Jacob Boehme's Aurora
Chapter 14: How Lucifer, who was the most beautiful Angel in Heaven, is become the most horrible Devil. The House of the murderous Den.
HERE, King Lucifer, pull thy Hat down over thy Eyes, lest thou shouldst see how Man will take off thy Crown away from thee, thou canst no more rule in Heaven; stand still a little While, we must first view thee, and observe what a beauteous fair Bride thou art, and whether the Filth of thy Whoredom may not be cleansed and washed away from thee, that thou mayest be fair again; we will a little describe thy Chastity and Virtue.
Come on you Philolophers, and you Lawyers and Advocates, that justify and defend King Lucifer! Come near and bring him to the Bar, whilst he has yet the Crown upon him, for here we will hold a Court of Judgment against Malefactors for him; if you can maintain his Cause to be right, then he shall be your King; if not, then he shall be turned out and cast down into Hell; and another shall get his royal Crown, who will govern better than he.
Now observe,
When Lucifer had thus horribly spoiled and destroyed himself, all his qualifying or fountain Spirits were Enmity against God, for they all qualified or acted much otherwise than God, and so there came to be an eternal Enmity betwixt God and Lucifer. But now it might be asked:
Question.
How long did Lucifer stand in the Light of God? The Depth.
Answer.
When the royal Body of Lucifer was incorporated or compacted together, in that very Hour the Light kindled itself also in Lucifer.
For as soon as his qualifying or fountain Spirits in the Framing of the Body begun to qualify or operate, and to generate themselves according to the Right of Nature, then rose up the Flash of Life in the Heart in the sweet Spring or Fountain-Water, and so the royal Body was ready furnished or compleat, and the Spirit went forth in the Heart from the Light through the Mouth into the Heart of God.
And so he was a most exceeding beautiful Prince and King, and very dear and acceptable to the divine Being, and was received and embraced with great Joy.
In like Manner also the Spirit went forth from the Heart into all the qualifying or fountain Veins of the Body, and kindled all the seven Spirits, and so the royal Body was glorified in the Twinkling of an Eye, and there he stood as a King of God, in an unsearchable Clarity or Brightness, transcendently excelling the whole heavenly Host or Army. [Viz. the seven Spirits of Nature which they were constituted of.]
Now in this clear and light Flash the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits were instantly affected as a Man kindles a Fire, for they were affrighted at the terrible Clarity or Brightness of their Spirit, and so instantly at the first Flash suddenly became highly triumphing, rising aloft, extreme stately, and overjoyful, and so moved themselves towards a higher Birth. [Or infected.]
But if they had continued in their Seats, and had qualified or operated, as they had done from Eternity, then that high Light had not hurt them.
For they were not new Spirits made of any new Thing, but they were the old Spirits, which had no Beginning, which had been in God from Eternity, and knew very well the Right of the Deity and of Nature, how they should move and stir.
Also when God figured or framed the Body together, he did not beforehand destroy the qualifying or fountain Spirits, but figured or framed the Body of King Lucifer together out of the Kernel of that which was the best, wherein was the best Knowledge of all.
Else if the Qualities had been dead beforehand, there had been a Necessity of a new Life, and it would have been in Doubt, whether the Angels could have subsisted eternally.
Conceive it aright.
God created Angels out of himself, for this reason, that they might be harder and drier, incorporated or compacted together than the Ideas, Figures, Shapes or Forms, which through the Qualifying or Operating of the Spirits of God in Nature rise up, and also through the Moving of the Spirits vanish or pass away again, that their Light in their Hardness should shine the clearer and brighter, and that the Tone of the Body should sound the clearer and shriller, whereby the Joyfulness should increase the more in God. This was the Cause that God created Angels.
But that it is said, the Angel generated a new Light, or a new Spirit, that is thus to be understood,
When the qualifying or fountain Spirits were incorporated or compacted together, then the Light shone much brighter and clearer in the Body, and from or out of the Body, than it did before, in the Salitter: for there then rose up a much clearer and brighter Flash in the Body than before, whilst the Salitter was thin and dim. And
therefore the qualifying or fountain Spirits also became stately and proud, and supposed they had a much fairer little Son or Light than the Son of God was; and therefore they would also the more earnestly and eagerly qualify or operate, and elevate themselves, and so despised the Qualifying or Acting which is in God their Father, and the Birth of the Son of God, as also the Exit or Going forth of God the Holy Ghost, and supposed they could do it, because they were so gloriously incorporated or compacted together, therefore they would now exalt themselves gloriously and stately, and show forth themselves, as if they were the most fair and beauteous Bride of Heaven.
