Earthliness brought into us out of the Earthly and Diabolical Essence as a Contrary Qualm is not that which greeneth but the disappeared Image of God understand that which was given to Adam out of the Divine Substantiality as from the Second Principle out of the Kingdom of Heaven which by the bringing-in of the Earthly dyed or as I might express it was again enclosed or shut up into the Eternal Quietness as into that Nothing when it lost its right Divine Life and this is it in which the Eternal Word became Man and brought in again the living Substantiality with its Entering and Opening and out of Death brought forth Eternal Life This same Divine and also in Death enclosed humane Substantiality or Flesh became Man to which the Earthly Husk only did adhere and held the Earthly burning Death captive in it self Therefore we must observe a Difference when we will speak of our selves 15. The Holy Scripture also speaketh not of a wholly New Flesh viz. that the Old cometh to be conceived wholly New in Divine Essence and begotten in God otherwise it must follow that the Evil introduced bestial Flesh with the bestial Properties were become exalted in the Power of the Majesty 16. And if one would say that the Earthly Qualm is wholly killed in the New Birth out of Christ and that it doth wholly and totally dye in the Death of Christ as the Author of the Book saith That the old Man is altogether Dead and Nothing and Christ alone liveth and governeth in this outward visible Flesh and doth all then must and should Man also eat and drink after the Manner of Paradise and enjoy only an Heavenly Qualm For Christ eateth no more Earthly food but Divine The bestial Maggot-paunch doth neither suffer us to call the Whole Man out of all the Three Births Divine much less the Kingdom of this World of Stars and Elements which is the Qualm Life and Regiment of the outward Man 17. We cannot deny be a Man so holy as he will but that the Spirit of the Outward World is the Spirit Life and Guide of his Outward Flesh and we see clearly how the outward Man standeth in a Starry Constellation when it leaveth him he falleth away and putrifieth 18. Yet since it is given to me of Gods Grace to know what the Earthly and also what the Heavenly Man is in One Person therefore I will a little delineate and signifie how things stand with the Author of the Book sent to me and that out of the Ground although in a childlike simplicity for a Rule to the Author and those that read his Book 19. As for the Author himself I understand that he indeed may well be a godly Man born anew and holy in Christ with his New Birth in the New Man in regard of the Inhabitation of Christ For the Substantial Inhabitation is throughout agreeing with the holy Scripture as he also highly assevereth it and I have in that Point no Objection at all against him It is the true Ground that God hath begotten us for children out of his Heavenly Substance in himself through his Power in the Word in Christs Flesh and Blood out of his own Essence 20. I understand also Flesh and Spirit in one Substance and by no means Spirit without Flesh and Blood I understand also that it is come to pass in the Womans seed and cometh yet always to pass and I say upon sure ground that Christ in and out of mine own humane Essence is born a new Creature in my self as the Author also throughout saith 21. But the Author wanteth the Understanding of the Three Principles in one another viz. of the Threefold World one within another He distinguisheth not one from another He hath wrapt up himself wholly with all Reason and Senses and hath cast himself wholly into the Incarnation of Christ into his Suffering Death and Resurrection and hath denyed his own outward Life He desireth to live only in and of Christ He rejects all what is and liveth contrary to it He desireth nothing but what is of Christ that Christs Life Spirit and Will may be his Spirit Life and Will Thus he is as it were sunk down into the Life Will and Spirit of Christ so that his old man is as it were dead although according to the Kingdom and Qualm of this World in his own Principle in himself he liveth and is not dead for he cannot dye until the Spirit of the Outward World in his Constellation do leave him and yet he doth not dye then but goeth into the Mysterium of the Outward Principle with his Wonders and Works until the Judgment of God for the Restitution of all that which we have lost in Adam 22. This right Christian Entrance of the Author is very Right and without falshood it is also gone rightly with him in Christ if it be so indeed as I fully perceive as he writeth of himself But his knowledg of himself what and how he is were need better to be declared He hath cast himself into the middle of the Tree where he indeed is safe and stands very Well But the Root of the Tree is yet hidden to him he standeth therein as a Twig but in the middle 23. When a man will satisfie the humane Mind so that it may yeeld it self into Eternal Rest then a man must shew it the Root of the Tree whereout Spirit and Flesh have their Origiginal A man must shew and manifest unto him the Center both of the Eternal and also of the Original Nature so that he may comprehend the Earthly and also the Heavenly Mysterium Then is the Eternal Beginning and the Eternal End altogether One In this the Spirit of the Soul lieth down to rest for it seeth the Wheel wholly and perfectly 24. With this Description the weak corrupted Nature is very ill contented for a thing is requested of it that it cannot do The Author saith it ought altogether to dye that Christ alone might live in the Flesh This the Nature will not but hopeth for a Renovation the which it putteth on as a garment but not Essentially in Power But as fire doth through-glow a stone so the beams of the Holy Ghost go often out of the Second Principle of the New Man through the Old And as Iron in the glowing and without the glowing is still Iron at one time as at the other so is also the Earthly Man 25. He must be servant to the Inward Man when the New with his glowing Divine Fire goeth through him he also willingly doth it so long as the fire-glowing shineth through him but he cannot change himself into the Inward Kingdom For the outward Flesh and Blood saith Christ shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven it shall and must putrifie as an husk from the Essence of the Corn sown in the field 26. You have Beloved Sirs the Ground of this Mystery in my Book of the Incarnation of Christ and in a
