formes for as the Genetrix is so is also the will-spirit out of the Genetrix 193. Thus understand also concerning Mans Soule which is also a Magick-fire-source or quality out of the Eternall Center out of the Eternall Nature for after God created the body out of the Substantiality then he introduced the Spirit out of all the Three Principles thereinto He should be a similitude and Image of God understand according to and out of all the Three Worlds viz out of the Eternall Fires Nature and out of the Lights Nature and then out of this outward worlds Nature wherein the outward Man liveth 194. For God breathed into him the Living Breath and then Man became a living soul Now what can God breath other out of himself then himself for God is the substance of all substances but all is not called or known to be God He calleth himself a GOD only according to his Heart according to the property of the Light world viz according to the Love and Meeknesse according to the second Principle 195. God breathed into the Created Image the Spirit out of all the Three Worlds viz that is to say Himself viz the Eternall beginninglesse Magick fire-source or quality out of all formes of the Eternall Nature that is the first Principle and it is the property of the Father who according to Nature calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire 196. And then the Center of the Light as a Sparkle out of his Heart out of which the Divine Will goeth forth which appropriateth or uniteth it self to God againe and Imagineth according to its Mother viz according to Gods Love and Meeknesse That is the Second Principle wherein the Angelicall world consisteth 197. And Thirdly the Spirit-Aire with the Spirit of this outward world out of the Starres and Elements viz the Third Principle Thus Man became an Entire Totall Image according to God out of all the Three Worlds An Image of God wherein God dwelleth wherein God beheld found and manifested or revealed himself 198. Now the Eternall Word was his Law of his spirituall Nature that this introduced and in-breathed spirit of Man should introduce its Imagination into no other source or quality but only into Gods Love and Meeknesse It should eate only of the Divine Substantiality and drink the water of the Eternall Life and then its Body had Continued Paradisicall 199. The Body had paradisicall fruit to Eate which grew for it IN all fruits The outward Body of this world was in the source or quality of the Light world as it were swallowed up and yet it was there As the Light swalloweth up the Darknesse and holdeth it captive in it self and yet the Darknesse remaineth but in the Light is not Manifested 200. So also should the outward 〈◊〉 of this world as also the inward source or quality of the Fire out of the first Principle stand hidden in the Paradisicall Substantiality and source or quality and Man should bring his life and will into the Paradisicall source or quality 201. He should set or put his Spirits Imagination into the Heart of God viz into the Lights Center and then had the Soul continually eaten of the Lights Substantiality understand the soulish Fire had conceived or received the divine source or quality into it self and had burned forth in the divine source or quality viz in Love and Meeknesse 202. Through that burning or Life would the divine Substance have been introduced into the outward Body viz heavenly Fesh and the Holy Body would have stood in the Tincture of the second Principle and the outward Dominion of the Outward World would have stood hidden in the Inward World and have been manifested in the Outward 203. Such a Body also was created in the Beginning viz out of the inward Substantiality of the pure Element which is manifested in Paradise and an outward Body of or from the Foure Elements which stood manifested in the outward World but the inward should leade the Dominion and hold the outward as it were swallowed up as the Light doth the Darknesse 204. Understand each Principle should stand free and barely in it self and set or put its Imagination or Desire into God and then would Gods light have filled all in All and the Earnest severe Fire-source or quality of the first Principle viz the Eternall Nature of the Dark World as also the outward Nature and source or quality of the Starres and Elements would not have been manifested 205. Man would have lived in the Divine Love source or quality and would have continued Immortall and incorruptible no sicknesse neither want necessity nor Death would have touched him 206. Therefore now if such a desire is to be in Man out of which the will-Will-Spirit should barely be inclined or directed into God then must Divine Substantiality needs be in the Souls Fire out of which such a Will-Spirit might exist 207. For out of no Earthly source or quality nor out of the Dark Worlds source or quality doth any divine desire exist Earthlinesse knoweth nothing of God also the Dark World hath no Divine Love or Desire in it self 208. Whereby we know that we according to the second Principle viz according to the Paradisicall Angelicall World have had flesh and bloud out of the heavenly Essence and Substantiality which was the right Body of the Soul and therein stood the Image of Heaven 209. And the Spirit 〈◊〉 the Magick-Fire of the Soul which shined in the power of the 〈◊〉 was the true similitude of God according to the Trinity of GOD the Image wherein God dwelleth and wherewith God manifesteth himselfe For that very Spirit is like all Angells in Substance and Beeing of which Christ faith Math. 22. 30. That in the Resurrection they are like the Angells of God 210. When God had created Adam he then stood in the Paradisicall World viz in the Image of God but God knowing how he with his Noble Jewell between the Inward Dark World and then also the outward Elementary World stood fast bound to BOTH therefore he gave to the Souls Nature the Law and Cormandment and said Thou shalt not eate of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill for on what Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt dye the Death that is dye away from the Divine World and in THEE will the Dark World and then also the Outward world become manifested and get the Dominion in THEE 211. As also then it was so done when Adam began and set or put his Desire and Imagination into the Outward World then the souls fire did Eat of the forbidden Fruit and brought the Earthly source or quality and the substantiality of this World into his Noble Image into the Paradisicall Angelicall World 212. He brought the earthly source or quality and substance into the Pure Elementary Flesh which was created out of the Divine substantiality so his light extinguished that is he went with his will-spirit
is the Seperation between Gods Name and Natures Name also between the Love-source or quality and the Naturall fierce wraths source or quality 495. In the Fire exist Two Principles viz Two Magia's Two desirous Wills viz the Lights and the Fires 496. The Light is a desire of Love Meeknesse and Substantiality and that is in the Eternity called God The Light is the Majesty the Lights desire is the Other or second Center or the Heart of God the Substantiality is Gods Substance it is the Water source or quality or the Spirit of the Eternall Joys Life 497. And the Fire maketh in the Water-source or quality the Tincture or Life so that Gods Substantiality is a Life That very Lights Substantiality is the Words or Hearts Cerporeity wherein the Great Mystery of the Will of the Abysse viz the Wisdome becometh Manifest 498. And the Fire is another Principle then the Light it hath a fierce wrathfull stinging consuming Desire climing up in Might and Pomp it willeth to consume and swallow up all into it self it is a cause of the Covetousnesse its Bitternesse is a Cause of the Envy for it is the sting of Death and Anger 499. And here goe back into the Formes to Fire and then thou wilt find the Dark World and the hellish fierce Wrath and in the Fire GODS Anger which the Light viz his Heart holdeth captive in the Love-Source or Quality and allayeth or meekeneth the Fires fierce-Wrath 500. For the Water of the Eternall Life generated or born out of the Meeknesse viz Gods Substantiality maketh out of the Divine Fire-source or quality another source or quality viz the climibing up of the Divine Joys Kingdome The Fire-source or quality must only be a cause of the Life and of the Light as also of the Spirit and of the Joys Kingdome 501. And heare the Name God severeth it self in the Trinity viz In the First Center to Nature viz the Eternall Will of the Fiat which in the Fire is a sterne severe zealous Substance and in the Light the cause of the Joys Kingdome and of the Spirit of Life That is the Father of all Substances also of his Sonnes viz of the second Centers of the Love-desires 502. And The Other or second Center of the power of the Light is his Sonne or Heart and maketh in himself and in the Father the Second Principle viz the Angelicall World that is our right Fathers or Native Country which Christ brought into US againe 503. And The Spirit going forth from the Fire in the Light is the Third Person in the Light in the Love and the Joy-source or quality He is called God the Holy Spirit understand according to the Sonnes Center and according to the Fires Center he is called The Anger-Spirit of the Father 504. In the Dark World HE is the Life of the Hellish source or quality out of all Formes to Nature In the Fire HE is the Flame of the fierce wrathfull Anger of God the Father and in the Light HE is the flame of the Great Love of God He is the right Life of God and is also the Life of all the Three Principles of all the Three Worlds in each World according to its property and is only knowne or acknowledged and rightly called God the Holy Spirit according to the Love viz according to property of the Sonne of God Else he is called the Spirit of the Nature of all things or Substances 505. Seeing we here goe so deep we will therefore shew you somewhat more out of true Love and not out of a Desire so totally to reproach you because of your unskilfulnesse or ignorance for we know you better then you do your selfe and though we are zealous over you yet it should be understood heartily as a reproofe of your high climbed stately proud Will over the Spirit of God from which I have my knowledge 506. Consider of the Principle of Fire and see how the Dead ariseth and how he dieth Behold the Fire is a great hungry desire after Substance and if it cannot have that then it extinguisheth 507. Here consider the Great desire of the Father after the Sonne viz. of the first Principle after the second how the Father thus in great desire loveth the Sonne for he is his life else were the Fathers Life a dry fainting hunger like the Devills and the Dark World for the Fire burneth not without the Substance of the Water-Spirit 508. Here consider what befell the Devill when he lost Gods Love and Meeknesse then he remained to be a dry hunger in the fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature thus it goeth also with the Soul of Man for they originate all alike out of the Eternall Nature 509. Now see further what in the Center of the Fire is the Possibility and Substance you understand now that the fierce wrathfull Fire-source must have Substance and that the Fire-source or quality it self longeth after Substance and if the Fire get the Substance or the Substantiality of the Water-source or quality into it self then the Fire consumeth that Substantiality