They knew very well, that they were not the whole or total God, but were only a Portion or Part thereof; they also knew very well, how far their Omnipotence reached or extended, and yet they would no more have their old Condition, but would be higher than the whole or total God, and supposed thereby they should have their Place, Region, Quarters, or Court above the whole or total Deity, above all Kingdoms whatsoever. And
therefore they elevated or extolled themselves, intending to kindle or enflame the whole God, and to govern or rule the whole God by their Power and Might. All Forms and Ideas should rise up in the Qualifying and Actings of their Spirit. He would be Lord of the Deity, and would not endure any Co-rival.
Note this is the Root of Covetousness, Envy, Pride and Wrath; For in the fierce Qualifying, or Acting and Boiling, rose up the Wrath, and burnt like Fire of Heat and Cold, and was also bitter as Gall. [Or Anger.]
For the qualifying or fountain Spirits had no outward Impulse upon them got into them, but the Impulse to Pride elevated itself within the Body, in the Council of the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits; these agreed and united in a Compact, that they would be God alone.
But because they could not begin it in their old Seat, and so bring it to Effect, they therefore dissembled or played the Hypocrite together, and flattered one with another, and so combined, intending to extol themselves against the Birth of God, and would needs qualify or work in the highest Depth, and then nothing could be like them, seeing they were together the most mighty Prince in God.
The astringent Quality was the first Murderer; Flatterer and Hypocrite, for when it saw that it generated so fair and bright a Light, then it compressed itself together yet harder than God had created it to be, intending to be much more terrible, and to draw together all in its whole Region, Circuit or Circumference, and keep it fast as a stern severe Lord. And
so then in a Degree it had effected somewhat from whence Earth and Stones have their Original; which I will write of when I treat concerning the Creation of the World.
The bitter Quality was the second Murderer, which when it rose up in the Flash, did tear with Breaking and great Power in the astringent Quality, as if it would break the Body in Pieces. And
the astringent Quality permitted it, or else it was very well able to have staid and captivated the bitter Spirit, and to bathe or sleep it in the sweet Water, till its high Mind had been allayed and gone: But it would needs have such a little Brother, because it was so serviceable to its Turn; else, seeing the bitter Spirit takes its Original from it, as it were from its Father, it could well have stopped or hindered that.
The Heat is the third murtherous Spirit, which killed its Mother, the sweet Water, but the astringent Spirit is the Cause thereof, for by its Stern severe attracting together and hardening, it has thus vehemently awakened and kindled the Fire by the bitter Quality; for the Fire is the Sword of the astringent and bitter Quality.
But seeing the Fire rises up in the sweet Water, therefore itself has the Whip or Scourge in its own Power, and might have staid or kept back the astringent Quality in the Water, but it also became a Flatterer, or Hypocrite, and dissembled with the great Quality, viz. the astringent, and helped to destroy the sweet Water.
The Tone is the fourth Murderer; for it takes its ringing Sound in the Fire, in the sweet Water, and rises up very gently and lovely in the whole Body.
Yet it did not so here, but after it was risen up in the Water, in the astringent Quality, it rose up so furiously like a Thunder-Clap, whereby it would prove and show forth its new Deity: And so the Fire rose up, as when there is a Temple of Lightning, intending thereby to be so great, as to be above all Things in God.
And this they practised so long, till they had murdered their Mother, the sweet Water; and therein the whole Body became a dark Valley, and there was no more Remedy or Council in God that could help here: For, Love was turned into Enmity, and the whole Body became a black dark Teufel [Devil.] [Teufel, quâ Caufâ.]
Of the Word (Teufel) Teu- has its Original from hard Beating, Drumming or Thumping; and the Word or Syllable, -fel has its Original from the fall, and so Lord Lucifer is called Teufel, [Devil,] and is no more called a Cherubim or Seraphim.
Here it may be asked:
Question.
Could not God have hindered and prevented the Pride of Lucifer, that he might have abstained from his High-mindedness?
Answer.
This is a high Question, on which all those lay hold that justify and plead the Cause of the Devil; but they are all cited to appear at the Court of Justice held for Trial of criminal Malefactors: let them have a Care how they plead for their Master, else the Sentence of Judgment will be pronounced against him, and he will lose his Crown.
The wonderful Revelation.
Behold, King Lucifer was the Head in his whole Region, Circuit or Circumference, also he was a mighty King, and was created out of the Kernel or Marrow of his whole Region and Circumference, also he would fain have kindled that whole Circumference by his Elevation, that so all might have burned and qualified, or operated as he did in his own Body.
Though indeed the Deity, without or distinct from his Body, would have meekly and gently qualified or acted towards him, and have enlightened and exhorted him to Repentance, yet now there was no other Will in Lucifer, but that he would needs rule over the Son of God, and kindle that whole Region or Circumference, and in such a Way himself would be the whole God, above and over all the Angelical Hosts or Armies.
