cannot choose but write it thus down, and let his will be done, who will have it so. 152. Although the devil will raise scorners and mockers to vilify it, I do not much regard that; I am satisfied with this gracious, amiable and blessed revelation of God; they may mock so long till they find it by experience with eternal shame, then the fountain of remorse or shame will surely gnaw them. 153. Also I have not gone up to heaven, and beheld it with my fleshly eyes, much less hath any told it me; for though an angel should come and tell it me, yet I could not apprehend or conceive it without enlightenment from God, much less believe it. 154. For I should always stand in doubt, whether it were a good angel sent of God or no, seeing the devil can transform or clothe himself in the form of an angel of light, to seduce men. [2 Cor. xi. 14.] 155. But because it is generated in the centre or circle of life, as a bright shining light, like unto the heavenly birth or rising up of the Holy Ghost, with a fiery driving or impulse of the spirit, therefore I cannot resist or withstand it, though the world always make a mock of me for it. 156. The spirit testifieth that there is yet a very little time remaining, and then the flash in the whole circle of this world will rise up, to which end this spirit is a forerunner, Messenger and proclaimer of the day. 157. Then whatsoever man is not found in the birth of the Holy Ghost at that time, in him the birth will never rise at all, but he abideth in the quality or source of darkness, as a dead, hard flintstone, in which the source or quality of fierceness, wrath and corruption riseth up eternally. 158. There he will be a mocker eternally in the birth of the hellish abomination: for whatsoever quality the tree is of, such also is its fruit. 159. Thou livest between heaven and hell, into whichsoever thou sowest, in that thou shalt reap also, and that will be thy food in eternity: If thou sowest scorn and contempt, thou wilt also reap scorn and contempt, and that will be thy food. 160. Therefore, O Child of man! have a care, trust not too much upon worldly wisdom, it is blind, and is born blind; but when the flash of life is generated therein, then it is no more blind, but seeth. 161. For Christ saith [John iii. 3,7],"You must be born anew, or else you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." 162. Truly it must be generated in such a manner in the Holy Ghost: which riseth up in the sweet spring or fountainwater of the heart, in the flash. 163. Therefore hath Christ ordained or instituted the Baptism or New Birth or Regeneration of the Holy Ghost, in the water, because the birth of the light riseth up in the sweet water in the heart. 164. Which is a very great Mystery, and hath been also kept secret from all men since the beginning of the world till now: which I will demonstrate and describe plainly in its due place.
Now observe the Form and Posture of Heaven. 165. When thou beholdest this world thou hast a type of heaven. I. The stars signify or denote the angels: for as the stars must continue unaltered till the end of this time, so the angels also in the eternal time of heaven must remain unaltered for ever. 166. II. The elements signify or denote the wonderful proportion, variety, change and alteration of the form and posture of heaven: For as the deep * between the stars and earth always alter and change in their form, suddenly it is fair, bright and light, suddenly it is lowery and dark, now wind, then rain, now snow, suddenly the deep is blue or azure, suddenly greenish, by and by whitish, then suddenly again dusky. * " For as the deep," etc. Or, " For as the deep between the stars and the earth always changeth in its form, being now fair and bright, now dull [or dark]; now [there is] wind, now rain, now snow; now is the deep azure, now greenish, now whitish, or again dark." 167. Thus also is the change and alteration of heaven into many several colours and forms, but not in such a manner and kind as in this world, but all according to the rising up of the spirits of God, and the light of the Son of God shineth therein eternally: But the rising up in the birth differs in the degrees more at one time than at another. Therefore the wonderful wisdom of God is incomprehensible. 168. III. The earth signifieth or denoteth the heavenly nature, or the seventh spirit of nature, in which the ideas or images, forms and colours rise up.
cannot choose but write it thus down, and let his will be done, who will have it so. 152. Although the devil will raise scorners and mockers to vilify it, I do not much regard that; I am satisfied with this gracious, amiable and blessed revelation of God; they may mock so long till they find it by experience with eternal shame, then the fountain of remorse or shame will surely gnaw them. 153. Also I have not gone up to heaven, and beheld it with my fleshly eyes, much less has any told it me; for though an angel should come and tell it me, yet I could not apprehend or conceive it without enlightenment from God, much less believe it. 154. For I should always stand in doubt, whether it were a good angel sent of God or no, seeing the devil can transform or clothe himself in the form of an angel of light, to seduce men. [2 Cor. xi. 14.] 155. But because it is generated in the centre or circle of life, as a bright shining light, like unto the heavenly birth or rising up of the Holy Ghost, with a fiery driving or impulse of the spirit, therefore I cannot resist or withstand it, though the world always make a mock of me for it. 156. The spirit testifies that there is yet a very little time remaining, and then the flash in the whole circle of this world will rise up, to which end this spirit is a forerunner, Messenger and proclaimer of the day. 157. Then whatsoever man is not found in the birth of the Holy Ghost at that time, in him the birth will never rise at all, but he abides in the quality or source of darkness, as a dead, hard flintstone, in which the source or quality of fierceness, wrath and corruption rises up eternally. 158. There he will be a mocker eternally in the birth of the hellish abomination: for whatsoever quality the tree is of, such also is its fruit. 159. You livest between heaven and hell, into whichsoever you sowest, in that you shall reap also, and that will be your food in eternity: If you sowest scorn and contempt, you will also reap scorn and contempt, and that will be your food. 160. Therefore, O Child of man! have a care, trust not too much upon worldly wisdom, it is blind, and is born blind; but when the flash of life is generated therein, then it is no more blind, but sees. 161. For Christ says [John iii. 3,7],"You must be born anew, or else you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." 162. Truly it must be generated in such a manner in the Holy Ghost: which rises up in the sweet spring or fountainwater of the heart, in the flash. 163. Therefore has Christ ordained or instituted the Baptism or New Birth or Regeneration of the Holy Ghost, in the water, because the birth of the light rises up in the sweet water in the heart. 164. Which is a very great Mystery, and has been also kept secret from all men since the beginning of the world till now: which I will demonstrate and describe plainly in its due place.
Now observe the Form and Posture of Heaven. 165. When you behold this world you have a type of heaven. I. The stars signify or denote the angels: for as the stars must continue unaltered till the end of this time, so the angels also in the eternal time of heaven must remain unaltered for ever. 166. II. The elements signify or denote the wonderful proportion, variety, change and alteration of the form and posture of heaven: For as the deep * between the stars and earth always alter and change in their form, suddenly it is fair, bright and light, suddenly it is lowery and dark, now wind, then rain, now snow, suddenly the deep is blue or azure, suddenly greenish, by and by whitish, then suddenly again dusky. * " For as the deep," etc. Or, " For as the deep between the stars and the earth always changes in its form, being now fair and bright, now dull [or dark]; now [there is] wind, now rain, now snow; now is the deep azure, now greenish, now whitish, or again dark." 167. Thus also is the change and alteration of heaven into many several colours and forms, but not in such a manner and kind as in this world, but all according to the rising up of the spirits of God, and the light of the Son of God shines therein eternally: But the rising up in the birth differs in the degrees more at one time than at another. Therefore the wonderful wisdom of God is incomprehensible. 168. III. The earth signifies or denots the heavenly nature, or the seventh spirit of nature, in which the ideas or images, forms and colours rise up.
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