that so he might have great respect in the City Babel and therefore they build themselves strong holds and make great bulwarks and walls to defend and keep the Image and flatter themselves in hypocricy and understand and meane by the contrived and painted Image the God Maozim viz. the fat-belly God and pleasure of the beast viz. of this whores Image they set the Image upon the Towre for the shew of their holinesse and therewith they are very devout in glistering appearances before God as with a peculiar Selfe-born God but they immure the Beast within their Stone-houses that it may be secure and there fat it selfe 64. What is now this beast with the whore it is halfe-devill which hath its Kingdome upon the Earth and it is half beast this evill Beast hath devoured man viz. the Image of God 65. And for this cause God became man that he might destroy slay and nullifie the works of the Devill and we must put on this divine humanity and destroy the Devills Kingdome in us and mortifie all Images otherwise we cannot see God the living word must mortifie the literall Image 66. The living word is therefore become man that the literall Image might dye and the first man which was formed out of the living word in Gods Image might be regenerated anew in Christs Spirit viz. in the living word and if now he be borne then all the Image-teachers are more prejudicall then beneficiall to him for they introduce their Images onely into the Temple of Christ and destroy the Image of God 67. And let this here be declared concerning the children of Nimrod and the Towre of Babel as the Spirit hath so given us to know and we doe admonish the Reader in Love to prove and examine himselfe he shall finde where he is this is not written to reproach any but thus the Spirit speaketh with open mouth and sheweth what all things are from whence they come and into what End they shall goe 68. But the reason why so much is written of the Beast and the Whore of Babel is because it is at its End and shall soone be broken in pieces therefore it must be revealed that men may see and know it for Babel falleth not unlesse that all whatsoever hath made the Images doth likewise fall all Images Opinions and Sects of Religion together with the Beast and whore must fall else there is no Cure or remedy 69. Men have for a long time been a patching and pieceing of it and have verily thought to have made a virgin of the whore but her whoredome hath thereby been onely adorned trimmed up and made the greater if this whore shall fall then all Sects which are onely the Images of the whore must fall down and come to naught together with Beast upon whom she rideth every man must break down and destroy the Images and Idols in himselfe and where they will not doe it there the zeale of the Lord doth it 70. How very finely doth the whore at present perck up its head and being it heareth that the spirit doth intimate great and glorious things of Zion viz. of the Adorned holy bride of Christ then it thinks that it is the faire childe which God will bring into a golden Temple wherein there shall be a brave Golden Time and meere joy pleasure and delight and it looketh about to see from whence this faire Temple of God should come into which it should enter and become a virgin it hearkneth continually from whence these holy People should come who as it supposeth should make a Golden world 71. But it thinks not to leave off from its covetous voluptuous whoredome and be converted no! it groweth worse and worse and more unchaste and abominable full of blasphemies so that there is scarce any good at all in it and it standeth before God as an arraigned condemned whore 72. Hearken thou Adorned and crowned Babilon full of evill and wickednesse in the sight of God and his Angels we have heard a watchman say Away the city together with the Towre of the whore and the beast is fallen and judged of the most High thou shalt not see the city of God for ever unlesse that thy children doe put off and cast away the defiled Garment full of shame and fall down wholly naked and bare without any Image at the feet of the most High and turne unto him such as these may indeed see it but as for others who hope for golden mountaines and seek for Temporall honour money and pleasure of the flesh not any of them AMEN 73. Reason will here in the above mentioned Text where it is mentioned that a true Christian must dye to all Images Opinions and Selfe-knowledge and be wholly annihilated in himselfe begin to speculate cavill and say that we doe forbid man the naturall knowledge and externall Rationall wisdome whereby men doe Governe the life and all things of this world and if this were so all understanding would be abolished 74. Unto him we declare that nothing is hereby taken away or abolished in man neither understanding skill or Art for all these arise out of the divine wisdome we doe not nullifie the expressed Word of the formed wisdome but onely the Beast which will rule in divine contemplation viz. the beast-like will of Selfe and selvish ownhood and propriety which is departed from God which honoureth it selfe as a false selfly God and cannot beleeve or trust in God This is even the Antichrist which hath * * * 2 Thess. 2.4 set himselfe up in Gods place and we withall doe teach that man must wholly dye to the Antichristian Image that he may be born again in Christ with a new life and will which new will hath might and ability in the formed word of nature to see and behold with divine eyes all the wonders of God both in nature and creature in the formed wisdome 75. For if the Antichrist dyeth in the Soul then Christ ariseth from death for he resteth in the five vowells in his grave viz. in the mentall-tongue which dyed in Adam and lieth captive in Antichrist when this same ariseth from death in the mentall tongue and is made alive then he openeth all the treasures of the heavenly wisdome in the Sensuall tongue so that man doth far more clearly understand the spirits of the letters viz. the formed word of nature in all the three Principles then he did before in the Antichristian whores child 76. For the new birth is indeed effected and broughâ— to passe in the mentall tongue viz. in the disappeared Image of the heavenly humanity but it Tingeth and casteth away the false antichristian Image of the naturall humanity viz. of the spirits of the dumb sencelesse letters and doth make them all sencelesse and dead in their selfe-hood and gives them their own life so that they doe behold themselves in the new humanity and make all their assumptions and formations in the new humanity 77. These
its Sword by them to destroy the heathen and the Generation of Ham Gen XIIII Verse 14. for Abraham went out with his whole house and people against the Heathen who had carried away Lot his brothers Son captive and he smote the heathen and delivered his brother This was done in the zeale of God which thus delivered his children through the might of his Anger for what conduceth to the wicked for destruction the same conduceth to the holy men for life and deliverance 15. But that those who will be called Christians who ought in and with Christ to be dead to the Anger and wrath of God in Christs death doe wage war they doe it not as Christians but as heathens No Christian warreth for if he be a Christian then he is dead in and with Christs death to the foure Elements of Gods Anger in Selfe and born a new man in Christs spirit of Love who liveth in Righteousnesse in Love and patience and liveth not to himselfe but to God in Christ. 16. For a true Christian leadeth his conversation and will in heaven in the life and Spirit of Christ as S t Paul saith our conversation is in heaven but when the Christians doe wage war they doe it from the heathenish property and not from Christs property for a Christian is not of this world his Kingdome is in heaven and he is dead in Christ to the world according to the new spirituall man in him the Heathen-man viz. the halfe-devillish man who hath his Kingdome in this world who never hath roome enough upon the Earth but liveth in the foure Elements of Gods Anger viz. in Pride Coveteousnesse Envy and Wrath the same desireth in the Christians to warre fight and slay 17. Saint Paul saith give your members to be weapons of Righteousnesse for why doe men fight for the Kingdome of this world Rom. 6.13 and yet as Christ said his Kingdome was not of this world James 4.1 so also his childrens Kingdome in him is not of this world Joh. 18.36 now then if we give up our body and Soule for weapons of Gods Anger and seek onely thereby Selfe interests liberties and priviledges of Mammon and slay one another for the Kingdome of this world I thinke we are herein Christians indeed in the mouth but the heart and Soul is an heathen and not born out of Christs Spirit 18. When Abraham had smote the heathen he desired nothing of the goods which he tooke but restored to the King of Sodom what the Heathen had taken from him and was onely zealous in the Lord he did not fight for Countrey and Kingdome but to deliver his brother Loth this was a true zeale which the Lord drove in him he did not stand up and fight for Countrey or City and albeit he obtained it he desired it not but went again unto his own place 19. And here the Spirit in Moses speaketh very wonderfully and saith that when Abraham returned from the Slaughter that the King of Sodome met him and Melchisedech King of Salem brought forth bread and wine who was a Priest of the most High God possessour of Heaven and of Earth and blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him Tithes And though we finde almost nothing elsewhere in the holy Scripture of this Priesthood yet the same was really in the figure of Christ for the Spirit saith in another place of Christ that he was an High Priest in the order of Melchisedech 20. Thus the Spirit of God doth very secretly and mystically represent the Figure of Christ by Abraham and calleth him a King of Salem and a Priest of the most High God viz. a Priest of Salvation and the holy Vnction as it intimates in the SenSAll Tongue that is Christ hath blessed Abraham and brought him forth bread and wine viz. his flesh and bloud and is the high Priest before God that makes Atonement for Abraham and his children 21. For Abraham had managed the Sword of Gods Anger against the Heathen now came Melchisedech and blessed Abraham againe least the Sword of the Turba should lay hold on him and he gave him forth bread and wine that is the heavenly Ens which he would introduce into Abrahams Seed and change it into flesh and bloud and here he appeased the Fathers Anger in the Covenant as in the Type 22. For this Priest with Abraham is really to be understood in a spirituall manner for although Abraham might have externally a Priest after the same manner with him under the figure of Christ yet Moses saith he was a Priest of God and said to Abraham blessed art thou Abraham unto the most High who possesseth heaven and earth who hath shut up thine Enemies into thy hands here is none other to be understood but Christ who very often appeared to Abraham in the figure and blessed him alwayes for the Spirit in Moses calleth him also a King of Salem which is nothing else but a King of Salvation 23. And Abraham gave him Tithes indeed he might have such a Priestly Order with him to whom he gave Tithes but this King and Priest was he of whom he preached to whom Abraham gave tithes viz. the Tenth Property of the humane properties of the fiery tongue of the Soule and the Priest gave his bread and wine and his blessing thereinto viz. the Love-fire the Tincture of the light together with the heavenly Substantiality that so Abraham might receive the lights Tincture into the Soules fiery Tincture and become again a compleat Image of God which was separated in Adam with the woman therefore Christ viz. the womans Tincture gave him againe the lights Ens that so the male and female property might become one Image or person this the Spirit doth here signifie in Moses under the Royall Priest of Salem 24. For Esdra when he dictated the lost Bible in the knowledge of the Spirit of God to his Scribes saw this very well Note Esdra dictated the Bible that was Lost. 2 Esdra 14. and therefore the holy Spirit doth so set it down and we see very exactly how Esdras wrote the hystories of Abraham in the vision of the Spirit for the whole hystory of Abraham is delineated under Christs Person and is an Image or Type of Christ. 25. Abraham saw in the Spirit this Priest of Salem and when Abraham offered Sacrifice then this Priest was in the offering and offered to God for he was to make reconciliation for the world with an offering therefore he was a Priest of God 26. He brought Abrahams will-offering viz. his prayer and desire in faith into the holy Ens of God and in the same Ens viz. in the divine Essentiality heavenly bread and wine was brought to Abrahams Soul that it might eat at Gods Table till this Priest became Abraham that is did manifest himselfe in Abraham with the heavenly Corporeity viz. with the Soules food in the Right bread and wine CHAP. XXXIX How God appeared to
viz. they in the darke world in Gods wrath and those in the holy world in Gods Love and they which are in the outward world in Gods great wonders both according to Love and Anger 7. They which are in the darke world beare the Name or the names of the great Anger of God according to the Properties of the Eternall nature in the wrath and they which are in the light beare the names of the holy God viz. of the divine Powers and they which are in the creation of the wonders of the outward world beare the names of the manifested powers of the outward world viz of the Planets Stars and foure Elements 8. They which are in the darke world domineere in the nature of the manifested wrath viz. in the properties of Gods Anger and have their Princely Dominions therein and they which are in the holy world rule in the Powers of the Triumphant world viz. in the great holy Kingdome of joy in the wonders of the holy wisdome and they which are in the outward world reigne over the Powers of the Stars and foure Elements and have also their Princely Dominion over the world and their Kingdomes and Principalities for defence against the destroyer in the wrath 9. Each Country hath its Princely Angel-Protectour with its Legions also there are Angells over the foure Elements over the fire and over the aire over the water and over the Earth and they are altogether only ministring Spirits of the Great God sent forth for the Service of those which shall obtaine Salvation as it s written the Angell of the Lord encampeth about them that feare him they are the officers and Servants of God in his Dominion who are active and full of motion 10. For God never moveth himselfe save onely in himselfe but seeing his manifestation of the Eternall and Externall Nature is in Combate thereupon the Spirits of the darke world are against the Spirits of the holy world but especially against man who is manifest both in good and evill God hath set the one against the other that his Glory might be manifest both in his Love and in his Anger 11. For as we men have Dominions upon the Earth so likewise the Superiour Hosts under the y y y Or Starry Skie Astrum have their Dominions so also the oyly Spirits in the Element Aire the whole Deep between the Stars and the earth is inhabited and not void and empty Each Dominion hath its owne Principle which seemes somewhat ridiculous to us men because we see them not with our Eyes not considering that our eyes are not of their Essence and property so that we are neither able to see nor perceive them for we live not in their Principle therefore we cannot see them 12. As in the Divine Manifestation of the Divine Powers one Degree orderly proceedeth forth from another even unto the most externall manifestation the like also is to be understood of the Angells or Spirits they are not all holy which dwell in the Elements for as the wrath of the Eternall Nature is manifest in the darke world so likewise in the outward world in its property 13. Also the Spirits of the externall world are not all Eternall but some are onely z z z Having a beginning and an end Temporall inchoative which take their Originall naturally in the Spirit of the externall world and passe away through nature and onely their shadow remaines as of all other Beasts upon the Earth 14. Whatsoever reacheth not the holy Element and the Eternall fire-world that is devoid of an Eternall life for it ariseth out of time and that which proceedeth out of Time is consumed and eaten up of Time except it hath an a a a Eternall being essence property life or Principle Eternall in its Temporall that the Eternall doth uphold the Temporall 15. For the Eternall dwelleth not in time and albeit it be cloathed with the Essence of time yet the Eternall dwelleth in the Eternall in it selfe and the Temporall in the Temporall as it is to be understood with the Soule and Body of man where the Soule is from the Eternall and the externall body from time and yet there is an Eternall in the Temporall body which verily disappeared in Adam as to the Eternall light which must be borne againe through Christ. 16. And we are not to understand that the holy Angells dwell onely above the Stars without the place of this world as reason which understands nothing of God phancieth indeed they dwell without the Dominion and Source of this world but in the place of this world albeit there is no place in the Eternity the place of this world and also the place without this world is all one unto them 17. For the beginning of the Source viz. of the foure Elements together with the b b b Or Planetick Orbe Astrum maketh onely one place there is no place in the internall but All wholly entire whatsoever is above the Stars without this world that is likewise internally without the foure Elements in the place of this world else God were divided 18. The Angelicall world is in the lieu or place of this world internally and this same worlds Abysse is the Great darknesse where the Devills have their Dominion which also is not confined or shut up in any place for the Eternity is also their place where there is no Bysse onely the Essence and property of their world is the Bysse of their habitation as the foure Elements are the habitation of our externall humanity they have also in the darknesse an Element according to the darke worlds property else God were divided in his wrath for where ever I can say here is God in his Love even there I can also say that God is in his Anger onely a Principle Severs it 19. Like as we men see not the Angells and Devills with our eyes and yet they are about us and among us the reason is because they dwell not in the Source and Dominion of our world neither have they the property of the externall world on them but each Spirit is cloathed with his owne worlds Property wherein it dwelleth 20. The beginning of each worlds Source is that limit which divides one world from the view and ken of the other for the Devills are a nothing in the heavenly Source for they have not its Source in them and albeit they have it yet it is unto them as if it were shut up in death like as an iron that is red hot so long as the fire pierceth it its fire and when the fire goeth out it s a darke iron the like is to be understood concerning the Spirits 21. So likewise the Angells are a nothing in the darknesse they are verily in it but they neither see nor feele it that which is a paine to the Devills that same is a joy to the Angells in their Source and so what is pleasing and delightfull to the Devills that
e e Manifest or come about borne and the beginning hath againe found the End it shall be manifest for a witnesse unto all Nations sheweth the Spirit of Wonders CHAP. IX Of the Fall of Lucifer with his Legions 1. ALbeit selfe-Reason might heere cavill at us and say we were not by when this was done yet we say that we in a Magicall manner according to the Right of Eternity were really there and saw this but not I who am I have seen it for I was not as yet a Creature but we have seene it in the Essence of the Soule which God breathed into Adam 2. Now then if God dwelleth in this same Essence and hath from all Eternity dwelt therein and manifesteth himselfe in his own mirror and looketh back through the Essence of the Soule into the beginning of all Beeings what then hath Reason to doe to taunt and cavill at mee about that wherein it selfe is blinde I must warne Reason that it would once behold it selfe in the Looking-Glasse of the understanding and consider what it selfe is and leave off from the Building of mad Babel it will be time 3. The Fall of Lucifer came not to passe from Gods purpose or Appointment indeed it was known in the wrath of God according to the property of the darke world how it could or would come to passe but in Gods holinesse viz. in the light there was no such desire manifest in any such property otherwise the holy God must have a devillish or hellish wrathfull desire in his Love which is nothing so but in the Centre of the Eternall nature viz. in the formes to fire there is verily such a property in the Darke impression 4. Every good Angell hath the Centre in him and is manifest in a creaturall Property in one degree or other in the Centre what property is f f f Chiefest most predominant or manifest greatest in the Creature according to that it hath its office and Dominion 5. Yet the Angells which were created out of the degrees of the Centre were created for and to the light the light was manifest in All and they had Free will from the Manifested will of Gods will 6. Lucifer had still been an Angell if his owne will had not introduced him into the fires-Might desiring to domineere in the strong fiery-Might above and in all things as an absolute sole God in darknesse and light had he but continued in the Harmony wherein God had created him what would have cast him out of the light 7. Now Reason saith he could not then tell me who compelled him was he not I preethee the most glorious Prince in heaven had he introduced his will into the Divine Meeknesse then he could have been able to stand but if he * * * In his own will which was from the Eternall will was both the possibility and Ability would not then he could not for his owne desire went into the Centre he would himselfe be God He entred with his will into Selfe g g g Selfe-hood or Selfenesse and in Selfe is the Centre of Nature viz. those properties wherein his will would be Lord and Master in the house 8. But God created him for his Harmony to play with his love-Love-Spirit in him as upon the musicall Instrument of his manifested and formed Word and this the selfe-will would not 9. Now saith reason how came it that he would not did not he know the Judgement of God and the fall yea he knew it well enough but he had no Sensible Perceivance of the fall but onely as a bare h h h Or Noticnall Theory in the Mystery of his minde knowledge the fiery Lubet which was potent in him did egg him on for it would faine be manifest in the Essence of the wrath viz. in the root of fire the darknesse also eagerly desired to be creaturall which drew Lucifer its crafts-Master in the great Potency of fire indeed it drew him not i i i Outwardly from without but in the Property and will of his owne fiery and darke Essence the Originall of the Fall was within the Creature and not without the Creature and so it was in Adam also Selfe-will was the beginning of Pride 10. Thou askest what was that which did cause it in himselfe Answer his great beauty and glory because the will beheld what it selfe was in the fiery mirror this Lustrous glance did move and affect him so that he did eagerly reach after the Properties of the Centre which forth-with began effectually to worke for the Astringent Austere Desire viz. the first forme or property did impresse it selfe and awakened the compunction and the Anxious desire thus this beautifull Star did overshadow its light and made its Essence wholly Astringent rigorous and harsh and its meeknesse and true Angelicall Property was turned into an Essence wholly Austere harsh rigorous and Darke and then this bright Morning Star was undone and as he did so did his Legions and this was his fall 11. He should have been wholly resigned in the holy Power of God and heare what the Lord would speake and play by his owne Spirit in him this Selfe-will would not doe and therefore he must now play in the darke yea his will is yet opposite albeit now after the fall he cannot will viz. to resigne to the divine will of the light for his meeknesse whence the Love-will ariseth is shut up and Entred againe into a Nothing viz. it is retired into its own Originall 12. Now the Creature still remaineth but wholly out of the Centre viz. out of the Eternall Nature the free Lubet of Gods wisdome is departed from him that is it hath hid it selfe in it selfe and letteth the wrathfull fire-will stand as hapned to Adam also when he imagined after Evill and good then the free Lubet of the holy worlds-Essence did disappeare in his Essence 13. This was the very death of which God told him that if he did eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evill he should dye the very same day thus it was in Lucifer he dyed to the holy divine world and arose to the wrathfull world of Gods Anger 14. Thou saist wherefore did not God uphold him and draw him from the evill inclination I preethee tell me wherewith should he have poured in more Love and meeknesse into this fire-Source then had his Stately light been more manifest in him and the Looking-glasse of his owne knowledge had been the greater and his owne fiery Selfe-will the Stronger I pray was not his High light and his own-selfe-knowledge the Cause of his fall 15. Should he then have drawn him with Rebuke was it not his purpose aforehand to rule the magicall ground as an Arstist his Ayme and endeavour was for the Art that he would play with the Centre of the Transmutation of the Properties and would be and doe all whatsoever he alone pleased had he not known this he had
the Element This holy Element in the beginning or inchoation of the foure Elements did Penetrate through the Earth and sprang or budded forth in the holy Powers Property and bare fruits of which man should have eaten in a heavenly manner but when it did disappeare in man the Curse entred into the Earth and so Paradise was quasht in the foure Elements and continued retired in it selfe in the inward Element there it stands yet open unto man if any will depart from this worlds Essence and enter into it upon the Path which Christ hath made open 60. The Punctum of the whole created Earth belonged e e e Ad Centrum Solis to the Center of the Sun unto the Centre of Sol but not any more at present he is fallen who was a King the Earth is in the Curse and become a Peculiar Centre whereunto all whatsoever is engendred in the vanity in the foure Elements doth tend and fall all things fall unto the Earth for the f f f Or Creation Fiat is yet in the deep and g g g Or draweth or Concreteth createth all earthly Essence together unto the judgement of God for Separation 61. We meane not that the Earth came h h h Or onely wholly from the Place of the Sun but from the whole Sphear out of both the internall Spirituall worlds but it hath another A. B. C. in that the Earth belongeth unto the judgement of God for Separation even then it shall be manifest wherefore it is said it belongeth unto the Punctum of Sol. 62. For the worst must be a cause of the best the Eternall joy consists in this that we are delivered from Paine God hath not Eternally rejected his holy Essence but onely the iniquity which mixed it selfe therein but when the Crystalline Earth shall Appeare then will be fulfilled this Saying it Appertaines to the Punctum of Sol heere we have hinted enough to the understanding of our school-fellowes but further we must heere be Silent CHAP. XI Of the Mystery of the Creation 1. THe Reason of the outward man saith whence is it that God hath not revealed the Creation of the world unto man that Moses and the children of God have written so little thereof seeing it is the Greatest and most principall worke whereon the Maine depends 2. Yes deare Reason smell into thy owne bosome of what doth it Savour contemplate thine owne Minde after what doth it long likely after the cunning delusions of the Devill had not hee known this ground very like he had been yet an Angell had he not seen the Magicall birth in his high light then he had not desired to be a selfish Lord and maker in the Essence 3. Wherefore doth God hide his children which now receive the Spirit of knowledge with the Crosse and cast them into tribulation and mire of vanity for certaine Therefore that they might play the Tune of miserere and continue in humility and not sport in this i i i Text Time life with the light of nature else if they should espie and apprehend what the Divine Magick is then they might also desire to imitate the Devill as Lucifer did for which cause it is hid from them and neither Moses or any other dare write clearer thereof untill the beginning of the Creation beholdeth the End of the world in it selfe and then it must stand open 4. And therefore let none blame us for the time is come about that Moses putteth away his vaile from his Eyes which he hung before his face when he spake with Israel after the Lord had spoken with him Moses desired to see it in that he said Lord if I have found grace in thy sight let me see thy face but the Lord would not and said thou shalt see my back part for none can see my face 5. Now the Eye of God was in Moses and in the Saints they have seen and spoken in the Spirit of God and yet had not the through-vision of the Spirituall birth in them save at times onely when God would worke wonders as by Moses when he did the wonders in Egypt then the Divine Magick was open unto him in manner and wise as in the Creation 6. And this was even the fall of Lucifer that he would be a God of nature and live in the transmutation and this was even the Idolatry of the heathens in that they understood the Magicall birth they fell from the onely God unto the magicall birth of nature and chose unto themselves Idolls out of the Powers of nature 7. For which cause the creation hath remained so obscure and God hath covered his children in whom the true light shone with tribulation that they have not been manifest unto themselves Seeing Adam also according to the same lust did imagine to know and prove the Magick and would be as God so that God permitted him that he defiled his heavenly Image with the vanity of nature and made it wholly darke and Earthly as Lucifer also did with the Centre of nature when he of an Angel became a Devill 8. Therefore I will seriously warne the Reader that he use the Magick aright viz. in true faith and humility towards God and not meddle with Turba Magna in a Magicall manner unlesse it conduceth to the honour of God and Salvation of mankinde 9 For we can say with truth that the Verbum Fiat is yet a Creating albeit it doth not create Stones and earth yet it Coagulateth formeth and worketh still in the same Property All things are possible to nature as it was possible for it in the beginning to generate stones and Earth also the Stars and foure Elements and did produce them or worke them forth out of one onely ground so it is still unto this day by the strong Desire which is the Magicall ground All things may be effected if man use nature aright in its order to the worke 10. All Essences consist in the Seven Properties now he that knoweth the Essence he is able by the same Spirit of that Essence whence it is come to be an Essence to change it into another forme and likewise to introduce it into another Essence and so make of a Good thing an Evill and of an Evill thing a Good 11. The Transmutation of all things must be effected by i i i Assimulation or likenesse Simility viz. by its owne native Propriety for the Alienate is its Enemy like as man must be regenerated againe by the divine Essentiality in the Simility by the simility in his holinesse of the divine Essentiality which he lost 12. And as the false k k k Magus or Magician Magist woundeth man through Inchantment with the Assimulate and through the desire introduceth Evill into his Evill viz. into the Assimulate and as the upright holy faith or divine desire also entreth into the Assimulate and forfendeth man so that the false desire takes no place 13. Thus all
prevaile and would Sever it selfe into a selfe-fulnesse and breake it selfe off from the Love Ens yet not as a Darke Source but as a Source of selfefull Lust and also of fiery Strength and might 19. For out of the Ens of Cain as the same was in the Centre of the Begetting nature in the wrestling wheele of life arose his will and out of the will the desire and out of the desire the Substance in which Substance the false minde is understood wherein the dominion of the outward did forme and fasten it selfe whereinto the Devill also in the wrath of nature croap in with his desire and desired the Lordship and domination of this world in Selfehood as the fallen Devill doth alwayes desire domination in the Place of this world in the inward Eternall and outward Temporall nature 20. But being the word of divine Power and Holinesse had i i i Or espoused it selfe incorporated it selfe with a Covenant of Regeneration into the womans Seed viz. into the disappeared Ens of the Spirituall worlds Essence that it would deprive the fiery wrathfull will proceeding from the Centre of the darke world of its fiery might of Selfehood thereupon after Cain there Sprung forth out of the humane Tree a Sprout out of the Aym of the Covenant viz. HABEL whose Name in the Language of nature signifieth an Out-breathed Angel which in the first will of the Essence whence the soule ariseth had formed and fixed it selfe in the Centre of light in the Love-desire and penetrated quite through the fires Centre whereupon the fiery desire did desire to cutt off the Earthly life which hath its Originall out of the fiery desire as its propriety for which cause Abel and all his * * * Or Successours Posterity became Marters 21. For this is the Doar of Christ who must give himselfe into this Death of the wrath and Penetrate the Humane Centre of the Soules Originall according to the fire-world with the Love Ens viz. with the deepest Love of the deity and change the fiery wrathfull desire of the darke worlds Essence into Love 22. Adam was the Stock of the universall humane tree but when Eve was made out of him then the tree was divided according to two Principles not wholly in the Essence but according to the nature and quality of the Centres of fire and light for the Centre of the light viz. the ground of the Love-desire did stand in Eves Matrix but it disappeared as to the Creature in her fall therefore the Divine Word did k k k Espouse betroth or promise re-inhest it selfe therein to a Centre of Regeneration 23. Now Cain and Abel were the two twigs which grew out of this tree from the property of both Principles viz. of the fire and light and they were a Type of the whole Tree with its fruit which it would bring forth but being Abel was a type of Christ who was to be conceived without the help of man onely and barely of the incorporated word in the Seed of the woman who should suffer death for Man therefore Abel must passe through without branches and fruit for the fruit which Christ should bring forth was to Generate anew the humane tree and not produce other twiggs out of his Loyns and therefore Habel also being the type of him should not generate any twigg out of his loins for the line of the Habelicall Seed remained in the Covenant and pointed at Christ who should spring forth out of the Habelicall Line and againe manifest the spirituall worlds Essence 24. Therefore Adam must bring forth another branch by his Eve out of the vitall Tree which was to be like Adam in his Image viz. SETH which Name doth signifie in the Language of nature a forth-running or leap where a glance or aspect of a Love-will ariseth out of the fiery will which notwithstanding is withheld and hindred by the outward worlds being Essence and Substance viz. by the Corrupt house of flesh 25. Now Christ must come to help this captivated forestalled and obscured will which notwithstanding hath its first ground out of Gods love and free it from the band of wrath wherewith the divine Ens was captivated for this was Christs Office not that he should beget but give himselfe into the Generation of Seth and Redeeme Seth and his branches from the wrath and regenerate him anew in himselfe he was not to beget children to this world but to bring forth Seth out of this world and bring him in himselfe into the Spirituall world 26. Now in Seth the Line of the Covenant went forth in which Christ would manifest himselfe according to the humane Tree but in Cain the line of the wonders viz. of nature and its Government went forth Genesis 4. v. 17. for Moses saith that unto Cain was born * * * Enoch Hanoch and he built a City and called the Name of the City after the name of his Son Hanoch now Cain was the first man borne of a woman and Abel the Second whom he slew 27. Now Moses saith that Cain built a city whereas indeed if we would goe meerely upon reason there were not men who might be able to build a city and inhabit it for the Spirit doth here make a vaile before the understanding which lyeth in the Word Citty for he saith Cains Son was called Hanoch and also the City now this is verily true but the Spirit in Moses looketh upon the root of Cain and Adam how the Tree Evill and Good hath opened and displayed it selfe into its boughes and branches for by the Name of Hanoch the Spirit looketh upon the property of the branch viz. of Cains Son intimating what kinde of people would arise from thence viz. a * * * Or Common-wealth City and Dominion of the outward world in Selfehood for in the Language of nature it is to be understood in the Name 28. HANOCH signifieth a forth-breathing of life and a re-assuming to a Selvish contemplation a childe of Selfe which in nature doth introduce it selfe into a selfefull Dominion and will so that it doth Imagine and frame in its Minde a Dominion or Region Country or City desiring and aspiring in its will to be a Tree or Prince of men for when the humane life departed from the Spirit of God into selfehood then it would be a Peculiar Selvish Lord which will 's Son was Hanoch viz. a City or Amassed Substance to a Selfe-full domination and Government 29. From which Government and dominion the branches or children were borne concerning which the holy Spirit complained in Noah that * * * Genesis 6.3 they would not suffer his Spirit to reprove them any more for they were a tree or branch sprung forth from the tree of Selfefullnesse from which the wordly Principalities and Superiorities have taken their rise and Originall for when the humane life fell unto the Stars and the Spirit of the outward world then
