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
burneth or liveth And the first Principle viz the fiery Soule out of the Divine Science of the Seperable Eternall-Speaking word out of the Fathers fiery Substance is baptised with the fiery Spirit of the Fathers Property as with the fire-burning Love Vnderstand this thus The Soule is of the Fathers Property according to the fiery omnipotency and in this Baptisme in which the Father cobaptiseth Hee giveth it to the Sonne in his Love-fire understand the Soule is of the Fathers fire become a wrath-fire This wrath-fire with his Infusion he giveth to his fire-burning-Love The Fathers Property in the fire taketh hold on the Soule first with the Law of Nature as with his strickt righteousnesse of the Eternall Birth of the fire-ground whereby the hard c Impressed Compressed dead Soule in that same d Eintauchen Infusion of the fire of the Divine life is moveable and its hard c Impressed Compression of the false Magnetick desire is broken in sunder and opened in that manner as a Man strikes up fire thus a new fire of God is kindled which e Trembling or Contrition Commotion or shrill sounding is also the Ground of Repentance Now when the Fathers fire is stirred and kindled then shineth the Divine Light of the Great sweet Love in the opened Name JESUS out of the Holy Name JEHOVA in the Centre of the Fathers fire out of the unity of God as the Beames of Divine Grace in the Soule for the Soule is with this Glimps unlocked and then suddenly the Light of Love taketh in the unlooked ground filleth it with the substance of Love And thus the Sonne viz the Love of the Father receiveth the Soule and sanctifieth it and throughly penetrateth it as fire throughly penetrateth the Iron And that is it which Christ saith Father the Men were thine and thou hast given them unto mee and I give them the Eternall Life Also Note This is the Eternall Life that they rightly know thee Father that thou art the true God and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ Joh. 17.3.6 In this inshining and indwelling Light is the New Birth and God is Comprehended and knowne in the Spirit whereupon followeth instantly the true Faith which willeth nothing but what God will for thus is Christ the Light of the Little World viz of Man and giveth the Eternall Light-Life of God to the Soule And thus the Soule liveth in the Father and yet with the Sonnes office is governed and sanctified and its anxious Fire-Life is a meere Love-burning But the Fathers Concussion or shrill sounding is necessary that the soules fire-source may be touched that the Soule may finde what it is for it is thereby brought into continuall Repentance and humility when the Beame of Gods wrath often toucheth it that it consider its fall and is at no time secure for it hath a great Enemy neere it in its flesh and bloud viz Satans poyson that it may no more run-on in its owne will as formerly For the Soule in this Beame of wrath trembleth before sinne and so sinne is manifested in the Light and then comes Sorrow and Lamentation over sinne on a heape And thus standeth this pretious figure in the Inward Ground For where the owne will of sinne is shaken through Repentance there the holy anointing Oyle of Love penetrateth instantly and healeth these wounds Thus the Father Baptiseth with fire to Repentance and the Sonne with Love to Sanctification and the Holy Ghost manageth the office who baptiseth with a New life For the whole holy Trinity baptiseth according to the Divine Manifestation For without and beyond the Manifestation there is onely One Triune God in one onely Good f Substance or Essence Beeing and Will whereof a Man cannot say the Father is wrath this or that but is the Triune Good Beeing But according to his Manifestation out of which the Soules and Angells together with Every Heavenly and Hellish Beeing is sprung viz after the Manner of the Mysterium Magnum the Great Mystery from hence ariseth his Wrath or fire-source and that from Eternity in Eternity Note Thus now a Man may understand the Baptisme according to the Inward Ground according to Soule and Spirit viz the Father Baptiseth with the Concussion or shrill sounding to Repentance with fire in which fire the bitter suffering and dying of Jesus Christ is impressed into the poore Soule for the Wrath-fire which holdeth the Soule captive is overcome and softened with Love and this is impressed in the Soule as a victory and the Sonne baptiseth with the holy anointing-Oyle of Gods Love and healeth the poore shaken Soule againe And the true Comforter the Holy Ghost which goeth forth through Christs Death through Christs Resurrection through the Father in the Sonne he baptiseth with a new Life and giveth true Faith and understanding that wee receive and know this The Third Property of the Third Principle with the Water-Baptisme wherewith the body of the outward worlds Substance as also the Outward Life is baptised that is considered as followeth By the Water viz by the Element of the body of Christ the Right Adamicall Man out of the Elements which was created in Adam understand the outward worlds Substance is baptised for heere 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 that outspoken Word Hee is to be understood in all Three Principles or Worlds in each world according to their property As First in the Fathers wrath according to the Darknesse Hee is the flame of painefullnesse and Secondly in the Eternall Light he is the Love flame of God and Thirdly in this world in Spiritu Mundi in the Spirit of this world hee is the formour and workmaster of Every thing in every thing according to its property as the Seperator or Archaeus of the thing is from whence it ariseth so also is the outflowne Spirit out of the outspoken word in every thing And it is not to be understood that the Spirit of the Outward 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 The Outflowne Spirit of the outward Naturall and Creaturely Life is flowen forth out of Gods Love and Wrath out of Light and Darknesse viz out of the first and second Principle out of the Eternall Nature out of the Speaking of the Word for the Eternall Word hath breathed it selfe with that Spirit into a Creaturely Image-like Life It is the Soule of the Outward World a Life of the foure Elements It s power is as a fiery and lightish Constellation What the whole outward Constellation is in it selfe in its power the same is that Spirit every where alone in it selfe yet as a shut up Constellation that lyeth in the Temperament and yet
it might pierce to God By Moses on Mount Sinai wee see this Image also where first the Fathers Property in the Fire manifested it selfe and required Mans full obedience to live before God in Holinesse and draw neere to him in purity through the Sacrifice If not then would he devoure them in the Curse through this fire Which also was an Image Type or Shadow signifying how the humane vanity should and must be purged through Gods Wrath-fire But Israel could not through the fire come to salvation and the Love of God and through Moses goe into the Promised Land but through Joshua and Christ Therefore God brought his Heavenly Substance with his Covenant into the Water-Baptisme that there might be a tolerable Medium whereby he might introduce his Love-Essence into our vanished also heavenly Substance wherein the Holy fire might kindle it selfe againe Even therefore because the humane Essence was become Earthly that Man might beare or endure it for there must be such a Medium wherein the humane Essence can take hold for in Gods Holinesse without a Medium it cannot take hold the will was rent off from it Therefore God became Man that he might cause to flow in us his Deity with the humanity that we might comprehend or take hold of him also that the Divine Imagination might introduce and awaken it selfe in Man and co-worke with the humane Imagination and therefore he assumed the humanity that he might work in us with the Deity through the Humanity Thus with the Water-Baptisme was a Glimmering Mother holy-fire imprinted in Gods Love for a Subject or Object of Divine Imagination and working whereby Death according to the Inwardnesse of Man would be broken to Pieces and a new life spring forth As fire in wood beginneth to Glimmer so was this Infusion or Baptising an z Or Vnction Anointing of the Holy Spirit for a new Lifes Oyle wherein the Divine Light might kindle it selfe This is now the Ground of the Water-Baptisme to which the Holy Ghost in the inward Ground is the hand which with the flowing forth of the Divine Love out of Christs suffering death and resurrection baptiseth with his victory That is Hee Infuseth Christs humanity suffering Death and resurrection into Man and kindleth the incorporated Paradisicall Covenant with this fire that the dry Rod of Aaron cometh to Bud forth againe For with this Infusion of the Holy Ghost Christ is bestowed upon Man he is hereby incorporated to Christ and the heavenly Ens which in Mary assumed our humane Ens with the whole processe of Christ is put on and imprinted in him to a new Life As a Tincture tinctureth the Mettle or as fire gloweth through the Iron so here also it is to be understood concerning those that are capable of this Infusion as it followeth further The Third Chapter A Briefer and more fundamentall Instruction how Man is Baptised by the Holy Ghost with Christs Suffering Death and Resurrection in Body and Soule 1. WHen God would introduce his Covenant with the Circumcision into the Water-Baptisme then the Word of the Inspoken Grace wherein the Holy Fire of God was First before hand became a Man and assumed first beforehand the Womans seede as our soule and humanity that he might baptise us with the Living Covenant which was become a Man 2. For the Body of Man to which the Baptisme was necessary was out of the Elements and now if it should be Baptised the Covenant must first beforehand give it selfe into an Elementary Medium as in the Humanity of Christ and Sanctifie that Medium that Man might through this Medium be baptised 3. For it was not to be done onely for the Heavenly Substance of Man which vanished in Adam in which the Covenant in Paradise incorporated it selfe that it alone should be baptised No but also for the Soule and for the Body out of the Limus of the Earth 4. The whole Man needed the Baptisme All the Three Principles of all the Three worlds in Man must be baptised viz The first Principle