Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	opinion_n	zeal_n	zealous_a	39	3	8.9167	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28529	Mysterium magnum, or An exposition of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Concerning the manifestation or revelation of the divine word through the three principles of the divine essence; also of the originall of the world and the creation. Wherein the kingdome of nature, & the kingdome of grace are expounded. For the better understanding of the Old and New Testament, and what Adam and Christ are. Also, how man should consider and may know himselfe in the light of nature, where he is, and where his temporall and eternall life, consist; also, where his eternall blessednesse, and damnation, consist. And is an exposition of the essence of all essences for the further consideration of the lovers, in the divine gift. Comprised in three parts: written anno 1623. By Jacob Behm. To which is added, The life of the author. And his Foure tables of divine revelation.; Mysterium magnum. English.	Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Ellistone, John, d. 1652.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?; H. B. (Henry Blunden)	1656 (1656)	Wing B3411A; ESTC R212985	753,539	662

brother and yet the Spirit sayth of him he is a ravening Wolfe who in the morning would devour the prey In this Testament of Benjamin is couched the most hidden secret figure of the whole Scripture and yet in its Type in the unfolding in the Effect and work it is the most manifest and open figure which is cleere in the fullfilling so that Men may see it with bodily Eyes and yet in their Reason are quite blinde concerning it 49. This figure is fullfilled and yet is in action and shall be yet also further fullfilled it is very secret and yet as manifest as a Sunshiny Day and yet is not understood but it is knowne to the Magi and Wisemen who indeed have written much concerning it but it hath not been yet rightly explicated while the time of the Evening when Benjamins spoyle shall be divided was far off but now it is neere therefore wee shall offer somewhat concerning it and hint the sence and meaning for those of our society to consider of and yet remaine as it were dumb to the unwise seeing they sit in the dark and open their Jawes onely after the spoyle 50. The two Brethren Joseph and Benjamin are the Image or Type of Christendome and of a Christian Man which in their figure are twofold viz. the Adamicall Man in his Nature is signified by Benjamin and the New Man out of the Covenant in the Spirit of Christ is signified by Joseph and the figure representeth how Christ hath assumed the Adamicall Man and that this Man is halfe Adamicall and halfe heavenly and that entirely in one person which cannot be divided 51. So also in this Image or Type he prefigureth Christendome and how they would receive Christ and become Christians viz. that in them Christ and also the Evill Wolfe Adam would governe that is when they would receive the Faith they would be so ravenous raving and zealous as a Wolfe and would draw the Heathen to them with power and Compulsion and yet would devour them that is whosoever will not above all hold the same Opinion with them they would presently fall on to Condemne that other Opinion and persecute it with warres the sword as a raging Lyon or Wolfe biteth and devoureth thus in zeale they would devour round about them with Excommunication and the sword and that therefore not because they are zealous in the Spirit of Christ but from the Wolfe of the Evill Adam which would alwayes set it selfe in Spirituall and Worldly States and polities above the Spirit of Christ. 52. Thus their Zeale would be only from the devouring Wolfe Men being more zealous under the Name of Christ for temporall Goods fatt livings good dayes and worldly honour then for Love Truth and Salvation they will not be zealous in the power of Christs Love but in the power of the devouring Wolfe Also in the Zeale of their accustomed Exercises and Worship wherein yet they would but play the hypocrites before God they themselves would devoure one another as covetous greedy Wolves and so outwarldly the Wolfe would Governe But yet inwardly in the true children Christ would governe Outwardly Benjamin viz. the Naturall Adam which indeed is also a Christian but it is first after his Resurrection when he is quitt of the Wolfe and Inwardly Joseph who is hidden under the Wolfe 53. And now the Spirit of Jacob in the Covenant of God pointeth at the Time shewing how it would be viz. in the first time of Christianity they would be zealous hunger after God in the Spirit of Christ and yet must hide themselves from their Enemies as a Wolfe that Men hunt as an Enemie 54. But when they shall be great and possesse Kingdomes that is when Christs Name shall come under the power and authority of Dan so that Lawes and Ordinances shall be made out of pretence of Christian Liberty and its Orders and Exercises shall come under worldly authority and dominion then will this Christendom be a Wolfe which will no more judge and proceed in the Love of Christ but whosoever will not call all their Belly Orders good and right those they would devour with the sword of Excommunication with fire and * * * Racha vengeance and would raise warres for Christs Name and for their superstitions and compell the people with power to the acknowledgement of Christ and devoure round about them as a Wolfe and alwayes hunt after the spoyle and yet for the most part entend to get the Goods and authority of strange and forreigne people to themselves 55. Thus would Benjamin in the Morning viz. in his rising up devour the prey and towards the Evening he would againe divide this devoured spoyle that is towards the End of the world when Josephs Government will get aloft againe so that Christ shall be wholly manifest and that this Wolfe shall cease then will Benjamin viz. the holy true Christendom divide the spoyle of Christ wherewith Christ hath suppressed Death and Hell 56. This dividing or distribution of the spoyle shall come and is already come and yet is not though it is really in Truth and the whole world is blinde concerning it except the children of the Mystery The Time is and is not and yet truly is when this prey and spoyle of Christ and also the Wolfes prey shall through Josephs hand be given into Benjamins hand and be divided and distributed 57. O Babell let this be a Wonder to thee and yet no wonder neither for thou hast nothing and seest nothing at which thou canst wonder as a young plant groweth from a Seede and becometh a great Tree which bringeth forth much faire fruit so that a Man would wonder at the Graine or seede how so excellent a Tree and so much good fruit hath lyen hid in one only Graine or seede which men neither knew of nor saw before But because Men have knowledge and experience thereof that it is possible that a Tree should come out of one graine or seede Men wonder not at it yet Men see not how it comes to passe or where that great power and vertue was so also at present Men see the Graine or Seede of the Tree well enough but Reason contemneth that and beleeveth not that such a Tree lyeth therein whence such good fruit should come that thereby the Kingdome of Benjamin at the End of Time shall be called a dividing or distribution of the prey and spoyle 58. But Joseph must first be a Governour in Egypt and then Benjamin cometh to him and then Joseph giveth him five Garments of sumptuous apparell and five times more foode from his Table then the other when the famine famisheth the Land and the soule of Jacob hungereth then know that God will thereby draw Israell into Egypt viz. into Repentance and then is the time of visitation and Benjamin carrieth his spoyling sword in his mouth But Josephs countenance smiteth him so that he cometh into great Terrour and feare of

introduced earthly will may dye in it 40. For the fire-soule viz. the first Principle hangeth upon the Band of the outward world and continually and eagerly introduceth Something of vanity into it whereby the virgin-childe of the Angelicall worlds Essence viz. of Christs essentiality is defiled obscured and darkned therefore it must be so refined purified and purged again and many a cold piercing rautish wind of tribulation Anguish and great perplexity bloweth upon this child it must be continually as an off-scouring of the world for its Kingdome is not of this world as Christ said my Kingdome is not of this world 41. But the effect is this when the fair morning Star doth dawn and arise in the virgin-child then the outward life is even illuminated Or while it ●ives here in this time and it giveth it selfe up unto the obedience of the Internall life as an instrument and Servant of the internall 42. And then the holy Spirit of God shineth forth through the virgin-child and preacheth Christ crucified and reproveth the world for its Sins and wicked malicious doings and shewes them their false hypocriticall erroneous way that they will needs be the children of God in the outward Kingdome in their selfe-contrived and devised wayes and will seeke an externall forgivenesse of Sin in their owne conceited and received wayes and yet will still remaine in the vanity and in the pleasure of their flesh and desire onely to make devout shewes before God and give good words in a soothing glozing glosse of fine hypocrisie as if they served God in their contrived Conjectures and Opinions but still they will continue in selfehood in the outward shew and Ostentation 43. These the holy Ghost doth rebuke and reprove by the Virgins child in Christs Spirit and calls them hypocrites and wolves in sheeps cloathing and crafty Foxes borne of the Serpents Ens in whom there is the very property of Toads Dogs and wilde Beasts and shewes them that they draw neer to God with their lips but their Heart is full of murther gall and Serpent-desire and hath no true upright Love-desire in it also it shewes them that they are but meer flatterers and dissemblers in their Office who onely seeke pleasure and Temporall Honour and Respect thereby that so they might be able to domineer and Lord it over mens bodies and Soules Goods and Estates and thus they serve God onely from without with hypocriticall mouthes but their heart hangeth to the whoredome of Babylon full of devillish murther and poyson against him that doth but touch their Conscience 44. Such children in the Serpents craft who are best able as cunning Crafts masters in Sophistry to turne this Suttlety most takingly and artificially the children of the world doe set up unto themselves for Teachers and will learne the way of God from them 45. These Teachers doe assume unto themselves and presume upon the writings of the Saints and proclaime with open mouth that they teach Gods word the holy Spirit is poured forth by their teaching and preaching and though their conscience doth even convince them that they are not capable of the Office of the Ministry and that they are in no wise the Temples of the holy Spirit who should teach in and by them yet they care not for that it brings them money and Honour Christ is gone up to heaven and hath placed and Ordained them to be Stewards and Vicars in his office they must compose and contrive their Doctrine out of the writings of the Saints and out of their Reason upon the Letter of the Scripture their heaping together and composing of the words in the forme of their Suttle Reason must be the voice of the holy Spirit they say the holy Spirit is thereby poured forth into the Hearts of men 46. And though they themselves be onely Cain and in their q q q Or composing of the texts or bare letter of Scripture litterall and Bookish rapsody in their Sermons doe cast forth a great deal of light lewd Cainicall scorne and brother-slaughter and oftentimes mix lies and truth together yet the holy Spirit must have taught and the Congregation must thanke God for such holy sound