Bohme of RegenerationENG

8/13/2019 Bohme of RegenerationENG

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Jakob Bhme

(1575-1624)

OF

R E G E N E R A T I O N

Though I have in my other Writings,set down a clear description of Regeneration, or theNew-Birth,

from the Groundthereof; yet because everyone hath them not, neither hath everyone the Capait! to

understand them; I have therefore, as a Service to thesi"p#e Chi#dren o$ Christ, here set down a shortSum concerning theNew-Birth%

But i$ an! desire to searh the deep Ground from whence all floweth, and have theGi$tto understand it,let them read

&% The'hree rinip#es o$ the i*ine +ssene%

&&% The'hree$o#d i$e o$ an%

&&&% The.ort! /uestions of the0rigina# +ssene, ustane, Nature, andropert! of theou#%

&3% The &narnation and Birth of esus Christ the on o$ God also of his u$$ering, eath, and

Resurretion%

3% Thei oints treating of the'hree Wor#dshow they are inone another asone and yet make'hree

rinip#es, 'hree Births orCenters%

3&% The!steriu" agnu", which is an&nterpretation upon Genesis%

And in them he shall find a## that he can ask, and that asdeep as the Mind of Man is able to reach%I havewritten this for thetrue &srae#ites, that is, for theungr! and'hirst! earts that long after the.ountain

o$ Christ, who are my.e##ow e"ers in thepirit o$ Christ8But not for the&sh"ae#ites andorners,for they have a Boo9 within them, wherewith they ve, persecute, and suppress the Chi#dren o$ Christ that

are under the Cross and yet, though it be unwi##ing#! and unwitting#! to themselves, they must beer*ants to suchChi#dren o$ Christ%


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THE FIRST CHAPTER.

Showing how Man should consider himself!

CR&' said,"cept ye turn and become as #hildren, ye shall not see the kingdom of$od!:gain, he said to%icodemus; "cept a Man be born again, of &ater and of the

Spirit, he cannot enter into the 'ingdom of $od; for that which is born of the (lesh is

(lesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit!

2% :#so the ripture positi*e#! de#areth, that the fleshly natural Man receiveth not theThings of the Spirit of $od, for they are (oolishness unto him, neither can he know or

conceive them!

;% Now seeing that a## o$ us ha*e .#esh and B#ood and are "orta#, as we $ind !

+periene, and !et the ripture saith, that &e are the Temples of the )oly $host, who

dwelleth in us, and thatthe 'ingdom of $od is within us, and that #hrist must be formed

in us a#so, that)e will give us his (lesh for (ood, and his Blood for *rink+ :nd that,

&hosoever shall not eat of the (lesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood hath no

ife in him!'here$ore we shou#d serious#! onsider, what 9ind o$ an in us it is, that is

apa#e o$ eing thus #i9e the eit!%

4% .or it annot e said o$ the "orta# .#esh that turneth to +arth again, and #i*eth in the

3anit! o$ this Wor#d, and ontinua##! #usteth against God that it is the 'e"p#e o$ the

o#! Ghost "uh #ess an it e said that the New Birth o"eth to pass in this earth#!

.#esh, whih dieth and putri$ieth, and is a ontinua# ouse o$ in%

5%


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$urther, Should we that are #hristians be yet Sinners0 $od forbid, seeing we are dead to

Sin in #hrist!

?% Besides, the an o$ in annot e the 'e"p#e o$ the o#! Ghost and !et, there is no

Man that sinneth not, for $od hath shut up all under Sin! :s the ripture saith,%o oneliving is righteous in thy Sight, if thou imputest his Sins to him! The righteous Man

falleth seven Times a *ay;and !et it annot e "eant that the righteous $a##eth and

sinneth, ut his "orta# and sin$u# an% .or the righteousness o$ a Christian in Christ

annot in%

1@% oreo*er, t%.aulsaith, 1ur #onversation is in )eaven, from whence we epect

our Saviour /esus #hrist!Now, i$ our Con*ersation e in ea*en, then ea*en "ust e

in us Christ dwe##eth in ea*en and then i$ we are his 'e"p#e, that 'e"p#e ea*en

"ust e in us%

11% But $or a## this, seeing in te"pteth us within us, where! the e*i# hath within usan :ess to us, there$ore e## a#so "ust e in us too, $or the e*i# dwe##eth in e##

wheresoe*er he is, he is in e##% and annot o"e out o$ it%


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16% Now i$ we wi## understand this right#!, we "ust onsider 'i"e and +ternit!, and

how the! are in one another a#so ight and ar9ness, Good and +*i# ut espeia##! the

0rigina# o$ an%

This may be thus apprehended!

17% '+ outward Wor#d with the tars and $our +#e"ents, wherein an and a##

Creatures #i*e, neither is, nor is a##ed God% &ndeed God dwe##eth in it, ut the ustane

o$ the outward Wor#d o"prehendedeth hi" not%

1>% We see a#so that the ight shineth in ar9ness, and the ar9ness o"prehendeth not

the ight, and !et the! oth dwe## in one another% 'he $our +#e"ents are a#so an

+a"p#e o$ this whih in their 0rigina# are ut one+#e"ent, whih is neither hot nor

o#d, nor dr!, nor "oist and !et ! its stirring separateth itse#$ into .our roperties,

into .ire, :ir, Water, and +arth%

1?% Who wou#d e#ie*e that .ire produeth or generateth WaterA :nd that the 0rigina#

o$ .ire ou#d e in Water, i$ we did not see it with our +!es in 'e"pests o$ 'hunder,

ightening, and Rain and did not $ind a#so, that in #i*ing Creatures, the essentia# .ire o$

the Bod! dwe##eth in the B#ood, and that the B#ood is the other o$ the .ire, and the

.ire is the .ather o$ the B#ood%

2@% :nd as God dwe##eth in the Wor#d, and $i##eth a## 'hings, and !et possesseth nothing

and as the .ire dwe##eth in Water, and !et possesseth it not8 :#so, as the ight dwe##eth

in ar9ness, and !et possesseth not the ar9ness as the a! is in the Night, and the

Night in the a!, 'i"e in +ternit!, and +ternit! in 'i"e so is an reated aording tothe outward u"anit! he is the 'i"e, and in the 'i"e, and the 'i"e is the outward

Wor#d, and it is a#so the outward an%

21% 'he inward an is +ternit! and the piritua# 'i"e and Wor#d, whih a#so onsisteth

o$ ight and ar9ness, o$ the o*e o$ God, as to the eterna# ight, and o$ the :nger o$

God as to the eterna# ar9ness whihsoe*er o$ these is "ani$est in hi", his pirit

dwe##eth in that, e it ar9ness or ight%

22% .or ight and ar9ness are oth inhi", ut eah o$ the" dwe##eth in itse#$, and

neither o$ the" possesseth the other ut i$ one o$ the" entereth into the other, and wi##

possess it, then that other #oseth its Right and ower%

2;% 'hepassive #oseth its ower $or i$ the ight e "ade "ani$est in the ar9ness, then

the ar9ness #oseth its ar9ness, and is not 9nown or diserned% :#so on the ontrar!, i$

the ar9ness arise in the ight and get the upper-hand, then the ight and the ower

thereo$ are etinguished% 'his is to e oser*ed a#so in an%

24% 'he +terna# ar9ness o$ the ou# is e##, an ahing oure o$ :nguish, whih is

a##ed the :nger o$ God ut the +terna# ight in the ou# is the =ingdo" o$ ea*en,

where the $ier! :nguish o$ ar9ness is hanged into o!%

25% .or the sa"e Nature o$ :nguish, whih in the ar9ness is a Cause o$ adness, is in


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hath) o$ the +arth, and a#so a imbus o$ the hea*en#! ustane $or the +arth is

reathed $orth out-spo9en, or reated out o$ the dar9 and #ight Wor#d% &n the Word(iat

(or reating Word) in the eterna# esire an was ta9en out o$ the +arth, and so reated

an &"age out o$ 'i"e and +ternit!%

;;% 'his &"age was in the inward and spiritua# +#e"ent, $ro" whene the $our +#e"ents

proeed and are produed% &n that one +#e"ent was aradise $or the roperties o$

Nature $ro" the (ire2dark2and2light2&orldwere a## in ar"on! and :gree"ent in

Nu"er, Weight, and easure% 0ne o$ the" was not "ani$ested "ore e"inent#! than

another, there$ore was there no .rai#t! therein% .or no one ropert! was predo"inant

o*er another, neither was there an! tri$e or Contrariet! a"ong the owers and

roperties%

;4% &nto this reated &"age God reathed the pirit and Breath o$ nderstanding out o$

the three &orlds, as one on#! ou# whih, as to its 0rigina# rinip#e or +ssene, is, or

onsisteth in, the inward dark (ire2&orldo$ the eterna# spiritua# Nature aording towhih God a##eth hi"se#$ astrong 3ealous $od,and a consuming (ire%

