a Dart thrust through the Liver the Fountain of Blood the Hair and Nails will after being cut grow a Tooth may supply a former Tooths place but the Tincture spoil'd is as the Heart and Brain pluck'd out Salt savours all things but if it hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted Of the Tincture comes the Growth and Lustre and so is as our Mother if any one reproach and prophane it he becomes mortally guilty He that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to Death On the 33 Question and Answer Of the Original of the Creatures of the mortal Life 1. When I look towards the Circumference and see the winged Troops should not I find Coelestial Inclinations in all of them where yet I find many filthy many cruel many ravenous I look towards the Centre and are there in the Deep any but dark undigested uncleannesses yet there I observe almost all clean many fair more greatly nourishing some adorn'd with rare Pearls and in the dark cold Earth the Triumphs of Nature in precious Stones and Minerals And looking round me my Fellow-Commoners are so various as to figure all Principles all Worlds all Properties to Infinity No Star so noble but it's Energy is Imaged in some no Conjunction so malevolent but is figur'd on others 2. The dark World hath its Subjects and Idea's Saturn in that Impression owns the Wolf Horseleech c. Mercury the Fox and dangerous Reptils Mars the Tyger and Dog Sol the Lyon Venus the Ostrich and Vultures Jupiter deformed Apes Baboons and Monkeys Luna unweldy Bruits And among my Brethren of Adam's Apostate race Saturn sways the Meagre Griping Carking Raking Insatiable Mercury the sly circumventing Crew Mars the insociable outragious Rabble Sol the daring seeker of Self and Domination Venus the shameless obscene cruel Adulteress Jupiter the filthy Hermaphrodite and Semihomines Luna those who are a burthen to others and over-load to themselves Yet according to the Light World is a Book written with shining living Letters accurately Engraven according to all Properties in which our Old Man may meditate his derogating from the Copy viz. The simplicity of the Dove and Lamb and in which the New Man may as in a Glass behold his own Face may observe how the Heavens hear the Earth groaning for Drought and descend in sweet distilling Bottles the Earth hears the shriveling Seed and drying Roots and the Corn and Fruits hear hungry Men and starving Beasts and when all are filled by the overflowing of Infinite Goodness how do the Blossoms breathe and the laden Boughs shew their Satisfaction the Herds return with flowing Udders and in the Flocks the Ews pay their Lambs what bounty lent them how do the Subterranean Minerals extend their stretch'd out Arms towards the four Cardinal Points and the hidden Treasure excite Man's Diligence 3. But what part bearest thou my Soul in this Harmony Art thou Hoarse Is thy sound only like that when the Earth is knockt on Doth all flow to thee and for thee and art thou only as a Grave to bury them in run they all to thee as Jordan into the Dead Sea Must all these Voices of Divine Love be heard seen felt tasted smelled renewed increased and continued and thou as Barren as Arabia's Sands thy Heart as impenetrable and sensless as the Mountains of Ice and Rocks of Adamant Wo were me if every Pile of Grass must be a Witness against me Hath thy Redeemer not only given thee all these but open'd for thee to thee in thee Heaven it self and his own Heart which is the Heaven of Heavens and art thou on Earth and Cold Why burneth not thy Heart why flame not thy Affections why dyest thou not as a Burnt-offering and risest not in this sweet Fire of humble earnest endless Seraphick Love On the 34th Question and Answer On the Separator of every Species of every Property 1. This Meditation exalts my grovelling Thoughts towards him without whom was not any thing made that was made yet this Archeus is no more than the great Instrument of Omnipotence who when call'd the Father of Nature it 's only meant the Father in Nature bearing the Image of the Father who alone is God blessed forever Nor are the Astral Powers though various infinite and different also seeming opposite to be call'd many because not one is broken from the United Harmony but mutually embrace each other no perverseness among them that is left to the Prince and Legions of the Abyss of the dark World 2. All the Properties and Astral Powers are an Egress of the Fountain Spirits as they are of the one Will and by figuring and propagating their Energies are as a Body Politick whose many parts compose into a Republick Thus is the whole one only Separator Father and Mother in Nature for whole Nature is an Hermaphrodite in it the Tinctures being inviolably United potently proceed in Magical Masculine and Feminine Virgin Purity doing all as Adam should have done and with so equal a hand that the Excellency of one is ballanced by another kind of Excellency in another The Pith and Brain needs the Bark and Skull is Gold most valuable Iron is most useful the Powerful hand that lays the Contexture of the Whale and Elephant is altogether as admirable in the little Insects 3. Now as by a numerous well-accoutred Host is shewn the Puissance of their Prince by the greatness of a River the large Tract of Land whence it descends So by this steady unwearied skilful prosperous mighty Architect is demonstrated the Eternity Wisdom Infinity Omnipotency of the Glorious Creator who is represented by this his excellent Agent And as with Veneration Men receive the Decrees of the Wisdom of a State with submission the Commands of a Soveraign Authority and with Circumspection observe the Precepts of Physick wherein life is concern'd with how much greater reason are we obliged or rather by genuine sweetness charm'd to the Laws of Nature to be Loyal to the Government studious of the Institutions and faithful in holding the Secrets thereof if entrusted to us for as the Eternal Nature is in God so the Temporal Nature is of God in which also God and Heaven is as Eternity is in time Grant therefore O our God and Father which art in Heaven that I may hallow thy Name in Nature lest if I do not thy Will shewn on Earth in things seen I be not entrusted with the Knowledge of things in Heaven which are not seen On the 35th Question and Answer On the six days work of the Creation and the Sabbath 1. The six days Work demonstrate the six working Properties and they being distinct do yet every of them generate another and all six meet to generate the seventh yet when they concenter in the seventh do not there cease to Work which were as impossible as for them to cease to be but if they Work in the seventh their Operations are heavenly sweetly harmoniously triumphantly
which though it was benummed yet the Life was hid in it and generated the â—tars out of Nature so the Light rose up making its Seat in the House of Death which Death could comprehend as little as Wrath doth Meekness 2. As a Tree hath Life Vegetation and Sap producing Fruit which the dry Bark hath little of through which the living Power thrusteth forth Twiggs while the withered Rind harboureth Worms which at last destroy the Tree It is the Love which breaketh through the House of Death and is one Life with God 3. The Stars are come out of the Power of the seven Spirits of God for the Wrath of God was kindled by the Devil and the Out-birth as dross and scum was driven together whence came Earth and Stones for the Body of God as to this World could not remain in Death but the corrupted Nature with its palpability hath remained in Death and is the House of Devils therefore God created new Angels viz. Adam and would bar up Lucifer in the outer Darkness Q. Why had not this been done instantly and then he had not done so much Mischief 4. A. God purposed to make an excellent Angelical Army out of the Earth and all Vegetations after a Heavenly manner and then Extract the Heart or Kernel at last and separate it from Death and the Death of the Earth and Wrath therein should be Lucifer's who in the mean time should and now doth lye Captive in the Deep above the Earth 5. But that there are so many Stars of differing Operations shews God's Infiniteness and their continuance shews there shall be a constant Uniform Birth Q. When the Devil and his Angels fell why had not God instantly bolted him up in the place where he fell 6. A. What Sin hath the Salitter committed that it should stand totally in Eternal shame None therefore God willed to use iâ— as a Dwelling for the new Race of Angels Adam and his Children and leave only the kindled fierceness to the Devil which had it been all left to the Devil out of it could not a new Body have been built 7. The Stars are a sharp Birth and innermost Geniture which had theirfirst kindling from Heaven and God useth them as an Instrument to the wrestling fighting Birth and to anxiety for on the third Day the anxiety in the Birth of this World rub'd it self whence the Fire flash existed and the Light of the Stars kindled it self in the Water of Life till the third Day Nature was a dark Valley and then Life brake through Death and the new Birth began for so long Jesus Christ rested in Death The old Body which standeth in the austereness is a House to the Devil but the new to the Kingdom of Christ. CHAP. XXV 1. EVery Star hath a peculiar Property as may be perceived by the various curious Ornament of the blossoming Earth which variety should have kindled the old Body into so many Powers to break forth through the Wrath that the new Life might have all the Powers that eâ—er the old had before the times of the Wrath which new Body blossomed at the Creation but Nature being by Man more corrupted God Cursed the Ground for Man took hold of the Fruit of the old Body wherefore the Fruit of the new was hidden and the bestial Body had â—Eves Wrath Apples to Eat 2. Concerning the Sun As far as the middle Point or Centre hath kindled it self just so big is the Sun for that is the Sun The Light of the Meekness of the Sun uniteth with the pure Deity and were the great Heat taken away from the Sun it would be one Light with God but the Heat cannot comprehend the Light therefore the place of the Sun remaineth in the Body of God's Wrath. 3. The Sun hath its royal place to it self whence it moveth not but the Earth rouls about every 24 Hours and compasseth the place of the Sun once every Year as do the other Planets but Saturn Jupiter and Mars by reason of their great heighth cannot do it so soon 1. The Life of a Creature is in the Heat of the Heart so is the Sun to the whole Deep 2. The Gall is not existed from the Heart but yet is the Mobility or stirring of the Heart by a Vein that goeth from the one to the other so is Mars 3. The Brain is the Power of the Heart so is Jupiter The Astral Birth stands with one Root in the Holy Heaven and with the Corporeity is in the Wrath. CHAP. XXVI 1. SAturn is Cold and Astringent and takes not his Power from the Sun but as the Sun is the Heart of the Life so is Saturn the beginner of Corporeity and of all Formings and as Jupiter is of the Brain so is this of the Skull his place is in the midst between Jupiter and the general Sphere of the fixed Stars 2. Venus is a gracious kindler of Love in Nature for when the two Spirits of the Life and Mobility were risen up out of the place of the Sun viz. Mars and Jupiter then the Meekness as a Seed of the Water pressed downward with the Power of Light whence existed the Love of Life or Planet Venus mitigating the fierceness of Mars and humbling Jupiter else the Brains would break through the Brain Pan and transmute it self in high-mindedness in the manner of Proud Lucifer 3. Of Mercurius The seven Spirits of God are perfectly in every place but if in any one place they wrestle not triumphingly in that place is no Mobility but a deep Darkness such a House is the House of Flesh in Man such was the whole space of this World when the Deity in the 7 Spirits had withdrawn it self from the Devils and had so continued if the seven Planets and Stars had not risen from God's Spirits but the Heart of the Deity hideth it self in the Corporeity and Out-birth of this World which therefore is in great Anguish till the Heart of God will move it self again in the seven Spirits of God in this World and kindle them and then the Sun and Stars will pass away again to their first place and the Light of God shall fill all the Body of this World and when the anxiety tasteth the sweetness of the Light of God all is richly full of Joy and the whole Body triumpheth which now cannot be because the fierce captive Devil keeps House in the Out-brith of this World till the last Judgment Day and then the Heart of God with his Fan will cleanse his Flour and breaking through Proclaim bright Day 4. The Earth is the Fruit of the seventh Spirit of God but Man's Body is far more Noble being an Extracted Mass out of the Salitter out of the seventh Nature-Spirit 5. When the Seed is generated the Astringent Spirit draweth together a Mass out of the sweet Water that is out of the
potent Joy 19. In Mars's Salt it makes Pangs and Stiches and Woe In Saturn's Salt Swellings Anguish and Death if not oppos'd by Jupiter and Venus for they two oppose and temper Mars and Mercury yet by Mars and Mercury is the Life in Jupiter Venus and Sol where would else be a stilness thus is the worst as profitable as the best 20. And when the Physician hath reconciled Mars and Mercury with Venus and Jupiter that they all obtain one will the Sun of Life will revive and correct the nauseat of the Disease into a pleasant Jupiter This is only applicable to the Vegetative or Sensitive Soul of the Elementary Body 21. The rational Soul hath its Diseases springing from care and distress till it lead to heaviness and Death cured by removing the causes of that care c. 22. So Sin hath poyson'd the Mental Soul by Inflaming his Eternal Mercury which with the sting of his Mars burns in the horrible impression of his Saturn his Venus is Imprison'd his Intellectual Jupiter Infatuated his Sun quenched his Moon dark 23. To Cure this he must with Venus the Love of God and Jupiter the Divine Understanding quench and appease the flaming Mercury and raging Mars So is the Soul Tinctured with Love his Sun then shineth and Jupiter rejoiceth for Divine Love begetteth a Divine Will so Tiâ—ctured as able to die to self-will which Death doth attain the nothing wherein is no Turba to touch or hurt the Soul who now doth neither see know nor live but according to the resignation 24. Here doth Christ break the Serpents Head and God become all in all 25. It is possible to live without sickness but very difficult to bring the inward into the outward as the Sun illustrateth Water because the opposite will hath introduced wrath in the outward Body it must die and putâ—ifie and enter again into the nothing into the beginning of the Creation out of which it departed wâ—th Adam CHAP. X. Of the Inward and Outward Cure of Man 1. TO Cure Man God brought not a strange thing into him nor did cast away the Humanity but with the like of that which was corrupted introduced a Divine Prâ—perty into him In Man was the expressed Word or Eternal Mercury inspoken which was the Soul with the Properties of all the three Worlds Fire Light and Love 2. Adam should have put his desire into the humble meek light and love but he made in himself the hunger after evil and good and so could not Tincture his Fire-world and outward World with Love 3. To restore Mans right Image God introduced the holy Mercury in the fiery Love-starne with such a desire of Divine Essentiality as makes Divine Corporality which reinkindled the Light of the Eternal Sun in the Humane Property so that the Humane Jupiter of Divine Understanding might again appear 4. So is the outward Cure done Mans Mercury was inkindled a Mercury must Cuâ—e it but that must first it self be inkindled in Venus and Jupiter which also gives it the Suns Property Not with dark cold Saturn unless first sweetly appeas'd with Venus and Jupiter so will the Sun shine in Saturn and Death be chang'd into Life 5. The Knowledge how God restores the Universal is learnt by study of the process of Christ from his first Incarnation to his Ascention The Essence of Venus shut up in Death must be Baptiz'd in the Water of the Eternal Essence By which the Imprison'd Incentive as Fire falling into Tinder gloweth Then must the outward Food be withdrawn and the hungry Desire be tempted whether it will go into God and be fed with Manna let the Essence of time by resignation be subject to that of Eternity and so possess the Elected Throne whence Lucifer fell or desire the Earthy Kingdom of Good and Evil for outward Dominion If its will remain in Gods Love-fire the Water is turn'd to Wine so is the outward Cure also done 6. But before the Universal Restoration be manifest all the seven Properties must be Chrystalized each Form by a peculiar process forsaking their will in the wrath and come into the Loves Property wherein is no Turba all which Christ did in the Humanity before the Body was glorified 7. When therefore the Frozen Mouth in Saturn of all the Properties is opened and that Food given to their hunger wherein is no Turba the flagrat of Joy in Love dismayeth the wrath and is as a Transmutation but not fixt the Angelical Properâ—ies appear in view 8. In Christs Temptation the speaking Mercury in the Light was given to the expressed Mercury of the Fires Property because Adam's Fires Property had quenched the Lights Property Christ was tempted to depart out of the Resignation into a desire of selfish Propriety of worldly Avarice and Dominion to the Knowledge and Kingdom of Good and Evil where pain and wrath is manifest but in the Resignation is sacred Love and no Breath of Anger as in the Light of the Fire is no pain of Fire manifest 9. The Mother and Womb of all Beings is Sulphur Mercury is her Life Mars her Sense Venus her Love Jupiter her Understanding Luna her Corporeal Essence Saturn her Husband 10. In the Philosophick work the Artist raiseth in the first Kingdom the dead Apostate Child shut up in Saturn opening by degrees Paradise again by Gods permission In the second Kingdom Luna Corporally feeds where the outward Mercury hath not laboured So Christ fed the 5000. 12. In the third Kingdom Jupiter Christ made Babes wise so the Artist seeth the new Life rise up the four Elements appear with all Colours 13. In the fourth Kingdom of the Mercurial Orb Christ restor'd the Deaf Dumb and Lepers so the Artist sees how Heaven severs it self from the Earth and again sinks into it Coloureth and purifieth the Matter appearing in Antimony 14. In the fifth Kingdom Christ ejected the Devils so the Artist will see how Jupiter in Mercury drives up a black twinkling fiery Vapour out of the Matter sticking like Soot a hunger of the Poyson in Mercury the Devils Property 15. In the sixth Kingdom Christ in Venus loved his and humbly washed his Disciples Feet gave himself up to be mock'd beaten and crucified so the Artist will see as soon as the material Devil the dark fiery steam is gone the Virgin very Glorious which the Artist will be apt to think is the Philosophick Child but in the tryal finds it to be a Woman not the Virgin with the Tincture of Fire and Light for now Saturn Mars and Mercury oppose but Jupiter and Luna hold with Venus but when the Power of wrath cometh Luna changeth her will viz. Colour and cryeth with the common people signified by her Crucifige CHAP. XI The Process of Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection Symbolized in the Philosophick Work THIS whole Chapter consisting of eighty verses being a profound pursuit especially of the sixth Kingdom and the Essence
and six of the Outward Nature of the Humane Property They were afterward Potent Renowned Nations Whereas Isaac and his Children were as Pilgrims shewing Christs Dominion is not of this World and yet the Kingdoms of this World shall fall before Him 4. Esau and Jacob's strife in the Womb shews that when Christ first manifests himself in the Adamical Nature the strife of the two Kingdoms begins The Serpent stingeth the New Birth Christ on the Heel a woful Distress but Christ assaults the Head And tho Esau be First-born Jacob comes soon after and deprives him and makes Esau the Kingdom of Nature his Servant And in that Esau came forth First and was Red and all over Rough The Red betokeneth the Fathers Nature in the Fire the Rough the Earthy Bestial Nature CHAP. LIII How Esau contemn'd his Birthright and sold it for a Mess of Pottage 1. THere is in this a Twofold Figure for Outwardly it is the Figure of the Earthy Man who carelessy and profanely gives away the Heavenly Substance to satiate its Lustful Will and fill its Carnal Belly But Inwardly Esau had the Souls Centre viz. Adam's Nature for a natural due Right which was Faint and wearied by the Driver This would Jacob who betokened the Power of the other Adam Christ have him This Day viz. from That day forward wholly to give up and Resign And would give him the Divine Ens. And in This Inward Understanding Abraham was the Field Ishmael the Root and Isaac the Fruit Also now Isaac the Field Esau the Root and Jacob the Fruit. And we see the Blossom and Fruit hath far a more subtle pure Property than the Stalk and Root by influence of the Solar Rays 2. The meaning of this Figure is that the evil Adamical Mans Will must be resigned up It is Rejected and availeth not in the Kingdom of God Not that the Person of Esau was intended as Babel ignorantly teacheth to be by Gods Soveraignty Reprobated and Hated CHAP. LIV. How Isaac by reason of the Famine went down to Abimelech at Gerar c. 1. HEre is shewed the Kingdom of Grace and Nature The Famine shews Adams Temptation wherein he should have fed on the Word of God and not gone into the strange Kingdom of the Stars and Elements where he Denied his Wife viz. the Heavenly Genitress in him and brought his Lust into the Bestial Property 2. And that Isaac grew so Great there that Abimelech was afraid of him shews Gods Blessing on the Kingdom of Christ. 3. The Servants of King Abimelech's stopping the Wells digged by the Servants of Isaac sheweth that Abraham and Isaac having digged in the Ens of their Faith the Knowledge of the Messiah the same is obscured and stopped up by the Earthy Reason And then they digged and said we have found Water and Isaac call'd it Sheba hinting at Saba the Saboth Christ call'd also Beer-sheba viz. the Contrition or Breaking where the Saboth through Death brings forth the Fountain of Life 5. That Esau lived Forty years and then took two Evil Women to Wife points at Adam's Forty days in the Proha and then took two Evil Wives viz. one of the Bestial Property of the four Elements the other the Astral which were a vexation and grief of Heart to Isaac and Rebekah all their Life Thus as the whole Old Testament is a Figure of the New so is the New of the Future Eternal World CHAP. LV. Of Isaac's Blessing Jacob unknowingly when he was Old and ready to Die The Gates of the Great Mystery of the whole Bible 1. REason from this Figure conjectureth 1. That Rebekah lov'd Jacob more than Esau. 2. That it was from Gods Predestinate Purpose because Esau was not worthy of it 2. But rightly to interpret it The Patriarch Isaac is the Figure of God the Father Esau of the depraved Humane Nature Jacob of the New Birth in the Humanity of Christ Rebekah of the Virgin Mary 3. The Fathers Blessing would bring it self into Adam but his Heavenly Ens was extinct and the Kingdom of Nature so Poyson'd that it must be Dissolv'd for Adam's Fiery Tincture by being awakened in the wrath became an Earthy Image and mortified the Heavenly so that the Kingdom of Nature was in its own power uncapable of the Fathers Blessing and could not be remedied only by a Blessing the Blessing must become a Substance the Fathers Blessing turn'd it self on the Adamical Female Lights Tincture and from the power Thereof did assume the Souls Nature and then bruise the fiery Serpents Head and transmute the Souls fiery Will into a Love-fire or Meekness viz. the power of the Light 4. Esau was Hairy or Rugged signifying the gross Bestial Property and Christ did put on our Hairy Beast-like Skin to make us capable of the Blessing and destroy our Death of the Bestial Property Even as Jacob could not get the Blessing without having the hairy Garment on 5. Isaac's feeling Esau s hairy Garment on Jacob signified the Fathers reaching into the Essence of Christ whether it were the first Image Created in Adam whence was Christs Agony and Bloody Sweat 6. And as Isaac found outwardly Esau's Skin but inwardly heard Jacob's Voice yet Blessed him instead of Esau So had Christ our Rugged Humane Property yet God said This is my Beloved Son c. and Blessed our Humanity 7. The Blessing given Jacob denotes that the New Man in Christ should take away the Scepter and Might from the Devil and Man of Sin and be Lord over his Brethren the Adamical Nature in Flesh and Blood 8. The Corn and Wine and Dew of Heaven shew God blessed our Humanity in Christ with the Earth and Resurrection 9. Esau's bringing his Venison and Isaac's Astonishment shew that Gods holy People would have the Will of their Reason be done Their Misery is that Reason entreth into its Dominion which knoweth not the ways of God 10. Esau was Blessed also with the Dew of Heaven and Fatness of the Earth should live by his Sword and when he should have the Dominion should break the Yoke 11. But Isaac doth not say Live thou by thy Sword but Thou wilt Live so c. wherein he Prophesieth that the corrupt Nature would be a Tyrant and Murtherer and doth not justifie the use of outward Weapons and Violence but that he through his Anger should serve the Anger of God and so his hatâ—â—g Jacob noteth what the Great Ones of the World should do for the Devil rageth that the Kingdom of Christ should take away his Throne CHAP. LVI Of Jacob's Leaving his Parents for fear of Esau and of his Vision of the Ladder 1. JAcob having the Blessing and Unction soon departed from his Fathers House and left all to Esau so did Christ of whom this is a Figure after he had anointed our Humanity fled with it out of our Adamical House to the first Paradisical House So must the Christian fly the Depraved Nature begin
IACOBUS BOHME TEUTONICUS PHILOSOPHUS THEOSOPHUS CENTRALIS Jacob Behmen's Theosophick Philosophy UNFOLDED IN DIVERS Considerations and Demonstrations SHEWING The Verity and Utility of the several Doctrines or Propositions contained in the Writings of that Divinely Instructed AUTHOR ALSO The Principal Treatises of the said Author Abridged And Answers given to the Remainder of the 177 Theosophick Questions Propounded by the said JACOB BEHMEN which were left unanswered by him at the time of his Death As a help towards the better Understanding the Old and New Testament Also what Man is with respect to Time and Eternity Being an Open Gate to the Greatest Mysteries By EDWARD TAYLOR With a short Account of the LIFE of JACOB BEHMEN LONDON Printed for Tho. Salusbury at the Sign of the Temple next the Inner-Temple Gate in Fleetstreet 1691. THE Publishers Preface TO THE READER WE do with all Respects and Candidness present you with the Works of one who was a true and faithful Labourer in his Day his Pains hath been bestowed in watering and cultivating what was sown by another Hand And having imployed his Time and Talent well is entered into his Lord's rest enjoying that Peace which must necessarily result from a faithful Performance of a Trust given by our great Lord. We can give but a very short account of the Author but hope this Publication may produce a fuller from some of his Personal Acquaintance As we are informed it was one Mr. Edward Taylor an English Gentleman the latter part of his time he lived at Dublin in much Privacy and Retirement where he made this his Work and Business He died at Dublin about the Year 1684. His Manuscripts were preserved by the Care of a Friend and brought over hither where they have lain some time in Private But considering how much we are beholding to our Predecessors for their great Pains taken to inform us their Writings Published being a Testimony of their good Will to Posterity And also considering the Labour taken by this good Man for a Publick Benefit we could not in Justice to the Author deceased nor with the respect we owe to all Mankind as our Brethren suffer so Good and Profitable a Work to Perish under our Custody without incurring the guilt of Ingratitude if not of Inhumanity We have hereby indeavoured to set this Light in Publick View and that it may prove of use to direct the Course of any in this dark and dismal Passage towards the Haven of Rest is what we earnestly desire and seek He was a Devout Christian a Sincere Protestant living in the Communion of the Church of England and earnest he was in vindicating the Truth abhorring a bare outside Formality which only hath the Name and Profession but wants the Nature Life and Power of Religion He was not for making Rents and Divisions amongst Men by setting up a new Sect or having a People called after his Name thereby to gain Applause or to make himself great But made it his Business to Learn and Improve in the Knowledge and Understanding of the Divine and Natural Mysteries We are very apt to regret the loss of worthy Instruments such as have been raised up in an Extraordinary Manner and Eminently Qualified above their Brethren hoping that if we had enjoyed their good Converse we might have greatly benefited and improved thereby without doubt they have a great Happiness that injoy such a Benefit and improve it But we must consider that they are but Men and are indeed but Instruments or Vehicles and it is very rare but that the Purity and Excellency of Truth conveyed by them receives some Shadow or Soil from the Medium Their chief work hath been to direct us to the Fountain of Wisdom which is open at all times to all Persons ready to inform all that truly seek Wisdom there And from this Universal Fountain every one receives according to their Capacities And accordingly it is required that every one should Communicate or Prophecy according to their proportion of Faith received now Faith is every particular Man's Evidence and not anothers Thus although one may have a larger Measure or more Mysterious yet there is no disharmony but all tends to the Benefit of the whole And teaching all Wisdom that every one may be presented perfect in Christ. Although we cannot Comprehend all Truth let us remain humble sincere Searchers and in due time we shall be rewarded with her Treasures when the Captious Disdaining Mocking Spirits shall reap their Reward that is to be perfected in that Principle they have given themselves up to as Servants The Writings of the Divinely inspired Jacob Behmen called the Teutonick Philosopher have been by many received with great Satisfaction and have contributed towards the Extricating their Minds out of those Labyrinths and Difficulties wherein Evil Practice and Opinions kept up by Custom had involved them The greatest Objection raised against the said Writings have been their Abstruseness and Uncouth Expressions making them almost impossible to be understood which now is answered and removed Here being a Person raised up to bear Testimony to their Truth who by delivering his Sense in more usual and familiar words it is hoped may have render'd them clear In his Considerations on the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen He doth from the Types Figures and Sacrifices under the Law from things we are most conversant with through the whole Creation from Heaven and Earth and from Man himself Demonstrate the Truth of his Doctrine to be well-grounded upon the uncontroulable Maxims of Confessed Theology and Philosophy The 177 Theosophick Questions which were propounded by J. Behmen of which he lived to Answer but 13 and part of the 15th the rest of them lying unanswered till this Good Man being spirited thereto took up the task and hath performed it as an able Workman Answering the Remainder and hath given us some Meditations on part of the said Questions and Answers All treating of the highest Mysteries and yet what we in Duty ought to be most conversant about His Extracts of several of the Works of Jacob Behmen were intended for the use of those that had not or could not procure the said Writings and also to give a Summary Account of the whole which may be as an Introduction opening the Gates to us and promote a further Communication of these great and most useful Truths The Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians the Knowledge of that God whom they ignorantly adored Even so these Writings serve or tend to teach us by plain Demonstration what we like the Athenians are too Ignorant of It is written God is one which certainly is as true as where it is said There are three that bear Record in Heaven It is written Our God is a consuming Fire And yet said to be Light and Love and in him is no Darkness at all that he is meek merciful of everlasting kindness and that fury is not in him It
viz. the Wisdom of God the Tincture of the Light Source the original quality or essential property to Love and Anger Light and Darkness both according to time and Eternity Ternarius or number three in the Language of Nature the Divine Birth in the six Forms of Nature which are the six Seals of God Ternary call'd Ternarium Sanctum holy Flesh or holy Substance or Corporizing of Angels and holy Souls Tincture is in Angels and Glorified Saints the Virgin Love-fire In Man that which Adam's Fall caused almost wholly to disappear In Vegetables Animals and Minerals their Vertue Vitality or Life Spirit and Power Turba is taken for a fierce Wrath-fire which destroyeth a corruptible Body Sometimes for horrid Tempests or Hellish Blasts general Contagions awakened by common Sins call'd Turba Magna Sometimes for the Eternal Wrath-fire which swalloweth up an Evil Spirit without a Body and may be called Turba Maxima I. The seven Spirits of God or powers of Nature as they shew and manifest themselves in Love and Anger both in the Heavenly and Hellish Kingdom and also in the Kingdom of this World not Extracted out of the Mysterium Magnum but Transcribed page 22. Love Anger 1. Astringent Desire Heavenly Hellish Hardness Cold Covetousness Earthly Kingdom World Cold Hardness Bone Salt 2. Attraction or Compunction of Sense Compunction Envy Poyson Life Growth Sences 3. Anguish or Mind Enmity Sulphur Perceivance Pain 4. Fire or Spirit Pride Anger Spirit Reason Desire 5. Light or Love desire Love-fire Meekness Venus-sport Lifes Light 6. Sound or Understanding Divine Joy Speaking Crying Distinguishing 7. Body or Effence Heaven Body Wood Stone Earth Metal Herb. This was received from the Author Jacob Behmen in such a Form by Abraham Van Somerveldt II. The Ten Forms of Fire Extracted out of the Answer of the First of the Forty Questions of the Soul THE Eternal Liberty having and being in it self the Will Signified by Sem. The being Desirous Signified by Arphaxad The sharp drawing causing the Opposite Will Signified by Salah The Flash of Lightning caused by the Liberty and causing the Anguish By Eber. The Eternal Nature or great Mystery whence the two Kingdoms proceed Signified by Peleg The two Principles of Fire and Light Regu The Magia making its own Looking glass as Life is of Fire and Water By Serug The Turba that breaketh the outward Life Strength and Omnipotence Nahor The Virgin Tincture Love-fire Life of Angels and Holy Souls Signified by Terah The Entrance into the Holy Ternary Corporising of Angels and Holy Souls III. The Three Principles are THE Spring or Fountain of Darkness The Vertue or Power of Light The Outbirth generated out of the Darkness by the Power of the Light Represented by Similitudes viz. 1. Man's Soul giving Reason and Thoughts signifieth the Father 2. The Light shewing the Power of the Soul and how to direct it representeth the Son 3. The Mind resulting from this Light and governing the Body resembleth the Holy Ghost 1. The Darkness in us which longeth after the Light is the First Principle 2. The Vertue of the Light whereby we see Intellectually is the Second Principle 3. The longing Power proceeding from the Mind and that attracteth or impregnateth it self whence groweth the Material Body is the Third Principle There is an inclosure knot or stop between each Principle See Chap. 7. of the Book call'd The Three Principles Vers. 21 22 23. A Preface to the Book of Extracts AND The following Considerations by way of Enquiry into part of the Scope of the Writings of Jacob Behmen THE Extracts of the Aurora was intended for the particular use of one only without his purpose of proceeding farther in the other Books or imparting that as can hardly escape any ones observation And tho' more be done than was at first designed yet oo little is done and with too many defects The proceedings in it like as of a Traveller through a spacious Territory hath been to comprehend and report the varieties there according to the degree of ability intentness and capacity of the passenger Or as one admitted into exquisite Gardens deckt with plenty of all curious flowers c. fills his hand with a few of those he best knows or most admires according to what skill he hath Or as one at a Royal Feast feeds only on what his appetite most relisheth Where the Writer hath contracted below the sublimity of the subject the Reader may with some ease supply that defect by recourse to and consulting the blessed Authors Books themselves To make them truly conspicuous were the work of a divinely irradiated Expositor not of an abridgement And thereto to adapt the minds of but the Sons of Wisdom is the Prerogative of the God of Wisdom for it would bring down Paradise as near us as mortals could bear so sweet a neighbourhood Prayer might help us to power to see as it were the voice of the Author J. B. or rather of God in him for that voice leads us thro' the creatures to the creating Word convincingly demonstrating not only that God is but what he is what he is not and what of him may be seen in every creature good bad and mixt angelical rational animal vegetative mineral and the dark earth Also in all Kingdoms paradisical astral elementary and the dark abyss And how he may be found in all things good bad and mixt in love and wrath Also whence man fell what and how low his fall and how to be restored by Jesus Christ. And all this not a new Doctrine but that which is substantial orderly firmly and naturally founded on the immovable principles and uncontroulable maxims of confessed Theology and Philosophy both sacred and natural Considerations by way of Inquiry and Search INTO THE Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely instructed JACOB BEHMEN Section or Chapter I. Of the two Principles Darkness and Light whence are come evil and good fierceness and meekness anger and love 1. TO begin with things nearest our outward senses Palpable bodies as Darkness Cold c. They condense croud throng and substantiate contrariwise Light and Heat rariâ—ie attenuate make thin or subtle and actuate bodies adapted thereunto 2. Both whilst in due proportion equally good and amicable but in what time or place soever either be extreamly prevalent and tyrannous they become instantly inimicitious and destructive 3. The consideration whereof and consequences deducible thence might cause J. A. Comenius to be offended with Campanella for founding all productions on the contest of two contrary Principles Backing his disgust on Grotius's Argument against the Manichees that of two contraries destruction might follow but no augmentation 4. But without strife springs no production and without contraries is no strife 5. The two Principles of Light and Darkness cannot be said to have beginning but are coeternal yet one the Light swalloweth up the other as the day doth the night 6. The flagrat or
Astringent Binding mighty Power the lofty Babilon 2. The second like a Bear viz. the strong cruel Attraction the inflexible unalterable inexorable Empire of the Medes and Persians 3. The third like a Leopard for anguish is compos'd of several ingredients like as are the colours of the sported Leopard as is also the belly of a Toad And the Greek Empire is said to have consisted of about a Hundred and forty sorts of People or Nations 4. The fourth Beast was dreadful and terrible not likened to any Beast but being as fire is said to devour and break in pieces such were the Romans But one like the Son of Man came and to him was given dominion and glory an everlasting kingdom here is the 5th form viz. the enkindling of the light signified Represented also by the 4 Winds of Heaven 4 wings of a Fowl and 4 heads Thus Lazarus having lain in the Grave four days the true light raised him They are figur'd by four Chariots but Horses in three of them of differing colours one from the other but the 4th was of Horses of differing colours among themselves viz. Grizled and Bay expounded by the Angel to be four Spirits of the Heavens which go forth from standing before the God of the whole Earth Will any think it to be without a mystery that Elisha was wroth with Joash King of Israel for smiting on the Ground but three times saying Thou shouldst have smote five or six times then hadst thou smote the Syrians till thou hadst consumed them for the Prophet had promised he should consume them But Joash being held by his wickedness in the first four forms smote but thrice for had he as the Prophet saith smote five times he had enkindled the Light of the Liberty in his forms as an addition had he smote six times he had brought the illustrated forms into Harmony of Love whereby his Enemies the oppressing Assyrian viz. the Enmity had been consumed Will any think it was without a Mystery that the Prophet Amos eight times reciteth For three Transgressions of Damasâ—us of Gaza Tirus Edom Amon Moab Judah Israel and for four I will not turn away the Panishment thereof For 't is apparent that the three or four first forms comprise all Sin But if the vigorous true Light be enkindled it flameth to a Love of God and is Death to Sin by discovering it awakening it and working it out cleansing the Conscience destroying the Enmity of the first four forms and so creating Peace to them that were far off making them nigh But it may be granted there is an Ingredient of Light admitted into and retained by the first four Forms but it is as that the Apostle Paul saith Science falsly so call'd Such is this it is an insinuation of a faint false delusory-Light comprehending the Craft Subtlety Sophistry Serpentine wisdom to abuse the Senses and mis-imploy the out-born Natural Powers to jugling Deceits uniting Earthiness and Sensuality to devilish Designs Of this Wisdom the Lord saith If the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness Very apt and pertinent to this Discourse is it to consider That though the Perfume ascending from us was compounded of very unlike Parts some of them also very Unpleasant yet the Holy Oyl descending on us was compounded of five Kinds all excellent Good Delightful and Pleasant for we understand that the 5th form enkindles the Light which makes the four first from the Discords to be â— Harmony and a rich Concord Such are all Go'ds approaches to us as Joseph's Law in Egypt was That four Parts should be the Peoples and but the 5th Part to be Pharoah's figuring this 5th form's being taken as the Lord's Part only who is meant by Pharoah Divine Love hath its Root in the Centre of the Essence of the first four Spirits but most immediately in the Light and that from the Fire And the Activity of the four first Spirits as a perpetual Rotation causeth that Love can never Cool Thus is it strong as Death for Love is that Name which the God of Life is known to us by whom thus to know is Life Eternal The Instrument in the Out-birth of this Spirit is Venus CHAP. VIII Demonstration being of the Sound Tone Noise or Voice SHall there be need to demonstrate this which Heaven and Earth Ring of And Hell after its capacity hath also some impressions of It may suffice briefly to shew This to be a distinct Fountain for that it is the Result only of the United Operation of the five precedent Spirits meeting in the seventh is no Argument why This also should not be one for any one could not be without every one The Astringency had not what to bind but that the matter is produced by the other properties and so of the rest 1. As the light is the opening of the darkness thro' the fourth Fountain the fire so is the voice of the first four Fountains thro' the opening of the light revealing the Kingdom of Joy with its Beauty Colours and Ornament where-ever it is treasur'd 2. As we see fire sleeping in a Flint awakened by a stroke so doth the tone or sound start up and disperse it self so far as its vigour conquereth the resistance of contrary motions or solids and then expireth 3. As the life lies in a swound in vegetables till revived by the return of the Spring or as odours lie coucht in dead earth till midwif'd by the Sun thro' the stalks of flowers So the varieties of Infinity remain secret and dumb as in the mystery till this Oratory publisheth till this Herald proclaim it who by its continual motion speaks all and shews all The Representer of this sixth Fountain Spirit is in the out-birth Mercurius CHAP. IX Demonstration of the Body generated out of the other six Fountains 1. IF a mighty Prince should in regulating a world of laborious Subjects directed by a Council of men experienced in exquisite Art wanting neither time or other requisite to accomplish some stupendious structure or vast piece of magnificence should after all be able to accomplish only trifles were strange Or rather what could not mens highest prudence served with the confluence of abundance of willing agents sufficient helps and competent time atchieve acquire and bring to effect 2. And see we not what the six overflowing Fountain Spirits ranged by omnipotence conducted by infinite Wisdom exercising from eternity their irresistible Powers have conceived travell'd with brought forth and improved as the Holy One hath willed 3. And can any doubt they who have served to found and lay the Top-stone of infinite numbers of Fabricks in the Astral Elementary and Terrestrial Worlds should be unfurnished with a Royal Palace for themselves 4. This seventh Fountain Spirit is their Body Mansion and Sabbath the eternal Rest eternally generated In This they work their hallowed wonders in this they
