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
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
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
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
right figure of Adam after the Fall and Abell stood in the figure of the New Regeneration viz in Christs figure signifying how Christ would with his Sacrifice goe into Death and so the Image of the perished Adam stood neere Cain signifying how Christ was come to seeke lost Man and to Generate him a New with his Sacrifice 17. But as the vanity of Men gat the upperhand and their Nature became still more Evill and shamefull then was quenched this understanding of the Holy Fire among them till the Flood came upon them and destroyed them which was a Type of the Baptisme signifying how the water of Eternall Life viz Gods Substantiall Meeknesse would drowne and quench that false Fire viz the false life of the Soule and how the Soule would grow up out of the Holy Water in the Meeknesse of God to a New Life of Light 18. But when God renewed his Covenant with Abraham which was Established in Paradise then HEE gave him the figure of Christ againe e With. in the Circumcision signifying how Christ with his heavealy Bloud would cut off Sinne and vanity from our uncleane Birth And therefore the Masculine Persons must be Circumcised in that same Member whereby the Humane propagation is Effected 19. Further he sets before him the Figure of Christ by his Sonne Isaac in calling him to sacrifice and slay his Sonne on the Wood how it would goe with the humane Redemption how Christ would be a Sacrifice in our received humanity and he awakened againe the Holy fire which devoured his sacrifice to signifie how Gods Love-fire would swallow up into it selfe Gods Wrath fire in Man and turne it into Divine Love and thereupon gave him the promise that the seede of his Covenant which would through this Holy Fire through the Transmutation through the dying of vanity grow forth in the Love-fire would be so great and so many as the starres in the firmament Thus would Gods children through the Sacrifice and Death of Christ through this changing grow forth out of the Holy Fire 20. This stood in the Old Testmenâ—t in the figure and the f Reconciliation attonement was done in the Sacrifice through the Holy Fire which fire was an Image of the Wrath of God which would devoure in it selfe the sinnes together with the Soule for the Fathers property in the Wrath was turned into this g Fire-noyse fire-smoak and the Sonnes property in the Love and Meeknesse brought it selfe h Or into in the Wrath for they sacrificed the flesh of Beasts but yet they brought their Imagination and Prayer into the Grace of God and Imaged or Imprinted themselves in the Covenant of the Grace of Love 21. And with this Imaging or Imprinting they entered into the Sacrifice as into the fire of Gods Wrath and Divine Love wherein the attonement was done and so the Wrath-fire of their introduced desire tooke the Earthly vanity and consumed it through the beastiall property of the Sacrifice to signifie that Man outwardly hath assumed to himselfe beastiall Properties and awakened them in him through false Lust 22. Seeing then also such beastiall Properties hung to the Mande of Man viz the Animale soule from the Constellation so that their Prayer and Will were not pure before God therefore Gods Wrath-fire confumed this Beastiall vanity of Man in the Sacrifice through Beastiall Properties and their Immodeled Image or Type of the Grace went with their prayer into the holy Fire and there was the soulish-desire received in that same Holy sire now pierced with the received humane desire through the Fathers Wrath-fire in the Sacrifice 23. And thus the Children of Israel in the Sacrifice and fire were i Aâ—â—â—ned released from their sinnes and vanity in a spirituall manner upon the future fullfilling till Christ would Come and assume our humanity and give up himselfe to God his Father as a Sacrifice into his Wrath-fire and with the manifested Love-source in the Name JESVS turne the Wrath into Love where then the Wrath swallowed up the humane owne Will and Gods Love-will through Christs Love grew forth through Death and through the Wrath and the humanity went through Death into the Eternall Life 24. In this manner was Israel in the Type of Christ through the Covenant of God through the sacrifice and fire after a spirituall manner ransomed from sinnes for Israels Faith went through the Sacrifice into the Covenant of God viz. into the Grace-Attonement of the Womans seede and Gods Imagination went also into his Covenant made with Adam and Abraham and there was a Conjunction and the true attonement in the Covenant was done through the holy fire which holy fire afterwards in Christ manifested it selfe in the