Eternall Word which hath manifested it selfe with the true Milk of salvation in our humanity being blind in regard of God and sucketh this Milk of the Mother into his hungry soule whence the new spirituall man ariseth and thereby the fiery dark and dry soule proceeding from the Fathers property doth reach and obtaine the place of Gods love in which place the Father begetteth his beloved Sonne and therein onely the Temple of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us is found and therein also the spirituall mouth or beleeving desire of the soul which eateth Christs flesh and drinketh his blood is understood or experimentally and essentially enjoyed 5. For he onely is a Christian in whom Christ dwelleth liveth and hath his Being in whom Christ as to the internall ground of his soule is arisen and made alive in the heavenly Essence which did disappeare and depart in Adam even he I say is onely a Christian that hath put on Christs Victory that is to say Christs Incarnation Humanity Sufferings death and Resurrection against the anger of God and also Hell Devill Death and Sinne in his eternall ground where the Seed of the Woman to wit Christ in his conquest doth also conquer in him and daily trampleth upon the Serpents head in the wicked carnall will and killeth the sinfull lusts of the Flesh 6. For in Christ alone we are received to be Children of God and heyres with Christ not by an outward adventâ—â—ouâ— strange shew of a sundry select Appropriating of Grace I say noâ— through a strange merit of grace or application of promises imputed from without or received in an Historicall apprehension of being justified and acquitted by another as Malefactors but through a child-like regenerating innate in-dwelling member-like and essentiall Grace Where Christ the conquerour of death doth arise in Us with his life Essence and power from Our death and hath his mutuall ruling influence and operation in us as a branch on its Vine as the Writings of the Apostles doe throughout witnesse 7. He is farre from a Christian who onely comforteth himselfe with the Passion Death and Satisfaction of Christ and doth apply and impute it to himselfe as a pardon or gift of favour and yet remaineth still an unregenerated wilde worldly and sensuall Beast such a Christian is every ungodly Man For every one would faine be saved through a gift of favour the Devill also would very willingly be an Angell againe by grace received and applyed from without 8. But to turne and become as a child and be borne anew of Gods grace-water of love and the holy Ghost that pleaseth him not Even so it pleaseth not the Titular Christian who will put upon himselfe the mantle of Christs grace and apply his merits unto himselfe by an Historicall laying claime to a promise and yet will not enter into the Adoption and New birth albeit Christ saith that he cannot otherwise see the Kingdome of God 9. For what is borne of the flesh is flesh and cannot inherit the Kingdome of God John 3. To be fleshly minded is enmity against God but to be spiritually minded is life and peace And he onely heareth Gods Word that is borne of God for onely the spirit of grace in Christ heareth Gods Word 10. For no man hath ever seen God the Sonne alone who is in the unmeasurable bosome of the Father declareth unto us the Word and Will of God in our selves so that we heare and understand his will and good pleasure within our selves and are willing to follow the same yet we are often kept back by the outward sinfull flesh so that the operation or effecting of that same Divine power purpose and godly resolution in our mind doth not alwayes come into the outward Figure yet it goeth into the inward Figure in the inward spirituall World concerning which St. Paul saith Our conversation is in Heaven 11. Of which also all the Saints of God and especially St. Paul hath complained that they had an earnest syncere will and did serve God with the minde of the internall Ground but with the flesh the Law of sinne so that the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit which lust and evill concupiscence is daily drowned and mortified in the death of Christ by the inward ground or the centre of light regenerated in the darke abysse of the soule but this is in those onely in whom Christ is arisen from death and thus there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walke not after the flesh but after the spirit c. For the bestiall body belongeth to the earth but the spirituall body belongeth to God but whosoever hath it not he is dead while he liveth and neither heareth nor perceiveth any thing of the spirit of God It is foolishnesse to him as the Scripture saith 12. Therefore this point is not sufficiently understood and cleared by teaching and maintaining onely and alone an outward receiving and application of grace and forgivenesse of sinnes The pardon of sinne and the receiving of us into filiall adoption and grace consisteth in the justifying blood and death of Christ when Christs heavenly blood tinctured us and with the highest love of the Deity in the name Jesu did overcome the anger of God in our soule and inward divine ground proceeding from the Essence of Eternity and did turne it againe into the Divine humility meeknesse and obedience whereby the rent torne and divided temperature of our humane property and spirit of obedience and good will entered again into the harmony and unity of the properties Viz. into Paradisicall light love and life that Reall Temperature where variety doth concenter and accord in unity 13. And even then the wrath of the Father which was awaked in the properties of our life and had set it selfe to be Lord and Master in soule and body whereby we were dead to the Kingdome of Heaven and become children of wrath was turned againe into the unanimous love likenesse and unity of God and our own humane will dyed in the death of Christ from its selfnesse and selvish willing and the first humane will which God breathed from his spirit into Adam did spring forth afresh through the conquest of Gods sweetnesse and love in Christs heavenly blood and then the Devill and Hell which held men captive were confounded and made a scorn This the dry Rod of Aaron which budded in one night and bare sweet Almonds did typifie 14. Now as Sinne came from One and passed from one upon all so also the sweet grace and victory in Christ passed pressed and pierced from one upon all Now this death and the anger of God was broken in pieces in that one Adamicall soul in Christ and a possibility to grace was opened through the disclosing of death through which disclosed gate the will of the soule may re-enter into its first Mother whence it came in the beginning that is into the filiation adoption or
that day that thou eatest of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evill thou shalt dye the death That is thou shalt dye to the Kingdome of God as it also came to passe 66. And we must really imagine to our selves that this Bestiall false desire in man is the Monster of the Serpent and an enmity against God and the Kingdome of Heaven and that we therein are onely the children of Hell and of the Anger of God and cannot therein inherite or possesse the Kingdome of God neither is God manifest in any such desire but onely his anger and the property of the darke and earthly World and we live therein onely to the vanity of this World and stand therewith onely upon the abysse of the darke World and the anger of God that is of Hell which continually gapeth and hungereth after these propertyes and counteth these propertyes its owne fruits and children which it shall reape and take into its Barne for they doe belong unto it by the right of nature for these desires are all originally from it and have their roote in the ground of Hell and destruction and indeed no where else 67. Therefore sayd Christ Vnlesse a man be borne anew hee shall not see the Kingdome of God All these false wills and desires are predestinated to damnation if any will see God he must bee converted and become as a child and be new borne in the holy Ghost through the water of eternall life Viz. through the heavenly Ens which God hath revealed in Christ that the first right man which dyed in Adam proceeding from the heavenly Worlds Essence might againe spring forth in Christ and become living 68. All these evill Beasts are condemned and must dye in us and though their desire doth somewhat cleave and stick unto us in the flesh yet they must all be mortyfied during this life time in the soule Viz. In the inward ground and the inward ground of the soule must be Tinctured by the true Tincture in the blood of Christ that the propertyes of the internall Ground may againe live in harmony and concord for otherwise they cannot reach the Deity in themselves 69. Now when man knoweth this he cannot better be rid of his evill beastiall desires then that be presently at the same instant bring himselfe with his whole strength into such a strong will and earnest purpose that he for time to come will hate and abandon thâ—se evill