;5% :nd this now is the eterna# reature#! great ou#, a "agia# Breath o$ .ire, in whih

.ire onsisteth the 0rigina# o$ i$e, $ro" the great ower o$ eparation% Gods :nger, or

the eterna# ar9ness, is in this ropert!, so $ar as .ire reaheth without gi*ing ight%

;6% 'he seond ropert! o$ the Breath o$ God is the pirit o$ the oure o$ ight,

proeeding $ro" the great $ier! esire o$ o*e, $ro" the great ee9ness aording to

whih God a##eth hi"se#$ aloving, merciful $od;in whih onsisteth the true pirit o$

nderstanding, and o$ i$e in ower%

;7% .or as ight shineth $ro" ower, and as the ower o$ nderstanding is diserned in

the ight, so the Breath o$ the ight was Doined to the Breath o$ the .ire o$ God, and

reathed into the &"age o$ an%

;>% 'he third ropert! o$ the Breath o$ God was the outward :ir with its Conste##ation

orAstrum, wherein the i$e and Conste##ation o$ the outward ustane and Bod! did

onsist% 'his he reathed into his Nostri#s and as 'i"e and +ternit! hang together, and

as 'i"e is produed out o$ +ternit!, so the inward Breath o$ God hung to the outward%

;?% 'his three-$o#d ou# was at one reathed into an and eah ustane o$ the Bod!reei*ed the pirit aording to its ropert!% 'he outward .#esh reei*ed the outward

:ir and its Conste##ations, $or a rationa# and *egetati*e i$e, to the ani$estation o$ the

Wonders o$ God and the ight Bod! or ea*en#! ustane reei*ed the Breath o$ the

ight o$ the great i*ine owers and 3irtues whih Breath is a##ed the o#! Ghost%

4@% 'hus the ight piered through the ar9ness, through the dar9 Breath o$ .ire, and

a#so through the Breath o$ the outward :ir and its Conste##ation or Astrum, and so

depri*ed a## the roperties o$ their ower, that neither the :nguish o$ the Breath o$ .ire

in the inward ropert! o$ the ou#, nor eat nor Co#d, nor an! o$ a## the roperties o$

the outward Conste##ation, "ight or ou#d e "ani$ested%


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roperties $or the great ower o$ the ou# and o$ the Bod! aused it%

5@% :nd then an "ust e tried, whether he wou#d stand and susist in his own owers,

e$ore the 'e"pter the e*i#, and e$ore the Wrath o$ the eterna# Nature and whether

the ou# wou#d ontinue in the eEua# :gree"ent o$ the roperties in true Resignationunder God s pirit, as an &nstru"ent o$ God s ar"on!, a tuned &nstru"ent o$ di*ine

o!$u#ness $or the pirit o$ God to stri9e upon% 'his was tried ! that 'ree, and this

se*ere Co""and"ent was added, Thou shalt not eat thereof, for on that *ay that thou

eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die!

51% But it eing 9nown to God that an wou#d not stand, and that he had a#read!

i"agined and #usted a$ter Good and +*i#, God said,It is not good for Man to be alone,

we will make him an )elp2meet for him!

52% .or God saw thatAdamou#d not then generate "agia##!, ha*ing entered with his

ust into 3anit!% Now there$oreMosessaith, $od caused a deep Sleep to fall upon him,and he slept that is, seeing an wou#d not ontinue in the 0ediene o$ the i*ine

ar"on! in the roperties, su"itting hi"se#$ to stand sti## as an &nstru"ent o$ the

pirit o$ God there$ore God su$$ered hi" to $a## $ro" the i*ine ar"on! into an

ar"on! o$ his own, into the awa9ened roperties o$ +*i# and Good the pirit o$ his

ou# went into these%

5;% :nd there in this #eep he died $ro" the :nge#ia# Wor#d, and $e## under the ower

o$ the outward(iat, and thus ade $arewe## to the +terna# &"age whih was o$ God s

egetting% ere his :nge#ia# .or" and ower $e## into a woon and #a! on the Ground%

54% :nd then ! the(iatGod "ade the Wo"an out o$ hi", out o$ the Matrio$ 4enus,

out o$ that ropert! wherein Adamhad the Begettress in hi"se#$ and so out o$ one

Bod! he "ade two, and di*ided the roperties o$ the 'intures, the water! and $ier!

Conste##ations in the +#e"ent !et not who##! in ustane ut in the pirit, the

roperties o$ the water! and $ier! ou#%

55% :nd !et it is ut one 'hing sti##, on#! the ropert! o$ the 'inture was di*ided the

esire o$ e#$-o*e was ta9en out o$Adam, and $or"ed into a Wo"an aording to his

i9eness% :nd thene it is that an now so eager#! desireth the Matrio$ the Wo"an,

and the Wo"an desireth the imbuso$ the an, the .ire-+#e"ent, the 0rigina# o$ the

true ou#, ! whih is "eant the 'inture o$ .ire $or these two were one in Adam, andtherein onsisted the agia# Begetting%

56% :nd as soon as"vewas "ade out o$Adamin his #eep, othAdamand"vewere at

that &nstant set and onstituted in the outward natura# i$e, ha*ing the e"ers gi*en

the" $or ropagation, a$ter the "anner o$ the Brute :ni"a#s, and a#so the $#esh#!

Carase, into whih the! "ight put their gross +arth#iness, and #i*e #i9e Beasts%

57% 0$ whih the poor ou# that is apti*ated in 3anit! is at this a! asha"ed and sorr!

that its Bod! hath gotten suh a eastia# "onstrous hape% Nothing an e #earer than

this% .or it is eause an9ind are asha"ed o$ their e"ers and Na9edness, that the!

orrow their C#othing $ro" the earth#! Creatures% .or this the! wou#d not ha*e done,


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had the! not #ost the :nge#ia# .or", and assu"ed that o$ a Beast%

5>% 'his orrowed C#othing, together with the awa9ened +arth#iness, and uDetion to

the owers o$ eat and Co#d, is a p#ain and $u## roo$ to an, that he is not tru#! at

o"e in this Wor#d% .or a## earth#! :ppetites, Cares, and .ears, together with this $a#seC#othing, "ust perish and e se*ered $ro" the ou# again%

5?% Now whenAdamawo9e $ro" #eep, he ehe#d his Wi$e, and 9new that she a"e

out o$ hi" $or he had not !et eaten o$ 3anit! with his outward outh, ut with the

&"agination, esire, and ust on#!%

6@% :nd it was the $irst esire o$"ve, that she "ight eat o$ the 'ree o$ 3anit!, o$ +*i#

and Good, to whih the e*i# in the .or" o$ a erpent persuaded her, sa!ing, That her

"yes should be opened, and she should be as $od himself; whih was oth a ie and a

'ruth%

61% But e to#d her not, that she shou#d #ose the i*ine ight and ower there!8 e

on#! said, her "yes should be opened, that she might taste, prove, and know "vil and

$ood, as he had done% Neither did he te## her that eat and Co#d wou#d awa9e in her,

and that the ropert! o$ the outward Conste##ations wou#d ha*e great ower o*er the

.#esh and o*er the ind%

62% is on#! :i" was that the :nge#ia# &"age, the ustane whih a"e $ro" the

inward piritua# Wor#d, "ight disappear in the"% .or then the! wou#d e onstrained to

#i*e in uDetion to the gross +arth#iness, and the Conste##ations or tars and then he

9new we## enough that when the outward Wor#d perished, the ou# wou#d e with hi"

in ar9ness% .or he saw that the Bod! "ust die, whih he perei*ed ! that whih God

had inti"ated and so he epeted sti## to e ord to a## +ternit! in the #ae o$ this

Wor#d, in his $a#se hape whih he had gotten and there$ore he sedued an%

6;% .or whenAdamand"vewere eating the .ruit, +*i#, and Good, into the Bod!, then

the &"agination o$ the Bod! reei*ed 3anit! in the .ruit, and then 3anit! awa9ed in the

.#esh, and the dar9 Wor#d got the pperhand and o"inion in the 3anit! o$ the

+arth#iness upon whih the $air &"age o$ ea*en, that proeeded out o$ the ea*en#!

i*ine Wor#d, instant#! disappeared%

64% ereAdam and"vedied to the =ingdo" o$ ea*en, and awa9ed to the outwardWor#d, and then the $air ou# as it stood in the o*e o$ God, disappeared as to the ho#!

ower, 3irtue, and ropert! and instead thereo$, the wrath$u# :nger, the dar9 .ire

Wor#d, awo9e in it, and so the ou# ea"e in one art, in the inward Nature, a ha#$

e*i#, and in the outward art as re#ated to the outward Wor#d, a Beast%

65% ere are the Bounds o$ eath and the Gates o$ e##, $or whih Cause God ea"e

an, that he "ight destro! eath, de$eat the e*i# s urpose, and hange e## into

great o*e again%

66% et this e to#d !ou,


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urneth%

THE THIRD CHAPTER.

