excited by earnest Love is successful passionately to enkindle Divine Light in such proportion of speed as the heat is in degree for great Divine Fervour having Anguish for its Root hath always according to its own Nature eminent Light and Glory for its Fruit. 2. More particularly 4. To shew his immediate care of the feeblest as tender Mothers do to their weakest Children So here to a Woman 5. To demonstrate his gracious Condescention to the separate Image of the Humanity divided from Adam and first in the Transgression like to the saying Tell my Disciples and Peter who had so lately denied him that it was as the seâ—ting of a dislocated Joint 6. To try the Faith of his most eminent Followers who should first only hear of this glorious Resurrection once and again by the words of others than after the sence of hearing follow'd their seeing him then touching then tasting by their Intellect his heavenly Teaching then participating of the Spirit by his breathing on them Thus became they Witnesses not only of Christ's swallowing up Death by Victory by gradual assurance past all shadow of doubt but also be Witnesses against themselves of their own Diffidence till their Faith was enforced to act its office by Mediation of all the Senses Q. 138. Why did Christ after his Resurrection eat of the broiled Fish with his Disciples and entred in unto them through a shut Door and taught them A. 1. The Text saith They gave him a piece of broiled Fish and a Hony comb and he did eat The first part of this Question may seem curious as well as obscure but it must be noted that all things God discovereth are not alike plain but must be sought out by diligent search comparing and inferring as amongst many the offering strange Fire was not forbidden but God consuming the Sacrifice by his own Fire did by Consequence forbid the other the Error herein cost Nadab and Abihu their lives The carrying the Ark on a Cart was not forbidden but David's not considering and inferring a Prohibition of that by the Direction for carrying it on the Priests Shoulders cost Uzzah his Life 2. And now here the Lord after his Resurrection eats broiled Fish and Hony-comb as before he twice feeds the Multitude with Fish by Miracle we may not think the Eating of Fish insignificant and that again having wrought the Miracle of the great Draught of Fishes after the Resurrection their Dinner was Fish All which hath a double signification 1. 3. More general That as Adam's Fall had laid the Creation under Universal Disorder such as was most aptly represented by the confused troubled â—ea and all his Posterity by Fishes one devouring the other as saith the Lord on this Allusion to his Disciples I will make you fishers of men in this sense concerning the New Heaven c. Viz. At the reducing to Paradisical Order it is written there was no more Sea 2. 4 More particularly whereas Fish was never us'd in Sacrifice and Honey directly forbidden to be in any Offering to the Lord by Fire this with rending the Veil of the Temple was to shew the Jews the time of their Sacrifice was finished But Men signified by Fish were in a more excellent way to be the Lord's and the Kingdom of Heaven like a Drag Net to catch them But their not considering this their gracious Visitation and persisting in their obstinate Sacrificing and wilful Ignorance of the signs of the times cost not the lives of a Nadab and Abiâ—u or Uzza but those of Priests and People City and Nation Desolation of Jerusalem and Sion Temple and Altar and suppression of their supposed Offspring for so many Centuries to this very day 5. Now as his Eating was Paradifical in the Mouth only So his entring the Doors being shut was his being now only in the Divine Principle not to be shut out for the World is as nothing before him The Condensations fiercest Attractions strongest Constringencies are all open High-ways to his Omnipotence for his Conquest was over Hell and he goeth into all the wrath of the first Principle as well as the third all Power in Heaven and Earth being his for ever Q. 139. Why did not Christ after his Resurrection sheâ— himself to every one but to some only A. 1. 1. By every one must be intended 1. Every of those in Jerusalem or 2. Every of the Lords Disciples 1. But so to have done in the larger sence had been cross to his own Inhibition Cast not holy things to Dogs nor Pearls before Swine 2. It had oppos'd the Method of his Proceedings with Men from the time of his Conception to his Ascension 1. His Conception was a Secret imparted only to the Virgin after in a Dream to Joseph then Prophetically to Elisabeth Simeon and Anna and Prophesies had Obscurities 2. His Birth was discovered to the poor solitary Shepherds after that perhaps above two Years to the Wise Men but presently veil'd by his Flight and Absence Thence no more is said of him till he attained to about 12 Years and then though the Doctors were astonished at his Understanding yet they knew him not Neither understood his Parents his Answer on that occasion but he went with them and was subject unto them from that time till he began to be about 30 Years So that for 18 Years nothing appears but as if he had been a common Child of Adam 3. Then the Observation of what passed at his Baptism was instantly shrouded by his Forty Days withdrawing from all Men into the Wilderness 4. And after his calling of the Twelve and Preaching the Gospel he often retreated from the Multitudes divers times from some of the Twelve and sometimes from them all especially for Prayer and all this while unknown to his very Brethren 5. And when his exalted Glory was so conspicuous upon raising of Lazarus that the High Priest c. began to say the World goeth after him that it seemed to threaten the hindering the Baptism he was graciously straightned to be Baptized with and that they feared the People then offered he himself up at once checking the mistaken Hopes and Confidence of Jews and Gentiles This was the Method of the humbled state of the Only Eternal Almighty Son of God 3. 3. The Reason of his thus much concealment was the abuse by vile Mankind of the sparklings of his Glory As 1. Herod begins by shedding the Blood of Innocents 2. The Sharers in and Beholders of his Miracles were obstructive to his other work of gaining Souls therefore he so frequently chargeth Privacy on them 3. The Multitudes that he fed by Miracle offered so much interruption as to obtrude on the Eternal Soveraign of all World 's such Advancement as to be King of a Dunghil and render him obnoxious to the filly Jealousie of Earthy Kings those Gods of Clay and their beastly Tyranny 4 The Splendor
the Virgin remains a Creature not so mixt as to be confounded and swallowed up by the Deity 3. The two Men in White testified he should so Descend as they had seen him Ascend as is also asserted in the 11th Particular of the Incarnation 4. But the New Man is the Heavenly New Man or Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ being the humble pure Virgin of Wisdom which Adam lost and as it were died to him disappeared retiring into its own Ether The first Adam had as it were repudiated This Chast Holy Image This is by the second Adam the Lord from Heaven restored and married to His and in His to our Earthly Humanity It was His at the instant when the Holy Ghost overshadowed the Virgin Mary It is Ours when by the Holy Ghost we are begotten again and That Divine Image is awakened and stirred up in us 5. Of This let none marvel that my weak hand begs Strength and delights to speak for This is That dear pretious Image of Virginity Purity and Modesty whose Eternal Perfect Sweet Love was by Apostate Adam exchanged for the Lust of a Woman which soon sway'd him to Mortality 6. This as the Sun to the outward World would have been Man's Guide being her self out of the Abyss of Infinite Wisdom This the Promised Seed bringing with him still sweetly and convincingly woo's at the Door of every Man's Heart 7. But in regard she is Heavenly she can have no acquaintance with one that is resolved to be Earthy she will be Married only to That Soul that It regenerateth which Nicodemus understood not at first and none ever can who like not to be divorced from the Old Man and die daily To others these Writings are Sounds not Substances for This Tree of Life may not be toucht by them who love That of Good and Evil. 8. This Heavenly Humanity that disappear'd when Adam fell yields the Water of Life which becomes a Well springing up to Eternal Life This is the Childrens Bread It fills Paradise feeds the Angels and all the Blessed for ever 9. This is the Quintessence of Things the Holy Element whence streamed out the four Elements It is the Life and Vertue of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery It is That Pearl which whoso finds and buys is a cheap Bargain whatever it costs 10. This is Christ's Heavenly Flesh and Blood wherewith he feeds His in the Sacramental Feast But being come now to That which men make occasion of Controversie it may be profitable to discourse it John 6. from 47. v. to 59. v. And again in 63. v. it is said I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven v. 53. Except ye eat his Flesh and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you 11. The Jews understanding This as many still do to be meant of his outward Flesh and Blood said and that rightly How can This Man give us his Flesh to eat for That had been so understood not intended by him and Canibal-like to them 12. But the Lord interprets himself first Negatively in 63. v. not his outward Flesh as they thought to be meant profiteth nothing But Affirmatively v. 50. and 58. the Lord himself is express That the Flesh he meant was also Bread and that Bread was the Bread which came down from Heaven viz. the Word of God Hence arise Two controversial Points different from each other and both from the Truth 13. One Party say they eat the outward flesh which being eaten they swallow into their Beastial Carkass This the other Party opposeth saying That flesh though now glorified remains a Circumscriptive Creature therefore may not be eaten every where at once and that it is not Many but One therefore may not be eaten at all This last Party in opposition to the former yet farther say they eat That Flesh and drink That Blood only by Faith or Imagination but know nothing of the Heavenly Flesh or Humanity but still understand only the outward Flesh. Though the Lord is express in This that it is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing and that his words are Spirit and Life and that it is That Bread which came or cometh down from Heaven 14. The Mouth and Eating of the Soul are real and substantial though not Palpable yet not Imaginary 15. It was not the outward Flesh and Blood they did eat and drink for He sate with them when they did eat and drink Shewing plainly that the Sacramental Flesh and Blood is the Divine Flesh and Blood that came down from Heaven 16. In This Enoch walked with God and fed so heartily on This Food that the Food of the third Principle would no longer down with him This New Wine made the Bottle New This like the Tincture that transmuteth Metals Enflamed and Translated his whole Man so that his very third Principle was swallowed up by the Divine second Principle By This all the Holy Men before Christ's Incarnation were nourished in their Pilgrimage on Earth and by This were carried home to their Native Country 17. This was the Rock that followed them in the Wilderness for they did all eat the same spiritual meat and drink the same spiritual drink and That Rock was Christ. 