and religious man be I prai kindly admitted and accepted from mi welmeaning meanness til a larger and fairer appear which when it doth wil be but his due tho' his modestie I mai safely sai wil not be abl to sufâ—er it such is the tenderness of his Spirit vâ—sibl enough in ani thing that mai but verge toward his own advantage whom therefore I wold willingly more discover to the World to which hee doth so much good and in which hee hath done so great things and declare his Name in words at length and not as now in letters were I not afraid that his humiliâ—ie wold be thereby highly oâ—â—ended which doth and can endure all things except his own Eulogiums and Commendations To the Sun-â—hine of which and his manifold virtues I have onely lighted or tinded tho' ex officio this my Rush-caâ—dl which is one I must confess to mi shame of the shortest less'st and worss'â—t For this do I here humbly crave his candid construction and heartily beg the boon of his pardon beeing too sensibl of the great need I have thereof albeit I mai haply go without it in that I have so openly and boldly as beeing without his leav or knowledg attemted tho' but this unless by the seasonabl request and importune intercession of som intimate Friend or other it mai happily com to be givn to mee I am not so sage as to foresee how hee wil handl mee for this mi fool-hardiness nor can I praesage what the event mai be His Resentment of this mi boldnes wil be so great I must now run the Risc the hazard jacta est alea. I must take mi Lot how fair or foul soever I be in his Books As to this praesent Book I am bold to sai I foresee such clearness there is in mi eies the Crystal Streams thereof going to be perturbed by the over diligent and silthily dirti feet of mani grim and ugli Satyrs which seem to mee to call for and to have already praevaled with several faln Angels â—o mingl with them and becom their Coadjutors â—nd Coagitators that so these purely fluent Waâ—ers mai the more suddenly and surely be made mere stagnant and putrid Puddls or most foul stinking Pools Nevertheless I adventure herein to praedict tho' I be no Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet for all the possibilitie probabilitie or proximitie of the feat or fact the impossibilitie for all this of the accomplishment yea I am more than confident for I am Sure that the contamination thereof by their so complotted commixture wil prove no other than a Chimaera unless I mai add as I beleev it wil be a slurr and blurr or a basefoul Iilt upon themselvs Nai further shal conclude it never feacibl til that veri daie when I shal behold the dazling Beams of the glorious Sun in its Zenith darkned by the mere steams of som Dung-Hill lieing on the lowest ground But enough if not too much of this dirt and â—ilth Now not to be dirti miself however not so dung-hill-bred as to account so wretchedly of the Reader as if Hee were unworthi to have ani accompt of the Book or to giv aâ—i â—aus wherâ—by the Publisher thereof shold be thought so avâ—rs from Apologies as to judg all of litâ—l value much less to condemn all evn the best with som Gâ—andees as idl and useless at best at less'st far below Prudence by waie therefore of obviation praevention praeoccupation and anticipation in companie with a fair praesolution of som praemised objections which it is not improbabl mani ill-naturâ—d and ill-mindâ—d men mai make evn to the suspecting or at fairâ—st scrupling if not severely quaestioning first how honestly this worthi Writer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came by these high Mysteries and grand Arcanums viz. Thâ— Knowledg of what in the ensuing Pages is argued and discoursed then What necessitie of thâ—ir beeing now or at ani time exposed and published This I here offer and praesent To the First mi Respons is tho' not dubious yet doubl h. e. Negativ and Affirmativ Thus Hee as a Philosopher not falsly so called and a Divine indeed came to the reception perception and cognition or rather introspection intuition and introreception of the praementioned Not by reading or poring on Books or Manuscripts nor by the teaching of men brethren or Fathers nor by ani conferring with Flesh and Blood but by the pure Revelation of the Holi and Blessed Spirit of God who is the Sercher and Reveler of the deep things of God as St. Paul testifieth Now in regard I have mentioned the Reveâ—ation of the Spirit I cannot apprehend it an imperâ—inence to speak somwhat of yea inlarge so much â—he more upon the several sorts and different kinds â—hereof as properly praeliminaâ—i antecedaneous â—nd very requisitly assistent to the advance of the â—nquisitiv Reader 's judgment and belief of about â—nd concerning these divine rarities mysteries and â—ublimities The first waie is by Vision when the Spirit of God praesenteth the heavenli species or ideas to the â—ntern senses of the inward man Quid quaeris â—rudite Lector vin quid species vel Idea potiùs sciâ—e certiùs ut queas consulas Platonem velim cui â—uid esse videatur audi Idea est earum quae naturâ â—unt inviolabile immutabile immortale aeternum â—xemplar Vide porrò si dubius animi es Aug. L. lxxxi quaest 46. This of Vision I look upon as one of the â—owest Form or Degree The second is by Illumination when the Spirit of the mind is thorowly illustrated or enlightned by a Raie or Beam proceding from the Holy Spirit and purely apprehendeth the Truth and the veri Sens of the Blessed Spirit beside and without ani praesentation of extern Objects Of these kinds the glorious Apostle Paul maketh plain mention where Hee saith I wil com to Visions and Revelations 〈◊〉 the Lord. The third is by Transportation or if you wil nâ—â— bear with that Term Translation When the Spirâ—â— of the Mind is in veri deed truth and realitie rapâ— and caught up transported and translated tranâ—scendently and divinely into the veri Principl 〈◊〉 self there to view introspect and comprehend 〈◊〉 wel as apprehend the Wonders of Iehovah AEâ—â—â— him the ever adorabl holi and blessed Triuneâ— Deitie Of this Degree the same glorious Apoâ—â— telleth us when hee declareth that Hee was caugâ—â— up into the third Heaven into Paradise wheâ— Hee heard wordless Words so the Graec most emphâ—â—â—â—ticly Words unutterabl unexpressibl unspeaâ—â—abl unâ—â—oidabl Nihil heic nisi vota 〈◊〉 persunt This is an higher Degree than either 〈◊〉 the former the pair praeceding beeing far inferior 〈◊〉 this for here as much as possibly you mai or can miâ—â— the veri Spirit of the Mind is elevated supersensâ—â—â—ly and superrationaly sublimed or lifted up to 〈◊〉 into that Principl where the things theirselvs do â—â—aly subsist have
