although the Baptisme may be performed without such Persons through the Parents and the Baptisers Earnestnesse and prayer yet the Christian Church hath so ordained that living Witnesses should be present which with their prayer attend this Earnestnesse and it was well ordained but it is come to such a Misuse that it were many times better that such children of Infidelity were not present for the Devill belongeth not to this work Now if the Devill have the chiefe Dominion in a Man what is then such a Man profitable at it As is mentioned before The Funt-stone or Bason and the unfaithfull Stander-by is one as good as the other but that the Proud Man is a hinderance to others 38. The Baptisme is a substantiall working not a meere signe or z Or signification symbole of the Testament of Christ The Holy Ghost baptiseth the Soule and the Spirit from Christs bloud and Death with his victory and the Holy Element of the spirituall Water baptiseth the Body of the foure Elements to the Resurrection of the Dead and baptiseth the Serpents Ens and awakened introduced Poyson to dye or for Dead 39. It is a substantiall working Infusion of the Covenant of God therefore if the Infant baptised should worthily receive it there must be Earnestnesse A Christian who is a Christian in Christ Note in whom Christ worketh liveth and * Text. Ist dwelleth he should Baptise for he must enter into this Sheepfold by the Doore of Christ viz through Christs Spirit and not climbe up otherwhere else he is a Theefe and a Murtherer and cometh onely that he may robbe and steale the honour of Christ Note and deceive Men he should be A true Shepheard and not a hireling Heere availeth no babling and making a shew but there must be Earnestnesse for it is an Earnestnesse with God All Jangling and disputation about this work is an unprofitable thing and moreover hurtfull Men should lay hould of it with Earnestnesse and follow the Command of Christ and beleeve what Christ hath sayd 40. There belongeth no more to this work but Faith and Water and Earnest Prayer in true Repentance with such a Will that one Man would helpe to release another from Death the Devill and Hell and help to introduce him with himselfe into the Kingdome of God that is the whole processe that belongeth heereunto Every one that is a true Christian in Christ Note is worthy to be a Stander by and present at this work but he that is not such a one is unworthy whether he be Baptiser or Stander-by one as well as the other there is no respect of Persons with God In Christ wee are ONE Hee is the Stock wee are the Branches Hee worketh his work through his fellow Members as the Stock of the Tree generateth its fruit through its Twiggs and Branches The Stock useth no strange Tree for its Twigges so also Christ onely useth his Members to his work of his fruit The End of this first little Booke Concerning The Holy Baptisme The Second Booke Concerning The Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ What kinde of Participation it is and how that is to be understood Also concerning the Contention of the Learned about Christs Cup what they doe about it also what is to be held concerning it Wherein Babell the Great City upon Earth with her forme and Wonders together with the Antichrist standeth quite naked and manifest To the Comfort of the simple Children of Jesus Christ and to the building up of the true Christian Religion in this confused troublesome Time All very Earnestly and sincerely discovered from the knowledge of the Great Mystery LONDON Printed by M. S. and are to be sold by H. B. at the Castle in Cornhill 1652. 1 COR. 11.28 Let a Man Examine himselfe and so let him Eate of this Bread and Drink of this Cup. An Intimation or Instruction to the READER THough indeed I heere dive and search sublimely and Deepe and set it downe very cleerely yet the Reader must be told thus much that without the Spirit of God it will be a Mystery to him and not apprehended Therefore let every one looke well to it what he judgeth that he fall not into the Judgement of God and be captivated by his owne Turba and that his owne Reason distract him this I say meaning well and give it to the Reader to Ponder in his Minde JACOB BEHM of Old Seidenberg The Contents of the Chapters in this Second little Booke Concerning the Holy Supper of Jesus Christ 1. OF the Ground of the Old Testament how this Testament was cleerly in the Type among the Jewes 2. Of the Supper of the New Testament how the Type is come into Essence or Substance 3. How the Disciples did eate and drinke the flesh and bloud of Christ 4. Of the difference in the Participation of it what the wicked receive with this Testament and how a Man should so prepare himselfe that he may be truly worthy 5. Of the Contention and Strife in the high Schooles or Universities about Christs Testaments how that Strife that hath filled the face of the Earth is a vaine and very hurtfull thing and ariseth in the Anger of God from the Devills desire and will whereby all brotherly Love and unity is destroyed the highly pretious Name of GOD blasphemed and the Holy GHOST in his Divine Wonders is Judged and despised by Reason The First Chapter Of the Ground of the Old Testament how this Testament was cleerly in the Type among the Jewes 1. WHen God sent Moses to Pharao and commanded him to let the Children of Israel goe into the Wildernesse and sacrifice to him and Pharao would not doe it then God sent great Plagues and punishments upon him and lastly the a Stifling destroying Angel which slew all the first-borne in Egypt and there he commanded Israel the Passeover or to slay and eate the Paschal-Lamb viz a Lamb of a yeare old and besprinkle the Doores and upper Poasts with the Bloud thereof that the slaying anger should there b Passe by passe over and kill none in the House Exod. 2.12 2. Which was a Type of the New-Testament shewing how the Poasts and Doores of our Life should be sprinckled with the Bloud of the Lamb Christ that Gods Anger in soule and body may not swallow us up into his wrath And as they must Eate up that Lamb wholly or quite and leave nothing over so would the Lamb Christ give himselfe in his Testament wholly for food to his Christendome and not divided and would besprinkle the Poasts of our Life with his Bloud of Love that the destroying Angel in Gods Anger might not take hold of us and slay us 3. Also wee have an Image or similitude thereof in the Vnleavened Cakes which they must Bake and Eate shewing that they should through this Paschal-Lambs Figure which signified Christ be a New and sweet c Dowe Lump when they should eate the right
25 Book 2. Ch. 4. The whole life of a Christian should be continuall Repentance and flying unto Grace and the meere Mercy of God Verse 17.20.21 Book 2. Ch. 4. A right Christian is afraid of all Sinne. Verse 18 Book 2. Ch. 5. None is a Christian but he that desireth to doe his neighbour good Verse 13 Church Churches Book 2. Ch. 4. Faithful Witnesses about Baptisme well ordained by the Christian Church Verse 37 Book 2. Ch. 5. How the Churches are made spirituall Denns of Murther Verse 11 Circumcised Book 1. Ch. 2. The Covenant and the Holy Fire renewed with Abraham and why Masculine Persons must be Circumcised Verse 18 Communion Book 2. Ch. 3. It is not enough to partake of Bread and Wine in the Communion Verse 32 Book 2. Ch. 3. What our purpose must be when wee goe to the Communion Verse 32 Book 2. Ch. 3. How a Christian partaketh of the Communion without Bread and Wine Verse 33 Book 2. Ch. 3. The usefulnesse of the Ordinance of the Communion Verse 33 Book 2. Ch. 4. Wee must desire the same to all our Enemies that wee desire for our selves if wee will worthily goe to the Communion of Saints Verse 21 Contention Book 2. Ch. 5. The Authour sheweth the Contention of the Learned for the Comfort of the simple Verse 1 Covenant Book 1. Ch 2. Why God transferred the Covenant from Circumcision into Baptisme Verse 25 Book 1. Ch 2. Why the Covenant of the Water-Baptisme was first brought into the Heavenly Ens of Man Verse 32 Book 1. Ch 4. The Covenant of Christs Testaments is alwayes powerfull Verse 6 Book 1. Ch 4. The wicked Man in Gods Covenant is a sweet savour unto condemnation Verse 25 Book 1. Ch 4. What it is to a childe that it is begotten of wicked Parents and brought by wicked people to the Covenant also what it is to God Verse 29 Book 1. Ch 4. Why the Covenant of God is made in Christs Bloud and Death Verse 30 Book 1. Ch. 4. Baptisme a Spirituall Substance brought with the Covenant into the VVater Verse 31.32.33 Creature Book 2. Ch 3. VVhat it was that vanished as to the Creature when Man fell Verse 13 Dead Death Book 1 Ch 