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
Life in this Love to spring forth through IT to a new Will and Eternall Life 25. This new introduced Love and Grace hath given it selfe together into the Breaking of the Humane Life viz into the Dying of Man in the Person of Christ and brought the Humane received Owne-will with it selfe into Death and broken it and hath suffered the Humane Image which the Owne-will through its Imagination and Desire of selfe-hood hath made thus Grosse and vile and brought it from the first Angelicall Image into such a Monster to hang upon the Crosse and there to be put to scorne and so hath borne the Eternall scorne which Man must have borne as a o Triumph or shew spectacle upon the Crosse And there openly made it appeare before all Angells and Spirits how this great Grace of Love would destroy the Devills introduced Desire and Death also and with this new Introduced Love spring forth through death and bring forth the humane Life through Death and change the Wrath of the Anger of God into Love and make Darknesse Light and through this new inâ—â—oduced Love convert and transmute the Grosse Earthly Humane Image into a Heavenly Image againe 26 As the impurity of Gold is changed in the fire or much more as a Man may by the Tincture turne Copper Lead or Grosse Iron into Gold so also is the Humané Spirit together with the Body in their Three Principles changed into the Divine power and property and through Death brought into an Eternall Life which consists in Power and Glory in the Will of God 27. Where now wee understand that the humane Soule in this transmuted new Birth and introduced Love doth againe Eate of the Essentiall Wisdome of God and with its will Imageth or frameth it selfe in the Divine Science and therein hath Divine skill and knowledge And so by such Resurrection through the Death where the Man Christ in the Divine Power is arisen through Death and hath made Death Life is become a Lord over Sinne Death the Devill and Hell and hath borne all of them in its Resurrection as a p Shew or Triumph spectacle on the humane Soule and Body as a Victor over them 28. And here may be rightly mentioned what Christ saith Joh. 17. Father the Men were thine but thou hast given them unto Mee and I now give them this victory viz the New Life introduced into Death that Death in them also may be Destroyed that they in my Power may goe through Death and in my â—ower be also thus transmuted and through my Resurrection come againe to thee and as I am arisen from Dead and have brought their by Me assumed Humanity to thee so that I as true God and Man in One Person am One with thee and have possessed the Throne of Glory So Father I will also that those which thou hast given Mee be where I am and see my Glory 29. Now seeing Christ hath said Joh. 6. Hee is the Bread that is come downe from Meaven that giveth life to the World and that wee should eate his flesh and drink his bloud and that whosoever eateth and drinketh the same he would remaine in them and they should remaine in Him and whosoever eateth not nor drinketh not the same they have no life in them Also Joh. 4. Hee would give us the water of Eternall Life and whosoever should drink thereof should thirst no more but it would flow in him to a sountaine of Eternall Life and streames of living water should flow from him 30. Therefore here-following I will set downe a short fundamentall Exposition what his Testaments which he left behinde him of Baptisme and the Last Supper are what Baptiseth and is Baptised how it is done and to what profit and Effect it is done also how the participation of his body and bloud in his Testaments is effected with what Mouth and what food it is also who partaketh thereof worthily and how it is with the unworthy The First Chapter How Reason useth to view it selfe in a Creaturely a Imaginary Manner Imagelikenesse when it considereth of Christ and his Testaments Whence the Strife about Christs Testaments ariseth and how the same is an Empty unprofitable thing ALL Strife and Mis-understanding concerning Christs Person Office and Beeing or substance as also concerning his Testaments which he left behinde him wherein he worketh b At Present Presentially ariseth from the defected Creaturely Reason which runneth on onely in an Imagelike Opinion and reacheth not the Ground of this Mystery and yet will be a Mistris of all things or beeings will Judge all things and doth but loose it selfe in such Image-likenesse and breaketh it selfe off from its Centre and disperseth the c Inward senses or thoughts thoughts and runneth on in the Multiplicity whereby its Ground is confused the Minde disquieted and knoweth not it selfe No Life can stand in Certainty except it continue in its Centre out of which it is sprung Seeing then the Soule is sprung from Gods Word and Will and yet is entered into its own Lust and desire to will of it selfe in such searching of selfe-willing it cannot reach its first Ground from whence it is sprung and threupon it runneth without its Ground in meere uncertainty till it returne to its Originall againe Every Beginning goeth out of the Eternall ONE viz out of the Tri-unity of GOD through the Exhalation or speaking of the unity of GOD. As a fountain floweth from its Originall Through which flowing forth the unity bringeth it selfe into selfe-viewing findingnesse and perceptibility to the Forming and Imaging of it selfe Every visible and Invisible Beeing both Spirituall and Corporeall have taken their Originall in the Exhalation of the Divine Power and are a d Or Resemblance or Antitype Reflection of the seperable will of God and stand with their Ground therein For the Beginning of every Beeing is nothing else but an Imagination of the out-flown will of God which hath brought it selfe into Seperability formednesse and Imagelikenesse wherein lyeth the whole