Jacob Behmen's theosophick philosophy unfolded in divers considerations and demonstrations, shewing the verity and utility of the several doctrines or propositions contained in the writings of that divinely instructed author : also, the principal treatises of the said author abridged, and answers given to the remainder of the 177 theosophick questions, propounded by the said Jacob Behmen, which were left unanswered by him at the time of his death : as a help towards the better understanding the Old and New Testament : also what man is with respect to time and eternity, being an open gate to the great mysteries / by Edward Taylor ; with a short account of the life of Jacob Behmen.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the Paradisical Life, State or Dominion, how it should have been if Adam had not fallen, &c.

1. HAD God created Adam, to the earthy, corruptible, naked, sick, toylsom Life, he had not brought him into Paradise.

2. If God had willed him the bestial Copulation, he would first have created both Sexes, as he did other earthy Creatures.

3. But every Creature brings its Cloathing from its Dam, Man only cometh in deepest Poverty, the most for lorn and shiftless, with the Worms Carcass, and be∣stial Members for Propagation; whereof the poor Soul is always ashamed.

4. But Adam▪ was a Man and Woman, yet neither, distinct; but a Virgin full of Modesty, Chastity and Purity. Such was he before his Eve, as shall arise and Eter∣nally possess Paradise a Virgin, and as the Angels.

5. Two fixt and stedfast Essences were in Adam; A Spiritual Body from the in∣ward Heaven, which was God's Temple: and the outward Heaven, a Limus ex∣tracted out of the good part of the Earth, which was the Ma••fion of the inward, and at the Last Judgment shall be sever'd from the Curse and Corruption. These two were espoused into one, wherein was the most Holy Tincture of Fire and Light: and had ardent Love to each other; the inward loved the outward, as its Manifestation and Sensation: and the outward loved the inward, as its sweet Spouse and Joy.

6. And the Magical Power of Impregnation, stood in the fiery Love-Desire. No Winter, Sleep, Sickness, nor need of the Sun had he, before his Eve: only he stood in the Temptation, Forty days in Paradise, where had he been stedfast, God had confirmed* 1.1 him to Eternity. He was drawn of all the three Principles, and though they did Equiponderate, and were of equal Measure, yet the Devil was very busie in the first Principle, which Adam desired not to prove, as Lucifer had done.

7. But his Lust was to taste Evil and Good, then came the severe Command, Thou shalt not Eat, &c. which tho' he did not with his Mouth, yet his de∣sire to it made his Heavenly Tincture to disappear, and his fair Image fell into a swound, and his clear, pure, steddy Eyes and Sight were darkned, by the impress of the Vanity: So that now, he could not Magically propagate himself; then God said, It is not good that he should be alone, I will make a help meet for him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The following Instances are as so many Figures to point at the time Adam stood in the Proba.

  • Esau lived Forty years, then took two Evil Wives.
  • Israel Forty years in the Wilderness.
  • Forty days searching the Land of Canaan▪
  • Moses Forty days on the Mount.
  • Goliah's Forty days Challenging the Host of Israel.
  • Elias Fasted Forty days.
  • Christ Forty days Tempted.
  • And Forty hours in the Grave.
  • And Forty days after his Resurrection.