Selected quad for the lemma: soul_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
soul_n adam_n original_a sin_n 4,215 5 5.6070 4 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A28518 A consideration upon the book of Esaias Stiefel, of the threefold state of man, and his new birth written anno Christi 1621, by Jacob Behmen, otherwise called Teutonicus philosophus.; Bedencken über Esaiae Stiefels Büchlein Von dreyerley Zustandt des Menschen unnd dessen newen Geburt. English Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624. 1653 (1653) Wing B3400; ESTC R21020 39,297 158

There are 7 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

and immaculate for if a Man will search from whence Sin hath its Original he must look upon the Ground 67. The new Body worketh no Sin but the Soul by Imagining into the Wickedness bringeth Sin into it self Now since the true Similitude after God hath its Beginning out of the Soul therefore the heavenly Substantiality becometh Infected through the Poyson which is taken into the Soul 68. Sin toucheth not the Heart of God as the Center of the New Body but the Substantiality is Infected as when a Man poureth Earth into fair Water The Flesh of the New Man and the Spirit of God is not one thing the Spirit of God remaineth in the new Man although Adam be spoiled in regard of him as it also came to pass in Adam 69. What falleth from the Light-world it the Fire-world receiveth if it be a grim Substantiality then it is swallowed up in the Fire and falleth into the Dark World into Eternal Death When the new Body is infected it loseth its Divine Life the Deity loseth nothing by it but only its Mirror of the Wonders For the Body is not God only it is through the Spirit by the noble Tincture highly graduated with the splendor of the holy Heaven so that in it the Colours of the Divine Joy-kingdom do shine But if it be darkened then the Tincture ariseth in another Property viz. according to that in which the Fire of the Soul burneth such a Tincture shineth also thereout and as the Spirit of Man is in himself such an Heaven he geteth also for his Habitation 70. Nothing can fall beyond God for He himself is All yet he is not called God in respect of his Anger because it devoureth much did it not also devour the whole royal hoste of Lucifer they were Angels and yet became Devils how then should it not be possible in a Man who as yet beareth in him the Sin-mirror in the outward Flesh 71. Indeed if the Soul goeth not into the false Lust so that it desireth not sin then it is not possible The Soul is free it hath the high Fire-Principle in it self both to the Dark and also to the Light World What it awaketh to it self that it hath it can live in Gods Love or Anger Whithersoever it turneth it self there it is received so that it as the Mother of the Eternal Nature is in all things Whither the Eternal Will turneth it self according to that its Image is also figured 72. Therefore Man should not be secure or bold in this World but always humble himself before God and cast his Will into the Heart of God all this time whilest he carrieth the outward Cottage he liveth in danger but while he abideth with his Will in God he is in Gods hand and then no man 〈◊〉 pluck Christs sheep out of Christs hand John 10. except the Will of the Soul teareth it self out from thence which happeneth when the Soul is secure then the Devil soweth his poysonous Imagination into her so that she therein beginneth to imagine after falshood 73. You must understand that the Soul standeth in the Fathers Property and the fair Image when it is begotten standeth in the Sons Property The Soul hath the Center of the Dark World and the Image hath the Center of the Light World as Gods Heart But if it departeth from Gods Love then the Soul bringeth its Image into the Fathers Property into the dark World 74. Therefore we ought to be very humble and submissive before our God and not desire to exalt Our Name but the Name of God in Us We are not the Tree with the Root but little boughs and twigs on the Tree We receive indeed the Essence and Vertue of the Tree like as the Tree giveth it to the Twig But the Twig saith not I am the Tree but it delighteth it self in the Tree as in its Mother 75. If we put on Christ then we are truly called Christians for the new Man liveth in Christ But we ought not to say I am Christ in this mine holy flesh and bones in this my visible Conversation on Earth for Christ said also My Kingdom is not of this World Therefore Christs Kingdom In Us is much less of this World For he said I am gone forth and come from God Again I leave the World and go the Father and I will take you to me that where I am there ye may be 76. Understand it thus When the noble Seed is sown so that the Lilly-twig is born in the Humanity of Christ then he taketh it to himself where He is This noble Twig is not of this World but it cometh from God and its Plant groweth in Gods Kingdom not in this World not in Adams Manhood neither in the Woman Eva but in the Virgin being neither Man nor Woman but a chaste Virgin that follow-God and the Lamb. 77. For that is the Angel whereof Christ speaketh Matth. 