the same brought it into its own Dominion from the Angelicall into the Astrall and outward elementary Dominion according to its figure this the City of Cain viz. Hanoch doth signifie unto us viz. the Dominion upon the Earth 30. But now Hanoch cannot be the Ruler but the City is HEE that is the branch or the Countrey of the children of pride who departed from God in their own selfish power and authority now the multiplicity of wills must have a Judge being * * * 1 Sam. 8.7 they would not suffer the Spirit of God to rule them therefore the Spirit in Moses saith and Hanoch begat IRAD Gen. 4. v. 18. this is now the Governour who out of their own essence set himselfe up to be Judge and Lord over them viz. a Potentate and Tyrant 31. For the Name is very pregnant in the language of nature and signifieth a forth-breathing of life where the life doth soon l l l Or take forme it selfe in the Centre of the fiery property and Strong Might viz. in the Anger of God which was become Ruler over the life the same took Irad as a Lord and Tameour of the life and set him over Hanoch 32. From this root the Rulers of the world are arisen for being that man would not have God for a Ruler of his life and will God m m m Or permitted gave them the Ruler in Nature from among themselves that they might lord it over and rule one another 33. For God hath not given man any Law or Government among themselves but made him onely to be Lord over all creatures so that he should rule over all things but he himselfe would rule with his Spirit over man and Governe the humane life but being that selfe-hood would not then Irad that is the fires Strength and might sprang forth forcibly out of the humane Tree and set it selfe over the City Hanoch upon the Earth 34. But now Irad must have something wherein and wherewith all to set up himselfe to rule and Reign for the fires wrath and fury would not have suffered them and also the Government must be somewhat profitable and advantagious therefore Moses writeth now very right and exceeding wonderfully and saith Irad begat MEHVJAEL which intimateth very emphatically in the Language of nature an n n n Or apprehension taking forming or amassing to it self assuming of the outward and inward Centre of nature viz. of the outward and inward vvorld a Selfe-conceived bold couragious vain-glorious Arrogant minde which would possesse the Riches of the outward world in its Domination and Superiority viz. all manner of Creatures and Fruits and especially it denoteth a Splendour of the inward assuming viz. an Earthly God which externally sets it self in Gods Office out of this Name Babel viz. the Beast with the Whore vvas afterwards brought forth 35. And Moses saith further Mahujael begat Methusael this is now the right wonderfull Name vvherein is signified hovv the Life doth arrogate divine power to it selfe for METHVSAEL would intimate in the Language of nature thus much that is to say Mine is the divine Might I am an Angel set therein by God or I am the Ordinance of God vvhich indeed is true but according to the first Principle by the outward nature viz. a naturall Power and Ordinance 36. Moreover in this Name there is hidden under the Angel the prayse of the children who should be Subject to this Might and live under the same as under the divine Ordinance but this Angels Name in divine Povver doth first forme it selfe in the fleshly Selfehood for the syllable ME which beginneth the vvord of the Name doth first o o o Text take or conceive forme it selfe in the outward vvorlds birth in the Mine-hood and shevveth that this Ordinance doth not arise out of the Kingdome of heaven in Gods holinesse but out of the first Principle which formeth it selfe in the third Principle viz. in the outward worlds nature in to such an Order and therefore it shall and must be abolished and proved through the Judgement of God 37. And Moses goeth on to write and saith Methusael begat LAMECH now in this Name the hidden Mystery of the divine Ordinance by the Angelicall counsell is contained and it signifyeth in the Language of nature in this place as much as a Sending of the Angel over the Dominion of the humanity viz. over the Regions of the vvorld over the fleshly life which should be Subject to the Supreame governing Prince in nature 38. For here the Wound which Adam received is sought in that two Superiour Princes doe reign over the humane life viz. the ordained good Angel and the incorporated Evill Angel in the flesh also hereby is understood the powerfull assault of the Evill Angell from without and from within for the inward Spirit in the name goeth forth out of the Covenant of God and passeth into the outward world which denoteth how man would become lewd and prophane and also vilifie the Covenant of God and yet with the Assuming goeth againe into Selfehood and formeth it selfe in the forth-proceeding Angells Name which denoteth an hypocriticall whoredome in an Angells forme which entreth againe into the externall and at last casteth away the Covenant together with the Angels Name quite from it selfe 39. Further Moses writeth Lamech took two wives the one was called Ada and the other Zilla Gen 4. v. 19. Hereby is understood in the generation of the life's Tree thus much viz. that the humane life knew the wound vvhich was arisen in its p p p Stem or body Stock and thence forward tooke two wives that is a twofold Essence and will viz. ADA signifieth how the Soule goeth with the will through the Minde and formeth it selfe with the desire in the first stock of Adam and would be faine honest againe but the life had also taken to it selfe ZILLA for wife of the pregnatresse viz. fleshly joy and pleasure 40. The wife or will Ada would exercise a good Dominion and rule and maintaine it selfe upon the Earth according to Gods Command and she bare Jabal JABAL betokeneth the Simple plaine man such as Countriemen are c. for Moses saith Verse 20. that from him proceeded such as dwell in Tents and keep Cattle Verse 21. 41. But the other brother saith Moses was named Jubal who was the Father of all those that handle the Harp and Organ for the other will proceeded from the spirit of the outward world into temporall pleasure and joy and devised all kindes of joyfull Sport and pastime for the recreation of its life and this signifieth JVBAL viz. an externall Jocund Angel with whom the inward Spirit sported before it selfe in a likenesse 42. And Zilla saith Moses Verse 22. she also bare Tubal-Cain a master in all Brasse and Iron-workes that is ZILLA is the fiery desire which formeth it selfe in the humane property into a Substance of Sulphur and Mercury
and brings it selfe forth with its Spirit out of the Substance into a contemplation and visible ken in which understanding man hath found out the Arts of Metalls 43. For the Sister of Tubal-Cain was Naema Here lieth the pretious pearl deare masters NAEMA is heavenly in her property cloathed with the externall vesture so that you doe not know her for the earthly man is not worthy of it for her Essence is virgineall a virgin of purity it pointeth in one part at the inward new man viz. the Sister of the Sulphurean man and on the other part it signifieth the Grosse Metall of the Earth and also the pretious Metall viz. Gold and Silver 44. For Tuball-Cain is the brother of Naema they lye in one wombe but Tubal-Cain is of this world and Naema is a virgin hidden under her brother and herein the twofold Earth is understood viz. in a twofold property one heavenly and the other grosse Earthly viz. an Essence out of the darke worlds property and an Essence out of the lightfull worlds property and thus also it is to be understood in Man for by the property of Gods Anger viz. by the dying of the earthly man Naema becomes manifest 45. Wherefore doth Moses add the Name Naema and yet speaketh nothing either of any that she brought forth or that she married Answer because that in the Regeneration the naturall Generation ceaseth the new virginity in the Spirit of Christ doth not produce any creature more but they must all proceed out of the first Centre and stock so that they may be all One Tree and by the fire the Metall viz. the virgin which is Tubal-Cains Sister is made manifest 46. The Name TVBAL-CAIN hath an excellent understanding in it for it sheweth hovv the Sulphureous Mercuriall vvheele doth open it selfe in the birth and generation of Metals and also in the Originall of life for God Subjected all things to man and gave him all things for his delight and play therefore Tubal Cain must open and discover himselfe in the humane Tree that so they might understand it Hereby we have signified enough to those that are our School-fellowes 47. And Lamech said to his wife 's Ada and Zilla Verse 23.24 Heare my voyce yee wifes of Lamech and marke what I say I have slaine a man to my wound and a young man to my hurt If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold truly Lamech seventy and seven fold This is a wonderfull strange and marvellous saying who would understand what the Spirit signifieth heere without its own peculiar exposition I do seriously admonish the Mocker to leave our work heere uncensured for he understandeth not our Spirit and Sence 48. Lamech saith that he slew a man to his wound and a young man to his hurt This man is Abel according to the outward humanity of the Kingdome of this world and the young man is the Image of Christ proceeding from the virgin-like line out of the Seed of the woman in him the Man he slew to his Rebuke viz. to an un-curable wound and the pretious young man in the Man to an hurt which would gall and trouble him as an Evill hurt bruise or Bile in the conscience of Sin for the wrath of God wrought in this Bile and the wound being a great and wofull hurt might not be healed for the Curse of the Lord went forth out of this Bile into the wound in which the Earth was cursed so that the humane Dominion became a valley of misery 49. For Lamech saw the sore wound and returned and thereupon tooke two wives that is a twofold will into his Minde for his Government vvhereby he vvould rule upon the Earth viz. one went forth from Ada into the Grazing and keeping of cattle and the hard labour of the hands for a temporall livelihood wherein he found the Curse and wound and the other went forth out of the branch of Zilla into the Earth after the Metalls to make usefull Tooles and Instruments for the Tillage and husbandry of the Ground and for other necesaries and so he found in the metalls the rusty Bile and sore in their metalline nature for the pretious tincture or the faire blossome of the Earth was hidden in the Curse viz. Environed and beset with an Evill Bile and sore 50. Now Lamech knew the vvofull Hurt and said hearken ye wives of Lamech and marke what I say he would faine expresse the Hurt and dammage he saw back againe into the Tree of man and considered the revenge of God which had laid hold of mans life and said Cain shall be avenged seven-fold and Lamech seven and seventy fold for God said also to Cain when he stood and cryed * * * Ver. 14.15 thou drivest me out this day from * * * Or from the Land and Countrey the face of the Earth and it will come to passe that whosover findeth me will slay me but the Lord said to him whosoever slayeth Cain vengeance shall be taken on him seven fold and he set a marke on Cain that none should kill him 51. These are most vvonderfull and hidden sayings Cain shall be avenged Sevenfold and Lamech seventy and seven fold wherefore shall Lamech be avenged Seventy and Seven-fold and Cain Seven-fold who hath done any thing to Lamech Heere the Spirit pointeth out of the Centre of the humane life upon the time vvhich was to come intimateing how it would afterward goe with man in this Wound when as men should multiply and Encrease and make unto themselves Kings and Princes Dominions and Governments that the vvrath of God would also forcibly exercise it selfe in mans will and even open and display it selfe in the humane Life and Dominion 52. Now if a man would understand vvhat Lamech saith concerning the Revenge then he must looke upon the Centre for the life of all creatures consists in Seven Degrees or properties as it is above clearely mentioned now Adam was the Stock for Adam and Eve are one Tree from the parting and division of which Evill and Good did arise and Cain was the first twigg vvhich sprung forth from this tree vvherein the Seven properties of life did put themselves forth out of the right divine order and harmony in the life and destroyed the Image of God which was long of the Devill who egged him on also in the divided properties to the brother-slaughter so that he slew Abel now God said Cain shall be avenged Seven-fold if any one slay him and he set a marke on Cain that none should kill him 53. The Devill had folded up himselfe in the vvrath of God and cunningly insinuated himselfe into the Seven properties of Life being they were departed from their mutuall Harmonious Accord and he vvould be Lord in the place of the Spirit of God in the life of man and would vvholly murther and slay the life as to the Kingdome of God therefore God set a marke vvith the Promise of the Covenant therein so
monster and an Evill Beast in his free-will which doth not resemble the first Image of the formed Life in the word of God now against this Beast the words of Christ are directed when he saith Vnlesse ye be converted and become as children that is unlesse you do depart from and utterly disclaim the will of the Selfe-Generated Beast and enter again into the form of the first Life yee cannot else see the Kingdom of God also yee must be borne againe of the water of the Heavenly worlds essence and of the same holy Spirit proceeding from the Covenant otherwise ye cannot see and behold God 9. This Evill Beast of the Godless form Note is predestinated to condemnation but the Covenant is in the Life if the free will Resigneth it selfe up to the Covenant then Christ ariseth in his humanity out of the Covenant in the Life and even then the strange Beast dyeth in Christs death and the will formeth it selfe again into the first Image according as God created it and this is not annexed onely unto Seth but unto Adams life viz. unto the Onely life of man which was in the Word of God and passeth from one upon all as all branches in one tree do receive sapp from the Onely root of the stock 10. But the properties of nature viz. of the naturall life have brought themselves out of Adams stock into sundry boughes and branches whence the multiplicity of Nations Tongues and Speeches is arisen but the Life is onely One and the Covenant in the life sprang forth from the root of life viz. from the Word of God out of which the Life came upon all even as the Sin viz. the fall and apostacy passed upon all none excepted for the Children of Seth were concluded under Sin as well as Cains but the Covenant * * * Or the open and outward manifestation of the Covenant with its manifestation passed upon SETH for his name signifieth in the Language of nature a forth-breathing Spring out of the Life through the first Centre of the Soule wherein the word of God would open it selfe through the Life 11. And Moses saith Seth begat Enos Gen. 4.26 and then began men to preach of the Name of the Lord for the Name ENOS signifieth in the Language of Nature a Divine Lubet through the life wherein the Formed Word would behold it selfe in the Sound and Voice of the Life therefore the Spirit of God began to Teach out of the Covenant through the Life of man concerning God and his Being and Will this was the beginning of the Divine Contemplation through the formed Wisdom in the word where the word did behold it selfe through the wisdome of the formed Humane Voice 12. And as the Life did form it selfe by Cains line through the wonders of the formed wisdome in Nature with all manner of Arts and works and also Dominions Governments and Orders and introduced them all for the Setting forth of Gods wondrous Deeds and Acts viz. to a Contemplation of Evill and good light and darknesse so likewise the Spirit of God did bring forth out of the Line of the Covenant in the manifested Word the wonders of Divine Holinesse Truth Righteousnesse Love and Patience and by the Preaching of the formed word did declare what the holy and Spirituall Kingdome of God is 13. In Cain the Kingdome of nature was represented and in Abel and Seth the Supernaturall Divine Kingdome both these arose together and went all along one in another to the Remonstrance or Contemplation of the Divine Lubet in the formed wisdome and Each put it selfe forth in an especiall manner into its visible Ken as a wonder 14. For from Adam even unto Lamech in the line of the wonders there are Seven Generations and in the other line viz. in the line of the Covenant from Adam unto Enoch are also Seven Generations Enoch is the Eighth viz. a beginning of the propheticall Spirit for in the first Seven Generations the form of the Spirituall Kingdome proceeding from the Life's Tree was set forth 15. Adam was the stock for his life taketh its originall out of the word but being the Life of nature in him did predominate over the life in the formed Word and would have the Supream dominion and obscured the life proceeding from the word the word it selfe freely gave it selfe with a Covenant to be a Life therein and set forth its figure in Abel how the naturall life should and must be broken and the word of the Divine power should again spring forth afresh out of the first Life 16. Thus Abel was the Figure of the Second Adam Christ and therefore he must be slain for the Covenants sake for Christ should kill the exalted haughty naturall will and being forth a new one and therefore Abel also should not beget any naturall child else it had been strange to nature for they should all proceed forth out of one stock and the word would spring forth anew through the Onely Tree in the Covenant that so the Children of Grace might be brought forth out of the Tree of nature as the dew out of the * * * Or Morning day-break 17. For thus also the figure of the new birth was represented out of the Stem namely the line went forth out of Adam he was the first Abel the second Seth the third Enos the fourth where men began to teach of the Spirituall Kingdome * * * Or Cainan KENAN the fift which signifieth in the language of nature a forth-going * * * Re-apprehend re-conceived Lubet or desire of the divine Contemplation in which the word Taught did form it selfe viz. in Prayer and in the wills desire and also in their Offrings 18. MAHALALEEL was the sixt and signifieth in the language of nature an Angelicall form of an Angelicall Kingdome where the spirit did typifie and pourtray the Kingdome of Christ in this Name 19. JARED was the Seventh by this Name is understood in the language of nature a Priest or Prince of the Spirituall Kingdome for as Irad should be the Regent or Ruler in the Kingdome of nature so Jared should be the Regent in the Spirituall Kingdome for out of Jared came the office of Moses and out of Irad proceeded the Kingdome of worldly principalities and framed Governments and Dominions 20. But the language of nature sheweth very clearly that Jared is onely a type of a spirituall Kingdome for the Name carrieth forth the Cherub along with it through the word for the spirituall Kingdome upon the earth was all along captivated in the wrath of God untill Christ who destroyed the Anger 21. The Office of this Jared is twofold viz. externally it is the figure of the Spirituall Kingdome bound with the wrath of God and internally it is the true holy Kingdome which the Penitent man receiveth or taketh possession of Outwardly it is Moses and inwardly Christ. 22. From this outward Kingdome the great
Ens was Corrupted for like as Lamech in Cains line did Expresse the Wound of Corruption and misery that was broke in upon Mankind and spake of a Seventy-and-seven-fold Racha upon the free-will which did Corrupt the life Even so here the Divine Spirit said the humane Ens is Lamech that is the wound is too Great it prevaileth although the strong and mighty breath of God in Methusalah proceeded forth out of the Propheticall Voyce yet the Ens in propagation did form it self in the Corrupted nature in Lamech that is in Two wills as Moses saith the first Lamech in Cains line took two wives viz. Adah and Zillah Even so here likewise it would not be otherwise Vers. 28. 3. Now Moses saith And Lamech begat Noah with this Name the spirit goeth forth out of the wound of Lamech into the End of Time and bringeth the End into the beginning for NOAH Signifieth in the Language of Nature End and Beginning now the Spirit findeth in the End the holy word which had espoused and incorporated it selfe in the Covenant Vers. 29. and saith This same shall comfort us in our labour and toile upon the Earth which the Lord hath Cursed 4. For the Comfort of man must come out of the beginning and End for in the Beginning is and was the word of God which is the beginning of all things and in the End is also the Word of God which is the comfort of all things that the creature shall be delivered from the vanity whereunto the Spirit looked and said this Same where he meant the word which would manifest it selfe in the humanity shall comfort us in our labour upon the earth which the Lord hath cursed for Noah could not comfort men for he Preached to them the Rebuke Punishment and Perdition but he that was in the Beginning and End he comforted mankinde in their Labour and toile upon the Earth which they had in the Curse and Anger of God 5. In this Name Noah the Spirit in Lamech looketh forwards into the End and backwards into the Beginning and conceives it selfe in the Beginning and End into a form and calls the same Noah that is an Ark of the wonders which were in the Beginning and End and in the whole Time and displayeth or putteth forth this same spirit of the whole form through Noah into Three Branches which went forth out of the Tree of wonders viz. out of the propheticall Ens of Enoch in the humane property and thereof Moses saith And Noah begat Sem Ham and Japhet these were the Three twiggs of the Second Monarchy under which most excellent Mysteries are given us to be understood 6. SEM signifieth an out-breathing Divine Lubet or desire out of the Line of the Covenant out of the Life of man and a Comprehension of the Lubet viz. a type of that which Secretly passed forth afterwards under the Lubet it pointeth at the humanity of Christ in the flesh the Type of which was Sem viz. a representation or expresse forme in the same Lubet in which Lubet also the Covenant was made with Abraham concerning the Seed of the woman wherein the Blessing should appear 7. The other branch or Twigg the Spirit called HAM which signifieth a Strong breathing out of the Centre of Nature and a grosse amasment or compaction into a flesh which denoteth the earthly naturall fleshly man which holdeth Sem captive in it selfe understand by Sem the inward man which shall * * * Note Concerning the Resurrection arise from death out of the Earth understand the man proceeded from the Limus of the good part of the earth which was in Sem * * * Or taken into the Divine Lubet formed according to the Divine Lubet 8. We do not hereby understand the Totally spirituall man which is onely as a spirit But that man which is from the Limus of the good part of the earth which lyeth captive in Ham that is in the grosse bestiall flesh and is as dead without the Divine Lubet which the spirituall Christus viz the totally spirituall man shall put on at the End of the dayes in Noah that is out of the Beginning and End This inward hidden man his grosse earthly brother Ham viz. the grosse earthly flesh which is nothing worth John 6. doth devoure and swallow up 9. And from the Lubet of Sem springeth forth the third branch out of the Centre of Nature where the Divine Lubet doth behold it selfe through nature and this the Spirit called JAPHET which is in the language of nature an Appendix of Sem a birth out of Cains Line of Wonders where the Divine Lubet doth bring it selfe through nature into a form of the wonders of the Divine wisdome with Sem it introduceth it selfe into a contemplation of the spirituall wonders in the holinesse of God and in Japhet into a Naturall Wonder viz. into the Septenary of the Eternall and Temporall Nature understand into a form of the Seven fold * * * Orb or Sphear wheel or life's forms in which †††Or life's wheel vitall sphear the Spirit of God appeareth as a glorious Glee or Gleam of the Wonders 10. Sem is a type of the light-world and Japhet is a type of the fire-world where the light doth through-shine Japhet a Type or Image of the Father and Sem a type of the Son but Ham is an Image and type of the outward world 11. For the type and figure of the Three Principles stood in the Three brethren and clearly pointeth out the Second Monarchy even to the End of the World and withall shewes what kinde of men would thence-forward possesse the world viz a spirituall world and a natural world of wonders and a bestiall world of folly these are the Three Sorts of Men viz. out of the stock and family of Sem came Israel and out of Japhets the Gentiles who Governed themselves in the light of Nature but Sems Generation were disciplined in the Covenant and Word of God But Ham both in Sem and Japhet he ruled himselfe in the beastiall bruitish property against whom the Curse of God was pronounced through the Spirit in his Father Noah for Christ said that flesh and blood shall not inherit the Kingdome of God 12. And Moses speaketh now further thus Gen. vi 1 c. But when men began to multiply upon the earth and daughters were born unto them that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were faire and took unto them wives as they pleased Then said the Lord Men will not suffer my Spirit any more to reprove them for they are flesh yet I will make their * * * I will yet give them 120 yeares respit Dayes an hundred and twenty yeares Here Moses hath again the vaile before his Eyes for he saith that the children of God looked upon the beauty of the Daughters of men and took unto them
the Angelicall Spirituall world and the woman was taken out of him and both were in this Turba * * * Text figured formed unto the outward naturall life 25. This Turba is that wherein God did also set the Curse which with Noah was first at the End when God said the End of all flesh is come up before mee and out of this forty-dayes-produced Turba the fountaines of the deep did arise in the water-Source and drowned the Turba in the flesh of these Sexes 26. For from the Sin of Adam came the Deluge over the world and this forty-dayes-produced Turba was the Sin in the flesh otherwise if the water-fountaine had not opened it selfe the fire-fountain had proceeded forth out of the Turba in the wrath of God Therefore God said it repented him that he had made the creatures and his Sorrow went into the Turba and drowned it 27. And let the Reader be put in minde that so often as he findeth the number forty in the holy Scripture that it altogether in the Beginning pointeth at the forty dayes produced Turba viz. the forty Dayes of Moses upon mount Sinai Item the forty yeares in the wilderness also the forty houres of Christ in the Grave also the forty dayes after his resurrection before his Ascention doe all belong unto this and all the numbers forty in the Secret and mysticall propheticall sayings of the Prophets for out of this Turba the Prophet is arisen with his Prophecie 28. But in that I say that if the water-fountaine had not been opened the fire-fountaine would have broken forth is also true for the children in the Turba would have also burnt Noah in the Arke with fire if the most high had not hindred and prevented them with the water for the fires Turba was moved in them this was the worlds end or the end of all flesh for at the End all shall be purifyed and purged in the fires Turba for it will enkindle it selfe 29. There is a very great Mystery in that which the Spirit saith in Moses Noah was five hundred yeares old when he begat Sem Ham and Japhet which otherwise is against the ordinary Course of nature to beget children in such a naturall Age also there is a very great mystery in that God said that he would give the world an hundred and twenty years respit and yet the Deluge came in the Six hundreth year of Noah viz. in the hundreth yeare after the warning or notice thereof and it signifieth the abbreviation of time in its naturall course and also the End of the world hovv that there shall be an abbreviation or shortning of time in the Circle of the conclusion of all Beeings Quere this Treatise by it selfe of which we will mention something in a Treatise by it selfe if the same be permitted us 30. When Noah entred into the Ark Moses saith Vers. 16. the Lord shut him in the intimate signification of the Spirit heere is He shut up the Second time or Age of the world which was at the End being the fire would faine have moved it selfe therefore the Lord shut it up with water and herewith also he opened the Gate of his Entrance to goe forth in the Third time and begin the Second Monarchy in the outward world for the first time was in Paradise the Second under Seths manifestation in the third Enos's manifestation should be opened and set forth 31. And Moses saith further Chap. VIII vers 3.1.2 and the waters stood upon the Earth one hundred and fifty dayes then God remembred Noah and every living thing and all the cattle that was with him in the Arke and God caused a winde to passe over the Earth and the waters asswaged and the fountaines of the deep and the windowes also of heaven were stopped Moses saith God Remembred Noah now reason thinketh had he then forgotten him whereas he is present to all things and is himselfe through all and in all things the Spirit in Moses doth here hang a vaile before the Mystery that the naturall man doth not understand it 32. Gods Remembrance here is the beginning of the Third Time even the Beginning of the Second Monarchy in the foure Elements with the creatures for in the Covenant made with Noah the Second Monarchy was comprehended which went forth out of the Centre of the Generatresse through the divine wisdome in Nature 33. And Moses speaketh further Vers. 4. when the waters were abated the Arke set it selfe down upon the Mount Ararat This Name ARARAT doth plainly hint unto us in the language of nature a mountaine or a Compacting and an Amassing of an Essence out of the Centre of nature even out of the wrathfulnesse being the Anger of God had then reposed it selfe there the Arke stood upon the Allayed Anger but the last Syllable in this word Ara-RAT doth signifie that the wrath of the eternall nature proceeding from the Centre hath betooke or formed it selfe into an active Dominion and would thence forward ride through nature as a warriour and mightily exercise its Power and violence in the humane property whereby they would undertake warres and advance themselves in Pride Pompe and Power and butcher and slay one another Eagerly Contending about this mountaine of the wrath's Might or Severe humane Authority 34. This Mountain Ararat denotes the Houses of the Great ones or domineering Potentates upon the Earth viz. the Great Castles Forts and Bulwarkes the mighty mountaines of the Power violence and strength of the Rich and also the high Nobility sprung up from the mystery of the Great world upon which Kingdome the Arke of Noah hath set down it selfe but the Covenant with Noah I meane the Kingdome of Christ hath set it selfe to be an Eternall Lord over this mountaine of the warlike might and force of Armes sprung up from the Anger of God which dominion and Reigning Power of Christ shall abolish and take away the Kingdome of this Mountaine and quite suppresse it and it denoteth unto us truely fundamentally and exactly that this Power and Authority would take upon it in its own Power the Arke of Noah viz. the Divine Covenant and carry it yea put it on as a Garment and proudly perch up it selfe therein as if it had the Kingdome of Christ in its own Power 35. And also it shewes and denotes unto us how that this mountaine of the wrathfull Anger of God in the humane property or in mans Nature would beautifie trim up and adorne it selfe with the Arke of Noah and would proclaime it to be the holy Arke of Christ and yet it would be onely founded upon the wrathfull Anger and be onely an Antichristian Kingdome which indeed would Carry the Ark viz. the Name of divine holinesse in the mouth but its Heart would be onely this Mountaine A Vessell and Confused heap of Gods wrath and yet it would make devout shewes of holiness and glory in having the Ark upon it selfe but the Aym
for a propriety that he should rule therein with the inward spirituall man of Vnderstanding according to the wisedome of God and make himselfe Lawes and Order according to the spirit of wisdome 9. Over which Orders and Ordinances of men which they make unto themselves HE viz. the Lord hath set himselfe as Judge and thereupon hath appointed the Last Judgement to separate wrong from right and whatsoever proceedeth not from Truth Righteousnesse and Love and tendeth to the same against that the judgement of God is set for it is generated or hatched through the false spirits of darknesse in Turba Magna and introduced into the humane property as a false Lust and Suttlety and is a stranger or Bastard wisdome which shall not inherit the Kingdome of God 10. All Royall and Princely Highnesse and Excellency together with all Governments and Dominions doe arise from the Order of nature in the Image of God there is no compulsion no force violence or oppression but a meer free willing desirous Love-Service as one member in the body or as one branch of the Tree doth freely and readily serve each other and rejoyce in each other 11. But being that man hath introduced himselfe into the outward formed Word Evill and Good viz. into the Kingdome of nature the Kingdome of nature hath deprived him of the holy Dominion and hath placed it selfe with its power over the humane property therefore if he will have the same againe he must be borne anew of God and then he may rule with the new regenerated life in the Spirit of God over the Kingdome of nature 12. Indeed there are Orders of Princely Angells or Hierarchies in the Spirituall world but all without compulsion in one Harmonious delightfull Love-Service and will as one member in the body doth readily serve another 13. All whatsoever man in the Kingdome of nature doth draw under his power and abuseth it to Superfluity and excesse and thereby withdravveth from his fellow-members whereby they are put to want poverty and distresse and their freely given right and due is wholly withheld from them the same is imprinted or comprehended in Turba magna as an abomination of nature and put into the judgement of God to the day of Separation 14. Nature requireth onely Order and giveth distinction of places and Offices but the Turba bringeth its abomination from the darke worlds desire thereinto viz. Pride Covetousnesse Envy Anger and falsehood 15. These five vices or iniquities are the Whores Bratts in the Kingdome of nature and shall not inherit the Kingdome of God God holdeth the Kingdome of nature for his Order and hath given the same into the power of man that he as Gods instrument in this vvorld should sever the Evill from the Good and chuse himselfe a Judge to passe righteous judgement upon the iniquity and malice of the false desire and lust of man for he saith whosoever sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed viz. by the Order and institution of nature not that any should revenge himselfe upon others by his own selfish power or force of Armes but through the Order of nature through Gods Law and appointment the same is the true Avengeresse for God said I will avenge your lifes bloud and will avenge it upon every beast here he meaneth by the Order of his Law and its Officers who officiate in the right and due execution of the same 16. Not that a Prince or Lord hath Power to shed bloud without the Law of God if he doth so then the Law of God condemneth him also to Death Here there is no peculiar Selfefull Power given over mans bloud let him be King or Prince for they are onely Officers over the Order of the Divine Law and they ought not to goe further then the Command of God gives leave indeed they have the Law of nature committed to their charge as Servants of the same but they must deal therein onely according to righteousnesse and truth and not doe any thing through Selvish covetous proud and envious desire for God hath created man in his own Image now the Kingdome of nature in its Offices hath no power over this divine Image to kill the same but the office or Commission in Gods Order * * * Or hath power over passeth onely upon the outward Image of nature 17. Therefore if an Officer of nature viz. any Magistrate take away the life of a righteous man him nature appointeth unto the Judgement of God to the Day of Separation wherein God will judge all the unrighteous Acts of man what will then become of the Tyrants who turne the truth into Lies and shamefully abuse and condemne the Children of God for their divine knowledge and profession sake and stirre up warre and Contention to desolate and destroy country and people all these belong unto Turba Magna to the judgement of God for they manage the Sword of the Turba in selfefull Lust and pleasure unlesse the Spirit of God command them and then must doe it for their Office and charge sake and execute the just judgement of God upon those who have filled up the measure of their iniquity as Israel was commanded to doe among the Heathen 18. Whosoever sheddeth bloud out of his own pleasure to advance his authority without urgent absolute necessity or Gods command he is moved Acted and driven by the wrathfull fire of Gods Anger and falleth at last to be a captive in the same Kingdome 19. Every warriour or Souldier is a Rodd of Gods Anger wherewith he doth through his wrath and Indignation rebuke and devoure the iniquity and malice of man and it doth not belong at all unto the Order or ordinance of nature but unto the wrathfull desire unto Turba Magna unto the order of the eager fierce-devouring wrath whereby Gods Anger doth overturne and lay waste Countries and Kingdomes 20. Understand it is the Order of the darke worlds property which by Gods permission advanceth its mighty force in the Time of mans wickednesse and then it goes as the wrath will have it untill the same be well satiated in the bloud of man 21. For this is even the Revenge of Gods Anger of which he saith that he would take vengeance for or require the bloud of man therefore he often taketh one man and by him in Anger slayeth another that hath deserved Death 22. When the Great and potent Rulers shed innocent bloud then cometh the Anger of God with its Officers and sheddeth their peoples bloud and bringeth the Sword of the Turba upon them whence Warre ariseth but this is not from the divine Order of the Good Nature in which God Governeth with his wisdome 23. The wisdome of God desireth no war but the Anger of God according to the darke worlds nature doth eagerly desire it and effecteth the same in the vanity and iniquity of man 24. If we lived as the children of God one among another we need not have any warring and
