us how this World shall pass away viz. 1. Unexpectedly as a Thief 2. Suddenly in the Night 3. Violently with a great noise 4 Universally the Heavens Earth and Elements 5. Irreparably The Elements shall melt with fervent heat the Earth be burnt up and that the Heavens being on Fire shall be dissolved ver 12. And this tremendous Truth is not only really and litterally but demonstrably so 4. To the second part of the Question viz. what remaineth thereof afterward see the Answer of the 30th Question of the 40 Questions of the Soul and the 27 Chap. of the three Principles ver 6 and ver 20. But to speak yet farther on this latter part what remains of it the World afterward viz. after dissolution of the present frame or fashion I must seem and but seem to digress which tho' to some it be obscure will be plain to the Mind initiated into and irradiated with the Theosophick Wisdom The Out-birth is the Figure of the two Eternal Worlds or Principles having all the Properties according to the two different contrary Impressions And this Out-birth in the Womb of the Eternal Mystery was by the earnest Magick longing and will originated which will is as the Voice or Mouth of the great Mystery and the properties are as the Instruments or Fingers of the creating word the first viz. the Voice is the Father Soveraign or Lord of the Separator or Father of Nature and the latter viz. the Properties are his Limbs or Members working by the Astral Powers for Generation of all the Creatures of the Out-birth 5. This Father of the external Nature or Outward World invigorated by the might of the Properties hath ability unweariedly to work universally in and through the whole Out-birth and being the Image of the first born of every Creature who standeth incomprehensibly in the Eternal Rooting Powers this his Image and Servant is innobled with such energy as both to form and animate the productions of the whole Out-birth yet who will be so foolish as to take him either to be the First-born Son of God or the Father which is in Heaven whom the Son teacheth us to direct our Prayer to as the Object of all Adoration or the Holy Infinite third Person or Subsistence tho' his Office is in the third Principle but is a Creature potently furnished and fortified to stamp engrave delineate and shadow Living Images of the two Inward Worlds And hath the Seals and Magical impresses but not the Eternal Holy Incomprehensible Magia for that the Divine Virgin of Wisdom is a Possessor of generating the real Worlds themselves for-ever whereof this is only the figure 6. And this Father of Nature call'd by some the Soul of the outward Universe hath a Tincture under his dispensation such as of which the Out-birth is capable to be enriched with And this also of both Impressions viz. of the light and dark Worlds Figures but it hath not the holy meek divine Tincture for that the Divine Sophia the Virgin of Wisdom is glorified with But the Tincture and Magia which the Father of Nature is distributer of is yet so noble as to be holy in the holy Vessels but not so fixed and compleat as to hallow unholy Vessels but so flexible as is vitiated into a false Magia and counterfeit Tincture and so applicable to the Impostures of Evil Angels and their Humane Vassals that they to their Eternal Damnation may and do prophanely abuse and prostitute this Tincture and Magia 7. Thus what the Virgin of Gods Wisdom is in the Heavenly Birth to the Angelical World and other Paradisical Inhabitants such is this Father of Nature in the Out-birth and not only the two Eternal Worlds have their Figures and manifest Portraitures in this but the very holy creating Word and Virgin of Wisdom of which no visible figure can be hath above all this grand Separator or Father of the External Nature for it's plain audible Herauld immediate substitute and express Representer Yet so secret as only to be found by the Inlighten'd Mind and tho' seen in all things yet discerned understood and perceived by very few and for the sake of those very few are these things thus opened 8. From all which it may easily be deduced what of this World shall remain viz. Nature in its Virtual Form and Dress the real Entities with their Tincture their subâ—â—antial tho' not palpable Bodies that is to say the true substance of every Individual Figure the Idea of every thing which the Father of Nature hath produced to shadow and reveal the hidden Holy and Power Worlds therefore of necessary consequence the Father or Separator must needs remain to Marshal his Hosts in their Eternal successive Scenes for the most High and Holy God will not lose the end of his Work But his goodness must be for ever extensive diffusive communicative for his Glory Amen Nor is it possible he should lose the least part of the Order by him fixed of declaring himself but that by the things he hath made may be shewn his Eternal Power and Godhead because for that purpose they were produced 9 I compare the World to a Seed which tho' it die having lost its Husk Chaff and very Sulphurean and Saline Body is yet regenerated by its Mercurial renovation into another yet as it were the self-same hence saith the Lord There is nothing hid or covered which shall not be made manifest The Idea of the Drunkards Horse like Balaam's Ass shall convince the madness of the Rider and Eccho his own repeated causless Sufferings and Groans under the Tyranny of his more Savage Owner The Flocks shall bleat again and shew how their Lives have been lavished to satiate the voluptuous Gluttony of their Wolvish Owners The Vine and Fatness of the Field shall shew how their Blood and Strength was exhausted for the Lusts of the proud while the Bellies of the Indigent were shrunk up For as by the Chymist the Flegm of the Plant is separated away and the faeces precipitated yet the Spirit Essence and Idea retained so is it here Also as the washing of a Man who hath many Wounds in his Body covered all over with Blood shews how many how great and where those Orifices are so is it here Likewise as the drawing back of the extended Shadows and Curtains of the Night lays open and exposeth like Ezekiel's Vision the Idols and undermining Works of Darkness so will it be then Or as the wiping of the slime and filth sticking to a Looking-glass makes all appear therein clearly so will that transcendent work be yet neither is the Seed perished the Plant utterly lost the wounded Man quite expired nor the Looking glass broken in pieces 10. Therefore as the Lord would preserve a Pot of Manna wherewith the Tribes of Israel had been sustained in the Wilderness and as the Lord Jesus would have the Fragments of the Bread and Fish Basketed wherewith he had fed by Miracle so
which is the Light Holy Eternal Fountain of Joy but is infinite Nor must we conceive God not in the Body of the Stars and this World but is all and in all So Man his similitude whose inward hollowness signifieth the whole deep The whole Man Heaven and Earth The Flesh Earth the Blood Water the Breath Air the Windpipe and Arteries the deep from Stars to us wherein Fire Water and Air qualifie the Veins the Astral Influence the Guts the consuming power of the Stars the Heart the Element of Fire The Liver Water the Hands Gods Omnipotence the â—â—eet near and far off the whole Body to the Neck all within the Sphere of the Stars the Head Heaven with its Imperial Orâ—â—â—s and all the Sâ—â—â—â—s in a soft â—â—â—k power as the Brain is Heaven gives to the Stars they to all Creatures Life and Spirit 3. When we nominate the whole Creation Heaven Angels Men Visibles and all above Heaven is nominated the total God which hath made himself creaâ—â—â—ely tho' God in Prinity is unchangeable Obj. Will you say is not good and evil in nature and is evil come from God 4. â— There is a Gall in Mans Body without which he cannot live it making the Astral Spirits moveable and joyous but when it over-floweth and runneth to the Heart it kindleth the Element of Fire and the Fire kindleth the Astral Spirits which reign in the Blood in the Veins in the Element of Water and then the whole Body trembleth by the Wrath and Poyson of the Gall. The bitter quality is in God but not as in Man but is an Everlasting Power and Triumphing Joy wâ—â—â—h springing up maketh Heaven out of Heaven the Stars out of the Stars the Elements out of the Elements the Earth and Creatures moveable Whence also were Created Angels before the Creation of the Heavens CHAP. III. Of the Property of the FATHER c. 1. WHen Christ prayeth Matth. 6. to his Father which is in Heaven he doth not mean that Heaven can contain him but distinguisheth him thereby from the Father of Nature which the Stars and Elements is and because in â—eaâ—en the Fathers Luâ—â—â—e is very bright and pure God is the immediate Father of the Soul which thereforei hungereth after him The Father of Nature is the Father of our Bodies and â—henâ—e comes their nourishment All Powers and Properties in Heaven and Earth proceed from God the Father who if he may be likened to any thing it may be to the Globe of Heaven as by the Wheels in Eâ—eâ—ieâ— 1. for all the Powers are in the Father â—â—e in another as one Power in 〈◊〉 Clarity and Glory â—â—s 〈◊〉 and Iâ—finity no Creature nor Angel can search into â— Of God the Son he is not another and yet his Property is other than that of the â—â—â—her for he is the Heart and Cause of springing joy in all the Powers of the â—athâ—â— a fâ—â—ilitude whereof is the Sun which enlighteneth the whole deep Heaven Stars and Earth moving in the midâ—â—is the King and Heart of all the Stars 〈◊〉 the Son in the whole Father being a self subâ—â—â—ting Person The Father from 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 â—â—asâ—â—h not to generate the Son and the Son ceaseth â—ot to enlighten the Powers of the Father but the Son is not so mixt in the Father that his Person cannot be known nor seen if so it were but one Person but is another Person not another God 3. Of God the Holy Ghost He proceedeth from both is the holy Fountain of Joy a meek pleasunt Breath or still Voice which must be shewn by a fimilitude As the innumerable Stars and Sun created out of the Stars resemble the Father and the Son so the three Elements Fire Air and Water proceed from one Body viz. The Fire swells from the Sun and Stars the Air expands and 〈◊〉 alost from the Heat and the Water from the Air and in this motion is the Life of all Creatures that can be named and signifieth the Holy Ghost who câ—useth the living motion in all the Powers of the Father The Son and Holy 〈◊〉 nothing less or greater than the Father The Trinity 4. This Ternary is manifest in Man's Body and all Creatures also in Wood and Vegetables and in Stone and Minerals In Man's Heart Veins and Brain is a Spirit and all the Powers which move in the Heart Veins and Brain signifie the Father thence springeth up a Light of Understanding in the Power of which Knowledge the whole Body moveth signifying the Son which shineth back into the Heart Veins and Brain as the Son into the Father and from both Powers proceedeth forth Reason Skill and Wisdom to govern the whole Man and distinguish all that is extra corpus which is thy Spirit wherein thou excellest the Beast and wherein the Holy Spirit rules if thou be not a Child of Darkness v. 97. The Father is signified by the Power of thy whole Mind the Son by the Light in thy Mind the Holy Ghost by the Spirit of thy Mind The Soul containeth the first Principle the Spirit of the Soul the second the Astral or outward Spirit the third So in a Beast only Man is made by God himself out of the best Pith or Kernel of Nature to be his Angel and Similitude The Beast is made out of the wild Nature of this World through the Motion of the Stars and Elements In all Creatures are 1. The Power out of which the Body comes 2. The Sap or Heart 3. The flowing springing Spirit CHAP. IV. Of the Creation of Angels And first Of the Divine Quality 1. ALL the Powers are so in God as no Man can reach but by the Creation it may be clearly known Though all Powers are in the Father as the Astringent or harsh soft or gentle heat cold bitter sour sweet light sound or noise one in another as one Power yet not in the manner as in Nature for Lucifer's Elevation made the Powers impure separate and unclean but in God all are mild soft triumphing if he may be likened to any thing it must be to the Soul of Man enflamed by the Holy Ghost as a glimpse but in God all is Spirit The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost is a glimpse but in God all is Spirit 2. The Light and Glory of the Son goeth into all the Powers of the Father and the Holy Ghost moveth Eternally in all which in the Deep of the Father is like a Divine Salitter or Salnitrum to be likened to the Earth which before its Corruption was such not hard cold dark c. but like the clear pure Heaven in it all the Powers were fair and heavenly till Lucifer spoil'd it But the Fathers heavenly Salitter doth generate all manner of Divine Trees and Plants bearing Fruits of Life with heavenly colours smells tastes different every quality bearing his own Fruit as
innermost Geniture of God and presseth in through the Astral and Fleshly Geniture it is clearly in Heaven 3. But the Out-birth of this World was Lucifer's Kingdom to the Stars and so far is the Wrath of God between which outmost Birth of this and the outmost Birth of that is a great gulph and are one to the other as Death is to Life or a Stone to a Man So that as to the Out-birth we cannot see the Angels nor they dwell with us but in the innermost they dwell with us 4. The second Birth or Geniture viz. the Astral standeth in the seven Fountain Spirits of this World in which the Holy Ghost also ruleth and helpeth to generate the third Holy Birth 5. The which third Holy Birth is the clear Holy Heaven which uniteth with the Heart of God and holdeth the Devil Captive in the Out-birth in the Anger Fire 6. Out of this Heart Jesus Christ in the Womb of the Virgin went into all the three Births that he might with his innermost take the Devil Captive in the Out-birth overcome the Wrath of God as a Victorious Prince and in the Power of his Birth in the Flesh press through all Men whereby he is become Lord and King of our Heaven and Earth over Sin Devil Death and Hell in whom we also press through the sinful corrupted Out-dead-birth of the Flesh through Death and the wrath of God into our Heaven in which Heaven now sitteth our King Jesus Christ as an Almighty Son on the Right Hand of God being present in all the three Births in this World in all corners and places bearing up all ruling in the Throne of the once potent and now expelled Lucifer 7. When Stephen saw Heaven opened and the Lord Jesus at the Right Hand of God his Spirit did not swing it self up into the upper Heaven aloft but penetrated into the innermost Birth Concerning the Constitution and Form of the Earth 8. Every thing must have a Root The Earth is come from the corrupted Salitter of the outmost Birth for in Earth and Stones is Death and in it is also a Life else Gold Silver and Vegetables could not grow therein 9. Three Births are in it the outmost is Death the second is Life pressing through it being in the Wrath Fire and that of Love and the third is the Holy Life 10. In the outmost is Gods Wrath else why engendereth it poysonous venemous Worms and creeping Things 11. The Earth hath more than one kind of Life for Herbs and Wood are not Earth nor is Fruit Wood nor is the vertue of the Fruit God for the outmost Birth containeth him not but he containeth the Out-birth Q. Why is the Earth so Mountany c 12. A. Where the sweet Water was chief much earthy palpable Water came to be 13. The corrupted Salitter was more abounding in one place than another Also 14. Where the Astringent Quality was chief in the bitterness in Mercurius much Earth and Stones were compacted 15. Where the Heat in the Light much Silver and Gold and some clear Stones 16. Where the Love in the Light the most precious Stones and finest Gold 17. Where are great Lakes and Seas over that Zenith there being not much Salitter there came to be a Valley for which resting place the thin Water sought resembling the Spirit of meekness not elevating it self as in the Bitter Fires quality the Devils did On the words the Evening and Morning were the first day is said 18. Evening and Morning reacheth only up from the Earth to the Moon taking its Original from the Light of the Sun which maketh the outward day and the outward Night Not that there was then a twofold Creation of Evening and Morning Query Whether by it be not meant by once turning about of the Earth whereby the Evening and Morning came to be that is by one Revolution 19. A. Man having a Threefold Birth tho' with his inward he uniteth with the Light of God cannot bring it perfectly back to his Astral and less to his outward Birth which tho' Moses did in part when his Face shone but could not see God perfectly and live even as an Apple on a Tree cannot bring its Smell and Taste back into the Tree nor Earth CHAP. XX. On the Creation in the Second Day Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the Waters c. 1. THis Firmament divideth the impalpable inward pure Water from the outward palpable corrupted Water Wherein is Death which lyeth Captive below the Moon and is the House of the Devils Death and Hell where the fierce Wrath of God becometh kindled daily by the Devils through the great Sins of Men which mix with the Astral Birth in the Deep 2. But even those pure Waters have some of the Wrath in them and is that meant where 't is said The Heavens are not pure in his sight 3. The innermost holds the outward Water strongly Captive and the outward Earth also else with the Revolution of the Globe the Water would be divided or dissolved and the Earth crumble away Which Firmament is between the clear Deity and corrupt Nature 4. Yet the Deep above the Earth may be said to be a place where Gods Holiness dwelleth for the whole Holy Trinity dwelleth in the Centre under the Firmament of Heaven tho' that cannot comprehend him but dwelleth not there fully bodily and creaturely as the Angels and Souls of Men do 5. The Third Birth is the Almighty Holy Heart of God wherein Christs Natural Body sitteth for his Natural Body is not as John Calvin thought such as reacheth no farther than a little circumscribed place wherein it is 6. For if every Man in his Astral Spirit comprehendeth the whole Body of this World should not the Fountain Spirits in the Natural Body of Christ being out of the Fountain Spirits of Nature and his Heart out of the inward Birth viz. the Heart of God which comprehendeth all Angels and the Heaven of Heavens viz. the whole Father should not it comprehend the whole World and uphold it as the only Head Heart and King of it in his Hands are his Sheep whom none can pluck out CHAP. XXI 1. MAN is made out of the Seed viz. Matrix of the Earth wherein the Eye is Twofold one in God the other in this World out of the three Principles not out of the Wrath but out of the Birth of the Earth in the Astral Birth in the part of Love but Wrath hung to him which he should have put forth from himself as the Fruit putteth forth from it self the bitterness of the Tree but that he did not but reached back from the Love into the Wrath and lusted after his Dead or Mortal Mother to suck her Breasts and so brought his outermost Birth into Mortality and his Astral Birth or Life into the part of the Wrath. 2. Man's Soul or Spirit is generated out of the
against Nature and the greatest Wonder done from Eternity and rightly called LOVE 17. This Divine Creature in the Holy Ghost was in a moment made a perfect self-subsisting Creature in the same moment the four Elements Sun and Stars in the Tincture of the Blood and with the Blood and all the Humane Essences of the Virgin Mary in her Matrix received the Creature wholly as one and not two Creatures The Holy Element was the Limbus or Masculine Seed 18 Every form hath its own source yet the Divine hath not so mixed as to be the less but what it was that it is and that which it was not that it is without severing from the Divine substance and the Word abode in the Father and the Natural Humanity in this World in the Bosom of the Virgin Mary 19. Of the three Regions of the Incarnation First There is the Word which hath its forming from Eternity in the Father and in the Incarnation so continued 20. The second forming is done naturally when the Virgin said to the Angel Let it be done to me as thou hast said in the inward Element like the first Adam before the Fall who should have generated such an Angelical Creature which was done perfectly at once in a moment 21. The third forming was done also at once out of the pure Element and this new Creature in perfection of the Element was the Masculine Seed of the Earthy Man which was conceived in the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 22. But the Word of the Deity so separated them that the Masculine Limbus of the new Creature was not defiled by the Earthy Matrix of the Virgin 23. Yet this Angelical Image as to the Limbus of it came by commixture of the Earthy Essences of the Virgin which clave to it to be Flesh and Blood and at the end of three Months attained his Natural Soul As all other of Adam's Children and hath resumed the Princely Throne again out of which it departed by Sin in Adam 24. Thus Christ was the Natural Eternal Son of the Father the Soul in the Word was a Self-subsisting Natural Person in the Trinity Christ the true breaker through continued in the second Principle and the new Body in the third Principle and at Nine Months was Born of the Virgin Here the Light shone in the Darkness of the outward Body 25. Thus came he to or into his own and they knew him not nor received him but to as many as receiv'd him gave he power by him to be begotten to the Kingdom of Heaven for his is the Kingdom and Glory for ever Amen 26. Of the distinction between the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. Tho' God in former times permitted Miracles of seeing the Saints departed for vindication of them and their Doctrine of another Life after this for converting the Heathen Yet Invocation of them hath no ground in the Nature of the first Principle Is vain in it self for they having attained the still rest load not themselves with the Miseries and Sins of the Living It is also a disrespect to the Omniscient Mercy of God which without their Intercession and without ceasing with stretched out Arms inviteth by his Gracious Call all Men to come to him freely 27. The Virgin Mary is fabled to be taken up to Heaven Body and Soul but such take this World to be Heaven for the Earthy Body belongs to the Earth She is in Glory in the new Body of the Holy Element and her Lustre is above the clarity of the Heavens as one of the Princely Angelical Thrones for out of her Essences went forth the Body which was the Saviour of all the World and that attracteth all the Members to it and who now standeth in the Holy Trinity and she as a Virgin of Chastity is highly blessed by her Son Jesus Christ. But Invocation belongs not to her for the ability to help cometh only out of the Father through the Son CHAP. XIX Of Souls entring to God and to Perdition and of the Bodies Breaking 1. THE Soul hath the Eternal Essences of the first Principle Regeneration opens the second Principle The third Principle is the Region of the Stars and four Elements When Man 's first Principle hath been wholly taken up about the third viz. This World and that the Brimstone-Spirit which kindleth the Tincture of the Heart is choaked and the four Elements break off from the one Element then doth the Soul keep the starry Region still as its dearest Jewel in the Power whereof they appear and think to find rest in settling things relating to their Wills and worldly Businesses But when the Stars have compleated their Seculum or Course and that the Treader upon the Serpent hath not hold of the Soul by guiding it through the Sufferings Death and Resurrection of Christ it remains naked without the third Principle which it hath lost for ever 2. Of the going forth of the Soul When the Body breaketh the right Soul which was breathed into Adam is in its Principle and is so subtil as cannot be comprehended by Matter as Flesh Bones Stones c. only by an earnest Promise not recalled in the time of the Body it may be comprehended 3. Those that by true Repentance ingraft themselves into the Heart of God do instantly at breaking of the Body lay off all that is Earthy and comprehend the Mercy of the Father and love of Jesus Christ and enter into the Element before God where â—aradise shall flourish waiting without irksomness for the Restoration 4. But if Souls have beeâ— defiled with gross Sins and not rightly passed into earnest Regeneration yet do hang as by a thread of Faith and will not let go but when the Bridegroom calls answer I cannot trim my Lamp yet Theâ—e Souls may after a long time be ransom'd out of the Putrefaction by the Passion of Christ but the Glorification of such shall not be in Eternity like that of the true born Saints but Antichrist's juggling Masses for Money avail not for these 5. But the earnest strong Prayers of such as are entred into the New Birth especially of Parents Children Brethren Sisters or Kindred of the Blood who have one Tincture with him who have all one Tincture enter the Combat more freely than Strangers and help to wrestle off the Devils Chains especially before departing of the Soul from the Body 6. The true Door of the Entrance into Heaven and Hell The Soul departed from the Body need not go far for in the place where the four Elements break the Root standeth which is the Holy Element the Soul entreth through the Door in the Centre into the Kingdom of Joy and is in the Arms of Christ in Paradise So the Damned needs no flying far away it remaiâ—eth in that which was outermost without the four Elements in the Anguish of Darkness in the strong might of the grimness CHAP. XX. Of Adam's going out of Paradise also of the true Christian and Antichristian
power in every place as it did at his Transfiguration His Kingdom might have come on Earth as it is in Heaven where Paradice might have flourished 28 Demonstration is Natures labour after Perfection and the tincture in it shewing some faint impulses and producing precious Stones Gold and other Metals Medicinal Earths Spices excellent Fruits c. And in the Seas Pearl Amber c. all which are but shadows and reflected figures wherewith the third Principle representeth the Glories of the second 29. Therefore the enlightned Judgment guides the Will not to regard these things for themselves but for the infinite Excellency of that represented by them 30. If it be true that I love not the part I see or touch of my worthy honoured Friend but for that part of him which I see not nor touch outwardly for that is indeed the Excellency and the True Man much less then do I regard his meer shadow CHAP. XIII Of the Third Principle in four Demonstrations 1. IF the Greek Christians think the Holy Ghost proceeds only from the Father and not from the Son they must probably have some other meaning than is known to some of us for the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son 2. The four Anguishes of the first Principle generate the Light of the second and from the infinite Might and Strength of the first and the infinite Lustre of the second is generated the infinite Glory and Love of the third which third Principle is the Property of the Third Person in the Trinity 3. Hence is it that the third Principle is not only the growing Vertue of Paradice but also of the Out-birth the Astral Elementary and Visible Material World also Demonstration For as the Air is produced by Fire and Light yet being produced is not only a Self-subsisting body but the food of the Fire and consequently of the Light so is the third Person to the first and second 4. The Out-birth is not the first for it cannot be a Root but a Fruit not a Foundation but a Superstructure not a Creator but a Creation composed of Darkness or substantial matter like a Chaos arising from the first and the Light arising from the second 5. Neither is it the second as is apparent being a distinct Life in a sort inanimate without understanding an Image of the inward spiritual World in the various Figures and Properties thereof representing all as in a Mirrour As we see the outward glorious Sun figures the infinite inward second Principle but is not a seeing but a seen Light or Power 6. What then if it be neither the first nor second can it be but the third And tho' the third it only be yet it hath in every part of it the vigour of the first Principle and vertue of the second in some measure or other for if in any part were nothing of the first there could be no Being but a Nullity and if in any part were nothing of the second there were only Death and Hell manifest 7. Now forasmuch as in some places and things the first swalloweth up the second the Wrath and Curse seems only to be there and in other parts or things the second or sweet Property of the Life is prevalent there riseth a Life for his Light is the Life of Men. 8 Demonstration But in some also the Love in the Light swalloweth up the first Principle And there is a twofold Birth an Inward and an Outward The Inward is Divine Heavenly Holy man Eternal Excellency as in the new Birth or Regeneration but it extendeth not to Tincture the Outward Man because the Curse subjected it to Wrath and Corruption 9. The Lord Jesus Christ brake the Bands for it was not possible he should be holden of them though the weight of the whole World lay on him 10. Because his Heavenly Humanity did not only unite it self to the Mortal Flesh of the Virgin Mary which Heavenly Humanity was the Holy Thing begotten by the Holy Ghost the pure Virgin Image of Modesty Virgin Sophia the First-born of every Creature the Heir of all Things the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World the Word that was made Flesh. But the same Divine Man which both came from Heaven into or in the Virgins Womb but also then was and is in Heaven this very same Word united it self to the second Person the Almighty Son of the Almighty God Thus was it that this Saviour and Mediator our Immanuel is the Mighty One on whom Help was laid for in Him the Three Principles shew themselves in their several Incomprehensible Fountains 11 Demonstration The Love in the Light can also Tincture the Outward Man in the third Principle and the Outward Man may by the pressing of the Inward into and through it with Power put off its Old Garment of Sickness and Infirmity and be cloathed with the New Robe A glimpse whereof is seen in the Faces of Moses and Stephen and more fully in the Translation of Enoch and Eliah but above all in the Lord's Transfiguration and Converse after his Resurrection But it is a very hard great Work because the Third whole Principle in us is estranged and dead to it by the very heavy Fall 12 Demonstration It may also be observed that the Love in the Light hath its outward Figures and impresseth it self in this Third Principle to the outward Senses 1. As in the Astral Kingdom principally in the Sun Jupiter and Venus 2. In the Air in the Concord of the Elements giving delightful sweet Weather 3. In the Sensitive Creatures as Doves Lambs c. 4. In Harmony of Musical Sounds and Voices of Birds 5. In Vegetables by most Sanative odoriferous excellent Fruits Roots and Seeds 6. In curious Colours of Flowers in the shadows of degrees of Light in Clouds 7. In Minerals as in Gold Silver Copper and by the Tincture giving lustre and vertue to Pretious Stones and Gems 8. In the Seas in Pearl Amber Coral c. So if the outward Heaven shew the Glory of the Lord the Earth shews his Handy-work CHAP. XIV How the Sacrifices shew the Three Principles 1. THe three grand Sacrifices were 1. The Burnt-offering 2. The Peace-offering 3. The Trespass-offering or Sin-offering unfolding the Threefold Mystery 2. The first grand Order of Sacrifices was the Burnt Sacrifices which consisted of four Kinds Either 1. Of the Herd 2. Of the Flock 3. Of Fowls 4. Of the Meat-offering Even so doth the first Principle shew it self in four and but four forms But agen the Burnt-offering differed from the other two Sacrifices in three things 1. That these must be only a Male the other might as well be a Female 2. That it must be all cut in Pieces whereas the other must be only divided not cut in Pieces and the Fat of the Inwards offered to the Lord. 3. The Burnt-Offering was after only washing wholly offered no Part with-held shewing
Will which Union is so absolute compleat and perfect thaâ— the Holy Angels and Blessed Men may be said to have no Will at all and their Unchangeable Happiness is their resigned Life wherein they lose themselves and find all for ever 2. As a Family is wholly at the guidance of the Lord of it so are they but on setting up an adverse Will the makers of the breach dye to the Will and Conduct of the Father of that Family and those making themselves their own Lords cut themselves off from the Family 3. Or as a Twig while it continues in the Fruit-tree hath one Will with the Tree but when once it is rent off and grafted into another Stock it gets another Will and another Life to bear other be it bitter sour or otherwise Evil Fruit. 4. Thus Adam and Eve impregnated themselves with the third Principle receiving a bestial Life from it and putrefying Nourishment their Divine Will Appetite and Knowledge did thenceforth immediately Die and was Extinguish'd Thus a well Educated Child apostatizing from his first Principles degenerating into contrary Practices dyeth to them and loseth his first Love Q. 74. What was the Voice of God in the Word when the Day grew cool How did God recall Adam How is this to be understood A. 1. By the cool of the Day is understood the time when Adam's Eternal Day was grown cool that is his Temperature was faln to Extremities of heat and cold also alluding to the End of a Natural Day which though hot closeth coldly 2. By the Voice of God is understood God's Anger in their Essences for they had awakened the Turba or Wrath in themselves Heaven they were at Enmity with 'twixt it and them was a firm inclosure of a whole Principle they might see Devils deriding them and Fear the Fate of Lucifer the Holy Angels had quit all intercourse with them nor could they help them 3. While this sad Knell was rung them their Fear of God's Voice was not only at that of his Wrath in them but that of his Love and Pity to which they were estranged such as the Earth trembled at when the Blood of the Lord descended on it from the Cross. 4. The Voice of the Lord moved and walked in the Gates of the Deep in Fire and Light in the first and second Principles and recalled them But concerning the recalling them the following Questions will require to Discourse of Q. 75. What is the Seed of the Wife or Woman and bruising and Treading upon of the Serpent What did God speak or breath again into them Was the same nothing else but an ouâ—â—ard Promise or an Incorporation of the effectual working Grace A. 1. The Womans Seed is not the Fire Soul which standeth in the first Eternal Principle It is not the Astral nor Elementary Principle or Power arising thence It is not the Eternal Son of God the second Person or Divine second Principle though the Lord in humbling Himself to take our Nature often calls Himself the Son of Man It is neither of these for the first is too hot the second too cold the third infinitely too high 2. But that which is properly the Seed of the Woman here intended is the Heavenly Humanity or true Virgin Image of God the pure Sophia consisting of Divine Wisdom and Modesty which was Married to Adam till his Transgression made a Divorce 3. This is that Grace which was here again inspoken into Adam and Eve and this is the Pearl which is to be searched after with all diligence which was not only barely promised but brought in the Word and ingrafted into the Light of their Life 4. This is the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the fallen World not only intentionally but actually for being in every of Adam's Offspring witnessing for God was resisted and slain in its strivings with the old World and downward 5. But where-ever the bent of the Will inclines to obey and subject it self to the Divine Councils in such was restored the joy of their Salvation ever pointing at the Lord who being the true Son of the Virgin in the fulness of time bringing this Virgin by taking Maries Essences consisting of all the principles and properties and making of two one by that power which is able to subdue all things unto himself 6. But so heavenly and pure is this that one that hath it cannot shew it to one that hath it not much less give it to such but he that hath it can stammer and speak by parcels and darkly by Parables for such what he saith will seem tho' it be not far from every one of us 7. He can give the other some directions where to dig for it also what it is like and what it is not like But Men are exceedingly perverted from it by the many Images their Astral Spirit imposeth on their Understandings So that the Invitations of pure simple and self-emptying Truth can hardly get audience more hardly obtain to be considered and penetrated but with highest difficulty get obedience from us and due Soveraignty over us 8. Men use their outward Senses so much and are so full of Objects occurring to them that they are strangers to the very existence of the Inward Sences forgetting what the Apostle saith That which we have seen with our Eyes heard with our Ears and our Hands have handled of the Word of Truth c. 9. The Men guided chiefly by the outward Sences are Sensual and Brutish and yet too much of that sticks to us all Such Maxims will not believe a Rock to be a shadow and Faith a substance they consider not that Visibles are transient and that which is not seen is Eternal whereof Faith is the evidence 10. Thus is the Lord from Heaven call'd the Son of God Son of Man and Seed of the Woman and is so at once perfectly and unchangeably 11. And fallen Man when once reunited to God by the death of the monstrous Image and restored to this new first pure Virgin Image are by this Seed of the Woman made the Sons of God See more to this purpose in the 81st and 90th Answers Q. 76. What is the Curse of the Earth what is thereby brought to pass A. 1. This Earthy Globe is very much unlike to what it was as our Bodies are also to that Adam's was for as Adam's Body was the Epitome of the whole Out-birth So this Globe was an Image of the Astral World and all the Properties and the Divine Principle did penetrate it as the Sun doth the Fruits so that the Earth was as much paradisical as it was capable to be but it had these bounds 2. That it could not be purer than the Root whence it proceeded viz. the Astral and Elementary and of those Heavens it may be said they are not pure in his â—ight 3. That it could not be more permanent than its Root and none doubts but of these it may be said they
