Jacob Boehme's Aurora
Chapter 25: Of the whole Body of the Stars and of their Birth or Geniture; that is, the whole Astrology, or the whole Body of this World.
The learned and highly experienced Masters of Astrology, or the starry Art, are come to high and deep in their Understanding, that they know the Course and Effects of the Stars, what their Conjunction, Influence, and Breaking through of their Powers and Virtues denotes, and produces; and how thereby Wind, Rain, Snow, and Heat is caused, also Good and Evil, Prosperity and Adversity, Life and Death, and all the Drivings and Agitations in this World. [Good Hap, bad Hap: Good Luck, and Mischance or Mischiefs.] [Inflection.] And
indeed it has a true Foundation, which I know in the Spirit to be so, but their Knowledge stands only in the House of Death, in the outward Comprehensibility or Palpability, and in the beholding with the Eyes of the Body; but the Root of this Tree has hitherto remained hidden to them.
Neither is it my Purpose to write of the Branches of the Tree, and to invert or disprove their Knowledge, neither do I build upon their Ground, but I leave their Knowledge to sit in its own Seat, seeing I have not studied it. But I write in the Spirit of my Knowledge to sit in its own Seat, seeing I have not studied it. But I write in the Spirit of my Knowledge concerning the Root, Stock, Branches, and Fruits of the Tree, as an industrious and laborious Servant to his Master, in discovering the whole Tree of this World.
Not with an Intent to set any new Thing on Foot, for I have no Command to do so, but my Knowledge stands in this Birth or Geniture of the Stars, in the Midst or Center, where the Life is generated, and breaks through Death, and where the moving Spirit exists and breaks through; and in the Impulse or Moving thereof I also write.
Also I know very well, that the Children of the Flesh will scorn and mock at me, and say, I should look to my own Calling, and not trouble my Head about these Things, but rather be diligent to bring in Food for me and my Family, and let those meddle with Philosophy that have studied it, and are called and appointed to it.
With such an Attempt the Devil has given me many Assaults, and has so wearied me, that I have often resolved to let it alone, but my former Purpose was too hard for me.
For when I took care for the Belly, and to get my Living, and resolved to give over this Business in hand, then the Gate of Heaven in my Knowledge was bolted up. And
then my Soul was so afflicted in Anxiety, as if it was captivated by the Devil, whereby Reason got so many Checks and Assaults, as if the Body were presently to fail to the Ground, and the Spirit would not give over, till it broke through again, through the dead or mortal Reason, and so has broke open to Pieces the Door of Darkness, and has got its Seat again in the Seat thereof, whereby I got new Life and Power again.
Whereby I understand, that the Spirit must be tried through the Cross and Affliction, and I have not failed of bodily Temptation, but was fain always to stand ready for an Encounter, so much has the Devil set himself against this.
But when I perceived that my eternal Salvation was concerned therein, and that through my Negligence the Gates of the Light would be shut against me, which yet was the very Firmament and Fort of my Heaven, wherein my Soul did hide itself from the Storms of the Devil, which I took in, and gained with great Toil and many hard Assaults, and Stormings, through the Love of God, by the breaking through of my Redeemer and King JESUS CHRIST, therefore I leave my Care to God, and will take my fleshly Reason captive.
And I have chose the Gate of Knowledge of the Light, and will follow after the Impulse and Knowledge of the Spirit, though my fleshly Body should be brought to beggary, or quite fall to the Ground. I regard none of these Things, but will say with the royal Prophet David, Though my Body and Soul should faint and fail, yet thou O God art my Salvation, my Comfort, and the Refuge of my Heart. [Psalm 73.26.]
