and the Mouth Fall on and doth the work of the false or Evill desire 36. Then standeth Christ in his tender humanity in the inward Holy Body and reproveth the outward Man presseth upon him and taketh his power from him and setteth him before the Eyes in the Mind that it is abomination and Sinne and driveth him again to the unloading of that which the desire of the Flesh hath loaden upon him viz to abstinence and Repentance 37. Which is nothing else but a going again out of the Abomination and then the wrought Abomination remaineth to the Anger of God and to the Devill for food that is ITS refreshing but the Mystery of Man becometh Free again in it self 38. But as the Fowler watcheth the Fowles so the Devill watcheth upon the Soul so soon as it gazeth a little upon him then he bringeth his Imagination into it and stirreth the desire of the Flesh and then beginneth the Devills Dance again with whom Christ must fight without ceasing 39. But if he be not yet born and manifested in Man in the Heavenly Substantiality so that the fair Image standeth yet disappearing and without Life As in Truth with MOST it is so then know this That IMMANUEL viz the Spirit which in Paradise promised it self to Adam Eve and went to meet them in their Light of Life and called them saying Where art thou Adam in the Light of Life of the Soul and did set it self towards them with great desire and now continually calleth the soul saying it should incline and turn it self to GOD. 40. Then will JESUS manifest himself in the faded or disappeared Image and Generate CHRIST viz a New Life in the heavenly Substantiality and that is the true drawing of the Father whereof Christ speaketh saying None cometh to me except the Father draw him the Father draweth the Soul that it should enter into Gods Love and Mercy 41. And if it entereth in then is JESUS CHRIST a true Man in the faded disappeared Substance and possesseth the Gates of the Deep and of those saith Christ My Lambs shall none pluck out of my hands for if HE be born then may the Devill rage and rave and throw the BODY as it were to the ground yet then the Saviour standeth in the Battle and draweth the whole Man continually again out of the misery and raiseth him up before him that man runneth continually again to Repentance of his abominations heaped on him from the Devill and unloadeth himself of them again 42. But concerning the Conception of Children That a right true Regenerate Christian Man should beget his Children totally Holy without Guilt as this Authour conceiteth that is Babell and a great Errour which the Serpent introduceth under which it will cover it self that a Man might not know the Kitling it would fain be called Holy Men have a long time called it the Black slick Evill Devill and now it would once fain be called also Christ and a God but the Most high hath discovered it so that we see and know it and would have you Christianly warned 43. Every Tree and Vegetable bringeth forth fruit out of it selfe as the Plant is but know this That the spirit of Nature presseth so hard together into the power out of which the branch groweth that the branch oftentimes becometh evill withered yea altogether a dry rotten Branch 44. THUS it is with Man that which is sown that groweth but Gods Anger through the Devils Imagination especially when he observeth that the outward Constellation of the Starres in the Elements is evill presseth it self often in therewith so that honest Parents beget evill Children and on the contrary also many times evill Parents beget honest Children as experience maketh it apparent before our Eyes 45. And to that End CHRIST hath commanded us the Infant Baptisme to baptize the Child in the Name of the Holy Trinity then he will thus in this his Covenant be powerfull and with his power kindle again the poor captive Tinder and take the Serpents Poyson away out of the Light of Life so that the divine drawing standeth open 46. Then the introduced Poyson remaineth IN the outward Flesh which will afterwards be broken in CHRIST and the Gates out and in stand open to Man and then it is as it is written To whom you give your selves as Servants in Obedience his servants ye are whether of Sinne to Death or of the Obedience of God to Righteousnesse 47. The Soul hath free-will to go OUT and IN but it can NOT generate it self in Christ it must only go out of its own Evill Will and enter into Gods Mercy Then CHRISTS Spirit which in JESU stood presented to the Soul in the Light of Life taketh it in his Armes of the desire and Sprouteth in its desire in the faded disappeared Substantiality forth from the pure Element of Heaven as a New Life out of Death and that is CHRIST Man and God 48. Readers let me perswade you iry it goe with it into the Holy Scripture try it inwardly and outwardly and learn the Truth out of Christs Spirit then you will put no belief in him but we have seen it in Ternario Sancto in the holy Ternary and know what we write 49. But I am a Childe whose understanding hangeth at the Breasts of my Mother and have no authority and NO understanding unlesse what my Mother giveth me I lye in imbecillity as a dying Man but the most high raiseth me up in his Breath so that I go according to his Wind. 50. But I warn you Christianly that you would understand the zeal to the welfare of your own Souls I have wages enough If I attain your Breath and may Sprout up IN you and may give you my Life what should I give you more take the present and lay it well to Heart 51. Not in opinion only but introduce it into the Breath of God and try it in Body and Soul and take the cleernesse thereof let affections go they are not the Pearl but set for the shame of a sinner that the Evill and Malice might cease and not pride it self in FLESH take only the pure Oyle for healing the rest taketh not hold of the Souls Wounds but only the wounds in the outward Man I pray the Reader not to interpret this otherwise then as it hath its true Ground 52. Now as to what the Authour saith concerning the Good Divine Wife or Woman which doth not exist from Adams sinfull Flesh and evill Lust which conceiveth and generateth the Holy Man which is CHRIST God and Man THAT I also beleeve it is true But his understanding is erroneous in that he understandeth it to be out of the outward Man and will have a totall transmutation of the outward into the inward in this world 53. The Good Wife or Woman is the Heavenly Image viz the second Principle which dyed in Adam in that very faded or
the Fiat viz in the hunger of the desire Material and originateth out of the power of the Flesh and of the Spirit both of the Man and of the Woman 93. In the Man the Spirit is fiery that soweth the Fiery Tincture in the Woman the Spirit is watery according to the Light that soweth the Spirits Tincture in the Inward Kingdome the Image of the faded Substantiality and in the outward the Aires property out of the abomination of the Earthlinesse 94. Her seed is in the outward totally Cagastrish or drossy but if She be Holy then it is in the Inward according to the saded Image Iliastrish that is halfe Paradisicall for it beareth the Rose-Garden wherein God became Man it beareth according to the second Principle the house of PARADISE but in the Outward Principle it beareth the Childe of the existed abomination out of Adams Lust and in the Third Principle viz in the Earthlinesse it beareth the Dying viz the Death and Earthlinesse 95. The Man beareth in his Seed in the first Principle the Fire-world viz the Fathers Property out of which the Father manifesteth his Sonne viz his Love viz Venus'es Matrix that is the second Principles Property in him but in his Seed not manifested but only as a Glimmering Tinder or Mother so far as he is holy and in the Third Principle he beareth in the Sulphur and Mercury in his Seed the awakened Anger of God in which the abomination against God existed and became Manifested in Venus'es Matrix viz in the Womans Property 96. These Properties become with the Seeds of Man and Woman in the Conjunction brought into ONE there the TWO Tinctures receive one another in great Joyfulnesse as it is found by experience when the Seed goeth forth How the Tincture lifteth up it self in Joy whence mans Life is moved as a Joyfull aspect enough understood by those that are OURS 97. And the Two Tinctures espouse themselves thus instantly in the Sulphur of the Seed into One and awaken the Mercury viz the Work-master of the Life so that he laboureth in the Seed and awakeneth the Lifes forms in the Sulphur 98. And if the Mercury be not potent enough then it draweth the Mothers Menstruum to it self and bringeth it into the Seed of the Conjunction then it maketh the Seed in Menstruo to be FLESH in which yet there is a materiall poyson and the great abomination against the holynesse and purity as is sufficiently understood by all Lovers of Mysteries what kind of poyson lyeth in the Menstruum which desttoyeth and poysoneth any tender plant of the Earth as is undenyable 99. Now in this Menstruum and poyson is the Seed come to be Flesh and both the Tinctures are therein and have their nourishment from their Substance and the true Life in Soul and Spirit existeth out of THAT 100. Where now in this is the totall holinesse without blemish according to this Authour Let him shew it me here and then I will esteem him for the Bride of Christ as he will needs be so in his outward Flesh 101. The Scripture saith Man is sown in dishonour but riseth up in power Here is understood the second Principle in which the Word of Life standeth together in that Espousall but not in the Evill sinfull Flesh which is full of kindled affections and false or wicked desires 102. But if the Seed be of wicked Parents then is the Mother Tinder in the second Principle not stirring but if the Parents be Holy then is the Seed manifested in the Threefold Life viz in the Threefold Essence but if not then is the Divine Mother or Tinder not Manifested according to the Love-power but onely according to the Anger and according to the outward world 103. And though it be so that honest marryed people beget children and joyn themselves together with Love-desire yet it hath NOT this meaning or understanding That the Imagination or Desire of Man and Wife is holy and that Christs Spirit driveth on the Imagination as this Author supposeth Indeed the Noble Soul is ashamed of it 104. The Imagination ariseth out of the Tinctures which kindle the Mercury with their Lust and the Mercury kindleth the Spirit of the Life and now existeth the Lust and Will in the Heart viz a vehement desire the tenderer the Complexion is the Nobler also is the Tincture in its sweet desire 105. But if also it be shot with a fiery Dart in Venus'es desire then is the Life kindled so that it is as it were more than halfe Mad with Love Thoughts and yet knoweth not what is happened to it 106. Must all this now be holy then would the Secret WHOREDOMES where oftentimes one vehemently and fierily loveth anothers Wife and in like manner one Woman anothers husband and so is shot with this Dart be also Holy also when two young persons look upon one another whence instantly Venus shooteth with her fiery Dart then must that also be Holy whereas indeed the Dart often goeth forth in false or wicked Lust 107. And though it be at the best yet it is a thing that is in all Beasts it is Naturall Men find some Beasts that are even ashamed of it wherein it appeareth that Nature it self is ashamed of it and when men will give it the best and rightest name then it is called an abomination before Gods holinesse being a thing existed out of Sinne through Adams-Fall which indeed is boarn with all under divine patience seeing it cannot be otherwise of which we could take many Examples in the Holy Scripture 108. Look upon the people Israel when God would give them the Law at Mount Sinai and manifest or reveal himself with his voyce then he commanded the Young People which were loaden with such burning Lust to abstain from their WIVES and that pointed not only at the Marriage work but also at the * Imagination 109. When David came to Nob to the Priest Abimelech and there was no Bread but the Holy Bread the Priest said to David if the young Men had abstained from Women then would he give to them and David said the Women were left these Three dayes 110. Herein Men have a very cleer example that even the People of David ought not to eat of the holy Bread if they had touched Women then were they unclean and David had shut up the Women therefore from the Young Men that they should not be Made unclean with the Women through burning and Lust for they were in the warres that they should not be an abomination before God and so God suffer them to fall in Battell 111. And Saint Paul saith 1 Corinth 7. 5. concerning Marryed persons That they should not depart one from another unlesse it be with both their consent that they may apply themselves unto Prayer Saint Paul meaneth that Men should FORBEAR the Marriage work when they will Repent viz enter into true sorrow with Prayer before God It is just