Creation And every life doth consist in its re-exhalation and e Resemblance or Antitype Reflection in the same manner Seeing then that the Humane Life is an out-flowing and Reflection of the Divine Power understanding and skill therefore the same ought to continue in its originall or else it looseth the divine knowledge Power and skill and with selfe-speculation bringeth it selfe into Centres of its owne and Strange Imaging wherewith its Originall becometh darkned and strange As is to be knowne by Erroneous Reason which ever teacheth concerning GOD and yet hath no true understanding also it never cometh to rest whiles it runneth on in Strange Imaging Therefore say I that this is the onely cause that Men Dispute and Strive about God his Word Essence or Beeing and Will that the understanding of Man hath broken it selfe off from its Originall and now runneth on in meere self-will thoughts and Images in its own Lust to
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-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
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-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-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
Man againe which is he himselfe in us so that all of us together are become branches rooted in his tree which he himselfe is and all live from his vertue and substance and stand in one stock which is himselfe 32. Therefore wee should rightly consider this and not with unworthy hearts and Mouths draw neere to this Communion and suppose it is enough that wee partake of Bread and Wine No it is a brotherly memberly Band and Covenant wee binde our selves therewith in Christ to be one onely Man and that same one onely Man is every one himselfe in Christ therefore our purpose in such coming together should be that wee as Members of one Body will binde our selves fast with such participation and forsake Satan with his Opposite will and heartily love one another as Christ hath loved us and hath given his life into Death for us 33. To this End is this Testament of participation under Bread and Wine ordained Not to understand as if it were a participation apart and asunder whereof a Christian without the use of this could not partake for if wee are in Christ and he himselfe be in us and is our Life and Light and wee thus rooted in him in the Substantiall Faith which Faiths Substance he himselfe is Wherefore should not then that same Lifes desire be able alwayes if it but turne it selfe thereinto to eate thereof this Ordinance is onely a memberlike Band of Love that wee might thereby instruct one another what Christ hath done for us till hee shall visibly come to us againe in his assumed humane Imagelikenesse and as our right High Priest be ever with us and in us The Fourth Chapter Of the difference of such Participation what the wicked receive by this Testament and how a Man should rightly prepare himselfe for it that he may be rightly worthy 1. AS is above-mentioned it lyeth not in the conceit or supposition that one need onely draw neere with the Body to such Communion and think when I have participated of Bread and Wine with others then I have received the true Testament of Christ whereby my sinnes are forgiven mee No St Paul sayth Hee that distinguisheth not the Body of the LORD from Bread and Wine he receiveth it to his owne Judgement 1 Cor. 11.29 Bread and Wine cannot apprehend this Testament much lesse the Faithlesse who come to it onely out of Custome and that he will have the Name of a Christian 2. So also it standeth not in the Priests power with his blessing to bring the Body and Bloud of Christ into the Bread and Wine but it standeth in the Divine Institution which Institution is hidden from the wicked Mouth and it is done to him as to Judas who though indeed he also eate and drank of the Bread and Wine of the Supper and was invited to the Testament yet he did not receive Christs flesh and bloud viz the Love of God for after the Supper Satan went into him which is as much as to say the power and vertue of the Testament touched him so that his inward false Faiths Mouth was thus stirred and opened but as his Faiths Mouths was so was also the Testament in his participation as the Scripture sayth With the Holy thou art Holy and with the perverse thou art perverse Psal 18.26 27. 3. Hee received the Testament of Christ but it was the Judgement onely which Judgement in the Holy or Saints killeth the Earthly Will of the Serpent that is when the Soule is capable of the holy power and vertue so that it hath a Mouth of Faith which receiveth the Love in the Testament then it receiveth also herewith in like manner Christs suffering Death and Resurrection which killeth Sinne in Soule and Flesh but the wicked Mouth is not capable of the Love therefore it receiveth onely Christs suffering and Death and Not his Resurrection for with his false opinion he layeth his desire viz the false Faiths Mouth to Christs Flesh and Bloud and killeth Christ in this participation in his Testament in himselfe he is thereby Guilty of the Death of Christ for with his false participation and false Faiths desire he toucheth the severe Judgement of God in Christs Agony Wounds and Death 4. Therefore in that he is onely capable of the Judgement the Judgement of God which killed Christ for our sinnes sake in this Testament is moveable in the Soule and property of the wicked which Judgement toucheth or stirreth Christs wounds and Death in his Testament in this participation of false property for the false Serpents-seede with this touch a Or pierceth stingeth Christ in the Heele for Christ offereth the Soule his Testament and would slay the Serpent but while Satan hath the chife Dominion in the Soule he will not receive it but through the Soules Essence casteth his false Poysonous rayes b Or against upon the wounds of Christ and desireth to kill Christ 5. Understand he desireth to poyson and infect that Ground in Man where Christs Bloud and Death with his Resurrection should be possessed and stirreth it selfe so much the more in the false Soule as he did in Judas when he received this Testament then he was Stirring in Judas and tooke his life in Therefore sayth the Scripture After the Sop Satan entered into him Joh. 13.27 For his false Heart had stirred the Judgement of God therefore it came also into him for it was within him aforehand but not manifest till he touched the Covenant in the Testament so it went with him as with Vzza Who unworthily touched the Arke of God 2 Sam. 6.6 7. 