A description of the three principles of the divine essence viz., of the un-originall eternall birth of the Holy Trinity of God ... : of man, of what he was created and to what end, and how he fell from his first glory into the angry wrathfulnesse ... : what the anger of God, sinne, death the Devill, and hell are ... / written in the German language, anno 1619, by Jacob Beme.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Creation of the Creatures, and of the springing up of every a growing thing: as also of the Starres and Ele∣ments, and of the Originall of the b Substance of this world.

1. IN the beginning of the last fore-going Chapter, it is mentioned, that it is not strange for a man to write, speak, and teach of the Creation of the world, though he was not present when it was doing, if he have but the knowledge in the Spirit: For there he seeth in the Mother, as in a glasse, the genetrix of every thing; for one thing al∣wayes lyeth in another, and the more is sought, the more is found, and there is no need to cast the minde beyond this world; for all is to be found in this world, yea in every thing that liveth and moveth. What∣soever any looketh upon, and searcheth into, he shall finde the Spitit with the Fiat therein; and the divine vertue [or power discovereth or] c beholdeth it selfe in all things, as it is written, The word is neare thee, even in thy heart and lips. For when the light of God dawneth, or breaketh forth in the centre of the spirit of the soule; then the spirit of the soule seeth very well the d creation of this world, as in a cleare glasse, and nothing is afarre off.

2 Therefore now I direct the Reader to the creatures, that he may search into them, and so he shall finde all things, and that more won∣derfully than any man can write or speak; if we be born of God. We must not e think with our understanding and skill, of Gods making or creating, as of a man that maketh somewhat, as a Potter maketh a vessell of a lump of clay, or a Stone-cutter, or Carver maketh an I∣mage after his pleasure; and if it doth not please him, then he break∣eth it again: No, the works of God in the creation of the world, were altogether fix and stedfast, good and perfect, as Moses wri∣teth: And GOD saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

3 For he took not one lump after another, or many lumps toge∣ther, and made beasts of them, that is not likely; and it is much more a bestiall than a humane thought. But as is mentioned before, af∣ter that the Devil was fallen with his legions, (who had his throne f in the place of this world, standing bodily after the manner of a Spirit, in the first Principle, and g throughly enlightned all over with the se∣cond Principle, truly dwelling in Paradise, and in the divine vertue [or power,] and yet with pride fell from the light of God, and catched at his own mother the root of the fire, thinking to domineere over the meeknesse of the heart of God) then his dwelling continued

to be the first Principle in the fiery dark Matrix; and God created the Out-birth out of the matrix, for a Principle: and in the eternall matrix, in the longing will opened the centre or birth of life; and there (after the manner of the Deity, as the eternall Deity from eter∣nity hath alwayes generated) arose [and sprung up] the third Princi∣ple, in which the Deity standeth as it were hidden; yet forming, imagining, or imprinting it selfe powerfully in all things: which is in∣comprehensible and unprofitable for the Devill.

4 Yet the third Principle is a similitude of the Paradisicall world, which is spirituall, and standeth hidden therein. And thus God mani∣fested himselfe, and seeing the spirituall world of the Angels in the place of this world continued not, therefore he gave another Princi∣ple to this place, wherein a light springeth up still, and where there is a pleasant refreshment: for the purpose of God must stand, and the first creatures must continue in darknesse rather [than that the pur∣pose of God should faile.]

5 So the matter of this world, as also the Starres and Elements must not be looked upon, as if God were not therein: his eternall wisdome and vertue [or power] hath formed it selfe with the Fiat in all things, and he himselfe is the Master-workman; and all things went forth in the Fiat, every thing in its own essence, vertue and pro∣perty. For as every starre in the Firmament hath a property diffe∣rent from the other; thus is it with the mother also, out of which the fifth h essence of the stars went forth. For when the fiery form of the starres was separated from her, she was not presently severed from the first eternall Birth-right; but she kept her first eternall ver∣tue. Onely the rising power of the fire is severed from her; so that she is become a pleasant refreshment, and a kinde mother to her children.

