rising again always more bright and flaming Fear not to die daily but study press pray and practise it that thou maist every day be renewed and transformed into the Image of him a glance of whose gracious countenance hath a ravishing Power and covers thee with shame and confusion and yet with excess of humble trembling Joy it shakes yet confirms it kills yet revives And if a glance be so noble and powerful what were a steddy look and then what losest thou straying into outward divertisements those deluding flatterers Lookest thou on any thing without a design to see thy great Lord in it it renders thee loss of time bows thee down like the Beast is thy snare and thou dost unnaturally lay hands on thy self be thine own deceiver making thy sences thy tempters lest there should be want of Devils but to strive against this is a Holy War Art thou my Soul unwilling pray the Divine Will may make thee an imprest Souldier Faintest thou Love hath Eagles wings Fearest thou Faith hath a whole Armoury Thinkest thou this Combate is above Thee to atchieve what were all the Spirits of the Just made perfect but the Children of sinners and themselves sinners pluckt out of the Fire Captives redeemed by our Lord Jesus Look on that Eye my Soul who ever looks on thee and all days will be holy days all places holy places and thou ever in the best company thou art capable of such as will teach thee to lead thy natural strife into supernatural triumph On the 23th Question and Answer On the Dividing the One Element into four 1. Like as the Monuments of former Ages the Tower of Babel the Egyptian Pyramids the undertakings of Archimedes c. do commemorate the Archievements and Skill of the Framers so do the works of God speak the great Jebovab Whence the Psalmist The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Elements shew his handy-work The four Elements are according to the four Forms 2. Behold how out of one are all things infinitely proceeded for out of the Unity is breathed the multiplicity so that when we bring our multiplicity forward as we ought we return into the Unity O my Soul let the multiplicity of the very Out-birth of the third Principle be but taught to know its distance and thou maist live in the Unity rule over the Multiplicity and bring out of the four Elements their Glory and Vertue for the praise of the Almighty Soveraign that in an outward way yet having Eyes within they like the four Beasts before the Throne without ceasââg say Holy holy holy c. And again when thou diest to the Tyranny of the four Forms of thy Root thou ascendest by their Harmony into the several branches bearing good fruit 3. What tho' thy Sting be sharp may it but stir thee up the more vigorously to the work of God in thee What tho' thy Fire be hot may it be the incentive to a radiant Love-flame What if thy Anguish be greatly ponderous and oppressive if it ballance steddy and fix thee to a glorious perseverance Courage then thou art on a short Voyage to a vast Country Are not all the Elements doing their several Offices Is not every Pile of Grass obeying its Ordinance and levelling at the End of its Institution Is not the whole Faâily of the very innocent Creatures preparing themselves to live and die for thy pleasure profit and necessity And wilt thou not do and suffer for him whose thou art and who hath vouchsafed to make himself of meer Grace to be thine and which conformity in thee is for thine own absolutely necessary overflowing Eternal superabundant Advantage thou hast but these three things make thy choice either to go back into Egypt stand still and fall in the Wilderness or go on after thy Captain into the Land flowing with Milk and Honey On the 24th Question and Answer Wherefore and to what Benefit are Stars Created The Stars are the Revelation or Immense palpable finite dissolvible Body of the Infinite Eternal Holy Substantial World and that 1. In their Splendor especially in the glorious shining Sun But how dirty and vile is Man O my Soul how art thou darkened every little Storm clothes thee in Rags and casts filth on those Rags every recess of true Light leaveâ thee languishing as one Foot were in the Grave whilst their Beauties are in their Principle lifted far above such mutations fix then thine Eye on thy Sun and like the Flower of the Sun turn ever to him and only to him wherein alone lyes thy chief good 2. In their variety wherein they are admirable particularly in the seven Royal ones So are there in Saturn Mars Mercury and Jupiter when cross aspected an intolerable ligation anguish rage and proud elevation in the Sun Moon and Venus a scorching Fire Inconstancy and Impurity in all which the Eternal dark Principle openeth it self but in their benevolent Aspect is an Harmonious Noble Transcendent Excellency figuring the Paradisical Holy Principle But how much in thee O my Soul is there not
as saith our Lord My Father worketh hitherto and I work 2. Hath not Man brought himself in a most wretched degree oâ the Curse by the Fall of Toil and Labour and Confusion of Language it is on the Work and Word what hath and is man more A great aggravation of this Misery is either when we sit down under Bondage in Soul and Body feeding among Swine having a Beast's Heart as Nebuchadnezar and groan not after working in God and for God which would gradually deliver from the Curse Also when we mistake our present working-time and flatter our selves with undue and imaginary rest whereas we are here in the Seed time in a Journey in the six days of Work 2. But thou my Soul spare no pains spur thy lazy Assoâiate my Body subject it to the Cross to free you both from the Cross endure patiently die daily and having done all stand empty thy self lose thy self pour out thy self Let not thy Will be bought but pay it to the Owner give and resign it gladly and irrevocably As to thy Name be content it should wither as if blasted with the East Wind be willing to be nameless the Memory of it to be as written on the Sand and while here to be a Fool a Child an off-scouring any thing or nothing yet must not thy work stop let it proceed chearfully till thy Body like the Matter of a Taper be consumed if then thou art found so doing no sooner shall this Candle expire but the Sun will rise who shall never set and the Sabbath enter at the end of the Week On the 36th Question and Answer Of the difference of the Mortal Creatures their Chaos kind and how distinguish'd 1. Had we the Intellect of an Angel the distinct Properties would be as an Index by their Idea to the voluminous Book of the great Mystery and the Idea of the Creatures as it were pourtray the Potent Will and Properties of the Abyss Or had we Adam's bright Eye we might read their Names in the Language of Nature and in them the Names Power and Vigor of our own three Principles but falling so far below both as that many of the Bruits themselves may instruct us in several things How weak are our Enquiries how perplext our Aphorisms and Process The ancient Magi direct us to know the seven Properties by the seven regal Stars and Governors which are the Spirits of the seven Metals and impress the Vertues of the seven precious Stones while many of Modern Pretenders to Wisdom having lost the Spirit Life and Essence of Nature fill their Heads only with the Names Mood Figure and Grasp at Shadows of things 2. Behold how various are the Species how curious the Symmetry how agil the Composure even of many Insects how wonderful the Transmigration and Product of the Silk-worm the Confection of the Bee with her Feminine Monarchy how crafty the Nets of the Spiders how providently laborious the Ant wherewith our Lord upbraids our slothfulness and we gratifie our Pride with the Silk and our Palate with the Honey instead of searching out and adoring of the most High in these his little Creatures yet are these little ones great compar'd with those to the bare Eye invisible and only visible in good Glasses which sits spinning in Sage leaves and yet how many Atoms may that Creature be divided into Consider we their Sympathy and Society not only of Flocks and Herds but of Birds of Prey as