Lumen de Lumine

In the latter part of it he describes each of these principles by it self in more particular termes, and he begins with the Earth. And the Earth (saith he) was without forme, and void. Hence I infer that the Earth he speaks of was a meer Rudiment or principle of this Earth which I now see, for this present Earth is neither void, nor without forme. I conclude then that the Mosaycall earth was the Virgin Sulphur, which is an earth without forme, for it hath no determinated Figure. It is a Laxative instable incomposed substance, of a porous empty Crasis like Sponge, or Soote. In a word I have seen it, but it is impossible to describe it. After this he proceeds to the Description of his Heaven, or second principle, in these subsequent words: And their was Darknesse upon the face of the abysse, and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Here he cals that an abysse and Waters, which hee formerly called Heaven. It was indeed the Heavenly Moysture or Water of the Chaos out of which the separated Heaven, or Habitation of the stars was afterwards made. This is clear out of the Originall, for המים Hamaim and השמים Hasshamaim are the same words, like Aqua and Ibi Aqua, and they signifie one and the same substance, namely Water. The text then being render’d according to the primitive naturall truth, and the undoubted sense of the Author, speaks thus; In the beginning (or according to the Jerusalem Thargum) In wisdome God made the water and the earth: And the earth was without forme and void, and there was Darknesse upon the Face of the Deep, and the spirit of God moved upon the Face of the waters. Here you should observe that God created two principles, Earth and Water, and of these two he Compounded a third, namely the Sperm or Chaos. Upon the water, or moyst part of this Sperm, the spirit of God did move, and (saith the Scripture) there was Darknesse upon the face of the Deep. This is a very great secret, neither is it lawfull to publish it expressly, and as the Nature of the thing requires, but in the Magicall work it is to be seen, and I have been an eye witnesse of it my selfe.