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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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signifie that the soule and the spirit shall in Christ enjoy like Graces and Gifts onely the power he gave to the New Regeneration out of the faded heavenly Image that the soule should through the power of the New Regeneration work and flourish spread forth and be great therewith that is that the soulish-Tree with its branches should grow out of this blessing 18. In the words of this blessing there is this understanding or meaning viz. The Incorporated ground of grace in the power and vertue of the Word spake forth the power and comprised in Jacob his body soule and Spirit in One and thereby spake it selfe forth upon the children of Joseph God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaack have walked that is through the wills and desires which my fathers have inclined to God with which they have walked before God also through the power of God who hath susteined mee my life long even unto this day also the Angell who hath delivered mee from all Evill blesse these Ladds that is he blesseth them through the divine and humane power through the Angell of the great Councell in Christ Jesus which Angell hath delivered Men from all Evill that they should according to these Names be called children of the Covenant and in this power encrease and grow great 19. But when Joseph saw that his father layd his right hand upon Ephraims head it pleased him not well and he layd hold on his fathers hand Gen. 48.17 that he should turne it from Ephrams head upon Manassehs head and sayd to him not so my father this is the first borne lay thy right hand upon his head but his father refused and sayd I know it well my sonne I know it well this shall also be a people and be great but his younger Brother shall be greater then he and his seede shall be a multitude of people 20. By the outward figure the Spirit pointeth at their Offsprings which Stock or Tribe should excell the other in greatnes and Might but by the Inward figure of Mans conversion and New Birth it pointeth at the inward Ground signifying how the inward and youngest ground of the incorporated Grace in Christ would be greater then the ground of the first Created Adamicall Man 21. But that Joseph disliked it and would not willingly that the youngest should be preferred before the Eldest in the figure it signifieth this Joseph stood in the figure of the New Regeneration signifying how the inward ground viz. the Eternall Speaking Word in the humanity of Christ should turne it selfe forth through our soule and take away the power of selfe-will from the soule and that the Creaturely soule would not that it should loose its power it would not willingly dye to its own will but keepe its first Naturall right 22. As wee see in Christs humanity viz. in the humane Soule when it was to dye to selfe and yeeld up its Naturall right * * * Mat. 26.36 Luk. 22.39 Then sayd Christ on the Mount of Olives father if it be possible that is the humane soule in him from the Fathers property in the Word sayd Father if it be possiblle let this Cup passe from mee but if it be not possible and that I must drinke it thy will be done as Joseph heere in this figure was loath to come to it and would not willingly that the last should be preferred before the first 23. The Text sayth it pleased him not well the Naturall Man is not well pleased to give up his naturall right and let the Kingdome of humility reigne in him he would rather be Lord himselfe but his owne will hath squandred that away so that he is set behinde for it is not possible that he should become the childe of God unlesse he drinke the Cup whereby he dyeth to his owne naturall will Therefore sayth Christ Father thy will be done and not my Naturall Adamicall humane will but let Gods will in my inward ground be done and not my Adamicall soules will It shall and must be resigned into God the first naturall right must goe backward behinde and Christ forward else there is no salvation 24. In this Type and Image the Spirit of God sporteth with the children of the Saints signifying how the new incorporated Kingdome of Grace would spread it selfe forth aloft and how the Kingdome of Nature should be set back behinde for if Christ arise and be borne in Man then must Adam be Servant and Minister 25. And it declareth besides that the Kingdome of Nature would also be great but the Kingdome of Grace yet greater of which wee have a similitude in a great Tree of many branches which through Nature generateth many twiggs and Branches and wherein Nature is powerfull but the vertue and power of the Sun is much more powerfull for if this doth not co-operate then the Tree cannot grow nor beare any fruit and wee clearly see thereby that the vertue and power of the Sun must gett aloft if the Tree grow and its fruit come to be ripe and profitable so also is it in Man 26. Man is Nature and Nature begetteth him that he may come into the formes and Conditions of the Creatures but the understanding must come forth in him which governeth and taketh care of Nature Nature willeth indeed that its desire be fullfilled but the understanding ruleth over Nature 27. But now Nature is sooner and Earlyar then the understanding Nature goeth formost but when the understanding cometh then it must follow behinde thus it is to be understood also in this figure of Jacob and Joseph concerning the New Regeneration that when the divine understanding shall againe be manifested in Man then shall Nature follow behinde 28. * * * Gen 48.20 Thus he blessed them that day and sayd Hee that will blesse any in Israell let him say God set thee as Ephraim and Manasseh In this Text what the Spirit declareth in this figure is as cleare as the Sunne for Ephraim and Manasseh were re-inoculated back into the Root of Jacob that is into the Covenant of Grace which God had manifested in him and were transplanted with the Birth of the Naturall right when the youngest was preferred before the Eldest thus also should all blessing and wishing be among the children of God that God would set them back from the Evill Adamicall will of selfe and set them into the Paradisicall Covenant againe and make them grow therein and bring forth the Kingdome of Grace in them and set it above the Kingdome of Nature of the first Adamicall Birth when this is done in Man then he is a childe of God againe in Christ and standeth in the blessing of God 29. Courteous Rabbies and Masters of * * * Literature Criticismes upon every letter learne I pray to understand the figures of the Old and New Testament and dispute not about the outward shell of words looke upon the chiefe Ground why the Spirit of God