6 Now when God on the first day had gathered together the lump of the earth in the great deep of this world, then the deep became purified, yet [the deep between the firmament and the earth though it was cleansed from dregges, was] dark, and had no light in the ma∣trix; but the fifth essence, that is, the fifth form in the matrix, shined as a fire, wherein the Spirit of God with the Fiat, moved upon the wa∣try matrix: and the earth was naked, bare, and void, neither had it so much as one spile of grasse.

7 Now, sayth Moses, And GOD sayd, Let there be light, and there was light. This light now was the fifth form in the ma∣trix: For the fifth essence was not yet created in the matrix, nor se∣parated till the fourth day, when God created the Sunne and Starres out of it, and separated the light from the darknesse; where then the light got the vertue of the glance, or splendor into it selfe for its own, and the root of the fire in the centre remained hidden in the darknesse.

8 On the second day God created the Firmament of the heaven, viz. the strong enclosure [fence or stop] to the darknesse of the o∣riginall matrix, that it might no more kindle it selfe, and generate earth and stones. And therefore he made the enclosure or firmament out of the midst of the waters, which stayeth the might [force or power] of the fire, and became the visible heaven, whence the crea∣tures are proceeded, whereout now the Elements, Fire, Aire, and Water proceed.

9 The third day God, by the Fiat, divided the waters upon the earth, and created them for several places, that there might be a dwel∣ling upon the earth, and so the earth became dry. Now when this was done, then God did seek the creature, and the eternall Father sayd, (that is, he wrought through the Sonne, who is his heart and glance) [or lustre] in the Fiat in the earth: and there budded the life through death, and grasse, hearbs, and all manner of trees and plants sprung up, every one according to the eternall i source, as it had been before. Thus every essence became visible, and God manifested his manifold vertue with the manifold hearbs, plants and trees, so that e∣very one that doth but look upon them, may see the eternall power, vertue, and wisdome of God therein; if he be born of God he may know in every spile of grasse, his Creator in whom he liveth. Thus in this time sprung up all that grew [or was] in the earth.

If men would not be blinde, they night here see the mystery of the Man Christs remaining in death till the third day, and his bringing of life out of the earth.

10 And the Matrix of the Earth stood still till the third day, as it were in death, in respect of the great storm: But in the Fiat the life sprung up through the death; and the eternall vertue [or power] and wisdome of God (which hath formed it self together in the Fiat) discovered it selfe on the blossoming earth, where the similitude of the Paradisicall world may be clearly seen.

11 For although many thousand severall hearbs stand one by ano∣ther in one and the same Meadow, and one of them fairer and more vertuall than another, yet one of them doth not grudge at the form of another, but there is a pleasant refreshment in one k Mother: so also there is a distinct variety in Paradise, where every Creature hath its greatest joy in the vertue and beauty of another; and the eternall vertue and wisdome of God, is without number and end; as you found before in the third Chapter concerning the opening of the

Centres of the eternall life. You shall finde no book wherein the Di∣vine wisdome may be more searched into, and sound, than when you walk in a flowry fresh springing Medow, there you shall see, smell, and taste, the wonderfull power and vertue of God, though this be but a similitude, and the divine vertue in the third Principle is be∣come materiall; and God hath manifested himselfe in a similitude. But [this similitude] is a loving Schoolmaster to him that seeketh, he shall there finde many of them.

12 On the fourth day God took the place of this world rightly at the heart: for therein he created the l wise master out of his eternall wisdome in the third Principle, viz. the Sunne and Starres; herein men may first rightly see the Deity, and the eternall wisdome of God, as in a cleare glasse, though indeed the essence or substance that is visible to the eyes, is not God himselfe, but it is the Goddesse in the third Principle, which in the end goeth into her Ether again, and ta∣keth her end.

13 Though men must not cast the Pearle in the way that the beasts may tread it under foot, much lesse must men throw it among the grains [or husks] to be devoured by the swine: (for that would not be beneficiall to the wanton world, because that seeketh nothing thereby but to misuse it selfe therewith; for the Devill whom the world serveth, doth teach it, that when it learneth the ground of the Heaven, and of the Stars, to will presently to be a God, as Lucifer did:) yet I will write somewhat of the beginning and vertue or power of the Starres (because man and all creatures live in the vertue, work∣ing, and essences of them, and that every creature receiveth its pro∣perty from them) for the sake of him that seeketh, who would wil∣lingly flye from the bestiall man, and would fain live in the true man, who is the image and similitude of God: For to such it is very highly necessary to be known. Also for the Lillyes sake which groweth in the tree of the soure wrath towards the m North in the Matrix.