18. This is the Tree of Life which is Angels Food and had never returned to be the Food of the Fallen Posterity of Adam had not the second Adam opened a door in our hearts thro' which to enter and given as a mouth to eat it and receive Life and Vigour from it This First-Born of every Creature was Heir of all things 19. But This is not the Only begotten Son for so He is the true second Person of the Trinity and Lord of all things but This is the Created Son or Word who is the Heir of all things This is the New Man it is not said This is the Omnipotent God but That Holy Heavenly Image of God wherein the first Adam was Created and which on his Disobedience disappeared as to him and as to him was Dead and said to be the Lamb slain 20. This did the Only begotten Son of God bring with Him He who was the True Second Person of the Trinity did Reunite This in himself to the Fallen and so by Him Restored Human Nature and having made Men Priests made them also Kings reigning over the first and third Principles in Man irradiating and divinely governing the first and sacrificing the Wills-Lusts and misplaced Love to the third Principle 21. This Holy Thing was begotten by the Holy Ghost as the Pure Heavenly Humanity united to the Earthly or Fallen Humane Nature comprising the Essences of the Virgin Mary as a Daughter of Eve 22. The Lord saith He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath Eternal Life He saith not He that eateth and drinketh it worthily hath Eternal Life but he that eateth and drinketh For none can be said to eat That Flesh and drink That Blood that
enkindle the other Senses making it thereby a poor Cottage but badly furnished to serve the Noble Eternal Soul and sweet penetrating intelligent Spirit 5. But the Sun c. is a Principle deeper shewn among other ways by their secret irresistible Agitations and vigorous Influences on all adapted Subjects as also by their unaltered steadiness 6. The last and lowest Principle in the Spirit of this World is the wrathful mortal transient mutable Birth This is one sad consequence of Man's departure from and prophaning of the Holy Powers and of the Evil Angels introducing the dark fierceness of the Properties of the first Principle into the Mystery or Chaos out of which the Fiat by the Separator produced This whole Outward World For the Evil had planted it self in the deep of this Out-birth probably bounded by the Primum Mobile and was call'd by Moses a darkness on the face of the deep 7. And this fierceness is part of the heavy Load thorny Cross severe School and rigorous trying Fire of the Regenerate Sons of God The same is also part of the Over-load Plague and Torment of the Rebellious who in their Anguish curse and look upward And the same is also the vanity and misery the Creatures groan and travel in pain under who shall be delivered from it But the Spirit of This cannot look into the Divine World and if it endeavours to snatch the Virgin Image it is but as a Thief Q. 29. What is the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things A. 1. By Sperm is meant a Seed Root or Ens yielding matter or substance out of which Form is produced And by all things meant in the Question is understood all the Out-world consisting of Stars Elements and their Concretes To which thus understood it is answered 2. That there is an Immediate Cause of all things that may be call'd a Root Seed or Sperm for to believe the Visible World to be its own Cause were Heathenism 3. The Answer is brancht 1. Negatively That this Immediate Cause or Sperm cannot be one of the Principles for in one Principle all Varieties and Properties are not found but in This World is a commixture of all Varieties and Properties Not an Herb or Flower purely a simple but a composition made up of many Properties 4. Nor can This Sperm be all the three Principles themselves for so is nothing below Infinity no not the Divine World but the Omnipotent is the alone Possessor of all the three Principles in him only they all subsist 5. Nor infinitely less can it be God a thought of which were derogatory to the Purity and unapproachable Light and Holiness of His Nature and Essence 6. If therefore the Sperm be not one Principle having but part of the Properties nor all three united because they are inseparably in the One God and that all Properties owe their Fountains to them This Sperm can but only be a product from the same Principle according to and after all the Properties It is therefore not a beginner of Existence but a begun Existence not a beginner of Life but a begun Life 7. Now for an Affirmative Answer The Sperm of all Visible things is a Spiritual and to our outward Eyes Invisible Ens consisting of and containing all the Powers Properties Vertues Varieties and every distinct Genus and Species potentially which the Visible World hath in its multiform express divided parcels 8. It must be confessed to be the great Mystery great because in its womb lie all things A Mystery because all is wrapt up in it and spring from it 9. It is also the Eternal Nature Nature being generated by the Principle and furnished with the Native Birth of all the Properties Eternal as it is the Root of the Temporary Creation and its Centre Retreat and Aether 10. It may also be call'd a Quintessence as it contains in Union all the four Elements and Astral Birth It is the Image and Imager the impresser and bringer into Forms of the whole three Principles and seven Fountain Spirits the Mirrour of all Forms and Powers Is it objected God's Creating all things by His Word is a giving Being where none was exclusive of all Intermediate Causes and the Out-birth was a substance from a Nullity or Vacuum 11. It is answered It is no derogation of Omnipotence having out of himself spoken an excellent Image of himself a Power-world or other Creature that the same generateth more even to Infinity The Trees Fowl Fish Man as well as Elements had all seed in themselves Thus a Carpenter makes Tools and with them makes more 12. The Apostle saith That by Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God so that the things that are seen were not made of things that do appear he saith not they were made of no pre-existent matter but not of things that do appear 13. And Moses recording the Generation of Heaven and Earth saith And the Earth was without Form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep And again The Spirit of God moved on the face of the Waters Loe â—ere is something call'd Earth something call'd Water and some space call'd deep before so much as Light was call'd for But how the Earth Water and Space prove this great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence to have priority of Existence and what that Matter and Space import will fall under the Questions yet behind more properly than here whomsoever God shall enlighten to make Answers to them Q. 30. What is the distinction or difference of the Sperm or Seed betwixt Metals Stones and Vegetables viz. Herbs Trees and Earthy things or Mineral Earths A. 1. David saith With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward The Light and Heat of the Sun exciteth the Mercury and Sulphur to germinate in the Saline Property and so prosper all Vegetations in quite contrary Qualities with equal vigour 2. For as we may not multiply Principles nor Properties so neither may we Sperms all of which may be distinguished rather than divided 3. Their known number and distributions are fully sufficient to methodize innumerable Concretes not admitting the least disorder or confusion but yet abounding with infinite variety and every individual duly ranged into an exact order and subjection as of all the seven so especially of some one who hath peculiar Superiority 4. Hence is it that the Roots Herbs Fruits and Seeds sort themselves after the seven Properties and in them the Sperm is various either as the Spirit of the World or Astral Spirit impresseth the Infusing Matter or Sperm in some according to the Evil Dark Impression and such have much malignity some especially 〈◊〉 mortally vitiated 5. Others in which the Astral Spirit impresseth on the infused Sperm a vertue according to the Light Divine Kingdom subliming those Vegetatives to be cordial sanative and restorative All as the
debilitate or commit a Rape upon that Virginity which is the Tincture of the holy World according to which he was Begotten by the Holy Ghost but it exalted to the highest the assumed Soul 7. Nor was his uniting our frail Astral and Elementary and Sensual Man unto the holy pure Element any Impeachment to the holy Element which in the instant of the Virgin Maries Conception was like a Tincture blessedly put into our Body in him but it was as the first Resurrection to our impair'd divided sleepy impure mortal Man 8. For thus the Soul in the Virgin was taken into the Trinity and the Body in the holy Element which is every where present and evermore pure before God was made Lord in the Heavenly World 9. Yet is thâ—s whole Heavenly Man a Creature tho' the First-born of every Creature and is the Food of our Souls neither is this a confounding the Deity with the Humanity of Christ no more than the Apple is the Tree Or the living Vertue of the Sun in the whole deep is the Sun it self 10. This Virgin of Wisdom is the Image of God the Delight of God the Spouse of Jesus Christ and of so high descent as to be possessed by God in the beginning of his way c. Read Prov. 8. from the 1. to the 31. verse but yet is not God or the Infinite Almighty Deity Thus see we how Christ was on Earth and in Heaven as Son of Man or in his Heavenly Humanity at once and is so still and it is his Office to expel bind vanquish and chain all Devils every where and reign in the Throne of expulsed Lucifer to kill Death and take away the Sting for Hell cannot withstand him 11. This is demonstrated by the Operative Astrum particularly by the seven Regal Stars See we not how Saturn tho' most remote is equally potent in coagulating petrifving giving weight