Thus it goeth with the Simple single-hearted children of Christ whom the Spirit of Christ driveth and out of whom he teacheth heere in this world c. they are onely as sheep among Wolves as Christ said I send you as sheep among Wolves the earthly man is a Serpentine Wolfe under whom the virgin-childe viz. Christs Lamb must dwell and then beginneth and ariseth murthering * * * Or robbing slaying and killing 65. But it doth not at all hurt the virgin-childe It s Externall Wolfe is also by this meanes bitten off by another for the outward Wolfe of all men is growne from the Anger of God and arisen with the Sin in Adam therefore it must be given for food to the Anger of God that the virgin-childe of the womans Seed may become manifest 66. For thus they doe Separate themselves as two Enemies and are continually opposite Enemies one against another in the time of this outward life for the Judgement is given to the virgin-childe against the introduced Serpents childe of Sin In the Resurrection the virgin-childe shall condemne the Serpent-childe into the Fire of God there the limus of the Earth shall be proved and purged from the Serpents Ens and againe put upon the virgins-childe 67. Now saith reason what pleasure hath God in this murthering of his children can he not defend them from the Enemy thus it must be that the light may be manifest in the darknesse else the light would stand still in the darknesse and bring forth no fruit seeing then the light receiveth into it selfe Essence and perceivancy also Sensation from the darknesse viz. from the Source of the fire therefore one is set against the other that so one might be manifest in the other the joy against griefe and griefe against joy that it may be known what Evill or good is 68. For if there were no griefe then the Joy were not manifest to it selfe but yet all is in the Free-will as every thing doth introduce it selfe into eviâ—l or good so it runneth on its Course and the one is but the manifestation of the other for if there were no night or darknesse then we should know nothing of the Light or Day thus the great God hath introduced himselfe into Severation to his owne contemplation and Sport of joy 69. The like also is to be understood in the various diversity and Severalty of Men touching evill and good The Evill must be a Cause that the good be made manifest to it selfe and the Good must be a cause to manifest the Evill in its wicked malicious Suttlety and iniquity that all things may come into their contemplation and visible ken and every thing might manifest its judgement in it selfe unto the Great Separation Day of the LORD of all beings where every thing shall give in it selfe into its Barne for its usefulnesse and profit that in the Eternity the Great God may be known in a creaturall and formall manner according to light and darknesse 70. For all things were created by the word and brought into a forme seeing then God is an angry jealous God and a consuming fire and also a mercifull-Loving meek God of light and Giving or Free-Grace in whom there cannot be any Evill at all therefore he hath introduced fire and light Evill and good one with another in the Verbum Fiat into a free-will whereby the will may u u u Or worke forme either in the evill or good and yet he hath created all things good and to the light and set them into the free-will to multiply themselves in the free-will to conceive in Evill or good and yet hath associated to each thing its likenesse viz. to a male its female that so nothing hath cause to x x x Or fall from its place and order into Destruction degenerate and to man he hath given Commands what to doe and leave undone 71. Thus all things stand to the judgement of the Great God and in this time they must be in Contest that one may be manifest in the other but then in the Great Harvest every thing shall have its own Seat in it selfe when strife shall be taken up and cease and all things must stand to the Honour and Admiration of the wonderfull works of the great God who Alone knowes whereunto every thing shall be good and for what he will use it CHAP. XXIX Shewes how the Adamicall Tree hath put forth and opened it selfe out of its Stock and introduced it selfe into boughes branches twiggs and fruit out of which pullulation or manifestation the Invention of All Arts and * * * Or Polities Governments is Arisen The Deep Gates out of the Centre of the Eternall and also the Temporall Nature shewing how the Eternall Wisdome hath introduced it selfe into a formall visible and Ideall Contemplation Gen. IIII. ch 1. THe Eternall divine understanding is a free-will not arisen either from any thing or by any thing it is its owne Peculiar Seat and dwelleth onely and AlOne in it selfe un-apprehended of any thing for beyond and without it is nothing and that same NOTHING is onely ONE and yet it is also as a Nothing to it selfe It is One onely will of the Abysse and it is neither neer nor far off neither high nor low but it is ALL and yet as a Nothing for it is in it selfe no contemplation Sensation or perceivancy whereby it might finde a likenesse in it selfe 2. It s Finding is its own forth-proceeding so that it beholdeth it self in the y y y Or proceed-forth Egresse for that which is proceeded forth is its Eternall Lubet Sensation and perceivancy and it is called the Divine Wisdome which Wisdome the unsearchable Abyssall will apprehendeth in it selfe to its Centre of z z z Or Imagination desire or Magia Lubet viz. to an Eternall minde of the Vnderstanding which understanding the free-will formeth in it selfe to its owne a a a Or expresse Image likenesse viz. to an Eternall Speaking living working Word which the Free will doth speake or breath forth out of the formed wisdome of the Lubet 3. And the b b b Or Spiration Forth-breathing is the Spirit or Mouth of the understanding in the formed will of the wisdome which doth distinguish or variously Severize the Speaking Word so that the Minde and the understanding of the minde becomes manifest and revealed in which Manifestation the Free Lubet or wisdome is in the Speaking or forth-breathing formed of the free-will by the Spirit into diversity and variety 4. In which formation the powers of the divine properties doe arise so that it is truly said and declared concerning God that he is the Eternall will Understanding Minde Counsell Power and Wonder c c c Or with in which wonders of powers he hath moved and formed himselfe from Eternity in which formation consists the invisible spirituall world wherein the Spirit of God hath melodized and Sported with it selfe from
Ens and the kernells Ens is changed into one Ens so likewise it is here to be understood 18. Abraham received the divine Faiths Ens wherein stood his Justification but his life's nature had not as yet layd hold of it to its own power and strength for the divine Essence doth not give it selfe into natures own power indeed it gives it selfe into the Essence of nature but the divine desire doth not incline and yeeld it selfe unto natures owne selfe-will so that nature should have the predominancy a similitude whereof we have in the Corn which is sown into the Earth 19. The earthly nature cannot in its own power make another Corn and though it draweth the Corns Ens into selfe yet it bringeth forth onely a stalk in which stalk the Corns Ens groweth up and brings it selfe into a bloom and again into * * * Kernells seeds Corn whereunto the earthly nature with its Ens must be onely a Servant 20. And as the earthly nature of the earth doth alwayes first shew its child visibly in the growth and the Corns Ens doth therein hide it selfe the like also is to be understood here by Abraham the Adamicall nature in Abraham did first manifest it selfe with its fruit and that was Ismael but the divine Ens lay still hidden in his nature and sprang forth with Isaac and by Isaac the earthly and also the heavenly nature did again spring forth together albeit in One Seed 21. But as the earthly Ens in the stalk and the Corns Ens in the internall ground do grow up in and with one another and yet each setts forth its fruit viz. the earth the stalk and the Corns Mansion and the Corn or kernell the Blooms and fruits and yet the one without the other could not come to Essence the like also is here to be understood 22. Abraham was the field into which God sowed his Corn Ismael was the Root viz. the first birth Isaac was the fruit which grew from the seed of God understand out of the Ens of Grace and Ismael grew from the Ens of nature out of the Fathers property for the Ens of Grace had given it selfe into the Ens of nature now each did set forth its own figure with Ismael the kingdome of nature and with Isaac the kingdome of Grace was represented Isaac was the twigg which sprung up out of the field of faith viz. in the line of Christ and from him came Jacob viz. the Branch forth-spreading and displaying it selfe into a tree with many boughes and branches 23. Not that we are to understand that Jacob did onely grow and spring forth out of the kingdome of Grace for the kingdome of nature in which Ismael and Esau stood was also his Ground as to the creature but the Ens of Faith had given it selfe thereinto and Tinctured nature and advanced its power viz. the line of the Covenant of God in nature 24. As a Blossome upon the stalk hath far a more pure subtile property then the stalk and Root and as out of the Blossome first the fruit and a new seed proceedeth viz. out of the subtile so likewise in Jacob the Blossome of the kingdome of Israel first came forth and no more in the division as it is to be understood with Ismael and Isaac but both kingdomes together viz. the kingdome of Nature and the kingdome of Grace not any more each kingdome by it selfe or apart in the figure but in the type of the new regeneration shewing how God in his Love had given himselfe again into Man viz. into the kingdome of nature and how through his power the wicked Ens of the Serpent sown by the Devill into the kingdome of nature should be broken and killed 25. Therefore God called Jacob Israel viz. a flourishing forth-spreading Tree of many Boughes and Branches or as it is understood in the formation of the word in the high Tongue a flourishing or fresh springing of Paradise where the I gives it selfe into the Root to a new Centre and springeth forth powerfully through the root with which the word of the Covenant is understood in the Name JESVS for this I is the character of the unius viz. of the Eternall One in the divine lubet which Adam lost when he departed from the I viz. from the onely will of God and entered into Selfe and into the various multiplicity of the properties in their disharmony un-equallity and discord to try prove and tast good and evill in the five Senses 26. This I brought it selfe of Grace again into the divided rent and torn properties of the Adamicall humane Tree and sprang forth through and with the Adamicall Tree and hence he had his name Israel being as a great number and power of such branches all which do spring and grow forth in the new Tincture in which also the Ens of the corrupt nature grew up all along even as the Sunnes and the earths power doe work and grow together in the fruit of the Tree and are alwayes in contest one with another untill the fruit be ripe and a new kernell for another fruit be produced and also ripe and then the tree leaveth the fruit and sowes the new kernell for another young Tree 27. In this nature and manner also arose the strife and combate with Esau and Jacob in the wombe to signifie that the corrupt nature with the Serpents Ens should be rejected and cast off as the tree doth lett fall its ripe fruit and onely desireth the kernell to propagate its like so it was here when the Ens of Christ did stir it selfe up in Jacob then arose the strife and enmity for the Ens of Christ should rule and the wrath in the Serpents Ens that would also rule and hence came the Contest about the Dominion and kingdome the Ens of Christ sett it selfe aloft in Jacob and bruised the head of the Essence of the Serpents Ens in Esau and even there the Serpent stung Christ on the heel and thence it came that both the children did strive and struggle together in the wombe 28. Not that we are to understand that Esau was wholly out of the Serpents Ens no he was of the right Adamicall nature from his father Isaac and Abraham onely God did here set forth the figure of the kingdome of nature which was poysoned in Man and then also the figure of the kingdome of Grace shewing that the naturall man must forsake his own evill will and therewith also wholly immerse and give up himselfe into the kingdome of Grace and the figure which was here represented in Esau was to shew that the * * * Jocobs evill nature was as rejected of God as Esaus onely the figure was set in Esau not that he was personally wholly from all Eternity predestinated to damnation as Babel falsely teacheth Evill Adamicall man did not at all avail in Gods sight that it was not profitable for the kingdome of God
