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-world-spirit understands not the mysteries of God it is before God onely as a beast and being the world-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
will enlarge this exposition through all the chapters of the first Book of Moses and signifie how the Old Testament is a Figure of the New what is to be understood by the Deâ—ds of the holy Patriarchs wherefore the Spirit of God did give them to be set down in Moses and at what the figures of these written Histories doe looke and ayme and how the Spirit of God in his children before the times of Christ did allude with them in the figure concerning the Kingdome of Christ whereby then God hath alwayes represented this Mercy-Seat or throne of grace Christ by whom he would blot out his Anger and manifest his Grace 13. And how the whole time of this world is pourtrayed and modelized as in a watch-work how afterward it should goe in time and what the inward spirituall world and also the outward materiall world is also what the inward Spirituall man and then the externall man of the Essence of this world is how time and Eternity are in one another and how a man may understand all this 14. Now if it should so fall out that when these our writings are read the Reader might not presently apprehend and understand the same seeing this ground which yet hath its full foundation and pregnant Concordance as well with the Scripture as through the light of nature hath for a long time been very dark and yet by divine Grace is given to plaine simplicity let him not despise and reject the same according to the course and custome of the wicked world but looke upon the ground of practice which is therein intimated and give himselfe up thereunto and pray God for light and understanding and at last he will rightly understand our ground and it will finde very great Love and acceptance with him 15. But we have written nothing for the proud and haughty wiselings who know enough already and yet indeed know nothing at all whose Belly is their God who onely adhere unto the Beast of the Babylonicall Whore and drink of her poyson and wilfully will be in blindnesse and the Devills Snare but we have laid with the spirit of our knowledge a strong bolt before the understanding of folly not to apprehend our meaning being they wilfully and willingly serve Sathan and are not the children of God 16. But we desire to be clearly and fundamentally understood by the children of God and doe heartily and readily communicate our knowledge given to us of God Seeing the time of such Revelation is borne therefore let every one see and take heed what Sentence and Censure he passeth Every one shall accordingly receive his reward and we commend him into the Grace of the meek and Tender Love of Jesus Christ. Amen Sept. 11. Anno 1623. DE Mysterio Magno OF THE GRAND MYSTERIE THAT IS Of the Manifestation of the Divine Word through the Three Principles of the Divine Essence The first Chapter What God Manifested is and of the Trinity 1. IF we would understand what the new birth is and how it is a a a Wrought or effected brought to passe then we must first know what man is and how he is the Image of God and what the divine b b b Or how God dwelleth in man and filleth all things with his presence inhabitation is also what the Revealed God is of whom man is an Image 2. When I consider what God is then I say He is the One in reference to the Creature as an Eternall Nothing he hath neither foundation beginning or Abode he possesseth nothing save onely himselfe He is the will of the Abysse he is in himselfe onely one he needeth neither Space or Place He begetteth himselfe in himselfe from Eternity to Eternity He is neither like or resembleth any thing and hath no peculiar place where he c c c Or no Sundry habitation above the Stars in an Emperean Heaven as Reason phancieth dwelleth the Eternall wisdome or understanding is his delight He is the will of the Wisdome the wisdome is his manifestation 3. In this Eternall Generation we are to understand three things viz. 1. An Eternall will 2. An Eternall minde of the will 3. The d d d Efflux effluence the proceeding-forth Egresse from the will and minde which is a Spirit of the will and minde 4. The will is the Father the minde is the e e e Comprehension or Receptacle Conceived of the will viz. the Seat or habitation of the will or the Centre to Something and it is the Wills Heart and the Egresse of the will and minde is the Power and Spirit 5. This f f f Or Tri-Une threefold Spirit is one onely Essence and yet it is no Essence but the Eternall understanding an Originall of the Something and yet it is the Eternall g g g Or mysticall Mystery hiddennesse as the understanding of man is not confined in time and place but it is its own comprehension and Seat and the Egresse of the Spirit is the Eternall Originall Contemplation viz. a Lubet of the Spirit 6. The h h h That which is flown forth from the One Eternall Will Egressed is called the Lubet of the Deity or the Eternall wisdome which is the Eternall Originall of all Powers Colours and Vertues by which the threefold Spirit in this Lubet comes to a Desiring namely of the Powers Colours and Vertue and its desireing is an Impressing a conceiving it selfe the Will conceiveth the wisdome in the minde and the conceived in the understanding is the Eternall Word of all Colours Powers and Vertue which the Eternall Will i i i Or Speaketh forth expresseth by the Spirit from the understanding of the minde 7. And this Speaking is the Motion or life of the Deity an Eye of the Eternall Seeing where one power colour and vertue doth distinctly know each other and yet they all stand in Equall k k k Text Property proportion or Analogy devoid of weight limit or Measure also undivided one from another all the Powers Colours and Vertue lye in One and it is a distinct Mutuall well-tuned Pregnant Harmony or as I might say a Speaking Word in which Word or Speaking all Speeches Powers Colours and Vertues are contained and with the Pronouncing or Speaking they doe unfold themselves and bring themselves into sight and ken 8. This is now the Eye of the Abysse the Eternall Chaos wherein all whatsoever Eternity and time hath is contained and it is called Counsell Power Wonder and Vertue its peculiar and proper name is called GOD or JEOVA or JEHOVAH who is without all Nature without all beginnings of any Essence a Working in himselfe Generating finding or Perceiving himselfe without any kinde of Source from any thing or by any thing He hath neither beginning nor End he is immense no number can expresse his largenesse and Greatnesse he is deeper then any thought can reach he is no where far from any thing or
reason of their predomination or potent influence that Astrum which is most predominant in the Constellation that hath its desire in the Seed and if it be sown such a property is hatched forth in the earthly part of man 35. Not that the whole man is such a very brute beast in outward shape but there is such a figure of the desire in the earthly Essence and the man must beare such a Beast in the body which stirs him up and drives him to the beastiall property not that he hath this forme according to the outward person but really in the earthly Essence according to the outward personall shape he remaines in the first formation or platforme 36. Yet this Beast doth somewhat put forth its Signature externally in every one if one doe but heed and well minde the same he may finde it Hence Christ called the Pharisees a generation of Vipers and the Seed of Serpents also others he called wolves ravening wolves foxes doggs and the like for they were such in the earthly Essence and He taught us that we must be borne anew and forsake this beastiall property and become as children or we should not possesse the Kingdome of God 37. For as the Essence is in the body even so the Spirit doth figure and forme it selfe internally and the poore soule stands in this prison bound and married to such a beast unlesse that a man be borne anew for which ground and end God ordained the Circumcision in the old Testament and in the new the Baptisme in the Spirit of Christ. 38. Heere we are highly to consider what horrour lamentation and misery Anguish feare and distress did arise and awake in man and was manifest as a false life and will in man of which we have a type in the Death of Christ when he destroyed the Death in our Humane awakened property upon the Crosse and overcame it with the great Love in his heavenly bloud which he introduced thereinto that even then the earth viz. the limus of the earth whence Adams outward Essence was extracted did tremble and shake at it now when the great Love forced into the humane earth wherein the anger of God was living and effectually working in the Curse I say when it now was to dye and to be changed into another Source it did tremble before this great Love-fire like as the Love-fire in Adam and Eve did tremble in the awakening of the anger in them whereby they were astonished and creap behinde the trees in the Garden and were afraid for the dread and horror of Gods anger was awakened in their Essence and they knew their beastiall properties CHAP. XXI Of the Impression and Originall of the Beastiall man and of the beginning and ground of his sicknesse and mortality WHen Adam and Eve were become monstrous the Holy Spirit proceeding from the part of the heavenly limbus departed for the part of the Heavenly property disappeared in the Soule in which part the divine light shoane and in which the Divine power of the holy Tincture dwelt 2. Understand the power of the light u u u Or withdrew departed from him into the Centre in manner as a shining light which flameth forth from a candle extinguisheth and the fire Source onely of the light remaineth even so likewise the Magicall fire-source onely of the soules property remained viz. the Centre of the Eternall nature viz. the Fire-world and the darknesse 3. And on the outward part of the soul the Air-Spirit with its Astrum remained wherein the light of the outward nature shoane which now the fire-soule must make use of for the Fiat was enraged in the wrath of God viz. in the fiery property of the soul and also of the body and in a fiery hunger in the awakened Flagrat of Gods anger had entred into and taken possession of the Essence in soul and body and with hard Attraction did impresse it selfe in the Essence of the x x x Or matter outward Essence substance in the y y y Or limus limbus of the body whereupon the flesh became grosse hard thick and corruptible 4. For in the Flagrat of the wrath all the properties of each Astrum according to the property of all the creatures did awake in the Essence whence the enmity antipathy and contrariety did arise in the Essence of the body and soul so that one property is against another one taste z z z Or a loathsomnesse to another against anothers for all departed out of the Temperament paine tormenting malady and sickness a a a Or arose in them hapned unto them 5. For if an opposite Essence entreth into another it makes an enmity and an hatefull overmastring and destroying each the other one property annoyes weakens and destroyes another whence the death and dissolution of the body is arisen 6. For whatsoever stands not in the Temperature cannot subsist eternally but whatsoever standeth in the Temperature that hath no destroyer for all properties doe there mutually love one another and in the Love is the growth and preservation of the life 7. And we are heere fundamentally to understand how the grosse properties in the wrath of the Fiat in the Essence of the body have obscured and wholly shut up the heavenly essentiality in the Sulphur so that the heavenly man was no longer known as Lead doth hold the Golds spirit b b b Or blended avalled in it selfe that it is not knowne or discerned 8. For the desire viz. the first forme of nature which is the Fiat hath swallowed c c c Or with in the grosseness the heavenly part both in man and Metalls like as all the soverain power of or from the holy worlds Essence which is in all hearbs and all other fruits lieth shut up in the wrath and Curse of God in the darke worlds property in the Earth and springeth forth by the strength of the Sun and the light of the outward nature in the Essence through the Curse and wrath which budding or pullutation giveth a Soverain power and healing vertue for the malignant Essence in the living bodies whence the Physitian is arisen who seeketh and learneth to know the vertue and temperature thereof that he may resist and remedie the opposite Essence in the body which notwithstanding is onely a luke-warme and faint Sparckle thereof if he be not able and skilfull first to Separate the gross ravv wildness which is from the darke worlds property from his Cure 9. For if the captivated Essence of the heavenly worlds property may be redeemed from the Curse and wrath of nature then it standeth in the Temperature and if it then so commeth into a living body it doth awaken also the shut up or imprisoned life of the heavenly worlds Ens if that likewise be in the body and expelleth the wrath whereby the Sicknesse is destroyed and the Essence entreth into the Temperature 10. That this is certainly thus we may