Book of the Threefold Life very largely how Man standeth in a Threefold Life Viz. 1. According to the Soul in the Eternal Fathers Nature and in the Root of the Dark World in the Center of the Eternal Original as in the Spirit of the Eternal Father 27. 2 dly How the right true Image and Similitude of God greeneth out of the Soul as out of the Death in the Souls Magical Spirits Fire in another Principium or in another World and becometh free as God himself from Nature as also from Death Qualm and Pain and that the true Image of God liveth not in the Regiment of the outward World nor useth for it self the outward food and drink but eateth of the Divine Substantiality as of the Bread of God Christs Flesh and Blood so that Christ liveth in it and it in Christ and that same Eating consisteth in a Spiritual Desire and also cometh to pass truly and substantially and that the Soul is therewith nourished in her hungers-fire and that a great Gulf happeneth between the Soul and the true Image in the Death of the Fire 28. As we see this in Fire and Light and have therein a true form pattern and similitude where a man by a comparison understandeth the Soul by the fire-glow for it is in it self what concerneth it alone without the noble Image a fire-eye consisting in God the Fathers Eternal Nature brought from the Spirit of God out of the Fathers Property into the outward Created Image which was Created both out of the Outward and Inward heavenly Divine Substantiality and we understand the Noble Image in or by the Light and in the Vertue of the meek Light that out-shineth from the Dying as from the Consuming Qualm of the Fire Where then we see how the Light dwelleth in the Fire without any feeling of the firequalm and how the Fire is a painly Essence to Nature and the Light is free from the Fires Nature and yet without the Fire it is a Nothing 29. Secondly I have shewed you in the fore-mentioned Books how the Fire is a Magick-desire of Meekness to cool it self and to fill its dry Hunger whereout it receiveth Life and Light and again how that the Light is also a great Desire of the Fire to awake its Life Vertue and Power through the Fire 30. Thirdly How that the Light in its Desire maketh a Substantiality and Being viz. Meekness which taketh its Original in the Dying in the Fire which Meekness is called the Water of Eternal Life for it is a sinking through the Death and it giveth Sensibility and and Substantiality and how the Fire doth again draw that same Substantiality into it self and satiate it self therewith and out of that same Indrawing it doth again beget a Spirit out of it self which continually goeth again into the Substantiality and at length bringeth the shining from the Fire and Light into the Substantiality Which Shining or Splendor in the Substantiality of the Meekness is called Tincture which bringeth the Substantiality into the highest Ornament and Colours and thus Reneweth the Essence viz. the forms of the Dark World to the Fire-life and high-graduates it and changeth it into another thing so that out of the unpleasant painly Qualm of the First Principle through Fire the highest Joyfulness ariseth in the precious Tincture And thus the worst is the cause of the best In which Type or Figure we understand in the Inward Birth the Birth and the Substance of the Holy Trinity 31. And then fourthly I have declared to you in the fore-mentioned Books how that the Whole Substance of all Substances is a Continual Desire to manifest it self in its Desire and that this Desire to Manifestation is the Fiat and the Power in the Light is the Word and how that the Word hath moored the Fiat in all the Forms of the Eternal Nature according to the Light and also according to to the Dark World through which the Desire according to both the Worlds Properties hath made Substance in it self whereout in the Substantiality Good and Evil is sprung according to the Property of each World out of which Substance this visible World is created with the Stars and Elements as an own and peculiar Life yet not separated from the Eternal And moreover it is declared how that the Inward Spiritual Substance hath in its Desire manifested it self with this outward visible World as with an Image 32. Now when God created Man as an Image after his Substance a Similitude after God he created him out of the Mother of all Substances and out of all the Three Worlds 33. For God would behold himself through Man in One Image he should be a Similitude after God His Body he created both out of the Outward and Inward Substantiality as out of the Earthly and Heavenly and breathed into it through his Spirit a living Breath that is himself according to the Divine World and also according to the Outward World 34. For the Spirit of God is the Spirit of every Life but distinguished into Three Principles of Three Worlds As 1. According to the Dark World after the First Principle according to which God calleth himself an angry zealous God and a Consuming Fire which is the Eternal Nature And 2 dly According to the Light-World as according to Gods Love and Meekness in regard of which he is called the Holy Spirit And 3 dly According to the Outward World the ayr-Ayr-Spirit with the Qualm of the Stars and Elements Thus Man hath received a Threefold Life the Spirit of all the Three Worlds 35. Now it is palpable and plain enough to understand that the Holy Ghost had not his Regiment in the outward earthly Flesh but in the Inward Heavenly For with his entering into the Humanity he also brought in with him the Heavenly Divine Substantiality 36. For Gods Spirit dwelleth from Eternity to Eternity only in Heaven that is only in his own Substance in the Power of the Majesty Now when he breathed himself into the Image of Man then the Heaven was in Man for God would manifest himself in Man as in an Image after himself and open the great Wonders of his Eternal Wisdom through Man 37. Therefore we must rightly consider Man what he is and not make an Earthly Beast of him neither an Angel of his earthly part but he is created into the Wonders in respect of the Earthly Kingdom viz. according to the Third Principle that he should manifest the Wonders in Figures For to that end he hath the Inward Spirit out of the first Principle but he should not domineer therewith neither with the Outward but yeeld himself over to the Holy Ghost in the Second Principle and in the outward Life be as a Child in the Mothers bosom 38. For the Spirit of God had in him the outward Kingdom as it were swallowed up like as the Light swalloweth up the dark Night that a Man seeth it not But through his Imagination into