hindered by evill malignant Aspects which Master * * * The false Philosopher or Sophister Wiseling will scarce beleeve He can speak of the ground of nature exactly and hath it at his fingers end and yet is blinde in the Mystery and understands not either the inward or outward part of nature for such I have not written any thing for I need not such * * * Text Calves Animals to the understanding of my writings but good clear quick-sighted illuminated Eyes unto all others they are dumb and absurd let them be as wise and learned as they will 37. The Chaos is the root of nature and yeildeth of it selfe nothing else but a good property but if the Constellation be evill the evill malignant desire taketh the good property into it selfe and changeth it into evill as a good man among evill Company doth change his good also into an Evill 38. And the Rain-bow is especially represented or freely given unto man for a Token of the divine Grace so that he might behold and view himselfe as in an open and perspicuous Glasse what he is for the signe of Good and Evill is manifest as a type of the Centre of nature out of which Evill and Good take their rise over which the Son of man was set by God to be Judge 39. For the Type or forme of the Arke of Noah is also in the Rain-bow if we were not blinde it would plainly appeare so unto us also the Trinity of the Deity is therein pourtrayed for the red colour betokeneth the Father the yellow and white the Son and the blew the Spirit 40. And God hath set forth himselfe in a figure according to his manifestation in the Signe of the Covenant that we should flie unto his Grace and receive his Covenant and be alwayes mindefull of his Revelation to come where he will againe manifest the Spirituall world as he hath set it forth unto us by way of Similitude in the Rain-bow to the end that we should see what is in Secret and how his Covenant is Eternally established with us in Secret and standeth ever before him CHAP. XXXIV How Noah cursed his Son Ham and of the mysticall Prophecie concerning his Three Sons and their posterity AND Noah began to be an Husbandman and planted a vineyard and he dranke of the wine and was drunken and lay uncovered in his Tent Gen. IX vers 20 21 22 c. and Ham Canaans father saw the nakednesse of his father and told it his two bretheren without and Sem and Japhet tooke a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and went backwards and covered the nakednesse of their father and their faces were backwards so that they saw not their fathers nakednesse now when Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his younger Son had done unto him he said cursed be Canaan a servant of all servants he shall be amongst his bretheren and he said further blessed be the Lord God of Sem and let Canaan be his Servant and God enlarge Japhet and let him dwell in the tents of Sem and let Canaan be his Servant This is an exact reall Type of the humane property according to the Three Principles or worlds for the Spirit in Noah speaketh from the Centre and the Three Sons of Noah did now stand before the Spirit in a figure typifying what kinde of People should arise from them 2. By this figure the spirit of Noah prophecied or declared from the very Stock or root of the formed word of the humane property what the Second Monarchy should be Noah was drunke and lay naked with his shame at which his Son Ham mocked and also declared it to his brethren that they also should doe the like here the Spirit intimateth and pointeth out whence the Curse arose upon Ham viz. from the shame of his father 3. For this was even the Abomination before Gods Holinesse out of which root Ham and his generation viz. the man of vanity doth arise for in the Image of God the shame is an abomination 4. Therefore God commanded Abraham to be circumcised on this member to shew that this member was not given to Adam in the beginning and that it should be againe cut off from the Image of God and not inherit the Kingdome of God upon which Cause and reason also the Soules spirit is ashamed to uncover it 5. But being that Adam did not stand in the Image of God when his Eve was made out of him it was hung upon him for to propagate in a beastiall nature and kinde thereupon also this beastiall Tree viz. the fleshly spirit of vanity came to be propagated all along from this property and adheres to man the figure of this was Ham and therefore he mocked his own property in his father 6. The Spirit of this property mocked its Ens which it had from the Centre of nature it beheld it selfe in his fathers shame from whence it had its rise as in a looking-glasse of its selfehood and thus this spirit of fleshly Ham forthwith brake forth as a Life of vanity and manifested what it selfe was viz. a scorne disdain or mock-god of heaven 7. Which the Spirit of Gods Image in the formed word of the good Ens in Noah did well know and did awaken in him the fire-Centre of the Soule in the wrath and cursed this spirit of vanity that it should not co-inherit in the Kingdome of heaven the Scoff-Spirit shall not possess the Kingdome of God but be cut off from the Image of God that is from the outward Image of the formed creature 8. For the same property from whence the shame ariseth is Good in it selfe but in Adams Imagination after the beastiall property it became Monstrous Beastiall and Strange in the Image of God and therefore this strange forme and shape shall not remaine for ever 9. From this strange false shape the Scorner or Scoff-Spirit did arise the Devill insinuated into the Figure of Hams strange spirit and mocked at the Heavenly Generatresse that it was now even become a Monster in the Image of God and therefore the spirit of Noah cursed the false scoff-spirit in Ham and all his generation 10. Not that we are to understand that Ham was accursed in his Soul and Soules-spirit but according to the figure He and all his were accursed in the property of the reviling mocking Spirit which brake forth and manifested it selfe out of the monster but He that is the earthly Image of the Limus of the Earth should be hidden with its own selfe-will in the Image of God and be only as a Servant or instrument of the divine Image proceeding from the holy Ens the Earthly Spirit should not rule but the heavenly viz. the Soul with its spirit the Monster that is this vile reviling spirit must not be manifest but being the free-will did awaken and stir up the Monstrous spirit which was onely a scorner of the Mystery and
a Contemplation that is into an acute speculating Reason and make a figure out of it viz. a Dominion or forme of a Government of selfe-will according to the Kingdome of nature for Temporall Glory and Renowne 23. And under the other Son Javan he setteth foure Names viz. Elisa Tharsis Kittim and Dodanim and he saith that of these fourteen Names all the Isles and Languages of the Gentiles were filled and that they had their rise and Originall from hence These foure Names doe intimate out of the properties of nature thus much viz. by the first Name ELISA a good halfe Angelicall will by the second TARSHISH an introduction of the good will into the wrath of nature from whence an Evill warlike Selfenesse ariseth by the third viz. KITTIM a false understanding whereby the Angelicall Good will is brought in the selfehood of Reason even to be a foole and sets forth it selfe with a strange outside Lustre and it signifieth the heathenish Idolatry whereinto they brought themselves through Reason without Gods Light and thereby did set up heathenish Idolls and made themselves Great Kingdomes so that the spirit of Nature hath brought them under its power and might into its own form and under the Name DODANIM the spirit intimateth the Kingdome of nature in Selfehood with its selfely Divine Service viz. an externall visible God which may be shewn by the pointing of the finger 24. And under these fourteen Names in Japhets line the Humane Kingdome of nature is wholly pourtrayed and typifyed and we are in an especiall manner to observe that the angelicall will is therein concluded betokening the wise and deep understanding Heathen in the light of nature in whom the inward Holy Kingdome did behold it selfe who notwithstanding they lay shut up in the true divine understanding and saw by an externall light or reflex into the Restitution of all Beings shall when the Covering is taken away live in Sems Tent viz. in the Formed Word of nature yet in their property 25. Out of this fourteenth number of the fourteen Names of Japhet came the Propheticall and Apocalipticall Numbers 14. Names from which the Spirit prophecied how the wonders of nature should open themselves one after another and what should happen in each Degree of their manifestation which we will here passe over in Silence and mention it in its due place 26. Under Ham the spirit bringeth the greatest intimation of the Kingdome of Nature for he fully sets forth the externall forme of Reason for he saith Ham begat Chush Mizraim Puth and Canaan CVSH giveth in the Ens of the pregnant Generating Nature a signification of a forme of sudden conceived Swift ascending lust in Selfehood like to a Running or far and wide domineering and Reigning might and it is the root of the Princely Government according to the third Principle but Japhet is the same ground or work according to the first Principle 27. MIZRAIM signifieth a forth driving Power which doth forthwith comprehend it selfe again in the Lust in which the Centre of Nature doth goe forth all along in a strong through-breaking lust and desire and breaks open the forme of the Lust intimating unto us the Originall of the divided Tongues and how the power of the onely formed word of the understanding should be divided 28. The Name PVTH sheweth forth even from the Ens of nature a High City or place whereby the will of these men would advance it selfe on High in contriving and framing how to build them an High Tower CANAAN signifieth a Land of lowlinesse and humility shewing that God would be found in the lowly and humble and it especially signifies that this high flown aspiring will shall be overthrown and cast down 29. Although the Reader may not be able to understand us in this Tongue yet I set this down onely to the end that he may learn to consider and meditate on the Great Mystery which the Spirit of God hath signified under these Names from whence such a purpose of a few men did arise that it is even wholly a meere wonder whence the Tongues and speeches doe take their rise and Originall for the Spirit doth set down afterwards that Chus begat Nimrod who began to be a mighty Lord upon the Earth and was a mighty hunter before the Lord who would now understand what kinde of mighty Lord and hunter he was before God without the understanding of the Language of nature which being it is not every mans gift to understand we will onely intimate the sence and meaning even what the Spirit doth thereby understand in the word of the Essence 30. Nimrod became a mighty Lord and was an Hunter before the Lord Now if I be able to see the Spirit in its Essence in the formation of the word then I see what a Lord and Hunter Nimrod was for the Spirit doth herein signifie and point at the properties of nature shewing how the same have opened themselves in mans nature and brought themselves into an externall forme to a contrived framed Government among men the Spirit signifyeth by the Name how the humane free-will hath formed it selfe in the Nature of the understanding and Imagined such a Model and platforme into its minde out of which Imagination and phancy the outward work arose 31. For the Name NIMROD doth give a very clear signification in open understanding that he came from Chus for he is in himselfe a taking apprehending or an Arrogation of Power and might out of nature intimating how nature doth forme and frame it selfe into a Government in the Minde and hath put it selfe forth with Power and hath hunted suppressed and oppressed the inferiour properties therefore the Spirit saith an Hunter before the Lord for the Nature is before the Lord therefore the Spirit speaketh here of an hunter before the Lord for look as an Hunter doth hunt drive take and tame wilde Beasts even so the spirit intimateth that out of this selfe-advanced humane Nature such evill Beasts would arise who would live onely to the outward nature 32. Now out of the wrath of nature arose over these foolish beastiall men the Hunter viz. the outward domination which should hunt catch kill and keep them in Awe so that the Hunter might Tame them and hold them under a Government else there would be onely a Generall raving raging biting tearing devouring and eating up each other among the Beastiall men being they would not suffer the Spirit of God to rule and guide them they must suffer the Office of nature to rule them for otherwise what need hath the Lord of an Hunter that the Spirit in Moses saith that he was a mighty Hunter before the Lord that which hunteth before the Lord of all beings doth not hunt Hares or other Beasts 33. Moses hath a vaile before his cleare shining Eyes the Spirit doth hereby hint at the Government of nature shewing how the humane Government hath formed and contrived it selfe in the Soul of the
shall be so in eternity the same shall arise at the Last day and be proved through the fire of God where it shall be made very pure as a christall in which the Angel viz. Gods right Image shall dwell in which Angelicall Image God is primely manifest and thence shineth through the Beast as the Sun through a cristall this now is the signification of this Tender and good Calf which was dressed for this Meal and shews that the outward man according to his right Image created in Adam out of the Limus of the earth shall be brought upon Gods Table 22. But that Abraham saith He gave it to the young man to dresse that is the Servant doth betoken that this heavenly Beast-man is the instrument of the Angelicall man who is prepared to be a servant of this Angels Image 23. And Abraham took Butter and Milk also and set it all before these three men and came before them under the Tree and they did eat When Christ hath fed his people with his Body and Bloud and even while he feeds them he cometh in his power in his children before the holy Trinity and waiteth in his children upon these three men and giveth them from this prepared food wherewith he feedeth his children Praise and spirituall food 24. These three men viz. the holy Trinity do eat these holy spirituall meats out of the power of Christs Body for mans will giveth it selfe wholly peculiarly and fully to these three men for a food of praise with an holy voyce and prayer of Thankesgiving and this voyce of praise eateth the power of God into it selfe in manner as a man willingly eateth the tune harmony or pleasant air of a delightfull musick into his hearing and is therein merry and pleasant even so God doth awaken or manifest himselfe in his power in his word of hearing or divine Sence with mans pure humble voyce or melody of praise 25. For thereunto God hath created Angells and Men viz. to his own joy and know that we speak from the true ground and not from conjecture or * * * Or Parables Similitudes but from the Open Seal of God as we really see do but understand it aright 26. And now when God had delighted and fed himselfe with Abraham in the heavenly Ens which he would by the opening of the living word in the Seed of the Woman being also the heavenly Ens manifest and introduce into the Ens of the Covenant and had sported in the Ens of Abrahams faith viz. in the power of the praise of Abraham viz. in his humility then God asked after Sarah whom he well knew but Sarah knew him not that even the Lord should be in such a form then he said to Abraham Where is thy wife Sarah that is she was not yet in this Play untill she had received Abrahams Ens of faith and then this Play would awaken it selfe in her therefore she laughed at this for she knew not the Mysteries they did at present onely manifest themselves in Abrahams spirit where the Ens of Faith lay and he said She is in the Tent that is 27. She is in the humane Tent covered with the Earthly Tent that she doth not see who now is with me and the Lord said I will come again to thee * * * Ger. So. signifies As or If. As I live and lo Sarah thy wife shall have a Son that is I will come again to thee with the motion of thy Seed and when Sarah shall conceive then I will open and unloose her in her shut up Seed and come into thy Seed that is move for to come signifieth to move when God cometh then he moveth man and cometh or goeth in and with man 28. But that he saith As I live this is spoken after an essentiall manner for God told him how he would come not before him as at this time he did but * * * Or If. As that is as the lightfull influence and power of the Sun giveth it self into a fruit which when it cometh doth not step neer to the fruit but * * * Or If. As that is it penetrates essentially with the As into it for As is as much as thus I will see into it or open my Love-aspect in the Ens of its life * * * Or If. As I live hereby we are not to understand as if he had said if I yet live but he would live in the As he would come in the As viz. Essentially and not figuratively and typically as at this time he did 29. For when God cometh then he comes no otherwise then * * * Or If. As that is like the Sun-shine into the fruit this is understood in the Language of nature Essentially with emphaticall excellency for if God speaketh of his own Comming then he speaketh onely essentially in nature and manner of the uncompacted tongue of Sence 30. And Sarah laughed at this shee thought that shee should bring forth a Son from Abrahams lust onely from the humane cohabitation in the concupiscence of the flesh therefore shee said Shall I now I and my Lord are both old take pleasure the beastiall worlds-worlds-spirit laughed at its youth in that it was now weak and should now again become youthfull and thought with it selfe this were a sport if thou couldest As if one should tell an old man thou shalt become young again and receive such a desire and lust as when thou wert young at this nature would laugh and think yes indeed would that were true as if doubt and hope were coupled together thus it was also with Sarah for the world-spirit understands not the mysteries of God it is before God onely as a beast and being the world-spirit did now hear that it should so come to passe then it thought thou shalt be the work-master oh that thou couldest thou wouldst very fain and laughed at it selfe that it should become young again 31. The naturall man understands even as much of God as a beast when it sees the Hay then it thinks now there is somewhat for me to eat but if it sees nothing then it hopeth for it out of Custome but Sarah had now hoped untill shee was ninety yeares old and thought it to be very wonderfull that God would do somewhat unto her above the ordinary and usuall course of nature and Imagined it unto her selfe after the manner of humane pleasure 32. But the Lord said Wherefore did Sarah laugh at it and she was afraid and said I laughed not but the Lord said it is not so thou didst laugh should any thing be too impossible for the Lord to do Here is the Type of Eve when shee had turned her vain curiosity into Selfe lust to eat of the forbidden tree and God afterward asked her Wherefore shee had don so shee denied also her own lust and laid it upon the Serpent 33. And being that now God had here alluded with Abraham concerning
saw them he arose up to meet them and he bowed himselfe with his face towards the ground and he said Behold now my Lords turn in I pray into your servants house and tarry all night and wash your feet and ye shall rise up early and go on your wayes but they said nay but we will abide in the street all night and he earnestly entreated them and they turned in unto him and entered into his house and he made them a Feast and baked them unleavened cakes and they did eat 25. If we should declare and explain this in its right understanding then we would express it after this manner the cry of the Sodomites was the Curse which Noah laid upon Ham when he cursed him by reason of his unchast wanton beastial Eyes and desire this same cursed beastiall spirit had propagated bred up it self in the malicious prophane wholly earthly and serpentine property in the flesh and soul of this generation of Ham so that it had established it selfe in a Kingly Dominion under which they lived more like to Beasts then true Men. 26. This Cry of the cursed Serpents Ens grown up to its full height in the Anger was made manifest and sounded aloud in its Mother viz. in the Anger of God in the dark worlds property and had awakened the judgement upon and in it selfe and now God sent his judgement upon the Serpents Ens this was now the time of Enos his hidden and at present opened Seal as it is before mentioned concerning the Seaven * * * The 30 Chap. of this Book vers 36. Lines or Generall junctures of time where his mystery was at the end and was now revealed as a Sound of his preaching in the word of power both in Love and Anger 27. As in Abraham in Love for here the formed word which began to be taught in the dayes of Enos did now manifest it selfe in the formed pregnant and Grown Ens or being in Abraham with the promised and holy Seed of Faith And in the children of iniquity who were of the generation of cursed Ham the property of the Anger did here manifest it selfe out of Enos his Preaching wherein he threatned Gods judgement and Rebuke this same was now grown up in the children of iniquity and brought to Substance 28. And now seing the Seal of this Enos did open it Selfe being his mystery was at the End and was forthwith to be manifest according to Love and Anger thereupon each property set forth its Substance to the divine Contemplation viz. whatsoever the word in the Love Ens had wrought under the sound or voice of Enos and also what the Sound of the denunciation of the Anger of God had wrought Here now the Essences of both properties did open themselves and set themselves into the judgement to the finall sentence of the righteousness of God Now in this finall Arbitration or determination of the divine Justice viz. in Abraham there stood Christ in the judgement of Enos his Preaching of Repentance and in Enos his threatnings of plagues and punishment the earnest and severe judgement of God viz. Prince Lucifer did there stand in the judgement in the children of the curse in Ham to execute the fame in the wrath of God as a servant of the house of darkness 29. For God said to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai * * * Exod. 20.5 I will visit and punish the iniquities of the Parents upon the children even unto the third and fourth Generation which is here to be seen in Ham Noahs Son here came first the curse of Noah into Judgement 20. And here two Angels were sent that is in the power and might of the judgement in Christs stead being Christ was not yet in the flesh and in Office for Christs Office continued in Abraham before the Lord and prayed for the Rebellious men of Sodom and Gomorrah 31. But when they were tryed in the judgement viz. in the Office of the Love of Christ before the Lord whether there were any men of Sodom who were capable of the office of Christ in the Love and yet none were found then the office of Christ in Abraham remained behinde and went not unto Sodom but the Office of divine Righteousness and truth went in the form of two Angels to Sodom and looked very intimately into their essence and being and proved the same in it selfe as it is to be seen that as soon as these two Angels came into the Citie the property of the People did open and manifest it selfe and they would have these Men brought forth among them 32. For these two Angels had stirred up or moved their properties and set them in open view before the Lord to see what was in them and then they found that they were onely beastiall unchast lewd murtherers which brought them into judgement and now they must be judged according to their Essence 33. But that the Spirit in Moses signifieth That Lot sate at the Gate and knew these Angels and entreated them earnestly to turn in unto him that so he might wash their feet and bake them cakes and that they did eat and yet at first did deny to turn in unto him The same is a very hidden mystery for it is the Spirit of truth and righteousness which Lot knew very well for it was moved in the Essence and entered first with the Tryall into Loth and when as he humbled and bowed himselfe before the Lord he was proved and found upright in himselfe 34. But the truth did first refuse to go into his house with the Righteousness viz. with the judgement and would remain in the street for it was because of Lotts wife who when she was proved and the judgement passed through her was cast as to her Temporall life for she continued in the judgement as a * * * Prima Materia first matter viz. as a Sulphur Mercurius that is an * * * The hard Astringent impressed matter of the judgement as a transmutation into the first Essence out of which the Body was created 35. Yet not so soon before the execution of the judgement but when Lot went with her out of Sodom and the judgement began she drew the judgement back again on her as is to be seen in the judgement which then laid hold on her for it had taken her in the probation 36. Yet the Command was given her not to look back and so she might have overcome if she had forthwith entered into Repentance and broken the evill earthly will and fallen down with Lot at the Lords feet and this was the cause that the two Angells refused to turn in unto Lott 37. And by Lotts wife the earthly Matrix is signified which shall not go along through the judgement although it must help to work and bring forth fruit as an instrument yet it is not in its outward form chosen unto the kingdome of heaven for it was adjoyned to Eve
English translation which married which were to marry his daughters and said Arise get ye out of this place for the Lord will destroy this Citie but he seemed unto them as one that mocked 65. This is now an excellent Mirror how God also gave warning unto these men and would have spared them for Lots sake if they would but have followed him but the wrath had captivated them and wholly hardned them that they did but laugh and jeer at him and as it were said unto him what is hapned to the foole he thinkes the skie will fall 66. The inward figure stands thus Gods truth in the Love drew these men Lots Sons in law and would deliver them but the wrath was stronger in them and had captivated them in the probation of their heart they continued in the judgement as Lots wife whom notwithstanding Lot brought forth with him before the Citie yet the wrath drew her back again into judgement so that she being she was for Lots sake freed from the fire-sword must go into a Transmutation untill the Last Judgement which is a terrible Example 67. In this figure this present world may behold it selfe and take warning for as certain and as true that the Preaching of Lot was true and the punishment followed thereupon so certainly also shall the * * * Or Judgement punishment of the Sixt Seals Time which Seal is even now at hand and hath already opened it selfe suddenly follow 68. But that the warning hereof came so long agoe declareth that the time of the sixt Seal in its manifestation is the most wonderfull of all the Six Seales till the Seaventh * * * Or Seal Number which is yet more wonderfull for it is the End of this world and the Last Judgement 70. The hardned surprized and apprehended crew is already Judged for the Dolefull sifting Sword hath taken hold of them they run now in a raving raging manner as mad people in Pride Covetousnesse and Envy and contem what the Angels Trumpet soundeth 71. The Cry which the Angels Trumpet soundeth is this Go out from Babel Go out from Babel Go out from Babel shee stands apprehended and captivated in the Flaming Sword AMEN CHAP. XLIV How Lot departed out of Sodom and of the Terrible overthrow of this whole Region in Hams Generation of the circumstances thereof and how it was effected WHen as the wrath of the Judgement was now set on fire Gen. XIX vers 15. c. and the day Appeared that the Sun shon bright and every man thought all is in peace and quiet there is no danger The Angels commanded Lot to make hast and said Arise take thy wife and thy two daughters which are here least thou also perish in the iniquitie of this Citie and while Lot lingered the men took him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand the Lord being mercifull to him and they brought him forth and set him without the Citie 2. The internall figure stands thus the Spirit in Moses setteth the figure so clearly that a man may easily take it for he saith when the morning came and the Sun was risen they took him by the hand and brought him and his wife and his two daughters forth out of the Citie And now as the figure was externally in the arisen light of the day and the Sun so it was also internally in Gods Truth and Judgement 3. Namely in the truth the figure was internally thus In Lott and his two daughters the light of the understanding concerning the Messiah was arisen in Gods truth which Lots daughters knew very well that it viz. the light of the Sun of righteousness in Gods truth had moved it selfe in their father Lot from which cause afterwards when they were gon out from Sodom and the night approached they made their father drink sweet wine to the full and lay with him that they might receive Seed viz. the holy Seed from him for the Spirit both in Lot and his daughters did also signifie thus much in their risen light and shewed it to them 4. And now as the Sun was externally risen and it seemed to be a very lovely pleasant day so also internally in Gods truth the Sun of the Covenant viz. the holy Sun-Day was risen according to the probation in their Essence for they were now passed through the judgement And likewise on the contrary the Sun of the dark worlds property viz. the working of Gods Anger was risen now in the children of Sodom and forced mightily into Gods Righteousness therefore the Angels bad Lot make hast for the Sun of Anger was already risen and had apprehended the children of Iniquity 5. Like as the holy Sun in Gods truth which had apprehended Lot and his daughters in the Essence of Faith took Lot and his daughters by the hand and brought them forth from them so likewise the Wrath had already taken the children of Sodom by the hand of their Essence and brought them into the judgement of Execution And we will signifie and apply O Babel this figure unto the time of thy Seal mark and observe it yee Daughters children of Lot it concerns you 6. When God will punish a Land he first sends them Messengers and exhorts them to Repentance and declares unto them his Grace soon after he sends them the Angel of righteousness who tryeth and sifteth them whether they be capable of the Grace that is tendred unto them and sets judgement before them with threats of their ruin denouncing great warre and Plagues upon them to blot and root them out if they will not return and repent and sheweth them also by his Messengers the light and way of Righteousness and suffers them to run on in the light that is tendered to them till they be weary and glutted with it and hold it onely for a common customary thing and an history and again become a Sodom 7. And then he sends them both Angels together to wit the Angel of righteousness and the Angel of truth and first threatneth them severely and exhorts them and setts the judgement before them but when they * * * arâ—â—e grow wholly a Sodom he leaveth off from the outward figure and letts them fill up their measure and then it seems as if the Sun were risen upon their Sodom and now it should be good and Prosperous but even then saith the Angel of truth in his children hasten and go out the Punishment and Ruin is at hand 8. Thus we declare unto thee Babel that God hath already long since sent thee Messengers and with the declaration of the Gospel hath tendred thee his Grace and therewith also hath mightily threatned to punish thee with Ruin but thou hast made onely a contentious disputing Babel of the light of the Gospel and art now the well-fatted Sodom 9. And know for certain that the Lord for a farewell hath now sent thee two Angels one hath the truth in him and bids Lot
with his daughters to go out from Sodom and the other hath the Severe judgement and hath now at last sifted thee and turned thy inward Signature outwards and set it before the Lord and thy * * * Thy Cain like crying for ruin upon others murtherous Cry is come up before the presence of the most High and it is exceeding great he hath sent his Angel to destroy thee and to overturn the Cities 10. Thy signature wherewith thou art now outwardly marked is the Great Covetousness and Envy together with thy Ammunition-money and the great wrathfull severity of thy Oppression of the poor and miserable in that thy covetousness hath served it selfe so high that it desires to devour all into it selfe whence thy great * * * The scarcity and deerness of commodities and all oppression ariseth from the covetousnes and pride of man who seeks to maintaine it by the sword Enhancement of mens Necessaries is risen 11. But thou sayst now it is a good and a prosperous time the Sun is risen upon mee and shineth on my purse so that I can fill it as I please it is a good and a fine time for me it shall now be a good and a golden time sure enough I shall certainly enjoy it and arise in High power and authoritie and be respected 12. But hear now what at present the Sound of the Trumpet declareth it saith go out from Sodom the Sun is risen in Love and Anger this we will not hide from you the Angel of truth hath now already taken Lots daughters with the father and his wife by the hand and bids them go it is time this thou shalt soon see by wofull experience 13. For the Angel of Anger hath also taken thee into Judgement and therefore thou art so wrathfull covetous murtherous and wicked do but behold thy selfe whether we speak truth thou gettest thy selfe much to spend in thy Signature and thou hast indeed a storehouse full of provision in the Abysse he that can see let him see in whom there is but the least inckling of the Trumpets Sound let him go out of Sodom there is no longer any tarrying 14. And Moses speaketh further and when he had brought Lot forth Vers. 17. â— the 23. he said escape for thy life look not behind thee and stay not also in this whole Plain escape unto the mountain lest thou be consumed but Lot said unto him oh not so my Lord behold now being thy Servant hath found Grace in thy sight be pleased to magnifie thy mercy which thou hast shewn unto me in that thou hast saved my life I cannot escape to the mountain least some evill take me and I dye behold there is a Citie very near unto which I may flee it is a little one O let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live And he said unto him see I have accepted thee concerning this thing that I should not overturn the Citie for which thou hast spoken hast thee escape thither for I can do nothing till thou be come thither therefore the Name of the Citie was called Zoar and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when Lot came into Zoar. The inward Figure stands thus 15. The spirit of truth had moved the spirit in the Covenant in Lot and taken him by his spirituall hand and brought him forth out of the Judgement understand the soul of Lot in which the word of promise in the Covenant had opened it selfe according to the spirituall property into which also the now sent voice of truth and judgement did force and defended Lot from and in the judgement 16. For with the Judgement the first Principle viz. the Soules Centre was sifted and proved through all the properties of the Eternall Nature into this the Lords hand viz. the Angel of the Lord did put it selfe with the Grace of Christ's Covenant in Abraham and drew Lot out of the judgement and from the children of Sodom therefore the Angel said Deliver thy selfe and look not behinde thee into judgement viz. into the enkindled wrath least the same take thee as hapned to Lots wife who turned her desire back again to see and behold what the wrath of the Lord should be 17. As Adam and Lucifer also did the like who would essentially behold and prove Gods viz. the Eternall Nature's wrath which yet is a consuming fire and forth with proveth spirit and body and if it reacheth any thing of which it is capable it devoureth it into it selfe 18. Now the Soul of Lot trembled and stood in fear before the Angel of the judgement viz. before Gods righteousness and entreated his truth that he would be pleased to magnifie his Mercy in the Covenant towards him least the Turba should take hold of him and it is a very excellent example how God taketh his children in the Time of punishment and judgement into his Love defendeth them and brings them forth from great destruction as he did here unto Lot and also unto the upright children in the finall destruction of Jerusalem 19. Also the Angel of vengeance said I can do nothing untill thou be come thither Oh! thou wonderfull God who can hinder thee but this is even thus to be understood the spirit of his Love in the Covenant had set or established it selfe with the Truth in Lot and kept off the Anger that it could not burn untill Lot came out 20. And we see that oftentimes the children of God are able to withhold great plagues and punishment of God from coming down on a people there is even such a might in them that Gods Anger is able to do nothing and is as it were impotent where they are present also they are a might and power against Hell and the Devill for such a thing is true reall Faith that it can withhold and overpower God in his Anger 21. Therefore the Lord said to Lot I cannot do any thing untill thou be gon out and he spared also the little Citie called Pella or Zoar viz. a diversion or turning away of the Anger for Lots sake for when he came thither the Turba must be extinguished as the Name in the uncompacted tongue of Sence doth expresse it Ver. 24 25 26. 22. And then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven and overthrew the Cities and all the Plain and all the Inhabitants of the Cities and all whatsoever grew upon the ground and his wife looked back and she became a pillar of Salt 23. This is now the figure of the kingdome of Christ who had opened himselfe to Abraham in the Love how he would sit in Judgement over the world and how the Might and Dominion is given unto him of God that he should destroy the Devills Kingdome upon the earth and give all wicked men unto the Anger of God to be devoured for when he had manifested himselfe to Abraham and