planted a seed or sperm whereon the Holy Ghost brooded and in six days hatcht the generation of the Heavens and Earth with their Hosts Thrones and Royalties Hence were founded the Ant and Elephant the Insects as well as Leviathan And but for this God would have been wholly an unsearchable God nor could any Creature Angel or other have been made 5. We say in things of our little Horoscope the end of Motion is Rest and shall the Originals whence all things exist want a Rest for themselves Must our six days toil end in one of rest and shall these supream Agents reach no Sabbath wherein to triumph in with and for the delight of the Lord of the Sabbath This seventh Spirit is therefore the quiet receptacle of them all 6. Out of which according to the harmony of the Divine Unity they never for one moment can possibly depart And over the Threshold of which according to the separate Property whereby they are rent from the glorious Unity they never put a foot or can for ever enter 7. Will therefore the Human Off-spring whose departure is as written by the Sun Beams reunite and do its first works those whereunto he was created and the pure works of the second Adam whereunto he was regenerated 8. Be it said forasmuch as by his departure he is so far degenerated that his Soul by a willing captivity is under the rage of the first four Spirits from whom the light is withdrawn His Spirit that was a meek divine Ruler hath lost its dominion to so great a degree of fierceness that the Astral rule all His Body which was formed out of the one pure Element out of which Element came also the four and to have been a perpetual figure of the holy third Principle as his Soul and Spirit were of the first and second And which body of his should have eaten Paradisical food is now a captive under the four Elements in so great rigour and vileness that Nature shames at its Beastiality till thus it travels thro' sorrow pain and shame to the dust But the Soul and Spirit may here be baptized and regenerated 9. And because the fruit cannot be brought back to the Tree but the Apple must first perish and the seed in it first die as doth the grain of Corn before it increase therefore the Soul and Spirit must also die the mystical death that is to its strange will to secure them against the second death or before they are capable of the first Resurrection 10. From the same ground is it that the Body also must die and lose its new gotten bestial Image before it can put on immortality and the Image of the heavenly whereunto Jesus came to conduct it 11. But we may know these things are not the work of faint wishes but call for striving watching praying fighting contending running working searching knocking that fruit may be produced by patience for Heaven may not be ascended by earthy wings therefore let the Earth beware of resisting when Heaven stoops descends and enters it 12. To subject mad Mankind to this its only good the gracious Jehovah on Adams departure left his Soul should be a Devil his Body a Beast and the Woman generate a Race of Monsters in the out-birth and of totally proud hellish spirits in the inward reimplanted the Word of Eternal Life as a seed or as a light shining in a dark place to which they only do well who take heed so as to obey such shall by the Divine Guide lose their All and be as a Fool or Child as to self-wisdom but proceeding that way under the Cross possess all things 13. For as there is no salvation in any other so is there no other way of entring there into The six names of the Tribes on Mount Gerizim to bless represent the six active Fountain Spirits according to the second principle and Gerizim the seventh or heavenly body where they rest And the other six on Mount Gebal to curse exhibit the same six Fountains according to the first principle or dark world The seven Pillars on which Wisdom built her house points out the seven Foundation Spirits The six Steps to Solomons Throne hath the same signification and the Throne it self the seventh whither they led and ascended was the Sabbath or Rest. So the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials signifie the same seven Fountains yet all hidden and according to the Darkness where neither can the Book be read till first the Seals be gradually opened the mind and voice of the Trumpets be distinguished till they be orderly sounded nor the things contained in the Vials discerned till severally effused by the Lamb and his successive Angels But the seven Golden Candlesticks are the seven according to the second Principle or Light-World seen all manifestly at once The same also are the seven Stars at once giving their splendor Again we read there were seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne which the Text saith are the seven Spirits of God We find and 't is observable the Revelation gives the Vision treble to each viz. To the dark impression by Seals Trumpets and Vials To the Light impression by Candlesticks Stars and Lamps So the seven lean Kine and blasted Ears signifies what we have the seven Properties The seven fat and good what God made the seven Properties to be CHAP. X. Of the Three Principles of the Divine Essence 1. BY a Principle is meant a chief beginning power a self-subsisting Life an original root foundation or in some sense a mystery or genus whence other Spirits Bodies Species or things originate as from a Supream Power And thus is God the only one Principle 2. And this one Principle is also three Eternal Births or Principles ever without ceasing begetting being begotten and proceeding by in and from each other of which all Worlds are conjunctly or severally an Image but very different according to the inscription stamp figure and degrees they attain or are capable of 3. And tho' the three Principles are by an indissoluble band ever inseparably one in God yet are they distinguishable 4. But in the Creatures in the separate Properties are terribly manifest which tho' Adam was not to have known in himself yet is it what we ought to know 5. God said Let us make Man in our Image after our likeness but saith not so of the other Creatures Man in his first make being most perfectly his figure and off-spring 6. Yet every of the other Creatures the Astral Elementary Vegetative Sensitive and the Dark World do all in their various kinds more or less perfectly represent him for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made his eternal Power and Godhead And as there are the united three bearing record in Heaven so are here an agreeing three bearing record on Earth viz. Spirit Water and Blood CHAP. XI
more or less such are sick of Sacred Love so more or less feel they this And the more we die to our immoderate Lusts after the Dominion of the whole third Principle the more doth this Principle evidence it self in us And in such proportion as we enlighten our first Principle or Souls Original standing in the first four forms of Nature proceeding by Divine Power to enâ—indle the true Light in them in the same measure is our Root transplanted to grow in this Paradisical Field or Principle 7 Demonstration But we are to know by way of Explanation This to be a passing into Death and thro Death into Life of which the Holy Scripture is plentiful Nor may even Plato's description of Love be counted discordant to this who defines Love â—o be one 's dying to his own Body and living to the Body beloved 8. For the living to the Divine Light and Love of the second Principle which is the property of the Son of God is a dying to us and ours that is to our whole depraved Image much like as the Day is the Death of the Night 9 Demonstration The second Principle is shewed by the Sacrifices which were consumed by the Holy Fire whereby they died to their first Form and lived to a new one that is were transmuted into the holy Flame 10. And as what part of the Sacrifice would not enkindle into the holy Flame figuring This Principle fell to Ashes as into the perishing third Principle Even so see we much of the Regenerate Man stay below and be uncapable of the New Image but be as Ashes 11. Now we see that Ashes may be heated but Flame not Such is the Earthy Man and Sensual part yet we see after the procedure of a second work Men do transmute common Ashes into a Lucid and Transparent Body 12. So may our vile Bodies by the procedure of the second work the Resurrection be translated into a clarified Christalline Temple for our immense glorified Souls and they both be the Hallowed Habitation of our resigned humble divinely irradiated Spirits 13. And our illustrated Ashes glorified Souls and meek human Spirits being first clothed with the Robe of Christ's Righteousness and heavenly Humanity the Virgin of God's Wisdom will be both suitable guests for the New Jerusalem as a Bride adorned for her Husband and also be Eternal Temples for the Holy Ghost 14. Thus hath been given a glimpse what the second Principle is in it self and what its Operations are in us as to our first Principle It now rests to search what it is in the third Principle in us and in the whole Creation 15. In us it is our Principle of Divine Understanding directing to know our Creator the End of our Creation and wherein â—ies our true good The Eye thus enlightned informs the Affections that from the Reason offered they should 16. On the Principles of Justice pay the Debt we owe for our Being and the Means wrought for our Restauration to Well-being and of ingenuity willingly and thankfully to adore him as the only Fountain of Good and to esteem every thing in that degree as they partake of that Fulness to figure and resemble him 17. And on the Principles of Self interest to prevent eternal loss or be eternal gainers as our choice or rejecting shall render us capable or otherwise 18. These Notions and Beams of Light when the Understanding receiveth from the second Principle it offereth to the Judgment to consider of 19. The Judgment hath the Senses to consult who are grown so dim-sighted having from their youth been habituated to the Good or Evil of the third Principle that they cannot see beyond it but judge as the Beasts do of Pleasure or Pain nor can they see the least cause to deny themselves of any one thing they lust after whereof if denied they allarm the Passions which have their Root in the first Principle 20. The Passions are as furious violent impetuous Storms which often obscure and impose on the Eye of the Mind and sometimes immerse the Ship of the whole Man setting on fire and extremity the whole frame of Nature so that the Judgment wants power to get the Will right 21. Here the New Man as Child of the holy second Principle hath need enough to pray always fervently to knock wait use much abstinence with highest diligence to watch to stand on its guard to use much violence and severity and that often to fight the faithful Combate till he kill the Murtherers to die from day to day thereby to be pluckt as a brand out of the fire He shall find great necessity of help from Heaven to bind the Strong Man 22. But most especially in some persons whose originals having been strongly rooted in the first four Forms of the first Principle conveyed by Generation and perhaps also reinforced by their Constellation so that they have much of the Serpent in them In such Souls the work of Resignation to the Divine Conduct goes very hardly slowly sadly on with many recoils notable resistance and reluctance that they resemble the Child possessed with that kind that goeth not out but by prayer and fasting 23. Others having so deep Root their Wills being lapsed and wedded to the third Principle either having so great possessions as seem rather to be possessed with them than to possess them or having long enjoyment their Evils plead Prescription and Custom Some by their Constitution incline to delicacy or by their Constellation and Complexion to airiness many such find the Cross too heavy do look back the Pearl in their Account is too dear 24. Others Good Intentions are covered with so much rubbish that they will not be at the pains of removing it for indulgence to their ease and perhaps ensnaring reputation with men foils and pinions them Many of the above strive to enter but are never able therefore withdraw from the Yoke their Goodness is only as the morning dew 25. But the Judgment rightly informed sees all things as they are things present as if past things to come as if present it sees the Out-birth brave with a borrowed Goodness only entrusted to it to shadow the Grace and Glory of the true Fountain of Goodness It sees the World on fire the Heavens rolled up the Lord sitting on his Judgment-Throne sees the triumphs of the humble and tremblings of the proud 26. As for things visible the Glory of the visible Heavens figuring that of the true Heavens the Earth that of the Divine Salitter 'T is true in this dead Earth the surviving relicks of Good strive to produce perfect Bodies of several kinds but the Curse hindereth It would have Paradice bud and bear fruit holy and pure productions every where but it cannot for Death is entred at the door opened by the first Adam 27. Had indeed Life been received as offered by the second Adam Paradice might well have blossomed in the Out-birth and his Kingdom have come with
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
it as also then did Adam seeing that the fell not instantly Dead which introduced such an Ample Fall as at which the Heavens blush the Earth quakes the Dark World domineers 16. For Adam's first Principle consisting of the four first Forms by the Departure of the Lustre of the second Principle of Love and Meekness Peace and Joy became Dreadful and full of Anguish And his third Principle became Dark and Opake his Strength became Bones his Tincture in part extinguish'd the rest of it became Beastial Mortal and the Properties of it became Enemicitious then must he have Gutts and a Draught to eject the Putrifying Elemental Food The Astral World also drew and inclined him as their various wresting got predominance 17. The Tree and Fruit was no better nor worse than what we have but alike unsuitable to him as Hot or Cold Poison is to us Their Fallen State as sadly alter'd as if a Man who should Rule over the Beasts should as Nebuchadnezzar have a Beast's Heart and Organs given him for they regarded not that from Tasting of it God's severe earnest Command had inhibited and forewarned them 18. For the Food ordained for them had the Properties in Perfect Harmony no Curse Mortality Sickness Sorrow Care Pain not the least appearance of Evil but of the One Holy Element purely Paradisical and whereof They might be able to live eternally It was the Quintessence and Divine Word substantiated such as feeds the Blessed in the Resurrection They were not to have known Evil and Good in the Root of them divided as hath been said Yet tho' the Experimental Knowing it were destructive to them it is destructive to us to be ignorant of it 19. As a Traveller observing the Disaster of another who contemning warning lost his way and himself unwarily inducted and strayed with him is Now highly concerned to know the Aberrations which his Ill Leader should not have known that he may extricate and disentangle himself retrieve the Miscarriage and shun the Precipices and Perils so fatal to his forerunner CHAP. XIX What Fallen Man's Estate was by the Fall 1. THE second Principle being the Majestick Sweet Divine Love Meek Light and the Chast Virgin of God's Wisdom was withdrawn and he left dead as to it 1. His Soul tho' it had lost the Divine Life of Pure Angelical Modest Love yet being out of the Fountain Spirits was incapable of Dissolution but must ever remain its own stinging Fire and its own Anguish without possibility of enkindling the Light 2. For Now had he the Introduced Enmity there and the four Original Fountains of Binding Attracting Anguish and Fire whereof his Soul as to its first Principle was originated and made stood in irreconcileable Enmity as to any Power remaining in Adam to compose them These Contrarieties like Murtherers might well be Those of whom Cain was after afraid 3. His Body like That of the other Creatures in the third Principle of which it was became subjected to the Astral Evil Influences and to the Divided Properties of the Elements which had power to impose the Necessity of Pain Sickness Want continual Danger transitory Mutations Mortality and Putrifaction till Man should return to the Dust which he was come to be And that every part the Astral and Elementary were fallen back or receded and Those parts resumed into its own several Aether Principle or Receptacle like other Beasts 4. And while he was Toiling under his Evil Influences loads of Sin and the Curse he might like the tame Beasts feed on the Food they did eat of Roots Herbs and Fruits wherein were the Evil and Good Properties and he might like the wild Destroying and Ravenous Beasts Fowls and Fishes of Prey kill and feed on the tame and live in Fear and hostile Enmity with his fellow destroyers who bear the Image of the Dark World 5. He might also till his Astral Revolution or other Evil had given extream Date and Period to his Accursed Dying Life have like other Beasts generated his Children having Now the Members Monuments of Sin and Shame hung on him for Propagation And Those his Off-spring should inwardly have been Devils and outwardly Beasts according to the third Principle Yea and what could have hindred but Their Bodies should have been conformed to the Image of the several Beasts here whereof Their Minds had the Nature Affections and Qualities as of Dogs Goats Foxes Swine Bears Wolves Tygers Vipers Serpents Toads Lions c. And to have had no other Resurrection than those mischievous odious Animals by Their monstrous Idea's to bear the Image of the Dark World's Properties 6. Whither Fallen Man was hurrying may farther appear by some notorious consequences of our Defection 1. The Americans in many parts like Beasts of Prey devour Raw Flesh some yet worse eat the Flesh of Serpents and other unclean Creatures some elsewhere said to be Canibals 2. It is by Geographers observed the Tartars to be so far Dogs and Cats that They are born blind and till five days cannot see plainly 3. The Dark World or first Principle hath arrested the Africans conforming their very out-side by a black hue to their Evil Natures 7. So did the Astringency ratifying the Covetous Will of Lots Wife prevail to a terrible extream so as to fix her a Pillar of Salt As did the same Principle of Bitterness Anguish and Fire consume Sodom 8. It is observed by uncontrollable Authors That the Devil tho' so crude and unsuitable direful a Companion hath by Infernal Sophistry used some unhappy Elementary Compounds wherewith he hath dismally and fatally cohabited with lustful beastly filthy People of both Sexes whose Sensuality coupled to their Sinful Desires had deformed into his Image so that he hath carnally cooperated to the sateing their obscene decrepid Lusts. 9. Not only Thus as above but we had a concurrence to Generate a Race of Human Forms Incarnate Devils Children They are said to be no doubt of Darkness and literally of Their Father the Devil 10. Such was That call'd a Succubi Wife to a Gentleman in Germany concerning whom John Frederick then Prince Elector of Saxony desired Luther's Opinion who judged it a Devil desiring the Prince to note heedfully what That Off-spring would demonstrate themselves 11. Perhaps the Old Enemy who once used the Serpent might in the above Story to prevent the horror of his own Approach and effect his uncouth Machinations imploy some Terrestrial Aerial or Aquastrish Creature wherein to unite himself to one whose Sins had depraved and subjected to so base perillous and prodigious a Consortship 12. There were in Luther's time some Abject Productions in Saxony call'd Kilcrops or Suppositii with us Changelings One of Them Luther saw at Dessaw it did eat as much as two Threshers another suckt six Nurses dry if any thing Ill happened in the house would laugh and be joyful but while all went Well would cry and be very sad 13. Such was the
Transformation of Nebuchadnezzar that his Hairs were as Birds Feathers and his Nails as Claws 14. Such a Subjection hath our Elementary Structure lapsed into by the Fall that it may as really be Transformed as an unburnt Earthen Vessel may And that tho' usually by consent of the Will as in Witches 15. Yet may it also be sometimes without consent and by the Arch Enemy be imposed on as was the Woman at Isenach who in a Conflict of fifteen or sixteen hours was Transformed into That of a Calf her Hands and Feet bent and like Horns or Hoofs her Tongue rough and dry her Body cold and swoln yet her Soul found to be safe and her Body by Prayer Restored to its Human Form 16. Man became vain in his Imagination and his foolish Heart was darkened They were Worshippers of Angels of the Host of Heaven of Devils of Brute Creatures of Garlick as in Egypt of Stocks Things almost incredible to us That Rational Creatures should make Their Hope and Confidence to be in Irrational till we reflect on all Nations in This Age pretending Improved Skill and Knowledge yet still do place Their Confidence in Money CHAP. XX. Of Mans Recovery how he was helped again by Christ and by what wonderful way and method Redemption was is wrought 1. WHO is sufficient to tell This what Vessel may carry This Treasure It was studied by the Holy Angels is the Ornament of Heaven will be the Song in Eternity It is the sum of what the Spirit of God hath been dictating to the Prophets pointing at by the Law and Ceremonies proclaiming by the Apostles and Saints in His Word in the Mouth of all his Servants thro' all Generations 2. Now tho' none can say how high the eighth Sphere is much less the Infinity beyond or without it yet every one can measure his own heighth being really part of it So as far as can be reached by So vile a Nothing some particle of the Abyss of Grace may in Childish Simplicity be stammer'd out and haply some Assistance given to Such Inquirer whose Inward Senses shall be opened in any degree of aptness to the Sublimity of the Matter and whose Spirit shall be Humbled and held back to the lowly manner of exhibiting the same 3. All Knowledge not leading us Humbly towards Jesus Christ is Ignorance and compared with the Light set up in us by Him is Blackness with the Vertue of it is Dung with the Holiness and Purity of it is Filthiness with the Order of it is Confusion and Amusement of Spirit with the Utility of it is meer Loss of precious Time 4. We have in the precedent Discourse beheld the direful shameful State Adam declined into by the Loss of the Divine Virgin of God's Wisdom with whom he should alwaies have lived in Purity Modesty and Perfection of Love Who whilst he stood his Soul was of the Might of Eternity his Spirit of the Pure Majestick Divine Light his Body out of the One Holy Element more Noble than seven times Refined Gold as the Shining Sun and capable to endure in Eternity 5. But Sin marr'd all his Holy Body degenerated as from Celestial Christal to Putrifying Carrion which must know Dissolution and for any Power remaining in him must have returned to the Divided Elements without hope of Recollection and Resurrection Which might cause some of the Antients who better knew what the body is come to be and what Principles and Elements compounded of than what at first it was much less what the Merciful Creator was about for Restoring his Lost Image It might strongly sway some Wise Men in several Ages to laugh at the Novelty of the Resurrection as did the Athenians 6. The Gracious and Merciful Creator pitying His Undone Creature of Love to His Own Precious disappeared Virgin Image having no motive from any want in Him of His Creature nor any worth in the Creature nor any ability remaining in His Creature to help Himself but of His Own Only Meer Free Grace and Goodness His Tender Bowels of Infinite Love wherewith His Compassions were enkindled did set Infinite Power and Wisdom on work to supplant the Serpent in Man by reimplanting again the Dear Bride of Purity and Modesty to whom Adam was at first Married but had adulterously causlesly and foolishly left having treacherously abandoned himself and betaken to the Divided Properties 7. God in-spake again the Ingrafted Word saying The Seed of the Woman shall break the Serpents Head which Word so reimplanted was like a spark of Fire falling into Tinder or like Seed sown or like Leven hid in three measures of Meal for it was a Living Power a Speaking Witness It was call'd the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Powerful Love of Jesus Christ the second Person of the Trinity who by That Power of Love filleth all places in the Heavens and Earth in His Own Holy Principle and This Love is Jesus Christ Himself 8. The second Adam and Holy Seed did not only come in the Fulness of Time into or in the Womb of the Virgin Mary when He took Flesh but then at the instant of Adam's Fall at the Father's in-speaking did implant himself to overthrow the work of the Devil 9. And stood at the Door of Adam and Eve and alwaies standeth at the Door of every Child of Theirs ever since none excepted in the Light of Their Life Preaching Salvation and with the Mighty Power of the Holy Ghost reproveth Sin convinceth of Righteousness judgeth Disobedience and warneth all more or less of the Judgment to come 10. This Living Word or Word of Life hath call'd it self by several names for all names are in it It is the Refiners Fire a Light shining in a Dark place Emmanuel The Saviour The Hope of Israel The Rock of Ages The Redeemer Love Wisdom Righteousness The Holy Thing Life Eternal where-ever and in whomsoever Obedience is yielded It is of invincible Strength will any lay hold on it brings irresistible Arguments will any lay them up in their Hearts uninterrupted Peace will any sit still under its Counsels His Weapons can neither be warded nor blunted His Defensives are impenetrable 11. The Word replanted in Adam and Eve after Their Disobedience is call'd an Ingrafted Word tho' it was carried downward chiefly or most visibly in the direct Line thro' Seth to Enoch who was in the Sabbath as the Seventh Day of whom came Metâ—usalaâ— who as the longest Liver recorded figured Eternity yet was the same in Them as a Priesthood to be Leaders and Stars to Their Brethren The same Principle being with less Brightness in others also for neither is the Sun visible but to Them who have a Receiving Power So nor were the rest of Mankind wholly Blind but had Their Talents entrusted to Them And this Line of the Holy Seed were as the Lord's Candlesticks and Lamps whereat others were to enkindle their weaker Lights 12. It may be noted that the
Heathen have all of Them the Gospel more or less obscurely Preached in them For as they without the Written Law do the things contained in the Law so do they without the Written Gospel partake of the Mercy published by the Gospel 13. That is being conscious to themselves of their Faults yet find by the Smiles of the Heavens in the Fruitful Seasons and in the suitable Productions of the Earth that they receive Good for Evil which is the Vertue of the second Principle or Gospel written on the whole Creation Notwithstanding all which if they harden their Hearts they become Sinners against Law and Gospel the Law written in their Hearts and the Gospel shining in the Light of their Understandings so conspicuously that tho' some of Them Laughed at the news of the Resurrection we hear Them serious at the tâ—dings of the Judgment to come having every one of Them a Self-condemning Judge in his bosom 14. Love is strong as Death but This Love is much stronger only Sin and finally Impenitent Men Hell and Devils judge themselves unworthy of it But This hath knockt at the Door of every Sinners Heart and cryes How long ye simple Ones will ye Love Folly and Scorning and Hate your own Mercies 15. Abel and Seth had the Hearing Ear in that Line it most eminently descended by a continued Succession thro' all Generations yet sometimes thro' very dirty Channels for tho' all were such till This Seed took Root in some and bare Paradisical Fruit and made them fit for the Masters Table yet some were much more foul than others 2. He enters into Foul Hearts tho' himself be so High born and Purity it self that passing into Foul places cannot be defiled but as a Refiners Fire not comprehended by the Dross which yet it purgeth away A work only possible to Omnipotence A few Considerations of that which shall be the Wonder of Eternity follow CHAP. XXI Of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. IT ought Attentively to be pondered that when the Fulness of Time or Limit of the Covenant was come Jesus took Man's whole Nature of the Virgin Mary but inasmuch as she was the Daughter of Joachim and Anna and of Eve she could not be totally a Virgin of Purity Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one 2. That Jesus Christ neither came into a Clean Vessel nor took a Pure Nature on Him but made the Vessel Clean and the Polluted Nature to become Pure The misunderstanding of which caused the Colliâ—idiani to render to the Virgin Mary Divine Worship 3. We must know that when our Redeemer took our Nature on him He took it out of all the Virgin Mary's Essences as well those of her Soul given her out of the first Principle and those of her Spirit given her out of the second as those of her Body out of the third Principle All which Soul Body and Spirit were propagated by her immediate Parents Joachim and Anna. 4. We are to know the Lord destroyed not Those Essences for He came not to destroy but took them as they were And by the Divine New Man which He brought with Him and which Himself was Refined and Sanctified them in them to work Their and Our Eternal Salvation 5. We cannot say there was no Evil in the Root of the Essences He took from the Virgin Mary as was mentioned above But his Divine Conception Exempting Him from any the least Impression Stain or Spot did illustrate and clarifie them As Fire doth Iron the Tincture doth Metals or the Sun Transmutes the Harsh Sour and Ill Properties of Fruits 6. We are not to doubt whether the Lord took a Human Soul from the Virgin or no about which many have erred for how else had the Essences of Our poor Captivated Souls been rescued had not the second Adam as truly assumed a Human Soul as that whereof the first Adam consisted It was Our Souls that had Sin and Death and were to be Redeemed so Our Gracious Lord made His Soul which was also a True Human Soul the Offering for Sin 7. Nor need we fear that the Lord took not Our Mortal Flesh and Blood on Him but brought Heavenly Flesh in His Conception and only Heavenly Flesh for He took also Our True Body of Flesh and Blood on Him from the Virgin Mary He took our Weak Infirm Body subjected to Passions of Hunger Sleep c. wherein lay Wrath and the Curse all which He bare with the Sufferings incident thereunto as Temptations Scourgings Reproaches Piercings Crucifying Anguish Death Burial And raised the Self-same Body which gives us assurance of our Resurrection and opens a Door for the Body though now Mortal to partake with the Soul Eternal Life 8. We are to know that our new Bodies will be the same very true real Bodies we now have and not other Bodies though not consisting of Accidents not palpable yet substantial as is manifest by what follows 9. The Mutations in Nature are no destruction of Bodies as a Grain of Wheat being sown passeth several Mutations yet is still the same For whereas at first it dies it is only by the Separator resolved into the divers Kinds of its own Composition that it may be capable of Commixture and Unite assimilated Bodies to it and so Collect encrease of Mâ—ter which it admits in no greater Proportion than to be the Father and Mother of all it self and augment and multiply it self by yet still is Wheat though hath the Increase of Quantity of many Grains of Wheat as an Oak is but an Accorn improved 10. Nature in orderly Motion goes forward and will not return into its Mystery by the Steps it went out till it hath compleated its Circulation You may as well return the Sun Eastward over us as make a Fruit become a Tree but in its orderly Motion first into a Fruit and Seed then is the new one the old renewed rather than another So is the new Body though Glorious not existent but by the dying of the old 11. As Adam's Fall made him not another Man but was still the Self-same in another a Monstrous Image as we also are deformed by that direful Fall So the Lord Jesus raising up his own Dead Body and cloathing it with Glory and Immortality and thereby giving us a Resurrection to be like him doth not make us to be other Men than now we are with loss of our Monstrosity and Access and recovery of the Glory we were created in and is by Him graciously purchased for us 12. We are to know That the Lord Jesus Christ when he assumed Flesh and Blood in the Virgins Womb was then not only there but then also sate and reigned in the whole infinite Abyss of the Father 13. We are also to know That after the Divine Nature or Infinite Godhead of Jesus Christ had assumed the Humane Nature He remained the self-same unmixed
eat and drink unworthily they eat and drink what is common to those that have not Eternal Life and but eat and drink the Elements only or what more is at most but Imagination grounded on and extended no farther than on the History Never the more enabled to enter into the Sufferings Dying and New Life of Christ. CHAP. XXIII Man's mistaken way towards a supposed Happiness 1. THE State of the Children of Adam is the same with Those Bebold I will hedge up thy ways with Thorns and wall a Wall that she shall not find her paths and she shall follow after her Lovers but she shall not overtake them and she shall seek them but shall not find them Then shall she say I will go and return to my first Husband for then it was better with me than now And God proceeds against the Apostate Adulteress to the end of v. 13. but in v. 14. and to the end of the Chapter returns her to him c. 2. Wise men in every Generation have sought in the Treasures of the Creation for Real Happiness and Rest And after they have div'd into the deep ransackt the many Mysteries obvious to Artists collected the scattered parcels of Felicity dispersed in the Earth pierced the Bowels of Nature as well Astral as Elementary Anatomised the Creatures and sum'd up their Totals Yet still could not overtake their Lovers but their way was wall'd up and some of them found theirs heâ—â—ed up perhaps with Thorns Many have sought the Living among the Dead every Creature eath told them it is not in Me. So their quest resulted in Dissatisfaction 3. Wise mens increase of Wisdom hath been the increase of Sorrow in which they lay down in the Grave forgetting and being forgotten their Thoughts perishing they left sad Memento's of the Vanity of every thing Those of them only have been truly Wise whom God hath led beyond their own into his School of the Love of Purity and Holiness as Job's three Friends Hermes and others such seem to be 4. For since the World by Wisdom knew not God those only were Truly Wise and still are who ceasing from things Visible are guided to things Eternal 5. Our Lesson is as to the Wisdom of This World to become Fools and as such to crucifie our Wills to the Lusts of the Eye Lusts of the Flesh and Pride of Life and as little Children who Will nothing but the supply of Necessities and do without Contract Bargain or Regret what the Father bids His Will is their Principle And as a reward of their Resigned Obedience they know no perplexing Cares forecasting Fears crafty Excuses Dissimulation Malice c. but have a calm Serene Face a Peaceable contented Mind a câ—earful Innocent Behaviour while awake and when they lie down fall sweetly aslâ—ep CHAP. XXIV The Lord's way home for Man to follow 1. BUT Man hath travelled with the Prodigal from This White State To him straying will he suffer one that heartily wisheth the good of Souls to say Stand still and consider if a Good End be better than a Bad a Good Way must be better than an Evil for the Evil Way tends to a Bad End 2. And to shew whether his way be not bad let him look narrowly heedfully and impartially into his own Heart and Inclination where he shall find a Body of Self-Love coveting to get All which comes from the first Form the Aâ—tringency 3. Next He shall find an eager Desire to be Exalted and Great above others which Pride cometh from the second Form of Nature the Attraction or Constringency 4. Next He shall perceive a contemning despising and envying of others That he thinks he exceeds in Worth and they him in Fortune or the like which he fretteth at This proceeds from the third Form of Nature the Anguish 5. And then he shall find violent Anger Rage and Fury when crost or curb'd by any one which cometh of the fourth Form of Nature the Fire 6. And under these four Heads Troops of Sins Appendixes to these which well consider'd may make him much rather than blessed Paul cry out Oâ— wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death He may now see how Evil in themselves these Disorders and hellish Principles are and how Evil to him how Dangerous to erect a Government in his private particular Soul opposite to the One entire gracious universal omnipotent Will and Government 7. When thus the Light of Jesus Christ ariseth it both sheweth the Malady and the Cure And this Light is not under a Bushel but as universal yet not seen by the wilfully Blind as the outward Sun to all Mens outward Senses The voice of Wisdom calls at every Mans Heart and where they listen it teacheth 7. To dye to the tyranny of their own Wills and so be like Children for Mens own Wills compass them about with sparks of their own kindling viz. Common Fire not that of the Altar which leads them in the Dark to lye down in Sorrow for as far as Adam did and we still do introduce our Wills into the third Principle we are like sad Eclipses in Hostility against the Heavenly out-goings 8. The true Divine Light of Jesus Christ where it is followed generateth a warm chearing dear â—ove to the New Man growing out of the Old as in a balance the New is lift up in that degree of Swiftness as the Old sinketh down It springeth out of the Old as a fair Flower out of the dark Earth as it were out of the Grave of the Old 9. This Light of Jesus Christ also so winneth on the Soul that it is resigned to the Guidance of true Wisdom being that of the Universal Holy Will For finding their own to be deceiving and deceived they become to it as Fools for Christ's sake not only content but habitually longing to know nor do nor be any thing but what their crucifyed Lord willeth in them 10. This Light having kill'd the perverted Will wrought Divine Love and Resignation doth betroth the Soul to the Virgin of Modesty and Purity again from whom Adam departed whom the Lord from Heaven the second Adam brought with him by him she was re-espoused to the Humane Nature no more to be Divorced For Man having Travelled by Art into Nature by his own Wisdom like a dark Head steered his own Will to the Designs of a Corrupt Heart and laboured all Night catching nothing wherewith being weary learns to Obey and be as a little Child and then finds rest yet in such degree and proportion as his continuance in Child-like Obedience is more or less Universal and Stedfast 11. Adam lost and we lose the Heavenly Virgin of Purity and Modesty by finding and living to the Lust of the third Principle viz. The seeming Wisdom guiding to obtain the mistaken satiety of Pleasure Profit and Honour by the Elementary palpable Transitory and
21 days 17. How mighty their Strength and transcendent their Nature and perfect soever to behold the Most High yet their sweet humble modest Love notwithstanding their sublime Purity is such that they disdain not to serve and dandle such vile wretched Creatures as Man such is the flaming Love they abound with to Christ that they vouchsafe to do for us what sinful abjects even scorn to do for their poor Brethren by constant watching care c. As they did for the Child lost in a Wood for a time in Franconia whom a Snow falling they fed and guided at last homeward The Innocency Chastity and Modesty of Children is that why Angels delight them and no marvel seeing the Lord of Angels gave a little Child as a Pattern of Humility to his Apostles for Children some more eminently have Angelical Sparkles of Paradice in them and before knowing Evil have lively Figures of the Children of the Resurrection 18. And seeing there never was nor can be more than three Universal Principles out of some or all of them must all things originate immediately or mediately 19. Whence 't is plain that Angels and Man's Spirit are of one substance even as the Fire in the luminous Globes is the same with that which being sunk down by the Separator is confined in the Bowels of the Earth for generating of Metals c. 20. The Angels are so near of kin to us that they appear in Human Form And tho' they are not Almighty but depend for Eternal Subsistence and Food from God's Infinite Store yet are they far above all Human Might and Power 21. 1. Because they are not at all detained from action by their own Bodies 22. 2. Because they can have no Resistance from any Elementary Bodies simple or compound in exercise of any of their proper Powers and Offices The Terrestrial Globe hinders not their seeing a Pin's point were it in the Centre of it 23. 3. Because they dwelling in Eternity need not time whence it is that tho' they are but in one place at once yet can instantly be in another not so slowly as Light or Lightening for that needs some time to pass from East to West for altho ' perhaps it hath no detention from its own gravity yet is subjected to some resistance by interposing Atoms and space or distance 24. Their Expedition is otherwise than our Thoughts for our Thoughts being reposed require time to dissipate obstructions immuring them and collect Requisites having first been informed by the Affections or Senses but these sublime Agents being above all such inferior Laws can instantly effect what time must measure it self out to us to think 25. Thus was it an Angel slew in one night 18 5000 of Sennacherib's Army as before all the first-born of all the Land of Egypt passing by all where the Blood was on the Lintel 26. 4. Because of their Noble Transcendent Nature perfectly fixt in them Their Saturnine Property is not their burthen but their most strong Compaction and so of the other Properties Yet how perfectly soever they are honoured with the Majestick Names they admit more as by adventitious occurrents not unfitly call'd Improved and Acquired Experience of the works of Infinite Grace Mercy and Bounty of God to Apostate Penitent Converts at which they rejoyce 27. Angels have the Senses of Seeing Touching Hearing c. yet without Organs whence they are affected with Delight and Dislike Earnest Desire Joy Grief Pleasure and Pain Their Understanding is vast and perfect for they penetrate all Creatures of their Principle Simple or Compound as far at least as their Principle is an Ingredient which yet is bounded by the adverse Principle for the Holy Angels are as Children to the Sinful Tricks of the impure separate World as are the Evil ones to them The infinite God only comprehends all Things as one and all Time and Eternity as present But the Good Angels see not things above them in their own very Principle for they desire to look or pry into the Mystery of the Incarnation by which lost Mankind are found Q. 20. Out of what is the Visible World Created seeing the Scripture saith God made all things by his Word how is the same to be understood A. 1. First By way of Simile A Wheat Corn is sowed there is produced a Blade Ear Husk or Chaff The Ear Straw and Chaff as an Appurtenance to the Corn or an Accident is likened to the Visible World the Grain of Corn to the fixed Harmony produced into Existence by the Power of the Seven Fountain Spirits The Spirit of the Grain to the Quintessence and the Quintessence is the one Element having in it the Mystery and vertue of the Four Elements and the Power of the Holy World and God himself is likened to the Husbandman 2. Thus as the Son is the Infinite Majesty Light and Speaking Word Express Image of the Father and as the Holy Ghost is the Infinite Breath of Father and Son So is the Holy Spiritual World the Image of the Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Heavenly Powers Vertues Colours and infinite Variety and Harmony of it And as the Paradisical Principle is the Image of God's Holiness and the dark Abyss the Image of God's Potence so is the Out-birth the Image of the two Spiritual Worlds in the Good and Evil Properties whereof it is Composed And the Varieties therein Image the Varieties of the Eternal Mansions and these Creatures all those Eternal Creatures of all Kinds 3. Another Simile may be the enkindling of a common Fire the hunger whereof attracts the Circumambient Air for Nourishment yet the Fiâ—e remains an hungry fierceness still the Air by way of Supplement to the vacuity endeavoured by the Fire becomes it self enkindled into a Radiant Flame the operation whereof is various first at nearest distance are hot active Productions also luminous active Productions Secondly At greater remove are other less fiery and luminous yet excellent Productions of both Kinds viz. with the Temperament of Fire and Light 3. At the most remote Extream bounding the stream of the Fires spherical activity are produced sluggish dark cold glâ—â—inous Passive rather than Active Bodies 4. The first Production of the Fire shews us the two Spiritual Worlds of Fire and Light The second the Angelical World in which are the Souls and Spirits of Mankind 5. The third the Out-birth consisting of the visible Heavens and this poor sorry Ball of Earth and Waters 6. Over this Out-birth of the third Principle Man should have continued Ruler and have subsisted in his Divine Principle but falling into it became much a Bâ—â—it into the sluggish cold passive Principle as to his Body and entred into the dark Principle with his Soul and Spirit 7. Out of which the infinite Grace of the Almighty Saviour by dying Himself to the third Principle taught us so to do redeemed the Body and by bringing in the Righteousness of Perfect Obedience teacheth us to die