and then is the dying of the Substantiality for the Substantiality goeth againe into the Still Eternity without besides or beyond Nature viz into the Nothing 510. And you see rightly that yet there is no Dying but the Light goeth forth out of that very Death out of the Consumtibility forth and the Light is then first the power of the understanding and of the Thoughts or Senses Thus Death ariseth out of the Fire-Life viz into another World viz into the Eternall Nothing into the Liberty without besides or beyond Nature 511. And you see now that the Light dwelleth in the Fire without Source Quality or Torment and knoweth nothing of the fierce wrath of the Fire for it is in its Essence a Love Desire Thus have I written that the Deity viz. Gods Center knew nothing of the fall of the fierce wrathfull Devills but the first Principle know it viz the Father according to the Fires Nature and according to the Desire and according to the hunger in the Dark world 512. Here consider beloved Men and brethren in Christ what the suffering and dying of CHRIST as also OUR Dying is How our Soul must in Christs Death be introduced into the Center of the Hell of Gods Anger into the Principle of Gods Fire and go quite through the source or quality of the consumptibility into the other World viz into the Liberty into the Center of the Love of God 513. For Adam's Soul had turned it self out and was Dead to the Light in the Substantiality and therefore the second Adam brought the Soul againe into the Fire viz into Gods Anger-source or quality and kindled the Light againe in Death and there the Light shone againe in the Darknesse That was Death to Death and a Pestilence to the Anger viz to Hell 514. The Soul was gone forth out of the Liberty of God into the Nature of this World viz
The Reminder of Books written BY Jacob Behme viz. I. The First Apologie to Balthazar Tylcken for the AVRORA written Anno 1621. II. The Second Apologie in Answer to Balthazar Tylcken for Predestination And the Incarnation and Person of CHRIST and of the Virgin MARY Dated 3. July 1621. III. The Fouer Complexions written in March 1621. IV. The Considerations upon Esaiah Stiefel's Booke concerning The Threefold State of Man and the New 〈◊〉 Dated 8. April 1621. V. The Apologie in Answer to Esaiah Stiefel Concerning Perfection Dated 6. April 1622. VI. The Apologie in Answer to Gregory Rickter Primate of Gerlitz for the way to Christ c. 10. April 1624. VII Twenty five Epistles more then the 35. formerly Printed in English with 2. as prefaces before other of his Bookes the last of those heere printed is Dated 23. May 1624. 5 more after without Date which make 62. in all also 1. Epistle more of his own hand writing and 1. of Dr. Charles Weisners relating much of J. B's Life Englished BY JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert at the Sign of the Black Spread Eagle at the West End of St. Pauls 1662. The Englishers Preface to J. B's Apologies Courteous Reader IN the Life time of Jacob Behme some Learned Men there were of his own Country that highly prized and Esteemed his writings though others Judged and found fault with them to whom the Authour in his Answers hath clcerly made it appeare they have NOT understood his Meaning but injuriously made their own mistaken Sence the Ground of their Censure it is no wonder therefore that among us of another Language who have but a Translation wherein much of the accuratenesâ—â— and apt expression of an Author is lost that men here also finde such fault with them as they doe but if it be examined their want of the true apprehension of them will be known to have caused that negligent and heedless Opinion that his writings are not to be understood yet it hath proceeded so farre that those who think they apprehend his Deepe Matter are suspected by some Academick wits to be but miss-led into such a conceit But those Eminent persons his countryMen and adversaries have not once charged him with writing things not Intelligible though indeed themselves have not rightly perceived the Authors meaning as is apparent in these FOUR Bookes of Apologie or Defence in answer to the few objections to some things contained in that Doctrine set down at Large in the Treatises of his Sublime Mysteries if they be read and weighed in the Balance of Due Consideration The FIRST Apologie was an Answer to Balthasar Tylcken who wrote a treatise against severall Clauses in the Aurora concerning the knowledge of God in and by Nature whereas though God in himself be totally Incomprehensible and unmanifested in his Abysse yet Nature is his Manifestation or Revelation for if his Omnipotent power did not shew it self by making it self discernable it would never be known but remaine hidden Eternally and indeed all the effects which we perceive to be wrought and produced at anytime in sensible things are brought to passe by the same Powers that have and doe and will work from Eternity to Eternity perceptibly in GOD. All that is in GOD is only Goodness his very wrath is his Fire and the cause of his Light and Glory in himself and therein is most just and Good also for the punishment of the perversness of his Creatures whom he made like himself very Good and gave them power to Continue so but they being Creatures were made out of Darkness and being Created and brought into the Light could and did love themselves and all Creatures without the Light or that loose the Light are but Darkness and by that meanes Exalted their Darkness above the Light in them which is truly Selfe-Love and the roote or spring of all Evill which God cannot DOE nor BE but that we might be able to get out of the perdition we are fallen into God in his infinite Love and Mercy to all men in and from Adam and Eve they two being one Flesh hath given in the Light of their Life the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of Christ his Sonne the Seede of the woman the Promised word the word of Faith in our Hearts which in US hath Power to overcome all the works of Darkness and to bring us to his marvelous Light the Light of Eternall Life which also teacheth us to deny our selves and all ungodly Lusts of the Flesh to take up our Crosse with Patience and so follow or imitate Christ in Newness of Life and inward hearty Holiness of Conversation God indeed Cannot deny himself because his Darkness that is his wrath is alwayes subservient to his Light and Love which Eternally is his Life and cannot be otherwise but WE must Deny our selves and then our Darkness will give it self up into the Light also in us If we follow or be like his Light we are Children of the Light which ruleth in us and if we live according to his Darkness we are Children of Wrath and at length if we convert not shall be confirmed Children of Perdition All that have the dispositions or qualities inwardly or Outwardly of Love and Gentleness Kindness lowliness or humility sincerity Truth righteousness vertue honesty chastity temperance purity and Holiness are undeniably GOOD On the Contrary the wrathfull fierce Envious proud surly churlish wanton vaine stubborne obstinate crafty false Lyars injurious intemperate violent are accounted bad or EVILL and they are so indeed now that which is Evill cannot be like Gods Love but here is the generall mistake all Men consist both of an Outward and Inward Man that which the outward Esteemes Good is so as it is a similitude of that which is inwardly Good but since the outward Man which is framed of the Earth hath gotten the Predominancy in the Fall of Adam who thereupon dyed to the Inward Man that which most pleaseth the outward doth make it the more strong and rebellious against the power of the Inward and so by outward Good things not knowing how to use them by little and little destroyeth the Inward and therefore God in his Bowells of Compassion sends us that which is fittest for us to the weakening or dayly Killing and slaying of our Outward Man by tribulations afflictions Crosses and Contradictions or oppositions from others for the making us Conformable to the Image of CHRIST who was Tempted persecuted and afflicted and as the Apostle says he that will live Godly in this world must suffer Persecution this measure our Authour had from some as is manifest by their Objections and striving to bring his marvelous Gifts into dislike with those that knew not but the Censures cast upon him were right thereupon for the vindication of the Truth and for the sakes of those that were but beginners in the ways of Christ he then answered to the things that were laid to
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
Pen the poor fallen Man and the poor captive perished Soul and shewed how it becometh helped or saved again 131. He looked in this Description not only into the outward Kingdome into the 4 Elements and Stars but into the inward Kingdome into the first Principle whence the soul originally ariseth He understandeth somwhat else by the Wild Nature then the Pasquill or Libeellr understandeth He meant not Stars and four Elements also not the beastiall flesh which is of this World as the Pasquil or Libeller reproacheth but he meant the Center the fire-source of the soul which had Extinguished the Light of God and introduced the earthly Imagination from the kingdome of this world 132. He understood how the poor soul after its fall became a Creaturely Magick-Fire in Gods Eternall Anger-fire and THAT he called the wilde Nature for the soul standeth in the Eternall beginningless Nature in the first Principle of God the Father and is the Cause of the Image of God 133. It hath all formes of the Eternall Nature in it It hath in the Essence ever been from Eternity but in the Creation passed into a Creature It is from or out of the fire wherein God the Father ever generateth forth his Light And is in its Originall without besides or beyond the Light of God an anxious horrible Substance like a horrible brimstone worme for it is a Magick-fire from or out of Gods fire which is the Eternall Natures Originall 134. Which when the Eternall fire of God moved it self became desirous to have its re-awakening and Comprised in its desire an awakened similitude according to and out of it self understand out of the Desire of the Eternall Fire which is only a Spirit and originateth in the will which is the One-Element-fire which standeth in the inward re-awakening and Consumeth that againe continually in the Comprised Substance of the Desire and continually thereby only awakeneth it self as is to be seen in the kindling in the outward Kingdome 135. Out of that Eternall Nature out of its properties understand out of the Eternall which is the Center and a Principle in it self a Magick-fire of God which it self is God the Father according to the Eternall Nature the Eternall Light becometh Generated and shineth in that Nature in its properties that the properties of the fierce wrath and Anger become not manifest but are only a cause of the shining of the Life 136. For the Light maketh also a Center in it self with other properties That which in the fires property is a fierce wrath that in the Lights property is a desire of the substance of the Light and is called Love and Meekness That draweth the fierce wrathfull fire into it self and Extinguisheth the fierce wrath of the fire therewith so that out of the fire Joy cometh to be 137. For the Anxious fires desire is after Meeknesse and the Meeknesses desire is after the fiery Essence that it may be a Life Thus each desire maketh a Will-Spirit one out of the Fire and one out