captive soul which sticketh in the Prison of Darknesse Thou Teachest that God hath not Elected them all That God Hardeneth one part of them and draweth them not in Christ to the Father and givest the Similitude of a Potter As if the SOUL were made or Created and though indeed thou dost not so state it in tearms yet it affordeth such an Understanding 95. Why doe you not set down the Originall of the will to Evill and to Good what is in GOD that Draweth Men to Good and to Evill Wilt thou boast thy self of an Enlightened Mind then thou must know that and set it down for the Comfort of the poor soul that it may not be wavering and unsetled and to think that God hath not created it for a vessel of Honour that it is not born or generated in the Line of CHRIST as thou bringest it in concerning Cain and Abel and usest the bowed perverted Scriptures and leavest out the Best viz. the Love of God which willeth not the Evill and so thou Castest a snare about the Neck of the Soul 96. Well thou art come to my warehouse to which I have invited the Children of God But I tell thee I have no such ware as thou seekest after I have only Comfort for the Children of God and Not Desperation for the Devils I will set forth to thee the Ware I promised if thou wilt not buy let it alone 97. I have not invited the Devil's Advocates to it but Christs Children who would faine be saved although thou boastest Much that the Election of Grace is not to be searched for out of Christ but tellest not how it is to be searched for in CHRIST but layest it aside as if God would not have all Men as if he hardened some out of a Predestinate purpose 98. In that respect I will shew you some of my Wares if you will buy well and good and so you may be a brother in Christ but if not thou thy self wilt not God would indeed but if thou thy self wilt not then thou hardenest thy self 99. The CENTER out of which Evill and Good floweth is IN thee that which thou awakest in thee be it Fire or Light that will be taken in again by its Like either by Gods Anger-fire or by Gods Light-fire Each of them Electeth or chooseth to it self that which is like its property 100. Will any be a Devill then Gods Anger will have him for he is of its property the Election or choosing is suddenly there but will he be an Angel then is the Election or Choosing also suddenly there 101. But hath be been an Evill wicked Man and likely that the Anger of God hath already chosen or Elected him to Damnation and yet letteth in the sparkle of Gods Love again into the Light of Life which not withstanding all the while the outward Man liveth standeth presented to him and calleth him then is also as suddenly the Elector or chooser to the Kingdome of Heven in THAT sparkle and besides with very great Joy and honour more then for Ninety and Nine Elected which need no repentance 102. The soul of Man is from or out of that Center which is called God the Father understand out of the Eternall Beginning lesse Nature it hath the Center to the fire and Light in it self to evill and Good what IT Electeth or chooseth for it self of THAT it is re-Elected or chosen againe and taken up which is to be seen by the Devills 103. They were Angells in Gods Light and their Center Moved it self yet higher then the right of the Angelicall Nature was and awakened in them the Mother of the Originall in the fierce wrath and that also suddenly caught their will-spirit and Elected or chose them to be Creatures of the Dark world 104. Doe you suppose now that it was Gods Predestinate purposed will to have it so then must God have a Devils will in himself and also an Angelicall which is quite contrary to the Holy Scripture also against Gods Love and against the Light of the Eternall Nature 105. But the Pasquill or Libeller understandeth NOT at all what Gods Love and Anger are or what is called God He will speak of Gods will and it is but a fighting with a Shadoe and a Jugling 106. But since he understandeth it not and that through the Grace of God I see his miserable blindnesse how he burneth in the poyson of the Originall and thus affords a right Advocate to the Anger of God as also to the Devill to bolt up and keep the poor foul in the Anger of God therefore I will Discover somewhat to him Now if he will buy well and Good then let IMMANUEL be for US and the Dark world for the Devill 107. But if he will NOT then I have written for the Reader of his Pasquill or Libel if the Reader be a Christian and Entendeth to be saved he will be well able in his Understanding and Mind to distinguish between US This shall be my Answer for this one Time Here followeth further Information and Refutation of the Pasquil or Libel It is noted with the Number where it is to be found in the Libel 108. First the Pasquil sets down for an Entrance a great Register of the Prophesies of CHRIST