the wrath against the meekness, and so both are distinct kingdoms in the one only body of this world. 17. But seeing the love and meekness of God would not leave the body or place of this kindled wrath world sticking in eternal wrath and ignominy, therefore he generated the whole old body of this world again into a rectified reformed body, wherein life did rule in a divine manner and way; though it be in the kindled wrath, yet it must subsist according to the right [law, order] of the Deity, so that out of it a new body might be generated, which should subsist in holiness and purity in eternity. 18. For which cause there is appointed in God a day of separation, on which love and wrath shall be separated asunder. 19. 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. 20. 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 shineth through the deep, then it is as it were of a lightblue or azure colour. 21. But how deep or how large the place of this world is, no man knoweth, though some physicists or astrologers have undertaken to measure the deep with their measures of circles;
their measuring is but conjectural, or a measuring of somewhat that is comprehensible or palpable; as if a man would grasp the wind in his fist. 22. But the true heaven is everywhere all over, to this very time, and till the Last Judgment Day; and the wrathhouse of hell and of death is also in this world everywhere, even to the Last Judgment Day. 23. But the dwelling of the devils is now from the moon to the earth, and in the earth, in the deep caves and holes thereof; especially in wildernesses and desert places, and where the earth is full of stones and bitterness. 24. But their kingly regimen or government is in the deep, in the four coasts or quarters of the equinoctial line or circle, of which I will write in another place. 25. But here I will shew 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. 26. 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 standeth in the midst or centre. 27. 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. * "then further" (nunmehr), "henceforth."
28. For as the seven spirits of God had, before the time of the wrath, generated themselves infinitely by their rising up and by their influences, (whence rose up so many several varieties of figures and heavenly ideas or vegetations), so also the holy God figured 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. 29. Every star hath a several peculiar property, which thou mayest perceive by the curious ornament of the budding, blossoming earth. And the Creator hath 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. 30. Also the new birth blossomed in the time of the creation, when man had not spoiled or corrupted it; but by him nature was still 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. 31. 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 body and the new. And therefore I must let it alone, till I come into the other life, and must give my bestial
the wrath against the meekness, and so both are distinct kingdoms in the one only body of this world. 17. But seeing the love and meekness of God would not leave the body or place of this kindled wrath world sticking in eternal wrath and ignominy, therefore he generated the whole old body of this world again into a rectified reformed body, wherein life did rule in a divine manner and way; though it be in the kindled wrath, yet it must subsist according to the right [law, order] of the Deity, so that out of it a new body might be generated, which should subsist in holiness and purity in eternity. 18. For which cause there is appointed in God a day of separation, on which love and wrath shall be separated asunder. 19. Now when you behold the stars, and the deep, together with the earth, then you seest with your bodily eyes nothing else but the old body in the wrathful death; you can not see heaven with your bodily eyes, for the blue or azure sphere which you seest above is not the heaven, but is only the old body, which may be justly called the corrupted nature. 20. There seems 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 lightblue or azure colour. 21. But how deep or how large the place of this world is, no man knows, though some physicists or astrologers have undertaken to measure the deep with their measures of circles;
their measuring is but conjectural, or a measuring of somewhat that is comprehensible or palpable; as if a man would grasp the wind in his fist. 22. But the true heaven is everywhere all over, to this very time, and till the Last Judgment Day; and the wrathhouse of hell and of death is also in this world everywhere, even to the Last Judgment Day. 23. But the dwelling of the devils is now from the moon to the earth, and in the earth, in the deep caves and holes thereof; especially in wildernesses and desert places, and where the earth is full of stones and bitterness. 24. But their kingly regimen or government is in the deep, in the four coasts or quarters of the equinoctial line or circle, of which I will write in another place. 25. But here I will show you: 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. 26. 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 centre. 27. 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. * "then further" (nunmehr), "henceforth."
28. For as the seven spirits of God had, before the time of the wrath, generated themselves infinitely by their rising up and by their influences, (whence rose up so many several varieties of figures and heavenly ideas or vegetations), so also the holy God figured 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. 29. Every star has a several peculiar property, which you may 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. 30. Also the new birth blossomed in the time of the creation, when man had not spoiled or corrupted it; but by him nature was still 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. 31. 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 body and the new. And therefore I must let it alone, till I come into the other life, and must give my bestial
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