of the Light and yet is but ONE only but with TWO properties 138. And God calleth himself a God according to the Lights property understand a God of Love Meekness and Mercy and according to the Fires property he calleth himself an Angry Zealous or Jealous God and a Consuming fire and yet he is but ONE and not TWO as in the Book of the Threefold Life and in the Three Principles is mentioned and expounded at Large with many Circumstances 139. This thus briefly mentioned is now the Most Originall Spirit where in the fires property the Eternall Nature is understood and much more in the formes to Fire which make the Eternall Center as is mentioned in the Three Principles 140. And understand further That the Desire in that Eternall Spirit according to both properties hath from Eternity Continually been a Delight Longing or Lust to seek and to finde it self and hath continually found it self in it self each property its like both according to the fierce Wrath and the Love according to fire and light and according to all formes to the Fire and according to all formes in the Light of the Love 141. That which is found hath been the Spirits Looking-Glasse in the Love in the Light the Looking Glasse is called Gods wisdome and in the fierce wrath of the fire it is called Gods Anger-Eye 142. In this Looking-Glasse hath been seen from Eternity the substance of this world viz. the Third Principle for it hath stood in the Magicall Desire indeed not in Substance but in the Looking-Glasse in the Desire of the Eternall Nature wherein the Spirit hath discovered it self and with the beginning of this world with the moving of the Eternall Nature by the Spirit of God in the harsh or astringent Fiat created it into a Substance into a similitude according to the property of the Eternall Nature according to all formes to Nature and according to all Formes in Nature 143. Whatsoever became generated in Nature viz. in the Principle belonged to the kingdome of God and hath the Name of God But whatsoever became generated in the Formes to Nature that belongeth to the dark angwish-world 144. All properties became moved and each property set it self in its Looking-Glasse for a FIGURE according to its Essence understand according to the Desires Essence 145. The harsh or astringent Mairix to Nature was the Fiat which comprised the similitude and Image and brought it into a substantiall Beeing through Gods moving 146. Understand according to the will-spirit which goeth forth out of the Lights Center and according to the Will-spirit which goeth forth out of the fives Center and yet is but ONE But in TWO properties viz. Two Magick desires 147. As Men see in the Creature how Love and Anger stick in One Minde and yet have Two Centers all accordingly as the Outward will-Will-spirit discovers in any One so is the awakening in Love and Anger and Men see in this world in the Creatures how there are Evill and Good Wolves and Sheep Serpents and good Fish Poysonous Toads and lovely handsome Beasts and living Creatures Every one out of its Mothers property springing from the Eternall Originall 148. In this Eternall Looking-Glasse of the wisdome of God hath also the soul of Man from Eternity by the Spirit of God been discovered in the Essence which with the beginning of the first Moving in the Fiat of God became formed into a Creature according to the similitude of the Birth or Geniture of God 149. The Spirit of God discovered in the Looking-Glasse of wisdome an Image according to his similitude or likenesse understand out of both the Magick fires in the Principle of the Light a Totall entire similitude according to the Deity as to all the Three Principles 150. If we would conceive of the Eternall divine Birth or Geniture in the Light of the Majesty in its Tri-unity and then of the soul of Man in its Image
expected in me and so how much I want of the Infinite effect of being able to dwell with the Eternall Burnings I may well account my self one of the unworthiest of the children of Men John Sparrow The First APOLOGIE To Balthazar Tylcken Being An Answer of the Authour concerning his Book the AVRORA Opposed by an Enemicitious Pasquil or Opprobrious Libel This Answer Written Anno 1621. By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of St. Pauls 1661. A brief and well intended Answer of the Authour concerning his Book AVRORA against the enimicitions Pasquil or Libel in respect of some opposed and falsly recited Articles or Conclusions and ill-understood by this Libeller 1. INto what Calamity Misery Anxiety and great Perplexity we are plenged by the heavy fall of Adam is dayly demonstrated in that we have not only thereby obscured and darkened our Noble Image so that we cannot any more see or apprehend the Divine Light unlesse we become borne of God againe but also we have thereby awakened and made stirring in US the Originall fierce Wrath of the Eternall Nature so that the fierce wrath venome and poyson thereof is become Springing up and burning in us 2. Which is rightly called GODS Anger-Fire which should not become stirring and Manifest but continue shut up in the Center for it should remaine shut up in the Love in the Divine Light and be only a cause of Life and Mobility 3. Which so long as it remaineth shut up in the Light is a Spring or Fountaine of Joy and Knowledge but if the Light Extinguisheth is an Evill Opposite Poyson wherein nothing qualifyeth or operateth but meere self Enmity or Hatred where instantly all Love and desire of Good hath an End 4. As we poor Children of Eve must now feele in us with great paine sorrow and Misery how that fierce wrath stirreth driveth and vexeth us so that now we no more converse one with another in Love as Children of God but very venomously spitefully hatefully murtheringly and enimicitiously doe maliciously persecute dispise slander and reproach also rob Murther and doe all manner of Evill and alwayes wish death fierce wrath and all Evill one to another 5. Which great Misery and Evill is sufficiently to be traced in this Libell and out of what manner of Mind knowledge and Will it is flowen forth in that he undertakes not only to Misconstrue the words but also to wrest the whole understanding into a false meaning or sense and to pronounce the Authour to be a Devill and in a very vaunting reproachfull spitefull Malicious and Odious manner likeneth the Authours Will or Intent thought or sence and mind to the Devill without any knowledge of him who he is how he is or what Spirit 's Child he is whether he seeks God or this World 6. Thus he takes upon him to infinuate his innate poyson into the Heart thought or sense and Will or intention of the Authour all which is very horrible lamentable and Miserable in that he knoweth not himself or from what Mind his Zeal proceeds and in whose driving he runneth 7. He cannot see that his whole writing is a meer venomons Pasquil or Libel and Evill meaning or intention for though that which is spoken is not reproveable by him yet he can not leave it unreproached whereby a man may cleerly see out of what Spirit and Mind it is flowen forth and how the miserable fierce wrath hath ruled in him and yet he dares set in his Title that it is Christian-like and well intended 8. But if he would set any thing better in the room of it it might indeed be born with But I can find in all his Writing no Divine Knowledge and Light which yet he highly boasteth of as if he had an enlightened Mind and Thoughts and were Exercised therein 9. An Enlightened Mind or thoughts if the Light be from God proceedeth friendly and lovingly and instructeth a Man what he should Doe and leave undone it owneth others in a brotherly Duty it hunteth not Mens Minds into the Jawes of the Devill but they are Gentle in reproving and teaching with Good instruction They reprove in Generally they catch not hold of a Man Privately particularly and Singly and make not a Den of Theevery or Murther by the Good Way side 10. An Enlightened Mind which hath Exercised Thoughts as the Libeller would seem to have knoweth the Gifts of God that they are without End or Number that God Leadeth his Children Wonderfully and giveth to one a Divers gift to Expresse than to another as the Apostle also witnesseth the same 11. That God giveth to one from the gift of his Spirit to do Miracles or Wonders to another to interpret Tongues to a Third to Prophesie to a Fourth to speak with Tongues c. and all from the One only Spirit of God which thus speaketh from the Great Wonders of the eternall Wisdome of God and thus Driveth and teacheth the Children of God that the unmeasurable Wisdome of God may appear in his Children 12. If the Spirit of God ruleth in a Man then he is NOT Crafty suttle Deceitfull trecherous Lying astonishing ambitious but reproveable teachable and Meek he is not thorney prickley Misconstruing and vainly frivolous he suddenly apprehends what is in a Man and from what Spirit he Speaketh For the Spirit of God it self knoweth it self very well in a Man it needeth no Witnesse it tryeth the Heart and the Reins Soul and Body it speaketh the Truth and disgraceth or reproacheth no man it drives on all to that which is good and proveketh Men to Righteousnesse 13. But this whole Libell or Pasquil is nothing Else but a Misconstruing poysoning and disgracing he draweth the Scripture by the hair of the Head and corrupteth it that he may but take occasion to prick with Thorns besides he hath no right understanding of the Scripture that must serve him as he will have it meane that he may therewith satisfie his fierce wrath and bring it as fuell to his ficrce Fire that it may burn farre and neere and so make shew of his Deep knowledge though he should thereby tread his Brother Abel under his feet 14. And yet his knowledge which he hath here brought forth to the Day Light Concerning GODS Will is as to one part in Bibell and he largely buildeth the Babylonish Tower therewith as it shall be set before his eyes which for my part I doe unwillingly but now necessity requires I must doe it 15. Not for my own sake but for the sake of those whom he hath kindled with his envious fire and poysoned and hath insinuated into them very Erroneous Opinions especially concerning Gods Election of Grace therefore it behoveth me to cleere my meaning how I have apprehended it in Divine knowledge and how also it
