An apologie concerning perfection being a fundamentall answer and reply upon Esaiah Stiefel his exposition of four texts of the Holy Scripture written in the year 1622 ... / by Jacob Behme, also called Teutonicus philosophus ; Englished by John Sparrow.

The Fourth Text. Now followeth the Text. (Book 4)

1 Corinthians. 11. 12.

As the Woman is from the Man, so also the Man cometh by the Woman, but all from God.

Now followeth the Answer of the * 1.1 Explainer upon this Text in Four Points.

• I. IN this is especially required. First, what the Divine good Wife or Woman is, which com∣eth from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God; and taketh her Originall according to a Divine humane Manner.
• II. Secondly; How and in what Manner, and kind She proceedeth from her God and Husband or Man.
• III. Thirdly; How also the Husband or Man, God, Christ, is proceeded and Manifested through the divine Humane Wife or Woman.
• ...

• IV. And Fourthly; How also this Feminine Man or Masculine Wife or Woman; One in Eternity, cometh out of the Divine Humane Eternity Uni∣ty, and hath its Eternall beginning in God with∣out End: and without ceasing keepeth it in Eter∣nity with and in God in Eternall Unity.

The First Point Of the Fourth Text.

I.

1. NOw concerning the divine Good wife or woman, which cometh from Christ her only Lord Husband or Man and God, and hath her original out of him, according to a Divine hu∣mane Manner: that is a faithfull Body and Soul; or the faithful Souls Body, in indivisible uncease∣able Unity.

2. Not begotten out of the perished Sub∣stance of the fallen Adam and naked fleshly Lust; and perdition of the whole Substance of the fal∣len Man; and proceeded to the Light; and become visible; but through Christ, the Triune divine Substance; generated from Eternity.

3. It is a totall New, through Faith prepa∣red Divine good Man, in Body and Soul; yes out of Christ, the expresse Image of the Totall holy Divine Triune good Substance; yes, proceed∣ded

forth through himself, and in the world, be∣come manifested, to the Faith and in the Faith, visibly, apparently, corporeally, and palpably; A True, Good, Divine, Holy, Faithful, Visible and Comprehensible, to all the truly Faithfull.

4. But to the unfaithfull, wicked, perished, in Sinne persevering Adamical, world; an Invi∣sible, Incomprehensible, Man, participating of all good holy divine Properties, in and with Christ, the Triune highly praised God, the Husband or Man, in Eternal undivisible Unity, operatively and substantially, and according to his own kind and property, a visible, holy, truly faithful, divine, good, MAN.

Here followeth * 1.2 my answer upon this first Point, together with an Explanation of the right understanding.

1. JAcob Behme saith; we would fain see a cleer demonstration, in the outward visible operative comprehensible substance; since it hath not yet proved it self in any Man since Adams Fall; and yet this Man speaketh of a visible palpable operative substance, which is totally divine Perfect and without ble∣mish of Sinne, which worketh meer holy un∣blameable works in Gods Love-will.

2. But seeing the Holy Scripture, speaketh in No place of such a thing; that such a one hath been after the Fall; who hath been born totally Holy without blemish: but without difference; all are concluded under Sinne, as it is written, † 1.3 They are all Sinners, and want the Glory, which they should have with God.

3. And yet * 1.4 this man giveth himselfe forth, That he is so totally and altogether God in Christ, and the Glorious Antitype of this New Bride of Christ; and yet likewise no Man can say, that hath been present with him; that he is any otherwise then all other sinfull Men are.

4. And therefore from his giving forth, we are not at all assured, but desire that he would powerfully and effectually shew it in himself, that Men might with truth see; that God hath done some speciall thing in him; that it is so as he saith; but seeing we yet all of us, find our selves in no such Perfection, and cannot say so of our fleshly Birth or Geniture; for we should be found as Lyars before God; if we did come before him and say; we were come holy and totally righteous from our Mothers womb: and if he should prove us and find us faulty, then he would not suffer it to avail us.

5. In Our Father; CHRIST teacheth us, we should pray to God and say; † 1.5 Lead us not into Temptation, for if he should tempt us, we should not be found pure: and it might well be as Isaiah saith; * 1.6 From the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the Foot, there is no soundnesse in thee; but meer wounds botches and putrified sores, which cannot be healed.

6. Also Christ had in vain taught his Disciples to pray Forgive us our Trespasses, IF they had had none; Also men find from the beginning of the world in the Old and New Testament, how very often honest people have begotten evill children; thus without doubt the possibility hath yet been with none, that they have begotten Children meerly out of CHRIST; like this Authour: I would fain see his Wife & Children; whether they have another skin on, since they are so Holy.

7. I have been told, how partly they are finely uncircumcised; but if their Holinesse were hidden from us; then that were good counsell and advice; that Men should keep them by themselves, that they might not mixe with the sinfull children of Adam: but get children among them∣selves only; and raise up a NEW World.

8. Then men might justly call that People SION and a marriage State, and say: Here is the Lord: but since it sheweth not it self yet in the work in power and Life, therefore we are not yet suffici∣ently assured of this Bride; for, a good discourse or Romance, without Life, doth not assure us.

9. But, that he saith, Men can NOT see the Holy People that is very wonderfully spoken; For was not Christ himself AFTER his Resurrection in the Flesh, SEEN? Shall we then beleeve without the power of the proof? seeing it is without the Ground of the Scripture; therefore it will be very hard to perswade us.

10. Who will assure us this, when Saint Paul saith; † 1.7 If an Angell from Heaven should command bring another Gospel then he brought, let him be accursed: and he neverthelesse in his Epistle, hath * 1.8 concluded all under

Sinne; and hath spoken of a twofold Man; that * 1.9 If he sinneth yet he doth it Not, but the Sinne in the Flesh doth it; Also, with the Flesh, he serveth the Law of Sinne, and with the will out of Christ, he serveth God.

11. And Saint Peter saith; † 1.10 It is signified unto me that I must lay off this Earthly Tabernacle; Therefore we cannot be assured of this totall holy Perfection upon Earth Outwardly and Inwardly in the totall humane Substance without feeling Experience.

12. And though * 1.11 this Man speaketh plainly SO of himself; yet we beleeve him not, unlesse he assureth us of it in Power: for it might probably be only an Imagination; and not in Deed or in Substance; and then we were very silly people, that we should without ground and assurance, so proudly present our self before God; as if we had NO Guiltinesse; I suppose it would be fine humility before God, for a stinking loathsome Sinner, to present himself before God, and say; I am Holy, and am GOD himself, in Divine Omnipotency; I cannot Erre nor Sinne.

13. Dear Brethren, look to it, it is not farre from this, nor is much wanting, that a new Antichrist is generated or Born: Germany hath certainly with its security caused it; in that men live so securely or carelesly under Christs Purple-Mantle, and tickle our selves with Christs sufferings, and do but only fatten or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Man of Sinne under it; and this is a certain Image of humane security and negligence, in that we boast we are good Christians.

14. And say: we are Christs Children and moreover Holy, and will be distinguished from other People: therefore God sheweth us in this Image, that we stand with the Mouth trimmed and adorned before him; but the Spirit is a false or wicked Man: As this † 1.12 Authour saith; We should call our selves Holy, and deny the Earthly Name, and firmly beleeve we are NO Sinners but God in Christ, born Totally Ho∣ly.

15. And when this seeming Holy World, existeth, then is the know∣ledge or acknowledgement of Sinne totally Dead; and although God should blame us; yet would the flattering Hypocrite, Murmure against God and say; he did him wrong, and then is the enmity against God generated, and Sinne totally * 1.13 blind.

16. No Man would know more of Sinne, and though likely we were totally sinfull before God; yet then is the time of which Christ said; † 1.14 Dost thou suppose that when the Sonne of Man

shall COME, that he shall find FAITH on the Earth: there would be NO Faith, in Power, but only meer Faith of a History, so that we will not beleeve, if any should charge us as guilty of Sinne; thus there would be a fine secure negligent or carelesse SION-like, Life.

17. Whatsoever we did then, it were all Good; there would be ac∣counted no Sinne in the world, none would be said to have sinned, Christ must do all; and though many were very Theeves; yet no * 1.15 MAGISTRACY or Government would be usefull, for CHRIST ru∣leth all in all.

18. Where there is no Sinne, there is also no punishment; then also men would need no Superiour to Judge, for every one judgeth him∣selfe; and whatsoever he doth, that doth God through him; which in∣deed would run contrary to the Angellicall Government, and against the Government of the Inward and Outward Nature.

19. I admonish all Readers of † 1.16 His writings, very sincerely from a true heart, as a brother, for our eternall salvations sake, diligently and well to ponder and consider; what is hidden under this giving forth the bring Holy: and how the Devill thinketh to take us with a New 〈◊〉〈◊〉; seeing he perceiveth that his smoak-hole shall be manife∣sted.

20. Therefore will he now drive us wholly forth from the acknow∣ledgement of Sinner that we should be wholly secure or negligent, and understand no Sinne more, and supposeth that we in our present evill life which we have, shall finely learn to cover our selves With Christs Purple Mantle, and introduce us totally into security and carelesness, and so keep us from the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Sinnes and en∣trap or take US all.

21. But dear Brethren observe, and convert or turn away from security, and acknowledge your selves to be the lost, and returning Sonne to the Father, and say continually, you have shamefully spent your inheri∣tance; and that the Father hath received you again for his Sonne, he hath done it of Grace and Favour.

22. Be not proud again, say not to the Father divide the inheritance between us; continue only in humility, under the servitude of a Sonne, as CHRIST hath set before us in his Similitudes or Parables; if God will effect any thing New with us, he will well manifest it with power; we suppose words without demonstration, are too little, in so high a matter, whereon salvation and blessednesse depends.

23. But therewith I set before the Reader, the true ground what Adam

and Christ are in ONE Person; and which Man is without Sinne, therefore Mark this which followeth.

24. The Kingly Prophet of God, David, * 1.17 Was a man after Gods own Heart, as the Scripture testifieth of him, in whom was the Spirit of God; and he prophesied of Christ; but he said † 1.18 In Sinne was I born, in Sinne did my Mother conceive me: which also manifested it self in him, so that he had neer the Spiritual Man, also a sinfull Man IN him, which was a Murtherour and an Adulterour: as the like may be seen in the Patriarchs.

25. But who will now say of David, that he was not holy? Seeing he was a Man after Gods Heart; who also will say, that his Murther and Adultery was without Sinne? The Man that in David was a Prophet, THAT was no Sinner: but that which was a Murtherer was a Sinner; and yet it was but one only MAN, in one Person; but in two Proper∣ties, viz: one Heavenly and one Earthly.

26. The Spirit of God speaketh of things to COME, and of CHRIST; concerning the Heavenly Property: and the fleshly desire, into which the Devill introduced his desire, speaketh out of the Earthly Property, out of the Earthly cursed Life, viz: out of the Murther and Ʋnchastity.

27. * 1.19 In ALL men lyeth the Heavenly Image; which disappeared in Adam; but it liveth in one, and in another it is Ʋnlively: That Heavenly Image, viz: the second Principle, is that out of which CHRIST was conceived and born out of JESUS.

28. For, † 1.20 God is in all places, but not Manifest in all things, but if he manifesteth himself in the disappeared Substance, then is Christ born, who dwelleth in his Principle; and the Earthly Man of the Earthly part in the Curse of God; dwelleth in its own Principle, in it self.

29. The Spirit of Christ dwelleth in the inward Substance of the disappeared Image, from the Divine worlds Substance, that dyed in Adam; and the Elementary Spirit dwelleth in the Four-Elementary Flesh.

30. The Spirit of Christ hath Spiritual Flesh, for it taketh the Spiritual Flesh which dyed in Adam, on again for a Body; and Maketh it living, THAT, is in its Flesh, holy; but the outward Spirit of the four Elements in the Earthly Flesh, is longing after falshood and wick∣ednesse, and bringeth its Lust against the Inward Man, for the Devil sifteth it.

31. And that is it which the Scripture saith: * 1.21 The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit; understand against the inward Divine Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh; And God said to the Serpent, in the Outward Flesh of Adam; I will put Enmity between the Seed of the Woman and of the Serpent.

32. The Inward Spirituall Flesh is Heavenly, the Devill cannot pos∣sesse that; for if the Soul forsake that and go out from it, then is THAT vanished or disappeared and as a Nothing; In the wicked it is as a No∣thing.

32. But when the wicked turneth himself to God, and turneth the Will of the Soul to God; then is Christ out of the disappeared Seed born a Man; and is set before the Devill in the outward Flesh, for a Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent, which hindreth and breaketh the Will of the evill Flesh, so that Sinne is NOT committed.

34. * 1.22 And THEN there is a constant Enmity; Christ Governeth in his Heavenly Flesh, through the outward; and striketh the Outward Lust to the Ground; then cometh the Anger of God in the Center of the Soul, and will also have its fierce wrathfull Government: and the Devill with the false or wicked Lust; crouds himself thereinto.

35. And the Elementary Spirit hungers constantly after its Mother the Elements, and then the Devill bringeth the Lust aloft, and wheeleth the desire about; then the Hand and the Mouth Fall on; and doth the work of the false or Evill desire.

36. Then standeth Christ in his tender humanity in the inward Holy Body, and reproveth the outward Man, presseth upon him, and ta∣keth his power from him, and setteth him before the Eyes in the Mind, that it is abomination and Sinne; and driveth him again to the unloading of that, which the desire of the Flesh hath loaden upon him, viz: to ab∣stinence and Repentance.

37. Which is nothing else, but a going again out of the Abomination, and then the wrought Abomination, remaineth to the Anger of God and to the Devill for food, that is ITS refreshing; but the Mystery of Man, becometh Free again in it self.

38. But as the Fowler, † 1.23 watcheth the Fowles, so the Devill watch∣eth upon the Soul, so soon as it gazeth a little upon him, then he bring∣eth his Imagination into it, and stirreth the desire of the Flesh; and then beginneth the Devills Dance again; with whom Christ must fight without ceasing.

39. But if he be not yet born and manifested in Man in the Heavenly Substantiality, so that the fair Image standeth yet disappearing and without Life: As in Truth, with MOST it is so, then know this; That IMMANUEL, viz: the Spirit, which in Paradise promised it self to Adam & Eve, and went to meet them in their Light of Life; and called them, saying * 1.24 Where art thou Adam, in the Light of Life of the Soul, and did set it self towards them with great desire; and now continually calleth the soul saying it should incline and turn it self to GOD.

40. Then will JESUS, manifest himself in the faded or disappeared Image, and Generate CHRIST, viz: a New Life, in the heavenly Sub∣stantiality;

and that is the true drawing of the Father, whereof Christ speaketh; saying; † 1.25 None cometh to me except the Father draw him; the Father draweth the Soul; that it should enter into Gods Love and Mercy.

41. And if it entereth in, then is JESUS CHRIST, a true Man, in the faded disappeared Substance, and possesseth the Gates of the Deep; and, of those, saith Christ; * 1.26 My Lambs shall none pluck out of my hands; for if HE be born, then may the Devill, rage and rave, and throw the BODY as it were to the ground, yet then the Saviour stan∣deth in the Battle, and draweth the whole Man continually again out of the misery, and raiseth him up before him, that man runneth continu∣ally again to Repentance of his abominations heaped on him from the Devill, and unloadeth himself of them again.

42. But concerning the Conception of Children, That a right true Regenerate Christian Man, should beget his Children totally Holy without Guilt, as † 1.27 this Authour conceiteth; that is Babell and a great Errour, which the Serpent introduceth, under which it will cover it self, that a Man might not know the Kitling, it would fain be called Holy, Men have a long time called it the Black slick Evill Devill; and now it would once fain be called also Christ, and a God: but the Most high hath dis∣covered it, so that we see, and know, it: and would have you Christi∣anly warned.

43. Every Tree and Vegetable bringeth forth fruit out of it selfe; as the Plant is; but know this; That the spirit of Nature, presseth so hard together into the power, out of which the branch groweth, that the branch oftentimes becometh, evill, withered, yea altogether a dry, rotten, Branch.

44. THUS it is with Man; that which is sown, that groweth; but Gods Anger, through the Devils Imagination, especially when he ob∣serveth, that the outward Constellation of the Starres in the Elements is evill; presseth it self often in, therewith; so that honest Parents be∣get evill Children, and on the contrary also many times evill Parents beget honest Children, as experience maketh it apparent before our Eyes.

45. And to that End; CHRIST hath commanded us the * 1.28 Infant Baptisme, to baptize the Child in the Name of the Holy Trinity: then he will thus in this his Covenant be powerfull; and with his power kindle again the poor captive Tinder, and take the Ser∣pents Poyson, away, out of the Light of Life; so that the divine draw∣ing standeth open.

46. Then the introduced Poyson remaineth IN the outward Flesh, which will afterwards be broken in CHRIST, and the Gates out and in stand open to Man: and then it is, as it is written, † 1.29 To whom you give your selves, as Servants in Obedience, his servants ye are; whether of Sinne to Death, or of the Obedience of God; to Righteousnesse.

47. The Soul hath free-will to go OUT and IN, but it * 1.30 can NOT generate it self in Christ; it must only go out of its own Evill Will, and enter into Gods Mercy; Then CHRISTS Spirit: which in JESU, stood presented to the Soul in the Light of Life: taketh it in his Armes of the desire; and Sprouteth in its desire in the faded disappeared Sub∣stantiality, forth, from the pure Element of Heaven; as a New Life out of Death, and that is CHRIST, Man and God.

48. Readers let me perswade you, iry it, goe with it into the Holy Scrip∣ture, try it inwardly and outwardly, and learn the Truth out of Christs Spirit, then you will put no belief in † 1.31 him: but we have seen it in Ternario Sancto, in the holy Ternary: and know what we write.

49. But I am a Childe, whose understanding hangeth at the Breasts of my Mother, and have no authority, and NO understanding, unlesse what my Mother giveth me; I lye in imbecillity as a dying Man, but the most high raiseth me up in his Breath; so that I go according to his Wind.

50. But I warn you Christianly, that you would understand the zeal, to the welfare of your own Souls; I have wages enough, If I at∣tain your Breath, and may Sprout up IN you, and may give you my Life; what should I give you more? take the present and lay it well to Heart.

51. Not in opinion only; but introduce it into the Breath of God, and try it in Body and Soul; and take the cleernesse thereof, let affecti∣ons go, they are not the Pearl; but set for the shame, of a sinner: that the Evill and Malice might cease and not pride it self in FLESH; take only the pure Oyle for healing, the rest taketh not hold of the Souls Wounds, but only the wounds in the outward Man; I pray the Reader not to in∣terpret this otherwise, then as it hath its true Ground.

52. Now as to what the * 1.32 Authour, saith concerning the Good Divine Wife or Woman, which doth not exist from Adams sinfull Flesh and evill Lust, which conceiveth and generateth the Holy Man, which is CHRIST, God and Man; THAT I also beleeve; it is true: But his understanding is erroneous,

in that he understandeth it to be out of the outward Man, and will have a totall transmutation of the outward into the inward, in this world.

53. The Good Wife or Woman is the Heavenly Image, viz: the se∣cond Principle, which dyed in Adam, in that very faded or disappeared Substance, the Father of all Things or Substances, striketh up the sparkle of his divine power: and if it be so that the Soul also in the drawing of the Father hungreth after it; the sparkle beginneth to glimmer.

54. And † 1.33 is first small as a grain of Mustard-seed, as Christ saith, and if the Soul persevereth, and introduceth ITS Will and hunger continu∣ally into THAT Glimmering Tinder; then he bloweth the Holy Fire up in its desire; so that it glimmereth very much, whence the soul get∣teth great hunger.

55. Now if it be so, that the Soul casteth away its self-hood, and desireth totally to cast away the fals-hood or wickednesse of the Devill, and in earnest strife with earnest Prayer and giving up it self, enter into the Love-Fire; then the Love-fire apprehendeth the Souls Desire, and one Fire becometh kindled in the other: for the Soul is the Fathers Fire, and the sown Love-Fire is the Sonnes-Fire.

56. And now cometh the lost Sonne, viz: the soul, again into the Fathers Love, and the * 1.34 Great Joy in Heaven beginneth, so that the Angels rejoyce more than at Ninety Nine righteous, that need no Repentance.

57. And at this Place; in this conjunction; the Noble Virgin, viz: the Good Wife or Woman, taketh its Bridegroom the Soul again into the Triumph of the Divine Kingdome of Joy, and giveth its Bridegroom the Garland of Pearles.

58. Not totally for its own propriety of its substance; No, there are Two Principles; God remaineth God, in himselfe; but the Divine Light bringeth the Virgins-Spirit out of the Love-fire, into the Souls-Fire; and kindleth the Souls-Fire also; so that the Virgins-Light, shineth IN its Bridegroom, viz: the SOULS Light.

59. And here is Christ in the Wifes or Womans seed become Man; viz: in the second Principle; out of Gods Light-and-Love-world; and what is here done, and what kind of Joy, is at this Espousall and Wedding, we have no words to write; but I wish the Lover of Christ may experiment it: For the outward Naturall Man beleeveth US not; unlesse himself hath been at this wedding; which is kept both in Heaven and on Earth; sufficiently to be understood by those that are OURS.