1 Chron. 14.9 10. which a wicked Man ought to observe that he doe not without repentance for his sinnes touch this Testament else he layeth his hand of false property on Christs Wounds Agony and Death and will in the End receive Judas wages therefrom 6. It is not so to be understood as if the wicked who applyeth himselfe with others to the Covenant of the Testaments of Christ did receive nothing as also is to be understood in Baptisme for the Testament standeth firme the Institution continueth in power and vertue for the Faithlesse doth not take away the Covenant and power The Covenant goeth with such participation and use into all but as the Mouth is such also is the participation Gods great Love and Grace viz the Substantiall Love giveth not it selfe into the wicked Soule but the Processe of Christ with his paine c Or Anguish Agony Scorne and Death goeth indeed into the wicked soule for therein the Man-Devill viz the wicked Heart pierceth Christ in his wounds and maketh it selfe Guilty of the Death of Christ 7. The wicked indeed participateth on Christs Going into Hell on his Anguish and Death but he is not capable of his Resurrection wherein Christ ruleth over Death and Hell for his wicked will desireth not to dye in Christs Death with Christ to his wickednesse and false matters and conversation but desireth
onely to arise and Live with sinnes in Christs Spirit he will rule in the Resurrection of Christ with his Earthly Lucifer therefore he treadeth the Death of Christ with the feete of his false desire and doth the same which the Pharisees did to Christ therefore it were better for him not to boast himselfe to be a Christian and that he did not touch or meddle with Christs Testament Of the Ground of Absolution What forgivenesse of Sinnes is 8. The false conceit and grosse d Or Ignorance mis-understanding when Men teach Christs Testaments destroy sinne needs yet a more e Or Sharp acute exposition that the wicked Man may not thus hide himselfe under it and so cover himselfe with Christs purple Mantle and weare it as a Badge upon him in falshood Christs Bloudshedding as when he destroyed Gods Anger therewith and turned the Anger into Love is that which destroyeth sinne Hee that worthily participateth of Christs Bloudshedding in him sinne is destroyed through his victory and resurrection with his bloud and Love Hee that cometh to it with a Penitent heart for his by-past sinne and is angry at it and hath a strong purpose in himselfe no more to enter into it he layeth hold with the Faith on the Testamentary Grace 9. It is false for one to deferre his repentance till the participation of the Testament of Christ and then to think that the same will take away his sinne There is no forgivenesse of sinnes either by Testament or Absolution unlesse a Man convert from sinne and be renewed through earnest sincere Repentance and turning in to the Grace of God in Faith on Christ in the Holy Ghost that he taketh up another will and resolution to goe out from falshood and wickednesse 10. For the forgivenesse of sinnes in Christs Testaments and without the use of them is nothing else but this when Christ in the Converting Sinner ariseth from Mans Death into Mans Faith and a New obedient will ariseth out of his Death and becometh a Light in Mans Life so that the Eternall Night is turned into a cleere Day then Sinne is forgiven for if the Eternall day of Love dawneth then is the Night of the Eternall Darknesse of Gods Anger turned into Love and there is the Wedding of the Lamb rightly kept and not with the unworthy Heart which without repentance and forsaking of its sinnes runneth to the Testament and supposeth that its sinnes are forgiven through the laying on of the Priests Hand and participation of the Testaments 11. The Priest hath no power to forgive sinne it standeth not in his owne might and power the might is in the Ordinance of Christ Christ in Man and so farre also as he is in the Priest himselfe forgiveth sinne to the Repenting Conscience The Absolution is but a Medium viz an outward signe thereof that wee should receive one another in Love and hearty forgivenesse and binde and reconcile our selves in the Love of the bands of Christ in his Bride and in Love receive one another into the Communion of the body viz of the Bride of Christ 12. The Minister of Christ taketh the faithfull Penitent Man through an Outward Absolution in Christs stead into the f Church Communion or Congregation of Christ Hee is with his Absolution a Medium or meanes of that which Christ himselfe through his absolution doth g Workingly Effectually in the inward Ground and so Man is through such a a Medium outwardly confirmed But if there be no Faith and conversion there but onely a Custome then there is also no Absolution for the Priests Absolution without Christs co-working is powerlesse and dead for the power sticketh not barely in the outward Ordinance and in the Priest but in the Communion of the Saints in Christ viz in the Bride of Christ the same taketh the Repenting Man into their Memberlike fraternity in the Faith of that which is to come the Spirit of Christ in his members receiveth him 13. A wicked Priest in whom the Spirit of Christ is not cannot