office, who chiefly manageth the office in the Baptism, and maketh in the water of the soul a water of life in his virtue; and one [other testament] (for poor sinners that are more in years, to understand it) in the Word of life, as in flesh and blood, where the Word, viz. the Heart of God chiefly manageth the office, and feedeth with his body, and giveth his blood for drink; which testament with flesh and blood belongeth to the tincture of the fire-life, to the soul; and the testament of water belongeth to the spirit-life, viz. to the other tincture, and yet is but one man: But before the birth of Christ, the devil used great treachery, and wrought much mischief with man, in that he spiritually possessed them, [as may be read concerning the idol oracles], and here [in the Baptism] his trade and handicraft was laid aside; for Christ erected for the children a laver of Regeneration in the Holy Ghost, (for a child hath not faith as yet, also there are very few that learn [or are taught] what faith is), that there might be one testament that might preserve poor ignorant man.
37. Not that the Holy Ghost alone baptizeth, indeed he chiefly manageth the office, and taketh the virtue of the Number Three wherewith he baptizeth; and so when the baptizer saith, / baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; then the Holy Ghost taketh hold in the Number Three, and baptizeth in the water of the soul, in the water of life, which is in the blood of the tincture, which containeth the spirit-life, viz. the second centre of nature; and so the spirit of the soul receiveth the virtue and office of the Holy Ghost, and here lieth the Mysterium Magnum, [the Great Mystery] .
38. Dear brethren in Babel, do not so dance about on the outside of the Mystery, enter in, or else ye are not the ministers of Christ; if you cannot apprehend this, yet continue in the faith on the Word: But when you say Christ's testaments are only signs and not substance, then you are the Antichrist, and deny the Deity, and are not capable of the office: You cannot baptize the child, but the congregation of God, (which hath the faith), baptizeth it: A keeper of sheep, or a keeper of swine, that simply believeth that baptism is a great hidden Mystery, wherein the holy Number Three baptizeth, and that himself is but the servant, minister, or instrument, which performeth only the outward work, he in his simplicity baptizeth much better than you do.
39. You great school rabbis and masters, that sit aloft, let this be told you: There is one coming who will baptize you with the fire of wrath, because you deny his power and virtue: You have a hard bit [to chew] of Christ's testaments: If you will not go forth from your councils into the temple of Jesus Christ you must be quite cast away.
40. In times of old you were very many of you;
for you propagated yourselves, and not the office of Christ: But you are now become very thin in Germany; where you were a thousand, you are now scarce a hundred of you: If you will not leave off your human wit and your own inventions, God will so cast you away, that where you are now a hundred, there shall not remain ten of you, nor a less number. Awake from your sleep, lest you thus go down into perdition into the abyss.
41. You say we laugh you to scorn: It may be you think so, for there is one that laugheth you to scorn whom we know, who sheweth it to us: He will suddenly awake: be not so secure and careless: Consider of it; for none taketh any thing to himself, unless it be given him of God; neither will this be spoken in vain.
42. O beloved and worthy Christendom, observe it well: Do not say, If our teachers lead us
office, who chiefly manags the office in the Baptism, and makes in the water of the soul a water of life in his virtue; and one [other testament] (for poor sinners that are more in years, to understand it) in the Word of life, as in flesh and blood, where the Word, viz. the Heart of God chiefly manags the office, and feeds with his body, and gives his blood for drink; which testament with flesh and blood belongs to the tincture of the fire-life, to the soul; and the testament of water belongs to the spirit-life, viz. to the other tincture, and yet is but one man: But before the birth of Christ, the devil used great treachery, and wrought much mischief with man, in that he spiritually possessed them, [as may be read concerning the idol oracles], and here [in the Baptism] his trade and handicraft was laid aside; for Christ erected for the children a laver of Regeneration in the Holy Ghost, (for a child has not faith as yet, also there are very few that learn [or are taught] what faith is), that there might be one testament that might preserve poor ignorant man.
37. Not that the Holy Ghost alone baptizes, indeed he chiefly manags the office, and takes the virtue of the Number Three wherewith he baptizes; and so when the baptizer says, / baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; then the Holy Ghost takes hold in the Number Three, and baptizes in the water of the soul, in the water of life, which is in the blood of the tincture, which contains the spirit-life, viz. the second centre of nature; and so the spirit of the soul receives the virtue and office of the Holy Ghost, and here lies the Mysterium Magnum, [the Great Mystery] .
38. Dear brethren in Babel, do not so dance about on the outside of the Mystery, enter in, or else you are not the ministers of Christ; if you cannot apprehend this, yet continue in the faith on the Word: But when you say Christ's testaments are only signs and not substance, then you are the Antichrist, and deny the Deity, and are not capable of the office: You cannot baptize the child, but the congregation of God, (which has the faith), baptizes it: A keeper of sheep, or a keeper of swine, that simply believes that baptism is a great hidden Mystery, wherein the holy Number Three baptizes, and that himself is but the servant, minister, or instrument, which performs only the outward work, he in his simplicity baptizes much better than you do.
39. You great school rabbis and masters, that sit aloft, let this be told you: There is one coming who will baptize you with the fire of wrath, because you deny his power and virtue: You have a hard bit [to chew] of Christ's testaments: If you will not go forth from your councils into the temple of Jesus Christ you must be quite cast away.
40. In times of old you were very many of you;
for you propagated yourselves, and not the office of Christ: But you are now become very thin in Germany; where you were a thousand, you are now scarce a hundred of you: If you will not leave off your human wit and your own inventions, God will so cast you away, that where you are now a hundred, there shall not remain ten of you, nor a less number. Awake from your sleep, lest you thus go down into perdition into the abyss.
41. You say we laugh you to scorn: It may be you think so, for there is one that laughs you to scorn whom we know, who shows it to us: He will suddenly awake: be not so secure and careless: Consider of it; for none takes any thing to himself, unless it be given him of God; neither will this be spoken in vain.
42. O beloved and worthy Christendom, observe it well: Do not say, If our teachers lead us
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