The Water-Stone of the Wise Men, part 5 of 7

But, (even as tis chiefly to be noted and observed in the aforementioned Philosophical work, as we then informed you, that,) even as this common, or vulgar body of gold, is not in the least agreeable or convenient for that work, but because of its imperfection, and many other various defects that it is subject unto, is unprofitable, and is to be accounted of as a dead thing, and that likewise for that same reason there must be produced such [a body] as is clear and pure, and without mixture, and such as was never falsified by any deceit, but is free from all impurity, and without defect, and what was never as yet debilitated in its eternal Sulphur; Even so, much less can there be, or ought there to be any universal humane nature (such as is conceived in sin, polluted with original transgression, and is daily falsified and defiled with real sins, and preternatural infirmities, under which all men do generally lie) accepted [of] imputed [to] and incorporated [with] the divine essence of the Son of God, but only the unmixed, pure, and perfect humanity, void of all sin: for if the earthly Adam, who was but a creature only, was (afore the fall) without sin, and was an holy and perfect man; how much more then is that celestial Adam, which the only begotten Son of God hath in himself?

And therefore the celestial, eternal, fundamental and Corner-stone Jesus Christ, (according to the description of the Philosophick) is, and ever will be, according to both his natures, of a most highly admirable birth and rise, and consequently of an unsearchable nature and property. According [or in relation] to his divinity [he was] from eternity, of the alone divine essence of his celestial and eternal Father, true God, yea the Son of God, whose out-going (as the Scripture testifies thereof) was from the beginning and eternal (Mich. 5. Psal. 2. Mat. 16. Col. 1.) But as in reference to his humanity, he was born in the fulness of time, without sin and fault, Isa. 53. John 8. according as the Scripture testifies, a true and a perfect man; with a body and also a soul, Mat. 26. so that now he is of an indissolvable, personal, and God-man essence, that is, a true God, and true man, in one only person, indissoluble to all eternity, and must and ought to be so acknowledged and worshipped as God Omnipotent.

But yet notwithstanding, it could be wished that the eyes of the greater part of the imaginary learned men were better opend, and their dark spectacles, and their sophistical vizards that hang before them were removed, and that at length they might yet once recover their lost sight, Luke 10. But especially, all the Aristotelians, and the sophisticate, blind-sighted, purblind [as 'twere] in divine works, amongst whom there have been so many various and divers disputations even to this very day, in divine things, too too unchristianlike; nor is there any end at all of the manifold distinctions, divisions and permixtions, concerning the highly venerable Article of the union of natures, and community [as 'twere] of Idioms in Christ, so well founded in the holy Scriptures, 2 Tim. 3. But now, if they will not believe God or his divine Word, they may yet notwithstanding by the conjunction made of the said Chymicall work (as afore-mentioned) and by the unition of the two waters, viz. of ☿︎ and ☉︎, know the essence, and be able to feel him (as it were) with their fingers. But alas! the highest Scholastick art of their Ethnick [or heathenish] philosophy, so little or meanly founded in the holy Scripture or in Christian Theologie, and their fundamentals and Aristotelian precepts of no value or moment, about substance and accidents, and many other more [devices] do not at all lead them to the attainment thereof, little considering that Tertullian, that old man, hath not in vain written, That these Philosophers are the Patriarchs or chief Fathers of the Hereticks; But we conceive it no waies worth our while to discourse more largely of this thing.

And moreover, even as (in the Philosophick work) that said composition, the two essences being conjoyned now together, must be placed over the fire, and be putrified, ground or broken, and be well boiled, in which putrefaction and boyling there do (until it be rendred more then perfect) in the mean while, manifold and various acts or scenes fall in between, and divers colours do shew themselves, about which you may find more written in the description of the terrene work: Even so, this God-man and man-God person Jesus Christ, so appointed by God, his heavenly Father, in this world, was cast into the firie furnace of tribulation, and was therein well boyled (as 'twere) that is, he was encompassed with various troubles, reproaches, the Cross and tribulation, and was changed and transmuted (as 'twere) into various shapes, that is, he suffered hunger, Mat. 4. then presently upon his receiving of baptism, and after his devoting himself to the ministry of the preaching the holy divine Word, he was by the impulse of the holy Spirit in the desart, and there tempted by Satan; and must there necessarily undergo with him a triple combate, for a testimony and witness to all bought and purchased Christians, as having entred upon Christianity, and professing the faith of Christ, are tempted by the Devil, and are by various temptations again sollicited and enticed to a falling off from Christ.

