Beginnings as above mentioned whereof each hath its Substance and are in one another and have no more than one Spirit 339. And in the middle of the Point is the Center which is the Cause of the Life and in the Center is the Light of the Majesty out of which the Life as another Principle existeth out of which the Tree of the Eternal Life hath ever continually grown from Eternity and the Twigs or Branches grow out of the Stock 340. Which are the Spirits of Angels which indeed have not been corporeal from Eternity but the Essences or Qualities have been in the Tree and their Image hath been discovered have appeared in the Virgin of the Wisdom from Eternity for they have been a Figure from Eternity in the Tincture yet not Corporeal but Essential without Corporisation 341. And therefore this is the greatest wonder that the Eternity hath wrought that it hath created the Eternal into a Corporeal Spirit which no Reason apprehendeth nor no Mind findeth also it is not throughly searchable or fathomable to us 342. For no Spirit can throughly search out or fathom it self it seeth its own deep very well even into the Abyss but its framer or moudler it comprehended not it beholdeth him well and searcheth into him even into the Abyss but yet it knoweth not its making all that is hidden to it and nothing else 343. For a Child knoweth its Father and Mother well but knoweth not how his Father hath made or begotten it it is also as high in Degree of Nature as its Father but it is hidden to it how it was in the Seed and though it search that yet it knoweth not the Time and Place nor did not for it was in the Seed in the Wonder and in the Life a Spirit in the Wonders 344. And here it is forbidden us to search further and commanded us to rest from it and to be silent for we are a Creature and should speak so far as the Creature reacheth both in the inward and outward in body and soul in God Angels and Men and Devils also in Beasts Fowls Worms in Leaves and Grass in Heaven and Hell all this we can search only our own Making not 345. Yet of that we know the Fiat and know how we are made yet we know not the first moving of God to the Creation The making of the Soul we know well but how that which hath stood fixt in its Substance from Eternity is become moveable of that we know no ground for it hath nothing that hath stirred it up and it hath an Eternal will which is without beginning and unchangeable 346. But if we should say the Angels and Souls have been from Eternity in the Spirit the Propagation of Souls will not permit that as it is before our eyes Therefore this is God's Mystery alone and the Creature should continue under God in humility and obedience and not elevate it self further for it is not altogether as God himself is 347. God is a Spirit from Eternity without Ground and Beginning but the Souls and Angels Spirit hath an Original and standeth in Gods hand the Third Number hath the casting shovle and purgeth its Floar Only Patience and Humility in Obedience is requisite else it availeth nothing to be or exist from God The Devil was also an Angel yet his highmindedness throweth him notwithstanding into the Darkness Let none climbe up above the Cross else he falleth into Hell to the Devil 348. God will have Children and not lordly ones about him he is Lord and none else of his Fulness have we received out of his Essences are we born or generated we are his right and true Children not step-children of a strange Looking-Glass also not only a similitude but children yet the Body is a similitude and the Spirit is a similitude according to God's Spirit but the right and true Soul is a Child born or generated out of God 349. God's Spirit giveth witness to our Spirits that we are God's Children not in that kind as Babel makes a rumbling noise which so would fain be God upon Earth 350. No but our selves are Children begotten of God's Seed our heavenly Body is out of or from God's Body which the holy Soul carrieth about it hidden to the Devil and to the Old Adam 351. Therefore beloved Brother in God 's Body know this clearly and it is our Answer upon your first Question Whence the Soul originateth 352. Viz. It originateth out of God from Eternity without Ground and Number and continueth or endureth in its Eternity But the beginning to the moving of the Creature which is done in God that should not be mentioned 353. Only we give or offer you this that the Number Three hath pleased delighted or longed to have Children like it self out of it self and so hath revealed or manifested it self in Angels in the Soul of Adam and passed or transmigrated into an Image as a Tree which bringeth forth Fruit and generateth a Branch out of it self For that is the right manner of Eternity and no other 354. It is not a strange or different thing but one Looking-Glass out of the other one Substance out of the other and all seek the Beginning and is all a Wonder 355. This is the entrance and we should but in brief give you summary Answers upon the Questions because you see in this description clearly all your Questions Answered yet to pleasure and accommodate the simple and such as have not our knowledge we will go through with them particularly The Second Question What the Soul is in the Essence Substance Nature Property 1. THE Souls Essences are out of the Center of Nature out of the Fire with all Properties of Nature All the Three Principles lye therein All whatsoever God hath or can do and whatsoever God is in his Number Three that the Soul is in its Essences as a Branch out of the Power and Vertue of the Tree its Substance is heavenly created out of the heavenly Divine Substantiality 2. But its Will is Free either to sink down in it self and to accompt it self Nothing but to sprout as a branch out of the Tree and to eat of God's Love or to climbe up in its Will into the Fire and be its own Tree of it self and of which soever it eateth of that it gets Substantiality viz. the Body of the Creature 3. Is Nature is the Center it self with Seven Spirits to generate or propagate with It is a Total Substance out of All Substances and a Similitude of the Number Three if it be in God If not it is the Similitude of Lucifer and of all Devils all furthermore according to their Properties 4. It s Property was in the First Soul created according to both Mothers upon which followed the Command and the Temptation that it should not suffer it self to Lust to Eat of Evil and Good but of Heavenly Paradisical Fruit only should
lye shut up in both sexes in the Man and in the Wife then clearly the Turba stirreth it self in that the Essence of the Seeds drive up to a false or wicked Imagination to a false or wicked desire 2. And though indeed the Spirit doth subdue the Body yet it imagineth and that the Turba causeth in the Seeds and no Man can well deny but that to many that very Imagination it self is offensive and they wish it banished from them where there is a right sincere Spirit therefore ye are to apprehend that the Souls Spirit sticketh in a miserable Pinch and cannot be freed or loosed till the Turba taketh the Body 3. There is no full union or agreement between the outward and the new-born or regenerate Man the outward would continually devour the Regenerate for they stand in one another but yet each hath its own Principle so that the outward cannot over-power the inward if the Spirit do but continue in strife 4. And they can thus well cleave one to another for they all three stand or serve to God's Wonders if they stand in their right and due order or subordination each standing or continuing in its own Principle 5. For the Soul hath the Fire-Dominion and is the cause of the life of all three Principles and the Spirit hath the Lights Dominion in which the noble or pretious Image standeth together with God's Love and the outward Spirit hath the earthly Lifes dominion which should seek and open the Wonders and the inward Spirit should give it wisdom wit understanding to do it and the Soul should manifest or reveal to it the Abyss viz. the great Secresy 6. The Soul is the Jewel and the Souls Spirit is the inventor or finder of the Jewel the earthly Spirit is the seeker and the earthly Body is the Mystery wherein lyeth the Arcanum of the great hidden Secresy for the Deity hath manifested or revealed it self with or by the Earthliness as in a comprehensible Substance therefore now THREE Seekers belong to the Soul 7. And you should not look upon it so as if we undervalued the outward Life for it is the most profitable for us of all as to the great Wonders of God there is nothing more profitable to the whole Man then that he stand still in his Threefold Dominion and not go back with the outward into the inward but go with the inward into the outward 8. For the outward is a Beast and belongeth not to the inward but its Wonders which are generated forth out of the inward and have opened or discovered themselves in a comprehensible Substance they belong with their Figures not with their Substance to the inward those should the inward Spirit receive and take in viz. God's Deeds of Wonder for they will in Eternity be its JOY 9. But we say that the Soul can very well be retained or held in the New Man if its Tincture Spirit do but hinder the seeking and Imagination and though the outward Spirit be Beastial yet the inward understanding Spirit can hold the outward and subdue it for that is its Lord but he that letteth the Beastial Spirit be Lord he is a Beast and hath also a Beastial Image in the inward Figure in the Tincture 10. And he that letteth the Fire-Spirit viz. the Turba be Lord he is a substantial Devil in the inward Image and then it is necessary for the outward Spirit to pour water into the Fire that it may hold the stern Spirit captive whereas whiles it will not be God's Image it is a Beast according to the Inward Image 11. And when we consider our selves in or as to the union the outward Spirit is very profitable to us for many a soul would perish when the Beast-spirit acteth which yet holdeth the Fire captive and setteth the earthly beastial Labour and Joy before the Fire-Spirit wherein it can delight it self till it can through the Wonders somewhat discover its noble or pretious Image in the Imagination again so that it seeketh it self again 12. You my beloved Children who are generated in God to you it is said that it is not done without cause that God hath breathed the outward Spirit into Adam viz. the outward Life into his Nostrils 13. It was dangerous for this Image God knew how it went with Lucifer and what the great eternal Magia can do Adam also might have become a Devil but the outward Looking-Glass hindered that for where water is it quencheth the Fire 14. And many a Soul in its malice and wickedness would in a little while become a Devil if the outward Life did not hinder it so that the Soul cannot quite and totally kindle and enflame it self 15. How evil wicked and venomous is many a one that he would murther and commit abominable evil and wickedness but that his Fire hath Water else it would be done and committed as is to be seen in the Gall which is a fire poyson or venome but is mixed with water so that the pomp and fury of the Fire is allayed 16. Thus it is also with the inward Substance the Spirit of this World hath insinuated it self in the Abyss into the Soul and hath in its Source or Quality mortal Water wherewith it often moisteneth the Soul when it would spit fire 17. Also the outward Spirit could not without the Fire have a Life and though it hath Fire in all Creatures yet the Fire is onely the fierce Wrath of the inward Fire 18. The Inward Fire consumeth Earth and Stone also Body and Blood as also the Noble and precious Image if it becometh kindled or inflamed in the Will and there the Water is a Medicine for it which layeth the pomp or fury of going forth aloft over the Meekness of God as Lucifer did The Seventeenth Question Whence and wherefore there is Contrariety of the Flesh and the Spirit 1. YOu know beloved Brother very well that Fire and Water is at Enmity for the Fire is Life and the Water is its Death which you see very well when Water is poured into the Fire then is the source or quality of the Fire out and the Fire is in Death 2. But in Man it is not so totally in Death in respect of the Light which continually causeth the Fire yet there is an Enmity as between God and Hell there is Enmity and yet Hell or Anger-Fire is Gods 3. And God's Majesty would not be if his Anger were not which sharpneth the Divine obscure hiddenness of the Eternity by the fierce wrath of Nature so that it becometh turned into Fire out of which the high Light in the free Liberty becometh generated which in the meek source or quality maketh Majesty 4. And yet the Fire is the only Cause that in the Light in the Meekness there is a Springing for the Light existeth from the Glance of the Fire and hath in it the source or quality of the Fire 5. But as afore-mentioned the Will sinketh in the
filling for it hath nothing whereby it can defend it self but the Desiring 40. And here originateth the Eternal Enmity and opposite Will The Will willeth not to be dark and yet its desiring maketh it dark it endureth the stirring readily for it is its manifestation or revelation but the in drawing and darkning it doth not love though indeed the Will becometh not drawen nor darkned but the Desiring in the Will impregnateth it self 41. But now being the Desiring sticketh in the darkness therefore there is a great Anguish for it becometh stirred and drawn and also darkned and vexeth it self in it self and desireth the Liberty and draweth so eagerly after the Liberty and willeth to draw it self into the Liberty and yet maketh it self onely the more eager rough and hard and is like a horrible sharpness which is consuming viz. of the Darkness 42. For it graspeth the Liberty into it self but is so sharp that it appeareth in the Liberty as a flash of lightning which consumeth the darkness together with the eagerness Therefore saith God I am a consuming Fire 43. Here understand how all Matter standeth in the right Fires Might and how the Floar shall once be purged for that is the original of the Fire which hath ALL Might and Power for it consumeth whatsoever the desire hath made be it Stone or Earth for it is the sharpness of the Eternal Liberty and giveth or affordeth Centrum Naturae the Center of Nature 44. But that you may search yet deeper know that the Fire in it self originally standeth in Three Forms viz. First In the Desiring And then secondly in the Matter of that which is attracted viz. in the Darkness in which is Substantiality from the attracting And Thirdly In the Anguish-source or Pain The Fourth Form 45. And the Fourth Form maketh it self viz. the Flash of Lightning for the Liberty causeth that and that is the kindler of the Anguish-source for the Desiring in the Darkness willeth only to have the Liberty and the Liberty being a light without shining is therefore like a very deep Blew Colour mixed with Green so that it cannot be discerned plainly what colour it is of for all Colours are in it and the Desiring in it self in its eager anguish and sharpness breaketh the colours and maketh in it self the terrible consuming Flash of Lightning and changeth it according to the Anguish so that it becometh Red. 46. Yet the Liberty in the Desiring suffereth not it self to be bound or held but altereth it self from the Red flash of Lightening in the Light into a glance of the Majesty and that is in the Liberty an exulting great Joy 47. For in the Light the Eye becometh manifested or revealed as also the Substantiality in the Will where then it becometh apprehended what Light or Darkness is And thus the Eternity becometh apprehended And thus originateth God's Holiness into wonders continually evermore and from Eternity and hath neither limit nor beginning for it is an Eternal Beginning comprised and framed into Nothing but into the Wonders which are its own substance wherein there is neither limit nor number 48. And thus in the still Eternity is nothing apprehended but the glance of the Majesty and the Spirit which is generated in the Will and is the Government in the Majesty 49. Beloved Sir and Friend understand the sence aright we mean not that the Birth or Geniture taketh hold of the Liberty externally without it self but in it self in the Center it taketh hold of it self in it self and maketh Majesty in it self and yet there is no barring in but is as when out of Death or Nothing a life cometh to be that thus dwelleth only in it self and that is called a Principle and that wherein it dwelleth is called Nature and hath Seven Spirits or Forms as is to be seen in our Second and Third Book 50. Yet the Principle hath but one Spirit which is the life of the Principle and hath also but one Will which is the filling of the Eternity with the glance of the Majesty 51. For the Principle is the power or vertue generated out of the will of the Eternity and the entrance or eternal beginning of the Power is the Powers Life and Spirit which bringeth the Essences of the Genetrix and openeth the Original of the Majesty 52. And the whole Eye which hath thus comprised or framed it self into a Looking-Glass in the A and O is ALL it is the Eternity and bringeth forth in it self in the Eye the Majesty which is the heart and power or vertue of the Eye and also bringeth forth the Spirit which in the heart goeth forth out of the Power out of the fiery-light-flaming Essences 53. Thus you understand the holy Number Three in one Substance that the Father is the Eternity without ground where is NOTHING and yet there is ALL and in the Eye of his glance or lustre he seeth himself that he is All and in the Power of the Majesty he feeleth himself and tasteth himself and smelleth himself that he is GUT GOOD that is that he is GOTT GOD although the T viz. Weightiness originateth in the Center 54. And in the Spirit is the stirring in the Power and the Multiplicity without ground and number wherein an eternal unsearchable Multiplicity doth exist and all in the Power 55. For that which hath no ground hath no number and is no closing up or comprehension or shutting in and that which is within it self is not apprehensible out of it self but as to the Spirit it is feeling indeed Thus the Inward driveth forth out of it self and manifesteth or revealeth it self in Figures else God would NOT be known or apprehended 56. Thus God is together ONE Spirit and standeth from Eternity in THREE Beginnings and Ends and only in himself There is no place found for Him and he hath also nothing in himself that is like unto Him also there is Nothing that can seek or manifest any thing more than HIS Spirit which alwayes it self from Eternity in Eternity manifests it Self 57. He is an Eternal Seeker and Finder as viz. of himself in great Wonders and what he findeth he findeth in the great Power he is the opening of the Power nothing is like unto Him and nothing findeth him but what inclineth or giveth it self up in him that goeth into him that which denyeth it self that it is then is God's Spirit therein ALL for it is A will in the eternal NOTHING and yet is in ALL as God's Spirit it self is 58. And this My beloved Sir is the Highest Mystery and therefore if you will find this seek it not in me but in your self but not in your Reason that must be as dead and your desirous will in GOD and so it is the will and deed in you and so the Spirit of God bringeth your will into it self and so you may well see what GOD is and what Spirits
