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A28529 Mysterium magnum, or An exposition of the first book of Moses called Genesis. Concerning the manifestation or revelation of the divine word through the three principles of the divine essence; also of the originall of the world and the creation. Wherein the kingdome of nature, & the kingdome of grace are expounded. For the better understanding of the Old and New Testament, and what Adam and Christ are. Also, how man should consider and may know himselfe in the light of nature, where he is, and where his temporall and eternall life, consist; also, where his eternall blessednesse, and damnation, consist. And is an exposition of the essence of all essences for the further consideration of the lovers, in the divine gift. Comprised in three parts: written anno 1623. By Jacob Behm. To which is added, The life of the author. And his Foure tables of divine revelation.; Mysterium magnum. English. Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Ellistone, John, d. 1652.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?; H. B. (Henry Blunden) 1656 (1656) Wing B3411A; ESTC R212985 753,539 662

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Mysterium Magnum OR An EXPOSITION of the First Book of Moses CALLED GENESIS CONCERNING ●he Manifestation or Revelation of the Divine Word through the Three Principles of the Divine Essence also of the Originall of the World and the Creation Wherein The kingdome of Nature The kingdome of Grace are Expounded For the better understanding Of the Old and New Testament and what Adam and Christ are Also How Man should consider and may know himselfe in the Light of Nature where he is and where his Temporall and Eternall Life Consist also where his Eternall Blessednesse and Damnation Consist And is an Exposition of the Essence of all Essences for the further Consideration of the Lovers in the Divine Gift Comprised in Three Parts Written Anno 1623. BY Jacob Behm To which is added The Life of the Author And his Foure Tables of Divine Revelation LONDON Printed and are to be sould by 〈…〉 next 〈…〉 THE PREFACE Of the Author JACOB BEME To his COMMENTARY upon GENESIS Called the * The Great Mysterie MYSTERIVM MAGNVM 1. WHen we consider the visible world with its Essence and consider the life of the creatures then we finde therein the likenesse of the invisible spirituall world which is hidden in the visible world as the Soule in the body and see thereby that the hidden God is nigh unto all and through all and yet wholly hidden to the visible Essence 2. We have an example hereof in the minde of man which is an invisible fire that is inclined to light and darknesse viz. to Joy and Sorrow and yet in it selfe is none of these but onely a Cause thereto an invisible incomprehensive Sourcive fire and yet as to its own Essence is included in nothing save onely in the Will of life 3. The body cannot comprehend the minde but the minde comprehends the body and brings it to Love or * Or sufferance and Sorrow dislike this likewise is to be understood of the word and Power of God which is hidden to the visible Sensible Elements and yet dwelleth through and in the Elements and worketh through the Sensible life and Essence as the minde in the body 4. For the visible sensible things are an essence of the invisible from the invisible and incomprehensible the visible and comprehensible is proceeded the visible Essence is come to Bee from the expression or Spiration of the invisible Power the invisible Spirituall Word of divine Power worketh with and through the Visible Essence as the Soul * In. with and through the body 5. The inward Spirituall soul of man was breathed in to the visible Image by the in-Speaking or inspiration of the invisible Word of the divine Power for an understanding to the Created Image wherein mans Science and knowledge of the invisible and vissible Essence consisteth 6. Thus man hath now received Ability from the invisible Word of God to the re-expression that he again expresseth the hidden word of the divine Science into formation and severation in manner and forme of the Temporall Creatures and formeth this spirituall Word according to Animals and Vegetables whereby the invisible wisdome of God is pourtraied and modelized into severall distinct formes as we plainly see that the understanding of man expresseth all powers in their property and giveth names unto all things according to each things property by which the hidden wisdome is known and understood in its power and the hidden God is made manifest † In. with the visible things for the Delight and play of the divine Power so that the invisible might play with the visible and therein introduce it selfe into the sight and Sence of it selfe 7. As the minde doth introduce it selfe with the body and by the body into Sences and thoughts whereby it worketh and Acteth Sensibly to it selfe so also the invisible world worketh through the visible and with the visible world we are not in any wise to conceit that a man cannot search out what the hidden divine world is and what its Operation and essence is for on the visible Essence of the Creation we see a figure of the internall Spirituall operation of the powerfull world 8. And we ought not to think otherwise of God but that he is the most internall ground of all Essences and yet so as that he cannot be comprehended of any thing by the own-peculiar power of the thing but as the Sun doth introduce it selfe with its light and Power into the sensible living things and worketh with or in all things and introduceth it selfe also into an essence the same likewise is to be understood concerning the divine Word with the life of the Creatures 9. Seeing then this visible world is the expressed Formed word according to Gods Love and anger viz. according to the Grand Mystery of the Eternall Spirituall nature which spirituall world is hidden in the visible and yet the humane Soul is a sparke out of the Eternall Speaking Word of the Divine Science and Power and the Body an Ens of the Stars and Elements and also as to the internall ground an Ens of Heaven viz. of the hidden world therefore he hath Might and Ability to speak of the Grand Mysterie whence all Essences doe Originally arise 10. Since then the great Mysteries the Beginning of and Originall of all things doe befall us by divine Grace that we are able as through the ground of the Soul to understand the same in reall knowledge with the inspired word of the divine Science We will write down its ground so far as it s permitted to us in this Book for a Memoriall to our selfe and for the exercise of divine knowledge to the Reader 11. And I. we will signifie and declare what the Center and ground of all Essences is II. What the Divine Manifestation through the speaking of the word of God is III. How Evill and Good have their Originall from one onely ground viz. light and darknesse Life and Death Joy and Sorrow and how it is in its ground also whereunto every Essence and Source is profitable and ‖ Text unavoidable necessary IV. How all things have their ground from the Grand Mystery viz. from the spiration of the Eternall one V. How the Eternall one introduceth it selfe into sensation perception and Severation to the Science of it selfe and the play of the divine Power VI. How man may attaine to the true knowledge of God and to the knowledge of the Eternall and Temporall nature VII Also how man may come unto the Reall Contemplation of the Beeing of all Beeings VIII Also of the Creation of the world and of all creatures IX And then of the Originall fall and Restoration of man what he is according to the first Adamicall man in the Kingdome of nature and what he is in the new Regeneration in the kingdome of Grace and how the new birth comes to passe X. Also what the old and new Testament are each in its understanding 12. And we