humanity and tooke away the Strength from the Poyson of the wrath of God and turned it into Love and brake open the strong Impression of Death in the soule fire and brought the Divine Love and Meeknesse thereinto 25. But when the time drew neere that GOD would manifest his Love-fire through his Covenant in the Humanity that the same fire should be kindled in the Humane Life then God reâ—â—wed the Type and with St John began the Water Baptisme and brought his Covenant out of the Circumcision into the Baptisme 26. But saith Reason What is or signifieth water-Water-Baptisme What doth God thereby also what doth it Effect Answer As is mentioned above The Soule had so hard k Text. Impressed compressed it selfe in its properties in the wrath-full Anger of God that thereby it stood in Eternall Death In it was no divine Love-Ens more manifest or moveable wherein it might be able to kindle the Holy fire of the Love of God and therefore God sent the Baptisme before this holy kindling and set it in the first Covenant For when the Word and the power of the Holy fire became Man and manifested it selfe in Christ then the Holy Word in the Holy fire through the assumed Humanity spake in it selfe into its fellow-Members according to the Humanity 27. Now if this Inspeaking should take Effect in Man and become Substantiall then must the Divine l Eintauchen Soaking or steeping Infusion goe before for as the Word in the Covenant manifested it selfe in the humanity then the meeke Love and Grace in the Covenant did flow forth with this flowing forth of the Divine Love was the Covenant set m Instituted and placed in the Water-Baptisme for seeing Man was Earthly and Elementary there must also be an Elementary Medium or Meanes for that purpose wherein the flowing forth of the Divine Love in the Covenant might take hold that a humane Naturall Substance might be in the middle whereinto the Divine and also the Humane Imagination might enter and Infuse it selfe in the humanity for a new Ens or kindler wherein the Holy Fire might kindle it selfe in the dry soules-fire 28. As was done under Circumcision in the Sacrifices there the Beastiall fat was a Medium wherein by such
kindling the humane desire through the Covenant went to meete God and Gods-Imagination went into the Covenant Thus stood the Holy Fire in the Covenant opposire to the Wrath in the Introduction of the humane desire in the Sacrifice Gods Imagination in his Love-fire went into the Covenant and the Humane Imagination went also through the Sacrifice in the Fire into the Covenant for in the fire was Gods Wrath met opposite where through the humane Imagination must goe into the Covenant and so consume the sinne and uncleannesse in the Humane desire which pierced to God Thus stood in the Covenant the lovâ—r fire met opposite to the humane desire and the same tooke the humane desire in the Wrath-fire to it according to its purity 29. As may be seene by Moses on Mount Sinai where first the Fathers Property in the Covenant out of the Wrath-fire opened it selfe and required Mans Righteousnesse that the same should walke before God in full obedience and purity and in purity draw neere unto him through the Sacrifice in the fire And if not then he would devoure them in the Curse through this Wrath-fire which was an Image Type or shadow signifying how the humane vanity should and must be purged through Gods wrath-fire But in the same wrath-fire stood the love-fire met opposite in the Covenant in the Sacrifice as an Image of Christ and quenched the Wrath-fire so that the soules desire with its prayer and Will could pierce through this wrath-fire into God 30. This Love-fire that stood opposite to the Wrath in the Sacrifice which also the Wrath-fire kindled so that it devoured the Sacrifice that is it which in the limit of the Covenant in the seede of the Woman awakened it selfe with heavenly Substantiality viz with the Essentiall Wisdome and gave it selfe up into our Substance vanished as to God yet heavenly 31. Our substance vanished and shut up in Death was signified by the drie Rod of Aaron which Substance grew in this awakening and introducing of the Heavenly Living Love n Or Substance Essence where Gods Substance became Man in whom the Holy fire could Burne For the Divine Ens which vanished in Adam which grew againe with such kindling was the food of this Love-fire as a Spirituall Holy Oyle wherein the Love-fire could kindle and burne and that same Love-burning was the New Life of the Regeneration 32. But seeing in o By OTHER may be ment other men then the man Christ himselfe OTHER Men there should not be Effected such a supernaturall kindling through the speciall Moving of God but that other Men should all be kindled through this holy fire out of Christ therefore went the Covenant through the Water-Baptisme with