of the Holy Ghost Effected And how did the bands of the Tongues of the Lords Disciples become unloosed 146. Question How is the difference or distinction of Languages among them to be understood That they have at one instant Spoken all Languages at once in one sence so that People of †Acts 2.5 to the 14. all Nations understood them 147. Question What doth this * Ioel. 2.28 Act. 2.17 18. shedding forth of the Holy Ghost out of Christs Death Resurrection and Ascention to Heaven profit or benefit us How may that be also effected in us 148. Question What is the †Rom. 2.27 29. and 7.6 Litteral Word and the * 2 Cor. 3.6 Living Word Christ in this shedding forth one with the other How became they distinguished seeing all did not hear the Holy Ghost Teach from the Mouth of the Apostles for †Acts 2.13 one sort of them said They are full of sweet Wine these heard indeed Mans-word but not Christ teaching in his * Phil. 3.10 Resurrection 149. Question How doth Christ himself Teach presentially in the Office of Preaching And yet sitteth at the right hand of the Power of God Or among whom doth Christ Teach what is a * John 10.2 Shepherd or Pastour in the Spirit of Christ And a Teacher of the †2 Cor. 3.6 Letter without the Spirit of Christ Each in his Office 150. Question * Math. 18.18 19 20. What is the Office of the Keys Math. 18.18 John 20.22 23. How may they become rightly used Or who is worthy or fit for this Office of the Keys and Capable thereof How i◠this to be understood Whether is Christ himself in the Office or whether is he himself the Office Or whether hath he freely given it to Man so that he may without Christs Spirit forgive Sinnes Or how is it done 151. Question What is Christs Testament together with the †Luke 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.20 to the 29. 34. See the Treatise of the Two Testaments of Christ Last Supper with Bread and Wine How is Christ really enjoyed * John 7.51 to the 66. The two Testaments What manner of Flesh and Bloud is it And what is the Mouth to eat it with 152. Question What is the place in Man wherein Christs Flesh and Bloud Continueth as he himself saith †Iohn 6.56 Whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud he continueth in me and I in him John 6.56 Also * Iohn 6.53 If you doe not eat the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drink his Bloud then ye have no Life in you John 6.53 153. Question How is Man and how doth he become †Iohn 15.5 The two Testaments a Branch on the Vine Stock of Christ How doth Christ dwell in him and yet sit at the Right Hand of God in Heaven Also how can he sit at the right Hand of God in Man and yet the outward Man not be he 154. Question What manner of Christian is a * 1 Cor. 4.20 Iam. 1.21 22. The two Testaments 1. Ioh. 3.18 Titulary Christian in Name only without or out of Christ who only Comforteth himself and imputeth Christs Merits to himself and yet is unregenerate of the Spirit of Christ and Liveth Beastially Whether also doth he in such working or doing belong unto Christ Or what doth he receive in Christs Supper 155. Question Whether also may Christs †Ioh. 6.56 The two Testaments Flesh and Bloud become enjoyed by Believers without or out of the Testamentory Ordinance and Observation Or how may that be done 156. Question Why hath Christ ordained and instituted this Testament and said So oft as we doe it The two Testaments we should doe it in his remembrance 1 Cor. 11.25 To what profit and benefit is it done with Bread and Wine and not without Or whether may it also become enjoyed or participated without Bread and Wine 157. Question Whether is the true Testamentary enjoyment or participation The two Testaments bound meerly to the Apostolicall practice and Observation Or whether also Men have power or authority to alter and change this Ordinance as is done now adayes 158. Question Whether also is the Testament powerfull in the altered or changed Ordinance or Not 159. Question See the 5. ch concerning the Supper What doe the Learned when they reproach one another about Christs Testaments and the pretious Covenant of Grace And disgrace one another and give one another up to the Devill about it Whether doe they also mannage the Office of Christ whether is that right or wrong whether also is this done as a Minister of Christ Or whom doe they serve