its Sword by them to destroy the heathen and the Generation of Ham Gen XIIII Verse 14. for Abraham went out with his whole house and people against the Heathen who had carried away Lot his brothers Son captive and he smote the heathen and delivered his brother This was done in the zeale of God which thus delivered his children through the might of his Anger for what conduceth to the wicked for destruction the same conduceth to the holy men for life and deliverance 15. But that those who will be called Christians who ought in and with Christ to be dead to the Anger and wrath of God in Christs death doe wage war they doe it not as Christians but as heathens No Christian warreth for if he be a Christian then he is dead in and with Christs death to the foure Elements of Gods Anger in Selfe and born a new man in Christs spirit of Love who liveth in Righteousnesse in Love and patience and liveth not to himselfe but to God in Christ. 16. For a true Christian leadeth his conversation and will in heaven in the life and Spirit of Christ as S t Paul saith our conversation is in heaven but when the Christians doe wage war they doe it from the heathenish property and not from Christs property for a Christian is not of this world his Kingdome is in heaven and he is dead in Christ to the world according to the new spirituall man in him the Heathen-man viz. the halfe-devillish man who hath his Kingdome in this world who never hath roome enough upon the Earth but liveth in the foure Elements of Gods Anger viz. in Pride Coveteousnesse Envy and Wrath the same desireth in the Christians to warre fight and slay 17. Saint Paul saith give your members to be weapons of Righteousnesse for why doe men fight for the Kingdome of this world Rom. 6.13 and yet as Christ said his Kingdome was not of this world James 4.1 so also his childrens Kingdome in him is not of this world Joh. 18.36 now then if we give up our body and Soule for weapons of Gods Anger and seek onely thereby Selfe interests liberties and priviledges of Mammon and slay one another for the Kingdome of this world I thinke we are herein Christians indeed in the mouth but the heart and Soul is an heathen and not born out of Christs Spirit 18. When Abraham had smote the heathen he desired nothing of the goods which he tooke but restored to the King of Sodom what the Heathen had taken from him and was onely zealous in the Lord he did not fight for Countrey and Kingdome but to deliver his brother Loth this was a true zeale which the Lord drove in him he did not stand up and fight for Countrey or City and albeit he obtained it he desired it not but went again unto his own place 19. And here the Spirit in Moses speaketh very wonderfully and saith that when Abraham returned from the Slaughter that the King of Sodome met him and Melchisedech King of Salem brought forth bread and wine who was a Priest of the most High God possessour of Heaven and of Earth and blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him Tithes And though we finde almost nothing elsewhere in the holy Scripture of this Priesthood yet the same was really in the figure of Christ for the Spirit saith in another place of Christ that he was an High Priest in the order of Melchisedech 20. Thus the Spirit of God doth very secretly and mystically represent the Figure of Christ by Abraham and calleth him a King of Salem and a Priest of the most High God viz. a Priest of Salvation and the holy Vnction as it intimates in the SenSAll Tongue that is Christ hath blessed Abraham and brought him forth bread and wine viz. his flesh and bloud and is the high Priest before God that makes Atonement for Abraham and his children 21. For Abraham had managed the Sword of Gods Anger against the Heathen now came Melchisedech and blessed Abraham againe least the Sword of the Turba should lay hold on him and he gave him forth bread and wine that is the heavenly Ens which he would introduce into Abrahams Seed and change it into flesh and bloud and here he appeased the Fathers Anger in the Covenant as in the Type 22. For this Priest with Abraham is really to be understood in a spirituall manner for although Abraham might have externally a Priest after the same manner with him under the figure of Christ yet Moses saith he was a Priest of God and said to Abraham blessed art thou Abraham unto the most High who possesseth heaven and earth who hath shut up thine Enemies into thy hands here is none other to be understood but Christ who very often appeared to Abraham in the figure and blessed him alwayes for the Spirit in Moses calleth him also a King of Salem which is nothing else but a King of Salvation 23. And Abraham gave him Tithes indeed he might have such a Priestly Order with him to whom he gave Tithes but this King and Priest was he of whom he preached to whom Abraham gave tithes viz. the Tenth Property of the humane properties of the fiery tongue of the Soule and the Priest gave his bread and wine and his blessing thereinto viz. the Love-fire the Tincture of the light together with the heavenly Substantiality that so Abraham might receive the lights Tincture into the Soules fiery Tincture and become again a compleat Image of God which was separated in Adam with the woman therefore Christ viz. the womans Tincture gave him againe the lights Ens that so the male and female property might become one Image or person this the Spirit doth here signifie in Moses under the Royall Priest of Salem 24. For Esdra when he dictated the lost Bible in the knowledge of the Spirit of God to his Scribes saw this very well Note Esdra dictated the Bible that was Lost. 2 Esdra 14. and therefore the holy Spirit doth so set it down and we see very exactly how Esdras wrote the hystories of Abraham in the vision of the Spirit for the whole hystory of Abraham is delineated under Christs Person and is an Image or Type of Christ. 25. Abraham saw in the Spirit this Priest of Salem and when Abraham offered Sacrifice then this Priest was in the offering and offered to God for he was to make reconciliation for the world with an offering therefore he was a Priest of God 26. He brought Abrahams will-offering viz. his prayer and desire in faith into the holy Ens of God and in the same Ens viz. in the divine Essentiality heavenly bread and wine was brought to Abrahams Soul that it might eat at Gods Table till this Priest became Abraham that is did manifest himselfe in Abraham with the heavenly Corporeity viz. with the Soules food in the Right bread and wine CHAP. XXXIX How God appeared to
onely but concerning the Eternall inheritance of the Adoption or filiation of God 17. The rebellious selfe-will of nature was in Ismael which he inherited from his mother Hagar and from Abrahams naturall Adamicall will which was a mocker of the new birth 18. For the Devill had introduced his will into the humane will inclined to selfehood in the Serpents Ens which will did onely mock and scorn the new birth just as the Devill is onely a scorner and contemner when he is told how that the Anger viz. the wrath of the eternall nature of which he is a Prince and possessour shall be changed in man again into Love the same seems ridiculous to him this false spirit was a reviler and mocker in Ismael of whom God said Cast out the Son of the Bondwoman viz. this Scoffer for the scoffers spirit and will shall not inherit with the free viz. with the onely will of God 19. But now we are not to understand this concerning the whole Person of Ismael as if God had rejected him out of his purpose from the divine Adoption No no the contrary plainly demonstrates it selfe for when Hagar waxed proud being that shee had conceived and not her Mistress and lightly set by Sarah her Mistress and Sarah reproving her sharply for it Gen. XVI 7 shee fled from her then the Angel of the Lord met her and said unto her Hagar Sarahs maid