Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	child_n	love_n	love_v	1,580	5	6.8174	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76955	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.; Von Christi Testamenten. English	Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665?	1652 (1652)	Wing B3412; Thomason E665_4; ESTC R14724	100,767	137

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 Cha●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

13. Not so to be understood as if the worke by the unworthy hand were therefore wholly f Or Ineffectuall powerlesse no the Covenant of God g Absenteth or withdraweth severeth not it selfe for the unworthy hands sake which is but a Medium or Means for faithfull Parents which stand in the anointing of this Covenant and have put on the Covenant they have the anointing also in their seede and generate Children out of the property of their bodyes and soules now if they be baptised in body and soule and have put on the anointing of Christ wherefore then not also the Ens of their bodyes if they be the Temples of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in them and eate Christs flesh and drink his bloud so that Christ is in them and they in Christ as Christ sayth Joh. 6.56 Wherefore then not also the fruit of their Bodies For Christ sayth indeed Matth. 7.18 a Good Tree cannot bring forth bad fruit and a bad Tree cannot bring forth Good fruit If the eye of the spirit be light then is the whole body light If the Leven be Holy then is the whole Lump Holy Matth. 6. Rom. 11. 14. John was baptised in the Mothers womb through the Spirit of Christ out of Maries voice as also his mother Elizabeth and wee see cleerly how it came to passe for as Elizabeth heard the Spirit of Mary the Holy Ghost moved in her and also in her fruit alike they received the Baptisme of Christ out of his humanity alike the Mother with the Sonne wherefore then not also now at present in holy Parents in whom the anointing is For such as the Tree is such is also its fruit But the Covenant in the Baptisme is therefore that every one should themselves with their owne will as a particular branch on the Tree and as a life of their owne put on the Covenant of Christ as through the outward Medium or Meanes ordained thereunto 15. Not to understand that a childe of honest anointed Parents which hath attained life though it dye before the Baptisme that it is not in the anointing of Christ It hath indeed put on the anointing of its Parents for it is existed out of their substance out of their baptised soules and bodies substance and onely needeth if it liveth to enter into the Image of the visible Covenant as a life of its owne and with its will give it selfe up into that which it inheriteth from its Parents But seeing a childe understandeth not this therefore the Parents doe it with their Faith and every one of those that are called to that work viz the h Pathen Gossips Witnesses or God-fathers and God-mothers who in their faiths-desire with their Prayer i Transferre or deliver over recommend the childe to the Covenant of Christ and present it in the Covenant of Christ to the Holy Trinity and desire the Covenant to be upon this Childe 16. All these both the Parents and standers by viz the faithfull Baptiser and Witnesses worke with their faith in the property of the Childe and reach out to it with their faith the Covenant of Christ for the will of their Faith taketh the Childes will being without understanding into their faiths desire and so beare the childes will in their will with their anointing into the Covenant of Christ viz before the Holy Trinity 17. When the Baptiser sprinkleth or powreth the water upon the Childe then is his faith together in the water and fastneth it selfe in the words of Christ who sayth Matth 28.19 Goe hence into all the world Baptising all Nations in the Name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Upon Christs command they Baptise Men the Baptiser Baptiseth with the Hand and with Faith and the Parents together with the Witnesses baptise with their Faiths desire with the anointed will they infuse it into Christs Covenant and Christ infuseth himselfe therein with his Bloud Death and Victory viz with the victory of his Death and kindleth the faiths Ens of the Childe with his love fire 18. Thus the Graine of Mustardseed of the love-fire soweth it selfe into the Childes Soules and Bodies Ens as a Glimmering k Hatcher breeder or Ember Mother of Divine Love which Mother afterwards when the childe getteth understanding of its owne is more kindled through Faith Repentance and Prayer and becometh a high shining Light and when afterwards the Mouth of Faith eateth Christs flesh and drinketh his bloud then this holy Mother love-fire atteineth holy Oyle to the burning of its Life 19. With the Baptisme is implanted the humanity of Christ according to the holy Love-water viz the Water of Eternall Life in which water the holy fire may burne and with the Supper is participated the Holy Tincture in the bloud and flesh of Christ viz