thereby 160. Question See the Theosophical Epistle Which is the very Mark of a right Christian upon Earth whereby Men may distinguish him from a Titulary-Christian 161. Question What is properly a Christian within and without How is he a * 1 Cor. 6.19 Temple of the Holy Ghost in which the Kingdome of God is inwardly revealed or Manifested How doth he walk and †Phil. 3.20 converse in Heaven and upon Earth both at once 162. Question What is the * Iohn 4.3 Antichrist upon Earth under Christianity 163. Question What is * Rev. 16.19 and 17.5 and 18.10 to the 22. and 19.20 and 17.1 to the 16. and 19.2 Babell or Babylon the Beast and the Whore in the Apocalips or Revelations 164. Question What is the Ruine of the Beast and how is it Effected that the Seven-headed Beast should become cast into the Abysse 165. Question How doth Christ then take in the Kingdome when this Beast becometh slain 166. Question What is the true New †Mat. 19.28 Regeneration in the Spirit of Christ Is it done in this time or after this Time 167. Question What is the * Rev. 13.14 dying of a True Christian What of him dyeth 168. Question What is the dying of the Wicked in that it is called an †Rev. 20.14 15. Eternal Dying 169. Question Whither goeth the Soul See the 21. Question of the forty Questions of the Soul when it parteth from the Body be it blessed or not 170. Question What are the Doings and Life of Souls See the 22. Question of 40. Questions till the Last Judgement Day 171. Question What is the * Jude 6. John 12.48 Question 30. in the forty Questions Last Judgement or how is it Effected 172. Question How is the †John 11.24 1 Cor. 15.52 in thirty Question Resurrection of the Dead Effected What Riseth again 173. Question How doth * 1 Joh. 2.17 2 Pet. 3.10 13. In the 30. Question this World passe away or vanish And what doth remain thereof afterward 174. Question What shall be after this Worlds Time †1 Cor. 15.24 to the 28. When God shall be all in all when the Dominions shall cease 1 Cor. 15.24 28. 175. Question Question the
with vanity yet its Will should come clearly before God that it might begin to work in its Will and afterwards also daily mortifie the Vanity of the Flesh 26. So very firmly must the Will of the Soul together with the desire be directed to God that it say with Jacob when he wrestled with God the whole night LORD I will not let thee goe unlesse thou blesse me Gen. 32.26 27. And though the heart as it were fainteth staggereth and doubâ—eth and all manner of hinderances fall in yet the Will must continue standing and firmly Image imprint or apprehend the Grace and resolve not to depart from it 28. And though the Devill driveth the Lust of the Flesh aloft at which the Soul is terrified and thinketh it is therefore cast out from God yet the Will should then hang to the Grace as a Child to the Mothers Breast and Continually strive against the Devill and his desire in Flesh and Bloud till at last it prevaileth and in the Spirit of Christ overcometh the Devill and then afterwards he will find and see great Wonders in himself and will know that it is true that there is such great Joy in Heaven concerning a Converting Soul more then for Ninety Nine righteous which need not such repentance Luke 15. 20. Therefore whosoever will pray aright must firmly Imagine or resolve that he will come to the Grace and Salvation and certainly attain that which he prayeth for 30. Therefore also his Prayer should be so directed that it runneth not contrary to the Ordinance of God but should think and resolve that in his Prayer he will co-work with God As the Wood of the Tree co-worketh with the Trees power so also should the desire only work with Gods Power Else its Prayer is only a working in the Shell or Bark of the right Lifes Tree for it worketh therewith only outwardly in the Elements and NOT inwardly in and with God 31. But he that prayeth aright worketh inwardly with God and generateth or bringeth forth outwardly Good Fruits as the Tree bringeth forth its power and letteth it self be seen with the Power in the Fruit and so also the true divine Power in Man letteth it self be seen outwardly with or by Good Works and Vertues 32. Else there is no Faith there unlesse the Work follow Else the Prayer is but dissembling Hypocrisie and maketh only an outward form and reacheth not the Place or