5. VVhat is baptised to the Resurrection of the Dead or for Dead Verse 38 Book 1 Ch 1. How Christ became Death to Death Verse 24 Book 1 Ch 2. How the Soule dyed the Death was poysoned and came to have an Evill Life How Angells became Devills Verse 3.4.5 Book 1 Ch 3. VVhat it is that is baptised into Death Verse 21 Book 2. Ch. 1. How Death was broke open 18. Ch. 2 verse Verse 13 Book 2. Ch. 3. VVhat it is that is Death to Death which Outward Nature holdeth to be a Life Verse 8.9 Dispute Book 2. Ch. 1. The cause why Men Dispute about Divine things Verse 7.11 12 Book 2. Ch. 1. VVat Men should doe that they need not Dispute about God Verse 14 15 Book 2. Ch. 1. Men should conferre and instruct one another not Dispute Verse 16 Father Book 2. Ch 4. How wee are in the Drawing of the Father Verse 20 Faith Book 1. Ch 2. How the Spirituall Oyle and VVater of the Soule hath flowed into the Faith and made the fallen Soule capable of the New Birth Verse 1.2 Book 1. Ch. 2. In what Faith the Children of God before Christs Incarnation Sacrificed and why they used those Types Verse 8.9.10.11 Book 1. Ch. 4. Parents have power to give up the Childes will to God in their Faith Verse 21 Book 1. Ch. 4. A dangerous thing to Baptise without Faith Verse 35 Book 2. Ch 3. How the Invisible Substance of Christ falleth into our Faith as a sparke into Tinder Verse 18 Book 2. Ch 3. The Substantiall Faith in Man is a Branch on the Vine Christ Verse 28 Book 2. Ch 5. Of Mens crying the true Doctrine and Faith will be taken away from them and yet they have it Verse 10 Fire Book 1. Ch 2. How the Sacrifice was kindled with Holy Fire Verse 12 Book 1. Ch 2. How the understanding of the Holy Fire came to be quenched Verse 17 Book 1. Ch 2. How the Divine Holy Fire was introduced through Baptisme Verse 35 Book 2. Ch 1. Moses had holy Fire for the Sacrifice Verse 20 Flesh Book 1. Ch 1. How Christ giveth us Eternall Life how wee Eate his Flesh and drink his Bloud how he giveth us the water of Eternall Life Verse 28.29 Book 1. Ch. 3. To what in Man Christ giveth his holy Spirituall Flesh for food Verse 6 Book 2. Ch. 1. How there was holy Flesh and holy Bread Verse 23 Book 2. Ch. 2. Of holy Flesh Verse 13 Book 2. Ch. 2. How Christs flesh and bloud is the Sacrifice of the New Testament Verse 6.7 Book 2. Ch. 3. Christ gave his Disciples his Spirituall Flesh and Bloud Verse 1 Book 2. Ch. 3. In what manner wee eate and drink the Flesh and bloud of Christ Verse 6.7 Book 2. Ch. 3. Christs mortall Flesh but the shell of the Spirituall Flesh Verse 21 Book 2. Ch. 3. How Faith alwayes eateth Christs Flesh and bloud without a Medium as well as with it Verse 27.33 Book 2. Ch. 3. VVhy it was so ordained that wee should partake of Christs Flesh and bloud under Bread and VVine Verse 31 Food Book 2. Ch. 2. How Israell did eate blessed Food notwithstanding the Curse Verse 14 Forgivenesse Book 2. Ch. 4. No Forgivenesse of sinnes without Conversion and Resolution to depart from wickednesse Verse 9 Book 2. Ch. 4. What the Forgivenes of sinnes is Verse 10 Book 2. Ch. 4. The Power of Forgivenesse is in Christs internall Ordinance not in the Priest Also of the Bride of Christ Verse 11.12 Formes Book 1. Ch. 1. VVerein the seaven Formes of Nature take their Beginning Verse 6 God Book 1. Ch. 3. VVhat in the Outward VVorlds Substance is called God Verse 1 Book 1. Ch. 3. How with the Minde Paul served God and with the flesh the Law of sinne Verse 23 Book 1. Ch. 3. VVho are called according to the Purpose of God Verse 24 Book 2. Ch. 3. VVhere it is that God dwelleth in Man Verse 11 Grace Book 1. Ch. 1. How Grace the New Covenant came into the Soule to helpe it againe of which Aarons Rod was a Figure Verse 6.7 Book 1. Ch. 4. John declared that the time of Grace the Kingdome of Heaven was at hand Verse 5 Book 2. Ch. 3. Mans Life cannot in its own Power receive the Substance of God but it is given of Grace Verse 29 Book 2. Ch. 4. The true imputed Grace is to live in Christ Verse 16 Book 2. Ch. 4. The whole Life of a Christian should be continuall Repentance and flying unto Grace and the meere mercy of God Verse 17.20.21 Book 2. Ch. 5. The Innate Filiall Grace is the true imputed Grace Verse 14 Ground Book 1. Ch. 1. VVhat searching cannot reach the true Ground whence every Beeing taketh
the Altar signifieth Verse 12.13 Book 2. Ch. 1. What the Ram signified how it was a sweet Saviour to the Lord. Verse 14.15.16.17.19.22 Ch 2. verse 3. Sonne Book 1. Ch 3. Of the Soules being given to the Sonne and how the Sonne giveth it Eternall Life and what Eternall Life is Verse 9.11 Ch 2. v. 2 Sop. Book 2. Ch 2. How it was with Vzza and with Judas after the Sop. Verse 5 Soule Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule came to be helped againe after the Fall Verse 21.22 Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule is become Lord over Sinne Death the Devill and Hell Verse 25.26.27 Book 2. Ch. 3. The Soule eateth of the supernaturall substantiall Love of the Name Jesus Verse 10 Spirit Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Spirit leadeth into all Truth Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. How the Spirit of God is to be understood in all the Three Worlds Verse 13 Supper Book 2. Ch. 3. A resemblance between Christ in his Supper and the influence of the Sun in hearbs Verse 2.3.4.6 Book 2. Ch. 3. Why Christ Ordained the Testament of his Supper under Bread and Wine Verse 24 Book 2. Ch. 5. How all the Three Contenders and Disputers about the Presence of Christ in the Supper have no understanding how that participation is wrought Verse 6 Teachers Book 2. Ch. 5. Of Teachers not sent Verse 5 Testaments Testament Book 2. Ch. 4. Christs Testaments destroy sinne in the Penitent receiver Verse 8 Book 2. Ch. 4. XVIII enquiries into a Mans own heart to finde whether he may worthily receive the Testament of Christ Verse 19 Book 2. Ch. 4. How the Minde when it cometh to Christs Testaments must acknowledge it is able to doe nothing Verse 22 Book 2. Ch. 4. Hee that will not be a Man of New thoughts and will receiveth the Testament unto Judgement Verse 25 Book 2. Ch. 5. Hee that will receive the Kingdome of Christ in his Testaments must be his childe Verse 15 Types Type Book 1. Ch 2. How Cain and Abell differed and of their severall Types Verse 15.16 Book 2. Ch 2. Why the Type ceased Verse 1 Thoughts Book 1. Ch 1. What is the Ground of the understanding and Thoughts Verse 1.2 Book 1. Ch 1. How the Thoughts come to be fed with divine foode which is the Essentiall wisdome of God Verse 19 Variety Book 1. Ch 1. The cause of the changing and variety in Nature Verse 17 Vine Book 1. Ch 1. How Man becometh a Branch on the Vine Christ Verse 27 Book 2. Ch 3. How the Holy Man is a Branch on the Vine Christ Verse 20 Understanding Book 1. Ch 1. How Divine Understanding is attained and the Kingdome of Heaven Verse 8.9 Book 1. Ch 1. Of the Three Touch-Stones of the Divine Understanding Verse 18 Wicked Book 2. Ch 4. The wicked Priest and Pharisee is not capable of being in the Office of Christ Verse 13 Will. Book 2. Ch 2. How the Soules will cometh to be changed Verse 12 Word Words Book 1. Ch 1. Why the Eternall Word is become Man Verse 24 Book 2. Ch 3. What signifieth to us Christs saying My words are Spirit and Life Verse 16 Book 2. Ch 4. Mans spirituall Mouth receiveth Christs words and Life Verse 26 Book 2. Ch 5. The Living Word giveth Testimony to the Literall word Verse 5 Works Book 1. Ch. 3. What in Man is the Christian and why Mans Works must be Judged Verse 25 FINIS REader pray cause these faults to be mended with a Pen. Page 21. on the second side line 10. for unlooked reade unlocked Page 50. line 2. for foolish reade soulish page 55. line 31. for vision reade visible
