Jacob Boehme's Aurora
Chapter 15: Of the Third Species, Kind or Form and Manner of Sin's Beginning in Lucifer.
THE third Spirit in God is the bitter Spirit, which exists in the Flash of Life: For the Flash of Life rises up in the sweet Water through the Rubbing or Fretting of the astringent and hot Quality; but the Body of the Flash abides in the sweet Water, subsisting very meekly as a Light or Heart, and the Flash is very trembling, and by the Terror, and Fire, and Water, and astringent Spirit, it becomes bitter through the Original of the Water, in which it rises up.
And that Flash, or raging Terror, or bitter Spirit, is caught or laid hold on by the astringent Quality, and in the clear, bright Light in the astringent Spirit is glorified, and exceeding highly joyful: which now is the Mobility, or the Root of Life, which in the astringent Quality images, frames, and formes the Word, or makes it distinct or several, so that in the Body a Thought or Will exists.
Now this highly triumphing and joyous Spirit is very fitly and excellently, in the divine Salitter, used to the imaging or forming; because it chiefly moves in the Tone or Tune, and in the Love, and is nearest to the Heart of God in the Birth, and bound or united therewith in Joy, which indeed is itself also the Spring and Source of Joy, or the Rising up in the Heart of God.
And there is no Difference here, but only such as is between the Body and Soul in Man; and so the Body signifies or resembles the seven qualifying Spirits of the Father; and the Soul signifies or resembles the only begotten Son of God the Father. "
The Spirit of the Soul signifies or represents the Heart of God; and the Soul the Eye of God in the first Principle; as is declared in our third Book, concerning the threefold Life of Man."
Now as the Body generates the Soul, so the seven Spirits of God generate the Son; and as the Soul is a peculiar distinct Thing when it is generated, and yet is united with the Body, and cannot subsist without the Body, so also is the Son of God, when he is generated, a peculiar, several, distinct Thing also, and yet cannot subsist without the Father.
Now observe,
[united] [distinct]
Just in such a Kind and Manner was also the bitter Quality in Lucifer, and it had no Cause to elevate itself, neither had it any Driving to it from any Thing, but followed the proud Loftiness of the astringent Quality, as its Father, and supposed also, it would reign in its Kind and Manner over the whole Deity, and so kindled itself in its Elevation.
Now when it had half generated the animated or soulish Spirit in the Body, that Spirit became in this Kind and Manner a fierce, stinging, raging, kindled, and tearing Spirit, bitter as Gall, and is rightly the Quality of Hell Fire, a very fierce and enmietitious hostile Being.
Now when this Spirit in the animated or soulish Spirit, out of or from the Heart of Lucifer and his Legions, roved [or speculated] into the Deity; [*that is, brought its Will thitherinto, as into the Genitrix;*] then it was no other but a tearing, breaking, stinging, murdering, and poisonous Burning: Concerning which Christ saith, *The Devil is a Liar and Murderer from the Beginning; and hath not continued in the Truth.* [John 8. 44.]
But Lucifer intended, by that means, to be above God; none could domineer and rule so terribly as himself, all must stoop to him; he would with his Spirit in the whole Deity rule as a powerful King over all; seeing he was the fairest and most beautiful, he would needs also be the most potent.
But he saw and knew very well the divine Meekness, and humble Being in God his Father; moreover he knew also very well, that it stood in such Meekness from Eternity, and that he also should generate in such Meekness, as a loving and obedient Son:
But now seeing he was so beauteously and gloriously imaged, or formed as a King in Nature, his beauteous Form and Feature excited him, and lo he thought with himself, I am now God, and formed or framed out of God, who can vanquish me? Or who can alter or change me? I myself will be Lord, and with my Sharpness rule in all Things, and my Body shall be the Image, which shall be worshipped; I will prepare and erect for myself a new Kingdom: For the whole Circumference, Extent, or Region is mine, I am God alone, and none else.