Ens and have taken possession of the will and made it substantiall this Serpents craft doth then hold and entertaine the fame in the Devills murthering Fort as a fine adorned pleasant q q q Text Kittling brat as the Serpent lying on the Tree spake very pleasingly and takingly with Eve untill it could by its friendly intercouse catch her in the desire even so likewise the false crafty conceived Serpents word which proceedeth from the false heart doth hold forth it selfe as a very lovely Eloquent perswasive Syrene and calls it selfe holy till it can discover mans desire set open for it there it layes open its very heart and entreth in to the desire of him and maketh it selfe a place to worke and re-procreate its like 18. Hence now doe come the false close backbiters tale-bearers perverters and wrong interpreters of other mens sayings secret lyars who are very faire before and behinde are a Serpent Revilers and foule mouthed slanderers who take away a mans good Name from him and in this false smooth and well-coloured and adorned Serpents property the Devill hath his Counsell Chamber his schoole where he learneth the children of Eve his Art viz. jugling delusions foppery pride Covetousness Envy Anger and all vices and abominations proceeding from the Abysse of the darke worlds property 19. Thus the Devill ruleth man in Body and Soule by the crafty Essence of the Serpent and worketh abomination with abomination iniquity with iniquity Sin with Sin and this is even the first Originall of Actuall Sin that Eve and Adam did introduce the Serpents crafty Essence which the Devill had infected into their will and desire and so made themselves forthwith Monstrous in the Serpent where upon the darke worlds Essence did awake in them that so soon as this was brought to passe the will did imagine into this monstrous property and formed it selfe into a Substantiall word 20. Even thus the word was now also manifest in man in the property of Gods Anger viz. in the darke worlds Ens and thus man doth now speake lies and truth for there is a twofold Ens in him viz. one from the darke world awakened and stirred up by the desire of the Serpent and Devill and one from the Heavenly limus which is now stirring in man wherein the free will taketh the word that is whence it doth generate a fruit out of the divine Expressed and formed word which is againe received of the likenesse either in heaven or hell that is in the darkness or light 21. For the two worlds are in each other as one the wicked formeth and maketh for God a good word in his wrath unto Death viz. unto the sting of Death and Hell and the holy man formeth and maketh to God out of his good Ens a good word unto the holy life and Operation as the Scripture speaketh very clearely the holy is to God a sweet savour unto life and the wicked a sweet savour unto death viz. to the darke world 22. Now every man is a creatour or framer of his words powers and Doings that which he maketh and frameth out of his free will the same is received as a worke of the manifested word into each properties likeness 23. For Gods word is also manifest in the darke world but onely according to its property as the Scripture saith such as the people is such a God they also have Gods word is manifest in all things in each thing according to its Ens whence the free will proceedeth the free will is the creatour or maker whereby the creature maketh formeth and worketh in the r r r Or revealed manifested Word 24. There is no hearb or thing whatsoever that can be named wherein there lieth not an Ens from the manifested Word of God an Ens both according to Gods Love and Anger according to the dark and light world for this visible world was breathed forth out of this same Word now each Ens of the forth-breathed Word hath a free will againe to breath forth out of its Ens a s s s It s owne likenesse likenesse according to it selfe 25. But this is now the Greatest Evill that the Ens in its Centre is departed out of the likenesse and harmony of the property into an Elevation viz. out of one onely Ens into many entities into many properties of which the Devill being an Hierarch of the place of this world and also the Curse of God upon the Earth is a cause which Curse man stirred up and awakened 26. For now an evill Ens which is from the Awakened property doth t t t Text or is borne carried in c. infuse it selfe into a good vessell and corrupteth the vessell whence the free will should u u u Or create draw from a good property but the evill doth mix it selfe into the good and both come forth againe in the formed Word into a Substance as an evill man doth oftentimes stir up an evill word and worke in a good man which he never before conceived or purposed in his will 27. For the Anger is become stirring or quick in the humane Ens and adhereth to the good Ens and the will of the fire-soule is free it x x x Formeth createth or draweth forth conceiveth as soone in the Ens of anger as in the Ens of Love nay in many a one the Love-Ens is wholly impotent and as 't were dead or extinct He worketh onely from the craftinesse of the Serpent fruit unto Gods Anger and though his mouth doth flatter in the Serpents craft and make a devout shew of the holy Word and sets forth it selfe as an Angell yet it is onely the Ens and forme of the crafty Serpent in the light of the earthly nature and the man deceiveth himselfe 28. Therefore Christ saith unlesse that ye be converted and become as children ye cannot see the Kingdome of God the free will must wholly goe out from the Ens of the Serpent and enter againe in the Spirit of Christ into its heavenly Ens which did disappeare in Adam and againe awaken and stir up this Ens in the hunger of its desire that it also may be againe awakened and borne unto a living Ens in the new Regenerated Word in the humanity of Christ and which did araise and powerfully quicken it selfe in the great Love-property in the mans property in the person of Christ where also the free will becomes a new innocent childe and neither willeth nor letteth in the Serpents Craft otherwise the free will cannot forme and manifest Gods holy Word in it selfe the free will must draw onely out of the good Ens if it will worke and live in the holy Word 29. Now understand aright our writing concerning the Serpents Craft and it s Adorned Art and false vertue I say understand our very profound and high meaning opened out of the Counsell of God thus The Serpents Ens and Originall was a virgin of
whereinto it introduceth the false word so far as the false word in its Speaking findes a place of Rest to work and bring forth its evill fruit 42. And therefore the holy word shall judge the False as also at the end of this time the holy word shall cast out from it selfe all false e e e Carved work of phancy Idoll Opinions and all whatsoever hath been formed in the Serpents Ens and give them to the darke world 43. All those that take or conceive the word in them in their devillish and Serpentine Ens and use it against Gods children in whom the holy Ens is manifest and doe stir up also an offence or occasion of stumbling in the children of God that the free will in them doth also conceive it selfe in the Serpents Ens viz. in Anger and aversenesse where alwayes the holy Ens doth likewise forme it selfe and the Spirit of zeale ariseth these false authors beginners and Causers doe all sin against the holy Ghost 44. For they doe extreamely despight and defye him that he must even proceed forth through the anger of the children of God whereby he is stirred up and oftentimes shewes himselfe in the Turba of the children of God and falles upon the neck of the wicked as may bee seen by Elias and Moses and also by Elisha who cursed the Boyes that the Beares came out and tore them to pieces for thus the sword of God comes forth through the mouth of the Saints if the holy Spirit be extreamly displeased and set into a fiery zeale then he awakeneth Turba magna which draweth the Sword against a wicked people and devoureth them 45. Thus understand it in its full scope and meaning Man hath Gods Word in him which created him understand the word hath imprinted and formed it selfe with the Creating both in its Holiness and also in the Anger and that also f f f Or out of in the outward world for the limus of the Earth or the Earth it selfe was amassed and compacted through the word so that the formed Word which tooke its beginning in the divine desire viz. in the Fiat is an exhalation forth-breathed from the Spirit of God out of Love and Anger therefore it is evill and good but the Evill was hidden and as it were wholly swallowed up in the light as the night in the day 46. But the sinfull desire in Lucifer and Adam hath awakened the Anger so that it is become essentially manifest now the Gates of the formed Word both in Love and Anger doe stand open in the earth and also in the limus of the earth viz. in man and also in the free will of man whatsoever he doth now forme and amasse in his free will that he hath made be it either evill or good 47. But now the Evill shall in the judgement of God be separated from the Good and in what part either of the evill or good the humane understanding viz. the soule shall be found thereinto it must enter with all whatsoever it hath done as into its owne made habitation and therefore Christ saith their workes shall follow them and be purged or proved by the fire Note also at the end when the bookes of the Essence shall be opened they shall be judged according to their works for the worke be it evill or good doth embrace the soule unlesse it doth wholly depart from the evill and destroy it againe by reconciliation of his offended and wronged brother and drown the Substance in the Bloud and Death of Christ else there is no remedy 48. Therefore a man must vvell consider what he will speake for he speaketh from the formed Ens of Gods manifestation and well bethinke and ponder with himselfe before he intendeth or conceiveth in the will to doe any thing and by no meanes consent unto any false backbitings or approve by a yea neither privately nor openly 49. For all forged tales and sharp taunts proceed from the Serpents Ens all Cursings and swearings and stinging girds proceed from the Serpents Ens yea though they be but in Jest yet the Serpents Ens hath stuck it selfe with them to the good and compacted them with the word therefore Christ saith sweare not at all let your speech be yea yea nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evill Note that is it is borne of the Serpents Ens. 50. All Cursers and swearers have introduced their free will viz. the poore soul into the vanity of the Serpents Ens and forme their Curses and Oaths vvith all their lewd wanton talke which is wrought in the Serpents Ens and sow into Gods anger and on the contrary all Gods children who are in right earnest doe forme their words in the holy ens especially the Prayer when the free will of the soul doth amasse or conceive it selfe in the holy Ens which is opened by Christs humanity then it formeth the true essentiall word of God in it selfe so as it comes to Substance 51. Therefore Saint Paul saith the Spirit of God doth mightily intercede for us in the sight of God as it pleaseth him for the Spirit of God is formed in the desire of the holy word he is taken or apprehended and this taking or receiving is that which Christ said he would give us his flesh for food and his bloud for drink 52. The soules will taketh Christs Ens and in Christs Ens the word of Christ became man which the soules desire or Fiat doth receive or impresse into its holy Ens disappeared in Adam and here Adam ariseth in Christ and becomes Christ the second Adam or the Anointed one according to the heavenly Ens and divine word and from this Ens of Christ proceeds forth divine knowledge out of the word of God 53. Thus the children of God are the Temple of the holy Ghost which dwelleth in them and so they speake Gods Word and without this there is no true knowing or willing but meere fable and Babel a Confusion of the crafty Serpent 54. Therefore Christ called the Pharisees a Seed of Serpents and a generation of Vipers and although they were the High Priests yet he knew them to be so in their essence for they had formed their will in the Serpents Ens they carried the words of Moses in their mouth and therein they mixed the Serpents Ens as many still doe to this day where the incarnate Devill carrieth Gods word upon his tongue and yet doth onely hide the Serpents Ens thereby and introduceth the Diabolicall Ens into the litterall word whence Babell the mother of all Spirituall whoredome is borne a meere verball contention and wrangling about Words where the Ens of the Devill and the Serpent doth oppose the divine Ens in the Formed Divine Word 55. But so it must be that the formed and Conceived Word in Gods children may be stirred up whetted and exercised and the truth come forth to light Deare brethren this is the