orthodox Evangelicall Doctrine as they call it and after their killing of their brother there they must also help with boldnesse courage and zeale to murther and slay Abel and the little childe Jesus in his members with words and deeds 47. Such Teachers the world sets up to learn the Kingdome of God from and whosoever can but lustily cavill censure and condemne others in their Gifts and propose it with fine Distinctions and suttle Arguments and cloath them with the mantle of Reason and hide the Wolfe which thereby murthereth and devoureth Christs flock under the purple mantle of Christ to him they give diligent attention for the fleshly Serpents Heart doth therewith sooth up and flatter it selfe in its evill property It hath even such an Artificiall nature and Constitution 48. Such Seed these Teachers chosen of men doe sow who onely desire the Calling for temporall Honour and pleasure but are not called of God and are also without divine knowledge and understand not what true divinity is they enter not by the doore of Christ but they come into place by the Election and favour of men through the means of their own willing walking and running these can no way be acknowledged for the shepheards of Christ for they are not borne of Christ and chosen to this Function and divine calling 49. They are onely the great Master-builders of Babylon where the Languages are confounded and men thereby set at ods and variance and they set up war and contention upon the Earth for they wrangle and jangle about the meer Husk viz. about the written word and Letter and they have not the living word of God dwelling in them from which they ought to teach the Spirit of Christ it selfe must be the teacher in the word with the living voice or Expression the Spirit r r r The humane Spirit of man must know and feelingly finde Christ in it otherwise none teacheth the words of Christ onely dumb sencelesse words without power and Spirit 50. Now the Spirit of Christ in his children doth reprove these and shewes them the true way viz. how we must dye wholly in Christs death to the selfehood and the false selfe-full desire of temporall pleasure and honour and be borne again of Christs Spirit with another new will and desire out of Christs s s s Or body Love in peculiar Reall knowledge and preach and teach Christ from our own peculiar and singular knowledge of him in our selves 51. This Babel in Cain cannot endure that one should teach that Christ himselfe must be the teacher in the humane Spirit they plead their Cause from the forewritten Apostolicall word and say if they teach the same then the Spirit of God is poured forth yes forsooth very right I say so

Opinions of Gods being and Essence and therein consists the Confusion viz. the Mystery of the great Babylon concerning which the Spirit of God did prophecie and declare out of the propheticall root both out of the Line of Christ how Christ should come to restore and remedy the poore captive soule and regenerate its right true life and also out of the Turba magna how this Beast together with the whore should be cast from the face of God into the fiery furnace 30. With this whore of Selfe all the false Spirituall * * * Clergicall and Ecclesiasticall ones or priesthood have cloathed themselves who set up themselves to be Teachers of the mystery of Gods Kingdome without Gods Spirit they have externally covered themselves with the propheticall and Apostolicall word and pleaded the Testimony of the Bible but they have introduced their own sense out of the Whores Ens thereinto and have hung in their heart to the babilonicall fleshly whore and have not understood the Propheticall and Apostolicall Tongue in its Sence 31. They have spoken from the sence of their owne beastiall selfe-hood through the propheticall and Apostolicall word and have brought and used Christs words to their own selvish babilonicall Harlottry and committed whoredome and likewise have Adorned and trimmed up their Bastard under Christs purpur-mantle with Silver Gold and pretious stones and also with worldly dignities Honours favour and riches 32. After these men have run and have even adored and esteemed them as Gods falling deeply in love with their Bastard although their hearts have never agreed or stood upon the onely true ground but have been at variance with each other and this is that of which the Prophet Daniel speaketh saying * * * Daniel 11. they shall honour a God whom their fathers knew not with Gold Silver and pretious stones and unto those that help them to strengthen their strange God * * * God of forces Maozim they will divide the Land for inheritance this whole chapter doth belong hereunto 33. Now when we consider aright what this babilonicall Towre is at present in Christs Kingdome upon the Earth and what it was under Moses and among the Gentiles then we finde very clearly that among all Three it is of one property and so also among the Turks and present Jewes every Nation builds it out of its own materialls for in the Right universall Sensuall tongue if it be manifest in one we are altogether but one onely people and Nation even from Adam 34. But the very cause that we are divided and brought into Opinions is by reason of our Master-builders and founders viz. of the high schooles Priests Popes Bishops Doctors also the Rabbies and Masters of all nations who are set as work-men to the building of the Towre all these have judged from their owne Language and naturall understanding viz. from their conceived and formed sensuall tongue from the outward letter and have indeed neither known God or the Light of nature but have been blinde and dumb as to both both the Jewes and Gentiles and also the Selfe-made Teachers of the Christians 35. Whosoever have run devoid of Gods spirit without divine understanding either among Jewes and Gentiles Christians and Turkes they have built onely this Towre in their own essence and the same is even a Towre of the great wonders of God of divine Contemplation both