City of God This I would not Conceal or forbear to intimate to my good Friends and fellow Brethren in Christian Love out of my little Cabinet-Treasure as a Christian Information how a Man should be prepared to Pray And though I know that they themselves stand together with me in such a Work and are capable and partakers of the Gift of the Holy Spirit yet I would in this and the following Prayers somewhat refresh my self with them and out of my Power and Gift declare and impart the Grace of God to them as one Light kindleth another so also one Gift of God kindleth the other that we might refresh our selves together in One Love which is Christ in us all and I also thus enjoy of your divine Gift that together may take growth into the Praise of God and bear much Fruit. And would have these following Prayers written for Every day in the week wherein then a Man may therewith fit his particular State according to his occasion only for the Stirring up and awakening of the Good Gifts which before-hand are in you all Not to begin once more from the Ground and Beginning of Christian Teaching but for an Exercise and awakening And so I commend you all into the working Love of Jesus Christ and my self into your Brotherly and Christian Favour An Introduction How a Man should prepare himself to such Order Ordinance and Exercise to right Praying Christian Loving Reader 33. RIght Praying is in right Earnest Sincerity and it must be earnest else it availeth nothing in the Presence of God For if we will rightly Pray then we must think no otherwise but that we stand before Gods clear and bright Countenance before the holy Trinity and before the Quires of his holy Angels 34. And that God in our Prayer proveth our Soul Spirit and Heart and beholdeth our Will totally most inwardly whether it be totally inclined to him whether the Will have totally given it self up to him 35. And if that be so then He toucheth the Will with the Power of his holy Spirit and rouseth it that it may become rightly desirous and hungry after the Grace so that then he beginneth earnestly to go OUT from self and presseth or penetrateth INTO Gods Compassion Pitty and Mercy 36. For in own self Power the Will is too too weak but when the Divine Power toucheth it then it becometh awakened so that it becometh fiery and rightly desirous in which desire God himself worketh and then Man Speaketh rightly with God and God speaketh operatively with the Soul of that Man 37. Such Speaking or Working is nothing else but that the poor Soul eateth of Gods Mercy which he hath turned to us again through the Death of Christ and quickneth or refresheth it self with the Balsame of divine Love in Christ wherein it becometh Strong against the Temptation or Assaults of the Devill 38. For the Divine Hearing is the Grace-Power which God hath in the Name JESUS introduced into the Humanity again and opened again to us ALL an Open Gate to his hearing whereby we can hear God Speak operatively in us how he inspeaketh or inspireth his Mercifulness into us through that opened Grace-Gate and on the other side the Soul speaketh through the same open Gate in it self with God And becometh in such inspeaking or inspiration fed and quickened from Gods out-speaking also enlightened and renewed 39. For it eateth of the oui-breathing of God that is become MAN viz the Flesh and Bloud of Christ after that kind and way as an Hearb eateth the Suns Power and Vertue in it self whence it is tinctured and balsamed and becometh good so that it groweth and blossometh so also the Soul from the divine Sun whence it becometh full of Light and powerfull 40. This now is the profit fruit and benefit of right praying which profit or benefit no outward Mouth and no Will averted from God can attain but only the inverted which totally giveth it self up to God 41. Now if any would have this done then must the Will turn away from all other Creatures and from all Earthly things and nakedly stand before God that the Work or Frame of the Creatures or of whatsoever it will pray for from God in Temporall things may only follow after in the Flesh and stand behinde the pure Will that the pure Will may bring the Necessities of the Body before God and that the Flesh it self may NOT co-work with its Lust else it bringeth earthly Lust into the divine Soulish working 42. Therefore there belongeth alwayes to right