is the Eternall Nature viz the true Soules Life that came out of the Word of the Inspeaking into the Body The Second Principle is the true Eternall Spirit viz the Holy Power of the Light and Love which I call in this little Booke the heavenly vanished Ens and Substance in Adam wherein Adam vanished viz the Soules will departed out from it The Third Principle is the Astrall Animall Soule Ex Spiritu Mundi out of the Spirit of the World with its Body out of the Limus of the Earth viz the whole outward visible Man 5. This Threefold Man was wholly fallen for as the Divine Light in the Spirit of the Second Principle went out he was quite blinde as to God and dead as to Paradise In this must a Divine Love Ens be Infused againe in which Love Ens the Divine fire and Light might againe kindle to a new Life but if this must be done then must the Holy Fire first beforehand manifest it selfe with the Covenant in the Threefold Humanity as in Christs Humanity that Gods Spirit might baptise us out of with and through this threefold Humanity that Each Principle in us might be baptized with its like or similitude For the Holy Ghost Baptizeth through Christ to the forgivenesse of Sinnes 6. The Holy Fire of the Divine Power in Christ Baptiseth his Temple in us which the Holy fire viz the Divine life in us would possesse viz the vanished Ens of the Heavenly worlds Substance the Spirit of understanding or of Power viz the Second Principle or Angelicall Body out of the Angelicall worlds Substance to which Substance Christ afterwards giveth his most holy spirituall flesh for food in which he himselfe dwelleth This Divine Love in the Holy fire baptiseth this Spirit for it is an Ens of the Holy fire wherein it burneth or liveth And the first Principle viz the fiery Soule out of the Divine Science of the seperable speaking word out of the Fathers Property is baptised with the fiery Spirit of the Fathers Property as with the fire burning Love 7. Thus to be understood The Soule is of the Fathers Property and in this Baptisme with his Infusion into the Soule he giveth it to the Son in his Love-fire The Fathers Property in the fire taketh hold on the Soule first with the Law of Nature with his Strickt Righteousnesse with the Eternall Birth of the fire-Ground whereby the hard p Impression Compressed Dead Soule in that Infusion of the fire is moveable and its hard p Impression Compression of the false Magnetick Desire is broken in sunder and opened in that manner as a Man strikes up fire 8. Thus now the Divine Light of the Great Love is in the Opened Name JESUS out of JEHOVA in the Centre of the Fathers fire When the Fathers fire unlocketh the fiery Soule then the light of the Divine Love can shine into it and Introduce the Love Ens
the works of Love then he hath also no Faith the opinion maketh no salvation but is Babell a confusion of the Tongues of the one onely Love None is a Christian unlesse he love his neighbour and desireth to doe him good 14. The outwardly imputed Grace without the innate e Or childelike filial Grace is all false when Christ worketh in a Man then he is a Christian and then the sufferings merits and satisfaction of Christ availe him when he hath him in himselfe for an Advocate who hath done it that he doe it also in him and attracteth his merits to him then is the kingdome of God in that Merit otherwise all Imagelike Opinions are faise No work pleaseth God but what he himselfe worketh in Man through his Spirit therefore let us be the children of Christ and not the children of Images 15. Christ hath imparted his kingdome to us in his Testaments he that will receive it must be his childe else there is no Inheritance to work Repentance is better then to desire to know much Is not the knowledge given from God to a Man then he will not be able to understand the Ground of the divine secret Mystery but if it be given him he neede no Image to continue in the humility and simplicity of Christ and to cleave to his love and Grace without despising of any one is good Christianity All whatsoever speaketh of it selfe is Babell in Christ wee are all Members and all one AMEN The End of the second little Book concerning The Holy Supper The Table of the Two Testaments Angells Book 1. Ch 1. THe End why God Created the Angells and Men also of Reasons Misunderstanding of the Testaments of Christ Verse 23. Book 1. Ch 2. How Angells became Devills Verse 3 4 5 Anointing Anointed Book 1. Ch 3. How Christs anointing is understood in the Water Baptisme Verse 19 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Body and Soule is anointed by Christ in the Water-Baptisme Verse 19.20 Book 1. Ch 4. John Anointed when Mary saluted Elizabeth Verse 4 Book 1. Ch 4. A Baptizer should be the Anointed of Christ Verse 22 Antichristian Booke 2. Ch. 5. Of Antichristian doings Verse 4 Arise Booke 1. Ch. 3. What that is wherein Man at the last day shall Arise and stand before the Judgement Verse 16.17.20 Baptisme Baptised Baptise Baptiser Booke 1. Ch. 2. How the Deluge was a figure of Baptisme Verse 17 Booke 1. Ch. 2. Why God sent the Baptisme and Divine Infusion in an Elementary Earthly Medium Verse 26.27 Booke 1. Ch. 2. What is the Ground of that Water Baptisme to which the holy Ghost is the Hand that Baptiseth Verse 36 Book 1. Ch 3. How the whole Man needed Baptisme Verse 4 Book 1. Ch 3. How the Baptisme of the holy Ghost is effected Verse 6 Book 1. Ch 3. What it is in the Water Baptisme wherewith the Body from the Outward World and the Spirit of the Constellation in Man is Baptised Verse 12 Book 1. Ch 3. How wee are buried with Christ in Baptisme Verse 22 Book 1. Ch 4. John the Baptist the Beginner of Water Baptisme Verse 01 Book 1. Ch 4. Circumcision changed into Water Baptisme Verse 6 Book 1. Ch 4. Why God Ordained the Water Baptisme Verse 9 Book 1. Ch 4. Why the Outward Baptisme is requisite to those that live to have it Verse 14.15.19 Book 1. Ch 4. Wee are through Baptisme planted anew in the Word of God Verse 20 Book 1. Ch 4. How God is with the Holy with the Vnholy in the Baptisme Verse 24 Book 1. Ch 4. What required to Baptisme in them that are present Verse 33.34.40 Book 1. Ch 4. Wicked people at the Baptisme a hinderance to the work Verse 36 Book 1. Ch 4. Baptisme not a meere signe but a substantiall work Verse 38 Book 1. Ch 3. What was done that the Three Worlds properties in Man might be Baptised Verse 5â— Book 1. Ch. 3. What it is in Man that is Baptised into Death Verse 21 Book 1. Ch. 4. Faithfull Parents Baptised in Soule and Body generate Children in that Baptisme Verse 13 Book 1. Ch. 3. How the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Baptise together Verse 11 Book 1. Ch. 4. Who it is that is worthy to Baptise with Water Verse 10.11.39 Book 1. Ch. 4. Holy Parents Baptise their Ofspring in Spirit yet why the Outward Baptisme is requisit in those that live to have it Verse 14 15.19 Book 1. Ch. 4. The unfaithfull Baptiser is dead in that work though God alwayes worketh in respect of his Covenant Verse 12 Beasts Book 2. Ch 1. The Image of Reconciliation in the sacrificing of Beasts and burning the Fat of them mentioned Levit. 8.14 c. Verse 5 Body Book 1. Ch 1. How wee came to have this Beastiall Body Verse 20 Book 1. Ch 2. What Body the Saints before and since Christ put on and what Body they waite for in the Resurrection at the Last Day Verse 14 Book 1. Ch 3. The Body of Man necessary to be Baptised Verse 2.3 Book 2. Ch 3. Why the Bread and Wine cannot be turned into the Body and bloud of Christ Verse 25 Book 2. Ch. 4. How it is not to distinguish the Lords Body Verse 1 Children Book 1. Ch 4. Christ biddeth Suffer little Children to come to him Verse 28 Christ Christs Christian Booke 1. Ch 2. Why God must become Man and why Christ must receive the Elementary part from us Verse 34 Booke 1. Ch 2. How Christ is bestowed upon Man Verse 37.38 Booke 1. Ch 3. How Christ is the Light of the little World Verse 10 Book 2. Ch. 2. How Christ is the Light of the world Verse 10 Book 1. Ch. 3. How Christ penetratrated through Death and Hell Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. How Christ descended into Hell Verse 22 Book 1. Ch. 4. John the forerunner of Christ Verse 5 Book 2. Ch. 2. How Christ was the right High Priest Verse 3.4 Book 2. Ch. 2. Christ gave his whole Humanity to his Disciples Verse 8.9 Book 2. Ch. 2. What the Citie of God in Man is and how wee continue in Christ and be in us Verse 11 Book 2. Ch. 2. Christ by the last Supper fulfilled the Old Testament Verse 17 Book 2. Ch. 3. Man cannot say I am Christ though Christ dwelleth in him Verse 30 Book 2. Ch. 4 Who they are that Crucifie Christ now and wound him Verse 15 Book 2. Ch. 4. How a Man shall feele and Taste what Christ in him is Verse 23 Book 2. Ch. 5. None know Christ but those to whom and in whom the Father revealeth him Verse 2 3 Book 2. Ch. 5. How Men say heere is Christ Verse 8 Book 2. Ch. 5. How Christ is with us Every Day to the End of the World Verse 12 Book 1. Ch. 3. What was effected by Christs shedding forth his bloud upon the Earth Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. What in Man is the Christian and why Mans works must be Judged Verse