Spirit did continue and then the Turba in all flesh shall perish or be thrown down for this Sorrow was nothing else but that the Word in the Covenant did grieve at the misery and vanity of man and would comfort mankinde by the Covenant through Noah which comfort did first open it selfe in Abraham viz. in Enos his manifestation 24. For the comfort went forth in the Love of the Covenant and opened it selfe with its branch at its right Limit or juncture of time for God hath confined all things into a certain limit when every thing shall come to passe and from the comfort of the Moving Word in the Covenant proceeded forth the judgement that the old Adamicall man with all his desires concupiscences and lusts should in the Covenant when the same should open it selfe in the flesh be drowned and mortified in the same New humanity of Christ and out of the comfort of the Covenant a new humane Spirit and will should arise which should live in righteousnesse and purity of which the Deluge was a type 25. For the griefe or Repentance came out of the Covenant upon the formed word in the life and therefore seeing the same word Repented of the vanity thereupon the vanity of the creature must be drowned for the will in the Covenant went forth from the vanity and grieved the life of God and moved the matrix of Nature in the waters birth and drowned the fiery wrath in the fires Nature 26. But the Spirit in Noah doth especially complaine here against man for their Sodomiticall beastiall Concupiscence and filthy lusts of the flesh viz. Against unchastity and unclean lascivious wantonnesse and also against the High Oppressours and Tyrants who put forth and advanced themselves in their own lust and would rule and domineere and no longer suffer the Spirit of God to rule in them and reprove them that they had intruded themselves to compell and tyrannize over one another without Command all this was an abomination before God and it grieved the Spirit in the formed Word that it had brought forth such Evill Beasts and would no longer endure them 27. Even this same propheticall Spirit whose root did open and display it selfe in Enoch which also by Enoch did propagate and put forth its Line with its branches which also by Noah did grieve at the wickednesse and iniquitie of mankinde and drowned them with the Deluge even this is he which now also doth grieve at the Great Sins and vanity of Men for his mouth is at present opened he hath been translated in the Spirit of Christ Now this word which became man doth Repent at the vanity and wickednesse of men that its children of the new Covenant will not * * * Suffer the Spirit of Christ to draw them give willing obedience to the Spirit of Christ therefore this propheticall Mouth doth now disclose and put forth it selfe for it is the Time of its manifestation and proclaimeth the Great Deluge of Gods Anger and the Flaming Sword of Elias who also was Translated into the Mystery for he must draw forth his Sword in the Turba 28. Let this be told thee Babel he complaineth mightily against thy beastiall unchastity and Tyranny Against thy own usurped power force and violence wherewith thou art proud and wanton and hast thereby set up thy selfe in Gods Government he will drown thee with thy Tyranny and beastiall wantonnesse in the fire of Anger Seeing thou wilt not repent thee of thy vanity therefore he repenteth through thee vvith the Turba and will drown thy Turba that so His Repenting may be made manifest in his children and also his refreshing Comfort and consolation might be manifested out of his Repentance 29. For without Gods repenting there is no true Sorrow or repentance for the vanity for the naturall spirit desireth not to Repent yea if it could be more wrathfull malicious Evill and vaine it would please Love and delight it selfe therein for it is Nature's spirits Strength and Might but the Word of God which in the creation did Impresse and give it selfe into the humane Ens for a Soverain powerfull and holy life the same incorporated engrafted Word of life if it be stirred and moved doth repent and grieve that it hath such an Evill Beast in Nature on it that saith it repenteth me that I have created the evill beast in nature 30. But this Sorrow is not a Sorrow to annihilation as if he would have no more to doe with the creature but it is a Sorrow which saddeth and moveth Gods Heart viz. the holy divine word and setteth the naturall spirit a time for to repent that so it might enter into divine Sorrow but if it doth not then he will drown the Naturall Spirit in its Evill will and wayes as came to passe in the Deluge 31. God said the Earth is corrupt and full of perversness Vers. 11. and the End of all flesh is come before me I will destroy them Here is againe a great Mystery in that God said the Earth was corrupt before him that all flesh had corrupted its way and that the Earth was filled with * * * Violence perversness through them and lo he would destroy them The Earth was afore with Cain accursed according to the vanitie's property but now he saith also in this place all flesh hath corrupted its way the end of all flesh is come before mee This is not so mean and slight a thing as one would looke on it to be for the Spirit complaineth against all flesh that all things were become vaine in his Sight and full of perversness 32. Now saith Reason a Beast doth not Sin it doth according to its Natures property how can any perversness be attributed to it so far doth reason goe and further it knowes not also it understands nothing of the divine mystery It understands nothing of the formed Word that hath formed it selfe through the Nature of time It saith onely God hath created and made and considereth not that all things are created in the word that the Word hath introduced and compacted it selfe into an Ens Also it will know nothing of the Eternall Spirituall Nature of divine Manifestation it understands nothing of the Ground or Originall of the outward visible world with its creatures when it saith God hath made all things out of Nothing then it meaneth that he hath so spoken it forth and yet it is wholly blinde and Senseless in it it looketh onely upon the outward Colour and knoweth not from whence it taketh its Originall thus it is onely learned in the externall Colour and prateth of the painted worke of the outside and shell and concerning the Ens whence the Colour ariseth it is dumb and senseless 33. The Spirit complaineth against all flesh upon the face of the Earth even * * * Text liveth in the aire and fire whatsoever hath breath and Sence the outward Nature had corrupted it selfe in Every kinde of
property being the Kingdome of Christ according to the property of nature b b b Gen. 11.18 1. Name and of Peleg he saith no more but of One Son which he calls Regu whom he begat when he was thirty yeares old intimating and pointing at the line of Christ wherein the maine limit and eye-marke of the Covenant stood the Spirit denoteth onely One for by One the Covenant should be opened for the spirit looked with the one upon the Kingdome of Grace and with his brothers fourteen Names it hinted at the humane Kingdome 44. And in that he saith that he begat Regu when he was thirty years old the Spirit therein looketh forwards upon Christ 30. yeares who should arise and come forth out of this Stock and manifest himselfe the thirtieth yeare of his age in his Office as also likewise all the Ages under the line of Christ which Moses hath set down have a very certaine intimation and Prophecy and point at the Times of the motion in the Covenant as may be seen through the Prophets and other Saints in whom the Covenant hath moved it selfe 45. The spirit of Moses setteth five Names of the children of Sem 5. Names which came forth of his loins and though he did beget more for Moses saith that * * * Gen. 11.11 he begat Sons and daughters yet the spirit mindeth onely the properties of the formed Word in the Covenant of the humane property these Five Names doe figure out and set forth as in a type the Five head speeches of the spirituall Tongue through the formed Word proceeding from the High Name of God Five head Speeches out of which Tongues the propheticall and Apostolicall Spirit * * * Or spake speaketh 46. And though we could set downe a forme of the same yet we should be but as sencelesse or dumb to the Reader which understands not the Language of Nature and therefore we have but given an hint of it to our School-fellowes for the spirit doth also under the Names point at the Kingdomes and Dominions and they are Gods who with his Name doth Order governe guide and lead every Kingdome according to the property of his Name as the property of each Kingdome is even such is the Tongue Language Phrase and manners of the same as it is written such as the Nation is such a God it also hath 47. Not that there is more then one God onely we understand therein the divine manifestation how God doth give himselfe forth in his manifestation in the formed word to all Nations according to every Nations and peoples property so that every Nation and people doth use or beare forth the same onely Word according to its property the externall forme and division of which is Babel for o o o Gen. XI Vers. 6. all people had onely one tongue and language and dwelt together 48. The Onely Tongue was the Language of nature out of which they all spake for they had it in one forme and understood in the Language and speech the Sence viz. the Ens even how the will formed the Ens for so also was the spirit in the Ens of which we will give a short intimation and manduction to the understanding and illuminated minde to consider of to prove exercise and make tryall of it in himselfe not that a man can expresse it and bring it into a certaine forme no that cannot be for it is the spirit of the wisdome of God his manifestation 49. The spirits of the Letters in the Alphabet are the forme of the Onely spirit in the Language of nature Alphabet 5. Vowells the five vowells beare forâ—h the holy Tongue of the five holy Languages out of the Name Jehovah from whence the holy spirit speaketh for the five vowells are the holy Name of God according to his holinesse for the Name Jehova hath nothing in it save onely the five vowells A E I O V the other Letters signifie and expresse the Nature even what the Name of God in the formed Word is in Nature both in Love and Anger in darknesse and light but the five vowells doe signifie onely and alone what he is in the light of holinesse for Nature is Tinctured with the five vowells so that it becomes * * * Text a Kingdome of joy full of joy and delight 50. But that the Ancient wise men skillfull in this tongue did interpose an H in the Name JEOVA and called it JEHOVA the same was done with great understanding for the H. maketh the holy Name with the five vowells even manifest in the outward nature it sheweth how the holy Name of God doth breath forth and manifest it selfe even in the creature the five Vowells are the Hidden Name of God who dwelleth Alone in himselfe but the H signifieth the divine Lubet or wisdome shewing how the divine Lubet doth breath forth it selfe out of it selfe 51. The inward understanding in the five vowels is this I. is the Name of JHESUS E. is the Name * * * Germ. Engel Angell Engel O. is the formed WISDOME or Lubet of the I viz. of JESVS and is the Centre or the HEART of God V. is the SPIRIT viz. the * * * Viz. the Sweetnesse SVS in JESVS which proceedeth forth out of the Lubet A. is * * * Germ. Anfang the der beginning Anfang and und the das End Ende viz. the will of the whole comprehension and it is the FATHER 52. And these five doe fold themselves up with the comprehension or formation into Three viz. into such a Word that is A. O. V. Father A. O. V. Son holy Ghost the Triangle denotes the Trinity of the properties of the persons and the V. on the Triangle denotes the spirit in the H viz. in the breathing where the universall God doth manifest himselfe spiritually with his own proceeding forth or procession out of himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 53. The other Letters without the five vowells doe all proceed from the Name * * * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 TETRAGRAMMATON viz. out of the Centre of the Eternall nature out of the Principle and doe denote and speake forth the * * * Varieties Differences of the formed wisdome viz. of the formed word in the Three Principles wherein the whole creation lyeth they are the sense of the creation viz the property of the Powers and the true Revealed God in the word of nature understand this further thus 54. When as the Lubet of man viz. the free-will of man doth conceive or forme it selfe into a desire then it conceiveth the whole Alphabet for the desire is the Fiat and the Lubet to the desire is the contemplation of the free-will viz. the formed word of wisdome wherein the free-will doth behold it selfe and contemplate whereinto it will introduce the Lubet of the wisdome either into Evill or Good and when the free-will