maketh astringent austere or harsh from the attracting in the Will and the attracting is stinging and the suffering is bitter which the Will willeth not and thereupon in it self goeth forth from the sting and maketh a Principle of its own in which the Majesty appeareth 82. Thus existeth in the bitter suffering the great Anguish whereas yet nothing is there that suffereth but it is in it self thus and it is its own Life and if this were not the Glance of the Majesty would not be neither the one is the cause of the other for in the Darkness is the flash of Lightning and in the Liberty the Light with the Majesty 83. And this now is the parting that the Liberty is a still nothing which Liberty receiveth the Light and maketh the Darkness Material whereas yet there is no substance of palpability but dark spirit and power a filling of the Liberty in it self understand in the Desiring not without for without is the Liberty 84. Therefore is God the most secret and also the most revealed and that is Mysterium magnum the great Mystery Thus the Abysse is also secret and yet revealed as the Darkness is before our eyes but the source or pain is unsearchable or unperceptible till the will diveth thereinto then it becometh felt and found when the will loseth the Light and herein lyeth the ground of right beleeving or true Faith Let this be told you ye Teachers in Babel 85. Since then there is an Abysse which is called the Ground in respect of the comprehension of the Darkness where the source or pain is as a cause of the Life within for the fierce wrathfull slash of Lightening is the awakening of the Life whereas there is nothing there but in it self therefore it is also a Desiring and the Desiring is a Seeking and yet can find nothing but a Looking-glass and a similitude of the dark fierce wrathful source or pain wherein nothing is 86. For it is a figure of the earnest severe fierce wrathful flash of Lightning and of the sharp and strong Might which is God's according to which he calleth himself a Consuming Fire and an Angry Zealous or Jealous God 87. This Looking-glass is also without Ground without Beginning and End and yet hath an Eternal Beginning and End and is the Eternal Only Cause that the Abysse is Blew Dusky and Fiery It is the Cause of the Stars and Elements for the Firmament is the other or second Looking-glass generated out of this 88. Since then there is in all things a Threefold Source one whereof is the others Looking-glass Generating and Cause nor thing excepted All standeth according to the Substance or Working of the Number Three 89. Now seeing there is a Looking-glass in the Abysse wherein the source or quality beholdeth it self therefore that also is a figure and image of the source or quality which standeth before the source or quality and acteth or generateth nothing but is a Virgin of the source quality or pain wherein the fierce Wrath of the flash of Lightning discovers it self in infinity without Number and continually openeth its wonders therein with the bitter spirit of the stirring Essences which in the flash of Lightening hath its Life so that it goeth swifter than a Thought 90. Though indeed the THOUGHTS of the Creatures stand and move herein and the Spirits of all living Creatures are with their Root standing herein every Life according to its Principle 91. And in this Spirit of the fire-flash standeth the Great Omnipotent Life for it is consuming as the flash of Lightning consumeth the Darkness and that Fire all things and yet continueth a Life in it self but it is an Hunger and Thirst and must have Substantiality else it continueth a Dark Hunger-fire a will of devouring and having Nothing a will to rage prick and find nothing but it self out of which cause the Substantiality viz. the Water as also Sulphur is generated and generateth it self from Eternity to Eternity 92. Here seek the first Root of the Soul viz. in the Fire-Life and the second in the Light-Life in the Majesty and then you will find God's Image and similitude and the greatest Mystery of the Deity lying therein 93. Since then there is such an Eye of the fierce Wrath wherein the earnest severe stern fire-life originateth yet is not at all sundred from the Fire-Life it is One and the same Life and hath Two Principles for it burneth in a twofold source or quality one within another and is One Spirit in Two distinctions with two Wills the one dwelling in the Fire the other in the Light 94. And know for certain assuredly that the Dark Fire-Life is the the Abysse of Hell for it is the stern severe Anger of God 95. And seek it not so as Babel the great City of Confusion upon earth hath sought which yet we blame for nothing else but her negligence and inconsiderateness seeking self-honour and power and so hath captivated her self in the fierce wrathful Anger of God which hath had her a long time under its Wonders and drawn many souls into its source or quality Consider well of it 96. In the Third Part of our Writings it is largely described for that is somewhat easier to reach than this but this is the deepest Ground of Eternity as much as a Spirit can be capable of for more it CANNOT bear yet it may be expressed much more at large but not more deeply for it is comprized in the Abysse in both Principles as indeed a Soul originateth in the Abysse in both Principles and in the spiritual Will in the Eternity 97. And therefore if it be not circumspect the Devil may easily ride upon its Chariot viz. upon its Will but if it be circumspect and casteth it self into the Will of the Majesty of God then the holy Spirit of God rideth upon its will and it is his Chariot 98. Herein you may clearly discern Heaven and Hell Angels and Devils Evil and Good Life and Death if you but search after it as we shall further mention to you The Sixth Form of Fire 99. Thus then seeing Two Principles stand in One Substance as none with reason can speak against it for every Life standeth in Poyson and Light every one in its own Principle according as it hath the Source or Fountain Quality so hath it also its Light Thus it may be discerned concerning the Sustenance of the Life what that is which sustains or preserves the Life that it starve or famish not and what driveth forth its Source or fountain Quality that it may subsist Eternally 100. Now this also is in Two distinctions for the Light-Life hath its source or fountain quality and driving forth and the Fire-Life also its source or fountain quality and driving forth each in it self but the Fire-Life is a Cause of the Light-Life and the Light-Life is a Lord of the Fire-Life and herein lyeth the Mysterium magnum the
Nature for the Divine Mystery of the Trinity standeth above and the Mystery of Nature beneath each Circle signifieth one Person of the Deity in the first Mystery Of the O. Numb 4. and of Principle and of Fire Numb 7. 175. The O with Number 4. signifieth the Ground of the Mystery viz. the Geniture or Birth of the Heart or Word of God which the first will viz. the A in the Looking-Glass of Wisdom compriseth and holdeth it in self as a Ground of its substance For the O signifieth also the Eye of the Looking-Glass of Wisdom for in the Wisdom is the Eternal Word comprised which manifests or revealeth it self through the Principle of the Fire in the Light World Go from the O about that Circle and so thou findest beneath Principle and Fire Number 7. Of V Numb 5. and of Substance Numb 8. 176. The V with Number 5. signifieth the Spirit of the Mystery without or besides Nature viz. the first eternal profound groundless or unsearchable will-Will-Spirit which originateth out of the Will and in the Power or Vertue of the Word in the Great Mystery and goeth forth out of the Will and Word and its Exit maketh Substance viz. Wonders of the Power Colours and Vertue whereas yet in the Mystery of the Profundity Groundlesness or Unsearchableness without or besides Nature no colours are apprehended for they lye all in ONE and it is the twinckling of a great Wonder and that is called a Substance of the Wonder Go about from V on that Circle and thou findest beneath at Number 8 Substance signifying that all Substance is beneath the Spirit of the Number Three or Trinity and that men must alwayes distinguish Substance from the Deity 177. For in Substance originateth Nature with its seven Forms for the Number Three is only a Spirit in Substance and yet there is also no Substance without the Number Three for the Desire of the Number Three is the Eternal Magia and maketh Substance it bringeth into a ground according to the Model which the Spirit openeth in the wisdom out of her is the Creation proceeded according to the Model of the virgin-like Wisdom Further Information Concerning the First Principle and the Mystery of the Beginning in the Creation and of the Dark World how the Angle or Point of the Cross with Number 9. at the left with its upper and neather Space is understood Of FATHER Number 9. 178. Number 9. there standeth before the Angle or Point of the Cross FATHER and before that the Abysse signifying the Mystery of the Father without or besides Nature for with the Angle of the Cross Nature beginneth The first and Greatest Mystery is the Abysse where the Nothing introduceth it self into a will which is called FATHER or the Original to somewhat Out of the Mystery of the Father is the Creation through Nature originated A Man is here to understand the Eternal Nature with its Seven Forms with or by this Mystery Soul Numb 10. 179. At the Angle or Point of the line standeth Soul Number 10. signifying the Original of the Eternal Spirits viz. Angels Souls of Men the Angle or Point signifieth the Center in Nature where the Threefold Spirit revealeth or manifests it self with or by Nature signifying the Magick Fire in the Fathers Property out of which the Angels have their Original as also the Souls of Men. 180. A man should here understand the Ground and Original of an Eternal Spirit for nothing is Eternal unless it hath its orsginal out of the Eternal Magick Fire This Original is not understood to be the true or right Spirit but to be the Center viz the Cause of the Spirit Souls Will Numb 11. 181. Every true or right Spirit is understood with the understanding in the Light of Life for in the Fire there can be no right or true understanding but in the desire of the Light Therefore must the fiery Will turn it self to the Heart of God viz. to the Power or Vertue of the Light and understanding as here is to be seen where upon the line of the Cross standeth the Souls Will marked with Number 11 and there it receiveth Power and Vertue from the Heart of God and is generated or born an Understanding Spirit Will Numb 12. and Soul N umb 13. 182. For it receiveth the Power or Vertue of the Light in the Meekness and Humility and goeth with its Will-Spirit viz. with the noble or pretious Image Similitude of God through the Power or Vertue of the Heart into the second Princiciple viz. into the Light World as here at the right beyond the Heart in the other or second Circle is to be seen where standeth Will Number 12. and then Soul Number 13. signifying how the Soul out of the fires source or quality out of the Fathers Property entereth into the Sons Power or Vertue and Property and dwelleth in the Divine Power or Vertue in the Light-world HOLY SPIRIT Numb 14. 183. Without or beyond the Angle or Point of the Cross standeth HOLY SPIRIT Number 14. signifying the holy Spirit which from Eternity originateth in the Will of the Father at the left at the Angle or Point Number 9. and bringeth it self through Nature through the Heart and Divine Power or Vertue at the right without or beyond Nature also through the Angels or Souls-Spirits Power or Vertue forth and dwelleth in the Liberty in the Glance of the Power or Vertue and Majesty and is in Nature yet of Nature unapprehended but only in the Divine Power or Vertues Property Image Numb 15. 184. Beyond the word HOLY SPIRIT Number 15. standeth Image also without or beyond Nature signifying that the noble or pretious Image sprouteth forth out of the Souls Fire as a Blossome or Flower out of the Earth and hath no feeling or sense of the Pain of the fiery Property for the Fire standeth in it as it were swalowed up and yet it is there but in another source or fountain quality viz. a desire of Love a light-flaming Fire in Divine Property Abysse Numb 16. 185. Beyond Image standeth Abysse Number 16. signifying that the right true Image standeth in the Abysse without or beyond all source or pain and dwelleth in Nothing but only in it self with or through it GOD. Therefore there is Nothing that can find touch or break it but only the Divine Power or Vertue for it standeth not in Nature although indeed with the Root it proceedeth from Nature and yet it is another thing as an Apple is another thing than the Tree though it stand upon the Tree and receive power and vertue from the Tree and yet the Sun giveth it also power and vertue So also the Divine Sun viz. the Majesty giveth the Image power and vertue Of the Word Omnipotence Numb 17. and Wrath Numb 18. 186. Further at the left standeth Number 17. Omnipotence and it standeth also without or beyond the Circle signifying the Fathers
Trinity Pure Element Number 34. 215. The word Pure Element on the Crosse's upper Line Number 43. signifieth the inward world out of which this outward with the Four Elements is become generated forth and standeth in the Inward Root in the Substance thereof Holy Spirit Num. 44. Son Num. 45. 216. Moreover it is to be observed exactly how the Words stand begin and end for they begin on the outward Circle at the Left where above Number 5. the Holy Spirits Character or Letter V. standeth and beneath Number 8. Substance and goeth through the two Circles at the Right even into the second Space which signifieth the Pure Divine Elements Original its indwelling and Substance whence it Originateth viz. from the Spirit of the Eternal Mystery in the Divine Substantiality viz. in the Substance of the Great Mystery and yet is only manifest or revealed in the second Principle viz. in the Substance of the Son and Holy Spirit as above one the Circle at the Right is to be seen Number 44. and 45. Father Numb 46. Holy Spirit of Divine Wisdom and Understanding Numb 47. 217. The Pure Element is the working in the right true Heaven and shutteth it self in and out with or by the Cross it is the springing or flowing moving in the Fire and Light-Heaven from or by with the Divine Substantiality understand Substance and not the Spirit of God is a life for it reacheth not into the Substance of the Father Number 46. where beneath on the Circle standeth Divine Wit or Understanding for the Element giveth or affordeth not divine Wit but the Holy Spirit Number 47. giveth Divine apprehension knowledge or skill and wit or understanding 218. The Element is a Substance in respect of the Deity as the Life in the flesh is understood to be in respect of the Soul For the Tincture is higher and giveth the ENS of the Spirit wherein the Light-Fire is understood Humanity Flesh Numb 48. 219. Under the word Pure Element standeth at Number 27. on the stroak of the upper Line of the Cross Death and the word beginneth laying hold on the left Circle and goeth through the Cross through the first right Circle There observe both the outward Circles at the left and at the right above and beneath and then thou wilt soon find what the right or authority of Death is and how it is the dying source or fountain quality in the Magick Fire and holdeth the Substantiality captive in itself as at the left beneath at Number 8. at the right beneath at Number 4. 