expected in me and so how much I want of the Infinite effect of being able to dwell with the Eternall Burnings I may well account my self one of the unworthiest of the children of Men John Sparrow The First APOLOGIE To Balthazar Tylcken Being An Answer of the Authour concerning his Book the AVRORA Opposed by an Enemicitious Pasquil or Opprobrious Libel This Answer Written Anno 1621. By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. A brief and well intended Answer of the Authour concerning his Book AVRORA against the enimicitions Pasquil or Libel in respect of some opposed and falsly recited Articles or Conclusions and ill-understood by this Libeller 1. INto what Calamity Misery Anxiety and great Perplexity we are plenged by the heavy fall of Adam is dayly demonstrated in that we have not only thereby obscured and darkened our Noble Image so that we cannot any more see or apprehend the Divine Light unlesse we become borne of God againe but also we have thereby awakened and made stirring in US the Originall fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature so that the fierce wrath venome and poyson thereof is become Springing up and burning in us 2. Which is rightly called GODS Anger-Fire which should not become stirring and Manifest but continue shut up in the Center for it should remaine shut up in the Love in the Divine Light and be only a cause of Life and Mobility 3. Which so long as it remaineth shut up in the Light is a Spring or Fountaine of Joy and Knowledge but if the Light Extinguisheth is an Evill Opposite Poyson wherein nothing qualifyeth or operateth but meere self Enmity or Hatred where instantly all Love and desire of Good hath an End 4. As we poor Children of Eve must now feele in us with great paine sorrow and Misery how that fierce wrath stirreth driveth and vexeth us so that now we no more converse one with another in Love as Children of God but very venomously spitefully hatefully murtheringly and enimicitiously doe maliciously persecute dispise slander and reproach also rob Murther and doe all manner of Evill and alwayes wish death fierce wrath and all Evill one to another 5. Which great Misery and Evill is sufficiently to be traced in this Libell and out of what manner of Mind knowledge and Will it is flowen forth in that he undertakes not only to Misconstrue the words but also to wrest the whole understanding into a false meaning or sense and to pronounce the Authour to be a Devill and in a very vaunting reproachfull spitefull Malicious and Odious manner likeneth the Authours Will or Intent thought or sence and mind to the Devill without any knowledge of him who he is how he is or what Spirit 's Child he is whether he seeks God or this World 6. Thus he takes upon him to infinuate his innate poyson into the Heart thought or sense and Will or intention of the Authour all which is very horrible lamentable and Miserable in that he knoweth not himself or from what Mind his Zeal proceeds and in whose driving he runneth 7. He cannot see that his whole writing is a meer venomons Pasquil or Libel and Evill meaning or intention for though that which is spoken is not reproveable by him yet he can not leave it unreproached whereby a man may cleerly see out of what Spirit and Mind it is flowen forth and how the miserable fierce wrath hath ruled in him and yet he dares set in his Title that it is Christian-like and well intended 8. But if he would set any thing better in the room of it it might indeed be born with But I can find in all his Writing no Divine Knowledge and Light which yet he highly boasteth of as if he had an enlightened Mind and Thoughts and were Exercised therein 9. An Enlightened Mind or thoughts if the Light be from God proceedeth friendly and lovingly and instructeth a Man what he should Doe and leave undone it owneth others in a brotherly Duty it hunteth not Mens Minds into the Jawes of the Devill but they are Gentle in reproving and teaching with Good instruction They reprove in Generally they catch not hold of a Man Privately particularly and Singly and make not a Den of Theevery or Murther by the Good Way side 10. An Enlightened Mind which hath Exercised Thoughts as the Libeller would seem to have knoweth the Gifts of God that they are without End or Number that God Leadeth his Children Wonderfully and giveth to one a Divers gift to Expresse than to another as the Apostle also witnesseth the same 11. That God giveth to one from the gift of his Spirit to do Miracles or Wonders to another to interpret Tongues to a Third to Prophesie to a Fourth to speak with Tongues c. and all from the One only Spirit of God which thus speaketh from the Great Wonders of the eternall Wisdome of God and thus Driveth and teacheth the Children of God that the unmeasurable Wisdome of God may appear in his Children 12. If the Spirit of God ruleth in a Man then he is NOT Crafty suttle Deceitfull trecherous Lying astonishing ambitious but reproveable teachable and Meek he is not thorney prickley Misconstruing and vainly frivolous he suddenly apprehends what is in a Man and from what Spirit he Speaketh For the Spirit of God it self knoweth it self very well in a Man it needeth no Witnesse it tryeth the Heart and the Reins Soul and Body it speaketh the Truth and disgraceth or reproacheth no man it drives on all to that which is good and proveketh Men to Righteousnesse 13. But this whole Libell or Pasquil is nothing Else but a Misconstruing poysoning and disgracing he draweth the Scripture by the hair of the Head and corrupteth it that he may but take occasion to prick with Thorns besides he hath no right understanding of the Scripture that must serve him as he will have it meane that he may therewith satisfie his fierce wrath and bring it as fuell to his ficrce Fire that it may burn farre and neere and so make shew of his Deep knowledge though he should thereby tread his Brother Abel under his feet 14. And yet his knowledge which he hath here brought forth to the Day Light Concerning GODS Will is as to one part in Bibell and he largely buildeth the Babylonish Tower therewith as it shall be set before his eyes which for my part I doe unwillingly but now necessity requires I must doe it 15. Not for my own sake but for the sake of those whom he hath kindled with his envious fire and poysoned and hath insinuated into them very Erroneous Opinions especially concerning Gods Election of Grace therefore it behoveth me to cleere my meaning how I have apprehended it in Divine knowledge and how also it