born of God before all creatures 3. Which revealed great Mistery with the whole Divine fullnesse afterwards in its appointed Time in the assuming of our humane Body and Soul Flesh and Bloud in the Flesh of Christ became knowne and Manifested whence this Text according to your Scripture signification in Eternity cannot be severed or the first secluded from the Created Adam but the second viz the Justification in the Spirit following according to your Meaning is to be understood only in Christ but both belong only and alone to the Regeneration of Christ and of ALL his holy Members in the flesh 4. As indeed according to your visible Explanation in the Letter not only the flesh of the Created Adam but the whole Person Body and Soul the Totall Soul-Man which is created in the Naturall Life hath sinned and through the Fall come into Eternall Perdition 5. Whence the Justification and Regeneration through God the Lord who is the Spirit in Christ yea Christ the highly praised God himself is appropriated to all the faithfull and Elect new Creatures and Imaged or Represented and United in the Faith 6. Through which highly praised Triune God CHRIST JESUS the Expresse Image of the totall holy perfect Divine Triunity all Elect rightly Beleeving in with and through himself are GLORIFIED in his Expresse Image and brought from one Glory to another as by him the Lord and Triune God himself who is the Lord the Spirit 7. As really the Justification cannot be applyed and explained concerning God and Christ without the Regeneration and union of Body and Soul of the whole humane visible and palpable Person who is the Eternal Righteousness it self but concerning the converted and redeemed whole humane Person in ONE Body concerning Body and Soul and not concerning the Flesh alone which without Soul and the inbreathed breath of God is nothing but Dust and Ashes according to the Testimony of Scripture in Many places and Texts Thus far Esaiah Stiefel My Answer upon this 1. LEt the Christian Reader but look this Author Rightly into his heart and consider what he seeks under this description where he saith God hath created ALL things in Christ as also created and made Man visible in him but wholly without divine manifestation and knowledge so that God with his Mystery in the least was not manifested in Adam whereas yet the Spirit of God did breath into him the living Breath whence Man became a living Soul 2. Also how this Authour speaks quite against himselfe for he acknowledgeth in many places That God did breath into Man a powerfull living Spirit-Life out of the Divine understanding and Mouth in which Man was the Image of God 3. Now if the Spirit of God did breath into him his Breath viz the living understanding Soul how then was not God manifested in Man But he must do it for another cause that thereby he might give forth or professe himself wholly altogether to be God for he sets it down thus That God Created and made Adam visible in Christ and not further manifested himself in Adam but only in Christ and so Created Adam onely to and for the Naturall Life and he understandeth properly under it only that he should or must Fall For if he had no Divine knowledge and if God had never been manifested in him then the Devill might easily have got the Game of him 4. This Authour understandeth it thus that God might have cause to bring forth the hidden Treasure of the Divine wisdome the Second Time in Christ and manifest himself in Christ in the Humane Property and new Regenerate Man totally in the Treasure of his Divine wisdome so that Man is wholly Christ out of which he frameth to himself such a thought that HE himself is Christ 5. And this must help him to it and be the ground and Corner stone thereof That God did Create and make Man visible the First Time in Christ and is now the Second Time wholly new generated in Christ 6. From this now it followeth seeing Christ manifested himself the Second time in the Flesh and manifested the Soul and Body of Man in him with the WHOLE fullnesse of the Deity that MAN is TOTALLY God and Christ and so HE cannot fail of his purpose 7. For if in CHRIST he be come to be visible as to this world in Adam and that Christ as God the second time manifest himself wholly in him with the fulnesse of the Deity inwardly and outwardly in the totall humane Property so that God and Man is totally one then it cannot fail him but that Man must be God 8 Now understand this Authours confusednesse or intricacy First he saith God Created and made Man manifest in his Image that is in Christs Eternall Image which is the Authours Corner-stone but altogether erroneous and not right CHRIST in JEHOVA in IESU from Eternity was no Image of the Deity and even NO Christ The first begotten or born of the Father before all Creatures from Eternity is Gods Heart Voyce Word or Manifestation of the Divine Mouth the Scripture understandeth no other Image 9. The Man Adam became not created and manifested in Christs Image but in his own Image which God had seen from Eternity in his wisdome in the out-spoken word he can shew us no other 10. God created Man in his Image and to the Image of God it stands not written of Christ but of God to the Image he became created to substance and IN the Image he became created in his own Image from Eternity known by the Spirit of God 11. Not to A God but to a Similitude of God as Moses saith God Created Man according to his Similitude Also Let us make Man a Similitude according to us that the Spirit of God may behold it self in a Similitude and might Melodise with himself 12. And therefore he breathed into him the Breath out of his Sound of all his Substance out of all the THREE Principles viz a Tang and Voyce of his Instrument viz a Harmony of God upon which the Spirit of God would melodise and take pleasure in the Tang of the out-spoken Mercury or Word in the Humane Sound and with this Instrument Govern all whatsoever is and liveth in the world and so manifest himself in this humane Sound in Mans voyce and ride upon the wings of Mans Spirit as David saith The Lord rideth upon the wings of the Wind. 13. In this respect his Corner-stone upon which he buildeth is erroneous and not rightly understood If Adam had continued in Gods Harmony there had needed no Christ in Man for the Power of the Serpent Crusher or Bruiser to be the Christ was hidden in the Word of Gods voyce and manifested in no Image 14. God also took not his Love to himself for a wife in that he would generate an Image to himself He himself generateth the Love the Love is IESUS or IEHOVA viz the Second
himself into his Mystery viz into his Rest in the Grave 233. Concerning which David saith He should rest secure for the Lord was set before him in Christ in whose Protection he rested in Christ viz in the Limit or Mark of the Covenant in the Looking-Glasse of Christ which God set before him in the Covenant of the Circumcision and in the Sacrifices as if Christ were therein for he had Promised Christ therein till the fullfilling in the Flesh came 234. Therefore shall not this Authour perswade us That the Earthly Man in Sinne without the breaking of the outward Life doth wholly put on Christ inwardly and outwardly and that the sinfull outward Nature when Man entereth into Repentance doth wholly dye and Christ alone awake or arise and become generated inwardly and outwardly in Man 235. No! Christ is come to heal the Soar which Adam made when he instantly dyed to the Kingdome of Heaven in the Sinne-Bit viz to awaken or raise up the inward Man which disappeared in Adam and new generate it in him in his power and introduce the poore Soul again into a Divine Will and give it the Noble Jewell of the Holy Spirit again 236. And continually Crush or bruise the head of the Anger and falshood of the Old Serpent dwelling with its Will in the outward Flesh also continually slay the earthly Will till the earthly Adam dye altogether consume and enter into its Mystery in which God Created it to the Judgment of God there shall that give its Mystery to the * outward Image again viz the Third Principle and the whole Man as God Created him in Adam shall stand forth in CHRISTS Property and power again and live again in JEHOVA's Light and Power 237. For when Christ hath finished all Then shall he deliver up the Kingdome in the Regeneration to his Father again and God shall be ALL in ALL as he was before the Times of the World 238. The Authour erreth in this that he conceiteth That the Man who turneth himself to CHRIST wholly puts on Christ inwardly and outwardly and becometh wholly CHRIST and that the Nature of the Properties dyeth away There is no ground for this Christs Flesh became conceived in the Power of the Holy Spirit in Maryes Essence but our evill Flesh we receive from Adams sinfull Male or Masculine Seed in the Power or vertue of the two Tinctures of the Man and of the Woman 239. Christ saith That which is born of Flesh is flesh but that which is born of the Spirit that is spirit Flesh and Bloud shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven The Spirit is the Life the Flesh profiteth nothing it shall putrifie or rot and enter into its first Substance 240. The Spirituall Man according to the Kingdome of God which dyed in Adam but in the Repentant Sinner is regenerated in Christ that dwelleth in Heaven as St. Paul saith Our conversation is in Heaven from whence we expect the Saviour CHRIST who is the Life 241. His Mystery wherein the earthly Flesh of Sinne dwelleth that passeth into the beginning and expecteth the Saviour JESUS CHRIST to the Resurrection and Restoration into Life This is my apprehension and knowledge 242. I say rot that a Man in this Flesh is Perfect and doth put on Christ outwardly but the Mystery viz the Quintessence putteth on Christ to the Resurrection of the Dead and the Soul in the heavenly substantiality according to Christs true heavenly Corporeity awakeneth or ariseth as to ITS Substance which it had but dyed in Adam 243. Christ giveth US his Body to Eate and his Bloud to drink but NOT to the Man of Sinne but to the Man in CHRIST new Born to Life viz that from the Divine Worlds Substance to the Paradisicall Man which hath a Heavenly Mouth to partake with 244. For Christ dwelleth in Heaven and feedeth us with his Body and Bloud in the Heaven this Heaven is IN Man and not in the Four Elements as to their Operation but in the pure Element Christ feedeth the Body of his Similitude viz the Soul and the heavenly Part in the New born Man 245. Adam eateth of the four Elements and is fed with evill and good Adam the outward Flesh Man sinneth the inward Man willeth not the Sinne Therefore saith Paul Now if I sinne it is not I that doe it but it is the sinfull Desire which dwelleth in the flesh Now therefore with my Mind I serve God and with the flesh the Law of sinne for I doe that which I would not but if I now doe it it is not I that do it but sinne in the flesh 246. Therefore let the Christian Reader that loveth Truth be warned according to my very good bounden Duty and Love-Will not to esteem himself Perfect and to set himself in the Omnipotent Power or vertue of God in the Omniscience and to say He is without sinne and cannot sinne 247. O alasse the Poor Captive Soul in sinfull flesh can dayly Sinne for The Righteous falleth seaven times a Day Also Before thee no Living Man is Righteous if thou wilt impute sinne and he that saith he hath no sinne is a Lyar saith Saint John 248. This Authour erreth in almost all the highest Articles of Faith I therefore admonish you all wisely to consider Pray to God for understanding and continue in true Resignation and Humility before God and continually pray to God according to the Doctrine of Christ Forgive us our Sinnes 249. This Man will be without Guilt or fault he saith he is dead in Christ to the Guiltinesse and if it were at the best with him yet there lyeth the Guilt still in Adams sinfull flesh which according to Christs Doctrine shall not may not can not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven NOT the Husk of Sinne but the Mysterie shall remain for Ever THus is the true understanding upon the Text 1 Timothy 3. 16. sufficiently explained already also the Expositors erroneous Meaning Discovered but yet I will set down his own words here following for the Reader to Ponder The Second Text. 1 Tim. 3. 16. The Mysterie of Godlinesse is apparently great God is manifested in the Flesh first in Adam The Explainers Exposition 1. WHich Text as also the whole Epistle and ALL Writings of the Holy Apostles and Prophets when they illustrate and speak of the apparent Revelation and great Mystery of God can or may no way with Truth be understood applyed or signified Concerning the First created Adam 2. Seeing God in and with this holy Name the whole holy Trinity the whole Divine fullnesse from the least to the greatest with his holy Divine Saving apparent Revealed Great Mystery was not at all manifested in Adam before the Fall or appeared in him much lesse with his Divine fullnesse hath wrought livingly powerfully and actively IN him or dwelt or been implanted but Once and only in Christ the first