8. is to be seen and then above on the same Circle at Number 44. and at the left above at Number 5. there a man seeth how the spiritual Life goeth and sprouteth forth through the Death and possesseth the highest Circle For all whatsoever willeth to reach or attain the Divine Life must go through the Dying Magick Fire and stand or subsist therein as the Heart on the Cross must and doth stand or subsist in the Fire of God 220. Further it is to be known that we in Adam have turned our selves away from the Cross and are with the Desire of Lust or Pleasure gone with our will above the Cross at Number 23. into an Own self Rule or Government and now Death hath captivated us in it self therefore we must now sink down out of Death on the Cross at the Line of Christ again into the Heart and become new born or regenerate in the Heart else Death holds us captive in it self For now Death standeth on the Cross-Line but at the Judgement it shall be given to the Dark World For our Will must now enter through Death on the Cross into Rest but the outward Cross shall be taken away and then Death is a spectacle or scorn and derision 221. Thirdly it signifieth that the Life of God in Christ bare * Death as a shew or spectacle of Triumph on the Cross when Death became broken on the Cross in the dying of Christ where the Life sprouted through Death and the Heart gave up or yeelded it self into the middle viz. into the Center as victorious Lord or Conquerour of Death Paradise Numb 49. 222. Under the Heart at Number 49. standeth Paradise the Word beginneth at the left on the outward Circle where above at Number 5. is marked the Spirit of the Great Mystery of the Profundity or unsearchableness of Eternity viz. V. and it goeth through the Cross at the right through all the Three Circles even into the Liberty this signifieth the constitution or existence of Paradise it originateth in the Mystery of the Eternity and prouteth through the outward and also hrough the Light World hidden in the outward World and manifested or revealed in the second Principle in the Light World as therefore the World penetrateth through all the Three Circles shewing the humane Bodies original Divine Substantiality Numb 50. 223. For in or at this place out of this substance Adams Body understand the outward Body was created according to the Third Principle and the inward Body understand the Images Body out of the Divine Substantiality as at the right near Paradise is marked with Number 50. Christ Flesh Numb 51 52. 224. That very Divine Substance understand Substance not Spirit is included in the Wisdom of God and therein is the heavenly Tincture For God's Word that became Man brought this Substance into Mary into her in Death inclosed Substantiality viz. into the Images Body and thereby God and Man became One Person 225. For this Flesh is Christs Flesh according to the Heavenly part therefore beyond Substantiality standeth Christ's Flesh Number 51 52. Christ bare such Flesh in the Inward Man as Adam had before his Eve was when he stood in the Divine Image in Purity Therefore can no Man go into Paradise unless he attain that Flesh again that Adam had before the Fall and Christ attained in the becoming Man or Incarnation Therefore must we all become born out of the Heart upon the Cross and put on Christ Mystery Numb 53. 226. Under Paradise Number 53. standeth Mysterium Mystery and the word beginneth at the left in the second Circle where above on the same Circle Number 4. the Character or Letter O standeth and beneath Principle and Fire Number 7. and goeth to the right through the Cross through the first Circle at the right This signifieth rightly and exactly Mans Creation according to the Body 227. For the Body is a Mystery taken out of the inward and outward World from above and from beneath understand out of the Earths Matrix This is the Earths Matrix out of this Mystery was it created and a Man seeth how it was created out of the inward and outward Substance viz. out of the dark and light World and is mixt with evil viz. with fierce-wrath and also with Good Wonder Numb 54. Angel Numb 55. Spirit Numb
triurnphs upon the Cross but she entereth not in into the Center She wil NOT go through Death into Life 260. She saith She liveth but hath ar injurious unrighteous life yet that is her right or proper life if she would live in it alone to her self but she oppresseth borneth compelleth the Children that are born or regenerated on the Cross and treadeth them under foot 261. Therefore hath the Crossbent and drawn its Bow and will shoot away Babel from the Cross signifieth the Spirit of Wonders in the Magia The Seventh Form of Fire 262. One Magia goeth alwayes out of the other and is the others Looking-Glass and Eye where the Wonders are apprehended or known and propagated for in the Abysse is NOTHING and in the Magia is ALL Every Looking-Glass is a Center and yet of its own for the first pleasure or longing seeking and desiring generateth that it is the model of the first 263. For when I search for the Beginning of Substance then I find the Eye which is God that is a desirous Will of Eternity which entereth in into it self and seeketh the Abysse in it self 264. It is in nothing but it is the Abysses Looking-Glass and seeketh it self and findeth it self and that which is found seeketh again a model that it may seek find and see it self therein 265. And that goeth on to the Number Ten and then the last findeth the first again in it self and thus the Last is a model or looking-glass of the First and the First of the Last and is as an Eternal Band and standeth or consisteth in the Will in the desiring seeking and finding and in this Substance is the Mysterium Magnum or great Mystery contained or included 266. But now will the Middle in the Desiring have a satiating or fulfilling wherein it may rest else all would stand or be in an Anxious Source or Torment and the Desiring draweth the Middle out of all Forms wherewith it filleth or satiateth its hunger wherewith or whereby in it self it standeth in Perfection in Joy and so out of the Anguish a Love cometh to be a satiating fulfilling or easing of the Source or fountain Quality of Pain and the middle is Sulphur with that the Spirit refresheth it self in the Will For Sulphur hath two Forms in it self viz. Power or Vertue and Light 267. And that is together the Substance generated out of All Forms it is Matter Substantiality Corporeity God's Body Christ's Flesh the Heavenly and is the total or universal fulfilling or satiating of the Spirit in the O it is the Rest and Manifestation or Revelation of the Deity and standeth in the Virgin of Wisdom 268. The Cross is its limit and is the Substantiality which goeth with the sinking into Death as above mentioned where the fierce Wrath remaineth in Death and it is still quiet as a Death or a Nothing and the Life sprouteth out of it into another Principle 269. It is not the Principle only the Principle becometh generated in it in it are all Looking-Glasses of the Magia manifested or revealed moreover the Wonders of the Genetrix It containeth the Mysterium Magnum the Great Mystery and out of it the Spirit openeth the Wonders of Eternity the Spirit giveth it the Essences for that is its food for its hunger 270. It is a substance of wonders without number and end and is also of no Beginning for the Spirit in the Desiring beginneth it from Eternity and continueth in Eternity it is a Body of the Number Three which is called God and a Body of Angels so that the Spirit standeth or is in an Image else it would NOT be apprehended or known 271. Thus it knoweth it self in the Image it self and seeketh the best Magia and what it seeketh that it findeth and eateth it and therewith or thereby giveth to the Body of God its will so that there is an unity in the holy Principle 272. For in the Will of the corporeal Spirit rise up the Wonders those the Spirit of Eternity viz. the holy Spirit receiveth or apprehendeth and so there is a ringing and song out of the eternal Wonders for the corporeal Spirits will is therein 273. And in these seven Forms the Joy of the Deity becometh multiplied and perfect for it is a fulfilling of the eternal Desiring and is the Eternal Food 274. But seeing all things or every Substance originateth from the Fire we will clearly set before you the Mysterum Magnum the Great Mystery and plainly shew you Paradise if any will be blind to him it is told and discovered let him go away with Babel 275. Ye know that in Fire 🜂 and Water 🜄 all Life standeth or consisteth and the Substantiality is its Body and the Body is or existeth out of the Power or Vertue of the Spirit for it is the Spirits Food and the Spirit is again the Bodies Food and the highest greatest Nutriment is in it self for the outward would not hold or retain it if the right or true Life were not in it self 276. Therefore now the Fire is the first cause of the Life and the Light thereof is the second cause and the Spirit the third cause and yet is but one substance or thing which closeth it self into a Body and manifesteth and so with seeking findeth 277. And every Substance is or consisteth in two Substances viz. in an outward and inward the one seeketh and findeth the other the outward is Nature the inward is Spirit above Nature and yet there is no schism or rending asunder but only in that which is included in a time therein the time severeth the limit so that the End findeth the Beginning 278. Thus ye see also how out of the Light the right or true Substantiality exists for it is a fulfilling or satiating of the Will The Water existeth out of the Meekness of the fight for the desiring layeth hold of the Meekness and retaineth it for it is a good relish thus is the Meekness Substantial and a Substance of the Fire a fulfilling of the desirous fierce Wrath an allaying of the fierce Wrath and a corporeity of the Time for when the Body falleth away then is its Spirit in the Beginning in that which hath given it forth in that looking-glass it is 279. So then seeing the Source or fountain Quality is twofold therefore is the Water also twofold viz. an outward and an inward the one belongeth to the Spirit the other to the outward Life the outward is accompted a Death the inward is its Life the outward standeth between the fierce Wrath and Paradise in the in-sunk down Death and the inward is the Paradise it self for the Spirit sprouteth therein out of the Eternity 280. And you may see that this is true thus Consider Winter and Summer also Cold and Heat and you will soon perceive it if you be born or generated internally and not externally only but with the first Magick Will or Desire to find God for
Noah what should a scorner do with the Mystery he seeketh only for plenty to Eat and to Drink and looketh how he may satisfie his Pomp wherewith he might Ride on in Babel 42. Thus my Beloved Friend we have given you a short hint of the Enochian Life also what his Office and Condition is as also of Moses and Elias you should further consider of them as a discerning Man for we dare not speak otherwise of it also our Understanding and Will is turned into such a way of Speech and in this place at this time I am not allowed to write more fundamentally with a simple understanding 43. If God permit and that it be given to Us to write somewhat upon the first and also the second Book of Moses more may be opened for the Names that are set down of the Fathers before the Deluge or Flood belong all to the Mystery and there are Great Wonders therein when it will be Day then you shall by them apprehend the whole Course of the World The Six and Thirtieth Question What the Soul of the Messiah or Christ is 1. THis we have explained in our Third Book concerning the Three-fold Life of Man yet seeing every one that readeth this hath not that at hand also because of the Question more must be answered therefore it also shall be set down for you ask in the following Question concerning Christ's Spirit which was obedient and which Christ Commended to his Father 2. Here shall be given to the Old sick Adam a Good reviving Cordial a Medicine for Death that he may be awakened for his Mother will bear or bring forth a young Son who shall live in her Bosom and shall rejoyce at it 3. And now if we will consider of Christ's Soul we must our selves seek it and find it for Christ's Soul is a Hamane Soul conceived in Mary in the twofold Virgin 4. Though we acknowledge the outward Mortal Life in Mary for no Pure Virgin for that which is Mortal hath the Anger and the Turba which breaketh or corrupteth all purity so that no pure Virgin is born of Eve but all are her Daughters 5. And Eve her self was but half a Virgin for Adam was the other half according to the Two Tinctures wherein man appeared in a total entire Virgin and pure Love and God through him as the Original through the Creature which he made out of himself 6. And thus also in one whole or entire person there is a pure Love and Chastity for it seeketh no other Mixture it is it self the Mixture of both the Tinctures viz. of the Souls Tincture and of the Spirits Tincture and therein is power and ability that it can generate a Spirit out of the Fires Tincture which is called Soul and Spirit 7. Which Adam squandred away when he let the Earthly Life captivate him and therefore he must be broken and a Woman be made out of him which must set her Love Delight Longing and Imagination into Adams Tincture if she would be impregnate with a Soul 8. And None can say that Eve before the Touching of Adam was a pure Chast Virgin for as soon as Adam awaked out of sleep he saw her standing by him and imagined suddenly after or into her and took her to him and said This is Flesh of my Flesh and Bone of my Bone she shall be called a she-Man or Woman because she is taken out of Man 9. And she Eve also suddenly Imagined into Adam and one kindled the other in the seeking 10. And where is now the pure Chastity and Modesty It is not Beastial is not the outward Image become a Beast As is sufficiently to be seen in the Will and Substance or Doings that Man doth as a Beast and more foolishly for he hath Reason and rideth on in Reason so senslesly 11. But that it might be remedied and the Image come into One again therefore is the Word which spake the Soul forth out of God's Mouth and by the Holy Spirit breathed it into the Image become Man and is entred into the Earthly Image viz. into the Turba of Destruction 12. And you know very well that the Word hath the Water of the Eternal Life and the Fire of the Deity and out of the Fire the Tincture of the Deity and in the Tincture the Spirit of God which goeth forth out of God's Mouth and in the going forth is the Glance of the Majesty in the working of the Spirit Manifested 13. That very word is in the Virgin of the Wisdom of God and surrounded with the Eternal Wonders and that now out of the Great Love and Humility towards our Image which was destroyed to us in Adam is entered into us again and is in Mary understand in the Earthly Mary but with the Blessing become Man or Incarnate 14. The Blessing is this that to the Soul of Mary the Heavenly Virgin the Wisdom of God was put on which Adam had lost and therefore the Angel called her the Blessed a-among Women 15. No Woman from Adam to this Day had the Heavenly Virgin put on to her but only this Mary and therefore with the Blessing she became Chast and full of Modesty for the Spirit goeth not into the Earthly it Mixeth it self not with the Looking-Glass for that cannot be that the Looking-Glass should be as the Life it self 16. Thus understand us dearly according to its precious Depth Mans Soul is out of God and out of the Eternal but Mans Body is a Looking-Glass of the Eternal Thus hath God put on to the Virgin Mary God's Virgin but in the Souls Principle not in the Earthly Flesh as if she were Deified no she must die as all mankind doth 17. And in that very Virgin hath Gods Word out of God the Fathers Heart assumed the Seed of the Woman viz. the Souls Seed and the first Images Seed which now stood so long time in the Mystery broken 18. And now God's Life came thereinto made again a whole or Entire Image for the Water of the Eternal Life out of God's Heart mixed it self with the Souls Spirit 's Water for the Spirit existeth out of the Water and the Soul is Fire 19. Thus the Word took hold of the Souls Tincture and the Holy Spirit of the Spirits Tincture viz. of the Waters Tincture and out of Both became one Soul and yet the Creature remained distinct from God's Spirit but God's Spirit dwelleth therein and so out of God's Water and Tincture and out of the Seed of Mary out of her Tincture and Water in the high Blessing came one Flesh and Blood so that a Heavenly Man Equally at once in the Earthly became Man or was Incarnate 20. So that a Man might say this is the Womans Son viz. Maries right true bodily natural Sonne with Soul and Body with Flesh and Blood and all whatsoever a Man hath and also God's true Sonne which was generated out of God's Eternal Substance from