concerning the last Times How Seducers and HERETICKS would come and say Here is Christ and that we should not then believe them And that the Libeller doth to the End that he may make to himself a stately Entrance and Dore of reproach to the Pasquill or Libel That he may proclaime the Authour for a HERETICK and a man may soon see what he hath in his Mind and Thoughts and what Spirit 's Child he is his Christian vein suddenly appears so that he may lay it upon the Authour 109. Indeed Christ and his Apostles have rightly prophesied and it is or standeth so in the substance and it proteedeth at present with great prevalency when every one Cryeth Here is Christ or There is Christ Run after Me you is a Heretick and Babel at present is quite kindled with Clamour it burneth also in the fire of Gods Anger in its senselesse Sectarianisme so that indeed if it were possible the Elect might be doveived 110. But why doth the Pasquill or Libeller wrest the words of the Prophesie and not say what an HERETICK is He thinks he hath catched a Mouse and seeth not that he himself sticks fast in the Trap. 111. Certainly HERETICKS are such people as are generated or born out of or from Reason out of or from ART which is from the Stars which make an unstedfast Matter or Substance whereas to day one Constellation or Configuration is made and to Morrow that is broken by another where a man must have many things to build with where a man doth but Exchange words and Expounds words with words where the Mind never Experienceth what the Power and understanding of the words are where a
the Father of the House Beelzebub what will they doe to those of his Houshold faith Christ When they persecute you and hate you for my Names sake then doe you rejoyce for great is your Reward in the Kingdome of Heaven 620. Men say an Enemies Mouth never speaks Good there is nothing so Evill but some men make it worse My Book is not Evill it meddles with none only thou makest it Evill thou expoundest it in an Evill sence and my sence was right and Good when I made it 621. Thou fayest there is an evill spirit in me if there were a good spirit in thee then thou wouldst make the Evill to be Good and wouldst not pervert all 622. Gods Spirit seeketh only Good he contends with none he Loveth Man and where he is in a Man there he driveth on to Love and Humility towards his Neighbour he Teacheth and instructeth Gently and Meekly he lifts not up the Horns also he comes not with Thunder and Ligntning as the Anger in the Fathers Nature upon Mount Sinai and with Elias did but with a still meek Voyce as at the day of Pentecost 623. God hath in Christ regenerated us in the Love not in his fires property that we should meet together one with another with a Modest and amiable condiscention and behaviour in a friendly Will and intention and heartily admonish one another as brethren 624. We should help up the weak and erroneous and friendly instruct them in the way and not from the narrow path plunge them into the Water or else cast them into Gods Anger in Hell-fire as the Libeller doth where he saith Hell Fire is thine 625. Christ saith Whosoever saith unto his Brother thou Fool he is guilty of Hell Fire or Raiha he is guilty of a Councill what is he worthy or guilty of who calleth his Brother a Devill and judgeth or condemneth him to Hell fire O Man Consider thy self convert from such uncouth Paths 626. We have indeed here is this valley of Misery before hand in the way of our Pilgrimage a very small narrow Bridge into Gods Kingdome why should we our selves first throw one another down doth one goe astray then let the other shew him the way let us deal one by another as Brethren 627. We all are born blind now then if sight be afforded us of Grace why then doth not one Brother afford Eyes to the Other Every one seeth as God hath favourably afforded him according as sight is given to him why will one brother hate the other for the sake of that because he knoweth not what the Lord hath given to him 628. O how Miserable is this Time of Ours how the Devill hunteth for us with Snares and Nets so that one Brother reproacheth dispiseth contemneth and slayeth the Other that he may captivate us in Gods Anger How doth he not afford us the high honour which he had but lost it with Pride 629. Dear Brethren beware of Pride especially those that are generated out of much Learning Knowledge it is the Pride of Reason and it is Mans worst Enemy it hath set up nothing but Wars and contemning of others 630. Syrach saith The higher thou art the humblyer behave thy self Pride goeth before a Fall Our Reason-knowledge is folly if Gods Spirit in us kindle not the knowledge if I knew all Scriptures outwardly and had not the Spirit of understanding what were my knowledge other then a Conceit 631. That is not Divine knowledge that any confirm an