In thy Name I will venture it, and will not strive against thy Spirit; though the Flesh be troubled, and must endure Misery, yet Faith in the Knowledge of the Light must move and soar above Reason. And
I know also very well, that it is not fit for the Disciple to fight against his Master, and I know that the high experienced Masters of Astrology so far exceed me in their Way. But I labour in my Calling, and they in theirs, lest I should be found a lazy idle Servant to my Lord, at his Coming, when he shall demand the Talent he hath entrusted me withal; but that I may present to him with Usury, or Profit and Gain.
Therefore I will not bury his Talent in the Earth, but lend it out upon Usury or Interest, lest he should say to me at that Time of his requiring it of me, Thou wicked slothful Servant, why hast thou hid my Talent in the Darkness, and didst not put it out upon Use, and so now I might have received it with Usury, Gain, and Profit? And so then he will take it quite away from me, and give it to another, who hath gained many Talents with his one. Therefore I will sow, let him water it, I leave the Care to him.
Now observe,
The whole House of this World, which stands in a visible and comprehensible or palpable Being, is the old House of God, or the old Body, which stood before the Time of Wrath in a heavenly Clarity and Brightness. But when the Devil stirred up the Wrath therein, then it became a House of Darkness and of Death.
Therefore then also the holy Birth or Geniture of God, as a special Body of itself, separated itself from the Wrath, and made the Firmament of Heaven, between the Love and the Wrath, so that the Birth or Geniture of the Stars stands in the Middle. Understand it thus; viz. with its outward Comprehensibility and Visibility it stands in the Wrath of Death, and with the new Birth rising up therein, which stands in the middle or central Seat, where the Closure of Heaven is, it stands in the Meekness of the Life.
For Meekness moves against the Wrath, and the Wrath against the Meekness, and so both are distinct Kingdoms in the one only Body of this World.
But seeing the Love and Meekness of God would not leave the Body or Place of this kindled wrath World flicking in eternal Wrath and Ignominy, therefore he generated the whole old Body of this World again into a rectified, reformed Body; wherein Life ruled in a divine Manner and Way; though in the kindled Wrath, yet it must subsist according to the Right of the Deity, that out of it a new Body might be generated, which should subsist in Holiness and Purity in Eternity.
For which Cause there is appointed in God a Day of Separation, on which Life and Wrath shall be separated asunder. [Law and Order.]
Now when thou beholdest the Stars, and the Deep, together with the Earth, then thou seest with thy bodily Eyes nothing else but the old Body in the wrathful Death; thou canst not see Heaven with thy bodily Eyes, for the blue or azure Sphere which thou seest above is not the Heaven, but is only the old Body, which may be justly called the corrupted Nature. But that
there seemeth to be a blue or azure Sphere above the Stars, whereby the Place of this World is closed and shut out from the holy Heaven, as Men have thought hitherto; yet it is not so, but it is the superior Water of Nature, which is much brighter than the Water below the Moon. And now when the Sun shines through the Deep, then it is as it were of a light-blue or azure Colour.
But how deep or how large the Place of this World is, no Man knows, though some natural Philosophers, Mathematicians, Astronomers, or Astrologers have undertaken to measure the Deep with their Measures of Circles; their Measuring is but conjectural, or a Measuring of something that is comprehensible or palpable; as if a Man would grasp the Wind in his Fist.
But the true Heaven is every where all over. to this very Time, and till the last Judgment-Day; and the Wrath-House of Hell and of Death is also in this World every where, even to the last Judgment-Day.
But the Dwelling of the Devils is now from the Moon to the Earth, and in the deep Caves and Holes thereof; especially in Wildernesses and desert Places, and where the Earth is full of Stones and Bitterness.
But their kingly Regimen or Government is in the Deep, in the four Coats or Quarters of the equinoctial Line or Circle, of which I will write in another Place.
But here I will show thee; 1. How the Body of this World came to be; and 2. How it is at present; and then, 3. How the Regimen or Government therein is.
The whole Body of this World is as a Man's Body, for it is surrounded in its utmost Circle with the Stars and risen Powers of Nature; and in that Body the seven Spirits of Nature govern, and the Heart of Nature stands in the Midst or Center.
