that he hath not onely suffered his Sonne to dye on the Cross but that we all must Dye also 4. If then God hath by the Dying of his Sonne redeemed us and paid a ransom for us wherefore then must we also dye and perish or be consumed thus Reason runneth on Answer 5. To this Looking-Glass we will have the Antichrist who calleth himself Christs Minister Pastor or shepheard invited for a Guest and all the high-Schools or Vniversities of this World with their disputations and Lawes as also all the Children of Christ who bear Christ Cross They shall all see the true Ground 6. Not with this meaning to contemn any in his Ignorance but for the true Teaching and Instruction that every one might seek and find himself 7. For it will be a very Earnest matter and concerneth Man it costeth body and Soul 8. He ought not at all to flight it for he that hath this knowledge given him he hath prepared his Trumpet It concerneth all Man-kind Every one should trim his Lampe 9. There will be a Great Two-fold King Come out of Two Gates he is but one Onely and yet two he hath Fire and Light he draweth in both on Earth and also in Heaven let this be a Wonder to thee 10. Dear Children of Christ when we consider of Death how we must go through Death into Life then we find altogether another kind of Life which cometh out of Death 11. And we find Instantly why Christ must have dyed and why we must also dye in Christs Death rise again in him and with him and through him enter into Gods Kingdom 12. If now we would find this we must then consider the Eternity in the Ground and Abyss else there is no finding of it we must onely find it where it is 13. For out of the Eternal Ground have we with the Image of God our original viz with the soul and its Image 14. But are become introduced into the Temporary and Corruptible viz into the source or quality thereof 15. But now the Eternity viz the Abyss is a Liberty without source or quality and therefore we must go again into the Liberty through dying 16. Yet we cannot say that there is no Life therein it is the right Life which there subsisteth Eternally without source or quality 17. And we give you it in a True reall similitude to meditate and consider of which indeed is a similitude according to the Kingdom of this world but if we take the divine world to it or along with it then it is the Substance it self 18. You know that our Life consisteth in Fire for without warmth we live not 19. Now the Fire hath its own Center it s own Maker in its Circle or Circumference and Extent viz the seâ—ven Forms or Spirits of Nature 20. And yet onely the First four Forms are acknowledged and accounted to be Nature viz the springing source or quality wherein the fire becometh awakened and struck up that there be a Principle and lifes Circle or Center there wherein the Matter of the burning maketh it selfe in the Spirits or formes and is also Continually consumed in the Fire 21. And the Fire giveth forth out of the Consumingness an other that is better then the First which maketh the Fire 22. For the Fire killeth or mortifieth and devoureth the substance which the fire it selfe Maketh understand the Essential Fire in the forms to Fire it confumeth that and giveth out of the Death a much Nobler and better which it cannot Consume 23. And that is demonstrated to you in fire and Light which is not onely the true similitude but it is the substance it selfe onely a Man is to distinguish the Principles It is indeed all a Fire but distinguisheth it selfe according to the source or Quality 24. If we will present this to be understood it is necessary that we mention the fires Originall but being we have elsewhere viz in the Book of the Three Principles and in other besides described it at large with all Circumstances therefore here we will set down a brief description and direct the Reader to the other writings if he would throughly search out the Seaven forms of Nature 25. The Fire hath Especially Three forms in it to the Center and the Fourth form is the fire it selfe and giveth the Principle viz the Life together with the Spirit for in the first Three Forms there is no right Spirit they are onely Essences 26. Viz First the Harsh Astringency that is the desirous Will that is the first and Chiefest Form 27. Secondly And the Bitter stinging that is the second Form a Cause of the Essences 28. Thirdly After that the Anguish viz the Circle or Center of Life the turning wheele which catcheth or apprehendeth the senses or Thoughts viz the bitter Essences in it selfe and swalloweth them up as it were into Death and giveth forth out of the Anxious Chamber viz out of Death the Minde viz another Center 29. Now understand this thus In the Eternity viz in the Abyss without or beyond Nature is Nothing but a stilness without substance it hath also nothing that giveth or affordeth any thing it is an Eternal Rest and like Nothing an Abyss without beginnig and End it is also no limit Circumscription or place no seeking or finding or any thing in possibility there 30. That Abyss is like an Eye AVge for it is its own Looking-Glass it hath no Moving also neither Light nor Darkness 31. It is Especially a Magia and it hath a will after which we should not dive or search for it troubleth us 32. With or by this very will we understand the Ground of the Deity which is of No Original for it apprehendeth it selfe in it selfe concerning which we are justly Mute or silent for it is without or beyond Nature 33. And being we are in Nature we know it not in Eternity for in the Will the Deity it selfe is All and the Eternal Originall of its own Spirit and of All and every substance 34. In that very will it is Omnipotent and Omniscient but in that will it is not called or known to be God for it is therein neither Good nor Evil. 35. It is a desirous will which there is the beginning and also the End for the End maketh also the beginning of this will and the beginning the End 36. And thus we finde that All substances are shut up in an Eye AVge and that is as a Looking-Glass wherein the will * beholdeth it self what it is 37. And in that beholding it becometh desirous of that Substance which it selfe is 38. And the Desiring is a drawing in and yet there is Nothing that can there be drawn but the will draweth it self in the desiring it self and modelleth it in its desiring for what it is 39. That very Model is the Looking-Glass wherein the will seeth what it is for it is a