in some Part of his Writings he giveth an hint of and so from what he in the still Eternitie saw and heard he wrote behold who can the Copy and then but not beâ—ore compare the Writings therewith and the Springs in him did daily sill Of this I was Witness being conversant then with him and making Remarks and taking Observations with all Exactness possible of those wonderful Transportations he had or rather they had him for the space of three Weeks together insomuch as I can do no less than bear my Testimony concerning his Spirit 's Height whilst his outward Bodie lay in passive Stillness in this visible Orb. Surely we may conclude he was as another Moses in som sort taken up into the Mount with God as a Friend and Favourite of the most High where he did see hear and learn these so deep and excellent things which are by great Care and no less Conscience brought forth to Light Therefore pious Reader be satisfied that here is a true and real Draught or Copie taken from the Original yea drawn by the blessed Aâ—thor out of the Original of all Worlds where he saw what he saw in pure Abstraction of Spirit The Publication of which the Author intended before his Dissolution being incouraged thereunto by the above-named Doctor his true hearted and right worthy Friend who well understood his Worth Writings and Spirit as well if noâ— better than any Man living as also readily promoted by another Person who therefore is in the Prefatori Epistle very honourably mentioned and most worthily and nobly decyphered and described if not perfectly delineated Both of them jointly rejoicing that they had found out such an one so abundantly filled with God's blessed Spirit of Love Wisdom Holiness and Meekness and influenced so extraordinarily by the same sufficiently apparent in the Gifts and Graces he was endued and adorned with Whereupon they could not choose but freely offer both of them their Assistance the one his Head and Pen the other his Hand and Purse to go thorow with and carry on the Work for the easily-foreseen universal Benefit Nor can I doubt but both of them will receive no small Reward from the hands of Him who will not suffer only a little cold Liquid or as we reade in our English Bible a Cup of cold Water given to any of the little ones in the Name of a Disciple to drink to be unregarded nai not him whosoever he should be that gave to such an one thereof to go unrewarded for our Lord expresly declareth his Mind therein and that with this Asseveration Verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his Reward Yea I have good Ground moreover to believe that the same good Spirit of Grace and Glory that lived in and rested on the Author may multiply on them both also even so and Amen O Lord God And let the Residue of the Spirit to all the just and faithful ones come for the perfiting what this Author had so clear a Prospect of in his enlightned Eye Now give me leave good Reader to conclude with this holy Challenge to all that are Lovers of heavenly Truths mystical or plain if any be of that high Evangelical Order he was of come forth bear your living Witness and go on and forward valiantly to the furthering and strengthning and finishing the great Work which this Author was daily labouring in Let us speak and write love and work fast and pray for a continual flowing down of that pure and holy Unction for the consummating in and amongst us that which this holy and heavenly Man left to be fulfilled and accomplished which verily will be Ioy Praise and Glory even to him who according to the Flesh died but now liveth among the perfect in Spirit who also waiteth for the bringing up those that shall make up the Number of the Church of the First-born who are enrolled in Heaven of the Number of which let us strive press and pursue to be that the Love-Hallelujahs may in our Day be sung to him that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the Lamb who is crownâ—d King in Love's Kingdome where only I would be known and found also truly Yours in that pure Fellowship Into which the Lord himself vouchsafe to lead you So heartily prays I. L. THE PRAEFATORI EPISTL By one Who is studiously ambitious and earnestly contentious as wel if not more to promote the common Salvation as these oâ— ani other uncommon Mysteries the most abstracted whereof is never without Moralitie moving upon the Affections Christian Reader FOR so in nature unfeignedly as in Name professedly I wold have you to be Miscalled you I hope I have not in this Compellation If I have then are you utterly incapacified as to the Concerns of these Mysteries and Sublimities So bold am I to tell you and such and Anointed one am I whatsoever Iudgment mai pass upon mee or if I be not yet do â—prai resolv endevour or purpose or at lesâ—'st desire or wish to be No mo at all of this yet this beleev wee all of us that it is a most rare Thing in it self were there neither Rewards nor Punishments to be realy and truly Religious in the Old waie which is the Good waie out of which there is no Rest. But you mai sai who cometh here whence you what Religion are you of you are I beleev a pure one Wel for me if I be However to the Quaestion not asking you who made you an Examiner and in Meekness and Fear as I ought I answer and that in the Words of a Servant of God and of the Lord Iesus Christ viz. I am of that Pure Religion and undefiled before God and the Father which is to visit the Orphans and Widows in their Tribulation and to keep mi self unspotted of the World Of which Faith or Persuasion Iudgment or Mind was blessed Paul in whom alone were evn the Apostles All who further acquainteth you that Christ Iesus his Master and Lord was of the same as to the whol Church which Hee loved and gave himself for that He mought sanctifi it c. not having spot or wrinkl or aught of such but that it shold be holi and without blemish or rather Amomous so the Word is that is irrepreâ—ensibl safeguarded from the bitings of Momus one of the feined Gods among the Gentils who wold be ever carping such was the suarl of his goodli Godhood at everi thing and who is I fear worshipped evn among our own selvs So Idolatrous or superstitious are wee all almost becom But more particularly if that mai be more for your Satisfaction and to let you know by the waie that neither the insinuating Iesuit hath deceived mee nor perilous Books poisoned mee nor fantastic Teachers seduced mee nor corrupt Church-men carried mee away with everi Wind of Doctrine I here publicly to the Interrogatorie about mi Religion repli Sir I am of that
hast put and set a Iewel a fair one evn of greaâ—eâ—â— price and highest value O how far then from the right are unmercifulness uncharitablnes hardheartednes strife rancour envie judging censuring slandering backbiting speaking or whispering evil specialy of and against Persons and Things neither known to thee nor understood by thee How far I sai from right I dare not take upon mee to judg This onely I sai to such Practicers what Christ did to those Hypocrites who could discern the face of the Skies Yea and why evn of your selvs judg yee not what is right Now if such things be right then surely nothing's wrong Let 's all like Devils fight and damn i th' cursed throng God Christ and th' Spirit ' spite and mock'em in a Song Yet stil I shold beleev it to be the better safer and wiser waie to humbl our selvs under the mighti hand of God taking holi Iames for our council in the case and praepare to meet our God who is a God of Iudgment and a consuming Fire and everlasting too into whose hands to fall it is a fearfull thing Hee likewise beeing the living God and no Person-Respecter but recompensing everi one according to his work If wee therefore wold not fall short of felicitie here and hereafter let us fall out of hand upon dooing and mainteining good works and for ever abandon falling on or out with one another but if there be a wise man among us and one indued with knowledg let him be persuaded by and with blessed Iames to shew out of a good conversation His Works with meâ—knâ—s of Wisdom evn thaâ— Wisdom from above which first truly chast and pure is further more pacific quiâ—t not rigid for its own right moderate obsequious pâ—rsuasibl yiâ—lding full of mercie and