absolve him nor receive him but the Office of Christ through the word of his Promise receiveth him A false Priest is but an outward worklesse instrument as to himselfe and doth no more with this than the wicked Priest with the Water-Baptisme which onely powreth the water and speaketh the words without co-working But the Spirit of the Office looketh not upon the unworthy Minister of the Office but upon those that come to the Office with Faith He absolveth him through his Office and receiveth him with the Bride of Christ in whom Hee worketh into the Church or Congregation and not by a wicked Pharisee who himselfe is not capable of the Office and onely sitteth there as an Idoll which Man worshippeth and is himselfe but a Devill full of falshood and attributeth that to himselfe which he himselfe hath not 14. There must be earnestnesse used in going about with such an Office of the power of God or else Christ is but mocked therein Therefore no Man should relye upon the Ordinance and think that the Ordinance absolveth him or that for the Ordinance and Institution sake of Christ he receiveth the Testament If any will receive Christ into himselfe for a lodger he must then bring the Temple of Christ wherein Christ absolveth him with him into the Ordinance The absolution is but a receiving into the Communion of the Members of Christ the Priest receiveth him outwardly with the Congregation and Christ receiveth him in the Faith and bindeth himselfe workingly with him which cannot be done without Faith and Earnest turning into God and now as Christ worketh inwardly in him so also the Congregation or Church viz the Bride of Christ worke membrally in him with their prayers and they all are but one in Christ 15. But it is a snare of the Devill that the wicked think that he is a sinner indeed but he will at last goe to the Office of Christ to the Communion of Saints and will be absolved and receive Christs Testament that his sinnes may once be forgiven him and then will sinne a new when his old sinne is done away as it cometh to passe that many begin to hang their heads a little and make a shew and presently afterwards enter into their old Custome againe into all abominations and Blasphemy These Crucifie Christ and h Note pierce him in his wounds and it goeth with such a one as with Judas who after he had eaten Satan entered into him it were better he continued altogether from it so long as it is not with him in Earnestnesse if that he thinketh to be and remaine a true Christian Of true Christianity What a right Christian is 16. Christianity is not a bare conceit that a Man need onely to acknowledge with the Mouth and beleeve that Christ dyed for us and hath satisfied for sinne that a Man need onely to give assent to the Gospel and hold the History of what
its Originall Verse 3.4 Heaven Book 1. Ch 1. How Divine understanding is attained and the Kingdome of Heaven Verse 8.9 Book 1. Ch 1. Of the Misunderstanding where Heaven is Verse 24 Book 1. Ch 1. How Christ dwelleth in Man and Man in him in Heaven and witnesseth in the soule infallibly that wee are the children of God Verse 28.29.30 Book 1. Ch 3. How wee dwell in Heaven and have our Conversation there Verse 24. Hell Book 2. Ch 4. The wicked partaketh of Christs going to Hell It were better the wicked did not meddle with Christs Testaments Verse 7 Humanity Book 1. Ch 3. VVhy Christ assumed our Humanity Verse 1 Book 2. Ch 3. The Substantiall VVord taketh on it our Humanity the Spirituall Humanity the Invisible Substance with which Christ came downe from Heaven Verse 17 Image Book 1. Ch 2. The Beastiall Earthly Image of Man is preserved in the Fire of God Verse 13 Book 2. Ch 4. How wee are made conformable to Christs Image Verse 24 Book 2. Ch 5. How Three Parties strive onely about a literall Image of Christs Testaments Verse 7 Infant Book 1. Ch 4. How the Faithfull Baptiser Parents VVitnesses and Standers by work to the Baptising of the Infant though it hath no understanding of what is done Verse 15.16 Book 1. Ch 4. How the Command of Christ Matth. 28.19 is effectuall in the Baptising of an Infant Verse 17 Book 1. Ch 4. VVhat a wicked Baptiser doth and how the Infant is notwithstanding baptised with the Living VVord Verse 23 Book 1. Ch 4. How it is with an Infant of wicked Parents that is baptised by a wicked baptiser and wicked People standers by Verse 26.27 John Book 1. Ch 4. John the Baptist the sonne of a Priest Verse 8 Lamb. Book 2. Ch 4. How the wedding of the Lamb is rightly kept Verse 10 Law Book 1. Ch 3. How the soule is layd hold on by the Law of Nature and what is the Ground and fountain of Repentance Verse 7.10.11 Life Book 1. Ch 1. Where the Book of Life is to be found Verse 18 Book 1. Ch 2. What is the New Life of Regeneration Verse 31 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Sonne Giveth the Soule Eternall Life and what Eternall Life is Verse 9.11 Book 1. Ch 3. VVhat the Creaturely Life is Verse 15 16 Light Book 1. Ch 3. When the Divine Light in the Name Jesus is received into the Soule Verse 8 Book 2. Ch 3. The Invisible Substance of Christ is a Light and Spirituall Oyle in the Life of Man Verse 19 Medium Book 1. Ch. 2. VVhy there must be an Earthly Medium to Enter into the Covenant of God by Verse 33 Book 2. Ch 1. VVhy the Beastiall Medium in the Sacrifices must be used Verse 21 Book 2. Ch 2. Of the Elementary Medium of blessed Bread and Wine Verse 16 Book 2. Ch 2. How through the Medium of Bread and Wine wee participate of Christ in a Corporeall and Spirituall way Verse 18.19 Book 2. Ch 2. VVhy there must be a Medium in the New Testament as well as in the Old Testament Verse 20 Book 2. Ch 3. Bread and VVine a Medium to the visible Man Verse 22 Mumia Book 2. Ch 3. Of the Humane Mumia and what it is Verse 1 Opinion Book 2. Ch 5. How Men cleave to an Opinion whether they understand it or no. Verse 9 Ordinance