Now when the Heart of God with his Meekness and Love made Haste towards Lucifer, he despised it, and thought himself far better than that, and then stormed back again with Fire and Coldness in hard Claps of Thunder against the Son of God, supposing he must be in Subjection under him, and that he himself was Lord; for he despised the Light of the Son of God.
Question.
Then thou askest: How! Had he such Power?
Answer.
Yes, he had; for he was a great Part of the Deity, and besides, was from or out of the Kernel thereof, for he made an Attempt also upon that King and great Prince Michael, Michael, to spoil and destroy him, who at last fought with him, and overcame him, in whom the Power of God in Lucifer's Kingdom fought vehemently also against its King, till at last he was thrust down from his kingly Seat, as one that was vanquished.
Objection.
Now thou wilt say: God should have enlightened his Heart, that he might have repented.
Answer.
[a Rev. 12.]
No! He would receive no other Light than his own, for he scorned the Light of the Son of God, which did shine without, distinct from his Body, seeing he had such a glittering Light in himself, and so elevated himself more and more, till his Water was quite dried up and burnt, and his Light was quite put out, and then all was done with him. ["
This Water here, is the Water of eternal Life, generated in the Light of the Majesty, but in the Center it is like the Sulphur or Brimstone Spirit, or to Aqua Fortis, or the Water of Separation."]
Concerning the Fall of all his Angels, one might ask;
Question.
How comes it, that at this Time all his Angels did also fall?
Answer.
As this Lord commanded, so his Subjects obeyed; when he elevated himself, and would be God, his Angels seeing it, followed their Lord, doing as he did, all made a proffer to assault and storm the Deity.
For they were all in Subjection under him, and he ruled in all his Angels, for he was created out of the Pith or Kernel of that Salitter, out of which his Angels were all created, and he was the Heart and Lord of all his Angels.
Therefore they all did as he did, and all would sit in the Primacy of the Deity, and would rule powerfully in the whole Region, Circuit or Circumference, over and above the whole divine Power: They were all of one Will, and would not suffer the same to be taken from them. Now thou wilt ask,
Question.
Did not the total or universal God know this, before the Time of the Creation of Angels that it would so come to pass?
Answer.
No: For if God had known it before the Time of the Creation of Angels, it had then been an eternal predestinate purposed Will in God to have it so, and it had been no Enmity against God, but God had indeed at the Beginning created and made him a Devil.
But God created and made him a King of Light, and when he became disobedient, and would be above the whole or total God, then God spewed him out of his Seat, and in the Midst or Center of our Time created another King out of the same Deity, out of which Lord Lucifer was created; [understand it aright, out of the Salitter, which was without distinćt from the Body of King Lucifer;) and set him on the royal Throne of Lucifer, and gave him Might, Authority, and Power, as Lucifer had before his Fall. And
this I will demonstrate clearly and at large in its proper Place. *
Note, This is explained in the second and third Book: God knew this very well according to his Wrath, but not according to his Love, according to which God is called God, into which no Fierceness nor Imagination enters, neither is there any searching in the Love concerning the hellish Creature. [Or: Goodness.]
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This foregoing Question is thus understood or meant; as when I say, God knoweth not the Evil; also God willeth not the Evil, according to the Tenure of the Scriptures; then I understand or mean, that in his Love (which alone is the one only Good, and is alone called God) there is no Glimpse of Evil revealed or manifested; otherwise, if any Evil was revealed or manifested therein, then the Love would not be the eternal Meekness and Humility.
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But in the Out-speaking of his Word, wherein the Nature of the spiritual World exists, wherein Perceptibility or Sensibility is understood to consist, and wherein God calls himself an angry, zealous or jealous God, and a consuming Fire, therein indeed God has known the Evil from Eternity, and that in Case he should once move himself therein, that the Source or Quality thereof would become creaturely also, but therein he is not called God, but a consuming Fire. [† In that, according to which he is called a consuming Fire.]
I understand the abovesaid Question magically, taking Notice how God's Love and Wrath differ, and are distinguished, and how the Knowledge of Evil, viz. of the Devil and his Fall, is discerned to differ from his Well-spring or Source, from whence the Fall also took its Original. "And
so also in God's Love there is only the Fountain and Knowledge of Joyfulness, for every Science or Root causes or produces its like.
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For if I should say, God's Love had willed the Evil, or that there was a false Science or Root in God's Love and Meekness, then I should speak contrary to the Scripture: For what God's Love knows sensibly or feelingly in itself, that it also stills, and nothing else. [† Text, Science.]