in Gods representing 293. For in God that which is done and past and that which is to come is all one And therefore was the New Regeneration out of Christ reckoned or imputed to the Children of the Covenant as iif they stood already in the New Body of Christ as if Christ had already drowned the Anger with his bloud-shedding and that the Life were already become Generated out of Death againe 294. For that very Life out of the Limit or Mark stood in Gods Imagination and with the Promise in Paradise it set it self therein that very Life was Promised to Abraham that it should be awakened againe in his seed Not in a strange seed as the Libeller conceiteth but in the seed of the Noble Image which out of the Heavenly Substantiality out of the Second Principle was together given to Adam for a Body 295. And yet with the Entrance of the Soul into the Earthlynesse was become shut up in the still Death as in the Nothing and that should againe sprout out of Death and therein rise againe and be borne A New Man in holinesse innocency and Righteousnesse it should againe be put on to the Soul 296. Understand it highly and aright The Life of God in the Covenant of the Limit or Mark which in Mary assumed the humanity that very Life must from Christ enter into us understand into our disappeared Image shut up in Death That is the Graine that is sowen into the Dead disappeared Substantiality that draweth that humane Essence again to it and becometh again the Life of that Image 297. Thus the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch groweth up which first is small as a Graine of Mustard-seed as Christ saith and afterwards becometh as large as a Bay Tree That is the True New Regeneration out of Christ 298. My Libeller put you other Eyes into your Bride and look upon the Old Testament and the Covenant of Promise with or as to Adam and Abraham rightly doe not imbitter the Scripture and drag it not about by the Haire of the head in a strange understanding Your Meaning or Opinion Obscureth the Noble Lilly or Branch which now should sprout or Grow out of the Mother or Roote much more then it doth serve to the promoting of its growth 299. If you would Judge in this Mystery then must you be born againe in Christ you must see out of Christs Eyes if you would apprehend the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum but if you were born of Christ then you would not be a Mote Judger but a loving Brother 300. Christ bids you not condemne but meekly to converse and friendly Instruct not to wrangle or scoffe or pronounce Men to be in the Jawes of the Devill My friend you are yet very blinde concerning the kingdome of Christ I will rightly shew you the Doore of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ as it is given to me from the Grace of God in the Love of Christ 301. Not through my understanding but in my resignation in Christ from Christs Spirit From Christs Spirit have I conceived or received the knowledge the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum I have not studied in your Schoole I have knowne nothing of that neither have I sought it in that way I sought only Gods Heart and more is come to me then I sought or understood 302. Therefore if you would be brother in Christ put your Bucks-hornes off and then we may see one another with right Eyes and a modest Mind and instruct one another in the Feare of God 303. Such Surlynesse and Scorne is Babel the Mother of Tyranny and Great spirituall whoredom whence Warres and Strise is arisen at all times your Libell is only a Bloudy provocation and a scoffing an unseemly puffed up Pride a Cainish property goe out from it if you would see the richly Amiable countenance of Christ in the Holy Ternary in Ternario Sancto if you would see the Wonder-Branch of the hidden LILLY which at present Sprouteth out of the Roote of the Tree 304 If you would grow and sprout with the Noble Lilly Branch out of the Old Tree you must bring an humble Heart and so you must stand in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ if you would grow spring or sprout and speak out of or from God 305. For None know any thing of God but only the Spirit of Christ which is in God the Some in the Bosome of the Father searcheth out in our spirit even the Depths of the Deity Our spirit must stand in the Spirit of Christ if we we would understand the Divine Mysterie 306. It is not enough for Men to put together or collect a heap of Scripture Texts and Make an Opinion and Meaning out of them no my Friend Opinion doth it not but the Living Word where the Heart experienceth the certainty therein Consisteth Faith in the Holy Spirit 307. In Opinions there is meere Doubting whether it be right or not Out of Opinions is the Antichrist Generated If we would speak of God then we must speak from or out of the Spirit of Christ which alone