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A28523 The fifth book of the authour, in three parts the first, Of the becoming man or incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Sonne of God, that is, concerning the Virgin Mary ... and how the Eternal word is become man : the second part is of Christ's suffering, dying, death, and resurrection ... : the third part is of The tree of Christian faith ... / written through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, by Jacob Behme, the Teutonick philosopher ...; Von der Menschwerdung Jesu Christi. English Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665? 1659 (1659) Wing B3405; ESTC R21119 198,807 274

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things but if they love themselves more then God in them then their Perdition is of themselves Hath not God shed abroad his Love in our Hearts Can any rightly say Lord Lord but by the Holy Spirit And are not the Father the Word and Spirit which bear record in Heaven One And do not the Spirit the Water and the Bloud which bear record on the Earth agree in One Also is not the Kingdom of Heaven within us And doth it not consist in Peace Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost and then must not all needs be in us And we may thereby apprehend and understand it rightly though yet we know it not nor ever read it or though it had not been related in the Holy Scriptures How many Thousand Endless Mysteries are Treasured up in the hidden wisdom of God in Christ and in him in us when we find him and partake of him in him we have them all and from his fulness receive Grace for Grace how narrowly therefore should we search and observe the exact words of the Scripture which so surely as an Index point us to these invaluable things and use that powerful word in our Hearts by which hearing Comes and direction and power of understanding those things not onely which are expressed inwardly or outwardly but even whatsoever is hidden in Christ in whom all fulness dwels and then can any thing be impossible to be apprehended or known by a Soul that hath the very Thing in it self where nothing can be hid from its inward Eyes And since God worketh in us both to wil and to do why refuse we to will and to do by hearkening and yeelding to the Lusts of our own Hearts being Servants in Obedience to the Evil and not of God who is likewise in us with his Grace fulness we thinking nevertheless that we can neither will nor do endeavouring to bring Scripture to prove it to the quenching of the Spirit the manifestation whereof is given to every one to profit withal and this is effected in those that understand not how to satsfie themselves in the meaning of those Scripture Arguments that are alledged for proofs not considering that God worketh in us to be able through him in us so that there is himself his power and ability in our Selves though not Self-ability as of our selves for the Most Holy Man born of the fleshly Seed of Father and Mother of himself as of himself is not able to think a Good Thought but there is none so wicked except he be altogether uncapable to desire Conversion and so is a Devil but doth at some time or other in this life think a Good Thought which testifies the good work of God in his-heart and soul and is the stirring of the Divine Word therein in which is Light but Men love darkness rather then Light though it Ever Eternally shone in the Darkness and is the very light of their life in them and that because their Deeds are Evil and they will not follow to will and do according to it which is the Obedience to the divine Light in them though God hath given even his whole self unto them to Convert them wherein they are able to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth them and yet will not but neglect so great Salvation And these Comfortable words expressed in the holy Scriptures are faithful and the Things certain and undeniably true though the Scriptures had never made mention of them and are all of them to be discerned known and throughly understood in the Things themselves by and in every Soul but our want is that we seek not The Consideration whereof should move us earnestly to labour to understand more and more where and how that word is to be found felt seen and known as this Book doth exceedingly help us that we may infallibly Experimentally and understandingly Testifie unto the Truth of the Holy Scriptures by the through Examination of the Things it speaketh of seeing the Scripture directs to that which is to be understood no way but in the Things themselves as all that is written of is to be known Experimentally whether it be Natural or Divine solely by comparing the writing by and with the Things else all is but a Notional and Imaginary Supposition or Opinion without understanding but by the knowing of Things we should by degrees cease from Contention and rightly certainly and infallibly know God and the Wonders he hath wrought