they be knowne but by the same Spirit whose fruits they are he that hath not the fruits of this Spirit which is holinesse peace righteousnesse joy in the Holy Ghost enjoyeth not the kingdome of God nor till wee have sought and found peace and holinesse wee shall not see God and except wee be borne againe of water and the Holy Spirit we cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven though it be Luke 17.21 within us Now can any teach what it is to be born again and what this Water and holy Spirit is but he that hath them and hath been borne againe by them I would men were diligent to desire such spirituall things and then God who dwelleth in their hearts would feele and heare their desires and breath forth his holy Spirit in them and satisfie their desires with his Gifts and Graces and then he would fill their minds and understandings also with the knowledge of all his Mysteries and so they would learne in the schoole of Christ by Divine Experience the true Ordinances of God and then we should be better able to edifie one another in our most holy Faith and wee should by degrees improving that measure of knowledge we have at length attaine the highest knowledge of the highest Apostle Wee want but the sincere practise of what we know for by that meanes wee should not Quench but stirre up the Gifts and Graces of Gods Holy Spirit that are within us till it multiply and flow forth with all its Gifts which wee suppose are not attainable because men have not endeavoured that they might attaine them And that is the Reason wee have the Ordinances not in Power but in much weaknesse wanting those Gifts which would enable Men to dispence the Ordinances of God It is a Great Gift to have our Calling and Election sure in that sense which the Apostle Paul meant it according to the highest understanding of that Mysterie which the Apostle himselfe knew must needs be attainable by labour and Endeavour and upon the knowledge of this Mysterie doth many other Mysteries depend it is that for which the Ordinances were Instituted as helps and meanes to bring us to the assured certainty of our salvation wee content our selves with an Imaginary superficiall perswasion without knowing assurance for if wee did endeavour labour search seeke and try wee should soone perceive how it might be made infallibly sure and then wee should as assuredly understand the high Excellency of Every Ordinance of God All the Arts and Trades in the world are Mysteries and are not truly knowne but by those that have had Experience in them then how can there be a skilfull Dispencer of the Mysteries of God his Ordinances but by Experience in them we are able to learne them all by Experience but without that wee know nothing of them more then the very beast The Devills that far surpasse Mortall Men in knowledge yet cannot know the Mysteries of God because they cannot experiment them but those of Darknesse they worke and therefore know them and wee are placed in this world to work the works of God that wee may know what that Good and acceptable will of God is and therefore wee should Work out our salvation with feare and trembling by obedience in well-doing and that will bring us to feele and know the good Spirit of God which will teach us the way and course how to finde every thing if wee search and enquire in that Spirit threfore let us endeavour after that which is Holy and wee shall feelè what the God of Holinesse is and then we shall cleerly understand the Scriptures and the writings of all other Men wee shall be able to discover what is true and what is false in all the words and writings of any Man understandingly and demonstratively to the convincing of all hearers both in Divine and Naturall things From these Instances that have been mentioned it may be perceived that all the Ordinances of God have proceeded from the Holy Ghost neither can any thing be the Ordinance of God where the Holy Ghost is not in some measure or other no man is the Minister of the Word of God any further then he is taught by the Spirit of God and speaketh what he understandeth by the same Spirit None were fit to be made Deacons or Elders but one full of the Holy Ghost then surely none are able to make Deacons or Elders but by the Power of the Holy Ghost that is in them and so of all other Ordinances and according to the measure of the Holy Spirit in us such is the validity and Efficacy of the Ordinances to us the Outward performance of the things directed in the Scripture by men of sincere hearts is sufficient and they are warnings to us to forsake our Evill wayes in the Observance of which course wee may assuredly finde true Christianity and consequently salvation but this is in the lowest degree and it were to be wished that none were so presumptuous as to arrogate to themselves that they are such as performe the true Ordinances of God unlesse they have the same holy Spirit of God filling their hearts as they had of whom it is recorded in the holy Scriptures that they did performe them aright when wee are scarce truly Children of God let us have a care that wee suffer not others to account us above what wee are but rather informe them sincerely that wee are not such as they take us to be and not take upon us to be called Gods Faithfull Servants Ministers of God Preachers of the Word Elders Teachers Pastours Overseers Messengers and Embassadours of Christ or Apostles such as are sent from God neither should any mention those Texts of Scripture which speake of the true Officers of Christ as if the same were meant and applyable to thamselves and so urge them in Sermons that those hearers that have not ability to discerne the truth in things that differ are made confident to maintaine stiffely that those Scriptures mean them they call Ministers as well as it did the Apostles Evangelists and other faithfull Teachers in those dayes and doe alledge those Scriptures in their behalfe and call them Divines whereas none of the Apostles were so named in all the Scripture but John the Divine the beloved Disciple and most sublime in vision and Revelation when as if wee truly examine our selves according to the Scriptures wee shall finde wee ought rather to be esteemed Enemies of God and of his Sonne Jesus Christ our Lord But let us presse forward in the wayes of Godlinesse that wee may be at length strong Men in Christ and enjoy his Ordinances in the Power as it was and is in the spirits and soules of all the faithfull holy ones who have true understanding and knowledge in the Divine Mysteries by Experience such were the Prophets and Apostles and faithfull in all ages No curious workman can make his servant expert in his work except the servant
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
Abyssall Deity as a speaking forth of the Abysse into a Ground of the Unsubstantiall into a Substantiall In which the whole Creation with the speaking forth as in the seperability of the speaking hath taken its beginning and doth yet evermore so take it And every life doth consist in that seperability of the speaking where the immodeled Imagination in the Exhalation parteth it selfe into seperability In which Parting the sensibilility of the onely life is understood where the One vieweth it selfe in the Multiplicity 6. Also heerein is to be understood the Ground of the Properties in that the Parting of the Onely Longing bringeth it selfe into Desiringnesse and d Comprehendeth incloseth and maketh it selfe Essentiall or Substantiall in which e Comprehensibility Inclosibility the seaven formes of Nature take thâ—â— beginning as is sufficiently declared in our other Writings 7. Therefore say I the cause that Men dispute and strive about God about his Word Essence or Beeing and Will is that the understanding hath broken it selfe off from its Centre or Ground which Breaking off is nothing else but that the Properties which are gone forth out of the Eternall out-speaking of the Word into a Creaturely Life have brought themselves into selfe-lust to the out-speaking of themselves and in their own selfe-conceived Lust have broken themselves off from the Eternall-Longing * Or after towards the Word of the Eternall speaking and brought themselves into an own sensibility of Nature and confused themselves in the formes of Nature Where all the thoughts or senses will dwell and run without the Onely God in selfe Speculation and Reason and can in no wise come to their Centre or Ground except they sinck downe into themselves in the Speculation and goe againe into the Ground out of which they are Existed and fall againe into the Eternall speaking Word and give their owne wills into the Eternall speaking Word that the same owne will of the Creaturely Life may be out-spoken with and in the Eternall Speaking Word in the Seperability of the Word 8. In which re-out-speaking the New Regeneration of the Humane Life and Will is understood For the Humane Life was in the Beginning of Man in the Word of GOD and by the Inbreathing of the Word into the Humane Body was manifested and came into Sensibility Perceptibility and Willing Where then the willing hath broken it selfe off from the Word wherein the Life was without Creature and hath brought it selfe into a selfe-Seperability and visibility of its perceptibility of the five senses In which Sensibility it now at present runneth and seeketh the Seate of God therein but findeth onely a measurablenesse and Naturall and Creaturely formednesse wherein now it striveth about its owne Centre For the own will hath brought it selfe into an own Centre and broken it selfe off from the whole and as to the totall is become as it were dead 9. Therefore saith Christ Vnlesse ye be converted and become as Children and be new-borne through water and the Spirit ye cannot see the Kingdome of God Matth. 1â— 4 Joh. 3.5.7 The owne will should goe againe into its nothing and then it standeth againe in the first Birth and will be againe out-spoken from the Eternall Word in a Divine Will For whatsoever it is whose living and willing willeth or runneth without the Eternall speaking Word that same is without the Eternity and liveth meerely in the Time 10 But seeing the soule hath its Originall out of the Eternall Word as a Power thereof therefore it cannot Rest in the Beeing or Essence of Time but seeketh its own Mother who Generated it and brought it into a Creaturely Forme but its going forth maketh that it cannot finde its Mother 11. Therefore all Strife about the Divine Mysteries is an unprofitable thing and is done from without without God in selfe-perceptibility where the Sensibility vieweth it selfe in Nature in a Creaturely Forme There is no comprehension or true understanding or knowledge of God except the Image like Reason forsake it selfe and sinke downe with its owne will into its Centre againe out of which it is gone forth viz into the Eternall Speaking Word of God that it receive that speaking or breathing of God into it selfe againe and through the Divine Science or skill speake in a f Distinguishable Separable and sensible Forme that it be a dwelling and Temple of God wherein Gods will worketh Governeth and willeth Else there is no true knowledge or skill concerning God and his Beeing or Essence 12. For no Spirit knoweth God or his word and will unlesse Gods word and will be manifested and Stirring in it Naturall Reason without the Light of God seeth onely the Naturall Imagelikenesse and goeth on in its own speculation and frameth in it selfe the Divine Beeing or Essence as if that were just such a thing From whence is come the Strife amongst the Learned in Reason so that Men strive and dispute about God and about his Beeing or Essence and Will where each of them holdeth his Imagination