Opinion with many Texts of Scripture collected and put together for every Text hath its proper understanding in the place it standeth according to the Matter treated of oftentimes it signifieth much otherwise then the purpose it is drawn by one for to HIS Opinion 632. The Right knowledge standeth in this where any will Judge there his knowledge in him should be confirmed from the Spirit of God it must goe forth from the Center and not from a strange Mouth 633. Or dost thou suppose that Gods Spirit hath ceased to speak or that it is Dead so that the Spirit which moveth in Gods seeing dare not say any more Thus saith the Lord. 634. The Spirit sheweth it what it should speak only it bewares and defends it self from the intermixture of the Spirit of this World and from the Imagination of the Devill that the right humane will spirit which goeth forth out of the souls fire into the Light be not infected with its Malignity or Curse 635. There is no better Medicine or Antidote then the Desire of Love and the Humility so long as it goeth on and judgeth in Love and Humility in the seeing of the Divine Power so long is his Word GODS WORD for it is approved by the Spirit of God it goeth upon the wings of the Wind in the pure humane will-spirit as David saith The Lord Rideth upon the Wings of the Wind. 636. You find by no Prophet or Apostle that any hath spoken from anothers Mouth but from his own Gift somtime the Spirit hath brought in a Text and thereby cleered other Scriptures but the Maine Matter hath been set downe out of his own Spirit and Mouth 637. Who hath prohibited us that we should not dare to speak out of the Gifts of our Spirit but that we should only speak with a strange Mouth from our Spirit as the Libeller would have it 638. Who hath made a Law that a man should take away the Speech from the Spirit and change it into another Forme but even the Antichrist who hath set himself to be Lord over Gods Spirit and hath changed the Mouth of the holy Children into his Colour and Will 639. Indeed the High Apostles have not commanded it but they said Keep in Remembrance JESUS CHRIST who dyed for us and rose againe and did bid us Teach and Preach that they have barred up the Spirit of no Man or commanded his Tongue to be altogether changed into THEIR Words They have all of them indeed spoken together every one out of his own Tongue and yet out of ONE Spirit which was CHRISTS 640. We have still at this very Day the very SAME Spirit if so be we are born or generated out of HIM dare it not then now speak what is Necessary at this Time what is the Cause that the Center of the Holy Trinity Manifesteth or Revealeth it selfe even Mens Seeking their Desiring 641. Men strive now about the Person of Christ about Gods Election and Men raise Wars and reproaches about it and that Gods Love will have no more to be and he will rather manifest or reveale himself that Men should yet see what he doth and so goe out from strise about Gods Will into a right Apostolick life and no more contend about the knowledge as is done hitherto for a long time in Babel 642. But that now thus a simple Mouth must speak such great Things and NOT one highly Learned Ask
is the True Ground and Apostolick Foundation 16. His reproaching and contempt giveth me and My Conscience no stumbling block but it rejoyceth me that I shall suffer reproach and contempt for the sake of the Deare Name of JESUS CHRIST and I account it as sent from God and an Exercise of Faith 17. For our Saviour CHRIST left us this at last that when they would persecute contemne despise reproach us and speak all manner of Evill of us for his Name sake if it be false that we should then rejoyce and be glad For if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub what will they may they not doe concerning them of his Houshold the Disciple is not better then his Master 18. In Persecution the Crosse and Tribulation we shall Enter into the Kingdome of God The Crosse Driveth us on to Consider that we should continually Cruefie our Corrupt perished Man and give our selves up continually into the Love of God in Christ that the New Man in us may arise grow and Live in God 19. Also I Desire not to rage against the Writer of this Libel or to contemne him but to answer for my self against his Malicious charge against me for he treateth therein against God and the Love of our Neighbour also against his own Conscience in that he layes to my charge and falsly wresteth my Writings which he himself doth not understand therefore he judgeth his own Heart seeing he knoweth nothing of me and yet pronounceth me a Devill 20. Surely that I should write concerning my self as if I were a Great Master of the Scriptures or Arts and Sciences of the Schools or Universities of this World that is NOT so I am a poor simple Man and have my Skill and high knowledg