knoweth what God is or else we are very Lyars 308. Christs Spirit must speak out of us of the Divine Mysterie else we speak out of the Babel of Confusion Christ is in our right humane Essence understand in Adams Essence become Man not in the Essence of the Starres and Elements but in the Essence of the One Element through which before the fall Paradise grew or sprouted in Adam 309. When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary he Saluted her and sayd Haile Graciously Amiable the Lord is with Thee Thou blessed of all Women thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body and beare a sonne whose name thou shalt call JESUS 310. Here it hath not that understanding as the Libeller Explaines it that Mary was borne out of God before-hand Ere Christ in her became Man No Christ is the first from the Dead he first kindled the Life in Death only the Limit or Mark stood in Mary that was the Blessing For in the Limit or Mark was the Living Word and the Spirit of God Surrounded and Cloathed with the Noble Virgin of the Wisdome of God in the Divine Substantiality 311. When the Angel sayd thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body And shee the Virgin Mary thereupon said Behold I am the Maid-servant of the Lord be it done unto me as thou hast said then the Life in the Limit or Mark of the Covenant viz the Heart of God moved in Maryes in Death included Essence That word was cloathed or surrounded with divine Substantiality out of the Water of Eternall Life generated out of the Meeknesse of the Light of the Majesty of God 312. And in that Substantiality was the Tincture out of the Fire and Light of God which is the Glance or Lustre and Ornament of the Substantiality 313. And in the Tincture was the Chast
the Father of the House Beelzebub what will they doe to those of his Houshold faith Christ When they persecute you and hate you for my Names sake then doe you rejoyce for great is your Reward in the Kingdome of Heaven 620. Men say an Enemies Mouth never speaks Good there is nothing so Evill but some men make it worse My Book is not Evill it meddles with none only thou makest it Evill thou expoundest it in an Evill sence and my sence was right and Good when I made it 621. Thou fayest there is an evill spirit in me if there were a good spirit in thee then thou wouldst make the Evill to be Good and wouldst not pervert all 622. Gods Spirit seeketh only Good he contends with none he Loveth Man and where he is in a Man there he driveth on to Love and Humility towards his Neighbour he Teacheth and instructeth Gently and Meekly he lifts not up the Horns also he comes not with Thunder and Ligntning as the Anger in the Fathers Nature upon Mount Sinai and with Elias did but with a still meek Voyce as at the day of Pentecost 623. God hath in Christ regenerated us in the Love not in his fires property that we should meet together one with another with a Modest and amiable condiscention and behaviour in a friendly Will and intention and heartily admonish one another as brethren 624. We should help up the weak and erroneous and friendly instruct them in the way and not from the narrow path plunge them into the Water or else cast them into Gods Anger in Hell-fire as the Libeller doth where he saith Hell Fire is thine 625. Christ saith Whosoever saith unto his Brother thou Fool he is guilty of Hell Fire or Raiha he is guilty of a Councill what is he worthy or guilty of who calleth his Brother a Devill and judgeth or condemneth him to Hell fire O Man Consider thy self convert from such uncouth Paths 626. We have indeed here is this valley of Misery before hand in the way of our Pilgrimage a very small narrow Bridge into Gods Kingdome why should we our selves first throw one another down doth one goe astray then let the other shew him the way let us deal one by another as Brethren 627. We all are born blind now then if sight be afforded us of Grace why then doth not one Brother afford Eyes to the Other Every one seeth as God hath favourably afforded him according as sight is given to him why will one brother hate the other for the sake of that because he knoweth not what the Lord hath given to him 628. O how Miserable is this Time of Ours how the Devill hunteth for us with Snares and Nets so that one Brother reproacheth dispiseth contemneth and slayeth the Other that he may captivate us in Gods Anger How doth he not afford us the high honour which he had but lost it with Pride 629. Dear Brethren beware of Pride especially those that are generated out of much Learning Knowledge it is the Pride of Reason and it is Mans worst Enemy it hath set up nothing but Wars and contemning of others 630. Syrach saith The higher thou art the humblyer behave thy self Pride goeth before a Fall Our Reason-knowledge is folly if Gods Spirit in us kindle not the knowledge if I knew all Scriptures outwardly and had not the Spirit of understanding what were my knowledge other then a Conceit 631. That is not Divine knowledge that any confirm an Opinion with many Texts of Scripture collected and put together for every Text hath its proper understanding in the place it standeth according to the Matter treated of oftentimes it signifieth much otherwise then the purpose it is drawn by one for to HIS Opinion 632. The Right knowledge standeth in this where any will Judge there his knowledge in him should be confirmed from the Spirit of God it must goe forth from the Center and not from a strange Mouth 633. Or dost thou suppose that Gods Spirit hath ceased to speak or that it is Dead so that the Spirit which moveth in Gods seeing dare not say any more Thus saith the Lord. 634. The Spirit sheweth it what it should