Likewise, he was wearie in John 4. also he cryed and wept lamentably, Luke 19. 41. also he trembled, [and was sore amazed] Mark 14. he combated with death, and sweated a sweat of blood, was likewise taken and was bound, Mat. 26. was smitten on the face by the high Priests servant, was mocked, derided, spit on, whipt, crowned [with thorns] condemned to death; and then fastned to the Cross (which himself carried, Joh. 19.) betwixt two thieves, had Gall and Vinegar given him to drink, Psalm 69. and cryed out with a loud voice, and commended his Spirit into the hands of God his Father, expired it, and at last dyed on the Cross; and many other afflictions and tribulations did he necessarily undergo in his life and at his death, of which you may read more at large in the holy Evangelists.

And even as the Philosophers write, viz. that that boiling and putrefaction in the afore-mentioned terrene work is usually made and perfected within fourtie daies: So are there described and laid down to us in the holy Scripture [a description of] many and divers miracles that God hath done, by that afore-mentioned number: as for instance, that of the people of Israel's, when they aboad in the desart for fourty whole years, and had the tryal of a very hard exile, Psal. 59. Deut. 8. Likewise Moses his being in Mount Sinai, Exod. 34. Also Elias in his flight, because of Ahab, 1 Kings 19. So Christ in the desart fasted forty daies and as many nights: Likewise also he preached on the earth for fourty moneths, and performed miracles: He lay forty [hours] in the Sepulchre; and fourtie daies (between his resurrection from the dead, and his ascention into heaven) did he walk about and visit his Disciples, and shewed himself alive unto them, Acts 1. Likewise, the City of Hierusalem was destroyed by the Romans and razed to the ground, the fortieth year after the ascention of our Lord. But you must here principally note, that the Philosophers call that putrefaction, because of its black colour, (Cantic. 1. I am black.) the head of the Crow; Even so Christ himself, (Isa. 53. He had no form, nor, &c.) was wholly deformed as to his form [and beauty] the most vile of all, full of griefs and sorrows, and also was despised, in so much that we even hid our faces because of him, and esteemed him as a thing of nought. Moreover himself doth likewise in Psalm 22. complain of that thing, viz. he was a worm and no man, the mocking stock of men, and contempt of the People.

In like manner also, this may not unfitly be compared with Christ. viz. As that Putrified body of Sol doth lie for a season like to ashes in the bottom of the glass, and dead without any efficacy, until by [the addition of] a stronger heat, its soul doth again let down it self drop by drop, and by little and little, and doth again imbibe the sick and as it were dead body, doth moisten it, give it to drink, and preserve it from a total destruction; even so happened it to Christ, when he was in the Mount of Olives, and upon the Cross, and was roasted (as it were) by the fire of the divine wrath, Mat. 26. 27. he complained that he was wholly forsaken by his heavenly Father, and yet nevertheless was he alwaies refreshed and strengthened, Mark 4. Luke 22. and imbued (as 'twere) and moistened and imbibed with the divine Nectar; even as 'tis wont to be in the terrene body by a daily (airing for, and refreshment) yea also, when in his most holy passion, and mediating death, his power and strength, together with his Spirit, was wholly withdrawn from him, and he plainly [or truly] arrived [or came] to the lower and deepest parts of the earth, Acts 1. Ephes. 1. 1 Peter 3. he was (notwithstanding) even yet conserved, refreshed, and again lifted [or raised] up, by the vertue and power of the eternal Deity, and thereby vivified and glorified, Rom. 14. and here 'twas that his soul and spirit did first of all procure [or bring to pass] a perfect, true, and indissolvable union with his dead body in the Sepulchre, and by a most joyful and victorious resurrection and ascention to the heavens, was it exalted through our Lord Jesus Christ, to the right hand of his Father; Mat. 28. Mark 16. with the which [body] he doth now, by the efficacy and vertue of the holy Spirit (as being a true God and Man, in equal power and glory) rule and bear command over all things, Psal. 8. and by his most efficacious Word preserves and sustains all things, Heb. 1. yea he vivifies all things, Acts 17. The which wonderful union, and also that divine exaltation cannot be well seen, and much less considered of by Angels and men in heaven and on earth; yea and under the earth, Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 1. without fear and trembling; Whose efficacy, power, and rosey-coloured tincture is able to transmute us imperfect men and sinners, even now, in body and soul, to tinge, and more then perfectly to cure and heal us, concerning which we shall speak more anon.