8. Why the Temptation lasted forty days is referr'd to the 78 Answer Also why a God-Man should be Tempted is shewn above His Temptation must needs be of the Devil or otherwise as from without his Divinity and Purity exempting him from such variety as we poor miserable Creatures are surcharged with from within our Souls and outward Man and Objects of our Sences are as so many Snares Serpents and Devils in us about us and waiting way laying us 9. And lastly that all this must precede his working of Wonders and Miracles teaches us the method of the Eternal World also is manifest in all Created Existencies viz. That from the anguishes of the first four forms should result the glory of the second Principle or other three Properties But I close here because if God will that I live to meet with more of the dear precious golden inestimable Contemplation of the Process of Christ it may fall under the 117 Question Q. 113. How was Christ in Heaven and also on Earth both at once A. 1. Men may not think Heaven and this World to be so sever'd as that Heaven cannot be said to be here till the present World pass away for though this World cannot be in Heaven by reason of its Impurity yet Heaven is in this World for it comprehends it and is the whole second Principle where-ever the Infinite God is in his Love there is Heaven 2. This understood it must be acknowledged Heaven is in every Heart that loves God but every Child of God is not yet in Heaven for they are so present in the Body as that they are absent from the Lord that is their love c. hath an allay of Dross 3. But the Lord Jesus Christ and also the first Adam before his Fall were as Men or in their Humanity in Heaven for their love was perfect and it must be noted that the Lord saith not the Son of God but the Son of Man which is in Heaven I farther refer this Answer to the 77th and 108th Answers Q. 114. Why did Christ upon Earth teach before the People concerning the Kingdom of Heaven in Similitudes or Parables A. 1. We read All these things spake he to the multitude in Parables and without a Parable spake he not unto them 1. Adding that it might be fulfilled c. I will open my mouth in Parables seeing therefore the Text gives that for a Reason must we not receive it as such The second is The Reason the Lord Himself gives His Disciples To you it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom but to them it is not given The Text also gives viz. with many other Parables c. as they were able to hear it The fourth is drawn from the Lord's warning and inhibition Cast not Pearls before Swine nor Holy things to Dogs of whom it is said by the Lord I speak to them c. because they seeing see not and hearing they hear not nor do they understand Of them also it is said Make the hearts of this People fat make their Eyes heavy c. 2. Summarily then the Children by means of their weakness were not able to hear it otherwise than in Parables though to them apart they were open'd and the Multitude by reason of their Wickedness were not worthy to hear it otherwise because the proud Rejecters of God were inwardly devilish and outwardly bruitish and are call'd Dogs and Swine to whom the Childrens Bread might not be given for God resisteth the Proud 3. Because Man was fallen into the third Principle over which he should have been Ruler so that the regenerate themselves were outwardly bruitish and in their inward and best part were as young Children to them the Gracious Lord vouchsafed to bow down and as it were lisp and to feed them with Milk 4. For as much now as Man was gone out of the Unity into the Multiplicity God of infinite Bowels follows him into it and there teacheth him by the Earth Corn Fruits Stones Thorns Sheep Fowls Ants c. Making them speak to him pursue convince and judge him by the Good and Obedience of the very Oxe and Ass gratefulness of the Earth for Rain and Bounty of Heaven in the Seasons and when nothing will do he makes the Stone cry out of the Wall and Beam out of the Timber to answer leaving such not only without excuse but accused by the whole Creation Nevertheless by these Parabolical Applications call'd the foolishness of Preaching was Power found to save them that Believe Q. 115. Why hath not Christ himself described his Gospel with Letters in Writing but only taught and left it afterwards to his Apostles to write down A. It may be supposed and argued who so sufficient as the Omnipotence of the Son of God Who could so exactly discover the Mysteries therein as the Author thereof Who could so challenge and command Belief as he who is Truth it self with the like reasonings 1. But we must know that the Three glorious Persons have Three distinct Operations viz. The Almighty Father or Infinite first Principle doth Eternally beget and generate as his Love Delight or Heart the Eternal Son whom he giveth The Almighty Son or Infinite second Principle is Eternally begotten every where in the Abyss giving Himself who is the Light of Divine Life having Life in Himself is Himself the Gospel written in the Heart Ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ. The Almighty Spirit Holy Ghost or Infinite third Principle doth Eternally proceed from the Father and Son and Eternally publish propagate figure declare image and manifest the first Principle and the second also the first in the second infinitely through the whole Abyss 2. Thus was the carrying on publishing abroad or prospering this wonderful Work of the Arm of the Lord to restore lost Man being like making dry Bones live the proper operation of the third not of the second Person Therefore saith the Lord to the Disciples What I tell you in the ear preach you on the house tops Again He that believeth the works that I do shall he do and greater works c. And saith the Spirit when he cometh shall convince the World c. 3. Thus Abraham figured the Father's property or operation giving his Son a Sacrifice Isaac the Son's property giving himself but Jacob that of the Holy Ghost multiplying first into 12 Branches then became as the Stars and the Evil Seed only professing are like as the sand for multitude sand for their earthiness 4. Thus as the Lord saith the Father hath born witness of me And again speaking of the Holy Ghost saith for he shall take of mine and give it unto you not filling Jerusalem only but the whole World with his Doctrine Q. 116. Why must it be the very High Priests and Scribes or Scripture learned who taught the People that must speak against or
debilitate or commit a Rape upon that Virginity which is the Tincture of the holy World according to which he was Begotten by the Holy Ghost but it exalted to the highest the assumed Soul 7. Nor was his uniting our frail Astral and Elementary and Sensual Man unto the holy pure Element any Impeachment to the holy Element which in the instant of the Virgin Maries Conception was like a Tincture blessedly put into our Body in him but it was as the first Resurrection to our impair'd divided sleepy impure mortal Man 8. For thus the Soul in the Virgin was taken into the Trinity and the Body in the holy Element which is every where present and evermore pure before God was made Lord in the Heavenly World 9. Yet is thâ—s whole Heavenly Man a Creature tho' the First-born of every Creature and is the Food of our Souls neither is this a confounding the Deity with the Humanity of Christ no more than the Apple is the Tree Or the living Vertue of the Sun in the whole deep is the Sun it self 10. This Virgin of Wisdom is the Image of God the Delight of God the Spouse of Jesus Christ and of so high descent as to be possessed by God in the beginning of his way c. Read Prov. 8. from the 1. to the 31. verse but yet is not God or the Infinite Almighty Deity Thus see we how Christ was on Earth and in Heaven as Son of Man or in his Heavenly Humanity at once and is so still and it is his Office to expel bind vanquish and chain all Devils every where and reign in the Throne of expulsed Lucifer to kill Death and take away the Sting for Hell cannot withstand him 11. This is demonstrated by the Operative Astrum particularly by the seven Regal Stars See we not how Saturn tho' most remote is equally potent in coagulating petrifving giving weight c. as in Lead Stones c. as if he were at the nearest distance Also how Mercury in Jupiter causeth Sensitives and Plants to sprout up tall c. And how Mars Influenceth Men and confines Plants checks Oaks to he crooked knotty dwarfy Shrubs And how calmly and sâ—renely Venus Influenceth every where how the Moon acts Bodies the Circulations and Fluxes of Blood and the Tides which some call the Pulse of that Element How also the Sun chearfully bears witness to himself All these do variousâ— work through all the Creatures within their principle or as 't is term'd the Sphere of their activity all at once in all places of all kinds 12. And shall we straiten the sacred power of the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy principle to narrower bounds than we can do the outward Sun which is his outside Image which at once dwells in all the Stars and whole deep in every Creature on and many under the Earth and in every piâ—e of Graâ—s 13. It is demonstrative in the four Elements the same Air fills all Cranies and with degrees of purity so doth it the deep as also the other three Elements in the Out-birth Only within or above the Firmament is another principle understood to be a holy Birth of which it were digressive to speak here 14. And shall we think the one holy pure Element the vertuous Eternal Mother of the more Impure Prophane and Mortal four Elements to have less vigor to operate in the holy principle as the Eternal living Body of Christ than they in the drowsy Travels of Mortality for Productions and Dissolutions 15. The like might be demonstrated by the outward principles of Sal Sulphur and Mercury And how they operate in degrees of Purity according to their several Subjects And in a word it may be demonstrated in whole Nature and every Travel it hath But it 's better to be contemplated than exposed into many words Thus the Lords descending to Hell to overcome Death and all Devils is evident not to have been a going a great way off c. but what and how it was and is effected Q. 130. How did Christ 1 Pet. 3. 19 20. preach to the Spirits which in the time of Noah believed not A. 1. Truth hath found worse Entertainment than the Lords seamless Coat for some pretenders to it have rejected what other pretenders have wrested Thus as Maâ—s wickedness makes him unworthy so makes it him unable to hear the truth But tho' we are justly offended at the fictitious Purgatory which Covetousness prompts to tell of yet we must submit to God in his Word all which magnifieth his Mercy and Goodness 2. The Spirits mentioned by Peter were of those overthrown in the Deluge which tho' * one Interprets expresly against the Text to be the preaching before the Flood The Error and Vanity thereof will appear by the following Particulars 3. 1. This Preaching was to Spirits not to Men in the Flesh and certainly they that perished in that Flood were Men living and dying in the Flesh. 2. The Text takes notice there were of that World but few to wit eight Souls saved which hath a serious consideration like that of God to Jonah concerning Popuâ—ous Nineâ—eâ— 3 It is said Christ was put to death in the Flesh but quickened by the Spirit By which also he went and Preached It is not said that Spirit by which Christ was quickened went and preached but he that was put to death and quickened went and preached 4. The first World Imaged the first Principle and Reuben Jacob's First-born figured the first World And yet Reuben tho' otherwise sinful in a high degree was the only innocent of all Joseph's Brethren of the severity used against him which might open a Door to them viz. the first World figured for the second principle graciously inclineth to inlighten the first Reuben is also readiest to reflect on their sin against Joseph in their distress in Egypt for he was the first Worlds figure as Joseph was the Figure of Jesus Christ. 5. It was to Spirits in Prison not to Men at large Christ when quickened from the dead did Preach which the same Apostle explaining according to this meaning saith 1 Pet. 4. 6. For this cause was the Gospel preached to them that are dead not living 6. The Apostle saith he preached to Spirits which were but sometimes disobedient also telling us when viz. in the days of Noah while the Ark was preparing implying they were not disobedient at this time of preaching To this sence are referr'd the words of the Prophesie of Zechary Q. 131. What doth Christs rest in the Grave signifie that he must lye Forty Hours in the Grave In the 98th Answer concerning Moses being Forty days on the Mount is what may be the compleat Answer hereunto to which this is referr'd Q. 132. Why must Christs Grave be guarded with Watchers What doth that signifie that the High-Priests should resist or oppose Gods Power and Might and would keep Christ in
naturally arising from the Eminence of his necessary Evangelical Work sharpen'd the Spirits of the Priests c. with Rage 5. We see with horror what the Effect of Judas knowing him was Objection But these are not significant to his state after the Resurrection Answ. Though the Objection be Digressive yet then consider 6. What use Antichrist makes of her Knowledge of this profound Humiliation Life Passion Resurrection viz. to be wholly sollicitous in the outside 1. Of Things 2. Times 3. Places viz. 4. 1. That the Things may be Figur'd Grav'd or Painted and those Products of Humane Fancy adored The â—iner Antichrist Talks Writes Preaches the Things as a History Believing which imaged History do flatter themselves to secure Eternal Blessedness though they live and die â—nmorâ—ified and in another Principle and propose to themselves to wit the third Principle and Self yet Pride themselves with woâ—â—â— â— Time they devise for Idleneâ—â— Licentiousness and Prophane Rioâ—ousness call'd Saints Days 3. Places they hallow of Assembling Consecrating stone Walls and Structures and one part of those must be more Sacred than the rest and name the Places by Saints Names c. 5. Whether any of the Disciples during that Forty days had not beheld him is not said therefore it may seem they all saw him and why not being seen of above Five hundred Brethren at once 6. But there is one thing still to be said which may be read and heard of but not known by Human Wit or Art or comprehended by Astral Reason viz. That Christ had nor hath more nor fewer Witnesses of his Resurrection than those who were risen with him risen in him and he risen in them these Children of the Day witness his Resurrection by his Voice to and in them they know his shape and most lovely form for his true Image is in them they Dine with him his heavenly Humanity is the Flesh and Blood their hungry Souls really truly and substantially do Eat and Drink their fiery Property is allayed by the meekness of his Living-water they as the Hem of Aaroâ—'s Vesture partake of some of the Holy Oil poured on his Head 7. Of these things Man's sharpest Penetration without Regeneration and Mortification discerneth as the blind sinful hardened Multitude would have done had they viewed the Lord after his Resurrection perhaps to gaze or adore the place they saw him at but persecure his Image never a jot the less Or be astonish'd as Saul's Company were seeing only the Light 8. This Resurrection is the subverting gaining upon and over the Disorders of the four Forms or Properties of the first Principle which without the vertue of the second would image the third Principle in them or Image themselves therein getting on meer Fig-leaves But in such where this Resurrection is beginning though in some it is like the uncovering of Fire for the Passions catch and burn the more being curb'd and put under a Law yet light is the natural consequent of that Combustion 9. In another Form Class or Degree of Christians who have made Progress this new life is more apparent who yet sometimes by their Drousiness their habitual Evils return and foil them for such are left a while as those Canaaâ—ices as Thorns and Goaâ—s to exercise their Faith Diligence and Circumspection c. 10. But in those excellent Souls the sealed ones where the Resurrection is moâ—â— conspicuous there as in Torches or Candles is little trouble intrinsically in emitting their flames of Light from any inward Defects but their burthen and disturbance is from blasts without either of the Sins of others which like many bordering Vapours conspire into a Fog to hinder the executing their Holy Purposes and bent of their Souls to enlighten the Spirits of those they converse with perhaps by Calumnies Or else their cross is from stormy Persecution to terminate their Course or torment them in it in all which they are with the sweet Spirit of the first-born from the Dead to encounter Oppoâ—ers and with unconquerable Patience to offer up themselves and abide by it content to pass through manâ— Deaths be Partakers of their Lord's Entertainment hold their Testimony and finish their Course for the day is breaking in such which may have Clouds but never shall Night invade it for it is the entrance on the holy pure Paradisical Life Q. 140. Why did Christ after his Resurrection converse Forty days on Earth before he went or was taken up to Heaven What doth that signifie A. 1. This Question Demands 1. Why Christ conversed 40 days c. Also 2. What iâ— signified To the first the Causes obâ—â—â—â—â— to commâ—â— understanding were 1. Tâ— confirm the Faith of the Disciples And 2 To found the Faith of successive Generations concerning the Resurrection 3. To Leave the obstinate Jews and others inexcusable 2. To the second what it signified 1. That as Adam in his time of tryal went out of the Eternal day into the two Principles of the dark Abyss and Out-birth so Christ now brought back the same two Principles harmoniously into the Eternal Day 2. To shew openly in his Body that was dead and is alive for ever the Victory over Death and Hell 3. To shew the Holy Paradisical Life which Adam should have continued in viz. The perfect Image of the Almighty Trinity in every of the three Principles That is how his first illustrated by the second was to be imaged and figured by the third over which he was to rule 1. By conserving his Pure Holy Virgin state as the second Adam did Also 2. To Eat and Drink as the Lord then did those 40 days in a Paradisical Heavenly manner in the Mouth only not with filthy Guts c. but as did the Angels with Abraham 3. To have comprehended and been able to pass through all the compressed or condensed Bodies irresistibly unapprehended not excluded but as light through Crystal penetrating all Astral and Elementary Existences as the Eye of Eternity doth time Q. 141. What is Christs going or Ascension to Heaven that he did visibly ascend Whither is he arrived and where is he now at present A. 1. This Deep is our World here was the Throne of Lucifer and in this World or Space is our Heaven yet not in this World but in the Heaven that comprehendeth this World but this World cannot comprehend it as Time cannot comprehend Eternity 2. The sharp Power and Omnipotence of the Father is the true Centre as of all Worlds so of Heaven and the gracious Omnipotence or true second Principle is the true Centre of Holiness and Purity in the whole Abyss of the Father and especially if it may be so spoken the Heaven of Heavens who as he is the Mediator the Christ the First-born of every Creature is on the Throne and is himself the Throne sitting on the right Hand of God that is at the place
only to figure but of the real substance of the dark World So much as thou hast of Covetousness Envy Anger and Pride so much art thou not a representation but a part and limb of the dark Abyss an essential portion in thy proportion of the black raging blaspheming burning Hell of the Damned radically virtually and potentially What is the Long-suffering of God who bears affronts and despights from vile wretched Man while the whole Hosts of Stars punctually observe his Ordinance and are at his beck 3. In their as to Man Infinity they figure the Angelical Hosts And as every Angel is as one whole Kingdom so is every Star as one whole World how little a proud Worm then is the dirty piece of Clay call'd Man How dare any the greatest of them admit a thought of being his own Lord and Law-giver to enter his foolish Head and deceitful Heart And how much less darest thou my Soul who art of the least lowest and most unworthy of Men why delayest thou to give thy whole will thy love thy life thy self to him from whose word thou sprungeâ—t by whose word thou subsisteth on whose word anchoreth thine only hope for Time and for Eternity Deceive not thy self by giving up the guidance of small and indifferent things whilst thouswayest the weighty imports of thy Life and resenteâ—t a disappointment there as a dismembring but faithfully stedfastly willingly submissively bow with equal resignation to every of his Providential Determinations those of the nearest and most sensible concern as of the least so shalt thou dwell in a peaceable Habitation 4. In their steâ—dy duration their Morning commenced with what is call'd time and their Evening compleats it and then resolving Eternity resumes all but I am of yesterday or last hour and do post away with the next yet so feeble as cannot watch with our Lord one Hour A weight of Glory is at the God yet I would have it before I run more than Heart can conceive is prepared for perseverance but I would have all before I well begin O my dear holy God and must I stay enquiring after thee Must my short time seem long to me Must my hope be deferr'd till I faint Must my sick Soul be Imprison'd too and none to visit her Have I but one in my Heart on Earth and in Heaven and must I be so throng'd with Strangers as not to touch the Hem of his seamless Garment While I pine away for thee I do yet tremble and blush to approach thee how can so foul unclean a Creature come into so pure a Palace or Stand before thy Holiness Shame covers me yet Passionate Love makes me bold and impatient I will not I dare not plead modesty in excuse of disobedience iâ— I withhold my self I die for I cannot live in thy absence What kind of Life is this that keeps me from my Life when shall thy Banished be recall'd Oh let not time with-hold Eternity let not many days lengthen my Night Is my presence in this Body absence from my Lord for how can the dry Breasts within the reach of this vile Body satiate my thirsty Soul What kin is the perishing lump of this Body to me it is dead why should my living Spirit be tyed to the dead Yet will my Lord continue me under the load of mine own making bury me under so sad a Vail leave me in Anguish nail me to the Earth deny me the view of my one only most sweet dear precious and desirable Object It is the Lord he doth all things well who having himself but one only Begotten gave that his only Beloved for me and shall not this silence me cause me to acquiesce and swallow me up for ever 5. In their order not justling starting losing over-running nor fainting but regularly steddily jointly ever proceed on their Creators great designs Their Motions Aspects Courses Positions and Variations so exactly precise to the praise of the God of Order that all or much of that they are about is easily fore-known But among Men what Kingdom tho' in Peace or Army when their Life depends on 't may be found without strange disorders what Town what Family without it what Man but for a very few steps treads order for we having by transgression lost it are both ignorant of it and obstinate against it so that to introduce the right order is requir'd in forming of the Intellect alluring of the Affections and subjecting of the Will and there is also requisite clenching of a Nail and driving in of a Goad or else order ether starts or dies But who is that Man dwelling in a House of Clay who upon an unerring Intellect is united to the Divine Order so as to conform an unwavering will thereunto How many faintings recoils runnings back and Apostacies hast thou my Soul sadly Experimented what hour hast thou continued only the Lords without mixing Linnen with the Woollen And must the Holy Spirit be grieved with so vile a wretch must thy Bones be set and dislocated by a continued Succession Oh thou Fountain of Goodness when shall thy will be done here as it is in Heaven when in the outward Man as in the outward Heavens when in the inward as in the holy Heavens Let thy sweet Order bury my confusions that in thee may be my Resurrection 6. In their energy strength and active vigour so are they the immediate Parent of the four Elements being the same in the outward Principle as the strength of their Root and Originals is in the Inward Worlds the four anguishing Constellations also afford matter and in the Moons property exhibit it into palpable substance this the solar power exalteth according to the kind the Separator disposeth every thing unto in Minerals Vegetatives and Sensitives generating animating maturing invigorating ennobling irradiating and again exhaling their volatile parts and dissolving the Fabrick All strong couragious Creatures owe their compaction and fortitude instrumentally to them But what am I who cannot by all Humane Art or Policy or by any Fortress or Arms be defended against a Fly who if Commission'd to Hostility can enter such Organ as may suffocate my Breath How inevitable my Misery that I at once nourish my Life and the Seeds of my Mortality brought forth of the Womb with and in me and after have with pain hazard care and sorrow struggled a few years my Constellations having wrought their course it must be said to me return to thy dust as all other the Sons of vain Mankind 7. In their Vertue which is so conspicuous that from them every Creature of this whole Principle derive their Excellency The Elements their simplicity the outward Heavens their purity and serene Beauty they enrich the Fields with Fruits clothe them with Flowers replenish the Sea with Inhabitants and precious Things the Air with foul penetrate the Bowels of the Earth so as to produce and generate precious Metals Stones and Sanatives give
troublesom sleep he prodigally lavisheth 3. Come dwell here or hereabouts my Soul 't is not vain to behold and consider what Vanities Incircle thee What fierce or desperate Men madly venture on which they can try but once and what Men overwhelm'd with the painted present pleasures do with a Transport of Consternation undergo that do thou neither Court nor Fly Man here is like Jerusalem when Besieged by Titus the Devil and his Engines the Snares of the World like the Roman Legions begirt him waiting at all his Avenues And his Domestick disorders like the three Sects within are at Mortal Enmity God hath sent thee my Soul a voice warning hence and directing whither hear and obey and the outward death shall land thee at Jerusalem which is from above learn thy general and thine own particular Business find thy Constitution Sin do thy Days Work studiously calmly and cheerfully dwell at home that is within and the vigorous eager Maxims of the Worldly-wise and their Storms as well as the flattering shews abroad and other Mens Opinion of thee will be to thee as Tragedies and Comedies in the Antipodes On the 41st Question and Answer The Idea or Express Reflex Image of God in Man wherein God worketh and dwelleth 1. This Image was figur'd by the Tabernacle Temple Jerusalem and Mount Sion their Holiness Exquisiteness and Impregnableness a glance of it shone in Moses Face This when Adam fell into the outward Worlds Principle withdrew and had not the same been reimplanted he had remained part Devil and part Beast and but that it continueth striving in Man he should still be so and where final resistance is that Man is a Devil and a Beast Everlastingly for Men without Humane Intellect are Brutes and without the Divine Image Devilish for this Seal differenceth the Sheep from the Goats Mans rejecting this is Gods rejecting of Man for tho' the want of it makes the Devils miserable yet Mans despising the tenders of it is an Aggravation to the opposition the Devils make against it This is the Light that cannot be hid why should it What were Men without Eyes or this deep without the Sun What Business hath Mortal Man here but to get it Blessed is he that hath part of this first Resurrection and that so shineth as to lead any other into the knowing and love of it and living in it 2. Contrariwise wretched are those who sit down with the Image Shadow or Similitude of it this is every where in reputation Antichrist adorns it self therewith the Politick Statesman pretends to it to ratifie his Magistracy over the Persons of his Subjects as Antichrist over Mens Consciences while the real pure Image of God in Man is every where decry'd and persecuted Thus did the Jews kill the Prophets and Men of the same Spirit garnish their Sepulchres Men deal in matters of this vast import as if that glorious Spiritual Image were like the Wooden Gods of the Blind Heathen or as if it were as some Flowers Beautiful to the Eye but without Smell or Taste Thus while the holy Souls of Christs Followers went for the perishing Loaves the Souldiers had his Garment and the Relick-Mongers pretend to some of the Wood of the supposed Cross. Therefore is the outer Court given to be trodden down of the Gentiles EXTRACTS Of several of the WORKS OF Jacob Behmen Beginning with his first Book CALLED AURORA OR Morning Redness CHAP. I. Page 33. v. 1. Of searching out the Divine Being in Nature of both the Qualities of Good and Bad. 1. THough Flesh and Blood cannot conceive the Being of God the Spirit when enlightened from God may By considering the Powers in Nature the Outward Heavens and Earth Holy Angels Men Devils Heaven and Hell By considering all which are found the two Qualities Good and Bad one in the other in all the Outward World 2. A Quality is the Mobility boiling springing or driving of a thing 3. The seven Qualities are call'd sometimes seven Sources Species Kinds Manners Cirâ—â—â—stanâ—â—s â—â—nditioâ—â— Poweâ—â— Oâ—erationâ— of Faculâ—â—es also the 〈◊〉 Spirits which give Model or Frame the Power Vertue Constitution Substance Esâ—â—nce Being â—â—â—ure Shape Coâ—ouâ— Taste and Distinction to all things which ever were are shall or can be in from or to Eternity in all Creatures Heaven Hell or this World Also the Forms or Properties of Nature which is the Salitter or Power of God and 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Spirits of God in the Revelations four times 4. Heat consumeth expelleth or hardeneth Light in it is its heart and joy making all things living and moving â—â—erceneâ— maketh the Light moveable the Light subsisteth in God without Hâ—â—t out not â—o in Nature 5. Cold is the allâ—â— of the fierceness of Heat making all things pleasant but hath a fierceness which is the House of Death from Heat proceedeth Air which temper'd with Cold doth in the bitter quality become dewy from Cold comes Water which temper'd with Heat would else as Earth c. be congeal'd Heat consumeth the Water Cold crowdeth the Air in the Meekness of the Air reigneth the Holy Ghost but Air in its fierce Elevation destroyeth in the fierceness of the Water is a deadly Spring in which all living things rot 6. The Bitter quality is the Mother of Life for it a tracteth the Water and dissipateth it and becomes separable from this quality have Leaves and Grass their green Colour where it dwelleth meekly it is the Heart and Joy a gsimpse of Heavenly Joy the Holy Ghost moveth in it but in its fierce Elevation it is the very House of Dâ—ath for it kindlein the Blâ—ment of Fire 7. The Sweet quality is a Joy of the Life the Mâ—â—sion of the Holy Ghost 't is Love and Mercy Fragrant good Taste giveth Fair Yellow White and Ruddy Colour but in the fierce source its Death and Corruption if kindled in the Water Bitterness it breeds the botchy Plague or Pestilence if in the Heat Bitterness it ingendereth a spreading Plague infecting the Air. 8. The Sour quality cooleth is a still joy to the Spirit But in its evil source it beginneth sadness 9. The Astringent or Saltish quality is a good Temper to bitter sweet and sour But in its fierceness in the Fire begets the Stone or Gravel if in the Water Scabs Pox Leprosie CHAP. II. The Visible Heavens and Earth and all Creatures have a good and evil Source or Will except the Holy Angels and Devils 1. THE Sun is the Heart King and Joy of the Stars and all Creatures The whole Creation is the Body of God being enlightened by the Holy Ghost which they only are who relye not on themselves but set their desires on him Man comes to know God by the Creation for as Mans Spirit informs and replenisheth his Body so doth the Holy Ghost dwell in the good qualities of every thing 2. We are to conceive that in the Body of the Stars is the Triumphing Holy Trinity