Makes good merchandise of its religious ceremonies sale for Money and hath bound the Kingdome of Heaven to its Ceremonies and will sell it for Money so that the Man may but fat himselfe in this world under the white Garment of its hypocricie 29. The third party giveth forth that they have so holy an Order that it doth even Sanctifie and save them and they above all others will be esteemed holy 30. The fourth party or Sect will obtaine the Kingdome of God by their n n n Text mouth-cry lip-labour with muchnesse of Speaking Reading Singing Preaching and Hearing and it rebukes censures and reviles all that will not approve of prayse and give diligent attention to its lip-labour and fine conceited long Prating 31. This Party hath cloathed it selfe with the white Garment and set it selfe upon the letter or writings of Gods children and therewith it doth so lustily bestir and lay about it as a Beggar that casteth stones at the Dogs and sometimes hits a * * * Or Evill churlish one sometimes a * * * Or Good quiet one and he that is hit at makes him heare of it and then others fall on pell mell and bite and wurry him and there is a continuall biting tearing confounding reviling reproaching cavilling and jangling about the Letter a meere externall worke whereby men blindely zealous suppose to serve God and obtaine Grace a very Cainicall Offring 32. The Cainicall Church is in the outward world evill and good it buildeth and breaketh down and is onely a figure o o o Or according to of Gods Love and Anger what one party buildeth and calleth holy that another pulleth down and revileth with one mouth it buildeth and with another it teareth down what One hypocrite praiseth that another dispraiseth and thus there is onely a Confused shattered Babylon Evill and Good a wonder of nature and time 33. All these run on in their selfe-contrived and devised Orders and rely upon their received Orders and so they offer the Letter of the word and the worke of their own hands before God and will needs be outwardly adopted and accepted children before God God must have respect unto their Offring and forgive them their Sins by a word speaking as a Lord out of favour and clemency freely gives a malefactour his life such an unmeasurable matchless heap of Grace they have brought into their literall Offerings and into the workes of their hands so that their Teaching and the hearing of them is accounted for the most holy way wherein salvation is to be had and whosoever doth not worship and honour this their way with exceeding diligence and subject himselfe thereunto him they reproach persecute and kill or else hold him for an Heretick 34. But Abels children in Christ have far another worship and Service of God they dwell indeed among Cains children and doe also appeare in their Orders and Offrings they Offer to God a broken and bruised heart and an humble Contrite minde in true Sorrow for and Conversion from their committed Sins and with their Spirituall will doe goe out from and forsake all their creature-selfefullnesse and selfish interests and arrogation and dye to their selfehood in the Death of Christ and become as children who neither know nor will any thing but onely their mother which hath brought them forth they cast their selves into her bosome and they take in Patience whatsoever she pleaseth to doe with them 35. For their internall will is quite mortified to the outward world with all its glozing shew and alluring glory they account themselves very unworthy before the great Grace of God and their vanity which the flesh desireth is alwayes in their sight and to this the inward spirituall will is a deadly opposite Enemy and yet it cannot be wholly separated from it in this life-time their whole course through this world is a meere work of Repentance for their Sins and Impurity doe appeare continually in their Sight 36. There is a continuall and constant Combate in them of the flesh in the earthly desire against the divine desire and of the divine desire against the lust of the earthly flesh for the divine desire doth * * * Betake amasse it selfe into Gods Grace and Mercy and brings it selfe into a Centre of a working life and penetrates through the earthly false lustfull life and striketh the false lust and Imagination down and then the false Imagination falls into great Sadnesse when as it contemplates and beholds the voluptuous pompous stately brave glistering Course of this world and findes it selfe so mean and foolish that it must forsake and forgoe that wherein it might have its chief joy pleasure and delight 37. Also the Devill he cometh forthwith with his temptation and bringeth his desire into the false Imagination and shewes him the fair Kingdome of the world and rebuketh his Intent as a false Phancy and meere conjecture stirreth up the crew of the wicked against him who scorne jeere reproach and contemn him and then sometimes the Sprackling glimps and divine desire doth even lose it selfe for Christ viz. the virgins-childe in the Spirit of Christ is lead into the wildernesse and is tempted of the Devill and of the Anger of God and also of the Carnall worlds spirit and oftentimes the Spirit of Christ doth hide it selfe as if the virgins-childe were quite gone and past Hopes also the Devill makes his addresse thereto and brings him into Doubt as if the virgins childe were not borne 38. For the virgins childe is hidden in the Desart and then the poore captivated Soule is in great Sorrow and lamentation sigheth and cryeth to God also it cannot love or away with the beastiall Image but it doth stir up it selfe as a great assaulting Storme in the Body and seeketh the Gates of the deep in its Originall and forceth with might or holy violence into that word which hath formed it to be a creature and diveth it selfe thereinto as an Impotent will-lesse childe and desireth its first mother whence the first Soule was born for its Nurse and makes it selfe wholly will-lesse in this mother and lyeth onely at her Breasts and sucketh her Love and grace into it the mother may doe with it what she please this is the true meaning and the right manner of dying to selfehood and selfefull Imagination and lust in ones selfe and becoming as to the will of the Soule as a childe in ones selfe as Christ saith unlesse yee be converted and become as children yee can in no wise see the Kingdome of God selfe and selfefull Reason in the lust of the flesh can neither taste or see it 39. From this mortification of the Selfefull will and earnest Resignation into Gods mercy the virgins-childe doth again Spring forth out of the Desart with its faire and glorious Pearl-blooming Tree with very excellent and new fruit for so it must be tryed in the fire of Gods Anger that the Abomination of the
Everlasting which also hath neither ground limit bounds or Originall 5. For it is the Divine e e e Contemplation Vision of the formed wisdome its Centre is the formed Will viz. the Word forth-Speaking out of all Powers and its life is the Spirit which proceedeth in the Speaking or breathing which distinguisheth and formeth the Lubet of the wisdome so that the formed wisdome playeth before the life of the Deity as little children play before their parents who have begotten them out of their Essence for their joy and in them the parents take their delight and Pastime 6. Thus likewise we are to understand the Beeing of Eternity which Being the Eternall free-will hath in the forth-breathing word introduced into a Desire viz. to an externall comprehensivenesse in which comprehensibility the beginning of the Corporeall Being is arisen viz. the Centre of the Formed Nature wherein the desire hath Amassed formed and introduced it selfe into properties viz. into darknesse and light into Paine and Source into joy and Sorrow and yet we must not understand any Sorrow to be in the Pregnatresse but so the free-will doth forme and conceive it selfe in the desire to the Contemplation and manifestation of the wonders that so the properties might be peculiarly manifested and revealed in each other 7. For if there were no Contra-will then there would be no motion in the properties but being the free-will hath introduced it selfe into Love and Anger viz. into Evill and Good a twofold will is arisen in these properties viz. a wrathfull will according to the Nature of the fire and of the darknesse and a good Love-will according to the nature and quality of the light so that one might dwell in and manifest the other 8. Not that this Birth hath received onely a temporall beginning it f f f Or hath been is Eternall and is the manifestation of the Divine vision Sensation and perception onely in the Creating of the Creation this Birth introduced it selfe into a Compaction or Externall comprehensivenesse that it might have a Distinct Dominion to worke in for its owne Sport and play 9. Also we are not to conceive that in the Creation the Evill proceeding from the darknesse and fiery property was Separated from the Good and placed in a Peculiar Sundry working Dominion but the one is in the other yet the light shoane through the darknesse and the darknesse could not comprehend it Every life in the Creation proceeded forth from the fiery property and the Spirit of the rationall understanding did arise from the lights property In the Creation Every fiery life was brought forth in its beginning g g g In or for to the light 10. Moreover the Creatour of all Beings hath given the Creatures of the outward world which hath a Temporall beginning out of the Eternall word An Vniversall light for visible contemplation also every life in the Creation hath received the light of nature out of the Centre in it selfe out of which the understanding ariseth so that the Creature can rule and governe it selfe 11. And nothing was created Evill or to the Dominion of iniquity for though on one part it hath an Ens of the wrath in it selfe for its life yet on the other part it hath also an Ens of the light and good vertue in it selfe and it is set in the free-will to conceive or worke in Evill or Good for there is nothing so Evill but it hath a Good in it whereby it may rule and be predominant over the Evill 12. But man was in Equall Accord in his properties no property was manifest above the other for he was Gods Image like as there is no Evill manifest in God unlesse he would himselfe manifest the wrath of the Eternall Nature in a thing Even so also the divine free-will was given to man 13. And with all the Command that he in his free-will should not lust after Evill and Good viz. after the divided properties he should continue stedfast in the equall harmony of the properties and rule with the light over the Darknesse and then the properties of the wrath had stood in meer Joy delight and melody in him and he had been a mirror and forme of the divine wisdome which had seen and beheld it selfe in him according to the Kingdome of Joy 14. But being that he did contemplate with the free-will in the dissimility how evill and good were each of them in its own peculiar selfefull property and brought his Lust and longing thereinto desiring to taste thereof in the Essence whereupon this same property did also take him in his lust and prevailed in his will and also in the Ens whence the will did arise to its own Contemplation and Dominion and thus the first man who was good in the beginning became a Stock or Tree of the Taste of the Knowledge of Evill and good viz. a Contending Dominion in which both wills viz. the Good and the Evill ruled in one another 15. But being the fiery wrathfull will so overcame the good which was from the lights Essence that the lights Ens was taken captive in the wrathfull Ens this Image fell under the power and Command of the outward Dominion which was Evill and good and also under the wrath of the inward nature viz. of the fiery darknesse upon which Image God had compassion and did re * * * In-promise inhest the Covenant of Grace into the Captivated disappeared and as to the divine wisedome blind Ens of the holy worlds being and did Incorporate the same as a Covenant of a new Regeneration of a new Holy Will and life 16. Thus now we are to consider aright of the Stock of the humane Tree how it hath spread forth and displayed it selfe in the properties and introduced it selfe as a Tree evill and Good into boughes and branches and from whence his Temporall Government of distinct and Sundry Offices and Callings is arisen which He did awaken in him when he lusted after evill and good and thereby brought himselfe in Subjection to nature being he fell under its Dominion 17. And we see very clearly that Moses hath described and set down in his * * * Genesis first booke how the humane Tree hath opened it selfe in Evill and good and introduced it selfe into boughes and branches for its fruit also we see how the fiery wrathfull property hath alwayes gone before and first of all brought forth its fruit we have a clear and plaine understanding hereof in the Names of those which the Spirit of God hath put by Moses in the h h h Geneology lines of Propagation 18. For first he setteth Cain whereby is understood in the Language of nature a Source out of the Centre of the fiery desire a selfefull will of the fiery might of the Soule viz. a Sprout or Twig out of the first Principle in which branch or Sprig the first Principle did in an especiall manner
