Essences in the Centre of the Eternal Band so in the new Birth may be seen the dark and holy Worlds as that whereout the new Man is Born Even as the Word in the Father and the Spirit which goeth forth from the power is the life of the Deity The Eternal Will is the Creator and the Father is the Being of the Will and the Essences caused by the Will There are two Wills causing two Principles in one Being but the first is not called God but Nature or Essence the second Will is the beginning and end making Nature or Essence manifest 2. The first Will being an Eternal desire to Generate the Word can be called only the desiring in the Will which with a strong eagerness contracteth narrowness to be the manifester of wideness which attraction is thicker than the Will and as its darkness and in the Egress of the desiring are the Essences viz. a sting of sensibility which the desiring cannot endure therefore rageth so much the more into such Enmity as is betwixt Heat and Cold and this Impetuosity causeth Mobility Terror and Anguish moving upwards where being restrained it stirs Circular whence come Multiplicity and tho' without feeling being meer Spirit and Forms of Nature yet so terribly raving that it buildeth and destroyeth as Life and Death and here is the Sulphur Mercury and Salt of high-knowing ancient Philosophers 3. Two Forms sharp cold and bitter stinging make the Wheel of the Essences which two are in terrible Anguishes without the other Forms generated out of them for the sharp sourness is like hard Stones and the sting of the attracting breaketh them which is rightly called Phur which would hold the Will in the Darkness which cannot be captivated being incomprehensible and is the flash of the sting And the bitter sting dissipateth the darkness of the Astringency as the flash ariseth from a stroke on a sharp Flint the bitter sting extreamly sharpeneth it self consuming the darkness even so the Fathers sharpness is a consuming Fire being the liberty which is free from Nature as much as the Mind is above the Sences and when the sourness hath captivated the liberty the fourth form is generated and the crack of the flash is the third Form making the sour Anguish or Brimstone Spirit For if the sourness sharpeneth extremely it is the proper limit of Eternal Death the Brimstone Spirit is the Soul of the four Forms having the Fire in it and would enkindle Nature and fly above it in a horrible power as may be considered in the Devils 4. Sul in Sulphur is the Soul in an Herb it is the Oyl not originating in the Centre as Phur doth but is generated after the flash even as all the four Forms in this third Principle are by the Suns vertue in a great degree moderated and made amiable in like manner doth the second Principle enlighten the Centre of the four Forms in the Holy Angels making them lovely and pleasant Mercurius comprizeth all the four Forms and Sal is the greatest in corporeal things The four Forms are the cause of all things making the Wheel of the Essences and every Essence which are themselves innumerable is again a Centre so that the power of God is unsearchable 5. The Fall of the Devils was their extinguishing in themselves the Light of the Heart of God wherefore they are shut up in the anxious four Forms Man fell from that Light also into that of this World Who if he enters not again into the Light of God when this Body breaketh he is in the first Birth of Life with the Devils yet both would climb up above Heaven but cannot feel or see that Principle like as we Men with our outward Eyes cannot see God who is always present nor the Angels who are very often with us except we put our earnest Will into God then we see and feel him with the Mind So also if we go with our Will inâ—o wickedness we receive the Hellish Principle and the Devil takes fast hold of our Heart Whereof the Soul is so sensible that often in desperation they destroy themselves by the Sword Ropes or Water 6. Tho' the Hellish Creatures have but four Forms manifest to them yet can they turn themselves into all Forms as infinitely as Mens thoughts except the holy Forms The Fire is their right Life and the sour Astringency of the darkness their right Food 7. The first Eternal Will is the Father and Eternally generateth the Word his Son who is the Heart of the first Will having in him the vertue and power of the first Will and a several Centre in it self The Father expresseth all things by the Son and whatever is expressed by the Spirit and Power of the Father in the word is in a Spiritual manner for what is formed out of the Eternal is Spirit and Eternal as Angels and Souls of Men are And tho' the four Forms keep their own Centre yet out of them cometh the Light and in the Light the Love which shineth in the darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not The Father is in himself the light clear bright Eternity yet without a Name for if the Eternal Liberty did not generate there would be no Father but seeing he doth generate the Band of Nature he manifesteth himself therewith with his fiery sharpness an angry Zealous or Jealous God and Consuming Fire out of which presseth forth the Meekness as a sprout out of Death turning Enmity into Love CHAP. III. Is concerning the Sixth and Seventh Forms 1. THE generating of the Love is in the sixth Form viz. Mercury the sound Tone or Song as also the five Senses The Son of God is rightly the Flame of Love who created the Angelical World out of himself whence goeth out the Virgin of the Eternal Wisdom of God by which God created this World out of the first Principle and that which goeth forth with or out of the Love is the Holy Spirit of the Word this together is the Trinity in Unity But as in the wrath there is a striving contrary Will here is an Embracing 2. The sourness retaineth its strength in the sharpness of Love but it is very soft and the sixth Form makes Voices Tunes and Sounds so that the Essences hear one another and in the Assimilation taste one another in the breaking through of their Power feel one another in the desirous Love smell one another and in the Light see one another The six Forms are the six Seals of God what in the dark Centre is a poysonous Woe and Anguish is in this the exalted Joy and Triumph a satiating of the first Will which is call'd Father for the Son is the Word the Brightness the Power the Love the Life the Wonder of God he is the Essence which manifesteth every Essence Concerning the seventh Form of the Eternal Nature The revealed Gate of the Essence of all Essences 3. The time of this World from the beginning to the end
Transformation of Nebuchadnezzar that his Hairs were as Birds Feathers and his Nails as Claws 14. Such a Subjection hath our Elementary Structure lapsed into by the Fall that it may as really be Transformed as an unburnt Earthen Vessel may And that tho' usually by consent of the Will as in Witches 15. Yet may it also be sometimes without consent and by the Arch Enemy be imposed on as was the Woman at Isenach who in a Conflict of fifteen or sixteen hours was Transformed into That of a Calf her Hands and Feet bent and like Horns or Hoofs her Tongue rough and dry her Body cold and swoln yet her Soul found to be safe and her Body by Prayer Restored to its Human Form 16. Man became vain in his Imagination and his foolish Heart was darkened They were Worshippers of Angels of the Host of Heaven of Devils of Brute Creatures of Garlick as in Egypt of Stocks Things almost incredible to us That Rational Creatures should make Their Hope and Confidence to be in Irrational till we reflect on all Nations in This Age pretending Improved Skill and Knowledge yet still do place Their Confidence in Money CHAP. XX. Of Mans Recovery how he was helped again by Christ and by what wonderful way and method Redemption was is wrought 1. WHO is sufficient to tell This what Vessel may carry This Treasure It was studied by the Holy Angels is the Ornament of Heaven will be the Song in Eternity It is the sum of what the Spirit of God hath been dictating to the Prophets pointing at by the Law and Ceremonies proclaiming by the Apostles and Saints in His Word in the Mouth of all his Servants thro' all Generations 2. Now tho' none can say how high the eighth Sphere is much less the Infinity beyond or without it yet every one can measure his own heighth being really part of it So as far as can be reached by So vile a Nothing some particle of the Abyss of Grace may in Childish Simplicity be stammer'd out and haply some Assistance given to Such Inquirer whose Inward Senses shall be opened in any degree of aptness to the Sublimity of the Matter and whose Spirit shall be Humbled and held back to the lowly manner of exhibiting the same 3. All Knowledge not leading us Humbly towards Jesus Christ is Ignorance and compared with the Light set up in us by Him is Blackness with the Vertue of it is Dung with the Holiness and Purity of it is Filthiness with the Order of it is Confusion and Amusement of Spirit with the Utility of it is meer Loss of precious Time 4. We have in the precedent Discourse beheld the direful shameful State Adam declined into by the Loss of the Divine Virgin of God's Wisdom with whom he should alwaies have lived in Purity Modesty and Perfection of Love Who whilst he stood his Soul was of the Might of Eternity his Spirit of the Pure Majestick Divine Light his Body out of the One Holy Element more Noble than seven times Refined Gold as the Shining Sun and capable to endure in Eternity 5. But Sin marr'd all his Holy Body degenerated as from Celestial Christal to Putrifying Carrion which must know Dissolution and for any Power remaining in him must have returned to the Divided Elements without hope of Recollection and Resurrection Which might cause some of the Antients who better knew what the body is come to be and what Principles and Elements compounded of than what at first it was much less what the Merciful Creator was about for Restoring his Lost Image It might strongly sway some Wise Men in several Ages to laugh at the Novelty of the Resurrection as did the Athenians 6. The Gracious and Merciful Creator pitying His Undone Creature of Love to His Own Precious disappeared Virgin Image having no motive from any want in Him of His Creature nor any worth in the Creature nor any ability remaining in His Creature to help Himself but of His Own Only Meer Free Grace and Goodness His Tender Bowels of Infinite Love wherewith His Compassions were enkindled did set Infinite Power and Wisdom on work to supplant the Serpent in Man by reimplanting again the Dear Bride of Purity and Modesty to whom Adam was at first Married but had adulterously causlesly and foolishly left having treacherously abandoned himself and betaken to the Divided Properties 7. God in-spake again the Ingrafted Word saying The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head which Word so reimplanted was like a spark of Fire falling into Tinder or like Seed sown or like Leven hid in three measures of Meal for it was a Living Power a Speaking Witness It was call'd the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Powerful Love of Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity who by That Power of Love filleth all places in the Heavens and Earth in His Own Holy Principle and This Love is Jesus Christ Himself 8. The second Adam and Holy Seed did not only come in the Fulness of Time into or in the Womb of the Virgin Mary when He took Flesh but then at the instant of Adam's Fall at the Father's in-speaking did implant himself to overthrow the work of the Devil 9. And stood at the Door of Adam and Eve and alwaies standeth at the Door of every Child of Theirs ever since none excepted in the Light of Their Life Preaching Salvation and with the Mighty Power of the Holy Ghost reproveth Sin convinceth of Righteousness judgeth Disobedience and warneth all more or less of the Judgment to come 10. This Living Word or Word of Life hath call'd it self by several names for all names are in it It is the Refiners Fire a Light shining in a Dark place Emmanuel The Saviour The Hope of Israel The Rock of Ages The Redeemer Love Wisdom Righteousness The Holy Thing Life Eternal where-ever and in whomsoever Obedience is yielded It is of invincible Strength will any lay hold on it brings irresistible Arguments will any lay them up in their Hearts uninterrupted Peace will any sit still under its Counsels His Weapons can neither be warded nor blunted His Defensives are impenetrable 11. The Word replanted in Adam and Eve after Their Disobedience is call'd an Ingrafted Word tho' it was carried downward chiefly or most visibly in the direct Line thro' Seth to Enoch who was in the Sabbath as the Seventh Day of whom came Metâ—usalaâ— who as the longest Liver recorded figured Eternity yet was the same in Them as a Priesthood to be Leaders and Stars to Their Brethren The same Principle being with less Brightness in others also for neither is the Sun visible but to Them who have a Receiving Power So nor were the rest of Mankind wholly Blind but had Their Talents entrusted to Them And this Line of the Holy Seed were as the Lord's Candlesticks and Lamps whereat others were to enkindle their weaker Lights 12. It may be noted that the
Glorious second Person as before And yet that by taking the Humanity from the Virgin Mary He really became what he was not before viz. a real Son of Man with a true Humane Soul Body and Spirit as we are and capable to Suffer and Die 14. We are to know the Humane Nature or Creature in the Ascention and Glorification was not swallowed up by the Divine Nature as a flame of a Candle is by the Sun extinguish'd But the Humane Nature now Glorified remains for ever a Glorified Body being the same true individual Humane Nature or Man which was Crucified Dead Buried and raised up by his Almighty Power as the first Fruit Original and Author of the General Resurrection 15. That the Lord Jesus Christ who in the Womb of the Virgin became as truly a Man as we are who have our Souls Spirits and Bodies propagated by our immediate Parents Yet that besides the infinite Dignity of his Almightiness as the second Person and Son of God by Eternal Generation which united Himself to His created Humane Soul Spirit and Body I say besides all this He was the true created Son of God and so was a true Heavenly Man and a Virgin of Holiness Purity and Modesty And so begotten by the Holy Ghost 16. In which respect He was no Son of Man even as neither was the first Adam but as truly the Son of God by Creation as with respect to His Godhead He was by Eternal Generation And though the words Thou art my Son this day I have begotten thee may be understood of the Eternal Generation for the Father ceaseth not to beget His Eternal Son from Eternity and in Eternity yet the words may well be applicable to this Heavenly Humanity whereof both David and Paul speak 17. But because this 12th Note last asserted is hard to be understood since Man's Fall partly because it is of so Noble Extraction and seeming to be of so rare mention in the Holy Scriptures so remote from Sense and Man's dull Apprehension of so excellent Nature and so highly profitable and advantageous to be known Also that the penetrating into the Knowledge of it requires Divine Wisdom enlightned Understanding it calleth for highest Attention as that plainly teacheth the Way God took and still taketh for recovery of lost Mankind It is farther clear'd by what follows more especially by the following Pag. 32. in Chap. 22. 18. We ought to know that the Divine Substance which United to it the Essences of the Humane Soul in Mary came not thither descending from the highest Heaven or great Local Distance But the Word which God inspake again in Paradice imaging it Self in the Light of Man's Life and waiting in all the Holy Men being the Word of Divine Wisdom out of the Tincture of the Holy Element which is every where and pure before God that Word took to it for an Eternal Propriety the Essences of Man's Soul in and of Maries Virgin Matrix Not entring in but unlocking ingenerating and unshutting what Adam had bolted up in Death 19. That though this Word were not the Almighty second Person of the Trinity yet was it the Word of Wisdom which Adam turned from and in disobeying it he and we all rebel against God more immediately than if we should stubbornly reject the Command of an Angel of God This Word of Divine Wisdom is a Virgin of Purity and here became the Bride to the Humane Soul for as the Soul had the Tincture of the Fire This brought the Tincture of the Light and the Uniting of the Heavenly Image of Purity to the Image that was Impure did Tincture the Fire-Soul and both became one Self-subsisting Eternal Man 20. We are also to know That for asmuch as the two Tinctures were at the instant of the Virgin Maries saying Be it unto me c. United and were become One Man the Image the first Man did bear yet seeing the Fire-Soul did once treacherously choose an Earthy Lust instead of Divine Love 21. To the end it might be now powerfully Tinctured no more to recede and that the whole Humane Nature might be led through Death into Eternal Life therefore did the Lord mighty to save take the whole Man by being Bridegroom to the Virgin Sophia and for that the Man or Creature stood in the Holy Element which is pure and every where yet is the same Element Inferior to Omnipotence it was needful Grace and Love should Unite the Creature to the Deity which raised it above all it lost in the first Adam 22. For the Lord became as a Servant to advance and secure his Servant both the Image it once had and add to it more which will be the stupendious Contemplation of Eternity but all this by the Lord's Incarnation was brought to pass 23. So that here was One and that One consisted of the true Almighty Son of God and the Holy Virgin of Wisdom the Tincture of the Light viz. His Heavenly Flesh and Blood Also of the Essences of Man's Eternal Soul the Temporary Astral Soul and Elementary Body So that not only the Eternal Fire-Soul is meekened nourished and fed to live Eternally but the outward Soul and Elementary Body are secured of a Resurrection by the raising of the Holy Astral and Elementary Body of the Lord Jesus Christ the first Fruits of them that slept leaving nothing unraised but the Linnen Cloaths in the Sepulchre CHAP. XXII Of the Heavenly New Man or Divine Humanity of Jesus Christ what it is where it is and how to be participated of by us IT is written That ye put off c. the Old Man v. 23. and be renewed c. and v. 24 that ye put on the New Man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Q. What is This New Man which we are to put on A. It is Jesus Christ as it is written put on the Lord Jesus Christ c. so are we said to be cloathed upon with our House which is from Heaven call'd a Building of God 1. So we find cloathed with Humility cloathed with Honour cloathed with Shame intended not as a Covering but as Transmutation of Us from one contrary to another as the Woman cloathed with the Sun her Divine Light instead of her Darkness Q. What of Christ may we put on and be cloathed with and wherewith to be cloathed upon 2. Not His Almightiness for that His Omnipotence is what no Creature can behold and reach so is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory upholding all things by the Word of his Power Nor the Body Soul and Spirit He received from the Virgin Mary That was Earthy a Soul Body and Spirit descending from Eve That being born of the flesh was flesh As such which he humbled himself to take he was the Son of Man and our Brother so also we put him not on As such he remains for That Humanity of Christ which he had from
Meek Love of God lost the Throne of the central Love-fire possessing only that where hot and cold are in strife Being a Centre of the Visible World Q. 5. What was it of which the Angels were made What in the Word of God became Creaturely A. 1. The Substance of the Good Angels is out of the two central Fires of Fire and Light but their Idea Spirit or Powers are out of the Out-flowing Infinite Migâ—ty Holy Names of God 2. They are many and every Throne Angel according to the Peculiar of the various Names and Offices himself and his Legions are illustrated with 3. The Prince-Angels are as the Spirits of the Letters and the other as the joyning of Words and Sentences And as our Alphabet hath our whole understanding of all Substances So is God's Word of all things and the Angels are his Letters in the Divine Alphabet 4. And did not the Curse to prevent our abuse hinder Man having shut up himself in the NO So great is the Authority in what his Mouth carries that he might triumphantly do wonders as the Angels Deut. 30. 14. Rom. 10. 8. 5. If the Creatural Life stood not in an own Will in the Property to the Fire Lucifer could not have separated himself from the Good 6. The Angels are within and without this World yet in another Principle or World viz. in the One Element whereout came and still cometh the Four Elements and are Princes of the Constellations But some are of a more outward Chaos or Kind in the Four Elements call'd Starry Spirits viz. Ascendants Q. 6. What do Angels and why doth God's Power become Image-like A. 1. Out of the Mind come Thoughts and from them Imaginations whence Longing and Delight exist and we rule all things by the distinction of words So God viz. the Eternal Mind by His out-flowing Powers brought out the Angelical Idea and the Holy Angels are as God's Thoughts revealing His Mind as his Work Instruments to manifest the Eternal Powers they are as Strings in the great Harmony as our articulate Words so are they distinct Parts of the Love sport 2. And their great Joy and Knowledge of the Eternal Wisdom humbleth them before such Highness lest they lose that honour Their feeding is an indrawing of the Unity which is the Balsam that their Central Fire awake not the Wrath for the Devil's Fall is their Looking glass 3. The most gross Compaction of the Outward World is the out-flown Inward World in the two Central Fires The most Outward is the four Elements the next Inward is the Astral the third the Quintessence the fourth the Tincture the fifth the Clear God The more inwardly we reach the nearer God And were we awake from Adam's Earthy Love we might very well see Heaven Q. 7. What moved Lucifer to depart from God A 1. The Potence of Forming standing in the Transmutation viz. His Receiving Power therefore the out-flown Will in the Central Fire of the Eternal Nature made him elevate himself to despise the Resignation but would try the Properties of the Eternal Nature and so misused the Holy Name in himself and willed to domineer over the Thrones and brake himself off from the Unity Then instantly the Properties were manifest as hard sharp sour bitter stinging and the tormenting cold and hot fires Q. 8. How could an Angel become a Devil What is a Devil A. 1. He would not be under the speaking of the Unity which was Balsam to his Fire-Life but be his own speaking so his Fire could conceive no glance but the Holy Name and Central Love Fire withdrew 2. If he would be an Angel again his Fire Life must be killed with Love but This the Hellish Foundation neither will nor can do as Fire cannot endure Water 3. Their whole Life is a Despair Venem Dying Stink Sorrow Shame and Torment that he hath triâ—â—ed away the Divine Express Reflex Image and got the Form of Poisonous Venomous Beasts and Worms according to their various Properties of Pride Covetousness Envy c. all contrary to Wisdom Truth Love c. Thus good men have turned evil and fallen into Perdition Q. 9. Why did not the Omnipotent God prevent the Fall of Lucifer A. 1. Whilst Fire and Water are in a Vegetable they lovingly embrace each other but once sundred do never more desire each other but as Mortal Foes whenever they encounter the one dies 2. So Love and Anger where in Harmony bring the first Sweet Delight the other Life and Strength and are two Eternal Principles having each an Eternal Will Foundation and Centre of its own Therefore if the Anger will sever the Love doth not hinder with force Nor could the Love work otherwise than like it self else God would be at odds in himself But if the Created Image the No or Anger give its Will to the Yea or Love it would be chang'd into a Love-Fire 3. And tho' the Anger be an Eternal Principle and part of God's Omnipotence the fault was the Creatures for in the unimaged Power the Love doth ever burn And God's hardening is not sending a strange fierce Wrath into any but it is left to its own fierceness on which Judgment passeth The Anger is Love's manifestation and the Fallen Angels are the Looking glass of the Good Angels Q. 10. What did the Devil desire for which he left God A. He would be an Artist their Joy still is in Transmutation of themselves into Forms Subjection in Humility pleased him not but would be a God to himself and his Legions The Magick ground of Omnipotency pleas'd him which made him elevate himself above the Efflux of the Unity and prove the Properties but knew not how it would be with him when the Light should extinguish for then came Darkness and the cold sharpness of the Fierceness and he instantly at utter Enmity against God and all Angelical Hosts Q. 11. What was the Strife between Michael and the Dragon and what are they A. 1. Michael is the Figure of the Divine Power not as a Creature but as the opening and moving of the Eternity which name after in Jesus was ordained for Man 2. The Dragon is Hell manifested the Will of the Anger and the Wrath of the Properties as Heat Cold Woe the first Principle a Hunger and Thirst a Dying Quality Satan is the Will to Contradiction and Lies Belial the Lust to Uncleanness Belzebub a Source of Idol Gods Asmodâ—â— a Spirit of Fury and Madness Lucifer of Pride and stately climbing up 3. Their Strife was as of the first and second Principles as was That of Jesus in his forty days Temptation and of Israel while Moses was in the Mount In This Strife the Dragon is driven out of the Holy Name in This Strife Christ brought the Will of Man through Death and Hell to subsist in God unpassive that it may subsist in the Fire unapprehended by the Fire or as the Sun kindleth it self in the Elements yet
21 days 17. How mighty their Strength and transcendent their Nature and perfect soever to behold the Most High yet their sweet humble modest Love notwithstanding their sublime Purity is such that they disdain not to serve and dandle such vile wretched Creatures as Man such is the flaming Love they abound with to Christ that they vouchsafe to do for us what sinful abjects even scorn to do for their poor Brethren by constant watching care c. As they did for the Child lost in a Wood for a time in Franconia whom a Snow falling they fed and guided at last homeward The Innocency Chastity and Modesty of Children is that why Angels delight them and no marvel seeing the Lord of Angels gave a little Child as a Pattern of Humility to his Apostles for Children some more eminently have Angelical Sparkles of Paradice in them and before knowing Evil have lively Figures of the Children of the Resurrection 18. And seeing there never was nor can be more than three Universal Principles out of some or all of them must all things originate immediately or mediately 19. Whence 't is plain that Angels and Man's Spirit are of one substance even as the Fire in the luminous Globes is the same with that which being sunk down by the Separator is confined in the Bowels of the Earth for generating of Metals c. 20. The Angels are so near of kin to us that they appear in Human Form And tho' they are not Almighty but depend for Eternal Subsistence and Food from God's Infinite Store yet are they far above all Human Might and Power 21. 1. Because they are not at all detained from action by their own Bodies 22. 2. Because they can have no Resistance from any Elementary Bodies simple or compound in exercise of any of their proper Powers and Offices The Terrestrial Globe hinders not their seeing a Pin's point were it in the Centre of it 23. 3. Because they dwelling in Eternity need not time whence it is that tho' they are but in one place at once yet can instantly be in another not so slowly as Light or Lightening for that needs some time to pass from East to West for altho ' perhaps it hath no detention from its own gravity yet is subjected to some resistance by interposing Atoms and space or distance 24. Their Expedition is otherwise than our Thoughts for our Thoughts being reposed require time to dissipate obstructions immuring them and collect Requisites having first been informed by the Affections or Senses but these sublime Agents being above all such inferior Laws can instantly effect what time must measure it self out to us to think 25. Thus was it an Angel slew in one night 18 5000 of Sennacherib's Army as before all the first-born of all the Land of Egypt passing by all where the Blood was on the Lintel 26. 4. Because of their Noble Transcendent Nature perfectly fixt in them Their Saturnine Property is not their burthen but their most strong Compaction and so of the other Properties Yet how perfectly soever they are honoured with the Majestick Names they admit more as by adventitious occurrents not unfitly call'd Improved and Acquired Experience of the works of Infinite Grace Mercy and Bounty of God to Apostate Penitent Converts at which they rejoyce 27. Angels have the Senses of Seeing Touching Hearing c. yet without Organs whence they are affected with Delight and Dislike Earnest Desire Joy Grief Pleasure and Pain Their Understanding is vast and perfect for they penetrate all Creatures of their Principle Simple or Compound as far at least as their Principle is an Ingredient which yet is bounded by the adverse Principle for the Holy Angels are as Children to the Sinful Tricks of the impure separate World as are the Evil ones to them The infinite God only comprehends all Things as one and all Time and Eternity as present But the Good Angels see not things above them in their own very Principle for they desire to look or pry into the Mystery of the Incarnation by which lost Mankind are found Q. 20. Out of what is the Visible World Created seeing the Scripture saith God made all things by his Word how is the same to be understood A. 1. First By way of Simile A Wheat Corn is sowed there is produced a Blade Ear Husk or Chaff The Ear Straw and Chaff as an Appurtenance to the Corn or an Accident is likened to the Visible World the Grain of Corn to the fixed Harmony produced into Existence by the Power of the Seven Fountain Spirits The Spirit of the Grain to the Quintessence and the Quintessence is the one Element having in it the Mystery and vertue of the Four Elements and the Power of the Holy World and God himself is likened to the Husbandman 2. Thus as the Son is the Infinite Majesty Light and Speaking Word Express Image of the Father and as the Holy Ghost is the Infinite Breath of Father and Son So is the Holy Spiritual World the Image of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Heavenly Powers Vertues Colours and infinite Variety and Harmony of it And as the Paradisical Principle is the Image of God's Holiness and the dark Abyss the Image of God's Potence so is the Out-birth the Image of the two Spiritual Worlds in the Good and Evil Properties whereof it is Composed And the Varieties therein Image the Varieties of the Eternal Mansions and these Creatures all those Eternal Creatures of all Kinds 3. Another Simile may be the enkindling of a common Fire the hunger whereof attracts the Circumambient Air for Nourishment yet the Fiâ—e remains an hungry fierceness still the Air by way of Supplement to the vacuity endeavoured by the Fire becomes it self enkindled into a Radiant Flame the operation whereof is various first at nearest distance are hot active Productions also luminous active Productions Secondly At greater remove are other less fiery and luminous yet excellent Productions of both Kinds viz. with the Temperament of Fire and Light 3. At the most remote Extream bounding the stream of the Fires spherical activity are produced sluggish dark cold glâ—â—inous Passive rather than Active Bodies 4. The first Production of the Fire shews us the two Spiritual Worlds of Fire and Light The second the Angelical World in which are the Souls and Spirits of Mankind 5. The third the Out-birth consisting of the visible Heavens and this poor sorry Ball of Earth and Waters 6. Over this Out-birth of the third Principle Man should have continued Ruler and have subsisted in his Divine Principle but falling into it became much a Bâ—â—it into the sluggish cold passive Principle as to his Body and entred into the dark Principle with his Soul and Spirit 7. Out of which the infinite Grace of the Almighty Saviour by dying Himself to the third Principle taught us so to do redeemed the Body and by bringing in the Righteousness of Perfect Obedience teacheth us to die