And in his Pride he struck and smote himself with Darkness and Blindness, and made himself a Devil, and that he must be, and abide so eternally. [Exod. 20. 5. Deut. 5. 9.] [“
He knew in God only the Majesty, and not the Word in the Center, which has the Fan or casting Shovel: He blinded himself with the astringent Darkness; for he would needs inflame himself, and rule in the Fire over the Light, and over the ‘Meekness.’”]
Now when these evil, devilish Spirits (understand the Center of the Genitrix) moved or boiled in God’s Salitter, and made havock, or spoiled all therein, then there was nothing but Stinging, Burning, Murdering, Robbing, and a mere opposite or contrary Will.
For the Heart of God delighted in Love and Meekness; and Lucifer would needs turn the same by Force into a raging Tyranny: And lo there was nothing but Enmity, and a contrary or opposite Will; for by Force he kindled the Salitter of God, which had rested from Eternity, and stood in its Meekness.
Concerning this Kindling in this Circumference or Extent, it is that God calls himself “an angry, zealous, or jealous God against those that hate him,” that is, against those who kindle his Wrath and Fierceness still more with the diabolical Spirits, with Swearing, Cursing, Blaspheming, and all Manner of furious Fierceness and Wrath, which stick in the Heart, with Pride, Covetousness, Envy, and Anger; all that whatsoever is in thee, thou castest into God; [“that is, into the Genitrix of Nature, and therefore thou must be proved and tried through the Fire, and the Soul’s Spirit also, and the Wickedness or Malice must abide and remain in the Fire.”] [Which is every where in this World, in every Creature.]
Now thou askest, How can that be?
Answer.
When thou openest thy Eyes, and seest the ‘Being of God,’ then thou prickest as it were with Thorns into the Eting of God, and movest or stirrest up the Wrath and Anger of God. And
when a Tone or Noise sounds in thy Ears, so that thou receivest or catchest it up from the Being of God, then thou infectest it, as if thou didst dart Thunder-Claps into it.
Consider what thou dost with thy Nostrils, and with thy Mouth, whence thy spirit new born little Son rushes forth with thy Speech, as a little Son of all the seven Spirits; and observe, whether it doth not storm and assault in God’s Salitter, as Lucifer did. O, there is no Difference at all in this!
But again, on the other Side, God faith, ‘I am a merciful God to those that love me; those I will do good to, and bless them, to a thousand Generations.’
Here observe,
[Exod. 20. 6. Deut. 5. 10.] And
such are those, who contrary to the kindled Wrath-fire, with their Love, Meekness, and industrious earnest Desires, and Kindlings of Love with their Prayers, quench the Wrath-fire, and press on against the kindled Fierceness. And
here indeed is many a hard Blow or Crushing; for the kindled Wrath-fire of God falls many Times so heavy upon them, that they know not where to bestow themselves; heavy Mountains lie upon them, the Love-cross presses sore, and is heavy.
But this is their Comfort and strong Helmet against the Fierceness, and the kindled Fire; according as the kingly Prophet David saith, ‘To the Honest or the Upright, the Light rises up in the Darkness.’ [Psalm 112. 4.] And
in this Strife and Fight against the Wrath of God, and the kindled Fierceness of the Devils, and of all wicked Men, the Light rises up in the Heart of the Honest and Upright; and the friendly Love of God embraces him, that he may not despair in his Cross, but strive further still against the Wrath and Fierceness.
If there were not at all Times some honest upright Men on Earth, who quench the Wrath of God with their Opposing, the hellish Fire had kindled itself long ago, and then it would have well been seen where Hell is, which Men do not now believe.
But thus saith the Spirit; as soon as the Fierceness overcomes the Opposition of Love in this World, then the Fire kindles itself, and then there is no more Time in this World.
But that the Fierceness does terribly burn now at present, it needs no Proof here, for it is known as clear as the Day by woeful Experience. Behold there rises up yet a little Fire, in the Opposition against the Wrath, out of a singular special Love-restraint of God: When this grows weak also, then is the End of this Time.
