and Christ saith The Holy Spirit shall receive of Mine and make it knowne to you within you 21. All outward Teaching doth not lay fast hold in Man unlesse Man cast his desirous will thereinto how will it then take hold in the scorner who bringeth an Envious opposition against the Spirit of Christ 22. Deare Sirs and Brethren doe but see and consider him what the poor blinde Man in his Pride and State sets before him he reproves that which he knoweth nothing of and that which he hath no apprehension of which I very much Lament that the Man runneth on thus without any Ground 23. He begins to reprove that I have written concerning the Great MYSTERY of the Eternall Nature out of which the Third Principle viz the Outward World with the Starres and Elements are become generated and Created and yet bringeth nothing to Light that Men may see that he understandeth somewhat of the Ground and Center he saith The Word and the Wisdome of CHRIST are the Mystery viz the Outpoured Glance of his Glory in which every thing is Created who is it now that striveth with him about that that all things are created by God through his Wisdome I have in all my Writings written so and it needs not his Glosse or Exposition at all 24. Only the Question is out of what God hath Created them If he will say that Evill as also Earth and Stone also all venomous or poysonous Creatures and particularly SINNE are generated out of the outpoured Glance or Lustre of his Wisdome then he speaketh as a blinde Man of Colours which he hath never seene 25. But that he brings forth such a sad and miserable meaning Men see sufficiently in that which he writes concerning the Will and Election of God and so thrusts all into Gods Predestination and drags the Scripture by the Haire of the Head to it quite contrary to the Meaning of the Scripture Oh that the Confused Man might come so farre as first to learne to understand the Center of the Eternall Nature and of all things or Substances before he speak of the Great Mystery of all things or Substances and reprove those to whom the same is revealed or manifested from God 26. If he will now put it so that all things were in the Great Mystery of God then he must distinguish the Word of Love and the Eternall Name of God from Gods Anger and fierce Wrath in which he calleth himself a Consuming Fire 27. If he will say that the Consuming Fire is Gods Wisdome and Love then he will say that Hell is Heaven and that the Heaven wherein Gods Majesty shineth is the Darknesse If he will not admit that the Center to the Fire of God is an Eternall Darknesse whereinto the Devill plunged himself when he despised Gods Meeknesse 28. If now this outward World with all things or Substances therein is become generated only out of the Word of Love out of the Holy Name of God out of the Wisdome why it is then called and is Evill and Good and moreover a vale of Misery full of anxiety and Toyle why then did God Curse it for the sake of One Sinne 29. If it be the Mysterie of the Wisdome why is it then without Divine Understanding but if it be not that as he also doth not determine then I ask what kinde of Mystery is THAT out of which it became Created that it is Good and Evill whether is it an inceptive or beginning Mystery or an Eternall one seeing the blinde Man will know Nothing of the Eternall Nature and knoweth not nor will not distinguish the Cleere Deity from the fierce Wrath of God and the Eternall Nature whereas he hath a true similitude of this in Fire and Light and in whatsoever thing out of which the Fire burneth if he did but see 30. If he will not admit that before the time of this World there hath been a Mystery in the Eternall Nature in which the Eternall Nature from Eternity in Eternity continually Originateth wherein Gods Anger and fierce Wrath from Eternity becometh generated wherein the fierce Wrathfull hard and Stern Property hath Generated Darknesse and a Mist or Cloud or Vapour and yet hath been like no Mist but the fierce wrathfull Spirit hath had such a property wherein all Evill is understood as also the sterne Earth Then let him tell me out of what THAT is proceeded and tell me further how the Life can subsist without the Fires property and whence the Fires Property Originateth 31. Let him shew me another Center then I have shewne him in the book of the Three Principles as also in the Book of the Threefold Life of Man and yet much more deeply and fundamentally in the Book of The Sin Poynts of the Great Mysterie of the Substance of all Substances concerning the Thrâ—â— Worlds how they stand one in another as ONE and how they Eternally support themselves and each is the Cause of the Other so that in the Great Mysterie there is nothing Evill nor any thing without a Cause 32. Let him first come into the Schoole and learn the A B C before he call himself Master it is not to goe upon strange Feet if one will speak of the Mysterie to furnish or adorne himself with strange Masters or Artists but to understand it himself himself to have the Spirit of understanding or else to leave the Mysterie undefiled and let those speak and write of it to whom God hath manifested or revealed it 33. His Tattle which he driveth on with his drawing the Holy Scripture to it taketh or reacheth not my sense and understanding at all The Children of God speak in their apprehension and Gifts not out of the Mouth of others but their own and I speak also not out of the Mouth of others but out of my own but out of One spirit we all speak every one out of his own Gift what doth that availe the unintelligent to whom the Mystery of God is not intrusted why doth he reprove us all before he rightly understandeth one of them 34. Learne first to understand the Center of the Eternall Nature and how to distinguish the Cleere or bright Deity from Nature and learne how the Deity revealeth or manifesteth it self through Nature and Learn what Gods Wisdome is how it is the out spoken Substance of the Deity and what the Divine-Life is and then what the Nature-Life is also what a Principle is e're he wittily subtillizeth Let him first learne beforehand what the Eternall Tincture is and what the One Element is also what Paradise and Heaven are what Evill and Good are Let him first goe into the Schoole of Pentecost that he may attaine that Spirit in which only there is understanding 35. But he must first become a Fool and then come to be Nothing as the World supposeth if he will attain the Spirit of the Mysterie that God may be his Will and Deed and then let him
will not cast the Pearle under your Feet know that nor under None 53. I have my knowledge and skill not from Conceit or Opinions as you have but I have a living skill or knowledge in the visibility Experience or perceptibility I need no Doctor from the Schools of this World about it for I have not learned it from them but from Gods Spirit therefore I am not afraid of your Clamour and Scorne Of a right Christian And of the Divine Wisdome the Eternall Virgin that is no Genetrix 54. DEare Sirs and Brethren in Christ I pray be Schollers of Gods Wisdome let none say of Himself I understand it we know nothing concerning God what HE is but Gods Spirit must become the knowing in US else our knowing is but Fiction a continuall Confusednesse a continuall Learning and understanding nothing in the Ground of the Center 55. What is it for me to speak much of the Wisdome out of the Scripture and could repeat the Bible without Book and understood nothing of what the Wise Men have spoken and out of what Spirit and knowledge if also I have not the same Spirit which they had HOW then shall I understand them 56. To such knowledge belongeth not Conceits and to collect together a heap or abundance of Texts to his purpose THAT no Holy Man or wise Man hath done but a living Spirit out of God can See the Mystery and converse in its own knowledge 57. Gods Spirit must be IN the Reason if Reason will see God there belongeth an humble resigned heart to it not a Scorner in Reason where Reason boasteth it self to be enlightened that is only a Sydereall or Starry Enlightening to be so sharp witted 58. If any be a Child of God then let him seek his Brother in the Love of God and then I can trust him but while he is a Scorner he hath put on the Devills Vizard and Hood and goeth about in Pride he is no Christian but a Mouth or Lip-Christian and Consufed Babel as indeed such Books of Controversie or Contention and Hypocrisie are ALL Babel 59. Let one shew another the Way of God in Love Humility and in the Fear of God as becometh the Children of God then such Contemning would not exist in the World whereby the simple Layick is seduced and totally ignorant of the Cause falleth on in reproach and Contempt against his Brother who is not of his Opinion or Sect of Religion and yet One in a Religion which without Gods Spirit and Power is but a conceit and Opinion is as blinde as the other 60. For the true Religion standeth not alone in outward Words in appearance or shew but in Living active power that one desireth from the Ground of his Heart to performe to another what he knoweth he ought to doe 61. It must come into deed else it is but a Coloured or Painted faith a Historicall Babel where Gods Spirit is not there is no Faith also no Christian but where that is there it worketh cleere works of Love he teacheth and reproveth Meekly he is not puffed up and Scornfull as my Opponent 62. He will needs write out the Ground of the divine Wisdome scorn my Explanation which I have spoken from the Center Confirm himself with the Collected Texts of Scripture despiseth that which I have Written That the Wisdom is a Virgin without Generating that she is NO Genetrix but that the Spirit of God is her Life and Generating which Revealeth or Manifesteth in her the Divine Wonder and he will set that which is better in the stead thereof 63. He saith the Wisdome suffereth and Generateth and he collecteth a heap of Texts for proof Who now is at odds with him in this Not I I say the same and he writeth but my words but understandeth not my Sense or Thoughts he is at Odds with himself 64. I speak out of the Center and he from the Substance that is Generated I understand that the Wisdome is not the Center or the Opener but Gods Spirit is that I understand thus to speak in a Similitude that as the Soul in the Body manifesteth or revealeth it self through the Essence of the Flesh and that the Flesh had not the Might or strength if there were not a living Spirit in it so also Gods Wisdome is the Out-spoken Substance where through the Power and the Spirit of God manifesteth or revealeth it self in Forms understand in Divine Forms and Shapes in the Wonders 65. It generateth or beareth indeed but it is not the Divine Principle or the Center of the Genetrix but the Mother wherein the Father Worketh 66. And therefore I call it a Virgin because it is the Modest Chastity and purity of God and carrieth no Desire backward to the Fire but its longing pleasure or Lust of Delight goeth forward with or in the Revelation or Manifestation of the Deity 67. She could generate Nothing if the Spirit of God did not work in her and therefore she is NO Genetrix but the Looking-Glasse of the Deity the Spirit of God generateth in her he is her Life she is his Chist Cabinet or Body she is the Holy Spirits Corporeity in her lye the Colours of the Vertue for she is the Out-spoken Substance which the Father comprehendeth out of the Chaos that is out of himself without besides beyond or before Nature in the Nothing and bringeth the same forth with the desire to Nature through the Eternall Nature through the first Principle through the Fire of his Might into the Second Principle in the Divine Power into the Light of the Majesty 68. It is that which the Father from Eternity in Eternity continually re-comprehendeth which the Father who is a Fire and Light introduceth into his Fire-Life to the Center of his Heart 69. She is the highest Substantiality of the Deity without her God would not be Manifested or Revealed but would be only a Will but through the Wisdome he bringeth himself into Substance so that he is Manifested or Revealed to himself 70. And therefore I call her a Virgin being she is in the Marriage with God so that she generateth without a Fire-life for in her the Light or the right Divine Life Manifesteth or Revealeth it self she is a Virgin of the Modest Chastity and purity of God and yet is in the Marriage with God 71. Thou suttle prudent School or Vniversity from the Constellation if thou didst here understand the Ground thou wouldst NEED NO Books more ALL lyeth herein the Stone of the Wise Men or Philosophers STONE lyeth in this place but first put off your rough Garment and then you will see it Of the Third Principle which is the Bride of God and how the Spirit of God is no Principle and yet is a Principle 72. NOw when I speak of the Third Principle I understand the Outward World Then saith my Opponent God hath made it through his Wisdome and proveth it by Scripture and I