all those whose Immortal Souls derived them from Human Generation are Enlightned by Jesus Christ he stirs up and makes to grow the seed hidden in them shewing them how to dye to the Old Man the Will of the four Forms or Properties and are New Born by the blowing up of the Light Meek Holy Powers all such are established in Divine willing working and persevering And in all such Persons the starry Spirits are serviceable Agents kept under due Order and Discipline and being kept so are of excellent Profit and Advantage to the helping on the Soul like a Ship to her Haven 17. The Starry Spirit is in this Man like the Waters which sometimes have cross Currents the Elementary Body is the Ship the Soul the Merchandize the Word or Lord Jesus the Helms-man the Spirit of Grace the Gale Now though the Starry Properties are often cross Tides oppposite Streams to the hindrance of the Voyage so violent as carry with them all untackl'd Ships who like dead Fishes are precipitated with the Stream yet the regenerated will finds such a steady Pilot for his Guide and such vigorous Gales from above that the Ship against its own Nature wasteth the Merchandize through over and against the thwarting Streams to its longed for Haven By all which we see to what Profit the Stars were Created the thing proposed Q. 25. What is the Ground of the Temporal Nature Light and of the Darkness from whence doth the same arise or out of what did they Exist A. 1. The Temporal Light and Darkness are the manifest Figures of the Eternal second and first Principles As the desire of Rest moves Men to Motion So the longing after the Light agitates the Eternal Matrix of the first Principle to a constant employing the four Properties of it that they may enter into the Light whereby they become known which else would be an Eternal stilness 2. Thus a violent suffocating rubbing or breaking causeth an extending in some Bodies an impressing in others a discontinuance of Parts in others and extracts Heat Fire and the vertue of Light out of cold moist and compacted Bodies to this is referred the vertue of the Usnea on the Skulls of strangled Persons 3. For the Contracting Property interrupted by the Attracting depresseth to Anguish and those three sharpen themselves into a fourth viz. Fire yet not one nor all of these are known to themselves but remain Captive in gross Darkness till the Light be enkindled in them As a Man having all the Properties Proportions and Forms of other Men is still unknown to himself if he hath no Understanding for wanting the Light and Knowledge he is below the Wit Craft Memory and Docility of many Beasts Birds c. 4. And yet is worse if at rest in that dark State Whereas the noble Faculties irradiated by the Light makes Man though naked rule over the Bruits whom Nature hath arm'd with defensive Hides Scales Hoofs also offensive Horns Teeth Tallons c. 5. Now whence the Temporal Light ariseth is evident to come from the Eternal Light as the Temporal dark Matrix deriveth from the Eternal dark Matrix Yet though in the Temporal Matrix Mystery or Chaos was potentially all Properties but without Ability of stirring up it self into a flaming Lustre till the Divine Power or fiat call'd up the Light as Jesus did Lazarus for till then it was lock'd up as fire in a Flint green Sticks or wet Hay not touching each other 6. Nor could the â—ight till severed from the Darkness officiate to attenuate and form the crude Matter to be fruitful but was as Fire under Ashes inoperative unactive Wherefore the Light was severed that it might as force United is be most Powerful Yet when it was severed and collected by enkindling the place of the Sun and Orbs of the Stars it was no otherwise withdrawn than as a Conquering Prince having added some Province to his Empire on his retiring leaves such part of his Army as may cause continually due Execution of his Pleasure 7. So the Sun and Stars have no other entire Separation than consisteth with the leaving a competent Portion of their Vertue every where to effect by Conjunction all needful Operations It is left in every of the Elements as we see also the Elements have among themselves a mutual Commixture of each others Property and all as hath been said of them some Proportion of the Vertue of the Light the Hellish Part and Principle only excepted Q. 26. What is the Heaven created out of the midst of the Water And what is the Separation of the Water above the Firmament from the Water underneath the Firmament A. To answer this it is necessary to distinguish what is meant by the Above the Midst and Underneath for a Firmament is fixt in the midst between the Waters Above and those Underneath If Above were meant above the Middle Region or Stars then Beneath may be on or in the Earth and the Midst must be a space or local distance 1. But First God is every where Heaven is also in the World though this World be not in Heaven the Above and Beneath therefore must be otherwise understood than locally 2. Where an Hour-glass is measuring of Time Eternity is also in every Minute of it yet is so Above as Incomprehensible to Time 3. The New Man is Above yet so with and in the Old as to Rule and Act it and so divided from the Old as to be Incomprehensible to it 4. We find a Water call'd Living Water which who Drinks it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up to Eternal Life This is also the Water of Regeneration Except ye be born of Water c. These Waters none doubts are those Above yet must be Drunk where the Divine Life is being the true Eternal Life and of such as shall be cleansed 5. There is a Divine Love and there is an outward Love or Lust They are one from Above the other Beneath yet not sever'd by place but by a fixt Firmamament Gulph or Principle And if they were as like each other as true and false Light or as Tin and Silver yet coming of different Properties are uncompoundable as Silver and Tin incorporate and Sowder not 6. Thus the Waters which are Above the Firmament are Holy Pure Heavenly those Underneath are our Mortal Waters wherein is the Wrath yet wherein also may the Holy Waters which are Above penetrate as Heaven doth this World for the outward Water cannot Subsist and Unite with it or Comprehend it as neither can this World be in Unite with or Comprehend the Holy Heaven Therefore how near soever the inward or outward Waters are one to the other they are immoveably sundered till the Judgment of God burn off the Curse at the time of the Separation 8. And the Holy Heaven may as well be said to be Created and Creating out of those Living Waters as the outward Heaven to have been Created out
wherein the three behold themselves in parcels 9. But in Man behold themselves in one entire Image yet not in fallen Man but in the man Christ Jesus by whom and for whom are all things 10. The Idea and perfect Image of God is only in Christ yet not as He is the Second Person of the Three for so He is the inaccessible Light and the Original which is Imaged but He is the perfect Image of God as He is the Divine Humanity or Heavenly Man the First-born of every Creature This Virgin-Image was in Adam before he lusted whereby he was in Christ God's exact Image having all the three Principles in due Harmony being the true Character Idea and Figure of the Glorious Trinity 11. This is also in an obscure and less conspicuous way in every one who is Begotten again by the Holy Ghost The mortified humble resigned Will entreth into the way of the Cross quietly patiently Love makes it sweet this is a putting on Christ for here the Lord is Born is Formed sways the Righteous Scepter Transforming that Soul into the Virgin Image in some degree but the glance of this stops my Hand extracts a Groan swallows me up I flame am almost devoured My Lord what is this Earthen House Q. 42. What was Paradise wherein God Created Man Is the same Alterable or Changeable and a Creature or doth it stand in the Eternal Ground A. It hath been reported that a Painter would have Drawn the Lineaments of the Lord when in Flesh which by reason of His Majestick Face he could not perform The like Fond attempt were it to Survey Paradise by Humane Art or Instruments which if it were a place cannot be found and if it prove a State or Principle cannot be comprehended 1. The Answer may first be Negatively that it is not a Place or Locality 1. Because then as the most worthy the Garden of Eden should not have been the place named for Adam's Seat whence proceeded the four Rivers but Paradise is not called the Garden nor is the Garden stiled Paradise 2. Nor is it changeable for though it disappeared as to the first Adam yet the second Adam granted it to the Thief 3. Positively Paradise is the one holy pure Element having its Eternal Fountain from the second Principle and every of the seven Properties are in it in great Purity and Splendor So that had any created Angel the Task perfectly to Epitomize it he could do it but according to his excellent measure yet not fully Nor to Human Apprehension for as Paradise is the heavenly Body of Christ so is it the Womb of Angelical Conception comprehending them but cannot be fully comprehended by them as neither can the Sun's lustre be by us comprehended 4. Heaven is Paradise and the Paradisical Principle is Heaven and when they are Contemplated their Glory swallows up all created Angels as well as Men. It is an Over-match to penetrate the Holiness Purity Immensity or rather Infinity Transparency Simplicity Variety Successive Formations with all Powers Colours Vertues Sounds Odours Substantials the Quintessence and Elixir of the outward Quintessence and Elixir the Harmony Peace Gravity and Eternity its ample Commensuration and Redundancy to the most noble expatiated sublime and exalted Capacities 5. So that proceed they never so far in this ravishing Traverse and Quest there is still a prospect of more and other they must say in our Father's House are many Mansions at whose right hand are Pleasures for evermore such as Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor hath entred into the Heart of Man to conceive 6. A faint Similitude may be a fresh springing flowry Meadow where stand Thousands of fragrant Flowers some more Beautiful than other all shewing their peculiar Beauties without grudging and how the Divine Vertue in the third Principle is become Material the tast whereof causeth the Creation to be in Anguish and Travel to be delivered from the Vanity and Groan after freedom from their Bondage 7. And though Paradise be not excluded this World yet a great Gulph interposeth betwixt it and the World the Mind when inflamed with Divine Love feels what the stammering Tongue cannot tell to others 8. The Corporeity of Paradise is not palpable that Salitter is Holy and Pure like that of the Angels viz a bright transparent visible Substance 9. It 's Birth or Productions are in all things and therefore immeasurable and innumerable which is thus to be discovered and understood Let the Divine Light and Vertue be likened to the Mind of Man The Paradisical Fruits to the Thoughts eacht Thought hath a Centre whence other Thoughts spring so also do those Heavenly Fruits proceed from and in unwavering Eternal Love 10. The Fire there is God the Father the Light God the Son the Air God the Holy Ghost It 's â—roâ—undity and Extent are not bounded 11. The Idea or Figure of the Creatures here are there but not their Spirit much less their Substance for for that End they were Created 12. All Holy Works stand there in their Figure and all Words spoken by the Human Tongue from a Divine Root as the wicked Works and Words do in Hell 13. I compare the Arabian Odours Oriental Gems Palms of Asia Wine of Pomegranates the American Pine-Apple and what else is most desirable in comparison of the Paradisical Productions to the obscure Vitality surviving in Mens Dead Bodies generating some as it were Fibres of Gold amongst the decaying Teeth and the Usnea on the Skulls of â—â—â—sons Strangled And all things of less Excellency in this World in comparison of Paradise to the Excrementitious growth of Hair and Nails in their Dormitories 14. I compare Man's outward Astral and Elementary Life to that in Paradise to idle deceitful Dreams some disquiet ones some wrathful some frightful some wicked and obscene many many ways Evil. And our Translation hence I compare to the Morning awakening time terrifying some as Slaves to their grievous Chains and hateful Drudgery and others as great Conquerors are usher'd in State to the Princely Triumphant Chariots 15. Say any say not all retaining the least degree above perfect Madness if Paradise be thus infinitely Good what shall I receive in exchange for it And how shall I search the Path leading to it What Key opens the Door of it 16. The Lord Himself tells us Except a Man be born again he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God And by way of Explanation addeth that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit And again Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no life in you and by way of Explanation addeth It is the Spirit that quickneth the Flesh profiteth nothing my Words are Spirit and they are Life 17. Where we see the New Birth and Eating Christ's Flesh are the same Also that to be spirited by the Spirit of Christ and to feed on the Word of Christ are the very same Whence it
they who should have entred Canaan kindled Wrath against themselves by the Lust of the Midianitish Women But why it was that Man was only one and not two like other Beasts is referred to the review of the Answer of the 43 Question Q. 55. How could it have been possible that a Man and Wife should have continued eternally Would God change his Creature Man seeing in the Life Eternal they shall be like the Angels Was Adam also in the beginning created in the same Angelical Form or Imaging or in another then he shall arise again and live for ever A. 1. The Question intends an Eternal Well being or Blessedness which must concern those who bear the Divine Image What That is and how born in them is explained in the 41st Answer also in the 45th and 46th and that in the Form gotten by Man's Disobedience he could not continue without suffering and corruption is cleared in the 47th Answer so that the preceding Answers being heedfully digested will make repetitions needless for they are with great care to be avoided if real advantage be designed little therefore remains to be answered 2. Let it be considered that the Lord saith No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven the Son of Man which is in Heaven the Son of Man or Heavenly Man or Divine Humanity 3. The Divine Virgin was ever in Heaven and cannot come from Heaven so far as to quit that Tenure But when Man had exchanged that Love for the Lust of a Woman it was the Almighty Son of God and Son of the Virgin restored the Virgin or Heavenly Man to Fallen Man 4 The Restoring of this Virginity is the Forming of Christ and as it grows the Man comes to be a Man in him thus puts he on Christ and the divided Tinctures of Man and Woman gotten as to the dividing of them by the inactivity of him who had the Virgin Energy put on him that division must cease and terminate and the distinct Properties unite in the Heavenly Man 5. And thus it may be said There is neither Male nor Female but Christ is all in all for neither Male nor Female is or can be such for the Virgin Energy comprehendeth both 6. And Christ alone hath ascended into Heaven As when men speak of a Tree they mean every twig and sprout so Christ consisteth of every ingrafted Branch and the flourishing of them is the flourishing of the Tree 7. Thus the Lord saith The works that I do shall ye do and more also for as the fruit shews it self by the Branches tho' their Vertue derive from the Tree or Vine so is it here Q. 56. What were the Trees in Paradice which were amiable or pleasant to behold and good to be eaten of A. 1. Tho' no Language of the Fallen Man can tell us men intelligibly what they are yet I shall branch my Answer into four parts 1. To say what they are not 2. What they resemble 3. Whereunto they serve 4. Whence they proceed 2. What they are not 1. They are not Figures for the production of the Astral and Elementary Worlds and Powers do figure or are figures of them 2. They are not only Spirit but are Substance for the Trees and Productions of the Out-birth tho' they are Accidents yet have an Astral and Elementary Vertue or Spirit 3. They are not subject to vanity but administer Eternal Food not pleasant to view only but of highest use 3. What they are like 1. They are like the almost Infinite variety of Trees Plants Flowers productions in the Out-birth for the outward World is the Image of the holy World 2. They are like and agreeable to all the desires of the most pure Spirits and Angels a glimpse whereof is in our most enlarged curiosities for they are made suitable to them to whom God gives them to them they are tangible and compleatly adequate to the Holy Men and Angels as the Mothers Nutriment is to the sucking Child 3. They are like the Holy Trinity as at large might be shewed 4. Whereunto do they serve 1. To be the Material Word of God this is that every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God by which Man lives alluded to by our Lord when he saith And not by bread alone for by This the unsearchable Abyss of God's Goodness is to the blessed partakers of it in a sort comprehensible 2. To be the Eternal Food of the Men made perfect and of the Angels who hereby eat the Paradisical Vertue in the mouth wanting no Bestial Stomach nor Guts 3. To shew the Creatures tho' most glorious to be but Creatures not Almighty but to have dependance on the Womb of Infinite Incomprehensible Bounty hinted by these words Of all the Trees c. thou maist freely eat And in the Canticles Eat O Friends yea drink abundantly c. for the Fountain is an Ocean The Trees of the Lord are full of fruit 5. Whence are they and wherein stand they 1. From and in the Properties of the seven fountain-Fountain-Spirits according to the holy Impression or second Principle 2. From and in the Ten Forms of Fire viz. Love-fire both the former and This are figured by the seven times Ten Palm Trees 3. From and in the Divine Living Almighty speaking Word or sweet Power-world or Divine third Principle 6. Thus if Man contemplate what these Trees are exempted from what they resemble what they serve to and whence they derive or where they stand He may find them to be the same with Adam's Body which was pure and to have existed in Eternity as are the new Bodies of those who are risen and ascended with Christ. Q. 57. What was the Tree of Life and also the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil each in its Power Essence and Property A. 1. We read of Cherubims with a Sword turning every way placed to keep the Way of the Tree of Life who then can describe it that hath not first passed the Sword of the Cherub And if all Mortality be as Fuel to that flaming Sword who in the Body by Human Wisdom can without danger of being burnt approach the Way to that Tree 2. The Tree of Life is said to stand in the midst of the Garden and also the Tree of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life is also said to be in the midst of the Street of the New Jerusalem and on either side of the pure River there bearing twelve Fruits one every Month. 3. How can it be more clearly shewn For the Tree of Life stands in the midst between two Kingdoms two Worlds or two Principles viz. Between the Fathers or first fierce wrathful mighty Principle and the outward or third Principle 4. The first as its Root the other as its Shadow and Figure dimly representing both the Root and Tree though more obscurely the latter since the Curse 5. And the Holy Power of God
humble that Sex who being the divided Tincture were first in the Transgression Q. 106. How was God viz. the Word made Flesh What hath he assumed from Man A. 1. In the 75 81 and 90 Answers and in the 15 particulars of the 21th Chapter of the little Treatise call'd Considerations c. on the Scope of Jacob Behmen much relating to the present Enquiry is opened Yet it seems fit to say farther viz. 1. That because Man's going into the third Principle had subjected him to the Mortal Bestial Flesh in the Wrath and Curse if the Word had not assumed and been made Flesh the Plaister had not been as broad as the Wound The Elementary part viz. that of the four Elements must for ever have remained Captive in Death and passed away with the melting and dissolution of them into their Aether without Recollection or Resurrction 2. At the same instant therefore of the Virgin Mary's Conception the Word in or of the second Principle was by the Vehicle or Medium of the Holy Element Conceived in the Light of her Life taking her's viz. our Eternal Human Soul and Spirit or Light generated out of the Souls Essences and both Soul and Spirit became as one in an Eternal Band with the Word like as the Masculine and Feminine Tinctures unite in ordinary Conceptions 3. In the same moment also by the genuine Right of Nature as the Divine Lubet of the two Principles breath out the third Principle attracting the Powers thereof for their manifestation and by the same immutable Law as by which common Fire attracts Air did This Holy Divine Conception call to it the Astral Powers and Spirit and those for their Associates brought as their house and clothing the four Elements being of the like necessity as the Body of a living Creature follows the Head Thus the Word became Flesh yet as incomprehensible not only to the Flesh but also to the fallen Humane Nature as the Eternal Soul is to the Astral or as the Astral Spirit is to the dead Earth 4 But as truely as the Eternal Humane Soul and Spirit the Tincture the Astral Soul the Animal Spirits and Sences and the Elementary Body or Bulk compose and form one Man so truely did the Word of the Almighty Son of God the Virgin of Gods Wisdom the disappeared Image of the Heavenly Humanity assume and unite with Mans Humane Soul Spirit and Tincture enter also into the Astral Vigor and Powers also enter and assume the Elementary Flesh and consecrat circumcise and hallow them and thus become one perfect compleat person God and Man 5. The decay of the Lungs is hard to be restored because applications thither are obstructed their Porter so curiously guards the entrance as that Air only may have admission wherefore the Wall is sometimes broken by Inscition to send injections to the part impaired tho' with great hazard But our Almighty Restorer hath entred the whole Man every crevice and secret of Soul and Body is all Superficies an open Field at Noon day to the Omniscience of gracious Love 6. When my dull Spirits a little penetrate this incomprehensible condescention my powers yield up themselves prostrate tremble and flame my Soul finds himself as one living among the dead it hath something to say and do which it wants apt Organs to express and prosecute And if my obscure Soul find himself unequally yoaked what a stoop did Infinite Goodness make to bear our griefs and take on him the chastisement of our peace be as a Lamb dumb before the Shearers Yea under the Merciless Murtherers and Tormentors pour out his Soul He hid not his sweet Face from shame and spitting that by his stripes we his cruel Enemies might be healed Q. 107. Wherefore would God became Man could he not forgive Man his Sins without becoming Man A. The Minds of Men have been very apt to err about the Doctrine of forgiving sin thinking it to be like verbal Remissions among Men or at a Bar of Judgment 1. One party pretend possession of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven by succession to Peter who himself had no promise of them but as he was one of the Apostles which when it was performed was to him and the rest alike Yet still that Party plead prescription and saying a form of words like a Charm great sinners are told they are pardoned yet probably by such who are often greater sinners than themselves 2. Another party less gross in words yet no less remiss in Practice and Conversation expect pardon of an Age of sins by a Death-bed pretended sorrow and words of hope and confidence in the Merit of the Lord Jesus without any conformity all their Life to his Death and Resurrection 3. Had the putting sinful Man into a Blessed state been so easie Would the only begotten Son of God have taken our disorder'd Souls and vile bestial Bodies born the Curse fulfilled all Righteousness encountred and been slain by Death a shameful death passed through a Sea of streights grief and pain exerted a Series of miraculous power No No. 4. Man was estranged from God had lost his noble Image was partly a Devil and partly a Beast it was then absolutely necessary he who alone was mighty to save should do all he did Or Man was past any help and all hope of Restoration and Pardon 5. Therefore did God become Man the Word was made Flesh to appease the wrath of the forms of the first principle by inkindling Divine Light in them therewith also was Mans Spirit which was like a Phantasm or like a foolish Night Fire inflamed with Sacred Love and Mans Astral and Elementary parts were Tinctur'd into a due Subjection to his more noble part as they to the Divine 6. Thus the great Captain entred through Death to break the Gates of it restoring the Virgin Image in our Humanity of himself he saith John 17. 19. And for their sakes sanctifie I my self that they also may be sanctified The pardon of sin produceth a mortifying of self a rising in a new Life a sacrificing every Lust a Love sickness to the Lord a War with the Enemies a Heart broken and melted a new tender one receiv'd this is true Gospel forgiveness Q. 108. How was the uniting of the Deity and Humanity in this becoming Man A. 1. God Created Adam an Image of the whole three principles both first and third fully illustrated by the holy second principle yet was his very third principle of the holy Paradisical Element wherein was the pure modest chaste Virgin of Divine Wisdom vouchsafed to Man as his Bride But neither is the Virgin holy Element nor Paradise God but the Virgin is the Tincture of the Light and the holy Element the Flesh and Blood of Christ whence was Adam and the Angels 2. These things foreknown way is made to answer the Divine secret sought after in this Question and requireth the Eyes of all the three principles as they stand in the
Nature doth endeavour to produce in this dark Dungeon or Den of this World hard dark dead Trees and Fruits and precious Stones Gold Silver which are all but dark shadows of the Divine Being mixed with hellish qualities and smells but the Trees meant here are Heavenly and Spiritual and yet truly and properly such In which Holy Kingdom are two things mainly to be consider'd 3. The Salitter which are moving springing Powers 2. Mercurius or the sound which is the voice and sound of all Creatures and that in the Earth which causeth the growing of Gold and all other Metals shadows out All the exquisite Musick of this World compar'd with the Harmony of that Sound is as the howling of Dogs 4. For though Nature hath always from her beginning used highest diligence to produce heavenly Forms in Power in all Creatures and Productions also in all Delicacies and Arts for it would fâ—in be delivered from this Vanity that it might procreate Holy Forms in Power but Death hath entered and doth and must hinder it for Man's infectious Lust to Eat of both the Qualities of Evil and Good spoil'd the Salitter and stopt his Ears against the Sacred sound whereas the Divine Salitter and Mercurius is the Food of Angels 5. Of the Creation of Angels Philosophers who supposed Angels were created only out of the Light have erred for they were made out of all the Powers of God The total Holy Trinity made by its moving a Body like a little God out of the Salitter and Mercurius that is out of the Exit and Excrescence and being made are a distinct Substance As while a Mother hath a Seed in her self it is hers but when it is become a Child it is its proper own though cannot live but by the Mothers Food but the quality External without the Child's Body is not the Child's Propriety the Mother nor the Mothers Food but what the Mother out of love gives thus are the Angels And the Mother may well thrust from her the rebellious Child and with-hold her Food from it Thus was it with Lucifer God withdrew his Divine Food when he elevated himself then must a Spirit faint and can no more subsist as before than a Man without Air nor can the Angels without their Mother CHAP. V. Of the Corporeal Substance Being and Property of an Angel 1. TO answer what their Figure Body or Shape is They and Man bear the like Image how else must we be like them in the Resurrection And Moses and Elias were in their own Form on Mount Tabor and Elias was taken up alive And Jesus shall come again as they saw him go As in God we observe 1. The Salitter or Divine Powers out of which the Body or Corporeity is 2. The Mercurius Tone or Sound so is it in an Angel who have as Men the five Doors of that we call Senses CHAP. VI. How an Angel and a Man is the Similitude of God 1. AS is the Being and Divine Body of God so is the Being and Body of an Angel and a Man with this only difference that the Angel and Man is but a Creature not the whole Being whom if he resist the Father may justly cast him out 2. The whole Father speaketh out of all the Powers of the Godhead the Word that is the Son of God this Word is the Father's Glance and Majesty proceeding out of his Salitter and Mercurius which being spoken turneth back and ever is in all the Powers of the Father as a glorious Eternal splendor Now that Word hath so swift a sharpness that instantly it goeth through the whole deep of the Father and the sharpness is the Holy Ghost 3. Now in an Angel and a Man the Head is the Council-seat signifying the Father whither all the Powers rise for higher they cannot and the five Senses as Counsellors agree and what they decree is concreted into a Judge as a word in its Centre the Heart as a self-subsisting Person signifying the Son of God And that goeth from the Heart to the Mouth and Tongue with its Mercurial sharpness to distinction and that signifieth the Holy Ghost 4. The Mouth sheweth an Angel and a Man not to be Almighty for through that both must drâ—w in the Powers of the Father or cannot live an Angel as well as a Man only theirs is the Spirit whence the Air of this World existeth which he must do or cannot be a moveable Creature he Eats as men do the Heavenly Fruit and hath a Body in the same Form as Man with all the Members except those of Generation Guâ—s and Fundament but all spiritual and heavenly Man had need of those only by his Fall 5. Out of the Divine Salitter and Mercurius are produced Trees Plants Fruits Flowers and all sorts not a shadow of such but really substantial yet as the Angels are such is the Vegetation but not in the two Qualities of Evil and Good but only in one the Good Those Fruits the Angels pluck with their hands and eat but need no Teeth for they are Divine Powers and whatsoever they have Externally or without them is not their corporeal Propriety but God's Gift to them CHAP. VII 1. GOD at the first made three Kingdoms of Angels their Kings were Michael Lucifer and Uriel The whole Deep betwixt the Stars is one the other two are without and above it according to the Trinity in the midst of all which is the Son of God yet no part of either further or nearer to him 〈◊〉 are the three Kingdoms circular about him In all which the Father is Power and Kingdom The Son Light and Splendor The Holy Ghost Moâ—ing or Exitâ— Seen in the whole Creation in a Gold-stone the Salitter and Mercurius signifieth the Father the Gold the Son the Virtue the Holy Ghost CHAP. VIII 1. THE Angelical Kingdoms are formed according to the Divine Being only their Bodies are Creatures and their Kingdom Court or Locality is not theirs for a natural right as their Bodies are but belongeth to God the Father out of whose Powers it was made 2. And as the Father generateth the Son and as the Holy Ghost goeth forth from both So do the Angels in their Power generate the Light and Knowledge in them and by them the Spirit goeth forth from their Heart Light and all their Powers 3. The Corporeal Body of 〈…〉 Angel is as it were one Kingdom or as the Holy Trinity All Power is in God the Father he is in his Deep the Fountain of Light and Darkness Air Water Heat Cold Hard Soft Thick Thin Astringent Bitter Sweet Sour Sound or Tone all which are in Angels and Man but Man hath corrupted i◠〈◊〉 us the Light of the Sun is intolerable so is our unqualified Heat Cold 〈…〉 4. And when the Creature willeth to elevate it self in the Light above the Humility of Love 〈◊〉 kindleth a Fire which extinguisheth the Light and falls into Darkness which as
against Nature and the greatest Wonder done from Eternity and rightly called LOVE 17. This Divine Creature in the Holy Ghost was in a moment made a perfect self-subsisting Creature in the same moment the four Elements Sun and Stars in the Tincture of the Blood and with the Blood and all the Humane Essences of the Virgin Mary in her Matrix received the Creature wholly as one and not two Creatures The Holy Element was the Limbus or Masculine Seed 18 Every form hath its own source yet the Divine hath not so mixed as to be the less but what it was that it is and that which it was not that it is without severing from the Divine substance and the Word abode in the Father and the Natural Humanity in this World in the Bosom of the Virgin Mary 19. Of the three Regions of the Incarnation First There is the Word which hath its forming from Eternity in the Father and in the Incarnation so continued 20. The second forming is done naturally when the Virgin said to the Angel Let it be done to me as thou hast said in the inward Element like the first Adam before the Fall who should have generated such an Angelical Creature which was done perfectly at once in a moment 21. The third forming was done also at once out of the pure Element and this new Creature in perfection of the Element was the Masculine Seed of the Earthy Man which was conceived in the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 22. But the Word of the Deity so separated them that the Masculine Limbus of the new Creature was not defiled by the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 23. Yet this Angelical Image as to the Limbus of it came by commixture of the Earthy Essences of the Virgin which clave to it to be Flesh and Blood and at the end of three Months attained his Natural Soul As all other of Adam's Children and hath resumed the Princely Throne again out of which it departed by Sin in Adam 24. Thus Christ was the Natural Eternal Son of the Father the Soul in the Word was a Self-subsisting Natural Person in the Trinity Christ the true breaker through continued in the second Principle and the new Body in the third Principle and at Nine Months was Born of the Virgin Here the Light shone in the Darkness of the outward Body 25. Thus came he to or into his own and they knew him not nor received him but to as many as receiv'd him gave he power by him to be begotten to the Kingdom of Heaven for his is the Kingdom and Glory for ever Amen 26. Of the distinction between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Tho' God in former times permitted Miracles of seeing the Saints departed for vindication of them and their Doctrine of another Life after this for converting the Heathen Yet Invocation of them hath no ground in the Nature of the first Principle Is vain in it self for they having attained the still rest load not themselves with the Miseries and Sins of the Living It is also a disrespect to the Omniscient Mercy of God which without their Intercession and without ceasing with stretched out Arms inviteth by his Gracious Call all Men to come to him freely 27. The Virgin Mary is fabled to be taken up to Heaven Body and Soul but such take this World to be Heaven for the Earthy Body belongs to the Earth She is in Glory in the new Body of the Holy Element and her Lustre is above the clarity of the Heavens as one of the Princely Angelical Thrones for out of her Essences went forth the Body which was the Saviour of all the World and that attracteth all the Members to it and who now standeth in the Holy Trinity and she as a Virgin of Chastity is highly blessed by her Son Jesus Christ. But Invocation belongs not to her for the ability to help cometh only out of the Father through the Son CHAP. XIX Of Souls entring to God and to Perdition and of the Bodies Breaking 1. THE Soul hath the Eternal Essences of the first Principle Regeneration opens the second Principle The third Principle is the Region of the Stars and four Elements When Man 's first Principle hath been wholly taken up about the third viz. This World and that the Brimstone-Spirit which kindleth the Tincture of the Heart is choaked and the four Elements break off from the one Element then doth the Soul keep the starry Region still as its dearest Jewel in the Power whereof they appear and think to find rest in settling things relating to their Wills and worldly Businesses But when the Stars have compleated their Seculum or Course and that the Treader upon the Serpent hath not hold of the Soul by guiding it through the Sufferings Death and Resurrection of Christ it remains naked without the third Principle which it hath lost for ever 2. Of the going forth of the Soul When the Body breaketh the right Soul which was breathed into Adam is in its Principle and is so subtil as cannot be comprehended by Matter as Flesh Bones Stones c. only by an earnest Promise not recalled in the time of the Body it may be comprehended 3. Those that by true Repentance ingraft themselves into the Heart of God do instantly at breaking of the Body lay off all that is Earthy and comprehend the Mercy of the Father and love of Jesus Christ and enter into the Element before God where â—aradise shall flourish waiting without irksomness for the Restoration 4. But if Souls have beeâ— defiled with gross Sins and not rightly passed into earnest Regeneration yet do hang as by a thread of Faith and will not let go but when the Bridegroom calls answer I cannot trim my Lamp yet Theâ—e Souls may after a long time be ransom'd out of the Putrefaction by the Passion of Christ but the Glorification of such shall not be in Eternity like that of the true born Saints but Antichrist's juggling Masses for Money avail not for these 5. But the earnest strong Prayers of such as are entred into the New Birth especially of Parents Children Brethren Sisters or Kindred of the Blood who have one Tincture with him who have all one Tincture enter the Combat more freely than Strangers and help to wrestle off the Devils Chains especially before departing of the Soul from the Body 6. The true Door of the Entrance into Heaven and Hell The Soul departed from the Body need not go far for in the place where the four Elements break the Root standeth which is the Holy Element the Soul entreth through the Door in the Centre into the Kingdom of Joy and is in the Arms of Christ in Paradise So the Damned needs no flying far away it remaiâ—eth in that which was outermost without the four Elements in the Anguish of Darkness in the strong might of the grimness CHAP. XX. Of Adam's going out of Paradise also of the true Christian and Antichristian