beasts of the Devill seeing they are onely the Devils servants and that he will returne into his lost countrey into the adoption and atonement and esteeme and looke upon himselfe no otherwise then as the lost Swineheard or the prodigall Sonne for he himselfe is the lost Swineheard and no whit better and forthwith approach with the conversion of his soule to the Father in deepest humility with acknowledgement of his unworthinesse in that he hath so shamefully and unworthily mis-spent and mis-improved the free inheritance of Christs merits and so enter into repentance 70. Let him with all his strength give up his earnest will thereunto that he from this very time forward will repent and amend and no longer love these evill Beasts but this must be in earnest in reall sincerity without delayes and not to thinke of a day weeke or yeare but his minde must utterly and continually condemne them to the damnation of death and not will to love them any more but count them enemyes and so resolve to turne himselfe to the mercy and grace of God 71. When this is done I speake as I have highly knowne it in the precious light of grace that then he may turne himselfe to earnest praying in humility and beseech God for grace and though his heart saith utterly no and the Devill sayth stay yet a while it is not now good and convenient thou wilt have better opportunity to morrow and when to morrow commeth then sayth he againe to morrow and suggesteth to the flesh saying Thou must first doe this or that gather first a treasure for thy selfe that thou mayst not need the World and then enter into such a life yet I say the minde must remaine firme and stedfast in its purpose and thinke with it felse these suggestions and thoughts are mine evill hungry Beasts these I will kill and drowne them in the blood of Christs love none of them shall live any longer in me I will have no more to doe with them I am now in the way to my ancient Father who haâ—h sent his Son to me in my misery and distresse saying Come to me all yee that are weary grieved or heavy laden with sinnes and I will refresh you My Father will give the holy spirit to them that aske him for it 72. Let him imagine and impresse this into his very heart and come with the lost Sonne to the Father and when the Father shall see that the minde of the soule is directed to him and would wilâ—ingly and unfeignedly turne and yet cannot then he will presently meet him and claspe the soule into the armes of his drawing and bring her into the passion and death of Christ where shee through earnest repentance and sorrow will dye from or nâ—rtifie those abominable Beasts and arise out of the death of Chrâ—â— with a new will and a true Divine desire and so he will begin then to be another man indeed and not a whit esteeme that which before he loved and held for his Treasure and it will be to him as if hee had it and also had it not and afterwards he will account himselfe in all his power ability and possessions but as a servant and Steward of God 73. For so soone as he is able to master and overcome the proud Lucifer of Pride all the other evill Beasts will grow weak and faint and lose their â—uling power and dominion although they yet live in this life time in the earthly flesh yet they are onely as an Asse which must carry the Sack or as a mad Dog in a chaine their strength is broken 74. For when Christ riseth Lucifer must lye captive and if there be an earnest full perseverance such a precious Jewell would follow as this Pen cannot here describe and those alone know who have been at the heavenly Mariage where the noble Sophia is espoused to the soule concerning which Christ sayd That there is greater joy in Heaven ever one sinner that repenteth then over ninety nine righteous Which joy is kept also in the heaven of man in this espousall or marriage this is understood by our Schoole-fellowes 75. Deare Sir and Christian fellow-brother I thought it good Christianly and sincerely meaning well unto you to put you in minde of this and to lay it forth out of my little Treasury in a child-like simplicity not intending thereby to shew and set forth my Selfe but out of a true and hearty desire wishing that this might be felt also in your heart and
square its judgement and opinion according to another the Inferiour judgeth and censureth as his grand Superiour the Lay-man as the Doctor and yet none of them both apprehend the Sense Minde and truth of the Lord without the Spirit of God which judgeth in Man and respects no mans person the Lay-man and the Doctor are both one to him 24. Now whereas the Children of God have diverse and manifold gifts in Writing Speaking and judging and they have not all one manner of expression phrase and style whereupon selfe Reason afterward doth by artificiall conclusions draw out of them what maketh for its owne turne and frameth a Babell to it selfe whence such a multitude and wearisome heape of opinions are risen so that men out of their Writings have forged and invented diverse conjectures and wayes unto God and men must be forced to goe in those wayes whereby such controversies and unchristian contentions are arisen that men for the present looke onely upon the strife of words and disputes about the Letter and those which according to their Reason and Principles doe overcome by Verball jangling and exchanging Scripture for Scripture are applauded but this is nothing but Babel a Mother of spirituall whoredome where Reason entereth not in at the doore of Christ through Christs spirit but presseth in of it selfe and climeth up by its owne might strength and pride being yet a stranger or unregenerated and would alwayes faine be the fairest Child in the house men must honour and adore it 25. The children of God have a diversity of gifts according to the Rule of the Apostle God giveth an expression to every one as he pleaseth the gifts and endowments of men fall out according to the unsearchable will of God and spring altogether out of one Root the which is the Mother of the Three Principles and as the spirit of every soule is Constellated in the eternall Mother even so is its revelation apprehension and knowledge 26. For God bringeth not a new or strange Spirit into us but he openeth with his spirit our spirit namely the Mystery of Gods Wisedome which lyeth in every man according to the measure manner and condition of his internall hidden constellation For Christ sayd My Father worketh and I also worke Now the Father worketh in the Essence of the soule property and the Son in the Essence of Gods owne Image that is in the Divine Similitude or Harmony 27. The property of the soule belongeth to the Father For Christ sayd Father the men were thine and thou hast given them mee and I give unto them Eternall life Seeing then the property of the soule is from Eternity of and from the Father therefore he hath wrought in it from Eternity and still worketh in that same Image to Eternity light and darknesse to either of which the Will of the soules property doth incline and give up it selfe 28. Seeing then the Fathers property or wisedome is unmeasurable and infinite and that he being the wisedome it selfe worketh and yet through his wisedome all things doe arise thereupon the soules of men are diversly Constellated indeed they arise and originally proceed out of one onely Essence yet the operation is diverse and manifold all according to Gods wisedome Now the spirit of Christ openeth the property of every soule so that each speaketh from its owne property of the wonders in the wisedome of God 29. For the spirit of God maketh no new thing in man or it infuseth no strange spirit into him but he speaketh of the wonders in the wisedome of God through Man and that not from the Eternall Constellation onely but likewise from the externall Constellation that is through the spirit of the externall World hee openeth in Man the internall Constellation of the soule that he must Prophesie and foretell what the externall heaven worketh and produceth also he is driven to speak through the Turba Magna as the Prophets have many times spoken and denounced unto the people their punishment which by Gods permission through the Turba Magna should come upon them for their violence and sinfulnesse and their bitter imprecations wicked contentions and wrathfull indignation in their envious will one against another doe awaken the Sword of Anger in the Turba Magna 30. Now the spirit of God speaketh in his Children diverse manner of wayes sometimes in one it speaketh by the internall and eternall Constellation of the soule of eternall punishment or reward of Gods Curse or Blessing and in another it telleth through the externall Constellation of the Fortune or Misfortune of the prosperity or adversity of this World also of the rising and advancement of Powers and Authorities and then likewise of the ruine and destruction of Countries and Cities and also of strange and wonderfull alterations in the World 31. And though it hapneth oftentimes that the spirit of the outward World doth make its sport with its representations