whither wilt thou go return again to thy Mistress and humbly submit thy selfe unto her I will so multiply thy seed that it shall not be numbred for multitude 20. And the Angell of the Lord said further unto her lo thou art with child and thou shalt bear a Son and his name shall be called Ismael because the Lord hath heard thy afflistion He shall be a wild man his hand will be against every man and every mans hand against him and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren and shee called the Name of the Lord who spake with her Thou God seest me for shee said here I have seen him who hath looked after me therefore shee called the Well where this was don the Well of the living who hath looked upon me 21. Understand this figure thus Hagar fled in the will of Selfe viz. in disobedience that is in the will of Nature in which the Devill according to the wraths property desires to be a Prince this will would not humble it selfe under the Covenant and obey the Free one viz. Gods onely free-will Hagar fled away in the figure for the will of selfe-hood must fly away and wholly dye and not inherit the Covenant and the Adoption but the Angel of the Lord met Hagar and said Whither wilt thou go Hagar Sarahs maid return again to thy Mistress and humble thy selfe under her hand behold thou art with child and shalt bear a Son whose Name thou shalt call Ismael because the Lord hath heard thy affliction the meaning of it is this 22. Thou poor miserable man captivated by the kingdome of nature nature hath indeed brought thee forth in its contrariety in its wonders and the Devill hath poysoned thee so that thou must be a wild man upon the earth to the opposition of Gods children so that they must be tryed and excised by thee and be brought into Tribulation that so they also might powerfully put forth out of the holy Ens the sap of their Root of Salvation and in the pressure move act and penetrate with the ardent desire through the Love Ens which is wholly meek soft and still so that in this contrariety and contest fruit might also grow upon the divine One thy wild will must indeed be cast out and mortified but return again to the free viz. to the onely will of God and humble thy selfe before the free One for I have looked upon thy misery and affliction and have not cast thee from my presence but onely the wild property viz. the will of the naturall selfehood 23. But I must have it also in the Time of this world for it shall dwell in the presence of all its brethren and exercise them in the feare of God with its opposition but return thou onely in Repentance unto the Free I will so multiply thee that thy seed shall not be numbred 24. Why must even the Mocker be thus don unto because in him lay the Kingdome of the wonders of Gods manifestation out of Nature viz. out of the fire world out of Gods strength and omnipotence which he will again introduce in Christ into the Love viz. into the onely free One but Hagar viz. the will of the fire-Soules nature must be converted and enter into repentance humble it selfe before the Free viz. the onely mercifull Love-will viz. before the Covenant and Seed in Isaac and cast away the rebellious will from it selfe 25. And therefore the Lord sent his Angel to meet her and manifested himselfe unto her with his voyce and shee called the Name of the Lord Thou God seest me here I have seen him who hath looked after mee that is the contrary or rebellious will ran away from the free viz. from God but God looked again upon the poor miserable and captive Soul and called it again and then said the Soul Certainly here I have seen him who hath looked after me after that my will of Selfe viz. of Nature was ran forth from him which is thus much 26. When as the mocker viz. Selfe-will is gon forth in its nature and hath brought it selfe into an opposition against its * * * Vnderstand the powers of the soul and also all holy men in whom the light prevailes brethren who sometimes will not work in their heavenly allotted Ens and set it selfe against them with contempt and scorn and performed its office of nature given unto it for the exercise of the children of God then God looketh also upon the Mocker as his instrument to the exercising of the Soul and wills not that the soul should perish he looketh on it again instructeth it and calleth it and draweth it also in mans conscience unto himselfe This now is the meaning He hath looked after me even when I had almost accomplished the work of Nature in the will of selfe 27. Hagar being thus seen of God when shee became disobedient to her Mistress and ran away from her and without doubt in an opposite will against her Mistress the same did much trouble move and affect the woman Thereby her Mistress viz. Sarah was also exercised so that shee was earnestly moved in her selfe and called and prayed to God that he would take away her reproach in that shee was barren and bless her and make her fruitfull that shee also did purifie the house or vessell wherein shee should receive the holy Seed of Abraham in his blessed Seed and not introduce any humane wantonnesse of nature into Abrahams blessed Seed but desired shee might have a right divine desire in her wherein
with his daughters to go out from Sodom and the other hath the Severe judgement and hath now at last sifted thee and turned thy inward Signature outwards and set it before the Lord and thy * * * Thy Cain like crying for ruin upon others murtherous Cry is come up before the presence of the most High and it is exceeding great he hath sent his Angel to destroy thee and to overturn the Cities 10. Thy signature wherewith thou art now outwardly marked is the Great Covetousness and Envy together with thy Ammunition-money and the great wrathfull severity of thy Oppression of the poor and miserable in that thy covetousness hath served it selfe so high that it desires to devour all into it selfe whence thy great * * * The scarcity and deerness of commodities and all oppression ariseth from the covetousnes and pride of man who seeks to maintaine it by the sword Enhancement of mens Necessaries is risen 11. But thou sayst now it is a good and a prosperous time the Sun is risen upon mee and shineth on my purse so that I can fill it as I please it is a good and a fine time for me it shall now be a good and a golden time sure enough I shall certainly enjoy it and arise in High power and authoritie and be respected 12. But hear now what at present the Sound of the Trumpet declareth it saith go out from Sodom the Sun is risen in Love and Anger this we will not hide from you the Angel of truth hath now already taken Lots daughters with the father and his wife by the hand and bids them go it is time this thou shalt soon see by wofull experience 13. For the Angel of Anger hath also taken thee into Judgement and therefore thou art so wrathfull covetous murtherous and wicked do but behold thy selfe whether we speak truth thou gettest thy selfe much to spend in thy Signature and thou hast indeed a storehouse full of provision in the Abysse he that can see let him see in whom there is but the least inckling of the Trumpets Sound let him go out of Sodom there is no longer any tarrying 14. And Moses speaketh further and when he had brought Lot forth Vers. 17. ● the 23. he said escape for thy life look not behind