confirmed the Covenant of Righteousness he then sent these two Angels viz. Gods truth and judgement to Sodom to blott out and destroy the children of Ham viz. the malicious vile rebellious halfe-Devills men that so the Devills Kingdome might be lesned and not grow so great upon the earth and hinder his Kingdome The inward Figure stands thus 24. It rained brimstone and fire from the Lord from Heaven saith Moses This was not the inward hellish fire which at the End of dayes shall purge the Floar otherwise the foure Elements would have been changed it was onely a figure of the future The Originall of the brimstone and fire was generated in Turba magna in the third Principle it was onely a Sword of vengeance The inward fire consumes earth and stones and all Elements but this was onely a fire as is generated in the * * * Thunder-clap Tempest in Turba magna in the * * * Or Excrement Egest which the Constellation casteth forth from it selfe which is a materia thereunto although it be no palpable matter or substance yet it is a spirituall substance in which Mercurius doth enkindle it selfe in the Salniter viz. in the fire crack where then also the flagratt or fire crack doth fix it selfe into a Substance or Essence which is Brimstone 25. For the Three first properties viz. Sulphur Mercurius and the Salt-sharpnesse are in the Originall as they are yet a spirit onely one Thing but when Mercurius viz. the Sound of the formed word doth move it selfe in the Principle viz. in its first Originall by an Opposition or Contrary Aspect then he is terrified in himselfe that is the motion stirreth the Originall of the heat and cold viz. the Originall of the first Principle according to the cold and hott fire which is the beginning of the Contrariety and horror from whence the fire-flash or Salnitrall flagratt doth arise where also the Three first viz. the heat the cold and the Sound do each impresse and introduce it selfe into a peculiar substance in the Flagrat viz. the heat into Brimstone and the cold into a saltish property and Mercurius into a watry property and yet they were not wholly separated and each of them of another or sundry substance by it selfe but fixt together according to one property 26. The like also we are here to understand concerning the Brimstone-fire the wrath of the first Principle viz. Gods Anger according to the eternall nature did behold the outward nature in the third Principle with an * * * Or Darâ—ing flash Aspect which is called Turba magna being a Turba in the Soul of the outward world in the spirit of nature whence the outward nature doth enflame and enkindle it selfe and the * * * The prime Ternary of nature three first properties do fix themselves into a Substance viz. into Brimstone Salt and into a Mercuriall poysonfull water in which the flagrat or flash of the fire did enkindle and impress it selfe and so being enkindled did rain upon Sodom and Gomorrah and upon the Plain of the Countrey and destroyed all this is it which is said The Lord rained brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven 27. Not that this matter of the Brimstone and fire came from the inward heaven but the wrath came forth from the inward into the outward Principle so that the outward in the Might of the inward did impress and enkindle it selfe out of the properties of the inward and this is a reall Type of the inward dark world if the same nature doth move it selfe then it is even so in spirituall property which God calleth his wrath and Anger and a consuming fire for if this inward spirituall dark World did move it selfe the outward World with the four Elements would forth with be swallowed up in this same spirit-fire which shall come to passe at the End of Dayes 28. And here we have a figure of this in Lots wife who was turned to a Pillar of Salt that the three First properties had moved themselves for she after that she had looked back into the Turba was apprehended or taken in the Salts-spirit in its Impression which denoteth that she was * * * Or that property was most predominant in her most of that very property viz. Covetous in the desire in which she also was taken and apprehended in the sifting Probation of the Angel 29. And though the Angel had defended her from the fire-wrath yet she was taken in the wrath of nature of her own peculiar property viz. the Turba magna laid hold of the Body viz. the substance of the third Principle and changed it into its own peculiar property viz. into the might of the first which was chiefly predominant in her Body according to which property also she was apprehended in the Turba 30. And we ought not to account this a strange thing for we have very much hereof in the Scripture Let us look upon Vzza who was apprehended and smitten by the Ark of the Covenant when he did onely touch the same when the wrath of God was moved but in the * * * That is awakened and stirred up and not atoned Sound Let us see also how it seized on the Philistins when they had the Ark of the Covenant with them also how it devoured Chorah Dathan and Abiram by Moses in the Wildernesse all these have but one Originall but each is peculiarly manifest in its own matter and manner according as the Turba is enkindled among the Three First properties 31. But if Lots wife had apprehended and laid hold of the word of Truth and Mercy in the Message of the Angel it had well protected her but shee did not beleeve what the Angel said and very like shee loved her Temporall goods all which shee must forsake and looked back again and earnestly longed after the Temporall and the Turba of Time did also apprehend her so that she according to the substance of the Body must remain in the first matter out of which God had extracted the Limus of the earth and formed it into a spirituall living Image untill the Lord shall again transmute the same substance into a spirituall Essence 32. And it was don to the End that man should yet see what he is according to the outward Body if God withdraweth his Spirit therefrom and that he requireth the ground of the heart and not onely a mouth-hypocrisie and flatteries of a seeming holy devout lip-labour that a man should onely comfort himselfe with the Grace tendered feeding himselfe with an outward apprehension or application thereof and receive the same onely as a free gift of grace from without and yet remain an Evill Beast in the spirit and will 33. As the present Babylonicall Christendome doth which also with Lots wife receiveth the grace onely externally or by a strange Imaginary Imputation and comforts it selfe with the grace but remaineth in the heart in selfehood and the lust
to another * * * Mat. 24.14 For a Testimony unto all People And unto thee O * * * And to thee also O England Germany it is now shewen and also to those Nations of whom thou art born with the Name of Christ in that thou hast for a long time walked under the Mantle of Christ with an heathenish heart and boasted of the Adoption but lived onely in the iniquitie of the flesh That thy Judgement is nigh at hand 13. For the Angel of the judgement calleth aloud to the residue of Abrahams children in Christ Go out of Sodom Abraham in Christ is gon away from you yee have no more of Christ then an empty breath and a disputing verball lip-labour a mockery whereby one brother doth contemne scorn and mock another for Christs Knowledge sake and onely killeth Christ in his members The Citie Jerusalem and Babylon wherein thou hast gloried and proudly percked up thy selfe in thy devout hypocrisie shall go to ruin Amen 14. Lon Star shineth from the East and North which shall blindfold thee and break down thy walled Towers and Strong Holds in Jerusalem and Babylon for thou art called no longer Jerusalem but Babel and the children which sit in the shadow of the night and which lye imprisoned in Babel shall be delivered and come forth and enter into the Citie of God which he hath set open to all Nations and tongues of the earth that his glory may be known A light for All Nations or people 15. The figure of Abraham Sarah and Abimilech Gen. 20. is an emphaticall Type of Christendome how they should be weak in their own power and be delivered by God onely as Abraham was of a faint and timorus spirit when he was to go among these Nations and prayed his Sarah that she would say of him that he was her brother that so they might not slay him for her sake to signifie that a Christian in his own strength is not able to do any thing or to take unto himselfe therein the spirit of Christ who gives courage but he must go onely naked among his enemies and not at all rely on himselfe and his knowledge but meerly and onely upon Gods Grace 16. For he himselfe cannot stand onely Christ in him must be his sole courage and stedfast perseverance As Abraham here in his own abilities was full of doubt before Pharoah and Abimilech and continually fearfull of his life and must see onely when and how God would shield him and his Sarah and this history is excellently elegantly and exactly written of * * * Note Esdras Esdras in the vision of the spirit of Christ concerning Christs Kingdome as if the spirit had on purpose figured this History concerning Christs Kingdome for it aymeth directly thereat 17. But the outward man understands nothing of the Kingdome of Christ as we may see in Sarah when she conceived and brought forth Isaac shee said the Lord hath made me to laugh the people will laugh at this that the very Aged Sarah should give a child suck she did not yet understand the * * * Image Type of Christ but the Spirit of Christ in her understood it and not the naturall man in Selfhood but the will which was resigned and given up to God the same onely did apprehend the Covenant and the Spirit of Christ. 18. But Reason viz. the selfefull will did not perceive any thing thereof it was onely matter of mirth and laughter to it for it looked onely upon it selfe what it was As Abrahams will of selfe-own hood looked onely on it selfe and was afraid and dismayed and yet in him there was the great might over all Powers and Principalities but it did not belong to the humane own-hood 19. For Christ in his children doth not belong to the humane own-hood viz. to the selfewill neither doth he appropriate or give in himselfe to it but unto the humble resigned will to that he doth incline and appropriate himselfe and sometimes he doth also defend the own will thereby 20. For the own selfe-will is of the nature of this world born of flesh and bloud but the Resigned will dyeth to the world and is brought forth to life in God Thus also we are to understand in Abraham and in all Christians a twofold will viz. one of this world which allwaies stands in fear and then according to the Second Principle viz. the Kingdome of Heaven the poore captive soules will which diveth and immerseth it selfe into Gods Mercy in * * * Note Hope Hope CHAP. XLVI Of Isaac's birth and the casting-out of Ishmael with his Mother Hagar What thereby is signified Gen. XXI THe Spirit in Moses setteth the figure of mans Regeneration in its process so exactly and orderly together in the history of Abraham that a man may even lay hold of it much more see it how he doth set the naturall man in selfe and Christ so punctually by each other and points even with the finger at the figure for when God had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and that Plain over against which Abraham dwelt and brought forth Lot then Abraham journeyed from thence towards the South shewing that when the Kingdome of Christ should be * * * Corrupt despoyled in any place that then Christ would depart thence 2. And He lived under the King Abimilech and sojourned as a stranger at Gerar In these two Names viz. Abimilech and Gerar the figure stands plain in the generation or formation of the word without any interpretation or exposition wherefore the Spirit in Moses wrote down this History and from whence he looketh as through an exact Perspective for ABIMILECH denoteth the man of ingenious and discreet Reason viz. the true man but without Christ onely in the creature as he is created GERAR betokeneth the strong Austere life of nature wherein the understanding must dwell which nature is corrupted and from that corruption casteth or darteth Temptations and oppositions continually into the life's understanding or Reason-light so that the life stands in a constant contrariety and is uncessantly sifted winnowed and proved which is the * * * Note Cross of the children of God that they see that while they live in themselves in selfe-Reason they can doe nothing else but go astray slip and erre as may be seen here in Abraham When God lead him away from the borders of the Sodomites he went towards the South unto King Abimilech The inward figure of this stands thus 3. When God had manifested himselfe to Abraham and set forth the figure of Christ and his Kingdome and also the Power of Judgement upon the whole earth then God hid himselfe again from Abraham and then Abraham went towards the South Countrey that is into his Reason viz. into mans own understanding and dwelt at Gerar that is in the corrupt nature which manifests it selfe plainly in his carriage towards Abimilech where he in the fear of nature in
the Temptation did deny his wife and said that she was not his wife that so he might but preserve himselfe by the suttlety of Reason and we see here also how that that very thing by which he thought in Reason to keep himselfe from mischiefe must reprove and teach him as we see how Abimilech reproved him in that he had denied his wife with whom he had almost sinned if the Lord had not warned him and the exposition is this 4. If we see a man whom the Spirit of God driveth and by whom he oftentimes speaketh we must not so take it up and thinke that he is something more then other men as Abraham was no more then others in his own Reason the selfe-reason in them is as wavering dubious and imperfect as in other men and That what they know and teach of God is not their own propriety as we see here in Abraham how he out of fear did not spare his Sarah but denied her out of a timerous conjecture though Abimilech had taken her away from him to be his Concubine that so he might but live and it might be well with him for her sake 5. Thus God proveth his children that they might see that they in their own ability are no more then all other sinfull men and that men should not so set by them and hold them for a God thus oftentimes God permits them to go astray and erre and yet then he rebukes them also by those whom they ought to teach as we see here in Abimilech how he must reprove Abraham and make him ashamed that he would not spare his wife for a small fears sake but would deny her 6. And although it doth fall out that sometimes we see such a man whom God driveth to erre yet we ought not therefore presently wholly to reject him and set him at nought and think that he is wholly without God as the world doth but think that God doth thus set his children under the Cross to prove them that they should learn to know themselves and then the Sun ariseth again upon them as here it did upon Abraham when God had suffered him to go unto Gerar that is into his naturall rationall life wherein he committed a great offence before Abimilech A twofold Sun did afterwards arise and shine on him viz. one was that Abimilech did acknowledge him and learned to fear the Lord and gave the Land for a possession unto Abraham he gave him also Gifts for rebuke as the Reproof of the Saints is that men should fear at Gods reproof Thus the Sun of King Abimilechs favour arose upon him And then the other Sun which shoan on him was that Sarah conceived and a branch sprang forth unto him out of the line of the Covenant from the divine Suns Power and Isaac was born unto him 7. And that we may understand the very truth we see how allwaies the Crosse stands by the children of God and Adam and Christ are continually sett by each other as here Abimilech and Abraham and Ismael and Isaac and also the man of right reason and the corrupt nature against reason which uncessantly sifts and trys reason as we may see it here in Hagar and Sarah which also were set one against another that one did exercise the other as Hagar in the property of corrupt nature viz in Adams life and Sarah in Christs Person so that Hagar did exercise and prove the naturall Sarah that shee pressed forth out of the Reason or carnall * * * Or naturall carnall wisdome wisdome of the flesh into God 8. And we have here in Sarah and her Maid Hagar with her Son Ismael and with Isaac Sarahs Son how Sarah cast out the Bond-woman with her Son which seemed grievous to Abraham and yet was right in the sight of God such an excellent mirrour as we finde not the like again in the Bible shewing how Christ and the naturall man dwell * * * Sojourn together by one another and how the naturall man with Ismael and his mother must be wholly cast out from the right of Inheritance and selfe-will that the naturall own will is no heir of God 9. And when the resigned will hath wholly cast * * * Vnderstand the selfe-assuming will of nature which seekes to be master in man him out then the poor nature of man sitteth in its rejected will in fear and trembling and utterly despairs of life as here Hagar with her Son Ismael when shee was cast out from Abraham she wandered in the wildernesse of Beer-sheba that is in the brokenness of her heart and looked upon her selfe as one wholly forsaken and as one quite spent and faint despaired of her own and her Sons life for shee had lost the Inheritance and the favour of her Mistress also and all her goods and there was neither water nor bread for to preserve life and they were as given up to death for shee went and sat a stones cast from the child because she would not see him dye and when she had even wholly given on her selfe to dye then the Angel came again unto her and called her and comforted her and shewed her also a fountaine and told her that she should not be so afraid of death her Son must yet become a great Nation The inward figure of this is thus 10. When Isaac that is Christ is born in the Convert then the spirituall new-born will rejecteth its own evill nature it contemneth it and condemneth it to death casteth it out also from it selfe with its Son the mocker viz the false interpreter and perverter of the truth as if it would even burst the same in the Minde so very an hatefull enemy the new-born spirituall will becomes to the naturall will in its Evill qualities viz. to Ismael the Son of the naturall will who is onely a mocker scoffer pharisaicall censurer lyar backbiter and unrighteous 11. And when the new-born will hath thus cast out the evill nature with its wicked children from it selfe then the poor forsaken nature stands in great distress trembling and desertion for the internall holy Soul doth forsake it and then it even gives up it selfe wholly to death and wandreth in it selfe in the wilderness and looketh upon it selfe as a foolish and simple one who is every ones by-word and laughing stocke 12. And then when the nature doth willingly give it selfe thereunto that it also will now dye wholly to its selfeness and dispaires wholly on it selfe as a poor forsaken woman that is deprived of all the worldly glory riches beauty and the pleasure of the outward life also being wholly cast out from its former desire and almost quite forlorn so that the own desire begins to faint and quail within it selfe then comes the Angel of God to the nature and comforts it and bids it not to despair and gives it also water to drink that is some faithfull upright man or some inward ray and beam of
light from the new-birth of Christ in the heart which comforts it in its forsaken condition and helps to nourish and cherish it and tells it that it shall not dye but become a great Nation but not in its innate and inbred heritage viz. in the evill Selfe-will but in Beer-sheba that is in the true Contrition in the wilderness viz. in the valley of teares in the desertion that is the poor nature must work in this forsakenness and in its present banishment and exile from the sensible and full enjoyment of Paradise bring forth much fruit which fruit the Angel brings again into Abrahams Tent to be a sojourner of Christ. 13. That is we must understand when Christ is born in man he rejecteth the vanity of nature with the will which worketh and desireth vanity and maketh the naturall will to be Servant whereas before it was Lord and Master but Nature standeth in the wilderness in the vanity of death encompassed with Sin and now it must work and bring forth fruit and yet it looketh upon it selfe as wholly impotent and as one wholly cast out from the inward spirituall will of Christ and in it selfe it seems as one foolish and contemned of the world and every way beaten off from its own will and then it begins even to sinck and quail in it selfe and to leave off from its own will and all things are of small esteem with it That which before did rejoyce it that now is against it and it stands allwaies as if it should dye it hopeth and doubteth that is it hopeth amendment that it might yet once be delivered from the scornfull contempt and be set again into the honour of its selfehood but it dryeth up also it s well of water and Gods anger appears in its sight that is all its friends depart from it with whom before in its Temporall goods and prosperity it had pleasure respect and honour so that it looks upon it selfe as continually a dying 14. And when this comes to passe then it is right in the way to Beer-sheba and wandreth in the wilderness for it knowes not what it shall do it is every ones scorn whatsoever it lookes upon rebukes it for a fool in that its power is taken from it that it must now forgo the beauty riches and honour of the world and all whatsoever might advance and preferre it in Temporalls and yet it would fain have them but yet it is drawn from them by the inward man in Christs spirit and * * * Blamed or upbraided reproved in these Temporalls for unrighteous and abominable 15. And then indeed it enters right into Beer-sheba viz. into the Contrition of the heart and setts reason by the empty water-pott of Hagar and goeth a stones cast from its Son Ismael viz. from the own desire of nature and stands and compells also the thoughts of nature and will not give any thing any longer to its own children viz. to the Sences and cogitations of the minde but casteth them away as children that now must dye a stones cast that is a while from it selfe that it might not see the death of its children so wholly doth Hagar viz. the nature with its Son give up it selfe to the minde for the mortification of the selfehood of the own will sits also and mournes in it selfe in Beer-sheba viz. in the broken and contrite heart and wholly despairs of its Reason would fain dye that it might be but freed from the miserable forlorn condition 16. And then when it is thus prepared that it quite despairs of its Selfe gives up it selfe wholly into the death of selfehood then cometh the Angel of God to Hagar that is to the poor forsaken and dying nature and saith What aileth thee Hagar God hath heard the voice of the Lad where he lyeth arise take up the Lad and hold him in thy hand for I will make him a great Nation and then God openeth the eyes of Hagar viz. of nature and shee sees a well of water and then filleth her bottle with water and gives the Lad drink who growes in the desart and is a good Archer and dwels even in the wilderness of Paran and must take an Egyptian wife The inward exceeding pretious and worthy figure of this stands thus 17. When man hath put on Christ in Faith and is entered into right true Repentance and hath in his minde forsaken the whole world even all its honour goods and things temporall then the poor nature of man doth thus stand in the mortification of selfe as is above-mentioned concerning Hagar and her Son for it desireth also to dye even to the Senses and cogitations of the minde and to enter wholly into Resignation 18. And when it stands thus in the thoughts of death having given up its will and cogitations into mortification then the inward Voice of Gods Word manifests it selfe in the Minde and * * * Thoughts meditations Senses and even there the divine word heareth the voyce of the childs crying viz. the troubled disconsolate Minde in its * * * Cogitations meditations thoughts for it soundeth therein in the divine voice and saith in the divine voice to nature viz. to Hagar What aileth thee thou troubled and perplexed nature fear not God hath heard the voice of the Lad viz. of thy thoughts which thou hast offered up in the desire to God Arise that is lift up thy selfe to God in this resignation and stand up in the voice which hath gratiously heard thee and looked upon thee and take thy cogitations viz. thy Son by the hand of faith and guide and govern the powers of the Minde they shall not dye but live and go for I will make them a great Nation that is to a great divine understanding and capacity in divine Mysteries and God openeth unto nature the fountain of living water so that it receiveth into the Bottle of its essence in it selfe of Gods well-spring and therewith it gives the Lad viz. the Sences or powers of the minde drink 19. And then God is with this Lad of the Thoughts and he groweth great in the wilderness that is in the corrupt nature the right discreet and intellectuall child groweth great in the Spirit of the Lord and becomes an Archer that is an Archer of the Lord and his brethren who shootes the Birdes of prey and the wild Beasts understand he shooteth down out of his Spirit the evill beasts and birds in his brethren with the holy Spirit he teacheth them and reproveth them with divine Arrowes 20. But he must dwell in the wilderness of Paran viz. in the corrupt flesh and in the wilderness amongst ungodly People and there he must be an Archer of God and his Mother viz. nature gives him an Egyptian woman that is nature layeth a fleshly woman by the noble Minde born in Christs Spirit with which the noble new-born Minde must sit in wedlock and be plagued with this Idolatrous fleshly
woman understand it thus 21. This Egyptian woman is his flesh and bloud with Reason wherein the Idoll Maozim viz. the Babylonicall whore sitteth where the Devill hath his Pulpit which to the pretious Minde is the Crosse of Christ where the womans Seed viz. the Spirit of Christ must uncessantly bruise the Serpents head viz. the Devills introduced desire in this Whore of Babylon 22. This whore is now the Exercise and Probation of the spirituall cogitations or sences in the Christian Minde but this whore doth not hurt the children of Christ indeed it hath a false lust and is a very wedded Harlot which shall not see the Kingdome of God but it must yet serve for good to the children of God for by it the Cross of Christ is layd upon the pretious minde so that the minde must continue in humility and not say I am righteous I am holy No! no! the holiness is not this childe 's own but it is Gods Mercy who hath heard the crying of the Lad viz. of the poor forsaken minde thus the noble holy minde viz. the new man born in Christs Spirit must be wedded with this Egyptian evill malicious Idolatrous whorish ungodly woman which is * * * Note how wee cannot so much as think a good thought neither able to doe will or think any good and bear with it the foul shame and reproach so long till the unclean Idolatrous whore dyeth and then this Lad is led of the Angel into Isaac's Tent viz. into Christs flesh and bloud 23. And this is the very reall figure of the Spirit in Moses wherefore he hath so punctually and emphatically deciphered this figure for the Spirit in Moses aymeth so directly and fully at the mortifying of mans selfehood and plainly speaketh that the Selfewill must be cast out from God and where Christ is born there the same is brought to pass as here when Isaac the Type of Christ was born of the free woman then the Son of the Bond-woman must be cast out for in Isaac the seed which should inherit the Kingdome of God was to be called it should not proceed out of the selfefull nature of the flesh and will of man but out of Gods will out of the mortified will of our nature which dyeth to its selfehood and despaires of it selfe a Christian must be born that is Ismael viz. the poor Sinner when he becomes an enemy to sin repents of it and wills it no more shall be born in Gods mercy indeed nature must and shall be there even with its evill earthly flesh but Christ is brought forth from thence as a fair blossome out of the wild earth as a pleasant fruit out of the kernell 24. A very excellent figure the Spirit in Moses doth present unto us in Abraham and Sarah when Sarah would cast out the Son of the bond-woman from the inheritance so that the Son of the bond-woman should not be heir with the free the same seemed unjust to Abraham being he was of his Seed and his own Son but God said to him Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the Lad and because of the bond-woman in all that Sarah hath said unto thee hearken to her voice for in Isaac shall thy Seed be called The inward pretious figure of this is thus 25. When a man is born again in Christs Spirit as it was here with Abraham then he thinks sometimes that he is wholly new and knows not himselfe yet aright and that he hath the whorish Egyptian bond-woman with her scoffing Son of vanity in his Armes and now when it hapneth that oftentimes the mocker viz. Ismael the Son of the Bond-woman doth breake forth out of him yea even wholly without his will and purpose that Sarah that is honest Mindes to whom God doth make it known do reprove him nay and is oftentimes reproved of the evill so that it is plainly declared to him that this mocker should be cast out This Abraham viz. the man will by no meanes brook he will be uncontrouled and yet he doth not know that he in this time of his earthly life stands in the judgement of God that his words and workes must be daily proved and judged he will often go in a way of justification and maintain his own cause and will be praised and in the mean time forgetts the Egyptian Bond-woman in his Armes and her scoffing Son who sometimes peeps forth in his words with evill interpretations wrong meanings and evill surmises and covers it selfe finely under a glozing mantle of glistering hypocrisie this now the free woman casts out that is the Spirit of Christ casts it out by other peoples mouth and yet this seems to be unrighteous to the man being the word is born of his body and arisen out of his very Minde 26. But the Lord speaketh in the Spirit of the humility of Christ let it not seem grievous in thy Sight that people do finde fault with thy words and reject thy labour Hearken to Sarah viz. to the divine voice and do thou thy selfe cast out from thee whatsoever thou hast at any time spoken or meant evilly wrongfully or partially for in Isaac that is in thy deepest humility thy Seed shall be called where in thy words and workes the Spirit of God worketh in Love and not in thy naturall selfeness and peculiar ownhood of reason wherein the Son of the bond-woman speaketh and worketh 27. And the children of God ought well to consider this figure and thinke that whatsoever is spoken and don from favour affection and partiall siding be it either towards honest or dishonest men the same proceeds from the Son of the Bond-woman which must go into judgement to be tryed and must be judged of men viz. of the evill and good it must be cast forth among a company of evill and good Tongues where every one passeth his sentence and judgement thereupon God judgeth upon the earth externally by men both by the Evill and Good 28. This now must seem so very grievous and hainous to Abraham viz. to Man when his words and workes are judged and proved and think that his divine Seed must be brought forth onely in the Love and humility and that whatsoever he speaketh judgeth or doth from partiality or favour doth belong again unto judgement where it must be proved and purged As Hagar with her Son Ismael was and then when it is judged that is cast out by the people then comes the Angel of God and speaketh to the naturall man that he should not despair in this judgement but take it in good part and be content that his words and workes are judged 29. Therefore we say as the Lord hath given us to know it that whosoever will read and understand aright the history of the old Testament he must set before him two Types viz. externally Adam viz. the earthly man and internally Christ and change both these into One and so he may understand all whatsoever
Soul in this pretious Covenant and Oath doth wholly give up it selfe with a broken and contrite heart to Repentance then the Oath of God in the Covenant of Jesus Christ stands open to it in Beer-sheba viz. in the Soules Contrition where God in Christ Jesus hath sworn that he will not destroy the poor Soul and its children and grand-children nor do any hurt to this Land of the Soul viz. to the Body of the humanity 22. Thus now we ought stedfastly to trust our dear Immanuel Jesus Christ who hath sworn a pretious Oath to his Father in our Soules property that he will not turn away his Mercy and love from us we should but come to him in Beer-sheba and receive the Oath as our own that is with contrite penitent hearts 23. And Moses saith further When this was don then Abimilech arose and Pichol his field-Captain and they returned into the Land of the Philistins that is to say when God the Father had given over the humanity to his Son Jesus Christ with this Covenant and Oath then he went with his regiment or host viz. with Pichol that is with the outward nature again into the Land of the Philistins that is into the dominion or Regiment of the outward and inward nature which is * * * Or Philistineall Philistrean that is inclined to Good and Evill this denotes that the poor Soul although it hath taken on it the Covenant and Oath of God and sworn with Christ to God yet it must in this life time dwell in the earthly body viz. under the heathenish * * * Or Philistine philistrean essence of the flesh which is a constant adversary to this King Abimilech viz. to the poor Soul and onely forsaketh the Covenant and Oath and brings it selfe in its * * * Or Philistine philistrean selfish lustfull concupiscence and desires into selfehood as into its own Land 24. And hereby it is signified to the poor Christians that they must lodge and lye with the new birth in this * * * Philistine Land Philistrean land or house of flesh as meer strangers and cannot be wholly freed in this life time for Pichol the field-Captain of the Soul viz. nature must have its rule and work in this time in evill and good and be an hard Cross and continuall Temptation to the pretious Image of Christ viz. to the new-birth by which cross the noble and dear Tree of Pearl is moved stirred and caused to spring and grow as a tree which comes out of the earth must grow in heat and cold in wind rain and snow so also must the pretious little Tree of Jesus Christ which is a stranger with Abraham in Beer-sheba viz. in the Earthly Cottage 25. And the Spirit in Moses speaketh further saying Abraham planted trees at Beer-sheba and there preached of the Name of the Lord the Ever-living God and was a stranger in the Land of the Phylistins a long time this is as much as if he should have said The spirit of Christ in Abraham when the Soul hath received the Covenant and Oath that it is contrite in true repentance doth plant trees in Beer-sheba that is it bringeth forth heavenly branches in this penitent heart in the Strange Land the earthly man and preacheth from these new branches of the Name of the Eternall God and dwelleth a long time viz. the time of the whole earthly life in this * * * Philistine philistrean Cottage 26. And this is a reall figure of the poor penitent Sinner which in Christs Spirit becomes a new creature according to the inward man shewing how he must enter into repentance and plant out of Christs Spirit the little tree of Christ in his contrite and truly broken minde and dwell also with this little Pearl-tree of Christ among a company of wicked men in a strange Land viz. in the evill corrupt flesh and bloud and there teach of the Name of God and instruct the heathenish and * * * Philistine Philistrean children that they in his Preaching may come to him in Beer-sheba that is into true and unfeighned repentance 27. Thus very exactly doth the Spirit in Moses play here with the type of Christ under an externall history in a simple child-like form and shews us how we must continually stand in temptation tryalls danger and opposition and how God doth thus wonderfully deliver his children that even those of whom they are afraid and do also wish them no good must at last make a Covenant of peace with them in their conscience and also how the poor Soul by reason of great fears and horror hath no rest in it selfe unlesse that it come through earnest repentance in Christ to God and make a Covenant with Christ in God so that the poor dejected conscience and nature be comforted without this there is meer distress anguish horror unsettlement as hapned to Abimilech when he was enkindled in false lust towards Sarah then God terrified his Conscience that he went to Abraham and humbled himselfe before him and with great recompence and gifts made a Covenant with him thus also it goeth with the children of Christ when they endure temptation and continue stedfast in the faith then at last their enemies must be ashamed and return back as it is to be seen here in this figure CHAP. XLVIII How God Tryed Abraham and sett forth the figure of Christs Offring in his Suffering and Death AFter that the Spirit in Moses had deciphered the figure of the Covenant of God established in Christ Jesus with his children Gen. XXII shewing how we poor children of Eve should and must depart out of this earthly will of Selfness and be born in Christ with a new will and life he here now setts forth the figure how the same should and must be brought to passe how Christ must again offer up our Soul and humanity to his Father even as he also was to be cast as an offring into the fire of Gods anger and wholly dye in the wrath of God to the humane Soules selfness and own will and yet spring forth powerfully with the divine Onely will of God through death and the Anger of God and break in pieces and make a scorn of death which held the humanity captive and so bring the humane Soul again to God his Father into the onely Eternall divine will and * * * 1 Cor. 15.24 deliver up again the kingdome unto him which he had given him in the humanity so that afterward and to all Eternity * * * 1 Cor. 15.28 God might be all in all and the creature might not live any more to its own will but sound onely as an Instrument of a divine Tune in a divine Harmony and the whole Humane tree might be onely one in all its boughes and branches 2. The Spirit in Moses doth sett forth this figure very clearly even to the end of all his writings and