60. But know this, As Fire blazeth through Iron, whence the Iron is a meer Fire-Source or of a fiery Quality; and yet remaineth in

it selfe, in its Substance Iron as well at one time as at another: and is ne∣ver Fire in its own self-property, and yet is Fire; But the Fires Might, standeth not in the Iron, but it giveth only its Nature to it, as an In∣strument or a Body; wherein the Fire blazeth.

61. * 1.35 Thus understand us also, as to GOD and the CREATURE. The Fire, when it blazeth in the Iron; signifieth the Soul, when it is kindled in Gods Light; and the Light and the Shining of the Fire, signifi∣eth the Holy Fire, and the Virgin; the Power of the Light is the Pearly-Garland, whereof I write in my writings: THAT, the Virgin giveth not, to the Fire-Soul, viz: to the Originall of the Fire, to be ITS own.

62. But it sets the same upon it, and presseth the same into its heart, but it cannot comprehend it, as its proper owne; as the Fire cannot comprehend the Light; and yet the Light shineth out of the Fire; the Fire hath another Source or Quality then the Light; the Fire is Father and the Light is Sonne, and yet they make two Principles one IN another.

63. Thus know; That the Creature is not God, it remaineth Eternal∣ly under God; but God blazeth through it, with his desire of the Love-Fire, viz: with his Light and shining, and that very Light, the Soul, viz: the Man, reteineth, so long for its own, as the Will remaineth in Gods Light.

64. But if it enter again in its own propriety, viz: in the Center of its originall in its own Might out of the Resignation, into selfhood; then the Virgin taketh away this Pearly-Garland, from the Soul; for the Soul, viz: its Bride-groom, is run away from its Spouse Christ, viz: from its Love-fire, and become perjured.

65. Then goeth the Soul in the outward Flesh, into the Devils Net in the dark restraint, and seeketh its own Place; and rest, but findeth nothing; but the Beastiall Pleasure of the Flesh; with which it Pampereth it self.

66. But the Noble Virgin calleth it continually, to return again; if it come again, then it is well and readily received: but the first wedding is not kept again: there is indeed a glorious welcome, but not like the first Espousall; we speak as we know.

67. But if the Bridegroom viz: the Soul, cometh not again, then Christ taketh its Garland, which he gave the Virgin for a Life, again from it, then it remaineth in ITS Nothing without Source or Quality, as disappeared or faded: and Eternally not perceptible nor visible to the Soul.

68. And the Soul remaineth in its † 1.36 anxiety, if the Soare be in it at the End of the outward Body; in that regard it standeth in Eternall shame and scorn, that it hath lost ITS Kingly Crown;

and is driven out from the Kingdom of God, as an Evill doer, or as a perjured Person from its most beloved Bride and Virgin.

69. Further also know this, that Gods Light suffereth NOT it self to be sowen forth abroad into the Flesh; the Mother or Tinder to the Light is indeed sown, but standing within, IN its Principle; the † 1.37 out∣ward world, is not God, nor will it in Eternity be called God; but only a Substance wherein God manifesteth himself; viz: a † Similitude of the Holy Divine Heavenly Substance, in which God worketh.

70. When a Woman is impregnate from a Man, and generateth a Childe, THAT, although likely it cometh from holy Parents, is not Wholly CHRIST, from within and without; as this * 1.38 Authour conceiteth without ground of Truth out of his ob∣scurity.

71. CHRIST, viz: the WORD, is indeed, a glimmering Mother or Tinder; according to the Property of the true Image, which is pro∣pagated in all Men as a possibility, but NOT in the outward Flesh in this worlds Substance; but in the second Principle; and the Soulish Property is in the first Principle; each dwelling in it selfe.

72. Therefore hath Christ instituted the Baptisme, and Espoused himself with the Mother or Tinder to Souls, with this Covenant, that though the Mother or Tinder did not come to a burning Light, and that the Child should dye, even in its Mothers Body or Womb; yet neverthelesse, the Soul would be in Christs Arms, in which he would kindle HIS Light.

73. And though holy Parents beget Children, if I did look upon them, I would not say, here standeth or goeth in this Child, Christ; it is wholly Christ: HE is indeed IN the Childe, but in his own Principle, and in the Childs Property, as a Glimmering Mother or Tinder; on the Band of Christ; but the Soul of the Childe is also on the Band of the Fa∣thers anger, in the property, wherein Adams Soul hath broken it self off from God.

74. The Properties of the Soul stand not in Equall Concordance, as God created the First Soul, they stand in the Elevation, in the Multi∣plicity of the Wills, and not in One Will; in the Multiplicity of the Wills is the Turba; for one Will is the Enmity of the other: and they cannot be broken, for their originall is out of the Eternity from the Center of Nature.

75. Ʋnlesse Gods Light kindle it self in them, then they become in the Light transmated into One Will; and then the Enmity and contrary will in the Center of the Life of the soul, ceaseth: also then the outward-Life in the Child, is together, inthe Flesh of perdition, and is subject to Death.

76. For as the Properties in the Souls Life, are in strife and Con∣trariety, so also are the Properties of the outward Life; for in Adam all

went forth out of the equall concordance, and now one kindleth the other: and the strife between heat and cold also Evill and Good, con∣tinueth so long as the OUTWARD Life continueth.

77. Therefore, it is a wrong Exposition of the † 1.39 Author; where he saith; Holy Faithfull Parents generate altogether CHRIST: yes, that Christ himself is the work of Humane Propagation; which a Cow would almost laugh at, to see its like in the outward Man, so that he doth more foolishly than a Beast: Christ dwelleth in Heaven in his own Principle; and the outward Man upon Earth in his own Principle.

78. The holy good wise or woman, whereof he speaketh much without sufficient understanding, generateth not the outward Beastial Man of the Four Elements, but the Inward of the pure Element; God driveth not on the work of humane propagation, HE hath given it to MAN into his own: will in Christ God drave it on, but without humane Concurrence, out of his own Predestinate pur∣pose.

79 Now if this * 1.40 Authour, can generate children without, Man, then we will beleeve him, that God hath begotten a Christ-Child out of him, or out of his Wife, if without Man, she is impregnate from Gods word.

80. But he will fail in that, Adam hath squandered this power; as we have expressed, concerning it at large, in the Book of the Three Principles, also in the Book of the Threefold Life, as also in the first Part of the Incarnation of Christ.

81. The † 1.41 Conjunction of the Seeds is cleerly in strife, and contra∣ry Will, and in the strife and contrary Will, is the Life in the Childe ma∣nifest; and not in the Slime, but in the Anguish in the choaked Bloud: The beginning of Life in a Childe, is a DYING of the Masculine and Feminine Tincture, of the Seed, and out of this dying goeth a new own Life, up.

82. As the Light shineth from the Candle; so we are to conceive in like manner, that the Man and Wife only sowe the BODY of the Lifes Candle; out of which, the Life in the dying, viz: in the anguish-Fire, in the choaking of the first Bloud, wherein the Childe * 1.42 becometh Man, is generated: not as a dying of Consumption, but in the anguish of the dying Source or Quality, the First Principle, viz: the true Fire-Soul in its Principle, becometh manifest.

83. It is not, conceiting will do it, but understanding

the Center of Nature, how a Life originateth; not only to say; Christ, and God, doth a thing; but to know, WHAT, God, Christ, and Man, is, each in IT self.

84. Man must understand the Principles, and not with Hi∣storicall conceit, with Literall knowledge; and confound one thing in another; such a Master as this † 1.43 Authour will needs be; viz: a God, that is Omniscient, he should before-hand know very well, and not so sottish∣ly, with such loud cry, come and draw up, without Ground and under∣standing.

85. Men know also well, that the Holy Woman or Wife viz: the Virginity, is from God; but it hath not the might of Generating; It is in Adam, with the Wife Eve, squandered; it cannot generate more; unlesse the Generatour viz: CHRIST were before-hand generated in it; and then it generateth the Soul, its Bridegroom, otherwise, in the WILL; that is, it transmuteth it into ITS Love, and setteth Christs Garland or Crown of victory, upon it.

NOw followeth The Second Point of the Fourth Text, The * 1.44 Explainers own Words.

1. BUt how and in what measure, manner, and kind, She, from her God and Man CHRIST JESU, goeth, cometh, is Created or Made, and prepared: hence now the Triune God and Lord signifieth in the Testimony of Holy Scripture, for the better and cleerer knowledge of the holy Marriage-state; and wonderful divine Union of Man and Wife, in one Flesh, for a Type and Looking-Glasse, giveth therein, through the Divine know∣ledge and wisdom, to acknowledge and con∣sider.

2. How and in what measure, manner and kind, the holy woman or wife, and faithfull hu∣mane visible Flesh and Bloud, under the Mascu∣line and Feminine Sex, from CHRIST, the Tri∣une highly praised God, her Man or Husband, proceeded, was made and prepared.

3. And as true Christian honest faithful mar∣ryed people; whom God joyneth together, (for here I speak not of those marryed people, who highly esteem outward bravery, riches, honourable familyes, and outward Name, whom the Lust of the Flesh and of the Eye, in this world, bringeth together, and causeth to marry) yes, truly faith∣ful Christian Marryed people; who many times, never saw one another with their eyes.

4. As, all truly faithful Christian People, will, to the highest praise of God in their hearts, with God the Triune Eternal Truth and Seal, give Testimony, with me, that oftentimes, very won∣derfully and strangely, their whole person, alto∣gether unknowing, are brought together and joyned by the Triune God JESUS CHRIST.

5. In that, the LORD giveth and incorpo∣rateth in the Masculine heart, his holy Love, to∣wards the Feminine Image, which before; as it often cometh to passe, he never saw, much lesse, found any desire after such a One at any time, which in her presenteth the holy divine Love and voyce, with all manner of friendly, richly amiable, words and works towards the feminine Image accordingly.

6. And by * 1.45 all manner of outward Modesty and Chast Service or Ministry, and Conversation, without ceasing, in care day and night, is diligent in, and doth not give over, till through the di∣vine good power and working, it presseth into the midst and Center of the feminine heart: and with its powerful burning operation, it Imageth to it self the Masculine person; and bindeth with it self the very divine Good Holy Chaste Love.

7. In both which Christian hearts, this Tri∣une divine fire-burning Love, in the holy Divine working reception and growing doth not cease, till it bring both these Masculine and Feminine Persons into one.

8. So that they through this powerfull working in the Love, are one Heart, one Soul, one Body, one Flesh and Bloud; as indeed in the Love of the Divine voyce, each calleth or nameth the other his own heart Soul and undivided own pro∣priety.

9. And then in this Chast Divine richly amia∣ble working through the divine power, in holy, and not unchast fleshly mixture and union, in right holy love and purity in the divine power∣ful blessing, the divine Word, and holy discourse incorporated in the Faith, bring forth fruit of the pure Chast love, through and out of them, and generate Children.

10. Which the LORD by † 1.46 Paul, 1 Corinthi∣ans 7. in regard of the faithful married people, and honest Christians, (through and in whom, he with his most holy in the Love, is powerfully and actively) calleth holy generatings and holy Children.

11. Which holy wedlock Divine Love, in and among honest Christian Children, is an Eternall never ceasing band of Divine Unity, which never more in and to them, is rent quenched or caused to cease.

12. Just in such a manner it is with CHRIST the Triune highly praised God, the Triune holy Man or Husband; which in and with his divine voyce of his holy fully perfect Love, according to the Testimony of St. John 3. * 1.47 hath so loved the world, whole Mankinde, yes when they were yet

Enemies, and presented his Love to all Men, un∣der the Masculine and Feminine Sex.

23. Whereby and wherein, the Children of Men, (which through the Fall of Adam and Eve, were Enemies of God the Eternall Good, and of all Divine Matters) he himself would new pre∣pare them in their hearts, with his own divine Voyce and holy Love, with his own power and substantiall working, and bring them again, out of the Kingdome and Dominion of the reproach∣full, in and to the Domineering of Death the De∣vill Sinne, and the outward Naked fleshly World, and Lust of the Eye, and new Create and Re∣generate them, in and with, this his holy Divine Love.

14. As indeed through this Triune in-working Divine holy Love CHRIST JESUS, in the Elect; the stony Adamicall sinfull cold unchast malicious heart, with all evill Lusts and Enimicitious De∣sires, against God, the Triune Eternall Good, is wholly done away; and through this holy Divine working in the Love, is prepared anew.

15. Which appeareth totally richly amiable and a perfect Love-heart of God; which burneth towards the Triune highest Good, in and with full Love, in the full Love it self; and through the most high Triune God Christ Jesus himself's own in-working Power, in the Love towards her Man or Husband of the high Divine Majesty CHRIST JESUS, becometh so fiery and burning.

16. So that also the Divine new Love-heart, appeareth so great & surpassing in the Love, that it presseth into all, inward and outward Mem∣bers

of the Body, in full Power, and changeth all the Members; and to the Triune highest praise of God Christ Jesus, her Man or Husband; totally reneweth them.

17. So that in and to these men new prepared in the Love through CHRIST; nothing but all good holy divine things in Love, in words, life, works and deeds, are traced and manifest, and visibly knowne and seen by faithfull Eyes.

18. In and to which holy totall new Divine Person prepared in the Love, the Word of the LORD becometh richly and Gloriously filled; Hos: 2. * 1.48 I will call them my beloved People which were not my Beloved.

19. As now through this holy Divine working in the Love of the Triune highly praised God CHRIST JESUS, the expresse Image and self∣subsisting Substance of the Triune Deity it self; hath prepared, new made, and set, here upon earth, from the beginning of the World, to himself, tru∣ly Faithfull Holy Patriarchs, Prophets, and all the faithful of the old Testament, out of or from all ge∣nerations: as also all Evangelists Apostles Prophets and honest Christians under Masculine and Fe∣minine Sex of the New Testament; in such a Manner, as is mentioned before, to his holy Ser∣vice or Ministry Praise & Glory of his holy Name, yes, to his own Love, IN the Love.

Now followeth † 1.49 my answer upon this Second Poynt, together with an Explanation thereof.

1. THAT which this * 1.50 Authour sets down concerning Christian Married People, that it IS so; ought well to be wished, that it WERE so; but it is not so, perfectly, in any; there is a Good Spring wanting to them, for this Great holinesse is squandered away in Adam.

2. Indeed Christ saith; † 1.51 Wheresoever two or Three are gathered toge∣ther in my Name, there am I in the midst amongst them; Christ is indeed with Holy Married people that fear God, if they begin all their Matters in his Name; he governeth and blesseth them, if in earnest sincerity they abide with him, that, I speak not against at all, also all their works in the true marryed state, are acceptable to him; for Christ is come, that he may destroy the works of the Devill.

3. But the * 1.52 Authour must not here in the work of humane propa∣gation, put or ascribe so great Perfect holinesse; and though indeed it may be called holy, yet it must be better distinguished, what, therein is holy, and what unholy: else would all mens Burning bruitish and beastiall Lust of the Flesh, be accounted for Holinesse.

4. As when they vehemently with the Imagination and Desire, to∣wards Man and Wife, tickle themselve, as if there stuck therein great perfect holinesse, and that it were done only and solely out of Gods driving on, in Christs Power and instigation.

5. And here the † 1.53 Authour, distinguisheth NOT what is Divine and what is naturall; he jumbles the whole work in one, and calleth ALL Divine, as if the work of such conjunction, and inclination of the Desire in one towards the other, were all done in the Driving of the Spirit of Christ.

6. As he draweth also totally to this purpose, the coming together of two Married People; which as to honest vertuous Children, who pray to God in earnest sincerity for it beforehand; and put their Will into his; it is so indeed, that often two persons come together through Gods sending.

7. Which I also praise, when it is SO done; whereby also more blessing and Salvation or happinesse may be, then in THOSE, whom the Lust of the Eye meerly bringeth together; and nature coupleth: And I would not in this oppose the Authour, but willingly receive and allow it for right; IF the Thorne and Poyson did not stick in it and un∣der it, concerning the totall Holy perfection; wherewith he supposeth he begetteth children void of Originall inherited sinne.

8. For this ONE Articles sake I will unfold this Point, that Men may but see, what is divine and what is Naturall, what is Holy, and what Beastiall, and that the flattering hypocrisie and seeming ho∣linesse, under which Men will cover the Originall inherited Sinne might be known.

9. And that honest marryed people should not be secure or care∣lesse, but know, that they also are Sinners; and learn to be afraid of Gods Anger, and be humble before God, and diligently learn with great circumspection to Pray one with another, that the Devill may not sift the native impurity, and throw them into the beastiall pro∣perty.

10. Which indeed co-hangeth to this marriage work, for the holy work is performed with a Beastiall work, and this originateth in respect of the Fall of Adam and Eve; and that marryed people might learn to distinguish the holy in the Love, from the beastiall, and learn in this work to remain Modest Chast and Temperate, before God and Man.

11. And not as a burning Lustfull Bull, to which brutish work this * 1.54 Authour openeth a wide Door, while he calleth it totally holy, and so at last in his holy giving forth; All shame would be extin∣guished.

12. Whereas yet the understanding, and also Nature testifieth, that an Abomination hangeth to it, which is not quite holy before God: in respect that also Nature it self together with the Soul, is ashamed of it: which ought well to be considered; and how the poor Soul, which appeareth by the Eyes, is ashamed before its Bridegroome CHRIST: that it now after the Fall, must propagate it self after such a Beastiall Manner, like other Beasts.

13. For this cause I will unfold it, that marryed people may learn to know themselves, and that this Authour might not make them So totally blind, and they live in abomination before God, as Beasts with∣out any knowledg thereof; unlesse for this; I would not particularly oppose him in this Article: for holy people should get also holy chil∣dren, which yet miserably often faileth, as is apparent to our Eyes.

14. We know what Moses saith: That † 1.55 God said: Let us make Man, an Image that is like us; He saith not TWO Images, but ONE Image that is like us.

15. God is according to the Fire and Light but ONE substance, viz: according to the Fires and Lights Tincture in the Eternall Nature he is also but ONE substance; And that he is, and is called Father and Sonne, yet he is therein also but ONE substance.

16. But manifested in TWO Principles; viz: with the stern Fire-world according to the Fathers Property, and according to the Light and Love-world in the Sonnes Property; And yet is, but ONE only substance undivided, but ONE God; as Fire and Light is ONE.

17. Thus he hath also created his Image Man, according to his simili∣tude, out of his out-spoken substance; out of ALL into ONE substance into one only Image: and also inbreathed the Spirit of all the THREE Principles into ONE only Spirit.

18. All the Three worlds; viz: The Eternall dark cold fiery, viz: the Eternall Nature; as also the Eternall Light fiery, together with the substance thereof, viz: the pure Element, and therein the Paradise; for also the outward Four Elementary and Syderiall world with its sub∣stance, were in this created Image, but One in like or Equall Concord or agreement.

19. Man was and is the Inward and outward world, the Inward World is the Heaven wherein God dwelleth, thus was Man upon Earth in Heaven: the Inward and outward was ONE; the Inward manife∣sted it self in the outward, viz: God in the Time: the Outward is the Time, that was in Man swallowed up in the Eternity; but it was mani∣fested in it self, not totally for the Dominion, but for the wonder of the Dominion of the Divine World.

20. The Outward World knew it selfe not in the Time, but it wrought in it selfe as an Instrument of the Master: The outward Sul∣phur and Mercury of the Body, were manifested in the power of the in∣ward Spirituall Sulphur and Mercury; The Tinctures of both were mani∣fested in one another as One, the Spirit wrought through the Time, and that was a Paradise where neither heat nor cold might be manife∣sted.

21. The Life of Both worlds, viz: the Heavenly Holy, in the Pure Element; and also the outward in the Four Elements, were but One only Life; and that was a Similitude according to God; viz: an Expresse Image.

22. For God dwelleth in the Time, and the Time is not manifested in him, but before him, as a similitude, it is IN him in the dominion all one: The Time is servant and his work, it liveth in it self, but God is the Life of Time, But in comprehensible to Time: the Time ruleth not in God, but it is in him as an Instrument; wherewith he ruleth and maketh or worketh.

23. But now understand us concerning the Soul, The Soul is not out of the Temporary or Time-Nature; the Time-Nature is but its dwelling∣house, even as an Instrument with which it maketh or worketh: * 1.56 It hath in it self the Center to the Fire and Light world, and out of the Center, it became inbreathed into Adam by the Holy Spirit, in the Mo∣ving of the Father out of the Three Principles.

24. And this is its Fall and Sinne, that it hath through its mighty desire, manifested the Properties of the Dark World in the Center of the Eternall Nature; which was done through Imagination; in that it introduced its Lust into the Instrument of Time, viz: into the Outward world.

25. And would try how it relished, when the Equality of agree∣ment went forth or away one from another, so that Evill and good were Manifested, each in it self: it lusted to eat of the relish of both, and thereby be omniscient, and suttle; as Lucifer in like manner so peri∣shed; who lusted after the dark Center in the Fire-birth, and awake∣ned that in his desire, that so the like concordance or equall agreement, in him, might be Manifested in an awakening of all Properties: whence Lust and falshood or wickednesse existed to him.

