Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	holy_a	lord_n	word_n	17,433	5	4.1800	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76959	The tree of Christian faith: being a true information, how a man may be one spirit with God, and what man must do to perform the works of God: in which is comprehended (compendiously) the whole Christian doctrine and faith. Item, what faith and doctrine is: an open gate of the great mystery of God out of the divine Magia, through the three principles of the divine being. / Written in High Dutch by Jacob Behmen.; Baum des christlichen Glaubens. English	Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?	1654 (1654)	Wing B3424; Thomason E808_8; ESTC R207521	28,149	56

the noble Image of God appeareth 73. And we understand herein that the will of Man must enter into Gods Will and then he entereth into Christs Death with Christs Soul through Death into the eternal Freedom of God into the Life of Light and there is he with Christ in God 74. And the third Form of Life is the external created Life out of this World as out of the Sun Stars and Elements 75. Which the Spirit of God breathed into Adams nostrils with the spirit of the Macrocosm where he became also an external Soul which moveth in Blood and Water and burneth in the outward kindled Fire as in a Warmth 76. That same external Life should not reach into the Image in the inner Life neither should the Image let it come into the inner Light which appeareth through Death and springeth up with his Power in the eternal Freedom for the external Life is only a similitude of the inner Life 77. The inner Spirit was only to reveal in the external Mirror the eternal Wonders which were seen in Gods Wisdom in the Abyss in the divine Magia and bring it to a formal Mirror as to a wonderful Game to the honour of God and to the joy of the inner Man born out of God 78. But his will should not have gone thereinto to draw the external Wonders into the Image as we now know in our misery how man draweth an earthly treasure into the mind and imagineth and thus destroyeth the pure Image of God in the second Principle 79. For the spirit of his will goeth into the earthly Being but bringeth his Love in which the Image standeth into the earthly Being as into an earthly treasure into an earthly vessel 80. Now the Image groweth earthly through imagination and so goeth again into Death loseth God and the Kingdom of Heaven for the spirit of the Will standeth with the Love in the external Life 81. Now the external Life must dye and break that the created Image of the inner Kingdom may appear 82. Thus the spirit of the Will striketh with the Love into the external Wonders and bringeth them at the death of the external Life along before Gods Judgment 83. There the spirit of the Will must go through pass the Fire and the Image must be approved in the Fire and all Earthliness must burn away from the Image she must be pure and without spot 84. Even as the Light subsisteth in the Fire so the spirit of the Will must subsist also in Gods Fire and if it cannot there pass freely through Gods Fire then this Image is spued out into eternal Darkness 85. And this is the heavy Fall of Adam that he did set the spirit of his Will into the external Life into the outer Principle in the false Infection and imagined after the earthly Life 86. And thus he went out of Paradise which springeth up through death in the second Principle in the outer and thus entered into Death and thus he dyed and thus was his Image destroyed 87. This by an Inheritance we had from Adam and from the second Adam Christ we have Regeneration 88. Where we must enter into Christs Incarnation and with him into his Death and from Death with him spring up in the Paradisical World in the Entity of Gods Freedom The Sixth Chapter 1. THus we understand that Lust is the Cause why Corruption is come in and still doth 2. For Lust is an Imagination where the Imagination windeth her self into all the Forms of Nature so as that they become all impregnated with that thing out of which the Lust ariseth 3. And we understand the external spirit of man who is a similitude of the Inner did lust after the fair Image and therefore hath set his Imagination into the Inner whereby the Inner was infected 4. And because he did not feel death instantly therefore hath he brought the spirit of his Will to the Outer thus the Outer went to lodg in the Inner and at last is become Host in the Inn and hath obscured the Inner so that the fair Image deceased 5. There the Image fell amongst the Murtherers and among the seven spirits of Nature and the Originals of Life these kept the Image imprisoned and pulled off her Paradisical Garment murthered and left her half dead 6. Now there was need of Christ the Good Samaritan and this is the Reason why God became Man 7. And if the Wound could have been healed by speaking of a word or a verbal remission then God would not have become Man 8. But God and Paradise was lost and then the noble Image was destroyed and wasted and must be new born again