22. and Mark 12. In the Resurrection they are like the Angels of God When he is born out of Christ then he expecteth no Resurrection for himself for he is Immortal if the Soul doth not poyson him in the time of this World But he Waiteth for the Outward Mysterium as the third Principle in which he hath sown all his Wonders and Works that same swalloweth up here the Outward Life with its Works and that shall come again out of the Mysterium 78. For the First Adam before his Eva he being neither Man nor Woman shall stand he shall have all the three Principles in him as God himself but not so mingled together as Now when one is brought into the other 79. The Outward World is compacted and born out of the Inward in the Desire of the Inward and in the Fiat created into a form not altogether to a fading transitory Substance for it shall be renewed in the Fire and stand again to Gods Wonder-deed not four Elements but One in which the four do lie hid For the Outward World shall not rule but the Inward Divine World through all things 80. As little as the Outward Visible World can be called God so little also the Name of God becometh or befitteth the outward Life in flesh and bones For God gave Adam a name and called him MAN he named Adam MAN This the highest Tongue understandeth Well in the Language of Nature that the name Adam hath its Original from the Second Principle as from Gods Kingdom out of the Divine Essence and the name Man from the Limus whereout the outward Body was created 81. For every thing getteth its right Name out of its Essence according to its Spirit like as the most dear Name of JESUS CHRISTUS hath a double sence Viz. By the Name JESUS in the highest Tongue is understood the Motion of the Divine Center as an Out-going Lust or Delight bringing the Lowliness in the Humility forth in the Out-going Joy-kingdom in Majesty 82. And in the Name CHRISTUS is understood an In-going
Earthliness the Earthliness and the dark World became manifest in him For the Souls-fire did imagine after Earthliness and brought earthly Infection into it self Thus the Souls-fire began to burn in the earthly Qualm and became manifest in the Earthliness whereas yet the earthly form and shape ought not to have been manifest 39. And thus the Soul also lusted to eat of Evil and Good as of the evil poysonous and grim Property out of the Dark Worlds Substantiality to wit of Lying Deceit and Falshood in which she lived in Gods Anger and in the Dark World 40. For the Outward Earthliness hath its Original in the Creation out of the Substantiality of the Dark World and not only out of this but also out of the Heavenly This God forbad Adam viz. that he should not eat of the Tree of the knowledg of Good and Evil otherwise he should dye from Paradise as from the Divine Substantiality 41. For the Heavenly pure Element with the Divine Essence greened through all the fruits which were created for Man and he should have eaten after a Magical manner the Separation was in his Mouth so that the Heavenly swallowed up the Earthly like as the Day the Night as we also know that our Life which we now have must enter into a Transmutation if it will be called a Child of God it must again put on God whom in Adam it did put off 42. For we understand and know that Adam with his Imagination understand the Soul is gone out of the Divine Power as from the Second Principle into the Outward as into the Third and the poor Soul lieth now captive in a strange Lodging where the Devil afflicts her and still brings his Imagination into her unless she gives her self wholly again into the Second Principle which in Christs Person opened it self again in the Humanity and in that same Life be again born in God otherwise she standeth meerly naked with her Root in the Dark World as in Gods Wrath and with her Imagefigure in the Desire of this Outward World and therein she will not be acknowledged and received for a Child of God 43. But since it is so that Adam with his Imagination into the Earthliness hath awaked the Inward Kingdom in the Anger that it burneth in him and all his Children and brought the Earthly Desire into his Heavenly Flesh thereby we understand that there-through the Holy Spirit is departed from the same Substance For God cursed the Earth that is nothing else but that he departed with Paradise from Man the Life of Paradise which was in Adam in the Divine Essence was extinguished Wherefore God said to Adam What Day thou eatest of the Tree or the Plant of the knowledg of Good and Evil thou shalt dye that is nothing else but to dye to the Kingdom of Heaven and to become Living to the Earthly Qualm 44. For thus said also the Serpent Thou shalt not dye but thine eyes shall be opened thereby and shalt be as God But the Serpent deceived Eva indeed her earthly Eyes were opened but the heavenly were shut up 45. Thus we also understand that Adam with his Imagination hath wholly brought the Will of the Soul into the Outward World and hath made his Outward Flesh wholly Earthly and Bestial in which the Stars and Elements did immediately domineer and so dyed wholly from the Heavenly Substantiality although there is no Death or Dying in the Heavenly Substantiality Only since Gods Spirit departed from it it was shut up into the Quietness or Stilness as into the Nothing and therethrough Man lost the Similitude of God even the Noble Image 46. Therefore said Christ You must be born anew of Water and the Holy Spirit if you will see the Kingdom of God The Water is the Heavenly Substantiality begotten of the Meekness of the Majesty of God in which the most noble Tincture is Heavenly 47. And understand us that the Word of God viz. that which became Man in Mary hath again brought that same Water or Divine Substance into our in Death inclosed and shut up Substantiality understand not into the Earthliness but into the Heavenly part which was brought into Adam with the Holy Ghost when He brought himself into the Image For the seed of the Woman should break the Serpents head Gods Essence took upon it the Essence of Man and became Flesh and not only the Essence of the Flesh but also the Essence of the Soul Thus the Divine Life came again into the Flesh and the Second Principle was again