Principle or the Second Person in the Deity 15. When the fair Harmony in Adam became poysoned by the Devill so that the Souls Will-Spirit which should have been wholly resigned into Gods Love-voyce went forth out of GODS Harmony and Tang into the Harmony of the DEVIL and all Evill or Malice then the true Divine Lute-player departed from him For Adams Spirit went out from him 16. Now if Adam had been created and brought forth wholly in Christs Image and had been standing in the Harmony of Christ then were the Image of Eternity which God as this Authour conceiteth Generated in his Love-Mother from Eternity in him destroyed and had suffered it self to be overpowered by the Devill and then were the Devill stronger than God seeing he had destroyed Christs Image 17 O how were it possible that any thing should perish that were brought forth onely and solely out of the Image and will of the Love of God then must GOD perish 18. And though he would say the Body over-loaded or overswayed the Soul yet the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Mouth of God out of the Holy Spirit also it were much that God would Introduce an Earthly Man into the Image of the holinesse of God viz into CHRIST who was generated in the voyce of the Mother of the Love from Eternity out of God as he saith So he would indeed have had Divine holy Substance which the Debill had not been able to Sift 19. I beleeve we shall here leave the Author to his Conceit and must Say That God hath Created Man IN his own Image known of God without Substance into a Substance and Image according to Gods out-spoken and Created Substance as Moses saith To be Lord over all Creatures upon the Earth we shall not dare to set him into the Seat of the Deity 20. The Omniscience of MAN was never at all nor in Eternity ever will be for indeed no Throne Angell is Omniscient but all is indeed under God and a work of his Hands 21. When God manifested himself in and with the Serpent Crusher or Bruiser he said Iohn 3. None goeth to Heaven but the Son of Man who is come from Heaven and who is in Heaven It is an empty or void Point which the Authour mentioneth that Christ hath manifested himselfe in a totall pure Virgin immaculate or without blemish and Sinne. 22. He said he was come from HEAVEN and NOT out of his Image which perished as this Authour conceiteth and yet became Man in Maryes right humane Essence 23. Of which this Authour as is to be observed in his Omniscience and Deity knoweth nothing at all O that he would learn before-hand the Theosophick A. B. C. in the School of the Holy Spirit e're he give himself forth or professeth himself to be holy and Omniscient and were a while under Gods Harmony e're he would himself be Gods Lutenist There is for certain a Luciferian Pride under it 24. Observe loving Brother he cometh in Christs Name and wholly in his person try him Christ is gone to Heaven this is but a confused Man MARY was the daughter of Joachim and Anna according to Flesh Soul and Spirit shut up under the Law of Sinne and under the Fall of Adam and Eve 25. But in HER was the Limit or Mark of the Covenant which God had promised in Paradise understand in the faded Image of the heavenly substantiality in which Adam dyed to the Kingdom of Heaven that can receive NO Sinne for the Heaven of God is subjected under no Sinne. 26. When Lucifer perished in his Creature the Heaven spewed him out from it self The true Soul of Adam was the Life in the Heavenly Substantiality but when the Souls Will entred into the Earthly Substance viz into Evill and Good into Heat and Cold viz into the Center of Nature after sutlety and cunning then faded his heavenly substance wherein Gods Light shone and Gods Light remained standing in its selfe in its Principle 27. This Gods Love-Will Lamented that its similitude perished and promised Adam the Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent out of the Seed of the Woman which had with the Limit or Mark of the Covenant here stuck or set it selfe in MARY 28. Not in the sinfull Flesh of Mary but in the faded Image which JESUS by his entrance would move and move himself in the Limit or Mark of the Covenant and open the CHRIST viz a New Life out of himself and out of this Limit or Mark of the Covenant of Promise in the faded Seed of Mary 29. So that the faded Substance in the power of the moving of JESUS in that this JESUS with his moving moved the divine wisdome and hidden power in it and gave this hidden Seed for a Life might become manifest and in Christ living again who was God and MAN in ONE Person to whom the outward Kingdome of our Flesh in the seed of MARY hung 30. WHEREIN he took upon him our Sins and Infirmities upon his Shoulders and querched them with the bloud of the now present New-borne heavenly Substantiality with the true Womans Seed and drowned the fierce wrath which became manifested in the center of Nature in the Soulish Property together with the disobedient Will and introduced it again into Gods Will. 31. And in this that God moved himselfe in the Seed of Mary in the shut up hiddennesse of the Humanity and manifested himself with his Love and conceived CHRIST in the Faded or disappeared Seed viz the Eternall Life in the still death Therefore is Mary become the blessed of all women 32. For that happened to None that God had moved himself in their right Seed that dyed and disappeared in Adam For here came the first Image again which Adam was in the Creation and God now gave to this Image which could not stand but dyed in Adam this Serpent Crusher or Bruiser out of JESUS or JEHOVA for an assistant that should Help the Soul to over-power the Anger of God and the Devill 33. JESUS hath with this CHRIST which he manifested out of his moving in the Seed of Mary and gave Life to the Seed not received the outward sinfull Seed of Mary into the Deity so that God is become manifested in the outward Seed of Mary 34. This proves it self in Christs Person that he on Earth in form or Shape condition and Outward Conversation and Flesh was like VS for the outward Flesh was mortall wherein he also slew death He took only the Inward Seed viz the disappeared which dyed in Adam wherein Gods Light shined 35. And in the JESU viz in Gods Love and wisdome he manifested the divine power and strength wherewith he would overcome the Anger of the Father and transmute or change IT into the divine Kingdome of Joy 36. But the Soulish and outward Fleshly Seed of Mary Wherein Sinne was hung to the inward disappeared Seed These mix not themselves also they are not
sundred but as God dwelleth in the world and yet the World is not God a Principle severeth them and as God with his Anger dwelleth in the Creature and yet also in the hiddennesse with the Love among the Anger and yet the Anger receiveth not the Love 37. For I can say that God dwelleth with the Love in the Devil but the Devil cannot receive it the Love is his Enemy as the water is the Fires Enemy and yet the Fire dwelleth in the Originall in the water so God dwelleth in all things but the thing is not capable of his Love so also the Earthly Seed of Mary wherein Sinne was was not capable of the Deity but it hung as another Principle to the Inward Seed in which God manifested himself 38. The Inner Man which now became Christ THAT took our Sinne upon it self and hung the Body upon which he had Laid Mans Sinne on the Crosse as a Curse of God For there hung the first Adam which God cursed for the sake of Sinne on the Crosse with the curse of Sinne and dyed to Sinne on the Crosse and in his dying he shed the Bloud of the holy man in Christ into the Mystery of the Soul and of the Outward Man wherein Death was 39. For the holy Bloud was conceived in the Holy Spirit and was immortall it was conceived IN the water of the Eternall Life in the Tincture of Gods Light in his sweet Love and had resolved it self into and appropriated it self with the Bloud of the disappeared Image 40. Now when this Bloud fell together into Death then Death Trembled before this holy Eternall Life the Anger trembled before the Love and fell in its Poyson and Fierce wrath which held us captive into its dying according to the kinde of the fierce wrath 41. And yet there is no dying or ceasing to be understood but it went in the terrour of the Love up in the divine Kingdome of joy as a Light becometh shining out of an anxious hot Source or Quality where all anxiety taketh an End 42. The Fierce wrath which before was evill and angry that was now the cause of the great Fiery Love and Kingdome of Ioy for nothing must passe Away in Man he must remain as God created him in Adam but he must again be transmuted into that very Image into that very resigned will and be obedient to God 43. For the Scripture saith The Son of God Christ became obedient to the Father even to the Death on the Tree of the Crosse so wholly must also our humane will be broken in Christs death and the Anger in HIS Bloud be Transmuted into the Love 44. And that is it which David saith Thou wilt not let thy Holy ONE see Corruption or Consumption Now when he shed his holy Bloud in the true Image of God in Christ then became the Poyson of the Anger in Adams Flesh Soul and Spirit sanctified and transmuted into Love and the Devils Den of Robbery wholly destroyed 45. There enmity ceased and God became IMMANUEL Man with God and God with Man for here Adams Flesh became Tinctured prepared for the Resurrection for Death brake in the Eternall New-born Life of CHRIST out of JESU 46. And here the Gate of Death viz the Eternall Darknesse in Mans Body and Soul became broken open and the Cherubine with the Sword which did cut off the humane Life from the Light of Nature was taken away and the fountain began to flow out of Sion viz out of Christs Spring in the whole Man so that man could now henceforth drink of the Water of the Holy Element and Eat ex verbo Domini of the Word of the Lord. 47. Thus now we are to consider our Imitation of or following after him we cannot say that we can do what God in JESU did through CHRIST in breaking the way for us No WE can NOT shed heavenly Bloud and transmute the Anger of God into Love else if that were any way possible then we must also as a Curse be Nailed to the CROSSE and though that should be yet our inward Man is not exalted into the degree of Christ to be wholly like him 48 For JESUS viz the totall fullnesse of the Deity dwelleth in CHRIST without Measure and in him viz in his Mother MARY was the Limit or Mark of the Covenant which God blessed in Paradise into THAT God looked and through it Gods Imagination entered in through the Jewish Sacrifices 49. God brake death in peeces only through him but we must introduce our Imagination and desire into him that our Tinder of the faded Image in him may begin to glimmer or Glow in the Spirit and power of Christ which apprehendeth the true hunger of the right Faith wherewith Man through the glowing or glimmering Tinder which if it be sincere and earnest at length becometh a shining Light of God in JESUS can break the Power of Sinne in the Flesh and keep it in subjection as a Churlish unruly evill Dog which can NOT altogether be freed from ITS Malignity or Malice till it break wholly and altogether 50. That the Shell into which the Devil hath introduced his Imagination and had his Den of Robbery therein be altogether dissipated that there be no more life therein and then so soon as the outward Man dyeth that the Soul be freed of the Evill Beast THEN it hath the open Gate in its beloved Image in which Christ hath opened himself with the Divine Love-Fire 51. And then is the Union already there the Bride cheereth her Bridegroom viz the Noble Virgin in the Love of Christ being awakened again which taketh the Soul viz its loving Bridegroom and Man or Husband into her Arms of the Divine desire and what is there done I have no Pen to write it with It is more than humane or Natural to write that 52. What Gods Love and sweetnesse is which the converted Man if he enter into his Father again and acknowledge himself a Swineheard and bewayle his by past Sinnes and seeketh the Fathers Grace and Favour experienceth when Christ his Bridegroom sets upon him the Virgin-like Garland or Crown where the Pearl of the divine reception of Grace at first becometh sown 53. What Joy the Virgin hath when it obtaineth Life again and receiveth its Bridegroom Christ how very amiably and blessedly it presents it self towards the soul and comprehendeth the soul viz its Man or Husband in its Love at which indeed Soul and Body tremble in Joy 54. Which those only know who have been Guests in this Place and this Authour who in the Letter will be PERFECT and new-born only and meerly with a litteral skill and knowledge it is likely hath yet never experienced and scarce tasted the Supper of Christ 55. Seeing he is but a Litteral Saint and a Contender and moreover a high-minded despiser of the children of Christ in their unlike Gifts and his holiness is confined meerly within