out of God 9. Therefore did God come with his Word which is the Center in the Life of Light and became Flesh And so the Soul obtained again a divine Paradisical Mansion Conceive it thus 10. That as Adams Soul had opened the door of the Essences of Fire and let in the earthly Essences whose Springs were turned into the Paradisical Image and made the Image earthy 11. So the Heart of God opened the Door of the Essences of Light and embraced or encompassed the Soul with heavenly Flesh and thus the Essences of the Holy Ghost imagined after the Image after the Essences of the Soul 12. Thus was the Soul impregnated again so as she entered with the spirit of her will through death into the Paradisical Life 13. And from hence came the Temptation of Christ that he was tempted whether the Soul would feed on the Lords Word and whether she could enter again through death into the Life of God 14. Which was accomplished upon the Cross where the Soul of Christ went through the Fire of the Fury through the severe Qualities through death and sprang up again in the holy Paradisical world in which Adam was created 15. Thus we Men were helped up again and it is requisite for us to turn away our wills or the senses of our will and mind from all earthly things and turn it into Christs sufferings dying death and Resurrection 16. That we still crucifie the old Adam with Christs death and stil dye unto sin in the death and dying of Christ arise with him out of the anguish of death in the new man and grow up in the Life of God as there is no other Remedy nor no other Help 17. We must dye unto the earthly world in our will and must still be new born again to the new world in Faith in the Flesh and Blood of Christ we must be born out of Christs Flesh if we intend to see the Kingdom of God 18. It is no easie matter to be a True Christian it is a most difficult business The Will must become a Warrior and fight against the corrupted Will 19. He must sink himself out of the earthly Reason in Christs death into Gods wrath and break the power of the earthly will like a valiant Champion 20. And he must hazard hard

THE TREE OF Christian Faith BEING A True Information how a Man may be one Spirit with God and what Man must do to perform the works of God In which is comprehended compendiously the whole Christian Doctrine and Faith ITEM What Faith and Doctrine is An open Gate of the Great Mystery of GOD out of the Divine Magia through the Three Principles of the Divine Being Written in High Dutch by JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed by JOHN MACOCK M. CX.L.IV The Tree of the Christian Faith Chapter the First CHrist saith Mat. 6.33 But first seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you 2. Item My Father will give the Holy Ghost to those that ask him when he cometh then will he lead you into all truth he will put you in mind of all what I have told you of 3. For he will take it of me and inform you of it he will give you speech and wisdom what you are to speak 4. And St Paul saith We do not know what we shall pray or speak but the Spirit of God intercedeth powerfully according to the pleasure of God 5. Now Faith is not an historical knowledg that a man should set down Articles unto himself and depend only upon them and so force his mind into the works of his Reason But Faith is a Spirit with God for the Holy Ghost goeth into the spirit of Faith 6. True Faith is a Power of God a Spirit with God it worketh in God and with God 7. It is free and not bound to any Article but only to true Love from whence it fetcheth the power of its life and strength and the opinions of men are of no consequence 8. For as God is free from all inclination he doth what he pleaseth and is not accountable for it so true Faith also is free in Gods Spirit It hath but one Inclination viz. unto the Love and Mercy of God to cast its will into the Will of God and it goeth forth out of the starry sydereal and elemental Reason 9. It doth not seek it self in fleshly Reason but in Gods Love and if it doth so it findeth it self and then it findeth it self in God and worketh with God not according to Reason what she pleaseth to have but in God what the Spirit of God willeth 10. For Faith esteemeth not the earthly life that so it may live in God and the Spirit of God be in it the will and the deed It submitteth in all humility unto Gods Will and sinketh down with Reason into Death but springeth up with Gods Spirit in the Life of God It is as if it were not and yet it is in God in All. 11. It is a Crown and Ornament of the Deity a Wonder in the divine Magia It maketh something where there is nothing and taketh something where nothing is made It worketh and no body seeth its Being 12. It exalteth it self and yet hath no need of any ascending it is of a mighty Power and yet it is the lowliest Humility It hath all and yet comprehendeth no more then Meekness thus it is free from all Malice 13. And it hath no Law for the fury of Nature toucheth it not it holdeth or subsisteth in Eternity because it is not comprehended in