according to light and darknesse life and death joy and sorrow 36. Not that we are to understand that this Towre is not at all profitable before God it is even the great Mystery of Gods manifestation according to Love and Anger as God hath created out of the great mystery all manner kindes and sorts of Beasts Birds Wormes Trees and Hearbs evill and Good and that all to the manifestation of the Great wonders thus likewise the humane Tree hath brought forth such wonders out of its Sensuall tongue out of the multiplicity of the properties and introduced them into a Substance for its Growth and glory viz to the great Harvest of God where each property of Love and Anger Light and darknesse shall reap in it s own fruit and every thing shall possesse its heaven in it Selfe in its own formed and conceived Ens out of the onely word of God which hath given forth it selfe to every life even unto every life and Being according to its own proper quality and vertue according to and out of its Principle as an universall word to the glorious manifestation of Eternity 37. Now when we further consider of this Beast with the Whore what it is in it selfe within and without then we finde that it is the formed compacted word of the spirits of the Letters for men are all of one onely property as to their life all are begotten out of one flesh and Soul and have all but one onely kinde of life as a Tree in many boughes and branches where the boughes and twiggs doe not perfectly and wholly seeme alike or the same in forme but all have one onely Sapp and vertue so likewise the creature of mankinde among Jewes Christians Turks and Heathens 38. And the onely difference is this the spirits of the Letters in the formed word do sever us in the understanding else we live all alike in the four Elements and eat of the fruits of one Mother and remaine in her when we dye to this outward life 39. The compacted Sensuall tongue which is divided in the spirits of the Letters doth confound us and make us to erre so that we doe suppose we are strange one to another and yet we are all but one onely Tree which the Devill hath poysoned with his desire in Adam so that the equall Temperature or Accord was brought into distemper and discord whereupon the spirits of the Letters were variously made manifest so that we speak from many speeches that is we have introduced the powerfull word of God into the multiplicity of the divided properties and have made in each tongues property a Selfehood or a Self-ish desire to arrogation self-apprehension and assumption 40. Hence arise the contrarieties differences and * * * Text Images Opinions in that we have introduced the unformed word into the forme of our owne selfe-made Image now we contend and strive about these Images and conceits and every one supposeth his own to be best and when we bring all these Images and severall Semblances again into one Language and Speech and mortifie them then the Onely Quickning Word of God which giveth power and life to all things is again manifest and strife ceaseth and God is all in all 41. Therefore we say as we have found it in the Grace of the One that all mens Imaginations opinions and Knowings of God his being and will without the divine light or * * * The undoubted Unction of the holy Ghost illumination of the Spirit are this same whores Beast which is flown forth and arisen from the

powerfully without respect of any mans person and hath no Image or mentall Idoll in him for he teacheth from the Spirit of God even what the same spirit teacheth in him 55. But if he be a Master-builder of the Towre of Babel born of the spirit of the letters viz. of the disharmony or diversities then he is a hypocrite and flatterer a glozing fawner that will say any thing to please those that are gainfull and advantagious to him a soother of those that doe help to honour his Maozim and adorne his Letter-God in the divided tongues a scorner evill speaker and bold censurer of those that doe not honour him in his forme and Sect of religion a selfe-applauder ambitious proud and under a glistering shew of Religion and seeming holinesse a covetous malicious envious one putting forth himselfe with ostentation that so he may be knowne and honoured he will be applauded and set by of man attributes to himselfe understanding and wisdome and boasteth of wisdome and a rectified judgement and understanding and yet hath none of them but he is onely a builder on the Tower of Babel viz. of an externall figure and forme a painted Christian he will undertake to teach others and yet he himselfe was never taught of God he teacheth onely from the forme of the compacted spirits of the letter which have compacted themselves in evill and good he taketh these into his owne power and ability and compacts and sets the words together into an Opinion 56. And that opinion is the Towre of Babel and they which run after him and associate gather and binde themselves with him in the opinion are the City Babel viz. the children of Nimrod who will climbe and ascend up to heaven upon this Towre and are continually a climbing up their whole life yet come not to heaven in the opinion but when the time of the outward literall constellation is out then this built Towre falleth down viz. the outward man together with his opinion and all shatters and breaks to pieces even to the onely soul which then standeth naked and bare before God 57. Here is now no remedy unlesse that it hath the one onely spirit of the Sounding Letter viz. the enformed word of God in it so that it is able in its desire to attract and draw the same to it selfe and cloath it selfe therewith that the same doth cleave and break in pieces all the formed contrived compacted tongues and Images of the letters and introduce them into one onely tongue and will which is God all in all all things must enter againe into the ONE viz. into the universall in the multiplicity there is nothing but strife and disquietnesse but in the Onenesse there is an