out of the heart of God came not But it was the Soul out of the eternall Fathers Nature which had through its Imagination and Lust introduced Death and Earthlinesse into it self and awakened the Dark worlds fierce wrathfulnesse in the Anger of God and there was no Remedy neither in Heaven nor in this world unlesse the Prince of the Love of God came and wrestled with the fierce wrathfull Anger of God and quenched the same in the Humane Soul 230. And therefore the Prince of the Love of God viz Gods own Heart became A MAN in the humane Nature in humane Essence not in a strange One as the Libeller wonderfully brings it in here also not in the Wilde of the Starres and Elements not in Beastiall Flesh of the Corrupt or perished out-birth of the Four Elements it is not in that Essence that the Deity is united it is not the Wild Adamicall Flesh which Christ assumed to himself as the Libeller explaineth it who yet hath no understanding at all of the Essence wherein God is become MAN 231. Adam's Soul had not an outward four Elementary Body on it for it stood in Gods Love in Paradise Paradise is not Four-Elementary it standeth not in FOUR Elements but in ONE It is the Divine delight or Habitation 232. God dwelleth not in the Out birth of the Four Elements but in Heaven in the pure Element that is his Spirits Corporeall Substantiality and that Substantiality Adam had also for a Body and stood in the outward Body as the Gold hidden in the Course or drossie Stone 233. The Inward Body keepeth the outward body hidden as the Light doth the Darknesse and the Spirit of God dwelleth in the Inward body for it containeth in it self the Second Principle viz the Kingdome of Heaven an Image of the Divine Substantiality the Soul hath its Meeknesse therein it did Eate of that very Body wherein God dwelt Its Fire became allayed or Meekened therefrom for it received therein Gods Love and Meeknesse 234. But as soon as the Souls Fire began and Imagined according to the Earthlinesse and would Eat of the four Elements and Starres then the outward Kingdome viz the Third Principle drew-in the first Principle into the Souls Fire and also into the heavenly Body and obscured the Noble Image so that it fell into inability into Sleep Then it was in inability as it were captivated in Death for the Earthly Source or Quality dwelt now therein whence the Souls Fire became fierce wrathfull stinging and Murtherous for it must now eate Evill and Good and the Noble Image of the Similitude of God Disappeared 235. Now when God saw that the Noble Image was disappeared or vanished and that the outward kingdome became Lord in it His Mercy Pittied it and promised it the Womans Seed and crusher of the Serpent and sayd * The seede of the Woman shall Crush or Bruise the Head of the Servent which hath brought thee to Fall He sayd the Seed of the Woman should doe this 236. Understand in the right humane and heavenly Substantiality which in Adam was shut up in Death would God become Man Not in the Earthly introduced into the Noble Image and Soul into the right humane Nature of the second Principle in which God dwelt before Adams fall into that very Essence shut up in Death is Gods Word Entered THAT is the Seede of the Woman and the Word is Gods Seede 237. God was the Man or husband of it who sowed his Word or Heart into the Womans humane Essence understand in the Essence of the Soul and of the Flesh is God become Man Christ was One of the Persons of the Holy Trinity and is become Adam understand the second Adam out of and in the First and yet remaines to be what he was 238. He is not Strange to us but is our Brother as he sayd after his Resurrection Goe tell my Brethren I ascend to my God and to your God 239. If Christ had assumed on himself a strange Seede such as I am not and which in Adam I was not what would that help me where would my poor Soul remaine How could he then be the Womans seede or my Brother 240. He promised to Abraham not a strange Seede of the Woman but sayd In thy seede shall all People become blessed that is in Thine understand in the heavenly Substantiality in Adam shut up in Death shall the Messiah destroy Death And thy seede that is in which thou in Adam wert put to Death shall in Christ in Gods Blessing Live againe Christ shall live in THEE in thy Image and thou in HIM thou and Christ shall become one he the Body thou his Member 241. It concerned God not only as to a Sacrifice whereby his Anger should be appeased that he let his Heart become Man and let his Sonne be Crucisied that so his will might be reconciled No But it concerned him as to his substance that in Adam was become shut up in Death that was it his Sonne should make living againe 242. For we belive a Resurrection of our Bodyes which we had here it is Not the Earthly Body that is the Image which shall live eternally but the Heavenly which the Earthly Body HERE holdeth captive in Deaath 243. But if Christ become born therein then it is no more in Death but liveth in Christ and is only covered with the Earthly Body and therefore must Christ when he dyed on the Crosse enter into Death into the Anger of God 244. The Love of God in Christ went in the humane Soul into the first Principle viz into the source or quality of the Anger in the Fathers Nature and kindled the fierce wrathfull Anger-source or Quality in the Soul with Gods Love and Meeknesse whence the Divine Light burnt forth again That was Poyson to Death and a Pestilence to Hell for Love and Anger are Contraries 245. Now if Christ had not assumed Adams and Abrahams Naturall seede as the Libeller saith how then is he the Sonne of Man Is he only a Seede come from Heaven and hath assumed nothing from Man but a humane covering to himself so that he only dwelt in Man without any property of the humane Essence what would that availe my perished Soul 246. Hath he not assumed the humane Nature to himself then he it Not the Sonne of Man or My Brother as he calleth himself every where the Sonne of Man 247. The Libeller saith I will make Christ Naturall Is he not become Naturall then can he not be the Sonne of Man also not the Seede of Woman much lesse Abrahams Seede 248. But that the suttle Libeller will make the Virgin MARY supernaturall and saith shee was begotten or Extracted out of the Seede of God e're Christ became conceived in her and will thereby bring a strange seede thereinto which is not humane that is very Hereticall and Antichristian and he should doe well to smell into
lost the Life understand the right Divine Life of his Noble Image and that hath Christ brought again he hath generated that Image out of Death againe the living Word out of Gods Heart is entered into the Image shut up in Death and hath assumed or taken THAT Essence to himself and become a true Man such a Man to whom the outward Body only hung which stood swallowed up in the right Image but in the outward World manifest 271. He hath also therewith put on again to the Soul the holy Body viz the Innocent or Immaculate and into that holy Body hath taken a humane Soul out of Mary's Souls Essence-seede therefore must Christ afterwards be Tempted and want the outward food for Forty Dayes 272. For the Soul must be tempted to try whether now in that holy Body it would Eate of Gods Substance and satiate it self and therefore it was permitted to the Devill to Tempt the Soul 273. Seeing he Excused himself that he could not stand because the Matrix of the fierce wrathfull Nature had drawen him too hard therefore now he should tempt and try it with THIS Man as he had also tempted and tryed it with Adam and overcame him 274. Therefore God sent another or second Adam and set him upon the Kingly Throne which he had there he should tempt or try with him whether he could also give him a Fall He now set before him the Glory of this outward World viz the outward Eating or foode 275. And though indeed that was not at hand therefore that he should with his Noble Image and Divine strength goe into the outward and command Stones to become bread to try whether he could bring it to that that the Noble Image might yet become captivated and shut up in Death 276. And then he set before him the Great power and authority he had he should with the Divine Omnipotency in the outward kingdome flie from the Temple to try whether he might introduce him into the outward Lust so that Gods Love Spirit might depart from this Image whereas the Deity was only humble and Lowly he would introduce him into Pride 277. Thirdly he set before him the Dominion of the Outward world he should be a Lord in the Third Principle that he would let him only be a Lord in the Inward should fall downe and pray unto him or worship him 273. For the Devill had to doe about the Kingly Seate that this Man was to possesse Therefore it was permitted to him viz to the Devill to Tempt HIM so that if he stood the Devill should remaine a Lyer and his Judgement be upon his own Lying Mouth or Tongue The Conception and Becoming Man or Incarnation of Jesus Christ is with its Circumstances as followeth 279. WHen the Divine Image in Adam was vanished or disappeared Then God pittied it and would that this Image might be helped againe and Promised to Adam and Eve the Crusher of the Serpent viz the Word and Power of the Deity that should take the Womans seede understand the disappeared Image Essence into it self and therewith destroy the sting of the Devill and the Anger of God in the Soul 280. That very Promised Word stood neverthelesse presented to the Noble Image now shut up in Death and desired its former dwelling house of its similitude for a Delightfull habitation 281. But by or with the Promise it hath set it self before the Soul againe in the Light of the Life of the Soul and set a Limit or Mark thereto whereby it would againe enter into the in Death inclosed right humane Essence and awaken the Life from Death 282. That Limit or Mark was set in Mary the Virgin and became blessed in the Word of Promise in Paradise and stood as a Center or Limit of the Humanity 283. Gods Heart had promised and espoused or united it self in that Limit or Mark That Limit or Mark became adorned with the highly precious Virgin of the wisdome of God viz with the Looking Glasse or Eye of the Holy Spirit indeed not with any strange thing but with the first Life understand the Divine of the Noble Image in Adam from which Adams Soul went forth into the Spirit of this outward world viz into the source or quality of the Starres and Elements whose Center is the Abysse of the first Principle 284. This blessed Limit or Mark was promised to the Fathers viz to Adam Abraham David and others O how have the Prophets delighted and rejoyced at this Limit or Mark the sacrifices of the Jewes were a Type of this Limit or Mark. 285. For when Adam had lost the pure and faire Image understand the power of the Heart of God which stood in his body of the Heavenly Substantiality as a Center of the Deity then stood the Soul barely in the Fathers Property understand the Eternall Nature which without the Light of God is a fierce wrathfull and Consuming fire 286. For the Soul is out of that Center viz out of the Eternall Nature of the Father and therefore was that Soul in Israel lead so long a while even unto the Limit or Mark in the Father Nature 287. The Law on Mount Sinai was given in Fire and Thunder in the Fathers Nature and Moses was also called in the Bush by the Fire-flame in the Fathers Nature 288. And Christ also sayd thus when he came in the Flesh Father the Men were thine and thou hast given them to ME and I give them Eternall Life 289. That highly blessed Limit or Mark stood in the Grace Covenant of the Sacrifices with or in Israel The Sacrifices were a Signe or Type of the Limit which God set before them and Israel became in the Sacrifices through the Limit or Mark ransomed from sinne 290. Israel offered Sacrifice with the bloud of Beasts that Gods Imagination looked upon through the Limit or Mark of his Covenant since Man was become Earthly therefore God set the Limit or Mark before himself for a Covenant of Grace that his Imagination might not enter into the Earthly source or quality and that his anger Fire might not be awakened with Mans Earthlinesse and Sinne and so he devoure them as was done by Eliah 291. The Circumcision of the Jewes was also this that Israel must shed its Bloud and that Gods Imagination looked on through the Limit or Mark of his Covenant For Christ should destroy Death with the shedding of his bloud It should fall into the Anger of God viz into the Souls Fire and quench the kindled Fire of God 292. Therefore now God Imaged or represented to himself in the Covenant the bloud-shedding of Christ and quenched with this Imagination the fierce wrath in the Soul and through THAT became Israel saved such as with earnest sincerity have set or put their Will and Imagination into the Covenant they have received or conceived the power of the Limit or Mark in the Covenant viz