gives extream cold 2. The sweetness gaspeth and fainteth 3. The bitterness teareth like a hot Plague as Gall. 4. The Fire is as a wrathful Sulphur 5 Love is turn'd into Enmity 6. Sound is as a crackling Fire or Thunder out of a hollow place 7. Their Region a hole of Mourning Their Food is the fierceness of all the Qualities CHAP. XI 1. THE seventh Spirit is the Body wherein Heaven and Earth Beauty and Joy rise up being generated out of the other six in colour Azure or Heaven Blew were it not for this there would be neither Man nor Angel and God would be an unsearchable Power 2. All the seven Spirits without the rising up of the flash were a dark Valley but when the flash riseth up between the Astringent and the Bitter in the Heats shining in the sweet Water it makes all living and the Power which riseth up in the flash is the Love and all the seven Spirits thus enlightened become a palpable Body to speak after an Angelical manner and this is the Body of Nature wherein all heavenly Creatures Idea's Figures or Vegetations are imaged or fashioned 3. The Light is the Life of all the seven Spirits it is their Son and Heart they are its Father him they Eternally generate in him triumph This Light or Majesty is the second Person in the Trinity and is another Person from the seven Spirits and the seven Spirits rise up continually in the Light and are the Father 4. And this splendor of the Light in the seventh Nature-spirit viz. the going forth of the Powers to form and image all in the seventh Spirit this out-going or Exit of the glance is the true Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son 5. This the Jews Turks and Heathens might find in their own Life and by these three they must rise again 6. But that the Christians boast not and scorn them Know that if the Turks be of an Astringent Quality and the Heathens of a Bitter yet if they stand in the anxious Birth seeking Rest and Grace though not in the right place God is every where And the Christian is generated in the Heat where the Light springeth up in the sweet-water yet take heed by drying up the Water thou extinguish not the Light and be burnt 7. The six Spirits rise up alway in a compleat Birth in the seventh and the corporeal drying of them is called Divine Salitter 8. The Angels are not all of equal Power though every one hath the might of all the Fountain Spirits but in every one there is somewhat of one Quality more predominant than another wherein he is glorified 9. Such as the Salitter was in every place at the time of their Creation in such is the Angel strongest and according to which is he named 10. As Flowers in Meadows receive colours from each ones Quality So the Holy Angels some are strongest in the Astringent quality and are of a brownish dusky grey white light like Twilight and nearest the Quality of Cold and when the Light of the Son of God shineth on them they are of a brownish purple flash of Lightening very bright in their Quality 11. Some are of the Quality of Water-light like the Holy Heaven and when the Light shineth on them they look like a Chrystalline Sea 12. Some are strongest in the Bitter Quality and are like a green precious Stone or Emerald sparkling like a flash of Lightening and when the Light shineth on them they appear as a greenish red as a Carbuncle or as if the Life had its Original there 13. Some are of the Quality of Heat and they are brightest of all yellowish and reddish and when the Light shineth on them they are like the flash or Lightening of the Son of God 14. Some are strongest in the Quality of Love and are a glance of the Heavenly Joyfulness very bright and when the Light shines on them they look like light blew azure lustre 15. Some are strongest in the Quality of the Tone or Sound and are bright also and when the Light shineth on them they look as if something would lift up it self aloft there in the rising of the flash of Lightening 16. Some are of the quality of the total Nature as a general mixture and when the Light shineth on them they look like the Holy Heaven formed out of all the Spirits of God 17. But the King is the Heart of all the qualities and hath his Court Province or Circumference in the Centre as the Sun amongst the other Planets so great is a Cherubim or King of Angels 18. The Author saith this Revelation was given him of God not that he had gone into Heaven and beheld it nor had any told it him for if any yea tho' an Angel he could not have understood or believed it but have doubted whether it had been an Angel sent of God or no but because it is generated in the Centre or Circle of Life as a bright self-evidencing Light like the Heavenly Birth or rising up of the Holy Ghost with a fiery impulse of the Spirit he could not withstand it at which let him that mocketh fear lest he soweth mocking and Eternally reap it 19. Worldly Wisdom is Born Blind therefore must all be Born again which new Birth begets the flash of Life in the sweet Spring or Fountain Water of the Heart and then it seeth 20. And therefore hath Christ ordained the Baptism in the Water because the birth of the Light riseth up in the Water which hath from the beginning of the World been a Mystery till now 21. This World is a Type of Heaven 22. The Stars denote the Angels being unaltered 23. The Elements in the deep between the Stars and Earth by their often alterations of being bright and sometimes louring blew whitish duskish wet and dry signifie the wonderful proportion variety and change of the posture of Heaven yet all according to the rising up of the Spirits of God and the Glory of the Son of God shining Eternally therein 24. The Earth sheweth the Heavenly Nature or the seventh Spirit of Nature in which the Ideas rise up 25. The Birds Fishes Beasts Worms Trees Plants and Flowers set forth the forms in Heaven tho' they are in clarity and brightness who rise there and go away again not being compacted as the Angels are but a figure and if imaged in one Spirit the same by wrestling with another Spirit is divided and altered therefore also the Creatures in this World are created Transitory CHAP. XIII Of the Doleful Terrible Fall of Lucifer and his Kingdom 1. WHen Lucifer saw his own Excellencies then his Heart or Life Spirit exalted it self aspiring to triumph over the Divine Birth the Son or Heart of God 2. For the seven Fountain Spirits who are the Father of the Light were pleased to become creaturely in
Strength and Meekness the Original Forms and Principle of Light to v. 73. The Stars are a Quintessence or fifth Essence distinct from the four Elements as the Fat in a Creature causeth the Fountain of Life to burn they are not only Fire and Water but have all the Properties of hard soft bitter sweet sour dark and whatever the Earth hath and every Star a several prevalent Property according as in the Eternal Centre of Nature they stood open when the Eternity mov'd it self in the Creation 8. The Air mixeth with all sorts of Forms therefore is unconstant sometimes awakening one Form in the Centre anon another The whole Deep is like the Mind of a Man which beholds some things cursorily some other fixedly bringing it to substance setting Hands and Feet to work as the Will hath conceived and framed it so this Spirit of the Deep though without Divine Understanding formeth by the vigor of the Constellations the Spirit of our Adamical Man also of all Beasts Fowls Herbs Plants Trees Metals Precious Stones Fishes c. and is the cause of Wisdom in Arts Polity Governments among fallen Mankind And this is called the third Principle or awakened Life of God not Eternal but that in which the great Wonders are made visible Substances whose Figures remain as a Picture for the Glory of God and Joy of the Angels and Men but their Essences shall be reduced into the Aether as it was before the Creation of the World yet shall all stand in the Eternal Nature with its colours and figures and there will be a springing blossoming and growing yet without feeling any fire or fierceness for the Essences will then be no more a Substance and therefore it affordeth no fire but the fire is an Eternal Darkness and gnawing call'd the Eternal Death CHAP. VIII How by the outward World is opened the Eternal World How a Man may seek and find himself Whence is his Beginning and what his End 1. AS the enlivening Spirit in the deep animates all Creatures as if they were one Body each according to their Kind so the Light of Eternity within this World incomprehensible to this Worlds Spirit having all the Properties also in it yet with no such inkindled Essences is the Life of the blessed Inhabitants thereof Their Fire though mighty is yet without Pain or Consumption burning in the soft delicate desire of dear Love and highest Joy this Fire maketh Majesty springeth and blossometh for ever in such Earth as is call'd Divine Substantiality or Holy Ternary stored with perfect Goodness exempt from all kind of Evil. 2. And as the whole third Principle of Astral and Elementary Bodies are as one Body so the Infinite Holy God Heaven Angels Men Paradise with all Divine Things and Properties are but one Body call'd God Majesty and Eternity wherein the Majesty is the Light the Holy Ghost the Air and Spirit Every Angel and Man is like the total God and the Holy Ghost proceeds forth in him also As in a flaming piece of Iron the Iron resembleth the Creature its flame of Light the Deity its Heat the Creatures Spirit the Air proceeding from it the Holy Ghost but now we live in Anguish Cares Labour Fear Trembling Affliction and cloathed with fallen Adam's Skin yet also in the Hope of Israel 3. And because the Soul stands between two Eternal Principles and the Body meerly in the Spirit of this Worlds Earthy state caring little for the Soul therefore must the Body be kept under its necessities only not its wanton desires answer'd The Soul also must watch and pray not please it self in its own ability but ever humble it self to the Divine Will and Mercy These things are irksom to the Body and cross to the Self will of the Soul but the view of Eternity must sway all for the Body is an unconstant Neighbour and Death a sudden Guest And as the danger so the power God hath graciously given the Soul is very great As it is written to them he gave power in Christ to be the Sons or Children of God 4. Man finds in himself more than is in the Beast for the Beast hath no higher Will than to fill and nourish it self and multiply according to the property of their Centre and every Life desireth the best that is in its Mother or Centre which shews what the best of the Centre or Mother whence they are is but Man sees into the property and vanity of every thing here and therefore a higher Life above the Elementary Transitory Food The Beast hath a Tincture else the Fire of their Life would devour them but their Fire and Tincture is but Elementary and Astral and consequently fragil but Man hath a desire after an Eternal Life and shews it by his desire to perpetuate his Memory here by his Off-spring or otherwise if he could For tho' he enter community with the Beasts in his third Principle yet he hath a Fire-life out of the Eternity wherein the Forms are in Anguish and that not being the right Life hath a Tincture of Divine substantiality of Meekness which is the Light which quencheth the wrath of his Fire-soul wherein is the Intellect satiating the Anguish which tincture Lucifer caused to disappear as a shadow shutting himself up in Death and Fierceness 5. Is it said why did God suffer Lucifer to fall A. He was a Prince and Throne Angel a Son of the first Creation or Morning and cause of the Out-birth in the third Principle therefore Christ called him the Prince of this World He had also a Free-will like us Men and we often do things contrary to God as making Forts Castles and sumptuous Houses for our state So Lucifer would be as a Creator which in it self was no more his Fall than Adam's imagining which caused the Tree of Temptation to grow which therefore was severely forbidden yet which of it self was not Adam's Fall but Lucifer's Fall was when he awakened the Matrix of the Fire over the Meekness of God that Fire became and now is his Hell which God captivated with Heaven or Water and moved himself to the Creation as the pleasant Sun shuts up the Astringent cold turning Ice into Water making Fish c. to live and grow And the cause of the Sea and unfathom'd deeps is that there the Fire was greatly enkindled as when Sodom c. were a Habitation of the Devil who would have dwelt there in his fiery fierceness God allay'd his stoutness bringing Water on that place 6. The Souls dissatisfaction here shews it in a captivity for its true Rest and Heaven was shut up in it having in Adam put its desire into the Principle of this World great is the perplexity that an Eternal Creature should be Immur'd and Married to another Principle have another Mother and Centre which as soon as it breaks as dissolve it doth leaves the Soul in indigence and darkness This pos'd the understanding non-plust the wisdom of all Creatures
and six of the Outward Nature of the Humane Property They were afterward Potent Renowned Nations Whereas Isaac and his Children were as Pilgrims shewing Christs Dominion is not of this World and yet the Kingdoms of this World shall fall before Him 4. Esau and Jacob's strife in the Womb shews that when Christ first manifests himself in the Adamical Nature the strife of the two Kingdoms begins The Serpent stingeth the New Birth Christ on the Heel a woful Distress but Christ assaults the Head And tho Esau be First-born Jacob comes soon after and deprives him and makes Esau the Kingdom of Nature his Servant And in that Esau came forth First and was Red and all over Rough The Red betokeneth the Fathers Nature in the Fire the Rough the Earthy Bestial Nature CHAP. LIII How Esau contemn'd his Birthright and sold it for a Mess of Pottage 1. THere is in this a Twofold Figure for Outwardly it is the Figure of the Earthy Man who carelessy and profanely gives away the Heavenly Substance to satiate its Lustful Will and fill its Carnal Belly But Inwardly Esau had the Souls Centre viz. Adam's Nature for a natural due Right which was Faint and wearied by the Driver This would Jacob who betokened the Power of the other Adam Christ have him This Day viz. from That day forward wholly to give up and Resign And would give him the Divine Ens. And in This Inward Understanding Abraham was the Field Ishmael the Root and Isaac the Fruit Also now Isaac the Field Esau the Root and Jacob the Fruit. And we see the Blossom and Fruit hath far a more subtle pure Property than the Stalk and Root by influence of the Solar Rays 2. The meaning of this Figure is that the evil Adamical Mans Will must be resigned up It is Rejected and availeth not in the Kingdom of God Not that the Person of Esau was intended as Babel ignorantly teacheth to be by Gods Soveraignty Reprobated and Hated CHAP. LIV. How Isaac by reason of the Famine went down to Abimelech at Gerar c. 1. HEre is shewed the Kingdom of Grace and Nature The Famine shews Adams Temptation wherein he should have fed on the Word of God and not gone into the strange Kingdom of the Stars and Elements where he Denied his Wife viz. the Heavenly Genitress in him and brought his Lust into the Bestial Property 2. And that Isaac grew so Great there that Abimelech was afraid of him shews Gods Blessing on the Kingdom of Christ. 3. The Servants of King Abimelech's stopping the Wells digged by the Servants of Isaac sheweth that Abraham and Isaac having digged in the Ens of their Faith the Knowledge of the Messiah the same is obscured and stopped up by the Earthy Reason And then they digged and said we have found Water and Isaac call'd it Sheba hinting at Saba the Saboth Christ call'd also Beer-sheba viz. the Contrition or Breaking where the Saboth through Death brings forth the Fountain of Life 5. That Esau lived Forty years and then took two Evil Women to Wife points at Adam's Forty days in the Proha and then took two Evil Wives viz. one of the Bestial Property of the four Elements the other the Astral which were a vexation and grief of Heart to Isaac and Rebekah all their Life Thus as the whole Old Testament is a Figure of the New so is the New of the Future Eternal World CHAP. LV. Of Isaac's Blessing Jacob unknowingly when he was Old and ready to Die The Gates of the Great Mystery of the whole Bible 1. REason from this Figure conjectureth 1. That Rebekah lov'd Jacob more than Esau. 2. That it was from Gods Predestinate Purpose because Esau was not worthy of it 2. But rightly to interpret it The Patriarch Isaac is the Figure of God the Father Esau of the depraved Humane Nature Jacob of the New Birth in the Humanity of Christ Rebekah of the Virgin Mary 3. The Fathers Blessing would bring it self into Adam but his Heavenly Ens was extinct and the Kingdom of Nature so Poyson'd that it must be Dissolv'd for Adam's Fiery Tincture by being awakened in the wrath became an Earthy Image and mortified the Heavenly so that the Kingdom of Nature was in its own power uncapable of the Fathers Blessing and could not be remedied only by a Blessing the Blessing must become a Substance the Fathers Blessing turn'd it self on the Adamical Female Lights Tincture and from the power Thereof did assume the Souls Nature and then bruise the fiery Serpents Head and transmute the Souls fiery Will into a Love-fire or Meekness viz. the power of the Light 4. Esau was Hairy or Rugged signifying the gross Bestial Property and Christ did put on our Hairy Beast-like Skin to make us capable of the Blessing and destroy our Death of the Bestial Property Even as Jacob could not get the Blessing without having the hairy Garment on 5. Isaac's feeling Esau s hairy Garment on Jacob signified the Fathers reaching into the Essence of Christ whether it were the first Image Created in Adam whence was Christs Agony and Bloody Sweat 6. And as Isaac found outwardly Esau's Skin but inwardly heard Jacob's Voice yet Blessed him instead of Esau So had Christ our Rugged Humane Property yet God said This is my Beloved Son c. and Blessed our Humanity 7. The Blessing given Jacob denotes that the New Man in Christ should take away the Scepter and Might from the Devil and Man of Sin and be Lord over his Brethren the Adamical Nature in Flesh and Blood 8. The Corn and Wine and Dew of Heaven shew God blessed our Humanity in Christ with the Earth and Resurrection 9. Esau's bringing his Venison and Isaac's Astonishment shew that Gods holy People would have the Will of their Reason be done Their Misery is that Reason entreth into its Dominion which knoweth not the ways of God 10. Esau was Blessed also with the Dew of Heaven and Fatness of the Earth should live by his Sword and when he should have the Dominion should break the Yoke 11. But Isaac doth not say Live thou by thy Sword but Thou wilt Live so c. wherein he Prophesieth that the corrupt Nature would be a Tyrant and Murtherer and doth not justifie the use of outward Weapons and Violence but that he through his Anger should serve the Anger of God and so his hatâ—â—g Jacob noteth what the Great Ones of the World should do for the Devil rageth that the Kingdom of Christ should take away his Throne CHAP. LVI Of Jacob's Leaving his Parents for fear of Esau and of his Vision of the Ladder 1. JAcob having the Blessing and Unction soon departed from his Fathers House and left all to Esau so did Christ of whom this is a Figure after he had anointed our Humanity fled with it out of our Adamical House to the first Paradisical House So must the Christian fly the Depraved Nature begin
she can do all things And remaining in her self she maketh all things new And in all Ages entring into holy Souls she maketh them Friends of God and Prophets All good things together came to me with her and innumerable Riches in her hands And a greater than Solomon saith Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness and all these things shall be added to you This Certainly is not only our Duty but the great Affair most worthy our Enquiry and Industry That Work which Man alone is capacitated for by reason of his noble Extract and that which is alone a suitable reward to render him truely happy It is this Work and Wisdom that the Writings of Jacob Behmen and these following are conversant about laying the Foundation deep firm and solid and thereupon raising a regular and noble Building Here is described at large our Malady and Remedy both with respect to Time and Eternity for the Instruction and Teaching of those he calls his School-fellows and to the perusal of the said Writings we recommend the Candid Reader And shall conclude with a Testimony concerning the Writings of Jacob Behmen from an Ingenious and Learned Hand What soever the thrice great Hermes delivered as Oracles from his Prophetical Tripos or Pythagoras spake by Authority or Socrates debated or Aristotle affirmed yea whatever Divine Plato Prophesied or Plotinus proved this and all this or a far higher and profounder Philosophy is I think contained in the Teutonicks Writings And if there be any friendly Medium which can possibly reconcile those Ancient Differences between the Nobler Wisdom which hath fixt her Palace in Holy Writ and her stubborn Handmaid Natural Reason this happy Marriage of the Spirit and the Soul this wonderful consent of Discords in one Harmony we owe in great measure to Teutonicus his Skill Only let not the Non or Misunderstanding of the most rational Reader if not a little sublimed above the Sphere of common Reason be imputed as a fault to this Elevated Philosopher no more than 't was to the Divine Plotine whose highest Notions many even of his own School after much Study were not able to reach The way to profit in reading these Writings is to be possest with patience our Minds standing in singleness and simplicity and in this frame of Mind to seek diligently pray earnestly and to resign up our Wills intirely to the Guidance and Conduct of the Divine Love Importunity and Industry often prevails to the obtaining the desired End when Sloth and Negligence meets with Disappointments and Shame Let us humble our selves under the sense of our Misery and submit to the mortifying our corrupt Wills and proceed on to Experience a Separation or cleansing from all filthiness of the Flesh and more secret defilements of the Spirit through the Power and Energy of the Heavenly Fire the Divine Life the Breath or Word of God That knowing a Death unto Sin we may also know a Life unto Righteousness which in the true Heavenly Process being offered up to God as an acceptable Sacrifice a permanent fixed and immortal State may be manifest where there shall be no more going forth for ever If these following Sheets contribute in some measure towards the directing and assisting of any especially the honest Industrious Searcher it will greatly rejoice the Persons concerned it being their end and design in the present Publication Farewel Some Words used by Jacob Behmen explained near to his deep Sense AByss is an Infinity peculiar only to each of the Three Principles Amass is a Spirit or Will bringing it self into substance compaction or manifestation Anguish is the third Form of the seven Properties of the Eternal Nature made of the two first Forms and making the Sulphurous Spirit Centrum or Centre is the Flash standing in every Will to make an opening Three Principles Ch. 14. v. 67. Christ by the word Christ is meant the inward new Man in the Spirit of Christ understood inwardly Element call'd the one or holy Element is of or according to the second Principle generated Eternally out of the Eternal Nature or great Mystery which are according to the first but where-ever they generate the holy Element there is Paradise Ens the proper or peculiar Being or Essence Good or be it Evil of a thing Eternal Nature is of the first Principle and is that in which standeth two Kingdoms one the pure Virgin Wisdom of God the one holy Element the cause of the four Elements and Stars The other the severe fierce wrath According to which God calleth himself a consuming Fire It is therefore the great Mystery Expressed word comprizeth all Creatures Visible and Invisible Fiat the Eternal speaking Word or Creating Power proceeding from the Free-will of the Abyss Also the desire of the Soul taking the power of the holy Love Tincture and makes it Essential Flagrat or sudden fright terror shriek flash the severing the two Principles of Light and Darkness resembling that in Thunder and Lightning Gunpowder c. The pregnant Eccho of the sound of Eternity speaking by Magical Fire-breath Love or Anger Life in the Light Death in the Darkness Which is called the Salnitral Flagrat Idea is the Ens which with Man first is and then known But we wrong God unless we say it is because God seeth it 〈…〉 a Divine Sparkle captiv'd so as can only glimmer not shine forth Magia there are two Magia's one of the Unity the other of the Multiplicity or Astral Powers And two Magi in Man the Spirit of God and Reason into the latter the Devil easily insinuates Majesty the Light of the Glorious Son of God the second Principle according to which only God is called God for according to the first viz. the Fathers Property he is not called God but a consuming Fire Lubet a Longing Delight or Beneplacitum In God it is the free pregnant will to Manifestation in Nature and Creature without which all had been an Eternal stilness The Lubet in Man is the moving will to Good or Evil. Mysterium Magnum that out of which all Visible and Invisible Concreates proceeded it is of the first Principle Vide Eternal Nature Out-birth the visible palpable mortal part of this World call'd the Anger-fire Salniter is that which in the Sulphur is awakened by the heat arising into a Flagrat out of the Brimstony Watry and Earthy Properties whereby the Properties are Explicated Sathan is meant the Spirit of Error and not always a Creaturely Devil but the Property of such an Erroneous Spirit Salitter call'd Divine Salitter represented by the Earth but like the pure Heaven in it are moving springing Powers producing all manner of Divine Trees Plants c. with Heavenly Colours Smells Tasts whereof this Worlds Trees Gold Silver precious Stones c. are hard dead dark shadows But this Salitter and Mercurius i. e. Divine Mercurius is the Food of Angels and Holy Souls Sophia the true noble precious Image of Christ
planted a seed or sperm whereon the Holy Ghost brooded and in six days hatcht the generation of the Heavens and Earth with their Hosts Thrones and Royalties Hence were founded the Ant and Elephant the Insects as well as Leviathan And but for this God would have been wholly an unsearchable God nor could any Creature Angel or other have been made 5. We say in things of our little Horoscope the end of Motion is Rest and shall the Originals whence all things exist want a Rest for themselves Must our six days toil end in one of rest and shall these supream Agents reach no Sabbath wherein to triumph in with and for the delight of the Lord of the Sabbath This seventh Spirit is therefore the quiet receptacle of them all 6. Out of which according to the harmony of the Divine Unity they never for one moment can possibly depart And over the Threshold of which according to the separate Property whereby they are rent from the glorious Unity they never put a foot or can for ever enter 7. Will therefore the Human Off-spring whose departure is as written by the Sun Beams reunite and do its first works those whereunto he was created and the pure works of the second Adam whereunto he was regenerated 8. Be it said forasmuch as by his departure he is so far degenerated that his Soul by a willing captivity is under the rage of the first four Spirits from whom the light is withdrawn His Spirit that was a meek divine Ruler hath lost its dominion to so great a degree of fierceness that the Astral rule all His Body which was formed out of the one pure Element out of which Element came also the four and to have been a perpetual figure of the holy third Principle as his Soul and Spirit were of the first and second And which body of his should have eaten Paradisical food is now a captive under the four Elements in so great rigour and vileness that Nature shames at its Beastiality till thus it travels thro' sorrow pain and shame to the dust But the Soul and Spirit may here be baptized and regenerated 9. And because the fruit cannot be brought back to the Tree but the Apple must first perish and the seed in it first die as doth the grain of Corn before it increase therefore the Soul and Spirit must also die the mystical death that is to its strange will to secure them against the second death or before they are capable of the first Resurrection 10. From the same ground is it that the Body also must die and lose its new gotten bestial Image before it can put on immortality and the Image of the heavenly whereunto Jesus came to conduct it 11. But we may know these things are not the work of faint wishes but call for striving watching praying fighting contending running working searching knocking that fruit may be produced by patience for Heaven may not be ascended by earthy wings therefore let the Earth beware of resisting when Heaven stoops descends and enters it 12. To subject mad Mankind to this its only good the gracious Jehovah on Adams departure left his Soul should be a Devil his Body a Beast and the Woman generate a Race of Monsters in the out-birth and of totally proud hellish spirits in the inward reimplanted the Word of Eternal Life as a seed or as a light shining in a dark place to which they only do well who take heed so as to obey such shall by the Divine Guide lose their All and be as a Fool or Child as to self-wisdom but proceeding that way under the Cross possess all things 13. For as there is no salvation in any other so is there no other way of entring there into The six names of the Tribes on Mount Gerizim to bless represent the six active Fountain Spirits according to the second principle and Gerizim the seventh or heavenly body where they rest And the other six on Mount Gebal to curse exhibit the same six Fountains according to the first principle or dark world The seven Pillars on which Wisdom built her house points out the seven Foundation Spirits The six Steps to Solomons Throne hath the same signification and the Throne it self the seventh whither they led and ascended was the Sabbath or Rest. So the seven Seals seven Trumpets and seven Vials signifie the same seven Fountains yet all hidden and according to the Darkness where neither can the Book be read till first the Seals be gradually opened the mind and voice of the Trumpets be distinguished till they be orderly sounded nor the things contained in the Vials discerned till severally effused by the Lamb and his successive Angels But the seven Golden Candlesticks are the seven according to the second Principle or Light-World seen all manifestly at once The same also are the seven Stars at once giving their splendor Again we read there were seven Lamps of fire burning before the Throne which the Text saith are the seven Spirits of God We find and 't is observable the Revelation gives the Vision treble to each viz. To the dark impression by Seals Trumpets and Vials To the Light impression by Candlesticks Stars and Lamps So the seven lean Kine and blasted Ears signifies what we have the seven Properties The seven fat and good what God made the seven Properties to be CHAP. X. Of the Three Principles of the Divine Essence 1. BY a Principle is meant a chief beginning power a self-subsisting Life an original root foundation or in some sense a mystery or genus whence other Spirits Bodies Species or things originate as from a Supream Power And thus is God the only one Principle 2. And this one Principle is also three Eternal Births or Principles ever without ceasing begetting being begotten and proceeding by in and from each other of which all Worlds are conjunctly or severally an Image but very different according to the inscription stamp figure and degrees they attain or are capable of 3. And tho' the three Principles are by an indissoluble band ever inseparably one in God yet are they distinguishable 4. But in the Creatures in the separate Properties are terribly manifest which tho' Adam was not to have known in himself yet is it what we ought to know 5. God said Let us make Man in our Image after our likeness but saith not so of the other Creatures Man in his first make being most perfectly his figure and off-spring 6. Yet every of the other Creatures the Astral Elementary Vegetative Sensitive and the Dark World do all in their various kinds more or less perfectly represent him for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made his eternal Power and Godhead And as there are the united three bearing record in Heaven so are here an agreeing three bearing record on Earth viz. Spirit Water and Blood CHAP. XI