of phansie in Man and from its owne Might and strong influence doth infinuate it selfe into the spirit of man and sheweth diverse strange and marvellous Figures which onely findes place among those who run on in their owne Reason onely in proud selfe will whence often false Prophets arise yet I say that every one speaketh from his owne Constellation the one through the manifestation of Gods spirit really and sincerely and the other through the manifestation of the externall Astrall spirit uncertainly by conjecture and guesse yet from the same Constellation but he that speaketh from the mouth of another and in like manner judgeth of the Mystery without a peculiar knowledge he is in Babel and entangled in opinion wilfully amusing himselfe in those things which the heart findes not experimentally whether they be true or no but he pins his Faith upon the sayings of other men 32. And I say further that all those pretious men who have been illuminated of God some of whose Writings you may have at hand have spoken from their manifestation and revelation each according to his apprehension or the Modell of his capacity yet the centre is the soule and the light is God the revelation is wrought and brought to passe by the opening or manifestation of Gods spirit through the Constellation of the soule 33. All the Prophets from the beginning of the World have prophesied of Christ in different formes one thus and another so they have not all concurred in one style phrase and forme but each according as the spirit of God hath revealed to him in the eternall Constellation of the soule yet they have all spoken out of one Centre and Ground And even so it is now adayes the Children of God speake all from the revelation of Christs spirit which is Gods and every one according to his capacity or that Idea of wisedome which is formed in his minde and therefore I put you in mind as a Friend and exhort you not to hearken after the vaine babâ—ing and prating of
in the blood of Christ and taken it upon them for a covering and therewith they have onely covered the Antichristian childe of selfe will and so have painted over the Antichristian Bastard with a strange colour 15. For men doe exceedingly flatter it and cover it with Christs suffering merit and death and comfort it that Christ hath payd all for it saying It ought onely to apply or comfort it selfe with the merit of Christ and receive it in faith as a satisfaction and thus they shew us an outward imputed righteousnesse 16. But it hath far another A. B. C. in the true understanding no comforting selfe-willing running or keeping a round availeth any thing the suffering the death of Christ will not be given to the Antichristian Beast in Selfe but to them that depart from and relinquish all the ownehood and propriety of the creatures and wholly resigne up themselves into the suffering and death of Christ Jesus and dye to their owne will in and with Christ and are buried with him and also arise in him to a new will and obedience and hate sinne who put on Christ in his suffering reproach and persecution and take his Crosse upon them and follow him under his Red Banner to them I say it will be given these put on Christ in his processe and become in the inward spirituall Man Christs members and the Temple of God who dwelleth in V S. 17. None hath right to comfort himselfe with Christs merits unlesse he desireth wholly to put on Christ in himselfe and he is also no Christian before he hath put him on by true repentance and conversion to him with an absolute resignation and unfeigned selfe-denyall so that CHRIST espouseth and betrotheth himselfe with him 18. The beginning of which comes to passe in the Covenant of Baptisme where the childe promiseth and sweareth under Christs Red Banner that which afterwards must follow in very deed or reall practice or if one hath turned himselfe away from the practice of what he then promised he must in such a conversion of his will turne himselfe thereinto againe and I say upon sure ground that to many an one the Mantle of Christ will turne to hellish fire in that he covereth Antichrist therewith and yet remaineth but a Beast 19. For a Christian must be borne of Christ and dye to the Adamicall will he must have Christ in him and be a branch or member on his flesh and spirit not according to the Animall Beast but according to the spirituall Man 20. For the spirit of God possesseth not the Beast the outward sensuall naturall or rationall Man but indeed the Temple of Christ Viz. Christs spirituall flesh and blood in Vs for Christ sayd Whosoever shall not eate the flesh of the Sonne of Man hee hath no life in himselfe 21. Now there must be a mouth which indeed is proper and fit to eate it for it will not be given to the Beast much lesse to the Ens of the Serpent for every spirit eateth of its Mother whence it is aâ—isen which I give to every understanding man to consider of and here I onely mention what a Christian ought to be if he will account himselfe a Christian 22. For a Beast is no Christian but he that is Baptized with the Holy Ghost in the Death of Christ who hath put on Christ and liveth in Christs heavenly flesh and blood who hath tasted Christs Supper and sitteth with Christ at Table he is a Christian that walketh in Christs footsteps and continually mortyfieth the Antichristian evill Beast in flesh and blood which still adhereth to a Christian binds it and depriveth it of its strength and patiently resigneth himselfe up in temptations which many hundred wayes are offered him for his tryall and purification 23. A Christian must learne the A. B. C. backwards and account the wisedome of his Reason scolishnesse that Christ may gaine a forme in him and he be made capable of the heavenly Wisedome 24. For the wisedome of the outward World is blind in respect of God and seeth him not Albeit all things live and move in God and he himselfe is through all things and yet he possesseth nothing save that which dyeth from its owne will that he must possesse and he possesseth it willingly for it willeth nothing without him and it is in the End of the Creation and also in the Beginning 25. Whereof I could further mention unto you if occasion here did permit the which I have in my Writings largely described and declared out of the centre and Originall of all Essences and here onely I have hinted in briefe what a Christians state being and condition is if it should please you further to consider of it and to give up your selfe into this processe as I likewise hope that you are already in it 26. But for a more brotherly recreation I thought good to visit you with a short Epistle and to solace my selfe a little with you in the hope and faith which worketh and is in Vs untill we be once freed from this Cottage and be afterwards refreshed and quickned perfectly one with another in Divine and brotherly Union and Vision 27. And this I have done upon the desire of the Doctor above mentioned in all syncerity and uprightnesse and so I commend you to the tender Love of Jesus Christ THE ELEVENTH EPISTLE Our Salvation is in the effectuall working Love of Jesus Christ in Us. 1. DEARE Brother in the life of Jesus Christ I wish from my heart the Divine working Love unto you that your noble Lilly-twig sprung forth in Christ may in the power of Christ grow great and bring forth much fruit in the Paradise of God to the heavenly joy of us all and our eternall brotherly fellowship 2. I rejoyce in my soule when I perceive that a goodly vertuous faire Branch is sprung up in our Tree of life Christ and I hope also to be a partaker of its good fruit 3. As one branch on the Tree doth enjoy the sap and power of the other and they all doe mutually grow and beare fruit in one onely Power so likewise we are in the Tree of Christ all onely One which Tree is CHRIST in us ALL. 4. Seeing then that you freely and unfeignedly with all acknowledgement of heart and mouth doe approve your selfe to this Tree of life and on the contrary doe renounce and gainesay the poyson and delusion of Satan therefore I wish nothing more at present then that I might be able in the power of this Tree which is Christ to impart and give the influence of my power received from him unto you that we might grow together as members in one Power 5. And I make no doubt but the most High hath begotten his Lilly-twig in you for without Divine Power we have no longing or hunger after God and also we cannot know him without his spirit in us all that we understand and know of him fundamentally or in