c. as in Lead Stones c. as if he were at the nearest distance Also how Mercury in Jupiter causeth Sensitives and Plants to sprout up tall c. And how Mars Influenceth Men and confines Plants checks Oaks to he crooked knotty dwarfy Shrubs And how calmly and sâ—renely Venus Influenceth every where how the Moon acts Bodies the Circulations and Fluxes of Blood and the Tides which some call the Pulse of that Element How also the Sun chearfully bears witness to himself All these do variousâ— work through all the Creatures within their principle or as 't is term'd the Sphere of their activity all at once in all places of all kinds 12. And shall we straiten the sacred power of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy principle to narrower bounds than we can do the outward Sun which is his outside Image which at once dwells in all the Stars and whole deep in every Creature on and many under the Earth and in every piâ—e of Graâ—s 13. It is demonstrative in the four Elements the same Air fills all Cranies and with degrees of purity so doth it the deep as also the other three Elements in the Out-birth Only within or above the Firmament is another principle understood to be a holy Birth of which it were digressive to speak here 14. And shall we think the one holy pure Element the vertuous Eternal Mother of the more Impure Prophane and Mortal four Elements to have less vigor to operate in the holy principle as the Eternal living Body of Christ than they in the drowsy Travels of Mortality for Productions and Dissolutions 15. The like might be demonstrated by the outward principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury And how they operate in degrees of Purity according to their several Subjects And in a word it may be demonstrated in whole Nature and every Travel it hath But it 's better to be contemplated than exposed into many words Thus the Lords descending to Hell to overcome Death and all Devils is evident not to have been a going a great way off c. but what and how it was and is effected Q. 130. How did Christ 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. preach to the Spirits which in the time of Noah believed not A. 1. Truth hath found worse Entertainment than the Lords seamless Coat for some pretenders to it have rejected what other pretenders have wrested Thus as Maâ—s wickedness makes him unworthy so makes it him unable to hear the truth But tho' we are justly offended at the fictitious Purgatory which Covetousness prompts to tell of yet we must submit to God in his Word all which magnifieth his Mercy and Goodness 2. The Spirits mentioned by Peter were of those overthrown in the Deluge which tho' * one Interprets expresly against the Text to be the preaching before the Flood The Error and Vanity thereof will appear by the following Particulars 3. 1. This Preaching was to Spirits not to Men in the Flesh and certainly they that perished in that Flood were Men living and dying in the Flesh. 2. The Text takes notice there were of that World but few to wit eight Souls saved which hath a serious consideration like that of God to Jonah concerning Popuâ—ous Nineâ—eâ— 3 It is said Christ was put to death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and Preached It is not said that Spirit by which Christ was quickened went and preached but he that was put to death and quickened went and preached 4. The first World Imaged the first Principle and Reuben Jacob's First-born figured the first World And yet Reuben tho' otherwise sinful in a high degree was the only innocent of all Joseph's Brethren of the severity used against him which might open a Door to them viz. the first World figured for the second principle graciously inclineth to inlighten the first Reuben is also readiest to reflect on their sin against Joseph in their distress in Egypt for he was the first Worlds figure as Joseph was the Figure of Jesus Christ. 5. It was to Spirits in Prison not to Men at large Christ when quickened from the dead did Preach which the same Apostle explaining according to this meaning saith 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached to them that are dead not living 6. The Apostle saith he preached to Spirits which were but sometimes disobedient also telling us when viz. in the days of Noah while the Ark was preparing implying they were not disobedient at this time of preaching To this sence are referr'd the words of the Prophesie of Zechary Q. 131. What doth Christs rest in the Grave signifie that he must lye Forty Hours in the Grave In the 98th Answer concerning Moses being Forty days on the Mount is what may be the compleat Answer hereunto to which this is referr'd Q. 132. Why must Christs Grave be guarded with Watchers What doth that signifie that the High-Priests should resist or oppose Gods Power and Might and would keep Christ in
Atheists and Sadduces who would make themselves believe that the whole inward Man is Mortal and annihilable such who not only judge themselves unworthy of Eternal Life but uncapable of Eternal Existence while they grant it to this Mass of Crumbling Earth and Mortal Water and are so extreamly degenerated from the Diviine Image Man was ennobled with that as their outward Life extends not to that length activity and occult Excellencies of many Brutes as Beasts little Animals and some Birds so the infatuated Atheists would that their Souls and Spirits might also run the same Fate and be as tranfient as the vilest of Insects Here is also Diametrical opposition to others who say the whole inward Man is fellow Prisoner with the bestial Flesh till the general Resurrection but the Answers of the two immediately preceding Questions shew what of the Blessed sleepeth and what of the Wicked is Arrested by the King of Terrors And for farther Answer hereunto see the Answer to the 22th of the 40 Questions of J. Behmen of the Soul 5. The Doings of Souls till the last Judgment may stand here in the very words of the Book of Extracts viz. They all meaning the Holy Souls abound with great inward Joy and wait to put on their bright fair new Body out of the old their Joy and Hope is different as Labourers Expectations are who at the End of the Week receive every one according to their degrees of Labour and Diligence Those who have put on Christ's Body here are as one who having overcome his Enemies in Fight represents the Victory before his King who receives him with great Joy and Honour The Expectation of the wicked Soul is as an imprison'd condemn'd Malefactor still listening when any thing stirs and the Executioner comes all their passed Wickedness stands before them in such different Aggravations as they had here Q. 171. What is the last Judgment how is it Effected A. 1. That there shall be such a great general final Day of Judgment grates on the Ears of Atheists but against them the very Devils will rise in Judgment but others there are who would be accounted more religious than many who shut up themselves from the acknowledgment of that Judgment Day and though they are not practically Atheists who put the Evil Day from them yet do these raze it out of their Intellect restraining the Judgment Day of God to his declaring for or against us and our actions here only during this our Pilgrimage all in their Judgment is the Judgment before Death or Resurrection To whom may be said that as they who said the Resurrection is past already did thereby overthrow the Faith of some so they that say the Great Day of Judgment is past already undermine the Faith of many overthrow the Faith of some and direct their force against Truth it self whereon is founded all true Faith which is well founded 2. It is true that Christ in the Light of our Life is from from Age to Age and for ever till Ages cease a Judge in the faln Humanity speaking by his living Word in the Consciences and written Testimony in the Intellect and Memory being the words of his Prophets and Holy ones and evidence of our rightly informed Brethren and Fellow-Members in our Ears by his being a swift Witness by severe Visitations before our Eyes also by Eminent gracious Providences and in the Creation the Earth Elements and Creatures to our other Senses wherein may be read frowns and smiles variously dispensed which are perpetuated in their Seasons as long as Sin is perpetrated unto all reclaimable Transgressors this God doth by his Stars who have a Voice which every Nation hears for with them the Psalmist saith he Preacheth by them and by them both judgeth and fighteth 3. Again the Lord teacheth us to judge our selves which is every ones part but not to judge others for Man's Judgment must be restrained to things not extended to Persons from which we are warn'd and caution'd yet are Men very propense aptand sharp to the latter but very averse partial and slack to the former Men judge Men which is to be noted both after the dark and light Worlds Impressions after the dark thus the four Anguishes composing the first Principle judge each other thence is it that from the Astringency the Covetous judgeth and is judged by the Prodigal again the Covetous as he is a Self-lover and so is timorous judgeth and is reproached by the rash fiery furious one again the Covetous as he is drawn shameless to base fawning ways for profit sake judgeth and is judged by the haughty Proud one Again the insatiable Thirst of heaping up taking from the covetous mind his rest renders him the trouble of his own Life House and Cohabiters yet prompts him to judge the contrary inclination for sloth and dronishness while that other judgeth him so wretchedly slavish that he distrusteth almost his own hands to hoard up his Idols And so of the rest of the Properties resembling the Builders of Babel 4. But God hath given all Judgment to his Son some glimmerings of His Infinite Glory are found in them whose four Forms generate the fifth for in the meek Resignation arising to the Divine Love-fire and Pure Breathings directed by Heavenly Light Judgment proceedeth toward Victâ—ry And it is represented by the fifth Letter in the Hebrew Alphabet which is only as an aspiration or breathing from within outwardly conforming exactly in that respect to the Language of Nature standing united to That of the New Nature for the fifth Form producing the second Birth and being produced by it leads the Creature to the giving up its all in a flame of Love in Jesus Christ to the Father which flame he feels blown up by the Holy Ghost 5. Thus we have seen what God's judging in This mixt World is also what Man 's judging here is according to the Dark World's accusing dividing Properties and also what Man 's judging is according to the little part of the Light World we share of here by which it is evident that all this is to That day of days as a blinking Candle is to the Sun it self Such was the report Paul gave of That day as made Felix tremble tho' an Infidel for as it hath been elsewhere noted tho' some have laught at the Doctrine of the Resurrection none have been so fool-hardy and mad as to slight the report of the General Judgment Enoch the seventh from Adam figuring the end of the six working days or Properties and by his Translation and Son Methusalah the entring on Eternity prophesied of This day all the Prophets Apostles and Holy ones confirm it Christ the Judge himself preacht it with the order manner and particularities of it The Devils knew it and therefore argued Art thou come to torment us before our time 6. He that would say what That great Judgment is can never do it but by parsels and then also cannot