speak only it bewares and defends it self from the intermixture of the Spirit of this World and from the Imagination of the Devill that the right humane will spirit which goeth forth out of the souls fire into the Light be not infected with its Malignity or Curse 635. There is no better Medicine or Antidote then the Desire of Love and the Humility so long as it goeth on and judgeth in Love and Humility in the seeing of the Divine Power so long is his Word GODS WORD for it is approved by the Spirit of God it goeth upon the wings of the Wind in the pure humane will-spirit as David saith The Lord Rideth upon the Wings of the Wind. 636. You find by no Prophet or Apostle that any hath spoken from anothers Mouth but from his own Gift somtime the Spirit hath brought in a Text and thereby cleered other Scriptures but the Maine Matter hath been set downe out of his own Spirit and Mouth 637. Who hath prohibited us that we should not dare to speak out of the Gifts of our Spirit but that we should only speak with a strange Mouth from our Spirit as the Libeller would have it 638. Who hath made a Law that a man should take away the Speech from the Spirit and change it into another Forme but even the Antichrist who hath set himself to be Lord over Gods Spirit and hath changed the Mouth of the holy Children into his Colour and Will 639. Indeed the High Apostles have not commanded it but they said Keep in Remembrance JESUS CHRIST who dyed for us and rose againe and did bid us Teach and Preach that they have barred up the Spirit of no Man or commanded his Tongue to be altogether changed into THEIR Words They have all of them indeed spoken together every one out of his own Tongue and yet out of ONE Spirit which was CHRISTS 640. We have still at this very Day the very SAME Spirit if so be we are born or generated out of HIM dare it not then now speak what is Necessary at this Time what is the Cause that the Center of the Holy Trinity Manifesteth or Revealeth it selfe even Mens Seeking their Desiring 641. Men strive now about the Person of Christ about Gods Election and Men raise Wars and reproaches about it and that Gods Love will have no more to be and he will rather manifest or reveale himself that Men should yet see what he doth and so goe out from strise about Gods Will into a right Apostolick life and no more contend about the knowledge as is done hitherto for a long time in Babel 642. But that now thus a simple Mouth must speak such great Things and NOT one highly Learned Ask
out of the Divine substantiality into the Earthly into the Stars and four Elements 213. Thus the Image became Earthly and fell among the Murtherours who smote it and wounded it and left it lying half dead thus Adam went out of Jerusalem toward Jericho as Christ said 214. The Stars and Elements put on to the Body the fierce wrathfull earthly Cloaths or Garments of their Essence and substantiality and the Dark-world gave to the souls fire also its fierce wrathfull severe or earnest and stern source or quality and now the Souls fire burned in that fierce wrathfull property and so God and the Kingdome of Heaven was Lost for the Divine Image disappeared or vanished and the Earthly began to appear the Outward Fiat gat the predominancy 215. As soon as Adam was overcome by the Spirit of this World then he fell into sleep viz. into the outward Magia which signifieth or resembleth Death for the outward Kingdome hath beginning and End and must break off from the Inward THAT is its Death for the outward Life goeth again into its Mother out of which it is proceeded viz into the Mystery of the Stars and Elements and the Inward Life of the Soul continueth in the Dark world viz in the Eternall Nature whence it is Originated 216. Therefore the Regeneration from or out of the Heart of God is necessary for us that the Dark Souls fire shut up in the fierce Wrath and Anger might conceive or receive Divine substantiality againe that its Light might shine again 217. And THAT is it which I wrote in my BOOK That all was shut up in the Anger Till the Prince of Light out of the Heart of God came and became a Man in Nature and wrestled in the Power of the Light in the Wild Nature 218. By Nature the Author understood the Eternall Soulish Nature the Center of Nature which in the Soul after the Image became Earthly became Wilde and Strange as to the Divine World 219. And Adam and all his Children must needs have continued Eternally in the wild Nature and in the Anger and fierce wrath of God if the Prince of Light out of Gods Heart had not come and put upon the Souls Fire Divine Substantiality that is the Garment or Body of Angels again if Gods Word or Heart it selfe had not become Man Here follow the Pasquils or Libellers Suppositions 220. Now the Libeller sets it down thus and he understand the Authour will thereby make CHRIST as to his Innocent or Immaculate Holy Pure Humanity Naturall and thereby prepare an Entrance and way for his Seduction from God to Nature and Creature especially and because as a Beaten and Expert Spirit he knoweth that this Tree of Life will hence forward discover his Root out of which he is grown but hath hitherto been covered with Earth and will put an End to that his Secret Mystery whereby he may bring to the people a Root which bears Gall and Wormwood and still seduce many from Christ and catch them in his Net 221. The Scripture saith of our wild humane Nature thus That we are all by Nature the children of wrath And the Naturall Man perceiveth not that which is of the Spirit Is Christ become a Man in the wild Nature then he was by Nature vaine or corruptible as all other Men. And how then hath he revealed the Mystery of God of which