Rooks Stares Storks also their Antipathy as the Thresher and Sword-fish against the Whale 3. But now how highly necessary is it that from this open Door all should impartially search themselves to see whether their Spirits are imaged according to the Evil Creatures and if they find the Powers of the dark World predominant that they learn to die to them else they die in them shall rise in them and live everlastingly in them and of what infinite concern endless Misery is all reasonable Creatures may judge Whereas if by the Spirit of Life we mortifie the Deeds that is the lusts of the Body of Sin we shall by the same Spirit be raised now in the first Resurrection which excludes the second Death and begets the Divine Life springing up through Death by self-emptying where no Creature nor all of them hath any room but the Lord and those only to Contemplate his Grace and Infinity in On the 37th Question and Answer To what end and wherefore were the mortal Creatures made 1. When the gracious Creator placed Man here it was in a Farm well stockt but that which meets my Meditation on the present Subject in the last Paragraph of the Answer which is the Eternity of them in their Idea how fading and transitory soever they are The glorious Work of the Creation is not a bare Pageantry it must cease as to its present Forms but not vanish into a non-entity for it shall bud forth for the sake of it's Tincture by the strife of the Properties to the Glory of the God of Glory and as Instances or Trophies of the Victory the weak Members of the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ have obtain'd by their Lord's strength fortifying them to trâad his steps and follow him in the Regeneration 2. By the reverting of those Figures shall the blessed see how meekly the patient Lambs and other good Creatures pour'd out their lives how quick and punctually the Fowls contributed as did the Quails and Raven how readiây the Inhabitants of the Water yield themselves as those to the Apostles Nets how liberally the Olive and other Fruit Trees pour'd forth their fatness and the Elements their several Stores And to the cursed Rejecters of God shall all Creatures be plain material Demonstrations of their Abuses by Man's Excess and Cruelty the toil of the laborious Oxe the sweat of the macerated Horse the life of a multitude of other Creatures profusely lavished away to pamper base sordid Lusts run as with one cry not as the Lambs against a devouring Wolf or the Turtle against the Vulture but that as those Devils in Humane shape should ransack the Indies and four Elements to humour their insatiable Lusts. 3. What Arguments my Soul may be drawn hence for Sobriety Moderation Humility Thankfulness Improvement of the Strength given us liberal breaking to the Poor and Mercy to the Dumb Creatures of doing all not only as before the Omniscient Eye who will be a swift Witness before the good Angels Devils our own Consciences but the whole Creation also who as they the Creatures partake of the Properties and Tincture are branches of the whole Astral and Elementary Creation shall in their Aethers be more than a meer History viz. an express material Representation and Wiâness for or against thee in the other Country though the Fool and Atheist will not know it On the 38th Question and Answer Of that whence Man's Body was taken 1. If they to whom the Word of God came are called God's what was
innermost Geniture of God and presseth in through the Astral and Fleshly Geniture it is clearly in Heaven 3. But the Out-birth of this World was Lucifer's Kingdom to the Stars and so far is the Wrath of God between which outmost Birth of this and the outmost Birth of that is a great gulph and are one to the other as Death is to Life or a Stone to a Man So that as to the Out-birth we cannot see the Angels nor they dwell with us but in the innermost they dwell with us 4. The second Birth or Geniture viz. the Astral standeth in the seven Fountain Spirits of this World in which the Holy Ghost also ruleth and helpeth to generate the third Holy Birth 5. The which third Holy Birth is the clear Holy Heaven which uniteth with the Heart of God and holdeth the Devil Captive in the Out-birth in the Anger Fire 6. Out of this Heart Jesus Christ in the Womb of the Virgin went into all the three Births that he might with his innermost take the Devil Captive in the Out-birth overcome the Wrath of God as a Victorious Prince and in the Power of his Birth in the Flesh press through all Men whereby he is become Lord and King of our Heaven and Earth over Sin Devil Death and Hell in whom we also press through the sinful corrupted Out-dead-birth of the Flesh through Death and the wrath of God into our Heaven in which Heaven now sitteth our King Jesus Christ as an Almighty Son on the Right Hand of God being present in all the three Births in this World in all corners and places bearing up all ruling in the Throne of the once potent and now expelled Lucifer 7. When Stephen saw Heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at the Right Hand of God his Spirit did not swing it self up into the upper Heaven aloft but penetrated into the innermost Birth Concerning the Constitution and Form of the Earth 8. Every thing must have a Root The Earth is come from the corrupted Salitter of the outmost Birth for in Earth and Stones is Death and in it is also a Life else Gold Silver and Vegetables could not grow therein 9. Three Births are in it the outmost is Death the second is Life pressing through it being in the Wrath Fire and that of Love and the third is the Holy Life 10. In the outmost is Gods Wrath else why engendereth it poysonous venemous Worms and creeping Things 11. The Earth hath more than one kind of Life for Herbs and Wood are not Earth nor is Fruit Wood nor is the vertue of the Fruit God for the outmost Birth containeth him not but he containeth the Out-birth Q. Why is the Earth so Mountany c 12. A. Where the sweet Water was chief much earthy palpable Water came to be 13. The corrupted Salitter was more abounding in one place than another Also 14. Where the Astringent Quality was chief in the bitterness in Mercurius much Earth and Stones were compacted 15. Where the Heat in the Light much Silver and Gold and some clear Stones 16. Where the Love in the Light the most precious Stones and finest Gold 17. Where are great Lakes and Seas over that Zenith there being not much Salitter there came to be a Valley for which resting place the thin Water sought resembling the Spirit of meekness not elevating it self as in the Bitter Fires quality the Devils did On the words the Evening and Morning were the first day is said 18. Evening and Morning reacheth only up from the Earth to the Moon taking its Original from the Light of the Sun which maketh the outward day and the outward Night Not that there was then a twofold Creation of Evening and Morning Query Whether by it be not meant by once turning about of the Earth whereby the Evening and Morning came to be that is by one Revolution 19. A. Man having a Threefold Birth tho' with his inward he uniteth with the Light of God cannot bring it perfectly back to his Astral and less to his outward Birth which tho' Moses did in part when his Face shone but could not see God perfectly and live even as an Apple on a Tree cannot bring its Smell and Taste back into the Tree nor Earth CHAP. XX. On the Creation in the Second Day Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters c. 1. THis Firmament divideth the impalpable inward pure Water from the outward palpable corrupted Water Wherein is Death which lyeth Captive below the Moon and is the House of the Devils Death and Hell where the fierce Wrath of God becometh kindled daily by the Devils through the great Sins of Men which mix with the Astral Birth in the Deep 2. But even those pure Waters have some of the Wrath in them and is that meant where 't is said The Heavens are not pure in his sight 3. The innermost holds the outward Water strongly Captive and the outward Earth also else with the Revolution of the Globe the Water would be divided or dissolved and the