soul as a triumph as he goeth forth from God the Father through the word or mouth of the sonne that is from the Heart of the sacred Ternary out of the Divine essentiality and thus he goeth or proceedeth forth out of the being or essence of the noble lilly-twig which springeth forth and groweth out of the fire of the soul which lilly-twig is the true Image of God for it is the new-born or regenerated spirit of the soul the spirit of Gods will the Triumphing Chariot of the holy spirit in which he rideth into the sacred Ternary into the Angelicall World 39. And with this twig or Image of God renewed in us as is before mentioned we are in Christ without this World in the Angelicall World of which the old Adam hath no understanding or perceivance also it knoweth it not as the rough stone knoweth not the Gold which yet groweth in it The Gate of the true knowledge of the Threefold life 40. Man is the true Similitude or Image of God as the pretious man Moses testifyeth not onely an Earthly Image for the sake whereof God would not have become man and put forth unite and espouse his heart and spirit in deepest love after the fall unto it but he is Originally out of the Being of all Beings out of all the three Worlds Viz. out of the innermost Nature-world which is also the most outward and is called the darke World whence the principle of the fiery Nature taketh its rise as is declared at large in my Booke of the threefold life 41. And secondly he is out of the light or Angelicall World out of the true Being of God and then thirdly he is out of this externall World of the Sunne Stars and Elements an entire Image of God out of the Being of all Beings 42. His first Image stood in Paradise in the Angelicall World but he lusted after the externall World that is after the Astrall and Elementall World which hath swallowed up and covered the precious Image of the internall Heaven and ruleth now in the similitude as in its owne propriety 43. Therefore 't is sayd You must be borne againe or else you cannot see the Kingdome of God And therefore it is that the word or heart of God entred into the humane Essence that wee with our soule might be able in the power of the word or heart of God to beget and bring forth againe out of our soule a new Twig or Image like unto the first 44. Therefore the old Carcasse must rot putrifie and perish for it is unfit for the Kingdome of God it carryeth nothing but its owne Mystery into its first beginning that is its wonders and workes understand in the Essence of the first Principle which is immortall and incorruptible being the Magicall fire of the soule 45. And not this alone but he must bring and unite the End with the Beginning for the externall World is generated out of the internall and created into a comprehensible Being the wonders whereof belong unto the Beginning and they were knowne from Eternity in the wisedome of God that is in the Divine Magia not in the Being or essentiality but in the mirrour of the Virgin-like wisedome of God whence the Eternall nature doth alwayes arise or take its Originall from Eternity 46. And to this end the poore soule standeth in the prison of the Astrall and Elementall Kingdome that it might be a Labourer and reunite the wonders of the externall Nature with the light World and bring them into the beginning and though it must now be bruised and pressed and endure much yet it is the Servant in Gods Vineyard which prepareth the precious Wine that is drunk in the Kingdome of God it is the onely cause of the understanding that the desire worketh in the Mystery and manifesteth and bringeth forth to light the hidden wonders of God as we see plainely how man doth search out and reveale the wonders of Nature 47. Therefore we must not be amazed and strangely perplexed when as many times the noble Image is hid that we cannot receive any refreshment or comfort but we must know that then the poor soule is put into the Vineyard that it should worke and bring the fruit to be set upon Gods Table 48. It hath then a Twig or Branch of the wilde Vine given unto it it must trim and dresse that and plant in into the Divine and Heavenly Mystery it must unite it with the Kingdome of God this is to be understood thus 49. As a plant or grift that is set doth worke so long till it putteth forth its branches and then its fruit so must the twig grift or scion of the soule which standeth overshadowed in a darke valley continually labour that it might come to bring forth fruit which is the noble and precious knowledge of God when the same is growne in it that the Soule knoweth God then it yeeldeth its faire fruits which are good Doctrines Workes and Vertues it leadeth to the Kingdome of God it helpeth to plant and build the Kingdome of God and then it is a right labourer in the Vineyard of Christ 50. And thus that of which I teach write and speake is nothing else but the same which hath beene wrought in me otherwise I could know nothing of it I have not scrap't it together out of histories and so made opinions as the Babilonicall School doth where men Eagerly contend about words and opinions I have by Gods grace obteined eyes of my owne and am able in my selfe to worke in Christs vineyard 51. I speake plainly and freely that whatsoever is patcht together from Conjecture and opinion wherein man himselfe hath â—o Divine knowledge whereupon he makes conclusions that I say is Babel an whoredome for conceit or thinking must not doe it yea not any opinion or conjecturall apprehension but the knowledge of God in the holy Ghost 52. The Children of God have spoken as they were driven by the holy spirit they have planted many and divers Trees but they all stand upon one root which is the internall Heaven none can finde the same unlesse he likewise stand upon the same roote and therefore the externall Heaven cannot finde them out or explain them by art 53. The words of the holy Children of God remain as an hidden Mystery unto the Earthly man and though he thinkes that he understands them yet he hath no more then a darkesome hystoricall glimps of them as we see now adayes how men doe wrangle and contend about Christs doctrine and worship and fight about Gods will how he must be served whereas he is not served or worshipped with any opinion but in the spirit of Christ and in truth men serve God 54. It depends not on what ceremonies and manners we doe use every one laboureth in his worke and gifts from his owne Constellation and property but all are driven and lead from one and the same spirit
reality commeth from his Revelation and Operation 6. For albeit the World prateth and talketh much of God yet it doth it onely from Custome and receiveth its knowledge from the Hystory of the literall word by the habituall faculties of its naturall reason and yet it is void of true knowledge For none knoweth the Father but the Sonne and he to whom the son will reveal him 7. And therefore we have no true knowledge of God unlesse it be given us of the son who liveth in us if we be living branches on the vine 8. For Christ said whosoever is of God he heareth Gods word and to the Reason-learned who were onely skillfull and taught in the letter he said therefore you doe not heare because you are not of God also you are not my sheep you are ravening wolves and hirelings 9. Therefore I say that if we will speake aright of God and understand his will then his words must abide in us in a quicke and living working for Christ said without me you can doe nothing also none can call God Lord without the holy spirit in him for his calling Lord must be borne of God and flow from the holy Ghost 10. Nothing is pleasing to God and also nothing is accepted of God but that which he himselfe doth and worketh in and through the spirit of man therefore saith Christ all the plants which my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted out and burnt with fire 11. Therefore my beloved brother you doe well to hold and keep your selfe to the Originall of life and desire power and strength from it you shall be well quickned refreshed and strengthened you are an acceptable guest to God and the members of Christ in this your purpose 12. And if you persevere stedfastly and resist the devill the World and the Earthly flesh and bloâ—d and prepare your selfe to fight like a true Noble Champion for Conquest against all these and overcome in you the Potent and open Enemy selfe-love and come aright into our Generall LOVE then you shall certainly know and sinde by experience that the noble and exceeding worthy Trophee or Crowne of Christs conquest which he obtained in the overthrow of death and Hell shall be set upon you with the Heavenly Kingdome of joy 13. And then all the Children of Christ together with the holy Angels shall exceedingly rejoyce more with you then for 99 righteous ones who have allready obtained it 14. And the fair and noble Sophia shall be given for a spouse unto your soule which now at present standeth at the doore of your soule and doth earnestly entreat and call you with her voâ—ce and knocketh bidding you to come forth and hold out aright in Battle against sin death Devill and hell and with your earnestnesse or fixed resolution to set the greaâ— Petards against the strong Fort of nature and shee will helpe you to blow up and demolish this strong Fort. 15. And then you shall see great wonders and at the hour of Conquest the joyfull nuptialls or marriage of the Lambe shall be celebrated in Heaven in you and then the Shepheards staffe shall be given by Christ into the hand of your soule 16. But be sure remember to keep truly and faithfully unto