The Reason of all which is thus to be understood Adam our Root introduced Bitterness and the Fruit hath that Rellish And tho we were engrafted into the Noble Vine yet do we suffer our selves to degenerate into a Wild one producing Grapes of Sodom Adam as our Fountain flowed out unwholsom Water causing Barrenness though Christ as Elisha would have heal'd it with his Salt we go on to Poison our selves yet more the Man naturally Blind or Deaf is not so extreamly such as the resolvedly Blind and Deaf 7. Heaven is near us so is it to Hell yet at sufficient distance till the Will be turned to seek it Heaven is in us Thanks for ever be to God in Jesus Christ the Restorer and Heaven Restored yet still in its own Principle not in our Beastial Part but in the Light of our Life wherein the Candle of the Lord is put as a Tincture Wo to that Soul who rebelliously refuseth to be guided savour'd and tinctured by it To enter in at the straight Gate it is required that we die to the Old perverted Man and something more 8. Enoch and Eliah whil'st in the Body of the four Elements were so far tinctured as to be truly in Heaven yet in regard Adam had so far divided himself as to lose the Unity of the one pure Element when they were again become United in the One Holy Element they could not but disappear as to the Four Elements Q. 19. What are the Dominions or Thrones and Principalities of Angels Evil and Good in the Invisible World How is the Spiritual World of Eternity to be understood in the Visible World Are they also severed by Place and Abode Or what is the inward Foundation A. 1. To make an orderly Answer hereunto must first be shewn as an inward Foundation the Spiritual World of Eternity with what clearness may be and that it is in the Visible World and thence the Inhabitants of the Spiritual World may be the more satisfactorily discovered 2. To do which beginning below in the Out-birth Stone and Earth have the Commixture of the other Parts of the Creation to their Composition though named from one prevailing Property they have the occult sence of Sympathy and Antipathy as the Loadstone Bloodstone c. Stones have Water Fire Oyl Sulphur Mercury with the Salt as the Artist sees 3. And the Earth and Waters have the other two Elements in them and tho' captiv'd by the Curse have the Vertue of whole Paradise founded by the second Principle exerted by the good Astral Powers producing all Gems Gold Medicinal Earths and in the Fruits all Tasts Odours Sanative Herbs Nourishing and Cordial the inward Vertues of all which are real Heaven and Paradise labouring to deliver themselves under the Ashes and Curse from the oppressing hellish Properties 4. In the same who seeth not the Spiritual Evil World manifest in Dark Properties and Figures So that both the Spiritual Worlds are uncontroversibly in them 5. In the Outward Heavens this Truth is convinced by benign and malevolent Aspects powerfully influencing to the conception and propagation of a Good or Evil Will in every of the Creatures not Man excepted since his sad Fall 6. But Man whose Immortal Soul is of the first Principle of Might and Potence his Spirit of the second Principle of Love and Meekness his Outward Man consisting of the Mortal Soul that exerciseth the Outward Sensual Wiâ—l five Senses c. out of the Astral Heavens and his fleshly part out of the Elements whereinto it is miserably fallen Man thus hath the most strict Alliance most express Characters and most Catholick Conformity to the total God as he hath made himself creaturely in the Eternal Nature and Eternal Spiritual Worlds of Darkness and Light and in his Out-birth of both kinds So that he penetrateth Hell and Heaven into either of which he putteth the Nunger of his Will in that he is at home 7. If he resisteth the Holy Ghost he is one with the Devil in his Hellish Wrath who would be his own Law-giver making War against God and all the Holy Angels but by enkindling the Light of Christ Self-will dies a new one becomes natural which warreth against the Evil Angels subjecting it self to the Scepter of Christ the Captain of our Salvation having communion with the whole Holy Spiritual World 8. The Discording Will in the seven Properties make the Evil Spiritual World but where they are in perfect Harmony viz. having One and but One Universal Will united as are the three first Principles through the Infinite Abyss makes the Holy Spiritual World 9. Now as the Out birth which is the Off-spring of the inward hath Fountains and Streams and as the Natural Body hath Head and Members the Body Politick Magistracy and governed and in the Outward Heavens one Star differeth from another in glory Even so is it in the Holy Spiritual World Michael is call'd the Arch-Angel and that Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon c. 10. Thus the Throne or Arch Angel is to his Kingdom or Legions as the Tree to the Branches as was Adam to his Human Race or as is the Liver to the Veins 11. In that distinct sense the Apostle saith Whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers c. some are Cherubims viz. Images and Seraphims viz. Flames 12. All which the inspired Jacob Behmen rangeth under three Hiarchies each more peculiarly to one of the three distinct Principles having the Propriety of three Worlds like Nests of Spheres This from Stars to Stars was Lucifers the other two without and beyond it containing such part of the Infinite Abyss as exeeds all Human number In each of which as the Sun to the Stars is a Soveraign and under each of the Angelical Kings numerous rather innumerable almost infinite Hosts and all those severally excelling some according to one some more especially according to another of the seven Properties 13. In all which the Son of God and Sacred Trinity Reigns neither near to nor far from every the least imaginable point filling and comprehending all supporting all and delighting to behold it self in all 14. Nor can the Angelical Worlds be excluded out of place or included in any thing but Principles but as it is in the Spiritual World may be resembled to the Mind and Thoughts of Man which is limited in the Evil Man to the Dark Principle and in the Holy Man to the Heavenly Principle 15. As the outward Sun is not bounded by any part of its own deep in which it is King but only by the Darkness Thus the Holy Angels are with us as God's excellent Engines to protect and guard us knowing us as far as we are enriched with their Principle 16. They have the Supream Creature Authority under the Son of God over Kingdoms as is said Michael your Prince viz. of the Jews helped the Angel who coming to Daniel had been hindred by the Kings of Persia
all those whose Immortal Souls derived them from Human Generation are Enlightned by Jesus Christ he stirs up and makes to grow the seed hidden in them shewing them how to dye to the Old Man the Will of the four Forms or Properties and are New Born by the blowing up of the Light Meek Holy Powers all such are established in Divine willing working and persevering And in all such Persons the starry Spirits are serviceable Agents kept under due Order and Discipline and being kept so are of excellent Profit and Advantage to the helping on the Soul like a Ship to her Haven 17. The Starry Spirit is in this Man like the Waters which sometimes have cross Currents the Elementary Body is the Ship the Soul the Merchandize the Word or Lord Jesus the Helms-man the Spirit of Grace the Gale Now though the Starry Properties are often cross Tides oppposite Streams to the hindrance of the Voyage so violent as carry with them all untackl'd Ships who like dead Fishes are precipitated with the Stream yet the regenerated will finds such a steady Pilot for his Guide and such vigorous Gales from above that the Ship against its own Nature wasteth the Merchandize through over and against the thwarting Streams to its longed for Haven By all which we see to what Profit the Stars were Created the thing proposed Q. 25. What is the Ground of the Temporal Nature Light and of the Darkness from whence doth the same arise or out of what did they Exist A. 1. The Temporal Light and Darkness are the manifest Figures of the Eternal second and first Principles As the desire of Rest moves Men to Motion So the longing after the Light agitates the Eternal Matrix of the first Principle to a constant employing the four Properties of it that they may enter into the Light whereby they become known which else would be an Eternal stilness 2. Thus a violent suffocating rubbing or breaking causeth an extending in some Bodies an impressing in others a discontinuance of Parts in others and extracts Heat Fire and the vertue of Light out of cold moist and compacted Bodies to this is referred the vertue of the Usnea on the Skulls of strangled Persons 3. For the Contracting Property interrupted by the Attracting depresseth to Anguish and those three sharpen themselves into a fourth viz. Fire yet not one nor all of these are known to themselves but remain Captive in gross Darkness till the Light be enkindled in them As a Man having all the Properties Proportions and Forms of other Men is still unknown to himself if he hath no Understanding for wanting the Light and Knowledge he is below the Wit Craft Memory and Docility of many Beasts Birds c. 4. And yet is worse if at rest in that dark State Whereas the noble Faculties irradiated by the Light makes Man though naked rule over the Bruits whom Nature hath arm'd with defensive Hides Scales Hoofs also offensive Horns Teeth Tallons c. 5. Now whence the Temporal Light ariseth is evident to come from the Eternal Light as the Temporal dark Matrix deriveth from the Eternal dark Matrix Yet though in the Temporal Matrix Mystery or Chaos was potentially all Properties but without Ability of stirring up it self into a flaming Lustre till the Divine Power or fiat call'd up the Light as Jesus did Lazarus for till then it was lock'd up as fire in a Flint green Sticks or wet Hay not touching each other 6. Nor could the â—ight till severed from the Darkness officiate to attenuate and form the crude Matter to be fruitful but was as Fire under Ashes inoperative unactive Wherefore the Light was severed that it might as force United is be most Powerful Yet when it was severed and collected by enkindling the place of the Sun and Orbs of the Stars it was no otherwise withdrawn than as a Conquering Prince having added some Province to his Empire on his retiring leaves such part of his Army as may cause continually due Execution of his Pleasure 7. So the Sun and Stars have no other entire Separation than consisteth with the leaving a competent Portion of their Vertue every where to effect by Conjunction all needful Operations It is left in every of the Elements as we see also the Elements have among themselves a mutual Commixture of each others Property and all as hath been said of them some Proportion of the Vertue of the Light the Hellish Part and Principle only excepted Q. 26. What is the Heaven created out of the midst of the Water And what is the Separation of the Water above the Firmament from the Water underneath the Firmament A. To answer this it is necessary to distinguish what is meant by the Above the Midst and Underneath for a Firmament is fixt in the midst between the Waters Above and those Underneath If Above were meant above the Middle Region or Stars then Beneath may be on or in the Earth and the Midst must be a space or local distance 1. But First God is every where Heaven is also in the World though this World be not in Heaven the Above and Beneath therefore must be otherwise understood than locally 2. Where an Hour-glass is measuring of Time Eternity is also in every Minute of it yet is so Above as Incomprehensible to Time 3. The New Man is Above yet so with and in the Old as to Rule and Act it and so divided from the Old as to be Incomprehensible to it 4. We find a Water call'd Living Water which who Drinks it shall be in him a Well of Water springing up to Eternal Life This is also the Water of Regeneration Except ye be born of Water c. These Waters none doubts are those Above yet must be Drunk where the Divine Life is being the true Eternal Life and of such as shall be cleansed 5. There is a Divine Love and there is an outward Love or Lust They are one from Above the other Beneath yet not sever'd by place but by a fixt Firmamament Gulph or Principle And if they were as like each other as true and false Light or as Tin and Silver yet coming of different Properties are uncompoundable as Silver and Tin incorporate and Sowder not 6. Thus the Waters which are Above the Firmament are Holy Pure Heavenly those Underneath are our Mortal Waters wherein is the Wrath yet wherein also may the Holy Waters which are Above penetrate as Heaven doth this World for the outward Water cannot Subsist and Unite with it or Comprehend it as neither can this World be in Unite with or Comprehend the Holy Heaven Therefore how near soever the inward or outward Waters are one to the other they are immoveably sundered till the Judgment of God burn off the Curse at the time of the Separation 8. And the Holy Heaven may as well be said to be Created and Creating out of those Living Waters as the outward Heaven to have been Created out
the Scales c. They have also Craft Wrath Love every of the Five Senses Invention Providence Memory c. 2. To call them moving Plants is too low but only that it leadeth the Mind to view the Harmony of all the Creatures how they variously some more clearly others more obscurely Image and Shadow every of the three Principles and the seven Properties of the Eternal World 3. Whence they sprung appears by several Answers of the foregoing Questions particularly in that of the 33th 4. And now among the many Glorious Ends of their Creation the following brief hints are some They are at fourth Degree from the Principles and Properties created 1. To Figure the Dark Abyss 2. The Light World though very obscurely 3. The Out-birth or outward World of the Stars and Elements with the almost infinitely various Tendencies Inclinations and Impulses of them By every of which the Almighty Creator uncovereth his veiled Omnipotence infinite Grace and Wisdom 5. The Contemplation of them is both a pleasant and a perplexing Laboratory or serious Book for Man's Study and as it were a Play-Book for the Angels whose piercing understandings read the Effects by the Causes while declined Man gropeth by the Information of the Senses at a piece-meal guess of the Causes from Experience of the Effects 6. It must be confest that Adam being as to his Body or third Principle in his first and pure state Lord of the Mystery whence they proceeded could more sensibly discover and Epitomize them than the Angels as the Lord Jesus had a feeling of our Infirmities by His gracious humbling Himself to be as one of us But Adam's bright Eyes were darkened by the dismal lapse 7. Men may see themselves in the brute Creatures 1. All Unregenerate Men are figured either by the greedy ones 2. Or by the haughty proud Beasts 3. Or by the envious Reptils where by the way may be observed that Envy is found among the Poorer sort for the venomous Creatures are rather creeping than going 4 Or by the cruel wrathful ones And all these are of the first Principle without proceeding to enkindle the Light of the second Principle and are call'd by the Names of those Creatures in the Sacred Records 8. Other Creatures there are that figure the Light World or second Principle by their Innocence Love Usefulness and Loveliness in which they glorifie the Creator and like a dark Shadow pourtray the same 9. There are other Creatures more especially of the Out-world or World's Spirit as those that have Lunary Bodies produced improved and transacted by her Mutations which extends very far also to the whole Creation 10. My last Consideration restraining my self to brevity is somewhat abstracted which is That their Root is not so Ignoble and Vile but their Forms and Idea's for the sake of their Tincture have a prospect into Perpetuity each into their natural Aethers as is signified by the Apostle that the Creatures Travel in pain groaning under forced and as to them causless Vassalage shall be deliver'd into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God where the Drunkard's Horse shall like Balaam's Ass convince mens Madness and cruel Excess The abused toil of the Laborious Ox the innocent life of the Patient Lambs both employed to nourish filthy Lusts the cruel Delight of Hunting to the heart-breaking of the Deer and Hare c. shall at last be material Witnesses of Man's aggravated Guilt perpetuated Apostacy and lawless Irregularities Q 38. Whence was Man Created as to his Body The Fourth grand Distribution A. 1. Not of the Earth for the brute Animals are more nobly descended not of the four Elements which are the Matrix of the Earth for of that Matter are the Brutes form'd and the Elements are Transient and must melt or resolve into their first Principles Not of the Astral Out-birth for the Stars shall fall that is cease their present Order and pay the Debt of their various Properties to the Aether whence they were separated 2. But because Adam's Body was of Eternal Duration had he not â—inned it could not derive from a fading Root as Eternity is not founded on Mortality which forceth our search to ascend a step higher 3. It shall therefore be to the Divine Salitter which also hath the Water-spirit in it from both which the Stars were breathed And this Divine Salitter as it hath in it all the Powers of the Properties together with the Divine Sulphur and Mercury is call'd the great Mystery Eternal Nature or Quintessence 4. Out of this was Created Adam's Holy pure Paradisical Body capable of Eternal Life This Divine Saliter J. B. calls the Holy Ternary that is a Celestial Paradisical pure Earth whence grows Heavenly holy Fruits and near unto it no Curse ever can enter or approach for thereinto cometh nothing that defileth Of this Dust of this Ground Moses spake that God formed Man But they who suppose it to be our dead Dust wherein is the Wrath and Fierceness do not only err by means of the Veil before Moses's Face but also by reason of the Veil on their own Hearts and Eyes 5. The Apostle saith The first Man is of the Earth earthy The second is the Lord from Heaven 6. That it could not be this nor the Elements nor the Astral Birth is clear but therefore that it must be the Heavenly Earth is of forcible Consequence The Apostle saith not what Adam was or was extracted from but what he is or is come to be but if he had so said yet the Proportion betwixt the second and first admits no Comparison 7. Between a Mote in the Sun and the whole Glorious Sun is some Proportion for the least of Quantities taken from the greatest of Bodies below Infinity hath Proportion to that whence it was for it leaves the other really lessened but all created Worlds bear no Proportion with the Infinite Son of God for all breathed out from an Infinite leaves still an Infinite and the Infinite is not lessened by it 8. The Apostle therefore in this place either doth not speak of Adam's first state or doth not lessen his Extraction but adoreth the Glory of the second Adam as the Work-master excelleth the Work made for when of the Angels it is written And hath made them all ministring Spirits Of the Son it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Also Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever c. Q. 39. What was the Inspiration or Breathing in whereby Man became a living Soul A. 1. The Inspiration of Man's Soul was out of the first Principle the Father's Property which consisteth of the first four Forms of Nature of this Living Root sprung his Immortal Living Soul 2. Yet so is it that wherever or in whomsoever the second Principle is shut out that Exclusion is truly call'd the Death of the Soul for the Living Soul by that Deprivation enters or remaineth in Death which though
beautiful exquisite person or as a contemptible soâ—tish natural Ideot to the most acute accomplisht profound contemplative experienced Philosopher or as a leprous deformed loathsom Body to the most rare perfect healthy one or as a maimed impotent treacherous Slave chained for term of Life in a stinking Dungeon to a prosperous renowned Captain at the Head of a mighty Victorious Army For how much a glorious pure blessed State exceeds a vile wretched perishing State so much doth the Food Adam had transcend ours That was the quintessence life and one holy Element this is the excrescence of the four Elements travelling and clogg'd by the Curse Q. 49. Should Adam in Paradise have eaten such fruit as the heavenly eating shall be after this time or where into should he have eaten where should the same have continued seeing all the Beings of this World are earthy and transitory and he only was an Eternal Heavenly Image and needed not the Vanity A. 1. Christ in His beginning of Miracles gave His best Wine at last which is applicable to us by way of allusion who are strayed when at last we return to our Native Paradifical Country 2. This Question leads me not to say what Adam's food was to have been for that falls under the 52 Question therefore restraining my self to the present enquiry which is whether his eating had been the same which shall be and where it should have been seeing he only needed not the Vanity and that this World hath nothing in it but what is transitory To which I answer 3. Paradice is the similitude manifestation and revealed Image of the incomprehensible God and is such a similitude as is in its infinite extent variety purity and eternity incomprehensible being in all such places and for ever more or less visible where God is more or less manifest in his Grace and Love for it is God's opened Book to Angels and the Blessed So that it cannot be said to have a Beginning End or Limit of Extent 4. In this blessed state or place was Adam's whole Man whose Third Principle as well as his First shone throughly and gloriously in the Lustre of the Divine Second Principle yet did his First and Third remain really such as they shall also continue to be in the Blessed after the Resurrection 5. Adam was in the Garden of Eden but was also in Paradice or the Heavenly State nor needed he nor should he have tasted the fruit of the Third Principle for that was poison to him Thus may be seen where his food lay and that tho he were in the Garden of Eden he was of a higher Principle as far above it Q. 50. Whether did the four Elements also Rule in Adam in his Innocency or but one only in the equality of likeness of the four Elements Did he also before he fell feel heat and cold A. 1. Adam's Body was not made of the four Elements if he had they had Ruled there 2. For first every Concrete is subject to the Powers whence it originateth but the very Beasts derive from a more noble Ruler viz. the Astral Spirit also 3. Because contrary Properties in Principles must produce contrary Qualities in Bodies compounded of them unless their contraries accord in a harmonious Cement now the divided Elements remain ever in irreconcileable equal distance 4. Because tho' Time is in Eternity comprehensibly and Eternity in Time incomprehensibly yet a transitory Root may not found an Eternal Tree thus from the transitory Elements come Vegetatives c. but such was not Adam's Body for it was capable of Eternity not measurable by Time 5. For these Reasons the four Elements were not Rulers in him but one in the likeness of the four but that one was holy consisting of all Powers in the perfection of Temperature whence were breathed the Astral Worlds and four Elements 6. But the Elements divided according to the four Anguishes of the Eternal dark Abyss or first Principle one into raging fierceness of Cold another in a clogging Body another into Evaporating and the other into scorching consuming Heat which it still is and over which and the Astral World was Adam put as over the rest of the Lords Handy-work far above the Extremities of the four Elements and precipitant driving of the Stars Q. 51. Should any thing have been able to Kill or Destroy Adam A. 1. That which hath a Temporary Root must from the Necessity of its own Structure suffer Mutation not that any Ens may properly be said to be annihilated but the Fabrick must separate and the Parts be resumed into their proper Aethers or first Principles 2. But so was not Adam therefore could not Perish from the Ruin of his own Foundation yet leaving the Place and Order where with his Gracious Creator had vested him he transform'd himself from the precious Image he had into such Deformity that for the Virgin to continue his Yoke-fellow longer was as impossible as it is for a Living Man to put off his Body and dwell in the Body of a Dead Man 3. This was Adam's being kill'd who as the Rebel Angels by imaging in themselves the Forms and Puissance of the first Principle withdrew them from the Meekness and Love of the second So Adam by imaging in his Will the Vanity of the Out birth or third Principle the Powers of the first became severally enraged his second Holy Principle obscured and his glorious Body otherwise Eternal became dark gross and bestial 4. For the Magical Soul and evil Spirit impressed on it the Image it had it self been infected with Thus the Immortal Man died that is Sin transmuted him into a degenerate deformed impure state Q. 52. What should have been Adam's Condition and Estate upon Earth What should he have done if he had continued in Paradise A. 1. When Good Angels humble themselves to become visible to the outward Eye they come as Strangers and when Evil ones intrude they borrow wherewith to hide their horrid Form but Adam was by his third Principle natural Proprietor and at Home 2. Yet as the Lord Jesus saith speaking of Children Their Angels always behold the Face of my Father which is in Heaven so at once they behold the Face of God and carefully Nurse the Children committed to them Thus also was Adam in the Garden of Eden as a Prince and Natural Lord by Donation of the Creation and then also walking with God in Paradise or Heaven and an Image of the Almighty Three beholding the Son of God who is as the Delight Heart or Face of the Father 3. As to what Adam's Food should have been 't is answered 1. Negatively Not the Earthy Meat or Mortal Water not that of the Elements nor Stars or Astral Spirit for all those have their Periods and are Transitory 4. But his Food was Bread and Water of Life Paradisical Food Immortal Fruits Angelical Pure and Eternally Substantial wherein no Vanity could insinuate 5. Will you say what
they who should have entred Canaan kindled Wrath against themselves by the Lust of the Midianitish Women But why it was that Man was only one and not two like other Beasts is referred to the review of the Answer of the 43 Question Q. 55. How could it have been possible that a Man and Wife should have continued eternally Would God change his Creature Man seeing in the Life Eternal they shall be like the Angels Was Adam also in the beginning created in the same Angelical Form or Imaging or in another then he shall arise again and live for ever A. 1. The Question intends an Eternal Well being or Blessedness which must concern those who bear the Divine Image What That is and how born in them is explained in the 41st Answer also in the 45th and 46th and that in the Form gotten by Man's Disobedience he could not continue without suffering and corruption is cleared in the 47th Answer so that the preceding Answers being heedfully digested will make repetitions needless for they are with great care to be avoided if real advantage be designed little therefore remains to be answered 2. Let it be considered that the Lord saith No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven the Son of Man which is in Heaven the Son of Man or Heavenly Man or Divine Humanity 3. The Divine Virgin was ever in Heaven and cannot come from Heaven so far as to quit that Tenure But when Man had exchanged that Love for the Lust of a Woman it was the Almighty Son of God and Son of the Virgin restored the Virgin or Heavenly Man to Fallen Man 4 The Restoring of this Virginity is the Forming of Christ and as it grows the Man comes to be a Man in him thus puts he on Christ and the divided Tinctures of Man and Woman gotten as to the dividing of them by the inactivity of him who had the Virgin Energy put on him that division must cease and terminate and the distinct Properties unite in the Heavenly Man 5. And thus it may be said There is neither Male nor Female but Christ is all in all for neither Male nor Female is or can be such for the Virgin Energy comprehendeth both 6. And Christ alone hath ascended into Heaven As when men speak of a Tree they mean every twig and sprout so Christ consisteth of every ingrafted Branch and the flourishing of them is the flourishing of the Tree 7. Thus the Lord saith The works that I do shall ye do and more also for as the fruit shews it self by the Branches tho' their Vertue derive from the Tree or Vine so is it here Q. 56. What were the Trees in Paradice which were amiable or pleasant to behold and good to be eaten of A. 1. Tho' no Language of the Fallen Man can tell us men intelligibly what they are yet I shall branch my Answer into four parts 1. To say what they are not 2. What they resemble 3. Whereunto they serve 4. Whence they proceed 2. What they are not 1. They are not Figures for the production of the Astral and Elementary Worlds and Powers do figure or are figures of them 2. They are not only Spirit but are Substance for the Trees and Productions of the Out-birth tho' they are Accidents yet have an Astral and Elementary Vertue or Spirit 3. They are not subject to vanity but administer Eternal Food not pleasant to view only but of highest use 3. What they are like 1. They are like the almost Infinite variety of Trees Plants Flowers productions in the Out-birth for the outward World is the Image of the holy World 2. They are like and agreeable to all the desires of the most pure Spirits and Angels a glimpse whereof is in our most enlarged curiosities for they are made suitable to them to whom God gives them to them they are tangible and compleatly adequate to the Holy Men and Angels as the Mothers Nutriment is to the sucking Child 3. They are like the Holy Trinity as at large might be shewed 4. Whereunto do they serve 1. To be the Material Word of God this is that every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God by which Man lives alluded to by our Lord when he saith And not by bread alone for by This the unsearchable Abyss of God's Goodness is to the blessed partakers of it in a sort comprehensible 2. To be the Eternal Food of the Men made perfect and of the Angels who hereby eat the Paradisical Vertue in the mouth wanting no Bestial Stomach nor Guts 3. To shew the Creatures tho' most glorious to be but Creatures not Almighty but to have dependance on the Womb of Infinite Incomprehensible Bounty hinted by these words Of all the Trees c. thou maist freely eat And in the Canticles Eat O Friends yea drink abundantly c. for the Fountain is an Ocean The Trees of the Lord are full of fruit 5. Whence are they and wherein stand they 1. From and in the Properties of the seven Fountain-Spirits according to the holy Impression or second Principle 2. From and in the Ten Forms of Fire viz. Love-fire both the former and This are figured by the seven times Ten Palm Trees 3. From and in the Divine Living Almighty speaking Word or sweet Power-world or Divine third Principle 6. Thus if Man contemplate what these Trees are exempted from what they resemble what they serve to and whence they derive or where they stand He may find them to be the same with Adam's Body which was pure and to have existed in Eternity as are the new Bodies of those who are risen and ascended with Christ. Q. 57. What was the Tree of Life and also the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil each in its Power Essence and Property A. 1. We read of Cherubims with a Sword turning every way placed to keep the Way of the Tree of Life who then can describe it that hath not first passed the Sword of the Cherub And if all Mortality be as Fuel to that flaming Sword who in the Body by Human Wisdom can without danger of being burnt approach the Way to that Tree 2. The Tree of Life is said to stand in the midst of the Garden and also the Tree of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life is also said to be in the midst of the Street of the New Jerusalem and on either side of the pure River there bearing twelve Fruits one every Month. 3. How can it be more clearly shewn For the Tree of Life stands in the midst between two Kingdoms two Worlds or two Principles viz. Between the Fathers or first fierce wrathful mighty Principle and the outward or third Principle 4. The first as its Root the other as its Shadow and Figure dimly representing both the Root and Tree though more obscurely the latter since the Curse 5. And the Holy Power of God
53d is shewn what this Worlds Fruits were when at best And in the last preceding Answer what introduced it into the midst of Adam's Garden aud where that is to which severally to avoid Repetitions is this referr'd 1. Which well pondered little may suffice for Answer of this For though Adam was God's total Image by having the third Principle on him yet he was not in it nor of it but Lord of it and it as it were hung to him As the Lord Jesus Christ was in the outward World but not of it but of and in Heaven So was Adam in the Garden of Eden but not of it but of and in Paradise 2. Again Adam's Body was no otherwise one with the Astral Spirit than as allied or as Brother to it proceeding from the same Holy Element yet was to out-live it even for ever because his Body was conjunct with an Eternal Soul and Divine Spirit whereas the Astral Spirit hath its Age and recess into its Aether 3. But the Tree of Good and Evil was Corruptible having it's Root in the Elementary World influenced only the Astral in which the separated Properties were so awakened as it consisted of Heterogeneous Good and Evil Parts Even those of the Dark World radically impressed 4. So that it was Death and Poison to the Paradisical Heavenly Man for it generated Putrefaction and a filthy Draught and Bestiality wherefore the Gracious Creator did so severely or expresly and strictly forwarn and forbid Man that Tree Q. 60. Wherefore should Man rule over all the living Creatures or Beasts of the Earth How and to what End could that have been A. Negatively it is answered That Adam while he stood had no need neither 1. Of their Milk or Carcasses for Food or Skins or Fleeces for Cloaths because Corruption contributeth nothing to Incorruption and an Incorruptible Body as Heaven wants not Earth 2. Nor their Strength for Labour or Culture for the Proâ—â—â—â—ons needed by him were Pure and Heavenly The Effect of the Curse it was that it was said in the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy bread 3. Nor their Courage or Velocity for offence or speed for no Opposition needed no Counter-force and no Extremity needed no Speed 4. Nor their assimilating or Antipathetick Powers for Medicine because no Sickness needs no Physick no penetration of Bodies nor impairing of Parts no need of assimilating or restorative Applications 2 5. They wanted not him 1. To be Justice of the general Peace for tho' they were of adverse qualities yet innoxious till ushered in by the Curse as the effect of Sin irritated and arm'd them against Man and against each other Their innocence was their defence their Contrarieties were no more offensive to each other than contrary Colours are or Flowers of different Kinds 2. 6. They wanted not him to raise them a subsistence for their Creator had provided so for them as they should be no burthen to him nor his Divine Off-spring he cares for the Ravens A. 7. Positively to shew how and to what end his Rule should have been It 's answered Adam and his Heavenly Offspring should have used all the Creatures as Letters standing in several Volumes Sections Sentences and Words in the Book of the Creation declaring what the Creator is what He willeth and what He doth 8. And though the Creatures are Dumb as are Characters of Letters yet the Divine Powers of the Spiritual Worlds are spoken in and by the Creatures more expresly than are our Minds signified by Writings or our Passions by articular Sounds And hath Art fram'd Accents Aspirations Liquids c. Much more hath the Infinite Powers spoken themselves and the Holy Names of God in the several Pieces of the Creatures shewing the Principles Properties and Figures of the Eternal Worlds 9. And as Adam's holy Offspring had blessedly Multiplied and Paradise gloriously open'd it self so the Creatures had in their low Sphere born a part in that Triumphant Theatre nor had they been subject to Vanity Pain Impotence and Misery by Want Weakness or Drudgery for that the Curse subjected them to 10. But during their respective times had sweetly delighted themselves and Man in Ecchoing and in their measure assisting the High Praises of the Infinite Gracious Lord and when their Parts were acted have gone off the Stage with Swan-like farewels into their first Principles and Aethers 11. Adam gave them Names according to their Roots and Designs wherein they shall be in their Idea's before the new Blessed Men successively produced and as it were perpetuated by the wrestling of the Properties for neither in this sence shall Man's Disobedience frustrate the purpose of God or give Period to the Glory of his Creation Work for the Spiritual Worlds will obtain their Desires of imaging themselves for ever As saith our Apostle Because the Creature it self shall be delivered from the Bondage of Corruption into the Glorious liberty of the Children of God 12. Nor are the Creatures useless but serve our God's Designs And 't is observable even Sathan useth if he may the most accute Wits while God by Men of low Parts doth confound the Wise for so though Sathan used the Serpents apt Wisdom in his cheating Imposture God honoured the Ass the silliest of Creatures to divulge such Truth as was necessary for a Prophet's Instruction and Reprehension Whence we may observe if under their Vanity they are of such excellent uses what would they have been had they retained their Primitive Excellencies Q. 61. Why did God say it is not good for Man to be alone whereas yet in the Beginning he looks upon all his Works and said They are very Good yet of Man only he saith 'T is not good that this Man should be alone Why was it not good A. In the 43 Answer it is shewn why God created but one Man at first and not Man and Woman together and in the 45th Answer what Form and Fashion he was when he was neither Husband nor Wife but both In the 46th appears Adam had not at first Man-like Members Guts c. In the 47th That had such been he could not have stood in Eternity whereof it cannot be denied he was by Creation capable 1. All which duly weighed evidence why it was said at first all was very good for then was Man a compleat Image of God in all the three Principles illustrated by the second viz. his Soul in the Eternal Band his Spirit in the Divine Holy Triumphant World his Body out of the Holy Element having both Tinctures of Fire and Light enriched and fortified by all the seven Properties Having further the Authority over the Creation like a God the Intellect of an Angel and Innocency of a Dove 2. And whereas afterward it is said It is not good for Man to be alone it was not from any defect in the Creator's Work for that as above appears was perfect to a high degree but the Creature had ceased his