or Entrance of the Love into the Anger a Breaking or Killing of the Grimness and a Perfect Transmutation with the forth-bringing of the Joy-kingdom Wherein we then understand that God himself hath resisted his Anger as the First Principle with the Second as with his Love and himself broken the grim Death the which the souls-Souls-spirit alone Understandeth when it attaineth the Heavenly Mysterium 83. Therefore we ought to beware that we do not abuse the most precious Name of God but call him only a Christian who is a Christian viz. the Inward Man out of Christ The Outward sinful Man retaineth justly his own Name from or out of his Mother wherein he Liveth Seeing God hath given to Adam an Outward Name according to the Outward Man and the Inward also according to the Inward Man why would We then mount higher then we are in the Ground 84. Now when the Author saith of himself I the living Word of God in this my holy flesh and bones say this and do this then the Dear Name of God is thereby abused For when the Spirit of Man is chosen to be a Prophet and Mouth of God then saith he only Thus saith the LORD as all Prophets have so spoken He doth it not out of himself out of his flesh and bones but the LORD revealeth his Will through him He is only an Instrument thereto 85. He is not in flesh and bones the LORD but in the Life of Christ a fruitful humble Twig that neither will nor doth any thing it self and also desireth nothing but its Mothers Essence the Mother may do with it what she Will The Mother will only have humble Children to lie on her Brest and drink of her Vertue and live in her Will so that she may delight her self in them for her fruit groweth upon their twigs which is the praise of the Tongues in Gods Wonder-deed 86. It must not be taken so as if I would despise a Christian spirit but I teach in the Spirit of Christ in him seeing I must speak of the Root and this is the Office given me that we may edifie our selves in the knowledg in Christ in One Tree and I beseech you to understand it right For to speak with an Angels Tongue with the Mouth of the Holy Ghost is a great matter Let no man ride unarmed if Gods Spirit armeth not his Tongue Heart and Spirit and giveth assurance and Certainty then let him not say The LORD speaketh 87. For often when the Fire of the Holy Ghost shineth out of the Inward viz. out of Gods Substance through the Outward the Outward Mysterium is kindled and rejoyceth exceedingly and beginneth in the knowledg of the Light to speak with Tongues out of the Mysterium But the will-Will-spirit ought Well to look to it self that the Outward Spirit do not go too high and speak with Tongues out of it self in the LORDS Name For the Outward Spirit triumpheth when it getteth a Look as if it were in the Inward and mounteth often thus aloft with Joyfulness But the Outward Reasons-spirit from the Stars mingleth it self willingly therewith 88. Therefore it is a very subtil thing to speak with the Outward Mouth out of Divine Tongues the Holy Ghost must go upon the Wings of the Wind and direct the Understanding that the Mind may find it experimentally for the Certainty must be in the Mind 89. The Prophet that speaks is not the Assurance for the speaks out of two Tongues as out of the Turba of the Wickedness of Men which he reproveth and also out of the Love out of Christs Humanity and sheweth the right Way 90. Now the Certainty or Assurance consisteth in the Mind that must be kindled and filled with the Holy Ghost then the Mouth of the LORD speaketh through the Outward Mouth not as its Own Word but as the Word of God Only the noble Image in the Inward standeth as it were trembling before the Presence and great Power of the Lord. 91. It maketh no Words in the Name of the LORD unless the Spirit of God doth form them then it must do as a Child in Obedience and although the LORD commanded Fire to fall from Heaven as by Elia it cannot contain it self it shall and must perform the Work of the LORD in Zeal 92. Therefore I say in good truth out of my gifts that a man ought to have a great care of himself if he must or will speak with the Mouth of the LORD for if he will say I the Living Word of God say and do this then must the Will of the LORD be there and the Spirit of God must arm the Tongue Heart and Mind and even himself go with it otherwise it is not the Word of the LORD but of the Outward Man 93. What the Author saith further of the altogether fleshly Christendom which carrieth no more but only the Name in the Mouth when the heart and mind are known before God to be only a Mocker of the Name of Christ is so indeed and he hath after his knowledg written very truly of it 94. This Christendom hath now borrowed the Mantle of Christ with his Passion Death and Satisfaction and hath thereunder hidden the Antichristian Bastard and covereth that same Man of Pride and Falshood with the Purple-mantle of Christ and rideth therewith in Babel upon the horrible and abominable Beast spoken of in the Revelation of John 95. It tickleth it self with Christs Passion and Satisfaction and yet will not enter into Christs Passion Death and Resurrection and be born out of Christs Spirit the Bastard must only be comforted 96. O! to how many an one shall the Mantle of Christ be turned to hellish fire wherewith he covereth the man of falshood There is not spoken only of Comfort but ye must be born anew out of Water and the Holy Ghost otherwise ye shall not see the Kingdom of God saith the Mouth Christus 97. The Will must be turned from Deceit and Falshood into Righteousness and Truth if he will be called a Christian with the ground of Truth and not only in the Mouth but in the Deed be a Christian 98. But he that carrieth Christ only in the Mouth and is not born out of the Will and Spirit of Christ he is the Antichrist and boasteth himself unjustly a Christian if he striveth not against the Will of the Flesh and continually killeth it then the Life of Christ is not in him but the Outward Worlds and the Devils Will in the Anger of God is in him For Christ said Whosoever entereth not in by the Door into the Sheepfold but climbeth up some other way He is a Thief and a Robber and cometh but for to rob steal and the Sheep follow him not for they know not his Voyce He is but a Hireling and the Sheep are not his own he seeketh only the Wool 99. If any will be a Shepherd of Christ he must not be a Stranger but must be born out