new assumptions and formings are effected and wrought forth in the divine will in Resignation and they are the heavenly Images and formings which are formed and shaped in the holy Ghost to the honour of God 78. For if the holy Name of God be not in its power in the forming of the words viz. in the spirits of the Letters which are the formed word and helps to forme the word in the Sensuall tongue then the false Antichrist speaketh onely from his own selfe assumption of the literall forme 79. For the Spirit of God doth form and imprint into the word of the mouth when as the Sensuall tongue takes it righteousnesse truth faith Love and patience viz. divine power and vertue but the Antichristian childe doth co-forme in the conception of the word out of the Serpents Ens lies falsehood Tales unfaithfulnesse pride coveteousnesse bitter stinging envy anger backbitings revilings and all whatsoever is against God and maketh the formed word of the letter to a Beast and wicked Bastard which is rejected from the face of God upon which the Judgement passeth 80. The like is also to be understood concerning the externall wisdome and Art if the divine wisdome worketh therein then the understanding and Art is very good and grounded in the divine wisdome but if it be otherwise it standeth in meere antichristian false Image and Phancy to the Judgement of God Note 81. Therefore Let a man prove and try himselfe what falls in and suggests it selfe into the Sensuall tongue in the formation of his words if it be truth righteousnesse faith in hope Love in patience an earnest full unfeigned desire to speak and doe the truth and that for Gods sake in hope of Eternall life then it is well with him let him continue stedfast in such exercise and work more and more effectually and powerfully therein and his pretious Pearl Tree stands in its growth and encrease 82. But if the contrary be found in him that when he will speake that then lying a proud look great words for pomp and ostentation also envious bitternesse false speaking against his neighbour falsehood Anger a revenging desire false and evill interpretings and wrong harsh censurings doe fall in and imprint themselves into the formings and Phancy of his words then he may ceratinly and really know that he hath the antichristian babilonicall whore together with the false wicked Dragon-Beast sitting in his Heart which doth introduce and insinuate and imprint such will and desire in his words for the forming and building up of the Hellish Images for these false insinuations and suggestions are all brought to Substance in the formation of the Sensuall tongue 83. Therefore know O man Note and prove thy selfe that thou art the Image of God according to the divine word and understanding if thou speakest willest and dost righteously then thou art that same Image of God wherein God dwelleth speaketh willeth and worketh but if otherwise and the contrary is found in thee then thou art the apostate rebellious Lucifer in his Generation and traine and dost willest and desirest even that which he willeth and doth 84. And though thou desirest not Hell-fire Lucifer also did not desire it but there is no other reward for the false Image being it formes it selfe out of the Abysse it must verily enter into its Fathers countrey 85. For the speech and understanding of man doth not befall him from the Stars and Elements for then other creatures could also speak and understand Man hath the same Originally from the incorporated formed word of God it is the Name of God which he must not abuse upon paine of eternall punishment This incorporated word man hath out of all the Three Principles in himselfe and hath a free own-peculiar-will to forme a Substance out of which Principle he will and thereupon also followes the Separation and reaping in of every thing into its receptacle or appointed place CHAP. XXXVII Of Abraham and his seed and of the Line of the Covenant in its Propagation and also of the Heathenish Gods IF we look upon the Hystory of the Acts of the Ancient holy Patriarcks with right eyes of understanding then we see therein meere wonders for the lines or Races of the children of God are like unto a tree which groweth into boughes and branches untill it bears fruit thus also the line of Christ grew in the Stem of the promised word in the Covenant from branch to branch even into the height of the twigs unto its right Age untill the Power of the Tree that is the word in the Covenant put forth it selfe with the glorious Soverain fair blossome 2. Out of which blossome the holy Image of God is again growne in flesh and bloud viz. in a holy Body we see its boughes and branches so fair and excellent that the soul doth most exceedingly rejoyce at this contemplation and truly desires to bud and grow forth along with these boughes and branches to the great Praise of God in our Angelicall Tree of the Hierarchies of Christ * * * Text of in the holy Paradise 3. God made a Covenant with Adam after his fall when he dyed to the heavenly Ens in him that he would quicken him againe and regenerate him anew and this Covenant was the root in the disappeared Ens which grew in this line of Adam from Seth and his children and posterity even unto Noah in one * * * In the Stock or body of the tree Stem of the tree and with Noah God renewed the Covenant 4. For the undivided Sensuall tongue wherein the spirits of the letters did rule in one harmony continued untill the floud so that all men spake in one Tongue in which Tongue the divine Spirit of the five vowells viz. the divine understanding moved 5. But being they had introduced the Image and Beast of vanity into the sensuall tongue and fell wantonly in Love with the babylonicall whore of self-hood therefore God complained against them that they would not suffer his spirit any more to rule them and said that it repented him that he had made man 6. For as the Sorrow to destruction did manifest and open it selfe even so also the sorrow of repentance to the new regeneration out of the Covenant thus the sorrow of the formed word in the onely Sensuall tongue destroyed every life and being which lived in the Aire that is in the manifested Spirit of God viz. in the third Principle and the word of the Sensuall tongue did after the floud put it selfe forth in a compaction of the spirits of the Letters 7. For God said to Noah the men are flesh and moreover vaine and wicked even from their youth thus the holy Spirit would not any more manifest himselfe in the evill contrived Sensuall tongue but left them to follow their own Phancy seeing they refused to follow him he suffered the power and force of nature to manifest its wonders out of evill and good
God in him wherewith God loved us when we knew him not why doth he boast then of Gods Sonship if he be the child of God then he hath the free love of God wherewith he loveth all things if he hath it not he is not then as yet capable of the Adoption now then if any one contemneth and condemneth his brother which hath not as yet his knowledge how can he boast of the Love of God wherewith God loved his Enemies in Christ wherewith Christ prayed for his Enemies 46. O thou false cold Love of the titular Christendome how doth the Eternall truth strike thee in the face of thy Conscience in that thou onely dependest on thy knowing and contendest about the meer knowledge and hast not Love thou judgest thy Selfe onely in thy judging others One Sect and company judgeth and condemneth an other and before God they are no other then the naturall children of Abraham born of Kethura one laying the blame upon another that the father had cast them out from the inheritance and yet they could not see what was the fault namely that it was by reason of the evill corrupt nature which was not a true Heire 47. So likewise your judging and censuring others doth not Entitle you to the goods of Christ nay the same is wholly cast out from the inheritance both of the Jewes Christians and also of the Turkes all your contention is nothing else but the Mocker Ismael who mocketh Christ in his members yee do all abuse the Name of God with your judging and condem the manifold Gifts of the Spirit of God among you and judge onely in Selfe and not according to the Love of Christ. 48. Your judging one another is onely the hurt and wound of the world wherewith yee make the ignorant to Erre and bring them to blaspheam yee teach them the art of censuring and condemning and yee your selves have not the true knowledge in the spirit of God yee do not teach your selves and yet yee will be teaching and judging others and in this way and course yee are all one with another the disinherited children of Kethura yee contend bite and devour one another about Abrahams viz. Christs goods and yet yee have them not if yee had them then yee would have the Love of Christ which is the true goods 49. No knowledge without the love of Christ is at all available to the Sonship it is onely Babel and fable Teaching and yet an effecting and doing nothing save onely honoring the Idoll Maozim in it selfe the knowledge of the High Schooles and the knowledge of the Devill without the spirit of Christ in Love do both of them bring onely contention and desolation 50. If the Devill had not known in Selfe then he had been an Angel and if Adam had not desired the Selfe-knowledge without Gods Love he had continued in Paradise if the high Schooles did not know the sharpe accute disputing they had continued in the simplicity of Christ and had not brought the whole world with their contention and disputings into Opinions and judgings of one another so that now there is nothing but contemning and condeming in Christendome and all Love and truth is extinct and men have sett and putt Salvation in opinions in this or that way and form and bound the Master to the Servant so that Antichrist domineereth over Christ and yet pretends all for Christ but indeed her hereby onely honoreth and mindeth his Lucifer and Belly-God Maozim as it is plainly to be seen Gen. 25.6 7 8 9. 