for Divine and will have his own Image which he hath framed in the Imagination of his Reason to be honoured for God whereas yet it is onely a Naturall Image of Reason and thus Men strive all the world over about these Images of Reason 13. But a true Man who standeth rightly in the Image of God hath no Strife in Religion For he liveth in his first Mother who hath formed him with Soule Spirit and Body and his whole Substance into an Image he co-willeth and acteth with her he is resigned into her and yeeldeth his will to her and she feedeth and nourisheth him Every property of the true resigned Man is nourished with its like As first the Body out of the Limus of the Earth is nourished from the Earth Secondly the Body of the g Thoughts Senses and Reason which is a spirituall Body is nourished from its Astrum or Constellation and Starres out of which it hath its Originall Thirdly But the Soule is nourished in its Principle from the Word and Beeing or Essence of God for it is out of Gods Word brought and come into a Body 14. Now if it bring not it selfe in its own Imagibility and willing into self-hood but bringeth its will againe into the Divine Speaking then it gets its nourishment from the Essentiall Word of God viz from the Essentiall Wisdome of God this is its Nutriment from whence it also reacheth and attaineth divine skill For every Spirit seeth no otherwise nor deeper then onely into its Essentiall Imagibility viz into that Essence wherein it worketh so that the same hath made it Imagelike through the Imagination therewith it formeth itselfe and in such Essence vieweth it selfe and so high also is its knowledge 15. Therefore saith Christ Except you turne againe with your Will and Imagibility and become as a Childe which hath no Imagibility in its Imagination you shall not see God Also ye must be new-borne againe or
else ye shall not ïnherit the Kingdome of God That which is borne of flesh viz of fleshly Imagelikenesse that is flesh and cannot inherite the Kingdome of God but that which is formed and generated spiritually and through the Spirituall Imagination that is Spirit Joh. 3.6 For to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace and to be Fleshly Minded is Death and enmity to God sayth St. Paul Rom. 8.6 7. 16. Into what the Spirit of the Will bringeth it selfe with its Imagination so that it impresseth and comprehendeth it therein also it Imageth it selfe into Beeing or Essence For no Spirit can bring any thing to passe without Beeing or Essence If the Eternall One were not Essentiall all would be nothing and if that ONE had not a Will there would be no Desire nor Power nor Word nor Essence 17. Indeed we acknowledge that the Will of the Abysse hath brought it selfe into a Longing and Imagination of it selfe whence Nature and Creature have their Originall Whence also the Naturall Life hath its Originall which now also out of the Partiblenesse of the Exhaled will hath its owne Will and Imagination to forme and Image it selfe according to its longing and desire As we see such changing in Nature how Nature Imageth it selfe into so many kindes and Properties and how those Imaged Properties doe every one desire their like againe 18. Seeing then we understand in Man that he especially above all other Creatures desireth and longeth after three Properties As first he longeth according to his h Sensible or conceptive apprehensive understanding after the Hidden God and though indeed he seeth him not with bodily eyes yet he desireth him Secondly he longeth after his Astrum or Constellation out of which the Minde and Rationall Life is proceeded therefore the Rationall Life longeth again after its Mother Thirdly he longeth after the Starres or Powers of the Earth and the other Elements and desireth them for his Nourishment and therefore we know also by this hunger of his that he must have his Originall out of these Three For there is also such a threefold Spirit out of such an Originall to be understood in him And then also such a Threefold Essence or Substance wherein his Spirit worketh where every Operation longeth after it◠first Mother and receiveth its Nutriment from her 19. But seeing the Soule viz the Inward Ground of Man in Adam the first Man hath with its longing and desire out of its first Mother out of its first Originall viz out of the Divine Word and Will turned out into the Operation of the Constellation and Elements and formed it selfe in that Operation and plowed it selfe into a strange Imagination whereby the Divine food viz the Essentiall Wisdome of God is withdrawen from which with its longing desire it hath broken off it selfe thereupon it is wholly blinde as to God and the first Divine Essence wherein God Created it is departed 20. When the soule brought its Imagination from that Divine Essence or Substance out of and into the Earthly and Astrall property then also its Body wherein the Threefold Spirit worketh became wholly Earthly Grosse and Beastiall for into whatsoever the Imagination of the Spirit bringeth it selfe such a Body also is through the Impression of the Spirituall desire As we see in Man that he hath gotten a Grosse Earthly Body wherein the Principles now stand in Meere Strife Contrariety and Enmity from which Paine i Fragility Corruptibility and Death exist which yet God did forbid him in Paradise while he yet stood therein That he should not Eate of the Knowledge of Evill and Good with the Imagination else he should fall into such Necessity Misery and Death and die to the Kingdome of Heaven as it is also come to passe Gen. 2.17 21. When the Soule brought it selfe into the Earthly Imagination it brought it selfe into the Earthly Image and lost the Heavenly Image whereas it should Image it selfe into the Essentiall Wisdome viz into the Holy Heavenly Essentiall Word and take its Nourishment therestom then it Imaged itselfe in the outward Astrum or Constellation and in the Serpents and Devills desire whereby in its Noble Image it became a Visard and Monster in the sight of God and lost its Angelicall forme which it had as also Paradise and the Kingdome of Heaven and now with its Ground stood in the Impression of Darknesse in the Anger of God and must have ever stood in such Visardly Image If the Great Love of God had not come to helpe it againe and that the Divine Word viz its first Mother its first Originall had not againe Inspired or Spoken the Grace into it so that the same Word would with its most Inward Secresie and Love give it selfe againe into the Ground of the Soule with a New well-spring and fountaine and bring the soule a New Nourishment into its Life whereby its naturall fiery and painfull property becometh changed into the Image of God againe 22. Which great Divine Love would be a Death to the k Adverse Contrary will as also to the Serpents and Devills Poyson and slay the Monstrous Image and false Imagination and bring the first Image againe into a New Life which New Life in this introduced Love should againe cate of the essentiall Wisdome of God and with its desire Image it selfe therein that the true Divine Science may be manifested therein againe and might worke in a Creaturely Life and so bring it selfe l In the midst together into a Creaturely Imagibility 23. To which End also God Created Angells and Men because he would Image his Eternall Knowledge with the Essentiall Wisdome in m Formings Formes in and with which the Eternall Spirit playeth and hath thereby erected a Harmony of Divine fullnesse of joy to the endlesse Solace of such Images viz of the Angells and Men and those who have their rise out of Gods Word and Power 24. And even therefore it is that the Eternall Word of the Divine Exhalation with the Manifestation of so Great Love and Grace which inspired or spake it selfe in againe in Paradise after the Fall is become Man and hath introduced its Essentiall Love viz the Essentiall Wisdome of God againe into Our Heavenly Ens and Substance that was faded as to God and hath made our Substance that was faded as to God living in him with the Introduction of his living Divine Essence and with this Introduced Essentiall Love which gave it selfe in with the Essence of our soules as also into our Flesh and Bloud hath with its will and desire broken the Monstrous will of the soule viz the selfe-sixed Image-like false desire as also the Devills Imagination which he had introduced into Man and hath with his Love brought the false properties into the Temperature againe and is become Death to Death which held us captive so that it must die to its Wrath and n Fragility Corruptibility in this Introduced Love and suffer the Humane
self-ishnesse and Imagineth to it selfe another Ground to the Divine Willing wherein yet there is no true knowledge nor can be so long till the Life returneth into its Originall viz. into the Divine out-flowing and will And if this be done then Gods will speaketh forth the Divine Power and Wonders againe through the humane willing In which Divine Speaking the life may know and comprehend Gods will and f Or Image frame it selfe therein Then there is true divine knowledge and understanding in Mans skill when his skill is continually renewed with divine Power and when divine skill presseth forth through the life in that kinde and manner as in the Beginning it did flow forth from the divine Power and skill As Christ hath taught us when he sayth Vnlesse ye be converted and become as a childe ye shall not come into the kingdom of God That is that the life turne it selfe againe into God out of whom it is proceeded and forsake all its owne Imaging and Lust and so it cometh to the Divine Vision againe All Strife about the Divine Will and Beeing or Essence whereby men despise one another cometh from selfe Imagelikenesse that one Man comprehendeth the Image of another viz his thoughts and yet cannot rightly apprehend them Where One Man sets himselfe in the Thought and Minde of another and bringeth that which is his owne thereinto and compelleth that which is anothers into his Meaning and forcibly sets himselfe aloft in the Thoughts and Minde of another and holdeth them for his proper owne and will make a shew therewith and therewith domineere in and over the Thoughts and Minde of others Men must worship and reverence his Thoughts and Minde and hold them to be the Word of God or g Or Oracles the speaking of God Thus Man deludeth himselfe and Robbeth God of his honour taketh his Covenant in his Mouth and yet