1f the lamentable (all of Man, and of the Means of his *eliverance!

N0W when Adam and"ve$e## into this 3anit!, then the Wrath o$ Nature awo9e ineah ropert!, and in or through the esire i"pressed the 3anit! o$ the +arth#iness and

Wrath o$ God into itse#$%

6>% :nd then the .#esh ea"e gross and rough, as the .#esh o$ a Beast, and the ou#

was apti*ated in that +ssene therewith, and saw that its Bod! was eo"e a Beast,

and had gotten the Bestia# e"ers $or u#tip#iation, and the $i#th! Carase intowhih the esire wou#d stu$$ the oathso"eness whih it was asha"ed o$ in the

resene o$ God and there$oreAdam and"vehid the"se#*es under the 'rees o$ the

Garden o$"den% eat and Co#d a#so seiFed on the"%

6?% :nd here the ea*en in an tre"#ed $or orror as the +arth Eua9ed in Wrath,

when this :nger was destro!ed on the Cross ! the sweet o*e o$ God there the :nger

tre"#ed e$ore the sweet o*e o$ God%

7@% :nd $or this 3anit!s a9e whih was thus awa9ened in an, God ursed the +arth

#est the ho#! +#e"ent shou#d spring or shine $orth an! "ore through the outward .ruit,

and ring $orth aradisaia# .ruit% .or there was then no Creature that ou#d ha*eenDo!ed it neither was the earth#! an worth! o$ it an! "ore%

71% God wou#d not ast the preious ear#s e$ore Beasts an ungod#! an in his Bod!

eing ut a "ere gross eastia# Creature and though it e o$ a no#e +ssene, !et it is

who##! poisoned and #oathso"e in the ight o$ God%

72% Now when God saw that his $air &"age was spoi#ed, he "ani$ested hi"se#$ to $a##en

Adamand"ve,and had it! on the", and pro"ised hi"se#$ to the" $or an e*er#asting

ossession, and that with his great o*e in the reei*ed u"anit! he wou#d destro! the

ower o$ the erpentine ropert!, o$ the 3anit! in the Wrath o$ God awa9ened in the"%

:nd this was the breaking of the )ead of the Serpent, whih he wou#d per$or", he

wou#d destro! the dar9 eath, and sudue the :nger with his great o*e%

7;% :nd this Co*enant o$ his &narnation whih was to o"e, he put into the ight o$

i$e to whih Co*enant the ewish ari$ies pointed as to a ar9 or imit, to whih

God had pro"ised hi"se#$ with his o*e $or the .aith o$ the /ewsentered into the

ari$ies and 0$$erings, and God s &"agination entered into the Co*enant%

74% :nd the 0$$ering was a .igure o$ the Restitution o$ that whih Adamhath #ost, and

so God did epiate his :nger in the hu"an ropert!, through the o$$ering in the i"it o$

the Co*enant%


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75% &n whih Co*enant the "ost ho#! sweet Na"e +, proceedingout o$ the ho#!

Na"e and great ower o$ +03:, had inorporated itse#$ so that he wou#d again

"o*e and "ani$est hi"se#$ in the ustane o$ the ea*en#! Wor#d whih disappeared

inAdam, and 9ind#e the ho#! di*ine i$e therein again%

76% 'his ar9 or i"it o$ the Co*enant was propagated $ro" Adamand his Chi#dren,

$ro" an to an, and did go through $ro" one upon a##, as in a#so and the awa9ened

3anit! did go through $ro" one upon a##%

77% :nd it stood in the ro"ise o$ the Co*enant at the +nd, in the Root o$ *avidin the

3irgin Mary, who was, in the inward =ingdo" o$ the hidden u"anit!, ( o$ the

+ssentia#it! that disappeared as to the =ingdo" o$ God) the aughter o$ God s

Co*enant, ut in the outward aording to the natura# u"anit!, she was egotten !

her true odi#! .ather /oachim and her true other Anna, out o$ the +ssenes and

ustane o$ their ou#s and Bodies, #i9e a## other Chi#dren o$ Adam a true aughter o$"ve%

7>% &n this Mary$ro" the 3irgin ( the &isdom of $od5 in the pro"ised i"it o$ the

Co*enant, o$ whih a## the rophets ha*e prophesied% - the eterna# pea9ing Word,

whih reated a## 'hings, did in the .u##ness o$ 'i"e "o*e itse#$ in the Na"e +,

aording to its highest and deepest o*e and u"i#it!, and ring again #i*ing, di*ine,

and hea*en#! ustantia#it! into the u"anit! o$ the hea*en#! art, whih disappeared

in :da", and $ro" whih he died in aradise, into the eed o$ Mary, into the 'inture

o$ o*e, into that ropert! whereinAdamshou#d ha*e propagated hi"se#$ in a "agia#

and hea*en#! anner, into the true eed o$ the Wo"an, o$ hea*en#! ustantia#it!,

whih disappeared in aradise%

7?% :nd when the i*ine ight in the ea*en#! +ssene was etinguished, the Word o$

God, the i*ine ower o$ the nderstanding, did ring in ea*en#! and #i*ing

ustantia#it!, and awa9ened the disappeared ustantia#it! in the eed o$ Mary, and

rought it to i$e%

>@% :nd so now Gods ustane, wherein e dwe##eth and wor9eth, and the

disappeared ustane o$ an, are eo"e one erson $or the o#! i*ine

ustantia#it! did anoint the disappeared there$ore that erson is a##ed CR&',

theAnointed of $od%

>1% :nd this is the dr! Rod o$Aaron, whih #osso"ed and are :#"onds, and the true

igh riest and it is that u"anit! o$ whih Christ spa9e, sa!ing, that e was come

from )eaven and was in )eaven and that no Man could ascend into )eaven but the

Son of Man which is come from )eaven, and is in )eaven!

>2% Now when he saith,)e is come from )eaven, it is "eant o$ the ea*en#! ustane,

the ea*en#! Corporea#it! $or the ower and 3irtue o$ God needeth no o"ing any

whither, $or it is e*er! where a#together i""easura#e and undi*ided% But ustane

needeth o"ing the ower or 3irtue needeth to "o*e itse#$, and "ani$est itse#$ in

ustane%


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>;% :nd that ustane entered into the hu"an ustane, and reei*ed it not that art

on#! o$ ea*en#! ustantia#it!, whih disappeared in Adam, ut the who#e hu"an

+ssene in ou# and .#esh, aording to a## the three Wor#ds%

>4% But he hath not reei*ed, or ta9en upon hi"se#$, the awa9ened or i"pressed 3anit!,

whih the e*i#, ! his &"agination, rought into the .#esh, ! whih the .#esh did

o""it in though he hath indeed ta9en upon hi" the awa9ened .or"s o$ i$e, as the!

were gone $orth $ro" their eEua# :gree"ent, eah o$ the" into its own esire%

>5% .or therein #a! our &n$ir"it!, and the eath, whih e was to drown with his

ea*en#! ho#! B#ood% erein he too9 upon hi"se#$ a## our ins and &n$ir"ities, a#so

eath and e## in the Wrath o$ God, and destro!ed their ower in the hu"an roperties%

>6% 'he Wrath o$ God was the e## into whih the pirit o$ Christ went, when e had

shed that hea*en#! B#ood into our outward hu"an B#ood, and tintured it with the o*ethere! hanging that e## o$ the hu"an ropert! into ea*en, and reduing the hu"an

roperties into eEua# :gree"ent, into the ea*en#! ar"on!%

THE FOURTH CHAPTER.

)ow we are born a2new; and how we may fall into $od6s Anger again!