and can and will work in all things especially in the Souls of Holy Men some of whom out of the good hidden treasure of the living word in the Heart have committed to writing those few things conteined in the Scriptures being few in respect of the Infinite Depths of the Deity and so proceeding forward from Grace to Grace from Knowledge to knowledg we may attain to the measure of the fulness of the stature of a Man in Christ and not be alwaies children in understanding but even strong Men in Christ The Apostle Johns words If we say we have no sin we deceive our Selves May they be taken as meant speaking of others and not himself included what then shall we think was become of his Earthly Old Adam of his outward Flesh and Bloud wherein he was Mortal had he not that when he said so that he might justly exclude himself from having any sinne as having laid of this life and body he might have done having the new heavenly Body and not the old Earthly one about him at all in which Mortal flesh and Bloud onely which Christ himself took of the Seed of the Virgin Mary he became Sinne for us and could die else it had not been possible as is largely cleared in this Treatise Though if there be no Consent of the Soul it may truly be said by any one with the Apostle Paul It is no more I that do the Evil which I would not but Sinne that dwelleth in me Yet of this Mortal Corruptible Flesh which dyeth and remains in Corruption in the Grave and will not be changed till the General Resurrection of all the Dead at the last day of that it may be always said as he likewise saies of himself after he was rapt into the Third Heaven and not of others onely I know that in me that is in my Flesh dwelleth no Good thing And that is it in which Evil was present vvith him vvhen he vvould do Good for vvith his Flesh he served the Lavv of Sinne Can any serve God with his Flesh but vvith the Mind he can and doth vvhen he vvilleth the Good Yet vvhy are the Mysteries of the Bible so little understood but because we apprehend not that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit and all Graces as also Sinne are invvardly in Every soul the flesh lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh in every one and so the love and vvrath of God is in all things either hidden or manifested and that all
in the Hearts of Men by the suggestion of the Arch-Enemy of all Man-kind who knoweth well enough that if the inward Word be once Choaked and killed at the Root so that it groweth not to be felt known and obeyed he will soon cause in Evil Minds that Most precious literal Word to be used onely as a pretence thereby to cover all Sin in Hypocrisie causing the Word in the Heart not to be so much as thought on or observed whereas on the Contrary he that highly esteemeth of the Word the Commandment Christ in the Heart that word of Faith by which the heart it self cometh originally to have its very being cannot in the least fail of Esteeming the powerfull working thereof in the inexpressible various wisdom dwelling in the Heart and appearing from the Mouth or Pen of any Man whatsoever Therefore peruse this Book which will inform us how the Eternal Word became Man and how the Man JESUS CHRIST who was born of the Virgin Mary and lived upon Earth for the space of Three and Thirty years and upwards then was Crucified dyed was buried arose again and ascended into Heaven within the little part of the World that Space of the Country of Aegypt the Wildernss the Land of Canaan Judea and City of Jerusalem in the fulness of Time about sixteen hundred and fifty Eight years ago How HE was also this Eternal Word which was is and Ever shall be God and Christ the Eternal Alpha and Omega the beginning and the End the word of Faith that very Word which is in our Hearts the word of Life the inserted or ingrafted Word the word of Grace the Spirit of Life the Bread which came down from Heaven which alwaies is in Heaven not the outward though in the outward Bread for we live not by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of the Mouth of God this is the Bread of Life Our Dayly Bread and so how he is both God and Man Also how we that are Men may here in this Life be rightly partakers of Him according to the sayings of the Scriptures also of his Sufferings Death and Resurrection and how or in what manner it is that he is like unto us in all things Sinne onely excepted and yet he took our Sinnes upon him he that knew no Sinne became Sinne for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him All this will be clearly discerned in this Treatise of the Incarnation of JESUS CHRIST or his Becoming Man and therefore also that so precious knowledg may not remain any longer shut up it is here published in the English Tongue Though by perusing it and Meditating therein the Holy Bible will appear assuredly to be as much the Word of God as a writing by Mans hand can be and the words there once spoken by the Prophets Christ the Apostles other Holy