in Gods representing 293. For in God that which is done and past and that which is to come is all one And therefore was the New Regeneration out of Christ reckoned or imputed to the Children of the Covenant as iif they stood already in the New Body of Christ as if Christ had already drowned the Anger with his bloud-shedding and that the Life were already become Generated out of Death againe 294. For that very Life out of the Limit or Mark stood in Gods Imagination and with the Promise in Paradise it set it self therein that very Life was Promised to Abraham that it should be awakened againe in his seed Not in a strange seed as the Libeller conceiteth but in the seed of the Noble Image which out of the Heavenly Substantiality out of the Second Principle was together given to Adam for a Body 295. And yet with the Entrance of the Soul into the Earthlynesse was become shut up in the still Death as in the Nothing and that should againe sprout out of Death and therein rise againe and be borne A New Man in holinesse innocency and Righteousnesse it should againe be put on to the Soul 296. Understand it highly and aright The Life of God in the Covenant of the Limit or Mark which in Mary assumed the humanity that very Life must from Christ enter into us understand into our disappeared Image shut up in Death That is the Graine that is sowen into the Dead disappeared Substantiality that draweth that humane Essence again to it and becometh again the Life of that Image 297. Thus the Noble Lilly Twig or Branch groweth up which first is small as a Graine of Mustard-seed as Christ saith and afterwards becometh as large as a Bay Tree That is the True New Regeneration out of Christ 298. My Libeller put you other Eyes into your Bride and look upon the Old Testament and the Covenant of Promise with or as to Adam and Abraham rightly doe not imbitter the Scripture and drag it not about by the Haire of the head in a strange understanding Your Meaning or Opinion Obscureth the Noble Lilly or Branch which now should sprout or Grow out of the Mother or Roote much more then it doth serve to the promoting of its growth 299. If you would Judge in this Mystery then must you be born againe in Christ you must see out of Christs Eyes if you would apprehend the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum but if you were born of Christ then you would not be a Mote Judger but a loving Brother 300. Christ bids you not condemne but meekly to converse and friendly Instruct not to wrangle or scoffe or pronounce Men to be in the Jawes of the Devill My friend you are yet very blinde concerning the kingdome of Christ I will rightly shew you the Doore of the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ as it is given to me from the Grace of God in the Love of Christ 301. Not through my understanding but in my resignation in Christ from Christs Spirit From Christs Spirit have I conceived or received the knowledge the Great Mystery Mysterium Magnum I have not studied in your Schoole I have knowne nothing of that neither have I sought it in that way I sought only Gods Heart and more is come to me then I sought or understood 302. Therefore if you would be brother in Christ put your Bucks-hornes off and then we may see one another with right Eyes and a modest Mind and instruct one another in the Feare of God 303. Such Surlynesse and Scorne is Babel the Mother of Tyranny and Great spirituall whoredom whence Warres and Strise is arisen at all times your Libell is only a Bloudy provocation and a scoffing an unseemly puffed up Pride a Cainish property goe out from it if you would see the richly Amiable countenance of Christ in the Holy Ternary in Ternario Sancto if you would see the Wonder-Branch of the hidden LILLY which at present Sprouteth out of the Roote of the Tree 304 If you would grow and sprout with the Noble Lilly Branch out of the Old Tree you must bring an humble Heart and so you must stand in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ if you would grow spring or sprout and speak out of or from God 305. For None know any thing of God but only the Spirit of Christ which is in God the Some in the Bosome of the Father searcheth out in our spirit even the Depths of the Deity Our spirit must stand in the Spirit of Christ if we we would understand the Divine Mysterie 306. It is not enough for Men to put together or collect a heap of Scripture Texts and Make an Opinion and Meaning out of them no my Friend Opinion doth it not but the Living Word where the Heart experienceth the certainty therein Consisteth Faith in the Holy Spirit 307. In Opinions there is meere Doubting whether it be right or not Out of Opinions is the Antichrist Generated If we would speak of God then we must speak from or out of the Spirit of Christ which alone knoweth what God is or else we are very Lyars 308. Christs Spirit must speak out of us of the Divine Mysterie else we speak out of the Babel of Confusion Christ is in our right humane Essence understand in Adams Essence become Man not in the Essence of the Starres and Elements but in the Essence of the One Element through which before the fall Paradise grew or sprouted in Adam 309. When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary he Saluted her and sayd Haile Graciously Amiable the Lord is with Thee Thou blessed of all Women thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body and beare a sonne whose name thou shalt call JESUS 310. Here it hath not that understanding as the Libeller Explaines it that Mary was borne out of God before-hand Ere Christ in her became Man No Christ is the first from the Dead he first kindled the Life in Death only the Limit or Mark stood in Mary that was the Blessing For in the Limit or Mark was the Living Word and the Spirit of God Surrounded and Cloathed with the Noble Virgin of the Wisdome of God in the Divine Substantiality 311. When the Angel sayd thou shalt be impregnate in thy Body And shee the Virgin Mary thereupon said Behold I am the Maid-servant of the Lord be it done unto me as thou hast said then the Life in the Limit or Mark of the Covenant viz the Heart of God moved in Maryes in Death included Essence That word was cloathed or surrounded with divine Substantiality out of the Water of Eternall Life generated out of the Meeknesse of the Light of the Majesty of God 312. And in that Substantiality was the Tincture out of the Fire and Light of God which is the Glance or Lustre and Ornament of the Substantiality 313. And in the Tincture was the Chast
Modest Eye of the wisdome of God and the Wisdome is the Holy Spirits Corporeity wherein he dwelleth It is his Eternall Looking-Glasse wherein he hath discovered or discerned the Great Wonders from Eternity 314. And the Holy Spirit is gone forth or proceeded from the Word viz out of the Center or Heart of God forth from the Father viz out of the Fire through the Light into the Majesty into the Essence of the Paradisicall and Angelicall World understand into that Essence or into the Pure Element viz into the Substantiality of the Heavenly Corporeity 315. This very Substantiality or Corporeity as is now mentioned was Christs heavenly Flesh and Bloud For the Noble Tincture maketh the Water out of the Majesty turne into Spirituall Bloud 316. That very Substantiality which was in the Covenant wherein the Promised Word of God stood is Entered into Maryes Substantiality viz into the in Death inclosed Substantiality and is become a Body and hath made that which was shut up living againe The divine and heavenly Paradisicall Substantiality in the Covenant and Maries Substantiality is become ONE thing the Life sprouted or grew in Death 317. Therefore is Christ become our Life and Spirit also our Flesh and Bloud and therefore he giveth us understand our Souls-Fire his heavenly Body and Bloud to eate and to drink Our Soul hath with the Divine Substantialities Entrance againe gotten heavenly flesh for its Fire-Life it burneth againe in the divine source or quality out of the Love-Substantiality 318. The Holy Tincture according to the divine Fires Property belongeth to the Soul and the Waters property viz the Lights Meeknesse belongeth to the Body the Body is alwayes under or beneath the Soul 319. For the Soul it out of the Eternall Nature-Fire it is the Principle between the Dark and Light World it hath the Center of the Fire-World in it self 320. And the Substantiality is out of the Center of the Light-world in the Divine desire it cometh to a Substance for it is the substance of the Desire the Desire is Spirit and that which is comprehended in the Desire is the Substance of the Desire 321. And what can the desire comprehend other then it self that is the Meeknesse of the Light that is a sinking downe of the Love and Meeknesse towards the fire-Fire-Spirit that riseth up That the Fire-Spirit continually comprehendeth in its desire and consumeth it that is it bringeth it through the sharpnesse of the Father and there it goeth through death againe forth into the Liberty and maketh the source or quality of the divine World for the Spirit of God is understood therein 322. Not that there is a dying or Death therein but the Fire source or quality is accounted for a Death for the Roote of the Fire is the Dark World with its sterne formes to the Fire-Nature As in the Book of the Six Points of the Great Mysterie is expresly mentioned at Large 323. Now understand the sence aright Gods Substantiality hath been from Eternity it is unmeasurable and unsathomable it is every where all over wheresoever a Man can say here is God there is also the Divine Substantiality yet not in the Outward World in the Third Principle but in the Heavenly in the Second Principle 324. Therefore said Christ John 3. 