But the Stars in general are, and signify the wonderful Proportion, or changing Variety of God. For when God created the Stars, he created them out of the Rising up of the Infinity, out of the old Body of God then further kindled.
For as the seven Spirits of God had, before the Time of the Wrath, generated themselves infinitely by their Rising up and Efficiencies, whence rose up so many several Varieties of Figures and heavenly Ideas or Vegetations; so also the holy God formed his old Body of this corrupted Nature, into as many and various Powers, as ever stood in the Birth or Geniture in the Holiness.
Understand this high Thing rightly.
Every Star has a several peculiar Property, which thou mayest perceive by the curious Ornament of the budding blossoming Earth. And the Creator has therefore rebuilt and revived again the old kindled Body into so many and various Powers, that through this old Life, in the Wrath, such a new Life might generate itself therein, through the Closure of Heaven, that that new Life might have all the Powers and Operations that ever the old had before the Times of Wrath, that it might qualify, mix, or unite with the pure Deity distinct from this World, and that it might be one holy God, together with the Deity without, distinct from this World.
Also the new Birth blossomed in the Time of the Creation, when Man had not spoiled or corrupted it; but by him Nature was full more corrupted, and so God cursed the Ground. But seeing Man took hold of the Fruit of the old Body, thereupon the Fruit of the new Body was hidden in its Heaven, and Man must now behold it with the new Body, and cannot partake of it with the natural Body.
Of which I have a great Longing to eat, but I cannot reach to it, for Heaven is the Closure or Firmament between the old and new Body. And therefore I must let it alone till I come into the other Life, and must give my bestial Body Mother Eve's Wrath-Apples to eat.
Concerning the Kindling of the Heart, or Life of this World.
When God had brought the Body of this World in two Days into a right Form, and had made the Heaven for a Partition between the Love and the Wrath, then on the third Day the Love pressed through the Heaven and through the Wrath, and then instantly the old Body in Death stirred and moved itself to the Birth or Geniture.
For the Love is hot, and that kindled the Fire-source or Quality, and that rubbed itself in the astringent and cold Quality of benumbed Death, till the astringent Quality was heated on the third Day, whereby the Mobility or astringent Earth became moveable.
For all stood in the Fire-crack till the fourth Day, and then the Light of the Sun kindled itself; for the whole Body stood in Anguish or Pain in the Birth, as a SOL Woman in Travail.
The astringent Quality was the Encompasser or Inclosure of the Life in it now; the Heat was anxious, which was kindled through the Love of God, and did thrust forth the astringent Quality as a dead Body, but the Heat retained its Seat in the Midst or Center of the Body, and so pressed through.
But when the Light of the Sun kindled itself, then the next Circle or Orb above the Sun stood in the Fire-crack, for the Sun or the Light was shining in the Water, and the Bitterness ascended also in the Fire-crack out of the Water. But the Light made very great Haste after it, and laid hold on the Fire-crack, and there it remained standing as a Captive, and became corporeal.
In this Revolution the Planet Mars came to be, whose Power stands in the bitter Fire-crack, for it is a Tyrant, Rager, Raver, and Stormer, like a Fire-crack; moreover it is hot, and a poisonous venomous Enemy of Nature, through whose Rising up and Birth or Geniture in the Earth, all Manner of poisonous, venomous, evil Worms and Vermine are come to be. [MARS.]
But seeing the Heat in the middle Point or Center of the Body was so mighty great, thereupon it extended itself so very largely, and opened the Chamber of Death so wide before its Kindling of the Light, that it, the SUN, is the greatest Star.
But as soon as the Light kindled itself in the Heat, so instantly was that hot Place caught in the Light, and then the Body of the Sun could grow no bigger. For the Light mitigated the Heat, and so the Body of the Sun remained there flowing in the Midst or Center as a Heart, for the Light is the Heart of Nature, not the Heat.