any ground it is not shut up in any thing 14. Even as the Abyss of Eternity is free and resteth no where but only in it self where there is an eternal Meekness even so doth true Faith in the Abyss 15. It is in it self a Being the Being it liveth but seeketh not its life but it seeketh the life of the eternal still Rest it goeth out of the spirit of its life and possesseth it self 16. Thus is it free from Torment and dwelleth in the eternal Freedom of God 17. It is with the eternal Freedom of God as a nothing and yet it is in all all comes well to pass to it what God and Eternity hath in his power It is comprehended of nothing and yet it is a fair habitation in the great Power of God 18. It is a Being yet is it not comprehended of any Being it is a companion and friend to the divine Virgin of Gods Wisdom in it stands the great Wonders of God and yet it is free of all 19. Even as the light is free from the fire and yet is continually begotten of the fire and yet it can neither touch nor move the quality of the fire so in like manner we give you to understand that Faith is begotten out of the Spirit of Life as out of an ever-burning fire and shineth in that fire and filleth the fire of life and yet is never comprehended 20. But if it be comprehended then it self is entered into Reason as into a prison and is no more in the Freedom of God Gods Freedom but it is entered into pain torment 21. It tormenteth it self whereas it might be at liberty it worketh in Reason the Wonders in the Fire of Nature and in the Freedom it worketh the Wonders of God The Second Chapter 1. NOw seeing Faith is thus viz. one Spirit with God we are then to consider its Original For we cannot say it is a Form or Image of Reason but it is the Image of God it is Gods Similitude and eternal Form 2. And yet during the time of this life it may break it self or be changed into an Anguish quality 3. For it is in its own Being in the Original meerly a naked Will and the same Will is a Seed which the spirit of the Fire the Soul must sow into the Freedom of God 4. Then there groweth a seed out of that Tree upon which the Soul feedeth and mitigateth her fire-life that she becomes powerful and giveth strength to the root of this Tree whereby the Tree groweth in the Spirit of God and springeth up in Gods Paradise 5. And though it be so that in this we might be dumb and ignorant for Reason would fain comprehend and know all therefore we will hold it forth clearly to the light why Faith and Doubt are one by another and are as it were chained together so that there is a vehement strife in man all his time so long as he is a guest in the cottage of this earthly life 6. Unless he sink so much in himself that he can bring the Fire of Life into the Freedom of God Then he is as it were dead in Reasons-life or in the life of Reason and if he liveth he liveth to God 7. Which indeed is a most precious dear life in a man and is seldom or rarely found in any for it is like unto the first Image which God did create 8. And although the mortal part sticketh unto him yet it is as it were dead just as if a dead image stuck unto him which belongs unto the corruption breaking in which the true man doth not live 9. For the true Life standeth turned and is in another World in another

Child of Nature and a Life with Nature 7. But whatsoever goeth out of Natures longing groaning into the free Will of God the same is received and owned by the free Will and is a Spirit in God 8. And though it be of Nature as Nature from Eternity still begetteth her self in Gods will yet is his Life-spirit without Nature in the Free will and thus the Wonders stand in God revealed and yet are not in God himself 9. And if the spirit of the will of the Soul goeth out of the Reason of Nature into the free will of God then that spirit of the Will is the Child of God and the Spirit of Nature is Gods Wonder and the creature standeth turned into her self as God himself 10. For the sydereal or rational Spirit seeketh in his Magia in himself in his Center the Wonders of Eternity to which end God hath created the Soul in the Body of the external Nature though they be comprehended only in the internal 11. And the spirit of the Will goeth into the Freedom of God where the holy Spirit leads him into the divine free Mystery so that the Deity standeth revealed in the spirit of the Will and in the rational Spirit standeth the Magia of Nature revealed with her Wonders 12. Now if the Soul be the Center where the true spirit of the Will goeth out toward the Freedom of God into the Fredom of God as into the Divine then hath she the sydereal Spirit bound up 13. And if she tameth him that he do not work wickedness she may bring the sydereal Wonders which in the Elemental Mirror are made into a Substance before the Majesty of God into the free will of God so that the Wonders appear in the Divine Freedom as a Similitude of the Will of God 14. Yet not to be understood thus as if the Freedom of God doth mingle with the Wonders of Nature and with the Similitude to be one No God abideth