Earth crumble away Which Firmament is between the clear Deity and corrupt Nature 4. Yet the Deep above the Earth may be said to be a place where Gods Holiness dwelleth for the whole Holy Trinity dwelleth in the Centre under the Firmament of Heaven tho' that cannot comprehend him but dwelleth not there fully bodily and creaturely as the Angels and Souls of Men do 5. The Third Birth is the Almighty Holy Heart of God wherein Christs Natural Body sitteth for his Natural Body is not as John Calvin thought such as reacheth no farther than a little circumscribed place wherein it is 6. For if every Man in his Astral Spirit comprehendeth the whole Body of this World should not the Fountain Spirits in the Natural Body of Christ being out of the Fountain Spirits of Nature and his Heart out of the inward Birth viz. the Heart of God which comprehendeth all Angels and the Heaven of Heavens viz. the whole Father should not it comprehend the whole World and uphold it as the only Head Heart and King of it in his Hands are his Sheep whom none can pluck out CHAP. XXI 1. MAN is made out of the Seed viz. Matrix of the Earth wherein the Eye is Twofold one in God the other in this World out of the three Principles not out of the Wrath but out of the Birth of the Earth in the Astral Birth in the part of Love but Wrath hung to him which he should have put forth from himself as the Fruit putteth forth from it self the bitterness of the Tree but that he did not but reached back from the Love into the Wrath and lusted after his Dead or Mortal Mother to suck her Breasts and so brought his outermost Birth into Mortality and his Astral Birth or Life into the part of the Wrath. 2. Man's Soul or Spirit is generated out of the
Wonders of the great World he lusted the potence whereof remains in the Lust of a Woman by which is impressed a mark on the Child in her Womb. 4. His so Lusting enfeebled him that he slept and became impotent as to generating Magically with the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom Then God built a Woman out of him whom when he awaked he took as the Beasts do he drew Breath of the four Elements and kindled his Astral Spirit therewith 5. But the fierceness did not yet stick in them tho' the longing did which Eve by her little regarding the Commandment soon shewed And thus entred Sin Shame and the Evil from the divided Properties from the Elements to which disobedience had subjected them 6. For the Devil is this Worlds Executioner the Stars are the Councel and God is the King of the Land Such therefore as depart from God fall under the Councel who send some to the Rope Water Killing Stealing c. in all which the Devil is very active And at best the Councel helps to vain turmoil discontent and vexation The farther Extracts of this profound Chapter is here forborn being copiously treated in the 20 21 22 23 24 and 25th Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum CHAP. XVIII Of the Promised Seed Adam's Exile and Gods Curse 1. WHen fallen Man stood in great shame and horror fast bound by the Devil God the Father appear'd to him with his angry Mind of the Abyss into which he was now fallen And his most Gracious and Merciful Heart oppos'd it self to the Wrath placing it self highly in the Gate of Mans Life re-inlightning the Soul which yet stood trembling to hear Gods Sentence Because thou hast eaten of the Tree c. 2. Thenceforth the Holy Element withdrew from the Root of the Fruit and left it to the inkindled fierceness of the four Elements producing Thorns c. and the Fruit issuing in the Out-birth made for the Beasts became Mans Food who was become Earthy and now God would not cast his Heavenly Food which belonged to Angels to the Bestial Man 3. Now rose the Enmity of the Beasts to Man he was a Wolf to them and they as Lions to him 4. Before the Curse the tame Creatures were very near akin to the one Element with whom Man should have delight and others the wild ones to the four divided Elements 5. Now also the turmoiling Life of digging c. was necessary for death frailty c. in the four Elements succeeded the continual living Vertue of the Holy Element which was departed 6. God laid the burthen of managing the Creatures on Man when he was become like them but had God willed to have Bestial Men he had Created them such and given them no Commandment as neither have the Beasts any Law 7. God could well have Created Creatures to have the charge and labour of managing the Beasts as already there are Creatures in all the four Elements without a Soul yet somewhat adapted to such a conduct while Man might in Paradise have retained his Angelical Form 8. Eve's Sentence Thou shalt bear Children in pain c. establisht her perfectly to be a Woman of this World It should have been without a Woman and impregnation therefore was the Lord Jesus without the Seed of Man the Son of the Virgin 9. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ out of the Heart Word and Promise of God the Father through the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom is proceeded the Treader upon the Serpent who imaged it self in Adam's mind and Espousing therewith openeth Heaven for the Soul giving the Virgin for a Companion to instruct him in the way of God But because Mans Soul was too hard inkindled from the first Principle did not so instantly imprint it self therein but stood opposite to the Hellish Darts and in the Minds of those Men that yielded to Gods Wisdom did break the Serpents Head 10. But after long Tryal whether Men could by this way wholly yield themselves to God there came to be Murtherers unchast and domineering Spirited Men and but few clave to God then came the Deluge 11. The dread of Gods Judgments not prevailing God chose the Children of Sem to erect the Office of Preaching but Mans self-will ruled by the Stars prompted their blindness so that they would secure themselves by a Tower which God stopt by making their Language as confused as their Thoughts That by their scattering the holy Seed might be preserved but that not reclaiming them God out of the fierceness of the first Principle burnt Sodom and the five Kingdoms yet Sin sprouted as a Green Branch 12. Then God promis'd the chosen Generation to multiply them if they would obey him and prospered them in a strange Land to see if they would depend on him rais'd them up a Prophet wrought Wonders fed them from Heaven gave them a Law in the Zeal and Fire of the Spirit of the great World into which they were fallen gave them Circumcision and Sacrifice for that Man was Earthy their Prayers with a Token of Acceptance were heard through the Consumption of the Earthiness of their Sacrifices and Incense forbad theâ Meats especially Swines Flesh which in the Fire giveth a stink as also it doth in the Souls first Principle and fuming darkeneth the Gates of the breaking of the Light 13. But nothing could ransom the Soul nor attain the Resurrection of the Body and bring the new Body out of the Holy Element till regenerated in the Son of the Virgin Therefore in the 3970. year the Angel Gabriel saluted Mary with that precious Message to her Astonishment and the Angels Admiration 4. Think not that the Word descended from the highest Heaven above the Stars and became Man No but the Word which God spake in Paradise which imaged it self in the Door of the Light of Life waiting perceptibly in the minds of the holy Men that same Word is become Man the same is entred again into the Divine Wisdom And the same Wisdom of God in the Word of God gave it self into Mary's Virgin Matrix uniting it self as aâ Eternal propriety into tâe Essences and into the Tincture of the Element whic ãâ¦ã ure before God And it was a going forth with the whole fulness of the De ãâ¦ã hence also the Holy Ghost goeth forth making it greater than Adam or ever any Angel was being the blessing and might of all things in the Father Eternally 15. Not then nor ever separate from the Father every where present and is become a new Creature in Man and called God which new Creature is not generated of the Flesh and Blood of the Virgin but of the total fulness and union of the Holy Trinity and filleth all the Gates of the Holiness whose Depth Number and Name is Infinite 16. Yet the Corporeity of the Element of this Creature is inferior to the Deity for the Element is generated out of the Word Eternally And that the Lord should go into the Servant is