51. Now after that Abraham had sent away all the children of the Concubines from Isaacs goods with Gifts towards the East as Moses saith they came into the East Countrey that is into the Dominion and Government of nature where the Essence beginneth and Abraham dyed in a quiet Age when he was old and full of yeares and was buried by his Sarah in the Cave of Machpelah which is before Mamre The inward figure is this 52. Abrahams naturall children of the Concubines went towards the East here the spirit points at the figure of the whole man when Christ hath manifested himselfe in man and possessed his goods as here Isaac then nature goeth into the * * * Text. beginning East viz. into the Fathers property and worketh according to the soul in the first and third Principle and Christ sitteth in the midst viz. in the second Principle and ruleth over that which nature in the Fathers property doth form and fashion in the divine wisdome 53. Therefore Moses saith here that they went towards the East and pointeth secretly in his figure at the property of man signifying how nature doth possesse the * * * Text. morning East viz. the beginning or rise of the Dominion even as Christ also said that He was as a Vine-dresser who did glean In Gods kingdome nature is Christs Servant but in the kingdome of natures Selfe or propriety Christ hath given himselfe with his humility to be a Servant and an assistant and serveth the Father in his naturall manifestation and continually picketh up or gleaneth what the Father formeth through nature that the wisdome bringeth into its Treasure 54. Therefore saith Saint Paul that ‖ ‖ ‖ 1 Cor. 14.32 the spirit of God is subject to the children of God and goeth along with them in the Searching even into the depths of the Deity and when it comes thus far then man is in a quiet old age and then all things stand in order in him viz nature in the * * * East Morning in the Fathers property and Christ in the * * * West Evening in the humility and then man hath enough of the outward evill sinfull life he longeth continually to enter with his Essence into the Cave of * * * That is the twofold pitt as the Dutch translation hath it Machpelah viz. into the Eternall Mother as it is before ‖ ‖ ‖ In the 49. Chap. mentioned 55. And when he hath brought his life's forms into the divine Order as here Abraham had sett all things into Order then he giveth up himselfe wholly and fully in One Essence into the Eternall Generatress and with his own will he resigneth up himselfe into mortification and death and is wholly tired and weary of the life of Selfe and so resteth in his God CHAP. LII Of the history of Isaac and also of the Birth of Esau and Jacob and what hath been acted concerning them the meaning thereof is hinted to us in this Chapter MOses saith After the death of Abraham God blessed his Son Isaac Gen. XXV vers 11. and he dwelt by the well of the * * * Lahaâ—â—â—â— Living and Seing Reason understands this externally of a place where Isaac dwelt but the spirit looketh upon the figure of the life's form shewing how the humane nature and creature hath dwelt by the well-spring of the divine Ens in the Covenant which Abraham
and bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these Countries and I will perform the Oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father that is 12. Remain but stedfast in my will and then I will give thee after this life-time the kingdome of nature according to its inward good ground for possession and propriety and I will perform and ratifie my Oath viz. Jesus Christ whom I promised thee in thy fall and whom I introduced into Abrahams faith unto thee for ever and I will in the kingdome of nature wherein thou must in this Time stand work labour toil and be in need and distress even * * * Gen. 26.4 multiply thy seed as the Stars in heaven and give thy seed all the wrought powers and workes to an eternall propriety and through thy seed all the Nations of the earth shall be blessed that is 13. Through thy Ens of faith which in Christ viz. in the Aym and limitt of the Covenant shall be manifested in the kingdome of thy nature and creaturall property and become man in thee all nations viz. the whole Adamicall tree shall be blessed and therefore * * * Gen. 26.5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge commandments wayes and lawes that is Abraham hath received my working word into his Soules desire and obeyed my voice in its operation which divine operation is the Command law and form out of which operation also God shewed Abraham by the Circumcision the figure of the kingdome of Christ that the same should cut off the Sin and vanity which figure God called his charge law in the Covenant and his Statute 14. The spirit of Moses doth now proceed further in the relation of this figure and signifyeth under the outward history of King Abimilech how that Abimilechs servants Gen· 26.18 19 20 21. and Isaacs servants contended about the wells of water and that Abrahams and Isaacs servants digged the wells of water which wells were continually stopped up by the envy and enmity of the Philistims by which figure the spirit secretly signifieth how the children of the Saints viz. the Patriarchs Abraham and Isaac have alwayes digged in their Ens of faith for the wellspring of life in the Covenant and have also obtained the knowledge of the Messiah 15. But these wells were continually covered and obscured by the Devill in Gods Anger and by their earthly Reason untill they apprehended and laid hâ—ld of the promise of the Messiah in faith and then thâ—y said we have digged a well Gen. 26.32 33. and have found of the water of life the same Isaac called * * * Or Saba Sheba and therein hinteth at the Sabbath Christ as he also forthwith saith that thereupon the place was called Beer-sheba viz. a contrition and breaking of the Anger and envy of the Devill in Mans property to signifie that the SABBATH Christ viz. the spirituall well-spring is truly called BEER-SHEBA viz. a contrition of death where the Sabbath introduceth it selfe into death and brings forth the fountain of life through death 16. At which fountain the children of Gods Covenant did pitch their tent and waited upon the promise untill the same fountain was opened in the humanity and flowed forth out of Christs bloud and death of which the poor Soul drank and thereby was brought into the Eternall Sabbath where it was redeemed and freed from the strife of the Philistims viz. from the contention of the Anger of God and of the Devill as the History in this Text doth clearly signifie thus much in the High Tongue which the spirit of Moses hath thus represented in the figure and doth play with the description of this figure 17. As indeed the whole Old Testament is a figure of the New and the New a figure of the future Eternall world wherein the figure shall stand in divine Power and the Spirit of God shall in Eternity play with his deeds of wonder to which end also he hath created Man and * * * Or inspoken inspired the power of his voyce viz. the living word into him that so he might be an Image of the Eternall word with which Image the Eternall Spirit will play and work wonders that so there may be a joy and knowledge in the Eternall wisdome 18. Now when as the spirit of Moses had pointed out the figure of Adam and Christ under an history he proceeds and further Relates how it must go with the children of God in this time shewing in what desire the poor soul in flesh and bloud lieth captive and is continually vexed and tormented as here Isaac and Rebecca for the Text saith * * * Gen. 26.34 35. When Esau was forty yeares old he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite which were a grief of minde to Isaac and to Rebecca and in this place he speakes no further of these wives or their children to signifie that it is a figure whereby he alludes at something else which Reason looks upon as very strange and wonders that God should yet permit two evill women to be with holy Isaac through his Son Esau with whom he and his fair blessed Rebecca must live in trouble vexation and opposition so very secretly doth the spirit of Moses set forth his figure that Reason must even be blind in it The spirituall figure is thus 19. The * * * 40 yeares of Esau. forty years of the Age of Esau or of Isaac after he begatt Esau signifieth that Adam with his Eve when as he was man and woman and yet neither of them did stand in Paradise ‖ ‖ ‖ Adam 40 Dayes in Temptation forty dayes in the Temptation or Proba and had joy with his fair Eve viz. with his * * * Or feminine female property in himselfe 20. But Abimilech viz. the King of this world had introduced his lust into this fair * * * Or feminine female Rose-Garden viz. into the Tincture of Venus understand into the holy life of Love in Adam and stirred the Centre of the Souls nature whereupon Adam became lusting and longing to take to him in his property yet two wives viz. the beastiall wife according to the beast-like property out of the four Elements and the Astrall Sydereall or Starrie wife from the Constellation or Astrum of this world which wicked woman did awaken in Adams female property which he took up to wife for his lust as Esau did the wives of scorn and mockery with whom he caused meer grief of minde and lamentable perplexity to himselfe and his Right female property and we indeed do still suffer and endure the same and must consume our time with them in misery and lamentation 21. Further this figure denoteth the * * * Israel 40 yeares in the Wildernesse Forty years of Israel in the wilderness when they did eate Manna and
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
†††Matth. 27.5 Judas must first in his falshood and Treachery in the old Adam with sorrow for his committed sinne hang himselfe and as to his owne ability despaire and dye and then will Benjamin viz. the new Creature in Christ first be borne and * * * Acts 1.26 Mathias viz. the first Created Adam be Elected an Apostle 25. For Mathias was indeed borne before the Passion of Christ and was with Christ but he was then first an Apostle when Christ in him was dead from sinne and Judas had hanged himselfe thus also the Adamicall Man which shall be an Apostle or Christian is indeed borne aforehand before Christ suffereth in him but Christ must first arise from the Dead in him and Judas viz. the Serpents will must hang himselfe and dye to his owne evill will in the Death of Christ and then first is the ‖ ‖ ‖ Adams Man a Christ. Adamicall Man a Christian It is not the Historicall Man by an imputed Grace wherein Judas still liveth under the Purple Mantle of Christ that is a Christian as Babell playeth finely under the vayle concerning the virginity of her Daughter Dinah that the faire dainty Damsell may play the whore and finely sleepe with her Pandor Judas and lye with her Lovers in the Bed of Fornication 26. Great things are prefigured in this Text for the Text sayth †††Gen 35.17 18. When shee was in sore Labour in the Birth of Benjamin the Midwife sayd to her Feare not for thou shalt have this sonne also But her soule being ready to depart that shee must die shee called him Benoni that is shee looked upon the inward ground upon the New Birth what he would be in Christ and regarded not the Name of the outward Creature 27. For Benoni is altogether a Spirituall Name after an Angelicall kinde and manner for shee sayd in Spirit when the Midwife comforted her concerning it that shee should have this sonne also I have him no more in the world the outward passeth away and it pointeth at the Angelicall New Name * * * Gen. 35.18 but his Father called him Benjamin as with the Name of this world that he should represent how a Christian must be borne under the Crosse of Christ in smart paine at which also his Mother looked as if shee should say through smart paine and sorrow wee come to Life as this sonne of my smart and sorrow 28. Then sayth the Spirit †††Gen. 35.19 20. Thus Rachel dyed and was buried in the way towards Ephrath which is now called Bethlehem And Jacob set up a Pillar upon her Grave and that is the Pillar of Rachels Grave unto this Day This is a secret mysticall Figure that Rachel dyed and is buried at the Citie Bethlehem and it signifieth that shee shall there rise againe through the Birth of Christ for Christ should there be borne 29. And it is signified that when wee shall flie to Bethlehem to the Birth of Christ then shall Benjamin viz. the New spirituall Man be borne of Rachell viz. of the Mother of the Old Adamicall Man in the Spirit of Christ and then presently will the Mother yeeld up her birth-right to the Spirit of Christ and die to her right of Nature and then will the Spirituall Eternall Birth begin and Eve passe away for there Jacob setteth up the