good fruits without disceptation oâ— controversie not doubting certen without Hypocrisie not stage-plaier like not dissembling its judgment not aâ—â—ing ani waie counterfeiâ—ly O that wee were thus wise aâ—d in the meeknes of this wisdom walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simus let us go to aâ—d fro' one another pass things easily to and agen having such a praesence of mind alwaies as to becom all things to all men with the Doctor of the Gentiles that Omniformist who tho Hee were free â—rom all yâ—â— Hee made himself a servant to all that Hee mought gain the moe by all means save som. This hee did â—or the ends of the Evangelie When sâ—al such glad Tidings befall us bless Church and State O what a glorious state shold wee and our Churchmen and women and Children and all things els be in Of this pure temper waâ— the Autor as you mai see evn by that littl hee speaketh to the Reader bâ—fore this Discours yea renownedly clothed with the meek Spirit of our only Lord Iesus the Christ the Author and Finisher i. e. the Beginner and Ender not of our your or their but of the Faith with reference to all times and persons according to the tenor and Tâ—stimonie of the Scriptures of Truth I must tell you it agen The Autor had the Spirit of meeknes with the Faith and Lov which is in Chriâ—t for the excellence the of knowledg of whom his Lord hee suâ—â—ered like another Paul as is wel known to all sciz who knew him the loss of all things which hee reckoned at no higher rate than Dogs-meat but not such as is givn to dogs in â—hese daies which good Christians wold be glad of that hee mought win Chriâ—â— aâ—d be found in Him not having his own Righteousnes but that which is by the Faith of Chriâ—t that Hee mought know him and the power of his Resurrection aâ—d the Fellowship of his Suâ—ferings beeing made conformabl to his Death if by aâ—i means Hee mought attein to the Resurrection of the dead Which undoubtedly Hee maugre all whisperings backbitings censures or praejudices of unbeliâ—f to the contrari did did follow after and to tâ—â—â—â—â—â—citie of mortalitie atteined the nearest to â—â— oâ— all that in this Age I have known or heard of Thus much I can testifâ— since mi acquaintance with him for Hee was not onely a bare liver by the Faith of Iesus but in the Work and Service of Love Faith's best demonstration and the Law 's Fullfiller a true Laborer and as to winged Mysteries if I mai speak mi sens withoâ—â— essens a littl incarnate Cherub or rather Sâ—raph or that I mai not excede the words of Truth and Holiness to the extending in the less'st the lines of Modestie a very highly mystic and transspiritualized Person A specimen of which not more great than just and due Eulogie and Encomium this Tract tho' a smal one is Which Writings Hee before his Asscension to the Spirits of Iust men perfâ—ctly sanctiâ—ied advised and consulted with mee about as is sufficiently known not only to his Hous-keeper but to his most agreeabl and supersensual Companion and Fellow-laborer in the Evangelic-angelic Work viz. â— L. mi Praecursor or Prae-Epistolizâ—r and a daili Exspâ—câ—ant to be clothed upon with the heavenli Bodie to com down from above waiting in the Spirit for the fullnes thereof and who hath not long since appeared in to or from the World pleace to take which Praeposition you best approv in an Heavenli Cloud A product fairly and fully meriting the Titl as is clear notwithstanding the Cloud to ani spiritual Discerner Favor mee with somuch freedom as once agen to affirm that the Autor excluding all other by what names or Titles soever dignified or distinguished or wheresoever praesiding or residing in Court Citie Camp or Countrie committed these Papyrs according to the certen knowledg of the Person ut supra hinted or lettered to the custodie and Correction so continued under correcâ—ion be it spoken and so confirmed was his confidence herein of Mee who highly â—steemed him in love for his Works sake not forgetting evn this which now thro the Divine Providence according to mi trust word or as som wil have words too is now com forth with an open face to public view from its recess or privacie â—ere hearken and heed hereto by the wholey unasked therefore freely ofâ—ered benignitie and generositie of which I am a witness and which likevise witnesseth the dignitie and Divinitie of the Soul and Spirit of the Person so acting viz. W. B. that famous Anti-Satánic Athleta Anti-DaemonÃac Palâ—strita and Hell 's black Regiment's Antagonist yea moreover â—â—â—â—aptive's Redeemer and the mani-mani poor and needi oppressed and distressed People's most readi and praesent Refuge and Asylum wheresoever hee resorteth tho' more principaly at the place of his Residence at Wilminton in Kent Where beside or rather about evn all the Countrie over Hee is wel known and wel nigh from everi quarter or corner thereof addressed unto as an honest diligent expert long experienced and very successfull â—hysician Let this brief Character of this gallant generous resolute
or suppositions of what are as cunningly as commonly called convenient contrivances innocent indifferences and orderli decences under the plausibl praetext placent notion specious name prudential guise and fair construction of that famous Euangelic Canon or Rule the grand Ecclesiastic Cynosura sciz Let all things be done decently and in order Which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at best is not so much an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I humbly conceiv and offer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 purely for sweet dear holi hevenli Peace sake and in a sens and conscience of mi by mee as yet beleeved dutie omnibus singulis qibuscunqe fortassean seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu Sacerdotum seu Praefectorum nominibus titulis indigitentur insigniantur Which Words so rendred to procede in the waie of Peace and Truth a Conjunction which I wold ever call Copulativ and make if I could perpetuously Consummativ som Godli and learned Writers upon very probabl reasons Scholar like tendred which I like and witâ— out ani bitter reflection which I love and not witâ— out accurate retrospection inspection and circuâ—â—spection as to the design of the Apostl's discourâ—â— and their very serious meditation and ruminatiâ—â— on the scope of the Text with fervent supplicatiâ—â— after Consultation too of the best Commentators 〈◊〉 the place thro' the supplies of the Spirit of Gracâ— and in the name of Christ the Wisdom of the â—â—â—ther to God the Father of Lights and the Spiriâ— of all Flesh which I cannot neither mai loath havâ— after all apprehended and thereupon do beleev That if the Reading were according to natural Dâ—â—cencie and Scripture-Order in the room place oâ— stead of decently and in order those foregoing word wold be much more consonant to and with the Sâ—â—gnificance of the Original and by consequenâ—â— tho' stil under Correction of more illuminated Headâ— â— be assented and consented to specialy by the Church of Christ coming out of Mysterie-Babylon gathered or scattered as the fairest and best interpretatioâ— and exposition O who wil giv that our sight 〈◊〉 be happily cleared by this smal foretast or ani â—â—ther as Ionathan's was by tasting a littl honie from 〈◊〉 end of his Rod and who can tell but it mai speciâ—â— if wee look up for Eie-salv from Heaven whiâ—â— our Eies are looking upon the letters and words