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From hence, in the Creation, Good and Evil are existed: And I exhort the Reader to conceive our very deep Sense right, and not mistake or go astray here, but to read our other Writings, where these Things are sufficiently explained."
Of the great Sin, and contrary or opposite Will; and of the eternal Enmity of King Lucifer, together with his whole Host or Army against God.
This is the right Mirrour of Man; before this Court of Justice for Malefactors the Spirit invites and cites all Men to stand as before a Mirrour, wherein they may see themselves, and what the hidden, secret Sin is.
This has remained hidden ever since the World began, and was never so fully and totally revealed in any Heart of Man: I myself also wonder much more than the Reader can wonder at this high Revelation or Manifestation.
I do not write this for my own Glory; for my Glory stands in my Hope of that which is to come: I am a poor Sinner as well as other Men, and ought also to come before this Glass.
But I marvel that God should reveal himself thus fully to such a simple Man, and that he thus impels him also to set it down in Writing; whereas there are many learned Writers which could set it forth and express it better in a more flourishing Style, and demonstrate it more exactly and fully than I, that am a Scorn and Fool to the World.
But I neither can nor will oppose him; for I often stood in great Striving against him, that it was not his Impulse or Will, that he would be pleased to take it from me; but I find, that with my striving against him I have but merely gathered Stones for this Building.
Now I am climbed up and mounted so very high, that I dare not look back, for fear a Giddiness should take me, and I have now but a short Length of Ladder to the Mark, to which it is the whole Desire, Longing, and Delight of my Heart, to reach fully. When I go upward, I have no Giddiness at all; but when I look back, and would return, then am I giddy, and afraid to fall.
Therefore have I put my Confidence in the strong God, and will venture, and see what will come of it. I have no more but one Body, which nevertheless is mortal and corruptible, I willingly venture that; if the Light and Knowledge of my God do but remain with me, then I have sufficiently enough for this Life and the Life to come.
Thus I will not be angry with my God, though for his Name's Sake I should endure Shame, Ignominy, and Reproach, which springs, buds, and blossoms for me every Day, so that I am almost inured to it: I will sing with the Prophet David, A Though my Body and Soul should faint and fail, yet thou, O God, art my Trust and Confidence; also my Salvation, and the Comfort of my Heart. [Psalm 73.26.]
Sin has seven Kinds, Forms, Species or Sorts; among which there are four special Well-springs or Sources: And the eighth Kind or Sort is the House of Death.
Now observe,
The Seven Forms are the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits of the Body; viz. the astringent Quality, the Water, the Bitter, the Heat, the Sound, the Love, the Nature or Beginning from the other Six: And when these are kindled, each Spirit generates a several Enmity against God.
Out of these Seven are generated other four new Sons, and they together are the new God, which is wholly against the old God, as two professed Armies or Enemies, which have sworn eternal Enmity one against the other.
The first Son is Pride. The second Son is Covetousness. The third Son is Envy. The fourth Son is Wrath.
Now let us view these in the Ground from whence all has its Original, and see how it is an Enmity against God: And therein you will see, what is the Beginning and Root of Sin, and wherefore in God it cannot be suffered or endured.
Therefore come on, you Philosophers and Lawyers, you that will maintain and undertake to prove it, that God also created the Evil, and that he wills the same; also that it is his predestinate Purpose that the Devil fell, and that many Men are damned; otherwise he could have altered all, and turned it some other Way.
The Citation, or Summons.
Here the Spirit of our Kingdom cites you, together with your Prince Lucifer, whom you defend and justify, the ibid Time, before the final Court of Justice for criminal Malefactors; give in your Answer there.
For as to these seven Kinds or Forms, and four new Sons, the Right shall be prosecuted in the heavenly Father’s House.
If you can prove and maintain, that the seven Spirits of Lucifer have of Right and Equity generated these four new Sons, so that they of Right and Equity should govern Heaven and the whole Deity, then King Lucifer shall be re-inthroned again, and set upon his Seat, and his Kingdom shall be restored to him again.
If not, then a Hell or Hole, Burrow or Dungeon, shall be given to him for an everlasting Prison, and there shall He together with his Sons be Prisoners for ever: And you shall take heed lest a Court of Justice be held, and pass upon you also.
Now seeing you will plead the Right of the Devil’s Cause, wherewith shall he requite you, or what Fee shall he reward you with? He has nothing in his Power but the hellish Abomination; what will then be your Recompence? Guess, even the best of all that he has, the best Fruits and Apples in his Orchard, and best Perfumes and Incense of his Garden.
Of the First Kind or Form.