which Babel knoweth nothing nor can know nor will know but climeth up continually in the compacted tongue on the Towre of Babel into an Heaven of humane Selfehood and hath put Christs garment outwardly upon it selfe but it hath not the twofold voice therefore also it doth not hear when God calleth Abraham 26. And Abraham Answered Here am I and he said Lay not thine hand upon the Lad neither do thou any thing unto him Gen. 22.12 for now I know that thou fearest God and hast not spared thy onely Son for my sake That is thus when man hath wholly resigned up his Selfe viz. his own will or Son and put it wholly to the mortification in Christs death then the nature of man falls into Sadness for it hath lost its right its own law and will then saith the Spirit of God by the Soul do nothing to thy nature now I know that it is given up and resigned to me and that the Soul hath now * * * Plerophory an assurance of confidence in God and is fully bold even to leave the outward life for Gods sake and give over its will to mee in Obedience as here Abraham had fully resigned up his will unto God he would now do whatsoever God commanded him 27. And as Abraham did not spare his Son and would have given him up unto death so also God did not spare his Son and gave him to death for us even so should wee also not spare even our own will but rather be willing to leave all whatsoever the own will hath taken possession of and delights in and willingly dye to all Temporalls for Gods sake let it be Principality Dominion or Kingdome Temporall Honor or Goods or whatsoever it may be that is our dearly beloved Son all this a Christian must give over and resigne up in the minde and account and esteem himselfe onely a Servant therein yea esteem his outward life not for his own but in his Minde depart from and forsake every creature and then he lyeth bound upon the wood of the Burnt offerings Altar and waiteth for the Voice of God from Heaven which calleth to him and becomes the Voice and Mouth of his life and this is truly with Abraham to beleeve God where God beleeves in man and then God saith Now I know that thou fearest God and puttest thy trust in him alone for the humane will sincketh into the most pure Being of God 28. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and lo a Ram was hung in a thickett by his hornes Gen. 22.13 14 and he went and took the Ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his Son and Abraham called the name of the place * * * Jehovah-jireth The Lord seeth as it is said to this day upon the Mount where the Lord Seeth This is the golden figure which sheweth that the killing death and dying doth not reach the true man but onely the Ram with his Hornes which sticketh in the flesh and bloud in the Thornes of Sin and it chiefly denotes that the true * * * Text. Soules-man humane Soul in Christ and his children shall not dye in this burnt-offering of God but after that it hath resigned up the will of Selfe then God openeth its eyes that it seeth the Ram behinde it viz. it spieth the will of the wilde evill flesh and learnes to know it which will sticketh with its pushing beasts-hornes in the thorny Thickett of the Devill in flesh and bloud viz. in the desire of the vanity of the world in Selfefull Lust This the Resigned Soul seeth and offereth it up for a burnt-offering in the stead of the true Nature for the right nature is delivered in this burnt offering from the Ram of the flesh the Hornes are the injections oppositions and assaults of the Devill and the thickett of Thornes is the Serpents Ens which the lust of Adam hath introduced 29. Thus wee must understand in this figure that the whole man in Christs person should not be given to the Anger of God as if the Adamicall man should be wholly consumed and devoured by it no but the wild Ram onely the Enmity the opposite will the property of Apostacy and Rebellion but the life's Essence should remain forever the same Adam which God created unto Paradise the same shall remain eternally but the division or dissonant disunion of the life's formes in that they are rent asunder and brought into the property of Selfehood whence strife and enmity is arisen in man I say this evill Ram viz. this introduced infection vain desire and adverse will must be offered up in Christ in the fire of Gods Anger This was the Beast for the burnt-offering The Lamb of God in Adam shall not be consumed in the fire but it must onely shed its bloud it must immerse and sinck it selfe wholly with the humane nature into the One viz. into the Eternall Nothing without all nature and then this place is called here the Lord Seeth that is when the Ram is offered then this place is afterwards the Temple of God where the Lord Seeth 30. And the Spirit of Moses speaketh very hiddenly hereof and saith Hence it is said still to this day upon the Mount where the Lord Seeth the Mount is the life's nature where the Lord hath seen not onely in Abraham and Isaac but he seeth in Christs spirit yet at this day upon this Mount in the children of God when the Ram is offered up then the Spirit of God seeth through nature as the Sun through-shineth a Glass or as a fire through-heats an Iron 31. Therefore a man ought not to be so foolish as to torment his whole life in his repentance and conversion and to offer it up in the fire of death without Gods command but he must onely sacrifice the Sin and Selfe-Love of vanity he must offer up onely the Ram and not do any violence or mischief to nature not strike whip and beat it or creep into a corner and suffer the Body to * * * Note starve for hunger no he must not out of his own purpose Give the Image of God to death but the Ram he must he meritts not any thing by plaguing martyring and torturing himselfe for God hath bestowed his heart to that end to redeem us from Pain and Torment 32. When the Soul with the Right nature hath tamed it selfe from the Ram of the flesh then it must Sacrifice the Ram to the death of Christ but it must remain stedfast in great humility in the Resignation in God and not any further afflict and rack it selfe either with doubts or with any other externall inflicted tortures and also give nature its necessary nourishment and not Enfeeble and distemper it selfe for it is the Temple and the Image of God but it must daily and continually mortifie the Ram in the flesh viz. the selfish lust of the evill flesh and
spake unto mee and swear also unto mee saying unto thy Seed I will give this Land he shall send his Angel before thee and thou shalt there take a wife unto my Son but if the woman will not follow thee then thou art clear from the Oath onely bring not my Son thither again and then the Servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his Master and sware unto him concerning this matter 9. The inward meaning is thus God saith to his Officer Nature have a care that thou dost not go according to thy Reason and conceive another will and bring my holy Ens again thither from whence it is come for it must dwell in man The God of heaven who hath taken the humane Ens from the Eternall word from his Eternall native Countrey which is the house of the Eternall Father who hath promised man the Land of Canaan according to the Paradisicall property and moreover hath Sworn to him he shall send his Angel before thee that so thou maist take a wife unto my Son there even where the Angel viz. the divine will shall guide and direct thee that is when God will betroth and binde himselfe with his Word and Power in his children with an Eternall Marriage then he sendeth his Angel before viz. his will into the humane Ens that the same doth convert and turn it selfe to God 10. The nature of the minde must not in its will of Reason take upon it to Lord and Master it and doubt at what God will do when the office or charge of a Servant is laid upon it it must not make it selfe its Looking-glasse and doubt when it seeth that the Soul lyeth captivated in the Ens of the Serpent it must not thinke with it selfe I shall not heere arrive with a prosperous success with my divine Message but it must leave that to God and discharge its Message according to Gods command and commit it to God how he will bring the woman viz. the humane spirit and betroth and joyn it with the Son Isaac that is with Christ in the divine Ens. 11. But if the woman will not follow thee then thou art clear of the Oath that is if the humane will when I send my will before thee in man will not follow thee then the Messenger viz. Gods Officer with the Sent heavens-Ens is clear onely bring not my Son thither again that is bring not the heavenly Ens again into that Essence out of which it is come but stand still therewith and hear whereunto God shall direct and incline thee for the Rain from heaven shall not ascend up again empty without fruit so likewise Gods Word and Command shall not return home empty but work and bring forth fruit in its formed wisdome 12. If one man will not then the same word falls upon another which is capable of it therefore nature viz. the Messenger Officer Advocate or Petitioner of the heavenly Message must not bring the word with the divine Ens back again into that place viz. into the inward divine voice for what God once speaketh forth by his Word in Power that shall and must stand in a divine form to the divine Contemplation Nature must go forward as a Messenger his way and declare that the Lord hath given Isaac all his Goods that is he hath given to Christ all his Goods and desires now a wife viz. Man who should give himselfe in marriage with Isaac in Christ. Gen. 24.9 13. And the Servant laid his hand under the thigh of Abraham his Master and sware unto him concerning this matter That is when God * * * Did dive immerse or baptize put his holy word with the heavenly Ens or Essence viz. with the formed wisdome into the naturall Ens of Mary as into Gods Servant and God and Man became One person then the humane nature sware under the thigh of the Fathers Eternall nature * * * Or in God unto God that it would obey God and hence forward go forth and seek the humane wife and marry it to the divine Ens All which is to be understood in Christs person who in his assumed humanity as Abrahams or God his Fathers Servant in the naturall property should go forth with his word and seek this Woman viz. his Bride and Spouse which the Angel of the Lord viz. Gods will should bring unto him Gen. 24.10 14. And the Servant took ten Camels of the Camels of his Master and departed and had with him all sorts of his Masters Goods and arose and went to Mesopotamia the Citie of NAhOr Here now the Spirit looks upon the process of God and intimates how God sent his Angel or Messenger Gabriel with the voice of nature to the humane nature in Nahor viz. to Adams nature in the Ens of Mary in which voice the living holy word was hidden with the heavenly living Ens and gave also the Fathers nature Ten Camels that is the * * * 10 formes Ten formes of the three Principles to the naturall and Supernaturall fire-life viz. * * * 7 formes Seaven formes of the Centre of nature and * * * 3 formes three formes of the three distinctions of the Principles all which are Gods camels whereby he beareth and carrieth all things 15. And the goods of the Lord are the formed wisdome of the great wonders and Powers all these Gods Officer tooke along with him when he had the divine word in himselfe and introduced the same into the humane naturall Ens even into the Ens of Mary or awakened opened or manifested the same therein as a man might expresse the great deeds and works of God whereas indeed the outward compacted bound-up SensVAll tongue cannot give words sufficient enough to the deep Mentall understanding 16. For here the spirit of Moses doth take the Angels message along with Isaac's figure and playeth externally in the figure with Isaac and Rebecca as Christs figure and inwardly he playeth with Mary as Adams Essence and with Christs as the Virginlike divine Ens. 17. And the spirit of Moses saith further Gen. 24.11 And the Servant caused the Camels to kneel down without the Citie by a well of water at evening time even about the time that women use to go out to draw water This signifieth and noteth out internally how the mystery of the nature of the three Principles being the bearers or carriers of the formed wisdome of God hath layd it selfe down by the divine fountain without the Citie the Citie betokens the hidden mysteries of the divine holy Ens of the formed wisdome about which the * * * Or the three Principles of nature nature of the three Principles hath layed it selfe for nature is externall and a Carrier of the mysteries of God it lyeth by the wellspring of God viz. by the birth of the holy Trinity The outward figure is thus explained 18. At Evening that is in the last dayes of
cometh from the Lord we shall not speak any thing against it behold here is thy place do with me and with my inward ground as thou pleasest Here is Rebecca viz. the formed word of the heavenly property take it and marry it to thy Masters Son viz. to the humanity of Jesus Christ according to thy good-liking as the Lord hath spoken 42. Wee see here very exactly how the spirit of Moses doth speak in the figure for he setts Laban viz. Bethuels Son before the Father viz. the outward Soul before the inward fire-Soul the Air-Soul before the Right fire-Soul albeit they are not two but One yet they are understood in two Principles for the fire-Soul gives answer through the air-Soul the fire-Soul useth the uncompacted tongue but the Air-Soul useth the Compacted formed Language 43. Therefore the spirit of Moses doth set Laban Rebecca's brother first as if the business were don by Laban to signifie that when Gods Officer viz. the will of God in the * Drawing of the Father doth come into man and seeketh a Lodging and the virgin then the outward spirit of man must give its promise for it is turned away from God and the true resignation now it must again give its will wholly and fully into Gods will 44. And when it comes to passe that the outward Soul with the inward fire-Soul doth wholly consent unto this holy Match and give up it selfe to God then the will of God viz. the Officer in the drawing of the Father doth bow himselfe again towards the true deity that is he cometh again unto its seat and place and brings forth out of Abrahams treasure that is out of God the Fathers treasury of his formed wisdome the Silver and Golden jewells and hangeth them on Rebecca viz. the heavenly virginity 45. For these jewells do not belong to Laban or Bethuel understand to the outward or inward fire-Soul while it is here in this earthly life but to the true virgin Rebecca proceeding from the divine Ens of the formed holy word according to the Angelicall worlds property viz. according to the Second Principle viz. the inward spirituall new man which is with Rebecca married to the Right Isaac Christ and therefore the spirit of Moses setts down Gen. 24.53 how Abrahams Servant gave Rebecca the golden ear-ring and brace-letts with silver and golden jewells and Raynient but unto Laban viz. unto Rebecca's brother and her mother also he gave * * * Our Text pretious things Spices 46. O thou wonderfull God! how plainly dost thou sett forth the great mysteries the silver and golden jewells are the Treasure of the divine wisdome in the word of life which treasure the divine word brings along with it to the right virginity which dyed in Adam and is again brought in Christ to its beloved and giveth it wholly and peculiarly for the Ornament of the Banquett and the Raiment is the New humanity wherewith shee cometh before her Bridegroome and the Spices which were given to Laban and the Mother are the power and vertues of the holy Spirit which are freely given to the fire-Soul and the Air-Soul by the Coming in of the tender humanity of Jesus Christ. 47. For the outward Soul is not in this life time being yet the Earthly body adheers unto it cloathed with the new Raiment neither is the Silver and Golden jewell of the humanity of Jesus Christ given in this life time wholly unto the peculiar possession and power of the fire-Soul but the spices onely that iâ— the vertue and pleasant aspect of the holy Spirit for the fire-Soul might become proud and haughty again if it should have this virgin in its Own power as Lucifer and Adam did therefore the fire-Soul must here in this life time remain in its Principle and in the Air-soul viz. in the third Principle where the earthly Evill man liveth it must take on it the Crosse of Christ. 48. But virgin Rebecca or Sophia with her Bridegroom Christ remains in their own viz. in the Second Principle in heaven for Saint Paul saith * Our conversation is in heaven understand the conversation of the virgin Sophia where shee with her beloved Christ stands in wedlock and Christ and virgin Sophia are one person understand the true Manly Virgin of God which Adam was before his Eve when he was man and woman and yet neither of them but a Virgin of God Gen. 24.54 49. And now when these Nuptialls are celebrated then Abrahams Servant with all his Servants sits down with his obtained Bride and with father and brother at the Table and eat together the Marriage-Feast that is when man understand the inward virgin-like spirituall man is married to Christ then God eateth of mans will and words and again man eateth of Gods will and words there they sit at one feast and then t is truely said and applyed * Whosoever heareth you he heareth mee whosoever heareth these men to teach and speak of God he heareth God speak for they speak in the power of the holy Spirits spices and eat together of the great Supper of Christ. 50. O what a very glorious and sumptuous feast is there kept where this wedding-day is celebrated in man which no Cananitish Serpent man is worthy to know or tast of yea he doth not experimentally tast of it to all eternity neither knowes he what Meat or food is there eaten also what internall joy is there where Christ and virgin Sophia are Bride and Bridegroom and the inward and outward Soul sitt by the Bride and eat with her of this feast which we leave to the consideration of the children of Christ who have been at this wedding feast no man else in this world understands it none knowes any thing thereof but the right Laban and Bethuel 51. But this Bridall doth not last continually but when Abrahams Servant had obtained the virgin and celebrated this feast and wedding-day with the Father and Mother and Laban and had continued there all night he arose up early in the Morning and said let me go unto my Master Gen. 24.54 The inward figure stands thus 52. When Christ hath married himselfe with virgin Sophia viz. with the inward humanity soon after the voice of God Soundeth in the Soul and saith I will go away from thee with the virgin and it is continually as if he would force away and depart from man then the poor Soul must make continuall prayers and supplications that he would be pleased to tarry still longer with it but the voice oftentimes sounds hinder mee not I must go or make my journey to my Master thou art vain evill and sinfull I may not tarry with thee any longer 53. And then the poor Soul calleth virgin Rebecca viz. Christ with his Bride and puts him in minde of his pretious word and promise in that * * * Mat. 28.20 He hath promised to remain with us even to the end of the world and
Man 13. As to the part of the beastiall soul of Man that attains not the pretious Image in this life time for propriety the mortall soul either from the Stars or four Elements attains it not onely the inward Soul out of the Eternall word of God out of the Eternall Nature out of the formed word out of Gods Essence according to Gods Love and Anger viz. out of the Centre of the Eternall Nature which hath its Originall out of the divine desire through the eternall * * * Word Verbum Fiat whereby the divine Lubet formeth and fashioneth the wisdome into a Substance to the Contemplation of the Deity This soul is that which is betrothed to Sophia 14. The outward Soul is now betrothed and espoused to the Stars and four Elements to form and bring forth the wonders of Gods formed wisdome in Figures both in words and workes this outward Soul obtains sometimes onely a look from Sophia for it hath the death and mortality in it selfe but it shall after this time be changed again into the first Image which God created in Adam and leave the Serpents Ens to the earth which shall at the end of dayes be tryed in the fire of God where the Serpents introduced desire shall evaporate from it and then the whole Image of God out of all the Three Principles stands in One Essence and even then * * * Ephes. 1.23 God filleth all in all this is here to be understood by this figure 15. Further the spirit of Moses describeth the children of Ismael and relates how he begatt twelve Sons Gen. 25.16.18 from whom twelve Princes arose in their Generations and he setts down at last He fell in the presence of all his brethren here he meaneth before Isaacs generation and yet he waxed great in worldly Dominion before them and potent Nations did arise from him and Isaac with his children and posterity were onely as Pilgrims and travelled up and down from one place to another untill they were at last redeemed from the Egyptian Bondage and possessed the promised Land The inward figure 12 Princes 16. Ismael in his twelve Princes typifieth the kingdome of the Corrupt Nature of mans property which kingdome is twofold viz. six numbers out of the inward life's figure 6 Inward and six numbers out of the earthly outward life's figure 6 Outward viz. the outward visible palpable Man and the inward spirituall Soulish man both these have twelve numbers in the figure whence Twelve Princes arose according to the inward and outward natures property these the spirit of Moses puts in the figure and saith that they fell in the presence of all their brethren to signifie that the twelve dominions of the inward and outward nature of the humane property in its corruption fell before the twelve dominions new-born of the Ens of faith in their corrupt Selfe for the Devill had set his dominion and power into these properties 17. But when the promised Seed of faith was conceived in Abraham it did suppress and beat down the Devils power in the dominion of mans Selfe and then hapned the spirituall fall in Ismaels line wherein the Devill as an haughty Prince had set himselfe to bear the chiefe sway and domination for Christ killeth the pride of the Serpent in man 18. Now saith Moses Ismael fell in the presence of all his brethren this was nothing else but a spirituall fall of the humane Selfness before God for as to this world they were famous renowned people as their Princely dominions doe testifie whereas on the contrary Isaac's Generation were onely strangers among the Nations which signifieth that Christs kingdome and Dominion is not in this worlds nature and yet the kingdomes of this world shall fall before Christ and be in subjection to Christ. 19. Afterwards the spirit of Moses describeth Isaac's children by Rebecca and saith that she was barren and Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife and God was intreated of him and Rebecca conceived with two Sons which strove together in the wombe Here now the figure of the kingdome of nature and also of the kingdome of Christ in the new birth is clearly set forth for Rebecca's two sons which she brought forth viz. Esau and Jacob point at two lines viz Esau proceeds from Abrahams own Adamicall corrupt nature and Jacob ariseth in the Ens of faith in which Abrahams faiths Ens had incorporated it selfe into his Adamicall nature in which also the Covenant and the line of Christ stood who should bruise the Serpents head in the Adamicall nature 20. And here is deciphered and held forth how the two kingdomes in the two brothers viz. the Devills kingdome in the corrupt nature of Esau in Adams own nature of the introduced Serpents Ens and also the kingdome of Christ in Jacob in the Ens of faith did both strive together while they were children even in the wombe where then the kingdome of nature in Esau began to fall before the kingdome of Christ in Jacob for here the womans seed already bruised the head of the Serpents Ens its might in Esau and the Serpent already stung the womans seed viz. the Ens of faith in Jacob on the heel and therefore they strugled together in the wombe 21. Also we have here a very emphaticall pregnant figure in Rebecca in that she was shutt up and could not be opened to conceive of Isaac's seed untill Isaac had intreated the Lord that he would open the * * * Stop or strong bar Barrennesse withholdment in the Covenant in Rebecca where then the Lord was intreated in the Covenant concerning the barrennesse of Rebecca so that he did open the Tincture in the womans seed to this Impregnation or conception The inward figure stands thus 21. The seed of faith was in Isaac inherited from his father Abraham but Rebecca had not this Ens indeed she was in the Covenant but the Ens of faith was not in her in the Essence but onely in the Covenant and therefore her matrix was shut up was not capable of the Ens of faith so long till Isaac immersed his beleeving desire into the Lord understand into the Centre of nature in Rebecca so that the spirt of the Lord did move it selfe in the Covenant in Rebecca and moved also the Covenant together with her Adamicall nature so that the barrennesse in her matrix was disclosed both in the shutt up Ens in the Covenant and then likewise the Adamicall Matrix whereupon she conceived two sons of two kingdomes property 23. And this is the meaning of the saying The Lord was intreated when Isaac brought his faiths desire through the Eternall and Temporall nature into the Lord and therewith did earnestly press for his wife Rebecca that the Lord would be pleased to open her through his prayer and faiths-desire that so shee might be with childe by him which faiths desire together with the Adamicall natures desire
and V for the S is the character of the holy fire and the V is the character of the efflux issuing forth or Emanation out of the fire 43. Thus the Name Jacob was in the fullness of time in the Ens of Mary changed into the Name Jesus which understanding hath been as dumb and dead both to the Jewes and Christians being no Nation doth any more understand its own language and contend onely about the Compaction of the formed nature of the outward name and understanding the Mentall Tongue none will learn to understand how the same hath formed imprinted and * * * Modelized Ideafied it selfe in the words and Names in the sensuall tongue and yet the whole understanding lyeth therein without opinions if we were not so very blind and shut up in ignorance suffering selfe in pride to rule and govern us we should soon attain to the deepest understanding but the Antichrist beareth the supremacy therefore Esau onely ruleth in the understanding Gen. 25.27 28. 44. And Moses saith further And when the children were grown up Esau was a cunning Hunter and a man of the field and Jacob was a * * * Honest. plain man and dwelt in Tents and Isaac loved Esau and loved to eat of his venison but Rebecca loved Jacob. O thou wonderfull God how very simply and plainly are the greatest Mysteries typifyed and deciphered who can be able to understand without thy Spirit from whence it was that the pretious man Isaac in the Type of Christ loved the naturall man in Adams corrupt Image Esau more then Jacob in the Type of Christ in his figure if thou hadst not in thy knowledge vouchsafed mee to understand the same I must be here even stark blind but it is thy Counsell O Lord that we know thee and thy time is born that thou revealest the Secrets 45. Moses saith that Esau was an hunter and a man of the field and the Father loved to eat of his venison and loved him above Jacob here stands an externall figure as if Isaac loved Esau for his Activeness cunning skill or worldly exercise and loved him more then Jacob so wholly hath the Lord the heart of the wise and of his children in his hand that his children must not in their will doe what they please and oftentimes well understand but what God wills 46. Also we herein see how oftentimes God withdrawes the Mysteries from the most holy that they must be even children in them and although they beare the divine play in their Hands and t is their work and exercise yet they must have a child-like Heart in the understanding thereof as it may be seen here in Isaac 47. He loved Esau more then Jacob why so the Ens of Christ lay in him which ruled him for Christ should love his Enemies viz. the corrupt Esau and his naturall children him he loved more then his divine nature for he brought his divine nature into the death of the corrupt Adam and loved * * * Not his sin in the nature but his poor undon nature by sin which he by death freed from sin and death Adams corrupted nature more then his holy Ens which he for mans corrupt natures sake gave into the fire of Gods Anger that so he might redeem it in his Love of this Isaac was here a figure in the Image of Christ who loved his Hunter in his Evill nature more then Jacob he did not love his iniquity but his child-like nature to which he would do much good as Christ loved us in our Adamicall nature and did us good he did not Love us according to the will of Sin in us as Isaac also did not therein Love his Son Esau but according to the Fathers nature and property according to the child-like filial nature The inward figure stands thus 48. When Isaac intreated the Lord that his Rebecca might conceive his naturall desire with the * * * Earnest longing lubet of the divine Ens of faith entered into Rebecca whereby Rebecca was opened and so the naturall Love of Isaac which was environed with faith was propagated in his seed and opened it selfe in Esau Isaac's love did not open it selfe in Esau as to his corrupt nature I say not according to the kingdome of the nature of this world but according to the Covenant according to the Second Principle viz. according to Gods kingdome which the externall nature in him had not as yet apprehended as the divine Ens in Abraham did open and manifest it selfe according to the Second Principle and not in the mortall corrupt Adamicall nature of the outward world the like also is here to be understood in the figure in Esau. 49. Not that Esau did receive the Ens of Christ in the Covenant as Jacob but his Fathers Love-desire in which the hidden Covenant stood unmoveable now there was thus a Conjunction with his Fathers naturall Love for Every property loveth its own likeness especially if the likeness be proceeded forth from the Essence or thing Loving as Esau was conceived in Rebecca of his Father through his Love-desire 50. And it even denotes that the divine Ens in Gods Love in Isaac loved the miserable humane nature to redeem it therefore God manifested his Love in Abrahams faith and introduced the same into an Ens so that this same Love which God gave to redeem mankinde should Love the humane nature in its shut up abandoned condition as in very truth the true reall Adamicall nature ordained by God was shut up in Esau and on the contrary the kingdome of the wrath had the outward dominion Now to redeem this the spirit in the Covenant through Isaac's nature Loved his Son Esau viz. the filial nature and not onely because that he was an Hunter of the creatures 51. Yet here also by this Hunter we are even to understand the same as is set down before concerning * * * Gen. 10.9 Nimrod who was a mighty Hunter before the Lord for this whole description of the first book of Moses is Gods Spirits figure type or representation where he * * * Or Sets forth as in a Map playeth with the kingdome of nature and then also with Christs kingdome and he hath so pourtrayed delineated and typifyed the Acts of the holy Patriarchs under his figure that we may clearly see in all the histories the glance or allusion of Gods Spirit how he hath delineated and set forth to the life the kingdome of Christ and the kingdome of nature and also the Devills kingdome in the wrath of the Eternall nature and neither the Jewes or Christians hitherto have had a right understanding of the same which among the Patriarchs was rightly understood in its true meaning 52. But afterwards when their children and posterity gave no heed unto the same but disregarded the true understanding and loved their Evill nature more then the spirit in the Covenant then the understanding was
in very Great Repentance and casteth it selfe upon Gods Mercy till this Noble Sophia become stirring fruitfull and pregnant and so it certainly generateth the true Joseph viz. a lowly humble chast temperate and Modest Soule which afterwards becometh a Prince over the Egyptian house of flesh and Bloud in which house the Heathenish Pharaoh dwelleth viz. the Beastiall Spirit over that is this Joseph set for a Ruler and Governour and is a Ruler over Reason and Governeth it with Josephs viz. with Gods Spirit 16. This is thus as to one Part the Spirituall figure of Jacob wherewith the Spirit alludeth to the future kingdome of Christ where now at present in the fulfilling it alludeth thus also in the Children of Christ and doth yet so alwayes lead them 17. But wee see especially in this Figure the way of God how Gods Minde is farre other then Mans what Man loveth in that God hideth himselfe for that pleaseth him well which in the Eye of the world is simple and despised which onely dependeth on him and feareth him 18. Jacob loveth the beautifull Rachell and desireth her but the Line of the Covenant in which Christ should be borne would not pass through Rachell but Lea also Rachell could not conceive till Lea had brought forth the Roote or Line of the kingly Priesthood and * * * Principality Princedome viz. Levi and Juda. 19. For the Priesthood came from Levi and out of Juda came the Scepter of the kingdome and the Prince Christ according to the Humanity to signifie that Christ will be borne and manifested in these Men alone and bringeth worketh his †††Note the Priesthood of the Holy Ghost Priesthood of the Holy Ghost in them who goe forth from the Love of themselves and the pleasure of the Flesh and are in the Eye of the world softly bashfull simple and despised who esteeme themselves unworthy of such honour and doe not account such divine working to be their owne and pride themselves therewith as the proud Pharisees did and still doe 20. For this Lea onely desireth to beare children for Jacob that shee might be acceptable to him seeing otherwise in respect of her * * * Or Tender Eyednesse bleareydnesse shee was disregarded thus also the true children of God desire therefore onely to walke in the Divine power with * * * Instâ—ucting teaching and a simple life in the wayes of God that they may please God and serve him 21. And againe wee see here by Jacobs seede that the Line of Christ would not manifest it selfe in his first seede with Lea that Christ might not be manifested in humane pleasure or Lasciviousnesse of fleshly Lust for * * * Gen 29.32 Lea first bare Reuben ‖ ‖ ‖ Marriage â—ed Gen. 49.4 who defiled the ‖ ‖ ‖ Marriage â—ed Gen. 49.4 Bed of his Father to signifie that this Roote sprung from humane Lust. 22. But when Lea was discouraged because shee was despised and would faine goe out of that contempt then shee bare Simeon who was of an * * * A strict severe man Text a sharpe piercing minde acute witt of whom Jacob sayd when he was to dye when he prophesied concerning all his children from what Roote each of them was ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 49.56 The Brethren Simeon and Levi their swords are murthering weapons my soule come not into their Councell and let not my honour be in their Churches or Assemblies to signifie that he was sprung from the Line of Zeale or Jealousie wherein Lea was Jealous and discontented that shee was thus disesteemed as shee then sayd * * * Gen. 29 33. The Lord hath heard that I was thus disesteemed and hath given mee this son also 23. But when shee cryed unto the Lord in her Zeale for Deliverance from her disesteeme then * * * Gen. 29.34 shee was pregnant and bare Levi viz. the Roote of the Leviticall Priesthood a Type of the kingdome of Christ for shee cryed to God that her husband might be againe joyned to her in Love as shee speaketh after this manner Now will my husband be joyned to mee againe to signifie that God with the Leviticall Priesthood in a Type would be joyned againe to Man and would in a Type of the kingdome of Paradise dwell among them againe as was done in the time of Moses 24. But the Spirit of God sayd by Jacob when he was about to dye Let not mine honour come in their Churches or Assemblies that is they are of Murtherous Cainicall Mindes and serve mee onely in a Figure pointing at the future kingdome of Christ But the Spirit of my Love and Grace is not with them in their Sacrifices and worship of God which Love and Grace he calleth his honour which he would manifest through the Line of Juda in Christ. 25. Which honour was that he should breake Death in pieces and destroy Hell and take away the Throne of the Devill in Man this the Holy Ghost calleth his honour and that was not in the Leviticall Priesthood nor among the Titulary Priests in their Churches But when Lea gave up her will wholly into the will of God and sayd * * * Gen. 29.35 Now will I give thanks unto the Lord who hath delivered mee from the disgrace of the Devill and of the World then shee bare Juda viz. the Line of Christ. 26. So heere now the Spirit sayth very secretly and covertly under a vaile * And shee left off from Bearing to signifie that Christ was the Last who was the End and fulfilling of the Leviticall Law under which the Spirit signifieth that Men would not finde Christ in the Priests Churches Lawes and Ordinances of Preaching Hee would not dwell in their Churches with his honour of victory nor suffer himselfe and his honour to be tyed to the houses of Stone where they exercise as hypocriticall shew and have within them onely murthering proud hearts and with the murthering swords of Levi disgrace and slay one another with words 27. But in the soules of Men when they give thanks and prayse the Lord in great Humility as Lea did when shee bare Juda the Line of Christ there will he dwell and not be at all in the Councell of these Priests and Levits the Titulary Priests who contrive onely specious glistering wayes for their Honour and voluptuousnesse and forget the true thanksgiving in Humility and honour and love themselves onely and so give that honour to their faigned or supposed Office which belongeth to God alone and to the Love of our Neighbour in great humility 28. Wee see cleerly by this Figure that God will not manifest himselfe in the fleshly love of our selves for * * * Gen. â—9 30 Jacob loved Rachell more then Lea and would have Rachel onely in the Beginning but his seede must continue shut up with her till Rachel humbled her selfe before God and that Jacob prayed for her to shew
which in the Kingdome of Christ attaineth the Marriage of the Line of Christ in the manner of a servant 6. For Adam hath negligently forfeited the Line the Right of Nature in the kingdome of God was lost in Adam and attaineth in the manner of a servant to the Marriage as Jacobs wives Maydes did whereby we then see that Rachell viz. the right selfe Nature could not work or bring forth fruit till the Line of servitude under the yoke of the Adamicall Nature of selfe-Love did first become fruitfull to signifie that the humane Nature must give it selfe up to be a servant under the Line of Christ if it will be married in the Line of Christ and be ingrafted as an heire of God 7. And then first springeth forth the kingdome of Nature in the kingdome of God and in the blessing becometh fruitfull as Rachell was first fruitfull when her Mayd had brought forth to signifie that Rachell also must be an handmayd to the Covenant of God and the Line of Christ and that the Line of Christ in her also be her Lord so that shee also attaineth the Marriage of Christs Line in the manner of a handmayd and that shee had not the Line of Christ in her in selfe-Power by the Light of Nature but as a Gift bestowed of Grace that standeth in another Principle 8. And signifieth under it that the Line of Christ was not propagated in humane selfe-ability but that it selfe doth presse into their Branches and that the Great or high Name or * * * Stock Familie or Genealogy stock or Tribe of Men is not respected but it presseth as soone upon the meanest and most miserable in the world which are but servants and handmayds as upon the most high and Noble 9. As we have a powerfull example of this in Jacob who must be in a servile condition Twenty yeares as a servant till the Twelve Stocks of the Tribes of Israel were begotten by him to signifie That a Christian must be borne under the servile yoake of the corrupt Domineering selfe-willed Adamicall Nature but if any should as a Christian be borne of the Line of Christ then must the †††Mother Parent be given up as a servant to God and be in the kingdome of Nature onely as a servant of God who in his heart forsaketh all temporall things and accompts nothing his owne and in his condition and employment esteemeth himselfe but as a servant who serveth his Lord therein 10. As Jacob who under this service of his begatt the Stocks or Tribes of Israel signifieth that they should be strange Guests in this world and serve God their Lord in the kingdome of Nature therein who himselfe would * * * Promise or appoint vote them their Wages that they should with Great Riches goe out of this world and enter into the Kingdome of Christ viz. into their first Adamicall Paradisicall Native Country as Jacob in his service got his stepfathers Goods with great Blessing The Inward Spirituall Figure standeth thus 12. When Adam was fallen he must goe forth out of Paradise and yeeld up himselfe to be a servant under the Spirit of the world in the Kingdome of this world and be subject to the Starres and the foure Elements and serve them in their Dominion and provide for and take care of their children viz. the Creatures of this world as we see before our Eyes 13. But when he was to goe out of Paradise as Jacob out of his Fathers house the Lord meets him sheweth him the Entrance in againe into Paradise through the seed of the woman and destroyer of the Serpent as he shewed the same also to Jacob by * * * Gen. 28.12 the Ladder which reached to Heaven 14. And when Adam was gone out of Paradise then he must submit himselfe to be a servant under a strange yoake and serve the kingdome of Nature in its wonders and provide for or take care of the Children of Nature which kingdome of Nature in the Fall became strange to him in that it now holds him by constraint and vexeth him with heate and cold sicknesse and misery and holdeth him Captive in it selfe and useth him in its service which before was his best friend and * * * Grand-Father Patron 15. And as Jacob in this Figure must flie to his friend his Mothers brother and serve him whom he kept as a servant and yet also in respect of his Daughter as a sonne in Law so also must Adam serve under the servile yoake of his Great †††Grand-Father· Father viz. the kingdome of Nature which kingdome gave him its daughter to wife of whom under this yoake he begat the children of God in the Blessing of God and also placeth his children as ministring servants in his Fathers house viz in the kingdome of this world 16. And as Jacob obteined Great Riches in the Blessing of God and acquired the Goods of his Master with subtilty * * * Gen. 30 37 38 39 c. in that he subtilly used the halfe peeled streaked sticks before the drinking Troughs where the sheepe drank upon which they conceived and brought forth †††Pied or spâ—tted ring-straked sheepe particoloured so also when Adam was come under the servile yoake of the kingdome of Nature wherein also the Envie and subtilty of the Devill domineered according to the kingdome of Wrath God shewed him that he should with suttlety acquire to himselfe the kingdome of Nature viz. the working of Nature with its wonders and procure the Power of Nature for an Eternall propriety that his works which he Operates in the kingdome of Nature must follow him into his Eternall Native Country and be his owne 17. Which subtilty was that which God shewed him viz. the Destroyer of the Serpent which Adam put on in the Covenant which put on the kingdome of Nature assumed from us Men and with divine subtilty tooke away the strength and power of our Lord and Master viz. of the kingdome of Gods wrath which held us captive under its yoake and put on all humane power and tooke away our Lord and Masters owne Power viz. the kingdome of Natures owne power as Jacob tooke his Lord and Masters Goods 18. And as the Spirit of * * * Gen. 31.10 God shewed Jacob in the vision that the Hee-Goates and Rams that leaped upon the Goates and Sheepe were ring-straked speckled and grisled so was Adam also shewed in the Spirit of the Covenant of Promise how the Spirit of Grace in the Covenant came upon the streaked particoloured humane Nature and blessed it so that it became pregnant of the spirit of the Covenant 19. Which Humane streaked or particoloured Nature is no other than the halfe earthy corrupt and againe in the Covenant Newborne Heavenly Nature upon this came the Spirit of God as to the heavenly part and made it fruitfull so that under the earthly