shall pass away and be folded up as a Scroul 4. That it was a compaction of the Mass of the Salitter Sulphur and Mercurius of the deep all of which were much darkened corrupted and confused by the Fall of the Angels 5. Yet was this earthy Globe in its first make before the Curse very Beautiful and Good 6. And as in Mans Body so much of it is dead hard Bones foul Guts stomach and gross Flesh so that its first contexture seems worn out yet it was and shall be glorious though sown in dishonour 7. Thus also this Globe consisting now of much raging deep the unhabitable frozen North and South Extreams other parts of parched Wildernesses and Desarts also rocky useless places and barren Heaths sandy and Montainous Territories Yet is a remainder of Fertility and Excellency here seeming to be left so to shew something of what once it was as Vespasian is said to have left two or three Towers undemolisht tho' desolate to shew what Jerusalem had been 8. The Earth before the Curse must have known no sterility the Air no storms nor intemperature the Seasons no unhealthiness the Brute Creatures no hostility nor hurtfulness 9. For tho' the properties were in all yet had the Gracious Creators blessing so ordered and bounded them that they could not be manifest to divide and discord among themselves for the good properties had the Dominion and the other were serviceable in their places to the great ends of the Creation viz. That the Divine and Spiritual World might be expresly Imaged in such exact order as the great variety of the Creatures and Creation were fitted for 10. But Eve and Adam biting the Apple divided the properties so that the evil became prevalent and the good disturbed thereby could not influence as before and Gods withdrawing the Vertue and Influence of the Spiritual World from them the transitory Creatures which were of their own Nature passive became penetrated throughly by the evil Thus those of hot and others of cold quality were made such in an intense degree and consequently destructive Poyson and Venom also in Vegetables thus came the destroyers in the Earth Air and Seas 11. Adam and his Race should if they had stood have been as the Angel which John saw with one Foot on the Land and the other on the Sea so should Adam and his Race have had one Foot on this Principle and the other on Eternity but transgression set us adrift and sunk us and for our sakes the whole Creation Q. 77. How was Adam and Eve cast out of Paradice into this World What was the Cherub with the naked Sword before Paradise A. 1. Job from Opulency and Renown washing his steps with Butter and the Rock poured him out Oyl falling to Nakedness Sores and Contempt had this vast disproportion to Adam's Fall that his Inward Man not only retain'd stability but shone the brighter 2. Nebuchadnezzar's degenerating and transforming into a Brute was also exdeedingly disproportionable because he had little to lose wanting the Indowment especially the Internals wherewith Adam was glorified 3. And Men that taste of the good Word and of the powers of the World to come yet after that fall into final Apostacy and Darkness which from the best a fallen Man as Man can attain to the worst a damned Sinner faâ—ls into hath yet a great disproportion to Adam's Exclusion had not Infinite Grace interposed for as no Sinner mounts higher than feigned Happiness but Adam's was real and sublime so no Damned Wretch sinks more or comparatively but few with him but Adam sunk a World which must add to him a world of Woes Thus far I have digressed to give some glimpse of the greatness of the Fall 4. Now to shew how they were ejected Paradise into this World the review of the 71 answer will be very helpful We must farther know that it was not a precipitance from a more lofty to a more low or other local station but a departure out of one principle into another asleep or dying a Nescience or Oblivion of Divine Tranquillity and peaceable Fruition of Eternity and an awakening to the Turmoils Impotence Discords Pain Care Sorrow Enmity and Anguish of Mortality and Confines of time in the third principle or Out-birth and by an Inviolable connexion fixed to the Everlasting wrath of the first principal or dark Abyss 5. To know now what the Cherub and Sword before Paradise is it must be fore-known that Cherubims signifie Images viz. Gods Image particularly that of his Justice that is Gods Righteousness and severe Justice this hath a Sword cutting off or away whatever cannot stand in the proba all such are as Fuel to that Flaming Sword 6. Will any say these are Novel Allegories not demonstrable but of uncertain sound let such consider 1. What we fell from our Reason saith from a pure state capable of Eternity 2. What we fell into our Sences answer to an impure Bestial Mortal one 3. How may we re enter the reason common to all rational Creatures tells it may not be by the old filthy Garment we thus got for a weight that presseth us down must be put off if we would rise again what thus we foolishly put on we must wisely put away 7. The Sword of Divine Justice cuts off the Monstrosity because the Mortal Earthy cannot enter the Heavenly Having put on Immortality it may but that Robe is Christs Heavenly Flesh and Blood his Holy Heavenly Body or Gods Body in this we pass the Cherub 8. But this Cherub and Sword is in us Thus the Lord saith No man hath ascended into Heaven but he that came down from Heaven the Son of Man he saith not the Son of God which is in Heaven for the Divine principle was not only in him but he in it and he was it 9. Let us know Heaven is in us viz. the Divine principle is in us yet we may be far from being in it until following the Captain of our Salvation we yield in his strength to have our Earthy man Crucified otherwise keeping our Right Eye Right Hand or Foot we with both Eyes Hands and Feet shall be Excluded shutting our selves out for ever This 78th Question begins the Fifth Grand Distribution Q. 78. Why was or did the first Man Born of a Woman become a Murtherer A. Before Eve's Conception of Cain the following things did precede viz. 1. Adam's non-exerting his power to produce a glorious Race of Intellectuals to succeed for ever the room of Lucifer's secluded Angels which defect of Adam's came from his somewhat declining to the third principle and Eclipsed his Magical Vertue and Lustre 2 Next follow'd the dividing of the Tinctures and thence forming Eve 3. The departure of Adam and Eve from the pure Virgin Modesty and going into the wanton Lust of the Out-birth or Beastial principle making a false Tincture 4 A Self-will to Rule for Eve would have been a Goddess hereby making an evil
that it can hold no commerce abroad or like a man distracted who cannot advise nor be advised being a stranger to himself as well as to common Prudence 3. For Man having passed from the Unity into Self became a God to himself and so there were as many Gods as Nations as Families yea as Men Then could they no more speak the One Language than abide steddy in One Power whereof they had deprived themselves 4. Therefore was the One Language confounded into many as One United Power was distracted into many feeble ones But to shew what the One Language was and the possibility or impossibility or restoring it and way how cannot come under the present Question but falls of its own accord under the 145 146 and first part of the 147 Questions whoever God shall enable to arrive at their solution Q. 90. What was the Covenant of or with Abraham concerning the Blessing and also the Circumcision What doth that signifie A. 1 It was not a Litteral or Verbal stipulation as the Covenants amongst Men are and as we are too apt to conceit and deem it Yet is it the subject of many and in some respects of all the holy words and writings imparted to us 2. It is the again iâ—kindled holy power of the Eternal Divine World which was ingrafted and inspoken into the darkened Souls of Adam and Eve creating peace and order there as the Light had done in the Chaos in order to the Creation of the Out birth or World figured by tâ—e Tincture which transmuteth and innobleth base Metals to Gold And as the holy Fire inflamed the Sacrifices the Inspoken Grace set on Fire Mans cold Affections for he was given to that end as a Covenant to the people 3. This was the Holy Seed sowed into the Light of the Life of Adam and Eve which was their Salvation Yet pointing to and being the Lord Jesus Christ who was and is and is to come yesterday to day and for ever but at the time of the limit of the Covenant took Flesh. 4. This according to the Flesh was to descend and be in one line only from Adam to Seth thence to Sem Abraham and Tribe of Judah and took the Womans Seed in the Virgin Mary 5. But according to the Spirit and Divine Life wherewith and by which it was in the fulness of time begotten it was not only in that Line but in every of Adam's Children as an Ingrafted Word as truely in Cain and in his Race as in Seth and in his Race 6. This was grieved at the Heart by the old World vexed by the Israelites in the Wilderness and as Gods formed Word is his witness in Men judging and importuning from Age to Age. This like the small Grain of Mustard-seed grows up to such a Tree as whose top reacheth Heaven 7. This was the Covenant and Blessing given Abraham and with respect to the Union it hath with the Son of God was both the Food of Adam's Soul and of Abraham's Faith and the Author of his Faith and Confidence 8. And now being come to the Circumcision having set a Law to my self to avoid repetitions all I can do refer to the 8th and 9th Sections of that short Tract call'd Considerations on the Scope of J. Behmen compared with the 41st Chap. of the Mysterium Magnum is said to be Epitomized or Abridged in the Book of Extracts in every of which it is so largely opened that to touch it here would be Tautology and superfluous recitals Q. 91. What Figure is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah How was it effâ—cted A. 1. The destruction of Sodom c. is the Figure of the destruction of Babel sometimes call'd the Antichrist sometimes the Whore sometimes the Man of Sin a Man for his daring Courage a Whore for Unfaithfulness and Impudence And these do figure Sodom c. 2. 1. In their State and Grandeur 2. In their Sin 3. In their Downfal Their State consisted 1. In their Oâ—ulence being richly perfectly Scituated thus do Babylon Antichrist and the Whore covet and possess the Fat of the Earth 2. Their State and Grandeur Sodom c. were Cities Royal Cities having Kings and Pomp. 3. In their security by their numbers as Cities in a well watered Land Like the second thus doth Antichrist ally it self by Policy to Chief Magistracy Like the third thus doth Antichrist establish her self by outward force 3. In their Sin Sodom's Sins were 1. Pride 2. Fulness of Bread 3. Idleness Thus Babylon and the Whore is said to be in Scarlet with a Golden Cup in her Hand not got by Industry but already in her Hand And is distinguishable and an Enmity with the Servants of Christ for 1. Christs Servants are like their Lord humbled to the Earth 2. If not poor outwardly as for the most part they are yet are always as having nothing 3. Not Idle for they are working out their own Salvation with fear and trembling 4. In their Downfal sudden and unexpected Sodom's was not in the silence and horrors of the Night Season but when the risen Sun had renewed their hopes of Safety Thus is it said of Babylon who said I sit as a Queen c. in one hour is her c. 2. That Sodom's Ruine was immediately from above Thus the Apostle saith of Antichrist Whom the Lord shall destroy by the Spirit of his Mouth and Brightness of his coming Therefore shall Babylon fall irresistibly 3. The Fall of Sodom was â—otal final and irrecoverable or irreparable in every of which it figures Antichrist for to express it it 's said that a Mighty Angel took up a great Stone like a Milstone and cast it into the Sea saying thus with violence shall the great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all 4. In the fall of Antichrist those that will come out of her shall be received figured by the escape of Lot and his two Daâ—ghters as saith the Holy Ghost Come out of her my people that ye partake not of her sins nor receive of her Plagues Thus Antichrist and Babel might well and fitly be call'd Spiritually Sodom and Egypt 5. To the secâ—nd part of the Question viz. How it was effected It 's answer'd 1. Not by the Helâ—ish Fire for the Fuel and Matter of that Fire must be Eternal 2. Not by the â—ire which shall sweep and reduce the Out-birth to it first principles before the last Judgment for that would have dissolv'd the Elements 6. But it was effected by the flagrat of the Elementary Fire which was fully sufficient to execute Divine Vengeance on the Elementary part of Sodom c. Q. 92. Wherefore did Lot's Wife become a Pillar of Salt how is it to be understood A. 1. For a dreadful warning to all succeeding times of the effect of Covetousness We are not to be trusted with the World till we are dead to it as Paul saith
the 75th 81st and 90th Answers which laid together are a compleat Answer to the present Question according to what I have attain'd Q. 103. What was John Baptist Christ's forerunner A. 1. The Lord saith of him That among them that are Born of Women there hath not risen a greater Prophet than John the Baptist that is in the Father's first Administration nevertheless he that is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he that is in the more clear day and Manifestation of Christ. 2. The Lord saith also of him This is Elias which was for to come as saith the Prophet I will send you Elijah the Prophet c. And Isaiah saith The Voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord c. The same saith John of himself Let it be said What is the Voice that crieth and what the Wilderness wherein he crieth And the Question lyeth open 3. 1. The Voice is not properly the Voice of Jesus Christ for this was Preparatory to his coming 2 Nor was it the Voice properly of the Holy Ghost for his Administration succeeded that of Christ's 3 Nor a bare Human Voice for so much Power and Conviction was in it that all men acknowledged him a Prophet and his Baptism not of Men but from Heaven 4. The Wilderness was not of Earth Rocks and wild Beasts for such are not prepared for Christ But Man stray'd out of the Garden is the Wilderness here meant that was cried in and unto to repent because of the near approach of the Kingdom of Heaven 5. The Voice crying in the Wilderness is the Father's drawing as saith the Lord Jesus Christ No man cometh to me except the Father draw him 6. Elias in the Spirit of Zeal is John the Baptist's Antitype figuring as did John the Baptist more eminently and immediately the Father's fiery Zeal in the Holy first Principle for Elias and John's Administration was in the Father's Property 7. The great Confluence of all Judea c. to his Baptism shews the Universality of the Father's Applications Convictions and Drawings 8. The reprehension of the Scribes and Pharises calling them Generation of Vipers c. Shews the Father's drawings to Repentance to be not only general but particularly in and to his resolved and designed Enemies Also shews the rejection of Man's Wisdom and outward Formality even in the true Religious Institutions 9. Thus the Groans of Penitent Souls and Impenitent Mens Gripes the Mournings of the one and the Stings and Horrors of the other proceed from the Father's condemning Convictions whereof John the Baptist's Ministry and himself is the representation Q. 104. What kind of Virgin was Mary in whom God became Man before she Conceived A. 10. The Virgin Mary was of low Estate and Degree Daughter of Joachim and Anna not as such wholly pure as some feign but came from faln Eve Much less was she the Virgin Sophia for the first Adam had repudiated himself and all his from that Heavenly Virginity and gone into Adultery into Lust. 11. So that of Mary it may be said as Daniel of himself This is not revealed to me for any Wisdom that is in me more than in any â—iving Or as Peter saith of himself and John Why look ye on us as if by our Power and Holiness we had done this c. 12. But though Mary before she conceived was in Soul and Body such as other Daughters of Eve who by the Regeneration were in the Holy Element Yet to say what she came to be in and after her conceiving will fall under the Answers of the two following Questions Q. 105. Why must Mary be first Espoused or Betrothed to Old Joseph before she Conceived of the Holy Ghost A. 1. An Espousal of the sort here signified is a solemn mutual Contract between two of different Sexes exclusive of all others such was This of the Virgin to Joseph a thing usual with the Jews To which allude both the Prophet The Love of thine Espousals and again Paul I have Espoused you to me The above definition hath these parts viz. 1. It must be mutual between two 2. Of different Sexes 3. Exclusive of all others 4. Solemn 2. By this Espousal is signified that the Virgin of Wisdom the promised Seed was Espoused to Man's Soul This Virgin Sophia is the Tincture in the Holy Element in Paradice viz. the Holy Ternary or Heavenly Earth 3. As the Spirit or as some have call'd it the Soul of the Outward World is to This Out-world and Elements a giving Mind Sense and Virtue to the Creatures Such is the pure Sophia in the Eternal Glorious World The Soul and it were as one but by the Apostasie became two 4. Again This Holy Pure Virgin is Espoused to Man's Soul or Fiery Property ' her self being of the Tincture of the Light World and so were they of two Sexes 5. Also This Espousal is exclusive of all others for the Soul must cleave to her and not joyn it self to the first or third Principles 6. And the Solemnity is no less than that which either enters the Soul into the Life Eternal and Love Kingdom which else is precipitated into the fierce Wrath. 7. Now that Mary's Espousal should precede her Conception by the Holy Ghost was To shew what Infinite Grace did immediately on the heavy Fall For Man even ready to be devoured by the third Principle and to devour himself by his first is by this Espousal the Covenant of Grace stayed from the Abyssal Fall which stop or betrothing must needs be now or never That it was only an Espousal and that before the actual Conception was to shew that Man could not be entrusted at least not yet with so inestimable a value To signifie an intermission or intervention of Time or Ages to pass and occur before performance of what had been promised being as the Apostle phraseth it the end viz. us upon whom the Ends of the World are come as had said the Angel to Daniel To shew what a vast distance Man had removed himself that his Restoration must be wrought by tract of time as men creep out of Chronical Diseases so that the time of Espousal was as saith the Apostle My little Children of whom I travel in birth again till Christ be formed in you as till an Embrio mature to a compleatness or a Seed to be a Tree To attest the Genealogy of the Lord 's Earthy Humanity to be of David For besides the express frequent plain and full Testimonies by the Prophets and Apostles concerning Christ's Lineage both Genealogies in Matthew from Abraham for satisfying the Jews and in Luke to Adam for comfort of the Gentiles do pitch on Joseph wherein Mary is included because none married out of their own Tribe and consequently none Espoused out of it The certainty of Mary's Genealogy is demonstrated only by her Espousal with Joseph to keep
tâ—e Humane Soul as it was deriv'd from Mary was finite yet as he was conceived by the seminal substance of the Holy Ghost it was Infinite being wholly so united to the Infinity 7. Behold and sink down and drown thy self Oh my Soul in the sweet Ocean of this free Master piece of Matchless love see the heighth depth length and breadth Know what passeth knowledge Conception Comprehension Make thy Heart the Footstool of it thy Soul a Sacrifice to it thy Spirit the amazed Witness of it thy Mind and Thoughts the Waiters on it thy Tongue and Pen the Trumpet of it Let Heaven and Earth adore it let Time and Eternity record it let Hell and the Children of Pride tremble at it but let the humble Man and broken Bones Inherit Inhabit and Rejoice in it for ever Q. 128. Why did some convert and turn again when they saw what was done at the dying of Christ And the High-Priests not Why must they be blind and hardened as to this Work A. 1. By the High-Priests are meant him that was such and those Rulers of most Eminence assisting and concurring with him This Question is double viz. Why some did convert And why such as the High Priests c. did not That some did as the Centurion c. Matth. 27. â—4 seeing that which was done feared greatly saying Truely this was the Son of God Luke 2â— 47. 4â— And Luke records That the Centurion and all the people seeing c. Glorified God and all the people smote their Breasts and departed 2. For their dark Centre was terrified the stirred by remorse and compassion with and unto so patient and innocent a Lamb and that stirring moving on by conviction to great grief sorrow and mourning begat love and the love enkindled the holy Light of the second Divine principle of which number it 's said Longinus was who with his Spear pierced the Lords blessed side 3. But in the High-Priests c. The dark Zeal had like Fire drunk up the meek Water of Tenderness and Compassion so that the Light could not enkindle but they remain'd a dark Fire For it is manifest they by their impetuous Lusting proud grasping for Grandeur and Rule and their griping after heaping up abundance of the outward principle had by Covetousness like greedy Dogs or Swine formed their very Souls according to the four Auguishes of the first dark Hellish Impression 4. As Antichrist also whose Forerunners and Antitype these were hath done and still doth Therefore to distinguish a resolv'd hardened Persecutor from the Creaturely Devils is thus to be done that the persecuting Man hath on him the Bestial part of the Out-birth for mitigation which is a Door through which it is possible Grace may enter unless the impardonable sin hath judicially wholly shut him up 5. But the mitigating third principle excepted viz. the worst part of it the Antichristian Spirited-Man having shut out the second principle the Evil Angels and he are in one and the self-same principle 6. It is also certain that the Antichrist sometimes call'd the Whore sometimes Babylon sometimes the Mystery of Iniquity and Man of Sin is as such incureable and irrecoverable for it is an Enmity against Love and Meekness The Art of Physick gives that Disease for Incureable which is grounded on the Constitution the Disease of Antichrist is such and therefore Incureable for he is compos'd of the Enmity of the four forms of the first principle and is Enmity in the Abstract against the Divine Kingdom of Humility Meekness Love Peace and Divine Light and Joy Q. 129. What was Christs going to Hell where he overcame Death and the Devil A. 1. Great is Mans Misery on Earth by reason of wilful blindness When we hear of Christs going to Hell or overcoming Death and the Devil there we blindly grope with our Conceits imagining in our Reason a local motion to a place far off But that it may be plainly told what Christs going to Hell was it must first be orderly said 1. What Hell is and where Which is referr'd to the 17th Answer the 19 20 21 22 23 verses 2. What the Conquering Captain Christ is that Vanquished all the Devils every where It is answered It was Christ as he had made himself a Creature for his Body as a Creature is the whole holy pure Element which comprizeth this whole World The holy Body hath Heavenly Flesh and Blood and Water of Eternal Life which feedeth the Faithful Soul at the Lords Table 2. Anâ— tho' it comprizeth this World Heaven Paradise and the Angelical World yet is a Creature but such a Creature as can be every where in the Deity for unto this Creature of Heavenly substantiality hath the Almighty Son of God espoused himself as a Body to remain in Eternity as in the time the Sun doth unto the Moon as in his own Body In every part of which Body the Trinity is always manifest Objection 3. But this crosseth the received Divinity which assigns ubiquity to be the peculiar distinction of the Creator from the Creature Also an imposing upon the Senses that one Creature is at London and at Quinsay at the same moment of time a thing denied to be in the Sphere of an Angel whose Wings are only illustrations of his almost instantaneous local motion implying he cannot be in two places at once Answer 4. The least divisible Body requires place and space and magnitude is the uniting of two or more divisibles 1. My Foot is not where my Head is but I am where either of them is 2. If my Head only is in the Air my Body only in the Water my Feet only in the Earth under Water yet I am in every of these at once 3. My Hand is at the Heâ—m my Eye on the Star my Heart with my God then am I at once in two Worlds 4. Again my Elementary and Sensual Man is in pain my Siderial Man in care the unmortified properties of my Eternal first Principle or old Man or Root of the Soul in much stubbornness anxiety and frowardness my regenerate new Man or humble meekened Spirit is rejoicing under the Cross in hope of Eternal Blessedness Yet am I but one little poor Creature tho' I am at once in one Visible and three Invisible Worlds 5. Now tho' what the new Man sees or feels hath or hopes for meets with resistance in the unmortified part of the first principle or earthy Vessel yet is it not so in Divine Bodies of Angels or perfected Spirits Who all by prevalence of their consonance and uninterrupted holy will have their Heterogeneous parts swallow'd up by their lustrous Harmony 6. All these things penetrated and pondered shall our straitned Souls confine the Immense Heavenly Humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ For his becoming Man or Incarnation wherein he assumed our darkened Souls uniting them with the Divine Virgin of Wisdom as one Creature in himself did not straâ—ten lessen
Light of the second Principle there is generated in us the pure Love of the third Principle of which Love the Holy Ghost is the Author by this the Law is fulfilled and in and by it the Holy Ghost graciously seals the Regenerate to Eternal Salvation Who having been fed by the Flesh and Blood of the Lord Jesus have in part got his Heavenly Body on them which is attaining a measure of the Resurrection from the dead 6. This brings in Universality in the Room of Propriety one instead of many signified by the Tongues which tho' Cloven were all but one united and one only in every Language here see we the Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven and the new Man thus progressed is the true and in some sort perfect Image of the Trinity for it is the first disappeared Image which Adam fell from And in this most excellent way doth the glorious Trinity work in Eternity in all Divine Creatures wherein the Three Persons Image themselves Q. 148. What is the Litteral Word and the Living Word Christ in his shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans Word but not Christ teaching in his Resurrection A. 1. The Literal Word did signifie in the Jewish Administration the Law of Circumcision c. call'd a killing Letter tho' even that were glorious as is intimated by Moses Face The Evangelizing by Preaching or Writing must then be much more glorious the Holy Writings of the Prophets Apostles and Saints are therefore exceeding precious and require great care and diligence to learn the Mysteries there intended and taught they are so good and important their Efficacy Majesty and End so Divine that the living Word and it are used as terms convertible but yet Metonymically As by the Cup is meant the Wine or by the Bag the Treasure 2. But the Living Word is the Eternal Creating Word and tho' no Language contains â—et every Word of Men is of it and by it and when the Lord Jesus saith of the Holy Spirit he shall take of mine and give it unto you he means the so speaking as the Spirit should give utterance Such was this when the God of Spirits fell on them other speaking sprung from Babel is as far below the Life and Power of that as the Consonants are below the Vowels which produce but muâ—e â—issings c. 3. And we may expect when God shall give to his one Heart one Soul one Love one Life of Faith Holiness Meekness Patience and Self-denial accounting nothing their own but as Members of the one Body to live as that white sweet first Age of those Guests at the Feast of Pentecost When God shall do this we may expect he will restore the Spirits of the Letters and give us Water at the pure Fountain until then as one people know not the Language of others so all people are strangers to this and as falshood causeth Men not to know others Minds by their Words so do Mens false Hearts make them unknown to themselves 4. Now why some of them who heard the Heavenly Tidings said these Men are full of sweet or new Wine was because themselves were Captivated in another Principle than that wherein the words were Born perhaps some in the deceits of the third Principle others in the wrath of the first so that they could no more comprehend the words of the Children of the day than the Creatures of the corrupt terrene Salitter can converse with the Aerial Creatures or the aquaâ—trish with those of the Fire or then we poor Offspring of faln Adam can skill the Dialect of Angels 5. Mans Heart is naturally prepossest against Divine Understanding and the simplicity of truth not only from his disorder'd Original but especially by Maturity of Growth to fixedness in the humane Apostacy for Youth stands in a true Ground which makes Angels delight in them until the Serpents Foxes and Goats their Tutors Companions and Tempters have gravely taught them to be Fools in Fashion also false and by degrees to be obscene and impudent of Conversation O how great is Mans Misery on Earth how innumerable his Snares how multiply'd his Perils and Sorrows in this great and terrible Wilderness How Infinite is the forbearance of a contemned Father How compassionate the Redeerner to his daily Murtherers How long-suffering is the grieved Holy Spirit O the Heighth and Depth and Length and Breadth of that Love so abused by us The subsequent Question excuseth saying more to this Q. 149. How doth Christ himself teach presentially in the Office of Preaching and yet sitteth at the Right Hand of God Or among whom doth Christ teach what is a Shepherd or Pastor in the Spirit of Christ and a Teacher of the Letter without the Spirit of Christ each in his Office A. 1. How Christ is in Heaven and every where on Earth at once according to his Heavenly Humanity the 119 Answer from ver 3. to the End sheweth Also it is elsewhere shew'd the sitting of Christ at the Right Hand of the Power of God is at the place where Love quencheth Wrath therefore are the Sheep at the great Day placed on the Right Hand of the Judge 2. But now to the next part of the Question among whom doth Christ teach it must be answer'd the Light which bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men for as every Countrey on Earth is visited by the splendor of the Sun and every Plant and Pile of Grass Influenced by him and so hath been from the Creation so also from Adam to the last Man hath Christ the only true Light shined and will shine 3. And as there are many places in some Countries and some Angles in every Countrey whereon the Suns Beams beat not directly yet is there no Vegetable which his Vigor Influenceth noâ— Such is the Pâ—eâ—ching Vertue of Christ to all present past and future 4. Again as every Mineral is not Gold nor every Fruit solar that the Suns veâ—tue should be totally prevalent in them but they all are helped the more to grow thereby in their own Property so that it is not the Suns fault that many are spoil'd Thus tho' Christ stands in the Door of every Mans Heart calls them waits the whole time of the Life of many and very long on all as a Judge as a Councellor and as a Monitor yet many grow hard and as evil Creatures the stronger in their own property by the desireable access of the Suns Rays Thus Impenitent Men do from Gods goodness treasure up wrath bless themselves say we shall have peace cry the Temple of the Lord c. and grow the more evil because God is most good and are the more daring the more they are intreated and strove with 5. Now to the latter part of the Question