Book 2. Ch 4. None should rely meerely upon the Outward Ordinance Verse 14 Participation Book 2. Ch 5. The Three Contenders about the presence of Christ in the Supper have no understanding how the true Participation is wrought Verse 6 Passeover Book 2. Ch 1. Of the Paschall Lamb the Passeover and how it was a Type of Christ Verse 1.2 Power Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule comes to loose the Divine power and knowledge Verse 5 Book 2. Ch 3. VVhat the Humane Power is to the Divine Power Verse 5 Book 2. Ch 3. What that Sinne was upon which Gods Power went into the received Humanity againe Verse 14 Book 2. Ch 3. Man liveth not by Bread onely but by the inward Power thereof Verse 23 Book 2. Ch 3. Mans Life cannot in its owne Power receive the Substance of God but it is given of Grace Verse 29 Presence Book 1. Ch 1. How Christs Presence Office and Kingdome are to be understood Verse 25.26.27 Principles Principle Book 2. Ch 3. Of the Three Principles in Man Verse 12 Book 2. Ch 3. How each Principle in Man eateth its like in the Participation of Christs Testaments Verse 15 Reason Book 1. Ch 1. How the Body and Reason and Soule of Man is distinctly fed with Nourishment Verse 13.18 Redemption Book 1. Ch 1. How Christ effected our Redemption and through Death brought the Soule into Eternall Life and how the Soule is become Lord over Sinne Death the Devill and Hell Verse 25.26.27 Book 1. Ch 2. Of Isaac a Type of Our Redemption Verse 19 Repentance Book 1. Ch 3. How the Soule is layd hold on by the Law of Nature and what is the Ground and Fountaine of Repentance Verse 7.10.11 Book 1. Ch 4. John baptised but with Repentance onely prepared the way and Opened the Gates for the King of Glory to Enter in Verse 7 Book 2. Ch 4. Repentance must not be deferred till the participation of the Testaments Verse 9 Sacrifices Sacrifice Book 1. Ch 2. How the Sacrifices were effectuall and how God and the Soule wrought with the Sacrifice Verse 20.21.22.23.24 Book 1. Ch 2. The Fat of Beasts a Medium in the Sacrifices Verse 28 Book 1. Ch. 2. VVhat the Sacrifice Typified Verse 29 Book 2. Ch 1. How the Sacrifices were a figure of Christs Sacrifice Verse 6 Seede Book 1. Ch 2. Of the Seede of the Woman and Destroyer of the Serpent Verse 8.9.10.11 Book 1. Ch 2. Of Abrahams seede as the Starres Verse 19 Book 1. Ch 2. The Love-fire awakened it selfe in the Seede of the VVoman Verse 30 Book 1. Ch 4. The Parents of John Dead in their fleshly Seede Verse 2.3 Book 1. Ch 4. How the Graine of Mustard seede is sowen in the Ens of the Childe Verse 18 Book 2. Ch 4. How the Seede of the Serpent stingeth Christ in the Heele Verse 4 Signified Signifieth Book 2. Ch 1. What the unleavened Cakes signified Verse 3.4 Book 2. Ch 1. What Moses Aaron the Heifer and the Ram signified in the figure Verse 7.9 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Tabernacle signified why Mary was called the blessed among all women what the Altar the Laver and anointing the Head of Aaron signified Verse 8 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Burning of the Fat signified Verse 10 Book 2. Ch 1. What the Burning of the Heifer without the Hoast signifieth and that the bloud sprinckled upon the Altar signifieth that our bloud shall come againe to the Soule in the power of it at the Last Day Verse 11.12 Book 2. Ch. 1. What the powering of the bloud at the foote of
his Faith and generateth him to be a new Creature which with its Spirit walketh in Heaven and is a right Image of God whereby the earthly fleshly will is daily killed and the Newborne will dayly goeth to Heaven Joh. 6.56 Phil. 3.20 9. Which Heaven in the Inward Ground of his Life is revealed in the Spirit of Christ in him where the good Angelicall f Or Senses thoughts climbe up upon the right Jacobs Ladder Gen. 28.12 and Christ his Lord sitteth above on the top of it at the Right hand of God and dayly presenteth them with his humane and heavenly flesh and bloud before the wrath of God and the severe Judgement and is with him in all his need Also incloseth his Prayers in himselfe and thereby presenteth them before Death Hell the Devill and the Anger of God 10. This Publication both of his Word Taught as it is written in the Bible and is g Impregnated or conceived received in the sacramentall participation where he profferreth his Word in his flesh and bloud a Christian Man should receive and finde himselfe in this h Celebration Custome and unite and tie himselfe as a Member with the Congregation of Christ for in Christ wee are all but one as a Tree i Text. in and its Branches Gal. 3.28 11. It is not so to be understood that this Covenant and Testament is given onely by an outward hearing of the Word Preached and Participation of Bread and Wine at the k Or Sacrament Testament as the present World so Erreth in Many Hearts No it must be a right sincere Earnest with true working Repentance so that God with the Key of his Love unlocketh and Openeth the Hearing and the right Mouth which shall receive this Testament so that the poore soule have a right hunger and thirst after it and bring its desire through Christs sufferings Dying Death and Resurrection to it 12. Otherwise there is no true Mouth for such participation It must be a right Earnest sincere purpose that must put off the Defiled Garment and be willing to passe into a New Life It must be doing doing or it availeth nothing 13. This Pledge belongeth onely to Christs Children which so heare and keepe the Word in their Hearts that it bring forth fruit There must be Great earnestnesse both in the Teacher and Hearer for if any will handle and impart the Covenant of Christ he must himselfe be capable of the Covenant and Testament If the Sheepe must heare the voyce of Christ out of the Mouth of any and follow him then also the Spirit and power of Christ must be in that Mans voyce Else he is but a Hireling and the Sheepe heare not Christs voyce from his Mouth but onely the word of Man Joh. 10. 