Of CHRISTS TESTAMENTS Viz Baptisme and the Supper Written in two Bookes The 1. Of holy Baptisme how it is to be understood in the Ground thereof and why a Christian should be Baptised The 2. Of the holy Supper of the Lord Christ what it is with the Benefit and Effects of it and how the same may be worthily Participated of And how these are to be understood both according to the Old and New Testament Set forth from the True Theosophicall Ground through the three Principles of the Divine Revelation and presented to the Children of God for the Information of their understandings Written in the yeare of Christ 1624. by JACOB BEHM of Old Seidenberg alias Teutonicus Philosophus And Englished by JOHN SPARROVV Barrister of the Inner Temple London LONDON Printed by M. Simmons and are to be sold neare the signe of the Golden Lyon in Aldersgate-streete oâ—â—y H. Blunden at the Castle in Cornhill neere the Exchange 1652. Jesus said to his Disciples Matth. 28.19 Mark 16.16 Goe forth into all the World and Teach all People and Baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Whosoever beleeveth and is Baptised shall be saved but whosoever beleeveth not shall be condemned The Englishers Preface THese two little Books intituled together by the Authour the Booke of the Two Testaments the one of Baptisme the other of the Supper doe the most deeply and plainly handle those two Grand Mysteries of any Booke extant since the Apostles Times and doe cleerly satisfie the doubts and put an end to the different Opinions concerning each of them and so make all friends together those that are called Anabaptists and those that are called Paedobaptists those that baptise persons of age upon confession of their Faith and those that baptise Infants with Witnesses to stand for them also this Treatise intimateth so much that it may be diseerned who is a fit administratour of Baptisme to those new converted or to the Infant children of converted Parents It reconcileth the difference of Opinion about Transubstantiation Consubstantiation and the Participation of meere Bread and Wine and sheweth how to understand truly the right Participation of the true flesh and bloud of Christ under Bread and Wine and being there is reall participation to be had of the flesh and bloud of Christ without Bread and Wine why the Bread and Wine was so Instituted to be celebrated and communicated and so also seeing the Baptisme of the Holy Ghost hath been many times without Water why the Baptisme of Water is necessary to be used even to those that had before received the Holy Ghost as well as the Apostles All which being understood it will likewise appeare what the Ground of the Preaching of the Word of God is as it is an Ordinance of God and how wee shall truly perceive what is the Essence of all Ordinances as they are so called which in the signification of the word is no more but a thing ordained or appointed and so it will be easie to finde how far short men are of rightly Esteeming the true Ordinances and how forward they are in taking that for such which is not indeed the Ordinance of God The Preaching of the Word the Administration of Baptisme and the Participation of the Supper are Ordinances of God The Communion of Saints or holy people two or three met in Christs Name are a true Church or Congregation of God according to his holy Ordinance The Magistrate Ruler or King and all that are in authority are the Ordinance of God for the punishment of Evill doers and for the encouragement of them that doe well Gods Ministers Presbyters or Elders Oldmen or Fathers in the Experimentall knowledge of Christ his Bishops or Overseers Shepheards or Pastours or feeders of his flock his Doctours or Teachers Instructors in the wayes of Godlines or Prophets appointed to tell People of their sinnes also Evangelists or Messengers of the Glad tydings of salvation Disciples or Schollers in the schoole of Christ such as are taught of God and Apostles or such as are sent of God and Christ by the Holy Ghost these must needs be ordained and appointed by God and so Forgiveness of sinnes or Absolution Excommunication or casting out from the Congregation of Christ and delivering to Satan Healing of the sick by the Elders fervent prayer of Faith The Laying on of the hands of the Presbytery or Eldership whereby the Gift of the Holy Ghost was bestowed Also Marrying in the Lord. Are all of them the Ordinances of God Every Duty of Man towards God or of one towards another mentioned either in the Old or New Testament are cleerly the Ordinances of God But how any thing is a true Ordinance of God and wherein it doth consist is hardly knowne and little considered as it should be that it might be certainly understood and there is much Exercise of our Minds before wee can goe about to examine it rightly wee must know God before wee can know his Ordinances which are of his own appointment and if we know not who he is how can we know that we love him and that it is not somewhat else which we love instead of him for it is said by the Apostle John He that saith he loveth God and hateth his brother is a lyar and the truth is not in him for if a man loveth not his brother whom he hath seene how can he love God whom he hath not seene and 1 Joh. 4.8 he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Further the same Apostle saith that 1 Joh. 4.18 God is love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and he in him and how can any know this Excellent thing Love in which who so dwelleth is 1 Joh. 3.14 passed from death to life if he knoweth not he hath it in him and then how can he either know God or love him This Love must be in us if we be the Disciples of Christ nay there is not any thing mentioned in the whole Bible concerning Heaven and Redemption but we must have it in us while we are in this life or else we are not Partakers of it yea God hath shed abroad his love into our hearts which is that word of Truth and life which is able to save our soules and doth perfectly save them that Yeeld to it in obedience to the dictates to it receive it that is beleeve and it is both shed abroad and received by very many soules that neither know what that word is nor how they have received it for example when any Man is troubled at his doing of Evill and is sorry for it and wisheth from his heart he had not done it endeavoureth to have a better watch over himselfe resolveth never to doe the same againe desiring strength to be able to resist his doing of Evill any more being carefull least evill suggestions in his minde should allure him and entice him to any
doe try and exercise himselfe and by practise attain the skill and readinesse in his trade by Experience that he may be able not onely to direct how to worke by hearesay but to shew his skill by his own doing the same thing himselfe The Apostles could doe the same thing which they taught others or else they could not have rightly taught as they did Now hee that considereth this Booke will finde that the Authour knew and writt Experimentally and that if wee follow his doctrine and Experience wee may attaine not onely the understanding of his Writings but be able to speak and write all that he understood and so disclose those things plainly and fully which he had not time nor leave to write otherwise then obscurely of Which when wee have arrived to wee shall leave that seeking after the most desirable worldly things which passe away in a Moment and presse after the high Price of the Calling of Jesus Christ now if by my means any shall be stirred up to strive and so undoubtedly attaine the blessed Crowne of Eternall Life it will be also my Crowne of rejoycing in the world to come though heere I must acknowledge my selfe one of the unworthiest of the children of Men. JOHN SPARROVV A LETTER TO Charles of Endern Carol von Endern Our salvation is in the Life of Jesus Christ in us NOble Sir beloved in Christ with the Hearty Desire of the Divine Light in the working power of the Holy Ens in our Immanuel I send over to you the little Booke of Christs Testaments with the Preface to it It should have been written but singly in the three first sheets for I would have written it all over againe and had begun with the first Chapter And I am purposed to bring to the Presse this little Booke in a more child-like manner for the better understanding of the simple But because of the high sense I let the One by the other one on one side the other on the other verse for verse one be written against the other seeing you and others Exercised Lovers understand this sense well and so the sublime understandings may have that which is high and the simple that which is lowly in the sense yet there is one and the same understanding in them both though in the lower sense more simple words might be made use of and so I commit you to the continuall saving Love of Jesus Christ Dated at Gerlitz 7â— May the yeare of Christ 1624. JACOB BEHM The Summary Contents of the Chapters in this first Booke concerning the Holy Baptisme CHAP. I. How Reason useth to behold it selfe in a Creaturely Image-like manner when it considereth of Christ and his Testaments and whence the strife about Christs Testaments ariseth and how that strife is an empty unprofitable thing CHAP. II. Of the Covenant of God after the Fall what the Fall of Man is and how God hath bound himselfe in Covenant with him againe What the Circumcision in the old Testament is and what the Baptisme in the New CHAP. III. A Briefe and fundamentall information how Man is Baptised by the Holy Ghost with Christs sufferings Death and Resurrection