of Christ he must be in Christ that he may have Christs Voyce in him otherwise he cannot feed Christs Sheep on the green Pasture What good doth a Wolf in the Sheepfold that intendeth nothing but prey He doth only waste and spoil the Sheepfold Wherefore then doth a Stranger intrude himself for a Shepherd not being called of Christ the chief Shepherd Why goeth he about to teach the Spirit of this World in Man which is in him afore 100. If he will sound the Inward in Death inclosed Bell then he must have even that same Clapper which breaketh the Death so that the dead Bell may sound For the Divine Sound was in Adam inclosed in Death Now if any will awake the same he must have in himself that same Living Sound he must speak out of Christs Spirit and Voyce or his teaching is only a Jugling or playing of tricks before a dead thing and he is only a belly-servant by Custom and no whit profitable to the Temple of Christ for he himself is not therein and how will he then bring others in 101. The Holy Ghost mixeth not himself in the Voyce of the Wicked the Word of the Wicked is not the Word of God Therefore it is a meer Deceit to preach out of Art the Art is born out of the Stars and it awaketh none that lieth inclosed in Death it must be a right hammer that will make a dead Bell sound 102. And it is very highly to be lamented that men do so prank with these Mouth-Apes and honour them for Gods and will also be called good Christians and yet name themselves after a Wolf and besides strive and contend for him and make desolate also their Land and Men and destroy their body and soul for a Wolfs sake 103. O thou worthy Christendom in blindness be seeing I beseech thee O how art thou blinded Thou sufferest thine eares to be filled with a tingling noyse that thou mayst but sleep hard in Adams sleep in the Sinworld with the Devil and very securely in the wicked flesh But an hard thunder wil awake thee for thou art too too fast a sleep thou wilt not yet be awaked let God call how he Will yet Adam the old Man sleepeth in his pleasure 104. That the Author also mentioneth That this fleshly Babel will fall and a Fountain spring up in Zion out of the true Jerusalem is very true and the Time is already born that that shal be broken which is grown unto and of it self without Divine Order for it hath attained its age and the bound The Begining hath found the End the Middle shal be Manifested and none shal be able to hinder it But seeing the child of sin and Perdition doth so rage against it therefore it must burst and break it self in pieces in its raging Madness 105. But if it would enter into the Beginning it would abide standing and its Wonders only would appear But seeing it is grown in Pride Covetousness and Envy and in all kind of Wickedness and Malice to what end shall that evil Beast abide It is unfit for an Offering of God neither will it be converted that it might get an humane heart 106. Therefore God caused it to be denounced that his Children should depart from it for the LORD will afright the Earth and overturn Babel and there shall a River flow out of Zion that the thirsty Soul may be refreshed For the poor shall be refreshed and eat in his Pasture 107. The Driver shall be broken in pieces and then shalt thou rejoyce a little while for thou art Wicked from thy very Youth and seekest only the Goal in the Wonder As thy Begining was so is also thine End Whosoever is blind will not see it but sleep till the Day breakon 108. Christ saith When the Son of Man shall come thinkest thou that he shall find Faith on Earth Therefore the Time of the End is an Evil dreg and there shall not be meer Zion save only in the sanctified Children of Christ For the Begining and the End are altogether like one another 109. The Wonders with the high Tongue were manifest in the Beginning and the Signature was exceeding well known this cometh again in the End But we understand also thereby a good and evil Time when the Gates of all Principles shall stand open as we also see this in the Beginning by Cain and Abel Therefore let every one look to it what he speaketh teacheth and writeth for it shall be tryed by the highest Tongue 110. But when we speak of the Temple of Christ and of the River out of Zion then we mean not one certain place in one Land alone for the Temple of Christ is over all we understand in all Tongues and Languages although the Tongues shall be brought higher in one place then in another all things according to the property of the people and according as the Spirit is in Man 111. For the Temple of Christ is In Us We must hear Christ teaching In Us if Christ teacheth not In Us then the outward Mouth-cry is in Vain and spoken but into the Ayr. 112. Therefore let no man think that it will be so that such Men will come which shall teach or force the Holy Spirit into Men No It is said To Day when you do hear the Voyce of the Lord harden not your ears and hearts Look not after another Time for This is the Time of your Visitation 113. Incline your Ears and Hearts into the Temple of Christ In You cast away your Abominations and false Will from you and bring your Will earnestly through Christ into the Father and resolve to enter no more into the Wickedness as into Pride Covetousness Envy Anger and Falshood leave off from all height of this World and humble your selves in the hand of the LORD and in the Love towards the needy 114. Esteem your selves as simple Idiots in Christ esteem your Art nothing for it draweth but away from Christ Desire to know no more but only that which the Holy Ghost in Christ will know in you that he only may be your Knowing and Willing 115. For the Fountain in Zion will not be found through any search out of Reason Zion will not first be begotten from Without but from Within We must seek and find our selves in our selves No Man needeth to run to another place where he thinketh the Spirit shall be more powerful but Within himself is the Gate of the Holy Deity 116. He must only enter into himself and seek and call upon the Holy Spirit in himself for in himself is the place where God dwelleth in his Heaven and receiveth the Will of the Soul with her Desire 117. Whither will the Soul swing her self being she her self is the Fountain of Etetnity In her standeth the Principle of the Light and Dark World she is all the Three Worlds 118. Only this is Necessary that like as she in Adam hath brought her self by her