born in Man to a Life in God and yet the outward Kingdom adhered unto it 48. Since then we are all sprung from Adam we are also all of us born out of his corrupt sinful Flesh and are all in Gods Wrath and with the Soul shut up in the dark World for we are born into the Earthly frail Life out of the Earthly evil and perverse Will in Disobedience in meer Anguish Misery Poyson Malice Hatred and Anger out of the Eternal Death we are born from the Kingdom of Truth into Lyes and Deceit The Devil hath brought his Will into Us and therein we live and eat continually of the forbidden fruit 49. Unless we return with our Will and enter again into the New Birth which Christ hath opened for us in our Humanity Then we become again conceived in the Word that opened it self in Mary in the true Humane Essence and become pregnant of the Saviour as of the Divine Kingdom 50. God is not revealed in us in the Earthly Essence but in the true Image which disappeared in Adam but the Outward adhereth to the Inward The Inward Man manifesteth the Divine Mysterium and the Outward Man manifesteth the Outward Mysterium as the Mirror of the Wonders 51. Thus the War goeth on in the New or Regenerated Man the New will be Master for he beholdeth the Divine World and the Old opposeth him and Will also be Master for he beholdeth the Outward World But if the Inward groweth waxeth strong in the Will of God understand when the Soul hath given her self over wholly thereinto then the Outward is taken Captive For the Inward killeth dayly the Outward with Gods Love and Meekness so that the Outward cannot bring into the Fire of the Soul his earthly pestilent and of the Devil infected evil Desire and Will 52. Yet the Outward cannot wholly be killed before his Dissolution for if the Outward Man should be wholly killed then must the Kingdom of this World wholly break off from him and the Outward also cannot wholly be put into the Renovation for the Devils Infection sticks fast in him But the Outward must again be put into the Mysterium and in the Last Day be brought through the Everlasting Fire where then the Turba shall swallow up the Evil Desire in the Fire and the Mysterium shall again with its Wonders appear on the Noble Image 53. Therefore I can with no ground say of mine
outward flesh and blood that it is Christs flesh and moreover perfectly holy and without fault Only I can with Truth say of the Inward Man born of God that he is conceived in Gods Essence as in the Word of Life which was again promised Adam in Paradise which opened it self in the Bound in the most blessed Virginlike Mirror as in the Divine Virginity in our Substantiality that was shut up in the Death 54. For in this Conception is the Kingdom of Heaven or the Heart of God the Man to the seed which is sown and the seed of the Woman understand the seed of the Soul and of the noble Image inclosed in the Death is the Matrix which receiveth into it the seed of God after an Essential manner so that God and Man becometh One Person according to the form or manner of the three Worlds as they stand one in another and yet the one is not the other for they possess not one the other but every one dwelleth in it self so that although God in Christ be born in Us yet we can by no means say when we speak of the whole Man I am Christ for the Outward is not Christ But thus we can and may say upon good ground I am in Christ and Christ is become Man in me 55. But his humane Kingdom is not of this World and I with my new Man in Christ am not of this World For S t Paul saith also that our Conversation is in Heaven whence We understand the Outward Mysterium wait for our Saviour Jesus Christ For the Outward Mysterium on Man shall put on Jesus Christ first in the Last Day when the Turba shall afore be taken from the Mysterium in which the Sin-mirror standeth which belongeth to the Anger of God therefore a Judgments-day is ordained when all shall be restored which we have lost in Adam 56. But if we with this outward visible and palpable Flesh were wholly perfect then must the Outward Man have put on Paradise again and then the Outward Man were Immortal and Unperishable and could go through Earth and Stones the four Elements also were as it were swallowed up in One as we shall be in the Last Day then must and should the Outward Man also eat no more of the forbidden Tree the Magical Impregnating would also begin and we not be born after a bestial or animal manner 57. But if the Author hath as he saith put on Paradise then he is taken up I as yet can say no such thing of my self I have also sought the Pearl with Earnestness and have also thereby obtained a Jewel It is also given me to know the First Man in Paradise how he was before the Fall and after the Fall and have also seen the Property of Paradise but not in the outward Man 58. I say also that the Inward Man hath put on the Kingdom of God and liveth in Heaven in God But there is yet a great Difference between the Outward and the Inward Man as also between Us and the World of Paradise Paradise greeneth no more through the Earth the Lord hath Cursed the Earth and the Outward Man dwelleth on the Cursed Earth and eateth the Cursed fruit he swalloweth down the Curse into himself and therefore here in this World there is no whole or absolute Perfection 59. But so far indeed it comes with Man if he entereth into the New Birth that he can tame the Outward Man so that he must do what he would not Willingly for the Inward depriveth him of the Power and throughthrongeth him as the Gold doth in a gross Stone But as the grossness in the Stone becometh not Gold so also the outward Man becometh not God otherwise it should follow that also the Outward World