Having now therefore, briefly and plainly disclosed to you, how viz. the Celestial, Fundamental Corner-stone Jesus Christ may be compared with the terrene Philosophical stone of the wise men, the matter and preparation whereof is (as we have heard) a notable type and lively counterpoise (as 'twere) [and resemblance] of the divine assumption of humane flesh in Christ: We therefore likewise judge it necessary, that we also behold and learn his efficacy, virtue, and Tincture, as also his fermentation and multiplication in us men, who are destitute of efficacy and virtue, and are as it were Imperfect mettals.

And albeit, that God created man, at the beginning, above all his other Creatures, and made him a most noble and most perfect Creature, yea he made him after his own Image, and breathed into him a living Spirit and an Immortal Soul; Yet nevertheless, after his fall, was he transmuted into a deformed, contrary and pernicions [or mortal] shape [and form.]

But now, to restore again such a most noble Creature to his former brightness [or lustre] and perfection, the Omnipotent God did, out of his meer mercy, ordain such a medium, as his [viz. mans] restitution might be brought to pass by after the manner following, viz. as we have afore said, that the more then perfect stone, or Tincture after this its perfection, is to be (in the first place) yet further fermented, augmented or multiplyed, if at leastwise you would obtain its manifold profit, and have its efficacy and operation beneficial; Even so, also, Christ, that heavenly blessed stone, must (according to his God-man perfection) be yet moreover also further fermented and multiplyed (as 'twere) with us, as with his members; that is, we must be purifyed and united with him, by his own saving ticture of a Rosey colour, and be prepared and conformed to a pure, unfermented and celestial body: for (as Paul testifies in Rom. 8.) he is the first begotten among many brethren, yea the first begotten before all other Creatures whatsoever, Coloss. 1. by whom all things in Heaven and Earth are created and reconciled with God: for if we who are naturally impure, mortal and imperfect, would be again, made pure, new-born or regenerate, immortal and perfect, then verily, that cannot be done by any other medium (Hebr. 13.) then by that celestial fundamental corner stone only, Jesus Christ, who is alone holy, yea the most holy, Dan. 9. the new-born, raised up and glorifyed heavenly King, who both is and eternally remains God and man in one person.

