it is yet in it self not Nature but ruleth as a mighty potent Spirit IN Nature 172. Thus in this Type or Resemblance is understood the Divine Substance and also the Eternall Naturér out of which Desire and Substance is become generated the Third Principle viz this outward visible World and become Created in the beginning into a Substantiall Beeing together with all Creatures 173. For from the Eternall Mother is the beginning or inceptive Mother come to be for where there is nothing there nothing comes to be but where ever somewhat hath come to be there it is come to be out of the Eternall which hath been without beginning and it is the Eternalls Similitude Image Substance and Propriety and yet we cannot say that it is sundred from the Eternall but it is distinguished the one world is in the other and each possesseth it self 174. God is in Every thing or Substance but every thing doth not comprehend him That only comprehendeth him that is gone forth out of his Eternall Substance understand that is of his Substance that doth stand in HIM For God dwelleth not is the Out-birth of the outward Nature but in the inward in himself 175. God indeed is himself ALL but all is not called and acknowledged to be God in respect of the difference of the source or quality Nature is not God but God is manifested or revealed through Nature God is understood alone in the Eternall Light according to the second Center viz. in the Liberty and yet is not severed asunder from the Eternall Nature 176. For if a shining is to be then there must be fire and yet also there is shining of fire without or besides the Liberty which the divine world signifieth 177. The Glance or Lustre of the Fire signifieth God the Father and the Formes to Fire signifie the Eternall Nature and the power of the Light signifieth the Heart of God viz the true Deity for it produceth another or second Center of another source or quality then the fire viz a Love-Desire and Meeknesse 178. And the Out going Spirit out of the Glance of the Fire into the power of the Light out of the Lights Substance drunk in by the Fire viz out of the Love and Meeknesse signiffeth to us rightly the Holy Ghost which continually goeth forth from the Father and the Sonne into the Divine power and Substamiality as the Aire from the Fire and Light and ruleth in the Lights Substantiality 179. The outward world is througly a similitude of the Inward for the Inward hath manifested or revealed it self with or by the outward whereby a Man may understand what the Invisible God in the hidden Mystery is 180. Man ought not to think that God is somewhat absent from any thing or space or place for he filleth ALL but in his own Principle viz in the Middlemost World which he himself is 181. And now when the Invisible God once moved himself according to the Eternall Magia viz in the Eternall Nature-Desire he generated to himself in his wisdome his likenesse out of the properties of all the Three worlds and out of Every Essence and property created Creatures and figures 182. For the Work-Master viz his Spirit was in all things or substances viz. in the Divine Light world Angells and pure spirits understand out of the Eternall Nature viz out of the Eternall Fires and Lights property out of Divine Substantiality 183. For a Spirit hath the Eternall Center of Nature in it self if it be an Eternall Spirit it hath all formes to Nature viz of the dark world and also of the Light world in it self for it is proceeded out of Gods Mouth it is Nature else it were no manifested or revealed Spirit with or among the Spirits 184. Out of the Eternall Nature God hath manifested or revealed his wisdome for in the Essence viz in the divine wisdome hath the Substance of the Spirits and Creatures been from Eternity but with the Moving of God the Father it passed into a formed Creation according to the property of the Essence in Verbo Fiat in the Word Fiat in the word of Power and therefore were the Angells called Flames of fire but throughly Enlightned with the Light of God 185. The Light of God dwelleth in their fire-flames so that the fire-source or quality is nor manifested or revealed in them but if it become manifested then they have lost the divine Substantiality out of which the fires Glance Existeth and that Spirit standeth barely and nakedly in the Dark world as is done by the Devills 186. A Spirit proceeding out of Nature is a Magick Fire source or quality and is desirous of substance or of the Substantiality of its forme the desire maketh substance and bringeth that substance into its Imagination that is the Magick fires viz the Spirits Corporeity whence the Spirit is called a Creature Also that Substantiality is the Spirits Food whereof the fire liveth or burneth 187. Here now is understood the Devills and also Mans fall for according to the Eternall Nature they are both out of one Originall the Devill was an Angell and should have set his Imagination in the Light of God viz in Love and Meeknesse in the Divine Substantiality and then he had conceived divine Substantiality in his Imagination and his light had continued shining his Magick fire-source or quality had eaten of Gods Meeknesse and then also had the fire-source or quality burned in such an Essence and property and then he had Continued an Angel 188. But he turned himself back into the Center after the Mother of the Genetrix and set his Imagination to goe after the formes to Nature and would needs rule terribly in the might of the Fire he contemned the Meeknesse viz the Second Principle and would domineere over God 189. What he now desired that he received also into his fiery Desire viz the Substantiality of the fiarce wrath out of the formes of the Dark world out of his own Center Thus now is that Substantiality the food of his Spirits Fire and his Fire-source or quality standeth in a dark fierce wrathfull Essence and can conceive no desire more in the Meeknesse viz in Gods substance 190. Thus he is a Devill and dwelleth in the Center of the Darknesse viz in the formes to Nature for his Light is extinguished he can not kindle that againe it shineth no more out from his Essence neither can his Imagination any more reach or attaine it and he continueth a sierce wrathfull fire-source or quality in the Darknesse and eateth of the dark Substantiality and standeth in another Principle 191. The Word Fiat Verbum Fiat which figureth his forme or Image in him is the Mother of the Dark world viz the sterne formes to Nature according to every Spirits property as the source or quality in the Center is so is also the Will-Spirit 192. Now then the light being withdrawne he can frame no other will then his mother is in her
is the Seperation between Gods Name and Natures Name also between the Love-source or quality and the Naturall fierce wraths source or quality 495. In the Fire exist Two Principles viz Two Magia's Two desirous Wills viz the Lights and the Fires 496. The Light is a desire of Love Meeknesse and Substantiality and that is in the Eternity called God The Light is the Majesty the Lights desire is the Other or second Center or the Heart of God the Substantiality is Gods Substance it is the Water source or quality or the Spirit of the Eternall Joys Life 497. And the Fire maketh in the Water-source or quality the Tincture or Life so that Gods Substantiality is a Life That very Lights Substantiality is the Words or Hearts Cerporeity wherein the Great Mystery of the Will of the Abysse viz the Wisdome becometh Manifest 498. And the Fire is another Principle then the Light it hath a fierce wrathfull stinging consuming Desire climing up in Might and Pomp it willeth to consume and swallow up all into it self it is a cause of the Covetousnesse its Bitternesse is a Cause of the Envy for it is the sting of Death and Anger 499. And here goe back into the Formes to Fire and then thou wilt find the Dark World and the hellish fierce Wrath and in the Fire GODS Anger which the Light viz his Heart holdeth captive in the Love-Source or Quality and allayeth or meekeneth the Fires fierce-Wrath 500. For the Water of the Eternall Life generated or born out of the Meeknesse viz Gods Substantiality maketh out of the Divine Fire-source or quality another source or quality viz the climibing up of the Divine Joys Kingdome The Fire-source or quality must only be a cause of the Life and of the Light as also of the Spirit and of the Joys Kingdome 501. And heare the Name God severeth it self in the Trinity viz In the First Center to Nature viz the Eternall Will of the Fiat which in the Fire is a sterne severe zealous Substance and in the Light the cause of the Joys Kingdome and of the Spirit of Life That is the Father of all Substances also of his Sonnes viz of the second Centers of the Love-desires 502. And The Other or second Center of the power of the Light is his Sonne or Heart and maketh in himself and in the Father the Second Principle viz the Angelicall World that is our right Fathers or Native Country which Christ brought into US againe 503. And The Spirit going forth from