14 Moses writeth, God sayd, Let there be lights in the Firmament of Heaven, which may separate and distinguish day and night, and be for signes, for times and seasons, for dayes and years. And to be for lights in the Firmament of heaven, to shine upon the earth, and it was so. And God made two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: Also, he made the Starres. And God set them in the Firmament of heaven, that they might shine upon the earth, and rule the day and the night, and separate the light from the darknesse.

15 And though Moses hath written very rightly, that they should govern the day and the night, and should separate the light from the darknesse, and make times and seasons, yeares and dayes, yet is it not plain enough to be understood by the desirous Reader. For there is

found a very high thing in the vertue and power of the stars; [which is] that every life, growth, colour and vertue, thicknesse and thinnesse, smalnesse and greatnesse, good and evill, is moved and stirred by their power. For this cause the wise Heathens did relye upon them, and honoured them as Gods: therefore I will write somewhat of their o∣riginall, as farre as is permitted to me at this time, for their sakes that seek and desire the Pearle. But I have written nothing for the swine, and other bestiall men, who trample the Pearle into the dirt, and scorn and contemn the spirit of knowledge; such as they, may, with the first world, expect a deluge, or flood, of fire: and seeing they will beare no Angelicall image, therefore they must beare the images of Lions, Dragons, and other evill beasts, and worms [or creeping things:] and if they will not admit of good counsell that God may help them, then they must look to finde by experience whether the Scriptures of Prophesie doe lie to them, or no.

16 The Evangelist S^t John writeth of the originality of the essence and creatures of this world, so very highly and exactly, as may be read in no other place of Scripture in the Bible: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and that Word was God: This was in the beginning with God, all things were made by it, and without it was nothing made that was made. In it was the life, and the life was the light of men, and the light shone in the darknesse, and the darknesse hath not com∣comprehended the light.

17. Mark what John saith: In the beginning of the Creation, and be∣fore the times of the world, was the Word, and the Word was God, and in the Word was the light, and it shone in the Darknesse, and the Darknesse could not comprehend the light. Wherein may be clearly understood, that the Eternall Light is God; and that it hath its eternall Originall in the eternall vertue or power; and that it is the eternall Word, which shone in the Darknesse. Seeing then that Word created all things in all places, therefore it also was in all places, for without it was nothing made.

18. Now that Word had no matter out of which it made any thing, but it created all things out of the Darknesse, and brought them to light, that it might shine forth, appeare, and present it selfe. For in it was the life, and it gave the life to the creature, and the creature is out of its vertue, and the vertue became materiall, and the light shin∣eth therein, and the materiall vertue cannot comprehend it, for that is in Darknesse: but seeing the materiall vertue cannot comprehend the light, which from eternity shineth in the darknesse; therefore God hath given that [materiall vertue] another light, which proceedeth out of the vertue, (viz. the Sunne) which shineth in the creature, that so the creature is manifested in the light.

19. For as the Deity is the vertue [or power] and light of Para∣dise

in the second Principle: so the Sunne is the vertue [or power] and light of this materiall world in the third Principle: and as the Deity shineth in the darknesse in the first Principle, so the Sunne shin∣eth in the darknesse in the third Principle. And as the Deity is the eternall vertue and the spirit of the eternall life; so the Sunne is the Spirit and the vertue in the n corruptible life.

20. So now a Spirit is nothing else but a springing will, and in the will there is the anguish to the birth, and in the anguish the fire gene∣rateth it selfe, and in the fire the light, and from the light the will becometh friendly, pleasant, milde, and sweet, and in the sweet will the kingdome and the glory generateth it selfe. Thus the light keep∣eth the might [or power]; and if that be put out, then the vertue [or power] and glory ceaseth, and the kingdome also.