had an open Door into Hearts that could see who was in the Gall of Bitterness and who had Faith to be Healed so infallible was their deep penetration whereas the now Pretenders have their own Hearts shut against them and many 't is to be feared themselves fetter'd in the Bonds of Iniquity 8. I compare the Apostles continuation in the Lord's Work of remitting after his departure to Joshuah succeeding Moses who passed the Tribes through Jordan as Moses had done through the Sea but the succeeding Judges though Prophets did not so and the Allusion so fits as the one is the plain figure of the other 9. He that converteth a Sinner from the Error of his ways shall save a Soul from death and cover a multitude of Sins As many therefore as God useth for Instruments of Converting Sinners so many Absolvers Remitters Pardoners and Coverers of Sins are there yet not one of them is so but God alone enkindles his Candle and puts a Treasure in such Earthen Vessels sometimes by Preaching the Gospel which who so reject do reject the Council of God against themselves Some others are used by holy Conversation to the same end so is the unbelieving Husband by the believing Wife c. Some by faithful Monitions Some by patient and constant Suffering But many by Writing according to the measure of Grace vouchsafed which is a loud way of Preaching ringing to the largest distance of the habitable Earth and living to the longest space of time it self opening Heaven to several Nations and Ages influencing dark Souls and subjecting them to the Scepter of Jesus Christ. 10. All these and the like blessed ways doth God the Holy Ghost consecrate and sanctifie to touch and change Hearts these are the Keys the Evangelical Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to unlock Imprison'd Souls But if any pretend to have Keys to open Heaven to the Unregenerate Man the old unchang'd Nature and to bring the Serpentine Man in as once the Serpent entred Eden those are Thieves and their Keys Picklocks Heaven is exempt and above them that would break through and enter not in by the Door Q. 151. What is Christ's Testament together with the last Supper with Bread and Wine How is Christ really enjoy'd what manner of Flesh and Blood is it and what is the Mouth to eat it with A. 1. The Question is double 1. What is Christ's Testament together with the last Supper with Bread and Wine what manner of Flesh and Blood is it 2. How is Christ really enjoy'd and what is the Mouth to Eat it To the first it 's answer'd Negatively 1. It 's not his Almighty pure Deity the infinite inaccessible Light or true second Principle this no Creature can touch or reach 2. It is not the Body Soul and Spirit he received from Mary descending from Eve for so he is our Brother and remains a Creature not so swallow'd up as to be confounded in his Deity but must so return as the two Men in white testified nor is it eaten or swallow'd Cannibal like into our foul Carcasses As the Jews rightly said How can this man give us his meaning this his flesh to Eat But affirmatively 2. The Last-Supper Bread and Wine Flesh and Blood is the pure chast Virgin of Wisdom or Heavenly Man or Holy Humanity which Adam fell from The Tongue of an Angel might tell what this is but there must be a preparedness in the Intellect to receive the thing spoken or he would be as Dumb to the Hearers yet for the sake of the serious Deâ—irers it is answered 3. It is the created Tincture of the Light World That out of which Angels were spoken or breathed forth the Food of Angels as every Creature feedeth of its Mother the Child of the Breast and the Elementary Creatures of the Elements Man's outward Body on the Tincture of the Elements Soul of the World or Astral Powers but if his inward Man hath no higher Nourishment as the Unregenerate hath not the Soul starveth for its Will hath an inferiour false Tincture declining to Sensuality and with the Fool saith Soul take thyrest eat drink and be merry And though by reason of the noble Extraction of the Soul Man hath Eternity as also the Devil remains an Angel Yet is the Tincture of both false and degenerate man going into the Wrath in the Looking-Glass and the Evil Spirits into the fierceness of the first Principle and both out of the Light 4. While the regenerate New Man feedeth on the true Divine Tincture which is the Bread that cometh down from Heaven or the Flesh of Christ and Water of Life or Divine Meekness viz. The Blood of Christ which quencheth the wrath or thirst of the Fire-Soul It is the Quintessence of the Paradisical Angelical World every where for ever pure before God evidently figur'd by the Quintessence and Tincture in the outward World which that Man only who is taught of God knoweth or can know 5. The second part How is Christ really enjoy'd and what is the Mouth to eat it with 2. A. The Mouth is the great earnest hunger and thirst of the Love sick Fire-Soul and the enlightned Human Spirit both sharpened into so vigorous desire of Food proper for them that they are dead while thus awakened to all the drivings of the outward Magia And Christ is really enjoy'd while the outward Bread and Wine or Elements are received by such a Soul The way and manner how The Divine Power-world or Paradisical-Tincture or Virgin of Wisdom and Purity which are meant by the Flesh and Blood of Christ gives it self by and through the Tincture of the Bread and Wine not through the Elementary Bread and Wine which are Mortal and so under the Wrath but through the Tincture thereof which is Immortal and for the sake whereof the Creatures shall in their Idea share in the Liberty of the Children of God Therefore this Tincture or Kind of Quintessence doth the Holy Power use as the Medium to conveigh it self into the Mouth of the Human Soul and Spirit And as the right Tincture transmuteth inferior Metals into the noble solar one so doth this Body and Blood through the above Medium transmute the half dead Image into revived Vertue the Eternal inward Man into a holy lustrous Love-fire and Love-flame that the Man may thereby be exalted into an Image of the three Worlds in due weight harmony and regiment of the Holy World or Divine second Principle the Almighty Infinite Son of God Q. 152. What is the place in Man wherein Christ's Flesh and Blood continueth He himself saith Whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood he continueth in me and I in him Also If you do not eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood then you have no life in you A. 1. What the eaâ—ing Christ's Flesh and drinking his Blood is and how it is really enjoy'd also what we are
the Almighty Power of the Holy Ghost the latter perfected and consummated by the same Power concurring with the Gracious Providence of Infinite Wisdom The first so great an inward Divine Work as none but such in whom it is wrought can speak more of it but as Parrots so that the Experimental Work only enables rightly to see taste feel and know it And the Spirit working it can only rightly open the Mouth and guide the Hand to tell and describe it And this being spoken in the plainest simplest way can yet be received and profitable to such only who by the same Spirit are not only enlighten'd but made alive by the new Regeneration 2. Therefore in answer to the first part of the Question we are to know that God made of one Blood all Nations of the Earth and all Men in one Principle viz. the third consisting of the first four Properties for its Root But the second was Mans Paradisical Garland his Heaven his Crown and Divine Image This our Root and common Father the first Adam suppressed extinguished and caused to die and disappear Thenceforth Man became like the Cursed Earth whereof some plats bear Thorns and Briars others fetid Weeds others poysonous Plants others less noxious Products according to the prevalency of every of which the plat is named So some Men are hurried by the impetuous storms and fury of the four Anguishes of the first Principle and so are Devilish others are swallow'd up of the voluptuous Lusts of the Elementary Spirit and thence rightly called sensual others steered and regulated by the Maxims of the Siderial World and these can be no more or better than Earthy 3. Now out of all these the Divine Power ingenerating Faith not only acting in the understanding but swaying the Scepter of the Will also self-denial both as from abhorrence of the defiling self and also from self-interest property and self-pleasing which is as the Flower of Grass then cometh a hunger after the unseen Manna which is the Root producing the meek resignation of self-pleasing desires patient submission to the Cross which as it were insensibly enkindleth in the Soul the sweet dear silent retirement rest and peace the passing into the fifth form and this walkt in gradually regenerateth and tinctureth the dark perverted Soul with the noble new universal Power and Might And these are as different according to the procedure of Men as years distinguish the growth and stature of Children But done so silently by the Holy Spirit in Mans Spirit as the Blossom issueth and after it the Fruit. 4. The true new Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ is always new and that continually and successively renewed if indeed it be true not as the natural Birth of Children into this World who are so Born but once but rather as the growing of the Embrio in the Womb to a formed animated perfect Child Nor as an Arrow flying through by the force of its first push but as a Ship sailing through successive Perils and always returning to its latitude from various aberrations and passing through raging Surges as over so many Deaths Or as young people recover out of escaping from and through many Sicknesses and Relapses For the Lord himself teacheth saying to his Disciples who none doubts were before that converted Except ye be converted and become as this little Child ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Which then they were not for their quest was who should be the greatest thus tho' Metal upon Metal be false Herauldry Conversion upon Conversion is true Christianity 5. Nor is this less plain and evidently real in it self to the Children of the day tho' Nicodemus the Night Visiter misunderstood it than that the outward Suns Diurnal appearances on the Earths Revolutions make so many new days and every advance of the new Born Soul towards Perfection is such another thing than was the former as this Harvest is than the last was for the Soul can no more continue to grow by the first stirrings of the Heavenly World in it than the Body be nourished and supported by the Food it received the last Month or the Plants by the Rain they imbibed the last year or the Manna gathered one day be Food the following day when grown Verminous Thus God saith Behold I make all things new 6. Such therefore who pinfold their apprehensions of the new Regeneration by the Gage and Glass of the Natural Birth of Children may as equally infer the Mortification or Dying to the corrupt Man to be one only act Contrary to the Apostle I die daily Whereas we both die daily and are daily regenerated as Night and Day Winter and Summer are successively perpetuated Among the Roman Ecclesiasticks their Novices are under an absolute Arbitrary Subjection to the Tyranny of their unaccountable Superiors but the higher the Soul advanceth to the superior parts of true Regeneration the more simply and resignedly obedient is he till he actively passively and compleatly become as a little Child 7. And now to the second part of the Question Is it done in this time or after this time It is answer'd in the immediately preceding Discourse on the first part of this Question That the Regeneration is not wrought by one act as neither is Mortification done at once but gradually by little and little effected as a Summer hath its Spring a Day its Dawning a Vintage its sprouting out Obj. 1. â—8 Is it objected Omnipotence may perfect the Regeneration at once by one single act A. Without the Censure of confining Infinity it 's queried on what Ground is this presumption Built God shews us his way by all his gracious Discoveries for instance that of the Creation of the Out-world leads us as by the Hand to the view of the progress of the new Creation in which not to touch particulars which were repeating what is elsewhere done and digressive it may not be denyed but the Light call'd for at the beginning might have been multiplied into the inkindling of the whole deep that all had been as a Sun and so the alone figure of the Heavenly World but how then had this Out-birth figur'd both Worlds or both Principles wherein the seven properties should impress themselves in their distinct powers Therefore was that Light collected and the place of the Sun ennobled with the preheminence of the Empire of the Out-world as the Representer of the Holy Infinite second Principle the Son of God And the Darkness which before covered the Deep was conserved by condensation of the Terrestrial Globe whereon we creep and the Crassitude of the other Stars to figure the Infinite Eternal first Principle whereinto according to the dark impression thereof Man fell and out of which he is gradually recover'd as by way of similitude the Suns lustre attenuateth the gross Air by his continual variation by steddy orderly and regular approaches toward either Tropick Obj. 2. 9. But God new regenerateth the Spirit of Christ in
Man at dissolution of the outward Life at one instant and by the same dissolution is it effected and compleated A. What Omnipotence may do is not for vile dust to comprehend for it is written I know thou canst do all things and the Thief on the Cross was a Monument of unsearchable Grace yet by the words of that Thief there seems not only a preparedness but a good degree of Conviction of guilt penitence sence and anguish under it inlightening to know the Lord Jesus Faith to direct and fortifie his petition and a seeing the unseen Kingdom yet so late a Repentance tho' thus manifested is the one only singular president on Record Q. 10. But it may be enquired what the dissolution of the outward Life of its own Nature contributeth hereunto A. It must be acknowledged that it banisheth for ever the outward Objects of our misimployed Affections and yet it followeth not that it takes away the desire gust or lust after them for the breaking of the outward Life or Elementary and Siderial Man or the Obligations and Ligaments of our Souls and Spirits is but as taking away the Skreen and opening to us the two inward Worlds which is as the unraking of Fire and enraging the Souls native forms of the unregenerate which the Astral and Elementary Man had been before the separation a mitigation of the Anguishes of so far is Mans dissolution from contributing to a Foundation or Beginning of the Divine Birth As it may be conceived by noting that tho' a proper Soil and apt Season may shoot a Mustard-seed sown unto a tall large stature Yet the richest Soil concurring Elements liberal Season benign Astral Influences with the Solar Rays uniting transmute not Tares into Wheat Thistles into Fig-trees nor Thorns into Vines 11. But where the Soul like Flax only smoketh with the Holy Fire and the Souls Fire is irradiated with true tho' weak Divine Light rightly directing the Eye of the Mind Causing the Will and Affections to press forward mourning sowing in tears smiting on the Breast in Anguish heaviness and good earnestness the dissolution of such a sincere beginning Pilgrim may be but as plucking up a Thorn Hedge to make the way more accessable disburthening an over-laden Ship the better to secure the whole the alighting from a froward unbroken or tired Horse which will neither carry the Rider nor can be carried by him So unsuitable a Companion doth the Soul begun to be regenerate find his Body with the distrustful cares distracting fears worldly sorrow and hateful pollutions thereof And so adverse are the Maxims of the Sensual Man to those of the New that they are on terms of Hostility so that if we live after the Flesh we shall die but if by the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the Body we shall live The Body's Vileness is pointed at by that Statute in Moses that the Holy Anointing Oil was not to be poured on Man's Flesh tho' not only both the Altars the Table Laver all the Vessels and Candlesticks but also the very Tabernacle was to be anointed therewith 12. How much are we less provident than the Brutes who know and use their season the Stork the Ant c. and under flattering Hopes of doing all at last neglect all for ever but when Harvest is come begin to sow regardless of what is written To day if you will bear his voice harden not your hearts But besotted lost Man will promise himself that it is enough at death that the Priest can absolve me Others to say I believe Christ hath done all for me or because they acknowledge that all are sinners indulge themselves to be always sinners neglecting the great End of their Creation and of Divine Patience till the Creator is calling them for Accompt of His betrusted Talents as if they would then work out their Salvation when themselves are passive and unable to action and the night come when no man can work Obj. 3. 13. But we are told and that by some who detest the Roman Purgatory that something may be done to compleat the perfection of separate Souls after their separation from the Mortal Body who produce several Texts out of the Old Testament and out of the New also out of the Apocryphal antiquity to point at it or rather expresly to confirm it as out of the Old Deut. 26. 14. Isa. 61. 1. Zech. 9. 11 12. out of the New Matth. 12. 32. 2 Tim. 1. 18. 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Pet. 4. 6. out of the Antient Writings call'd Apocrypha 2 Esdras 7. 37. Ecclesiasticus 7. 33. 2. Maccab. 44. 45. Let us therefore post-pone the first step to the New Birth till our bodily Letts be removed when without the obstructions of the Rebel Passions ending with cutting of the Temporal Thread we be adapted thereunto A. The Objection supposeth not that one who at separation of the Soul from the Outward Body after rejecting the Gospel being in fixt Enmity against God and the Kingdom of Resignation is remediable nor suggesteth that he who soweth himself a Tare Thorn or Thistle shall rise a Wheat Corn Vine or Fig-tree how therefore may it seem incumbent on me to oppose my self to the dint of the Texts produced 14. But rather as the Lord Christ in answer to the Question of the Disciples Wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father keepeth in his own Power but prophesieth and chargeth on them on that occasion their immediate concern and business How much less is it for men to know what the operations of Father Son and Holy Ghost will be in perfecting separate Souls when out of the Circle of Time and Seasons For so strong a Fort hath Satan built in mens resolute Self-wills so impierceable are their Rocky Hearts that like Leviathan they laugh at the shaking of the Spear and as the Servants of Atheistical Benhadad diligently catch every word seeming to favour their flattery of Impunity that they may treasure up wrath by impenitence more and more against the day of wrath 15. To these am I sent with happy Tydings that howsoever the Abyss of Mercy hath winked at the faults of the days of Ignorance yet now commandeth he all men every where to repent also with heavy Tydings that if in this their day they neglect so great Salvation how shall they escape Which Question none in Heaven Earth or Hell answereth Again if they that sinned against Moses Law died without Mercy and it might seem the bottom of Misery to die a merciless Death of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy who have trampled under foot the Son of God and blasphemously counted the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and done despite to the Spirit of Grace of how much sorer punishment is that Question but which either is unanswerable or which Eternity can only unfold 16. A murthered Body is the sorrow and pity
to be risen with Christ and guided by his Light within them Let it be observed by such who wilfully oppose or not regarded at their Peril And for satisfaction of such who are willing to know the truth viz. That Christ had a true Natural Humane Body of Flesh and Blood from Mary Heb. 2. 24. For asmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through Death he might destroy him that had the power of Death which is the Devil Q. 3. But is it askt how is this Body and Humane Soul the same of ours It 's answer'd 1. By way of Concession that it was so far other than ours as it had the Holy Ghost instead of Mans Masculine Seed 2. Yet took he as the above Text with many others plainly tell us part of our Flesh and Blood and so was our Brother that is such as the Children had part of were of or are partakers of and this is also ours of what Nation soever we are for it is written Acts â—7 16. God hath made of one Blood all Nations of Men to dwell on the Face of the Earth Q. 4. Is it ask'd what of this was raised again It 's Answer'd all of it for the Women and after that the Disciple whom Jesus loved and Peter saw there was nothing left in the Sepulchre after the Resurrection but the Linnen Cloaths wherein he had been wrapped Q. 5. May it be fully so with other Bodies Answer Matth. 27. 52 53. And the Graves were opened and many Bodies of Saints which slept arose and came out of their Graves after his Resurrection and went into the Holy City and appeared unto many And it must be remembred that it shall be so with ours at the last day it was the Faith of Martha who saith unto him John 11. 24. I know that my Brother shall rise again in the Resurrection at the last day Q. 6. May it not be otherwise with us our Bodies must putrifie and the Incorruptible only rise Answer our Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. 53. Our Mortal shall put on Immortality and our Corruptible shall put on Incorruption and all this as a consequence of Christs Death and Burial according to the Scriptures also of his rising again and after his rising again was seen of Cephas then of the Twelve after that of above five hundred Brethren at once 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 5 6. Q. 7. Shall it be a Resurrection of all Answer The Lord saith Marvel not at this for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the Graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth they that have done good to the Resurrection of Life and they that have done evil unto the Resurrection of Damnation Let it therefore no longer be charged justly on us as formerly on the Jewish Rabbies That we err not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God 1 Thes. 4. 14 15. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep c. Q. 8. How is it effected Answer As Lazarus was raised That voice which gave Being to all call'd him up and that voice shall call all up every one in his own Order May it never be said of us as of the Jews Because they knew not him nor yet the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath day they have fulfilled them in condemning him So may it not be said now Because they consult not frequently nor heedfully regard nor will understand the holy Words and Writings of the Lord his Apostles c. which they may daily read they yet sit down with a confused Notion of this great Doctrine and bury their drowsie Intellect some with dark Heathenish Maxims begetting Atheism in Judgment and Practice a degree worse than Devils 9. Other some there are having a glimpse of a true Light wherewith they think themselves rich and to have need of nothing and there shut it and themselves up without proving it by searching like the Bereans and without improving it by trimming their Lamps But not imploying themselves in the Lords methods do obscure or bury their Talent and so by degrees let their foolish Heart be darkened not only in this but in many other of the plain and precious Truths of the Kingdom of God which great evil and defection is as ever heretofore in all other forms accompanied with sharp Censures of others and peremptory unwarranted Injunctions of their own Reason Whereas the more we approach the Divine Life the more comprehensive is that Soul the more ready to bear and forbear to do and suffer to become all or any thing to all that it may beget of that meek Spirit in others to be swift to hear to have an open naked Breast whereon it begs the Lord Jesus to write his whole Pleasure is so vile in his own absurd Judgment that is easily induced to think highly of others Q. 173. How doth this World pass away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward A. 1. To some this Question may seem only curious and to others so occult as if incogniscible to a third sort such as if possible to be resolv'd were needless because it fruitlesly anticipates say they the thing which in its season shall demonstrate it self But on serious mature inspection it is found possible important and greatly necessary to be known and believed 2. It is said that when Cortis with a Brigade of Spanish Horse and Infantry Invaded the West Indies and had charged them of the Republick of Tlaxcallan upon the Fall of any Spaniard either Man or Horse care was taken so to bury them that the Americans might not know it which made them despair of withstanding such whom they thence concluded to be Immortal Thus not to discover the end of this present World which the dark World and the Prince of it would conceal were to insinuate as if it were indissoluble and consequently uncreated and so Brutishly to introduce Atheism and Atheism is that fatal Evil which may be justly accounted the worst of Errors of the worst of Men. 3. But this World had a beginning and shall have an end as it is written Psal. 102. 25 26. Of old thou hast laid the foundation of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of thy hand They shall perish c. They all shall wax old as doth a Garment c. Heb. 1. 10 11 12. And tho' no History scarcely records any who mock'd at the coming of the Lord yet is it Prophesied 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. That in the last days Scoffers shall come even at that which will then be at the Door saying Where is the promise of his coming c. For such Mens Lusts Biass them to abuse Gods long-suffering ver 9. Who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance Ezek. 18. 31. 32. 2 Pet. 3. 10. And it is told
in the devouring fierceness of the Wrath kingdom and the second and third Principles subsist in and with and are tormented by the Anguishes of the Soul as are the Souls themselves by the contrarieties of their own four forms 9. Thus also are Devils and the Damned a Torment each to other tho' in one Principle and one with the Principle as the Holy Angels and Saints are a Crown of Joy and Transcendent Delight and Triumph one to and with the other being all in one Principle and one with the Principle in Nature viz. the new Nature and all the seven Properties making in them all one Property The same contrariwise do the Devil and Damned torment themselves and one the other laying one his Blood on the other and all at constant Enmity against the Principle which comprehends them Blaspheming the Infinite Omnipotence 10. Obj. But will some say here seemeth a contradiction that the Faln Angels and Damned Men are one in Nature and Property with the Principle of Gods Wrath wherein they are comprehended and yet at Enmity with and in the same A. It is truely so and easily made obvious for the Principle is that of stern Astringency and violent Attraction also Exaltation whence Covetousness and boundless Pride in the separate Properties originate now how ill do gripirâ—g covetous Men and other covetous Men each scraping from the other agree and proud Men with contrary proud Men But the resignation of the Spirit and emptying and divesting of the Soul thereby becoming as a little Child frees from those direful Extremities The Principle is that of Darkness and the dark Spirits only are suited to and fixt in it but those in whom the Divine Light is generated and inkindled cannot be detained thereby for that were a real contradiction The Principle is also an Eternal Desperation and Anguish above which they in whom the Faith of Gods Elect is begotten are exalted but the rest are therein plunged The Principle is Rage fierce Wrath and implacable Enmity from which the Humble Meek Dear pure Love translates and ennobles the Soul giving another Centre another Life so that he is dead to all these and to the prevailing Dominion of this whole Principle and lives a new Divine Life which this Principle cannot see apprehend or conceive the Idea of much less comprehend and fasten upon But the Vassals or Parts of the dark World sink as Lead into that Abyss and as poysonous venemous filthy and other cruel Peasts cannot but do or endeavour hurt for it is their Life and their Forms of Nature have no other will so are these dark fierce damned Souls one in Will one in Nature one in Act with the Inimicitious Principle and therefore must ever be at Enmity therein and therewith 11. And this thus enkindled is the Kingdom of Gods fierce Wrath Fury Vengeance Consuming Fire the Blackness of Darkness this is that Fuel which the Breath of the Lord like a River of Brimstone doth kindle The Principle of Wrath as it is in God is not only not Evil but very Good in it self in its Original as is the heat in the outward Sun or the Gall in living Creatures the former giving Essence to the Light the other strikes up Life in the Animal but as the one in Burning-glasses consumes so the other separated from the other Properties is a bitter raging tearing fierce Enemy to the Tranquillity of Life as hath in these Answers been remember'd Q 176. Where shall Hell and also the Eternal Habitation of the Holy or Saints be A. 1. When depraved Reason hears this Question it straightway imploys the Imagining Faculty to dig a Dungeon for the place of Hell either in the Bowels of the Earth or under the Poles where the Suns absence causeth a desolation and to find the Habitation of the Saints it soars up to an imaginary Zenith and if it be not so gross as the fiction of the Elizian Fields yet placoth them by local distance from the Circle of time and remote from the roarings and fumes of the smoaky Pit 2. It is true to say up to Heaven and down to Hell but let the same imagination remove this Ball of Earth and Water and the starry Heaven is without Zenith and Nadir no Star is above or below And the local Apprehensions are as near the Truth as those Americans who by an Inaccessible Ridge of Mountains are shut up do as 't is said promise themselves to be Translated by Death only to the other side of that Ridge It is not unlikely that Mahomet might have heard of the mention St. Paul makes of the third Heaven and thence form in his gross Imagination an Ignorant Idea of his Travels through the Silver into the Golden Region and giddily seign those Varieties to be fenced out one from the other as Beasts be fenced out one from the other in their Inclosures 3. The where in this Question must therefore have quite another there and solution than what local distance gives for Hell will be Everlastingly comprized in that Principle of fierceness wrath and blackness of darkness where the seven Properties are in a fixt Anguish Enmity and Radical or Original Discord wherein all and only Extreams are ever Existeat and so possess the Powers in the dark World whereof the fierce Properties in this are a Figure or Shadow for in the third Principle or Out birth hath the first or dark World as really as the second the holy pure World powerfully impressed its Image In that place therefore are the Evil Angels and Damned Reprobates and when their filthy Bestial Bodies shall have a Resurrection to Condemnation as they were the Figure and Tinctured by their averted wrathful Inward Man they shall possess the Dregs Fierceness Anguish and Odious Properties of the same third Principle as the Filthiness Bitterness Stink Venom Contrariety Poyson and Extremities of the Out-birth which shall be resumed after the dissolution by its Aether not annihilated but remain Monuments of the Power of the Infinite Creator and Figures of the Spiritual dark World or first Principle as the Caput Mortuum of the Chymists Nor is it any Impediment but Exciter of Life that the bitter poysonous Gall is in the Bodies of Animals non prejudice to the day when the Sun is in the Zenith of the Aequator that darkness is also in that instant on their Antipodes and both Poles yea on Caverns of Rocks and Ships holds if shut up and on the inside of every Mans Glove and under the Eye-lid as soon and as oft as it is shut thus as to Locality Hell is in Heaven 4. And concerning the Eternal Habitation of the Holy or Saints it must be said it is wheresoever the seven Properties are in Harmony and triumph for there the first four in Eternity generate the other three whereby calmness is transported into triumph and peace ascendeth into excess of highest delight joy and ravishment Hereby diminutives of Affection if sincere are exalted and
Let me Oh thou God of my Spirit neither begin much less end with the outside washing which is my self washing of my self But let my Soul my Inside my Heart Will Designs Desires and my secret Thoughts be washt by thee for without that I have no part in thee Let this washing last longer than the possibility of my polluting my self can endure and let me be washt from my self which is the foulest sink on this side Hell Then and not till then shall I know what the Water above the Firmament is and can do for such a black Creature who of himself must cry unclean unclean On the 27th Question and Answer Of the Male and Female Kinds Whence is their Desire to each other And of the necessity of it 1. We are taught to pray Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven But seeing that Man hath now by dividing the Tinctures who till then Imaged the Divine Kingdom got such a will as is on Earth among the Brute Beasts losing the Heavenly Image what remains but that the will be taught subjection and long for groan after earnestly desire and accordingly pray to be restored here to be as they are in Heaven where by the reunion of the Tinctures they Image their God Yet tho' the Rent of the Tinctures be irreparable in the bulk of Mankind here and that God of pity to his Creatures hath extracted Good out of Evil bearing by Divine Patience that in Man whereof Nature it self as deprav'd as it is shameth at It nevertheless remains our Souls Work and Duty to learn what his dear disappear'd Virgin Image is studiously and sollicitously to seek that his first Love the Free Woman the Jerusalem from above which withdrew when Adam slept bitterly to bemoâ—n that loss and account the finding that precious Pearl worthy of all pains care and highest diligence and having found it then to sell all to buy it 2. But now my Soul seeing thou art so Beastly in thy Earthy Elementary and Astral part infecting thy noble Eternal part behold with abhorrence thy filthiness by a true impartial Glass Where is the Modesty of a Virgin state which doth the will of God in Heaven That purity which descended from Heaven and when Men became degenerate returned thither Why hast thou suffered the Virgin to wait at thy Door and Window calling as to her Bridegroom Exciting sometimes a Transport of Love other times shame again Joy to Trembling or Grief to Astonishment Finding thy self in so strange a Lodging as was Nebuchadnezzar when a Beasts Heart was given him If thou compare thy self with thy self in some days past perhaps thou maist flatter thy Judgment into Partiality and if thou compare thy self with others seeming more filthy thou maist be apt to pride thy self but if thou reflect on thy pollutions and the pure holy Virgin how great will be thy monstrosity how wretched vile and naked Come therefore daily to this perfect Standard just Balance true Glass and bewail thy defection bear the shame of thy deformity be humbled to the Dust as great Malefactors and miserable Captives whom nothing but Death can set free and redeem are dejected 3. And will nothing till Death intirely free me O my God and that my Soul hath no share of the natural Death which could it taste would only reprieve not deliver Let therefore that Death of Death the Mysterious Death of the Cross which opens the Door to the first Resurrection be powerfully vouchsafed so shall I be saved from this Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth and my Heart and Mouth be fill'd with thy pure praises for ever On the 28th Question and Answer Of the Principles of the Spirit of this World 1. The Psalmist meditating the frame of his Body saith it is fearful and wonderful The Fabrick of the whole Creation must needs be so likewise for 't is a Mirrour shewing evidently and distinctly all Worlds Powers and Properties not as a dead record but in a living Image by an Articulate voice with as many demonstrations and Tongues as here are forms All convincing that Man of great stupidity who sees not God hears not his voice reads not Lectures of his Infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness in this his Theatre The day is the Child of the second Principle the Night derives its Fountain from the first time is not fatherless the Principles of the Spirit of this World being various such must needs the Creatures be 2. It went with Man as with one drunk regardless of the top of the Stairs missing the first falls down all the rest or as one sleeping on the Brow of a Precipice or brink of a River whence if he tumbles it is to the bottom thus he who should have had Dominion over the Astral Powers losing the Reins is not only hurried by them but subjected to the Extremities of the Elements and domineer'd overby the sickly Humours Wants and Excesses of the Bestial Flesh and corrupting uncleanness of this Bag of Worms 3. If thou my Soul delightest in this 't is as a Fool in throwing Darts art thou proud of thy Bodies features as well may an unsound Man of his Ulcers or a Vassal of his Shackles thus to be present in the Body is to be absent from the Lord whose gracious presence removed makes Hell Return then Oh my Soul my Spirit and my Inward Powers into your rest live in the incombustâ—ble Body put on the Humility Modesty and Sacred Flaming Love being the Heavenly Flesh of Jesus Christ then will this Worlds Spirit own Subjection no longer be a Clog or Lord but a Staff and Servant To this O thou Almighty Arm strengthen me O thou Glorious Sun inlighten me O thou Sacred Breath enliven me for without thee what can I do who am faln to be weakness darkness and dead under this outward Worlds Tyranny On the 29th Question and Answer Of the Sperm or Seed of the Generation of all things 1. The Psalmist complains I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me but the Sperm or Seed of all things is without iniquity standing in the fifth form of Fire being in its Existence a Mirror wherein the Abyssal Will beholdeth it self and in its operation a transition unto or imager of the Multiplicity 2. But how much doth Man who was created Good by seeking out many Inventions run against the order of Nature for out of the dark Earth sprout excellent Vegetatives with various cheering Odours delightful Colours and â—asts and nourishing Vertues out of the Mortal Waters are generated vast numbers and kinds of Fish also Amber Pearl Coral c. all more excellent than the Water their Mother which is corrupt as is the Earth Yet Man tho' proceeding from an Immaculate Sperm or Virgin Seed originally is become vile and filthy moving retrograde and is more and more degenerate earthy sensual and devilish 3. Wert thou O my Soul the Image of thy God how wouldst thou