Miâ—d not enlightened by Divine Light reach them for like must be comprehended by like And tho' Heavenly Treasure be carried in an Earthy Vessel yet there must be a Heavenly Receptacle hid in the Earthy or the Heavenly cannot be comprised 13. Eternal Life is in a Twofold Source First That of the Originality viz. the fierceness according to which God calls himself a consuming Fire and this Principle we must have or else we should not be alive Yet if we stay in this without generating the Love and Humility our abode is in Pride Covetousness Envy and Anguish as the Devils 14. Let us look to it that seeing the Life in the Originality is both Inimicitious against it self and against the Regeneration and that the Life in the Love is Heavenly therefore we be content to be pierced wounded and to bear the Cross in Meekness and expect till at the day of Separation the Field of the first Principle in which groweth the Heavenly Fruit of the second Principle shall be taken away for then shall the Life springing up through Death be a Fruit to God in the new Man and thereunto dedicate our selves in our Meek Victorious Saviour THE THIRD BOOK OF Jacob Behmen CALLED THE Threefold Life in Man CHAP. I. Of the Root Beginning and Forms of Life 1. SEeing there is in us an incorruptible Life wherein is a Principle capable of the highest good yet by its Original is also in danger of Eternal Perdition and Misery and that here we are strangers posting away how necessary is it to search whence all these originate And this may be by going up the Stream to the Fountain 2. The outward Elementary Life is a Living Heat or Active Fire enlivening the Body and sustained by the Body the Body by the Food the Food by the Earth the Earth by the Water and the other Elements the Elements by the Fire of the Constellations their Fire inkindled by the Sun causing a Boiling in all So should that first outward cause cease the sude or seething and Generation of all also of Metals Fruits c. would cease as the Food failing the Body and its Life extinguisheth 3. Now this perishing Life hungering after a higher Life shews there is such and that is the Eternal Life of the Soul As is said in Moses God breathed into Man the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul The Soul is also an ever induring Fire and must have Food which it presseth after from its original which is the Eternal Band the Forms of the Eternal Nature the Property of the Father but that Band of those Forms is of it self as a dry Breast whence it is that the Soul would have the Food in its own power but that also is as impossible as for the Eternal Nature to have the Light in its own power which cannot be for the Love shining in it or into it remaineth Lord therein because the Eternal Nature doth not comprehend it but rejoiceth in the Light which is another Principle which when it is received into the Soul it is a new Birth ingenerated in the Soul and this is done as truely as the Soul like a Branch is come from the Tree of the immediate Parent 4. And because Adam fell into the Astral Kingdom and our Elementary Body is infected therewith as sometimes the Body is with the Pestilence it was out of the power of the Soul to enter into the Divine Principle therefore of meer Infinite Grace did the Love the Son of God take our Humane Soul and brought it into the holy Life that we might every one by or for our particular selves press with our Soul in the Life of Christ into the new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ. No Meritorious Works on the one hand or lifeless feigned words of believing on the other avail at all but only a stedfast earnest resolution in the new Created Will bearing the Cross killing the old Will and arising in the Life of Christ bringeth the Glory Food and Paradise of the Soul else the Soul remains in the four Anguishes or Forms of the Eternal Band for ever wherein stands the Eternal Wrath and Hell Fire for ever And thus see we the Original in the first Principle and the Divine Light making the second Principle why then should not the Man to whom this Knowledge is graciously given speak of this as his Native Countrey not as of things afar off but that wherein he standeth and himself really is and not to be learnt of another Man as is barely an History unless himself enter into the new Birth in the Life of Christ that the Divine Light may shine in him 5. The Root whence is inkindled the Vital Fire consists of two Forms only the sour which is a strong shutting up and the bitter sting is an opener and those are what the Eternal Will in the desiring attracteth and is the wills something and darkness Then the sting of the bitterness would get loose which the sourness captivateth with strife tho' like a wâ—e is yet no pain for they are immaterial forms of Nature in the Eternal Will and this contrary commixture is as a confusion of Eternal Mobility and cause of the Multiplicity of Essences and are efficiently the Eternal Essences and Eternal Band. 6. The vast infinite space desireth narrowness or comprehension wherein to manifest it self as a Map doth in a few Inches a huge Territory a short Speech or Scene Abridge a large History a Minute Model Epitomize the Terrestrial and Celestial Orbs. And as all pourtraying Figures have shadows as foils to set off the rest so in the contraction of matter to manifest Infinity must be Darkness that one contrary may illustrate the other Nor is the vast infinite space a Creator but a Genitrix and the Word in with and of the Father the Generator as the Territory makes not of it self the Map also the words owe themselves to the speaker or speaking word 7. Nor is the word departed nor doth the Son depart from the Father but is inseparable as the Light of a Candle abideth with the Candle as saith the Son I am not alone but the Father is with me in the Father is a Centre in the Son is a Centre two Principles not divisible but inseparable Thus the second Will opening the Principle of Light is amiable pure and mild also Omnipotent to Create all things breaking and shining out of the Eternal Essences yet not comprehended by them but dwelling in it self CHAP. II. Of the Begun Life the Principles and Forms and Fall 1. THE stirring in every Life whether Sensitive or Vegetative must not be a strange or Heterogene Power for such would blow it out rather than help it but it must be the Creatures own Spirit proceeding in the Genitrix to be a Centre and Circle also of Life None should trust their Soulâ— with the Men whose Home is here for the Soul stands in the Original of the Essence of all
living Word attracted Maries Essences or Faculties into the Eternal Virginity and so in Nine Months there was a compleat Man in Soul Spirit and Flesh but the Virgin of Eternity never till then did put on Flesh except in Adam before the Fall but â—ow the Word united to the Soul is not though united one and the same with the Soul but the Soul being out of the Centre of Nature remained intirely the same Creature and the Word being out of the Majesty penetrated it like as a dark black piece of â—ron is flaming and shining by the Fire penetrating it but the Iron comprehendeth not but is comprehended by the Light of the Fire So the Deitâ— dwelleth in the Soul yet the Soul remaineth a Soul still but if the flaming Iron fall into Water it is soon as other Iron again as it was with Adam 10. Adam departed and Christ became Man to return us into the Angelical World wherein Man attains the Eternal incomprehensible Flesh of Eternal Substantiality which is hidden in the old earthy Flesh as Gold in the Stone This true most precious Stone of Philosophers tinctureth the old for this is as a Son yet a Thousand times greater than the Father this bright Crown of Pear s is most manifâ—st yet most secret who so finds it hath such Joy as no earthy Tongue or Pen can describe CHAP. VII The Hypocritical and real Christian the Gates of the Firmamental Heaven with Stars c. The Threefold Life of Man and right noble Spiritual Stone 1. MAN's greatest Concern is to seek that which is lost not hypocritically without our selves for all the hearing of Heaven and the new Birth Preached Singing Repetitions Reading all Books having the Bible without Book Talking and Despising the Simple requiring they be guided by Man's Art and Eloquence and resting there is a continuing of Men as in a dark Dungeon and no more than casting a Stone into Water which is taken out again as hard as before And Mens deepest Reason Opinions of the Pope Luther Calvin or Schwenkfield and all Contention Disputation and that accounted high University Study though the Soul fill it self therewith only leaves the Soul in doubt on the shaking Foundation of vain flattering Hopes if still there be an unholy unchang'd Heart 2. But simply with the Publican God be merciful unto me a sinner gather all thy captivating Sins and in great earnestness knock seek consult not thy Earthy Reason sensual Love and self Will and then that Soul entreth into the Temple of Christ instead of Disputing bring earnest Resignation let thy Contention be such only as was Jacob's Wrestling God's Invitation and inviolable Promises are the Ground of that Faith which makes Hell tremble produceth the new Birth giveth the noble Stone and then the little grain of Mustard-seed growing in the Storms of Reproach and Temptation becoming a Tree attaineth the Angelical Garland of Pearl for then may the Soul say Though this World hath my outward Body Captive yet I have the Regenerator in my Soul that will make me free which is as putting a Stone into Fire which makes an effectual change on 't though Water do not as is above mentioned 3. Saith any one seeing the Devil is gone into Enmity Why doth not God annihilate him A. That which is Eternal breaketh or dissolveth not like that which hath a Beginning but though the Devils were not in the Form of a Spirit from Eternity yet their Essences were from Eternity but the putting their Will into the stern Matrix of the Centre of Nature captivated them therein but in their Essences remain as a Looking-glass for Angels and Souls of Men. Say also any If the World be so dangerous for Man Why hath God set and continued him in it A. Should God reduce the third Principle into its Aether before effecting what wonders were foreseen in the Wisdom from Eternity it cannot be but also in time must the Forms of Nature be substantial 4. The Infinite God being Threefold in Persons willed to move himself according to the Property and Nature of each Person As 1. The Father's Property moved to create Angels c. to bear his Image and behold his glorious Power 2. The Son's Property moved once and never more in Eternity to become Man by whom the glorious Majesty of the Trinity is shewn unto Angels and Men in an express Character and living Image 3. The Holy Ghost's Nature will move it self at the Resurrection at returning this World into its Aether and will set the Wonders passed in time into Eternal substantiality He is the Joy and Mover of the Creatures and of Paradise through whom will be seen the Power and Vertue of every thing 5. This World with Stars and Elements shew the Eternal Centre and Being of all Forms whereon Adam who was the Image of the Trinity doated and was capâ—iv'd as Lucifer was by the fierce Matrix He was one not two the Light shone in him and he should have propagated an Angelical Kingdom was Lord over Fire Air Water and Earth could remove Mountains no Death was in him Paradisical Fruit grew for him he was a Virgin after the Form of Eternal Sophia he was pure and was to place his Will on himself for God was in him and he in God But seeing two Divine Forms in himself one Paradisical within himself the other without him he thought to Eat of both viz. the Paradisical and the mixed of Good and Evil till he sunk into a sleep which signifieth Death where the Spirit of this World formed him into such a Man as we now are and Eve into a Woman and when they had eaten the Spirit of this World captivated their Souls their Essences were Earthy their Flesh and Blood Bestial so that they begat Children in two Kingdoms viz. of Wrath and Love the first a Murtherer the second Holy for the word of Grace and Covenant had on their Fall set it self in the Light of their Life 6. This Word was and for ever is the only noble spiritual Philosopher's Stone Christ. This Stone was in all the Holy Men from Adam downward whereby they both were Good and did Good but the Men of lower outside Principles or Rationists have a counterfeit scholastick glistering pleasant Stone which they think is right and they hotly persecute the true precious Stone to advance their own which outside Stone of theirs is only a Stone of the great Building of this World for it initiateth Childhood in wantonness and bravery requiring Covetousness and crafty Guile to support it so they set the Paradisical Garland of Blossoming Youth on the Serpents Head learn to contemn them as simple who have the true Stone because they live as not of the World but Childlike and go through and out of the World weeping yet bearing precious seed 7. From v. 62. to the end is as it were a recital of the often treated of the Eternal Being compar'd to Fire and Light as Anger and Love
from within as when Christ raised Lazarus by a power from within from the Centre of the Soul as so also shall we be raised at last for the Word with the three Principles dwells in us And all Souls are as it were one Soul being all propagated of one Soul therefore will they all hear the Voice of the Human Soul of Christ and arise with their Bodies 5. So when we pray it is not to a God afar off for God heareth in the Centre of the Soul of the repenting sinner pressing out of the anguish of the first Principle and out of the Spirit of this World into the holy second Principle which is also in the Soul for when we pray aright the Word which became Man having the Holy Ghost in it goeth from the Father and meeteth the pouring out Soul for the Body is not worthy but the new Body of the flesh of Christ when the Soul attains it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Then comes the Soul to God as the Prodigal Son with an humble submissive obedient Will from the Swine He knocks at his evil heart and breaks open the doors and the Father saith This my Son was lost and is found was dead and is alive The latter part of this Chapter is not extracted being a brief Exposition of the Lord's Prayer according to the Language of Nature which is little known CHAP. XVII Concerning God's Blessing in this World 1. THE Soul finds it self in such an Earthy Garment causing shame and is so choaked by the Devils smoky Pit which represents God a cruel severe Judge that stands at a catch to damn it or decreed its eternal perdition before the present World was that the Soul must needs be under total despair or great doubt at least of falling short of the Light of God for such is the Effect of shame and guilt Therefore the Soul by this misunderstanding starts back seeking some satisfaction from the Spirit of this World and support for the outward Life only or chiefly to be had by its own distrustfâ—â—â—arking and toiling in his own contrivances and subtle reason a consequent of the Curse whence so many potent delusions spring for he thus falls home to the Earthy Life for meat clothing and habitation 2. And this is contrary to the Life Man should have led for as God dwelleth in the Earth yet the Earth apprehendeth him not so Man should with the Soul have eaten the Divine Word of God's Love tho' the Body had been of the Matrix of the Earth yet not captivated in it but eating of the Blessing of God The Body was taken out of the Centre of the Fire and Waters Tincture the Soul out of the second Principle why then should the Body captivate the Soul 3. The Outward Life consists in three parts one in the dominion of the Stars another in the one Element divided into four and the other the dominion of God So that the Man who trusteth in God and not in his Reason the Spirit of God is with him blessing what he is hath and doth For seeing the Soul hath the Body of God how can God's Spirit forsake the outward Body which must open its Wonders God wants none and all are alike profitable to him the politick and the weak for with the outwardly wise he ruleth and with the outwardly simple he tilleth buildeth c. and this Worlds outward Spirit gives degrees to men here so according as the Soul is indued with Divine Power such are the degrees in Heaven yet all in one Love but God's Children are in this and that World as Good Herbs and sweet Flowers which yield their several Vertues in harmony to the Apothecary and the wicked are as poisonous Weeds Thorns and Thistles who separate themselves and their Off-spring into an evil Self-will and Property 4. Covetousness is madness driving Man Devil like to Torment others about a handful of Earth or a Stone of which the World hath enough and plague himself to get the Good of that he must speedily leave and the gnawing guilt which will never leave him This Man still runneth after that Care and Sorrow which runneth after him whereas every one if content hath a sufficient Portion from the Spirit of this World and of Care and Sorrow also as saith the Lord Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof But Man's mad Will is all to advance Pride whereas the Kingdom of God is Love and Humility and if Man suffers not himself to be captivated Heaven and Earth is his by God's free Donation so not only Heaven but the Sun Stars Elements Earth Sea and all is Man's by Natural Propriety To trust therefore in God is to build sure in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XVIII Of Death and Dying How Man is when he Dieth and how it is with him in Death 1. THE Life consisteth in three Parts 1. The Inward which is God's Eternal hidden Mystery in the Fire whence Life existeth 2. The Middle or Eternal Image of God wherein God seeth himself as a Man doth himself in a Glass 3. The Spirit of the great World which this Eternal Image got in the Creation as a Glass to see it self in so the out-principle figures the inward and the inward Image hath so gazed on the outward as that it hath received the outward which must break off again which because it is bound to the Eternal Centre of Nature therefore is the breaking in Death so very painful 2. The outward consisteth in the Sun's Tincture and its Dominion are the Planets and Stars each of which still drive on to its Limits and when it comes again to its place where it stood in the Creation all whereof it was Lord ceaseth for there it commenceth a new Age whence many a young Child in the Womb dieth for its Lord is at its Period And to hit the Point of our limited End it is required to know exactly the Number and Period of the Sign which is our Leader 3. How hardly can the Living Man express how it is with one that is Dead which himself hath not experimented A Dead Man's sence is ceased with extinguishing his Fire his Elementary Spirit evaporateth his Blood and Water pass into Water and Earth also therewith his Essences thus his Beginning finds End But because the corruptible hath an Eternal Root therefore the Eternal worketh in the Fragile and because the outward Imageth the Eternal it should bring its Wonders and Similitudes into the Eternal whence it is originated 4. The Souls Will worketh in the Centre or Eternal Root the Astral Spirit works in the Body adhering so to the Soul that the Soul often lusteth to do what the Starry Spirit doth and such Souls who get no higher fall into Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger whence if they convert not in those very works must the Soul Eternally dwell doing the Devils Will hating God loving Folly which was here and is there their only Treasure but only in the
as far as he is called God but hath as the Sun one only Will to give out himself in Life and Power to all things and is without ground place or time take away Nature and Creature and all is God forego the out-spoken Word and you find the speaking Word 4. The nearest way to find God is for Man who is his Image to fink down from all imprinted Images Disputes and Strife depart from Self-will and Desire and demerse it self solely into the single Love of God which he in Christ hath after Man's Fall first introduced into the Humanity 5. Let Man go forth from all Images when he will understand the Eternal speaking Word but when he would know whence Evil and Good proceeded and God's calling himself an angry Jealous God let him look towards the Eternal Nature to the out-spoken and formed Word and then to Nature the Beginning Temporal Nature wherein lyeth the Creation of this World CHAP. II. Of the Original of Gods speaking Word c. 1. CReaturely Reason thinketh God from Eternity by Predestinate purpose resolved his Wrath on some should reveal his Majesty and on others his Love and Mercy as Fire doth Light If so then there must have been Thoughts Consultation and Cause of it But he is only one nor can only one thing be at strife in it self whence Consultation should arise to decide it 2. Every thing springing from a Beginning less Ground hath nothing before it can destroy it unless it bring it self into a Heterogene Will incongruous to that whence it sprung and so separate it self from the total intireness as did the Devils and Soul of Man break it self into a peculiar off from the intire Will and Divine Uâ—igeniture 3. The Powers to the Production of the Word are God and the Magnetical Attraction Science or Root in the beginning of Nature That attraction of the Desire revealeth God's Majesty in the Power to Joy and Glory which is the Root of Darkness coming to the kindling of the Fire according to which God calleth himself an angry God and consuming Fire Wherein also the Divisibility Death and Dying and gross creaturely life existeth 4 Men that say God willeth Evil do accompt him a Devil for the willing Evil is a Devil they should distinguish God from Nature 5. In Nature as Metals c. having in them Evil and Good one thing is set against another not to be at Enmity but that the Mysterium Magnum should enter into distinction and be at an exulting Joy in the Eternal one 6. The Eternal Will Jehovah manifesteth its Word through Nature but taketh not Nature into him but the Word taketh Nature to it in the Science or Root 7. * God is called God only according to the Light in the Love-fire and Temperature not in the Divisibility CHAP. III. Of the Seven Forms and Creation 1. THE First Form of the Beginning to Nature is Astringency Father of Sal. The second Form is perceptibility the Wo c. Father of the Mercurial Life The third Form is Anguish Father of Sulphur arising from the strife of the other two The first ariseth from the Fathers The second from the Sons The third from the Spirits Property The first the Ground of Strength and Might The second of Distinction Speech and the five Senses The third of every Life of Light Love-fire and consuming fire of Joy and Sorrow The fourth Form is the kindling of the Fire where Light and Darkness sever here is the Shrieks Terror Poison Life Torment Hell resulting from the first Three The Trembling is at the great Meekness as when you pour water into the fire here riseth the flash at this parting riseth the Light out of the Temperature The Tincture goeth hence the Power of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia From v. 41 to 56. lye high Mysteries The fifth Form is the true Love-fire which severs it self from the painful Fire into the Light having all the Properties of the three first in joyfulness drawing into it the Tincture of Fire and Light Virgin Sophia This is the power of the Speaking Word the Water-spirit which flows into a Fountain of Eternal Life John 4. 14. Spiritual Blood Divine Substantiality Heavenly Corporeity of which Christ saith he came from Heaven and at the same instant was in Heaven Joh. 3. 13. The Food of the fiery Soul Angels c. The sixth Form the Sound Spiritual Senses all in the Temperature in which Adam was but Lust would tast the multiplicity of Properties and leave the Temperature and so the Properties departed each from other as heat cold dry moist hard soft harsh astringent sweet bitter and sour which God did forbid thence followed bestial Desires heat cold bitter stinging rushed in thence were brought in Poison Turba magna and Chamber of Death The seventh Form is where the Sound makes it self audible for the fifth Form is wholly Spiritual Luna and Saturn the beginning and end Thus the seven Spiritual Properties and Powers bring themselves into creaturely formation by the strife of the seven outward Properties for in the Temperature no Creature can be generated for it is the only One God but in the Exit the Wonders and Creature-Images may spring forth and exist CHAP. IV. Of the Original of the Creation 1. ALL Eternal Creatures have their Root in the Speaking Word The Temporary have theirs from the out spoken Word 2. The first Principle in the fiery Root which is the Centre of Nature ariseth not in the Trinity but where the Power of Distinction puts it self into Nature to perceive and move which first Principle in the Darkness is a cold aking fire according to which God calls himself an angry jealous or zealous God 3. The second Principle is where the Divine Root in the Fire parteth it self into the Light and introduceth it self into Nature to Manifestation of Divine Joyfulness according to which God calls himself a loving Merciful God that willeth nor can will Evil. 4. The third Principle is in the seven Days Work in which the seven Properties of Nature brought themselves into Substance which Substance is Holy Pure Good The one Element called the Eternal Heaven City of God Paradise 5. The Being of all Beings the Holy Spiritual World is the Expressing Word of God which bringeth it self into Substance in Love and Anger so that in the Impression of Darkness is understood Evil and yet in God is not Evil but in the Creatures Self-hood and yet there also is Good as far as the Creature standeth in the Temperature 6. The Angels were made in the seven Properties which drew themselves into three Hierarchies according to the three first Properties or Principles 7. The first Hierarchy standeth in the Father's Property in the fire of Strength the Tincture of the Substance of Nature 8. The second consists in the Light-fires Tincture the Son's Property in the Eternal Nature and is the Holiest 9. The third in the Self-hood of
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
she can do all things And remaining in her self she maketh all things new And in all Ages entring into holy Souls she maketh them Friends of God and Prophets All good things together came to me with her and innumerable Riches in her hands And a greater than Solomon saith Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you This Certainly is not only our Duty but the great Affair most worthy our Enquiry and Industry That Work which Man alone is capacitated for by reason of his noble Extract and that which is alone a suitable reward to render him truely happy It is this Work and Wisdom that the Writings of Jacob Behmen and these following are conversant about laying the Foundation deep firm and solid and thereupon raising a regular and noble Building Here is described at large our Malady and Remedy both with respect to Time and Eternity for the Instruction and Teaching of those he calls his School-fellows and to the perusal of the said Writings we recommend the Candid Reader And shall conclude with a Testimony concerning the Writings of Jacob Behmen from an Ingenious and Learned Hand What soever the thrice great Hermes delivered as Oracles from his Prophetical Tripos or Pythagoras spake by Authority or Socrates debated or Aristotle affirmed yea whatever Divine Plato Prophesied or Plotinus proved this and all this or a far higher and profounder Philosophy is I think contained in the Teutonicks Writings And if there be any friendly Medium which can possibly reconcile those Ancient Differences between the Nobler Wisdom which hath fixt her Palace in Holy Writ and her stubborn Handmaid Natural Reason this happy Marriage of the Spirit and the Soul this wonderful consent of Discords in one Harmony we owe in great measure to Teutonicus his Skill Only let not the Non or Misunderstanding of the most rational Reader if not a little sublimed above the Sphere of common Reason be imputed as a fault to this Elevated Philosopher no more than 't was to the Divine Plotine whose highest Notions many even of his own School after much Study were not able to reach The way to profit in reading these Writings is to be possest with patience our Minds standing in singleness and simplicity and in this frame of Mind to seek diligently pray earnestly and to resign up our Wills intirely to the Guidance and Conduct of the Divine Love Importunity and Industry often prevails to the obtaining the desired End when Sloth and Negligence meets with Disappointments and Shame Let us humble our selves under the sense of our Misery and submit to the mortifying our corrupt Wills and proceed on to Experience a Separation or cleansing from all filthiness of the Flesh and more secret defilements of the Spirit through the Power and Energy of the Heavenly Fire the Divine Life the Breath or Word of God That knowing a Death unto Sin we may also know a Life unto Righteousness which in the true Heavenly Process being offered up to God as an acceptable Sacrifice a permanent fixed and immortal State may be manifest where there shall be no more going forth for ever If these following Sheets contribute in some measure towards the directing and assisting of any especially the honest Industrious Searcher it will greatly rejoice the Persons concerned it being their end and design in the present Publication Farewel Some Words used by Jacob Behmen explained near to his deep Sense AByss is an Infinity peculiar only to each of the Three Principles Amass is a Spirit or Will bringing it self into substance compaction or manifestation Anguish is the third Form of the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature made of the two first Forms and making the Sulphurous Spirit Centrum or Centre is the Flash standing in every Will to make an opening Three Principles Ch. 14. v. 67. Christ by the word Christ is meant the inward new Man in the Spirit of Christ understood inwardly Element call'd the one or holy Element is of or according to the second Principle generated Eternally out of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery which are according to the first but where-ever they generate the holy Element there is Paradise Ens the proper or peculiar Being or Essence Good or be it Evil of a thing Eternal Nature is of the first Principle and is that in which standeth two Kingdoms one the pure Virgin Wisdom of God the one holy Element the cause of the four Elements and Stars The other the severe fierce wrath According to which God calleth himself a consuming Fire It is therefore the great Mystery Expressed word comprizeth all Creatures Visible and Invisible Fiat the Eternal speaking Word or Creating Power proceeding from the Free-will of the Abyss Also the desire of the Soul taking the power of the holy Love Tincture and makes it Essential Flagrat or sudden fright terror shriek flash the severing the two Principles of Light and Darkness resembling that in Thunder and Lightning Gunpowder c. The pregnant Eccho of the sound of Eternity speaking by Magical Fire-breath Love or Anger Life in the Light Death in the Darkness Which is called the Salnitral Flagrat Idea is the Ens which with Man first is and then known But we wrong God unless we say it is because God seeth it 〈…〉 a Divine Sparkle captiv'd so as can only glimmer not shine forth Magia there are two Magia's one of the Unity the other of the Multiplicity or Astral Powers And two Magi in Man the Spirit of God and Reason into the latter the Devil easily insinuates Majesty the Light of the Glorious Son of God the second Principle according to which only God is called God for according to the first viz. the Fathers Property he is not called God but a consuming Fire Lubet a Longing Delight or Beneplacitum In God it is the free pregnant will to Manifestation in Nature and Creature without which all had been an Eternal stilness The Lubet in Man is the moving will to Good or Evil. Mysterium Magnum that out of which all Visible and Invisible Concreates proceeded it is of the first Principle Vide Eternal Nature Out-birth the visible palpable mortal part of this World call'd the Anger-fire Salniter is that which in the Sulphur is awakened by the heat arising into a Flagrat out of the Brimstony Watry and Earthy Properties whereby the Properties are Explicated Sathan is meant the Spirit of Error and not always a Creaturely Devil but the Property of such an Erroneous Spirit Salitter call'd Divine Salitter represented by the Earth but like the pure Heaven in it are moving springing Powers producing all manner of Divine Trees Plants c. with Heavenly Colours Smells Tasts whereof this Worlds Trees Gold Silver precious Stones c. are hard dead dark shadows But this Salitter and Mercurius i. e. Divine Mercurius is the Food of Angels and Holy Souls Sophia the true noble precious Image of Christ