13. None goeth to Heaven but the sonne of Man which is come from Heaven and which it in Heaven his divine Substantiality was in Heaven and yet it was come into the Humanity and the Humanity is without him dead in Adam 325. Now would any goe into Heaven they must then have his substance on them He is the Ladder that Jacob saw which with one End reached to Heaven and with the other End in the Humanity 326. A Man is to understand it thus that the Body of Christ understand the Corporeity of the divine Substantiality which hath revealed or manifested it self in the Corporized Substantiality of the Humanity in Mary is Greater then ALL. 327. The divine Substantiality is not totally gone into the Creaturely Image that cannot be for it is unmeasurable Only it hath revealed or manifested it self in the humane Substantiality in the Created Image in the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ and kindled the humane and given its Life understand into Adam's Image which also was in Mary and in all Men. Question 328. Now it may be asked What kinde of Person was Mary being the Limit of Gods Covenant stood in her Or how did CHRIST get Body and Soul in Her and yet remained what he was from Eternity Answer 329. Many was First a Bodily Issue and Daughter of Eve the Mother of us all and of her right Mother Anna and of her right Father Joachim no immaculate pure virgin understand according to the outward World for the Anger of God stuck also in her and shee is redeemed or reconciled through the Bloud of Christ 330. And according to the Second Principle her Image stood also shut up in Death But the Limit or Mark stood in her understand in her Image but undiscernably and unperceivably in that way and manner as God is in all and the Thing knoweth nothing of him for God dwelleth not in the Thing he possesseth Nothing but only himself Thus was the Limit or Mark in Mary and Gods Promise in the Word of Life was in the Limit or Mark yet not dwelling in Mary but in it self 331. God had never according to his Heart moved himself from Eternity and when once he moved himself in Mary in the Limit or Mark then Mary became highly blessed and in the Blessing impregnate with the Saviour For the Life came into Death into the in Death inclosed Essence 332. Now yet the Seed of Man qualified or operated with the Body and now when the divine Life came into the Essence of the Seed of Mary then her whole Body viz the Images Body according to the Second Principle became Highly Blessed And in this new Wonderous Entrance and Moving of God was brought to Life so that her Essence became living and the Tincture of her Bloud became kindled with the Divine Tincture understand the Seeds Tincture which qualifieth or mixeth with the whole Body 333. But the outward Kingdome of this World was not at this time broken off from Mary that held her still captive SHEE must through Dying through her Sons Death enter into the Eternall Life 334. Her Body indeed did not vanish or fall away for it was in the Midst in the Blessing only the Earthly source or quality must break or corrupt in her and all Adam's Children must enter through One and the same Entrance into Life viz through the Dying of Christ when Christ quenched the Soul-Fire on the Crosse in Death then also Maryes Soul-Fire became quenched that is rightly kindled in the Light of the Majesty 335. The outward Body remained to be a Covering before it so long as it stood in the source or quality of the Stars
understand them not and besides you expound my sence and Mind altogether falsly Who hath called you that you should explaine my obscure deep hidden Writing I had written as a young child in the Mystery of God when I was first come into that Schoole and hung still to the A. B. C come you or any other to this Dance and you will well see whether you can be instantly a Doctor or no. 357. Such a foolish understanding as you impute to me I would scarce look for in a Cow have a care and consider how you will be able to answer it in the presence of God If your Fiction should prevaile then instantly would another Antichrist be generated or born 358. You come marching on with a twofold Seed in Adam one must be Christs Seed and the other Adams Naturall Seed and found the Election of God upon it but you look upon this Mystery as a Cow looketh upon a New Barne Door you understand nothing of it you can not explaine and set it downe with any ground what the Seed of the Noble Image is and yet you will Judge 359. Indeed thou layest a snare before Mens Souls especially the dejected sad sorrowfull Tempted Souls so that many a one thinketh thus with himself saying who knowes whether I be begotten or extracted out of a right Seed out of Christ especially when he feeleth the Assaults of Temptation then he should seek comfort in this Libell 360. You say the Gracious Election is a great Comfort to the children of Christ when they feele Gods Grace in them viz the Womans Seed but where shall he rest that is Assaulted and Tempted by the Devill he may well in your writings despaire he would think continually he were out of or from Adam's Seed and that God will none of him 361. If you will speak so of the Grace-Election then you must not leave out the Love of God which willeth not the Evill you should joyne with it that which Christ saith Father the Men were thine and thou hast given them to Me and I give them the Eternall Life Also Father I will that those whom thou hast given Me be where I am Also I am come to call the sinners to repentance and not the Righteous there is in Heaven among the Angells of God more Joy at one sinner that Repenteth then at Ninety-nine righteous that need Repentance And As true as I live saith the Lord I will not the Death of a sinner but that he turne and live 362. If you will prove any thing with Cain and Abel with Issac and Ishmael also with Esau and Jacob then learne first to understand the Three Principles what the drawing to Good and to Evill is reject not Nature learne first to distinguish the Eternall Nature from the beginning inceptive Nature else you will but lay a snare upon the Bodyes and Souls of your Disciples or Schollers and will but tumble or Grope in the Dark in meere doubting 363. You will build high and yet a Man can find no sufficient ground in all your writing It is as to the Mystery but a fighting with a shaddow Tell me if you be a Master and have an enlightened Mind and Thoughts as you suppose What are the Two Seeds in Adam out of one of which Cain out of the other Abel is generated or borne Is that the Predestinate Purpose of God as you conceit it then demonstrate it 364. You must understand the Birth or Geniture of the Holy Trinity if you will Judge thereof also the understanding of the Dark World also of the fierce Wrath and of the Love of God what God is in Love and Anger what a Devill or an Angel is and how he came to be a Devill 365. Also you must understand the Mysterie of the Divine wisdome Especially you must understand how the Deare Name of God Originateth from Eternity How the Nothing becometh introduced into Nature so that out of the Nothing a source or quality cometh to be If you understand not THESE things then stay with your conceits at home read my Book of the Threefold Life of Man and you will see with other Eyes 366. Christ saith You must be borne anew through Water and the Holy Spirit else you cannot see the Kingdome of God He saith YOU not a stranger YOUR SELF 367. There doth not come another strange Creature into us when we become born out of Christ but when we put our whole desire into God into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ into his suffering and Dying and become sorry for our sinnes and desire Gods Mercy in Christ then our Souls Will-Spirit goeth forth from sinne and Evill or Malice and entereth into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ viz into the Heavenly Substantiality which is greater then all and there the Will-Spirit cometh before the Center viz before the Heart of God 368. That Heart of God is desirous of the Humanity and that graspeth with its desire into the Will-Spirit after the Humanity and thus the Will-Spirit receiveth the Power of the Center viz a Sparkle of the Divine Power 369. And that Sparkle hath on it self the Divine Substantiality viz the Water of the Eternall Life out of the Majesty of God and therein the Wisdome with the Heavenly Tincture this the Will-Spirit which is become generated out of the Soul bringeth againe with great Joy into the Souls-Fire 370. And when the Soul-Fire tasteth the sweet Love and Meeknesse in it self in its own Essence then the Essence is so very vehemently terrified that it appeareth overcome as it were dead and loseth its Fiery right and the Fiery Essence falleth into the Meeknesse of the Love viz into the Liberty of God without besides or beyond Nature and yeeldeth it self captive to the Meeknesse viz to the Lights property and is as if it were of the Fiery property and yet were not of it this is a terrour of Great Joy and the Aspect of God in the Divine Power whence Body and Soul doe tremble for Joy 371. For thus the Soulish Fire becometh put out of the Earnest severe paine of the fierce wrath of God of the Eternall Fires Essence and property into another source or quality viz into a Love-Desire for the Light of God kindleth it self in the Souls-Fire for when the Meeknesse and Love Desire cometh into the Magick Souls-Fire then the Love and Meeknesse feeleth the Great Life out of the Fathers Nature 372. For the Meeknesse is a Sinking downe it is the water-Water-Spirit and without the Great Life is as it were dead in comparison of the Fire but when it cometh into the Fire it becometh as vehemently terrified as the Fire in it and the terrour is the kindling of its Life and of the Light 373. Seeing then the Soul in the beginning of its Creation was cloathed and adorned with this Heavenly Substantiality and it was the Souls right inward Body and that the Soul in Adam is gone
without the command of the Lord and that neither Good nor Evill cometh out of the Mouth of the Most High Hath not a Potter power to make of One Lump what he will one vessel to Honour and the other to Dishonour And cannot GOD do so with US Men. 451. Yes indeed that were a fine thing from one of understanding who will produce Texts of Scripture especially such sayings which give offence to the sad sorrowfull tempted Mind and that he also expoundeth it so that he casteth a Snare about his Neck and goeth away laughing at it this is false wicked fraud 452. Thou still supposest that God makes One happy out of his Predestinate purpose and Damneth the other out of his Predestinate purpose whereas God saith in Exekiel 33. As true as I live I desire not the Death of a sinner but that he turne and live 453. If thou understandest not the Principle between Light and Fire which belongeth to the Soul then be silent about the Election still thou understandest nothing thereof 454. Thou supposest God hardeneth the Soul and it is not true the hardening sticketh in the Principle so that many become apprehended by the dark Center of Nature from the fierce wrathfull Formes to Nature 455. For the Principles stand in a Continuall Wrestiling as the Fire in the source or quality As it hath so happened to Lucifer that he hath framed the Will of Pride in the Fires Matrioc in respect of the Dark world also it is to be seen by Cain and Abel 456. The Light World which is God himself hath no desire to Evill or destruction there is not the least sparkle in God that desireth the Evill God calleth himself God according to the Light according to the Love and not according to the Fire-source or quality much lesse according to the Dark World 457. The Fire-source or quality is fierce wrathfulnesse and devouceth all whatsoever cometh into it and the Dark World is a meere fierce wrathfull hunger and the Light World is a meere Love Man hath all the Three in the Center 458. When the Life becometh kindled then is in the Center the Strife in the Formes to Nature there many a Soul becometh apprehended in the Essence THAT is not Gods predestinate purpose 459. God willed not that Adam should fall else he had given him no Commandment also he willed not the Devills Fall But that his fierce wrath hath apprehended Lucifer as also Adam that is the Creatures fault 460. The Souls Spirit knew indeed very well where its home was It was free as God also is free he hath the Center of Nature according to the substance of all Substances why did he put his Imagination into the fierce Wrath Pride and State bringeth dejectednesse of Minde so it went with the Devill and also Adam 461. The Devill would be a Fire-Lord and Adam Lord in this world God did suffer it to be done seeing they both had free-will 462. The Soul is not made as a Potter maketh a pot it becometh Generated the Childs Soul is generated out of the Essence of the Parents That would the Libeller faine obseure only that he might out of Gods predestinate purpose Elect an Evill and Good Spirit and thrust Gods Anger-will into the sad sorrowfull heart for Despaire 463. No hearken Libeller