woman understand it thus 21. This Egyptian woman is his flesh and bloud with Reason wherein the Idoll Maozim viz. the Babylonicall whore sitteth where the Devill hath his Pulpit which to the pretious Minde is the Crosse of Christ where the womans Seed viz. the Spirit of Christ must uncessantly bruise the Serpents head viz. the Devills introduced desire in this Whore of Babylon 22. This whore is now the Exercise and Probation of the spirituall cogitations or sences in the Christian Minde but this whore doth not hurt the children of Christ indeed it hath a false lust and is a very wedded Harlot which shall not see the Kingdome of God but it must yet serve for good to the children of God for by it the Cross of Christ is layd upon the pretious minde so that the minde must continue in humility and not say I am righteous I am holy No! no! the holiness is not this childe 's own but it is Gods Mercy who hath heard the crying of the Lad viz. of the poor forsaken minde thus the noble holy minde viz. the new man born in Christs Spirit must be wedded with this Egyptian evill malicious Idolatrous whorish ungodly woman which is * * * Note how wee cannot so much as think a good thought neither able to doe will or think any good and bear with it the foul shame and reproach so long till the unclean Idolatrous whore dyeth and then this Lad is led of the Angel into Isaac's Tent viz. into Christs flesh and bloud 23. And this is the very reall figure of the Spirit in Moses wherefore he hath so punctually and emphatically deciphered this figure for the Spirit in Moses aymeth so directly and fully at the mortifying of mans selfehood and plainly speaketh that the Selfewill must be cast out from God and where Christ is born there the same is brought to pass as here when Isaac the Type of Christ was born of the free woman then the Son of the Bond-woman must be cast out for in Isaac the seed which should inherit the Kingdome of God was to be called it should not proceed out of the selfefull nature of the flesh and will of man but out of Gods will out of the mortified will of our nature which dyeth to its selfehood and despaires of it selfe a Christian must be born that is Ismael viz. the poor Sinner when he becomes an enemy to sin repents of it and wills it no more shall be born in Gods mercy indeed nature must and shall be there even with its evill earthly flesh but Christ is brought forth from thence as a fair blossome out of the wild earth as a pleasant fruit out of the kernell 24. A very excellent figure the Spirit in Moses doth present unto us in Abraham and Sarah when Sarah would cast out the Son of the bond-woman from the inheritance so that the Son of the bond-woman should not be heir with the free the same seemed unjust to Abraham being he was of his Seed and his own Son but God said to him Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the Lad and because of the bond-woman in all that Sarah hath said unto thee hearken to her voice for in Isaac shall thy Seed be called The inward pretious figure of this is thus 25. When a man is born again in Christs Spirit as it was here with Abraham then he thinks sometimes that he is wholly new and knows not himselfe yet aright and that he hath the whorish Egyptian bond-woman with her scoffing Son of vanity in his Armes and now when it hapneth that oftentimes the mocker viz. Ismael the Son of the Bond-woman doth breake forth out of him yea even wholly without his will and purpose that Sarah that is honest Mindes to whom God doth make it known do reprove him nay and is oftentimes reproved of the evill so that it is plainly declared to him that this mocker should be cast out This Abraham viz. the man will by no meanes brook he will be uncontrouled and yet he doth not know that he in this time of his earthly life stands in the judgement of God that his words and workes must be daily proved and judged he will often go in a way of justification and maintain his own cause and will be praised and in the mean time forgetts the Egyptian Bond-woman in his Armes and her scoffing Son who sometimes peeps forth in his words with evill interpretations wrong meanings and evill surmises and covers it selfe finely under a glozing mantle of glistering hypocrisie this now the free woman casts out that is the Spirit of Christ casts it out by other peoples mouth and yet this seems to be unrighteous to the man being the word is born of his body and arisen out of his very Minde 26. But the Lord speaketh in the Spirit of the humility of Christ let it not seem grievous in thy Sight that people do finde fault with thy words and reject thy labour Hearken to Sarah viz. to the divine voice and do thou thy selfe cast out from thee whatsoever thou hast at any time spoken or meant evilly wrongfully or partially for in Isaac that is in thy deepest humility thy Seed shall be called where in thy words and workes the Spirit of God worketh in Love and not in thy naturall selfeness and peculiar ownhood of reason wherein the Son of the bond-woman speaketh and worketh 27. And the children of God ought well to consider this figure and thinke that whatsoever is spoken and don from favour affection and partiall siding be it either towards honest or dishonest men the same proceeds from the Son of the Bond-woman which must go into judgement to be tryed and must be judged of men viz. of the evill and good it must be cast forth among a company of evill and good Tongues where every one passeth his sentence and judgement thereupon God judgeth upon the earth externally by men both by the Evill and Good 28. This now must seem so very grievous and hainous to Abraham viz. to Man when his words and workes are judged and proved and think that his divine Seed must be brought forth onely in the Love and humility and that whatsoever he speaketh judgeth or doth from partiality or favour doth belong again unto judgement where it must be proved and purged As Hagar with her Son Ismael was and then when it is judged that is cast out by the people then comes the Angel of God and speaketh to the naturall man that he should not despair in this judgement but take it in good part and be content that his words and workes are judged 29. Therefore we say as the Lord hath given us to know it that whosoever will read and understand aright the history of the old Testament he must set before him two Types viz. externally Adam viz. the earthly man and internally Christ and change both these into One and so he may understand all whatsoever
Life wherein the Names of the Children of God are Comprised or written 4 And when Man perceiveth him in the power then he speaketh againe into the Word and sayth Heere am I Lord make mee what thou wilt I stand before thee and that same inward Word of God sayth in power I am God the God of thy Father that is it giveth to Man in this Speaking power Divine knowledge so that Man learneth to understand that God worketh in him and what God is 5. But seeing the Body is a dark valley and moreover an unrighteous inclination therefore the Word speaketh into the poore soule thus and sayth Be not affrayd when thou entrest into Egypt viz. into Repentance and goest forth out of the Land of Canaan viz. from the pleasure and voluptuousnesse of the world falshood wickednesse and unrighteousnesse although likely they become thy Enemies and persecute thee yet feare not I will goe along with thee into Egypt that is into thy conversion and Divine Obedience I will help thee to work Repentance and blesse thee in thy Egypt viz. in thy working of Repentance and make thy New Birth grow to a great Tree which shall bring forth much good fruit in the Kingdome of God as he sayd to Jacob I will make thee a great people in Egypt and will bring thee out from thence againe that is thou shalt not remaine as one dead or departed from this world although indeed thou goest into Repentance and forsakest the world in thy minde yet I will bring thee out of Anxiety and trouble againe and leave thee in thy state and condition if it be right and honest which is done thus 6. When Man goeth into this Egypt he must leave all his Land viz. all his temporall pleasure and Lust of the flesh and give up all to God and hold nothing more for his owne but think that it is not his owne but that he is a Minister and servant in it that he should serve God and his fellow Members therein and so regulate his heart as a Pilgrim in his Journey who is no where at home in this world He must with Jacob sit in Josephs that is in the Holy Ghosts Chariott and goe whither soever the same in this Famine will bring him then God goeth in and with him and blesseth him so that he worketh and bringeth forth much divine fruit and his Name becometh very great in the Word of God 7. But God doth not for all that cast him out of his temporall possession he bringeth his Spirit up againe into the Works and Labour of his hands viz. into his worldly state condition and employment that he may serve Gods deeds of Wonder also himselfe and the Members of his body viz. his Neighbours therein Nothing will be taken away from him but only the unrighteousnesse falshood and untruth God maketh him now his servant in his state and condition he may well keepe and take along with him his Cattle and his Goods for his necessity as Jacob did but that which is false and wicked hee must put away 8. And when he doth thus then sayth God Joseph shall lay his hand upon thine Eyes that thou mayest see that is Christ shall with his hand of Grace lay hold on thy sight blinde as to God and lay his hand of the divine Sunne upon thine Eyes and then thou wilt come into divine vision and knowledge in thy selfe so that thy Reason will wonder whence such Light and deepe knowledge cometh to thee 9. * * * Gen. 46.6 7 26 27. Jacob came with Seaventy soules in All with all his children and childrens children of which Sixty six were proceeded out of his Loynes which went with him for Joseph had begotten two sonnes in Egypt 10. This Number Sixty six is a great and Mysticall Number 70 The number of Babell 66 Of the Beast the Whore as also the Number Seaventy which is the Number of the great Babell and the Number Sixty six is the Number of the Beast and of the Whore from which Israell and every childe of God must goe forth 11. This going forth of Israell is a true figure and Image of the last exit and going forth of the children of Israell viz. the right true Christian which shall also goe forth out of this Canaan viz. out of Babell in the * * * Note End of the Beasts and the Whores Number which Signall Starre with the Chariott of Joseph are cleerly appeared 12. For the great Famine in the Time of Jacob wherein is the great hunger and want of heavenly foode is at hand and not onely a hunger of the soule after the bread of heaven but also a great vehement unheard of formerly from the beginning of the world hitherto impression of desire to selfehood viz. to Covetousnesse Extortion and Pride 13. The hunger in the wrath of God after vanity to devoure it is so great that at present the powers of Heaven doe imprint their influence so that all provision and blessing is consumed and the Minde of Man is so hungry after vanity that there is no rest at all upon Earth for this Desire 14. Also the Third Principle viz. the spirit of the world of the Dominion in the fower Elements impresseth with its power from whence all blâ—ssing is consumed and in stead thereof an unsatiable hunger of Covetousnesse is risen up so that the Beast and the Whore together with their worshippers are so hungry after Pride covetousnesse Envy anger unchastity whoredome and beastiall voluptuousnesse and so hard imprinted or impressed in such desire that the Time is already that this Beast together with the Whore must burst to peeces 15. And then Jacobs spirit reviveth and beleeveth that Joseph is a Prince in the Land of Egypt viz. in the Convertion and there will Joseph be manifested to his Brethren and then they must be ashamed of their falshood and wickednes that they have suppressed Joseph and sold him with lying into misery 16. For Josephs face in the Truth shall behold all Israell and Egypt for Israell must goe forth out of Canaan and leave Babell in the Number seaventy but the hunger in Babell sayth I will first fill my sack that I may have provision in the way and knoweth not that Joseph hath given Israell provision for Expences and moreover Chariotts and apparell so that they shall only take their Cattle along with them and leave their dwellings and housholdstuffe behinde 17. The provision for Expences which at present Israell gathereth together in Babell belongeth all to the wrathfull Impression of Gods Anger which shall devour it all when his fire burneth God hath cleerly sent his children provision for Expences beforehand by Joseph they will have fully enough if they doe not Contend upon this way sumptuous apparell is prepared for them that they may be at rest from this disquietnes of the driver 18. But Babell thinketh it is a long time yet Israll must serve mee I will plague