21. God, who is the eternall light, he is the eternall will, he shin∣eth in the Darknesse, and the Darknesse hath comprehended the will: and in that will (which hath comprehended the Darknesse) the an∣guish riseth up, and in the soure [harsh] anguish the fire, and in the fire the light, and out of the light [cometh] the vertue [or power] and out of the vertue the kingdome. So now out of the fire [came] the Constellations, and moreover the Sunne, and out of the vertue came the Heaven; and the kingdome is Gods. All this was in the first will in the Creation, one with another: wherein God severed the fiery will, from the milde will of the light, and called the fiery [will] Starres, and the milde [will] Heaven, in respect of the vertue of each of them.

22. The Sun is the o Goddesse in the third Principle; in the crea∣ted world (understand, in the materiall vertue) it went forth out of the darknesse in the anguish of the will, in the way and manner of the eternall Birth. For when God set the Fiat in the Darknesse, then the darknesse received the will of God, and was impregnated p for the Birth. The will, causeth the [soure] harshnesse, the harshnesse cau∣seth the attracting, and the stirring of the attracting to mobility cau∣seth the bitternesse, which is the woe: and the woe causeth the an∣guish: and the anguish causeth the moving, breaking, and rising up. Now the soure harshnesse cannot endure the jirking, and therefore attracteth the harder to it selfe: and the bitternesse or the attracting will not endure to be stayed, but breaketh and stingeth so very hard in the attracting, that it stirreth up the heate, wherein the flash spring∣eth up, and the darke [sourenesse or] harshnesse is affrighted by the flash, and in the skreeke the fire kindleth, and in the fire the light. Now there would be no light if the skreek in the harshnesse had not been, but there would have remained nothing but fire; yet the skreek in the harshnesse of the fire killeth the hard harshnesse, so that it sink∣eth down as it were to the ground, and becometh as it were dead and

soft; and when the flash perceiveth it selfe in the harshnesse, then it is affrighted much more, because it findeth the mother so very milde, and halfe dead in weaknesse: and so in this skreek its fiery property becometh white, soft, and milde, and it is the kindling of the light, wherein the fire is changed into a white clarity [glance, lustre, or brightnesse.]

23 In such a maner as this the Sunne rose up in the Fiat, and out of the Sunne (in its first kindling) [arose] the other Planets, viz. up∣wards, out of the raging bitternesse Mars [arose] which the splen∣dor of the Sunne stayed [or upheld] when it discovered q it: and out of the vertue of the Sunne, which raised it selfe higher [arose] Jupiter imprisoned in the centre of the Fiat; and out of the cham∣ber of anguish [arose] Saturnus: and downwards Venus [arose] from the soft mildnesse, when the harshnesse was overcome, and that it was soft, sweet, and sinking down like water. And when the light kindled, then out of the soure harsh wrath came Love and Humility to be, running downwards: and out of the overcome vertue in the soure harshnesse [arose Mercurius) wherein standeth the know∣ledge of what was in the Originall before the light: But when the light made the vertue in the place of the Sun materiall; as it were in an earthly manner [arose] the Moone.

24 This the world comprehendeth not, but scorneth it, therefore I will here no further cast the Pearle before the swine: for there be∣longeth another light to this knowledge; therefore I will passe that by, and goe on.

25. Out of the anguish of Darknesse (when God spake the [word] Fiat therein) came forth all things: The anguish hath its Originall in the Fiat, and the Fiat [hath its Originall] in the will, and the will is eternall without Originall: for it is (in God) the Matrix of the Genetrix.

26. God is invisible, and the will is also invisible, and the Matrix also is invisible, and yet they are in substance, and are from eternity, and continue in eternity: and the Word is the vertue of the will; and the vertue [or power] maketh the Fiat, and the Fiat maketh the kingdome, and it is all alike eternall in one onely substance: The will hath generated the Word from eternity; and the Word the vertue, and the vertue the spirit, and in the spirit is the light, and in the light is the power, understanding, and knowledge; otherwise it were alto∣gether nothing.

27. That light hath wrought in the knowledge, and in the under∣standing, and generated a similitude of its substance: and the sub∣stance which wrought was the Fiat, and the Fiat formed the similitude which was generated out of the will, and made it visible: and the si∣militude was generated out of the darknesse, out of the eternall no∣thing;

and yet somewhat was there, viz. the originalnesse of the an∣guish, out of which the eternall will r generateth it selfe from eter∣nitie.