hateth the Nurture of the Spirit of God which therefore reproveth him in his Conscience that he is but an Apostate Lucifer and will compell others into his Image that they shall hold it for the Word of God But a true Man Inclineth himselfe to his Originall and forsaketh all Images and desireth no selfe Imagebility of his understanding except what God will frame and speake with and through him and despiseth none but only distinguisheth the true from the false the Good from the evill and teacheth the Truth with Divine Powerfull out-flowing and will All Disputation concerning Gods Beeing or Essence and Will is performed in the Images of the Senses or thoughts without God For if any liveth in God and willeth with God what needeth he dispute about GOD who or what GOD is But that he disputeth about it is a signe that he hath never felt it at all in his Minde or Senses and it is not Given to him that God is in him and willeth what he will It is a certaine signe that he will exalt his owne Meaning and Image above others and that he desireth the Dominion Men should friendly conferre together and offer one another their Gifts and Knowledge in Love and try things one with another and hold that which is Best 1 Thes 5.21 And friendly instruct one another and not so stand in their own opinion as if they could not Erre Seeing we have a Mighty Enemy against us who suddenly bringeth strange Images into Mans thoughts and maketh Men Insult whence Sects and Scissmes exist It lyeth in no Mans Person that Men should suppose that the Divine Understanding must come onely from such and such For the Scripture saith Try all things and hold that which is Good 1 Thes 5.21 The Touchstone to this Knowledge is First the Corner-Stone Christ that Men should see whether a thing enter out of Love into Love or whether alone purely the Love of God be sought and desired whether it be done out of Humility or Pride Secondly whether it be according to the Holy Scripture of the Bible Thirdly is it according to the Humane Heart and Soule wherein the Booke of the Life of God is incorporated and may very well be read by the Children of God where then the true Minde hath its Touch-stone in it selfe and can distinguish all things If it be so that the Holy Ghost dwell in the Ground of the Minde that Man hath Touchstone enough That will leade him into all Truth Christs Testaments are a secret Mystery and are proffered to the Minds and Thoughts that are departed from and come againe to God where the Life bringeth it selfe to God againe and so will the Thoughts that returne to God be first fed with Divine Power and Understanding the same afterwards kindle the Life that it hungreth after God to which afterwards is given Christs Flesh and Bloud for a h Or Pawne or Earnest Pledge and Seale and the Divine Essence or Substance will be imprinted therein whence the Life is brought againe into its Originall viz into Gods Power and Word A false Thought or Minde of Man is nourished againe by its Likenesse viz from its owne Conjecture or from highnesse of Minde or from the Subtilty of the Serpent and these it desireth to Exalt and put into an Image and that Image is a Branch on the Tree of Satan Now that Man which is fed from the Divine Power and Spirit in his Minde and Thoughts he is Divinely Minded and bringeth forth Good things out of his Good Heart But that Man who is fed in his Thoughts from the Power and Will of the Flesh he is fleshly Minded onely When Reason considereth of Christs Testaments and thinketh and considereth how yet Christ can be present in his Testaments then it thinketh it is done after an i Imaginary Image-like Manner And when it knoweth that it is not done in an i Imaginary Image-like Manner then it falleth quite from that and thinketh HEE is present onely in Remembrance As when his Word is preached then he worketh thus onely in the same powerfully and so it thinketh also concerning his Testaments that Christ worketh onely Spiritually in the Faith and that the Testaments are onely Signes or Symboles whereby wee should instruct our selves what he hath done for us and therewith onely declare his Death and the shedding of his Bloud and should keepe it in lively Remembrance to our Comfort Thus Reason understandeth nothing at all of the Kingdome of Christ much lesse of his Person or of his Office and in that respect Men dispute and strive about it and will needs attaine it with the Searching of Reason all this attaineth not the true understanding For Christs Testaments are Heavenly and Reason is Earthly worldly It seeketh Christ in the Time or that which is Temporary and if it finde him not therein according to their Power then it supposeth HEE is present only to the k Or Senses Thoughts which cast themselves up to him in Heaven But this will not renew the Life and bring it into God
through Gods Imagination and kindling and there the humane introduced Will which hangeth to Earthlinesse is clensed and in the holy Fire purged and ransomed from sinne upon the future fullfilling For the ground out of which this Holy Fire came Manifested it selfe afterwards in Mans Life in the Person of Christ Thus stood the figure in their Sacrifices to shew how the earthly Image of Man should be preserved in the fire of God and how the grossenesse of the Elements should be consumed and out of the Consuming of the fire should goe forth the right true created pure bright spirituall Image in Adam which in the fire of Gods Wrath through this holy fire of the Great Love should be brought into Clarity In which New Image the Great fiery Love would it selfe be the fire of Life that it might no more Imagine falshood With this Faith the first Men before Christs time before Christ manifested himselfe in this incorporated Grace Covenant and became Man were apprehended and taken into the Living Word of God viz into the Grace wherein their Soule came into Divine Rest Note till Christ fullfilled this Type and arose from Death and then hee also with his life and Substance in them viz on their Inward Ground of the Heavenly part which vanished in Adam arose and was manifested and they put on Christ in Soule and Spirit and so now wait for their Body out of the Limus of the Earth viz the Third Principle of the visible worlds property viz the formed Outspoken substantiall word of the Resurrection at the Last Day As also it is thus to be understood concerning Christians This Ground of the Holy Fire began with Adam with Abell and Caine when Abell and Caine sacrificed God looked graciously on Abells sacrifice and kindled it with holy Fire and the sweet smell went up before the LORD for the Image or Type of Christ in his Faith stood therein therefore God kindled his Sacrifice with the Holy Fire and it was acceptable before God for it was a Conjunction with the Divine desire But Cains he looked not graciously on for he had not such Faith or beleefe but stood in the perished Adamicall Nature of own Lust and desire and had imprinted or Imaged to himselfe the Kingdome of this world and therefore the Holy Fire would not kindle in his Sacrifice Cain stood in the Figure of the perished Adam after the Fall and Abell stood in the figure of the New Regeneration signifying how Christ would with his Sacrifice goe into Death and die for Man and so the Image of Caine stood neere signifying how Christ was come to seeke the poore falne Man and with his Sacrifice generate him a New But as the vanity of Men gat the upperhand and their Nature became still more Evill and shamefull then was quenched this understanding of the Holy Fire among them till the Flood came upon them and overthrew them which was a Type of the Baptisme signifying how the water of Eternall Life viz Gods Substantiall Meeknesse would drowne and quench that false fiery life of the Soule and how the Soule would grow up out of the Holy Water in the Meeknesse of God to a New Life of Light Now when the time came that God renewed his Covenant with Abraham which Hee had established in Paradise HEE gave him the figure of Christ againe Å¿ With. in the Circumcision and the Holy Fire as is to be seene by the Sacrifices of Abraham Gen. 15. how the Fire came forth between the Parts and how at the same time in a vision terrour and great anguish fell upon him all which signifie the Death of Christ and the transmutation of Soules The Circumcision of the Member of the Humane propagation was a figure signifying How the fleshly Man of Masculine and Feminine seede should be cut off from the Image Created in Adam through the Death of Christ with the Anger of God and through the bloud-shed of Christ be againe brought into the Eternall Virginity therefore must the Masculine Persons be Circumcised on that same Member to signifie the uncleane Birth after a Beastiall Manner which is a u Abomination vanity in the presence of God therefore God set his Grace-Govenant in the figure of Christ on this Member and so set Christ before him whom hee had set up for a throne of Grace that they might walke before him and that his anger might not eate them up Gen. 17. And he sets the figure of Christ forth with his processe neere upon Isaac signifying how the Redemption of Mankinde should be Effected How Gods Love-fire should swallow up into it selfe Gods Wrath-fire in Man and turne it into Love and thereupon gave him the Promise that this promised incorporated Seede which would through the Transmutation in the Fire through the Dying of Vanity grow forth in the Love-fire would be so great as the Starres in Heaven But when the time drew neere that GOD would manifest his Love-fire through his Covenant in the Humanity that the same fire should be kindled in the Humane Life then he brought his Covenant typified with Circumcision into Water-Baptisme and with St John began the Water-Baptisme But saith Reason What is or signifieth the Water-Baptisme What doth God worke thereby Answer As is mentioned above The Soule had so much enraged it selfe with wrath in its properties that thereby it stood in Eternall Death In it was Gods Love-Essence no more manifest wherein it might be able to kindle the Holy Fire of God viz the Holy Life therefore God sent the Holy Baptisme before and set it in the Covenant For when the Word viz the power of the holy Fire became Man and revealed it selfe in Christ then Christ with the holy Fire through the assumed humanity inspake himselfe into his fellow Members according to the Humanity Now if this Inspeaking should take Effect and become Substantiall then must the Divine x Eintauchen Infusion goe before for as soone as the word manifested it selfe in the Humanity then the Meeke Love and Grace in the Covenant did flow forth with this flowing forth of the Divine Love in the Covenant was the Covenant set in the Water-Baptisme Seeing Man was of an Elementary Earthly kinde there must also be an Elementary Medium or Meanes for that purpose wherein the flowing forth of the Divine Love in the Covenant might take hold that a humane Naturall Substance might be in the Middle whereinto the Divine and humane Imagination might Enter and y Eintauchen Infuse it selfe in the humanity for an Ens or kindler wherein the Holy fire might kindle it selfe in the dry soules fire As was done by the Circumcision and in the Sacrifice where the Beastiall fat was a Medium wherein the humane desire in such kindling with the Covenant went to meete God and Gods Imagination went thus to meete the Covenant in Man Thus stood the Holy Fire opposite to the Wrath and Consumed the uncleannesse in the Humane Will that