Deep one Power and Lustre receiveth the other The Deep with its Lustre is hidden but yet hath the power of the Sun in it 4. So Christ's Substantiality filleth Heaven and Paradise and swalloweth up the Earthiness also where it is received and obeyed 5. Thus Christ brought back what Adam lost and much more for the Word is every where become Man See the Extracts of the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the Three Principles The 2d Part being of Christ's Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection CHAP. I. Q. IS it said Was it not sufficient that God became Man why must he also die Could God no other way save Man What pleasure takes he in Death and Dying If God had by his Sons Death paid a Ransom for us why must we also die CHAP. V. Ver. 54. to the end Ans. 1. MAN had lost the Divine Substantiality and Angelical Property and imagined into the Out-birth viz. into the Earthy part was departed from the Divine Light into the Light of this World and captivated in the fierce Wrath of God which the Devil had kindled viz. the four first Forms according to which God calleth himself a consuming fire 2. The corrupted Out birth also had put a Body on him which it destroyed and swallowed up again in its essential fire 3. But being the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Holy Spirit of God out of the Eternal and so is an Angel 4. Therefore hath the Power of the Holy Light World the Heart of God resumed the same entring into the Human Essence which lay in the Anguish Chamber surrounded with Death and took to himself a Soul out of our Essence and our Mortal Life and introduced the Soul through Death through the earnest severe Fire of God the Father into the holy meek Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâiality into the fierce Wrath of the Father the Centre of the Anguish-Chamber the Fire World in the Soul Christ being the right Centre of the Holy Trinity is with the out gone Holy Spirit the flaming Majesty the Light-World 5. And whosoever will possess the Light-World and be an Angel must enter in through the same path bear old Adams Cross go forth through the harâââ astringent stern and malignant corrupted Adamical Man and slay him and be born anew out of the Anxious Wheel 6. But seeing we were not able to do this Christ gave himself into the Centre of the fierce Wrath in the Soul brake and extinguished it with his Love So that now when we go out of our selves to the death of sin we come into the death of Christ the path he hath prepared for us and leads to his Resurrection whereby we ascend into his Arms the unshut Light-World which is also Abraham's bosom the Paradise wherein we were created our true dear native Country 7. It consisteth not in this that we think it enough to pourtray and represent what Christ hath done and suffered for us and tell of a Faith in that but that we daily and hourly fight and slay the Evil Adam as to his will and doings with resigned and resolved earnestness and then we enter into Christ's Death in our living Bodies put on his Life in us become impregnated with the Kingdom of Heaven Get on us Christ's Thorny Crown and still be accounted one that is not worthy to live on the Earth through all which we must faithfully proceed on knowing we must either be Angels or Devils 8. In this Death nothing dieth to or in us but only the Earthy Evil dead Adam whose will and life we have here continually destroyed This Enemy departeth from us into the Essential Fire into the four Elements and into the Mystery and must at the end be tryed through the Fire of God and then our Bodies and Works must be given us again through that Fire whatever the Earthy Mystery had swallowed up But not such an Evil one for the Fire of God devoureth the Evil but such a one as we here in anxiety have sought a Divine Spiritual Substance like the Wonders and Wisdom of God 9. Hypocritical Reason saith Christ hath done all for us we cannot It is right Christ hath done what we cannot do he hath broken Death and restored a new Life and is in Heaven But 't is not knowing but doing the Devils know but what availeth that we know if we remain without and enter not into Christ in the way and passage he hath made for us doing good for evil in truth and simplicty CHAP. VII Ver. 75. 1. IT is not enough to cry Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Son he hath satisfied for my sins But I must enter into Christ's suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death become a Member in and with him Constantly crucifie the old Adam Always hang on Christ's Cross Become an obedient Child Tho' I plainly walk this way yet I have so evil a ghest in me that I still work too much evil must therefore continually strive and fight till I vanquish 2. Christ indeed hath in and for us broken Death and made way but what doth that comfort me unless I enter in that very way and path as a Pilgrim or Stranger here CHAP. IX CHrist's Sufferings c. 1. Men content them to participate of in the Lord's Supper v. 29. But his Divine Flesh and Blood is that which the wicked cannot participate of that is Sacramentally 2. They receive the four Elements in the Anger of God because they discern not the Lord's Body which is every where present in Heaven and Earth and is fed upon by the Heavenly Soul not as a sign as others dream not Spirit without Substance but the Substance of the Spirit Christ's Flesh which filleth the Light-World which the Word that became Man brought with it into the Virgin Mary and there became opened in its Flesh and Blood the assumed Human Essence 3. Yet was it at that very time while Christ lay in the Virgins Womb in Heaven in the one Element in all places It came not into Mary from many miles off but the Centre which Adam in God's Anger had shut up in death the Word of the Deity did unlock and bring in the Divine Substantiality not entring in but unshutting ingenerating and in this World exgenerating God and Man one person heavenly Substantiality and Virginity one only Man in Heaven and in this World See the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the three Principles The third part being of the Tree of Christian Faith CHAP. I. WHat Faith is 1. It is not our forcing the mind to belief of Articles which are the work of our Reason 2. But true Faith is one Spirit with God working in and with God is the might of God dwells in the liberty in God's Will inclined to his Love and Mercy is free from the fierce Wrath and Torment in Nature is not comprehended subsisteth in
Tincture of Love Mildness Softness Sweetness Yet in hard Bodies as of precious Stones Metals Trees c. is a high Tincture as we see the greatest sweetness in Marrow 8. God distinct from his moving manifestation is the greatest meekness but in his motion is called a God in Trinity for here the Divine will maketh it self an Object viz. the Wisdom through which the Original of all things descended 9. Now all things in the World that are soft meek rare or transparent as Air and Water is without pain and according to the unity of Eternity 10. And hard impressing Bodies as Wood Metals Stone Bone Fire Earth c. originate from the divine Inclusion from the Efflux introducing the Self-will of Nature as a noble Jewel and Sparkle of the Divine Motion of Divine Power caused by the Effluence of Divine Desire 11. Thus the Tincture hideth it self in the hardness but In transparency is alike equal to all things as in Water and Air. But the dry Water is the pearly Matter where centreth the subtile potent Unity 12. Therefore seek not the grand Secret in soft without the fiery Kind For as Rare and Transparent is next the Unity so the fiery Hardness is a dry Unity and Temperament and the noblest Concret of divine powerful Manifestation because where the Will is rent rests no great Might for there the Tincture is volatile whereby a Cure is attempted by the Salt or Soul only without the Spirit which unites not the Life's Enmity but kindles its Contrariety But unite the Properties in the Love so have ye the Pearl of the whole World CHAP. IV. Of the Will of God flowing OUT and in the perceptibility IN again into the ONE JOhn 1. 