Eternall Principles viz out of the Light and Dark World and thus the Light moveth in the Darknesse and the Darknesse comprehendeth it not 94. And herein lyeth the Drawing to Evill and Good and here is that which the Scripture saith concerning the Will of Man To which you give your selves as servants in Obedience either to the Light of God or to the Darknesse in the Anger of God to that you are servant and into that you goe to which you are obedient of THAT you are led and drawne also Elected for children they are BOTH Gods but the Light is only called God or Good How the Soul is out of all the Three-Worlds of its Might and Free-will of the drawing of the Father and what is called to Beleeve above Reason 95. MY Opponent writeth that the Soul of Man is inbreathed into Man out of the Mouth of God and I have no Strife about that and it needeth no Glosse But I speak not blindly as he doth I say out of the totall Wonder of God out of the Center out of the Will to the Eternall Nature that is out of the Chaos and out of the Eternall Nature that is out of the two Eternall Principles out of Darknesse Fire and Light a totall Image and Similitude of the totall Deity of the Substance of all Substances 96. And I say that the Spirit of God hath inbreathed it selfe according to all the Three Worlds properties for it is the Life and the Spirit of all Substances in every Substance according to its property 97. For before the times of this World there was Nothing no Life without him but it is as the Scripture faith †With the Holy thou art Holy and with the perverse thou art perverse 98. In the Holy or Saints he is the Divine Kingdome of Joy and the Divine Life but with those which incline their will into Gods Anger in the Darknesse he is Gods anger-Anger-Spirit 99. Indeed God himselfe is ALL for from him all is proceeded why then doe we longer Contend so much about God let us strive after that which is Best after Love then we become Children of Gods Love 100. Why will you * Deny Man Free-Will surely his Soul is created out of the highest Omnipotence of God and hath Divine might or strength if it entereth into the Love of God as Christ teacheth us †That we should not only doe such Wonders or Miracles as he did with the Fig-Tree but much greater if we had but Faith then we could with one word cast the Mountaines into the Sea 101. He hath indeed told us he would give us Faith for he said My Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him for it his words Must be true and whosoever speaketh against them are Lyars Moreover he saith He was come to call Sinners to Repentance and not the Righteous 102. What folly is it to make or set and impose Election upon Man and take away his Free-Will hath not the poor Sinner Free-Will that he CAN Come Why then doth Christ call them to himself Math 11. 103. You say with the Scripture There can none come to him unlesse the Father Draw him very right I say so too It lyeth not in our doing willing or running but in Gods Mercy He draweth whom he will and hardeneth whom he will it is all right but you are Blinde and understand it not aright 104. If it lay in Man then did Salvation stand in Mans strength or might to become saved through an Opinion as or how he will and though likely the old Evill Man which dyed in Adam continue 105. Therefore when we dyed in Adam then we lost the own selfe 〈◊〉 and lay in Gods Mercy and it was instantly said You must become borne of God againe if you would see God 106. Now at present after the Fall we have no power as to the kingdome of Heaven to meddle with it but if we obtaine the Spirit of Christ which hath of Grace generated it selfe againe in our Souls then the kingdome of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent snatch it to themselves 107. It is not in our ability that we snatch it to our selves but the ability is Gods who hath introduced it againe through Christ into us we cannot take it with force and own-selfe Right but of Grace it is promised to be bestowed 108. Now it lyeth not in that we hunt after it in own selfe-reason and willing to take it but it lyeth in this that we cast our selves againe into the Bosome viz into the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ viz into our New Mothers Body or Womb viz into a New Becoming Man or Incarnation that we with our Will be in the Obedience of Christs Will that we become Nothing viz nakedly and barely a glimps or Seed of a Will that Christ became our Will and his Becoming Man or Incarnation be our Becoming Man or Incarnation his New-Birth out of God and Man our Birth out of God and Man his slaying of the Anger of God in the Center of the Soul our slaying his Resurrection our Resurrection his Eternall Divine Life our Eternall Divine Life then it is really so that whosoever cometh to me viz into my Becoming Man or Incarnation that is into me him I will not thrust away Also my Lambs are in my hands none can pluck them away out of them and the Father who hath given them to me is greater than all Land the Father are one 109. Deare Brethren and Friends doe but understand the Drawing of the Father aright it should not so be understood that God hardeneth any who desireth to convert from Sinne but those who doe not desire that the desire standeth in our Will but the Conversion standeth in Gods Mercy 110. But now he hath promised the Mercy out of Grace to the desiring Will for he saith Turne to me then will I turne my selfe to you Also Knock and then it will be opened unto you seek and then you will finde ask and then you will receive What sonne is there that asketh his father for an Egge and he giveth him a Scorpion Can ye that are Evill give good gifts to your Children how much More my heavenly Father 111. Wilt thou now say God hardeneth thy Heart and Will that thou canst not ask prove that out of Scripture or wilt thou say thou canst not beleeve that is also NOT true 112. Canst thou not beleeve then cast all thy Sinnes into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ into his Spirit and be in him as Dead let HIM in THEE beleeve how or as he will why dost thou long take care or perplex thy selfe about strong Faith which overthroweth Mountaines it standeth not in thy power to beleeve SO. 113. Only take care about a true earnest sincere Will goe out from Sinne and strive against Sinne in Flesh and Bloud
beginning but there is an Eternall beginning where the beginning and the End is all ONE the First is continually the Last and the Last is the First whatsoever God hath begun from Eternity to foresee that he beginneth now also at this Day alwayes every Moment to foresee 205. I CAN say with good Ground thus that if I were in my Mothers body or womb comprehended in his Anger then God had from Eternity seene me and apprehended me in his Anger and I were from Eternity Elected in his Anger 206. But if I convert in Repentance so that Gods Love apprehend me then I am also from Eternity foreseene out of the Anger into the Love for in God ALL is Eternall whatsoever at this day beginneth to alter in the Eternall that is from Eternity to Eternity equally in the Eternity 207. The Spirit in the Scripture hath another kinde of speaking than the World hath Know you not how it stands written in the Scripture where the Lord saith Suddenly I speak against a Nation or people which are Evill that I will destroy it but if they convert then it repenteth me of the Evill which I thought to doe unto them 108. Look upon Nineveh there you shall see whether God doth not alter his Will for Mans sake and the Apostle saith that even the Spirit of God is subject to Man viz to Holy Men. 209. His Election and beginning is alwayes every moment his Eternall Birth or Geniture is also every moment in him and before him is all both New and Old for the same God who hath Elected us in Christ before the foundation of the World he also every moment Electeth his Children that come to him the Matter consists only in the Conversion of the Will 210. And though it standeth written that it lyeth not in Mans willing that is only concerning those that Desire God and yet will not goe forth out of their sinfull Will they keep their sinne and yet will be saved therefore it lyeth not in HIS Willing but in this that Man goe out from sinne into Gods Grace and then it lyeth in the Mercy and that God doth readily for he hath promised it 211. It lyeth not in Man to make himselfe blessed or saved but in the Grace which God in his Sonne hath promised and bestowed for God willeth that All Men should be helped or saved as the Scripture saith his Election and out going is from Eternity and his Mercy is also from Eternity in Eternity ALL is in him ETERNALL 212. Therefore Men should better consider the Scripture as to such Termes or Expressions for it often speaketh out of the Eternall Mouth which beginneth every Moment 213. For when the Scripture faith He hardeneth their Hearts that they beleeve not and so come not to be saved then it speaketh of those who would be saved by their own ability in their Evill Will and Life those he suffereth to goe on in their purpose or predestination for they will doe it 214. As also Adam did he would not be resigned into God as a Childe but be his own and apprehend and know Good and Evill and Live in all the Three Principles for he went out from Gods will into his own of set purpose therefore God left him and then he fell downe and slept 215. And when he did eate of the forbidden fruit then Gods Anger Elected him to the Damnation of Death and Gods Love spake against it saying The Seed of the Woman shall Bruise or Crush the Serpents head and that was also an Eternall Election and yet it was also a beginning Temporary Election for how can an Election passe upon a thing when as yet it hath no Roote 216. Gods Anger hath from Eternity continually and still at this very day Elected IT SELFE to be a Darknesse that Gods Love and Light might in the Anger become Manifested or revealed 217. Now that which is out of the Eternall as the Soul of Man that hath also Free-will to manifest it selfe in the Light or in the Darknesse NOT that it hath the Light and Darknesse in ITS power but it hath ability to work in Good or Evill that is in the power of the Light or of the Darknesse and in which soever it worketh that manifesteth it selfe in it 218. The Might or power is Gods and the Soule is his Childe a Branch in the Tree proceeded out of Gods Mouth out of Love and Anger all THAT lyeth in it and is its own propriety 219. Who will then take away the Free-Will from it being it is a Branch in the Eternall Tree and hath Love and Anger in it selfe Or is it not true My Opponent speaketh Even so that the Anger lay hidden in Adam before the Fall and hath manifested it selfe with the Fall 220. But he maketh me Wonderfull beginnings in the Seed of Adam One with God another with the Serpent and that is a grosse Errour there are not TWO sorts of Seeds but ONE only but two sorts of Dominions lye in the Seed viz Gods Love and Anger and is but one only Seed 221. But as to one part from the Divine Substantiality from the Holy and pure Element in which the Paradise and Heaven â—â—eth as also the Tincture of Fire and Light that very Seed disappeared in Adam when he fell whereof God said The day that thou eatest of this Tree thou shall dye 222. And the other Seed understand Spirit is the Center of the Eternall Nature viz of the Dark World according to which God calleth himselfe an Angry God but that was not stirring and manifest while the Light shone in the divine heavenly Paradisicall Substantiality but in the Fall it became manifested or revealed 223. But now Adam was also shut up in the Dominion and in the Spirit of the Outward World but that must in his Innocency goe also behinde and come after for Gods Kingdome ruled in him but when he fell then it became also manifested and powerfull in him and instantly heate and Cold fell upon him so that he must cloath himselfe and he fell by the Outward Worlds Might into the Corruptibility of his Body 224. Now what kinde of Seed should become generated in Adam out of which Cain and Abel could be conceived even such a one as Adam was after the Fall viz according to the Outword World Evill and Good and according to the Anger-World totally Evill 225. But now the Kingdome of God viz the Heavenly Substantiality was faded or disappeared in him for the Darknesse had received in the Light in him as you have an Image thereof in the dry withered Staffe of Aaron which Sprouted againe So also did the faded or disappeared Substantiality in the Spirit of Christ when God became Man in that very faded Substantiality 226. Now my Opponent with your Election come hither to Schoole now shew me the Grace-Election I will also shew it you in the Divine knowledge to