enkindle the other Senses making it thereby a poor Cottage but badly furnished to serve the Noble Eternal Soul and sweet penetrating intelligent Spirit 5. But the Sun c. is a Principle deeper shewn among other ways by their secret irresistible Agitations and vigorous Influences on all adapted Subjects as also by their unaltered steadiness 6. The last and lowest Principle in the Spirit of this World is the wrathful mortal transient mutable Birth This is one sad consequence of Man's departure from and prophaning of the Holy Powers and of the Evil Angels introducing the dark fierceness of the Properties of the first Principle into the Mystery or Chaos out of which the Fiat by the Separator produced This whole Outward World For the Evil had planted it self in the deep of this Out-birth probably bounded by the Primum Mobile and was call'd by Moses a darkness on the face of the deep 7. And this fierceness is part of the heavy Load thorny Cross severe School and rigorous trying Fire of the Regenerate Sons of God The same is also part of the Over-load Plague and Torment of the Rebellious who in their Anguish curse and look upward And the same is also the vanity and misery the Creatures groan and travel in pain under who shall be delivered from it But the Spirit of This cannot look into the Divine World and if it endeavours to snatch the Virgin Image it is but as a Thief Q. 29. What is the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things A. 1. By Sperm is meant a Seed Root or Ens yielding matter or substance out of which Form is produced And by all things meant in the Question is understood all the Out-world consisting of Stars Elements and their Concretes To which thus understood it is answered 2. That there is an Immediate Cause of all things that may be call'd a Root Seed or Sperm for to believe the Visible World to be its own Cause were Heathenism 3. The Answer is brancht 1. Negatively That this Immediate Cause or Sperm cannot be one of the Principles for in one Principle all Varieties and Properties are not found but in This World is a commixture of all Varieties and Properties Not an Herb or Flower purely a simple but a composition made up of many Properties 4. Nor can This Sperm be all the three Principles themselves for so is nothing below Infinity no not the Divine World but the Omnipotent is the alone Possessor of all the three Principles in him only they all subsist 5. Nor infinitely less can it be God a thought of which were derogatory to the Purity and unapproachable Light and Holiness of His Nature and Essence 6. If therefore the Sperm be not one Principle having but part of the Properties nor all three united because they are inseparably in the One God and that all Properties owe their Fountains to them This Sperm can but only be a product from the same Principle according to and after all the Properties It is therefore not a beginner of Existence but a begun Existence not a beginner of Life but a begun Life 7. Now for an Affirmative Answer The Sperm of all Visible things is a Spiritual and to our outward Eyes Invisible Ens consisting of and containing all the Powers Properties Vertues Varieties and every distinct Genus and Species potentially which the Visible World hath in its multiform express divided parcels 8. It must be confessed to be the great Mystery great because in its womb lie all things A Mystery because all is wrapt up in it and spring from it 9. It is also the Eternal Nature Nature being generated by the Principle and furnished with the Native Birth of all the Properties Eternal as it is the Root of the Temporary Creation and its Centre Retreat and Aether 10. It may also be call'd a Quintessence as it contains in Union all the four Elements and Astral Birth It is the Image and Imager the impresser and bringer into Forms of the whole three Principles and seven Fountain Spirits the Mirrour of all Forms and Powers Is it objected God's Creating all things by His Word is a giving Being where none was exclusive of all Intermediate Causes and the Out-birth was a substance from a Nullity or Vacuum 11. It is answered It is no derogation of Omnipotence having out of himself spoken an excellent Image of himself a Power-world or other Creature that the same generateth more even to Infinity The Trees Fowl Fish Man as well as Elements had all seed in themselves Thus a Carpenter makes Tools and with them makes more 12. The Apostle saith That by Faith we understand that the Worlds were framed by the Word of God so that the things that are seen were not made of things that do appear he saith not they were made of no pre-existent matter but not of things that do appear 13. And Moses recording the Generation of Heaven and Earth saith And the Earth was without Form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep And again The Spirit of God moved on the face of the Waters Loe â—ere is something call'd Earth something call'd Water and some space call'd deep before so much as Light was call'd for But how the Earth Water and Space prove this great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence to have priority of Existence and what that Matter and Space import will fall under the Questions yet behind more properly than here whomsoever God shall enlighten to make Answers to them Q. 30. What is the distinction or difference of the Sperm or Seed betwixt Metals Stones and Vegetables viz. Herbs Trees and Earthy things or Mineral Earths A. 1. David saith With the pure thou wilt shew thy self pure and with the froward thou wilt shew thy self froward The Light and Heat of the Sun exciteth the Mercury and Sulphur to germinate in the Saline Property and so prosper all Vegetations in quite contrary Qualities with equal vigour 2. For as we may not multiply Principles nor Properties so neither may we Sperms all of which may be distinguished rather than divided 3. Their known number and distributions are fully sufficient to methodize innumerable Concretes not admitting the least disorder or confusion but yet abounding with infinite variety and every individual duly ranged into an exact order and subjection as of all the seven so especially of some one who hath peculiar Superiority 4. Hence is it that the Roots Herbs Fruits and Seeds sort themselves after the seven Properties and in them the Sperm is various either as the Spirit of the World or Astral Spirit impresseth the Infusing Matter or Sperm in some according to the Evil Dark Impression and such have much malignity some especially 〈◊〉 mortally vitiated 5. Others in which the Astral Spirit impresseth on the infused Sperm a vertue according to the Light Divine Kingdom subliming those Vegetatives to be cordial sanative and restorative All as the
the Scales c. They have also Craft Wrath Love every of the Five Senses Invention Providence Memory c. 2. To call them moving Plants is too low but only that it leadeth the Mind to view the Harmony of all the Creatures how they variously some more clearly others more obscurely Image and Shadow every of the three Principles and the seven Properties of the Eternal World 3. Whence they sprung appears by several Answers of the foregoing Questions particularly in that of the 33th 4. And now among the many Glorious Ends of their Creation the following brief hints are some They are at fourth Degree from the Principles and Properties created 1. To Figure the Dark Abyss 2. The Light World though very obscurely 3. The Out-birth or outward World of the Stars and Elements with the almost infinitely various Tendencies Inclinations and Impulses of them By every of which the Almighty Creator uncovereth his veiled Omnipotence infinite Grace and Wisdom 5. The Contemplation of them is both a pleasant and a perplexing Laboratory or serious Book for Man's Study and as it were a Play-Book for the Angels whose piercing understandings read the Effects by the Causes while declined Man gropeth by the Information of the Senses at a piece-meal guess of the Causes from Experience of the Effects 6. It must be confest that Adam being as to his Body or third Principle in his first and pure state Lord of the Mystery whence they proceeded could more sensibly discover and Epitomize them than the Angels as the Lord Jesus had a feeling of our Infirmities by His gracious humbling Himself to be as one of us But Adam's bright Eyes were darkened by the dismal lapse 7. Men may see themselves in the brute Creatures 1. All Unregenerate Men are figured either by the greedy ones 2. Or by the haughty proud Beasts 3. Or by the envious Reptils where by the way may be observed that Envy is found among the Poorer sort for the venomous Creatures are rather creeping than going 4 Or by the cruel wrathful ones And all these are of the first Principle without proceeding to enkindle the Light of the second Principle and are call'd by the Names of those Creatures in the Sacred Records 8. Other Creatures there are that figure the Light World or second Principle by their Innocence Love Usefulness and Loveliness in which they glorifie the Creator and like a dark Shadow pourtray the same 9. There are other Creatures more especially of the Out-world or World's Spirit as those that have Lunary Bodies produced improved and transacted by her Mutations which extends very far also to the whole Creation 10. My last Consideration restraining my self to brevity is somewhat abstracted which is That their Root is not so Ignoble and Vile but their Forms and Idea's for the sake of their Tincture have a prospect into Perpetuity each into their natural Aethers as is signified by the Apostle that the Creatures Travel in pain groaning under forced and as to them causless Vassalage shall be deliver'd into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God where the Drunkard's Horse shall like Balaam's Ass convince mens Madness and cruel Excess The abused toil of the Laborious Ox the innocent life of the Patient Lambs both employed to nourish filthy Lusts the cruel Delight of Hunting to the heart-breaking of the Deer and Hare c. shall at last be material Witnesses of Man's aggravated Guilt perpetuated Apostacy and lawless Irregularities Q 38. Whence was Man Created as to his Body The Fourth grand Distribution A. 1. Not of the Earth for the brute Animals are more nobly descended not of the four Elements which are the Matrix of the Earth for of that Matter are the Brutes form'd and the Elements are Transient and must melt or resolve into their first Principles Not of the Astral Out-birth for the Stars shall fall that is cease their present Order and pay the Debt of their various Properties to the Aether whence they were separated 2. But because Adam's Body was of Eternal Duration had he not â—inned it could not derive from a fading Root as Eternity is not founded on Mortality which forceth our search to ascend a step higher 3. It shall therefore be to the Divine Salitter which also hath the Water-spirit in it from both which the Stars were breathed And this Divine Salitter as it hath in it all the Powers of the Properties together with the Divine Sulphur and Mercury is call'd the great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence 4. Out of this was Created Adam's Holy pure Paradisical Body capable of Eternal Life This Divine Saliter J. B. calls the Holy Ternary that is a Celestial Paradisical pure Earth whence grows Heavenly holy Fruits and near unto it no Curse ever can enter or approach for thereinto cometh nothing that defileth Of this Dust of this Ground Moses spake that God formed Man But they who suppose it to be our dead Dust wherein is the Wrath and Fierceness do not only err by means of the Veil before Moses's Face but also by reason of the Veil on their own Hearts and Eyes 5. The Apostle saith The first Man is of the Earth earthy The second is the Lord from Heaven 6. That it could not be this nor the Elements nor the Astral Birth is clear but therefore that it must be the Heavenly Earth is of forcible Consequence The Apostle saith not what Adam was or was extracted from but what he is or is come to be but if he had so said yet the Proportion betwixt the second and first admits no Comparison 7. Between a Mote in the Sun and the whole Glorious Sun is some Proportion for the least of Quantities taken from the greatest of Bodies below Infinity hath Proportion to that whence it was for it leaves the other really lessened but all created Worlds bear no Proportion with the Infinite Son of God for all breathed out from an Infinite leaves still an Infinite and the Infinite is not lessened by it 8. The Apostle therefore in this place either doth not speak of Adam's first state or doth not lessen his Extraction but adoreth the Glory of the second Adam as the Work-master excelleth the Work made for when of the Angels it is written And hath made them all ministring Spirits Of the Son it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Also Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever c. Q. 39. What was the Inspiration or Breathing in whereby Man became a living Soul A. 1. The Inspiration of Man's Soul was out of the first Principle the Father's Property which consisteth of the first four Forms of Nature of this Living Root sprung his Immortal Living Soul 2. Yet so is it that wherever or in whomsoever the second Principle is shut out that Exclusion is truly call'd the Death of the Soul for the Living Soul by that Deprivation enters or remaineth in Death which though
53d is shewn what this Worlds Fruits were when at best And in the last preceding Answer what introduced it into the midst of Adam's Garden aud where that is to which severally to avoid Repetitions is this referr'd 1. Which well pondered little may suffice for Answer of this For though Adam was God's total Image by having the third Principle on him yet he was not in it nor of it but Lord of it and it as it were hung to him As the Lord Jesus Christ was in the outward World but not of it but of and in Heaven So was Adam in the Garden of Eden but not of it but of and in Paradise 2. Again Adam's Body was no otherwise one with the Astral Spirit than as allied or as Brother to it proceeding from the same Holy Element yet was to out-live it even for ever because his Body was conjunct with an Eternal Soul and Divine Spirit whereas the Astral Spirit hath its Age and recess into its Aether 3. But the Tree of Good and Evil was Corruptible having it's Root in the Elementary World influenced only the Astral in which the separated Properties were so awakened as it consisted of Heterogeneous Good and Evil Parts Even those of the Dark World radically impressed 4. So that it was Death and Poison to the Paradisical Heavenly Man for it generated Putrefaction and a filthy Draught and Bestiality wherefore the Gracious Creator did so severely or expresly and strictly forwarn and forbid Man that Tree Q. 60. Wherefore should Man rule over all the living Creatures or Beasts of the Earth How and to what End could that have been A. Negatively it is answered That Adam while he stood had no need neither 1. Of their Milk or Carcasses for Food or Skins or Fleeces for Cloaths because Corruption contributeth nothing to Incorruption and an Incorruptible Body as Heaven wants not Earth 2. Nor their Strength for Labour or Culture for the Proâ—â—â—â—ons needed by him were Pure and Heavenly The Effect of the Curse it was that it was said in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread 3. Nor their Courage or Velocity for offence or speed for no Opposition needed no Counter-force and no Extremity needed no Speed 4. Nor their assimilating or Antipathetick Powers for Medicine because no Sickness needs no Physick no penetration of Bodies nor impairing of Parts no need of assimilating or restorative Applications 2 5. They wanted not him 1. To be Justice of the general Peace for tho' they were of adverse qualities yet innoxious till ushered in by the Curse as the effect of Sin irritated and arm'd them against Man and against each other Their innocence was their defence their Contrarieties were no more offensive to each other than contrary Colours are or Flowers of different Kinds 2. 6. They wanted not him to raise them a subsistence for their Creator had provided so for them as they should be no burthen to him nor his Divine Off-spring he cares for the Ravens A. 7. Positively to shew how and to what end his Rule should have been It 's answered Adam and his Heavenly Offspring should have used all the Creatures as Letters standing in several Volumes Sections Sentences and Words in the Book of the Creation declaring what the Creator is what He willeth and what He doth 8. And though the Creatures are Dumb as are Characters of Letters yet the Divine Powers of the Spiritual Worlds are spoken in and by the Creatures more expresly than are our Minds signified by Writings or our Passions by articular Sounds And hath Art fram'd Accents Aspirations Liquids c. Much more hath the Infinite Powers spoken themselves and the Holy Names of God in the several Pieces of the Creatures shewing the Principles Properties and Figures of the Eternal Worlds 9. And as Adam's holy Offspring had blessedly Multiplied and Paradise gloriously open'd it self so the Creatures had in their low Sphere born a part in that Triumphant Theatre nor had they been subject to Vanity Pain Impotence and Misery by Want Weakness or Drudgery for that the Curse subjected them to 10. But during their respective times had sweetly delighted themselves and Man in Ecchoing and in their measure assisting the High Praises of the Infinite Gracious Lord and when their Parts were acted have gone off the Stage with Swan-like farewels into their first Principles and Aethers 11. Adam gave them Names according to their Roots and Designs wherein they shall be in their Idea's before the new Blessed Men successively produced and as it were perpetuated by the wrestling of the Properties for neither in this sence shall Man's Disobedience frustrate the purpose of God or give Period to the Glory of his Creation Work for the Spiritual Worlds will obtain their Desires of imaging themselves for ever As saith our Apostle Because the Creature it self shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 12. Nor are the Creatures useless but serve our God's Designs And 't is observable even Sathan useth if he may the most accute Wits while God by Men of low Parts doth confound the Wise for so though Sathan used the Serpents apt Wisdom in his cheating Imposture God honoured the Ass the silliest of Creatures to divulge such Truth as was necessary for a Prophet's Instruction and Reprehension Whence we may observe if under their Vanity they are of such excellent uses what would they have been had they retained their Primitive Excellencies Q. 61. Why did God say it is not good for Man to be alone whereas yet in the Beginning he looks upon all his Works and said They are very Good yet of Man only he saith 'T is not good that this Man should be alone Why was it not good A. In the 43 Answer it is shewn why God created but one Man at first and not Man and Woman together and in the 45th Answer what Form and Fashion he was when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both In the 46th appears Adam had not at first Man-like Members Guts c. In the 47th That had such been he could not have stood in Eternity whereof it cannot be denied he was by Creation capable 1. All which duly weighed evidence why it was said at first all was very good for then was Man a compleat Image of God in all the three Principles illustrated by the second viz. his Soul in the Eternal Band his Spirit in the Divine Holy Triumphant World his Body out of the Holy Element having both Tinctures of Fire and Light enriched and fortified by all the seven Properties Having further the Authority over the Creation like a God the Intellect of an Angel and Innocency of a Dove 2. And whereas afterward it is said It is not good for Man to be alone it was not from any defect in the Creator's Work for that as above appears was perfect to a high degree but the Creature had ceased his
the 75th 81st and 90th Answers which laid together are a compleat Answer to the present Question according to what I have attain'd Q. 103. What was John Baptist Christ's forerunner A. 1. The Lord saith of him That among them that are Born of Women there hath not risen a greater Prophet than John the Baptist that is in the Father's first Administration nevertheless he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he that is in the more clear day and Manifestation of Christ. 2. The Lord saith also of him This is Elias which was for to come as saith the Prophet I will send you Elijah the Prophet c. And Isaiah saith The Voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord c. The same saith John of himself Let it be said What is the Voice that crieth and what the Wilderness wherein he crieth And the Question lyeth open 3. 1. The Voice is not properly the Voice of Jesus Christ for this was Preparatory to his coming 2 Nor was it the Voice properly of the Holy Ghost for his Administration succeeded that of Christ's 3 Nor a bare Human Voice for so much Power and Conviction was in it that all men acknowledged him a Prophet and his Baptism not of Men but from Heaven 4. The Wilderness was not of Earth Rocks and wild Beasts for such are not prepared for Christ But Man stray'd out of the Garden is the Wilderness here meant that was cried in and unto to repent because of the near approach of the Kingdom of Heaven 5. The Voice crying in the Wilderness is the Father's drawing as saith the Lord Jesus Christ No man cometh to me except the Father draw him 6. Elias in the Spirit of Zeal is John the Baptist's Antitype figuring as did John the Baptist more eminently and immediately the Father's fiery Zeal in the Holy first Principle for Elias and John's Administration was in the Father's Property 7. The great Confluence of all Judea c. to his Baptism shews the Universality of the Father's Applications Convictions and Drawings 8. The reprehension of the Scribes and Pharises calling them Generation of Vipers c. Shews the Father's drawings to Repentance to be not only general but particularly in and to his resolved and designed Enemies Also shews the rejection of Man's Wisdom and outward Formality even in the true Religious Institutions 9. Thus the Groans of Penitent Souls and Impenitent Mens Gripes the Mournings of the one and the Stings and Horrors of the other proceed from the Father's condemning Convictions whereof John the Baptist's Ministry and himself is the representation Q. 104. What kind of Virgin was Mary in whom God became Man before she Conceived A. 10. The Virgin Mary was of low Estate and Degree Daughter of Joachim and Anna not as such wholly pure as some feign but came from faln Eve Much less was she the Virgin Sophia for the first Adam had repudiated himself and all his from that Heavenly Virginity and gone into Adultery into Lust. 11. So that of Mary it may be said as Daniel of himself This is not revealed to me for any Wisdom that is in me more than in any â—iving Or as Peter saith of himself and John Why look ye on us as if by our Power and Holiness we had done this c. 12. But though Mary before she conceived was in Soul and Body such as other Daughters of Eve who by the Regeneration were in the Holy Element Yet to say what she came to be in and after her conceiving will fall under the Answers of the two following Questions Q. 105. Why must Mary be first Espoused or Betrothed to Old Joseph before she Conceived of the Holy Ghost A. 1. An Espousal of the sort here signified is a solemn mutual Contract between two of different Sexes exclusive of all others such was This of the Virgin to Joseph a thing usual with the Jews To which allude both the Prophet The Love of thine Espousals and again Paul I have Espoused you to me The above definition hath these parts viz. 1. It must be mutual between two 2. Of different Sexes 3. Exclusive of all others 4. Solemn 2. By this Espousal is signified that the Virgin of Wisdom the promised Seed was Espoused to Man's Soul This Virgin Sophia is the Tincture in the Holy Element in Paradice viz. the Holy Ternary or Heavenly Earth 3. As the Spirit or as some have call'd it the Soul of the Outward World is to This Out-world and Elements a giving Mind Sense and Virtue to the Creatures Such is the pure Sophia in the Eternal Glorious World The Soul and it were as one but by the Apostasie became two 4. Again This Holy Pure Virgin is Espoused to Man's Soul or Fiery Property ' her self being of the Tincture of the Light World and so were they of two Sexes 5. Also This Espousal is exclusive of all others for the Soul must cleave to her and not joyn it self to the first or third Principles 6. And the Solemnity is no less than that which either enters the Soul into the Life Eternal and Love Kingdom which else is precipitated into the fierce Wrath. 7. Now that Mary's Espousal should precede her Conception by the Holy Ghost was To shew what Infinite Grace did immediately on the heavy Fall For Man even ready to be devoured by the third Principle and to devour himself by his first is by this Espousal the Covenant of Grace stayed from the Abyssal Fall which stop or betrothing must needs be now or never That it was only an Espousal and that before the actual Conception was to shew that Man could not be entrusted at least not yet with so inestimable a value To signifie an intermission or intervention of Time or Ages to pass and occur before performance of what had been promised being as the Apostle phraseth it the end viz. us upon whom the Ends of the World are come as had said the Angel to Daniel To shew what a vast distance Man had removed himself that his Restoration must be wrought by tract of time as men creep out of Chronical Diseases so that the time of Espousal was as saith the Apostle My little Children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be formed in you as till an Embrio mature to a compleatness or a Seed to be a Tree To attest the Genealogy of the Lord 's Earthy Humanity to be of David For besides the express frequent plain and full Testimonies by the Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ's Lineage both Genealogies in Matthew from Abraham for satisfying the Jews and in Luke to Adam for comfort of the Gentiles do pitch on Joseph wherein Mary is included because none married out of their own Tribe and consequently none Espoused out of it The certainty of Mary's Genealogy is demonstrated only by her Espousal with Joseph to keep
8. Why the Temptation lasted forty days is referr'd to the 78 Answer Also why a God-Man should be Tempted is shewn above His Temptation must needs be of the Devil or otherwise as from without his Divinity and Purity exempting him from such variety as we poor miserable Creatures are surcharged with from within our Souls and outward Man and Objects of our Sences are as so many Snares Serpents and Devils in us about us and waiting way laying us 9. And lastly that all this must precede his working of Wonders and Miracles teaches us the method of the Eternal World also is manifest in all Created Existencies viz. That from the anguishes of the first four forms should result the glory of the second Principle or other three Properties But I close here because if God will that I live to meet with more of the dear precious golden inestimable Contemplation of the Process of Christ it may fall under the 117 Question Q. 113. How was Christ in Heaven and also on Earth both at once A. 1. Men may not think Heaven and this World to be so sever'd as that Heaven cannot be said to be here till the present World pass away for though this World cannot be in Heaven by reason of its Impurity yet Heaven is in this World for it comprehends it and is the whole second Principle where-ever the Infinite God is in his Love there is Heaven 2. This understood it must be acknowledged Heaven is in every Heart that loves God but every Child of God is not yet in Heaven for they are so present in the Body as that they are absent from the Lord that is their love c. hath an allay of Dross 3. But the Lord Jesus Christ and also the first Adam before his Fall were as Men or in their Humanity in Heaven for their love was perfect and it must be noted that the Lord saith not the Son of God but the Son of Man which is in Heaven I farther refer this Answer to the 77th and 108th Answers Q. 114. Why did Christ upon Earth teach before the People concerning the Kingdom of Heaven in Similitudes or Parables A. 1. We read All these things spake he to the multitude in Parables and without a Parable spake he not unto them 1. Adding that it might be fulfilled c. I will open my mouth in Parables seeing therefore the Text gives that for a Reason must we not receive it as such The second is The Reason the Lord Himself gives His Disciples To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom but to them it is not given The Text also gives viz. with many other Parables c. as they were able to hear it The fourth is drawn from the Lord's warning and inhibition Cast not Pearls before Swine nor Holy things to Dogs of whom it is said by the Lord I speak to them c. because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not nor do they understand Of them also it is said Make the hearts of this People fat make their Eyes heavy c. 2. Summarily then the Children by means of their weakness were not able to hear it otherwise than in Parables though to them apart they were open'd and the Multitude by reason of their Wickedness were not worthy to hear it otherwise because the proud Rejecters of God were inwardly devilish and outwardly bruitish and are call'd Dogs and Swine to whom the Childrens Bread might not be given for God resisteth the Proud 3. Because Man was fallen into the third Principle over which he should have been Ruler so that the regenerate themselves were outwardly bruitish and in their inward and best part were as young Children to them the Gracious Lord vouchsafed to bow down and as it were lisp and to feed them with Milk 4. For as much now as Man was gone out of the Unity into the Multiplicity God of infinite Bowels follows him into it and there teacheth him by the Earth Corn Fruits Stones Thorns Sheep Fowls Ants c. Making them speak to him pursue convince and judge him by the Good and Obedience of the very Oxe and Ass gratefulness of the Earth for Rain and Bounty of Heaven in the Seasons and when nothing will do he makes the Stone cry out of the Wall and Beam out of the Timber to answer leaving such not only without excuse but accused by the whole Creation Nevertheless by these Parabolical Applications call'd the foolishness of Preaching was Power found to save them that Believe Q. 115. Why hath not Christ himself described his Gospel with Letters in Writing but only taught and left it afterwards to his Apostles to write down A. It may be supposed and argued who so sufficient as the Omnipotence of the Son of God Who could so exactly discover the Mysteries therein as the Author thereof Who could so challenge and command Belief as he who is Truth it self with the like reasonings 1. But we must know that the Three glorious Persons have Three distinct Operations viz. The Almighty Father or Infinite first Principle doth Eternally beget and generate as his Love Delight or Heart the Eternal Son whom he giveth The Almighty Son or Infinite second Principle is Eternally begotten every where in the Abyss giving Himself who is the Light of Divine Life having Life in Himself is Himself the Gospel written in the Heart Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ. The Almighty Spirit Holy Ghost or Infinite third Principle doth Eternally proceed from the Father and Son and Eternally publish propagate figure declare image and manifest the first Principle and the second also the first in the second infinitely through the whole Abyss 2. Thus was the carrying on publishing abroad or prospering this wonderful Work of the Arm of the Lord to restore lost Man being like making dry Bones live the proper operation of the third not of the second Person Therefore saith the Lord to the Disciples What I tell you in the ear preach you on the house tops Again He that believeth the works that I do shall he do and greater works c. And saith the Spirit when he cometh shall convince the World c. 3. Thus Abraham figured the Father's property or operation giving his Son a Sacrifice Isaac the Son's property giving himself but Jacob that of the Holy Ghost multiplying first into 12 Branches then became as the Stars and the Evil Seed only professing are like as the sand for multitude sand for their earthiness 4. Thus as the Lord saith the Father hath born witness of me And again speaking of the Holy Ghost saith for he shall take of mine and give it unto you not filling Jerusalem only but the whole World with his Doctrine Q. 116. Why must it be the very High Priests and Scribes or Scripture learned who taught the People that must speak against or
tâ—e Humane Soul as it was deriv'd from Mary was finite yet as he was conceived by the seminal substance of the Holy Ghost it was Infinite being wholly so united to the Infinity 7. Behold and sink down and drown thy self Oh my Soul in the sweet Ocean of this free Master piece of Matchless love see the heighth depth length and breadth Know what passeth knowledge Conception Comprehension Make thy Heart the Footstool of it thy Soul a Sacrifice to it thy Spirit the amazed Witness of it thy Mind and Thoughts the Waiters on it thy Tongue and Pen the Trumpet of it Let Heaven and Earth adore it let Time and Eternity record it let Hell and the Children of Pride tremble at it but let the humble Man and broken Bones Inherit Inhabit and Rejoice in it for ever Q. 128. Why did some convert and turn again when they saw what was done at the dying of Christ And the High-Priests not Why must they be blind and hardened as to this Work A. 1. By the High-Priests are meant him that was such and those Rulers of most Eminence assisting and concurring with him This Question is double viz. Why some did convert And why such as the High Priests c. did not That some did as the Centurion c. Matth. 27. â—4 seeing that which was done feared greatly saying Truely this was the Son of God Luke 2â— 47. 4â— And Luke records That the Centurion and all the people seeing c. Glorified God and all the people smote their Breasts and departed 2. For their dark Centre was terrified the stirred by remorse and compassion with and unto so patient and innocent a Lamb and that stirring moving on by conviction to great grief sorrow and mourning begat love and the love enkindled the holy Light of the second Divine principle of which number it 's said Longinus was who with his Spear pierced the Lords blessed side 3. But in the High-Priests c. The dark Zeal had like Fire drunk up the meek Water of Tenderness and Compassion so that the Light could not enkindle but they remain'd a dark Fire For it is manifest they by their impetuous Lusting proud grasping for Grandeur and Rule and their griping after heaping up abundance of the outward principle had by Covetousness like greedy Dogs or Swine formed their very Souls according to the four Auguishes of the first dark Hellish Impression 4. As Antichrist also whose Forerunners and Antitype these were hath done and still doth Therefore to distinguish a resolv'd hardened Persecutor from the Creaturely Devils is thus to be done that the persecuting Man hath on him the Bestial part of the Out-birth for mitigation which is a Door through which it is possible Grace may enter unless the impardonable sin hath judicially wholly shut him up 5. But the mitigating third principle excepted viz. the worst part of it the Antichristian Spirited-Man having shut out the second principle the Evil Angels and he are in one and the self-same principle 6. It is also certain that the Antichrist sometimes call'd the Whore sometimes Babylon sometimes the Mystery of Iniquity and Man of Sin is as such incureable and irrecoverable for it is an Enmity against Love and Meekness The Art of Physick gives that Disease for Incureable which is grounded on the Constitution the Disease of Antichrist is such and therefore Incureable for he is compos'd of the Enmity of the four forms of the first principle and is Enmity in the Abstract against the Divine Kingdom of Humility Meekness Love Peace and Divine Light and Joy Q. 129. What was Christs going to Hell where he overcame Death and the Devil A. 1. Great is Mans Misery on Earth by reason of wilful blindness When we hear of Christs going to Hell or overcoming Death and the Devil there we blindly grope with our Conceits imagining in our Reason a local motion to a place far off But that it may be plainly told what Christs going to Hell was it must first be orderly said 1. What Hell is and where Which is referr'd to the 17th Answer the 19 20 21 22 23 verses 2. What the Conquering Captain Christ is that Vanquished all the Devils every where It is answered It was Christ as he had made himself a Creature for his Body as a Creature is the whole holy pure Element which comprizeth this whole World The holy Body hath Heavenly Flesh and Blood and Water of Eternal Life which feedeth the Faithful Soul at the Lords Table 2. Anâ— tho' it comprizeth this World Heaven Paradise and the Angelical World yet is a Creature but such a Creature as can be every where in the Deity for unto this Creature of Heavenly substantiality hath the Almighty Son of God espoused himself as a Body to remain in Eternity as in the time the Sun doth unto the Moon as in his own Body In every part of which Body the Trinity is always manifest Objection 3. But this crosseth the received Divinity which assigns ubiquity to be the peculiar distinction of the Creator from the Creature Also an imposing upon the Senses that one Creature is at London and at Quinsay at the same moment of time a thing denied to be in the Sphere of an Angel whose Wings are only illustrations of his almost instantaneous local motion implying he cannot be in two places at once Answer 4. The least divisible Body requires place and space and magnitude is the uniting of two or more divisibles 1. My Foot is not where my Head is but I am where either of them is 2. If my Head only is in the Air my Body only in the Water my Feet only in the Earth under Water yet I am in every of these at once 3. My Hand is at the Heâ—m my Eye on the Star my Heart with my God then am I at once in two Worlds 4. Again my Elementary and Sensual Man is in pain my Siderial Man in care the unmortified properties of my Eternal first Principle or old Man or Root of the Soul in much stubbornness anxiety and frowardness my regenerate new Man or humble meekened Spirit is rejoicing under the Cross in hope of Eternal Blessedness Yet am I but one little poor Creature tho' I am at once in one Visible and three Invisible Worlds 5. Now tho' what the new Man sees or feels hath or hopes for meets with resistance in the unmortified part of the first principle or earthy Vessel yet is it not so in Divine Bodies of Angels or perfected Spirits Who all by prevalence of their consonance and uninterrupted holy will have their Heterogeneous parts swallow'd up by their lustrous Harmony 6. All these things penetrated and pondered shall our straitned Souls confine the Immense Heavenly Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ For his becoming Man or Incarnation wherein he assumed our darkened Souls uniting them with the Divine Virgin of Wisdom as one Creature in himself did not straâ—ten lessen
excited by earnest Love is successful passionately to enkindle Divine Light in such proportion of speed as the heat is in degree for great Divine Fervour having Anguish for its Root hath always according to its own Nature eminent Light and Glory for its Fruit. 2. More particularly 4. To shew his immediate care of the feeblest as tender Mothers do to their weakest Children So here to a Woman 5. To demonstrate his gracious Condescention to the separate Image of the Humanity divided from Adam and first in the Transgression like to the saying Tell my Disciples and Peter who had so lately denied him that it was as the seâ—ting of a dislocated Joint 6. To try the Faith of his most eminent Followers who should first only hear of this glorious Resurrection once and again by the words of others than after the sence of hearing follow'd their seeing him then touching then tasting by their Intellect his heavenly Teaching then participating of the Spirit by his breathing on them Thus became they Witnesses not only of Christ's swallowing up Death by Victory by gradual assurance past all shadow of doubt but also be Witnesses against themselves of their own Diffidence till their Faith was enforced to act its office by Mediation of all the Senses Q. 138. Why did Christ after his Resurrection eat of the broiled Fish with his Disciples and entred in unto them through a shut Door and taught them A. 1. The Text saith They gave him a piece of broiled Fish and a Hony comb and he did eat The first part of this Question may seem curious as well as obscure but it must be noted that all things God discovereth are not alike plain but must be sought out by diligent search comparing and inferring as amongst many the offering strange Fire was not forbidden but God consuming the Sacrifice by his own Fire did by Consequence forbid the other the Error herein cost Nadab and Abihu their lives The carrying the Ark on a Cart was not forbidden but David's not considering and inferring a Prohibition of that by the Direction for carrying it on the Priests Shoulders cost Uzzah his Life 2. And now here the Lord after his Resurrection eats broiled Fish and Hony-comb as before he twice feeds the Multitude with Fish by Miracle we may not think the Eating of Fish insignificant and that again having wrought the Miracle of the great Draught of Fishes after the Resurrection their Dinner was Fish All which hath a double signification 1. 3. More general That as Adam's Fall had laid the Creation under Universal Disorder such as was most aptly represented by the confused troubled â—ea and all his Posterity by Fishes one devouring the other as saith the Lord on this Allusion to his Disciples I will make you fishers of men in this sense concerning the New Heaven c. Viz. At the reducing to Paradisical Order it is written there was no more Sea 2. 4 More particularly whereas Fish was never us'd in Sacrifice and Honey directly forbidden to be in any Offering to the Lord by Fire this with rending the Veil of the Temple was to shew the Jews the time of their Sacrifice was finished But Men signified by Fish were in a more excellent way to be the Lord's and the Kingdom of Heaven like a Drag Net to catch them But their not considering this their gracious Visitation and persisting in their obstinate Sacrificing and wilful Ignorance of the signs of the times cost not the lives of a Nadab and Abiâ—u or Uzza but those of Priests and People City and Nation Desolation of Jerusalem and Sion Temple and Altar and suppression of their supposed Offspring for so many Centuries to this very day 5. Now as his Eating was Paradifical in the Mouth only So his entring the Doors being shut was his being now only in the Divine Principle not to be shut out for the World is as nothing before him The Condensations fiercest Attractions strongest Constringencies are all open High-ways to his Omnipotence for his Conquest was over Hell and he goeth into all the wrath of the first Principle as well as the third all Power in Heaven and Earth being his for ever Q. 139. Why did not Christ after his Resurrection sheâ— himself to every one but to some only A. 1. 1. By every one must be intended 1. Every of those in Jerusalem or 2. Every of the Lords Disciples 1. But so to have done in the larger sence had been cross to his own Inhibition Cast not holy things to Dogs nor Pearls before Swine 2. It had oppos'd the Method of his Proceedings with Men from the time of his Conception to his Ascension 1. His Conception was a Secret imparted only to the Virgin after in a Dream to Joseph then Prophetically to Elisabeth Simeon and Anna and Prophesies had Obscurities 2. His Birth was discovered to the poor solitary Shepherds after that perhaps above two Years to the Wise Men but presently veil'd by his Flight and Absence Thence no more is said of him till he attained to about 12 Years and then though the Doctors were astonished at his Understanding yet they knew him not Neither understood his Parents his Answer on that occasion but he went with them and was subject unto them from that time till he began to be about 30 Years So that for 18 Years nothing appears but as if he had been a common Child of Adam 3. Then the Observation of what passed at his Baptism was instantly shrouded by his Forty Days withdrawing from all Men into the Wilderness 4. And after his calling of the Twelve and Preaching the Gospel he often retreated from the Multitudes divers times from some of the Twelve and sometimes from them all especially for Prayer and all this while unknown to his very Brethren 5. And when his exalted Glory was so conspicuous upon raising of Lazarus that the High Priest c. began to say the World goeth after him that it seemed to threaten the hindering the Baptism he was graciously straightned to be Baptized with and that they feared the People then offered he himself up at once checking the mistaken Hopes and Confidence of Jews and Gentiles This was the Method of the humbled state of the Only Eternal Almighty Son of God 3. 3. The Reason of his thus much concealment was the abuse by vile Mankind of the sparklings of his Glory As 1. Herod begins by shedding the Blood of Innocents 2. The Sharers in and Beholders of his Miracles were obstructive to his other work of gaining Souls therefore he so frequently chargeth Privacy on them 3. The Multitudes that he fed by Miracle offered so much interruption as to obtrude on the Eternal Soveraign of all World 's such Advancement as to be King of a Dunghil and render him obnoxious to the filly Jealousie of Earthy Kings those Gods of Clay and their beastly Tyranny 4 The Splendor