Grave-stone or Pillar and the Spirit sayth it is her Grave-stone unto this Day to signifie that it poynteth at the future and that this Grave-stone should continue and Christ be borne there where Rachel died 30. In this Historie of the Acts of Jacob wee see cleerly that the Spirit hath in this description a figure under which it signifieth For Rachel was big with Benjamin when Jacob departed from Laban when * * * Gen. 31·34 35. shee sat upon the Idol-Gods when her Father sought for them and shee sayd it is with mee after the manner of Women so that I cannot rise up before thee But now the Text relateth how Jacob first pitched his Tents before Sichem and dwelt there and afterwards went first to Bethel and then Rachel brought forth so that it appeareth that the Spirit speaketh wholly in the figure for the Acts doe all follow very Orderly one after another in the figure of Christ as it hath come to passe with Christ which ought well to be Observed 31. The Spirit of Moses sayth further * * * Gen. 35.20 21 22. And Israel went forth and spread his Tents on the otherside of the Tower of Edar And it came to passe when Israell dwelt in that Land that Reuben went and slept with Bilha his Fathers Concubine and it came before Israel What manner of figure is this which is very deeply hidden but the Circumstances make it as cleare as the Sun 32. Israel went on the other side of the Great Babylonicall Towre and dwelt there with the Children of that People which may well be a pretty way from Ephrath Bethlehem but the Spirit hath heere its figure under which it signifieth that is when Jacob had taken away the strange Gods from his people and also their Ear-rings and buried them and built the Altar of the Lord Converting to God and were sitting in Rest and Ease then the naturall fleshly Man turned againe to the Lust of the children of Babel even as the Text sayth 33. Jacob went and dwelt there and then Reuben lay with his fathers Concubine viz. with Bilha Rachels handmayd the Mother of Dan and Naphthali and committed * * * Blutschande Incest which was worse then that of Sichem with Dinah but the Spirit hath thus with this action presented a figure pointing at the future how it would come to passe how Israel would turne away from the Divine Ordinance from the Altar of their God and mixe their fathers Worship and service of God with Naturall whoredome viz. with heathenish Sacrificing to Idolls as is to be seene by Jeroboam and the Spirit signifieth thereby that the first Adamicall Man would have onely fleshly desires and Lusts. 34. For Reuben was the first sonne of Jacob by Lea viz. by her of whom also sprang the Line of Christ to signifie that every one that would be called Jewes or Christians and are Generated out of those stocks would forsake God and lye with their fathers Concubines viz. commit fornication with the Idolatry humane Inventions and bablings of the Pharisees and Scribes and with their Lawes and Cannons and forget the Truth of God and of his Commandements in their Hearts and †††Einbilden make to themselves Images of these imprint those whoredomes in their Hearts Lusts. 35. For Reuben was indeed Jacobs first sonne as Adam also was the first Man but the Line of Christ was not manifested in Reuben as also not in Adam but it was manifested in Abel and in Judah and as Adam in Spiritu Mundi in the spirit of the
Christ in this Pilgrimage are but strange children and have nothing for their owne in the world and come all againe in the End to their father who hath created them as Jacob came againe to his father before his End thus also are wee in this Pilgrimage in these Earthly Churches but houshold servants and strange children for wee must in the End goe into our fathers right Country viz. into the Angelicall Church of Christ. CHAP. LXIV Of Esaw's Genealogie and of the very excellent and emphaticall Figure which is signified by Joseph the Son of Jacob. And what is thereby to be understood Vpon the 36 of Genesis 1. THe thirty-sixt Chapter of Genesis Gen. XXXVI is the Genealogie of the Potent and Princely Family of Esau shewing how God gave him much wealth and many children and childrens children and the Spirit setteth downe a great Register in describing his children and childrens children relating what great Princes and Dukes were descended of him and possessed the Glory of the World Whereas on the other side when he speaketh of Jacob he doth not mention any present worldly Glory but onely speaketh in the Figure of Christ concerning the kingdome to come 2. Whereby wee see very clearly that Esau doth stand in the figure of the Kingdome of nature and that the Glory of Nature fell to be his loâ—t and that he became a Great Prince and begatt many Princely Families also we see how God blessed him and made him great and how the Holy Spirit with especiall * * * Care and diligence Observation hath Recorded and specified his posterity to signifie that wee should learne rightly to understand the Figure of Jacob and Esau and not goe on so blindly as to condemn Esau into the bottomlesse pitt of hell as too too frequently is done for we see how his Father Isaac did appoint and assigne unto him a very rich and wealthy habitation upon the Earth and that to him God would give many Temporall blessings but his figure in Adams Nature must perish and Christ must arise in him so that from ESAV the †††The swinish beastiall earthy property SAV might be done away and he remain stedfast in the ‖ ‖ ‖ The Angelicall eternall property E as An Angel Ein Engel whereunto Christ in Jacobs Figure would help him 3. The Spirit of Moses giveth also to Esau a name and calleth him * * * Gen. 36. â— Edom who dwelt upon Mount Seir under which a very secret understanding is coucht for EDOM doth signifie in the * * * In the Hebrew High tongue one red coloured who in his hard strong and †††Text. Mountanous rough Nature should be Tinctured Red by the Red Bloud of JESUS CHRIST Gen. 36.6 4. And the Spirit saith further That the two brothers did separate themselves one from another which signifieth the Naturall Adamicall Esau who must be separated with his Evill will from Jacob that is from Christ for the naturall selfe-will shall not see God Moreover it signifieth how Evill and Good should separate themselves in the Kingdome of this world and each possesse its owne principle 5. These NAMES of the children of Esau do in the Language of Nature containe their worldly Kingdomes and Dominions intimating how they have divided themselves even unto the Ends of the world whereof in * * * Note another place in other writings of his Another place seing it would take up too much room and the time also of the clear signifying of it is not yet fully at hand Enough to those that are our School-fellowes Note THe Third Part of the Mysterium Magnum was published in Germany as a Compleate Treatise of it selfe under the Name of Josephus Redivivus But when the whole Booke came to be printed together there was onely the first Part and the Second Part which comprehended the Third Part also as one with the Second Yet because the History of Joseph being an Exposition of the last 14 Chapters of Genesis is so excellent and entire a peece it may well goe as a Third Part of the Mysterium Magnum as it is heere distinctly divided and Printed by it selfe with a severall Title Page as followeth THE THIRD PART OF THE Mysterium Magnum BEING THE MOST EXCELLENT HISTORY OF JOSEPH WHICH IS The Cleerest Figure of the New-Man Regenerated out of the Earthly Old ADAM AND IS A Looking Glasse wherein Every one may try examine and discerne what Spirits Childe himselfe is Written by JACOB BEHM Teutonicus Beginning at the XXXVII Chapter of Genesis and the 64 of this Mysterium Magnum and at the 6 Verse and ending at the L. and last Chapter of Genesis and the 78 and last Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum LONDON Printed by Matthew Simmons 1654. 6. THe Thirty-Seventh Chapter concerning Joseph Gen. XXXVII is indeed the most pleasant and excellent figure of the New Man Regenerate out of the old Adam Which New Regenerate Man is become a Prince over the Kingdome of Nature and also a Lord over all his Adamicall Members being the brethren of the little childe Jesus in him as ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 42.6 Joseph became a Prince in the whole Land of Egypt and a Lord over all his brothers and whole kindred and family and it shewes us very emphatically and pregnantly in its figure in the history how a man must become such a Joseph also how it then goes with him and how the world dealeth with him before he be made a Prince over the Adamicall Kingdome of his nature and that the New Man may obtain the Government and power over his earthly Members How the Devill in the wrath of God doth Assault the pretious Lilly-twigg in the power of God out of which the chast Joseph springeth groweth and is brought forth and first casteth him down into the Pitt of darknesse in flesh and bloud and there hides him that so he might be destitute of all help comfort assistance and be even forc'd to perish 7. As Josephs brethren did to Joseph even so the Earthly members of the old Adam doe likewise to this Lilly-twigg of the new birth in the chastity of Christs Spirit whereat the Devill is also busie and continually stirreth up the evill Beasts full of carnall greedy and burning lust in flesh and bloud so that they strive to domineer and have the upper-hand 8. Externally or from without the Devill also bringeth Potiphars wife viz. unchast lewd people to him who would fain defile the chast countenance of the inward Ground and Egg on the Earthly flesh to feed upon the whoredome of the world and all lascivious lewdness wantonness and vanity and draw the same unto it with the Imagination and bring the new Joseph to commit Adultery with Potiphars wife but he must so violently and resolvedly break through and force his way from thence that he must be fain to leave his Garment that is his *
soule might thus move it selfe in all the Three Principles and stirre up the most inward ground viz. Josephs Brother viz. the incorporated Gate of Grace together with all outward Essences or faculties of the outward soule and bring them along into the work of Repentance into the presence of the right Joseph or Jesus 10. For the fiery Soule is threatned by Joseph that is by Jesus that if in its drawing neere it bring not along with it the most inward ground viz. the brother of Joseph or Christ which in its Manifestation becometh the Temple of Christ then shall its Band of Gods Anger not be loosed its brother Simeon shall remaine in Prison till it also stirre up and bring with it Josephs Brother viz. the most inward Ground 11. Neither shall its Sack be filled with * * * Rev. 2.17 Heavenly Manna for its food that is its Faiths desire shall remaine hungry and Empty and not be filled with divine power and vertue unlesse it bring the Temple of Christ viz. the right Sack with it whereinto the heavenly Joseph filleth his Food 12. This now in the Text stands in a figure shewing how the Old Adamicall Man viz. the Old Jacob thinketh it to be very hard that he should let all the powers of his Life be carried along into Aegypt that is into Repentance into the presence of Joseph or Jesus especially when he seeth that he must breake his will and part with all temporall things for it as Old Jacob must part with all his children for this foode 13. It went hard with him and yet the famine and hunger did so presse upon him that in the end he must yeeld and be willing that all his sonnes should goe into Aegypt and his youngest sonne went along and he was alone as one who had no children so wholly must the Outward Nature leave whatsoever it hath or is in it selfe as having no more power and ability as to Earthly things and give up the selfehood of its inward soule which standeth in the Drawing of God that the inward soule may take the outward soules will along with it into Conversion and then the Old Jacob that is the Old earthly Adamicall Body remaineth alone in its house of Sorrow and knoweth not now what will become of it when its Spirit must goe along into conversion then thinketh the Earthly Lucifer in it viz. the fleshly desire heereby thou wilt loose temporall honour and good things and be the foole