But whether Lucifer has done right, in that he has awakened and stirred up the Fierceness in the Salitter of God, whence this World is become flinging, venomous, thorny, rocky, envious, and evil, false, or wicked, let the Attorneys, Proctors, Advocates, and Defenders of Lucifer, answer, plead, and justify it if they can; if not, then this third bitter, stinging, venomous Spirit shall be condemned also.
Of the Fourth Kind, Species, Form or Manner of Sin’s Beginning in Lucifer.
The fourth Spirit of God is Heat, which is generated between the bitter and astringent Quality, and is conceived or bred in the sweet Water, and is shining and giving Light, and is the true Fountain of Life.
For in the sweet Water it is very meek, from whence Love exists, and is only a loving Warmth, and no Fire. And
though indeed it be in the hidden Kernel of the Fire’s Quality or Original, yet that Fire is not kindled or burning, for it is generated in the sweet Water.
Now where the Water is, there is no burning Fire, but a pleasing Warmth, and gentle Qualifying or Vivifying; but if the Water should be dried up, then there would be burning Fire there.
Thus Lord Lucifer thought also, if he did but kindle his Fire, then he might domineer forcibly in the divine Power; but he thought it would have burnt eternally, and also have given Light; his Purpose was not to put out the Light, but he would have it burn continually in the Fire; he thought he would dry up the Water, and then the Light would move, stir or shine in the burning Fire.
But he knew not, that if he kindled the dried Water, that the Kernel, that is, the Unctuosity, Oil, or Heart of the Water, would be consumed, and that the Light would turn into Darkness, and the Water turn into a sour Stink.
For the Oil, or Unctuosity in the Water, is generated through Meekness or Well-doing, and that is the Unctuosity, Oil, Unction, Marrow or Fatness, wherein the Light becomes Shining. But if the Unctuosity be burnt up, then the Water is turned into a sour Stink, and moreover becomes very dark. And
thus it befell the Pride of Lucifer, he triumphed a little while with his kindled Light; but when his Light was spent and burnt up, then he became a black Devil.
But he supposed, he would eternally reign thus in his burning Light in the whole divine Power, as a very terrible God, and so with his Fire-spirit he torqued with the Salitter of God, intending to kindle the whole Circumference, or Extent of his Kingdom.
And indeed he has done somewhat, in that he has set the divine Power into a Burning, which appears even in the Sun and Stars; also the Fire in the Salitter in the Elements is often kindled, so that it seems as if the Deep was of a burning Fire; of which I shall speak in another Place.
He slept back out of the Meekness into the anxious Fire-will, and fell into Darkness. The Reader is advertised, that he must not understand in any Place, as if the Devil had kindled or fired the Light of God; no, but the Forms of Nature only, out of which the Light shines. For he has not comprehended the Light, as little as the Fire does, which cannot lay hold on the Light: But he entered into the Fire, and is expelled into the Darkness, and has neither Fire nor Light, besides, without, or distinct from his Creature. [Or his own creaturely Existence.]
Now in this Quality King Lucifer has prepared for himself the right hellish Bath or Lake. He dares not say, that God has framed or erected the hellish Quality for him, but he himself has done it: Moreover he has offended the Deity, and turned the Powers of God into a hellish Bath or Lake, for his own eternal Habitation.
For when he and all his Angels had kindled in their Bodies the qualifying or fountain Spirit of the Fire, then the Unctuosity, Marrow or Fatness burnt in the sweet Water, and the Flash or Terror, which rises up fiercely in the Birth of the Light, became raging and tearing, burning and stinging, and a Being or Substance of a mere opposite or contrary Will. And
here, in this Quality, the Life was turned into a Sting of Death; for through Heat the bitter Quality grew so fierce, stinging, raging and burning, as if the whole Body were mere fiery Stings; these did tear and rage in the astringent Quality, as if one did thrust fiery Pins, Needles, or red-hot Bodkins through the Body.