in body and soule CHAP. IV. Of the outward Water-Baptisme by the hand of Man who is worthy so to * Or to Administer it Baptise and what baptised Infant receiveth that Testament worthily and how it goeth with the unworthy Hand as also with the unworthy Baptised Infant The Preface to the Reader SHEWING How the Testaments of Christ must be fundamentally understood rightly participated and worthily fed upon A Looking Glasse for Teacher and Hearer 1. CHristian loving Reader this little Booke of the Testaments of Christ in this present time when Men strive onely about Opinions ought well to be considered Men are wholly and altogether departed from the right understanding seeing they will maintaine Christs Testaments with Disputing and the Sword 2. There needs no Disputing about it onely an earnest sincere penitent Man who hath the Faith understandeth this Testamentary a Covenanting Institution and participation in the Power of Christ but it is foolishnesse to the Naturall Man and cannot be apprehended 1 Cor. 2.14 3. There belongeth quite another Earnest Sincerity to the true understanding which is not apprehended by humane Reason and is rightly understood by no Man unlesse the Spirit of Christ open it to him in his Heart 4. There lyeth a fast Seale before it which no Reason nor Art can breake up but onely that slaine Lamb of the House of Israel who hath the Key of David Revel 3.7 Chap. 3.5 5. Christs Testaments are to Reason without the Divine Light a closed Booke but to the true children of Christ they are an Opened Booke Christs Testaments are a Seale of the firme and Eternall Covenant of God wherewith God hath received Man to Grace againe after the horrible Defection and sealed him with the flowing forth of his Love by his bloud and Death that wee b Or Might should beleeve his Word and Promise which he hath revealed to us in the Holy Scripture concerning his Sonne with the Redemption from sinne and heertofore declared by the Prophets 6. Which Word in the flowing forth of his Love is come into our humanity and hath assumed a Humane Soule also flesh and bloud and hath established this Eternall Covenant with his Bloud and Death And so now he giveth this Testament to his Faithfull ones for a c Ausibeute Talent or earnest Penny or Pawne Pledge and so maketh them Branches on the Vine of his Flesh and Bloud so that they are imbodied to himselfe therewith and made his right children in whom HEE himselfe will dwell with his flesh and bloud with this Testamentary c Ausibeute Talent or earnest Penny or Pawne Pledge so that thereby they may Pray to the Father with joyfull affiance in true child-like Humility in the Name of his Sonne JESUS CHRIST and so he will give them this Grace John 16.23 7. This Testament he offereth to us after a twofold Manner First through his Word Preached whereby he Stirreth and Openeth the Hearts of the Hearers that they enter into true Repentance for their Sinnes and so procure themselves this Pledge of his Testaments 8. Secondly Through the True d Or Essentiall substantiall participation of his Flesh and Bloud by the Mouth of Faith with Bread and Wine whereby he sealeth the Faith with his Bloud and Death and thereby Openeth the Lifes understanding of the Inward Divine Hearing so that the poore fallen Man which was dead to the Divine Hearing through sinne attaineth againe the Divine Hearing in his understanding and so is converted againe and so entereth into his first Inheritance which he had in Paradise and giveth up his will to God who reneweth his Heart e Senses Thoughts and Minde through his Inspeaking or Inspiration and continueth and dwelleth in him with his Pledge of this Testament and powerfully worketh in him in
the works of Love then he hath also no Faith the opinion maketh no salvation but is Babell a confusion of the Tongues of the one onely Love None is a Christian unlesse he love his neighbour and desireth to doe him good 14. The outwardly imputed Grace without the innate e Or childelike filial Grace is all false when Christ worketh in a Man then he is a Christian and then the sufferings merits and satisfaction of Christ availe him when he hath him in himselfe for an Advocate who hath done it that he doe it also in him and attracteth his merits to him then is the kingdome of God in that Merit otherwise all Imagelike Opinions are faise No work pleaseth God but what he himselfe worketh in Man through his Spirit therefore let us be the children of Christ and not the children of Images 15. Christ hath imparted his kingdome to us in his Testaments he that will receive it must be his childe else there is no Inheritance to work Repentance is better then to desire to know much Is not the knowledge given from God to a Man then he will not be able to understand the Ground of the divine secret Mystery but if it be given him he neede no Image to continue in the humility and simplicity of Christ and to cleave to his love and Grace without despising of any one is good Christianity All whatsoever speaketh of it selfe is Babell in Christ wee are all Members and all one AMEN The End of the second little Book concerning The Holy Supper The Table of the Two Testaments Angells Book 1. Ch 1. THe End why God Created the Angells and Men also of Reasons Misunderstanding of the Testaments of Christ Verse 23. Book 1. Ch 2. How Angells became Devills Verse 3 4 5 Anointing Anointed Book 1. Ch 3. How Christs anointing is understood in the Water Baptisme Verse 19 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Body and Soule is anointed by Christ in the Water-Baptisme Verse 19.20 Book 1. Ch 4. John Anointed when Mary saluted Elizabeth Verse 4 Book 1. Ch 4. A Baptizer should be the Anointed of Christ Verse 22 Antichristian Booke 2. Ch. 5. Of Antichristian doings Verse 4 Arise Booke 1. Ch. 3. What that is wherein Man at the last day shall Arise and stand before the Judgement Verse 16.17.20 Baptisme Baptised Baptise Baptiser Booke 1. Ch. 2. How the Deluge was a figure of Baptisme Verse 17 Booke 1. Ch. 2. Why God sent the Baptisme and Divine Infusion in an Elementary Earthly Medium Verse 26.27 Booke 1. Ch. 2. What is the Ground of that Water Baptisme to which the holy Ghost is the Hand that Baptiseth Verse 36 Book 1. Ch 3. How the whole Man needed Baptisme Verse 4 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Baptisme of the holy Ghost is effected Verse 6 Book 1. Ch 3. What it is in the Water Baptisme wherewith the Body from the Outward World and the Spirit of the Constellation in Man is Baptised Verse 12 Book 1. Ch 3. How wee are buried with Christ in Baptisme Verse 22 Book 1. Ch 4. John the Baptist the Beginner of Water Baptisme Verse 01 Book 1. Ch 4. Circumcision changed into Water Baptisme Verse 6 Book 1. Ch 4. Why God Ordained the Water Baptisme Verse 9 Book 1. Ch 4. Why the Outward Baptisme is requisite to those that live to have it Verse 14.15.19 Book 1. Ch 4. Wee are through Baptisme planted anew in the Word of God Verse 20 Book 1. Ch 4. How God is with the Holy with the Vnholy in the Baptisme Verse 24 Book 1. Ch 4. What required to Baptisme in them that are present Verse 33.34.40 Book 1. Ch 4. Wicked people at the Baptisme a hinderance to the work Verse 36 Book 1. Ch 4. Baptisme not a meere signe but a substantiall work Verse 38 Book 1. Ch 3. What was done that the Three Worlds properties in Man might be Baptised Verse 5â— Book 1. Ch. 3. What it is in Man that is Baptised into Death Verse 21 Book 1. Ch. 4. Faithfull Parents Baptised in Soule and Body generate Children in that Baptisme Verse 13 Book 1. Ch. 3. How the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Baptise together Verse 11 Book 1. Ch. 4. Who it is that is worthy to Baptise with Water Verse 10.11.39 Book 1. Ch. 4. Holy Parents Baptise their Ofspring in Spirit yet why the Outward Baptisme is requisit in those that live to have it Verse 14 15.19 Book 1. Ch. 4. The unfaithfull Baptiser is dead in that work though God alwayes worketh in respect of his Covenant Verse 12 Beasts Book 2. Ch 1. The Image of Reconciliation in the sacrificing of Beasts and burning the Fat of them mentioned Levit. 