Light of the second Principle there is generated in us the pure Love of the third Principle of which Love the Holy Ghost is the Author by this the Law is fulfilled and in and by it the Holy Ghost graciously seals the Regenerate to Eternal Salvation Who having been fed by the Flesh and Blood of the Lord Jesus have in part got his Heavenly Body on them which is attaining a measure of the Resurrection from the dead 6. This brings in Universality in the Room of Propriety one instead of many signified by the Tongues which tho' Cloven were all but one united and one only in every Language here see we the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven and the new Man thus progressed is the true and in some sort perfect Image of the Trinity for it is the first disappeared Image which Adam fell from And in this most excellent way doth the glorious Trinity work in Eternity in all Divine Creatures wherein the Three Persons Image themselves Q. 148. What is the Litteral Word and the Living Word Christ in his shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans Word but not Christ teaching in his Resurrection A. 1. The Literal Word did signifie in the Jewish Administration the Law of Circumcision c. call'd a killing Letter tho' even that were glorious as is intimated by Moses Face The Evangelizing by Preaching or Writing must then be much more glorious the Holy Writings of the Prophets Apostles and Saints are therefore exceeding precious and require great care and diligence to learn the Mysteries there intended and taught they are so good and important their Efficacy Majesty and End so Divine that the living Word and it are used as terms convertible but yet Metonymically As by the Cup is meant the Wine or by the Bag the Treasure 2. But the Living Word is the Eternal Creating Word and tho' no Language contains â—et every Word of Men is of it and by it and when the Lord Jesus saith of the Holy Spirit he shall take of mine and give it unto you he means the so speaking as the Spirit should give utterance Such was this when the God of Spirits fell on them other speaking sprung from Babel is as far below the Life and Power of that as the Consonants are below the Vowels which produce but muâ—e â—issings c. 3. And we may expect when God shall give to his one Heart one Soul one Love one Life of Faith Holiness Meekness Patience and Self-denial accounting nothing their own but as Members of the one Body to live as that white sweet first Age of those Guests at the Feast of Pentecost When God shall do this we may expect he will restore the Spirits of the Letters and give us Water at the pure Fountain until then as one people know not the Language of others so all people are strangers to this and as falshood causeth Men not to know others Minds by their Words so do Mens false Hearts make them unknown to themselves 4. Now why some of them who heard the Heavenly Tidings said these Men are full of sweet or new Wine was because themselves were Captivated in another Principle than that wherein the words were Born perhaps some in the deceits of the third Principle others in the wrath of the first so that they could no more comprehend the words of the Children of the day than the Creatures of the corrupt terrene Salitter can converse with the Aerial Creatures or the aquaâ—trish with those of the Fire or then we poor Offspring of faln Adam can skill the Dialect of Angels 5. Mans Heart is naturally prepossest against Divine Understanding and the simplicity of truth not only from his disorder'd Original but especially by Maturity of Growth to fixedness in the humane Apostacy for Youth stands in a true Ground which makes Angels delight in them until the Serpents Foxes and Goats their Tutors Companions and Tempters have gravely taught them to be Fools in Fashion also false and by degrees to be obscene and impudent of Conversation O how great is Mans Misery on Earth how innumerable his Snares how multiply'd his Perils and Sorrows in this great and terrible Wilderness How Infinite is the forbearance of a contemned Father How compassionate the Redeerner to his daily Murtherers How long-suffering is the grieved Holy Spirit O the Heighth and Depth and Length and Breadth of that Love so abused by us The subsequent Question excuseth saying more to this Q. 149. How doth Christ himself teach presentially in the Office of Preaching and yet sitteth at the Right Hand of God Or among whom doth Christ teach what is a Shepherd or Pastor in the Spirit of Christ and a Teacher of the Letter without the Spirit of Christ each in his Office A. 1. How Christ is in Heaven and every where on Earth at once according to his Heavenly Humanity the 119 Answer from ver 3. to the End sheweth Also it is elsewhere shew'd the sitting of Christ at the Right Hand of the Power of God is at the place where Love quencheth Wrath therefore are the Sheep at the great Day placed on the Right Hand of the Judge 2. But now to the next part of the Question among whom doth Christ teach it must be answer'd the Light which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men for as every Countrey on Earth is visited by the splendor of the Sun and every Plant and Pile of Grass Influenced by him and so hath been from the Creation so also from Adam to the last Man hath Christ the only true Light shined and will shine 3. And as there are many places in some Countries and some Angles in every Countrey whereon the Suns Beams beat not directly yet is there no Vegetable which his Vigor Influenceth noâ— Such is the Pâ—eâ—ching Vertue of Christ to all present past and future 4. Again as every Mineral is not Gold nor every Fruit solar that the Suns veâ—tue should be totally prevalent in them but they all are helped the more to grow thereby in their own Property so that it is not the Suns fault that many are spoil'd Thus tho' Christ stands in the Door of every Mans Heart calls them waits the whole time of the Life of many and very long on all as a Judge as a Councellor and as a Monitor yet many grow hard and as evil Creatures the stronger in their own property by the desireable access of the Suns Rays Thus Impenitent Men do from Gods goodness treasure up wrath bless themselves say we shall have peace cry the Temple of the Lord c. and grow the more evil because God is most good and are the more daring the more they are intreated and strove with 5. Now to the latter part of the Question
hath a very Dim sight and sees such things only by similitudes which impose mistakes And the Eternal Soul is like jarring untun'd Strings of an Instrument So that the holy new Principle is buried drown'd and out-sounded 3. How may the Heavenly Man be distinguisht from all pretended Christians seeing there is given him a white Stone and a new Name which none can read but he that hath it And how obscure the Characters ingraved in that white Stone are may appear in this that when the Lord said to the Twelve one of you shall betray me they all severally askt Master Is it I So that he only who had not the white Stone was able to know who it was and by consequence who were not Traytors but Faithful And yet notwithstanding all that hath been said the right Christian may be known partly by comparing him with the contrary Characters of the Titulary Christian and partly by something visible in him who is the Christian in Heart 4. The Character of the Titulary Christian is he makes the profit pleasure and pride of things on Earth his great and constant aim and it cannot be otherwise pretend he what he will for this is his home his all his treasure where else can be his Heart 5. His first Principle is uneasie to him unless he hath somewhat to go into for his first four Properties being by his loss of the Divine World in the Fall at perpetual enmity and in respect of his dark Principle separately considered he is a Tormentor or Hell to himself therefore laying hold on the third Principle which is all he can reach his hungry Fire and Rage is mitigated as Men in pain and grief are a little eased by delightful Objects diverting the regret of their Melancholy as Children by Toys do cease crying 6. Thus the prosperity of the Fool shall slay him it made him say Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry Did I not studiously shun many words much might profitably be said shewing how according to this the Lord Jesus doth Character the Scribes and Pharisees which were Hypocrites and what the whole reprehensions of the Prophets and Apostles in all the holy Records say of this out-cast state who all with one continued cry did in all Ages perswade recal and warn Man from the Image and Shadow to the true Eternal holy substance and condemn his obstinate refusal The Holy Ghost convincing him of his stupid Lust to his Chains and Prison willing him to leave off his grave Cloths 7. But the Faithful Christian is distinct from the Titular Christian in this that his main aim bent of his will stream of his affections bottom of his real designs desires and longings are not after and stay not in the figure but penetrate into the substance lives to groans and thirsts after the Inward Man 8. Nothing he finds can compose true peace but reuniting the Light World to him which is done only by the death of the Enmity not the death of the Enemies for then the Soul were Mortal if the Powers or Properties could be kill'd but the Regenerate Man dies to the Self-will and Lusts to which the Titular Christian is a great resolute stranger And that it is said he dies to the Sensual Man is so true that it cannot be otherwise for the sensual Life is to the Life of the new Man the resigned Inward Man as sickness is to health which by the true Physician is drove away 9. And tho' Men have the Heavenly and Hellish Properties in them that which soever they awaken that Fire burneth and becomes the Life of the Man suppressing the contrary property yet is not the prevailing Property of these two easily distinguishable in the Out-birth but very obscure Even as the Light of the Sun by the interposition of gross palpable Fogs and Exhalations is less visible than the Lustre of a Bright Moon in a serene Air. Q. 161. What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdom of God is inwardly revealed or manifested How doth he walk and converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once A. 1. The last preceding Answer distinguisheth a Christian from another Man so that to the first second and third parts of this it may suffice to say that the Christian properly such hath inwardly his first principle consisting of the four Anguishes the Root or Fire and indissoluble Band of the Soul illustrated and regulated by the Love Fire which is the Divine Holy Life out of the second principle In respect whereof he walks and converseth in Heaven as in an Angelical state in great purity and simplicity as such are they dear Children and were not the third Principle annexed to them were in the Holy Eternal Paradise already 2. But were they not invested by the Out-birth or Astral World they could not be the compleat Image of the Trinity which in that respect the Angels themselves are not Therefore according to the Astral Man the regenerate Soul is properly the Temple of the Holy Ghost but the Holy Angels themselves wanting that Principle are not said to be so 3. Thence it is our Apostle dehorting from polluting it by Harlots But that we keep our Bodies pure and chaste tells us they are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which if we defile we destroy Gods Temple and that who doth so him will God destroy for as the whole third Principle is the propriety of the Holy Ghost so peculiarly is Mans Outward Man or Astral Man his Temple 4. In the outward Man of some of Gods Holy Children therefore the inward Power World so manifesteth it self that it giveth vigour of the Eternal Holy World into the Tincture of their Astral Man as in the Prophets and Apostles to enter into their Diseased Brother and bring his weak Faith both into a potent and good order with such Energy as fortifies the Paralitick separates the impurity of the Leper calms the rage of the Calenture revives the drooping stays the departing and sometimes recalls the departed outward Life Gods Spirit awakening the Magical Virtue of his Children all things are possible Q. 162. What is the Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity A. 1. Although the Holy Ghost describes Antichrist his Rise his Character and the method of his destruction adding that there are many Antichrists Yet so mysterious is he that it is proverbial that Antichrist is the Philosophers Stone in Divinity His shelter is the Darkness his defence the Word and Power of Hell and wicked pretended Christians Of this Vizard of Darkness the Divine Light divests him and the Divine strength consumes him the brightness of the Lords coming discovers him and the Spirit of his Mouth destroys him How then can any be deliver'd from the Tyranny of Antichrist who are strangers to Christ or any know Christ who are willingly in servitude to Antichrist 2. The time of Antichrists discovery and destruction is certainly
the Almighty Power of the Holy Ghost the latter perfected and consummated by the same Power concurring with the Gracious Providence of Infinite Wisdom The first so great an inward Divine Work as none but such in whom it is wrought can speak more of it but as Parrots so that the Experimental Work only enables rightly to see taste feel and know it And the Spirit working it can only rightly open the Mouth and guide the Hand to tell and describe it And this being spoken in the plainest simplest way can yet be received and profitable to such only who by the same Spirit are not only enlighten'd but made alive by the new Regeneration 2. Therefore in answer to the first part of the Question we are to know that God made of one Blood all Nations of the Earth and all Men in one Principle viz. the third consisting of the first four Properties for its Root But the second was Mans Paradisical Garland his Heaven his Crown and Divine Image This our Root and common Father the first Adam suppressed extinguished and caused to die and disappear Thenceforth Man became like the Cursed Earth whereof some plats bear Thorns and Briars others fetid Weeds others poysonous Plants others less noxious Products according to the prevalency of every of which the plat is named So some Men are hurried by the impetuous storms and fury of the four Anguishes of the first Principle and so are Devilish others are swallow'd up of the voluptuous Lusts of the Elementary Spirit and thence rightly called sensual others steered and regulated by the Maxims of the Siderial World and these can be no more or better than Earthy 3. Now out of all these the Divine Power ingenerating Faith not only acting in the understanding but swaying the Scepter of the Will also self-denial both as from abhorrence of the defiling self and also from self-interest property and self-pleasing which is as the Flower of Grass then cometh a hunger after the unseen Manna which is the Root producing the meek resignation of self-pleasing desires patient submission to the Cross which as it were insensibly enkindleth in the Soul the sweet dear silent retirement rest and peace the passing into the fifth form and this walkt in gradually regenerateth and tinctureth the dark perverted Soul with the noble new universal Power and Might And these are as different according to the procedure of Men as years distinguish the growth and stature of Children But done so silently by the Holy Spirit in Mans Spirit as the Blossom issueth and after it the Fruit. 4. The true new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ is always new and that continually and successively renewed if indeed it be true not as the natural Birth of Children into this World who are so Born but once but rather as the growing of the Embrio in the Womb to a formed animated perfect Child Nor as an Arrow flying through by the force of its first push but as a Ship sailing through successive Perils and always returning to its latitude from various aberrations and passing through raging Surges as over so many Deaths Or as young people recover out of escaping from and through many Sicknesses and Relapses For the Lord himself teacheth saying to his Disciples who none doubts were before that converted Except ye be converted and become as this little Child ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Which then they were not for their quest was who should be the greatest thus tho' Metal upon Metal be false Herauldry Conversion upon Conversion is true Christianity 5. Nor is this less plain and evidently real in it self to the Children of the day tho' Nicodemus the Night Visiter misunderstood it than that the outward Suns Diurnal appearances on the Earths Revolutions make so many new days and every advance of the new Born Soul towards Perfection is such another thing than was the former as this Harvest is than the last was for the Soul can no more continue to grow by the first stirrings of the Heavenly World in it than the Body be nourished and supported by the Food it received the last Month or the Plants by the Rain they imbibed the last year or the Manna gathered one day be Food the following day when grown Verminous Thus God saith Behold I make all things new 6. Such therefore who pinfold their apprehensions of the new Regeneration by the Gage and Glass of the Natural Birth of Children may as equally infer the Mortification or Dying to the corrupt Man to be one only act Contrary to the Apostle I die daily Whereas we both die daily and are daily regenerated as Night and Day Winter and Summer are successively perpetuated Among the Roman Ecclesiasticks their Novices are under an absolute Arbitrary Subjection to the Tyranny of their unaccountable Superiors but the higher the Soul advanceth to the superior parts of true Regeneration the more simply and resignedly obedient is he till he actively passively and compleatly become as a little Child 7. And now to the second part of the Question Is it done in this time or after this time It is answer'd in the immediately preceding Discourse on the first part of this Question That the Regeneration is not wrought by one act as neither is Mortification done at once but gradually by little and little effected as a Summer hath its Spring a Day its Dawning a Vintage its sprouting out Obj. 1. â—8 Is it objected Omnipotence may perfect the Regeneration at once by one single act A. Without the Censure of confining Infinity it 's queried on what Ground is this presumption Built God shews us his way by all his gracious Discoveries for instance that of the Creation of the Out-world leads us as by the Hand to the view of the progress of the new Creation in which not to touch particulars which were repeating what is elsewhere done and digressive it may not be denyed but the Light call'd for at the beginning might have been multiplied into the inkindling of the whole deep that all had been as a Sun and so the alone figure of the Heavenly World but how then had this Out-birth figur'd both Worlds or both Principles wherein the seven properties should impress themselves in their distinct powers Therefore was that Light collected and the place of the Sun ennobled with the preheminence of the Empire of the Out-world as the Representer of the Holy Infinite second Principle the Son of God And the Darkness which before covered the Deep was conserved by condensation of the Terrestrial Globe whereon we creep and the Crassitude of the other Stars to figure the Infinite Eternal first Principle whereinto according to the dark impression thereof Man fell and out of which he is gradually recover'd as by way of similitude the Suns lustre attenuateth the gross Air by his continual variation by steddy orderly and regular approaches toward either Tropick Obj. 2. 9. But God new regenerateth the Spirit of Christ in
Man at dissolution of the outward Life at one instant and by the same dissolution is it effected and compleated A. What Omnipotence may do is not for vile dust to comprehend for it is written I know thou canst do all things and the Thief on the Cross was a Monument of unsearchable Grace yet by the words of that Thief there seems not only a preparedness but a good degree of Conviction of guilt penitence sence and anguish under it inlightening to know the Lord Jesus Faith to direct and fortifie his petition and a seeing the unseen Kingdom yet so late a Repentance tho' thus manifested is the one only singular president on Record Q. 10. But it may be enquired what the dissolution of the outward Life of its own Nature contributeth hereunto A. It must be acknowledged that it banisheth for ever the outward Objects of our misimployed Affections and yet it followeth not that it takes away the desire gust or lust after them for the breaking of the outward Life or Elementary and Siderial Man or the Obligations and Ligaments of our Souls and Spirits is but as taking away the Skreen and opening to us the two inward Worlds which is as the unraking of Fire and enraging the Souls native forms of the unregenerate which the Astral and Elementary Man had been before the separation a mitigation of the Anguishes of so far is Mans dissolution from contributing to a Foundation or Beginning of the Divine Birth As it may be conceived by noting that tho' a proper Soil and apt Season may shoot a Mustard-seed sown unto a tall large stature Yet the richest Soil concurring Elements liberal Season benign Astral Influences with the Solar Rays uniting transmute not Tares into Wheat Thistles into Fig-trees nor Thorns into Vines 11. But where the Soul like Flax only smoketh with the Holy Fire and the Souls Fire is irradiated with true tho' weak Divine Light rightly directing the Eye of the Mind Causing the Will and Affections to press forward mourning sowing in tears smiting on the Breast in Anguish heaviness and good earnestness the dissolution of such a sincere beginning Pilgrim may be but as plucking up a Thorn Hedge to make the way more accessable disburthening an over-laden Ship the better to secure the whole the alighting from a froward unbroken or tired Horse which will neither carry the Rider nor can be carried by him So unsuitable a Companion doth the Soul begun to be regenerate find his Body with the distrustful cares distracting fears worldly sorrow and hateful pollutions thereof And so adverse are the Maxims of the Sensual Man to those of the New that they are on terms of Hostility so that if we live after the Flesh we shall die but if by the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live The Body's Vileness is pointed at by that Statute in Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil was not to be poured on Man's Flesh tho' not only both the Altars the Table Laver all the Vessels and Candlesticks but also the very Tabernacle was to be anointed therewith 12. How much are we less provident than the Brutes who know and use their season the Stork the Ant c. and under flattering Hopes of doing all at last neglect all for ever but when Harvest is come begin to sow regardless of what is written To day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts But besotted lost Man will promise himself that it is enough at death that the Priest can absolve me Others to say I believe Christ hath done all for me or because they acknowledge that all are sinners indulge themselves to be always sinners neglecting the great End of their Creation and of Divine Patience till the Creator is calling them for Accompt of His betrusted Talents as if they would then work out their Salvation when themselves are passive and unable to action and the night come when no man can work Obj. 3. 13. But we are told and that by some who detest the Roman Purgatory that something may be done to compleat the perfection of separate Souls after their separation from the Mortal Body who produce several Texts out of the Old Testament and out of the New also out of the Apocryphal antiquity to point at it or rather expresly to confirm it as out of the Old Deut. 26. 14. Isa. 61. 1. Zech. 9. 11 12. out of the New Matth. 12. 32. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 6. out of the Antient Writings call'd Apocrypha 2 Esdras 7. 37. Ecclesiasticus 7. 33. 2. Maccab. 44. 45. Let us therefore post-pone the first step to the New Birth till our bodily Letts be removed when without the obstructions of the Rebel Passions ending with cutting of the Temporal Thread we be adapted thereunto A. The Objection supposeth not that one who at separation of the Soul from the Outward Body after rejecting the Gospel being in fixt Enmity against God and the Kingdom of Resignation is remediable nor suggesteth that he who soweth himself a Tare Thorn or Thistle shall rise a Wheat Corn Vine or Fig-tree how therefore may it seem incumbent on me to oppose my self to the dint of the Texts produced 14. But rather as the Lord Christ in answer to the Question of the Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father keepeth in his own Power but prophesieth and chargeth on them on that occasion their immediate concern and business How much less is it for men to know what the operations of Father Son and Holy Ghost will be in perfecting separate Souls when out of the Circle of Time and Seasons For so strong a Fort hath Satan built in mens resolute Self-wills so impierceable are their Rocky Hearts that like Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the Spear and as the Servants of Atheistical Benhadad diligently catch every word seeming to favour their flattery of Impunity that they may treasure up wrath by impenitence more and more against the day of wrath 15. To these am I sent with happy Tydings that howsoever the Abyss of Mercy hath winked at the faults of the days of Ignorance yet now commandeth he all men every where to repent also with heavy Tydings that if in this their day they neglect so great Salvation how shall they escape Which Question none in Heaven Earth or Hell answereth Again if they that sinned against Moses Law died without Mercy and it might seem the bottom of Misery to die a merciless Death of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trampled under foot the Son of God and blasphemously counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace of how much sorer punishment is that Question but which either is unanswerable or which Eternity can only unfold 16. A murthered Body is the sorrow and pity
of the Country a Self-murtherer their shame and indignation but the unknown number of wounded Souls and self-murthered Souls are not regarded tho' it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for such Gospel-Apostates and Haters of Christ. The malicious Enemy of Mankind who wounds himself that he may murther Souls so greatly he hates Man draws into the Anguishes of his Central Forms whole Harvests of Reprobates in whom he hath no true Right or Propriety by his offering Baits and Cheats for Food and Realities while woe to the World the most glorious gracious and adorable only Son of the only High God whose we are by Absolute Propriety and whose Love to Mankind was so immense and unsearchable as that He made Himself vile and a Sacrifice to whom He offereth Real Highest and Eternal Blessedness yet hath only the gleanings of the Harvest or Vintage while the World lieth in wickedness and their Posterities approve of their saying calling the proud happy and perpetuating the Black Art of Self-murther like Fish hasten greedily to catch the same Bait wherewith others had been hookt or Birds speed to be taken in an evil Net so throng Men to be ruined reject the only Hope precipitate into irreparable desperation Others seeming less obstinate are as fatal Foes to themselves telling and flattering of tomorrow while such futurities of safety expose them as Fools to perish to day while Wisdom saith To day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts and that This is the accepted time This is the day of Salvation The time of the coming of John the Baptist was in the year of Jubilee yet then saith he The Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree 17. Our gracious God infinitely out-doth and out-bids all to make us his and restore his Image in us for in Man's Creation he did much more than for any or all the visible Creatures of the Out-birth or third Principle in his Redemption for restoring the Divine Image he did infinitely more for him than any or all the invisible Creatures of the first Principle the Apostate Angels for whom is given no Sacrifice nor Mediator Also in Man's Consummation Perfection Sealing and Glorification and Preparation thereunto is much more done for him than for the Holy glorious Angels the Sons and Inhabitants as morning Stars of the bright Heaven the Holy second Principle for the Spirits of just Men made perfect the general Assembly of the Church of the first-born are Fellow-Citizens with the Angelical Worlds and so share of the infinite Goodness of God as they and also have this more that they have had in the Lord their Head the Bowels of infinite Pardoning Mercy drawn out for them which is peculiarly extended them and treasur'd up only in the Emmanuel for them 18. This most dear boundless Goodness calls for the highest and deepest Contemplation 't is so profound so large so adorable so admirable that neither can the Earthen Vessel bear it the Syderial Man find any thing whereunto his Bounty may be likened the Immortal Soul be properly said to know it for it is what passeth Knowledge but the Soul is known by it as it is more or less enlighten'd therewith and Man's intellectual Spirit is so far from throughly penetrating it that it only shines and flows by Influence and Reflection of it for it self is as a drop of the Abyss enlighten'd by a beam of the Eternal Sun it burns and flames in the self-evidencing splendor of that incomparable inexhaustible Treasure and excellent Majesty This poor vile hand lyes prostrate at the Footstool of this Grace the Elementary and Astral Man the Eternal Soul and Spirit is herein swallow'd up once and for ever 19. How reasonable necessary and natural was what our Apostle saith I beseech you Brethren by the Mercies of God that ye present your Bodies a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God This is the Riches of his goodness forbearance and long suffering to lead man to Repentance There is a Promise that Men shall fear the Lord and his Goodness Man's contempt of Bowels of Infinite Mercy shews him less rational than the Bruits than the Insects who all shew the desire of Self-defence while he refuseth to be shielded from the greatest of horror by the free goodness of his God purchased by his own Blood with sorrows aggravated to unexpressible mysteriousness yet is Man offered all at the cheap Price of Acceptance and importunately besought to open his Hand Mouth and Heart to receive Pardon from day to day perhaps for many years still in vain whil'st he riseth early compasseth Sea and Land with his Life in his hand sweats freezeth bleeds frets wounds his Conscience and sells himself What therefore can the account of such Rejecters of the Invitation to the Marriage Supper be seeing to Ungratitude is added Stubbornness to that Despitefulness and consequently desperate Madness being one who having more done for him than for the Holy Angels and yet thus doth more against the glorious Grace of God in Christ by exalted Wickedness than the very Devils 20. Behold this and Blush ye Heavens ye Sun and Stars gather blackness let the Earth be moved let the Stones of the Streets and Walls be Witnesses let the Brutes and Animals stand amaz'd melt ye Rocks of Adamant relent and sigh ye Mountains of Ice let Marble and Pummice-stones weep come hither discover your inward Forms ye savage Bears cruel Tygers Vultures and unnatural Vipers The Heavens Sun and Stars were never Witness of the like Tragick Stupidity for had they seen the Angels that fell become Devils yet had they not known them refuse Mercy freely continually and importunately tendered the most brutish Animals reject not but greedily snatch what they want the Adamantine and Marble Rocks are all easily dissolvable by their proper Separators and Dissolvents the Mountains of Ice are as unwilling Captives Bears Tygers and Vultures are not only kind and friendly to themselves but compassionate to their Young the Viper though he destroys his Genitrix yet seems to do it of necessity to preserve its own Existence where therefore can be found so obdurate a thing as the Impenitent Heart of Man so great a Monster so ferine a Brute such a Prodigy of Ingratitude so implacable a Creature as the hardened obstinate Sinner No such Ingratitude and Cruelty can the Astral World demonstrate in the contrary Wills of the Martial Mercurial and other cross Constellations nor in the Elementary Offspring of them nor all whose Differences result to Harmony in the Earth or Deserts Air or Seas no not in Hell the dark Abyss or Devils no Sinners against so great Mercies and means for Recovery no Sinners against a Redeemer against the bleeding Love and Bowels of a Saviour there but Man the Devils are those for whom nothing of Mercy is prepared Oh therefore that Men were wise that they knew this and would hear that their Souls might live and not sink
to be risen with Christ and guided by his Light within them Let it be observed by such who wilfully oppose or not regarded at their Peril And for satisfaction of such who are willing to know the truth viz. That Christ had a true Natural Humane Body of Flesh and Blood from Mary Heb. 2. 24. For asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death which is the Devil Q. 3. But is it askt how is this Body and Humane Soul the same of ours It 's answer'd 1. By way of Concession that it was so far other than ours as it had the Holy Ghost instead of Mans Masculine Seed 2. Yet took he as the above Text with many others plainly tell us part of our Flesh and Blood and so was our Brother that is such as the Children had part of were of or are partakers of and this is also ours of what Nation soever we are for it is written Acts â—7 16. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on the Face of the Earth Q. 4. Is it ask'd what of this was raised again It 's Answer'd all of it for the Women and after that the Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter saw there was nothing left in the Sepulchre after the Resurrection but the Linnen Cloaths wherein he had been wrapped Q. 5. May it be fully so with other Bodies Answer Matth. 27. 52 53. And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many And it must be remembred that it shall be so with ours at the last day it was the Faith of Martha who saith unto him John 11. 24. I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Q. 6. May it not be otherwise with us our Bodies must putrifie and the Incorruptible only rise Answer our Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 53. Our Mortal shall put on Immortality and our Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and all this as a consequence of Christs Death and Burial according to the Scriptures also of his rising again and after his rising again was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve after that of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6. Q. 7. Shall it be a Resurrection of all Answer The Lord saith Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Let it therefore no longer be charged justly on us as formerly on the Jewish Rabbies That we err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1 Thes. 4. 14 15. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep c. Q. 8. How is it effected Answer As Lazarus was raised That voice which gave Being to all call'd him up and that voice shall call all up every one in his own Order May it never be said of us as of the Jews Because they knew not him nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him So may it not be said now Because they consult not frequently nor heedfully regard nor will understand the holy Words and Writings of the Lord his Apostles c. which they may daily read they yet sit down with a confused Notion of this great Doctrine and bury their drowsie Intellect some with dark Heathenish Maxims begetting Atheism in Judgment and Practice a degree worse than Devils 9. Other some there are having a glimpse of a true Light wherewith they think themselves rich and to have need of nothing and there shut it and themselves up without proving it by searching like the Bereans and without improving it by trimming their Lamps But not imploying themselves in the Lords methods do obscure or bury their Talent and so by degrees let their foolish Heart be darkened not only in this but in many other of the plain and precious Truths of the Kingdom of God which great evil and defection is as ever heretofore in all other forms accompanied with sharp Censures of others and peremptory unwarranted Injunctions of their own Reason Whereas the more we approach the Divine Life the more comprehensive is that Soul the more ready to bear and forbear to do and suffer to become all or any thing to all that it may beget of that meek Spirit in others to be swift to hear to have an open naked Breast whereon it begs the Lord Jesus to write his whole Pleasure is so vile in his own absurd Judgment that is easily induced to think highly of others Q. 173. How doth this World pass away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward A. 1. To some this Question may seem only curious and to others so occult as if incogniscible to a third sort such as if possible to be resolv'd were needless because it fruitlesly anticipates say they the thing which in its season shall demonstrate it self But on serious mature inspection it is found possible important and greatly necessary to be known and believed 2. It is said that when Cortis with a Brigade of Spanish Horse and Infantry Invaded the West Indies and had charged them of the Republick of Tlaxcallan upon the Fall of any Spaniard either Man or Horse care was taken so to bury them that the Americans might not know it which made them despair of withstanding such whom they thence concluded to be Immortal Thus not to discover the end of this present World which the dark World and the Prince of it would conceal were to insinuate as if it were indissoluble and consequently uncreated and so Brutishly to introduce Atheism and Atheism is that fatal Evil which may be justly accounted the worst of Errors of the worst of Men. 3. But this World had a beginning and shall have an end as it is written Psal. 102. 25 26. Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hand They shall perish c. They all shall wax old as doth a Garment c. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. And tho' no History scarcely records any who mock'd at the coming of the Lord yet is it Prophesied 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. That in the last days Scoffers shall come even at that which will then be at the Door saying Where is the promise of his coming c. For such Mens Lusts Biass them to abuse Gods long-suffering ver 9. Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18. 31. 32. 2 Pet. 3. 10. And it is told