Let me have them proceed ALL out of ONE Soul and then we have ALL equally together ONE Doore of Grace open this I will have from thee else I say thou art a Heretick and a perverter of the Scripture and would bereave us of the Mercy of God 464. I say in the Power of my high knowledge given me of God that the Doore of Grace is not yet barred up to the poor Soul and though the Devill had it on his chains and would go away with it if it be yet in Flesh and Bloud in this world there is remedy for it if it bewaile the Evill and Convert God forsaketh it NOT. 465. He hath Created but ONE only Soul not to perdition but to Life to his Honour and Glory this he requireth also from all Men and Man shall give an account how hath used it for it is his Noblest Jewel 466. And according to the Soul and its Image he is Gods Child and according to the Spirit and Body of this World he is become a Beast according to the source and quality of the Starres and Elements As in the Book of The Threefold Life is expressed largely enough The Reader himself may seek there he will find the Grace-Election a little otherwise and the Mark neerer then in this Libel 467. I may not here repeat the Deep Mysterie with so large a Discourse The frivolous scornfull discourse in this Libel also is not worthy of it a Man should not cast Pearls before swine the Libeller hath made a heap of scornfull expressions to trim his conceit but all that which is not very necessary I count not worth an answer Number V. 468. THe Libeller produceth also the Text Math. 24. where Christ saith If it were possible even the Elect would be deceived this he doth also upon pretence of the Election but No friend that belongeth not to it If any vematus stedfast in Christ then it is not possible for the Devill or any Heretick to be able to seduce him and pluck him out of Christ's hands 469. But if an enlightned Christian though he be indeed in Gods Love will be secure or carelesse and Dance to the Devill after his Pipe and receive him in for a Guest there it is very possible but though it were possible that the first Man as also the Devill did fall yet cannot the Libeller be convinced with THAT Number VI. 470. Then saith the Libeller Gods WILL whereby he Electeth one and rejects another a man should not search for out of Christ there thou hast it make no more adoe search no further then so but consider when thou lookest upon any body who knoweth whether he be Elected whether he be a child of God or of the Devill 471. O thou Miserable Reason wilt thou COMMAND the Spirit which searcheth even the Depths of the Deity as Saint Paul saith The Spirit searcheth it self and when it comes to the very Center it knoweth its Father for the Soul Originateth out of God the Father out of the Eternall Nature 472. O Blindnesse and own-self Reason who hath forbidden us to search The Devill forbiddeth us it that we might not search out his Kingdome else we might flie away from him what if thou forbiddest me that I should not dare so much as to cough how hath the Mist of obscurity blinded thee should not the sonne dare to see what the Father doth in the House where he must needs manage all his works 473. Why should I not enquire afteer my fathrs or my Native Country out of which my Soul in Adam is gone forth but IN Christ is introduced into it againe I say it
will of necessity be forbidden you WITHOUT the Spirit to search what God is Gods Spirit searcheth it self else none can search God If God be not in the Spirit the Libeller needs not forbid it to search Number VII 574. THe Libeller saith further But why do not all seek Grace in Christ but endeavour to set up their own righteousnesse THAT a Man must leave to the Secret Councill of God which is possible for No Man to reach 475. Hearken Libeller Make thy breath longer Put away Pride and State Covetousnesse Envy and Malice and the brave little sonne Falshood out of the way and then the wicked would seek it the Lust and pleasure of this world Lyeth in the way Take a Besom and sweep Feare out of the World and then all Men would seek the Grace 476. Yet thou seekest also with all thy diligence how thou mayst Condemn me also thou wilt set up only thy own righteousnesse against thy brother whom thou shouldst Love as thy self Thou searchest into many Scriptures that thou mayst judge him Smell but into thy Bosome Number VIII 477. THere the Libeller supposeth he hath catched a Mouse which must crouch under him upon that where the Authour sets it down That God knew not of Lucifers Fall beforehand there he hath certainly got him in his clutches O now he will tumble and touse him 478. Hearken Libeller That place is not expressed out of the Magick understanding I will stand to it with you in what I have written but hearken doest thou suppose it is not true doest thou understand the Principles doest thou know what is done in the Dark World The Will of the Dark world is not manifest in Heaven God doth not cumber himself with the will of the firce wrath 479. His fierce wrath and Anger hath known it very well the fierce wrath is a cause of the Fall but no such Imagination Entereth into his Love there is not the least sparkle of the Devill or Darknesse manifest in his Love but a Meere Love desire so also God calleth himself a God according to the Love and Meeknesse and according to THAT now the Question is Answered 480. Else if a Man saith To God are all his works Manifest from Eternity then a Man must say God hath been in all things from Eternity He is in every thing in the Essence as the source or quality in every thing is Psal 18. 26 27. as it is there written With the perverse thou art perverse 481. The very Abysse and also Hell is Gods in Hell there is hellish Skill and knowledge and in Heaven heavenly and in this World Historicall according to the First Principle all Malice is from Eternity known to God but Men call not that God but Gods Anger according to such a meaning was the Authours Mind thought or sence so written only for himself 482. He understood the sence well but he knew not of the Libeller else he had set it down more simply and plainly When a Man speaks of the Totall God according to Love and Anger according to ALL Worlds then he saith rightly To God hath all his works been knowne from Eternity 483. But hearken Libeller hast thou not seen how the Center of Nature was described in my Book couldest thou not search after it assuredly thou hadst come to the Ground or foundation It is not my meaning here now at this time to metion any thing further of the Mysterie of Omniscience read The Three Principles and thou wilt find it it would here require too long a Discourse and besides it is not necessary 484. But a Man cannot say that God is the Essence but in the Eternall Nature the Essences Exist and in Gods Magia Nature doth exist He is IN All but nothing apprehendeth him as is before-mentioned He possesseth himself as the Light possesseth it self it dwelleth in the Fire without Source or Torment Number IX 485. THe Libeller hath many Conceits and a totall strange understanding especially upon that where it standeth written by the Authour thus That Lucifer was a Part of or out of God there he will be simply blind and understand nothing as it is moant he will know nothing of Gods Eternall Nature he understandeth by Nature only the Outward World he will by no means understand that an Eternall Spirit as Angells and Souls of Men is proceeded out of Gods Eternall Nature and Substance 486. My Libeller Open thou thy Eyes and observe that I. by the Eternall Nature out of which the Angells are Created understand not the Divine Principle can you not see a similitude of it in Fire and Light Thou seest thy self very well that the Fire is Nature and not the Light out of the Light can nothing be created only out of the Substantiality viz out of the Meeknesse can a thing be created that is Substance 487. Yet now a living Spirit cannot be made out of Substance the Life is not Substance but a desire of Substance 488. A Spirit as Angells and Souls are is out of the Magia or Desire of the Fire-source or quality proceeded out of the Formes to Nature viz out of the Center for Nothing is Eternall unlesse it be proceeded out of the Center of the Eternall property 489. The Center is a Desire to the Manifestation of the Abysse in a Ground of the Nothing in somewhat to manifest or reveale the hidden Mystery of the Eternall Divine Substance 490. The Light hath another Center God is understood or meant by the Light the Heart of God is the Center of the Light and the Magick Desire is the Center of the Fire and in the Fire is the Liberty viz the Nothing manifest spoken after a Creaturely Manner 491. God is in respect of the Creature as a Nothing and yet he is indeed ALL in the Fire his Majesty becometh manifest in the Fire is the finding of the Nothing God himself findeth himself from Eternity in himself He is not Nature as to what concernes the Name God The Nature becometh born or Generated in the Will of the Eternall Nothing 492. There is but ONE only Will which is the ABYSSE which is desirous of the foundation or Ground viz of the Manifestation or Revelation of it self and in that desire becometh the Nature manifested and the desire maketh the Nature that driveth it self from one desiere to another one forme of the Desire maketh the other even to the Fire there is the Principle and Life generated 493. The Fiat is the Mother viz the desiring or the hunger as a Man may call it It maketh the Desire to be Substance according to the forme of the Property it figureth the Willing into a forme or shape wherein we understand the Center of the Spirit 494. Now then GOD himself is the Abysse and also the Bysse or Ground in the Fire all becometh Manifest both the Nature and also the Light of the Majesty In the Fire
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-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-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
