and the second dominion should continue in its own place (in the noble tincture) in paradise, and should open the great wonders in the third: And therefore man was made lord over all things; he had the tincture [or life] of the earth in his own hand [or power], and gold and silver were as easy for him to find as any other visible thing: The tincture of the earth was his ornament and sport, altogether child-like, without covetousness; he needed no other clothing; and as the gold was pure without dross so was his child-like mind also.
48. But the devil awakened unto him the sulphur [or gross matter] therein, and hath set the bestial spirit in the superior dominion in him; that which man should have ruled over, ruleth over him, and that is his Fall.
49. Thus now the devil hath gotten power, inasmuch as the outward dominion is generated out of the inward, [viz. the centre of nature], and that he dwelleth in the most innermost, and so he slideth out of the innermost into the outermost, and kindleth the outermost in the mind; from whence arise false lusts and inclinations, and evil concupiscence, so that two dominions [viz. the inward and the outward] strive against the soul; and so the poor soul is in the midst between the dominion of this world, and the dominion of the hellish source [or quality], and there it standeth before the gate of heaven, in a very great deep, in great danger; its root is the anger of God and hell-fire; and its superior or predominant spirit is the dominion of this world; and there it standeth in the tincture of the fire, in the midst; and whithersoever it inclineth, thither it entereth; if it goeth into the lust and pleasure of this world, then it standeth therein, and is captivated by the devil; but if it entereth into itself inwards into God, then the devil will buffet it, for then it is in his country.
50. But when it getteth the flesh of Christ for a new body, then it is not in his country: that is a tree before him, which is poison and death to him: at which he is vexed, and loath to touch it: But he stirreth up his servants and ministers against the outward body, that must bear reproach and scorn, that thereby he may cover and hide this tree, that it may not be known; else it might bring forth more branches, whereupon at last hell would be too narrow for him; therefore he will prevent it as long as he can.
51. And so now, when the poor soul breaketh away from him, and with its dear bridegroom Christ turneth to the love of God, so that through earnest Repentance and turning into God, it entereth into the will of God; yet then the devil hath seven cords still, with each of which he holdeth it fast, before he will let it go; and then it must get itself through all the seven, and leave his cords wholly to himself. [These seven bands are the seven spirits of nature hereafter mentioned.]
52. And eighthly, it must go through the fire, and there is the earnest severe proba, or hard trial; and when it is come through, it getteth the heavenly tincture in the ninth number, and in the tenth number, upon the cross, it getteth the body of Christ, and so is an angel in heaven, and a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, in this tabernacle.
53. The seven snares wherewith it is entangled, are the seven spirits of the outward nature of the dominion of this world: these it must wind through, and press quite through them, and cast them all behind it; and in the eighth number standeth Moses, with his Law; and there is first read to the soul, what a fine fowl it was; and there cometh the devil with his register or catalogue, and readeth what it is, and sheweth his right to it: and there it is directed to bow down and lay hold on the wounds and passion of Christ: and here it is necessary that the poor soul take hold on the merits and death of Christ, and wrap itself fast therein, for out of these swaddling bands the devil cannot pull the soul; nay, he dare not touch them: and here the devil must leave the soul, for Christ standeth in the fire of the Father's anger, and is the accomplishment of obedience; and there the soul is brought into the ninth form, into the tincture of the eternal
and the second dominion should continue in its own place (in the noble tincture) in paradise, and should open the great wonders in the third: And therefore man was made lord over all things; he had the tincture [or life] of the earth in his own hand [or power], and gold and silver were as easy for him to find as any other visible thing: The tincture of the earth was his ornament and sport, altogether child-like, without covetousness; he needed no other clothing; and as the gold was pure without dross so was his child-like mind also.
48. But the devil awakened unto him the sulphur [or gross matter] therein, and has set the bestial spirit in the superior dominion in him; that which man should have ruled over, ruls over him, and that is his Fall.
49. Thus now the devil has gotten power, inasmuch as the outward dominion is generated out of the inward, [viz. the centre of nature], and that he dwells in the most innermost, and so he slids out of the innermost into the outermost, and kindls the outermost in the mind; from whence arise false lusts and inclinations, and evil concupiscence, so that two dominions [viz. the inward and the outward] strive against the soul; and so the poor soul is in the midst between the dominion of this world, and the dominion of the hellish source [or quality], and there it stands before the gate of heaven, in a very great deep, in great danger; its root is the anger of God and hell-fire; and its superior or predominant spirit is the dominion of this world; and there it stands in the tincture of the fire, in the midst; and whithersoever it inclins, thither it enters; if it goes into the lust and pleasure of this world, then it stands therein, and is captivated by the devil; but if it enters into itself inwards into God, then the devil will buffet it, for then it is in his country.
50. But when it getts the flesh of Christ for a new body, then it is not in his country: that is a tree before him, which is poison and death to him: at which he is vexed, and loath to touch it: But he stirrs up his servants and ministers against the outward body, that must bear reproach and scorn, that thereby he may cover and hide this tree, that it may not be known; else it might bring forth more branches, whereupon at last hell would be too narrow for him; therefore he will prevent it as long as he can.
51. And so now, when the poor soul breaks away from him, and with its dear bridegroom Christ turns to the love of God, so that through earnest Repentance and turning into God, it enters into the will of God; yet then the devil has seven cords still, with each of which he holds it fast, before he will let it go; and then it must get itself through all the seven, and leave his cords wholly to himself. [These seven bands are the seven spirits of nature hereafter mentioned.]
52. And eighthly, it must go through the fire, and there is the earnest severe proba, or hard trial; and when it is come through, it getts the heavenly tincture in the ninth number, and in the tenth number, upon the cross, it getts the body of Christ, and so is an angel in heaven, and a stranger and pilgrim upon earth, in this tabernacle.
53. The seven snares wherewith it is entangled, are the seven spirits of the outward nature of the dominion of this world: these it must wind through, and press quite through them, and cast them all behind it; and in the eighth number stands Moses, with his Law; and there is first read to the soul, what a fine fowl it was; and there comes the devil with his register or catalogue, and reads what it is, and shows his right to it: and there it is directed to bow down and lay hold on the wounds and passion of Christ: and here it is necessary that the poor soul take hold on the merits and death of Christ, and wrap itself fast therein, for out of these swaddling bands the devil cannot pull the soul; nay, he dare not touch them: and here the devil must leave the soul, for Christ stands in the fire of the Father's anger, and is the accomplishment of obedience; and there the soul is brought into the ninth form, into the tincture of the eternal
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.