his Enemies viz * Hebr. 2.14 Over Sinne over Death the Devil and over Hell as the Scripture saith †1 Cor. 15.25 26 54 55 56 57. till these his Enemies which all of them are Enemies of the Kingly and Princeâ—y Throne of MICHAEL because they are become thrust out of it be laid under his feet for a footstool and this Dominion and Imaging in this Throne cease 19. Hereby to those that are OURS and have their Thoughts or Senses and Apprehensions enlightened from God enough is shewen and we intend this in Love It is the highest Gate which God openeth or unlocketh to us for the very Last For those that can understand it but for the Scorners so long as they are such we have not written and we seal it with the Eternall Will so that this shall be understood by no Sâ—orner Amen 20. But how man may understand this depth of the Deity and search all things as St. Paul saith of it that * 1 Cor. 2.10 the Spirit searcheth all things even the Depth of the Deity and that the Rationall Naturall Man in own-self ability apprehendeth Nothing viz the own Will and yet that this is apprehensible in Man understand it as followeth 21. Man ia an Image of the Substance of all Substances a right expresse Image of God according to Love and Anger viz First the Soul is the Eternall Centrall Fire of the own willing for out of that * Note must all Creatures come but not out of the clear purâ— God 22. And Secondly The Spirit of the Sâ—ul is the Centrall Fire of the Light out of the Eternall IDEA broke forth or Sprung from the Power of God and it is Supernaturall whereupon it is also †1 Cor. 6.19 The Temple of the Holy Spirit in which Christ dwelleth and feedeth the Soul with his Flesh and Bloud viz with divine and humane * viz Christus or the Anointing Bâ—lsam in which the Death and the Anger of God is become broken Whereupon then such divine Balsam continueth in the Spirit of the Soul substantially as Christ saith †Joh. 6.56 Whosoever eateth my Flâ—sh and drinketh my Bloud he continueth in me and I in him 23. But Thirdly The outward Body is out of the outward World out of the four Elements and out of the Astrum or Consâ—eâ—â—â—â—â—ons Which outward Dominion ruleth the outward Life after which outward Dominion the Adamicall Soul hath Longed or Lustâ—â— and for the sake thereof is broken off from the Unity of God an◠〈…〉 into the Dominion of this World where the Will in it self â—ecame capâ—â—ve by the DRAGON of Gods Anger and turned into a Monster where the true Spirit disappeared when the Light of God Extinguâ—shed to it and the IDEA became Dumb or Inanimate and Uâ—operative or worklesse 24. Which Spirit the IDEA JESUS viz an Efflux from the divine Unity came to help relieve or assist and introduced the Light of the Love into the poor Soul 25. Now when this Name JESUS which is called Christ when he assumed the Humanity â—ndrew into the poor turned away or apostate Soul and pressed througâ—â—nd through it with the Beames of Gods Unity then became the Eternall IDEA viz the right Spirit in such Balsam of the Love moveable again thus the Light shineth again in the Darkness of the Soul and the NEIN or No becometh united with the IAH where Michael in the Strife standeth against or resisteth the Dragon viz the Name oâ— the Anger in Christ JESU 26. In this Light the Soul seeth again into its â—athers or Native Country which it had at first viz into its originall out of which it is Sprouted fâ—r the Name of GOD is in it and worketh in the Spirit Where it standeth in the viewing or Vision of God and may throughly search out all things yet n t in own-self Motion and willing But when the Name of God in the Moving entereth into it self then it looketh upon the forming of the Wonder-doing NAME it seeth and heareth what God speaketh in it 27. * NOTE No Image like Speaking or discourse but operative in the Understanding as the Prophets have spoken and yet this is incomprehensible to the outward Reason of which Saint Paul saith †Phil. 3.20 Our Conversation is in Heaven and yet saith also That a Thorne or Sting was given him in the Flesh that Sathans Angel or Messenger viz a Source Quality or Torment from the Spirit of Seduction of Lust should buffet him or strike him with fists 28. Understand this rightly thus that a Man seeth such hidden secret Mysteries in the Spirit of * Col. 