the Naturall Man knoweth and understandeth Nothing could he pay our Debts and offer an acceptible sacrifice for us and reconcile us to the Father 222. With these sayings this Spirit obscureth the distinction between the heavenly pure and the Earthly perished Corrupt impure Birth and Nature Also between the Womans Seed and the Serpents Abraham's and Adam's Seed and will frame for us A Naturall Christ in whom is Good and Evill Light and Darknesse Yes and No and set our Salvation on a Gog. But the Scripture discovereth his falshood and Groundlesnesse and faith That not all Abraham's Seed are also therefore Children but in Isaac shall thy Seed be called and not in Adam Cain Ishmael and Esau The Children of the Promise are accounted for the Seed 223. He saith not through the Seeds as through many but as through One through thy Seed which is Christ out of which viz out of the Eternall incorruptible Seed the Living Word of God all Children of the Promise are born as the Dew out of the Morning 224. For as his Children are not born of Bloud nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God So also according to his Humane Flesh he cannot be born of Adam's Naturall but of Abraham's promised Seed which he himself is nor be of less Discent and Honour then his children are seeing they all come from ONE both that which sanctifieth and they that are sanctified 225. Which Seed is not a Naturall Adamicall but a Supernaturall Heavenly Seed wherein God and Man is united God in Man and Man in God out of which Mary as a Daughter of the Promise even according to her Flesh must aforehand be born e're Christ had assumed his body in her as the Holy Apostle saith cleerly that Christ proceeded from the Father according to the Flesh to whom belonged the Filiation the Glory of the Covewant the Law the Oracles Ordinances or Worship of God and the Promise which Promise belongeth Not to Abraham's Naturall but to Abraham's Seed of Faith Hitherto the Libeller 226. Are not these high inducing Vaunting Speeches How should a simple Man be otherwise then lead blindfold by them who would say he doth the Authour wrong But hearken Libeller you will not with this Description yet by a great deal lay bare the Root of the Covered Tree as you suppose you yet understand Nothing thereof much lesse the Authour's Mind and Thoughts only you falsifie and pervert it with a strange understanding 227. Are you not a false Expositor then tell me where stands it written in my Book that Christ became a man in this Worlds wild Nature that he was begotten of proceeded from Sinful Seed as thou explainest the meaning of the Authour to be so and settest down a heap of contradictory senslesse meanings and shamefully and reproachfully cryest out upon him for a Devil very blindly contrary to his meaning and understanding 228. Art thou he that must Judge me then learn first the Authour's Mind and Sence My Text saith Till the Prince of Light came out of the Heart of God and became a man in Nature it is not in the Wilde Nature but it is And wrestled in his humane Body in the Power of the Divine Light in the Wild Nature 229. The Question is What is the Wilde Nature wherein the Prince of Light out of the Heart of God wrestled in the Humanity Is it earthly Flesh Or the source or quality of the Starres and Four Elements No For the Sake of that the Prince
390. He should not feigne to himself wayes to the Kingdome of Heaven and make Opinions as the Autichristian Church doth for in the Opinion he runs of himself yet It lyeth not in any Man 's going or running but in a lowly humble Penitent Heart which goeth forth from sinne those God hath Mercy on for it lyeth in Gods Mercy 391. When Man converteth and goeth forth from sinne then he becometh IN Gods Mercy Elected to be a Child of God then the Spirit of Christ draweth him to the Father Christ saith None cometh unto Me except my Heavenly Father draw him 392. Now he draweth not the wicked Will THAT the Devill and the Dark world draweth only Man hath Free will if he cast his Will into Righteousnesse into God then the Spirit of God comprehendeth his Will and bringeth it in Ternarium Sanctum into the Holy Ternary and there the Noble Graine becometh sowne in the Will and then beginneth the Drawing of the Father to the Regeneration 393. God hardeneth no Man but the Dark world in the Devils Imagination and Inchantment they harden Man viz the Souls-Fire they are a Door shut against the Light 394. Though indeed the Scripture saith God hath Mercy on whom he will and hardeneth whom he will yet it hath not that understanding as if God would not hear the Poor Sinner For Christ saith come all to me that are weary and heavy laden I will refresh you Also I am come to call sinners to Repentance Also The Son of Man is come not to Judge the World but that he might save the World He that runneth in his own conceit hardeneth himself for he will needs be Christ 395. Gods hardening is when he letteth one run on whither he will God knoweth his very well why should a Man pour Oyle into those wounds to which it is poyson the Soar will be but the Larger 396. Who will help him who himself will NOT Or shall Men cast Pearls before Swing If a man lets the free-will goe whither it will then it cometh into its Fathers Native Country out of which it is gone forth why doth Man lend the Devill his heart that he may introduce an Evill Will or Desire thereinto A good Tree bringeth forth good fruit 397. Why did Adam bring his Imagination into the Serpents Poyson into Pride of Multiplicity into the wonder of the fierce wrathfull Nature He had the Command not to do it why was he disobedient who compelled him Even the Lust or Longing which came from the Devil and therefore is HE Guilty of Mans Fall 398. He must indeed stand in the Temptation to try into which World he would give up himself all the Three Worlds drew him each had him on a Band there he should shew his valour as a Prince he was free 399. But that he was overcome by the Outward World that the Devill caused by his Infection as still at this very day he teareth many a little Sprout from the Tree Therefore Man should not be secure also not rely on or be of himself but continually give up himself into Gods Mercy 400. He can not better wrestle with the Devill then when he casts himself into Gods Mercy then he relyes not on or is not of himself but he is Gods the Devill may dance in his Smoak Hole how he will a Man can not hinder him of that only let him not give his Will to the Devill as Adam did Number II. Page 18. 