Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
115. Beloved mind, we write no conceits and tales, it is in earnest, and it is as much as our bodies and souls are worth ; we must give a strict account of it, as being the talent that is committed 8 Or offended, to us. If any will be 2 scandalized at it, let them take heed what they do ; truly it is high time to awake from sleep, for the bridegroom cometh.
3 The confes- 116. 8 1. We Christians believe and acknowledge, that the eternal Word of God the Father became a true self -subsisting man (with body and soul) in the body [or womb] of the Virgin Mary, without man's
4 Or having * interposing : For we believe, that he was conceived do^n i?.g by the Holy Ghost, and born of the body of the
5 Or defiling. Virgin, without 5 blemishing of her virgin [purity or] chastity.
II. Also we believe, that (in his human body) he died and was buried.
III. Also [we believe], that he descended intoCh. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 421 hell, and hath broken the bands of the devil (wherewith he held man captive) in pieces, and redeemed the soul of man.
IV. Also we believe, that he willingly died for our iniquities, and reconciled his Father, and hath brought us into l favour with him. * 0* grace.
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V. Also we believe, that he rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven, and there sitteth at the right-hand of God.
VI. Also we believe, that he shall come again at the last day, to judge the living and the dead, and take his bride to him, and condemn the ungodly.
VII. Also we believe, that he hath a Christian Church here upon earth, which is begotten in his blood and death, [and so made] one body with many members, which he cherisheth, and governeth with his spirit and Word, and uniteth it continually (by the holy Baptism, of his own appointing, and by the Sacrament of his Body and Blood) to [be] one only body in himself.
VIII. Also we believe, that he protecteth and defendeth the same, and keepeth it in one mind.
And now we will, here following, set down all out of the deep ground (according to every thing's own substance) what our knowledge is, as far as is now necessary.
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER
Of the promised Seed of the Woman, and Treader upon the Serpent. And of Adam's and Eve's going forth out of Paradise, or the Garden in Eden. Also of the Curse of God, how he cursed the Earth for the Sin of Man.
1 That is, we 1. "\~\7"-^ will not concoct the ^eat in the must not \l \/ ..
speak of the mouth, and play with the Mysteries, with the8 to write one thing, and confess another with the mouth, to please the ear, as is used nowadays, ou™heartz.ea where they cover themselves continually with a strange cloak, whereas all is nothing else but mere hypocrisy, appearance, and [juggling] or fighting with a shadow. The spirit of God is not in such a one, but he is a thief and a murderer, and he useth his pen for nothing else but his own pride. If he 2 Or if he had 2 power, then he would himself cast all away, were from the • .•••••* «a r • J 11 true spirit, tnough he should [under a strange coverj acknowledge it but with half a mouth : He is to speak freely out of the abyss of his heart, and to write without a cover ; for Christ hath done away his covering [or veil], and his loving countenance appeareth to the whole world, for a witness to all people.
p. 422
Ch. 18] PROMISED SEED OF THE WOMAN 423
115. Beloved mind, we write no conceits and tales, it is in earnest, and it is as much as our bodies and souls are worth ; we must give a strict account of it, as being the talent that is committed 8 Or offended, to us. If any will be 2 scandalized at it, let them take heed what they do ; truly it is high time to awake from sleep, for the bridegroom comes.
3 The confes- 116. 8 1. We Christians believe and acknowledge, that the eternal Word of God the Father became a true self -subsisting man (with body and soul) in the body [or womb] of the Virgin Mary, without man's
4 Or having * interposing : For we believe, that he was conceived do^n i?.g by the Holy Ghost, and born of the body of the
5 Or defiling. Virgin, without 5 blemishing of her virgin [purity or] chastity.
II. Also we believe, that (in his human body) he died and was buried.
III. Also [we believe], that he descended into
Ch. 17] OF THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE 421 hell, and has broken the bands of the devil (wherewith he held man captive) in pieces, and redeemed the soul of man.
IV. Also we believe, that he willingly died for our iniquities, and reconciled his Father, and has brought us into l favour with him. * 0* grace.
o
V. Also we believe, that he rose again from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven, and there sitts at the right-hand of God.
VI. Also we believe, that he shall come again at the last day, to judge the living and the dead, and take his bride to him, and condemn the ungodly.
VII. Also we believe, that he has a Christian Church here upon earth, which is begotten in his blood and death, [and so made] one body with many members, which he cherishes, and governs with his spirit and Word, and unites it continually (by the holy Baptism, of his own appointing, and by the Sacrament of his Body and Blood) to [be] one only body in himself.
VIII. Also we believe, that he protects and defends the same, and keeps it in one mind.
And now we will, here following, set down all out of the deep ground (according to every thing's own substance) what our knowledge is, as far as is now necessary.
THE EIGHTEENTH CHAPTER
Of the promised Seed of the Woman, and Treader upon the Serpent. And of Adam's and Eve's going forth out of Paradise, or the Garden in Eden. Also of the Curse of God, how he cursed the Earth for the Sin of Man.
1 That is, we 1. "\~\7"-^ will not concoct the ^eat in the must not \l \/ ..
speak of the mouth, and play with the Mysteries, with the8 to write one thing, and confess another with the mouth, to please the ear, as is used nowadays, ou™heartz.ea where they cover themselves continually with a strange cloak, whereas all is nothing else but mere hypocrisy, appearance, and [juggling] or fighting with a shadow. The spirit of God is not in such a one, but he is a thief and a murderer, and he uses his pen for nothing else but his own pride. If he 2 Or if he had 2 power, then he would himself cast all away, were from the • .•••••* «a r • J 11 true spirit, tnough he should [under a strange coverj acknowledge it but with half a mouth : He is to speak freely out of the abyss of his heart, and to write without a cover ; for Christ has done away his covering [or veil], and his loving countenance appears to the whole world, for a witness to all people.
p. 422
Ch. 18] PROMISED SEED OF THE WOMAN 423