Tincture is the Matrix which was Impregnated with the substantiality viz with Sulphur in the Fire which yet in Venus's Water cometh to Beeing or Substance 10. The Fire Tincture giveth Soul and the Lights Tincture giveth Spirit and the Water viz the substantiality giveth Body and Mercurius viz the Centre of Nature giveth the wheele of the Essences and the Great life in the Fire and Water heavenly and Earthly and the Sal or Salt Heavenly and Earthly holdeth it in the Beeing or Substance for it is the Fiat 11. For as Man hath the Outward Constellation or Astrum in him which is his Wheel of the outward worlds Essences and Cause of the Minde so also he hath the Inward Constellation or Astrum of the Centre of the fiery Essences as also in the second Principle he hath the Light flaming Divine Essences 12. He had the whole Magia of the Beeing of all Beeings or Substance of all Substances in him it was the possibility in him he could generate Magically for he loved himselfe and desired his likenesse again out of his Centre As he was Conceived from Gods desire and brought forth by the Genetrix in the Fiat so should he also have brought forth his Angelical or Humane Hoast 13. But whether they should all have been generated out of One viz out of that one Princely Throne or successively all one out of another is not needfull to be known for the limit is broken we have enough in the Knowledge in that we know what we are and what our Kingdom is 14. Indeed I find in the Deep in the Centre that one should have proceeded out of the other for the Heavenly Centre hath its Minutes as well as the Earthly which always strike where the Wheele with all the Three Principles always goeth and always one wonder openeth it selfe after another 15. Thus was Mans Image also found and contrived wherein the wonders lie without number they should be opened by the Humane Hoast 16. And clearly in Time one Greater Wonder is opened in one then in another all according to the Heavenly and Earthly Birth and wonderful Variation or Alteration as is done also at this very day that in One more Art and understanding of the Wonders lyeth then in an other 17. Therefore I conclude that one man should have been generated and proceeded from another for the sake of the Great Wonders and for the pleasure delight and joy of Man wherein a Man would have brought forth his like 18. Thus should the Humane Generations have stood in the Generating till God had set the Third Principle of this World again in its own Ether 19. For it is a Globe with Beginning and End for the beginning reacheth to the End that the last may passe into the First thus all is finished ond entire 20. And then will the Middle again be cleared and goe again into that which it was before the Times of this world even all but the Wonders which continue in Gods wisdom in the great Magia standing as a shadovv of this World 21. Now seeing Adam was so Glorious an Image moreover in the sted and place of extruded Lucifer the Devil would not allow or afford him that but Envied it vehemently and set his Vizard and Imagination alwayes before Adam he slipt also with his Imagination into the Earthlinesse of the fruit and Imagined or represented before Adam as if Great Glory did stick in his enkindled Earthliness 22. Though indeed Adam did not know him for he came not in his own Form but the forme of the Serpent as in the form of a Sumptuous Beautiful Cunning Beast and Managed his Apish Sport like a Fowler who deceiveth the fowles and so catcheth them 23. So did he also he infected the Earthly Kingdom with his disease and venome of Pride and halfe killed it as is to be seen in Earth and Stones which though so very much diseased venomed and full of vanity yet would very fain be loosed from the vanity 24. And when it found that Adam was a child of God and had the Glory and the Power then it Imagined or longed vehemently after Adam together with the Kindled Anger of God that also Imagined or longed after Adam to delight it selfe in this living Image 25. All drew Adam and would have him the Kingdom of Heaven would have him for he was created for it 26. Also the Earthly Kingdom would have him for it had one part in him it would be his Lord seeing he was but a Creature 27. Also the fierce wrath set open its Jawes and would be Creaturely and substantial to satiate its great fierce hunger 28. And thus stood Adam in the Trial or Proba for forty Dayes so long as Christ was tempted in the Wilderness and Israel on Moant Siâ—â—i when God gave them the Law to see whether it were possible that this people could in the Fathers source or quality in the Law stand before God 29. And whether Man could have continued in Obedience so as to have set his Imagination upon God so that God should not have needed to become Man for which cause God did such wonders in Egypt that man might see that there