401. THe Pasquil or Libeller begins here again to Reprehend but he perverteth the Authour's Mind and Sense quite and cleane and casts Gall into it where it stands written thus 402. But they that became generated or born in the Light of Nature and of the Spirit and upon Earth never rightly knew the Tree of Life but were growne in ITS Power which hath overshadowed ALL Men upon Earth as indeed many Heathen and People and Infants they were also taken up in that very power wherein they were Growne and their Spirit became cloathed therewith and they sung the Song of their Power Now thus saith the Libeller 403. And as this Spirit determines of a Naturall Christ so will he also have the knowledg of him to be Naturall and from that though they knew not the Tree of Life in Spirit and in Truth might attaine Eternall Life Externally as if there were more wayes then One to it Thus far the Libeller Answer 404. Is not the Libeller sent that he should Judg the People Tongues and Languages and shall he not Judge the Child in the Mothers body or Womb also the deaf and blind which are born Deaf especially the Heathen and Turks he letteth none of these into Heaven for he hath the Keyes of Peter O thou miserable Blindnesse how many will enter into the Kingdome of God before thee 405. Is not the Father in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father and the Holy Spirit in them both Now if the Heathen People are without understanding Zealous for the Living God and yet have not the knowledge of Christ among them and know nothing thereof but with a totall earnest sincerity Desire the Love and Mercy of God will God then cast them all away because they have not Christs Name 406. He that apprehendeth the ONE only living God he hath apprehended the Holy Trinity The Publican in the Temple knew not how to say any thing else but only this O God be Gracious to me poor Sinner If now a Turk or Heathen should come in such a Manner with sincere earnest Supplication and Repentance and yet knew nothing of the Kingdome of Christ Sir Libeller wouldst not thou admit him to the Mercy of God 407. How doe you know what God would do for you or what have you given to him that he hath of Grace bestowed his Sonne upon you may he not then also receive Turks and Heathens to Grace especially little Children Hearken thou blind Libeller thou understandest not the Authour 's saying 408. My Text saith Those who were become Born or generated in the Light of Nature and of the Spirit The Light of the Eternall Nature is the Heart of God the Light of the Majesty of God and the Spirit from or out of the Light is the Holy Spirit with this Description the New Birth 409. Now if a man be generated or born out of THAT then it is well and good for he is born of God there will be many people thus born in God which knew nothing of the Name of Christ viz How God is become Man or Incarnate 410. Doth now the blind Libeller understand Nothing then I suppose the Devill hath blinded him See further But those that were grown in ITS Power understand in the Power of the Tree of Christ they were received Doest thou here understand the Naturall Growth with or as to Flesh and Bloud then thou art blind indeed 411. Doe you not see my Text saith Those
sticketh in thy Eyes 433. But I tell thee that thy Book the Libel affordeth a good Root for a New Antichrist I understand therein very new Things which I suppose to run quite contrary to the Holy Scripture Especially concerning the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and concerning his Mother Mary 434. I believe if men did not Read the Libel it would be more conducing to their happinesse then for any to grope far after your new conceits which are contrary to the Ground of the Scripture it hath such an aspect that it filleth the Eyes of the People but not of those that understand aright they do not all account thee a Master for it it is even called Babel and an untirnely or abortive unprofitable Libel 435. Is this thy Christian Heart that thou judgest and condemnest a zealous Man who is zealous after Salvation and if I did indeed erre in my zeal and yet in a right heart and sincere meaning and that really led with Ignorance and simplicity shouldest thou condemn Me Doest thou not Observe what Saint Paul saith of the zealous Heathens as above-mentioned Rom. 2. 