can desire to do well and be sorry when he hath been drawn away to do evil by the Lusts of his own Heart by which the Devil tempteth us to do Evil but if we will resist the Devil he will flie from us if we will leave off to do evil and desire trie and learn to do well without doubt we shall be able through God that dwelleth in us and then he will teach us all things and lead us into all Truth by his Spirit All this we shall fully understand and all Mysteries when God shall manifest himself in us if we earnestly desire it with all Humility self-denyal losing of Our Souls and being Nothing in our selves for then God will be All in All and nothing is impossible with God All this and much more hath the Author of this Answer to these Questions concerning the Soul found true and hath out of his inward Mystery manifested many things in this and other Writings of his the knowing whereof will be exceeding useful to the furtherance of the Salvation of every Soul which when I had read I was very much satisfied in my own Soul and do desire that others may be made partakers of them so far as lyeth in me I have therefore taken in hand to put this Treatise into English which I chose to do rather out of the Original then out of any Translations because they many times come short of the Authors own meaning and because I found many Errours in some of them and he is so deep in his Writings that we have need to desire that our Souls may be put into such a condition as his was in else they cannot be fully understood But the same God that satisfied his desires will satisfie ours if we cast our selves upon him in Our Souls and let him do with us what he pleaseth Concerning the Author I have now published the Brief Translation of his Life written in High-Dutch by Abraham Van Frankenberg who was long his acquaintance and continued so till his death The Relation is as followeth A brief Account of the Life and Conversation of Jacob Behme afterwards by Learned Men in Germany called Teutonicus Written in High-Dutch by Abraham van Franckenberg one very much acquainted with him JAcob Behme was born in the year 1575. at Old Seidenburg distant about two Miles from Gerlitz a City in Upper Lusatia highly Esteemed by Learned Men His Parents were Jacob his Father Vrsula his Mother both Countrey people In his youth he kept Cattel and at length by advice of Friends was sent to School where he learned to Read and Write together with the Fear of God afterwards was put to the Handicraft Trade of a Shoomaker when he became Master of his Trade in the year 1594. he marryed a Maid one Catharine the Daughter of John Kunshman a Butcher of Gerlitz with whom he lived quietly and well for thirty years together and had four Sons that learned Handicraft Trades Being from his youth inclined to the fear of God and very diligent in frequenting to hear the Preaching of Sermons he was at length stirred up by that saying and promise of our Saviours Lube 11. 13. Your Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him for it and because of the very many Controversies in Religion about which he could not satisfie himself he was moved in simplicity of Heart or Spirit inwardly earnestly and uncessantly to pray or ask seek and knock that he might know or apprehend the truth whereby then according to the Divine Drawing and will in the Spirit or Heart he was rapt into the Holy Sabbath wherein he continued seven whole dayes by his own Confession in highest Joy Afterwards when he was come to himself and having put off the folly of Youth he was driven by Divine Zeal vehemently to reprove all scandalous reproachful and blasphemous Speeches and withdrew from all unseemly matters and actings with earnestness for Love to Vertue By which way and Life being contrary to the course of the world he became but their scorn and derision During which time he mentained himself with the labour of his hands in the sweat of his Brows till the beginning of the sixth Seculum or Age viz. Anno 1600. when he was a second time touched by the Divine Light and by a sudden Glimps of a Pewter Vessel he was introduced into the Inward Ground or Center of the Hidden Nature He not being yet sufficiently satisfied with this went forth into the open fields and there perceived the wonderful or wonder-works of the Creator in the Signatures Shapes Figures and Qualities or Properties of all created things very clearly and plainly laid open whereupon being filled with exceeding Joy kept silence praising God and so contentedly satisfied himself therewith for a while But according to God's Holy Counsel and Determination who manageth his works in secret about Ten years after viz. in the year 1610. by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit he was a third time stirred up and renewed by God whereupon being so enlightned with such great Grace bestowed upon him he could not put it out of his mind nor strive against his God therefore did by small means and without the help of any Books but only the Holy Scriptures write secretly for himself these Books following viz. 1. Anno 1612. the first Book called Aurora the Morning Redness or Rising of the Sun and being complained of to the Magistrates of Gerlitz for being the Author thereof the Book was taken and laid up in the Councel House with command to him that he being an Ideot or Layick should from thence-forth forbear such writing of Books which did not belong to his condition and employment upon which he abstained for seven years but after that being in like manner stirred up again by the moving of the Holy Spirit and being exhorted to it by the entreaty and desire of some people that feared God he took Pen in hand again and went on to write and perfected with good leasure and deliberation these that follow 2. Anno. 1619. The second Book concerning the Three Principles with an Appendix concerning the Three-fold Life-of Man 3. Anno. 1620. A Book of the Threefold Life of Man 4. The Answer to the Forty Questions of the Soul proposed by Dr. Balthazer Walter in the first Chapter whereof is contained a Treatise of the Reversed Eye or Philosophick Globe with an Appendix concerning the Soul the Image of the Soul and the Turba or destroyer of the Image 5. Three Books First 1. of the becoming Man or Incarnation of Jesus Christ Second 2. Of the Suffering Dying and Resurrection of Christ Third 3. Of the Tree of Faith 6. A Book of the small six Points and a Book of the Great Six Points 7. A Book of the Heavenly and Earthly Mystery 8. A Book of the Last Times or of the 1000. years Sabbath being two Epistles to Paul Keym. 9. Anno. 1621. De Signature Rerum of the
and St. James saith chap. 1. 17. Every good and perfect Gift cometh from above from the Father of Lights in whom there is no alteration nor shadow of change 6. But seeing you seek these things so vehemently you are even become the cause of finding them for God giveth his Mysteries both by means and without means but that none might boast he oftentimes useth very mean people in it that it may be known to come from His Hand 7. You shall be answered with a very firm and deep Answer yet comprized in brief not according to outward Reason but according to the Spirit of Knowledge 8. And though I could have fully demonstrated these things and set them down in a larger description yet seeing they are all plentifully enough described and explained in my other Writings I pass them ever now briefly for the delight of the Reader and that this may be a brief Memorial of the great Mysteries 9. But he that desireth to know these things fully and from the ground of them let him seek in the foregoing Writings especially in the Third Part where he hath the whole ground of the Divine Substance as also of the Creation of all things of that which is Eternal and also that which is temporary or transitory and how all hath come to be and act as it doth and what it will come to be at last 10. Wherein lyeth the Mysterium magnum the great Mystery so far as a Creature is able to apprehend or bear Thither I would have you directed for further Explanation and commend me to you in Christ into the Brotherly Love Anno Christi 1620. Jacob Beheme Called Teutonicus The First Question Whence the Soul Existed from the Beginning of the World 1. VVE have sufficiently in the Second and Third Book explain'd the Mystery of the Soul by the Three Principles of the Divine Substance where we have described the Eternal Centre of the Eternal Nature as also the Number Three of the Divine Substance with many circumstances and what Eternity hath ever been and how the beginning of the Creation came to be what an Angel and Soul is as also the heavy Fall of Lucifer and then both the Mothers that have so brought it forth the one generating the Heavenly Substantiality the other the Hellish Abomination also of Light and Darkness 2. Therefore in this Treatise we are not so very easily to be understood unless the Third part of our writings have been read and apprehended 3. Although that Apprehension doth not at all consist in humane power yet the way to it is very faithfully shewn so that if any have a mind to attain it if he will follow our counsel and advice therein he will well get a leader and directer that will shew him the Key the Mysterium magnum the great Mystery to the noble Stone Lapis Philosophorum the Philosophers Stone and to all Mysteries let none account it impossible for with God All is possible whosoever findeth God findeth ALL with and in HIM 4. Ye know from or in Reason that all things are sprung and come forth out of the Eternity and the Scripture telleth you In God are All things in him we live and move and we are all of his Off-spring 5. And though indeed we cannot say of God that the pure Deity is Nature but Majesty in the number Three yet we must say that God is in Nature though Nature doth not contain or comprehend him as little as the Air can contain or comprehend the glance or shining of the Sun yet we must needs say that Nature is generated in his Will and is a Seeking proceeded out of the Eternity 6. For where there is no Will there is also no Desiring But there is in God an Eternal Will which is Himself to generate his Heart or Sonne and that Will maketh the stirring or the exit out of the will of the heart which is a Spirit so that the Eternity standeth in Three Eternall Forms which are called Persons as we have very exactly explained it in the third Book 7. And since we see and know that there is not only Light and Majesty but also Darkness as is plain before our eyes 8. Therefore we ought to know from whence Darkness originateth for in the Eternity without or besides Nature no Darkness can be for there is nothing that can afford it we must only look into the Will and into the Desiring for a Desiring is an attracting 9. And whereas yet in the Eternity it hath nothing but only it self it attracts it self in the Will and maketh the Will fall and that is its Darkness 10. Whereas otherwise if it were not desirous it would be nothing but an Eternal stillness without Being or Substance the attracting therefore maketh Mobility and Essence which otherwise in the stillness cannot be and therefore also it maketh austere astringency hardness and grosness as also sharpness 11. Yet we cannot say neither that the Darkness swalloweth up the Light viz. the Eternal Liberty for that which is Eternal suffereth not it self to be altered or changed but we must say that Light and Darkness are IN One another 12. Now the Light is good and hath pleasant vertue or power and the Darkness hath austere or astringent hard cold and the Wills Desiring maketh Essences and attracting that is a stirring in the hardness thus the attracted stirreth from the drawing and is a whirling whereby in the sharpness Light and Darkness become mingled 13. And thus we are to consider how the free Light in the sharp stirring in the Substance is also sharpned where we understand the Fire flash of Lightning and the earnest severity and yet cannot say that any rending asunder is there 14. For that which is Eternal from no beginning hath no parting of one from another but standeth as a Wheel that generates it self in it self as you have a similitude of it in the Mind of a man where there is indeed a will of rising and flying but no departing away and the greater the will is the greater also is the substance and the more potent is the matter or the thing represented seeing it is sharpned 15. Thus seeing the still liberty which is neither Light nor Darkness becometh sharpned in the sharp desiring attracting so that it appeareth as a flash of Lightning that shineth 16. Therefore also we cannot say that the Liberty holdeth or captivateth the Light for from Eternity it hath had nothing but we may well say that the Light and the Glance shineth in the Liberty 17. For that which is free letteth in the Light but that which is not free as the harsh or austere astringency which maketh Darkness and is Material spoken after a spiritual manner that receiveth not the Light 18. But we may well say that which is meek and not holding or contracting receiveth the Light as ye see in water
for a desiring is a seeking and in the seeking standeth the the Figure of the Seeking the Figure maketh the Seeking manifest or revealed 152. Thus the Spirit dwelleth also in its own Figure in the Power or Vertue and in the Light of the Majesty and is an Image according to the Spirits Property 135. Not that the Spirit is the Image but the Seeking its Desiring is the Image for it dwelleth in its self in its seeking and is another Person in its Figure viz. the Powers or Vertues Figure and according to this Substance is God called Threefold in Persons 154. But that we may open your eyes wide to see ALL the Ground of the Deity as it now will and must be therefore behold now the great wonder which we had lost with going out of Paradise where we must labour in the Six Dayes Works of this World and so see what and where we are and ye will find here such a thing as hath stood hidden even to Nature 155. Behold when you will speak of the Trinity look upon the first Number upon A upon the Eternal Beginning which is the Father and then look upon the O in the middle which is the Son then look upon the V which is the Exit of the Holy Spirit which goeth into it self with the sincking through the sharp fierce Wrath into the second Principle which hath E and goeth through the Power or Vertue forth as a light-flaming Flash which hath I. 156. Now take the swift-going of the flaming Flash to it which is T Allmach T des Ewigen GOTTES the Omnipotence of the Eternal God which there in the fierce Wrath as a flash destroyeth and in der LIEB in the Love in the I as a Mighty loving God exulteth through presseth and powerfully exalteth or riseth up and if you put the I thereinto then have you the Matter of the Divine Substance in the Power or Vertue it is Ein Engel an Angel and in the Out-Birth out of the Center it is GOLDT Gold 157. The World is covetous and full of boasting especially those that would be accounted Masters of Arts and say they know Gold and are blind People why see you it not thou wilt say How Go with the outward life into death there must the outward life die and in the Anguish give it self forth into the Number of the Crown viz. into the Thousand Number 1000 there is the End and Death ariseth and standeth up to a glorious Life with a New fair Body and you need give nothing to it but the Soul it bringeth forth manifold fruit there thou hast an Angel which is free from the fierce Wrath for it is totally clean pure seek it and thou wilt find it 158. But thou supposest perhaps to find it thus in thy Old Garment no friend we will now teach you another A B C learn that first then seek if you will then have a love to it if not leave it for the * O is muchnobler and more pretious than the L. An Exposition of the Philosophick Globe or Eye of both the Threefold Circles which especially signifie the two Eternal Principles wherein yet the Third also is clearly understood And how a Man should understand them 162. THese Circles should be like A round Globe having the Cross go through it for it is an Eye of the Eternity that a man cannot delineate fully it is the Eye of the Substance of all Substances signifying the Eye of God which is the Looking-Glass of Wisdom wherein from Eternity all Wonders have been seen and hereby is delinated how it came into substance for the Reader of this book to Think and consider of 163. Not in such a way as if a Man could fully describe or delineate it for the mind or Thought only can apprehend it and only that Mind which can walk in the Divine Mystery not through Art or Reason but through the understanding which the Spirit of God openeth to the humane souls-Souls-Spirit in the Great Mystery else it can NOT be apprehended 164. The Reader should take consideration of the Number and then of what standeth within or without the Circle or where every word in the Circle beginneth and endeth it hath all its assured certain signification for every word standeth in its exact place 165. That which is without the Circle or Wheel signifieth the Libirty of the Abyss without or besides the Principle Number 1. Abysse 166. The great Mystery of the Abysse wherein the Divine Substance in the Looking-Glass of Wisdom generateth it self in the Ground is marked with Number 1. and Number 2. standeth by it so also round about the whole Circle is to be understood Of the three * Circles 167. The Three Circles drawn about one another signifie the Eternal Birth or Geniture of the Divine Substance together with All Eternal Mysteries without and within Nature viz. the Original of all Things or Substances as they are here marked Of that half of the Threefold Circle at the left hand and of Numb 2. 168. The Threefold Circle at the left where without the Circle standeth Number 2. The Mystery without or besides Nature signifieth how the profundity or groundlesness bringeth it self into a Ground viz. the Eye of Eternity the first Will which is called Father of Eterternity and of all Beginnings how in the Trinity in the Wisdom he introduceth himself into an Eternal Ground and dwelleth in himself and possesseth himself and how he bringeth himself into Nature and how Substance originateth as also Perceptibility and Perception Of that half of the Three-fold Circle at the right hand 169. The other Threefold Circle at the right signifieth the Divine Substance of the holy Trinity together with the Angelical World which originateth out of the Great Mystery of the Eternity and is manifested or revealed through the Principle of the Fire Of the Eye in the Circle 171. The Eye in the Circle where the Cross goeth through with an Angle or Point and Line signifieth each of them a World both at the left and right At the left it signifieth the great Mystery of the Dark World wher the Wonder-Eye introduceth it self in Nature At the right it signifieth the Light-world where the Divine Mystery hath through the Fire brought it self forth and dwelleth in the majestick Light with the first Mystery of Wonder An Exposition of the Circles at the left hand Numb 3 4 5. 173. The three Characters or Letters AOV marked with Number 3 4 5 signifie the Mystery of the holy Deity without or besides Nature how it manifests or reveals it self in Nature Of A Num. 3. and Tincture Num. 6. 174. A signifieth the first profound or groundless or unsearchable Will which is called Father go about that * Circle to the nether point of it there standeth Tincture Number 6. which is the Wills Ens and the first beginning to
