10. The image of God in the formed word should bring forth the formation of the only Word, out of the first ens, into many formations or forms of tongues and speeches, according to the nature and manner of the princely dominions of the high spirits, which also are in their distinct degrees and differences in the formed word; and in the deep of this world do rule in the properties of nature above the four elements, yea, also above the operation of the stars in the soul of the great world; which also bear the names of God in the formed word of nature, as an instrument of God, whereby he, in a formal manner, rules in his dominion and love-delight or harmony.
11. That the Ancient Fathers 1 lived so long before the flood, was because that the powers of the formed word of the divine property were yet undivided and un-manifested and un-explicated in them. As a young tree, which is full of power, virtue and sap, does excellently manifest and display itself in its branches and spreading growth, but when it begins to bloom, then the good power goes into the blossoms and fruits.
12. The like also we are to understand concerning the first age of mankind. When the powers were couched in one property in the stock, then men did understand the Language of Nature, for all languages did lie therein; but when this tree of the one only tongue did divide itself in its properties and powers among the children of Nimrod, then the Language of Nature (whence Adam gave names to all things, naming each from its property) did cease, and the stem of nature became faint, feeble and weak, by reason of the divided properties in the word of the powerful understanding.
13. Thus they did not any longer live so long, for the true power of the human life, whence the understanding flows, is come 2 out of the Word of God. But seeing that the understanding did divide itself into many tongues and properties, Nature grew weaker and weaker; and the high understanding of the properties of the spirits of the letters did fall, for the internal brought itself into an external, in manner and wise as a man relates and speaks of a thing which he has by hearsay, and yet has no right understanding of the same, also is not able to see it.
1 Patriarchs. 2 Or proceeded.
14. Of such a gift [as the understanding of the Language of nature] mankind was deprived of at Babel, when as they so highly exalted nature, and would by the outward nature build them a tower, whose top should reach even to heaven; which has a very subtle, hidden and innate understanding; and it lies very excellently and emphatically in the names of Noah's children, and childrens' children; which the spirit in Moses has set down in the line of their forth- spreading generations; wherein the properties of the division of the only understanding and language may be understood, [for they do entirely intimate], how the properties of the understanding do give forth and unfold themselves one out of another, and how each mutually brings itself into a sundry particular speech, as into a peculiar selfly word.
15. For the names of the children of Noah, and their children (from whom the second monarchy had its rise upon the earth), are seventytwo; which the spirit in Moses doth point out; and herein lies the great mystery of the Tower of Babel, viz. the division of the tongues.
16. For seventy-seven is the whole number of the divine manifestation through the formed word; seventy-two, are Babel, viz. the tongues of the wonders; the other five are holy, and lie hidden under the seventy-two, and they take their original out of JOTH, and the JOTH stands in the /"^viz. m the One, which is the eye of eternity without ground and v_ ^number.
10. The image of God in the formed word should bring forth the formation of the only Word, out of the first ens, into many formations or forms of tongues and speeches, according to the nature and manner of the princely dominions of the high spirits, which also are in their distinct degrees and differences in the formed word; and in the deep of this world do rule in the properties of nature above the four elements, yea, also above the operation of the stars in the soul of the great world; which also bear the names of God in the formed word of nature, as an instrument of God, whereby he, in a formal manner, rules in his dominion and love-delight or harmony.
11. That the Ancient Fathers 1 lived so long before the flood, was because that the powers of the formed word of the divine property were yet undivided and un-manifested and un-explicated in them. As a young tree, which is full of power, virtue and sap, does excellently manifest and display itself in its branches and spreading growth, but when it begins to bloom, then the good power goes into the blossoms and fruits.
12. The like also we are to understand concerning the first age of mankind. When the powers were couched in one property in the stock, then men did understand the Language of Nature, for all languages did lie therein; but when this tree of the one only tongue did divide itself in its properties and powers among the children of Nimrod, then the Language of Nature (whence Adam gave names to all things, naming each from its property) did cease, and the stem of nature became faint, feeble and weak, by reason of the divided properties in the word of the powerful understanding.
13. Thus they did not any longer live so long, for the true power of the human life, whence the understanding flows, is come 2 out of the Word of God. But seeing that the understanding did divide itself into many tongues and properties, Nature grew weaker and weaker; and the high understanding of the properties of the spirits of the letters did fall, for the internal brought itself into an external, in manner and wise as a man relates and speaks of a thing which he has by hearsay, and yet has no right understanding of the same, also is not able to see it.
1 Patriarchs. 2 Or proceeded.
14. Of such a gift [as the understanding of the Language of nature] mankind was deprived of at Babel, when as they so highly exalted nature, and would by the outward nature build them a tower, whose top should reach even to heaven; which has a very subtle, hidden and innate understanding; and it lies very excellently and emphatically in the names of Noah's children, and childrens' children; which the spirit in Moses has set down in the line of their forth- spreading generations; wherein the properties of the division of the only understanding and language may be understood, [for they do entirely intimate], how the properties of the understanding do give forth and unfold themselves one out of another, and how each mutually brings itself into a sundry particular speech, as into a peculiar selfly word.
15. For the names of the children of Noah, and their children (from whom the second monarchy had its rise upon the earth), are seventytwo; which the spirit in Moses does point out; and herein lies the great mystery of the Tower of Babel, viz. the division of the tongues.
16. For seventy-seven is the whole number of the divine manifestation through the formed word; seventy-two, are Babel, viz. the tongues of the wonders; the other five are holy, and lie hidden under the seventy-two, and they take their original out of JOTH, and the JOTH stands in the /"^viz. m the One, which is the eye of eternity without ground and v_ ^number.
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