the end what you have promised unto this chast Sophia it must be in right earnest and not to looke back again into Sodom as Lots Wife who was turned into a pillar of Salt 17. But you must goe out of Sodom with Lot according to Gods command and enter into the footsteps of Christ not at all regarding the scoffings reproaches and opprobrious speeches of the World but love the Brand of Christ more then the friendship honour and goods of the whole World and then you may walke along with us upon the Pilgrims path of Christ 18. But if you doe not relish this but minde and desire rather the pleasure and honour of the World then you are not as yet ready and prepared for the Marriage and to come to your Spouse our loving and deare Sophia 19. Therefore consider well your selfe behold and examine well your whole heart if you finde a longing desire and drawing thereunto as I in part perceive and take notice of then doe not delay or put it off an houre but goe forward and enter with a right earnestnesse or fixed minde into repentance and yeeld up your will wholly and fully to enter instantly thereinto and never to goe out from it againe albeit you should therefore forsake body LIFE Honour and Goods 20. And if you doe thus then you are rightly prepared and the true Pioneer will come unto your soule and doe that in you which you cannot doe without him 21. And although afterwards vaine inclinations and great strife and opposition in the flesh might stick and cleave unto you and your reason call you a Foole yea though Gods anger should cover and cloud you in soule and body yet all this will not hurt you you shall spring forth under such thornes with a new minde and walke with the spirit in Heaven 22. And albeit the earthly body must be conversant with the creatures yet it shall be with it as with a rough stone in which fine Gold groweth 23. Be not at all offended at my tribulation and persecution neither be afraid for it is the marck of Christ Looke but back into the Scripture and see how it went with the children of God how were they continually persecuted and killed by those who should have taught the wayes of God 24. For I am entrusted with a precious Pearle which God doth so cover that the unworthy see it not but are blind therein and are offended at the simplicity of the person that so they may remaine blind to themselves in the wisedome of their owne Reason this they see and yet doe not understand it seeing they scorne and despise the simplicity of Christ 25. But the time is very nigh at hand when they shall give an earnest account for it 26. But that God hath given you to understand what it is and from whence it commeth be thankfull to him for it it is befallen you out of grace for you have humbled your selfe before him and there may yet greater grace happen unto you if you persevere stedfast in humility and earnest Prayer 27. I will willingly impart unto you my Love as a member of Christ with praying and cooperating for it is meer joy in my heart so to doe albeit I must therefore suffer bodily trouble and calamity yet I rejoyce to see what God the Lord hath done by me poore Man hitherto 28. Satan cannot hinder the wayes of God and though it seemes as if he hindered them by his murtherous cryes yet they are thereby the more divulged and made knowne so that the Children of God doe enquire after the true ground 29. But the wicked crew is thereby hardned and hindred but others are thereby called and this you
in my returne 18. Mr Doctor become seeing read the treatise of Election with inward deliberation or ponderings it hath more in it in its internall ground then outwardly in reference to the sayings of the Scripture is to be expressed which inward ground I dare not give or unfold to the unwise 19. Be faithfull in the Mysteries and account the wicked World not worthy of them in its coveteousnesse what you cannot understand Parabolically there questions are requisite somewhat more shall be revealed to you yet in order onely to doe that I am prohibited by the Prince of the Heavens in nature and manner of the blossoming earth I dare well doe it 20. Therefore imitate the Bees that gather honey of many flowers often writing might doe you service yet what you please God takes God need takes need each thing receiveth its like THE THREE AND TWENTIETH EPISTLE TO CHRISTIANUS STEENBERGER DOCTOR OF PHYSICK Our Salvation is in the life of Jesus Christ in U S. 1. WORTHY Learned Christian deare Friend all hearty wishes of Divine Love and Grace premised Desiring that the Fountain of Divine love might be opened through the Sun of life unto you whence the Divine water springeth as I doubt not but the Bridegroom hath called his Bride Viz. Your soule to this well-spring seeing I understand that God hath placed you under the Crosse and Tribulation 2. This is the first marke and signe of the Noble Sophia wherewith shee signeth her Children for shee useth to manifest her selfe through the thornes of Gods anger as a faire Rose on the thorny Bush so farre forth as the soule keepeth it vow and fidelity for there must be a faithfull and firme Bond and Covenant between the soule and this fire burning Love of God 3. Man must set upon such a purpose that he will enter into Christs bitter passion and death and dye therein dayly to his sins and evill vanities and pray earnestly unto God for the renewing of his minde and understanding He must be anointed and illuminated of the holy spirit and put on Christ with his suffering death and resurrection that he may be a true branch on the vine of Christ in whom Christ himselfe worketh and ruleth according to the internall ground of his Spirit 4. Which Mystery is comprehended in faith where the deity and humanity are then conjoined according to that same internal ground in manner as the fire doth through heare the Iron and yet the Iron retaines its substance but so long as the fire burneth therein it is changed into a meer fire 5. Not that the creature apprehends it in its owne might but it is apprehended when the will doth wholly resigne it selfe up to God and the spirit of God ruleth in this resigned will and the will is the true Temple of the holy Ghost wherein Christ dwelleth essentially not in an Imaginary thought-like creaturely manner but as the fire in the Iron or as the Sun in an hearb where the influentiall power of the sun doth forme and make it selfe essentiall in and with the tincture of the hearb 6. Thus it is to be understood likewise in the spirit of man when the holy power of God doth sorme and Image it selfe in mans spirit and faith and becomes a spirituall being or essence which onely the soules mouth of faith doth lay hold on and not the earthly man in flesh and bloud which is mortall it is an Immortall Being wherein Christ dwelleth in man it is the Heaven of God enstamped on the little World and it is a Revelation of the place Throne or seat of God where the paradise doth again spring forth and beare fruit 7. Therefore the Dragon must be first slain and albeit he yet hangeth unto the earthly flesh as the rind and barke on the tree yet the spirit liveth in God as Saint Paul saith our conversation is in Heaven and as Christ also said he that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud he abideth in me and I in him also without me you can doe nothing 8. Therefore I say if any one be a true Christian he is so in Christ he is begotten and innate in the life and spirit of Christ and puts on the Resurrection of Christ for thus the satisfaction of Christ is imparted to him and thus also Christ doth overcome sin death Devill and Hell in him and thus he is reconciled and united with God in Christ 9. For the new birth is not a grace imputed from without that we need onely comfort our selves with Christs Merits and continue in the Hypocrisie of sin no it is a childlike innaâ—e grace that God hath put Christ with the Justification on the convert that Christ also doth redeem him in himselfe with the power of his Resurrection from Gods anger else he is no Christian let him flatter and make devout shewes in hipocrisie as he pleaseth 10. Concerning the interpretation of some words and also of that which you desire of me which are specifyed in my Book called Aurora which have very hidden Meanings the knowledge whereof was given me of the most High I give you to understand that at present it is not convenient to write at large and Expressly thereof in Letters seeing the time is dangerous and the Enemy of Christ doth horribly rage and rave till a little time be past yet I will give you a short hint further to consider of it 11. As first there is a twofold meaning of the Northern Crowne The first poynteth at the Crowne of life Viz. The Spirit of Christ which shall be manifest in the mid'st of the great darknesse Viz. In the contrition or distresse of the sensible nature of the Conscience where a peculiar motion is present then commeth the Bridegroome Viz. The power of Christ in the mid'st of such a motion 12. The other signification is a Figure of the outward Kingdome where the great confusions entanglements and contentions shall be when as the Nations shall stand in controversie There also is the figure Viz. the Victory intimated as it stands in the Spirituall figure how it shall goe and what People shall at last Conquer and how in the mean while in such lamentable time of Tribulation Christ shall be made manifest and knowne and that after and in that miserable time the great mysteries shall be revealed that men shall be able to know even in Nature the hidden God in Trinity in which knowledge the strange Nations shall be converted and turn Christians and therein is signifyed how the Sectarian contentions in Religion shall be destroyed in such Manifestation for all gates will be set open and then shall all unprofitable Praters which at present lye as so many Bars before the Truth be done away and all shall acknowledge and know Christ which Manifestation shall be the last then the Sun of life shall shine upon all Nations and even then the Beast of inquity with the Whore end their dayes which is