But here thou must observe exactly,
As far as the middle Point or Center has kindled itself, just so big is the Sun; for the Sun is nothing else but a kindled Point in the Body of Nature.
Thou must not think, that there is any other Power or Virtue in it or belonging to it, than there is in the whole Deep of the Body every where, all over.
For should the Love of God, through its Heaven, kindle the whole Body of this World through its Heat, it would be every where all over as Light as it is now in the Sun. And
now if the great Heat was taken away from the Sun, then it would be one Light with God; but seeing that cannot be in this Time, therefore it remains a King and Regent in the old corrupted and kindled Body of Nature; and the clear Deity remains hidden in the meek Heaven.
But the Light of the Meekness of the Sun qualifies, mixes, or unites with the pure Deity; but the Heat cannot comprehend the Light, and therefore also the Place of the Sun remains in the Body of God's Wrath, and thou must not worship, pray to or honour the Sun as God, for its Place or Body cannot apprehend the Water of Life, because of its Fierceness.
The highest Ground of the SUN, and of ALL the PLANETS.
And
here I shall have Adversaries enough who shall be ready to censure me, for they will not have regard to consider the Spirit, but will mind their old Rules, and say: Astrologers understand it better, who have wrote of such Matters; and they will look on the great open Gate, as a Cow looks on a new Barn-Door.
Dear Reader, I understand the Astrologers Meanings and Sayings full well, and I have perused their Writings also, and taken Notice how they describe the Course of the Sun and Stars, neither do I despise it, but hold that for the most Part to be good and right.
But that I write otherwise than they in some Things, I do it not out of Self-will or Conceit, and Supposition, doubting whether it be so or no. I dare not make any Doubt herein, neither can any Man instruct me herein.
I have not my Knowledge by Study; indeed I have read the Order and Position of the seven Planets in the Books of Astrologers, and find them to be very right; but the Root, how they came to be, and from what they are proceeded, I cannot learn from any Man; for they know it not, neither was I present when God created them.
But seeing the Doors of the Deep, and the Gates of Wrath, and the Chambers of Death also, are set open in my Spirit through the Love of God, the Spirit therefore must needs look through them. And
accordingly I find, that the Birth or Geniture of Nature stands to this Day, and generates itself just so as it first took its Beginning; and whatsoever rises up in this World, whether Men, Beasts, Trees, Herbs, Grass, mineral Oars, or be they what they will, all rises up in such a Quality, Manner, and Form; also every Life, be it good or bad, takes its Original thus.
For this is the Right or Law of the Deity, that every Life in the Body of God should generate itself in one Manner or uniform Way; though it be done through many various Imaginings, yet the Life has one uniform Way, and Original in all.
I see not this Knowledge with my fleshly Eyes, but with those Eyes wherein Life generates itself in me; in that Seat the Gates of Heaven and Hell stand open to me, and the new Man speculates into the Midst or Center of the astral Birth or Geniture, and to him the inner and outermost Gate stands open.
While he yet sticks in the old Man of Wrath and Death, and fits also in his Heaven, he sees through both; in such a Manner also he sees the Stars and Elements. For in God there is no Place of Hinderance; for the Eye of the LORD beholds all.
Now if my Spirit did not see through his Spirit, then I were but a blind Stock; but seeing I see the Gates of God in my Spirit, and have the Impulse to do it, I will therefore write directly according as I have seen it, and will not regard any Man's Authority.
Thou must not conceive it so, as if my old Man were a living Saint or Angel. No, Friend, he sits with all Men in the House of Wrath and of Death, and is a constant Enemy to God, and sticks in his Sins, Wickedness, and Malice, as all Men do, and is full of Faults, Defects, and Infirmities.
But thou must know this, that he sticks in a continual anxious Birth or Geniture, and would fain be rid of the Wrath and Wickedness, and yet cannot. For he is as the whole House of this World, wherein always Love and Wrath wrestle one with another, and the new Body always generates itself in the Midst or Center of the Anguish. For so it must be, if thou wilt be born anew, otherwise no Man can reach the Regeneration.