wise true and reall One and with all Divine perfect Vertues and Names ONE holy Church of GOD together and every person in the same one Christ one Man of God one holy unblameable wise Just One. 29. To the highest Praise of the Triune highly Praised God CHRIST JESUS who in them over them through them and to all in a Personall Manner with his most holy Name and seed is the Will accomplishment senses thoughts works and Life speech and all in all substantially visibly palpably inwardly and outwardly and to Eternall Times remaineth undivided and unalterably and hath and keepeth the Dominion 30. Not only in Heaven at the right hand of God but also in the Vnion with all the faithfull together and in and to every true faithfull person of Man and Woman kind is called and in Eternity remaineth here upon Earth one God one Christ who Ruleth from one End of the Heaven and from one End of the Earth to the other 31. And in such eternal stedfastnesse remaineth one eternal Lord in all over all through all and to all substantially and in Eternity is for ever esteemed so and in and with himself is honoured praised Magnified one Man-God one God-Man or one Humane Good God one Divine Good Man one Christ one Body one Soul Hitherto the Explainer HEreupon followeth my Answer and Explanation highly to be considered by the Reader 1. FIrst as concerning the Text Isaiah 54. 5. Which this Authour explaineth he hath much more confused it and brought it altogether out of a right and orderly understanding into a confused unintelligible matter thing or Substance and hath altogether confounded the Eternall birth of the holy Trinity wholly with the Creature 2. His intent is to search out the Birth or Geniture and Originall of all things or Substances he hath demersed himself into the Birth or Geniture of the Deity and highly elevated himself and set himself up to be totally like God and made himself a God and yet understandeth as little of it as the Cow doth of the Bell which it carryeth about her Neck only it heareth it sound and Ring 3. Secondly He involves all Heavenly and Earthly Creatures in the perdition of Man and will have them all regenerated and Redeemed again in Christ and maketh a Lamentable forced desolation of the right understanding by confounding one thing with another 4. Thirdly He totally and altogether confoundeth the Distinction between God and the Creature and forceth them together into one contrary to all Reason and Truth and setteth the earthly Man if he but beleeve totally with his mortall Substance in the Deity and giveth him full power or authority in Heaven and Earth quite contrary to the Ground of the holy Scripture and also contrary to visible or apparent things or Substances 5. He will be rule overpower know and understand all in all yes God himself and yet he understandeth not the Ground of a Fly in its Essence and Substance much lesse the Divine and uncreaturely and maketh a confused Wheel like a Drunkennesse 6. And if such flattering hypocrisie should once become totally beleeved then were the greatest Antichrist of all born or generated which setteth it self in the Seat or Throne of God and very audaciously giveth forth himself for GOD and presenteth his own great holiness without blemish in immortality 7. Quite contrary to the visible or apparent ground of all Truth and totally hideth the Man of Sinne in the Anger of God and maketh of him-a-dear Sonne of God in his outward Flesh and thus bringeth us so totally out of the true understanding that we should not understand how and in what manner Christ becometh generated or born IN us what the Heavenly and Earthly Man is 8. He will perswade us we are both inwardly and outwardly totally perfect holy and without all Blemish and Sinne we should but beleeve and then the naturall outward sinfull Man dyeth and becometh wholly and altogether changed into Christs Person so that Man here in this Time upon Earth is as he saith wholly and altogether Christ who in Heaven sitteth at the right hand of God and is on Earth a totall perfect God-Man inwardly and outwardly without defect 9. And there is nothing more wanting but that the poor Sinner who would faine repent and beleeve fall down before THIS great holy God which he himself will BE and worship him that he may receive him to Grace into this HIS Holinesse 10. For HE will needs be the Christ in ALL in Divine Omnipotence and Substance and distinguisheth not at all what God Christ and Man is what the Creature Humanity and God are in him Flesh and Spirit is all one moreover Mortality and Immortality 11. Yet I would very fain see him to know whether he be otherwise then other Men I have not all my Life long heard any tell of any such wonderfull Man in the World not in any History read of such a Wonder And if that be true which he saith then he must according to the Tenure of the Scripture shine seaven times brighter then the SUN and other Men and Living Creatures would be struck blind before him because of his Great Holinesse and Clarity or Brightnesse 12. But if he should say Men can not see that in him as indeed he doth neither hath any Man on Earth seen it in him or in any other Man especially being Heat and Cold as also Pain and Sicknesse take hold of him and that he continually cloatheth himself with the Cloathing of Beasts he sleepeth and waketh useth Earthly Food and Drink in the Curse of God and which is much more liveth in repreaching and cursing of honest people that love God 13. In that regard we yet very strongly doubt of his perfect holinesse and doe not hold his confusednesse for Gods Voyce out of Gods Holy Substance especially since we see that he yet understandeth nothing of the Divine and Naturall Birth or Geniture and eternall Revelation or Manifestation of all things or Substances how one originateth out of another and yet thus elevateth himself without Divine knowledge out of a meer litterall Conceit which yet he perverteth and styeth aloft without Wings before they are feathered 14. But seeing it is a subtile extravagant Errour wherewith likely honest hearts fearing God in Innocency might be seduced without sufficient searching into this extravagancy therefore I would have the Reader who loveth the Truth informed of this almost quite hidden Errour and will a little unfold the same that men may see the high insuperably superlative sence as he supposeth and therewithall a little to open the true ground which hath better Testimony and also agreeth with that which is visible or apparent 15. Not at all to contend with this confused Wheel and to defame him but for the sake of Christs Children whom Christ hath Redeemed with his Bloud to try whether many will not become better discerning and would learn to distinguish such an Errour and get a
for they need none and the Devils have NONE much lesse hath Christ redeemed all heavenly and earthly Creatures as this Authour conceiteth For the heavenly need no Redemption and the earthly are NOT created in the Eternall Life for indeed the earthly Creatures are NOW just as EVILL as before the Suffering and Death of Christ and so is the earth also yet or still in the Curse 60. In that regard this Omniscient Word is very Erroneous in this place And although indeed there is mention made in the holy Scriptures concerning the Redemption of the Creatures That all Creatures groane together with us to be delivered from vanity and that CHRIST shall Redeeme them 61. But it hath NOT this understanding to meane Oxen Calves Wolves Bares and other Beasts and Living Creatures BUT the Creation wherein the Vanity of the Curse of God which holdeth Captive in it self the Fair Paradise viz the GOOD part of the pure Element in this Worlds Substance THAT shall the Judge CHRIST in the Harvest Seperate and give the Chaffe to all Devills and Wicked Men to possesse 62. The Creatures are not yet redeemed they yet groane all this while to enter into the Mystery out of which they are gone forth it is but an erroneous Conceit which runneth contrary to any visible or apparent ground like a mad senslesse or raging Drunkennesse 63. Also the Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent as this Authour sets it down in Paradise after the Fall was not promised to the BEASTS and earthly Creatures he can not shew that though he so much appeale to the SCRIPTURE 64. It is false and standeth not in the Scripture with such a meaning and men should not think while he speaketh falsly that he speaketh only and solely out or from God he that beleeveth him will be deceived 65. The Authour Esaiah Stiefel sets these words down concerning the Regeneration of Christ viz With which this Triune God loved the WHOLE World with all its Births or Genitures and not only promised it to Man and the abovesaid heavenly and earthly Creatures first for a Redeemer through this Triune Deity but also Regenerated and presented IT livingly substantially operatively and actively in the precious Birth and assumption of humane Flesh and Bloud in the Womb of the Virgin MARY God Man in one Person visibly palpably and Substantially here upon Earth 66. But Jacob Behme inserts that Christ hath Regenerated NO earthly Creatures but MAN 67. And while this Author Esaiah Stiefel with or by these words includeth ALL Creatures be they what they will in Heaven and Earth in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of CHRIST and in his Redemption and saith cleerly it is so palpably and substantially now here upon Earth a Man may thereby well know what Spirits Child this Author Esaiah Stiefel is 68. Viz That he is stark drunk with or from the Stars and likely also from that evill Enemy the Devill which I offer the Reader to ponder of and doe pray God that he will give this Authour Esaiah Stiefel a better Mind and Thoughts to leave off such an Errour that Christs Children be not deluded 69. He saith also God hath in CHRIST even while we are here upon Earth if we doe but beleeve redeemed and delivered us from ALL Sinne and Lust of the Flesh yes from the Devill Death and ALL unrighteousnesse And I understand it so too but according to or as to that Will which entereth into Christ but he who liveth in self-hood in the flesh he is NOT yet free from Sinne he Sinneth Dayly in himself till death cut off Sinne and the source or quality of sinne from the Faith and good Will 70. At this place he should distinguish the Earthly Evill and the Heavenly good Will and Spirit asunder which he compriseth all together in Christs Redemption that he might be able to say HE hath no sinne and that he is GOD in CHRIST but the Earthly Hide or Husk is not Christ but belongeth to the Earth and to Death till it dyeth and giveth up the Sinne Life or Life of Sinne. 71. But that he saith the truly Faithfull is ONE Substance with Christ That I say also but according to the Inward Man and Soul the house of sinne is so long severed from Christ whiles it sinneth but when it dyeth to sinne then it standeth in the Rest to or for the Resurrection and Restoration 72. But for what vertues he ascribeth to the Faithfull man those all only and solely the * Inward Man hath the outward doth nothing that is good freely and willingly unlesse the Inward Compel him to it that is proved in the Authour himself he should cleerly distinguish that else no credit will be given to him against all Reason Sense and Experience 73. I am perswaded that there are more that be Christians then he yet they must all acknowledge themselves to be sinners For it is written All the Saints will call on thee for the forgivenesse of sinnes therefore these men ought to consider with themselves 74. But that he saith Christ in the Faithfull is ALL the Will and the Performance or Deed Mind or senses and Thoughts working speaking living and all in all substantially visibly palpably inwardly and outwardly This is agreeable to no Truth If Man doth any thing that is good from an inward driving that indeed is from God but he doth also much Evill from the Lusts of the Flesh and the Devils instigation and that Christ doth not but the outward sinfull Man whether it be by Words Deed or Thoughts 75. He telleth me much of such truly Faithfull as cannot sinne at all I beleeve not that such a ONE liveth in the World he is himself a great sinner and a scornfull proud surly Man I beleeve he is altogether Drunk in Sinne so that he knoweth not himself 76. I know also well that CHRIST in Man if he once dwelleth in him SINNETH not but the FLESHLY Man sinneth dayly he cannot rule from one Sea to another Christ can doe it well but Man cannot he is only an Instrument this high painting for Man ought not to be the Tenth part so much Man is as to the Outward but a STINKING Sack of Wormes full of filth and Evill Lusts one as well as another The Fourth Text. Now followeth the Text. 1 Corinthians 11. 12. As the Woman is from the Man so also the Man cometh by the Woman but all from God Now followeth the Answer of the Explainer upon this Text in Four Points I. IN this is especially required First what the Divine good Wife or Woman is which cometh from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God and taketh her Originall according to a Divine humane Manner II. Secondly How and in what Manner and kind She proceedeth from her God and Husband or Man III. Thirdly How also the Husband or Man God Christ is proceeded and Manifested through the divine