save only in the Blood and Death of Christ Him alone God hath made and fore-ordained to be unto him a Throne of Grace or Propitiation in his own Love which he hath brought into him in the sweet Name JESUS out of JEHOVAH He is that only Offering which God receiveth that can reconcile Gods Anger 22. Now if that same Offering shall do me good then must it also come to pass in me the Father must beget and give his Son into the Desire of my Faith so that the Hunger of my Faith may lay hold of him and if the Hunger of my Souls Faith comprehendeth him as in his promised Word then I put on him in his whole process of Justification in mine Inward Ground and immediately the killing of the Wrath Devil Death and Hell beginneth and goes on out of Christs Death in me 23. For I can do nothing I am dead to my self but Christ doth it in Me when He ariseth in Me then I am dead in my self in respect of the true Man and he is my Life and what I live I live to Him and not to Minehood For Grace killeth my Will and setteth it self for a Lord in the place of mine I-hood that I may be a Work of God who doth therewith what He Will. 24. And then I live in Two Kingdoms to wit with the Outward Mortal Man in the vanity of Time wherein the Yoke of Sin yet liveth it Christ taketh in the Inward Kingdom of the divine World upon Himself and helpeth my Soul to bear it 25. For the Yoke of this World is Christs Burden which he must bear until he shall again deliver up the Kingdom to his Father which He hath given him for He said All Power in Heaven and Earth is given to Me of my Father So is also this Burden given to him that He should bear Gods Anger Hell Death and all evil in us as Esaias saith He took on him our Diseases and carried our griefs but we did count him stricken smitten of God and afflicted 26. Whence it is that a Christian must be a Cross-bearer For so soon as Christ is born in him the assaulting of Hell and the Anger of God in the Eternal Nature goeth on then the Hell in Man is destroyed and the Serpent is trampled upon whence great Unquietness Persecution and Reproach from the Devil and the corrupt World ariseth over the outward sinful Man then the outward sinful Man must suffer himself to be condemned and judged to Damnation of Gods severe Justice in the Anger by the Children of the Anger seeing that another Man liveth in him which is not like to the Outward Mortal therefore Gods Justice executeth its Judgment in Anger upon the Sin-house as also all the Ministers of Gods Anger 27. Then Christ helpeth to bear the Yoke and Man is sacrificed in Christs process contempt and scorn in his Suffering and Death unto the Justice of God in the Wrath and he becomes like unto Christs Image 28. The Holy Scripture witnesseth in all places that we are Justified from sins by Faith in Christ not by the Works of our Merit but by the Blood and Death of Christ which indeed is so taught of many but rightly understood of few that teach us 29. Men indeed teach us the Imputed grace but what Faith is how it is begotten what it is in its Essence and Substance and how it layeth hold on the Merit of Christ with the Grace in that the most part are dumb and blind and rest by an Historical Faith Jam. 2. which is but a bare knowledg the Man of Sin tickling and comforting himself therewith and through such Imagination flattering himself and naming himself a Christian though he is not become capable of this so high a Title but is only a Titular Christian covered from Without with Christs Purpur-mantle of whom the Prophet saith They draw neer unto me with their lips but their Heart is far from me And Christ said Not all that say Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but they that do the Will of my Father in Heaven 30. Now Christ alone is the Will of the Father wherein the Receiving of Grace and the Childship is and no man can do the Fathers Love-Will but only that only Grace-Throne Christ himself as the Scripture saith No man can call God LORD without the Holy Spirit In Him 31. For we know not what we pray before God as we ought but He even the Holy Spirit maketh Intercession for us with inexpressible Sighings before God in our selves as it pleaseth God We cannot attain unto any thing by our Willing and Knowing He is too deeply hidden to us For it lieth not in any Mans Knowing Willing or Running but in Gods Mercy 32. Now there is no Mercy but only in Christ and if I shall reach that Mercy I must reach Christ in Me If my sins shall be blotted in Me Christ must perform it in Me with his Blood and Death and with his Victory If I shall beleeve then must the Spirit the Desire and the Will of Christ beleeve in my Desire and Will for I cannot Beleeve 33. But he receiveth my Will being resigned to Him and encloseth it in his Will bringeth it through his Victory into God there He intercedeth for the Will of my Soul in his Will before God and thus I am received as a Grace-child in his Love-Will 34. For the Father hath manifested his Love in Christ and Christ manifesteth the same Love in my Will being resigned to him Christ draweth my Will into himself and cloateth it with his Blood and Death and tinctureth it with the highest Tincture of the Divine Power Thus it is changed into an Angelical Image and getteth a Divine Life 35. Whereupon that same Life beginneth to hunger after its Body which Body is the corrupt fiery Soul whereout the Will is entered into Christ thus the New Life in Christ doth now also tincture the Soul so that the Soul in this Will-spirit getteth a right divine Hunger and becometh desirous of the Divine Grace and begineth to behold her self in this Divine Will-spirit in Christ what she is how she in her Properties is separated from God and how she lieth captive in Gods Wrath and acknowledgeth her abominations as also her Deformity in the presence of Gods Angels there she hath nothing wherewith she may protect her self for she seeth that she standeth in the Jaws of Death and Hell environed with evil Spirits which bring their Desires always into her to destroy her 36. Then she sinketh down into that same New-born Spirit of the Will and ingulfeth her self into the meerest Humility then the Spirit of Christ taketh hold of her and bringeth her into this New-will-spirit that the Soul essentially feeleth it Whereupon the Divine Joyful Look ariseth in the Soul as a New Eye wherein the fiery Soul conceiveth the Ens and Substance of the Divine Light in her self whereupon she hungereth and thirsteth