N0W here we "a! right#! understand what our%ew2Birth, or-egeneration, is andhow we "a! eo"e, and ontinue to e, the 'e"p#e o$ God though in this i$es 'i"e,

aording to the outward u"anit!, we are sin$u# "orta# en%>>% Christ in the hu"an +ssene hath ro9en up and opened the Gates o$ our inward

ea*en#! u"anit!, whih was shut up inAdam so that nothing is now wanting, ut

that the ou# draw its Wi## out o$ the 3anit! o$ the orrupted .#esh, and ring it into this

open Gate in the pirit o$ Christ%

>?% Great and strong +arnestness is reEuired here and not on#! a #earning and 9nowing,

ut a rea# unger and 'hirst a$ter the pirit o$ Christ% .or to 9now on#!, is not .aith ut

an unger and 'hirst a$ter that whih & want, so that & draw it in there! to "!se#$, and

#a! ho#d on it with the esire and &"agination, and, "a9e it "! own this is the 'ruth

and +ssene o$ a Christian s .aith%

?@% 'he Wi## "ust go $orth $ro" the 3anit! o$ the .#esh, and wi##ing#! !ie#d itse#$ up to

the u$$ering and eath o$ Christ, and to a## the Reproah o$ 3anit!, whih derideth it,

eause it goeth $orth $ro" its own ouse wherein it was orn, and regardeth 3anit! no

"ore, ut "ere#! desireth the o*e o$ God in Christ esus%

?1% &n suh a unger and esire the Wi## reei*eth and i"presseth into itse#$ the pirit

o$ Christ with his ea*en#! Corpora#it! that is, the ou# in its great unger and esire

ta9eth ho#d o$, and draweth the Bod! o$ Christ, the ea*en#! ustantia#it!, into its

disappeared &"age, within whih the Word o$ the ower o$ God is the Wor9ing%

?2% 'he unger o$ the ou# ringeth its esire Euite through the ruised ropert! o$ its


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u"anit! in the ea*en#! art, whih disappeared inAdam whih u"anit!, the sweet

.ire o$ o*e in the eath o$ Christ did ruise, when the eath o$ that ea*en#!

u"anit! was destro!ed%

?;% :nd so the unger o$ the ou# reei*ed into it, into its disappeared Corpora#it!,through the esire, the ho#! ea*en#! ustane, Christ s ea*en#! Corpora#it!, whih

$i##eth the .ather a## o*er, and is nigh unto a##, and through a## 'hings and through that

the disappeared ea*en#! Bod! riseth in the ower o$ God, in the sweet Na"e +%%

?4% :nd this raised ea*en#! piritua# Bod! is the e"er o$ Christ, and the 'e"p#e o$

the o#! Ghost, a true ansion o$ the o#! 'rinit!, aording to Christ s ro"ise,

sa!ing, &e will come to you, and make our Abode in you!

?5% 'he +ssene o$ that i$e eateth the .#esh o$ Christ, and drin9eth his B#ood% .or the

pirit o$ Christ, the Word, whih "ade itse#$ *isi#e with the u"anit! o$ Christ out o$,

and in our disappeared u"anit!, through the outward an o$ the ustane o$ thisWor#d, swa##oweth its ho#! ustane into its $ier! $or e*er! pirit eateth o$ its own

Bod!%

?6% Now i$ the ou# eat o$ this sweet, ho#!, and ea*en#! .ood, then it 9ind#eth itse#$

with the great o*e in the Na"e and ower o$ + whene its .ire o$ :nguish

eo"eth a great 'riu"ph o$ o! and G#or!, and the true un ariseth to it, wherein it is

orn to another Wi##%

?7% :nd here o"eth to pass the &edding of the amb,whih we hearti#! wish that the

titu#ar and ip-Christians "ight one $ind ! +periene in the"se#*es, and so pass

$ro" the istor! into the ustane%

?>% But the ou# otaineth not this ear# o$ the i*ine Wisdo" and 3irtue $or its own

ropert! during the 'i"e o$ this i$e eause it hath the outward Bestia# .#esh sti9ing

to its outward an%

??% 'he ower o$ whih ear# o$ i*ine Wisdo" espouseth itse#$ in this &edding of the

amb, and sin9eth itse#$ down into the ea*en#! &"age, into the ustane o$ the

ea*en#! an, who is the 'e"p#e o$ Christ and not into the .ire-Breath o$ the ou#,

whih is !et, during this who#e i$es 'i"e, $ast ound to the outward =ingdo", to the

Bond o$ 3anit!, with the Breath o$ the :ir, and is in great anger%

1@@% &t darteth its Bea"s o$ o*e indeed *er! o$ten into the ou#, where! the ou#

reei*eth ight ut the pirit o$ Christ !ie#deth not itse#$ up to the .ire-Breath in this

i$es 'i"e, ut to the Breath o$ ight on#! whih was etinguished in Adam, in whih

the 'e"p#e o$ Christ is, $or that is the true and ho#! ea*en%

1@1% nderstand aright now, what the%ew2Birthor-egenerationis, and how it o"eth

to pass, as $o##oweth% 'he outward earth#! "orta# an is not orn anew in this i$es

'i"e that is, neither the outward .#esh, nor the outward art o$ the ou#% 'he! ontinue

oth o$ the" in the 3anit! o$ their Wi##s whih awo9e in Adam% 'he! #o*e their other,

in whose Bod! the! #i*e, the o"inion o$ this outward Wor#d and therein the Birth o$


14/26

in is "ani$est%

1@2% 'he outward an in ou# and .#esh, (we "ean the outward part o$ the ou#) hath

no i*ine Wi##, neither doth he understand an! 'hing o$ God, as the ripture saith, The

natural Man perceiveth not the Things of the Spirit of $od! 7c!

1@;% But the .ire-Breath o$ the inward Wor#d, i$ it e one en#ightened, understandeth it

it hath a great onging, ighing, unger, and 'hirst a$ter the sweet .ountain o$ Christ

it re$resheth itse#$ ! hungering and desiring, (whih is the true .aith in) the sweet

.ountain o$ Christ $ro" his new Bod!, $ro" the ea*en#! ustantia#it!, as a hungr!

Branh in the 3ine Christ%

1@4% :nd the Reason wh! the $ier! ou# annot attain to er$etion during this i$es

'i"e, is eause it is $ast ound with the outward Bond o$ 3anit!, through whih the

e*i# ontinua##! asteth his *eno"ous Ra!s o$ &n$#uene upon it, and so si$teth it, that

it o$ten iteth at his Bait, and poisoneth itse#$% .ro" whene iser! and :nguish arise,so that the No#e Sophiahideth herse#$ in the .ountain o$ Christ, in the ea*en#!

u"anit! $or she annot draw near to 3anit!%

1@5% .or she 9new how it went with her in Adam, when she #ost her ear#, whih is o$

Grae $ree#! estowed again upon the inward u"anit! there$ore she is a##ed Sophia,

the Bride of #hrist!

1@6% ere she $aith$u##! a##eth to her Bridegroo" the $ier! ou#, and ehorteth hi" to

Repentane, and to the unurthening o$ hi"se#$, or going $orth $ro" the :o"ination o$

3anit!%

1@7% :nd now War assau#teth the who#e an% 'he outward $#esh#! an $ighteth against

the inward spiritua# an, and the spiritua# against the $#esh#! and so an is in

ontinua# War$are and tri$e, $u## o$ 'rou#e, iser!, :nguish, and Care%

1@>% 'he inward pirit saith to the $ier! ou#8 1 my Soul8 1 my love8 Turn I beseech

thee and go forth from 4anity, or else thou loseth my ove and the noble .earl!

1@?% 'hen saith the outward Reason, the Beastia# ou# Thou art foolish; wilt thou be a

aughing2stock, and the Scorn of the &orld0 Thou needest the outward &orld to

maintain this ife! Beauty, .ower, and $lory are thy proper )appiness; wherein onlythou canst re3oice and take *elight! &hy wilt thou cast thyself into Anguish, Misery,

and -eproach0 Take thy .leasure, which will do both thy (lesh and thy Mind good!

11@% With suh .i#th the true an is o$ten de$i#ed that is, the outward an de$i#eth

hi"se#$, as a ow in the ire, and osureth his no#e ear#% .or the "ore *ain the

outward an groweth, the "ore dar9 the inward an o"eth to e, unti# at #ength it

disappeareth a#together%

111% :nd then the $air aradisaia# 'ree is gone, and it wi## e *er! hard to reo*er it

again% .or when the outward ight, the outward ou# is one en#ightened, so that the

outward ight o$ Reason is 9ind#ed ! the inward ight then the outward ou#


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o""on#! useth to turn !porite, and estee" itse#$ i*ine, e*en though the ear# e

gone whih #a"enta#e +rror sti9eth hard to "an! a an%

112% :nd thus it o"es to pass that the 'ree o$ ear# in the Garden o$ Christ is o$ten

spoi#ed onerning whih the ripture "a9eth a hard =not or Con#usion, That thosewho have once tasted the Sweetness of the &orld to come, and fall away from it again,

shall hardly see the 'ingdom of $od!