displaced that is be changed 26. This signifieth especially how the Repentant Man must enter upon this Combate of Jacob and so wrestle with God and Man in the Spirit of Christ in Gods righteousnesse in the Anger And when he overcometh then will the Ham of his fleshly selfe-will be broken that he must goe up and downe in this world as one halfe Lame that cannot well walke in the way of the world but goeth halting as if his limbs were halfe broken with which the wantonnesse and vanity of this world is driven on for the Spirit in the victory of Christ toucheth his Thigh that he is halfe lame in the Pride and Malice of this world and never regardeth it more but goeth up and downe as a despised lame Man who in the Pride of the world in their haile or frolick Jollity little regard but hold him for a lame halting Man who cannot follow the Garb of the Antick tricks conceited jests and lasciviousnesse of this world but he hath wrestled with God and Man and is with this victory touched and Marked 27. This the Pride and wantonnesse of this world understandeth not for it goes up and downe still in Gods severe righteousnesse in the kingdome of Nature in the might of the Fire in selfe-will and thinks it selfe very well till the Judgement possesseth its place then must the poore soule stand in the Eternall Judgement and live in paine and Torment 28. And as Jacob stood in the wrestling and had his Thigh touched that he halted then the Man sayd to him Let mee goe for the Day-breake dawneth but he answered I will not let thee goe except thou blesse mee 29. This is first the figure of Christ when he yeelded himselfe up in the righteousnesse of God in the Fathers Anger so that the Anger according to our humanity slew him then sayd the righteousnesse Now let mee goe for at present the Eternall Morning breaketh forth in mee But Christ had taken hold of the righteousnesse and sayd I will not let thee goe except thou blesse the humanity againe that the Judgement may cease except thou bring the Morning of thy inward power forth through the humanity that the Curse may cease and that Man may wholly stand in the divine working againe in the Blessing 30. Secondly It is the faire Type or Image shewing how it goeth with the Repentant Man when he giveth himselfe up through earnest Repentance into this Combate of Christ in Christs suffering and Death in his victory and in the Spirit of Christ wrestleth with Gods severe righteousnesse which continually assayleth him in his Conscience 31. For Gods righteousnesse in the Conscience sayth let mee goe thou art dead in sinne and hast no part in the divine Grace thou hast purposely and wilfully sinned and set the Grace behinde thy back now thou art mine praying will not availe thee I will not let thee in thy conscience attaine the Grace thou wilt obtaine no comfort more from God the morning will no more rise to thee in thy conscience for thou art a childe of Death Now leave off and let me alone that I may shutt thee up below in the dungeon or chamber of death 32. When this comes to passe then the poore soule wholly immerseth it selfe into the death of Christ and giveth it selfe up to the severe righteousnesse of God into the judgement for the judgement layeth hold on it But the soule catcheth hold of the incorporated Grace in the death of Christ and diveth therewith into the most inward ground of the judgement of God in which ground God's Love is broken forth through the righteousnesse and through the judgement viz. through the eternall night and hath made that same night in man to be day 33. Into this day viz. into the Abysse without all humane possibility or ability it diveth as a childe that neither can nor will doe any more that is too unworthy of all Grace and must indeed give it self up to the judgement but with this diving the soule yeedeth all its utmost will and ability and is in it selfe as it were void of nature and creature and falls againe into the Word wherein it stood in the eternall speaking before it s creaturely nature 34. For Gods righteousnesse and judgement hath no deeper ground then meerly the creaturely life but when the will of the soule yeeldeth it selfe up in going forth from the creature and sinketh into the Abysse then is it again as a new childe for the Abysse in the eternall speaking word out of which the highest Love and Grace of God hath manifested it selfe layeth hold on it and penetrateth into it as the Sun doth into the Ens of an hearb whence the hearb becometh half Solar or of the nature of the Sun Thus in this diving the soule in its will is half divine and then it wrestleth with God's severe righteousnesse in flesh and bloud and will over-power the Anger of God 35. Then saith God's righteousnesse in the conscience let me alone that is leave off and slay me not for thou seest very well that the Divine morning ariseth in mee cease from striving against the judgement of God But in the right combat the soule saith to God's righteousness I will not leave thee except thou blesse mee that is except thou givest mee the promised Grace out of the Death of Christ in his conquest that I may put on my Saviour Christ that he may be mine and I his And then thus saith God's righteousnesse as to Jacob What is thy name And then the poore soule nameth it selfe according to its owne creaturely name As Jacob did heere when he called himselfe Jacob But as the Lord said to Jacob Thou shalt no more be called Jacob but Israel that is a Tree of life Thus also saith God to the soule Thou shalt no more have self-names in mee but thou shalt be called a Christian in Christ viz. A branch in the Tree of Israel * * * Joh. 15.5 A sprout on the vine Christ For thou hast fought with God and man and hast prevailed Thou hast overcome Gods righteousnesse in the wrath of the Anger in thy Combat in the Spirit of Christ and art now an essentiall Christian and no more a titulary and verbal or Mouth-Christian from whom Grace is yet farr off 36. And Moses saith further † † † Gen. 32.29 30. And Jacob asked him and said Tell me I pray thee what is thy name But he said wherefore askest thou what is my name And he blessed him there And Jacob called the place Pennel For I have seene God face to face and my soule is * * * Healed preserved The inward holy Figure standeth thus 37. When Jacob with the desire of faith in his wrestling apprehended the morning or Day-breake of God in the Spirit of Christ and † † † Joh. 8.56 saw Christ a farr off without the creaturely humanity Then he said What is thy name But Christ said
Makes good merchandise of its religious ceremonies sale for Money and hath bound the Kingdome of Heaven to its Ceremonies and will sell it for Money so that the Man may but fat himselfe in this world under the white Garment of its hypocricie 29. The third party giveth forth that they have so holy an Order that it doth even Sanctifie and save them and they above all others will be esteemed holy 30. The fourth party or Sect will obtaine the Kingdome of God by their n n n Text mouth-cry lip-labour with muchnesse of Speaking Reading Singing Preaching and Hearing and it rebukes censures and reviles all that will not approve of prayse and give diligent attention to its lip-labour and fine conceited long Prating 31. This Party hath cloathed it selfe with the white Garment and set it selfe upon the letter or writings of Gods children and therewith it doth so lustily bestir and lay about it as a Beggar that casteth stones at the Dogs and sometimes hits a * * * Or Evill churlish one sometimes a * * * Or Good quiet one and he that is hit at makes him heare of it and then others fall on pell mell and bite and wurry him and there is a continuall biting tearing confounding reviling reproaching cavilling and jangling about the Letter a meere externall worke whereby men blindely zealous suppose to serve God and obtaine Grace a very Cainicall Offring 32. The Cainicall Church is in the outward world evill and good it buildeth and breaketh down and is onely a figure o o o Or according to of Gods Love and Anger what one party buildeth and calleth holy that another pulleth down and revileth with one mouth it buildeth and with another it teareth down what One hypocrite praiseth that another dispraiseth and thus there is onely a Confused shattered Babylon Evill and Good a wonder of nature and time 33. All these run on in their selfe-contrived and devised Orders and rely upon their received Orders and so they offer the Letter of the word and the worke of their own hands before God and will needs be outwardly adopted and accepted children before God God must have respect unto their Offring and forgive them their Sins by a word speaking as a Lord out of favour and clemency freely gives a malefactour his life such an unmeasurable matchless heap of Grace they have brought into