8.14 c. Verse 5 Body Book 1. Ch 1. How wee came to have this Beastiall Body Verse 20 Book 1. Ch 2. What Body the Saints before and since Christ put on and what Body they waite for in the Resurrection at the Last Day Verse 14 Book 1. Ch 3. The Body of Man necessary to be Baptised Verse 2.3 Book 2. Ch 3. Why the Bread and Wine cannot be turned into the Body and bloud of Christ Verse 25 Book 2. Ch. 4. How it is not to distinguish the Lords Body Verse 1 Children Book 1. Ch 4. Christ biddeth Suffer little Children to come to him Verse 28 Christ Christs Christian Booke 1. Ch 2. Why God must become Man and why Christ must receive the Elementary part from us Verse 34 Booke 1. Ch 2. How Christ is bestowed upon Man Verse 37.38 Booke 1. Ch 3. How Christ is the Light of the little World Verse 10 Book 2. Ch. 2. How Christ is the Light of the world Verse 10 Book 1. Ch. 3. How Christ penetratrated through Death and Hell Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. How Christ descended into Hell Verse 22 Book 1. Ch. 4. John the forerunner of Christ Verse 5 Book 2. Ch. 2. How Christ was the right High Priest Verse 3.4 Book 2. Ch. 2. Christ gave his whole Humanity to his Disciples Verse 8.9 Book 2. Ch. 2. What the Citie of God in Man is and how wee continue in Christ and be in us Verse 11 Book 2. Ch. 2. Christ by the last Supper fulfilled the Old Testament Verse 17 Book 2. Ch. 3. Man cannot say I am Christ though Christ dwelleth in him Verse 30 Book 2. Ch. 4 Who they are that Crucifie Christ now and wound him Verse 15 Book 2. Ch. 4. How a Man shall feele and Taste what Christ in him is Verse 23 Book 2. Ch. 5. None know Christ but those to whom and in whom the Father revealeth him Verse 2 3 Book 2. Ch. 5. How Men say heere is Christ Verse 8 Book 2. Ch. 5. How Christ is with us Every Day to the End of the World Verse 12 Book 1. Ch. 3. What was effected by Christs shedding forth his bloud upon the Earth Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. What in Man is the Christian and why Mans works must be Judged Verse
its Originall Verse 3.4 Heaven Book 1. Ch 1. How Divine understanding is attained and the Kingdome of Heaven Verse 8.9 Book 1. Ch 1. Of the Misunderstanding where Heaven is Verse 24 Book 1. Ch 1. How Christ dwelleth in Man and Man in him in Heaven and witnesseth in the soule infallibly that wee are the children of God Verse 28.29.30 Book 1. Ch 3. How wee dwell in Heaven and have our Conversation there Verse 24. Hell Book 2. Ch 4. The wicked partaketh of Christs going to Hell It were better the wicked did not meddle with Christs Testaments Verse 7 Humanity Book 1. Ch 3. VVhy Christ assumed our Humanity Verse 1 Book 2. Ch 3. The Substantiall VVord taketh on it our Humanity the Spirituall Humanity the Invisible Substance with which Christ came downe from Heaven Verse 17 Image Book 1. Ch 2. The Beastiall Earthly Image of Man is preserved in the Fire of God Verse 13 Book 2. Ch 4. How wee are made conformable to Christs Image Verse 24 Book 2. Ch 5. How Three Parties strive onely about a literall Image of Christs Testaments Verse 7 Infant Book 1. Ch 4. How the Faithfull Baptiser Parents VVitnesses and Standers by work to the Baptising of the Infant though it hath no understanding of what is done Verse 15.16 Book 1. Ch 4. How the Command of Christ Matth. 28.19 is effectuall in the Baptising of an Infant Verse 17 Book 1. Ch 4. VVhat a wicked Baptiser doth and how the Infant is notwithstanding baptised with the Living VVord Verse 23 Book 1. Ch 4. How it is with an Infant of wicked Parents that is baptised by a wicked baptiser and wicked People standers by Verse 26.27 John Book 1. Ch 4. John the Baptist the sonne of a Priest Verse 8 Lamb. Book 2. Ch 4. How the wedding of the Lamb is rightly kept Verse 10 Law Book 1. Ch 3. How the soule is layd hold on by the Law of Nature and what is the Ground and fountain of Repentance Verse 7.10.11 Life Book 1. Ch 1. Where the Book of Life is to be found Verse 18 Book 1. Ch 2. What is the New Life of Regeneration Verse 31 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Sonne Giveth the Soule Eternall Life and what Eternall Life is Verse 9.11 Book 1. Ch 3. VVhat the Creaturely Life is Verse 15 16 Light Book 1. Ch 3. When the Divine Light in the Name Jesus is received into the Soule Verse 8 Book 2. Ch 3. The Invisible Substance of Christ is a Light and Spirituall Oyle in the Life of Man Verse 19 Medium Book 1. Ch. 2. VVhy there must be an Earthly Medium to Enter into the Covenant of God by Verse 33 Book 2. Ch 1. VVhy the Beastiall Medium in the Sacrifices must be used Verse 21 Book 2. Ch 2. Of the Elementary Medium of blessed Bread and Wine Verse 16 Book 2. Ch 2. How through the Medium of Bread and Wine wee participate of Christ in a Corporeall and Spirituall way Verse 18.19 Book 2. Ch 2. VVhy there must be a Medium in the New Testament as well as in the Old Testament Verse 20 Book 2. Ch 3. Bread and VVine a Medium to the visible Man Verse 22 Mumia Book 2. Ch 3. Of the Humane Mumia and what it is Verse 1 Opinion Book 2. Ch 5. How Men cleave to an Opinion whether they understand it or no. Verse 9 Ordinance Book 2. Ch 4. None should rely meerely upon the Outward Ordinance Verse 14 Participation Book 2. Ch 5. The Three Contenders about the presence of Christ in the Supper have no understanding how the true Participation is wrought Verse 6 Passeover Book 2. Ch 1. Of the Paschall Lamb the Passeover and how it was a Type of Christ Verse 1.2 Power Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule comes to loose the Divine power and knowledge Verse 5 Book 2. Ch 3. VVhat the Humane Power is to the Divine Power Verse 5 Book 2. Ch 3. What that Sinne was upon which Gods Power went into the received Humanity againe Verse 14 Book 2. Ch 3. Man liveth not by Bread onely but by the inward Power thereof Verse 23 Book 2. Ch 3. Mans Life cannot in its owne Power receive the Substance of God but it is given of Grace Verse 29 Presence Book 1. Ch 1. How Christs Presence Office and Kingdome are to be understood Verse 25.26.27 Principles Principle Book 2. Ch 3. Of the Three Principles in Man Verse 12 Book 2. Ch 3. How each Principle in Man eateth its like in the Participation of Christs Testaments Verse 15 Reason Book 1. Ch 1. How the Body and Reason and Soule of Man is distinctly fed with Nourishment Verse 13.18 Redemption Book 1. Ch 1. How Christ effected our Redemption and through Death brought the Soule into Eternall Life and how the Soule is become Lord over Sinne Death the Devill and Hell Verse 25.26.27 Book 1. Ch 2. Of Isaac a Type of Our Redemption Verse 19 Repentance Book 1. Ch 3. How the Soule is layd hold on by the Law of Nature and what is the Ground and Fountaine of Repentance Verse 7.10.11 Book 1. Ch 4. John baptised but with Repentance onely prepared the way and Opened the Gates for the King of Glory to Enter in Verse 7 Book 2. Ch 4. Repentance must not be deferred till the participation of the Testaments Verse 9 Sacrifices Sacrifice Book 1. Ch 2. How the Sacrifices were effectuall and how God and the Soule wrought with the Sacrifice Verse 20.21.22.23.24 Book 1. Ch 2. The Fat of Beasts a Medium in the Sacrifices Verse 28 Book 1. Ch. 2. VVhat the Sacrifice Typified Verse 29 Book 2. Ch 1. How the Sacrifices were a figure of Christs Sacrifice Verse 6 Seede Book 1. Ch 2. Of the Seede of the Woman and Destroyer of the Serpent Verse 8.9.10.11 Book 1. Ch 2. Of Abrahams seede as the Starres Verse 19 Book 1. Ch 2. The Love-fire awakened it selfe in the Seede of the VVoman Verse 30 Book 1. Ch 4. The Parents of John Dead in their fleshly Seede Verse 2.3 Book 1. Ch 4. How the Graine of Mustard seede is sowen in the Ens of the Childe Verse 18 Book 2. Ch 4. How the Seede of the Serpent stingeth Christ in the Heele Verse 4 Signified Signifieth Book 2. Ch 1. What the unleavened Cakes signified Verse 3.4 Book 2. Ch 1. What Moses Aaron the Heifer and the Ram signified in the figure Verse 7.9 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Tabernacle signified why Mary was called the blessed among all women what the Altar the Laver and anointing the Head of Aaron signified Verse 8 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Burning of the Fat signified Verse 10 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Burning of the Heifer without the Hoast signifieth and that the bloud sprinckled upon the Altar signifieth that our bloud shall come againe to the Soule in the power of it at the Last Day Verse 11.12 Book 2. Ch. 1. What the powering of the bloud at the foote of