not from Art or from Reason neither have I sought so Great Art but from my Youth up have sought only the salvation of my Soul how I might inherit and possesse the Kingdome of God 21. But after I found in me a powerfull Opposition viz. the Driving in Flesh and Bloud and the Mighty strife between the Womans and the Serpents Seed I then once set my self so hard in strife against the Serpents Seed and my own Corrupt Nature yet through the assistance of God that I supposed I should overcome and break that innate evill Will and Inclination and unite my self to the Love of God in Christ to hide my self in the Heart or Bosome of God from the terrible Tempest of the Anger of God and the fierce wrath of the Devill that Gods Spirit might rule Drive and Lead me 22. I purposed to keep my self as Dead in my innate forme and Condition till the Spirit gat a form in me and that I laid hold on him that I might lead my Life through and in Him 23. Also I purposed to Will nothing but what I apprehended in his Will and Light he should be my Will and Deed which indeed was not possible for me to Doe and yet I stood in the Earnest purpose and resolution and in very earnest strife and Battle against my self 24. And what thereupon came to pass none may well know but God and my ownsoul for I would rather lose my Life then Depart from that 25. Thus I wrestled in Gods assistance a good space of Time for the victorious Garland or Crowne of Victory which I afterwards with the breaking open of the Gate of the Deep in the Center of Nature attained with very great Joy whereupon in my soul a Wonderfull Light Sprung up which was strange to the wild Nature 26. Wherein I first apprehended what God and Man was and what God had to Doe with Man Which I never understood before neither did seek in such a way but as a Child that hangeth to its Mother and longeth after her so did my soul after this Light but with no knowledge beforehand what should or would come to passe but as as a simple Child 27. I little understood the high Articles of Faith before only after the Manner of poor Lay people much lesse Did I understand Nature till the Light in the eternall Nature began to shine to me whence I became so very much Delighted and ravished that I began and would needs write downe my knowledge for a Memoriall 28. For the Spirit picrced through and through like Lightning and saw into the Ground of the Eternity or as a Tempest passeth on what it Driveth that it Driveth so it went in me I began to write as a Child at Schoole and I wrote thus in my apprehension and zealous Driving continually on and on and only for my self 29. I supposed all my life Long not to be knowne thereby to any Man but minded to keep it by me all my Life long for a Memoriall though indeed it was continually given to me to write of Things to Come as if it were for Many as if it were a work laid upon me which I must undergoe 30. I found mightile the will of the New kindled Light-spirit but my soul was to it and in it as a Child without understanding It went thus into its Mothers Garden of Roses and Did as a Servant in Obedience and all was given me after a Magicall Manner to set it Down in Paper 31. For I wrote only my Mind sense or Thoughts as I understood in the Deep and made no Exposition upon it for I supposed not that it should come to be read by other I would keep it for my self else if I had knowne that it should have been read abroad I would have written more clearly 32. Also the Labour of my Spirit in it and with it was a continuall Exercise wherein my soul Dived the longer the deeper into the Mystery of the Eternall Nature as a Schollar which goeth to School and strenuously execiseth himself 33. For the Spirit of the Light loved my Soul exceedingly as the impartiall Reader will see therein how the Spirit hath exercised it self and repeated many things very often and ever Deeper and Cleerer from one step to another it was the right Jacobs Ladder upon which my soul climbed up through Gods Will whom it also pleased so to exercise me and to bring me into the Heavenly School into the Holy Ternary 34 Concerning which the Libeller knows Nothing as his reproachfull writings testifie that he understandeth nothing therein but writeth like a History from the School of this World which I leave to its owne worth but he boasteth unjustly of Enlightened Eyes seeing he useth them for a reproach against the Children of God 35. Now this is THAT Book which I wrote in my Childhood when I was but an A. B. C. Schollar which the Libeller takes upon him to Judge But it was taken away from me by Satans Suttlety who thought to make merry with it so that I knew not of it in Three Years where it was I supposed it was quite gone a great while before 36. Moreover I was bereaved