thee and stay not also in this whole Plain escape unto the mountain lest thou be consumed but Lot said unto him oh not so my Lord behold now being thy Servant hath found Grace in thy sight be pleased to magnifie thy mercy which thou hast shewn unto me in that thou hast saved my life I cannot escape to the mountain least some evill take me and I dye behold there is a Citie very near unto which I may flee it is a little one O let me escape thither is it not a little one and my soul shall live And he said unto him see I have accepted thee concerning this thing that I should not overturn the Citie for which thou hast spoken hast thee escape thither for I can do nothing till thou be come thither therefore the Name of the Citie was called Zoar and the Sun was risen upon the Earth when Lot came into Zoar. The inward Figure stands thus 15. The spirit of truth had moved the spirit in the Covenant in Lot and taken him by his spirituall hand and brought him forth out of the Judgement understand the soul of Lot in which the word of promise in the Covenant had opened it selfe according to the spirituall property into which also the now sent voice of truth and judgement did force and defended Lot from and in the judgement 16. For with the Judgement the first Principle viz. the Soules Centre was sifted and proved through all the properties of the Eternall Nature into this the Lords hand viz. the Angel of the Lord did put it selfe with the Grace of Christ's Covenant in Abraham and drew Lot out of the judgement and from the children of Sodom therefore the Angel said Deliver thy selfe and look not behinde thee into judgement viz. into the enkindled wrath least the same take thee as hapned to Lots wife who turned her desire back again to see and behold what the wrath of the Lord should be 17. As Adam and Lucifer also did the like who would essentially behold and prove Gods viz. the Eternall Nature's wrath which yet is a consuming fire and forth with proveth spirit and body and if it reacheth any thing of which it is capable it devoureth it into it selfe 18. Now the Soul of Lot trembled and stood in fear before the Angel of the judgement viz. before Gods righteousness and entreated his truth that he would be pleased to magnifie his Mercy in the Covenant towards him least the Turba should take hold of him and it is a very excellent example how God taketh his children in the Time of punishment and judgement into his Love defendeth them and brings them forth from great destruction as he did here unto Lot and also unto the upright children in the finall destruction of Jerusalem 19. Also the Angel of vengeance said I can do nothing untill thou be come thither Oh! thou wonderfull God who can hinder thee but this is even thus to be understood the spirit of his Love in the Covenant had set or established it selfe with the Truth in Lot and kept off the Anger that it could not burn untill Lot came out 20. And we see that oftentimes the children of God are able to withhold great plagues and punishment of God from coming down on a people there is even such a might in them that Gods Anger is able to do nothing and is as it were impotent where they are present also they are a might and power against Hell and the Devill for such a thing is true reall Faith that it can withhold and overpower God in his Anger 21. Therefore the Lord said to Lot I cannot do any thing untill thou be gon out and he spared also the little Citie called Pella or Zoar viz. a diversion or turning away of the Anger for Lots sake for when he came thither the Turba must be extinguished as the Name in the uncompacted tongue of Sence doth expresse it Ver. 24 25 26. 22. And then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of Heaven and overthrew the Cities and all the Plain and all the Inhabitants of the Cities and all whatsoever grew upon the ground and his wife looked back and she became a pillar of Salt 23. This is now the figure of the kingdome of Christ who had opened himselfe to Abraham in the Love how he would sit in Judgement over the world and how the Might and Dominion is given unto him of God that he should destroy the Devills Kingdome upon the earth and give all wicked men unto the Anger of God to be devoured for when he had manifested himselfe to Abraham and
which Babel knoweth nothing nor can know nor will know but climeth up continually in the compacted tongue on the Towre of Babel into an Heaven of humane Selfehood and hath put Christs garment outwardly upon it selfe but it hath not the twofold voice therefore also it doth not hear when God calleth Abraham 26. And Abraham Answered Here am I and he said Lay not thine hand upon the Lad neither do thou any thing unto him Gen. 22.12 for now I know that thou fearest God and hast not spared thy onely Son for my sake That is thus when man hath wholly resigned up his Selfe viz. his own will or Son and put it wholly to the mortification in Christs death then the nature of man falls into Sadness for it hath lost its right its own law and will then saith the Spirit of God by the Soul do nothing to thy nature now I know that it is given up and resigned to me and that the Soul hath now * * * Plerophory an assurance of confidence in God and is fully bold even to leave the outward life for Gods sake and give over its will to mee in Obedience as here Abraham had fully resigned up his will unto God he would now do whatsoever God commanded him 27. And as Abraham did not spare his Son and would have given him up unto death so also God did not spare his Son and gave him to death for us even so should wee also not spare even our own will but rather be willing to leave all whatsoever the own will hath taken possession of and delights in and willingly dye to all Temporalls for Gods sake let it be Principality Dominion or Kingdome Temporall Honor or Goods or whatsoever it may be that is our dearly beloved Son all this a Christian must give over and resigne up in the minde and account and esteem himselfe onely a Servant therein yea esteem his outward life not for his own but in his Minde depart from and forsake every creature and then he lyeth bound upon the wood of the Burnt offerings Altar and waiteth for the Voice of God from Heaven which calleth to him and becomes the Voice and Mouth of his life and this is truly with Abraham to beleeve God where God beleeves in man and then God saith Now I know that thou fearest God and puttest thy trust in him alone for the humane will sincketh into the most pure Being of God 28. And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked and lo a Ram was hung in a thickett by his hornes Gen. 22.13 14 and he went and took the Ram and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his Son and Abraham called the name of the place * * * Jehovah-jireth The Lord seeth as it is said to this day upon the Mount where the Lord Seeth This is the golden figure which sheweth that the killing death and dying doth not reach the true man but onely the Ram with his Hornes which sticketh in the flesh and bloud in the Thornes of Sin and it chiefly denotes that the true * * * Text. Soules-man humane Soul in Christ and his children shall not dye in this burnt-offering of God but after that it hath resigned up the will of Selfe then God openeth its eyes that it seeth the Ram