2.2 3. CHRIST wherein all Treasures of Wisdome Lyo as the Scripture testifieth throughout And thus Men are to unsterstand rightly what the Eternall Councill of God is And then also how Man May come to such Vision or viewing and we have here only shewen the Possibility but the Way or Processe how he may attain thereto we have largely or copiously enough described in the other Books The Thirteenth Question How is the Thrusting out of the Dragon and of the Legions of Lucifer effected Whither is he thrust that he can be without God Seeing God filleth all things Or what is the Foundation of Hell where he dwelleth Answer 1. THe †Rev. 12.9 Thrusting out of the DRAGON was the false Apostate off-turned Image-like Will of the own receptibility in which off-turned Will LUCIFER together with his Angels hath Imaged Figured or Formed himself 2. The Dragon is the hellish Foundation and the rejected or reprobate Spirits are the Naturall Imaged Properties of the Hellish Foundation For when they brake off themselves from the holy Name of God from the Being or Substance of the Unity of God and totally Imaged themselves in the NEIN or No that is in the LYE then they became such 3. The Thrusting out is Effected by or Through the Name of the holy Power of * Lucifers his Throne which he hath had he is with his Legions become thrust out of his Throne that is out of his dwelling or Habitation and became instantly shut or lockt up by the Darknesse and apprehended or captivated by the fierce Wrath of the hellish Foundation 4. Thus he is severed off from Gods Holiness and dwelleth under the Firmament and upon the Earth between Time and Eternity as a Prince of Darkness in the fierce Wrath of God 5. His Princely Dominion is in the highest in severall distinctness as also in the Elements in all Quarters and Places after the Manner and Kind of the Four Elements according to †Of the Spirits their Properties for their Properties are Manifold and they have in all the four Elements Habitations every Generation or Tribe among them in their likenesse 6. Yet Men must rightly understand it thus they have not the Elements in possession according to the Good property of them No but only the out flown fierce Wrath out of the Eternall
or Beggeth Grace and Pardon of him and often times in heart thinketh much otherwise NO but it is a going forth out of our selves that a Man out of all his powers with all whatsoever he is and whatsoever he possesseth give himself up to God 13. Yea with right true Prayer he giveth himself up to God for a Propriety He cometh with the Lost †Luke 15.12 Prodigall Sonne again to the Father into his first Native Country and Inheritance out of which our first Father Adam hath brought him 14. He hath no Naturall right more to the heavenly Goods he hath with Adams going forth lost them all and with the Devils Whoredome consumed them in Vanity Whereupon now he must in great Humility and Faith in true Hope of the promised Grace in his Sonne Jesus Christ come with the Lost Sonne to God and account himself unworthy of all Heavenly Goods by a Naturall right and fall down before God his Eternall Father and pray to him for the promised Mercy in his Sonne Jesus Christ that he will yet receive him again as a hired Day-man and Labourer into his Vine-yard and will yet again give him heavenly Meat and Drink for his Fainting Hungry and Thirsty Soul that he might no more need with the Devils Swine to Eat the Husks of Vanity Lying and Falshood and so perish in unbelief without heavenly Power and Vertue 15. He must set open the Mouth of his hungry and thirsty Soul in his Prayer wide towards the Grace and Mercy of God with hearty sighing and turning into the Grace and totally and altogether give up himself to the Grace of God And then he will instantly hear in his Soul that God will come to meet him with his Grace and give the Grace which he offereth in Jesus Christ into his Soul So that the poor hungry Soul will powerfully and substantially receive in it self whatsoever it desireth and prayeth for from God viz the Flesh and Bloud of Jesus Christ Which is offered or presented to All hungry repenting Soules out of Grace 16. He will rightly find in himself how the Old Father of the Lost Prodigall Sonne cometh to meet the poor Converted Repenting Soul and with his Love falleth about its Neck of