56. 228. But Man was out of the Mystery created an Image and Similitude of or according to God to or for God's Wonder Therefore at the right Number 54. standeth Wonder For he was a Wonder of all things or Substances a Lord of All things or Substances taken out of all things or Substances and was in the Inward Image an Angel As next Wonder in the Liberty standeth Angel Numb 55. For his Spirit dwelleth in the Liberty of God viz. in the Majesty as beyond the word Angel Number 56. Spirit standeth Which all signifieth the right or true Man viz. the First before the Fall and the second in Christ into which he must enter again or is rent or separated from God Four Elements Numb 57. 229. Under Mystery Number 55. standeth Four Elements they begin at the left on the outward Circle and go to the right through the Cross through two Circles signifying the outward World which originateth as an Out-birth out of the inward Substance on the outward Circle and bringeth its Wonders into the Mystery first into the second Principle into the first two Circles for they shall not go with their Substance into the Liberty through the Third Circle at the Right but pass in the Principle into the Mystery and in the Principle be tryed or purged in the Fire For there is the Limit of Separation The Souls Joy in Ternario Sancto Number 58. 230. Above on the second Circle at the Right Number 45. standeth Son the same is the Judge and Separator and beneath on the same Circle Number 58. standeth Souls Joy in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary signifying that the Soul shall have joy in its works which it hath wrought in the Four Elements to the Praise and Glory of God which it hath introduced into the Angelical World into the Mystery For the Four Elements stand with their Root in the Great Mystery 231. And were the Earth not come into such a perished Condition and that the Devils Poyson and kindling or inflamation had not been done it were still one and the same Substance with or in the other Three Elements as indeed it is now in the Heavenly Substance Spiritual Bodies Habitation Num. 59. 232. This Bit hath Adam swallowed down into himself and thereby Lost his Angels Form For the Four Elements should stand hidden in him and he should live only in the One Element in Gods Power and Vertue and know or experiment nothing of the Evil As at the Right in the Liberty Number 59. standeth the Spiritual Mans Habitation there should the Images Body dwell viz. the Souls Body but that became hindred from it it must now under the Earth and become included or shut up in the Earthliness Earth Number 60. 233. Under the Four Elements standeth Earth Number 60. signifying that the Earth is wholly fallen back to the Inner World For the word toucheth neither the Left nor the Right Circle it is as a Death but the Cross goeth through it signifying its Restauration or bringing again to what it was that the Humane Earth is new-Born or Regenerated on the Cross and that the Heavenly and Divine Substance shall be severed from the Dark worlds Substance through the Fire of God where then shall be new Earth in a Heavenly Source or Fountain Quality Form Essence and Property and that which is hidden in the Earth in the Heavenly Part shall sprout or spring again Further is to be Considered that the Earth standeth thus upon or in the Abysse for it reacheth no Principle therefore it must pass away or vanish Earthly Man Numb 61. 234. Underneath standeth Number 61. Earthly Man where the Cross goeth through the midst of the Word which signifieth the fallen Earthly Man who is fallen under and into the Earth that is he is fallen home or back to the Earth and the Cross parteth or separateth the words Earthly and Man for Man shall again become separated from the Earth and enter into his Eternal Part either into the Light or Dark world Wonder Number 62. 235. Under the Cross Line standeth Number 62. Wonder signifying that the evil Wonder also the Evil part of the Earth shall in the Judgement of God when God will make separation fall home or back to the Abysse of Darkness and that shall be to All Devils and Evil Men their Earth on which they shall dwell one among another for the Abysse standeth under it below at Number 1. Babel Number 63. 236. Near Wonder standeth Babel Number 63. signifying how Babel is only a Wonder of the Abysse and worketh only Wonders in the Abysse Own Reason in Babel Numb 64. 237. Further above under the Circle at the Right after Earthly Man Number 64. standeth Own or self Reason in Babel which goeth round about the outside of the Circle of the Second Principle and goeth in own self Authority under the Divine World backward and supposeth She is in God and serveth or worshippeth him but is without God in self She or it Teacheth and doth only its own Things or Matters for it self for its own Ends it Ruleth the outward world in own self Reason without Gods Spirit and Will only according to its own Will Therefore it goeth about the Light world dissembling in Hypocrisie and giveth God good Words and continueth only without God upon or in the Abysse and thereinto also it falleth back and entereth Wonder of the Great Folly Num. 65. 238. Under Own Reason Number 65. standeth Wonder of the Great Folly signifying Babel who hath found all Art Suttelty and Cunning Politick Devices and Lost it self It seeketh Gold and loseth God it taketh Earth for Gold Death for Life and that is the Greatest Folly that is found in the Substance of All Substances as is sufficiently mentioned in other Places The Conclusion 239. Thus we see when we are at home not in this World but in the two inward Worlds in which soever we labour here into that we enter when we die we must Lose the outward we must only be new-born or Regenerated on the Crosse 240. Babel hath turned it self wholly away from the Crosse which signifieth the Proud own self Reason-Wise Subtle Men who rule and order themselves in or according to the Wit or Ingenuity of Folly 241. The Earthly Man on the Crosse Number 61. signifieth the simple heap or company which yet hang to the Crosse of Christ and become at length new-born or regenerated through the Crosse 242. But Reason hath even rent and torn it self off from the Cross in its own self Pleasure and Voluptuousnesse in its own Pomp Might or Power and Laws and that is a Wonder of Folly which even the Devils do scorn and deride 243. This the Reader should further consider of for there lyeth much under it it hath the understanding of all the Three Worlds See thy self therein it is a right true Looking-Glass for the Number Three is a Cross and hath Two
but the will taketh its Substance doings or works along into it self for they stand in the New Body and follow after it therefore a Man should consider what he doth in this Life The Ninth Form of Fire The great earnest Severity 319. Thus we understand that all proceedeth out of the Beginning and so one goeth out of the other and we understand how the Fire is a cause of the Life and how the Life divides it self into two parts and yet breaketh not but only the outward Life which falleth home back to the Turba which breaketh or destroyeth it therefore we ought to consider wherein it is that the Eternal Life consisteth what its preservation is that the Body breaketh not for Substantiality hath a beginning 320. And yet we can say with good ground that no End is therein for it must have a Ground else it belongeth to the Turba which findeth the Limit the Eternal Body must stand in no Limit but be free in the Abyss in the Eternal Nothing else there would be another substance or thing again in that substance or thing which would cut that assunder and make a Limit 321. It is said before how all must go or pass quite through the Fire that will endure Eternally for that which remaineth in the Fire the Turba taketh that there is no spirit created in the Fire that it should remain in the Fire 322. Only the Turba hath captivated mary of them but not from or by God's will or purpose for God's will is only Love but the Turba is his Anger-will which hath with its vehement hunger brought a great Kingdom of its Manifestation or Revelation into his wonders viz. the Devils and wicked Souls of Men. 323. But being the Eternal Life standeth in Meekness and hath no Death nor Turba in it Therefore we must needs say that the Soul and Spirit stand not in the Turba especially the Soule Body else the Turba would break or destroy it 324. To be understood as above mentioned thus that the Will in the Anguish-source or quality in the Fire understand the Souls Will sinketh down into it self viz. into Death and should not live in the Fire and then that very Will falleth into another will viz. into the Beginning or to express it better into the Free Eternity into the Eternal Nothing where there is no source or quality or pain nor nothing that can either give or receive it 325. But now there is in the sunkdown will no dying for it is gone out from the fiery Beginning in the Eye and so bringeth its Life into another Principle and dwelleth in the Liberty and yet hath all Forms of the Essences out of the Fire in it self but unperceptibly for it is gone quite out from the Fire 326. Therefore its Life of its Essences are in the Liberty and is also desirous and receiveth in the Desiring into its Essences the Power or Vertue of the Light which shineth in the Liberty that is Power or Vertue without Turba for that Fire is only Love which consumeth not but continually desireth and satiateth so that the will of the Soul attracteth a Body 327. For the Will is a Spirit and the Soul is the great Life of the Spirit which upholdeth or preserveth the Spirit thus the Soul becometh indued with Power and Vertue and dwelleth in Two Principles as God himself doth and according to the outward in Three Principles and is the Similitude of God 328. The inward Water in the Spirit of the Soul is the Water of the Eternal Life concerning which Christ saith Whosoever drinketh of the Water that I give him he will never thirst more this is that Water 329. The Substantiality of the Spirit which becometh put on to the Soul is Gods Christs Body concerning which he saith Whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood continueth in Me and I in Him 330. But the right true Life in the Light of the Majesty in the Ninth-Number is the Virgin Tincture it is a Fire and yet not a Fire it burneth but consumeth not it is the Love the Meekness the Humility this is God's Life the Holy Souls Life an uncorruptible Life and an unsearchable Life for it standeth in the Abyss in it self there is a Center therein which Center is its First Life and yet it doth not comprehend it as the Fire doth not comprehend the Light 331. Thus the Ninth Number is the Life in the Fire of God and is called the Life in the presence of the Number Three As an Angel which standeth before the Cross to or for God's Deeds of Wonder and to or for the Manifestation of the Heavenly Honour and Glory The Tenth Number and Form of Fire The Gate into the Holy Ternary 332. We know in Reason that where there is a Root therein also is a desirous will as viz. the Noble Tincture which driveth upwards and forwards and seeketh a Similitude according to its Form 333. The Tincture is a Virgin and is known or apprehended in God's Wisdom in the Wonders It is no Genetrix but an opener or manifester of the Wonders which stand in the Wisdom it seeks no Looking-Glass but meerly openeth or discovereth the Essences that so a total Similitude may generate or produce it self out of the Essences it driveth the Twig or Branch out of the Tree 334. This we understand as to Angels and Souls which are proceeded out of God's Essences out of the total Tree the Angels out of two Principles and the Soul with the Body of the outward Life out of Three Principles And therefore Man is higher dignified than the Angels if he continue in God 335. And in the Tenth Number upon the Cross are the Angels and Souls awakned and become corporised in the Heavenly Substantiality although the Tenth Number belongeth to the place between the Fift and the Sixt but in a Globe to be understood so that the Heart is in the midst in the Center which is God's Heart that is God's Word the Power and Vertue in or of the whole Tree as the Kernel or Pith in the Wood hath the Essences Vertue or Condition of the whole Tree 336. Thus God is a Spirit and the Word is his Heart which he speaketh forth out of all Powers or Vertues and Wonders therefore Isaiah calleth it * Wonder Council Power Prince of Peace viz. a Pacifier of the Anger and an Eternal Power of Wonders a Counsellour of the Genetrix 337. For the Word upholdeth or preserveth the Center of Nature is a Heart and Lord of Nature it is the Genetrix in God's Eye a Giver of the Power and Vertue and the strength of the Omnipotence It holdeth the Fire-Center captive with the Love-Fire so that it must be dark in it self and the Word hath only the Light-Life 338. We cannot apprehend the Tenth-Number any otherwise then that it is a Cross and is the Original of the Substance of all Substances which Substance parteth it self into Three
it ruleth not only in it self but also externally without it self in whatsoever is Seed 4. Understand us aright thus God's Spirit the Soul's Spirit are two Persons each is free from the other and yet they stand both in the first Beginning each hath its will 5. But now it is right and just that the Child should be obedient to the Father upon forfeiture of the Fathers Inheritance the holy Spirit was the Souls work-master and had created it to that should the Souls Spirit be obedient upon loss of the holy Spirits inheritance viz. of the DEITY 6. And though much might be written yet it is very dangerous in respect of the false or wicked Magia for if the false or wicked spirit knew it it would practise Witchcraft therewith 7. Therefore we will so speak that we may be well understood by the Children and reserve the full or plain speaking of it for the Children for it is not good to write that seeing a Man knoweth not who will be the Reader 8. But to the wicked and ungodly we say that they belong to the Devil and shall have no part in our Writings we shut them out with a thick wall or enclosure and strong fortification or bullwark that they may be blind and not know our Spirit for we would not set the Serpent therein our will and mind is gone out from them therefore shall they not know us though they carry us in their hands there is a fast seal upon it 9. Christ saith If ye have Faith as a grain of mustard seed then ye might say to the Mountains be ye removed and cast into the Sea that is not an empty void word without truth and effect The First Power of the Souls Will. 10. The will if it go strongly forward is Faith It frameth its own form in the Spirit it hath also the Might or Power that it can form or frame another Image in the Spirit out of the Center of Natue 11. It can give to the Body another Form according to the outward Spirit for the Inward is Lord of the Outward the outward must be obedient to it it can set the outward in another Image but not permanent 12. For Adams Soul had let in the Turba of this World so that the Turba if it seeth a strange Child is suddenly uppermost and breaketh or destroyeth it only it continueth so long as the Inward Spirit can tame and over-power the Outward 13. And this Form Kind or Manner of Power is called Nigromancy a transmutation or changing where the Inward doth over-power the Outward for it is natural as we consider that when we shall be changed it is done by that very Turba which hath the First Fiat 14. For the Body is Sulphur and sticketh in the Tincture and the Spirit conducteth the Tincture therefore now if the First willeth therein or conanteth thereto viz. the Soul then can the Spirit of the Soul make another Form or Manner of Image in the Sulphur but the Devil mixeth himself readily therein for it is the Abysses Wonder wherein he is Lord. The Second Power of the Souls Will. 15. Also understand us thus The earnest will which otherwise is called Faith can with the Spirit do great things the Will can set or put the Spirit into another Form or Condition which is thus If the Spirit were an Angel a Similitude of God yet the Will can make of it a proud or stubborn Devil and also of a Devil an Angel if it sink down it self into Death into Humility under the Cross and cast it self again into God's Spirit that he may lead it by his government then it sinketh down into the still Eternity quite out from the source or quality of Torment into the still or quiet NOTHING which yet is ALL and then it standeth in the Beginning where God created it and the word Fiat receiveth or embraceth it again which containeth God's Image The Third Power of the Soules Will or Spirit 16. And then thirdly the Souls Spirit hath ability or power to enter into another Mans Marrow and Bones viz. into the Sulphur and if he be false or wicked to introduce the Turba into him so far as any is not armed with God's Spirit but that he be found naked in the Spirit of this World as is to be seen by the bewitching Whores or Sorcerers The Fourth Power of the Souls Will. 17. Fourthly It hath power if it be God's Child that it can lead the Turba captive and can pour it out upon the house of the wicked and ungodly as Elias did with the Fire and Moses before Pharoah for it can throw down Mountains break Rocks 18. This is understood to be so far as a place is capable of the Turba that it hath made the Anger stirring then it can be but if not and that God's Spirit be in a thing then it cannot be for Water will be poured into the Fires Turba and it is as it were dead and its ability or power lyeth in the dirt 19. And therefore is the Heaven the middle or medium between God and Hell viz. between Love and Anger which Heaven is created out of the midst of the Waters so that the Devil cannot rule with his Turba the Water turneth his purpose into scorn and derision as therefore the false or wicked Magia is drowned in the Water with its inchantment delusion The Fifth Power of the Souls Will or Spirit 20. Fifthly The Soul hath might or ability that it may and can seek or search out all Wonders or Works which are in Nature viz. Arts and Sciences Languages Building Tilling or Planting and Destroying it can subdue the Starry Heaven as Joshua commanded the Sun that it stood still and Moses the Sea that it stood up also he commanded the Darkness and it came also it can make or produce the Earthly Life as Moses the Lice Frogs also Serpents and other Wonders 21. Also it hath Death in its power or might that it can over-power that if it ride upon the Brides-Chariot it can subdue and over-power the Devil if it be in God 22. There is nothing which it cannot subdue only understand it aright The Soul hath such might or ability from its Original and such a Spirit it could have given forth out of it self if it had not let in the Earthly Great Turba which now giveth the stop unless it be so that the holy Spirit rideth upon its Chariot as with Moses Elias and all the Prophets with Christ and his Disciples also still continually with the holy Children of God they have all this Power or Authority they can awaken or raise the Dead heal the Sick and expel all Diseases it is natural the Spirit only ruleth therewith over the Turba 24. But there is this on the other side to be considered that the Soul knoweth very well what covenant compact or agreement it hath with
