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A76955 Of Christs testaments, viz: baptisme and the Supper. Written in two bookes. The 1. of holy Baptisme, how it is to be understood in the ground thereof, and why a Christian should be baptised. The 2. of the holy supper of the Lord Christ, what it is, with the benefit and effects of it, and how the same may be worthily participated of. And how these are to be understood, both according to the Old and New Testament. Set forth from the true theosophicall ground, through the three principles of the divine revelation, and presented to the children of God for the information of their understandings. / Written in the yeare of Christ 1624. by Jacob Behm of Old Seidenberg alias Teutonicus Philosophus. And Englished by John Sparrovv, barrister of the Inner Temple London.; Von Christi Testamenten. English Böhme, Jakob, 1575-1624.; Sparrow, John, 1615-1665? 1652 (1652) Wing B3412; Thomason E665_4; ESTC R14724 100,767 137

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of the heavenly Manna What signifieth now this Anointing Answer Nothing else but that as Man is Tinctured againe in Soule and Body and so throughly penetrated and healed that he is capable of the Divine Power againe viz of the Divine fire of Love so must his Brimstone Spirit of the Wrathfull fiery Soule perished as to God be remedied againe by the Covenant of God by such an Anointing Oyle As with the Baptisme there is powred into it the Water of the Eternall Life of Divine Meeknesse and in the Supper is powred into it the fire-burning Love in the Life of our Lord Jesus Christ Reason sayth Cannot God forgive Man his sinne without a Medium Answer The Matter was not about forgivenesse The Soule wanted not onely forgivenesse but a New-Birth It had brought it selfe into owne-will and quite broken it selfe off from Gods will whence the Eternall Darknesse existed in it For the source of its Life viz it s own Seperator understand the Cause of its Creaturely Moving and Life had lift up it selfe and the properties of Life were quite gone forth from their Temperature and had brought themselves into a strange burning fire viz into an anguishing heat and cold into Eternall hunger and thirst into Horror and Despaire Where in the Life of the Body and of the Soule all properties were against one another and Man stood in an Eternall dying source Hee was become quite Blinde and Dead as to God and the more he moved himselfe in his owne ability to apprehend God the greater was his anxious source For the poore Soule was by Lust gone into Earthlinesse wherein Satan and the Spirit of Errour had captivated it and made it wholly Monstrous And now the More it sought Rest therein the greater was its Paine And this now is that which God said to Adam The Day when thou shalt Eate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evill thou shalt die the Death Gen. 2.17 Thus the poore Soule is poysoned through false Imagination and through its owne q Impression compression of its desire is come to be such a hungry fire-source which is onely a shutting in of the true Life and a Ground of Darknesse a source of Enmity and Contrariety wherein there is no more any true Divine Ens wherein the Life might bring it selfe into Light As a hard Stone is shut up so also the Soule was shut up and out of its Good Life there became an Evill Life as out of Angells there became Devills which now also are of such a Horrible poysonous stincking fire-source in their Essence and cannot attaine the kindling of the Light and are an Enemy of all Love and Truth This Compressed blinde Soule-substance and perished as to God the Great Love of God came againe to helpe instantly after that Fall and spake it selfe in againe into the Centre of the Life as a new Covenant viz into the source of Meeknesse which it had which Love-source in it was no more Moveable And did set into the Humane perished heavenly Ens his new Grace-Covenant viz the Destroyer of the Serpent that God would in the fullnesse of Time in this inspoken voyce of Grace introduce thereinto and manifest therein his living Ens viz the Living Word of his Power and Wisdome with the most high Love viz the Name JESUS and therewith make the vanished Essence or Substance living and growing againe from whence the Soule should againe Eate of the heavenly Substance whereby its anxious fire-source would againe be changed into a Love fire Of which the dry Rod of Aaron mentioned by Moses which grew againe and bare Almonds was a r Text. Bild Image or Type figure This inspoken Grace-word of the Serpent-Destroyer is it now which the Soules of the holy Children of God before the Incarnation of Christ have kindled that they beleeved God and his Promise of the fulfilling that was to Come and in this Faith have they sacrificed For their Sacrifices especially of the first Fathers after Adam were only that they represented an Image or Figure how the Soule should be sacrificed in the fire of Gods Wrath and how the Soule should through this inspoken Ground of Grace and Covenant in the fire of Gods wrath be changed into a Love-fire how it should Enter into Death and a Dying to its self-will of false Desire how the false will should be burned off from it and in the power of this inspoken Grace