suffers to be because Men only use his holy Name to Cursing and Swearing and so misuse it and in the knowledge of his Name and Will are only selfe-willed and use his Name only for a Reproach so that one brother despiseth another only for the sake of the knowledge of his Name though he should seek him in his knowledge in Love and goe before him with a holy Life 319. What now are the Christians so called better than Turks and Heathens if they live Turkish'y and more then Turkishly or Heathenishly Where is the Christian and Evangelicall Fruit 320. Every one faith It will be good when this Evill is past and gone but I tell you in true knowledge that it will not be good but worse and worse unlesse you Convert every one in himselfe and turne his Heart and Minde to Love and condescension else one people will devoure another and the Countreys will Consume Wast and Destroy Themselves and there will be such a vaine Evill World that they will not be worthy to be called Men. 321. And this they will doe themselves one among another and there will be a Generall Mixture and Confusion of People in the Strife no one part better than another till the Anger of God Satiate its sierce Wrath and the people introduce themselves into the highest perdition and misery and then thou wilt see and learne to know thy selfe what thou hast been in thy Pride when thou art Naked and wilt Seek the Lord in thy Misery and see what Evill thou hast done to thy SELFE 322. Therefore my deare Brethren Seek but the Pearle all you that entend to avoyd the Anger of God look not one upon the Life of another but upon his OWN For it is no more Disputing but either Convert or perish 323. The Time of Disputation and Babling is out you will get no further with Disputation but with the Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ you will reach and obtaine the Pearle so that you need never to Dispute More 324. Let every one be in Sincere Earnest and seek himselfe in himselfe and see what he is and Consider how to Seek his brother in Love let him but goe out from Covetousnesse and Pride and Content himselfe with food and Rayment and put his trust in God who giveth Raine and blessing 325. Indeed we take nothing along with us from this World why then doe we then contend about that which is vaine and thereby squander and loose that which is untransitory it must come to the Limit or Mark or else it will be still worse and that People which will not enter into this Limit or Mark must be quite devoured and Consumed saith the Spirit of Wonders 326. This I would not have concealed from you Deare Sirs and Brethren in Christ who reade my Writings and make use of them in consideration of my Opponent and I exhort you brotherly as also my Opponent that you would lay the Holy Scriptures upon my Writings but in the Scripture seek nothing else then the Paternall Love-Heart of JESUS CHRIST and then you will well FINDE from what Spirit I have written 327. But he that hath no minde to doe this let him leave my Writings at rest for I have written Nothing for him I have written them for my selfe without any thought how it would goe with them neither doe I know how it cometh to passe that they run so abroad for I have not run after any body with them and I wonder as much as you what the Most High doth about them 328. Yet Observe it and become seeing for the Day breaketh or dawneth if you will learne rightly to understand my Writings then you will be freed from all Contention and Strife and learne to know your selves yet indeed the Letter cannot doe it but only the Living Spirit of Christ the way is faithfully shewne you 329. Now doe what thou wilt the Harvest is neere that every one will partake of what he hath gathered into his Barne I speake from my whole Heart very Earnestly in my knowledge given Me of God and Commend my selfe into your brotherly Love into the Deare and Precious Name of JESUS CHRIST Dated the 3. July 1621. 330. Rejoyce in the LORD all Countreys and Praise him all People For his Name goeth over all Mountaines and Hills HE shooteth forth like a Sprout and goeth on in Great Wonders who will hinder it HALLELV-JAH A Postscript of the Translatour into Nether-Dutch out of the Three High-Dutch Copies and this English Translation out of a High-Dutch Copy was Compared with it Who writes thus THis Treatise was Written in Answer to Balthasar Tylcken concerning some Poynts in the Book of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Jesus Christ This Balthasar Tylcken first wrote a reproachfull Book against Jacob Behme Concerning some Poynts in the AVRORA which Jacob Behme hath Answered in the First Apology to Balthasar Tylcken afterwards Tylcken opposed some Poynts in the Book of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and added some Sheets as an Appendix to that Book which were sent over to Jacob Behme upon which his Answer was as is to be found in this Second Apology of His. Here follow the CONTENTS Of the SECTIONS As they were Devided by the Translatour into the Nether-Dutch I. Part. Apo to Tylcken II. Of Predestination A Letter or Preface concerning Verses 15. I. An Introduction to the Answer an Exhortation and marning from vers 1. to 18. II. What the first Principle or Dark World is How the Fire is not the first Principle He that will attaine the Spirit of the Principle must first become a Foole to the World From v. 19. to 53. III. Of a right Christian and of the Eternall Wisdome which is no Genetrixs From v. 54. to 71. IV. Of the Third Principle What the Bride of God is and how the Spirit of God is no Principle and yet is One. From vers 72 to 86. V. Why the Outward World is a Principle of its own Out of what the Angels are out of what joy Existeth The Model of this World is Eternall From vers 87. to 94. VI. How the Soul is proceeded out of all the Three Worlds Of the Might or Strength and of the Free Will of the Soul Of the drawing of the Father And what it is to beleeve above all Reason From vers 95. to 117. VII Of the grosse errour of Balthasar Tylcken concerning the Seed of Adam upon which he buildeth his Election From 118. to 126. VIII Why God hated Cain and Esau and loved Abel and Jacob and who are the lost Sinners for whose sake Christ came From 127. to 133. IX What the hardening is how the Love of God warneth Sinners Also how the Love of God is as Almighty to preserve as his Anger is to destroy From vers 134. to 143. X. What God is How without the Darknesse all would be Nothing And in what Manner man hath ability to goe out of Evill
The Second APOLOGIE to Balthazar Tylcken treating of the Eternall PREDESTINATION and Election of GOD and of the INCARNATION or Becoming Man and PERSON of CHRIST and Concerning the VIRGIN MARY Written in the Yeare 1621. Finished the 3. of July by Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. He that Beleeveth is certainly Foreseen He that Beleeves not hath most Regardless been He that Beleeveth is certainly Elected He that Beleeves not hath's Election Rejected A Letter Or a PREFACE To Herre J. D. K. Written when this Treatise was Finished 1. ESteemed truly Honourable highly Learned Sir after my hearty desiring of the Grace Love and Mercy of our Dear IMMANUEL as also all temporall welfare of Body for you I will not conceal from you Sir that I have received and read the Book with the Appendix and considered the Opposers understanding apprehension and Opinion in the Love and Fear of God and sufficiently understand in what apprehension the Man runneth on and that he hath not at all in the least understood my Writings 2. Also I very much Lament the Man that he hath plunged himself into such a Lake with the Election of God out of which assuredly he cannot get unlesse he learne to understand the Center of all things or substances 3. Also he lamentably goeth astray concerning the humanity of Christ and concerning his Mother Mary which Opinion is quite contrary to our Christian or Spirituall Faith upon which our Restored Salvation standeth 4. But I desire from my heart that this Man might become seeing for he is zealous for then his Zeale would be profitable only the way which he now goeth is an Open Gate to all vanity or Licentiousnesse and despair and there must a severe accompt belong to such introducing men into despair and vanity 5. I desire he may be advised that he might become seeing that he may at length acknowledge the friendly Dear heart of JESUS CHRIST which hath manifested it self in our humanity to seek and to save our poor lost Man 6. For this vain frivolous reproach which he venteth against his Brother is no Christian way at all it will not build SION but destroy it if he will be comprehended under the seaventh sounding of Trumpet and be one among the first fruits then he must goe out from all reproachings contention and scorning and seek only the heart of brotherly Love else all is Babel and a Fiction even clamouring and Contending and never coming to the Limit of our Rest in Christ 7. I have a little presented it before him and other Readers of my Writings to consider of it since I see that not only my Opposer but also others for the most part Persons of high Dignity are thus perplexed with this conceit about the Predestination or Election of God to try whether this most difficult errour might be brought out of the Minds of many of them 8. But I am entended to write an Entire Book thereof if I could but perceive that Men would not so spitefully oppose me without knowledge what spirits Child I am this I offer to you as learned and experienced Men to consider of and entreat you to ponder aright whence my apprehension and skill might come 9. For you see and know that I have not learned it much lesse studyed or understood it aforehand as the manner of simple Ideots or Layicks is neither have I sought it or understood any the least part of it but it is given me of the Grace of the Most High in that I have sought his Love-Heart to hide my self therein from the Horrible Anger of God and the Hatred or Enmity of the Devill 10. Therefore I exhort and beseech you in the Love of Christ to think of it and rightly hold close to the Holy Scripture of the Spirit and keep it rightly to the proof or Touchstone with a true Christian Mind and then your Eyes will be opened that you will see and know it 11. Though I doe not at all doubt concerning your Person Sir for I look upon you to be a very honest Lover of God and of the Truth and I also hope that my Mind which is so very exceedingly inclined towards you will not deceive me 12. For I stedfastly hope and doe present it in my Prayers to God that Sir the Fair Garland or Crown of Divine Honour in the knowledge of the Wisdome may be set upon you that you might not need to use either Mine or others writings to the knowledge of God but Sir you know in your self as it hath also happened to me out of what spirit I write and use nothing else about it for it is written They shall be all Taught of God and know the Lord I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh also your sonnes and your daughters shall Prophesie and your Young Men shall see visions 13. Why will Men reproach then when God powreth out his Spirit upon such a simple Man so that he must write above the Reason of All Men and higher than the Ground of this World is 14. Deare Sir it is done out of Gods Love towards you that you may see the Ground and roote of your School-Contention for many have sought but not at the right Limit or Place whence contention is arisen to them which hath filled the World and hath almost quite destroyed all brotherly Love 15. Therefore God calleth you with a higher voyce that you might yet see whence all Evill and Good Originateth and proceedeth because you should cease from Contention and Strife and most highly acknowledge that which from the Times of this World hath been hitherto hidden and is only manifested or revealed to the Children of the Saints 16. But seeing it is shewed to me how your heart Sir is inclined to wisdome therefore I speak sublimely towards you and do hope you will accept it in true Love and understand it rightly as it is entended I would I could give you halfe the Spirit of my knowledge and then you would need no Writings although I esteeme you wise yet I will once brotherly salute you with this Writing before the rough Winter of Calamity Come which is upon the way 17. If your Honour Love my Writings I pray you to reade them diligently and above all especially to lay them to the Center of All things or Substances and then the Three Principles will be very easie 18. I know and am assured that if you apprehend the Center in the Spirit that you will have such joy in it as excelleth all the Worlds joy for the Noble STONE of the wise Men lyeth therein it giveth certainty in ALL things and releaseth Man from all incumbrance and perplexity in the Strife and Contentions about Religion and openeth to him the highest secret Mystery