be distinguished from other People therefore God sheweth us in this Image that we stand with the Mouth trimmed and adorned before him but the Spirit is a false or wicked Man As this Authour saith We should call our selves Holy and deny the Earthly Name and firmly beleeve we are NO Sinners but God in Christ born Totally Holy 15. And when this seeming Holy World existeth then is the knowledge or acknowledgement of Sinne totally Dead and although God should blame us yet would the flattering Hypocrite Murmure against God and say he did him wrong and then is the enmity against God generated and Sinne totally blind 16. No Man would know more of Sinne and though likely we were totally sinfull before God yet then is the time of which Christ said Dost thou suppose that when the Sonne of Man shall COME that he shall find FAITH on the Earth there would be NO Faith in Power but only meer Faith of a History so that we will not beleeve if any should charge us as guilty of Sinne thus there would be a fine secure negligent or carelesse SION like Life 17. Whatsoever we did then it were all Good there would be accounted no Sinne in the world none would be said to have sinned Christ must do all and though many were very Theeves yet no MAGISTRACY or Government would be usefull for CHRIST ruleth all in all 18. Where there is no Sinne there is also no punishment then also men would need no Superiour to Judge for every one judgeth himselfe and whatsoever he doth that doth God through him which indeed would run contrary to the Angellicall Government and against the Government of the Inward and Outward Nature 19. I admonish all Readers of His writings very sincerely from a true heart as a brother for our eternall salvations sake diligently and well to ponder and consider what is hidden under this giving forth the bring Holy and how the Devill thinketh to take us with a New 〈◊〉 seeing he perceiveth that his smoak-hole shall be manifested 20. Therefore will he now drive us wholly forth from the acknowledgement of Sinner that we should be wholly secure or negligent and understand no Sinne more and supposeth that we in our present evill life which we have shall finely learn to cover our selves With Christs Purple Mantle and introduce us totally into security and carelesness and so keep us from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Sinnes and entrap or take US all 21. But dear Brethren observe and convert or turn away from security and acknowledge your selves to be the lost and returning Sonne to the Father and say continually you have shamefully spent your inheritance and that the Father hath received you again for his Sonne he hath done it of Grace and Favour 22. Be not proud again say not to the Father divide the inheritance between us continue only in humility under the servitude of a Sonne as CHRIST hath set before us in his Similitudes or Parables if God will effect any thing New with us he will well manifest it with power we suppose words without demonstration are too little in so high a matter whereon salvation and blessednesse depends 23. But therewith I set before the Reader the true ground what Adam and Christ are in ONE Person and which Man is without Sinne therefore Mark this which followeth 24. The Kingly Prophet of God David Was a man after Gods own Heart as the Scripture testifieth of him in whom was the Spirit of God and he prophesied of Christ but he said In Sinne was I born in Sinne did my Mother conceive me which also manifested it self in him so that he had neer the Spiritual Man also a sinfull Man IN him which was a Murtherour and an Adulterour as the like may be seen in the Patriarchs 25. But who will now say of David that he was not holy Seeing he was a Man after Gods Heart who also will say that his Murther and Adultery was without Sinne The Man that in David was a Prophet THAT was no Sinner but that which was a Murtherer was a Sinner and yet it was but one only MAN in one Person but in two Properties viz one Heavenly and one Earthly 26. The Spirit of God speaketh of things to COME and of CHRIST concerning the Heavenly Property and the fleshly desire into which the Devill introduced his desire speaketh out of the Earthly Property out of the Earthly cursed Life viz out of the Murther and Vnchastity 27. In ALL men lyeth the Heavenly Image which disappeared in Adam but it liveth in one and in another it is Vnlively That Heavenly Image viz the second Principle is that out of which CHRIST was conceived and born out of JESUS 28. For God is in all places but not Manifest in all things but if he manifesteth himself in the disappeared Substance then is Christ born who dwelleth in his Principle and the Earthly Man of the Earthly part in the Curse of God dwelleth in its own Principle in it self 29. The Spirit of Christ dwelleth in the inward Substance of the disappeared Image from the Divine worlds Substance that dyed in Adam and the Elementary Spirit dwelleth in the Four-Elementary Flesh 30. The Spirit of Christ hath Spiritual Flesh for it taketh the Spiritual Flesh which dyed in Adam on again for a Body and Maketh it living THAT is in its Flesh holy but the outward Spirit of the four Elements in the Earthly Flesh is longing after falshood and wickednesse and bringeth its Lust against the Inward Man for the Devil sifteth it 31. And that is it which the Scripture saith The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit understand against the inward Divine Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh And God said to the Serpent in the Outward Flesh of Adam I will put Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and of the Serpent 32. The Inward Spirituall Flesh is Heavenly the Devill cannot possesse that for if the Soul forsake that and go out from it then is THAT vanished or disappeared and as a Nothing In the wicked it is as a Nothing 32. But when the wicked turneth himself to God and turneth the Will of the Soul to God then is Christ out of the disappeared Seed born a Man and is set before the Devill in the outward Flesh for a Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent which hindreth and breaketh the Will of the evill Flesh so that Sinne is NOT committed 34. And THEN there is a constant Enmity Christ Governeth in his Heavenly Flesh through the outward and striketh the Outward Lust to the Ground then cometh the Anger of God in the Center of the Soul and will also have its fierce wrathfull Government and the Devill with the false or wicked Lust crouds himself thereinto 35. And the Elementary Spirit hungers constantly after its Mother the Elements and then the Devill bringeth the Lust aloft and wheeleth the desire about then the Hand
and of the Anger according to the Principles 31. The Life stood in a Conjunction of continuall inward joyfull desire of one in another the Fire loved the Light viz its meekning and beneficence and the Light loved the Fire viz its Life and Father as God the Father loveth his Sonne and the Sonne the Father in such a Manner or Property 32. And in such Love-Desire viz according to Fire and Light in which desire also the dark impression with its hunger hath intermixed it self God hath generated Substance The impression in the Desire is his Fiat which he leadeth with the voyce of his Fire and Light viz his making or working 33. Thus also in his Image Man was the Fire Mitrix and the Lights desire in great richly Joyfull Eternall Conjunction or as I may somewhat explaine it when TWO desires meet together as a great richly amiable relish and the Impression viz the Fiat maketh this Conjunction hard or loud sounding as the Tone of a word wherein the cleer founding richly joyfull Life standeth in the Feeling Tasting Smelling Seeing and Hearing as an amiable manifestation of the Eternall stillnesse 34. And as this is to be known concerning the Spirit-Life so also in the Flesh-Life for what the Spirit in the Three Principles is in it self In Word and Power that the Flesh in it self is in the Substance thereof 35. The Flesh hath the Tincture of the Fire and Light in it self to such a Glorious Conjunction and relish and the Fiat viz the Impression is also the Middle or Means of the desire in the Flesh and maketh the relish substantial whence vegetation or growing existeth 36. Yet now Adam was but ONE and standing in such great Glory as a totall Similitude according to God in Operation Life and generating as God had generated all things out of his UNITY 37. And in the FLAT which was in all things he had created to himself his Image according to the Property that is nothing else but in the impression of the Fiat in that Conjunction he manifested that very Lust or Longing delight with the Impression Now if Adams Soul in its self hood had entred with its Spirit into the word of the Holy power of God and had not awakened the self hood in the Fiat and had strengthned it self in Gods holy power in the desire viz in the Impression 38. THEN had the Impression viz the Fiat again formed a Similitude in Spirit and Substance in it selfe THEN might Adam have generated magically after a divine manner as God generated the Creature and set it forth VISIBLY 39. For the Matrix of the possibility was in him but when the Souls will viz the out-going Spirit brake it selfe off from Gods power and went into the Fiat into its Center into own Lust to tast evill and good and went out of the Resignation into self-hood then went also the Conjunction in the flesh into such a desire and hungred after the Mother out of which it was created and the hunger was just in such a Propertie as it was in the Spirit 40. And with this hunger of the Spirit and of the Flesh was the vanity in the Center manifested through the FIAT For the Fiat impressed the desire so that the vanity in the substance of the Flesh came and was manifested then all was done concerning the fair Image for the vanity loved it selfe it would not enter into Gods Love viz into the Holy power also it could not for God receiveth NOT that for a Childe 41. Now when this was done God saw the Fall as indeed he had known it before and in that regard he saw and fore-saw Man in the Center of his Heart in the Love Desire determining to move himself in the Center of his Love in the Humane Image and to set the CHRIST in JESUS or out of JESUS viz the greatest humility out of God in this Middle between God and the Creature 42. Then said God in himself as Moses saith It is not good that this man should be alone for he had cleerly lost the divine Might to generate Magically out of himself through ONE We will make a fellow Companion or Help to be about him 43. He Adam could now not generate Magically for he was cleerly passed into the Lust of self-hood had he kept GOD for a Help then he had been able but seeing he could not therefore said God It is not good in the beginning it was good indeed but in the Lust it was not good 44. For in God alone standeth the ability out of which Adam was gone with the lust into self-hood for the Fathers Anger turned it self together in the Fiat aloft and would be Creaturely whence the Lust after Evill and good existed viz after darknesse Fire and Light and the substance of all these 45. And now when the Verbum Fiat the Word Fiat stood in Adam in the desire and impressed the Property in the Lust into a substance of its Similitude then appeared the Magicall Image viz the Similitude according to Adam in the Spirit but the ability of the Creature was gone for it stood in the self hood then sunk the self-hood down in unability 46. Now then said Moses And God suffered a deep sleep to fall upon him seeing he was gone from God into the self-hood therefore God let him fall into unability viz into sleep he let it be done that he fell into unability for in the self-hood he was in the Fires-might even become a Devill and so was not able but he slept and this Sleep is CHRISTS Rest in the Grave 47. Dear Brethren observe it well it is become highly known not in Conjecture and Conceit but in Terrario sancto in the Holy Ternary according to Gods Counsell and Will 48. The Sleep signifieth Death viz a destruction of this outward Dominion for as the outward World in its self-hood and Dominion cannot stand Eternally but must go again into the beginning into the Eternall divine Dominion and totally break to pieces in its self-hood and be purged and tried through Gods Fire 49. So must also the Outward Mystery of Man in the self-hood break to peeces and enter again into the Magick Image into Gods Willing Working and Living 50. And understand us here right The Woman viz Venus'es Matrix from the Light Aire and Water out of Adams Essence became in Adams Sleep viz in the unability impressed in the Fiat as a Mother to the Propagation wherein the Fire in the Property of the Love-Desire viz in the Center of the Transmutation of the Fire into Light became comprehended in the Fiat 51. But the awakened vanity in the desire of the Fiat in the own self-hood of the Souls will was cleerly stirring and manifested in the Lust the Magick Birth was lost therefore God through the Fiat took a Rib in Adams side according to the Impression of the power of Adams Soul and Spirit in the Sulphur Mercury and