The first Spirit is the astringent or harsh Quality, which in God is a gentle, attracting, or drawing together, a drying, and cooling or refreshing, and is made Use of in and for the Imaging or Forming of Things; and though in its Depth it is somewhat sharp or tart, yet it tempers itself with the sweet Water, so that it is meek, soft, pleasant, and full of Joy. And
when the Light of the sweet Water comes into it, then it willingly, friendly, and freely yields up its Birth thereunto, and makes it dry, and shining bright. And
when the Tone or Tune rises up in the Light, then it also gives up its Tone, Tune, and ringing Sound very gently and brotherly thereunto. It
Also the Heat favours it, giving way friendly, that it may be cooled, and so it is a friendly Will in and with all the Qualities; it readily helps also to image or frame the Spirit of Nature, and to form therein all Manner of Shapes, Figures, Fruits, and Growths or Vegetations, according to the Will of all the six Spirits.
It is a very humble Father to its Children, and loves them heartily, and plays with them friendly, for it is the right Father of the other six Spirits, which are generated in it, and it helps to generate them all.
Now when God constituted Lucifer with his Host or Army, he created them out of this friendly Deity, out of himself, out of the Place of Heaven and of this World, there was no other Matter to make them of, this living Saltiter was very gently and softly attracted or drawn together without any killing or slaying it, or without any great Stirring or Motion.
These Spirits thus incorporated or compacted together, had the Knowledge, the Skill and the eternal, infinite, and unbeginning Law of God, and knew full well, I. How the Deity had generated them.
- II. They knew also well, that the Heart of God had the Primacy in the whole Deity.
- III. They knew well also, that they had no more for their proper own, to deal with and to dispose of, than their own compacted, incorporated Body; for they saw very well, that the Deity generated itself without, severally, distinct, apart from their Body, as it had done from Eternity.
IV. They knew likewise very well, that they were not the whole Room or Place, but were therein to increase the Joy and wonderful Proportion, Variety and Harmony of that same Place, and were to accord, qualify, and act friendly with that Room or Place of the Deity, and in a friendly Manner affect the Qualities that are without, distinct from their Bodies.
V. They had also all Power to dispose of all the Ideas, Figures, and Growths or Vegetations, as they would; all was a hearty Love-play, Sport or Scene in God; they had not at all moved God their Creator to any contrary Will, though they had broken all the heavenly Ideas, Figures, or Vegetations and Growths, and had made of them all Horses to ride on; God had still always caused enough of others to come up instead of them, for it had all been but a Play or Scene in God.
For to that very End also they were created, that they should play and sport with the Ideas, Figures, and Growths or Vegetations, and dispose of them for their own Use as they pleased.
For, the Ideas or Figures have in a Manner framed themselves thus from Eternity, and have passed away and altered again through the qualifying or fountain Spirits: For this was the eternal Play, Sport or Scene of God, before the Time of the Creation of the Angels. [x That is, have come and gone perpetually.]
Thou hast a very good Example and Instance of this, if thou wilt but see, and wilt not be stark blind here; viz. in the Beasts, Fowls, and all Vegetations or Growths in this World: All these were created before Man was created, who is and signifies the second Host or Army, which God created instead of expelled Lucifer, out of the Place of Lucifer.
Question.
But now, what did the astringent or harsh Quality do in Lucifer?
Answer.
When God had thus gently incorporated it, or compacted it together, then it found and felt itself to be mighty and powerful, and saw that it retained a Body as fair and excellent as the Figures were, that were without, distinct from it; thereupon it became high minded, and elevated itself in its Body, and would be more severe and eager than the Salitter was, which was without, distinct from its Body.
But seeing it could not do any Thing alone, it flattered and played the Hypocrite with the other Spirits, so that they followed it as their Father, and did all as they saw it do, each in its own Quality.
Now being thus agreed, they generated also such a Spirit, which came forth at the Mouth, at the Eyes, at the Ears, and at the Nostrils, and affected or mixed itself with the Salitter that was without distinct from the Body. [y The astringent or harsh Spirit.]
For the Intent and Purpose of the astringent or harsh Quality, seeing it was so glorious, when the Kernel was incorporated or compacted together out of the whole Kingdom, its intent was, that it also through its Spirit, which it did generate by or with the other Spirits, would rule powerfully with the Sharpness externally, without its own Body, in the whole Salitter of God, and that all should stand and be in, or under its own Power and Authority.
It would image, frame, and form all through its own Spirit, which it generated, as the whole Deity did; it would have the Primacy in the whole Deity: This was its Purpose.
But seeing it could not effect it in its true natural Seat, it thereupon elevated itself, and kindled itself. And
so by this Kindling, it kindled its Spirit also, which now went forth at the Mouth, the Ears, the Eyes, and the Nostrils, as a very fierce, furious spirit, and strove against the Salitter in its Place, as a furious, storming, raging Lord, and kindled the Salitter, and attracted or drew all forcibly together.