Men as much the word of God as words and voyces of Men can be The true sence and meaning thereof in the understanding as much the word of God as the Meaning in the Mind and understanding of any Man can be Yet the writing the Words and sense or meanings proceeding from Creaturely Instruments are creaturely whereas the Thing properly called the word of God which inwardly frames those Meanings and formeth all things whatsoever both visible and invisible is not a Creature for it is the Creator the Creating Word which is God himself who formeth all things in himself and so ALL is HE not one IOT a Creature But he createth the Creature and dwelleth therein yet the Creature is not nor ever can be He and so that word of his which is produced effected brought forth and Manifested Externally by the Creature is Gods Word but is not God the Word But the inward Word in the Heart that vvord of Faith even Christ the Word that Word is God Let me enquire a little Were not all Eternal Things whatsoever in Being in their own uncreated World before therewas so much as the least Glimps of any Created thing either Angel or Man either Created Light or Darkness either Created Heaven or Hell or this World And were not the Divine holy Spiritual and all other Natural things in Being without the Created inward and outward world as well as in them And had it not been so though the Angels world and ours had never been created And were not all the Things without them and within them in Being though they had not been spoken of in the Scriptures were not the Word God though John the Apostle had not said so were not the Pure in Heart Blessed should we not through Patience possess our Souls Is not God himself Light And if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light doth not the Bloud of Jesus Christ clense us from All Sinnes otherwise not though it be in us And is not his Flesh meat indeed and his Bloud drink indeed Why do we not eat and drink thereof If we deny our selves and take up the Cross of Christ that is tribulation anguish afflictions adversities and Crosses and follow him in Meekness and wel-doing loving those that hurt us returning Good for Evil to every one and blessing for Cursing and this unfeignedly from a sincere Heart are we not his true Disciples will not Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that desire it though certain Disciples that believed and had been baptized in the Time of the Apostles had not so much as heard whether there was any holy Ghost yet being baptized in the Name of the Lord JESUS and having the hands of Paul laid on them they received the holy Ghost and Spake with Tongues and prophesied Do not they receive the Seed into Good Ground that heare the Inward Word and receive consent to or obey it and so understand it also bring forth fruit Doth not Faith come by inward Hearing and that Hearing by the same word of God And can those that have not Ears to hear that is Spiritual Ears hear though his voyce his Spiritual Tongue and voyce is gone into all the Earth that Word ingrafted in every thing by which all doth subsist Can the Natural Man perceive the Things of God seeing they are spiritually to be discerned or can any teach them rightly that is Spiritually but by the Spirit And if the word of Promise the Seed of the woman had not been quickned in Adam and Eve by Gods putting Enmity between the Womans and the Serpents Seed they both of them and all their posterity had been meerly Natural and Children of wrath onely and had been uncapable of ever becoming the Children of Grace and Mercy but in the Word of promise Christ in them all Mankind have in them the Spiritual Man the hidden Man of the Heart in whom even Cain was able to do well and so doing should have been accepted and in whom they are not only able to discern but to do all
into the heavenly divine source or quality 63. And therefore must her outward Man dye away from the Earthly source or quality that it may live to God 64. And therefore in that she was blessed and did bear the Mark in the Covenant her body not vanished departed or dissolved for the heavenly hath swallowed up the Eartthly and holdeth that Eternally captive to the honour of God and the Manifestation of his deeds of Wonder It shall never be forgotten in Eternity that God is become Man in her 65. But that some say she remained totally in death and quite vanished or Corrupted their Reason might well discern otherwise for that which is highly blessed is uncorruptible or cannot vanish away 66. Her heavenly part of the divine substantiality which she had in her blessed that is intransitory else it must follow that Gods substantiality in the Blessing were yet once more fallen and dead as was done in Adam for the sake of which dying indeed God became Man that he might being it to life again 67. Indeed according to the Outward Life viz according to the outward source or quality she died but she liveth according to the Blessing in Gods substantiality