behinde it viz. it spieth the will of the wilde evill flesh and learnes to know it which will sticketh with its pushing beasts-hornes in the thorny Thickett of the Devill in flesh and bloud viz. in the desire of the vanity of the world in Selfefull Lust This the Resigned Soul seeth and offereth it up for a burnt-offering in the stead of the true Nature for the right nature is delivered in this burnt offering from the Ram of the flesh the Hornes are the injections oppositions and assaults of the Devill and the thickett of Thornes is the Serpents Ens which the lust of Adam hath introduced 29. Thus wee must understand in this figure that the whole man in Christs person should not be given to the Anger of God as if the Adamicall man should be wholly consumed and devoured by it no but the wild Ram onely the Enmity the opposite will the property of Apostacy and Rebellion but the life's Essence should remain forever the same Adam which God created unto Paradise the same shall remain eternally but the division or dissonant disunion of the life's formes in that they are rent asunder and brought into the property of Selfehood whence strife and enmity is arisen in man I say this evill Ram viz. this introduced infection vain desire and adverse will must be offered up in Christ in the fire of Gods Anger This was the Beast for the burnt-offering The Lamb of God in Adam shall not be consumed in the fire but it must onely shed its bloud it must immerse and sinck it selfe wholly with the humane nature into the One viz. into the Eternall Nothing without all nature and then this place is called here the Lord Seeth that is when the Ram is offered then this place is afterwards the Temple of God where the Lord Seeth 30. And the Spirit of Moses speaketh very hiddenly hereof and saith Hence it is said still to this day upon the Mount where the Lord Seeth the Mount is the life's nature where the Lord hath seen not onely in Abraham and Isaac but he seeth in Christs spirit yet at this day upon this Mount in the children of God when the Ram is offered up then the Spirit of God seeth through nature as the Sun through-shineth a Glass or as a fire through-heats an Iron 31. Therefore a man ought not to be so foolish as to torment his whole life in his repentance and conversion and to offer it up in the fire of death without Gods command but he must onely sacrifice the Sin and Selfe-Love of vanity he must offer up onely the Ram and not do any violence or mischief to nature not strike whip and beat it or creep into a corner and suffer the Body to * * * Note starve for hunger no he must not out of his own purpose Give the Image of God to death but the Ram he must he meritts not any thing by plaguing martyring and torturing himselfe for God hath bestowed his heart to that end to redeem us from Pain and Torment 32. When the Soul with the Right nature hath tamed it selfe from the Ram of the flesh then it must Sacrifice the Ram to the death of Christ but it must remain stedfast in great humility in the Resignation in God and not any further afflict and rack it selfe either with doubts or with any other externall inflicted tortures and also give nature its necessary nourishment and not Enfeeble and distemper it selfe for it is the Temple and the Image of God but it must daily and continually mortifie the Ram in the flesh viz. the selfish lust of the evill flesh and
Eternall life 34. Understand Nature is the Fathers property for it is the strength and might viz. the fire-spirit this fire-spirit was given to the light or Love-spirit in Christ viz. to the holy name Jesus which introduced it selfe in Abrahams beleeving desire into an Ens out of which Christ and then the new man out of Christ is born unto whom the kingdome of nature in the Fathers fire-property was given and he wholly gave his Love-ens for food unto the Fathers fire-Source viz. to the fiery Soul in the Fathers nature and even there Christ with Love took possession of the Fathers fire-strength and changed it into the Glory of the Triumphant kingdome of joy and thus also it is to be understood in the new-birth of man Gen. 25.24 25 26. 35. And Moses saith further And now when the time came that Rebecca should be delivered behold there were Twins in her wombe and the first which came out was Red and all over rough like an hairie hide and they called his name Esau and presently after came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esaus Heel and they called him Jacob. Here now stands the figure so lively and so clearly set forth that Reason may even see it that which before was hinted at with words in the spirituall figure that stands here in a lively Personall figure for Moses saith Esau came forth first who was Red and had a rough skin 36. Red betokeneth the Fathers nature in the fire Rough betokens the earthly beastiall nature which Adam with his lust introduced into him from the earthliness His Name is called ESAV from the SensVAll language from the property of the formation of his natures property the same in its formation in the language of nature stands thus E. is the Originall ex uno viz. aus dem Einam out of the One and is the true Angelicall property created in Adam * * * Saw signifieth Sow or the earthly swinish property SAU is the formed beast of Selfe-lust which hath enclosed and shut up the E. and obscured and slain the same in it selfe that is when it was extinct in it as to the lights fire yet the SAU viz. the outward beastiall man who had changed the E. viz. the Angelicall Engels Image into a Beast did yet remain in its form therefore the spirit called his name ESAU viz. a formed or amassed Image of Lust turned from its fine pureness into grossness wherein notwithstanding the E. did still remain but wholly encompassed and shut up with the SAU 37. After this Esau cometh Jacob viz. the type or Image of Christ conceived in the Ens of faith and holdeth Esau by the heel this declareth that the Adamicall Image which God created shall and must be first born for the same is it which shall live for ever but not in its Rough beasts Hide for in that Jacob holds Esau viz. the first man by the heel signifieth that the Second Adam viz. Christ is born after the first Adam and takes hold of him behinde and brings him back again from the course of his own selfe-will into the first mother from whence nature is arisen viz. to another new birth 38. But that Esau goeth forward with his birth and Jacob by holding him by the heel cannot withhold him betokeneth that the earthly man in his Selfness should go forward and not go wholly in this life time back again into the mother of the new birth but he would walk up and down with the beastiall man through this time for the beast shall not be new born but the Image of God which was lost or perished in Adam 39. And it further denotes how Christ should take the true Adamicall created man by his heel that is by the minde of his conversation and put him back again into the first mother whence he did arise and how the spirit of Christ should follow after the earthly man in this life time when as the Devill should be the earthly mans chiefe guide in the anger of God then Christ should come after him and take the inward property of the poor fallen and captivated man viz. the poor corrupt minde of the Soul into his Armes and draw