prudent exemplars in Manners great Proficients in Philosophy profound Casuists in Theology with so good progress as if they were Pillars in God's House and all this adorned with a blameless Conversation to human observation 3. But all this destitute and exclusive of a changed Will but retaining unmortified affections and desires having an unregenerate Heart a Soul dead to any Life of Resignation and Sacrifice but is still immutably stubborn is therefore as concerning the Faith reprobate for the right Faith is the right Will which divested of its self-lusts enters into the living Word whereas the other is without God in the World tho' flattering himself all his life long with the merits of Jesus Christ his share in them his Predestination from Eternity his assurance never to fall away whereas he was never risen with Christ but lies drowned with and under the desires of the present Evil World and lives wholly a stranger to the dying of Christ to the emptying of the corrupt self-will for the Pearl is in That man's account too dear nor will he buy Oyl Of the Company and Assistance of the Holy Angels 4. As Men fearing God readily help each other in their misery so do the Holy Angels powerfully assist Men for they affect the company of vertuous humble chast men themselves being very pure chast modest humble friendly and know no deceit or iniquity they have also great delight among little Infants and sometimes manifest themselves to them and play with them if they be the Children of God for they do nothing but what is innate in them both the Angels and the Children They have also great joy for one poor Soul delivered from the Snares of the Devil and are at hand ready to deliver such in their greatest extremities having an over ballance of Power to that of the Evil Angels else what Ruins would the Devils make in the busie execution of their Office in the Turba magna of terrible Storms c. as far as the fierce Wrath is therein enkindled were they not curb'd and drove away by the ministration of the Heavenly Hosts of the holy and mighty Angels sent out by the Almighty gracious Jehovah 5. There is therefore no cause at all of despair tho' the whole World seem to be against us Nor are Prayers to be made to them for they accept not that honour but direct us to God Whatever befals us is to purifie us as Gold for God aims to have fair lovely Children and of understanding to discover the Deceits of the Old Serpent God sets Heaven and Hell before us therefore must the Soul have Understanding to chuse and Faith to fight for it must be a continual Warriour If we make our selves fierce false covetous proud Devils we are so but if we image in our Souls humble meek submissiveness with a love to follow the Lord we enter into the Holy Principle and are in the Paradiâ—ical and Angelical Regiment Let all therefore be warned according to what they form their Spirits which is commended to seasonable and most serious and continued consideration CHAP. XV. Of the mixed World its wicked exercise being a Glass wherein every one may try out of what Spirit themselves are 1. MOst just and necessary is it to reprehend practical Impieties Immoralities and Debauchery especially among such professing goodness the which unchristian Conversation is chargeable on high and low Priest and People old and young who all are yet apt to account this a Golden Time and bless themselves in it tho' it is a time of lamentation being the opening of the last Seal and of pouring out the Vial of God's Wrath bringing to light the Wonders of Hell particularly the Pride and Oppression derived from those sent to the University enslaving the People in their Understandings by Constitutions Orders Statutes c. and in their Bodies and Estates by wresting from them their sweat and the fruit of their labours wherewith these pamper themselves a practice not grounded in Nature but is hellish for there one Form vexeth and plagueth another so that among these the Dog is more happy than the poor of the people 2. And this hath another consequent Evil in that it induceth and in a sort inforceth the poor to imitate them and to live by deceit doing that also swinishly which the other do in pride and bravery All which is convinced of great madness considering the shortness and uncertainty of the present time the great strict solemn Judgment day and the Eternity of the Life to come on the brink whereof we stand ready to enter unconceivable happiness by the narrow way or intolerable misery and shame by the broad way Yet this Chapter concludes that a sincere Christian doth not here wholly know himself seeing comparatively nothing but his vices for his Sanctity Christ hideth under his Cross. CHAP. XVI Of praying and fasting what praying its power use benefit and preparation to God's Kingdom is 1. THE earnest restless hunger and thirst of Man's Spirit after the meek rest of Divine Love from the Property of the driver being so impetuous that the Morning calleth to the Evening the Night to the Day and one Day to another panting when will the refreshment come Sheweth whence Man came and how greatly he is strayed having no place of rest till he be driven back to his still Eternal Mother the Eternal Nature for here the driver taketh him by the very throat he lieth as one among the slain in a great Battle who dares not lift up his head for fear of the cruel overflowing Conquerors or as one surrounded with malicious Foes who all strike at him to murther him or as one fallen into a deep Pit hoping for help only from above or as one fallen into a deep Sea swimming yet seeing no shoar sigheth for help from Heaven 2. So is it with Man's Soul for if the Soul search its own flesh blood marrow and bones they are Enemies incompassing and captivating it the Spirit of this World suppresseth it and would like a Sea drown it by pampering the Bestial Life the Devil also as a cruel proud Enemy draweth it into the fierce aking Abyss striking at it with hellish anguish and despair 3. Then if it will be saved its Will must depart from the outward and from its own thoughts and mind into God's mercy for the Word that made Man's Soul became Man and his holy Humanity the flesh of the Eternal Word his food his blood also the Water of Eternal Life is as a puâ—e new Body and this Word was a meek pure desirous Love and then the Holy Ghost leads it out of Prison from the Battle of the driver cooling its flames and the Soul becomes an humble Child 4. When the whole man resolves into a Will of leaving every Evil and seeking God with the whole heart he is received as Daniel when he began to set himself to pray and chasten himself the command came forth But the Life is
bloody sweat his being contemned crowned with Thorns his mixt draught of Gall and Vinegar this made the Earth tremble 2. They dreaded now the Lord's voice for the Turba of the Dark World awakened its sad knell In the cool of the day that is when Adam's Eternal day in the Temperature was awakened into cold and heat 3. But in the Lord's voice was the holy Light world Christ the second Principle who in deepest Love espoused it self again to the disappeared heavenly Ens And the holy Word re-entring into the vital Light did reincorporate it self in the Woman's seed which in time did move its self in Mary's seed quickening the disappear'd heavenly Virginity by introducing the holy living Ens. 4. This ingrafted Word was inspoken into Eves Matrix as a limit of a certain Covenant which was all along propagated in Eves seed from Man to Man in the heavenly part as a glimmering incentive of the Divine holy Lights fire until the awakening of it in Mary where the Covenant was fulfilled by the most holy name Jesus signified by the holy Fire in the Jewish Sacrifices kept from prophane strange Fire 5. This bruised or brake the Serpents head that is did infuse inspire recal in-hest the right Virgin Purity with the precious holy name Jesus who introduced the living heavenly Ens into the disappeared captiv'd Ens and mortified the Serpents desire in flesh and blood 6. For the Child of the Man and Woman is a Bastard nor shall inherit but the chaâ—t Virgins Child born out of the death of the brutal and bestial Man and Woman with both Tinctures of peculiar Love He is the Heir who dieth not and at the Resurrection shall take on it the pure Limus of the Earth viz. the third Principle as a Garment CHAP. XXIV The Cause of the Curse and of the Body of Sickness 1. THE Curse was that the holy Element Tincture or Ens which had budded and bare fruit through the Earth holding captive the Property of the four Elements hid withdrew kept it self secret and became a mystery to Man in his awakened vanity who remained with a half Serpentine desire of Earthy hunger half dead between Time and Eternity chain'd till he should return to Earth wâ—ence he was as to one part extracted and be sown into the Earth but as a fixt Metal is not destroyed but the Artist brings thence excellent Gold so the fixt part of the Human Body waits only for the Divine Artist to raise it which because it must be tryed by Fire such as the Ens is such shall be the enkindled Fire 2. All wicked Serpentine works shall as Quick-silver evaporate But if Man's Human Soul hath impressed into the mortal part of the Limus of the Earth by Divine Desire and Faith a Divine Ens it lieth as precious Gold shut up in Lead or Dross as a glimmering â—incentive waiting till the great Artist release it to burn and shine 3. Our gracious God not only gave his holy living Word for cure of all whose minds casting away abominations immerse themselves thereinto but knowing Man would not stand caus'd all Medicinal Herbs for hunger and health to grow for him Thus Man hath his Cure the Devil hath not 4. God created Man naked what ever is in the World is his but it is common but the hunger for Propriety Power and Domination is of the Serpent 5. Therefore must we become as little Children and so rule over the besâ—ial Man So great is the Enmity God hath put between the two seeds in Man who now is according to the outward Man a Beast according to the inward an Angel or Devil CHAP. XXV How God drove Adam out of Paradise and laid the Cherub before the Garden v. 18. 