the Devil and what propriety or part he hath in it it goeth not naked unless it be so that the Spirit of God conduct it so that it hath him for a shield or defence so that the Devils suttlety cannot press or slip into it 25. It makes no wonder unless God's Spirit awaken or stir it up it giveth God the Honour and Glory and attributeth the might power to him it doth as a humble Child and remaineth standing under the Cross and letteth the Devil bluster over it but it self sprouteth in Humility and Meekness through Death into the Eternal Life and bringeth forth much fruit in Patience 26. Thus the Devil can do nothing to that Soul it is as it were dead to him he may with his Turba in the Earthly Life with his helpers and instruments wicked and ungodly Men make a stir and racket but he hath only scorn and derision in the presence of God for it for he is a proud arrogant spirit and would fain be above God's Wonders but an Humility can bind him or subdue him 27. In such a manner may every man escape the false and wicked Magus and also the Nigromancer for no power takes hold on them where God dwelleth As Christ in his Death overcame the Devil and Death so also we in Christ for the Word that became Man dwelleth in us and in that Word we can rule over the Devil and Hell there is no hinderance 28. Thus we give you for an Answer upon this Question that the Soul in its Original is greatly powerful it is able and can do much but only in that Principle into which it looketh or standeth is its power and might for the Devil cannot rule over God Its might or power is not given to it as a King giveth Might Power Authority or Favour to any but it standeth in Natures-right therefore we are Children of the Omnipotency of God and inherit his Goods in the Omnipotency The Seventh Question Whether the Soul be Corporeal or not Corporeal 1. A Thing which is from no Beginning hath also nothing that can give it any thing and if it be something it must seek the Beginning in it self for every spirit dwelleth in the deepest Abysse of its substance but if it must make the substance to it self it can dwell in Nothing that is strange to it but in it self in its own substance 2. When God created the Soul the holy Spirit surrounded it with the Tincture for it stood therein as to one part in it self it was raw or red as the glowing of the fire is raw or red and is surrounded with the Tincture 3. As you understand that from the warmth the growing existeth that is a driving of the Tincture which driveth the Twig or Branch out from the Root viz. out of the same Fire be it cold or hot 4. For the Darkness hath a Cold Fire so long till it reach the Anguish and then it kindleth it self in the hot as is to be seen in an Herb if it come into another quality 5. Thus we give you to understand that the Tincture is the right and true Souls Body for the Soul is Fire and the Tincture goeth forth out of the Fire which the Fire draweth again to it self and meekneth or allayeth it self therewith so that the fierce wrathful source or quality extinguisheth 6. Thus the Tincture standeth in meekness and it hath no substance or might or power in it self but the Water is its might or power there cometh out of the meekness of the Tincture water to be 7. For the Fire is desirous and where there is a desiring of the Original there is also a finding of the Original thus the Fire findeth in the Tincture Water and turneth that into Sulphur according to power or vertue of all the Seven Spirits of Nature that is a Water of Life 8. For the Tincture driveth up in the Water as a sprout and the Fire in the Abyss causeth that 9. Thus is the Water in the Sulphur of the Seven Spirits changed into the Mystery and the great Areanum or Secret lyeth therein Whatsoever God and the Eternity can do Thus the Mystery containeth Two Forms viz. Fire Water and changeth it self according to Both viz. according to the Fire into Red and according to the Tincture into White so that a clear shining or glance existeth from the Fire so that the Life seeth or knoweth it self out of which Reason and Thoughts exist and the Mind is in the Wheel or Orb of the Anguish in the Fire out of which the Essences exist 10. And thus you see what the Blood is viz. a House of the Soul but the Tincture is its Body 11. The right or true Soul hath no palpable Body which is called Soul but in the Tincture groweth the Body in the Sulphur out of Sulphur that is every Spirit of the Seven Spirits of Nature desireth Substantiality which is together Sulphur 12. For Sul is power and vertue out of the Light and Phur is power and vertue out of the Four Forms of Natures Original as in the Third Book is mentioned at large 13. Thus the Phur desireth Flesh that is a Mixture out of Fire and Water and is in the Tincture conceived and generated or born 14. And the Tincture is the growing of the Body and the Fire is an Original of the Spirit through the Tincture For in the Tincture the Souls Spirit taketh its Original which viz. the right true Image figureth according to God's Image that is according to all the Three Principles for in the Fire the Soul is no Similitude of God but in the Spirit it is the Image of God 15. For the First Soul was together incorporated with the Divine Substantiality so that it had God's Body in the Virgin of Wisdom in which the Tincture standeth this is the Angels Image 16. And I give you for Answer that as to what concerns the Soul merely and purely by which we understand not the Spirit it is a Fire-Globe with a Fire-Eye and with a Light-Eye which turn back to back and one within another as the Wheel in Ezekiel that can go on all sides though Babel have made clean another understanding upon it but a blind one without Spirit 17. But as to what concerns its Tincture out of the Light which existeth out of the Fire and Light it is a Spirit where the Original of the Soul and of the Spirit in Eternity cannot separate assunder it is an Eternal BAND and when the Blood goeth away and the Body dyeth then this Band continueth in Eternity 18. The Body as to what concerns the Soul purely belongeth not to the Substance of the Soul they are Two Substances for the Body is the Souls Looking-Glass and dwelling House also its proper portion and it is also the cause that the meer pure Soul altereth or changeth the Spirit viz. according to the Pleasure or Longing of the Body or of the
time of earnest Severity look not upon it with earthly eyes it concerns thee nearly thou wilt well see in thy Death what kind of Judgement it is in what time and under what Turba thou hast lived this we speak most earnestly as we ought The Thirteenth Question How the Souls feeding out of the Word of God is 1. VVHen the Soul entereth into the majestick Light as above mentioned and receiveth the Light of God then is it altogether longing and panting after it and continually draweth into its desire God's power and vertue that is God's Body into it self and the holy Spirit is the power and vertue of God's Spirit thus it acquireth God's Body and Spirit and eateth at God's Table all whatsoever the Father hath is his Sons and whatsoever the Son hath is his Images 2. It eateth Gods Flesh Christs Flesh and from that eating God's Body groweth in it so that it also hath Gods Body and is Gods Child not only his similitude but Child it is born in God out of God's Essence and liveth in God 3. When it heareth in this world God's Word taught or spoken from or by God's Children then it layeth hold of the same and eateth it 4. The outward Man eateth earthly Bread and the Soul eateth God's Bread concerning which Christ said he would give us his Body for food 5. And his Testaments are nothing else we eate not spirit without body for the Soul is Spirit beforehand it would have a body and thus it getteth Body and Spirit together 6. Let this be told thee O Babel and consider how thou managest Christ's Testaments what thou teachest when thou saist Christ's Testaments are Spirit without Body thou denyest God thou denyest God's Substantiality Christ's Heavenly Body which is greater than All which is the Fulness of all things but in its own Principle 7. Thou earthly Mouth shalt not chew it with thy teeth the Soul hath another Mouth and receiveth it under the outward Element the outward receiveth the outward and the inward receiveth the inward 8. Christs last Supper with his Disciples was even so the outward is a Remembrance the inward is the Substance for the Kingdom of God consisteth or standeth in Power and Vertue it is magical not as a thought but essential substantial 9. The Magia makes Substance for in the Eternal Nothing there is Nothing but the Magia makes somewhat where nothing is 10. There is not only and barely Spirit in God but Nature Substance Flesh and Blood Tincture and All This world externally is a Similitude of the Inward World 11. We tell you we speak what we see feel tast and know and it is not fictions and conceits and that not for our own sake but for yours as one Member is bound in duty to another that our joy may be in you and that we may partake with you as brethren in ONE Substance He that desireth to know more in this let him read our Third Part or Book where he shall find the Circumstances concerning the Souls eating and of Christs Testaments The Fourteenth Question Whether such New Soul be without Sin 1. VVE understand here the Propagated Soul in a Child newly born my beloved Friend this is a very acute Question but to you my beloved Friend it shall be answered that the time of the opening is born or generated the day dawneth or breaketh the night is passed away praise and thanks be given to God for it that hath generated us again to the Light to an uncorruptible or unfadable Inheritance and hath received us for his beloved Children 2. You my beloved Friend know well the heavy Fall of Adam as we have exactly set it down in all our Writings viz. that the Soul with its right Eye hath turned it self away from God into the Spirit of this World and is become disobedient to God and hath destroyed its noble and pretious Image and hath introduced a monstrous Image and let in the spirit of this world whereas it should with its will have strongly ruled over it and not at all with the Soul have eaten Evil and Good 3. But now it hath done against God's Command and put its Imagination into the Earthly Spirit where suddenly the Turba captivated it which hath introduced the Earthly Monster into the noble Image And thus the Turba suddenly sought and found the Limit in which the Image became broken and if the Word had not instantly set it self in the middle it had Eternally remained broken 4. And now also the Turba is become seated in the earthly Abyss and hath captivated both Body and Soul and bringeth the Body continually to the Limit where then it breaketh it and casteth it away and then the poor Soul remaineth raw and naked without a body 5. Therefore it is necessary that it convert and turn with its right Eye into the Word again and acquire again a Body generated or born of God else it is raw or naked and hath the Turba in it which the Fire awakeneth in its great Anguish for it is a vehement hunger a seeker and a finder 6. Thus it is now very apprehensible to us that we are tyed and bound to the Spirit of this World with the Soul for the Turba holdeth us captive in the fierce wrathful Anger of God 7. And though our Soul do go forth and become generated in God yet it hath the Turba belonging to the outward Body which consumeth it for it searcheth through it even into the Abyss and there it findeth that it is only a Looking-Glass of the Eternal and then it goeth forth out of the Looking-Glass into the Eternal and lets the Looking-Glass lye in the Nothing 8. Thus you know very well that the Soul with the Body in the Seed is half earthly for it is Sulphur that is Phur and Sul one among another and the Turba is therein which hath indeed might and power enough to break or destroy the Seed 9. How then can a pure clean Soul be generated It cannot be It bringeth the Turba along with it into the world and is sinful in the Mothers Womb. 10. But know that God is become Man or Incarnate and hath put the word Fiat again into the Seed though now the Turba be also in the earthly part so that the Seed is not altogether free 11. Yet it is in this manner with the Soul so far as the Father and Mother are honest and vertuous and in God that the Soul is not left or forsaken of God for it proceedeth out of the Fathers and Mothers Soul and though a Child die in the Mothers Womb as it were without Baptism yet it is baptised with the Fathers Mothers Spirit viz. with the holy Spirit which dwelleth in them and the Turba will be broken off in death for the Faiths part presseth into God 12. But with wicked and ungodly Parents it is in another manner The Soul if the Child dyeth in the Mothers womb falleth home to
Anguish into Death and sprouteth forth again into the Liberty and that is the Light together with the Fires source or quality but it now containeth or holdeth another Principle in it for the Anguish is become Love 6. And just such a manner and kind it hath in the Body for the Flesh striveth against the Spirit the outward Fleshes Life is a Looking-glass of the most inward Fire-Life viz. of the Souls Life therefore is the Souls Spirit-Life together with the Light in the Tincture the Middlemost Life and yet becometh generated out of the Soul 7. But understand us according to its precious height the Souls Spirit wherein the Divine Image standeth originateth in the Fire and is first the Will to the Fire but when the fierce Wrath to the Fire so sharpneth and kindleth or inflameth it self then the Will cometh into great Anguish like a dying and sinketh down in it self out of the fierce Wrath into the Eternal Liberty and yet it is no Dying but thus the other or second World cometh to be out of the first 8. For the Will now sprouteth into the other World as a Sharpness out of the Fire but without such Quality flowing forth in the Eternal Liberty and is a moving driving and apprehending of the Anguish Nature it hath all Essences which are become generated in the first sharp Fire-world in the Anguish but they are as one that goeth out of the Fire into the Water where the Anguish of the Fire remaineth in the Water 9. Understand us thus Concerning this Life of the Souls Spirit-Life the Soul is the Center of Nature The Spirit is the precious Noble Image which God created to his Image herein standeth the High-Kingly and precious Image of God for God is also thus and comprehended in the same Lifes quality or source 10. The Spirit is not severed from the Soul No as ye see that Fire and Shining is not severed and yet also is not one and the same it hath a twofold source or quality the Fire fierce wrathful and the Light meek and lovely and in the Light is the Life and in the Fire Δ is the Cause of the Life 11. Thus you may very easily and without much seeking find the Cause of the Contrariety of the Flesh and of the Spirit for the Inward Spirit hath God's Body out of or from the Meek Substantiality and the Outward Spirit hath the fierce wrathfull Fires-Looking-Glasses Body viz. the Souls Looking-Glasses Body which would continually awaken the fierce Wrathfulness viz. the Great Wonders which lie in the Arcanum or secresie of the Souls Sternness therefore the Inward Love-Spirit hindereth it that it should not lift up it self and kindle or inflame the Soul else it would lose its Love-habitation and Image and the Souls Fierce-wrath would destroy it 12. The Contrariety is thus the inward Spirit would be Lord for it Subdueth the outward and the outward would be Lord for it saith I have the Great Wonders and the Arcanum or Secret and thus Glorieth about the Mystery and yet is but a Looking-Glass of the Mystery 13. It is not the Substance of the Mystery but a Seeking or Searching like a palpable Looking-Glass in which the Mystery