the true Love-fire burning a spirituall Anointing Oyle out of the divine fire and Light which the water of Love kindleth viz the Baptisme-Covenant And though a Childe be borne of Holy Parents Note and in the Mothers womb be cleerely in this Covenant yet it ought also to put on this Covenant in its owne selfesubsisting person in its owne lifes will for this Cause that in the flesh Sinne and uncleannesse is together propagated and inherited and therefore should it selfe put on this Covenant for it ought and must it selfe with the Covenant of Grace breake the head of the Serpent in the flesh and therefore it ought also it selfe to put on Christ with his victory For Christ now offereth himselfe to it selfe it ought therefore in its owne person to receive him with its owne will and give its owne will up to him 20. For the Baptisme is nothing else but a marriage or Contract with God l Text. auff upon in Christs bloud and Death wherein Christ bindeth himselfe to Man with his victory and Resurrection and placeth Man therein And Man in the Baptisme giveth up his Adamicall averse will to the Death of Christ and desireth to dye to his owne will in the Death of Christ and to rise againe through Christs Resurrection out of Christs Death with and in Christ to a new will and to live and to will with Christ For wee are through the Baptisme with Christs victory planted anew in the Word of God for Man is the Outspoken Imaged Word of God which hath brought his will in Adam from the speaking of God into an owne will and speaking and is become treacherous to the Word of God and with the Baptisme the Imaged Word promiseth and incorporateth it selfe againe with the Eternall Speaking of God that it will speake and will according to God viz Gods righteousnesse and truth 21. The Baptisme is an Oath which Man sweareth m In or into to God when he renounceth the Devill and his Kingdome and giveth up himselfe to God for his proper owne viz for a Temple of God And though a childe understandeth not this yet the Baptiser as also the Parents and Witnesses should

evill againe and constantly walketh thus circumspectly in his whole life to the end of his dayes This Man hath the Love of God shed abroad in his heart and hath received it else it could not bring forth such fruits of the Spirit and he that is so led by the Spirit is the childe of God though it may be such a one doth not know if you aske him what Gods Love is though he dwelleth in it and the cause why there is so small progresse in the knowledge of Christianity and the true Ordinances of God is because men think to learne those things by roate and not by Heart some are so far enemies to themselves which is deeply to be lamented that if they read that the Scripture saith a thing they care not what it m●aneth or how to understand it aright by seeking and finding the thing out which is spoken of that they may be sure of the meaning of what they reade in that in estimable booke of God Indeed the Holy Scriptures have perfectly declared all the Mysteries of God and his Ordinances and they have been rendred out of the Originall Languages of Hebrew and Greeke into the Mother Tongues almost of all Nations sufficiently to leave them without excuse that be not obedient in their lives and Conversations so far as they may know so that it will be far more easie for the Heathen to excuse themselves at the Last day then for those that have read or heard the Scriptures and live not accordingly though the Heathen also shall be left without excuse as the Scripture saith God hath left them without excuse in that he doth good and giveth them raine from Heaven and fruitfull seasons filling their hearts with food and Gladnesse Furthermore The Scriptures have had many laborious Expositions of the words and rendrings both of the Originall and translated Copies by large Writings Commentaries and Glosses but the things which are undeniably meant by those words are not so well understood as they might be if wee would be more frequent and diligent in the practise of that which bringeth all wisdome and understanding which is inward Experience Examination of Experimenting of Spirituall things according to that of the Apostle Try or Examine all things but hold that which is Good In outward things wee are easily perswaded to try before wee trust but concerning inward things wee are for the most part ready to take them upon trust and never try or Examine whether those things are so or no as the Noble Bereans who were commended for searching or Examining the Scriptures to see whether those things were so or no not whether those words were written but whether the things mentioned were such for they had experience of the things in Scripture before hand But there is a feare in some that if wee should be so inquisitive and prying into Mysteries wee should run into the Extream of beeing too wise which cannot be except in our own conceit for our Saviour sayth Be ye wise as Serpents but Innocent as Doves and indeed true wisdome is required to be able to dispence the Ordinances of God and not reading