177. For the Archaeus of the earth becomes thereby exceeding joyful, because it tastes and feels its first ground in itself again, and in this joy all things [1] spring out of the earth, and therein also the growing of animals consists, viz. in a continual conjunction of the heavenly and earthly, in which the divine power and virtue also works, as may be known by the tincture of the vegetables in their inward ground.
[1] or grow
178. Therefore man, who is so noble an image, having his ground in time and eternity, should well consider himself, and not run headlong in such blindness, seeking his native country afar off from himself, when it is within himself, though covered with the grossness of the elements by their strife.
179. Now when the strife of the elements ceases, by the death of the gross body, then the spiritual man will be made manifest, whether he be born in and to light, or darkness; which of these [two] bears the sway, and has the dominion in him, the spiritual man has his being in it eternally, whether it be in the foundation of God's anger, or in his love.
180. For the outward visible man is not now the image of God, it is nothing but an image of the Archaeus, that is, a house [or husk] of the spiritual man, in which the spiritual man grows, as gold does in the [1] gross stone, and a plant from the wild earth; as the Scripture says, [2] As we have a natural body, so we have also a spiritual body: such as the natural is, such also is the spiritual.
[1] or drossy stone or Ore [2] 1 Cor 15:41
181. The outward gross body of the four elements shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but that which is born out of that one element, viz. out of the divine manifestation and working.
182. For this body of the flesh and of the will of man is not it, but that which is wrought by the heavenly Archaeus in this gross body, unto which this gross [body] is a house, tool , and instrument.
183. But when the crust is taken sway, then it shall appear wherefore we have here been called men; and yet some of us have scarce been beasts; nay, some far worse than beasts.
184. For we should rightly consider what the spirit of the outward world is; it is a house, husk, and instrument of the inward spiritual world which is hidden therein, and works through it, and so brings itself into figures and images.
185. And thus human reason is but a [1] house of the true understanding of the divine knowledge: none should trust so much in his reason and sharp wit, for it is but the constellation of the outward stars, and dos rather seduce him, than lead him to the Unity of God.
[1] or dwelling
186. Reason must wholly yield itself up to God, that the inward Archaeus may be revealed; and this shall work and bring forth a true spiritual understanding ground, uniform with God, in which God's spirit will be revealed, and will bring the understanding to God: and then, in this ground, [1] the spirit searches through all things, even the deep things of [2] God, as St. Paul says.
[1] 1 Cor 2:10 [2] or of the Deity
187. I thought good to set this down thus briefly of Mysteries for the lovers, [1] for their further consideration.
[1] of Mysteries
Now follows a short Explication, or [1] Description of the
Divine Manifestation.
[1] formula or model
188. God is the eternal, immense, incomprehensible Unity, which manifests itself in itself, from eternity in eternity, by the Trinity; and is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in a threefold working, as is before mentioned.
189. The first effluence and manifestation of this Trinity is the eternal Word, or outspeaking of the divine power and virtue.
190. The first outspoken substance from that power is the divine wisdom; which is a substance wherein the power works.
177. For the Archaeus of the earth becomes thereby exceeding joyful, because it tastes and feels its first ground in itself again, and in this joy all things [1] spring out of the earth, and therein also the growing of animals consists, viz. in a continual conjunction of the heavenly and earthly, in which the divine power and virtue also works, as may be known by the tincture of the vegetables in their inward ground.
[1] or grow
178. Therefore man, who is so noble an image, having his ground in time and eternity, should well consider himself, and not run headlong in such blindness, seeking his native country afar off from himself, when it is within himself, though covered with the grossness of the elements by their strife.
179. Now when the strife of the elements ceases, by the death of the gross body, then the spiritual man will be made manifest, whether he be born in and to light, or darkness; which of these [two] bears the sway, and has the dominion in him, the spiritual man has his being in it eternally, whether it be in the foundation of God's anger, or in his love.
180. For the outward visible man is not now the image of God, it is nothing but an image of the Archaeus, that is, a house [or husk] of the spiritual man, in which the spiritual man grows, as gold does in the [1] gross stone, and a plant from the wild earth; as the Scripture says, [2] As we have a natural body, so we have also a spiritual body: such as the natural is, such also is the spiritual.
[1] or drossy stone or Ore [2] 1 Cor 15:41
181. The outward gross body of the four elements shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but that which is born out of that one element, viz. out of the divine manifestation and working.
182. For this body of the flesh and of the will of man is not it, but that which is wrought by the heavenly Archaeus in this gross body, unto which this gross [body] is a house, tool , and instrument.
183. But when the crust is taken sway, then it shall appear wherefore we have here been called men; and yet some of us have scarce been beasts; nay, some far worse than beasts.
184. For we should rightly consider what the spirit of the outward world is; it is a house, husk, and instrument of the inward spiritual world which is hidden therein, and works through it, and so brings itself into figures and images.
185. And thus human reason is but a [1] house of the true understanding of the divine knowledge: none should trust so much in his reason and sharp wit, for it is but the constellation of the outward stars, and dos rather seduce him, than lead him to the Unity of God.
[1] or dwelling
186. Reason must wholly yield itself up to God, that the inward Archaeus may be revealed; and this shall work and bring forth a true spiritual understanding ground, uniform with God, in which God's spirit will be revealed, and will bring the understanding to God: and then, in this ground, [1] the spirit searches through all things, even the deep things of [2] God, as St. Paul says.
[1] 1 Cor 2:10 [2] or of the Deity
187. I thought good to set this down thus briefly of Mysteries for the lovers, [1] for their further consideration.
[1] of Mysteries
Now follows a short Explication, or [1] Description of the
Divine Manifestation.
[1] formula or model
188. God is the eternal, immense, incomprehensible Unity, which manifests itself in itself, from eternity in eternity, by the Trinity; and is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in a threefold working, as is before mentioned.
189. The first effluence and manifestation of this Trinity is the eternal Word, or outspeaking of the divine power and virtue.
190. The first outspoken substance from that power is the divine wisdom; which is a substance wherein the power works.