26. For if the Lifes forms, viz: the Forms of the Eternall Nature, were manifest every One in it self, then there is a great Enmity, for every one will rule, every One hath its own will, and if this were not, then there would be neither perceptibility, nor finding, but an Eternall stillnesse.

27. But now the Lifes formes should not be manifested in the qua∣lifying or operating each pressing forth; but instanding in equall agreement, like a Tuned Lute: and the Spirit which was brought forth out of this equall agreement, by Gods Spirit, was also in equall agree∣ment, viz: the Spirit of the Soule; as the Aire out of the Fire; that should enter into the Sound of God, and strengthen it self in the power of the Light, and with that very power strike the Cittron of the Lifes forms.

28. But that it did not, but it entered into own will, and reached after the Center of the Lifes forms, and awakened the same; it would it SELF be GOD, and made it self a dark Devill; according to the first impression in the Fiat of its Property; out of which in this world, are evill poysonous worms and beasts come to be; according to the out∣ward Impression: and that is the reall Fall of the Devill, as also of Adam.

29. But that we may render it better intelligible concerning Adam, as al∣so concerning his Wise: Adam was a totall entire Image of God, when God had created him, then he was Man and Wife, and yet neither of them; but a modest Virgin in the Similitude of God.

30. He had the Fires Matrix, and also the Lights Matrix, out of which, through the Element, water becometh generated through the dying in the Fire; He had the Fires and Lights Desire in him; viz: the Mother of the Love and of the Anger, according to the Principles.

31. The Life stood in a Conjunction of continuall inward joyfull de∣sire of one in another, the Fire loved the Light, viz: its meekning and beneficence; and the Light loved the Fire, viz: its Life and Father; as God the Father loveth his Sonne and the Sonne the Father in such a Manner or Property.

32. And in such Love-Desire, viz: according to Fire and Light, in which desire also, the dark impression with its hunger hath intermixed it self; God hath generated Substance; The impression in the Desire is his Fiat, which he leadeth with the voyce of his Fire and Light; viz: his making or working.

33. Thus also in his Image, Man, was the Fire-Mitrix, and the Lights desire in great richly Joyfull Eternall Conjunction, or as I may somewhat explaine it, when TWO desires meet together; as a great richly amiable relish; and the Impression, viz: the Fiat, maketh this Conjunction hard or loud sounding, as the Tone of a word; wherein the cleer founding richly joyfull Life standeth, in the Feeling Tasting Smelling Seeing and Hearing, as an amiable manifestation of the Eter∣nall stillnesse.

34. And as this is to be known concerning the Spirit-Life; so also in the Flesh-Life; for what the Spirit in the Three Principles is in it self: In Word and Power: that the Flesh in it self is in the Substance thereof.

35. The Flesh hath the Tincture of the Fire and Light in it self, to such a Glorious Conjunction and relish; and the Fiat, viz: the Impressi∣on is also the Middle or Means of the desire in the Flesh; and maketh the relish substantial, whence vegetation or growing existeth.

36. Yet now Adam was but ONE, and standing in such great Glory, as a totall Similitude according to God; in Operation Life and generating; as God had generated all things out of his UNITY.

37. And in the FLAT, which was in all things, he had created to himself his Image according to the Property; that is nothing else, but in the impression of the Fiat in that Conjunction, he manifested that very Lust or Longing delight with the Impression; Now if Adams Soul in its self hood, had entred with its Spirit, into the word of the Holy power of God, and had not awakened the self hood in the Fiat, and had strengthned it self in Gods holy power in the desire, viz: in the Impression.

38. THEN had the Impression, viz: the Fiat, again formed a Simili∣tude in Spirit and Substance in it selfe; THEN might Adam have gene∣rated magically after a divine manner; as God generated the Creature, and set it forth VISIBLY.

39. For, the Matrix of the possibility was in him; but when the Souls will, viz: the out-going Spirit, brake it selfe off from Gods power, and went into the Fiat into its Center, into own Lust, to tast evill and

good and went out of the Resignation into self-hood: then went also the Conjunction in the flesh into such a desire; and hungred after the Mother out of which it was created; and the hunger was just in such a Propertie, as it was in the Spirit.

40. And with this hunger of the Spirit and of the Flesh, was the vanity in the Center, manifested through the FIAT: For the Fi∣at impressed the desire, so that the vanity in the substance of the Flesh came and was manifested: then all was done concerning the fair Image: for the vanity loved it selfe: it would not enter into Gods Love, viz: into the Holy power; also it could not; for God receiveth NOT that for a Childe.

41. Now when this was done, God saw the Fall, as indeed he had known it before, and in that regard, he saw, and fore-saw, Man, in the Center of his Heart in the Love Desire; determining to move himself in the Center of his Love in the Humane Image: and to set the CHRIST in JESUS, or out of JESUS, viz: the greatest humility out of God; in this * 1.57 Middle between God and the Creature.

42. Then said God in himself, as Moses saith: † 1.58 It is not good that this man should be alone; for he had cleerly lost the divine Might to generate Magically out of himself through ONE, We will make a fellow Companion or Help to be about him.

43. He Adam could now not generate Magically; for he was cleer∣ly passed into the Lust of self-hood; had he kept GOD for a Help; then he had been able; but seeing he could not: therefore said God: It is not good; in the beginning it was good indeed, but in the Lust it was not good.

44. For, in God alone standeth the ability; out of which, Adam was gone with the lust into self-hood; for the Fathers Anger, turned it self together in the Fiat aloft and would be Creaturely, whence the Lust after Evill and good existed, viz: after darknesse Fire and Light, and the substance of all these.

45. And now when the Verbum Fiat, the Word Fiat stood in Adam in the desire, and impressed the Property in the Lust, into a sub∣stance of its Similitude, then appeared the Magicall Image, viz: the Simi∣litude according to Adam in the Spirit, but the ability of the Creature was gone, for it stood in the self hood, then sunk the self-hood down in unability.

46. Now then said Moses: * 1.59 And God suffered a deep sleep to fall upon him, seeing he was gone from God into the self-hood, therefore God let him fall into unability, viz: into sleep; he let it be done, that he fell into unability; for in the self-hood he was in the Fires-might even become a Devill, and so was not able; but he slept: and this Sleep is CHRISTS Rest in the Grave.

47. Dear Brethren observe it well, it is become highly known, not in Conjecture and Conceit, but in Terrario sancto in the Holy Ternary, according to Gods Counsell and Will.

48. † 1.60 The Sleep signifieth Death, viz: a destruction of this out∣ward Dominion: for as the outward World in its self-hood and Domi∣nion, cannot stand Eternally, but must go again into the beginning, into the Eternall divine Dominion; and totally break to pieces in its self-hood, and be purged and tried through Gods Fire.

49. So must also the Outward Mystery of Man in the * 1.61 self-hood, break to peeces, and enter again into the Magick Image into Gods Willing Working and Living.

50. † 1.62 And understand us here right: The Woman, viz: Venus'es Matrix from the Light Aire and Water out of Adams Essence, became in Adams Sleep, viz: in the unability impressed in the Fiat, as a Mother to the Propagation; wherein the Fire, in the Property of the Love-Desire, viz: in the Center of the Transmutation of the Fire into Light, became comprehended in the Fiat.

51. But the awakened vanity in the desire of the Fiat in the own self-hood of the Souls will, was cleerly stirring and manifested in the Lust: the Magick Birth was lost: therefore God through the Fiat, * 1.63 took a Rib in Adams side, according to the Impression of the power of Adams Soul and Spirit, in the Sulphur Mercury and Sal: and manifested that in Venus'es Matrix.

52. Understand: from Adam was taken his faire Rose garden of the great Lust Desire or Pleasure, of the Kingdom of Joy; viz: the Lights Tincture according to the Property of the Love-desire; And according to the bodily substance, the Property of the Spirituall Water; which in the Love-desire, becometh generated through the Fire, and is the Fires or Souls-Spirits greatest refreshment, in which the Fire-spirit had impregnated it self in Substance, and generated its Similitude; viz: in the Love-desire.

53. This Venus Mother, became figured into a Wife or Woman, and in Adam remained the Fires Mother, which continually, in∣troduceth its hunger into the Venus Mother, in like manner also the Venus Mother into the Fires Mother, viz: into its Father and Man or Husband, which giveth it Essence and Life.

54. In which Conjunction, the PERFECTION of the Kingdom of Joy standeth, and the fulfilling of the desire, which should damp and hold Captive the Lust of Vanity, out of the Center of the Impression according to the dark worlds property; and onely refresh it self in the Love, viz: in the Kingdome of Joy.

55. This Love-sport or Scene of both the Tinctures of Fire and Light, were divided in Adam in his Sleep; for God parted them in

the Fiat, and here Adam lost his chast Love-sport: and his Virginity, which CHRIST brought to him again; and in the place of his Rib for a Wife, where he became broken must Longinus'es Spear enter; and the Regenerate Virgin-like bloud, must Tincture this Breach; and heal and make it whole again; and quench the wrath which was in the Breach.

56. Thus we understand what the Woman or Wife is, viz: A halfe Adam; Adam hath in the † 1.64 Superiour might: the first Principle; and Eve the second. In Adams part the vanity became first manifest, viz: in the Center to the Fire.

57. Which Fires-desire entered into the Venus desire, and in the Lust became manifested in the Substance; in which the propagation was; therefore God in Paradise promised to enter again into the Seed of the Woman, and with the new generated Love-desire, to break the Head of the Serpents desire which was existed out of the Center to the Fire-Life.

58. That is, to overcome IT with the great Love, to go it self into the abomination, viz: into the Womans Seed, which the abomi∣nation in Venus'es Matrix hath poysoned, and introduced into false or wicked Lust; and to break that very will, which against Gods holi∣nesse and purity went into own self, and turn it again into the Love∣desire.

59. And here when Adam was divided, and the Divine might or power, slept, he together with his Wife, with his Pleasure-Garden, was ordained into the outward Life; for the divine understanding was in him, faded.

60. For, he was gone forth from the Divine Love-Fire, with his desire, into the self-hood after the vanity, viz: after the Manife∣station of Nature, after Art and much knowing, THAT, he gat also; but he lost thereby the knowledge of the DIVINE Kingdome of Joy.

61. He was yet indeed in Paradise with his Eve, when the Spirit of the outward World awakened to him; but in the Lust of the vanity together with his Eve, to which the Devill afterwards gave him more cause, at the Tree of Temptation, as is * 1.65 above mentioned.

62. Adam Slept in the Divine world, and awaked to the outward world, and with the Earthly Eating of the Tree of Temptation which was Evill and good; the vanity in the Substance of the Flesh fully awaked; for there began the Properties of the abomination in the Cen∣ter of Nature; to qualifie or opperate, as a seething.

63. Now was Heat and Cold, moreover, bitter, sweet, and sowre, and all whatsoever is manifested in the Dominion of the Starres and the Elements; manifested also in him: The Sulphur and Mercury be∣came manifest and stirring in vanity of the Poyson-Life: of which now,

the Souls Spirit in Adam and Eve, was ashamed when they saw, that they in their self-hood, stood in such misery; and that Heat and Cold pressed upon them.

64. And when God called them, again with the voyce of Grace, Adam said, * 1.66 I am naked, and am afraid, But God said, who hath told thee that thou art naked: hast thou not eaten of the Tree which I forbad thee; and he said; the Woman gave me, and I did eat: and the Woman said, the Serpent beguiled me.

65. Here now lyeth the whole forementioned matter or Sub∣stance, how it came to passe; for the Lust stood in Adam, and was in the Love-Desire in the Fiat become introduced into Substance; in which, Adam, had the Birth standing, that was divided from him; and now began that very abomination of false or wicked Desire in the Woman, to lust; and raised fully the whole work up, to Sinne and abo∣mination against Gods holinesse.

66. And this is the very abomination before God; that the Lifes Forms are gone out from the equall agreement every one into the Manifestation of IT self: whence in the Life, contention, viz: ri∣sing up of Pride, as also Covetousnesse, Envy, Anger, and false or wicked suttlety; existeth.

67. So that every Forme knoweth it self in the self-hood, and is Manifest to it self, whence Man, viz: the Flesh in this opposite Strife; is introduced into Sicknesse, woe pain and corruption.

68. For in the equall agreement NO Corruption can be, for all Wills of the Lifes Forms are but One only Substance, they goe in one equall harmony, every property is the good relish and love-desire to the other, but in the inequality or disagreement there is meer En∣mity; not at all willing in its property, to hear see smell tast and feel.

69. In these Five Senses standeth the Enmity of the Life, wherein there is nothing but meer strife, in respect of the in∣equality or disagreement and disharmony, which the sound viz: the Voyce of God receiveth not or suffereth not to come into it self: unlesse the multiplicity of the Wills let their right or propriety goe; and sink down again totally in resignation, into Gods Mer∣cy.

70. As Christ saith; Ʋnlesse ye convert and become as Children which know of no falshood or wickednesse: ye shall not not inherite the Kingdome of Heaven: Also ye must be born anew: That is, this Will of falshood and vanity must totally break, and a new spring forth, which willeth the falshood or wickednesse no more: else there is no blessednesse or Salvation.

71. And therefore must the Flesh totally Dye and corrupt; where∣in the abomination and the vanity lyeth in the Substance, and goe again to the Limit where it originally existed in Adam, to a new Re∣velation or Manifestation.

72. Now we are to weigh, the Propagation of Man; the hu∣mane body is become earthly; for, the vanity, out of which the earth became generated, is awakened in it; and hath swallowed up the holy heavenly Substance into it self.

73. For, the true Love-Spirit, departed in the Curse of the Earth from Man, when the vanity awakened, then God * 1.67 Cursed the Earth; then all was done concerning the faire Paradise of Man; his heaven∣ly Image of the divine Substantiality faded: and was no more known.

74. Which in a Similitude is understood to be no otherwise, then as when look upon LEAD which before had been GOLD, and had through MERCURY, turned it selfe into LEAD, wherein the poy∣sonous Mercury is manifested; which before in GOLD stood in great brightnesse and Perfection.

75. And as now in the Lead there is yet a possibility to be Gold; but it was not manifested in the Mercury; the Mercury could not turn it self again into Gold; unlesse the Artist came and brake to pie∣ces the Lead Totally: and turned it into the first matter, out of which it was Created; then might out of that matter fair Gold come to be, as it was at first.

76. Or else, if the power of Sol, did move it self in this Mercury of the Lead, which yet is a Saturn, but yet hath the Impression, viz: the first Ground to Gold in it selfe; and generate in its power Gold again in the Lead, so that I see Lead and Gold in ONE Substance; and yet it is not manifested: but the Lead holdeth the Gold as it were half Swallowed up and covered.

77. Thus we are to understand in like manner concerning Adam and Eve; their faire Golden Body in divine power and Substance, became a Dark obscure Lead; spoken by way of Similitude; The Golden Mercury awaked in the vanity of the poyson, then faded and vanished the Gold, viz: the holy Body in the Abomination: and now it was totally Earthly, and must to Earth again.

78. But the voyce of God which called them again, espoused it self again with the promise of the Serpent Crusher or Bruiser, in Venus'es Matrix, viz: in the Second Principle, in the part of the Hea∣venly Substantiality, in which before, the Word of the Divine sound had been manifested: But when the Souls desire went out from it, it faded and vanished in it selfe.

79. Thus in this espousall in the Lead, there was Gold and Lead one in another, but the Gold was not manifested, till Gods Mercury, in the word of Promise; manifested it self in the Lead, viz: in the Flesh; then became the Lead in Christs humanity again changed into Gold: and the processe was held, as the Transmutation of Mettals is

performed, which becometh changed into Gold: as in our Book of the Signature or Seal of things is very largely and expressely writ∣ten of.

80. And we are hereby to understand; that the Limit of the Covenant, viz: the promised new Golden Life, is become propagated in Venus'es Tincture, as a Possibility of the Divine Regeneration, which God, through the Center of his Heart, through that very mo∣ving Manifested in Christ.

81. And manifested the CHRIST, viz: the Anointed, out of JESUS, and out of his deepest humility and Love, and changed the poysonous Mercury in dark Lead, into bright Gold.

82. Whereby we are cleerly to understand: that in all men the VANITY, viz: the awakened Lifes forms in their self-hood and strife, are again become propagated; and will still continually be propa∣gated, till in the breaking or Corruption of the Earthly Body; for so long as Man findeth Heat and Cold or sicknesse and opposite will in his Spirit and Body, * 1.68 so long the Abomination is in FULL Life.

83. Concerning the Saints of God, which as Prophets in the Spirit of JESUS, have prophesied of the CHRIST to Come; they have all spoken out of the Limit of the Covenant, out of the promised Word, which would move it self again in the Flesh; none of them was totally new born again in the Flesh.

84. For the Word stood in the inward faded Image, and opened it self with the voyce, through the outward Mercury, and shewed the outward Man, what would yet happen and be done to him, when the word of Promise should he manifested in the Mercury of the Flesh; and therein break to pieces the abomination, and death of the Strife in the Lifes forms.

85. But after CHRIST out of JESUS, became manifested in the Flesh, then that very Flesh became anointed; and therefore he was called the Anointed of the LORD: and if we introduce our Souls de∣sire, into this Manifested Word in the Flesh of Christ, then will also that very promised word, which is together propagated in ALL men in the Limit of the Covenant, be manifested in our Souls-desire in the faded Image of the Divine Substantiality: and in Venus'es Matrix, viz: in the Second Principle, wherein God is, viz: in his right Heaven which is in MAN, cometh to Life.

86. That is, the faded Image, getteth the Divine sound in the Souls desire; Christ becometh Man in the faded Image, and crusheth or bruiseth Death, viz: the Abomination of the vanity in the outward Leaden Flesh, viz: the poysonous Mercury in the Lifes forms, the Head

of the false or wicked will, and bringeth forth the Souls will in it self into GOD.

87. Now understand us further; concerning the Propagation between Man and Wife both in the Holy Children and in the wicked: How and in what manner it is with the Conjunction of the Masculine and Feminine desire; and How in NO Man holy children without Sinne CAN be begotten; as this † 1.69 Authour paints it forth to us with∣out sufficient understanding.

88. The Conjunction of the Desire towards Wife or Woman and Husband or Man cometh from both the Mothers, viz: from the dividing of Adam; from both the Tinctures of Fire and Light: which are in them∣selves not much nobler, and purer than the Flesh, or the Mercury in the Sulphur of the Flesh: they are done with, and have not the true Life in them, but they are the fiery desire to the true Life.

89. But if they come together into ONE, into Substance; then they awaken the true Life in the Mercury; their vehement desire is after Life; they would again be that which they were in the Image of God; when Adam was Husband and Wife or Man and Woman, out of which existeth now the vehement Imagination in the Sulphur and Mercury in the Flesh.

90. The Fires Tincture longeth in the Flesh thus vehemently after the Lights Tincture, and the Lights after the Fires, The Man or Limbus or Limus Terrae et Coeli, the extract of Earth and of Heaven; longeth after Venus'es Matrix, viz: after the Joyous Conjunction of the Love-Life, viz: of the Love-relish; which relish in Adam was one in another, wherein he loved himselfe, and the Perfection consisted therein.

91. For the Flesh knoweth not what it doth; it is indeed a sub∣stance of that desire; for in the desire of the Tinctures the Seed is Ge∣nerated, wherein again the Tincture lyeth, and so vehemently driveth on, that it also might come to Life; for all Life or every Substance and thing presseth after its Center out of which it is generated.

92. Now it is to be known what is there sowen; The Tinctures which Imagine so vehemently, are in the Seed of Man and Woman, and the Seed becometh in the Impression of the Fiat, viz: in the hunger of the desire; Material; and originateth out of the power of the Flesh and of the Spirit; both of the Man and of the Woman.

93. In the Man, the Spirit is fiery, that soweth the Fiery Tincture, in the Woman the Spirit is watery according to the Light; that sow∣eth the Spirits Tincture, in the Inward Kingdome, the Image of the fa∣ded Substantiality; and in the outward, the Aires property out of the abomination of the Earthlinesse.

94. Her seed is in the outward totally Cagastrish; [or drossy] but if She be Holy, then it is in the Inward according to the saded Image; Iliastrish; that is, halfe Paradisicall; for it beareth the Rose-Garden wherein God became Man; it bear∣eth according to the second Principle, the house of PARADISE; but in the Outward Principle, it beareth the Childe, of the existed abomination out of Adams Lust; and in the Third Principle, viz: in the Earthlinesse, it beareth the Dying, viz: the Death and Earth∣linesse.

95. The Man beareth in his Seed in the first Principle, the Fire-world, viz: the Fathers Property, out of which the Father manifesteth his Sonne, viz: his Love, viz: Venus'es Matrix: that is, the second Principles Property in him, but in his Seed not manifested, but only as a Glimmering Tinder or Mother; so far as he is holy; and in the Third Principle; he beareth in the Sulphur and Mercury in his Seed; the awakened Anger of God: in which the abomination against God existed, and became Manifested in Venus'es Matrix, viz: in the Womans Property:

96. These Properties, become with the Seeds of Man and Woman in the Conjunction brought into ONE, there the TWO Tinctures receive one another in great Joyfulnesse, as it is found by experience, when the Seed goeth forth, How the Tincture lifteth up it self in Joy; whence mans Life is moved, as a Joyfull aspect; enough understood by those that are OURS.