their literall Offerings and into the workes of their hands so that their Teaching and the hearing of them is accounted for the most holy way wherein salvation is to be had and whosoever doth not worship and honour this their way with exceeding diligence and subject himselfe thereunto him they reproach persecute and kill or else hold him for an Heretick 34. But Abels children in Christ have far another worship and Service of God they dwell indeed among Cains children and doe also appeare in their Orders and Offrings they Offer to God a broken and bruised heart and an humble Contrite minde in true Sorrow for and Conversion from their committed Sins and with their Spirituall will doe goe out from and forsake all their creature-selfefullnesse and selfish interests and arrogation and dye to their selfehood in the Death of Christ and become as children who neither know nor will any thing but onely their mother which hath brought them forth they cast their selves into her bosome and they take in Patience whatsoever she pleaseth to doe with them 35. For their internall will is quite mortified to the outward world with all its glozing shew and alluring glory they account themselves very unworthy before the great Grace of God and their vanity which the flesh desireth is alwayes in their sight and to this the inward spirituall will is a deadly opposite Enemy and yet it cannot be wholly separated from it in this life-time their whole course through this world is a meere work of Repentance for their Sins and Impurity doe appeare continually in their Sight 36. There is a continuall and constant Combate in them of the flesh in the earthly desire against the divine desire and of the divine desire against the lust of the earthly flesh for the divine desire doth * * * Betake amasse it selfe into Gods Grace and Mercy and brings it selfe into a Centre of a working life and penetrates through the earthly false lustfull life and striketh the false lust and Imagination down and then the false Imagination falls into great Sadnesse when as it contemplates and beholds the voluptuous pompous stately brave glistering Course of this world and findes it selfe so mean and foolish that it must forsake and forgoe that wherein it might have its chief joy pleasure and delight 37. Also the Devill he cometh forthwith with his temptation and bringeth his desire into the false Imagination and shewes him the fair Kingdome of the world and rebuketh his Intent as a false Phancy and meere conjecture stirreth up the crew of the wicked against him who scorne jeere reproach and contemn him and then sometimes the Sprackling glimps and divine desire doth even lose it selfe for Christ viz. the virgins-childe in the Spirit of Christ is lead into the wildernesse and is tempted of the Devill and of the Anger of God and also of the Carnall worlds spirit and oftentimes the Spirit of Christ doth hide it selfe as if the virgins-childe were quite gone and past Hopes also the Devill makes his addresse thereto and brings him into Doubt as if the virgins childe were not borne 38. For the virgins childe is hidden in the Desart and then the poore captivated Soule is in great Sorrow and lamentation sigheth and cryeth to God also it cannot love or away with the beastiall Image but it doth stir up it selfe as a great assaulting Storme in the Body and seeketh the Gates of the deep in its Originall and forceth with might or holy violence into that word which hath formed it to be a creature and diveth it selfe thereinto as an Impotent will-lesse childe and desireth its first mother whence the first Soule was born for its Nurse and makes it selfe wholly will-lesse in this mother and lyeth onely at her Breasts and sucketh her Love and grace into it the mother may doe with it what she please this is the true meaning and the right manner of dying to selfehood and selfefull Imagination and lust in ones selfe and becoming as to the will of the Soule as a childe in ones selfe as Christ saith unlesse yee be converted and become as children yee can in no wise see the Kingdome of God selfe and selfefull Reason in the lust of the flesh can neither taste or see it 39. From this mortification of the Selfefull will and earnest Resignation into Gods mercy the virgins-childe doth again Spring forth out of the Desart with its faire and glorious Pearl-blooming Tree with very excellent and new fruit for so it must be tryed in the fire of Gods Anger that the Abomination of the
these point at the Kingdome of Nature which hath its Originall out of the Fathers property and must alwayes be the first if a creature shall be brought forth or to the producing of a creature 3. Afterwards comes the Kingdome of Grace which taketh in the Nature as first there must be a fire ere there be a light the fire begetteth the light and the light maketh the fire manifest in it selfe it taketh the fire viz. the nature into it selfe and dwelleth in the fire 4. The like also we are to understand concerning the two properties of the humanity viz. in the Two Principles according to fire and light viz. according to the Fathers and Sons property according to the Anger and according to the Love both which are in one essence 5. But being mans will had subjected it selfe to the Kingdome of Nature the kingdome of nature did now also represent its property in mans Image to the Highest God especially in this wonderfull Man Abraham in whom the Spirit and Word of God moved it selfe now the figures of the Eternall Principles viz. of both wills were represented out of one man to the word of God which had brought forth and formed all essences viz. the revolted disobedient will in Ismael and the holy obedience which sprung forth from the Power of the received word of faith in Isaack 6. Two types were here set forth viz. in Ismael the poor sick distempered evill corrupted Adam fallen from the will of God and in Isaac the Image of Christ was represented which was come to help the poor corrupt Adam and to introduce his Apostate will into death and mortification and purifie the same again in the fire of God and regenerate it anew in the Love-fire and in the first Onely eternall will of God where the Father and the Son are one onely will and essence in the wrathfull Anger-fire and in the Love-light-fire 7. For with the motion of the divine property when God moved the Nature and crea●ed the creatures the two properties viz. of the Love and the Anger in nature did sever themselves so that the mystery of God viz. the invisible spirituall World might be manifest and come into a wrestling Love-striving sport in the strife and Counter-will 8. For if there were but one onely will then all essences would do but one thing but in the Counter-will each exalteth it selfe in it selfe to its victory and exaltation and all life and vegetation stands in this contest and thereby the divine wisdome is made manifest and comes into form to Contemplation and to the kingdom of joy for in the Conquest is joy but one onely will is not manifest to it selfe for there is neither evill nor good in it neither joy nor sorrow and if there were yet the One viz. the onely will must first in it selfe bring it selfe into a contrary that it might manifest it selfe 9. The like also is here to be understood concerning Isaac and Ismael for Christ must be born of Abrahams seed and the corrupt man must also be born out of this Abrahams seed whom Christ should help and save 10. For Christ viz. Gods word and will took unto him on his holy heavenly Ens mans revolted Ens and will and brought the same in him into the mortification of selfhood even into the Root whence man 's revolted apostate will did arise in the beginning of his creation viz. into the wrath of the eternall nature into the Fathers property as to that nature and regenerated the revolted humane will in the same fire through the Love-fire and united or Atoned Gods Love and Anger viz. the divided nature in the humane will which nature in the creation of the world had introduced it selfe into a Contrary to the manifestation of the Wonders 11. Now understand us here aright according to the very acute depth Christ must be the King and Hierarch viz. the Humane Prince in the Eternall Kingdome and the Kingdome was his own Peculiar now his Subjects viz. his Servants must be other persons then He all which must introduce