11;% :nd though it annot e denied, ut that the Gates o$ Grae sti## stand open, !et the

$a#se and daFF#ing ight o$ the outward Reason o$ the ou# so deei*eth and hindereth

suh en, that the! suppose the! ha*e the ear#, whi#e the! !et #i*e to the 3anit! o$ this

Wor#d, and dane with the e*i# a$ter his ipe%

THE FIFTH CHAPTER.

)ow a Man may call himself a #hristian, and how not!

H+R+ there$ore a Christian shou#d onsider wh! he a##eth hi"se#$ a Christian, andea"ine tru#! whether he e one or not% .or sure#! "! #earning to 9now and on$ess

that & a" a inner, and that Christ hath destro!ed "! ins on the Cross, and shed is

B#ood $or "e, doth not "a9e "e a Christian%

115% 'he &nheritane e#ongeth on#! to the Chi#dren% : aid-er*ant in a ouse

9noweth we## enough what the istress wou#d ha*e to e done, and !et that "a9eth hernot the eiress o$ her istresss Goods% 'he *er! e*i#s 9now that there is a God, !et

that doth not hange the" into :nge#s again% But i$ the aid-er*ant in the ouse sha##

e "arried to the on o$ her istress, then she "a! o"e to inherit her istresss

Goods% :nd so it is to e understood a#so in the atter o$ eing a Christian%

116% 'he Chi#dren o$ the istor! are not the eirs o$ the Goods o$ Christ, ut the

#egiti"ate Chi#dren regenerated by the Spirit of #hrist are the on#! true eirs% .or God

said toAbraham, #ast out the Son of the Bondwoman, he shall not inherit with the Son

of the (ree!.or he was a orner, and ut an istoria# on o$ the .aith and pirit o$

Abraham and so #ong as he ontinued suh a one, he was not a true &nheritor o$ the

.aith o$Abraham, and there$ore God o""anded he shou#d e ast out $ro" inheriting

his Goods%

117% 'his was a '!pe o$ the $uture Christendo"% .or the ro"ise o$ Christendo" was

"ade toAbraham8 'here$ore the '!pe was then a#so set $orth ! two Brethren, Isaac

andIshmael $oreshewing ! the" the di*erse tate and anners o$ Christendo" how

that two sorts o$ en wou#d e in it, 'rue Christians and ip-Christians% Whih #atter,

under the 'it#e or outward ro$ession o$ Christianit!, wou#d e ut "o9ers, as Ishmael

was and "sau, who a#so was a '!pe o$ the outward Adam, as/acobwas a '!pe o$

Christ, and is true Christendo"%


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11>% 'hus e*er! one who wi## a## hi"se#$ a Christian, "ust ast out $ro" hi"se#$ the

Son of the Bond2&oman, that is, the earth#! Wi##, and e e*er"ore 9i##ing and

destro!ing it, and not sett#e it in the &nheritane%

11?% Nor gi*e the ear# to the Beastia# an, $or hi" to p#ease and a"use hi"se#$ with inthe outward ight, in the ust o$ the .#esh% But we "ust, with our .ather Abraham

ring the on o$ the right Wi## to ountMoriah, and e read! in 0ediene to God to

o$$er it up, e*er in Wi## d!ing $ro" in in the eath o$ Christ, gi*ing no p#ae to the

Beast o$ 3anit! in the =ingdo" o$ Christ, nor #etting it grow wanton, proud, o*etous,

en*ious, and "a#iious% .or a## these are the roperties o$Ishmaelthe Son of the Bond2

&omanwho"Adamegat in his 3anit! on the wanton Whore the $a#seBond2&oman,

! the e*i# s &"agination, out o$ the earth#! ropert! in .#esh and B#ood%

12@% 'his o9er and titu#ar Christian is the on o$ the $a#se Bond2&oman, and "ust e

ast out $or he sha## not possess the &nheritane o$ Christ in the =ingdo" o$ God% e is

not $it, he is utBabel, a Con$usion o$ that one anguage into "an!% e is ut a 'a#9erand a Wrang#er aout the &nheritane he "eans to get it to hi"se#$ ! 'a#9ing and

Wrang#ing, ! the !poris! o$ his ips and see"ing o#iness, a#though in his eart he

is no etter than a #ood-thirst! urderer o$ his rotherAbel, who is the right eir%

121% 'here$ore we sa! what we 9now, that he that wi## a## hi"se#$ a true Christian "ust

tr! hi"se#$, and $ind what =ind o$ roperties dri*e and ru#e hi", whether the pirit o$

Christ "o*eth hi" to 'ruth and Righteousness, and to the o*e o$ his Neighour, so

that he wou#d wi##ing#! do what is right i$ he 9new ut how%

122% Now i$ he $ind that he hath a rea# unger a$ter suh 3irtue, then he "a! Dust#!

thin9 that he is drawn% :nd then he "ust egin to pratise aording#!, and not e

ontent with a Wi## on#!, without oing% 'he drawing o$ the .ather to Christ onsisteth

in the Wi##, ut the true i$e onsisteth in the oing $or the right pirit doeth that whih

is right%

12;% But i$ there e the Wi## to do, and !et the oing $o##oweth not, then the true an is

sti## shut up in *ain ust, whih suppresseth the oing% :nd there$ore suh a one is ut

an !porite and anIshmaelite he spea9eth one 'hing and doth another, and witnesseth

there! that his outh is a !ar $or he hi"se#$ doth not that whih he teaheth, and

onseEuent#! on#! ser*eth the Beastia# an in 3anit!%

124% .or he that wi## sa!, I have a &ill, and would willingly do $ood, but the earthly

(lesh which I carry about me, keepeth me back, so that I cannot; yet I shall be saved by

$race, for the Merits of #hrist! I comfort myself with )is Merit and Sufferings; who

will receive me of mere $race, without any Merits of my own, and forgive me my Sins %

uh a one, & sa!, is #i9e a an that 9noweth what .ood is good $or his ea#th, !et wi##

not eat o$ it, ut eateth oison instead thereo$, $ro" whene i9ness and eath, wi##

ertain#! $o##ow%

125% .or what good doth it to the ou# to 9now the Wa! to God, i$ it wi## not wa#9

therein, ut go on in a ontrar! athA What good wi## it do the ou# to o"$ort itse#$

with the .i#iation o$ Christ, with is assion and eath, and so $#atter itse#$ with the


17/26

opes o$ getting the atri"on! there!, i$ it wi## not enter into the .i#ia# Birth, that it

"a! e a true Chi#d, orn out o$ the pirit o$ Christ, out o$ is u$$ering, eath and

ResurretionA ure#!, the ti9#ing and $#attering itse#$ with Christs erits, without the

true innate Chi#dship, is .a#sehood and a ie, whosoe*er he e that teaheth it%

126% 'his Co"$ort e#ongeth on#! to the penitent inner, who stri*eth against in and

the :nger o$ God% When 'e"ptations o"e, and the e*i# assau#teth suh a poor

repentant ou#, then it "ust who##! wrap itse#$ up in the erits and eath o$ Christ, as

its so#e :r"our o$ e$ene%

127% Christ a#one indeed hath "erited Rede"ption $or us ut not in suh a Wa! as that

$or is own proper erit s a9e, he wi## $ree#! grant us his Chi#dship ! an outward

:doption on#!, and so reei*e us $or Chi#dren, when we are none% No,% he hi"se#$ is the

erit he is the open Gate that #eadeth through eath and through that Gate we "ust

enter% e reei*eth no Beast into his erit, ut those on#! that turn, and eo"e as

Chi#dren% 'hose Chi#dren that thus o"e to hi" are his Reward, whih he hath "erited%

12>% .or thus he said,(ather, the Men were thine and thou hast given them to me(as "!