and also in her own Substantiality not in the Four Elements but in the root of the four Elements viz in the One Element which holdeth the Four Elements shut up in it selfe in the Paradise in the pure Element in the Divine Substantiality in the Body of God 68. Therefore we say that Mary was greater in dignity then Ever any Daughter of or from Adam in that God hath fixed the Mark of his Covenant in her and that she alone among all Eves Daughters hath attained the blessing viz the pure Virgin-like chastity which in all Eves Daughters was perished 69. But with her stood the Virginity in the Covenant till the word of Life highly b●essed her and then she became a right chast Virgin in which God became Generated 70. For Christ said to the Jews I am from above but ye are from beneath I am not of thi● world 71. If he were become Man in an Earthly Vessel and not in a pu● modest Chast heavenly Virgin he had of necessity been of this World 72. But thus he became Man in the Heavenly Virgin and the Earthly source or quality did but hang to him for the Essence of the Soul was in us poor Children of Men become infected 73. And he was to introduce our Soul in the heavenly Essence in himselfe through the fire of God in Ternarium Sanctum into the holy Ternary 74. For it was for the Soules sake that all was done being it had been taken out of the Eternall therefore also God would not forsake it Question 75. Therefore if it be asked what kind of Matter it was whereinto Gods Word and Heart hath given in it selfe and made it selfe a Body whether it be strange Matter come from Heaven Or whether it was of Maryes Essence and seed Answer 76. This is our Answer That Gods Heart was never without Substance for its dwelling is from Eternity in the Light and the power in the Light is the Heart or Word which God hath spoken from Eternity 77. And the Speaking was the Holy Spirit of God which with the Speaking goeth forth out of the power of the Light out of the spoken Word 78. And that which is out spoken is Gods Wonder and Wisdome and this hath in it the divine Looking-Glass of the Wisdom whereinto the Spirit of God looketh and wherein it openeth the Wonders 79. Thus understand that the word which out of or from the Heart of God the Father was environed with the heavenly Chast Virgin of wisdome dwelleth in the heavenly Substantiality and hath in like manner opened it selfe in Maries Essence and Substantiality viz in her own seed understand in the humane seed and hath taken into it selfe Maries seed dead and blind as to God and awakened or railed it to Life again 80. The living Substantiality came together in the half dead to a Body not to a transitory which should cease or vanish but to an Eternal which should remain Eternally for here the Eternal Life became generated again 81. Thus the Substantiality of the Eternity in God of his Deepe without Ground and the Substantiality of the dead Adam in the Humanity became one Substantiality totally or entirely one Substance so that the Creature Christ with his Substantiality in like manner at once filled the whole Father which is without bounds limit or Ground 82. Yet the Creaturely Soul continueth and is a Creature and according to the Third Princidle viz as to the Creature this Christ is a Creature and King of Men as also according to the Second Principle a Childe of the Abyssal Father 83. Whatsoever the Father is in his Abyssal Deepe that the Sonne is in his Creature for the power and virtue in the Creature is with the power without or beyond the Creature one power one Substantiality in which the Angels and Men dwell 84. But in the Humanity it giveth also flesh and blood and therefore also it is and remaineth a Creature but uncreated yet generated as to one part out of God from Eternity as to the other part out of the Humanity 85. And God and Man is become one person one Christ One God one Holy Trinity in the Humanity and also in like manner Every where so that when we see Christ we see the Holy Trinity in one only Image 86. His Creature is an Image and out of or from us Men our High Priest and King our Brother his power and virtue is our power and virtue if we be indeed generated of God again in the Faith to him 87. He is not strange or terrible to Us but is our Love Tincture He is with his power the quickening of our Souls our life and our Souls delightful habitation 88. When we find him we find our Help or salvation as in like manner Adam should have found him but the suffered himselfe to be seduced and found at length a Woman 89. Then said he She is Flesh of my Flesh and bone of My bone and took her to him for a Companion so also when our Soul findeth him it saith that is my Virgin which I had lost in Adam when an Earthly Woman came to be out of it 90. I have now again found my love-Virgin out of my Love I will now never more let it go from me again it is Mine my flesh and blood my strength virtue and Power which I lost in Adam it will I keepe 91. O it is a friendly keeping a friendly qualifying or coworking beauty brightness fruit power and virtue 92. Thus the poor Soul findeth its lost Lights Tincture and its Love-Virgin and in this Spouse or Wife the Noble Bridegroom becometh found 93. For it hath longed after the Matrix of Venus but hath found onely a Masculine Sulphur and must