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
or suffering what he willeth him to obey and suffer 8. Now we are to know that from Eternity is the first second and third Principles according to the Fathers Sons and Holy Ghosts Properties the One living in the Other having all One holy free Omnipotent Will And that the Infinite Abyss wherein Eternally dwell the seven Spirits and in every the least imaginable Circle whereof dwells the whole Holy Trinity Abyss or immeasurable heighth depth length and breadth which Men and Angels can reach no number of nor conceive its immensity is as the Holy Body of God who is its Soveraign Creator Owner and as a Soul and Spirit to it 9. But this pure Abyss is Holy and as one Holy Element the Seventh the Laboratory of the other Six hath in it all Powers and Vertues out of which Heaven Angels and all Inferior Productions come for in it is the Divine Salitter and all Qualities in indissoluble Amity and perfect Harmony due Equality most dearly embracing each other being the Mystery of all the various Powers 10. And from the two first Principles therein by the Exit of the Holy Ghost were Throne Angels created according to the several Properties of the seven Fountains Spirits with their Hosts respectively having the great Might of the first Principle Glorified with the Majestick light of the second the Son of God 11. But Lucifer and his Angels extinguish'd in themselves the glorious Sweetness of the second by giving up their Will into the first four Forms which without the second are at Eternal Enmity 12. Also out of the Holy Element were created the two active Elements of Fire after the Property of the Father and Air wherein is Light after the Property of the Son Out of which two after dividing of the Properties in the Dark Deep the effect of the Fall of the Angels came the Mortal Water and Dead Earth in both which by the prevalence of the Astringency came Rocks and Stones 13. To cease that immoderate Coagulation the Word commanded Light expelling Lucifer at which the Holy Angels rejoyced Where wast thou when the Morning Stars sang together and all the Sons of God shouted for joy for then was the Out-birth or third Principle founded by the Exit of the Holy Ghost 14. Then also out of the Holy Element and the divided Properties which Lucifer had brought into a confused Chaos or Dark Deep the Word spake the Astral Heavens the Seven Planets after the Properties of the Seven Fountains and all the other Stars and the Terrestial Ball after the infinite variety of the Properties 15. Also out of the Holy Element and the Astral Birth came the four Elements and out of the Elements the Transitory Creatures Some bare the Figure of the first four Forms separated from the Light as venomous Creatures Toads Torpedo's c. from the Anguish Scorpions Spiders Basilisks c. from the Fire for every Property would be Creaturely Some also figur'd the second Principle in Innocency Meekness and Love as Lambs Doves c. 16. Then in the Throne of secluded Lucifer and his Angels the Word spake Man such an Image of God as might not only be the second Race of Intellectualâ— but a compleat Image of all the three Principles That is his Soul out of the first Principle or Dark-Power-World his Spirit out of the second the Holy-Light World his Body out of the one Holy Element the Root of the four Elements so that he might by his Divine Holy Principle of Love and Meekness illustrate and sweetly use his first as the fallen Angels should have done He was also furnished with the third Principle which the Angels were not and in that respect a more compleat Image of God than they over which third Principle he might also beaâ— Rule by the Power of the Divine second Principle 17. And by his third in subordination to the second might Rule over the Astral Birth and Elementary not only as He was the Natural Lord in that Principle but ennobled also with the Light or Angelical Principle and therefore able and adapted to Rule over the Creation knowing what they were whence they sprung and whither they tended for all Properties were open in him therefore Adam could name them knowing their Parentage and Use. Thus the manifold Wisdom of God appeareth in every thing and summarily to be observed in these following 18. First from the first Principle glorified with the second according to the seven Fountains were created the Throne Angels Arch-Angels and their Hosts 19. The Creatures that derive immediately from the One Holy Element as the Paradisical Body of Adam that was more pure than seven times refined Gold and to have remained eternally 20. The Astral Birth of the Visible Heavens and their Invisible Powers Of Alliance Dependance and Affinity with which is Man's Astral Spirit called his Prophetick Evester which ordinarily predicts by Dreams a kind of Intuitive Impulses of approaching Good or Evil small also important natural Events c. 21. Out of the Astral seem to be born Those Mortal yet to the outward Eye mostly invisible Creatures in all the four Elements called Aerial Spirits prodigious Predicters of Wars by Armies in the Clouds Others also of the Fire Some Aquastrish and Those of our Horoscope Terrestrial and Subterranean that are about Minerals of which This Discourse is not sollicitous 22. Out of the Holy Element proceeded the two Elements and consequently the four more Pure and Paradifical than after the Curse 23. Hence by the steddy Conduct of the Separator or Father of Nature substituted by the Great Creators word and by the Spirit of the Tincture have sprung the Animal Vegetative and Mineral Kingdoms to the composition of every of which Naturalists find the Principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury more or less pure according to the Body which it composeth and the Tincture wherewith it is more or less sublimed and ennobled 24. But Lucifer by his renting from the total Unity thereby making the Properties separate prophane and unclean there proceeded out of the first four Forms hellish immortal fierce horrible poisonous Creatures to whom Death and Darkness the fierceness of the Properties is no woe or torment for it is their Life But Hell is therefore an intolerable Hell to Angels and Men because they were created to â—nother State in another Principle for another End 25. From all the three Principles with the Potence of the first Love fire of the second and moving Life of the third was Man created And as such with the Light of God which is not quite extinguished in him for when once awakened by Divine stirring and his hungry desire let none think it impossible he should see into the several Principles that are truly in him for the Child knoweth his Parents better and better as himself groweth to be a Man A breath of Air is like the whole Element a drop like the whole Ocean a
it as also then did Adam seeing that the fell not instantly Dead which introduced such an Ample Fall as at which the Heavens blush the Earth quakes the Dark World domineers 16. For Adam's first Principle consisting of the four first Forms by the Departure of the Lustre of the second Principle of Love and Meekness Peace and Joy became Dreadful and full of Anguish And his third Principle became Dark and Opake his Strength became Bones his Tincture in part extinguish'd the rest of it became Beastial Mortal and the Properties of it became Enemicitious then must he have Gutts and a Draught to eject the Putrifying Elemental Food The Astral World also drew and inclined him as their various wresting got predominance 17. The Tree and Fruit was no better nor worse than what we have but alike unsuitable to him as Hot or Cold Poison is to us Their Fallen State as sadly alter'd as if a Man who should Rule over the Beasts should as Nebuchadnezzar have a Beast's Heart and Organs given him for they regarded not that from Tasting of it God's severe earnest Command had inhibited and forewarned them 18. For the Food ordained for them had the Properties in Perfect Harmony no Curse Mortality Sickness Sorrow Care Pain not the least appearance of Evil but of the One Holy Element purely Paradisical and whereof They might be able to live eternally It was the Quintessence and Divine Word substantiated such as feeds the Blessed in the Resurrection They were not to have known Evil and Good in the Root of them divided as hath been said Yet tho' the Experimental Knowing it were destructive to them it is destructive to us to be ignorant of it 19. As a Traveller observing the Disaster of another who contemning warning lost his way and himself unwarily inducted and strayed with him is Now highly concerned to know the Aberrations which his Ill Leader should not have known that he may extricate and disentangle himself retrieve the Miscarriage and shun the Precipices and Perils so fatal to his forerunner CHAP. XIX What Fallen Man's Estate was by the Fall 1. THE second Principle being the Majestick Sweet Divine Love Meek Light and the Chast Virgin of God's Wisdom was withdrawn and he left dead as to it 1. His Soul tho' it had lost the Divine Life of Pure Angelical Modest Love yet being out of the Fountain Spirits was incapable of Dissolution but must ever remain its own stinging Fire and its own Anguish without possibility of enkindling the Light 2. For Now had he the Introduced Enmity there and the four Original Fountains of Binding Attracting Anguish and Fire whereof his Soul as to its first Principle was originated and made stood in irreconcileable Enmity as to any Power remaining in Adam to compose them These Contrarieties like Murtherers might well be Those of whom Cain was after afraid 3. His Body like That of the other Creatures in the third Principle of which it was became subjected to the Astral Evil Influences and to the Divided Properties of the Elements which had power to impose the Necessity of Pain Sickness Want continual Danger transitory Mutations Mortality and Putrifaction till Man should return to the Dust which he was come to be And that every part the Astral and Elementary were fallen back or receded and Those parts resumed into its own several Aether Principle or Receptacle like other Beasts 4. And while he was Toiling under his Evil Influences loads of Sin and the Curse he might like the tame Beasts feed on the Food they did eat of Roots Herbs and Fruits wherein were the Evil and Good Properties and he might like the wild Destroying and Ravenous Beasts Fowls and Fishes of Prey kill and feed on the tame and live in Fear and hostile Enmity with his fellow destroyers who bear the Image of the Dark World 5. He might also till his Astral Revolution or other Evil had given extream Date and Period to his Accursed Dying Life have like other Beasts generated his Children having Now the Members Monuments of Sin and Shame hung on him for Propagation And Those his Off-spring should inwardly have been Devils and outwardly Beasts according to the third Principle Yea and what could have hindred but Their Bodies should have been conformed to the Image of the several Beasts here whereof Their Minds had the Nature Affections and Qualities as of Dogs Goats Foxes Swine Bears Wolves Tygers Vipers Serpents Toads Lions c. And to have had no other Resurrection than those mischievous odious Animals by Their monstrous Idea's to bear the Image of the Dark World's Properties 6. Whither Fallen Man was hurrying may farther appear by some notorious consequences of our Defection 1. The Americans in many parts like Beasts of Prey devour Raw Flesh some yet worse eat the Flesh of Serpents and other unclean Creatures some elsewhere said to be Canibals 2. It is by Geographers observed the Tartars to be so far Dogs and Cats that They are born blind and till five days cannot see plainly 3. The Dark World or first Principle hath arrested the Africans conforming their very out-side by a black hue to their Evil Natures 7. So did the Astringency ratifying the Covetous Will of Lots Wife prevail to a terrible extream so as to fix her a Pillar of Salt As did the same Principle of Bitterness Anguish and Fire consume Sodom 8. It is observed by uncontrollable Authors That the Devil tho' so crude and unsuitable direful a Companion hath by Infernal Sophistry used some unhappy Elementary Compounds wherewith he hath dismally and fatally cohabited with lustful beastly filthy People of both Sexes whose Sensuality coupled to their Sinful Desires had deformed into his Image so that he hath carnally cooperated to the sateing their obscene decrepid Lusts. 9. Not only Thus as above but we had a concurrence to Generate a Race of Human Forms Incarnate Devils Children They are said to be no doubt of Darkness and literally of Their Father the Devil 10. Such was That call'd a Succubi Wife to a Gentleman in Germany concerning whom John Frederick then Prince Elector of Saxony desired Luther's Opinion who judged it a Devil desiring the Prince to note heedfully what That Off-spring would demonstrate themselves 11. Perhaps the Old Enemy who once used the Serpent might in the above Story to prevent the horror of his own Approach and effect his uncouth Machinations imploy some Terrestrial Aerial or Aquastrish Creature wherein to unite himself to one whose Sins had depraved and subjected to so base perillous and prodigious a Consortship 12. There were in Luther's time some Abject Productions in Saxony call'd Kilcrops or Suppositii with us Changelings One of Them Luther saw at Dessaw it did eat as much as two Threshers another suckt six Nurses dry if any thing Ill happened in the house would laugh and be joyful but while all went Well would cry and be very sad 13. Such was the
Aâ—tral World 12. When Man makes these idolatrously the object of his Love Hope Delight and Confidence as the rich Man in the Gospel did which should be used only as a Picture or Glass through which to Contemplate by Divine Skill the Eternal Powers represented by them He catcheth at a Shadow worships the Ass on which he was to Ride 13. It is evident his thus Living to his third Principle was his and is our Dying to and Loss of the second Principle and 't is as clear the Dying to the Third that is only giving it leave to hang to us as an old loose Garment or looking through it as through a Cloud or Medium on the Sun or regarding it as a Letter much blotted for the Esteem we bear to the Hand whence it came or as a much faded imperfect Portraicture of an Absent Friend or as a Perspective-Glass Thus only to use it is rightly to Live to it which is really to Die to it and so to Die to it is really to Live to the second Principle and to reunite to the Eternal Chast Holy Modest pure Virgin which disappeared on Adam's disobedient Lusting for the Lusting awakeneth the Knowledge of Evil and Good which the Virgin abhorreth and left Man should be quite stranged 14. Therefore to Extricate us of this miserable Toil came the Son of the Virgin whose Doctrine teacheth us That it is a greater Blessedness to give than to receive for that the Holy Light World consisting in the Might and Vertue of the second Principle cannot be supported and receive Nourishment from the divided Properties of the third which consisteth of Transitory mutable Powers because what is of Good in those outflown Powers is the free Gift out of the Abyss of the true and greatest Blessedness the second Principle 15. All therefore who Die not to the Lesser cannot Live to the Greater Blessedness if we Die not to all things but Christ we are unworthy of Him Whatever is divided from Him is Dead for He only is Life and God is called God according to His infinite Abyss of Light Love Life Goodness and second Principle for according to the first is a consuming Fire 16. Man living to the Cheating Pleasure of the third Principle is Dead as the Widow is said to be who liveth in Pleasure We startle at being Adulterers Idolaters c. yet so we are while we Live that is till we Die with Christ. Till we pass through Death that is truly and really Die to the Wrath fierâ—eness and Dark Anguish of the first Principle the Root of the Soul as to the Father's Property And until we Die to the Deceitful Volatil Bewitching Pampering Lust of the third Principle whereinto Man's outward Body like those of the Beasts is fallen wherein also lodgeth the Curse till This be we are Dead as to God But being indeed mortified to both these we arâ— in the same degree raised again to live the Life of Jesus Christ a Life of Love Humility Patience chearful Submission and Obedience as our Progress to the Death of both these extends and ascends or amounts unto 17. For the Death to these two Principles as to their Prevalence is such an emptying us of our selves as enables without Reluctance to Pray the Lord to exercise his whole Will in us and on us regarding in nothing its Greatness or Contemptibleness its Sweetness or Bitterness its Gratefulness or grating Temper but only esteeming every thing without Reflection or Sticking ever equally acceptable that the Divine Will shall direct and allot us to do or submit to 18. And this Life of Sacrifice hath a thankful Reverence in it and is as whole as the Burnt ones were without the least reserve This Life is no longer ours for we are first Dead But is the Life of Christ the meek Child like Life taught us by the Cross of Christ the Footsteps of the Lord are plain and conspicuous in this good Path. 19. It is both in Word and in Power but neither is the Word or Power ours but 't is the Holy Word and Power whence Adam departed as the fallen Angels had done before and in which Word and Power the Blessed Angels converse and are Established In which Adam might have lived Gloriously without knowing the Cross as do the Angels 20. But the restored Image grows not but under the Cross Thus did Abel under the Hate of Cain Enoch and Noab under the Pressures of the highly wicked old World Lot under the filthy Sodomites And infinitely above all thus did our Almighty Saviour whom if we will follow it must be in Deepest Humility bearing his Cross which must be also ours divesting our selves of all Self-pleasing and whatsoever fallen Man calls and thinks to be his for this is the Holy Soul's weaning time when as Heirs of the Faith of Abraham they also keep a great Feast as he did at weaning Isaac 21. This Feast is a real feeding on the Heavenly Flesh and Blood of Christ a Drinking of the Water that becomes a Spring of Water in us to Eternal Life It is a Life hid with Christ in God a walking with God and a putting on the Lord Jesus Christ the Marriage Supper and Wedding Garment a Peace passing the understanding of all except the Children who are regenerated and to them only known in such measure ordinarily as they have made Progress in Mortification and so grow in the new pure Image of God restored us by Jesus Christ. 22. For a close let all be warn'd not to contemn if they understand not some things and so judge themselves unworthy of this Childrens Bread The Reason why so few understand the Holy Scriptures which yet many often read is because few give up their Wills to Obey and Regeneration is the Necessary Qualification to attain true Wisdom Hence is it that from a Corrupt Mind though refinedly Penetrating the Writings of the Blessed Jacob Behmen are Seal'd up and as if Dumb from such were the very Sermons of the Lord himself who so spake as never Man spake hidden And none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Here endeth the Considerations c. The 177 Theosophick Questions of the blessed Jacob Behmen divide themselves into Ten grand Distributions or Kinds being of so many various Aspects viz. THE first four Questions are most immediately concerning God in his Infinite Abyss The ten following concern Angels good and bad from the fifth Inclusive to the fifteenth Exclusive The 23 next succeeding are of the Creation in general ranged into three distinct Eminencies deduced from the 3 Principles making in all 37. viz. 1. That out of the first Principle or dark Abyss in the 15th 16th and 17th Questions 2. That out of the second Principle the Angelical holy World in the 18th and 19th Questions 3. That out of the third Principle the Visible Creation and contrariety in it from the 20th Question inclusive to the 38 exclusive The one and forty
subsequent Questions concern the Creation of Man and that whereunto Adam had relation whilst he stood and when he fell from the 38 Question inclusive to the 78 exclusive The sixteen next Questions are of Adam's Off-spring down to Moses from the 78 Question inclusive to the 94 Question exclusive The eight following are of the Figures and Sacrifices in Moses and the Prophets from the 94 Question inclusive to the 102 exclusive The forty next Questions concern Christ his Birth Life Sufferings Death Descending Resurrection Appearing Conversing with his Disciples and Ascension from 102 inclusive to 142 exclusive The eighteen subjoyned Questions concern the Disciples their Pentecost the speaking with all Tongues what that Language was the Testaments what that Flesh and Blood is the power of Remission or the Keys from 143 inclusive to the 160 exclusive The next four Questions are concerning a true Christian and Antichrist Babel the Beast and the Whore from 160 inclusive to the 165 exclusive The last 13 Questions concern the slaying of the Beast what is the dying of and what dieth in a true Christian. Also what is the dying of the wicked call'd an Eternal dying The Souls separation from them both their several different Estates the Resurrection and final Judgment this Worlds Dissolution The Eternal Habitation and Joy of the Saints and the Eternal Prison of the accursed And whether they shall admit any alteration from the 165 Question inclusive to the end being the 177. Extracts of the Answers of the first Fourteen and part of the Fifteenth of the 177 Theosophick Questions The First whereof is Viz. Q. 1. What God is Distinct from Nature and Creature Ans 1. ALL Goodness in Nature manifesteth what God is in his Eternal Love Joy Mercy and Glory of Heaven And all Contrariety Misery and Evil in Nature shews his Eternal Wrath Fury and consuming Fire of Hell God by the Eternal Unity perfection of Clearness and Purity Eternally equally alike and at once through and through all every where whose immensity is Abyssal yet his Manifestation distinguishable but whatever hath Limits of number and measure is imagible 2. And wheresoever the Good moveth in his sweet Love there is God's flowing forth in the Idea or Object of the Eternal Desiring where the Love findeth it self as in Angels and Blessed Souls Q. 2. What is the Abyss of all Things where is no Creature the Unsearchable Nothing A. 1. The Abyss of all things is an habitation of God's Unity The Will is the Eternal Father of the Byss a meer Love-longing The finding Power of Love the Son generated by the Will The out-going Power of the desirous Love the Holy Ghost viz. the Spirit of Divine Life That which is gone out from the Will Love and Life is the Wisdom viz. Contemplation of the Unity which by Love brings it self into Powers Colours and Vertues 2. In the Unity rest all the six Powers being the Eternal Sabbath which Unity is call'd the Nothing because it is God himself being incomprehensible and inexpressible or ineffable Q. 3. What is God's Love and Anger How may it be only one thing A. 1. All things consist in Yea and Nay be it Divine Diabolical or Earthy The One viz. the Yea or Affirmation is meer Power Life Truth or God Himself The Nay or Negation manifesteth the Yea by its contrary They have two Centres as Day and Night Heat and Cold. The No is a reflex Image of the Yea. The Yea uncloseth and the Nay incloseth The Yea or Unity is an outflowing Exit or Emanation of the Nothing which yet is the Ground of all Beings The Nay is an indrawing own-hood or a something making a Byss or Ground whence come Forms or Properties 2. As 1. Sharpness causing Density and Cold the Cause of Temporal and Eternal Darkness 2. Attraction the Cause of all Separation and Motion 3. Perception the Cause of finding it self like a great Anguish 4. Fire from the Motion in the Darkness But in the Unity of God is a clear soft gentleness from these two Contraries originate this Worlds Fire and Water And from the enkindling of the outflown Will is the 5th viz. The great Love-fire in the Light For if the Unity stood not in the Fires might it would not be Operative but without Moving or Joy Whereas in it is the Holy Ghost himself 3. Hence comes the Eternal Nature's Fire whence are Angels and the Souls of Men but the clear Deity becomes not creaturely being an Eternal Unity yet dwelleth through Nature as Fire shineth through Iron Here we understand the the Potentiality of Angels and Souls who by loosing the Love-fire enter into Self-desire and the Anger fire 4. Out of this holiest Love fire is flown out a beam of the perceptible Unity the High Name Jesus who assuming the Humanity in the central Anger-fire gave it self into the Soul and by kindling again the Love-fire United it to God The 6th Property is the Sound or Distinctions in both Fires alike at once In the Devils and Damned who have no Understanding but sharp Wit to try the Foundation and abuse the Powers of Nature by Deceit and Voluptuousness In this Property stand the Holy Powers and Names and the wonder doing Word which the Evil Spirits by Transmutation misuse 5. Here is the whole Cabal or Magia where the imperceptible worketh in the perceptible Before this Door stands the Law of Moses Exod. 20. 2 3 7. not to misuse it on Pain of Eternal Punishment The 7th Property is substantiality whence existeth the Visible World In which is both the central Fires according to Love and Anger But the Holy Fire lyeth hidden by the curse with Sin as is to be seen by the Tincture yet if God will there is a possible Entrance 6. The outflown Holy fire is the Paradise which Man cannot find unless first it be found in himself Thus is the perceptible Unity or Love-fire and the Anger-fire or Root of the Eternal Nature which in its Centre is Eternal Darkness and Torment both from Eternity in Eternity yet with two Eternal Beginnings as is to be apprehended in the Fire and Light Q. 4. What was before Angels and the Creation were A. 1. Then was God with the two central Fires which were one Substance but distinguished as Fire and Light in them lay the one Element and the infinite Powers of generating Wonders Colours and Vertues in them lay the Idea of all inward Angelical Kingdoms and Souls and of all Creatures of this World in perfect Harmony 2. But when the central Fire with Self-desire moved to visible formation and stirred the Eternal Will of God in both Fires then the Idea to the Praise of God became Image like 3. In this the hellish Foundation also brake forth which God rejecting out of his Work shut up in Darkness remaining to this day as hungry Jaws longing to be creaturely 4. Into this Anger-fire Lucifer lusting powerfully to domineer over the
his Sin 12. God's working there confirms perpetual Existence to all there where every black Machination ever stands in its own Substance not barely a Shadow but permanent without Vizard or Varnish in Horrid real Forms 13. There God receives the Glory of His Truth in all His Threatnings There the Voice of the infinitely precious Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal Son of God which had been trampled on as if it had been an Unholy Thing hath due Audience and exact punctual Answers Also the Cry of all the Blood and Tears of all His murthered and oppressed Members from Abel to the last Man hath ample satisfactory Answers 14. There God receives the Debt due to His abused Patience and due to the Holy Ghost who had been continually striving and as long rejected grieved scorned and his sweet Councils gracious and safe Motions reproached and blasphemed 15. There God reigns in all the Seven Forms of Nature according to the Dark Impression for the wicked Impenitent Will whereunto the very Gospel of Jesus Christ hath been a savour of Death unto Death this very Obstinate Will is here a sweet savour to the Divine and here immutable Justice for the Righteous Lord loveth Righteousness 16. Is there indeed a Place of Hell or not That there is a Hell Atheists only deny and what Hell is the Children of the Day know little of nor should Adam or his Children have known it for it was not prepared for them but as it is written Prepared for the Devil and his Angels 17. Man grew up into that Principle as it were by Accident yet are like to have no small share of it 'T is true Lucifer and his Legions were Sinners of elder Date and fell from a higher Seat as it were down a greater Precipice But Man hath sinn'd against means incomparably fit of invaluable Price and freely and frequently tendered to restore him 18. Oh that Men were wise that they knew This that they would consider their latter End Consider this you that forget God lest he tear you in pieces and there be none to deliver Knowing the Terrors of the Lord we perswade Men. Will Men employ no serious Thoughts on this but treasure up wrath against the day of wrath c. 19. Now whether Hell be a Place It 's answered Hell is a Principle consisting of fixt Enmity against God's gracious Nature against all the Holiness Truth Love and Goodness and all this as it consists of the Evil of Evils that is to say Sin Hell also is a fixt Hatred against all God's out-goings in His Mercy and Bounty giving Beauty and Order to all his Creation Celestial and Out-birth and this Hell is as by the Evil of Deprivation And as Hell is an Evil of Sence and Torment it takes in all the Horrors generated in the Womb of the fierce part of the whole Seven Fountain Spirits as far as the Bounds of the first Principle 20. We are farther to know that a Principle cannot want Place but dwells in its self for Place cannot contain or comprehend a Principle 21. An Explanatory Similitude or Instance is found in Man What part of him is the Place or Receptacle of Wickedness It 's answer'd no part of a hardened impenitent Sinner refuseth to be its Dwelling-place his whole Soul Spirit and Body and it like a Contagion invadeth all Places and Persons fitted to receive it that either by Word Work Writing President Wish or otherwise he can extend himself unto 22. But in a Man wherein the Divine Word is awakened and is prevalent the Darkness or hellish Principle can encroach no farther than its own unsanctified unhallowed part And if any Man follow the Lord fully he is fenced as the Cherubim doth Paradise so that the Dark Powers are shut out of that Man 23. Shortly then as much of the Infinite Abyss as shall not be ennobled and enriched by the sweet Vertue Purity and Splendor of the Holy Powers shall be the place of the Everlasting Hell or Lake of Fire Q. 18. Where is the Place of Heaven where the Angels dwell How is the same distinguished from Hell Is the same also a certain circumscribed Place How is it to be understood A. 1. If I am understood by a very few what wonder seeing the Lord Jesus saith Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God The Question where Heaven is presupposeth the Knowledge of what it is but to speak what it is will be met with when God shall excite and instruct any one to answer the following Questions It seems therefore fit to restrain my self here to the Limit of this Question and observing that Boundary It 's answered 2. Heaven being a Principle cannot be circumscribed even as God is not comprehended but comprehends the whole infinite Abyss So neither is Heaven excluded out of any place nor included in any place but possesseth the infinite Liberty for it both contains and is contained in all the three Principles Yet is so in them as not to touch nor be touched by the first Principle in its fierceness but in its Might and Potence Nor the third in its divided Out-birth but in its Quintessence as it stands in the Holy Element and that in the Wisdom and as it is purely the out-spoken Word 3. And all this in the entire Concordance with the Majesty and Divine Omnipotence of the second Principle which in all the Seven Fountain Spirits hath Eternal Dominion So that where ever the Love and Goodness of God manifesteth it self there is Heaven yet dwelling in it self in its own Divine Principle streaming through the activity of some or all of the Seven Fountain Spirits as they severally move themselves in some places or things more brightly in others more obscurely as is seen in the mixt World 4. But the Illustrious Principle whereof the Spirits of Just Men made perfect are capable is most Triumphant in the uninterrupted unveiled paradisical Part or World for there the Fire of the first Principle and the effluenced spoken Matter of the third are irradiated sublimed and crowned by the Splendor of the second In this place or part of the Principle stands the Eternal weight of Glory for the General Assembly and Church of the First-born 5. Now seeing our gracious Creator made us at first Heavenly though we became Earthy and Heaven being the Country whence we sprung also that it is so near us it being said it is not excluded out of any place And that it was on our first Departure re-implanted or inspoken again into us It may be demanded how is it we are commanded to strive to enter in at the strait Gate c. Also Many shall strive to enter in and shall not be able Again Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling Again We are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the World with many the like sad Characters of us 6.
