Six Theosophic Points, and Other Writings
23. So also in man. Many a curse sticks which one wishes the other, when the other has provoked it, and is apt for it; as indeed is common among godless married people, one wishing the other the devil and hell-fire. If then they both be godless, should not then their godless will be realized to them, by their begetting godless childi'en? There is not anything that is good in them, what good thing then shall come out of them? What can God do to this? He sets his word and teaching before them, and announces to them their destruction. If they will not regard it, let them go whither they please. So too is their seed; and thus many a child is born a thistle and evil beast, and is baptized in the wrath of God.
24. For, of what essence the soul's spirit is, in such an essence it receives also the divine naturep. 96 in the covenant: one in the power of light, in love; another in the power of wrath, in darkness.
25. The covenant at baptism stands firm. Every child is baptized in the covenant; the Spirit of God baptizes each one, if we observe the customary form, but ki accordance with the child's property. Often the father and mother, as also the baptizer, are godless, and only evil beasts, and there is no real earnestness. The outward pomp and the money is the main point with them ; they despise the mystery. Here the child is wholly in the property of wrath. Who then shall baptize? None other than the wrath of God in his covenant, for that men do but make a mock of it.
26. Thus the source of wrath seizes the new spirit, works powerfully in it, and brings forth fruit to perdition. As St. Paul says of the other testament, that the wicked man receives it unto judgment, not discerning the Lord's body (1 Cor. xi. 29). That is, he distinguishes not in himself the heavenly part of his essence from the earthly, to put his will into the heavenly and offer this up to God ; but deems all common, as an ox eats the fodder.
27. Therefore the wrath of God springs in him, so that he doth not break off his will from the earthly and repent of his wickedness. His heavenly part cannot become partaker of God's body, because he cannot awaken the essence of the heavenly part. Thus it has no mouth to receive God's body, the mouth being shut up in death. The earthly part, however, receives Christ's body, but according to the property of wrath, according to the propTHE FIFTH POINT 97 erty of the dark world; for the testament must stand.
28. In like manner is baptism. According as the soul's essence is in being, so also does it enjoy God's covenant. It were better a wholly godless child were not baptized, and that a wicked man in his sins without conversion did not touch God's testament; for it brings them both only power to perdition. God's covenant is never moved without fruit. God works in his covenant according to his word.
29. As is the soul which moves the covenant, so is the medicament in the covenant, and in such a power the Spirit of God works in love and wrath; for he is the spirit of every life, and assimilates himself to every life. He is in every thing as the thing's will and property is, for one property seizes the other. What the soul wills, that he wills also, and thereinto the soul enters.
23. So also in man. Many a curse sticks which one wishes the other, when the other has provoked it, and is apt for it; as indeed is common among godless married people, one wishing the other the devil and hell-fire. If then they both be godless, should not then their godless will be realized to them, by their begetting godless childi'en? There is not anything that is good in them, what good thing then shall come out of them? What can God do to this? He sets his word and teaching before them, and announces to them their destruction. If they will not regard it, let them go whither they please. So too is their seed; and thus many a child is born a thistle and evil beast, and is baptized in the wrath of God.
24. For, of what essence the soul's spirit is, in such an essence it receives also the divine naturep. 96 in the covenant: one in the power of light, in love; another in the power of wrath, in darkness.
25. The covenant at baptism stands firm. Every child is baptized in the covenant; the Spirit of God baptizes each one, if we observe the customary form, but ki accordance with the child's property. Often the father and mother, as also the baptizer, are godless, and only evil beasts, and there is no real earnestness. The outward pomp and the money is the main point with them ; they despise the mystery. Here the child is wholly in the property of wrath. Who then shall baptize? None other than the wrath of God in his covenant, for that men do but make a mock of it.
26. Thus the source of wrath seizes the new spirit, works powerfully in it, and brings forth fruit to perdition. As St. Paul says of the other testament, that the wicked man receives it unto judgment, not discerning the Lord's body (1 Cor. xi. 29). That is, he distinguishes not in himself the heavenly part of his essence from the earthly, to put his will into the heavenly and offer this up to God ; but deems all common, as an ox eats the fodder.
27. Therefore the wrath of God springs in him, so that he does not break off his will from the earthly and repent of his wickedness. His heavenly part cannot become partaker of God's body, because he cannot awaken the essence of the heavenly part. Thus it has no mouth to receive God's body, the mouth being shut up in death. The earthly part, however, receives Christ's body, but according to the property of wrath, according to the propTHE FIFTH POINT 97 erty of the dark world; for the testament must stand.
28. In like manner is baptism. According as the soul's essence is in being, so also does it enjoy God's covenant. It were better a wholly godless child were not baptized, and that a wicked man in his sins without conversion did not touch God's testament; for it brings them both only power to perdition. God's covenant is never moved without fruit. God works in his covenant according to his word.
29. As is the soul which moves the covenant, so is the medicament in the covenant, and in such a power the Spirit of God works in love and wrath; for he is the spirit of every life, and assimilates himself to every life. He is in every thing as the thing's will and property is, for one property seizes the other. What the soul wills, that he wills also, and thereinto the soul enters.
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