then all was done concerning the faire Paradise of Man his heavenly Image of the divine Substantiality faded and was no more known 74. Which in a Similitude is understood to be no otherwise then as when look upon LEAD which before had been GOLD and had through MERCURY turned it selfe into LEAD wherein the poysonous Mercury is manifested which before in GOLD stood in great brightnesse and Perfection 75. And as now in the Lead there is yet a possibility to be Gold but it was not manifested in the Mercury the Mercury could not turn it self again into Gold unlesse the Artist came and brake to pieces the Lead Totally and turned it into the first matter out of which it was Created then might out of that matter fair Gold come to be as it was at first 76. Or else if the power of Sol did move it self in this Mercury of the Lead which yet is a Saturn but yet hath the Impression viz the first Ground to Gold in it selfe and generate in its power Gold again in the Lead so that I see Lead and Gold in ONE Substance and yet it is not manifested but the Lead holdeth the Gold as it were half Swallowed up and covered 77. Thus we are to understand in like manner concerning Adam and Eve their faire Golden Body in divine power and Substance became a Dark obscure Lead spoken by way of Similitude The Golden Mercury awaked in the vanity of the poyson then faded and vanished the Gold viz the holy Body in the Abomination and now it was totally Earthly and must to Earth again 78. But the voyce of God which called them again espoused it self again with the promise of the Serpent Crusher or Bruiser in Venus'es Matrix viz in the Second Principle in the part of the Heavenly Substantiality in which before the Word of the Divine sound had been manifested But when the Souls desire went out from it it faded and vanished in it selfe 79. Thus in this espousall in the Lead there was Gold and Lead one in another but the Gold was not manifested till Gods Mercury in the word of Promise manifested it self in the Lead viz in the Flesh then became the Lead in Christs humanity again changed into Gold and the processe was held as the Transmutation of Mettals is performed which becometh changed into Gold as in our Book of the Signature or Seal of things is very largely and expressely written of 80. And we are hereby to understand that the Limit of the Covenant viz the promised new Golden Life is become propagated in Venus'es Tincture as a Possibility of the Divine Regeneration which God through the Center of his Heart through that very moving Manifested in Christ 81. And manifested the CHRIST viz the Anointed out of JESUS and out of his deepest humility and Love and changed the poysonous Mercury in dark Lead into bright Gold 82. Whereby we are cleerly to understand that in all men the VANITY viz the awakened Lifes forms in their self-hood and strife are again become propagated and will still continually be propagated till in the breaking or Corruption of the Earthly Body for so long as Man findeth Heat and Cold or sicknesse and opposite will in his Spirit and Body so long the Abomination is in FULL Life 83. Concerning the Saints of God which as Prophets in the Spirit of JESUS have prophesied of the CHRIST to Come they have all spoken out of the Limit of the Covenant out of the promised Word which would move it self again in the Flesh none of them was totally new born again in the Flesh 84. For the Word stood in the inward faded Image and opened it self with the voyce through the outward Mercury and shewed the outward Man what would yet happen and be done to him when the word of Promise should he manifested in the Mercury of the Flesh and therein break to pieces the abomination and death of the Strife in the Lifes forms 85. But after CHRIST out of JESUS became manifested in the Flesh then that very Flesh became anointed and therefore he was called the Anointed of the LORD and if we introduce our Souls desire into this Manifested Word in the Flesh of Christ then will also that very promised word which is together propagated in ALL men in the Limit of the Covenant be manifested in our Souls-desire in the faded Image of the Divine Substantiality and in Venus'es Matrix viz in the Second Principle wherein God is viz in his right Heaven which is in MAN cometh to Life 86. That is the faded Image getteth the Divine sound in the Souls desire Christ becometh Man in the faded Image and crusheth or bruiseth Death viz the Abomination of the vanity in the outward Leaden Flesh viz the poysonous Mercury in the Lifes forms the Head of the false or wicked will and bringeth forth the Souls will in it self into GOD. 87. Now understand us further concerning the Propagation between Man and Wife both in the Holy Children and in the wicked How and in what manner it is with the Conjunction of the Masculine and Feminine desire and How in NO Man holy children without Sinne CAN be begotten as this Authour paints it forth to us without sufficient understanding 88. The Conjunction of the Desire towards Wife or Woman and Husband or Man cometh from both the Mothers viz from the dividing of Adam from both the Tinctures of Fire and Light which are in themselves not much nobler and purer than the Flesh or the Mercury in the Sulphur of the Flesh they are done with and have not the true Life in them but they are the fiery desire to the true Life 89. But if they come together into ONE into Substance then they awaken the true Life in the Mercury their vehement desire is after Life they would again be that which they were in the Image of God when Adam was Husband and Wife or Man and Woman out of which existeth now the vehement Imagination in the Sulphur and Mercury in the Flesh 90. The Fires Tincture longeth in the Flesh thus vehemently after the Lights Tincture and the Lights after the Fires The Man or Limbus or Limus Terrae et Coeli the extract of Earth and of Heaven longeth after Venus'es Matrix viz after the Joyous Conjunction of the Love-Life viz of the Love-relish which relish in Adam was one in another wherein he loved himselfe and the Perfection consisted therein 91. For the Flesh knoweth not what it doth it is indeed a substance of that desire for in the desire of the Tinctures the Seed is Generated wherein again the Tincture lyeth and so vehemently driveth on that it also might come to Life for all Life or every Substance and thing presseth after its Center out of which it is generated 92. Now it is to be known what is there sowen The Tinctures which Imagine so vehemently are in the Seed of Man and Woman and the Seed becometh in the Impression of
such an Example as that of Moses and David 112. Therefore a Man cannot say that the Spirit of Christ promoteth it and driveth it on and intoduceth it self into the burning or ardent Imagination Christ therefore became a Man without the help or Co-working or concurrence of any Man or Husband that he might bring us forth out of this abomination before God through his holy Incarnation or Becoming Man he became such a Virgin-like Child with both the Tinctures one in another with own self-Love that he might bring our Rent in himself into ONE 113. And this is the abomination in the Marriage work that the Seed is unclean in the Conjunction of both the Tinctures when they are brought together into One it is the Property of the Eternall Joyfullnesse viz of the highest desiring and fulfilling if that might be done without abomination THEN it were holy 114. But the Sulphur of the Seed is an abomination before the Holinesse The Elevation of the Naturall Lifes Forms where the Forms of Nature lift up themselves in self-hood they lye in the Seeds and are kindled in Gods Anger viz in the abomination of the dark world through the Devils Imagination 115. Therefore this impure Sulphur out of which the Tinctures in the Fire Life viz in the Fiery Tincture become generated is an abomination before Gods holinesse and therefore must also this Sulphur with the abomination totally corrupt or break in peeces and go again into the beginning of the Creation 116. And though it be so that the Word of the LORD Verbum Domini intermixeth it self together in the Holy People that is done according to the inward Man where the Divine Sparkle is propagated in the Image of God in the Heavenly Substantiality 117. For the Word of the Deity in the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in Heaven and the right true Image created from the Divine worlds Substance which in Adam dyed and faded is the Heaven's Substance into which NO abomination CAN Enter for the Holy Spirit receiveth not that 118. The Spirit of Christ possesseth and manifesteth it selfe in HIS Tents and not in the beastial Conjunction of the Abominations of Sinne It is not in the power of the Imagination of the Flesh but in the pure Love-desire of Chastity and Faithfullnesse where TWO joyn their Minds together in the Marriage Band and give up their Love and faithfullnesse one to another to be their own and desire to be ONE Heart and Will 119. There the Spirit of Christ is the Love-band and here now is rightly that thing Increase or Multiply and be fruitfull God said to Adam and Eve they should multiply themselves in their Marriage Band. 120. He saith not HE would do it with the promised Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent but he gave them the power of the Naturall Man but the Holy Spiritual Birth or Geniture he promoteth in his own Principle and not in the perished corrupt Flesh not in the Imagination of Lust which is more Beastiall than truly Humane 121. Indeed he bringeth holy children together but by the means of his Officer Nature how he will have it but the marriage work according to the outward Man is not Holy but according to the inward it is holy in the children of the Saints and Not in Beastiall Vessels 122. But that this Authour sets it down That through this Conjunction of Man and Wife in their Lust-desire the Evill Properties and Lust of the Flesh are separated asunder and totally sanctified in the Spirit of Christ the Love-Spirit of Christ mixeth it self in their Imagination and driveth on all Abominations and worketh in the Imagination this Lust of the Man and Woman and sanctifieth the Imagination and the Seed sinne dyeth and a totall holy child becometh conceived viz a Christ little Child or Infant that is without blemish and Sinne moreover God and Man outwardly and inwardly 123. And this he speaketh as one that understandeth nothing of the Mystery of CHRIST and takes upon him freely as a Saint of his own making a self elected one without power who knoweth not his beastial abomination and Filth 124. He will make Christ to be OUTWARDLY and yet Christ himself saith His Kingdom was not of this World after his appointed work was accomplished he went to Heaven and in the Heaven which is IN us he dwelleth with us and worketh in that very Heaven in us and not at all in the Beastial Man in the fleshly birth in which Death is 125. It is a meer fiction whereby young people which are very eager and fiery in Venus'es desire are made altogether wanton and Luxurious when it is so finely pourtrayed before them that their desire and Lust is Christs driving and that it is the Spirit of Christ which would mix it selfe and beget Children 126. When he conversed upon the Earth HE never desired to mixe himself but only in the Spirit in the Soul and in the Image of God will he then now mixe himself in the beastial outward Work we have NO testimony for that 127. In David was also the Spirit of God should therefore the Spirit of God have mixed it self in his outward whoredom and have driven on the work of the outward Imagination towards Bathsheba the Wife of Vriah whom he murthered then God would have had the whoredome to have been 128. No! God punished David for that very fact therefore men should not say the Spirit of Christ mixeth it self in the Center of the Imagination of fleshly Lust and sanctifieth the outward Seed it is altogether false 129. He sanctifieth his Tabernacles which he possesseth he indeed openeth and shutteth in the work of the Life so that the Mercury viz the Work master cannot many times bring his work to Life and also many times bringeth it to Life according to Gods will as in many times to be seen among the Saints of Old especially in the Line of Christ but men should distinguish the outward from the Inward 130. The Marriage work in it self if it Be done Ordinately is not sinfull for it is driven on by Gods Officer Nature and boarn withall under divine patience 131. God sets before him the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ his Sonne as among the Jewes the Sacrifices which God set before him in the Covenant through the future Humanity and reconciled himself in the Covenant that the Anger might not burn in the humane Abomination 132. Thus also in the outward Marriage work God sets before him the true Image which lyeth shut up in our Seed in Christ his Sonne and entereth in the working power into the Substance of that Image of the Heavenly Substantiality as a Glimmering Mother or Tinder of divine Property and herein lyeth the holinesse of the holy marryed peoples Children 133. But in the outward Flesh as also in the Soul the Abomination of Sinne cleaveth to them and so NO child is born into the world without Sinne The will to the outward work of