their will into him as into one Stock He must be the Tree which should give to his branches viz. to the rest of mankinde Sapp Power and Will that so they might bring him forth fruit but being the branches on his Tree which was himselfe were become Evill he gave himselfe into their evill essence and put forth his power and vertue in them that so they might become good again and flourish in him 12. And that this might be effected the Tree and the Branches of the Tree must be distinguished or ●everized that so the wonders of the formed wisdome of nature in this Tree might not cease and come to nought for which wonders sake God had moved himselfe to the creation and severed the will of nature viz. his formed word into a Contrary 13. Isaack was conceived in the Ens of Christ viz. in the apprehended or formed word of Faith of Abrahams Ens in the faith and stood in the figure of Christ he was not wholly and onely out of the heavenly Ens but out of both together out of Abrahams Adamicall Ens and out of the conceived or apprehended word of Faith and Ismael was out of Adams Ens of Abrahams own nature according to the corrupt property he was wholly out of the essence of Abrahams soul and spirit but not out of the apprehended word of Faith which passed upon Isaac 14. Now Ismael was even as his father Abraham before the conceived word of faith and should also take or receive that same word of faith in the desire out of Isaacs heavenly divine innate or imbred word and bring it to a Substance of faith in him for God anointed the humanity of Christ and the humanity of Christ anointed his boughes and Branches viz. those who also bring their desire into him and so they also come even to the same ●●●ction wherewith God anointed Abrahams seed in his faiths desire 15. Thus the figure of Christ was represented in Isaac and Adams figure in Ismael and in Abram God and Adam did stand as t' were opposite God received Adam again in Abram into his Covenant word and will and out of this same Covenant word and will which Abraham received of God in which Abram was justified Christ was born who received Ismael and all the poor corrupt children of Adam who do but introduce their desire into him into his word and heavenly Ens and delivered them to his Father viz. to the bosome of Abraham into which his Father had imbosomed or immersed the eternall holy word of divine Love wherein standeth the Compassion over us the children of poor Eve 16. Thus understand us now aright in this concerning Abrahams Bond-woman and concerning the Free What doth that mean which was said to Abraham * * * Gen. 21.10 Gal. 4.30 The Son of the bond-woman shall not inherit with the free it was not onely spoken concerning the outward inheritance
gave in themselves into the barrenness of the matrix in Rebecca and opened her whereupon she conceived both natures properties from a twofold seed of Isaac 24. Not that we are to think or understand that Jacob was wholly conceived of the Ens of faith but as well of the Adamicall Sinfull nature as Esau onely the kingdome of Grace in the Covenant set forth its figure in the Ens of faith in him and in Esau the kingdome of nature viz. the right corrupt Adamicall nature did set forth its figure not as a separation sundry partition or Rejection but to signifie that Christ should be conceived and born with his holy divine Ens in the Adamicall corrupt nature and destroy death and the strong hold of Sin together with the self-raised desire to ownhood and propriety in selfe and mortifie the same with the Love desire in the divine Ens and ruinate the Devills rampant fort of prey which he hath built up to himselfe therein and change the wrath of God according to the eternall nature in the Centre of the dark fiery worlds property into divine love and joy and Tincture the Adamicall nature with the holy Tincture of the Love-fire 25. Therefore the corrupt Adamicall nature in its Type was represented in the wombe in Esau with the type of Christ in Jacob and they both must be formed of one seed to signifie that Christ should give in himselfe to our corrupt nature and redeem our corrupted right Adamicall nature from corruption and introduce it into his own holy nature in himselfe 26. Also God did represent in Esau the figure of his wrath and the Devills Might who had possessed the kingdome of nature in man and shewes how he would fight and exercise great enmity against the Ens of faith and the kingdome of Grace which should deprive him of his strength 27. Reason saith wherefore should God permit the Devill to fight against the kingdome of his Grace hear and hearken thou very blind and altogether ignorant Reason Learn the A. B. C. in the Centre how Gods Love and the kingdome of Grace and Mercy would not nor could not be manifest without Strife and Enmity and then thou hast here no further Question go forward into the centre of this Book and thou findest the ground 28. And when the strife between the two kingdomes began in these children in the wombe so that they strove or spurned against each other Rebecca became discontented and troubled at it and said * * * Gen. 25 2● 23. If it should be thus with mee wherefore am I with child and shee went to enquire of the Lord and the Lord said unto her two Nations are in thy wombe and two manner of People shall be separated from thy Bowells and one people shall be stronger then the other and the greater shall serve the lesser 29. These two Nations which were conceived of one seed in Rebecca are on one part the Man of the Adamicall selfish nature in Selfness viz. the Originall of man and on the other part the new spirituall man regenerated of the kingdome of Grace in the Covenant these came out of one seed one out of the Adamicall nature onely and he was the Greater or Elder viz. the first man which God created in his Image which became corrupt and dyed as to God the other came indeed out of the same Adamicall nature but the kingdome of Grace in the Ens of Faith had given in it selfe unto it as a Conquerour and this was as to the Adamicall nature the younger but God was manifest in him therefore the greater should serve and be subject to the lesser who was the Least according to the humane property but the greatest in God 30. And yet we do not see that Esau was subject to Jacob but it is the spirituall figure shewing how the kingdome of nature in man should be broken by the children of God and made subject to the kingdome of Grace viz. to the divine humility and wholly dive it selfe into the divine humility and be born anew of the humility thus the Spirit of God shewed this by the Answer to Rebecca saying that it should be a striving or fighting kingdome where indeed the first corrupt man being the greater or elder in nature should strive against the lesser viz. the Spirit of Christ in his lowliness and humility and persecute him but the Adamicall man must at last be obedient and subject unto the humility of Christ if he will be Abrahams child and heir but if not then he must be so long cast out from Abrahams and Christs goods till he doth humble himselfe and freely yeeld under Christs humility and forsake the own-hood of the greater and elder Selfe and Enmity assumed in Adam 31. By Rebecca's trouble discontent impatience and regrett in that she runneth to enquire of the Lord wherefore the strife was in her that the children did so struggle together is signified thus much unto us that when Christ doth manifest himselfe in the Adamicall nature then begins and ariseth the strife of both these kingdomes viz. the Devils kingdome in Gods Anger in the Serpents Ens and also Christs kingdome when Christ bruiseth the Serpents head then ariseth great disquietness in the mind for the Serpent stingeth Christ viz. the new birth on the heel and then ariseth this kicking and spurning viz. a lamentable and wofull distresse and then saith reason in the minde with Rebecca if it should be thus with me wherefore am I entered into the divine Impregnation into Repentance am not I thereby come onely into disquietness and thereby become a Fool to the world and to my reason also and then ariseth the combate and Sathans bruising in the minde with Anguish and grief and then the minde knowes not whither to betake it selfe but runneth into Penitency and asketh the Lord wherefore it goeth so with it 32. And then the Lord shewes him in his language that Christ now is in him in hell and assaulteth the Devills strong rampant fort of prey whereupon there is such contest and disquietness in him and shewes him how his reason and the Adamicall nature viz. the greater part of his life must be broken and dive it selfe wholly into Resignation into the deepest humility into the process of Christ under his Cross and become a stranger to it selfe yea it s own Enemy and go with the Reason and the Greater Adamicall will into its Nothing 33. And when this is don then Esau viz. the Adamicall nature is indeed born and cometh forth alwayes first but Jacob viz. the spirit of Christ cometh soon after and deprives Esau of the kingdome and power and maketh nature a Servant and then Esau viz. nature must serve Jacob viz. the spirit of Christ then it is even here as the Son said unto the Father * * * John 17.6 Father the men were thine and thou hast given them mee * * * Joh. 10.28 and I give unto them
