The Signature of All Things — trans. John Ellistone (1651)

34. Now it is commanded the poor Sinner, whom the Anger has chosen to the Condemnation of eternal Death, that he enter into this same Death, and die in Christ's Death to Sin, and then Christ drowns it in his Blood, and chuses him again to be God's Child.

35. Here is the calling: Christ calls us into his Death, into his Dying; this the Sinner will not have: Here is now Strife in the Sinner between the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent; which now overcomes, that conceives the Child: Now the free Will may reach to which it pleases; both Gates stand open to him. Many who are in Christ's Line are also brought through Imagination and Lust, as Adam was, into Iniquity; they are indeed called, but they persevere not in the Election, for the Election is set upon him who departs from Sin; he is elected that dies to Sin in Christ's Death, and rises in Christ's Resurrection, who receives God in Christ, not only in the Mouth, but in divine Desire in the Will and new-Birth, as a new fiery Generation: Knowledge apprehends it not, only the earnest Desire and Breaking of the sinful Will, that apprehends it.

36. Thus there is no sufficient Ground in the Election of Grace as Reason holds it forth: Adam is chosen in Christ; but that many a Twig withers on the Tree, is not the Tree's fault, for it withdraws its Sap from no Twig, only the Twig gives forth itself too eagerly with the Desire; it runs on in Self-Will, viz. it is taken by the Inflammation of the Sun and the Fire, before it can draw Sap again in its Mother, and refresh itself.

37. Thus also Man perishes among the evil Company in evil vain Ways: God offers him his Grace that he should repent; but evil company and the Devil lead him in wicked ways, till he be even too hard captivated in the Anger; and then it goes very hardly with him; he indeed was called, but he is evil; God chuses only Children: Seeing he is evil, the choice passes over him; but if he again reforms and amends, the eternal choice [or Election] does again receive him.

38. Thus says the Scripture, Many are called; but when the Choice in Christ's Suffering and Death comes upon them, then they are not capable of the same, by Reason of the self-ful evil Will which they had before embraced, and so they are not the Elected, but evil Children; and here it is then rightly said, We have piped unto you, but you have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented unto us: O Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thy Children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not: It is not said, thou couldest not, but thou wouldest not; and while they remain in the Iniquity of Sin, they also cannot: God will not cast his Pearl before Swine; but to the Children which draw near to him he gives the Pearl and his Bread.

39. Therefore whoever blames God, despises his Mercy, which he has introduced into the Humanity, and brings the Judgement headlong upon his Body and Soul.

40. Thus I have truly warned the Reader, and set before his Eyes what the Lord of all Beings has given me: He may behold himself in this Looking-Glass both within and without, and find what and who he is: Every Reader shall find his Profit therein, be he either good or evil: It is a very clear Gate of the Mystery of all Beings. With Glosses and Self-Wit none shall apprehend it in its own Ground; but it may well embrace the real Seeker, and create him much Profit and Joy, and even be helpful to him in all natural Things, provided he applies himself right, and seeks it in the Fear of God, seeing it is now a Time of Seeking; for a Lily blossoms upon the mountains and valleys in all the ends of the Earth: He that seeketh findeth. Amen. HALLELUJAH

POSTSCRIPT BY THE TRANSLATOR