eternall Rest and no enmity or contrary will 58. Now when we doe truly consider againe what the Towre and the City Babel is in its formed Image upon the Earth and what and where it is then we find it clearly pourtrayed before our eyes that it is the great Houses of the Churches Cloysters Fortresses and also the strong walls and Towres of the Citties upon the earth wherein men hide themselves from force and power and in the Opinions play the Hypocrites before God in the Churches Cloysters and strong holds and cry unto him that he should receive and accept of them in their contrived framed and received opinion of the letter 59. What is all this an Idolatry and hypocricy An Antichrist with shew and glistering glory what doe men bring into this glozing hypocriticall Babilon nothing but Images mentall Idolls and selfe-contrived opinions forged out of the forme of the letter what doe men carry home with them from this hypocriticall specious house onely the Images of the letters into these Images and conceits the poore captive soule doth wrap it selfe which notwithstanding is full of fear doubting and trembling by reason of the conceived and received Image or opinion and is continually in feare least another people might break in upon its received framed Images and destroy and overthrow these its received Images and therefore men have made Fortresses Bulwarks and Towres and strong walls about their Cities and Churches that so they might defend themselves least the Towre upon which they would ascend up into heaven should be destroyed 60. Now saith reason these are indeed houses of meeting where men doe teach and instruct the simple and ignorant where men sing and pray c. lo externally in and among the literall men they are onely the Towre and City Babel but internally among the children of God in whom the Temple of God is where the Images and mentall Idolls are destroyed there is Christ that is in those who have pulled down and broken all Images and opinions in them and are entred through the conversion from Images and conceits onely and alone into the onely meere naked Grace Mercy and Free compassion of God and esteeme themselves as wholly unworthy empty Nothings and become as 't were dead in themselves willing or desiring nothing else save onely the meere purity of God in his Love-will and account themselves too unworthy of attributing or taking any thing to themselves and freely fall in deepest humilty into Gods tender mercy as if they were not and wholly cast their desires and wills into Gods compassion so that what he wills and doth in them that they also will and nothing else in these I say it is a house of teaching and an house of hearing a Temple of God where the Spirit of God teacheth heareth singeth and prayseth in the Soule for they are dead to all selfehood and selvish willing and weening and doe melodize with unity and onenesse of Spirit in the praise of God in the knowledge of the holy Ghost these are the Church of Christ. 61. But the rest have onely the Towre at Babel in the opinion in their conceits and Images these Idolls they carry with them into the Houses of stone and glory in them worship them and carry them again home with them and fight for them as if they had the living God in them and wage great warres for these Images laying Countrey and people waste and desolate and yet they are more foolish then the Birds in the air which doe all praise and honour God in one tongue and understanding for they are all without any Images whatsoever the great God doth with them therewith they are content 62. The humane Tree is onely one Tree if they continued in the one onely God who hath created them and did not make unto themselves Images who would set them at odds and variance about God they indeed * * * Acts 17.28 are and live in the one onely God and yet they contend and jangle about God 63. Wherefore doe they contend for the Idolls of their heart for the Stone-houses of the Churches and for the pride of the Images and forged opinions every one will honour his Image and set it up aloft as an high Towre

its Sword by them to destroy the heathen and the Generation of Ham Gen XIIII Verse 14. for Abraham went out with his whole house and people against the Heathen who had carried away Lot his brothers Son captive and he smote the heathen and delivered his brother This was done in the zeale of God which thus delivered his children through the might of his Anger for what conduceth to the wicked for destruction the same conduceth to the holy men for life and deliverance 15. But that those who will be called Christians who ought in and with Christ to be dead to the Anger and wrath of God in Christs death doe wage war they doe it not as Christians but as heathens No Christian warreth for if he be a Christian then he is dead in and with Christs death to the foure Elements of Gods Anger in Selfe and born a new man in Christs spirit of Love who liveth in Righteousnesse in Love and patience and liveth not to himselfe but to God in Christ. 16. For a true Christian leadeth his conversation and will in heaven in the life and Spirit of Christ as S t Paul saith our conversation is in heaven but when the Christians doe wage war they doe it from the heathenish property and not from Christs property for a Christian is not of this world his Kingdome is in heaven and he is dead in Christ to the world according to the new spirituall man in him the Heathen-man viz. the halfe-devillish man who hath his Kingdome in this world who never hath roome enough upon the Earth but liveth in the foure Elements of Gods Anger viz. in Pride Coveteousnesse Envy and Wrath the same desireth in the Christians to warre fight and slay 17. Saint Paul saith give your members to be weapons of Righteousnesse for why doe men fight for the Kingdome of this world Rom. 6.13 and yet as Christ said his Kingdome was not of this world James 4.1 so also his childrens Kingdome in him is not of this world Joh. 18.36 now then if we give up our