that the poor confused Man runs on so senslesly and raveth against it and yet hath no Ground or understanding in him at all so that I lament his great want of apprehension and must have a great sumpathy or fellow-feeling with him and doe wish from my heart that God would once open his heart that he might first see and understand e're he Judgeth 7. For the poor blinde Man rejecteth many a thing in my Book and sets even such a thing in the place thereof as my meaning is in the knowledge of it which makes me wonder how he is such a zealous Saul and is zealous for the Law of God and yet hath no apprehension of it at all in the Light of God I wish heartily that the Light to Saul at Damascus might shine round about him that he might become a Paul seeing he is so zealous then might his zeale be profitable towards the furthering the Salvation of Man 8. But so long as he is in such a way as to blaspheme reproach and persecute and so to rage in blindnesse as Saul did he will effect nothing but only rave against God to his greatest Condemnation and will but confound those whom he thinketh to teach and lead them deeper into darknesse 9. For he hath conceived such an Opinion in his Reason which it were much better he had never set it down in Paper Also I am very much afraid that Satan hath Cast his own self-Reason without Divine Light into such a Prison and Captivated him with such a Snare out of which it will be hard to break forth and without the Divine Light cannot at all be done 10. But now seeing it is apparent that not only he but others also are encumbred and perplexed with the purpose or Predestination and Election of God and doe thus represent the Omnipotence of God after such a manner wherein they goe on in ignorance very confusedly and understand Nothing of Gods Will to Good and Evill much lesse doe they know what God is from whence horrible Opinions are concluded of and yet this Man in such confused Reason so shamelesly entendeth to disgrace and suppresse my Writings which yet have a far deeper Ground then he ever understood therefore it shall be a little signified to him to try whether he or another will thereby become seeing in God 11. Not with entent to contemne but to instruct out of my Talent which is given to me of God For men know very well that I am no Doctor from the Schoole of this World if it were not given to me I should not understand it 12. And though I did not so highly seek yet it hath been given to me without my knowledge I sought only the fountain of Christ and understood Nothing of the Mystery what THAT was but now it is also afforded me as a Favour to see the Substance of All Substances in which without the Light of God I should indeed be Blinde 13. But seeing the Man with his Pamphlet annexed so my Writings understandeth nothing at all of the Mystery of the Substance of all Substances much lesse the Principles to the Câ—nter in the Principle and yet undertaketh to reprove my Writing also with a strange understanding quite Contrary to my sence or meaning and perverteth my Sence or Thoughts into a strange and very foolish understanding only to bring sorth his conceits under such a semblance which neither consisteth with the Ground of the Holy Scripture nor with the Light of Nature therefore I am as it were necessitated to wash the Dirt from my sence and apprehension 14. Seeing he begins so artificially and drags the Scripture by the haire of the Head to it that it must serve him as he will have it let the Ground and Corner-Stone be where it will whether there be such an understanding in the alledged Termes or Texts or No only that he may bring Scripture and Letters and exchange words with words and thereby cloake his Erroneous meaning with such a semblance so he doth but bring Scripture for it and though many times in my Writings I handle not just that very Matter that he would answer with Scripture but bring clean another Meaning and that he perverts my sence to the quite Contrary and thereby would make it suspected therefore I will a little summarily and briefly answer him to his aspersed Objections Not in that Manner as to Contend with him but for those to consider of that read my Writings 15. For a true Christian hath no Contention with any Man about Religion he that contendeth about words and despiseth his Brother is blinde and hath not the Faith 16. For FAITH is not a Historicall conceit but a right Life the Spirit of God must be generated in the Center through the Principle of the Soul and spring up in the Mystery of the Minde and therein Rule and Shine it must be Mans Will and Deed yes it must be his inward Life and understanding and Man must be resigned into if else there is no right Faith or Divine understanding in a Man but only Fables and Babel Contention and Clamour to teare and rend about the Husk and not enjoy the Kernell 17. Therefore I say now Is Gods Spirit in my scorner why then is he a Scorner and Contender Hath he the Faith why then doth he despise Christs Children and Members whose Christianity is earnest and Sincere Christ said Love one another thereby Men shall know that ye are my Disciples Also Doe ye not judge those that are within God will judge those that are without Is he in the Spirit of Christ why then doth he despise the Spirit of Christ Or is Christ become at Odds with himself 18. O deare Sirs and Brethren take it into consideration and look upon the holy Scriptures rightly in the Spirit of Christ and then ye will finde that a right true Christian hath contention with no man for His Conversation is in Heaven as Saint Paul saith from whence he continually expecteth the Saviour Christ that Gods Kingdome in him may come and Gods Will in him be done Christ is come to seek and to save that which is lost what should then the Spirit of Christ in the Converted Man will otherwise An Admonition also what the First Principle or the Dark World is and how the Fire is not the First Principle 19. DEare Sirs and Brethren I tell you in good will and faithfulnesse as I have obtained Grace in the Spirit of Christ that a Divine Spirit dwelleth in no contemning and scorning derision or disgrace but goe out from that and tread the Contention in the Minde underfoote account it as Dung. 20. And seek the Life of God in Christ with earnestnesse when you get that you need no other Master to teach you the Spirit of God will well teach you lead you and drive you yea he will teach WITHIN you For it is written They shall all be taught of God
say so to but I proceed not mutely I say out of what for God hath given me the knowledge It is Not I my self that know it but God knoweth it IN Me. 73. The Wisdome is his Bride and the Children of Christ are in Christ in the Wisdome also Gods Bride Now then if Christs Spirit dwelleth in Christs Children and if Christs Children be Branches on his Vine and one Body with him also one Spirit whose now is the knowledg is it Mine or Gods should I then not know in the Spirit of Christ out of what this World is Created if he dwelleth in me which hath created it should HE not know it 74. Therefore now I submit and will know nothing so far as I am self viz in that part from the outward World that he may know in me what he will I am not the Genetrix in the knowing but my Spirit is his Wife or 〈…〉 which he generateth the knowing according to the Measure 〈…〉 75. As the Eternaâ—â— Wisdome is the Body of God and he generateth therein what he will then now if he generateth it is not I that doe it but he in me I am as Dead in the generating of the knowledg and he is my Life and indeed I have neither sought it or learned it he inclineth himself to my Minehood and my Ihood inclineth it self up into him 76. But now I am Dead and understand Nothing but he is my understanding therefore I say I live in God and God in me and so I teach and write of him Dear Brethren and otherwise I know Nothing 77. Bear with my folly a little I pray in that which I tell you not for my own boasting but for your Learning and knowledge that you may know whom you scorne and despise when you deride me I will not hide it from you but mean it heartily 78. I have written of Three Principles which are known in Me but weakly as a Scholler which goeth to School so it hath gone with me 79 My Opponent writeth of Four Principles and calleth the Spirit of God a Principle also according to his meaning though I bring no Controversie into HIS meaning about it he may make Ten for the Wisdome hath neither Limit nor Ground but he neither understandeth my meaning nor his own 80. Let him tell me How the Holy Spirit is a Principle or what doth he understand by a Principle will he make the Cleere Bright Deity to be a Principle which is Eternall without ground and Beginning which dwelleth in the Nothing also possesseth nothing but only it self I can not speak so of the Principles but I speak of the Three Worlds in and with which the Incomprehensible Deity manifesteth or revealeth it self 81. One of them with or by the wrought power in the Desire to the Eternall Nature viz with the Spirit of the Dark source or quality through which the Will of the still Eternity sharpeneth it self and brings it self in the Fire through the Light and so the sharpnesse remaineth Eternally only in it self and yet in the still Will of the Meeknesse thus receiveth a Cause in the sharpnesse to the Kingdome of Joy and yet also remaineth not Essentially standing with the Spirit in the fierce wrathfull sharpnesse 82. But the Root is a Darknesse and the Spirit goeth forth out of the Chaos through the Root through the Fire in the Fathers Property through the Second Center of the Love and Kingdome of Joy into the Light 83. Now therefore that very SPIRIT which is the Life of all in every Substance or Thing according to its property is NO Principle but according to the Eternall Nature of the fierce wrathfulnesse it is a Principle 84. Thus also the Second Principle subsists with or by the Divine World viz where the Divine Power with 〈◊〉 of the Majesty is poured forth which is justly accounted 〈…〉 THREE Persons 85. But the Principle in the Fire is to 〈…〉 where the Dying is and out of the Dying another Life 〈◊〉 viz out of the Fire a Light and yet there is no dying but a consuming source quality or Torment and out of the Source Quality or Torment the high triumphing Spirit existeth where then Gods Love-Will and Anger-Will severeth it self into two Worlds viz into Light and Darknesse and he is called God according to the Light and according to the poured-out vertue or power of his Wisdome 86. But the Eternall Divine Originall is not in the Eternall Nature the Will to Nature is sooner and THAT Will is the Chaos wherein all lyeth and the Spirit existeth out of that and Manifesteth or revealeth it self with or by Light and Darknesse Therefore I call not the Spirit of God a Principle for it is without or besides all Beginnings yet with the Eternall Beginnings manifested or revealed with God in Trinity though the Ternary also is in the Chaos as is expressed in the Book of the Six Poynts Wherefore the Outward World is a Principle of its own its Model is Eternall 87. NOw when I Write of the Third Principle then I also say that God hath created all things through his Wisdome but out of the Spirit which is called God this World is NOT Created for it is called Evill and Good and a Murthering Den of the Devill 88. Also it is not generated out of the Divine Wisdome but by or through the Wisdome the Wisdome is Not the Matter of this World else I must call a Stone Gods Wisdome and Sinne also but it is generated out of the two Eternall Principles of both Worlds Substantiality viz out of the desires of BOTH 89. God the Father who is ALL hath moved himselfe with the Creation of this World that is in the Formes of both Worlds of both Natures and hath created Angells understand out of the Spirit of the Eternall Natures 90. For if a Spirit be to subsist in the kingdome of Joy then it must have the Center in it selfe out of which the Joy Originateth viz the Center to the Dark World which is the sharp might else it would be a stillnesse without Moving 91. Therefore when Lucifer contemned the Light he remained in that part of the Darknesse for his Will went out from the Light and would domineere in the Fires Might whereby he angred God according to the Fires property that is in the Principle in the Fires property 92. Thus I say the Outward World is a Principle that it hath a Life of its own generated out-of both the inward Spirituall Worlds viz a Revelation or Manifestation of the First and Second Principle a Model or Similitude of the Eternall Nature comprized in the desire of the Eternall Nature and Manifested with a Beginning and included in a Time which with the End goeth againe into the Eternity 93. This Model or Time hath stood in Gods Wisdome which the Wisdome hath manifested through TWO Spirituall WORLDS with the Moving of the Eternall Father and that which is Revealed or Manifested goeth out of both
it that shall live in God For Christ said Flesh and Bloud CANNOT inherit the Kingdome of Heaven 265. What is it then For the New Creature generated out of the Dew of Heaven as you say also cannot arise for it dyeth Not Christs Life is its Life You will quite take away the first Adam what remaineth then If you are Learned tell me and play not on my Pipe you would have it that Christ hath not received or assumed Adam's Flesh then can Adam NOT rise again 266. My Friend I Exhort you in the Love of Christ be not an opposer till you understand the Center of all things or Substances together with the Three Principles For the Power or vertue of the Resurrection is performed according to the THIRD Principle there shall Nothing of ADAM passe away but only the grosse Droffinesse of the Beastiall Property and the Sinne which hath been wrought or committed according to the Anger of the First Principle 267. The Mystery viz the Quintae Essentia shall arise For Christ Flesh so farre and in whomsoever it is become Living Dyeth NO more In whomsoever the shut up heavenly part is in the power of the Word that became Man become Living that dyeth not It dyed in Adam therefore it needeth no further Resurrection 268. Also our Works follow not after us in That but in that which is a Similitude of the inward World viz in the Outward Mystery Now if Christ hath not received or assumed that to himself from US Men how then will it arise 269. I say Christ hath received or assumed the whole humanity from us on to his Heavenly but only not the BEASTIAL Property and Sinne but he hath received or assumed the Sinnes of the World on to himself As an own self-guilty Person and slaine the Death in our Souland Flesh else there were no Remedy for Man therefore must only a strong Saviour come into the Humane Property and slay Death and destroy Sinne and Introduce his Love into us 279. Now I beleeve that I shall arise in HIS and MY Flesh and Eternally Live in him his Life for mine his Spirit for mine and all whatsoever I am for his He God I Man and in him God and Man and he in me God and Man 271. This shall none teare out of my Heart I have knowne it Not I. but Christ in me therefore whosoever will may Fable and Babble about it I need no Election or Predestination to it my Saviour Christ hath Elected me IN my Soul Spirit and Flesh in himself I am therein Joyfull and Comforted let who will be a Heretick and Feigner I have with MARY Elected or Chosen the Best thing and will in the meane time sit