97. And the Two Tinctures espouse themselves thus instantly in the Sulphur of the Seed into One; and awaken the Mercury viz; the Work-master of the Life, so that he laboureth in the Seed, and awake∣neth the Lifes forms in the Sulphur.

98. And if the Mercury be not potent enough, then it draweth the Mothers Menstruum to it self; and bringeth it into the Seed of the Conjunction, then it maketh the Seed in Menstruo to be FLESH; in which yet there is a materiall poyson, and the great abomination against the holynesse and purity; as is sufficiently understood by all Lovers of Mysteries, what kind of poyson lyeth in the Menstruum; which desttoyeth and poysoneth any tender plant of the Earth: as is undenyable.

99. Now in this Menstruum and poyson is the Seed come to be Flesh; and both the Tinctures are therein, and have their nourishment from their Substance; and the true Life in Soul and Spirit existeth out of THAT.

100. Where now, in this is the totall holinesse with∣out blemish according to this * 1.70 Authour? Let him shew it me

here; and then I will esteem him for the Bride of Christ; as he will needs be so in his outward Flesh.

101. The Scripture saith; † 1.71 Man is sown in dishonour, but riseth up in power: Here is understood the second Principle, in which the Word of Life, standeth together in that Espousall, but not in the Evill sinfull Flesh, which is full of kindled affections and false or wicked desires.

102. But if the Seed be of wicked Parents, then is the Mother Tinder in the second Principle not stirring; but if the Parents be Holy, then is the Seed manifested in the Threefold Life, viz: in the Three∣fold Essence; but if not, then is the Divine Mother or Tinder, not Manifested according to the Love-power, but onely according to the Anger; and according to the outward world.

103. And though it be so, that honest marryed people beget chil∣dren, and joyn themselves together with Love-desire, yet it hath NOT this meaning or understanding, That the Imagina∣tion or Desire of Man and Wife is holy; and that Christs Spirit driveth on the Imagination; as this * 1.72 Author supposeth: Indeed the Noble Soul is ashamed of it.

104. The Imagination ariseth out of the Tinctures, which kindle the Mercury with their Lust, and the Mercury kindleth the Spirit of the Life, and now existeth the Lust and Will in the Heart, viz: a vehe∣ment desire; the tenderer the Complexion is, the Nobler also is the Tincture, in its sweet desire.

105. But if also it be shot with a † 1.73 fiery Dart in Venus'es desire, then is the Life kindled, so that it is as it were more than halfe Mad with Love-Thoughts; and yet knoweth not what is happened to it.

106. Must all this now be holy? then would the Secret WHORE∣DOMES where oftentimes one vehemently and fierily loveth ano∣thers Wife, and in like manner one Woman anothers husband, and so is shot with this Dart; be also Holy: also when two young persons look upon one another, whence instantly Venus shooteth with her fiery Dart; then must that also be Holy; whereas indeed the Dart often goeth forth in false or wicked Lust.

107. And though it be at the best; yet it is a thing that is in all Beasts, it is Naturall; Men find some Beasts that are even ashamed of it; wherein it appeareth that Nature it self is ashamed of it: and when men will give it the best and rightest name, then it is called an abomination before Gods holinesse: being a thing existed out of Sinne, through Adams-Fall: which indeed is boarn with all under divine pati∣ence,

seeing it cannot be otherwise; of which we could take many Examples in the Holy Scripture.

108. Look upon the people Israel; when God would give them the Law at Mount Sinai, and manifest or reveal himself with his voyce; then he commanded the Young People which were loaden with such burning Lust; to * 1.74 abstain from their WIVES; and that pointed not only at the Marriage work, but also at the * Imagination.

109. When † 1.75 David came to Nob to the Priest Abimelech; and there was no Bread but the Holy Bread; the Priest said to David; if the young Men had abstained from Women, then would he give to them; and David said; the Women were left these Three dayes.

110. Herein Men have a very cleer example; that even the People of David ought not to eat of the holy Bread, if they had touch∣ed Women, then were they unclean, and David had shut up the Women therefore from the Young Men; that they should not be Made unclean with the Women through burning and Lust; for they were in the warres, that they should not be an abomination before God; and so God suffer them to fall, in Battell.

111. And Saint Paul saith: 1 Corinth: 7. 5. concerning Marryed persons; That they should not depart one from another unlesse it be with both their consent, that they may apply themselves unto Prayer. Saint Paul; meaneth that Men should FORBEAR the Marriage work, when they will Repent, viz: enter into true sorrow, with Prayer before God: It is just such an Example as that of Moses, and David.

112. Therefore, a Man cannot say, that the Spirit of Christ promo∣teth it and driveth it on, and intoduceth it self into the burning or ar∣dent Imagination: Christ therefore became a Man, without the help or Co-working or concurrence of any Man or Husband; that he might bring us forth out of this abomination before God, through his holy Incarnation or Becoming Man: he became such a Virgin-like Child with both the Tinctures one in another with own self-Love, that he might bring our Rent, in himself, into ONE.

113. And this is the abomination in the Marriage work, that the Seed is unclean, in the Conjunction of both the Tinctures, when they are brought together into One, it is the Property of the Eternall Joy∣fullnesse, viz: of the highest desiring and fulfilling; if that might be done without abomination, THEN it were holy.

114. But the Sulphur of the Seed is an abomination before the Holinesse: The Elevation of the Naturall Lifes Forms, where the Forms of Nature lift up themselves in self-hood, they lye in the Seeds, and are kindled in Gods Anger, viz: in the abomination of the dark world through the Devils Imagination.

115. Therefore this impure Sulphur, out of which the Tinctures in the Fire Life, viz: in the Fiery Tincture become generated, is an abomination

before Gods holinesse, and therefore must also this Sulphur with the abomination totally corrupt or break in peeces, and go again into the beginning of the Creation.

116. And though it be so; that the Word of the LORD Verbum Domini, intermixeth it self together in the Holy People, that is done according to the inward Man, where the Divine Sparkle is propagated in the Image of God in the Heavenly Substantiali∣ty.

117. For, the Word of the Deity in the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in Heaven, and the right true Image created from the Divine worlds Substance, which in Adam dyed and faded, is the Heaven's Substance, into which NO abomination CAN Enter: for the Holy Spirit re∣ceiveth not that.

118. The Spirit of Christ possesseth and manifesteth it selfe in HIS Tents, and not in the beastial Conjunction of the Abominations of Sinne; It is not in the power of the Imagination of the Flesh; but in the pure Love-desire of Chastity and Faithfullnesse, where TWO joyn their Minds together in the Marriage Band, and give up their Love and faithfullnesse one to another to be their own, and desire to be ONE Heart and Will.

119. There the Spirit of Christ, is the Love-band, and here now is rightly that thing, * 1.76 Increase or Multiply, and be fruitfull: God said to Adam and Eve, they should multiply themselves in their Marriage Band.

120. He saith not; HE would do it with the promised Crusher or Bruiser of the Serpent, but he gave them the power of the Naturall Man; but the Holy Spiritual Birth or Geniture he promoteth in his own Principle, and not in the perished corrupt Flesh, not in the Imagination of Lust, which is more Beastiall than truly Hu∣mane.

121. Indeed he bringeth holy children together but by the means of his Officer Nature, how he will have it; but the marriage work according to the outward Man, is not Holy; but according to the in∣ward it is holy in the children of the Saints; and Not in Beastiall Vessels.

122. But that † 1.77 this Authour sets it down; That through this Conjunction of Man and Wife, in their Lust-desire; the Evill Properties and Lust of the Flesh are separated asunder; and totally sancti∣fied in the Spirit of Christ; the Love-Spirit of Christ mixeth it self in their Imagination; and

driveth on all Abominations, and worketh in the Imagination this Lust of the Man and Woman, and sanctifieth the Imagination and the Seed, sinne dyeth, and a totall holy child be∣cometh conceived, viz: a Christ little-Child or Infant, that is without blemish and Sinne, more∣over God and Man outwardly and inward∣ly.

123. And this he speaketh as one that understandeth nothing of the Mystery of CHRIST; and takes upon him freely, as a Saint of his own making, a self elected one without power; who knoweth not his beastial abomination and Filth.

124. He will make Christ to be OUTWARDLY; and yet Christ himself saith; * 1.78 His Kingdom was not of this World; after his appointed work was accomplished, he went to Heaven; and in the Heaven which is IN us, he dwelleth with us, and worketh in that very Heaven in us, and not at all in the Beastial Man, in the fleshly birth, in which Death is.

125. It is a meer fiction, whereby young people which are very eager and fiery in Venus'es desire, are made altogether wanton and Luxurious, when it is so finely pourtrayed before them, that their de∣sire and Lust is Christs driving, and that it is the Spirit of Christ, which would mix it selfe and beget Children.

126. When he conversed upon the Earth, HE never desired to mixe himself but only in the Spirit in the Soul, and in the Image of God; will he then now mixe himself in the beastial outward Work? we have NO testimony for that.

127. In David was also the Spirit of God, should therefore the Spirit of God have mixed it self in his outward whoredom, and have dri∣ven on the work of the outward Imagination towards * 1.79 Bathsheba, the Wife of Ʋriah, whom he murthered; then, God would have had, the whoredome, to have been.

128. No! God punished David for that very fact: therefore men should not say: the Spirit of Christ mixeth it self in the Center of the Imagination of fleshly Lust, and sanctifieth the outward Seed; it is altogether false.

129. He sanctifieth his Tabernacles, which he possesseth; he indeed openeth and shutteth in the work of the Life, so that the Mercury, viz: the Work master cannot many times bring his work to Life, and also many times bringeth it to Life according to Gods will; as in many times to be seen among the Saints of Old, especially in the Line of Christ; but men should distinguish the outward from the Inward.

130. The Marriage work in it self, if it Be done * 1.80 Ordinately, is not sinfull, for it is driven on by Gods Officer, Nature, and boarn withall under divine patience.

131. God sets before him the Becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ his Sonne, as among the Jewes, the Sacrifices, which God set before him in the Covenant, through the future Humanity, and recon∣ciled himself in the Covenant; that the Anger might not burn in the humane Abomination.

132. Thus also in the outward Marriage work; God sets before him, the true Image, which lyeth shut up in our Seed, in Christ his Sonne; and entereth in the working power into the Substance of that Image of the Heavenly Substantiality, as a Glimmering Mother or Tinder of divine Property; and herein lyeth the holinesse of the holy marryed peoples Children.

133. But in the outward Flesh, as also in the Soul, the Abomination of Sinne cleaveth to them, and so NO child is born into the world with∣out Sinne: The will to the outward work of the mixing together, men should distinguish from the Will of the Divine Holinesse, and from the will of own self Lust.

134. Nature willeth the Burning eager Lust, viz: the Mixture; and Gods holinesse willeth the Conjunction of the pure Tinctures: in which Conjunction the Divine Center; viz: a holy fire-sparkle together in∣corporateth it self, in the Substance of the heavens Image in the word of Power, and doth not together incarnate it selfe in the Outward Flesh.

135. This † 1.81 Authour saith, When Christ is born or Generated, then the Earthly Man must depart: But in this Time; Christ is in the Heaven of Man, and the Earthly Man, upon Earth in his Self hood in the Four Elements.

136. * 1.82 This Authour Cryeth out upon the Confusion of others wayes, and despiseth other Men gifted from God, in their Gifts; and yet his whole work is nothing else but a meer confusion of one thing in another; the outward World with God, the Creature with the Holy Trinity; so that no rationall Man at all can see by him the di∣stinction between God and the Creature.

137. There, never came to my knowledge, any writings wherein all things are so wholly spoyled confused and darkned or obscured

under long circumlocutions and Glosses, as in these: that he may under such confusion, but present and give forth himselfe for a GOD.

138. That is the whole contents of his meaning, that it is no more he that willeth, doth, speaketh, thinketh, or purposeth any thing, but that God in Christ is it ALL, in him, the will, the deed, the speaking, understanding, thinking, begetting of Children, eating, drinking, sleep∣ing, waking: but then must he also be even the Coughing in him; and whatsoever else he doth in any secret place.

139. Which is very easily understood by reading in him, because he will distinguish Nothing, but will be All in all, God in Christ; which is fit should be signified concerning him, that other people might learn to beware of such seeming flourishing Lustre; and learn to know them∣selves inwardly and outwardly, what the Creature, Man, God, and Christ are, and not so Groundlesly call the cursed world, God.

140. I write not this to the reproach of the * 1.83 Authour; but for the Reader to consider, that he may know, that he is a Sinner, and what his Holinesse in him is, for a totall faithfull instruction, from my Gifts, which in the Grace of the Divine Love, have been imparted, to me.

NOw followeth

The Third Point of the Fourth Text.

The * 1.84 Authours Own Explanation.

1. THus now hereupon followeth Thirdly; How and after what manner and kind, also, the Man-God CHRIST, cometh and is manifested through the Divine-humane Wife, or Wo∣man.

2. And how, through Christ the first born before all Creatures, the most holy expresse Image, yes the Self-subsisting Substance of the totall most holy Divine Fullnesse; the Triune highly praised living powerfull word of God, God himself; through whom and for whom, all things not only were Created, but after the Fall, through his holy becoming Man or Incar∣nation, and precious innocent passion, dying, Resurrection, ascention into Heaven, and per∣fect merit, were perfectly redeemed or deli∣vered.

3. As heretofore is mentioned, he hath uni∣ted the totall faithful Mankind, in the Love of his divine voyce, to him, to his holy Names high∣est praise and honour, for his proper own body and Wife or Woman [which he not in an out∣ward Manner prepares to himself, creates and makes new; but in the inward Center and middle

of the Heart] from the beginning of the World Suddenly after the Fall; betrothed in Grace Love and Mercy, yes, in the Faith, and tied it and prepared it for his Eternall Rest.

4. In like manner also, this most Holy Man CHRIST JESUS, * 1.85 the Innocent Lamb of God, yes, the Triune highly praised Sonne of God, God himself, [which according to the Testimo∣ny of the Holy Scripture was slain from the begin∣ning of the world] in all faithfull and Saints, with his holy living powerfull richly spirituall word, divine substance, working willing and perfecting, according to the measure of his appea∣ring gifts, hath appeared from the beginning of the world.

5. And himself hath manifested the true Womans Seed, in the Woman or Wife of his Love, prepared for himself; Against which this self own holy Womans Seed; He the highly praised Triune God himself, according to the Testimony of the Scripture hath permitted and set the Enmity.

6. So that the Satanical Serpents Seed, the unfaithfull wicked corrupt world, through Sa∣tan and his naked outward fleshly sinfull wicked Diabolical matters, also evill heart and † 1.86 Lust of the Eye, is governed and driven on; this his own Self-seed, in, and together with his own Love and Wife is persecuted derided scorned despised scandalized worryed and put to death: As the Testimony of the Holy Scripture truly and cleerly in & to all the Saints, witnesseth and manifesteth.

7. But this Holy Divine Womans Seed, in and to the Saints, hath after many kinds and wayes appeared, as in Adam and Eve after the Fall, and after that, through Christ the Tri∣une highly praised God himself, the promise of the perfect Womans Seed of the Messiah, was spo∣ken and pronounced to them, the strong Hope, Faith and Confidence, in this Womans Seed, was openly caused to sound forth from them; As in∣deed Eve in this assured Faith, mentioned the LORD Messiah * 1.87 saying her first born sonne Cain, was the Man of the LORD.

8. In † 1.88 Abel, this holy Womans Seed, and Lamb of God, manifested it self, in which Faith, he also sacrificed to the Lord, and caused his holy praise and Thanksgiving, to ascend to God the highest Good: and thereupon he was slain by the Serpents seed Cain.

9. In * 1.89 Enoch, the holy Womans seed, manifested it self so powerfully, that through and with God, in the holy Faith the Mother together with the Holy Birth, went Bodily into Heaven.

10. In † 1.90 Noah, this holy Womans seed, and living substantiall word of God, manifested it self so powerfully, with Teaching Preaching, Prophesying, Reproving and admonishing to Repent, Instructing, Comforting, and Divine Confirmation, in and to the building of the Ark, pointing at the Future Deluge; which holy womans seed, also his Faithfull Parents;

with living voyce at his Birth testified and said; this will Comfort us in our Misery.

11. This holy Womans seed in * 1.91 Abraham, was witnessed by the high divine Majesty, from Heaven it self, the most holy Triunity, which in the outward form of the Persons of Three Men One LORD, caused himself to be manifestly heard saying, In this, thy seed, shall all people be blessed; understand, those which beleeve in him, and suffer him to rule them.

12. This holy Womans seed was witnessed al∣so by the Triune God Christ Jesus himself, in † 1.92 Isaac: In Rebecca, was manifested in her womb before the Birth, both this Holy Womans, and also the Serpents seed, in which the un∣belief and Serpents seed Esau, out of the Saw or Swine of Unbelief.

13. Which persecuted the Holy Faiths seed, of the holy Woman in Rebecca; * 1.93 Jacob; and beat and struck him: who afterwards after the birth did himself terribly and damnably perse∣vere; and † 1.94 purposed to slay the beloved Jacob.

14. How mightily holily and gloriously this holy Womans seed, manifested it self in the be∣loved Jacob, concerning which, the Lord Zebaoth himself, giveth glorious holy Testimony; in so much as he so highly entituled him, that he called him * 1.95 Israel; a Prince and Ruler with God.

15. This should the faithfull Children and Womans seed, of the highly praised Triune God, united with and in this God, further consider of;

and especially, through this holy good divine living working substantial Seed of God CHRIST JESUS, apprehend, to themselves the living word of God, from the least grain of Mustard∣seed, and least minutest measure and peece, even the totall appearing fullnesse of the Deity in and to themselves; according to the Testimony of the Holy Scripture.

16. To which holy new-birth originall and beginning in the Faithful Hearts; no worldly Wit Art skill, learning in the Scrip∣tures and getting it without Booke, Phylosophicall, Logicall, Natu∣rall, puft up Art, can any thing at all in the least attain or performe, according to the Testimony of the Scripture.

17. † 1.96 Where are the Scripture-Learn∣ed or Scribes? where are the Worldly wise Men? where are the Judges? where are the Councellours? Hath not God turned the wisdome of the world into Foolishnesse? as it appeareth cleerly and manifestly, in all the worldly wise, in Scrip∣ture-Learned Art and Experience; though like∣ly many years from their child-hood, to their highest age, they have in their state and condi∣tion taken great pains for worldly Art.

18. Yet they must at last be ashamed before this Triune seed of God CHRIST JESUS, the living substantial word of God, from the least

particle to the highest Perfection in all Saints; and let go their ART and lament over it saying: that it hath not at all profited them to salvation, but been totally hurtfull.

19. As many of them also before their de∣cease have forgotten this acquired Art and world∣ly naturall wisdome which they have learnt, and have become so foolish and childish, and indeed in all Stations and conditions; that they alas, could not any more preserve and recollect in their memory, OƲR FATHER, which they learnt from their child-hood according to the Letter.

20. As then they will apprehend this necessa∣ry information according to the Glorious appea∣ring of this holy womans seed, according to the measure in all Saints, in Joseph, Moses, Joshuah, Rebeccah, Samuel, David, Solomon and all holy honest faithfull people and Prophets of the Old and New Testament, in works words and deeds; to the totall perfection, inwardly and outwardly visible Birth of the Sonne of God, born out of the perfect pure Virgin and Genetrix of God, MARY: even every Elect, to the highest praise of God will partake with GOD himself, and delight himself therein, and will know how to praise the most high Eternally for it, with himself.

Jacob Behme's Answer To this Explanation of this Third Point of the Fourth Text.

1. THis * 1.97 Authour, mentioneth concerning the Triune God and Man CHRIST, and concerning the Divine Woman or Wife, and signifieth; that not only all things were created, through and for that Triune Man CHRIST; but also after the Fall, were, by his holy Becoming Man or Incarnation, and precious Inward Passion and Dying, Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and perfect merit, perfectly Delivered.

2. All which, needeth far another explanation: for if I say, CHRIST is the Triune God; then I speak of no Man or Creature; for the Holy Trinity is no Man nor Woman, much lesse a Crea∣ture.

3. Only he hath manifested himselfe, through and IN the Huma∣nity, and made himself visible in a humane Image; but the visible palpable Substance of the Flesh, is not the Triune Deity: but the Spirit in the power of the Flesh, the divine Spirit in the Spirituall, the uncreaturely IN the creaturely is GOD.

4. CHRIST, so farre as he is called the Triune God, according to the Eternall Word, in the Name JEHOVA or JESUS, so farre as concerns the unmeasurable God, is no Man or Creature; but the Full∣nesse of all things, dwelling in himself.

5. But according to the Name CHRIST, the Deity is visible; and this * 1.98 CHRIST, viz: The Anointed of God, penetrateth, only, or pres∣seth upon, the humanity, NOT upon ALL Creatures; he uniteth himself to NO Creature but Man; he hath also with his Incarnation, Suffering Dying and Resurrection, delivered NO creature but MAN.

6. With the Name CHRIST he is become manifest only in the Humanity, not in the Earthly or Heavenly Creatures, † 1.99 The Earthly and Heavenly Creatures, need NO Christ, and the Hellish have NONE.