is a God and so love and feare him 30. But the Devil was a lyar and deceiver and seduced Israel so that they made a Calf and worshipped it for God now seeing it was not possible for Israel to stand therefore * Moses came from the Mountain with the Tables upon which the Law was written and brake them and slew the worshippers of the Calf 31. So also must not Moses bring this People into the promised Land it could not be JOSUA and lastly JESUS must do it who stood in the Temptation before the Devil and the Anger of God who overcame the Anger and brake Death in peeces as Moses did the Tables of the Law 32. The first Adam now could not stand though the Kingdom of God stood before his Eyes and he in Paradise yet Gods Anger was so very much inflamed that it drew Adam for he was too much kindled in the Earth through the Devils Imagination and strong willing 33. Now saith Reason Had the Devil so great Might yes deare Man Man had it also he can throw down Mountains if he entereth strongly with his Imagination 34. The Devil was also out of the great Magia of God and a Prince or King of this Throne and Entered into the strongest Might of the Fire in a will and entention to be a Lord over all the Hoast of Heaven 35. Thus the Magia became kindled and the Great Turba Generated that had wrestled with Adam to try whether he would be strong enough to possesse the Devils Kingdom and to rule in the same with other Sources or Qualities 36. This Adams Rational Spirit did not understand but the Magick Essences strove against one another whence the whole Lust and the will did exist till Adam began and Imagined after the Earthliness and would have
in the Hearts of Men by the suggestion of the Arch-Enemy of all Man-kind who knoweth well enough that if the inward Word be once Choaked and killed at the Root so that it groweth not to be felt known and obeyed he will soon cause in Evil Minds that Most precious literal Word to be used onely as a pretence thereby to cover all Sin in Hypocrisie causing the Word in the Heart not to be so much as thought on or observed whereas on the Contrary he that highly esteemeth of the Word the Commandment Christ in the Heart that word of Faith by which the heart it self cometh originally to have its very being cannot in the least fail of Esteeming the powerfull working thereof in the inexpressible various wisdom dwelling in the Heart and appearing from the Mouth or Pen of any Man whatsoever Therefore peruse this Book which will inform us how the Eternal Word became Man and how the Man JESUS CHRIST who was born of the Virgin Mary and lived upon Earth for the space of Three and Thirty years and upwards then was Crucified dyed was buried arose again and ascended into Heaven within the little part of the World that Space of the Country of Aegypt the Wildernss the Land of Canaan Judea and City of Jerusalem in the fulness of Time about sixteen hundred and fifty Eight years ago How HE was also this Eternal Word which was is and Ever shall be God and Christ the Eternal Alpha and Omega the beginning and the End the word of Faith that very Word which is in our Hearts the word of Life the inserted or ingrafted Word the word of Grace the Spirit of Life the Bread which came down from Heaven which alwaies is in Heaven not the outward though in the outward Bread for we live not by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of the Mouth of God this is the Bread of Life Our Dayly Bread and so how he is both God and Man Also how we that are Men may here in this Life be rightly partakers of Him according to the sayings of the Scriptures also of his Sufferings Death and Resurrection and how or in what manner it is that he is like unto us in all things Sinne onely excepted and yet he took our Sinnes upon him he that knew no Sinne became Sinne for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him All this will be clearly discerned in this Treatise of the Incarnation of JESUS CHRIST or his Becoming Man and therefore also that so precious knowledg may not remain any longer shut up it is here published in the English Tongue Though by perusing it and Meditating therein the Holy Bible will appear assuredly to be as much the Word of God as a writing by Mans hand can be and the words there once spoken by the Prophets Christ the Apostles other Holy Men as much the word of God as words and voyces of Men can be The true sence and meaning thereof in the understanding as much the word of God as the Meaning in the Mind and understanding of any Man can be Yet the writing the Words and sense or meanings proceeding from Creaturely Instruments are creaturely whereas the Thing properly called the word of God which inwardly frames those Meanings and formeth all things whatsoever both visible and invisible is not a Creature for it is the Creator the Creating Word which is God himself who formeth all things in himself and so ALL is HE not one IOT a Creature But he createth the Creature and dwelleth therein yet the Creature is not nor ever can be He and so that word of his which is produced effected brought forth and Manifested Externally by the Creature is Gods Word but is not God the Word But the inward Word in the Heart that vvord of Faith even Christ the Word that Word is God Let me enquire a little Were not all Eternal Things whatsoever in Being in their own uncreated World before therewas so much as the least Glimps of any Created thing either Angel or Man either Created Light or Darkness either Created Heaven or Hell or this World And were not the Divine holy Spiritual and all other Natural things in Being without the Created inward and outward world as well as in