and not be wholey taken up with the Letter without the Spirit which wil quicken us and put Life into our Spirit otherwise wee mai li dead at the letter til wee di The Word of Life wil be most welcom to enlivened Spirits O that the Spirit of Praier were raised agen from the dead as one mai sai what happi hopes then shold wee have of a glorious and spiritual Resurrection after so great a death hath passed upon the Churches Oh it is high time to begg as for Life that the Blessed Spirit wold come as Floods upon dri ground since the chois Gardins of the veri Saints for want of Spiritual dewes from Heven are withered that the Churches mai be as watered Gardins and the Saints and Servants of the most High mai at less'st at last like the Willows by the water-courses grow up evn into him in all things who is the Head of everi man and over all things to the Church which is His Bodie the fullness of him who filleth all in all and who wil make good His Great last Testament-Promiss of a doubl portion of his Spirit in a plentifull and powerful effusion thereof in the later glorious Ministration to counsil and comfort suppli and support the Saincts til the conspicuous apparence of his Personal Praesence without which his Praesence which can be no less wheresoever it be than Spiritual no Communions Ordinances or ani extern Administration can be effectual Let us all therfore look upon it as one main work of the daie to set Faith at work on the Promises and be earnest with the Father of Spirits to send down a special Unction from on High for the new spiriting of His Peopl eâ—n that other spirit which Caleb had Seeing a commune Spirit wil never carri them fully thorow in the work of their Generation Let us al prai that the Golden Pipes mai more and more empti their golden ill out of their selvs from the Olive-tree and that thei who desire and endevour to keep the Commands of God and the Testimonie of Iesus mai be anointed with the Oil of Gladnes in more abundant mensures Prai wee all that the Spirit of Glorie mai com down and rest among and upon us as a Refiner's fire to purifi us for our Gold is dim and our fine Gold changed considering Hee who hath the seven Spirits is too visibly turned aside from our golden Candlesticks that so wee mai offer up pure offerings in truth of Righteousnes and holiness beeing renovated in the Spirits of our minds which mai be placent to the Lord as in the daies of old Prai wee all for I praefer it before Preaching in this our Daie and set wee upon the Gates of Heavn with an holi violence knocking daie and night for the Devil is com down in great Rage wrath and violence throwing round about and that with grandest furie his fieri darts toward his Catastrophe or period Hee sadly foreseeing the short time hee hath to rant or rage in O Tri wee all what Power we have with the Father of Lights to set his Power on work to shake the Powers of Darkness in this hour of Tentation that is com upon all the Dwellers upon Earth and to help us in the Discoverie of that now above 5000 years experienced Master of the Black Art transformed too often into the most dangerous white Devil yea an Angel of Light tho' disguising himself and setting his face in secret so the Holi Mother-Toung to be then less'st in sight when without doubt most at work that so hee mai soonest defile and safest beguile us and wee not aware of him while wee shal like those mentioned in the Apocalyps be taken with the fine hair of the Locusts which asscended out of the bottomless Pit that stung them as Scorpions with their Tails O let the Remembrancers of the Lord who loveth to be put in Remembrance of the good thing promised make mention thereof before him that the Hyperpanonomous Iesus the Christ the Lord of Righteousnes the Lord of Lords Tzion's King and King of Kings mai be set upon this Holi Hill that the Heathen mai be His inhaeritance and the uttermost Parts of the Earth His Possession taking to himself his great Power and Reign and put the Government upon his shoulder and arise to shake the Earth yea and the Heavens terribly once
of a more sublime Origination or as wee vulgarly of an higher Descent Is it not so Why Do not the Golden Rules delivered by antient Philosophers seem to set forth as much How came those famous Lights of Wisdom set up almost all the World over Nai what issue is there of the pretious Dictates of our gracious Saviour and His holi Apostls who spake as never man or mere Soâ—â—â— spake Nai what becometh of the Image of Gâ—â— impressed on Man at the first and wherein settiâ—â— the Angels apart hee excelleth the whol Creationâ— NB. When the holi Iesus the Christ of God vouchsafed and condescended to be conversant among men Hee made it his chief Work what Christiaâ— wil be against the ensuing Truth to improve the mind and spirit of man farr above the hight of the Soul's Reason and wee are so farr from conforming to our Blessed Lord's cours as Reason it self if 〈◊〉 sens almost is yet too sublime for us except soâ—â— few who Apparent rari nantes in Gurgite vasto as the Poet singeth bravely looking up and beariâ—â— up their Heads in this Universal Sinking towarâ— and I prai God it mai go down not wofully further â—â— dolefully deeper than the Profundities of Shâ—â— out of which som are saved Com along with meâ— kind Reader if thou be not quite tired and maâ—â— use of the strongest legs of thi reason nai exercisâ— the Brains of it yea let the Head and Crown of 〈◊〉 asscend to that of AEternitie leaving farr below those effects of curiositie and accidental emergences the Arts and Sciences liberal falsly so called and highest natural Philosophie too upon which the Great Diana of this Mechanic Age h. e. Natural Theologie is reared buoied hoisted built up and let thi Reason I sai soar aloft evn if possibl up to AEternitie beeing environed with Time as it is a part of that Prius and Posterius without which the beginning and end of ani beeing cannot be conceived to be not as it is defined the Measure of Motion which had a Beginning on that Foundation that of an AEtern Beeing of Beeings nothing beeing abl to make it self Reason existeth subsisteth standeth buildeth and finisheth I mean concludeth That AEternitie it self is but what it is the imbecillitie of ani rational Facultie is such as it cannot possibly comprehend i. e. how ani thing shold have beeing without beginning and ending yet such a beeing there must be or no God there must or can be and where now wil Reason be I fancie and you know what hath been written already of Phansie that Reason notwithstanding all the sublimitie and vivacitie Phansie can afford or give to it in all its best conceptions like a sorri-silli Guide doth but lead mee with confidence and leav mee in confusion in a dull dark Labyrinth or Maze in a Maeandrous passage or Place Hence evn the most Metaphysic Subtilissimoes after that thei have fatigated or quite tired and wearied and but worsted themselvs with their Divisions and Subdivisions I must affirm thei have not arrived at so much of immodestie as to make Reason the adaequate measure of Truth but do ultimately resolv it into a Conformitie with the Divine Intellect which a Platâ—nist wold after this manner as one more excellently expresseth and exactly humoreth than that ut supri lateiné by waie of an Exegemátic Character thusâ— That there is an AEternal Mind that comprehendeth thâ— intelligibl natures species and ideas of all things whether actualy existing or possibly only and that comprehendeth it self and all the extent of its own Power â—â—gether with an Exemplar Platform of the whâ—â— World according to which Hèe produced the samâ— What of all this Why dato concesso the Praemisses granted and allowed yet stil the Conclusion wilâ— and must be in spite of all our Reason assisted with the clearest imagination wee are no less in the dark for unless notice be vouchsafed to us by the AEternal Mind of what is conformabl to His infallibl and infinit Intellect there wil be littl or no certentie of Truth obteined by us Such is the peculiar Province of Revelation which is the tru or praetended foundation stil of all knowledg whatsoever Moreover it hath all the benefit of Philosophie and natural Religion's light in its best progress of Reasoning in its highest Zenith exaltation elevation sublimation and Acme to be silent as to a further and unfailing ratification from Divine Testimonie and the Transscendence of the Objects proper quarto modo to an Apocalypsie which giveth it freer admission and maketh a more solid valid and durabl impression upon our intellect Tho' wee acknowledg when all is don how magnificously soever wee bragg and vapor and taper of our Reason or Faith Intellect intelligibl Ideas and aeternal Verities these wil never conduct us to enter into Paradise or our Master 's joie but only as these are conjoined with our affections which commix co-incide and as it were identifi with that grandest and Divinest Mysterie of Love sciz God made Flesh which gave as one superexcellently the Angels new Anthems a new Scaene of Knowledg and consequently a new Heven So much if not too much of the distinction of these Powers and of that refined one of Soul and Spirit in man I sai Man who certenly is more than is conteined in that old definition Animal Rationale if hee were no more than Animans intellectuale tho' were I worthi to define Him it shold be rather by Religiosum than by either or both mentioned Nai seriously thinking considering and ruminating of the Rarities and Merits of his Creation by Iehovah AElohim who breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Lifes and who as the Father of Spirits formeth that in man I can scarce forbear calling Him Animal Divinum tho' I be not such an Animal without the facultie to think nai and to foresee this definition deemed forthwith by the acute as unphilosophiâ— yea the Terms doomed oâ— however if not so adjudged yet to speak favorably impleaded as carri-ing in their veri Bowels a self-duelling by som chiefly those who have bâ— great Labors procured unto themselvs a deep-readâ— confusion of thought Let mee complete this Paragraph with the three constituent Parts of man according to the Apostl's Philosophie or Iudgment in that Praier of his where mention is made of Bodie Soul and Spirit which Spirit or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it signiâ—ieth in the New Covenant or Testament the Places at the Bottom and mani mo do tell But to interpret it as most do by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Graces of the H. Spirit wold make the Apostl's Praier so impertinent improper strange if not ridiculous unless those Graces had at ani been found blame-worthi that I cannot but appear most exceedingly blameabl miself shold I add one Word to contra-argue it However let mee add the following words tending toward the conclusion of this prodigiously prolix
these a Great Divine's were but now Thine Thei 're great too Greater than I can divine These to translate in t ' English I 've a mind But the translated left'em so behind So I 'l be just to Him to mee prai you be kind Allow mee to be a smal Critic I dare not aim at beeing an Observator on the Word translated Evn til hee was not So temperate was Hee in all things that I have heard him sai Hee was never sick in all His Life and from this World in soundnes of Mind Memorie and Senses like another Moses Hee went away tho' by the waie discoursing all along Divinely to his very last minute and then this mighti man and as greatly meek did not di shold I sai that shold I not li but fall asleep in Iesus Tibi Domine qui velociter venis Amen Nae veni Domine O com and feed all thi Supplicants with the perpetuous influence of thi purest Divinitie Let thi Heavenli Highness sublime them to the Zenith of thi dearest and nearest Societie and here evn now not only raie beam and warm them with thi Ardors Flames and Powers but likewise ensoul-spirit-Heaven them in Thiself This all thi longing and humbl Petitioners at thi Throne of Grace crave beg prai beseeching that Thou who dwellest in Love and art Love wold condesscend and caus vehement-divine Love thorowly to penetrate transmute and transfigure them into it sâ—lf yea further convince and convert if it mai consist with the good pleaceur of thi holi Will all the Rational Powers of humane Nature into a Lov of that Lov which fullfilleth all thi Commandments as in heavn evn so on earth In the inter let all Thine wheresoever dispersed or howsoever distressed understand and beleev that it is their Strength not to make haste but to sit still and see the Salvation of God and that it is no more in their power to â—hange Kingdoms and Governments than the cours of the Luminaries which are set in the blu visibl firm Expans the Out-spread or to unhinge the Positure of the whol created World It is Thou and Thou onely who art Lord of Lords and King of Kings the Great and Mighti One who must doo these great and mighti things It is Iehovah AElohim the most high God who reigneth in the Kingdoms of men and who soley is Hee who giveth these to whom soever Hee pleaceth and who wil make all Adam know that all bold rashnes carrieth certen ruine within it self but overcoming Patience it is which perfecteth both God's and Man's Works Amen Now I exspect mi Reader to sai let mee prai to wit that you wold no longer Tantalize mee but giv mee the favor of the Great Person 's Name who was so translated Doubtless I am not worthi him to name But shold be counted worthi of great blame To bring this Person here to mee while I Chius ad Coum venture to stand by This needs must be a grand indignitie But seeing for all this need there is to get ouâ— of this lurking hole and to com abroad with hiâ— name for his Honor which shold be sacred to everi serious Soul as not beeing possibl to be spred abroad so much as his merits mai chalenge moâ—â— righteously Therfore it wold be injustice to withhold Him from you ani longer to conceal hiâ— Name by not answering to your Quaerie and Complieing with your Request It was then the truly Honor and and it wil be as tru and right if I sai rebus sic stantibus caeterisque non paribus which I judg none wil gain-sai the most Reverend Father in God or if that offend ani with God that is most sure â— ani be the most humbl Lord and meek Lord Bishop Sanderson of happi memorie more happi Iudgment and most happi Life and Death latelâ— put sorth by the elegant Penn of an excellent English Writer who modestly acknowledgeth the bold undertaking as beeing very unworthily inferior to the Merits of that Apostl of a Bishop certenly so hee was if ani such have been without ani Adulation I speak the truth before God and I not mi Conscience likewise bearing mee witness in the Holi Spirit Now seeing I have put mi Conscience so to it let mee put too this to Conscience and be so far his Abetter for want of a better therein as to conclude a