Man is always seeking here for soft Days of Ease for the Flesh, and after Riches, Beauty, and Bravery, and knows not, that he sits therewith in the Chamber of Death, where the Sting of Wrath darts into him.
Behold! I tell this to thee, as a Word of Life, which I receive in the Knowledge of the Spirit, in the Midst or Center in the Birth or Geniture of the new Body of this World, over which the Man JESUS CHRIST is Ruler and King, together with his Eternal Father.
Also I receive it from before the Seat of his Throne, where all holy Souls of Men stand before him, and rejoice before him; that the Desire of the Flesh in soft Pleasures, to be rich, to be handsome, beautiful and fair, or to be mighty or potent, is a very Bath or Lake of hellish Wrath, into which thou crowdest and runnest, as if thou wert drawn in with Cart-ropes; for there is very great Danger therein.
But if thou wouldst know how it is, behold, I will tell thee in a Parable or Similitude. When thou art pressed, according to the Desire of thy Heart, into Riches and Power, then is it with thee, as if thou stoodst in a deep Water, where the Water always stands up to thy Mouth, and thou feelest no Ground under thy Feet, but thou swimmet with thy Hands, and struggling with thyself art floating, suddenly thou art deep in Water, suddenly above Water again, yet always in a great Terror and Danger, expecting to sink down to the Bottom; the Water coming often into thy Mouth, always expecting Death by being drowned.
Just in this manner thou settest, and no other, when thou art in the Pleasures of the Flesh; if thou wilt not fight, thou canst not look for any Victory, but thou wilt be murdered in thy soft Bed of Down. For Man has a continual Host or Army before him, which fights with him continually; if he will not defend himself, then he is taken captive and slain.
But how can he defend himself, that swims in a deep Water? He has enough to do, to keep himself up struggling and floating in the Water; and yet nevertheless he is there also assaulted and stormed by the Devils.
O Danger upon Danger! as our King Christ also saith; "It is very hard for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. A Camel will easier go through the Eye of a Needle, than a rich Man enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." [Math. 19:21. Mark 10:25.]
But if any will be new born again, he must not yield himself to be a Servant to Covetousness, Pride, State and Self-power, to take delight in the Will or Desires of his Flesh, but he must struggle and fight against himself, against the Devil, and against all the Lusts of the Flesh, and he must think and consider that he is but a Servant and Pilgrim on Earth, who must wander through many miserable Seas of Danger into Of the Sun and the other Planets.
Now observe,
The S UN has its own royal Place to itself, and does not go away from that Place, where it came to be at the first; as some suppose, that it runs round about the Globe of the Earth in a Day and a Night; and some of the Astrologers also write so, and some have undertaken to measure, how far its Orb and Circumference of its supposed Motion is. [Sol.]
This Opinion or Supposition is not right, but the Earth rolls itself about; and runs with the other Planets, as in a Wheel, round about the Sun. The Earth does not remain staying in one Place, but runs round in a Year once about the Sun, as the other Planets next the Sun, but Saturn and Jupiter, as also Mars, by reason of their great Orb, Circumference, and great Height, cannot do it, because they stand so high above, and far distant from the Sun. [Sol.] [Saturn, Jupiter, Mars.] [Venus, Mercury.]
Now it may be asked, what is the SUN, and what are the other PLANETS? Or how are they come to be?
Behold! the other Planets are peculiar Bodies of their own, which have a corporal Propriety of themselves, and are not bound to any settled or fixed Place, but only to their Circle, Orb, or Sphere wherein they run their Course. But the SUN is not such a Body, but is only a Place or Locality kindled by the Light of God.
Understand it right.