11 c. He came into or unto his own c. In which words lyeth the Divine Manifestation viz. the hidden Power or speaking Word of the Unity out-flown into his own the Creaturely Word or averted Will of Flesh and Blood which Self-power received not the Efflux of Divine Grace but would be its own self-Self-lord for it cannot inherit the Filiation But that Will which turneth it self about and coingenerateth with the Unity hath Power to become the Child of God For it is like or equal to all things which God willeth and worketh Hujus Argumenti hic scripsit Huc Autor Nil amplius A Brief Explanation of the Knowledge of God and of all things also of the true and false Light 1. THE hidden God out-breathing his distinguishable Power made his speaking Word substantial by creating the Body Soul and Spirit of Man who is an Abstract of all the three Principles and an Image of the speaking and spoken word 2. Whence so great knowledge of all things is in Him as to know the composition and dissolution of Nature for every Creature can see into its Mother those of the Elements into the out-spoken word 3. So Man after the manner as the out-breathing of the Eternal Will introduceth it self into the manifold Properties of Love and Anger Good and Evil and can frame it self into the multiplicity of Properties those into the desire and that into substance forming its Self-will out of the great Mystery 4. So if in this out-speaking there were no Divine Free Will the speaking would be under compulsion void of longing delight and be finite and inchoative which it is not But a breathing of the Abyss and Eternal Stilness a distributing it self into Powers and in them a several Self-will existeth whence originateth Nature and the creaturely Life with their various centers impressions magnetick desires perception and bodies according to the manner of the third Principle of Divine manifestation producing bodies evil and good manifold Earths Salts Stones Minerals in which the three Principles are mixt where every Centre breatheth it self yet all originate out of the Eternal One. 5. The first Centre is the out-breathing of the Abyss God bringing himself into Trinity The second Centre is called the Wisdom of God through which the Eternal Word breatheth it self into Infinity of multiplicity and that into longing delight the delight into desire the desire into Nature and Strife and Strife into Fire And through the dying of the Self hood through Fire into the Light The which Light is a second Principle and true great Mystery And the Fire is the first viz. the Eternal Nature 6. The first giveth Soul the second Spirit and this Lights Power through the Fire is the Mother of the Eternal Spirits Angels and Souls of Men. Also the hidden Spiritual Angelical Power-world the Mother of the outward World The third Centre is the Verbum fiat the natural Word of God the separator and maker of all Creatures in the inward and outward World The same speaker hath out of the Fire the Light and the Darkness made it self âââerial moving and perceptible out of which existed the third Principle the Visible World the life and substance whereof is come out of the Eternal Nature the Fire and out of the great Mystery the Light also out of the Darkness wâich is the separation of Fire and Light Love and Enmity Good and Evil Joy and Pain 7. There are two sorts of Fire and two sorts of Light viz. according to the dark impression a cold Fire and a false Light originating in the stern might and imagination desiring a Self-will dominion The second Fire is a hot Fire and true Light originating in the Eternal One in the substance of Divine Geniture and that Light shineth in the Darkness and illustrateth it stanâing in a perceptible Life The Life of Man is in it and he is the Light of the World 8. Therefore should Man lift up the Eyes of his understanding wherein God's Light desireth to shine into him and not be like a Beast which hath a temporary Light in a finite Separator in which Man 's palpable Body is 9. For his Spiritual Body is the true substantial word of Divine Property in which God speaketh and imageth himself into which if Man giveth not up his own will he is more hurtful to himself than the rude Earth which yieldeth to be made what its Separator will 10. But from the Devil False Will a false Light hath raised a false Separator in which the Stars and Elements have dominion 11. In this Man finding no quietness seeks his first Native Countrey for the true Man finds himself oppressed with a monstrous Separator environed with Enemies as a Rose in a bush of Thorns 12. Yet all his seeking brings not any true Life unless Grace become awakened to do which Man must sink down into a willing of nothing but Grace that it may overcome and mortifie him as the Sun doth the night 13. In that true Light the Man may see himself and the separation of every thing and work magically and divinely if he see the breathing in its inward ground according to the manner of speaking how out of one all proceed and one Centre out of another
the Oleous and Love Property a sweet Spiritual Essence pleasant smell in the Fire and Light the one Element in the lustre it gives the precious Tincture in the Salnitral flagrat is the sude of growth and pullulation it also holds Sulphur and Mercury from severing from each other yet in the Salnitral flagrat they pass into the four Elements 9. The Properties are as so many hungry Desires eating of their several likenesses the hunger of Time eateth of Time and that of Eternity of Eternity but Man's Original being from two Principles may by dying to the dark Self-hood bring his hunger into God's Kingdom and feast with the five Divine Senses on the Divine Mercury Yet so great was our Fall that the outward Man apprehends this only by Imagination though the inward Man penetrateth it as the Sun doth Water which yet remaineth Water CHAP. XV. How in the Will of the great Mystery a Good and Evil Will ariseth and the one introduceth it self into the other 1. THE great Mystery was from Eternity whence the one Element which also was from Eternity proceeded in the Motion whereof the free Lubet of Eternity proceeded as a Spirit which Spirit is Gods 2. And in or from the desire to Nature the Properties proceeded having their Root in the great Mystery as Air out of Fire uncontroulably and incorruptibly 3. In the desire of Essence in the one Element arose the four Elements with manifold Wills whence variety and contrariety came as Heat and Cold Fire and Water c. each a Death to the other all things under that Dominion are in a continual strife dying and Enmity no other way to be remedied but by the Death of the Multiplicity of Wills and Resignation of all Self Wills and Lust to the one Will viz. the one Element the right of Eternity a dying to Self-fulness and Lust which like a disobedient Child striveth against its Mother and is its own Enemy and Destroyer unless Mortified in the Death of the Lord Jesus 4. The resign'd Will is not at all careful save only to bring its desire into its Eternal Mother and united with her be it self a Nothing this the Self-will calls foolishness but the resign'd Will doth as a potent Champion continually bruise the Serpents head 5. The Elemental and Sydereal Man is only the Instrument wherewith Man's Soul laboureth in the resigned Will for thereto it was Created but the Soul in Adam makes it Lord and Master 6. The resigned Will hath no rest in this Cottage but is still in Combat and the good Angels defend him from Satan's fiery Darts v. 25. The Doctrines of Christ's Satisfaction which teach not also the Death to Self in Man and resigning of the Will in Obedience as a new-born Child are flattery and words from without not in the Speaking Voice of God Christ's Dove which teacheth the bearing Fruit in Patience budding forth