should be changed into the pure Deity 60. The Outward Man is the Outward World of the Stars and Elements and the Inward Man in Christ is the Inward Divine World and the Soul is the Fire-world for she hath the Eternal Center to Nature in her self that Center is the Dark World Therefore when she loseth Gods Light she standeth in her self in the Pit in the Dark World viz. in Gods Anger 61. That also the Author saith He is through Christ so transmuted in the Death that he cannot sin any more and thereupon leaveth the outward name of the outward Worlds Substance that needeth another far plainer Declaration and will hardly be taken or granted unless it cometh to a clearer Understanding For the most holy men have acknowledged themselves sinners not that they desire it or would do it but they complain of it before God that the outward Man is become Living in the Anger of God and that the Anger ruleth in them as that high Apostle Paul saith Now if I sin I do it not but the sin that dwelleth in my Flesh Rom. 7. 62. Now where sin dwelleth in the Flesh there is yet no Perfection therefore lie saith further Wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death And saith I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord So then with my Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of Sin The Scripture saith Before thee is none living Righteous Item The Heavens are also not pure before God Why should then also an Angels name be given to the outward fleshly Man that lieth inclosed in the Anger of God He is but evil and striveth continually against Gods Law and belongeth to the Earth and his Mysterium to the Judgment of God He shall purge the floor 63. But that it is said We are dead to sin in the Death of Christ is very true that is once done for us all but we must yet always die unto Sin in the Death of Christ we must always kill the Man of Sin that the New may live But we cannot wholly kill him but take him captive and always pour Water on him out of Gods Meekness into his Fire-burning 64. For the Soul is a Fire-eye and is the greatest Life it will have Substance in which its Fire may burn But since it is in Adams fall turned and bent into this World therefore the Kingdom of the Stars and Elements is entered into it to lodg there which often bring-in a strange Turba Now if the Heavens be not clean before God how will then that be clean that is governed by the Outward Heaven namely the Outward Life that is only driven by the Outward Heavens Regiment 65. The Incorruptible as the new Man cannot put on the Corruptible as the outward Flesh for Turba is therein this shall first come to pass in the Judgment of God when the Turba shall be taken away from the Outward Mysterium 66. But that the Author saith It is not possible that a Regenerate man can sin by that we know he understandeth not sufficiently the Mysterium of the Soul We see it was possible in Adam when his outward Man was pure
Imagination into the Earthly World which standeth Essentially within the dark World whereby her Almightiness was and is broken and inclosed in the Death so she turn her self again into the Light in the Almightiness in the Spirit of Christ who hath broke that same Death in her viz. in the Soul she must go again into Gods house into her self 119. Therefore it is necessary to become new born to beget out of himself a New Son out of the Old not a New Soul but a New Image out of the Soul in the Power of the Holy Ghost a Twig out-greening out of his own Essence in the Spirit of Christ and standing within the Light of the Deity not being shone upon from without but shining out of it self 120. The New Image is the food of the Fiery Soul and fuel for her burning The Soul eateth the Love-essence of the Image and giveth out of the Consuming as out of the grim Dying the high Light and in the Light through Fire out of the Desire of the Love and out of the Desire of the Fire the high and noble Tincture of the Holy Life with the power of Colours and Vertues 121. In which Power the Center of the Joy-kingdom of the Light-World standeth as the Heart of the Deity out of which the Holy Ghost proceedeth For the Fires-Center of the Soul and the Lights-Center in the Souls Image are it out of which the Spirit of God is begotten 122. The Spirit of God entereth not from Without into the Soul but he openeth himself in himself through the Souls-fire and through the Light-fire of the Image He is the Holy Mans peculiar Propriety 123. When a Man entereth into earnest Repentance and layeth hold on an earnest Will to enter into the Mercy of God within himself and casteth from himself all false Will then is the grain sown whereout the noble Flower in the Holy Trinity groweth Understand that the Souls-Will is turned thereby out of the Dark World into the Light World 124. And then when she Imagineth into the Light World into the Center of the Deity as she before hath Imagined into this World then she shall in her self in her Imagination or Desire grow pregnant of the Saviour and out of this Pregnancy God is begotten always and to all Eternity 125. Thus the true Man becometh the food of God and God the food of Man and so are We in God and God in Us and work with and in God and are his true Children in him 126. And this we had not been able to do being Adam brought his Souls-fire into the Grimness and his noble Image out of the Soul in God if Gods Heart had not entered again into the in Death inclosed Image of the Soul and given himself into the Grimness of the Souls-fire and brought again Divine Substantiality into the Image understand into the Essence of Mary to the Image 127. Understand the Holy Tincture arose together with the divine Substantiality