44. Which is even done, if nature be bereaved of its forms and condition. Then must cease in the nature of man the kingdom of God in love, and also the kingdom of God in the might of the fire. So very secretly does the spirit of God delight to play in the figure of regeneration; which exposition will seem strange to reason: but we know what we write here, which is understood by those of our society.
45. And Jacob said, My son Benjamin shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if any mishap hefall him in the way that you travel, you will bring my grey hairs with sorrow of heart into the grave (Gen. xlii. 38). That is, nature is faint, when it must enter into the death of Christ, and is afraid of dying, and will by no means come to it; it excuses itself concerning its heavenly Joseph which it had, viz. the heavenly image, which while it cannot comprehend it, it says, It is dead; now when these my forms and qualities of life in this way shall get mishap again, then must I perish with sorrow of heart, and my life has an end.
The Seventieth Chapter
How Jacob's sons went into Egypt again because of the Famine, to Joseph to buy Corn, and take Benjamin with them. How Joseph caused them to be brought into his House, and to Eat at his Table. What is thereby to be understood [Gen. xliii.]
1. Now this whole chapter prefigures to us the most excellent image, representing how first the outward nature, in this process, when it shall give up its will thereinto, that its life's essences shall go into Egypt, that is, into the death of Christ, is very fearful, timorous, abashed and daunted, and yet in the end is willing and ready that all its forms and conditions of life might enter into the dying of self, viz. into the true Egypt, upon divine confidence, that it brings the will of God with it thereinto.
2. And then [secondly], how the forms and conditions 2 of life are afraid before Joseph, that is, before the face of God, seeing they feel in them an evil conscience: as Jacob's sons were afraid before Joseph, for they thought continually God would punish them for Joseph's sake, at which they trembled.
2 Powers or faculties.
3. And thirdly, how God, with the forms of the soulish nature, carries himself first so friendly, and first gives them heavenly bread of his own substance, and yet but in a strange form: as Joseph invited his brethren for guests, and fed them at his table, that they ate and drank plentifully, and were merry; and afterwards let them go in peace. But presently after came with a terrible trial, in that he caused his cup to be laid into Benjamin's sack, and pursued after them and fetched them back again. All which stands powerfully in the figure ofa repenting sinner, showing how it goes with him, till God in his love gives him to know him.
- 4. Moses' words follow thus: This famine was sore in the land. And when the corn was spent which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, and buy us a little food. Then Judah answered and said, The man obliged and charged us strictly, and said, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Now if you will send our brother with us, then we will go down and buy for you to eat: but if you send him not, we will not go down: for the man has said to us, You shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you (Gen.
- xliii. 1-5).
This figure stands thus:
44. Which is even done, if nature be bereaved of its forms and condition. Then must cease in the nature of man the kingdom of God in love, and also the kingdom of God in the might of the fire. So very secretly does the spirit of God delight to play in the figure of regeneration; which exposition will seem strange to reason: but we know what we write here, which is understood by those of our society.
45. And Jacob said, My son Benjamin shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if any mishap hefall him in the way that you travel, you will bring my grey hairs with sorrow of heart into the grave (Gen. xlii. 38). That is, nature is faint, when it must enter into the death of Christ, and is afraid of dying, and will by no means come to it; it excuses itself concerning its heavenly Joseph which it had, viz. the heavenly image, which while it cannot comprehend it, it says, It is dead; now when these my forms and qualities of life in this way shall get mishap again, then must I perish with sorrow of heart, and my life has an end.
The Seventieth Chapter
How Jacob's sons went into Egypt again because of the Famine, to Joseph to buy Corn, and take Benjamin with them. How Joseph caused them to be brought into his House, and to Eat at his Table. What is thereby to be understood [Gen. xliii.]
1. Now this whole chapter prefigures to us the most excellent image, representing how first the outward nature, in this process, when it shall give up its will thereinto, that its life's essences shall go into Egypt, that is, into the death of Christ, is very fearful, timorous, abashed and daunted, and yet in the end is willing and ready that all its forms and conditions of life might enter into the dying of self, viz. into the true Egypt, upon divine confidence, that it brings the will of God with it thereinto.
2. And then [secondly], how the forms and conditions 2 of life are afraid before Joseph, that is, before the face of God, seeing they feel in them an evil conscience: as Jacob's sons were afraid before Joseph, for they thought continually God would punish them for Joseph's sake, at which they trembled.
2 Powers or faculties.
3. And thirdly, how God, with the forms of the soulish nature, carries himself first so friendly, and first gives them heavenly bread of his own substance, and yet but in a strange form: as Joseph invited his brethren for guests, and fed them at his table, that they ate and drank plentifully, and were merry; and afterwards let them go in peace. But presently after came with a terrible trial, in that he caused his cup to be laid into Benjamin's sack, and pursued after them and fetched them back again. All which stands powerfully in the figure ofa repenting sinner, showing how it goes with him, till God in his love gives him to know him.
- 4. Moses' words follow thus: This famine was sore in the land. And when the corn was spent which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, and buy us a little food. Then Judah answered and said, The man obliged and charged us strictly, and said, You shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Now if you will send our brother with us, then we will go down and buy for you to eat: but if you send him not, we will not go down: for the man has said to us, You shall not see my face, unless your brother be with you (Gen.
- xliii. 1-5).
This figure stands thus:
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