On the other Side, the cold Fire of the astringent Quality was in a mad furious Rage against the Heat, and against the bitter Venom or Poison, like a great Uproar or Hurilburly; and now further in the Body of Lucifer there was nothing else but a murdering, rubbing, fretting, burning and stinging, a most horrible hellish Fire.
This Fire-spirit, and right Devil’s spirit, elevated itself now also in the Center of the Heart, and would rule through the animated or soulish Spirit, [“Hereby is understood the Spirit of the Will, or of the Center, which is generated out of the Genitrix, viz. out of the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits, which is the Image of God,”] in the whole divine Power, and kindle the whole Salitter of God as a new and potent God; and so the Formings, and heavenly Imagings, should rise up in a horrible fiery Quality, and suffer themselves to be imaged and framed according to this Fierceness.
Now when I write of the animated soulish Spirit, then you must exactly know what it is, or how it is, else thou wilt read this Birth or Geniture in vain, and it will happen to thee, as it did to the vile Heathens, who climbed up to the very Face or Countenance of God, but could not see it. [Or Nativity.]
The Spirit of the Soul is very much more subtle, and more incomprehensible than the Body, or the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits, which hold, retain, and form the Body; for it goes forth from the seven Spirits, as God the Holy Ghost goes forth from the Father and the Son. [Or soulish Spirit.]
The seven qualifying or fountain Spirits have their compacted, or incorporated Body out of Nature, that is, out of the seventh Nature-spirit in the divine Power; which in this Book I call the Salitter of God, or the Comprehensibility, wherein the heavenly Figures or Shapes arise.
And that is a Spirit, as all the rest of the seven Spirits are, only the other six are an incomprehensible Being therein; for the divine Power generates itself in the Comprehensibility of the seventh Nature-spirit, as it were hidden or concealed, and incomprehensible to the Creatures.
But the animated or soulish Spirit generates itself in the Heart, out of or from the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits, in that Manner as the Son of God is generated, and keeps its Seat in the Heart, and goes forth from that Seat in the divine Power, as the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son; for it is of such a subtle Nature as the holy Spirit of God has, and unites, qualifies, or operates with God the Holy Ghost. And
when the animated or soulish Spirit goes forth out of the Body, then it is one Thing with the hidden Deity, and is together the Middle or Center in the Imaging, or Framing of a Thing in Nature, as God the Holy Ghost himself is.
An Example whereof you have in this; as when a Carpenter will build a curious House or artificial Piece of Architecture, or any other Artist goes about the Making of some artificial Work, the Hands, which signify Nature, cannot be the first that begin the Work: but the seven Spirits are the first Workmasters about it, and the animated or soulish Spirit shows the Form, Figure, or Shape of it, to the seven Spirits. And
then the seven Spirits image or frame it, and make it comprehensible, and then the Hands first begin to fall to work, to make the Structure according to the Image or Frame contrived: For a Work must be first brought to the Sense, before you can make it.
For the Soul comprehends the highest Sense, it beholds what God its Father acts or makes, also it co-operates in the heavenly Imaging or Framing: And therefore it makes a Description, Draught, Platform, or Model for the Nature-spirits, showing how a Thing should be imaged or framed. And
according to this Delineation, or Prefiguration of the Soul, all Things in this World are made; for the corrupted Soul works or endeavours continually to bring forth or frame heavenly Forms, but cannot bring that to Effect, for the Materials for its Work are only the earthly corrupted Salitter, even a half-dead Nature, wherein it cannot image or frame heavenly Ideas, Shapes, or Figures.
By this you may understand, what great Power the Spirits of the expelled Angels have had in the heavenly Nature; and what Manner of Substance this Perdition or Corruption is of; how they have corrupted and spoiled Nature in Heaven in their Place with their horrible Kindling, from whence the horrible Fierceness which is predominant in this World exists.
For the kindled Nature burns still continually until the last Judgment-Day; and this kindled Fire, Source or Quality, is an eternal Enmity against God.
But yet whether this kindled Fire-spirit has Right therein, and whether God himself has kindled it, from whence the Wrath-fire exited, let the Electionists or Predestinarians, or those that dispute so about Election, justify it, and prove it in Nature if they can; if not, then this Fire-spirit is to be condemned also.