in the Substantiality in Gods Spirit and the Holy Blood which the Tincture in humane Property maketh Blood went into the middle of the Turba of the Soul when the Outward Life broke on the Cross Then the Grimness of Death was broken with the Love and Meekness of God and transmuted into a Life of Joy and here Death was shewed openly For divine Love was again begotten in the grim Essence of the Soul and that is our New Birth in Christ into which the Desire of our Soul must enter if it will behold God and be begotten in Christ out of God 128. Christ is the New Stock and we green forth as Branches in him We must be born in God and must also beget God in us if we will be Branches on the Tree For upon the Branches which we are the Holy fruit groweth which Gods Spirit eateth in us viz. the Praise of God 129. Loving Brothers jest not and esteem it not a fiction it is known in Ternarium Sanctum in the pure River out of Zion Let no man expect or stay for a golden Time in which the Holy Spirit shall out of the outward Mouth cry into the hardened Man who will live only in the lust of the flesh I say into his Bestial Will O no that will not be 130. Whosoever will hear the Holy Ghost teaching out of the Mouth of another he must before bring his Will into the Holy Ghost and then the Holy Ghost preacheth unto him out of the Mouth of another within him 131. The Time is already that Henoch teacheth and Noah denounceth the Deluge there is henceforth no other sign then the sign of Elias Why doth the World stand gazing and suffereth its Ears in Vain to be filled with the Stars it is all in vain 132. Whosoever will enter with Zion and praise God in Jerusalem he hath now the acceptable time the Sound of the Seventh Trumpet is already Sounded The Fountain of Israel is open Let no Man imagine that the Trumpets-Sound will come from this or that place For as the Lightening ariseth and shineth unto the West so from the Beginning to the End is the Coming of the Son of Man 133. Let no man expect the Outward Prophet he shineth Inwardly in the Spirit the Outward Man shall not know him for he standeth in the Crown-number and preacheth in the Mysterium he is already known and found whoso desireth to see him let him seek him in himself and leave Babel he will find him 134. The Right Way into Eternal Life is in Man he hath brought the Will of the Soul into the Outward World it must he again bring into himself into the Inward World Paradise must green in Man 135. But he hath a dangerous and tedious Way to go for the turned Will must enter into it self again and break-through through the Kingdom of the Stars and Elements O how is he there held It must be a great Earnestness not Hypocrisie and an abiding with the Will in the Kingdom of the Stars 136. The Will must forsake the Outward World and yet it cannot wholly do it for it must maintain the Outward Body O how grievous is this in the Beginning when that must be forsaken which is so dear to the Outward Man wherein his joy and glory stands O how doth the Outward Man in the Souls-spirit hold back 137. How exceeding many Conflicts and Assaults must there be holden how busie is the Devil and sets before the poor Soul the glory and beauty of this World as riches and the pleasures of the Flesh 138. It falleth not so presently on a heap from him the Outward Will must be broken in pieces with an hard bickering and yet it dyes not but is shut up in the prison of the Inward Will and must be servant until the breaking or dissolution of the Outward Life 139. Therefore I say upon sure ground that all what is taught of God out of the Spirit of the Outward World and heard in the Outward Spirit is
one Body 159. For I do very well know the Authors Spirit and I love to speak to him seeing he for Christs Name sake as you mention hath suffered much and willingly hath brought his Life into Christs footsteps therefore I acknowledg him for a right true Christian 160. But he need not to be ashamed to learn to know himself better and to learn more in the Spirit in the Spouse of Christ For Christ saith Seek and ye shall find The Wisdom hath neither number nor end 161. I say of my self nothing else but that I first am become an A. B. C. Scholer and will heartily seek in the Spouse of Christ of the Spirit of Christ in my Brethren and Members Me in them and them in Me. 162. I do not arrogate to me yet any perfect knowledg for that which is perfect is not of mine understanding but revealed in the Spirit of Christ in my Brethren I am in my self as a Nothing that I might be found and known to be somewhat in the knowledg of my Brother in his Spirit and that God in Christ may be All in us both the Understanding Willing and Doing 163. Therefore I exhort you not to take this otherwise then Christianly and Brotherly for I am not a Master of your Spirit and Knowledg but your help in the Lord that the Authors Course may not be in vain nor the Name of Christ blasphemed in his Members as Babel hath done I have written this short Declaration and Explanation to refresh us in our knowledg in the Lord What is more is to be found in the Book of the Threefold Life and in the three Books of the Incarnation of Christ and do commend you all to the Love of JESUS CHRIST Dated on the Sunday Quasi modo geniti Anno 1621. A Theosophick EPISTLE or LETTER WHEREIN The Life of a true Christian is Described What a Christian is and How he cometh to be a Christian Together with a Description What a Titular Christian is What the Faith and Life of both of them is Written to a good Friend of his in Christian Brotherlike and Memberlike Admonition and a good Intention BY JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed by John Macock 