Aegypt 26. That is the Virgin-like Image must suffer it selfe to be put into Aegypt into Bondage and servitude and the Earth viz the fierce wrath of God Covereth the virgin-like Image it devoureth the streams of the Dragon 27. Although the Dragon with his abominations overwhelmeth the virgin-like Image and reproacheth slandereth and despiseth it yet that hurteth not the Virgins Child for the fierce wrath taketh the reproach and slander which is cast forth upon the Child to it selfe for the Earth alwaies signifieth the fierce wrath of God 28. Thus the Virgins Child standeth upon the Earth as upon the Earthly Moon and must continually flie into Aegypt before the D●agon it must here be onley under the Bondage and Servitude of Pharao 29. But it standeth upon the Moon not under the Moon the Prince Josua or JESUS bringeth it through Jordan into Jerusalem it must onely through Death go into Jerusalem and leave the Moon 30. It is but a Guest in this World a stranger and Pilgrim it must wander through the Dragons Country and when the Dragon casteth forth his streams upon it it must bow downe and passe under the Crose and then the Anger of God receiveth the Dragons fire to it 31. It is known to us that the Old Adam knoweth and understandeth Nothing of the New it understandeth all things in an Earthly manner it knoweth not where nor what God is it flatters it self and ascribeth honesty and holiness to it 32. It supposeth it serveth God and yet serveth but the Old Dragon it Offereth Sacrifice and yet its heart hangeth to the Dragon it will suddenly be honest and with the Earthliness go into heaven 53. And yet it despiseth the Children of Heaven whereby it declareth that is a stranger in Heaven it is onely a Lord upon Earth and Devil in Hell 34. Among such Thornes and Thistles must Gods Children grow they are not known in this World for the Anger of God Covereth them 35. A Child of God also Knoweth not himself aright he seeth onely the Old Adam which hangeth to him which will alwaies drown the virgin-childe 36. But if the virgin Childe conceive a glimpse in the Holy Ternary then it knoweth it selfe when the Noble faire Garland or Crown of Victory is set upon it there must the Old Adam first look back and knoweth not what is done to him 37. He is indeed very Joyful like one that danceth to an Instrument of Musick when that Ceaseth sounding his Joy hath an End and he remaineth to be the Old Adam for he belongeth to the Earth and not to the Angelical World 38. So soon as it cometh so farre with a Man that the virgin-like Image beginneth to sprout forth out of the Old Adam so that a Man giveth up his Soul and Spirit into the Obedience of God then the strife with him beginneth then the Old Adam in the Anger of God striveth with the New Adam 39. The Old will be Lord in flesh and blood also the Devil cannot endure the virgin-like Branch for he dareth not to touch it but the Old Adam may touch infect and posses it 40. Because his own dwelling in the Darkness of the Abyss pleaseth him not therefore he would fain dwell in Man for he is an Enemy to God and hath without Man no authority 41. Therefore he possesseth Man and leadeth him according to his pleasure into the Anger and fierce wrath of God wherewith he scorneth Gods Love and Meekness for he supposeth still seeing he is a fierce wrathful fire-source or quality that he is higher then the Humility being he can go so terribly 42. But being he dare not touch the virgin-like Branch therefore he useth sublime subtle Craft knavery and wickedness and destroyeth it so that it is not known or acknowledged in this world else too many such little branches might grow in his supposed Country for he is wrath an Enemy to them he bringeth his Proud Ministers or Officers and P●●gurs with scorn upon that man so that he is persecuted despised and held a Fool. 43. And this he doth through the Reason-Learned wise world through those who call themselves shepheards or Pastors of Chirst upon whom the world looketh that so the Holy Lilly branch may not be known else men might observe it and too many such branches may grow for him and then he should loose his Dominion among Men. 44. But the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch groweth in Patience and Meekness and taketh its Essence pover and smell out of the Soyl of God as also out of Christs becoming Man or incarnation for Christs Spirit is its Essence Gods Substance is its Body 45. Not out of any strange or Heterogene property but out of its own included and shut up in Death aud in Christ Sprouting Essence groweth the virgin-like Lilly Twig or Branch It seeketh not nor desireth the fariness or