Peace to the Joy of All. Perhaps some will thinke this impossible let them consider that if they bee told of a curious City and of the incredible things that are done there by him that hath been there and seen what he relateth and he describe the way so plaine that they may come thither themselvs will they not goe that they may know as well as he that told them doe so by this Author Reade this Booke diligently and seriously till you apprehend the true meaning but of some part of the way hee here describeth which may easily be done and you will be satisfied the things are true and that the way he sheweth is true and be able to walke in it and also bee very thirstie to labour in that way more and more till you attaine your whole desire and then you will keep it as the best Jewell a Memoriall of all Mysteries But let every one reade it themselves whether it be the highest King that sitteth upon a Throne or the meanest mayd that grindeth in a Mill or heare it read with their owne eares if they meane to pertake of this so high a gift from the most high or else the Devill may easily bereave them of it TO THE READER IF wee knew the preciousnesse of our owne soules we would confesse and acknowledge with an inward feelingnesse the answer to Christs Question when he said What shall it profit a man to gaine the whole world and loose his owne Soule Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soule the soule is so precious that nothing can truly be valued at so high a Rate To save it is the greatest gaine to loose it is the greatest losse then who will not highly prise the study and understanding of the way to save it Christ saith He that will save his soule shall loose it and he that will loose his soule shall save it but who understandeth this we know it is the earnest desire of every soule to be saved and to be happy and glorious but the way is very unknowne to us poore fallen soules for we can hardly suppose that loosing will be the saving of our selves Christ also taught that the way to Glory was through many tribulations and Death this way he entred into Glory and so have all the blessed from the beginning of the world and can no otherwise to the end thereof but how shall a soule know the way to loose and deny it selfe so that it may assuredly attaine Eternall Salvation Let it listen in its heart and Conscience inwardly to that Teacher which it shall find there who is in God himself we have the Testimony of Moses for this who told the Israelites the Word the Commandement is nigh thee in thy heart and in thy mouth not the outward but the Inward heart and mouth as also the Apostle Paul saith to the Romans that Christ the Eternall Essentiall word of God the word of Faith which they the Apostles preached is nigh us in our hearts and in our mouthes and in another place he saith Doe you not know that Christ is in you except you be past reproofe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 improbi furthermore the Apostle John saith that God is Love and he that loveth God dwelleth in him and he in God which we all perceive is true for in him we live and move and have our being and this may be knowne though the Apostle Paul had not said so much for one of the Poets of old spake what he knew and said we are all of his Off-spring as the Apostle mentioneth it nay we all know that he that doth well is the servant of God but he that doth evill is the servant of the Devill who ruleth in his heart and though there is none that doth good no not one nor can do of himself while he is in this mortall life yet through Christ in him he can desire to doe well and be sorry when he hath been drawne away to doe evill by the lusts of his owne heart by which the Devill tempteth us to doe evill but if we will resist the Devill he will flie from us if we will leave off to doe evill and desire trie and learne to doe well without doubt we shall be able through God that dwelleth in us and then he will teach us all things and lead us into all truth by his Spirit All this we shall fully understand and all Mysteries when God shall manifest himself inus if we earnestly desire it with all humility selfe-deniall losing of our soules and being nothing in our selves for then God will be All in All and nothing is impossible with God All this and much more hath the Author of this Answer to these Questions concerning the soule found true and hath out of his inward Mystery manifested many things in this and other Writings of his the knowing whereof will be exceeding usefull to the furtherance of the salvation of every soule which when I had read I was very much satisfied in my owne soule and doe desire that others may be made partakers of them so farre as lyeth in me I have therefore taken in hand to put this Treatise into English which I chose to doe rather out of the Originall then out of any Translations because they many times come short of the Authors owne meaning and because I found many errours in some of them and he is so deep in his writings that we have need to desire that our soules may be put into such a condition as his was in else they cannot be fully understood but the same God that satisfied his desires will satisfie ours if we cast our selves upon him in our soules and let him doe with us what he pleaseth Concerning the Author he was from his youth much addicted to the hearing of Sermons and hearing that speech of our Saviours Luke 11. ver 13. Your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that aske it and by the differences and controversies in Religion which he knew not how to satisfie himselfe in he was so stirred up and moved to aske seeke and knock that he might know the truth upon which by the Divine drawing and will he was in Spirit wrapt into the holy Sabbath in which he remained seven whole dayes in highest joy by his owne confession after he came to himselfe he layd aside the folly of youth and was driven by Divine zeale earnestly to reprehend impudent scandalous and blasphemous speeches and did forbeare in all his actions the least appearance of evill and continued to get his living by the labour of his hands till the beginning of the sixt Seculum which was the yeare 160. When he was a socond time possessed with a divine Light and by the sight of a sudden object was brought to the inward ground or Center of the hidden nature yet somewhat doubting he went out into an open field and there beheld the miraculous workes of the Creatour in
q Or Genitrix or Bearer Begettresse it containeth the Mysterium Magnum and out of it the Spirit openeth the Wonders of Eternity the Spirit giveth it the Essences for it is the food for the hunger of the Spirit 270. It is an Essence of Wonders without Number and End also it hath no Beginning for the Spirit in the Desire maketh it begin from Eternity and it continueth r Or in to Eternity it is Å¿ Or a. the Body of the Ternary which is called God and the Å¿ Or a. body of Angels so that the Spirit subsisteth in an Image or else he would not be knowne 271. Thus he knoweth himselfe in the Image and seeketh the best Magick and he findeth what he seeketh and eateth it and thereby giveth his will to the Divine Body so that there is an Eternity in the Holy Principle 272. For the Wonders arise in the will of the corporeall Spirit which wonders take hold of the Spirit of Eternity viz. of the Holy Ghost and thus there is a sound and song proceeding from the Eternall wonders for the Will of the Corporeall Spirit is therein 273. And in these seven Formes the Joy of the Deity is increased and perfected for it is a satiating of the Eternall desire and it is the Eternall foode 274. But seeing all Essences arise from fire Therefore we will cleerely set before you the Mysterium Magnum and shew you Paradise if any to whom this is told and discovered will be blinde let him adventure t To perish it with Babell 275. You know that every life consisteth in fire and Water and the Essentiality is its Body and the Body proceedeth from the power of the Spirit for it is the food of the Spirit and the Spirit againe is the food of the body and the highest and greatest u Or Nourishment Nutriment is in himselfe for the outward body could not sustaine him if the true life were not in himselfe 276. Now then Fire is the first cause of life and Light is the second cause and the Spirit the third cause and yet there is but one Essence which closeth it selfe in one onely Body and manifesteth it selfe and so findeth by seeking 277. And every Essence x Is. consisteth y In. of two Essences viz. of an inward and an outward one seeketh and findeth the other the outward is Nature the inward is Spirit above Nature and yet there is no separation but in that which is included in a Time there the Time parteth the limit so that the End findeth the beginning 278. Thus you see also how the true Essentiality ariseth from the Light for it is the satiating of the will the water ariseth from the meeknesse of the Light for the Desire taketh hold of the meeknesse and keepeth it because it hath a good z Or taste relish and so the meeknesse becommeth Essentiall and it is an Essence of the Fire a satiating of the desiring Wrath a quenching of the Wrath and a corporality of the Fire for when the body a Or perisheth or dyeth or corrupteth or departeth is dead then its Spirit is in the beginning in that which gave a beginning to it it is in that Glasse 279. Now then as the source is twofold so also the water is twofold viz. an outward and an inward the one belongeth to the Spirit the other to the outward Life the outward is as it were a Death and the inward is the life of the outward for the outward standeth between Wrath and Paradise in the b Death that is sunke downe into the Centre in a thing insunken Death and the Inward is Paradise it selfe for the Spirit groweth up therein out of the Eternity 280. You may very well see that this is true as followeth Observe the Summer and Winter Heat and Cold and your eyes will soone be opened if you be borne not c Or without outwardly but within your selfe with a true Magick will to finde God for it is very d Visible plaine 281. For the Water in the Deep ariseth from the fire not from the Wrath but from the Light for the Light proceedeth from the fire and hath a e Longing Sucking Drawing seeking of its owne it seeketh a Glasse to behold it selfe in and it seeketh an Habitation and draweth it f Or in by its desire into it selfe and dwelleth therein and that which is drawne in is water which receiveth the Light else if the light did not dwell in the water the deep of the world could not comprehend the Light The water is the satiating of the Desire of the Light 282. And the water againe seeketh the Glasse and would have a House to dwell in and that is flesh as you see the water receiveth the shadow of all bodily substances so that the body may be seene in the water and that is because the seeking of the Water hath captivated it 283. Furthermore you see herein the End of Nature For the Eye findeth its Life in the Water and so goeth back into the seventh Forme and seeth its body in the Water the Outward desireth no more this body desireth no other body more in the outward but it looketh back after its Mother of â—hich a Glasse is a true Example which is water and fire and it receiveth the Image very plainely 284. And thus you see that the End goeth back againe and seeketh the beginning and no further g Or outwardly in the outward For this world hath a limit and is included in Time and hasteneth to the limit and there the End findeth the beginning and this world is as a Modell or Glasse in the Beginning by this you may finde somewhat of the Mysterie and behave your selves well in the beginning that you may be found to be a wonder in the Love of God 285. And know that the second h Or Forme kinde of water is in the Spirit it is the Glasse of its father of its maker which dwelleth in the Spirit and is found onely by its Maker it selfe findeth not it selfe for so long as a thing goeth i Outward forward there is no finding in the inward but the Spirit which dwelleth in the inward that findeth it selfe in the outward 286. Yet the outward life findeth not the inward unlesse it have the Spirit of the inward and then it findeth by the inward Spirit and so the outward life speaketh of the inward and knoweth it not but the inward Spirit filleth the outward so that the outward is as it were a mouth and the Inward hath and produceth the Word and so the Inward Kingdome is manifest in the outward by the sound which is a Wonder 287. The Inward is a Prophet and the outward apprehendeth it not but if he doe apprehend it he hath the Essentiality of God in him that is the Divine flesh Christs flesh the flesh of the Virgine and yet the Prophet is in the Spirit