the Fire in the Light is the Third Person in the Light in the Love and the Joy-source or quality He is called God the Holy Spirit understand according to the Sonnes Center and according to the Fires Center he is called The anger-Anger-Spirit of the Father 504. In the Dark World HE is the Life of the Hellish source or quality out of all Formes to Nature In the Fire HE is the Flame of the fierce wrathfull Anger of God the Father and in the Light HE is the flame of the Great Love of God He is the right Life of God and is also the Life of all the Three Principles of all the Three Worlds in each World according to its property and is only knowne or acknowledged and rightly called God the Holy Spirit according to the Love viz according to property of the Sonne of God Else he is called the Spirit of the Nature of all things or Substances 505. Seeing we here goe so deep we will therefore shew you somewhat more out of true Love and not out of a Desire so totally to reproach you because of your unskilfulnesse or ignorance for we know you better then you do your selfe and though we are zealous over you yet it should be understood heartily as a reproofe of your high climbed stately proud Will over the Spirit of God from which I have my knowledge 506. Consider of the Principle of Fire and see how the Dead ariseth and how he dieth Behold the Fire is a great hungry desire after Substance and if it cannot have that then it extinguisheth 507. Here consider the Great desire of the Father after the Sonne viz. of the first Principle after the second how the Father thus in great desire loveth the Sonne for he is his life else were the Fathers Life a dry fainting hunger like the Devills and the Dark World for the Fire burneth not without the Substance of the Water-Spirit 508. Here consider what befell the Devill when he lost Gods Love and Meeknesse then he remained to be a dry hunger in the fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature thus it goeth also with the Soul of Man for they originate all alike out of the Eternall Nature 509. Now see further what in the Center of the Fire is the Possibility and Substance you understand now that the fierce wrathfull Fire-source must have Substance and that the Fire-source or quality it self longeth after Substance and if the Fire get the Substance or the Substantiality of the Water-source or quality into it self then the Fire consumeth that Substantiality and then is the dying of the Substantiality for the Substantiality goeth againe into the Still Eternity without besides or beyond Nature viz into the Nothing 510. And you see rightly that yet there is no Dying but the Light goeth forth out of that very Death out of the Consumtibility forth and the Light is then first the power of the understanding and of the Thoughts or Senses Thus Death ariseth out of the Fire-Life viz into another World viz into the Eternall Nothing into the Liberty without besides or beyond Nature 511. And you see now that the Light dwelleth in the Fire without Source Quality or Torment and knoweth nothing of the fierce wrath of the Fire for it is in its Essence a Love Desire Thus have I written that the Deity viz. Gods Center knew nothing of the fall of the fierce wrathfull Devills but the first Principle know it viz the Father according to the Fires Nature and according to the Desire and according to the hunger in the Dark world 512. Here consider beloved Men and brethren in Christ what the suffering and dying of CHRIST as also OUR Dying is How our Soul must in Christs Death be introduced into the Center of the Hell of Gods Anger into the Principle of Gods Fire and go quite through the source or quality of the consumptibility into the other World viz into the Liberty into the Center of the Love of God 513. For Adam's Soul had turned it self out and was Dead to the Light in the Substantiality and therefore the second Adam brought the Soul againe into the Fire viz into Gods Anger-source or quality and kindled the Light againe in Death and there the Light shone againe in the Darknesse That was Death to Death and a Pestilence to the Anger viz to Hell 514. The Soul was gone forth out of the Liberty of God into the Nature of this World viz
Devill that the Libeller perverts as one that understandeth nothing of my Writings or else of meere Malice Did he not see how I have described with all Circumstances that Gods Heart or Love went not into the Devill for he the Devill would not himself have it now where the Will it self willeth not there is an Eternall Death 536. The Will-Spirit was indeed in the Originall out of Gods Nature but when it demersed it self into the Center to hide it self from the Light of God then remained fierce wrathfulnesse IN fierce wrathfulnesse With what now should resistance be made it was now in its most Originall MOTHER 537. Should Gods Love goe into the Hellish Fire that is not to be should God in his Wrath strive against it it sate already in the Hellish Fire Had not fierce Wrath striven with fierce Wrath then had not Gods Anger yet moved in the place of this World 538. Consider but the Earth thou wilt well finde it thou blinde World with all thy Texts of Scripture which thou hast produced thou wilt not put one word in my Book back from its place only that thou settest a strange vizard upon me that the people might not know me which I esteem not for I am to YOU a very strange Man 539. Thou canst not in thy Hood look me in the Face thou must put off thy skinne if thou wilt see the Spirit of the Mystery Thou understandest Not what thou writest against me thou discoursest not concerning my apprehension and that maketh that thou seest somewhat that is strange thou wilt not see that it is the Roote of the Tree Thou wilt sooner leap into Hell as Lucifer did e're thou touchest one little twig thereof 540. Thou runnest againe into thy Center towards Babel and settest upon an Academy out of which Opinons and the Greatest Babel is growne out of which all Strife hath followed where Men have contended about Words about the Shell and let the Kernell lye but hearken friend tell but TEN and thou wilt find it by Experience 541. God hath Elected ALL of us in ONE Soul and in ONE Spirituall Body to be his Children God hath not breathed into Adam TWO Spirits but One only which is the Spirit of all the Three Principles of all Three Worlds viz a Fire-Light-and-Aire-Spirit 542. Adam should have managed his Dominion with the Light-Spirit then would the Fire-source or quality have been hidden in its Principle and have stood in great joy it had burned only in it self 543. Thus also the Spirit of this World that should also have stood only in it self and have been manifest in this World and the Fire and also the Outward World should have stood as if were swollowed up into the Light and have been manifest only in it self all desires should have been set in the Light and then the Light had shined in all Essences and desires and had filled all as in ONE Will. 544. But when the Will of the Center viz the Fiery Will which is called the Soul went into the Earthly kingdome and Imagined after Evill and Good then it received also the same then its Light Extinguished and it remained in its Mother a dark dry hunger and must help it self with the Spirit of this World as with a Sun-Light 545. Therefore it comes to passe that many times when a Man goeth in the dark he is astonished and terrified and alwayes afraid somewhat should lay hold on him that is the feare of the Soul whèn it perceiveth it self to be without the Light of the Sun in a dark Dungeon it is afraid of Gods fierce Wrath in the Center and of the Devills that dwell in the Darknesse 546. Since then the Divine Light is Extinguished in the Soul therefore Mans Life and Spirit at present without the New Birth standeth in two Regiments or Dominions viz in the Souls Fire it is the Dominion of Gods Anger and of the fierce Wrath as the Fires property is 547. And according to the Spirit of this World it is Evill and Good according to the Sun and according to the Constellation of the Outward Starry and Elementary Spirit it is alwayes according to its Constellation which stood in its Birth as also hath stood in its Conception As that it is at all times aspected with the Conjunction of the Constellatison with the Imagination of the Constellation so is also the outward Will-Spirit unlesse it be that the Soul doe attaine the Divine Light againe in the New Birth and then the Soul constraineth the outward Spirit with the power of the Light and leadeth it captive 548. My Libeller your conceit deceiveth you I know of no more but ONE only Spirit according to the Property of ALL THREE Worlds which is in Man and when the Light Extinguisheth then it is in TWO Properties that which receiveth the Light of God that is Elected to be a childe of God 549. Now it lyeth indeed in Man that he should seek and desire it for Christ saith Knock and it will be opened unto you seek and you will finde Ask and you will receive Your Father will give the Holy Spirit to him that asketh for