them And had it not been so though the Angels world and ours had never been created And were not all the Things without them and within them in Being though they had not been spoken of in the Scriptures were not the Word God though John the Apostle had not said so were not the Pure in Heart Blessed should we not through Patience possess our Souls Is not God himself Light And if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light doth not the Bloud of Jesus Christ clense us from All Sinnes otherwise not though it be in us And is not his Flesh meat indeed and his Bloud drink indeed Why do we not eat and drink thereof If we deny our selves and take up the Cross of Christ that is tribulation anguish afflictions adversities and Crosses and follow him in Meekness and wel-doing loving those that hurt us returning Good for Evil to every one and blessing for Cursing and this unfeignedly from a sincere Heart are we not his true Disciples will not Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that desire it though certain Disciples that believed and had been baptized in the Time of the Apostles had not so much as heard whether there was any holy Ghost yet being baptized in the Name of the Lord JESUS and having the hands of Paul laid on them they received the holy Ghost and Spake with Tongues and prophesied Do not they receive the Seed into Good Ground that heare the Inward Word and receive consent to or obey it and so understand it also bring forth fruit Doth not Faith come by inward Hearing and that Hearing by the same word of God And can those that have not Ears to hear that is Spiritual Ears hear though his voyce his Spiritual Tongue and voyce is gone into all the Earth that Word ingrafted in every thing by which all doth subsist Can the Natural Man perceive the Things of God seeing they are spiritually to be discerned or can any teach them rightly that is Spiritually but by the Spirit And if the word of Promise the Seed of the woman had not been quickned in Adam and Eve by Gods putting Enmity between the Womans and the Serpents Seed they both of them and all their posterity had been meerly Natural and Children of wrath onely and had been uncapable of ever becoming the Children of Grace and Mercy but in the Word of promise Christ in them all Mankind have in them the Spiritual Man the hidden Man of the Heart in whom even Cain was able to do well and so doing should have been accepted and in whom they are not only able to discern but to do all
things but if they love themselves more then God in them then their Perdition is of themselves Hath not God shed abroad his Love in our Hearts Can any rightly say Lord Lord but by the Holy Spirit And are not the Father the Word and Spirit which bear record in Heaven One And do not the Spirit the Water and the Bloud which bear record on the Earth agree in One Also is not the Kingdom of Heaven within us And doth it not consist in Peace Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost and then must not all needs be in us And we may thereby apprehend and understand it rightly though yet we know it not nor ever read it or though it had not been related in the Holy Scriptures How many Thousand Endless Mysteries are Treasured up in the hidden wisdom of God in Christ and in him in us when we find him and partake of him in him we have them all and from his fulness receive Grace for Grace how narrowly therefore should we search and observe the exact words of the Scripture which so surely as an Index point us to these invaluable things and use that powerful word in our Hearts by which hearing Comes and direction and power of understanding those things not onely which are expressed inwardly or outwardly but even whatsoever is hidden in Christ in whom all fulness dwels and then can any thing be impossible to be apprehended or known by a Soul that hath the very Thing in it self where nothing can be hid from its inward Eyes And since God worketh in us both to wil and to do why refuse we to will and to do by hearkening and yeelding to the Lusts of our own Hearts being Servants in Obedience to the Evil and not of God who is likewise in us with his Grace fulness we thinking nevertheless that we can neither will nor do endeavouring to bring Scripture to prove it to the quenching of the Spirit the manifestation whereof is given to every one to profit withal and this is effected in those that understand not how to satsfie themselves in the meaning of those Scripture Arguments that are alledged for proofs not considering that God worketh in us to be able through him in us so that there is himself his power and ability in our Selves though not Self-ability as of our selves for the Most Holy Man born of the fleshly Seed of Father and Mother of himself as of himself is not able to think a Good Thought but there is none so wicked except he be altogether uncapable to desire Conversion and so is a Devil but doth at some time or other in this life think a Good Thought which testifies the good work of God in his-heart and soul and is the stirring of the Divine Word therein in which is Light but Men love darkness rather then Light though it Ever Eternally shone in the Darkness and is the very light of their life in them and that because their Deeds are Evil and they will not follow to will and do according to it which is the Obedience to the divine Light in them though God hath given even his whole self unto them to Convert them wherein they are able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth them and yet will not but neglect so great Salvation And these Comfortable words expressed in the holy Scriptures are faithful