of the world this will not serve thy turne and Lust. 14. But the Great Famine viz. Sinne presseth the poore life in all the Three Principles that it must make ready and goe into Aegypt that is into Repentance and seeke divine foode and pray for it and desire it from the true householder Joseph or JESUS and in such Prayer and desire fall on his face of great humility before Joseph or Jesus and desire foode of him 15. But that Jacobs sonnes must goe twice into Egypt for Corne and at the first time receive Corne Enough and yet they came into danger thereby * * * Were kept in pawne or Custody and were kept as a pledge hath inwardly this figure when Man at first turneth into repentance then first the terrible figure or aspect of his sinnes standeth before him for they rouse him up and the Conscience standeth in the Anger of God 16. As the Brethren of Joseph stood the first time before Joseph when he held them for Spies so also Man standeth before God as a Spie of Divine Grace for he thinketh he will this once enter into Repentance that his old sinnes may be forgiven him but he hath not yet so strongly tamed his will that the will should think all dayes of its life while the body lasteth to remaine in such begun Repentance but it thinketh onely for once thus to destroy Sinne in the Conscience and to drowne the old sinnes in Repentance and Sorrow 17. And it cometh also to that passe that his Conscience though perhaps at first it be terrified is in the End appeased and divine foode is given to him from the heavenly Joseph into the Sack of his desire so that the Anger of God letteth him goe But the Anger of God in his righteousnesse taketh a ‖ ‖ ‖ Or Pawne Pledge from the Conscience and keepeth it to see whether Man would continue to rest satisfied with this burthen of food if not then the Anger of God hath its first right in soule and body 18. As it happeneth to us poore Men that wee very slightly and lavishly spend the first foode which the heavenly Joseph giveth us in Repentance and come againe with great hunger want and misery of Conscience and must come to be poore againe and even therefore because we did not the first time bring along with us our Benjamin viz. the most inward Ground in that our will was not quite broken and that wee suppose wee shall continue till our End in Repentance and divine Resignation But if it were done in the first Repentance then could not Gods righteousnesse in the Anger take any pledge but must leave us quite free 19. This figure now that Jacobs children must goe downe into Egypt for foode twice and at the second time Joseph was first manifested unto them and the third time they tooke along with them their wives and children and all that they had together with their father prefigureth that when Man through sinne hath spent and consumed the first divine food that he must hunger againe and be in want in his Conscience so that his conscience presseth him complaineth as a hungry Belly complaineth for food then he thinketh on the first repentance againe how Grace happened to him before 20. But his most inward Ground viz. the Band of Gods Anger complaineth against him condemneth him that he did not preserve Grace it blameth him for an unfaithfull perjured Man who hath tasted Gods Grace and how it was bestowed on him of meere Mercy and that he hath for the Lusts sake of the flesh spoyled and lost all againe and then he standeth as one that is not worthy of any thing so much as to look up to Heaven or that the Earth should beare him that he hath for such base Lusts sake of the flesh squandred so precious a thing againe and thinketh yet with the poore Publican and sinner and with the lost sonne the keeper of swine he will turne againe and come to the salvation of God and then first it is in right true Earnest and then goeth Jacobs sonnes all one and other the second time into Egypt into Repentance to buy heavenly Corne and then must the Old Adamicall Jacob viz. the Body stay at home in Calamity 21. In this Earnest it is that Benjamin viz. the inward Ground is first taken along and now the first will is broken and goeth no more in and with such a purpose as at the first time and they come
bloud for the buyer entered with his Money of Grace into this faded Image and tooke it to himselfe and set the soule therein for a High-Priest and Teacher 32. And this Image now was the Priests fields which he bought not for it was Gods before-hand God only set his High Priest Christ therein that he should therein feede and teach the poore soule that it should not eate of the vanity and fully darken and bring to nothing this Image againe 33. And this is also the same in the figure of Joseph in that he bought not the Priests fields and so is the figure concerning Moses and the Levites that they kept their fields and Ground and yet possessed them as Tenants all which denoteth the inward Man of the heavenly worlds substance which is Gods Ground wherein God soweth his word of Grace viz. Christs Spirit which Ground or Substance belongeth onely to the High Priest Christ for a possession and not to the Creaturely Life but the Creaturely Life receiveth power and vertue from it it hath it indeed in it selfe but it is not one and the same thing with Nature as the Light and the painfull source of the fire is not one and the same thing 34. This figure of Joseph in that he bought the Egyptians to be Pharaohs proper owne and made them his owne servants signifieth nothing else but that Christ should buy us from the Anger of God in the famine of our destruction through his Grace to be his obliged servants through his bloud and death and would give us his word for seede that wee might sow his purchased * * * Or possessions Goods viz. our Naturall Life therewith 35. And for this Cause now should wee give him againe the fift part of this fruit viz. the Birth of Love the fift propertie of Life for in the fift propertie standeth Faith and that his children should give to him againe and this he gathereth into his fathers Barnes for an Eternall prayse and to the divine Manifestation of his wonders 36. But that Earthly Men have made such †††Or Bondslavery Bondage and keepe one another for Bondslaves and vex torment and misuse one another therein and squeeze out their sweat for their pomp pride this is an Image of the Anger of God which ‖ ‖ ‖ Imageth or modelleth it selfe representeth it selfe also according to the heavenly Figure 37. For every thing must ‖ ‖ ‖ Imageth or modelleth it selfe fashion it selfe according to the Ordinance or appointment of the Word of God whether a thing ‖ ‖ ‖ Imageth or modelleth it selfe fashion it selfe in Evill viz. in Gods anger according to the property of Hell or in Good in Heaven in the Kingdome of Christ for with the Holy Psa. 18.25 26. the Word is Holy and with the perverse and froward it is manifest in Gods wrath as the People is such is their God also sayth the Scripture 38. Earthly Men represent the Image in the anger of God in that they vex torment squeeze and plague them with * * * Bondslavery Bondage and hold it for just and right and it is right in the wrath of Nature in Gods anger and it is a figure of Hell and it is also a figure of the Kingdome of Christ in the heavenly * * * Bondslavery Bondage For all whatsoever the Earthly Man doth with paine and torment that doth Christ in his Kingdome with his children in Joy Love humility and power 39. The Earthly Man taketh away his brothers Labour also his will and desires his sweate and Trade profession and sustenance Christ also taketh away his childrens evill will desires also their labour working in God when with great paine and anguish they presse thereinto these labours Christ taketh all from them and gathereth them into his Chists of Treasure and searcheth through and through his childrens body and soule to see whether there be yet a little Sparkle that can and will administer to him and work for him that he driveth and necessitateth into the Divine Ministration of Gods Court viz. into the vineyard of Christ. 40. He often also withdraweth the foode of Grace and letteth them afterward hunger and lament for it and letteth them sit in misery and afflicteth them so that they must work in great anguish in lamentation feare and trembling before him in Divine Labour for the old Adams Asse is unwilling and untoward to labour in that which is divine 41. And therefore it is often compelled so that the punishment and threatning is alwayes behinde it where Christs Spirit in the Conscience threatneth it with Hell and the Anger of God as also the Earthly Lords upon Earth doe with their Subjects which stand indeed in the figure of Christ but the Office is altogether unlike 42. Christ gathereth in for his father by the works of his children much heavenly fruit which Man will obtaine againe and enjoy the same for Ever but a worldly Lord gathereth in by the labour and sweat of the poore only Money and Goods into his Chists to his owne honour which labour the poore Man can no more enjoy in this world but Christ is his wages in that he must serve the figure of Gods anger heere in Misery 43. But in the End when the Earthly Offices shall be also gathered into their Barnes into the Treasure Chists of their hearts for whom they have served and ministred then there will be unlike and different reservatories many will have very much gathered into the Kingdome of Gods anger and from that will his foode be given to him againe in Eternity viz. the Curse of the oppressed also the affliction feare paine and molestation of the poore which they have heere with their agitation wrought by the inferiours that will be given them for foode also after this time to Eternity for * * * Gal. 6.7 what any soweth heere that they will finde in Barnes in the Eternall Life 44. All Offices of this world are Gods and all Officers from the Emperour to the least and meanest are Gods Officers but they serve him much unlike and differently one serveth him in Love as a Minister of Christ and the other serveth him in his anger as a Minister of Hell 45. All that seeke their owne in these Offices and not regard God and his Ordinance and so serve Man therein they serve the anger of God and gather up into Hell 46. For all the Treasure of Princes and Potentates should be gathered in for the Common profit of brethren and for the supporting of Good Orders and Offices also of the miserable and impotent even as an * * * Or housholder Inn-keeper laboureth worketh with those that are under him and draweth the profit to himselfe and yet therewith he provideth for feedeth and nourisheth all his servants Ministers and assistants and the over-plus he useth for common necessaries of himselfe his wife and children and