understand it and introduce their faith into the childes will and so with their introduced will in the childes will together plunge or sinke themselves downe with this oath into Gods Covenant through the Word of Christ upon his command in the Water-Baptisme and apprehend the Command of Christ in themselves viz in their Faith and so in their understanding enter into the Covenant with the childes n Or Ignorance not-understanding and in the stead and with the will of the childe in their will make such a promise to God for this the Parents may and ought especially to doe seeing the childe is sprung up out of their life and substance as the branch out of the Stock o Thus so they have also power to comprehend the will of the childe in the will of their Faith and with the will of the childe to give up and binde or unite it unto God 22. Moreover the Baptiser hath this in his power who upon the Command of Christ standeth there in Christs stead and bringeth in his Mouth the Command of Christ and baptiseth with his hand upon the command of Christ such a one should be the Anointed of Christ and enter into that worke through the Doore of Christ or he is but as a piece of wood or clod of earth standing by as an Earthly Medium and himselfe doth not baptise together with his Faith but is onely an outward Instrument of the Covenant as the Axe wherewith the Carpenter heweth though indeed he is not altogether as the Axe that cutteth but as the hand that holdeth the Axe he neither cutteth nor coworketh in the work of the Spirit but is onely the outward Instrument and doth onely an outward thing Hee reacheth not â—he Covenant but onely the Water and bringeth a dead word in his life but the office of Christ is in the command 23. The living Word in the Covenant which there baptiseth hath not its originall out of the power of the wicked mouth but out of the Command in the Covenant The wicked Mouth bringeth the outward litterall Word as a Minister thereof but the Covenant bringeth the Living Word in Power If the Parents and Witnesses be faithfull they reach forth the childe with their Faith to the Covenant and the wicked Baptiser with his Mouth and Hand is but an Instrument to it in that manner and way as a Clock striketh and soundeth and yet hath no life but giveth notice and understanding to the Living what it meaneth or as a wicked Man in a shew of Holinesse nameth and acknowledgeth the Holy Name of God before a Holy person where instantly the Holy Name of God is thereby stirred and becometh working in the Heart of the Holy Man that heareth it and yet the Hypocrite in his knowledge neither understandeth it nor findeth it and this stirring of the good Heart doth not proceed out of the wicked Mouth and enter into the Holy Heart but it proceedeth out of the Name of God 24. Thus also the Holy Name baptiseth by the wicked Baptiser and not the evill Mouth but he must be an Instrument that pronounceth the Holy Name which worketh not from his pronouncing but from the Name and Covenant through the faithfull Parents and Witnesses introduction of their Faith Note For the Covenant is it selfe a Faith or Beleeving viz Gods Word and Mouth The Covenant baptiseth them all that give themselves up into it whether worthily or unworthily whether the Faith of the Boptiser and of the Parents and Witnesses be there or not but with great difference as the Scripture saith With the Holy thou art Holy and with the Perverse thou art perverse Psal 18.26 Also such as the People are such a God they have and as St Paul saith of the Supper Therefore they received it to Judgement because they distinguish not the Lords body 25. For where Gods Love is present there his wrath is also present where Light is there is also Fire The Ens of Faith presseth onely through the Fire forth into Light The Covenant standeth firme the childe is baptised with the Covenant the Covenant receiveth it although there were onely a wicked Baptiser and also such Witnesses without Faith But as the Mouth is such is also the food in the Mouth as the Lord saith by the Prophet Wherefore doth the wicked take my Covenant into his Mouth and hateth p Nurture or chastisement to be reformed Psal 50.16 17. Men should not misuse the Name of God for the Lord will not leave him unpunished that misuseth it Deut. 5.5 Hee will not cast the Pearle before Swine Matth. 7.6 The wicked Man that draweth neere to his Covenant is to God in his Covenant a Good savour to the Condemnation of Death and the Holy is a good savour to life 1 Cor. 2.15 16. 26. What else can be if there are Evill Parents without Faith but that they also beget wicked children for as the stock is so also is the fruit And now if they convert not and through true earnest Repentance and Prayer incorporate their fruit to Christ and send them with faith to this Covenant but indeed invite such wicked Witnesses or Gossips without Faith thereunto and there be also a wicked Baptiser who shall baptise heere Shall the Love of God in the Covenant of Grace baptise May it not be as St Paul sayth of the Supper That the wicked receive it unto Judgement Now if a Man make a mock of the Covenant how will Gods Glory appeare among the Scorners there it is rightly sayd With the Holy thou art holy and with the perverse thou art perverse If the seede be q Or False bad though a Man cast it into good Ground yet there groweth bad fruit from it for it draweth from the good Ground an Ens of its owne likenesse to it selfe 27. How then may it goe there where a childe springeth from Parents that are quite wicked and also wicked Witnesses are onely called to it which stand there onely for state and pride or for humane savour which are also for such causes called to it whereas there is no Faith nor Good will much lesse an Earnest Prayer but onely an Earthly Eucifer standeth before the Covenant of Christ and the Baptiser is also a dead person who awakeneth heere the Holy Covenant As the Faith is that moveth or stirreth the Covenant such is also the Manifestation of the Covenant and so is also the Baptisme 28. Christ sayth Suffer little children to come unto mee for of such is the Kingdome of God Matth. 10.14 Chap. 19.13 but he meaneth children not Wolves and Beasts Hee biddeth them to come to him and Not to bring them to him in the Devills pride and state with stately high-minded false unfaithfull People which doe but despise the humility of Christ and scorne Love it must be in Earnest if a Man will enter through the Wrath of God into Love 29. Reason sayth thus What is it to the childe that
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
Divine power and vertue excelleth the humane therefore is the humane brought forth through the Divine power so that the humane power and vertue giveth it selfe together with the Divine through the Divine power for the humane power and vertue is a perception or invention of the Divine wherein the Divine findeth it selfe in something viz in the formed Substance of the word of power wherein the Divine power loveth it selfe as in its perceptible Substance as the Soule loveth it selfe in its Body 6. Note And thus hath God powred his love through the humane Substance in the humanity of Christ into the Disciples of Christ with the humane Substance in that way and manner as the Sunnes power and vertue in Spiritu Mundi in the Spirit of the World as with the Effluence of the power and vertue of the Starres mingleth it selfe with the Spirituall Brimstone Salt and Oyle in the upper Elements so that it comprehendeth their power and vertue in its Glance and giveth it selfe to them and it the power giveth it selfe into the Sunnes power and vertue and so they worke together whereby the light of Nature is unlocked and with such working give themselves into the Earth Hearbs Trees and all Creatures so that in an Heath or Tree such a vertue doth exist whence the vegeration or budding forth of Creatures doth exist where alwayes in such growing or life a man is to understand 1 an Elementary Substantiall power and vertue and then 2 a super-Elementary Sunney or Solar and Starry or Astrall power and vertue where the Sunney and Sâ—arry with their strong power presse forth with the Elementary 7. Note Now wee see in hearbs and all things that grow out of the Earth when they take hold of and Eate this power and vertue of the Sunne and Starres in them that they doe not rend themselves and make or use a severed Mouth to doe it withall but the Essence of their desire viz even the Naturall Brâ—mstone Salt and Oyle in the Hearb is the Mouth which taketh hold and eateth in it selfe the Influence of the upper Elements of the Sunne and Starres Thus also in like manner it is to be understood concerning Christs Disciples and all other Men they have Eaten and drunk Christs flesh and bloud under Bread and Wine as through a Medium with the â—ssentiall desirous Faiths-Mouth not with a circumscribed creaturely comprehension but with the Faiths desire 8. Note Yet that a Man may rightly understand it he is to know 1 the outward Mouth with its comprehension apprehendeth the outward Elementary Substance Bread and Wine The Mortall tâ—ansitory Substance of Man viz the Grosse Flesh which shall not nor cannot inherite the Kingdome of Heaven Joh. 6.63 1 Cor. 15.50 that apprehendeth and eateth Bread and Wine for Bread and Wine is also an earthly transitory Substance which goeth into the