Mouth of Christ 49. For the Spirit goeth forth in two Principles in God that is in the Anger or Fire he goeth forth as the earnest wrath of the Fire-life in the light of the Love he goeth forth as a flame of the Divine Majestie and in the Spirit of this world he goeth forth as a Wonder of Life and all this is undeniable 50. And if perhaps some person would arrogate such exceeding high Learning to himselfe as to gainesay it to him we offer to demonstrate it in every thing we will except nothing in this world every thing will afford an evident Testimony of it let him come to us when he will he ought not to put it off and say we are mad for if these few words will not satisfie him we will so evidence it to him that he himselfe shall finde and see who himselfe is yes though the Devill himselfe should burst for very Anger yet we would set it downe plainely before his eyes 51. Now seeing this Spirit hath the word Fiat viz. Gods word and the Center of Nature whence it hath its Eternall Originall and as the Spirit of the Center hath a twofold Effluence the first being in the Fire in the Essences of the Originall of Life in the ground of the Origînall of the soule and the second in the light of the Fire which is the second g Or Property source which buddeth afresh through Death and is called the Kingdome of God where also in the Light it is a flame of Love and in the Fire it is a flame of Anger 52. And therefore it will breake open the Gates of Death for it shall raise the Dead and it hath the word Fiat in it and this Fiat is both in the soule and in the body also and although the body have been long corrupted yet the Turba remaineth still in the Fiat with the Wonders of the body 53. And now the foure Elements must restore to the Fiat that Essence which they have swallowed up for h Verbum Domini the word of the Lord is in it but in its owne Principle Every thing must i Give or yield up restore that which it hath received viz. the Earth the body viz. the k The substance or drosse Phur ' and the water also its Essence that is l The Light Sul The Aire the sound and voyce of the words and the Fire the Essences of the soule for All things must be judged 54. All the words which the Mouth hath spoken which the Aire hath received into it and m Which Aire hath served for the making of the words these the Aire shall againe n Or represent bring forth for it is the Glasse of the Eternall Spirit the Spirit seeth them in the Glasse 55. And so man shall be Judged according to his heart minde and thoughts for the Turba is in all malice or wickednesse which is contrary to Love here will be no making of excuse for every one will accuse himselfe his owne Turba will accuse him 56. And thus you must understand the Spirit which is All in All will raise up every Life which hath been immortall and by the Fiat give it to the body for the Fiat draweth the body to the soule and all its deeds and Wonders with it yea all that it hath done in this life by word or Deed all that hath reached the o The most inward and deepest ground Abysse of the soule must come forth 57. For in the still Eternity there shall be no Turba more and therefore Every Essence shall be p Tried washed cleansed or purged refined by the Fire and the q Sinne and wickednesse Turba shall remaine in the Fire and all whatever is evill and capable of the Turba unlesse it were washed away in the water of life by the conversion of the soule here in this life must remaine in the Fire 58. Now if any man have sowne much in the Fire he shall suffer losse as the Scripture telleth us that the workes of the wicked shall remaine in the fire and he shall suffer losse 59. But you must understand us aright the body which hath been here upon Earth that evill corruptible body which hath devoured the Noble and excellent Image of Paradise shall come and stand forth with its precious Image in it It must give an account of the Image of God 60. Now blessed are they that have Christs Spirit they have their first Image in the word Fiat which must restore it againe to the soule and that in the Adamicall Body 61. But they that have not Christs Spirit shall stand forth in the evill body but their soule shall have lost their true Image and they shall have such an Image in the Spirit of the Soule as their wills have been here as their daily lust hath been so shall their Image be 62. And in that houre also the wrathfull Fiat of the Darknesse shall bring forth the Devills who shall then receive their wages and lodging at the hearing of which they tremble 63. Thus all the Dead both good and evill shall arise every one in his r The transitory and Eternall body twofold body and shall have the soule with the Spirit in the body 64. One shall have the outward Earthly ſ Life in foure Copies it may be body by the sense Life and therein a bestiall Image in the Spirit of the Soule and in the Inward Image he shall have the Essentiality of the wrathfull Anger 65. Another shall have the outward body and Christs Image therein and the Divine Spirit of Love shall shine in the Spirit of his soule which body the word Fiat cloatheth againe with the true and pure Adamicall Image 66. For the pure Image hath been hidden in God in the Word which became Man and now when the Soule commeth to the Limit it obtaineth that againe and also the faire and excellent t See the booke of the three Principles ch 12. ver 53. Virgine of the Wisdome of God 67. For the noble Image was destroyed in Adam when the woman was taken out of him so that he retained onely the Tincture of the Fire and the woman had the Tincture of the Spirit but u In the Resurrection now both returne to them wholly againe 68. For the woman shall receive the Tincture of the Fire in the Divine Fire so that she shall be as Adam was neither Man nor woman but a Virgine full of Chastity without the x Forme or distinction shape or members of Man or woman 69. And then they shall no more say thou art my husband or thou art my wife but they are brethren indeed there shall some remaining tokens of the differences be in the Divine Magicall Wonders but none will regard that for they are all of them meerely the Children of God living the life of Children in the delighting sport of love 70. All this shall be done before the Sentence
the Bloud viz. Fire which is a warmth that is a Tincture is a Life and in the vertue of the Tincture the thin water of the Life proceedeth one b The outward vertue proceeding forth from c The inward another and the vertue doth alwayes reassume that which goeth forth and that which is gone forth is free from the Fire and also from the vertue for it is gone forth and yet it arose from the vertue 12. And this is the true Spirit which is borne out of the soule wherein the Image of God and the Divine virgin of Gods wisdome consisteth for all understanding and knowledge lyeth in this Spirit it hath the senses and the noble life which uniteth it selfe with God this Spirit is so subtile that it can and may enter into God 13. If this Spirit resigneth it selfe up to God and casteth away the ostentation and d Reason sâ—â—tleâ—y or voâ— cunning of the fire of its owne soule then it attaineth the Image of God the Divine body for it putteth its will into God and dwelleth in God with Power thus it is cloathed with the Divine Essentiality and is without this world in the Life of God 14. But seeing this Spirit ariseth first out of the Center of Nature that is out of the Life of Fire although it is not the life of the Fire but the Spirit of it and the Life of the Fire standeth originally in the Abysse în the source of Gods Anger therefore Christ did not commend this Spirit of his to the fires owns life but into the hands of his Father 15. His hands are the Love-Desire wherewith he embraceth our Spirit when we enter into him and commend our selves to him 16. For when his body was to dye on the Crosse and his soule was to passe through Hell through the Anger of God there the Devills waited and thought with themselves we will surely keep the soule in our Turba in the Fire and then Christ commended the Spirit into the Love of God 17. And so the soule of Christ with the Spirit came into Gods hand being encompassed with the Fire of Anger and Death and Death would have held it there but Death was destroyed and confounded 18. For Death smothered the outward Spirit viz. the outward Life and then thought now surely the soule must remaine in the Turba but there was one stronger in the soule viz. the word of God which tooke death captive and destroyed the Anger and quenched the wrath with the Love in the Spirit of Christ 19. It was a poyson to Hell for the Love of God to come into it and smother it in the soule also a Plague Death and Destruction to Death Death must now suffer an Eternall Life to grow in it 20. Thus the Spirit of Christ tooke the Divell captive and drave him out of the Fire of the soule and cast him into Darknesse and shut him up under darknesse out from the Fire of the soule and out from Gods Fire into the wrathfull harshnesse and bitternesse in cold there let him warme himselfe least he freeze with cold 21. Consider the first foure Formes of Nature and you will understand what the Devills Mansion is for before Christ came he kept the soule captive in the Turba with the Fire and although he had not the Spirit of the soule yet he had the root of it in the Turba but then he was commanded to cease and he was throwne out and driven into Darknesse and thus his malice was destroyed by Christs descending into Hell and Christ became his Judge 22. Thus we have in briefe described what the Spirit of Christ and our Spirit is viz. not the outward Spirit but the Spirit of the soule not the soule it selfe but the Spirit of its Life 23. As in God the Holy Ternary is distinct being three Persons in one Essence and yet but one onely God where the Sonne hath the Spirit viz. the Life issuing forth from the Heart and mouth and the Heart is the flame of Love and the Father the e Fountaine or Property source of Anger which is made meeke by the Sonne in the Love so that in God there is but one onely will and Essence 24. Thus it is also in Man and no otherwise no not in the least tittle whatsoever God in Christ is that wee also are in Christ in God his true Children Therefore let us also commend our Spirit into his hands and so we may be able to passe through Death into Life into God with Christ 25. Therefore be not led about and gulled with f Rattles foolleries Bables shels or outside shewes Imitation or mimick tricks toyes and trifles as hitherto ye have been in Babell where this and that hath been g Or pratled disputed about the soule and its Spirit one this way and another that way there is no ground among them but meere Fiction and Opinion 26. Understanding is borne in God not in the Schooles from Art yet we despise it not for if Art be borne in God it is a tenfold Mysterie for it alwayes attaineth the h Or perfection tenth Number in i Or wit Reason much bettter then a k Or simple Layman plaine Man for it can of many Numbers make l Summe or Totall one 27. But it is not in mans own power no one must enter in by the Crosse as well as the other let him be a Doctor or a m Or Layick meane Man Gods secrets will admit no Doctors but n Discipulus Schollers into them yet a Learned n Discipulus Scholler may reach very farre 28. Had but this hand the High Art and also those high guifts then you should see more from it But God will have it as it is It is indeed his pleasure to make the wisdome of this world foolishnesse and to give his Power to the weake that all o All life or Creatures may bow downe before him and acknowledge that he onely is the Lord that doth whatsoever he will The eight and thirtieth Question What are the things that shall come to passe at the End of the world 1. BEloved friend it is not fit for me to Answer this your Question neither is it in my owne power and besides it is not fit for any to aske it for it is the secret Counsell of God let none endeavour to be equall with God and to foreknow all things 2. Our knowledge consisteth in the Spirit and will of God when that moveth then it goeth forward in the Heavenly Magia and entreth into the Wonders of the Earthly and then the Prophet is borne for he standeth upon the p Or at the end of a time or Age. Crowne and speaketh Magically of the Beginning of the Wonders and their Turba and sheweth how they shall come to an End and be destroyed and brought again into the first 3. For all Prophets speake from the Turba they discover that which is false and
well that if the fire had no Aire to blow it up it would be smothered as all fires are smothered when they have no Aire and yet they produce Aire 135. The Aire is the life of the fire and the Aire hath its Originall from the Anguishing bitter stirring source of the Essences out of the Will Now you see also very well that fire must have fewell to burne or else it is a Darknesse and although it devoure it selfe by its eager attraction yet that fire is nothing but a source in the Darknesse which we understand to be the Abysse of the Anger of God which is not manifest in God but is onely as a cause of the Life in the Kingdome of God 136. You see that all fire must have q Substance matter or else it will not burne understand it thus the fire produceth Aire and in the Aire water and it mightily attracteth the Aire with the water into it selfe againe whereby the source of the fire is so allayed that it shineth 137. For without water no fire shineth if no water can be procured in a thing in that thing the fire will not shine but glimmer as for example in r Glowing a red hot stone which hath the source of the fire and no shining but a glimmering and hardly that but in Iron it shineth wherein the fire hath water and therefore Iron at length cometh to be consumed and getteth Rust but a stone doth not This is thus according to the Outward Principle of this World but according to the inward viz. the Kingdome of God it is as follometh observe it 138. The Eternall fire burneth Eternally yet it is a Spirit but not manifested according to the wrathfulnesse in the Kingdome of God understand it thus the flash maketh a shining which ariseth from the fire and yet it dwelleth not in the wrath of the Fire but satiaâ—eth the fire wholly and giveth light also out from the fire and is not comprehended nor retained by the fire but carrieth with it another source of its owne viz. Å¿ Amiablenesse or Friendlinesse Meeknesse and yet hath the Power t Wit reason or knowledge Wisdome and Art of the Fire for in the Light the Essences of the Source of the fire are first manifested 139. Now the light maketh no u Or paine source but it entreth into it selfe into a Meeknesse and yet is desiring which proceedeth from the source of the Fire and its desiring is an attraction of the Meeknesse and power into it selfe and so it maketh it selfe pregnant with Meeknesse 140. For the Light is a Fire also a very yerning fire a desiring fire and a perpetuall finding Fire which alwayes findeth what is generated in the Originall 141. All the Power which ariseth in the wrathfull fire is manifested in the Light and the Light desireth it in meeknesse for the wrathfulnesse of the Fire and the shining of the Light are two Principles of a twofold source each dwelling in it selfe and one comprehendeth not the other to Eternity and yet the one is the life and the cause of the other 142. And we must understand it thus we must consider that an horrible anguishing * Or paine source maketh a sinking into it selfe like Death wherein the limit of Separation is and yet the Anguish keepeth its source in it selfe but the sinking into it selfe as it were into Death entreth into its x Skie or receptacle Aether wherein the life of the Anguish is no more knowne for the sinkng breaketh forth from the anguish source as a dying and it is a dying and yet in the Eternity there is no dying but a kind of entring into another world of another Principle of another source 143. For the sinking entreth into the still Eternity viz. into the Liberty and as the source of the wrathfull Fire did remaine in it selfe in its life so the sinking is a going quite out from the fire-Life and yet it proceedeth from the fire-life but it hath not the source thereof for it is broken off from that in Death and the limit of the Separation is a Death so that the sinking Life pierceth through Death and sprouteth through Death forth in another world and hath another Substantiality viz. another water wherein the Light shineth and therein is no wrathfulnesse 144. For in the Eternity there is no Death to detaine any thing with but there is a kind of entring into severall Conditions for that which hath no beginning hath also no End nor no y Foundation or bottome ground and thus the Light ariseth from the source of the fire 145. For the Light dwelleth in the Fire and yet not in the Fire it is another world and it is another Fire called Love Power Wonder sweet milde pure and it is no substance also it is not Nature but z Extra without beyond Nature in another Principle 146. It is nothing but a Light flaming Powerfull Majesty and it hath its owne Spirit which bringeth the sinking through Death and which sinking out of the Anguish through Death maketh the sprouting forth through the Death 147. a The Spirit It is free in it selfe both from the fire and from the Light and it is not held or captivated by either of them both no more then the Fire detaineth the Aire It proceedeth from the Light from the power of the Light and openeth all whatsoever is either in the source of the Fire or in the source of the Light 148. Yet it hath no feeling of the Fire în it but it is a blower up of the fire of Light a producer of the Essences of Love in the desiring Power and an Opener of the Essences of Love 149. And that we might be understood speaking of the Essences of Love as of another Fire let it be observed behold when the light is so brought forth through the wrathfulnesse that one fire goeth forth through the other then the fire of Light desireth the wrathfulnesse no more for it is dead to the wrathfulnesse and it is a peculiar Fire in it selfe and it sendeth forth its life out of it selfe which is a sprouting for it is both desiring and attracting whence Essences proceed and it hath all formes in it as the fire-life hath also such a rising 150. And yet the Essences are borne out of the b Or Vertue power of the Light and when they fully taste one another there is a meere Desire and satiety and yet there is nothing that the Desire of Love can draw into it selfe but it attracteth it selfe into it selfe and maketh it selfe pregnant with the Power of the Majesty so that this Will becometh satiate and yet it is nothing but this Power which is an Image of the Wonders It is a similitude of the Birth and it is the power it selfe it is the Essence of the Spirit from whence the Spirit hath its food it goeth forth from the Image and c Moveth waveth floateth as the
Creator is in the A into which Lucifer would faine have insinuated himselfe but he is driven out into Darknesse which is his Kingdome in the source 253. You must understand that we meane by the twofold Eye a Round Globe cut in two wherein the Crosse stood from Eternity it cannot be drawne in any portraiture because the halfes are so in one another they are one and yet two the Spirit onely understandeth this and whosoever doth not enter through death upon the Crosse into Regeneration that is into the Divine Body he understandeth not this and let him leave it p Or unmastered uncensured or else he will be q Or make himselfe a Devill in so doing a workman and censurer for the Devill we would have the Reader faithfully admonished for it is most certaine 254. For this figure containeth the whole Ground as deep as a Spirit in it selfe is and the Reader cannot know it without r Or right Eyes viz. Spirituall Eyes true Eyes words cannot be set according to its right order for the first is also the Last and the middlemost goeth through all and is not knowne but in it selfe Therefore searching is not the best way to finde the Mysterie in But to be borne ſ Or of God in God is the right way to find it for without t The New-birth that all is but Babell 255. All lyeth in the will and in the earnestnesse viz. that the will enter into * In Magiam Magick for the Eternity is Magicall all things come to Essence out of Magick for in the Eternity in the Abysse is Nothing But that which is is Magick 256. From Magick comes Philosophie which soundeth the Magick and seeking findeth Astrologie therein Eternally and Astrologie againe seeketh u His cause and Ruler its Master and Maker viz. Astronomie the * Sulphur Mercurium Sulphure and Mercurie which hath its owne Principle and therein is the third Magick viz. the x Medicus Physician who seeketh the y Or disease wh ch destroyeth the health corrupter and would heale it but he findeth the fourth Magick viz. the z Theologus Divine who seeketh the a The curse of God Turba in all things and would heale the Turba but he findeth the Eye of the first Magick and there he seeth that all is the wonder of Magick then he leaveth off from seeking and is a b Magician 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 2.1 Magus in the first will for he seeth he hath all power to finde and to make what he will and then he maketh himselfe an Angel and remaineth in himselfe and so he is free from all other things and continueth Eternally This is the highest Ground of the Essence of all Essences 257. Although the Whore of Babell will by no meanes relish it yet we speake from good ground and say that Babell and her children are c Adulterous borne of whoredome in their * Magia Philosophia Astrologia Astronomia Medicina Theologia Magick Philosophie Astrologie Astronomie Physick and Divinity Babell is the true Childe of none of these she is a Refractory proud Bastard Wee have knowne her in the A and O searching for Philosophie and Astrologie and have d Or found knowne her to be a Whore in all e Specula mirrours or looking Glasses or Expositions representations and illustrations and similitudes in her teachings Glasses she committeth whoredome in all Glasses 259. She saith she is the Eye but she hath a f Or squint-Eye false Eye that glimmereth out of her whoredome in Pride Envie and Anger and her seate in the Magick is the g Or back turned averse left Eye she boasteth upon the Crosse but she entreth not into the Centre she will not goe through Death into life 260. She saith I live and yet hath an unrighteous life but that is her true life if she would continue in it alone to her selfe But she oppresseth the Children that are borne h Or live in Patience and Resignation upon the Crosse and treadeth them under her feet 261. Therefore the Crosse hath bent its Bow and will shoote away Babell from the Crosse The Spirit of the Wonders declareth this in the Magick The first Crosse is the first Principle and it will shoote away Babell from the second Principle The seventh Forme of Fire 262. One Magick alwayes proceedeth from the other and is the Glasse and the Eye of the other wherein the wonders are knowne and propagated for in the Abysse there is nothing but in the Magick is all each Glasse is a Centre but yet it s owne for the lust i Or longing seeking and Desire bringeth it forth it is the Modell of the first 263. For when I search to the beginning of the Essence then I finde the Eye which is God which is a desiring will of Eternity which entreth into it selfe and seeketh the Abysse in it selfe 264. It is in Nothing but it is the Glasse of the Abysse it seeketh it selfe and findeth it selfe and that which is found seeketh againe a Modell wherein it can seeke finde and see it selfe and that proceedeth so farre till it commeth to the Number k X. 10. ten 265. Then the last findeth the first againe in it selfe and so the last becommeth the Modell and Glasse of the First and the first of the last and so it becommeth an Eternall Band and it standeth in the will in the desiring seeking and finding and the l Great Mysterie Mysterium Magnum is included in this Essence 266. But now the middlemost in the Desire willeth to have a m Or satiating fulfilling wherein it may Rest or else all would be in an anguishing source and the Desiring draweth forth the Middlemost of All formes wherewith it satiateth its hunger wherewith also it is in Joy in it selfe in perfection and so out of the Anguish there commeth a Love a satiating of the source and the Middlemost is Sulphur wherewith the Spirit n Or quickneth or enliveneth Refresheth it selfe in the will for Sulphur hath two formes in it viz. * Phur Power Sul Light power and Light 267. And this together is the Essence borne out of all formes it is †Materia Substantiality Matter Essentiality corporality the Divine Body Christs heavenly flesh and it is the full satiating of the Spirit in the O also it is the Rest and the manifestation of the Deity it subsisteth in the Virgine Wisdome 268. The Crosse is its o Or end pitch Bounds limit and it is the Essentiality which by sinking entreth into Death as is mentioned before where the Wrath remaineth in Death and it is p Or quiet still as a Death or a Nothing and the life sprouteth up out of it in another Principle 269. It selfe is not the Principle but the Principle is borne in it all Glasses of the Magick are manifested in it and all the wonders of the
fire of Wrath and the other in the fire of Light l Viz. in the light fire wherein wee understand the Divine Body and in the Wrathfull fire the Earthly body which the Turba destroyeth for the Turba findeth the limit of it 307. Now the Eternall fire in the Eye of God is m Understood to be both the fire of Wrath and also the light-fire of Love and you must understand that the spirit without a body must remaine in the wrathfull fire for it hath lost its n Or substantiality or Body Essentiality the Turba in the fire hath swallowed it up 308. But the Spirit which hath a body which the Turba could not devoure remaineth for ever in the Essentiality in the Divine Body wherein his Spirit is which is the body in the love of God which is the hidden Man in the Old Adamicall man which hath Christs flesh in the corruptible body 309. And thus wee understand the soule to be a life awakened out of the Eye of God its Originall is in the fire and the fire is its life but if it goe not forth out of the fire with its will and Imagination into the Light viz. through the wrathfull Death into the second Principle into the fire of Love then it remaineth in its owne originall fire and hath nothing for a body but the Turba viz. the * Astringent harsh wrath in the Desire in the fire a consuming and a hunger and yet an Eternall seeking which is an eternall Anguish 310. But the soule which with its Desiring will entreth into it selfe and sinketh downe in its Reason viz. in its Desire and seeketh not it selfe but the Love of God it s owne fire is as it were dead for its will which the fire awakened is dead to the Fire-life and is gone forth out of it selfe into the fire of Love that soule is fully in the fire of love it hath also the body of the fire of Love for it is entred into it and is a great Wonder in the Divine Body and it is no more in it selfe for it hath mortified its will and therefore the Turba also is as it were dead and the will of love doth wholly satiate the Originall fire and therein it liveth Eternally 311. But the soules which have awakened the Turba they have lost the Image for the Turba hath devoured it and therefore such soules get bestiall Images in the Wrath and in Hell according as the Turba is in them as Lucifer gat the Image of a Serpent as the Will was figured here in this life it remaineth then o Or in its true similitude naked as it is 312. For the wrathfull Turba alwayes seeketh the Image but findeth it not and therefore it figureth the Image according to the Will for the Earthly desires stick in the will and that Image remaineth in the Wonders of God in the Eye of the wrathfull Principle 313. And here we understand that the eight Forme is the Turba which seeketh the Image and if it finde the limit of it it destroyeth it and entreth into the limit and seeketh further in it selfe and findeth at last the Abominations of that which the soule hath wrought in this life 314. And also we understand here the Fire which at last shall purge the p Or threshing floare Matth. 