at the Feet of my LORD JESU till all Feigners and Grace Electioners or Predestinatours have seigned and babbled Out ALL they CAN. 272. They say they cannot doe so that is their Obstinacy and Wilfulnesse I say if I cannot yet Christ in Me can And say with Jacob I will not leave thee unlesse thou blesse me and Though Body and soul should be dissolved yet I will not leave thee cast me into Heaven or into Hell yet I am in thee and thou in me thou art mine and I am thine the Enemy shall NOT part us How Mary was Eves Daughter and how Christ hath had a Humane Soul which is Eternally Immortall 273. MY Opponent hath so wonderfull a vaine discourse concerning Mary he will prove out of the Scripture that SHE hath been from Eternity and draweth a whole heape of Texts together about it which yet are all against him those very Texts speak all of the Virgin of the Divine Wisdome and then who is it that contendeth with him that Christ is become Man in that very Virginity not I I have throughout written just So but I understand also that the same Virgin was also IN the Mark or Limit of the Covenant in which God became Man 274. But Mary was from Eve else Christ had not received or assured our humane Soul as he also very strongly denyeth it that he hath assumed no Soul from us a strange thing helpeth not me in a strange thing he is not my Brother 275. Is his Soul no Creature but God himself Is he not out of or from us why then did he commend it to his Father in his Death into his hands And said On the Mount of Olives My Soul is troubled even unto Death May God also be troubled I beleeve he must now permit it to be a Humane Soul if he will stand before the Scripture and Truth that so Christ remaine to be our Brother as he said After his Resurrection Goe and tell my Brethren I ascend to my God and to your God else how should Christ say I goe to MY God if he were no Creature God needs no going without besides and beyond the Creature 276. Beloved what may indeed his Temptation in the Wildernesse have been WHAT in him became Tempted His Deity or his Soul Beloved pray tell me Did God Tempt himself Or What had he to doe with the Humanity I suppose the Man will here be Silent Read my Book of the Threefold Life therein thou wilt have the ground of all even More then any one could Ask which I here let passe 277. He writeth that Christs Soul did flow forth out of the Word and the Wisdome then is Christ Totally strange and not my Brother as he saith if they are to be Brothers then they must come out of ONE Body but Christ would not have spoken right if this Opinion should take place 278. God promised Abraham that in HIS understand in Abraham's Seed should all People become blessed but he saith no but in Abrahams promised Seed he saith not in the Seed which I promise thee or in my Seed but in thy Seed 279 O! how terrible it is that Man Dare so to pervert the Scriptures Dear Sirs where will you abide How will you stand before God Have you not the Spirit of True Knowledge from God Why then doe you make Glosses or Expositions upon the Scripture What are your conceits profitable that you Exchange Words for Words and imbitter the Scriptures let them stand unexplained if you be not called to it of God Why doe you so long make many Errours leave the Explanation to the highest Tongue in Every Man 280. Why doe you Juggle so much with the Holy Spirit are you more knowing or skilfull then HE Yes indeed ye are stately proud self honouring self-profiting wilfull stubborne Children Ye run and None hath called you suffer your selves first to be called and enlightened with Gods Light before you run 281. From such imbittering from the beginning of the World to this time nothing hath existed but strife Wars and Desolation and Babel is an unsure Leader full of Abomination and Pride to make Ostentation of it self that a Man hath studied or that a
into Good and out of Good into Evill From 144. to 153. XI How Balthasar Tylcken is the Devills Advocate How the Devill doth not assault any with Doubting more then the Children of God And of the firme Confidence of the Faithfull From 154 to 168. XII How Nothing is impossible for Faith what the drawing of God is Why the Wicked are not drawn what a right Christian is and who become hardened from God From 169. to 186. XIII The abominable Doctrine of Balthasar Tylcken an Exhortation not to doubt of Election and an Exhortation and warning to Balthasar Tylcken From vers 187 to 202. XIV Of the Eternall Purpose or Predestination and Election of God The Beginning and End whereof is one and the same alwayes From 203. to 229. II. Part. Of the Person of Christ Apol. to Tylck II. XV. How Christ became Man out of no strange Seed but out of the Seed of Mary and yet not in Eves Earthly Essence the Holy Spirit was the Husband From 230. to 242. XVI What manner of Essence the Word assumed in which God and Man became One Person How Christ is a Creature and how no Creature From 243. to 251. Of the Person of the Virgin Mary XVII How Mary was no strange Virgin but the Daughter of Joaohim and Anna Whence the Authour hath his Knowledge and what is Christs Descention into Hell From 252. to 262. XVIII Question How the New Birth is performed in us Also what of us shall arise Also of Impossibility and Possibility From vers 263. to 272. XIX How Mary was Eves Daughter how Christ had a humane Soul which Eternally is Immortal From 273. to 291. XX. Of the vaine Contention about Knowledge When we read in our selves we read in Gods Book No Knowledge maketh us Blessed a Warning and an Exhortation From vers 292. to 307. XXI A Conclusion How the present so called Christians Turks Jewes and Hoathens are all alike How one people shall devour the other and how the Harvest-is near at hand From 308. to 330. FINIS * Math. 18. 11. †Rev. 10. 7. * Rev. 14. 4. †The Book of Predestination written 1623. * Joh. 6. 45. †Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8. 11. * Joel 2. 8. Acts 2. 17. * NOTE †The first Apologie to Balthasar Tylcken about the Aurora * 1 Tim 4. 10. Heb. 11. 26. †Eph. 6. 24. * 2 Cor. 5. 1. 4. †Rom. 3. 15. * 2 Thes 3. 2. †Joh 13. 35. * 1 Cor. 5. 12. †Phil. 3. 20. * Math. 6. 10. Luk. 11. 2. †Math. 18. 11. Luk 19. 10. * Note †Joh 6. 45 Isa 54. 13. Jer 31. 34. * Joh 16. 15. †Joh 1. 3. Col 1. 16. * Deut 4 24. Chap 9. 3. Heb. 12. 29. †Gen 3. 17. * 1 Cor. 3. 18. * Wesen * 2 Tim. 3. 7. †Or know the Bible outwardly inwardly were better * NOTE †Joh 1. 5 * Rom 6. 16. 18. 26. vsagen â—… 14. 12. â—… 22. 21. â—…k 11. 13. †Math 9. 13. * Math 11. 28. †Joh 6. 44. * Rom. 9. 16. 18. †Note Note * Joh 3. 3. †Math 11. 12. * Joh 6. 37. †Joh 10. 27 28 29. * NOTE †Ezek 1. 3. Mal 3. 7. * Math 7. 7. to the 11. Luk 11. 9. to the 14. †Note †Note * Gen 32. 26. †Psal 30. 5. * Note †Luk 5. 31. Math 18. 11. * Acts 20. 28. †Math 11. 28. * Joh 1. 5. †Note when it was that the Darknesse Comprehended the Light in Adam * Note Note * Mal. 1. 2 3 Rom 9. 13. †Gen 4. 4 5. * Gen 4. 6. 7. †NOTE * Math 23. 37. Luk 13. 34. †Micah 7. 1. * Col 2 14 15. †1 Cor. 15. 55 57. * Rom. 9. 18. †Rev. 19. 6. Math. 20. 15. * Isa 50. 8. †NOTE * Rom. 11. 36. 1 Cor. 8. 6. †The great Six Poynts * Note Note †Note Note * Or pregnant or satisfieth it †Math. 13. 12. Luk. 8. 18 * Note Note †Joh. 17. 6. 24. * Joh. 10. 28. †NOTE * Note †Psal 54. * Ezek. 33. 11. †Rom. 3. 4. †NOTE * Math. 15. 22 26 27. †1 Tim. 2. 4. * 1 Tim. 1. 15. †Rom. 8. 38 39. * Note †Or Accuser * B. T. * Note of the Potter c. See Chap. 9. in the Book of Predestination And Rom. 9. 21. †Numb 17. 8. * Joh. 3. 27. †Note * Note * Vix Of Gods Anger * Joh 20. 25. †Joh 5. 17. * Joh 15. 5. †Rom. 11. 22. * Rom 9. 18. †Note Note †Rom 6. 16. * Psal 95. 7 8. Heb 3 7. 8. 4. 7. †Phil 2. 1â— * Math 25. 41. c. †NOTE * Gen 2. 17. * 2 Kings I. 10 11. Numb 26. 10. * Note Note †Note Note Jer 18. 7 8. * Jon 3. 2. 10. †1 Cor. 14. 32. * NOTE †Eph 1. 4. * Note †Note * 1 Tim 2. 4. †Note * Joh 12. 40. * Note †NOTE * Gen 2. 17. * Numb 17. 8. Heb 9. 4. †Gen 3. 15. * Or Avrora †Gen. 2. 18. c. * Gal. 2. 20. * Note the dry Rod of Aaron grew not through the Four Elementary Water and Fire †Gen. 5. 5. * Luke 1. 35. †The Eternall Love-fire and the Water of tbe One Element * Luke 1. 41. * Note * Gal. 4. 6. †NOTE Christs Descending into Hell * Note Rom. 3. 17. †Math. 11. 17. Luke 7. 32. * NOTE †1 Cor. 15. 50. * Joh. 1. 29. 1 Joh. 2. 2. †Luke 10. 42. * Gen. 32. 26. * Joh 13. 15. * Luk. 23. 46. †Math. 26. 38. Joh 12. 27. * Joh. 20. 17. * Balthâ—sar Tylcken †God * Note ye Expositors of the Scripture †Note * Or Language of the Holy Spirit †Jer. 23 21. * Note †Luke 1. 46. * Luke 2. 35. †Luk. 1. 42. †Luk 2. 41 42 48. * Note * Note About the Resurrection * 1 Cor 15. 28. * NOTE †True brotherly Love Alles Bey Christo All. By. Christ * Note †Restitutio Renovatio Reditus Reparatio Regeneratio Revolutio OMNIUM Matt 5. 18. * The Holy Spirit dwelling in Gods Word in Every ones Heart * Note †Note * See the first Epistle to Paulus Keym. verse 30. †Note * Sustenance and preservation †Signifieth
come and I will speak with him of the Mystery else let him leave my apprehension unreproved 36. If he be a Christian let him Live in Love towards a Christian and rejoyce in the Gifts which God giveth us one among another why doth he brag and reproach so much that sheweth him to be a Proud Man let him deal Meekly and I will meet him meekly if he understand any thing according to his Gifts let him praise God and not contemne that which God giveth to another if he can not endure to read it let him leave it for those whom God hath called thereunto to whom HE will reveale or manifest it 37. Is not that a wonderfull thing that he will reprove the Three Principles and understandeth not out of what Center and understanding the Spirit speaketh he will begin the first Principle with the Fire where then remaineth the Center out of which the Fire originateth 38. Let him tell me how the Eternall Nothing introduceth it selfe from Eternity in Eternity into an Eternall Center and how the Eternall Nature from Eternity continually generateth it self whereby the Eternall Will which is called God manifesteth or revealeth it self from Eternity 39. With this his half-mute Description he will not bring me into it but in My Book of the Six Points he will well find it let him read that it is like he will become seeing if he but seek and begin aright 40. When I write of Three Principles then I understand Three Worlds as First the Center to Nature the Dark World in which the Fire or the sharpnesse of the sterne Might originateth from Eternity the Form to the Fire-Life in which property Gods fierce Wrath and Anger also the hellish Fire is understood from whence the Nature-Life Originateth which is not called God and though indeed it is Gods yet it attaineth not the Name and Divine source or quality in its own Essence as Saint John Witnesseth Chap. 1. Vers 5. Where he saith The Light shineth in the Darknesse and the Darknesse hath not comprehended it and this sheweth it self also in the Outward World how the Light shineth or giveth Light in the Darknesse 41. Now if the Fire be the First Principle as he saith then let him tell me whether the Darknesse cometh out of the Fire or whether the Fire maketh Darknesse Also what that is which Maketh Darknesse and how all this thus generateth it selfe from Eternity in Eternity 42. I suppose here my Pamphlet Maker will remain Mute he will indeed be silent concerning it unlesse he goe with Me into the School but he should first put off the Click of Pride else this Schoolmaster will not receive him he will have Children at School which look and trust upon him Not Lords 43. When I write of three Principles then I write of Three Worlds of Three Eternall Beginnings how they generate themselves 44. I understand with or by the Principles Not the Chaos the Eye of the Aether which dwelleth without Ground or Place in it self but I understand How the Eye of the Aether Manifesteth or Revealeth it self through and with the Principles and introduceth it self into Power Might Shining Glance and Glory viz with Desire and Lust or Longing Delight where in the Desire the first shutting in is effected which is a Darknesse where the Desire is the first Center to Nature which introduceth it self into the source or quality into the perceptibility and perception even into the Fire viz into the fourth Form as is sufficiently Described in our Books viz of the Three Principles also of the Threefold Life also in the Second Booke of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ concerning Christs Suffering and Dying and yet higher in the Six Poynts to which Books I refer the Reader and so in this Part which the blind Man opposeth it is not here expressed at Large 45. Now if Gods Fire which generateth the Glance or Lustre of the Majesty be the first Principle and yet in the Darknesse the source quality or Torment and Pain and moreover the sterne Life is generated and also the Fire it self Originateth out of the Darknesse viz out of the sharpnesse with the aspect or appearance of the Liberty in the Lust or Longing out of the Chaos then tell me now my Opponent whether the Dark World be a Principle or whether He or I be blind in the Mystery 46. I know also very well that the Fire is a source or quality of Every Life but I say that the Root of the Fire is Dark and that the Dark world is not called God for it is an Enimicitious quality in it self a Cause of Nature 47. Indeed it is Gods and God who manifesteth himself through the Dark World with the Fire in the Light of the Majesty is its Lord for it becometh