the out flowne Grace first into the Heavenly Ens of Man viz into the vanished Substance wherein the Incorporated Paradisicall-Covenant of the Serpent-Destroyer steed and pierced into the same Covenant 33. Yet seeing the Humane Essence which was become Earthly should goe together with such piercing in therefore there must also be such a Medium for it wherein the Humane Essence can take hold for in Gods Holinesse it cannot take hold for the will was rent off from that therefore there must now be a similitude wherein the Imagination of the Humane Nature may take hold 34. For Christ also had this similitude viz the Elements received from us Men that the Divine Imagination might take hold in the Water that so the Divine and humane Imagination together might awaken and kindle the Incorporated Paradisicall-Covenant in that manner as a Glimmering Mother fire or tinder-fire cometh into the wood and Glimmereth 35. After such a manner through the Baptisme was introduced a Divine Mother-fire of the Holy fire a holy and Divine Glimmering fire which destroyed and brake sinne and Death to pieces in the Inwardnesse of Man viz in the vanished heavenly Ens from which the dry withered Tree of the Inward Ground might receive a life againe viz a Spirituall Oyle In which new Spirituall Oyle of the Power of the Divine Light the Love-fire viz the New-Life should burne 36. This is now the water-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 the Inward Ground and kindleth the Incorporated Paradisicall Covenant with this fire that the dry Rod of Aaron buddeth forth 37. 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 him and imprinted in his even heavenly vanished Ens to a New Life which hath overcome Death 38. As a Tincture tinctureth wholly and throughly penetrateth the Mettle or as fire gloweth quite through the Iron so heere it is to be understood concerning those who are capable of such Infusion as shall further be taught The Second Chapter Of Gods Covenant after the Fall what the Fall of Man is and how God hath bound and united himselfe with him againe What the Circumcision in the old Testament and the Baptisme in the New are WHen any will kindle a Fire they must have some Substance that will take Fire it must be a Substance wherein there is an Oyle and Brimstone or it burneth not For if they cast a Stone or the like into the Fire it will not so burn as to come to a shining light so also it is to be understood concerning the poore Soule When it brake its desire off from Gods Essence of Love and Meeknesse which Essence in the beginning was in it as a Spirituall Oyle and Water and it was as a Spirituall Brimstone wherein the Light of God did burne then it brought it selfe into owne Desire whereby it was shut up as a hard Stone and lost all its Love and Meeknesse and was as a burning Brim-stone-spirit which could not be remedied unlesse the Oyle of Divine Meeknesse and Love did flow into it againe To this flowing into the Humane property there must be a Subject as a Medium or Meanes or o Resemblance or thing of the like nature Antitype whereby it may be done whereinto also the Humane Faith Entered and received the virtue or power through a Medium or Meane This Medium in the Old Testament is the Circumcision together with the Sacrifices and in the New Testament it is the Holy Baptisme and Supper of Christ together with the Word taught whereby the Divine Love and Meeknesse as the right p Balsam orVnction Anointing Oyle of divine power is againe flowen into the * Glauben See Ch. 1. v. 28. on the second side Faith and so the shut Mouth of the soule is received into and comprehended in the Covenant of God and opened againe by the sweet Grace so that it can againe Eate
through Gods Imagination and kindling and there the humane introduced Will which hangeth to Earthlinesse is clensed and in the holy Fire purged and ransomed from sinne upon the future fullfilling For the ground out of which this Holy Fire came Manifested it selfe afterwards in Mans Life in the Person of Christ Thus stood the figure in their Sacrifices to shew how the earthly Image of Man should be preserved in the fire of God and how the grossenesse of the Elements should be consumed and out of the Consuming of the fire should goe forth the right true created pure bright spirituall Image in Adam which in the fire of Gods Wrath through this holy fire of the Great Love should be brought into Clarity In which New Image the Great fiery Love would it selfe be the fire of Life that it might no more Imagine falshood With this Faith the first Men before Christs time before Christ manifested himselfe in this incorporated Grace Covenant and became Man were apprehended and taken into the Living Word of God viz into the Grace wherein their Soule came into Divine Rest Note till Christ fullfilled