The Place, where the SUN is, is such a Place as you may choose or suppose any where above the Earth; and if God should kindle the Light by the Heat, then the whole World would be such a mere SUN; for that same Power, wherein the Sun stands, is every where all over; and before the Time of Wrath, it was every where all over in the Place of this World, as Light as the Sun is now, but not so intolerable.
For that Heat was not so great as in the Sun, and therefore the Light also was very meek, and thus in respect of the horrible Fierceness of the Sun, the Sun is differenced or distinguished from the Meekness of God. So that Man should not dare to say, that the Sun is an open Gate of the Light of God; but is as the Light in a Man's Eye, whereas also the Place of the Eye belongs to the Body, but the Light is different or distinct from the Body. And
though indeed it exits by the Heat in the Water of the Body, yet it has a peculiar, distinct Thing, which the Body cannot comprehend; and such a distinct Difference there is also between God the Father and the Son.
Thus on the fourth Day, in the anxious Birth or Geniture of this World, in the middle Point or Center of this World, the SUN is sprung up and stands still in its eternal corporeal Place, for it cannot rise up in one Place, and set in another.
For it is the only and sole natural Light of this World, and besides it, there is no more any true Light in the House of Death; and though it seems as if the other Stars did shine bright and give Light also, yet it is not so, but they take all their Luster and shining Light from the Sun; as hereafter presented follows.
The true Birth, or Geniture and Descent of the Sun and of the other Planets, is just thus as follows.
Now when the Heaven was made for a Distinction, or Partition between the Light of God and the kindled Corruption of the Body of this World, then was the Body of this World a dark Valley, and had no Light that could have shone forth in the outward Body, besides the Heaven; there stood all Powers as it were captivated in Death, and were in great Anguish, till they had heated themselves in the Midst or Center of the Body.
But when this was done, so that the anxious Birth or Geniture stood so severely in the Heat, then the Love in the Light of God broke through the Heaven of the Partition, and kindled the Heat.
And there rose up the shining Light in the Heat, in the Water, or Oiliness of the Water, and the Heart of the Water kindled itself, and this was done in the Twinkling of an Eye.
For as soon as the Light had rightly laid hold on the Body, the Body was captivated in the Light; and the Heat was captivated, and was changed into a competent Meekness, and could stand or extend no further in such Anguish.
But seeing the Heat was so terrified by the Light, thereupon its horrible Fire-source was allayed, and so could kindle itself no further; and so also the Breaking through of the Love in the Light of God through the Heaven at this Time, with its Breaking through, extended or stretched itself no further out of, or from God's predestinated Purpose; therefore also the SUN came to be no bigger.
Of the Planet Mars.
But when the Sun was kindled, then the horrible Fire-crack went forth upwards from the Place of the Sun, distant from the Place of the Sun, as a horrible tempestuous Flash, and in its corporeal Being took along with it the Fierceness of the Fire, whereby the Water became very bitter, and the Water is the Kernel or Stock of the Crack.
Now the Astrologers write of the Distance the Planet Mars stands aloft off from the Sun; which I contradict not, because I meddle not with the measuring of Circles. And so far that Fire-crack went on a sudden from its own Place till the Light also laid hold on it, and then it also was captivated by the Light, and staid, and took Possession of that Place.
But that the Light could lay no sooner hold of it, was caused by the earnest Fierceness and sudden Flash, for it was not taken hold of by the Light, before the Light had wholly or thoroughly affected or possessed it.
And there it is now as a Tyrant, Rager, and Stirrer of the whole Body of this World; for that is its very Office, that with its Revolution in the Wheel of Nature it moves and stirs all, from whence every Life takes its Original.
Of the Planet Jupiter.
Now when the bitter Fire-crack was captivated by the Light, then the Light in its own Power pressed yet higher in the Deep, till it reached into the hard and cold Seat of Nature. And there the Power of the first going forth, or rising up from the Sun, could not get higher, but fitting, stayed there corporeally, and took Possession of that Place for a Habitation.
