31. He says, Out of the land of Canaan, and, they are herdsmen: thus he would tell Pharaoh, that they might dwell in the land of Goshen. That, in the figure, is thus much: Christ shows, with his inspeaking of love into the word of his Father, that his brethren are come to him out of the vanity of the Canaanites, out of the wild bestial property; and that they from their youth up, from the time of Adam hitherto, have been only herdsmen. That is, the word of the human life ought to have dwelt in this fleshly Canaan in flesh and blood, and must and ought to have the keeping and ordering of the bestial property of the flesh.
32. For the animal soul in spiritu mundi [in the spirit of the world] in man has many hundred beasts, which it has awakened and manifested in itself; with the false and wicked lust. These beasts now must the word of the human life keep always, from Adam to this time, and must be conversant with such cattle, and manage these beasts and take care of them. Therefore now said Joseph, That they might dwell with their cattle in the land of Goshen; that is, in a peculiar place by itself; and not with Pharaoh. For herdsmen, says the spirit, were an abomination to the Egyptians; that is, the bestial property in man is an abomination to God. Therefore Christ brings only the inward paradisical ground (this time of the beast) before the face of God: but he brings the beast into Goshen; that is, into the outspoken or expressed creaturely substance of this world, into a place blessed of God.
33. The bestial man cannot dwell with Pharaoh, that is, in God's majesty and holy power and virtue: Joseph, or JESUS, leaves him in the outward nature, in the kingdom of this world, and sets him in a blessing, that he should dwell near God; but a Principle is the distinction as between time and eternity.
34. And Joseph said circumspectly, he would say they had brought along with them their small and great cattle; to signify that the whole man with all his works were brought into the grace and fat blessed habitation before God, that Christ's children with all their earthly works were placed in Goshen, viz. in a state and condition of grace.
35. And he said to his brethren, When Pharaoh shall ask what is your trade and employment, then shall you say, your servants have been herdsmen from our youth up. That is thus much: when God's spirit shall search and try what you are in mind and thought, whether you be angels and ministers of God, then humble yourselves before
God; and say not concerning yourselves before the face of God, We sit in your office, and are lords or potentates and rulers of the world, or rich, noble, excellent, learned, understanding persons, or such like. Do not esteem yourselves good in the sight of God; say not, We are your dear ministers and servants in your power; but say, We your servants are herdsmen, from Adam to this time; we keep and manage our bestial property, viz. the works of your wonders which you have made; we cannot subsist before you, O holy God; for we are unfit, unworthy and ignorant herdsmen of your wonders; let us but find grace in your sight, that we may dwell before you in this Goshen. O Lord, we know not what we shall do before you; do you direct and teach us how we shall manage these your herds, for we are your servants, and will serve before you as your herdsmen.
31. He says, Out of the land of Canaan, and, they are herdsmen: thus he would tell Pharaoh, that they might dwell in the land of Goshen. That, in the figure, is thus much: Christ shows, with his inspeaking of love into the word of his Father, that his brethren are come to him out of the vanity of the Canaanites, out of the wild bestial property; and that they from their youth up, from the time of Adam hitherto, have been only herdsmen. That is, the word of the human life ought to have dwelt in this fleshly Canaan in flesh and blood, and must and ought to have the keeping and ordering of the bestial property of the flesh.
32. For the animal soul in spiritu mundi [in the spirit of the world] in man has many hundred beasts, which it has awakened and manifested in itself; with the false and wicked lust. These beasts now must the word of the human life keep always, from Adam to this time, and must be conversant with such cattle, and manage these beasts and take care of them. Therefore now said Joseph, That they might dwell with their cattle in the land of Goshen; that is, in a peculiar place by itself; and not with Pharaoh. For herdsmen, says the spirit, were an abomination to the Egyptians; that is, the bestial property in man is an abomination to God. Therefore Christ brings only the inward paradisical ground (this time of the beast) before the face of God: but he brings the beast into Goshen; that is, into the outspoken or expressed creaturely substance of this world, into a place blessed of God.
33. The bestial man cannot dwell with Pharaoh, that is, in God's majesty and holy power and virtue: Joseph, or JESUS, leaves him in the outward nature, in the kingdom of this world, and sets him in a blessing, that he should dwell near God; but a Principle is the distinction as between time and eternity.
34. And Joseph said circumspectly, he would say they had brought along with them their small and great cattle; to signify that the whole man with all his works were brought into the grace and fat blessed habitation before God, that Christ's children with all their earthly works were placed in Goshen, viz. in a state and condition of grace.
35. And he said to his brethren, When Pharaoh shall ask what is your trade and employment, then shall you say, your servants have been herdsmen from our youth up. That is thus much: when God's spirit shall search and try what you are in mind and thought, whether you be angels and ministers of God, then humble yourselves before
God; and say not concerning yourselves before the face of God, We sit in your office, and are lords or potentates and rulers of the world, or rich, noble, excellent, learned, understanding persons, or such like. Do not esteem yourselves good in the sight of God; say not, We are your dear ministers and servants in your power; but say, We your servants are herdsmen, from Adam to this time; we keep and manage our bestial property, viz. the works of your wonders which you have made; we cannot subsist before you, O holy God; for we are unfit, unworthy and ignorant herdsmen of your wonders; let us but find grace in your sight, that we may dwell before you in this Goshen. O Lord, we know not what we shall do before you; do you direct and teach us how we shall manage these your herds, for we are your servants, and will serve before you as your herdsmen.
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