it Also There is no sonne that asketh for an Egge and the Father giveth him a Scorpion God willeth that all Men be saved 550. Where now remaines in these words and Promises the predestinate purpose of God to the Hardening or where are the Two Spirits whereof God loveth the one and hardeneth the other We have indeed All but One only Soul and that is free it may frame its Will in Gods Love or Anger into which soever it casteth it self with its desire there it is 551. It cometh to passe many times that a Soul hath demersed it self with its Will-Spirit into Gods Anger into the Dark World in its fierce Wrath to all Devills with its sinnes and yet many in the time of this world goe out againe and convert and God receiveth them to Grace He hardeneth them not 552. Have you not an Example in the Prodigali lost sonne who had consumed all his righteousnesse of his Fathers Inheritance with the Devills Swine and was become a Swinheard What the Father did with him when he came againe how he fell about hu neck and kissed him and said This is my beloved sonne whom I had lost he was dead and is become living it is likely thou wilt say God drew him else he had not come 553. The Soul is Free God draweth every one who incline towards him when it entereth into him then it is Elected to the Light World so long as the Will remaineth in the fierce Wrath in the Dark World covered with the Outward so long God willeth it not and it is not drawne but when it inclineth it self towards Gods Face and doth but a little Imagine into Gods Love then the Divine Life becometh stirring 554. Understand the Word is become Man or Incarnate and standeth in the
like a Beast and is not the Noble Image which is saded and disappeared in Death which is created out of heavenly substantiality 578. But that thou wilt not allow me this that in Man understand in the Third Principle a humane Image according to the Angelicall World out of the Heavenly substantiality hath stood in the Inward yet I say that Gods Spirit that in the Second Principle goeth forth out of the First viz out of the Souls Fire of the Father into the Second out of the Love and Light Fire into the Sonne was never at all without substance for it is the Driver forth of the Divine power and substantiality 579. Hath now the Light and Spirit of God been in Man viz in Adam then also hath Gods substantiality been therein For no Fire burneth in Gods Love unlesse it have DIVINE substantiality 580. Therefore saith Christ Whosoever eateth NOT the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no part in HIM He understandeth the Corporeity of his unmeasurable Eternall Divine Substantiality in the Water of the Eternall Life and in the Tincture of the Power out of the Fire and Light in the Glance or Lustre of the Divine Wisdome out of the Words Body 581. Now if Adam hath been a totall sumilitude according to God then he must not only have had Earthly Substance for his Body if the Soul had had only Earthly source or quality to Eat then it had not had the prohibition but it had also the Corporeity of the Second Principle out of the Heavenly Substantiality that was the right Angelicall Image which became created in the Fiat of the Word 582. But the Outward Fiat according to the Outward Principle Created the Outward Man and God the Holy Spirit breathed himself thereinto according to the source or quality and property of all the Three Principles into the outward Image according to its outward Property viz the Spirit of the Great World Majoris Mundi of the outward World and the Angelicall Divine World according to the Love of Gods Heart and according to the Eternall Nature viz according to the Fire-World viz according to the Fathers Property the right Soulish viz the Center of the whole Man 583. In Brief what is it that Men should make many words Man was a Totall similitude according to God according to all the Three Worlds and their Properties and that he must be againe or must be a hunger-Spirit in the Dark World 584. What he maketh of himself that he is He standeth here in the Field or Soyle either there groweth out of him an Herb on Gods Table or an Herb in Gods fierce Wrath what kind of Essence so ever he will bring in the growing according to the relish of that it will also get a Mouth for it will eat either of the Love or of the Anger 585. The matter is not about the high knowledge only but about the tast or relish that any becometh the Bread of God which God Eateth It lyeth little in the knowing but all in the DOING it must be DOING the Evill Branches must be Cut off that good Wine may grow 586. We should not judge and condemn one another for the knowledge sake The Plow-Man knoweth lesse then the Doctor but he goeth many times before the Doctor into the kingdome of Heaven let us fall upon DOING that we may get Divine Essence into our Sprout let us reach after the LOVE and then we have ALL. 587. MY high Knowledge maketh me not happy or saved for I know not my self it is not Mine but Gods Spirit knoweth it self in ME he allures Me therewith to himself when he departeth or withdraweth then I know Nothing 588. I have not my knowledge at all from Man why should I then long contend with Man about it no Man can either give it me or take it away from me 589. I deal foolishly in that I Strive with thee for thou canst take nothing from me but it is done for the sake of other people which through thy Mouth abuse my knowledge else I would for thy Cursings and Judgings not lift up a Finger 590. Thou shoudst Converse in Love as a Christian if thou wouldst be Gods childe but if thou Judgest thy brother into Hell-Fire for the sake of his Gift what will become of thee how doest thou know what is befallen him that he runneth on thus How dost thou know upon what Branch or Roote God hath ingrasted him Thou wert not at all by when he did sow the Spirit of his Wisdome 591. You say it is from the Devill and there was Joy in Heaven in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary especially in the Fathers Nature when this Seed was sowne I would NOT give the little Graine that was sowen into me for all this worlds good It is more deare to me than Heaven and Earth and thou treadest it underfoote do but see what manner of Angel thou art 592. Thou writest much and if thou shouldst goe with thy writings to the Center there would be no body at home thou gatherest many Texts of Scripture together which in themselves are GOOD that thou mightst settle a framed Opinion concerning that thou knowest no Ground for 593. Thou canst not bring the Opinion into the Center and then bring it out againe there is no Spirit of Depth in thee but collected Matter from others Mouthes and thy own Mouth understandeth it not 594. But I write what I my self understand and what I can bring into the Ground of the Center 595. Art thou a Master then shew thy self one give me a writing concerning the Center of the Eternall and also of the outward Nature let it be seen what thou canst do prove it in the Light of Nature and not from a strange Mouth Speak from your own knowledge and then I will Answer thee 566. Let thy contemining alone and do thou direct it to the honour of God and make if serve the profit and salvation of Man that it may be a Sprour upon Gods Table and I will Answer thee that thou wilt Wonder and if thou meanest piously wilt highly rejoyce thou wouldst neither seek nor find any Devill in Me. 597. There is a great earnestnesse in me to seek my Eternall kingdome in God God hath not promised me a Scorpion instead of an Egge he would not give me to the Devill when I prayed so earnestly to him for his Holy Spirit 598. The Devill sets not upon a Man a spirituall high Triumphant Crowne or Garland of Victory in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary when a Man Fights against him He hath none of THAT which hath been done to this Spirit which thou callest a Devill and whence its knowledge proceeded 599. I write not for my own Fame which is in God but to Teach Men what they may expect from God if they will but come to the Ring or Lists of this Earnest Fight unlesse the outward voluptuousnesse in soft pleasure of the Flesh
