thereof; for it is written very obscurely and baldly, though indeed it hath a very excellent understanding and meaning. 3. Without doubt the Holy Ghost would not have it revealed, lest the devil should know all the mysteries in the creation. For the devil doth not know the creation of the light, viz. how heaven is made out of the midst or centre of the water. 4. For he can neither see nor comprehend nor apprehend the light and holy generation or production, which standeth in the water of the heaven, but he can see the generation or production only which standeth in the astringent, bitter, sour and hot quality, from whence existed the outermost birth or geniture, which is his royal fort or castle. 5. The meaning is not that he hath no power in the elementary water, to possess it; for the outermost corrupted birth or geniture in the elementary water belongeth also to the wrath of God, and death is also therein, as well as in the earth. 6. But the spirit in Moses meaneth here quite another sort of water, which the devil can neither understand nor comprehend: But if it should have been declared so long a time ago, then the devil would have learned it from man, and had without doubt strowed his hellish chaff also into it. 7. Therefore the Holy Ghost hath kept it hidden almost till the last hour before the evening, wherein his thousand years are accomplished, and then he must be let loose again for a little season, as is to be read in the Revelation [Rev. xx. 3] [" After that summer cometh the last winter; but " the sun will shine warm yet, before that time." ]
8. But seeing he is now loose from the chains of darkness, God causeth lights to be set up everywhere in this world, whereby men might learn to know him, and his feats and wiles, and beware of him. 9. Whether he be loose or no I offer it to every one to consider; but view the world in the clear light, and thou wilt find, that at present the four new sons which the devil generated when he was thrust out of heaven, do govern the world, viz. 1. Pride, 2. Covetousness, 3. Envy, 4. Wrath; these rule the world at present, and are the devil's heart, his animated or soulish spirit. 10. Therefore view the world very well, and then thou wilt find that it fully qualifieth, uniteth and coworketh with these four new sons of the devil. Therefore men have cause to look circumspectly to themselves. For this is the time of which all the prophets have prophesied; and Christ in the Gospel, [Luke xviii. 8] saying, Thinkest thou that the Son of Man will find any faith, when he shall come again to judge the world? 11. The world supposeth that it flourisheth now, and standeth in its flower, because the clear light hath moved over it. But the spirit sheweth to me that it standeth in the midst or centre of hell. 12. For it forsaketh the love, and hangeth on covetousness, extortion and bribery; there is no mercy at all therein: Every one crieth out, If I had but money! Those that are in authority and power suck the very marrow from the bones of men of low degree and rank, and feed upon the sweat of their brows. Briefly, there is nothing else but lying, deception, robbing and murdering, and so [this world] may very justly be called the devil's nest and dwellinghouse.
13. The holy light is nowadays accounted a mere history and bare knowledge, and that the spirit will not work therein; and yet they suppose that is faith which they profess with their mouths. 14. O thou blind and foolish world! full of the devil. It is not faith, to know that Christ died for thee, and hath shed his blood for thee, that thou mightest be saved: This in thee is but a mere history and knowledge, the devil also knoweth as much, but it profiteth him nothing; so thou also, thou foolish world, goest no further, but contentest thyself with the bare knowledge, and therefore this thy knowledge will judge thee. 15. But if thou wouldst know what the true faith is, then observe: Thy heart must not qualify or cooperate with the four sons of the devil, in pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, extortion, oppression, lying, deceiving, murder, and tearing the bread out of thy neighbours throat, studying day and night to do mischief, in bringing subtle devices and designs to effect, that thou mayest court and give satisfaction to the fourfold devil of pride, covetousness, envy and wrath, and exercise thyself in worldly pleasures and voluptuousness. 16. For thus saith the spirit in its zeal, or in the jealousy of God's wrath in this world: While thy spirit and will qualifieth or cooperateth with and in the four vices or sins of the devil, thou art not one spirit with God; and though thou didst every hour offer [the worship or prayer of] thy lips, and bow the knee before me, yet I will accept none of thy labour: Is not my breath, however, continually before me? What shall thy incense be to me in my fierce wrath? Dost thou think I will receive the devil into myself, or exalt hell into heaven?