Thou must understand it right.
The astringent or harsh Quality in the Spirit that went forth, kindled the astringent or harsh Quality which was in the Place of its Region, or in Nature, viz. in the seventh qualifying or fountain Spirit, and ruled powerfully in the astringent Quality, in the Salitter; and that the astringent Quality in the Salitter would not have, but strove with the sweet Water against this Spirit; but all would not help, the Storm grew hotter and hotter, the longer the greater, till at length the astringent or harsh Quality of the Salitter was kindled.
And so when this was done, then the Storm grew so hot, that the astringent Quality drew the Salitter together, so that hard Stones proceeded from it; whence the Stones in this World have their Original: And the Water in the Salitter was also attracted or drawn together, so that it became very thick, as it is now at present in this World.
But when the astringent Quality was kindled in Lucifer, then it became very cold; for the Coldness is its own proper Spirit, and thereupon now it kindles with its cold Fire also all in the Salitter. And
hence the Water of this World became so cold, dark, and thick; and hence it is that all is become so hard and palpable, which was not so before the Times of the Angels. And
this now was a great contrary Will in the divine Salitter, a great Battle and Strife, and an eternal Enmity. But now thou wilt say,
Objection.
God should have withstood him, that it might not have come so far.
Answer.
O dear blind Man! it was not a Man nor a Beast that stood here before God. But it was God against God; one strong one against another: Besides, how should God withstand him? With the friendly Love? That could not avail, for Lucifer did but scorn and despise that, and would himself be God.
Should God withstand him then with Anger or Wrath, which indeed must be done at length, then God must have kindled himself in his Qualities in the Salitter, wherein King Lucifer dwelt, and must in the strong Zeal or Jealousy strive and fight against him, which he did; and to this Striving made his Kingdom so dark, evil, and evil, that another Creation must needs afterwards follow upon it.
Ye Philosophers, and Jurists or Lawyers of Prince Lucifer, here you must first defend the astringent or harsh Quality in Lucifer, and answer whether it has dealt righteously or no, and prove it in Nature. I do not accept of your extorted, wrested, bowed, stretched, and far-fetched Texts of Scripture, brought in by Head and Shoulders for a Proof; but I will have living Testimonies.
And I will set before you also living Testimonies, viz. the created and comprehensible Heaven, the Stars, the Elements, the Creatures, the Earth, Stones, Men, and lastly, your dark, cold, hot, hard, rough, smoky, wicked Prince Lucifer himself; all these are come into this present Condition, through his Elevation.
Here bring in your Defense, and answer for your Spirit; if not, it will be condemned. For this is God’s Jus, Right or Law, which has no Beginning, that the Child which is generated of the Mother, should be humble before the Mother, and be obedient to her; for it has its Life and Body from the Mother who has generated it.
Also the Love of the Mother, as long as the Mother lives, is not the Child’s proper own; but the Mother keepes the Child with her in Love, she nourishes it, and puts on it the best and finest Attire which she has, and gives the same to it for its own, that her Joy may be increased by the Child, and that she may have Joy in it.
But when the Child rebels and resists against the Mother, and takes away all from the Mother, and domineers over her, and moreover strikes at her, and forces her to change into a low Condition, contrary to Right and Equity, then it is but just that the Child should be expelled out of the House, and left to sit behind the Hedge, and quite to lose its Child’s Portion and Inheritance. And
thus it was between God and his Child Lucifer. The Father put on him the fairest Attire, hoping to have Joy in him: But when the Child got the Robe and Ornament, he despised the Father, and would domineer over the Father, and would ruin his Father’s House; and besides, struck at the Father, and would not be advised or taught to do otherwise.
Of the Second Species, Form, Sort, or Spirit, of Sin’s Beginning in Lucifer.
The second Spirit is the Water: And as the astringent or harsh Quality is the Father of the other six Spirits, which attracts or draws them together, and so holds them, so the sweet Water is the Mother, in which all Spirits are conceived, kept and generated, that softens, and moistens, or soaks them, wherein and whereby they get their Life, and then the Light of Joyfulness rises up therein.
Thus King Lucifer in the same Manner got the sweet Water for his corporeal Government, and indeed the very Kernel and best of it. For God put on to his little Son the best Ornament, Robe, and Attire of all, hoping to have great Joy in him.
Question.
Now what did this astringent, or harsh Quality with its Mother, the sweet Water?
Answer.
It flattered with the bitter Quality, and with the Heat, and persuaded them that they should elevate themselves and be kindled, and so together they would destroy their Mother, and turn her into a sour Form or Property, whereby they would domineer with their Spirit very sharply over the whole Deity: All must bow down and crouch to them; and they would form, frame, figure and image all with their Sharpness.