Paper of yours that he may discerne us both 58. He that desireth a full Explanation let him read the book of the Threefold Life he will find more then he would search for especially in the Three Principles which the Libeller or Pasquiller dare not well beleeve yet if he will be called a Christian and Doe that which is right let him read that he will see what Spirit 's Child I am perhaps we shall come neerer together and he may of a Saul become a Paul which I doe heartily wish in his behalfe and had much rather have a hearty good and Christian Conference with him concerning our IMMANVEL then this Controversie 59. Truly I say that my Book which he opposeth in some places needs a better Explanation for the simple understanding I am also very ready to doe it if any desire it for it stands in some places yet in a very Magick understanding 60. But there are also such Mysteries therein that the learned Schoolman or Master Alexen cannot number them for it hath pleased God to have it so I look upon the writings of the Prophets and see whether they be cleere in all places besides CHRIST himself taught also in Parables or Similitudes †Men should not cast Pearls before Swine 61. But what concerns the Articles of Faith which in this Book are still in a Magick understanding those in the other writings are set down cleer enough more then the Libeller or Pasquill requires or understandeth yet if any desire more cleering it shall be afforded him and if he desire proof thereof it shall also be given him 62. But he that desireth it not I have not written it for him let him leave it to me I write for my self and run after none I have not put it out to any Booksellers shop to sell if some people fearing God had not intimately Earnestly and in true Christian intention asked and entreated for it I had not given it to any at all 63. But since honest hearts fearing God are found whose Christianity is indeed sincere and in Earnest should Christian Love be withdrawen from them Or hath God given me it that I should put it under a stool or bury it in the Earth 64. Christ faith none Kindleth a Light or Candle and setteth it under a Stool or under a Bushel but setteth it upon a Table that all that are in the House may see by it The Divine Light will not be covered those that God giveth it to should let it shine for God will require an account of his Talent 65. Moreover what is it that Men contend about in the Christian Religion and dispute much The Christian Religion is no strise contention or Opinion it consisteth in the New Regeneration out of Christ in Faith from the Holy Ghost in Humility Love and Righteousnesse 66. A Christian must be borne of Christ he must have a Christian Will and desire and lead a Christian Conversation It is not only knowing will doe it and comforting ones self with Christs sufferings and be a Dissembling Hypocrite in the presence of God to speak one thing and Will Desire and Doe another and let the evill poysonous Worm of the Corrupt Natures Fire burn still and be but a Lip or Mouth-Christian 67. It lyeth not in knowing much that a man should tickle himself with Christs sufferings and set them alost on the Pinnacle and yet reteine the Evill Envious kindled poysonous worm Continually in the Heart and continually carry Fewel to its Fire I say that very Mantle will become hellish fire to Many that he hath known Gods will and will not enter thereinto and give up himself to him 68. A Christian must break his own Naturall Will and give himself up into Gods Will he must alwayes quench his Fire-will and Continually bring all the Thoughts of his Mind into the Obedience of God into the Love and Mercy of God in CHRIST into his becoming Man or Incarnation Suffering Dying Death and Resurrection he must will nothing but Gods Will in Christ 69. But this is his Desire that God may be his Will and Deed that God in him may be his knowledge he should continually slay the will of his Flesh and desire only GODS Will in himself that it may rule Drive and be the Deed in him 70. For man of himself doth no good thing but the Law of God which God writeth in his Nature that Doth the Good that very Law is the Eternall Word of the Deity and putteth on to it self Divine and heavenly substantiality viz. the New Body for it is become man and must also become Man in us 71. And in that Body standeth the right willing and doing and the performance and the ability of a Christian Man without that there is no Christian but the Antichrist and a spirituall Whoredome as the Revelation of St. John Testisyeth 72. Therefore it lyeth not in Disputing flying high and being accute desâ—â—ing and giving his brother to the Devill for God 〈…〉 as the V. Psalme speaketh and Ezekiel the 33. As truè as I live saith the Lord I will not the Death of a Sinner c. And Christ saith I am come to call sinners to Repentance and not the Righteous Also Isaiah faith Who is so simple as