under his Rodde and pray for Grace 25. He who hath learned much and knoweth how to fit himselfe for it is no more acceptable to God then he that knoweth nothing but yet with his whole Heart and soule in sorrow for sinnes turneth to him and hath Faith in the Grace and a true Earnest Purpose and Resolution to be a New Creature 26. This Ground is onely therefore brought forth so deeply that every one that strive about it might see the true Inward Ground and cease from strife and yeeld himselfe into the simplicity and Love of Jesus Christ Whereby then suddenly the power of Sathan will be diminished and People and Nations will see that the Christians are the children of God If they thus walke in Love which I wish from my Heart for which Cause this little Booke is written Note Heere the Reader that loveth God is to know FIrst that these two little Books were copied faithfully and diligently out of the Authours own blessed Manuscript as he wrote them Anno 1623. And secondly that he afterwards in the yeare 1624. upon the desires of some good friends lovers of the Truth was purposed as may be seene in the foregoing Letter to Carol von Endern for the better understanding of the simple to bring them both into a more child-like forme but it is done onely to part of the third Chapter of this first Booke and no further Thus writeth the Publisher of the High dutch Copie But more particularly let the Reader take notice that the Authour had gone on to the 17th verse of the 3d Chapter as may appeare in the Printing of the double Pages in this Book and so it was Printed in the High Dutch and in the same manner here in the English only with a different magnitude of Letter those words which are the same on both sides are as neere as can well be observed in a letter of the same bignes with the whole Book but on the first side that which is not on the other side also is with a smaller letter and it was the first Booke that was written and finished by the Authour and on the second side that which was not in the other is with a larger letter was that other Copie which he entended to finish quite through the whole Booke and this is done to distinguish in some measure the alteration of the Expression in the two severall Copies for the better understanding of the Mystery and if it be diligently Observed it will very much help to the understanding of this and all his other Writings because where the Expression is obscure in the one it is cleerer in the other And besides by the varying the Expression all may discerne what latitude the Authours words may admit of in their meaning in all his Bookes Further it is certain that we may be lead by the severall Expressions to the true knowledge of some part of the Mystery and this great benefit accrues from thence that it will enable us to speak write infallibly that which hath never been spoken or written concerning that Mystery be it in Divine or Naturall things But by the way this is not to be attained by outward Hearing or Reading onely but by Experience Teachers or Hearers that want Experience are indeed Ordinary Teachers and Hearers but not true ones for such are Extraordinary in the account of our times such hearers are all they that understand the Word feelingly and bring forth fruit in their lives and Conversations and have the Power of Godlinesse these can teach truly from what they know though in a weake measure but those that are called Ordinary Teachers that have onely a forme of Godlines and deny the Power therof cannot teach at all nor deserve so much as the Name of an Ordinary Teacher such a one is not so much as a true hearer Our Saviour teacheth us that whosoever will do the will of our Father which is in Heaven Joh. 7.17 they shall know of his words whether they be of God and if he submit his doctrine to be Examined by every one by this Rule why should not every word of all others be examined by the same Rule let us thus do and we shall Ordinarily attain that which is indeed Extraordinary even the true knowledge of spirituall things the things of God which are impossible to be perceived by the Naturall man And accordingly I desire thee to Judge of the Authour of this Booke and no otherwise Farewell The First Chapter Of Reasons viewing of it selfe how it useth to run in a Creaturely Forme when it considereth of Christ and his Testaments 1. ALL Strife and Mis-understanding concerning Christs Person and his Testaments which he left behinde him ariseth from the defected Creaturely Reason which will be a Mistris of All things or Beeings and looketh onely in the Multiplicity of Beeings and in the variety and difference of Beeings and doth but loose it selfe in such viewing and breaketh it selfe off from its Centre or Originall and disperseth the a Or Senses Thoughts in the Multiplicity of Beeings that they cannot see what their ground is out of which they are sprung and so in their Confusion and running out breake themselves off from their Chaâ—s viz from the Eternall WORD of God and from the Eternall Divine speaking In which spoken Word all Beeings together with understanding Reason and Thoughts consist and take their Ground and beginning from it 2. For if the Abyssall not Naturall uncreaturall GOD viz the Eternall ONE speake his WORD no more and that speaking should Cease there would be no understanding Reason or Thoughts more also no Nature nor Creature and all Beeings would be an Eternall nothing for every Life ariseth from the Exhalation of the Eternall ONE viz from the Abysse and there could be no Formability in the Eternall One according to which or out of which something might be made 3. For if there were a formability to a figure then there must also have been a cause from whence the forme were arisen and God were not one onely God who were without Ground Time and Place for all that hath a beginning hath a Ground but that which hath no beginning is without Ground and Forme 4. Every beginning goeth out of the Eternall ONE through the Exhalation of the Eternall ONE whereby the Eternall ONE bringeth it selfe into selfe-viewing perceptibility and findingnesse to the Moving and forming of it selfe Every visible and Invisible Beeing Spirituall and Corporeall have taken their Originall in the Exhalation of the Eternall ONE and stand with their Ground therein for the beginning of every Beeing is nothing else but an Imagination of the Abysse that the same bring it selfe by its own longing into an Imagination and Modelleth and Imageth it selfe and apprehendeth the Imagelikenesse and b Or Exhaleth it breatheth it forth from the Eternall One to a viewing of it selfe 5. Which c Or Haling breathing is the Eternall Word of the
self-ishnesse and Imagineth to it selfe another Ground to the Divine Willing wherein yet there is no true knowledge nor can be so long till the Life returneth into its Originall viz. into the Divine out-flowing and will And if this be done then Gods will speaketh forth the Divine Power and Wonders againe through the humane willing In which Divine Speaking the life may know and comprehend Gods will and f Or Image frame it selfe therein Then there is true divine knowledge and understanding in Mans skill when his skill is continually renewed with divine Power and when divine skill presseth forth through the life in that kinde and manner as in the Beginning it did flow forth from the divine Power and skill As Christ hath taught us when he sayth Vnlesse ye be converted and become as a childe ye shall not come into the kingdom of God That is that the life turne it selfe againe into God out of whom it is proceeded and forsake all its owne Imaging and Lust and so it cometh to the Divine Vision againe All Strife about the Divine Will and Beeing or Essence whereby men despise one another cometh from selfe Imagelikenesse that one Man comprehendeth the Image of another viz his thoughts and yet cannot rightly apprehend them Where One Man sets himselfe in the Thought and Minde of another and bringeth that which is his owne thereinto and compelleth that which is anothers into his Meaning and forcibly sets himselfe aloft in the Thoughts and Minde of another and holdeth them for his proper owne and will make a shew therewith and therewith domineere in and over the Thoughts and Minde of others Men must worship and reverence his Thoughts and Minde and hold them to be the Word of God or g Or Oracles the speaking of God Thus Man deludeth himselfe and Robbeth God of his honour taketh his Covenant in his Mouth and yet hateth the Nurture of the Spirit of God which therefore reproveth him in his Conscience that he is but an Apostate Lucifer and will compell others into his Image that they shall hold it for the Word of God But a true Man Inclineth himselfe to his Originall and forsaketh all Images and desireth no selfe Imagebility of his understanding except what God will frame and speake with and through him and despiseth none but only distinguisheth the true from the false the Good from the evill and teacheth the Truth with Divine Powerfull out-flowing and will All Disputation concerning Gods Beeing or Essence and Will is performed in the Images of the Senses or thoughts without God For if any liveth in God and willeth with God what needeth he dispute about GOD who or what GOD is But that he disputeth about it is a signe that he hath never