1. LUcifer's Fall tainted the Limus of the Earth before it was brought into compaction Adam's outward Body was taken out of the Limus of the Earth Him God set to be Judge by his Word having the Judicial Sword against the Devil's enkindled wickedness v. 17. 2. Also God seeing Adam's first Body should fall to ruine brought him and Eve into Paradise that afterward they and their Children might by Regeneration re-enter thither in the Spirit of Christ through the Fire-Sword 3. When Man dieth if the Soul be captivated in God's Anger and be not a Virgin Child it cannot pass the Sword v. 5. 4. This Sword is also in Man the Virgin-bud forceth through in the anxiety of true Repentance Then riseth the Morning Star in the occluse or shut up Gate of the true Womans seed v. 13. 5. Yet at death if the Soul hath taken in much of the Serpents craft or lust it stands under God's Anger till the Consumption of the introduced vanity which to many is Purgatory enough 6. For the Fire-Soul must be as pure as the clear refined Gold to be the Husband of the Noble Virgin Sophia the Lights Tincture to speak which needs an Angels Tongue 7. Before the Foundation of the World God chose this Limus out of which he would make Man in Christ Jesus For the Ens thereof had somewhat of false lust by reason of the Devils introduced desire therefore a time of the Judgment of Severation was then founded and a new Limus out of the tainted one CHAP. XXVI Of the Propagation of Man in this World and of Cain the Murtherer of his Brother THIS Chapter treating copiously of Free Will and Predestination the Extract of it is forborn and it 's referr'd to the Extracts of the Book of Election CHAP. XXVII Of Abel's and Cain's Sacrifices 1. THE Souls Free-will originating from the Abyss is thin or subtile and must amass or conceive it self into something wherein to work As Gods Free-will conceived or massed it self with the inward Spiritual World and works through it and that Worlds Free-will amassed the outward World and works through it 2. And because that which the Soul had amassed was distempered with Sin â—acrificing came In the inkindling whereof by Magical and Love-fire not ordinary Fire the Free-will of the Soul and of the Heavenly part of the Body did immass into a substance As a Figure of the New-birth in Christ and by consuming the Bestial Man did press in before the Holiness of God For here the Lubet of God did meet the Inspired Free-will of the Heavenly Humanity Here is the sinful Man consumed by Gods Anger-fire and cut off by the flaming Fire-Sword of the Cherub and the Serpents Head bruised 3. The Souls Free-will which was Inspired wholly pure into Man is in the Covenant in Jesus attoned and again Tinctured by Gods Love-fire as Brass or Iron is tinged and changed to Gold For the Earthy part wherein lay the Curse being consumed the Essence became Spiritual Even so the Soul by Sorrow and Repentance introduceth it self into a Divine desire which is called Faith 4. Also the words of the Prayer of Abel and Israel became amassed into an Incorruptible Essence And this desire of Faith or Essence
had but one which he begat at thirty years of Age. The one pointing at Christ the only Son the thirty at the number of thirty years at which Age Christ manifested himself in his Office And the Spirit nameth five that came out of Sem's Loins and saith he begat more but nameth them not pointing at the five head Speeches from the high Name of God The Spirits of the Letters in the Alphabet are from the one Spirit in the Language of Nature The Vowels the holy Name JEOVA into which the Ancient Wisemen skilful in this Tongue put in H which was done with great understanding for by that the Divine Lubet doth breathe forth it self All five fold themselves up into three A O V Father Son Holy Ghost The Triangle signifying the three Properties the V the Spirit in the H. The other Letters in the Alphabet without the Vowels come of the word Tetragrammaton or oâ— four Letters The twenty four Letters by the Builders of Babel were taken severally after all the three Principles to make up the seventy two Languages CHAP. XXXVI Of Babel and the Mystery of the Speeches sprung thence and the Recovery therefrom 1. MOses saith Nimrod Grandson of Ham began his Kingdom at Babel not that Ham's Children only did thus but Sems and Japhets joyned as one People to build a Tower to get up to God by and make them a great Name 2. This Tower is the Type of the fallen selfish Man having lost the right understanding of God elevated its own fancy And now the Spirit of the mental Tongue of the five Vowels the Language of Nature by which Adam gave Names being departed they conceived the sensual divided confused Tongues whereof as also of the dark World this Tower was a Figure where is understood the Beast the Animal Ham-like Man and the Whore the Self-will revolted from God by which the poor Captive Soul lies bound under Vanity till the corner stone the Rock of offence bruise the divided sensual Tongues 3. All Rabbies of all Nations who run devoid of God's Spirit are Builders here and though they all destroy each other yet are of one Spirit and worship Maozim the God of Forces 4. Now to become one again must the division be kill'd by giving up the Will into the one JEHOVAH or JESUS and know only what God willeth to know in us The Spirit of the five Vowels and the one is in us the Letter killeth the Spirit giveth life Like as the Divine â—un worketh in and through us as it pleaseth him so must we diffuse our Virtue and Will with all Simplicity and Purity For the living Word is therefore become Man that the literal Image might die and the first Man be regenerated in Christ's Spirit who once Born then the Image-Teachers rather hinder than help by setting up their imagination into the Temple of Christ. 5. Babel must fall not be pieced and patcht for so the Whore is only trimmed not made a Virgin for she is judged the Zeal of the Lord doth it 6. The Spirit of the Lord forms into the Word of the Mouth Truth Faith Love Patience c. of the Serpent come Lies stinging Envy Pride Covetousness c. by which let every Man prove himself For speech and understanding come not from the Stars and Elements for then other Creatures could also speak but from the formed Word of God it is the Name of God which Man must not abuse on pain of Eternal Punishments 7. This incorporated Word Man hath out of all the three Principles with Power to form a Substance out of which Principle he will and therefore must follow at last a reaping in of every thing into its own receptacle CHAP. XXXVII Of the Line of Abraham and of the Heathenish Gods 1. FROM Noah exclusive to Abram inclusive are Ten Names in the Line of the Covenant viz. Sem Arphaxâ—d Salah Eber Pelâ—g Regu Sâ—rug Nâ—â—or Terah Abram in whom is understood the ten Forms of Fire the seven first of which are formed in the seven Forms of Nature The 8th is the Fire of the Eternal Nature which at the end shall purge the Floor the Ninth is the heavenly Tincture of the Fire and Light and the Tenth is the Love-fire viz. The Holy Trinity in the Majesty 2. Out of the ten Properties of the Names in the Line of the Covenant the Oracle the Divine Voice was manifest in Abraham and therefore he must go from his own Kindred he should not see God in his own Country viz nâ—t in the Earthy Man He should have a great Name viz. in the Person of Christ for Abram had no Dominion here but was a Stranger and Christ saith his Kingdom is not of this World 3. And whereas God bid Abram look Eastward West North and South and all that Land should be his and his Seeds for ever t is still so Abraham and his Seed have it in the Eternal not in the External Kingdom in the Holy Paradisical Principle though the Turk hath it in the four Elements in the Holy Spiritual part shall Eternally hold it when the Earth shall be crystallized like a glassy Sea 4. The three Sons of Terah were Nahor Haran and Abraham a Type of the three Principles to be opened in the Holy flaming Line of the Covenant 5. The Oracles of the Heathenish gods originate from the inward dark Fire-World and the outward Astral and Elemental World They knew the Stars and Elements rul'd the outward Life whence they found the Soul of the World like a Horologe did shew the rearing up and dissolving of Nations Kingdoms and Men. 6. From this Soul the Horologe of Nature through the sence of the Astrum which their Faith that they powerfully brought thereinto did move and stir up had they Answers from their Images and Idols and not wholly by the Devil as Men ignorantly say who themselves worship the Image God Maozim and Mammon CHAP. XXXVIII Of the Beginning of the Heathenish War of Abraham's rescuing Lot and of Melchisedeck 1. THE Gentiles and Children of Ham at Sodom when the Powers of the formed Word the Properties of Nature did divide themselves into Enmity and Selfishness the Centre of the Nature of the Dark World domineered in Man fallen from the Kingdom of God's Love and Humility unto the outward Stars and Elements and became half Devil and half Beast would be great destroy by War and possess though they had the whole Earth before them But Pride Covetousness Envy and Anger are the Roots of War in which the Devil and all wicked Creatures live 2. But God as far as he is called God viz. according to the second Principle desireth nothing Destructive but according to the first is a Zealous God a consuming Fire so that when Nations kindle that wrath God did bid Israel smite them else the Fire of his Anger would have kindled it self in them and made them as at Sodom 3. God's Anger was set on