this Type and arose from Death and then hee also with his life and Substance in them viz on their Inward Ground of the Heavenly part which vanished in Adam arose and was manifested and they put on Christ in Soule and Spirit and so now wait for their Body out of the Limus of the Earth viz the Third Principle of the visible worlds property viz the formed Outspoken substantiall word of the Resurrection at the Last Day As also it is thus to be understood concerning Christians This Ground of the Holy Fire began with Adam with Abell and Caine when Abell and Caine sacrificed God looked graciously on Abells sacrifice and kindled it with holy Fire and the sweet smell went up before the LORD for the Image or Type of Christ in his Faith stood therein therefore God kindled his Sacrifice with the Holy Fire and it was acceptable before God for it was a Conjunction with the Divine desire But Cains he looked not graciously on for he had not such Faith or beleefe but stood in the perished Adamicall Nature of own Lust and desire and had imprinted or Imaged to himselfe the Kingdome of this world and therefore the Holy Fire would not kindle in his Sacrifice Cain stood in the Figure of the perished Adam after the Fall and Abell stood in the figure of the New Regeneration signifying how Christ would with his Sacrifice goe into Death and die for Man and so the Image of Caine stood neere signifying how Christ was come to seeke the poore falne Man and with his Sacrifice generate him a New But as the vanity of Men gat the upperhand and their Nature became still more Evill and shamefull then was quenched this understanding of the Holy Fire among them till the Flood came upon them and overthrew them which was a Type of the Baptisme signifying how the water of Eternall Life viz Gods Substantiall Meeknesse would drowne and quench that false fiery life of the Soule and how the Soule would grow up out of the Holy Water in the Meeknesse of God to a New Life of Light Now when the time came that God renewed his Covenant with Abraham which Hee had established in Paradise HEE gave him the figure of Christ againe Å¿ With. in the Circumcision and the Holy Fire as is to be seene by the Sacrifices of Abraham Gen. 15. how the Fire came forth between the Parts and how at the same time in a vision terrour and great anguish fell upon him all which signifie the Death of Christ and the transmutation of Soules The Circumcision of the Member of the Humane propagation was a figure signifying How the fleshly Man of Masculine and Feminine seede should be cut off from the Image Created in Adam through the Death of Christ with the Anger of God and through the bloud-shed of Christ be againe brought into the Eternall Virginity therefore must the Masculine Persons be Circumcised on that same Member to signifie the uncleane Birth after a Beastiall Manner which is a u Abomination vanity in the presence of God therefore God set his Grace-Govenant in the figure of Christ on this Member and so set Christ before him whom hee had set up for a throne of Grace that they might walke before him and that his anger might not eate them up Gen. 17. And he sets the figure of Christ forth with his processe neere upon Isaac signifying how the Redemption of Mankinde should be Effected How Gods Love-fire should swallow up into it selfe Gods Wrath-fire in Man and turne it into Love and thereupon gave him the Promise that this promised incorporated Seede which would through the Transmutation in the Fire through the Dying of Vanity grow forth in the Love-fire would be so great as the Starres in Heaven But when the time drew neere that GOD would manifest his Love-fire through his Covenant in the Humanity that the same fire should be kindled in the Humane Life then he brought his Covenant typified with Circumcision into water-Water-Baptisme and with St John began the water-Water-Baptisme But saith Reason What is or signifieth the water-Water-Baptisme What doth God worke thereby Answer As is mentioned above The Soule had so much enraged it selfe with wrath in its properties that thereby it stood in Eternall Death In it was Gods Love-Essence no more manifest wherein it might be able to kindle the Holy Fire of God viz the Holy Life therefore God sent the Holy Baptisme before and set it in the Covenant For when the Word viz the power of the holy Fire became Man and revealed it selfe in Christ then Christ with the holy Fire through the assumed humanity inspake himselfe into his fellow Members according to the Humanity Now if this Inspeaking should take Effect and become Substantiall then must the Divine x Eintauchen Infusion goe before for as soone as the word manifested it selfe in the Humanity then the Meeke Love and Grace in the Covenant did flow forth with this flowing forth of the Divine Love in the Covenant was the