after Gods Grace and entereth into a powerful Repentance or Penitency and bewaileth the Evil which she hath committed 37. And in this Hunger and Thirst she receiveth Christs Flesh and Blood for the New Will-spirit which in the Begining entered into the Grace of Christ which Christ also hath received into himself becometh now Substantial by the Magnetical Impressing Hungering and Desiring of the Soul 38. And this Substantiality is called Sophia as the Substantial Wisdom or the Body of Christ and in this the Faith in the Holy Spirit consisteth here Christ and the Soul beleeve in one ground 39. For the True Faith consisteth not in thoughts or in a meer assenting to the Histories viz. that a man impresseth into himself that Christ is dead for his sins but it is a Receiving of the promised Grace of Christ it receiveth Christ into it self it Impresseth him into his Hunger with his heavenly Flesh and Blood with the Grace which God offereth in Christ 40. Christ feedeth the Soul with the Substance of Sophia as with his Body and Blood according to his saying Whosoever eateth not the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no Life in him but whosoever eateth the same he abideth in him 41. And herein also Christs Testaments and also the Christian Faith do consist For an Unsubstantial Faith is as a smoking Fire or mother of Fire in a moisture that would willingly burn and yet hath no right Ens thereto but when a right Ens is given to it then that little spark of fire encreaseth out of which a fair Light ariseth which shineth round about and then is revealed or manifested how in the Wood such a fire and fair light lieth hidden which before was not known 42. So also in a Child of God While the poor Soul is wrapt up in the Anger of God she is as a glimmering Wiek that would willingly burn and yet cannot by reason of the Vanity of the Sins and the Anger of God But when the Soul as the little spark of the Divine Fire getteth into it self Gods Love Ens as Christs Flesh and Blood then that same little Spark beginneth to become a great Fire and Light which shineth and lighteth about it self with fair Vertues and good Works and liveth in great Patience under the Vanity of this World and yet groweth forth as a fair Flower out of the wilde Earth 43. Whereof we have a Similitude in the Sun and the Earth namely if the Sun should not shine upon the Earth no fruit could grow But when the Sun doth shine on the Earth and throngeth himself into the Ens of the Earth then the Ens of the Earth receiveth the Vertue of the Sun into it self whereupon a great Hunger ariseth in the Ens of the Earth after the Vertue of the Sun and this same Hunger impresseth the Vertue of the Sun and by this same Hunger of the Ens of the Earth which goeth after the Ens of the Sun in the height an Herb is drawn out of the Earth with a stalk wherein the Ens and Vertue of the Sun also goeth in the encrease or growth in the height and the Sun with his Light-beams becometh Substantial in the Ens of the Earth in the stalk and root and a man seeth how through the power of the Sun and Stars in the Spirit of the World another body cometh out of the stalk then the root in the Earth is also how the stalk doth bring it self into a button to a fair flower and afterwards to fruit a man may also see how the Sun afterwards from time to time ripeneth and sweeteneth the same fruit 44. So also it is with Man the Soulish ground is the Divine field when it getteth the Divine Sunshine into it self then a Divine Plant ariseth thereout This is the New Birth whereof Christ speaketh Now this Plant must be nourished and drawn up from above by the Divine Sun and by the Divine Water and the Divine Stars as the Divine Power until it cometh to be a Divine Body of a Divine and Angelical Figure as the body on the stalk 45. And as the body on the stalk must stand in rain wind and storm in heat and cold and suffer the Sun to ripen it so must a Christian stand in this thorny World in the awaked Anger of God in the Kingdom of the Devil amongst many wicked Men and suffer himself to be beaten with scorn and contempt and yet must turn his Hope from all Creatures alone into the Divine Sun and suffer him to ripen him and to beget him to an heavenly fruit 46. Not houses of stone nor humane Ordinances do beget him but the Divine Sun in the divine Stars of the powers of the Word of God in the Temple of Jesus Christ in himself doth beget him out of the Fountain of Life Jesus Christ so that he is a branch on the Vine of Christ and bringeth forth good grapes which the Divine Sun ripeneth that Gods children as his loving fellow-members may eat them whereby they also do out-green in and with him which grapes are good Doctrine Life and Works 47. A man must come to the practise working and fruitbringing otherwise the New Birth is not yet manifest in him nor the noble Branch yet born No tickling comforting and boasting of Faith availeth any thing if so be the Faith becometh not a Child conformable to God in Essence and Will which doth bring forth divine fruit 48. All that wherefore men now strive and contend also destroy Land and people is only a meer husk without fruit and belongeth to the fiery World for separation There is no true Understanding in any party they contend all only about the Name and the Will of God and no party will do it they mean and mind nothing but their own glory and the lust of the flesh Were they Christians they would have no strife 49. A good Tree beareth good fruits for every one and although it must suffer that the wind oft breaketh off its branches and fruit as also that the Sun dryeth them up and when they are ripe that swines devour them and that they be troden under feet yet it endeavoreth still to bring forth more good fruits 50. So also a true Christian in Christ can will nothing else but what Christ willeth in him although he must suffer that his good fruits which do out-green and grow forth out of the Inward Man be often trampled upon and spoiled by his Evil flesh and blood as also by the Devils Wind and the Wickedness of the World yet the Tree of the new Plant abideth standing in the Life of Christ and out-greeneth through the outward mortal Man against all hinderance and opposition like as Eternity greeneth through the Time and giveth to the Time Life and Power And as the Day out-greeneth through the Night and changeth the Night into Day whereas yet the Night remaineth in it self and is not discerned in the Day so also the Divine