us how this World shall pass away viz. 1. Unexpectedly as a Thief 2. Suddenly in the Night 3. Violently with a great noise 4 Universally the Heavens Earth and Elements 5. Irreparably The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth be burnt up and that the Heavens being on Fire shall be dissolved ver 12. And this tremendous Truth is not only really and litterally but demonstrably so 4. To the second part of the Question viz. what remaineth thereof afterward see the Answer of the 30th Question of the 40 Questions of the Soul and the 27 Chap. of the three Principles ver 6 and ver 20. But to speak yet farther on this latter part what remains of it the World afterward viz. after dissolution of the present frame or fashion I must seem and but seem to digress which tho' to some it be obscure will be plain to the Mind initiated into and irradiated with the Theosophick Wisdom The Out-birth is the Figure of the two Eternal Worlds or Principles having all the Properties according to the two different contrary Impressions And this Out-birth in the Womb of the Eternal Mystery was by the earnest Magick longing and will originated which will is as the Voice or Mouth of the great Mystery and the properties are as the Instruments or Fingers of the creating word the first viz. the Voice is the Father Soveraign or Lord of the Separator or Father of Nature and the latter viz. the Properties are his Limbs or Members working by the Astral Powers for Generation of all the Creatures of the Out-birth 5. This Father of the external Nature or Outward World invigorated by the might of the Properties hath ability unweariedly to work universally in and through the whole Out-birth and being the Image of the first born of every Creature who standeth incomprehensibly in the Eternal Rooting Powers this his Image and Servant is innobled with such energy as both to form and animate the productions of the whole Out-birth yet who will be so foolish as to take him either to be the First-born Son of God or the Father which is in Heaven whom the Son teacheth us to direct our Prayer to as the Object of all Adoration or the Holy Infinite third Person or Subsistence tho' his Office is in the third Principle but is a Creature potently furnished and fortified to stamp engrave delineate and shadow Living Images of the two Inward Worlds And hath the Seals and Magical impresses but not the Eternal Holy Incomprehensible Magia for that the Divine Virgin of Wisdom is a Possessor of generating the real Worlds themselves for-ever whereof this is only the figure 6. And this Father of Nature call'd by some the Soul of the outward Universe hath a Tincture under his dispensation such as of which the Out-birth is capable to be enriched with And this also of both Impressions viz. of the light and dark Worlds Figures but it hath not the holy meek divine Tincture for that the Divine Sophia the Virgin of Wisdom is glorified with But the Tincture and Magia which the Father of Nature is distributer of is yet so noble as to be holy in the holy Vessels but not so fixed and compleat as to hallow unholy Vessels but so flexible as is vitiated into a false Magia and counterfeit Tincture and so applicable to the Impostures of Evil Angels and their Humane Vassals that they to their Eternal Damnation may and do prophanely abuse and prostitute this Tincture and Magia 7. Thus what the Virgin of Gods Wisdom is in the Heavenly Birth to the Angelical World and other Paradisical Inhabitants such is this Father of Nature in the Out-birth and not only the two Eternal Worlds have their Figures and manifest Portraitures in this but the very holy creating Word and Virgin of Wisdom of which no visible figure can be hath above all this grand Separator or Father of the External Nature for it's plain audible Herauld immediate substitute and express Representer Yet so secret as only to be found by the Inlighten'd Mind and tho' seen in all things yet discerned understood and perceived by very few and for the sake of those very few are these things thus opened 8. From all which it may easily be deduced what of this World shall remain viz. Nature in its Virtual Form and Dress the real Entities with their Tincture their subâ—â—antial tho' not palpable Bodies that is to say the true substance of every Individual Figure the Idea of every thing which the Father of Nature hath produced to shadow and reveal the hidden Holy and Power Worlds therefore of necessary consequence the Father or Separator must needs remain to Marshal his Hosts in their Eternal successive Scenes for the most High and Holy God will not lose the end of his Work But his goodness must be for ever extensive diffusive communicative for his Glory Amen Nor is it possible he should lose the least part of the Order by him fixed of declaring himself but that by the things he hath made may be shewn his Eternal Power and Godhead because for that purpose they were produced 9 I compare the World to a Seed which tho' it die having lost its Husk Chaff and very Sulphurean and Saline Body is yet regenerated by its Mercurial renovation into another yet as it were the self-same hence saith the Lord There is nothing hid or covered which shall not be made manifest The Idea of the Drunkards Horse like Balaam's Ass shall convince the madness of the Rider and Eccho his own repeated causless Sufferings and Groans under the Tyranny of his more Savage Owner The Flocks shall bleat again and shew how their Lives have been lavished to satiate the voluptuous Gluttony of their Wolvish Owners The Vine and Fatness of the Field shall shew how their Blood and Strength was exhausted for the Lusts of the proud while the Bellies of the Indigent were shrunk up For as by the Chymist the Flegm of the Plant is separated away and the faeces precipitated yet the Spirit Essence and Idea retained so is it here Also as the washing of a Man who hath many Wounds in his Body covered all over with Blood shews how many how great and where those Orifices are so is it here Likewise as the drawing back of the extended Shadows and Curtains of the Night lays open and exposeth like Ezekiel's Vision the Idols and undermining Works of Darkness so will it be then Or as the wiping of the slime and filth sticking to a Looking-glass makes all appear therein clearly so will that transcendent work be yet neither is the Seed perished the Plant utterly lost the wounded Man quite expired nor the Looking glass broken in pieces 10. Therefore as the Lord would preserve a Pot of Manna wherewith the Tribes of Israel had been sustained in the Wilderness and as the Lord Jesus would have the Fragments of the Bread and Fish Basketed wherewith he had fed by Miracle so
in the devouring fierceness of the Wrath kingdom and the second and third Principles subsist in and with and are tormented by the Anguishes of the Soul as are the Souls themselves by the contrarieties of their own four forms 9. Thus also are Devils and the Damned a Torment each to other tho' in one Principle and one with the Principle as the Holy Angels and Saints are a Crown of Joy and Transcendent Delight and Triumph one to and with the other being all in one Principle and one with the Principle in Nature viz. the new Nature and all the seven Properties making in them all one Property The same contrariwise do the Devil and Damned torment themselves and one the other laying one his Blood on the other and all at constant Enmity against the Principle which comprehends them Blaspheming the Infinite Omnipotence 10. Obj. But will some say here seemeth a contradiction that the Faln Angels and Damned Men are one in Nature and Property with the Principle of Gods Wrath wherein they are comprehended and yet at Enmity with and in the same A. It is truely so and easily made obvious for the Principle is that of stern Astringency and violent Attraction also Exaltation whence Covetousness and boundless Pride in the separate Properties originate now how ill do gripirâ—g covetous Men and other covetous Men each scraping from the other agree and proud Men with contrary proud Men But the resignation of the Spirit and emptying and divesting of the Soul thereby becoming as a little Child frees from those direful Extremities The Principle is that of Darkness and the dark Spirits only are suited to and fixt in it but those in whom the Divine Light is generated and inkindled cannot be detained thereby for that were a real contradiction The Principle is also an Eternal Desperation and Anguish above which they in whom the Faith of Gods Elect is begotten are exalted but the rest are therein plunged The Principle is Rage fierce Wrath and implacable Enmity from which the Humble Meek Dear pure Love translates and ennobles the Soul giving another Centre another Life so that he is dead to all these and to the prevailing Dominion of this whole Principle and lives a new Divine Life which this Principle cannot see apprehend or conceive the Idea of much less comprehend and fasten upon But the Vassals or Parts of the dark World sink as Lead into that Abyss and as poysonous venemous filthy and other cruel Peasts cannot but do or endeavour hurt for it is their Life and their Forms of Nature have no other will so are these dark fierce damned Souls one in Will one in Nature one in Act with the Inimicitious Principle and therefore must ever be at Enmity therein and therewith 11. And this thus enkindled is the Kingdom of Gods fierce Wrath Fury Vengeance Consuming Fire the Blackness of Darkness this is that Fuel which the Breath of the Lord like a River of Brimstone doth kindle The Principle of Wrath as it is in God is not only not Evil but very Good in it self in its Original as is the heat in the outward Sun or the Gall in living Creatures the former giving Essence to the Light the other strikes up Life in the Animal but as the one in Burning-glasses consumes so the other separated from the other Properties is a bitter raging tearing fierce Enemy to the Tranquillity of Life as hath in these Answers been remember'd Q 176. Where shall Hell and also the Eternal Habitation of the Holy or Saints be A. 1. When depraved Reason hears this Question it straightway imploys the Imagining Faculty to dig a Dungeon for the place of Hell either in the Bowels of the Earth or under the Poles where the Suns absence causeth a desolation and to find the Habitation of the Saints it soars up to an imaginary Zenith and if it be not so gross as the fiction of the Elizian Fields yet placoth them by local distance from the Circle of time and remote from the roarings and fumes of the smoaky Pit 2. It is true to say up to Heaven and down to Hell but let the same imagination remove this Ball of Earth and Water and the starry Heaven is without Zenith and Nadir no Star is above or below And the local Apprehensions are as near the Truth as those Americans who by an Inaccessible Ridge of Mountains are shut up do as 't is said promise themselves to be Translated by Death only to the other side of that Ridge It is not unlikely that Mahomet might have heard of the mention St. Paul makes of the third Heaven and thence form in his gross Imagination an Ignorant Idea of his Travels through the Silver into the Golden Region and giddily seign those Varieties to be fenced out one from the other as Beasts be fenced out one from the other in their Inclosures 3. The where in this Question must therefore have quite another there and solution than what local distance gives for Hell will be Everlastingly comprized in that Principle of fierceness wrath and blackness of darkness where the seven Properties are in a fixt Anguish Enmity and Radical or Original Discord wherein all and only Extreams are ever Existeat and so possess the Powers in the dark World whereof the fierce Properties in this are a Figure or Shadow for in the third Principle or Out birth hath the first or dark World as really as the second the holy pure World powerfully impressed its Image In that place therefore are the Evil Angels and Damned Reprobates and when their filthy Bestial Bodies shall have a Resurrection to Condemnation as they were the Figure and Tinctured by their averted wrathful Inward Man they shall possess the Dregs Fierceness Anguish and Odious Properties of the same third Principle as the Filthiness Bitterness Stink Venom Contrariety Poyson and Extremities of the Out-birth which shall be resumed after the dissolution by its Aether not annihilated but remain Monuments of the Power of the Infinite Creator and Figures of the Spiritual dark World or first Principle as the Caput Mortuum of the Chymists Nor is it any Impediment but Exciter of Life that the bitter poysonous Gall is in the Bodies of Animals non prejudice to the day when the Sun is in the Zenith of the Aequator that darkness is also in that instant on their Antipodes and both Poles yea on Caverns of Rocks and Ships holds if shut up and on the inside of every Mans Glove and under the Eye-lid as soon and as oft as it is shut thus as to Locality Hell is in Heaven 4. And concerning the Eternal Habitation of the Holy or Saints it must be said it is wheresoever the seven Properties are in Harmony and triumph for there the first four in Eternity generate the other three whereby calmness is transported into triumph and peace ascendeth into excess of highest delight joy and ravishment Hereby diminutives of Affection if sincere are exalted and
Answer What are the Dominions of Angels Evil and Good 1. David meditating the Heavens is transported into admiration What is Man c. But what place may be found low enough for Man to prostrate himself in who seriously considers his loathsom deformity by sin he is so far baser than the Outward Heavens which yet must pass away that he is viler than the Beast that perisheth for his subjection to vanity he owes to us is also viler than the Earth which bearing our Curse yet gratefully pays what it can for the Blessings showering on it and willingly serves the higher Influences of Nature to generate â—â—ble Concretes and were it delivered from our Curse would gladly travel for Paradisical Productions but our heavy Curse is so eating that it hath entred the Timber and Walls therefore must this House needs as that having the incurable Leprosie be pull'd down We are also viler than the poisonous abominable Reptiles for they are but figures of the Forms of the Black World but sinful Man is really united to them Man also considered as Reprobate is worse than the Devils both as he is lower by Creation and higher by aggravated transgression having trampled on the Only and most excellent Remedy freely offered for his recovery the Sacrifice of the most Holy of Holies the Only Eternal Son of God 2. And is there no Creature so vile as Man Hold this O my Soul for thy Contemplation remain confounded and astonished Let not thy Tongue smother what thy Intellect sees nor thy Pride refuse thy just Reproach flatter not paint not indulge not but depart out of thy self as now clotâ—ed with thy shame and filth cry to him whose Eternal Mercy is infinite for pity to cast his skirt over thee now in thy Blood And when thou contemplatest the sublime Wisdom excellent Power and irresistible Activity of the Angelical Hosts and remembrest that the subtilty of a Fox the strength of an Ass the nimbleness of a Fly the skill of a Bee surpass thee yet know if regenerate into the Image of Jesus Christ thou maist by humble Obedience and willing Child-like Resignation to the Conduct of the Councils from above obtain That Wisdom which the Old Serpent is short of thou maist â—ate sin in a measure as the Holy Angels do viz. really because it is sin and universally thou maist love Holiness Purity and Modesty sincerely in a measure the perfection of which Love is the Glory of the Heavenly Hosts Let not therefore the shame of thy nakedness so sink thee but that thy humble thoughts may offer up Volumes of Blessings for any possibility of recovery To Thee therefore who art all in all and infinitely above all be offered up my wretched all To Thee who art all pity be presented my mournful earnest prayer graciously lay hold on my feeble Faith let thy Wind blow Life on my dry Bones To Thee O Fountain of Goodness be given all my weeping praises and my whole Soul for ever On the 20th Question and Answer Out of what is the Visible World created c. 1. This Visible World is originated out of the Eternal thence sprung the Stars and four Elements of the one Element the Fire actuates separates and digests the other three Elements and the Father of Nature forms all according to the Will modell'd by the Wisdom and giveth the Tincture Thus the Fire-life in Man's Mortal Body helps three Concâ—ctions the first in the stomach as the Chilus nourishing by assimilation answering to the Air the second in the Mesentery and Liver as Blood answering to Water the third Concâ—ction is the passing by the Veins into the gross Members and by the Arteries to the more fine and to add to the Bones answering to Earth and Stones in each of which is a separation of the unprofitable part This Contemplation well raised David to say I am fearfully and wonderfully made And as in our Mortal Man there is something surviving viz. the Tincture so in the Out-birth the Soul of it and Tincture being out of the Eternal Nature and the first Principle is indissoluble but the Bestial Man sees not that but greedily catcheth at the Husk and Hogs-meat the excrementitious part 2. But thou Ohâ—my Spirit shew by thy humble meekness thy high extraction shew by thy Resignation to the universal Will of thy Creator that thou art his Child keep thy Lamp clean that being enkindled by the Fire from above thou maist enlighten the dark Forms of my Immortal Soul to know and live to God and will purely his will that my Souls heat may be a Love fire and that Love-fire may be a constant Fountain for thy Love-flame That as every individual Creature in their degree do unawares to themselves shew the Almighty Power and Infinite Wisdom of God thou being intrusted more than they all with five Talents maist prove them to ten and shew understandingly not only his Infinite Power and Wisdom but Infinite Goodness Grace Clemency Condescension Pity Love Bounty and Sweetness And thou Oh my Astral and gross Body beware lest the poor Brutes by serving thee while they live and dying to keep thee alive out-strip thee not so far as to witness against thee that thou hast prevented the end of thine own Creation and theirs by insatiably lusting to indulge and serve thy self thereby robbing thy Soveraign of the fruits of his Vineyard On the 21th Question and Answer Whence proceeded Evil as poisonous Creatures here c. 1. Out of the Dark Confusion by the Apostasie of Lucifer and his Legions the Fiat moving by the Separator to bring forth every Power strenuously willed to make it self creaturely so was it the seven Planets severally bear the seven separate Powers and according to them are impressed the Evil and Good Properties on Plants Minerals and Sensitives not that any one is wholly one but one is prevalent and the rest subservient Thus evil venomous loathsom voracious fierce Creatures and things have existence yet shineth the Sun descendeth the sweet drops on them and springeth up the fatness of the Earth for them 2. Behold here the overflowing Bounty of the gracious God who feeds the young Lions and young Ravens the Dragons and Serpents of the Wilderness Behold here also his Long-suffering who not only spares but heaps up outward blessings on far worse viz. obstinate hardened seared Rebels for whom he hath not spared his own Son and on whom he hath waited counselling entreating convincing resisting and dropping Line upon Line perhaps twenty forty and on some fifty years for ever blessed be that abused Creator that bleeding Redeemer that grieved Holy Ghost 3. Come hither all my Inward Powers prostrate your selves be enkindled by this Holy Fire learn to do good for evil blessing for cursing Be astonished O my Soul that ever thou didst return black ingratitude and trample on heavenly Blood and Bowels of Mercy that thou hast not only been as the worst of Beasts but much more vile and
only to figure but of the real substance of the dark World So much as thou hast of Covetousness Envy Anger and Pride so much art thou not a representation but a part and limb of the dark Abyss an essential portion in thy proportion of the black raging blaspheming burning Hell of the Damned radically virtually and potentially What is the Long-suffering of God who bears affronts and despights from vile wretched Man while the whole Hosts of Stars punctually observe his Ordinance and are at his beck 3. In their as to Man Infinity they figure the Angelical Hosts And as every Angel is as one whole Kingdom so is every Star as one whole World how little a proud Worm then is the dirty piece of Clay call'd Man How dare any the greatest of them admit a thought of being his own Lord and Law-giver to enter his foolish Head and deceitful Heart And how much less darest thou my Soul who art of the least lowest and most unworthy of Men why delayest thou to give thy whole will thy love thy life thy self to him from whose word thou sprungeâ—t by whose word thou subsisteth on whose word anchoreth thine only hope for Time and for Eternity Deceive not thy self by giving up the guidance of small and indifferent things whilst thouswayest the weighty imports of thy Life and resenteâ—t a disappointment there as a dismembring but faithfully stedfastly willingly submissively bow with equal resignation to every of his Providential Determinations those of the nearest and most sensible concern as of the least so shalt thou dwell in a peaceable Habitation 4. In their steâ—dy duration their Morning commenced with what is call'd time and their Evening compleats it and then resolving Eternity resumes all but I am of yesterday or last hour and do post away with the next yet so feeble as cannot watch with our Lord one Hour A weight of Glory is at the God yet I would have it before I run more than Heart can conceive is prepared for perseverance but I would have all before I well begin O my dear holy God and must I stay enquiring after thee Must my short time seem long to me Must my hope be deferr'd till I faint Must my sick Soul be Imprison'd too and none to visit her Have I but one in my Heart on Earth and in Heaven and must I be so throng'd with Strangers as not to touch the Hem of his seamless Garment While I pine away for thee I do yet tremble and blush to approach thee how can so foul unclean a Creature come into so pure a Palace or Stand before thy Holiness Shame covers me yet Passionate Love makes me bold and impatient I will not I dare not plead modesty in excuse of disobedience iâ— I withhold my self I die for I cannot live in thy absence What kind of Life is this that keeps me from my Life when shall thy Banished be recall'd Oh let not time with-hold Eternity let not many days lengthen my Night Is my presence in this Body absence from my Lord for how can the dry Breasts within the reach of this vile Body satiate my thirsty Soul What kin is the perishing lump of this Body to me it is dead why should my living Spirit be tyed to the dead Yet will my Lord continue me under the load of mine own making bury me under so sad a Vail leave me in Anguish nail me to the Earth deny me the view of my one only most sweet dear precious and desirable Object It is the Lord he doth all things well who having himself but one only Begotten gave that his only Beloved for me and shall not this silence me cause me to acquiesce and swallow me up for ever 5. In their order not justling starting losing over-running nor fainting but regularly steddily jointly ever proceed on their Creators great designs Their Motions Aspects Courses Positions and Variations so exactly precise to the praise of the God of Order that all or much of that they are about is easily fore-known But among Men what Kingdom tho' in Peace or Army when their Life depends on 't may be found without strange disorders what Town what Family without it what Man but for a very few steps treads order for we having by transgression lost it are both ignorant of it and obstinate against it so that to introduce the right order is requir'd in forming of the Intellect alluring of the Affections and subjecting of the Will and there is also requisite clenching of a Nail and driving in of a Goad or else order ether starts or dies But who is that Man dwelling in a House of Clay who upon an unerring Intellect is united to the Divine Order so as to conform an unwavering will thereunto How many faintings recoils runnings back and Apostacies hast thou my Soul sadly Experimented what hour hast thou continued only the Lords without mixing Linnen with the Woollen And must the Holy Spirit be grieved with so vile a wretch must thy Bones be set and dislocated by a continued Succession Oh thou Fountain of Goodness when shall thy will be done here as it is in Heaven when in the outward Man as in the outward Heavens when in the inward as in the holy Heavens Let thy sweet Order bury my confusions that in thee may be my Resurrection 6. In their energy strength and active vigour so are they the immediate Parent of the four Elements being the same in the outward Principle as the strength of their Root and Originals is in the Inward Worlds the four anguishing Constellations also afford matter and in the Moons property exhibit it into palpable substance this the solar power exalteth according to the kind the Separator disposeth every thing unto in Minerals Vegetatives and Sensitives generating animating maturing invigorating ennobling irradiating and again exhaling their volatile parts and dissolving the Fabrick All strong couragious Creatures owe their compaction and fortitude instrumentally to them But what am I who cannot by all Humane Art or Policy or by any Fortress or Arms be defended against a Fly who if Commission'd to Hostility can enter such Organ as may suffocate my Breath How inevitable my Misery that I at once nourish my Life and the Seeds of my Mortality brought forth of the Womb with and in me and after have with pain hazard care and sorrow struggled a few years my Constellations having wrought their course it must be said to me return to thy dust as all other the Sons of vain Mankind 7. In their Vertue which is so conspicuous that from them every Creature of this whole Principle derive their Excellency The Elements their simplicity the outward Heavens their purity and serene Beauty they enrich the Fields with Fruits clothe them with Flowers replenish the Sea with Inhabitants and precious Things the Air with foul penetrate the Bowels of the Earth so as to produce and generate precious Metals Stones and Sanatives give
Let me Oh thou God of my Spirit neither begin much less end with the outside washing which is my self washing of my self But let my Soul my Inside my Heart Will Designs Desires and my secret Thoughts be washt by thee for without that I have no part in thee Let this washing last longer than the possibility of my polluting my self can endure and let me be washt from my self which is the foulest sink on this side Hell Then and not till then shall I know what the Water above the Firmament is and can do for such a black Creature who of himself must cry unclean unclean On the 27th Question and Answer Of the Male and Female Kinds Whence is their Desire to each other And of the necessity of it 1. We are taught to pray Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven But seeing that Man hath now by dividing the Tinctures who till then Imaged the Divine Kingdom got such a will as is on Earth among the Brute Beasts losing the Heavenly Image what remains but that the will be taught subjection and long for groan after earnestly desire and accordingly pray to be restored here to be as they are in Heaven where by the reunion of the Tinctures they Image their God Yet tho' the Rent of the Tinctures be irreparable in the bulk of Mankind here and that God of pity to his Creatures hath extracted Good out of Evil bearing by Divine Patience that in Man whereof Nature it self as deprav'd as it is shameth at It nevertheless remains our Souls Work and Duty to learn what his dear disappear'd Virgin Image is studiously and sollicitously to seek that his first Love the Free Woman the Jerusalem from above which withdrew when Adam slept bitterly to bemoâ—n that loss and account the finding that precious Pearl worthy of all pains care and highest diligence and having found it then to sell all to buy it 2. But now my Soul seeing thou art so Beastly in thy Earthy Elementary and Astral part infecting thy noble Eternal part behold with abhorrence thy filthiness by a true impartial Glass Where is the Modesty of a Virgin state which doth the will of God in Heaven That purity which descended from Heaven and when Men became degenerate returned thither Why hast thou suffered the Virgin to wait at thy Door and Window calling as to her Bridegroom Exciting sometimes a Transport of Love other times shame again Joy to Trembling or Grief to Astonishment Finding thy self in so strange a Lodging as was Nebuchadnezzar when a Beasts Heart was given him If thou compare thy self with thy self in some days past perhaps thou maist flatter thy Judgment into Partiality and if thou compare thy self with others seeming more filthy thou maist be apt to pride thy self but if thou reflect on thy pollutions and the pure holy Virgin how great will be thy monstrosity how wretched vile and naked Come therefore daily to this perfect Standard just Balance true Glass and bewail thy defection bear the shame of thy deformity be humbled to the Dust as great Malefactors and miserable Captives whom nothing but Death can set free and redeem are dejected 3. And will nothing till Death intirely free me O my God and that my Soul hath no share of the natural Death which could it taste would only reprieve not deliver Let therefore that Death of Death the Mysterious Death of the Cross which opens the Door to the first Resurrection be powerfully vouchsafed so shall I be saved from this Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth and my Heart and Mouth be fill'd with thy pure praises for ever On the 28th Question and Answer Of the Principles of the Spirit of this World 1. The Psalmist meditating the frame of his Body saith it is fearful and wonderful The Fabrick of the whole Creation must needs be so likewise for 't is a Mirrour shewing evidently and distinctly all Worlds Powers and Properties not as a dead record but in a living Image by an Articulate voice with as many demonstrations and Tongues as here are forms All convincing that Man of great stupidity who sees not God hears not his voice reads not Lectures of his Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness in this his Theatre The day is the Child of the second Principle the Night derives its Fountain from the first time is not fatherless the Principles of the Spirit of this World being various such must needs the Creatures be 2. It went with Man as with one drunk regardless of the top of the Stairs missing the first falls down all the rest or as one sleeping on the Brow of a Precipice or brink of a River whence if he tumbles it is to the bottom thus he who should have had Dominion over the Astral Powers losing the Reins is not only hurried by them but subjected to the Extremities of the Elements and domineer'd overby the sickly Humours Wants and Excesses of the Bestial Flesh and corrupting uncleanness of this Bag of Worms 3. If thou my Soul delightest in this 't is as a Fool in throwing Darts art thou proud of thy Bodies features as well may an unsound Man of his Ulcers or a Vassal of his Shackles thus to be present in the Body is to be absent from the Lord whose gracious presence removed makes Hell Return then Oh my Soul my Spirit and my Inward Powers into your rest live in the incombustâ—ble Body put on the Humility Modesty and Sacred Flaming Love being the Heavenly Flesh of Jesus Christ then will this Worlds Spirit own Subjection no longer be a Clog or Lord but a Staff and Servant To this O thou Almighty Arm strengthen me O thou Glorious Sun inlighten me O thou Sacred Breath enliven me for without thee what can I do who am faln to be weakness darkness and dead under this outward Worlds Tyranny On the 29th Question and Answer Of the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things 1. The Psalmist complains I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me but the Sperm or Seed of all things is without iniquity standing in the fifth form of Fire being in its Existence a Mirror wherein the Abyssal Will beholdeth it self and in its operation a transition unto or imager of the Multiplicity 2. But how much doth Man who was created Good by seeking out many Inventions run against the order of Nature for out of the dark Earth sprout excellent Vegetatives with various cheering Odours delightful Colours and â—asts and nourishing Vertues out of the Mortal Waters are generated vast numbers and kinds of Fish also Amber Pearl Coral c. all more excellent than the Water their Mother which is corrupt as is the Earth Yet Man tho' proceeding from an Immaculate Sperm or Virgin Seed originally is become vile and filthy moving retrograde and is more and more degenerate earthy sensual and devilish 3. Wert thou O my Soul the Image of thy God how wouldst thou
study strive and practise the turning a less degree of good into a greater not better into worse but like thy great Guide and Pole-Star improve not impair turn to him in whom only ceaseth thy variation thou mayest in his Power find the Evil fall and the Good have a Resurrection On the 30th Question and Answer Of the Distinction or Difference of the Sperm or Seed of Metals Stones Vegetatives c. 1. Behold we here God's Infinity how little a part whereof is this vast deep from Stars to Stars the whole being but a Point to the infinite Abyss and in this Deep how sure and demonstrable is God's Omnipresence and Universal Grace How to be adored and with most profound Humility to be admired and that with sincere transport of exalted inflamed Love which is to begin Eternity and be listed here in the Roll of Celestial Worshippers 2. Behold we also how Omnipotent Goodness first spake the Sperm in the great Mystery and ever speaketh little Beginnings scarce visible into great Attainments like as those large big-bellied Clouds which overcast the Sun is a Cloath wove of most small Threads spun of the breath of the low Lands Man even thus who ruleth the gentle and tameth the wild Beasts governing the Terrestrial Globe is the first Six Days as observ'd by the curious as Milk the second Nine Days as choaked Blood in a few more Days by the commixture of the Spirits and the Blood coagulates into a thin Skin like that within an Egg shell in which three little Swellings like Bladders floating arise in them are formed the Liver Heart and Brain of that Proud Beast who when formed is fed at the Navel till wanting nourishment and room breaketh the Panicles letting in Air and following it having it self been the substance of venom with wretched Pain enters the World like a poor Worm in a most forlorn frail tender deplorable manner and being the Epitomy of the whole shews us what is that Power that ripens such pitiful Beginnings and keeps it so long from returning to its Dust whereto by very little means it is obnoxious This we are before we have sinned but what doth Sin make us after if our Teeth be on edge by our Father's eating sour Grapes what doth our eating of them make us to be 3. And now my Soul who is like thy God who thus base as we are became like us to make us like him as once we were and passing over the more noble Creatures the Angels became the Brother to us Worms and because to be born and live like us was not wholly enough was pleas'd Oh admirable to die like us thereby opening in us the Door of Eternal Life what an Abyss of pure Love is this On the 31th Question and Answer How is the Conjunction of Feminine and Masculine Kind effected whence the Seed and Growth existeth 1. The Meditation on this Question and Answer will continue the sad complaint of the last preceding for how far are we fallen from the Virgin Image into a state whereof depraved Humane Nature is ashamed and at which the remainders of Modesty which are not wholly defaced are offended The shiftless manner of our entrance on this Stage shews us more wretched than Birds or Beasts The Murther done by the First born of Woman the strict Law for Circumcising of Men and for Purifying of Women after Child-bearing the Womens Confinement to one place at the Temple with many things of like import all shew what the breach of Modesty following the dividing of the Tinctures was 2. But on the growth proceeding from the Conjunction the Soul may a little stay it self from utter sinking that though it is written who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one yet all things are possible to Omnipotence the God of Might and Goodness hath by bringing a clean thing into an unclean cleansed the unclean and so brought Good out of Evil. 3. Teach us O Lord that Divine Skill to fetch Honey out of the Devourers Belly Let the sore Anguish of Soul the New Man travels with as consequent to the rent made by the dividing of the Tinctures be a little eased â—et that bitter Cup have some of the sweet pure Water of the Fountain opened by the Son of the Virgin be put thereinto Let his Skirt be thrown over our Shame Let after a Night of Mourning and Heaviness come some glimpse of Daunings Let the Beast as well as the false Prophet be cast out to make room for the dear Precious Virgin Image the true Bride Joy and Glory of the Fire-Soul and is that signified by the Apostle when he said the Woman is the glory of the Man but the Earthy Woman ought to have Power on or over her Head because of the pure Modest Virginity of the Angels On the 32 Question and Answer Of the Tincture in the Spermatick Kind or Species whence Growing and Lustre ariseth 1. Of the Tincture may be said as of the Wind thou hearest the sound thereof but seest not whence it cometh nor whither it goeth by it Clouds Seas Ships Trees c. are driven overthrown rent and hurried and Earthquakes caused yet it self invisible to the outward Eye So by the Tincture not only Vegetables Minerals Animals Men the Elements and Stars but Heaven Earth Hell Angels Saints Devils and damned Creatures are acted affected and distinguished yet who may be said to see it for it is above the Horoscope of the Senses It must in Man be look'd for in the Eternal part by the Eye of the Intellect 2. The ball of the Eye seeth all things visible but seeth not it self so may it be apprehended of the Tincture in us which seeth the Tincture in the Stars and in the Terrestrial Stars the Pretious Stones Metals Vital Spirit of Animals and Vegetatives yet cannot penetrate their own Tincture unless the inward Eye be divinely opened to that Vision which how few are and of those few how imperfect Natural Philosophy is exercised in the Inclination Vertue Variety Power Connexion Sympathy and Antipathy of Nature but it is Theosophy that is Comprehensive of the Spirit Root Mystery and Property of every Essence and how and why they transform into variety whither they tend what they figure and how they transmute into more excellent by subliming the Tincture when set at liberty how the exalted Tincture is fortified to the Salvation of one and how vitiated to the Damnation of another for so rich is the Treasure so large the Talent that it must be accompted for with Usury 3. And is this O my Soul entrusted to thee regard it as thy life beware thou do not as did the fallen Angels if the Light that is in thee be Darkness how great is that Darkness If thou use thy Members to unrighteousness it is sinful and an unpenitent habit ruinous as a Man may Bleed to death by one vein but if the precious Tincture be once marr'd and prophaned it is as
troublesom sleep he prodigally lavisheth 3. Come dwell here or hereabouts my Soul 't is not vain to behold and consider what Vanities Incircle thee What fierce or desperate Men madly venture on which they can try but once and what Men overwhelm'd with the painted present pleasures do with a Transport of Consternation undergo that do thou neither Court nor Fly Man here is like Jerusalem when Besieged by Titus the Devil and his Engines the Snares of the World like the Roman Legions begirt him waiting at all his Avenues And his Domestick disorders like the three Sects within are at Mortal Enmity God hath sent thee my Soul a voice warning hence and directing whither hear and obey and the outward death shall land thee at Jerusalem which is from above learn thy general and thine own particular Business find thy Constitution Sin do thy Days Work studiously calmly and cheerfully dwell at home that is within and the vigorous eager Maxims of the Worldly-wise and their Storms as well as the flattering shews abroad and other Mens Opinion of thee will be to thee as Tragedies and Comedies in the Antipodes On the 41st Question and Answer The Idea or Express Reflex Image of God in Man wherein God worketh and dwelleth 1. This Image was figur'd by the Tabernacle Temple Jerusalem and Mount Sion their Holiness Exquisiteness and Impregnableness a glance of it shone in Moses Face This when Adam fell into the outward Worlds Principle withdrew and had not the same been reimplanted he had remained part Devil and part Beast and but that it continueth striving in Man he should still be so and where final resistance is that Man is a Devil and a Beast Everlastingly for Men without Humane Intellect are Brutes and without the Divine Image Devilish for this Seal differenceth the Sheep from the Goats Mans rejecting this is Gods rejecting of Man for tho' the want of it makes the Devils miserable yet Mans despising the tenders of it is an Aggravation to the opposition the Devils make against it This is the Light that cannot be hid why should it What were Men without Eyes or this deep without the Sun What Business hath Mortal Man here but to get it Blessed is he that hath part of this first Resurrection and that so shineth as to lead any other into the knowing and love of it and living in it 2. Contrariwise wretched are those who sit down with the Image Shadow or Similitude of it this is every where in reputation Antichrist adorns it self therewith the Politick Statesman pretends to it to ratifie his Magistracy over the Persons of his Subjects as Antichrist over Mens Consciences while the real pure Image of God in Man is every where decry'd and persecuted Thus did the Jews kill the Prophets and Men of the same Spirit garnish their Sepulchres Men deal in matters of this vast import as if that glorious Spiritual Image were like the Wooden Gods of the Blind Heathen or as if it were as some Flowers Beautiful to the Eye but without Smell or Taste Thus while the holy Souls of Christs Followers went for the perishing Loaves the Souldiers had his Garment and the Relick-Mongers pretend to some of the Wood of the supposed Cross. Therefore is the outer Court given to be trodden down of the Gentiles EXTRACTS Of several of the WORKS OF Jacob Behmen Beginning with his first Book CALLED AURORA OR Morning Redness CHAP. I. Page 33. v. 1. Of searching out the Divine Being in Nature of both the Qualities of Good and Bad. 1. THough Flesh and Blood cannot conceive the Being of God the Spirit when enlightened from God may By considering the Powers in Nature the Outward Heavens and Earth Holy Angels Men Devils Heaven and Hell By considering all which are found the two Qualities Good and Bad one in the other in all the Outward World 2. A Quality is the Mobility boiling springing or driving of a thing 3. The seven Qualities are call'd sometimes seven Sources Species Kinds Manners Cirâ—â—â—stanâ—â—s â—â—nditioâ—â— Poweâ—â— Oâ—erationâ— of Faculâ—â—es also the 〈◊〉 Spirits which give Model or Frame the Power Vertue Constitution Substance Esâ—â—nce Being â—â—â—ure Shape Coâ—ouâ— Taste and Distinction to all things which ever were are shall or can be in from or to Eternity in all Creatures Heaven Hell or this World Also the Forms or Properties of Nature which is the Salitter or Power of God and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Spirits of God in the Revelations four times 4. Heat consumeth expelleth or hardeneth Light in it is its heart and joy making all things living and moving â—â—erceneâ— maketh the Light moveable the Light subsisteth in God without Hâ—â—t out not â—o in Nature 5. Cold is the allâ—â— of the fierceness of Heat making all things pleasant but hath a fierceness which is the House of Death from Heat proceedeth Air which temper'd with Cold doth in the bitter quality become dewy from Cold comes Water which temper'd with Heat would else as Earth c. be congeal'd Heat consumeth the Water Cold crowdeth the Air in the Meekness of the Air reigneth the Holy Ghost but Air in its fierce Elevation destroyeth in the fierceness of the Water is a deadly Spring in which all living things rot 6. The Bitter quality is the Mother of Life for it a tracteth the Water and dissipateth it and becomes separable from this quality have Leaves and Grass their green Colour where it dwelleth meekly it is the Heart and Joy a gsimpse of Heavenly Joy the Holy Ghost moveth in it but in its fierce Elevation it is the very House of Dâ—ath for it kindlein the Blâ—ment of Fire 7. The Sweet quality is a Joy of the Life the Mâ—â—sion of the Holy Ghost 't is Love and Mercy Fragrant good Taste giveth Fair Yellow White and Ruddy Colour but in the fierce source its Death and Corruption if kindled in the Water Bitterness it breeds the botchy Plague or Pestilence if in the Heat Bitterness it ingendereth a spreading Plague infecting the Air. 8. The Sour quality cooleth is a still joy to the Spirit But in its evil source it beginneth sadness 9. The Astringent or Saltish quality is a good Temper to bitter sweet and sour But in its fierceness in the Fire begets the Stone or Gravel if in the Water Scabs Pox Leprosie CHAP. II. The Visible Heavens and Earth and all Creatures have a good and evil Source or Will except the Holy Angels and Devils 1. THE Sun is the Heart King and Joy of the Stars and all Creatures The whole Creation is the Body of God being enlightened by the Holy Ghost which they only are who relye not on themselves but set their desires on him Man comes to know God by the Creation for as Mans Spirit informs and replenisheth his Body so doth the Holy Ghost dwell in the good qualities of every thing 2. We are to conceive that in the Body of the Stars is the Triumphing Holy Trinity