Covenant set in the Water-Baptisme Seeing Man was of an Elementary Earthly kinde there must also be an Elementary Medium or Meanes for that purpose wherein the flowing forth of the Divine Love in the Covenant might take hold that a humane Naturall Substance might be in the Middle whereinto the Divine and humane Imagination might Enter and y Eintauchen Infuse it selfe in the humanity for an Ens or kindler wherein the Holy fire might kindle it selfe in the dry soules fire As was done by the Circumcision and in the Sacrifice where the Beastiall fat was a Medium wherein the humane desire in such kindling with the Covenant went to meete God and Gods Imagination went thus to meete the Covenant in Man Thus stood the Holy Fire opposite to the Wrath and Consumed the uncleannesse in the Humane Will that
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-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-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
into it for so soone as the Wrath-fire unlocketh the Soule iustantly it receiveth the Love-fire of the Sonne and goeth into it as fire Gloweth through Iron or as a Tincture penetrateth Metrall 9. And thus is the Soule given from the Father to the Sonne and thus the Sonne Giveth it the Love-fire viz the Eternall Life for if the Fathers Property did not move together in the shut up Soule then the Soule would remaine in its Impression in Eternall Death and the Light could not be manifested in it 10. The q Commotion or Contrition shrill sounding and kindling of the Fathers fire is the fountains of humane Repentance where man trembleth before sinne for in the fire-glance is the false compressed vanity of sinnes in the Darknesse of the Soule Manifest and the Love-shining in of the Sonne is the Meeke Love-Oyle that uniteth and tempereth the Contrition or shrill sounding againe 11. For the Sonne is in the Father and the Father in the Sonne and they baptise together The Father with fire and the Sonne with Light after that manner as fire is struck so that the meeke Light-Glance is manifested out of the fire and so the fire burning is wholly turned and growne into a Light Glance â— The Fathers fire with its terrour consumeth the vanity in the Soule and the Sonnes Love healeth it againe Thus is the Baptisme according to the Inward Ground of Mans Soule and Spirit to be understood 12. The Third Property of the Third Principle r Text. With. in the Water-Baptisme wherewith the body of the outward Worlds Substance as also the Spirit of the Constellation in Man is baptised is thus to be considered By the Water viz by the Element of the Body of Christ the right Adamicall Man which was created in Adam as to the Body understand out of the outward worlds Substance is baptised for here the Holy Ghost baptiseth who goeth forth from the Father and the Sonne his Going forth is the formation of the world and the world is the outspoken formed Word and the Spirit of God it is that hath formed it 13. For Hee is to be understood in all the Three worlds in each world according to their Property As in the Fathers wrath according to the Darknesse he is the flame of Painfullnesse and in the Eternall Light he is the Love-flame of God and in this world in Spiritu Mundi in the Spirit of the world he is the formour and workmaster of every thing in every thing according to its property As the Seperator of the thing is so also is the outflowne Spirit out of the out-spoken word in every thing 14. For in the outward worlds Substance it is not to be understood that the Spirit of its Substance is called God but it is the outflowne Spirit in the outspoken word of God which with its ground standeth in the Word of God 15. The Outflowne Spirit of the Outward Creaturely and Naturall Life is flowne forth out of Gods Love and Wrath out of Light and Darknesse viz out of the first and second Principle as out of the Eternall Nature out of the Speaking of the Word and standeth with its Ground in Gods Speaking for the Eternall Word Å¿ Or breatheth forth that out-spoken Spirit exhaleth it selfe with that Spirit into a Creaturely Life 16. It that same Exhaled Spirit is the outward Creaturely Life in Every Creature according to its property It is the Soule of the Outward World viz the Inceptive Soule a life of the foure Elements It s power is a fiery and lightish Constellation What the whole outward Constellation is in it selfe in its power the same is that Spirit alone in it selfe yet as a shut up Constellation that lyeth in the Temperament and yet unfolds it selfe in Every Life and maketh it selfe Seperable according to the lifes property t Text. By. In the Temporary Creatures with a Temporary Property and t Text. By. in the Eternall with an Eternall Property In Man with a temporary and fragile Corruptible property and also with an Eternall