1653. The Fountain of the Heart of JESUS CHRIST be our Refreshing Renovation and Eternal Life 1. BEloved and much respected Friend in Christ I do wish to you out of a memberlike obligation as one branch on the Tree is bound to do to the other in a co-operating Desire the open Fountain of Grace which God hath revealed in Christ Jesus in our Humanity that the same may flow in you richly and the Divine Sun therethrough bring into the Soul his Love-beams and therewith awake and open the great Magnetick Hunger of the Soul as the true divine Mouth after Christs Flesh and Blood together with bodily Welfare 2. For as much as I have often perceived by your loving Friend D. K. and also in my presence marked that you in the Drawing of the Father have an extraordinary Thirst and great Longing after his Life which he hath manifested in Christ Jesus out of his highest Love therefore I would not omit out of a memberlike obligation to visit you with a short Epistle upon the desire of the D. and also of your self and to recreate and refresh my self somewhat in that same Fountain of the Life of Jesus Christ with you since it is meer Joy unto me that our Paradisical Pearl-tree greeneth and worketh fruit in our fellow-members to our Eternal Joy 3. And herewith I will shew unto you out of my small gifts and knowledg What a Christian is and Wherefore he is called a Christian namely that only He is a Christian who is become capable of this high Title In Himself who hath turned himself with his Inward Ground Mind and Will to the free-given Grace in Christ Jesus and is in his Souls-Will become as a young Child that only longeth after the Brests of the Mother and sucketh the Brests of the Mother whereof it liveth 4. So also this Man only is a Christian whose Soul and Mind entereth again into the First Mother whereout the Life of Man is sprung viz. into the Eternal Word which hath revealed it self with the true Milk of Salvation in our Humanity being blind in regard of God and drinketh this Mother-milk into his hungry Soul whence the New Spiritual Humanity springeth and the fiery Soul being out of the Fathers Propriety reacheth and obtaineth herewith the place of the Love of God in which place the Father begetteth his Beloved Son wherein alone the Temple of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth In Us is found and wherein also alone the Spiritual Mouth of the Soul which eateth Christs Flesh and drinketh his Blood is understood 5. For He alone is a Christian in whom Christ dwelleth liveth and Is in whom Christ after the Inward Ground of the Soul and the Heavenly Essence which disappeared in Adam is risen and become Living He that hath in his Inward Ground put on Christs Victory against Gods Wrath as also against Hell Devil Death and Sin I say Christs Humanity Passion Death and Resurrection the Seed of the Woman to wit Christ in his Victory also overcoming in him and dayly triumphing upon the Serpents head in the Will of the Wicked Flesh and killing the sinful Lusts of the Flesh 6. For in Christ alone we are received to be Gods Children and heirs of Christ not through an outward strange shew of a special grace-receiving through a strange merit of a grace imputed from Without but through a Childlike Inhabiting Memberlike and Essential grace where the Conqueror of Death to wit Christ with his Life Substance and Power ariseth In Us from our Death and ruleth and worketh In Us as upon a Branch on his Vine as the Writings of the Apostles throughout do witness 7. He is not a Christian who only comforteth himself with the Passion Death and Satisfaction of Christ and imputeth the same unto himself as a grace-gift and yet remaineth an Unregenerated Wilde Beast such a Christian is every Ungodly Man for every one will fain be saved through a grace-gift The Devil also would very willingly be an Angel again through Grace received or applyed from Without 8. But that he should turn and become as a Child and be born a new out of Gods Grace-Water of Love and the Holy Ghost that pleaseth him not So also it pleaseth not the Titular-Christian who putteth about himself the Grace-mantle of Christ and yet will not enter into the Childship and the New Birth although Christ saith he cannot otherwise see the Kingdom of God 9. For what is born of the Flesh is Flesh and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Joh. 6. To be fleshly minded is Enmity with God but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace and He alone heareth Gods Word that is born of God for alone the Spirit of Grace in Christ heareth Gods Word 10. For no man hath seen God the
after Gods Grace and entereth into a powerful Repentance or Penitency and bewaileth the Evil which she hath committed 37. And in this Hunger and Thirst she receiveth Christs Flesh and Blood for the New Will-spirit which in the Begining entered into the Grace of Christ which Christ also hath received into himself becometh now Substantial by the Magnetical Impressing Hungering and Desiring of the Soul 38. And this Substantiality is called Sophia as the Substantial Wisdom or the Body of Christ and in this the Faith in the Holy Spirit consisteth here Christ and the Soul beleeve in one ground 39. For the True Faith consisteth not in thoughts or in a meer assenting to the Histories viz. that a man impresseth into himself that Christ is dead for his sins but it is a Receiving of the promised Grace of Christ it receiveth Christ into it self it Impresseth him into his Hunger with his heavenly Flesh and Blood with the Grace which God offereth in Christ 40. Christ feedeth the Soul with the Substance of Sophia as with his Body and Blood according to his saying Whosoever eateth not