struck him who afterwards after the birth did himself terribly and damnably persevere and purposed to slay the beloved Jacob. 14. How mightily holily and gloriously this holy Womans seed manifested it self in the beloved Jacob concerning which the Lord Zebaoth himself giveth glorious holy Testimony in so much as he so highly entituled him that he called him Israel a Prince and Ruler with God 15. This should the faithfull Children and Womans seed of the highly praised Triune God united with and in this God further consider of and especially through this holy good divine living working substantial Seed of God CHRIST JESUS apprehend to themselves the living word of God from the least grain of Mustard-seed and least minutest measure and peece even the totall appearing fullnesse of the Deity in and to themselves according to the Testimony of the Holy Scripture 16. To which holy new-birth originall and beginning in the Faithful Hearts no worldly Wit Art skill learning in the Scriptures and getting it without Booke Phylosophicall Logicall Naturall puft up Art can any thing at all in the least attain or performe according to the Testimony of the Scripture 17. Where are the Scripture-Learned or Scribes where are the Worldly wise Men where are the Judges where are the Councellours Hath not God turned the wisdome of the world into Foolishnesse as it appeareth cleerly and manifestly in all the worldly wise in Scripture-Learned Art and Experience though likely many years from their child-hood to their highest age they have in their state and condition taken great pains for worldly Art 18. Yet they must at last be ashamed before this Triune seed of God CHRIST JESUS the living substantial word of God from the least particle to the highest Perfection in all Saints and let go their ART and lament over it saying that it hath not at all profited them to salvation but been totally hurtfull 19. As many of them also before their decease have forgotten this acquired Art and worldly naturall wisdome which they have learnt and have become so foolish and childish and indeed in all Stations and conditions that they alas could not any more preserve and recollect in their memory OVR FATHER which they learnt from their child-hood according to the Letter 20. As then they will apprehend this necessary information according to the Glorious appearing of this holy womans seed according to the measure in all Saints in Joseph Moses Joshuah Rebeccah Samuel David Solomon and all holy honest faithfull people and Prophets of the Old and New Testament in works words and deeds to the totall perfection inwardly and outwardly visible Birth of the Sonne of God born out of the perfect pure Virgin and Genetrix of God MARY even every Elect to the highest praise of God will partake with GOD himself and delight himself therein and will know how to praise the most high Eternally for it with himself Jacob Behme's Answer To this Explanation of this Third Point of the Fourth Text. 1. THis Authour mentioneth concerning the Triune God and Man CHRIST and concerning the Divine Woman or Wife and signifieth that not only all things were created through and for that Triune Man CHRIST but also after the Fall were by his holy Becoming Man or Incarnation and precious Inward Passion and Dying Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and perfect merit perfectly Delivered 2. All which needeth far another explanation for if I say CHRIST is the Triune God then I speak of no Man or Creature for the Holy Trinity is no Man nor Woman much lesse a Creature 3. Only he hath manifested himselfe through and IN the Humanity and made himself visible in a humane Image but the visible palpable Substance of the Flesh is not the Triune Deity but the Spirit in the power of the Flesh the divine Spirit in the Spirituall the uncreaturely IN the creaturely is GOD. 4. CHRIST so farre as he is called the Triune God according to the Eternall Word in the Name JEHOVA or JESUS so farre as concerns the unmeasurable God is no Man or Creature but the Fullnesse of all things dwelling in himself 5. But according to the Name CHRIST the Deity is visible and this CHRIST viz The Anointed of God penetrateth only or presseth upon the humanity NOT upon ALL Creatures he uniteth himself to NO Creature but Man he hath also with his Incarnation Suffering Dying and Resurrection delivered NO creature but MAN 6. With the Name CHRIST he is become manifest only in the Humanity not in the Earthly or Heavenly Creatures The Earthly and Heavenly Creatures need NO Christ and the Hellish have NONE 7. This Christ it is through whom God who dwelleth in him and hath manifested himself with the Christ who will judge all things and separate the Good from the Evill HE is not manifested in the Creatures that he would deliver them to Eternity and dwell Creaturely in them as he dwelleth in MAN all Creatures of this world except Man go again into that out of which they proceeded in the beginning 8. When I will speak of the Man CHRIST what kind of Threesold God and Man he is then I distinguish the humane Creature which he hath received of us Men and difference it from the Triune Deity the manifested Substance from the power and Omnipotence 9. Not that he is divided but that the Spirit of God is higher then the Substance which he generateth in his Desire in his exhaled Sound for according to Our Substance CHRIST calleth himselfe the Sonne of Man and saith the Father is greater than HEE 10. According to the humanity he hath a given power and according to the Deity he is the Giver himselfe The Man is our Humanity and the Christ is the Anointed of God which God hath manifested out of the Name JEHOVA or JESUS out of the Deep of the wisdome out of the Center of God out of the Great Love and given it to the humane Creature for a Light and Eternall Seed 11. Not that this amiable blessed sweet Love of Christ is the Man but the holy SUN shine in the Great Love-flame in the Man for when I see a holy Christian Man going or standing I do not say there goeth or standeth Christ but I say there goeth or standeth a Christian Man in whom the Sun CHRIST shineth 12. The Person of Adam is not the Christ but the Person of the power of God which dwelleth in the Man Adam according to the Heavenly Part That is Christ 13. As the Sun shineth in the whole outward world and impowereth all and maketh it fruitfull and the world is not the Sun so also the CHRIST shineth as a revealed or Manifested Sun out of JEHOVA or JESUS in the Creaturely humanity of Christ 14. The Name Christ is the revealed or manifested Sun out of the Eternall Name JEHOVA or JESUS JEHOVA is the Eternall Divine SUN in which this great Love-Sun CHRIST as a Heart in the Center of
the Holy Trinity hath been hidden to all Creatures and yet is through the second moving of the Deity as a holy sweet Love-Sun become manifested 15. I must not say that in the Person CHRIST viz in the Man according to his humanity according to that part which he hath on him from us Men from our Body and Soul that is on to the Deity on to the Divine Substantiality or Heavenly Corporeity taken on to him That the Creature is ceased and taken up or that the Creature Soul and Body from us Men is unmeasurable 16. No for such a One is not our Eternall High Priest which I could never more see in the Form of Man for the Men when he went to Heaven said Ye shall SEE this JESUS come again as he is Ascended 17. Only the Deity in him and the Christ understand the divine property together with the Heavenly divine substantiality wherewith he saith John 3. 13. He was come from Heaven THIS is uncreaturely and yet IN every Man as an own Sun yet only in one point which shineth forth out of the fountain of this Sun indeed from no place or space but the place of this holy revelation or Manifestation is in ALL Men the Center of the Originall 18. This SUN is in all Men but this Sun is not revealed or manifested in all Men but only in the Desire to the Point which is CHRIST which point is JESUS out of JEHOVA 19. But concerning the Holy woman or wife which this Authour mentioneth which is holy and PERFECT wherein the Man CHRIST becometh generated needeth also a farre other Explanation 20. And though he sets down the Holy Christianity to be the woman or wife which I blame not yet a Man must not speak that concerning the outward Earthly Man for the Earthly Man is not Christs Spouse or Wife but the inward Spiritual which faded or disappeared in Adam the Heavenly which Christ as viz the Holy SUN vivifieth 21. But this Authours writing is altogether Contradictory and runnes counter against it selfe for here in this Point he writeth of this Spouse or Woman and Body thus which he NOT outwardly prepareth createth and maketh new but in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart from the beginning of the world instantly after the Fall in Grace Love and Mercy yes in the Faith espouseth betrotheth and uniteth to himself and prepareth it for his Eternall Rest In like manner also this holy Man CHRIST JESUS the Innocent Lamb of God yes the Triune highly praised Sonne of God God himself which was slain from the beginning of the world IN all Faithfull and Saints according to the Testimony of the Scripture 22. Before this Authour hath set down in another place that if CHRIST became manifest or revealed in Man then Nature falleth Totally away Now he sets it down that CHRIST in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart hath from the beginning of the world espoused and united himself with the Saints in the Faith which indeed were true if he did not speak it concerning the Man CHRIST but concerning the Promised CHRIST in the Covenant which first in Time fulfilled the Covenant 23. For Not CHRIST the Man who in the Time in the Limit of the Covenant manifested or revealed himselfe was slain in the Holy Patriarchs but the Children of Faith in whom the Covenant became manifested 24. CHRIST hath once given and offered up his holy Life in the sweet Love to his Father into his Anger which was manifested in the Humane Property and with the Love broken the Anger to pieces He hath not dyed in ALL the Saints from Adam to this time and suffered himself to be slain and put to death Only the Children of the Faith of the Covenant have suffered themselves to be put to death according to the MAN of SINNE that the word of Life in the Covenant in them might put on the new promised Life which would manifest it self in the Covenant with the future Sun of the New Life in the Spirit of the Covenant 25. So that when Christ would manifest himself in the Covenant in the Flesh he also in that Covenant which had manifested it selfe in them would be manifested in them with the divine Substantiality viz with Christs heavenly Flesh 26. For even after the Resurrection of Christ when he had assumed the Humanity and slain death it was not CHRIST that dyed any more in his Members in the Christians or was slain but Adam in Christs Death that Christs Spirit in the Soul and the holy Man might Live When Christ becometh born then should the Man of Sinne continually Dye till at last when the Outward body departeth it WHOLLY ceaseth 27. But if Christ the Lamb of God were become slain in the Old Patriarchs then the reconciliation was performed IN them and then it cometh not solely and onely from the Sonne of MARY 28. Abel was NOT the Lamb of God which was slain for Sinne Christ dyed not in Abel but in the BODY which he received from MARY 29. Abel and all the Martyrs dyed as to their own Bodies for the sake of the Covenant which opened it self in them they were slain and dyed as to their sinfull Adamicall Body and not as to the Holy Body which was shut up in the Covenant which Christ when he would manifest himself in the Covenant would manifest it to be an Eternall Life and holy Flesh in which he would dwell and be the power and Life thereof 30. When the Holy Scripture saith CHRIST was slain in the Saints then it understandeth then Members of the Body of CHRIST according to Christs humanity which HE the Christ assumed It understandeth not the Triune God that should suffer it selfe to be slain from the beginning of the world for doubtlesse God cannot dye That which dyeth is only the Body of Christs Members according to the humane Creature and not according to the Spirit of Christ 31. The Spirit of Christ hath therefore manifested it self in the Humanity and slain Death in his assumed Body that the Gates of Life in us should be opened for if I be murthered for the sake of Christs Name and the Testimony thereof then doth not Christ dye in me but Adam dyeth in Christs death and Christ in my dying becometh first rightly manifested 32. My dying is Christs Resurrection in ME for I dye away to the sinfull self-hood or Nothingnesse and live to the Resignation in the Spirit of Christ 33. Therefore this is a voyd and groundlesse thing that this Authour writeth that the Man Christ the Innocent Lamb of God God himself which from the beginning of the world according to the Testimony of the Scripture was slain in all the Saints and faithfull c. 34. The Triune God is not from the beginning of the world slain in his Saints the Scripture saith not so but the Faithfull Men were slain for Christs sake and NOT the Triune Christ IN them