Which Eternall hangeth to the Eternall Exhaled Word to the Eternall Exhaling wherein Man at the Last Day according to the visible Image shall arise and come againe out of the Corruptibility and be presented before Gods Judgement before The Judgement and be put upon the Great u Or fiery Triall fires Proba where the Mortall shall seperate it selfe from the Eternall 17. Understand us now heere rightly thus concerning the Baptisme of this Outward Spirit The Inward Holy-Spirit of Divine Love kindleth the Outflowen Spirit and anointeth it with Divine Power For the humanity of Christ according to our Outward Spirit was anointed of the Holy Ghost and that same outward Spirit of Christ which in Christs Person in the Elements of the Body ruled after a humane Manner that in the Covenant of his Testament in the Water-Baptisme anointeth the Inward ground of the Water and the anointed power in the water in the word of the Covenant anointeth the true Man which in Adam was Created out of the Limus of the Earth and so also it anointeth the Spiritus Mundi the Spirit of the world viz the right x Note Astrall Soule which at the Last Day shall come againe and be tryed 18. Now understand us dearely and well it availeth us much This Anointing of water-Water-Baptisme is anointed with Christs suffering death and resurrection it is anointed with Christs shedding of his bloud with which heavenly bloud he changed Gods Wrath into Love and besprinkled Death in the humane Property wherewith he anointed the Earth when he shed forth this his bloud upon and into it Note also It was anointed therewith when Christ yeelded his anointed Life of the outward humanity received from us in his Death into this Spiritus Mundi this spirit of the world againe and anointed that also with his Anointing in his Death viz where his outward mortall soule received from us which dyed on the Crosse and yeelded it selfe into the hand of God as into his Outspoken Word went out of the Body into the Elements Also It is anointed therewith where this his outward Soule with the Eternall Soule wherein the holy Ghost was penetrated through Death and Hell And also therewith where the Holy Ghost in the Word received this his dead Astrall Soule our of death and brought it through death with his resurrection into Eternall Life where Gods Love anointed it with the Eternall Life 19. This Anointing of Christ is understood in the water-Water-Baptisme as in the Covenant of God for God anointeth in the humanity of Christ the Elements of the Body together with the Mortall and Immortall Soule and bringeth Christ with this anointing into his Death and into the Wrath and through Death into the Eternall Life And this Anointing wherein Christ hath overcome Gods Wrath Sinne Death the Devill and Hell hath God with his Covenant of the Old-Testament ordained in the Water-Baptisme and offereth it
unfoldeth it selfe in every Life and maketh it selfe Seperable according to every Lifes property Note Courteous Reader this is what our Authour blessed in the Spirit of the high knowledge indeed readily began to bring to the easier understanding for the simple but hath not finished it for * Anno. A. †O. 1624. in his Jubilee yeare or 50th yeare of his Age he went according to the Mystery againe into his Grave or Magick and Mentall Principle The Fourth Chapter Of the Outward Water-Baptisme by Mans hand who is worthy to performe such Baptisme and what Baptised Infant doth worthily receive this Baptisme how it goeth with the unworthy hand as also with the unworthy Baptised Infant In this time highly necessary to be considered 1. WHen God established the Testament of his holy Covenant of Grace in Paradise out of the Type and Sacrifices would ordaine the Circumcision into Water-Baptisme then he bringeth forth a Branch out of his Covenant in a humane Manifestation and began the Water-Baptisme thereby As is cleerely to be seene in John the Baptist who was proclaimed by the Angelicall Message or Embassie and moreover of the stock of the high Priests 2 His Incarnation or becoming Man came not from the will of the flesh for his Father Zachary and Mother Elizabeth which were ancient people full of Dayes who were cleerly dead in the fleshly sperme or seede where the ability of Man was cleerly gone The seede of Zachary and Elizabeth was raised up through the moving of the Holy Ghost out of the Paradisicall Grace-Covenant in their now quite vanished Spermatick Property 3. Indeed he came out of the humane Ground but not out of humane ability for the Anointing in the Covenant awakened it so that their sperme above the course and power of Natures owne ability was unlocked which Holy Ghost raised up a seede out of the humane sperme and to that purpose chose a The Seede it in its first beginning 4. But the anointing of John was done in Maries Salute