and the Things certain and undeniably true though the Scriptures had never made mention of them and are all of them to be discerned known and throughly understood in the Things themselves by and in every Soul but our want is that we seek not The Consideration whereof should move us earnestly to labour to understand more and more where and how that word is to be found felt seen and known as this Book doth exceedingly help us that we may infallibly Experimentally and understandingly Testifie unto the Truth of the Holy Scriptures by the through Examination of the Things it speaketh of seeing the Scripture directs to that which is to be understood no way but in the Things themselves as all that is written of is to be known Experimentally whether it be Natural or Divine solely by comparing the writing by and with the Things else all is but a Notional and Imaginary Supposition or Opinion without understanding but by the knowing of Things we should by degrees cease from Contention and rightly certainly and infallibly know God and the Wonders he hath wrought and can and will work in all things especially in the Souls of Holy Men some of whom out of the good hidden treasure of the living word in the Heart have committed to writing those few things conteined in the Scriptures being few in respect of the Infinite Depths of the Deity and so proceeding forward from Grace to Grace from Knowledge to knowledg we may attain to the measure of the fulness of the stature of a Man in Christ and not be alwaies children in understanding but even strong Men in Christ The Apostle Johns words If we say we have no sin we deceive our Selves May they be taken as meant speaking of others and not himself included what then shall we think was become of his Earthly Old Adam of his outward Flesh and Bloud wherein he was Mortal had he not that when he said so that he might justly exclude himself from having any sinne as having laid of this life and body he might have done having the new heavenly Body and not the old Earthly one about him at all in which Mortal flesh and Bloud onely which Christ himself took of the Seed of the Virgin Mary he became Sinne for us and could die else it had not been possible as is largely cleared in this Treatise Though if there be no Consent of the Soul it may truly be said by any one with the Apostle Paul It is no more I that do the Evil which I would not but Sinne that dwelleth in me Yet of this Mortal Corruptible Flesh which dyeth and remains in Corruption in the Grave and will not be changed till the General Resurrection of all the Dead at the last day of that it may be always said as he likewise saies of himself after he was rapt into the Third Heaven and not of others onely I know that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no Good thing And that is it in which Evil was present vvith him vvhen he vvould do Good for vvith his Flesh he served the Lavv of Sinne Can any serve God with his Flesh but vvith the Mind he can and doth vvhen he vvilleth the Good Yet vvhy are the Mysteries of the Bible so little understood but because we apprehend not that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit and all Graces as also Sinne are invvardly in Every soul the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh in every one and so the love and vvrath of God is in all things either hidden or manifested and that all
flow up in it self but would remain in one souce or quality 27. Even as the Deity bringeth its Life but into ONE onely source or quality viz into the Light into the Holy Spirit and yet carrieth on his Dominion over all the Three Principles 28. Also we are to understand concerning Christs becoming Man or Incarnation that when Gods Spirit awakened again the Virgin-like Life in Mary which in the Earthly Essence lay shut up in Deaâ—h and fierce wrath then that Life hence-forward turned it self onely into the ONE onely will viz into Gods Love and gave it selfe up to the Spirit of God 29. Thus that Life became impregnated of a right virgin-like Image which should have been with Adam but was not done 30. For the one Imagination received the other Gods Imagination received the Imagination in Death and brought it to Life again that Life Imagined again into God and became Impregnated with God and became out of the Deity and Humanity ONE Person 31. The Deity hung to the heavenly Substantiality which hath ever been from Eternity with the Kingdom Power and Glory viz the Kingdom of Paradise and the Angelical World viz the Spirit and the Seaven forms in the Center of Nature as in the Third Part or Book of the Threefold Life is mentioned with all Circumstances 32. And the Humanity hung to the Kingdom of this world but when the will of the humanity gave it selfe up into the Deity then this virgin-like Image in Christ Jesus came to be onely a Guest in this world and his Deity was a Lord over this World 33. For thus it was to be in Adam also that the lesser and impotent should be subject to the greater and Omnipotent 34. But Adams will went into the less and impotent end therefore he became altogether impotent and fell downe into sleep and home again to the Creator 35. But with Christ this Image remained standing in the Divine Wisdome and the Earthly source or quality hung to it in the Office and Manner of a Servant but now no more as a Lord as it was over Adam and Mary his Mother before the high blessing opening of the Deity but as a Servant for this Image became now in Gods Spirit and Might a Lord over the Third Principle of this World Qustion 36. Now saith Reason How is it come to pass in this becoming Man or Incarnation Was then the Life