But thou must understand this Thing right.
It was the Power of the Light, which stayed in this Place, which is a very meek, friendly, gracious, amiable, blessed and sweet Being. The Astrologers write of the Distance this Planet is above Mars. But it is the Mitigator of the destroying, furious, raging, raving Mars, and an Original of the Meekness in every Life, an Original also of the Water, from which the Life generates itself, as I shall mention hereafter.
Thus far the Power of the Life reached forth from the Sun, and not higher; but the Lustre or Shining thereof, which has its Power also, reaches even to the Stars, and through the whole Body of this World.
But thou must understand this exactly, from whence these two Planets are come to be.
When the Power of the Heart of God pressed forth out of the eternal inexhaustible Fountain of the Water of Life through the Heaven of the Partition, and kindled the Water in the Place of the Sun, then the Flash, understand the Fire-flash, did shoot forth or went forth out of the Water, which was very terrible and bitter, out of which Mars came to be.
After this Flash the Power of the Light shot nimbly after it, like a meek elevated Life, and overtook the Fire-crack, and mitigated it, so that it became somewhat weaker, and could break no farther through the Deep, but stayed trembling.
But the Power that was gone forth in the Light had more Strength than the Fire-crack, and so it rose up higher than the Fire-crack, Mars, till it came very deep into Nature's Austereness, and there it became feeble also, and stayed there.
From or out of this Power the Planet Jupiter came to be, and not out of or from that Place where he is, but it always kindles that very Place with its Power; but it is as one of the household Servants in that Place, who must always walk about in the Place of its Office and Service. But the Sun has a House of its own; but no other Planet has any House of its own.
If we will rightly search into the Original of the Stars Birth and Geniture, or their Beginning, then we may exactly know the Birth or Geniture of the Life, viz. how the Life generates itself in a Body; for these all are one Kind of Birth or Geniture.
He that does not know nor understand this, he does not at all know the Birth of the Stars, for all concreted together is one Body. Every Creature, when Life is once generated in it, then afterwards its Life stands or subsists in its Body, as the Birth or Geniture of the Natural Body of this World does, for every Life must be generated according to the Right, Law, or Ordinance of the Deity, as the Deity generates itself continually.
If this be rightly considered, which indeed cannot be done, without a special Illumination of the holy God, then first of all a Man finds the astringent, cold and austere Birth or Geniture, which is the Cause of the corporal Nature, or of the Imaging, Fashioning, or Framing of a thing.
Now if it was not for this severe, and cold sharp contracting, compacting Power, there would be no natural or corporeal Being, neither could the Birth or Geniture of God subsist, and all would be unsearchable.
But in this hard, severe, and cold Power, stands the corporeal Being, or the Body wherein the Spirit of Life is generated; and out of that same Spirit the Light and Understanding is generated, whereby then the Senses, and Trial or Probation of all Powers, exist.
For when the Light is generated, it is generated in the Midst or Center of the Body, as a Heart or Spirit out of all Powers, and there it stands and remains in the Place where it had its Beginning, and goes forth through all the Powers.
For as it is generated out of all Powers, and has the Fountain of all Powers, so with its shining Lustre also, it brings the Fountain of all Powers into each Power, from whence then exits the Taste and Smell, also Seeing, Feeling, and Hearing; as also Reason and Understanding.
Now as the Original and Beginning of the Life in a Creature is, so is the first Regeneration of the Nature of the new Life in the corrupt Body of this World. And he that denies it, he has not the true Understanding, nor any Knowledge of Nature, and so his Knowledge is not generated in God, but he is a Mocker of God. For,
I. Behold! thou canst not deny it, that the Life in a Creature exists in the Heat of the Heart, and in that Life also stands the Light of the animated or soulish Birth or Geniture.
Now the Heart signifies the Sun, which is the Beginning of Life in this outward Body of this World. And now thou canst not say, that the animated or soulish Birth goes away or departs from the Heart, whilst the Body stands in the Mobility or Life.