Fire in Adam and passed on all Men and the gross bestial Property the Serpents Ens and enkinded Anger was in Abraham and his Childrens own Property as in the Children of Ham except the Line of Christ which was in God's Power and stood in them as Heaven doth in this World also in Hell or as the Day doth in the Night yet not confounded So in the angers Property Abraham and his Family smote the Heathen and rescued Lot so also have the Children of the Saints waged War 4. But such who would be call'd Christians do wage War not as Christians but as Heathens for the Christian is dead with Christ to Wrath and the four Elements and new born in Christ's Spirit of Love and Patience he is not of this World liveth not to himself but to God his Conversation is in Heaven Nor did Abraham desire ought he took the Goods he restored to the King of Sodom 5. Melchisedeck the Royal Priest was the real figure of Christ who blessed Abraham left the Turba after his fighting should return on him To him Abraham gave Tithes viz. the 10th Property of the Human fiery Tongue of the Soul And the Priest gave his Bread and Wine and Blessing thereinto viz. Love-fire Tincture of the Light Heavenly Substantiality that the Soul 's fiery Tincture might again become a compleat Image of God with Male and Female Property Heavenly Corporiety by the King of Salem viz. of Salvation CHAP. XXXIX God's Covenant with Abraham his Faith and Sacrifice 1. A Abraham's Faith was his receiving the Speaking Word of God viz. in the Promise into his Human Ens His Desire viz. the aim of the Covenant or formed Word and both these were formed into one Power and real Spiritual Substance For Faith is the taking hold of God's Will and Uniting it to ours 2. The Offerings were of three sorts of Beasts a Heifer a She-Goat and a Ram each three years old betokens the whole outward threefold Man of Salt Mercury and Sulphur The dividing them the twofold Limus of the Earth viz The gross Property out of the Dark World the other the Limus out of the Heavenly Worlds Property which lyes in one Compaction in the Earth whence Man was created The Turtle Dove the poor Soul captivated in the bestial Property The young Pigeon the inward disappeared Humanity Their not being divided shews nothing shall be taken from the Soul nor from the inward Man of the Heavenly Limus The Fowls which Abraham drove away the Essence of the wrathful Property of God's Anger in Man which hungreth after the Humanity and would devour the same Abraham's deep Sleep the Death of Christ. The horror the Wrath of God The darkness the dark World into which the Word should enter and resign its Will The enkindled Fire passing between the pieces the Holy Love-fire tincturing all into a pure Gold The Servitude in Egypt that Christ in his Members should be only a Pilgrim and that we are here in the Kingdom of the Heathen where God's Children must be embroiled in Servitude with them to which the Potent do compel the Poor whereto he must be subject else he resisteth the Kingdom of Nature viz the formed Word But if the Worldly Rulers rule only according to their Will and Lusts they will find that God will Judge them CHAP. XL. Of Hagar and Ismael 1. THE scope of this toucheth that of Predestination For as much as Ismael and Esau are erroneously taken to be of Eternal reprobation we are to know that Ismael representeth the Father's Property and Kingdom of Nature in Adam Isaac the Sons Property and Kingdom of Grace in the second Adam 2. Babel indeed blindly teacheth that God hath ordained a certain Number and Company to Damnation and the rest to Salvation but if so Nature must needs be limited confin'd and determin'd when to bring forth a Child of God or of Wrath and nothing would be in the Human Property free yea God himself must confine and shut up his unchangeable one Infinite Will into a Beginning and Limit which opens a Gate to horrid Prophaneness makes void God's Holy Laws and Rules renders needless the offers of Grace and bars up the Door of Repentance 3. Yet the Holy Name of God thus taken in Vain is from Eternity free and offers it self to all poor Sinners Thus the Angel met Hagar and blessed Ismael then in her Womb who figur'd the Runagate Adamical self Will for God inwardly calls all wicked Men not only in the Womb but all the time of their lives as the Sun shines all the Day 4. So God calls the Turks and Heathens figur'd by Cain Ham Ismael and Esau who are in the Kingdom of Nature as Ismael in Hagars Womb they went not to Isaac but to Abraham nor these to Christ's â—erson but to God and he heareth them in Christ. They and painted Christendom are as the two Sons one promis'd but did it not the other said he would not but went and â—id it so may they attain the Adoption though the letter Christians grumble at the returning Prodigal who is nevertheless embraced by the Father CHAP. XLI Of the Seal of the Covenant of Circumcision and of Baptism 1. GOD ratified his Covenant with Abraham by the Seal Circumcision shewing what Ens was Blessed also what must and what in Man must not inherit viz. not the gross Earthy Man conceived in the bestial Lust of Man and Woman 2. That Copulation is only born with by Divine Patience and Permission Man having lost the Magical Birth of Paradice and therefore was every Male circumcised on that Monstrous Member The bestial Seed of Man and Woman being the Seed of their own Will shall not put on the Covenant and Blessing but he who is not Born of the Will of Man nor of the Flesh but of God 3. The Earthy Members die in the Spiritual Birth through Christ's Death Externally 't is cut off in the Temporal Death and 't is Buried in the Eternal Death in the Nothing and a new Angelical Form shall arise 4. The Males were only Circumcised for Adam had both the Tinctures and was a Masculine Virgin It was to be on the eighth Day because six Days are the Man in Nature the Seventh is the Day of Rest which he had brought into disquietness by reason that the seventh Property the Heavenly Nature died in him therefore God gave him of Grace another Day viz. the Eighth which is Christ. Ismael was the first Man though a Mocker thus taken into Covenant for Christ came for Ismael's sake also though the Doctrine of some damâ— Children from the Womb. 5. Baptism is for both Sexes on all Days shewing the need all have and Christ's Universal offer of God's Mercy also pointing out Christ's Humanity who was both Circumcised and Baptized and the First born from the Dead But the Ens of Faith by the Spirit was the Fire-baptism for both Jews and Christians CHAP. XLII Of the three Men
the Pilgrimage leave the Temporal Honour and Goods to Esau. When Jacob had left the Riches of the World he saw the Ladder which was Christ leading to the Eternal Kingdom and by It the Angelical World descendeth uniting Heaven to the World in Man while the World Hate Reproach and Persecute them An Example of which Mocking are Esau's two Ishmaelitish Wives 2. God said In thy Seed shall all Nations be blessed shewing that Christ hath truly taken on him our Humanity the Adamical Soul in which the Divine Ens hath unfolded the highest Love in the Name Jesus and overcome the Wrath of the Eternal Nature in our Souls which is from the Fathers Property in the Anger and chang'd it into Love and Divine Joy not through a strange Divine Seed only but in and through Adam's Soul and Body destroy'd Hell which was reveal'd in Paradise 3. Jacob's Fear when he awaked Typified Christs Agony in the Garden CHAP. LVII How Jacob kept Laban's Sheep Fourteen Years for his Two Daughters c. 1. RAchel is here the Figure of the Noble Sophia the Bride of Christ whom the Soul having once seen with great Joy earnestly desireth and serveth as Jacob seven years willingly for But at the Wedding the other Sister Leah signifying the Cross of Christ is laid by him that the Soul may not sport it self in the Garden of Roses but be in Trouble Tried and Humbled Her tender Eyes signifie tenderness of Heart 2. And then the Virgin Sophia is given to it but what That Joy is They only know who have been Guests to this Wedding which Joy afterwards passeth away and the Noble Sophia is as it were Barren Mean while Leah under the Cross of Christ beareth Fruit with Patience and Labour 3. And as Rachel said Give me Children or else I die so saith Sophia Work in my Love desire Divine Fruit else I will depart which the Soul in its own power cannot but doth Therefore Pray earnestly Thenis Joseph the Prince of Egypt viz the House of Flesh and Blood where dwells the Heathenish Pharaoh the Bestial Spirit but over It and Reason also is the humble chast modest Joseph made Ruler 4. But the Children of Leah Reuben c. bare the Figure of Lust Glory c. The rest of this Chap. is referr'd to 77. of the Myst. Mag. and Gen. 49. CHAP. LVIII Of Jacob's serving Laban and of his Wives and Children and Wages 1. JAcob was in a servile condition twenty years till he had begat the Twelve Stocks of the Twelve Tribes So is a Christian Born under the servile Yoke of the domineering self Adamical will And their being Begotten in Servitude shews Gods Children are but strange Guests here but shall go out with great Riches Leah's being despised for her blear Ears shews the same 2. The inward Figure is Adam went out of Paradise and serv'd the Kingdom of this World yet as he was going out God shewed him the entrance in again viz. by the Womans Seed as is signified by Jacob's Ladder mean time the Kingdom of the Stars c. vexeth Adam with heat cold sickness and misery Jacob's getting great Riches by peeling Rods c. shews how Adam's Children should by subtle working in Nature acquire to themselves for a Propriety the Wonders in Nature which they shall carry away as an Eternal Propriety so did the Destroyer of the Serpent with Divine subtilty put on Humanity and took away the outward Kingdoms Power 3. The ring streaked speckled and grizled denotes the half Earthy and again the new-born heavenly Nature 4. The Kingdom of Nature lay in Adam in the Temperature all the Properties were of equal weight but when the will of the Soul went into the separation it was thereby captivated till the Divine subtilty draws the Kingdom of Nature to it self and re-entreth with the Wonders in its new Man again into Paradise 5. But Jacob's peeling the Rods justifieth not subtilty of deceit but only is a Figure representing the Spiritual subtilty 6. And as Laban disappointed Jacob by changing his Wages ten times so goes it with the Child of God here whose expectation of Gods Blessing is often frustrate but yet his Faiths desire draweth to him Christ the Eternal Wages and in him the out-spoken Word the Kingdom of Nature wherein lye the Wonders and Being of Man which is kept to the great separation when every one shall reap what he hath here sown 7. Jacob had Dinah by Leah who was the Figure of Eve who fell by her Curiosity 8. When Rachel had Born Joseph whose great chastity and fear of God shews Gods Blessing had stirred up the Tinctures of the Kingdom of Nature then doth Jacob call for and receive his Wages for Joseph that is Christ was Born who should feed him and give the Eternal Succor by bringing his Father and Brethren into his Lords Countrey CHAP. LIX Of Jacob's departure from Laban c. 1. LAban's Children said Jacob hath gotten all our Fathers Goods and Laban's Countenance was changed pointing us that when Christs Spirit in Man hath won the rule of the Humane Nature then the Serpent in the wrath of Nature enviously opposeth the poor Soul pressing for worldly Honour and Pleasure But then God saith to the Soul as here to Jacob Return into thy Fathers Countrey viz. into the Eternal Word out of which it proceeded which it doth and flyeth as did Jacob. 2. And as Laban so do the wicked World pursue but God aweth them Thus also is Christ Figured who put himself in Mans servile Yoke took Adam's Daughter viz. the Humane Nature in Flesh and Blood and in the end carried to his Fathers Countrey his acquired Goods which Laban nor his Company viz. the Devil nor his could not rob him of 3. Laban's Gods stoln by Rachel might well be the Images or Statues of those of his Ancestors deceased his Love of whom made them patterns for his Instruction 4. Rachel's stealing them hath an inward and an outward Figure First Christ took the Rachel our Humane Nature which had taken to it self the Idol wills and broke those Idols Outwardly it points that as Jacob left Laban so did Israel Egypt but brought their fleshly Idol desires with them which in time swerv'd them from the true God 5. But Laban's pursuing noteth those of Natures Kingdom persecuting them that leave Babel's Worship and Pageantry refusing to be conducted on their way by the Worlds Mirth Tabrets and Solemnity for Christ being Born in them their Mind leaveth Adam's servile House of Images and Gods Host of Angels are appointed his Guardians CHAP. LX. Of Esau's going to meet Jacob with Four Hundred Men. Jacob's Present and Wrestling c. 1. ESau's coming with four hundred Men signifieth the Kingdom of Nature in the Anger of God which was the first born and in the four Elements at which Jacob was astonished so was Christ at Mount Olivet 2. Jacob's dividing the Herds into two companies points at Christs