35. Man in his self-hood and I-hood is not Christ himself but Christ dwelleth in him he is the shining Lustre of his holy Life as himself saith John 8. 12. I am the Light of the World This he speaketh according to the Name CHRIST out of JESUS and not according to our Humanity which Dyed on the Crosse concerning which Isaiah calleth him a simple Servant in that he saith who is so simple as my servant 36. This Servant of God is not the Holy Trinity but the revelation or Manifestation and habitation of the holy Trinity the servant is become slain as a Lamb and not the holy Trinity Men should alwayes make a difference between God and the Humanity else if God were dead in his Trinity then were Death stronger than God who must thus have given himself up to Death 37. Christ is indeed God and Man in ONE Person but the Deity viz the Divine Property is not the Person the Man but the Homo or humanity is the Man and the Lamb of God which was slain and is called Christ from the Anointing so that God hath anointed this humanity of CHRIST with his Spirit without measure for the JESUS is the Anointing viz the Deep Love in the Deity 38. Therefore now the Lamb of God according to the humanity viz IN the Members thereof wherein the promised Covenant was out of which Covenant the Anointing would manifest or reveal it self was slain not Christ the Anointed of God which in the Covenant was hidden in them 39. Abel was not anointed with Christ but indeed with the promised word in the Covenant in which the Christ manifested himself and when Christ manifested himself in the Covenant in the Humane property THEN Abel put on Christ in the Flesh before Christs humanity Abel had put on the Covenant in the promised Word and WHEN Christ arose from the Dead then Abel also arose in Christs anointing in Christs humanity out of Christs Death and lived in the Anointing of Christ 40. The Man Christ is the First that arose from the Dead in the Anointing and is also the First who in the Anointing dyed to the Humane I-hood He is only and alone the Lamb of God in whom God brake his wrath to pieces Abel and all Martyrs are his Members upon whom the breaking death in pieces pressed or penetrated out of this Lamb Christ 41. Abel received an imputed Righteousnesse not a self wrought one of his own Abel before the humanity of Christ was not the Lamb of God but he was a Member in the Lamb of God Christ hath in all things the preheminence and none of them hath been able to call himself a Christian much lesse the Lamb of God that is hath been Slain for or instead of Christ 42. They have all of them only been put to death in the spirit of Faith upon Christs future coming they have put on Christ in the Covenant of Promise in the Spirit of Faith Not as a Lamb or Man but in Power not in the Flesh but in the Spirit so that Christ is the First who in the Flesh should be called The Lamb of God 43. This Authour mentioneth in this Manner But also this holy divine Substantial womans seed hath in and to the Saints appeared and been manifest in many kinds and wayes as in Adam and Eve after the Fall If this be so that the divine substantiall womans Seed was manifest in Adam and Eve then they have put on Christ viz the true womans Seed in Substance 44. And then they need not expect further about any other womans seed why did Eve then say when she bare Cain I have the Man the LORD if she had before the substantiall womans seed manifested in her why did she then hope for another 45. And God said also to Abraham In thy seed shall all Nations be blessed this was spoken concerning the future womans seed which would manifest himself in Abrahams seed Substantially with divine Heavenly Substantiality 46. If it were spoken as to the present then God had not commanded him the Circumcasion and after that the Sacrifice The Substantiall womans seed was not in the Sacrifice but the word of Promise in the Covenant 47. The substantiall seed of which God said therein all Nations should become blessed that lay shut up in Abraham unlesse the opening of the Name JESUS should open it the Promise to Abraham went on as to the Limit 48. That very substantiality wherein God would become Man was saded or disappeared in Adam when he dyed to the Kingdome of Heaven and Paradise This saded or disappeared Seed become in its Principle co-propagated 49. And in this Seed stood the limit of the Covenant out of which the Spirit of God in the Saints manifested it self and not through the faded or disappeared substance but with Christs becoming Man or Incarnation the Substantiall revelation or Manifestation proceeded where God dwelleth within in the substance viz as a Life of the Substance 50. Also this Authour writeth further And after that through Christ the Triune highly praised God himselfe the promise of the Perfect womans seed of the Messiah was pronounced and promised to them The strong Hope Faith and Confidence in this womans Seed caused it self openly to sound forth from them 51. Now if Christ dwelt substantially in Adam and Eve what need he then promise another substance to them I verily think Christ would not be manifested or revealed in Adam much lesse hath Christ promised Adam to become Man in his seed but God promised the Christ to Adam viz to awaken the Anointed of God in his seed viz in the womans seed and not in the Mans seed As in the Fourth Point shall be expressed at large 52. Christ stood in Adam and Eve in the Limit of the Covenant in the Name JESU in JEHOVAH in divine hiddennesse or secresie in the seed of Adam and Eve without humane substance and unmoveably in the promised seed till the End of the Limit there he moved himself in the womans seed 53. This High hitherto much repeated Speech concerning the Triune Womans Seed before Christs Humanity is much more a Confusion than an Explanation the CHRIST in the womans seed was manifested in No Saint before Christs Birth but only in the Spirit of the Deity in a Prophetick manner and not in a Humane Manner 54. By the womans Seed is alwayes understood the Paradise which faded or disappeared in Adam viz the Heavenly corporeity from the pure Element and NOT the FOUR Elements this was manifest neither in Adam nor Abel till the Saviour CHRIST became manifest in this Seed 55. This Authour so wonderfully blends one in another that it hath no sufficient understanding one while he speaks of Faith that the Saints have had the womans seed manifested in the Faith then suddenly he speaks of the substance whereas in the Substance there was no manifestation or revelation in THEM but only in
in Christs death and put on HIS Resurrection out of the GRAVE That the Man which dyeth according to Flesh in the Limit which God hath set or appointed viz at the Last DAY should ARISE out of Christs Death 79. He hath given us his Death and Buriall for a REST where the OUTWARD Body resteth from the working of vanity as in a meek soft Sleep 80. But what this Authour sets down concerning the opposition of the totall fleshly Man that the Earthly Man which he calleth the Serpents Seed despiseth contemneth derideth and persecuteth Christ in his Members and continually crucifieth and putteth them to death together with Christ that is so and cannot otherwise be 81. For when Christ is become born then the Man of Sinne in his self-hood MUST dye the Faithfull Man becometh himself an Enemy of his own Sinnes in the Flesh the Faithfull Man according to the Heavenly Substance is indeed yea undeniably the Bride of CHRIST in whom Christ dwelleth that I contradict not 82. But that this Authour sets it down that Christ was born a poor despised Infant in the highest Lowlinesse out of MARY and yet was equall in the Height of the Triune God and LORD there he should better explain it and shew wherein he is the Triune God and LORD 83. Not according to the Creature viz according to our Flesh and Soul which is Eternally under or beneath God but according to his Divine and according to the Heavenly Substantiality and Corporeity wherewith he came from Heaven and took our Substance upon him 84. The divine Substance is unmeasurable BOTH according to Spirit and Corporeall Substance but our humane Substance is measurable to our humane Substance the Power or Authority is given but to the divine nothing CAN be given 85. God will judge the humanity through the voyce of the humanity of Christ so that the humanity of Christ according to our humanity is the Instrument to do it with Not that our humanity in Christs Person and Creature hath the power or authority out of it self 86. It is a given power or authority from the Father As Christ himselfe saith ALL Power or Authority in Heaven and upon Earth is given me of my Father Matth 28. Not to the self-hood of the Creature that the Creature is as Omnipotent and self powerfull as GOD but that the CREATURE is the Instrument whereby the Spirit of God will Judge and separate ALL things 87. The Spirit of the Holy Trinity IN the Creature is the will and the Creature is the Instrument of performance as through a cleer visible open Image and Substance seeing God hath manifested himself through the Creature therefore through the Creature also he produceth a Manifested or revealed authority or power and Dominion 18. As an Artist fitteth an Instrument of Musick and himself strikes or playes upon it that it may sound and give melody to him SUCH as he would sain HEAR Thus also in like manner the Creature is Gods Instrument upon which God striketh or playeth and hath introduced his own sound out of the divine voyce into this Creaturely Lute which soundeth and Melodizeth to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will 89. This Lute doth not play upon it self for CHRIST saith also All whatsoever the Sonne seeth the Father do that the Sonne doth also And the word which I speak to you is not mine but the Fathers who dwelleth in me Also I and the Father are One but the Father is greater than I. 90. The Father is the Eternall Beginning and the Sonne is the Eternall Begun viz the Manifestation of that Spirit which is called Father and the Holy Spirit is that which the Father through the Sonne Manifesteth with the Eternall outspoken wisdome out of the sound which the Father with the Sonne Generateth 91. The Sonne is the Fathers sound or word and the Creature is the cleer or Loud manifested word through which the Father in the Eternall Generating of his holy word soundeth or speaketh 〈◊〉 hear the Creature viz the voyce of the Person CHRIST then I hear what the Father in his holy sound in the exit of his Holy Spirit manifesteth and expresseth in and with the Creature 92. Here it is not called beloved Woman or Wife with or as to the Creature but Gods Image Gods Manifestation Gods manifest Dominion Gods own Doing or self-acting viz the invisible and incomprehensible acting through a visible comprehensible image and Substance of his own propriety 93. For without God there is Nothing HE alone is ALL but all whatsoever is perceptible or comprehensible that is only an Image of the Invisible Divine Substance wherewith the Invisible hath Manifested or revealed it self 94. Therefore the Creature should NOT say of it self that it self is any thing but introduce its ability into THAT out of which it is originated that it may be the Omniscient Gods work and play or Melody in his Love that it may do what he will and SO God be ALL in ALL. 95. And if God will do any thing through his Creature and manifest his will then speaketh not the Creature from or of it self but saith Thus saith the LORD thus hath the Lord spoken this is the Command of the Lord and not esteem it self at all to be the speaking Word or divine Sound also not say with this outward Body that the outward Body is espoused with Gods Holinesse as this Authour sets it down 96. The inward Man is indeed together with or in Gods Harmony through which God soundeth and Singeth and is a Wedding-Place or City of God but all whatsoever is Creaturely is tinder or beneath that which hath made the Creature The Creature is Gods Artifice or workmanship which he hath made through his wisdome for it is the Nature it standeth in the Principle viz in a Beginning but God standeth in NONE God is without all Beginning his desire maketh Beginning 97. But what this Authour saith concerning the woman of Faithfull Flesh and Bloud is not spoken plain enough to be understood For Flesh and Bloud beleeveth not but the Spirit Flesh and Bloud is a House of the Spirit 98. And what he also setteth down concerning the Man CHRIST who is in the Marriage with the Woman cannot at all be spoken of the outward Flesh and Bloud of this Life time for Christ is himself the Woman and the Man God and Man 99. Of the Inward Man it may WELL be spoken that is in the Marriage with Christ but the Outward is in the Marriage with the Outward World and with the vanity and Sinne as also with Death and Corruptibility weaknesse sicknesse and Misery THAT is called Eve and not the Marriage City of God in Gods holinesse as this Authour saith it is 100. But a waste Tabernacle wherein the Spirit is perished understand the Outward Spirit which dwelleth in Flesh and Bloud not that we would or should DESPISE the Spirit viz the Soul of the Great