7. This Christ it is, through whom God, who dwelleth in him, and hath manifested himself, with the Christ, who will judge all things, and separate the Good from the Evill: HE is not manifested in the Creatures, that he would deliver them to Eternity; and dwell Crea∣turely in them, as he dwelleth in MAN: all Creatures of this world except Man, go again into that out of which they proceeded in the beginning.

8. When I will speak of the Man CHRIST, what kind of Three∣sold God and Man he is; then I distinguish the humane Creature, which he hath received of us Men, and difference it from the Triune Deity; the manifested Substance, from the power and Omnipo∣tence.

9. Not that he is divided, but that the Spirit of God is higher then the Substance, which he generateth in his Desire, in his exha∣led Sound: for according to Our Substance CHRIST calleth him∣selfe, the Sonne of Man: and saith; the * 1.100 Father is greater than HEE.

10. According to the humanity, he hath a given power; and ac∣cording to the Deity he is the Giver himselfe. The Man is our Humani∣ty; and the Christ is the Anointed of God; which God hath manife∣sted out of the Name JEHOVA or JESUS out of the Deep of the wisdome, out of the Center of God, out of the Great Love, and given it to the humane Creature for a Light and Eternall Seed.

11. Not that this amiable blessed sweet Love of Christ is the Man, but the holy SUN-shine in the Great Love-flame, in the Man; for, when I see a holy Christian Man going or standing, I do not say there goeth or standeth Christ; but I say there goeth or standeth a Christian Man; in whom, the Sun CHRIST, shineth.

12. The Person of Adam is not the Christ; but the Person of the power of God, which dwelleth in the Man Adam according to the Heavenly Part; That is Christ.

13. As the Sun shineth in the whole outward world, and im∣powereth all and maketh it fruitfull; and the world is not the Sun: so also the CHRIST shineth as a revealed or Manifested Sun, out of JEHOVA or JESUS, in the Creaturely humanity of Christ.

14. The Name Christ, is the revealed or manifested Sun out of the Eternall Name JEHOVA, or JESUS: JEHOVA is the Eternall Divine SUN, in which this great Love-Sun, CHRIST; as a Heart in the Center of the Holy Trinity, hath been hidden to all Creatures, and yet is through the second moving of the Deity, as a holy sweet Love-Sun, become manifested.

15. I must not say, that, in the Person CHRIST, viz: in the Man, according to his humanity, according to that part which he hath on him from us Men from our Body and Soul, that is, on to the Deity, on to the Divine Substantiality, or Heavenly Corporeity, taken on to him;

That the Creature is ceased and taken up, or that the Creature Soul and Body from us Men is unmeasurable.

16. No: for such a One is not our Eternall High Priest, which I could never more see in the Form of Man; for, the Men, when he went to Heaven said: * 1.101 Ye shall SEE this JESUS, come again, as he is Ascended.

17. Only the Deity in him, and the Christ, understand, the divine property, together with the Heavenly divine substantiality, where∣with, he saith, John 3. 13. He was come from Heaven. THIS is un∣creaturely, and yet IN every Man, as an own Sun, yet only in one point, which shineth forth out of the fountain of this Sun, indeed from no place or space, but the place of this holy revelation or Mani∣festation, is in ALL Men the Center of the Originall.

18. This SUN is in all Men, but this Sun is not revealed or manife∣sted in all Men, but only in the Desire to the † 1.102 Point, which is CHRIST; which point is JESUS out of JEHOVA.

19. But concerning the Holy woman or wife, which this Authour mentioneth, which is holy and PERFECT, wherein the Man CHRIST becometh generated, needeth also a farre other Explana∣tion.

20. And though he sets down the Holy Christianity to be the wo∣man or wife; which I blame not: yet a Man must not speak that concerning the outward Earthly Man, for the Earthly Man is not Christs Spouse or Wife, but the inward Spiritual which faded or disap∣peared in Adam, the Heavenly, which Christ, as viz: the Holy SUN, vivifieth.

21. But * 1.103 this Authours writing is altogether Contradictory and runnes counter against it selfe; for here in this Point, he writeth of this Spouse or Woman and Body, thus; which he NOT outwardly prepareth, createth and maketh new, but in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart, from the beginning of the world instantly after the Fall, in Grace Love and Mercy, yes in the Faith, espouseth betrotheth and uniteth to himself, and prepa∣reth it for his Eternall Rest. In like manner also this holy Man CHRIST JESUS, the Innocent Lamb of God, yes, the Triune highly praised

Sonne of God, God himself; which was slain from the beginning of the world IN all Faith∣full and Saints, according to the Testimony of the Scripture.

22. Before † 1.104 this Authour hath set down in another place; that if CHRIST became manifest or revealed in Man, then Nature falleth Totally away; Now he sets it down; that CHRIST, in the Inward Center and middle of the Heart, hath from the beginning of the world, espoused and uni∣ted himself with the Saints in the Faith; which indeed were true, if he did not speak it concerning the Man CHRIST, but concerning the Promised CHRIST in the Covenant, which first in Time fulfilled the Covenant.

23. For, Not CHRIST the Man, who in the Time in the Limit of the Covenant manifested or revealed himselfe; was slain in the Holy Patriarchs; but the Children of Faith in whom the Covenant became manifested.

24. CHRIST * 1.105 hath once given and offered up his holy Life in the sweet Love, to his Father, into his Anger, which was manifested in the Humane Property: and with the Love broken the Anger to pieces. He hath not dyed in ALL the Saints from Adam to this time, and suffered himself to be slain and put to death: Only the Children of the Faith of the Covenant have suffered themselves to be put to death according to the MAN of SINNE, that the word of Life in the Cove∣nant in them, might put on the new promised Life, which would mani∣fest it self in the Covenant with the future Sun of the New Life in the Spirit of the Covenant.

25. So that when Christ would manifest himself in the Covenant in the Flesh, he also in that Covenant, which had manifested it selfe in them, would be manifested in them with the divine Substantiality, viz: with Christs heavenly Flesh.

26. For even after the Resurrection of Christ, when he had assu∣med the Humanity, and slain death; it was not CHRIST, that dyed any more in his Members, in the Christians, or was slain, but Adam, in Christs Death, that Christs Spirit in the Soul and the holy Man, might Live: When Christ becometh born then should the Man of Sinne continually Dye, till at last when the Outward body departeth, it WHOLLY ceaseth.

27. But if Christ the Lamb of God, were become slain in the Old Patriarchs, then the reconciliation was performed IN them,

and then it cometh not solely and onely from the Sonne of MARY.

28. Abel, was NOT the Lamb of God which was slain for Sinne: Christ dyed not in Abel, but in the BODY which he received from MARY.

29. Abel and all the Martyrs dyed as to their own Bodies; for the sake of the Covenant, which opened it self in them, they were slain, and dyed as to their sinfull Adamicall Body, and not as to the Holy Body, which was shut up in the Covenant, which, Christ, when he would manifest himself in the Covenant, would manifest it to be an Eternall Life and holy Flesh; in which he would dwell and be the power and Life thereof.

30. When the Holy Scripture saith, * 1.106 CHRIST was slain in the Saints, then it understandeth, then Members of the Body of CHRIST, ac∣cording to Christs humanity, which HE, the Christ, assumed: It under∣standeth not the Triune God, that should suffer it selfe to be slain from the beginning of the world; for doubtlesse God cannot dye: That which dyeth is only the Body of Christs Members, according to the humane Creature, and not according to the Spirit of Christ.

31. The Spirit of Christ hath therefore manifested it self in the Humanity, and slain Death in his assumed Body; that the Gates of Life in us should be opened; for if I be murthered for the sake of Christs Name, and the Testimony thereof; then doth not Christ dye in me, but † 1.107 Adam dyeth in Christs death; and Christ in my dying be∣cometh first rightly manifested.

32. My dying is Christs Resurrection in ME; for I dye away to the sinfull self-hood or Nothingnesse, and live to the Resignation in the Spi∣rit of Christ.

33. Therefore this is a voyd and groundlesse thing, that * 1.108 this Authour writeth: that the Man Christ, the Innocent Lamb of God, God himself, which; from the beginning of the world, according to the Testi∣mony of the Scripture, was slain in all the Saints and faithfull, &c.

34. The Triune God is not from the beginning of the world slain in his Saints; the Scripture saith not so, but the Faithfull Men were slain for Christs sake; and NOT the Triune Christ IN them.

35. Man in his self-hood and I-hood; is not Christ himself, but Christ dwelleth in him, he is the shining Lustre of his holy Life, as him∣self saith, John 8. 12. I am the Light of the World; This he speaketh, ac∣cording to the Name CHRIST out of JESUS, and not accor∣ding to our Humanity, which Dyed on the Crosse;

concerning which Isaiah calleth him, a simple Servant; in that he saith, who is so simple as my servant?

36. This Servant of God, is not the Holy Trinity, but the revela∣tion or Manifestation, and habitation, of the holy Trinity; the servant is become slain as a Lamb; and not the holy Trinity; Men should alwayes make a difference between God and the Humanity; else if God were dead in his Trinity, then were Death stronger than God, who must thus, have given himself up, to Death.

37. Christ is indeed God and Man in ONE Person, but the Deity, viz: the Divine Property, is not the Person, the Man; but the † 1.109 Homo, or humanity, is the Man and the Lamb of God, which was slain; and is called Christ, from the Anointing; so that God hath anointed this hu∣manity of CHRIST; with his Spirit * 1.110 without measure: for the JE∣SUS is the Anointing, viz: the Deep Love in the Deity.

38. Therefore now the Lamb of God according to the humanity, viz: IN the Members thereof, wherein the promised Covenant was, out of which Covenant the Anointing would manifest or reveal it self: was slain; not Christ the Anointed of God, which in the Covenant was hidden in them.

39. Abel was not anointed with Christ, but indeed with the pro∣mised word in the Covenant, in which the Christ manifested himself, and when Christ manifested himself in the Covenant in the Humane property, THEN Abel put on Christ in the Flesh: before Christs hu∣manity Abel had put on the Covenant in the promised Word; and † 1.111 WHEN Christ arose from the Dead, then Abel also arose in Christs anointing in Christs humanity out of Christs Death, and lived in the Anointing of Christ.

40. The Man Christ is the First that arose from the Dead in the Anointing, and is also the First who in the Anointing dyed to the Hu∣mane I-hood: He is only and alone the Lamb of God, in whom God brake his wrath to pieces: Abel and all Martyrs are his Members, upon whom the breaking death in pieces pressed or penetrated out of this Lamb Christ.

41. Abel received an imputed Righteousnesse, not a self wrought one of his own. Abel before the humanity of Christ was not the Lamb of God; but he was a Member in the Lamb of God: Christ hath in all things the preheminence; and none of them hath been able to call himself a Christian, much lesse the Lamb of God; that is, hath been Slain for or instead of Christ.

42. They have all of them only been put to death in the spirit of Faith upon Christs future coming, they have put on Christ in the Cove∣nant of Promise in the Spirit of Faith; Not as a Lamb or Man, but in Power, not in the Flesh but in the Spirit, so that Christ is the First who in the Flesh should be called * 1.112 The Lamb of God.

43. † 1.113 This Authour mentioneth in this Manner, But also this holy divine Substantial womans seed, hath in and to the Saints appeared and been manifest in many kinds and wayes, as in Adam and Eve after the Fall: If this be so, that the divine substantiall womans Seed was manifest in Adam and Eve, then they have put on Christ, viz: the true womans Seed in Substance.

44. And then they need not expect further about any other wo∣mans seed; why did Eve then say when she bare Cain: * 1.114 I have the Man the LORD? if she had before the substantiall womans seed manifested in her, why did she then hope for another?

45. And God said also to Abraham: † 1.115 In thy seed shall all Nations be blessed; this was spoken concerning the future womans seed, which would manifest himself in Abrahams seed Substantially with divine Heavenly Substantiality.

46. If it were spoken as to the present, then God had not comman∣ded him the Circumcasion, and after that the Sacrifice; The Substantiall womans seed was not in the Sacrifice, but the word of Promise in the Covenant.

47. The substantiall seed, of which God said, therein all Nations should become blessed, that lay shut up in Abraham, unlesse the opening of the Name JESUS, should open it; the Promise to Abraham, went on as to the Limit.

48. That very substantiality, wherein God would become Man, was saded or disappeared in Adam, when he dyed to the Kingdome of Heaven and Paradise: This saded or disappeared Seed, become in its Principle, co-propagated.

49. And in this Seed stood the limit of the Covenant, out of which the Spirit of God in the Saints manifested it self; and not through the fa∣ded or disappeared substance, but with Christs becoming Man or In∣carnation, the Substantiall revelation or Manifestation proceeded, where God dwelleth within in the substance, viz: as a Life of the Substance.

50. Also this * 1.116 Authour writeth further: And after that, through Christ the Triune highly praised God himselfe, the promise of the Perfect womans seed of the Messiah, was pronounced and pro∣mised to them; The strong Hope Faith and

Confidence, in this womans Seed, caused it self openly to sound forth from them.

51. Now if Christ dwelt substantially in Adam and Eve, what need he then promise another substance to them? I verily think Christ would not be manifested or revealed in Adam: much lesse hath Christ promised Adam to become Man in his seed: but God promised the Christ to Adam, viz: to awaken the Anointed of God in his seed, viz: in the womans seed, and not in the Mans seed, As in the Fourth Point shall be expressed at large.

52. Christ stood in Adam and Eve, in the Limit of the Covenant in the Name JESU, in JEHOVAH, in divine hiddennesse or secresie, in the seed of Adam and Eve, without humane substance, and unmove∣ably in the promised seed, till the End of the Limit, there he moved himself in the womans seed.

53. This High hitherto much repeated Speech concerning the Triune Womans Seed, before Christs Humanity, is much more a Confusion than an Explanation: the CHRIST in the womans seed was manifested in No Saint before Christs Birth; but only in the Spirit of the Deity, in a Prophetick manner, and not in a Humane Manner.

54. By the womans Seed, is alwayes understood, the * 1.117 Paradise, which faded or disappeared in Adam, viz: the Heavenly corporeity from the pure Element; and NOT the FOUR Elements, this was manifest neither in Adam nor Abel, till the Saviour CHRIST became manifest in this Seed.

55. This Authour so wonderfully blends one in another, that it hath no sufficient understanding: one while he speaks of Faith, that the Saints have had the womans seed manifested in the Faith, then suddenly he speaks of the substance, whereas in the Substance there was no manifestation or revelation in THEM, but only in the Faith, was the divine and humane Conjunction IN the Spirit, and NOT in the Womans Seed.

56. Men should not set down the Triune God Christ to be in the Humane substance, before Christs becoming Man or Incarna∣tion: for after the Word became Flesh, then he was called CHRIST, and no theretofore, in the Covenant, where he was only in the Promise.

57. And though indeed he was in the Deep of the Deity from Eternity; yet he was not then called the Womans Seed, for the wo∣mans Seed was not sooner called Christ, then till the word of God manifested it selfe in the Womans Seed, and sanctified the Wo-Womans

Seed, and generated it to a Divine Life or Sub∣stance.

58. The womans Seed attained the Anointing in the Motion of the Name JESU in MARY, and not in Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David.

59. The Saints of Old knew not Christ in their Seed, that he moved and manifested himself in their Seed, but in their Spirits and Souls, not in the Fleshly Seed, but in the Faiths desire, viz: as a Divine Conjun∣ction.

60. What this * 1.118 Authour speaketh further, concerning the Serpents Seed; that it hath manifested it self in the Saints neer to the holy Womans Seed, as he peremptorily sets it down, that Esau was genera∣ted out of the Saw, or Swine, viz: out of the Serpents Seed; that is with the Authour a plain ignorance and confusion.

61. Esau was generated of NO Saw, or Swine, for his Mother was NO Saw or Swine; He was begotten out of Isaac's and his Wifes Seed; as well as his brother Jacob, but the kindled Anger of God, which Adam awakened, had laid hold on Esau.

62. For, the Love and Anger were both manifested in Man, viz: Evill and Good, and they were alwayes in the wrestling, till at last CHRIST came, and overcame the Anger, with the sweet Love of God, out of JESUS, and changed it into Divine Joy.

63. Esau was a Type or Shadow, of the Earthly Sinfull Adam, and Jacob was a Type of Christ; Christ would blesse and reconcile the Esau through Jacobs Seed: for † 1.119 he was come to call the poor sinners, viz: the perished or corrupt Adam and Esau to repentance, and Not the Righteous Jacob in the Line of Christ.

64. Esau was not begotten out of the Serpents Seed, else must the Devill have dwelt in Isaac and Rebecca in their Seed out of which they begat Esau: which were abominable to be spoken.

65. This * 1.120 Authour setteth Open a Hellish door, in the Holy Patriarchs, which yet he will have to be Perfect: His writing is much more a blasphemy and reproaching of God, than a Christian Explana∣tion.

66. That this Jacob and Esau have striven in their Mothers womb, signifieth, the Paradise as to one part and as to the other Part, the Earthly world, viz: Gods Love and Anger, which were both stirring

in the Humane Essence, and in strife about Man: as I have expressed it at large in another place.

67. This † 1.121 Authour should not make of Esau a Saw or Swine; nor of Cain, so totally a Serpents Seed, It should be shewn in the Holy Scrip∣ture, or else none will give credit to him: for the Judgement belongeth to God and not to Man.

68. He cannot shew that Cain and Esau were generated Devills totally out of the Serpents seed: for God said to Cain, * 1.122 Rule over Sinne, Suffer it not to have the Dominion: Thus there was a possibility in Cain, that he could rule over Sinne, else God had not commanded him to do so; but whatsoever is to∣tally the Serpents and the Devills, therein is, NO Possibility.

69. Esau had even such a Soul, as Jacob had, both begotten from their Parents, and this only was the difference, that in the one the Divine Love, and in the other, the awakened anger, was manifested, which, yet, Christ, with his Bloud, would drown, in all those who would introduce their Souls desires, into him.

70. But that this * 1.123 Authour, rejecteth all worldly Wit and Art, and saith, they serve nothing to the kingdom of God: but that they are much more hurtfull: needeth also another Explanation.

71. ART indeed giveth no divine power or wisdome, and helps nothing to the kingdome of God; but it belongs to the out∣ward Man of Gods WONDERS, that he should behold Gods won∣ders and great hidden wisdome, and † 1.124 praise God, in all his works.

72. If the outward Man learneth NO Art, then he is most NEER to a * 1.125 BEAST; which knoweth not; what the substance of all Substances is.

73. Indeed the Divine wisdome standeth NOT in Art and Reason, but it sheweth Art the way, what it should do and how it should Seek: ART is really the Tool or Instrument of God where∣with the divine wisdom worketh or laboureth: why should I then despise it? Through ART; † 1.126 All Creatures are ruled by Man, and in Art is the Outward Body Covered and defended from Heat and Cold.

74. But that this * 1.127 Authour also mentioneth; that by Re∣pentant Men, ALL Art is cast behind and

forgotten, and that many in their Old age, be∣come so childish they do at length forget, OUR FATHER, which they had learned: that is very cunningly and Slyly intended by him.

75. For before he had said, He was so perfect, that he need not any More to PRAY, OUR FATHER, &c. likely he would fain that none should learn to PRAY, and besides should learn NO Art, and then he need forget nothing.

76. If none should learn any Art, then could we no more man∣nage our Estate and Employment upon Earth, and if none should learn to PRAY, then all Men would continue in Self-hood, and then Sinne is TOTALLY Covered, and is no more known or acknowledged; and then Folly standeth in the place or stead of ART, and Man in his Reason is like ALL the Beasts.

77. The deeper a Man is * 1.128 LEARNED concerning GOD, the deeper he seeketh and SEETH into Gods deeds of Wonder in ART; for all profitable ARTS are revealed or manifested out of Gods Wisdome, NOT that they are THAT, by WHICH Man cometh to God, but for the Government of the outward Life, and for the Glorious Mani∣festation of the Divine Wisdome and Omni∣potence.

78. With the supposed Womans Seed, wherein he conceiteth himself to be totally divine and holy, he will not make all ARTS to Cease; for the Womans Seed is Humane; but when CHRIST, viz: Gods Love, assumeth it, and manifesteth himself therein, then is that Womans Seed, the Humanity of Christ: viz: the true Image of GOD.

79. This † 1.129 Authour calleth the Womans Seed, the good holy divine living working Seed of God, CHRIST JESUS, the Living Word of God, and yet understandeth not what Gods Seed or the Womans Seed is,

what the Life and power is: when I speak only and alone of the Womans Seed, then I say not, Gods seed CHRIST JESUS: The Name JESUS is divine, but the Name CHRIST is God and Man.

80. When JESUS manifested himself in the Womans Seed and as∣sumed THAT, then the Person was called CHRIST; yet now the Name JESUS is the holy divine Life, viz: the Divine Seed out of the word of the Deity: the Womans Seed is his assumed Sub∣stance.

81. And therefore HE is called the Womans Seed, because he is from the woman, viz: from the heavenly Virginity which faded or disappeared in Adam; and as to another part from the outward worlds substance; in which the Name JESUS, viz: Gods seed, * 1.130 de∣stroyed or brake in peeces, Death and Gods Anger.