3.12 floare and the severe Judgement and wee understand that every fire shall receive its Essence from the Turba and also what that Turba is 315. Where then the fire will devoure the Earth and draw the Elements with the wonders in them into the Beginning where that which was at first will be againe and the Elements become one and every thing will represent its owne Wonders every thing in that fire whereinto its will entred 316. Hearken to this you Children of men it concerneth you for no beast proceedeth from the Eternall beginning but from the Modell of the Eternall and its Spirit attaineth not the Eternall as the soule of man doth 317. Also the corruptible body cannot possesse the Eternall it belongeth to the Turba But the new man borne of God shall possesse the Eternall for he is departed from the corruptible and hath put on God in Christ he hath the Divine Body in the Old Body 318. The Turba taketh away the Earthly source the outward body from the Earth remaineth in the Earth but the will taketh its workes along with it selfe for they are in the new body and follow it therefore let him consider what he doth while he is here in this life The ninth Forme of Fire The great * Severity Earnestnesse 309. Seeing then we understand that all things proceeded from the Beginning and that one thing thus proceedeth alwayes out of an other and seeing we understand that the Fire is a cause of the Life and that the life divideth it selfe into two parts and yet corrupteth not onely the outward life is that which corrupteth it falleth into the Turba which destroyeth it we are now therefore to consider wherein the inward Eternall life consisteth and what upholdeth it that that body q Corrupteth or breaketh not fadeth not seeing Essentiality hath a beginning and yet we can say with good ground that it hath no End for it must have a r Or sure foundation to uphold it ground or else the Turba will have it and that findeth the limit 320. The Eternall Body must not have a limit but be free in the Abysse in the Eternall nothing or else another Essence would again be in that Essence which would divide it and make a limit 321. We have told you before that all which shall endure for ever must passe quite through the Fire for the Turba taketh that which remaineth in the Fire now no Spirit is created Å¿ In. for the fire that it should remaine in it 322. Onely the Turba hath captivated many of them but not from the Will of God for Gods Will is onely Love but the Turba is the Will of his Wrath which by its vehement hunger hath gotten a great Dominion wherein it hath manifested its Wonders viz. the Devills and wicked soules of Men. 323. But the Eternall life consisteth in Meeknesse and hath no Death or Turba in it therefore we must say that the soule and Spirit are not in the Turba especially the t Or Image body of the soule if it were the Turba would destroy it 324. This is onely to be understood as it is mentioned before that the will in the anguish source in the fire understand the will of the soule sinketh downe in it selfe as into Death and u May not cannot live in the fire and so x The Will it falleth into another world viz. into the beginning or as we may better say into the free Eternity into the Eternall Nothing wherein is no source nor any thing that y Or maketh giveth or receiveth a source 325. Now there is no dying in the will that is
thus sunke downe for it is gone quite out from the fiery beginning in the Eye and so bringeth its life into another Principle and dwelleth in the Liberty and yet it hath all the Formes of the Essences which arise from the fire in it but z Or imperceptible unperceived For it is gone quite out from the fire 326. And therefore the life of its Essences is in the Liberty and it is also desiring and receiveth in the desire in its Essences the power of the light which shineth in the Liberty which is power without Turba For this fire is onely Love which consumeth not but yet alwayes desireth and satiateth so that the will of the soule a Getteth or attracteth putteth on a body 327. For the Will is a Spirit and the soule is the great life of the Spirit which upholdeth the Spirit and so the soule is b Endued cloathed with power and dwelleth in two Principles as God himselfe doth and as to the outward life in three Principles and is the similitude of God 328. The inward Water in the spirit of the soule is the water of Eternall Life of which Christ said c John 4. ver 14. He that drinkâ—th the water that I will give him he shall never thirst this is that water 329. And the Essentiality of the Spirit which the soule putteth on is Gods-Christs-body of which he saith He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud he d Or dwelleth Joh. 6.56 is in me and I in him 330. But the true Life in the Light of the Majesty in the Ninth number is the Tincture of the e Or Wisdome of God Virgine it is a fire and yet not a Fire it burneth but it consumeth not it is the Love the meeknesse the humility it is the life of God and of the Holy soules an incorruptible life and a f Or infinite unfathomable groundlesse life for it is in the Abysse in it selfe it is in the Centre of it which Centre is its first life and yet doth not comprehend it as the fire doth not comprehend the Light 331. And thus the Nin h number is the life in the fire of God and it is g Or is called or accounted the life in the presence of the Trinity the life which standeth before the Ternarie viz. an Angell standing before the Crosse h Or to set forth for Gods workes of Wonder and h Or to set forth the Heavenly Glory The * 10. X. ✚ Tenth Number and Forme of Fire The Gate †Into the Holy Trinity in Ternarium Sanctum 332. You know from Reason that where there is a Roote there is a desiring will which is the Noble Tincture that driveth upwards out of it selfe and seeketh a similitude of its Forme 333. The Tincture is a Virgine and is knowne in the Wisdome of God in the Wonders it is i Not one that is a bearer or bringer forth no begettresse but an opener of the Wonders which are in the wisdome it seeketh no Glasse but meerely openeth the Essences that a whole similitude may bring forth it selfe out of the Essences it driveth the twig out of the Tree 334. This we understand of Angels and the soule they proceed from Gods Essences from the whole Tree the Angels from two Principles And the soule with the body of the outward life from three Principles and therefore Man is higher then the Angels if he continue in God 335. And in the * 10. Tenth number at the Crosse the Angels and soules are k Or first quickned or enlivened awakened and incorporated into the Heavenly Essentiality though you must understand that the Tenth number belongeth to the place betweene the fift and sixt l Forme in a Globe and the Heart is in the midst in the Centre which is the Heart of God viz. the Word of God 336. The Power in the whole Tree viz. the Pith in the wood hath the Essences of the whole Tree and thus God is a Spirit and the Word is his Heart which he m Speaketh out of all c. foundeth forth from all powers and Wonders Therefore Isaiah calleth it a n Isa 9.6 Wonder Counsellour and Power the Prince of Peace as a Pacifier of the Wrath and an Eternall power of the Wonders a Counsellor of the begettresse 337. For the Word upholdeth the Centre of Nature and is the Heart and Lord of Nature it is the begettresse in the Eye of God a giver of Power and it is the strength of the Omnipotence it holdeth the Centre of the fire captive with the Love-fire so that the fire must be darke in it selfe and the word onely hath the Light-life 338. Wee cannot finde but that the Tenth number is a Crosse and it is the Originall of the o By this Essence God himselfe is not meant but the powers that flow from him Essence of all Essences which Essence divideth it selfe into three beginnings as is mentioned before each of which hath its Essence and they are all in one another and have no more but one Spirit 339. And in the middle of the point is the Centre which is the cause of the Life and in the Centre is the Light of the Majesty out of which the Life proceedeth viz. the second Principle and out of it the Tree of the Eternall Life alwayes grew from Eternity and the twigs grew out of the Tree 340. These twigs are the spirits of Angels which indeed were not corporeall from Eternity but the Essences were in the Tree and their Image appeared in the Virgine of Wisdome from Eternity for they were a figure from Eternity in the Tincture not corporeall but onely Essentiall without corporality 341. And therefore this is the Greatest Wonder that the Eternity hath wrought that it hath p Or created or formed made the Eternall a Corporeall spirit which thing no Reason can comprehend nor no sense finde out and it is q Or not to be dived into by us unfadomable to us 342. For no Spirit can found it selfe It seeth well its deep even into the Abysse but it comprehendeth not its r Former or moulder Maker it beholdeth him indeed and diveth into him even to the Abysse but it knoweth not its Å¿ Forming fashioning Making this is onely hidden to it and nothing else 343. For a childe knoweth its Father and Mother well but it knoweth not how its Father made it it is also as * That is as perfectly a Man Quoad genus humanum highly graduated as its Father but it is hidden to it how it was in the seed and though it found that yet it knoweth not the time and place for it was in the seed in the Wonders and in the Life a Spirit in the Wonders And here we are commanded to leave off diving any further and to be silent 344 For we are a Creature and should speake but so farre as belongeth to
hand of the Crosse signifieth that its originall is in the Fire and it containeth the first Principle and so belongeth to the Father and standeth in the Originall Eye in the strong and eager power as a Lord and Ruler over Nature 6. And the nether part of the Crosse representeth water viz. humility or Death signifying that it should not domineere in the Fire and enflame it selfe but should sinke downe in it selfe and under it selfe before the Majesty of God and be as it were dead in its will that God may live in it and the Holy Ghost leade and governe it so that it may not doe what the Turba in the fire will but what the Will in n Or Love Light willeth 7. Therefore its will should sinke downe into soft humlilty in the presence of God and so it goeth out from the Turba of the Fire for its will is not in it and then there can be no Imagination which can bring forth such a Glasse as in which it may behold it selfe in the Fire and finde that it is a Lord and so be proud and rule it selfe by its owne Might as Lucifer did and Adam in Paradise 8. We meane thus the soule in it selfe is a Globe with a Crosse and two Eyes an Holy Divine one and a wrathfull hellish one in the Fire this it should shut and o Or hiddenly secretly raigne therewith through the Anguish viz. through Death in the second Principle in Love 9. And if Love embrace it then the wrathfull fire is as it were dead and not perceived but it becommeth the joyfull life of Paradise otherwise there would be no life nor Dominion in the Meeknesse if the fire did not put it selfe into it but the still Eternity would remaine without Essence for all Essences arise in the Fire 10. And then thirdly as to the whole Body with all its members the soule is formed as followeth 11. The soule is the stock or Root resembling the Centre of the Ternarie which is like an Eye a Globe a Crosse and its will which proceedeth from the Eternall will is a Spirit which hath the true soule p Or under in its power And this Spirit openeth the Essences in the fire and water so that its whole forme seemeth like a Tree having many twigs and branches being distributed into all the Branches of its Tree which must be understood as followeth 13. The Spirit parteth it selfe into the whole body wee meane in the Tincture into all the Members they are all of them its branches The Spirit of the soule resembleth the whole Man with every member 14. And herein it is the true Image of God also for the Holy Ghost dwelleth in the Spirit of it if it be faithfull if not then the Devill dwelleth in it to which of these it giveth it selfe either to Covetousnesse and haughtinesse or to love and humility to that it belongeth 15. But if it persevere in q Malice or abominations wickednesse and so loseth God then it loseth the Crosse and its Eye is a Hellish Eye and its Turba introduceth the Forme and Idea or shape or Image Modell of an horrible Beast into the Eye and into the Will and Spirit 16. Therefore Christ called the Pharisees Å¿ Mat. 23.33 Serpents and Generation of Vipers for so the figure of their Spirit in their Pride and covetous will appeared to him for they would be Lords of themselves and not the servants of God in Love and humility 