felt it at all in his Minde or Senses and it is not Given to him that God is in him and willeth what he will It is a certaine signe that he will exalt his owne Meaning and Image above others and that he desireth the Dominion Men should friendly conferre together and offer one another their Gifts and Knowledge in Love and try things one with another and hold that which is Best 1 Thes 5.21 And friendly instruct one another and not so stand in their own opinion as if they could not Erre Seeing we have a Mighty Enemy against us who suddenly bringeth strange Images into Mans thoughts and maketh Men Insult whence Sects and Scissmes exist It lyeth in no Mans Person that Men should suppose that the Divine Understanding must come onely from such and such For the Scripture saith Try all things and hold that which is Good 1 Thes 5.21 The Touchstone to this Knowledge is First the Corner-Stone Christ that Men should see whether a thing enter out of Love into Love or whether alone purely the Love of God be sought and desired whether it be done out of Humility or Pride Secondly whether it be according to the Holy Scripture of the Bible Thirdly is it according to the Humane Heart and Soule wherein the Booke of the Life of God is incorporated and may very well be read by the Children of God where then the true Minde hath its Touch-stone in it selfe and can distinguish all things If it be so that the Holy Ghost dwell in the Ground of the Minde that Man hath Touchstone enough That will leade him into all Truth Christs Testaments are a secret Mystery and are proffered to the Minds and Thoughts that are departed from and come againe to God where the Life bringeth it selfe to God againe and so will the Thoughts that returne to God be first fed with Divine Power and Understanding the same afterwards kindle the Life that it hungreth after God to which afterwards is given Christs Flesh and Bloud for a h Or Pawne or Earnest Pledge and Seale and the Divine Essence or Substance will be imprinted therein whence the Life is brought againe into its Originall viz into Gods Power and Word A false Thought or Minde of Man is nourished againe by its Likenesse viz from its owne Conjecture or from highnesse of Minde or from the Subtilty of the Serpent and these it desireth to Exalt and put into an Image and that Image is a Branch on the Tree of Satan Now that Man which is fed from the Divine Power and Spirit in his Minde and Thoughts he is Divinely Minded and bringeth forth Good things out of his Good Heart But that Man who is fed in his Thoughts from the Power and Will of the Flesh he is fleshly Minded onely When Reason considereth of Christs Testaments and thinketh and considereth how yet Christ can be present in his Testaments then it thinketh it is done after an i Imaginary Image-like Manner And when it knoweth that it is not done in an i Imaginary Image-like Manner then it falleth quite from that and thinketh HEE is present onely in Remembrance As when his Word is preached then he worketh thus onely in the same powerfully and so it thinketh also concerning his Testaments that Christ worketh onely Spiritually in the Faith and that the Testaments are onely Signes or Symboles whereby wee should instruct our selves what he hath done for us and therewith onely declare his Death and the shedding of his Bloud and should keepe it in lively Remembrance to our Comfort Thus Reason understandeth nothing at all of the Kingdome of Christ much lesse of his Person or of his Office and in that respect Men dispute and strive about it and will needs attaine it with the Searching of Reason all this attaineth not the true understanding For Christs Testaments are Heavenly and Reason is Earthly worldly It seeketh Christ in the Time or that which is Temporary and if it finde him not therein according to their Power then it supposeth HEE is present only to the k Or Senses Thoughts which cast themselves up to him in Heaven But this will not renew the Life and bring it into God
it might pierce to God By Moses on Mount Sinai wee see this Image also where first the Fathers Property in the Fire manifested it selfe and required Mans full obedience to live before God in Holinesse and draw neere to him in purity through the Sacrifice If not then would he devoure them in the Curse through this fire Which also was an Image Type or Shadow signifying how the humane vanity should and must be purged through Gods Wrath-fire But Israel could not through the fire come to salvation and the Love of God and through Moses goe into the Promised Land but through Joshua and Christ Therefore God brought his Heavenly Substance with his Covenant into the Water-Baptisme that there might be a tolerable Medium whereby he might introduce his Love-Essence into our vanished also heavenly Substance wherein the Holy fire might kindle it selfe againe Even therefore because the humane Essence was become Earthly that Man might beare or endure it for there must be such a Medium wherein the humane Essence can take hold for in Gods Holinesse without a Medium it cannot take hold the will was rent off from it Therefore God became Man that he might cause to flow in us his Deity with the humanity that we might comprehend or take hold of him also that the Divine Imagination might introduce and awaken it selfe in Man and co-worke with the humane Imagination and therefore he assumed the humanity that he might work in us with the Deity through the Humanity Thus with the Water-Baptisme was a Glimmering Mother holy-fire imprinted in Gods Love for a Subject or Object of Divine Imagination and working whereby Death according to the Inwardnesse of Man would be broken to Pieces and a new life spring forth As fire in wood beginneth to Glimmer so was this Infusion or Baptising an z Or Vnction Anointing of the Holy Spirit for a new Lifes Oyle wherein the Divine Light might kindle it selfe This is now the Ground of the Water-Baptisme to which the Holy Ghost in the inward Ground is the hand which with the flowing forth of the Divine Love out of Christs suffering death and resurrection baptiseth with his victory That is Hee Infuseth Christs humanity suffering Death and resurrection into Man and kindleth the incorporated Paradisicall Covenant with this fire that the dry Rod of Aaron cometh to Bud forth againe For with this Infusion of the Holy Ghost Christ is bestowed upon Man he is hereby incorporated to Christ and the heavenly Ens which in Mary assumed our humane Ens with the whole processe of Christ is put on and imprinted in him to a new Life As a Tincture tinctureth the Mettle or as fire gloweth through the Iron so here also it is to be understood concerning those that are capable of this Infusion as it followeth further The Third Chapter A Briefer and more fundamentall Instruction how Man is Baptised by the Holy Ghost with Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection in Body and Soule 1. WHen God would introduce his Covenant with the Circumcision into the Water-Baptisme then the Word of the Inspoken Grace wherein the Holy Fire of God was First before hand became a Man and assumed first beforehand the Womans seede as our soule and humanity that he might baptise us with the Living Covenant which was become a Man 2. For the Body of Man to which the Baptisme was necessary was out of the Elements and now if it should be Baptised the Covenant must first beforehand give it selfe into an Elementary Medium as in the Humanity of Christ and Sanctifie that Medium that Man might through this Medium be baptised 3. For it was not to be done onely for the Heavenly Substance of Man which vanished in Adam in which the Covenant in Paradise incorporated it selfe that it alone should be baptised No but also for the Soule and for the Body out of the Limus of the Earth 4. The whole Man needed the Baptisme All the Three Principles of all the Three worlds in Man must be baptised viz The first Principle is the Eternall Nature viz the true Soules Life that came out of the Word of the Inspeaking into the Body The Second Principle is the true Eternall Spirit viz the Holy Power of the Light and Love which I call in this little Booke the heavenly vanished Ens and Substance in Adam wherein Adam vanished viz the Soules will departed out from it The Third Principle is the Astrall Animall Soule Ex Spiritu Mundi out of the Spirit of the World with its Body out of the Limus of the Earth viz the whole outward visible Man 5. This Threefold Man was wholly fallen for as the Divine Light in the Spirit of the Second Principle went out he was quite blinde as to God and dead as to Paradise In this must a Divine Love Ens be Infused againe in which Love