a Dart thrust through the Liver the Fountain of Blood the Hair and Nails will after being cut grow a Tooth may supply a former Tooths place but the Tincture spoil'd is as the Heart and Brain pluck'd out Salt savours all things but if it hath lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted Of the Tincture comes the Growth and Lustre and so is as our Mother if any one reproach and prophane it he becomes mortally guilty He that curseth his Father or Mother shall surely be put to Death On the 33 Question and Answer Of the Original of the Creatures of the mortal Life 1. When I look towards the Circumference and see the winged Troops should not I find Coelestial Inclinations in all of them where yet I find many filthy many cruel many ravenous I look towards the Centre and are there in the Deep any but dark undigested uncleannesses yet there I observe almost all clean many fair more greatly nourishing some adorn'd with rare Pearls and in the dark cold Earth the Triumphs of Nature in precious Stones and Minerals And looking round me my Fellow-Commoners are so various as to figure all Principles all Worlds all Properties to Infinity No Star so noble but it's Energy is Imaged in some no Conjunction so malevolent but is figur'd on others 2. The dark World hath its Subjects and Idea's Saturn in that Impression owns the Wolf Horseleech c. Mercury the Fox and dangerous Reptils Mars the Tyger and Dog Sol the Lyon Venus the Ostrich and Vultures Jupiter deformed Apes Baboons and Monkeys Luna unweldy Bruits And among my Brethren of Adam's Apostate race Saturn sways the Meagre Griping Carking Raking Insatiable Mercury the sly circumventing Crew Mars the insociable outragious Rabble Sol the daring seeker of Self and Domination Venus the shameless obscene cruel Adulteress Jupiter the filthy Hermaphrodite and Semihomines Luna those who are a burthen to others and over-load to themselves Yet according to the Light World is a Book written with shining living Letters accurately Engraven according to all Properties in which our Old Man may meditate his derogating from the Copy viz. The simplicity of the Dove and Lamb and in which the New Man may as in a Glass behold his own Face may observe how the Heavens hear the Earth groaning for Drought and descend in sweet distilling Bottles the Earth hears the shriveling Seed and drying Roots and the Corn and Fruits hear hungry Men and starving Beasts and when all are filled by the overflowing of Infinite Goodness how do the Blossoms breathe and the laden Boughs shew their Satisfaction the Herds return with flowing Udders and in the Flocks the Ews pay their Lambs what bounty lent them how do the Subterranean Minerals extend their stretch'd out Arms towards the four Cardinal Points and the hidden Treasure excite Man's Diligence 3. But what part bearest thou my Soul in this Harmony Art thou Hoarse Is thy sound only like that when the Earth is knockt on Doth all flow to thee and for thee and art thou only as a Grave to bury them in run they all to thee as Jordan into the Dead Sea Must all these Voices of Divine Love be heard seen felt tasted smelled renewed increased and continued and thou as Barren as Arabia's Sands thy Heart as impenetrable and sensless as the Mountains of Ice and Rocks of Adamant Wo were me if every Pile of Grass must be a Witness against me Hath thy Redeemer not only given thee all these but open'd for thee to thee in thee Heaven it self and his own Heart which is the Heaven of Heavens and art thou on Earth and Cold Why burneth not thy Heart why flame not thy Affections why dyest thou not as a Burnt-offering and risest not in this sweet Fire of humble earnest endless Seraphick Love On the 34th Question and Answer On the Separator of every Species of every Property 1. This Meditation exalts my grovelling Thoughts towards him without whom was not any thing made that was made yet this Archeus is no more than the great Instrument of Omnipotence who when call'd the Father of Nature it 's only meant the Father in Nature bearing the Image of the Father who alone is God blessed forever Nor are the Astral Powers though various infinite and different also seeming opposite to be call'd many because not one is broken from the United Harmony but mutually embrace each other no perverseness among them that is left to the Prince and Legions of the Abyss of the dark World 2. All the Properties and Astral Powers are an Egress of the Fountain Spirits as they are of the one Will and by figuring and propagating their Energies are as a Body Politick whose many parts compose into a Republick Thus is the whole one only Separator Father and Mother in Nature for whole Nature is an Hermaphrodite in it the Tinctures being inviolably United potently proceed in Magical Masculine and Feminine Virgin Purity doing all as Adam should have done and with so equal a hand that the Excellency of one is ballanced by another kind of Excellency in another The Pith and Brain needs the Bark and Skull is Gold most valuable Iron is most useful the Powerful hand that lays the Contexture of the Whale and Elephant is altogether as admirable in the little Insects 3. Now as by a numerous well-accoutred Host is shewn the Puissance of their Prince by the greatness of a River the large Tract of Land whence it descends So by this steady unwearied skilful prosperous mighty Architect is demonstrated the Eternity Wisdom Infinity Omnipotency of the Glorious Creator who is represented by this his excellent Agent And as with Veneration Men receive the Decrees of the Wisdom of a State with submission the Commands of a Soveraign Authority and with Circumspection observe the Precepts of Physick wherein life is concern'd with how much greater reason are we obliged or rather by genuine sweetness charm'd to the Laws of Nature to be Loyal to the Government studious of the Institutions and faithful in holding the Secrets thereof if entrusted to us for as the Eternal Nature is in God so the Temporal Nature is of God in which also God and Heaven is as Eternity is in time Grant therefore O our God and Father which art in Heaven that I may hallow thy Name in Nature lest if I do not thy Will shewn on Earth in things seen I be not entrusted with the Knowledge of things in Heaven which are not seen On the 35th Question and Answer On the six days work of the Creation and the Sabbath 1. The six days Work demonstrate the six working Properties and they being distinct do yet every of them generate another and all six meet to generate the seventh yet when they concenter in the seventh do not there cease to Work which were as impossible as for them to cease to be but if they Work in the seventh their Operations are heavenly sweetly harmoniously triumphantly
him and gave him the superior Primacy in whose bright Light was perfect understanding 3. But he seeing himself so Triumphant moved the Spirit generated by the seven so hard and strongly that it became very fiery climbing up in the Fountain of the Heart 4. But had it moved gently and lovingly as the seven did before they became creaturely there had been generated a lovely mild Son like to the Son of God and then the Infinite Light the Son of God would have been delighted in and played with the small Light in Lucifer as with a young Son or dear little Brother 5. But let not the Devil make any believe Gods will was that he had some Men should be loft and so pervert Gods Truth defending the Devil by Lies 6. For know the whole Deity hath in its innermost Birth or Pith a very tart terrible sharpness in which 1. The Astringent quality is a very hard dark cold attracting like the extream Frost congealed Water when suppose the Sun totally taken away which austere attraction causeth fixation of the Body and the hardness drieth it up so that it subsisteth creaturely 7. The bitter quality is tearing cutting and penetrating driving the Astringent to Mobility From the fierce rubbing and raging of both which 8. A wrathful kindling proceedeth 9. And in this eager strife existeth a hard Tone or Noise penetrating all like a Tyrant according to which God calls himself an Angry Jealous God and in this consisteth Hell Enmity and Eternal Perdition And such a Creature is the Devil come to be 10. And in these is God an All-comprehensible All-fixing Sharp God 11. But in the strife and heat of these qualities ariseth the Light and in the Light and the Sweet Water the Flash of Life wherein all the foregoing qualities are made pleasant as a sour Apple by the Sun is made sweet and good yet the Taste of the other qualities remain in it The Head Spring and Fountain of Sin 12. Lucifer's qualifying Spirits having an Imaging Power in that Royal Body vehemently affected the high Light so triumphantly that they lifted up themselves to Pomp and Stateliness leaving the Angelical Obedience whereby the great bright flash became so bright as was intolerable to the Fountain Spirits against the right of Nature So that the bitter quality which Existeth in the sweet Water and is the cause of joy trembled and rub'd it self so hard in the Astringent that the Fountain or Quality of Heat was eagerly kindled Which bitter and hot Quality caus'd the Astringent to dry up the sweet Water wherein the Heavenly Heat and Light have their Being And thenceforth could not the Heat rise to a Flame or Light for the Light existeth in the Oyliness of the Water thus dryed up but glowed as red hot Iron or rather a very hard Stone in the greatest Heat 13. Not that the Spirit of the Water was devoured but its quality was turn'd into a dusky hot and sour Quality Which introduced extremity of Cold also whereby the whole Body grew fierce and wrathful And the bitter Quality raged and became a Poyson hence sprung the first Poyson which bitter poysonous Death comes also into poor Humane Flesh. 14. And now was Lucifer an Astringent hot bitter dark cold sour stinking poysonous Fountain And the Tone rose up through the bitter Qualities penetrating the Heat and Astringent hard Quality as a clap of Thunder 15. God created Angels out of himself that they might be harder and dryer compacted than the Ideas or Forms which through the qualifying of the Spirits of God in Nature rise up and through the moving of the Spirits pass away again that their Light in their hardness should shine brighter and the Tone of their Body should sound clearer and shriller than it did before either shine or sound in the Salitter which was thin and dim And therefore they lifted up themselves tho' they knew themselves to be but a piece of the total God supposing they were a fairer little Son than the Son of God himself and that they could qualifie operate and elevate themselves above the whole God and Rule and Govern all without Corrival or Supream Comptroller 16. Here lyes the Root of Covetousness Envy Pride and Wrath. All Lucifer's Angels fell with him for he was created out of the Kernel of the Salitter out of which they were created he their Lord they were all of one will with him which they would not suffer to be taken away 17. Q. Did not the Universal God know this before the Creation of the Angels 18. A. No. for if so it had been a Predestinate Will in God to have it so and had been no Enmity against God but God had created him a Devil God made him a King of Light and for Disobedience spewed him out of his Royal Throne 19. God knew this according to his Wrath in which he is not called God but a consuming â—ire but knew not this according to his Love according to which he is called God into which no fierceness entreth and so God is alone called God or Goodness 20 And what Gods Love knoweth sensibly or feelingly in it self that it also and that only it willeth 21. The Devils Prison is in upon and above the Earth up to the Moon till the last day And 22. Then their House will be in the place where the Earth now standeth and this will be called the Burning Hell but not in such a Form as it now standeth but separated in the kindled wrath Fire into a dark hot cold rugged hard bitter stinking Reliâ—ks dregs or dross CHAP. XVIII Of the Creation of Heaven and Earth 1. WHen the Astringent quality was predominant the hard dry Stones came to be 2. But where the Astringent and Bitter were equally predominant there sharp Gravel and Sand. 3. Where the Tone and Astringent in the Water there Copper Iron and Rocky Oar. 4. Where the Water there the wild Earth But the Bitter Spirit is the chief cause of the Black Earth 5. Yet the Heat in the Astringent chiefly helped to make the hardness and there it generated the noblest and preciousest Saâ—â—â—ter in the Earth as Gold Silver and precious Stones 6. But when the hot Spirit in the sweet Water was predominant in the Love the Astringent made the Oar of precious Stones c. CHAP. XIX Concerning Heaven what it is where it is and how it is 1. THat there is a pure glorious Heaven in all the three Births aloft above the deep of this World in which is Gods Being and the Holy Angels he is not Born of God that denieth Which comprizeth the Kingdoms of Michael and Uriel and continueth as it was from Eternity with which the innermost and holy Birth in this World uniteth being all one Body of God one Heart one Will one God all in all for the true Heaven is every where 2. When thy Spirit apprehendeth the
God and hath Ability to speak of the indissolvable band but not of the infinite generating for the immeasurable space of the Dâ—ity hath neither Beginning nor End Of the sublime Gate of the Holy Trinity 4 The Father iâ— the Original Essence of all Essences in whom if the Son the second Principle were not Eternally generated the Father according to the first Principle would be a zealous wrathful dark Principle for the Son is as the Light out of the Fire the Heart Brightness and Love of the Father who is in his Son merciful reconciled and well pleased The Son is another manner of Person than the Father hath another centre of meer Jov and Love The Holy Ghost proceedeth from both in the enkindling of the Light as out of the Water Fountain of Humility is also an Almighty Spirit making out of the vertue of the Light an infinite number of Centres of a sweet smell and sweet tast The Description of Lucifer c. I Abridge not here having done it more fully in the 13th Chapter of Aurora page 250. CHAP. V. Of the third Principle the Creation of the Material World and farther clearing of the first and second Principles 1. A Principle is a Birth Therefore he that is Born of God may know the third Principle by his own new Birth The terror of God's Wrath the horror and anguish of his Estate Sin and Darkness was his first Principle His pure Divine Joy in being born again is his entring into the new Life or second Principle 2. In the first Principle is the indissoluble band which is Genitrix in it self inanimate wherein by the moving Spirit of God out of that incomprehensible Matrix the comprehensible visible Water proceeded in such various manner as the Spirit willed for out of the fifth Form of it was enkindled the fiery Heaven and Constellation or Quintessence where the Light originateth whence the Sun was Born which opened and enlivened the third Principle of the Material World as the Heart of God in Paradise doth in that pure immaterial Heaven opening the Eternal Power and Wisdom of God 3. The outward third Principle is the Similitude or Representation of the inward Paradisical World in which Angels and Man were â—reated and should not have known the Original of the four Elements wherein by the Fall of Lucifer was Evil and Good but now the Knowledge of it is highly necessary that we may fly from the bestial Man and learn to know the true Man CHAP. VI. Of the Separation in Creating the Third Principle 1. BY the Separation of the Creatures the Sun Stars Elements yea in our selves and in all things and their particular Properties the Eternal Mother is seen 2. The generated World becomes a Genitrix not sundered from the Eternal but by the Sun hath attain'd another Light and Life but is not the Eternal Light Life or Wisdom it self 3. Out of the Paradisical Heaven Water Spirit or Matrix is the Material Heaven created For when Lucifer would Domineer the dark Matrix attracted so as the Earth Stones Metals Salt c. proceeded which shut him up but the vertue remaining in the Matrix producing Light made also Gold Silver Copper c. The Spirit of God without departing from his own Eternal Paradisical Seat by the Fiat moved on the Material half deadned Water and created the Heaven which once separated from the dark Mist whereof was the Earth the Elements of Air Fire and Water though one in another appeared CHAP. VII Of the Eternal Birth of Heaven and generating the four Elements c. 1. NO Spirit nor Man can of his own Power possibly see into any other Principle but in which he is or is regenerated into Man whose Soul is out of the first Principle his Body outwardly of the Stars and Elements and inwardly of the one Element if illustrated by the second Principle hath great might of Miracles raising the Dead c. such may well see into the three Principles the Spirit of which it is Born searcheth the deep things of the Deity 2. Other Men Swim between the Vertue of the Stars and Elements as the Created Heavens do between the Divine and Hellish Kingdoms as doth Man also and to which of them he falls and yields himself in that is he regenerated 3. The Light of God is a cause of all the three Principles But for that there would be no longing and attraction in the dark Eternity and the Father is the first desiring and longing after the Son thence the Eternal Nature is ever longing So the brightness or Heart of the Father in the dark Matrix generateth the third Principle for so is God manifest who else would be Eternally hidden 4. Therefore O Noble Man though thou art stept with Adam out of Paradice into the third Principle set thy great desire and longing of thy Heart on the Heart of God and his Kingdom will be taken by force seek God in thy Soul there stands all the three Principles The Divine Birth it self the Pearl the Paradisical Garden do all stand open in a holy Soul 5. The true place of God is every where the Centre of the Earth he comprehendeth Hell it self All things are of him and from him And yet the out or procreated Birth is not from his Essence or Substance but from the Darkness And 1. The Fountain of the Darkness is the first Principle 2. The Vertue and Power of the Light is the second Principle 3. The Out-birth generated out of the Darkness by the power of the Light is the third Principle In a similitude 6. 1. Your Soul-giving Reason representeth God the Father 2. The Light shining in the Soul represents the Son 3. The vertue proceeding from that Light whereby the whole Body is directed represents the Holy Ghost 7. 1. The Darkness in you which longeth after the Light is the first Principle 2. The power of the Light by which you see in your Mind without Bodily Eyes is the second Principle 3. The vertue proceeding from the Mind impregnating it self whence the Material Body groweth is the third Principle Between each of which is an inclosure knot or stop 8. God â—ever'd the Fiery Starry Heaven or Quintessence from the watery Matrix else there would have been no end of generating of Stones That done the watery became clear and still the fiery longeth after the watery as the Husband of it and the watery as the Wife is impregnated thereby by which the Elements and all Minerals Vegetables c. as Children are proceeded 9. Every Form in the Matrix hath its visible Creatures but invisible to us unless they will manifest themselves for tho' the Elements are Members one of the other and receptacles one of the other yet each comprehendeth but it self Nor do the Spirits of the Air Water and Fire comprehend more than of their own Birth or peculiar World As the Body seeth not the Syderial and Elementary Spirit nor that
in the Wonders of this World so evidently that in the Wheel of the Stars and Planets also in our Orb and every Creature that they are an apparent similitude and figure of God according to Love or Anger generating Fire Air Water and Earth That is to say the extremity impurity mortality and gross death of them image the Wrath and the good property in every of them images Paradice where tho' there be but one Element yet in it are the four hidden and on their enkindling and severing become active and comprehensible or palpable to the Creatures which from Eternity was in God yet invisible and immaterial 9. The Language of Nature is treated of from 84th v. to the end of this Chapter which being also dispersed in several places of the blessed Authors excellent Writings it is to be wished were all contracted and paraphrased on in one distinct Treatise not only to shew us the Monuments of our Ruins by the Fall but also stir us up to press inward out of the shadow and figure into the substance which is the inward Power-Worlds CHAP. VI. Of the World and also of Paradise The two Gates of high Consideration 1. MAN is a Child of Eternity but this World is an Out-birth from the Eternal Nature as its Root and an Out-birth is corruptible its grosness originates in the Anger and the Stars are out of the Centre of Nature in all seven Forms and out of each a Centre so that by the wrestlings so very many have proceeded which are a certain number tho innumerable in our account and their being so set a number shews they must be resolved into their Ether for in every Eternal Centre is a springing up without number as is found in Man's Spirit and Soul by the Constellations of the Mind thoughts arise without number and out of one innumerable others which clearly prove our Eternity 2. The Birth of the Eternal Nature is Infinite and perpetually springing up every where in all places as if we imagine a Circle as little as an Attom the least of quantities and in that Circle is the whole Trinity whole Birth of the Eternal Nature so that Eternity is in every place yet maketh no place for it is the Out-birth that maketh place it also maketh Beginning and End for the Infinite Three is without Beginning and End yeâ— as before this Beginning there was nothing but God aâ—d that after the End of these things shall be nothing but God so God is the α and ω the Beginning and the End 3. And forasmuch as the Eternity generateth nothing but what is like it though it self be unchangeable therefore as man is so is Eternity all the three Principles are in him one in another as one â—et in the Creation are three From the Eternal Centre is made the Eternal Substantiality as a Body or weakness being a sinking down and the Spirit is a springing up whence comes Motion Penetration and Multiplication and when the Spirit did create the Substantiality into an Image breathing the Spirit of the Trinity into it the whole Essences even all Forms of Nature the Power to Light and Darkness and the whole Eternity it instantly blossom'd and became the Paradise or Angelical World 4. In the Darkness is the Genitrix in the Light is the Wisdom the first imaged by Devils the other by Angels as a Similitude of the whole Eternal Being to speak in a creatural manner of it And Lucifer imaging beyond the Meekness of the Trinity inkindled in himself the Matrix of Fire and that of Nature becoming Corporeal then was the second Form of the Matrix viz. the Meekness of the Substantiality inkindled whence Water originated out of which was made an Heaven to captivate the Fire and of that Fire and Water came the Stars 5. Then did Man who was God's Image form and imagine in himself the awakened Spirit of the Air four Elements and Constellations which though it were breathed into him Man's Divine Spirit should have over-ruled as the Holy Spirit of God ruleth over all but they became his Lord and instantly captivated him then the Stars Death Vanity and the Elementary Life wrought in him And now if he would enter into God again he must in himself be new-born in God or lost Eternally he is now in the midst between Heaven and Hell to which of these Spirits he yieldeth his he is if Man form in his Spirits the fierceness of Pride c. God loseth nothing for the Image of God in Man withdraweth untoucht into its Principle leaving Man to form himself into the Image of the Serpent and the Spirit forms the Body into its Deformity or otherwise as the Seal the Wax 6. The Eternal Nature doth generate it self Eternally which this World resembleth thus it is a high round Globe figuring Eternity and Infinity wherein by the seven Planets are shewn the seven Spirits of Nature by the great Deep the Eternal Liberty by the Sun in the midst of the seven as a Point or Centre in a Cross the Heart of God by the lustre God's Majesty by the Constellations the Effects or Products of the Fountain Spirits by the Earth the Eternal Death for as the Earth compared with the vigorous outward upper Dominion is as Death so the fierce Matrix is as a Death compared to God yet is not Death but Eternal Torment 7. Not that it is with the Heart of God as with the Sun to be only in one circumscriptive place but as the Centre of a Cross signifying the Trinity in a Globular Rainbow wherein the Red signifies the Father's Property in the glance of Fire Yellow the Son's Lustre and Majesty Blew the Substantiality the dusky Brown the Kingdom of Darkness and on such a Rainbow will Christ sit to Judge and thus is he undivided every where and in that Man who is Born of God is the whoâ—e undivided Heart of God the Son of Man Christ sitting in the circle of his Life upon the Rainbow at the right Hand of God for that Man is Christ's Member his Body his Brother his Flesh his Spirit Power Majesty Heaven Paradise Element Stars Earth and all is that Mans who in Christ is above Hell and Devils though his Earthy Life be under Heaven Stars Elements Hell and Devils 8. Man's Creation was the speaking of that into Substance which was in God in the Virgin of his Wisdom in Eternity not Male and Female which when divided was one Earthy the other Bestial but the new Birth restores that very Eternal Image the Eternal Virginity wherein Christ became Man uniting it to the fallen Man in the Mortal Virginity for Mary had all the three Principles being of the Seed of Joachim and Anna. The Soul of Christ was out of Maries Essences conceived in the Eternal Virgin which Eternal Virgin came into Substantiality uniting with the Human earthy Essences 9. The Eternal Virgin gave to Christ's Human Soul the Heavenly Body and Mary the Earthy the
from within as when Christ raised Lazarus by a power from within from the Centre of the Soul as so also shall we be raised at last for the Word with the three Principles dwells in us And all Souls are as it were one Soul being all propagated of one Soul therefore will they all hear the Voice of the Human Soul of Christ and arise with their Bodies 5. So when we pray it is not to a God afar off for God heareth in the Centre of the Soul of the repenting sinner pressing out of the anguish of the first Principle and out of the Spirit of this World into the holy second Principle which is also in the Soul for when we pray aright the Word which became Man having the Holy Ghost in it goeth from the Father and meeteth the pouring out Soul for the Body is not worthy but the new Body of the flesh of Christ when the Soul attains it is the Temple of the Holy Ghost Then comes the Soul to God as the Prodigal Son with an humble submissive obedient Will from the Swine He knocks at his evil heart and breaks open the doors and the Father saith This my Son was lost and is found was dead and is alive The latter part of this Chapter is not extracted being a brief Exposition of the Lord's Prayer according to the Language of Nature which is little known CHAP. XVII Concerning God's Blessing in this World 1. THE Soul finds it self in such an Earthy Garment causing shame and is so choaked by the Devils smoky Pit which represents God a cruel severe Judge that stands at a catch to damn it or decreed its eternal perdition before the present World was that the Soul must needs be under total despair or great doubt at least of falling short of the Light of God for such is the Effect of shame and guilt Therefore the Soul by this misunderstanding starts back seeking some satisfaction from the Spirit of this World and support for the outward Life only or chiefly to be had by its own distrustfâ—â—â—arking and toiling in his own contrivances and subtle reason a consequent of the Curse whence so many potent delusions spring for he thus falls home to the Earthy Life for meat clothing and habitation 2. And this is contrary to the Life Man should have led for as God dwelleth in the Earth yet the Earth apprehendeth him not so Man should with the Soul have eaten the Divine Word of God's Love tho' the Body had been of the Matrix of the Earth yet not captivated in it but eating of the Blessing of God The Body was taken out of the Centre of the Fire and Waters Tincture the Soul out of the second Principle why then should the Body captivate the Soul 3. The Outward Life consists in three parts one in the dominion of the Stars another in the one Element divided into four and the other the dominion of God So that the Man who trusteth in God and not in his Reason the Spirit of God is with him blessing what he is hath and doth For seeing the Soul hath the Body of God how can God's Spirit forsake the outward Body which must open its Wonders God wants none and all are alike profitable to him the politick and the weak for with the outwardly wise he ruleth and with the outwardly simple he tilleth buildeth c. and this Worlds outward Spirit gives degrees to men here so according as the Soul is indued with Divine Power such are the degrees in Heaven yet all in one Love but God's Children are in this and that World as Good Herbs and sweet Flowers which yield their several Vertues in harmony to the Apothecary and the wicked are as poisonous Weeds Thorns and Thistles who separate themselves and their Off-spring into an evil Self-will and Property 4. Covetousness is madness driving Man Devil like to Torment others about a handful of Earth or a Stone of which the World hath enough and plague himself to get the Good of that he must speedily leave and the gnawing guilt which will never leave him This Man still runneth after that Care and Sorrow which runneth after him whereas every one if content hath a sufficient Portion from the Spirit of this World and of Care and Sorrow also as saith the Lord Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof But Man's mad Will is all to advance Pride whereas the Kingdom of God is Love and Humility and if Man suffers not himself to be captivated Heaven and Earth is his by God's free Donation so not only Heaven but the Sun Stars Elements Earth Sea and all is Man's by Natural Propriety To trust therefore in God is to build sure in Heaven and Earth CHAP. XVIII Of Death and Dying How Man is when he Dieth and how it is with him in Death 1. THE Life consisteth in three Parts 1. The Inward which is God's Eternal hidden Mystery in the Fire whence Life existeth 2. The Middle or Eternal Image of God wherein God seeth himself as a Man doth himself in a Glass 3. The Spirit of the great World which this Eternal Image got in the Creation as a Glass to see it self in so the out-principle figures the inward and the inward Image hath so gazed on the outward as that it hath received the outward which must break off again which because it is bound to the Eternal Centre of Nature therefore is the breaking in Death so very painful 2. The outward consisteth in the Sun's Tincture and its Dominion are the Planets and Stars each of which still drive on to its Limits and when it comes again to its place where it stood in the Creation all whereof it was Lord ceaseth for there it commenceth a new Age whence many a young Child in the Womb dieth for its Lord is at its Period And to hit the Point of our limited End it is required to know exactly the Number and Period of the Sign which is our Leader 3. How hardly can the Living Man express how it is with one that is Dead which himself hath not experimented A Dead Man's sence is ceased with extinguishing his Fire his Elementary Spirit evaporateth his Blood and Water pass into Water and Earth also therewith his Essences thus his Beginning finds End But because the corruptible hath an Eternal Root therefore the Eternal worketh in the Fragile and because the outward Imageth the Eternal it should bring its Wonders and Similitudes into the Eternal whence it is originated 4. The Souls Will worketh in the Centre or Eternal Root the Astral Spirit works in the Body adhering so to the Soul that the Soul often lusteth to do what the Starry Spirit doth and such Souls who get no higher fall into Covetousness Pride Envy and Anger whence if they convert not in those very works must the Soul Eternally dwell doing the Devils Will hating God loving Folly which was here and is there their only Treasure but only in the