better Resolver thereof in all cases England never saw never knew Whereupon I further venture and with all safetie to vouch that hee was the Non-such Casuist in all Christendom nemine certè Anglorum contradicente So great a Master of right Reason and sound Iudgment was hee which rendred him without dispute as inimitably judicious so incomparably pretious to all Posteritie nor wil his Works di while Worth shal liv Of which I mean his written Works that I mai speak som few words I humbly beg in regard of our miserably and uncharitably divided and subdivided Principles aud Practices but more particularly of Ceremonial Controversies which are so bandied about like a Ball to and agen and make such a nois and racket in our Nation O the sad circumstances sans ceremonèe that wee are now in How strangely tho' are wee converted into Wolvs which are far wors than Sheep or yet Dogs and that about the veri Worship of God! Monstrum horrendum O the Metamorphosis of our Manners O the Metempschosis of our Souls It is not a mere Acatastasis of our minds that marreth all the Beutie and Glorie of our Religion and Nation Mai wee not lamentably fear an Ichabod Mai I proov I prai God a Pseudoprophet But yee best of Professors tell mee truly what you think is not God going about to take away his Glorie Grace Euangelie Spirit and all with Him What said Herbert long agoe Religion stood on its Tiptoe Hee did mistake mai I do so O yee Professors can I have ani hopes that yee wil hinder his departure from our Land Mai hee not go fast and far away for all you Why Who or what staieth him sai yee save yourselvs I tell you truly his dear hidden littl ones who cri greatly after him daie and night An handfull it is as it were of wrastling Saincts who have been so spiritualy cunning that thei have got within Him and hold him with reverence and humilitie be it spoken upon the In-turn and wil not let him go but there keep him Els were hee got loos wo to you and us all How wold hee lai about and what a deal hand the living Lord hath where hee striketh let Heaven Earth and Hell trembl to think But blessed be God there are som few to whom hee hath said concerning the work of mi hands coâ—mand yee mee and these hold him to his word anâ— that so til Hee is readi to cri out as of old to Israel quondam Iacob Let me go As if hee shold have said I never met
I come to speak of the other particular in the Mystery of the Holy Trinity viz. Trinity in Vnity This Mystery I will endeavor to open as I have seen it with the Eye of my enlightned mind and shew how the Holy Trinity do subsist as one in one only ground or Divine Essence Object You will say if three do subsist in one only essence that seems to make a Quaternity and not a Trinity Answ. This is an ill drawn consequence and a meer mistake which may easily be rectified thus The one only ground or essence in which the Holy Trinity do subsist is the Eternal Unity and this Eternal Unity in the Father and the Son and Holy Ghost subsists in the Father's Unity so that the Holy Trinity is one with the Eternal Unity from whence they flow forth and as they have their beginning from the Unity so they end in the same The Holy Scripture teacheth us this fundamental truth that the Holy Trinity are one and yet three in that oneness 1 Ioh. 5. 7. There are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one They are all one in the Eternal Unity the Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father and the Holy Ghost in the Father and Son so that one cannot be without the other and are but one ever blessed God though distinguished in their goings forth and the manifestations of themselves Now if it be asked what the Nature of the Holy Trinity is I answer it is pure Unity and pure Unity is pure Deity and this is the Nature of the Father Son and Spirit they are all Unity and pure Deity And as they have but one undivided Nature so they have but one Eye one Understanding one Will. But if any one inquire further what this Eternal Unity and Deity is which is the Nature of the Holy Trinity I answer that none knows this but the unsearchable Trinity Neither is it any further knowable by Angels or Men but that it is what it is But notwithstanding that we say that the Vnity is unknowable in it self to Angels and Men yet it may be known forasmuch as it relates to the Trinity and as it is the one ground in which they subsist and in this respect we say that the Eternal Unity is a most simple Essence free from all duality and contrariety It is most true that variety may consist with Vnity but contrariety destroys its nature which admits of no mixture whatsoever Now if the Nature of the Trinity be Eternal Vnity and simplicity free from all contrariety and mixture it follows that Light and Darkness Love and Anger cannot be in the Holy Trinity as they exist in the Globe of Eternity because these contrarieties would necessarily destroy the Nature of Vnity But you will say that God is styled in Scripture a God that is angry and a consuming fire and in other places he is said to be Light and Love which implies that there is a mixture of contrarieties in the Essence of the Holy Trinity I answer that these Scriptures speak of God as he hath introduced himself into apostatized and impure Nature's essence after the fall whereas I in this place speak of God as he exists in the Eternal World before Eternal Nature was divided by the fall and in this state the Holy Trinity is nothing but Eternal Unity free from any contrariety or mixture whatsoever And thus the Nature of the Trinity if well understood manifests clearly hâ—w Father Son and Spirit are distinct and yet are but one Eternal Unity And thus much concerning the Trinity in Unity Now I will further treat of the Nature of the Holy Trinity The Triune God considered in himself in the Globe of Eternity is pure Deity which pure Deiâ—y is the highest purity clarity and brightness of glory beyond all imagination This high purity of the Trinity is free from all impurity and imperfection whatsoever and in this high purity consists the righteousness and holiness of God This bright purity is the Nature of tâ—e Trinity in the Globe of Eternity which they equally partake of for as the Father is all purity so is the Son and Spirit anâ— from this purity of their Nature are called the Holy Trinity But to proceed to a further opening of the Nature of the Trinity God is said to be Good and the one only Good the chiefest Good wherein Eternal Bliss and happiness doth consist in which ground of Eternal Goodness the Father Son and Spirit are all one The Father is all Goodness and so likewise is the Son and Spirit and consequently Good and Evil cannot be in God for so there would be a mixture of contrary natures in the Divine Essence which as hath been said is all Eternal Goodness Evil of sin cannot be in God because sin is an imperfection now no imperfection can be found in the Divine Essence which is perfection it self Neither is the evil of punishment to be found in the Trinity for if the Nature of God be all Goodness Mercy Pity and Compassion where shall severity fierceness or bitterness be found Or any vindicative Iustice From whence proceeds the evil of punishment I say none of these are to be found in the Nature of the Holy Trinity as they subsist in the Globe of Eternity If you ask me further what the Nature of the Holy Trinity is I answer That the Holy Trinity are iâ— themselves a free Eternal libâ—rty