which is the Light Holy Eternal Fountain of Joy but is infinite Nor must we conceive God not in the Body of the Stars and this World but is all and in all So Man his similitude whose inward hollowness signifieth the whole deep The whole Man Heaven and Earth The Flesh Earth the Blood Water the Breath Air the Windpipe and Arteries the deep from Stars to us wherein Fire Water and Air qualifie the Veins the Astral Influence the Guts the consuming power of the Stars the Heart the Element of Fire The Liver Water the Hands Gods Omnipotence the â—â—eet near and far off the whole Body to the Neck all within the Sphere of the Stars the Head Heaven with its Imperial Orâ—â—â—s and all the Sâ—â—â—â—s in a soft â—â—â—k power as the Brain is Heaven gives to the Stars they to all Creatures Life and Spirit 3. When we nominate the whole Creation Heaven Angels Men Visibles and all above Heaven is nominated the total God which hath made himself creaâ—â—â—ely tho' God in Prinity is unchangeable Obj. Will you say is not good and evil in nature and is evil come from God 4. â— There is a Gall in Mans Body without which he cannot live it making the Astral Spirits moveable and joyous but when it over-floweth and runneth to the Heart it kindleth the Element of Fire and the Fire kindleth the Astral Spirits which reign in the Blood in the Veins in the Element of Water and then the whole Body trembleth by the Wrath and Poyson of the Gall. The bitter quality is in God but not as in Man but is an Everlasting Power and Triumphing Joy wâ—â—â—h springing up maketh Heaven out of Heaven the Stars out of the Stars the Elements out of the Elements the Earth and Creatures moveable Whence also were Created Angels before the Creation of the Heavens CHAP. III. Of the Property of the FATHER c. 1. WHen Christ prayeth Matth. 6. to his Father which is in Heaven he doth not mean that Heaven can contain him but distinguisheth him thereby from the Father of Nature which the Stars and Elements is and because in â—eaâ—en the Fathers Luâ—â—â—e is very bright and pure God is the immediate Father of the Soul which thereforei hungereth after him The Father of Nature is the Father of our Bodies and â—henâ—e comes their nourishment All Powers and Properties in Heaven and Earth proceed from God the Father who if he may be likened to any thing it may be to the Globe of Heaven as by the Wheels in Eâ—eâ—ieâ— 1. for all the Powers are in the Father â—â—e in another as one Power in 〈◊〉 Clarity and Glory â—â—s 〈◊〉 and Iâ—finity no Creature nor Angel can search into â— Of God the Son he is not another and yet his Property is other than that of the â—â—â—her for he is the Heart and Cause of springing joy in all the Powers of the â—athâ—â— a fâ—â—ilitude whereof is the Sun which enlighteneth the whole deep Heaven Stars and Earth moving in the midâ—â—is the King and Heart of all the Stars 〈◊〉 the Son in the whole Father being a self subâ—â—â—ting Person The Father from 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 â—â—asâ—â—h not to generate the Son and the Son ceaseth â—ot to enlighten the Powers of the Father but the Son is not so mixt in the Father that his Person cannot be known nor seen if so it were but one Person but is another Person not another God 3. Of God the Holy Ghost He proceedeth from both is the holy Fountain of Joy a meek pleasunt Breath or still Voice which must be shewn by a fimilitude As the innumerable Stars and Sun created out of the Stars resemble the Father and the Son so the three Elements Fire Air and Water proceed from one Body viz. The Fire swells from the Sun and Stars the Air expands and 〈◊〉 alost from the Heat and the Water from the Air and in this motion is the Life of all Creatures that can be named and signifieth the Holy Ghost who câ—useth the living motion in all the Powers of the Father The Son and Holy 〈◊〉 nothing less or greater than the Father The Trinity 4. This Ternary is manifest in Man's Body and all Creatures also in Wood and Vegetables and in Stone and Minerals In Man's Heart Veins and Brain is a Spirit and all the Powers which move in the Heart Veins and Brain signifie the Father thence springeth up a Light of Understanding in the Power of which Knowledge the whole Body moveth signifying the Son which shineth back into the Heart Veins and Brain as the Son into the Father and from both Powers proceedeth forth Reason Skill and Wisdom to govern the whole Man and distinguish all that is extra corpus which is thy Spirit wherein thou excellest the Beast and wherein the Holy Spirit rules if thou be not a Child of Darkness v. 97. The Father is signified by the Power of thy whole Mind the Son by the Light in thy Mind the Holy Ghost by the Spirit of thy Mind The Soul containeth the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul the second the Astral or outward Spirit the third So in a Beast only Man is made by God himself out of the best Pith or Kernel of Nature to be his Angel and Similitude The Beast is made out of the wild Nature of this World through the Motion of the Stars and Elements In all Creatures are 1. The Power out of which the Body comes 2. The Sap or Heart 3. The flowing springing Spirit CHAP. IV. Of the Creation of Angels And first Of the Divine Quality 1. ALL the Powers are so in God as no Man can reach but by the Creation it may be clearly known Though all Powers are in the Father as the Astringent or harsh soft or gentle heat cold bitter sour sweet light sound or noise one in another as one Power yet not in the manner as in Nature for Lucifer's Elevation made the Powers impure separate and unclean but in God all are mild soft triumphing if he may be likened to any thing it must be to the Soul of Man enflamed by the Holy Ghost as a glimpse but in God all is Spirit The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost is a glimpse but in God all is Spirit 2. The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost moveth Eternally in all which in the Deep of the Father is like a Divine Salitter or Salnitrum to be likened to the Earth which before its Corruption was such not hard cold dark c. but like the clear pure Heaven in it all the Powers were fair and heavenly till Lucifer spoil'd it But the Fathers heavenly Salitter doth generate all manner of Divine Trees and Plants bearing Fruits of Life with heavenly colours smells tastes different every quality bearing his own Fruit as
the snuff of a Candle is â—id in the Centre of the Light as is appâ—râ—nt iâ— Lucifer â— Now how we may conceiue that God is an â—â—gry zealous God and a gracious merciful God the seven Species or Circumstance must be 〈…〉 to win The 1. Astringent 2. Sweet 3. Bitter 4. Heat 5. 〈◊〉 6. Tone or Sound 7. The Body generated out of the other six Spirits 6. The sweet Quality flâ—eth from the bitter which is the cause of the growth of Fruit in Vegetables and the Astringent and bitter eagerly pursue it cloaths it and is the cause of a stalk and when it overtakes it strives to hinder its farther flight and so comes the knot in the stalks through which is a small Orifice the sweet Quality gets through that and then comes more stalk leaves and blossoms which by the external heat and light gets colours but the sweet Water is not a Mother strong enough to produce Fruit but the blossoms being fallen off the outward Heat with the united aid of all the Qualities bringeth the Fruit. 7. The Light riseth up only in the sweet Quality no thing can be kindled but that in which the sweet Quality is predominant for the Spirit riseth up only in the Water A Stone or Earth cannot be kindled because the Astringent and bitter Qualities are predominant in them only The Earth when the earthy quality is boyl'd out is brought as in Gun-powder to give a flash of Terror wherein the Devil in the anger of God representeth himself 8. But that the Water will not burn is because it is not the sweet Water but Elementary only Else Water were not Mortal Flesh shineth not but fat doth the sweet quality prevailing therefore lean Creatures are not merry Q. Where are the seven Spirits 9. A. All Heaven and this World and all the Creatures in Heaven and Earth are comprehended in them Q. Seeing God is every where and is himself all How comes heat cold wrath and fierceness among the Creatures 10. A. The first four Forms are at Enmity with each other without the Light and yet are the cause of the Life 11. Know that all within the Stars was a holy Salitter and the place of Lucifer whose proud Elevation kindled the seven qualifying and Fountain-Spirits all was burning The Astringent compacted so vigorously that Stones were generated and so Cold that the sweet Water became Ice and part thick stinking and raging Poison 12. Whereupon Lucifer was thrust out and instantly insued the Creation of this World and the hard spoiled corrupt matter which had wrought out it self in the kindling the seven Qualities was driven together whence Earth and Stones came to be and after that all the Creatures were made of the kindled Salitter of the seven Spirits of God their kindling made the fierceness of one Property against another and the Creatures from the same impulse do bite and annoy each other 13. Upon which the Universal God hath Decreed the last Judgment to separate the Good unto the meek Delight which was before the kindling by Lucifer and give that which is fierce and wrathful to be an Habitation for the Devil for ever The Good Men being Eternally with their King Jesus Christ. CHAP. X. 1. THE sixth Fountain Spirit is the Sound Tone or Noise 1. Whence is the singing Melody of the Angels and all Colours and Beauty are from the Tone or Mercurius 2. Hardness is the Father but the whole Salitter is the Mother for if the hardness were both Father and Mother a Stone would sound and ring 3. But where the Light is generated out of the Heat there riseth the sound viz. The Astringent Quality rubbeth it self with the bitter making Heat rise up in the sweet Water the flash of Light distinguisheth there and iâ—pregnâ—teth the bitter and Astringent so that the moving Spirits would speak Then the flash coming from the bitter breaketh open the hard and the Tone goeth forth as it was decreed in the Centre in the middle of the Circle the Council of the seven Spirits 4. Therefore all the Veins and Powers go into the Tongue that the Noise may go forth gently 5. Of the seven Spirits six always generate the seventh without every one there would not be any one 6. But the Author saith his naming of but two or three to the Nativity of a Spirit is though he saw them all seven well yet because of his weakness he could not bear the speculating them all at once in their Perfection but in part 7. Otherwise if a thought through the Centre of Nature could penetrate all the Forms it were free from the Bond of Nature 8. From the flash comes the Light of the Majesty therefore if any one could in his flesh comprehend the flash kindling it self in the central Fountain of the Heart which the Author saith he very well saw how it is that Person could clarifie or transfigure his Body therewith and be like the Angels and no more bestial 9. The Soul hath the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul hath the second the Astral Spirit hath the third in the Elements 10. When a Fire riseth up in one of the Fountain Spirits it is not concealed from the Soul which may awaken the other Spirits and it hath a Prison and if the Fire become too big can shut up the kindled Spirit in the Astringent quality till it be allay'd and extinguished Else the Sap that is in the whole seven will become dry and then thou art a Hellish Firebrand But if thou take the evil Spirit and imprison it and turn a submissive Heart and Will to God contemning Honour Pleasure Riches Wantonness by bearing the Cross and being the Worlds Fools then will not the Fire at the last Judgment Day stick to thy sappy Spirits but after this anxious trouble God will in the Resurrection Crown thee and thou wilt be a Triumphing Angel 11. Q. Is there in God also any contrary Will amongst the Spirits of God 12. A. No tho' the great earnest severity of God may by the former Writings of the Spirit be seen yet in God is no disunion in him all the Spirits Love and Triumph as one Spirit but in the innermost secret geniture not apprehended by any Creature but in the flash it must be so for Life and Omniscience is thus begotten for tho' Lucifer kindled the Spirits of this World and made it all faint and half dead yet this World belongeth to the Body of God the Father as well as Heaven 13. And the whole Trinity is generated in the Heart of all Angels and Men except the Devil and Damned Men and in such a manner is God Almighty All-seeing c. and proveth the Hearts and Reins 14. Thus also all the Devils and Damned must in the Salitter which they have corrupted be his Eternal Priseners in Torment and Reproach 15. 1. The hardness
gives extream cold 2. The sweetness gaspeth and fainteth 3. The bitterness teareth like a hot Plague as Gall. 4. The Fire is as a wrathful Sulphur 5 Love is turn'd into Enmity 6. Sound is as a crackling Fire or Thunder out of a hollow place 7. Their Region a hole of Mourning Their Food is the fierceness of all the Qualities CHAP. XI 1. THE seventh Spirit is the Body wherein Heaven and Earth Beauty and Joy rise up being generated out of the other six in colour Azure or Heaven Blew were it not for this there would be neither Man nor Angel and God would be an unsearchable Power 2. All the seven Spirits without the rising up of the flash were a dark Valley but when the flash riseth up between the Astringent and the Bitter in the Heats shining in the sweet Water it makes all living and the Power which riseth up in the flash is the Love and all the seven Spirits thus enlightened become a palpable Body to speak after an Angelical manner and this is the Body of Nature wherein all heavenly Creatures Idea's Figures or Vegetations are imaged or fashioned 3. The Light is the Life of all the seven Spirits it is their Son and Heart they are its Father him they Eternally generate in him triumph This Light or Majesty is the second Person in the Trinity and is another Person from the seven Spirits and the seven Spirits rise up continually in the Light and are the Father 4. And this splendor of the Light in the seventh Nature-spirit viz. the going forth of the Powers to form and image all in the seventh Spirit this out-going or Exit of the glance is the true Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son 5. This the Jews Turks and Heathens might find in their own Life and by these three they must rise again 6. But that the Christians boast not and scorn them Know that if the Turks be of an Astringent Quality and the Heathens of a Bitter yet if they stand in the anxious Birth seeking Rest and Grace though not in the right place God is every where And the Christian is generated in the Heat where the Light springeth up in the sweet-water yet take heed by drying up the Water thou extinguish not the Light and be burnt 7. The six Spirits rise up alway in a compleat Birth in the seventh and the corporeal drying of them is called Divine Salitter 8. The Angels are not all of equal Power though every one hath the might of all the Fountain Spirits but in every one there is somewhat of one Quality more predominant than another wherein he is glorified 9. Such as the Salitter was in every place at the time of their Creation in such is the Angel strongest and according to which is he named 10. As Flowers in Meadows receive colours from each ones Quality So the Holy Angels some are strongest in the Astringent quality and are of a brownish dusky grey white light like Twilight and nearest the Quality of Cold and when the Light of the Son of God shineth on them they are of a brownish purple flash of Lightening very bright in their Quality 11. Some are of the Quality of Water-light like the Holy Heaven and when the Light shineth on them they look like a Chrystalline Sea 12. Some are strongest in the Bitter Quality and are like a green precious Stone or Emerald sparkling like a flash of Lightening and when the Light shineth on them they appear as a greenish red as a Carbuncle or as if the Life had its Original there 13. Some are of the Quality of Heat and they are brightest of all yellowish and reddish and when the Light shineth on them they are like the flash or Lightening of the Son of God 14. Some are strongest in the Quality of Love and are a glance of the Heavenly Joyfulness very bright and when the Light shines on them they look like light blew azure lustre 15. Some are strongest in the Quality of the Tone or Sound and are bright also and when the Light shineth on them they look as if something would lift up it self aloft there in the rising of the flash of Lightening 16. Some are of the quality of the total Nature as a general mixture and when the Light shineth on them they look like the Holy Heaven formed out of all the Spirits of God 17. But the King is the Heart of all the qualities and hath his Court Province or Circumference in the Centre as the Sun amongst the other Planets so great is a Cherubim or King of Angels 18. The Author saith this Revelation was given him of God not that he had gone into Heaven and beheld it nor had any told it him for if any yea tho' an Angel he could not have understood or believed it but have doubted whether it had been an Angel sent of God or no but because it is generated in the Centre or Circle of Life as a bright self-evidencing Light like the Heavenly Birth or rising up of the Holy Ghost with a fiery impulse of the Spirit he could not withstand it at which let him that mocketh fear lest he soweth mocking and Eternally reap it 19. Worldly Wisdom is Born Blind therefore must all be Born again which new Birth begets the flash of Life in the sweet Spring or Fountain Water of the Heart and then it seeth 20. And therefore hath Christ ordained the Baptism in the Water because the birth of the Light riseth up in the Water which hath from the beginning of the World been a Mystery till now 21. This World is a Type of Heaven 22. The Stars denote the Angels being unaltered 23. The Elements in the deep between the Stars and Earth by their often alterations of being bright and sometimes louring blew whitish duskish wet and dry signifie the wonderful proportion variety and change of the posture of Heaven yet all according to the rising up of the Spirits of God and the Glory of the Son of God shining Eternally therein 24. The Earth sheweth the Heavenly Nature or the seventh Spirit of Nature in which the Ideas rise up 25. The Birds Fishes Beasts Worms Trees Plants and Flowers set forth the forms in Heaven tho' they are in clarity and brightness who rise there and go away again not being compacted as the Angels are but a figure and if imaged in one Spirit the same by wrestling with another Spirit is divided and altered therefore also the Creatures in this World are created Transitory CHAP. XIII Of the Doleful Terrible Fall of Lucifer and his Kingdom 1. WHen Lucifer saw his own Excellencies then his Heart or Life Spirit exalted it self aspiring to triumph over the Divine Birth the Son or Heart of God 2. For the seven Fountain Spirits who are the Father of the Light were pleased to become creaturely in
him and gave him the superior Primacy in whose bright Light was perfect understanding 3. But he seeing himself so Triumphant moved the Spirit generated by the seven so hard and strongly that it became very fiery climbing up in the Fountain of the Heart 4. But had it moved gently and lovingly as the seven did before they became creaturely there had been generated a lovely mild Son like to the Son of God and then the Infinite Light the Son of God would have been delighted in and played with the small Light in Lucifer as with a young Son or dear little Brother 5. But let not the Devil make any believe Gods will was that he had some Men should be loft and so pervert Gods Truth defending the Devil by Lies 6. For know the whole Deity hath in its innermost Birth or Pith a very tart terrible sharpness in which 1. The Astringent quality is a very hard dark cold attracting like the extream Frost congealed Water when suppose the Sun totally taken away which austere attraction causeth fixation of the Body and the hardness drieth it up so that it subsisteth creaturely 7. The bitter quality is tearing cutting and penetrating driving the Astringent to Mobility From the fierce rubbing and raging of both which 8. A wrathful kindling proceedeth 9. And in this eager strife existeth a hard Tone or Noise penetrating all like a Tyrant according to which God calls himself an Angry Jealous God and in this consisteth Hell Enmity and Eternal Perdition And such a Creature is the Devil come to be 10. And in these is God an All-comprehensible All-fixing Sharp God 11. But in the strife and heat of these qualities ariseth the Light and in the Light and the Sweet Water the Flash of Life wherein all the foregoing qualities are made pleasant as a sour Apple by the Sun is made sweet and good yet the Taste of the other qualities remain in it The Head Spring and Fountain of Sin 12. Lucifer's qualifying Spirits having an Imaging Power in that Royal Body vehemently affected the high Light so triumphantly that they lifted up themselves to Pomp and Stateliness leaving the Angelical Obedience whereby the great bright flash became so bright as was intolerable to the Fountain Spirits against the right of Nature So that the bitter quality which Existeth in the sweet Water and is the cause of joy trembled and rub'd it self so hard in the Astringent that the Fountain or Quality of Heat was eagerly kindled Which bitter and hot Quality caus'd the Astringent to dry up the sweet Water wherein the Heavenly Heat and Light have their Being And thenceforth could not the Heat rise to a Flame or Light for the Light existeth in the Oyliness of the Water thus dryed up but glowed as red hot Iron or rather a very hard Stone in the greatest Heat 13. Not that the Spirit of the Water was devoured but its quality was turn'd into a dusky hot and sour Quality Which introduced extremity of Cold also whereby the whole Body grew fierce and wrathful And the bitter Quality raged and became a Poyson hence sprung the first Poyson which bitter poysonous Death comes also into poor Humane Flesh. 14. And now was Lucifer an Astringent hot bitter dark cold sour stinking poysonous Fountain And the Tone rose up through the bitter Qualities penetrating the Heat and Astringent hard Quality as a clap of Thunder 15. God created Angels out of himself that they might be harder and dryer compacted than the Ideas or Forms which through the qualifying of the Spirits of God in Nature rise up and through the moving of the Spirits pass away again that their Light in their hardness should shine brighter and the Tone of their Body should sound clearer and shriller than it did before either shine or sound in the Salitter which was thin and dim And therefore they lifted up themselves tho' they knew themselves to be but a piece of the total God supposing they were a fairer little Son than the Son of God himself and that they could qualifie operate and elevate themselves above the whole God and Rule and Govern all without Corrival or Supream Comptroller 16. Here lyes the Root of Covetousness Envy Pride and Wrath. All Lucifer's Angels fell with him for he was created out of the Kernel of the Salitter out of which they were created he their Lord they were all of one will with him which they would not suffer to be taken away 17. Q. Did not the Universal God know this before the Creation of the Angels 18. A. No. for if so it had been a Predestinate Will in God to have it so and had been no Enmity against God but God had created him a Devil God made him a King of Light and for Disobedience spewed him out of his Royal Throne 19. God knew this according to his Wrath in which he is not called God but a consuming â—ire but knew not this according to his Love according to which he is called God into which no fierceness entreth and so God is alone called God or Goodness 20 And what Gods Love knoweth sensibly or feelingly in it self that it also and that only it willeth 21. The Devils Prison is in upon and above the Earth up to the Moon till the last day And 22. Then their House will be in the place where the Earth now standeth and this will be called the Burning Hell but not in such a Form as it now standeth but separated in the kindled wrath Fire into a dark hot cold rugged hard bitter stinking Reliâ—ks dregs or dross CHAP. XVIII Of the Creation of Heaven and Earth 1. WHen the Astringent quality was predominant the hard dry Stones came to be 2. But where the Astringent and Bitter were equally predominant there sharp Gravel and Sand. 3. Where the Tone and Astringent in the Water there Copper Iron and Rocky Oar. 4. Where the Water there the wild Earth But the Bitter Spirit is the chief cause of the Black Earth 5. Yet the Heat in the Astringent chiefly helped to make the hardness and there it generated the noblest and preciousest Saâ—â—â—ter in the Earth as Gold Silver and precious Stones 6. But when the hot Spirit in the sweet Water was predominant in the Love the Astringent made the Oar of precious Stones c. CHAP. XIX Concerning Heaven what it is where it is and how it is 1. THat there is a pure glorious Heaven in all the three Births aloft above the deep of this World in which is Gods Being and the Holy Angels he is not Born of God that denieth Which comprizeth the Kingdoms of Michael and Uriel and continueth as it was from Eternity with which the innermost and holy Birth in this World uniteth being all one Body of God one Heart one Will one God all in all for the true Heaven is every where 2. When thy Spirit apprehendeth the
innermost Geniture of God and presseth in through the Astral and Fleshly Geniture it is clearly in Heaven 3. But the Out-birth of this World was Lucifer's Kingdom to the Stars and so far is the Wrath of God between which outmost Birth of this and the outmost Birth of that is a great gulph and are one to the other as Death is to Life or a Stone to a Man So that as to the Out-birth we cannot see the Angels nor they dwell with us but in the innermost they dwell with us 4. The second Birth or Geniture viz. the Astral standeth in the seven Fountain Spirits of this World in which the Holy Ghost also ruleth and helpeth to generate the third Holy Birth 5. The which third Holy Birth is the clear Holy Heaven which uniteth with the Heart of God and holdeth the Devil Captive in the Out-birth in the Anger Fire 6. Out of this Heart Jesus Christ in the Womb of the Virgin went into all the three Births that he might with his innermost take the Devil Captive in the Out-birth overcome the Wrath of God as a Victorious Prince and in the Power of his Birth in the Flesh press through all Men whereby he is become Lord and King of our Heaven and Earth over Sin Devil Death and Hell in whom we also press through the sinful corrupted Out-dead-birth of the Flesh through Death and the wrath of God into our Heaven in which Heaven now sitteth our King Jesus Christ as an Almighty Son on the Right Hand of God being present in all the three Births in this World in all corners and places bearing up all ruling in the Throne of the once potent and now expelled Lucifer 7. When Stephen saw Heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at the Right Hand of God his Spirit did not swing it self up into the upper Heaven aloft but penetrated into the innermost Birth Concerning the Constitution and Form of the Earth 8. Every thing must have a Root The Earth is come from the corrupted Salitter of the outmost Birth for in Earth and Stones is Death and in it is also a Life else Gold Silver and Vegetables could not grow therein 9. Three Births are in it the outmost is Death the second is Life pressing through it being in the Wrath Fire and that of Love and the third is the Holy Life 10. In the outmost is Gods Wrath else why engendereth it poysonous venemous Worms and creeping Things 11. The Earth hath more than one kind of Life for Herbs and Wood are not Earth nor is Fruit Wood nor is the vertue of the Fruit God for the outmost Birth containeth him not but he containeth the Out-birth Q. Why is the Earth so Mountany c 12. A. Where the sweet Water was chief much earthy palpable Water came to be 13. The corrupted Salitter was more abounding in one place than another Also 14. Where the Astringent Quality was chief in the bitterness in Mercurius much Earth and Stones were compacted 15. Where the Heat in the Light much Silver and Gold and some clear Stones 16. Where the Love in the Light the most precious Stones and finest Gold 17. Where are great Lakes and Seas over that Zenith there being not much Salitter there came to be a Valley for which resting place the thin Water sought resembling the Spirit of meekness not elevating it self as in the Bitter Fires quality the Devils did On the words the Evening and Morning were the first day is said 18. Evening and Morning reacheth only up from the Earth to the Moon taking its Original from the Light of the Sun which maketh the outward day and the outward Night Not that there was then a twofold Creation of Evening and Morning Query Whether by it be not meant by once turning about of the Earth whereby the Evening and Morning came to be that is by one Revolution 19. A. Man having a Threefold Birth tho' with his inward he uniteth with the Light of God cannot bring it perfectly back to his Astral and less to his outward Birth which tho' Moses did in part when his Face shone but could not see God perfectly and live even as an Apple on a Tree cannot bring its Smell and Taste back into the Tree nor Earth CHAP. XX. On the Creation in the Second Day Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters c. 1. THis Firmament divideth the impalpable inward pure Water from the outward palpable corrupted Water Wherein is Death which lyeth Captive below the Moon and is the House of the Devils Death and Hell where the fierce Wrath of God becometh kindled daily by the Devils through the great Sins of Men which mix with the Astral Birth in the Deep 2. But even those pure Waters have some of the Wrath in them and is that meant where 't is said The Heavens are not pure in his sight 3. The innermost holds the outward Water strongly Captive and the outward Earth also else with the Revolution of the Globe the Water would be divided or dissolved and the Earth crumble away Which Firmament is between the clear Deity and corrupt Nature 4. Yet the Deep above the Earth may be said to be a place where Gods Holiness dwelleth for the whole Holy Trinity dwelleth in the Centre under the Firmament of Heaven tho' that cannot comprehend him but dwelleth not there fully bodily and creaturely as the Angels and Souls of Men do 5. The Third Birth is the Almighty Holy Heart of God wherein Christs Natural Body sitteth for his Natural Body is not as John Calvin thought such as reacheth no farther than a little circumscribed place wherein it is 6. For if every Man in his Astral Spirit comprehendeth the whole Body of this World should not the Fountain Spirits in the Natural Body of Christ being out of the Fountain Spirits of Nature and his Heart out of the inward Birth viz. the Heart of God which comprehendeth all Angels and the Heaven of Heavens viz. the whole Father should not it comprehend the whole World and uphold it as the only Head Heart and King of it in his Hands are his Sheep whom none can pluck out CHAP. XXI 1. MAN is made out of the Seed viz. Matrix of the Earth wherein the Eye is Twofold one in God the other in this World out of the three Principles not out of the Wrath but out of the Birth of the Earth in the Astral Birth in the part of Love but Wrath hung to him which he should have put forth from himself as the Fruit putteth forth from it self the bitterness of the Tree but that he did not but reached back from the Love into the Wrath and lusted after his Dead or Mortal Mother to suck her Breasts and so brought his outermost Birth into Mortality and his Astral Birth or Life into the part of the Wrath. 2. Man's Soul or Spirit is generated out of the
Astral and is the third Birth in him As an Apple on a Tree is the third Birth which though it be United with the Word of God in its innermost Birth yet the Wrath being in the Mother of its Body it remains palpable must dye and rot but at the last Judgment Day the Power of the Principle out of which the Apple groweth shall spring anew in Paradice and be a Fruit for Men in the other Life 3. And Man's Body hath the same Hope for though the bestial Body must putrifie yet its vertue liveth in the four Elements in the Word and there grows out of it beautiful Roses and if thy Soul standeth in the Love thou canst while thy Body liveth here live and reign with God in Heaven according to the Spirit of the Soul which the Devil seeth not 4. But for that thy Astral Birth standeth one part in the Wrath the Devil seeth into that part viz. of the Wrath into thy Heart where if thou give him any room he teareth that part of the Astral Birth which standeth in the Love out from the Word and then thy Heart is a dark Valley and if thou labour not quickly to kindle the Light again he kindleth the Wrath-fire and then thou art a Devil and into what thou hast sowed thy Seed that is thy Soul and in that part shall thy Body arise The striving of the seven Spirits in the Earth the Depth in the Centre 5. In the strife of the Astringency bitterness and sweet water the Astringency is Predominant which is dry The sweet quality is extensive and yielding yet the bitterness and sweet quality struggle till the Astringency dry and harden them and thence from their unwilling Captivity Anguish riseth up just as in a Dying Man in this anxiety Heat riseth whereby a Sweat exhaleth as in one yielding to the Captivity of Death That Sweat the Astringent and bitter qualities lay hold on as their Son which they had begotten on the sweet quality which they had killed 6. However the Astringent being strong and the Bitter swift from their Joy in their Son do stuff it that it swells and grows full and great And when the Astringent striveth to captivate the Bitter and the Body begins to be too streight or narrow and that the strife there be too great the Bitter must yield but cannot be kill'd but leaps aside and breaks out of the Body into Strings or Threads taking the Son's sap with it And this is Vegetation and growing of a Root in the Earth Q. How can God be in this Vegetation 7. A. That is the Vegetation of Nature and if the wrath Fire were not in the three Qualities viz. Astringent Sweet and Bitter God might plainly be seen but the Wrath makes the Astringent a cold Fire and its Attraction to be too hard and maketh the Sweet too thick and dark and the Bitter too raging and swelling else they might kindle that Fire from whence the Light would exist and from the Light the Love and from the same Fire-flash the Tone and then would be a Heavenly Body wherein the Light of God would and doth shine and then would be a Heavenly Fruit as it springeth up in Heaven and the Light would generate it self in the sweet-water and there would be a bright shining Heavenly Body where God is 8. But being the first three Qualities are benummed in Death they remain a dark Eternal Prison God's Wrath. Death and Hell a source of Torment Not that the three Qualities are reprobated even to the innermost but only the outward palpable Body and therein the outward Hellish 9. Thus is seen how the Kingdom of God and of Hell hang one to another as one Body and yet the one comprehendeth not the other but the Heat Light Love and Souâ—d are a kind of second Birth making the outward moveable and in the inward standeth the sound of God's Word which seeing it riseth up through the Astringent bitter Death and generateth a Body in the half-dead Water that Body is therefore Evil and Good which may thus be demonstrated 10. One taking a Surfeit by any mortiferous Herb Water or unwholsom Flesh let the same kind of Water Herb or Flesh be distilled or burnt whereby the outward Poison which standeth in Death is gone the Astral Vigour remaineth that Dead Body being gone wherewith if good Treacle be mixed which holdeth Captive the Wrath in the Astral Birth and give it the Sick in warm Drink then operateth the innermost Birth which hath diseased the Person and Cureth Whereby is seen that the Power of the Eternal Life wrestleth in the Dead Earth in Anguish but cannot bud till the Death be severed which hangeth to it for the Wrath is the Life of Death and of the Devil wherein standeth their corporeal Bodies or Being for the Dead Birth or Geniture is their Eternal House CHAP. XXII AFter other things in this Chapter are the seven times Refining of Silver and especially Gold till it become Triumphing CHAP. XXIII 1. THE earnest and severe Birth or Geniture out of which the Wrath of God Hell and Death are come to be hath been from Eternity in God but not accensible nor elevable not kindled or domineering without which severe Birth would be neither God Life nor Heaven Angel nor Creature The Gate of the Holy Trinity 2. The whole Birth of the Heaven of all Heavens this World the place of the Earth and of all Creatures and whatever can be thought of all that together is God the Father And in every the least circle imaginable is the whole Birth of God perfectly perpetually and irresistably but if in a Creature or Place the Light be extinguish'd there is the Austere Birth which lyeth hid in the Light in the innermost Kernel 3. The second Person is the Light which is continually generated out of all the Powers and enlighteneth again all the Powers of the Father an instance whereof is in the kindled Fires in this World the innate Son is the meek Joy and Delight of the Father Now the Father and the Son are equally great the one could not be without the other If the Jews Turks and Heathen will convert the Light will rise up in them gloriously 4. The third Person is the moving Spirit of Life Thus there is One God and Three distinct Persons neither of them can comprehend with-hold or fathom the Original of the other 5. If any will be Saints and not Devils let them generate in the meek holy Law of God else they shall Eternally generate in the austere severe Geniture oâ— God's Wrath. But the Deity is a very simple pure meek loving quieâ— unanimous Being through which the sharpness of the innermost Birth can never elevate it self but remains hidden CHAP. XXIV Of the incorporating or Compaction of the Stars 1. GOD moved the whole Body of Nature contained in the Extent of this World on the 4th Day
God and hath Ability to speak of the indissolvable band but not of the infinite generating for the immeasurable space of the Dâ—ity hath neither Beginning nor End Of the sublime Gate of the Holy Trinity 4 The Father iâ— the Original Essence of all Essences in whom if the Son the second Principle were not Eternally generated the Father according to the first Principle would be a zealous wrathful dark Principle for the Son is as the Light out of the Fire the Heart Brightness and Love of the Father who is in his Son merciful reconciled and well pleased The Son is another manner of Person than the Father hath another centre of meer Jov and Love The Holy Ghost proceedeth from both in the enkindling of the Light as out of the Water Fountain of Humility is also an Almighty Spirit making out of the vertue of the Light an infinite number of Centres of a sweet smell and sweet tast The Description of Lucifer c. I Abridge not here having done it more fully in the 13th Chapter of Aurora page 250. CHAP. V. Of the third Principle the Creation of the Material World and farther clearing of the first and second Principles 1. A Principle is a Birth Therefore he that is Born of God may know the third Principle by his own new Birth The terror of God's Wrath the horror and anguish of his Estate Sin and Darkness was his first Principle His pure Divine Joy in being born again is his entring into the new Life or second Principle 2. In the first Principle is the indissoluble band which is Genitrix in it self inanimate wherein by the moving Spirit of God out of that incomprehensible Matrix the comprehensible visible Water proceeded in such various manner as the Spirit willed for out of the fifth Form of it was enkindled the fiery Heaven and Constellation or Quintessence where the Light originateth whence the Sun was Born which opened and enlivened the third Principle of the Material World as the Heart of God in Paradise doth in that pure immaterial Heaven opening the Eternal Power and Wisdom of God 3. The outward third Principle is the Similitude or Representation of the inward Paradisical World in which Angels and Man were â—reated and should not have known the Original of the four Elements wherein by the Fall of Lucifer was Evil and Good but now the Knowledge of it is highly necessary that we may fly from the bestial Man and learn to know the true Man CHAP. VI. Of the Separation in Creating the Third Principle 1. BY the Separation of the Creatures the Sun Stars Elements yea in our selves and in all things and their particular Properties the Eternal Mother is seen 2. The generated World becomes a Genitrix not sundered from the Eternal but by the Sun hath attain'd another Light and Life but is not the Eternal Light Life or Wisdom it self 3. Out of the Paradisical Heaven Water Spirit or Matrix is the Material Heaven created For when Lucifer would Domineer the dark Matrix attracted so as the Earth Stones Metals Salt c. proceeded which shut him up but the vertue remaining in the Matrix producing Light made also Gold Silver Copper c. The Spirit of God without departing from his own Eternal Paradisical Seat by the Fiat moved on the Material half deadned Water and created the Heaven which once separated from the dark Mist whereof was the Earth the Elements of Air Fire and Water though one in another appeared CHAP. VII Of the Eternal Birth of Heaven and generating the four Elements c. 1. NO Spirit nor Man can of his own Power possibly see into any other Principle but in which he is or is regenerated into Man whose Soul is out of the first Principle his Body outwardly of the Stars and Elements and inwardly of the one Element if illustrated by the second Principle hath great might of Miracles raising the Dead c. such may well see into the three Principles the Spirit of which it is Born searcheth the deep things of the Deity 2. Other Men Swim between the Vertue of the Stars and Elements as the Created Heavens do between the Divine and Hellish Kingdoms as doth Man also and to which of them he falls and yields himself in that is he regenerated 3. The Light of God is a cause of all the three Principles But for that there would be no longing and attraction in the dark Eternity and the Father is the first desiring and longing after the Son thence the Eternal Nature is ever longing So the brightness or Heart of the Father in the dark Matrix generateth the third Principle for so is God manifest who else would be Eternally hidden 4. Therefore O Noble Man though thou art stept with Adam out of Paradice into the third Principle set thy great desire and longing of thy Heart on the Heart of God and his Kingdom will be taken by force seek God in thy Soul there stands all the three Principles The Divine Birth it self the Pearl the Paradisical Garden do all stand open in a holy Soul 5. The true place of God is every where the Centre of the Earth he comprehendeth Hell it self All things are of him and from him And yet the out or procreated Birth is not from his Essence or Substance but from the Darkness And 1. The Fountain of the Darkness is the first Principle 2. The Vertue and Power of the Light is the second Principle 3. The Out-birth generated out of the Darkness by the power of the Light is the third Principle In a similitude 6. 1. Your Soul-giving Reason representeth God the Father 2. The Light shining in the Soul represents the Son 3. The vertue proceeding from that Light whereby the whole Body is directed represents the Holy Ghost 7. 1. The Darkness in you which longeth after the Light is the first Principle 2. The power of the Light by which you see in your Mind without Bodily Eyes is the second Principle 3. The vertue proceeding from the Mind impregnating it self whence the Material Body groweth is the third Principle Between each of which is an inclosure knot or stop 8. God â—ever'd the Fiery Starry Heaven or Quintessence from the watery Matrix else there would have been no end of generating of Stones That done the watery became clear and still the fiery longeth after the watery as the Husband of it and the watery as the Wife is impregnated thereby by which the Elements and all Minerals Vegetables c. as Children are proceeded 9. Every Form in the Matrix hath its visible Creatures but invisible to us unless they will manifest themselves for tho' the Elements are Members one of the other and receptacles one of the other yet each comprehendeth but it self Nor do the Spirits of the Air Water and Fire comprehend more than of their own Birth or peculiar World As the Body seeth not the Syderial and Elementary Spirit nor that