so suddenly with the Point of Conception become stirring above the Naturall Course so that that Part of Mary viz the Womans seed instantly lived Answer 37. No for it was an Essential seed and became in its Natural Time stirring with Soul and Spirit as all Adams Children 38. But that part of the Deity environed with divine Substantiallty and wisdome liveth from Eternity to Eternity 39. The Deity went not to nor fro what it was that it remained to be and what it was not that it came to be 40. It gave it selfe with divine Substantiality into the Essence and Substantiality of Mary and Maries Essence and Gods Essence became one Sonne 41. But Maries Essences were Mortal but Gods Essences were Immortal 42. Therefore must Maries Essences dye on the Cross and go through Death into Life to which Gods Essences did help else it had been impossible 43. Thus Gods Essence helped us and still always helpeth us through Christ into Gods Essence and Life again 44. Thus we konw the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ to be natural as of all the Children of Men for the heavenly divine Subsstantiality hath given it selfe with its Life into the Earthly halfe dead subtantiality 45. The Lord gave himselfe to be under the Servant that the Servant might become living and is in like manner in Nine Moneths become a perfect Man and also continueth a True God and is also after the Manner and way of all Adams Children become born into this World through that very way and passage as all Men are 46. And that therefore Not that he needed it he could have been born Magically but he would not nor should not for he was to heal our impure Birth or Geniture and Entrance into this Life 47. He should enter into our Entrance into this World and introduce us out of this World into Gods Entrance and bring us out of the Earthly source or quality 48. For if he had been generated or born Magically after a divine Manner then he had not been Naturally in this World for the heavenly Substantiality must have swallowed up the Earthly source or quality and then he had not been like us 49. How then would he have suffered Death have entred into Death and destroyed it but therefore it was not so 50. He is truely and really the Womans Seed and is entered into this World the Natural way like all Men but yet also is gone forth through death the divine way of the divine Might and Substantiality 51. He is a divine living Substantiality which subsisted in Death and destroyed and despised death and brought the halfe dead humanity through Death into Eternal Life 52. For the Earthly part which he took to himselfe out of his Mother Mary that is to or upon the divine Substance dyed away on the Cross from the Earthly source or quality 53. Thus was the Soul in the Subantiality of God and as a victorious Conquering Prince went into the Hell of Devils that is into Gods Anger and quenched it with Gods love and Meekness of the divine Love-suhstantiality 54. For the Love-fire came into the Anger-Fire and drowned the Anger wherein the Devill would be God 55. Thus was the Devil taken captive with the darkness and lost his Dominion for the sting and the Sword of the Cherubine the staying Angel was here destroyed 56. And this was the Cause that God became Man viz that he might introduce us out of Death into the Eternal Life and quench the Anger which burned in Us with the Love 57. For you must understand us aright how Gods Anger became quenched not with the Mortal Bloud of Christ which he shed upon which the Jews despised him 58. But with the Bloud of the Eternall Life out of Gods substance which was immortal which had in it the fountain of the Water of Eternall Life that became shed upon the Crosse with and under the outward Bloud and when the outward fell to the Earth then fell the Heavenly with it but yet it was immortal 59. Thus the Earth received Christs Bloud whence it Trembled and Quaked for the fierce wrath of God in it became now overcome and the living Bloud came into it which was come out of Gods Substantiality from Heaven 60. That Opened the Graves of the Saints and Opened Death and made a Path through Death so that Death was made a shew of in Tiumph 61. For when Christs Body arose from Death then he bare Death as a Spectacle or shew on his Body for its Might was broken or
surface of the Earth or the stars and Constellations how one Star also one hearb excelleth another in power virtue and beauty also in the Ornament of its form so also the angelical World 74. For we shall be presented in a spiritual Flesh and Bloud not in such a form or manner as here 75. The spiritual Body can go through Earthly stone so subtile it is else it were not capable of the Deity 76. For God dwelleth without or beyond the palpable source or quality in the Quiet still Liberty his own substance is the light and power of the Majesty 77. Thus we must also have a power-body but truly and really in flesh and Bloud but therein is a Glance of the Tincture for the spirit it so very thin that it is unapprehensible by the Body and yet is palpable in the liberty Else it were a Nothing 78. And the Body is much thicker then the spirit that so the Spirit may lay hold of it and Eat it whence it maintaineth the spirit-Life in the Fire and giveth forth out of the Fire the Light of the Majesty and out of the Light again the Meekness in flesh and bloud so that there is an Eternal substance 79. Now if we thus finde and know our selfe then we see know and understand what God is and can do and what the Substance of all substances is 80. And we thus find how altogether blindly we are lead astray Erroniously in that Men tell us very much of Gods