excellency of this world but of the Angelical world 46. For it also groweth not in this world in the Third Principle but in the Second Principle in the Paradise-world and therefore there is great strife in flesh and blood in the outward Reason 47. The Old Adam knoweth not the New and perceiveth that it withstandeth and opposeth him it willeth not what the Old willeth it continually leadeth the Old to abstinence which causeth woe to the Old The Old willeth onely to have pleasure voluptuousness and temporal honour it Cannot endure the Cross and Contempt 48. But the New is well pleased that it shall bear the Marks or Prints of the wounds of Christ That it should become conformable to the Image of Christ 49. Therefore the Old goeth often very mournfully about when it seeth it must be a fool and yet knoweth not how it befalleth him for he knoweth not Gods will 50. He hath onely the will of this world what there flattereth faire he willeth to have that he would fain be Lord continually before whom Men must bowe or stoop 41. But the New boweth it selfe before its God and desireth nothing also willeth nothing but it panteth after its God as a childe after its Mother It casteth it selfe into the bosome of its Mother and giveth its body up to its heavenly Mother into the Spirit of Christ 52. It desireth the food and Drink of its Eternal Mother and it Eateth in the bosome of the Mother as a child in the body or womb of the Mother eateth of its Mother 53. For so long as it is covered in the Old Adam so long it is yet in the becoming Man or Incarnation but when the Old dyeth then the New becometh Generated or born forth out of the Old 54. It leaveth the Vessel wherein it lay and became a virgin-like childe ●o the Earth and to the Judgement of God but it becometh born or brought forth as a blossome in the Kingdom of God 55. And then when the Day of Resteration shall come all his Works which he hath wrought Good
blood be put on as it was when God Created it in Paradise in the Eternal 16. Whereby then we clearly known that God hath not created us in such flesh and blood as wee now beare upon us but in such flesh and blood as to the willing in the New birth is put on 17. Else it would instantly before the Fall have been Earthly and Corruptible what should my Conscience blame or accuse me for that wherein God had Created me Or what should it desire other then what it was in its own substance 18. Thus we necessarily find it clear that there is yet another substance in our flesh which groaneth sigheth and panteth after that which yet now is not 19. Being then that it sigheth and panteth after that which ye now is not therefore it must needs have been so in the beginning of its being and substance else there would be no sighing or longing in it after another thing 20 For we know that Every substance sigheth after that out of which it had its first Original and so our will sigheth after such a flesh as God Created which may subsist in God not after an earthly transitory one in source and quality but after a permanent one without source or quality 21. Whereby we clearly understand that we are gone forth out of the Eternal into the Corruptible that we have attracted or contracted the Matter to the Limus and are become Earth where●s yet God had extracted us out thereof as a Mass and introduced his Spirit thereinto with the Eternal 22. For Adams Imagination hath drawn the Earthly source or quality of the Stars and Four Elements into the Limus and the Stars and Elements have drawn in the longing Malady of the Earth and thus the heavenly Matter of the heavenly Flesh became Earthly 23. For the Spirit of God which was breathed in from the Word Fiat into the Limus out of Gods Heart which had heavenly substantiality heauenly flesh and blood on it that should rule Adam according to the heavenly divine property 24. But being the Devil when he sat in Heaven had infected the Limus so now he did to it also this wickedness and infected it with his Imagination so that it began to Imagine or long after the perished Malady or seeking of the Earthly source or Quality whence he became captivated by the Kingdom of this perished world which drew in into the Limus as a Lord. 25. And Now the Image of God became perished and fell into the Earthly source or quality 26. But being the heavenly Spirit was in the perished Earthly Sulphur the heavenly glance of the divine Fire could not so subsist in the burning for the Eternal fires Light subsisteth in the Liberty without or beyond the source or quality 27. But being the water of the Liberty which was the food of the Eternal fire became Earthly that is filled with Earthliness and that the Meek love became infected with the Earthly evil Longing and Malady 28. Therefore could not the Eternal fire burn also give no Light but it Glowed thus in the Earthly flesh as a damped fire that cannot burn for mo●sture 29. That very fire Gnaweth us now it alwaies blameth or accuseth us and would fain burn