against Nature and the greatest Wonder done from Eternity and rightly called LOVE 17. This Divine Creature in the Holy Ghost was in a moment made a perfect self-subsisting Creature in the same moment the four Elements Sun and Stars in the Tincture of the Blood and with the Blood and all the Humane Essences of the Virgin Mary in her Matrix received the Creature wholly as one and not two Creatures The Holy Element was the Limbus or Masculine Seed 18 Every form hath its own source yet the Divine hath not so mixed as to be the less but what it was that it is and that which it was not that it is without severing from the Divine substance and the Word abode in the Father and the Natural Humanity in this World in the Bosom of the Virgin Mary 19. Of the three Regions of the Incarnation First There is the Word which hath its forming from Eternity in the Father and in the Incarnation so continued 20. The second forming is done naturally when the Virgin said to the Angel Let it be done to me as thou hast said in the inward Element like the first Adam before the Fall who should have generated such an Angelical Creature which was done perfectly at once in a moment 21. The third forming was done also at once out of the pure Element and this new Creature in perfection of the Element was the Masculine Seed of the Earthy Man which was conceived in the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 22. But the Word of the Deity so separated them that the Masculine Limbus of the new Creature was not defiled by the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 23. Yet this Angelical Image as to the Limbus of it came by commixture of the Earthy Essences of the Virgin which clave to it to be Flesh and Blood and at the end of three Months attained his Natural Soul As all other of Adam's Children and hath resumed the Princely Throne again out of which it departed by Sin in Adam 24. Thus Christ was the Natural Eternal Son of the Father the Soul in the Word was a Self-subsisting Natural Person in the Trinity Christ the true breaker through continued in the second Principle and the new Body in the third Principle and at Nine Months was Born of the Virgin Here the Light shone in the Darkness of the outward Body 25. Thus came he to or into his own and they knew him not nor received him but to as many as receiv'd him gave he power by him to be begotten to the Kingdom of Heaven for his is the Kingdom and Glory for ever Amen 26. Of the distinction between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Tho' God in former times permitted Miracles of seeing the Saints departed for vindication of them and their Doctrine of another Life after this for converting the Heathen Yet Invocation of them hath no ground in the Nature of the first Principle Is vain in it self for they having attained the still rest load not themselves with the Miseries and Sins of the Living It is also a disrespect to the Omniscient Mercy of God which without their Intercession and without ceasing with stretched out Arms inviteth by his Gracious Call all Men to come to him freely 27. The Virgin Mary is fabled to be taken up to Heaven Body and Soul but such take this World to be Heaven for the Earthy Body belongs to the Earth She is in Glory in the new Body of the Holy Element and her Lustre is above the clarity of the Heavens as one of the Princely Angelical Thrones for out of her Essences went forth the Body which was the Saviour of all the World and that attracteth all the Members to it and who now standeth in the Holy Trinity and she as a Virgin of Chastity is highly blessed by her Son Jesus Christ. But Invocation belongs not to her for the ability to help cometh only out of the Father through the Son CHAP. XIX Of Souls entring to God and to Perdition and of the Bodies Breaking 1. THE Soul hath the Eternal Essences of the first Principle Regeneration opens the second Principle The third Principle is the Region of the Stars and four Elements When Man 's first Principle hath been wholly taken up about the third viz. This World and that the Brimstone-Spirit which kindleth the Tincture of the Heart is choaked and the four Elements break off from the one Element then doth the Soul keep the starry Region still as its dearest Jewel in the Power whereof they appear and think to find rest in settling things relating to their Wills and worldly Businesses But when the Stars have compleated their Seculum or Course and that the Treader upon the Serpent hath not hold of the Soul by guiding it through the Sufferings Death and Resurrection of Christ it remains naked without the third Principle which it hath lost for ever 2. Of the going forth of the Soul When the Body breaketh the right Soul which was breathed into Adam is in its Principle and is so subtil as cannot be comprehended by Matter as Flesh Bones Stones c. only by an earnest Promise not recalled in the time of the Body it may be comprehended 3. Those that by true Repentance ingraft themselves into the Heart of God do instantly at breaking of the Body lay off all that is Earthy and comprehend the Mercy of the Father and love of Jesus Christ and enter into the Element before God where â—aradise shall flourish waiting without irksomness for the Restoration 4. But if Souls have beeâ— defiled with gross Sins and not rightly passed into earnest Regeneration yet do hang as by a thread of Faith and will not let go but when the Bridegroom calls answer I cannot trim my Lamp yet Theâ—e Souls may after a long time be ransom'd out of the Putrefaction by the Passion of Christ but the Glorification of such shall not be in Eternity like that of the true born Saints but Antichrist's juggling Masses for Money avail not for these 5. But the earnest strong Prayers of such as are entred into the New Birth especially of Parents Children Brethren Sisters or Kindred of the Blood who have one Tincture with him who have all one Tincture enter the Combat more freely than Strangers and help to wrestle off the Devils Chains especially before departing of the Soul from the Body 6. The true Door of the Entrance into Heaven and Hell The Soul departed from the Body need not go far for in the place where the four Elements break the Root standeth which is the Holy Element the Soul entreth through the Door in the Centre into the Kingdom of Joy and is in the Arms of Christ in Paradise So the Damned needs no flying far away it remaiâ—eth in that which was outermost without the four Elements in the Anguish of Darkness in the strong might of the grimness CHAP. XX. Of Adam's going out of Paradise also of the true Christian and Antichristian
Church 1. ADam having a Garment lent him by the great World is let go out of the Garden and a Cherubim with a flaming Sword is set to guard the Way to the Tree of Life which is the Kingdom of the fierceness in God's Anger which must cut away the Earthy Body from the Holy Element that the new Man may press into the second Principle the Way to the Tree of Life in Paradise Our gross Flesh is the Hedge before the Paradise Would you enter press through the Sword of Death Christ the great Champion will help you who though by his entering haâ—h shew'd and made the Way more easie yet the Sword is still before it 2. Christ took the Book of the first Principle out of the hand of the Ancient of Days and opened the seven Seals or Spirits of the Operation of God The seven Candlesticks are his Humanity the seven Stars the Deity See the four first Chapters of this Book 3. When Eve bare Cain she said I have a Man from the Lord meaning what the Apostles thought of Christ that he should erect a Worldly Kingdom and break the Serpent's Head by the Spirit of this World and its might And here lay the Foundation of the two sorts of Churches one as Cain's standing in the might of the Spirit of this World the other of Abel pressing on the Mercy of God in Faith and Resignation But from the Evil Tree of Adam and Eve's lust sprung the evil murtherous branch Cain 4. That Cain the First-born should be so wicked and a Murtherer is for that Eve was the Child which Adam should if he had not been overcome in great Modesty have generated but his Matrix being impregnated by the Spirit of the great World therefore first was framed out of it a fleshly Woman and her first Fruit became Evil as well as the Limbus of Adam After Abel's Death 70 Years passed before Seth. CHAP. XXI Of Cain's Kingdom and Antichristian Church and of Abel's Kingdom and true Christian Church 1. THE two Eternal Principles of Fierceness and Meekness do strive from Eternity to Eternity for without the fierceness the Meekness would be a still nothing without Mobility and without the Meekness the Fierceness would be a dark gnawing as in Hell Adam's first Principle was throughly illustrated with the second and his Body out of the one Element out of which Element came the four Elements 2. Adam was drawn of both and so is Man still but Man hath the ballance of both Scales The Mind is the Centre of the ballance the Senses or Thoughts are the Weights which the Mind passeth out of one Scale into the other The one is the Kingdom of the Fierceness the other of the Regeneration Thus hath Man the Kingdom of Heaven in the Word of the Divine Vertue given into his Power the Kingdom of Hell in the Root of it in a Bridle and the Kingdom of this World according to the Humanity from Adam Consider we well which we suffer the Mind to be charged with and over-ballanced by for of that we are the very Image 3. Man is a Field the Mind the Sower the three Kingdoms the Seed Look which thou sowest for that thou reapest and at the dissolving of the Body that thou art If thou give thy Field thy self up to this World thou standest only in two Principles that of this World and that of the fierce Wrath. 4. But he that is generated out of Darkness into the Light knoweth both the fierce Eternity and the Out-birth but cannot search out the Light for he is therewith environ'd and therewith ruleth like a Prince in Heaven over Hell and Earth and all are profitable to him for by the first his high exulting Paradisical Joy springeth up and in the third are God's variety of Wonders as in Glasses represented 5. Thus may be seen how Cain's Evil worldly Kingdom and hypocritical Antichristian Church is founded Also how Abel's meek Light righteous Kingdom and his regenerated and resigned spiritual Church is perfected The victorious Gate of the poor Soul In the three last Pages of this Chapter is a sweet and consolatory Incitement and Exhortation that the Soul advance by Perseverance with disregard of the Old Man compar'd to a Wild unruly Beast that it may attain the victorious Garland of Pearl to Crown the New Man with CHAP. XXII Of the new Regeneration in Christ out of the Old Adamical Man 1. THE Scripture saith Christ was conceived and born without Sin of a pure Virgin But since Adam's Fall no pure Virgin is generated of Man's Seed therefore the pure Eternal Virgin of God's Wisdom putting it self into Mary became not thereby Earthy but Mary by putting on the chast Virgin as a pure Garment of the Holy Element or as a new regenerated Man the Soul of Mary comprehended the same and in that same she conceived and did bear into the World the Saviour of all the World 2. And as Mary bare the Heavenly in the old Earthy Man which was her own yet comprehended not the new So the Word entred into the Eternal Virgin in the Heavenly Matrix in the Body of Mary and became a Heavenly Man out of the new regenerated Man in the Soul of Mary and hath brought the Soul of Mary again into the Holy Father so that the Souls of Men were new born again in the Soul of Christ. 3. The Soul of Christ was no strange Soul brought from Heaven but as all Souls are generated so was Christ's though in his Holy Body which was become Maries own And Christ with his entrance into Death sever'd his Holy Man from the fierceness of the Anger and from the Kingdom of this World 4. As the pure Element which is truly every where in which God dwelleth hath attracted to it this World as a Body and yet this Out-birth comprehendeth it no more than the Body doth the Soul So truly hath Christ in the Body of the Virgin Mary attracted to him our Human Essences and so is our Brother which Essences comprehend not his Deity nor can the new Man comprehend it otherwise than the Body doth the Soul 5. In our Human Essences Christ died and his Deity of his Holy Man in the pure Element bereaved Death of its Power and opened a Gate for us all to be separate from the Devil the World and the bestial Body of the four Elements whereof only the shadow is to remain Who then shall not have the Image of our Immanuel shall have the Image of that which his Heart hath been set upon here 6. To Demonstrate Highest things by a Similitude 1. The Almighty Father is as the Fire of the whole Holy Constellations 2. The Son as the Sun which is the Heart and Joy of the Deep 3. The Holy Ghost as the Air. 4. The Virgin of God's Wisdom as the Spirit of the great World 5. The Holy Ternary as the Earth 6. The Heavenly Aquaster as the Water call'd also the Holy
in the Body of Christ holdeth the Anger together with all Devils Eternal Prisoners as Darkness stands shut up before the Eternal Day CHAP. XXVI Pentecost The sending of the Holy Ghost 1. ON the seventh Day after Moses ascended the Mount was he call'd and the Lord spake with him And Christ when he was ascended into his Throne was on the ninth Day glorify'd and the Holy Ghost went forth from the Centre of the Trinity into the whole Holy Element also opened the Doors of the great Wonders 2. So that the Apostles spake with the Languages of all Nations for the Holy Ghost went out of all Essences and filled the Essences of all Men who had but an earnest desire to it 3. And the hard palpable Body of Christ was received into the Holy Ternary only the source of this World was destroy'd in Death And though he be swallow'd up as to our sight and apprehension yet shall he come again at the last Judgment Day and manifest himself in that same very Body to good and bad CHAP. XXVII Of the Last Judgment 1. AT the time before the Fire of Nature causeth every thing to dissolve melt and pass into its Aether cometh the Judge of the Living and Dead and with him the Angelical World Then all not comprehended in the Body of Christ shall howl tremble yell roar blaspheme gnaw their Tongues and would hide themselves in Holes and Caves from the Terror of the Lord. They Curse the Heavens Constellations and Stars that inclined and drew them to Evil they Curse the Earth that bare them and buried them not sooner They Curse their Parents that brought them up and had not strangled them They Curse their Priests that flattered and misled them They Curse their Superiors whose Cruelty and Evil Example influenced them They Curse their ungodly Associates that accompanied them The Tears of those they had oppressed like fiery Serpents sting them Their abused Authority Wealth and Might stand in the Tincture in the Substance of Eternity 2. The Devils also stand trembling they see how every Fire burneth in its own life in themselves they feel the Hellish Fire in the fierce Wrath. 3. The Angelical World in the Light Lustre and Brightness is as the Sun in Triumphant Hallelujahs 4. The Angelical Quire of Holy Men stand there before the Eyes of them that Murther'd Opprest and Reproacht them for the Truths sake whose Guilt like Mountains of Lead holds them down and Speechless 5. And then the King calls and enthrones all his Members And pronounceth that formidable and irrevocable Sentence on the Wicked that they depart from him c. 6. At the Moment of Departing pass away the Heavens Sun Moon Stars Earth and Elements and time shall be no more 7. Nor can the Holy Principle touch the other any more to Eternity nor conceive a Thought of the other The Parents of their wicked Offspring or Children of their wicked Parents or Relations but Eternal Joy fills surrounds and Crowns them See more in the Answer of the 30th of the 40 Questions AN APPENDIX OR THE Threefold Life in Man I. The Life of the Spirit of this World II. Of the Life of the Originality of all Essences III. Of the Regeneration and Paradisical Life 1. BY the Ternarius Sanctus in the Aurora and the three Principles is not meant Holy Earth but the Holy Body out of the Vertue of the Trinity and properly of the Gate of God the Father whence all things proceed as of one only substance 2. For in the Creation proceeds from one only Fountain good and evil life and death joy and sorrow love and hate appearing in all things especially in Man 3. So find we the Threefold Life in Man in the Gate of God the Father See we also how joy is turn'd into sorrow and again joy return'd and by the prevalence of either a substance is made according to which the Mind commanding the Thoughts and collecting them sets the Hands Mouth Feet c. to obey what the Mind willeth and though all the forms of Nature are in Man yet that which is predominant causeth all other to lye as if dead and become as a nothing 4. There are especially three forms in the Mind all superior to the outward for the Mind is anxiously desirous and can see feel smell taste and hear what the outward Senses know not 5 And if the Divine form be Paramount it is in God and the other two are as half dead 6. But the Mind can raise the Spirit of this World of Covetousness Pride c. which instantly openeth the first form out of the Eternal Indissoluble Band in falshood envy malice c. To whom therefore you yield your selves Servants his you are whether of Sin or Righteousness 7. This Life is the sowing and growing time and in the time of this Elementary Life the mind may open which of the three Principles it will but at the dissolution of the Body the Mind standeth in one only Principle having lost the Key of the other two for when the stalk is cut it is no longer a Plant but a Fruit and can stand no longer nor open no other Principle but be Eternally in that which he here kindled 8. But if God hath regenerated us to enter through the Death of Christ into his Life then hath our Immanuel who abâ—sed himself to enter into our Humanity exalted us to enter into the Holy Flesh and Image Adam lost which is out of the pure Element And then the Trinity worketh really in us and we stand in the Life Body and Property of Christ and our new Man standeth in that out of which Heaven and Paradise is generated and the Earthy Man doth but hang to it 9. Put on therefore a true earnest purpose desire and resolution which is Repentance and the Regenerator is ready deep in the Mind in the Light of Life to help the earnest Wrestler and so soweth himself as a Grain of Mustard-seed or as a Root to a new Creature and if the Souls earnestness be great the earnestness in the Regenerator is also great 10. But this is known by them only that feel and experiment how the Regenerator changeth the proud fierceness into humble Love for the new Man is not of this World but hidden in the old For the true knowledge of God is in no Man till he be Regenerate 11. Christ gave not the Flesh and Blood of his Creatures to his Disciples but the Body of the pure Element wherein God dwelleth and is present every where in all Creatures but comprized in another Principle to eat and drink under Earthy Bread and Wine And as the outward Man is Baptized of the Elemenâ—ary Water so is the new Man with the pure Element which appeareth only in the second Principle 12. No Reader understandeth this Author rightly unless he be Born of God it is not folded up in an Historical Art But as Earthy Eyes cannot see God so neither can a
is the seventh Form or Seal of the Eternal Nature wherein the six Seals disclose themselves And natural Wisdom instead of finding the Heart of God by humble resignation hath found the Wonders of this World by Thunders Voices and Strife for when after the Apostles times Men left Love and Meekness and fell to Pomp and Pride the Golden Candlesticks and seven Stars withdrew and were hid and all became seven Seals The Glassy Sea is the Angelical World The Voices of the seven Thunders would be hid proceeding out of the stern Essences did we not put our Imagination into them and open them in us So that only the Lamb excepted none in Heaven nor Earth were worthy to open the Seals nor look thereon we were shut up by them under Death Darkness which only the Light in the Heart of God could open for Man was become an abominable Beast a Dragon with seven Heads and ten Horns and ten Crowns on the ten Horns this Beast the hypocritical Woman rideth on is this the Ass Christ humbly rode on 4. It is hellish Pride and worldly Pomp on which the Woman of seeming Holiness rideth she pretendeth to the Keys of Heaven and makes Laws Decrees and Canons yet knoweth not the New Birth He only that is born of God in his inclined heart the Seals are opened But when and wheresoever the Lamb openeth the seventh Seal then and there the Whore the Beast and Dragon are cast into the Lake of Fire then doth the good Shepherd lead his Flock into green Pastures then they that mark hearken incline the heart mind and thoughts coming humbly with broken hearts are met and embraced in them Christ is born they have him in the Baptism Supper and hearing of the Divine Word in all places for the Holy Ghost satisfieth the longing of the contrite spirit CHAP. V. Of the Seventh Form of Nature the Corporeity 1. COrporeity subsisteth in the 7th Form of Nature and as all the other six Forms are a hunger and longing desire to each other so are all their desires to the seventh to have a Body or Rest and the desire of the Essences is to preserve and sustain the Body The whole Essence of all Essences is a continued hunger of propagating from its fulness so that when one Form attaineth the other a third riseth yet the two former vanish not but all keep one in the other their own respective Powers and so of the rest And tho' the still Eternity is the only true Rest yet is the seventh Form a substantial Body of Rest whereinto the six diffuse their vertues and the same seventh Form standeth and is the comprehensible Body of Darkness and Light 2. The sharp Fire in the Liberty holdeth its right and the anguish whence the Fire ariseth sinking as a death affordeth matter and weight as in my self I see the Fire the cause of feeling in the dead Corporeity which else in the anguish sinketh into weight and is burthensom as a stifling Now what as Fire ascendeth not or as weight sinketh not in death doth as anguish remain neither uppermost nor lowermost which as the begun anguish is the Centre of both and not getting up nor down presseth side-ways like the lower Branches of a growing Tree 3. The Deity longed to see the Wonders in the Eternal Nature and Innumerable Essences yet created all for the Light not for the Darkness for the Tincture is awakened in the Centre in the death of the Earth which is the life of all Gems Minerals Vegetatives and Animals And in the deep the Sun having the Tincture of the Fire is the Father and Life of all the Stars who in the beginning proceeded from its Centre not that they all sprang from them for as the Sun is the Centre of the uppermost in the Liberty so is Saturn or the Earth of the lowermost in death yet is there no dying but a transmutation for neither doth this World die but the Essences change to be what they were not and remain as figures for ever to the glory of God's works And if the gross Visibles were not created to the Darkness how much less the Spirits which are out of the Eternal Mind and therefore Eternal like as our Mind hath diversity of innumerable thoughts and those thoughts essentially potent when exalted as in that of a Woman with Child whose thoughts can magically impress foreign preternatural substances as well as heterogene incongruous figures on the fruit of her womb 4. When God willed the Fiat viz. the creating the Eternal Essences or Powers which flowed into substance which Eternal Essences before went forth without substance then time hads its beginning But the Holy Will still proceeded with the Powers into the love and delight in meekness contrariwise Lucifer's direful Fall was his delight of turning back his will to domineer in the Tincture of the Fire root his motion to which was the forms of the Genitrix before enkindling of the Light as sour bitter dark tart stinging envious for in the fourth form stands Love and Anger in opposition being the middle form of the seven having three drawing one way and the other three drawing the other Lucifer therefore was drawn of both but that the Root forms prevailed was because he saw the Divine or Second Birth proceed out of the Centre and himself standing in the Essences of the Nature of Eternity the great Fountain he therefore despised the Humility whereof Love and Light are the Off-spring and would rule over it and so was cast out of the uppermost Life into the nethermost Death and Darkness for he was offended to see the greatest Mysteries to stand in the greatest lowliness 5. The attaining the Divine Light consisteth in a fixt resolution wrought in us of Humility wherein the Love is generated But all Laws and Devices to attain it are fabulous and as the making costly works wherein the Artificer pleaseth only himself with things wholly unprofitable reaching no higher than imitation of useful things like also as there are many Spirits Aerial Aquastrish Terrestrial and in the Anguish which are not out of the Eternal Well-spring but from the beginning Will generated by the Tincture of Heaven in Nature which mutable at their time leaving only their shadow to manifest the wonders of God And from Eternity there hath been such a Government where the knowledge was only in God but at the coming out of the Angelical World an Intellect was also in the Creatures The Gate into the Holy Trinity 6. In no Creature in Heaven or this World stand the three Principles open as in Man The first Principle or Father tho' he standeth in the Liberty Eternal Stilness is not call'd Father as such but as he is the desiring Thus the Mind of a Man being one only Will is desiring yet therein out of the Eternal Will are innumerable Wills the first Will is Master and the other are recomprehended leading to Light and Darkness to Joy
in the Wonders of this World so evidently that in the Wheel of the Stars and Planets also in our Orb and every Creature that they are an apparent similitude and figure of God according to Love or Anger generating Fire Air Water and Earth That is to say the extremity impurity mortality and gross death of them image the Wrath and the good property in every of them images Paradice where tho' there be but one Element yet in it are the four hidden and on their enkindling and severing become active and comprehensible or palpable to the Creatures which from Eternity was in God yet invisible and immaterial 9. The Language of Nature is treated of from 84th v. to the end of this Chapter which being also dispersed in several places of the blessed Authors excellent Writings it is to be wished were all contracted and paraphrased on in one distinct Treatise not only to shew us the Monuments of our Ruins by the Fall but also stir us up to press inward out of the shadow and figure into the substance which is the inward Power-Worlds CHAP. VI. Of the World and also of Paradise The two Gates of high Consideration 1. MAN is a Child of Eternity but this World is an Out-birth from the Eternal Nature as its Root and an Out-birth is corruptible its grosness originates in the Anger and the Stars are out of the Centre of Nature in all seven Forms and out of each a Centre so that by the wrestlings so very many have proceeded which are a certain number tho innumerable in our account and their being so set a number shews they must be resolved into their Ether for in every Eternal Centre is a springing up without number as is found in Man's Spirit and Soul by the Constellations of the Mind thoughts arise without number and out of one innumerable others which clearly prove our Eternity 2. The Birth of the Eternal Nature is Infinite and perpetually springing up every where in all places as if we imagine a Circle as little as an Attom the least of quantities and in that Circle is the whole Trinity whole Birth of the Eternal Nature so that Eternity is in every place yet maketh no place for it is the Out-birth that maketh place it also maketh Beginning and End for the Infinite Three is without Beginning and End yeâ— as before this Beginning there was nothing but God aâ—d that after the End of these things shall be nothing but God so God is the α and ω the Beginning and the End 3. And forasmuch as the Eternity generateth nothing but what is like it though it self be unchangeable therefore as man is so is Eternity all the three Principles are in him one in another as one â—et in the Creation are three From the Eternal Centre is made the Eternal Substantiality as a Body or weakness being a sinking down and the Spirit is a springing up whence comes Motion Penetration and Multiplication and when the Spirit did create the Substantiality into an Image breathing the Spirit of the Trinity into it the whole Essences even all Forms of Nature the Power to Light and Darkness and the whole Eternity it instantly blossom'd and became the Paradise or Angelical World 4. In the Darkness is the Genitrix in the Light is the Wisdom the first imaged by Devils the other by Angels as a Similitude of the whole Eternal Being to speak in a creatural manner of it And Lucifer imaging beyond the Meekness of the Trinity inkindled in himself the Matrix of Fire and that of Nature becoming Corporeal then was the second Form of the Matrix viz. the Meekness of the Substantiality inkindled whence Water originated out of which was made an Heaven to captivate the Fire and of that Fire and Water came the Stars 5. Then did Man who was God's Image form and imagine in himself the awakened Spirit of the Air four Elements and Constellations which though it were breathed into him Man's Divine Spirit should have over-ruled as the Holy Spirit of God ruleth over all but they became his Lord and instantly captivated him then the Stars Death Vanity and the Elementary Life wrought in him And now if he would enter into God again he must in himself be new-born in God or lost Eternally he is now in the midst between Heaven and Hell to which of these Spirits he yieldeth his he is if Man form in his Spirits the fierceness of Pride c. God loseth nothing for the Image of God in Man withdraweth untoucht into its Principle leaving Man to form himself into the Image of the Serpent and the Spirit forms the Body into its Deformity or otherwise as the Seal the Wax 6. The Eternal Nature doth generate it self Eternally which this World resembleth thus it is a high round Globe figuring Eternity and Infinity wherein by the seven Planets are shewn the seven Spirits of Nature by the great Deep the Eternal Liberty by the Sun in the midst of the seven as a Point or Centre in a Cross the Heart of God by the lustre God's Majesty by the Constellations the Effects or Products of the Fountain Spirits by the Earth the Eternal Death for as the Earth compared with the vigorous outward upper Dominion is as Death so the fierce Matrix is as a Death compared to God yet is not Death but Eternal Torment 7. Not that it is with the Heart of God as with the Sun to be only in one circumscriptive place but as the Centre of a Cross signifying the Trinity in a Globular Rainbow wherein the Red signifies the Father's Property in the glance of Fire Yellow the Son's Lustre and Majesty Blew the Substantiality the dusky Brown the Kingdom of Darkness and on such a Rainbow will Christ sit to Judge and thus is he undivided every where and in that Man who is Born of God is the whoâ—e undivided Heart of God the Son of Man Christ sitting in the circle of his Life upon the Rainbow at the right Hand of God for that Man is Christ's Member his Body his Brother his Flesh his Spirit Power Majesty Heaven Paradise Element Stars Earth and all is that Mans who in Christ is above Hell and Devils though his Earthy Life be under Heaven Stars Elements Hell and Devils 8. Man's Creation was the speaking of that into Substance which was in God in the Virgin of his Wisdom in Eternity not Male and Female which when divided was one Earthy the other Bestial but the new Birth restores that very Eternal Image the Eternal Virginity wherein Christ became Man uniting it to the fallen Man in the Mortal Virginity for Mary had all the three Principles being of the Seed of Joachim and Anna. The Soul of Christ was out of Maries Essences conceived in the Eternal Virgin which Eternal Virgin came into Substantiality uniting with the Human earthy Essences 9. The Eternal Virgin gave to Christ's Human Soul the Heavenly Body and Mary the Earthy the
from within as when Christ raised Lazarus by a power from within from the Centre of the Soul as so also shall we be raised at last for the Word with the three Principles dwells in us And all Souls are as it were one Soul being all propagated of one Soul therefore will they all hear the Voice of the Human Soul of Christ and arise with their Bodies 5. So when we pray it is not to a God afar off for God heareth in the Centre of the Soul of the repenting sinner pressing out of the anguish of the first Principle and out of the Spirit of this World into the holy second Principle which is also in the Soul for when we pray aright the Word which became Man having the Holy Ghost in it goeth from the Father and meeteth the pouring out Soul for the Body is not worthy but the new Body of the flesh of Christ when the Soul attains it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Then comes the Soul to God as the Prodigal Son with an humble submissive obedient Will from the Swine He knocks at his evil heart and breaks open the doors and the Father saith This my Son was lost and is found was dead and is alive The latter part of this Chapter is not extracted being a brief Exposition of the Lord's Prayer according to the Language of Nature which is little known CHAP. XVII Concerning God's Blessing in this World 1. THE Soul finds it self in such an Earthy Garment causing shame and is so choaked by the Devils smoky Pit which represents God a cruel severe Judge that stands at a catch to damn it or decreed its eternal perdition before the present World was that the Soul must needs be under total despair or great doubt at least of falling short of the Light of God for such is the Effect of shame and guilt Therefore the Soul by this misunderstanding starts back seeking some satisfaction from the Spirit of this World and support for the outward Life only or chiefly to be had by its own distrustfâ—â—â—arking and toiling in his own contrivances and subtle reason a consequent of the Curse whence so many potent delusions spring for he thus falls home to the Earthy Life for meat clothing and habitation 2. And this is contrary to the Life Man should have led for as God dwelleth in the Earth yet the Earth apprehendeth him not so Man should with the Soul have eaten the Divine Word of God's Love tho' the Body had been of the Matrix of the Earth yet not captivated in it but eating of the Blessing of God The Body was taken out of the Centre of the Fire and Waters Tincture the Soul out of the second Principle why then should the Body captivate the Soul 3. The Outward Life consists in three parts one in the dominion of the Stars another in the one Element divided into four and the other the dominion of God So that the Man who trusteth in God and not in his Reason the Spirit of God is with him blessing what he is hath and doth For seeing the Soul hath the Body of God how can God's Spirit forsake the outward Body which must open its Wonders God wants none and all are alike profitable to him the politick and the weak for with the outwardly wise he ruleth and with the outwardly simple he tilleth buildeth c. and this Worlds outward Spirit gives degrees to men here so according as the Soul is indued with Divine Power such are the degrees in Heaven yet all in one Love but God's Children are in this and that World as Good Herbs and sweet Flowers which yield their several Vertues in harmony to the Apothecary and the wicked are as poisonous Weeds Thorns and Thistles who separate themselves and their Off-spring into an evil Self-will and Property 4. Covetousness is madness driving Man Devil like to Torment others about a handful of Earth or a Stone of which the World hath enough and plague himself to get the Good of that he must speedily leave and the gnawing guilt which will never leave him This Man still runneth after that Care and Sorrow which runneth after him whereas every one if content hath a sufficient Portion from the Spirit of this World and of Care and Sorrow also as saith the Lord Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof But Man's mad Will is all to advance Pride whereas the Kingdom of God is Love and Humility and if Man suffers not himself to be captivated Heaven and Earth is his by God's free Donation so not only Heaven but the Sun Stars Elements Earth Sea and all is Man's by Natural Propriety To trust therefore in God is to build sure in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XVIII Of Death and Dying How Man is when he Dieth and how it is with him in Death 1. THE Life consisteth in three Parts 1. The Inward which is God's Eternal hidden Mystery in the Fire whence Life existeth 2. The Middle or Eternal Image of God wherein God seeth himself as a Man doth himself in a Glass 3. The Spirit of the great World which this Eternal Image got in the Creation as a Glass to see it self in so the out-principle figures the inward and the inward Image hath so gazed on the outward as that it hath received the outward which must break off again which because it is bound to the Eternal Centre of Nature therefore is the breaking in Death so very painful 2. The outward consisteth in the Sun's Tincture and its Dominion are the Planets and Stars each of which still drive on to its Limits and when it comes again to its place where it stood in the Creation all whereof it was Lord ceaseth for there it commenceth a new Age whence many a young Child in the Womb dieth for its Lord is at its Period And to hit the Point of our limited End it is required to know exactly the Number and Period of the Sign which is our Leader 3. How hardly can the Living Man express how it is with one that is Dead which himself hath not experimented A Dead Man's sence is ceased with extinguishing his Fire his Elementary Spirit evaporateth his Blood and Water pass into Water and Earth also therewith his Essences thus his Beginning finds End But because the corruptible hath an Eternal Root therefore the Eternal worketh in the Fragile and because the outward Imageth the Eternal it should bring its Wonders and Similitudes into the Eternal whence it is originated 4. The Souls Will worketh in the Centre or Eternal Root the Astral Spirit works in the Body adhering so to the Soul that the Soul often lusteth to do what the Starry Spirit doth and such Souls who get no higher fall into Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger whence if they convert not in those very works must the Soul Eternally dwell doing the Devils Will hating God loving Folly which was here and is there their only Treasure but only in the
Trinity was to have a total Similitude That longing awakened the Astringent Fiat That Desire hath drawn out of All into One a Similitude of Heaven this World and the Anger-World And as there is no Thing higher than the Soul so nothing can aâ—â—ihilate it being a Child of the Substance of all Substances Q. 4. What the Breathing in of the Soul is and when it is done A. 1. Every Spirit without a Body being unknown to it self desireth one for its Food and Habitation and the third Principle being created before the Soul as a Looking-glass of the Deity and generated materially out of the Eternal Wonders desired a material Similitude on the Soul and there did the outward Fiat Form an Image out of the Earth's Matrix a mixture consisting of Fire and Water 2. The Fiat of the Heavenly Matrix which did Create before the Earthy longed after the Soul and out of the Centre of the Word went forth the Fiat of the Word so was the third Principle created in the second The Virgin Wisdom clothed the Souls Spirit with Divine Flesh and the Heavenly Tincture made Heavenly Blood in the Water 3. Thus the inward Man stood in Heaven his glance in the Inward Eye was Majesty and understood the Language of God and the Angels viz. That of Nature And tho' he stood in the outward also yet knew not the outward by experience 4. Into this twofold Body Created on the sixth hour of the sixth day was the Royal Soul breathed in by the Holy Spirit into the Holy Man like an awakening of the Deity and the outward Spirit of the Stars and Elements breathed its Life through the Nostrils into the outward Heart also the quality of the fierce wrath pressed in with the original of the Soul so that the Soul could not continue to be Gods Image otherwise than in humble obedience Else could he not over-power two Principles the angry and outward which was generated out of the Anger And the Temptation was for Forty days signified by 1. Moses on the Mount Forty days when Israel stood not but made a Calf 2. The Spies Forty days searching the Land 3. Israel's being Forty years in the Wilderness 4. Elias Fasting Forty days 5. Christs being Forty days Tempted in the Wilderness 6. And being Forty hours in the Grave 7. Christs being Forty days on Earth before his Ascention 8. Israel's Forty Journeys in the Wilderness 9. Goliah's Forty days Challenge 10. Esau lived Forty years then took two Evil Wives which grieved Isaac and Rebekah all the days of their Lives Q. 5. How the Soul is peculiarly form'd and fashioned or framed A. 1. A Twig is like the Tree a Child like the Mother The Soul is like a round Globe ☉ ☉ ♓ the right Arm of the Cross signifieth the second Principle the Spirit The Left Arm signifieth the first Principle its Original Might and Power the upper part signifies its sproutinâ— through Anguish in the Fire The lower part its sinking the Water the Humility into Gods Majesty and be dead to its own will 2. The Soul in its first Principle hath the form of an Eye yet twofold wherein the Cross standeth unless it let the Devil into the Will viz. Pride and Covetousness if so it loseth the Cross. 3. In the second Principle it is a Spirit and a total intire Image such a one as the outward Man is 4. And in the third Principle it is a Looking-glass of the whole world the Potentiality of Heaven and Earth and all Properties of Creatures lye in it Q. 6. What the Ability or Potentiality of the Soul is A. The first power of the Soul is That if the will go strongly forward it is Faith And so can form another Image in the Spirit out of the Centre of Nature It can give the Body another form being Lord of the outward but that transmutation is not permanent because Adam did let in the Turba and this kind of power is call'd Nigromancy for the Body is Sulphur the Spirit of the Soul hath the Tincture But the Devil readily mixeth therein for it is the Abysses Wonder whereof he is Lord. 2. The second power of the Souls will is that the earnest will which otherwise is called faith can put the Spirit into another form If the Spirit were an Angel the will can make it a stubborn Devil Also if it be Devilish it can by sinking down in Humility under the Cross cast it self again into Gods Spirit 3. The third power of the Souls will or Spirit is that it hath power to enter into another Mans Marrow and Bones and if he be wicked can introduce the Turba into one who is not armed by Gods Spirit as do Sorcerers c. 4. The fourth power of the Souls will is that it hath power if it be Gods Child to lead Captive the Turba and pour it out on the House of the ungodly As Moses on Pharaoh and Elias did the Fire It can throw down Mountains break Rocks as far as the place is capable of the Turba having made the Anger stirring 5. The fifth power is that it can search out all wonders or works in Nature Arts Sciences c. So Moses commanded the Sea Joshua the Sun And if it be in God it can over-power the Devil Also can heal the Sick raise the Dead But not unless Gods Spirit stir it up having lost the exercise of its power by the Fall yet the Soul in its original is greatly powerful But only in that Principle into which it looketh or in which it standeth is its might Q. 7. Whether the Soul be Corporeal or not Corporeal A. The Soul is a Fire-Globe with a Fire-Eye and a Light-Eye The Tincture is a Spirit existing from the Fire and Light And is its Meekness out of which cometh Water which the Fire draweth to it self to allay its fierce quality turning that Water of Life into Sulphur according to the seven Spirits of Nature And that Mystery changeth it self into red from the Fire and into white from the Tincture the glance is from both so that the Life seeth it self out of which Reason and Thoughts exist The Blood is the House of the Soul The Tincture is its Body The pure Soul is not Corporeal but there groweth a Body in the Tincture not palpable or comprehensible to the outward but a Power Body Gods Body Christs Heavenly Flesh which he gives us in his Supper A Body the Turba cannot touch unfadeable comprized in nothing but in the noble precious Tincture Which being perished in Adam therefore God became Man and brought the Divine Image again into the Souls Tincture and we must now be Born again in Christ if we will see God Q. 8. In what manner the Soul cometh into Man or into the Body A. This Question is understood of propagation the Creation of the first Soul being shown before 'T is answered That Adam when fallen could not generate but in an