will and represent the Deity continually as some forinsik or strange substance which is far of from us as if God were some strange thing 81. And did bear onely some inclinable will towards Us and did forgive sinne out of Favour as a King pardoneth one his Life which had forfeited it 82. But no! hearken It is not Hypocritical flattery and seeming Holiness and to continue and abide wicked that is called for but it is said we must become born out of God or to be lost from God Eternally 83. For true Faith and Will must do it the will must earnestly enter into God it must attain heavenly Substance else neither singing Ringing Crying or flattering or whatsoever it may be called will avail 84. God needs no service or Ministry we should serve and Minister one to another and love one another and give thanks to the Great God that is to lift up our selfe in one Minde and Consent into God and make known his wonders to call upon his Name and praise him that is the Joy in Ternario sancto in the holy Ternary where the Eternal wisdome out of the praise giveth forth Wonders powers and sprouts 85. Thus the Devils Kingdom becometh destroyed and Gods Kingdom cometh to Us and his will is done Else all is but humane Inventions Traditions and doings in the sight of God an unprofitable thing a flattery or Hypocrisie and maketh no attonement or reconciliation but onely leadeth a Man away from God 86. Gods Kingdom must Come in us and his will be done in us and so we serve him aright when we love him from our whole Heart soul and all our powers and our Neighbour as our selves this is the whole service of God which he accepteth of us 87. What need we flatter our selves are we righteous then we our selves are Gods in the Great God and what we do then God doth it in and through us 88. If his Spirit be in us why do we so very long take care about Gods service if he will do any thing we should be willing and ready Servants he must be the Workmaster if a work be to please God 89. Whatsoever is besides that is Earthly built in the Spirit of this world we build that for the outward Heaven for the Stars and Elements which have their productions and wonders in Us and for the Dark Devil whom we serve with works without the spirit of God 90. Let this be said to you it is highly known No work pleaseth God except it proceed from Faith in God flatter how thou wilt yet thou labourest onely in this world thou sowest in an Earthly field 91. But if thou wilt reape heavenly fruit then thou must sow heavenly seed and if it cometh not to root in a strange field then thy seed cometh to thee again and groweth in thy own field and thou wilt enjoy the fruit thy self The seventh Chapter Of Divine or Spiritual SEEING or Vision how in this World Man can have divine and Heavenly Substantiality or skill and knowledge so that he can rightly speak of God and how his seeing is CITATIO SECUNDA The Second Citation Or Invitation of the Outward Reason of this world in the Outward flesh and bload 1. Question OUtward Reason saith How may a Man in this world see into God viz into another world and say what God is that cannot be It must needs be a Phantasy wherewith the Man tickleth and deceiveth himself Answer 2. Thus farre it cometh it can not search further that it might restâ— and if I stuck in that same Art then I also would say the same for he who seeth nothing saith nothing is there what he seeth that he knoweth and further he knoweth of Nothing but that which is before his Eyes 3. But I would have the Scorner and total Earthly Man asked whether the Heaven be blinde as also Hell and God himself 4. Or whether there be also any seeing in the divine World whether also the Spirit of God seeth both in the Love-light-world as also in the fierce wrath in the Anger-world in the Center 5. Doth he say there is a seeing therein as indeed is very true then he should look to it that he do not often see with the Devils Eyes in his purposed Malice and wickedness when he long before medelleth and frameth a thing to himself in his Imagination in false evil Maliciousness to bring it to pass and seeth beforehand how he may and will Effect his wickedness 6. Can he there see the wicked Malice before hand why seeth he not also his wages and recompence beforehand 7. O no the Devil seeth with his Eyes and covereth the Punishment that he may bring the Evil wickedness to pass 8. If he would drive the Devil out then he would see his great Folly which the Devil hath prompted him to 9. He letteth him see the Evil and lendeth him Eyes to do it withal though the thing be farre off and long before it be to be done and yet is so blinded that he knoweth not that he seeth with the Devils Eyes 10. In like manner the Holy or Saint seeth with Gods Eyes what God prepurposeth that the spirit of God in the New Regeneration seeth out of the right humane Eyes out of the Image of God 11. It is to the wise a Seeing and also a Doing not to the Old Adam that must be a servant to it that must manage in the