Likewise, even as the stone of the Philosophers, and Chymical King, doth (by its tincture) bestow this benefit; and doth also comprehend in it self (by its perfected process) this efficacy and virtue, as to be capable of transmuting and tinging the other imperfect simple and disesteemed mettals into pure gold; So also, yea, and much more rather doth that heavenly King, that fundamental corner stone Jesus Christ, only and alone purify us, by his blessed tincture, that is, by his blood of a Rosey colour, and cleanse us sinners and imperfect men from our innate adamical defilements and dregs, yea he doth more then perfectly cure and heal us, 1 John. 1. and as the Scripture speaking thereof doth testify, that there is no other salvation nor medium either in the Heaven or the Earth, whereby we may obtain everlasting blessedness and perfection, but only the name of Jesus, Acts 4. For, albeit that the blind and mad world hath (by the cozenage and deceit of Satan) sought after many and various mediums and wayes of obtaining everlasting happiness and perfection, and have earnestly busied themselves thereabout; yet notwithstanding Christ Jesus is the only and alone Saviour and Mediatour, in whom, and by whom, we are justifyed, and blessed before God, and are again purified from the Spiritual Leprosy of sin; even like unto the one only terrene Saviour and Chymical King by whom all the imperfect mettals do purchase and obtain their perfection; and moreover by it are cured all diseases, but especially the incureable and corporal Leprosy: So therefore all the other mediums, and those arts that are studyed and contrived by men themselves, viz. such as the Jews, Turks, Heathens, and other hereticks have published, and are as yet defended [and maintained] as necessary mediums, are (to speak properly thereof) much rather void of Spirit, are false and Sophisticate Alchimy (Col. 2. Beware least any one, &c.) by which we men are not purifyed, but are hindred, are not vivifyed [or enlivened] but weakned, yea are (at length) wholy mortifyed; like to the falsely so called Alchimy, which hath found out many and diverse tinctures and colours, by which men are not only deceived, but likewise, as (too toomuch misery it is) daily experience doth more then enough testify, they are oftentimes cast into the peril and danger of their goods and corporal life.

But now, if we men would be again purifyed from our impure filths and feces, viz. from that Adamical Original sin, wherewith the whole nature of man was at the beginning corrupted, as if it were with some destructive poyson inspired [or breathed] into our first parents by the devil, and in which we are all conceived and born, Psal. 51. Job 15. and would be again made perfect and happy, John 3. then it must be done by a new regeneration of the holy Spirit; yea by water and the spirit (even like as the Chymical King also is regenerated by water and the spirit, and doth [thereby] obtain its perfection) in which new and spiritual regeneration, (1 Pet. 3.) the which is accomplished from above, in the holy Baptisme by the water and the spirit, must we be washed and purifyed by the blood of Christ and so be made one body with him; and cloath our selves with him as 'twere with a garment, as Paul saith, in Col. 3. and Ephes. 5. for even as the Philosophers stone doth aftetwards unite it self by its Tincture with the other Mettals, and is together with them reduced into a perfect and indissoluble body; so also Christ (as being the head of us all, 1 Cor. 4. doth even unite himself with his members by his rosey coloured tincture, and reduceth and perfects it into a perfect body and building, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Ephes. 5. which is created according to God in (Joh. 3.) right and true Justice and holiness, Eph. 4. And verily, that regeneration of man which is performed by the holy Spirit in holy Baptism, is properly no other thing than a certain inward spiritual renewing of fallen man with God and Christ, 1 Cor. 12. In so much that whereas afore we were carnal in relation to the birth made by our father and mother, and were by nature enemies to God, and sons of wrath, (Rom. 2.) Eph. 2. we are now by means of the second and spiritual birth in holy Baptism, made friends and sons, yea heirs of God, and coheirs with Christ, Heb. 3. For, for this reason Christ also dyed, and rose and revived, Rom. 14. that by this his process, that is, by his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension, we might have an entrance into an holy place [or house] not made with hands, and that he might prepare for us the way to an everlasting Country. And therefore also is it necessary, that we likewise as his brethren and sisters, (Math. 12. Ephes. 5. and Psal. 22.) do follow him in sufferings, Math. 8. and grow up and increase in an acceptable humility, Luke 12. and in other virtues; and moreover, that we be altother conformable [and suitable] to [or for] his body; that so at last, even we also who have followed him here in the regeneration, and are dead and mortifyed in him, may likewise live with him and enter into his glory.