the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no Life in him but whosoever eateth the same he abideth in him 41. And herein also Christs Testaments and also the Christian Faith do consist For an Unsubstantial Faith is as a smoking Fire or mother of Fire in a moisture that would willingly burn and yet hath no right Ens thereto but when a right Ens is given to it then that little spark of fire encreaseth out of which a fair Light ariseth which shineth round about and then is revealed or manifested how in the Wood such a fire and fair light lieth hidden which before was not known 42. So also in a Child of God While the poor Soul is wrapt up in the Anger of God she is as a glimmering Wiek that would willingly burn and yet cannot by reason of the Vanity of the Sins and the Anger of God But when the Soul as the little spark of the Divine Fire getteth into it self Gods Love Ens as Christs Flesh and Blood then that same little Spark beginneth to become a great Fire and Light which shineth and lighteth about it self with fair Vertues and good Works and liveth in great Patience under the Vanity of this World and yet groweth forth as a fair Flower out of the wilde Earth 43. Whereof we have a Similitude in the Sun and the Earth namely if the Sun should not shine upon the Earth no fruit could grow But when the Sun doth shine on the Earth and throngeth himself into the Ens of the Earth then the Ens of the Earth receiveth the Vertue of the Sun into it self whereupon a great Hunger ariseth in the Ens of the Earth after the Vertue of the Sun and this same Hunger impresseth the Vertue of the Sun and by this same Hunger of the Ens of the Earth which goeth after the Ens of the Sun in the height an Herb is drawn out of the Earth with a stalk wherein the Ens and Vertue of the Sun also goeth in the encrease or growth in the height and the Sun with his Light-beams becometh Substantial in the Ens of the Earth in the stalk and root and a man seeth how through the power of the Sun and Stars in the Spirit of the World another body cometh out of the stalk then the root in the Earth is also how the stalk doth bring it self into a button to a fair flower and afterwards to fruit a man may also see how the Sun afterwards from time to time ripeneth and sweeteneth the same fruit 44. So also it is with Man the Soulish ground is the Divine field when it getteth the Divine Sunshine into it self then a Divine Plant ariseth thereout This is the New Birth whereof Christ speaketh Now this Plant must be nourished and drawn up from above by the Divine Sun and by the Divine Water and the Divine Stars as the Divine Power until it cometh to be a Divine Body of a Divine and Angelical Figure as the body on the stalk 45. And as the body on the stalk must stand in rain wind and storm in heat and cold and suffer the Sun to ripen it so must a Christian stand in this thorny World in the awaked Anger of God in the Kingdom of the Devil amongst many wicked Men and suffer himself to be beaten with scorn and contempt and yet must turn his Hope from all Creatures alone into the Divine Sun and suffer him to ripen him and to beget him to an heavenly fruit 46. Not houses of stone nor humane Ordinances do beget him but the Divine Sun in the divine Stars of the powers of the Word of God in the Temple of Jesus Christ in himself doth beget him out of the Fountain of Life Jesus Christ so that he is a branch on the Vine of Christ and bringeth forth good grapes which the Divine Sun ripeneth that Gods children as his loving fellow-members may eat them whereby they also do out-green in and with him which grapes are good Doctrine Life and Works 47. A man must come to the practise working and fruitbringing otherwise the New Birth is not yet manifest in him nor the noble Branch yet born No tickling comforting and boasting of Faith availeth any thing if so be the Faith becometh not a Child conformable to God in Essence and Will which doth bring forth divine fruit 48. All that wherefore men now strive and contend also destroy Land and people is only a meer husk without fruit and belongeth to the fiery World for separation There is no true Understanding in any party they contend all only about the Name and the Will of God and no party will do it they mean and mind nothing but their own glory and the lust of the flesh Were they Christians they would have no strife 49. A good Tree beareth good fruits for every one and although it must suffer that the wind oft breaketh off its branches and fruit as also that the Sun dryeth them up and when they are ripe that swines devour them and that they be troden under feet yet it endeavoreth still to bring forth more good fruits 50. So also a true Christian in Christ can will nothing else but what Christ willeth in him although he must suffer that his good fruits which do out-green and grow forth out of the Inward Man be often trampled upon and spoiled by his Evil flesh and blood as also by the Devils Wind and the Wickedness of the World yet the Tree of the new Plant abideth standing in the Life of Christ and out-greeneth through the outward mortal Man against all hinderance and opposition like as Eternity greeneth through the Time and giveth to the Time Life and Power And as the Day out-greeneth through the Night and changeth the Night into Day whereas yet the Night remaineth in it self and is not discerned in the Day so also the Divine