generated in the Desire of the Chaos out of the Abysse in the Nothing and in the Desire introduced into Darknesse but the Lust or Longing Delight of the Chaos to the Revelation taketh only thus its Sharpnesse and Fires Might to it self and yet bringeth it self againe through the Dying in the Fire wherein the Darknesse dyeth understand the Darknesses substantrality forth through the Fire into the Light and maketh another or Second Principle of another source or quality viz Joy Meeknesse and Love-Desire 48. Thus the Dark-source or quality-Spirit remaineth to be in it self an anguish and Paine and is called Gods Anger and fierce wrath and the kindled Fire in the Fourth Form at the Center is called a Consuming Fire whence God calleth himself an angry Zealous or Jealous fierce wrathfull God 49. And here understand Death and Dying as also Gods Holy Kingdome also his Anger or Kingdome of Hell viz the Darknesse is the Eternall Hell or Hole wherein Lucifer Batheth himself and into which the wicked Soul goeth and the fierce wrath to the Fire-Life is the right hellish Fire-life therein and yet there is no farre distance from God but a Principle only severeth them 50. As we see a Similitude of this in Fire and Light where the Dark Matter in the Fire Dyeth and the Light shineth out of that which dyeth and dwelleth in the Fire and the Fire comprehendeth it NOT. 51. Also the Light is not of the Fires Essence quality source or Torment for the Light giveth Meeknesse and an amiable thing or Substance viz out of that which before was a Dead Dark Substance a Water and herein lyeth Mysterium Magnum the Great Mystery My Dear Pamphlet-Maker seek and you will find knock and it will be opened unto you 52. Your Conceit is a Dead understanding as to the Mystery if you be taught of God then goe with me to the Center and then I will shew it you in all the things of this World yes in your very SELF I will have nothing excepted wherein I will not shew you the Similitude of the Three Principles Forbear your reproaching and become a Child then it will be shewen you but I
in the Essence in the Seed in the Mothers Body or Womb in the Wrestling and Abel Gods Love viz the Second Principle And now Cain was of an Evill kinde or Condition and Abel honest or vertuous 129. Now see Deare Brethren when Cain and Abel Sacrificed then God that is Gods Love and Meeknesse viz the Second Principle savoured Abels sacrifice but Cain's God would not accept then Cain was in fierce wrath against his brother Abel there ye see the Strife between the two Eternall Principles between Love and Anger in both the Brothers in Man how the dark fierce wrathfull Kingdome is become also manifested or revealed in Man then said God to Cain Why art thou in fierce Wrath Is it not so that when thou art honest or vertuous thou art accepted but if not then Sinne resteth before the Doore but rule thou over it and let it not have the authority or preheminency 130. Here observe God said Rule over sinne let it not have the preheminency or power Had there not been in Cain wherewith he could rule over the Evill then God had not bid him doe it though likely the Anger in him was mightier or stronger than in Abel yet he was not therefore altogether begotten out of the Anger 's Essence but out of the THREE into ONE Christ is come to seek and to save that which is Lost as himselfe saith and not for the sake of the righteous 131. Now who are those that are lost Cain Ishmael and all poore Sinners comprehended in the Anger of God who were lost from their Mothers Body or Womb for their sakes is he become a Man or Incarnate and calleth them all to him they should come whosoever will they should seek pray and knock and he will give them the Holy Spirit and if they come there is more joy at one alone lost Man comprehended in the Anger of God among the Angells of God in Heaven than at Ninety and Nine Abels or Jacobs which need no repentance which became comprehended in the Love in the wrestling-wheele in the Center of the Three Principles 132. God loved Jacob understand he was comprehended in the Mothers Body or Womb in Gods Love which co-worketh therein and Esau was hated for the Anger had comprehended him But now the hate is not so to be understood as if God would not have the lost Sinner No but for the sake of the Sinner is God become Man and Come to call the poor Sinner to Repentance and to the New Regeneration out of the Anger in the Soul 133. And Christ said thou wouldest Not O Jerusalem Jerusalem how oft would I have gathered thy Children together as a Hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and thou wouldst not Also How faine would I eate of the Best Grapes but I am as a Vine-gatherer that Gleaneth What the hardening is And how the Love of God warneth the Sinner Also how the Love of God is as well Omnipotent to preservation as his Anger is to Destruction 134. Question NOw saith Reason What is THAT Now which Willeth not Seeing God calleth the Lost Sinner and willeth in Christ to have them and new Generate them is that the Fathers Hardening Answer Yes indeed it is his Anger 's hardening and the Devills Will understand it is the Dark Worlds Will which hardeneth Man but it cannot doe that TO Death but as a Dark Night 135. But what doth Gods Love viz the Second Principle to that Man It complaineth very often IN the Heart when Man desireth Sinne and saith commit it not or doe it not Gods Anger will burne in thee feare Gods judgement and it warneth Man of his wicked wayes now if he followeth the Free-Will and Converteth then it is rightly said To the Honest or vertuous that is so long as he is honest or vertuous the Light must arise or spring up to him out of Darknesse and then the Light beginneth to shine in the midst in the Darknesse 136. But if thou sayest He cannot convert it is impossible then thou speakest in the Might or Strength of God and against all that which Christ saith he came for the sake of lost Man because he would seek and save him should then Gods Anger be greater than his Love Christ hath undeniably broken the hard Death and fierce Anger of God in pieces which held us captive in the Center of the Soul to the bands of the Dark World viz of the First Principle and made a shew in Triumph of Death in the Soul on the Crosse so that the Scripture in the Spirit of Christ saith Death where is thy Sting Hell where is thy Victory the Snare is broken and we are delivered thus singeth the Church of Christ 137. Dear Brethren I will ask you what Profit is there in all Teaching and Preaching if GOD doe harden Mans heart as my Opponent saith that he can not understand and receive it in What need Men Preach to the Righteous who run their Course without it But Christ saith he came for the sake of the poor lost Sinner and not for the sake of the Righteous which need not Repentance Doe you not see that Christ Drave the Devill out of those that were cleerly already possessed of the Devill and received them for Children Also Out of Mary Magdalen the great Whore 138. Though now indeed the Scripture saith He hardeneth whom he will that is meant of the Stubborne arrogant Sinner who sinneth against Grace and doth but â—â—arn God under a flattering hypocriticall shew he flattereth him with the Mouth and his Spirit entendeth only falshood and wickednesse from those he withdraweth himself at the Last and letteth him goe on in his flattery and hypocrisie who will help him who taketh his own Will in for a helper Would he be helped then must he goe out from his own Will and be resigned up into God 139. Then thou sayst God is Omnipotent and may he not doe with Mans Will what he will It is he which is Potent in all things Who will Contend with him as the Scripture saith and my Opponent urgeth that mightily 140. Hearken my Opponent you are much too young for that matter Learn first what God is What his Will in Evill and Good is thus there is a Chain fixed in Reason but know also that Heaven is against Hell and Hell against Heaven the Anger against the Love the Darknesse against the Light What doe you here mean concerning God if I should speak after your manner that God is Mighty to do all in all things as indeed it is true then must I say that God is ALL He is God He is Heaven and Hell and is also the Outward World for from him and in him all things Originate But what doe I effect by such Discourse which is no Religion such a Religion the Devill receiveth into himself and would be Manifested or Revealed in all things and be Mighty Potent in all 141.
my self the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ if My Will willeth yet I cannot doe it but Gods Will in Mine 172. My Will and Gods Will must be One for my Saviour hath told Me he will give the Holy Spirit into my Will if I but ask him for it And should not that be true then would my Opponent deny me also to Ask I can Ask THAT none On deny 173. Now Christ hath promised to hear and though I find it not instantly in the power or vertue yet if I ask THEN I beleeve that God hath given me his Spirit and though my heart and all the World should say cleerly No yet I will let the Words of Christ be more certaine to me then all Bablings and Fictions 174. Am I indeed the day Staffe or Rod of Aarow in me lyeth the Drying or withering through Adam but if Christ hath introduced his Sap into my withered Flesh and into my Dark Soul again shall I not take or receive it to my self shall I first expect the Drawing 175. I know that I can have no Good Thought in me unlesse it be from God Now if I would faine be saved then I know that very Will is Gods Drawing why should I long then expect other drawing if the Lord calleth in me and biddeth me turne to him is not that Drawing but what Man can say he is not SO drawne Even none at all God draweth every one 176. The evill Man will not follow he goeth on in a disputable Way and seeketh Subterfuges or Excuses and saith he is Holy and his Heart is a Theef and Covetous a Murtherour and moreover a Proud Devill he flattereth himself only under Christs Purple Mantle and tickleth himself with Christs Suffering and Death but will not enter thereinto and with Christ dye to Sinne and become an Enemy to it he will only walk upon Roses in sat and Jolly Dayes and devour the sweat of the Miserable in Pride for saith he God draweth me not yes thou wilt not therefore he hardeneth thee and his Anger draweth thee also the Devill whom thou servest 177. Should God draw thee then cast the false or wicked wayes from thee set thy self as if thou wert to meet an Enemy where it concerns Body and Life If the Anger draweth thee and holdeth thee doe but Defend thy self and thou wilt soon get One that will help thee 178. Doth the Anger in the Conscience Say thou art mine thou canst not be saved then say in opposition I take only CHRISTS Death with me and doe with me how thou wilt take that and wrap thy self therein let Gods Anger and all Devills roar over thee and say and complain against thee what they will out of these Swadling Cloathes shall no Election pluck THEE whether it be of God or the Devill or Man 179. But the Wanton Licentious way which men now walk wherein Men only tickle and comfort the Old Evill wicked One the Murtherer the proud stately Covetous Babylonish Antichrist with Christs sufferings and Death he should only be quiet and fatten himself well Christ hath satisfied if he be marked or noted under Christs Bloud Banner and Elected then he cannot be damned this way is totally false or wicked Murtherous and unrighteous 180. If thou wilt be a Christian then thou must be and become conformable to Christs Image and walke in his Footsteps and with him suffer persecution disgrace and scorne love the way of Truth and Righteousnesse doe that which Christ hath taught thee not with hypocrisie to take double or four-fold and give a little piece of it to another No it must be earnest thou shouldst not Esteeme any thing thou hast as if it were thy own only but consider that thou art only a servant therein and servest thy Lord in Heaven therein thou shouldst dispose of it according to HIS pleasure 181. Not to suck up the Miserable and give a little piece thereof to a Beggar and say I minister indeed to the poore First 〈◊〉 them their Sweat else thou wilt be accursed in all thy Service of God and be kept back from God 182. Serve him with Minde and Heart walke in the Light let the scorne of the World be the Prints of Christs wounds to thee labour watch and pray and stand alwayes in care and circumspection against the Devil Arme and fortifie thy selfe continually against him and consider thou art here a Pilgrim and in the Vineyard of Christ labour faithfully in the Kingdome of God all thy Labour followeth after thee for Christ said My Father worketh and I work also so must thou also as a Branch on the Vine work and beare fruit 183. For a Christian is a Branch on the Tree of JESUS CHRIST if it will not work and beare fruit then it shall be cut off that it hinder not other Branches that is it must quite wither and he hardened as to the Life of Christ these will God harden Here it is said I harden whom I will viz a Branch that will not bring forth fruit to such a one God will not give the Sap of Christ It is not said God will not be mine but thou wilt not be his and so you are parted 184. Doest thou say God can make of me what he will he is Omnipotent he maketh of thee what thou wilt his Love is Omnipotent and also his Anger THAT which getteth thee holdeth thee The wicked is to God a good savour to Death and the Saint or holy is so to the Eternall Holy Life as thou growest so thou art such Sap as thou drawest into thy selfe such Fruit thou bearest 185. Why doest thou blame God God so farre as he is called God CANNOT will Evill for he is Good there is no Evill Will in Him but according to his Anger he desireth Wood or Fewel in his Fire which is conformable to or fit for the Fire 186. Therefore rightly saith the Apostle To whom you give your selves for servants in Obedience his servants you are whether of Gods Love or Anger Here the Apostle speaketh of Mans Election that Man CAN give up himselfe and be given up and though indeed of himselfe he cannot take or receive yet God giveth him the taking or receiving for he hath promised it him The abominable Doctrine of Balthasar Tylcken Admonition not to doubt of Election Admonition and Warning to Balthasar Tylcken 187. THe Doctrine of My Opponent is throughout no other then this If God make a Good Tree then it is so that is if he make one a Christian then he is so as if Man need doe nothing in it he need not work and labour for it that he may become a Good Tree 188. Alas God 〈◊〉 us why hath God given us the LAW and Teaching and said thou shalt not doe this or that If he will have Evill How very shamefully goeth this Man astray how very carelesse and negligent doth he cause Men to be Deare Brother Minde and