signifie that the soule and the spirit shall in Christ enjoy like Graces and Gifts onely the power he gave to the New Regeneration out of the faded heavenly Image that the soule should through the power of the New Regeneration work and flourish spread forth and be great therewith that is that the soulish-Tree with its branches should grow out of this blessing 18. In the words of this blessing there is this understanding or meaning viz. The Incorporated ground of grace in the power and vertue of the Word spake forth the power and comprised in Jacob his body soule and Spirit in One and thereby spake it selfe forth upon the children of Joseph God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaack have walked that is through the wills and desires which my fathers have inclined to God with which they have walked before God also through the power of God who hath susteined mee my life long even unto this day also the Angell who hath delivered mee from all Evill blesse these Ladds that is he blesseth them through the divine and humane power through the Angell of the great Councell in Christ Jesus which Angell hath delivered Men from all Evill that they should according to these Names be called children of the Covenant and in this power encrease and grow great 19. But when Joseph saw that his father layd his right hand upon Ephraims head it pleased him not well and he layd hold on his fathers hand Gen. 48.17 that he should turne it from Ephrams head upon Manassehs head and sayd to him not so my father this is the first borne lay thy right hand upon his head but his father refused and sayd I know it well my sonne I know it well this shall also be a people and be great but his younger Brother shall be greater then he and his seede shall be a multitude of people 20. By the outward figure the Spirit pointeth at their Offsprings which Stock or Tribe should excell the other in greatnes and Might but by the Inward figure of Mans conversion and New Birth it pointeth at the inward Ground signifying how the inward and youngest ground of the incorporated Grace in Christ would be greater then the ground of the first Created Adamicall Man 21. But that Joseph disliked it and would not willingly that the youngest should be preferred before the Eldest in the figure it signifieth this Joseph stood in the figure of the New Regeneration signifying how the inward ground viz. the Eternall Speaking Word in the humanity of Christ should turne it selfe forth through our soule and take away the power of selfe-will from the soule and that the Creaturely soule would not that it should loose its power it would not willingly dye to its own will but keepe its first Naturall right 22. As wee see in Christs humanity viz. in the humane Soule when it was to dye to selfe and yeeld up its Naturall right * * * Mat. 26.36 Luk. 22.39 Then sayd Christ on the Mount of Olives father if it be possible that is the humane soule in him from the Fathers property in the Word sayd Father if it be possiblle let this Cup passe from mee but if it be not possible and that I must drinke it thy will be done as Joseph heere in this figure was loath to come to it and would not willingly that the last should be preferred before the first 23. The Text sayth it pleased him not well the Naturall Man is not well pleased to give up his naturall right and let the Kingdome of humility reigne in him he would rather be Lord himselfe but his owne will hath squandred that away so that he is set behinde for it is not possible that he should become the childe of God unlesse he drinke the Cup whereby he dyeth to his owne naturall will Therefore sayth Christ Father thy will be done and not my Naturall Adamicall humane will but let Gods will in my inward ground be done and not my Adamicall soules will It shall and must be resigned into God the first naturall right must goe backward behinde and Christ forward else there is no salvation 24. In this Type and Image the Spirit of God sporteth with the children of the Saints signifying how the new incorporated Kingdome of Grace would spread it selfe forth aloft and how the Kingdome of Nature should be set back behinde for if Christ arise and be borne in Man then must Adam be Servant and Minister 25. And it declareth besides that the Kingdome of Nature would also be great but the Kingdome of Grace yet greater of which wee have a similitude in a great Tree of many branches which through Nature generateth many twiggs and Branches and wherein Nature is powerfull but the vertue and power of the Sun is much more powerfull for if this doth not co-operate then the Tree cannot grow nor beare any fruit and wee clearly see thereby that the vertue and power of the Sun must gett aloft if the Tree grow and its fruit come to be ripe and profitable so also is it in Man 26. Man is Nature and Nature begetteth him that he may come into the formes and Conditions of the Creatures but the understanding must come forth in him which governeth and taketh care of Nature Nature willeth indeed that its desire be fullfilled but the understanding ruleth over Nature 27. But now Nature is sooner and Earlyar then the understanding Nature goeth formost but when the understanding cometh then it must follow behinde thus it is to be understood also in this figure of Jacob and Joseph concerning the New Regeneration that when the divine understanding shall againe be manifested in Man then shall Nature follow behinde 28. * * * Gen 48.20 Thus he blessed them that day and sayd Hee that will blesse any in Israell let him say God set thee as Ephraim and Manasseh In this Text what the Spirit declareth in this figure is as cleare as the Sunne for Ephraim and Manasseh were re-inoculated back into the Root of Jacob that is into the Covenant of Grace which God had manifested in him and were transplanted with the Birth of the Naturall right when the youngest was preferred before the Eldest thus also should all blessing and wishing be among the children of God that God would set them back from the Evill Adamicall will of selfe and set them into the Paradisicall Covenant againe and make them grow therein and bring forth the Kingdome of Grace in them and set it above the Kingdome of Nature of the first Adamicall Birth when this is done in Man then he is a childe of God againe in Christ and standeth in the blessing of God 29. Courteous Rabbies and Masters of * * * Literature Criticismes upon every letter learne I pray to understand the figures of the Old and New Testament and dispute not about the outward shell of words looke upon the chiefe Ground why the Spirit of God
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
Moses and the Prophets have spoken in the Spirit 30. He must not be so blind as to look upon it as the Jewes and Babel doe who make onely of this History Conclusions of reason in respect of the Election of God as if God had thus onely chosen to himselfe a sundry and peculiar Nation or sort of people to be his children the Election of God passeth upon the figure onely shewing what people should bear the figure of the inward kingdome of Christ in the outward in which people God would set forth and manifest the kingdome of Christ externally the Jewes have had onely a mirror and type hereof externally and so likewise the Christians who looked upon Christ in the flesh as a meer pure man 31. These figures have remained very speechless to the world even to this last time and that from the purpose of God being man is such a piece of meer vanity and flesh and so soon weary of the Pearls and afterwards comes to trample them under-foot Therefore God hath dealt with man in Types and Parables as Christ also did when he came upon the earth He spake all these mysteries in Parables for mans unworthiness sake 32. But now at present there is Great Cause as all the Prophets have prophecied thereof that the same should be made manifest and the Cause is this that in this Last Trumpets Sound the * * * Rev. 10.7 mystery of the kingdome of God shall be finished and the bride of Christ viz. the wise virgins shall be prepared who shall meet the Lord in his Appearance and it betokens the day of Christs Coming when he will appear with the holy Citie the New Jerusalem and bring home his Bride Therefore the mystery of the Kingdome of God must first be unfolded and explained out of its Types and become wholly manifest 33. And this will be the fall of the fleshly Sinfull man in that the man of Sin must be made manifest as Saint Paul plainly prophecieth thereof * * * 2 Thess. 2.3 that the child of perdition shal be revealed to all Nations speeches tongues and the Beast with the whore shall go into the bottomless pit that is when the Kingdome of Christ becomes wholly manifest then the Beast and the whore of flesh viz. the false Bond-woman with her scoffing Son stands in great shame and is Judged of Every one as an whore in the Cage that Every one scornes and scoffs at 34. As indeed hitherto men have reviled Christ in the outward Image of Simplicity in his children and members in which Reason hath seen and known no more then Hagar and Ismael in their miserable banishment under which notwithstanding the voice of the Angel hath been which they have scorned and mocked in the foolish plain simplicity under the vail and have set up the mocker Ismael in Christs stead which hath been onely an Antichrist Now this mocker and Antichrist shall be revealed under this Trumpetts Sound and be cast out * * * Or by of the children of God into the * * * â—â—te Abysse this Babel shall see in a short time Declareth the Spirit of the wonders of God 35. We see all an excellent figure of this in Abimilech that when God will manifest himselfe to a people how he terrifies them in the midst of their Sins and appeareth to them in Anger as to Abimilech in the vision and to Moses in the bush of fire and also to Israel upon the Mount Sinai also in the fire and also to Elias in the fire and winde where allwaies the rebuke of Gods wrath is fore-signified how God doth bruise the hearts of men that they may feare and tremble before him as here Abimilech when the Lord appeared to him by night in a vision and threatned him by reason of Sarah he was astonished and told the same in the eares of his people and the people were sore afraid and Abimilech called Abraham and made a Covenant with him 36. This is an excellent figure and pregnantly intimates how God terrifieth the Enemies and comforts poor dejected nature when it quails for fear and turnes its fear into Joy and how the miserable and afflicted if he be honest is at last drawn out of misery and affliction and how at last his Enemies who before he thought to be his Enemies must serve him and advance him so wonderfully doth God lead his children if they do but endure Temptation and continue under the Cross of Christ in humility and not look upon Selfe-revenge but put on Patience in hope and persevere stedfast in the faith at last all a mans adversaries must see and acknowledge that God is with the man and that the world hath dealt wrongfully and unrighteously with him 37. Also this is an excellent emphaticall figure how Abraham when God would punish Abimilech did pray unto God for Abimilech and made reconciliation that God did bless Abimilech and this whole Hystory stands in the figure of Christ and holds forth how Adam and Christ are together how Christ is come into the Selfe-assumed Kingly own-hood or selfeness of man and terrifieth Sin and Death and how the poor corrupt nature doth turn it selfe in the horror and acknowledgement of Sin to God as here Abimilech turned unto Abraham and how it then giveth the kingdome of nature for a possession unto Christ and the inward figure in the Spirit of Moses who was the Type and figure of Christ who yet pointeth out of the Fathers property upon the Son in the flesh viz. in the humanity can be understood no otherwise then even thus It is the true Ground CHAP. XLVII Of the Covenant of Abimilech and Abraham shewing what the same is in the spirituall figure and what the Spirit in Moses under his vail doth here point at A very pretious and excellent Gate to the Children of God in Beer-sheba 1. COurteous and friendly Reader know that if a man should write many hundred Bookes of the history of Abraham yet he could not sufficiently express the abundant richness which lyeth hid under this figure but we will afford a little Service to the children of God in their weakness and somewhat unvail this figure being otherwise it is not to be understood by the naturall man and yet the Lord doth thus lead us in Grace to the understanding thereof therefore I shall here lend and give him the hand thereto observe it well there is couched under it a peerless matchless Pearl which shall here stand open and yet also continue hidden which cannot be purchased with the goods of the whole world it is hidden unto Reason The outward figure in the Text of Moses stands thus 2. And it came to passe at that time that Abimilech Gen. XXI v. 22. to the last verse being 34. and Pichol the chief Captain of his host spake unto Abraham saying God is with thee in all that thou doest Now therefore Sweare unto me here by God that thou