14. So also in like manner the Hearers Eare should be directed to God in true Repentance that he also may heare the voyce of Christ not onely with outward Eares but with the Eares of Divine power that the Teachers and Hearers power may strike together that the Spirit of Christ may worke l Text Between them together with them and the Heart may finde the Teachers Power that Good fruit may Grow from it 15. A Teacher should not teach for the sake of wages onely but should know and well consider that he standeth there in Christs stead and that Christ will Teach through him if he be a right m Or Pastor Shepheard 16. So also the Hearers should incline their Eare to that and Consider that they should there heare Christs voyce and receive it with great Earnestnesse and not thinke it is enough to Goe into the Church and there sit an houre to play the Hypocrite and heare a Sermon and remaine afterwards as before No such going to Church and hearing is no Service of God It bettereth them not if in the Sermon or Preaching they have not heard Christ teach in their hearts Going to Church maketh none vertuous unlesse he heareth in the Church Gods Word workingly in his soule 17. So also is it with the Sacraments wee should not thinke it is enough to Confesse and goe away as if such a Custome did take away sinnes without true Repentance and that he may sin a new afterwards No it is not so whosoever is washed and afterwards defileth himselfe with the same Mire he is then as he was before 18. Christ must Absolve thee in thy soule with his sufferings and Death and Inspeake or Inspire his satisfaction into thee in thy soule else it availeth not The Priests Mouth is onely an Outward Instrument and coworketh in his Spirit but if he be a hireling he cannot cowork but yet the Covenant of God in Christ Jesus worketh in the Repentant Heart and absolveth it 19. Loving Brethren both teacher and hearer who handle the Covenant of Christ have a care what you doe there is great earnestnesse required that you be not Guilty of the Death of Christ Consider diligently the Great severe Earnestnesse of God how HE hath instituted this Covenant with so Great hard Paine and Anguish through so great reproach and sufferings It must needs be from a very great cause that this Testament was Ordained with such severe Earnestnesse 20. God requireth of Man againe Earnestnesse to the receiving this Testament Not with cold luke warme Hearts onely to cover over sinne with the sufferings of Christ and Comfort ones selfe with it in Impenitency 21. It is not a forgivenesse from without which is imputed to Man from without No but through Christs Bloud and Death when the poore soule penetrateth into that then the sufferings Dying and Resurrection together with the satisfaction in this Testamentary Covenant is put on to it in the Bloud of Christ This killeth Sinne Death and Hell and leadeth the poore soule to the Father in Christ 22. It is not enough for a Man to know that Christ dyed for sinne and assenteth to it and holdeth it for true and receiveth the satisfaction as a work done No no there is no such receiving but the whole Man must give it selfe thereinto and must will to dye in Christs Death to the Evill Naturall own will as also to wicked Lusts and then Christ putteth on him his victory and satisfaction and the true heavenly Spirit springeth forth through Christs Death in his Resurrection as a faire flower out of the wilde Earth and there is a true Christian borne who is a branch on the vine Christ John 15. 23. Now there belongeth no great art or skill to this but onely a childlike simplicity and Humility the Plowman is as neere it as the Doctor they must all in the simplicity of Christ enter into humility and come with the lost sonne and the Publicane in the Temple there is no other way to it 24. There needs no Great Speculation about it with what trimmed words or behaviour man cometh thereto but wee must come onely with the Children which yeeld to the Father
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-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
it is begotten of wicked Parents and is brought by Evill People to the Covenant of Christ Answer Yes indeede what is it to God who willeth not the Death of a Sinner that wicked Parents beget wicked children and that a Man doth but scorne his Covenant of Grace shall he therefore cast the Pearle before Swine The Parents indeed know very well that God sayth Hee will punish the sinne of the Parents on the Children unto the third and fourth Generation Deut. 5.9 Shall he then powre his Love into their wicked Wills when as indeed they doe not desire the Love nor is there any Earnestnesse there but meerly the performance of a Custome and they doe it onely with an hypocriticall shew without Earnestnesse and withall make use of such people about it which doe but scorne the simplicity of Christ with their Pride 30. To be conversant with the Testaments and Covenant of Christ and to make use of them will require great Earnestnesse not onely in shew but in power For the Covenant of God in Christ is made through his bloud and Death and to that End that whosoever will partake of this Covenant and Testaments should convert with his will and enter into Repentance and dye to the Inherited false Lust in the Covenant through Christs Death and be New borne out of the Covenant of these Testaments 31. For the Baptisme consisteth not alone in Water but in the Word of God and in the Faith The water is but a Medium wherein the Word of God and the Faith taketh hold and worketh and without the Word of God and Faith there is no Baptisme the faith of Man must take hold on the promised Word and in the Water these two viz the Faith and the Word of God bring themselves into one r Or Essence