17. And so the figure of Antichrist in Babell appeareth in the presence of God like a Dragon with seven Heads which are seven Spirits upon which its hypocriticall spirit rideth in the Image of Man in the Abysse t Viz. the Spirit It will be accounted an Angell and yet is a Monster of a true childe of God it beareth the Name but its heart is that Beast Apocalyps 12. It is desirous of God and also of the Devill therefore it is such a Monster as is like a Man and yet containeth the Devill in it 18. O childe of Man flie away the dore is open the Turba is come it will destroy this Image if you flie not you must goe with it there is no other u Medicine or Counsell remedy or help but to seeke the true Image in Love or else there remaineth nothing but Tribulation and Death saith the Spirit of Wonders 19. And this is now our direct Answer to this Question That the soule in the first Principle according to the Originall hath the forme of an Eye and yet twofold like a Heart wherein there is a Crosse 20. And in the second Principle it is a Spirit and a whole Image as the outward Man is 21. And in the third Principle it is a Glasse of the whole world all whatsoever is contained in Heaven and Earth every property of every Creature lieth therein For that Glasse is like the firmament and Starres 22. This is such a Crowne as in which the x How long he shall live number of the End of the life of the outward Man is contained and all whatsoever fortune or misforune can happen outwardly from the Spirit of this world The sixt Question What is the Power and Ability of the Soule 1. WE know that whatsoever cometh out of the Abysse and is the ground of it selfe can in it selfe doe all things for it is its y Or subsisteth from it selfe owne Essence it maketh it selfe 2. But though the soule be a twig out of the Tree yet now it is z Or entred into the condition of a Creature become a creature and is its a Or sui Juris or a thing of it selfe owne it is an Image of the whole and a childe of the whole For when a childe is borne then the Mother and the childe are two they are two persons but so long as it is in the seed in the Mother so long the seed is the Mothers and the Mother governeth it 3. But when the Childe is borne then it hath its owne life in it selfe and hath the b Centrum Naturae Centre of Nature in its owne power it governeth not onely in it selfe but also without it selfe in all that which is seede 4. We meane thus Gods Spirit and the Spirit of the soule are two Persons each is free from the other and yet both stand in the first beginning each hath its owne will 5. Now it is but right that the Child should be obedient to his Father upon paine of losing the Fathers inheritance For the Holy Ghost is the c A work-master or builder Maker of the Soule he created it and therefore the Spirit of the soule should be obedient to the Holy Ghost upon paine of losing the Inheritance of the Holy Ghost viz. the Deity 6. And though wee have much to say here yet it is very dangerous to say it in regard of the false Magia for when the false Spirit knoweth it it
practiseth Witchery therewith 7. Yet we will speake so that the Children may understand us and reserve the full speaking of it for them for it is not good to write such things not knowing who shall be the Readers 8. But to the wicked wee say that they â—ong to the Devill and shall have no part in our writings wee shut them out with a wall and strong enclosure that they may be blinde and not know our Spirit for we will not set the Serpent in d Viz. in our Spirit it â—ur will is gone out from them and therefore they shall not e Or understand us know us though they should carrie us in their hands there is a fast seale upon it 9. Christ said If ye f Mat. 17.20 have Faith as a graine of Mustard-seed then yâ—â— might say to the Mountaine be removed and cast thy selfe into the sea this is no vaine word without Truth The will g If it be strong note what Faith is that goeth strongly forward is Faith The first Power of the Will of the Soule 10. It frameth its owne forme in the Spirit it hath also such h Or might Power that it can frame another Image in the Spirit out of the Centre of Nature it can i Change the body into another shape give another forme to the body according to the outward Spirit for the inward is Lord of the outward the outward must be obedient to it It can change the outward into another Image but not durably 11. For Adams soule hath let in the Turba of this world so that if the Turba see a strange childe it riseth against it instantly and destroyeth it It continueth to endure onely so long as the inward Spirit can subdue and over-power the outward 12. And this k kinde or manner of power Forme is called Negromancy a Transmutation where the inward over-powereth the outward for it is Naturall and wee understand that when l 1 Cor. 15.51 we shall all be changed that change will be made thus by the same Turba which hath the first Fiat in it 13. For the body is Sulphur and sticketh in the Tincture and the Spirit driveth forth the Tincture now if the first ground viz. the soule wholly consenteth to it then the soule can make another m Forme manner of Image in the Sulphur but the Devill readily mingleth himselfe therewith for it is the Wonder of the Abysse over which he is Lord. 14. You must understand that the earnest will which otherwise is called Faith can doe great things with the Spirit Note the power of the Will the will can change the Spirit it selfe into another forme as followeth The second Power of the Will of the Soule 15. If the Spirit were an Angel the similitude of God yet the will can make it n A wicked man a proud Devill And also make a Devill an o A childe of God Booke of the three Principles cap. 15. v. 64. Angell if it sinke it selfe into Death into humility under the Crosse and cast it selfe into the Spirit of God and so submit to his Government then it sinketh into the Eternity out of the source into the still Nothing which yet is All and so it is in the beginning againe where God created it and the Word Fiat which keepeth the Image of God receiveth it againe The third Power of the Spirit or Will of the Soule 16. And then also thirdly the Spirit of the Soule hath power to enter into another Man into his Marrow and bones viz. into the Sulphur and to bring the Turba into him if he be p Or wicked false so farre as every one is not armed with the Spirit of God but is found naked in the Spirit of this world as may be seen by q Or the bewitching Whores Witches The fourth Power of the Will of the Soule 17. And fourthly it hath such power if it be the childe of God that it can lead the Turba captive and can powre it out upon the house of the wicked as Elias did the Fire and Moses before Pharaoh for it can throw downe Mountaines and breake Rocks 18. This you must understand to be so farre as that thing is r Or liable to the Turba capable of the Turba by awakening the wrath then it is possible but if not and that the Spirit of God be in a thing then it cannot be for it would powre water upon the Turba of the Fire which would then be as it were dead and its power would lie in Derision 19. And therefore Heaven is a Middle between God and Hell viz. between Love and Anger and was created out of the midst of the waters so that the Devill cannot rule with his Turba the water turneth his purpose into derision as the false Magick and blinding Inchantment are Å¿ Or nullified drowned in the water The fift Power of the Will or Spirit of the Soule 20. And fiftly the Spirit of the Soule hath such power that it may and can seeke all Wonders that are in Nature viz. All Arts Languages buildings plantings Destruction knowledge It can command the starry Heaven as Joshua when he commanded the t Josh 10.12 Sunne and it stood still and Moses the Sea and it stood up also he commanded the Darknesse and it came it can make an Earthly Life as Moses made the Lice and Frogs also Serpents and other u Or Wonders Wonders 21. It hath Death in its power so that it can over-power that if it ride in the x The will of the Holy Ghost Chariot of the Bride It can bridle and overcome the Devill if y Viz. will or Spirit of the soule it be in God there is nothing can be named that it cannot subdue 22. Onely you must understand the soule hath such a power from its Originall and it had still had ability to z Or give or afford send forth such a Spirit out of it selfe if it had not let in the a Turba Magna Note the soule must now seek this power in Jesus Christ Great Turba into it selfe which now giveth it the Rest 23. Unlesse the Holy Ghost ride upon its Chariot as it did in Moses and Elias and in all the Prophets also in Christ and his Disciples and alwayes still in the Holy Children of God they all have this Power they can raise the Dead and heale the sick also drive away all Diseases it is Naturall the Spirit onely reigneth therewith over the Turba 24. But it hath this for an objection that the soule knoweth well whether it hath made any compact with the Devill and whether he hath any thing to doe with it it will not goe naked except the Spirit of God drive it and except it have him for a shield lest the subtilty of the Devill insinuate it selfe 25. It doth no b Or Miracles Wonder except the Spirit of God c Or awaken it stirre
man together union the outward Spirit is very profitable to us for many soules would perish if the Bestiall Spirit were not which beholdeth the Fire captive and setteth before the Fire-Spirit earthly bestiall Labour and Joy wherein it may buisie it selfe till it be able by the x Or workes Wonders in the Imagination to discover somewhat of its Noble Image that it may seeke it selfe againe 12. My beloved Children who are borne y Or of in God I tell it you it was not for nothing that God breathed the outward Spirit viz. the outward Life into Adams nostrills for great danger did attend this Image 13. God knew how it went with Lucifer and also what the great Eternall z Magia or Desire Magick could doe yea Adam might have been a Devill but the outward Glasse hindred that for where Water is it quencheth the Fire 14. Also many a soule by its wickednesse would become a Devill in a a Or the twinckling of an Eye moment if the outward life did not hinder it so that the soule cannot wholly inflame it selfe 15. How many are there that are so full of poyson and b Or malice and wickednesse evill that they doe murther and commit villany but this their Fire hath water or else they were past remedy As ye see in gall which is a fiery poyson but it is mingled with water and so the violence of the fire is allayed 16. Thus it is also with the Inward Essence the Spirit of this world hath wound it selfe into the Abysse of the soule and in its source hath killing water wherewith it often bedeweth the soule when it would spit Fire 17. Moreover the outward Spirit could not have life without this Fire seeing it hath fire in all Creatures but this Fire is onely the wrath of the Inward fire 18. The Inward fire consumeth earth and stones also the body and bloud yea even the Noble Image if it be c Or kindled inflamed in the Will But there the water is a Medicine for it which pulleth down its aspiring force whereby it laboureth to get above the meeknesse of God as Lucifer did The seventeenth Question Whence and wherefore is the Contrariety between the Spirit and the Flesh 1. MY beloved friend you know well that fire and water are contrary for the fire is Life and the water is its Death and you see plainely that when water is poured upon the Fire the source of the Fire goeth out and so the Fire is dead 2. And although in Man the fire is not wholly dead because of the Light which continually causeth fire yet there is an enmity as there is an enmity between God and Hell and yet Hell or the Fire of wrath is Gods 3. And Gods Majesty would not be manifested if his Anger were not which sharpneth the darke hiddennesse of Eternity by the wrath of Nature so that it is changed into Fire whence the high Light in the free Eternity is brought forth which maketh a Majesty in the milde source 4. And yet the Fire is the onely cause that there is a d Or life or working source in the Light in the Meeknesse for the Light proceedeth from the Glance of the fire and hath the source of the Fire in it selfe 5. But the Will as is mentioned before sinketh downe in the Anguish even into Death and springeth againe afresh in the Liberty and this is the Light which hath the e Or property source of the Fire but yet it hath another Principle in it for the Anguish is become Love 6. After this manner also it is in the Body where the flesh striveth against the Spirit the Life of the outward flesh is a Glasse of the most Inward fire life viz. of the life of the soule and the life of the Spirit of the Soule with the Light of the Tincture is the middlemost Life and yet it is borne out of the soule 7. But understand our depth aright the Spirit of the soule wherein the Divine Image confistech ariseth in the fire and is first of all the will to the Fire but when the f Or wrathfull desire and indignation of the fire wrath in the fire is sharpned and inflamed then the Will commeth into a great anguish like a dying and sinketh downe in it selfe out of the wrath into the Eternall Liberty and yet there is no dying but g Or second another world thus commeth out of the first 8. For then the Will springeth up in the other world as a sharpnesse out of the Fire yet it is without any such h Or Aking property Anguish source in the Eternall