Ens the Divine fire and Light might againe kindle to a new Life but if this must be done then must the Holy Fire first beforehand manifest it selfe with the Covenant in the Threefold Humanity as in Christs Humanity that Gods Spirit might baptise us out of with and through this threefold Humanity that Each Principle in us might be baptized with its like or similitude For the Holy Ghost Baptizeth through Christ to the forgivenesse of Sinnes 6. The Holy Fire of the Divine Power in Christ Baptiseth his Temple in us which the Holy fire viz the Divine life in us would possesse viz the vanished Ens of the Heavenly worlds Substance the Spirit of understanding or of Power viz the Second Principle or Angelicall Body out of the Angelicall worlds Substance to which Substance Christ afterwards giveth his most holy spirituall flesh for food in which he himselfe dwelleth This Divine Love in the Holy fire baptiseth this Spirit for it is an Ens of the Holy fire wherein it burneth or liveth And the first Principle viz the fiery Soule out of the Divine Science of the seperable speaking word out of the Fathers Property is baptised with the fiery Spirit of the Fathers Property as with the fire burning Love 7. Thus to be understood The Soule is of the Fathers Property and in this Baptisme with his Infusion into the Soule he giveth it to the Son in his Love-fire The Fathers Property in the fire taketh hold on the Soule first with the Law of Nature with his Strickt Righteousnesse with the Eternall Birth of the fire-Ground whereby the hard p Impression Compressed Dead Soule in that Infusion of the fire is moveable and its hard p Impression Compression of the false Magnetick Desire is broken in sunder and opened in that manner as a Man strikes up fire 8. Thus now the Divine Light of the Great Love is in the Opened Name JESUS out of JEHOVA in the Centre of the Fathers fire When the Fathers fire unlocketh the fiery Soule then the light of the Divine Love can shine into it and Introduce the Love Ens
now to Every man 20. And so now if a Man desireth it and inclineth himselfe to it as a Man and not a Beast then the Holy-Ghost baptiseth the inward Ground viz his Temple which himselfe possesseth viz the true Eternall Spirit together with the Eternal Soule And the anointing of Christ out of his humanity received from us anointeth and baptiseth in us the true first Man Created in Adam out of the Limus of the Earth together with the Mortall Soule yet that a Man may understand the Ground herein is that which shall arise and live Eternally 21. This is done through Christs suffering Death and Resurrection in his bloudy y Or Fight or combat Conflict viz the victory of his Death is the hand that baptiseth Note the right Man is baptised unto Life and the Serpent-Grosse earthly Man is baptised with Christs Death and dying so that he shall dye and leave all his evill lusts and desires to the Death of Christ that that may kill it and bring a new will out of the Death of Christ out of Soule and Body 22. The Evill Man viz that Serpent-Monster is taken with this baptisme viz where the hand of God viz his speaking Word it selfe taketh and baptiseth and is buried with Christ in his Death and in that Hell into which Christ in his dying entred understand into the Darknesse of Gods Wrath viz into the Abysse of the humanity and this anointing in the Baptisme bindeth and uniteth it selfe with the true Adamicall first Body which was before the fall of Adam and generateth through Christs victory a new will in soule and body which obeyeth God 23. Thus then according to this anointing the true Man standeth in the Anointing of Christ and the Serpent-Monster standeth in Gods wrath and yet during this time of life dwell in one body but each in its Principle viz in its own Property concerning which St Paul saith Rom. 7.20.25 Now if I sinne it is not I but sinne in the Evill flesh that doth it Also so then I now serve God with the minde of the anointed Ground and with the Minde of the false flesh I serve the Law of sinne 24. And saith further Rom. 8.1.28 Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus in his anointing which according to this purpose of God are called in the Word or are thus comprehended in the Calling in the Anointing where he then meaneth the right anointed Man which in this time of life sticketh hidden in the z Viz Shell Scales of the Earthly Body as fine Gold in a Grosse stone and yet according to the Anointing dwelleth in Heaven as St Paul also saith Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven Also Rom. 6.15 Gal. 2.17 Shall we then that belong unto Christ be yet sinners that be farre from us where he meaneth the Anointed Ground and not the beastiall Monster of Earthlinesse full of Evill inclinations which standeth in the wrath of God the Condemnation and shall not inherite the Kingdome of God which yet in this life time hangeth to the right anointed Man 25. The anointed Ground is the Christian and not the outward Grosse Beast The Anointing it is which daily breaketh the head of the Monster the Serpent viz the Evill Earthly will where the Strife in Man is where one property willeth Evill and the other Good and that which overcometh driveth Man on to Work Therefore shall and must Mans Works be Judged and every one be gathered into its barne viz that which is done in the power of the Anointing into the Kingdome of God and that which is done in the power of the Monster the Serpent into Damnation into the Darknesse of Wrath and Death The Third Chapter A Briefer and more fundamentall Instruction how Man is Baptised by the Holy Ghost with Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection in Body and Soule WHen God would introduce his Covenant with the Water Baptisme into the humanity then was the inspoken Grace-word of the holy fire of God viz the fiery Love First beforehand become Man and tooke first beforehand the Womans seede on him viz our soule spirit and whole humanity that he might Baptise us with the living Covenant which was God and Man For the Body of Man to which the Baptisme was necessary was out of the Elements and now if it should be baptised the Covenant Would first beforehand give it selfe into an Elementary Medium as in the humanity of Christ and sanctifie the same that Man might through this Medium be baptised For it was not to be done alone for the heavenly Substance which vanished in Paradise in which Substance as in the most inward Ground of the humanity the Covenant in Paradise incorporated it selfe that the same Ground alone should be baptised No but also for the Soule and for the Body out of the Limus of the Earth The whole Man needeth the Baptisme All the Three Principles viz all the Three worlds Properties in Man must be baptised The first Principle is the Eternall Nature The Mysterium Magnum the Great Mystery out of which the visible world is sprung forth a ground of the true Eternall Soule which through Gods inbreathing came into the Body The second Principle is the true Eternall Spirit viz the Holy Lights-Power which Power I call in this little Booke the heavenly Ens or Substance vanished in Adam which vanished in Adam with the Fall as the Soules-will departed out there-from into Earthlinesse and brake its will off therefrom The Third Principle is the Man from the outward worlds Substance viz the Astrall soule with its Body out of the Limus of the Earth which standeth in the foure Elements This Threefold Man was wholly fallen for as soone as the Light in the Spirit of the Second Principle went out he was quite blinde as to God and dead as to Paradise in this must a Divine Love Ens be Infused or imprinted againe wherein the Divine fire and Light might kindle it selfe to a new Life and therefore the Holy Fire of the Great Love of God in the Covenant must manifest it selfe in the Humanity of Christ that Gods Spirit might Baptise us out of with and through this Threefold Humanity that Each Principle in us might be baptised with its like or similitude For the Holy Ghost Baptiseth through Christ to the forgivenesse of sinnes How is this Baptisme of the Holy Ghost Effected Answer Gods holy Fire of the Divine Love power in Christ Jesus baptiseth his Temple in us which the holy fire Life viz Gods Spirit will possesse viz the vanished Ens of the Heavenly worlds Substance the Spirit of power and understanding the second Principle or Angelicall Ground to which Ground Christ afterwards giveth his holy Spirituall flesh for food wherein the true b Owne very Reflect Image Expresse Image of God doth Consist The Divine Love and sweetnes in the holy fire baptiseth this Spirit for it is an Ens of the holy fire wherin it