its Essence of the Life and embraceth and kisseth it with his Love and taketh it into his Armes and in power saith to it This is my beloved Sonne This is my beloved Soul * Luke 15.24 31. which I had Lost it was dead and is become living again Now slay the Lamb Jesus Christ It shall sit with me in my Power at my Table and Eat with me at my Supper or Meale prepared for me of the true food of my Sonne Jesus Christ and shall Eternally rejoyce it self with me 17. And there will the Seal Ring viz the dear and pretious Testament of the Covenant of God in the Bloud of Jesus Christ be put on to the Soul and will through the Covenant and Sealing be received again for a Childe of God 18. Therefore I say to the Christian Reader that praying is not only a Mouth-work or Lip-labour as a Man cometh before a Lord and beggeth some temporall thing of him or for the forgivenesse of his Guilt God biddeth us to pray not for outward imputed Grace only but for the filiall child-like operative Grace where the Holy Spirit in the Merits of Christ prayeth and beggeth in our selves whereby it maketh the Grace in us powerfull and in such working also overthroweth the Sinne in us and drowneth it in Christs death destroyeth Hell and bringeth forth the Gates of Eternall Life viz the Satisfaction of Christ or his payment of our Debt in us quite through Gods Anger and taketh away the Devils might in us and putteth Christ on to us so that we in the Spirit and Merit of Christ †Rom. 8.15 cry unto the Father of all Mercy and say ABBA loving Father 19. For we have not received a Servile or * Spirit of Bondage flavish Spirit that we should fear agâ—in but a filiall or †Spirit of Adoption child like Spirit so that with joyfull heart and with all Confidence we may pray to the Father and he will give it unto us Rom. 8.15 Ephes 3.11 Gal. 4.6 20. For the Giving and Receiving sake God biddeth us to pray and beg as Christ saith My Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that pray and ask him for it Also Ask and so ye shall receive seek and so ye shall find knock and so it will be opened unto you Luke 11.9.13 21. Every Prayer which doth not find and receive is Cold and Luke-warme and sticketh in a hinderance of temporall Earthly things That is the Soul doth not clearly draw near to God It will not totally give it self up to God but hangeth still to Earthly Love which holdeth it captive that it cannot reach the City and Place of God 22. If a Man would pray aright then he must turn himself away from all Creatures and with the Will and Mind clearly come before God It must be in such a Purpose and Earnest Resolution as with the Publican in the Temple and as with the forlorn lost Sonne which came thus to God 23. And though Reason in Flesh and Bloud saith clearly No thou wilt not be heard thy Sinnes are too great or it is not time now stay a while doe first this or that thou shalt have time and opportunity to doe that hereafter Or else saith Why doest thou pray when thou canst not come with thy desire to God Thou receivest no power into thee Let not all this deceive thee The Power iâ— in the inward Ground in the desire of the Will and worketh with God Doe but stand still and wait upon the Lord it will at last well penetrate through so that thou wilt feel it in thy heart and thank and praise God 24. Whosoever would pray aright and with his desire attain Gods Power and Spirit must forgive all his Enemies heartily and include them together in his Prayer and pray to God that he will convert them also and be reconciled with them in his Love that a Serpent might not continue in his heart which should hold him back and tear the power of the Prayer from the Soul as Christ saith The Devill teareth the Word from their Hearts that they believe not and so become saved Luke 8.12 Also When thou wilt offer thy Gift upon the Altar and there rememberest that thy Brother hath any thing against thee then goe thy way first and reconcile thy self with thy Brother And then come and offer thy Gift Math. 5.23 24. Also in Our Father Forgive us our Debts or Trespasses as we forgive our Debters that trespasse against us Math. 6.12 That the Evill Enemy with the included Hate may not Sift or Tempt us and hinder us and bring us into Doubt 25. God requireth a clear empty and Naked Soul in Prayer And though indeed it be surrounded