According to this false or wicked Conclusion and Result, they agreed to do one and the same Thing, and so dried up the sweet Water in Lucifer’s Body: the Heat kindled it, and the Astringent dried it, and then it became very sour and sharp. And
when in this Qualifying or Acting they had generated the Spirit of Lucifer, then the Life of the Spirit, which rises up in the Water, as also the Light, became very sour and sharp. And
now this sour Spirit also formed with all its Powers against the sweet Water, which was without, distinct from the Body in God’s Salitter, and thought itself must needs be the Prime and Chief, and should in its own Power form, frame and image every Thing. And
this was the second Enmity against God, from whence is exifted the four Quality in this World, for it was not so from Eternity; as you have an Example thereof in this, viz. if you let any sweet Thing in the Warmth, and let it stand therein, it grows sour of itself; as also Water, Beer or Wine in a Vessel will do; but none of the other Qualities alter, but only into a Stink, which is caused by the Quality of Water. Now thou wilt ask,
Question.
Why did God suffer Lucifer’s Evil Spirit, which proceeded out of the Body of Lucifer, to come into Him? Could he not hinder it?
Answer.
Thou must know, that betwixt God and Lucifer there was no other Difference, than there is betwixt Parents and their Children; nay, there was yet a nearer Relation between them: For as Parents generate a Child out of their Body according to their Image, and keep it in their House, as a natural Heir of their Bodies, and cherish it, thus near also is the Body of Lucifer to the Deity.
For God had generated him out of his Body, and therefore also made him the Heir of his Goods, and gave him the whole Region, or Extent of the Place in which he created him for a Possession.
The highest Depth.
But here you must know, what it was that Lucifer fought against God with, and so moved God to Anger. For he could not do it with his Body; for his Body reached no further than the Place where he then stood; he could effect little with that, but it was something else.
Be attentive here.
The Spirit, which is generated from or out of all the seven qualifying Spirits in the Center of the Heart, the same does (whilst it is yet in the Body, when it is generated) qualify, mix, or act in and with God, as one Substance or Thing, neither is there any Difference.
And when that same Spirit, which is generated in the Body, sees any Thing through the Eyes, or hears through the Ears, or smells through the Nostrils, then it is already in that Thing, and works, labours, or acts therein, as in its own Propriety.
And if the same be pleasing to it, it eats of it, and is affected with the Thing, and wrestles with it, and makes a Mixture or Temper together; let the Thing be as far off as it will, even so far as the Originality of its Kingdom in God reaches, so far can the Spirit govern or rule in a Moment, and is withheld, or hindred by Nothing.
For it is, and comprehends the Power, as God the Holy Ghost does; and in this there is no Difference at all betwixt God the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of the Body, but only this, that the holy Spirit of God is the whole Fullness, and the Spirit of the Body is but a Portion or Part, which presses through the whole Fullness, and where-ever it comes, there it is mixed or affected with the Place, and presently rules with God in the same Place.
For it is of God and in God, and cannot be withheld or hindered, but only by the seven Nature-spirits of the Body, which generate the animated or soulish Spirit; they have the Reins in their Hand, and generate it as they please. [God’s Spirit has all the Qualities, Fountains, or Sources, but distinguishes itself in three Principles, where three sources or Qualities arise, the first in the Fire according] “to the first Principle, and the second in the Light in the second Principle, and the third in the Spirit of this World in the aërial and astral Source.”
When the astringent or harsh Quality, as the Father, forms the Word or Son, or Spirit, then it stands captive in the Center of the Heart, and is examined or tried by the other Spirits, whether it be good or no. Now if it pleases the Fire, then the Fire lets the Flash (in which the bitter Spirit stands) go through the sweet Water, wherein it conceives the Love, and goes with it into the astringent Quality.
Now when the Flash returns with the Love in the astringent Quality again, together with the new generated Spirit or Will, then the astringent Quality rejoices in the new young Son, and elevates itself.
Then the Tone lays hold thereon, and goes forth with it at the Mouth, Eyes, Ears and Nostrils, and executes that which is decreed in the Council of the seven Spirits: For as the Decree of the Council is, so also is the Spirit; and the Council can alter the same as it will.