Liberty and it is a moving a driving and an i Or feeling acknowledging of the Anguishing Nature it hath all the k Or springing vertues Essences which in the first sharpe fire-world are brought forth in the Anguish but they are like one that goeth out of Fire into water and so the Anguish of the fire is left in the water 9. You must understand that this Life is the Life of the Spirit of the soule the soule is the Centre of Nature and the Spirit is the precious and noble Image which God created for his Image herein standeth the High l Or Kingly Royall and precious Image of God for God is thus he is comprehended in the same source of Life 10. The Spirit is not parted from the soule no as you see Fire and Light are not parted and yet are not one they have a twofold m Or Quality Source the Fire is wrathfull the Light is Milde and Lovely in the Light is the Life and in the Fire the cause of the Life 11. And thus without much seeking you may finde the cause of the Contrariety that is between the flesh and the Spirit for the inward Spirit hath the n Or Gods body Divine Body from the meeke Essentiality and the outward Spirit hath the Body of the Glasse of the wrathfull Fire viz. the body of the Glasse of the soule which would alwayes awaken the o Vehemency or fiercenesse wrathfulnesse viz. the great Wonders which lie in the p In the secret or hidden Mystâ—rie of Eternâ—ty Arcanum in the q Sternnesse or fiercenesse or strength eagernesse of the soule but that the inward Spirit of Love hindreth it lest it should elevate it selfe and inflame the soule and so it would lose the r The habitation or sweet taste fruition of Love and the Image and the wrathfulnesse of the soule would destroy it and thus contrariety ariseth 12. The Inward Spirit would be Master for it tameth the outward and so also the outward would be Master for it saith I have the Great Wonders and the Arcanum thus it braggeth of the Mystery and yet it is but a Glasse of the Mysterie 13. It is not the Essence of the Mysterie but a Å¿ Seeking or longing Desire an incomprehensible Glasse in which the Mystery is
sight of God or else he will carrie his scorne with him into the Fire of Anger and then it will gnaw him for ever we would have this spoken for a warning 9. For we shall here describe a very earnest matter be not deceived God is not mocked the wrathfull Anger is in his Power he hath Heaven and Hell in his Power the last Judgement is an r Severe earnest worke 10. And because wee are to set downe the Resurrection of the Dead we must write the manner of it what it is and by what power this world shall Å¿ Or passe away perish and the Dead arise it will be in earnest account it no jesting matter we shall speake of the very ground of it 11. Doe not thinke it it is a Fable it proceedeth from the t Disturbance or confusion Turba upon the u Or when the measure of your sinne is full Crowne the x The Spirit of the awakened wickednesses Spirit of your owne Turba declareth this unto you for the End hath found the beginning thus the y Or workes Essences of the whole world are brought to z That they may be seen Light in the middle and thence your Prophet ariseth viz. from the a Or workes Wonders which you have wrought and he speaketh of the Destruction 12. For the Spirit of the Turba shall not Governe but the Spirit of Christ he hath overcome Death and taken the Turba captive He leadeth Captivitie captive as a Conquerour 13. But the Turba will execute b Or Justice Judgement for it is Gods servant in the Anger not his Master but his servant therefore that Thunder which shall make the Earth to tremble will proceed out of the Mouth of God which shall set the Elements and Firmament on fire 14. The last Judgement belongeth to the Judge Christ and the Holy Ghost for here the Center of the Eternall Spirit will stirre up it selfe having also divided it selfe into three Principles whereof one is the Spirit of Anger and the other the Divine Spirit of Love and the third is the Airy Spirit of the outward world 15. The last c Or manifestation moving belongeth to him who according to the Deity is in the Mouth of Christ but according to the wrath he is in the Hellish d Or property source of Anguish and according to the e Or workes Wonders he is in the Spirit of this world 16. And as he was the f Artificer or framer of all things Worke-master of all Essences so also it is he that shall give every thing it s owne Mansion and gather every thing into its owne Granary 17. For he hath many helpers viz. the Angels they shall sever and part all asunder and then the Father g With the word of the Lord. cum verbo Domini pronounceth the Sentence by the Mouth of Christ and then the world beginneth to burne and every thing entreth into its owne Granary and Reservatory 18. For the Reservatories will be divers not onely two viz. the two Principles yet in two Principles but with much difference every thing according to its h Or power vertue 18. For every worke hath its Magicall Principle wherein it is contained as a peculiar Wonder both in Heaven and Hell every thing according to its Spirit as it hath been good or evill so will its forme appeare and so also will its vertue be like the flowers of the field in their differences And in this manner also shall the Glorification and joy of Man be all according to the i his workes which he wrought here Essence which he brought forth here 20. But we understand here the Essence of Faith which is the vertue in the Essence of Love and not of the outward worke for all shall be represented in the figure in the Wonders and that both as to the beginning and circumstances 21. When the last Day shall begin to dawne then the Deity manifesteth it selfe once more and that is the third time in all Formes in Love and Anger and then all things together at once shall be plainely layed open and visibly set forth in the sight of all Creatures in this manner following 22. The beginning of the Creation in the Word Fiat hath inclosed this world in it selfe as a Modell and k Or appointed founded the limit wherein now the Wonders are contained which also were revealed in the middle in the time and brought to Essence which were foreseen from Eternity in the wisdome in the Magia of God and will be together all in the Essence then and then the l End finishing or consummation of all things limit is nigh at hand and there will be no time of seeking more for then all is finished whatsoever God had in his Eternall Counsell he hath conceived and manifested in time 23. Now here is the End of time for then the beginning hath found the end and the End is then the beginning and passeth againe into that which it was from Eternity 24. But the m Viz. the world and every creature middle with the n Viz. all that hath been done in the world from the beginning to the End Wonders which were manifested in the time continueth for evermore in the beginning and in the End as an Eternall middle with its Wonders viz. with the Angels and men and their Essences as also the figures of all Creatures and all what ever hath been Essentiall at any time the Earth with its Metalls also stones and all materiall substances as Trees and hearbs all these stand in the Figure in the middle and in the Wonders but quite voyde of such Essences and life 25. For no Beast commeth againe but its figure continueth in the Magia for it arose out of the Eternall Glasse so that now when the outward Earthly Glasse breaketh it must remaine in the Eternall as a Wonder to Gods honour and glory for evermore 26. And these Essences belong all to Paradise for they shall be the Holy Paradise wherein the heavenly Essences shall beare Essentiall palpable fruit 27. And as here in this Life wee doe account the fruits of the Earth proceeding from its Essence as o Inanimate senselesse things dead things without p Life or sense understanding so also the Bestiall and Earthly Image of this world shall appeare as a dead Essence and so shall the Essence of all Creatures they shall remaine as a shadow 28. But Paradise hath and beareth fruit from the vertue of Eternall Life that is from Gods q Or Wonders Essences Now all that which for the most part is hidden from us here tstat is inclosed in the word Fiat in the beginning and End and it lyeth therein as a great Mysterie 29. But noâ— the Spirit of the first Creation will move all the three Principles yet before that be brought to passe the Word of God r Formeth it selfe by the Spirit conceiveth it selfe
for the tryall will be the first and the sentence the last Day of Judgement and those that are then alive shall not dye but shall be presented with the other by the voyce of God before the y Or Righteousnesse Judgement of God 71. The word Fiat shall bring all thither and all shall be presented in their owne Order by the Fiat as first Emperours and Kings and then their Subjects over whom they reigned Princes Noblemen Governours Magistrates and Superiours every one in his z Or Calling Condition 72. And here all those that have taken upon them to be Christs Shepherds without the calling of God a The Divine calling or true Jus Divinum shall stand in the midst of their flock of sheep and give an account of their b Doings or workes and teaching course of Life and Doctrine and whether they have been Christs Shepheards and have fed the Sheep or no or whether they have been c For livings or Money as Hirelings servants or Ministers to their owne Bellyes And here the Spirit will make enquirie into their calling and trie whether they have entred into the sheepfold by his Election and Power or by mans favour without the Spirit and Election of God 73. For the Judge will say unto them now give an account of your life workes words deeds and wayes there the Turba of every one will declare what he hath been for now all things shall appeare in the Figure within them and without them so that there shall be no d Or lying denyall for the Spirit e Of the Judge by the Turba proveth the soule Spirit and Flesh here all will be manifested 74. Kings and Princes shall be constrained to give an account of their Subjects how they have ruled and protected them what kinde of Government they have used why they have taken away the lives of many by Tyranny and why they have shed innocent bloud also why they have made warre for their Covetousnesse and their Pleasures sake 75. In like manner all other Superiours will be called to an account why they have intruded themselves into Office and made themselves f Or Magistrates Lords over the simple and have afflicted oppressed and squeezed them and why they have taken away their sweat and spent it in Pride 76. Here the roote whence they came and from which they are growne will be enquired after whether they beare the g Or stamp Ordinance of God and whether they have their Originall in the Heavenly Fiat or in the Hellish Fâ—at from the Anger There every one must give an account of his h Or State Condition whether he hath thrust himselfe into Office out of Covetousnesse and Pride and made himselfe a Magistrate or whether his Government be ordained of God 77. Therefore ye Rulers and Potentates of the world looke to it and see whether you be the Ordinance of God and are placed in the Right Divine Order Have a care how you deale with the distressed inferiour for now he standeth before your Eyes and blameth you saying that you have been the cause of all his sinnes and wickednesse 78. For there one will crie out and accuse the other saying that he hath caused me to commit such ludenesse and will curse him the Inferiour his Superiours and the Superiours their Superiours Also the Prince will accuse his false Counsellours and his Counsellours the Priests because they did not reprove their Courses but soothed and flattered them for Ambition and honour sake 79. How will you be able to stand ye i Or Universities high Schooles and Doctors even all of you who have set up your selves in Christs stead and have so proudly k Or disputed wrangled about Christs Cup also about Christs Doctrine and Glory that you have provoked and put on the Princes of your Land who are the Ordinance of God to warre and bloud-shed for a few l Termes of Art words sake which you your selves have m Or Contrived forged 80. Where is Christs teaching and Spirit of Love who said Love one another for thereby shall they know that ye are my Disciples Where is your Love looke upon your bloudy instigations wherewith you have encouraged men to battle and have lead the world astray from Love and n Or Concord Unanimity 81. Ye have made Rents and Divisions so that Kings have been at variance and enmity for your Pride sake in that you have wrested the words of Christ and have not regarded whether you have had Christs Spirit and o Or meaning Will or no and therefore you above all others shall give an heavie account for you have knowne the will of the Lord and have not done it you have run and thrust your selves into Christs Office meerely to get profit favour and Honour you have not regarded the Spirit of God therefore the Spirit calleth you Babell a confusion of all those that live 82. You have set the whole world at ods and though you should teach them Love you have taught them Contention and strife so that one brother hath hated and persecuted another for your p Opinions or Doctrines which you have set down for Orthodox fables sake O! how is the name of Christ q Reproched or scandal sed for your disputations sake blasphemed for your contentions sake whether will you betake your selves and where will you abide when this shall be set before your Eyes and the whole world crye woe woe woe to you 83. Also here the Angels who are the Reapers shall divide all into two Heards and place the r Or Righteous Honest at the Right hand and the wicked at the left viz. at the Eye of Anger for the Principle of Light is here called the Right hand and the Principle of Fire the Left 84. And thus the Tribunall or seate of Judgement will be set All the great Shepheards whom God hath â—eâ—t forth for a Light to the world who have reproved and taught as the Patriarchs who taught of the Promise of Christ shall be placed with the Prophets and Apostles at the Right hand of the Judgement and Moses and all Teachers of the Å¿ And Law-givers Law at the left hand of the Judgement 85. For Moses and Elias and all those exceeding precious teachers of the Law beare the fâ—ery Sword and require Gods Justice and they at the Right hand Gods Mercy 86. And in this houre is the very last Day when the Judge shall say Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the Beginning for I was hungry thirsty naked sick and in Prison and you have administred to me 87. And to the wicked company Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire I know you not for I have been hungry thirsty naked sick and in Prison and you administred not to me 88. And then they will excuse themselves before the presence of the Judge and say we knew thee not