Omnipotence of Eternity and the Spirit of God will then go forth in two Principles in the Anger viz. in the Fire as the severe Wrath of the Fire-life and in the Light of the Love as a flame of the Divine Majesty and in the Spirit of this World as a Wonder of Life then will the Dead and those who shall be then alive be call'd and those who have the Noble Image will shew it and those who have lost it will shew the Bestial Image they have got The Earth must deliver up the Phur or Body The Water the Essences The Air all the Words it hath received into it or served to make See the last Chapter of the three Principles Q. 31. What manner of New Glorified Bodies the Souls will have This is sufficiently declared before They will have fair bright Works of Faith as every one is indued with the Power of Love and Purity but very different for the Works of many will almost all remain in the Fire and themselves hardly escape for that as one Star excelleth another so they and every one will receive God's lustre as his vertue or power is capable of the Light for after this Life there will be no bettering but every one remains as he entred in Q. 32. What other Form State and Condition Joy and Glory will there be to Souls in that other Life A. 1. Paradice was in us but Adam's lusting after the outward Spirit drew him and us into it and lost the Substance whereof this Worlds Fruits Colours c. is a dead dark shadow but our restitution thereinto will be Eternal Joy in the spring of all Flowers Trees Herbs Fruits c. which shall be Angelical as our Heavenly Bodies no need of Teeth and Entrails we eat in the Mouth all is Power and Vertue 2. The Kingdom consisteth not in Eating and Drinking but there are Divine Songs of Praise as Children in a Ring on a Mount 3. We shall all know each other by our new Names which in the Language of Nature is understood but the Turba being left in the Fire none is concerned for his Relations as Parents Children Friends who are in Hell 4. We are all there but one Sex the first Image Heavenly Virgins full of Modesty and Purity And shall there speak the great Mysteries of the Divine Magia and the Song in Reproach and Scorn of the Driver Rev. 15. 3. Q. 33. What kind of Matter our Bodies shall have in the other Life A. 1. Christ saith None goeth to Heaven but the Son of Man which is in Heaven John 3. 13. He spake not only of his Deity but the Son of Man the Word that became Flesh in which Flesh and Blood we must â—ive Eternally if we will be in God Adam had the Virgin of God's Wisdom but when he fell was divided and the Woman framed and he had the bestial deformity whereof we are ashamed 2. But Christ is become Man in that Virgin Image of God's Wisdom is become Flesh in the Water of Eternal Life which Virgin and Water when Adam fell withdrew and stood in its own Principle Christ became Man in a pure Vessel i. e. in the first Image for the sake of the Soul he assum'd from Mary and the outward Man hung to him And when we are new born we put on Christ and are new born out of Christ's Flesh and Blood 3. The converting Sinner becomes God's Child in Christ and in that very Body consisting of heavenly Flesh and Blood which yet is real substantial and visible to be felt and handled by our heavenly Hands shall we have Heaven Thus shall we have Christ's and God's Body which filleth Heaven for our substantiality is out of the Eternal and must Eternally be in the same and not in gross bestial Flesh. Q. 34. What is the lamentable horrible miserable Estate of the Damned A. This is sufficiently answered above God's Anger is their Habitation their Blasphemy and Abominations are their boast their whole Life is one continual fear horrour anguish despair and a gnawing Worm Fruits grow to them out of their Principle outwardly fair but within is fierce wrath all their cursed Practises on Earth follow them thither and that would they do there Q. 35. What the Enochian Life is and how long it lasteth A. The Father of Enoch is Jared significant in the Language of Nature Enoch begat Methuselah who attained the greatest Age. After which Enoch was taken up with both Bodies The outward was swallowed up and is in the Mystery and the inward is a heavenly Mystery so he liveth in two Mysteries in Paradise but hath still the Turba in the Mystery and in the heavenly Mystery hath God's Body Paradise is still upon Earth at hand not vanished but as it were swallowed up by the Curse yet lyeth as a Mystery uncorrupted Enoch is not gone out of this World he is God's Preacher and after the Turba hath overcome the World he must be silent till the six Seals and Angels of the Turba have poured out their Vials then cometh Enoch again and reproveth the World after which the World becometh fat and their Turba also Methuselah dieth and the Deluge of Fire by Elias cometh O ye Elect desire not to live after Enoch's taking up but while he Preacheth is the Golden Time Q. 36. What the Soul of the Messiah or Christ is A. 1. Christ's Soul is Human conceived in Mary in a twofold Virgin The outward Mortal Life in Mary was no pure Virgin no Daughter of Eve is so nor was Eve more than half a Virgin Adam was the other half for Adam's Fall divided the Tinctures which were one total entire Virgin before in pure Love and Chastity both Tinctures of Fire and Light being in a mixture with Power to generate a Spirit out of the Fires Tincture but the Earthy life captivating him he imagined into Eve Where was then his Modesty His Imagination became bestial Of great love to the lost Image and that it might become One again did the Word which spake forth the Soul at first become incarnate 2. So to the Soul of Mary the Heavenly Virgin of God's Wisdom is put on but in the Soul's Principle not in the Earthy Flesh And in that very Virgin hath the word assumed the Seed of the Woman the Soul's Seed as also the first Images Seed which had stood so long time in the Mystery broken off which he made again one whole intire Image by remixing the Water of Eternal Life with the Soul's Spirit 's Water for the Word took hold of the Soul's Tincture and the Holy Spirit of the Spirit 's Tincture and both became one Soul 3. Yet did the Creature remain distinct from God's Spirit but God's Spirit cohabited therein And out of God's Tincture and Water and Maries Tincture and Water came one Flesh and Blood Thus was he Maries true Natural Son with Soul and Body and also God's true Son
uniteth with the Sun's Power CHAP. VI. The outward manifestation of the inward three Worlds How God is in all things How all the World might be a meer Sun What Man is And wherein God beholdeth himself Further of the 4th Point 1. THE Earthy Tincture hath no communion with the Heavenly though the outward proceedeth out of the inward and yet the Tincture of the precious Metals hath communion with the Heavenly 2. The Dark World hath the first Centre the Light the second whence behold our danger for if we cast our selves into the Earthy seeking that captivateth us the Dark Abyss is our Lord and the Sun our Temporal God 3. The three Worlds are not sever'd for the Eternal Abyssal substance may not sever it self The outward is the place which comprehends not the inward but is comprehended by it what the inward giveth forth out of it self that it also possesseth and cometh not into a place but was there bâ—fore-hand 4. Thus God dwelleth in all things but no more comprehended than the face is by the Looking-glass or the Sun by the Water tho' the outward hungreth after the inward and can receive the inward into it but the inward cannot receive the outward for it dwelleth not in the outward but in it self nor is the inward remote from the outward as the Sun from the Water but as the Water hath the Suns Property in it else could not catch the Suns Lustre And this World would all be a meer Sun if God would kindle and manifest it for every thing animate and inanimate and all the four Elements receive the Suns glance 5. If Man who is all the three Worlds standeth in them in equal harmony without introducing the one World into the other saving that he by the Light-World rule the Dark and Outward Worlds then is he God's similitude and the Outward World must catch the Light as the Water doth the Suns glance But if the Water be mixt with Earth it receives not the Suns Light No more can the Human Spirit the Light of God unless it remain pure and then that Man's Life is such a Looking glass as wherein God beholds and finds himself as also in the Angels and Beauties of Heaven for in the Dark World is no Looking glass capable of the Light But if the Water be mixt with Earth it must sink down from the Earths dark fierceness wherein it was captive before it be capable of seeing the Light 6. So what Man imagineth after it receiveth if he hath filled himself with the Earthy hunger he must be new born that he may with Christ break the Earthy Darkness and with Authority introduce the clear pure Looking-glass of the Deity CHAP. VII How a Life passeth out of Joy into Misery The fifth Point 1. LIfe is like a terrible flash but when it receiveth the Light it passeth into meekness and joy but because it sprung from its Mother the Dark World it hath power either to retire thither or proceed forward by the Fires Anguish to kindle the Light Its perdition is therefore evident it inclineth to the multiplicity to be its own Lord but yieldeth not to the Liberty beyond Nature for if it did then would the Liberty kindle the Love-fire and become a light viz. a clear Looking-glass of God's Majesty In that manner as the second Principle hath kindled it self from Eternity for entring into the Liberty it arrives at that which was before Nature and was the cause of Nature 2. The Soul hath three Eyes or Looking glasses in the time of this World and seeth with that only to which it turneth it self tho' by right of Nature it hath but one viz. the fourth Form of the Dark VVorld viz. Fire and into which it goeth with its will of that it receiveth its spiritual substance 3. And if it go into the Dark World or Outward World the Light World is hidden and as dead as Fire is in Wood. Here should Man prove himself what World is Lord in him If wrath envy deceit pride avarice bestial unchastity c. be his desire he may make Register accompt and inventory that certainly he is not a Man but a Dog Goat Beast Serpent or Toad And when the four Elements forsake him his Souls Image is form'd by the Hellish Fiat into that Property of theirs that most strâ—â—gly drew his delight 4. Yet he that hourly striveth against the Evil Properties and though he be damped by the Evil his constant desire to repentance sheweth God's fire glimmereth in him and when the outward Body with its damp breaketh and can no more hinder the glimmering week then the Divine Fire kindleth and figureth him after the Image of the strongest Property he here introduced into his desire But if he continue not his serious desire he may desperately perish 5. But he whose desire is so potent that he can subdue his Evil Nature and pass into humble Patience contemn the glistering of the World do good for evil and can yield himself and all his to do and suffer misery for God's sake In that Man the Divine Power floweth up the Noble Image dwelleth and Jesus is born 6. The Devil knoweth him not only is inraged and irritateth incarnate Devils and Men Beasts to plague him This Man is the surest never dieth but the outward Kingdom that was a hinderance to him falleth from him and as he tasted what God is and bare the heavenly substance here so now much more and is eternally perfected CHAP. VIII Further of the 5th Point The True Human Essence or Substance is not Earthy nor out of the Dark World but out of the Substance of God 1. THE right substantial Man is of the Light World there is a Gulph of Death 'twixt that and the Dark World and Outward World yet is it shut up-in the Outward World Christ is come to save what is lost and will suffer it self to be helped unless it be a totally Devilish fruit of evil Parents But while there is any small Tinder of Divine stirring the Child is capable by Baptism to have the Light glimmering in that part given Adam out of the Angelical World not that Earthy part he introduced and so far as the Divine Power stirreth is the Child baptized after life in the womb by the Holy Ghost 2. Obj. What can the Child do to it that the Parents are wicked Answ. The Evil Man is shut up in Body and Soul why not in the Seed Must God turn the seed of Thistles into Wheat and throw Pearls to Swine The Sun maketh nor desireth any Weed but giveth to all Vegetables Life but the Soil produceth the Evil. Many times the wicked Parents cause Curses to stick to their wicked Consorts and should not their wills be done to them 3. And being both wicked what can an Evil Beast beget but an Evil Beast baptized in God's fierce Wrath So also it receiveth the Lord's Supper without distinguishing the Lord's Body and put it and its own
and alteration in the Symbolical Philosophick process to the Suffering c. of Christ even from the almost Triumphant Glory of the Philosophick Virgins Child to his seeming Non-existence and again a measure of restoration to Royalty is not thought fit to be Abridged but its entire Contexture left to farther Contemplation to which the Reader is referred CHAP. XII How the Seventh Kingdom viz. the Sun is reviv'd 1. WHEN Christ died the Natural Death it was for that Adam had brought his Humane and Sensitive Life the out-spoken Word into another Form and Sound than the speaking Word or Fiat had spoken it viz. into a Selfish will by which death of Christ the true Humane Life fell again into the place whence Adam brought it where Gods Ruling Spirit was the alone Life of it in all the three Principles not to be longer to the Astrum of the four Elements but in the pure Divine Element 2. Christ was the Death of Death bringing Life thence into Eternal Liberty And whatsoever Jesus hath done through Christ in his and my Humanity he yet now to day doth in me 3. The Process is the Curse being descended into the seven Forms of which the Life consisteth therefore as Christ was a Death to the Human Self-hood yet the Humanity was not destroyed So the seven must in the Philosophick Work be by Death brought to one Will and Desire in the Eternal Sol from Strife to Love yet remain in seven as heated Iron though shining as Light is yet Iron 4. Let the Artist consider how he may give Death to Death with the pure Life and how to awaken the disappear'd captivated Life which is Heavenly so that it may again receive the Fire-soul and it worketh of it self 5. And seeing it is not possible to bring the Earth to Heaven the Heaven must be brought into the Earth viz. The Soul must be overcome and eat of Heaven will she nil she till she entreth with her Desire into the Heavenly Essence for the dear Love life dismayeth the Murtherer and shineth in the Love-fire So the seven Forms become unanimous proceeding to the Universal the Fundamental Knowledge whereof is apprehended only by such as enter into the Resignation of Christ and to such the way is Facile and Childlike CHAP. XIII Of the Enmity of the Spirit and of the Body and of their Cure 1. THERE is a Vegetative Life consisting in the four Elements a sensitive in the seven Forms of Nature a ratiocinative in the Constellation but the understanding proceeds from God arising out of the Eternal Nature from the Oyl of the one Element the free Lubet in the speaking Mercury 2. The Enmity originateth in the Mercurial Life which consists in Sulphur hungring after Matter which austere hunger impresseth to Coldness or a cold Fire viz. hardness density and darkness wherein it strives for Life and in that Life is the heat inkindled devouring the cold of its Substance begetting Light when also the Fire-spirit dyeth for the Life of the one is the Death of the other So the cold fire continually without intermission by dying becomes Life to the hot fire and the hot fire by its strong hunger draweth devoureth and liveth by its Mother the cold out of the impression whereof it had its Ens which it setteth free into the Lubet of the Nothing Thus the Fire is in the Light of the Lubet a Joy and in the Darkness an akeing Wo yet without the one the other could not be as is demonstrated 3. Man's desire was in the Beginning in the Liberty of God in resignation to his Love-will but by Self-will awaken'd in Nature Heat Cold Astringency Bitterness Anguish Torture 4. The only Cure must be a full and free resigning the Self-will into the first will by dying to the erring will and thereby become that to which God at first created him Then will the pure Body of the Element in which the Love-life of God's Spirit inkindleth in the Soul the resign'd will make the disappear'd Body spring from the same pure Element become the Mansion of the Soul in a Paradisical budding or blooming Renovation 5. The most high gave every Property at first a fixt Perfection but the Curse brought the Turba And now seeing God hath given us Power to become his Children and rule over the World Why not then over the Curse in the Earth so as to open and set free the captivated Paradisical Powers CHAP. XIV How the three Principles interchange generating Good and Evil yet all remain as at first to manifest the Glory of God 1. THE first Eternal Creatures Angels and Man and unfixt Products of Time Vegetables and Animals are all one thing differing according as the Properties impressed on them 2. The Impression is call'd Nature and is the Mother and Manifestation of the Mystery what hath been in the Eternal Will in both Centres according â—o Fire and Light also according to Darkness and Essence in the Motion of the desire to a manifest Mystery out of Eternity into a time which consisted in Sulphur Mercury and Salt 3. These Powers introduce themselves into Evil and Good by the seven especial Properties when they are not in due Weight and Measure but by the prevalency of some the rest are captivated 4. Whatsoever exceeds or departs from the first order to which its Mother brought it â—orth cannot go back and re-enter with its depravity into the first Root and good state unless it die So and so only can stand again there whence first it proceeded before it became Corporeal 5. The lower Hemisphear is the first Principle * Kingdom of Darkness The upper part the Salniter The Cross above the Circle the Kingdom of Glory The Form of Separation between the Living and Dead Essentiality is the fifth Form the Love-desire or Love-flame 6. Sulphur is the Mother of the Creatures arising out of the Darkness Fire and Light on the dark part it is Astringent Bitter Anxious but on the part resembling the Deity 't is Fire Light and Water The Fire divides it self into Death viz. Water and into Life viz. Oyl wherein the true life of all Creatures in the external World consists 7. Mercury is the Wheel of Motion in the Sulphur on the dark part is a sting and seveâ—s in the Fire in its Mother Sulphur into a twofold Water in the Death of Fire into a Living-light Water producing Silver in Brimstone in the seventh Property of Nature but in the Fire its Water is quick-silver and in the dark Anguish 't is rust and smoak in it it is also Poison 8. Salniter is the Compriser of all Properties Mother of all Salts in the Creatures in those which grow in the Love desire 't is potent and pleasant in the Evil it's Eternal horror ever aspiring above the Humility of Love Whence is the Will of Pride and of all Devils It giveth weight in Austereâ—ess Earth Sand and Stones in the Water in Sulphur and Mercury Flesh in
the true holy Tincture 5. The watry Spirit begotten by the devoration of the Fire viz. its death Which also it must have again for its Life else neither Firenor Light could subsift so there is an Eternal giving and receiving The 8th Chapter of the Creation and Dominion of Angels and the 9th Chapter of the Fall of Lucifer and the 10th of the Creation of Heaven and the outward World and the 11th of the Mystery of the Creation Are all clearly deeply and largely treated of in the Aurora viz. Aurora CHAP. XII Of the Six Days Work 1. THough there is no Night in the Deep above the Moon yet in the length of six Days and Nights was all Created which hath this subtle acute meaning viz. six of the Properties of Nature only belong to the active Dominion to good and evil The seventh is the Essence House Body or Rest wherein all the other work 2. The Planetick Orb which is the Figure of the six Properties of the Spiritual World belongeth to the punctum of Sol. But Saturn doth not proceed from the Sun 3. The First Day With the Word when God said let there be Light the holy Power which was amassed in the wrath viz. the confusion caused by Lucifer moved it self and became Light by which the Devils strength wholly withdrew and the Light viz. that of Nature was wholly useless to him and the Darkness being severed remained in the wraths Property both in the Earth and the whole Deep 4. Of the Second Day As the Moon ruleth the first Hour so is this the most External or Inferiour Heaven next the Earth and the Laboratory of the other six Properties See more of the Second Day in the 20th Chapter of the Aurora p. 254. 5. Of the Third Day of the Creation Mars rules the first Hour on Tuesday on this third Day God moved the third Property of Nature viz. the Sulphurous in which the Saltish and Mercurial were also mutually unfolded and severized by the Salnitral flagrat from the poysonful Mars for they felt the Light and became hungry till they were coagulated 6. In which Joy arose unto pullulation and growth or vegetation for when the Light springeth up in the water source Mars springeth up for great Joy in the Sulphur so came Grass and Trees The Inward Nature made it self External and yet remained also Internal Yet therewith did the Properties of the dark world press in also whence came poysonous Roots and Weeds CHAP. XIII Of the Creation of the Fourth Day 1. MErcurins hath the first Hour giving a sensitive feeling Life In the third is only an insensitive Life but now in the Fire is a painful and in the Oleous a meek joyful Life 2. This Light of Nature hath a Fiery Airy Oily and Watry Property yet no Intellective Life but only Properties to Life 3. The Intellectual Life is the spirated word from the free Lubet whence comes a Sulphur Salnitri that is a Magical Astrum in manner of Mans Mind which hath thence its real Original 4. The whole Astrum is a breathed Voice or Tone of the Powers An Eccho out of Gods Love and Anger the Dark and Light World Out of this have the four Elements their Original and they speak forth a Corporeal Essence and the Stars breathe a Spiritual both which rule in the visible World as Soul and Body 5. And from the four Astrums is procreated the Soul of the outward World as an enduring great Mind or Mystery 6. And in this Office hath God raised up a King or as a God of Nature the Sun with the other six Planets his Counsellors or Assistants First the Nature-God the Sun receiveth its Lustre from the Tincture of the inward Fire and Light-world Next Venus giveth Body to all the seven Metals CHAP. XIV Of the Creation of the Fifth Day 1. JUpiter rules the first Hour of that day The superior Astrum actuated the four Astrums in the four Elements all from the motion of the holy Eternal speaking Word into Forms according to the Properties of the Astrum in the Spiritual Body And thence were Creatures in the Astrum of every of the four Elements produced Birds in the Astrum of the Air Fishes in that of the Water Beasts in that of the Earth and Spirits in the Astrum of the Fire 2. The two Sexes the Male and its Female arise one from the Tincture of the Fire the other of the Water as of Fire and Light CHAP. XV. Of the Sixth Days Work of the Creation Vide Chapter 21. of the Aurora p. 254. CHAP. XVI Of the difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man 1. THE Image of God Created unto Eternal Life in Paradise cannot be the gross Property of Earthy Bestial Flesh for the Properties of the inward holy Body and outward were in Adam compos'd in equal Harmony and gave up their desires to the Soul in which the Divine Light shone as in the holy Heaven The Properties were all Tinctur'd with the sweet Love delight For the inward holy Man of the pure Element penetrated and swallowed up the outward as Light doth Darkness which when extinguished the darkness is manifested 2. But the Earthy Bestial and Corruptible Body made so by the Lust of Adam is not the Man for what the Soul is in the Spirit the same is the true Humane Body in the Essence As the Souls Mansion and as Iron is made Lustrous when through heated in the Fire Neither Heat Cold Sickness c. could annoy him his Body was as Gold that endureth the Fire or as a Tincture penetrating all things and gives way to nothing So neither was Man subject to any thing but his God alone who dwelt in him 3. Nor are here two but one only Man in the Likeness of God See more of this in the 21. Chap. of the Aurora in the 10th Chap. of the Three Principles and that of the Incarnation and that of Predestination Chap. 5. 4. Of the Creation of the seventh Day God Created all things in six Days out of the seven Properties and brought them all into the seventh as into one Body which is a Mystery of all the other whence they came and in which they work as a Spiritin a Body The seventh Property standeth still as a sensless Life but the seventh and the first Properties mutually belong to one another as one Property CHAP. XVII Of Paradise 1. THE Garden of Eden was a place on Earth where Man was tempted but Paradise was the Seventh Days Property the Essentiality of the second Principle which penetrated the four Elements as Eternity doth Time as the Sun the Fruit as the Day â—wallows up the Night or as the Fire illustrateth the heated Iron Yet was no more apprehended by the outward Elements though then in their best Purity than the Terrestrial doth the Celestial The Internal was to rule over the External the Heaven was the Husband to the Earth before the
little Paper Book in their Pockets into which their Friends do write some remarkable Sentence and Subscribe their Names and this Book is called Album Amicorum into such as these our Author wrote these following Verses Weme Zeit i st wie Ewigkeit Und Ewigkeit wie die Zeit Der i st befreyt vom allem streit Englished Unto that Man whose time and ever Is all the same and all together His Battel 's done his Strife is ended His Soul is safe his Life 's amended Or To him who wisely doth not sever This fleeting Time and State for ever And to this Maxim frames his Life Is freed from anxious Care and Strife On Sunday November 18. 1624. early in the Morning he called his Son and asked him If he heard the Excellent Musick he replied No Open saith he the Door that it may be the better heard afterward he asked What the Clock had struck and was told it had struck two He said It is not yet my time three Hours hence is my time In the mean while he spake these words O thou strong God of Hosts deliver me according to thy Will O thou Crucified Lord Jesus Have mercy upon me and receive me into thy Kingdom When it was near about Six he took leave of his Wife and Son Blessed them and said Now I go hence into Paradise and bidding his Son turn him he fetch'd a deep Sigh and Departed Thus have you had a short Account of the Journey of this Blessed Man on Earth with his last Farewel And it is well worthy of Remark that although he was indued with such rare and singular Gifts he sought not to make himself the Head of some Church and separate a People into some peculiarity of outward Form and Discipline But sought earnestly to promote in himself and others that Universal Love Uprightness and Serviceableness we owe to the whole Creation The Seven Spirits of God or Powers or Forms in Nature Binding 1 Attraction 2 Anguish 3 Fire 4 Light 5 Sound 6 Body 7 are the Seven Spirits Might The Ten Forms of Fire OF the Ten Forms of Fire know the Skill The Liberty both hath and is the Will Next's Strong Desire Third's sharp Drawing Might Makes An opposing Will. Fourth flash of Light Brings Anguish And in the Fifth Form doth Lye Th' Eternal Nature or Great Mystery Sixth The two Principles of Fire and Light The Seventh Magia with reflecting Sight The Eighth the Turba Ends the outward Life Ninth Virgin Tincture Pacifying Strife The Tenth makes holy Flesh and holy Earth Of Angels and Blest Souls the holy Birth Figur'd by Sem 1 Arphaxad 2 Selah 3 and Eber 4 Peleg 5 Regu 6 next whom do stand Serug 7 Nabor 8 with Terah 9 and the Blest Abram 10 whose Seed Sanctifies all the Rest. THREE and but three Principles Comprehend Eternal Things and those that have an End The First such Darkness as doth Light Desire Which till it Gain is a fierce Anguish Fire The Second A Meek Yielding Loving Light Majestick Potent Sacred Sweet and Bright The Third Resulting as from Fire and Light Brings Good from Evil Day from Pitchy Night Impregnates fully with Redundant Bliss Each Great or Little thing that Blessed is Did in Six Days the whole Creation hatch Still Swaddles Feeds and over it doth watch ERRATA PAge 30. Line 47. wants a Comma at Creature p. 77. l. 4. place the Parenthesis at Bodâ—es p. 79. Penult for eacht read each p. 102. l. 2. for It is r. Is it p. 181. l. 38. for Rod r. Root p. 277. l. 10. place the Parenthesis at through p. 322. Q. 19. for who r. how p. 396. for Enkinded r. Enkindled The General Heads of the following Treatise COnsiderations by way of Inquiry and Search into the Subject Matter and Scope of the Writings of the Divinely Instructed Jacob Behmen Page 1 The 177 Theosophick Questions of Jacob Behmen Answered shewing their Scope and Design Page 41 Meditations and Contemplations on some of the preceding Questions and Answers Page 219 Extracts of the Works of Jacob Behmen beginning with his Book called Aurora Page 241 The Three Principles of the Divine Essence Page 260 The Threefold Life in Man Page 288 The Forty Questions of the Soul Page 315 The Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Page 320 The Six Great Points Page 337 And Six Smaller Points Page 345 A Brief Summary of the Earthy and Heavenly Mysteries Contracted and Comprized in Nine Texts Page 347 Of the Divine Vision or Contemplation Page 349 A Brief Explanation of the Knowledge of God and of all things also of the True and False Light Page 354 Signatura Rerum Page 356 Gods Election of Grace call'd Predestination Page 369 Baptism and the Lords Supper Page 375 Mysterium Magnum Page 379 Extracts of the Life of Jacob Behmen Page 425 A Brief TABLE A. OF the Abyss of all things Page 42 Of Abraham and his Seed and of the Line of the Covenant Page 395 How Abraham's Travails figureth Christianity Page 400 Of Abraham's rescuing Lot Page 396 Of the Covenant made betwixt Abraham and Abimelech Page 401 Of Abraham's Offering up Isaac Sarah's Death and the rest of the History of Abraham what it all points at Page 402 to 404 Of Abraham's Bosom what it is Page 324 Of Adam's Eyes being opened Page 102 Of Adam and Eves Shame Page 103 Of Adam and Eves Death Page 104 Out of what the Angels were made Page 44. 59 Of the Work of the Angels Page 44. 244 Of their Dominions Thrones and Principalities Page 57. 221. 246. 294 Of Antichrist what it is Page 178. 306 Of the Antichristian Church Page 279 Of the Archeus Separator or Workman Page 73. 233. 263 B. BAbel what it is Page 180. 394 Of Baptism Page 132. 373. 398. The Beast in the Apocalypse what it is Page 180. 395 What the Ruin of the Beast is Page 182 Of God's Blessing in this World Page 312 Of the Water and Blood what they are Page 168. 172 Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ really enjoyed what it is Page 168. 172 Of the Bread and Wine in the Sacrament Page 168. 173 C. OF Cain's Murthering his Brother Abel Page 109. 390 Of Cain's Despair of Grace Page 111 Whether Cain was Damned in respect of his Sin Page 111 Of the Mark set on Cain what it was Page 112 Of the Kingdom of Cain Page 279 Of the Chaos whence it proceeded Page 62. 63 Of the Cherub with the naked Sword before Paradise what it was Page 107 Of Childrens Baptism Page 281. 308 Of Christ what he is Page 31. 32. 105 Of his Incarnation Page 32. 275. 329 Of his heavenly Humanity and how participated of by us Page 35. 105. 306. Of the Uniting the Deity and Humanity in his becoming Man Page 129 Why he conversed 30 Years on Earth before he entred on his Office Page 131 How it is that he increased in favour with God and Man Page 131 Why he was Baptiz'd of
John Page 132 Why he was Tempted 40 Days Page 133 How he was in Heaven and also on Earth Page 134 Why he Taught in Parables Page 134 Why he did not describe his Gostel in Writing Page 135 Why the High Priest and Scripture-Learned persecuted him Page 135. 139 His Process through his Suffering and why it was so Page 136. 142. 283. 330. 332. Why must he Die on a wooden Cross. Page 140 Of the two Murtherers Crucified with Christ what they figure Page 140. 283 Why must his Side be opened with a Spear Page 141 Why did the Earth tremble when he hung on the Cross. Page 142 What did the darkness signifie that came over all Nature Page 143 Of Christs Dying Descending c. from Page 143. to 158. and 283 Of the true Christian. Page 170 176. 297 Of the Titulary Christian. Page 171. 176 297. 310. Of the True Christian Church Page 279 Circumcision what it signifies Page 116. 376. 398 Conversion what it is Page 324 Contrariety whence it sprung Page 340 What use it is of Page 349 357 Of the Covenant with Noah Page 391 Of the Covenant with Abraham Page 116. 397 Of the Line of the Covenant Page 391 Of the Mortal Creatures from whence they sprung and Exist Page 64. 72. 233. 242 Of their Differences Page 73. 235 The End why they were Created Page 74. 235 Of the Creation Page 19. 234. 252. 303. 371. 381. What was before the Creation Page 43 Of the inward and outward Cure Page 363 Of Gods Curse what it is Page 275 The Cause thereof Page 388 D. OF the two Principles of Darkness and Light Page 1 Of the Temporal Darkness whence it is Page 65. 227 How the Devil came to be and what he is Page 45 Of Death and Dying Page 191. 192. 277. 313. 321. 358. Of the Divine Nature Page 260 Of the Divine Being in Nature Page 241. 380 The Divine Being and Nature distinguished Page 337. 341 Dinah deflowered what it figureth Page 412 E. WHat the Earth was before the Curse Page 87. 106 What the Earth is since the Curse Page 106 Of the Constitution and Form of the Earth Page 253 Egypt The bringing the Children of Israel out thence what figure it bears Page 121 Of Election and Reprobation what they are Page 345 What the four Elements are and whence proceeded Page 62. 224. 263. Of Enoch's Wonderful Line Page 391 Of the Enochian Life what it is and where hath Enoch remained Page 113. 326 The History of Esau what it figureth Page 405 to 413 Of the Eternal Nature or Originality Page 286 Of the infinite Productions thereof Page 261 Of the Knowledge of the Eternal through the Corruptible Page 272 Of Evil fierceness and anger whence they proceeded Page 2. 223. 247. 334. 380. F. TRue Faith what it is Page 332 Of the Fathers Property Page 243 Of the Firmament in the midst of the Waters Page 66. 228 254 Of the Flesh and Blood of Christ how the Disciples did Eat and Drink it Page 377 Of the Flesh and Spirit the contrariety betwixt them Page 321 Of the forbidden Fruit what it was Page 99 Of the Forms of Nature Page 292 How God Forgiveth Sins Page 336 G. IN what Grace the old World was Saved without Law Page 110 Of God distinct from Nature and Creature Page 42. 369. 379 Of Gods Love and Anger Page 42 Of Gods being All in All. Page 201 Of Gods working in Hell Page 54. 55. 220 Of the Word or Heart of God Page 379 Of Gods Voice when the day grew cool Page 104 Of Good and Evil whence they proceeded Page 334. 366. 380. H. OF the Human Tree Page 390. 393 Of the Hand of God what it is that Christ commended his Soul into Page 144. Of Heaven what it is where it is and how Page 56. 158. 213. 221. 252 Of Hell its beginning continuance and place Page 47. 51. 55. 213. 219. 220. 263. Of the Heathenish Gods whence they sprung Page 396 Of Hagar and Ishmael what their History figureth Page 397 to 400 Of the shedding forth the Holy Ghost after Christs Ascension what it benefits us Page 163 J. THE History of Jacob and Esau what it figureth Page 405 The Vision of Jacob's Ladder Page 407 The rest of the History of Jacob to Page 423 Of Jehovah Page 19 The Image of God in Man what it is Page 78. 238. 245. 273. 316 The History of Joseph what it figureth from Page 413 to 423. Concerning John Baptist what he was Page 125 Of Isaac's Birth and casting out Ishmael what it figureth Page 400 405 Of Judah and Thamar Page 414 Of the last Judgment what it is and how effected Page 195. 285 K. THE Kingdom of Christ how it is assumed or taken by him Page 183 How Christ will deliver the Kingdom to the Father Page 346 L. COncerning Lamech Cain's Successor Page 112 Of the Language of Nature Page 295. 395 Of the Language spoke by the Apostles at Pentecost Page 162 What the Law is Page 122 How the Divine Life may be manifested in this Life Page 350 Of the Life of Darkness what it is Page 343 Of the Principles of Light and Darkness Page 1 Of the true and false Light Page 354 Of the Temporal Light and Darkness Page 65. 227 Lot's Wife becoming a Pillar of Salt what it figureth Page 118 Of his departure out of Sodom Page 399 Of his Daughters Lying with him Page 118 What each signifies Lust what it can do Page 335 Lucifer what moved him to depart from God Page 44 45 Of his doleful Fall Page 250. 359 Of his Office in Hell Page 47. 219 Of his place at present Page 257 M. OF Mans Estate before the Fall Page 21. 82 84. 85. 86. 274 By what Degrees Man fell Page 26. 274. 359. 372. 385 What Mans Estate is by the Fall Page 28. 83. 274. 290. 335. 342. 373. 388 Of Mans Recovery Page 30. 38. 39. 40. 170 Mans mistaken way towards a supposed Happiness Page 37 Of Mans Immortal Life Page 77. 81. 237 Of Mans Mortal Life Page 77. 81. 237. 255. The Difference of the Heavenly and Earthy Man Page 382 Mans Body whence derived Page 75. 237. 255. 264. Of Mans Birth and Propagation Page 271 Why but one Man Created in the Beginning Page 81 Of the Government of Man over the Creatures Page 92 Why the first Man born of a Woman was a Murtherer Page 106 How Man may find himself and all Mysteries Page 303. 342 Of Mans deep Ground and Knowledge Page 46. 299. 304. 343. 358. 372. Of Mans Threefold Life Page 288. 301 Of the Male and Female kind whence proceeded Page 67. 229. Magia what it is and doth Page 346 Of Natural Magick what it is Page 417 Concerning the Metals Page 358 Of the Mind Page 273 Of the strife between Michael and the Dragon what it is Page 45 Moses what doth his being drawn out of the River signifie Page 119 Why the Lord appeared to him in