7. And as Jacob was promised this Rachel for a spouse, for which he consented to keep the sheep seven years, and loved her dearly 2 (Gen. xxix. 19, 20), and yet afterwards, at the wedding, the other sister, with her tender eyes, was laid by him, which he desired not. So it goes also with Christ's children, when they turn to God and apply themselves to be shepherds of Christ's sheep, to take care of them,3 then is the most amiable and beautiful Sophia promised and presented to them, whereat they find joy within them.
1 Or, family. 2 At his heart. 3 Or, provide for them.
8. But when it comes to pass that the soul thinks it will embrace this bride in its arms, and have perfect joy with her, then the other sister, viz. Leah, that is, the cross of Christ, is laid by it, and the beautiful Sophia hides herself and it must first take the cross of Christ for a spouse, and keep the sheep of Christ seven years more for Rachel, viz. For the noble Sophia, before he obtains her for his spouse.
9. For the humanity of Christ does not presently give itself to the fiery soul for its own; but stays indeed in the betrothingl in the inward ground, in the image of the heavenly world's substance, which disappeared in Adam. But God the Father gives the soul instead thereof, the other sister, viz. tenderness of heart, that the soul in this time may not sport in the garden of roses, but be in trouble and calamity, that it may be tried and humble, and always keep the sheep of Christ, and not in this marriage solace themselves in pleasures and pride, as Lucifer did.
10. And though it be so that this noble Rachel or Sophia be given in marriage to the soul, as is done to the stable children of Christ, so that the soul keeps this great wedding of joy with this bride (which they alone understand who have been guests at this wedding), yet afterwards the noble Sophia is as it were barren, the wedding joy passes away, and the soul is as if the love of this bride were taken from it.
11. In the meanwhile (Gen. xxix. 31 et seq.) Leah, under the cross of Christ, breaks forth and bears fruit; that is as much as to say, when the soul receives 2 the spirit of Christ, then begins the great joy of this marriage, concerning which Christ says, There is more joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety-nine righteous that need not this repentance (Luke xv. 7).
12. For that is the wedding of the Lamb, that God and man is married, and Christ is born; and then he stands in our poor and simple form3 in our most inward ground, and hides his great sweetness, which the soul tasted in the marriage, and covers it with his cross; and then must the poor soul in the meanwhile take the tender Leah, viz. patience, and labour with her for fruit in the vineyard of Christ.
13. And it is very well that the soul faulters with this Leah, and then this Rachel in the inward ground of the soul is a stranger, and is as a stranger towards it. As Rachel towards Jacob, when she said to him, Give me4 children, or else I die (Gen. xxx. I). So also the noble Sophia says indeed to the soul, Work [or bring forth] in my lovedesire divine fruit, or else I will depart from you; whereas yet the soul cannot do it in its own power.
1 Or, promise of marriage. 2 As a conception.
3 Condition or disposition. 4 Create.
14. But this is therefore done that the soul may the more earnestly apply itself to prayer, and pray to God for the divine working of the divine fruit. As Jacob prayed to God, so that Rachel was fruitful, and did bear unto him Joseph (Gen. xxx. 22-24), the prince of all the land of Egypt, who preserved, fed, and nourished them in the famine.
15. So also when the noble Sophia seems barren to the soul, as if it could not bring forth the power of God in the soul, and yet the soul mourns to God in patience [praying] that he would work in it and bless it; whereupon the soul often converts in very great repentance, and casts itself upon God's mercy, till this noble Sophia become stirring, fruitful, and pregnant; and so it certainly generates the true Joseph, viz. a lowly, humble, chaste, temperate and modest
7. And as Jacob was promised this Rachel for a spouse, for which he consented to keep the sheep seven years, and loved her dearly 2 (Gen. xxix. 19, 20), and yet afterwards, at the wedding, the other sister, with her tender eyes, was laid by him, which he desired not. So it goes also with Christ's children, when they turn to God and apply themselves to be shepherds of Christ's sheep, to take care of them,3 then is the most amiable and beautiful Sophia promised and presented to them, whereat they find joy within them.
1 Or, family. 2 At his heart. 3 Or, provide for them.
8. But when it comes to pass that the soul thinks it will embrace this bride in its arms, and have perfect joy with her, then the other sister, viz. Leah, that is, the cross of Christ, is laid by it, and the beautiful Sophia hides herself and it must first take the cross of Christ for a spouse, and keep the sheep of Christ seven years more for Rachel, viz. For the noble Sophia, before he obtains her for his spouse.
9. For the humanity of Christ does not presently give itself to the fiery soul for its own; but stays indeed in the betrothingl in the inward ground, in the image of the heavenly world's substance, which disappeared in Adam. But God the Father gives the soul instead thereof, the other sister, viz. tenderness of heart, that the soul in this time may not sport in the garden of roses, but be in trouble and calamity, that it may be tried and humble, and always keep the sheep of Christ, and not in this marriage solace themselves in pleasures and pride, as Lucifer did.
10. And though it be so that this noble Rachel or Sophia be given in marriage to the soul, as is done to the stable children of Christ, so that the soul keeps this great wedding of joy with this bride (which they alone understand who have been guests at this wedding), yet afterwards the noble Sophia is as it were barren, the wedding joy passes away, and the soul is as if the love of this bride were taken from it.
11. In the meanwhile (Gen. xxix. 31 et seq.) Leah, under the cross of Christ, breaks forth and bears fruit; that is as much as to say, when the soul receives 2 the spirit of Christ, then begins the great joy of this marriage, concerning which Christ says, There is more joy in heaven for one sinner that repents, than for ninety-nine righteous that need not this repentance (Luke xv. 7).
12. For that is the wedding of the Lamb, that God and man is married, and Christ is born; and then he stands in our poor and simple form3 in our most inward ground, and hides his great sweetness, which the soul tasted in the marriage, and covers it with his cross; and then must the poor soul in the meanwhile take the tender Leah, viz. patience, and labour with her for fruit in the vineyard of Christ.
13. And it is very well that the soul faulters with this Leah, and then this Rachel in the inward ground of the soul is a stranger, and is as a stranger towards it. As Rachel towards Jacob, when she said to him, Give me4 children, or else I die (Gen. xxx. I). So also the noble Sophia says indeed to the soul, Work [or bring forth] in my lovedesire divine fruit, or else I will depart from you; whereas yet the soul cannot do it in its own power.
1 Or, promise of marriage. 2 As a conception.
3 Condition or disposition. 4 Create.
14. But this is therefore done that the soul may the more earnestly apply itself to prayer, and pray to God for the divine working of the divine fruit. As Jacob prayed to God, so that Rachel was fruitful, and did bear unto him Joseph (Gen. xxx. 22-24), the prince of all the land of Egypt, who preserved, fed, and nourished them in the famine.
15. So also when the noble Sophia seems barren to the soul, as if it could not bring forth the power of God in the soul, and yet the soul mourns to God in patience [praying] that he would work in it and bless it; whereupon the soul often converts in very great repentance, and casts itself upon God's mercy, till this noble Sophia become stirring, fruitful, and pregnant; and so it certainly generates the true Joseph, viz. a lowly, humble, chaste, temperate and modest
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