the head-spring of the false minde but if it perceiveth Light in it self then is it the spring and ground of the sensible mind and the right root of fire as appeareth in number 3. downwards The fourth Form numb 4. is the Fire of the Eternal Nature understand spiritual Life-fire and that existeth from a continual conjunction or conjoyning of Hardness and Motion Understand that thence ariseth the Painfulness but the Splendor existeth from the Delight of the Free-will where the Unity of the Delight good pleasure is acuated in the properties then like a flash of lightning it shineth through the continued Conjunction of the great meekness of the Unity and the Fierceness and Motion of the three first Properties for then it is in the Essence of the Conjunction as if Steel and Stone were rubb'd together whence the flash ariseth Such a Flash is the true Natural Life of the Eternal for it is the Revelation of Divine Motion and hath the properties of Nature and also the Revelation of the Unity of Gods effluence in it self Now which of these two getteth predominancy in that standeth the Life The splendor of the Fire is the Light from the effluence of Gods Unity and the Essence of the Fire is the out-flown will which hath brought it self with the desire into such Properties Thus in the out-flown firy will we understand Angels and Souls and in the sensible sharpned Lights power from the Unitie we understand the Spirit wherein God is revealed and understood in the spiritual essence and in the Fire two Kingdomes separate themselves as the Kingdom of Glory from the efflux of Gods Unity and the Kingdom of the properties of Nature and yet these two Kingdoms dwell in one another as one The Kingdom of Nature is in it self that great Eternal Darkness but the Light is the Kingdom of God of which S John saith The Light shineth in darkness but the darkness comprehendeth it not As day and night dwell in one another and yet the one is not the other Thus from the Fires own propertie comes the painful life if it break it self off from the Eternal Light and doth as in the propertie of selfhood enter the object then is it only fantastick and foolish even such as the Devills were and the Souls of the Damned are as appears Numb 4. downwards In the fift Propertie of Nature is the second Principle with its foundation understood as the Essence of the Unity in the Light-power where in the out-flown Unity is a fire-flaming-love understood whence existeth the true understanding-Spirit with the five Senses The first three Forms are only the property to Life and the fourth is the Life it self but the fift is the true Spirit When the fift property is revealed out of the Fire then she dwelleth in all the rest and changeth them all into her sweet love that no more painfulness nor Enmity is discerned but even as the day changeth the night In the first 4. Properties is that life like the Devills but when the Lights-power as the second Principle is revealed in the property then is it an Angel liveth in divine power holiness as appeareth in the Num. 5. downwards The sixt Property is the Understanding as the Sound where the properties in the Light stand all in an equality then they rejoyce and the power of the five Senses is manifest and all the properties rejoyce in one another and thus the love of the Unity leadeth it self into working willing sensibility finding and (n) Highness Pochkeit celsitude Thus is there a contrary in the Eternal Nature that the Properties existing therein the love is known and that there might be something to be beloved wherein the Eternal Love of Gods Unity may work and God may be praised For if the properties of life be penetrated with the Divine love-flame then they praise the great love of God yield themselves all again into the Unity of God Such rejoycing knowledge could not be revealed in the Unity did not the Eternal will bring it self into painfull moving properties The Seaventh Property is that Essence wherein all the other are essential wherein they all act as the Soul doth in the Body wherein the Natural Essential Eternal Wisdom of God as the Mysterium Magnum is understood out of which the visible World with its Essence and Creatures did arise Thus by this Table is understood the hidden Spiritual world as the Eternal manifestation of God from whence the Angels and Souls of Men received their existence therefore may they turn themselves to evill or good for both lie in their Center This Spiritual world is no other than Gods revealed Word and hath its being from Eternity to Eternity for therein is Heaven and Hell understood III. TABLE The seven Properties of the visible World or external Nature MACROCOSMUS In this Table is signified how the hidden Spiritual Eternal Word as the Mysterium magnum by the motion of Gods Word issued forth and became visible manifest and Material And how the inward Powers through Gods working have comprehended and fashioned themselves how good and bad in every thing is to be understood and yet there was no evill in Mysterium magnum but existed through the sensibility and assumption of self-desire Here also is shewed what in the working issued forth from every property and which have the predominancy according to which every thing is formed and governed 1 Ground 2 of 3 Nature 4 Pure 5 Element 6 Para 7 dise Cold Earth Snow Original of Air Fire of Essence Heaven Light of Nature Starrs Water Saturn Mercury the planet Mars Sol Venus Soft Jupiter Luna Sal Mercury thunder Sulphur Flash Sal-niter Oyl Power Body Black Gray Mixt-colours Red Yellow Green and white within Blew White without within Red and Green Melancholy Collerick Sanguin Phlegmatick Grossness of Stone Metal Stone Rust Growing Pearls Jewels Menstruum Lead Quick silver Iron Stâ—el Gold Copper Tinn Silver Bone Wood Herbs Resin Tincture in the Earth Sweet Bitter Grass Sour Poyson Woes Opening Healing Srenâ—thning Flesh Stopping Smelling Feeling Seeing Tasting Hearing Loathing of Nature Dying Lying Wrath War Richess Noble Reason Own possession Lord Craft Force Justiâ—e Faithfull Truth Simplicitie Stealing Deceiving Losing Finding Earthly Love being friendly Lightminded Obstinate Sad Confounded Senses Careless Constant Pure Joâ—full Ignorant Earthly Beast'y Evill Heavenly Modest Sensible Low olfe Fox Dogg Lyon Bird Ape Great Beasts Worms Venemous Wormes Evill Beasts Good Beasts Flying Beasts Tame Beasts Fish An Explanation of the third Table MACROCOSMUS IN this Table is understood how the hidden spiritual world hath made it self visible and with its own breathing forth hath made it (a) Gegenwurff an object where the Eternal Principles are out-flown and the powers therein became co-material For the External Nature is no other than an efflux or object of the Eternal Nature The 4. Elements exist from the first 4 Properties of the Eternal Nature as the Earth and
was opened out of the Anguish in the outward worlds Property and yet there is no anguish to be understood untill the fire but onely a sencelesse forth-driving life viz. a growth for the fire-blaze ariseth out of the anguish viz. out of the third forme of nature and this is the Salnitrall Flagrat which Severizeth the Powers in the Properties which was moved in the third dayes worke where the Properties opened themselves and were mutually unfolded in the Salnitrall Flagrat each out of it selfe which the Impression did againe receive into it selfe and made them Corporeall in the water and thence arose and proceeded trees hearbs and grasse each Property became g g g Or putting or budding forth excressive in the Salniter and did manifest it selfe with fruit as we see plainely how the Property of the darke world did mightily force it selfe along in the outward Power whereupon some hearbs and plants are so venemous and malignant for the Earth proceeded out of both the inward worlds into a Compaction 37. Now Mars on Tuesday hath the first houre of the day in * dominion which day is the third in the Creation and this Salnitrall fire flagrat is even the Property of Mars as he is wrathfull and fiery so is likewise this Property in the Sulphur where we then doe understand the Salnitrall flagrat for the poysonfull Mars which is the Cause of motion and Stirring and the Compunction in the first Impression in the Eternall nature viz. in the darke world 38. In the third dayes worke God moved the third Property of nature viz. the Sulphrous Source in which the fire Enkindled and in the fire Flagrat is the division of the powers where each Property became manifest in it selfe now when God said Let the Earth bring forth grasse hearb and trees that is nothing else but that when he moved the expressed Word of the Powers in the properties the properties found and felt the light of nature in them whereupon they became hungry and were impressed that is amassed and Compacted or Coagulated now when as the light of nature found it selfe in a Perceivance and the nature did feele it selfe in the sweet light thereby arose in the Coagulation the dominion of joy viz. the pullulation and growth for all growth consisteth in the light and water when the light penetrateth the Sulphur and water-Source then Mars springeth up for great joy in the Sulphur 39. This Opening began on the third day and continueth unto the End of the world on the first day the Earth was desolate and voide for the * * * Or Ability Possibility to the growth was not yet opened heere the earth was moved and the Properties opened and not onely the Earth but the whole deep in the Centre of the outward nature the inward nature made it selfe externall and yet remained also internall CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the fourth Day 1. THe fourth day Mercurius hath the first houre of the day who causeth the Sensitive life heere we understand very fully and exactly the ground of the manifestation of the inward nature into the externall for on the fourth day the Sun and Stars were created which are the right Mercuriall life heere the fires property opened it selfe in the Sulphrous Source through the water and the fift Essence became manifest through the light of nature which is a Mercurius Salnitri an incentive Mercurius a quick perceptive Mercurius 2. In the third forme of nature there is a Sencelesse life in Sulphur and Mercurius but in the fourth there is a feeling life for the Properties are made painefull in the fire and in the oleous life they become meeke pleasant and full of joy therefore now the motion in the oyly is feeling from the painefullnesse 3. Heere we now understand very fundamentally how the Separation in the fire of the Eternall nature hath manifested it selfe in the Essence of the outward world with forme and shape for in the Enkindling of the fire in the Salnitrall Flagrat two Essences doe Severize viz. one watry from the Devoration in the fire where the fire devoureth the rough harsh Source of the Impression in it selfe then out of the Consuming there proceedeth a great Meeknesse which is mortified to the fire and is unsensible and giveth the water-Source 4. Secondly the fire-Source doth sever it selfe likewise into its Principle viz. the properties to the fire-Source which now with the Enkindling of the fire are full of paine and sence this fire-Source could not subsist unlesse it did againe devoure or take the water into it selfe whereby it doth strengthen it selfe whence also the Salnitrall Flagrat ariseth where the wrath is dismayed at the Essence of the waters meeknesse whence the feeling so also the Lustre of the fire ariseth 5. For that water which is devoured in the fire is dissolved into a Spirituall oyle in which the fire shineth and out of the oyle proceedeth the Aire viz. the moving Spirit of the fire which is motive in the fire 6. The Aire is nothing else but the moving life where the Speaking Word doth diffuse it selfe in the water-Source through nature through the powers of nature through the fire in the oyle of the nature of the light it is the fires life but it is mortified to the fire and yet it is made manifest by the fire it is the life of nature according to the property of meeknesse 7. Thus h h h Or by or with in the enkindling of the fire in the light of the fire which is the light of nature foure Properties are to be understood viz. a fiery an airy and an oyly wherein the light is manifest and a watry all which doe originally spring forth out of the first desire to nature in that the free Lubet introduceth it selfe into a desire and nature and they all display themselves through the fire into a moving life and yet there is no intellective life but onely Properties to the true life the intellectuall life is the Spirated Word which manifesteth it selfe through the properties these properties are impressed in the CreaT that is in the Verbum Fiat and brought into an Essentiality wherefrom is come a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magicall Astrum in manner and mode as the Minde of man is which also hath thence its Reall Originall 8. This Salnitrall and Sulphureous property was brought forth out of the third dayes worke viz. out of the fire flagrat and thence the fourth motion is arisen viz. the Mercuriall which the Fiat hath amassed and impressed it into it and made it visible which are the Starres which are nothing else but properties of the powers of nature whatsoever narure is in a little Sparke in it selfe that the whole Astrum is in its Circle and what nature is in its hiddennesse and Secretnesse the same the Astrum is in an open working life understand it thus 9. Each Star hath the property of all Stars in it but hidden in
