shall shortly be sensible: But to those who read this book in singleness of heart, with a desire after the Holy Spirit, who place their hope in God only, it will not be a hidden secret, but a manifest knowledge. 7. I will not explain this title, but commit it to the judgment of the impartial Reader, who wrestleth in the good quality of this world. 8. Now if Mr Critic, who qualifieth or worketh with his wit in the fierce quality, gets this book into his hand, he will oppose it, as there is always a stirring and opposition between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of hell. I. First, he will say that I ascend too high into the Deity, which is not a meet thing for me to do. II. Then, secondly, he will say that I boast of the Holy Spirit, and that I had more need to live accordingly, and make demonstration of it by wondrous works or miracles. III. Thirdly, he will say that I am not learned enough. IV. Fourthly, he will say that I do it in a vainglorious way. V. Fifthly, he will be much offended at the simplicity of the author; for in the world it is usual [or customary] to be mindful only of high things, and to be irritated by simplicity. 9. To these partial, worldly critics I set in opposition the patriarchs of the first world, who were mean despised men, against whom the world and the devil raged, as in the time of Henoch. When the holy fathers first preached [or when they began to preach] powerfully of the name of the Lord, they did not ascend with their bodies into heaven, and behold all with their eyes: yet the Holy Ghost revealed himself in their spirits.
10. Afterwards, it is seen in the next world among the holy patriarchs and prophets, who were all mean simple men, and some of them were herdsmen. 11. And when the MESSIAH, CHRIST, the Champion in the battle in nature, assumed the humanity, though he was the King and Prince of men, yet in this world he kept himself in a low estate and condition, and was a stranger to the world. And his Apostles were poor despised fishermen. 12. Nay, Christ himself returneth thanks to [Matt. xi. 25.] his heavenly Father, that he hath concealed these things from the worldly wise men, and revealed them unto babes. 13. Besides, it is seen how they also were poor sinners, having the impulses both of good and of bad in nature. And yet they reproved and preached against the sins of the world, yea, against their own sins, which they did by the impulse of the Holy Spirit, and not in vainglory. 14. Neither had they any ability from their own strength and power to teach of God's Mysteries in that kind, but all was by the impulse of God. 15. So neither can I say anything of myself, nor boast or write of anything, save this: that I am a simple man, and, besides, a poor sinner, and have need to pray daily, Lord, forgive us our sins; and to say with the Apostle, O Lord, thou hast redeemed us with thy blood. 16. Neither did I ascend into heaven, and behold all the works and creatures of God; but the same heaven is revealed in my spirit, so that in the spirit I know the works and creatures of God. 17. Besides, the will to that is not my natural will, but it is the impulse of the spirit; and for it I have endured many an assault of the devil. 18. The spirit of man is descended not only from the stars and elements, but there is hidden therein a spark of the light and power of God. 19. It is not an empty word which is set down [Gen. i. 27] in Genesis, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. For it hath this sense and meaning, viz. that he is created out of the whole being of the Deity. 20. The body is from the elements: therefore it must have elemental food. 21. The soul hath its original, not only from the body, though it taketh its rise in the body, and hath its first beginning in the body; yet in it it hath also its source from without, by and from the air; and so the Holy Ghost ruleth in it, in that manner as he replenisheth and filleth all things, and as all things are in God; and so God himself is all. 22. Seeing then in the soul the Holy Spirit is creaturely, viz. the propriety or portion of the soul, therefore it searcheth even into the Deity, and also into nature; for it hath its source and descent from the being of the whole Deity. 23. When it is kindled or enlightened by the Holy Ghost, then it beholdeth what God its Father doth, as a son beholdeth what his father doth at home in his house. 24. It is a member or child in the house of the heavenly Father.
shall shortly be sensible: But to those who read this book in singleness of heart, with a desire after the Holy Spirit, who place their hope in God only, it will not be a hidden secret, but a manifest knowledge. 7. I will not explain this title, but commit it to the judgment of the impartial Reader, who wrestls in the good quality of this world. 8. Now if Mr Critic, who qualifies or works with his wit in the fierce quality, gets this book into his hand, he will oppose it, as there is always a stirring and opposition between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of hell. I. First, he will say that I ascend too high into the Deity, which is not a meet thing for me to do. II. Then, secondly, he will say that I boast of the Holy Spirit, and that I had more need to live accordingly, and make demonstration of it by wondrous works or miracles. III. Thirdly, he will say that I am not learned enough. IV. Fourthly, he will say that I do it in a vainglorious way. V. Fifthly, he will be much offended at the simplicity of the author; for in the world it is usual [or customary] to be mindful only of high things, and to be irritated by simplicity. 9. To these partial, worldly critics I set in opposition the patriarchs of the first world, who were mean despised men, against whom the world and the devil raged, as in the time of Henoch. When the holy fathers first preached [or when they began to preach] powerfully of the name of the Lord, they did not ascend with their bodies into heaven, and behold all with their eyes: yet the Holy Ghost revealed himself in their spirits.
10. Afterwards, it is seen in the next world among the holy patriarchs and prophets, who were all mean simple men, and some of them were herdsmen. 11. And when the MESSIAH, CHRIST, the Champion in the battle in nature, assumed the humanity, though he was the King and Prince of men, yet in this world he kept himself in a low estate and condition, and was a stranger to the world. And his Apostles were poor despised fishermen. 12. Nay, Christ himself returns thanks to [Matt. xi. 25.] his heavenly Father, that he has concealed these things from the worldly wise men, and revealed them unto babes. 13. Besides, it is seen how they also were poor sinners, having the impulses both of good and of bad in nature. And yet they reproved and preached against the sins of the world, yea, against their own sins, which they did by the impulse of the Holy Spirit, and not in vainglory. 14. Neither had they any ability from their own strength and power to teach of God's Mysteries in that kind, but all was by the impulse of God. 15. So neither can I say anything of myself, nor boast or write of anything, save this: that I am a simple man, and, besides, a poor sinner, and have need to pray daily, Lord, forgive us our sins; and to say with the Apostle, O Lord, you have redeemed us with your blood. 16. Neither did I ascend into heaven, and behold all the works and creatures of God; but the same heaven is revealed in my spirit, so that in the spirit I know the works and creatures of God. 17. Besides, the will to that is not my natural will, but it is the impulse of the spirit; and for it I have endured many an assault of the devil. 18. The spirit of man is descended not only from the stars and elements, but there is hidden therein a spark of the light and power of God. 19. It is not an empty word which is set down [Gen. i. 27] in Genesis, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. For it has this sense and meaning, viz. that he is created out of the whole being of the Deity. 20. The body is from the elements: therefore it must have elemental food. 21. The soul has its original, not only from the body, though it takes its rise in the body, and has its first beginning in the body; yet in it it has also its source from without, by and from the air; and so the Holy Ghost ruls in it, in that manner as he replenishes and fills all things, and as all things are in God; and so God himself is all. 22. Seeing then in the soul the Holy Spirit is creaturely, viz. the propriety or portion of the soul, therefore it searches even into the Deity, and also into nature; for it has its source and descent from the being of the whole Deity. 23. When it is kindled or enlightened by the Holy Ghost, then it beholds what God its Father does, as a son beholds what his father does at home in his house. 24. It is a member or child in the house of the heavenly Father.
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