Q. 57. What was the Tree of Life, and also the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, each in its Power, Essence and Property?
A. 1. We read of Cherubims (with a Sword turning every way) placed to keep the Way of the Tree of Life: who then can describe it, that hath not first passed the Sword of the Cherub? And if all Mortality be as Fuel to that flaming Sword, who in the Body (by Human Wisdom) can (without danger of being burnt) approach the Way to that Tree?
2. The Tree of Life is said to stand in the midst of the Garden, and also the* 1.1 Tree of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life is also said to be in the midst of the Street of the New Jerusalem, and on either side of the pure River there, bearing twelve Fruits, one every Month.
3. How can it be more clearly shewn? For the Tree of Life stands in the midst between two Kingdoms, two Worlds, or two Principles, viz. Between the Fa∣thers, or first, fierce, wrathful, mighty Principle, and the outward or third Prin∣ciple.
4. The first as its Root, the other as its Shadow and Figure, dimly representing both the Root and Tree; though more obscurely the latter, since the Curse.
5. And the Holy Power of God which penetrated the outermost, and swallowed it up (as Light doth Darkness) This Holy World is the Tree of Life it self, which in its Original should have been unknown to Adam, even as the Tree of Good and Evil, should have been unknown to him.
6. He should have kept a Child-like resigned Mind which is attained, after the corrupt Man (consisting of the fierceness of the first, and vanity of the third Prin∣ciple) is cut off, by the sharpness of that Sword, or become Fuel to the flame of it. Then the New Man entreth irresistibly by that Guard, and Eateth freely and for ever of the Tree of Life: till then, his Food is of the Tree of Good and Evil; and what that Tree is follows.
7▪ The Tree of Good and Evil was the only Tree of that sort that grew in Eden. This Tree was Good, as partaking of the Vertue of the second Principle, though it self grew in the third, and it was Evil as partaking of the dark Impression of the first Principle, whereby is Poison, as the Gall is the Exciter of Life in living Crea∣tures, and so that Death and Corruption is in this Worlds Fruits.
8▪ Therefore was it forbidden Adam, as being a Production of the Stars and Elements over which he was to Rule; for though Adam was in the third Princi∣ple, he was above it; as Eternity is in yet above time. God willed Adam to have remained in the Happy State; therefore commanded his not touching that which would be Contagious and Mortal, as it proved to be by opening in him the Evil of the divided Properties.
9. It was in the midst of the Garden, (that is) in the midst between the first and third Principles, partaking of both, as doth also the Tree of Life; but this of Good and Evil hath not the vertue, but shadow of the second Principle.