The Reminder of Books written BY Jacob Behme viz. I. The First Apologie to Balthazar Tylcken for the AVRORA written Anno 1621. II. The Second Apologie in Answer to Balthazar Tylcken for Predestination And the Incarnation and Person of CHRIST and of the Virgin MARY Dated 3. July 1621. III. The Fouer Complexions written in March 1621. IV. The Considerations upon Esaiah Stiefel's Booke concerning The Threefold State of Man and the New 〈◊〉 Dated 8. April 1621. V. The Apologie in Answer to Esaiah Stiefel Concerning Perfection Dated 6. April 1622. VI. The Apologie in Answer to Gregory Rickter Primate of Gerlitz for the way to Christ c. 10. April 1624. VII Twenty five Epistles more then the 35. formerly Printed in English with 2. as prefaces before other of his Bookes the last of those heere printed is Dated 23. May 1624. 5 more after without Date which make 62. in all also 1. Epistle more of his own hand writing and 1. of Dr. Charles Weisners relating much of J. B's Life Englished BY JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert at the Sign of the Black Spread Eagle at the West End of St. Pauls 1662. The Englishers Preface to J. B's Apologies Courteous Reader IN the Life time of Jacob Behme some Learned Men there were of his own Country that highly prized and Esteemed his writings though others Judged and found fault with them to whom the Authour in his Answers hath clcerly made it appeare they have NOT understood his Meaning but injuriously made their own mistaken Sence the Ground of their Censure it is no wonder therefore that among us of another Language who have but a Translation wherein much of the accuratenesâ—â— and apt expression of an Author is lost that men here also finde such fault with them as they doe but if it be examined their want of the true apprehension of them will be known to have caused that negligent and heedless Opinion that his writings are not to be understood yet it hath proceeded so farre that those who think they apprehend his Deepe Matter are suspected by some Academick wits to be but miss-led into such a conceit But those Eminent persons his countryMen and adversaries have not once charged him with writing things not Intelligible though indeed themselves have not rightly perceived the Authors meaning as is apparent in these FOUR Bookes of Apologie or Defence in answer to the few objections to some things contained in that Doctrine set down at Large in the Treatises of his Sublime Mysteries if they be read and weighed in the Balance of Due Consideration The FIRST Apologie was an Answer to Balthasar Tylcken who wrote a treatise against severall Clauses in the Aurora concerning the knowledge of God in and by Nature whereas though God in himself be totally Incomprehensible and unmanifested in his Abysse yet Nature is his Manifestation or Revelation for if his Omnipotent power did not shew it self by making it self discernable it would never be known but remaine hidden Eternally and indeed all the effects which we perceive to be wrought and produced at anytime in sensible things are brought to passe by the same Powers that have and doe and will work from Eternity to Eternity perceptibly in GOD. All that is in GOD is only Goodness his very wrath is his Fire and the cause of his Light and Glory in himself and therein is most just and Good also for the punishment of the perversness of his Creatures whom he made like himself very Good and gave them power to Continue so but they being Creatures were made out of Darkness and being Created and brought into the Light could and did love themselves and all Creatures without the Light or that loose the Light are but Darkness and by that meanes Exalted their Darkness above the Light in them which is truly Selfe-Love and the roote or spring of all Evill which God cannot DOE nor BE but that we might be able to get out of the perdition we are fallen into God in his infinite Love and Mercy to all men in and from Adam and Eve they two being one Flesh hath given in the Light of their Life the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of Christ his Sonne the Seede of the woman the Promised word the word of Faith in our Hearts which in US hath Power to overcome all the works of Darkness and to bring us to his marvelous Light the Light of Eternall Life which also teacheth us to deny our selves and all ungodly Lusts of the Flesh to take up our Crosse with Patience and so follow or imitate Christ in Newness of Life and inward hearty Holiness of Conversation God indeed Cannot deny himself because his Darkness that is his wrath is alwayes subservient to his Light and Love which Eternally is his Life and cannot be otherwise but WE must Deny our selves and then our Darkness will give it self up into the Light also in us If we follow or be like his Light we are Children of the Light which ruleth in us and if we live according to his Darkness we are Children of Wrath and at length if we convert not shall be confirmed Children of Perdition All that have the dispositions or qualities inwardly or Outwardly of Love and Gentleness Kindness lowliness or humility sincerity Truth righteousness vertue honesty chastity temperance purity and Holiness are undeniably GOOD On the Contrary the wrathfull fierce Envious proud surly churlish wanton vaine stubborne obstinate crafty false Lyars injurious intemperate violent are accounted bad or EVILL and they are so indeed now that which is Evill cannot be like Gods Love but here is the generall mistake all Men consist both of an Outward and Inward Man that which the outward Esteemes Good is so as it is a similitude of that which is inwardly Good but since the outward Man which is framed of the Earth hath gotten the Predominancy in the Fall of Adam who thereupon dyed to the Inward Man that which most pleaseth the outward doth make it the more strong and rebellious against the power of the Inward and so by outward Good things not knowing how to use them by little and little destroyeth the Inward and therefore God in his Bowells of Compassion sends us that which is fittest for us to the weakening or dayly Killing and slaying of our Outward Man by tribulations afflictions Crosses and Contradictions or oppositions from others for the making us Conformable to the Image of CHRIST who was Tempted persecuted and afflicted and as the Apostle says he that will live Godly in this world must suffer Persecution this measure our Authour had from some as is manifest by their Objections and striving to bring his marvelous Gifts into dislike with those that knew not but the Censures cast upon him were right thereupon for the vindication of the Truth and for the sakes of those that were but beginners in the ways of Christ he then answered to the things that were laid to
Paper of yours that he may discerne us both 58. He that desireth a full Explanation let him read the book of the Threefold Life he will find more then he would search for especially in the Three Principles which the Libeller or Pasquiller dare not well beleeve yet if he will be called a Christian and Doe that which is right let him read that he will see what Spirit 's Child I am perhaps we shall come neerer together and he may of a Saul become a Paul which I doe heartily wish in his behalfe and had much rather have a hearty good and Christian Conference with him concerning our IMMANVEL then this Controversie 59. Truly I say that my Book which he opposeth in some places needs a better Explanation for the simple understanding I am also very ready to doe it if any desire it for it stands in some places yet in a very Magick understanding 60. But there are also such Mysteries therein that the learned Schoolman or Master Alexen cannot number them for it hath pleased God to have it so I look upon the writings of the Prophets and see whether they be cleere in all places besides CHRIST himself taught also in Parables or Similitudes †Men should not cast Pearls before Swine 61. But what concerns the Articles of Faith which in this Book are still in a Magick understanding those in the other writings are set down cleer enough more then the Libeller or Pasquill requires or understandeth yet if any desire more cleering it shall be afforded him and if he desire proof thereof it shall also be given him 62. But he that desireth it not I have not written it for him let him leave it to me I write for my self and run after none I have not put it out to any Booksellers shop to sell if some people fearing God had not intimately Earnestly and in true Christian intention asked and entreated for it I had not given it to any at all 63. But since honest hearts fearing God are found whose Christianity is indeed sincere and in Earnest should Christian Love be withdrawen from them Or hath God given me it that I should put it under a stool or bury it in the Earth 64. Christ faith none Kindleth a Light or Candle and setteth it under a Stool or under a Bushel but setteth it upon a Table that all that are in the House may see by it The Divine Light will not be covered those that God giveth it to should let it shine for God will require an account of his Talent 65. Moreover what is it that Men contend about in the Christian Religion and dispute much The Christian Religion is no strise contention or Opinion it consisteth in the New Regeneration out of Christ in Faith from the Holy Ghost in Humility Love and Righteousnesse 66. A Christian must be borne of Christ he must have a Christian Will and desire and lead a Christian Conversation It is not only knowing will doe it and comforting ones self with Christs sufferings and be a Dissembling Hypocrite in the presence of God to speak one thing and Will Desire and Doe another and let the evill poysonous Worm of the Corrupt Natures Fire burn still and be but a Lip or Mouth-Christian 67. It lyeth not in knowing much that a man should tickle himself with Christs sufferings and set them alost on the Pinnacle and yet reteine the Evill Envious