Therefore the original Lust sticks in the Circle of the Heart, in the Council of the seven Spirits; and as they generate the Spirit, so also it is. And
so in this Manner Lord Lucifer brought the Deity into Anger and Wrath; “that is, kindled the eternal Nature according to the first Principle;” seeing he together with all his Angels, as a malicious Devil, fought or strove against the Deity, intending to bring and subdue the whole Circumference, Circuit, or Region, under his innate Spirits, that they should form, frame, figure, and image all, and the whole Circumference, Region, or Extent, should bow, yield, and suffer itself to be ruled and formed by the kindled Sharpness of the innate Spirits. And
as this has a Being or Substance, Form or Condition in Angels, so it has also a Being, Substance, Form or Condition in Man. Therefore bethink and consider yourselves, you that are proud, covetous, thievish, extorting Usurers, calumniating, blasphemous, envious, and whorish or lascivious, what Manner of little Son or Spirit you send into God. [Or as this Condition is in Angels, so there is such a Condition in Man also.] “
The Soul was originally comprehended in the eternal Nature with the Word Fiat, which is God’s Nature according to the first Principle and eternal Original of Nature; and if it kindles itself in the Original, then it kindles God’s Wrath in the eternal Nature.”
Objection.
Thou wilt say: We do not send this into God, but only into our Neighbour, or into his Work which we like and have a Mind to.
Answer.
[Or meddle with in our Minds.]
Now show thou me any Place, to which thou sendest thy covetous or lustful Spirit, be it to Man, Beasts, Garments, Fields, Money, or any Thing whatsoever, where God is not: From him is all, and He is in all, Himself is all, and He upholds and supports all.
Objection.
[Nota.]
Then thou wilt say: But he is with his Wrath in many Things which are so hard and evil, that they are not suitable to, or capable of the Deity.
Answer.
Yes, dear Man, all this is true: The Wrath of God is certainly every where all over, in Silver, Gold, Stones, Fields, Garments, Beasts and Men, and all whatsoever is comprehensible and palpable; otherwise they would not be so hard and harsh to be felt as they are.
But thou must know, that the Kernel of Love also sticks in all in the hidden Center, unless it be too, too altogether evil; and so evil a Thing Man has neither no liking to at all.
God possesses all, only as to Nature He is not the Essence, He possesses Himself.
Or dost thou think thou dost well, if thou bathest or forsakest thyself in God’s Wrath? Take heed, that it does not kindle thy Body and Soul, and so thou wilt burn therein eternally, as befell Lucifer.
But when God shall bring forth the hidden Things, at the End of this Time, then you will discern in what God’s Love or Wrath has been. Therefore have a Care, and take Heed, and turn thy Eyes from Evil, or else thou undoest thyself, and so bringest thyself into Perdition. [Not.]
I take Heaven and Earth to witness, that I have performed here, as God has revealed to me, that it is his Will.
Thus has King Lucifer in his Body turned the sweet Water into a sour Sharpness, intending therewith, in his Haughty-mindedness, to rule in the whole Deity. And
he has brought it so far to pass, that, in this World, with that Sharpness he reaches into the Heart of all living Creatures, as also into Vegetables, Leaves, and Grass, and into all other Things, as a King and Prince of this World.
And if the divine Love was not yet in the whole Nature of this World, and if we poor Men and Creatures had not in and about us the Champion in the Fight, we should all perish in a Moment, in the hellish horrible Abominations.
Therefore we sing very rightly thus;
Mitten wir im Leben seynd. Mit dem Tod umfangen: Wo sollen wir dann fliehen hin, was wir Gnad erlangen? Zu dir Herr Christ alleine. Da ist nun Der Hülff uns streit, Zu dem wir fliehen müssen, Welcher ist unser König. JESUS CHRISTUS. In Midst of Life, Death’s sure Embrace, Surrounds us every one, Then whither shall we fly for Grace? To Christ our Lord alone. This is the Champion in the Fight, To him we must direct our Flight, CHRIST JESUS is our King of Might.
He has the Father’s Love in him, and fights in divine Power and Might against the kindled hellish Abomination. To Him we must fly; and He it is that preserves and retains the Love of God in all Things in this World; otherwise all would be lost and perish.
Nur hoff, wart, und bett.
Es ist noch ein kleine Zeit.
Bis des Teufels Reich zerstöret ist.
Now hope, and pray, and wait But a short Time at Mercy’s Gate, The Devil’s Reign will be destroyed straight.
Nur hoff, wart, und bett.
Es ist noch ein kleine Zeit.
Bis des Teufels Reich zerstöret ist.
Now hope, and pray, and wait But a short Time at Mercy’s Gate, The Devil’s Reign will be destroyed straight.
You Philofophers, and Jurifts or Lawyers, that make God to be as a Devil, in faying, that He willeth Evil, bring in your Plea, and anfwer once more here, and try whether you can maintain your Caufe to be just; if not, then the four, sharp, tart Spirit in Lucifer shall be also condemned, as a Destroyer, and the Enemy of God, and of all his heavenly Hosts and Armies.