always as a fair Flower out of the Earth 7. The knowing Doctor and Disputant attaineth not as such what the humble Herdsman by dying to his false Will doth for a Christian is the most simple and plain Man upon Earth having nothing of his own to lose all being given up already nor any thing to seek for himself but for the Lord being dead to himself what he possesseth as an ownhood is only as a Steward Servant or Distributer 8. But all arrogated Authority which is introduced to self-hood and extraduced it self quite from God is Sacrilegious The self-will generates it a Form according to the prevalency impressing most vigorously in the enmity of his inââre depraved Nature both inward and outward But the resigned Will is formed by the Model of Eternity as an Instrument of Musick into the Love-harmony where is no Turba but the end of Nature Rest whence first it sprung a meer ravishing delight of all the Senses where God is all in all CHAP. XVI Of the Eternal Signature and Heavenly Joy and why were produced Good and Evil. 1. WHAT God is in his Eternal uninchoative Generation that is also the Creation not in Omnipotence but like an Apple which is not the Tree to manifest the Glory which was in the Eternal Mystery As one only Air melodiseth variously in several Pipes and Organs sounding also in each Note in some pleasant in other harsh Thus in Eternity is one only Spirit the Manifester of all the Works of God 2. The seven Superior Stars and all the lesser as so many Kingdoms figure the Angelical Principalities and most Inferior Existences as one Clockwork 3. Let none therefore blame the Creator as if he made it Evil for the Creatures departure from the equal accord makes that Evil which was very Good as did Lucifer who leaving the Harmony brought him to the cold dark Fire out of which is the hot Fires Generation In the Holy he is Holy so Angels and Men praise him in the might of Love and Devils praise him in the might of Wrath God's Wrath is his Joy not as if he lived in impotency but in Fiery Might as a Potent King in the dark Principle in trembling Anguish So in the Divine Angelical Creatures is a trembling Joyfulness in the Holy Light and Fire of Love 4. Thus is all a Fire in their severed Properties the one the Poison and Death to the other yet if there were no Wrath there would be no Love as no Fire no Light 5. God is himself-all but called God only according to the Light of Love but in the Darkness a consuming Fire 6. The Creature when departed out of the first Harmony becomes an Enemy to the Being of all Beings âven Hell and Nature in the Wrath Property is the Devils Enemy for that he would be Lord in that wherein he was not created 7. Every Spirit of Angels and Man was created out of the two Eternal Principles of Love and Anger Light and Darkness in equal weight and may take to it self a Lubet either of Good or Evil and what Property the Will-spirit of the Creature awakeneth by that it is ruled for dying to the one it liveth to the other 8. He is elected that dyeth to Sin in Christ's Death and by Divine earnest Desire breaking the Sinful Will so persevereth as by the new birth to rise in Christ's Resurrection Christ calleth to gather as the Hen her Chickens but they would not 't is not said they could not He that blameth God despiseth his Mercy introduced by him into the Humanity and bringeth Judgment on his own Soul and Body Gods Election of Grace CALLED Predestination CHAP. I. What the Only God is or the Sole Will what it is 1. THE Abyssal Will is the Father The conceiv'd innate Will of the Abyss the Son 2. The Exit of the Abyss through the conceived Ens the Holy Spirit 3. The Lord our God is One only God that neither willeth nor can will Evil for if he did there were a Rent in him and some cause of Contrariety
they were both yet in the Garden of Eden and in Paradise Adam's desire had imprinted it self into the Magical Image as a Mother doth on a Child in her Womb therefore the Woman had Earthy Lust so soon As to this day most of that Sex coming to any years selfish Will or Lust is predominant appearing inglittering Pride contrary to Virgin Modesty Chastity and Humility 2. The Devil then in the Serpent laid himself on the Tree of Temptation for the Serpent was more subtle than all the Beasts of the Field because Lucifer falling from his Divine Hierarchy and infecting the Essence of the expressed word in the Fiat according to the dark Worlds Property his desire drew the thorny subtilty out of the Centre of Nature which as to one part was the Serpents Ens. 3. Tho also in the Serpent is found by the wise excellent Art and Vertue for the Devils Poyson being taken out there is Divine Power in a fiery hunger in him As is also in the Earth where may be found the Arcanum of the World 4. The Devil by the Serpent insinuated to Eve as if God had with-held some great thing from them and that if she would eat she should as God know good and evil which was true For the Essences of that Tree were Discordant but said not that Heat and Cold Sickness and Death would force into her But that by the Serpen's eating thereof he had attained so great prudence 5. Eve liked well to be a Goddess and so fell from the Divine Harmony from the resignation in God and united with the Devils Desire 6. Then the Holy Spirit departed and the Heavenly Limus in the Flesh disappeared or died As the extinguishing a Candle which enlightened a dark Room 7. VVhile Man stood resigned in God all the Properties were in Harmony equal weight and measure as time is in Eternity or in God But when Man 's own will began effectually to work the whole Magical Astrum wrought also contrariety and enmity in the outward Astrum and four Elements 8. The Properties of all good and evil Beasts did awake and become domineering in him yea of a Fox Bear Wolf Lion Dog Bull Cock Cat Horse Toad and Serpent Also that Astrum which is most predominant at the time of Conception hath its desire in the Seed and also Figures the outward Person and the poor Soul becomes Married to such a Beast unless a Man be Born anew forsake this Bestial Property and come as a Child into the Kingdom of God pointed at by Circumcision and Baptism 9. How great was that Horror and Anguish now in Man When in Astonishment they crept behind the Trees in the Garden from the dread of Gods awakened Anger making their Love fire tremble on Knowledge of their new-gotten Bestial Properties Even so did the Limus of the Earth whence Adam's outward Essence was extracted tremble and shake when the Lord Jesus on the Cross with his great Love in his Heavenly Blood did overcome Gods Anger which was effectually working in it CHAP. XXI Of the Impression and Original of the Bestial Man and beginning of Sickness and Mortality 1. THAT only which stands in the Temperature hath no Destroyer but subsisteth Eternally for opposite Essences weaken and destroy each other Yet if the captive Essence of the Heavenly Property may be redeemed from the curse and wrath of Nature it comes into the Temperature and awakens the Heavenly Worlds Essence in a living Body if such there be in that Body and expelleth evil 2. So great a sway the outward Beastly Man hath over the hidden inward heavenly Man that it holds it as Gold shut up in the gross Oar unable to shew itself but lyes as dead it must therefore be Born anew and fed with the second Principle or remain ever uncapable of the Kingdom of God It must re-obtain Divine Essence and die to the Beast and Regeneration to its first Estate is brought to pass in Christ. 3. The Scope of this Author is 1. To search out the Image of God 1. How it was Created 2. How Corrupted 3. How it shall be restored 2. What is the New birth out of Christ. 