kindled poysonous worm Continually in the Heart and continually carry Fewel to its Fire I say that very Mantle will become hellish fire to Many that he hath known Gods will and will not enter thereinto and give up himself to him 68. A Christian must break his own Naturall Will and give himself up into Gods Will he must alwayes quench his Fire-will and Continually bring all the Thoughts of his Mind into the Obedience of God into the Love and Mercy of God in CHRIST into his becoming Man or Incarnation Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection he must will nothing but Gods Will in Christ 69. But this is his Desire that God may be his Will and Deed that God in him may be his knowledge he should continually slay the will of his Flesh and desire only GODS Will in himself that it may rule Drive and be the Deed in him 70. For man of himself doth no good thing but the Law of God which God writeth in his Nature that Doth the Good that very Law is the Eternall Word of the Deity and putteth on to it self Divine and heavenly substantiality viz. the New Body for it is become man and must also become Man in us 71. And in that Body standeth the right willing and doing and the performance and the ability of a Christian Man without that there is no Christian but the Antichrist and a spirituall Whoredome as the Revelation of St. John Testisyeth 72. Therefore it lyeth not in Disputing flying high and being accute desâ—â—ing and giving his brother to the Devill for God 〈…〉 as the V. Psalme speaketh and Ezekiel the 33. As truè as I live saith the Lord I will not the Death of a Sinner c. And Christ saith I am come to call sinners to Repentance and not the Righteous Also Isaiah faith Who is so simple as my Servant Also the Kingdome of God consisteth in Power What needs then such high flying and Contention 73. God respecteth a shiveered Broken Contrite and sighing heart that is affraid of his wrath that would alwayes fain Doe well that alwayes Desireth God and goodnesse that Co-worketh with God for what the Mind is desirous of that it receiveth be it necessity or Death or else the Kingdome of God for the Kingdome of God is not far off but within us we must become born of God if we will see God or receive Gods Will. 74. In Adam we lost Gods will and in the Promise of the Womans Seed we found it again for it presented it self with or by the Promise to all Men in the Light of Life and Espoused it self to the soul for a Bride Whatsoever soul is Entered thereinto out of that is the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch Sprouted up again and that is become Elected or Chosen to be the Child of God 75. But he that hath not willed but let the fierce wrath of the Eternall Nature deteing him hath the fierce wrath and Anger swallowed up into it self and kept him in the Abysse of the Originall in the first Principle out of which the Worme of the soul ariseth Originally 76. In that very regenerate will of God Israel is become born in God and in that very will is the Word of Eternall Life which maketh Divine Essence wherein the Divine Will becometh generated 77. And that is entered into Mary's Essence and Opened the in Death inclosed Will in MARY and brought sorth the Lilly of God and therein is become a true Man and hath received or
Pen the poor fallen Man and the poor captive perished Soul and shewed how it becometh helped or saved again 131. He looked in this Description not only into the outward Kingdome into the 4 Elements and Stars but into the inward Kingdome into the first Principle whence the soul originally ariseth He understandeth somwhat else by the Wild Nature then the Pasquill or Libeellr understandeth He meant not Stars and four Elements also not the beastiall flesh which is of this World as the Pasquil or Libeller reproacheth but he meant the Center the fire-source of the soul which had Extinguished the Light of God and introduced the earthly Imagination from the kingdome of this world 132. He understood how the poor soul after its fall became a Creaturely Magick-Fire in Gods Eternall Anger-fire and THAT he called the wilde Nature for the soul standeth in the Eternall beginningless Nature in the first Principle of God the Father and is the Cause of the Image of God 133. It hath all formes of the Eternall Nature in it It hath in the Essence ever been from Eternity but in the Creation passed into a Creature It is from or out of the fire wherein God the Father ever generateth forth his Light And is in its Originall without besides or beyond the Light of God an anxious horrible Substance like a horrible brimstone worme for it is a Magick-fire from or out of Gods fire which is the Eternall Natures Originall 134. Which when the Eternall fire of God moved it self became desirous to have its re-awakening and Comprised in its desire an awakened similitude according to and out of it self understand out of the Desire of the Eternall Fire which is only a Spirit and originateth in the will which is the One-Element-fire which standeth in the inward re-awakening and Consumeth that againe continually in the Comprised Substance of the Desire and continually thereby only awakeneth it self as is to be seen in the kindling in the outward Kingdome 135. Out of that Eternall Nature out of its properties understand out of the Eternall which is the Center and a Principle in it self a Magick-fire of God which it self is God the Father according to the Eternall Nature the Eternall Light becometh Generated and shineth in that Nature in its properties that the properties of the fierce wrath and Anger become not manifest but are only a cause of the shining of the Life 136. For the Light maketh also a Center in it self with other properties That which in the fires property is a fierce wrath that in the Lights property is a desire of the substance of the Light and is called Love and Meekness That draweth the fierce wrathfull fire into it self and Extinguisheth the fierce wrath of the fire therewith so that out of the fire Joy cometh to be 137. For the Anxious fires desire is after Meeknesse and the Meeknesses desire is after the fiery Essence that it may be a Life Thus each desire maketh a Will-Spirit one out of the Fire and one out of the Light and yet is but ONE only but with TWO properties 138. And God calleth himself a God according to the Lights property understand a God of Love Meekness and Mercy and according to the Fires property he calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire and yet he is but ONE and not TWO as in the Book of the Threefold Life and in the Three Principles is mentioned and expounded at Large with many Circumstances 139. This thus briefly mentioned is now the Most Originall Spirit where in the fires property the Eternall Nature is understood and much more in the formes to Fire which make the Eternall Center as is mentioned in the Three Principles 140. And understand further That the Desire in that Eternall Spirit according to both properties hath from Eternity Continually been a Delight Longing or Lust to seek and to finde it self and hath continually found it self in it self each property its like both according to the fierce Wrath and the Love according to fire and light and according to all formes to the Fire and according to all formes in the Light of the Love 141. That which is found hath been the Spirits Looking-Glasse in the Love in the Light the Looking Glasse is called Gods wisdome and in the fierce wrath of the fire it is called Gods Anger-Eye 142. In this Looking-Glasse hath been seen from Eternity the substance of this world viz. the Third Principle for it hath stood in the Magicall Desire indeed not in Substance but in the Looking-Glasse in the Desire of the Eternall Nature wherein the Spirit hath discovered it self and with the beginning of this world with the moving of the Eternall Nature by the Spirit of God in the harsh or astringent Fiat created it into a Substance into a similitude according to the property of the Eternall Nature according to all formes to Nature and according to all Formes in Nature 143. Whatsoever became generated in Nature viz. in the Principle belonged to the kingdome of God and hath the Name of God But whatsoever became generated in the Formes to Nature that belongeth to the dark angwish-world 144. All properties became moved and each property set it self in its Looking-Glasse for a FIGURE according to its Essence understand according to the Desires Essence 145. The harsh or astringent Mairix to Nature was the Fiat which comprised the similitude and Image and brought it into a substantiall Beeing through Gods moving 146. Understand according to the will-spirit which goeth forth out of the Lights Center and according to the Will-spirit which goeth forth out of the fives Center and yet is but ONE But in TWO properties viz. Two Magick desires 147. As Men see in the Creature how Love and Anger stick in One Minde and yet have Two Centers all accordingly as the Outward Will-spirit discovers in any One so is the awakening in Love and Anger and Men see in this world in the Creatures how there are Evill and Good Wolves and Sheep Serpents and good Fish Poysonous Toads and lovely handsome Beasts and living Creatures Every one out of its Mothers property springing from the Eternall Originall 148. In this Eternall Looking-Glasse of the wisdome of God hath also the soul of Man from Eternity by the Spirit of God been discovered in the Essence which with the beginning of the first Moving in the Fiat of God became formed into a Creature according to the similitude of the Birth or Geniture of God 149. The Spirit of God discovered in the Looking-Glasse of wisdome an Image according to his similitude or likenesse understand out of both the Magick fires in the Principle of the Light a Totall entire similitude according to the Deity as to all the Three Principles 150. If we would conceive of the Eternall divine Birth or Geniture in the Light of the Majesty in its Tri-unity and then of the soul of Man in its Image