soule and saith * * * Mat. 11.28 Come ye to me as the Sun shineth the whole day into all plants and giveth them power and the Sun is not in fault that the thistle is a Thistle but the first Ens is the cause whence it is a Thistle 41. So also a false and wicked soule from the Ens of Gods anger in the curse and from the inherited wickedness as also from the actuall wickedness becometh a thistle in that the will viz. the science of the soule speaketh in the quality a thistle and from such a false and wicked ground there grow more thistles as God in Moses saith † † † Exod. 20.5 He will visit or reprove the sins of the father upon the children unto the third and fourth generation and Christ saith * * * Matth. 7.18 a corrupt Tree cannot bring forth good fruit 42. Thus we see that perdition cometh from the soule and we see that Gods holy will cannot be manifest in false and wicked working so long as the soules will worketh evill so long God's speaking formeth it self therein in anger But when it beginneth to stand still from such working then is God's power of Love manifest therein for if it worketh no more then worketh in it the abysse viz. the ONE 43. For God worketh from eternity to eternity but no other then his word and * * * John 1.1 that word is God viz. a manifestation of the abysse now if the soule speaketh no more its owne will then is the unsearchable will speaking in it Where the creature standeth still there God worketh 44. Now if the creature will work with God then must its will enter into God and then God worketh with and through the creature for the whole creation both heavenly hellish and earthly is no other then the working word the word it self is All. 45. The Creature is a compacted coagulated vapour and exhalation from the word and as the word is exhaled out of the free will where the free will bringeth it self out of the abysse into the profundity So also the free will of the Angels and soules bringeth the word into a profundity and that profundity is the creature viz. a fire source to its re-speaking-forth and out of that re-speaking-forth proceedeth evil and good and according to that re-spoken-forth substance and power the soule hath its Judgement and sentence 46. For that is the Judgement that the evil be separated from the good and that every thing possess its own principle Whatsoever soule now speaketh forth hellish source viz. the curse it must into death that it no more bring Gods word into evil and good but the evil alone that every thing may remaine with its owne 47. And therefore because in the place of this world through the word evill and good is spoken forth therefore in that place is a final day of separation appointed when good and evill shall cease to be spoken in any place and the wicked shall have their place prepared where evill shall be spoken in its Eternity that the good may be knowne and in the good the joy be manifest Also that it may be knowne what evil and what good are also what life and death are and that the children of God may rejoyce 48. For if evill were not knowne joy would not be manifest but if joy be manifest then is the eternal word spoken in joy to which end the word with nature hath brought it self into a Creation 49. And this is the true ground wherein all conceits and opinions are knowne and all Sophistry throwne to the ground also all strife and contention hath an end Whosoever rightly seeth and understandeth this hath no further question about any thing for he seeth that he liveth and subsisteth in God he giveth himself up to God that he may further know and will through him and speake what and how he will this party seeketh onely the estate of lowliness that God in him may alone be high 50. But so long as Lucifer hath his dominion in man so long the creature presseth forward to advance it self and will be its owne God and that is also a wonder as Gods wisdome standeth in the wonders in the Love so it is also in selfe and in the appropriation of the creature 51. Every thing is good in its own principle wherein it liveth but to another it is opposite Yet it must be so that one may be manifest in the other and the hidden wisdome may be knowne and be a sport in the severation wherewith the profundity viz. the eternal one may sport with it self before it self 52. We should therefore learne to understand the Scriptures aright how God willeth good and evil namely the determination is not in his very self but in his expressed word viz. in nature and creature God hateth Esaw in the corrupt nature in Esaw's self nature Esaw was the type of hatred it self but in Gods self viz. in the impressed or inspired Covenant of Grace he loveth him 53. Therefore he presents the type of Christ viz. his brother Jacob together with him and lets them both come out of one Seed to signifie that Christ should call Esaw in the corrupted Adamical nature in the hatred of God to repentance and beget him anew as Jacob brought Esaw to repentance so that he let his malice fall and wept bitterly and departed from his evil will towards Jacob. 54. This therefore is the understanding of the Scripture that the earthly Adam in the kingdome of corrupt nature in his owne will findeth not nor can finde repentance for there is no ability therein to good but the incorporated grace in him awakeneth or stirreth up the ability when the will turneth to it for it self-will could worke repentance and become good honest and vertuous it needed not Grace 55. The decrees in Scripture point onely at two kingdomes viz. the hardning respects the false and wicked will the false will hardneth it self Gods anger in the wills own substance hardens it this hardning doth not enter in from without but is manifested in the wills own substance The will is from God and the same God in the will introduceth himself into the hardning in that manner as he introduceth himself into hell in darkness and torment the same is also to be understood concerning the kingdome of Grace 56. God willeth in man onely that which is Good in the kingdome of his Grace where the free will yeeldeth it self up into the Grace there God willeth that which is good in the will through the Grace 57. But when a man will say man cannot turne his will towards that which is good viz. towards Grace that is groundless grace indeed standeth in the abysse of the creature in all wicked men and the will need onely stand still from wicked working and then it beginneth as to its self-will to dive downe into the abysse 58. For that which standeth still standeth still together