and receive heavenly Substantiality therefore it must devour and swallow up the earthly source or quality into it selfe viz the Earthly Imagination wherein the Devils longing Malady mixeth it slfe 30. Thus it also becometh Evil and draweth us Continually to the Abyss into the Center of Nature into the Anguish-Chamber out of which it went forth in the Beginning 31. Thus thou seest O Man what thou art and whatsoever thou further makest out of thy selfe that thou wilt be in Eternity and thou seest wherefore thou must break Corrupt and dye for the Kingdom of this world passeth away 32. Yet thou art not in thy outward substance so potent to continue in that Kingdom even to its Eternity but thou art impotent or weak therein and lyest meerly therein in a Constellation or Astrum which hath the Configuration or Course wherein thou in flesh and blood or the Earthly substance in the Mothers body or Wombe art flown forth 33. Thou art so impotent or weak in the outward life that thou canst not prevent thy Constellation or Astrum thou must go into the Corruption or breaking of thy Body when the Constellation leaveth thee 34 And there thou seest undeniably what thou art viz Dust of the Earth Earth full of stincking rottenness even while thou livest a dead Carcass while thou yet livest 35. Thou livest to the Configuration and Elements they rule and drive thee according to their property they give thee employment and Art and when their Seculum time or season or period is run about that thy Constellation under which thou wert Conceived and born to this world is finished then they let thee fall away 36. And then thy body falleth home to the four Elements and thy spirit which leadeth thee to the Mystery out of which the Astrum or Configuration became generated and wilt be here reserved to the Judgement of God where God will prove and try all through the fire of his Might 37. Thus thou must Moulder away and become Earth and a Nothing all but the spirit which is proceeded out of the Eternal which God introduced into the Limus therein consider what thou art even a handful of Earth and a source or quality-house or tormentive Workhouse of the Stars and Elements 38. Wilt thou not have thy soule or Eternal Spirit which is given thee from the Eternal highest Good here in this time kindled again in the Light of God so that it becometh born again in the Light out of the divine substantiality then it falleth in the Mystery to the Center of Nature viz home again to the first Mother into the Anguish Chamber of of the first four forms of Nature 39. There it must be a Spirit in the dark anguish source or quality with all Devils and devour that which it hath in this world introduced into it selfe that will be its food and life 40. But being God would not have it thus with man his similitude and Image therefore he himselfe is become that which poor Man was come to be after that he was fallen out of the divine substantiality out of Paradise that he might help him again so that Man hath in himself the Gate of Regeneration that he can in the souls fire become born again in God 41. And that the same souls fire draw into it selfe divine substantiality again and fill it selfe with the divine Love-source from which the divine Kingdom of joy becometh born again and that the souls fire bring forth the Holy spirit again as is afore mentioned 42. Which went forth out of the souls fire and that the Adamical flesh might draw back the ungodly willing so that the poor soul might not be filled again with the Earthly and devillish
Evil or wickedness or else he hath a heavy Judgement upon him 69. What is he better then the Devil who also knoweth Gods will but yet doth his own Evil will one is as the other neither Good so long till he becometh a doer of the Word and then he walketh in Gods way and is in the Vineyard in Gods Labour 70. The Hypocritical Babel teacheth now at present that our works merit Nothing Christ hath delivered us from Death and Hell we must onely Believe and so we are righteous 71. Hearken O Babel The servant who knoweth his Lords will and doth it not shall suffer many stripes a knowing without doing is just as a fire which glimmereth but cannot burn for moisture 72. Wilt thou that thy divine Faiths Fire should burn then thou must blow it up and put off from Thee the Devils and the worlds Moysture thou must enter into the Life of Christ 73. Wilt thou be his Childe then thou must enter into his house and manage his work else thou art out of it without and an Hypocrite who beareth the Name of God in vain or unprofitably thou teachest one thing and dost another and testifiest thus that Gods Judgement is right concerning thee 74. Or what pleasure hath God in thy knowing when as thou stil continuest wicked dost thou suppose he will accept thy Hypocrisie 75. That thou Cryest to him Lord give me a strong Faith in the Merits of thy Sonne Christ that he hath satisfied for my sinnes supposest thou that that is enough 76. O Sir no