436. Art thou a Master and a Christian why doest thou not first Instruct me and teach me what is better Doest thou not know me I think it is not hidden to thee who I am viz a simple Man and unlearned Art thou highly learned expert and skilfull shouldst thou then deal so Tyrannically with me as to cast me to the Devill 437. Where is thy Christian Heart shew it me in thy Libel shouldest thou condemn a Simple Man I would have friendly conserred with thee and given thee a good account of my doings if thou hadst done as befits a Christian with friendly Information 438. But thy high pust up Mind would not now I have answered to it it deserves no better since thou proclaimest me a Devill I proclaime thee a Lyar for I am a Child of God and am zealous day and night after my God with Sapplication to his Mercy for Christs sake and stedfastly believe that I am a Child of God and Member of Christs Body I am also very certain in the power of the Holy Spirit that he will preserve my Deposited Treasure viz the Noble Pearly Jewel in Christ till that Day 439. Thou proud Pharisee thou shalt not take away the Noble Garland of Victory from me which my Saviour Christ hath set upon me but if thou desirest to take it away from me have a care what thou doest and where thou abidest that the Anger of God do not devoure thee 440. I would as a Christian have thee warned to abstain from such reproaching and shamefull condemning for the kingdome of God consisteth not is knowing much but in an Earnest sincere obedient humble Mind and Will in the presence of God that we be Christains in the Deed and not with the Mouth only 441. A Christian hath no strife but only against HIMSELF against his EVILL Nature God saith Vengoance is mine I will repay it we live and are in God why will we then strive about HIM Let every one but judge himself and turn to God The Strife is alwayes about the Shell and the Kernell which belongeth to the Soul men let that lye 442. Hath any Learned somwhat let him use it to the Honour of God and the profit of his Brother he should not despise any God hath regenerated us in his Love without all our knowledge or desert through his Heart viz his great Mercy when as formerly we were all of us blind and knew nothing of his bringing us back again we were all under sinne and he hath bestowed on us the childship out of Grace shall we then out selves judge one another 443. Or can we all speak with one and the same Tongue There are you know many Gifts and but One only Spirit which giveth them as Saint Paul saith Shall we then call that very Spirit a Devill which openeth Gods Wonders to us doest thou not know what the Scripture saith Whosoever blasphemeth or reproacheth the Spirit of God hath no forgivenesse Eternally 444. Thou drawest the Judgement of God wilfully upon thy self and makest the people the worse that look upon thy Reproaching so that they also become slanderers from your Mouth whereas otherwise they would be quiet that Sinne might be brought forth with Sinne and so be reserved to the severe Judgement of God who will give to every one according to his Deeds Number IV. 445. THe Libeller sets it down thus All men are created by God according to the Flesh and in that very Masse or Lump they are all shut up under Sinne disobedience and Darkness and none better then the other but they are distinguished according to the Spirit and the Children of the Light generated from or out of HIM whom he delivereth out of the Naturall Darknesse and maketh their Darknesse Light But the Children of the World he letteth sit in Darknesse and letteth their Light go out in the Midst of the Darknesse for he loved Jacob and hated Esau 446. Hearken Libeller why doest thou boyle the Broth in thy Mouth and tellest not all freely forth as it sitteth in thy heart you have it within you I would have you fully give it forth What mean you by the Two sorts of Spirits from the Mothers Body or Womb are there two sorts of Souls generated or born one out of God the other out of the Flesh as thou supposest O thou blind Reason what dost thou Teach Wilt thou judge when thou thy self understandest it not 447. Of the Flesh no Soul becometh Generated but Soul of Soul and Flesh of Flesh we are from Adam all extracted or begotten of one Soul and Spirit and no other Adam is the Tree we are the Branches we stand all in that Tree as to the Root and he hath destroyed us all 448. Else if it were so that one Man did receive in the Mothers Body or Womb an Earthly Spirit and the other one out of or from God then were he which is Generated or born out of or from God not guilty of Adams fall also he were no Sinner from the Mothers womb and the other from the Flesh were from the Mothers womb Damned as he finely Court-like applyes it to Jacob and Esau this is his meaning and the understanding soundeth just so only he boyles the broth in the Mouth 449. For what should God suffer so long a while that there is teaching and Preaching to the Damned or what would it be profitable to the totally perfect Is the Spirit from the Mothers womb of God and hath it Gods Light PERFECT then it is without Sinne and needs no Teaching But the Scripture saith They are all Sinners and come short of the boasting which they should have in God The Holy Apostles say O Lord thou hast redeemed US with thy Bloud 450. ANd the Libeller saith further Who then dare say that this is done