Christ signifying that Christ should come and change this whore viz. the seaventh property of the humane Life into the virginity againe 46. Therefore was Christ borne of a virgine that he might sanctifie the Womans Tincture againe and change it into the Mans Tincture that the Man and the Woman might be One Image of God againe and no more Man and Woman but Masculine Virgins as Christ was 47. In Rachel wee see now the selfe-love of the kingdome of Nature where both Tinctures the Masculine and Feminine according to the kingdome of Nature in selfe-love binde themselves in Conjunction as Jacob loved Rachel according to the kingdome of Nature according to the Tincture of selfe-love and on the other side so did Rachel love Jacob therefore must these Tinctures of Naturall selfe-love be so long shutt up and bring forth no Life till †††Gen. 30.22 the Lord remembred Rachel and heard her as the Text in Moses sayth that is till the Lord stirred up the Tinctures of the kingdome of Nature with his blessing then shee bare a Prince in the kingdome of Nature viz. JOSEPH in whom wee see by his great Chastity and feare of God that the blessing of God stirred up the Tinctures of the kingdome of Nature which lay shut up in the Seeds and manifested the Covenant of Grace therein 48. For Christ should deliver the kingdome of Nature in Man from wrath therefore also the Spirit in this figure presenteth an Image or Type in Joseph which it sets downe also in the figure of Christs humanity how it would goe in the future with Christs humanity which he tooke from us Men. 49. In Lea Christ was represented according to his heavenly hidden humanity shewing how the heavenly worlds Substance would be hidden in our humanity under the yoake of Gods Anger and how Christ must appeare in a servile and contemptible forme 50. In Rachel with Joseph now the figure is represented which sheweth how he would Overcome and in our humane Nature should be a Lord and Prince over all his Enemies who have held us poore Men in flesh and bloud Captive and how he would bring us forth out of the Misery and Famine of Adam into a Good Land and not remember how wee in this world have cast him into the Pit as Josephs brethren did him 51. The Spirit of God presents this figure in the Twelve Patriarchs as a Glasse to see by whom God was attoned in his Anger poynting at the future fullfilling for the Text in Moses speaketh very hiddenly in this Figure and sayth * * * Gen. 30.25 26. Now when Rachel had borne Joseph Jacob sayd to Laban let mee depart and travaile to my owne Place and into my Country give mee my wives and my children for which I have served thee that I may goe The inward Spirituall figure is thus 52. When the Blessing of Jacob viz. Christ in the kingdome of the humane Nature was manifest so that Man stood in Christs Image then he desireth to returne from the servitude of this House wherin he must serve and goe againe to his fathers first house and desireth to take with him his fruits viz. his children brethren and sisters and all the children of this Birth he hath a great longing after that as Jacob had after his fathers house But the Lord sayth to him stay and serve heere a while and feed my sheepe †††Gen. 30.28 appoint the wages that I shall give thee that is aske of mee so will I give it thee as Christ sayth * * * Joh. 16.23 Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my Name he will give it you 53. Thus then this Jacob demerseth himselfe in Humility and keepeth the sheepe of Christ in hope of the Eternall wages which followeth after him For in Joseph that is in Christ the wages will be firct given him as Joseph was the wages of Jacob in the Outward kingdome and preserved and nourished him and his house in the famine which signifieth Christ who will Eternally nourish us in himselfe and bring us home with him into his Fathers house as Joseph brought his Father and Children into his Lords Country CHAP. LIX How Jacob departed from Laban what this Figure signifieth and what is to be understood thereby Genesis the 31. IN this Chapter for the most part is the Outward History set forth Gen. XXXI under which yet the Spirit hath its secret Figure wherewith it playeth for the Text sayth * * * Gen. 31.1 2· And the words of the Children of Laban came before Jacob saying Jacob hath gotten all our Fathers Goods to himselfe and of our Fathers Goods hath he procured this Riches And Jacob looked upon Labans Countenance and saw that it was not towards him as formerly 2. This is a figure represented in the Spirit of Christ when the Spirit of Christ in Man hath gotten the kingdome of the humane Nature to himselfe then the Envy of the Serpent in the wrath of Nature in flesh and bloud awaketh understanding and feeling that the power of Nature in Man is taken away from him and opposeth the Spirit of Christ in the power of Nature 3. Then proceedeth the opposite will in Man so that the poore soule is every where faint and in an agony perceiving that it dwelleth among strange Goods and that the Devill is its Neighbour and hath a continuall accesse to its owne Nature and opposeth the soule because it hath in Christs Spirit taken away from him the kingdome of Nature viz. the Land and Country which he had for his possession and therefore the mortall Nature in the wrath of God sets its desire endeavour against the poore soule as a stranger unfriendly when it seeth that it looseth its voluptuous Earthly Inheritance which Right is intimated in the Children of Laban where Reason looketh to get temporall Honour and pleasure that all its naturall right is taken away as Jacob by subtilty tooke away Labans Goods 4. Then thus sayth God to the soule as heere he did to Jacob †††Gen. 31.3 Returne againe into thy fathers Country to thy kindred I will be with thee that is the poore soule should enter againe into its first Country of its father viz. into the Eternall Word out of which it proceeded and therein God blesseth it and therein it can also call its children and Members and bring them along out of the servile House of Gods Anger in the kingdome of Nature as * * * Gen. 31.4 Jacob called his wives and his Children and brought them out of the Servitude of his Father Thus also the Enlightened soule bringeth the power of its Life in the kingdome of Nature together with its fellow-members out of the servile house of flesh and bloud againe into the first house viz. into Gods Word 5. And as †††Gen. 31.21.23 Jacob did flee from the servile house of his Stepfather and Laban pursued after and
was astonished at this Warrier viz. the Anger of God as may be seene on the Mount of Olives as Jacob was astonished at the Anger of Esaw 4. And as Jacob divided the Heards into two Parts because of the wrath of Esaw that if Esaw should smite one Company the other might Escape so also was the humanity of Christ divided into two Substances viz. into a Heavenly whereof he speaketh John 3. saying * * * Joh. 13.13 He was come from Heaven and was then in Heaven and also into an Earthly from our flesh and bloud that if the Anger of God did smite the one Part viz. our Humanity with Death yet the Heavenly Part should escape the wrath and penetrate through Death and therein make our humanity living for the Messengers which Jacob sent to Esaw are nothing else but the Prayers of Christ which he sent through the Anger of God into his Love viz. into the Mercy that our humanity might finde Grace and favour with God 5. For as Jacob sent to Esaw saying he had been long abroad with Laban even till this time and had with him Men-servants and women-servants and Camells with other Cattle that he might with all this finde Grace and favour with his Lord Esaw so also Christ sayth to his Father in our Humanity viz. in Adam which he hath assumed he hath been long abroad absent from the kingdome of God and hath †††Borne Generated or begotten brought forth in the kingdome of this world in Gods works of wonder many Images out of the divine wisdome through the formation of Nature that he might with these formations of wonders finde Grace and favour with God seeing these wonders were brought forth through the Nature of his manifested wrath that so they might come to the Eternall divine vision and Contemplation 6. But the Anger went to meete him in the * * * 4 Elements four Elements and would devour the Earthlines and Evill of them for Esawes four hundred Men signifie nothing else but the wrath of Nature in the four Elements of the Body and they went to meete the Humanity of Christ when Christ was bringing the Created Image of Adam in Our Humanity into God viz. into Paradise then would the wrath of God first kill the Adamicall Image that it might no more live in the kingdome of Anger seeing it was to live in God 7. * * * Gen. 32.9 10 11. And as Jacob humbled himselfe before God and sayd O God of my Father Abraham and God of my father Isaack Lord thou who hast sayd unto mee returne againe into thy Country and to thy kindred and I will deale well with thee I am unworthy of the least of all thy Mercy and all thy faithfullnesse and truth which thou hast afforded unto thy servant for I had no more but this Staffe with which I went over this Jordan and now I am become two Bands Deliver mee from the hand of my brother from the hand of Esaw for I am afraid of him least he cone and smite mee with the Mother and the Children so also Christ humbleth himselfe in our assumed humanity before God and though God in the Prophet David in our assumed humanity †††Psal. 110.1 hath bidden him sit at his Right hand untill he hath layd all his Enemies under his footstoole yet he humbleth himselfe even as Jacob did before the Anger of Esaw so also did Christ before the Anger of his Father 8. And as Jacob sayd When I went over this Jordan I had only this staffe but now am become two Bands so also when Christ viz. the Eternall Word of Divine Love came to us in our humanity then it was only the staffe of divine Grace but in our humanity in the servile house of Adam he was enriched with two Bands viz a twofold humanity the Heavenly extinguished in Adam and the Earthly from the Limus of the Earth therfore he sayth in this twofold humanity as Jacob sayd to God O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaack O Lord thou hast sayd unto mee returne againe into thy Country and to thy first kindred I am lesse then the least of all these mercies which thou hast bestowed on thy servant to signifie that it was onely in Divine Mercy that these two Bands viz. the twofold humanity returned home againe into its first Country of Paradise to the Angelicall kindred 9. And when Jacob had humbled himselfe before God and his brother Esaw * * * Gen 32.13 14 15 16 17 18. He stayed there all night and tooke of that which came to his hand for a present to his brother Esaw two hundred Shee-Goates and twenty Hee-Goates two hundred Ewes and twenty Rams and thirty Milch Camells with their foales forty Cowes and ten Bulls twenty Shee-Asses with ten foales and put them under the hand of his servants every heard by it selfe sayd to them goe on before mee and leave roome for one heard after another and he commanded the formost and sayd when my brother Esaw meeteth thee and asketh thee to whom dost thou belong whither goest thou and whose these are that thou drivest thou shalt then say they are thy servant Jacobs who sendeth them for a present to his Lord Esaw and he followeth behinde after us 10. This Type is now the great Earnestnes whereby the Spirit of God in the figure poynteth at the future for this Present of Jacob to his angry Brother Esaw poynteth at the Place and condition of Christ when he should appease the Anger of his Father then he must first send these Beasts in our implanted Humanity for an attonement which should be presented to the Anger of God 11. But these Beasts which Christ sent to the Anger of God before his passion and Death were our implanted Beasts viz. Pride Covetousnesse Envy wickednesse Lying whereby one Man slandereth disparageth disgraceth shamefully censureth with words discourageth suppresseth and exclaimeth against as wicked and ungodly and summarily all abominations of the Devill and the wicked World 12. These Evill Beasts are in Adam in sinne all awakened and become living These very Formes or Conditions of Life wherein Adam generated his Evill Beasts wherein the Temperature of Nature was rent asunder Christ tooke all upon him in our humanity as they are well intimated in the figure of Jacob by five hundred and Eighty 580. and sent them to the Anger of God for an Attonement when he was redeeming the Humanity from these Beasts 13. And these Beasts were as to Christ his being despised scorned spit upon whatsoever the Jewish Priests did to him were all our Beasts which Christ in his Body gave up to the Anger of God as if himselfe were the Transgressour and yet had generated none of these Beasts in his will But Adam had generated them and Christ tooke them on him as a Lamb and presented them to the Anger of God on his body
with the eternal one and becometh one substance therewith for it goeth into its nothing Must not the false will or desire for a worldly Law 's sake for feare of punishment forbeare or stand still from unrighteous works Wherefore then not also for the sake of the commandement of God Can it be obedient to a worldly Lord and Master and for that end stand still for which he would have him wherefore not also to God especially when the ability is as soone given as a Man doth but incline his will to stand still 59. But the cause why the total false wicked will doth not stand still and incline it self to Grace is this that it is clearely a Thistle borne wherein Grace lyeth too deeply hidden and the wrath of God is too strong in nature Grace draweth it and sheweth to it it s own falshood and wickednesse but it contemneth Grace and worketh as a Thistle doth in the power of the Sun Such a one is to God †††2 Cor. 2.15 16. a good savour of death to the damnation in hell that Grace may be severed from the false and wicked will 60. But the conclusions of reason which pronounceth that God in himself so farr as he is called God hath determined that one part of men and indeed the greatest number shall and must be damn'd and that of his own purposed will he hardeneth them is false and hath no ground either in the Scripture or in the light of nature If a man but rightly consider the Scripture and doth not blindly looke upon it 61. For in God so farr as he is called God there is no purpose nor beginning to will he is himself the will of the profundity viz. one alone and himself willeth nothing but good and therefore is himself also that same good will or willing of good For the good that he willeth is the birth of his power viz. his Sonne 62. God willeth in himself nothing but to manifest his owne good that himself is and that could not be done if the only good power did not introduce it self with the exhalation into the desire to nature and in a severation viz. into the science for if the good did remaine alone there would be no knowledge or skill 63. But now the good viz. God in himself maketh not evil or separation but the science viz. the Fiat or the desire to severation bringeth it self into nature and creature and from the science springeth evill and good and not from God or in God in his Trinity 64. For there is no decree but there is a consultation therein and then there must also be a cause of that consultation therein and then againe there must be a cause of that also and so there must be somthing before God or after God wherefore he so consults and determines 65. But he is himself the profundity and the one and is one only will that is himself and that is only goâ—d for one only thing cannot be opposite to it self for it is but one and hath no quarrel with any thing 66. Therefore it is the folly of Reason that they speake of compulsion and inevitable necessity and understand not the * * * The Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum Or that they say God of his purpose willeth the evil desire or will which he hath hardned that it should not attaine the Grace 67. I shew to this blind Reason a Thistle to consider of which the Sun for a whole day toucheth and giveth it light and power yet it remaines a Thistle so also the wicked will The Divine Sun shineth to it the day of its whole life but its ground is an Ens of a Thistle 68. Otherwise it God did of purpose harden it the righteousness could have no judgement therein for that which doeth what it must doe liveth according to the will of its Lord but if †††Psal. 5.4 God willeth not that which is wicked as in Psal 5. then the evil cometh out of the roote And in the roote of knowledge out of natures ground to the creature and by accident And for that cause hath God manifested his will and given his Law and Gospel that is hath manifested his threatenings and his grace that a day of separation might be kept with righteousness and that no creature might have Excuse 69. And the History saith further * * * Gen. 33.12 13 14. After Esaw had received the Present of Jacob he spake unto his brother Jacob saying Let us take our journey and goe forward I will goe with thee but Jacob said to him My Lord thou knowest that I have with mee tender children and moreover cattel that are great with yong and sucking Caâ—ves if they be over-driven for one day the whole flock would dye Let my Lord pass over before his servant and I will follow on softly as the cattel and the children are able to goe until I come to my Lord into Seir. This Text appeareth to be only an outward History but the Spirit hath also its inward figure under it for Jacob stands in that figure of Christ. And the figure is thus 70. When Christ through his suffering and death appeased his Fathers anger in the kingdome of nature thus said the appeased anger Now will we arise and take our journey together understand in the life of man but the Love said man is too tender feeble and impotent and can scarce goe in Gods wayes * * * Mat. 28.20 I will remain with them even to the end of the world Mat. 28. And lead them †††Gently and moderately slowly as they are able to goe least they fall into temptation and error and be blinde as to Grace Goe thou before my Lord I will lead them on softly under my yoke of the Crosse that they die not for if they should now presently be led in the Fathers severe righteousness they would not be able to goe though they are indeed redeemed yet they live still in flesh and bloud I will come after with them to thee into Seir that is into Gods righteousness 71. †††Gen. 33.15 And Esaw said Let me now leave with thee some of the folke that are with mee He answered what needeth it let mee but finde Grace in the sight of my Lord that is God the Father said let me leave some of my severe righteousness commandements and Lawes with thee but Christ said What needeth it Let me with these redeemed children onely finde Grace with thee for they cannot fulfill the Law 72. * * * Gen. 33.16 Thus Esaw went his way again that day towards Seir that is thus God's righteousness pressed into it's own principle †††17. And Jacob went to Succoth and built him an house from whence the place is called Succoth This in the figure is as much as to say Christ led his Christendome viz. his children not to Seir that is into
und he buried them under an Oake which was by Sichem And they went forth and the feare of the Lord came upon the Cities which lay round about them that they did not pursue after the Sons of Jacob. Thus Jacob came to Luz in the Land of Canaan which is called Bethel with all the People that were with him and built there an Altar and called the place El-Bethel because God there appeared to him when he fled from his brother This History once againe prefigureth powerfully the future times how it would go both with Israel and also with Christendome For when Levi and Simeon had committed that murther and slaine all the males of Sichem and taken captive all their wives and children having plundered and spoiled all then Jacob was afraid of the People of the Land and then God called him from thence to go to Bethel and make an Altar there The inward Figure standeth thus 2. When men both the Jewes and afterward the Christians were grown up in fleshly whoredome and unchast life and became wicked then would God's Spirit depart from them and then they began a spiritual whoredome and Idolatry and were erroneous in their opinions and would fall together by the eares and say one to another he defloureth his sister Dinah that is his worship and service of God and would fall one upon another and murther kill plunder spoile and rob one another with warrs and bring their Country to desolation and misery And then when they should stick in such misery and trouble they would attaine the feare and trembling as heere Jacob upon the murther which his children committed for the Lord would touch their evill consciences and call them again to Repentance as he did Jacob and his children when he commanded them to come away from the place of this murther and commanded Jacob to make an Altar to him viz. to the Lord that is in the lowliness of the feare of God 3. So the Spirit heere signifieth that God would then again send them Prophets and Teachers who would disswade them from their Idolatry and wicked life as heere Jacob exhorted his family that they should put away the strange Gods and the Pride of their ear-rings from them and then when they had thus seene the anger of the Lord which destroyed their Land and exceedingly devoured them for their Whoredome Pride and Idolatrous life then would they follow and obey the Prophets who reproved them for it and bring their Idols and strange Gods viz. their Idolatry before God and put it away from them and would again seek the Temple of God within them and then would God again build up his Altar in them and they would again rightly offer sacrifice to him viz. offer up their soules and would cleanse their garments that is their hearts as Jacob heere commanded his People this also would the Prophets and among the Christians the true Apostles and Teachers command and direct 4. And we see further heere a powerfull figure how Jacob tooke their Idols and Ear-rings and buried them under an Oake by Sichem where the murther was done O thou great and wonderfull God! What does this signifie Nothing else but that these their errors and Idolatry together with their warrs and contentions should thus for a long time lie buried in the anger of God 5. And seeing the Spirit mentioneth an Oake under which these Idols and Pride are buried the figure is cleere to us for an Oake is of a magnetick attractive kinde and maketh a †††Tougle tenacious hardness in its property moreover blackness duskiness and darkness This signifies that the former Idolatry Sins and Blasphemies which they have committed shall there in the hungry wrath of the anger of God in Turba Magna viz. under the great Oake in Spiritu Mundi viz. in the hidden mysterie stand still a long while 6. And what sin they shall commit anew all that will this magnetick Oake draw to it and bring it to the treasure of the former Idolatry and Pride till they become so great that the earth under the Oake can cover them no more Then shall these their old and new whoredomes and Idolatries together be naked before the anger and judgement of God and their * * * Gen. 15.16 measure be full 7. And they would stink before God for these abhominations for the sake of which the Spirit of God would hide it's countenance from them take away from them the light of his countenance so that they would run on in vaine errors and enter again upon the way of such whoredome and with their evil zeale for Dinah their sister which yet is but a deflowrd whore trample all under with Murther and Robbery 8. As is come to passe among the Jewes and Christians that afterwards in the zeale of their Idolatry and whoredome they have slaine and murthered the Prophets and Ministers of Jesus Christ which are * * * Rom 10.15 sent from God that they might live in their Pride and Sodomitical whoredome till †††Rom. 1.28 God hath given them up to a perverse minde in their hearts that they are become wholly evill before him * * * Gen. 15.16 Then is their measure full and the horrible punishment followeth as may be seene by the cast away Jewes which for such abhominations sake were driven out of their Country and Kingdome as also by the Christians who in the faire Country of the East were the best Christians and now must have the Alcoran instead of Christ and their Country horribly wasted in the anger of God 9. Thus it goes now also with thee thou warring Babylon and titulary Christendome full of Idolatry and Ear-rings of Pride which have lien for a long time under the Oake and the Magnet of that Oake hath drawne to it all thy abhominations Idolatry and proud evil life that the earth can cover them no longer but they now stand naked before the face of God therefore also thy Judgement is neere at hand 10. The Prophets call thee and reprove thee but thou ravest for thy sister Dinah viz. for thy fleshly kingdome full of Pride which thou hast built with thy Idolatry and fleshly love and murtherest thy Brethren for thy sister's whoredome sake viz. for the Pharisaical whoredome sake and doest not discern how thou shouldst remedy thy sisters whoredome that shee may be married and thou takest thy sister with her bastard which in the presence of God and all the world stand in shame to thee againe and wilt have her call'd a virgin If thou didst give her to Sichem for a wife and let him be circumcised and wouldst live with him in peace then would thy sisters whoredome be covered 11. But thy wrath O Lord maketh it to be thus for the misdeed is too much and the earth can no more cover it under the Oake in Spiritu Mundi it standeth naked before thy face therefore yee wise children flee out of
Jerusalem the overthrow thereof and the earnest judgement draweth neare the measure is full the anger burneth Sin hath killed the understanding that they * * * Have no more sense or understanding no more perceive or feel the understanding these children are blinde concerning it and alwayes say this is a golden Time it will be good for us and not so come to passe thy Prophets among thee are esteemed fools and mad men till that be done unto thee and till thou thy self doest what they have said unto thee 12. Beware now and leave off to warr about the whore that the Lord may call thee with Jacob and bring thee againe to his holy Altar in Christ Jesus Put away the Idols viz. the opinions and build thine heart to be an Altar in the Temple of Jesus Christ then wilt thou be brought away from the murthers and the feare of God will come upon those men who would pursue thee as is to be seene by Jacob. But if thou wilt not leave off to make warr about the whore then wilt thou together with the whore come to shame and desolation 13. But learne to know her shee giveth Sichem occasion to uncleanness for shee runs out of her house and seeketh lovers Behold her Pride tear her Ear-rings from her neck wherewith shee boasteth and then shee will no more thus shew her folly bereave her of her Idols bury them with Jacob build thy self an Altar in thee and bring thy children to the offering Bid them not strive for Dinah but leave Dinah to the man with whom shee hath bedded else it is in vain to make warr for her virginity for it is manifest to all people that shee hath play'd the whore 14. Marke what is told thee it is high-time her shame can no more be covered for shee hath brought forth the Bastard doest thou not see it and doest thou not know the whore with her child then thou art blinde 15. Shee sitteth in high honour among men and cries all haile to her self This is shee to whom thou prostitutest thy self and forsakest thy God and his Altar Jesus Christ in thee take pity on thy self and behold the misery how this whore hath sate in stead of the Altar of God in thy soule and hath taken thy body and soule in possession and rideth upon thee as upon her Beast shee leadeth thee with her Reignes and thou seest it not thou say'st likewise it is right O thou evill beast full of thy whores Pride how will the Lord throw thee together with the whore to the ground as is to be seene in the * * * Apocalyps Revelations 16. The Spirit heere further setteth downe an excellent faire figure shewing how God manifested himself to Jacob after he made the Altar in Bethel and called the place El-Bethel viz. an Angelicall Engelische dwelling Gen. 35.7 where God conversed with Jacob in the forme of an Angel Engel as the high tongue renders it that God spake with him in vision in an Angels forme viz. in the Angells forme of the future humanity of Christ and signified to him that †††Gen. 35 10 11 12. he should no more be called Jacob but Israel that is a Great Tree or company of Nations him hath God thus blessed that he should possesse all this Country and he shall be so great that even Kings should proceed out of his Loynes whereby he signifieth concerning the future Kingdome of Israel and of Christ how it would come to passe 17. * * * Gen· 35.14 And when the Lord had spoken with Jacob in that very place Jacob set up a Pillar of Stone which signifieth the Temple of Christ as also the Temple at Jerusalem in a Type prefiguring Christ also the true Christian Church among the Christians that from the word of the Lord Men would build a Place and Pillar where they would assemble and declare the Wonders of the Great God and call upon him there and offer up the drink offering of Prayer there 18. And the Spirit sayth further * * * Gen. 35.13 So God went up from him when he had spoken with him that is when he had appeared in a visible Forme in the Image and Type of Christ he with-drew and hid himselfe againe in that Royall place from whence afterwards he would manifest and make himself visible in his Seede in this Figure in the Humanity 19. †††Gen. 35.15 And Jacob called the place Bethel viz. an ‖ ‖ ‖ Or Condiscention humiliation of the Deity in the Humanity so that the Divine Altar becomes manifest where a Man offers praise and thankesgiving to God And the Spirit by Jacob concerning this Bethel pointeth at the future Bethlehem where Christ should be borne Man as this place Bethel was exceeding highly esteemed by the Patriarchs which all pointeth at the Future Bethlehem where the true Altar Christ should be erected and built upon which Jacob and his Fathers and Children had offered in the Faith and prefiguring Type and under it God led them in the visible Type from thenceforth till the appointed Time that this Altar was erected at Bethlehem by the Birth of Christ. 20. And the Spirit in Moses speaketh instantly very darkly thereof in this Figure and sayth * * * Gen. 35.16 And they went from Bethel whereby he pointeth at the going forth from the figure of Christ that Men should goe forth from this figure to the Birth of Christ and sayth * * * Gen. 35.16 And it was a field breadth from Ephrath where Rachel brought forth and shee was in hard Labour at the Birth 21. This Field breadth signifieth the time that is between that and the Altar of Christ as Adam was gone a field breadth from the Altar of God that is out of the Spirituall world into the Earthly where it goeth very hard with Rachel viz. with the humane Nature as to the Patriarch Benjamin that is to bring forth a Christian that even the Old Adam must dye and perish in this Birth as Rachel dyed when shee bare Benjamin 22. Which Benjamin signifieth that when wee erect Gods Altar in us so that Christ dwelleth in us then is Benjamin that is our Last Man or second Adam borne then dieth the Old Mother who hath generated the kingdome of Nature in Man and the New Spirituall Man is manifested 23. This Benjamin is borne after Jacob is first gone out of Mesopotamia as the Spirit hath prefigured the Type of Christs Passion and Victory by Esaw and Jacob in their Meeting and it was a figure of the Apostle Mathias who was Elected to be an Apostle in the stead of Judas after Christ had first consummated his Passion and Ascention into Heaven 24. And it is a figure shewing how Man must first enter into Christs Passion Death that the Altar of Christ must first be erected in him before the Humane Nature from Christ can be borne for
and yet during the time of this life outwardly it hangs to a Christian this the Spirit heere powerfully prefigureth 3. Heere we see a powerfull figure in Judah in whom stood the line of Christ in the Order of the Genealogie out of which Christ was to be manifested * * * Gen. 38.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. This Judah went away from his brethren and applyed himselfe to a Man of Odoliam called Hira and there Juda saw a Cananitish Mans daughter called Suha and he tooke her and went in unto her so shee conceived and bare a sonne and he called his Name Er and shee conceived againe and bare a sonne whose Name shee called Onan and shee conceived once more and bare another sonne whose name shee called Selah and shee was at Chesib when shee bare him and Judah gave his sonne Er a wife whose name was Thamar but he was evill in the sight of the Lord and therefore the Lord slew him then sayd Judah to Onan Lye thou with thy brothers wife and take her in Marriage that thou maiest rayse up seede to thy Brother But Onan knowing that the seede should not be his owne when he should lye with his brothers wife he let it fall to the ground and destroyed it lest he should give seede to his brother and it was displeasing in the sight of the Lord which he did and the Lord slew him also This Figure * * * Or is thus to be understood stands thus 4. Judah stands heere in the figure of Adam in that condition as when the Covenant of Grace concerning the seede of the Woman was againe inspired or inspoken into Adam just so he standeth in that same figure shewing that the Covenant of Grace stood in the Evill Adam as Adam then was for as in Judah the time of Christ viz. the Covenant of Grace was in Motion as a boundary reaching to Mary so also it was in Adam and so along to and in Judah 5. And Thamar standeth in the figure of Eve into whom God had inspired or inspoken his Promise the Word of Regeneration that the seede of the Woman in the power of the Word should breake the Serpents head so shee standeth as an Earthly Eve in whom inwardly the Covenant of Grace stood and outwardly there was the Corrupt Eve which in this figure standeth outwardly as a whore out of whom yet the Line of Christ sprang in Perez her sonne as Abel out of Eve though Eve were indeed become Earthly and we see here the Type very plainly how the Spirit playeth and taketh delight in this figure with the Old and New Adam as also with the Old and New Eve 6. For Adam was in his Lust gone forth from his fathers house as Judah to the Cananites and had taken to him in his Lustfull desire the Cananitish Woman the foure Elements of whom he begat Three sonnes the first called Er or Ger viz. selfe-will or desire wherein the Kingdome of the Nature of Man stood in selfe-desire or owne will and this sonne was the first world before the Deluge or Floud to this the father gave him his Name to signifie that he lived in the Fathers Nature 7. The second sonne shee called Onan whom the Mother called so which pointed at the second world after the Floud for the Nature of the Father in Man sayd to God O no O nein my Lord drowne me no more and the Mother viz. the Woman of this world in Spiritu Mundi in the Spirit of the world in the Expressed or out-spoken Word and Life gave her sonne this Name for God had inspired his Grace againe into her that this her second sonne viz. the Other world should not be drowned with Water therefore this Name standeth thus in the high figure is called ONAN for the Spirit hideth it in the High Tongue and calleth him Onan or O nein O no. 8. The Third sonne shee called Selah and shee was at Chesib when shee bare him CHESIB signifieth in the * * * Either the Hebrew is heere meant or rather the Language of Nature High Tongue an Exhaling in and recomprehension that is this Selah signifieth the time of the Manifestation of the Law wherein the Divine Will in the Word hath manifested it selfe through the Expressed Word and comprized it in a Law or Commandement 9. These three sonnes signifie the Three Times from Adam to Christ Er is the Time before the Floud in selfe-will Lust and desire Onan is the second Time after the Floud This sonne viz. the World after the Floud hath knowne Gods Judgement and punishment which began to Weepe and Lament before God saying O nein O no Lord punish us no more thus 10. The Third Time is the Time of the Law viz. a manifesting and laying open of sinne and is justly called Selah for this sonne sayth I have found my soule againe in the Lord but it was not he yet which Thamar that is the hidden Eve in whom the Covenant of Grace lay could marry he could not raise up the seede of the Woman for Christ was as yet hidden in the Law therefore Thamar must waite till Selah be growne up that is the Law must waite till the fullness of Time yet neverthelesse Thamar that is the New Eve which lay hid under the veile of sinne must conceive through the Spirit in the Covenant and beare the Line of Christ hidden to the outward Thamar or Eve as this Figure of Judah and Thamar sheweth it The inward Figure standeth thus 11. Judah gave his first sonne a wife called Thamar but he was evill in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord slew him That is in the inward understanding as much as to say God gave to the first world viz. to the first sonne Er this Thamar viz. the promised incorporated Covenant in the seede of the Woman but they looked onely upon the outward Eve and committed whoredome with her so Thamar remained unfruitfull by this sonne and bare onely the outward Eve in her whoredome and thus Er viz. the fleshly desire was evill in the sight of the Lord therefore the Lord slew him with the Deluge 12. When this sonne was slaine the Spirit of God sayd to the Second sonne after the Deluge take thou thy brothers wife and raise up in Thamar a seede out of the Line of the Covenant that is enter thou into the first Covenant of the Womans seede and bring thy will into the Obedience of God and work in the promised Grace but the second sonne viz. the second world would not marry with the divine Will neither nor work in the Grace but spilt their seede upon the Earth that is they set their desireâ— upon Earthly things and would raise up no seede in the inward Eve in the Covenant of Grace but introduced their seede into earthly vessells and bare children of fleshly voluptuousness as is to be seene in the children of Nimrod and presently after in