body and Soule for weapons of Gods Anger and seek onely thereby Selfe interests liberties and priviledges of Mammon and slay one another for the Kingdome of this world I thinke we are herein Christians indeed in the mouth but the heart and Soul is an heathen and not born out of Christs Spirit 18. When Abraham had smote the heathen he desired nothing of the goods which he tooke but restored to the King of Sodom what the Heathen had taken from him and was onely zealous in the Lord he did not fight for Countrey and Kingdome but to deliver his brother Loth this was a true zeale which the Lord drove in him he did not stand up and fight for Countrey or City and albeit he obtained it he desired it not but went again unto his own place 19. And here the Spirit in Moses speaketh very wonderfully and saith that when Abraham returned from the Slaughter that the King of Sodome met him and Melchisedech King of Salem brought forth bread and wine who was a Priest of the most High God possessour of Heaven and of Earth and blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him Tithes And though we finde almost nothing elsewhere in the holy Scripture of this Priesthood yet the same was really in the figure of Christ for the Spirit saith in another place of Christ that he was an High Priest in the order of Melchisedech 20. Thus the Spirit of God doth very secretly and mystically represent the Figure of Christ by Abraham and calleth him a King of Salem and a Priest of the most High God viz. a Priest of Salvation and the holy Vnction as it intimates in the SenSAll Tongue that is Christ hath blessed Abraham and brought him forth bread and wine viz. his flesh and bloud and is the high Priest before God that makes Atonement for Abraham and his children 21. For Abraham had managed the Sword of Gods Anger against the Heathen now came Melchisedech and blessed Abraham againe least the Sword of the Turba should lay hold on him and he gave him forth bread and wine that is the heavenly Ens which he would introduce into Abrahams Seed and change it into flesh and bloud and here he appeased the Fathers Anger in the Covenant as in the Type 22. For this Priest with Abraham is really to be understood in a spirituall manner for although Abraham might have externally a Priest after the same manner with him under the figure of Christ yet Moses saith he was a Priest of God and said to Abraham blessed art thou Abraham unto the most High who possesseth heaven and earth who hath shut up thine Enemies into thy hands here is none other to be understood but Christ who very often appeared to Abraham in the figure and blessed him alwayes for the Spirit in Moses calleth him also a King of Salem which is nothing else but a King of Salvation 23. And Abraham gave him Tithes indeed he might have such a Priestly Order with him to whom he gave Tithes but this King and Priest was he of whom he preached to whom Abraham gave tithes viz. the Tenth Property of the humane properties of the fiery tongue of the Soule and the Priest gave his bread and wine and his blessing thereinto viz. the Love-fire the Tincture of the light together with the heavenly Substantiality that so Abraham might receive the lights Tincture into the Soules fiery Tincture and become again a compleat Image of God which was separated in Adam with the woman therefore Christ viz. the womans Tincture gave him againe the lights Ens that so the male and female property might become one Image or person this the Spirit doth here signifie in Moses under the Royall Priest of Salem 24. For Esdra when he dictated the lost Bible in the knowledge of the Spirit of God to his Scribes saw this very well Note Esdra dictated the Bible that was Lost. 2 Esdra 14. and therefore the holy Spirit doth so set it down and we see very exactly how Esdras wrote the hystories of Abraham in the vision of the Spirit for the whole hystory of Abraham is delineated under Christs Person and is an Image or Type of Christ. 25. Abraham saw in the Spirit this Priest of Salem and when Abraham offered Sacrifice then this Priest was in the offering and offered to God for he was to make reconciliation for the world with an offering therefore he was a Priest of God 26. He brought Abrahams will-offering viz. his prayer and desire in faith into the holy Ens of God and in the same Ens viz. in the divine Essentiality heavenly bread and wine was brought to Abrahams Soul that it might eat at Gods Table till this Priest became Abraham that is did manifest himselfe in Abraham with the heavenly Corporeity viz. with the Soules food in the Right bread and wine CHAP. XXXIX How God appeared to

Jesus Christ viz. the new man who liveth in Righteousness and purity before God who walketh in humility and in the simplicity of Christ And his Ministers are such as doe declare the peace in the love of Jesus Christ who labour that the deflowred Dinah might be married with Sichem and that Hemor and Sichem with their males might also become Christians who leave the sword in its sheath and teach with the meeke and gentle Spirit of Jesus Christ And shew instead of the murthering sword the Spirit of cleansing how this defloured Dinah might get Christian honour again and be married to her Bridegroom 19. Behold O Christendom the Spirit hath set this before thee in the figure of the Twelve Patriarchs and signifieth that thou wouldest doe thus Not that thou shouldest doe it Though this Strife must come that the true children of Christ might be exercised and made manifest otherwise if no Strife did arise among the Christians all wicked men could appeare as Christians but the Strife maketh it manifest that the false ground of verbal Christians is brought to light and they are distinguished from the true children of Christ which will be also a witness against them at the Last day of Judgement 20. Mans true Christianity standeth in the inward ground of the Soule in the ground of man not in the ostentation and fashions of this world but in the power of