the devil's lies, and to make of the merciful, loving and friendly God, a murderer and furious destroyer, and so pervert and turn the truth of God into lies. 11. For God saith in the Prophet [Ezek. xxxiii. 11], As true as I live, I have no delight or pleasure in the death of a sinner, but that he turn and live; and in the Psalms it is thus [Psalm v. 4.], Thou art not a God that hast pleasure in wickedness, 12. Besides, God hath given laws to man, and hath forbidden the evil, and commanded the good. Now if God would have the evil, and also the good, then he would be at odds with himself, and it would follow that there would be destruction or destructiveness in the Deity, one quality running counter against the other, and the one spoiling and corrupting the other. 13. Now how all this is come to pass, or how wickedness hath taken its first source, original and beginning, I will declare in the highest simplicity in the greatest depth. 14. To which end the spirit inviteth and citeth, summoneth or warneth all men that are seduced into errors by the devil, that they come and present themselves before the lookingglass of this school, wherein they shall see and inspect the murderous devil, even into his very heart. 15. Then he that will not take heed and beware of his lies, whilst he may very well do it, there is no remedy for him neither here nor hereafter: he that soweth and will sow with the devil, must reap with the devil also. 16. In the centre of the flash it is shewn that the harvest is white already, wherein every one will reap what he hath sown.
17. Here, my entrusted talent, which I have received, I will let out for interest, profit and increase, as I am commanded to do, and he that will deal with me * in this way of gain or usury, it shall be free for him, he may freely do it, whether he be a Christian, a Jew, a Turk or a Heathen; it is all the same to me; my warehouse shall stand open for every one, none shall be tricked or deceived, but shall be dealt with in all fairness. * "deal with me," etc., lit., "deal with me and make the best of it [i.e. of the talent]." 18. Every one should here have a care to deal so well that he bring in some gain of usemoney for his Master: for I am afraid that not every merchant will be fitted to deal with my wares; for to some they will be very strange and uncouth; neither will every one understand my language. 19. I would therefore have every one warned that he deal circumspectly and warily, and not be conceited that he is rich, and cannot grow poor; truly I have very admirable and wonderful wares to sell, every one will not have understanding and skill to know what to do with them. 20. Now if any one should in drunkenness or fulness * fall upon them, and plunge himself into perdition, let him bear his own blame; he hath need of a light in his heart, that his understanding and mind may be well governed. * " in drunkenness or fulness " (in seiner vollen Weise), " as if in drunkenness [i.e. in the fulness of selfsatisfaction]." 21. Else let him forbear to come into my warehouse, or he will but deceive his own expectation; for the ware which I have to sell is very precious and dear, and requireth a very sharp and acute understanding: Therefore have a care, and do not climb aloft where you see no ladder is, else you will fall. 22. But to me is shewn the ladder of Jacob, upon which I am climbed up, even into heaven, and have received my ware, to offer for sale: Therefore if any one will climb up after me, let him take heed that he be not drunken, but he must be girt with the sword of the spirit. 23. For he must climb through a horrible deep, a giddiness will frequently come into his head; and besides, he must climb through the midst or centre of the kingdom of hell, and there he will feel by experience what a deal of scoffings and upbraidings he must endure. 24. In this combat I had many hard trials to my heart's grief: My sun was often eclipsed or extinguished, but did rise again; and the oftener it was eclipsed or put out, the brighter and clearer was its rising again. 25. I do not write this for my own praise, but that if it go so with you, you should not despair about it; for there belongeth and is requisite a mighty enduring hard labour and stoutness, for him that fighteth with the devil, between heaven and hell; for the devil is a potent prince. 26. Therefore have a care that thou put on the 1 corslet or coat of mail or habergeon [breastplate] of the spirit, else do venture to come near my warehouse, or thou wilt deal wrongfully [evilly] with my wares. 27. Thou must renounce the devil and the world, if thou wilt enter into this fight, else thou wilt not overcome: But if thou overcomest not,
