Yet because the History of Joseph, being an Exposition of the last 14 Chapters of Genesis, is so excellent and entire a piece, it may well go as a Third Part of the Mysterium Magnum, as it is here distinctly divided and printed by itself, with a several Title Page, as follows.
1 In the Hebrew.
2 Text, mountainous.
3 Note. -Another place in other writings of his.
THE THIRD PART OF THE
Mysterium Magnum:
BEING
THE MOST EXCELLENT HISTORY OF
JOSEPH,
WHICH IS
The Clearest Figure of the New-Man
Regenerated out of the Earthly Old
ADAM
AND IS
A Looking Glass, wherein everyone may try, examine, and discern what Spirits
Child himself is.
Written by JACOB BEHM , Teutonicus
Beginning at the XXXVII Chapter of Genesis, and the 64 of this Mysterium Magnum, and at the 6 Verse, and ending at the L and last Chapter of Genesis, and the 78 and last Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum.
LONDON, printed by Matthew Simmons. 1654.
Of Esau 's Genealogy
6. THE thirty- seventh chapter,l concerning Joseph, is indeed the most pleasant and excellent figure of the new man regenerate out of the old Adam. Which [new regenerate man] is become a prince over the kingdom of nature, and also a lord over all his Adamical members, being the brethren of the little child Jesus in him; as Joseph became a prince in the whole land of Egypt, and a lord over all his brothers, and whole kindred and family (Gen. xlii. 6). And it shows us very emphatically and pregnantly in its figure in the history, how a man must become such a Joseph; also how it then goes with him, and how the world deals with him, before he be made a prince over the Adamical kingdom of his nature, and that the new man may obtain the government and power over his earthly members: How the devil in the wrath of God does assault the precious lily-twig in the power of God, out of which the chaste Joseph springs, grows, and is brought forth; and first casts him down into the pit of darkness in flesh and blood, and there hides him, that so he might be destitute of all help, comfort and assistance, and be even forced to perish.
7. As Joseph's brethren did to Joseph, even so the earthly members of the old Adam do likewise to this lily-twig of the new birth in the chastity of Christ's spirit; whereat the devil is also busy, and continually stirs up the evil beasts, full of carnal, greedy, and burning lust in flesh and blood, so that they strive to domineer and have the upperhand.
8. Externally, or from without, the devil also brings Potiphar's wife, viz. unchaste lewd people to him, who would fain defile the chaste countenance of the inward ground, and egg on the earthly flesh to feed upon the whoredom of the world, and all lascivious lewdness, wantonness and vanity, and draw the same unto it with the imagination; and bring the new Joseph to commit adultery with
Potiphar's wife. But he must so violently and resolvedly break through, and force his way from thence, that he must be fain to leave his garment, that is, his substance,2 and fly from thence nakedly, and resignedly in spirit and power, that his chaste virginity may abide steadfast before God.
1 Gen. xxxvii.
2 All whatsoever he has, or is.
Yet because the History of Joseph, being an Exposition of the last 14 Chapters of Genesis, is so excellent and entire a piece, it may well go as a Third Part of the Mysterium Magnum, as it is here distinctly divided and printed by itself, with a several Title Page, as follows.
1 In the Hebrew.
2 Text, mountainous.
3 Note. -Another place in other writings of his.
THE THIRD PART OF THE
Mysterium Magnum:
BEING
THE MOST EXCELLENT HISTORY OF
JOSEPH,
WHICH IS
The Clearest Figure of the New-Man
Regenerated out of the Earthly Old
ADAM
AND IS
A Looking Glass, wherein everyone may try, examine, and discern what Spirits
Child himself is.
Written by JACOB BEHM , Teutonicus
Beginning at the XXXVII Chapter of Genesis, and the 64 of this Mysterium Magnum, and at the 6 Verse, and ending at the L and last Chapter of Genesis, and the 78 and last Chapter of the Mysterium Magnum.
LONDON, printed by Matthew Simmons. 1654.
Of Esau 's Genealogy
6. THE thirty- seventh chapter,l concerning Joseph, is indeed the most pleasant and excellent figure of the new man regenerate out of the old Adam. Which [new regenerate man] is become a prince over the kingdom of nature, and also a lord over all his Adamical members, being the brethren of the little child Jesus in him; as Joseph became a prince in the whole land of Egypt, and a lord over all his brothers, and whole kindred and family (Gen. xlii. 6). And it shows us very emphatically and pregnantly in its figure in the history, how a man must become such a Joseph; also how it then goes with him, and how the world deals with him, before he be made a prince over the Adamical kingdom of his nature, and that the new man may obtain the government and power over his earthly members: How the devil in the wrath of God does assault the precious lily-twig in the power of God, out of which the chaste Joseph springs, grows, and is brought forth; and first casts him down into the pit of darkness in flesh and blood, and there hides him, that so he might be destitute of all help, comfort and assistance, and be even forced to perish.
7. As Joseph's brethren did to Joseph, even so the earthly members of the old Adam do likewise to this lily-twig of the new birth in the chastity of Christ's spirit; whereat the devil is also busy, and continually stirs up the evil beasts, full of carnal, greedy, and burning lust in flesh and blood, so that they strive to domineer and have the upperhand.
8. Externally, or from without, the devil also brings Potiphar's wife, viz. unchaste lewd people to him, who would fain defile the chaste countenance of the inward ground, and egg on the earthly flesh to feed upon the whoredom of the world, and all lascivious lewdness, wantonness and vanity, and draw the same unto it with the imagination; and bring the new Joseph to commit adultery with
Potiphar's wife. But he must so violently and resolvedly break through, and force his way from thence, that he must be fain to leave his garment, that is, his substance,2 and fly from thence nakedly, and resignedly in spirit and power, that his chaste virginity may abide steadfast before God.
1 Gen. xxxvii.
2 All whatsoever he has, or is.
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