free eternally 15. He dwelleth in the Wonders as the Soul doth in the Body as little as the Body comprehendeth the Soul or the Fire the Light even as little comprehendeth Nature the Deity 16. And yet is one Being and is separated into two Beings from Eternity even as the Fire and the Light 17. Where we understand by the Fire the life of Nature and by the Light the Mystery the Spirit of Life without qualm or pain though the Fire be also a Mystery 18. Thus understand us is Mans condition The Soul is the fire of the true humane life which God breathed forth out of the eternal Nature in Adam with his Spirit as out of the Center of God 19. And the Spirit which was born out of the Souls fire formeth Gods Spirit into his Image he hath the Divine Mystery out of which the Will towards Gods Love is begotten from whence existeth the Divine Magia or Longing that the spirit of the will is desirous of God 20. Now if he doth elevate himself that is goeth out of the hidden Mystery into the Freedom of God there is he a twig or branch in Gods Kingdom sprung up out of Gods Mystery and worketh into Gods Will and revealeth still the Wonders in Gods Kingdom 21. Not so as if any new thing were begotten in God which had not been from Eternity which hath neither ground nor end 22. Only in the Souls spirit the eternal infinite Mystery is revealed in its self to Gods honour and wondrous Deed and to his own namely to the creatures own or self eternal joy 23. Now whereas the earthly corrupted Longing mingleth it self with the Astral quality and the Soul at the heavy Fall of Adam hath imagined with her Will into the Astral Longing as also into the earthly and hath brought into her self the strange Magia then the Will was begotten and the divine Image was destroyed 24. And the heavenly divine Image of Man became earthly so that the true Will standeth turned upside downward as into the spirit of this world as into the Reason which is born out of the stars 25. Now the true Image of God which was thus destroyed and is become earthly hath need to be new born again 26. And there had not been found any Remedy to help this Image if the Word out of Gods Center as Gods own Life had not assumed Humanity and had not the poor soul whose Image was now corrupted been new born again in him Here the true Image was restored again else she had been bereaved eternally of the Freedom and Majesty of God 27. Seeing all souls are descended from one therefore are they all born out of one corrupted Root and the new regenerated Life is returned again into the soul of Christ therefore is it required of us to cast all our wills into Christs Regeneration 28. For in Christ are we born again in God with our souls and in Christ have we gotten again the Image 29. For our Mystery in the Soul stood meerly in the Magia of Nature which in her Center is a fire and the Image was turned out of Gods Freedom into the outer Magia as into the external principle of this world 30. Now if that breaketh in the Being then the poor corrupted Image of the Soul standeth meerly as a lost Child where in her own Center she can stir up nothing but the furious fiery quality for she is gone out of Gods Word into a corruptible Mirror as into the spirit of this world which hath a begining and an end 31. Therefore the body of the soul is become wholly earthly and is fallen home into corruptibleness and death 32. Therefore it is requisite for us because God hath graciously turned his Love to us and hath turned our souls again in him in Christ into the Freedom and made the divine Mystery in the Image moving so that the Image can dwell again in God as in the Wonders of Paradise that we break off our will from the external Centre as from the corruptible life and bring it into the free will of God 33. And hereunto belongeth not an historical knowledg for one to say I beleeve that is I know it or I desire it and yet abideth with the will in the external principle as standing in the outward infection 34. No it is said You must be new born through water and the holy Spirit else you cannot see the Kingdom of God 35. An earnestness is required here the will of Reason must be broken there must be a living motion of the will which breaketh through Reason and fighteth against Reason 36. And though it be not easie for the soul to do it being mightily corrupted yet is there no better Remedy for her then to make her self Dead in her Reason and senses and so to unite meerly with Gods Mercy and yeild her self unto it that no more room be left for Reason must be compelled 37. And if the Will thus beateth down Reason then is she as it were dead though she