substance and that spirituall substance is the Baptisme which is understood under Water Now if there be no Faith at this work then is the Word without Humane Substance only in it selfe according to and in the Covenant and that baptiseth Man according to the Mans Property but Faith in the Grace apprehendeth the Grace in the Covenant and Word and bringeth it selfe with the Covenant into the Water and so then the Word of God and the Faith and the Water baptise alike 32. For the outward Elementary water is not the Ground of the Baptisme but the spirituall Water which is united and tyed with the Word in the Covenant and with the Faith for the Word powreth it selfe forth in a Water-source of Life in Å¿ Text. Eine great Meeknesse and Love and the Faith taketh hold of this promised Word of Grace in the Covenant This Grace in the spirituall water comprehendeth it selfe with the Elementary water after the manner as the Invisible world hath made it selfe visible with this worlds substance viz with the Elements and as the Invisible Word of God worketh by the visible and as the visible substance of the Elements shall againe goe into the Invisible Thus also in the Baptisme-Covenant the Invisible Element viz the heavenly substance uniteth it selfe with the visible Elements of Mans body viz the substance of Eternity with the substance of Time the Eternall Speaking Word of Divine Love with the Outspoken t Or Formed Imaged Word of the Humanity 33. For the Pure Element according to the holy spirituall World out of which the foure Elements are sprung forth is that which baptiseth through the foure Elements of Mans Body The true Man created in Adam which sticketh in the Grosse husk of the foure Elements that is baptised to Eternall Life for the Pure Element soaketh or Infuseth it selfe againe into the vanished Image of Man which Image was out of the Pure Element but vanished in Adam And to that End God hath u Or Instituted ordained his Covenant in the Water Baptisme and there belongeth now Faith to it and Repentance to this Receiving for Repentance is an unlocking or stirring of the hidden shut up things of Man whereby the Inward Spirituall desire viz the Spirituall Mouth to such Receiving is opened and Faith is the Opened Mouth which taketh in the Holy Element 34. And although a childe without understanding cannot doe this yet those with their Faith should doe it who baptise and the rest that are present at the Baptisme for their Faith must comprehend it selfe in the childes will for the childe hath not yet a willing neither to Good nor Evill but their Faith comprehendeth it selfe in the childes Life viz in Soule and Spirit which may well be being all soules have their originall from One and so they are in the Centre one onely Ground viz in the Word of God out of which the Soule hath taken its originall and wherein they all stand together in the Ground for this Comprehending in the childe is nothing else but to introduce their love-will into the childe and although a Man cannot doe that in his owne power and Might yet if the will of Man comprehendeth it selfe in Gods Word and Promise and taketh hold of the Promised Grace together with the command that wee should doe this thing then is the Possibility there For the Promised Word giveth and worketh the ability in Mans Will and giveth the Deed Gods will taketh Mans will resigned up to him and doth it through his Might with Mans will 35. Therefore say I it is a dangerous thing to baptise children without the Faith of the Parents and of them that Baptise and the rest that are present to the work The Scripture sayth Heb. 11.6 Without Faith it is impossible to please God But this Faith is not a History or Knowledge that a Man onely give assent to it and beleeve that it is Gods work No it is an Earnest desirefull co-working a pressing in to the Promised Grace an Earnest consideration of our inherited sinne and of the Great earnestnesse of God and how he through this Grace-Covenant receiveth us againe as children and powreth his Grace into us with this work 36. Those that are present should with Great humility and * Turning into God inversion to God with Earnest prayer apply themselves to this Covenant and well consider what they there purpose to doe for they stand even before the Covenant of the Holy Trinity before Gods open Face and have to deale with God and Man and should well imprint in them the bitter sufferings and dying of Jesus Christ into which a childe is baptised of which they are co-working Witnesses according to the Faith and not stand before this Covenant as a Whore before a Glasse with proud Hearts as if it were a worldly honour which a Man should make use of about it such People which have no understanding and Faith towards it and onely come to it with proud hearts are not y Or Furtherance profitable to this Covenant but a hinderance they hinder others who Gape upon the Pride and bravery and therewithall forget the Earnestnesse 37. And
with the heavenly flesh and would fullfill the Type with the flesh of Love and bring forth the Adamicall humanity through Death viz through Gods Anger through the inclosure of the Adamicall Life into Gods Love-fire and breake open the Prison of Death 6. So now in the Type of the Paschal-Lamb he began the New Testament viz the fullfilling of these Types and lead his Disciples to the Sacrifice of the New Testament viz to the Altar of God in his flesh and bloud that they should eate the fullfilling of the Old Testament in the Sacrifice of the New Testament for he brought the Old Testament viz the figure into the New viz into his flesh and bloud which was the Sacrifice of reconciliation for the sinnes of the World and gave them the b Or Reconciliation attonement in his flesh to Eate and in his bloud to drink 7 For the reconcillation should be no more done in fire where the Fathers anger burnt away the vanity