formes for as the Genetrix is so is also the will-spirit out of the Genetrix 193. Thus understand also concerning Mans Soule which is also a Magick-fire-source or quality out of the Eternall Center out of the Eternall Nature for after God created the body out of the Substantiality then he introduced the Spirit out of all the Three Principles thereinto He should be a similitude and Image of God understand according to and out of all the Three Worlds viz out of the Eternall Fires Nature and out of the Lights Nature and then out of this outward worlds Nature wherein the outward Man liveth 194. For God breathed into him the Living Breath and then Man became a living soul Now what can God breath other out of himself then himself for God is the substance of all substances but all is not called or known to be God He calleth himself a GOD only according to his Heart according to the property of the Light world viz according to the Love and Meeknesse according to the second Principle 195. God breathed into the Created Image the Spirit out of all the Three Worlds viz that is to say Himself viz the Eternall beginninglesse Magick fire-source or quality out of all formes of the Eternall Nature that is the first Principle and it is the property of the Father who according to Nature calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire 196. And then the Center of the Light as a Sparkle out of his Heart out of which the Divine Will goeth forth which appropriateth or uniteth it self to God againe and Imagineth according to its Mother viz according to Gods Love and Meeknesse That is the Second Principle wherein the Angelicall world consisteth 197. And Thirdly the Spirit-Aire with the Spirit of this outward world out of the Starres and Elements viz the Third Principle Thus Man became an Entire Totall Image according to God out of all the Three Worlds An Image of God wherein God dwelleth wherein God beheld found and manifested or revealed himself 198. Now the Eternall Word was his Law of his spirituall Nature that this introduced and in-breathed spirit of Man should introduce its Imagination into no other source or quality but only into Gods Love and Meeknesse It should eate only of the Divine Substantiality and drink the water of the Eternall Life and then its Body had Continued Paradisicall 199. The Body had paradisicall fruit to Eate which grew for it IN all fruits The outward Body of this world was in the source or quality of the Light world as it were swallowed up and yet it was there As the Light swalloweth up the Darknesse and holdeth it captive in it self and yet the Darknesse remaineth but in the Light is not Manifested 200. So also should the outward 〈◊〉 of this world as also the inward source or quality of the Fire out of the first Principle stand hidden in the Paradisicall Substantiality and source or quality and Man should bring his life and will into the Paradisicall source or quality 201. He should set or put his Spirits Imagination into the Heart of God viz into the Lights Center and then had the Soul continually eaten of the Lights Substantiality understand the soulish Fire had conceived or received the divine source or quality into it self and had burned forth in the divine source or quality viz in Love and Meeknesse 202. Through that burning or Life would the divine Substance have been introduced into the outward Body viz heavenly Fesh and the Holy Body would have stood in the Tincture of the second Principle and the outward Dominion of the Outward World would have stood hidden in the Inward World and have been manifested in the Outward 203. Such a Body also was created in the Beginning viz out of the inward Substantiality of the pure Element which is manifested in Paradise and an outward Body of or from the Foure Elements which stood manifested in the outward World but the inward should leade the Dominion and hold the outward as it were swallowed up as the Light doth the Darknesse 204. Understand each Principle should stand free and barely in it self and set or put its Imagination or Desire into God and then would Gods light have filled all in All and the Earnest severe Fire-source or quality of the first Principle viz the Eternall Nature of the Dark World as also the outward Nature and source or quality of the Starres and Elements would not have been manifested 205. Man would have lived in the Divine Love source or quality and would have continued Immortall and incorruptible no sicknesse neither want necessity nor Death would have touched him 206. Therefore now if such a desire is to be in Man out of which the Will-Spirit should barely be inclined or directed into God then must Divine Substantiality needs be in the Souls Fire out of which such a Will-Spirit might exist 207. For out of no Earthly source or quality nor out of the Dark Worlds source or quality doth any divine desire exist Earthlinesse knoweth nothing of God also the Dark World hath no Divine Love or Desire in it self 208. Whereby we know that we according to the second Principle viz according to the Paradisicall Angelicall World have had flesh and bloud out of the heavenly Essence and Substantiality which was the right Body of the Soul and therein stood the Image of Heaven 209. And the Spirit 〈◊〉 the Magick-Fire of the Soul which shined in the power of the 〈◊〉 was the true similitude of God according to the Trinity of GOD the Image wherein God dwelleth and wherewith God manifesteth himselfe For that very Spirit is like all Angells in Substance and Beeing of which Christ faith Math. 22. 30. That in the Resurrection they are like the Angells of God 210. When God had created Adam he then stood in the Paradisicall World viz in the Image of God but God knowing how he with his Noble Jewell between the Inward Dark World and then also the outward Elementary World stood fast bound to BOTH therefore he gave to the Souls Nature the Law and Cormandment and said Thou shalt not eate of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill for on what Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the Death that is dye away from the Divine World and in THEE will the Dark World and then also the Outward world become manifested and get the Dominion in THEE 211. As also then it was so done when Adam began and set or put his Desire and Imagination into the Outward World then the souls fire did Eat of the forbidden Fruit and brought the Earthly source or quality and the substantiality of this World into his Noble Image into the Paradisicall Angelicall World 212. He brought the earthly source or quality and substance into the Pure Elementary Flesh which was created out of the Divine substantiality so his light extinguished that is he went with his will-spirit