The Father is an Eternal Liberty and so is the Son and Spirit But whâ—â— is this Eternal â—iberty which is the Nature of the Holy Trinity I answer It is their subsisting in their owâ— Eternal Vnity simplicity and pure Deity free from aâ—â— other Essences neither touching them nor being touched bâ— them For as they exist in the Eternal World beforâ— and without Eternal Nature they are free from all Esâ—sences whatsoever and exist in their own eternal Liâ—berty If you further inquire what the Nature of the Hâ—â—â— Triniâ—y is I answer That their Nature is all happiâ—â—â— and blessedness no misery torment or anguish is tâ— be found in them or proceeds from them wherefoâ—â— Hell death and the Curs never proceeded from the Hâ—â—â— Trinity becaus their Nature being all happiness â—â— such thing can be found in them or proceed fâ—â—â— them because such a mixture would necessarily deâ—stroy the happy and blessed Nature of the Holy Trâ—â—nity I say further That the Nature of the Holy Trinity 〈◊〉 all perfection in the abstract and therâ—â—ore at an infiniâ—â— distance from all imperfection whatsoever Which pâ—â—â—fection of the Holy Trinity results from the Vnity and Siâ—plicity of their Nature which admits not of any mixture 〈◊〉 contrariety By means of this perfection the Holy Trâ—â—nity are compleat in themselves so as nothing can bâ— added to it or taken from it forasmuch as it is tâ—â— Nature of absolute perfection to be compleat and entire in iâ— self lacking
Names consists in this Now we cannot imagine but that those Names by which the Holy Spirit doth call any thing have all the excellence and truth which a Name is capable of and consequently must very properly and significantly express the Nature of the thing named the name of this third Place you have heard is the still Eternity and consequently have reason to conclude that the Essentiall difference of this Place is the Majestick silence and awful stillness with which it is continually filled This is such a stillness as surpasseth not only all expressions but likewise all thoughts and imaginations and because of this Majestick silence and unexpressibly awful stillness this most Holy Place is also called the Presence-Chamber of the Deity this supernatural silence and stillness being the ornament state and pompe of it to which all the Glory and magnificence of Monarchs here is but as a shadow or nothing 3. The third particular is the Wonders which are to be seen in this place in respect of which as was mentioned before it was called the Rock of wonders and these wonders are five in number viz. 1st The Spirit of Eternity or the Eternal Unity 2dly The Holy Trinity 3dly The Virgin Wisdome of God 4thly The Seren Spirits before the Throne 5thly and Lastly the Inhabitants of the Still Eâ—â—rnity 1. The first wonder which manifests its self in this Rock of wonders is the Spirit of Eternity or the Eternal Unity which doth fill the total deep Abysse with it self that is with all Power Here the Spirit of Eternity discovers its self to be the first and original Power the Power of all Powers yea All-power it self And this manifestation of the Spirit of Eternitie's being All-power is more full magnificent and glorious in the stil Eternity than in the inward or outward Court where the Deity doth also discover himself to be All-sufficient and Omnipotent but not in that Sovereignty and Majesty with which he appears to the Eye of the Mind in this his presence-Chamber Here the Glory of the All-power of the Deity is seen Nakedly openly and without a veile eye to eye and face to face the sight of which doth cause ravishing Extasies unexpressible Ioys and transporting admiration to fill the heart of the beholder it being a sight so glorious as no words can express nor no thoughts represent to the mind as being beyond all comprehension The second wonder in this Rock of wonders the still Eternity is the Holy and ever blessed Trinity Father Son and Holy Spirit The Father is the Original power of all powers subsisting in by and from himself which Original power of the Father is most clearly and openly discovered in the still Eternity in the highest magnificence Majesty and Glory This supreme power of the Father is the beginning of all power and the fulness of all power filling the Heighths Depths and Bredth oâ— the still Eternity this Power of the Father is an Eternal Unity and simplicity that is it is free from all manner of contrariety divisibility composition or mixture as being an Uniform Universal diffusive power which is nothing else but pure Deity and further we cannot search into this Power of the Father to know what it is for none knows what pure Deity is but God himself It is this Paternal power which fills the still Eternity throughout in the appearance of the clearest transparency and brightness I have now given you an account how the Father manifests himself in the still Eternity to be All-power yet before I leave this particular for fuâ—ther explanation I shall shew you negatively what this Power of the Father is not First then say I that this Power of the Father is no personal power for nothing of personality is manifested in the still Eternity only a Uniform Universal diffusive Power in the appearance of the greatest brightness fills it throughout 2. Neither is this Power of the Fathers any Organical Image resembling that of Angels or men having distinction of parts and members for nothing of this kind can be found in the Eternal Unity of the Father's All-power And thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the Father who is the First in the Trinity We now proceed to the second viz. the Son of the Father The Son is an Essential power immediately generated by the Father out of his own divine Essence and therefore he is co-essential and co-equal with the Father For the Son's power dilateth and co-extendeth it self in with and through the Father's power to the utmost bounds and limits of the still Eternity and filleth the deep Abysse with his own Power 's in the Father's Power as being co-essentiall and co-equall with the Father Again this Power of the Son is also the co-eternal with the Father for though the Father may be said to be before the Son in order of Nature forasmuch as he is the generator of the Son yet we cannot say that the Father is before the Son as to priority of time for the Son exists from all Eternity at once and together with the Father and therefore is the Eternal Son of the Father If you would further know what this generated Power of the Son is I say it is an Eternal Vnity and pure Deity even as the Father's Power is But for the further opening of what the Son of God is you may take notice of these following particulars 1. In the first place the Son of God is the first begotten of the Father He is the first born of all Beings as being that Essentiall word Co-eternal with the Father by whom the Father made all things and without whom nothing was made By him were all things created whether they be in Heaven or on Earth whether visible or invisible whether Thrones or Dominions Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and therefore he must needs be before them all and consequently be the first begotten of the Father Secondly this Son of God is the only begotten Son of the Father all other Sons whether Angels or men receive their filiation or sonship from this only begotten Son of the Father and are called Sons forasmuch as they partâ—ke of and are centred in this only begotten Son they are Sons in and because of this only begotten Son and beloved in the only beloved of the Father Thirdly this Son is the Co-essentiall Son of the Father of the same essence and nature with the Father now the Nature of the Father is Purity Holiness Righteousness Meekness Love Goodness and Perfection and such is the Son's nature also and therefore the Son is called the Brightness of his Father's Glory and the expresse Image of his subsistence But the Image of the Father is no organicall Image but consists in Light Life and Love The Father is all Light and in him is no darkness at all he is all Life and in him is no Death he is all Love and in him is no Wrath and the