Kingdom of God neither is God revealed in any such Desire but only his Anger and the Property of the Dark and of the Earthly World and we live therein only to the Vanity of this World and stand therewith only upon the Pit of the dark World of the Anger of God that is of Hell which every hour opened its Mouth after these Properties and counteth these Properties its own fruit and children which it shall reap which also belong to it by right of Nature for these Desires are all originally from it and stand with their root in the ground of Hell and Destruction and indeed no otherways 67. Therefore said Christ Unless a Man be born a new he shall not see the Kingdom of God All these false Wills and Desires are predestinated to Damnation if any Will see God he must turn again and become as a Child and be New-born in the Holy Ghost through the Water of Eternal Life as through the Heavenly Ens which God hath revealed in Christ that the first right Man which dyed in Adam being from the Heavenly Worlds Substance might again in Christ out-green and become Living 68. All these Beasts are condemned and must dye in us and although somewhat of their Desires remaineth yet hanging on us in the flesh yet they must all be killed during this Time in the Soul as in the Inward Ground and the Inward Soulish Life be tinctured through the true Tincture in the Blood of Christ that the Properties of the Inward Ground may again live in Harmony otherwise they cannot reach the Deity in themselves 69. Now when a Man knoweth this he cannot better be rid of his evil Beasts then that he presently that very hour bring himself with all his powers into such a strong Will and Purpose that he will hate these Beasts of the Devil seeing they are only the Devils Servants and that he will turn again into his lost Country into the Childship and Unity and look upon himself no otherwise then upon the poor lost Swineherd for he is it also himself and indeed no other nor better and so instantly with the turning of his Soul come to the Father in highest Humility with acknowledgment of his own Unworthiness who hath shamelesly consumed the bestown Inheritance of the Merit of Christ and so enter into Repentance 70. Let him but give his earnest Will thereinto out of all his Powers that he this very hour even now will repent and amend and love no more these evil Beasts But it must be Earnestness and not to think of a day week or year but his Mind must condemn them to the Damnation of Death and not will love them any more but count them Enemies and will turn it self to the Grace of God 71. When this cometh to pass I say in high Truth that then he may turn himself to earnest prayers in Humility and beseech God for Grace and although his Heart saith utterly No and the Devil saith Stay yet it is not good Now and when to morrow cometh then saith he again To Morrow and speaketh into the Flesh thou must first do this or that gather first a Treasure that thou mayst not need the World then afterwards enter into such a Life Yet I say the Mind must remain and stand firm in the Purpose and think with it self These suggestions are mine evil hungry Beasts these I will kill and drown them in the Blood of Christ in his Love none of them shall live any more in me for I will have no more of them I am now in the Way to mine ancient Father who hath sent his Son to me in my Misery who said Come to Me all ye that are laden with sins and are grieved with them I will refresh you My Father will give the Holy Ghost to them that ask Him for it 72. Let him imagine this to himself into his heart and come with the lost Son to the Father and when He shall see that the Soulish Mind is directed to Him and would willingly turn and yet cannot then He will presently meet him and clasp the Soul into the arms of his Drawing and bring her into the Passion and Death of Christ where she through earnest Repentance will dye from the cruel horrible Beasts and arise out of the Death of Christ with a new Will and a right Divine Desire and begin to be another Man indeed and he will then not a whit esteem that which he hath loved before and held for his treasure and it will be to him as if he had it and also had it not and afterward he will in all his power esteem himself but a Servant of God 73. For so soon as he can but master the proud Lucifer with his Pride all the other evil Beasts one with another grow weak and faint and lose their Regiment although they yet live in this Time in this Earthly Flesh yet they are but only as an Ass which must carry the sack or as a mad Dog in a chain their strength is broken 74. For when Christ riseth Lucifer must lie captive and if it should be Earnest such a precious Jewel should follow upon it which this Pen cannot describe here and those alone know who have been at the Heavenly Marriage where the noble Sophia is espoused with the Soul whereof Christ said That there is such a great Joy in Heaven over One Sinner that Repenteth before ninety nine Righteous Which Joy is also performed in the Heaven of Man in the Desponsation This is understood of those that are Ours 75. My Beloved and Christian fellow-Brother I thought it good Christianly and Well-meaningly to put you in mind of this and out of my little Treasury in a Childlike Simplicity to decypher it unto you not intending thereby to shew or set forth my self but out of a true hearty Desire in a fellow-wishing that this might be felt in your heart and I also might refresh my self a little with you as a fellow-member though absent and yet present in the Desire and co-operating in the Divine Gifts and this upon your Desire as formerly is said 76. And if my good Will should find place and God would open the Door of his Mystery then had I yet haply some other more precious Jewels in my little Treasury wherein Time and Eternity may be known being ready therewith to serve you and so I commend you together with all your Beloved ones to the sweet Love of JESUS CHRIST into his Grace and into his Will FINIS