Belly and out from thence againe as all naturall sood Matth 15 17. And 2 the right true Man which was created in Adam which before the beastiall grossenesse was a right Man and Image of the visible World according to its inward Spirituall Ground the same eateth Christs flesh which is even such Spirituall Substantiall flesh with the Essentiall desire Note understand the flesh that he tooke on him in Mary viz our humane but not the outward Ground of the Corporall foure Elements but the Inward holy Element viz the Ground out of which the soure Elements proceed Not Fire Aire Water and Earth but the Eternall pure Element which is a Substance of Paradise which is hidden in the foure Elements understand the Substance of Eternity out of which time is gone forth into a vision Substance that same flesh as a spirituall Mumia out of which Man as to the visible body hath taken its originall in verbo Fiat in the word Fiat which in Adam became blinde as to the Kingdome of Heaven when he went with the desire into the foure Elementary grossenes which fleshly Substance in Christs becoming Man was filled with heavenly living Substance and made living againe Note that is it which the right Adamicall Man eateth which sticketh hidden in the Grosse shell of the foure Elements and in that Substance the right Man Eateth Christs Passion Dying and Death which death of Christ is in his victory become an Eternall Life which Life so risen out of the Death of Christ breaketh our Earthly evill will and is become a Death to our Death which the outward Nature holdeth for a Life 9. Note Note And heere is Christs Passion and Dying put on to Man altogether Essentially a Workingly Effectually Operatively which Lifes-Death of Christ swalloweth up our Death wherein the Body when it heere dyeth according to the foure Elementary Substance resteth and the foure Elementary becometh dust and ashes this same power and vertue of the true humanity resteth in its Principle to the coming againe of the Corporeall Substance 10. But 2 the Soule which is a spirituall fire in its desire as with the true Faiths Mouth eateth the Supernaturall Substantiall Love of the Name JESUS which Name is become a Substantiall Power and vertue viz the Supernaturall Wisdome of God wherein the whole Deity is understood workingly 11. The Soules Mouth eateth of this Holy Substance whereby the Soule is turned into a Love-fire-burning for the Love of Christ giveth Ens and Substance to the Soules Fire the fiery Life of the Soule taketh this Love Substance into its Essence and by this Love-burning the Temple b Or Sophia The Wisdome of God Soph-JAH is againe unlocked viz the Substantiall Holy powerfull-Light the true Spirit which vanished in Adam As a Light goeth forth out of fire so through the Soules-fire another Principle viz the property of the Divine power and vertue goeth forth and in that out-going power and vertue dwelleth the supernaturall unsubstantiall God in Trinity for this is the Divine Principle where God in Man dwelleth worketh and willeth wherein the Divine Light is understood which c Penetrateth diffuseth it selfe through the true Man as fire through Iron 12. Note Understand it aright thus Man standeth in Three Principles viz in Three Beginnings 1 the visible Man is the visible World which is outward and inward viz a transitory and an untransitory viz the Pure Element and the Efflux viz the soure Elements 2 the Grosse Man with outward flesh and bloud is the foure-Elementary Body and the Spirituall Body in the Quintessence or fist Essence is the Holy Element which is hidden in the foure which is neither hot nor cold neither dry nor moist But the Soulish Ground is not the Element it is grounded in the Eternall Word where the fiery Word of the Fathers property hath inbreathed it selfe into the Created body as another Principle of an Eternall Nature 13. Now the Third 3 Supernaturall Ground of Man is the true Spirit understand the Substantiall Light the Substantiall Wisdome which with the Soules breathing in came into Man but yet vanished when
the Soule brought it selfe from the breathing Word into owne Will into the visible Substance with the desire for the Soules fire-Life out of the Fathers property could no more attaine that therefore was this ground vanished as to the Creature and not in God but onely to the Creaturely Soule 14. And when this holy Ground of the soule and body was hidden then was soule and body a dark d Dale or Valley Dangeon sull of Paine and Torment for God was hidden to it and instantly the Principles according to their properties began to qualifie and operate as 1 the Soule according to the Anger property of God the Father which as to the light shining in it was hidden And 2 the outward Body began to qualifie in the foure Elements viz in hot and cold and in all other properties of the Starres power and vertue and every awakened property impressed it selfe into a substance whence the body became grosse hard and beastiall and the true Image of God a Visard and Monster And that is the sinne for the sake of which Gods power and vertue went againe into the Humanity and received the Humanity and overflowed into us againe his divine power and vertue through and in a right Humanity 15. Seeing then Man standeth in Three Principles as an Image according to time and Eternity of the visible and invisible Substance and that Christ true GOD and MAN hath also put on to himselfe the visible and invisible Substance in one undivided Person so also is the participation of his Substance in his Testaments to be understood as that every Principle in Man eateth and drinketh of its likenesse againe viz Note 1 The outward right Adamicall Image out of the Limus of the Earth eateth againe of the same humanity of Christ which he received from Man and 2 The Soule eateth of the Divine Love-fire and 3 the Heavenly Divine Substance vanished in Adam eateth of the Substantiall Wisdome and yet wholly unsevered through one onely Faiths Mouth alike But Note 4 The grosse Beast of the Grosse flesh which is but a Huske receiveth onely the outward husk of the Testament viz Bread and Wine and under them the Judgement of God that breaketh and killeth the Lust of the body of this Grossenesse therefore Man should distinguish the body of the LORD and his bloud from the Animall Man that is without Faith which receiveth onely the Judgement under Bread and Wine for as the Mouth is so is also the food in the Mouth 16. Christ sayd Joh. 6. My flesh is the right food and my bloud is the right drink Also I am the Bread that is come from Heaven that Giveth Life to the World Hee that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud he continueth in Mee and I in Him but he that eateth not the flesh of the Sonne of Man he hath no life in him Then the Jewes contended one among another and sayd How can this Man give us his flesh to eate and were offended at this saying But he sayd My words are Spirit and Life Note To signifie that wee should beleeve his words and he that comprehendeth and receiveth his word in himselfe he comprehendeth in himselfe that word which is become flesh and bloud which word is become a true humane Substance and that the Faiths Mouth comprehendeth in it selfe viz the right hunger or desire of the right true humanity after a spirituall way and manner Note As the word of the Divine power is become Man so is it also comprehended by the Faith and is Man in his Members also 17. That same Spirituall Substantiall Word taketh on it our Humanity understand the spirituall humanity and giveth it selfe into the same and worketh and dwelleth therein substantially after a spirituall manner as hee dwelt and wrought in the Body which he received from Mary where Men saw on Him outwardly our flesh and Bloud viz the spirituall Worlds substance and yet in the visible was the invisible substance of which he sayd Joh. 3.13 He was therewith come from Heaven 18. Thus also that same invisible spirituall substance of Christ which hath united and introverted it selfe with our Huâ—â—nity into our Faiths desire in that manner as a spark of fire falleth into Tinder and kindleth the Tinder and consumeth the substance of the Tinder and maketh it altogether fire so also the Substantiall Power and vertue of Christ consumeth in his Tinder viz in the humane spirituall Ground in the Minde e Seâ—ses Thoughts and Will and evill influxes in Thoughts and Will whether they were from the desire of the Earthly flesh or from the Devill and from the Lust of the world cast thereinto yet that same spirituall fire consumeth all for it taketh in the Life of Man and ruleth it 19. It is a Light viz a Spirituall Oyle in the Life of Man wherein the true Spirituall Life viz the soulish Life burneth and without this Spirituall Oyle there is no true Light or Life in Man but onely an Astrall Light and the true soule standeth in the dark Dungeon in its Essence and helpeth it selfe with the Astrall Light of the Sunne in which regard it hath also vaine earthly Desires and Lust in it 20. But that soule which attaineth this Holy anointing Oyle of Christ in it selfe turneth its longing and desires away from the vanity of the World into Gods word and power and is as a new young childe that lyeth in the Mothers womb and suffereth the Mother to nourish it Thus it hangeth to Christs Essence Substance and power and eateth of the Stock of the Vine Christ as the branch eateth of the Stock of the Vine Joh. 15. 21. Reason should understand us right It is not so to be understood that Christ hath with his flesh and bloud with the grosse mortall flesh and bloud introverted himselfe into Man which flesh and bloud is of no profit but is onely as a receptacle or shall of the right spirituall Man Much lesse doth the Divine Substance mingle it selfe with Bread and Wine so that when I behold the blessed Bread and Wine and receive it into the Earthly mortall Mouth I should think that I comprehended Christs flesh and bloud with my fleshly Mouth as I comprehend Bread and Wine therewith 22. No That cannot be Bread and Wine is but a Medium or meanes thereunto even as the Earthly Mouth is a Medium or meanes of the Spirit the Spirituall Faiths Mouth of Man comprehendeth Christs flesh and bloud under Bread and Wine not inherent in Bread and Wine for Bread and Wine changeth not it selfe into Christs flesh and Bloud but it is a meanes thereto ordained which Medium belongeth to the visible Man through which Medium the Invisible giveth it selfe into the Invisible Spirituall Man 23. In Bread and Wine two properties are understood as 1 the Grosse Elementary Earthly Substance that belongeth to the Morâ—all Man and then 2 the power and vertue therein wherein the Tincture of the Bread and the Wine