of Heaven and yet comprehendeth none of them 22. Thus we give you to consider what Will and Confidence is namely that it is the Master and Guide which bringeth mans Image both into Gods Love and also into Gods Wrath. 23. For in the Will is begotten the right true Faith wherein subsisteth the noble Image of God For in Faith we are born again through Christ in God and obtain again the noble Image which Adam had lost and Christ hath brought it again with Gods Life into the Humanity 24. Also a false Will destroyeth the Image because the Will is the Root of the Image for he attracteth the Mystery of God 25. And the spirit of that Mystery openeth that fair Image and putteth on it the Divine Mystery viz. Gods Entity understand Christs heavenly Body who was born out of God in the dear and beautiful Virgin of his Wisdom which filleth Heaven 26. Now if our mind and will is set into the same and the will desireth it then is the Will magical and entereth into it and if he be hungry then he may feed on Gods Bread 27. Now groweth up in him the new Body which is the pleasant or gracious Tree of Christian Faith for every body loveth himself 28. Now if the Soul getteth a body out of God which is so sweet and gracious needs must she love him being given unto him for a propriety in whom she dwelleth and liveth and from whose power she eateth and strengtheneth her self 29. Therefore let no man deceive himself and continue in his falshood and unrighteousness and comfort himself with an historical belief or faith when he thinketh and saith with himself Is not God gracious will he not forgive me I will gather a Treasure and enjoy the same make use of it and leave to my Children great Riches and Honor I will repent at one time or other This is a meer deceit 30. Thou gatherest in falshood and drawest into thy self unrighteousness and when it is done in the best manner yet it is but earthly and thou hast sunk thy heart and will into an earthy vessel and clotheth thy noble Image with it and so hast wholly infected it 31. Besides thou leavest to thy children only Pride for an Inheritance that they only fix set into it the spirit of their will 32. And putteth on the worst thing upon thee and thy children when thou thinkest to do good unto them 33. True external life must have sustenance and he doth foolishly who giveth his goods to a wicked man 34. But he doth more foolishly who turneth with his goods unto wickedness hanging his heart thereon and holdeth in higher estimation temporal and corruptible pleasures then the eternal incorruptible Good which is infinite 35. But he is blessed which helpeth the poor for they wish all happiness unto him and pray to God to bless him in his body and soul 36. Thus their wishes and praying go to the Giver into the Mystery and embraceth him and followeth after him as a good work born in God for that treasure he taketh along with him and not the earthly 37. For when the Body dyeth then the Image goeth into the Mystery that is she is revealed into the Mysteries of God 38. For in the time of the earthly Life the external principle hath been a cover for it which falleth away when the body dyeth then appeareth the Divine Mystery in the Image and therein also all good works and deeds which were born in Love in Gods Will. 39. The wishes and prayers of all Gods Children stand in the Mystery and makes a propriety with the Image For the children of the poor if he hath helped them in their miseries and afflictions have sent their will in their prayers into Gods Mystery and so united thereby with their Deliverer and Comforter and gave to him that likeness in the Divine Mystery 40. And if that Benefactor cometh into the Mystery that the earthly life falleth away then all things are revealed and each doth stick to his own whither the Will hath appointed it 41. And all this is reserved unto Gods Judgment of the holy Spirit in the Mystery where every one shall reap that what he hath sowed here into his Acre 42. Where all shall spring up grow and bring blossoms in a heavenly new Earth in which man in his divine Image shall put on the body of the perfect Mystery upon his divine Image and will see standing before him namely before his bodily Image his Righteousness why he is so fair 43. He will know the Causes thereof and rejoyce therein eternally and comprehend his Hymn therein unto Gods Honor and wondrous Deed. 44. On the other side the multitude of the wicked will have heaped on them Ignominy avarice pride wickedness and the curse of the oppressed gathered in the Mystery of Wrath which will follow after them and shall know the causes of their torment and therefore will be an eternal enemy of God and of his Children The Fifth Chapter 1. ALl this the multitude of the wicked cannot comprehend the reason of it is there is no will in them thereunto or to desire to comprehend it 2. For the earthly Being hath captivated them that they cannot draw any will unto Gods Mystery they are to God as dead men there is no breath in them of the Divine Life neither have they any mind to it they are lockt up bolted in Gods Wrath Mystery that they cannot do it 3. Not that God hath done-so to them but they are entred thereinto with the spirit of the Will and sunk themselves therein therefore they run like mad men 4. And whereas the noble Jewel standeth hid in them in the noble Center in the divine Principle and could very well go out from their earthly Being and wickedness with theirs into Gods Will. 5. Yet they wilfully suffer