becometh seen he will needs be a Master being he hath attained one Principle and is an own Self-Life but he is to be accounted a Fool in respect of the Mystery 14. Therefore loving Brother if you would seek the Mystery seek it not in the outward Spirit for so you will be deceived and get but a Glimps of the Mystery go in even to the Cross then seek Gold you will not be deceived you must seek the pure Child without blemish in another World in this world you find only the Rusty or Drossy Child which is altogether imperfect and now take this right thus 15. Go from the Cross back into the Fourth Form there you have Sun and Moon one in another bring it into Anguish into Death and drive on the made or framed Magick body so far till it become again what it was before the Center in the Will and then it is Magical and hungry after Nature 16. It is a seeking in the Eternal Seeking and would fain have a Body therefore give him for a Body Sol viz. the Soul and then it will suddenly make it a Body according to the Soul for the Will sprouteth in Paradise with very fair heavenly fruit without spot or blemish 17. There you have the fair noble and precious Child you Covetous stiff-necked Person we must indeed tell you seeing it is together born and generated with the time and yet we will hereby only be understood by those that are Ours 18. For we mean not A Looking-Glass or Heaven but Gold wherewith you boast that hath so long time been your Idol That is born or generated and puts the Eyes of the blind Cow or Beetle quite out at last so that it seeth less than before but the Children shall see eat and be fat that they may praise God 19. We speak wonderfully here yet onely that which we should speak which yet none wonder at that he knoweth the Mystery who never learned it Doth not an Herb grow without your counsel or advice it enquireth not after Art so also is the Mystery grown without your Art It hath its own School like the Apostles on the day of Pentecost who spake with many Tongues and Languages without the precognita or the fore-skill of Art and so is this Simplicity 20. And it is a forerunning Message to thee Babel of thy Overthrow that thou mayest know it no fierce Wrath or Anger will avail the Star is born or generated which leadeth the Wise-men out of the East but seek them only where thou art and find thy self and cast the Turba away from thee and so thou wilt live with the Children this we speak earnestly there is no other Counsel or Remedy thy Anger is the fire which will devour thy self 21. Or dost thou suppose that we are blind If we did not see we should be silent how would a Lye be pleasing to God and so we should be found in the Turba which sifteth through the work and doings and substance of all men or do we this service for Wages is it our living why do we not hold to depend on Bread according to our outward Reason 22. If it be our day Labour we should do as the Father will have us For †we shall give an account of it in the evening this we speak dearly and earnestly with deep seriousness 23. Thus we can certainly understand the Contrariety of the Spirit and of the Flesh and apprehend very well how Two Spirits are in one another one striving against the other for the one would have God and the other would have Bread and both are profitable and good 24. But let this be said to thee O Child of Man lead thy life Circumspectly let thy Souls Spirit be Lord and then thou wilt
have fought a good fight here for here it is a very short Time 25. We stand here in the field or soyl and grow let every one have a care what fruit he beareth at the End of Harvest every ones work will be put into its own Barn 26. It is better to labour a little while in irksomness and Toyl and expect the great reward wages and refreshment then to be here a little while a King and afterwards to be a Wolf a Lyon a Dog a Cat a Toad a Serpent and Worm in Figure 27. O Child of Man consider it be warned for we speak pretious things out of a Wonderful Eye you will suddenly know it by Experience there is yet but a little Time For the Beginning hath clearly found the End and this is a little Rose out of the Beginning pray become seeing put away Covetousness from your Eyes else you will wail and lament and none will have pitty on you for that which any one soweth that he will also reap and then what will Pomp and Honour avail you when it falleth away from you 28. Ye are here very Potent and afterwards very Impotent ye are Gods and yet your selves run to the Devil take pitty of your Life and of your fair Heavenly Image 29. You are God's Children be not the Devils let not the Hypocrites with praise and flattery keep you back they do it for their Belly and Honour sake for Moneys sake they are the Ministers or Servants of the Great Babel 30. Search thy self ask thy Conscience whether it be in God it will complain against thee and say drive the flatterer and hypocrite away from thee and seek the clear Countenance of God see not by a Looking-Glass 31. God is for you he is IN you worship him come with the lost or prodigal Son to him else none can take the Turba from you when you give him good words you must only through Death go into the other world whereinto your hypocrisie and flattery cannot enter else there is no forgiveness of sins and if you give all to the Hypocrites or Flatterers yet you are at one time as well as the other captivated in the Turba 32. It is not so as if one stood by and did take away the Turba from you if you give him good words No No it is Magical you must be born again as Christ saith else you cannot attain God do what you will all Hypocrisie or flattery is deceit 33. If you would serve God then you must do it in the New Man the Earthly Adam can do him no service which is acceptable to him Sing Ring Call Crie Pray and what he will and whatsoever he doth it is but fighting before a Looking-Glass the Will must be in it the Heart must give it self into it else it is a Conjecture and a fable or fiction of Antichrist which filleth the whole world 34. The WILL is Greater and Mightier then much Crying it can destroy the Turba and enter into the Image it hath might or power to be God's Child it can cast away Mountains and raise the Dead if it be born or Generated in God and that The Holy Spirit give it leave 35. For it must converse in Obedience and great humility and Only cast its will into God's Will that God in it may be the Will and Deed that is the way to Blessednesse and Happinesse and to the Kingdom of Heaven and no other let the Pope or Doctors Preach what they will to the contrary all is lying and an Hypocritical flattering fighting before a Looking-Glass The Eighteenth Question How the Soul departs from the Body in the Death of a Man 1. HEre we will invite the World for a Guest especially Babel the Whore to try whether a Child can be made out of her for Death is a Terrible Guest he throweth the Proud Rider with the Horse to the Ground 2. My beloved Friend that is a very sharp question and needeth the Eyes of all the Three Principles which can see very well they must not die in Death if they will enter in and see this it must be Poyson to Death and a Pestilence to Hell it must take Death Captive if it will see else it gets no understanding unless it self come into Death then it will well feel what Death is it will well tast what that is when one Principle breaketh viz. one Life 3. You have perceived above that all Substances or Things are Magical one being the Looking-Glass of the other where in one Looking-Glass the desire of the first Looking-Glass becometh opened and cometh into Substance and then as in all substances or things the Turba is which breaketh or destroys all to the first substance and that is alone and hath no breaker or destroyer 4. For there is nothing more it cannot be broken or destroyed it standeth in it self and out of it self and goeth whither it will and then it is every where in no place for it is in the Abysse where there is no place of Rest it must only rest in it self 5. They seeing all Substances or Things are come or proceeded out of One therefore is the Beginning also in the Last Substance or Thing for the Last is again turned back into the first and seeketh the first and findeth it in it self and when it findeth the first it letteth all the other go and dwelleth in the Limit and there it can be without source quality or pain 6. For there is nothing that can give it source quality or pain it is it self the thing of the first Substance and though it be another thing yet it is but its Twig or Branch and hath its will and none other for there is nothing that can give it another will 7. We give you to understand concerning dying thus the beginning seeketh the Limit and when it findeth that it casteth the seeking away that is the Earthly Life that will be cast away it must break or destroy it self 8. For the Beginning viz. the Soul continueth in the Limit and lets the Body depart and there is no complaint about it also the Soul desireth it no more it must go into the Limit viz. into the Wonders of that which hath been done or wrought 9. The Souls Spirit hath no woe done to it when the Body departeth but woe is done to the Fire-Life for the Matter of the Fire which hath generated the Fire that breaketh away but only in the Substance 10. The Figure remaineth standing in the Will for the Will cannot break and the Soul must continue in the Will and taketh the Figure for Matter and burneth in the Will for the first Glance of the Fire goeth not away but its Matter of the Earthly Life viz. the Phur will be broken away from it 11. Thus the Fire becometh impotent and passeth into the Darkness unless it be so that the Spirit have Heavenly Substantiality viz. God's Body then the Fire viz. the right or
true Soul received that same meek Body for a Sulphur then the Soul burneth in the Love-Fire and is wholly gone away out of the first Fire-Life 12. It is now in God's Principle the first fierce wrathful fire cannot touch it in Eternity for it hath gotten another Source or Quality and is rightly and truly New born or Regenerated and knoweth no more of the first Life for it is swallowed up in the Magia 13. The Turba remaineth in the Earthly Body and becometh that again which it was before the Body was viz. a Nothing a Magia wherein all its doings matters or substances stand in Figure as in a Looking-Glass but not Corporeally but according to the Manner of the Eternity as we apprehend that all Wonders before this world stood in a Mystery as in the Virgion of Wisdom but without Substance 14. Thus now we apprehend also here that that very Mystery in its parting became so Manifested that it cannot in Eternity be extinguished but remaineth Eternally standing in the Distinction and in the Separation and is seen in the Magia in the Separation or Parting after that manner as it hath here formed it self 15. Thus it is apprehensible to us what the Separation or parting is viz. This the Turba hath found the Limit of the Substance for sickness to Death is nothing else but that the Turba hath kindled it self and will break or destroy the Substance It is at the Limit and will cast away the Introduced Medium or Middle 16. And this is also the Cause that the Body Dyeth the Turba passeth into it self into the Fire and so the Outward Life extinguisheth for the Lifes fire becometh withdrawn from it and then it goeth into its Aether and is at its Limit 17. And so now if the Souls Fire hath not in its Spirit God's Body nor in its will in its Desire then it is a Dark Fire which burneth in Anguish and in great horrour for it hath only the first four forms of Nature in the Anguish 18. And if the Will hath nothing of the Power or Vertue of Humility then there is no sinking down or into it self through Death into Life but it is like an anxious furious Wheel that would fain alwayes go upwards and yet it goeth downwards on the other side It is a kind of Fire and yet it hath no Fire burning or flaming 19. For the Turba is the very stern or strong Austereness or Astringency and Bitterness where the bitterness alwayes seeketh the Fire and would strike it up and the harsh Astringency holdeth it Captive so that it is only a horrible Anguish and goeth alwayes in it self as a Wheel and Imagineth yet it findeth nothing but it self it draweth it self in it self and impregnateth it self it devoureth it self and is its own Substance 20. It hath no other Substance but this viz. what the Souls Spirit hath made or acted in the outward Life as Covetousnesse or High-mindednesse Cursing Swearing Scorning Jeering Disgraceing or Back-biting Slandering Envy and Hatred Fierce Wrath Anger Falshood or Wickedness that is its Food and the pastime of its Exercise for the Turba taketh its Substance Matters or Doings along with it in the will its works follow after it 21. And though perhaps it hath done or acted somewhat that is good yet that is done but in a Glymps for a shew in appearance out of a vain Glorious or Hypocritical Mind and so it standeth afterwards in a continual Climing up it Elevateth it self continually it would alwayes be above the Meekness and yet apprehendeth or knoweth it not nor seeth it it is a Continual Elevation above God and yet is but an Eternal sinking down it seeketh the Ground or Foundation and there is None and this is its Life 22. And if it hath in its life-time laid hold of any thing that is pure of the Love as many that at Last convert in the End those sink down thus in themselves through the Anguish for the Humble sparkle goeth down through Death into Life where indeed the Souls Source or Quality and Pain taketh its End but it self is a little Branch or Twig Sprouting into God 23. Now what Purifying-Fire or Purgatory the Soul hath before it can enter into it self with the little Sparkle cannot sufficiently be written or expressed and how it is then detained and plagued by the Devil which the too wise and politick world will not believe it is so Cunning and yet so blind it understandeth it not and yet continually hangeth or dependeth upon the LETTER Oh that none might come into it we would willingly be silent 24. But we speak of no strange source quality or pain but only of that which is in the Turba also of no Power of the Devil over the poor Soul but only its terrour and horrible Apprehension of what is represented before it so that the Souls Imagination is sufficiently terrified therein 25. It is not by far in such a manner with the Soul as Babel teacheth saying the Devil beats and torments the Soul that is very blindly spoken the Devil is not at Odds with his Children they must all do his will the Hellish Anguish and horrour is torment enough to them every one in his own abominations Every one hath his own Hell there is nothing else that layeth hold of it but its own Venom or Poyson 26. The Four Forms of the Original of Nature is the Common or Universal source quality or Torment which every one feeleth according to his Turba one different from another as a Covetous one hath Frost an Angry one Fire an Envious one Bitterness a Proud stately one hath flying up and yet Eternal sinking down and falling into the Abysse A Blasphemer swalloweth up into himself the Turba of his belched forth Abominations A false or wicked Deceitful Heart hath the fourth Form viz. the great Anguish 27. For the Turba standeth in the Fire Circle or Globe viz. in the Heart of the Soul and false or evil speaking Lying and untruth or unfaithfulness are an horrour or abomination and Gnawing a Cursing or Anathema in it self and so on 28. A Potentate who hath oppressed the poor and Miserable and consumed his sweat or Labour in Pride he rideth in the Curse of the Miserable in the full height of the Fire for the necessities and distresses of the Miserable stick all in him 29. He hath no Rest his Pride climbeth up Continually he doth in his condition there as he did here he seeketh continually and yet wanteth all things that which he had too much of that he hath now too little of he devoureth himself continually for Substance to feed on and yet hath none for he is Magical 30. He hath lost his right true Image and hath as it were the Image of a Proud Prancing Horse or of that which he hath here been Conversant about that which he taketh with him in his will that is his Image where his Heart is there is his Treasure also and