Faith and Opinions about Religion being really dumb Idols 4. Therefore as it was necessary that the Natural Magick should be discontinued where the Faith of Christ was manifest so is it now more necessary that the Natural Magick were again restored that Titular Christendoms Idols might through the formed Word in Nature also by new Regeneration be suppressed not to take up Heathen Idols again but to shew by the formed Word in Love and Anger with its re-expression the Essence of all Essences 5. The seven Fat Kine and good Ears of Corn denote the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature in the good and holy Ground the Lean Kine and Blasted Ears the seven Properties in the Wrath. The seven Fat and Well-favoured Kine and full Ears Figure what God made Man at first and the seven Lean and Blasted shew what Man made himself to be And Joseph Figureth Mans Restoration by his Deliverance and Advancement CHAP. LXIX How the Famine driveth Joseph's Brethren to him and how he shew'd himself to them 1. THE 42 of Gen. Figureth excellently the real Christian who by Persecution is in Christs process And how he not only forgiveth but is graciously bountiful to his Persecutors Also how Sin brings Anxiety on them And Gods severity against Sin that the Sinner may dread it and leave it 2. By Benjamin the youngest Brother is signified the Adamical Humanity viz. that Image of the Heavenly Worlds substance which faded in Adam 3. The particular parts of this 42. Chap are so manifest that the inlightened Soul tho' it runs may read its Tendency Figure or Language CHAP. LXX Jacob's Sons went into Egypt the second time and did eat at Joseph's Table yet knew him not 1. THIS 43. Chap. sheweth how the outward Nature bringeth all its Lifes Essences very timorously into Christs Death yet in the end is made willing to enter into the dying of self As Jacob having lost Joseph and Simeon is content to give up Benjamin also and this â—eath it willingly tasts on Divine confidence that it bringeth the will of God with it 2 This Chapter shews how the Forms of Life by reason of an evil Conscience tremble before God as Jacob's Sons before Joseph 3. It shews how God entertains the Soul by feeding him at his Table tho' in a strange Form then lets him go in Peace yet afterwards comes with a terrible Tryal as Joseph did them with his Cup in Benjamin's Sack which Cup signifieth the Lords Testament I reâ—train my Extracts to this brevity because the total of the Excellent Discourse oâ— this Chapter is so evident an Exposition as if written by the Sun-Beams CHAP. LXXI Of Joseph's Cup being put into Benjamin's Sack 1. JOseph's Brethren stand here in the Figure of the truly converted Christian. Joseph of the Wrath of God in Nature The Cup in that of Christ's Sufferings Thus Joseph's Brethren viz. The Christian is by the Wrath of God in the fleshly Evil Nature the Evil World and the Devil accused to have stoln the Silver Cup of Christ's Sufferings who though Innocent do give themselves up to suffer Bonds Servitude Shame and Death Christ saith He came not to send Peace on Earth but Strife c. 2. Those of our own Family in Flesh and Blood must be Enemies as a Tree groweth in heat and Cold and Storms so in Strife groweth the Tree of Pearl 3. The Cup 's being uppermost in the Sack denotes Gods Peoples Sufferings to be uppermost viz. on all viz. continually From the 10th Verse to the 37th is a most profound convincing Discourse of the use of Strife 4. Joseph's Brethren answered the Steward him with whom the Cup is found let him be put to Death and we will be my Lords Servants Shewing 1. How ready the Man who received some Grace is to justifie himself They would not be thought Thieves though they had stoln even Joseph himself 2. How confident they are in their justification He that did it should die and they all would be his Servants 5. The Christian presently thinks he should be exempt from Sufferings and all wrong him But his guilt standeth open before God's Righteousness who requireth Man to be in the imitation and process of Christ in his Sufferings and Death Therefore hath the Christian no Excuse when God causeth him to be laid hold on in Anger by his Steward the Children of this World as a Thief Novellist Enthusiast Heretick which though imputed to them wrongfully from the World yet is he guilty of all Adamical Sins and suffereth in Christ's Process justly what Christ suffered innocently 6. And they hasted and searched every Mans Sack beginning at the Eldest and the Cup was found in Benjamin's Sack and they rent their Cloaths and returned When Adam sinned the Law fetched him back into the City viz. The Earth out of which the Body proceeded there did Righteousness search all the Natural Properties beginning at the first Form of Nature but the Cup of Joseph viz. of Christ was found only in Benjamin's viz. in the youngest Brother's Sack viz. the Youngest the Word of the inspoken or inspired Grace 7. And Judah went with his Brethren and they fell down before Joseph c. The Law having brought Man back cannot answer but yields But God would not have future Israel to be his Servant the first Forms viz. in outward Worship only but Benjamin the inward heavenly Worlds Substance 8. Judah who was Surety for Benjamin his Pleading so hard that he durst not go home without him lest he bring his Fathers grey hairs c. Shews That if the Adamical Man should go into Paradice without Christ's Life and Substance the Life's Nature would not be manifest viz. would not live in the Kingdom of Heaven CHAP. LXXII How Joseph manifested himself before his Brethren 1. BEcause the Law could not bring Man back into Paradise the great Joseph of meer Compassion seeing Mans Misery could no longer withhold but cried Let every one go forth viz. When Jesus would manifest his highest Mercy the Law Ceremonies and Mans Ability and will must depart 2. Then Joseph wept aloud so that the Egyptians Pharaoh's People heard him viz. the Weeping and Compassion of Jesus sounded to the Heathen and Nations and he said I am Joseph your Brother Doth my Father yet live viz. I am Jesus in thee is the Father's Nature viz. a Breath of the Divine Life yet in the Soul And they could not answer him nor can the Soul for the Soul 's own will is terrified to Death there is a gnawing guilt making him Dumb. 3. Then saith Joseph Come near be not careful nor think that I am angry that you sold me for God sent me to preserve you alive viz. I am no more angry that I have been sold into thy Death for it was that I might nourish thee 4. There will yet be five years of Famine viz. the Divine hunger will yet remain in thy five Senses 5. Make
28. A Table of the Divine Manifestation or an Exposition of the Threefold World 29. Of the Errors of the Sects of Ezekiel Meeths or an Apology to Esaias Stefel 30. A Book of the last Judgment 31. Certain Letters to divers Persons at divers times with certain Keys for some hidden words The Books which the Author finished not are marked with this sign The publication of his first Book called Aâ—rora or the Morning Redness brought from all parts great resort to him of Learned Men and such as were experienced in the knowledge of Nature with whom much conversing he got the use of those Greek and Latine words that are frequent in his Works himself often complaining of the Barrenness of his Mother Tongue to bring forth into significant Expression that Notion that lay clear and orderly in his Mind and frequently wished that he had in his Youth made himself master of some other Language from whence he might perhaps have commanded a Word or Phrase of great use and conveniency to the unfolding what he had to propose Of those Learned Men that conversed with him in greatest familiarity was one Bâ—lthazar Wâ—â—ter this Gentleman was a Sile 〈◊〉 by Birth by Profession a Physician and had in the search of the Ancient Magick Learning Travell'd through Egypt Syria and the Araby's and there found such small remainders of it that he returned empty and unsatisfied into his own Country where hearing of this Man he repaired to him and having obtained Acquaintance with him rejoyced that at last he had found at home in a poor Cottage that for which he had Travelled so far and mist of satisfaction then he went to the several Universities in Germany and did there collect such questions concerning the Soul as were thought and accounted impossible to be resolved fundamentally and convincingly of which he made a Catalogue being in number forty and sent them to him from whom he received Answers to his satisfaction which Answers are publick in many Languages from whence and from frequent Discourses with him he was so satisfied that he staid there three Months and professed that he had received more solid Answers to his curious Scruples than he had found amongst the best Wits of those more promising Climates and for the future desisted from following Riâ—ulets since God had opened a Fountain at his own Door The Translator of the said Answers into English gives us the following Relation That when that Book was first printed he endeavoured by a Friend to present one of them to His Majesty King Charles that then was who vouchsafed the perusal of it About a Month after was desired to say what he thought of the Book who answered that the publisher in English seemed to say of the Author that he was no Scholar and if he were not he did believe that the Holy Ghost was now in Men but if he were a Scholar