it back again out of the Devills netts and snares as Christ said * That he was as a Vine-dresser who gleaned for in this life time the Adamicall natures Image stands before and the Image of Christ behinde therefore the naturall man must dye and Christ must arise and put himselfe forth Eminently in him 40. And it shewes further how the spirit of Christ in Jacobs line should take Esau in this life time by his heel and hold and rebuke him and by his children labour to hinder and suppress his evill conversation and wicked walkings but the Esauitish generation would contem despise and onely trample it underfoot and lay about them as an evill malicious fiery beast as it even so comes to pass when God sends his Prophets that they must reprove and rebuke men then they even spurn them away from them as doggs and will by no meanes endure them but Jacob that is the spirit of God holds them yet by the heel and makes them naked and bare so long till Jacobs foot-step or impression is known 41. JACOB signifyeth in the formation of the Name in the high tongue a strong lubet or desire out of the mentall Tongue viz. out of the Name JEHOVA brought into a compaction or Ens where the I takes the A and exalts it selfe in the A and takes the SensVAll tongue into the mentall viz. into the COB so that the O is set for the Centre of the word where then the profound Name of God is conceived or brought into the O and therein it is rightly understood how the Fathers nature viz. the Spirit of Sence in A C and B doth form it selfe into the I and O for I is the Centre of the highest Love and O is the Centre of the perceptive word in the Deity which is understood to be without or beyond all nature 42. This the spirit hath understood in Isaac therefore they call him JACOB so long till this Name was moved through the I in the Ens of faith so that the I opened the C and B and put forth the formed or conceived Ens in the O being the I had formed it selfe with the O in nature through nature as an holy blossome and then the Name was called JESVS for the I brought it self again into the enclosed shutt-up Angels Engels property in Adams nature and then the A was put into E for the Father gave his nature in the humanity to the Son viz. to the I and the Son made again an Angel Engel of it through the I for the I entered into the deepest humility and lowliness and then the figure stood thus IE out of which the fiery love-spirit went forth and made it selfe predominant and set forth before it its character with the S
divine appointment and providence come to be knowne 54. But they intend treacherously and falsely towards him and so sell Joseph to Reproach Derision and Servitude to serve the world and to be their footstool and scorn as happened to Joseph from his brethren and hath also happened to this Pen. 55. Thus † † † Gen. 37.36 Joseph is brought into Aegypt and sold for a Slave * * * Gen 38.1 2 3 4. but God is with him and giveth him understanding and wisdome that he is made his Masters Steward so that his Master ‖ ‖ ‖ Or undertakes doth nothing without him but entrusteth him with all things So also when the Spirit of Joseph though in a spitefull manner is sold into strange Countries where his Person is not knowne yet the wise doe take especall notice of the Spirit of his sence and meaning and know him and see that God hath given him his wisdome and Spirit and receive his Writings and Doctrine and Order their whole life according to it and thus Joseph cometh to sit in the chiefe office of Pharaoh's Steward and Governeth his whole house 56. But for all this Joseph is not yet passed through the Judgement for even in this Government he first meeteth with the greatest danger of his life for there * * * Gen. 38.7 the Stewards wife burneth in lust towards him that is the false Sects who would fain wooe and wed themselves into his Spirit and therewith Adorne their Doctrine and Doings for Temporall Honour Art and Science and if this Joseph's Spirit will not mix it selfe with their humane fiction and fables then they exclaim against him and say all manner of evill of him and accuse him of unchastity viz. of false Doctrine and appeal him before the Steward that is the Magistrate 57. And then † † † Gen 38.20 Joseph must be cast into prison and lie there captive and be tryed to purpose till God shall bring him out again from thence and set him before Pharaoh and then his wisdome and fear of God is revealed that it is plainly discerned and known that his understanding is given him of God and so his understanding is made Ruler over the Land of Aegypt so that he ruleth not onely strange Nations but his own brethren must at length also come unto him in their famine when the right understanding of the divine manifestation and mystery is scarce and rare with them and he nourisheth them also by his wisdome thus God hath sent him aforehand to be their father that they afterwards must be fain to come and seek and enjoy their brother Joseph's wisdome among * * * Or Strange other Nations 58. For so also did † † † Matth. 5.12 Israel persecute the Prophets till they were brought into darknesse and Idolatry in the Lust of their flesh and all those things came upon them of which the Prophets told them and then when they sat in hunger and misery their Land was full of Abomination they sought out the writings of the Prophets and even then they acknowledged that what they had spoken was true and that they had don them wrong and * * * Matth. 23.29 30. Adorned their Graves and said Had we lived in our fore-fathers time we would not have killed them but the Most High doth so order his Judgement that it beginneth at the House of Israel and he extinguisheth his Anger and Indignation in the children of Grace for the Bloud of the Saints in the power of Christ hath at all times resisted the Anger so that † † † Mal. 3.6 Israel hath not been consumed 59. * * * Gen. 37.28 20 pieces of silver Joseph was sold for Twenty pieces of Silver and † † † Mat. 26 15 30 pieces of silver Christ for Thirty to signifie that the humanity of Christ is higher and perfecter then the humanity of others which are his children being he was not conceived of the Seed of man but sprung forth in the Naturall Tincture in the lights property but the Adamicall Soul is from the fires property from whence the light receiveth its Originall and manifestation so that the lights property in Christ assumed the fires viz. the Adamicall Soul and the inward hidden divine and heavenly being which was sealed up and quite faded as to the Light 's life in Adam did again open and putt forth it selfe afresh 60. Therefore seing a Christian is under Christ and in Christ becometh again manifest in God the figure of Christ is represented here in this figure in the Number of 30. and that of a Christian in the Number of 20 for a Christian is sold into the hands of men to suffer but Christ must not onely suffer in the hands of men but give himselfe up also to the wrath of God whereupon he sweat bloud 61. And this whole history of Joseph doth excellently decipher to us how a Christian standeth in his figure before God and the world for the * * * Or History whole Acts of Joseph doe paint out how Adam cometh to be a Christian how he must in the processe of Christ be putt into Christs figure and become an Image of Christ and how God doth in Christs processe exalt him againe in the Kingdome of Christ and setteth him at the right hand of God as Joseph was sett at the right hand of King Pharoah after that he had continued in the processe of Christ and was brought through it CHAP. LXV Of Juda and Thamar being a Mysticall Figure of Adam and Christ in which the New Birth is excellently prefigured Vpon the 38 Chapter of Genesis WHen we consider the History of Joseph according to outward Reason then Reason demandeth Ge. XXXVIII Wherefore Josephs history is not sett down together in the Bible without any interruption whereas One Act followed so upon another Why doth Moses putt this typicall figure of Judah and Thamar between But if we look upon examine and consider this History of Juda and Thamar and likewise the figure of Joseph with a Right understanding we finde and see that the Holy Ghost hath of sett purpose so ordered and disposed them in their Right and true Order 2. For Joseph representeth a true Christian shewing how he must behave himselfe before God and the world and how he is putt in the processe and figure of Christ but this History of Juda and Thamar is a figure of a Christians growth out of Adams Image according to the humanity in the Kingdome of Nature shewing how he must spring forth out o● the first Adamicall Image and how this same Adamicall Image is evill and must dye which the Anger of God killeth and yet that the first right must stand that a Christian according to the humane Nature and property is only the Adamicall Image and no new or strange thing and how Christ manifesteth himselfe in this Adamicall evill Image and killeth the evill
Adams impurity that he is become earthly and hath committed whoredome before me and I have not given Selah for a husband to the New Eve that is I have not given the Word of the New Regeneration by and in the Law therefore hath Thamar that is the New Eve under the time of the Law layne and Copulated with Judah and his children for and about the soulish or animale and humane Nature and left Selah viz. the Law standing in the figure and the Grace of the New Eve in the Covenant hath alwayes joyned and mixed it selfe with Gods children as is to be seene in the Saints especially in the Prophets who outwardly lived under the Law and exercised themselves therein and yet alwayes joyned and mixed themselves with the New Eve in the Grace and yet lived not to the Law but to Grace 56. And this is the powerfull figure in this place shewing how the Covenant of Promise in Judah and the awakening of the Covenant in the Womans seede stand alwayes set one opposite to the other and lye and Copulate one with the other in the Love pointing at the future manifestation in the flesh in Christ. 57. For this figure of Judah and Thamar in the inward Ground is nothing else but this that outwardly the adulterous evill Adam with his fleshly Eve is represented in the figure viz. outwardly the Man of sinne with a sinfull figure and inwardly the betrothing of the New Eve in Regeneration 58. And the Spirit speaketh further in Moses and sayth * * * Gen. 38.27 28 29 30. And when Thamar was about to bring forth behold Twinnes were found in her womb and as shee was upon the Birth one of them put forth a hand then the Midwife tooke a Red Thrid and tied about it and sayd This is the first that cometh forth but when he pulled back his hand his brother came forth and shee sayd Wherefore hast thou for thy will made this breach and his name was called † † † Pharez Perez Afterwards his brother came forth who had the Red Thrid about his hand and his Name was called ‖ ‖ ‖ Zarah Serah 59. O thou wonderfull great God who art so high and deep how simply and to the capacity of a childe dost thou modellize thy wisdome to us What is all Art and Witt of humane Greatnesse before thee who dost so very much condescend bow downe and humble thy selfe and presentest thy deepest wisdome and highest profundity in a childish simplicity which may justly shame all humane State and selfe-wit when they see so great Mysteries of God stand in such Childishnesse 60. O World how foolish art thou that thou Elevatest thy selfe in a blinde life and still cleavest to the husk and seest not what thou art and understandest not the Divine Simplicity and then how wilt thou apprehend the Divine Depth O leave off thy witt and cleave to simplicity that thou mayst yet obtein a childes understanding and be not accounted in the sight of God more unwise then the Beasts which remaine in their cloathing and condition as God hath Created them O thou World why sleepest thou in the Devills Armes who succles and dandles thee in himselfe and bringeth thee to his will and life by his might O doe but see it 61. This potent figure in these Twinnes one of which put forth the hand which the Midwife bound a red Thrid about and thought it would be the first but it drew the hand back againe and his brother came forth prefigureth this to us how Christ in this Line of the Covenant assumed the humane Nature and so the humane Nature according to Adams right and selfe-will in this world first puts forth and manifests it selfe about which Adamicall Nature in the humanity of Christ must this red Thrid with the shedding of his Bloud be bound 62. When this is done then must the humane Nature with its right draw back againe that is Adams will that was gone forth must againe returne into the Mothers womb viz. be turned in to the Word and then cometh the inward New Adam forth after which followeth the Adamicall Nature with the Red Thrid then sayth the Mother to the New Adam in Christ why hast thou for thy will made this Breach for thy will sayth the Mother not for thy will sake but for the sake of that which driveth thy will forth and Adams will goes back thus hath the will in the Covenant of Grace powerfully broken through the strong Barre enclosure of the first Principle viz. of the Kingdome of Gods Anger for the Good Will in Adam was shut up in Death and in Hell and in Christ he rent that powerfull Rent and brake through Death and Hell back againe into the Kingdome of the Eternall Nature and turned it selfe forth againe into the Naturall Life so that the Kingdome of God was againe manifested in the Humane Life 63. This the Spirit represents by Thamar in the Line of the Covenant and modelizeth Christs breach through Death and Hell how that should be and by this premodelling was the whorish will of Thamar and Judah healed and their children of whoredome in the Line of Christ were Espoused into the Covenant of Grace 64. In Esaw and Jacob stood the figure how according to Nature Adam had the right of the Kingdome and how he squandered it and is therefore in his Naturall Will thrust out from the Kingdome of God and how Christ came to help him Here now stands the figure shewing how Christ hath gotten the Kingdome and turned Adam back againe and in Adam turned himselfe forth so that now Adam is called Christ and presents himselfe very excellently in the figure of Joseph and this standeth fitly and rightly between in the intervale of Josephs history 65. For Joseph is the figure of a Christian and this of Judah and Thamar is a figure shewing how a Christian springeth out of Adams Nature and how Adams Nature is turned in againe and Christ turned forth and how this Image of a Christian Man in this world is covered outwardly with the Earthly Adam so that men cannot know it also how thus Christ in Adam tooke his Guilt upon him and how Adam must be marked with this Red Thrid which Mark is rightly the Pledge that Judah gave to Thamar And I would have the Reader of this admonished in Love not to reject our Exposition of this Text but to consider it and looke narrowly and perspicuously into it and then he will well perceive who was the Expositour if he be worthy of it CHAP. LXVI The Most Excellent History of Joseph how he was sold to Potiphar what befell Joseph and of Josephs Chastity and feare of God Vpon the 39 Chapter of Genesis JOseph was brought downe into Aegypt and Potiphar an Aegyptian Gen. XXXIX 1 2 3 4 5 6. Pharaohs Officer Captaine of his Guard bought him of the Ismaelites who brought him thither and the Lord was with Joseph and