his Mother of the great World did set his Imagination lust and longing upon the Mother of nature and desired the food of the first Principle wherein the Originall and birth of nature the source of Anger and the most Anxious birth whence all the comprehensible things of this World are made doe consist whereupon he is become capable of the same being he stood upon the same root 9. Thus he is according to the body and also according to the spirit become a Child of this created World which ruleth acteth and leadeth him and also giveth him his meat and drink and hath conceiveth in him the corruptibility and painfulnesse and hath gotten a Bestiall body which must again Corrupt in its Mother 10. For he should not have the Monstrous form the constellation of the great World should not domineer over him but he had his owne Constellation in himselfe which did assimulate with the holy Heaven of the Second Principle of the Divine Being that is with the rising and birth of the Divine Nature 11. Now man is not so farre broken and decayed as if he were not any more the first man whom God created onely he hath gotten the monstrous forme which is corruptible and hath its beginning onely and meerly from the most outward and third Principle and hath awakned and opened in him the Gate of the first Principle being the severe earnest Source which however burneth in the great created World and is wholly enkindled in the damned 12. But the right man which God created which onely is the true right man is yet hidden in this Corrupt man and if he denyeth himselfe in his beastiall forme and liveth not according to the acting driving and will of the same but surrenders himselfe to God with his whole minde thoughts and senses then this man liveth in God and God worketh in him the will and the deed for all is in God 13. The right holy and heavenly man which is hidden in the monstrous is as well in Heaven as God and the Heaven is in him and the heart or light of God is begotten and borne in him that is God in him and he in God God is nearer to him then the Bestiall body 14. The Bestiall body is not his owne native Countrey where he is at home but he is therewith without Paradise but the right man regenerate and borne anew in Christ is not in this World but in the Paradise of God and albeit he is in the body yet he is in God 15. And though the Bestiall body dyeth yet nothing is done to the new man but it then commeth forth right out of the contrary Will and Torment house into its native Countrey there need not any farre removing or distance of place whither hee supposeth to goe that it might be better with him but God is manifest in him 16. The soule of man is out of the first Principle of God but in that it is no holy Being but in the Second Principle it is manifest in God and is a Divine Creature for even there the Divine light is borne therefore if the Divine light be not borne begotten or brought forth in it Viz. the Soule then God is not in it but it liveth in the most originall earnest Source where there is an Eternall contrariety enmity or contrary will in it selfe 17. But if the light be borne then there is joy love and pleasant delight in the Creature and the new Man which is the Soule is in God How should not there be knowledge where God is in the Creature 18. Now it lyeth not in the willing running and toiling of the Creature to know the depths of the deity for the soule knoweth not the divine Centre how the divine essence is generated but it depends on Gods will how he will manifest it 19. Now then if God doth manifest himselfe in the soul what hath the soule done towards it nothing it hath onely the Longing or travelling to the birth and looketh to God in whom it liveth whence the divine light commeth apparent and shining in it and the first fierce earnest Principle whence mobility doth originally arise is changed into Triumphing joy 20. Therefore it is a very unjust thing that the World doth so rage and rave so Tyranize reproach contemne and revile when the gifts of God doe shew themselves differently in man and all have not one and the same knowledge 21. What can a man take unto himselfe if it be not borne in him which notwithstanding standeth not in mans choise as he desires or liketh of it but as his Heaven is in him so likewise is God manifest in him 22. For God is not a God of Destruction in the birth or Universall Generation but an illuminator enkindler and nourisher and each Creature hath its owne Centre in it selfe let it live eyther in the holynesse of God or in the anger of God God will however be manifest in all Creatures 23. If the World were not so blind it might know the wonderfull Being of God in all Creatures but now that it doth so rage and rave it doth it wholly against it self and against the holy Spirit of God at whose light they shall once be astonished they shall not hinder the Sonne which the Travelling Mother bringeth forth in her old Age for this the Heaven declareth 24. God shall enlighten him against all the raging and raving of the Devill and his light splendor or glory shall reach from the East unto the West I write not of my selfe but I onely foreshew that this is at hand and shall come 25. I would gladly have pleasured you at present with what I promised wherein all that is herein touched and hinted at might be clearly explained and also what that good and known Doctor hath desired touching the Originall Being life and drift of man and of his soule and also his Finall End onely it is not yet finished 26. For the gifts which were once given mee of God are not therefore quite dead and gone albeit they were hid by the Devill and the World yet now they oftentimes appeare and shew themselves more deep and more wonderfull 27. And very shortly God willing you shall receive somewhat thereof for there is an higher beginning made towards it especially of the THREE PRINCIPLES of the Divine Being and so forth of all the things which are promised in my Booke 28. Onely I am much busied with worldly affaires and employments else a great part might have been finished but I will be diligent by Divine and earnest Exercise what God will shall be done And herewith I commend you into the Protection of the Almighty Dated 18. Jan. 1618. Written in haste J. B. THE SIX AND TWENTIETH EPISTLE TO CHARLES of ENDERN 1. THE Love in the heart of God the Father and the light of his power in the life of Jesus Christ be our refreshment and helpe us to the new birth that
be found in the History but in true affiance and in the right resignation into the life and into the Doctrine of Christ Therein the holy Ghost shall appeare with wonders and powers which Babel at present in her inventions forged hypocrisies doth not beleeve yet however it certainely commeth and is already on foot yet hidden from the World 18. I have sent you by Mr. Fabian the whole worke of the Second Booke but I know not whether you have received it for since that time by reason of my Journey I have not spoken with Mr. Fabian if not then you may demand it of him And so I commit you to the meeke Love in the life of Jesus Christ the Sonne of God Given in haste Goerlits Friday before the Advent 1619. The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower the Righteous flye unto it and is exalted THE SEVEN AND TWENTIETH EPISTLE TO CHARLES of ENDERN 1. NOBLE Right Honourable Sir my humble ready and willing Service with all Cordiall wishes of Gods love and grace to your new creature in the New man in the body of Jesus Christ as also all temporall prosperity and blessing for the earthly body premised 2. I have considered your Noble heart and minde which is enkindled and enflamed not onely towards God but likewise towards his Children in love which hath exceedingly rejoyced me in Christ and I must in a speciall manner consider of the true earnestnesse and zeale which I know and acknowledge for you have endeavoured much about my few Writings of the first part and not regarded the murthering or confounding cryes of the Oppressour but sought after it your selfe to read it and to