to the separate Self-Will and Lust Unites us to the Universal Will which is call'd most truly a New Birth or a being Born again 8. Thus may be seen that the self same Word which out of the seven Properties created the vast Imperial Spiritual World in the first and second Principles created also the Visible World four Elements and Stars and the in a great degree dead Earth and Waters to be the Image of the Image of the Omnipotent Trinity having something of all Powers in it And affording a suitable Medium to Cloath the Good and Evil Angels when needful for the Execution of their several contrary Offices Q. 21. Whereas God and his Word is only Good whence proceeded the Evil in the Essence of this World for there are Poisonous Worms Beasts Herbs or Weeds and Trees also Venom in the Earth and other things A. 1. To such as are meer Strangers to the Writings of Jacob Behmen the Answer here intended will seem obscure and brief but repetition of things spoken before and the laying open of Foundations may not be expected 2. We know not God in His Infinite Abyss that is in the Will to the Anguish but we may know Him as He manifesteth Himself in the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature wherein are four Anguishes 3. 1. Binding to which are referr'd all Astringent Bodies as resisting to be moderated by penetrating Compounds Thus the Barks of some Trees some Fruits and some Waters by their Excess of Compacting or Ligation are so obstinately Crude as to Petrifie some Bodies and impose intolerable Laws on others as the Barks of Oaks the Asian Gauls c. are Poison to Vegetation 4. 2. Constringency or Violence of Attraction to which Head must be referr'd in Minerals some Vegetables c. Mercurial Poisons 5. 3. Anguish Properly so call'd whereto is referr'd all akeing cold tormenting Venom as of Toads and in many Vegetables being a cold Fire 6. 4. Fire to which is referr'd all the fierce raging Poisons in the Basilisk Scorpions Spiders c. and in many Martial Vegetables and Corrosive Minerals 7. Now all these Properties in the Creation not proceeding to the enkindling of the Light and in the Light the Love and which would produce the Harmony of sound must be comprised in the Evil Principle shut up and sealed therein 8. As we see all those Sensitive Animals are either Mutes or that they have only a murmuring harsh discordant hissing croaking or other hideous Voice 9. Thus is it That though the infinitely Glorious Creator be Perfection of Superlative Goodness from Eternity in Eternity yet these separate pieces of the Creation including and shutting up themselves in the Wrath of the first Principle must needs be Unclean Inimicitious Evil Venomous and Poisonous remaining as a Caput Mortuum to the rest of the Creation Q. 22. Why must there be Strife or Contrariety in Nature A. 1. The Answer of the last foregoing Question opens this also for the Contrariety in Nature causeth Strife and the Strife Production of the same contended for And this is as Natural as for a Tree to have a Root or a Torch to have Matter whereon the fire may live to elevate the blaze 2. And if by striving it can reach no higher than the first four Forms there it produceth bitter stinking harsh sour inimicitious Properties in Transitories and in Eternals Tormenting Woe Anguish sharpened Rage Despair c. But if their Strife attain the Liberty if their Contrariety proceed to the Unity and enkindle the meek pleasant Light wherewith it is nourished fed and satisfied by which also is generated sweet delight and dear chast Love the Strife there is highly profitable And then the greater the Strife the more noble and exalted is the Rapture of Sublime Joy 3. For without contrariety that is contrary Properties is no strife and without strife is no production and without production all would be a stilness inactivity and unknown to it self 4. Thus the Properties which when separate are Authors of a Hellish Kingdom are also when they operate harmoniously the exalters of the Divine Blessed Kingdom of Love Whereby is apparent that the worst is in its due place as good and as liberally contributeth to the perfect harmony and happiness as the best both in the Out birth or World and in the Spiritual World whereof this is a shadow and representation Q 23. What is the ground of the four Elements How is the Division effected that out of one four are come to be A. 1. An Element is no Compound but one Simple Body of the greatest extent of any in the Outward World They are four Fire Air Water Earth 2. The Fire preys upon the Water and Air The Air is breathed out of the Water by the incitement of the Fire The Water is the contraction of Air by the vicinity of the astringent cold Earth but the Earth is one Body of no great intimacy with either of the other only a Sediment resulting from the separating power of the other three Elements 3. Nor yet may it be wondred that the four were once one and proceeded from one seeing they are still one differing only in the degrees of Rarity and Density for as the Earth drives up the Water so doth the Water raise up the Air and the Fire being violently active surmounts all 4. Come we now to consider how the one was separated into four to make which plain it was necessary when the Omnipotent God willed to make himself creaturely that the seven Properties should every one of them form their respective Powers into so many various Existencies And then there came out of the one pure Element which is the Mystery of all things an Heavenly Earth of Paradisâ—cal Salt or Divine Spiritual Salin Spirit or Property or Pure Holy Salitter An Humble Meek Spirit which was the Living Water A pure exalted Breath bringing the unconceiveable Joy Life and serene Tranquillity into the Divine Spiritual World 5. And lastly An holy cheering active Fire according to the Property of the second Principle without Rage Fierceness Curse or Wrath at all but generating the Light and Flame of Love 6. But when Lucifer and his Legions not keeping the sweet Order in which the Creator had enthron'd him and gloriously inâ—tated them would be Gods to themselves found resistance and a soveraign check at the Bounds of the Principle the total God had allotted them they grew displeased and gradually their Holy Love fire disappeared instead of which came a Raging Dark Fire whose fierceness dried up their Humble Sweet Meek Water and their Smoke became a Blackness suffocating the Serene Air. And their Royal Angelical Christalline Bodies became gross contracted crude rough deformed harsh bitter hot cold poisonous â—tinking prophane inimicitious filthy wrathful dark blasphemous Existencies 7. And thus were the four Elements polluted and wretchedly confounded into a dark disorderly commixture which the Antients call'd a Chaos The farther process from This Evil
improperly may be called an Immortal Death being a Death to the Glorious second Holy light Principle 3. The Soul is taken sometimes for the two first Principles I saw the Souls of them who had been slain c. for here the third Principle was asleep Sometimes it 's taken for the whole Man If thou wilt make thy Soul an Offering for Sin c. The Lord Jesus offered up all the three Principles meant here by his Soul and as was shadow'd by the whole burnt Sacrifice But in this Question Soul is restrained only to the first Principle because other Questions particularly reach the other two The above brief Answer may here suffice because Jacob Behmen so largely resolveth it in the Answer of the first of the Forty Questions of the Soul Q. 40. What is the Immortal Life in Man viz. the Soul and what is the outward Life in him A. 1. The Principle of Man's Immortal Life is what the Answer of the last foregoing Question renders it that is a Life sprung from the wrestling of the first four Forms of the first Principle They generate a strong stern eager sting prickle poison Life or bitter Root which as doth the Gall in living Bodies strikes up or enkindles Life 2. This being rooted in the Eternal Beginning or from the Eternal Abyss of the Father's Property can never find End or limit of Race But Either is according to the Fountain and Essence of its own Nature dark raging and fierce for ever or in the Holy Principle of Love in the Light World happy for ever 3. It must now be told what the outward Life of this World in Man is and must be sadly acknowledged to be Earthy and Sensual here is the Lust of the Eye the Lust of the Flesh and Pride of Life So that it may be said Shut the â—ive Windows that our House may be truly Light within 4. The Beasts live as Man doth having all the five Senses as he in some of them more sharp also some of them extend the Thread of their time to greater Measure are generally more exempt from Sickness wholly Privileged from careful Perturbations in good Measure without fear of future Events or Sorrow c. 5. So that Mans outward Life or third Principle as now it is from first to last renders him of all Creatures the most Miserable And his restless striving to satiate the Lusts of this Worlds Spirit by Wealth Greatness c. is an additional Sorrow and Vexation which some of the Ancients skilfully mitigated by wise Moderation and Contentation 6. Who sees not how much more grievous this Pilgrimage and Travel is to Man than to any other Creature Because his Creator made him for the Excellent Holy Sweet Paradisical Life Even as Hell is most intolerable to Evil Angels and lost Men who were created to be Inhabitants of Heaven whereas it is no Wo to those horrible Creatures that figure the fierceness of the Properties for that is their Life 7. Yet it is true the poor Brute Animals groan under the Curse Man subjected them to for they should have been harmless Figures of the Astral and Elementary Powers 8. To conclude the Answer of this Question let it be seriously considered That if Man will think to feed his Immortal Principle with Mortal Food viz. his Soul with this third Principle he doth as a cruel Murtheress who to still her unhappy Nurse-Child instead of Food amuses its Eyes with Objects and its Ears with Sounds and answers its hungry Laments with louder Noises till she hath forced it to sleep who so pines and destroys it 9. But the Love of God in Jesus Christ is the true real Food of the Soul it is true not like Shews and Sounds which are delusive also real and substantial not a Shadow which every thing here else is as to the Soul This Love as Food generateth its like in the Soul and strengthensit This Love as Physick Purgeth out all other Love and it reigneth and remaineth for ever Q. 41. What is the Idea or exact express reflex Image of God in Man wherein God worketh and dwelleth A. If a Volume were written to Answer this Question as well might be by reason of the Excellency and Importance of the Subject yet still it would be as under Locks and Seals from the fallen Adam until he enter into the Knowledge at the right Door of that he lost by his Fall 1. The Doctrine of the Resurrection was call'd Babling by the studious Athenians for Man is dead to the Holy Divine Image and in all who so abide the outward Astral Spirit and Elementary Body is the only Bridle of Suspension and Mitigation of the hellish Image or dark Principle 2. But had Man no more he were in no better state than the brute Beasts for in the Astral and Elementary they are in common with Man and in the dark Principle he is one with the Evil Angels 3. Yet so exceeding Great and Adorable was God's Grace Love and Pity that the same Grace was like a Seed inspoken into him at the Fall which in all by whom Obedience is yielded beareth Fruit to Eternal Life but it lyes as Dead in such who bury it under the Dominion of the Astral Spirit or that choak it under the Thorns of the Elementary Body 4. And all Impenitent Rejecters of God's regenerating Grace how subtle and studiously penetrating soever have no part nor lot in this Matter but are absolute Strangers guided by an unreasonable Model of Humane Reason resulting from the Information of the Sences twisted with the Maxims of Serpentine Wisdom 5. Nevertheless the Poor in Spirit that dyeth to its own Will and Lusts hath lively Characters of the Idea of the Divine Image and Birth for such a dying enters the Soul into the first Resurrection 6. God's Image is not in the Earthquakes of the first Principle nor in the Lightning and Thunders of the third Principle but most nearly in the small still voice of the Proclaiming his Gracious Merciful Long suffering Name for that is the second Holy Principle 7. And this speaking Almighty Word cannot be more than stammer'd by words no more than Omnipotence can be comprehended by Concrets With what Eye can a Sinner behold the unexpressible loveliness of That ravishing Face where dwells That Majesty which is the Express Image of the Father and before whom the Angels cover their Faces I must say when a drop of that Ocean of Love and Mercy blesseth my Soul I melt I stammer I am astonished Lord what is Man 8. God's exact Image consisteth of all the three Principles The first and third in perfect Order being thorowly illustrated by the second The mighty longing of the first like a Hunger produceth or begetteth the meek Will and glorious Majestick Principle of Light according to which God is called God And of the longing and will proceedeth the desiring which is a Love-spirit producing Millions and Miriads to Infinity of Variety
is that true Spiritual Life is revived or stirred up in us 18. The New Man regenerated out of the Earthy Man being a Virgin may Sup with the Eternal Virgin and as the Lord while in our Flesh had the heavenly Flesh and Blood which swallowed up the other So we in His Meek pure Spirit carry it also in our Earthy Body and if we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood in the Body Power and Vertue of Jesus Christ that is in the Son by the Holy Ghost to the Father Then when the old one falls off we live in the New heavenly Flesh and Blood and our Works are no longer ours nor our Words ours but God doth all in us 19 To this Man every with-drawing Thought from an entire Subjection is his Cross for to him Honour and Contempt Sweet and Bitter Penury and Plenty Heavy and Light are no more any of these for he loves not the one nor flyes from the other but the Divine Will is his Joy and Content the thing sought and his full satisfaction Q. 43. Why did God Create in the Beginning but one Man and not forthwith a Man and a Woman together as He did the other Kinds of Creatures or other Species A. 1. God created the other Creatures to manifest his various divided Powers that in them he might severally Image every of them by those wrathful fierce ones in the dark World the loving Innocent ones of the Light World's Property and others of the meer Elementary World and that the seeming contrary and discording Properties might in distinct Forms and Creatures one excite the other to a general Harmony whereunto they still serve 2. But Man He created to a higher and more excellent Sphere for he was in one only Person to comprise as in an Epitomy the Image of the total God having his Root in the Eternal dark World or that of Fire His Life Glory Vertue and Fruit in the Eternal Light-world or second Principle of Love and Holiness and the third Principle being that of the purest Astral and Elementary World was but to Hang to him over which he was to bear rule 3. Nor could he have been God's compleat Image had not the Tincture of the Fire and also of the Light been incorporated in him that is both the Male and Female Properties 4. Therefore was it that he was but One Undivided to Image God who is distinguished into Three yet is One and Eternally the same Infinite and in Himself the Undividable One 5. And as the One God remaining but One diffuseth Himself into Multiplicity so should Adam had he remained an Undivided one Magically have propagated a Blessed Holy Numerous Progeny in perfect Modesty and Purity yet bearing in them all every Power of the Principles and every Property in great Harmony as are found in the Angelical World as well as in the Astral and Elementary 6. But when once Adam had his Eve rent from him we see what Misery Distraction Laceration and Wo soon follow'd by disappearing of the pure Virgin Modesty Q. 44. Was the first Man in such a habit of Condition created to Eternal Life or to Change and Alteration A. 1. When Men search the wretchedness of fallen Man's present Estate it may seem incredible that ever he was a glorious and compleat Image of God and of all Worlds 2. As one seeing the Ruins of a Royal City which Sword and Fire hath laid in Ashes heap'd into Rubbish Desolation plead Prescription and Years have cloathed the Hillocks in Green especially if some Earthquake had razed the Situation the Beholder of these Remains though credibly inform'd can scarce credit that ever it deserved half what perhaps Fame too sparingly reported it to be 3. Thus Men looking on their own feeble sickly filthy short liv'd Boâ—ies can see little more than a Bestial Image But farther penetrating the Deâ—â—rmities of the Soul at Hostility against even God Himself and torn by Civil War within it self and by means of God's withdrawing abused Grace it is invaded by gross Darkness Little more can be seen but what is devillish 4 But Glory be to God in the highest that Jesus took this fallen Image and led it through Death into Eternal Life The sad Prospect of what Man is joyned with the Ignorance of what he was raiseth the blind Conceit that he was created to Alteration 5. But to shew how Excellent Man was by Creation and that he was not subject to Alteration yet that I may shun Repetition do return my self to the Answers of the 38 39 40 and 41st Questions Only lot it be remembred that God denounceth as the Wages of Disobedience Alteration Death and Deprivation of the Paradisical Glory 6. And that the Alteration was Translation to a better Place must needs be an Error springing from our Ignorance of what Paradise is and what that staâ—e is I return my self to the Answer of the 42. Question Q. 45. What manner of Image was Adam before his Eve In what Form and Condition was he when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both A. 1. He was so made as to possess the Throne of expulsed Lucifer he was therefore an Image of God's Power as well as his Holiness which made him the Object of Lucifer's Malice 2. And forasmuch as Lucifer affected to lift up himself in that part of God's Image entrusted to him consisting of Potence and Mightiness to such excess as eclipsed his holy pure lustre Therefore to prevent it in Adam there was added to him the third Principle for it was Matter for some humble Contemplation But Lucifer not balanced therewith Imaged in himself a desire of Rule above the End or Limit of Creature Nature 3. Adam was also lower than Lucifer because the Subjects of this Monarchy were only potentially or virtually existent not actually produced And it is found that gradual access to exercise of Authority is less obnoxious to inordinate Practices than instantaneous Entrance upon Soveraignty His gracious Creator saw it safer for him to be raising of Fruit than at once to enjoy a reaped Crop 4. But he was Privileged above the Angelical Hierarchy that had left their Habitation being a more compleat Image of God than they having one Principle more intrusted to him 5. His Fall was into that third Principle which though the Holy World should be withdrawn from him yet was not that Principle sinfully Evil in it self but the first Principle excluding thence the Holy World is Evil in it self into which the Angels fell 6. The third Principle God annexed to Adam for knowing he would not remain faithful in the Virgin State that into it infinite Love and Goodness might enter to help him again which Jehovah Christ did by re-uniting the Eternal Divine Virginity to the Sick infected Humanity 7. And thus Tinctured the Humanity enkindling in it a true Heavenly spark of holy Fire which when our Humanity in Christ yields it self up into it is a Sacrifice turned into a Love
that it can hold no commerce abroad or like a man distracted who cannot advise nor be advised being a stranger to himself as well as to common Prudence 3. For Man having passed from the Unity into Self became a God to himself and so there were as many Gods as Nations as Families yea as Men Then could they no more speak the One Language than abide steddy in One Power whereof they had deprived themselves 4. Therefore was the One Language confounded into many as One United Power was distracted into many feeble ones But to shew what the One Language was and the possibility or impossibility or restoring it and way how cannot come under the present Question but falls of its own accord under the 145 146 and first part of the 147 Questions whoever God shall enable to arrive at their solution Q. 90. What was the Covenant of or with Abraham concerning the Blessing and also the Circumcision What doth that signifie A. 1 It was not a Litteral or Verbal stipulation as the Covenants amongst Men are and as we are too apt to conceit and deem it Yet is it the subject of many and in some respects of all the holy words and writings imparted to us 2. It is the again iâ—kindled holy power of the Eternal Divine World which was ingrafted and inspoken into the darkened Souls of Adam and Eve creating peace and order there as the Light had done in the Chaos in order to the Creation of the Out birth or World figured by tâ—e Tincture which transmuteth and innobleth base Metals to Gold And as the holy Fire inflamed the Sacrifices the Inspoken Grace set on Fire Mans cold Affections for he was given to that end as a Covenant to the people 3. This was the Holy Seed sowed into the Light of the Life of Adam and Eve which was their Salvation Yet pointing to and being the Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come yesterday to day and for ever but at the time of the limit of the Covenant took Flesh. 4. This according to the Flesh was to descend and be in one line only from Adam to Seth thence to Sem Abraham and Tribe of Judah and took the Womans Seed in the Virgin Mary 5. But according to the Spirit and Divine Life wherewith and by which it was in the fulness of time begotten it was not only in that Line but in every of Adam's Children as an Ingrafted Word as truely in Cain and in his Race as in Seth and in his Race 6. This was grieved at the Heart by the old World vexed by the Israelites in the Wilderness and as Gods formed Word is his witness in Men judging and importuning from Age to Age. This like the small Grain of Mustard-seed grows up to such a Tree as whose top reacheth Heaven 7. This was the Covenant and Blessing given Abraham and with respect to the Union it hath with the Son of God was both the Food of Adam's Soul and of Abraham's Faith and the Author of his Faith and Confidence 8. And now being come to the Circumcision having set a Law to my self to avoid repetitions all I can do refer to the 8th and 9th Sections of that short Tract call'd Considerations on the Scope of J. Behmen compared with the 41st Chap. of the Mysterium Magnum is said to be Epitomized or Abridged in the Book of Extracts in every of which it is so largely opened that to touch it here would be Tautology and superfluous recitals Q. 91. What Figure is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah How was it effâ—cted A. 1. The destruction of Sodom c. is the Figure of the destruction of Babel sometimes call'd the Antichrist sometimes the Whore sometimes the Man of Sin a Man for his daring Courage a Whore for Unfaithfulness and Impudence And these do figure Sodom c. 2. 1. In their State and Grandeur 2. In their Sin 3. In their Downfal Their State consisted 1. In their Oâ—ulence being richly perfectly Scituated thus do Babylon Antichrist and the Whore covet and possess the Fat of the Earth 2. Their State and Grandeur Sodom c. were Cities Royal Cities having Kings and Pomp. 3. In their security by their numbers as Cities in a well watered Land Like the second thus doth Antichrist ally it self by Policy to Chief Magistracy Like the third thus doth Antichrist establish her self by outward force 3. In their Sin Sodom's Sins were 1. Pride 2. Fulness of Bread 3. Idleness Thus Babylon and the Whore is said to be in Scarlet with a Golden Cup in her Hand not got by Industry but already in her Hand And is distinguishable and an Enmity with the Servants of Christ for 1. Christs Servants are like their Lord humbled to the Earth 2. If not poor outwardly as for the most part they are yet are always as having nothing 3. Not Idle for they are working out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 4. In their Downfal sudden and unexpected Sodom's was not in the silence and horrors of the Night Season but when the risen Sun had renewed their hopes of Safety Thus is it said of Babylon who said I sit as a Queen c. in one hour is her c. 2. That Sodom's Ruine was immediately from above Thus the Apostle saith of Antichrist Whom the Lord shall destroy by the Spirit of his Mouth and Brightness of his coming Therefore shall Babylon fall irresistibly 3. The Fall of Sodom was â—otal final and irrecoverable or irreparable in every of which it figures Antichrist for to express it it 's said that a Mighty Angel took up a great Stone like a Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall the great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 4. In the fall of Antichrist those that will come out of her shall be received figured by the escape of Lot and his two Daâ—ghters as saith the Holy Ghost Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins nor receive of her Plagues Thus Antichrist and Babel might well and fitly be call'd Spiritually Sodom and Egypt 5. To the secâ—nd part of the Question viz. How it was effected It 's answer'd 1. Not by the Helâ—ish Fire for the Fuel and Matter of that Fire must be Eternal 2. Not by the â—ire which shall sweep and reduce the Out-birth to it first principles before the last Judgment for that would have dissolv'd the Elements 6. But it was effected by the flagrat of the Elementary Fire which was fully sufficient to execute Divine Vengeance on the Elementary part of Sodom c. Q. 92. Wherefore did Lot's Wife become a Pillar of Salt how is it to be understood A. 1. For a dreadful warning to all succeeding times of the effect of Covetousness We are not to be trusted with the World till we are dead to it as Paul saith
and travel'd to be deliver'd from the Bondage of it crying to God because of the Rigor of their Servitude as the Poor where-ever they are oppressed may do assuring themselves their cause is weighed 3. In this needful time God appears to Moses in the Fire of the first the Flame and Lustre of the second in the Bush representing the third both to shew them what they had lost and that as the Fire could burn in the Bush without consuming it so could the first and second Principles have well consisted with the third had the due order been kept 4. For when the Harmony was preserv'd the first with its four Properties was as a Root to the whole the second as a Life to the Root and the whole the third a Fruit or Vertue of and in the whole 5. Whereas in the Severation and Disorder the first was a fire to the whole the second only as an incomprehensible unknown Life and Witness and the third a Life of Vexation Sorrow and Pain and loaden with the Curse 6. Therefore was it the Lord appear'd in the Idea of the two first Principles and so appearing sanctified the third which was meant by the Command that Moses should put off his Shoes because the place was Holy Ground 7. By the first Principle is signified the Lord's Jealousie and Zeal and by the second his merciful Love and Pity Therefore is this Figure as are many others repeated over a thousand times from Age to Age on and towards the Souls of all God's ransom'd and Redeem'd ones Q. 96. From or out of what Power did Moses do his Works of wonder before Pharaoh A. 1. The Apostle saith I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me But to shew what Power enabled Moses to do his Wonders It must be known whither go the Groans and Complaints of the oppressed It is answered into the Principle of God's severe Justice such time as wicked Oppressors destroy and devour Wicked Men like themselves 2. But when cruel Beasts grind and hunt the Lord's Flock who are not of their Game though they also have the Beasts Hide on them but return Good for Evil Praying for their Persecutors This passeth into the Principle of fierceness with respect to the Enemy but the Holy World the Fountain of Grace and Compassion is strongly prest upon with respect to the wronged Children 3. And unless the Oppressor enter into the Grace Principle by humble earnest Repentance all his Works Words Thoughts and every their Aggravations go into a Substance and are treasur'd up for God's Judgment and then those that sow the Wind shall reap the Whirlwind 4. And from the Holy World is it said I have seen I have seen the affliction c. I have heard c. and am come down So that Moses ability lay in the Abyss of God's Power and Holiness that is in both first and second Principles 5. For whereas the Avarice Haughtiness Envy and Cruelty of the Driver goes into the Treasure of God's Wrath so the Patience of the Lord's Family goes into the Treasure of God's infinite Love-Principle and Holiness as we therefore reap Wheat or Cockles whence we sowed them so is it here thus Moses had Power out of his first Principle of awakened Zeal to Muster the fierce Qualities in the third Principle and bring them like a Victorious Army upon Egypt and out of the Treasure of Divine Grace to visit secure and exempt Gâ—shen 6. Yet God is but only One thus the sweet Odour of fragrant Herbs and the fumes of foetid Weeds differently ascend from one fire wherein they are burnt 7. Is it occasionally ask'd whence is the Power the Magicians did their Wonders by It 's answered it proceeded out of the divided Properties and Powers of the spoken formed Word or Out-birth which the Ancients were skill'd in yet was theirs impotent when in competition with the might Moses exerted for his was the speaking forming Holy Powers whereof theirs was a Figure and Representation 8. But our Modern Pretenders to Wisdom in Nature are Men of Words having neither Divine Substance as was in Moses and the Prophets nor true Knowledge of the figure or formed outward Powers as had the Antients but pretending Divinity to Umbrage their shallowness do call God's Power in the Out-birth Diabolical and pretending Philosophy fill their Schools and Books with an empty Sound of vain words fictitious and fabulous neither knowing what they say nor whereof they affirm first Coin feigned words then contend about their Etymologies thus fighting with a shadow themselves give being to instead of seeking the Spirits of the Letters of the Holy Tongue whence we departed by our Confusion at Babel Q. 97. What figure is the Departure or bringing forth of the Children of Israel out of Egypt A. 1. Man exchanged Paradise for the third Principle the Substance for the figure or obscure Representation and thereby his till then immortal Body became by the Contagion of the Fruit of the same like the Beast an Accident no longer a Substance Whereunto was added a Curse that by toil and sweat he should gather his sustenance out of the barren Earth which himself was near come to be 2. A tast and earnest figure whereof was Israel whose Males were either to be Drown'd as soon as Born or Vassals as long as they Lived which yet was but a figure of the best Life Man hath in this World compar'd with that we departed from and whereof Solomon writes his black and pale Characters that it is altogether Vanity and Vanity of Vanities Vexation of Spirit and sore Travel 3. And whereas God tells Abraham his Seed should be in Bondage 400 Years it is a figure that all Poor Mankind undergoeth the Servitude of the four Forms of the first Principle and the four divided Elements 4. And now the figure of their departure out of Egypt stands thus As Man by falling into the third Principle stood with his Astral Man in the four Elements and his Soul in the four Forms of the first Principle which either murthered them at first falling to them or kept in rigorous Vassalage till laying off the Body 5. Out of which a series of Miracles only could deliver So Man can no more ransom or deliver himself than these poor oppressed ones could by their own Power call down the Ten Plagues guide their way and divide the Sea and Jordan 6. And the spoiling the Egyptians by borrowing and bringing away their Jewels shews that God's Children shall carry out of the place of their Captivity under the first and third Principles a Soul and Spirit wholly resigned to God signified by the Jewels of Gold and the Quintessenâ—e or Divine Tincture of the Humanity signified by Jewels of Silver the Seventh or Lâ—â—ar Property 7. And that Moses the Son of Amram of the Tribe of Levi one of their Brethreâ— should be their Deliverer hath this Signification That God raiseth up in Man a Prophet of his Brethren
Garden which he had often frequented The Judgment Hall where he had been reviled crown'd with Thorns mocked scourged and condemned Also Calvary where they mercilesly crucified Mercy it self remained all Monuments of the greatest Love and Patience and extream Malice and ferine Cruelty In this City which should have worn Sackcloth with these sad Objects and under these Rulers were they to dwell and be confined 4. 3. With respect to the time being that of the Bridegrooms being taken from them of their having Tribulation ten days the time when their Enemies were Flesht by having their Hands Embrewed in the Blood of the Lord Jesus As cruel wild Beasts tasting the Blood of their prey and the time before descending of power from on high to revive them 5 But they must wait on this service in this place at this time signifying to us that the time of the Christians Life is the exercise of Faith Obedience and Trial of the sincerity of Love a time of beholding sad Objects as was this of theirs of hearing sinful sounds the being harassed by Oppressive Rulers converse with or amongst malicious ensnaring dangerous Enemies inward Terrors and Tempests and outward Storms and Outrages from the powers of the dark World 6. So that the distressed Soul can find no succour or guidance from the Imaged Powers of the outward Astral World but must sink down from them and constantly wait the Breathings of the true speaking Light World left if the outward Magia be our level design and home the dark Magus do by it insinuate into us and we thereby form the will of the Spirit of this World into our Eternal Souls which neither can â—â—ed them cloth them nor guide them but if thus they proceed till the four Elements fall off they shall find themselves miserably cheated This waiting of the Apostles directs us therefore to wait for the Whispers of the Word behind us so call'd we having gone out from it and turn'd our Backs on it Q. 145. What is the Feast of Pentecost How was the shedding or pouring forth of the Holy Ghost effected And how did the Bands of the Tongues of the Lords Disciples become unloosed A. 1. Our Fall in Adam brought us from the Paradisical Feasting to the toilsom Life to a state affording no other Food for the four properties of our first Principle which was the Centre of the Soul but the third Principle Which is rightly a feeding on Ashes and a Shadow If Men can live by looking on their own Picture so might Adam's Soul by the third Principle It was worse with him than it is with an Elementary Body who can subsist a little while by feeding on it self 2. Now the Feast of Pentecost was bringing back through the Lords Incarnation the vertue of the holy World viz. the Paradisical Bread and Water of Life for the Soul to feast on The true Flesh and Blood of Christs Heavenly Humanity this pure Water of Meekness is in the Soul a Well of Living Water springing up to Eternal Life 3. The pouring forth of the Holy Ghost was thus effected The Darkness into which the Soul had cast it self caused a violent anguish that anguish of its own Nature generates a fierce hungry Fire And higher than this the Humane Soul of its own ability since its Captivity goeth not Now such Souls as can get no satiety in the Spirit of their will from God but go to the third Principle do as Sâ—ul who waited not for Samuel but considering his streights Offered a Burnt-offering himself and so lost the Kingdom But so did not the Lords Disciples for they waited till the Lord came Where is he that learneth the lesson this Mystery unfoldeth He shall hear and understand the things which none of the divided Languages can possibly express and sometimes may see and penetrate what it is not lawful to utter 4. Pluck out the Earthy guessing and pretended seeing stop the Ear against the delusive Charmer then shall not the outward Reason like the Sun dazle nor Thunder or the roaring of the Sea amuse the raging Waves shall be countermanded and thy Ark will be in inward Tranquillity 5. The pouring out of the Holy Ghost did enkindle the Souls Anguish and Fire into a Light and Divine serenity of meek Love Now as the blinking Lamp flaming from a small spark enlighteneth a little Boom and the greater Fire of a Torch yields a more eminent Lustre So the greater the Anguish the greater the Fire and the greater also is the Light when the Lord enkindles it to a Love flame that according to its exalted vivacity it be proportionably as it weâ—e Tinctured reaching hard after the Resurrection from the dead 6. Now were the Bands of their Tongues unloosed by their opening the power World in this World for by how much we are by wrath and death Captivated by so much are we impotent But where the Spirit of God unites with Mans Spirit it frees him from all restrictive Ligaments that with the Word there may be power But the following Question â—reating of this Suâ—â—â—ct â—oâ—â— is not â—eresaid to this third Branch Q. 146. How is the difference or distinction of Languages among them to be understood that they have all at one instant spoken all Languages at once in one sence so that people of all Nations understood them A. 1. Man's Fall cast him from the unity into the multiplicity Before which Fall he stood in the one holy power his Word being in God was by his Almightiness Mighty ruling in through and over the multiplicity his Words were as many Arrows in a Quiver penetrating all things As the Arrow out of a Bow of Steel doth the Air. But Mans Fall into the multiplicity disarm'd him render'd him impotent only some have a little power to see into one property some into another but were all Mens Abilities united it were but some pieces of the multiplicity far short of the Unity 2. Man is an Image of the whole Trinity and the Astral and Elementary Worlds Image Heavenly Things and Places while Man therefore kept his station he was in the Divine Centre but his departure thence dejected him into the circumference Wheel of Nature or Out-birth thenceforth was the Centre or Holy Fountain hid 3. The Lord Jesus Christ as he is the only Begotten Son of God is the Eternal speaking Word which may be understood to be Eternally generated out of the Eternal Father or first Principle as our four Forms or Anguishes generate naturally the Liberty or Light which is call'd the fifth This is the first Word the creating speaking holy Word from Eternity 1 John 1 2 3. 4. The next is the created Word the holy World wherein the Almighty Word doth through the Virgin of Divine Wisdom Image himself It may be compared to a holy Eternal Book whereof the Angels are Golden Letters sounded in Divine Harmony In which Book the Almighty with delight reads his own glorious ineffable tremendous