82. The womans Seed, is a totall humane Seed from Soul and Body, but it must be rightly understood, as to THAT Seed, wherein Adam might have generated Magically, if his Longing or Lust, had not plunged it self into vanity, Evill and Good, and awake∣ned the Abomination, as is before mentioned and here following in the Fourth Point.

83. Now if I will in this place, speak so highly, of the divine Womans Seed, then I must distinguish Gods and the Womans Seed: and must rightly shew; How Gods Seed, viz: the Name JESUS, out of the word of the divine Sound or Life hath united it self with the wo∣mans Seed: and given up it self into ONE Person, which is called CHRIST.

84. The Name JESUS, is the anointing of the Womans Seed, and in the anointing he is called CHRIST the Sonne of God: the Seed of the Woman hath a given power, and the Seed of the Woman is under or beneath God, as the Body is beneath the Soule: but the Name JESUS is the Giver.

85. This * 1.131 Authour mixeth ALL, TOGETHER, and that for TWO Causes, one is, because himself doth not rightly understand it, the other, because he may advance all humane things, and give forth himselfe onely for CHRIST; viz: for the Divine power and Omniscience, and therefore he rejecteth all ART and PRAYER it self; and calleth it a Forgotten thing, as if it

were without † 1.132 power or powerlesse; and did not attain that which is Eternall.

86. He will needs perswade us, that the Womans Seed CHRIST, God and Man, is according to BOTH Natures totally ONE, and that will HE * 1.133 Himself be: But the humane Nature continueth indeed Eternally beneath the Diety; though it is not devided for all that, yet the Substance is not AS the Spirit.

87. God, with or by creating Man hath not created to himselfe a GOD, which is of his own Substance, but an Image of a Similitude ac∣cording to himself, viz: a Manifestation of his unsearchable divine Sub∣stance, in which he manifesteth himself; to his own Joy of himself, and Deeds of WONDER.

88. And hath given to Man again, to seek and to reveal or manifest the wonders of God in THIS worlds substance, to his, viz: mans own Joy delight and longing pleasure, that God might be praised, known, and acknowledged, in ALL works, and Substances, or THINGS.

HEre followeth The Authour Esaiah Stiefel's Fourth Point of the Fourth Text.

1. HItherto hath been Mentioned, How Christ the Triune highly praised God, and Man, the holy Seed the living substantiall powerfull word of God, hath appeared, according to Mea∣sure from the beginning of the world, in all the Saints, his wife or woman, and been manifested in the Eyes and Hearts of the Faithfull.

2. Hereupon now it is rightly acknowledged by all the Called Elect truly faithfull Christians, that this most holy womans Seed, the Eternall Birth of God, before all Creatures the Triune highly praised Sonne, and living totally substan∣tiall powerfull word of God, and most holy Seed of the totall fullnesse of the Triune Dei∣ty.

3. In the holy body and woman or wife of God, the pure chast undefiled Virgin MARY, humane Nature, yet through and in the FAITH, of the New-and re-generated, holy pure flesh and bloud in unity, hath taken to himself the

pure humane Body and Soul, to the undivided Eternall union, and united it.

4. And hath been generated and Manifested, in and out of the faithfull Love and Wife or Spouse or Woman of God, the Holy Virgin Mary, a little infant and visible holy Creature, the Sonne of God and Man in ONE Per∣son.

5. And as the greatest and least, yes, the to∣tall fullnesse of the Divine Substance in the kingdome of Heaven, from the least to the grea∣test, here upon Earth, in the Flesh of the least of all and most despised and unworthy, generated, in the Holy divine Unity, such a Man and little childe; which is equally in the Most high high∣nesse of all, the great Triune GOD and LORD.

6. This Perfect holy Seed and Word of God, in one holy pure undefiled Person, God and Man, in the union of the woman, Body, and Soul, through the Faith out of God, and this his holy Seed, regenerated, viz: the right Bride∣groom, which hath united and taken to himself the Bride of all faithfull, good divine holy Flesh and Bloud in his holy humane Per∣son.

7. Concerning which the faithful witnesse, John the Baptist, and Fore-runner of Christ, mentioneth this; * 1.134 He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroome.

8. In this perfect totall divine, totall humane holy substance, in one Person, hath this Triune God and Man CHRIST JESUS, delivered his wife or woman of his Body, yes faithfull Body and Soul to and in a Masculine and Feminine Person, who from the beginning to the end of the World, have put their FAITH and trust in him, in this his holy becoming Man or Incarnati∣on; from all Sinne, Death Devil Hell world, and ALL worldly Lust of the Flesh and of the Eye, temporal and Eternal Damnation, through his holy Passion dying and bloud shedding.

9. And through his Innocent Death, hath rescued, from the Guilty Death and sinfull will, and out of the shameful Kingdome of the abominable Satan Thief Lyar and Murtherour, and set us in his own kingdome of Glory, with himself, to the Eternall Endlesse Joy and holy peace, out of the Eternal Satanical sadnesse, mi∣sery, anguish, necessity, disquietnesse, hatred, envy and enmity of the mischievous Devils, yes set us in the Eternal rest and blessednesse or Sal∣vation.

10. Now as this Perfect Triune Seed and word of God, the totall † 1.135 fullnesse of the Deity, in visible union of the Humane yet faithfull Na∣ture, a little Infant hath been and appeared, which according to the testimony of the Scrip∣ture like other faithful Children, grew to visible palpable, greatnesse, and was received to wisdom, * 1.136 Age and Grace or favour with God and faithfull Men.

11. Which also the most holy high divine Triune Majesty, exalted in and to himself, from hours dayes and years, in his visible Holy Person: Gloriously, and also at last here upon Earth visibly, through his holy innocent Suffering and Dying, Joyful Resurrection and Ascention, † 1.137 made PER∣FECT: and himself presented for a perfect Man or Husband of his totall Bride, all the faithfull Holy Flesh and Bloud, of his totall Church or Congregation, in holy undivided Eternall Uni∣ty.

12. And as he was from the beginning of the world, in all Saints, his Woman or Wife, and faithfull Flesh and Bloud, viz: a child, and Sonne of God, of the Faithfull Flesh and Bloud of his womans Seed, alwayes by the Serpents seed, the unfaithfull wicked world, slain persecuted despi∣sed scorned and put to Death: in which regard also the Death of all Saints was before the Lord, very highly, dearly and preciously Esteemed.

13. So he hath also in his divine fullnesse, and perfect Seed and word of God, the pure faithfull womans and Virgins Sonne, God and Man in one Person, the right Seed Sonne and Word of God, of the perfect faithful Flesh and Bloud, the totall persecution enmity hatred and envy, of the abominable Satanicall Serpents Seed, of the wofull Devill, (substantially united in all unfaithfull unrepentant children of the world) hath * 1.138 taken upon him, for the sake of the redemption of all the faithfull of his body and holy woman.

14. And through his innocent suffering and dying; hath paid the penalty and debt of all the Sinnes of the world on his most holy body and wo∣man: reconciled it with the Deity in himself; overthrown all Enmity between God and Man; and in and according to this his most holy totall or UNIVERSALL Redemption, through his guiltlesse Crosse, with and in divine union through God, and out of the infancy to a per∣fect Man presented himself to his totall holy Church or Congregation.

15. In, and with, which, he now according to his most holy prediction, Hosea 2. † 1.139 I will Espouse my selfe with thee in Eternity; I will be∣troth my self with thee in Grace and Mercy; Yes, in the Faith I will unite and bind my self with thee: with this his holy, unreproveable undefiled Church and perfect Bride and most holy Sulamith: * 1.140 Canticles: Reconcileth and espouseth in Eternity.

16. In which he now according to his own most holy revelation of himself here upon Earth: Esaiah 9. † 1.141 The Eternal Father, in an undivided Person, God and Man, ONE Eternall Genera∣tour, TRIUNE God and Lord, yes ALL in ALL, his beloved totall perfect Bride, his holy body and woman, wherein he Eternally genera∣teth his holy Seed, his holy Word, Will, Work and Performance, substantially livingly and pow∣erfully.

17. And to his Eternall praise, laud and ho∣nour, in this his holy Church, holy Jerusalem and perfect City, of the perfect appearing divine Peace, which is kept in Heaven, but now on Earth, in this ending ceasing Last time of the world; manifesteth himself in the Eternall Unity of his body and woman, the undefiled, un∣transitory unfadable Inheritance.

18. And the receiving his holy kingdom and Dominion according to the Testimony of the Holy Scripture. Dan: 7. * 1.142 under the whole Heaven, in his Saints, his united woman, and Eternally ruling it, to be openly proclaimed.

19. The Bride the Woman, of all faithfull Flesh and Bloud, according to the Testimony of the Scripture. Revelations 22. hath called; Come LORD JESU: the Bridegroom and Man Christ appeareth, and saith in the unity of his Wife or Woman, † 1.143 Here I am, Here I am, Here will I dwell, this is my Rest Eternally.

20. Here thou wilt with the beloved woman of all faithfull Flesh and Bloud, in divine unity of thy Man, with this Scripture Explanation, for further holy consideration, in and with thy uni∣ted Bridegroom, according to thy desire, for Love and divine will, acknowledge and receive this.

21. In which, the Triune highly praised Sonne and Word of God, the fullnesse of the Dei∣ty, generated from Eternity, the most holy seed of the Woman from the beginning of the World, after the Fall of Adam and Eve, as also the regenerated new faithfull flesh and bloud, the

woman in that which is in Part, and perfect holy substance is discovered to thee and manifested: to the Eternall and in Eternall unchangeable Union.

22. NOT Tinctured, according to the Cabalisticall, Theophrasticall, Ro∣so-Crucian kind; and transmuted out of the unfaithfull Substance into the Faith∣full.

23. But according to the Testimony of the Scripture, a New Birth, not out of the old sinfull Substance, but in the Center and in∣ward Heart, in the Love of the divine voyce, a new beginning, a New Heart, a New Flesh and Bloud, a New faithfull Person as to Body and Soul, a Faith, not born out of the unbeleef but out of God.

24. A Body, a Woman, a Man, an unity of the Woman, a Seed, a faithfull visible good Substance of God, A Christ, a Lord, a God, a Spirit Substantially, opperatively, li∣vingly, powerfully and actively, the self∣subsisting Eternall ONE onely blessednesse or salvation, an * 1.144 undefiled, unfadable, un∣transitory, inheritance, reserved in Hea∣ven.

25. But now in this Last Time revealed or manifested to all, over all, through all, and in all faithfull, with himself the Triune Eternall God, an Eternall REST, and holy

City and habitation of the highest of all and lowest of All, in Heaven and upon Earth; which is and is called in All Eternall Eter∣nity, according to the Testimony of Scrip∣ture, of Ezekiel the last Chapter: A Wed∣ding City.

Here is the LORD, Psal. 48. 1, 2. Very greatly and highly to be prai∣sed is The Mountain SION; the fair Branch, with which the whole Land is Comforted.

Yours alwayes willingly. A. V. E. Esaiah Stiefell.

HEre followeth My Answer upon this Fourth Point of the Fourth Text.

1. T Fourth Point, I would even leave unexplained, if it were produced by the Authour in a right understanding: but he jum∣bleth all together, and sticketh his erroneous meaning therein, and maketh much more a Confusion of it, then a right explanation: But seeing I have explained the contents of it above almost in every parti∣cular, I will therefore only expound the chief matters, and extract the Erroneous Opinions out of his Confusion, for the sake of the Reader.

2. Concerning the becoming Man or Incarnation of Christ, concern∣ing which the * 1.145 Authour here mentioneth, That the Seed of the Holy Trinity in the Totall divine Sub∣stance, is become Man or Incarnate in the Totall Holy Perfect, totally united with the Deity, virgin MARY, and hath taken HER Flesh and Soul upon him, and so made MARY the Genetrix of God, viz: the holy word of God, as he writeth: and that MARY was before new born in the Faith, e er she was impregnate or with Childe with the Saviour.

3. This needs yet a sharper explanation and exposition; and it had stood this Master in hand, that will needs be Perfect and Omniscient, to have unsolded this Mystery, and not to have confused it so, that a man cannot know what he understandeth thereby; but only that a Man may see his secret in sown Grain or Seed, spring up therein.

4. He will not herewith satisfie the seeking Mind, which enqui∣reth after the Ground; and lead him into the Center of Nature, he must put on other Stieffeln, or Bootes, if he will ride with Christs Spirit over Death and Hell; and say, how Gods Anger is quenched, Death broken to peeces, and the Devills Kingdome IN Man de∣stroyed.

5. His explanation is much more erroneous, and an obscuring

the understanding of the seeking Mind, than an Expounding. He h••nteth some high Points concerning the manner of the becoming Man, or Incarnation of Christ; and produceth none.

6. He mentioneth that MARY was totally sanctified and Perfect before CHRIST was conceived: Now if the Faith could have attain∣ed and have discovered the Perfection, and Totally have new Gene∣rated Man, that he had been united with and in God in Body and Soul, in Totall perfect holinesse: then Christ had come in vain.

7. And his suffering and Death had not been profitable to us, if the FAITH, could have broken the Anger of God, also Death and Hell, and have appeased the Angry Father, and have quite taken away the abomination in the vanity of the Flesh.

8. Also if CHRIST, viz: the Word of God; had totally inwardly and outwardly taken to himself a holy and perfect Body and Soul up∣on Earth, wherein had he broken Death? And in WHAT Body had he taken on himselfe, the SINNES of All Men? And in what Body then hath he dyed to Sinne? WHAT Body became a Curse on the Crosse?

9. If it had been only the holy Perfect Body: then would Gods holinesse have made it selfe a Curse, and our Restitution had been only a Sacrifice, which might well have been done in the Faith, or through the Judaicall Sacrifice; O it must needs be an Evill God, who will not suffer himself to be appeased, unlesse he revenge himself upon his Per∣fect holy Substance.

10. Else, why should he lay all SINNE upon one holy perfect Man? and cause his fierce wrath to be shewn upon him? and so Re∣venge himself? such an understanding this giveth, if we say, Mary was in the Faith, in flesh and bloud, in body and soul, totally perfect; and totally united with the Holy Divine Substance.

11. But seeing the Omniscient * 1.146 Authour, here spoiles his breath: therefore we will here in part, a little blow up our sparkle, and unfold the Mystery better.

12. King David said: In Sin was I born, and in Sin did my Mother con∣ceive me; and this David it is, out of whom MARY was born, viz: out of the Seed of David; of the Seed of Joachim her father, and Anna her Mother.

13. Now if MARY had attained in the Faith, the highest Perfe∣ction, why not also David, and the Patriarchs? in whom was the Holy Ghost as well as in MARY.

14. And though this † 1.147 Authour indeed determines, that they were totally Holy and Perfect, yet their Sinne and Mortallity, moreover their Infirme life, in Sicknesse, Care,

perplexity and necessity, will not permit that, in which they all lived in the Curse and abomination, in the vanity of the Earthly Flesh: which abomination, in their dying, was first broken and ceased as to them.

15. In the Abomination of the vanity, there is not by far, any totall perfection, but Sinne and Death; as David witnesseth of him∣selfe, as also all the Patriarchs.

16. But concerning MARY and CHRIST this is the true, under∣standing: MARY was the Limit of the Covenant of God in Paradise, instituted after the Fall; That Covenant stood in the true Image, which faded or disappeared in Adam, when he manifested or revealed the vanity in his outward Flesh.

17. Concerning which God said: * 1.148 The day that thou shalt eat of the Tree of knowledge of Good and Evill, viz: of the vanity, thou shalt dye the Death; which also instantly came to passe; he dyed to the di∣vine world, and awakened to the Earthly world in the vanity,

18. For, the Soul, viz: the true Life of the heavenly substantiality, entered with its Desire, into the Abomination; then the Divine Light departed from the Image of the heavenly Substantiality; and now it stood in Death as a Nothing: and this true Image it is which God from Eternity hath beheld with his holy Spirit in the wisdome, but without Substance, which he created into Substance, that is, brought Substance into this Image, from the Three Principles.

19. But when the Spirit of the Three Principles, viz: the true Soul, went from its Eternall Image of the purity into the † 1.149 Abomination of vanity, viz: into the Earthly Substance; and awakened the same in the Forms of Nature, and manifested it in the Flesh; then the fair Image disappeared, and stood again in the hiddennesse, at its Eternall Limit, without knowledge and perception of the Earthly Adam in Abomination.

20. But seeing Gods purpose was, that this fair Similitude of God, should stand Eternally before him in Substance, as a beloved Scene of his Joy, and a Similitude of the Eternall Substance, and Spirit; there∣fore he promised to move himselfe yet once, and with his highest Love and Humility: viz: in the Center of the sweet Love, in the word of his Sound, to manifest the Image in Substance again.

21. Now in MARY lay the disappeared Substance in the Cove∣nant, this was the dry Rod of Aaron, which grew again in One Night, and bare Almonds, as is to be read in Moses.

22. Now when the Angel came to MARY, and brought her the Message, that she should be impregnate with Child and generate or bear the Saviour of the World, though indeed she wondered how it should come to passe, yet she said, * 1.150 Behold I am the Maid∣servant of the Lord, let it be done as thou hast sayd; that is, she gave up

her will and desire into Gods will, he should doe what he would.

23. And in this Point, hath the Center of the voyce of God, according to the deepest Love of the hiddenness of God, in the Image of the disappeared substance, with the Introduction of the divine heavenly substance of the Paradise and Element, and all whatsoever the Deity in the Holiness containeth; manifested it selfe in the Natural seede of MARY.

24. Understand in the seede of MARY, of her spirit and Flesh, wherein lay the soules and bodyes Essence, viz; in Venus'es Matrix in the womans seede, as it was promised in Paradise, also to Abra∣ham, and to David.

25. Now understand us aright, what the cleere Deity, hath received to it selfe; not Marys sinfull Seede, in which, death became broken on the Crosse; indeede it had received it to it selfe but in another Principle.

26. The pure Holy Deity, was alwayes from Eternity in Eter∣nity, surrounded with the substance of the Heaven in the inward, viz. with the Holy substance: that very holy substance, hath the voyce of the holy Deity, with the Moving of the Word; introdu∣ced into Marys disappeared Substance, understand into the Seede of Mary; and united it selfe with Maryes substance, in the Cove∣nant of God.

27. For, John the 3. he sayth; * 1.151 None goeth to Heaven but the sonne of Man who is come from Heaven; also, I am gone forth and Come out from God into this world: Now the cleere Deity needes no coming for it is in all places before hand, it needeth only to Manifest it selfe to or in the ••••ace: and all whatsoever cometh, that is substance; but God in his Trinity is a spirit without sub∣stance, as to what he is solely in the Deity.

28. Therefore, when God would move and Manifest him∣self in his Covenant, in Maryes heavenly disappeared substance, then came he with the substance, and manifested himself, in the united substance; he united his coming substance with the Hu∣mane substance, understand, with the heavenly humane substance.

29. For when God Created his Image Adam, wherein he dwell and manifest or reveale himselfe, then could his holiness be manifested in NO other substance, THEN in the Heavenly holy in the pure Element and Paradise.

30. This he received againe in Marys Seede, into his holy living substance, and in that substance was Christ in the Faith of Mary, become conceived by the Holy spirit, for the Faith which demerseth it selfe into Gods will, that demerseth also the seede in the Covenant, into the holy Living substance.

31. Here againe was the living holy conjunction with or betweene the Substance of Mary and of God, and in this united

substance * 1.152 Sprouted the Rod of Aaron forth, that was the deepest Love of God in the Center of the Holy Trinity, whose Name is called JESUS.

32. Now observe further, in this Seed of Mary, which dis∣appeared in it selfe, and was not manifested to the Soul, lay in in the soulish property, but according to the feminine property in Venus'es Matrix, according to the first Principle, according to the Fathers property, Manifested, viz: a living Essence in the seede of Mary.

33. Which Essence otherwise in the Masculine Conjunction with the Springing up of the life, in the Exit of the Fourth Month, affordeth a living Creaturely Soul: This soulish seede hath also received to its selfe, the Divine Word, but in its owne, in the soulish seedes, Principle.

34. For, the soulish seede hath alwayes the First Principle, ac∣cording to the Fathers property according to the Fire-world; and the Second Principle hath the Sonnes property according to the Light-world.

35. Yet now, the Father is another Person then the Sonne; And so it is here also to be known, or acknowledged; the soulish property, hath its originall from Adam, out of the Eternall Nature, out of the First Principle; it hath the Center to the inward and outward Nature, and it is it selfe, that, in it selfe, in its lifes Formes, for a Fire and Light.

36. This soulish property, hath, the Name JESUS receiv'd to it selfe, after a Creaturely kinde and manner, as an Eternall Espousall: but NOT so to understand that the holy power JESU, and the soules Naturall substance, and ONE in the Essence.

37. As little as fire and light are one, though indeed they stand in One Birth, yet they have a twofold source or quality; Thus truly in JESU, the source or quality is totally Holy and God himselfe; but in the soules property, lay the Worme of the Kindled Anger of God; which God, with this his holy Love out of JESU, would quench and put to death.