themselves to be held by the Fury for the proud self-honored Life pleaseth them too well and that doth hold them 6. But after this Life there is no more remedy if the Souls fire be naked and crude it cannot be quenched with any thing but only with Gods Meekness with the Water of eternal Life in Gods Mystery and that they cannot reach unto there is afterward a great Cleft or Gulf betwixt them viz. a whole Principle 7. But in this time of Life as long as the Soul swimmeth in the Blood and burneth it may be very well for the Spirit of God moveth on the wings of the Wind God is become Man 8. The Spirit of God goeth with the Will into the Soul he desireth the Soul she needs only to open the door for he goeth willingly unto it and revealeth or openeth the noble Corn or seed unto the Tree of Christian Faith 9. But this is the most smarting thing which is to man most bitter he must break off his spirit of his Will from the earthly Being he must bring forth the spirit of his Will out of the earthly Treasure as

God himself dweleth God putteth on thee his fairest ornament that thou shouldest rejoyce in him eternally 51. What is the Being of this World it is corruptible and bringeth man only into anguish perplexity and misery besides into Gods wrath and breaketh the fair Image in him and puts a vizard on him 52. O What a shame will it be unto that man who shall appear on the Judgment day of God with a beastly Image besides that what followeth in which he is to abide for ever 53. Here begins a penitet me it repenteth me here will be the sighiug and howling about the lost talent which may never be attained unto 54. Where the Image shall stand in eternity before the Devils and do what the terrible Prince Lucifer will have The Eighth Chapter 1. MY dear seeking and desirous mind which art hungry and thirsty after Gods Kingdom pray take notice of the ground which is shew-unto thee 2. It is not so easie a matter to become the Child of God as Babell teacheth where Consciences are lead into Histories and are courteously tickled with Christs sufferings and death where Remission of sins is taught Historically 3. Like unto a worldly judgment where a mans crime is remitted graciously though the man abide a Rogue in his heart but it is no such thing here 4. God will not have hippocrites he doth not take away sins from us because we depend upon knowledg and comfort our selves with Christs sufferings and abide yet in our consciences in the Abominations 5. It is said you must be new born again or you shall not see the Kingdom of God 6. That a man should please himself with Christs sufferings and death and apply it unto him but is unregenerated with his will in the Adamical will he doth as one who comforteth himself that his lord will bestow his land upon him not considering that he is not his son and he hath promised that his son alone should have it as it is here 7. If thou wilt possesse thy lords land and have it for a propriation then you must become a true son unto him for the son of the maid-servant doth not inherit with the free born the son of the History is a stranger 8. Thou must be born out of God in Christ that you be a natural son then art thou the Child of God and an heir of the sufferings and death of Christ 9. And Christs death is thy death his resurrection out of the grave is thy resurrection his ascension into Heaven is thy ascension and his eternal Kingdom is thy Kingdom 10. If thou art born his true son out of his flesh and blood then art thou an heyr of all his Goods else thou canst not be Christs Child and heyr 11. As long as the earthly Kingdom sticketh in thine Image then art thou the earthly of corrupted Adam no hippocrisy avai●eth give as good words as thou wilt 12 Yet art thou a stranger and Gods Goods do not belong unto thee unless thou returnest with the lost son unto the Father with a true repentance for thy lost Inheritance 13. Thou must go out with thy spirit of thy will out of the earthly life and break the earthly will which payneth the minde and the spirit of the will as to forsake a possest Treasure in which the spirit of the will was born and thou must enter into Gods Will. 14. There you sow your seed into Gods Kingdom art new born in God as a fruit which groweth on Gods Acre for thy will receiveth Gods Power Christs body and a new body groweth unto thee in God 15. Then art thou Gods child and Christs goods belong unto thee and his merit is thy merit his sufferings death and resurrection all thine thou art a member of his body and his Spirit is thy Spirit and guideth thee on the true way and whatsoever thou dost thou dost it to God 16. Thou sowest in this World and reapest in Gods Heaven thou art Gods wonder work and revealest in the earthly life his wonders and drawest them with thy spirit of thy will into the holy Mystery 17. Thus observe it ye coveteous ye proud ye envious ye false Judges ye wicked men which bring your wills and desires into earthly goods into monies into pleasures of this World and money and goods you esteem to be your treasure and you set your