Of the Fifth Kind, Species, Form or Manner of Sin’s Beginning, in Lucifer and his Angels.
The fifth qualifying or fountain Spirit in the divine Power, is the gracious, amiable and blessed Love, which is the very Glance or Aspect of Meekness and Humility, which is also generated in the Flash of Life.
For the Flash, as a Crack, penetrates suddenly, whereby Joy exits, and then the Stock of the kindled Light in the sweet Water abides standing, and presses gently after the Flash through the Fire, even into the astringent Quality, and mitigates the Fire, and mollifies, softens, or supples the astringent Quality, which is also a Birth or Geniture of the Water.
But when the Fire tastes the mild Sweet and pliant Taste, then is it mitigated and forms itself into a meek Warmth, very lovingly, and there rises up a very friendly Life in the Fire, and penetrates the astringent Quality with this pleasing, lovely, gentle Warmth, and allays or stills the cold Fire, and mollifies or supples the Hardness, attenuates the Thick, and makes the Dark to be Light.
But when the bitter Flash, together with the Astringent and Fire-spirit, tastes this Meekness, there is nothing else then but a mere Longing, Desiring and Replenishing, a very gentle, pleasant Tasting, Wrestling, Kissing, and Love-birth: For the severe Births of all the qualifying or fountain Spirits in this Penetration become very gentle, pleasant, humble and friendly, and the very Deity rightly subsists therein.
For in the first four qualifying or fountain Spirits stand the divine Birth or Geniture; therefore they must be very earnest, and strong also, though they have among them too their meek Mother, the sweet Water, and in the Fifth stands the gracious, amiable and blessed Love, and in the Sixth the Joy, and in the Seventh the Framing, Imaging, or Comprehensibility.
Now, Lucifer! come on, with thy Love; how hast thou behaved thyself? Is thy Love also such a Well-spring or Fountain as this? We will now view that also, and examine what Manner of loving Angel thou art turned into.
Observe,
If Lucifer had not elevated and kindled himself, then his Fountain of Love would be no other than that in God, for there was no other Salitter in him, than there is in God.
But when he elevated himself, intending to rule the whole Deity with his animated or soulish Spirit, then the Stock and Heart of Light, which is the Kernel, Marrow, or Pith of Love in the sweet Water, became a fierce and corroding pressing Fire, Source or Quality, Quality, from whence in the whole Body existed a very trembling, burning Government, and Birth or Geniature.
Now when the animated or soulish Spirit was generated in this severe and astringent Fire’s Birth, then it pressed very furiously forth from the Body into Nature, or the Saltiter of God, and destroyed the gracious, amiable and blessed Love in the Saltiter; for it pressed very fiercely, furiously, and in a fiery Manner, as a raging Tyrant through all, and supposed that itself alone was God; itself alone would govern with its Sharpness.
From hence now existed the great contrary opposite Will and eternal Enmity between God and Lucifer; for the Power of God moves very softly, meekly, pleasantly, and friendly, so that its Birth cannot be conceived of or apprehended, and the Spirits of Lucifer move and tear very harshly, astringently, in a fiery Manner, swiftly and furiously.
An Example of which you have in the kindled Saltiter of the Stars, which because of this kindled Fierceness, must roll with the Vanity, even to the last Judgment-Day: And then the Fierceness will be separated from them, and be given to King Lucifer, for an eternal House.
But that this is a great opposite, contrary Will in God, needs no Proof; but a Man may think, in Case such a fierce Fire, Source or Quality should rise in his Body, what an Untowardness and contrary Will he should have in him, and how often the whole Body would be in a Rage and Fury.
Which indeed befalls those, who lodge the Devil within them; but so long as he is but a Guest, he lies still like a tame Whelp; but when he becomes the Host himself, and Master of the House, then he storms and makes Havock in the House, as he did to the Body of God. And
therefore it is, that the Wrath-fire of God is yet in the Body of God which is in this World, till the End, and many a Creature is swallowed up and devoured in the Wrath-fire, of which much is to be written, but it is referred to its proper Place.