the devil's lies, and to make of the merciful, loving and friendly God, a murderer and furious destroyer, and so pervert and turn the truth of God into lies. 11. For God says in the Prophet [Ezek. xxxiii. 11], As true as I live, I have no delight or pleasure in the death of a sinner, but that he turn and live; and in the Psalms it is thus [Psalm v. 4.], You are not a God that have pleasure in wickedness, 12. Besides, God has given laws to man, and has forbidden the evil, and commanded the good. Now if God would have the evil, and also the good, then he would be at odds with himself, and it would follow that there would be destruction or destructiveness in the Deity, one quality running counter against the other, and the one spoiling and corrupting the other. 13. Now how all this is come to pass, or how wickedness has taken its first source, original and beginning, I will declare in the highest simplicity in the greatest depth. 14. To which end the spirit invits and cits, summons or warns all men that are seduced into errors by the devil, that they come and present themselves before the lookingglass of this school, wherein they shall see and inspect the murderous devil, even into his very heart. 15. Then he that will not take heed and beware of his lies, whilst he may very well do it, there is no remedy for him neither here nor hereafter: he that sows and will sow with the devil, must reap with the devil also. 16. In the centre of the flash it is shown that the harvest is white already, wherein every one will reap what he has sown.
17. Here, my entrusted talent, which I have received, I will let out for interest, profit and increase, as I am commanded to do, and he that will deal with me * in this way of gain or usury, it shall be free for him, he may freely do it, whether he be a Christian, a Jew, a Turk or a Heathen; it is all the same to me; my warehouse shall stand open for every one, none shall be tricked or deceived, but shall be dealt with in all fairness. * "deal with me," etc., lit., "deal with me and make the best of it [i.e. of the talent]." 18. Every one should here have a care to deal so well that he bring in some gain of usemoney for his Master: for I am afraid that not every merchant will be fitted to deal with my wares; for to some they will be very strange and uncouth; neither will every one understand my language. 19. I would therefore have every one warned that he deal circumspectly and warily, and not be conceited that he is rich, and cannot grow poor; truly I have very admirable and wonderful wares to sell, every one will not have understanding and skill to know what to do with them. 20. Now if any one should in drunkenness or fulness * fall upon them, and plunge himself into perdition, let him bear his own blame; he has need of a light in his heart, that his understanding and mind may be well governed. * " in drunkenness or fulness " (in seiner vollen Weise), " as if in drunkenness [i.e. in the fulness of selfsatisfaction]." 21. Else let him forbear to come into my warehouse, or he will but deceive his own expectation; for the ware which I have to sell is very precious and dear, and requires a very sharp and acute understanding: Therefore have a care, and do not climb aloft where you see no ladder is, else you will fall. 22. But to me is shown the ladder of Jacob, upon which I am climbed up, even into heaven, and have received my ware, to offer for sale: Therefore if any one will climb up after me, let him take heed that he be not drunken, but he must be girt with the sword of the spirit. 23. For he must climb through a horrible deep, a giddiness will frequently come into his head; and besides, he must climb through the midst or centre of the kingdom of hell, and there he will feel by experience what a deal of scoffings and upbraidings he must endure. 24. In this combat I had many hard trials to my heart's grief: My sun was often eclipsed or extinguished, but did rise again; and the oftener it was eclipsed or put out, the brighter and clearer was its rising again. 25. I do not write this for my own praise, but that if it go so with you, you should not despair about it; for there belongs and is requisite a mighty enduring hard labour and stoutness, for him that fights with the devil, between heaven and hell; for the devil is a potent prince. 26. Therefore have a care that you put on the 1 corslet or coat of mail or habergeon [breastplate] of the spirit, else do venture to come near my warehouse, or you will deal wrongfully [evilly] with my wares. 27. You must renounce the devil and the world, if you will enter into this fight, else you will not overcome: But if you overcomest not,
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