Reward) and I will give them eternal ife% But the i$e o$ Christ wi## e gi*en to none,

un#ess the! o"e to hi" in his pirit, into his u"anit!, u$$erings, and erit, and

therein e orn true Chi#dren o$ the erit%

12?% We "ust e orn o$ his erit, and put on the erit o$ Christ in his assion and

eath not outward#! with *era# .#atter! on#!, and are o"$orting o$ ourse#*es

therewith, whi#e we sti## re"ain :#iens and strange Chi#dren, o$ a strange +ssene or

Nature% No the strange +ssene inheriteth not the Chi#dship, ut the innate +ssene

inheriteth it%

1;@% 'his innate +ssene is not o$ this Wor#d, ut in ea*en, o$ whih t au# spea9eth

sa!ing, 1ur #onversation is in )eaven% 'he $i#ia# +ssene wa#9eth in ea*en, and

ea*en is in an%

1;1% But i$ ea*en in an e not open, and the an stand without ea*en $#attering

hi"se#$, and sa!,I am still without, but #hrist will take me in through his $race; is not

his Merit mine0uh a one is in 3anit! and in with the outward an, and with the

ou# in e##, in the :nger o$ God%

1;2% 'here$ore #earn to understand right#! what Christ hath taught us, and done $or us%

e is our ea*en he "ust get a .or" in us, or e#se we sha## not e in ea*en% 'hus

then the ou#s inward an, with the ho#! Bod! o$ Christ, in the %ew Birth, is in

ea*en, and the outward "orta# an is in the Wor#d, o$ whih Christ spa9e sa!ing,My

Sheep are in my )and, and none shall pluck them away; the (ather which gave them to

me is greater than all%

THE SIXTH CHAPTER.


18/26

1f the right and of the wrong going to #hurch, receiving the Sacraments, and

Absolution!

B+03+ Brethren, we wi## teah !ou $aith$u##!, not with $#attering ips to p#ease the:ntihrist, ut $ro" our ear#, the 3irtue, ower, and pirit o$ Christ in us, $ro" a

Christian +ssene and =now#edge not $ro" the us9 and istor!, ut $ro" a New-orn

pirit, $ro" Christs =now#edge, as a Branh growing on the 3ine Christ $ro" the

easure o$ that =now#edge whih is opened in us, aording to the Wi## and Counse# o$

God%

1;4% en tie us in these a!s to the istor!, and to the "ateria# Churhes o$ tone

whih Churhes are indeed good in their =ind, i$ en did a#so ring the 'e"p#e o$

Christ into the"% 'he! teah "oreo*er, that their :so#ution is a .orgi*ing o$ ins, and

that the upper o$ the ord ta9eth awa! in8 :#so that the pirit o$ God o"eth into

en through their inistr!% :## whih hath a proper eaning, i$ it was right#!understood and i$ en did not #ea*e "ere#! to the us9%

1;5% an! a an goeth to Churh twent! or thirt!


19/26

an $orgi*e ins ut God on#!%

141% 'he reaher hath not .orgi*eness o$ ins in his own ower ut it is the pirit o$

Christ in the 3oie o$ the riest that hath the ower, pro*ided the riest hi"se#$ is a

Christian%

142% What good did it to those that heard Christ hi"se#$ teahing on +arth, when he

said,#ome unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you -est 0

What good did this #essed ro"ise to those that heard it, i$ the! #aoured not, nor were

hea*! #adenA What ea"e o$ the Re$resh"ent or Rest thenA eeing the! had dead

+ars, and heard on#! the outward Christ, and not the Word o$ the i*ine ower

ertain#! the! were not re$reshed% ust so "uh good the Beastia# an hath o$ his

:so#ution and ara"ents%

14;% 'he Co*enant is open in the ara"ents and in the 0$$ie or inistr! o$ teahing

a#so the Co*enant is stirred the ou# doth reei*e it, ut in that ropert! on#! o$ whihthe outh o$ the ou# is%

144% 'hat is, the outward Beast reei*eth Bread and Wine, whih it "a! ha*e as we## at

o"e% :nd the $ier! ou# reei*eth the 'esta"ent aording to its ropert!, in the

:nger o$ God it reei*eth the ustane o$ the eterna# Wor#d, ut aording to the

ropert! o$ the dar9 Wor#d it reei*eth there$ore, as the ripture saith, to its own

/udgement or #ondemnation% .or as the outh is, so is the .ood whih is ta9en in !

the outh% :nd a$ter this anner a#so it is that the Wi9ed sha## eho#d Christ at the #ast

udge"ent as a se*ere udge ut the aints sha## eho#d hi" as a #o*ing Immanuel%

145% God s :nger standeth open in his 'esta"ents towards the Wi9ed ut towards the

aints the hea*en#! #o*ing =indness, and in it the ower o$ Christ in the ho#! Na"e

+, standeth open% What good then doth the ho#! 'hing do to the Wi9ed, who

annot enDo! itA 0r what is there, that an ta9e awa! his ins, when his in is on#!

stirred and "ade "ani$est there!A

146% 'he ara"ents do not ta9e awa! in neither are ins $orgi*en there!% But it is

thus8 When Christ ariseth, then Adamd!eth in the +ssene o$ the erpent as when the

un riseth, the Night is swa##owed up in the a!, and the Night is no "ore8 ust so are

ins $orgi*en%

147% 'he pirit o$ Christ eateth o$ his o#! ustane, the inward an is the Reei*er

o$ the o#! ustane he reei*eth what the pirit o$ Christ ringeth into hi" the

'e"p#e o$ God, Christ s .#esh and B#ood% But what doth this onern a BeastA 0r what

doth it onern the e*i#sA 0r the ou# that is in the :nger o$ GodA 'hese eat o$ the

ea*en#! B#ood, that is in the ea*en wherein the! dwe##, whih is the :!ss, or

otto"#ess it%

14>% :nd thus it is a#so in the 0$$ie or inistr! o$ reahing8 'he ungod#! an heareth

what the outward ou# o$ the outward Wor#d preaheth that he reei*eth, the istor!

and i$ there e traw or tu#e in that whih is taught, he su9eth the 3anit! out o$

that%


20/26

so"eti"es the Case, then his ou# su9eth the *eno"ous oison, and the "urdering

Crue#t! o$ the e*i# $ro" it, wherewith it ti9#eth itse#$, and is p#eased with #earning

how to Dudge and onde"n others%

14?% 'hus i$ the reaher e one that is dead, and hath no true ife in him , ut sowethon#! 3eno" and Reproah proeeding out o$ his e*i# :$$etions, then it is the e*i# that

teaheth, and the e*i# that heareth% uh teahing is reei*ed into a wi9ed heart, and

ringeth $orth wi9ed .ruits% B! whih eans the Wor#d is eo"e a "ere en o$

"urdering e*i#s% o that i$ !ou #oo9 a"ong the erd o$ suh 'eahers and earers,

there is #itt#e to e $ound ut Re*i#ings, #anderings, and Reproahings together with

Contention aout Words, and Wrang#ing aout the us9%

15@% But the o#! Ghost teaheth in the ho#! 'eahers, and the pirit o$ Christ heareth

through the ou#, whih is the i*ine ouse o$ the i*ine ound or 4oicein the ho#!

earer%

151% 'he ho#! an hath his Churh in hi"se#$, wherein he heareth and teaheth% But

Babelhath a eap o$ tones, into whih she goeth with her see"ing o#iness and rea#

!poris!% 'here she #o*ed to e seen in $ine C#othes, and "a9eth a *er! de*out and

god#! hew the Churh o$ tone is her God, in whih she putteth her Con$idene%

152% But the ho#! an hath his Churh aout hi" e*er! where, e*en in hi"se#$ $or he

a#wa!s standeth and wa#9eth, sitteth and #!eth down in his Churh% e #i*eth in the true

Christian Churh !ea, in the 'e"p#e o$ Christ% 'he o#! Ghost preaheth to hi" out o$

e*er! Creature% Whatsoe*er he #oo9eth upon, he seeth a reaher o$ God therein%

15;% ere now the o$$er wi## sa! that & despise the Churh 0$ tone, where the

Congregation "eeteth ut & sa! that & do not% .or & do ut diso*er the h!poritia#

Whore o$Babylon, whih o""itteth Whoredo" with the Churh o$ tone, and ter"eth

herse#$ a Christian, ut is indeed a tru"pet%

154% : true Christian rings his ho#! Churh with hi" into the Congregation% .or the

eart is the true Churh, where a an "ust pratise the er*ie o$ God% &$ & shou#d go a

thousand 'i"es to Churh, and to the ara"ent e*er! Wee9, and hear :so#ution

de#ared to "e e*er! a!, and ha*e not Christ in "e, a## wou#d e $a#se, an unpro$ita#e

.ition and gra*en &"age inBabel, and no $orgi*ing o$ ins%

155% : ho#! an doth ho#! Wor9s $ro" the ho#! trength o$ his ind% 'he Wor9 is not

the :tone"ent o$ Reoni#iation, ut it is the Bui#ding whih the true pirit ui#deth in

his ustane it is his aitation% But the .ition and .an! is the aitation o$ the

$a#se Christian, into whih his ou# entereth with issi"u#ation% 'he outward earing

reaheth ut to the outward, and wor9eth in the outward on#! ut the inward earing

goeth into the inward, and wor9eth in the inward%

156% isse"#e, roar, r!, sing, preah, and teah as "uh as thou wi#t !et i$ thine

inward 'eaher and earer e not open, a## is nothing ut a Babela .ition, and a

gra*en &"age, where! the pirit o$ the outward Wor#d doth "ode# and "a9e to itse#$ a

gra*en &"age in Rese"#ane o$ the inward and "a9eth a o#! hew therewith, as i$


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he per$or"ed so"e di*ine or ho#! er*ie to God whereas "an! 'i"es in suh er*ie

and Worship, the e*i# wor9eth "ighti#! in the &"agination, and *er! "uh ti9#eth the

eart with those 'hings wherein the .#esh de#ighteth% Whih indeed not se#do"

happeneth to the Chi#dren o$ God, as to their outward an, i$ the! do not ta9e great

eed to the"se#*es so usi#! doth the e*i# eset and si$t the"%

THE SEVENTH CHAPTER.