and immaculate for if a Man will search from whence Sin hath its Original he must look upon the Ground 67. The new Body worketh no Sin but the Soul by Imagining into the Wickedness bringeth Sin into it self Now since the true Similitude after God hath its Beginning out of the Soul therefore the heavenly Substantiality becometh Infected through the Poyson which is taken into the Soul 68. Sin toucheth not the Heart of God as the Center of the New Body but the Substantiality is Infected as when a Man poureth Earth into fair Water The Flesh of the New Man and the Spirit of God is not one thing the Spirit of God remaineth in the new Man although Adam be spoiled in regard of him as it also came to pass in Adam 69. What falleth from the Light-world it the Fire-world receiveth if it be a grim Substantiality then it is swallowed up in the Fire and falleth into the Dark World into Eternal Death When the new Body is infected it loseth its Divine Life the Deity loseth nothing by it but only its Mirror of the Wonders For the Body is not God only it is through the Spirit by the noble Tincture highly graduated with the splendor of the holy Heaven so that in it the Colours of the Divine Joy-kingdom do shine But if it be darkened then the Tincture ariseth in another Property viz. according to that in which the Fire of the Soul burneth such a Tincture shineth also thereout and as the Spirit of Man is in himself such an Heaven he geteth also for his Habitation 70. Nothing can fall beyond God for He himself is All yet he is not called God in respect of his Anger because it devoureth much did it not also devour the whole royal hoste of Lucifer they were Angels and yet became Devils how then should it not be possible in a Man who as yet beareth in him the Sin-mirror in the outward Flesh 71. Indeed if the Soul goeth not into the false Lust so that it desireth not sin then it is not possible The Soul is free it hath the high Fire-Principle in it self both to the Dark and also to the Light World What it awaketh to it self that it hath it can live in Gods Love or Anger Whithersoever it turneth it self there it is received so that it as the Mother of the Eternal Nature is in all things Whither the Eternal Will turneth it self according to that its Image is also figured 72. Therefore Man should not be secure or bold in this World but always humble himself before God and cast his Will into the Heart of God all this time whilest he carrieth the outward Cottage he liveth in danger but while he abideth with his Will in God he is in Gods hand and then no man 〈◊〉 pluck Christs sheep out of Christs hand John 10. except the Will of the Soul teareth it self out from thence which happeneth when the Soul is secure then the Devil soweth his poysonous Imagination into her so that she therein beginneth to imagine after falshood 73. You must understand that the Soul standeth in the Fathers Property and the fair Image when it is begotten standeth in the Sons Property The Soul hath the Center of the Dark World and the Image hath the Center of the Light World as Gods Heart But if it departeth from Gods Love then the Soul bringeth its Image into the Fathers Property into the dark World 74. Therefore we ought to be very humble and submissive before our God and not desire to exalt Our Name but the Name of God in Us We are not the Tree with the Root but little boughs and twigs on the Tree We receive indeed the Essence and Vertue of the Tree like as the Tree giveth it to the Twig But the Twig saith not I am the Tree but it delighteth it self in the Tree as in its Mother 75. If we put on Christ then we are truly called Christians for the new Man liveth in Christ But we ought not to say I am Christ in this mine holy flesh and bones in this my visible Conversation on Earth for Christ said also My Kingdom is not of this World Therefore Christs Kingdom In Us is much less of this World For he said I am gone forth and come from God Again I leave the World and go the Father and I will take you to me that where I am there ye may be 76. Understand it thus When the noble Seed is sown so that the Lilly-twig is born in the Humanity of Christ then he taketh it to himself where He is This noble Twig is not of this World but it cometh from God and its Plant groweth in Gods Kingdom not in this World not in Adams Manhood neither in the Woman Eva but in the Virgin being neither Man nor Woman but a chaste Virgin that follow-God and the Lamb. 77. For that is the Angel whereof Christ speaketh Matth. 22. and Mark 12. In the Resurrection they are like the Angels of God When he is born out of Christ then he expecteth no Resurrection for himself for he is Immortal if the Soul doth not poyson him in the time of this World But he Waiteth for the Outward Mysterium as the third Principle in which he hath sown all his Wonders and Works that same swalloweth up here the Outward Life with its Works and that shall come again out of the Mysterium 78. For the First Adam before his Eva he being neither Man nor Woman shall stand he shall have all the three Principles in him as God himself but not so mingled together as Now when one is brought into the other 79. The Outward World is compacted and born out of the Inward in the Desire of the Inward and in the Fiat created into a form not altogether to a fading transitory Substance for it shall be renewed in the Fire and stand again to Gods Wonder-deed not four Elements but One in which the four do lie hid For the Outward World shall not rule but the Inward Divine World through all things 80. As little as the Outward Visible World can be called God so little also the Name of God becometh or befitteth the outward Life in flesh and bones For God gave Adam a name and called him MAN he named Adam MAN This the highest Tongue understandeth Well in the Language of Nature that the name Adam hath its Original from the Second Principle as from Gods Kingdom out of the Divine Essence and the name Man from the Limus whereout the outward Body was created 81. For every thing getteth its right Name out of its Essence according to its Spirit like as the most dear Name of JESUS CHRISTUS hath a double sence Viz. By the Name JESUS in the highest Tongue is understood the Motion of the Divine Center as an Out-going Lust or Delight bringing the Lowliness in the Humility forth in the Out-going Joy-kingdom in Majesty 82. And in the Name CHRISTUS is understood an In-going