The which spiritual exhortation and Christian imitation of our celestial King his life and deeds, comes not from our worth, merit, or proper and peculiar pleasure (for the natural man is, together with all his faculties, blind, deaf, and dead in spiritual things) but meerly and only (1 Jo. 5.) by the efficacy and operation of the holy Spirit, which is effectual and powerful in us, by the blessed washing or bath of regeneration and baptism; after the same sort is it with minerals and Mettals, which being in themselves dead, (Hebr. 10.) and rusty as it were, and cannot possibly purify or amend themselves, are even by the help of the spagyrical spirit purified, renewed, dissolved and perfected.

If therefore now we are again (as we have heard) regenerated by the water and the spirit, (2 Cor. 5.) that is, by the blessed baptism, and by the red fountain or stream tincted by Christ, and incorporated with the Lord Christ, our heavenly King, (1 Cor. 3.) and are washed with his blood from our hereditary sins, and are purified, and are made partakers of the first fruits of his holy Spirit, Then is it expedient, that we be fed and that we drink at the beginning, a little and a little, (according to the saying of St. Peter, with pure and wholsome milk, like new born [babes] yea like infants in Christ, until at length we becoming like living (Apoc. 1.) and ripe stones, are built up to a spiritual house and high Priest-hood, and made fitting to offer up spiritual Sacrifices, such as are well pleasing and acceptable to God through Jesus Christ; for verily, a Christian man regenerated by the water and the spirit, doth not comprehend all at once, nor is able to apprehend all, but 'tis needful that he grow up and increase day by day, and by little and little in the knowledg of God and Christ.

For even as in the Philosophers work 'tis to be seen, how that at the conjunction of the two [matters] of the Wise men, (Cant. 3. It was but a little that I passed from them, &c.) viz. of the terrene gold, and of the watery matter prepared as it were after a celestial manner, when (at the beginning) they are put in a certain dissolving dish, or vessel, and reduced into as it were a dry liquour, and ana; All is not put to the composition together, and at one time, but one part is added after another, and that by little and little, and at certain diverse times; Even so, yea and much more rather ought this to be done in the Theological work; for assoon as the conjunction and spiritual union is made of Man with Christ in Baptism, and that we are so reduced (as we said afore) into one body with him, so soon also [or, then] must such a man learn the Christian faith by little and little, and comprehend one Article after another, until at length he be altogether confirmed in them, and attain to a perfect knowledge.

Therefore also the Christian faith (Phil. 3.) is (like as is done with the terrene watery prepared matter, of which we have made mention in its proper place) divided in twelve Particles, or short Articles, according to the number of the 12. Apostles, and further is then again distributed into 3. principal Articles, as 1. Concerning our Creation. 2. Our Redemption. 3. Our Sanctification, the which 'tis expedient that a man propose to himself to learn one after the other. But yet it must be done by little and little, and at divers [distinct] times, [and seasons] least he should be burdened more then is fit, and be (as it were) wholy overwhelmed with his learning of them, by which he mought haply be a loather thereof, and be plainly alienated from the faith. To prevent which, even the third Article concerning our Sanctification may be divided into 7. diverse members or particles; ([see] in the Communication of [the book of] the infallible Epilogue or conclusion, Amen,) and may be prest upon men to learn at seven distinct times (according to the information given in the terrene work; the which being done, and the faith being thus fully comprehended from part to part, then the chiefest and most necessary thing is, that a man doth most diligently preserve in himself that knowledge of the faith that he hath so comprehended by the grace of God, and most cautiously beware that he neither falsify it or lose it. And, even as (as we have before told you) in the said Philosophical work you are to take for that fermentation and multiplication of the only terrene King or meer and pure tincture, three singular parts or Particles of the best pure, yea the most purified Gold, purged by ♁︎, not because of any defect in the stone, or imperfection of its Tincture, but because of the impotency and weakness of the Mettals themselves; And (that you may the better understand my intention) [know] that although the tincture or stone be perfectly prepared in it self; yet nevertheless, the gross and imperfect Mettals cannot (by reason of their natural infirmity and weakness) draw to themselves and apprehend that (as I may so say) Angelical perfection and subtility of the stone or Tincture unto it self, except a commodious and requisite [medium] be also taken, by the which they will be transmuted the more easily.