when shee came to old Elizabeth and the divine anointing stirred in her understand in Mary out of Christs Incarnation or becoming Man When Mary full of this anointing saluted Elizabeth then the Incarnation of Christ diffused with the anointing through the salute of Mary in John in the Mothers womb and not onely in John but also in his Mother Elizabeth so that shee was full of this anointing and both the Mothers prophesied in the Spirit of this anointing 5. And this is the Baptisme of John when as he was anointed with the Incarnation of Christ out of Christ and received the Baptisme of the Holy Ghost out of the Covenant in the Mothers womb so that he should be a Forerunner and declarer that the time of the Anointing and fullfilling of the Covenant of God was at hand that God hath introduced his Covenant of the anointing of Grace into the humanity and that the Covenant is become a Man that God will hence forward shed forth his anointing through the humanity of Christ through an Elementary Medium or Meanes that consisteth no more in fire as in the Old Testament but in Love and Meeknesse of Water so that the time of Grace is at hand wherein God hath given his anointing into the humanity 6. And then wee see that God there began no new Covenant but onely a New Ordinance for John suffered himselfe to be Circumcised as also Christ John tooke the power and calling out of the Covenant of the Circumcision out of the Sacrifices of fire and by the command of God brought them into the water-Water-Baptisme to signifie that hence forward sinne should be drowned by the death of Christ in his Love and Meeknesse and no more burne in the fire as was done by Israel in the Type 7. Moreover wee see by John that he did not yet baptise with the forgivenesse of sinnes but with Repentance viz. with the Spirit of the anointing to Repentance which soundeth through the hearts of Men and prepareth the way for the Spirit of Christ which unlocketh the Doores of Mens hearts and soules that after b Viz. John the Baptist him the King of Glory might enter in at those Opened Gates concerning which David sayth Open the Gates wide for the King of Glory that the King of Glory viz Christ may enter in Psal 24.7.9 And as John witnesseth He baptised with water to Repentance and forgivenesse of sinnes yet he is not Christ but after him cometh he that hath the fan in his hand who will baptise with the fire of the Spirit Luk. 3.16 17. 8. Also wee see in John that he must be the sonne of a Priest who were conversant about Circumcision and Sacrifices he must come out of the Law of the Covenant and suffer himselfe to be Circumcised and put on the Covenant that he might with the Spirit of the Covenant and of Circumcision begin the Water Baptisme viz the Ordinance of Grace and forgivenesse for sinne should be destroyed now no more by fire but by Love which God manifested in the Covenant through Christ it sinne should be drowned and changed by Gods Meeknesse 9. Therefore also God ordained for this destroying of sinnes this meanes of the Water-Baptisme to signifie that sinne should be drowned in the bloud of Christ in his Love and Grace and that Man should henceforth have an open Gate of Grace to God in the Love and Meeknesse so that now with the Repentant sorrow for sinnes with the c The absolution from sinnes forsaking of sinnes he may Enter through this Gate into Grace 10. And wee see heere in John the beginner of the Water-Baptisme what Man is worthy to baptise with this new Grace Covenant viz such a one as also beforehand hath been baptised with this Grace as John was by Christ who was Baptised even in his Mothers womb for flesh and bloud without this anointing cannot Baptise for this Might standeth not in the d Or Power authority of Man but in Christs d Or Power authority 11. Note A Christian in whom is the anointing of Christ baptiseth with the anointing of Christ for the Holy Trinity baptiseth with the Grace-Covenant of the anointing with Christs Incarnation or becoming Man with his suffering death and victory Now will any baptise they must not onely baptise with the Hand and Water-Baptisme but also with the Faith of the anointing 12. An unfaithfull or unbeleeving Baptiser doth no more in this high work of the Baptisme Then the Font-stone or Bason doth which holdeth the water for though he sprinkle or powre water and useth the words of Christ yet he Effecteth nothing therewith but is dumb or dead in the working except the Covenant of Christ worketh and baptiseth he is but meerly a Medium or means like a worklesse inanimate e Or Thing Substance that doth not it selfe work together in this Covenant but onely doth the work in which work God worketh in respect of his Covenant
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
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