Soul viz in the Fathers Principle in the sound for it hath by its entrance into the Anger set the Looking Glasse of his Covenant viz the Virgin of the Divine Wisdome before the Soul that it should behold it self therein 555. The Wisdome saith continually Come then saith the Devill behinde it also Come now to which so Ever it goeth thereby it becometh Elected for a Childe 556. God letteth no Soul which hath Light to Extinguish its Light out of his predestinate purpose The Free-Will Extinguisheth it The Devill set himself in the forme of an Angel before the Soul that it might Imagine in Evill and Good thus then its Imagination eateth of Evill and Good and so the Soul becometh blinde and captivated in its Imagination 557. Else if God did harden any out of his predestinate purpose and did let his Light Extinguish out of his predestinate purpose then would not that be true which David saith in the 5. Psalme Thou art not a God that willest Evill indeed he permitteth it to come to passe that an honest vertuous Man becometh Evill when the Will inclineth into Evill then he letteth his Light Extinguish 558. But not out of his predestinate purpose so that he would not saine have that very Man surely he receiveth him if he cometh againe so long as a Man liveth in this Tabernacle he hath power to become the Childe of God for the Apostle saith also thus He hath given us power to become the Children of God 559. Understand not out of or from the Will of the Flesh viz of the outward World that belongeth not to Gods Kingdome but out of or from the Will of the Souls Spirit which becometh Generated or born in God For Gods predesfinate purpose is that the right Divine Will should alwayes become Generated out of the Soul which is done when the Soul entereth into the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ in that it becometh Generated or born againe to be Gods childe 560. For the Souls-Fire becometh introduced into Christs Death and Sprouteth againe with a New faire blossome out of the Death of Christ forth into the Divine Liberty into the Angelicall World 561. That very Blossome or Spirituall Will is Gods Will and in that very Will-Spirit the Soul is an Angel for it possesseth the Second Principle viz Gods Majesty it continually introduceth Divine Substantiality viz Christs Flesh which filleth the Heaven so that the Soul eareth of Christs Flesh and drinketh his Bloud John 6. out of the Water of the Meeknesse of the Eternall Life 562. Therefore I say with good Ground It is not Gods predestinate purposed Will that any one Man becometh Lost but it is from the Will of his fierce Wrath and Anger and of the Dark World and of the Devill 563. Therefore he is a false or wicked Judger and an Advocate of Gods Anger who will Judge and blame God and knoweth not the difference of what God is in Love and Anger and knoweth not whence an Evill and Good Will Originateth and yet will be a Judger he cryeth continually God God it is that doth a thing 564. The Prophets and Apostles have often called the Totall God according to Love and Anger as also according to all the Three Principles by ONE WORD but yet a Man should use a right understanding and make a distinction between Gods Love-Will and his Anger-Will 565. We see very plainly in Man that he willeth Evill and Good he would alwayes saine be an Angel and would also faine have the Pride in Covetousnesse and the Power of this World Men should search whence every Will taketh its Originall and not alwayes say God God God willeth it 566. He willeth only that which is like himself his Love viz the Right Name of God willeth only that we should Love God and our Neighbour and Continue in his desire and will HE willeth nothing else but that all Men should turne to him and goe out from fierce Wrath into the Love For the Love of God and of our Neighbour is the whole Law and the Prophets 567. On the Contrary his fierce Wrath and Anger which is the Roote of the outward World willeth its like to have sewell or wood for its Fire 568. Now being Gods Love hath set before Man the Looking-Glasse of his Wisdome in the becoming Man or Incarnation of himself why then doth he goe into the Anger Looking-Glasse and letteth the Devill sway him God indeed sendeth Prophets and Teachers out of his predestinate purpose who reveale and signifie to the World his Anger why doth Man follow Sinne 569. That must needs be a wonderfull thing that God should cause any to be called to come to HIM and yet would harden him out of his predestinate purpose that he Could not then God would be unrighteous Indeed the Lust of the Flesh and of the Devill hardeneth the Soul and holdeth it Captive 570. If God had willed the Evill or the Fall of Man then he would not have forbidden Adam the Tree of Good and of Evill viz the Lust or Pleasure of this World But if he hath forbidden him and hath also hardened him that he could not doe Gods Will who would now be righteous God or Man 571. As the Libeller supposeth that it is out of Gods predestinate purpose that two unlike sonnes were generated out of Adam an Evill and a Good and will make thereof two sorts of Seed hearken make two sorts of Souls and then it may be 572. When Adam became Earthly then he became drawne of the Spirit of this World and Gods Anger became Stirring in him then did the Soul give way that the Devill through the Spirit of the Outward World thrust in Evill Seed into the Soulish Essence for propagation which the Constellation of the Configuration hath increased so that a fratricide or brother Murtherour became generated but was that Gods predestinate purpose 573. Had not Adam made himself Earthly then would not Gods fierce wrath have become Manifest or revealed in him also then would the Constellation have had no power over the Soulish Seed 474. For the outward Kingdome should not have possessed and governed Man in the inward Image it should have been as an impotency or weaknesse in Man He was Paradisicall 575. But that it standeth written the Outward Man was Created to a Naturall Life thereby it is understood that Nature is a Ruler or Manifester of the Wisdome of God and then in the Mortall fall Eve is understood to be a Woman and not a Virgin of this World 576. Whereas it could not be otherwise and that Adam stood not in the Proba or Tryall he let him fall into the sleep of the Eternall Life and made a Naturall fleshly Woman out of him out of his Matrix and Rib. 577. For the spirit of the outward World had captivated Adam and introduced its substantiality into his Imagination whence he is such a Naked sfinking hard palpable cold bitter and hot Man
like a Beast and is not the Noble Image which is saded and disappeared in Death which is created out of heavenly substantiality 578. But that thou wilt not allow me this that in Man understand in the Third Principle a humane Image according to the Angelicall World out of the Heavenly substantiality hath stood in the Inward yet I say that Gods Spirit that in the Second Principle goeth forth out of the First viz out of the Souls Fire of the Father into the Second out of the Love and Light Fire into the Sonne was never at all without substance for it is the Driver forth of the Divine power and substantiality 579. Hath now the Light and Spirit of God been in Man viz in Adam then also hath Gods substantiality been therein For no Fire burneth in Gods Love unlesse it have DIVINE substantiality 580. Therefore saith Christ Whosoever eateth NOT the Flesh of the Son of Man he hath no part in HIM He understandeth the Corporeity of his unmeasurable Eternall Divine Substantiality in the Water of the Eternall Life and in the Tincture of the Power out of the Fire and Light in the Glance or Lustre of the Divine Wisdome out of the Words Body 581. Now if Adam hath been a totall sumilitude according to God then he must not only have had Earthly Substance for his Body if the Soul had had only Earthly source or quality to Eat then it had not had the prohibition but it had also the Corporeity of the Second Principle out of the Heavenly Substantiality that was the right Angelicall Image which became created in the Fiat of the Word 582. But the Outward Fiat according to the Outward Principle Created the Outward Man and God the Holy Spirit breathed himself thereinto according to the source or quality and property of all the Three Principles into the outward Image according to its outward Property viz the Spirit of the Great World Majoris Mundi of the outward World and the Angelicall Divine World according to the Love of Gods Heart and according to the Eternall Nature viz according to the Fire-World viz according to the Fathers Property the right Soulish viz the Center of the whole Man 583. In Brief what is it that Men should make many words Man was a Totall similitude according to God according to all the Three Worlds and their Properties and that he must be againe or must be a hunger-Spirit in the Dark World 584. What he maketh of himself that he is He standeth here in the Field or Soyle either there groweth out of him an Herb on Gods Table or an Herb in Gods fierce Wrath what kind of Essence so ever he will bring in the growing according to the relish of that it will also get a Mouth for it will eat either of the Love or of the Anger 585. The matter is not about the high knowledge only but about the tast or relish that any becometh the Bread of God which God Eateth It lyeth little in the knowing but all in the DOING it must be DOING the Evill Branches must be Cut off that good Wine may grow 586. We should not judge and condemn one another for the knowledge sake The Plow-Man knoweth lesse then the Doctor but he goeth many times before the Doctor into the kingdome of Heaven let us fall upon DOING that we may get Divine Essence into our Sprout let us reach after the LOVE and then we have ALL. 587. MY high Knowledge maketh me not happy or saved for I know not my self it is not Mine but Gods Spirit knoweth it self in ME he allures Me therewith to himself when he departeth or withdraweth then I know Nothing 588. I have not my knowledge at all from Man why should I then long contend with Man about it no Man can either give it me or take it away from me 589. I deal foolishly in that I Strive with thee for thou canst take nothing from me but it is done for the sake of other people which through thy Mouth abuse my knowledge else I would for thy Cursings and Judgings not lift up a Finger 590. Thou shoudst Converse in Love as a Christian if thou wouldst be Gods childe but if thou Judgest thy brother into Hell-Fire for the sake of his Gift what will become of thee how doest thou know what is befallen him that he runneth on thus How dost thou know upon what Branch or Roote God hath ingrasted him Thou wert not at all by when he did sow the Spirit of his Wisdome 591. You say it is from the Devill and there was Joy in Heaven in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary especially in the Fathers Nature when this Seed was sowne I would NOT give the little Graine that was sowen into me for all this worlds good It is more deare to me than Heaven and Earth and thou treadest it underfoote do but see what manner of Angel thou art 592. Thou writest much and if thou shouldst goe with thy writings to the Center there would be no body at home thou gatherest many Texts of Scripture together which in themselves are GOOD that thou mightst settle a framed Opinion concerning that thou knowest no Ground for 593. Thou canst not bring the Opinion into the Center and then bring it out againe there is no Spirit of Depth in thee but collected Matter from others Mouthes and thy own Mouth understandeth it not 594. But I write what I my self understand and what I can bring into the Ground of the Center 595. Art thou a Master then shew thy self one give me a writing concerning the Center of the Eternall and also of the outward Nature let it be seen what thou canst do prove it in the Light of Nature and not from a strange Mouth Speak from your own knowledge and then I will Answer thee 566. Let thy contemining alone and do thou direct it to the honour of God and make if serve the profit and salvation of Man that it may be a Sprour upon Gods Table and I will Answer thee that thou wilt Wonder and if thou meanest piously wilt highly rejoyce thou wouldst neither seek nor find any Devill in Me. 597. There is a great earnestnesse in me to seek my Eternall kingdome in God God hath not promised me a Scorpion instead of an Egge he would not give me to the Devill when I prayed so earnestly to him for his Holy Spirit 598. The Devill sets not upon a Man a spirituall high Triumphant Crowne or Garland of Victory in Ternario Sancto in the Holy Ternary when a Man Fights against him He hath none of THAT which hath been done to this Spirit which thou callest a Devill and whence its knowledge proceeded 599. I write not for my own Fame which is in God but to Teach Men what they may expect from God if they will but come to the Ring or Lists of this Earnest Fight unlesse the outward voluptuousnesse in soft pleasure of the Flesh
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