A Discovrse of Fire and Salt: Discovering Many Secret Mysteries as well Philosophicall, as TheologicallVigenère, Blaise de
Religion
A Discovrse of Fire and Salt: Discovering Many Secret Mysteries as well Philosophicall, as Theologicall
Vigenère, Blaise de
Alchemy -- Early works to 1800; Fire -- Early works to 1800; Salt -- Early works to 1800
And in his third Book against _Parmenian_ to glorifie himselfe, not in
his sinnes, but in those of others, as the _Pharisee_ said, _Luk._ 18.
11. _I give thee thanks O Lord God, that I am not as other men are,
Extortioners, Unjust, Adulterers, &c. I fast twice in the weeke &c._
comparing his owne innocence to the defaults of others, this is but a
little leaven, but to boast himself in iniquities, and trespasses, is
a great one; Furthermore, Leaven is taken in good part, as well as in
bad part, in holy Writ; which relates to the two fires. The first hath
been touched heretofore for pride, and naughtinesse, that corrupts
the soule. Touching the good, in the 7. of _Levit._ 12, 13. there are
loaves of leavened bread, which they offer for peace offerings, with
oblation of thanksgiving, and in the 23. 17. of every family two loaves
of the first eares of wheat at Pentecost; and in St. _Matthew_, and the
23 of St. _Luke_ Jesus Christ compared the Kingdome of God to leaven
that a woman had put into three measures of dough, till it was all
leavened; for there it is taken for the fervent zeale of ardent faith;
and it is the fire wherewith we must be salted: for as the fire boyles
our meats, and the salt seasons them, also leaven is the cause that the
past bakes the better, and prepares thereby to make more wholesome,
and of lighter digestion, more savoury, and of better tast: In which
case leaven relates to the Evangelicall Law, as Saint _Augustine_
saith, and old leaven to the Mosaicall, which the Jewes tooke by the
barke, and by the hairs. By reason whereof the Apostle admonisheth
us, to cast it farre from us: that is to say, all superstition, and
malice; _Cast off the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as ye
are unleavened, for even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for you_.
Therefore let us keep the Feast not with old leaven, neither with the
_leaven of malice and wickednesse_, but with the _unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth_, which leaven is without doubt this strange
fire, that devoures and consumes us within; that is to say, our soul,
to swallow us up, and make us goe downe living into Hell. And the
Fire of the Altar, the celestiall fire of charity, faith, hope, it
is that which we must desire of God to kindle in our hearts, and to
season our thoughts and our desires, that no corruption be begotten
there; as it doth here below in things corruptible and corporall; the
prompt Minister, and executor of that, which the divine goodnesse will
please to give of comforts and commodities in this temporall life. What
obligations then do wee owe thee, thou excellent portion of Nature,
without which we should live in so great misery? thou doest lighten in
darknesse, thou dost make us rejoyce in obscurity, bringing us another
day. Thou doest chase away from about us, hurtfull powers, feares,
and nocturnall illusions; thou doest warm us being cold, thou doest
redry us being wet; thou bakest our viands; thou art the soveraigne
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