and conceiving only but Living the life of Christ whereby wee shall come to the true knowledge of Christ within us and though he were in our Parents before us and in their seed and so from our beginning to be and continually ever since in us knocking and calling at the inward doore of our hearts invisibly without a forme as the seed of God in the Embrio before our knowing receiving of him yet after we have opened to him and heard his call by yeelding our hearts in obedience therunto he will get a form in us be born in us and wee shall be regenerated in him and so wee shall often feele him and see him but after that againe wee must attaine the stature of a Man in Christ and be his disciples and schollers and be taught by the Holy Ghost proceeding from him in us before we can know and understand such Mysteries as his Ordinances are But if wee did seeke wee should finde God and Christ in our Hearts for though they be in us wee finde them not because wee examine not what and who they are and we are discouraged in our seeking partly because many have sought as wee have accounted it aright and have not found but the truth is they have not sought in the right place they looke to finde God any where but in their hearts and yet he that cannot finde him there shall never be able to finde him at all but there whosoever seeks shall find him who is the fountain from whence all things flow forth the Scriptures did flow from him and whatsoever could possibly have been written is hidden in him the Prophets and Apostles wrote and spake what they understood but God was in their hearts and mindes and filled them with the understanding of the Holy Spirit Our Saviour Jesus Christ had not the Spirit by measure for in him dwelt the fullnesse of the Deity bodily and he grew in understanding till he had the unction above his fellowes from which understanding in him proceeded those sayings whereupon the people confessed that he taught as one having power and not as the Scribes and Pharisees who though they were learned in the Scriptures yet Christ sayd to them Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures that is the meaning of the things expressed in them nor the Power of God and he that understandeth not the thing in his minde which he would utter cannot rightly speak nor write of it the Scriptures are such writings of men full of Divine wisdome and understanding but few other Bookes are written by those that so much as thought that the Apostles had such through knowledge of what they wrote in divine Mysteries some there are that seeme to thinke that the writers of the Scriptures had it by such a kinde and manner of revelation as if a man or Angel should relate and dictate words to them and they themselves have no understanding of it more then their reason can apprehend upon the bare hearing of the words and that is all the skill some of this age account possible to be attained in the Mysteries of God but we are directed by the Apostle James who well understood what he said by Experience that if wee want understanding wee should aske it of God and though God be in every one and every one liveth moveth and hath his being in him yet without the Spirit of God moveth and teacheth us in our understandings wee know him not where the fruits of the Spirit are in that Mans heart the Spirit of God hath moved and taught him in his understanding but from that small measure of understanding he is not able presently to apprehend the Mysteries of that Spirit and of those fruits that is whence they spring how they are begotten and brought forth how they grow c. nor can

understand it and introduce their faith into the childes will and so with their introduced will in the childes will together plunge or sinke themselves downe with this oath into Gods Covenant through the Word of Christ upon his command in the Water-Baptisme and apprehend the Command of Christ in themselves viz in their Faith and so in their understanding enter into the Covenant with the childes n Or Ignorance not-understanding and in the stead and with the will of the childe in their will make such a promise to God for this the Parents may and ought especially to doe seeing the childe is sprung up out of their life and substance as the branch out of the Stock o Thus so they have also power to comprehend the will of the childe in the will of their Faith and with the will of the childe to give up and binde or unite it unto God 22. Moreover the Baptiser hath this in his power who upon the Command of Christ standeth there in Christs stead and bringeth in his Mouth the Command of Christ and baptiseth with his hand upon the command of Christ such a one should be the Anointed of Christ and enter into that worke through the Doore of Christ or he is but as a piece of wood or clod of earth standing by as an Earthly Medium and himselfe doth not baptise together with his Faith but is onely an outward Instrument of the Covenant as the Axe wherewith the Carpenter heweth though indeed he is not altogether as the Axe that cutteth but as the hand that holdeth