a Sevefi-fold Desire , of which Christ spake, saying, ‘ When the ‘ Unclean Spirit departeth out of a Man, he wandereth through ‘dry Places seeking rest, and findeth none; and then he taketh ‘ to himself seven Spirits worse than himself, and returneth to ‘his first House; an # d finding it swept and garnished, he dwelleth ‘therein, and so it is worse with that Man than it was before.'
10. This House that is thus swept and garnished , is the Light of Reason in Self For if a Man bringeth his Desire and Will into God, and goeth on in Abstinence from this wicked Life , and heartily desireth the Love of Qod, then that Love will manifest itself to him with its most friendly and cheerful Countenance, by which the outward Light ajso is kindled. For where the Light of Qod is kindled, there all will be Light ; the Devil cannot stay there, but must depart thence ; and then he searcheth through the Mother of tj^e Original of Life, vis., the Centre , but it is become a dry feeble Place . For l^he Anger of GOD, viz., the Centre of Nature , is in its own Property altogether feeble , barren , and dry, and cannot get the Dominion in its oivn wrathful Principle. Satan sea?rcheth through these Places to find an open (fate to enter with his Desire, and so to sift the Soul that it might come to exalt itself ‘
11. And now if the Spirit of the Will of the Creature throweth itself with the Light of Reason into the Centre, viz., into Self, and entereth iftto Self Exaltation, then it goeth forth again from the Light of Qod, and presently the Devil findeth an open Qate for him to enter in at, and a garnished House to dwell in, viz., the Light of Reason. Then he taketh to himself the seven Forms of the Property of Life in Self, viz., the Flatterers which are departed from God into Self: And there he entereth and putteth his Desire into the Lust of Self and evil Imaginations , wherein the Spirit of the Will beholdeth itself in the Forms of the Properties of Life in the outward Light , and then the Man sinketh into hiffiself as if he were drunk, and the Stars lay hold on him, and bring their strong Influences into him, ( into outward Reason) that he might seek the Wonders of God there, that so they may manifest themselves therein. For all Creatures groan and long after Qod ’ and though the Stars cannot apprehend the Spirit of Qod, yet they had rather have a House of Light wherein they may rejoice, than a House shut up wherein they can have no Rest.
• 12. Thus such«a Man goeth on as if he were drunk, in the Light of the outward Reason, which is called the Stars , and apprehendeth great and wonderful Things, and hath a continual Guide, therein. And then the Devil presently watcheth to see if any Qate standeth open for him, through which he may kindle the Centre of Life, that so the Spirit of the Will may mount aloft in Pride, Self
42 The Way to Qhrist.
Conceit , or Covetousness ; (from whence Self- A rrogancy r ar ise t h , the Will of Reason desiring to be honoured:) for it supposeth it hath attained the Sum of all Happiness, when it hath gotten the Light of Reason , and can judge the Housp of hidden Mysteries that is shut up ; which nevertheless God can easily unlock. The deluded Man thereupon supposeth that now he hath reached the Mark , and that Honour is due to him, because he hath gotten the Understanding of Reason , and never considereth that the Devil maketh himself merry with his Desire in his seven Forms of Life of the Centre of Nature , nor what abominable Error he setteth up.
13. From this Understanding of Reason false Babel is brought forth in the Christian Church on Earth, where Men rule and teach by the Conchcsions of Reason , and have set the Child , which is drunk in its own Pride and Self Desire as a fair Virgin upon the Throne. .
a Sevefi-fold Desire , of which Christ spake, saying, ‘ When the ‘ Unclean Spirit departs out of a Man, he wanders through ‘dry Places seeking rest, and finds none; and then he takes ‘ to himself seven Spirits worse than himself, and returns to ‘his first House; an # d finding it swept and garnished, he dwells ‘therein, and so it is worse with that Man than it was before.'
10. This House that is thus swept and garnished , is the Light of Reason in Self For if a Man brings his Desire and Will into God, and goes on in Abstinence from this wicked Life , and heartily desires the Love of Qod, then that Love will manifest itself to him with its most friendly and cheerful Countenance, by which the outward Light ajso is kindled. For where the Light of Qod is kindled, there all will be Light ; the Devil cannot stay there, but must depart thence ; and then he searches through the Mother of tj^e Original of Life, vis., the Centre , but it is become a dry feeble Place . For l^he Anger of GOD, viz., the Centre of Nature , is in its own Property altogether feeble , barren , and dry, and cannot get the Dominion in its oivn wrathful Principle. Satan sea?rches through these Places to find an open (fate to enter with his Desire, and so to sift the Soul that it might come to exalt itself ‘
11. And now if the Spirit of the Will of the Creature throws itself with the Light of Reason into the Centre, viz., into Self, and enters iftto Self Exaltation, then it goes forth again from the Light of Qod, and presently the Devil finds an open Qate for him to enter in at, and a garnished House to dwell in, viz., the Light of Reason. Then he takes to himself the seven Forms of the Property of Life in Self, viz., the Flatterers which are departed from God into Self: And there he enters and putts his Desire into the Lust of Self and evil Imaginations , wherein the Spirit of the Will beholds itself in the Forms of the Properties of Life in the outward Light , and then the Man sinks into hiffiself as if he were drunk, and the Stars lay hold on him, and bring their strong Influences into him, ( into outward Reason) that he might seek the Wonders of God there, that so they may manifest themselves therein. For all Creatures groan and long after Qod ’ and though the Stars cannot apprehend the Spirit of Qod, yet they had rather have a House of Light wherein they may rejoice, than a House shut up wherein they can have no Rest.
• 12. Thus such«a Man goes on as if he were drunk, in the Light of the outward Reason, which is called the Stars , and apprehends great and wonderful Things, and has a continual Guide, therein. And then the Devil presently watches to see if any Qate stands open for him, through which he may kindle the Centre of Life, that so the Spirit of the Will may mount aloft in Pride, Self
42 The Way to Qhrist.
Conceit , or Covetousness ; (from whence Self- A rrogancy r ar ise t h , the Will of Reason desiring to be honoured:) for it supposes it has attained the Sum of all Happiness, when it has gotten the Light of Reason , and can judge the Housp of hidden Mysteries that is shut up ; which nevertheless God can easily unlock. The deluded Man thereupon supposes that now he has reached the Mark , and that Honour is due to him, because he has gotten the Understanding of Reason , and never considers that the Devil makes himself merry with his Desire in his seven Forms of Life of the Centre of Nature , nor what abominable Error he setts up.
13. From this Understanding of Reason false Babel is brought forth in the Christian Church on Earth, where Men rule and teach by the Conchcsions of Reason , and have set the Child , which is drunk in its own Pride and Self Desire as a fair Virgin upon the Throne. .
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