pure virginity doth not only consist in this that she is free from all manner of spot blemish or mixture but especially in this that her bright glance is from all Eternity fixed upon the flaming heart of God's love which is the Center of the Holy Trinity This flaming â—eart of Love is the sole Object to which her regard is fastned continually she receives nothing into her self but this divine Love from the heart of God She espouseth her self to nothing inclineth her self to nothing but only to this essential Love the Word of God fixed in the Heart of the Deity Thus the Holy Trinity have their delight with wisdom and again the whole joy and delight of wisdom is the flaming Love of the blessed Trinity She is exalted above all things because of her beauty and immaculate purity she is the highest purity she is purity and virginity in the abstract She cannot be touched by sin evil or self because she cannot mix with nor incline to any thing but only the essential Love of God She is free from all essences whatsoever being nothing else but the unspotted mirrour of the glory and excellency of God and thus we have declared to you what that pure Virginity is which is one of the essential properties of God's wisdom 3. I now proceed to the third and last head viz. What the office of Wisdom is in the still Eternity I find that Wisdom dischargeth these two offices viz. 1. She is a revealer of the Mysteries and hidden wonders of the Deity 2. She is an enlightner of the still Eternity First As for the first of these Scripture and Revelation assure us That Wisdom is the revealer and manifester of the unsearchable secrets of God she is the golden Key of the Eternal Eye by which all the wonders of the Trinity are unlocked As the office of the Holy Ghost is to effect and create all things so the office of Wisdom is to manifest and reveal all things She never brings forth any thing and upon that account also is called a pure Virgin but only discovers and manifests whatsoever the Holy Trinity by their effecting-creating-power are pleas'd to bring forth This Wisdom is the companion of the Eye of Eternity by her out going glance revealing the wonders contained in it She is as an Handmaid waiting upon the Holy Trinity to declare publish and make known their counsels secrets and wonders Secondly The other office of Wisdom is to give Light to the deep Abyss of the still Eternity It is Wisdom's bright glance which is the day and light of this most holy mansion not a created Light but a pure divine Light in that sence as God is called a Light in whom is no darkness at all and no otherwise But you will object That the Holy Scriptures and Divine Philosophers seem to give a different account concerning Wisdom than I have here given To which I answer That I easily grant that the Scriptures of Truth and holy enlightned Men have spoken concerning Wisdom after another manner than here I have done and the reason of it is plain for they speak of Wisdom after the production of Eternal Nature as Wisdom is introduced into the seven forms of Eternal Nature whereas I speak of Wisdom's existence with the Holy Trinity in the still Eternity before ever Eternal Nature was brought forth The fourth Wonder which my Spirit was made to take notice of in the still Eternity was the Seven Spirits of God which stand before the Throne of the Holy Trinity Saint Iohn doth oft make mention of these in the Revelation but he speaks of them there as they were seen by him on mount Zion in the New Ierusalem after their being introduced into the working properties of pure Nature whereas I treat of them here aâ— they were seen in the still Eternity before the existence of pure Nature out of which the New Ierusalem is created and brought forth by the Holy Trinity And accordingly we are to distinguish between these seven Spirits here mentioned and those seven generating fountain-Spirits out of which pure Nature and her â—lements were generated according to the highly enâ—ightned Behme for those are the working powers of Eterâ—al Nature whereas these are in the still Eternity which â—as before Eternal Nature co-existing with the Holy Triâ—ity and Divine Wisdom in the still Eternity What I have further to declare concerning these seâ—en Spirits I shall refer to these following particuâ—ars First I shall speak of their Number in the second place of their Birth and Originality thirdly of their Nature fourthly of their Office and fifthly and lastly of their place in the still Eternity 1. For the first viz. their Number which is Seven for so they were named to me the Seven Spirits of God They do indeed subsist one in another and through another and appear but as one power yet they are seven in number even seven distinguishable powers flowing from and rooted in the Unity of the Trinity They were not distinguished to me by their several Names but only by their Number though I know that as they are in Eternal Nature they enjoy â—heir several distinct Names but it is not time now to speak of them because here we consider them as existing in the still Eternity out of and before Eternal Nature 2. As to their Birth and Originality they spring and proceed from the Temple-body of the Holy Ghost as well as they have their subsistence in the same for as Wisdom is a beam or glance proceeding from the Father's Eye and subsisting in the same so these seven Spirits or seven lustrous Powers proceed from the Divine Body of the Spirit as from their source and original and subsist in the same as in their true ground 3. The third perticular I am to speak to is the Nature of these seven Spirits which I shall endeavour to declare to you in these following Propositions 1. The â—irst is this The seven Spirits of God are 〈◊〉 many various outgoing Powers immediately proceedâ—ing from the Body of the Holy Ghost they are thâ— true fruits of the Spirit they are as so many deriveâ— streams from the head and fountain-stream the Holâ— Ghost They are a variation of that one all-effecting power of the Holy Spirit For as the supreme Unity varieth it self into a Trinity so the all-effecting power of the Trinity varieth it self into a Septenary or seven Spirits 2. In the second place these seven Spirits are co-essential Powers with the Holy Ghost and consequently with the whole Trinity for they immediately pâ—oceed from the Essence of the Holy Ghost they are essences out of his essence and therefore must needs be co-essential with him 3. Thirdly the seven Spirits of God are co-eternâ—l with the Holy Spirit for they exist together with the Holy Trinity which was never without these Spirits proceeding from them and consequâ—ntly these seven Spirits must needs be co-eternal with the Blessed Trinity But here we must not