Name 5. But Lucifer making an harsh jarring Tone and changing his Golden Letters into black of poysonous composition raced himself and his whole Hierarchy out of that fair Record Then did the creating Word speak or incert and interline Man into that part of the Book out of which Lucifer and his Angels had been raced which with the additional skill of Interliners had the Out-principle as an adjunct to him this was the second race of Intellectuals 6. And tho' the skill of the speaking Word were perfect yet as usually it is in Interlinings the obliterated Letters had left some flaws or scratches tho' not in the holy Book yet in the adjunct shadower or cover viz. the Out-birth which being new bound and the lacerated pieces cemented in the cover rested such stains and rents that thereof came the perillous poysonous stinging Animals and Vegetables and Beasts of prey bearing the impressions of the clauses of the dark World 7. Whereinto when Man fell their contagion so affected him that he could not sound a due consonance to the Harmonious Dialect of the Holy Book which as to him became so closed and sealed that he could not read open nor so much as look thereon But as Men Illiterate cannot Spell nor Read so the Language of Nature of the Heavenly Holy World our true Mother Tongue was lost he had no Ears to hear the Angelical Ravishing Voices nor Tongue to utter it till the Fiery Cloven Tongues descended 8. Now come we to the Holy Language it self which if any could speak would not some say this Man is full of new Wine But we may mournfully tell of our Losses easierthan regain them we must say that Language was one and but one For its Nature it is pure for its extent it is comprehensive of all and therefore no wonder all understood it for its power it hath Authoritatively Omnipotence in it actually or executively it hath the Keys of Life and Instruments of Death this Word slew Ananias and Sappâ—ira and freed Tabitha from the Bonds of Death 9. Now as in Mens ordinary Affairs the Reason and Understanding prevail to move the Mind so that after Debate a Will is formed this Will is the Result of all consideration and is the Man the Soul the Spirit the Body the Passions Affections all make one Intire Will and the Magical driving power of all this becomes the Word this Word is the Executive Instrument and not barely the Herauld of the Soul or whole Man It is the Energy and expressed Vigor of all the Powers wherefore it is said By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned for the word is the work and the worker 10. Thus and no otherwise is the Divine Language which the Holy Ghost opened in the Apostles viz. the Result and Law or Abridgment of all the Powers of the hidden Holy World it was the Opener of all Doors the Epitomy of all Openings the understanding of which is offered by this simile 11. The Intricacies of the perverted perplexed confused Tongues in the multiplicity is compared to the Night season when a Man can only see the House or Room that contains him and that not without the aid of Fire or Candle Light where is much shadow many uncertainties some colours not distinguishable And the explicating opening and voice of the holy one Language is compared to the Noon-day which shews every thing at once without Door and within 12. Thus the Divine Word or Language comprehends all opens all Doors therefore was it that all Nations understood them for the unity contains the multiplicity as every Genus doth every of its own Species or as the Element of Fire doth every Spark of Fire This hath the Life of all openings as the Vowels are the Spirit of the whole Alphabet All the sounds Musical or otherwise are contained in three and in seven both Concords and Discords All Voices or Tones expressing the Passions and Affections in the two Extreams of Joy and Sorrow and the Mean of Equiponderating Solemnity of Humane Creatures or others are comprised in the sixth Fountain Spirit or property of the Eternal Nature and must have its efficacy in every formation Q. 147. What doth this shedding forth of the Holy Ghost out of Christs Resurrection and Ascention to Heaven profit or benefit us How may that be also effected in us A. 1. When the Epâ—esians who had been Baptized by John were ask'd Have ye received the Holy Ghost since you be ieved Answer'd We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost they may not be thought wholly ignorant of the Eternal Existence of the Holy Ghost for all the Holy Men from the Creation were guided by him But that these knew not of this glorious and plentiful Effasion of the Holy Ghost on the whole Assembly 2. And now how the pouring forth of the Holy Ghost profits us is not only that records deliver this to us as once done in them but that the same is vouchsafed more or less Eminently as those sacred Visits are more or less welcom'd by joyful Obedience or grieved by stubborn Resistance For as the precious Ointment going down to the Hem of Aaron's Vesture is not said to be spilt on the Rocks or sterile Earth so neither doth the Holy Spirit always strive with Gaâ—sayeâ—s 3. Again the coming of the Holy Ghost out of Christs Death and Resurrection profits us also that whereas it finds us in as many pieces as there are Properties in Nature and drawn by as many contradictory wills as there are subordinate Species in those Properties figâ—â—'d by the confused Languages at Babel this Holy Spirit unites us as Fire unites all sorts of Fuel into a like Flame 4. Thus it found some of them in one form and extream some in another some Busied with Curiosities others Brutishly Ignorant and Remiss some seeking by fraud or otherwise to establish their particular propriety some making Ambitious Designs their Idol c. The sacred Spirit putting out their several false Fires and Gloworm fictitious Light brought them and willeth to bring us into one Kingdom by one Spirit to mind the same things leads us by one will to be imploy'd in one work for our scatter'd Interests extravagant Desires and private selfish Contrivances must as Rubbish be removed before the Lords House be Erected or as Weeds be eradicated before the good Seeds flourish 5. 'T is true our Humane Powers and the Spirit of the great World in us and the Tincture convey'd us thereby may be used by the Almighty Architect as unhew'd Timber rough stone and other Materials whereof to frame a Building like as the Principles and Properties were extracted out of the first Chaos So may our confusions be consecrated and made conducible to the work of the new Creation which is effected in us by dying of our first wilful desires For by giving up the might of our first principle into the Intellectual
Light of the second Principle there is generated in us the pure Love of the third Principle of which Love the Holy Ghost is the Author by this the Law is fulfilled and in and by it the Holy Ghost graciously seals the Regenerate to Eternal Salvation Who having been fed by the Flesh and Blood of the Lord Jesus have in part got his Heavenly Body on them which is attaining a measure of the Resurrection from the dead 6. This brings in Universality in the Room of Propriety one instead of many signified by the Tongues which tho' Cloven were all but one united and one only in every Language here see we the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven and the new Man thus progressed is the true and in some sort perfect Image of the Trinity for it is the first disappeared Image which Adam fell from And in this most excellent way doth the glorious Trinity work in Eternity in all Divine Creatures wherein the Three Persons Image themselves Q. 148. What is the Litteral Word and the Living Word Christ in his shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans Word but not Christ teaching in his Resurrection A. 1. The Literal Word did signifie in the Jewish Administration the Law of Circumcision c. call'd a killing Letter tho' even that were glorious as is intimated by Moses Face The Evangelizing by Preaching or Writing must then be much more glorious the Holy Writings of the Prophets Apostles and Saints are therefore exceeding precious and require great care and diligence to learn the Mysteries there intended and taught they are so good and important their Efficacy Majesty and End so Divine that the living Word and it are used as terms convertible but yet Metonymically As by the Cup is meant the Wine or by the Bag the Treasure 2. But the Living Word is the Eternal Creating Word and tho' no Language contains â—et every Word of Men is of it and by it and when the Lord Jesus saith of the Holy Spirit he shall take of mine and give it unto you he means the so speaking as the Spirit should give utterance Such was this when the God of Spirits fell on them other speaking sprung from Babel is as far below the Life and Power of that as the Consonants are below the Vowels which produce but muâ—e â—issings c. 3. And we may expect when God shall give to his one Heart one Soul one Love one Life of Faith Holiness Meekness Patience and Self-denial accounting nothing their own but as Members of the one Body to live as that white sweet first Age of those Guests at the Feast of Pentecost When God shall do this we may expect he will restore the Spirits of the Letters and give us Water at the pure Fountain until then as one people know not the Language of others so all people are strangers to this and as falshood causeth Men not to know others Minds by their Words so do Mens false Hearts make them unknown to themselves 4. Now why some of them who heard the Heavenly Tidings said these Men are full of sweet or new Wine was because themselves were Captivated in another Principle than that wherein the words were Born perhaps some in the deceits of the third Principle others in the wrath of the first so that they could no more comprehend the words of the Children of the day than the Creatures of the corrupt terrene Salitter can converse with the Aerial Creatures or the aquaâ—trish with those of the Fire or then we poor Offspring of faln Adam can skill the Dialect of Angels 5. Mans Heart is naturally prepossest against Divine Understanding and the simplicity of truth not only from his disorder'd Original but especially by Maturity of Growth to fixedness in the humane Apostacy for Youth stands in a true Ground which makes Angels delight in them until the Serpents Foxes and Goats their Tutors Companions and Tempters have gravely taught them to be Fools in Fashion also false and by degrees to be obscene and impudent of Conversation O how great is Mans Misery on Earth how innumerable his Snares how multiply'd his Perils and Sorrows in this great and terrible Wilderness How Infinite is the forbearance of a contemned Father How compassionate the Redeerner to his daily Murtherers How long-suffering is the grieved Holy Spirit O the Heighth and Depth and Length and Breadth of that Love so abused by us The subsequent Question excuseth saying more to this Q. 149. How doth Christ himself teach presentially in the Office of Preaching and yet sitteth at the Right Hand of God Or among whom doth Christ teach what is a Shepherd or Pastor in the Spirit of Christ and a Teacher of the Letter without the Spirit of Christ each in his Office A. 1. How Christ is in Heaven and every where on Earth at once according to his Heavenly Humanity the 119 Answer from ver 3. to the End sheweth Also it is elsewhere shew'd the sitting of Christ at the Right Hand of the Power of God is at the place where Love quencheth Wrath therefore are the Sheep at the great Day placed on the Right Hand of the Judge 2. But now to the next part of the Question among whom doth Christ teach it must be answer'd the Light which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men for as every Countrey on Earth is visited by the splendor of the Sun and every Plant and Pile of Grass Influenced by him and so hath been from the Creation so also from Adam to the last Man hath Christ the only true Light shined and will shine 3. And as there are many places in some Countries and some Angles in every Countrey whereon the Suns Beams beat not directly yet is there no Vegetable which his Vigor Influenceth noâ— Such is the Pâ—eâ—ching Vertue of Christ to all present past and future 4. Again as every Mineral is not Gold nor every Fruit solar that the Suns veâ—tue should be totally prevalent in them but they all are helped the more to grow thereby in their own Property so that it is not the Suns fault that many are spoil'd Thus tho' Christ stands in the Door of every Mans Heart calls them waits the whole time of the Life of many and very long on all as a Judge as a Councellor and as a Monitor yet many grow hard and as evil Creatures the stronger in their own property by the desireable access of the Suns Rays Thus Impenitent Men do from Gods goodness treasure up wrath bless themselves say we shall have peace cry the Temple of the Lord c. and grow the more evil because God is most good and are the more daring the more they are intreated and strove with 5. Now to the latter part of the Question
of entring Hell by Heaven's Gate 2. Many Volumes are extant concerning Regeneration some discovering the Old Estate some the New some the Process from the one to the other whose parts after Information are of terror for awakening Exhortation Direction Tryal Caution and Encouragement and doubtless all whose sincere Love to God draws them to this Imployment are prosecuting the End of Gods Creating and Redeeming Work and are as truly though weakly at what pleaseth God as the Holy Angels are but all Pretenders to teach Religion who are neither instrumental to call in the Sinner nor to feed the Flock are titular Christians but truly Antichristians yet would be accounted Pastors and Leaders 3. Mens Industry for fading Toys gives Evidence against the lazy titular Christian what a series of Pains Study and Patience have Men emulously strove with to acquire Trades and Arts What Extremities others encounter chearfully to discover new Countries passing torrid heat and stone cleaving cold What daring attempts Ambition hath set Men upon by cruel force like Wolves and Vultures to wade through Rivers of Innocent Blood to add more clods to their field of usurped Soveraignty for a larger Stage to act a little while with more Elbow-room the tyranny of their impetuous lusts over their Brethren 4. And how little Price do Men set on Treasures talking only of them whereas only talking of Work all Day gets no Wages at Night The professing Faith but practically denying the working Life of it is the Damnation of titular Christendoâ— at this day the Form of Godliness denying the Power is to be turned from in others but especially in our selves The state of Chorasâ—â— and Bethsaida was more intolerable than that of Sodom for they had the sound of the Gospel which it seems was all they desir'd And who doubts but the foolish Virgins were as ceâ—â—â—â—â—ly shut out as the most lewd Harlots The mâ—er outside of Religion is as profitable as painted Fire and Food to warm and nourish 5. The Titular Christian is the more inexcusable because if he will he may know himself to be only a counterfeit tho' the sincere Child may by reason of his Allay and Imperfect Work have cause enough to doubt himself the reason whereof is because the unregenerate Professor doth out of the four Anguishes of the first Principle only generate the third Principle which is but a cold shadow or reflected Light most sensibly discernable And not to conceal the very truth an Hypocritical Titular Christian hath but a noise of words a feigned representation of the very third Principle it self Less of Faith than the Devils whose Faith causeth trembling And less of the figur'd Powers of the Out-birth or World than the Heathen Magicians for those could imitate Moses in many things from the powers of the formed Worlds Properties 6. But the Regenerate Child is enabled out of his first Principle to generate the true understanding and real ravishing Fâ—rvour of the Divine Love of the second Principle and so crucifies the Old Nature consisting of the first Principle imaged in the third and lives in the New Nature viz. the first Principle illustrated by the meek sacred second having the third only hanging sticking or adhering to it and clogging it a while whereunto it is more and more dead as the Fruit is to a withered Leaf which hangs on the Branch with the Fruit but when the Fruit attains maturity and is gathered the disregarded Leaf falleth 7. And to tell what the Titular Christian receiveth in Christ's Supper He receiveth what sufficeth his hunger for his Soul desireth only a Form of Godliness it hath therefore a Form of words a shadow of the powerful Worlds word His Body would conform to the fashion of others it hath the fashioned mortal Elementary Bread and Wine a dead figure of the Heavenly Food Thus in both Inward and Outward he hath a shadow form and figure fill'd with Wrath Curse and Damnation 8. These participate with Christ in his Anguish but die not to their Lusts they would rise with Christ not to a New Life but that Sin might reign with him in them and thus tread they on His Blood but the Blood of the Passover was not to be on the Threshold to be trampled on but on the Lintel and two Side Posts Thus did Judas eat the Sop as these the Supper Q. 155. Whether also may Christ's Flesh and Blood become enjoyed by Believers without or out of the Testamentary Ordinance and Observation or how it may be done A. 1. That the Flesh and Blood of Christ is the Living Holy Powerful Word is manifest that This was given His Disciples before the Institution of the last Supper is also manifest by the same Text and their believing on Him That This was the same Spiritual Meat and Drink which the Rock Christ gave the Israelites in the Wilderness is plain And what other Spiritual Food had all from the Creation to make and nourish the Holy Souls for This was in spoken into Man immediately after the Fall else had he been swallowed up of the Anguishes of His own Root 2. And that This may be enjoyed by Believers out of the Testamentary Ordinance is clear how else come they to be Believers How else also in all Nations are such as fear God and work Righteousness accepted Now how This is received by the Soul the Inward Eye only seeth for the Outward Man and Astral Soul comprehend Christ's Spiritual Flesh and Blood no more than the gross Stone doth the Tincture of fine Gold that is in it 3. This Flesh and Blood of Christ is His Heavenly Humanity a Divine Love-fire or a Holy Tincture re-enkindling Adam's vanished Virgin Image as precioâ—s Oil put into common dark Fire gives it a shining glance So This Spiritual Paradiâ—ical Humanity Christ's own Mummis freely presseth into the Soul as the vertue of the Sun into the Plant. This is the Spiritual Flesh out of which the Viâ—ible Image groweth As Fire falling into Tinder turns it into Fire and Light Thus is Christ the Light of the World and doth substantially inhabit in the Soul See more of this in the little Book of the two Testaments Q. 156. Why hath Christ Ordained and Instituted This Testament and said so oft as we do it we should do it in remembrance to what profit and benefit is it done with Bread anâ— Wine and not without Or whether may it also become enjoyed or participated without Bread and Wine A. That it may be enjoyed and participated of without Bread and Wine appears in the last preceding Answer It remains here to answer why Christ ordained This Testament saying c. which was viz. 1. That the Antitype Christ might be received in a way suitable to the capacity of the Receiver 2. In a method suitable to all his gracious ways of condescending to men in all Ages by Sacrifices c. and by the Pascal Lamb in particular by things palpable but
hath a very Dim sight and sees such things only by similitudes which impose mistakes And the Eternal Soul is like jarring untun'd Strings of an Instrument So that the holy new Principle is buried drown'd and out-sounded 3. How may the Heavenly Man be distinguisht from all pretended Christians seeing there is given him a white Stone and a new Name which none can read but he that hath it And how obscure the Characters ingraved in that white Stone are may appear in this that when the Lord said to the Twelve one of you shall betray me they all severally askt Master Is it I So that he only who had not the white Stone was able to know who it was and by consequence who were not Traytors but Faithful And yet notwithstanding all that hath been said the right Christian may be known partly by comparing him with the contrary Characters of the Titulary Christian and partly by something visible in him who is the Christian in Heart 4. The Character of the Titulary Christian is he makes the profit pleasure and pride of things on Earth his great and constant aim and it cannot be otherwise pretend he what he will for this is his home his all his treasure where else can be his Heart 5. His first Principle is uneasie to him unless he hath somewhat to go into for his first four Properties being by his loss of the Divine World in the Fall at perpetual enmity and in respect of his dark Principle separately considered he is a Tormentor or Hell to himself therefore laying hold on the third Principle which is all he can reach his hungry Fire and Rage is mitigated as Men in pain and grief are a little eased by delightful Objects diverting the regret of their Melancholy as Children by Toys do cease crying 6. Thus the prosperity of the Fool shall slay him it made him say Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry Did I not studiously shun many words much might profitably be said shewing how according to this the Lord Jesus doth Character the Scribes and Pharisees which were Hypocrites and what the whole reprehensions of the Prophets and Apostles in all the holy Records say of this out-cast state who all with one continued cry did in all Ages perswade recal and warn Man from the Image and Shadow to the true Eternal holy substance and condemn his obstinate refusal The Holy Ghost convincing him of his stupid Lust to his Chains and Prison willing him to leave off his grave Cloths 7. But the Faithful Christian is distinct from the Titular Christian in this that his main aim bent of his will stream of his affections bottom of his real designs desires and longings are not after and stay not in the figure but penetrate into the substance lives to groans and thirsts after the Inward Man 8. Nothing he finds can compose true peace but reuniting the Light World to him which is done only by the death of the Enmity not the death of the Enemies for then the Soul were Mortal if the Powers or Properties could be kill'd but the Regenerate Man dies to the Self-will and Lusts to which the Titular Christian is a great resolute stranger And that it is said he dies to the Sensual Man is so true that it cannot be otherwise for the sensual Life is to the Life of the new Man the resigned Inward Man as sickness is to health which by the true Physician is drove away 9. And tho' Men have the Heavenly and Hellish Properties in them that which soever they awaken that Fire burneth and becomes the Life of the Man suppressing the contrary property yet is not the prevailing Property of these two easily distinguishable in the Out-birth but very obscure Even as the Light of the Sun by the interposition of gross palpable Fogs and Exhalations is less visible than the Lustre of a Bright Moon in a serene Air. Q. 161. What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdom of God is inwardly revealed or manifested How doth he walk and converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once A. 1. The last preceding Answer distinguisheth a Christian from another Man so that to the first second and third parts of this it may suffice to say that the Christian properly such hath inwardly his first principle consisting of the four Anguishes the Root or Fire and indissoluble Band of the Soul illustrated and regulated by the Love Fire which is the Divine Holy Life out of the second principle In respect whereof he walks and converseth in Heaven as in an Angelical state in great purity and simplicity as such are they dear Children and were not the third Principle annexed to them were in the Holy Eternal Paradise already 2. But were they not invested by the Out-birth or Astral World they could not be the compleat Image of the Trinity which in that respect the Angels themselves are not Therefore according to the Astral Man the regenerate Soul is properly the Temple of the Holy Ghost but the Holy Angels themselves wanting that Principle are not said to be so 3. Thence it is our Apostle dehorting from polluting it by Harlots But that we keep our Bodies pure and chaste tells us they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which if we defile we destroy Gods Temple and that who doth so him will God destroy for as the whole third Principle is the propriety of the Holy Ghost so peculiarly is Mans Outward Man or Astral Man his Temple 4. In the outward Man of some of Gods Holy Children therefore the inward Power World so manifesteth it self that it giveth vigour of the Eternal Holy World into the Tincture of their Astral Man as in the Prophets and Apostles to enter into their Diseased Brother and bring his weak Faith both into a potent and good order with such Energy as fortifies the Paralitick separates the impurity of the Leper calms the rage of the Calenture revives the drooping stays the departing and sometimes recalls the departed outward Life Gods Spirit awakening the Magical Virtue of his Children all things are possible Q. 162. What is the Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity A. 1. Although the Holy Ghost describes Antichrist his Rise his Character and the method of his destruction adding that there are many Antichrists Yet so mysterious is he that it is proverbial that Antichrist is the Philosophers Stone in Divinity His shelter is the Darkness his defence the Word and Power of Hell and wicked pretended Christians Of this Vizard of Darkness the Divine Light divests him and the Divine strength consumes him the brightness of the Lords coming discovers him and the Spirit of his Mouth destroys him How then can any be deliver'd from the Tyranny of Antichrist who are strangers to Christ or any know Christ who are willingly in servitude to Antichrist 2. The time of Antichrists discovery and destruction is certainly
come but as the Sun gradually prepares his way from the dark Morning by making step by step in his Chambers of the East so are the Heavenly approaches made While the Pope points at Mahomet the reformed Christians at the Pope and at that or the other Party how unlike are we all to the Lord's Disciples when the Lord said One of you shall betray me they said not Is it he but Is it I is it I 3. Antichrist is not by that Name known in the whole New Testament or Epistles of the Apostles or Holy Pen-men but in the first and second Epistles of John and in them five times and no more The Mystery whereof may be his prevalence in all the Five Senses thus understood the Astral Man is his which should be the Temple of the Holy Ghost therein Antichrist sits as God and there shews himself that he is God viz. in them 4. But Paul knows him 1. By his Names 2. By his Character 3. By his time of being revealed And 4. By his time of being consumed 1. His Names viz. 1. a Man of Sin 2 b Son of Perdition 3. c Mystery of Iniquity 4. d Strong Delusions 2. By his Character 1. Unbridled Pride and Self-Exaltation viz. above all that is called God or that is Worshipped 2. He whose coming is after the working of Satan viz with all Power Signs and lying Wonders 3. With all deceivableness of Unrighteousness 4. That it should make Men believe a Lye that they might be Damned 3. By his time of being revealed viz. upon the withdrawing of the Glory which while it was so present as to let and hinder yet even then did the Evil one begin to work 4. By his time of being consumed and means how viz. by the Spirit of the Mouth of the Lord and his being destroyed by the brightness of his coming 5. Those who understand the four Forms composing the first or hellish Principle can well and distinctly see the signification of the four Names given him by the Holy Ghost mentioned by the first of the above four Heads And those who can view the Operations of those four Properties exclusive of Divine Light can also well know the four Characters of the second of the above Heads And those who understand the third Head see the Birth of the Turba in the Soul which Adam introduced by shutting out the Light of his true Humanity But those Children of the day who follow the meek Saviour in Faith Purity Patience and Simplicity know no more of Antichrist than the Eleven did of Judas Treason but are received into another Life and Principle for the Essences of their Souls have generated the Love-fire and they dwell in that hidden brightness and serenity by which Antichrist is unveiled yet these know no more of him than the Day doth of the Night 6. The appearing of Antichrist upon the withdrawing of the Divine Unction the holy Light World may be understood not as Night to day but as followeth A Man 's noble Intellect departs yet may remain his Proportions of Body and a Capacity of imitating externally what others seem to do understandingly and what also himself was formerly able to do rationally yet now his words are rather those of Parots and his doings the gestures of Apes than those of Prudent Men. Thus Antichrist speaks the words of Christ but without the Power Bows Kneels Prostrates yet without the Presence of Christ. 7. Again a Tree dead at Root may seem by the Branches and Leaves too for a little time like a growing Tree so the reflection in an opposing Cloud of the Rainbow represents another yet is but a meer shew of the true Rainbow and so have we Parâ—lii or Mock-Suns Such is the Antichrist but with this difference among other important ones that Antichrist dwelling in the unmortified Affections hath Enmity against what it seems to be which none of the above Similes have any thing of 8. By many of the like Contemplations and Similitudes may be apprehended how Antichrist was revealed upon the departing of the Peace-proclaiming Light of Christ which every Soul sadly Experiments in its Declensions turnings aside lookings back slumberings and unfaithfulness but where it proceeds to final Apostacy and Enmity of Spirit it is Antichrist in Epitomy as the outward Hypocrisie is Antichrist in the Mirror or Looking-glass See the 139 Answer v. 3. 4. 9. Thus may be seen that Antichrist is the result or law decreed and ratified by the titular Christians Reason And Reason is the general Knowledge of things attain'd and taught by the collected Observations of the Senses for their particular Acts and Experiments are the Materials of Reason as Letters are of Books 10. Antichrist in the high Exercise of his Reason may have a Name to live but because that his Reason is the Child of his Senses it must needs be true that he is Dead viz. to the Divine Life for he is only sensually rational which a Dog now hurt by a Stone thrown on him flying from the offer of throwing anon another partaketh of 11. Wherefore Antichrist not having the Spirit of Christ confirms himself in his own as it is written sensual not having the Spirit for the Spirit of Life and Holiness is vouchsafed us only in the fifth Form whereunto the regenerate only reach and whereof every unmortified Soul can attain no more but the Counterfeit as it is written A grain of Wheat remaineth alone and is not quickened except it die 12. And as Antichrist is Dead to the Holy Life by being alive to himself So those who enter the Holy Life are Dead to the sensual and consequently to the Earthy rational and in that respect may in an excellent sence be said to be besides themselves and according to the Maxims of Astral Reason are Fools and Madmen to give all their present Possessions and the Advantages of their Acquirements Emoluments and whole Man in exchange for unseen Futurities and Hope of them for such see plainly that Reason and the Senses are such things only as the more accomplish'd a Nominal Christian is in that inferior Principle the more strong a Beast the more dangerous an Antichrist is he 13. 'T is true Man falling in Adam into this third Principle God's immense pity met him in Sacrifices a worldly Sanctuary Perfumes of Incense c. That his Senses should be Witnesses of Divine Condescension but when the Lord became Flesh he led to Sublime things viz. Spiritual Worship not confin'd to places c. Holy Faith and the new Creature wrought by the Almighty Spirit of God 14. Therefore Man's having begun in the Spirit declining as if he would be made perfect in the Flesh is the Essential Character of Antichrist for as Lucifer fell thus into his central Fire so falls Antichrist into his circumferential Fire or Astral Out-birth viz. from the Holy Eternal Light to the figure of it in the sensual
seen in raging furious desperate men from thenceforth wanting a Mouth capable to eat Paradisical Food therefore God cursed the Earth that it also should no more be able to produce nor be intrusted with Living Holy Fruits of the Heavenly Power-World for the Heavenly Humanity once withdrawn Man was no longer a Subject Member Citizen or Child of God's Kingdom but a Beast and in the Bestial Astral and Elementary Kingdom at Enmity with the Holy Pure Sweet Eternal Order 5. Therefore Christ taketh the Kingdom by bringing again the holy disappeared Power-World or Heavenly Humanity into the captivated dark debilitated Humanity call'd an Ingrafted Word also a Seed growing to a Tree A Leven levening the whole A Refiner and is as a sparkle enkindling the whole and as in germination of a Seed the gross matter given it from the Elements dieth or as of the burnt Sacrifice the Elementary part is by the fire of the Altar separated into a Vapour and Salt Just so Christ entred the corrupted Man and leading it through Death became the true Separator He brought the holy Virgin Image the alone Heavenly Virginity which is signified by the Salt thrown by Elisha to heal the Fountain not only the Stream For This Divine Power healeth the Tincture and the Tincture being cured like the healed Spring by its new got Magical Might and Puissance is a Co-worker with God in regenerating the whole Man As the Subterranean Fire doth draw one way with the Solar Fire in propagating and advancing the Generation of Metals ejection of Fountains and sanative hot Baths 6. This Kingdom is not taken but purchased by the Blood of the King of it and what this Blood was see the 124 Answer 2 6 8 and 9 verses but this Kingdom is such that it is the scope of all the Writings of the holy Ones from Adam the first Man to the unknown day and hour of the end of this dying World Men who would fain be Atheists have said the great ingredient of their mortal fatal contagious Madness hath been the observing how little affected the Conversations of such shew them to be who profess the knowledge love and fear of an Infinite Powerful Omniscient and Omnipresent Glorious and Gracious Father Son and Holy Ghost thinking they could not so converse did they indeed believe what themselves say 7. But the reason thereof hath been the deceiving Spirit for there hath all along been such Sacrificers as Cain such as have the Faith of Simon Magus the Prophesyings of Balaam the Humility of Ahab the Repentance of Judas the Abstinence of the Foolish Virgins the priviledge of the Tares to be the Guest without a Wedding Garment the Branch yet wither'd and cut off the Wife but Divorced the Building without Foundation those who after cleansing take seven worse Spirits whose goodness is like the Morning Dew Stars but either fallen or wandering ones Teachers but yet at last Cast-aways All these professing themselves of Christs are really of the Devils Kingdom 8. For that which these attain is at highest but Faith as it is an act of the understanding which gives a false faint Light without Life and Heat while the Faithful Subjects are actuated and moved by a Faith that purifieth the Heart and subjecteth the Will proceeding from strength to strength for as purifying Faith worketh from Love so it increaseth Love Simplicity and Innocency and there is founded the Kingdom of Patience It is true Mahometans the dark Ethnicks and Barbarians call those things Vices and those Vertues which we call so and by that Rule They accuse or excuse themselves or others But the Doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God not only condemns our evil but tenders us Life Eternal it kills us to save us that is it sends us out of our selves by resignation of our separate perverse will that we may be regenerated unto the holy universal comprehensive will Whereby is obtain'd and convey'd not only self-abasing but purging and saving Mercy of Free Grace as only of meer Alms from God This Grace proceeding from pure pity and undeserved goodness is of all things in the World the most disagreeable to Mans unmortified proud Heart most cross to his own will therefore the most sublimely divinely true 9. Faln Mans dejecting himself may be call'd Humiliation Anguish and a Spirit of Bondage but the top of this is but uncloathing the Man who is thereby neither wash'd nor cleansed but the Conscience still polluted the proud Devils must yet see their own deformity with Anguish thus this Spirit in Man shuts him up in the first four Forms or Properties But it is the Spirit of God by the Faith of the Gospel which is generated in the fifth growing to a Flame of Love by the Holy Blood of the true second Adam only washeth the Soul and sprinkleth the Conscience from dead Works How miserable then must those Men be who are willingly ignorant of the power and infinite value of Christs Heavenly Blood and yet themselves undervaluing it are pretended Perfectists yet declare so great an aversion to this as if they would know nothing of that which the Apostle Paul desir'd only to know Contemning the inquiry into that Mystery which the Angels desire to look into But to help the sincere Mind towards the Understanding of the Heavenly condescention in the Lords Incarnation the reperusal of the 106 Answer is seriously recommended And what kind of Subjects Christ taketh into his Kingdom are Character'd in the 117 Answer from ver 3. to the 8th And what the inestimable Blood of this Lamb of God is see the 77th Answer ver 7 8 and 9. The Kingdom is taken by the Glorious King of it without hands As the Angel saith of the Stone to Daniel even as the outward Sun conveys not his Light and enlivening Heat by the violence of stormy Winds but is calmly and sweetly his own Vehicle under whose glorious dear Sway and Scepter may the Lord bring our whole Man and every part of it for ever that this which is the Kingdom of Gods patience may be that of his Power concerning things pertaining to this Kingdom the Lord discoursed with his Disciples in the forty days after his Resurrection But yet this Kingdom suffereth violence tho' it doth none and the violent take it by force for it requires that all diligence be used that Men work out their Salvation with fear and trembling that they ask seek knock search dig watch fight strive wrestle suffer wait comparatively hate Father Mother Wife Child and our own Life Pray without ceasing looking to Jesus c. for as the King entred by the Cross so must the Subjects Q. 166. What is the true new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ Is it done in this time or after this time A. 1. Here is a question consisting of two parts 1. What the true new Regeneration is 2. What time is it wrought in Both of them are secrets the first done by