the Body and resist the Devil 33. Now being the Angels are in this World in the Holy Principle whither should the Soul then first go perhaps into Pride as Lucifer did might Babel think O no it remaineth in Humility and looketh upon Gods Wonders as God's Spirit goeth so that goeth also The Two and Twentieth Question What every Soul departed doth whether it rejoyceth or no till the Day of the Last Judgement 1. THis Question compriseth or treateth of the richly Joyful Glorious Gate to the apprehension of the Victorious Garland of the Soul 2. When a beloved Son travels abroad for Arts and Sciences and Honour into a strange Countrey afar off he often thinketh of Home and of the time of return to enjoy his Parents and Friends he rejoyceth at the thought of that day and waiteth for it with inward Joy and Longing and exerciseth himself in his affairs that he may get also Art and Ingenuity or understanding and experience wherewith he may rejoyce his Parents Kindred and Friends 3. In like manner we offer to your Mind and give you this to Consider of that the Soul without the Body hath great inward Joy and waiteth for the last Judgement Day with great inward desire when it shall get its bright fair Holy Body with the wonders again 4. Also its rest in its Will where then it seeth its works according to the kind and manner of the unsearchable Magia which it will first get in the Figure at the last Judgement Day with the New Body out of the Old 5. And it is highly apprehensible and perceptible to us but in the Spirit according to its knowledge that the blessed Souls rejoyce in their here-Exercised-Labour and do exceedingly recreate themselves in their Wonders which they see Magically For those which have brought many to Righteousness those have their wages in the Magia in the Will before their Eyes 6. Those who have suffered much persecution for the Truths sake they see their bright Triumphant Garland which they shall at the Last Judgement Day set upon the New Body 7. Those that have done much good shall have it shining in the Will before their Eyes 8. And they that have been for Christs Doctrine and Truths sake despised persecuted and slain their Tryumphal Victory is before their Eyes like one that hath overcome his Enemy in Fight and represents the Victory before his King and Prince which he hath in Great Honour and Glory where his King receives him with great Joy and keeps him by him as his faithful Assistant 9. Now what joy is in these we have no Pen to Write only we apprehend that those for the most part in this world have put on God's Body and so are in greater Perfection then the other they wait for the Last Judgement Day with Great Joy Honour and Glory when their Works in the Heavenly Figure shall pass before their Eyes and the wicked shall see against whom they have kicked 10. Every such Soul rejoyceth in great Hope before the Face of God at that which shall befall it for it apprehendeth its wages but cannot receive that without the Body for it hath done its Labour in the Body therefore it will get that again also which will follow after it in the New Body 11. For although the highly pretious Holy Souls have in this world put on Christs Body so that they stand as an Image of God in Heaven yet all their works have been made or wrought in the Old Body which was God's Looking-Glass and they shall in the Resurrection be presented to them in the Figure exactly Heavenly in their Body 12. For the first Image which Adam was before the Fall is become Regenerated in Christ and will be put on to the Soul again with its Wonders and though it hath Gods Body aforehand yet the Wonders stand in the first Image 13. But the Turba with the outward Kingdome of the outward source or quality is gone for it was a Looking-Glass and is now become a Wonder It liveth without Spirit as a Wonder and will be put upon the Soul in great clarity or Brightness from the Light of God which the Holy Souls rejoyce at exceedingly and wait for it with great longing 14. And we present to your apprehension that every blessed Soul trimmeth its lamp that it may go to meet its Bridegroom at the Last Judgement Day they renew their Wills continually and consider how they shall rejoyce in their New Bodies in the Wonders with all holy Men and Angels there is a Continual rising up of Joy in them when they think of that which is to come every one according to their vertue or capacity 15. As their works have been different upon Earth so also is their Hope for a day Labourer who hath done much service rejoyceth at his wages so also here there is a friendly Substance of Solace among them and in them 16. All scorn and blasphemy laid upon them which they were not guilty of is a great Victorious Honour and Glory to them that thus have suffered in Innocency wrongfully and put on Patience in Hope and this they have moreover that death cannot take from them nor add to them the Soul taketh along with it what it hath comprehended 17. Their often hearty Prayers well wishing and well doing to their Neighbour is their food which they eat and rejoyce themselves till their New Body shall eat Paradisical Fruit. 18. But those which have put on God's Body here they eat without Ceasing at Gods Table but the Paradisical Fruit belongeth to the Body of the Wonders which shall arise out of the Grave which was created in Paradise For it was made out of the beginning and bringeth the End with the Wonders again into the Beginning 19. And wonder not as if we speak as likely we are understood in your Eyes concerning TWO Bodies of the most holy Saints indeed there is not two of them It is but ONE consider only how God's Substantiality filleth all and that is God's Body which is in this Life put on to the holy Souls 20. For they cast their Will into God's VVill and so they receive also God's Body which filleth All their VVill dwelleth in God's Body and eateth in God's Body of God's VVord of God's Fruit of God's Power and Vertue and Christ is in God God is become Christ 21. Thus they carry about them Christs Body in God and yet nevertheless wait for their First Adams holy Body with the VVonders which shall be put on them with Paradisical source or quality 22. For God's purpose must stand he created the first Body in and for Paradise it should remain eternally therein It must go in thither again and the Soul upon the Cross of the Number Three into the Mouth of God from whence it came and and yet the whole Person with Body and Soul remaineth one in another but God filleth all in All. 23. O that we had a Humane Pen
Souls own Substance or Doings and VVill also the Soul of a Neighbour goeth no further with him though that is not the Soul but the Souls Spirit that doth this then into Death where the Anger severeth it self where it is freed from the fierce VVrath and then the Spirit passeth or entereth again into its Soul 13. Here in Popery much Jugling hath been contrived with Masses for Souls only for the sake of Money but it hath been a Gross deceit of the Babylonish Priests for earnestness is required to strive with and Overcome the Anger of God 14. VVe say assuredly and readily acknowledge it that the Congregation of Christ hath great Power and Authority to Ransome such a Soul if it be fervent and do it with earnestnesse as it was done in the first or Primitive Churches when they had Holy People Holy Priests whose Service and Ministry was Earnest 15. They have indeed effected somewhat but not in such a kind and way as the Pope Boasteth that he hath the Key he can let a Soul out with his Blessing when he will if a man will give him Money but that is a Lye 16. Is he HOLY then he beareth the Great Mystery and is Christ's Shepherd over his Sheep and then he shall with the Congregation in Great Earnestness press into God in great Humility and come to the Place of the Poor Soul but NOT for Money 17. In Money there is alwayes Covetousness and it never reacheth the Earnest Principle the Prayer of the Covetous entereth into his Chest we say that all whatever is done and administred in the Churches of Christ for Money belongeth to Antichrist in Babel for they hang their Hearts upon it it were better Men did give them Meat and Drink and other Necessaries and no Money and then they would not so set their Hearts upon it 18. VVhat can that Spirit seek and find in the Mystery which is not it self in the Mystery O there is a great deceit herein when it comes to be Day you will see that it is so you are still in Darkness in the Mystery Babel hath so blinded you 19. And therefore it is that you have looked upon Art and Favour and not upon God's Spirit are not exceeding errours and strong delusions come upon you that you believe lying Spirits who speak in Hypocrisie and Deceit and ye depend hang and cleave to them and commit Hyprocrisie with Errour and exercise flattery with delusion See what the Revelation of John and Daniel say to you It is Day the VVages will soon follow 20. You have now Teachers which suppress and throw to the ground the First or Primitive Church with its Spirit prove and try them and you will find that for the most part they are VVolves and Harlots which first sprung up and were generated in the Primitive Churches when Men slept and they will indeed devour the VVhore 21. But prove and try them they are VVolves sent from the Turba they must do it God suffers it to be done and will have it done that so he may with one Besom sweep out the other but they are Besoms and will after the finishing of the VVonders of the Anger be given up to the Turba together 22. Suffer this to be said to you by this Spirit it is your Own Prophet it is generated out of your Turba upon the Crown awake or else you must thus be devoured by one another 23. For No stranger consumeth you but your own Turba which is come to the Limit boast not your selves of a Golden Time it is a Time of Wonders The Five and Twentieth Question What the Hand of God and the Bosom of Abraham are 1. THis is indeed sufficiently explained already for it is the All-Substantial or All-Being every-where-presence of God but in its own Principle as the Rich Man who was in Hell could not prevail with Abraham to send Lazarus to him with a Drop of Cold Water to cool his Tongue in the Flames Abraham said there was a great Cliff or Gulf between them that is a whole Principle 2. The Bosom of Abraham is thus to be understood Abraham was the Father of the Faithful and God gave him the Promise that in his Seed all People of the Earth should be Blessed this was to be understood in the Messiah Christ who would become Man in the Faithful and as in Abraham's Seed he became Man so he would also become Man in the Children of the Faithful and bless them 3. And this is now the Holy Christian Congregation generated in Christ that is the Bosom of Abraham we are in Christ all one Body and to Abraham was the Promise Given he was the Patriarch or Arch-Father and we are all become generated in that Promise understand in the New-birth in Christ and are in that Bosom which taketh us into it 4. When we through earnest Repentance enter into Abrahams Promise then we go into the Bosom of Abraham viz. into Our Promise and in the Bosom of Faith Christ becometh generated or born in Us and that is the Fulfilling 5. Thus we are in Humility with Lazarus in the Bosom of Abraham for Christ is Abraham and to Abraham was Christ Promised now he hath him and we with him and thus we come into his Bosom and are his Children in the Promise and CHRIST is the Fulfilling 6. Thus we sit in the fulfilling in the Bosom of Abraham and are Abraham's Seed according to the Spirit Here ye blind Jews open your Eyes what did Abraham in the Circumcision signifie nothing else but that Sin should in the Blood and Death of Christ who shed his Blood for the Children of the Faith of Abraham be drowned and in that Blood as in a Heavenly Tincture become Regenerate again 7. Abraham and his Children drowned Sin in their Blood in the Faith on Christ who in their Blood was to become Man and now it is fulfilled and therefore hath God set the Seal of Faith in the Substance and now we are and should be born a new or Regenerate in the Real Blood of Christ 8. Christs Blood taketh away the Turba from us and we rise again in his Blood as a New Man out of the Old and bear or carry Christ's Image Christ's Flesh and Blood in us in Our Image if we are the Children of Abraham and Not Ishmaels 9. For to Isaac belong the Goods of the Image of the Body of Christ the Circumcision is Ishmaels for he converseth about Works but the Goods are Isaac's and Ishmael shall at Last dwell in Isaac's Tents but the Kingdom belongeth to Sem. 18. Not out of Merit by works have we Isaac's Goods but out of Grace out of Gods Love we cannot attain it with the work but in the Faith in the Will and Deed in the Entering in 11. But he that entereth into a Dominion which is not his own by the right of Nature he entereth into it by the Grace
Eternity before the Foundation of the World was laid which stood in the Majesty of the Holy Number Three and also in the Body of Mary equally alike at Once 21. And the Soul of Christ belongeth half to the Principle of this World and half to the Holy Spirit for the Soul of Christ made use of the outward Spirits Air of the Stars or Constellations with the Power and Vertue of the Elements and also of the Word of God and of Divine food for such a Man was Adam in Innocency 22. Thus hath God in Christ Regenerated us anew and thus are we born anew in Christ out of God's Word and Spirit through the Water of the Eternal Life thus are we Gods Children in CHRIST and if we give our selves up into Christ out from our Reason then we are indued with Christs Body and our Will and Spirit liveth from or of CHRIST in US and we in him 23. Thus you may understand what Christ's Temptation was viz. that the New Regenerate Man should now hold out or endure Adams temptation to try whether his Soul could stand in God and there he was tryed in the Turba to see whether he could rightly stand in the Three Principles and rule over the Outward and therefore his food of the outward Life was withdrawn from him that the inward Life might overpower the outward and eat of the Word of the Lord and hold the outward in its own power and full Omnipotency and also hold Death Captive that it should not destroy the outward Life this must needs be a Great Combate 24. And then the other two Temptations were these he was tryed whether Man would live in full obedience to God and let God work in him or whether he would lift up himself again and free himself from God as Lucifer did and therefore the Devil must tempt him seeing this Man was to possess his Kingly or Royal Throne 25. Therefore the Devil complained that he was not able to stand the Mother of the fierce Wrathfulness drew him so hard therefore it was now permitted to him that he should tempt and try it in this Man and should set before him that which was set before himself and if this Man did overcome he should be the Devils Judge who was found to be a Lyar. 26. For he Tempted him in the second and third Assault fully to try whether he would flie in his own self might and he himself had done and had awakened the Anger or whether he would put his Trust alone in God and live in God with Will and Substance or Deed as a Child in Obedience to the Father and this he tryed so long with him as Adam was in the Temptation before his sleep 27. Thus must we also Continually be Tempted but in Christ who hath overcome we can have the Victory for his Soul is our Soul and his Flesh our Flesh if we trust in him and give up our selves wholly to him as Christ gave himself up to his Father 28. And thus beloved Friend you understand what Christ's Soul and Body is viz. Our Soul and Body if we cleave to God but if not then we are rent off and are according to the outward Life fallen home to the Spirit of this World viz. to the perished corrupt Adam and according to the Soul fallen home to the Devil in the Anger of God seek this more at large in our other Writings where you shall find the whole ground of Heaven and of this World The Seven and Thirtieth Question What the Spirit of Christ is which was Obedient and which he Commended into his Fathers Hands 1. THis is that Great Jewel for which we highly rejoyce that we know it so that we know our selves what we are and it is more dear and acceptable to us then the whole World for it is that Pearl for which one sold all his Goods and bought that Pearl of which Christ speaketh 2. For it is more profitable to Man then the whole World it is more Noble and Precious then the Sun for the Noble or Precious Stone of the Wise Men the Philosophers Stone lyeth THEREIN it hath the Mysterium Magnum The Great Mystery Heavenly and Earthly and there is nothing like it in this World but only the mean simplicity which standeth still and generateth or awakeneth no Turba this hath the Jewel hidden in it as the Gold lyeth in the Stone 3. And continueth unconsumed if a Robber with the Earthly Turba cometh not upon it and destroyeth it and yet attaineth it not so is also the own self-Reason in the Mystery 4. Therefore we dare and can with good ground say that a simple Layick which in simplicity without much Skill and Art cleaveth to God hath the Mysterium Magnum better and surer also undestroyed then a high learned Doctor that flyeth aloft in his Reason and destroyeth the Jewel and setteth it in Babel this indeed will not relish well but we are not much concerned in that we should set forth the Truth and baulk or shun none 5. Now when we speak of Christ's Spirit then Reason understandeth the Soul or indeed the outward Life's Spirit which standeth in power and vertue and winking of the Stars and Elements but no it is another thing wherein the Image of God standeth the outward Spirit belongeth not to the Deity but to the Wonders 6. We have truly and clearly mentioned before but since it is hinted expresly in the Question that Christ commended it to his Father in his Dying therefore we must speak thereof how it was 7. You have sufficiently conceived before in what manner the Soul is the Center of Nature the Original of Life and the Mobility as viz. a Fire of God which should be turned and inclined into Gods Eternal Will wherein it is Originally generated out of the Magick seeking and out of the Eternal Nothing is become a Great Mystery wherein ALL Things lye The Deity with all the Three Principles and all whatsoever is or is called Being or Substance or Thing 8. Also it is explained how out of the Fire the Light is generated and the Spirit-Air and then how the Fire draweth the Spirit-Air again into it self and so continually bloweth up it self again and so with the Light and the Air and the source or quality of the Fire is the Life of its own self 9. We have also mentioned moreover unto you concerning the Noble or Precious Tincture which thus ariseth in the Light in which is the Light 's meekness which is Generated out of the Anguish as a Mortification or killing and sprouteth forth out of the Mortification as another life of another source or quality where the Fires-source or quality is apprehended to be a Tincture like a driving forth of a Spirit and yet also is desirous and so draweth the power and vertue of the Light into it self and maketh it be a Substance viz. Water 10. Wherein the two Forms become apprehended one according to