one Body 159. For I do very well know the Authors Spirit and I love to speak to him seeing he for Christs Name sake as you mention hath suffered much and willingly hath brought his Life into Christs footsteps therefore I acknowledg him for a right true Christian 160. But he need not to be ashamed to learn to know himself better and to learn more in the Spirit in the Spouse of Christ For Christ saith Seek and ye shall find The Wisdom hath neither number nor end 161. I say of my self nothing else but that I first am become an A. B. C. Scholer and will heartily seek in the Spouse of Christ of the Spirit of Christ in my Brethren and Members Me in them and them in Me. 162. I do not arrogate to me yet any perfect knowledg for that which is perfect is not of mine understanding but revealed in the Spirit of Christ in my Brethren I am in my self as a Nothing that I might be found and known to be somewhat in the knowledg of my Brother in his Spirit and that God in Christ may be All in us both the Understanding Willing and Doing 163. Therefore I exhort you not to take this otherwise then Christianly and Brotherly for I am not a Master of your Spirit and Knowledg but your help in the Lord that the Authors Course may not be in vain nor the Name of Christ blasphemed in his Members as Babel hath done I have written this short Declaration and Explanation to refresh us in our knowledg in the Lord What is more is to be found in the Book of the Threefold Life and in the three Books of the Incarnation of Christ and do commend you all to the Love of JESUS CHRIST Dated on the Sunday Quasi modo geniti Anno 1621. A Theosophick EPISTLE or LETTER WHEREIN The Life of a true Christian is Described What a Christian is and How he cometh to be a Christian Together with a Description What a Titular Christian is What the Faith and Life of both of them is Written to a good Friend of his in Christian Brotherlike and Memberlike Admonition and a good Intention BY JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed by John Macock 1653. The Fountain of the Heart of JESUS CHRIST be our Refreshing Renovation and Eternal Life 1. BEloved and much respected Friend in Christ I do wish to you out of a memberlike obligation as one branch on the Tree is bound to do to the other in a co-operating Desire the open Fountain of Grace which God hath revealed in Christ Jesus in our Humanity that the same may flow in you richly and the Divine Sun therethrough bring into the Soul his Love-beams and therewith awake and open the great Magnetick Hunger of the Soul as the true divine Mouth after Christs Flesh and Blood together with bodily Welfare 2. For as much as I have often perceived by your loving Friend D. K. and also in my presence marked that you in the Drawing of the Father have an extraordinary Thirst and great Longing after his Life which he hath manifested in Christ Jesus out of his highest Love therefore I would not omit out of a memberlike obligation to visit you with a short Epistle upon the desire of the D. and also of your self and to recreate and refresh my self somewhat in that same Fountain of the Life of Jesus Christ with you since it is meer Joy unto me that our Paradisical Pearl-tree greeneth and worketh fruit in our fellow-members to our Eternal Joy 3. And herewith I will shew unto you out of my small gifts and knowledg What a Christian is and Wherefore he is called a Christian namely that only He is a Christian who is become capable of this high Title In Himself who hath turned himself with his Inward Ground Mind and Will to the free-given Grace in Christ Jesus and is in his Souls-Will become as a young Child that only longeth after the Brests of the Mother and sucketh the Brests of the Mother whereof it liveth 4. So also this Man only is a Christian whose Soul and Mind entereth again into the First Mother whereout the Life of Man is sprung viz. into the Eternal Word which hath revealed it self with the true Milk of Salvation in our Humanity being blind in regard of God and drinketh this Mother-milk into his hungry Soul whence the New Spiritual Humanity springeth and the fiery Soul being out of the Fathers Propriety reacheth and obtaineth herewith the place of the Love of God in which place the Father begetteth his Beloved Son wherein alone the Temple of the Holy Ghost which dwelleth In Us is found and wherein also alone the Spiritual Mouth of the Soul which eateth Christs Flesh and drinketh his Blood is understood 5. For He alone is a Christian in whom Christ dwelleth liveth and Is in whom Christ after the Inward Ground of the Soul and the Heavenly Essence which disappeared in Adam is risen and become Living He that hath in his Inward Ground put on Christs Victory against Gods Wrath as also against Hell Devil Death and Sin I say Christs Humanity Passion Death and Resurrection the Seed of the Woman to wit Christ in his Victory also overcoming in him and dayly triumphing upon the Serpents head in the Will of the Wicked Flesh and killing the sinful Lusts of the Flesh 6. For in Christ alone we are received to be Gods Children and heirs of Christ not through an outward strange shew of a special grace-receiving through a strange merit of a grace imputed from Without but through a Childlike Inhabiting Memberlike and Essential grace where the Conqueror of Death to wit Christ with his Life Substance and Power ariseth In Us from our Death and ruleth and worketh In Us as upon a Branch on his Vine as the Writings of the Apostles throughout do witness 7. He is not a Christian who only comforteth himself with the Passion Death and Satisfaction of Christ and imputeth the same unto himself as a grace-gift and yet remaineth an Unregenerated Wilde Beast such a Christian is every Ungodly Man for every one will fain be saved through a grace-gift The Devil also would very willingly be an Angel again through Grace received or applyed from Without 8. But that he should turn and become as a Child and be born a new out of Gods Grace-Water of Love and the Holy Ghost that pleaseth him not So also it pleaseth not the Titular-Christian who putteth about himself the Grace-mantle of Christ and yet will not enter into the Childship and the New Birth although Christ saith he cannot otherwise see the Kingdom of God 9. For what is born of the Flesh is Flesh and cannot inherit the Kingdom of God Joh. 6. To be fleshly minded is Enmity with God but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace and He alone heareth Gods Word that is born of God for alone the Spirit of Grace in Christ heareth Gods Word 10. For no man hath seen God the