like a Beast and is not the Noble Image which is saded and disappeared in Death which is created out of heavenly substantiality 578. But that thou wilt not allow me this that in Man understand in the Third Principle a humane Image according to the Angelicall World out of the Heavenly substantiality hath stood in the Inward yet I say that Gods Spirit that in the Second Principle goeth forth out of the First viz out of the Souls Fire of the Father into the Second out of the Love and Light Fire into the Sonne was never at all without substance for it is the Driver forth of the Divine power and substantiality 579. Hath now the Light and Spirit of God been in Man viz in Adam then also hath Gods substantiality been therein For no Fire burneth in Gods Love unlesse it have DIVINE substantiality 580. Therefore saith Christ Whosoever eateth NOT the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no part in HIM He understandeth the Corporeity of his unmeasurable Eternall Divine Substantiality in the Water of the Eternall Life and in the Tincture of the Power out of the Fire and Light in the Glance or Lustre of the Divine Wisdome out of the Words Body 581. Now if Adam hath been a totall sumilitude according to God then he must not only have had Earthly Substance for his Body if the Soul had had only Earthly source or quality to Eat then it had not had the prohibition but it had also the Corporeity of the Second Principle out of the Heavenly Substantiality that was the right Angelicall Image which became created in the Fiat of the Word 582. But the Outward Fiat according to the Outward Principle Created the Outward Man and God the Holy Spirit breathed himself thereinto according to the source or quality and property of all the Three Principles into the outward Image according to its outward Property viz the Spirit of the Great World Majoris Mundi of the outward World and the Angelicall Divine World according to the Love of Gods Heart and according to the Eternall Nature viz according to the Fire-World viz according to the Fathers Property the right Soulish viz the Center of the whole Man 583. In Brief what is it that Men should make many words Man was a Totall similitude according to God according to all the Three Worlds and their Properties and that he must be againe or must be a hunger-Spirit in the Dark World 584. What he maketh of himself that he is He standeth here in the Field or Soyle either there groweth out of him an Herb on Gods Table or an Herb in Gods fierce Wrath what kind of Essence so ever he will bring in the growing according to the relish of that it will also get a Mouth for it will eat either of the Love or of the Anger 585. The matter is not about the high knowledge only but about the tast or relish that any becometh the Bread of God which God Eateth It lyeth little in the knowing but all in the DOING it must be DOING the Evill Branches must be Cut off that good Wine may grow 586. We should not judge and condemn one another for the knowledge sake The Plow-Man knoweth lesse then the Doctor but he goeth many times before the Doctor into the kingdome of Heaven let us fall upon DOING that we may get Divine Essence into our Sprout let us reach after the LOVE and then we have ALL. 587. MY high Knowledge maketh me not happy or saved for I know not my self it is not Mine but Gods Spirit knoweth it self in ME he allures Me therewith to himself when he departeth or withdraweth then I know Nothing 588. I have not my knowledge at all from Man why should I then long contend with Man about it no Man can either give it me or take it away from me 589. I deal foolishly in that I Strive with thee for thou canst take nothing from me but it is done for the sake of other people which through thy Mouth abuse my knowledge else I would for thy Cursings and Judgings not lift up a Finger 590. Thou shoudst Converse in Love as a Christian if thou wouldst be Gods childe but if thou Judgest thy brother into Hell-Fire for the sake of his Gift what will become of thee how doest thou know what is befallen him that he runneth on thus How dost thou know upon what Branch or Roote God hath ingrasted him Thou wert not at all by when he did sow the Spirit of his Wisdome 591. You say it is from the Devill and there was Joy in Heaven in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary especially in the Fathers Nature when this Seed was sowne I would NOT give the little Graine that was sowen into me for all this worlds good It is more deare to me than Heaven and Earth and thou treadest it underfoote do but see what manner of Angel thou art 592. Thou writest much and if thou shouldst goe with thy writings to the Center there would be no body at home thou gatherest many Texts of Scripture together which in themselves are GOOD that thou mightst settle a framed Opinion concerning that thou knowest no Ground for 593. Thou canst not bring the Opinion into the Center and then bring it out againe there is no Spirit of Depth in thee but collected Matter from others Mouthes and thy own Mouth understandeth it not 594. But I write what I my self understand and what I can bring into the Ground of the Center 595. Art thou a Master then shew thy self one give me a writing concerning the Center of the Eternall and also of the outward Nature let it be seen what thou canst do prove it in the Light of Nature and not from a strange Mouth Speak from your own knowledge and then I will Answer thee 566. Let thy contemining alone and do thou direct it to the honour of God and make if serve the profit and salvation of Man that it may be a Sprour upon Gods Table and I will Answer thee that thou wilt Wonder and if thou meanest piously wilt highly rejoyce thou wouldst neither seek nor find any Devill in Me. 597. There is a great earnestnesse in me to seek my Eternall kingdome in God God hath not promised me a Scorpion instead of an Egge he would not give me to the Devill when I prayed so earnestly to him for his Holy Spirit 598. The Devill sets not upon a Man a spirituall high Triumphant Crowne or Garland of Victory in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary when a Man Fights against him He hath none of THAT which hath been done to this Spirit which thou callest a Devill and whence its knowledge proceeded 599. I write not for my own Fame which is in God but to Teach Men what they may expect from God if they will but come to the Ring or Lists of this Earnest Fight unlesse the outward voluptuousnesse in soft pleasure of the Flesh