No more does the Sun go away or depart from its Seat, but retains and keeps its own Place, as a Heart, to itself, and shines forth as a Light, or as a Spirit of the whole Body of this World, in all Powers of the Body.
For its Birth also has a Beginning out of all Powers, and therefore with its Light and Heat it is again one Spirit and Heart in the whole Body of this World. And
II. Thou canst not deny neither, but that the Gall in a Creature is not exited from the Heart, and yet is the Mobility or Stirring of the Heart, by a Vein that goes from the Gall to the Heart, from whence the Heat exists. But it has its first Original from the Flash of Life, and so when the Life generates itself in the Heart, and the Light rises up in the Water, then the Fire-crack goes before, which rises up out of the Anxiety of the Water in the Heat.
For when Heat is so anxious in the cold in the astringent Quality, that the Light kindles itself through the hidden Heaven of the Heart in the Corporiety, then the anxious Death in the Wrath of God is terrified, and departs as a Crack or Flash from the Light, and climbs upwards very terribly, trembling, and timorously, and the Light of the Heart hastens after it, and affects or possesses it, and then it remains sitting still. And
this is, and signifies the Planet Mars, for thus it is become a Being, and its own Quality is nothing else but a poisonous, venomous, bitter Fire-crack, which is risen up from the Place of the Sun.
But now it is always a Kindler of the Sun, just as the Gall of the Heart, whence the Heat both in the Sun and in the Heart exists, and whence the Life takes its Original in all Things.
III. Thou canst not deny, but that the Brain in the Head in a Creature is the Power of the Heart, for from the Heart all Powers rise up into the Brain, from whence, in the Brain, the Senses of the Heart exist. The Brain in the Head takes its Original from the Power of the Heart.
Now observe,
After the Fire-crack of the Gall, or Mars, was departed from the Light of Life, then the Power pressed out of the Heart through the Light of Life after it, even into the Head into the austere Quality, and when the Power can rise up no higher, then it is stayed or captivated by the austere Birth, and is dried up by the cold.
Now here it stays, and qualifies, mixes, or unites with the Spirit of Life in the Heart, and is a royal Seat of the Spirit of the Heart, for thus far the Spirit of the Heart's Power presses forth, and there is it approved.
For the Brain fits in the severe Birth or Geniture, and in its own Body it is the meek Power of the Heart, and signifies the new Birth which is new regenerated in Of the Planet Saturn.
the Midst or Center of the Austereness of Death and Wrath, in its Heaven, and presses forth through death into Life.
For there the Spirit or the Thoughts become a whole creaturely Person again, through the affecting or provings of all Powers, which in Man I call the animated or soul's Birth.
For when the new Spirit in the Brain is well settled, then it goes to its Mother again, into the Heart, and then it stands as a perfect Spirit or Will, or as a new born Person, which in Man is called the Soul.
Now behold! as the Brain in Man is a Being and Product, so is the Planet Jupiter also a being and Product; for it has his Original from the Rising up of Life, from the Power which is risen up out of the Water of Life, out of the Place of the Sun, through the Light.
And that Power is risen up so high, that it is caught or captivated again in or by the austere, hard, and cold Power, and there it remains at a Stand, and by the first Revolution, or Going forth, is become corporeal, and became exsiccated or dried by the austere and cold Power.
And it is rightly the Brain in the corporeal Government of this World, from whence the Senses and Reason are generated, also all Meekness and Wisdom in natural Things; but the right and holy Spirit in Man, is generated in the hidden Heaven in the Water of Life.
The outward Jupiter is only the Meekness and Understanding in the outward Comprehensibility or palpable Things; but the holy Fountain or Well-spring is incomprehensible and unsearchable or unfathomable to outward Reason. For the astral Birth or Geniture stands with the Root in the holy Heaven, and with the Corporeity in the Wrath.