it was one of the best Inventions that ever he read I need not add the Censure of any other Person It is a strange thing to see how Nature Reason and Humane Wit have busied themselves to understand and comprehend this Divine Wisdom how many have been distracted in the search of it and forced back in their bold attempts into foolish Infatuations Madness and stupid Brutisms Others through Ignorance or Malice or both have mistaken the true Sons of Wisdom traducing them as being agitated by a power Diabolical Wicked and Detestable or else as Impostors and Deceivers of the worst sort Thus the Pharisees concerning our Saviour Say we not well thou art a Samaritan and hast a Devil So loth is Humane Reason to submit to or conceive a possibility of that perfect Wisdom and Power that is brought forth through Self-denial and Death to the Glory of him that is the Father of it Such like measure received Jacob Behmen in his day for the appearing of that unusual Knowledge and deep Revelation of Mysteries in a Vessel so contemptible to the Magnificent Mind of Man brought hard Censures upon him from the stupid World which appeared one time most especially the manner thus Sitting by himself in his House one knock'd at his Door to which he repairing when he had opened it a Person of a mean Stature of a sharp and stern look saluted him courteously congratulating to him that great and wonderful Knowledge he had received and humbly made known to him that he heard that he was Blest with a singular Spirit the like whereof had not lately appeared among the Children of Men that it was a Humane and Friendly Duty lying upon every Man to impart the good things vouchsafed him to his needy Neighbour and himself was now a needy Petitioner that he would yield some of that Spirit to him in which request if he pleased to gratifie him he would in such things wherein he abounded give a fitting recompence making a Covert tender of some Moneys to satisfie his Necessities to whom Jacob Behmen replyed with thanks That he did count himself unworthy of the esteem of having these greater Gifts and Arts as was by him imagined and found only in himself an intire Love to his Neighbour and simple perseverance in the upright Belief and Faith in God and for any other Indowments beyond these he neither had them nor esteemed them much less as his words seemed to intimate enjoyed the Society of any Familiar Spirit But saith he if there be in you that desire of obtaining the Spirit of God you must as I have done do earnest Repentance and pray the Father from whom all good Gifts do come and he will give it and it will lead you into all Truth This foolish Man contemning this plain Instruction became somewhat uncivilly importunate and began with words of Magick Conjuration to force the supposed Familiar Spirit from Jacob-Behmen at which his Boldness and Folly Jacob Behmen being not a little moved in Spirit took him by the right Hand and look'd him sternly in the Face intending an Imprecation at which this Exorcist trembling and amazed asked forgiveness whereupon Jacob Behmen remitted his Zeal dehorting him earnestly from that Simonian and Diabolical practice permitting him in hopes of future amendment to depart in peace Doctor G. Weisner in a Letter to his Friend gives the following Account of his Acquaintance with Jacob Behmen and of the Troubles that befel him at Gorlitts To answer yoâ—â— friendly Request in attesting what I know for Truth concerning the Blessed Man Jacob Behmen I am no less willing than in the Duty of a Christian obliged My Acquaintance with him began about July 1618 at Lauben by means of two common Friends to us both the one a Tradesman by Name Liberius Schnoller the other was one Solomon Schroter a young Minister his Wifes Brother both Studious of his Writings and such as had by real Experiment found the Truth of what he affirms about those extraordinary Illuminations God usually imparts to Souls that in a way of Humility
craved he might go home to his House and settle his small Affairs there and take his Family with him or at least take leave of them but it could not be admitted he must according to the Sentence immediately depart To which he answered that seeing it would be no better he with all willing Submission obeyed their Decree and forthwith departed the Town But the Council meeting again the next Morning and reconciling their Difference repeal'd their Sentence and send to seek out their innocent Exile and at length found him and brought him back with Honour into the City yet still tir'd with the Preachers incessant Clamours they at length send for him again and intreat him that in love to the Cities quiet he would seek himself a Habitation elsewhere which if he would please to do they should hold themselves oblig'd to him for it as an acceptable Service In compliance with this Friendly Request of theirs he removed to Dresden I have observed that if any Member of the Church should have a Doctrine or Exhortation made known to him or have his Mind furnished with other Notions than what he learned from his Pastor it is Felony in Divinity and if they cannot find an old Heretick in their black Calendar that will challenge the Opinions an Indictment that they are Ignâ—â—i cujusdam will by them be esteemed good in Law whereon to bring him to Trial and Judgment What a Presumption is it to believe that the Wisdom and fulness of God can ever be pent up in a Synâ—dical Canon How overweening are we to limit the successive Manifestations to a present Rule and Light persecuting all that comes not forth in its length and breadth It would be exceeding unnatural for a Parent to desire the perpetual Infancy of his Child And yet how frequent is it that if any get the start of their Brethren in growing up towards the stature of a Perfect Man in Christ they become the Objects of Hatred Calumny and Persecution Concerning the Proceedings at Dresden we have the Relation thereof from Persons worthy of belief and without exception Jacob Behmen was cited to appear before his Highness the Prince Elector of Saxony where were Assembled Six Doctors of Divinity besides Mathematicians as Dr. Hâ—â—en Dr. Meysner Dr. Baldwin Dr. Gerhard Dr. Leysern and these in the presence of his Highness the Prince Elector examined him concerning his Writings and the high Mysteries therein as also of many profound Queries in Divinity Philosophy and the Mathematicks they propounded unto him to all which he answered and replied with such meekness of Spirit such depth of Knowledge and fulness of Matter that none of these Doctors and Professors returned one word of dislike or contradiction The Prince his Highness much admired him and required to know the result of their Judgments in what they had heard but the Doctors desired to be excused and intreated his Highness that he would have Patience till the Spirit of the Man should be more plainly cleared to them for in many particulars they did not understand him nevertheless they hoped that hereafter he would make it more clear unto them and then they would tender their Judgments but as yet they could not Then Jacob Behmen propounded some Questions to them to which they returned Answers with much Modesty and as it were amazed that they should so much beyond their Expectation hear from a Man of that mean Quality and Education such Mysterious Depths as were beyond the Fathom of their Comprehension Then he conferred with them touching most of the Errors of those times pointing as it were with the Finger at the Originals of them severally declaring unto them the naked Truth and the great difference betwixt it and some erroneous Supposals To the Astrologers also for there were two present having discours'd something of their Science he said Thus far is the knowledge of your Art right and good grounded in the Mystery of Nature but what is over and above instancing in several particulars are Heathenish Additions through their Ignorance and Blindness which we ought not to follow or imitate Then his Highness the Prince Elector being very much satisfied in his Answers took him apart from the Company and discoursed with him a good space concerning severa Points of Difficulty wherein being well satisfied he admitted him into his favour and courteously dismissed him his Attendance at that time After this Dr. Meisner and Dr. Gerhard meeting at Witteâ—berg began to discourse of Jacob Behmen expressing how greatly they admired at the continued Harmony of Scriptures produced by him at his Examination and that they would not for all the World have served his Enemies Malice in censuring him for says Dr. Meisner Who knows but God may have deâ—igned him for some extraordinary Work and how can we with Justice pass Judgment against that we understand not for surely he seems to be a Man of wonderful high Gifts of the Spirit though we cannot at present from any certain ground approve or disapprove many things he holds forth After this it pleased God the Hearts of many Learned Men and Preachers were turned to a Studying themselves and teaching of others those Doctrines of the Regeneration and the means of attaining it they had formerly in a blind Zeal exclaimed against as Heretical whereupon they ceased from Preaching up Disputes and Controversies in Religion many of those being no ways determinable but by a beam of Divine Light arising out of the Principle of the New Birth which though it clears up that Man's Judgment that is possessed with it yet can it not always make its way to the dispelling those Clouds of Ignorance that remain upon the Souls of others whence they Judged all Contests about those Difficulties being most Pregnant Mothers of Pride and Contention as â—aneful to Divine Charity and the Common Peace of Mankind But for resolution of all Doubts referr'd Men to an earnest Endeavour after the recovery of the Life of Christ the only Fountain of all true Light and right Understanding in Divine things Thus was that excellent Light shining in this heavenly Man's Soul by the cross Design of an Adversary lifted up into its Candlestick and brought upon a Publick Stage to give Light to many for by these Questionings the Man's worth came to be taken notice of and his Writings sought after and studied not only by mean People but many Great and Worthy Men and some who in their Hearts were Infidels to all Religion in catching only at the Bait of his mysterious Philosophy were drawn into the true Faith of God and Universal Charity His Superscription and Motto in most of his Epistles were these Ten words Our Salvation in the Life of Jesus Christ in us In his Seal he had Engraven a Hand out-stretch'd from Heaven with a Twig of Three blown Lillies It is a Custom in Germany and I have seen some Germans whom the War had compell'd for Relief to come into England to carry a