copy it out with your owne hand 3. Which give mee perswasion that God hath opened a little gate of his wisedome unto you which was fast shut to the Oppressor being he sought for it in Art and Pride therefore it was concealed to him for he was offended at the hand of the Writer and did not minde what is written in the holy Scripture My power is mighty in the weake and how Christ thanked his Father that he had hid it from the prudent and wise and revealed it unto Babes And sayd further Yea further For so it hath pleased thee 4. Also I am verily perswaded and convinced in my spirit that you have not done it out of any Curiosity but as it becommeth the Children of God which seeke the precious Pearle and are desirous of it which if it be found is the most precious Jewell which man loveth farre beyond his earthly life for it is greater then the World and more faire beautifull and excellent then the Sun it rejoyceth Man in tribulation and begets him out of darknesse to the light it giveth him a certaine spirit of hope in God and leadeth him upon the right path and goeth along with him into death and brings him forth to life out of death it quelleth the anguish of Hell and it is very where his light it is Gods friend in his love it affordeth him Reason and Discretion to governe his earthly body it leadeth him from the false and evill way and whosoever doth obtaine and keep it him it Crowneth with its Garland 5. Therefore noble Sir I have no other cause to write unto you but from a desire of unseighned love towards the Children of God that I might but refresh and recreate my selfe with them I doe it not for temporall goods or gifts albeit you have tendred your kind and loving favours to me though a stranger in a curteous and friendly manner but for the hope of Jsrael that I may highly rejoyce with the Children of God in the life to come and my labour which here I undergoe in love towards them shall then be well recompensed when I shall so rejoyce with my Brethren and every ones work shall follow him 6. Therefore I am in right earnest being that a Sparkle of the pretious Pearl is given to me and Christ faithfully warneth us not to put it under the table or to bury it in the Earth and thereupon we ought not so much to feare man that can kill the body onely and then is able to doe no more but we ought to feare him that can destroy body and soule and cast them into Hell 7. And though in my time I shall receive but little thankes from some who love their Belly more then the Kingdome of Heaven yet my Writings have their gifts and stand for their time for they have a very pretious worthy earnest Birth and descent and when I consider my selfe in my poor low unlearned and simple person I doe then wonder more then my very adversary 8. But seeing I know Experimentally in power and light that it is a meer gift of God who also giveth me a driving will thereunto that I must write what I know and see therefore I will obey God rather then man least my Office and Stewardship be taken away from me againe and given unto another which would Eternally grieve me 9. But seeing Sir that you have obtained a longing and delight to read the same and that as I verily hope from the providence and appointment of God therefore I shall not conceale it from you seeing that God the most High hath called you through his wonderfull Counsell to publish the first Worke when I thought the Oppressour had devoured it but even then it sprung forth as a green Twig wholly unknowne to me 10. And though I know nothing of my Selfe what God is about to doe and his Counsell and way also which he will goe is hidden from me and I can say nothing of my selfe also the Oppressour might impute it to me for a Pedentick Pride that I would thus onely arrogantly vaunt with my small gifts which were of grace given to me and thereby set forth the thoughts and imaginations of my heart for my owne vaine glory and boasting 11. Yet I declare in the presence of God and testifie it before his judgement where all things shall appeare and every one shall give an account of his doings that I my selfe know not what is hapned to me or how it goeth with me save onely that I have a driving will 12. Also I know not what I shall write for when I write the Spirit doth Dictate the same to me in great wonderfull knowledge so that I often cannot tell whether I as to my Spirit am in this World or no and thereat I doe exceedingly rejoyce and therein sure and certaine knowledge is imparted to me 13. And the more I seeke the more I finde and alwayes deeper that I many times account my sinfull person too weake and unworthy to set upon such high Mysteries where then the spirit sets up my Banner and sayth Arise thou shalt live therein Eternally and be Crowned therewith Why art thou amazed 14. Therefore Noble Sir I give you to understand in few words the ground and cause
time given me out of his wel-spring of Grace 3. And albeit I have no ability to doe it at my pleasure yet my minde is so wholly enkindled in its Centre that I would very heartily and readily impart it to my bretheren in Christ and I continually entreat the Lord that he would be pleased to open the hearts of men that they might understand the same and that it may come in them to a right quick essentiall and living effect and operation 4. And from a syncere intention I would not conceale from you that I since the new Yeare upon the desire of some learned men and persons of quality have written a treatise of Election or of Gods will concerning man and so expressed and inlarged it out of such a ground or deep soundation that all Mysteries both of the outward visible Elementall and then also of the hidden spirituall World may be therein discerned and thereunto I have in an especiall manner alleadged the sayings of the holy scripture which speake of Gods will to harden and then of his un-willingnesse to harden and so tuned or harmonized them together that the right understanding and meaning of the same may be seen 5. And it is so proved and demonstrated that I hope in God that it shall give furtherance and occasion to take away that strife and controversy in the Churches which is known and manifest that the time is nigh and at hand that the contentions about Religion shall enter into the Temperature but with great ruination of the false Kingdome in Babel that hath set up it selfe in Christs stead together with other great alterations concerning which although men now will hardly believe me yet in a short time shall really appeare and shew themselves and this beloved Sir I would not for your further consideration and christian meditation omit to hint unto you c. THE THIRTIETH EPISTLE IMMANVEL 1. MY very Christian Brother and Friend all Cordiall wishes of Divine Love and further illumination with true persevering constancy and patience patiently to endure the Crosse of Christ premised 2. God in the very beginning of your knowledge hath Sealed you with the mark of Christ unto a further confirmation and hath Crowned you to be a Champion that you should worke as a true owner in his Service 3. And I exhort you as a Christian that you would with Prayer and supplication commit the cause to God in patience and stand qnietly under the Crosse of Christ and be diligent in your Talent entrusted to you you shall see great wonders and your Talent will be more and more pleasant and beloved for so Christ hath also taught us that we should forsake all for his Name sake and cleave onely unto him for he requireth a pure resigned soule in that he will dwell 4. You have no cause to be amazed or terrifyed God knoweth well for what use he employeth you commit your selfe onely to him in Patience and strive against reason which gainsayeth and contradicts and so you will dye unto the World and live unto Christ and then you will exercise your warfare aright for his loves sake and therefrom gain the Noble Crowne of eternall life where we shall rejoyce and injoy one another eternally 5. God hath planted him a Rose Garden in your young heart take heed that the Devill sow not thornes and thistles therein there will soon come another time that your Rose-bud shall bring forth its fruits strive not to be in Office but stand still unto the most high to what he will have you let the smoak of the Devill passe away rejoyce rather at this reproach in the mark of Christ c. THE ONE AND THIRTIETH EPISTLE Our Salvation is in the life of Jesus Christ 1. DEARE Sir and Christian Brother all faithfull Cordiall and syncere desires of my spirit of true Divine light power and knowledge with intimate joy in the Divine contemplation and in our Eternall fraternity in the life of Christ 2. I have received your Letter which you sent and I rejoyce in the Lord my God who doth so richly and abundantly impart his grace unto us and so open our hearts that we in the conjecture of our Gifts desire to Search into his wisedome and wonders 3. And your tendred friendship is very pleasing and acceptable to me and according as this letter doth import I acknowledge you for a springing and very desirous branch on