1. What is the Inward and Immortal Man 2. What the Outward and Mortal That being known how it was corrupted it may come again into its first Estate CHAP. XXII Of the Original of Actual Sin c. 1. EVery word of Man proceeds from an Eternal Ens either of Love or Anger A word conceived becometh substance when 't is sounded and then must have a place of Rest either in its like in another or it will return to its Mother the Fountain or Mind whence it is 2. Doth a wicked Man Curse Eccho a word of Love against him let not his Curse enter infect and take Root but will return and heap Coals of Fire on the Reviler for the enkindled Spirit layeth hold of the Inventers very outward Body 3. Sin at first and ever since is Born of a strange Ens when the will leaving the pure simplicity in which it was Created entreth into the Serpents Craft and Poison But tho' the will to good may have evil adhere to it yet if it hath not consented to the evil but rejects it that the sinful desire cannot come into Essence that good will hath not hereby wrought evil but the holy Word judgeth the false 4. The Serpents Ens was a Virgin of Heavenly Beauty but Lucifer introduced thereinto the dark Worlds Property yet hath the Serpent according to the right of Eternity both Tinctures The Pearl is in it but hidden because of the Worlds false Magick that the holy Virgin Ens might not be introduced into an ungodly Serpentine one It were good the Artist knew this 5. The Children of God are the Temple of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in them without this there is no true knowing or will but strife by the Craft of the Serpent about confused verbal wranglings as did the Jews carry Moses words in their Mouths but mixed them with the crafty Serpents Ens and so it must be still that the word in Gods Children may be stirr'd and whetted and the Truth struggle to the Light Therefore must the Body die it cannot Inherit the Kingdom See more of the Original of Sin in this Book of Extracts of Aurora and in the sixth Chapter of the Book of Predestination And mentioned also in the 15th of the Forty Questions CHAP. XXIII How God recalled Adam and his Eve and ordained the Saviour 1. AFter Adam and Eve had eaten of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil seeing their gross bestial flesh hard bones and deformed Worms carkass shewed it self in their tender delicate body their shame drove them behind the Trees for God's rebuke awaked in them as it had done in Lucifer and they as revolted Rebels were in great shame before God and all the holy Angels and scorn'd by the Devils Into this shame and scorn did Christ enter which caus'd the
little Paper Book in their Pockets into which their Friends do write some remarkable Sentence and Subscribe their Names and this Book is called Album Amicorum into such as these our Author wrote these following Verses Weme Zeit i st wie Ewigkeit Und Ewigkeit wie die Zeit Der i st befreyt vom allem streit Englished Unto that Man whose time and ever Is all the same and all together His Battel 's done his Strife is ended His Soul is safe his Life 's amended Or To him who wisely doth not sever This fleeting Time and State for ever And to this Maxim frames his Life Is freed from anxious Care and Strife On Sunday November 18. 1624. early in the Morning he called his Son and asked him If he heard the Excellent Musick he replied No Open saith he the Door that it may be the better heard afterward he asked What the Clock had struck and was told it had struck two He said It is not yet my time three Hours hence is my time In the mean while he spake these words O thou strong God of Hosts deliver me according to thy Will O thou Crucified Lord Jesus Have mercy upon me and receive me into thy Kingdom When it was near about Six he took leave of his Wife and Son Blessed them and said Now I go hence into Paradise and bidding his Son turn him he fetch'd a deep Sigh and Departed Thus have you had a short Account of the Journey of this Blessed Man on Earth with his last Farewel And it is well worthy of Remark that although he was indued with such rare and singular Gifts he sought not to make himself the Head of some Church and separate a People into some peculiarity of outward Form and Discipline But sought earnestly to promote in himself and others that Universal Love Uprightness and Serviceableness we owe to the whole Creation The Seven Spirits of God or Powers or Forms in Nature Binding 1 Attraction 2 Anguish 3 Fire 4 Light 5 Sound 6 Body 7 are the Seven Spirits Might The Ten Forms of Fire OF the Ten Forms of Fire know the Skill The Liberty both hath and is the Will Next's Strong Desire Third's sharp Drawing Might Makes An opposing Will. Fourth flash of Light Brings Anguish And in the Fifth Form doth Lye Th' Eternal Nature or Great Mystery Sixth The two Principles of Fire and Light The Seventh Magia with reflecting Sight The Eighth the Turba Ends the outward Life Ninth Virgin Tincture Pacifying Strife The Tenth makes holy Flesh and holy Earth Of Angels and Blest Souls the holy Birth Figur'd by Sem 1 Arphaxad 2 Selah 3 and Eber 4 Peleg 5 Regu 6 next whom do stand Serug 7 Nabor 8 with Terah 9 and the Blest Abram 10 whose Seed Sanctifies all the Rest. THREE and but three Principles Comprehend Eternal Things and those that have an End The First such Darkness as doth Light Desire Which till it Gain is a fierce Anguish Fire The Second A Meek Yielding Loving Light Majestick Potent Sacred Sweet and Bright The Third Resulting as from Fire and Light Brings Good from Evil Day from Pitchy Night Impregnates fully with Redundant Bliss Each Great or Little thing that Blessed is Did in Six Days the whole Creation hatch Still Swaddles Feeds and over it doth watch ERRATA PAge 30. Line 47. wants a Comma at Creature p. 77. l. 4. place the Parenthesis at Bodâes p. 79. Penult for eacht read each p. 102. l. 2. for It is r. Is it p. 181. l. 38. for Rod r. Root p. 277. l. 10. place the Parenthesis at through p. 322. Q. 19. for who r. how p. 396. for Enkinded r. Enkindled The General Heads of the following Treatise COnsiderations by way of Inquiry and Search into the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely Instructed Jacob Behmen Page 1 The 177 Theosophick Questions of Jacob Behmen Answered shewing their Scope and Design Page 41 Meditations and Contemplations on some of the preceding Questions and Answers Page 219 Extracts of the Works of Jacob Behmen beginning with his Book called Aurora Page 241 The Three Principles of the Divine Essence Page 260 The Threefold Life in Man Page 288 The Forty Questions of the Soul Page 315 The Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Page 320 The Six Great Points Page 337 And Six Smaller Points Page 345 A Brief Summary of the Earthy and Heavenly Mysteries Contracted and Comprized in Nine Texts Page 347 Of the Divine Vision or Contemplation Page 349 A Brief Explanation of the Knowledge of God and of all things also of the True and False Light Page 354 Signatura Rerum Page 356 Gods Election of Grace call'd Predestination Page 369 Baptism and the Lords Supper Page 375 Mysterium Magnum Page 379 Extracts of the Life of Jacob Behmen Page 425 A Brief TABLE A. OF the Abyss of all things Page 42 Of Abraham and his Seed and of the Line of the Covenant Page 395 How Abraham's Travails figureth Christianity Page 400 Of Abraham's rescuing Lot Page 396 Of the Covenant made betwixt Abraham and Abimelech Page 401 Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac Sarah's Death and the rest of the History of Abraham what it all points at Page 402 to 404 Of Abraham's Bosom what it is Page 324 Of Adam's Eyes being opened Page 102 Of Adam and Eves Shame Page 103 Of Adam and Eves Death Page 104 Out of what the Angels were made Page 44. 59 Of the Work of the Angels Page 44. 244 Of their Dominions Thrones and Principalities Page 57. 221. 246. 294 Of Antichrist what it is Page 178. 306 Of the Antichristian Church Page 279 Of the Archeus Separator or Workman Page 73. 233. 263 B. BAbel what it is Page 180. 394 Of Baptism Page 132. 373. 398. The Beast in the Apocalypse what it is Page 180. 395 What the Ruin of the Beast is Page 182 Of God's Blessing in this World Page 312 Of the Water and Blood what they are Page 168. 172 Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ really enjoyed what it is Page 168. 172 Of the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Page 168. 173 C. OF Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel Page 109. 390 Of Cain's Despair of Grace Page 111 Whether Cain was Damned in respect of his Sin Page 111 Of the Mark set on Cain what it was Page 112 Of the Kingdom of Cain Page 279 Of the Chaos whence it proceeded Page 62. 63 Of the Cherub with the naked Sword before Paradise what it was Page 107 Of Childrens Baptism Page 281. 308 Of Christ what he is Page 31. 32. 105 Of his Incarnation Page 32. 275. 329 Of his heavenly Humanity and how participated of by us Page 35. 105. 306. Of the Uniting the Deity and Humanity in his becoming Man Page 129 Why he conversed 30 Years on Earth before he entred on his Office Page 131 How it is that he increased in favour with God and Man Page 131 Why he was Baptiz'd of