well-doing in the spirit and Conscience 21. The strife wherewith a true Christian striveth is onely the Spirit of Righteousness which casteth away from it the falshood and wickedness in flesh and bloud and suffereth and indureth all things willingly for Christs sake who dwelleth in it that it may not live to it selfe and please it selfe and have satisfaction in it selfe and Triumph with the earthly Lucifer but that he please God his Creatour in Christ Jesus 22. He hath nothing in this world to strive for for nothing is his owne for in Christ he is not of this world but as the Scripture saith * * * Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in heaven all things for which and wherewith he striveth is about the earthly voluptuous fleshly Lucifer in the mortal flesh and bloud for Christ saith † † † Joh. 18.36 His Kingdome is not of this world so also a Christians Kingdome so farr as he is a Christian is not of this world But in Christ in God 23. Therefore now all the strife of Christians is onely about their Dinah viz. about their fleshly whoredome A Christian ought not to strive otherwise then in Spirit and power against the wayes of unrighteousness and falshood 24. Outward warre that Christians make is Heathenish and is done for the beastial mortal man's sake for immortality cannot be attain'd or kept with the sword and forces but with Prayer with entring into the feare of God But the earthly Lucifer striveth about the Belly and about worldly honour and pleasure wherein Christ is not but it is the defloured Dinah where men make warrs about the houses of stone and temporal goods and thereby declare that the spiritual virginity in the Spirit of Christ is made a whore who playes the harlot for the kingdome of this world 25. Hearken all yee who call your selves Apostles of Christ hath Christ sent you to fight and to make warr that you should strive about temporary goods and outward power and glory Is that your authority John 20. When he gave you the sword of the Spirit did he command you that Hath he not sent you to make knowne the peace which he hath brought us What will he say to you when he shall see that your Apostolick heart hath put on Armour and that you have instigated your worldly Kings and Princes to the sword and warrs and have allowed them that as of Christian liberty Will he finde you thus in his Ministery doe you that as the Disciples of Christ 26. Are you not the Apostles of the Anger of God Whither will you goe with your Reproach do you not see that as to Christ who hath taught you peace you are become forsworne or perjured Harlots Where is your Christian virginity have you not with Dinah squandred it away in worldly pleasure What will Christ say to you when he shall come againe † † † Mat. 8.20 Luk. 9.58 Who on earth had not whereon to lay his head when he shall see your pomp state and glory in such Palaces and Colledges which you have built in his Name for which upon earth you have made warrs 27. When have you striven about the Temple of Jesus Christ Have you not alwayes striven about your Colledges or Palaces and about your owne Lawes wherein you have lived in Opinions and disputed about those Opinions What need hath Christ thereof Christ bestowes himself upon his children substantially in a living manner to dwell in them and will give them his flesh for food and his bloud for drink What needeth he opinions that men should strive about him who and what he is 28. When I consider a true Christian then I understand that Christ is and dwelleth in him what meanes then your outward worship of God Wherefore doe you not serve him in your hearts and consciences He is present within you and not in the solemnity and ostentation of outward things yee have the sword of the Holy Ghost by right with that you should strive Use you the Power of the true Apostolick Churches and not the sword of Mans hand 29. The Excommunication is your sword but yet it must be used in the power of the Holy Ghost in Divine zeale against the wicked and ungodly and not for that purpose to maintaine humane Inventions and fictions that a man must call your spiritual whoredome in opinions a chast virgin as for a long time the Babylonish Church hath used it to such a Power 30. All outward Ceremonies without the inward ground that is without Christ's Spirit and co-operation is whoredom in the sight of God that a Man will approach to God without Christ the Mediatour for none can serve Christ but a Christian where the Spirit of Christ it selfe co-operateth in the Service but how will he serve Christ that holdeth in one hand the Cup of Christ and in the other hand the sword of selfe-Revenge Christ must in a Christian overthrow sin by his Spirit and not the Fathers fiery sword in the Law of severe Righteousnesse 31. O ye children of Simeon and Levi the Spirit at Jacobs End hath signified concerning you that your swords were murtherous that Christ is not in your Councills as Jacob sayth My soule that is the Covenant and Grace of Christ be thou not in their Churches and Congregations nor in their Councill Read the 49 th of Genesis where the Councill of the Pharisees and Scribes who institute themselves Pastours without the Divine Calling is thereby signified 32. All spirituall whoredome proceeds from hence that Christs Ministers possesse worldly Power

