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. LX. Of Esau's going to meet Jacob with Four Hundred Men. Jacob's Present and Wrestling, &c.

1. ESau's coming with four hundred Men signifieth the Kingdom of Nature in the Anger of God, which was the first born, and in the four Elements, at which Jacob was astonished, so was Christ at Mount Olivet.

2. Jacob's dividing the Herds into two companies points at Christs twofold Hu∣manity, viz. the Heavenly and Earthy, that when these Warriours should smite the Earthy, the other which came down from Heaven should escape.

3. Jacob's Presents are Christs Prayers.

4. His humbling himself, saying, I came over with my Staff only, but am now two Bands; so did Christ in the Garden; whose two Bands were the Heavenly Hu∣manity perish'd in Adam, and that of the Limus of the Earth; with both which Jacob, viz. Christ was to return to his first Paradisical Countrey and Angelical Kindred.

5. Sent five hundred and eighty Cattel, viz. Christ sent out Lusts to the Anger of God.

6. Jacob also sent his two Wives, viz. Christ sent the twofold Spirit of Man, viz. the Soul and the Spiritus Mundi, viz. the inward Eternal Soul, and the out∣ward Soul.

7. Two Handmaids, viz. the twofold Humanity of the Body.

8. The Eleven Children, viz. the Eleven Apostles.

9. And passed over the Brook Jabock, viz. Kidron.

10. Jacob's Twelfth Son lay yet unborn, so now was Christs Twelfth Apostle not chosen in the room of Judas.

11. Jacob staid alone, and there wrestled a Man with him, viz. the great love of God in the Name Jesus, did wrestle with Gods Righteousness and Truth which was on Mount Sinai.

12. All Night of the darkness of Gods Anger.

13. The Ham of his Thigh was displaced, viz. the Adamical Humanity was dis∣placed, but not broken, to die Eternally. He halted, viz. being Lame to the Pride, Vanity, Malice, Lasciviousness▪ &c. of this World.

14. The Man said, Let me go, for the day, viz. the Eternal day dawneth: But Jacob, viz. Christ said, I will not let thee go until thou bless me, viz. the Hu∣manity.

15. And the Man said, What is thy Name? He said, Jacob. Then the Man said, Thou shalt no more have a self name, but Israel, viz. a Tree of Life, or Christian, viz. a sprout on the Vine Christ.

16. And Jacob asked what is thy Name? But Christ said why askest thou, (that is) I am no stranger, thy Name and mine shall be one. But God without Na∣ture and Creature is the Eternal one and Eternal good, the Abyss and Profun••ity, no place is found for him, no Creature can Name him; for all Names stand in the formed Word: But God is the Beginningless Root of all Power, the Vegetables know not how the Sun blesseth them.

17. Man hath lamentably lost the five Vowels, the Holy Ghosts Language, for the whole New Testament is couched up in the Old.

18. When God blessed Jacob he called the place Penuel (that is) where God is manifest in the Soul.

19. And when he was departed thence, the Sun, viz. of Righteousness, arose in him, and he halted, his self-will was lame in its ability.

20. And the Children of Israel eat not of that Sinew to this day; for they un∣derstood that Mystery, and Instituted this Memorial, viz. the displacing of their Bestial Wills; which if the present Jews and Christians well underst••od they would not hunt after Covetousness and Lust, yet under Christs Purple Mantle.