Sodom and Gomorrha 13. But God having signified his Covenant of Grace to them by Noah that he would no more slay them with water when they sayd O nein O no Lord slay us thus no more and they had promised to walk before him and bring forth fruit to him but they brought their seede into vanity and spilt it before the Lord and would not marry Thamar viz. the Inward Covenant of Grace but committed adultery with the Earthly Eve and spilt the seede of their soule before the inward Eve in the Covenant then the Lord slew this Onan also viz. Sodom and Gomorrha and the Heathen when Israel drave them out of their Land and slew them for those Heathens would not marry the woman in the Covenant but they * * * wedded themselves to married their Owne Reason and made them Idolls and spilt the seede of their Faith before them upon the Earth and therefore the Lord slew them also as he did Onan 14. And the Spirit speaketh further in the figure under an Outward Act done and sayth †††Gen 38.11 Then spake Juda to Thamar his daughter in Law saying remaine a widdow in thy fathers house till my sonne Selah he growne up for he thought perhaps he may die also as his brethren so Thamar went home and remained in her fathers house In the first world before the Floud as also in the second world after the Floud the world lived free without the divine Law for they were married with the Covenant of Grace and should have lived under the Covenant of Grace viz. under the Promise of the Womans seede this Womans seede married her selfe with them as Judahs sonne with Thamar but they onely committed adultery with the Earthly Eve and so the true woman in the Covenant remained unfruitfull in them 15. But when God gave the Law then he promised this woman in the Covenant of Grace under the Law the true Selah but shee viz. the womans seede in the Covenant should remaine a widdow under the Law till Selah grew up that is till the Law had attained its time and limitt in that should the woman in the Covenant remaine in her fathers house hidden under the Law as a widdow in her state and condition for the Law should governe under it but shee viz. the holy woman of Grace should be still and quiet that the wrath of God for the sake of this high Grace which he gave to Man when they regarded it not nor did not receive it and live therein should not slay Israel also as Judah thought the Lord would slay Selah also 16. And wee rightly see in this figure that this woman in the Covenant was not given to Selah viz. to the Law though the Law waited long for it yet Selah might not marry this woman in the Covenant of Grace but Judah that is Gods word and power must againe lye with this womans seede in the Covenant and raise it up that this woman conceived and bare the womans seede which was fullfilled in Mary as wee see by the figure of Judah and Thamar how Judah when shee sate before the doore and waited for his promise that he would give her Selah did get her with childe himselfe for the Law could not get the right Thamar in the Covenant with childe but the word in the Covenant must move it selfe and get Thamar with childe 17. For wee see heere the most powerfull figure of the whole Old Testament where Judah standeth in the figure in the Line of the Covenant as his father Jacob declares concerning him and Thamar his daughter in Law of whom the children of the Covenant should raise up seede in the time of Judah standeth in the figure of the inward and outward Eve Inwardly shee signifieth the Mother of the Covenant of Grace in which stood the Incorporated Word of Grace and outwardly shee stood in the figure of Corrupted Eve in whom the Covenant lay inwardly 18. And now the Line that was sprung up out of this Covenant should sow divine seede and bring forth fruit in Gods kingdome and that they could not doe for their own selfe-power and Might was lost therefore the first Eternall Speaking Word that had inspired or inspoken the womans seede into Eve must againe move it selfe in this incorporated Covenant of Grace in the womans seede and it selfe get this woman with childe that shee may bring forth Christ as Judah gat his daughter in Law with childe in this Type 19. The Text of Moses sayth cleerly thus * * * Gen. 38.12 13 14. When many dayes were overpassed Shuahs daughter Judahs wife died and after Judahs time of mourning was out he went up to sheare his sheepe at Timnath with his Shepheard Hirah of Odollam Then it was told Thamar behold thy father in Law goeth up to Timnath to sheare his sheepe then shee put off her widdowes apparrell that shee wore and cast a Mantle over her for a vayle and sat without far from the doore in the way to Timnath for shee saw that Selah was growne up and shee was not given unto him to wife The Inward figure †††Is thus to be understood stands thus 20. In Judah lay the roote of the Covenant which pressed on to the Limit where it should be manifested in Christ and so stood Judah heere in this figure in the place or stead of the divine Word which Word God inspired or inspake into Adam for an understanding Life John 1. therefore the Text sayth heere Judahs wife the daughter of Shuah died This woman died to Adam for it was the Mother of the heavenly Birth in the heavenly worlds substance for which Adam mourned and when God had ordered him for this world then his mourning ceased for he thought he was now at home and went forth out of Paradise to eate Earthly fruit like the Beasts or living creatures therefore sayth the Spirit heere He sheared his sheepe which might well be done so by Judah but the Spirit hath here the most secret figure under which Adam is comprised for the Spirit sayth Judah tooke his Shepheard Hirah of Odollam along with him 21. In the figure this Hirah is the Cherubine which sticketh in the earthly desire and beastiall cloathing of Man which Adam tooke with him when he went out of Paradise to sheare the sheepe of this world for the same viz. the Earthly desire was his shepheard for that now keepeth the beasts and sheepe and did sheare them also so that Adam had Cloathes and things necessary 22. And the Spirit calleth the place Timnath where Judah had his sheepe In the high Tongue this understanding lyeth very cleere in the sense for TIMNATH is nothing else but the Expressed word in its powerfull re-expression and it signifieth the Spirit of this world in the Elements wherein the outward mortall Life consists wherein Adam had his sheepe and now also therein hath them in his children 23. For in this place
he was a prosperous Man and was in his Masters the Aegyptians house and his Master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand so that he found Grace and favour in the sight of his Master and was his Servant which he set over his house and all that he had he put under his hand and from the time that he set him over his house and over all his Goods the Lord blessed the Aegyptians house for Josephs sake and the blessing of the Lord was every way upon all that he had in the house and in the field therefore he left all that he had under the hands of Joseph and he medled with nothing while he had him but what he did eate and drinke and Joseph was a goodly person and faire of feature 2. The History prefigureth to us a true Christian Man what he is and how he is in this world and what his Office is that is when Christ is manifested in him he is no more his owne to doe what he will also in this world he hath nothing for his owne of which he can in truth say this is mine or I I am he that hath it I possesse it it is mine own I may doe therewith what my flesh and my owne will listeth I may use it for my honour and pleasure that I may thereby be * * * Or high aloft in the world No a true Christian hath none of that in his power 3. He indeed ruleth of right over that which he hath and possesseth with truth and righteousnesse but yet as a servant of his Lord Christ. For a Christian is a Christian in Christ and is bought to a Christian Life and to the obedience of Faith by the bloud of Christ with Christs †††Thirty pieces of silver thirty pieces of silver whereof his Lord Christ hath committed to him Josephs * * * Twenty pieces of silver twenty pieces of silver and set him as a Steward over it that he may trade therewith and employ it till he make it come to thirty pieces of silver which he should weare in him and about him as a Mark or Badg of his Lord Christ as a Treasure of his Christianity 4. But seing his Lord Christ was sold and betrayed to Death for thirty pieces of silver and Joseph was sold by his Brethren to be a †††Over whom the Master hath power of Life and all he hath Bondslave for twenty pieces of silver in both these numbers standeth the figure of a Christian viz. Christ when he is manifested in a Man sheweth him the thirty pieces of silver for which he was sold to Suffering and Death and this his suffering and Death he putteth upon him in which is founded the figure of the thirty pieces of silver viz. that he was sold and betrayed and therein man becomes such a Christian as is founded implanted †††Eingeatzed Etching of plates with Aqua fortis ingraven upon and into Christs sufferings and Death and therein a Man becometh a Christian in Christs sufferings and Death and standeth in the figure of Christ and looseth the right of his naturall selfe-will as also the kingdome of this world 5. For in Christs Death as to his inward spirituall Man he dieth from this world and according to that inward Man is no more in this world but in Christ in God viz. in the Kingdome of God as it is written * * * Luk. 17.21 The Kingdome of God is inwardly within you Also †††Gal. 4.19 Examine your selves whether Christ have gotten a forme in you Also ‖ ‖ ‖ 1 Cor. 3.16 Ye are the Temple of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in you Also * * * Col. 4.12 Ye are the servants of Christ and †††Joh. 6 53. should eate the flesh of the Son of Man and so * * * Joh. 15.7 he abideth in you and you in him and †††Joh. 6.53 without him ye have no Life as an hearb or grasse and all earthly things without the power and vertue of the Sunne have no life growth or vegetation and operation in them so Man without the Divine Sunne which through Christ hath manifested it selfe in his Christians hath no life or happinesse or salvation without Christ in him 6. And as Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver to suffering and death which thirty pieces of silver signifie the †††Luk 3.23 thirty yeares of Christ before his Baptisme ere he entred into his Office and divine Government according to the humanity when he gave up his humane Will to God and the Creaturely selfe-will ceased in him so also must a Christian when he is in truth in his owne naturall will sold for twenty pieces of the thirty pieces of silver to be a servant of God in Christ to be a Minister or Officer and Obedient to his Lord who liveth in him then his by past yeares of the Adamicall Naturall time of this world are sold in and with Christ for twenty pieces of silver and so the Adamicall time of his naturall will in this being sold ceaseth in Christs suffering Death and he is by his Lord who is arisen from Death in him and ruleth and raigneth over Death set to be an Officer over Christs Goods to dispose of them through the Spirit of Christ viz. in the power and vertue of his Lord who is in him in this world * * * As to the Dominiō of Christ. according to the Kingdome of Christ. 7. As Joseph was taken away from his Fathers house and was first cast into the Pit wherein he should have perished and was afterwards sold by his brethren for twenty pieces of silver to serve as a Bondslave so also a Christian is first taken away from his Fathers house viz. from the Adamicall Nature and is cast into the Pit viz. into Christs suffering and Death and then looseth the Adamicall inheritance of the Kingdome of this world and is with his Will and Minde brought away from it then he must yeeld up his Fathers house viz. all his selfehood together with his naturall Life to his brethren in his fathers house that is to the power of God in the Government of this world and suffer himselfe to be cast into the Pit of the Death of his Naturall will and therein give up himselfe to the Death of Christ and willingly die to the will of this world viz. to his owne Adamicall house and willingly suffer all whatsoever his brethren of this world doe to him 8. And then if he thus lye in the Pit or Grave of Christ and hath given himselfe up to the Death of Christ that he willingly would forsake all for Christs sake and dye the death of his owne will then Christ his Lord putteth on him his resurrection from the Dead and maketh
then the Devill comes and stirreth up the fleshly whore in flesh and bloud and all false and wicked desires and Imaginations and then injecteth and frameth in this whore the Honour and Glory of the world also Riches and the pleasure of this Life also he modelleth and represents the Great misery and desolation wherein the poore soule in this world must stand in shame and scorne also the great unworthinesse of the soule also he represents Covetousnesse to think all temporall good things and necessaries will fayle and so it should come into great Misery 37. To the Potent and Rich the Devill modelleth and represents in this their fleshly Serpentine whore their Nobility and Highnesse their Great Honour Might and Power also voluptuous eating and drinking of dainty fare and how they may acquire it with power and suttle policy also he represents unchastity and wantonnesse and to think that if they should walke in humility and lowlinesse they should loose the respect and reputation of the world for who would feare and honour them if they did not put themselves forward with ostentation 38. All these are the words of Potiphars whore in flesh and bloud which the Devill stirreth up in the Serpents insinuated poyson with his Imagination wherewith he plagueth the poore imprisoned soule in flesh and bloud and provoketh it to such and the like unchastity and sinnes and this whore in the flesh sayth continually to the soule lye with mee copulate with mee thou wilt be blessed happy and saved well enough use thy lust with mee and this shee doth dayly that shee might bring Joseph into Lust viz. the New childe that the soule might bite at that bait and defile the New childe and its faire Crowne 39. For this whore is ashamed before this New childe shee resembleth a dirty Swine compared with the Sunne when shee heareth mention made of the wantonnesse of the world shee rejoyceth at it but when Men speak of such chastity and purity shee is ashamed of it and then bespattereth or sullyeth the Speech of the holy childe with the abovesaid abominations and despiseth it for shee knoweth that if Joseph holdeth the Government shee must dye 40. But honest vertuous and chast Joseph viz. the inward New Man sayth to this whore behold my Lord and Master hath trusted mee with all his Eternall Goods and the whole Kingdome of Christ how shall I then doe so evilly before him I will not lye with thee thou art thy Lords wife viz. the wife of the Spirit of this world I will not lye with thee nor be neere thee 41. And Moses sayth further * * * Gen. 39.11 12 13 14 15. It came to passe on a Day that Joseph went into the House to doe his employment and there was none of the people in the House and shee caught him by his Garment and sayd lye with mee but he left the Garment in her hand and fled and ran forth out of the House but when shee perceived that he left his Garment in her hand and was fled forth shee called the People of the House and sayd behold he hath brought in an Hebrew Man to us to defame us he came in unto mee and would have lyen with mee but I cryed with a lowd voyce and when he heard that I cryed out and called he left his Garment with mee and fled and ran forth This now is the figure shewing how the Devill through this whorish Woman strongly sets upon the soule especially when the Devill observeth that the soule is alone that the Spirit of God stirreth not in it then he falls a storming of it and layeth hold of it in its lifes Essence and will force it in such whoredome that the Pretious Virgin-childe might be defiled and that shee might with the Serpents power copulate with the soule 42. This also is a powerfull figure of the whorish and unchast world shewing how the faire Daughters of Eve in the instigation of the Devill run after the tender Youths and allure them with flattering hypocriticall behaviour with wicked burning Lust which trimme and adorne themselves as if an Angell sate under their dresse and have drawne many an honest vertuous childe that never desired it to themselves and bound them with the Devills chaines and have bereaved them of their honour and chastity 43. And if there were an honest and chast Joseph who would not goe into these Hogsstyes and Jakes of the Devill they cry out against such a one and accuse him of unchastity as willing to betray him and rob him of his honour and yet are even the lustfull Panders which strow sugar and give Gall to Eate which strange people strow sugar so long as he hath money in his Purse till they bereave him of his livelyhood honour and Goods that he have no more to give them and then they scorne him and leave him without a Garment as Potiphars wife did Joseph as he was going out of the house so the Devill hath the soule and the whore the Garment for a Pledge in which whore nothing else governeth but the Serpent with its brood of young ones and he that joynes himselfe unto them is poysoned by the Serpent for the Serpent sheds its spawne into body and soule and poysoneth him so exceedingly that his heart cleaveth to the whore and runneth after her as if he were fast tied to her 44. At present the world is full of these vermine among high and low and therefore also at present the Serpent it selfe is pregnant and will shed forth its spawne which the Zeale of God will consume for Joseph with his Governing-Office lyeth as yet in Prison and Potiphars wife governeth in her burning Lust which shee bare to Joseph but since shee could not betray Joseph shee set her selfe in Josephs Government and governeth the house of this world and accordingly hath generated many Bastards which now governe in her stead and therefore the Judgement cometh upon her whoredome and breaketh her to pieces that men will say †Shee is fallen shee is fallen Babell the Mother of the Great Whoredome and is become a habitation of all Devills and uncleane Spirits shee is for Ever sealed up in the Abysse 45. On the Contrary wee heere see in this Image and Type also the great Chastity and Purity of Joseph who when he was drawne and held with power yet fled from this whore and had rather leave his Garment and good Name at Stake that he might but keepe a good Conscience The Holy Figure standeth thus 46. When this chast New virgin childe in the Spirit of Christ seeth this whore in flesh and bloud draw neere it that her desire layeth hold on this Chastity then it flyeth out of the house that is this virgin childe hideth it selfe in its owne Principle and may not come neere the soule seeing the soule is defiled by this whores Poyson so that it is brought into Lust thus strongly the divine purity shields it selfe from the
manifest in the World and are set before the Eyes of the Watchmen who sit in Councell for Judgement what is to be done more with these dry ill-favoured Kine for God hath given them the seaven fatt Kine of the Manifestation of his Grace but they devoure all and yet are so very hungry that Hell dwelleth in their foure Elements and the Kingdome of the Devill * * * Consisteth in that wch their posture condition or qualitie doth represent and expresse standeth in their figure 40. O Aegypt of Christendome thou hopest for Good and yet desirest onely to worke wickednesse No Good shall come to thee except thou dyest from this Hunger thou wilt burst thy selfe asunder in this Hunger whence shall good be interpreted to thee by Joseph when thou thus hungerest the more Nature generateth in thee such a thing as thy hunger and desire is thou oughtest to hope for nothing except thou convertest and puttest on Josephs New Garment and then the Lord will give thee his Spirit so that thou wilt see and understand thy Images and put them away and stand with Joseph before the Face of God as Joseph before the Face of Pharaoh and wilt be able to see and interpret the Wonders of God 41. And then the Lord will set thee with Joseph over the Kingdome of his Mysteries that thou wilt rightly understand the Magick ground of Faith and wilt search no more in the Images of the outward Naturall Magick as thou hast done for a long time but thou wilt see the inward Ground and with Joseph rule over Aegypt that is over the Mysteries and wilt therein prayse the Lord and draw in his fountaine and drinke water of Life 42. For †††Rom. 10.8 Deut. 30.14 the Word which thou shalt now learne and understand is nigh thee namely in thy Mouth and heart thou art Gods formed Word thou must learne to reade thy owne Booke which is thy selfe and then thou wilt be free from all Images and thou seest the Place of which it is sayd * * * Gen. 28.16 The Lord is heere and then thou wilt attaine the Life of power and vertue againe and become fatt and put away the Mantle of Christ and say Heere is the Man that will walke in the footsteps of Christ and will follow and imitate him and be like and ‖ ‖ ‖ Phil. 3.10 Conformable to him in his Life and Image 43. This whole Historie of the Dreames of Pharaoh are an Image whereby the Spirit under an outward Action pourtrayeth and Typifieth the humane Ground how Good God Created him and set him in his fattnes and how he is thus destroyed by Sathans Envy and Poyson and changed into so ill-favoured an Image 44. But in Joseph the Spirit representeth a figure shewing how a Man must againe spring up through the New Birth out of this Poyson and how he should be set before God againe and how God giveth him his Spirit and maketh him Ruler in his House how he shall gather in heavenly fruits in Faith and a good Conscience against the time of Temptation when the Dearth or Famine viz. Gods Anger sifteth the soule 45. In which sifting then that fruit which is for foode which stands by the soule in Repentance and in which its little Pearle-Plant with its branches groweth it takes along and beareth good fruit 46. Those fruits are then Josephs interpretation as he declared Gods Counsell and taught it to Pharaoh so the New Birth bringeth forth such good fruit and doctrine which makes knowne the way of God to Mankinde and standeth hefore him with wisdome as Joseph before Pharaoh And this we see in Josephs Councill after he had interpreted his Dreame he sayd to Pharaoh * * * Gen. 41.33 to the 36. Let the King looke out for a wise and prudent Man who may build Granaries for Pharaoh where provâ—sion may be layd up that Men may have Necessary sustenance in the Famine which the Spirit secretly represents in the †††Or Condition of such a Man the Man Christ or a Christian Man figure of Man that a Man should looke out for ‖ ‖ ‖ Exod. 18.21 Wise Men fearing God which should help to gather in the Divine Treasury and provision with wisdome and understanding with Doctrine life and prayer that thereby the Divine Treasure and provision might be gathered in 47. And then when the time of triall sifting and hunger cometh that Gods Anger might be thereby kept back and prevented and not so suddenly make both body and soule Land and people leane and devour them but that there may be something for Provision Concerning which God sayth he will doe well to them that feare God unto a * * * 1000 Generations Exod. 20.6 Thousand Generations and this Provion shall continue to a Thousand Generations 48. And Moses sayth further †††Gen. 41.37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. This saying of Joseph pleased Pharaoh and all his servants well and Pharaoh sayd to his servants how can wee finde such a Man in whom the Spirit of God is and sayd to Joseph seeing God hath made all this knowne to thee there is none so understanding and wise as thou thou shalt be over my house and all my People shall be obedient to thy Word onely in the Regall Throne I will be higher then thee And further Pharaoh sayd to Joseph behold I have set thee over the whole Land of Aegypt and tooke his Ring off his owne hand and gave it to Joseph into his hand and cloathed him with white silke Garments and hung a Golden Chaine upon his Neck and caused him to goe in his second Chariot and caused it to be proclaimed before him this is the father of the Land and set him over the whole Land of Aegypt and Pharaoh sayd to Joseph I am Pharaoh and without thy will shall no Man stirre his hand or his foote in the whole Land of Aegypt and he called him his secret Councell and gave him a wife named Asnath the Daughter of Potiphar Priest of ON 49. This now is the Most excellent figure in the whole Bible that there is no where the like to it of any Man and he standeth in the figure of an approved tryed Christian who hath out-stood all tryalls whom the Spirit of Christ hath lead with himselfe quite through his sufferings Death Hell Prison and Misery as the Onely God viz. the Great King set him before him and tryed his wisdome which he had received in the processe or imitation of Christ when he received him with Joy and giveth this Testimony of him there is none so wise as thou who would so hiddenly introduce his Life in Patience through Death and Hell to God as thou 50. And as God giveth him full power over his Kingdome and in his Love maketh him his helper and assistant as a Councell of a King helpeth and assisteth a King to governe his
and Brother the Heavenly Joseph for with Money Men trade so also should the inward Benjamin trade with his Gifts of the three hundred peeces of silver viz. with the Gifts of Christ that is teach and make knowne Gods wonders for he is Christs servant and assistant yea his true Brother 29. But the Ten Asses laden with the choice Good things of the Land of Egypt which Joseph sent to his Father signifieth in the figure the Ten Commandements in the Law of Nature which Joseph had laden with Good things that is Christ hath laden them with his Grace and sent them to Gods righteousnesse in the Conscience whereof poore Nature hath to make Expences 30. But the Ten shee Asses with Corne signifie the Ten formes of the Soulish and Naturall fire-Life upon which Christ loadeth the Soules foode when they goe in his processe in the imitation of him The Bread and the foode upon the way signifie the Word of God of which the poore old Adam must eate that he may live 31. These Christ giveth his children and brethren on the way of their Pilgrimage when they goe home againe in the processe of Christ that they may have provision to spend and thereon Nature viz. the Old Father eateth and commandeth them that they should not contend one with another upon this way but in Love and Peace goe home into Paradise 32. O Israell where is now thy Peace It seemeth as if thou haddest consumed all the provision of Joseph and must at present want seeing thou so very much contendest about this foode and hast raised such murdering about it Truly thou hast murdered thy brother Benjamin by the way and therefore thou art in Strife and wilt not goe home thou art afraid but the famine will drive thee forth or else thou wilt be hungry and starved 33. * * * Gen. 45.25 26 27 28. Thus they went up from Egypt and came into the Land of Canaan to their father Jacob and made it knowne to him and sayd Joseph is alive and is Lord of the whole Land of Egypt but his heart thought much otherwise for he beleeved them not then they told him all the words of Joseph which he had said to them and when he saw the Chariotts which Joseph had sent to bring him the spirit of Jacob their father revived and Israell sayd I have enough that my sonne Joseph yet liveth I will goe downe and see him ere I die This figure standeth thus 34. When Christs Apostles were loaden with this Present they went therewith into their fathers house viz. among the Brethren in the Kingdome of Nature in their unbeleefe and made knowne to them the great Glory and the present of JESUS Christ which he had given them that they should bring it to them but their heart beleeved it not that these simple Men the Apostles of God loaden with such great Good things were sent by Joseph till they saw the Chariotts of the Holy Ghost which brought the Present in great power and works of wonder and heard the powerfull Word of JESUS Christ with deeds and wonders out of their Mouth then sayd Israell Now I have enough now I can beleeve I will also goe along with you to Christ that I may see him as Old Jacob sayd I have enough that my sonne Joseph yet liveth I will goe up that I may see him before I dye 35. Thus also these Chariotts goe out from Gods children among the unbeleevers which at first will not beleeve but when they feele these Chariotts and the Present in them then they also say I have enough I will goe along into Egypt into Repentance that I may see and know my Saviour for their Spirit is also revived as Jacobs spirit was 36. Where are now these Chariotts in the Teachers Mouths upon which the Holy Ghost rideth and toucheth the heart of Israell that his spirit is revived Indeed sayth Babell the Spirit of Christ at present worketh not so powerfully in our words wee have now the knowledge of the Kingdome of Christ that need not be wee should onely beleeve the Word which Christs Apostles have left behinde them and that is enough 37. Else if wee should teach so powerfully wee must then be also of so simple and poore a life as Christs Apostles lead and forsake the world that needs not be Christs Kingdome must now be stately in Pomp and Glory 38. O how will poore Christ who on Earth had not whereon to lay his head reprove this to thee before thy face that thou hast taken his Covenant into a false and wicked Mouth Earnestnesse was never more necessary then at this present when all the Chariotts are overthrone and in great Confusion CHAP. LXXIII How Jacob and all his Children and all that were belonging to him and all their Cattle went into Egypt Vpon the 46 Chapter of Genesis MOses sayth * * * Gen. XLVI 1 2 3 4. Israell went with all that he had and when he came to Bersheba he offered sacrifice to the God of his father Isaack and God sayd to him that night in a vision Jacob Jacob and he answered heere am I and he sayd I am God the God of thy father Isaack feare not to goe downe into Egypt for I will there make thee a great people I will goe downe with thee into Egypt and bring thee up hither againe and Joseph shall lay his hand upon thine Eyes The inward Figure standeth thus 2. Jacob must goe into Egypt in the great famine and straite hunger with all the Company he had and he went up when he heard of Joseph when Joseph caused him to be fetched by his sonnes when he saw the Present and the Chariotts of Joseph then his spirit was revived and he went up thus it is also in the figure of the New Birth when the Adamicall Man heareth the voice of the heavenly Joseph sounding in him and seeth the Chariots of the Holy Ghost in him then he goeth up with all his powers and goeth into the Egypt of Repentance 3. And when he cometh to Bersheba that is into the sounding noise of his heart and soule then he sacrificeth his body and soule with all that he hath to the God of his father that is he giveth himselfe up with his Life and all whatsoever he is into the Word which created it in Adam and made it out of it selfe which is the God of his father then that divine Word speaketh or inspireth into him that is it speaketh actually operatively and powerfully in him that Night in a vision which is as much as to say here in the secret hiddennesse of Man where God hideth himselfe from Reason and the Creature and out of his principle speaketh or inspireth Comfort and power or vertue into the Life and calleth him by his Name as he did Jacob that is he compriseth his Name in the word of his speaking which is * * * Rev. 20.12 to the 15. the Booke of
6. But it hath more respect to the Covenant that the children of the Covenant in their Adamicall Nature would be a neere Cohabitation in Hope and that the Outward Man would not apprehend the Kingdome of Christ but would be a neere co-habitation with it where Christ should dwell in the inward Ground viz. in the Spirituall World and Adam in this * * * World or outward Life Time of the Life and yet be a co-habitation 7. For as the Spirit hath by Judah declared Christ in the flesh so now heere he declareth that the outward Man would not be Christ but be a Co-habitation of Christ Christ would possesse the inward Ground as he also sayth My Kingdome is not of this world Therefore the outward mortall Man should not say of it selfe I am Christ for he is onely a Co-habitation of Christ as the outward world is onely a Co habitation or neere neighbourhood to the Kingdome of Christ for Christ is the inward Spirituall world hidden in the outward visible world as the Day is hidden in the night and yet they dwell one by neere and with the other VI. The Testament of Issachar 8. * * * Gen. 49 14 15. Issachar is a strong boned Asse and he lodgeth in valleys between the Borders or Hills of the Country and he saw Rest that it was Good and the Land that it was pleasant and fruitfull but he hath bowed his shoulders to beare and is become a Tribute servant In this Testament of Issachar the Spirit pointeth first at the outward figure of this Tribe or Stock shewing where they should dwell viz. in the midst of the Land in Good ease and Rest but yet be Tributary but the powerfull figure looketh upon the inward Ground viz. upon the humane Nature 9. For when †††Gen. 30.18 Lea bare Issachar shee sayd God hath rewarded mee in that I gave my Mayde to my husband and shee called him Issachar that is a divine wages or reward for shee had given Rachell her Sonnes Mandrakes that shee suffered Jacob to sleepe with her this night upon which shee conceived this sonne therefore shee called him a recompence from God 10. But the Spirit sayth in this figure he would be a boned strong Asse and lodge between the Borders which outwardly in its habitation was just so but in the inward figure he sayth The man which is obteined from God by prayer is indeed a Gift and wages but his Adamicall Nature is onely a Boned strong Asse for the burthen who beareth the Adamicall Sack but he dwelleth with his Minde between the Borders viz. between God and the Kingdome of this world his Minde presseth into the Borders of God and the Body dwelleth in the World 11. Therefore the Minde must be as a Boned servile slavish Asse which though it sitteth at ease and rest in a good habitation in the Borders of God yet it must beare the burthen of sinnes and of Death in the earthly Sack and there is no buying it off with the Mandrakes before the Death of the Earthly Man also no praying to God for it avayleth that thereby the Boned strong Asse might come to divine Liberty It must remaine an Asse till Christ in himselfe bringeth it into the Eternall Rest The Adamicall hurt and losse is so great that the Asse must leave the Sack in the Death of Christ else he will not be rid of it 12. But he addeth the cause why he must remaine a Boned strong Asse for he sayth He saw the Rest that it was good and the Land that it was pleasant that is that the Minde would alwayes desire to rest in the Lust and pleasure of the flesh and would desire to take care of the Earthly Lust and in that regard the Minde must be a servile Asse and servant of Gods Anger and so seperateth the Naturall Adamicall Man from the Seede of the Covenant viz. from the person of Christ so that the Naturall Adamicall Man in its inbred Nature is but this Asse with the Sack till Christ possesseth his Kingdome in him no Covenant or praying availeth but that Adam must in this world remaine an Asse till the Sack be gone and then he is called a new childe in Christ which new childe in this Life is the inward Ground but the boned strong Asse is the new childes instrument upon which the Sack is carried for the servility of Gods Anger continueth so long as the Sack lasteth VII The Testament of Dan. 13. * * * Gen. 49.16 17 18. Dan will be a Judge among his People as any other Generation in Israell Dan will be a Serpent in the way and an Adder on the path and will bite the horse in the Heeles that his rider shall fall back O Lord I waite for thy Salvation This is a powerfull figure of the outward power and authority of humane Officers in the Kingdome of this World and is so strongly prefigured that it is terrible to reade if a man rightly discerne the figure and yet in the presence of God it standeth in its own proper figure thus The Spirit sayth Dan will be a Judge among his people as one of the Generations or Tribes in Israell In the Figure it standeth thus 14. Dan standeth in the figure of all outward Officers from those of highest authority and power even to the * * * Ordering of a Mans own private affaires or employment◠Government of the humane Life it selfe therefore the Spirit fayth of him he shall be in his owne might and power as one Man is to another In the presence of God he is not esteemed greater in his owne Nature then a Servant or Minister for he serveth God in his Office as another servant doth his Lord and Master the Office is Gods wherein he sitteth as a Judge The Office is the Authority and power and he himselfe is before God as another Man 15. But the Spirit sayth Dan will be a Serpent on the way and an Adder on the path that is this Judge in Gods Office would draw poyson out of the power and authority viz. selfe-will and say of himselfe the authority is mine the Office is mine that is called on the way for the way which they should goe is Gods viz. true righteousnes then sayth Dan that Land and Country this Citty that Village those Goods that Money is mine it is my owne I will use it to my owne profit advantage and honour and live in this Office as I will 16. And this very selfehood is the Serpent and venomous Adder on the way for it walketh very dangerous steps upon the paths of righteousnesse it turneth righteousnesse into Selfehood to doe what it will it sayth I am a Lord the Citty Land and Country the Village or Authority and power is mine I may doe with the people what I will they are mine and so sucketh poyson out of Gods Office of a Judge and thereby afflicteth the miserable and