hearken thou must enter into Christs Suffering and dying and be born a second time out of his Death thou must become a Member in and with him thou must constantly Crucifie the Old Adam and alwaies hang upon Christs Cross and must become an obedient Child that alwaies hearkeneth what the father saith and alwaies would fain do that 77. Thou must enter into the Doing Else thou art but a Vizard without Life thou must together with God work good works of Love towards thy Neighbour and continually exercise thy Faith and alwaies be prepared and ready at the voice of the Lord when he Calleth thee out of the old skin to go home into the pure Garment 78. See though thou plainly walkest in this way yet thou wilt have upon thee weakness enough and feel far too much thou wilt still work very farre too much Evil. 79. For we have an Evil Guest lodging within us to comfort ones self onely doth not avail but to fight and strive against it and Continually to slay and vanquish it without this it is ever too strong and will have the Dominion 80. Christ hath indeed in us and for us broken and destroyed Death and made way for us but what doth it help me to comfort my selfe with that and learn to know that and yet continue lying shut up in the dark Anger and Captivated in the Chains of the Devil 81. I must even enter into that very way and Path and walk in that street as a Pilgrim or stranger who wandereth out of Death into Life The Eighth Chapter Of the Pilgrims-VVay out of Death into Life 1. DEar Children let us very heartily speak one with another concerning the Ground and Foundation Our true life wherewith we should see God is as a damped fire in many also as the fire shut up in a Stone we must strike upon it with true earnest sincere entring and turning In to God 2. Look upon Gods care in providing which hath taken for us aforehand He hath regenerated us in Christ out of the Water of Eternal Life and hath left us at last the same in the Covenant of Baptism for a Key that we should therewith unlock and therewith besprinckle our souls Fire that it may become capable of the Divine Fire 3. And hath given us his Body for food and his Blood for drink that we should receive it and enter into his Covenant and feed our souls therewith that they may be quickened and awake up from Death that the divine Fire may kindle them 4. Dear Children It must burn and not continue to lie shut up in Stone or as an Ember or Tinder which would fain glimmer and cannot for the Devils Moysture 5. The Historical Faith is onely an Ember which glimmereth like a little spark it must become Kindled we must give it Matter wherein the sparkle may kindle it selfe 6. The soul must press forth out of the Reason of this world in to the life of Christ into Christs flesh and Bloud and so it conceiveth the Matter to its kindling It must be in Earnest Sincerity 7. For the History reacheth not Christs flesh and Bloud Death must be broke open 8. Although indeed Christ hath broke it open yet the Earnest sincere desire must follow after that would fain doe or act and alwaies labour therein 9. As a Pilgrim or Messenger who hath a long dangerous way to travail he alwaies runneth on towards the End and is unwear●ed though woe and misery befall him yet he hopeth for the End and cometh alwaies nearer where then he Expects in hope his wages and refreshment and joyeth that his sore travail and wandering will have an End 10. Thus must a man that will travail and wander to God behave himselfe in the Way of his Pilgrimage He must continually more and more wander or travail forth out of the Earthly Reason out from the will of the Flesh of the Devil and the World 11. Often woe and misery befall him when he must forsake that which he might well have had and could therewith have swum in Temporal Honour 12. But if he will Travel in the Right Path then he must onely put on the Mantle of Righteousness and put off the Mantle of Covetousness and the Hypocritical Life 13. He must impart his bread to the Hungry and give his clothes for a Covering and not be an Oppressor of the Miserable and onely fill his own Sack full squeese away the sweet from the simple and impose Lawes upon him onely for his pride and pleasure sake 14. He is no Christian that doth such things but he travelleth in the Path of this world as the starres and the Elements with the Devils infection and Lust drive him 15. And though likely he knoweth the Faith of Gods Mercifulness of the satisfaction of Christ yet that will not help him for not all that say Lord Lord shall enter enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but those that do the will of my Father in Heaven 16. And that will is Love thy Neighbour as thy self What thou wilt that men should do to thee that do thou also 17. Say not in thy Heart I sit in this Office and Lordship of Right I have bought purchased or inherited it that which my Subjects doe for me they are obliged to do it 18. See and search whether that hath a right original