to be risen with Christ and guided by his Light within them Let it be observed by such who wilfully oppose or not regarded at their Peril And for satisfaction of such who are willing to know the truth viz. That Christ had a true Natural Humane Body of Flesh and Blood from Mary Heb. 2. 24. For asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death which is the Devil Q. 3. But is it askt how is this Body and Humane Soul the same of ours It 's answer'd 1. By way of Concession that it was so far other than ours as it had the Holy Ghost instead of Mans Masculine Seed 2. Yet took he as the above Text with many others plainly tell us part of our Flesh and Blood and so was our Brother that is such as the Children had part of were of or are partakers of and this is also ours of what Nation soever we are for it is written Acts â—7 16. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on the Face of the Earth Q. 4. Is it ask'd what of this was raised again It 's Answer'd all of it for the Women and after that the Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter saw there was nothing left in the Sepulchre after the Resurrection but the Linnen Cloaths wherein he had been wrapped Q. 5. May it be fully so with other Bodies Answer Matth. 27. 52 53. And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many And it must be remembred that it shall be so with ours at the last day it was the Faith of Martha who saith unto him John 11. 24. I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Q. 6. May it not be otherwise with us our Bodies must putrifie and the Incorruptible only rise Answer our Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 53. Our Mortal shall put on Immortality and our Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and all this as a consequence of Christs Death and Burial according to the Scriptures also of his rising again and after his rising again was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve after that of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6. Q. 7. Shall it be a Resurrection of all Answer The Lord saith Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Let it therefore no longer be charged justly on us as formerly on the Jewish Rabbies That we err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1 Thes. 4. 14 15. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep c. Q. 8. How is it effected Answer As Lazarus was raised That voice which gave Being to all call'd him up and that voice shall call all up every one in his own Order May it never be said of us as of the Jews Because they knew not him nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him So may it not be said now Because they consult not frequently nor heedfully regard nor will understand the holy Words and Writings of the Lord his Apostles c. which they may daily read they yet sit down with a confused Notion of this great Doctrine and bury their drowsie Intellect some with dark Heathenish Maxims begetting Atheism in Judgment and Practice a degree worse than Devils 9. Other some there are having a glimpse of a true Light wherewith they think themselves rich and to have need of nothing and there shut it and themselves up without proving it by searching like the Bereans and without improving it by trimming their Lamps But not imploying themselves in the Lords methods do obscure or bury their Talent and so by degrees let their foolish Heart be darkened not only in this but in many other of the plain and precious Truths of the Kingdom of God which great evil and defection is as ever heretofore in all other forms accompanied with sharp Censures of others and peremptory unwarranted Injunctions of their own Reason Whereas the more we approach the Divine Life the more comprehensive is that Soul the more ready to bear and forbear to do and suffer to become all or any thing to all that it may beget of that meek Spirit in others to be swift to hear to have an open naked Breast whereon it begs the Lord Jesus to write his whole Pleasure is so vile in his own absurd Judgment that is easily induced to think highly of others Q. 173. How doth this World pass away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward A. 1. To some this Question may seem only curious and to others so occult as if incogniscible to a third sort such as if possible to be resolv'd were needless because it fruitlesly anticipates say they the thing which in its season shall demonstrate it self But on serious mature inspection it is found possible important and greatly necessary to be known and believed 2. It is said that when Cortis with a Brigade of Spanish Horse and Infantry Invaded the West Indies and had charged them of the Republick of Tlaxcallan upon the Fall of any Spaniard either Man or Horse care was taken so to bury them that the Americans might not know it which made them despair of withstanding such whom they thence concluded to be Immortal Thus not to discover the end of this present World which the dark World and the Prince of it would conceal were to insinuate as if it were indissoluble and consequently uncreated and so Brutishly to introduce Atheism and Atheism is that fatal Evil which may be justly accounted the worst of Errors of the worst of Men. 3. But this World had a beginning and shall have an end as it is written Psal. 102. 25 26. Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hand They shall perish c. They all shall wax old as doth a Garment c. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. And tho' no History scarcely records any who mock'd at the coming of the Lord yet is it Prophesied 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. That in the last days Scoffers shall come even at that which will then be at the Door saying Where is the promise of his coming c. For such Mens Lusts Biass them to abuse Gods long-suffering ver 9. Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18. 31. 32. 2 Pet. 3. 10. And it is told
us how this World shall pass away viz. 1. Unexpectedly as a Thief 2. Suddenly in the Night 3. Violently with a great noise 4 Universally the Heavens Earth and Elements 5. Irreparably The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth be burnt up and that the Heavens being on Fire shall be dissolved ver 12. And this tremendous Truth is not only really and litterally but demonstrably so 4. To the second part of the Question viz. what remaineth thereof afterward see the Answer of the 30th Question of the 40 Questions of the Soul and the 27 Chap. of the three Principles ver 6 and ver 20. But to speak yet farther on this latter part what remains of it the World afterward viz. after dissolution of the present frame or fashion I must seem and but seem to digress which tho' to some it be obscure will be plain to the Mind initiated into and irradiated with the Theosophick Wisdom The Out-birth is the Figure of the two Eternal Worlds or Principles having all the Properties according to the two different contrary Impressions And this Out-birth in the Womb of the Eternal Mystery was by the earnest Magick longing and will originated which will is as the Voice or Mouth of the great Mystery and the properties are as the Instruments or Fingers of the creating word the first viz. the Voice is the Father Soveraign or Lord of the Separator or Father of Nature and the latter viz. the Properties are his Limbs or Members working by the Astral Powers for Generation of all the Creatures of the Out-birth 5. This Father of the external Nature or Outward World invigorated by the might of the Properties hath ability unweariedly to work universally in and through the whole Out-birth and being the Image of the first born of every Creature who standeth incomprehensibly in the Eternal Rooting Powers this his Image and Servant is innobled with such energy as both to form and animate the productions of the whole Out-birth yet who will be so foolish as to take him either to be the First-born Son of God or the Father which is in Heaven whom the Son teacheth us to direct our Prayer to as the Object of all Adoration or the Holy Infinite third Person or Subsistence tho' his Office is in the third Principle but is a Creature potently furnished and fortified to stamp engrave delineate and shadow Living Images of the two Inward Worlds And hath the Seals and Magical impresses but not the Eternal Holy Incomprehensible Magia for that the Divine Virgin of Wisdom is a Possessor of generating the real Worlds themselves for-ever whereof this is only the figure 6. And this Father of Nature call'd by some the Soul of the outward Universe hath a Tincture under his dispensation such as of which the Out-birth is capable to be enriched with And this also of both Impressions viz. of the light and dark Worlds Figures but it hath not the holy meek divine Tincture for that the Divine Sophia the Virgin of Wisdom is glorified with But the Tincture and Magia which the Father of Nature is distributer of is yet so noble as to be holy in the holy Vessels but not so fixed and compleat as to hallow unholy Vessels but so flexible as is vitiated into a false Magia and counterfeit Tincture and so applicable to the Impostures of Evil Angels and their Humane Vassals that they to their Eternal Damnation may and do prophanely abuse and prostitute this Tincture and Magia 7. Thus what the Virgin of Gods Wisdom is in the Heavenly Birth to the Angelical World and other Paradisical Inhabitants such is this Father of Nature in the Out-birth and not only the two Eternal Worlds have their Figures and manifest Portraitures in this but the very holy creating Word and Virgin of Wisdom of which no visible figure can be hath above all this grand Separator or Father of the External Nature for it's plain audible Herauld immediate substitute and express Representer Yet so secret as only to be found by the Inlighten'd Mind and tho' seen in all things yet discerned understood and perceived by very few and for the sake of those very few are these things thus opened 8. From all which it may easily be deduced what of this World shall remain viz. Nature in its Virtual Form and Dress the real Entities with their Tincture their subâ—â—antial tho' not palpable Bodies that is to say the true substance of every Individual Figure the Idea of every thing which the Father of Nature hath produced to shadow and reveal the hidden Holy and Power Worlds therefore of necessary consequence the Father or Separator must needs remain to Marshal his Hosts in their Eternal successive Scenes for the most High and Holy God will not lose the end of his Work But his goodness must be for ever extensive diffusive communicative for his Glory Amen Nor is it possible he should lose the least part of the Order by him fixed of declaring himself but that by the things he hath made may be shewn his Eternal Power and Godhead because for that purpose they were produced 9 I compare the World to a Seed which tho' it die having lost its Husk Chaff and very Sulphurean and Saline Body is yet regenerated by its Mercurial renovation into another yet as it were the self-same hence saith the Lord There is nothing hid or covered which shall not be made manifest The Idea of the Drunkards Horse like Balaam's Ass shall convince the madness of the Rider and Eccho his own repeated causless Sufferings and Groans under the Tyranny of his more Savage Owner The Flocks shall bleat again and shew how their Lives have been lavished to satiate the voluptuous Gluttony of their Wolvish Owners The Vine and Fatness of the Field shall shew how their Blood and Strength was exhausted for the Lusts of the proud while the Bellies of the Indigent were shrunk up For as by the Chymist the Flegm of the Plant is separated away and the faeces precipitated yet the Spirit Essence and Idea retained so is it here Also as the washing of a Man who hath many Wounds in his Body covered all over with Blood shews how many how great and where those Orifices are so is it here Likewise as the drawing back of the extended Shadows and Curtains of the Night lays open and exposeth like Ezekiel's Vision the Idols and undermining Works of Darkness so will it be then Or as the wiping of the slime and filth sticking to a Looking-glass makes all appear therein clearly so will that transcendent work be yet neither is the Seed perished the Plant utterly lost the wounded Man quite expired nor the Looking glass broken in pieces 10. Therefore as the Lord would preserve a Pot of Manna wherewith the Tribes of Israel had been sustained in the Wilderness and as the Lord Jesus would have the Fragments of the Bread and Fish Basketed wherewith he had fed by Miracle so
Wisdom hath swallow'd them all up and that Love is soveraign for ever over them And though this be most conspicuous in the mortified and daily dying Child of God who hath made good Progress in the Regeneration yet is it in some degree and measure in the Child of a Day old or a Span long for these have pure though much interrupted Breathings their Love may be very Ardent as the Love of Espousals though often and variously perverted these are begun to enter into the new World by the new Way in the new Nature and have thence by Intervals a fair Prospect into what cometh after this World all such are in a measure my Witnesses for what is above spoken in Answer to the Question 10. Now more particularly come we to the latter part of the Question viz. When God shall be all in all when the Dominions shall cease What therefore may most undeniably be said on this shall be drawn from the Words of the Holy Ghost by our Apostle wherein are taught us 1. That Christ having raised himself as the first Fruits raiseth also them that are his at his coming 2. That he shall put down all Rule Authority and Power 3. That then is or cometh the End 4. That then the Kingdom shall be deliver'd up to the Father and God shall be all in all To every of which a few words in their order 1. That our risen Christ shall raise all his and after all others at his second coming For 11. We ought assuredly to acknowledge that the great Work shall once be Universally accomplish'd by Jehovah's Almightiness in Raising Judging and Determining the state of all Adam's offspring and the actual delivering up the Kingdom to the Father and God shall be all in all and that all this is openly literally really and universally a Foundation Truth to be confessed before all men and next shall be spoken according to the same Method as Demonstrations thereof the work particularly done and doing viz. in the Divine meek Spirits and regenerated Souls of all God's new born Children from the first Holy Man to the last that shall be 12. Now that Christ having raised himself as the first Fruits shall also raise them that are his at his coming is such an immoveable Foundation Truth as neither Atheists or Apostate Christians those fallen Stars nor any fallen Angels nor all of them United can ever reâ—st but it is an Eternal Truth to the Glory of God the joy of all his in their Pilgrimage and matter of Divine Contemplation and Adoration for ever Read and Meditate among many others 1 Tâ—â—ss 4. 14 15 c. 1 Cor. 15. 23. Rev. 20 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. and Review the 134 and 172 Answers 13. This great general second Resurrection is also done and demonstrated by the first Resurrection when God awakens the Sinner by unlocking the inspoken Grace and makes the Word a Refiner's Fire and as a Tincture transmuteth the Mass and leaveneth the Lumâ— then the Soul dies to the old and lives to the renewed Image by the Visits of the Virgin becomes a Virgin by looking on Christ comes to look like him the Bottle is made new into which the new Wine may now be intrusted and the King of Glory comes into his Temple his new made Vineyard and Garden and imparts himself his Heart his Whispers and Counsels when the Ear is opened For the sake of the Virgin Image thus Begotten shall the whole Man be crystalliz'd and tinctured with solar Power at the Resurrection mean time no Tongue or Pen can more than smatter at the recital of the loveinspired Words formed at every of the Masters sweet Visits when he comes to feed this Infant-birth and Sup with it 14. The Reason why we cannot tell it when we come out from the Holy Place is because our Astral Man knows not of what Dignity the Guest is that comes to the inward Man for he enters farther and our Astral Man or outward Reason is as a Porter whose office being at the Door hears not the Holy Treaty held within in the Closet and were it he could he understands not the Language but if a loud word be spoken which he hears then only when the sensual Man sleepeth then doth he either tremble as if he feared to be dismist his office for our Reason is like Gallio no Judge of these Matters or else he frames Images of what he as it were over-hears And if a Letter to the Virgin be intrusted with the Astral Man the Porter he only reads the Superscription but sees not what the inside is he thinks it all as the outside with ordinary Ink but within 't is all golden Letters mixt with Blood and legible in the dark Night for the Characters all shine and flame and none can read them but those who share in the first Resurrection for the old Eyes are dim these are convinced and somewhat more or less see how the second Resurrection will be having a sensible lively feeling of the first and passed the Danger and Power of the second Death See the 8th and 10th Verses of the 173 Answer 15. That our Lord shall put down all Rule Authority and Power this is meant to be after the Resurrection when he as the Sun in his strength obscures not only Gloworms but the Candle and Torch light Men shall then no longer abuse lawful Power nor acquire lawless Authority nor violently or subtilly Usurp undue Rule the Hunter and his Dogs shall no longer chase Lambs as if they were Foxes but the tyrannous Monarchs and the wronged Captives stand on the same level each in his own Principle and the Principles are as different as a dark Sulphurous Fire is from a sweet Radiant Lustre then also shall the Evil Angels whether they shall be Seducers of Men or other spiritual Wickednesses in High Places or Rulers of the Darkness as God of this World be all thrust out for he is come whose right it is both by Original and Purchas'd Propriety 16. This great general Manifestation of Jehovah Christ's Natural Soveraignty is also done and demonstrated in the whole Creation by his sitting among the Gods turning the Heart of the Mighty as Water stopping all Mouths bowing all Knees being above the Proud rescuing the Prey from the Teeth of the fiercest feeding the Hungry and Helpless the young Lions and young Ravens showering on the parched Wilderness stilling the raging Deep opening his Bottles in their Season treasuring his Snow and Wind and marshalling his Host of Stars But above all it is demonstrable in his Family who not only have ceased Hostility against him but taken up Arms for and under him out of weakness are strengthened to do suffer live die for him and in him their Health is to be Love-sick their Life to die daily he is their Fear Love Hope Repose Strength Wisdom Song their Springs and Treasures are in him for Time and
Consider common Fire it is not Light no more than a Rose is a Tree or the Root of a Lilly is the Flower Tho' by the way we may digress to observe that an Eminent Pen endeavours by many in their kind ingenious Arguments to prove Light to be Fire in a less degree but granting the vigour of the Fire to be in the Light or by the affluence of the Air to be the enkindler of the Light yet will it not follow that the Light is Fire unless the whole Deep is therefore the Sun because the Sun's vigour enlivens it For grant That Author's Arguments to arrive at what he levels them the distinct Properties will result into a Chaos whose various Vertues mutually produce consubstantiate figure and cohabit each the other yet the one no more the other than Heat is Cold or Light is Darkness It would also confound the Son with the Father and those two to be only terms convertible a thing so far from truth as not to be esteemed only short of it but rather diametrically opposite to it But passing by this consider we as was said common Fire that hath an attractive hungry fierceness in it like that in a heated Stone and that fierceness must be perpetuated if the Light be not generated by it but is the Fire of Hell but when the Light begotten by it as from a Fountain is resigned unto it and shineth in it then and there is the meek Vertue united with the strong might of the Fire thereby turning all into a Majestick splendor so bringing the Copy as a fit due conformity to the Original because the alone perfection of the multiplicity is its arriving at the Unity 23. Now come we to the last and God shall be all in all here may be taken a prospect of the Holy of Holies An Angel's Royal Hand were well employed in drawing these Lines and Measures but then still it must be with a Reed and the Computation must suit with the Cubit of a Man the Language also must be flammering wretched and as it were foolish else it descends not to the fallen Human Understanding And as none knows the things of a man but the Human Understanding Spirit so none those of God but the Holy Spirit of God What is vile dust to penetrate this Woe to us that we are of unclean Lips and vain in our imagination 24. Truth tells us that our Omnipotent God hath three Delights viz. 1. In his Son in whom is his delight 2. In the Excellent made so by his Son 3. In Exercising Mercy The two last viz. the Excellent and Exercising of Mercy dwell in the Son as in their Ocean Centre or Fountain and issue through him as Sap through a Tree and That Tree grows in our Impotent Humanity Now after the delivering up the Kingdom to the Father God's becoming all in all is the uniting all these three Delights to the Almighty Power-World where the Joy is incomprehensible and the Increase of it Endless and Infinite for then Almightiness of Strength and Wisdom hath replenisht it self with Almightiness of Love and Goodness the Unity hath reassumed the Multiplicity What words may express This most Holy Dominion 25. Can it be pourtrayed by the Joy of a tender-hearted Parent all whose dear Children having been miserably captiv'd by a barbarous malicious Enemy are by the prudent Conduct and prosperous Atchievement of their eldest Brother compleatly rescued May it be apprehended by the Joy of the Harvest when the loaden Sheaves crowning the Fields do seasonably enrich the Barns and Granaries Or of the Vintage when the bowed Branches dropping into the Press overflow it Or by the lost Son the lost Groat the lost Sheep the Joy of the Bridegroom over the Bride all which are faint resemblances and dim shadows of the Delight of the Eternal Father Also what is the Content of an Earthly Monarch whose Victorious Arms subject his Enemies and his seasonable Succours secure his Friends What is the Triumph of the Sun in the Firmament when his Spicy Beams revive the Face of Nature grown pale by his long absence and call up a smiling Spring These are weak figures and dark similes of the Delight of the Sun of Righteousness And what is the sweet Satisfaction the tender Mother hath by seeing all her dear Babes for whom she travell'd to whom she had drawn out her Breasts over whom she had long unweariedly watcht and cared of whom she had been a compassionate Comfort and Assistant in their Froward Fits various Anguishes Sicknesses and Hazards as so many Deaths at last all thriveâ— to perfect stature of Body excellent Endowments of Mind exact chearful Dutifulness to their Father and by Him all advanced to wear Crowns By this may be tho' obscurely represented the Delight of God's Holy Spirit Lastly What was the Joy of the lately oppressed Tribes when delivered at the Red Sea and occasion'd the Song of Moses What was also their Joy when God turned back the Captivity of Sion from the Chaldean when they were as men in a dream and what the Joy of them who having washed their Garments in the Blood of the Lamb and had been brought out of Fiery Tryals do come to receive their White Robes and Palms by which may be seen the Joy of the Redeemed of the Lord in that Holy of Holy days Thus are the sublimost Affairs offered in a most familiar homely manner with a low voice and flat style for so the Wisdom of God descends and delights to cloath it self while Man's Wisdom would flourish in enticing words puft up with empty sounds Obj. 26. But some by way of opposition may say that God ever was is and shall all be in all as it is written Of him for him and through him are all things and in him we live move and have our Being Ans. A confused knowledge of things doth but little difference men from Brute Creatures Let us therefore summarily remember what dispersedly in the Answers foregoing and the blessed Jacob Behmers Writings is large and clear viz. That the gracious Creator spake the Paradisical or Angelical World out of himself according to every Property of the Eternal Nature and according to the holy second Principle which till there was a rent by the receding of Lucifer into the by-path of his private Self-will the whole remained an exact Image and true Copy of the Original where the Name of God was perfectly spoken and God was all in all 27. And out of and as an Image of the Paradisical Principle and with the Properties of the Power-World did God speak forth the Astral-World an Image of both Inward-Worlds which as a Child of the other two had as the Children of Men have a Centre of its own and tho' it were a Copy of the Inward-Worlds yet was another a third Principle issuing into the multiplicity and as far as it so remaineth God is all in all in it also 28. In and over
blown up into Angelical Flames of burning Love Thus dwell they in and are united to the Divine Powers of the Infinite glorious holy World of which World all the best innocentest most lovely excellent Creatures and Things here are a faint dead shadow And when the holy Souls shall have again and put on their bright pure Bodies being raised and conformed to the glorious Body of Jesus Christ then shall the Paradisical Substance which is the Essence or Quin tessence of the best Properties here be the Eternal living Food of those new Bodies Nor shall the Vertues of Concretes here be annihilated but resumed sublimed and spiritualized the holy World being their proper Aether where they shall remain in their Essence and Idea for the glory of the gracious Creator 5. Thus we see the distance of Heaven from Hell is as far as from Wrath to Love from Anguish to Triumph from Night and Darkness to the day not locally but a whole another Principle for it is not like or to be compared with the distance of those Stars which are lift up in our Zenith from those in our Nadir for they unite in their operation in one Individual Flower or Plant and by their Light continue to kiss each other but the distance here meant is an incomprehensible one Thus is it in the Creation as in Man the mixture of Spirits compelleth to Compassion and Compassion by assimilation of an Artificial Identity generateth Love but this distance consisteth in a Total and Eternal Separation of Spirits so alien and diametrically opposite one to the other as Life and Death are 6. It may be with this our Globe when the Elements dissolve as with an Herb whose Ligaments being loosed and the Properties thereof by the Artist segregated into Spirit Oyl and Salt for then the Creatures which now groan after Deliverance from their Subjection to Vanity and the good Properties here captiv'd may the Creatures in their Ideas and the Properties in their Energies by the Tincture of them all unite with the Spiritual World and shew forth the Infinite Wisdom of the Gracious Creator and Mighty Redeemer being part of the Spoils and Trophies of his powerful Redemption And here may in the place of this self-same Ball yet in another Principle be separated away all the filthy impure abominable Creatures and Properties as the Faeces Dregs and Ashes of an Alimbick which confused Mass of Reprobated Properties must dismally adhere and be ingulphed with the fierce Horrour and Anguish of the dark World the Image whereof they bear and that not fully as sickly Complexions by their ill Constitutions fall by the Plague when there comes a Pestilential contagious Air but they unite with that outer Darkness as they are a Plague-sore to themselves And now to avoid Repetition see concerning the Locality of Hell in the 19 20 21 22 23 and last Verses of the 17th of these Questions Also concerning the Locality of Heaven See the 2d 3d 4th 7th and last Verses of the 18th of these Questions Q. 177. What shall be the Eternal Joy of the Holy or Saints and the Eternal Pain or Torment of the Wicked Or also may there be any alteration effected A. 1. The three Parts of this Question require only a few words or rather Quotations severally as first what shall be the Eternal Joy of the Holy or Saints the knowledge whereof may be collected by the serious Mind from Meditation of the Discoveries of it Recorded in the Sacred Scriptures as amongst many these following Psal. 16. 11. In thy presence is fulness of Joy at thy Right Hand are pleasures for ever more Psal. 36. 8 9. Thou shalt make them drink of the River of thy pleasure for with thee is the Fountaiâ— of Life in thy Light we shall see Light Isai. 64. 4. For since the beginning of the World Men have not heard nor perceived by the Ear neither hath the Eye seen O God besides thee what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him which words are recited in 1 Cor. 2. 9. adding v. 10. but God hath revealed them c. Rom. 8. 18. The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us 2 Cor. 4. 17. Our light Affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and Eternal weight of Glory 1 John 3. 2. It doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he appeareth we shall be like him Jude 24. present you faultless before the presence of his Glory with exceeding Joy And the 21 and 22 Chapters of the Revelations 2. Much also may be found by pondering the Answer of the blessed J. Behmen to the last of the 40 Questions and 32 Question of the Soul Something also conducible and pertinent hereunto may be found by Review of the 18th and 19th Answers of the present Questions the last Verse of the 40th Answer the 45th Answer throughout the last Verse of the 49th Answer the 5th Verse of the 57th Answer 3. The Eternity of the Joy of the Holy ones shall be the alone Unity without Fraction ever new ever young one only constant spring and uninterrupted Autumn their City as pure and undefiled as is the inward Holy spiritual World their Kingdom incomprehensibly vast being one with the illimitable second Principle The precious Stone call'd Lapis Callidoneus is said to be unable for its warming cheering vertue unless set into Gold nor hath the Crystal any intrinsick Light till the influencing solar or other lustre hath access to it which then is multiplied by it and to pass by infinite instances producible the perfection of the seven Properties is attained by the United Conjunction of the six Actives in the seventh which is as their Passive Work house 4. Things and Persons here though partly good are partly otherwise and that either by an Evil commixture or want of some good thing or Property or by inequality of the Proportions of their Composition or the feebleness of the parts United or want of Time to perfect the Creature or thing or by a corruptible quality or by the insufficiency of its Origin or by its undefensibleness or if very good may yet be only so in and to it self but incommunicable or the participation interruptible and not always so alike or which is often a good Influence may exhaust over much as that Aromatick Herb Basil by standing long in the Sun may degenerate into Wild Thyme or some other Necessity the Creatures of the Out-birth are incident unto their whole Principle being but a Figure of the excellent World whence it was effluenced But all these and all other Exceptions the state of the Saints transcends and is for ever exempted perfectly and at once 5. To the second part of the Question what shall be the Eternal Pain and Torment of the Wicked Let the Records of Sacred Scriptures be pondered as amongst others these following Isaiah
Man's holy Paradisical Body in which that Word was If the Tabernacle and Temple being transient and of perishing Materials and were dead Figures had a Sanctity How holy was Adam's Divine Body which was taken out of the great Mystery or Heavenly Earth and had not the Fall been as a Worm at the Root might have so flourish'd Eternally If these dying Bodies are call'd the Temples of the Holy Ghost that therefore he that defiles the Temple of God him will God destroy Also if Barbarity perpetrated on the meer Skelleton was pursued with Divine Vengeance viz. the burning of the Bones of the King of Edom into Lime What account shall the Nimrods give who as common Enemies to Mankind empty Cities waste Countries make the World an Aceldama her Inhabitants a Sacrifice to their insatiable all-devouring Ambition What account the pretended Physitians Chirurgeons c. those legal Slaughter-men who arbitrate their unhappy Patient's Substance to their own mercenary Avarice for protracting and heightening the Distempers and finally killing the Sick less generous than avowed Enemies less just than common Robbers What accompt shall be required for Self-murther and that which is worse viz. enslaving it to unmortified Lusts either pampering it to gratifie Pride Filthiness c. or macerating and wearing it out by Envy Malice Revenge Covetousness Impatience and other Works of the Flesh the end whereof as is the process therein is Bitterness and Death 2. Why should we be so greatly ungrateful for the betrusted Talent as basely to derogate from the Noble Extraction of it To which we are Debtors not to live after its Lusts for they are on pain of Death to be resolutely and impartially mortified to make it serve by chearful doing and meek suffering the pleasure and designs of our great Soveraign to keep it for his sake with Care and Conscience nurse and nourish it for its gracious Father wean it at his order and at last resign our trust into the hands of our Faithful Creator in whose Book all its Members are written and who hath promised to raise it a Spiritual Body On the 39th Question and Answer Of the Imbreathing whence Man became a Living Soul 1. When the Paradisical Body was prepared as in the last Meditation is said it is written God breathed thereinto the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul What the Soul is can be no News to the serious Perusers of these Writings and what the Father is may be in part known by knowing the Child and the Apostle saith we are his Off-spring and if the Father be in our very small measure known and the Child why not the Working and Inspiration But the Father is unknowable by his Creatures otherwise than as he is pleas'd to unvail himself in his only Son whom he Eternally hath doth and shall generate for the Infinite Father generateth in himself the Infinite Son in Eternity and Man should even so have generated in the Soul a meek loving Spirit as the Father generateth the Son in whose Infinite Lustre and Majesty is all his delight Thus should Mans four forms of his Fire Soul have enkindled the Love Flame as the common Fire doth the common Flame and Light the defect whereof makes us ignorant of God and our selves for what is seen without Light this is it makes the vast distance of Heaven from Hell 2. If the Body be so great a Trust as in the preceding is noted what is the Soul As the Root is better than Bark so is the Soul than the Body and as both Root and Bark are unknown but by the Fruit so are the first and third Principles without the second The Soul as it is Immortal is Invaluable and not to preserve and improve a vast Trust and Treasure is a high contempt of the Trust. Not to enkindle the Flame of Love in the Soul and going out of self by resignation of the Will by Union of the Divine Will not to do this is to deal with that Trust as the Devils did who getting a covetous proud Will in their Spirit extinguisht the Majesty thereof and shut themselves up in Enmity and Rage of the dark forms of their Life 3. O may my Soul be noâ—e of mine for my Wisdom is Madness may my Will be the Will of an humble Child may the forms of my Life all be given out of my keeping for my Father Adam having lost the Divine Eye what folly were it to trust mine own Eye but let me die to my Seeing to my Reason to my Senses to mine own Conduct and know what the second Adam openeth in the Regeneration and no more nor otherwise On the 40th Question and Answer Of Mans Immortal Life his Soul Mans Spirit and his outward Life what all of them are 1. The last Question gave matter of Meditation on that part of Man sprung out of the first Principle The 41st will offer the like on the second or Spirit of Man this opens a Door to the third viz. his Mortal Life And of that first its beginning consisting of Sin Contemptibleness and Misery to the first David saith I was shapen in iniquity and in â—in did my Mother conceive me Next the poor contemptibleness of his beginning which the curious Observers tell us is for the first six days as Milk the next six as a thin Skin next the Shell of an Egg laid untimely certain days after it is as Blood and there riseth three little Bladders like Bowels floating in Water wherein are form'd the three most noble parts the Brain Heart and Liver Then gaining substance of choak'd Blood is nourisht by the Navel yet so frail as may perish by the Mothers smelling the stink of the snuff of a Candle Thus originateth the proud Beast and when with great hazard and pain he cometh abroad how wretched is he Like a poor Worm coming out of the Earth then growing up he is a commoner for Water Air and the product of the Earth with the Brute Creatures a Companion of Devilish Men and among Devils who is call'd the God of this World loaden with Sin Temptations Sorrow Care Pain and after a short Dream of the bitter sweets here becomes a prey for Worms Fishes or perhaps a more Tragical Exit 2. How Fantastick is Hope founded in the Dust How multiplied are our well grounded fears How fixt our Sorrows which are as long as time How Contagious our Disease that not one escapes it making also the whole Creation groan with us How fatal our Languishing which no weaker Physick than the King of Terrors can terminate Some he cures in the Womb others meets at the Door others overtakes on the way but at longest lodgeth all in the Evening When as we began contemptibly of weakness do end in rottenness as we sprung wretchedly consume disregarded and forgotten our place knows us no more and perhaps the Grand-child kicks the Skull of his careful Grandfather the Fruit of whose cares vexations pains and