28. Now the similitude also hath received such a will out of the Fiat, as the eternall will is; and it hath generated the vertue [or power,] and the vertue is the Heaven; and the light which is become shining in the vertue, is the Sun: and that worketh in the vertue; so that there is understanding and knowledge; or else all in this world would be an immoveable substance, and all would lie still, and so nei∣ther hearb nor grasse would grow.

29. Therefore in the Fiat is arisen out of the anguish, the simili∣tude of the knowledge and understanding; and that is the Constella∣tion; and it is the fift forme of the Birth in the Fiat, and the Fiat hath severed the formes in the birth, so that every essence is severall; as hard, soft, thick, thin, hot, cold, bitter, tart, soure, sweet, and so forth as we see: and the spirit continued in the matrix of Heaven, which goeth out from thence, (viz. the aire) and the Spirit receiveth the understanding from the Constellation; for it is a member of the other in one onely Mother.

30. Now the Matrix (viz. the created Heaven) in the Fiat, toge∣ther with the starres, is the similitude of all that was from eternity: though not visible: and the Fiat is in the similitude: and the Paradise wherein the Angels dwell, is hidden in the Matrix: and God is shin∣ing in the Paradise, and yet incomprehensible; as the glanse [or lu∣stre] of the Sunne cannot be comprehended.

31. And God is immense [immeasurable], and the similitude is also immeasurable: he is in the similitude and the similitude compre∣hendeth him not: the similitude is his worke, and he is the Master workman thereof; the Constellation is his instrument, and the s Ma∣trix with the Elements, are the Materia, [matter or materialls] out of which the t Master cutteth and fashioneth his work.

32. Now the Master alwayes worketh on and on, without conside∣ration, what he lighteth upon that he maketh: for the consideration is in the worke. And therefore it is that the whole nature standeth in anguish and longing, to be freed from the vanity; as also the Scrip∣ture witnesseth. Because it tasteth the Paradise in it selfe, and in the Paradise the perfection, and therefore it groaneth and lifteth it selfe up towards the light of God and Paradise; and so bringeth forth in its anguish alwayes somewhat that is fairer, higher and new; as may suffi∣ciently be found and understood in the minde of man; and is very vi∣sible to a small understanding: that in workes alwayes some special thing is brought to light, and if you be not blinde, you may see this in Men, Beasts, yea even in hearbs and grasse.

33. Thus on the fourth day, by the Fiat, out of the vertue, prepa∣red

the similitude of his substance [and fitted it] to be a Matrix, which should generate all whatsoever was a similitude of his substance, out of the wisdome which was in him from eternity: that so all formes might be brought forth and become visible, which were from eterni∣ty in the Matrix; and the similitude of the unsearchable manifold va∣rieties and vertues, are the starres, which altogether give [or send] their vertue into the matrix of the Heaven, and the Heaven giveth that same spirit to the Creatures. This is the course of all Creatures after the same essence [or substance] and they are formed after the same spirit, which is their vertue, spirit, and life.

34. When God had finished this on the fourth day; he saw it, and considered it, and it was good, as Moses writeth. Then God desired in his externall will, that this Kingdome or Principle [of this world] should also be creaturely, like the perfect Paradisicall Kingdome; that there should be living creatures therein: and the will set the ver∣tue (that is, the Word) in the Fiat; and then the Matrix generated all manner of [living] creatures on the Fift Day, every one after its kinde. You must understand by the word, Kinde, as many various [formes] as the Matrix is [of]; as you may observe it in the Con∣stellation.

35. Now I shall fall into the schoole of the Master in his Ponti∣ficallibus [hood and grace of his degree]: who will aske out of what the Beasts, fowles, fishes, and wormes were made; for he will have it, that all of them were made out of the earth, and will prove it out of Moses, and he understandeth as much of Moses as of Paradise, which he will have to be altogether corporeall. Therefore there is a grosse deadnesse in the understanding: and though I write plaine enough; yet I shall be still dumb to that deadned soule which is voyd of under∣standing: and yet I cannot help it: for it is said; You must be borne a∣new, if you will see the t kingdom: of God: would you saine know [whereout the Beasts are made] then lay aside your u bonnet of pride that is in your minde, and walke along into the Paradisicall Garden of Roses, and there you shall finde an hearb, if you eate of it, your eyes will be opened, so that you shall see and know, what Moses hath written.

