17. But seeing the light in the outermost birth was extinguished, the heat also was captivated in the comprehensibility or palpability, and could no more generate its life. From thence death came into nature, so that nature or the corrupt earth could no more help it, and thereupon another creation of light must needs follow, or else the earth would have been an eternal indissolvable death; but now the earth generateth or bringeth forth fruit in the power and kindling of the created light. Now one might ask, What is the condition then of this twofold birth or geniture? Is God then extinguished in the kindling of the wrathfire, in the place of this world, so that nothing else is there but a mere wrathfire? Or is the one only God become a twofold God? Answer. 18. Thou canst not better comprehend, apprehend or understand this, than in and by thy own body, which, through the first fall of Adam with all its [the body's] birth or geniture, fitness, faculties and will, is become just such a house as the place of this world is come to be. 19. First, thou hast the bestial flesh, which is come to be so through the lustful longing bite of the apple, for it is the house of corruption. For when Adam was made out of the corrupted Salitter of the earth, that is, out of the seed, or mass, or lump which the Creator extracted out of the corrupted earth, he was not then at first such flesh, else his body had been created mortal, but he had an angelical powerbody, in which he should have subsisted eternally, and should have eaten angelical fruit, which did grow for him in Paradise before his fall, before the LORD cursed the earth.
20. But seeing the seed, or mass, or lump, out of which Adam was made, was somewhat infected with the corrupt disease or malady of the devil, Adam therefore longed after his mother, that is, to eat of the fruit of the corrupted earth, which then in its outward comprehensibility was become so evil, and in the wrathfire was become so hard, palpable and comprehensible. 21. But seeing Adam's spirit longed after that fruit which was of the quality of the corrupted earth, therefore also nature formed or framed such a tree for him as was like the corrupted earth. 22. For Adam was the heart in nature, and therefore his animated or soulish spirit did help to image, fashion or form this tree, of which he would fain eat. 23. But when the devil saw that the lust was in Adam, then he stung confidently at the Salitter in Adam, and infected yet more and more the Salitter out of which Adam was made. 24. Then it was time that the Creator should frame a wife for him, who afterwards set the sin on work, and did eat of the false, evil or corrupt fruit. Else if Adam had eaten of the tree before the woman had been made out of him, then it would have been far worse than it is. 25. But seeing this requireth a high and deep description, as also requireth much room, therefore seek for it concerning the fall of Adam, where you will find it largely described. So now I return to the forementioned Similitude. 26. Now when Adam did eat of the fruit, which was good and evil, then he suddenly gat such a body also. The fruit was corrupt or perished, and palpable, as to this day all fruits now on earth are; and so such a fleshly and palpable or comprehensible body Adam and Eve gat instantly. 27. But now the flesh is not the whole man; for this flesh cannot comprehend or apprehend the Deity, else the flesh were not mortal and corruptible, or fading and transitory; for Christ saith, [John vi. 63]: It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. [the spirit is the life] 28. For this flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, but is only a seed which is sown into the earth, out of which will grow an impalpable or incomprehensible body, such as the first was before the fall. But the spirit is eternal life, which uniteth, qualifieth or mixeth with God, and comprehendeth the internal Deity in nature. 29. Now as man in his outward being is corrupted, and as to his fleshly birth or geniture is in the wrath of God, and is moreover also an enemy of God, and yet is but one man, and not two; and on the other hand, in his spiritual birth or geniture he is a child and heir of God, who ruleth and liveth with God, and qualifieth, mixeth or uniteth with the innermost birth or geniture of God; thus also is the place of this world come to be. 30. The outward comprehensibility or palpability in the whole nature of this world, and of all things which are therein, standeth all in the wrathfire of God, for it is become thus through the kindling of nature; and lord Lucifer with his angels hath his dwelling now in the same outward birth or geniture which standeth in the wrathfire.
17. But seeing the light in the outermost birth was extinguished, the heat also was captivated in the comprehensibility or palpability, and could no more generate its life. From thence death came into nature, so that nature or the corrupt earth could no more help it, and thereupon another creation of light must needs follow, or else the earth would have been an eternal indissolvable death; but now the earth generats or brings forth fruit in the power and kindling of the created light. Now one might ask, What is the condition then of this twofold birth or geniture? Is God then extinguished in the kindling of the wrathfire, in the place of this world, so that nothing else is there but a mere wrathfire? Or is the one only God become a twofold God? Answer. 18. You can not better comprehend, apprehend or understand this, than in and by your own body, which, through the first fall of Adam with all its [the body's] birth or geniture, fitness, faculties and will, is become just such a house as the place of this world is come to be. 19. First, you have the bestial flesh, which is come to be so through the lustful longing bite of the apple, for it is the house of corruption. For when Adam was made out of the corrupted Salitter of the earth, that is, out of the seed, or mass, or lump which the Creator extracted out of the corrupted earth, he was not then at first such flesh, else his body had been created mortal, but he had an angelical powerbody, in which he should have subsisted eternally, and should have eaten angelical fruit, which did grow for him in Paradise before his fall, before the LORD cursed the earth.
20. But seeing the seed, or mass, or lump, out of which Adam was made, was somewhat infected with the corrupt disease or malady of the devil, Adam therefore longed after his mother, that is, to eat of the fruit of the corrupted earth, which then in its outward comprehensibility was become so evil, and in the wrathfire was become so hard, palpable and comprehensible. 21. But seeing Adam's spirit longed after that fruit which was of the quality of the corrupted earth, therefore also nature formed or framed such a tree for him as was like the corrupted earth. 22. For Adam was the heart in nature, and therefore his animated or soulish spirit did help to image, fashion or form this tree, of which he would fain eat. 23. But when the devil saw that the lust was in Adam, then he stung confidently at the Salitter in Adam, and infected yet more and more the Salitter out of which Adam was made. 24. Then it was time that the Creator should frame a wife for him, who afterwards set the sin on work, and did eat of the false, evil or corrupt fruit. Else if Adam had eaten of the tree before the woman had been made out of him, then it would have been far worse than it is. 25. But seeing this requires a high and deep description, as also requires much room, therefore seek for it concerning the fall of Adam, where you will find it largely described. So now I return to the forementioned Similitude. 26. Now when Adam did eat of the fruit, which was good and evil, then he suddenly gat such a body also. The fruit was corrupt or perished, and palpable, as to this day all fruits now on earth are; and so such a fleshly and palpable or comprehensible body Adam and Eve gat instantly. 27. But now the flesh is not the whole man; for this flesh cannot comprehend or apprehend the Deity, else the flesh were not mortal and corruptible, or fading and transitory; for Christ says, [John vi. 63]: It is the spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing. [the spirit is the life] 28. For this flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, but is only a seed which is sown into the earth, out of which will grow an impalpable or incomprehensible body, such as the first was before the fall. But the spirit is eternal life, which unites, qualifies or mixes with God, and comprehends the internal Deity in nature. 29. Now as man in his outward being is corrupted, and as to his fleshly birth or geniture is in the wrath of God, and is moreover also an enemy of God, and yet is but one man, and not two; and on the other hand, in his spiritual birth or geniture he is a child and heir of God, who ruls and lives with God, and qualifies, mixes or unites with the innermost birth or geniture of God; thus also is the place of this world come to be. 30. The outward comprehensibility or palpability in the whole nature of this world, and of all things which are therein, stands all in the wrathfire of God, for it is become thus through the kindling of nature; and lord Lucifer with his angels has his dwelling now in the same outward birth or geniture which stands in the wrathfire.
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