the Soul tho' one be in another CHAP. VIII Of the Creation Vegetation and Constellation and Original Substance of this World I Forbear Abridgment of this Chap. contenting my self with research of the Extracts of the 4th 5th 6th and 7th Chapters of this Book and of the 18th and 19th Chapters of Aurora CHAP. IX Of Paradise 1. ADam was in the Garden of Eden and in Paradise but Eden was not Paradise The Tree of Good and Evil in Eden grew as those whereof we eat which are Evil and good But Paradise is another Principle The Spirit of the World cannot much less can any Creature comprehend it 2. It consists in exact Perfection no Evil Creature or Thing can reach it Angels Knowledge and Tongues are requir'd to express it None can come therein but by the new Birth and true resignation The Holy Ghost hath and is the Key 3. Paradise is not corporeal and palpable but consisteth in the Vertue and Power of God its corporeity is like the Angels bright and transparent Substances its Birth immeasurable immutable a constant Spring in perfect Love 4. Fruits grow there in such Figure as here but not in such property its Root is the Heavenly Matrix The Eternal Father is instead of the activity of the Stars The Light of God instead of the Sun The Holy Ghost is the Air. No years nor time is there There is a figur'd substance of all this Worlds Creatures and the figur'd substance of all words that came from the Divine Root stand there also The Holy Gate 5. Nothing is nearer us than Heaven Paradise and Hell There is a Birth between them yet both Gates stand in us The Devil stands in one calling and beckening and in his hand is Power Honour and Pleasure the Root of which is Death and Hell Fire God calleth in the other Gate and in his hand are Crosses Persecutions Poverty Misery Ignominy and Sorrow and the Root of these is Fire also and in the Fire a Light and in the Light a Vertue and in the Vertue Paradise and in Paradise the Angels and among the Angels Joy Take which of the two thou wilt 6. The third Principle of us belongs not to Paradise and sees it not till it rot in the Earth and rise a new Vertue But the regenerated Soul sees it being a Child of Paradise 7. After the time of this World the Out-birth returns to its Aether but the Figures of all Creatures remain as also of all words and works in either Kingdoms in which they were sown and then Angels and Blessed Men will remain in the Birth of the Divine Light and the Devils and wicked Men in Eternal Darkness for being Created out of the harsh Matrix out of which the Light of God existed from Eternity they cannot go back into Transitoriness Therefore seek the Pearl of Divine Meekness and Patience and finding it you will be throughly taught and in it find Paradise and the Kingdom of Heaven CHAP. X. Of the Creation of Man of his Soul and of Gods Breathing in THough I have met with more of this Subject in the 21st Chap. of the Aurora and in the 5th Chap. of the Book of Election Also in the 3d 4th 5th to the 8th Chap. of the Book of the Incarnation and in the 16th Chap. of the Mysterium Magnum yet taking it also briefly here do observe and collect as follows 1. Adam was Created with the Vertue of all the three Principles in him the Heavenly Centre was fixt and was to have remained so and the Earthy not to have been awakened for though as the similitude of God he had the dark Fountain or first Principle and the Out birth viz. the Properties of all the Creatures in him yet was he to live and act in neither of those two but in the second Principle that of Light and Paradise only And in that Divine Light rule over the Stars Elements and all Creatures 2. For Adam's very Body being of that holy Element or Quintessence whence the Stars and Elements originated besides the Royal Soul he had he was to have been incorruptible tho' the Stars and Elements had returned into their Aether 3. He was without distinct Female to generate out of his will without reâ—ding or dividing his Body or Anguish or Misery an Angelical Host. 4. His Bones were Strengths or Powers no need of Guts and Entrails Teeth or Bestial Members no dark opake Body nor hardness no sleep sickness or any kind of evil which arose by the prevalency and inequality of the afterward divided â—leâ—entâ— 5. This God did for Adam and intended most mercifully towards him and gave his own Heart to redeem him He fell not by reason of Gods Decree as the Devil suggesteth Nor was the Tree of Good and Evil planted to try him but the Tree sprung up in the will of Adam and Eve and standeth yet in us not in God Nor cometh the punishment from his Hand but from spiritu majoris mundi the Macrocosm the third Principle 6. To attain this knowledge see in the mind of Man lyeth and thence proceedeth Joy and Sorrow Hope and Doubting Love and Hatred Meekness and Wrath. The Question is May not the Mind stand in one only Will and Essence A. If it did so then it would have but one quality an immoveable stilness no will to any thing a meer nothing no knowledge wisdom or joy 7. Therefore in God whose Image Man is is an Eternal Mind which generateth the Eternal Will and the Eternal Will generateth the Eternal Heart of God the Eternal Heart of God generateth the Eternal Light the Eternal Light generateth the Eternal Vertue the Vertue generateth the Spirit And again the Spirit generateth the Mind this is the Eternal Almighty Unchangeable God 8. So in Man the Mind standeth in Anguish and the Anguish maketh a longing and that longing is the Will the Fathers Property The Will conceiveth the Vertue and Light and is the Sons Property And in the Light out of the Vertue proceeds the Spirit and is the Property of the Holy Ghost which again generateth the Mind and Will so is made the indissoluble Band. 9. Thus Adam's Mind and longing Will should have abode in the Vertue of the Light which had illustrated his first Principle and by his Spirit should have ruled over the third Principle did by going into the third Principle and eating thereof subject himself thereunto and had not his noble Soul hindered had become a meer Beast 10. But the Gracious God inspoke his Word again into him and to redeem so fair a Creature sent his own Heart that the unchangeable purpose of God might stand to bring again the same Image in the Resurrection into Paradise which was at first created in it and for it 11. But Lucifer generated a fiery Will in the first Principle who should have generated a Loving Meek Angelical Will and extinguisht the Light which was the end of Nature No help was
Wonders of the great World he lusted the potence whereof remains in the Lust of a Woman by which is impressed a mark on the Child in her Womb. 4. His so Lusting enfeebled him that he slept and became impotent as to generating Magically with the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom Then God built a Woman out of him whom when he awaked he took as the Beasts do he drew Breath of the four Elements and kindled his Astral Spirit therewith 5. But the fierceness did not yet stick in them tho' the longing did which Eve by her little regarding the Commandment soon shewed And thus entred Sin Shame and the Evil from the divided Properties from the Elements to which disobedience had subjected them 6. For the Devil is this Worlds Executioner the Stars are the Councel and God is the King of the Land Such therefore as depart from God fall under the Councel who send some to the Rope Water Killing Stealing c. in all which the Devil is very active And at best the Councel helps to vain turmoil discontent and vexation The farther Extracts of this profound Chapter is here forborn being copiously treated in the 20 21 22 23 24 and 25th Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum CHAP. XVIII Of the Promised Seed Adam's Exile and Gods Curse 1. WHen fallen Man stood in great shame and horror fast bound by the Devil God the Father appear'd to him with his angry Mind of the Abyss into which he was now fallen And his most Gracious and Merciful Heart oppos'd it self to the Wrath placing it self highly in the Gate of Mans Life re-inlightning the Soul which yet stood trembling to hear Gods Sentence Because thou hast eaten of the Tree c. 2. Thenceforth the Holy Element withdrew from the Root of the Fruit and left it to the inkindled fierceness of the four Elements producing Thorns c. and the Fruit issuing in the Out-birth made for the Beasts became Mans Food who was become Earthy and now God would not cast his Heavenly Food which belonged to Angels to the Bestial Man 3. Now rose the Enmity of the Beasts to Man he was a Wolf to them and they as Lions to him 4. Before the Curse the tame Creatures were very near akin to the one Element with whom Man should have delight and others the wild ones to the four divided Elements 5. Now also the turmoiling Life of digging c. was necessary for death frailty c. in the four Elements succeeded the continual living Vertue of the Holy Element which was departed 6. God laid the burthen of managing the Creatures on Man when he was become like them but had God willed to have Bestial Men he had Created them such and given them no Commandment as neither have the Beasts any Law 7. God could well have Created Creatures to have the charge and labour of managing the Beasts as already there are Creatures in all the four Elements without a Soul yet somewhat adapted to such a conduct while Man might in Paradise have retained his Angelical Form 8. Eve's Sentence Thou shalt bear Children in pain c. establisht her perfectly to be a Woman of this World It should have been without a Woman and impregnation therefore was the Lord Jesus without the Seed of Man the Son of the Virgin 9. Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ out of the Heart Word and Promise of God the Father through the chast Virgin of Gods Wisdom is proceeded the Treader upon the Serpent who imaged it self in Adam's mind and Espousing therewith openeth Heaven for the Soul giving the Virgin for a Companion to instruct him in the way of God But because Mans Soul was too hard inkindled from the first Principle did not so instantly imprint it self therein but stood opposite to the Hellish Darts and in the Minds of those Men that yielded to Gods Wisdom did break the Serpents Head 10. But after long Tryal whether Men could by this way wholly yield themselves to God there came to be Murtherers unchast and domineering Spirited Men and but few clave to God then came the Deluge 11. The dread of Gods Judgments not prevailing God chose the Children of Sem to erect the Office of Preaching but Mans self-will ruled by the Stars prompted their blindness so that they would secure themselves by a Tower which God stopt by making their Language as confused as their Thoughts That by their scattering the holy Seed might be preserved but that not reclaiming them God out of the fierceness of the first Principle burnt Sodom and the five Kingdoms yet Sin sprouted as a Green Branch 12. Then God promis'd the chosen Generation to multiply them if they would obey him and prospered them in a strange Land to see if they would depend on him rais'd them up a Prophet wrought Wonders fed them from Heaven gave them a Law in the Zeal and Fire of the Spirit of the great World into which they were fallen gave them Circumcision and Sacrifice for that Man was Earthy their Prayers with a Token of Acceptance were heard through the Consumption of the Earthiness of their Sacrifices and Incense forbad theâ— Meats especially Swines Flesh which in the Fire giveth a stink as also it doth in the Souls first Principle and fuming darkeneth the Gates of the breaking of the Light 13. But nothing could ransom the Soul nor attain the Resurrection of the Body and bring the new Body out of the Holy Element till regenerated in the Son of the Virgin Therefore in the 3970. year the Angel Gabriel saluted Mary with that precious Message to her Astonishment and the Angels Admiration 4. Think not that the Word descended from the highest Heaven above the Stars and became Man No but the Word which God spake in Paradise which imaged it self in the Door of the Light of Life waiting perceptibly in the minds of the holy Men that same Word is become Man the same is entred again into the Divine Wisdom And the same Wisdom of God in the Word of God gave it self into Mary's Virgin Matrix uniting it self as aâ— Eternal propriety into tâ—e Essences and into the Tincture of the Element whic 〈…〉 ure before God And it was a going forth with the whole fulness of the De 〈…〉 hence also the Holy Ghost goeth forth making it greater than Adam or ever any Angel was being the blessing and might of all things in the Father Eternally 15. Not then nor ever separate from the Father every where present and is become a new Creature in Man and called God which new Creature is not generated of the Flesh and Blood of the Virgin but of the total fulness and union of the Holy Trinity and filleth all the Gates of the Holiness whose Depth Number and Name is Infinite 16. Yet the Corporeity of the Element of this Creature is inferior to the Deity for the Element is generated out of the Word Eternally And that the Lord should go into the Servant is
hath a good Constellation at the time of the Spirits awakening it gives him a Friendly lovely outside whereby such a one can give good flattering words from a false heart for he dwelleth in two Kingdoms in this World is he a History Hypocrite and his Soul in the Anger Kingdom with the Devils 8. But the Grace of God appeared by Christ's becoming Man to bring our Human Souls out of Death and the Abyss of Anger into the Tenth Number the Eternal Tincture to be again the Similitude of God upon the Cross whence the Soul originated And then when the Soul is turned into the Will of God in great Humility having Christ's Body it passeth through Death or from Death to Life in the Death of Christ through the Anger of God into the Ninth Number before the Holy Trinity and is imbraced by the Majesty The great open Gate of Antichrist 9. Antichrist in Men professing Christ is a contrary will to the Divine Will yet a Counterfeit of it but as the Soul becomes born of God more or less in such proportion the renewed Will quits the Principles and Dictates of corrupt Reason and self Desires cover'd by Hypocrisie and by a sincere faithful Love rooted in the Life of Christ a holy Flame of self-evidencing Light ariseth giving a distinct discovery of Antichrist before which it falls and by which it is destroy'd for the going from Antichrist is the going from the Fire into the Light The highly Precious Gate also the Gate of Immanuel 10. Is it askt How can Christ's Body be ours How can we dwell in the Body of Christ It is Answer'd As we have Adam's Flesh Soul and Spirit which Christ becoming Man hath yet remaineth God but receiv'd in the fair Virgin of Wisdom the Eternal Flesh which Adam's was before dividing of the Properties and the Property of our earthy Flesh so Christ's Soul is ours and his Body ours and his Virgin ours whereby we live in Christ when we give up our selves to him wherein also he liveth in us and will at last present us wholly pure with the Heavenly Flesh Blood Tincture and Majesty of Christ. Thus also he liveth in us and we are his Members Temple and Body 11. Where one saith Here is Christ and another There it is because they have lost the Key for the Body and Blood of Christ is in the Eternity and not shut up by space or place but as the Sun shineth from East to West and whose Light fills the World how much more doth Christ fill every part of his Incarnation And when we desire his Flesh and Blood we receive it and are fed by it for as the Father gives Being and upholdeth all so the Son gives Vertue and Light The Congregation of Christ is in every Nation where Men turn from their Sins to God be they Greeks Turks Asians Africans c. God respects not Persons nor Opinions but seeks the Heart those who call on the only true God in plain Simplicity are in Christ but the Tyrannous Proud Covetous Malicious Blood-thirsty Antichrist with their endless Contentions and Disputations offend the Heathens whose Life and Customs are far more Innocent and Pious and when Antichrist's Lyes have stifled him broken his Murthering Sword and laid him in the Pit then shall Christ feed his Lambs and the Turk be of the Fold of the Lambs 12. The whole World is full of God the inward holy Life dwelleth in God and the inward dark Abyss standeth in God's Wrath the strife is which may Image us into it self in this outward Life here God sets Light and Darkness before us and all the teaching here is to warn of the severe Property of the Fire for every thing hath Free-will with an Inclination to its Property therefore we must either embrace the true Good or the certain Evil. Young Children are our School-masters with all our Cunning we are but Fools to them who first play with themselves and after one with another this the Devil grudg'd us and made us fall out at our Play and so we quarrel till we go to sleep and then others Act over again the same quarrels and all is about a defiled Garment which yet is not ours while we should obediently search for a new fair Garment when amongst the Roses Lillies and Flowers we shall in our own Country sing the Song How the Driver who did set us at variance is captivated CHAP. XII Of the true Christian Life and Conversation What Man is to do c. COnsidering well the 34 first Verses of this 12th Chapter it may be comprised mostly in these words He hath shewed thee O Man what is good and what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to do justly to love Mercy and to walk humbly with thy God The Way we must walk through this World into the Kingdom of God We must if we will so walk Crucifie Self Repent Convert from Evil hourly pass out of Death into Life we must not take pleasure in our selves but so humble our selves before the clear Countenance of the Trinity before whom we always stand and look on Jesus who always sitteth on the Rainbow in us I say we are so to converse without Self-pleasing that our ways may please God the heavenly Hoasts and Man The rest of this sweet Chapter is of various and copious Rules and Monitions yet so conspicuous that the perusal is rather to be recommended than the particulars extracted Only this asserteth That a Self-defence against outward Force or War having only a desire of Self-defence is not against God for he whose House is on Fire may quench it CHAP. XIII Of Christ's Precious Testaments the Lord's Supper and Baptism 1. VVHEN Christ's Apostles and Disciples met together after fervent Exhortation of one another They took brake divided amongst them and did eat Bread in commemoration of Christ's giving his Body for us on the Cross as himself had commanded So also took they the Cup in their hand saying one to another Take this Cup and drink the Blood of our Lord which he shed on the Cross for Remission of our Sins to shew forth his Death till he come again to Judgment and bring us into himself This was the true great Paschal Lamb inâ—â—ituted by Christatier they had eaten the Passover 2. He gave them and they did eat and drink his Flesh and Blood not his earthy and mortal Flesh and Blood to be chewed with their earthy Teeth and swallow'd for that Body of his was not divided amongst them but he gave them his immortal holy Body and Blood new and unknown to the earthy Man yet which did hang in or was United to the outward on the Cross this holy Body became as a Body to their Souls making them his Members 3. As the Eternal Virginity Substantiality and Wisdom wherein was the promised Word gave it self into the perished Tincture became a new Man at the Incarnation in the Virgin Mary so the new Body of
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
which is a true Humane Substance of Flesh and Blood a Spiritual Flesh out of which the visible Image groweth not only by Faith in remembrance of his Sufferings Death c. as is ignorantly said but really Christs Paradisical Humanity presseth into their Souls as a sparkle of Fire falleth into Tinder and turneth the whole Tinder into Fire and Light 2. The Divine Flesh and Blood of Christ cannot be receiv'd but by a Mouth fit to receive it 3. The Mortal Flesh comprehendeth it no more than the gross Stone doth the Tincture of fine Gold that is in it 4. A Man cannot say I am Christ because Christ dwelleth and worketh in me no more than the Herb can say I am the Sun because the Sun worketh in it CHAP. IV. What the Wicked partake of and how a Man should prepare that he may be Worthy 1. HE that receives this without Repentance that is turning from Sin receiveth as Judas his own Judgment and Condemnation for his wicked Will desireth not to die in Christs Death but only to arise and live with his Sins in Christs Resurrection yet in the Spirit of Lucifer he treadeth on the Death of Christ and participateth indeed on Christs Anguish Death and going into Hell but in the Spirit of the Devil without rising to newness of Life Better it were he did not touch or meddle with it 2. They talk of Absolution and Pardon of Sin but leave it not and so Sathan as he did to Judas after the Sop entreth These Crucifie Christ. 3. But they that rightly prepare die to Sin resign themselves to God have the Spirit of Christ erecting his Kingly Office and Pallace in their Hearts a living Conqueror over Death and Hell these rightly receive Christs Flesh and Blood CHAP. V. Of the Disputes c. about Christs Testaments 1. ONE Party say the Bread and Wine is substantially changed into Christs Flesh and Blood and so will receive Christ into the Bestial and Mortal Man 2. Another Party say it is only a Sign that the Body of Christ was broken and died for us and deny the substantial participation 3. The third Party say Christ is participated with and under the Bread and Wine that is Christs Flesh and Blood is eaten and drunk with and under the Bread and Wine but yet know nothing of the right Adamical Humanity and deny the substantial Inhabiting of Christ. 4. For they will not know how the participation is wrought but rely barely on the dead Letter hence come such Contentions that are really Spiritual Murther and in the end come to outward Murther Every one for the Idol of his own Opinion but the Kingdom of God is inwardly within thee the outward imputed Grace without the Innate Filial Grace is false 5. Let the Sufferings and Death of Christ be fulfilled in us and we shall be the Children of Christ and not the Children of Images This was the Authors 22d Book Mysterium Magnum PART I. The First Part contains the nine first Chapters of Genesis and thirty fourth Chapter of the Book whence these Extracts are called the Great Mystery Exposition of Genesis CHAP. I. What God manifested is and of the Trinity 1. GOD is the One the Will of the Abyss the Will of the Wisdom The Wisdom is his Delight and Manifestation he begetteth himself from Eternity to Eternity in which Eternal Generation are 1. The Will 2. The Mind of the Will 3. The Egress from the Will and Mind 2. The Will is the Father the Mind is the Wills Heart and Seat the Egress is the Spirit and Power of the Will and Mind The Lubet Motion Life and Eye of the Deity A speaking Word 3. God is no where far from or near unto any thing Infinitely more deep than any thought can reach comprehended only by himself CHAP. II. Of the Word or Heart of God 1. THE Word is in the Will a nothing but with the Conception in the Lubet of the Will is an Eternal Generation This Eternal speaking Word maketh a Mystery call'd the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Powers Colours and Virtue whereof as out of a great Eternal Mystery was formed by Coagulation the Spiritual World Which two are as Soul and Body 2. And tho' the speaking Word rule through and over all yet cannot be comprehended by either but in the inward World conceiveth it self into a Spiritual Essence as one only Element wherein the four lye hidden but when the Word moved the one Element the hidden Properties did manifest themselves as there are four Elements CHAP. III. How out of the Eternal Good an Evil is come to be the Original of the Dark World VVE cannot say that Eternal Light or Eternal Darkness is Created for they are not comprehended in time but Concomitant in their Generation But not in the Word of the Deity but Originate in the desire of the speaking Word For the free Lubet wherein is the Wisdom could not have sensible perceivance of its own Vertue Smell Taste and Colours if it brought not it self into a desire like a hunger and so bring it self from Abyss into Byss by over-shadowing Attraction And remains a Property viz. a darkness For where a Property is there is a something yielding obscurity Unless something else viz. a Lustre fill it and then 't is Light yet remaineth a Darkness in the Property And this is the Eternal Original of the Darkness So that we are to understand 1. The free Lubet the wisdom which is no Property but is one with God 2. The desire of the free Lubet which in the hunger or coagulation comprehends the free Lubet and maketh it self out of the free Lubet For the desire is the Fathers Property And the free Lubet the wisdom is the Sons Property Tho' God here until the Manifestation through the Fire in the Light is not called Father or Son but set down thus to shew to what Person in the Deity Nature and to what the Power in Nature is to be ascribed The desire proceeding from the will of the Abyss is the first form and it is the Fiat The free Lubet is God who governeth the Fiat the Centre of Nature And both together are the Eternal Word and in the desire are the seven Properties of Nature The profound distinct Discourse of them taketh up the remainder of this Chapter and the fourth fifth and sixth CHAPTERS CHAP. VII Of the Holy Trinity and Divine Essence THE Eternal and Temporal Nature especially consists in the dark world in the four first Forms Astringent Bitter Anguish and Fire But the Powers in all are understood in the Light or Love-desire or Love-fire 1. For the first ground is the one 2. The free Lubet viz. the Wisdom 3. The Love desire wherein the free Lubet exacuateth it self through Nature into a Kingdom of Joy 4. The Oyly Spirit wherein the Lubet amaffeth it self in the Meekness and coamaffeth the Lustre the Power whereof is
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day â—wallows up the Night or as the Fire illustrateth the heated Iron Yet was no more apprehended by the outward Elements though then in their best Purity than the Terrestrial doth the Celestial The Internal was to rule over the External the Heaven was the Husband to the Earth before the
they were both yet in the Garden of Eden and in Paradise Adam's desire had imprinted it self into the Magical Image as a Mother doth on a Child in her Womb therefore the Woman had Earthy Lust so soon As to this day most of that Sex coming to any years selfish Will or Lust is predominant appearing inglittering Pride contrary to Virgin Modesty Chastity and Humility 2. The Devil then in the Serpent laid himself on the Tree of Temptation for the Serpent was more subtle than all the Beasts of the Field because Lucifer falling from his Divine Hierarchy and infecting the Essence of the expressed word in the Fiat according to the dark Worlds Property his desire drew the thorny subtilty out of the Centre of Nature which as to one part was the Serpents Ens. 3. Tho also in the Serpent is found by the wise excellent Art and Vertue for the Devils Poyson being taken out there is Divine Power in a fiery hunger in him As is also in the Earth where may be found the Arcanum of the World 4. The Devil by the Serpent insinuated to Eve as if God had with-held some great thing from them and that if she would eat she should as God know good and evil which was true For the Essences of that Tree were Discordant but said not that Heat and Cold Sickness and Death would force into her But that by the Serpen's eating thereof he had attained so great prudence 5. Eve liked well to be a Goddess and so fell from the Divine Harmony from the resignation in God and united with the Devils Desire 6. Then the Holy Spirit departed and the Heavenly Limus in the Flesh disappeared or died As the extinguishing a Candle which enlightened a dark Room 7. VVhile Man stood resigned in God all the Properties were in Harmony equal weight and measure as time is in Eternity or in God But when Man 's own will began effectually to work the whole Magical Astrum wrought also contrariety and enmity in the outward Astrum and four Elements 8. The Properties of all good and evil Beasts did awake and become domineering in him yea of a Fox Bear Wolf Lion Dog Bull Cock Cat Horse Toad and Serpent Also that Astrum which is most predominant at the time of Conception hath its desire in the Seed and also Figures the outward Person and the poor Soul becomes Married to such a Beast unless a Man be Born anew forsake this Bestial Property and come as a Child into the Kingdom of God pointed at by Circumcision and Baptism 9. How great was that Horror and Anguish now in Man When in Astonishment they crept behind the Trees in the Garden from the dread of Gods awakened Anger making their Love fire tremble on Knowledge of their new-gotten Bestial Properties Even so did the Limus of the Earth whence Adam's outward Essence was extracted tremble and shake when the Lord Jesus on the Cross with his great Love in his Heavenly Blood did overcome Gods Anger which was effectually working in it CHAP. XXI Of the Impression and Original of the Bestial Man and beginning of Sickness and Mortality 1. THAT only which stands in the Temperature hath no Destroyer but subsisteth Eternally for opposite Essences weaken and destroy each other Yet if the captive Essence of the Heavenly Property may be redeemed from the curse and wrath of Nature it comes into the Temperature and awakens the Heavenly Worlds Essence in a living Body if such there be in that Body and expelleth evil 2. So great a sway the outward Beastly Man hath over the hidden inward heavenly Man that it holds it as Gold shut up in the gross Oar unable to shew itself but lyes as dead it must therefore be Born anew and fed with the second Principle or remain ever uncapable of the Kingdom of God It must re-obtain Divine Essence and die to the Beast and Regeneration to its first Estate is brought to pass in Christ. 3. The Scope of this Author is 1. To search out the Image of God 1. How it was Created 2. How Corrupted 3. How it shall be restored 2. What is the New birth out of Christ. 1. What is the Inward and Immortal Man 2. What the Outward and Mortal That being known how it was corrupted it may come again into its first Estate CHAP. XXII Of the Original of Actual Sin c. 1. EVery word of Man proceeds from an Eternal Ens either of Love or Anger A word conceived becometh substance when 't is sounded and then must have a place of Rest either in its like in another or it will return to its Mother the Fountain or Mind whence it is 2. Doth a wicked Man Curse Eccho a word of Love against him let not his Curse enter infect and take Root but will return and heap Coals of Fire on the Reviler for the enkindled Spirit layeth hold of the Inventers very outward Body 3. Sin at first and ever since is Born of a strange Ens when the will leaving the pure simplicity in which it was Created entreth into the Serpents Craft and Poison But tho' the will to good may have evil adhere to it yet if it hath not consented to the evil but rejects it that the sinful desire cannot come into Essence that good will hath not hereby wrought evil but the holy Word judgeth the false 4. The Serpents Ens was a Virgin of Heavenly Beauty but Lucifer introduced thereinto the dark Worlds Property yet hath the Serpent according to the right of Eternity both Tinctures The Pearl is in it but hidden because of the Worlds false Magick that the holy Virgin Ens might not be introduced into an ungodly Serpentine one It were good the Artist knew this 5. The Children of God are the Temple of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in them without this there is no true knowing or will but strife by the Craft of the Serpent about confused verbal wranglings as did the Jews carry Moses words in their Mouths but mixed them with the crafty Serpents Ens and so it must be still that the word in Gods Children may be stirr'd and whetted and the Truth struggle to the Light Therefore must the Body die it cannot Inherit the Kingdom See more of the Original of Sin in this Book of Extracts of Aurora and in the sixth Chapter of the Book of Predestination And mentioned also in the 15th of the Forty Questions CHAP. XXIII How God recalled Adam and his Eve and ordained the Saviour 1. AFter Adam and Eve had eaten of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil seeing their gross bestial flesh hard bones and deformed Worms carkass shewed it self in their tender delicate body their shame drove them behind the Trees for God's rebuke awaked in them as it had done in Lucifer and they as revolted Rebels were in great shame before God and all the holy Angels and scorn'd by the Devils Into this shame and scorn did Christ enter which caus'd the
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
in our Humanity but Christ would have it for a Natural Right 4. By Canaan understand the holy Chrystalline World or Earth which shall be manifest 5. By the two fold Cave or Pit of Machpelah is signified Man hath a two fold Humanity one out of the Divine Ens and Heavenly Essence the other out of time this Worlds substance both which should be put into an Eternal Sepulchre and lye in its original Mother leaving the one will in Death so that God might alone live rule and will in the Soul and Mans Life be only his Instrument For the Soul hath turn'd itself aside from the only Eternal Word into self-hood This Distemper and unlikeness must be buried and put again into a two fold Cave and thence come into the Temperature the Essence whence the Body and Soul did arise CHAP. L. Of Abraham's sending his Servant for a Wife for Isaac 1. ABraham is herein the Figure of God the Father Isaac in that of Christ Abraham's Servant in that of Nature The Canaanites in that of the introduced Serpents Ens the Besâ—ial Man which shall not Inherit Here God makes his Servant Nature by whom he governeth Essentially bind itself that it will not introduce the Serpents Ens the dark Worlds Bestial Canaanitish Property for Gods Childrens Yoke-fellow but Nature must take substance out of Abraham's true Humane Essence in pure Love of the Heavenly Matrix that so the New Birth might be holy in its Virginity as to the inward Man 2. Nature saith How if c. viz. the right Humane Ens will not follow me And God said Beware c. viz. go not according to thy Reason but an Angel shall go before thee viz. the Divine Will for self-will and reason must not Lord it but Nature must be a Servant do as it is commanded and commit it to God to bring on the â—ternal Marriage But iâ— the Humane Will will not follow the Messenger hath discharged his Office The Rain ascends not up again without Fruit Nature must declare that God hath given Christ all his Goods and now desireth Man to be his Wife And the Servant sware c viz. When God put his Holy Word with the formed Wisdom into the Natural Ens of Mary then the Humane Nature sware Obedience 3. And the Servant took ten Camels and went to the City of Nahor in Mesopotamia viz. the ten Forms of the three Principles to the Natural and Supernatural Life viz. seven Forms of the Centre of Nature and three Forms of the three distinctions of the Principles which are they whereby God causeth all things and the Goods of the Lord are the formed Wisdom of the great Wonders and Powers 4. And the Servant caused the Camels to kneel by the Well near the City at Evening At or in the last time or days of the World The will of the Fathers Nature the Mystery of the Nature of the three Principles the Carriers of the formed Word hath laid it self down by the Well-spring of God the Divine Fountain 5. The Silver and Golden Jewels Bracelets and Ear-rings given to Rebekah signifie the Heavenly Humanity of Jesus Christ which is not given wholly into the power of the Fire-soul in this Life lest it become haughty as Lucifer and Adam but Virgin Sophia meant by Rebekah remaineth with her Bridegroom Christ in the second Principle 6. The Spices signifie the Holy Spirit Then they sate down to eat viz. the Marriage Feast the Joy whereof none but the Children of Christ know And when Rebekah saw Isaac c. When the disappear'd Humanity discovers Christ in it self it falleth into deepest Humility and is ashamed vailing its Face before Gods Holiness and Clarity that it hath lain so long Captive in the Bestial Man but Christ taketh it into his Arms and leadeth it into his Mothers Tent into the Heavenly Worlds Essence And then was Isaac comforted for his Mother for the disappeared Matrix which was lost in Adam now re-obtain'd in Virgin-like Chaâ—tity for his Spouse CHAP. LI. Of Abraham's taking Keturah to Wife and of his Six Sons and Death 1. ABraham was old when he had Isaac to shew Christ was to be in the old Age of the World and Sarah was old that so the Divine Ens might have the preheminence over the Humane and she must have but one for so is Christ and all are Branches in the one Tree viz. Christ in all 2. But Abraham by Keturah had six Sons signifying the six Properties of the formed Nature the operation of the six days Isaac viz. Christ is the seventh the Sabbath Of these six sprang six Nations to them he gave gifts of his Goods tho' not the In eritance yet had the free Gift of Grace So every Man hath Christ as the free Gift of Grace in him none predestinated to destruction for by those six are signified all Adam's Children 3. In the right Adamical Man out of which the Earth had its Original is the Covenant of the Free gift but the own-self-made-gross-earthy Adam who by Lust made himself a Beast is not capable of the Gift in the Covenant but the right Man as a Tincture in gross Lead mortifieth the Saturnine will and changeth it into Gold swalloweth up the gross Man viz. the dark Worlds Property 4. The Jews Christians and Heathens have all this Gift and Christ is the only available obedience all Men therefore who give up themselves in obedience to God are received in Christs obedience for Names are not accepted 5. My believing that Christ was Born Died and Rose for me makes me not a Christian but I must put on Christ enter into his Obedience and Sacrifice arise in him and Live in him 6. When Abraham had brought his Lifes Forms into right order he resigned up himself into Mortification tired with the Life of self reâ—â—ed in God CHAP. LII The History of Isaac Birth of Esau and Jacob. 1. AFter Abraham's Death God blessed Isaac and he lived by the Well Labairoi viz. the Well of Living and Seeing his Soul dwelt by the Fountain of Divine Love The desire of the Soul is the Fiat which takes the holy Love Tincture into it self and makes it Essential as the Metalline Ens gives its deâ—ire into the Suns Tincture that out of them both the fair and precious Gold is generated So doth the Deity inhabit in the Soul and co worketh but is not comprehended 2. The Souls Magical Fire by the Divine Love desire is inkindled into a shining Lustre so doth the Souls Magical Fire become the Bridegroom to the precious Sophia but the Mortal Soul from the Stars or four Elements attains it not in this Life but that Soul that cometh from the Centre of the Eternal Nature out of the Divine Lubet through the Word whereby the Divine longing formeth the Wisdom into Substance This Soul is that which is betrothed to Sophia 3. Ishmael had twelve Sons six of the Inward