1f unfprofitable 1pinions, and Strife about the etter!

Atrue Christian, who is orn a-new o$ the pirit o$ Christ, is in the i"p#iit! o$Christ, and hath no tri$e or Contention with an! an aout Re#igion% e hath tri$e

enough in hi"se#$, with his own Beastia# e*i# .#esh and B#ood% e ontinua##! thin9ethhi"se#$ a great inner, and is a$raid o$ God8 But the o*e o$ Christ ! degrees piereth

through, and epe##eth that .ear, as the a! swa##oweth up the Night%

15?% But the ins o$ the i"penitent an rest in the #eep o$ eath, ud $orth in the it,

and produe their .ruit in e##%

16@% 'he Christiando" that is inBabel, stri*ing aout the anner how en ought to

ser*e God, and g#ori$! hi" a#so how the! are to 9now hi", and what he is in his

+ssene and Wi##% :nd the! preah positi*e#!, that whosoe*er is not one and the sa"e

with the" in e*er! artiu#ar o$ =now#edge and 0pinion, is no Christian, ut a

ereti9%

161% Now & wou#d $ain see how a## their ets an e rought to agree in that one whih

"ight e a##ed a true Christian Churh when a## o$ the" are orners, e*er! art! o$

the" re*i#ing the rest, and pro#ai"ing the" to e $a#se%

162% But a Christian is o$ no et8 e an dwe## in the "idst o$ ets, and appear in

their er*ies, without eing attahed or ound to an!% e hath ut one =now#edge, and

that is,#hrist in him!e see9eth ut one Wa!, whih is the esire a#wa!s to do and

teah that whih is right and he putteth a## his 9nowing and wi##ing into the i$e o$

Christ%

16;% e sigheth and wisheth ontinua##! that the Wi## o$ God "ight e done in hi", and

that his =ingdo" "ight e "ani$ested in hi"% e dai#! and hour#! 9i##eth in in the

.#esh $or the Seed of the &oman, the inward Man in #hrist, ontinua##!breaketh the

)ead of the Serpent, that is, the ower o$ the e*i#, whih is in 3anit!%

164% is .aith is a esire a$ter God and Goodness whih he wrappeth up in a sure

ope, trusting to the Words o$ the ro"ise, and #i*eth and dieth therein though as to

the true Man, he ne*er dieth%

165% .or Christ saith, &hosoever believeth in me, shall never die, but hath piercedthrough from *eath to ife; and -ivers of living &ater shall flow from him, good


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otrine and Wor9s%

166% 'here$ore & sa!, that whatsoe*er $ighteth and ontendeth aout the etter, is a##

Babel% 'he etters o$ the Word proeed $ro", and stand a## in, one Root, whih is the

pirit o$ God as the *arious .#owers stand a## in the +arth and grow aout one another%'he! $ight not with eah other aout their i$$erene o$ Co#our, "e##, and 'aste, ut

su$$er the +arth, the un, the Rain, the Wind, the eat and Co#d, to do with the" as the!

p#ease and !et e*er! one o$ the" groweth in its own peu#iar +ssene and ropert!%

167% +*en so it is with the Chi#dren o$ God the! ha*e *arious Gi$ts and egrees o$

=now#edge, !et a## $ro" one pirit% 'he! a## reDoie at the great Wonders o$ God, and

gi*e 'han9s to the "ost igh in is Wisdo"% Wh! then shou#d the! ontend aout hi"

in whom they live and have their Being,and o$ whose ustane the! the"se#*es areA

16>% &t is the greatest .o##! that is inBabel$or eop#e to stri*e aout Re#igion, as the

e*i# hath "ade the Wor#d to do so that the! ontend *ehe"ent#! aout 0pinions o$their own $orging, aout the etter when the =ingdo" o$ God onsisteth in no

0pinion, ut in ower and o*e%

16?% :s Christ said to his isip#es, and #e$t it with the" at the #ast, sa!ing, ove one

another, as I have loved you; for thereby Men shall know, that ye are my *isciples! &$

en wou#d as $er*ent#! see9 a$ter o*e and Righteousness as the! do a$ter 0pinions,

there wou#d e no tri$e on +arth, and we shou#d e as Chi#dren o$ 0ne .ather, and

shou#d need no aw, or 0rdinane%

17@% .or God is not ser*ed ! an! aw, ut on#! ! 0ediene% aws are $or the

Wi9ed, who wi## not e"rae o*e and Righteousness the! are, and "ust e,

o"pe##ed and $ored ! aws%

171% We a## ha*e ut one on#! 0rder, aw, or 0rdinane, whih is to stand sti## to the

ord o$ a## Beings, and resign our Wi##s up to hi", and su$$er is pirit to p#a! what

usi9 he wi##% :nd thus we gi*e to hi" again as is own .ruits, that whih he wor9eth

and "ani$esteth in us%

172% Now i$ we did not ontend aout our di$$erent .ruits, Gi$ts, =inds and egrees o$

=now#edge, ut did a9now#edge the" in one another, #i9e Chi#dren o$ the pirit o$

God, what ou#d onde"n usA .or the =ingdo" o$ God onsisteth, not in our 9nowingand supposing, ut in ower%

17;% &$ we did not 9now ha#$ so "uh, and were "ore #i9e Chi#dren, and had ut a

rother#! ind and good Wi##, towards one another, and #i*ed #i9e Chi#dren o$ one

other, and as Branhes o$ one 'ree, ta9ing our ap a## $ro" one Root, we shou#d e

$ar "ore ho#! than we are%

174% =now#edge ser*es on#! to this +nd, to 9now that we ha*e #ost the i*ine ower,

in :da", and are eo"e now in#ined to in that we ha*e e*i# roperties in us, and

that doing +*i# p#easeth not God so that with our 9now#edge we "ight #earn to do right%

Now i$ we ha*e the ower o$ God in us, and desire with a## our earts to at and to #i*e


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aright, then our =now#edge is ut our port, or atter o$ #easure, wherein we reDoie%

175% .or true =now#edge is the ani$estation o$ the pirit o$ God through the +terna#

Wisdo"% e 9noweth what e wi## in is Chi#dren e showeth his Wisdo" and

Wonders ! his Chi#dren, as the +arth putteth $orth its *arious .#owers%

176% Now i$ we dwe## one with another, #i9e hu"#e Chi#dren, in the pirit o$ Christ,

one reDoiing at the Gi$t and =now#edge o$ another, who wou#d Dudge or onde"n usA

Who Dudgeth or onde"neth the Birds in the Woods, that praise the ord o$ a## Beings

with *arious 3oies, e*er! one in its own +sseneA oth the pirit o$ God repro*e the"

$or not ringing their 3oies into one ar"on!A oth not the e#od! o$ the" a##

proeed $ro" is power, and do the! not sport e$ore i"%

177% 'hose en there$ore that stri*e and wrang#e aout the =now#edge and Wi## o$

God, and despise one another on that :ount, are "ore $oo#ish than the Birds in the

Woods, and the wi#d Beasts that ha*e no true nderstanding% 'he! are "oreunpro$ita#e in the ight o$ the ho#! God than the .#owers o$ the .ie#d, whih stand sti##

in Euiet u"ission to the pirit o$ God, and su$$er hi" to "ani$est the i*ine Wisdo"

and ower through the"% % &n short the! are the &ssue, Branhes or prouts o$ the e*i# in the :nger o$ God,

who, notwithstanding "ust ! their *er! tor"enting e "ade to ser*e the ord $or !

their p#aguing and perseuting, the! press out the ap through the +ssene in the

Chi#dren o$ God, so that the! "o*e and stir the"se#*es in the pirit o$ God, with

pra!ing and ontinua# sighing, in whih +erise o$ their owers the pirit o$ God

"o*eth hi"se#$ in the"%

17?% .or there! the esire is eerted, and so the Chi#dren o$ God grow green, $#ourish,

and ring $orth .ruit $or the Chi#dren o$ God are "ani$ested in 'riu#ation as the

ripture saith, &hen thou chastiseth them, they cry fervently to thee!