that so he might have great respect in the City Babel and therefore they build themselves strong holds and make great bulwarks and walls to defend and keep the Image and flatter themselves in hypocricy and understand and meane by the contrived and painted Image the God Maozim viz. the fat-belly God and pleasure of the beast viz. of this whores Image they set the Image upon the Towre for the shew of their holinesse and therewith they are very devout in glistering appearances before God as with a peculiar Selfe-born God but they immure the Beast within their Stone-houses that it may be secure and there fat it selfe 64. What is now this beast with the whore it is halfe-devill which hath its Kingdome upon the Earth and it is half beast this evill Beast hath devoured man viz. the Image of God 65. And for this cause God became man that he might destroy slay and nullifie the works of the Devill and we must put on this divine humanity and destroy the Devills Kingdome in us and mortifie all Images otherwise we cannot see God the living word must mortifie the literall Image 66. The living word is therefore become man that the literall Image might dye and the first man which was formed out of the living word in Gods Image might be regenerated anew in Christs Spirit viz. in the living word and if now he be borne then all the Image-teachers are more prejudicall then beneficiall to him for they introduce their Images onely into the Temple of Christ and destroy the Image of God 67. And let this here be declared concerning the children of Nimrod and the Towre of Babel as the Spirit hath so given us to know and we doe admonish the Reader in Love to prove and examine himselfe he shall finde where he is this is not written to reproach any but thus the Spirit speaketh with open mouth and sheweth what all things are from whence they come and into what End they shall goe 68. But the reason why so much is written of the Beast and the Whore of Babel is because it is at its End and shall soone be broken in pieces therefore it must be revealed that men may see and know it for Babel falleth not unlesse that all whatsoever hath made the Images doth likewise fall all Images Opinions and Sects of Religion together with the Beast and whore must fall else there is no Cure or remedy 69. Men have for a long time been a patching and pieceing of it and have verily thought to have made a virgin of the whore but her whoredome hath thereby been onely adorned trimmed up and made the greater if this whore shall fall then all Sects which are onely the Images of the whore must fall down and come to naught together with Beast upon whom she rideth every man must break down and destroy the Images and Idols in himselfe and where they will not doe it there the zeale of the Lord doth it 70. How very finely doth the whore at present perck up its head and being it heareth that the spirit doth intimate great and glorious things of Zion viz. of the Adorned holy bride of Christ then it thinks that it is the faire childe which God will bring into a golden Temple wherein there shall be a brave Golden Time and meere joy pleasure and delight and it looketh about to see from whence this faire Temple of God should come into which it should enter and become a virgin it hearkneth continually from whence these holy People should come who as it supposeth should make a Golden world 71. But it thinks not to leave off from its covetous voluptuous whoredome and be converted no! it groweth worse and worse and more unchaste and abominable full of blasphemies so that there is scarce any good at all in it and it standeth before God as an arraigned condemned whore 72. Hearken thou Adorned and crowned Babilon full of evill and wickednesse in the sight of God and his Angels we have heard a watchman say Away the city together with the Towre of the whore and the beast is fallen and judged of the most High thou shalt not see the city of God for ever unlesse that thy children doe put off and cast away the defiled Garment full of shame and fall down wholly naked and bare without any Image at the feet of the most High and turne unto him such as these may indeed see it but as for others who hope for golden mountaines and seek for Temporall honour money and pleasure of the flesh not any of them AMEN 73. Reason will here in the above mentioned Text where it is mentioned that a true Christian must dye to all Images Opinions and Selfe-knowledge and be wholly annihilated in himselfe begin to speculate cavill and say that we doe forbid man the naturall knowledge and externall Rationall wisdome whereby men doe Governe the life and all things of this world and if this were so all understanding would be abolished 74. Unto him we declare that nothing is hereby taken away or abolished in man neither understanding skill or Art for all these arise out of the divine wisdome we doe not nullifie the expressed Word of the formed wisdome but onely the Beast which will rule in divine contemplation viz. the beast-like will of Selfe and selvish ownhood and propriety which is departed from God which honoureth it selfe as a false selfly God and cannot beleeve or trust in God This is even the Antichrist which hath * * * 2 Thess. 2.4 set himselfe up in Gods place and we withall doe teach that man must wholly dye to the Antichristian Image that he may be born again in Christ with a new life and will which new will hath might and ability in the formed word of nature to see and behold with divine eyes all the wonders of God both in nature and creature in the formed wisdome 75. For if the Antichrist dyeth in the Soul then Christ ariseth from death for he resteth in the five vowells in his grave viz. in the mentall-tongue which dyed in Adam and lieth captive in Antichrist when this same ariseth from death in the mentall tongue and is made alive then he openeth all the treasures of the heavenly wisdome in the Sensuall tongue so that man doth far more clearly understand the spirits of the letters viz. the formed word of nature in all the three Principles then he did before in the Antichristian whores child 76. For the new birth is indeed effected and broughâ— to passe in the mentall tongue viz. in the disappeared Image of the heavenly humanity but it Tingeth and casteth away the false antichristian Image of the naturall humanity viz. of the spirits of the dumb sencelesse letters and doth make them all sencelesse and dead in their selfe-hood and gives them their own life so that they doe behold themselves in the new humanity and make all their assumptions and formations in the new humanity 77. These
of the flesh unconverted and hath turned its eyes onely towards Sodom but with the mouth it is gon out of Sodom and the body is yet at Sodom and looketh with Lots wife onely upon Covetousness and temporall pleasure and will not go with the heart out of Sodom 34. Therefore the Angel of the wonders saith Thou art sifted and * * * Taken or captivated apprehended in the Turba thou art guilty and capable of the Brimstone-fire thy verball hypocrisie in that thou saist that thou art gon out of Babel and Sodom doth not at all avail thee thou art wholly captivated with Lots wife in the three First being thou hungerest onely after the three first and usest the Spirit of Christ onely for an externall covering and wilt not hear in thee what now the Lord speaketh but hearest onely what the Antichrist speaketh in his pride covetousness envy and Anger how thou maist please thy Earthly mortall Idoll Maozim and Mammon viz. Selfe-Love Selfe-Will Selfe-Sence 35. Thou seekest and honourest onely the externall Idoll-God viz. Silver and Gold Copper and the fullness of the Belly to thy Luxurious sumptuous and Stately Sodomiticall pleasure and this Idoll is also sifted for thy sake and is made nigh and far off unto thee and thou understandest not what it meanes thou saist there is no danger and it may well be helped and amended we may contrive it well enough to a good use but thou knowest not what is thereby Signed and signified The most inward figure of Lots wife being turned to a pillar of Salt is this 36. When these two Angels came from Abraham viz. from the Spirit of Christ unto Sodom to Lot and he bowed himselfe before the Lord unto the earth and entreated these Angels to turn in unto him they entered according to the divine property Essentially in unto him in manner as they came in unto Abraham with the Ens of faith even so it was here for it was but one Covenant but in Abraham the Seed to Christs person was named and not in Lot as Moses declareth very sufficiently 37. Lots faith took the Ens from the Angel who brought the same to him from Abrahams faiths Ens for of one viz. of him who did move and manifest himselfe in Abraham they must all be sanctified now Lot by the Administration of the Angel understand formed Angels sent out of the divine property out of Christs Ens and word was sanctified as a * * * Or line of affinity proxime line or branch on the Ens of Abraham 38. And being Lots daughters were capable of this Sanctification and not the mother the mother must go again into the first matter and Lot must copulate with his two daughters in the blessed Seed for they were capable of it and none else in the world for two Potent Generations were to arise from thence viz. the Moabites and the Ammonites A Great people as the Spirit in Moses doth also speak very covertly and hiddenly concerning Lots daughters that the one said unto the other Lo there is not a man on the earth to come in unto us after the manner of men come let us give our father sweet wine to drink and then we will lye with him that so he may not know it and we may preserve Seed of our father for the mother was not capable of this holy Seed being she was captivated and taken in the * * * Or sifting Triall Probation in the Turba 39. Now Reason would object and say wherefore did not the daughters of Lot marry with Abrahams Generation why would they lye with their Father Contrary to the Right and Law of Nature and all Nations Answer This might not be for the Seed of Christ was called in Abraham but now there lay two other lines in the Seed of Christ as neere affinities which should be born of Abrahams faith viz. of Christ As Abrahams faith was born out of JEHOVA out of the Name Jesus so these two lines of Affinity were in the Tree of Wonders which should spring forth from Gods Truth Righteousness and be brought into the Love of Jesus this manifestation the Angels brought unto and into Lot which opening and manifestation did spring forth in Lots Seed 40. But being his two daughters did also stand in this judgement and were apprehended in the same Spirit which opened it selfe in Lot and received also the same properties as their father it must be so and it was so permitted of God that these two sons Ammon and Moab must be born of two Sisters of One Seed for they were to be two Nations proceeding from two Lines of nature yet from one root 41. But in that the Spirit in Moses doth so cover it and saith The two daughters caused their father to drink sweet wine that he did not know what he did and so were gotten with child of their father in the fathers drunkenness which yet seems to be wonderfully strange without Gods work The same is thus to be understood Not that it did not so come to passe it did so come to passe as the Text in Moses declareth but this was a work of the Spirit of God and hereby also he covereth the externall shame 42. For the outward work is onely a shame in Gods sight and also in the sight of all People but the inward work in its figure must be so and it is the true figure that the Man Christ viz. Gods Son should be born through a shame which also was a shame before God but so he took our shame and reproach upon himselfe and hung it as a curse upon the Tree of the Crosse and offered it up unto the righteousness of God so likewise both these lines must be covered with a Shame that they both might be sanctified onely and alone under Christs shame on the Cross and they should not dare to say that they were pure before God and nature for the Scripture saith * * * Rom. 11.32 He hath shutt them up all under Sin that he might have Mercy upon all 43. And that this was truly and certainly a work of God appeares in this that on the same day the mother was turned to a pillar of Salt and Sodom destroyed doubtless with all their housholdstuffe and Goods that yet they that same night they set about this work whereas they continued all night in a Cave of the Mountain by Zoar so that we may well thinke no naturall fleshly instigation did provoke them thereunto 44. But it must be that the father should be drunk that the humane understanding might not do it but that it might be Gods work also that the Soul of Lot might not be Turbated in the Tincture of the Seed with the shame of the daughters it must be don therefore as it were in mans drunkenness and misunderstanding least the Nations should make a Right or Custome thereof for the daughters of Lot were also as t' were drunk in the spirit