the will to the Selfehood or ownhood of this world and although the flesh be disquieted being it must forsake what it fain would have yet the true nature and the Soul must not give heed to it Also it must not take care for the sake of the flesh where that should have its maintenance but commit it to God and go on in his calling as a day-labourer in the Service of his Lord and Master and let God take care for the Ram and give it what he please 33. And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of Heaven the second time and said by my selfe have I sworn saith the Lord Gen. 22. v. 15. to the 19. because thou hast don this thing and hast not spared thy onely Son that I will bless and multiply thy Seed as 〈◊〉 â—tars of the Heaven and as the Sand that is upon the Sea-shore and thy Seed shall possesse the Gate of his enemies and through thy Seed shall all the Nations of the earth be blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce and so Abraham returned to his young men and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba and dwelt there This is now the Seal of Faith when man hath wholly given himselfe up to God then God sweareth unto the humanity by him selfe that he will blesse man that his life's essence shall thence forward spread forth it selfe in his Power and grow unto a great Tree of divine Essence in the wisdome whose fruit and knowledge shall be infinite and innumerable as he sware unto Abraham that out of his body or life's essence many Nations should arise also how his life's essence should possess the Gates of the enemies viz. of the Devill and Death as heere he gives a full and pregnant hint concerning Christ and his Christendome how they should destroy the Devills Kingdome and break down his Gate in man This the faith in Gods children is able to do 34. For so soon as the iudgement of the earthly man hath been held in the penitent man so that the Soul rejecteth the will of the evill flesh viz. the will of the Animal Soul and brings it into judgement to the condemnation of death and resignes it selfe up wholly unto God then God sweareth in Christ Jesus this Oath unto the Soul and setts it to be a Prince over the enemies viz. over the proud and haughty Devills even to judge them and obtains full power over them and drives them out 35. After these things Moses mentioneth how the blessing of Abraham did spread forth it selfe and he maketh a relation of his brother Nahor how Milcah bare unto him eight Sons from whom great Nations did arise viz. the Assyrians who indeed did not spring forth out of the Ens of faith viz. in the line of Christ as Abraham but out of the naturall Adam upon whom also the blessing of Abraham did * * * Passed or went light for the history is so exactly deciphered that a man may see that God hath not onely chosen the naturall line of Christ proceeding from Abraham and Isaac but also the lines of nature in the Adamicall Tree which he would also bring together and manifest himselfe to them and they who would beleeve in God should be engrafted into the line of Christ that is those who should be capable of the divine Ens in the voice of the Lord whose will should direct it selfe to God 36. As wee may see again in this figure how God hath not rejected the Kingdome of nature in man but that he in Christ will deliver it out of the Anguish and Enmity and that a man should and must continue in the Kingdome of nature as Abraham when he had finished this offering he went with his Son and two young men to Beer-sheba and dwelt there by which the Spirit of Moses signifieth that when Abraham had performed this Calling in the figure of Christ before the Lord he returned again unto his naturall affaires viz. unto the doing of this worlds business he went to Beer-sheba that is into the toil and labour whereinto Adam hath brought us where a child of God in the cloven and broken nature viz. in Beer-sheba must work in God with teaching and praying and also in nature with the labour of the hand to maintain the outward man and follow the wonders of the outward world in the formed word and help to form manifest and bring them forth in â—â—â—ure to the Contemplation of the wisdome of God 37. Also hereby is hinted very clearly that a child of God in this worlds being doth not stand daily and hourely in the Operation of the spirituall figure that his Spirit can see and know that onely but also in the naturall where the Spirit of God goes also along working in the work of nature and manifests it selfe in another property in him as it may be seen here in Abraham and all the Saints that God did sometimes manifest himselfe to them in the figure of Christ and sometimes again in the Cross and labour in the Temptation and contrariety of the nature of the corrupt Adam so that they have lived in weakness and infirmities as all Adams children have don and do 38. And we ought not to look upon and consider this figure concerning Abraham in all that the Spirit of Moses and * * * Text. Ezra Note concerning Esdras Esdras hath written down but as a Type of Christ and Adam viz. of the Kingdome of Christ and the Kingdome of nature that hereby God hath represented the figure of Christ and his Christendome how he would again Redeem and deliver them from the Great Toil and Labour 39. Wherewith also the Kingdome of darkness in the Pain and Torment is continually represented and how the same doth pant and reach after man and how man doth stand here in this life as in a field and growes on Whom sometimes the Sun of divine Love doth eglimpse and shine and sometimes again Gods wrath and Anger and how man must be purged tryed and purified and the chiefest and most especiall point herein is this that a man must give up and resigne himselfe to God in faith and full assurance and hold still unto him and let him work in him as he please and how also he must learn to bend and bow his own nature and lead it towards God that it in all things may desire to be Gods instrument and Servant and desire and will to work nothing but what belongs to the divine manifestation in the wonders of nature for the Contemplation of Gods wisdome and on the contrary reject the Own will of the Devill and all desire to Selfehood 40. And we should not look upon the written History of Moses concerning the Patriarchs so blindly as the Jewes and Babel do as if they were onely a meer History no the same is not onely full of the types of Christ and Adam viz. of the old and new man but there are also secret
and mysterious intimations and prophecies concerning the hidden spirituall world shewing what shall be after this time 41. Reason must know that the Spirit of God hath not laboured in the work onely to set forth the histories of the Ancient which for the most part seem but simple and childlike no they are set forth for a Type and information 42. The Spirit of God hath represented the greatest wonders therein which he would accomplish in man and that in a plain simple and childlike manner that so the pride of the Devill and the suttlety or wisdome of Reason might be confounded and made foolish thereby 43. For we must know that the greatest power and vertue together with the wonders doth lye in the humility and lowliness and how God is so near unto all things and yet nothing apprehends him unlesse it stand still unto him and give up the Own will and then he worketh through all as the Sun through the whole world CHAP. XLIX Of the death of Sarah and the hereditary Sepulchre of Abraham What is understood and signified thereby THe Spirit in Moses hath set before him the whole figure of man by Abraham shewing what his condition should be in this world Gen. XXIII and what hereafter should become of him for after he had first spoken of the beginning viz. of the Stock of the humane tree shewing whence it did spring he afterwards declares its boughes and branches together with its power and vertue and mentioneth how this tree is corrupted in its power and essence and that God hath bestowed the highest Tincture upon it to tincture it again and renew it and how the Poyson in the essence of the tree * * * Or hath been with-stood is to be resisted 2. Here he doth now very wonderfully signifie how this tree hath stood in the corrupt property in a strange field and rooted it selfe with the root into a strange or alienate own hood wherein the root was not native and how the root of the humane tree must forsake the strange field together with the strange introduced essence and wholly give it selfe freely out of its life's will and desire 3. Also hereby is signified how the place whence the humane root did spring is between the holy spirituall world and this earthly corrupt world and that mans propriety from whence he is sprung doth stand in a double * * * Our Text hath it The Cave of Machpelah which here in the Germane version is rendred a double Cave or a twofold Pitt cave viz. in two Principles and how he must be buried in this twofold pit as a kernell which is Sown into the ground and how also this cave of Machpelah this twofold pit is mans propriety of which essence or substance he himselfe is essentially 4. The figure of this wee see here in Abraham that when he conversed in this outward world he possessed upon the earth no Land of his Own but went from one place unto another and was every where a Stranger but when his Sarah dyed then he would have a burying place for a certain possession for his wife himselfe also and his children and moreover he would not have it for nothing but buy it all which is a very wonderfull typification and not onely a bare history as the Jewes have held it to be before whose eyes the vail of Moses is hung but we will here also set forth the inward figure with the outward and see what the Spirit in Moses doth here signifie Gen. 23.2 5. Moses saith Sarah dyed at Hebron in the * * * Our Text Kiriach-arba head Citie in the Land of Canaan this may very well thus be but the Spirit hath his figure under it for he lookes upon the Centre where the death of the Saints is and where the true man must dye as namely in the Head-Citie Hebron that is in the formed Word where he hath introduced the own hood and selvish lust into the formed word of his life's property and set himselfe up into a selfefull Dominion and Regiment as into an Head Cittie where the selfe-will hath framed and contrived to it selfe a Citie or propriety in the formed word and built it up for its own peculiar Land of possession where he indeed supposeth he is a God or Something of his Own that he may do with and how he please now this selfe-will must dye in the Head-Citie viz. in the formed Ens of the Word in its Centre viz. in the Citie of its own-hood 6. And this Citie Hebron lyeth right over against Mamre viz. between the eternall and temporall nature where the cave of Machpelah the twofold Pit is viz. the Kingdome of God and of nature for in this twofold Pit Abraham would bury his Sarah and have the Pit for his Own 7. That is to say when the children of the Saints in Hebron viz. in the Citie of humane own-hood do dye unto the selfefull outward naturall life or Selfehood then the true resigned life will no longer stand in a strange field or strange essence but in its own from whence it is Originally arisen but being it hath lost this same life's field in Adam and rooted it selfe into a strange field viz. into the Serpents field of falsehood the life cannot take unto it selfe again of due Right the first true field but it must buy it this is even the figure that Christ hath bought it for his Bloud of the heavenly essentiality for the holy Tincture understand he hath thus purchased it of the eternall nature wherein Gods Anger viz. the wrath of God in the Centre of nature was manifest and had devoured this field in the humane property into its selfe as its own for out of the Centre of nature the Word of the humane property was brought into a formation This the children of Selfe had taken into possession therefore saith the Spirit the children of Heth had this field for their own possession 8. This signifieth that Gods children must wholly forsake the nature-Right in this field of the formed life or word for they have lost the naturall Right in it but in Christ they must buy it again of the Father of nature they must take Christ for their Ransome and give the Father four hundred shekells of Silver for the same and these are the four Centres in the spirituall bodie 's property which are born in the holy Tincture viz. in Christs property 9. The first shekell is the true magicall fire the Second is the Light or Love-desire the third is the holy Sound of the mentall tongue the fourth is the formed or conceived Ens out of the other properties where the holy life is formed and stands in an Essence this is the pure Silver without any spott or foulness under which the Spirit of Moses points that Abraham in Christ hath given to the children of Heth viz. to Ephron understand to the Father or the Fathers property for his cave of