with the eternal one and becometh one substance therewith for it goeth into its nothing Must not the false will or desire for a worldly Law 's sake for feare of punishment forbeare or stand still from unrighteous works Wherefore then not also for the sake of the commandement of God Can it be obedient to a worldly Lord and Master and for that end stand still for which he would have him wherefore not also to God especially when the ability is as soone given as a Man doth but incline his will to stand still 59. But the cause why the total false wicked will doth not stand still and incline it self to Grace is this that it is clearely a Thistle borne wherein Grace lyeth too deeply hidden and the wrath of God is too strong in nature Grace draweth it and sheweth to it it s own falshood and wickednesse but it contemneth Grace and worketh as a Thistle doth in the power of the Sun Such a one is to God † † † 2 Cor. 2.15 16. a good savour of death to the damnation in hell that Grace may be severed from the false and wicked will 60. But the conclusions of reason which pronounceth that God in himself so farr as he is called God hath determined that one part of men and indeed the greatest number shall and must be damn'd and that of his own purposed will he hardeneth them is false and hath no ground either in the Scripture or in the light of nature If a man but rightly consider the Scripture and doth not blindly looke upon it 61. For in God so farr as he is called God there is no purpose nor beginning to will he is himself the will of the profundity viz. one alone and himself willeth nothing but good and therefore is himself also that same good will or willing of good For the good that he willeth is the birth of his power viz. his Sonne 62. God willeth in himself nothing but to manifest his owne good that himself is and that could not be done if the only good power did not introduce it self with the exhalation into the desire to nature and in a severation viz. into the science for if the good did remaine alone there would be no knowledge or skill 63. But now the good viz. God in himself maketh not evil or separation but the science viz. the Fiat or the desire to severation bringeth it self into nature and creature and from the science springeth evill and good and not from God or in God in his Trinity 64. For there is no decree but there is a consultation therein and then there must also be a cause of that consultation therein and then againe there must be a cause of that also and so there must be somthing before God or after God wherefore he so consults and determines 65. But he is himself the profundity and the one and is one only will that is himself and that is only go●d for one only thing cannot be opposite to it self for it is but one and hath no quarrel with any thing 66. Therefore it is the folly of Reason that they speake of compulsion and inevitable necessity and understand not the * * * The Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum Or that they say God of his purpose willeth the evil desire or will which he hath hardned that it should not attaine the Grace 67. I shew to this blind Reason a Thistle to consider of which the Sun for a whole day toucheth and giveth it light and power yet it remaines a Thistle so also the wicked will The Divine Sun shineth to it the day of its whole life but its ground is an Ens of a Thistle 68. Otherwise it God did of purpose harden it the righteousness could have no judgement therein for that which doeth what it must doe liveth according to the will of its Lord but if † † † Psal. 5.4 God willeth not that which is wicked as in Psal 5. then the evil cometh out of the roote And in the roote of knowledge out of natures ground to the creature and by accident And for that cause hath God manifested his will and given his Law and Gospel that is hath manifested his threatenings and his grace that a day of separation might be kept with righteousness and that no creature might have Excuse 69. And the History saith further * * * Gen. 33.12 13 14. After Esaw had received the Present of Jacob he spake unto his brother Jacob saying Let us take our journey and goe forward I will goe with thee but Jacob said to him My Lord thou knowest that I have with mee tender children and moreover cattel that are great with yong and sucking Ca●ves if they be over-driven for one day the whole flock would dye Let my Lord pass over before his servant and I will follow on softly as the cattel and the children are able to goe until I come to my Lord into Seir. This Text appeareth to be only an outward History but the Spirit hath also its inward figure under it for Jacob stands in that figure of Christ. And the figure is thus 70. When Christ through his suffering and death appeased his Fathers anger in the kingdome of nature thus said the appeased anger Now will we arise and take our journey together understand in the life of man but the Love said man is too tender feeble and impotent and can scarce goe in Gods wayes * * * Mat. 28.20 I will remain with them even to the end of the world Mat. 28. And lead them † † † Gently and moderately slowly as they are able to goe least they fall into temptation and error and be blinde as to Grace Goe thou before my Lord I will lead them on softly under my yoke of the Crosse that they die not for if they should now presently be led in the Fathers severe righteousness they would not be able to goe though they are indeed redeemed yet they live still in flesh and bloud I will come after with them to thee into Seir that is into Gods righteousness 71. † † † Gen. 33.15 And Esaw said Let me now leave with thee some of the folke that are with mee He answered what needeth it let mee but finde Grace in the sight of my Lord that is God the Father said let me leave some of my severe righteousness commandements and Lawes with thee but Christ said What needeth it Let me with these redeemed children onely finde Grace with thee for they cannot fulfill the Law 72. * * * Gen. 33.16 Thus Esaw went his way again that day towards Seir that is thus God's righteousness pressed into it's own principle † † † 17. And Jacob went to Succoth and built him an house from whence the place is called Succoth This in the figure is as much as to say Christ led his Christendome viz. his children not to Seir that is into
that serves God is Resigned up into him and in all things hath respect to Truth and Righteousnesse and will promote that But he that serves Selfe hath respect to favour and the Highness and Magnificence of the World that he may have it all at his disposing This Officer is in the Ministry and Service of the Evill Adam in whom the Devill hath his Throne helpeth him to pronounce the Sentence of Justice 60. O thou worldly Judge relie not thou upon the Tower of Babell upon worldly Determinations Ordinances and Conclusions upon humane Institutions Statutes Lawes and Decrees the Top thereof reacheth not into heaven that is onely the height of the Confusion of Strife and a * * * Or Mistake● miss-understanding God seeth thee in thy very heart he proveth and tryeth thy will and desire the Law pleads not for thee before God though thou orderest thy selfe according to that when thy heart knoweth it ought to be quite otherwise and then think no otherwise with thy selfe but that thou pronouncest the sentence of Justice for the Devill and servest him under an hypecriticall Mantle or Cloake The Justice and right is Gods and it is God himselfe 1. ● but † † † Or unrighteousnesse wrong is the Devills and it is the Devill himselfe that Master which thou servest is he that will reward thee and pay thee thy wages he himselfe will be thy wages and this thou art to expect in thy Office 61. And Moses sayth further ‖ ‖ ‖ Gen. 39.20 21 22 23. Then his Master tooke him and put him into Prison where the Kings Prisoners lay and he lay there in Prison but the Lord was with him and vouchsafed protection towards him and caused him to finde favour in the Eyes of the Officer of the Prison that he committed all the Prisoners in the Prison under his hand that whatsoever was done there must be done by him for the Officer of the Prison tooke not any thing upon him for the Lord was with Joseph and what he did the Lord made it successfull In this figure wee see the finall and last proofe and Triall of Gods Children how they must leave their honour and wellfare and also put their life in hazzard and resigne themselves wholly to God to doe whatsoever he will with them for they must forsake all for Gods sake and leave the World and be as a Prisoner who expecteth Death and relyeth no more upon any Man and knoweth not how to get any Comfort from any Creature but relyeth barely and meerely upon God and his Grace and then is a Man passed through all proofes and Trialls and now stands waiting the Commands of his Lord what he will have him to be 62. For he sayth very inwardly to God Lord wilt thou have mee in Prison and in misery that I shall sit in Darknesse then I will willingly dwell there if thou bringest mee into Hell I will goe along for thou art my heaven If I have but thee I enquire not after heaven and earth and if body and soule should * * * Or be