Consider of this abominable Doctrine How he gathereth the Texts of Scripture together for a false service to God only that he may prove that God worketh both Good and Evill in us 189. What needs proofe for that I say so too that Gods Love worketh Good in us and his Anger if we give our selves up into it worketh evill fruit to Damnation but what doth it avane him to bring men into such a carelesse negligent way He should rather tell them that they should Repent as God saith in the Prophets To day when you heare the voyce of the Lord Harden not you hearts Let my word enter into your Hearts and Eares 190. But he saith It cannot Enter God maketh either a Good or an Evill Tree this serveth well to all carelesse negligence and wickednesse and lastly to Despaire that is the end of his Doctrine you will finde nothing better or more in his Grace Election or Predestination 191. And I say with good ground and it is the precious truth that if such Doctrine should become embraced or received then will the World at length become a Murthering Den of Devills For every one will say how can I doe otherwise then God driveth me if God will have me to be his childe he will teach and lead me well enough but if I be not Elected why should I long favour the Honest and vertuous I will doe as the Devill doth and hate them and be their Enemy to his kingdome I belong I will steale rob murther and cheate and deceive the simple that I may be potent and voluptuous there will no other come of it being God will not draw me therefore really I must serve God Lucifer but if God will have me he will well draw me from THAT that I shall not doe it 192. Alas be not so Evill and wicked doe not that God hath forbidden it let every one have a care of his own salvation and feare the Lord with Trembling let no Man despaire and say there is a fast doore upon me I cannot be saved for such Thoughts the Devills have and the Damned in Hell If I knew there were but seven Men Elected in our City or scarce two I would NOT despaire but beleeve that I were one of them 193. My Opponent consider your selfe for the sake of your Salvation when you shall appeare before the Judgement of God and Christ shall say to the wicked who in such Doctrine have become lazy carelesse and negligent goe away from me ye Cursed I was hungry thirsty sick naked and in Prison and ye have not ministred unto me and they shall say Lord thou hast not Elected us for children and drawne us then will he say have I not caused my goodnesse to be prelented to you and caused my Word to be taught and faithfully called you and warned you of the false or wicked way and they shall say we have been Taught that thou hast out of thy predestinate purpose Elected one to the childship or filiation and hardened the other now being that sslandeth in thy Word why wilt thou blame us then we were able to doe nothing that was Good 194. My Opponent I put you in Minde of this Consider I pray what will you answer that you have expounded thus that the Anger of God which God in his Love in the Soul of Man hath drowned with the bloud of his Sonne you make to be an Electour againe you give the Sword into its hand againe 195. The Anger was indeed in Adam before the Fall yet not manifested or revealed and the God of Love hath set his heart upon it that he will boult it up againe in the humane Soul that we should run to him as to an Open Fountaine 196. I would have you asked that if Adam had continued in his Innocency where theâ— had remained your Eternall Election or Predestination if he had begotten children in Paradise therefore now if you will maintaine your Eternall Election over Man then must you say the Fall of Man is also out of God predestinate purpose 197. But what means that which God said Thou shalt not eate of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill if he would have that to be done and hath also forbidden it then God were unrighteous and Men need keep no Commandment which he hath forbidden in Moses For he would have if that Man should Sinne that he might have cause to punish him thus it were to be Concluded in Reason 198. Beloved Consider your Glosse or Exposition I will speak brotherly and Child-like to you put but away your Crooked scornfull Hornes and let us deale one with another as Brethren and Members with scorne we can advance Nothing that is Good we doe but deceive the Men in the World that are plaine and simple therewith 199. If you have Christs Spirit as you would be thought to have then meete Me and my Brethren in the Meek Love and Humility of Jesus Christ shew me I pray you your love in the Spirit of Christ who came in great Humility to us poor lost children of Eve to seek and save that which is Lost If you be a childe of that Spirit be so faithfully with Meeknesse Love and Friendlinesse with modest speech and cast the Hornes of scorning away that I may know that you are my Brother then will I be very Loving to you if God give you more then me but if not yet I will in that weaknesse rejoyce with you and refresh my selfe in that which God giveth 200. And be not so furious against the deare Revelation which God hath favoured VS with at Last reade it first aright it hath a very Noble pretious Originall and beginning which reacheth above all Reason yes above the Outward World and above the Light of the Outward Nature why doe you rage against the Most High 201. I Christianly admonish you take heed what you doe that the Anger of the Lord doe NOT take hold of you and God Curse you I tell you I will be guiltlesse as to your Soul if you doe awaken it 202. See what was done by Eliah Also to Corah Dathan and Abivdm in the Wildernesse I tell you for so much as it is knowne to me in the Lord it may happen so to you and more besides for at present it is a Wonderfull Time not knowne or acknowledged by All The Lord hath sent his Spirit of Zeale or Jealousie There is a Wonderfull time before the Doore which you will finde by Expersence if you Live Of the Eternall Predestination and Election of God The beginning and End thereof is One only and Alwayes the same 203. MY friend you speak after a humane Manner and write of Gods Eternall Predestination and Election it will not beare to be so written of 204. When the Scripture speeks of Gods Eternall purpose or Predestination it speaketh not of a purpose or predestination that hath been Long before for in God there is no
me is given to see as sharply and accutely as any one can search Mark this which followeth 227. NOw when the Image was faded or disappeared what did God with it did he let it fall quite away and remaine in Death No. Then instantly the Doore of his Mercy set it selfe Open and said The Womans Seed shall Crush the Serpents head 228. Then the Deare Name JESUS incorporated it selfe in the faded disappeared Image and the Mark or Limit in this faded disappeared Image became strengthened which with the Revelation or Manifestation stood in the Body or Womb and Seed of the Virgin Mary as a propagated Seed for if that had not been so then had all those before Christs Birth been Lost 229. For the high Noble Virgin of the Wisdome of God with which Adam in his heavenly in breathed Spirit was Espoused or Married that is Immortall that presented it self in the Light of Life to Man viz to Adam and Eve and warneth them of the ungodly wayes and continually sheweth through the Propheticall Spirit the Limit or Mark of the Covenant where it will with the Deare Name JESUS with the Word and power of the true Deity open it selfe againe in Mans Soul The Second Part. Of the Becoming Man or Incarnation and Person of Christ How Christ is become Man or Incarnate out of No Strange Seed but out of Mary and yet indeed not in Eves Earthly Essence the Holy Ghost was the Man or Masculine therein 230. MY Opponent tell me here what the Womans Seed is upon which you found your Election you say the Children of God must become generated out of the Womans Seed as the Dew out of the Morning Rednesse and reject Adam's and Eves Seed and make a Strange Seed and yet God said Through the Womans Seed shall the Head of the Serpent be Crushed Who is the Woman is it Eve No that you will not admit Why Because otherwise you cannot Cloake your Election or Predestination 231. Well now if you be Learned as indeed you goe about mightily to Colour your Cause with Texts of Scripture then shew in the Holy Scripture that God entended a Strange Woman you say that Mary is not from us Men but is a Virgin from Eternity that you must and shall prove or else it shall have neither place nor beliefe 232. But I will demonstrate with strong Arguments that the Word of Promise goeth upon the Womans Seed viz upon Eve and Adam that is upon the Matter or Matrix which was taken from Adam out of which the Woman was framed out of and in which Adam should have impregnated himselfe if he had stood and had not suffered himselfe to be over-powred 233. For the Woman Eve should have been the propagated Childe but it could not be and therefore she was taken out of Adam's Essence and Bone and was Made a help for him so that the propagation must be performed through TWO 234. Now if Mary Christs Mother be not from us Men then is Christ not the Son of Man as he so very often calleth himself and where then would my poor Soul remaine which lyeth Captive in a darke Dungeon whereas if God would Regenerate it againe as the Dew out of the Morning Rednesse could he not well doe it without becoming Man 235 Besides if Mary were not Man or Humane from us what then would the strange CHRIST be profitable to Me and then it would not be true that the Word is become Flesh Or how could I enter into CHRISTS Suffering Dying and Death if it were not done in Me. 236. But I can with Truth say as the Apostle saith that I beleeve I am Crucified and dead with Christ and rise up in and with him and bear his Image on me 237. Thus saith my Opponent then Christ were conceived in a sinfust Seed if Eve had been the Woman in the Promise No I say not that 238. Christ viz the Living Word was not generated from Mans Seed but in the shut up Seed of the Heavenly part which in Eve faded or disappeared as the dry or withered Rod of Aaron signifieth he became againe the dead parts Sap and Life for the Sinne fell not upon the heavenly part but that dyed understand Substance and not Gods Spirit which rested in the Covenant till at the Limit of the Covenant in Mary 239. The Anger of God Manifested or revealed it self in the Earthly Part as a Life and the heavenly disappeared or faded as God said the day thou eatest thou dyest 240. He meant not solely the Earthly Death for Adam lived Nine hundred and Thirty Yeares e're he dyed and God said the day thou eatest thou dyest that is to the Kingdome of Heaven and livest to the Earthly World as it came to passe 241. I say not that God became Man in Eves Earthly Essence else he must have had a Father but thus himself is the Father 242. Understand this aright The Angel said to Mary The holy Spirit will come upon thee and the Power of the Most High will over-shadow thee in that sticketh the Mark or Key the Angel said he will come upon thee and the Power of the Most High will over-shadow thee Do you not understand this The Holy Spirit would open the shut Center in the Covenant in the Dead Seed and the Word of God would give it self in with living heavenly Substantiality into that which was shut up in Death and become a Flesh the Holy Spirit was instead of a Man or Husband he brought the Heavenly Tincture of the Fathers Fires Glance and of the Eternall Sonnes Lights Glance He was in the Tincture the Life and the Moving What Manner of Essence the Word received or assumed wherein God and Man became One Person Also how Christ is a Creature and how he is No Creature 243. NOw understand me according to its high worth I speak in the Vision or Sight and not in the Opinion or Conceit In Adam when God inbreathed the Soul into him then was the Soul surrounded or endued from the Glance of the Fathers Fire together with the Center to the Fire and also from the Glance of the Light with Divine Substantiality Moving in Gods Wisdome or Substantiality 244. But now in the Fall the Light extinguished and only the Fire with the Center to the Fire remained that was now the Dryed or withered and dead Soul as the Dry Rod of Aaron signified and Old shut up Barren Sarah Abraham's Wife and Old Elizabeth dead in the Womb or Matrix the Mother of John the Baptist 245. This Soul was from Adam thus dry or withered propagated except some Holy or Saints in the Covenant where the Holy Spirit in the Covenant Moved as is to be seen by Old Elizabeth that the Child in the Covenant in the Mothers Body or Womb when the Spirit moved the Childs Spirit when Mary came to her that it leaped for joy in the Spirit of the Messiah when it