Deep one Power and Lustre receiveth the other The Deep with its Lustre is hidden but yet hath the power of the Sun in it 4. So Christ's Substantiality filleth Heaven and Paradise and swalloweth up the Earthiness also where it is received and obeyed 5. Thus Christ brought back what Adam lost and much more for the Word is every where become Man See the Extracts of the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the Three Principles The 2d Part being of Christ's Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection CHAP. I. Q. IS it said Was it not sufficient that God became Man why must he also die Could God no other way save Man What pleasure takes he in Death and Dying If God had by his Sons Death paid a Ransom for us why must we also die CHAP. V. Ver. 54. to the end Ans. 1. MAN had lost the Divine Substantiality and Angelical Property and imagined into the Out-birth viz. into the Earthy part was departed from the Divine Light into the Light of this World and captivated in the fierce Wrath of God which the Devil had kindled viz. the four first Forms according to which God calleth himself a consuming fire 2. The corrupted Out birth also had put a Body on him which it destroyed and swallowed up again in its essential fire 3. But being the Soul was breathed into Man out of the Holy Spirit of God out of the Eternal and so is an Angel 4. Therefore hath the Power of the Holy Light World the Heart of God resumed the same entring into the Human Essence which lay in the Anguish Chamber surrounded with Death and took to himself a Soul out of our Essence and our Mortal Life and introduced the Soul through Death through the earnest severe Fire of God the Father into the holy meek Light-World and so destroyed Death by bringing in Divine Substanâ—iality into the fierce Wrath of the Father the Centre of the Anguish-Chamber the Fire World in the Soul Christ being the right Centre of the Holy Trinity is with the out gone Holy Spirit the flaming Majesty the Light-World 5. And whosoever will possess the Light-World and be an Angel must enter in through the same path bear old Adams Cross go forth through the harâ—â—â— astringent stern and malignant corrupted Adamical Man and slay him and be born anew out of the Anxious Wheel 6. But seeing we were not able to do this Christ gave himself into the Centre of the fierce Wrath in the Soul brake and extinguished it with his Love So that now when we go out of our selves to the death of sin we come into the death of Christ the path he hath prepared for us and leads to his Resurrection whereby we ascend into his Arms the unshut Light-World which is also Abraham's bosom the Paradise wherein we were created our true dear native Country 7. It consisteth not in this that we think it enough to pourtray and represent what Christ hath done and suffered for us and tell of a Faith in that but that we daily and hourly fight and slay the Evil Adam as to his will and doings with resigned and resolved earnestness and then we enter into Christ's Death in our living Bodies put on his Life in us become impregnated with the Kingdom of Heaven Get on us Christ's Thorny Crown and still be accounted one that is not worthy to live on the Earth through all which we must faithfully proceed on knowing we must either be Angels or Devils 8. In this Death nothing dieth to or in us but only the Earthy Evil dead Adam whose will and life we have here continually destroyed This Enemy departeth from us into the Essential Fire into the four Elements and into the Mystery and must at the end be tryed through the Fire of God and then our Bodies and Works must be given us again through that Fire whatever the Earthy Mystery had swallowed up But not such an Evil one for the Fire of God devoureth the Evil but such a one as we here in anxiety have sought a Divine Spiritual Substance like the Wonders and Wisdom of God 9. Hypocritical Reason saith Christ hath done all for us we cannot It is right Christ hath done what we cannot do he hath broken Death and restored a new Life and is in Heaven But 't is not knowing but doing the Devils know but what availeth that we know if we remain without and enter not into Christ in the way and passage he hath made for us doing good for evil in truth and simplicty CHAP. VII Ver. 75. 1. IT is not enough to cry Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Son he hath satisfied for my sins But I must enter into Christ's suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death become a Member in and with him Constantly crucifie the old Adam Always hang on Christ's Cross Become an obedient Child Tho' I plainly walk this way yet I have so evil a ghest in me that I still work too much evil must therefore continually strive and fight till I vanquish 2. Christ indeed hath in and for us broken Death and made way but what doth that comfort me unless I enter in that very way and path as a Pilgrim or Stranger here CHAP. IX CHrist's Sufferings c. 1. Men content them to participate of in the Lord's Supper v. 29. But his Divine Flesh and Blood is that which the wicked cannot participate of that is Sacramentally 2. They receive the four Elements in the Anger of God because they discern not the Lord's Body which is every where present in Heaven and Earth and is fed upon by the Heavenly Soul not as a sign as others dream not Spirit without Substance but the Substance of the Spirit Christ's Flesh which filleth the Light-World which the Word that became Man brought with it into the Virgin Mary and there became opened in its Flesh and Blood the assumed Human Essence 3. Yet was it at that very time while Christ lay in the Virgins Womb in Heaven in the one Element in all places It came not into Mary from many miles off but the Centre which Adam in God's Anger had shut up in death the Word of the Deity did unlock and bring in the Divine Substantiality not entring in but unshutting ingenerating and in this World exgenerating God and Man one person heavenly Substantiality and Virginity one only Man in Heaven and in this World See the latter part of the 18th Chapter of the three Principles The third part being of the Tree of Christian Faith CHAP. I. WHat Faith is 1. It is not our forcing the mind to belief of Articles which are the work of our Reason 2. But true Faith is one Spirit with God working in and with God is the might of God dwells in the liberty in God's Will inclined to his Love and Mercy is free from the fierce Wrath and Torment in Nature is not comprehended subsisteth in
uniteth with the Sun's Power CHAP. VI. The outward manifestation of the inward three Worlds How God is in all things How all the World might be a meer Sun What Man is And wherein God beholdeth himself Further of the 4th Point 1. THE Earthy Tincture hath no communion with the Heavenly though the outward proceedeth out of the inward and yet the Tincture of the precious Metals hath communion with the Heavenly 2. The Dark World hath the first Centre the Light the second whence behold our danger for if we cast our selves into the Earthy seeking that captivateth us the Dark Abyss is our Lord and the Sun our Temporal God 3. The three Worlds are not sever'd for the Eternal Abyssal substance may not sever it self The outward is the place which comprehends not the inward but is comprehended by it what the inward giveth forth out of it self that it also possesseth and cometh not into a place but was there bâ—fore-hand 4. Thus God dwelleth in all things but no more comprehended than the face is by the Looking-glass or the Sun by the Water tho' the outward hungreth after the inward and can receive the inward into it but the inward cannot receive the outward for it dwelleth not in the outward but in it self nor is the inward remote from the outward as the Sun from the Water but as the Water hath the Suns Property in it else could not catch the Suns Lustre And this World would all be a meer Sun if God would kindle and manifest it for every thing animate and inanimate and all the four Elements receive the Suns glance 5. If Man who is all the three Worlds standeth in them in equal harmony without introducing the one World into the other saving that he by the Light-World rule the Dark and Outward Worlds then is he God's similitude and the Outward World must catch the Light as the Water doth the Suns glance But if the Water be mixt with Earth it receives not the Suns Light No more can the Human Spirit the Light of God unless it remain pure and then that Man's Life is such a Looking glass as wherein God beholds and finds himself as also in the Angels and Beauties of Heaven for in the Dark World is no Looking glass capable of the Light But if the Water be mixt with Earth it must sink down from the Earths dark fierceness wherein it was captive before it be capable of seeing the Light 6. So what Man imagineth after it receiveth if he hath filled himself with the Earthy hunger he must be new born that he may with Christ break the Earthy Darkness and with Authority introduce the clear pure Looking-glass of the Deity CHAP. VII How a Life passeth out of Joy into Misery The fifth Point 1. LIfe is like a terrible flash but when it receiveth the Light it passeth into meekness and joy but because it sprung from its Mother the Dark World it hath power either to retire thither or proceed forward by the Fires Anguish to kindle the Light Its perdition is therefore evident it inclineth to the multiplicity to be its own Lord but yieldeth not to the Liberty beyond Nature for if it did then would the Liberty kindle the Love-fire and become a light viz. a clear Looking-glass of God's Majesty In that manner as the second Principle hath kindled it self from Eternity for entring into the Liberty it arrives at that which was before Nature and was the cause of Nature 2. The Soul hath three Eyes or Looking glasses in the time of this World and seeth with that only to which it turneth it self tho' by right of Nature it hath but one viz. the fourth Form of the Dark VVorld viz. Fire and into which it goeth with its will of that it receiveth its spiritual substance 3. And if it go into the Dark World or Outward World the Light World is hidden and as dead as Fire is in Wood. Here should Man prove himself what World is Lord in him If wrath envy deceit pride avarice bestial unchastity c. be his desire he may make Register accompt and inventory that certainly he is not a Man but a Dog Goat Beast Serpent or Toad And when the four Elements forsake him his Souls Image is form'd by the Hellish Fiat into that Property of theirs that most strâ—â—gly drew his delight 4. Yet he that hourly striveth against the Evil Properties and though he be damped by the Evil his constant desire to repentance sheweth God's fire glimmereth in him and when the outward Body with its damp breaketh and can no more hinder the glimmering week then the Divine Fire kindleth and figureth him after the Image of the strongest Property he here introduced into his desire But if he continue not his serious desire he may desperately perish 5. But he whose desire is so potent that he can subdue his Evil Nature and pass into humble Patience contemn the glistering of the World do good for evil and can yield himself and all his to do and suffer misery for God's sake In that Man the Divine Power floweth up the Noble Image dwelleth and Jesus is born 6. The Devil knoweth him not only is inraged and irritateth incarnate Devils and Men Beasts to plague him This Man is the surest never dieth but the outward Kingdom that was a hinderance to him falleth from him and as he tasted what God is and bare the heavenly substance here so now much more and is eternally perfected CHAP. VIII Further of the 5th Point The True Human Essence or Substance is not Earthy nor out of the Dark World but out of the Substance of God 1. THE right substantial Man is of the Light World there is a Gulph of Death 'twixt that and the Dark World and Outward World yet is it shut up-in the Outward World Christ is come to save what is lost and will suffer it self to be helped unless it be a totally Devilish fruit of evil Parents But while there is any small Tinder of Divine stirring the Child is capable by Baptism to have the Light glimmering in that part given Adam out of the Angelical World not that Earthy part he introduced and so far as the Divine Power stirreth is the Child baptized after life in the womb by the Holy Ghost 2. Obj. What can the Child do to it that the Parents are wicked Answ. The Evil Man is shut up in Body and Soul why not in the Seed Must God turn the seed of Thistles into Wheat and throw Pearls to Swine The Sun maketh nor desireth any Weed but giveth to all Vegetables Life but the Soil produceth the Evil. Many times the wicked Parents cause Curses to stick to their wicked Consorts and should not their wills be done to them 3. And being both wicked what can an Evil Beast beget but an Evil Beast baptized in God's fierce Wrath So also it receiveth the Lord's Supper without distinguishing the Lord's Body and put it and its own
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according â—o Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it â—orth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâ—s in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâ—ess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day â—wallows up the Night or as the Fire illustrateth the heated Iron Yet was no more apprehended by the outward Elements though then in their best Purity than the Terrestrial doth the Celestial The Internal was to rule over the External the Heaven was the Husband to the Earth before the
Curse 2. And whereas Moses distinguisheth the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil from the Tree of Life 3. By the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. is understood 1. The Holy Power of God in the Tree which was the Middlemost Kingdom 2. Paradise the Outermost through which the Middlemost penetrated and manifested it self This was the Knowledge of the Good which Adam should as little have known in its Original as the Evil for he should have kept a Child-like Mind resign'd to God 3. The Dark World which also was manifest in the Vanity as now the Earthy Essence of the outward Worlds Fruit. 4. Because Adam should have eaten with the inward Heavenly Mouth not with the outward Earthy Desire he had such Fruit growing for him which the inward Mouth could enjoy The outward Mouth did also eat it but not into the Worms Carcass 5. The Celestial swallowed up the Terrestrial and changed it again into that whence it proceeded for now was Adam in God's Power Kingdom with both Tinctures before his Eve and the Divine World was Predominant so that the three Principles stood in equal Harmony and Will with pleasing Tast ravishing Melody sweetest Odours smiling meek friendly Aspect of highest Love-desire 6. But as Lucifer elevated himself into the first Principle totally extinguishing the Light so Adam lusted into the outward or Vanity hanging to the third Principle But left his Light should be totally extinct also and drawn into the first Principle and become a Devil God well knowing the Devil would tempt him 7. The High and Holy Name Jesus with deepest Love interposed and gave himself to regenerate this Hierarchy and Purge it through the Fire with highest Love to overcome the Wrath and change it again into Divine Joy the Holy Heaven And this is what St. Paul saith Man was Elected in Christ Jesus before the Foundation of the World 8. Is it asked Why did God suffer this Plant to grow It is answered Adam's earnest Desire became a Hunger and caused that the Fiat drew out such a Plant. For Adam was then a potent Spark of God's Might and Omnipotence For now that he hath broke himself off from the Universal Being and become subject to Vanity if â—aith as a Grain of Mustard seed can remove Mountains what could he not then do who was subject to nothing but God 9. And the Tree of Good and Evil being thus distinguished the Tree of Life is also manifest to be one Tree with the other but only in the Holy Divine Principle viz. In the second in due Temperature with the first and third CHAP. XVIII Of the Paradisical Life State or Dominion how it should have been if Adam had not fallen c. 1. HAD God created Adam to the earthy corruptible naked sick toylsom Life he had not brought him into Paradise 2. If God had willed him the bestial Copulation he would first have created both Sexes as he did other earthy Creatures 3. But every Creature brings its Cloathing from its Dam Man only cometh in deepest Poverty the most for lorn and shiftless with the Worms Carcass and bestial Members for Propagation whereof the poor Soul is always ashamed 4. But Adam was a Man and Woman yet neither distinct but a Virgin full of Modesty Chastity and Purity Such was he before his Eve as shall arise and Eternally possess Paradise a Virgin and as the Angels 5. Two fixt and stedfast Essences were in Adam A Spiritual Body from the inward Heaven which was God's Temple and the outward Heaven a Limus extracted out of the good part of the Earth which was the Maâ—fion of the inward and at the Last Judgment shall be sever'd from the Curse and Corruption These two were espoused into one wherein was the most Holy Tincture of Fire and Light and had ardent Love to each other the inward loved the outward as its Manifestation and Sensation and the outward loved the inward as its sweet Spouse and Joy 6. And the Magical Power of Impregnation stood in the fiery Love-Desire No Winter Sleep Sickness nor need of the Sun had he before his Eve only he stood in the Temptation Forty days in Paradise where had he been stedfast God had confirmed him to Eternity He was drawn of all the three Principles and though they did Equiponderate and were of equal Measure yet the Devil was very busie in the first Principle which Adam desired not to prove as Lucifer had done 7. But his Lust was to taste Evil and Good then came the severe Command Thou shalt not Eat c. which tho' he did not with his Mouth yet his desire to it made his Heavenly Tincture to disappear and his fair Image fell into a swound and his clear pure steddy Eyes and Sight were darkned by the impress of the Vanity So that now he could not Magically propagate himself then God said It is not good that he should be alone I will make a help meet for him CHAP. XIX Of the Building of the Woman and how Man was Ordained to the outward Natural Life 1. THE Woman was taken out of Adam's Essence in Body and Soul The Rib betokeneth Mans dissolution in the place of it entred Longinus's Spear when Christ was Crucified to Tincture and Heal the breach with Heavenly Blood His sleep was the real Type of Christs rest in the Grave his breaking or bruising was of the breaking or bruising Christs Body on the Cross from the sixth hour to the ninth so long was the Fiat in Adam's sleep separating the Woman in which space the Female Person was compleatly finished so long Christ stood as in Adam's thirst and then said It is finished that is had redeemed the Virgin Image from the divided Sex of Male and Female 2. Eve was the right Magical Child as to the right Life then manifested which after disappeared So that after the eating the Apple God said the Seed of the Woman shall c. Her disappeared Heavenly Matrix should like the dry Rod of Aaron Bud again tho' now the Holy part was shut up 3. The Woman had the fifth Property of the Eternal Nature the Centre of the Angelical World the Sons Property and was Adam's dearest Rose Garden and the Man kept in his Limbus the Divine Fire-world the Fathers Property She received from Adam's Flesh and Bones only the Rib and the half cross in the Head but now was the Bestial Worms Carcass Bowels and Members for Propagation Mans shame hung on them Nor was there any strange alien thing from without them that formed his Eve as was in the Creating Adam and all other Creatures but only their own very propriate the verbum fiat in them for God hath left in all Creatures a power to their own Multiplication and Making CHAP. XX. Of the Lamentable and Miserable Fall and Corruption of Man 1. VVHEN Adam saw Eve the fiery Tincture of his Soul impressed his desire into her Tincture of Light and tho'
twofold Humanity viz. the Heavenly and Earthy that when these Warriours should smite the Earthy the other which came down from Heaven should escape 3. Jacob's Presents are Christs Prayers 4. His humbling himself saying I came over with my Staff only but am now two Bands so did Christ in the Garden whose two Bands were the Heavenly Humanity perish'd in Adam and that of the Limus of the Earth with both which Jacob viz. Christ was to return to his first Paradisical Countrey and Angelical Kindred 5. Sent five hundred and eighty Cattel viz. Christ sent out Lusts to the Anger of God 6. Jacob also sent his two Wives viz. Christ sent the twofold Spirit of Man viz. the Soul and the Spiritus Mundi viz. the inward Eternal Soul and the outward Soul 7. Two Handmaids viz. the twofold Humanity of the Body 8. The Eleven Children viz. the Eleven Apostles 9. And passed over the Brook Jabock viz. Kidron 10. Jacob's Twelfth Son lay yet unborn so now was Christs Twelfth Apostle not chosen in the room of Judas 11. Jacob staid alone and there wrestled a Man with him viz. the great love of God in the Name Jesus did wrestle with Gods Righteousness and Truth which was on Mount Sinai 12. All Night of the darkness of Gods Anger 13. The Ham of his Thigh was displaced viz. the Adamical Humanity was displaced but not broken to die Eternally He halted viz. being Lame to the Pride Vanity Malice Lasciviousness c. of this World 14. The Man said Let me go for the day viz. the Eternal day dawneth But Jacob viz. Christ said I will not let thee go until thou bless me viz. the Humanity 15. And the Man said What is thy Name He said Jacob. Then the Man said Thou shalt no more have a self name but Israel viz. a Tree of Life or Christian viz. a sprout on the Vine Christ. 16. And Jacob asked what is thy Name But Christ said why askest thou that is I am no stranger thy Name and mine shall be one But God without Nature and Creature is the Eternal one and Eternal good the Abyss and Profunâ—ity no place is found for him no Creature can Name him for all Names stand in the formed Word But God is the Beginningless Root of all Power the Vegetables know not how the Sun blesseth them 17. Man hath lamentably lost the five Vowels the Holy Ghosts Language for the whole New Testament is couched up in the Old 18. When God blessed Jacob he called the place Penuel that is where God is manifest in the Soul 19. And when he was departed thence the Sun viz. of Righteousness arose in him and he halted his self-will was lame in its ability 20. And the Children of Israel eat not of that Sinew to this day for they understood that Mystery and Instituted this Memorial viz. the displacing of their Bestial Wills which if the present Jews and Christians well understâ—od they would not hunt after Covetousness and Lust yet under Christs Purple Mantle CHAP. LXI Of Jacob and Esau meeting all Heart-burning turned to Joy c. 1. BLind Reason should learn the meaning of Gods Decree Rom. 9. 13. and Mal. 1. 2 3. for here was Esau the Type of the corrupted Adam and Jacob of Christ who came to help Adam and were of one Seed to shew Christ must become Flesh. And Jacob appeased Esau by his Humility as did Christ by his great Love in our Humanity in our Anger-soul appease the Anger of God when he gave up his Heavenly Blood with the Tincture of Love into the Anger of God for then was the Anger in the dark World turn'd into a Love-fire 2. Jacob seeing Esau coming with four hundred Men divided his Children to Leah and to Rachel and to both the Handmaids and passed before them and bowed seven times c. 3. When Christ in our Humanity entred his Sufferings Gods Anger in the four Elements met him Then Christ divided the Heavenly Worlds substance which he brought from God signified by Rachel from the Natural Humanity from Adam or Spiritus Mundi Typed by blear-ey'd Leah wherein yet the destroyer of the Serpent was Born as Judah of Leah while Rachel was Barren till Christs Spirit made her fruiâ—ful 4. And as Jacob set the Handmaids foremost so did Christ first cause the Earthy to pass through the sharpness of Death next Leah the Body out of the Limus of the Earth follow'd 5. And after her Rachel the Heavenly Limus with the Prince Joseph the Divine Worlds substance 6. Jacob bowed seven times in this Humility appeasing Esau so did Jesus through all the seven forms of Natures Life 7. As Jacob yielded up his Riches and Life to Esau to do what he would with him so did Christ to Gods Anger 8 Esau ran to meet him fell on his Neck wept and kissed him so when the Essence of Gods Anger in Man tasted the sweet Love in the Name and Blood of Jesus it was transmuted into Compassion 9. And Eâ—â—u beheld the Women and Children and said whose are these c. Man whiâ—e heâ—d in the Anger and Darkness was not known to the holy Image but Love made him known 10. Their order of coâ—ing to Esau shews how poor Eve's Children were brought through Christs Suffering and Death into the Countenance of God first the Body of Sin through Death then the Body out of the Limus of the Earth which in the Resurrection is esteemed strange therefore Typed by a Handmaid And lastly the fair Image Created in Adam 11. Jacob's Presents signifie the Children purchased bâ— Christ and given to the Father so shall Christ deliver up the Kingdom to the Father 12. Yet is Esau's Compassion and weeping on Jacob the Type of repenting Sinners sorrow 13. Esau said Let us go together Jacob saith The Children are tender c. I will follow softly c. When Christ in his Sufferings had appeas'd his Fathers Anger in the Kingdom of Nature the appeas'd Anger would instantly take the Journey viz. in the Life of Man But the Love said Man is too tender and may fall by Temptation in one day I will follow slowly with them to the end of the World 14. Esau would have left some of his Men with Jacob but Jacob said what needeth it viz. God the Father said Let me leave some Laws of my severe Righteousness but Christ saith Let me with my redeemed Children only find Grace in thy sight for they cannot fulfil thy Laws CHAP. LXII Of Dinah Deflour'd all the Males of Sichem slain by Simeon and Levi. 1. JAcob had Twelve Sons six of them were of Leah and Judah of whom came the Humanity of Christ was one of the â—ix 2. Then bare Leah Dinah which Daughter of Fleshly Love went after the Daughters of the Land a gadding lively prefiguring Christendom who instead of continuing in the humble simplicity of Jacob's Tents at Succoth and remaining a Stranger to the Customs and Behaviour
John Page 132 Why he was Tempted 40 Days Page 133 How he was in Heaven and also on Earth Page 134 Why he Taught in Parables Page 134 Why he did not describe his Gostel in Writing Page 135 Why the High Priest and Scripture-Learned persecuted him Page 135. 139 His Process through his Suffering and why it was so Page 136. 142. 283. 330. 332. Why must he Die on a wooden Cross. Page 140 Of the two Murtherers Crucified with Christ what they figure Page 140. 283 Why must his Side be opened with a Spear Page 141 Why did the Earth tremble when he hung on the Cross. Page 142 What did the darkness signifie that came over all Nature Page 143 Of Christs Dying Descending c. from Page 143. to 158. and 283 Of the true Christian. Page 170 176. 297 Of the Titulary Christian. Page 171. 176 297. 310. Of the True Christian Church Page 279 Circumcision what it signifies Page 116. 376. 398 Conversion what it is Page 324 Contrariety whence it sprung Page 340 What use it is of Page 349 357 Of the Covenant with Noah Page 391 Of the Covenant with Abraham Page 116. 397 Of the Line of the Covenant Page 391 Of the Mortal Creatures from whence they sprung and Exist Page 64. 72. 233. 242 Of their Differences Page 73. 235 The End why they were Created Page 74. 235 Of the Creation Page 19. 234. 252. 303. 371. 381. What was before the Creation Page 43 Of the inward and outward Cure Page 363 Of Gods Curse what it is Page 275 The Cause thereof Page 388 D. OF the two Principles of Darkness and Light Page 1 Of the Temporal Darkness whence it is Page 65. 227 How the Devil came to be and what he is Page 45 Of Death and Dying Page 191. 192. 277. 313. 321. 358. Of the Divine Nature Page 260 Of the Divine Being in Nature Page 241. 380 The Divine Being and Nature distinguished Page 337. 341 Dinah deflowered what it figureth Page 412 E. WHat the Earth was before the Curse Page 87. 106 What the Earth is since the Curse Page 106 Of the Constitution and Form of the Earth Page 253 Egypt The bringing the Children of Israel out thence what figure it bears Page 121 Of Election and Reprobation what they are Page 345 What the four Elements are and whence proceeded Page 62. 224. 263. Of Enoch's Wonderful Line Page 391 Of the Enochian Life what it is and where hath Enoch remained Page 113. 326 The History of Esau what it figureth Page 405 to 413 Of the Eternal Nature or Originality Page 286 Of the infinite Productions thereof Page 261 Of the Knowledge of the Eternal through the Corruptible Page 272 Of Evil fierceness and anger whence they proceeded Page 2. 223. 247. 334. 380. F. TRue Faith what it is Page 332 Of the Fathers Property Page 243 Of the Firmament in the midst of the Waters Page 66. 228 254 Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ how the Disciples did Eat and Drink it Page 377 Of the Flesh and Spirit the contrariety betwixt them Page 321 Of the forbidden Fruit what it was Page 99 Of the Forms of Nature Page 292 How God Forgiveth Sins Page 336 G. IN what Grace the old World was Saved without Law Page 110 Of God distinct from Nature and Creature Page 42. 369. 379 Of Gods Love and Anger Page 42 Of Gods being All in All. Page 201 Of Gods working in Hell Page 54. 55. 220 Of the Word or Heart of God Page 379 Of Gods Voice when the day grew cool Page 104 Of Good and Evil whence they proceeded Page 334. 366. 380. H. OF the Human Tree Page 390. 393 Of the Hand of God what it is that Christ commended his Soul into Page 144. Of Heaven what it is where it is and how Page 56. 158. 213. 221. 252 Of Hell its beginning continuance and place Page 47. 51. 55. 213. 219. 220. 263. Of the Heathenish Gods whence they sprung Page 396 Of Hagar and Ishmael what their History figureth Page 397 to 400 Of the shedding forth the Holy Ghost after Christs Ascension what it benefits us Page 163 J. THE History of Jacob and Esau what it figureth Page 405 The Vision of Jacob's Ladder Page 407 The rest of the History of Jacob to Page 423 Of Jehovah Page 19 The Image of God in Man what it is Page 78. 238. 245. 273. 316 The History of Joseph what it figureth from Page 413 to 423. Concerning John Baptist what he was Page 125 Of Isaac's Birth and casting out Ishmael what it figureth Page 400 405 Of Judah and Thamar Page 414 Of the last Judgment what it is and how effected Page 195. 285 K. THE Kingdom of Christ how it is assumed or taken by him Page 183 How Christ will deliver the Kingdom to the Father Page 346 L. COncerning Lamech Cain's Successor Page 112 Of the Language of Nature Page 295. 395 Of the Language spoke by the Apostles at Pentecost Page 162 What the Law is Page 122 How the Divine Life may be manifested in this Life Page 350 Of the Life of Darkness what it is Page 343 Of the Principles of Light and Darkness Page 1 Of the true and false Light Page 354 Of the Temporal Light and Darkness Page 65. 227 Lot's Wife becoming a Pillar of Salt what it figureth Page 118 Of his departure out of Sodom Page 399 Of his Daughters Lying with him Page 118 What each signifies Lust what it can do Page 335 Lucifer what moved him to depart from God Page 44 45 Of his doleful Fall Page 250. 359 Of his Office in Hell Page 47. 219 Of his place at present Page 257 M. OF Mans Estate before the Fall Page 21. 82 84. 85. 86. 274 By what Degrees Man fell Page 26. 274. 359. 372. 385 What Mans Estate is by the Fall Page 28. 83. 274. 290. 335. 342. 373. 388 Of Mans Recovery Page 30. 38. 39. 40. 170 Mans mistaken way towards a supposed Happiness Page 37 Of Mans Immortal Life Page 77. 81. 237 Of Mans Mortal Life Page 77. 81. 237. 255. The Difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man Page 382 Mans Body whence derived Page 75. 237. 255. 264. Of Mans Birth and Propagation Page 271 Why but one Man Created in the Beginning Page 81 Of the Government of Man over the Creatures Page 92 Why the first Man born of a Woman was a Murtherer Page 106 How Man may find himself and all Mysteries Page 303. 342 Of Mans deep Ground and Knowledge Page 46. 299. 304. 343. 358. 372. Of Mans Threefold Life Page 288. 301 Of the Male and Female kind whence proceeded Page 67. 229. Magia what it is and doth Page 346 Of Natural Magick what it is Page 417 Concerning the Metals Page 358 Of the Mind Page 273 Of the strife between Michael and the Dragon what it is Page 45 Moses what doth his being drawn out of the River signifie Page 119 Why the Lord appeared to him in
irrecoverable Apostacy and of his Legions demonstrated 305. P. 385. The Devills present and future Prison 396. Composition of the Tâ—rrene Globe 429. The dear and Transcendent Heavens P. 432. Whence our Lord Jesus came and where also he now sitteth 438. Three Births of and in the Earth 441. P. 446. 456. 467. 471. 485. Man whereof made and what his Fall was What in Man the Devil hath access to 498. Strife of the 7 Spirits causeth Vegetation 500. Commixture of Good with Evil Demonstrated P. 533. 342. 555. The Ubiquity of the Trinity What the Deity is P. 568. Stars whence 570. Lucifer's Place at present Stars and for what P. 590. 594. What the Sun is 598. The Sun moves not the Earth rouls as do the Planets 606. 609. Saturn what 612. Venus what 617. The Ubiquity of the 7 Spirits of God from them came the 7 Planets P. 627. Man's Body 630. 637. Man's Body whereof made v. 56. Three Principles A Simile Or thus Ver. 34. Q. A. * See Chap. 18. of Mysterium Magnum What the Tincture is Tinctures Esences Heavenly Tincture * Ver. 12. What the Tincture is and doth Saturn Jupiter Mars Sol. The Exit of the Will by the sharp Fiat causeth the Essences Ver. 47. Illustrations by Similitudes The Cause of the Baptism with Water Why Children must be Baptized with the outward and inward Water v. 17. v. 22. * Mare v. 42. Ten Forms of Fire The Liberty Desire Attraction Flash Eter Nature Fire and Light Magia Turba Tincture Holy Ternary The Soul is a total Similitude of the Trinity or of all Devils The Souls need of Humility 1. The Souls Will can transform the Body 2. It can reform or deform the Spirit to Good or Evil. 3. It penetrateth the Bones of others 4. If in God it can pour the Turba on the ungodly 5. It can search Nature and work Wonders The pure Soul is not corporeal The Tincture is its Body which only can comprize Gods Body the Heavenly Flesh given in the Supper By propagation The Man soweth Soul the Woman Spirit The Elements the third Principle or Earthy Mystery Answered above It is the inward Fire in the inward Blood of the Heart The Spirit is in the Tincture By dying to Matter and self and by laying hold on the liberty of God it becomes enlightened * Viz. The Fire-Spirit It comes not pure but if the Parents be Vertuous it is Baptized with their Spirit They are not in Union for the sincere Soul is ashamed at the Imaginations the Turba insinuateth into the Body The contrariety is that the inward would be Lord as it ought to be and the outward would be Lord thâ— it ought not Verse 14. Lapis Philosophorum v. 22 23 24. Purgatory No Dying but only a Will of Dying The Heavenly Body of the Soul A zealous Prayer of a faithful Brother may help the weak faith of one hanging between Faith and Doubting * Masses viz. Souls Meals Three Conditions of Departed Souls 1. Those not yet in Heaven who by Earthy Concerns appear in the starry Spirit 2. Such as are free of all wherein is the Turba and appear to reveal good and profound Arts. 3. Such as are in Abrahams Bosom in Christ's heavenly Substantiality those none can stir Paradisical Eating Praises Knowledge of one another All in Paradise are Masculine Virgins The heavenly Flesh and Blood What and where Enoch is The restoration of the heavenly Virgin Image * Or regenerated Christ's Spirit The Christians renewed Spirit The Paradisical World The Trinity made the one Holy Element Out of it Angels Man not only out of it but out of the four Elements Male and Female Tinctures were in Adam The four over which he was to Rule over-powering the one the Tinctures were divided The Eternal Virgin reincorporated Ver. 37. Ver. 4. Self-resignation reduceth the Lifes fire into Liberty Ver. 8. Ver. 28. Holdeth the Truth in unrighteousness Adam's Soul opened the Fires Essences Christ opening the Lights Essences â—ed and clothed the soul with heavenly Flesh. Man was more fully a Similitude of â—he inward World than the Angels Strong Earthy Reason makes strong Resistance to Gods Spirit Matth. 12. 30. What it is not What it is What it doth The Great Mystery 1. Text. 2. Text. 3. Text. 4. Text. 5. Text. 6. Text. 7. Text. 8. Text. 9. Text. Rom. 5. 12 18. 1 Centre 2 Centre 3 Centre P. 35. 36. 39. 42. 48. P. 50. 51. 54. 57. 59. 60. NB. 29. 56. 67. NB. * The Devil v. 14 15 16. v. 67. * 56. Where and how to find God v. 76 v. 77 v. 78. * 41. * 37. God never willed nor can will Evil. v. 105. God according to the first Principle is called Angry Jealous or Zealous In the second Principle Mâ—rciful and Loving v. 20. v. 39 c. Three Hierarchies of Angels Lucifer gave himself into the third Principle v. 82. v. 64. v. 85. v. 95. v. 112. v. 116. Illustr 1. Illustr 2. Illustr 3. Illustr 4. Illustr 5. Illustr 6. Illustr 7. Illustr 8. Illustr 9. Illustr 10. Illustr 11. Illustr 12. Illustr 13 Illustr 14. The Soul's mouth eateth and drinketh Christ's Flesh and Blood as truly as the Plant the Sun's Vertue or the heated Iron the Fire Christs Paradisical Humanity presseth as Fire into Tinder The right Adamical Humanity is eaten and drunk by the Soul a ch 4 5. b ch 13 c. c ch 18 19. d ch 19 20. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The following Instances are as so many Figures to point at the time Adam stood in the Proba Esau lived Forty years then took two Evil Wives Israel Forty years in the Wilderness Forty days searching the Land of Canaan Moses Forty days on the Mount Goliah's Forty days Challenging the Host of Israel Elias Fasted Forty days Christ Forty days Tempted And Forty hours in the Grave And Forty days after his Resurrection Ver. 26. Ver. 28. v. 42. Gen. 6. 1. * v. 5 6. Gen. 9. 20 21 22. Gen. 10. 24. v. 26. Ch. 11. v. 11. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Dan. 11. * 1 Cor. 3. 6. * v. 66. Gen. 15. from v. 1. to v. 17. * John 2. 13 Gen. 18. Gen. 18. * Gen. 18. * ch 19. v. 1. Gen. 19. 15. v. 17. to 23. * Rev. 10. 27. * 2 Thess. 3. Gen. 21. 22. to 34. * Joh. 3. 17. * Ezek. 33. 11 * By himself 1 Cor. 5. 15. * Gen. 22. 3. * v. 4. * v. 6. * v. 7 8. Gen. 24. 2 3. * Gen. 24. v. 5. * v. 6. * v. 9. Gen. 24. v. 10. v. 11. v. 53. * v. 54. * v 61. to 67. Gen. 25. v. 11. * Gen. 25. 24 25 26. * Gen. 26. 32 33. Gen. 27. v. 35. * See the Extracts of the Book of the Incarnation Gen. 28. 14. Gen. 33. 1 2 3. Gen. 33. 5 6 7. Note The Blessed Author taking occasion at Mens false Iâ—ferencâ— from Gods saâ—ing Esau have I hated c. to conclude Goâ—s predetermining Mâ—n to Damnation doth fundamentally discuss that great Mystery from the 22d to the 68th verse of this Chapter so convincingly and yet as plainly as so profound a subject will admit But because it is treated of in a select Volume call'd Predestination beginning p. 369. of this I refer this place thither Gen. 33. 〈◊〉 13 14. * Vide p. 369 c. of this Book of Extracts Gen. 36. * Hebrew Montanus Gen. 37. 6. * Gen. 38. 1 to 10. * Gen. 38. 11 * v. 18 19. * Gen. 38. 27 28 29 30. Gen. 39. 7 8 9 10. Gen. 39. 11 12 13 14 15. Gen. 41. 1 to â— * Gen. 41. 14 15 16. Gen. 42. Gen. 43. Gen. 44. 7 8 9 10. Gen. 44. 11 12 13. v. 14 15 16 17. Gen. 45. 1 2 3. Gen. 45. 11 12 13 14 15. Gen. 46. 28 29 30. Gen. 46. 31 32 33 34. Gen. 47. 1 2 3 4 5 6. Gen. 47. 13 14 15 16 17. v. 18 19. v. 20 21 22. v. 23 24 25 26. Gen. 48. 17. Gen. 50. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Ep. Paul 1 Cor. 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Depths of God King Charles the First his Opinion of Jacob Behmen Text. The Seven Fountain Spirits The Three Principles
the Children of the Day cast their Eyes on these nor suffer themselves to be encircled and enchanted with such Mockeries but set their whole Hearts on the Everlasting Inheritance forfeited by Adam and Eve but redeemed by the Promised Seed the Humble Son of the Eternal Virginity the Glorious Lord Jesus 16. This hath also been the larger insisted on to keep us in constant Self-abasement that every of us hath so Prodigally wasted our Heavenly Portion and fed among Swine Abandoned our dear pretious Virgin Image of Purity and Modesty and become Shameless and Filthy with the Deformity of the Lustful Beasts that have no Law Also to facilitate explicate and introduce what follows which is to Enquire according to the Method proposed CHAP. XVIII Of some Steps by which Adam declined towards his heavy Fall 1. THAT Man having both Tinctures was perfect Male and Female and so was very good hath been shewed from Scripture and proved to the enlightned Reason and demonstrated to the very Senses though now they are so dull 2. Also That Man should have have Exerted his Holy Ability of Will and United it to his Excellent Power is plain But he did it not is as plain by neglect whereof it was said It is not good that Man should be alone but a Meet help should be made him Then God cast Adam into a deep sleep took from him a Rib of That made a Woman What a strange change see we so vast so sudden an Alteration 3. Was Adam good perfectly so to walk with God like a God in a Heavenly or Paradisical state for ever Wants he a Help by Substraction to receive Addition 4. Will any one penetrate into this to them or him be it said Seeing Adam would not stir up both the Tinctures which in great Might were United in him but would in this also be an Angel to remain barren as they Whereas he as a Centre or Fountain should have streamed out a new Race therefore the Gracious Creator let him sleep as one in a Swoun then divided from him the Female Tincture and the lesser part of his Essence or Strength signified by a Rib which is part of the out-guard of the Internal Organs of Life and therewith built a She-Man 5. Both were Holy but Danger of Transgressing was near hence came the severe Penal Law That they should not Eat of the Forbidden Fruit viz That of the third Principle wherein were the Properties of Good and Evil both of the Astral and Elementary World And the knowledge of both the Properties was in the Fruit for he was to Rule over and not receive into himself the third Principle the Properties in it were divided by reason of the disorder caused by the Fall of Lucifer and therefore meat only for the Transitory Creatures Now come we to the Degrees by which Man declined 6. Step must be his not Exerting Executing and Exercising the Power his gracious Creator invested him with 7. Step was his Sleep Sleep or Swouning is Death 's Elder Brother a Debility to the Motion of Sensitive Creatures an Inability in a great measure to Action every Inclination to it is Hostility against an Eternal perfect state Noah's sleep shew'd the Figure of Adam's shameful Sleep And Lot's Sleep figur'd somewhat worse than Shame as the Consequence of Adam's sleep yet both effected by their declining in the third Principle in opposition to which Daniel calls the Angels Watchers 8. Step was his being divided Dividing by dissection or discontinuance of Parts is Diminution and so Diametrically opposite to entireness warring against Union For if the least divisible Part be severed or cut off from any Body wanting the least degree of Infinity that whence it is dissected how immense soever is made less till the Section do as really and locally Re-unite as before it separated 9. But Eves being taken from Adam made her a Numerical Self was a Local serving as truly distinct as the Female from the Male of other Creatures nor could the Tinctures re-unite to be as before in pure Virgin Modesty but she became no Restorer but a Help to prevent a worse state but how a Help may be demonstrated thus 10. The strugling of the three first Forms generateth the fourth as the contest of the two first begets the third so the discord of the fourth doth wrestle till it produce the fifth and so of the rest This while they were in sweet Harmony in one only individual Adam he might like the Sun irresistibly have diffused and shed his potent Influence but after one rending must follow a farther rending of the Body But a bare incision to divide without Separation or any part of discontinuance of Parts may be only such as may stir up to Action though not without thwarting reluctance or regret which may farther appear 11. A Tree partly by its secure situation from shaking jogging stormy pushes or rugged touches may have its Mercurial Vertue slumbering as Fire in Ashes the Sulphur in it be num'd and the whole in a Lethargy when by cleaving the Root with a wooden Wedge that part is awakened and the contrary qualities of its Composition mutually and gradually excite and call one another till like a a Clock-work they conspire and joyn Hands to bring on their great End But if the Plant voluntarily consent wholly to give up its Will to breathing out its Odour and Fruit what need concussion or slashing or any cleaving or dividing at all 12. And though this dividing of Adam was as the Lancet of a merciful Chirurgeon yet every Wound of a Friend supposeth Necessity and consequently incongruous with the perfection of entire Peace and Union Though also these Demonstrations speak plainest after Eves Transgression yet may we scrutiny by the Effect into what occasioneth it 13. Step was Adam's Lusting after Eve for when he took her in his Lust where was then his Modesty Divine Virginity and Purity The heavenly Virgin withdraws from every the least appearance of Unchastity or Inconstancy 14. Step was the Tree of Temptation Adam having a little declined from his Primary Perfection which brought the Necessity of dividing him yet reigning as a Mighty Powerful Son of the Almighty God in all the three Principles and being subject only to God what wonder was the sprouting of that Plant in Obedience of his Royal Magical desire which was so Potent in all the three Principles as to any thing in them irresistible What could hinder seeing he had divided himself from himself but that a Plant with divided Properties of Good and Evil should put forth its Fruit in the third Principle and offer it self to the touch and tast of him who was immediate Lord both in Right and Possession in and over the same third Principle 15. Step was Eve who being less than the half of the new Enthroned Prince and curiously Eying the fair Form and charm'd by the Serpent's subtle Rhetorick Took and Eat of