thereof; for it is written very obscurely and baldly, though indeed it has a very excellent understanding and meaning. 3. Without doubt the Holy Ghost would not have it revealed, lest the devil should know all the mysteries in the creation. For the devil does not know the creation of the light, viz. how heaven is made out of the midst or centre of the water. 4. For he can neither see nor comprehend nor apprehend the light and holy generation or production, which stands in the water of the heaven, but he can see the generation or production only which stands in the astringent, bitter, sour and hot quality, from whence existed the outermost birth or geniture, which is his royal fort or castle. 5. The meaning is not that he has no power in the elementary water, to possess it; for the outermost corrupted birth or geniture in the elementary water belongs also to the wrath of God, and death is also therein, as well as in the earth. 6. But the spirit in Moses means here quite another sort of water, which the devil can neither understand nor comprehend: But if it should have been declared so long a time ago, then the devil would have learned it from man, and had without doubt strowed his hellish chaff also into it. 7. Therefore the Holy Ghost has kept it hidden almost till the last hour before the evening, wherein his thousand years are accomplished, and then he must be let loose again for a little season, as is to be read in the Revelation [Rev. xx. 3] [" After that summer comes the last winter; but " the sun will shine warm yet, before that time." ]
8. But seeing he is now loose from the chains of darkness, God causes lights to be set up everywhere in this world, whereby men might learn to know him, and his feats and wiles, and beware of him. 9. Whether he be loose or no I offer it to every one to consider; but view the world in the clear light, and you will find, that at present the four new sons which the devil generated when he was thrust out of heaven, do govern the world, viz. 1. Pride, 2. Covetousness, 3. Envy, 4. Wrath; these rule the world at present, and are the devil's heart, his animated or soulish spirit. 10. Therefore view the world very well, and then you will find that it fully qualifies, unites and coworks with these four new sons of the devil. Therefore men have cause to look circumspectly to themselves. For this is the time of which all the prophets have prophesied; and Christ in the Gospel, [Luke xviii. 8] saying, Thinkest you that the Son of Man will find any faith, when he shall come again to judge the world? 11. The world supposes that it flourishes now, and stands in its flower, because the clear light has moved over it. But the spirit shows to me that it stands in the midst or centre of hell. 12. For it forsaks the love, and hangs on covetousness, extortion and bribery; there is no mercy at all therein: Every one cries out, If I had but money! Those that are in authority and power suck the very marrow from the bones of men of low degree and rank, and feed upon the sweat of their brows. Briefly, there is nothing else but lying, deception, robbing and murdering, and so [this world] may very justly be called the devil's nest and dwellinghouse.
13. The holy light is nowadays accounted a mere history and bare knowledge, and that the spirit will not work therein; and yet they suppose that is faith which they profess with their mouths. 14. O you blind and foolish world! full of the devil. It is not faith, to know that Christ died for you, and has shed his blood for you, that you might be saved: This in you is but a mere history and knowledge, the devil also knows as much, but it profits him nothing; so you also, you foolish world, go no further, but contentest yourself with the bare knowledge, and therefore this your knowledge will judge you. 15. But if you would know what the true faith is, then observe: Your heart must not qualify or cooperate with the four sons of the devil, in pride, covetousness, envy, wrath, extortion, oppression, lying, deceiving, murder, and tearing the bread out of your neighbours throat, studying day and night to do mischief, in bringing subtle devices and designs to effect, that you may court and give satisfaction to the fourfold devil of pride, covetousness, envy and wrath, and exercise yourself in worldly pleasures and voluptuousness. 16. For thus says the spirit in its zeal, or in the jealousy of God's wrath in this world: While your spirit and will qualifies or cooperats with and in the four vices or sins of the devil, you are not one spirit with God; and though you did every hour offer [the worship or prayer of] your lips, and bow the knee before me, yet I will accept none of your labour: Is not my breath, however, continually before me? What shall your incense be to me in my fierce wrath? Dost you think I will receive the devil into myself, or exalt hell into heaven?
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