less, barren and dry ; and then the Holy Spirit proceeding from God, taketh Possession of the Forms of Life : And maketh His Dominion prevail. He kindleth the Forms of Life with His Flames of Love, and then the high Knowledge of the Centre of all Things ariseth, according to the inivard and outward Constellation or astral Complexion of the Creature , in a very subtle drying Fire , attended with great Delight. Whereupon the humbled Soul presently desires to sink down into that Light, and esteems itself to be nothing, and quite unworthy of it.
8. And thus its own Desire pierceth into that Nothing, {viz., into that wherein Qod creatcth) and doth what God will therein, and the Spirit of Qod springeth forth through the Desire of the resigned Humility ; and so the human Self immediately followeth the Spirit of Qod in trembling and humble Joy ; and thus it may behold what is in Time and Eternity, for All is present before it.
9. When the Spirit of Qod riseth up as a Fire and Flame of
Love , then the Spirit of the Soul descendeth, and saith, * Lord,
‘ Glory be to thy Name, not to me ; thou art able to take to thy- ' self Virtue, Power, Strength, Wisdom, and Knowledge; do as ‘ thou wilt, I can do nothing, I know nothing ; I will go no ‘whither but whither thou leadest me as thy Instrument; do ‘ thou in me and with me what thou wilt.’
10. In such an humble and total Resignation the Spark of Divine Power falleth into the Centre of the Forms of Life, as a Spark into Tinder, and kindleth it, viz., the Fire of the Soul, which Adam made to be a dark Coal in himself, so that it glimmereth. And when the Light of Divine Power hath kindled itself therein, the Creature must go on as an Instrument of God’S Spirit, and speak what the Spirit of God dictateth to it ; and then it is no more in its own proper Possession, but is the Instrument of God.
ix. But the Will of the Soul must without ceasing, in this fierydriving, sink into nothing, viz., into the deepest Humility in the sight of God. For no sooner doth the Will of the Soul in the least Measure go on in its own Speculation or Searching, but Lucifer layeth hold of it in the Centre of the Forms of Life, and. sifteth it, so that it entereth into Self. It must therefore continue close to resigned Humility, as a Well doth to its Spring, and must suck and drink of God’S Fountain, and not depart from the Ways of God at all.
12. For as soon as the Soul eateth of Self, and of the Light , of outward Reason, it goeth on in its own Opinion; and then its Doings, which it sets forth for Divine, are but from the outward Constellation, or Influence of the Stars , which presently layeth hold on the Soul, and maketh it dry. And then the Soul goeth on in Errors , till it yield itself up again into Resignation, and
Of True ‘Resignation .
acknowledging itself anew to be a defiled Child \ resisteth Reason , and so getteth the Love of God again. Which is harder to do in that Case than it was at first ; for the Devil bringeth in strong Doubts now, and will pot easily leave his Fort of Prey.
13. This may be seen clearly in the Saints of God from the Beginning of the World. For many who have been driven by the Spirit of God, have yet oftentimes departed from Resignation into Self , viz., into their own Reason and Will, in which Satan hath cast them into Sins, and into the Anger of God ; as appeareth by David and Solomon , also by the Patriarchs, Prophets , and Apostles ; who have oftentimes committed great Errors when they have departed from Resignation into Self viz., into their own Reason and Lust.
14. Therefore, it is necessary for the Children of God to know how to behave themselves when they will learn the Way of God. They must beat down and fast away their very Thoughts ; and desire nothing, nor have the least Will to learn any Thing, unless they find themselves to be in true Resignation ; so that Qod's Spirit leadeth, teacheth, and guideth Mans Spirit and that the human Will which is attached to itself j be ivholly broken off from its own Lust, and resigned to God.
less, barren and dry ; and then the Holy Spirit proceeding from God, takes Possession of the Forms of Life : And makes His Dominion prevail. He kindls the Forms of Life with His Flames of Love, and then the high Knowledge of the Centre of all Things arises, according to the inivard and outward Constellation or astral Complexion of the Creature , in a very subtle drying Fire , attended with great Delight. Whereupon the humbled Soul presently desires to sink down into that Light, and esteems itself to be nothing, and quite unworthy of it.
8. And thus its own Desire pierces into that Nothing, {viz., into that wherein Qod creatcth) and does what God will therein, and the Spirit of Qod springs forth through the Desire of the resigned Humility ; and so the human Self immediately follows the Spirit of Qod in trembling and humble Joy ; and thus it may behold what is in Time and Eternity, for All is present before it.
9. When the Spirit of Qod rises up as a Fire and Flame of
Love , then the Spirit of the Soul descends, and says, * Lord,
‘ Glory be to your Name, not to me ; you are able to take to your- ' self Virtue, Power, Strength, Wisdom, and Knowledge; do as ‘ you will, I can do nothing, I know nothing ; I will go no ‘whither but whither you leadest me as your Instrument; do ‘ you in me and with me what you will.’
10. In such an humble and total Resignation the Spark of Divine Power falls into the Centre of the Forms of Life, as a Spark into Tinder, and kindls it, viz., the Fire of the Soul, which Adam made to be a dark Coal in himself, so that it glimmers. And when the Light of Divine Power has kindled itself therein, the Creature must go on as an Instrument of God’S Spirit, and speak what the Spirit of God dictats to it ; and then it is no more in its own proper Possession, but is the Instrument of God.
ix. But the Will of the Soul must without ceasing, in this fierydriving, sink into nothing, viz., into the deepest Humility in the sight of God. For no sooner does the Will of the Soul in the least Measure go on in its own Speculation or Searching, but Lucifer lays hold of it in the Centre of the Forms of Life, and. sifts it, so that it enters into Self. It must therefore continue close to resigned Humility, as a Well does to its Spring, and must suck and drink of God’S Fountain, and not depart from the Ways of God at all.
12. For as soon as the Soul eats of Self, and of the Light , of outward Reason, it goes on in its own Opinion; and then its Doings, which it sets forth for Divine, are but from the outward Constellation, or Influence of the Stars , which presently lays hold on the Soul, and makes it dry. And then the Soul goes on in Errors , till it yield itself up again into Resignation, and
Of True ‘Resignation .
acknowledging itself anew to be a defiled Child \ resists Reason , and so getts the Love of God again. Which is harder to do in that Case than it was at first ; for the Devil brings in strong Doubts now, and will pot easily leave his Fort of Prey.
13. This may be seen clearly in the Saints of God from the Beginning of the World. For many who have been driven by the Spirit of God, have yet oftentimes departed from Resignation into Self , viz., into their own Reason and Will, in which Satan has cast them into Sins, and into the Anger of God ; as appears by David and Solomon , also by the Patriarchs, Prophets , and Apostles ; who have oftentimes committed great Errors when they have departed from Resignation into Self viz., into their own Reason and Lust.
14. Therefore, it is necessary for the Children of God to know how to behave themselves when they will learn the Way of God. They must beat down and fast away their very Thoughts ; and desire nothing, nor have the least Will to learn any Thing, unless they find themselves to be in true Resignation ; so that Qod's Spirit leads, teaches, and guids Mans Spirit and that the human Will which is attached to itself j be ivholly broken off from its own Lust, and resigned to God.
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