36 The x Glosses that are put upon Moses from Reason, will not shew you Paradise, much lesse the Creator. The Prophets and Apostles learned more in the Paradisicall Schoole in one houre, than the Do∣ctors in their y Schooles in thirty years: Ones own wisdome availeth nothing: God giveth it to him whom he loveth for nothing. It can∣not be bought for money nor favour, as King Solomon will tell you.

37 If we will be still so very earthly minded, as to think that God made all the beasts of a lump of earth; of what then is their Spirit

made? Seing that earth is not very flesh, and the blood is not meere water: Besides, the earth and the water is not life; and though the z aire come in it, yet it still remaineth such an essence as springeth on∣ly in the Fiat, and the tincture which riseth up in the fire, and from whence the noble life is stirred, is hidden.

38 Moses writeth, Let there come forth all manner of a beasts e∣very one according to its kinde. Now then the question is, Out of what should they come forth? Answer, Out of the Matrix. What is the Matrix out of which they should come forth? It is the soure Ele∣ments, which are together in the earth. The Fiat brought forth the beasts [or living creatures] very b indigestedly as they are in the es∣sence: not from heaven; but out of the Matrix of the earth: and the Matrix of the earth is one [and the same] thing with the Matrix in the deep above the earth, and [hath] one [and the same] c domi∣nion. The constellation ruleth in all [things,] and it is the Limbus, or the d Masculine wherein the tincture consists, and in the Matrix of the earth, is the Aquastrish [or watery] Spirit: they come forth onely out of the Matrix of the earth, that they might be of the essence of the earth, that so they might eat of the fruits that grow out of the earth. For every Spirit lusteth after its mother from whence it came.

39 Now then if the Beasts [or Animals nature] were meerly out of a lump of earth, then they would eat earth; but seeing e it is pro∣ceeded out of the Matrix of the earth by the Fiat, therefore it de∣sireth also such food as the matrix affordeth out of its own essence: and that is not earth, but flesh: yet this flesh now is a f Masse whence the g body cometh, and the spirit of the constellation maketh the h tincture therein; which [Spirit] ruleth over all, as in one mother, and in every life it maketh the understanding: for the spirit of the constellation ruleth in all things, in the earth, stones, metals, elements and creatures.

40 For in the beginning of the creation, at the time when the earth became materiall, all was generated out of one onely substance, and there was no more done but a separation made of one i from a∣nother: therefore in every separation there must needs be alwayes a vehement hunger of one k after another: An example whereof you have in propagation; for the sake whereof the separation was so made: For you see that there is a male and a female; and that the one continually desireth copulation with the other, that they may l generate. This is a great hidden secret. Observe, when the Creator by the Fiat separated the Matrix from the Aquaster [or watery Mo∣ther;] for the first form is heavenly and incorruptible, as long as the kingdome of this world standeth, and the root of the first form m hol∣deth Paradise.

I will set it down more intelligibly [or plainly] for the simplest Readers sake.

41 Observe, as hath been often mentioned, that as in the Fiat in the aking matrix, (viz. the dark harshnesse [or sournesse]) the fire rose up in the breaking wheele in the kindling; and that in the fiery, the light of the Sunne and of all the Starres [sprung up (which is [done] in the harsh matrix, which from the light is become thin, lowly, and materiall water) and the pleasant source of love [sprung up] so that one form vehemently loverh the other, in respect of the kinde, meek light, which was come into all formes. So now the soft meeknesse was become a new childe, which was not the dark original∣nesse in the anguishingnesse. But this childe was the Paradise, yet being it stood not in the Materia [or matter] therefore the matrix of the harshnesse could not comprehend it; but n it yeelded it selfe forth very desirously, and longing with great earnestnesse (according to the fire and bitternesse) to comprehend the pleasant source of love, and yet could not comprehend it, for o it was Patadisicall; and thus it still stood in great longing and generated water.

