Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Testament, for the soul in his covenant is dippedCh. 23] THE PRECIOUS TESTAMENTS OF CHRIST 645 and washed in that water, and it is rightly the bath [or laver] of regeneration, for by its dipping in the holy waterr it is received and quickened by the holy water, and cometh (in the covenant of Christ) into the soul of Christ; indeed not fully into his soul, but into his body, and becometh the brother of the soul of Christ ; for Christ's soul is a creature, (as our souls are), and is in the body of the mercifulness in the Trinity, being surrounded therewith, and hath the same in it for food and strength [or refreshment]. So also our souls in the covenant, if they be faithful and continue in God, they are the brethren of Christ's soul.
25. For Christ hath taken this pledge (viz. our soul) from us men in Mary ; at which we rejoice in eternity, that the soul of Christ is our brother, and the body of Christ our body, in the new man. And should I not rejoice that my soul is in the body of Christ, and that the soul of Christ is my brother, and that the Holy Trinity is the food and virtue [or strength] of my soul ? Who can judge me, lay hold of me, and l destroy me, when I » spoil or hurt am (in my true man) in God ? When, as I am immortal in my new man, wherefore should I be much afraid in the earthly man, which belongeth to the earth ? Let everything take its own, and then my soul will be 2 freed from the 3 driver. 2 Or rid of
26. Or what shall I say ? Must I not in this ™r'
body (which I here in the earthliness carry about corruption. me) through the new man, reveal the wonders of
p. 646
God, that so his wonders might be manifested ? I speak not only concerning myself, but concerning all men, good and bad ; every one must manifest
1 God's. the great wonders (wherein he standeth) in l his kingdom, whether it be in love or anger, (after the breaking [or dissolution] of this world) it must all stand in the figure. For at present this world
» Or seed- standeth in the creating, and in the 2 sowing, and is like a field which beareth fruit.
27. Thus we every one of us labour and finish our day's work, every one in his own field, and in
3 Or be in his the harvest every one shall stand 3 by his labour, employment. . . .
and enjoy his fruit which he hath sown ; therefore
4 diving or my hand shall not be weary of 4 digging : this we searching. J . J , speak seriously, according to its high worth in the wonders of God, known in the counsel of the 6 the wisdom 6noble virgin.
of God.
8 Celebration Of the 6 Use of the highly precious Testaments tion. of Christ the Son of God.
28. Christ began the use of the Baptism by John, who was his forerunner, and John was born into this world before Christ, which hath its signification, therefore open thy eyes. As the water is in the originality, and a cause and beginning of the life, and [then] in the water n£r of?he ^7 tne tincture) the 7 sulphur is first generated, body. wherein the life becometh stirring, and the 8 tincthe HfeDUlg ° ture generateth again the sulphur and the water, wherein afterwards the blood in the tincture cometh
Ch. 23] THE PRECIOUS TESTAMENTS OP CHRIST 647 to be ; thus now, as the beginning of the life is, so must also the l order in the regeneration be, that » Or ordithe poor soul first receive the water of eternal life, and be baptized therein, and then God giveth it the grain of mustard-seed of the Pearl, that so, if it receive the same, it may become a new fruit in God.
29. And therefore he sent his 2 angel hither 2 Or before him, that he should baptize with the water gc of the eternal life ; for so 3 can the eternal body 3 came or (into which the soul must enter, and in its tincture, in its blood, be new-born again) be translated into the body of Christ ; to describe which, a great space is requisite. But I will finish here briefly, and mention it more in another book. And now we will handle the matter of the use [or celebration], for it is very hard to be apprehended by the simple. And therefore we will deal with him after a childish manner, to try whether he may come to see, and find the Pearl, for all shall not find what we in the love of God have found ; though indeed we could earnestly wish that all might have it, yet there is a great matter between it ; viz. the 4 swelled, 4 the vapour1_ J Ml
Testament, for the soul in his covenant is dipped
Ch. 23] THE PRECIOUS TESTAMENTS OF CHRIST 645 and washed in that water, and it is rightly the bath [or laver] of regeneration, for by its dipping in the holy waterr it is received and quickened by the holy water, and comes (in the covenant of Christ) into the soul of Christ; indeed not fully into his soul, but into his body, and becomes the brother of the soul of Christ ; for Christ's soul is a creature, (as our souls are), and is in the body of the mercifulness in the Trinity, being surrounded therewith, and has the same in it for food and strength [or refreshment]. So also our souls in the covenant, if they be faithful and continue in God, they are the brethren of Christ's soul.
25. For Christ has taken this pledge (viz. our soul) from us men in Mary ; at which we rejoice in eternity, that the soul of Christ is our brother, and the body of Christ our body, in the new man. And should I not rejoice that my soul is in the body of Christ, and that the soul of Christ is my brother, and that the Holy Trinity is the food and virtue [or strength] of my soul ? Who can judge me, lay hold of me, and l destroy me, when I » spoil or hurt am (in my true man) in God ? When, as I am immortal in my new man, wherefore should I be much afraid in the earthly man, which belongs to the earth ? Let everything take its own, and then my soul will be 2 freed from the 3 driver. 2 Or rid of
26. Or what shall I say ? Must I not in this ™r'
body (which I here in the earthliness carry about corruption. me) through the new man, reveal the wonders of
646 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Oh. 23
God, that so his wonders might be manifested ? I speak not only concerning myself, but concerning all men, good and bad ; every one must manifest
1 God's. the great wonders (wherein he stands) in l his kingdom, whether it be in love or anger, (after the breaking [or dissolution] of this world) it must all stand in the figure. For at present this world
» Or seed- stands in the creating, and in the 2 sowing, and is like a field which bears fruit.
27. Thus we every one of us labour and finish our day's work, every one in his own field, and in
3 Or be in his the harvest every one shall stand 3 by his labour, employment. . . .
and enjoy his fruit which he has sown ; therefore
4 diving or my hand shall not be weary of 4 digging : this we searching. J . J , speak seriously, according to its high worth in the wonders of God, known in the counsel of the 6 the wisdom 6noble virgin.
of God.
8 Celebration Of the 6 Use of the highly precious Testaments tion. of Christ the Son of God.
28. Christ began the use of the Baptism by John, who was his forerunner, and John was born into this world before Christ, which has its signification, therefore open your eyes. As the water is in the originality, and a cause and beginning of the life, and [then] in the water n£r of?he ^7 tne tincture) the 7 sulphur is first generated, body. wherein the life becomes stirring, and the 8 tincthe HfeDUlg ° ture generats again the sulphur and the water, wherein afterwards the blood in the tincture comes
Ch. 23] THE PRECIOUS TESTAMENTS OP CHRIST 647 to be ; thus now, as the beginning of the life is, so must also the l order in the regeneration be, that » Or ordithe poor soul first receive the water of eternal life, and be baptized therein, and then God gives it the grain of mustard-seed of the Pearl, that so, if it receive the same, it may become a new fruit in God.
29. And therefore he sent his 2 angel hither 2 Or before him, that he should baptize with the water gc of the eternal life ; for so 3 can the eternal body 3 came or (into which the soul must enter, and in its tincture, in its blood, be new-born again) be translated into the body of Christ ; to describe which, a great space is requisite. But I will finish here briefly, and mention it more in another book. And now we will handle the matter of the use [or celebration], for it is very hard to be apprehended by the simple. And therefore we will deal with him after a childish manner, to try whether he may come to see, and find the Pearl, for all shall not find what we in the love of God have found ; though indeed we could earnestly wish that all might have it, yet there is a great matter between it ; viz. the 4 swelled, 4 the vapour1_ J Ml