But now, whether God himself has created and kindled this Enmity, and fierce Fire-source in Lucifer, they are to plead for and justify, who dispute for Predestination, Foreseeing, and the Election of Grace, and they are to prove it in Nature if they can; if not, then this corrupted Fire-source, which stands in the Place or Stead of Love, shall be condemned also.
Of the Sixth Species, Kind, Form or Manner of Sin’s Beginning in Lucifer, and in his Angels.
The sixth qualifying or fountain Spirit in the divine Power, is the Mercurius, or Tone, or Tune, wherein the Distinction and heavenly Joy rises up.
This Spirit takes its Original in the Fire-flash, that is, in the bitter Quality, and rises up in the Flash through the sweet Water, wherein it mitigates itself, so that it becomes clear and bright, and is reserved and kept in the astringent Quality, and there it touches or stirs all the Spirits; and from this Touching or Stirring rises up the Tone; its rising Source or Quality stands in the Flash, and its Body or Root stands in the sweet Water in the Love.
Now this Tone or Tune is the divine Joyfulness, the Triumphing, wherein the divine and meek Love-play, Sport, or Scene in God, rises up, as also the Formings, Imaginings, and all Manner of Ideas, Shapes, and Figures.
But here thou must know, that this Quality penetrates very gently and pleasantly with its Touching or Stirring, through all the Spirits, in such a Way and Manner, as when a pleasant and meek Fire of Joy rises up in the Heart of a Man, in which Fire of Joy, the animated or soulish Spirit triumphs as if it were in Heaven.
Now this Spirit does not belong to, or concern the Imaging or Framing of the Body, but to the Distinction, Diversifying, and Mobility, especially to the Joy, and to the Distinction or Difference in the Imaging or Shaping. And
when the animated or soulish Spirit in the Center of the Heart, in the Midst or Center of the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits, is generated, so that the Will of the seven Spirits is incorporated or compacted together, then the Tone brings it forth from the Body, and is its Chariot on which the Spirit rides, and executes that which is decreed in the Council of the seven Spirits.
For the Tone goes through the animated or soulish Spirit into the Nature of God, and into the Salitter of the seventh qualifying or fountain Spirit in the Divine Power, which is its inceptive or beginning Mother, and unites, qualifies, or co-operates with the same in the Forming or Framing, and also in the Distinguishing or Diversifying of the Imaging or Shape.
Therefore when King Lucifer changed, or transmuted his high-minded prancing Nag or Palfrey in the Tone, into a fiery Resting, in all the seven Spirits, that was a terrible contrary, or opposite Will in the Salitter of God. [Or Retitu- ted.]
For when his animated or soulish Spirit was generated in his Body, then he flung forth from his Body into the Salitter of God, as a fiery Serpent, or out of a Hole.
But when the Mouth opened to speak, that is, when the seven Spirits had incorporated or compacted the Word together in their Will, and sent it through the Tone into the Salitter of God, then it was no otherwise, than if there went a fiery Thunder-bolt into God’s Nature; or as a fierce Serpent, which tyrannizes, raves, and rages, as if it would tear and rend Nature all to Pieces.
Hence that takes its Original, that the Devil is called 'the old Serpent'; and also, that there are Adders and Serpents in this corrupted World, moreover, all Manner of Vermine, or venomous Broods of Worms, Toads, Flies, Lice, and Fleas, and all such like Things whatsoever; and from hence also tempestuous Weather of Lightening, Thundering, Flashing, and Hail-stones, take their Original in this World.
Observe,
[1 Rev. 12. 9.]
When the Tone rises up in the divine Nature, then it rises up gently from all the seven qualifying or fountain Spirits jointly together, and generates the Word, or Ideas, Figures, and Shapes, very gently.