42 But now God separated the fire (viz. the fifth essence or form) from the water, and out of that made the starres: and the Paradise is hid in the matrix. Therefore now the mother of the water desireth with great earnestnesse the mother of the fire, and seeketh the childe of love; and the mother of the fire seeketh it in the mother of the water, where it was generated, and there is between them a continuall vehement hunger one after another to copulate.

43 Now God sayd, Let all manner of beasts come forth, every one af∣ter its kinde: and so there came forth out of the essence of every ones kinde, a male and a female. And thus the Spirit of the Starres, or the Spirit in the form of Fire, had now by its longing copulated with the watry [Spirit,] and two Sexes sprung out of one essence; the one according to the Limbus in the forme of fire, and the other according to the Aquaster [or spirit of the water] in the watry form: yet so [blended or] mixed, that they were alik as to the body; and so the Male was qualified according to the Limbus, or form of fire, and the female according to the Aquaster in the watry forme.

44 And so now there is a vehement desire in the creatures. The Spirit of the male seeketh the loving childe in the female, and the female in the male; for the irrationality of the body in the unreaso∣nable creatures, knoweth not what it doth; the body would not if it had reason, move so eagerly towards propagation; neither doth it know any thing of the impregnation [or conception,] onely its spirit doth so burne in desire after the childe of love, that it seeketh love,

(which yet is Paradisicall) and it cannot comprehend it; but it ma∣keth a p semination onely, wherein there is again a centre to the birth. And thus is the originall of both Sexes, and their propagati∣on: yet it doth not attain the Paradisicall childe of love; but it is a vehement hunger, and so the propagation is acted with great ear∣nestnesse.

45 But that I now write, that the starres doe rule in all Beasts, and other creatures; and that every creature received the Spirit of the starres in the creation, and that all things still stand in the same Regi∣ment; this the simple will hardly beleeve; though the Doctor knoweth it well, and therefore we direct them to Experience. Behold, a Male and Female beget young ones, and that often: now they come forth out of one onely body, & yet are not of one kinde, [nor of the same] colour and vertue, nor [shape or] form of body. All this is caused by the alteration of the starres, For when the seed is sown, the q Car∣ver maketh an Image according to his r pleasure; s yet according to the first essence, he cannot alter that; but he giveth the spirit in the essence, to it according to his power [or ability or dominion] as also manners, and senses, colour and gesture, like himselfe to be as he is, and as the Constellation is in its essence at that time (when the [creature] draweth breath) [first in its mothers body] whether [the essence] be in evill or in good [inclined] to biting, worrying and striking; or to meeknesse [or loving kindnesse and gentlenesse;] all as the t heaven is at that time, so will also the spirit and the beast be.

Notes

• a

  Vegetable, or fruit.
• b

  Or, essence.
• c

  Appeareth.
• d

  Or, Creating.
• e

  Or, funda∣mentally con∣ceive.
• f

  In loco.
• g

  With lustre or brightnesse.
• h

  Substance, or forme.
• i

  Fountain.
• This was found written in the manuscript copie apart by it selfe, so that it is not known whether it be the Authours or no.
• k

  The earth.
• l

  Or, the wise∣mens masters, or teachers.
• m

  Midnight.
• n

  Or, Transi∣tory life.
• o

  Petty God.
• p

  To.
• q

  Mars.
• r

  Or, taketh its eternall origi∣nall.
• s

  The created Heaven.
• t

  The Fiat.
• Cornerd cap, or the Crowne of his degree.
• t

  The Divine Region or Go∣vernment.
• u

  Cap or Hood of self-concei∣ted wisdome.
• x

  And Margi∣nall notes.
• y

  The Univer∣sities.
• z

  Or, breath.
• a

  Animals, or living crea∣tures.
• b

  Without or∣der.
• c

  Rule or go∣verning.
• d

  Mars.
• e

  The bestiall nature.
• f

  Or, Concreti∣on.
• g

  Corpus.
• h

  Or, penetra∣ting the life and the blood.
• i

  Part.
• k

  Part.
• l

  Engender.
• m

  toucheth, or reacheth.
• n

  The matrix.
• o

  The source of love.
• p

  Or, sowing of seed.
• q

  The fashioner, or the Fiat.
• r

  Or, desire.
• s

  As of a Lion, a Lion, of a sheep, a sheep.
• t

  Or, the Ma∣trix.