my Servant Also the Kingdome of God consisteth in Power What needs then such high flying and Contention 73. God respecteth a shiveered Broken Contrite and sighing heart that is affraid of his wrath that would alwayes fain Doe well that alwayes Desireth God and goodnesse that Co-worketh with God for what the Mind is desirous of that it receiveth be it necessity or Death or else the Kingdome of God for the Kingdome of God is not far off but within us we must become born of God if we will see God or receive Gods Will. 74. In Adam we lost Gods will and in the Promise of the Womans Seed we found it again for it presented it self with or by the Promise to all Men in the Light of Life and Espoused it self to the soul for a Bride Whatsoever soul is Entered thereinto out of that is the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch Sprouted up again and that is become Elected or Chosen to be the Child of God 75. But he that hath not willed but let the fierce wrath of the Eternall Nature deteing him hath the fierce wrath and Anger swallowed up into it self and kept him in the Abysse of the Originall in the first Principle out of which the Worme of the soul ariseth Originally 76. In that very regenerate will of God Israel is become born in God and in that very will is the Word of Eternall Life which maketh Divine Essence wherein the Divine Will becometh generated 77. And that is entered into Mary's Essence and Opened the in Death inclosed Will in MARY and brought sorth the Lilly of God and therein is become a true Man and hath received or
Devill that the Libeller perverts as one that understandeth nothing of my Writings or else of meere Malice Did he not see how I have described with all Circumstances that Gods Heart or Love went not into the Devill for he the Devill would not himself have it now where the Will it self willeth not there is an Eternall Death 536. The Will-Spirit was indeed in the Originall out of Gods Nature but when it demersed it self into the Center to hide it self from the Light of God then remained fierce wrathfulnesse IN fierce wrathfulnesse With what now should resistance be made it was now in its most Originall MOTHER 537. Should Gods Love goe into the Hellish Fire that is not to be should God in his Wrath strive against it it sate already in the Hellish Fire Had not fierce Wrath striven with fierce Wrath then had not Gods Anger yet moved in the place of this World 538. Consider but the Earth thou wilt well finde it thou blinde World with all thy Texts of Scripture which thou hast produced thou wilt not put one word in my Book back from its place only that thou settest a strange vizard upon me that the people might not know me which I esteem not for I am to YOU a very strange Man 539. Thou canst not in thy Hood look me in the Face thou must put off thy skinne if thou wilt see the Spirit of the Mystery Thou understandest Not what thou writest against me thou discoursest not concerning my apprehension and that maketh that thou seest somewhat that is strange thou wilt not see that it is the Roote of the Tree Thou wilt sooner leap into Hell as Lucifer did e're thou touchest one little twig thereof 540. Thou runnest againe into thy Center towards Babel and settest upon an Academy out of which Opinons and the Greatest Babel is growne out of which all Strife hath followed where Men have contended about Words about the Shell and let the Kernell lye but hearken friend tell but TEN and thou wilt find it by Experience 541. God hath Elected ALL of us in ONE Soul and in ONE Spirituall Body to be his Children God hath not breathed into Adam TWO Spirits but One only which is the Spirit of all the Three Principles of all Three Worlds viz a Fire-Light-and-Aire-Spirit 542. Adam should have managed his Dominion with the Light-Spirit then would the Fire-source or quality have been hidden in its Principle and have stood in great joy it had burned only in it self 543. Thus also the Spirit of this World that should also have stood only in it self and have been manifest in this World and the Fire and also the Outward World should have stood as if were swollowed up into the Light and have been manifest only in it self all desires should have been set in the Light and then the Light had shined in all Essences and desires and had filled all as in ONE Will. 544. But when the Will of the Center viz the Fiery Will which is called the Soul went into the Earthly kingdome and Imagined after Evill and Good then it received also the same then its Light Extinguished and it remained in its Mother a dark dry hunger and must help it self with the Spirit of this World as with a Sun-Light 545. Therefore it comes to passe that many times when a Man goeth in the dark he is astonished and terrified and alwayes afraid somewhat should lay hold on him that is the feare of