famished faile yet thou art my Comfort let mee be where I will yet I am in thee and thou in mee I have fully enough when I have thee use mee for what thou wilt 63. In this last proofe and Triall Man becomes the Image of God againe for all things become one and the same and are alike to him Hee is all one with prosperity and adversity with poverty and Riches with Joy and sorrow with Light and darknes with Life and Death Hee is as nothing to himselfe for in his will he is dead to all things and he standeth in a figure representing how God is in and through all and yet is as a Nothing to all things for they comprehend not him and yet all is Manifested by him and he himselfe is all and yet hath Nothing for any thing is to him in the apprehension of it even as nothing for it comprehends him not Hee is as it were dead to all things and yet himselfe is the Life of all things He is ONE and yet NOTHING and ALL thus also a Man becomes according to his resigned will when he yeelds himselfe wholly to God and then his will falls againe into the unsearchable will of God out of which he came in the beginning and then standeth in the forme as an Image of the unsearchable will of God wherein God dwelleth and willeth 64. For if the Creature willeth no more then what God willeth through it then it is dead to it selfe and standeth againe in the first Image viz. in that wherein God formed it in a Life for what is the life of the Creature nothing else but a spark of the will of God which Creature now standeth still to the will of God whose Life and will is Gods who driveth and governeth it 65. But that which * * * Rom. 9.16 willeth and runneth of it selfe that rendeth it selfe from the intire will of God and bringeth it selfe into selfehood wherein yet there is no rest for it must live and run on in selfe will and is a meere unquietness for unquietness is the life of selfe-will for when the will willeth it selfe no more then nothing can torment it more its willing is its owne Life and whatsoever † † † Willeth or desireth that w ch God willeth or desireth willeth in and with God that is one Life with God 66. It is better to know nothing then to will according to selfe for that which knoweth nothing the will of that passeth away with the Creaturely Life and its Strife hath an End and hath no more source or torment as wee may understand in * * * Or Sensitive irrationall Creatures 67. For it is the Source and Torment of all the Damned that they † † † Creatures Have a longing desire and yet cannot attaine the least satisfaction are wishing and woulding viz. they would that which is selfe and in their woulding they generate ‖ ‖ ‖ Representations in their thoughts Idea's Species and Formations viz. Contrary wills and desires the will being at strife so that one thing is Manifested in Multiplicity wherein it is at Enmity with it selfe but when it is one with the Eternall One then can no Enmity be therein and there is also no possibility of Enmity therein 68. Therefore it is Mans Last proofe or tryall when he standeth still to God in all things then in him light proceeds out of Darknesse life out of Death and Joy out of Sorrow for God is in and with him in all things and blesseth him as was done to Joseph in the Prison his Prison became Joy to him for he became also a Governour over the Prison in the Prison he was as a Prisoner and yet as a Master of the Prisoners he governed the Prison and the Prisoners and was a Patron Fosterer and Guardian to the distressed his
such is also their Eating in that manner as before Christs humanity in the Father and the Sonne viz. in the Word 71. But a Christian hath an incarnate Mouth for the * * * Or Soulish Soules Desire or much more the Substantiall Christ or Christus viz. the Virgin Sophia hath a Mouth from the Substantiall Word but the other have one from the un-substantiall Word they desire † † † Or to be like God the Father our heavenly Father the property of God the Father viz. of the Onely God and they doe apprehend it also But heere Grace is not manifest 72. But seeing ‖ ‖ ‖ Joh. 6.37 the Father hath given Man to his Sonne Christ as Christ sayth and hath manifested the Grace in Christ and inviteth them all in Christ and that there is no Salvation * * * Or out of him without Christ therefore he giveth to them also the Earnest crying prayer which Christ receiveth from his Father and apprehendeth it in himselfe and eateth it and filleth them with his Humanity Suffering Death and shedding of his Bloud and so they are with their spirit in Christ Substantially but in themselves as hidden to them 73. For they desire not any way the flesh of the Sonne of Man and therefore they have not in their Selfhood any Mouth for Christs flesh and Bloud for they have no desire to it but with their Spirit they are Substantially in Christ But their inward in Adam faded Paradisicall Humanity wherein the incorporated Grace in Paradise lyeth remaineth hidden in them and without a stirring Life 74. For Christ dwelleth not Substantially therein as in a true Christian But their Faiths Substance is hidden in Christ to the Day of the Restoration of that which is lost in Adam when their Paradisicall Image which is not manifested in this Time will put on their Faiths Substance in Gods bestowed Grace which proceedeth from one upon all out of Christs Spirit for that Incorporated Grace viz. the inspoken or inspired Word standeth also in them and panteth after Christs Substantiality 75. But seeing their Substantiality is in the Word without this place state and Condition in Christ where Christ in himselfe fullfilleth their Faith to God therefore also will their substantiall Faith in God put on that incorporated word in the Paradisicall Image together with the same at the Revelation or Manifestation of Jesus Christ Note how Salvation is not of our selves but of Grace in us and heerewith also the whole Man 76. For the Scripture saith * * * Eph. 2.8 Of Grace are ye saved and that not of your selves not by your knowing but through Gods Mercy and Compassion It lyeth not in knowing as if the knowing could receive Christ but it lyeth in the Gift viz. in the Grace which Christ giveth to the unknowing into their Faith in God as well as to the knowing into their Desire it is done to both of Grace 77. For Adam went forth from the Onely God into selfe into ignorance and lead us all with him into that Ignorance but Grace came againe from that onely God and offereth it selfe to all Ignorant unknowing persons Heathens as well as Jewes 78. Among the Jewes stood the Image or Type of Grace in the Figure signifying how Grace would receive Man againe But now the Fathers of the figure viz. the Jewes had no more part in the Grace viz. those among whom the Image or Type had not manifested it selfe for the prefiguration and Type pointed at Christ The Jewes pressed with their Faith and Prayer through the Prefiguration into the onely Grace which was in God which God bestowed upon Adam and his children But the Heathen which had not the Law and yet beleeved without Circumcision in the onely promised Grace of God they pressed without the Type or Prefiguration into the Grace 79. For the Ability was given to the one People as well as to the other no People could of themselves but the Grace tooke the Will for the Ability and gave them ability and power alike the Jewes and the faithfull Heathen But Infidelity and not willing was both with the Jewes and Heathen their Damnation in that they withheld their wills in selfe and in Hardning and went a whoring after other Gods thus the Circumcision and Sacrifices were not the Jewes Salvation but Grace which they represented in such figures pointing at the Humanity of Christ when the Grace would fullfill the future the future fullfilling was their Salvation 80. Thus also at present the Christians have the figure of Grace under the Gospell in the fullfilling not that they can receive the fullfilling in selfe-power and ability but the fullfilling of the Grace tendereth it to them if they will give up themselves thereinto and the Mouth is given to them in the Grace 81. But the other bend their wills towards the Grace of God which is even the same Grace with the Christians and no more but the Substantiall Grace in the Image of the fullfilling they know not But the Grace taketh their willing with the desire into it and giveth the desire in the Grace a Mouth which is hidden to the Creature till the day of the Revelation of JESVS Christ. 