into a light whereby the abysse becomes majestick and working Thus the false or wicked soule speakes it self onely into a source of fire 27. For it's will to the speaking which in God stands in the abysse which brings it self through the desire into the fire-speaking viz. into properties which goe not easily back again into the abysse viz. into the eternal One But if it goe back again viz. into the eternal one viz. into God then the fiery science becomes majestick and light and then is the Soule an Angel of God viz. an Image of the eternal divine science 28. But if the will continue in the fire as a magical fire source then is the soule that very fire-source Who shall now advise and perswade this fire-source seing it hath its ground in the abysse and is it self its ground The power of the majesty shineth through it but the desire shutts it up and maketh it dark so that the light cannot be manifest therein As it stands John 1. * * * Joh. 1.5 The light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not They dwell one in another as day and night the soule in its imprinted desire maketh it self darkness 29. The eternal one viz. God is in it and it comprehendeth him not it maketh an angry God to it self where Gods word in the anger speaketh and formeth it self into nature and creature there it worketh in it self evil But if it stood still from its working the twinkling of an eye then it would dive again into the eternal one viz. into God and so the Divine science in the light would begin to worke in it and so it would come to repentance even as it cometh to pass with the Penitent Concerning which Christ saith †††Matth 18.3 Except ye be converted and become as a childe you will not see God 30. The soule 's will which hath it's ground and rise in the Divine revelation whence it is become a working life should and must turn again into it's mother out of which it proceeded and then it is as a child in the mothers womb and so in its mother it beholdeth God viz. the abysse of all beings and is new-borne in its mother that is the mother giveth it the light 's power and in that power it attaineth the ability to work Repentance and then the eternal unsearchable will of God which is called the Father of all beings begetteth his only Son viz his power of love in and through the * * * Or Roote science of the soule as in the particular or parcel of the whole will of God for the ground of the soule and God's eternal speaking word is one only ground undivided 31. And as wee know that the same only eternal begetting and speaking word expresseth it self in heaven viz. in the power of the light in holiness viz. the holy wisdome So also the same only word expresseth it self in the Hell of darkness in flames of Torment viz. in hellish Essences according to which God calleth himself †††Deut 4.24 Heb. 12.29 An angry God and a consuming fire for without and beyond the only word or speaking of God there is nothing So also it is to be understood concerning Soules as also Angels and Devils 32. In the resigned Soule God the Father expresseth the holy name JESU viz. the Grace Mercy and Compassion that is he begetteth Christ in it and bringeth the Adamical evil innate will through the suffring and death of Christ again into the eternal ONE where * * * 1 Cor. 15.24 the Sonne delivereth up the kingdome of the soule 's nature again to the Father 33. But if the soule will not stand still from its working of wickedness then the Father through the word speaketh Hell torment in the soule and the desire of the soule imprinteth and fixeth it self therein and its impression maketh the eternal gross darkness viz a Gulf between God and it and yet no strange †††Forinsâ—k foraigne speaker must be heere understod which from without shall speake into the soule but the word that is the soule it self speaketh it self thus into wickedness 34. But it hath lost in Adam the good speaking or expression of good viz. the Divine ability but of God's mercy it is inspoken or inspired again of Grace in Paradise as a self-centre of the soule and it stands now at present in the soule as a self-centre or principle and speaketh continually into the soule saying It should stand still from its false and wicked Imagination and then will that * * * Good speaking motion or inclination of the Spirit in the Minde good manifest it self again in the soule but if the soule will not stand still from its ungodly speaking then cannot the good inspeaking or inspiration manifest it self in the soule and so it cannot be converted 35. Therefore this is the conclusion that God in the false and wicked soule 's speaking cannot be good and in the resigned soul's will he cannot be evill in himself he is indeed good but not in that soule 36. God is only called God where his love is expressed and knowne and manifest operatively and feelingly of which the Scripture also saith * * * Deut. 30.14 Rom. 10.8 The word ‖ ‖ ‖ John 1.1 which is God is nigh thee namely in thy mouth and heart Also †††Luk. 17.21 the kingdome of God is within you * * * Psal. 18.26 with the holy thou art holy and with the perverse thou art perverse 37. In Heaven he is called God and in Hell he is called Anger and yet he is in the abysse both in Heaven and in Hell the Eternal one viz. the only good 38. And man can speake no farther or deeper concerning Gods will but meerly and only as in his manifestation through the word where the word bringeth it self into nature and creature There God willeth through the expressed word of evill and good as the Science of every thing is in the formed word so also is Gods will therein That same expressed word is in the Angels Angelicall in the Devils Diabolicall in man humane in beasts bestial and yet in it self in it's eternal speaking in the one is only God viz. one only holy word a ground and Root of all beings Note the Grace of God 39. Therefore salvation lieth not in the will of the soule whether it will suffer it selfe to be saved or whether it will stand still in its will not that it can take salvation to it self no it is given of Grace only the Divine Sun shineth into it in the abysse and it lieth in * * * The soule it whether with its will which it hath from God it will again for the twinkling of an eye dive down in its mother viz. in Gods unsearchable will and so it will attaine the ability 40. For the ability hath opened its mouth to the
soule and saith * * * Mat. 11.28 Come ye to me as the Sun shineth the whole day into all plants and giveth them power and the Sun is not in fault that the thistle is a Thistle but the first Ens is the cause whence it is a Thistle 41. So also a false and wicked soule from the Ens of Gods anger in the curse and from the inherited wickedness as also from the actuall wickedness becometh a thistle in that the will viz. the science of the soule speaketh in the quality a thistle and from such a false and wicked ground there grow more thistles as God in Moses saith †††Exod. 20.5 He will visit or reprove the sins of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation and Christ saith * * * Matth. 7.18 a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit 42. Thus we see that perdition cometh from the soule and we see that Gods holy will cannot be manifest in false and wicked working so long as the soules will worketh evill so long God's speaking formeth it self therein in anger But when it beginneth to stand still from such working then is God's power of Love manifest therein for if it worketh no more then worketh in it the abysse viz. the ONE 43. For God worketh from eternity to eternity but no other then his word and * * * John 1.1 that word is God viz. a manifestation of the abysse now if the soule speaketh no more its owne will then is the unsearchable will speaking in it Where the creature standeth still there God worketh 44. Now if the creature will work with God then must its will enter into God and then God worketh with and through the creature for the whole creation both heavenly hellish and earthly is no other then the working word the word it self is All. 45. The Creature is a compacted coagulated vapour and exhalation from the word and as the word is exhaled out of the free will where the free will bringeth it self out of the abysse into the profundity So also the free will of the Angels and soules bringeth the word into a profundity and that profundity is the creature viz. a fire source to its re-speaking-forth and out of that re-speaking-forth proceedeth evil and good and according to that re-spoken-forth substance and power the soule hath its Judgement and sentence 46. For that is the Judgement that the evil be separated from the good and that every thing possess its own principle Whatsoever soule now speaketh forth hellish source viz. the curse it must into death that it no more bring Gods word into evil and good but the evil alone that every thing may remaine with its owne 47. And therefore because in the place of this world through the word evill and good is spoken forth therefore in that place is a final day of separation appointed when good and evill shall cease to be spoken in any place and the wicked shall have their place prepared where evill shall be spoken in its Eternity that the good may be knowne and in the good the joy be manifest Also that it may be knowne what evil and what good are also what life and death are and that the children of God may rejoyce 48. For if evill were not knowne joy would not be manifest but if joy be manifest then is the eternal word spoken in joy to which end the word with nature hath brought it self into a Creation 49. And this is the true ground wherein all conceits and opinions are knowne and all Sophistry throwne to the ground also all strife and contention hath an end Whosoever rightly seeth and understandeth this hath no further question about any thing for he seeth that he liveth and subsisteth in God he giveth himself up to God that he may further know and will through him and speake what and how he will this party seeketh onely the estate of lowliness that God in him may alone be high 50. But so long as Lucifer hath his dominion in man so long the creature presseth forward to advance it self and will be its owne God and that is also a wonder as Gods wisdome standeth in the wonders in the Love so it is also in selfe and in the appropriation of the creature 51. Every thing is good in its own principle wherein it liveth but to another it is opposite Yet it must be so that one may be manifest in the other and the hidden wisdome may be knowne and be a sport in the severation wherewith the profundity viz. the eternal one may sport with it self before it self 52. We should therefore learne to understand the Scriptures aright how God willeth good and evil namely the determination is not in his very self but in his expressed word viz. in nature and creature God hateth Esaw in the corrupt nature in Esaw's self nature Esaw was the type of hatred it self but in Gods self viz. in the impressed or inspired Covenant of Grace he loveth him 53. Therefore he presents the type of Christ viz. his brother Jacob together with him and lets them both come out of one Seed to signifie that Christ should call Esaw in the corrupted Adamical nature in the hatred of God to repentance and beget him anew as Jacob brought Esaw to repentance so that he let his malice fall and wept bitterly and departed from his evil will towards Jacob. 54. This therefore is the understanding of the Scripture that the earthly Adam in the kingdome of corrupt nature in his owne will findeth not nor can finde repentance for there is no ability therein to good but the incorporated grace in him awakeneth or stirreth up the ability when the will turneth to it for it self-will could worke repentance and become good honest and vertuous it needed not Grace 55. The decrees in Scripture point onely at two kingdomes viz. the hardning respects the false and wicked will the false will hardneth it self Gods anger in the wills own substance hardens it this hardning doth not enter in from without but is manifested in the wills own substance The will is from God and the same God in the will introduceth himself into the hardning in that manner as he introduceth himself into hell in darkness and torment the same is also to be understood concerning the kingdome of Grace 56. God willeth in man onely that which is Good in the kingdome of his Grace where the free will yeeldeth it self up into the Grace there God willeth that which is good in the will through the Grace 57. But when a man will say man cannot turne his will towards that which is good viz. towards Grace that is groundless grace indeed standeth in the abysse of the creature in all wicked men and the will need onely stand still from wicked working and then it beginneth as to its self-will to dive downe into the abysse 58. For that which standeth still standeth still together