the Soul whèn it perceiveth it self to be without the Light of the Sun in a dark Dungeon it is afraid of Gods fierce Wrath in the Center and of the Devills that dwell in the Darknesse 546. Since then the Divine Light is Extinguished in the Soul therefore Mans Life and Spirit at present without the New Birth standeth in two Regiments or Dominions viz in the Souls Fire it is the Dominion of Gods Anger and of the fierce Wrath as the Fires property is 547. And according to the Spirit of this World it is Evill and Good according to the Sun and according to the Constellation of the Outward Starry and Elementary Spirit it is alwayes according to its Constellation which stood in its Birth as also hath stood in its Conception As that it is at all times aspected with the Conjunction of the Constellatison with the Imagination of the Constellation so is also the outward Will-Spirit unlesse it be that the Soul doe attaine the Divine Light againe in the New Birth and then the Soul constraineth the outward Spirit with the power of the Light and leadeth it captive 548. My Libeller your conceit deceiveth you I know of no more but ONE only Spirit according to the Property of ALL THREE Worlds which is in Man and when the Light Extinguisheth then it is in TWO Properties that which receiveth the Light of God that is Elected to be a childe of God 549. Now it lyeth indeed in Man that he should seek and desire it for Christ saith Knock and it will be opened unto you seek and you will finde Ask and you will receive Your Father will give the Holy Spirit to him that asketh for it Also There is no sonne that asketh for an Egge and the Father giveth him a Scorpion God willeth that all Men be saved 550. Where now remaines in these words and Promises the predestinate purpose of God to the Hardening or where are the Two Spirits whereof God loveth the one and hardeneth the other We have indeed All but One only Soul and that is free it may frame its Will in Gods Love or Anger into which soever it casteth it self with its desire there it is 551. It cometh to passe many times that a Soul hath demersed it self with its Will-Spirit into Gods Anger into the Dark World in its fierce Wrath to all Devills with its sinnes and yet many in the time of this world goe out againe and convert and God receiveth them to Grace He hardeneth them not 552. Have you not an Example in the Prodigali lost sonne who had consumed all his righteousnesse of his Fathers Inheritance with the Devills Swine and was become a Swinheard What the Father did with him when he came againe how he fell about hu neck and kissed him and said This is my beloved sonne whom I had lost he was dead and is become living it is likely thou wilt say God drew him else he had not come 553. The Soul is Free God draweth every one who incline towards him when it entereth into him then it is Elected to the Light World so long as the Will remaineth in the fierce Wrath in the Dark World covered with the Outward so long God willeth it not and it is not drawne but when it inclineth it self towards Gods Face and doth but a little Imagine into Gods Love then the Divine Life becometh stirring 554. Understand the Word is become Man or Incarnate and standeth in the
be preferred Number X. 600. THe Libeller hath very fleshly or carnall Eyes upon that which I have written which is that The Man Adam before his first Imagination before the Woman was made had a Powerfull Body and that he had no such Members for Propagation he will meerly have it to be an Earthly Man 601. The Libeller understandeth not that the kingdome of God Consisteth in Power and that the Image of God was Created out of heavenly Substantiality and that the bright Angellicall Image was Lord over the Outward Life that Man had not such grosse Beastiall Flesh till the Image became shut up in Death as God said The Day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye 602. He understood or meant not the Outward he dyed not to the Outward Life but to the Noble Image of Gods power the Spirit of God departed from him thus the Image out of Gods Substance came to be in the Nothing viz in the Eternall Death without source quality or operation 603. If ADAM had not Imagined according to the Earthlinesse then had not EVE been made out of him but he himself would have been able to have generated after a Magicall Manner He had the Matrix and also the Limbus he was Man and Wise before his Eve was a pure chast Masculine Virgin of God 604. Therefore must the Second Adam againe be borne or generated of a Virgin without the concurrence of any Man and be like the first Image in which the Divine Light exercised the Dominion 605. Though likely it was not manifested to Mens Eyes in Christs Time we had not heavenly Eyes yet then he was the Light of the World as himself saith Such a one also was Adam before his