of the Love and Meeknesse of God spring up or goe forth through the fire into a cleere light and so become a new borne childe which is no more dark but light also did live no more in its owne will but in Gods will and how the introduced Serpents-Poyson in this transmutation doth sever it selfe there from in that manner as the smoake severeth it selfe from fire and Light whereas then the fire and Light becometh a cleerer Glance and is no more shut up as it lyeth in the Essence of the Wood shut up Even as the Holy Divine fire of the Soule was through sinne thus also shut up which none could unshut and kindle but only the Love of God in this incorporated Grace-Covenant This Image Type or Figure they set before them with the Sacrifices looking upon the future fulfilling and introduced their Faith with the inspoken Grace of the Womans-seede and Serpent-Destroyer that so their Faith might thus Forme or Mould it selfe in the Figure of Christ that the Spirit of their will might stand in the figure and Image of Christ that their Faith might Work in that incorporated Grace For without Substance no working can be therefore they Imagined or typified to themselves the Regeneration with the Sacrifices by fire and formed or Imaged in them the Serpent-Destroyer in the fire typifying how HEE would change Gods Wrath-fire in the Soule into a Light and Love-fire and how the Enmity would sever it selfe from the Soule and how the Soule should through Christs Death in which the Love of God would Give up it selfe into this Wrath-fire be changed into an Angell By this Immodeled Image or Type with their desire and Earnest prayer they pressed through the Sacrifice to God and Gods Word with the Grace had thus also with the Covenant Modeled it selfe in Men and now there was a Conjunction between God and Man for the Humane desire went with this Image through the Sacrifice in the Holy fire into God and Gods Love-desire went into this Image of the Serpent-Destroyer For God kindled the Sacrifice with the Holy Fire And it was not a Common fire that they had in their Sacrifices though they used wood and Sacrifices thereto yet their fire was not from a stone and a steele but from the highest Tincture of the Paradisicall ground from whence the fire of Life is sprung If Man could understand it and did not so runne on in blindnesse it were well for him and he were delivered from Babell and Fables This holy Fire consumed their Sacrifices
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
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 in●●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 ●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
Repentance and continually fly to the Grace of God in Christ and pray that he will give him such a heart and will and not attribute to himselfe as if he would attaine it in his owne power and vertue but barely and meerly sinck into the most pure Grace into the Mercy of God and be in himselfe as a young childe which onely hath a desire after the Mothers Milke that cannot help himselfe but flyeth to the Mother for her to helpe him 21. His going to the Communion of Saints should be in Humility with a right reconciliation with all those whom he hath wronged or who have wronged him and should forgive all his Enemies and wish the same to them which he desireth for himselfe With the feare of God and a penitent Heart in a right Earnest purpose he may approach thereto and bring no owne desire to the Testament of Christ nor willing to apprehend and comprehend such Grace by his owne ability but onely sinck himselfe downe and wholly give himselfe up into the Grace as unworthy and cast himselfe upon the Grace to doe with him what it will and not at all will to desire the Spirit of Divine Joy understand as a propriety but give himselfe up to it and sinck downe in the Grace that the same Spirit of Grace may be in him how and when it will 22. The Heart and Minde should say in it selfe before the Testament of God thus O thou Great Grace of God I unworthy sinfull Man come to thee upon thy Call whereas thou hast bidden us poore Men to come and thou wilt refresh us Matth. 11.28 Be it done unto mee according as thou sayst how thou wilt I give up my selfe herewith wholly and altogether doe thou with mee poore unworthy Man according to thy Grace how thou wilt I will Eternally be thy owne Break now my will and govern it with thy will I can and am able to doe nothing but sinck now wholly and altogether into thy Grace 23. Such a Man as so wholly giveth himselfe up to God and continueth standing in such resignation with his will he will in the End when the Grace moveth in him finde and feele what Grace and Divine Love is When the Divine fire is kindled in his life then he will seele and taste what Christ in him is and finde quickly how he is become another Man of other thoughts and will 24. And then he is a Christian when Christs Love-fire striveth with Gods Anger in the Conscience and it will be set before that Man in Christs processe in this world that he must follow after Christ in his suffering anguish paine scorne and persecution and must take the Crosse of Christ upon him and be conformable to Christs Image where there is Inwardly Strife against Sinne and fleshly Lusts that are in him so that