what he might else stand in neede of or layeth it by for poore people such is the Officers gathering together it should all be gathered together for common benefit else it is a Treasure of the anger of God and must expect Gods Judgement 47. But that the present Potentates doe thus gather together for their owne honour for voluptuousnes and pride and in that regard doe the more hardly oppresse and squeeze that they may only therewith exercise their pride and keepe under the poore as Doggs and say in their hearts they are bound to doe so for mee I have bought or inherited it as a priviledge I have it of right all this one and other is done in the anger of God they all now in this property serve only Sathan viz. in the figure of Gods anger and no better 48. All selfe-owning belongeth to Hell make what thou wilt of it no seeming Rhetorick will avayle before God thou gatherest together into Hell God requireth the Ground of the Heart and will have trusty Officers 49. But the Miserable is to know that in such restraint and service if he endure it without murmuring and grudging in faithfulnes he serveth even his Lord Christ for God thereby draweth him away from this world so that he sets his hope upon that which is to come and in this servility of his hands he gathereth to him with his prayer into this house of Lamentation his heavenly Treasure whereas if he for this time of his restraint stood in the voluptuousnes of the flesh he would gather no good thing therefore † † † Rom. 8.28 all things must serve to the best of them that love God 50. Thus a Man ought to understand the figure under the history and acts of Joseph for indeed the history is described with great diligence according to the inward figure according to the * * * Eingebung Inward suggestion inspiration of the Spirit of God which alwayes more respects Christs Kingdome then any Historie of a slight and simple Act. 51. For the Acts of the Bible are not set downe therefore because Men should see the Life and Deeds of the Old Holy Men or Saints as Babell supposeth No the Kingdome of Christ above all is thereby deciphered as also the Kingdome of Hell the visible figure continually pointeth at the invisible which shall be manifested in the Spirituall Man 52. Moses heere finisheth the figure of the New Regeneration under the historie of Joseph and sayth further * * * Gen. 47.27 28. Thus Israell dwelt in Egypt in the Land of Goshen and possessed it and grew and multiplyed very much and Jacob lived seaventeen yeares in Egypt so that his whole age was one hundred forty and seaven yeares 53. † † † Vers. 29 30 31. And when the time was come that Israell was to dye he called his son Joseph and sayd to him If I have found Grace before thee then lay thy hand under my Thigh that thou wilt be loving and faithfull to mee and not bury mee in Egypt but I will lye with my fathers and thou shalt carry mee out of the Land of Egypt and bury mee in their burying place Hee sayd I will doe as thou hast sayd but he answered and sayd sweare to mee and he sware to him then Israell bowed himselfe sitting up at the head of the Bed 54. This now is a very M●sticall figure and pointeth at the Resurrection of the Dead when the Soule shall come to the Body againe and the Body will be pure and holy For the Land of Canaan which was also full of the abominations of the Heathen signifieth the Earthly Body and Egypt where Pharaoh dwelt and Joseph was Steward signifieth the Soule which dwelleth in Gods Word viz. by or neere the Eternall King 55. And wee see it very finely pourtrayed in this figure how Adams Soule turned it selfe with Lust into the Earthly Canaan of the Earthly Body and turned away from God therefore now the Soule must goe againe into Egypt into Repentance to Joseph viz. to Christ and to King Pharaoh viz. to God and there it will be received as a childe of Grace to be a Bond servant so that it will be obedient to God and be his servant and Minister and must forsake the Earthly Canaan viz. the Evill body with its will and Contrivances as Israell must leave and forsake Canaan 56. But after he should be dead he would then have his body into the Land of Canaan that it should be buried there which signifieth that the Earthly body must be buryed in its Mother the Earth and come into its first Mother againe and it signifieth that the Soule shall come againe out of Egypt viz. out of the Bondage of the affliction of Repentance to the Body into Rest for the Heathen must be driven out of Canaan when Israell entereth thereinto so also must the Abominations in the propertie and † † † Or qualitie condition of the Body be consumed and all false and wicked desires be killed ere the Soule come to the Body againe and dwell therein 57. And it is powerfully represented how the will of the Soule shall and must in this life time breake off from the Earthly Canaan viz. from the Lusts of the Body presse into God againe by earnest Repentance where then the soule must rightly be in Egypt viz. a poore Bond servant in much anxiety and affliction but in the End when the Body shall dye then it also desireth to goe along out of the house of Bondage viz. out of the torment of Repentance and will goe againe into the first Adamicall pure Image which God Created as Jacob would lye by his fathers when as he might have lyen as well in Egypt But the Spirit stood in the figure of the Resurrection shewing how the whole Man should goe againe into the first Image created by God 58. But that Jacob required an Oath from Joseph that he would bury him in Canaan with his Fathers it denoteth the Oath which God in Christ made with Man that God hath with his word of Love incorporated himselfe with Man and engaged as by an Eternall Oath to him Jacob requireth this Oath from Joseph as from the figure of Christ and desireth he should lay his hand under his Thigh and sweare 59. This is a figure signifying how Christ should lay his hand that is his power and might viz. the Eternall Word which is the hand that hath made all things into the humane Essence in Body and Soule and not onely into that but under the Thigh as under the humane power and to give himselfe to Man for his own and sweare therein that is bind himselfe to it that he will bring the whole Man when he is heere dead in the Temporall Death againe into the first Land of Inheritance wherein Adam in Innocency dwelt viz. into Paradise and bury the body and soule with his Oath in God as in the