that readeth this hath not that and in regard of the Question it selfe we must answer somewhat the more here and therefore I set this down for you aske in the following Question about Christs Spirit which was u readily obedient or submissive willing and which he commended to his Father 2. Here the x Or Mankinde Old and sick Adam shall be comfortablely refreshed he shall have a y Or Cure for Death Medicine against Death and be z Or made alive quickned again for his Mother shall bring forth a young sonne to live in her bosome and he shall exceedingly rejoyce in him 3. If we would consider the soule of Christ we need onely seeke and finde our selves for Christs soule is a humane soule conceived in Mary the a Viz. the Eternall wisdome of God and the outward humanity that is God and Man twofold Virgine 4. Yet we doe not acknowledge the outward mortall Life in Mary for a pure Virgine for that which is mortall hath the Anger and the Turba which corrupteth all Purity so that no pure Virgine is borne of Eve but are all daughters of her 5. And Eve her selfe was but halfe a Virgine for Adam was the other halfe according to the two Tinctures in which man saw himselfe to be wholly a Virgine in pure Love and so saw God through himselfe that is through the Creature he saw the Originall which produced those two out of it selfe 6. And thus also in one b The whole and not divided person as Adam was before he slept whole person there is one pure Love and Chastity for it seeketh no other Conjunction it selfe is the Conjunction of both Tinctures viz. the Tincture of the soule and the Tincture of the Spirit and its power was such that it could bring forth a Spirit out of the fiery Tincture which is said to be a soule and Spirit 7. Which Adam c Extinguished or put out lost when he suffered the Earthly Life to take him captive and therefore he must be divided and a woman be made out of him which must set her Love d Longing delight or lust Desire and Imagination upon the Adamicall fiery Tincture if she would be pregnant with a Soule 8. Thus none can say that Eve was a pure and chaste Virgine before the contaction of Adam for as soone as Adam did awake from sleepe he saw her standing by him and did presently set his e Fancie or Desire or lusted after her Imagination upon her and tooke her to him and saide this is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone she shall be called Woman because she is taken from Man 9. And she Eve instantly set her Imagination upon Adam and so both were mutually kindled with the Desire of each other 10. Where is now the pure Chastity and Modesty is it not bestiall is not the outward Image become a Beast as is to be seene plaine enough in his Will and f Or doings Essence that he doth like a Beast yea more foolishly for he hath Reason and yet runneth on against Reason as if he were voyde of sense 11. But that he might be restored and the Image reduced into Unity that word which spake the soule out of the Mouth of God and did breath it from the Holy Ghost into the Image is become Man and is entred into the Earthly Image that is into the Turba of Destruction 12. And you know very well that the word hath the water of Eternall Life and the Fire the Deity and out of the Fire it hath the Tincture of the Deity and in the Tincture the Spirit of God which proceedeth from the Mouth of God and in the proceeding forth the g Or Luster glance of the Majesty is made manifest in the operation of the Spirit 13. This word which is in the Virgine of the wisdome of God and encompassed with the Wonders of Eternity is now in humility of great Love towards our Image which was lost in Adam come againe into us and is in Mary understand the Earthly Mary yet in the Benediction become Man 14. The Benediction was that the soule of Mary was adorned with the heavenly Virgine of the wisdome of God which Adam had lost therefore the Angell called her blessed of all Women 15. No woman from Adam to that Time was ever cloathed with the heavenly Virgine but this Mary therefore by the blessing she became chaste and full of Purity for the Holy Ghost goeth not into that which is Earthly he mixeth himselfe not with the h Similitude or Resemblance Glasse for it cannot be that the Glasse should be as the Life it selfe 16. Understand our high and precious depth thus The soule of Man proceedeth from God and is from the Eternall and the body of man is but a Glasse of the Eternall and so God cloathed the soule of Mary with the Divine Virgine in the Principle of the soule not in the Earthly flesh as if she had been deified no! she must die 〈◊〉 well as all other people 17. And in this Virgine Gods word out of the Heart of God the Father assumed the seed of the Woman viz. the seed of the soule and the seed of the first Image which for so long a time stood hidden in the Mystery 18. But now at length the Life of God entred into it and did make it a whole Image againe for the water of Eternall life proceeding from the Heart of God mingled with the water of the Spirit of the soule for the Spirit taketh its Originall from the water and the soule is Fire 19. Thus the word received the Tincture of the soule and the Holy Ghost the Tincture of the Spirit viz. the Tincture of the water and both became one soule and yet the Creature was still distinguished from Gods Spirit though Gods Spirit dwelt therein and of Gods water and Tincture and of the seed of Mary from her Tincture and water in the high benediction a flesh and bloud was produced so that an Heavenly Man in the Earthly was incarnate at once 20. So that it may be said this is the Sonne of the Woman viz. the very bodily and naturall Sonne of Mary with soule and body with flesh and bloud and all that belongeth unto Man and also the very Sonne of God which was borne from Eternity out of Gods Eternall Essence ere the foundation of the world was layd who stood both in the Majesty of the Holy Ternary and also in the i Or wombe body of Mary at once 21. And the soule of Christ doth belong halfe to the Principle of this world and halfe to the Holy Ghost for the sou e of Christ used the Spirit of the Aire and Starres with the vertue of the Elements and also the Word of God and the Divine food for such a man Adam was in his Innocency 22. Thus God hath regenerated us in Christ and so we are regenerated in Christ out of Gods
l Or through and through transparently wholly perspicuously and the m Or Glance or Luster brightnesse of God shall be the light thereof and the Holy Jerusalem the Great City of God shall be therein where they shall offer up the calves of their lips there shall the bright City of God with rhe Wonders and Wisdome be established and the Temple of God the New Jerusalem shall be prepared upon the New Earth which is adorned from the Power and Wonders of God 5. All what ever the Prophets have written shall be there fulfilled for Gods word and Wonders shall flourish afresh upon the New Earth as grasse 6. There is no Death any more also no feare no sorrow no sicknesse no Superiour but onely Christ who will dwell with us we shall have one Communion with the Angels wee shall have fruit grow according to our desire and wish 7. There will be no old Age but one of a hundred yeares will be as a new-borne childe and we shall live in meere delightfull Love 8. All what ever is joyfull will be sought after and there the will of all will be bent to make one another rejoyce 9. We shall lead an Holy Priestly Life and we shall all speake of Gods wisdome and Eternall Wonders for the Divine Magia hath infinite and innumerable Wonders the more that is sought the more there is in it and this is the encreasing of the will of God 10. To this end God hath made himselfe manifest in his Images viz. in Angels and Men that so he might have joy in himselfe and eternally rejoyce with the essences of his Life Hallelu-jah 11. Thus my beloved friend we have set you downe according to our guifts a round Answer to your Questions and we exhort you as a brother not contemptuously to despise us in respect of our simple speech and n Or unlearnednesse incongruity 12. For we are not borne of Art but of simplicity and we speak great things in simple words take this as a singular guift from God you shall finde more in it then in the best o Artificiall Eloquent Oratours Eloquence of the highest Art except they also have their birth from this Schoole and then we will prescribe nothing to such but acknowledge them for our loving Brethren in Christ with whom wee have assured hope to rejoyce eternally in the heavenly Schoole of which wee here have attained a little fore-taste 13. Yet our knowledge here is but in part when we shall attaine p Or the totall perfection then we will say what God is and can doe AMEN A short Summary Appendix OF THE SOULE The Image of the soule and of the TURBA which is the Destroyer of the Image Written by the same Author I. B. In a Short Summary Appendix of which in the other writings of this Author is written fundamentally and at large .1 THE soule is an Eye in the Eternall Abysse a similitude of Eternity a perfect figure and Image of the first Principle and resembleth God the Father in his Person as to the Eternall Nature 2. The Essence and substance of it meerely and purely as it is in it selfe is first the wheele of Nature as to the first foure * 1. Astringent 2. Bitter 3. Fire 4. Anguish Formes 3. For the Word of the Lord q Or formed or fashioned or created comprised the soule by the Eternall Fiat in the Eternall will of the Father in the Center of the Eternall Nature and opened it with the Holy Ghost or blew it up like a fire which lay hid in the Eternity and wherein all formes of the eternall Nature stood from Eternity and r The soule the formes is alone known in the wisdome in the Divine Magia as a figure or Image without substance 4. Yet that Å¿ Or being thing hath not been substantiall but Essentiall and hath been knowne in the Principle in the flash where the fire ariseth But the shadow of it hath from Eternity in a figurative Image figured it selfe in the Desiring will of God and hath stood t Or in the presence of the Ternary before the Ternary of God in the Magia in the wisdome of God as a similitude of the Holy Trinity in which God hath manifested himselfe as in a Glasse 5. The substance and Image of the soule may be resembled to the Earth having a faire flower growing out of it and also to the fire and Light as we see that Earth is a u Ground foundation or soyle or the Mother of that which groweth upon it Center but no Life yet it is Essentiall and a faire flower groweth out of it which is not like Earth neither hath it the smell and taste of the Earth much lesse the figure of it and yet the Earth is the Mother of the flower 6. And so the soule also x shone appeared out of the Eternall Center of Nature out of the Eternall Essence with the word Fiat in the will of God and was held in the Fiat so that it x shone appeared as a fiery Eye and similitude of the first Principle in a creaturely forme and substance 7. And from this Eye went the Glance of its Fire as Light doth from fire and in this Glance of its owne Fire the Eternall Image which is in the wisdome of God was seen and conceived by the will of the Heart of God in the second Principle that is by the word Fiat of the second Principle in the Love and Power of the Holy Trinity whence the Holy Ghost proceedeth 8. And thus the soule was a whole similitude and Image of the Holy Trinity here we must take the soule for the Center of Nature and its fiery Life for the first Principle but the sprout or the Image of the soule which is a similitude of God buddeth forth from the soule as a flower from the Earth and is comprised by the Holy Ghost for it is his Mansion 9. Now if the soule put its Imagination out from it selfe wee meane out from its y Or property source of fire into the Light of God then it receiveth the Light as the Moone doth the glance of the Sunne and so its Image is in the Majesty of God and the soule in the Light of God and its fiery Property is changed into meeknesse and fervent Love and then it is know ne to be the child of God 10. But seeing the soule is Essentiall and its owne substance a Desire it is plaine that it consists in two Fiats one of them is its corporeall propriety and the other is the second Principle proceeding from Gods will which is in the soule in which God desireth to have z The soule it his Image and similitude 11. To which End Gods desiring is as a Fiat in the Centre of the soule and continually draweth the will of the soule towards the Heart of God for the Longing of God would have the soule a Lust pleasure will