work that which the New man seeth in God 12. Yet Christ saith The Sonne of Man doth Nothing but what he seeth the Father do and that he doth also 13. Now therefore is the Sonne of Man become our House into which we are entered he is become our Body and his Spirit is our spirit 14. Should we then in Christ be blind as to God The Spirit of Christ seeth through and in us what he will and whatsoever he will that we see and know in him and without him we know nothing of God 15. He doth divine Works and seeth what and when he will not when Adam will when Adam would fain shed abroad his Malignant wickedness with high-mindedness to be looked upon 16. O no there he hideth himself he seeth not in us in the light of Joy in God but in the Cross and Tribulation in Christs suffering and dying in Christs persecution and Contempt in great sorrow and Lamentation into these he seeth and letteth the Old Ass Crouch and bear the Cross that is its Office 17. But in the way through the Death of Christ the New-Man seeth into the Angelical world it is to him much easier and clearer to apprehend then the Earthly world it is done Naturally 18. Not with Imagining but with seeing Eyes with those Eyes which shall possess the Angelical World viz with the Eyes of the souls Image 19. With the Spirit which goeth forth out of the souls Fire that Spirit seeth into heaven that beholdeth God and the Eternity and no other and that is also the Noble Image according to the similitude of God 20. Out of or from this seeing hath this Pen written not from other Masters or out of Conjecture whether it be true or No. 21. Though now indeed a Creature is but a peece and not a total entireness so that we see onely in Part yet it is searchable and fundamental 22. But the wisdome of God suffereth not it self to be written for it is infinite or Endless without Number and Comprehension we know onely in Part. 23. And though indeed we know much more yet the Earthly Tongue cannot lift it self up and say it or bring it forth It speaketh onely words of this World and not words of the Inward World for the Minde reteineth them in the hidden Man 24. And therefore one alwaies understandeth otherwise then an other all according as every one is indued with the wisdome and so also he apprehendeth and so he expoundeth it 25. Every one will not understand my writings according to my meaning and sense indeed it may be not one but every one according to his Gifts for his benefit one more then another according as the Spirit hath its property in him 26. For the Spirit of God is often subject to the Spirits of Men if they will that which is good or well and seeth or looketh after what Man willeth that his good worke be not hindred but that every where above all Gods will or willing or desiring be done 27. For the Spirit which becometh generated out of the souls Fire out of Gods Meekness and substance that is also the Holy Spirit It dwelleth in the Divine Property and taketh its seeing out of the divine property 28. What is it now that is strange to or in us that we cannot see God This world and the Devil in Gods Anger it is that we see not with Gods Eyes else there is no hinderance 28. Now if one saith I see nothing divine he should consider that Flesh and Blood together with the subtilty and Craft of the Devil is a hinderance and Cover to him oftentimes in that he willeth in his high-mindedness for his own honour to see God and oftentimes in that he is filled and blinded with the earthly Malignity 30. Let him look into the footsteps of Christ and enter into a new Life and yeeld himselfe to be under the Cross of Christ and desire onely the Entrance of Christ through Christs death descention into Hell and ascention into Heaven to the Father what shall hinder him but that he must needs see the Father and his saviour Christ together with the Holy Spirit 31. Should now the Holy spirit be blind when he dwelleth in Man or write I this for my own Boasting 32. Not so but for a rule of Direction to the Reader that he might forsake his Errour and depart from the way of wickedness and abomination forth into a holy divine substance that he also with the divine Eyes might see the wonders of God that so Gods will may be done 33. To which End this Pen hath written very Much and not for its own honour the pleasure and voluptuousness of this lifes sake as the driver continually reproacheth us that we do and yet it remaineth onely to the Driver in the Anger of God whom we would fain that he may have the Kingdom of heaven if he might be but released from the Devil and the Earthly state and proud Longing Malady which make him blind 34. Thus dear children of God you who seek with much sighing and Tears Let this be in earnest sincerity to you Our seeing and knowing is in God He manifesteth or revealeth to every one in this world as much as he will as he knoweth is profitable and good for him 35. For he that seeth out of or from God he hath Gods work to manage he should and must manage teach speak and do that which he seeth else his seeing will be taken from him for this world is not worthy of Gods Seeing 36. But for the Wonders sake and the revelation of God it becometh given to many to see that the Name of God may be manifested to the world which will also be a witness against all the Doings of the ungodly which pervers the truth into Lyes and despise the Holy Spirit 37. For we are not our own but his whom we serve in his Light 38. We know nothing of God He God himself is our knowing and seeing 39. We are Nothing that he may be all in us we should be blind deaf and dumb and know no Life in us that he may be our Life and seeing and our work may be his 40. Our Tongue should not say if we have done any thing that is good this have we done but this hath the Lord in us done His Name be highly prâ—ised 41. But what doth this Evil world now If any say this hath God in me done if it be good then saith the world Thou Fool I thou hast done it God is not in thee thou lyest Thus the Spirit of God must be their Fool and Lyar. 42. What is it then or who speaketh out of the Blasphemous Mouth Even the Devil who is an Enemy of God that he may hide and Cover the work of God that Gods spirit might not become known and that he may continue Prince of the World even till the Judgement 43. Thus When you see