38. And in this soulish property, was the Abomination exist∣ed, whereinto the Devills Imagination had woven it selfe: This soulish property, was tempted in the wilderness, to try whether it would totally give it selfe up into JESUS, viz. into Gods love, and eate of Gods Holiness.

39. And in this Abomination of the soule, (in which the lifes forms were Elevated, and gone forth out of the equall agree∣ment, every Forme into its proper owne, out of which the En∣mity and opposite will existed,) hath CHRIST shed his holy Blood of the Image of the holy heavenly substantiality, and introduced it thereinto with the sweete love JESUS: whence the fierce

wrath in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lifes Formes, of the soule, in the Angry Fathers property, became drowned.

40. For when the altogether sweete Love, in the Holy Blood, gave it self up into the fierce wrathfull anger of the soule; then the fierce wrath trembled or shook before this great Holiness, Sweet∣ness and Love, so that its owne right brake in the Trembling Crack, to peeces, and became transmuted into the Kingdome of Joy.

41. So that the Anger became transmuted into another Will, and all properties of the self-hood, of the Eternall Nature in the self-hood, became all ONE in this sweete Love for the Love ful∣filled or satisfied them all.

42. And then the abomination and the Enmity against Gods holiness Ceased: for the abomination had dyed in the Crack or terror of Death, which rose up into the Joyfulness: and now the soules Will was called; LORD GOD, Thee will we praise.

43. Now understand us Further: With the receiving of the soulish property, JESUS also hath received or assumed, the out∣ward humane Fleshly substance, in the seede of Mary, viz. the outward Humanity, the Third Principle,

44. But not into the Image, or into the seede of the holiness, in JESU, but after the Manner, as God is in the World, and yet the World is not God, but they hang in ONE substance one to another, and yet they sever themselves in themselves in TWO Principles.

45. The soule hangeth to the outward World, to the Flesh, the neerest, for the Soule hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 THREE Principles if it be Holy: if not, then it hath only ••WO manifest to it, and the Holy is hidden to it.

46. And in the outward fleshly seede, lay the Death, and the abomination before Gods holiness, THAT became as a Curse bang∣ed to the Crosse, and the death of Sinne in this abomination be∣came drowned with the holy Blood: and the Outward Mystery of the outward Body and Life Redeemed from the abomination and Curse, and totally Sanctified, and changed into Gods unblemished Image.

47. In this outward Flesh, lay the Evill childe, which Adam generated, when he dyed as to God; here the evill childe became taken in againe into Gods Love; for Isaiah sayth; † 1.153 Hee tooke ALL Our sinnes UPON himselfe, not into himselfe, not into the JESUS or CHRIST, wh•• was manifested in the holy Image, but UPON himself in the perished or corrupt Adam.

48. The accursed Adam, HUNG to the Crosse, as a Curse, and THAT, Jesus Christ REDEEMED with his Innocent suffering and with the shedding of his Blood: Adams Body dyed on the

Crosse, and CHRIST borne out of IESU, in the Womans sancti∣fied seede, Tinctured it, and † 1.154 sprinkled it with his precious Love-bloud.

49. At which the Curse in the EARTH trembled or quaked, because this Judgement came upon it: And the SUN, did hide or withdraw its shining at or for this Judgement of this Holiness, at or before this NEW shining Sun, * 1.155 From the Sixt Houre to the Ninth, which is and signifieth Adams sleepe, when he slept in the Sixt Houre, and in the † 1.156 Ninth Houre, that is on the THIRD Day of the outward World, awakened or arose with his now prepared WIFE or woman.

50. Now in the † 1.157 Ninth Houre the outward SUN with its shining Sprung forth or arose againe; and in the Death of Christ, the Paradisicall SUN, [arose or sprung forth] which Adam in Christs Resurrection discovered or beheld againe.

51. Now observe us Further concerning Marys BLESSING, For the Angell sayd to her, Thou blessed among all Women, the LORD is with thee.

52. In this Mary, stood the highly blessed limit of the Cove∣nant of God, through which all the Holy Patriarchs, and Prophets have spoken: viz. through Gods voyce, which causeth it selfe to be heard through the * 1.158 Limit of this Covenant.

53. For the Covenant was inher••••ed all along from one to a∣nother, and in Mary it stood at the ••••••MIT, that is, at the End of the Manifestation or Revelation; wherein IESUS would Ma∣nifest himselfe with the CHRIST, viz. with the anointed of God.

54. And Now the Houre of the Revelation or Manifestation came, wherein God would manifest himself, in this his holy Co∣venant. And God sent the Angelicall Message to HER, and she gave up her will into Gods will; so that the highly precious Name IESUS, manifested it selfe in her seede of the disappeared Image, and then also the word of Power, awakened her own disappeared Image of the second Principle, in HER Body and Life.

55. For the seede of the disappeared Image, which became thus propagated without life; that qualified or operated with the substance, whence it was generated; and THIS was her high Blessing before or above ALL Women, from Eve to that time in that she attained in the Inward Man the holy Life IN the disap∣peared Image.

56. For IESUS pressed or penetrated out of his owne recei∣ved or assumed substance, into the Mother of the seede; but in

HER outward Flesh, as also in the Soule, was the Sinne and Death; which must also with Christs holy bloud-shedding, be overthrowne.

57. For CHRIST alone was the Serpent bruiser or Crusher, even IN his Natural Mother MARY: Hee is with the Soule the first borne from the Dead, to Gods Glory: His soule was the first, as a Dore to the Re-opening; and through THIS Dore we must all Enter in.

58. MARY in her outward Body was Mortall: as also CHRIST according to the outward Humanity; Christ Lived in the outward Man in the Dominion of the Four Elements, in the source or quality of Heate and Cold, as WE doe.

59. But the ABOMINATION which Adam inherited to us, that he received NOT to himself from Mans or the Masculine Seede, but in the Womans or the Feminine Seede, as a BURTHEN upon him which he must † 1.159 Beare.

60. This was his outward received or assumed humanity a Vessell for it, NOT that a Man may any way say, that CHRIST hath wrought any sinne and abomination with his outward Body, NO, that COULD NOT be.

61. For he took on himself, the First Principle of the foulish property in Venus'es Matrix in the womans seed, understand, in the Property of Eve; for Eve was the child that Adam should have genera∣ted Magically; but seeing he awakened the abomination in the Center of the Genetrix, therefore that could not be done.

62. Eve was Adams beloved and fair well relishing sweet-savoured Rose Garden and Paradise, when she was yet in Adams Essence, and Now that very fair Rose-Garden became Manifest again in the huma∣nity of CHRIST.

63. THUS * 1.160 he took the Abomination of SINNE, upon this Image in the Flesh; as if he were Adam; and yet was NOT: but in the Womans or Feminine Seed he was THAT, and Not in the Mans or Masculine Seed.

64. He took the MANS Sinne on to the highly blessed Limit, in the WOMANS outward Seed, and brake in peeces the Man and the Wo∣man, and brought again the virginity, viz: TWO Tinctures into ONE unseparable Eternall Conjunction in the Love, no more in the Desire after SUBSTANCE, as it was in Adam, but only in the Desire after POWER.

65. The TWO Tinctures generate NO more Substance, viz: a Propagation; but holy power, and relish or Savour, and Gods

66. And this is the information concerning Mary and Christs Humanity plainly unsolded; and not so covered as this * 1.161 Authour hath done, that a Man cannot understand; how it is come into Sub∣stance.

67. But that this † 1.162 Authour presseth so vehemently upon the New Regeneration of the Old Patriarchs, and will have THEM New Born in Christ and totally Perfect; by that I see very well what he meaneth by it and under it; even that HE also may be esteemed totally Holy and totally PERFECT.

68. For, if the Old Patriarchs have put on Christ, when as yet he was not * 1.163 Man, how much more, HEE, seeing Christ is now be∣come Man; which I would heartily fain allow him if it were but True; and if it were not so, that it might yet be so.

69. Why doth he not set the Apostles of Christ, and THEIR Suc∣cessors Imitators or followers, in the humanity of Christ; as he sett the Old Patriarchs before Christs Birth? Even this is it, that he might bring in this Schisme or Sectarisme, that God hath created ALL Creatures in CHRIST his expresse Image, and Redeemed them ALL.

70. Which revealed expresse Image, he will have to be only in those that are HIS Followers; that Men might not thrust him, with THIS outward Tabernacle; out of Christs Image.

71. For if he be created in Christs Image in Adam, and God now do reveal the same in Christs humanity again, and that he be procee∣ded out of that very Image, and standeth therein; then he can not Fail; he is CHRIST inwardly and outwardly.

72. If it were certainly true, and that the Old Patriarchs had not also the Image of Sinne on them, that he could shew they had been totally Holy, then in the Old Patriarchs there had been NO Transmutation of their Bodyes; also NOT in the Apostles, according to the outward Flesh.

73. Christs Apostles and their Successors Imitators or followers, have put on Christ in their Angelical Image in the holy Flesh: but their Outward Body was sinfull, and an ABOMINATION; viz: in the Turba The outward Abomination in the Flesh, MUST Dye; and enter into Christs Death, that Christ, who is arisen from the Dead, may raise up their outward Body, into himself.

74. The Outward Life generated from MARY, is RESERVED to the * 1.164 Resurrection of the Dead, when the Man in the VIRGINITY shall arise.

75. But if this † 1.165 Authour be Perfect, then is he neither Man nor Woman, How then doth he beget children of his Wife? The Old Pa∣triarchs have put on the Covenant of Christ; and CHRIST the Man, became put on in the Word of Promise, pointing at the future ful∣filling.

76. God reconciled himself in the Covenant, and therefore they sacrificed, that Gods Imagination, which entered into the promised Covenant, might receive their Imagination in the sacrifice, into the Covenant of Promise, through the Limit wherein God became Man: they were in the Covenant elected to be children, in which Cove∣nant God became Man, and fullfilled the Covenant with the Humani∣ty, which was done in the Seed of MARY and not in the Bondage or Servility.

77. The Old Patriarchs, did not put on Christ in the Flesh, but the Covenant to the Filiation and to the Resurrection of the Dead; but now WEE put on Christs Humanity, for the Covenant is fulfilled with the Humanity.

78. But the Kingdom of this world doth NOT put on Christ, for he said; * 1.166 My Kingdome is not of this world; The Kingdome of this world in the Flesh; putteth on CHRISTS Death and dying, it should dye in Christs death, and put on HIS Resurrection out of the GRAVE; That the Man which dyeth according to Flesh, in the Limit which God hath set or appointed, viz: at the Last DAY; should ARISE out of Christs Death.

79. He hath given us his Death and Buriall for a REST, where the OUTWARD Body resteth from the working of vanity, as in a meek soft Sleep.

80. But what this † 1.167 Authour sets down concerning the op∣position of the totall fleshly Man; that the Earthly Man which he calleth the Serpents Seed, despiseth, contemneth, derideth and persecuteth Christ in his Members and continu∣ally crucifieth and putteth them to death, to∣gether with Christ; that is so, and cannot otherwise be.

81. For when Christ is become born, then the Man of Sinne in

his self-hood MUST dye: the Faithfull Man, becometh, himself, an Enemy of his own Sinnes in the Flesh: the Faithfull Man according to the Heavenly Substance, is indeed yea undeniably the Bride of CHRIST, in whom Christ dwelleth, that I contradict not.

82. But that this * 1.168 Authour sets it down, that Christ was born a poor despised Infant in the highest Low∣linesse out of MARY; and yet was equall in the Height of the Triune God and LORD? there he should better explain it, and shew; wherein he is the Triune God and LORD.

83. Not according to the Creature, viz: according to our Flesh and Soul, which is Eternally under or beneath God, but according to his Divine, and according to the Heavenly Substantiality and Cor∣poreity; wherewith he came from Heaven, and took our Substance upon him.

84. The divine Substance is unmeasurable, BOTH according to Spirit, and Corporeall Substance; but our humane Substance is mea∣surable: to our humane Substance, the Power or Authority is given, but to the divine, nothing CAN be given.

85. God will judge the humanity, through the voyce of the huma∣nity of Christ, so that the humanity of Christ according to our hu∣manity, is the Instrument to do it with; Not that our humanity in Christs Person and Creature, hath the power or authority out of it self.

86. It is a given power or authority from the Father; As Christ himselfe saith; * 1.169 ALL Power or Authority in Heaven and upon Earth, is given me of my Father, Matth: 28. Not to the self-hood of the Creature, that the Creature, is as Omnipotent and self powerfull, as GOD; but that the CREA∣TURE, is the Instrument whereby the Spirit of God will † 1.170 Judge and separate ALL things.

87. The Spirit of the Holy Trinity, IN the Creature is the will, and the Creature is the Instrument of performance, as through a cleer visible open Image and Substance; seeing God hath manifested himself through the Creature, therefore through the Creature also he produceth a Manifested or revealed authority or power and Dominion.

18. As an Artist fitteth an Instrument of Musick, and himself strikes or playes upon it, that it may sound and give melody to him, SUCH as he would sain HEAR: Thus also in like manner the Crea∣ture is Gods Instrument upon which God striketh or playeth, and

hath introduced his own sound out of the divine voyce, into this Creaturely Lute, which soundeth and Melodizeth to him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will.

89. This Lute doth not play upon it self; for CHRIST saith also: † 1.171 All whatsoever the Sonne seeth the Father do, that the Sonne doth also: * 1.172 And the word which I speak to you, is not mine, but the Fathers who dwel∣leth in me; Also, † 1.173 I and the Father are One, * 1.174 but the Father is greater than I.

90. The Father is the Eternall Beginning, and the Sonne is the Eternall Begun, viz: the Manifestation of that Spirit which is called Father, and the Holy Spirit is that, which the Father through the Sonne Manifesteth, with the Eternall outspoken wisdome, out of the sound, which the Father with the Sonne Generateth.

91. The Sonne is the Fathers sound or word; and the Creature is the cleer or Loud manifested word, through which the Father in the Eternall Generating of his holy word, soundeth or speaketh: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hear the Creature, viz: the voyce of the Person CHRIST; then I hear what the Father, in his holy sound in the exit of his Holy Spirit mani∣festeth and expresseth in and with the Creature.

92. Here it is not called, beloved Woman or Wife, with or as to the Creature; but Gods Image, Gods Manifestation; Gods manifest Dominion; Gods own Doing or self-acting; viz: the invisible and incomprehensible, acting through a visible comprehensible image and Substance of his own propriety.

93. For without God there is Nothing; HE alone is ALL; but all whatsoever is perceptible or comprehensible, that is only an Image of the Invisible Divine Substance, wherewith the Invisible hath Manife∣sted or revealed it self.

94. Therefore the Creature should NOT say of it self, that it self is any thing; but introduce its ability into THAT out of which it is originated, that it may be the Omniscient Gods work and play or Melody in his Love; that it may do what he will; and SO God be * 1.175 ALL in ALL.

95. And if God will do any thing through his Creature, and ma∣nifest his will; then speaketh not the Creature from or of it self, but saith, † 1.176 Thus saith the LORD, thus hath the Lord spoken, this is the Command of the Lord: and not esteem it self at all to be the speaking Word or divine Sound: also not say with this outward Body; that the outward Body is espoused with Gods Holinesse, as this * 1.177 Authour sets it down.

96. The inward Man is indeed, together with or in Gods Har∣mony, through which God soundeth and Singeth, and is a Wedding-Place or City, of God: but all whatsoever is Creaturely is tinder or beneath that which hath made the Creature: The Creature is Gods Artifice or workmanship, which he hath made through his wisdome:

for it is the Nature, it standeth in the Principle, viz: in a Beginning, but God standeth in NONE: † 1.178 God is without all Beginning, his desire maketh Beginning.

97. But what this * 1.179 Authour saith concerning the woman of Faithfull Flesh and Bloud, is not spoken plain enough to be understood; For Flesh and Bloud beleeveth not, but the Spirit; Flesh and Bloud is a House of the Spirit.

98. And what he also setteth down concerning the Man CHRIST who is in the Marriage with the Woman; cannot at all be spoken of the outward Flesh and Bloud of this [Life] time: for Christ is himself the Woman and the Man, God and Man.

99. Of the Inward Man, it may WELL be spoken, that is in the Marriage with Christ, but the Outward is in the Marriage with the Outward World, and with the vanity and Sinne, as also with Death and Corruptibility, weaknesse sicknesse and Misery, THAT is called Eve, and not the Marriage City of God, in Gods holinesse, as this Authour saith it is.

100. But a waste Tabernacle wherein the Spirit is perished, un∣derstand the Outward Spirit, which dwelleth in Flesh and Bloud, not that we would or should, DESPISE, the Spirit, viz: the Soul of the Great world which giveth Life to all Creatures; but in the Curse of the vanity, viz: in SINNE, lyeth the Evill Child, which Adam awakened and manifested.

101. But what kinde of * 1.180 Whimseyes this † 1.181 Authour hath, that He will not allow the Divine Tinctu∣ring and Transmutation to con∣sist with the New Birth, and contemneth and rejecteth ALL that: it cannot be enough discerned why he giveth forth so altogether Blind and absurd Matters.

102. He telleth us of a totall New strange Creature, which is gene∣rated in CHRIST: if that were so, then we could not at all say, that Christ had taken on himself our Flesh and Bloud, Much lesse the Soul: then also he might not at all be called * 1.182 The Womans Seed, How should we then be partakers of him?

103. Hath not Christ taken on him my Creature? how then hath he in my Flesh, slain Death, and quenched the Anger of God? but if he

hath taken on him, my Creature: what kind of strange New Creature should enter into me.

104. I know of no strange one: It were directly contrary to the Article, † 1.183 of the Resurrection of the Dead: I must not speak of another Man, of another Creature, but of a TRANSMUTATION of the Course stone into Gold; the unholy into pure holinesse.

105. If that must be done; then must the right Artist in ME Come; viz: the Holy Spirit, with the divine Tincture, which is Christs Bloud, wherewith he brake in peeces the vanity of our Humanity, and brought our right Life, forth through Death.

106. I must be Tinctured or else I cannot be Transmuted; If Christ do not Tincture me with his Bloud; then my HOLY Paradise-LIFE remaineth faded or disappeared in Death; but if he doth Tincture ME, then the Holy Spirit in me becometh stirring, who CAN, in Christs Flesh and Bloud, Transmute ME, according to the Inward Paradise-Man.

107. God had not to do about a strange Creature, in that he became Man, but about that which in Adam he created in Paradise; Job saith * 1.184 In this MY Flesh shall I see GOD, and my Eyes shall see him and NOT anothers.

108. My Own Essence of the INWARD Man, is in this [Life] time tinctured and Transmuted, and my OUTWARD Mortall Man, is Tinctured with Christs Death: to DYE, and the MYSTERY of the outward Man, viz: the Fift Essence or QUINTESSENCE, (understand the Outward Spirit WITHOUT the Abomination, wherein the Four Elements stand in Equall agreement in One Will and Substance) is Tinctured for the Last release, and Resurrection of the Dead; which † 1.185 transmutation will be effected at the Last DAY.

109. This Man Imageth or frameth a Phantasie in himself and Thinketh, he is no more what he was, his Nature is totally gone from him, he is totally a New Creature inwardly and outwardly, and that is totally false and groundlesse.

110. His earthly Man is not Christs Bride, in Gods holinesse, but he is Christs Bride in Christs Death, so farre as he is capable or partaker of that.

111. But while he will needs be Perfect and cursorily passe over Christs Death, and be already risen again in Christs Death, he

truly in the Self-hood goeth back with Christs Death into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

112. I wish him from my Heart, that his Body visibly were capable or partaker of Christs Death: for * 1.186 in that I live in my self-hood, I do not rejoyce, but I rejoyce in this, that I in my self-hood stand in CHRISTS Death, and continually DYE.

113. And I wish, that I yet might totally dye to self-hood, that my self-hood might be totally resigned up into God, and I be only an Instrument or Tool of God, and knew nothing more of my Self-hood.

114. But that this † 1.187 Authour mentioneth, that he is alto∣gether dead to self-hood, and is the Glorious Type of Christs Bride, which God would mani∣fest upon Earth in this Last Time, totally inward∣ly and outwardly, holy & PERFECT without va∣nity, blemish or Sinne, we would readily allow him to be so if he would sufficiently assure us of it.

115. But upon his supposititions, insufficient, groundlesse, literall demonstration, whereas yet he doth not understand, How the Scrip∣ture speaketh, we shall not be able to beleeve him, unlesse we see the Paradise upon him, and see that he is dead from the outward world, and do use it no more.

116. For no conceit availeth, but Feeling by Experience and so 〈◊〉〈◊〉: all the while he liveth in the vanity, and perplexeth himself in the vanity and is affected with strife, we beleeve him NOT: neither can we beleeve him in regard of Christs word which warneth us, that we should * 1.188 beware of those that give forth themselves to be CHRIST.

117. And if one did go about in doing Miracles, and did live still in the vanity in Evill and Good, yet then we must say, that he is a Mor∣tall Man, even though he were inwardly holy and New-born in CHRIST.

118. The Golden Mountain which † 1.189 he pro∣miseth in this Tabernacle, the old Adam might or would readily allow and put on, if it were possible, and that God would do so, with us.