That is, when one qualifying or fountain Spirit attracts a Will to the Birth or Geniture, then it presses very gently through the other qualifying or fountain Spirits, even into the Center of the Heart, and there that Will is formed and approved by all the Spirits.
And then the other six Spirits speak it forth in the Tone, out from God’s animated or soulish Spirit; understand out from the Heart of God, out from the Son of God, which abides standing in the Center as a compacted incorporated Word.
And the Flash out of that same Word, or the Stirring of the Word, which is the Tone, goes forth very finely and gently from the Word, and executes, affects, or performs the Will of the Word.
And that same Going forth from the Word is the Holy Ghost, which forms, frames, and images all whatsoever was decreed in the Center of the Heart, in the Council of the seven Spirits of God the Father.
In such a gentle Way and Manner should King Lucifer also have generated, qualified, or operated; and according to the Right of the Deity, with his animated or soulish Spirit in the Saltiter, or in the Nature of God, have helped to image, or frame Things, as a dear Son in Nature.
Just as a Son in the House helps his Father to drive or manage his Work, according to his Father’s Way and Profession, Kind and Art: And so should Lucifer also with his Angels, in the great House of God the Father, according to the Manner and Way of God, have helped with his animated or soulish Spirit to image all the Forms, Ideas, and Vegetations in the Saltiter of God.
For the whole Saltiter should be a House of Pleasure and Delight for angelical Bodies, and all should rise up according to the Delight of their Spirit, and image themselves so, that they should never at all have any Displeasure in any Figure, Shape, or Creature, but their animated or soulish Spirit should be co-operative in every Imaging; and then the Saltiter should have been the Creature’s proper own. [“The Imaging out of the heavenly Essences, is performed magically, all according to the Will and Ability, or Potentiality of Nature and the Creatures.”]
If they had but continued in their meek Birth or Geniture, according to the divine Right, then all had been their own, and their Will would have been always fulfilled eternally, and nothing had been among them and in them, but merely the Joy of Love, to speak after an earthly Manner, as it were an eternal Laughing, and a perpetual Rejoicing in an eternal hearty Delight. For God and the Creatures had been one Heart and one Will. [“The Image out of, or proceeding from the Soul’s Fire, and the Love, or the divine Center, are in one Being.”]
But when Lucifer exalted himself, and kindled his qualifying or fountain Spirits, then the animated or soulish Spirit went forth in the Tone out of or from all the Bodies of Lucifer’s Angels, into the Saltiter of God, as a fiery Serpent, or Dragon, and imaged and framed all Manner of fiery and poisonous Forms and Images, like to wild, cruel, and evil Beasts.
And from hence the wild, fierce, and evil Beasts have their Original in this World. For the Host or Army of Lucifer had kindled the Saltiter of the Stars and of the Earth, and half killed, spoiled and destroyed it.
But when God, after the Fall of Lucifer, made the Creation of this World, then all was created out of the same Saltiter wherein Lucifer had his Seat: And so afterwards the Creatures also in this World must needs be created out of that same Saltiter, which now form themselves according to the Condition or Kind of the kindled Qualities, Evil and Good. And
that Beast, which had most of the Fire, or the bitter, or the astringent Quality, in the Mercurius, that became also a bitter, hot, and fierce Beast, all according as the Quality was predominant or chief in the Beast.
This I set down here only for a Manuduction; you will find it demonstrated more at large, concerning the Creation of this World.
Now, whether this fiery Tone, or Dragon-spirit, in Lucifer and in his Angels be right, and whether God has thus created him, let the Attorneys or Advocates of Lucifer, which make God to be as a Devil, justify it here by their Answer, and prove it in Nature if they can, whether God be such a God, as willeth the Evil, and has created the Evil?
If not, then shall this Spirit also be condemned to the eternal Prison; and they should give over their lying and blaspheming of God; or else they are worse than the wild Heathens or Pagans, which know nothing of God; who notwithstanding live in God, and shall sooner possess the Kingdom of Heaven, than many of these Blasphemers of God shall, which I shall demonstrate also in its proper Place.