cometh his †††Or finest of flower fat Bread and he will act to please Kings when Zilpa Leahs Mayd-servant had borne Gad viz. the prepared subtile crafty alwayes ready at every suttle assault against the right Justice and Judgement of Dan then sayth Moses shee ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 30.12 13. bare Jacob the second sonne and then sayd Lea it is well with mee for the daughters will praise mee and call mee blessed and shee called him Asher and Jacob sayd in the Testament from Asher cometh his fatt Bread and he will live to please Kings heere Jacob viz. the Spirit in the Covenant compriseth these two brethren together in a figure for Gad hath the agility and Asher taketh his fat bread from the King and Lea sayth at his Birth the Daughters will praise mee and call mee blessed 30. Heere now standeth the figure but what explanation may this have Gad Ordereth his wayes with suttlety and Asher with flattery and hypocrisie among the Kings and Potentates in Authority and power whereby he attaineth prosperous fatt dayes of plenty pleasure and voluptuousnesse and such are every one that shall sit in Offices and as Judges and Magistrates they doe all to please their Lord and King that they may be reputed honoured applauded and rewarded by him and that they may have their fatt bread from him and the Spirit by these three sonnes signifieth powerfully what kinde of people would rule the world viz. by Dan the Serpent viz. selfe-will and by Gad suttlety treachery and undermining deceipt and by Asher false and wicked flattery and sychophatising hypocrisie who alwayes sitt in the Courts of Kings and serve them for their fatt bread and onely hunt after the applause and honour of Men. 31. Therefore sayth the Spirit from Asher cometh his fat Bread from whom cometh the fat Bread answer from the nimble suttle heads who make the cause of flatterers and hypocrites seeme right The flatterers sitt neere Kings and applaud him in his selfe-hood and say doe what thou wilt it is all good and right and when the King would faine have it in the appearance of right that it also may be applauded then cometh Gad with his nimble suttle perverted far fetched argumentative prerogative right and setteth the Kings owne selfe-will in the right of Nature so that it seemeth to be right to these Asher giveth the Kings fat bread thus they all Three live in the Serpent and so it biteth the horse in the heeles and they are all three the Mayd-servants children viz. Ministers and Servants of selfe-will 32. Dan is the manager of the †††Or supreme superiour Office Gad is his Councellour at Law in matters of Right Justice and Judgement such as the * * * Advocates Procters Pleaders and Attorneys Lawyers and Jurists are and Asher is the Nobility and Councellours of State these the Spirit hath foreseene in their Testament in these things which they would hereafter practise for the Testator sayth not ye shall be such but ye will be such and sheweth excellently what the Government on Earth in the selfe-will of the humane Nature would be X. The Testament of Naphtali 33. †††Gen. 49.21 Naphtali is a swift Hinde and giveth faire words Naphtali is the second sonne of Bilha Rachells Mayd-servant which shee bare after Dan and is a right brother of Dan These brethren of Naphtali are now among Kings Judges and denote the Earthly wisdome from the ‖ ‖ ‖ Or Configuration Constellation or Starres which with Eloquent faire speeches adorn the Office of Judicature so that Dan Gad Asher are called able wise understanding and learned Lords and Masters 34. But he also proceedeth only from the Strife between Rachell and Jacob for Rachell sayd when Bilha her mayd-servant bare him * * * Gen. 30.8 God hath decided between mee and my sister and I shall prevaile over her this signifieth in the figure that these wise and learned speeches of Naphtali in this Office of Judicature would be able to bow bend and turne about all Causes so that selfe-will would remaine still a Judge in all causes so that none would be able to object any thing in the least against these fower Rulers the sonnes of the Mayd-servants but they would have the Government in Israell and rule the world and prevaile over all Men. 35. But they are all fower the sonnes of the Mayd servants And Sarah sayd to Abraham thrust out the sonne of the Mayd servant for he shall not inherit with my sonne Isaack and God was pleased with it and commanded Abraham to doe it to signifie that these Offices shall not inherit nor possesse the Kingdome of Heaven but shall have an End when Christ the sonne of the free woman shall receive the Kingdome all these States and Governments shall be thrust out and he alone in his children and Members shall governe 36. Behold your selves in this Looking-Glasse ye politick cunning very wise and understanding World in thy suttle policy eloquence of speech favour might potency and honour and see where it is thou sittest and whom thou servest behold thy fatt bread also the applause from the King whom thou servest and what thou purposest designest and doest and how thou standest in thy figure before God the Kingdome of Christ thy Eloquence avayleth nothing in the presence of God thy prudence policy suttlety and cunning avayleth nothing if thou wilt not give right Counsell and say and doe according to Truth and perswade and informe thy superiour Lord and Master rightly then thou helpest to generate this Adder and Serpent in the Testament of Dan for thy superiour and thou thy selfe art that Adder and Serpent who biteth Judgement Justice and right in the Heele and therefore thou also shalt attaine the End wages and recompence of the Serpent in Hell-fire for it XI The Testament of Joseph 37. * * * Gen. 49.22 23 24 25 26. Joseph will spring forth Hee will spring as by a fountaine the sprouts or daughters passe on to the Government and although the Archers be angry and fight against him and persecute him yet his Bow holdeth strong and his Arme and hand in strength through the hand of the Mighty in Jacob from whom have proceeded the Shepheards and Stone in Israell thou art helped by thy fathers God and from the Almighty thou art blessed with blessings from heaven above and with blessings from the deepe that lieth beneath with blessings of the Breasts and Womb the blessings of thy father have prevailed more then the blessings of my Auncestours according to the desire of the lofty in the world and shall come upon the head of Joseph and upon the Crowne of his head that was seperate from his brethren 38. In this Testament of Joseph the Spirit in the Covenant represents the figure of a right divine Governour in whom the Spirit of God ruleth who is not the sonne of the Mayd
Death because the Silver Cup of Joseph was found in his Sack at which he is ashamed and letteth his spoyling sword and Wolves Teeth fall from him and then Joseph manifesteth himselfe to him together with all his brethren at which there will be such Joy that the Wolfe Benjamin will become a Lamb and yeeld his wooll patiently this is the End of that Speech 59. The Testament of Jacob is a figure of the whole time of the world from Adam to the End of which wee will set downe a short figure for the Reader that knoweth the vision or Histories to Consider of 60. I. Reuben in this place being the first sonne is set in the figure of the first World which lived in the right of Nature without Law that hath the Priesthood and the Kingdome in the right of Nature and should be in the chiefest Sacrifice and in the Greatest Dominion but he was fickle therein as water and was thrust out 61. II. Simeon beginneth with Noah after the Floud and keepeth Levi with him that was Sem But the sword of Ham and Japhet was Simeon so there went two in One Substance viz. the spirituall Will and the fleshly Will till Moses and then the worldly and the spirituall were divided into two severall States 62. III. Levi beginneth under Moses who with the Priesthood managed the sword of Simeon and Levi in the Law and cut very sharply therewith 63. IIII. Judah beginneth under the Prophets and manifesteth himselfe with the Incarnation of Christ at which time this Scepter began 64. V. Zebulun with his Co-habitation setteth himselfe in the midst viz. in the Kingdome of Christ and that was the beginning of Christendom who dwelleth on the Coasts of the Sea viz. among the Heathen and sate pleasantly for it was a New Love 65. VI. Issachar is the Time when Christendom was setled in Rest viz. in Power Might and Dominions which must yet alwayes beare the Burthen of the Heathen and be servile and be as a boned Asse for the Burthen for they still beare the Crosse of Christ and were still Conformable to the Image of Christ about three hundred yeares after Christ. 66. VII With Dan did the potent Kingdome and Government of Christendome begin when they set up Kings Popes Arch-bishops and potent pompous Churches Chappels and other Consecrated Places and then was the Adder and Serpent on the way of Christ in humane honour generated in the Kingdome of Christ when men began to dispute about the Pomp State and Glory of Churches and to exalt Men into the Kingdome and Offices of Christ and set them in the place of Christ and to honour them in Christs stead then was Christ suppressed and the Adder and Serpent sate in Christs Office of Judicature and then the Holy Ghost was rejected and Councills were set in the place thereof and then was Antichrist Borne at that Time the Spirit of Christ sayd Lord I waite now for thy salvation for heere now my Name must be the Cloake of Antichrist till thou shalt deliver mee in Josephs time In this Time is Truth strongly bitten in the heeles so that the Rider in the Spirit of Christ must fall backward 67. VIII With Gad who should be the Leader of an Hoast beginneth the Time of the Vniversities and Schooles among Christians about eight hundred yeares agoe when Men readily set Antichrist with power and Might of Armies in the Chaire of Christ and with babling disputing and perverting prevarication maintained him against all opposition when Men made the Taile to be the Head and forced the power of Christ into humane traditions and Cannons and made a Worldly Kingdome of Christs Kingdome 68. IX With Asher began the time when Men lived to please King Antichrist when he was God on Earth then came the flattering Hypocrites from the Universities and Schooles who flattered this King for fatt Bread viz. for Good Offices Benefices Prebendaries and Bishoprickes and applauded his doings and cause and did all to please him and set Christ with Antichrist upon a soft Cushion and so worshipped the Image in the * * * Revelation Apocalyps about six hundred yeares agoe and neerer 69. X. With Nephtali beginneth the Time of the Great Wonder when Men went on with high Sermons and deepe searching Disputes about the * * * Predestination Councill of God so that Men have seene that these in Christs Chaire were not Christ in power yet Men sought deepe that they might Cover themselves with a Mantle with faire and plausible Maximes Conclusions and Determinations then came the knotty acute Logick whereby Men dispute One part of them sayth he is Christ in power and Authority the other part Contradicteth and opposeth it that part setting his followers and dependents with high pretences into the Bloud of Christ and buildeth all Authority and holy Sermons upon it and so the Spirit of Christ in the inward Ground set it selfe against it and sayth Hee is the Antichrist This Time hath continued to our time †††Ann. 1623. wherein wee Live 70. XI With Joseph beginneth the Time when Christ will be manifested againe when he shall cast the Adder and Serpent Dan with the Chaire of Antichrist with all might and power of selfehood in the Kingdome of Christ upon Earth to the Ground and terrifie it with his Countenance when Josephs brethren must be ashamed of their Great unfaithfullnesse which they have committed against Joseph in that they cast him into the Pitt and moreover sold him for Money and then will all suttlety craft flattery hypocrisie and deceit be made manifest and will by the aspect of Josephs Countenance be cast to the Ground and it is that time wherein it will be sayd * * * Rev. 18.2 Babylon shee is fallen shee is fallen and is become an habitation of all Devills and abominable Beasts and Fowles and then Joseph springeth up in his own power and vertue and his daughters or boughs passe on in their Ornament and his Blessing beginneth 71. XII With Benjamin beginneth the time of the Evening under Josephs Time for then hee shall againe divide and distribute the spoyle of the first Christendome Hee belongeth to the first and last Time Especially to the first time of Joseph when Christ beginneth to be manifested and then he is first eager as a Wolfe and devoureth far and wide when he beginneth to bite and devour Antichrist yet all that while he is but a Wolfe But when Josephs Countenance shall be unveyled then he is ashamed as a Wolfe that is taken in a Gin and beginneth to be a Lamb and to yeeld his fatt and plenty of wooll 72. This is the Testament of Jacob in its true figure wherein the Spirit hath pointed at the Times and the Spirit of Moses sayth When Jacob had finished all these sayings he drew his feete up together upon the Bed and departed to signifie that when these his Prophesies would be all fullfilled then God would call
too if the same be taught in Christs Spirit and power then t is so indeed 52. But the Spirit of Christ in his children is not bound to any certaine forme that it need not or ought not to speak any thing which stands not in the Apostolicall Letter as the Spirit in the Apostles was free and they spake not all one and the same words but from one Spirit and ground they did all speak every one as the Spirit gave him utterance even thus likewise the Spirit speaketh yet out of its children it needeth no forme aforehand composed and gathered together out of the Literall word it indeed doth put mans Spirit in minde of what is comprehended and contained in the letter for Christ said the holy Ghost shall take of mine and declare it unto you 53. Christ is Alone the Word of God that teacheth the way of truth through his children and members the literall word is onely a manuduction and manifestation of Christ that we should have the same before us as a Testimony and witnesse of Christ shewing what he is and what he hath done for us that we should conceive set and fasten our Faith therein and yet with the desire enter into the living word Christ and be our selves borne to life therein 54. None is a shepheard of Christ but he that hath Christs Spirit and teacheth from him no Art nor University makes one a shepheard of Christ unlesse he be capable of the office in Christs Spirit if he hath not that living and working in him then Man hath onely chose him to be a Carver and builder of the Great Babylon a letter changer a verball jangler and wrangler without divine understanding and knowledge for the Scripture saith the naturall man perceiveth nothing of the Spirit of God how will then he teach the way of God who himselfe understands nothing thereof 55. And Christ saith he that entereth not into the sheepfold by him viz. by the doare of his Spirit but climeth up some other way as by Art and Reason or by the favour of man into the same whosoever seteth up himselfe not being called of Gods Spirit to be a sheepheard of Christ for humane and temporall repute and Revenue's sakes he is a Theefe and Murtherer and the sheep hear not his voyce for he hath not Christs voice and cometh onely that he may rob and steale 56. But they say the written word is Christs voice yea it is indeed the Cabinet thereof viz. a forme of the word but the voice must be living which opens the same and likewise acts it in due motion as a watch-worke the Letter is as an Instrument thereunto as a Trumpet but there must be a true and right breath and aire which agrees with the air or tune in the letter 57. The word of the letter is a prepared * * * Or worke Instrument what kinde of Trumpetter takes it in hand to play thereon even such a sound it gives Is not I pray the Great Babel built out of this worke every one hath sounded the Trumpet of the Letter as his own Aire and Tone hath been in him and so it hath been approved and received by each Trumpetter and brought into a Substance and this same substance is the Great Babylon where evill and good is built into a building 58. But if men had not introduced any Exposition upon the Apostolicall Word and brought or contrived the same into other formes then the Instrument had remained Pure but the un-illuminated minde hath set it selfe up to be a master therein and bowed the same according to its own Imagination and well-liking for the humane pleasure hath thereon set it selfe and formed and expounded the same according to the Rule of fat Benefices for the Belly sake and worldly pleasures And thus the Spirit is extinct and 't is turned to an antichristian Order and Custome men have taken and formed the word as an Organ and so they have brought it into a fashion and custome that a man must play thereon and others must hear the Sound and tune which he makes and thus for the most part such Organists are onely used who strike the Organ from without and make a fine contrived and composed Peece which they willingly and readily heare but the Organ Soundeth onely as the Master t t t Or playes on it strikes it 59. But to this Christ saith Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up also whosoever is of God he heareth Gods word Christ said the Son of man speaketh nothing but what he heareth the Father speake in him so likewise must a teacher of Christ heare the Fathers Spirit in Christ speak in him he must heare Gods Word in the Spirit of Christ in him as David saith I will hear what the Lord speaketh in me he must be a Temple of God in whom God dwelleth and from whom he speaketh being only an Instrument thereto for Christ said we will come to you and make our Abode in you also I will put my word into your mouth saith the Prophet also the word is nigh thee namely in thy mouth and heart heere the Spirit of God speaketh of the living Word and not of a Bell without a clapper 60. This the Spirit of Christ in his children doth teach and reproves the woodden clapper in the right bell which hath hung it selfe up to be a clapper in the Bell of the divine word and yet hath no power to make the Bell sound this Cain in his offring can by no means brook that one should tell him his offring doth not please God 61. He setteth forth himselfe with very faire glozing and glistering outside shewes and hath made himselfe such a brave glorious forme moreover he is chosen of the high schooles and worldly might thereto and if a mean Lay-man without humane calling should come thereinto as Christ was accounted for a Carpenters Son and offer to reprove such an High Priest in such great dignity Honour and Respect the same the world beleeveth not that it is from God that he is sent 62. The Great Beare thinketh presently this is onely a sheep which I will take into my mouth and devoure him what shall a sheep reprove me who am a Bear will a disesteemed sheep nullifie my Reputation and esteeme among men and dare to quetch at me I will soon rid him out of the way and so defile him that he shall not be known that he is a sincere and single-hearted Lamb of Christ and speaketh from Christs Spirit I will so wallow and mire him in the Dirt disgrace and scorne that he shall be held for a filthy Beast or a very defiled Swine 63. In the meane time I live in my delicious Dayes of pleasure and remaine Lord over Soule and Body but if the sheepling shall offer to stir and shew more then a sheepling of Christ then I will help the Butcher drive it to the slaughter-house 64.
Thus it goeth with the Simple single-hearted children of Christ whom the Spirit of Christ driveth and out of whom he teacheth heere in this world c. they are onely as sheep among Wolves as Christ said I send you as sheep among Wolves the earthly man is a Serpentine Wolfe under whom the virgin-childe viz. Christs Lamb must dwell and then beginneth and ariseth murthering * * * Or robbing slaying and killing 65. But it doth not at all hurt the virgin-childe It s Externall Wolfe is also by this meanes bitten off by another for the outward Wolfe of all men is growne from the Anger of God and arisen with the Sin in Adam therefore it must be given for food to the Anger of God that the virgin-childe of the womans Seed may become manifest 66. For thus they doe Separate themselves as two Enemies and are continually opposite Enemies one against another in the time of this outward life for the Judgement is given to the virgin-childe against the introduced Serpents childe of Sin In the Resurrection the virgin-childe shall condemne the Serpent-childe into the Fire of God there the limus of the Earth shall be proved and purged from the Serpents Ens and againe put upon the virgins-childe 67. Now saith reason what pleasure hath God in this murthering of his children can he not defend them from the Enemy thus it must be that the light may be manifest in the darknesse else the light would stand still in the darknesse and bring forth no fruit seeing then the light receiveth into it selfe Essence and perceivancy also Sensation from the darknesse viz. from the Source of the fire therefore one is set against the other that so one might be manifest in the other the joy against griefe and griefe against joy that it may be known what Evill or good is 68. For if there were no griefe then the Joy were not manifest to it selfe but yet all is in the Free-will as every thing doth introduce it selfe into eviâ—l or good so it runneth on its Course and the one is but the manifestation of the other for if there were no night or darknesse then we should know nothing of the Light or Day thus the great God hath introduced himselfe into Severation to his owne contemplation and Sport of joy 69. The like also is to be understood in the various diversity and Severalty of Men touching evill and good The Evill must be a Cause that the good be made manifest to it selfe and the Good must be a cause to manifest the Evill in its wicked malicious Suttlety and iniquity that all things may come into their contemplation and visible ken and every thing might manifest its judgement in it selfe unto the Great Separation Day of the LORD of all beings where every thing shall give in it selfe into its Barne for its usefulnesse and profit that in the Eternity the Great God may be known in a creaturall and formall manner according to light and darknesse 70. For all things were created by the word and brought into a forme seeing then God is an angry jealous God and a consuming fire and also a mercifull-Loving meek God of light and Giving or Free-Grace in whom there cannot be any Evill at all therefore he hath introduced fire and light Evill and good one with another in the Verbum Fiat into a free-will whereby the will may u u u Or worke forme either in the evill or good and yet he hath created all things good and to the light and set them into the free-will to multiply themselves in the free-will to conceive in Evill or good and yet hath associated to each thing its likenesse viz. to a male its female that so nothing hath cause to x x x Or fall from its place and order into Destruction degenerate and to man he hath given Commands what to doe and leave undone 71. Thus all things stand to the judgement of the Great God and in this time they must be in Contest that one may be manifest in the other but then in the Great Harvest every thing shall have its own Seat in it selfe when strife shall be taken up and cease and all things must stand to the Honour and Admiration of the wonderfull works of the great God who Alone knowes whereunto every thing shall be good and for what he will use it CHAP. XXIX Shewes how the Adamicall Tree hath put forth and opened it selfe out of its Stock and introduced it selfe into boughes branches twiggs and fruit out of which pullulation or manifestation the Invention of All Arts and * * * Or Polities Governments is Arisen The Deep Gates out of the Centre of the Eternall and also the Temporall Nature shewing how the Eternall Wisdome hath introduced it selfe into a formall visible and Ideall Contemplation Gen. IIII. ch 1. THe Eternall divine understanding is a free-will not arisen either from any thing or by any thing it is its owne Peculiar Seat and dwelleth onely and AlOne in it selfe un-apprehended of any thing for beyond and without it is nothing and that same NOTHING is onely ONE and yet it is also as a Nothing to it selfe It is One onely will of the Abysse and it is neither neer nor far off neither high nor low but it is ALL and yet as a Nothing for it is in it selfe no contemplation Sensation or perceivancy whereby it might finde a likenesse in it selfe 2. It s Finding is its own forth-proceeding so that it beholdeth it self in the y y y Or proceed-forth Egresse for that which is proceeded forth is its Eternall Lubet Sensation and perceivancy and it is called the Divine Wisdome which Wisdome the unsearchable Abyssall will apprehendeth in it selfe to its Centre of z z z Or Imagination desire or Magia Lubet viz. to an Eternall minde of the Vnderstanding which understanding the free-will formeth in it selfe to its owne a a a Or expresse Image likenesse viz. to an Eternall Speaking living working Word which the Free will doth speake or breath forth out of the formed wisdome of the Lubet 3. And the b b b Or Spiration Forth-breathing is the Spirit or Mouth of the understanding in the formed will of the wisdome which doth distinguish or variously Severize the Speaking Word so that the Minde and the understanding of the minde becomes manifest and revealed in which Manifestation the Free Lubet or wisdome is in the Speaking or forth-breathing formed of the free-will by the Spirit into diversity and variety 4. In which formation the powers of the divine properties doe arise so that it is truly said and declared concerning God that he is the Eternall will Understanding Minde Counsell Power and Wonder c c c Or with in which wonders of powers he hath moved and formed himselfe from Eternity in which formation consists the invisible spirituall world wherein the Spirit of God hath melodized and Sported with it selfe from
carry the Signe in his hands yet he calls it onely his Loving Companion 71. But upon the Kingdome that is and is not and yet is shall the glorious Ornament of Gold be put for the Prince of the powers of the earth hath given it to them Amen CHAP. XLII Of the Three men which Appeared to Abraham in the Plain of Mamre who went towards Sodom and set the Cities of the Children of Ham on fire from the Lord. The meaning of this figure Gen. XVIII AT first while Abraham was called onely Abram God appeared to him in the Vision as One and when he had sealed the Covenant with the Circumcision he called him Abraham viz. a Company or multitude of Nations a forth-breathed manifest people of God in whom God had forth-breathed or manifested himselfe and he appeared to him also afterwards in the manifestation of the holy Trinity viz. in Three men which were onely One wherein the manifestation of the holy Trinity in the Deity was set forth and represented in mans Image how the whole Trinity of the Deity would now manifest it selfe in this Covenant in the humanity that the Trinity of the Deity should be seen in the flesh 2. And hereby is declared the great humility in the Deity viz. in Christ how Christ would visit man kinde and take care of man and also condescend to be entertained by man as he came in these three men to Abraham and suffered his feet to be washed and did eat and drink which betokens that men must cherish or lovingly entertain the poor Christ who is poor in this world in his members and children who also would be poore contemned and despised people and what men doe unto them that they have don unto these three men viz. to Christ the holy Deity in the humanity 3. The words of this figure run thus * * * Vers. 1. to the 16. And the Lord appeared unto him in the plain of Mamre as he sat in the door of his Tent in the heat of the day and he lift up his eyes and looked and lo three men stood by him and when he saw them he ran to meet them from the Tent-door and bowed himselfe â—owards the ground and said My Lord if I have found grace in thy sight passe not away I pray thee from thy Servant let a little water be fetched I pray to wash your feet and rest your selves under the tree and I will fetch a morsell of bread that you may refresh your hearts after that you shall go on for therefore are ye come to your Servant they said do as thou hast said and Abraham hastned into the Tent unto Sarah and said make ready quickly three measures of fine meal knead it and make cakes upon the hearth and Abraham ran unto the herd and fetcht a calf tender and good and gave it to a young man and he hasted to dresse it and he took butter and milk and of the calf which he had dressed and set it before them and he stood by them under the Tree and they did eat 4. And they said unto him where is Sarah thy wife and he said behold in the Tent and he said I will certainly return unto thee again * * * Or in that manner As Our translation Accâ—â—dâ—ng to the time of life as I live and lo Sarah thy wife shall have a Son and Sarah heard it as she stood behinde at the Tent-door Now Abraham and Sarah were both old and well stricken in Age and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women and therefore she laughed within her selfe and said now I am old shall I have pleasure my Lord being old also And the Lord said unto Abraham Wherefore did Sarah laugh and say Is it of a certain that I shall bear a child which am old is any thing too hard for the Lord At the appointed time I will come unto thee again as I live and Sarah shall have a Son then Sarah denied it saying I laughed not for she was afraid and he said nay but thou didst laugh 5. O thou great and wonderfull God how plainly and simply dost thou represent and pourtray the kingdome of thy Son in the humanity how lively and fully are the greatest Mysteries delineated herein and indeed they are so plainly Represented in such entire singlenesse and simplicity as Christ who notwithstanding was the King of Israel did ride into Jerusalem upon an Asse here the proud world may have a very true looking-glasse and see if they be the children of this Simplicity 6. The great Love and humility of God in Christs person is fully represented in this figure how God came in the deepest humility and simplicity into the humanity when the humanity was enflamed with highest heat of the wrathfull indignation of Gods Anger as the figure here denotes 7. The three men came before Abrahams Tent in the very heat of all the day This signifieth that God did first incorporate or betroth himselfe with his Love-Covenant and also with the fullness of time touching the Covenant when the humane day understand the six properties of the dayes were most of all inflamed and set on fire in the wrath of nature in man that is in the fall And afterward in the fulnesse of time when the humanity of these six dayes was in the very exceeding burning heat of vanity and the beastiall property he did manifest himselfe with his tender humanity out of the Ens of the holy Covenant and came in three persons of the Deity before the earthly mans essence or earthly Cottage viz. the Soules Tent and appeared to Abraham that is to Adam in his children viz. to the humane Essence 8. And here is fully set forth the Type and Image of Christ When Abraham espieth these men he goeth to meet them and boweth himselfe towards the earth and runneth away from the door of his Tent unto them and prayeth them to rest under the tree untill he should do that for which they came 9. We must look upon this figure thus when the divine voyce had represented it selfe in the Ens wherein it would become man in three persons to Abraham then Abrahams apprehended Ens of faith set it selfe forth also to this Image viz. to the triune humanity in the figure for the Ens in the Covenant in Abrahams faith was surrounded with the great heat of Gods anger when the humane day was grown hottest in the humane essence 10. But when he looked up and saw the Type of the Triume Deity standing before him this faiths Ens in deepest humility in Christs person being that which was to become Christ did bow it selfe before the Trinity of the Deity which was come unto him which would in the fulnesse of time give forth and manifest it selfe with the voyce which now spake in these three men with him in this Ens of faith being the humanity of Christ before his Father and said Lord if I have
found Grace in thy sight passe not away from this Ens of faith viz. thy servant 11. For Abraham was now in the Spirit and spake from his faith 's Ens in Christs humanity and before him stood the Type and Image of Christs Deity and said in the great humility of the humanity of Christ Let a little water be fetched and wash your feet this is the great humility of Christ who washed his Disciples viz. his childrens feet as these three men here were washed signifying and pointing out that Christ should wash with his bloud the feet of Gods children who should be born of these three men viz. of the Trinity of the Deity whereby they might come to God 12. And he had the three men rest under the tree This now signifieth the tree of life under which Gods children should sit down and then he would bring them a morsell of bread to refresh and comfort their hearts and afterward they should go that is when Christ hath washed his childrens feet with his bloud whereby they are able to go to God viz. the holy Trinity then he giveth them a morsell of Bread that so they may recreate and Strengthen their hearts that is he giveth them the bread of life viz. his heavenly flesh for food so that they wax strong and are able in the divine Power to go from Abrahams earthly â—ent through this world in Gods Anger to meet the Lord and bow themselves before him as this figure signifieth 13. An he saith further For yee are therefore come to your Servant understand it thus the holy Trinity was here at this time represented in an Image of our humanity and Abraham stood in the type of the humanity of Christ even as Christ and his children are in reference to each other the holy Trinity leadeth the children of Christ in the divâ—ne drawing to the humanity of Christ and now these three men stood there in Our stead before Christ viz. before the figure for the Father draweth them to Christ and through Christ * * * Or in to the Father they are washed and atoned in Christ therefore now said Christ to the three men which God represented to him in his person even Therefore are yee come to your Servant 14. For Christ must be our viz. these three mens servant and God bringeth his three men viz. us who approach unto him in himselfe viz. into the will of the holy Trinity unto his Servant the Man-Christ that so he may wash and feed them and then they are able with boldnesse and confidence to come unto the holy Tri-une Deity 15. And the Men said to Abraham Do as thou hast said that is Christ offereth himselfe to his Father viz. to the Three-One God for a Servant understand the word which the Three-one God did in-spire into Adam concerning the bruiser of the Serpents head offereth it selfe for a Servant unto the Three-one God viz. unto the children who should possesse the kingdome of heaven now the Tri-une God saith Do with these thine and my children as thou hast said that is with these children which are now set before thee for they shall be Angels and thou shalt thereunto help them for I am therefore come in them unto thee now do as thou hast said 16. Here God fully gave the man-Christ to accomplish the Consummatum with them as he had said and the whole entire excellent and holy figure of the new-birth is therein emphatically and lively set forth and it shews how the holy Trinity doth delight it self with figures concerning the Word incorporated and inspoken into Adam and now opened in Abrahams Ens of faith and sets it forth with types and playeth in figures with this Christ who was to come where God representeth the person of Christ in Abraham and the children of the new birth whom Christ should beget anew in the person of the three men viz. in the Three-one Deity which bringeth them through Christ into it selfe and placeth them in the Angelicall Quire as these three men did appear in the form of three Angels and also in the person of the holy Trinity signifying that the holy Trinity would dwell in these Angelicall men and that they should be the Image viz. the manifestation of God 17. Abraham commanded to take three measures of fine Meal and to knead it and bake cakes that the men might eat what doth this mean these three men had no need of any such eating it is the figure of mans regeneration the three measures betoken the three Principles viz. the three worlds in man the fine meal pointeth out the heavenly humanity viz the divine heavenly Substantiality that this heavenly and divine * * * Or Essences Substantialities property should also be kneaded mixed with ours disappeared in Adam and a divine Cake viz. sweet bread for food of Gods children should be baked thereof understand in the fiery heat 18. When Christ stood in the fire of his Fathers Anger viz. in hell then these sweet cakes were baked for Gods children which they should eat and the three measures are now the three worlds viz. the whole man without the Serpents and beasts property which shall be mixed with the divine Ens into a * * * Or Batch lump and cakes baked thereof this is now Christs flesh which he hath joyned or mixed with our humanity and giveth us now the Sweet cakes thereof to eat viz. the heavenly flesh here the Holy Spirit did play therewith in the figure 19. And Abraham ran to the Herd and made ready also a calfe tender and good that is he gave it to his young man to dress it O thou wonderfull God! how much doth simplicity please thee how plainly and simply dost thou represent the great mysteries unto us I thank thee that thou shewest me unworthy man such things wherein the whole world is blind O God open thou their eyes I pray that they may see and turn unto thee and enter into humility 20. The tender Calf which was made ready for this Meal is the Limus of the earth viz. the outward man which is before God as a Beast understand it is a * * * Marvellous or wonderfull wonder-Beast like as the whole outward world before the divine understanding is onely as a beast wherein God formeth himselfe with the holy spirituall Ens into an externall Body to the manifestation of his deeds of wonder both of Love and Anger which figure of the outward world viz. the divine Beast shall * * * Note What shall arise at the Resurrection not be wholly turned into Nothing but the vanity onely shall be separated from the Good into the kingdome of darknesse 21. In like manner God will not wholly cast away the divine Beast on man which indeed dyeth heere but onely the introduced Serpents Ens and the vanity of the dark worlds Essence the divine wonder-Beast which is the Servant of the divine spirituall Image and