the affliction of Joseph shall not be avenged behold in thy miserable Famine and distresse when thou shalt hunger and thirst even then thou must make thy Adresse and supplication to him the high Towre will give thee neither comfort nor deliverance the Time is come about that Josephs Affliction is to be Avenged and Reubens whoredome with Jacobs Concubine is come before Israel 32. Why makest thou such long delay and flatterest thy selfe playing the Hypocrite and saist not yet a good while behold it is come before the Eyes of Israel that thou hast committed whoredome a long time with the Concubine and defiled the line of Christ Israel will no longer endure it thou shalt with Reuben be cast out of the high Office of Sacrificing and Governing This is the voyce which the watchmen have pronounced 33. ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 37.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. When Joseph had had the two Dreames the one of his sheaf standing upright before which the sheafes of his brethren bowed the other of the Sun Moon and Eleven Starrs which had done obeysance to Joseph Envy forthwith arose amongst them and they supposed he would be their Lord and being that they were the Eldest they desired to rule over Him 34. Whereby we see how the outward man hath onely sought and aimed at the Kingdome of this world which was even the bane and undoing of Adam in that he forsook the inward and sought after the outward 35. * * * Gen. 37.3 Josephs party-coloured Coat which his father made signifieth how the inward power of God would again be revealed through the outward man whereby the humane nature would be variously coloured that is mixed with God as the inward spirituall Kingdome with the outward The Spirituall Christian figure is thus to be understood 36. Joseph with his Coat of many colours was as yet a Ladd both tender and young and had not yet the wit craft and suttlety of the world but spake the truth in simplicity for his soul was not yet defiled from without with the craft of lying and the Spirit of God began to † † † Work act or move in him drive him forward for his Coat of many colours was a figure of the inward 37. This figure prefigureth and representeth to us the Image of a true young Schollar and beginner in Christianity how he must be when the Spirit of God shall drive and act him namely he must turne his heart to God his Father and learn to love him heartily As Joseph loved to be with his father and told him the evill that was committed among his children so must a beginner in Christianity daily bring before God all his own miseries and the miseries and sins of all that belong to him yea of all Christendome As Daniel confessed the sins of the People of Israel before God and Joseph the evills of his brethren before his father so also a true Christian doth daily confesse the misery and sin of his People and Nation in hearty Compassion that God would be mercifull to them and preserve them from Great Evills and Sins 38. And when this is brought to passe his heart becometh very simple honest and upright for he desireth no craft but would fain have all things proceed righteously and justly and he cannot abide any unrighteousnesse or suttle dealings for he alwayes confesseth the peoples unrighteousnesse before God and thus his minde becometh altogether simple and seeketh no kinde of craft or suttlety but putteth his hope and confidence in God and liveth in the simplicity and lowlinesse of heart before God and the world and he is as the tender young ladd Joseph for he hopeth for good continually from God his Father 39. Now when a man is come so far then Joseph viz. the chast virgin childe of Sophia is even born then God his father cloathes his soul with the party-coloured coat viz. with the divine power and forth with the Spirit of God in him beginneth to play with the soul as he did with Joseph for the Spirit of God seeth through the soul and with the soul as Joseph in the Type saw things which were to come represented to him in the vision of dreames whereby the Spirit did also play with the soul even so the Spirit of God doth forthwith take delightfull communion with the soul of a new Joseph viz. with the inward spirituall world so that the soul understandeth divine mysteries and seeth into the Eternall life and knoweth the hidden world which yet is to be revealed in man as this Pen hath found by Experience from whence it hath received its Spirit of knowledge 40. Now when this man beginneth to speake of divine things and visions of the hidden worlds divine mysteries and speaketh forth the wonders of God that his brethren viz. the children of the outward world in whom the hidden spirituall world is not yet manifest do heare it they count it a meer fable and a melancholly Chimera and whimsey and esteem him foolish in that he speaketh of those things which they cannot understand and comprehend they make a meer Phancy and Fiction of it also they account it some Astrall instigation or false Enthusiasm or the like especially if he revealeth and reproveth their evill workes and wayes as Joseph did then they turn his open Enemies and grudge him his very life as hapned to Joseph 41. Now when it is thus Reason beholdeth it selfe at a stand as if it were confounded and knoweth not the wayes of God viz. that it must be thus with the children of God it thinketh thou seekest God and he bringeth thee into distresse and misery thus this man doth now wander up and down as Joseph wandred in the * * * Or Field Wildernesse when his father sent him to his brethren to see how it was with them 42. So it goeth likewise with Gods new children when Gods Spirit sendeth them to be zealous about the affliction of Joseph and the world doth every way hate and persecute them for it then they thinke in the Reason of this world dost thou not goe in the wayes of God wherefore then doth it goe so with thee that thou art but the fool of the world and then the Minde beginneth to be troubled and knowes not how it is with it for he heareth that he is every where accused for a frantick wicked person and hated for the young minde in flesh and bloud understandeth not the divine processe viz. how reason must become a fool and how Christ doth very willingly take upon himselfe in man the reproach and scorn of the Devill and of the world and how Gods righteousnesse and Adams propagated Guilt must be alwayes fullfilled with suffering how a Christian must stand in Christs figure 43. And now when it comes to be thus then Reason goes truely a wandering in great sorrow and desertion with Joseph in the wildernesse and is every way in distresse and yet he must performe his