Wesley Corpus

“62. Un: With this syllable the soul goes into the internal wisdom, wherein, before the creation in the seed, it was discerned in the eternal will. Ser: With this syllable it takes the original of nature in the will, where one form in the original penetrates, fills, and preserves the other. And that is the bond of the soul, whereby it eternally subsists. And that the will of the soul desires; else it would be dissolved. “63. This is the true “doctorship of the Holy Ghost.” The outward is but foppery. “64. Tag : With this syllable the heavenly number is understood, as wherein the spirit on the cross in the holy matrix comprehends the genitive in the multiplication. Lich : In this syllable the soul quickens and strengthens itself with the heavenly number, which springs up out of the Divine Majesty infinitely; and herein the soul is acknow ledged for an angel.” Whoever desires it, may read the rest of this explanation at his leisure. I will only add the conclusion of it:-- “Amen : “95. A is the first letter, and presses forth out of the heart, and has no nature; but we clearly understand herein, the seeking, longing, or attracting of the eternal will, with out nature, wherein nature is generated, which has been from eternity. “96. Now, as the A is generated out of the heart, that is, out of the eternal will, so out of A afterwards comes the whole alphabet with four-and-twenty numbers; for the A begins to number, and comprises the whole number in the syllable men.” (Behmen's Works, Vol. II., p. 165, &c.) Now, here I fix my foot. Upon this ground I join issue with every admirer of Jacob Behmen in England. I appeal to every candid man, every man of piety and common sense, whether this explanation deserves those violent encomiums contained in the Advertisement. I ask any person of understanding, First, whether any man in his senses, from the beginning of the world, ever thought of explaining any treatise, divine or human, syllable by syllable. Did a more absurd imagination ever enter into a madman's brain? Is it possible by this means to make sense of any text from Genesis to the Revelation? Must there not be a very high degree of lunacy before any such design could be formed ?