gave names to every thing, and out of what God spake to Adam, viz. out of the life of the birth; as we speak at this very day: and if we consider ourselves therein, we find the whole ground in heaven and in this world: and we see it well enough with earthly bodily eyes, that it is true: we need no other testimony than the Great Book, heaven and earth, the stars and elements, together with the sun, wherein we well know the similitude of the Deity.
2. And yet a thousand times better, in ourselves, if we know and consider ourselves; for the spirit giveth everything its name, as it standeth in the birth in itself; and as it formed them in the beginning, in the creation, so it also formeth our mouth; and as they are generated out of the eternal Being, and are come to a substance, so the human word goeth also forth out from the centre of the spirit, in shape, property, and form; and it is no other, than that the spirit maketh such a substance, as the creation itself is, when it expresseth the form of the creation.
3. For it formeth the word of the name of a thing, in the mouth; as the thing was in the creation: And hereby we know that we are God's children, and generated of God: for as God from eternity hath had the substance of this world in his Word, which he hath always spoken in his wisdom, so we have it in our word also; and we speak it forth in the wonders of his wisdom.
4. For God is himself the Being of all Beings, and we are as gods in him, through whom he revealeth himself. We see that a beast cannot express, [viz. it cannot give any thing its name according to its property], which is because it cometh not out from the eternity, as man doth;
it bleateth and barketh, as the form of the outbirth of the four elements is, and hath no higher spirit than the elements are, though their flitting senses [or perceptions] are from the constellations, which yet are dumb [or inarticulate], and without comprehension [or expression] of any substance.
5. Now, therefore, we will set before you the ground of the heavens, the stars and elements, fundamentally; that you may yet see what is heavenly, and what is earthly; what is transitory and mortal, and what is eternal and permanent. To which end only we have purposed to ourselves to write this book; not to boast of our high knowledge, which is in God, and is no worldly profit to us, but out of love, in Christ, as a servant, and minister of Christ; to seek the lost sheep of the house of the Israel of God.
6. For the Lord hath both the willing and the doing in his hands; we are able to do nothing; also our earthly reason understandeth nothing: we are yielded into our mother's bosom, and do as the mother sheweth us. We know not of any body else, we are not born with it, from the wisdom of this world; neither do we understand it; but what is bestowed upon us, that we bestow again; and we have no other purpose herein, neither do we know to what end [we must write these high things], but merely what the spirit sheweth us, that we set down.
7. And thus we labour in our vineyard, into which the Master [Or Father] of the house hath put us; hoping also to eat of the pleasant sweet grapes, which indeed we have very often received out of the paradise of God. We will so speak as for [the use of] many, and yet we think we write it but for ourselves; all which is hidden in God: for the fiery driving will have it so, as if we did speak of and for many; and yet I know nothing of it.
8. Therefore if it should happen to be read, let none account it for a work of outward reason;
for it hath proceeded from the inward hidden man, according to which this hand hath written without respect of any person.
9. And therefore we exhort the Reader, that he will enter into himself, and behold himself 'in the inward man; and then we shall be very sweet and acceptable to him; this we speak seriously and faithfully.
gave names to every thing, and out of what God spake to Adam, viz. out of the life of the birth; as we speak at this very day: and if we consider ourselves therein, we find the whole ground in heaven and in this world: and we see it well enough with earthly bodily eyes, that it is true: we need no other testimony than the Great Book, heaven and earth, the stars and elements, together with the sun, wherein we well know the similitude of the Deity.
2. And yet a thousand times better, in ourselves, if we know and consider ourselves; for the spirit gives everything its name, as it stands in the birth in itself; and as it formed them in the beginning, in the creation, so it also forms our mouth; and as they are generated out of the eternal Being, and are come to a substance, so the human word goes also forth out from the centre of the spirit, in shape, property, and form; and it is no other, than that the spirit makes such a substance, as the creation itself is, when it expresses the form of the creation.
3. For it forms the word of the name of a thing, in the mouth; as the thing was in the creation: And hereby we know that we are God's children, and generated of God: for as God from eternity has had the substance of this world in his Word, which he has always spoken in his wisdom, so we have it in our word also; and we speak it forth in the wonders of his wisdom.
4. For God is himself the Being of all Beings, and we are as gods in him, through whom he reveals himself. We see that a beast cannot express, [viz. it cannot give any thing its name according to its property], which is because it comes not out from the eternity, as man does;
it bleats and barks, as the form of the outbirth of the four elements is, and has no higher spirit than the elements are, though their flitting senses [or perceptions] are from the constellations, which yet are dumb [or inarticulate], and without comprehension [or expression] of any substance.
5. Now, therefore, we will set before you the ground of the heavens, the stars and elements, fundamentally; that you may yet see what is heavenly, and what is earthly; what is transitory and mortal, and what is eternal and permanent. To which end only we have purposed to ourselves to write this book; not to boast of our high knowledge, which is in God, and is no worldly profit to us, but out of love, in Christ, as a servant, and minister of Christ; to seek the lost sheep of the house of the Israel of God.
6. For the Lord has both the willing and the doing in his hands; we are able to do nothing; also our earthly reason understands nothing: we are yielded into our mother's bosom, and do as the mother shows us. We know not of any body else, we are not born with it, from the wisdom of this world; neither do we understand it; but what is bestowed upon us, that we bestow again; and we have no other purpose herein, neither do we know to what end [we must write these high things], but merely what the spirit shows us, that we set down.
7. And thus we labour in our vineyard, into which the Master [Or Father] of the house has put us; hoping also to eat of the pleasant sweet grapes, which indeed we have very often received out of the paradise of God. We will so speak as for [the use of] many, and yet we think we write it but for ourselves; all which is hidden in God: for the fiery driving will have it so, as if we did speak of and for many; and yet I know nothing of it.
8. Therefore if it should happen to be read, let none account it for a work of outward reason;
for it has proceeded from the inward hidden man, according to which this hand has written without respect of any person.
9. And therefore we exhort the Reader, that he will enter into himself, and behold himself 'in the inward man; and then we shall be very sweet and acceptable to him; this we speak seriously and faithfully.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.