he despiseth himselfe and hateth the evill Lust and outwardly he hath contempt scorne trouble and misery whereas the world accompteth him for a stranger and a foole where reason looketh upon it selfe as foolish and he himselfe as to the matters and conversation of this world will be a foole and hateth every thing which his flesh loveth where there is none that flattereth him but all his good friends shun him and withdraw themselves except onely a few of the children of God who take notice of it and whom God sendeth him for his comfort Then may he think that he at that time with Christ hangeth to the Crosse and he so behaveth himselfe that he would willingly even dye with Christ for the profession sake of the Tru h in hope that he also in Christs victory and overcoming shall arise with Christ and live Eternally in Christ 25. This is a Christian and worthy for the Communion of Saints who is entered into this processe and converseth therein All others who goe onely out of Custome and accompt Christs Testament for an outwardly imputed Grace and as a worke done beleevingly appropriate it to himselfe and will receive it as a Gift but will not be new-borne and be another Man of other thoughts and will and keepe the defiled Cloake of sinne in the Conscience in him and passe quickly againe into the old footsteps All these are unworthy and unfit and uncapable of the Testament and receive it onely unto Judgement as before is mentioned The Fift Chapter Of the Contention Disputation and Strife of the Learned about Christs Testaments what they Effect therewith and what is to be held concerning it 1. NOt out of an affection to meddle with any one in his good Conscience will I adde this Chapter but for the comfort of the simple children of Christ which Men so lead into Errour and shut them up in opinions and seduce them from the true understanding in contention and make of Christs Testaments a meere Den of Murther and binde and shut up the Conscience in Snares and Bands to them I will signifie what they should hold concerning the contentious Disputation of the Learned in Reason and what they set up thereby 2. Christs Testaments are nothing else but a Band and Covenant between God and Man a Memberlike union of the children of Men where God with the humanity of Christ hath bound himselfe with Man againe after the fall to be their loving God Now all that without this Memberlike Band and Covenant of Love contend and dispute about conceits and opinions about knowledge that goeth into owne selfe without Christ and there is no true understanding in any such for none knoweth Christ but the Father onely and those to whom the Father will reveale him Matth. 11.27 3. Now if Christ be revealed to and in a Man then he hath no contentious Disputation nor Strife with any Man about that knowledge and skill but he is lowly and accompteth himselfe unworthy of any such knowledge he despiseth none for the difference sake of his Gifts but is in Love with all Men and letteth every Man have his owne and giveth to his Neighbour onely his Love will and considereth how he may be a Member of Christ and of his Brethren and Sisters 4. But that Men run into so many Opinions and strive contend and dispute about them and despise one another for the Letter sake and scorne and give them to the Devill there the simple Christian is to know that in all such Strife there is no true understanding but meere Pride and Antichristian a Matters doings or miserable confounding of the words of Christ where nothing ariseth from it but disunion unsafety Enmity and nothing else is effected therewith but the Devills will 5. And that is because they give out themselves to be Teachers of the Kingdome of Christ and yet are not sent or knowne of God they take their matter all from others and exchange words and letters and contend and dispute about the Art how Men may artificially set letters together and make opinions which composure is most artificiall and compell the Consciences into that
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
was done by Christ to be true and that a Man need onely and balely to goe to his Testament and there receive the Grace which he left behinde him and comfort himselfe therewith and accompt it as a Merit and imputed Grace It is not enough for a Man to heare Sermons preached and to be Baptised to Christ and goe to the Supper so that a Man doe but keepe the Custome this by farre maketh no Christian it must be Earnestnesse none is a Christian unlesse Christ live and work in him as Christ himselfe sayth Without mee yee can doe nothing Joh. 15.5 Also Hee that gathereth not with mee scattereth Matth 12.30 17. A Christian must be one Spirit in and with Christ and will and work in the power of Christ it is a living active working Grace in a Christian a continuall burning fire a feeling power and vertue which though it be often covered with the Lust of the flesh and the vanity of the world yet it i Gloweth glimmereth and burneth in the Heart as a fire and reproveth the flesh and the vaine lust of untruth rejecteth the false way and willeth it not that same inward fire is the Spirit of Christ which without ceasing breaketh the head of the Serpent viz the Lust of the flesh The flesh hath the will of this world but that same