perceived THAT and both the Mothers Prophesied 246. That stryed or withered Essence of the Soul understand the Womans Part not the Mans although the Mans Part also lyeth in the Seed of the Woman but too weakly in respect of the Fire the Word took or assumed to himself with the dead Substantiality into the Living now opened and introduced with or by the Holy Spirit and God and Man became ONE Person 247. But now understand me aright my Opponent will not permit that I should say CHRIST is aCreature and yet it is true so far as concernes the Soul and thâ— Outward Kingdome viz the Third Principle he is a Creature for the outward hangeth to the Inward else Christ had not been in this World if he had not had the outward Kingdome on him but without impurity in the Similitude of the Deity 248. He was a Creature and he IS one Eternally understand as to the Soul and as to the Substantiality which dyed in Adam which he with the introducing of the living Divine Substantiality and with the Word and Spirit of God made living againe and as to the Third Principle with that he is a Creature and a King and High-Priest of Men. 249. But as to what concernes the Eternall Word together with the Divine Substantiality which now became introduced into the in death inclosed Substantiality Christ is NO Creature but the first Born of the Father in Eternity 250. Understand in the Creature is the new introduced Substantiality viz Christs heavenly Flesh Creaturely but without besides or beyond the Creature it is uncreaturely for that very Substantiality is the right true Divine Principle it is as great as Gods Majesty in all places filling all in the Second Principle and THAT in the Body or Creature and THAT without the Creature is totally entirely ONE undevided totally one power or vertue might and Glory Paradise and pure Element wherein Gods Eternall Wisdome dwelleth 251. As the SUN shineth or enlighteneth in the whole World and so now if there were not in the deep such a Substance as the Sun then it would not receive the Glance or Lustre of the Sun Thus the Gorporeity of Christ is the fulnesse of the Heaven in the Person Creaturely and without the Creature Living in ONE Spirit and Power or vertue Not TWO Of the Virgin Mary How Mary was no strange Virgin but the Daughter of Joachim and Anna Whence the Author hath his Knowledge And what is called Christs Descending into Hell 252. MY Dear Opponent you will needs have a strange Virgin and you despise my very high knowledg given me of God was Mary Whose Generation or discent is sufficiently to be found in the Bible a strange heavenly Virgin And moreover standing in Gods Wisdome And from Eternity Elected or Predestinated thereto How then came it That when the Angel came to her and brought the Message That she should be impregnate or with Child And bear or Generate a Sonne She said How shall that come to passe Seeing I know of no Man Did not the Eternall Wisdome then know it how it should come to passe 253. I Suppose therefore my Dear Opponent you must permit Her to be the Daughter of Joachim and Anna as the Holy Scripture sets it downe else our Salvation will stand in suspence and be in doubt 254. I ask you in earnest if you be Gods Child then tell me How or where hath Christ Broken Death And whither went he into Hell as the Church teacheth tell me If he hath NOT received or assumed our Soul 255. Your Conceited work of a Sacrifice alone doth not satisfie me I would know from you HOW Death in the Soul is become broken neither Covenant nor promise availeth as to that if Sacrifices could have done it then it had been done among the Jewes it must be done with right Heavenly Mans Bloud 256. Now I would know whether it be done in my Soul Whether my Will-Spirit have attained an Open Gate to God with or by Christs Death that I may say Abba my Dear Father or No Tell me this or leave my Writings uncensured 257. I have my knowledge from God and not from your Fiction Schools or Vniversities where you contend about words as a Dog about a Bone goe with me into the Center be taught of God I will shew it you in the whole World in all Substances living Creatures and Created things I will set it lively before your Eyes how the greatest secret hidden Mystery is in Death 258. Now if my Soul were not together in the Death of Christ seeing it was in the Father from Eternity in the Divine Essence then have I no part in Christs Death 259. I know that JESUS CHRISTS precious heavenly Bloud which out of the Divine Substantiality became Bloud in the dryed or withered Images Seed through the Might or strength of the Heavenly Tincture hath kindled the Fire which was dark in the Soulish Essence so that the same Souls Fire in that very hour began to burne in a white cleere bright Majestick Power Light and Glance or Lustre 260. And there Gods Anger in the Soulish Essence was quenched and made to be Love THIS is Called * CHRISTS Descention into Hell when Gods Love in the Vertue or Power of the Living Word in the Heavenly Substantiality with Christs Bloud brought it self into the Center of the Soul viz into the Fathers Anger and overcame and quenched the Same with Meeknesse 261. That was the Smoak-Hole white the Devill and the Serpents Seed Ruled and Now that very Hell became destroyed and the Devills Kingdome in the Soul taken away 262. And here it is rightly said that as Sinne came from One upon all and penetrated from One upon all so also came the Grace and Eternall Life from One upon all and penetrated upon all Now whosoever will not himself receive it but expects another peculiar Election let him remaine as he is he may come or not come It is said We have Piped to you and you have not Danced we have called you and you have not come to us Question How is the New Birth performed in Vs Also WHAT of Vs shall Arise 263. MY Deare Brother Tell me if you be borne of God and enlightned as you suppose how is the New Birth performed in US is it entering in or exgenerating is it not performed in us in our Souls Indeed Christ must become manifested in us after the Manner as in Miry 264. What meane you by the New Creature Also doe you understand a New Soul Or the Old which you have inherited from Father and Mother or what do you hold concerning the Resurrection of the Dead WHAT of us must arise For the Soul dyeth not also Christ in us dyeth not for he is once dead to Sinne for and in Vs What is it that ariseth The EARTHLY Body viz the Evill Flesh that is infected by the Devill and full of Sinne and Abomination THAT is NOT
Man hath read much But the Holy Spirit useth in those Children which he calleth only ONE Book with THREE Leaves therein only they must study they need none of them more neither are they profitable 282. My Opponent will not permit that the Virgin Mary is out of or from Adam if that were true then she had also no Soul or else a strange one for she said being with Old Elizabeth my Soul doth magnifie the Lord and Simeon said to her A Sword will pierce through thy Soul Now if she be only the Virgin of the Wisdome of God as he writeth then no Sword could pierce through her Soul for that is God himselfe that is his outspoken or Expressed Substance 283. Also I tell you indeed that the Virginity of God viz the Wisdome became Manifested or revealed in Mary through the awakening of God when God manifested the Limit or Mark of the Covenant which stuck in her then she became highly blessed above all women for God was manifested in her and in her Seed her in Adam dead Substantiality viz the heavenly part Sprouted againe but her outward Body was from this World that we see in all her life and Conversation in Eating and drinking in sleeping and waking Also in her perplexity when she had lost her childe JESUS when in the twelfth yeare she offered JESVS in the Temple 284. Now if she were only Gods Wisdome and not Man or humane why did she not then know all things as JESUS her Sonne did seeing in the Wisdome of God ALL knowledge lyeth from Eternity in Eternity and though likely she did give up her selfe into the Lowlinesse as the Opponent saith that doth not cause her skill and knowledge to cease it did not cause the skill and knowledge in JESUS her Sonne to cease why then should it doe so in his Mother Had she not the Flesh of Joachim and of Anna her Mother Why then did she Suck her Mothers breasts and desired the Essence of this World and did Naturally eate Earthly food What manner of Body had she then nourished with the Earthly food Doth the Divine Virgin Eate Earthly food I suppose my Adversary is in an Errour 285. There is in Mary assuredly a two-fold Virgin to be understood viz One out-of God and One out of Eve I beleeve and know that the inward was hidden in the outward and only manifested in God as also in US the New Man is hidden to the Earthly 286. For nothing may become manifested in the outward World unlesse it take or assume the outward Worlds Substance on to it selfe Indeed the Outward World as also the Outward Man is generated through Gods Wisdome and the pure Mystery of the Outward World which lyeth hidden in the impure standeth in the roote of the inward World and belongeth thereunto 287. Therefore shall the Outward Man with his Mystery of the Third Principle arise at the Last Day and enter into the inward so that the inward standeth turned outwards and the outward inwards and so God is ALL in ALL. 288. I know not what manner of understanding that would afford if I should say with my Opponent that CHRIST hath not assumed our humanity would God only Tincture Man through the Wisdome then it might well have been done without becoming Man 289. Also if Christ be no Creature why then hath he conversed in a Creaturely forme and dyed with woe and paine as a Creature on the Crosse Can the Deity also suffer and dye I know nothing of that yet that it can dye which was from Eternity without beginning had that been possible to have dyed then should Lucifer and Adam's Soul also have dyed 290. But now that only dyeth which is generated out of the Time viz the outward Man from the Third Principle that so out of the Temporall Death the Eternity may Sprout forth and the Time viz the Temporary figure become turned and brought into the Eternity 291. For therefore came Christ in our Outward and inward Mystery that he might introduce our Temporary Mystery into the Eternity that he might Convert Man againe IN and WITH himselfe into that Forme which Adam was of in the Creation when he knew not what Evill and Good was Of the vaine Contention about knowledge When we reade IN our selves then we reade in Gods Book No knowledge maketh us happy A Warning and Admonition 292. MY Deare Brethren in Christ take it into Consideration pray be Christs Members pray be Branches in the Tree of Christ see diligently in the Epistles of Saint Paul how we must Enter into Christs Suffering and Death and dye away to the old Earthly Man and enter into a right Love 293. Of a Truth most certainly in Contention and Reproaching the Spirit of Christ is not but only a painted Looking-Glasse without Life and knowledge but Consider that we are Branches in one and the same Tree which is Christ and God is Christs Tree 294. Why doe we so long contend about knowledge Indeed knowledge is not alone the way to blessednesse or Salvation the Devill knoweth more than we but what doth that availe him For that I know much affordeth me no Joy but that I Love my Saviour JESUS and continually desire him that affordeth me Joy for the desiring is a receiving 295. I know Nothing also desire to know nothing nor have I at any time sought any skill or knowledge for I am a childe in knowledge and a Nothing I would also faine know Nothing that I might in knowledge be dead and a Nothing that God in the Spirit of Christ may be my knowing willing and doing that I may run in his knowing and willing and that not I but he that I may be only the Instrument and he the Hand and the Labour 296. Why will you long contend with me I know Nothing of your knowledge neither have I ever learned it Search your selves in whom knowledge is wherein it is that I know seeing I am indeed dead in the knowing for the sake of that which will know IN Me. 297. In my knowing I doe not first collect Letters together out of Many Books but I have the Letters in Me indeed Heaven and Earth together with all things or Substances and Moreover God himselfe lyeth in Man Should he not then dare to Reade in that Book which he HIMSELF is 298. If I had no other Book at all but only My own Book which I my selfe AM I had Books enough even the whole Bible lyeth in Me If I have Christs Spirit what need I then more Books Shall I contend and dispute against that which is without me before I learne to know what is in me 299. If I Reade my selfe then I reade in God's Book and ye my deare Brethren ALL are my Letters which I reade in me for my Minde and Will sindeth you in me I wish heartily that you also may finde me 300. I exhort you as Children and Brethren out of