and Elements Through Dying the outward Substance of the source or quality becometh broken off and then the Image of God appeareth or shineth 336. Understand it right Christ had in Mary assumed all the Three Principles on to himself but in Divine Order or Ordinance not mixed as Adam did who introduced the outward Kingdome through the Imagination into the Inward into the Soul Fire whence the Light extinguished 337. He had on himself that is on to the Limit or Mark of the Living Covenant assumed on to the Living Substantiality the Souls Essence viz the first Principle and then the Essence of the Image of the Second Principle and then the outward Kingdome the Third Principle for he should be Lord of All. 338. He became after the End of Four Months a living Soul which now stood in the Image but the Deity was in the Image the Center which neither receives Addition or Diminution the Divine Substantiality also receives neither Addition nor Diminution it becometh neither lesse nor bigger only it hath manifested or revealed it self in the Humane Image and generated it to Life 339. Thus in Maryes Conception in her Seed a Living Essence arose no more shut up in Death not a sinfull One for where Gods Light shineth forth there is no sin within Sin originateth in that place where Gods Light shineth Not but where it shineth there is meer Love and Mecknesse 340. The Heart of God was the Ceâ—â—â— in the Person of Christ the Essences were with the Moving of the â—â—ity sanctified and Enlightened understand according to the Second Principle for the Divine and humane Essence became Flesh and Bloud and became a Man One only Person 341. The outward Kingdome hung to the inward but the inward had now in this Person the Dominion the outward was Servant therefore saith the Scripture he took upon him the Forme of a Servant that he might release us from Servitude or Bondage 342. Thus I say What Christ is according to our humane Image and according to the Soul therein he is a Creature like us assumed from us but what he is according to the Deity and according to the Divine Substantiality with that he is above Nature and higher then the Heaven and is as to that no Creature but GOD himself 343. But his Divine Substance is IN his Creature viz in the Humanity manifest he is according to the Humanity such a person as Adam was before his Imagination and Fall he is the second Adam 344. The First Adam should possesse the Kingly Seate but seeing he stood not therefore God generated to himself another or second Adam out of the First Now if he had not been Naturall then he had been unlike the first Image also he had not been the Sonne of Man as the Libeller supposeth 345. Had he not had a Naturall Soul then he had not in the Person had all the Three Principles What should he then have committed into the Hands of his Father at that present when he dyed on the Crosse or what had suffered on the Tree of the Crosse if he had not been Naturall 346. When he was risen from the Dead he shewed himself to his Disciples and said Behold me a Spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as yo see me have Why then doth the Libeller say that it is I that would make Christ according to his holy immaculate humanity Naturall I am not the first that make him Naturall He is my Brother and the sonne of Man therefore he must needs be Naturall yes the very Angells are Naturall 347. But That he saith I have written that he became a Man in the Wilde viz in the Outward Birth that is NOT true The Text in my writing saith thus and he wrestled in his humane Body in the Power of the Light in the wilde Nature Hath he not in Hell and on the Tree of the Crosse wrestled with Gods Anger Hath he not Dyed and taken away from our Wilde Nature the sting of Death 348. The Libeller saith Christ is not from Adam's Naturall Seed if that were true then he is not the sonne of Man then hath not God assumed the humanity Naturally the Word is indeed become Flesh and is it not become Flesh in the Humanity Then let the Libeller Tell me how Christ came to be the sonne of Man or where remaines our Salvation or Redemption the Resurrection of our Flesh 349. Is Christ not in our Flesh then he will not awaken or raiseus up What doth his Wounds help me if they are in stronge Flesh Hath not the blinde Libeller seen that in my whole Book I have distinguished the Earthly and the Heavenly Man What need he mix himself in the Magick understanding and find fault with that of which he hath no knowledge understanding or Ground let him read my Book of the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ he would find more then he can fathom 350. But that he will say that Christ is become Man in the promised Seed and Not in Adam's and Abraham's What is that Seed You see that very Promised Seed hath breathed it self into the Humanity and God and Man is become ONE Person 351. He saith Christ viz the Eternall Word hath assumed the Seed of the pure holy Virgin Elected to it from Eternity which dyed away from Nature and was totally blessed in God viz the fore-mentioned Seed of Abraham Tell me Libeller Who is that Virgin that hath dyed away from Nature then she must be a Monster without a Soul without Flesh and Bloud and No Man-kind 352. What need God assume to himself heavenly Seed into his Substance was not his Substance for certain on him from Eternity What doth that help us But that he is Entered into our humanity and awakened or raised up our in Death inclosed Seed and make it Living againe that I rejoyce at that I may truly say that my Flesh suteth at the Right hand in the Power of God 353. If Christ hath assumed to himself any other Seed then my Inward Man is how then can my inward Man Eat his Flesh and Drink his Bloud 354. Sir Libeller Erre not God will not suffer himself nor his children to be mocked we suppose easily that you are altogether blind still in the Mystery of God you know nothing of the inward Man much lesse of the New Regeneration learne first rightly to understand the Principles and the Center of Nature before you Judge you will needs be one taught of God or Learned in God and yet know not one Letter in THAT Schoole 355. By Nature you understand only the outward Kingdome what kinde of Nature then hath the Soul I suppose here your Art will know nothing of it you know Nothing of the inward Man which is the similitude of God and yet will Judge you understand not what God is and yet you will Judge Gods Children you are justly to be condemned in this 356. You bring places of Scripture and
sticketh in thy Eyes 433. But I tell thee that thy Book the Libel affordeth a good Root for a New Antichrist I understand therein very new Things which I suppose to run quite contrary to the Holy Scripture Especially concerning the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and concerning his Mother Mary 434. I believe if men did not Read the Libel it would be more conducing to their happinesse then for any to grope far after your new conceits which are contrary to the Ground of the Scripture it hath such an aspect that it filleth the Eyes of the People but not of those that understand aright they do not all account thee a Master for it it is even called Babel and an untirnely or abortive unprofitable Libel 435. Is this thy Christian Heart that thou judgest and condemnest a zealous Man who is zealous after Salvation and if I did indeed erre in my zeal and yet in a right heart and sincere meaning and that really led with Ignorance and simplicity shouldest thou condemn Me Doest thou not Observe what Saint Paul saith of the zealous Heathens as above-mentioned Rom. 2. 436. Art thou a Master and a Christian why doest thou not first Instruct me and teach me what is better Doest thou not know me I think it is not hidden to thee who I am viz a simple Man and unlearned Art thou highly learned expert and skilfull shouldst thou then deal so Tyrannically with me as to cast me to the Devill 437. Where is thy Christian Heart shew it me in thy Libel shouldest thou condemn a Simple Man I would have friendly conserred with thee and given thee a good account of my doings if thou hadst done as befits a Christian with friendly Information 438. But thy high pust up Mind would not now I have answered to it it deserves no better since thou proclaimest me a Devill I proclaime thee a Lyar for I am a Child of God and am zealous day and night after my God with Sapplication to his Mercy for Christs sake and stedfastly believe that I am a Child of God and Member of Christs Body I am also very certain in the power of the Holy Spirit that he will preserve my Deposited Treasure viz the Noble Pearly Jewel in Christ till that Day 439. Thou proud Pharisee thou shalt not take away the Noble Garland of Victory from me which my Saviour Christ hath set upon me but if thou desirest to take it away from me have a care what thou doest and where thou abidest that the Anger of God do not devoure thee 440. I would as a Christian have thee warned to abstain from such reproaching and shamefull condemning for the kingdome of God consisteth not is knowing much but in an Earnest sincere obedient humble Mind and Will in the presence of God that we be Christains in the Deed and not with the Mouth only 441. A Christian hath no strife but only against HIMSELF against his EVILL Nature God saith Vengoance is mine I will repay it we live and are in God why will we then strive about HIM Let every one but judge himself and turn to God The Strife is alwayes about the Shell and the Kernell which belongeth to the Soul men let that lye 442. Hath any Learned somwhat let him use it to the Honour of God and the profit of his Brother he should not despise any God hath regenerated us in his Love without all our knowledge or desert through his Heart viz his great Mercy when as formerly we were all of us blind and knew nothing of his bringing us back again we were all under sinne and he hath bestowed on us the childship out of Grace shall we then out selves judge one another 443. Or can we all speak with one and the same Tongue There are you know many Gifts and but One only Spirit which giveth them as Saint Paul saith Shall we then call that very Spirit a Devill which openeth Gods Wonders to us doest thou not know what the Scripture saith Whosoever blasphemeth or reproacheth the Spirit of God hath no forgivenesse Eternally 444. Thou drawest the Judgement of God wilfully upon thy self