sleep before the Imagination into the Earthly kingdome I understand in my Book not a power-body according to the outward World but according to the Image although the outward was totally much otherwise then it is 606. My Libeller you suppose that at the Last Judgement day another Man will arise other than Adam was before the Fall Gods purpose must stand the first Image must come againe and even in †such a forme as God Created it to Eternall Life 607. Or can you not in the Light of Nature understand somewhat thereof how the Soul is ashamed of the Members of the Beastiall Birth and the Beastiall Impregnation doe you not feele it in you 608. Tell me if we were Created Beastiall in Adam whence the shame proceeds that the poor Soul is ashamed of the Bodyes desormity and of its propagation 609. Do you not say that those Members became manifested on Adam and Eve after Sinne and that they were ashamed that according to the Outward Man they were become Beasts they saw not what the Outward Fiat had made in the Sleep till the Earthly source or quality awaked then the Soul became ashamed that out of an Angel a Beast was come to be 610. While the Earthly Kingdome stood hidden so long the Soul knew it not but when it drew into the Soul then began sorrow and horrour before the Abysse for the Soul saw its Roote which the Outward Body and Spirit understood not 611. Or do you suppose that Adam was created to Mortality O no! But to the Eternall Life in Paradise with Paradisicall source or quality and with a Body which was sit for Paradise which was like to Paradise But of this no more here In the Book of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and in the Book of the Threesold Life also in the Three Principles it is expressed at Large read it there Number XI 612. COncerning the Last Words in the Book where it standeth written thus Though Peter or Paul had written otherwise and that I had set it down thus That Moses was not by at the Creation but wrote the Creation from his predecessours Mouths the Libeller takes on at it and braggeth stoutly with a storme against Abel he will suddenly kill him and have in Hell 613. Hearken Libeller that which is said of Peter and Paul though Poter or Paul had written otherwise is spoken in way of a Proverb it is not that Peter and Paul have written otherwise but the Cryers at Babel the Grace Electioners the Cripple Electioners at Babel Cry out thus hath Paul written thus Peter thus another and draw it to their Conceits against THOSE I set THAT though Peter or Paul had written otherwise Men should look to the HEART upon Gods Grace and his Promise and not hang or depend upon their Conceits that urge the Apostles words for them 614. It is not my entention to blame the high Apostles but the Cripple Electioners such as thou art who draw the Scripture about by the haire of the head and leave out the Love of God which willeth not the Evill thou pervertest my Minde and Thoughts therefore thou art a false wicked Evill Electioner 615. As to Moses where I say there sticketh yet much in the Mystery in Moses Writings I have NOT said that he hath written wrong it is briefly and summarily written and needeth an enlightened explanation 616. For a Philosopher resteth not unlesse he have the Cemer of a thing after such a meaning have I written of Moses that a richly spirituall explanation were necessary what have I done to the Libeller thereby he seeketh cause where he can he must be a right Contender seeing he fouldeth up all and wheeleth it about it is no otherwise with him than in an Academy where he gets cause of contention likely some other might come who would wipe his Nose for him who also had Hornes 617. He need not contend with me I have written for my self and not for the Grace-Electioners much lesse for the New Babel which Sprouteth up in the Libeller it thrusteth out the Hornes already it will soone be borne only it sticketh yet in the Margin it is now high time to prepare for the Gossips Gift 618. If the Libeller had not a Minde to reade my Book he might have throwne it away at the first Leafe what need he seek in it for so much Evill Sure he hath an Evill Minde full of fierce Wrath that thus venteth it self whereas it is not his Calling or Employment He might only have that while thought upon his Mammon or have taken care of his Soul before he had Judged and Condemned other people But Pride hath set him on Horseback to ride over-a Weak Man 619. But it cometh to passe many times that a Little one beateth a Great one let him not rely too much upon Art for it exposeth many a Man to derision wer Gott vertraut bat woll gevaut ob with vse welt thut bassen Ich trass ausf Goft Et wird mith nit berlassen Who in God trusts Builds sure not Lusts Though the vaine World do hate me I trust in God He never will forsake me If they have called