in Mans Faith but it should be done in the Love-fire in the flesh of Christ they should now with their faiths desire viz with the fiery lifes Mouth of the soule eate and drink the reconciliation with Christs flesh and bloud No more with Faith in the Type but in Substance no more in power without Substance but with Substantiall Divine and humane power wherein the humanity of Christ himselfe should be the Paschal Lamb Not Deity without Humanity but Deity and Humanity alike 8. For the Paschal-Lamb must be eaten quite up and so also he would not give them onely a piece of his humanity but Note gave himselfe to them wholly and altogether into their soules fire-mouth viz into the Faiths-desire The soules fiery Mouth was now the fire of God which devoured the Sacrifice as common fire devoureth Oyle and giveth a cleere light out of its consuming Thus also Christ gave to his Disciples viz to their faiths desire understand to the fiery Mouth of the Soule as to the true Life his heavenly Body and his heavenly Bloud in that manner and way as the heavenly Ens in the limit of the Covenant gave it selfe into Mary into the vanished Ens and became one Person wholly undivided 9. Note He gave his whole heavenly humanity to them into their Adamicall Humanity understand to the Paradisicall Ground for every Life desireth an Ens of its likenesse viz every fire desireth an Ens for its burning which is like that fire 10. The foolish fire-life was become dark through the Impression of Death and therefore needed a light Ens out of the Divine Light as a Substance of Light as a holy anointing Oyle wherein the dark painfull Soules fire changeth it selfe into a Light and Love-desire This now conceived upon Christs Altar viz out of Christs humanity the Substantiall Love viz the Substantiall Wisdome of God that same fire in this Substance was the Name and the power JESUS viz Gods greatest holinesse which changeth the Soules fire into a Light whence Christ said Hee was the Light of the world Joh. 8.12 For in his power hath the Soule againe attained eyes of Divine Light so that it beholdeth God againe 11. And as a Man giveth Oyle to common fire out of which ariseth a Light so in like manner is to be understood concerning the dark Soules fire which receiveth into it selfe Christs heavenly Ens of the Divine Substantiall Love in this Testament and kindleth againe the vanished even heavenly Ens in Adam and burneth in its likenesse wherein the Kingdome of Heaven viz the City of God is againe unlocked where the Divine Light in that same unlocked Paradisicall Ground shineth againe which is the City of God in Man where the Holy Ghost dwelleth of which Christ saith Hee that Eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud he continueth in Mee and I in him Joh. 6.56 12. In this Paradisicall unlocked Ground Christ viz the Divine Love Ens continneth dwelling in the Light for the power in the Light is the Divine Ens viz the Supernaturall heavenly flesh a Tincture of Life which Tincture tinctureth the Soule and giveth the heavenly fire-Glance to the Soules-fire But yet that a Man may rightly understand it The Soule is the Fathers fire which receiveth into it selfe viz into its fiery desire the Sonnes Substantiall Love viz the holy Love-fire which hath turned it selfe into the humane Tincture viz into flesh and bloud understand into that same humane Lifes power Thus is the changing of the Soules Will Effected 13. Thus wee see first this figure in Moseses Sacrifice of reconciliation that the Soule viz the Faiths desire of the Soule brought it selfe into the Sacrifice as into a Substance and with the Substance went into the fire where the reconciliation through fire was made in the introduced Covenant of the Love-fire in that manner and way as the Substantiall Love of Christ should give it selfe up into the Soules-fire wherein Gods anger did burne for food and reconciliation Secondly wee see also by Moses not onely how the Soule is ransomed from sinne through fire and with the Love in the Covenant became fed with the holy fire of Grace but they blessed also the bread and flesh through the reconciliation of the Grace-Covenant and did eate the same viz the holy bread and flesh as God also commanded them 14. Which signifieth the Orall eating and drinking of the Substantiall Grace where not onely the Soule is fed but Note also the right Adamicall Man which shall arise from Death againe for the Earth was cursed through Mans sinne and Man must from the Curse of Gods anger Eate of the Earthly fruit but with this Sacrifice and blessing of the Covenant God erecteth now a new blessing so that Israel did eate of Blessed food againe where the Grace pressed through the Curse againe as the Sunne presseth and penetrateth through Water 15. All which was a Type of the Testament of Christ which would not onely feed the Soule with Substantiall fiery Love But Note also the right Adamicall Body and that when he would ordaine his New Testament under Bread and Wine signified how the inward Grace of Love would presse through the outward Man as the Sunne penetrateth through the Water or as fire penetrateth through Iron 16. And by the Orall eating and drinking of his New Testament is signified the Paschal Lamb in the Old Testament where the Grace-Covenant of the Divine blessing gave it selfe into a visible Elementary Substance viz into a Medium wherein the humane Body received the Grace And it points at the New Testament where Christ viz the Substantiall Grace would with his Love with the power of his flesh and bloud of Divine and humane property give himselfe into his fellow-Members the Christians through an Elementary Medium of blessed Bread and Wine for-foode and drink where-through the accursed Body out of the Limus of the Earth which hath eaten the Curse into it selfe is blessed againe 17. This wee see cleerly by the Last Supper