kindled ground hath the will of God If any be a Christian then he will hate and be angry at the will of the flesh he will be an Enemy to his evill fleshly Lust and constantly complaine and hold himselfe to be unworthy Note and continually with his inward will of the soule sinck himselfe into the k Purest meerest Grace into Gods mercy and not say of himselfe I am a right Christian but will continually presse with his Desire into Gods Mercy and fly to Grace that he might be but a right Christian and will accompt himselfe in all his conversation alwayes too unworthy of such Grace and in continuall resigned humility with weeping and prayer onely presse into Grace his whole life will be a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Repentance and he will evermore desire to apprehend Grace as it hath apprehended him 18. A right Christian is affrighted at sinne when the Lust of the flesh would worke sinne also when he seeth others work sinne then he groaneth in himselfe at it and wisheth that such evill were not committed it is an abomination to him in his Eyes he loveth truth and righteousnesse and hateth the false way and although the Earthly flesh often unawares without any purpose of will falleth upon him with a sudden false Lust and many times bringeth him to fall as hath been with David and Solomon and Many Saints and is still done yet such a Man in whom the Spirit of Christ is doth not lye in sinne but the Inward Ground viz the Incorporated Grace in the Spirit of Christ cometh quickly with Gods l Strict severe righteousnesse in the Anger and entereth into him in the Conscience as the Prophet Nathan entered into Davids conscience and touched his conscience and awakened the fire of Anger when David suddenly began with great sorrow to repent and acknowledge his sinne and entered into such Earnest Repentance that he would receive no comfort from all his friends and would not suffer his Eares to be filled with comfort and the tickling of Grace till he felt the Grace of the Lord in his Conscience no flattery would set his heart at peace till the Lord spake into him with his Grace● 2 Sam. 12.7 Of the worthy preparation to the holy Testament of Christ 19. If any will call himselfe a Christian and comfort himselfe with the Merits of Christ and approach to his Testament and worthily receive the same let him consider his wayes well and looke to his heart and see how it is framed 1. Whether he standeth in such a desire as to be willing to dye wholly from vanity 2. Whether it be in his purpose to goe out from all falshood unrighteousnesse lying and deceit and that he be resolved never to enter into them againe 3. Whether he desire the Grace of God in Christ with a cleane pure wil 4. Also whether he is sorry for his sinne 5. Whether he finde and feele such a will in himselfe that from henceforth he will wholly goe forth from his former Sinnes and Blasphemies 6. And also whether he be so minded that he will yeeld up his whole heart and will to Gods Mercy 7. Also whether he findeth feeleth and knoweth a place in himselfe where he will lay up this high Testament viz the flesh and bloud of Christ with his Grace 8. Also whether or no he hath made roome in his heart and whole soule for the Spirit of Christ that he may there enter in as a Living Conqueror over Death and Hell and may erect his Kingly Palace in his heart and soule 9. And whether he be capable of this where Christ sayth Wee will come unto you and make our dwelling in you Joh. 14.23 10. Also whether the Temple of the Holy Ghost in him be swept and purged with right repentance 11. Also whether there be a right Mouth in him that can rightly receive Christs Holy flesh 12. Also whether the Essence of his Life be so framed that Christ with his Substance and with his Love may continue therein For Christ sayth Hee that Eateth my flesh and drinketh my Bloud continueth in Mee and I in him Joh. 6.56 13. Also whether he finde in his Minde that the Streame of the Living Waters of Divine Love flow from him that he love his God and his brother and Neighbour as himselfe 14. Also whether he wisheth and desireth to doe Good to his Enemies 15. Whether he accompteth any thing in this world as his owne of which he sayth This is mine owne onely 16. Or whether in that which he hath and possesseth he accompteth himselfe but a servant of God and a Steward to him and his brother therein and Consider that he is but an Officer and Servant of God in his state and condition in his temporall Goods that none of it is his own but Gods and his brothers 17. Also whether he trusteth God in his conversation and keepe and esteeme his Life as his Lord Christ did who was but a Pilgrim in this world and had nothing for his owne and also willingly left his Life for his brethren 18. Also whether he findeth a sparkle of such a will in himselfe 20. Now if he finde all this in himselfe then he is rightly worthy and very fit for such a Testamentary participation but if not and yet findeth such a hunger in himselfe that he would willingly be and will so then he is in the drawing of the Father to the Grace in Christ then he should not long parly with Reason and frame doubts in himselfe but should that very houre enter into such an Earnest purpose that he will enter into Earnest sincere