or desire and on the contrary the Center in the power of the Fire would have it 12. For the life of the soule hath its originall in the Fire and that makes the striving for the Image of the soule and which of these two Formes whether it be the Fire or meeknesse of Love that overcommeth that will be the quality of the soule and as the quality of the will of the soule is such an Image will the soule have 13. And we must know that if the will of the soule change it selfe then its Forme will be also changed for if the b Quality or property source of the soule be fiery then it hath also a fiery Image 14. But if the soule turne its Imagination into the Center into the strong c Or harshnes Astringency and bitternesse then its faire Image is also captivated in the darke astrengency and infected with the Astringent wrath 15. And then this wrath is a Turba which possesseth the Image and destroyeth the similitude of God for in God there is Love Light and meeknesse but in this Image there is Darknesse astringency and bitternesse and the Essentiall d Quality or property source is fire proceeding from the Essences of wrath and then this Image belongeth not to the Kingdome of God so long as it continueth in this e Quality condition or property source and forme in the Darknesse 16. Fire is a further similitude of the soule the soule is an Essentiall Fire and the flash of the Fire is the Life of it The soule resembleth a Globe or an Eye of Fire 17. The burning Fire in the source signifieth the first Principle and the Life yet the Fire is not the Life but the Spirit of the source which ariseth from the Fire and goeth forth from the firelike Aire that is the true Spirit of the source of the Life of the Fire which continually bloweth the fire up again and maketh it burne 18. Now the fire shineth and giveth Light out of the source and dwelleth in the source where it shineth and the source comprehendeth not the Light and this signifieth the second Principle wherein God dwelleth 19. For we know that the f Or Vertue Power is in the Light and not in the Fire the fire onely giveth Essences to the Light and the Life or the Light produceth meeknesse and substantiality viz. water 20. Now we understand that there is a g Or amiable Loving meeke Life in the Light without h Or paine source and yet it selfe is an insensible h Or paine source it is nothing but a Longing or desire of Love 21. Which Source we account a Tincture in which the budding and blossoming hath its Originall yet the Fire is the cause of it and the meeknesse is a cause of the substantiality for the Desire of Love in the Light attracteth it and keepeth it so that it becommeth a substance but the Desire of Fire consumeth the substantiality 22. Also we must conceive that as the soule is purely and alone in the Center it is an Essentiall Fire in the Eye of Eternity and yet that Eye desireth a figure and Image of the wisdome of God 23. And the Image is in its desire in its Imagination for the i Verbum fiat word Fiat hath comprehended it that it might be a similitude of the Eternall wisdome of God wherein he dwelleth and wherein he may manifest himselfe by his Spirit and what ever hath been in his Eternall Counsell 24. Thus the Majesty of God flameth in the Image in the Essentiall Fire if the Essentiall Fire putteth its desire into the Majesty but if not then the Image is k Voyd or empty raw and naked without God and the Tincture is false 25. For the Image is in the Tincture and hath its originall in the Tincture in the Light not in the source of the Fire and as the Heart or word of God hath its Originall in the Light of the Majesty in the Eternall Tincture of the fire of the Father so hath the Image of the soule 26. Indeed the Image dwelleth in the fire of the soule as Light dwelleth in the Fire but it hath another Principle as the Light is such a source as is different from Fire 27. And so the true Image of God dwelleth in the Light of the Fire of the soule which Light the fiery soule must create in the fountaine of the Love of God in the Majesty by putting and yeilding its Imagination into it 28. And if the soule doe not so but putteth its Imagination into it selfe into its wrathfull forme of the source of the fire and not into the fountaine of Love into the Light of God then its owne source of l Sternesse sharpnesse or eagernesse fourcnesse astringency and bitternesse riseth up and the Image of God becommeth a Turba and swalloweth up the similitude of God in the wrath 29. And then the Astringent Fiat in the fiery Essence of the soule figureth for the soule an Image of the Imagination that is in its will whatsoever the Essentiall fire of the soule desireth that will be figured in the soule viz. Earthly Figures that which the will of the Heart casteth it selfe into that Image the Fiat of the soule will make that is as farre as the third Principle and the Spirit of the Starres and Elements hath power 30. So that if the will of the soule doe cast it selfe into the Kingdome of this world then the outward Kingdome hath power to bring its Imagination into the inward Principle and if the inward Fiat perceive that in the fire of the soule then it becommeth pregnant with it and keepeth it 31. And then the soule hath the Image of a Beast in the third Principle and that cannot be destroyed for ever except the will of the soule returne againe out of the earthly Lust and pierce into the Love of God againe and then it getteth the Image of God againe which may be done onely in this life while the soule is Essentially in its m Ground or soyle or bed of Earth Ether in the growing of its Tree but after this Life it cannot be done 32. Thus you may understand what the soule Spirit Image and Turba are the soule dwelleth in it selfe and is an Essentiall Fire and its Image standeth in it selfe in the Imagination in the Light of the soule if it cleave to God if not then it is in Anxiety in the wrath of darknesse and is an n Vizard or Monster abominable Image or an Image of the Devill 33. The Turba of the soule which destroyeth the Divine Image is the Essentiall wrathfulnesse and it is caused by the Imagination or false Love and o Or Imaging Representation and therefore all lyeth in the Imagination the Image consisteth in that which we suffer to come into our Desire 34. It is very necessary for us to strive continually against the Earthly Reason of flesh and bloud
and to yield the Spirit of our wills into the mercy and Love of God and alwayes cast our selves into the will of God and not count Earthly p Or profit goods and pleasure our treasure setting our desire upon it which will destroy the Image for it is a Turba of the Image of God and bringeth Earthly properties into the Image 35. q Or to conclude To summe up all Christ said where your treasure is there will your Heart be also according to which God will judge the secrets of Mankinde and sever the cleane from the uncleane and give that which is false to the Turba of the Fire to be devoured and bring the Holy thing which is entred into God into his Kingdome AMEN THE CLAVIS OR KEY OR An Exposition of some principall Matters and words in the writings of JACOB BEHMEN Very usefull for the better apprehending and understanding of this Booke Written in the Germane Language in March and Aprill ANNO. 1624. BY JACOB BEHMEN Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Printed in the yeare 1647. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Of these writings 1. IT is written the Naturall man a Understandeth or receiveth not perceiveth not the things of the Spirit nor the Mysterie of the Kingdome of God they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them therefore I admonish and exhort the Christian Lover of Mysteries if he will studie these High writings and read search and understand them that he doe not read them outwardly onely with sharp speculation and meditation for in so doing he shall remaine in the outward Imaginary Ground onely and obtaine no more then a b Or feigned shadow of them counterfeited colour of them 2. For a mans owne Reason without the Light of God cannot come into the Ground of them it is impossible let his wit be never so high and subtill it apprehendeth but as it were the shadow of it in a Glasse 3. For Christ saith without me you can doe nothing and he is the Light of the world and the Life of men 4. Now if any would search the Divine Ground that is the Divine c Or manifestation Revelation he must first consider with himselfe for what end he desireth to know such things whether he desireth to practise that which he might obtaine and bestow it to the glory of God and the welfare of his neighbour also whether he desireth to die to Earthlinesse and to his owne will and to live in that which he seeketh and desireth and to be one Spirit with it 5. If he have not a purpose that if God should reveale himselfe and his mysteries to him he would be one Spirit and have one will with him and wholly resigne and yeild himselfe up to him that Gods Spirit might doe what he pleaseth with him and by him and that God might be his knowledge will and d Or working deed he is not yet fit for such knowledge and understanding 6. For there are many that seeke Mysteries and hidden knowledge meerely that they might be respected and highly esteemed by the world and for their owne gaine and profit but they attaine not this ground where the Spirit searcheth all things even the deep things of God as it is written 7. It must be a totally resigned and yeilded will in which God himselfe searcheth and worketh and which continually pierceth into God in yeilding and resigned Humility seeking nothing but his Eternall Native Country and to doe his neighbour service with it and then it may be attained and he must begin with effectuall Repentance and amendment and with prayer that his understanding might be opened from within for then the inward will bring it selfe into the outward 8. But when he readeth such writings and yet cannot understand them he must not presently throw them away and thinke it is impossible to understand them no but he must turne his minde to God beseeching him for Grace and understanding and reade againe and then he shall see more and more in them till at length he be drawne by the Power of God into the very depth it selfe and so come into the supernaturall and super-sensuall ground viz. into the Eternall unity of God where hee shall heare unspeakable and effectuall words of God which shall bring him back and outward againe by the Divine Effluence to the very grossest and meanest matter of the Earth and then back and inwards to God againe then the Spirit of God searcheth all things with him and by him and so he is rightly taught and driven by God 9. But since the Lovers desire a Clavis or Key of my writings I am ready and willing to pleasure them in it and will set downe a short Description of the Ground of those strange words some of which are taken from Nature and e Ex censu sense and some are the words of strange f Artists or Mysticall Authors Masters which I have tried according to sense and found them good and fit 10. Reason will stumble when it seeth Heathenish termes and wordes used in the Explanation of Naturall things supposing we should use none but Scripture phrase or words borrowed from the Bible but such words will not alwayes ply and square themselves to the fundamentall exposition of the Properties of Nature neither can a man expresse the ground with them Also the wise Heathen and Jewes have hidden the deep ground of Nature under such words as having well understood that the knowledge of Nature is not for every one but it belongeth to those onely whom God g Naturally inclined to it by Nature hath chosen for it 11. But none need stumble at it for when God revealeth his Mysteries to any man he then also bringeth him into a Mind and faculty how to expresse them as God knoweth to be most necessary and profitable in every h Or Seculum Age for the setting of the confused Tongues and Opinions upon the true ground againe Men must not thinke that it commeth by chance and is done by humane Reason 12. The l Or manifestations Revelations of Divine things are opened by the Inward ground of the Spirituall world and brought into visible formes just as the Creator will manifest them 13. I will write but a short description of the Divine k Or Revelation Manifestation yet as much as I can comprehend in briefe and expound the strange words for the better understanding of our Bookes and set downe here the summe of those writings or a Moddell or Epitome of them for the consideration and help of Beginners The further Exposition of l The Divine Manifestation or Revelation it is to be found in the other Bookes JACOB BEHMEN THE CLAVIS OR KEY OR An Exposition of some principall Words and Matters How God is to be considered without Nature and Creature 14. MOSES saith the Lord our God is but one onely God In another place is said of him through him and in him