119. Also we would very heartily esteem him for the Type and the first born of the Adamicall Bodyes, if it were he, that could mani∣fest or perform so great a promise upon OUR Mortall Bodies, or if he could but manifest it on HIS own.

120. But that he saith, we can not see it on him; we should beleeve it, none can assure us of it; I cannot beleeve him, unlesse he assure me of it; that I may conceive it is true, else I take it to be an Imagination.

121. What the Spirit of GOD signifieth concerning the Last Sion; hath another A. B. C. we understand it NOT to be with clarified † 1.190 Transfigured, or Glorified Bodies, wherein the vanity shall be totally Dead; but concerning the Fall of Babel and that the end belongeth to the Be∣ginning: NOT the Two Tinctures turned into One, according to the OUTWARD Man; but we understand Eve in the REPENTANCE, and in the simplicity, for the evill Lust or Longing which SHE had.

122. * 1.191 His marriage State or City, which he supposeth to be, is only an Eve, his SION is a Vale of Misery, in Care, Toyle, Labour and Necessity; † 1.192 For, Winter and Summer, Day and Night, Seed time and Harvest, shall not cease, as was said to Noah, till the Great and Terrible DAY of the Lord shall COME.

123. Also thus the Mountain of God, viz: SION, is in the whole world, where there be honest vertuous peo∣ple that fear and Love God: HE himself is IN the Honest Men; the marriage City of GOD, must be in MAN; as also the Temple of CHRIST, where the HOLY SPIRIT teacheth.

124. We need no conceit, nor running up and down, the City of Gods Habitation IS every where, where honest Men are to∣gether, as Christ saith, * 1.193 Where TWO or THREE are met together in My Name, there am I in the midst amongst them.

125. But seeing * 1.194 he speaketh of a visible holy Seed and

woman of Christ, and will have that to be totally without blemish, We desire to see a sign or token thereof, let him Set that before us, that we may acknowledge it, and see it on him, and THEN we will beleeve him.

126. And let him leave others whom God hath gifted † 1.195 in Part, undisgraced; else we will say of him, that he hath neither Part nor Perfection, but only a bare Imagination, and Vain spiritual pride, which is instigated by the driving of Satan; who fain would erect such a flattering seeming Holinesse.

127. Seeing he perceiveth that * 1.196 the Man of Sinne shall be revealed or manifested, therefore he will set such a Glistering Chappell neer it, That Sinne might no more be known or acknowledged, and that he might still, under such a Glistering Cloak have his hypocrisie and Church, totally Blind in Sinne.

128. For that is the Devills manner, when he seeth that Sinne in Man becometh manifested or discovered, then he casteth over Sinne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a fine Glistering Trimmed or adorned Cloak; and giveth it into 〈◊〉〈◊〉 perswasion; that he is Holy Perfect and Righteous.

129. Thus he layeth the Man of Sinne, in a Fine soft Bed, and co∣vereth him with Christs Purple Mantle, to try whether he might under such a cover sift and betray him: Thus will he also do at this Time, for he observeth that the Man of Sinne shall be manifested, and that Babel shall be discovered.

130. Therefore he cometh very finely and Lovely Covered with a shining Luster or appearance, and would cover the Adamicall evill child totally, that it should no more be called sinfull, it shall deny its sinfull Name in the vanity, and call it self totally Christ, and holy; and saith, it is a Lye, if the Earthly beastiall Man calleth it self, after its own self Beastiall Property.

131. O beloved Brethren and fellow Members of Christ, all that read this, be faithfully warned and admonished, cover NOT the Man of Sinne with Christs Purple Mantle, and lay him not at all in his Bed of Best; but uncover him continually before GOD, and cast him dayly and hourly into the GRAVE, into Christs Death, CRUCIFIE him without ceasing, all the while ye live in this vanity of this Flesh.

132. † 1.197 Let him have no REST, hold him for your Enemy, who hath devoured your Noble Pearly Jewel, viz: the PA∣RADISE; presse generate or pierce him with Christs Death, that you may attain your Pearl again out of Christs Death, in his Resur∣rection out of this Tabernacle, where it lyeth shut up in Death: acknowledge your selves only for poor SINNERS before GOD, and go continually with the Prodigall lost, and yet returning: Son to the Father, and pray to him for Grace.

133. Our whole life should be a continuall RESISTANCE, 〈…〉〈…〉 even a continuall SINNING: and though indeed the 〈…〉〈…〉 Branch new generated or Born, IN Christs Spirit, 〈…〉〈…〉; yet the Earthly Man IN Soul and Body, sinneth; and which continually, to break or destroy the Noble † Rose-Bud again; and altogether obscure it.

134. The more, Divine OYL is introduced into the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rose-Bud, out of the Wounds and Death of CHRIST; the fresher and fairer it groweth, and the fairer it Blossomed.

135. Here is the Field, where the fruit groweth, let man be per∣swaded to such sluggishnesse, and to lye on such a soft Bed; as to think, he IS fairly grown and quite or full BLOSSOMED; O, No, no by no means.

135. But continually without ceasing draw divine 〈…〉〈…〉 selfe, in the Greatest Humility from and out of Gods Love, 〈…〉〈…〉 Honey, out of the fair Blossomes or Flowers; for as soon as 〈…〉〈…〉 cure or carelesse, and thinketh he is HOLY Honey, then the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bringeth to him Poyson in the vanity, which the own-self 〈…〉〈…〉 own self Lust or Longing, sucketh into it self.

137. The Man that would fain grow and bear fruit in Gods King∣dome, can not do better, then to suck all his power and vertue, which he will use for the growing or Springing of his Life, through CHRISTS Bloud and Death, and con∣tinually cast his vanity to the Ground, before the Truth and Clarity of God, and continually be, as if he were a DYING, where he mightily presseth on to the Death of SINNE.

138. * No City or place of REST, belongeth to Sinne and vanity; for so soon as Sinne Resteth, THEN groweth the desire to vain Lust or pleasure: But while the Death and destroyer or Breaker in pieces is UPON it, then it dyeth, without ceasing, away, from vain Lust or Pleasure, and the fair Rose-bud groweth out of this dying, which becometh carryed in GODS Hand to a Joy and rejoycing of the DEITY.

139. Dear Brethren, I have made this explanation out of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mind; not at all with intent, to scorn or disgrace the † Authour; for I know his miserable confusednesse, more then he doth himself, and wish him from my Heart, that he will yet be humble, and know him∣self, that he yet standeth in the Field or Soil, where the fruit groweth; and not boast himself before the time of fruit.

140. For most certainly and truly, there will be A SION, as I then; my self Hope; that the Man of Sinne will be manifested or revealed, and seek himself, in GODS MERCY: then must follow a constant con∣tinuall Repenting Life, wherein Man knoweth and acknowledgeth

himself to be in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and continually presseth from vanity out from vain Lust and pleasing into Gods Mercy.

141. The poor sinfull Man, must only with the poor Lazarus Lay himself at Gods feet under his Table, and at his Dore, and desire the Crummes from Gods Table, and continually cloath himself in the Ganaanitish Woman, with Heart and totall Mind.

142. NO Flattery or Hypocrisie attaineth the Pearly Jewell, for it lyeth buried in NO place, but in the Death of the Earth∣ly MAN; THAT, must be gone, and then it is manifested: the Adamicall Death must be changed into Christs Death, if any would find the Pearl of Christ.

143. CHRIST prayed to his Father, so that, he sweat a Bloudy Sweat, when he would brake or destroy Death in the Flesh. Now if we will bee and his Children, and be generated or born out of HIS Death, then 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we also dye with him in his Death, and continually introduce our 〈…〉〈…〉 great desire into HIS Bloudy Sweat, and drown the awake∣ned vain Lust and Pleasure, IN his Bloudy Sweat.

144. It must be sincere and earnest, and not comforting and flat∣tering Hypocrisie, NOT to say to the Old Adam, Thou art Christs Flesh: No, NO, only Say, † In me lyeth Sinne and vanity, O God have Mercy upon Me in CHRIST thy dear Sonne, and break and destroy my SINNE and VANITY in thy Death; and bring me in HIS victory and Resurrection forth out of Death.

145. Make thou Sinne and Death, Nothing, and grow THOU in CHRIST forth out of ME; bring my Soul forth out of the Jawes of Death and vanity, in CHRIST, that I may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to THEE and NOT to my selfe.

146. Man in self-hood should ascribe no Divine Substance, or Thing to himself, but in all things give the honour to God, and ac∣count himselfe in the Divine Life to be nothing and untoward; and that all whatsoever is introduced into him from the Divine power, he should offer it up to God again and say:

147. * 1.198 LORD! Thou hast Might to receive strength, power and wisdome, thine is the ho∣nour; I will be nothing before thee: be thou

dear GOD in MEE, what thou 〈…〉〈…〉 be praised in thy power which thou 〈…〉〈…〉 to me.

148. Also, a Man in this world, should * 1.199 NOT desire to KNOW HIS Holinesse, but continually 〈…〉〈…〉 of his Tree CHRIST, and commit and leave it to the 〈…〉〈…〉 of Twig or Branch THAT will generate out 〈…〉〈…〉.

149. And not at all present himself and say, Behold 〈…〉〈…〉 deth the Tree of Christ: I am a Branch and grown 〈…〉〈…〉 Bride of the Lamb in all the world, but to 〈…〉〈…〉 under Christs Death, and leave himself to the 〈…〉〈…〉 to be led to Pasture among the Lambs.

150. Not lay about him as a Goat, and 〈…〉〈…〉 Doar, and not let any Sheep More enter in, 〈…〉〈…〉 hath done, in that he hath very obstinately in a Treatise 〈…〉〈…〉 Doare of Grace against US, which truly is not the manner 〈…〉〈…〉 Christ hath opened it for us: No Lamb desireth to shut it 〈…〉〈…〉 us.

151. This I mention to the Loving Reader faithfully and 〈…〉〈…〉 him very brotherly, as my fellow Member, yes in the 〈…〉〈…〉 great humility, before God, and his Children, to persevere, and go on, and not boast of the VICTORY in the Flesh, all the while the Man of Sinne still liveth.

152. And * 1.200 whosoever saith he hath NO Sinne, he is a Lyar, saith John. But then when the earth∣ly Man, dyeth away totally, Sinne hath an End; and then we will Sing the Song of the Driver, who held us captive, and also the Song of the Bride, SION; in the Marriage City Jeru∣salem.

153. And that the † 1.201 Authour saith, Sinne hath cleerly: Ceased on the Type of the Bride of Christ, to the praise of God: this I would have to be under∣stood concerning the true Christianity, in the Children of Christ, con∣cerning the Inward New Man in the Spirit of Christ.

154. And this deceipt should not be concealed from him by no means, that he willeth to cover the Man of Sinne; moreover we would for that cause discover the Evill Child, that he should be known

or 〈…〉〈…〉 of the world: Yes we would FIXE the Man of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on to the Crosse of CHRIST; that the poor Sinner might see him.

155. And not so boldly play with Christs Purple Mantle under the Cover; which belongeth to the poor Converted Sinner, which 〈…〉〈…〉 continuall Repentance, and especially to the Sinner that is captivated and hard held by the Devill, against whom the Devill would shut the Dore of GRACE.

156. Such a one should enwrap himself therein; and the strong who is strong in Faith and knowledge, should cast about him the Mantle of Christ his Chief Shepheard, and as a Lamb in 〈◊〉〈◊〉; go among the Flock; and the Mantle which Christ continually casteth upon him, he should cast upon his brethren and fellow Members.

157. And HELP to fight and wrestle IN them, with praying 〈…〉〈…〉 and Life, that Gods will be done in US, and his Kingdome 〈…〉〈…〉 to US, and we bear fruit, as ONE Only Tree, in 〈…〉〈…〉 or Sprigs and Branches and shew our Blossomes or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 before God and his Angels, and that we also may enjoy the Fruit ETERNALLY.

AMEN.

Finished the Sixt of Aprill Anno 1622. Now ended this Translation out of the German Language in Manuscript into English, this Saturday the 31. of December, 1659.

Notes

• * 1.1

  E. S.
• * 1.2

  J. B.
• † 1.3

  Rom. 3. 23.
• * 1.4

  E. S.
• † 1.5

  Matth. 6. 13.
• * 1.6

  Isa. 1. 6.
• † 1.7

  Gal. 1. 18.
• * 1.8

  Gal. 3••. 22.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 7. 17. Rom: 7. 25.
• † 1.10

  2 Pet. 1. 13, 14.
• * 1.11

  E. S.
• † 1.12

  E. S.
• * 1.13

  Or Blinded, from, us.
• † 1.14

  NOTE
• * 1.15

  NOTE
• † 1.16

  E. S.
• * 1.17

  1 Sam. 13. 14.
• † 1.18

  Psal. 51. 5.
• * 1.19

  Note.
• † 1.20

  Note.
• * 1.21

  Gal. 5. 17.
• * 1.22

  NOTE
• † 1.23

  Lauret.
• * 1.24

  Gen. 3. 9.
• † 1.25

  John. 6. 44.
• * 1.26

  John. 10. 28, 29.
• † 1.27

  E. S.
• * 1.28

  Pedobap∣tisme.
• † 1.29

  Rom. 6. 16.
• * 1.30

  Note.
• † 1.31

  E. S.
• * 1.32

  E. S.
• † 1.33

  Mat. 13. 31, 32. Mark. 4. 30, 31, 32.
• * 1.34

  Luke. 15. 7.
• * 1.35

  NOTE
• † 1.36

  Gremen.
• † 1.37

  NOTE
• * 1.38

  E. S.
• † 1.39

  E. S.
• * 1.40

  E. S.
• † 1.41

  NOTE
• * 1.42

  Or is incar∣nate.
• † 1.43

  E. S.
• * 1.44

  E. S.
• * 1.45

  1 Pet. 1. 15.
• † 1.46

  1 Cor. 7. 14.
• * 1.47

  John 3. 16.
• * 1.48

  Hos. 2. 23. Rom. 9. 25. 1 Pet. 2. 10.
• † 1.49

  J. B.
• * 1.50

  E. S.
• † 1.51

  Mat. 18. 20.
• * 1.52

  E. S.
• † 1.53

  E. S.
• * 1.54

  E. S.
• † 1.55

  Gen: 1. 26.
• * 1.56

  The Soul.
• * 1.57

  For a Mediatour.
• † 1.58

  Gen: 2. 18.
• * 1.59

  Gen: 2. 21.
• † 1.60

  NOTE The worlds change.
• * 1.61

  NOTE Mans change with the worlds chang.
• † 1.62

  Note Text. I. verse 115. and follow∣ing to verse 72.
• * 1.63

  Gen; 2. 21.
• † 1.64

  Or Predo∣minancy.
• * 1.65

  See before Text. I. verse: 115.
• * 1.66

  Gen: 3. 10. to the 14.
• * 1.67

  Gen: 3. 17. to the 20.
• * 1.68

  NOTE
• † 1.69

  E. S.
• * 1.70

  E. S.
• † 1.71

  1 Cor. 15. 43.
• * 1.72

  E. S.
• † 1.73

  Eph: 6. 16.
• * 1.74

  NOTE Exod: 19. 15. Levit: 15. 16. to the 19.
• † 1.75

  1 Sam: 21. 4, 5.
• * 1.76

  Gen: 1. 28. Chap: 9. 1.
• † 1.77

  E. S.
• * 1.78

  John 18. 36.
• * 1.79

  2 Sam: 11.
• * 1.80

  Col. 3. 5.
• † 1.81

  E. S.
• * 1.82

  E. S.
• * 1.83

  E. S.
• * 1.84

  E. S.
• * 1.85

  John 1. 29. 30. Rev. 13. 8.
• † 1.86

  John 2. 16.
• * 1.87

  Gen: 4 1.
• † 1.88

  Gen: 4. 4.
• * 1.89

  Gen: 5. 21. to the 25.
• † 1.90

  Gen: 6. 9.
• * 1.91

  Gen: 12. 3. Chap: 18. 2.
• † 1.92

  Gen: 24. 60. &c.
• * 1.93

  Gen: 25. 6.
• † 1.94

  Gen: 27. 41.
• * 1.95

  Gen: 32. 28.
• † 1.96

  1 Cor: 1. 20.
• * 1.97

  E. S.
• * 1.98

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• † 1.99

  NOTE The Heaven∣ly Creatures need NO CHRIST, and the Hellish Creatures have NO CHRIST.
• * 1.100

  NOTE
• * 1.101

  Acts 1. 11.
• † 1.102

  That is, to be like Christ, hum∣ble & meek.
• * 1.103

  E. S.
• † 1.104

  E. S.
• * 1.105

  Heb: 7. 27. Cha: 9. 26. 28. Chap: 10. 10. 1 Pet: 3. 18.
• * 1.106

  Rev: 13. 8.
• † 1.107

  Note.
• * 1.108

  E. S.
• † 1.109

  Mensch.
• * 1.110

  John 3. 34.
• † 1.111

  NOTE How Abel arose when Christ arose from the Dead.
• * 1.112

  Note.
• † 1.113

  E. S.
• * 1.114

  Gen: 4. 1.
• † 1.115

  Gen: 22. 18. Chap: 26. 4. Chap: 28. 14.
• * 1.116

  E. S.
• * 1.117

  NOTE The Paradise is the womans Seed.
• * 1.118

  E. S.
• † 1.119

  Math: 9. 13.
• * 1.120

  E. S.
• † 1.121

  E. S.
• * 1.122

  Gen: 4. 7.
• * 1.123

  E. S.
• † 1.124

  Psal: 145. 10. Ps: 148. 149, 150.
• * 1.125

  Note, what Man is with∣out Art Outwardly.
• † 1.126

  Gen; 1. 26.
• * 1.127

  E. S.
• * 1.128

  Or Taught of God.
• † 1.129

  E. S.
• * 1.130

  John 3. 9.
• * 1.131

  E. S.
• † 1.132

  Or a Pow∣erless thing.
• * 1.133

  E. S.
• * 1.134

  John 3. 29.
• † 1.135

  Col: 2. 5.
• * 1.136

  Luke 2. 52.
• † 1.137

  Heb: 2. 10. Chap: 5. 9.
• * 1.138

  Math: 8. 17.
• † 1.139

  Hosea 2. 19.
• * 1.140

  Cant: 6. 13.
• † 1.141

  Esaiah 9. 6.
• * 1.142

  Daniel 7. 27. Luke 1. 33.
• † 1.143

  Exod. 33. 14. Psal. 132. 13, 14. Esaiah 14. 3, 7. 2 Cor. 6. 16. Rev. 21. 3.
• * 1.144

  1 Pet: 1. 4.
• * 1.145

  E. S.
• * 1.146

  E. S.
• † 1.147

  E. S.
• * 1.148

  Gen: 2. 17.
• † 1.149

  Dan: 9. 27. Matth: 24. 15. Mark 13. 14. Rev. 21. 27.
• * 1.150

  Luke 1. 38.
• * 1.151

  Joh: 3 13.
• * 1.152

  Numb. 17. 8.
• † 1.153

  Isai. 53. 4. Math. 8. 17. 1 Pet. 2. 24.
• † 1.154

  1 Pet: 1. 21.
• * 1.155

  Math: 27, 45. 46.
• † 1.156

  Three Houres. Three Dayes.
• † 1.157

  Or Bounds. Note what the Limit of the Covenant is.
• * 1.158

  Aime Scope, Mark.
• † 1.159

  Isai: 53. 6. Math. 8: 17.
• * 1.160

  NOTE Math. 8. 17.
• * 1.161

  E. S.
• † 1.162

  E. S.
• * 1.163

  A Man.
• * 1.164

  NOTE What is reser∣ved to the Resurrection of the Dead.
• † 1.165

  E. S.
• * 1.166

  NOTE the Resurrection of the out∣ward Body of this world.
• † 1.167

  E. S.
• * 1.168

  E. S.
• * 1.169

  Math: 28. 18.
• † 1.170

  Note what shall judge and separate at the Last Day.
• † 1.171

  John 5. 19.
• * 1.172

  John ••••. ••••.
• † 1.173

  John 10. 30.
• * 1.174

  John 14. 28
• * 1.175

  1 Cor. 15. 28.
• † 1.176

  NOTE the Prophets.
• * 1.177

  E. S.
• † 1.178

  Heb. 7. 3.
• * 1.179

  E. S.
• * 1.180

  ••••illen.
• † 1.181

  E. S.
• * 1.182

  Gen: 3. 15.
• † 1.183

  Note the Resurrection is a Trans∣mutation.
• * 1.184

  Joh. 〈…〉〈…〉
• † 1.185

  What will be done in the Last 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.186

  Gal. 2. 20.
• † 1.187

  E. S.
• * 1.188

  Matth. 24. 4, 5.
• † 1.189

  E. S.
• † 1.190

  NOTE
• * 1.191

  E. S.
• † 1.192

  Gen: 8. 2••.
• * 1.193

  Math: 18. 20.
• * 1.194

  E. S.
• † 1.195

  1 Cor: 13. 9.
• * 1.196

  2 Thess: 2. 3.
• † 1.197

  NOTE Concerning the Resurre∣ction.
• * 1.198

  Rev. 4. 11.
• * 1.199

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.200

  John 〈…〉〈…〉
• † 1.201

  〈…〉〈…〉