lyeth which Tincture is above the Elementary Substance wherein the foure Elements lye in the Temperature which is a heavenly Paradisicall power and vertue that same Tincture of Bread and Wine is the true Medium wherewith Christ the humane Tincture giveth himselfe as into the humane Life for Man liveth not f By Bread onely from the foure Elements onely Matth. 4.4 The Grosse food which entereth into the Mouth doth not alone sustaine Life but the Inward power and vertue viz the Quintessence or fist Essence wherein the Tincture lyeth as a spirituall fire 24. The Elementary food g Worketh or Effecteth produceth onely mortall flesh and giveth a Source or moving of the Mortall Life but the Spirituall Man taketh his Nutriment from the Tincture for it selfe is a Tincture viz a Spirituall Fire therefore Christ powreth or over-floweth his heavenly flesh and bloud viz the Holy anointing Oyle into the Life of Man through and with the Nutriment of the true Life viz through the Tincture of Bread and Wine Not to understand that the Tincture of Bread and Wine is able to apprehend such a thing but it is onely a permissive Medium thereunto as the Outward Mouth of a Man is but a Medium where-through the power and vertue of the Tincture in the food is over flowed into the Spirituall Man and because in Bread and Wine there lyeth the highest Tincture which is neerest to the Life of Man which most of all susteineth the Life of Man therefore also hath Christ ordained this Testament under it 25. But 1 wee should not be earthly minded and suppose that after the Bread and Wine is blessed with the words of Institution that then Christs flesh and bloud is inherent in the Bread and Wine and that every wicked Man may partake of it without the right Mouth No if that were so then could Bread and Wine comprehend the divine power and vertue in its own capacity and Christs Spirituall flesh and bloud were become Bread and Wine and it would no more continue to be as Christ sayd My words are Spirit and Life Joh. 6.63 26. Mans spirituall Mouth taketh with the Faith Christs words and Life which words are a power of his flesh and bloud where the divine word is become a humane Substance That same humane and divine substantiall word is given to Man with the Tincture of Bread and Wine as through a Medium that there may be a visible signe of what is done in the inward Ground 27. Note Note 2 wee should not depend on this meanes or Medium alone and think that Christs flesh and bloud is onely and alone Participated in this use of Bread and Wine as reason in this present time miserably erreth therein No that is not so Faith when it hungereth after Gods Love and Grace alwayes eateth and drinketh of Christs flesh and bloud through the Medium or meanes of the blessed food and without the Medium or meanes of the food Christ hath not bound himselfe to Bread and Wine alone but hath bound himselfe to the Faith that hee will be in Man Hee will continue in him and Man shall continue in Christ His powerfull living Word would continue substantially in the Faith of which Substance the Faith may alwayes as also it ever might eate for it is the Faiths Nutriment wherein the Faith doth subsist and is a Substance Note The Faith in such participation becometh a substance viz a spirituall flesh and bloud of Christ in which the Living GOD in Trinity dwelleth worketh and willeth 28. The Substantiall Faith in Man is Christ himselfe who continueth in Man who is the Life and Light of Man That is the Temple of the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in us as Paul sayth Know yee not that yee are the Temple of God that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you Also the Temple of Christ is Holy which yee are 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Also Shall wee that belong unto Christ be yet Sinners that be far from us then were Christ a servant of Sinne in us Galat. 2.17 This same substantiall Faith is also the branch on the Vine of Christ which power and vertue penetrates through the whole Man as the Sunne doth an hearb and killeth the Lust and workes of the flesh 29. The Mortall flesh is not the Substantiall Faith that flesh comprehendeth not Christs flesh and bloud but suffereth it as a Grosse stone suffereth the Tincture of Gold and as fine Gold lyeth and groweth in the Grosse stone so also the love of Christ groweth in the true Life of Man and penetrateth through the Life as fire doth through Iron Not that such power stood in Mans Life that it could receive the substance of God in its owne power and vertue No it is given him of Grace as the Sunne of its own will giveth it selfe to the Hearb And the Hearb cannot therefore say I am the Sunne because the Sunne worketh in it so also can Man not say Note I am Christ because that Christ dwelleth and worketh in him as in his Expresse Image But the Creature is the Passive wherein the Creator dwelleth and worketh 30. Wee are Members of Christ according to his humanity and are therefore called Christians because Christ dwelleth and worketh in us in that wee are in our Life his twiggs and branches in those in whom he bringeth forth fruit through his power and vertue O little Children it is a Great Mysterie Note Note the use of this Testament where wee especially under Bread and Wine should partake of Christs flesh and bloud is therefore ordained that so wee should come together and eate of One Bread drink of One Cup and thereunder receive Christ that wee should Instruct one another what he hath done for us and declare his suffering Death and bloud-shedding one among another and teach it to our children and should binde our selves therewith in Love and exhort one another that wee in Christ are Members of one Body that wee in Christ are all but One. 31. Even as the One onely Christ giveth himselfe into us all in Common to be one onely Life and loveth us all in his one onely Humanity and reacheth forth that same onely humanity with his great Love and Grace to us all in Common under one Bread and Wine and so bindeth himselfe to us in one only participation Thus should wee also in such coming together and participation as members of one body binde our selves together in true Love and faithfulnesse and seriously Consider that in such participation wee are all but one in Christ for wee partake all of one onely Christ and in that same one Christ wee are one onely Body which is Christ in his Members O little Children what a depth of Mysterie is this if wee did rightly consider it Satan in the Anger of God hath rent us asunder and made us at odds so that wee have Opposite thoughts and heere cometh Christ with his Love and maketh us all in himselfe one onely
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
the Altar signifieth Verse 12.13 Book 2. Ch. 1. What the Ram signified how it was a sweet Saviour to the Lord. Verse 14.15.16.17.19.22 Ch 2. verse 3. Sonne Book 1. Ch 3. Of the Soules being given to the Sonne and how the Sonne giveth it Eternall Life and what Eternall Life is Verse 9.11 Ch 2. v. 2 Sop. Book 2. Ch 2. How it was with Vzza and with Judas after the Sop. Verse 5 Soule Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule came to be helped againe after the Fall Verse 21.22 Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Soule is become Lord over Sinne Death the Devill and Hell Verse 25.26.27 Book 2. Ch. 3. The Soule eateth of the supernaturall substantiall Love of the Name Jesus Verse 10 Spirit Book 1. Ch. 1. How the Spirit leadeth into all Truth Verse 18 Book 1. Ch. 3. How the Spirit of God is to be understood in all the Three Worlds Verse 13 Supper Book 2. Ch. 3. A resemblance between Christ in his Supper and the influence of the Sun in hearbs Verse 2.3.4.6 Book 2. Ch. 3. Why Christ Ordained the Testament of his Supper under Bread and Wine Verse 24 Book 2. Ch. 5. How all the Three Contenders and Disputers about the Presence of Christ in the Supper have no understanding how that participation is wrought Verse 6 Teachers Book 2. Ch. 5. Of Teachers not sent Verse 5 Testaments Testament Book 2. Ch. 4. Christs Testaments destroy sinne in the Penitent receiver Verse 8 Book 2. Ch. 4. XVIII enquiries into a Mans own heart to finde whether he may worthily receive the Testament of Christ Verse 19 Book 2. Ch. 4. How the Minde when it cometh to Christs Testaments must acknowledge it is able to doe nothing Verse 22 Book 2. Ch. 4. Hee that will not be a Man of New thoughts and will receiveth the Testament unto Judgement Verse 25 Book 2. Ch. 5. Hee that will receive the Kingdome of Christ in his Testaments must be his childe Verse 15 Types Type Book 1. Ch 2. How Cain and Abell differed and of their severall Types Verse 15.16 Book 2. Ch 2. Why the Type ceased Verse 1 Thoughts Book 1. Ch 1. What is the Ground of the understanding and Thoughts Verse 1.2 Book 1. Ch 1. How the Thoughts come to be fed with divine foode which is the Essentiall wisdome of God Verse 19 Variety Book 1. Ch 1. The cause of the changing and variety in Nature Verse 17 Vine Book 1. Ch 1. How Man becometh a Branch on the Vine Christ Verse 27 Book 2. Ch 3. How the Holy Man is a Branch on the Vine Christ Verse 20 Understanding Book 1. Ch 1. How Divine Understanding is attained and the Kingdome of Heaven Verse 8.9 Book 1. Ch 1. Of the Three Touch-Stones of the Divine Understanding Verse 18 Wicked Book 2. Ch 4. The wicked Priest and Pharisee is not capable of being in the Office of Christ Verse 13 Will. Book 2. Ch 2. How the Soules will cometh to be changed Verse 12 Word Words Book 1. Ch 1. Why the Eternall Word is become Man Verse 24 Book 2. Ch 3. What signifieth to us Christs saying My words are Spirit and Life Verse 16 Book 2. Ch 4. Mans spirituall Mouth receiveth Christs words and Life Verse 26 Book 2. Ch 5. The Living Word giveth Testimony to the Literall word Verse 5 Works Book 1. Ch. 3. What in Man is the Christian and why Mans Works must be Judged Verse 25 FINIS REader pray cause these faults to be mended with a Pen. Page 21. on the second side line 10. for unlooked reade unlocked Page 50. line 2. for foolish reade soulish page 55. line 31. for vision reade visible
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