THE EIGHTH CHAPTER.

&herein #hristian -eligion consisteth; and how Men should serve $od and their

Brethren!

A Christian Re#igion who##! onsisteth in this, to #earnto know ourselves whenewe are o"e, and what we are how we are gone $orth $ro" the nit! into issension,

Wi9edness, and nrighteousness how we ha*e awa9ened and stirred up these +*i#s in

us and how we "a! e de#i*ered $ro" the" again, and reo*er our origina#

B#essedness%

1>1% (irst, how we were in the nit!, when we were the Chi#dren o$ God in Adam


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e$ore he $e##% Secondly, how we are now in issension and isunion, in tri$e and

Contrariet!% Thirdly, Whither we go when we pass out o$ this orrupti#e Condition

whither with the i""orta#, and whither with the "orta# art%

1>2% :ndastly, how we "a! o"e $orth $ro" is-union and 3anit!, and enter againinto that one 'ree, Christ in us, out o$ whih we a## sprung in Adam% &n these $our oints

a## the neessar! =now#edge o$ a Christian onsisteth%

1>;%o that we need not stri*e aout an! 'hing we ha*e no Cause o$ Contention with

eah other% et e*er! one on#! eerise hi"se#$ in #earning ahow he "a! enter again

into the o*e o$ God and his Brother%

1>4% 'he 'esta"ents o$ Christ are nothing e#se ut a #o*ing Bond or rother#! Co*enant,

wherewith God in Christ indeth hi"se#$ to us and us to hi"% :## teahing, wi##ing,

#i*ing, and doing, "ust i"p#!, ai" at, and re$er to that% :## teahing and doing

otherwise, whatsoe*er it e, isBabeland a .ition a "ere gra*en &"age o$ ride inunpro$ita#e udgings, a disturing o$ the Wor#d, and an !poris! o$ the e*i#,

wherewith he #indeth i"p#iit!%

1>5% +*er! reaher *oid o$ the pirit o$ God, who without i*ine =now#edge, setteth

hi"se#$ up $or a 'eaher o$ i*ine 'hings, pretending to ser*e God there!, is $a#se, and

doth ut ser*e the Be##!, his &do#, and his own proud inso#ent ind, in desiring to e

honoured on that :ount, and estee"ed o#!, or a *ivine in )oly 1rders! e eareth

an 0$$ie, to whih he is set apart and hosen ! the Chi#dren o$ en, who do ut $#atter

hi", and $or .a*our ha*e ordained hi" thereunto%

1>6% Christ said, &hosoever entereth not by the *oor, that is, through his pirit, into the

Sheepfold, but climbeth up some other &ay, the same is a Thief and a Murderer, and the

Sheep follow him not, for they know not his 4oice!

1>7% e hath not the 3oie o$ the pirit o$ God, ut the 3oie o$ his own :rt and

earning on#! the an teaheth, and not the pirit o$ God% But Christ saith, "very

.lant which my )eavenly (ather hath not planted, shall be plucked up by the -oots!

1>>% ow then wi## he that is ungod#! p#ant ea*en#! #ants, when he hath no eed

a#i*e in its ower in hi"se#$A Christ saith epress#!, The Sheep hear not his 4oice, they

follow him not!

1>?% 'he written Word is ut an &nstru"ent where! the pirit #eadeth us to itse#$ within

us% 'hat Word whih wi## teah, "ust e #i*ing in the #itera# Word% 'he pirit o$ God

"ust e in the #itera# ound, or e#se none is a 'eaher o$ God, ut a "ere 'eaher o$ the

etter, a =nower o$ the istor!, and not o$ the pirit o$ God in Christ%

1?@% :## that en wi## ser*e God with, "ust e done in .aith, in the pirit% &t is the

pirit that "a9eth the Wor9 per$et, and aepta#e in the ight o$ God% :## that a an

underta9eth and doeth in .aith, he doth in the pirit o$ God, whih pirit o$ God doth

ooperate in the Wor9, and then it is aepta#e to God% .or he hath done it hi"se#$, and

his ower and 3irtue is in it8 &t is ho#!%


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1?1% But whatsoe*er is done in Self, without .aith, is ut a .igure and he##, or us9 o$

a true Christian Wor9%

1?2% &$ thou ser*est th! rother, and doest it ut in !poris!, and gi*est hi"unwi##ing#!, then thou ser*est not God% .or th! .aith proeedeth not $ro" o*e, nor

entereth into ope, in th! Gi$t% &ndeed thou ser*est th! Brother, and he $or his art

than9eth God and #esseth thee, ut thou #essest not hi"% .or thou gi*est hi" th! Gi$t

with a grudging pirit, whih entereth not into the pirit o$ God, into the ope o$ .aith

there$ore th! Gi$t is ut ha#$ gi*en, and thou hast ut ha#$ th! Reward $or it%

1?;% 'he sa"e is true o$ reei*ing a Gi$t% &$ an! gi*eth in .aith, in i*ine ope, he

#esseth his Gi$t ! his .aith8 But whoso reei*eth it unthan9$u##!, and "ur"ureth in his

pirit, he urseth it in the se or +nDo!"ent o$ it% 'hus it is, that e*er! one sha## ha*e

his own &hatsoever he soweth, that shall he also reap!

1?4% o #i9ewise it is in the 0$$ie o$ teahing whatsoever a Man soweth, that also he

reapeth% .or i$ an! an sow good eed $ro" the pirit o$ Christ, it sti9eth in the good

eart, and ringeth $orth good .ruit ut in the Wi9ed, who are not apa#e o$

reei*ing the good eed, the :nger o$ God is stirred%

1?5% &$ an! sow Contentions, Reproahes, and isonstrutions, a## ungod#! eop#e

reei*e that unto the" whih sti9eth in the" a#so, and ringeth $orth .ruit

aording#!% o that the! #earn there! to despise, re*i#e, s#ander, and "isrepresent one

another% 0ut o$ whih Root the great Babelis sprung and grown wherein en, $ro"

"ere ride and tri$e, ontend aout the istor!, and the usti$iation o$ a poor inner

in the ight o$ God there! ausing the si"p#e to err and #asphe"e, inso"uh that one

Brother re*i#eth and urseth the other, and eo""uniateth, or asteth hi" to the

e*i#, $or the a9e o$ the istor! and etter%

1?6% uh Rai#ers and Re*i#ers $ear not God, ut raise the great Bui#ding o$ issension%

:nd seeing orrupt ust #ieth in a## en, in the earth#! .#esh sti##, there$ore the! raise

and awa9en :o"inations e*en in the si"p#e Chi#dren o$ God, and "a9e the eop#e o$

God, as we## as the Chi#dren o$ &niEuit!, to #asphe"e% :nd thus the! eo"e aster-

Bui#ders o$ the great Babel o$ the Wor#d, and are as use$u# in the Churh, as a fifth

&heelin a &aggon !ea, what is worse than that, the! eret the he##ish Bui#ding too%

1?7% 'here$ore it is high#! neessar! $or the Chi#dren o$ God to pra! earnest#!, that the!

"a! #earn to 9now this $a#se Bui#ding, and go $orth $ro" it with their inds, and not

he#p to ui#d it up, and perseute their .e##ow-Chi#dren o$ God% .or ! that eans the!

9eep the"se#*es a9 $ro" the ea*en#! =ingdo", and turn aside $ro" the right Wa!%

1?>% :ording to the sa!ing o$ Christ to the harisees, &oe unto you .harisees; for

you compass Sea and and to make one .roselyte, and when he is one, you make him

two2fold more the #hild of )ell than yourselves% Whih is tru#! too "uh the Case with

the "odern .ations and ets a"ong these Cr!ers and 'eahers o$ tri$e%

1??% & desire there$ore, out o$ "! Gi$ts, whih are re*ea#ed to "e $ro" God, that a## the


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Bohme of RegenerationENG

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