the Vine Christ and also for my member and fellow twig on this Corall and I wish in the power of my knowledge that it may be a true constant and immoveable earnestnesse as I make no doubt but the pretious Coralline branch of the new birth is begotten in you out of Christs spirit and wisdome 4. Thereupon I also would faine with all my heart impart my little sap strength and influence out of Gods gifts unto my fellow-branches and twigs and helpe to quicken and refresh them in my weake power and also receive enjoyment of their gifts as we are obliged and bound mutually to doe for each other both from the command of God and also in the right of Nature unto which I am in an especiall manner driven in my gifts and for which sake I have spent much time and paines yet in great desire longing and delight and it hath been continually my earnest hope and the very drift and ayme of my desire to serve my Brethren in the Lord in the Vineyard of Christ 5. And though I am a simple man and un-expert and un-experienced in Scholastick Learning and Arts neither have I ever been â—ayned up to exercise my selfe in the workes of high masters and to comprehend great Mysteries in my Reason but in my outward occupation I have been a Tradesman wherein I have honestly maintained my selfe a long time yet my inward occupation and exercise hath with very earnest strong desire entred into the mortification of my sinfull man inherited from the corrupt Adam how I might dye to my selfehood and selfe will in the death of Christ and arise in his will to a new spirit and will of Divine renovation of minde and understanding 6. Thereupon I once so strongly and sixedly resolved rather to for one my earthly life then to desist from this Purpose and Combate and â—hat I have suffered therein and therefore the Lord knowes who so led me through his judgement of my sinnes but afterwards Crowned me with the fairest tryumphing aspect of his Divine Kingdome of joy which to expresse I have no Pen sufficient but doe willingly beteeme and heartily wish it to the Reader of this Epistle and to all the Children of God 7. And from this Tryumphing light or joyfull convincing illumination of God that hath been given to me which I hitherto have written for many yeares for I obtained therein so much grace as to see and know my owne Booke which I my selfe am Viz. the Image of God and moreover to
to it selfe out of the Incarnation of Christ the Divine disclosed Essence and so it feedeth on Gods Being and taketh it into it selfe and from this spirituall and essentiall eating consuming or digesting it giveth forth a body of light which is both like unto and capable of the Deity thus the poore soule becomes cloathed with a body of light as the fire in the Candle and in this body of light it findeth rest but in the darknesse of this World in its earthly carkasse and cloathing of clay wherein the Curse of God and all evill inclinations and false desires do stick it hath anguish and trouble 26 But now seeing it is so that it hath with Adam put upon it selfe the earthly Image it must therefore beare the same as the fire of the Candle must take its burning light from the darke lumpe of fat if it had with Adam abode in Gods being and had not put on the earthly Image it needed not to have borne the same but now it is bound to beare it 27. For Saint Paul saith To whom you give your selves as Servants in obedience his servants you are be it to sinne unto death or to the obedience of God unto righteousnesse Now seeing the soule hath put on the earthly Image which worketh nothing but fruit to death and hath yeelded and devoted it selfe a servant to Sin it is therefore now become the sinfull servant of death 28. Wherefore is it fallen in love with a strange Master that domineereth over it Had it but remained a childe and had not lusted after the Tree of knowledge of good and evill it needed not then to have beene in subjection to both Governments but being it would be as God in love and anger according to both the Principles of Eternity thereupon it must now beare the Image and undergoe the force and sway of both and so endure the fire-burning the curse and anger of God enkindled in the divided properties of Nature till the day of Separation 29. Therefore it s called a bearing of the Crosse for when the Magicall fire ariseth it maketh a Crosse-like-birth and the one forme of nature doth presse and quite pierce through the other that is the one is contrary to the other as sweet against soure sharp against bitter and the fire against them all 30. And if the soule had let the body of light be onely Lord and Master and had not imagined on the externall Kingdome of this World that is on the spirit of the great World in the Starres and Elements nor lusted after the earthly fruit then the wrath or the working power of darknesse in the Curse of God which is the departure of his love from a Being had been as it were swallowed up in it and would not have beene manifest or apparent there would not have been any sense perceivance or feeling of the same but seeing it is departed from the meeknesse of the light and gone out of the love of God therefore it seeleth now the wrath or burning anger of the eternall Nature 31. And therefore it must worke labour and endeavour to obtaine the light againe whence it is that the life of man standeth in such anguish in painefull seeking in continuall abstinence and repentance it earnestly desireth the Divine Rest and yet is held back by the wrath of Nature 32. The more the life desireth to fly from the wrath or fiercenesse of Nature the more strong and vehement the strife groweth in the life besides that which the Devill by his poysonfull Incantations Magicall imaginations representations and insinuations doth stirre up and bring into his Nest being the Centre of the soule he continually representeth before the soule the Magicall Image of the poysonfull Serpent that the soule might still imagine upon it and kindle or inflame it selfe in the poyson of the same which daily commeth to passe and thus the fire of the soule becommeth an evill poysonfull burning brimstony-fire 33. Yet if the soule departeth from the Serpent-like Image of the Devill and rejecteth the evill earthly Tree whereon the Serpent hath cunningly twin'd himselfe which Tree is Pride Coveteousnesse Envy Anger and Falshood and longeth not after it but maketh it selfe as it were dead in this Figure as if it knew nothing of it and casteth away the very concupiscence and imagination it selfe and desireth onely the love of God submitting it selfe wholly to Gods will and working that he may be onely its willing working and doing then the Divine light beginneth to shine in it and it obtaineth an eye of the right seeing so that it is able to behold its owne naturall forme and feature whereby it steppeth into plaine downright and meek humility 34. It willeth nothing it also desireth nothing but resigneth and casteth it selfe into the bosome of its Mother like a Childe that desireth nothing but its Mother inclining it selfe to her and longing onely after her it doth not much esteeme any Art subtill Reason or much knowledge and though it knoweth much yet it is not puft up or elevated in its owne conceit by its knowledge but leaveth and resigneth the knowing willing and working wholly to its Mothers spirit that it might be both the will and worke in it 35. I speak according to my knowledg that the Devill in the power of Gods anger doth continually shoot against and oppose this pretious sprout of the soule or noble twig of Divine light and love springing forth from the Tree of life Christ within us and doth cast vaine infinuations false desires and earthly imaginations after the root of nature that is after the formes of the fire-life in the first principle to enkindle them in their owne naturall working properties which are selfe-pride covetousnesse envy anger falshood hypocrisie lust c. and would continually by all meanes quite destroy the pretious sprout or noble twig of grace He continually shooteth his evill poysonfull rayes into the soules Magicall fire with evill lusts concupiscence and thoughts and ministreth strange matter or fuell to the soules fire to burne or feed upon so that it might by no meanes attain to a shining light he quencheth suppresseth and hindreth it that his Kingdome might not be knowne 36. But on the other side the noble twig defendeth it selfe and will none of the fierce darke and wrathfull source it ariseth and springeth forth like a plant out of the wild earth yet the Devill stâ—iveth contnually against it 37. Therefore my dearly beloved freind there is such strife and contention in man and hence he seeth the Divine light as in a mirror and sometimes he getteth a perfect glimps thereof for as long as the twig of the soule can defend it selfe against the poyson of the Devill so long it hath the shining light 38. For when the Magicall fire of the soule receiveth the Divine essence that is the divine body Christs flesh then the holy spirit doth apparently arise and glance forth in the