the Axe he neither cutteth nor coworketh in the work of the Spirit but is onely the outward Instrument and doth onely an outward thing Hee reacheth not ●he Covenant but onely the Water and bringeth a dead word in his life but the office of Christ is in the command 23. The living Word in the Covenant which there baptiseth hath not its originall out of the power of the wicked mouth but out of the Command in the Covenant The wicked Mouth bringeth the outward litterall Word as a Minister thereof but the Covenant bringeth the Living Word in Power If the Parents and Witnesses be faithfull they reach forth the childe with their Faith to the Covenant and the wicked Baptiser with his Mouth and Hand is but an Instrument to it in that manner and way as a Clock striketh and soundeth and yet hath no life but giveth notice and understanding to the Living what it meaneth or as a wicked Man in a shew of Holinesse nameth and acknowledgeth the Holy Name of God before a Holy person where instantly the Holy Name of God is thereby stirred and becometh working in the Heart of the Holy Man that heareth it and yet the Hypocrite in his knowledge neither understandeth it nor findeth it and this stirring of the good Heart doth not proceed out of the wicked Mouth and enter into the Holy Heart but it proceedeth out of the Name of God 24. Thus also the Holy Name baptiseth by the wicked Baptiser and not the evill Mouth but he must be an Instrument that pronounceth the Holy Name which worketh not from his pronouncing but from the Name and Covenant through the faithfull Parents and Witnesses introduction of their Faith Note For the Covenant is it selfe a Faith or Beleeving viz Gods Word and Mouth The Covenant baptiseth them all that give themselves up into it whether worthily or unworthily whether the Faith of the Boptiser and of the Parents and Witnesses be there or not but with great difference as the Scripture saith With the Holy thou art Holy and with the Perverse thou art perverse Psal 18.26 Also such as the People are such a God they have and as St Paul saith of the Supper Therefore they received it to Judgement because they distinguish not the Lords body 25. For where Gods Love is present there his wrath is also present where Light is there is also Fire The Ens of Faith presseth onely through the Fire forth into Light The Covenant standeth firme the childe is baptised with the Covenant the Covenant receiveth it although there were onely a wicked Baptiser and also such Witnesses without Faith But as the Mouth is such is also the food in the Mouth as the Lord saith by the Prophet Wherefore doth the wicked take my Covenant into his Mouth and hateth p Nurture or chastisement to be reformed Psal 50.16 17. Men should not misuse the Name of God for the Lord will not leave him unpunished that misuseth it Deut. 5.5 Hee will not cast the Pearle before Swine Matth. 7.6 The wicked Man that draweth neere to his Covenant is to God in his Covenant a Good savour to the Condemnation of Death and the Holy is a good savour to life 1 Cor. 2.15 16. 26. What else can be if there are Evill Parents without Faith but that they also beget wicked children for as the stock is so also is the fruit And now if they convert not and through true earnest Repentance and Prayer incorporate their fruit to Christ and send them with faith to this Covenant but indeed invite such wicked Witnesses or Gossips without Faith thereunto and there be also a wicked Baptiser who shall baptise heere Shall the Love of God in the Covenant of Grace baptise May it not be as St Paul sayth of the Supper That the wicked receive it unto Judgement Now if a Man make a mock of the Covenant how will Gods Glory appeare among the Scorners there it is rightly sayd With the Holy thou art holy and with the perverse thou art perverse If the seede be q Or False bad though a Man cast it into good Ground yet there groweth bad fruit from it for it draweth from the good Ground an Ens of its owne likenesse to it selfe 27. How then may it goe there where a childe springeth from Parents that are quite wicked and also wicked Witnesses are onely called to it which stand there onely for state and pride or for humane savour which are also for such causes called to it whereas there is no Faith nor Good will much lesse an Earnest Prayer but onely an Earthly Eucifer standeth before the Covenant of Christ and the Baptiser is also a dead person who awakeneth heere the Holy Covenant As the Faith is that moveth or stirreth the Covenant such is also the Manifestation of the Covenant and so is also the Baptisme 28. Christ sayth Suffer little children to come unto mee for of such is the Kingdome of God Matth. 10.14 Chap. 19.13 but he meaneth children not Wolves and Beasts Hee biddeth them to come to him and Not to bring them to him in the Devills pride and state with stately high-minded false unfaithfull People which doe but despise the humility of Christ and scorne Love it must be in Earnest if a Man will enter through the Wrath of God into Love 29. Reason sayth thus What is it to the childe that