82. Therefore there is no other difference between them but the Substantiall Stirring in the Paradisicall Image the Paradisicall Image not having yet put on Christ in Substance as it is with the true Christians and yet their Faith in the Grace of God in Christ is Substantiall yet not in the humane owne possession of selfe but in God who fullfilleth all things and is and dwelleth through all things thus the Substantiall Grace is neere the faithfull or Beleeving Jewes and Turkes and in them but as to the Creature not apprehended 83. They have Christ in them but they apprehend him not unlesse their will enter into the Substantiall Grace of Christ and then Christ manifesteth himselfe in their Creature as well as in Christians But the Grace in Christ is layd by the faithfull beleeving Jewes and other People for it moveth through them and their will to God is in it and walketh therein 84. A Titulary Christian without the Divine Will is further from it then a Beleeving Jew Turk and Heathen or whosoever he be that putteth his trust in God and giveth up his will to God such a one is neerer and will Condemne the Titulary Christian in that he boasteth of knowing and comforteth himselfe with the Grace but continueth in his evill will and desire without Grace and will set the wicked man up in the Grace of God 85. Thou sayst thus The strange Nations are not Baptized into Christ therefore they are not Children to the Grace of the Covenant neither Answer If Circumcision were alone salvation then were Baptisme so also for the one is as the other but God requireth that a Jew should be Circumcised inwardly in Heart Circumcision was but the Type or Image shewing how Christ would Cut
neere to him buyeth for his Grace his whole Nature with all the † † † Affections properties or faculties formes conditions and qualities thereof and bringeth all whatsoever is in Man againe into the house of the Great Pharaoh that is of God and maketh it a subject to God his Father againe 21. For in Adam all Men are become untrusty and perfidious and are entered into the Selfishnes of the Will but Christ hath bought this humane owne selfe to be his own againe and giveth this up againe to God his Father and it pointeth directly at Christendome which Christ hath bought with his Grace by the Treasure of his pretious Bloud and made it his owne and hath now distributed his Offices wherein the Christians serve him and are his owne 22. But that the Priests fields were not sold and that Pharaoh would not buy them but leave them for their owne pointeth at the inward Man who is the Priestly Temple of Christ this God buyeth not back againe he willeth that Man should have it for his owne he desireth onely to have the Kingdome of Nature for his owne servant but the incorporated ground of Grace viz. the Temple of Christ he leaveth to the Soule for a Dowrie for it is the place and Citty of God wherein God dwelleth in Man No Man can sell it againe pawne it or engage it by oaths for it belongeth to the Eternall One and not to the possession of the Creature but it is a bestowed Ground of Grace wherein Christ manageth his Office it is his habitation and dwelling house 23. * * * Gen. 47.23 24 25 26. Then sayd Joseph unto the People Behold I have this day bought you and your fields for Pharaoh behold there you have seede sow your fields and of your Corne you shall give the fift to Pharaoh fower parts shall be yours to sow your field for your food for your house and Children and they sayd now let us live and finde Grace before thee wee shall willingly be Pharaohs bondslaves Thus Joseph made them a Law unto this day concerning the fields to give the fift to Pharaoh except the Priests fields which were not Pharaohs owne 24. This figure is a true Type and Image of Christendom which Christ hath bought with his Love in his Bloud having proffered to give Christendom his Grace and righteousnes for their Earthly † † † Images Imagibility or Phansies Imaginations that it should give them only up to him and when that is done then sayth Christ behold I have this day that is from this time forth to Eternity bought all your Earthly † † † Images Imagibility or Phansies Images as also Body and Soule I have bought you for my Eternall Bondslave Servants and Ministers with my Grace from the hunger of Gods Anger behold there you have seede that is there you have my Word wherewith you may sow the Ground of your Conscience in Body and Soule that this seede may bring forth fruit and of this fruit you shall returne the fift to Pharaoh that is to God for fower parts shall be your foode that is this seede shall quicken and cherish the fower Elements of the Body as also the fower properties of the Soules fire-Life and ye shall keepe this seede of the divine Word fowerfold for the cherishing of your Life but the fift ye shall give to God 25. The fift signifieth heere very secretly and Mystically the fift forme of the Naturall Life viz. the Love-fire in the Light which is borne out of the fower properties and Manifest wherein the uncreaturely and Supernaturall God is manifested This forme generateth now the divine Joy and the Praise of God wherein the Soule is an Angell and thanketh and praiseth God because he hath delivered it out of the Fire-Source of Torment and hath given himselfe with this Love and Grace into its Fire-source and changed it into a Love-fire and divine Light 26. This Source of Love viz. the fift property of Life wherein the Soule is an Angell it giveth now to God againe with great praise and thanksgiving for it giveth this fift forme to Christ againe for a habitation for that is the habitation of his Word wherein * * * Or consisteth Luk. 17.21 is the Kingdome of God in us and wherein wee are the Temples of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in us and this fift forme in the prayse of God Christ requireth againe from his Christendome that it should give this to him that he may gather in the prayse of God that is the fruit of Love for his Father into the house of the Divine power 27. But the Priests fields that is the inward Ground of the heavenly Worlds Substance he buyeth not with his bloud for that never received the Turba of destruction but in the fall of Adam it went out and faded and went into the Abysse so that the soule had it no more in its owne possession for it was in the soule as it were dead although in God nothing dyeth but the soule was blinde concerning it in that manner as God viz. the Eternall one is in and through all things and yet nothing apprehendeth it but that which introduceth it selfe into its substance wherein he will manifest himselfe 28. This faded Image or Substance is the Priestly Ground whereinto God againe in spake or did sow his Word and Seed againe in Paradise that is not bought with Christs Bloud as the averted soule is but it is filled with the heavenly Ens with Christs flesh and bloud so that it is or becometh Christs flesh and bloud wherein the High Priest Christ dwelleth it is his Eternall seate and possession wherein God is manifested in Man for it is the branch on Christs vine which is Gods proper owne and not Mans. 29. It is indeed in Man but not in the possession of the fiery Soules Essence it hath another Principle then the soule and yet is in the soule and through the soule and from the soule after the manner as the light is from the fire which is through the fire and in the fire and hath its manifestation from the fire out of which fire and light Aire proceedeth and out of which aire dewy water proceedeth and that same dewy water denoteth the substance of this inward Ground which giveth to the fire againe Nourishment foode lustre and life 30. So also it is to be considered and understood concerning the soule when it extinguished as to the Divine Light then this substance was generated no more from it nor in it but remained faded extinguished or quenched and then the soule had no divine foode more for its source of fire for it had turned its desire forth into the third Principle and was overcome by the Earthly Lucifer and by Sathan viz. by the property of the wrath of the dark worlds property in the place of this world 31. This Grace came to help this averted soule which was bought through Christs