desire upon them and yet you would be accounted Gods children 18. You stand and dissemble before God as if he remitteth the sins and you continue with your Image in Adams coat in Adams flesh you comfort your selves with Christs sufferings and you are me er hippocrites 19. You are not Gods children you must be new born in God if you will be children otherwise you deceive your selves with your dissembling which paint to you a false colour 20. They teach and are not known of God neither are they sent to teach they do it for the bellies sake and for worldly honours sake and are the great whores in Babel which dissemble with God with their lips and with the heart and spirit of the willl they serve the Dragon in Babel 21. Dear Mind if thou wilt be Gods Child then prepare thy self for Temptation and affliction it is not easie to enter into a childs life especially if Reason lyeth captivated in the earthly kingdom 22. She must be broken and the will must be gone from Reason he must sow himself into Gods Kingdom in a humble obedience as Corn is sowed into an Acre he must make himself in Reason as dead and submit unto God then the new Fruit grows in Gods Kingdom 23. Thus man standeth in a Threefold life and all belongeth unto God 24. The Inner fiery Essences of the first Principle are incorrporated with the new Body in Christ that they spring up in Christs Flesh and Blood out of Gods Will and their Fire is Gods Fire out of which burneth Love Meekness and Humility 25. Where the Holy Spirit goeth forth and helpeth him in the Combate against earthly Reason also against the corrupt flesh and the Devils will his yoke of the Earthly will groweth easier unto him but he must continue in the fight of this world 26. For unto the Earthly life belongeth sustenance which he must seek but must not hang his will and heart thereon 27. He must put his confidence in God and his Earthly Reason still steppeth into doubt that he will come short she will always see God and yet cannot or God does not dwell in an Earthly Kingdom but in himself 28. Thus Reason must be forced into hope because she cannot see God 29. There Doubt runneth against Faith and will destroy Hope then the earnest Will must fight with the true Image against the Earthly Reason here it doth smart and great sadness ensueth especially if Reason looketh on the course of this world and thinketh her spirit of her will to be foolish in regard of the course of this world 30. Here it is sayd Be Sober Watch Fast and Pray that is subdue the Earthly Reason and mortifie her that Gods Spirit may find place in you 31 If he appeareth he soon overcometh Earthly Reason and looketh on the will in the anguish with his love and sweetness where always is begotten a fair twig out of the Tree of Faith 32. And all tribulation and affliction serveth for the good of Gods Children for as often as God permitteth him to be brought into anguish and calamities then they always stand in the Birth of a new twig out of the Tree of Faith 33. When the Spirit of God appeareth again then he always rayseth a new growth at which the Noble Image highly rejoyceth 35. The first serious assault must do it that the Earthly Tree may be conquered and the Noble Corn be sowed into Gods Acre that it may learn to know the Earthly man 35. For when the Will of God receiveth light then the mirrour beholdeth it self the one essence seeth the other in the light and thus the whole man finds himself in himself and knoweth what he is which he cannot know in the earthly Reason 36. Therefore let no man think that the Tree of Christian Faith is seen or known in the Kingdom of this World external Reason doth not know it 37. Although the fair Tree standeth in the inner man yet the outer earthly Reason doubteth of it for the Spirit of God is a folly to her because she cannot comprehend him 38. And although it happeneth that many times the Holy Ghost revealeth himself in the external mirrour or glasse that the outward life rejoyceth much at it and quaketh for Joy and supposeth now have I gotten that worthy guest now I will beleeve it yet there is no perfect constancy in it 39. For the Spirit of God persevereth not always in the earthly quality he must have a pure vessel and if he goeth into his principle as into the true I mage then the external life groweth pusilanimous and timerous 40. Therefore the noble Image must still be in fight aginst the external life of Reason the more she fighteth the greater groweth the fair Tree because she worketh with God 41. For as an earthly tree groweth in wind rain cold and heat so doth the Tree of the Image of God under crosses and tribulation anguish and torment in ignominy and contempt and springeth up in Gods Kingdom and in patience beareth fruit 42. We knowing thus much let us strive for it not to be kept back by any fear or terrour because we shall enjoy it eternally and reap that what we have sowed in anguish and pain which will be an eternal comfort to us Amen Finis hujus tractatûs Anno 1620 mense Maji Soli Deo Gloria Written by the Author JACOB BEHMEN FINIS