and makest the people the worse that look upon thy Reproaching so that they also become slanderers from your Mouth whereas otherwise they would be quiet that Sinne might be brought forth with Sinne and so be reserved to the severe Judgement of God who will give to every one according to his Deeds Number IV. 445. THe Libeller sets it down thus All men are created by God according to the Flesh and in that very Masse or Lump they are all shut up under Sinne disobedience and Darkness and none better then the other but they are distinguished according to the Spirit and the Children of the Light generated from or out of HIM whom he delivereth out of the Naturall Darknesse and maketh their Darknesse Light But the Children of the World he letteth sit in Darknesse and letteth their Light go out in the Midst of the Darknesse for he loved Jacob and hated Esau 446. Hearken Libeller why doest thou boyle the Broth in thy Mouth and tellest not all freely forth as it sitteth in thy heart you have it within you I would have you fully give it forth What mean you by the Two sorts of Spirits from the Mothers Body or Womb are there two sorts of Souls generated or born one out of God the other out of the Flesh as thou supposest O thou blind Reason what dost thou Teach Wilt thou judge when thou thy self understandest it not 447. Of the Flesh no Soul becometh Generated but Soul of Soul and Flesh of Flesh we are from Adam all extracted or begotten of one Soul and Spirit and no other Adam is the Tree we are the Branches we stand all in that Tree as to the Root and he hath destroyed us all 448. Else if it were so that one Man did receive in the Mothers Body or Womb an Earthly Spirit and the other one out of or from God then were he which is Generated or born out of or from God not guilty of Adams fall also he were no Sinner from the Mothers womb and the other from the Flesh were from the Mothers womb Damned as he finely Court-like applyes it to Jacob and Esau this is his meaning and the understanding soundeth just so only he boyles the broth in the Mouth 449. For what should God suffer so long a while that there is teaching and Preaching to the Damned or what would it be profitable to the totally perfect Is the Spirit from the Mothers womb of God and hath it Gods Light PERFECT then it is without Sinne and needs no Teaching But the Scripture saith They are all Sinners and come short of the boasting which they should have in God The Holy Apostles say O Lord thou hast redeemed US with thy Bloud 450. ANd the Libeller saith further Who then dare say that this is done
will of necessity be forbidden you WITHOUT the Spirit to search what God is Gods Spirit searcheth it self else none can search God If God be not in the Spirit the Libeller needs not forbid it to search Number VII 574. THe Libeller saith further But why do not all seek Grace in Christ but endeavour to set up their own righteousnesse THAT a Man must leave to the Secret Councill of God which is possible for No Man to reach 475. Hearken Libeller Make thy breath longer Put away Pride and State Covetousnesse Envy and Malice and the brave little sonne Falshood out of the way and then the wicked would seek it the Lust and pleasure of this world Lyeth in the way Take a Besom and sweep Feare out of the World and then all Men would seek the Grace 476. Yet thou seekest also with all thy diligence how thou mayst Condemn me also thou wilt set up only thy own righteousnesse against thy brother whom thou shouldst Love as thy self Thou searchest into many Scriptures that thou mayst judge him Smell but into thy Bosome Number VIII 477. THere the Libeller supposeth he hath catched a Mouse which must crouch under him upon that where the Authour sets it down That God knew not of Lucifers Fall beforehand there he hath certainly got him in his clutches O now he will tumble and touse him 478. Hearken Libeller That place is not expressed out of the Magick understanding I will stand to it with you in what I have written but hearken doest thou suppose it is not true doest thou understand the Principles doest thou know what is done in the Dark World The Will of the Dark world is not manifest in Heaven God doth not cumber himself with the will of the firce wrath 479. His fierce wrath and Anger hath known it very well the fierce wrath is a cause of the Fall but no such Imagination Entereth into his Love there is not the least sparkle of the Devill or Darknesse manifest in his Love but a Meere Love desire so also God calleth himself a God according to the Love and Meeknesse and according to THAT now the Question is Answered 480. Else if a Man saith To God are all his works Manifest from Eternity then a Man must say God hath been in all things from Eternity He is in every thing in the Essence as the source or quality in every thing is Psal 18. 26 27. as it is there written With the perverse thou art perverse 481. The very Abysse and also Hell is Gods in Hell there is hellish Skill and knowledge and in Heaven heavenly and in this World Historicall according to the First Principle all Malice is from Eternity known to God but Men call not that God but Gods Anger according to such a meaning was the Authours Mind thought or sence so written only for himself 482. He understood the sence well but he knew not of the Libeller else he had set it down more simply and plainly When a Man speaks of the Totall God according to Love and Anger according to ALL Worlds then he saith rightly To God hath all his works been knowne from Eternity 483. But hearken Libeller hast thou not seen how the Center of Nature was described in my Book couldest thou not search after it assuredly thou hadst come to the Ground or foundation It is not my meaning here now at this time to metion any thing further of the Mysterie of Omniscience read The Three Principles and thou wilt find it it would here require too long a Discourse and besides it is not necessary 484. But a Man cannot say that God is the Essence but in the Eternall Nature the Essences Exist and in Gods Magia Nature doth exist He is IN All but nothing apprehendeth him as is before-mentioned He possesseth himself as the Light possesseth it self it dwelleth in the Fire without Source or Torment Number IX 485. THe Libeller hath many Conceits and a totall strange understanding especially upon that where it standeth written by the Authour thus That Lucifer was a Part of or out of God there he will be simply blind and understand nothing as it is moant he will know nothing of Gods Eternall Nature he understandeth by Nature only the Outward World he will by no means understand that an Eternall Spirit as Angells and Souls of Men is proceeded out of Gods Eternall Nature and Substance 486. My Libeller Open thou thy Eyes and observe that I. by the Eternall Nature out of which the Angells are Created understand not the Divine Principle can you not see a similitude of it in Fire and Light Thou seest thy self very well that the Fire is Nature and not the Light out of the Light can nothing be created only out of the Substantiality viz out of the Meeknesse can a thing be created that is Substance 487. Yet now a living Spirit cannot be made out of Substance the Life is not Substance but a desire of Substance 488. A Spirit as Angells and Souls are is out of the Magia or Desire of the Fire-source or quality proceeded out of the Formes to Nature viz out of the Center for Nothing is Eternall unlesse it be proceeded out of the Center of the Eternall property 489. The Center is a Desire to the Manifestation of the Abysse in a Ground of the Nothing in somewhat to manifest or reveale the hidden Mystery of the Eternall Divine Substance 490. The Light hath another Center God is understood or meant by the Light the Heart of God is the Center of the Light and the Magick Desire is the Center of the Fire and in the Fire is the Liberty viz the Nothing manifest spoken after a Creaturely Manner 491. God is in respect of the Creature as a Nothing and yet he is indeed ALL in the Fire his Majesty becometh manifest in the Fire is the finding of the Nothing God himself findeth himself from Eternity in himself He is not Nature as to what concernes the Name God The Nature becometh born or Generated in the Will of the Eternall Nothing 492. There is but ONE only Will which is the ABYSSE which is desirous of the foundation or Ground viz of the Manifestation or Revelation of it self and in that desire becometh the Nature manifested and the desire maketh the Nature that driveth it self from one desiere to another one forme of the Desire maketh the other even to the Fire there is the Principle and Life generated 493. The Fiat is the Mother viz the desiring or the hunger as a Man may call it It maketh the Desire to be Substance according to the forme of the Property it figureth the Willing into a forme or shape wherein we understand the Center of the Spirit 494. Now then GOD himself is the Abysse and also the Bysse or Ground in the Fire all becometh Manifest both the Nature and also the Light of the Majesty In the Fire