irrecoverable Apostacy and of his Legions demonstrated 305. P. 385. The Devills present and future Prison 396. Composition of the Târrene Globe 429. The dear and Transcendent Heavens P. 432. Whence our Lord Jesus came and where also he now sitteth 438. Three Births of and in the Earth 441. P. 446. 456. 467. 471. 485. Man whereof made and what his Fall was What in Man the Devil hath access to 498. Strife of the 7 Spirits causeth Vegetation 500. Commixture of Good with Evil Demonstrated P. 533. 342. 555. The Ubiquity of the Trinity What the Deity is P. 568. Stars whence 570. Lucifer's Place at present Stars and for what P. 590. 594. What the Sun is 598. The Sun moves not the Earth rouls as do the Planets 606. 609. Saturn what 612. Venus what 617. The Ubiquity of the 7 Spirits of God from them came the 7 Planets P. 627. Man's Body 630. 637. Man's Body whereof made v. 56. Three Principles A Simile Or thus Ver. 34. Q. A. * See Chap. 18. of Mysterium Magnum What the Tincture is Tinctures Esences Heavenly Tincture * Ver. 12. What the Tincture is and doth Saturn Jupiter Mars Sol. The Exit of the Will by the sharp Fiat causeth the Essences Ver. 47. Illustrations by Similitudes The Cause of the Baptism with Water Why Children must be Baptized with the outward and inward Water v. 17. v. 22. * Mare v. 42. Ten Forms of Fire The Liberty Desire Attraction Flash Eter Nature Fire and Light Magia Turba Tincture Holy Ternary The Soul is a total Similitude of the Trinity or of all Devils The Souls need of Humility 1. The Souls Will can transform the Body 2. It can reform or deform the Spirit to Good or Evil. 3. It penetrateth the Bones of others 4. If in God it can pour the Turba on the ungodly 5. It can search Nature and work Wonders The pure Soul is not corporeal The Tincture is its Body which only can comprize Gods Body the Heavenly Flesh given in the Supper By propagation The Man soweth Soul the Woman Spirit The Elements the third Principle or Earthy Mystery Answered above It is the inward Fire in the inward Blood of the Heart The Spirit is in the Tincture By dying to Matter and self and by laying hold on the liberty of God it becomes enlightened * Viz. The Fire-Spirit It comes not pure but if the Parents be Vertuous it is Baptized with their Spirit They are not in Union for the sincere Soul is ashamed at the Imaginations the Turba insinuateth into the Body The contrariety is that the inward would be Lord as it ought to be and the outward would be Lord thâ it ought not Verse 14. Lapis Philosophorum v. 22 23 24. Purgatory No Dying but only a Will of Dying The Heavenly Body of the Soul A zealous Prayer of a faithful Brother may help the weak faith of one hanging between Faith and Doubting * Masses viz. Souls Meals Three Conditions of Departed Souls 1. Those not yet in Heaven who by Earthy Concerns appear in the starry Spirit 2. Such as are free of all wherein is the Turba and appear to reveal good and profound Arts. 3. Such as are in Abrahams Bosom in Christ's heavenly Substantiality those none can stir Paradisical Eating Praises Knowledge of one another All in Paradise are Masculine Virgins The heavenly Flesh and Blood What and where Enoch is The restoration of the heavenly Virgin Image * Or regenerated Christ's Spirit The Christians renewed Spirit The Paradisical World The Trinity made the one Holy Element Out of it Angels Man not only out of it but out of the four Elements Male and Female Tinctures were in Adam The four over which he was to Rule over-powering the one the Tinctures were divided The Eternal Virgin reincorporated Ver. 37. Ver. 4. Self-resignation reduceth the Lifes fire into Liberty Ver. 8. Ver. 28. Holdeth the Truth in unrighteousness Adam's Soul opened the Fires Essences Christ opening the Lights Essences âed and clothed the soul with heavenly Flesh. Man was more fully a Similitude of âhe inward World than the Angels Strong Earthy Reason makes strong Resistance to Gods Spirit Matth. 12. 30. What it is not What it is What it doth The Great Mystery 1. Text. 2. Text. 3. Text. 4. Text. 5. Text. 6. Text. 7. Text. 8. Text. 9. Text. Rom. 5. 12 18. 1 Centre 2 Centre 3 Centre P. 35. 36. 39. 42. 48. P. 50. 51. 54. 57. 59. 60. NB. 29. 56. 67. NB. * The Devil v. 14 15 16. v. 67. * 56. Where and how to find God v. 76 v. 77 v. 78. * 41. * 37. God never willed nor can will Evil. v. 105. God according to the first Principle is called Angry Jealous or Zealous In the second Principle Mârciful and Loving v. 20. v. 39 c. Three Hierarchies of Angels Lucifer gave himself into the third Principle v. 82. v. 64. v. 85. v. 95. v. 112. v. 116. Illustr 1. Illustr 2. Illustr 3. Illustr 4. Illustr 5. Illustr 6. Illustr 7. Illustr 8. Illustr 9. Illustr 10. Illustr 11. Illustr 12. Illustr 13 Illustr 14. The Soul's mouth eateth and drinketh Christ's Flesh and Blood as truly as the Plant the Sun's Vertue or the heated Iron the Fire Christs Paradisical Humanity presseth as Fire into Tinder The right Adamical Humanity is eaten and drunk by the Soul a ch 4 5. b ch 13 c. c ch 18 19. d ch 19 20. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The following Instances are as so many Figures to point at the time Adam stood in the Proba Esau lived Forty years then took two Evil Wives Israel Forty years in the Wilderness Forty days searching the Land of Canaan Moses Forty days on the Mount Goliah's Forty days Challenging the Host of Israel Elias Fasted Forty days Christ Forty days Tempted And Forty hours in the Grave And Forty days after his Resurrection Ver. 26. Ver. 28. v. 42. Gen. 6. 1. * v. 5 6. Gen. 9. 20 21 22. Gen. 10. 24. v. 26. Ch. 11. v. 11. * ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã * Dan. 11. * 1 Cor. 3. 6. * v. 66. Gen. 15. from v. 1. to v. 17. * John 2. 13 Gen. 18. Gen. 18. * Gen. 18. * ch 19. v. 1. Gen. 19. 15. v. 17. to 23. * Rev. 10. 27. * 2 Thess. 3. Gen. 21. 22. to 34. * Joh. 3. 17. * Ezek. 33. 11 * By himself 1 Cor. 5. 15. * Gen. 22. 3. * v. 4. * v. 6. * v. 7 8. Gen. 24. 2 3. * Gen. 24. v. 5. * v. 6. * v. 9. Gen. 24. v. 10. v. 11. v. 53. * v. 54. * v 61. to 67. Gen. 25. v. 11. * Gen. 25. 24 25 26. * Gen. 26. 32 33. Gen. 27. v. 35. * See the Extracts of the Book of the Incarnation Gen. 28. 14. Gen. 33. 1 2 3. Gen. 33. 5 6 7. Note The Blessed Author taking occasion at Mens false Iâferencâ from Gods saâing Esau have I hated c. to conclude Goâs predetermining Mân to Damnation doth fundamentally discuss that great Mystery from the 22d to the 68th verse of this Chapter so convincingly and yet as plainly as so profound a subject will admit But because it is treated of in a select Volume call'd Predestination beginning p. 369. of this I refer this place thither Gen. 33. ãâã 13 14. * Vide p. 369 c. of this Book of Extracts Gen. 36. * Hebrew Montanus Gen. 37. 6. * Gen. 38. 1 to 10. * Gen. 38. 11 * v. 18 19. * Gen. 38. 27 28 29 30. Gen. 39. 7 8 9 10. Gen. 39. 11 12 13 14 15. Gen. 41. 1 to â * Gen. 41. 14 15 16. Gen. 42. Gen. 43. Gen. 44. 7 8 9 10. Gen. 44. 11 12 13. v. 14 15 16 17. Gen. 45. 1 2 3. Gen. 45. 11 12 13 14 15. Gen. 46. 28 29 30. Gen. 46. 31 32 33 34. Gen. 47. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Gen. 47. 13 14 15 16 17. v. 18 19. v. 20 21 22. v. 23 24 25 26. Gen. 48. 17. Gen. 50. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Ep. Paul 1 Cor. 2. 10. ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã The Depths of God King Charles the First his Opinion of Jacob Behmen Text. The Seven Fountain Spirits The Three Principles