the affliction of Joseph shall not be avenged behold in thy miserable Famine and distresse when thou shalt hunger and thirst even then thou must make thy Adresse and supplication to him the high Towre will give thee neither comfort nor deliverance the Time is come about that Josephs Affliction is to be Avenged and Reubens whoredome with Jacobs Concubine is come before Israel 32. Why makest thou such long delay and flatterest thy selfe playing the Hypocrite and saist not yet a good while behold it is come before the Eyes of Israel that thou hast committed whoredome a long time with the Concubine and defiled the line of Christ Israel will no longer endure it thou shalt with Reuben be cast out of the high Office of Sacrificing and Governing This is the voyce which the watchmen have pronounced 33. ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 37.5 6 7 8 9 10 11. When Joseph had had the two Dreames the one of his sheaf standing upright before which the sheafes of his brethren bowed the other of the Sun Moon and Eleven Starrs which had done obeysance to Joseph Envy forthwith arose amongst them and they supposed he would be their Lord and being that they were the Eldest they desired to rule over Him 34. Whereby we see how the outward man hath onely sought and aimed at the Kingdome of this world which was even the bane and undoing of Adam in that he forsook the inward and sought after the outward 35. * * * Gen. 37.3 Josephs party-coloured Coat which his father made signifieth how the inward power of God would again be revealed through the outward man whereby the humane nature would be variously coloured that is mixed with God as the inward spirituall Kingdome with the outward The Spirituall Christian figure is thus to be understood 36. Joseph with his Coat of many colours was as yet a Ladd both tender and young and had not yet the wit craft and suttlety of the world but spake the truth in simplicity for his soul was not yet defiled from without with the craft of lying and the Spirit of God began to †††Work act or move in him drive him forward for his Coat of many colours was a figure of the inward 37. This figure prefigureth and representeth to us the Image of a true young Schollar and beginner in Christianity how he must be when the Spirit of God shall drive and act him namely he must turne his heart to God his Father and learn to love him heartily As Joseph loved to be with his father and told him the evill that was committed among his children so must a beginner in Christianity daily bring before God all his own miseries and the miseries and sins of all that belong to him yea of all Christendome As Daniel confessed the sins of the People of Israel before God and Joseph the evills of his brethren before his father so also a true Christian doth daily confesse the misery and sin of his People and Nation in hearty Compassion that God would be mercifull to them and preserve them from Great Evills and Sins 38. And when this is brought to passe his heart becometh very simple honest and upright for he desireth no craft but would fain have all things proceed righteously and justly and he cannot abide any unrighteousnesse or suttle dealings for he alwayes confesseth the peoples unrighteousnesse before God and thus his minde becometh altogether simple and seeketh no kinde of craft or suttlety but putteth his hope and confidence in God and liveth in the simplicity and lowlinesse of heart before God and the world and he is as the tender young ladd Joseph for he hopeth for good continually from God his Father 39. Now when a man is come so far then Joseph viz. the chast virgin childe of Sophia is even born then God his father cloathes his soul with the party-coloured coat viz. with the divine power and forth with the Spirit of God in him beginneth to play with the soul as he did with Joseph for the Spirit of God seeth through the soul and with the soul as Joseph in the Type saw things which were to come represented to him in the vision of dreames whereby the Spirit did also play with the soul even so the Spirit of God doth forthwith take delightfull communion with the soul of a new Joseph viz. with the inward spirituall world so that the soul understandeth divine mysteries and seeth into the Eternall life and knoweth the hidden world which yet is to be revealed in man as this Pen hath found by Experience from whence it hath received its Spirit of knowledge 40. Now when this man beginneth to speake of divine things and visions of the hidden worlds divine mysteries and speaketh forth the wonders of God that his brethren viz. the children of the outward world in whom the hidden spirituall world is not yet manifest do heare it they count it a meer fable and a melancholly Chimera and whimsey and esteem him foolish in that he speaketh of those things which they cannot understand and comprehend they make a meer Phancy and Fiction of it also they account it some Astrall instigation or false Enthusiasm or the like especially if he revealeth and reproveth their evill workes and wayes as Joseph did then they turn his open Enemies and grudge him his very life as hapned to Joseph 41. Now when it is thus Reason beholdeth it selfe at a stand as if it were confounded and knoweth not the wayes of God viz. that it must be thus with the children of God it thinketh thou seekest God and he bringeth thee into distresse and misery thus this man doth now wander up and down as Joseph wandred in the * * * Or Field Wildernesse when his father sent him to his brethren to see how it was with them 42. So it goeth likewise with Gods new children when Gods Spirit sendeth them to be zealous about the affliction of Joseph and the world doth every way hate and persecute them for it then they thinke in the Reason of this world dost thou not goe in the wayes of God wherefore then doth it goe so with thee that thou art but the fool of the world and then the Minde beginneth to be troubled and knowes not how it is with it for he heareth that he is every where accused for a frantick wicked person and hated for the young minde in flesh and bloud understandeth not the divine processe viz. how reason must become a fool and how Christ doth very willingly take upon himselfe in man the reproach and scorn of the Devill and of the world and how Gods righteousnesse and Adams propagated Guilt must be alwayes fullfilled with suffering how a Christian must stand in Christs figure 43. And now when it comes to be thus then Reason goes truely a wandering in great sorrow and desertion with Joseph in the wildernesse and is every way in distresse and yet he must performe his
signifie that the soule and the spirit shall in Christ enjoy like Graces and Gifts onely the power he gave to the New Regeneration out of the faded heavenly Image that the soule should through the power of the New Regeneration work and flourish spread forth and be great therewith that is that the soulish-soulish-Tree with its branches should grow out of this blessing 18. In the words of this blessing there is this understanding or meaning viz. The Incorporated ground of grace in the power and vertue of the Word spake forth the power and comprised in Jacob his body soule and Spirit in One and thereby spake it selfe forth upon the children of Joseph God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaack have walked that is through the wills and desires which my fathers have inclined to God with which they have walked before God also through the power of God who hath susteined mee my life long even unto this day also the Angell who hath delivered mee from all Evill blesse these Ladds that is he blesseth them through the divine and humane power through the Angell of the great Councell in Christ Jesus which Angell hath delivered Men from all Evill that they should according to these Names be called children of the Covenant and in this power encrease and grow great 19. But when Joseph saw that his father layd his right hand upon Ephraims head it pleased him not well and he layd hold on his fathers hand Gen. 48.17 that he should turne it from Ephrams head upon Manassehs head and sayd to him not so my father this is the first borne lay thy right hand upon his head but his father refused and sayd I know it well my sonne I know it well this shall also be a people and be great but his younger Brother shall be greater then he and his seede shall be a multitude of people 20. By the outward figure the Spirit pointeth at their Offsprings which Stock or Tribe should excell the other in greatnes and Might but by the Inward figure of Mans conversion and New Birth it pointeth at the inward Ground signifying how the inward and youngest ground of the incorporated Grace in Christ would be greater then the ground of the first Created Adamicall Man 21. But that Joseph disliked it and would not willingly that the youngest should be preferred before the Eldest in the figure it signifieth this Joseph stood in the figure of the New Regeneration signifying how the inward ground viz. the Eternall Speaking Word in the humanity of Christ should turne it selfe forth through our soule and take away the power of selfe-will from the soule and that the Creaturely soule would not that it should loose its power it would not willingly dye to its own will but keepe its first Naturall right 22. As wee see in Christs humanity viz. in the humane Soule when it was to dye to selfe and yeeld up its Naturall right * * * Mat. 26.36 Luk. 22.39 Then sayd Christ on the Mount of Olives father if it be possible that is the humane soule in him from the Fathers property in the Word sayd Father if it be possiblle let this Cup passe from mee but if it be not possible and that I must drinke it thy will be done as Joseph heere in this figure was loath to come to it and would not willingly that the last should be preferred before the first 23. The Text sayth it pleased him not well the Naturall Man is not well pleased to give up his naturall right and let the Kingdome of humility reigne in him he would rather be Lord himselfe but his owne will hath squandred that away so that he is set behinde for it is not possible that he should become the childe of God unlesse he drinke the Cup whereby he dyeth to his owne naturall will Therefore sayth Christ Father thy will be done and not my Naturall Adamicall humane will but let Gods will in my inward ground be done and not my Adamicall soules will It shall and must be resigned into God the first naturall right must goe backward behinde and Christ forward else there is no salvation 24. In this Type and Image the Spirit of God sporteth with the children of the Saints signifying how the new incorporated Kingdome of Grace would spread it selfe forth aloft and how the Kingdome of Nature should be set back behinde for if Christ arise and be borne in Man then must Adam be Servant and Minister 25. And it declareth besides that the Kingdome of Nature would also be great but the Kingdome of Grace yet greater of which wee have a similitude in a great Tree of many branches which through Nature generateth many twiggs and Branches and wherein Nature is powerfull but the vertue and power of the Sun is much more powerfull for if this doth not co-operate then the Tree cannot grow nor beare any fruit and wee clearly see thereby that the vertue and power of the Sun must gett aloft if the Tree grow and its fruit come to be ripe and profitable so also is it in Man 26. Man is Nature and Nature begetteth him that he may come into the formes and Conditions of the Creatures but the understanding must come forth in him which governeth and taketh care of Nature Nature willeth indeed that its desire be fullfilled but the understanding ruleth over Nature 27. But now Nature is sooner and Earlyar then the understanding Nature goeth formost but when the understanding cometh then it must follow behinde thus it is to be understood also in this figure of Jacob and Joseph concerning the New Regeneration that when the divine understanding shall againe be manifested in Man then shall Nature follow behinde 28. * * * Gen 48.20 Thus he blessed them that day and sayd Hee that will blesse any in Israell let him say God set thee as Ephraim and Manasseh In this Text what the Spirit declareth in this figure is as cleare as the Sunne for Ephraim and Manasseh were re-inoculated back into the Root of Jacob that is into the Covenant of Grace which God had manifested in him and were transplanted with the Birth of the Naturall right when the youngest was preferred before the Eldest thus also should all blessing and wishing be among the children of God that God would set them back from the Evill Adamicall will of selfe and set them into the Paradisicall Covenant againe and make them grow therein and bring forth the Kingdome of Grace in them and set it above the Kingdome of Nature of the first Adamicall Birth when this is done in Man then he is a childe of God againe in Christ and standeth in the blessing of God 29. Courteous Rabbies and Masters of * * * Literature Criticismes upon every letter learne I pray to understand the figures of the Old and New Testament and dispute not about the outward shell of words looke upon the chiefe Ground why the Spirit of God