Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
so that the saints [departed], in the element, became longing after the strong faith ; especially those [saints departed] that on earth had turned many to righteousness ; for as all men's works of faith follow after them, so also their will to turn more men, still followeth after them ; and therefore one faith (in the tincture of the holy element) caught the other, and so [miracles or] works of wonder were done at the memorials of the saints ; this God permitted for the heathen's sakes, that they might see, that the saints that were slain [or departed]
1 So that God were in God, and that there was another l life after is the God of-.,, iin -i i n i the living, this, that they should turn and be converted ; and dead. therefore God suffered these works of wonder to be done.
79. But in the ground of the originality it is not so, that one that is departed hath power to help one that is living into the kingdom of heaven ; or that they should undertake to bring and report the miseries of the living before God, and pray for them ; for that were a great disrespect to the Heart of God, which without intercession, or their prayer, poureth forth his mercy over all men with stretched-out arms ; and his voice is never any
2 Matt. xi. other than only thus : 2 Come ye all to me, ye hungry and thirsty, and I will refresh you. He said, Come to me, I will do it willingly. Also, It is delight to me to do well to the children of men.
80. Who is it that will presume to undertake to stand before the source [or spring] of the mercifulCh. 18]p. 461
ness, and make intercession [or pray] for one that invocateth them ? As if the love in the Heart of God were dead, and did not desire to help those that call to him ; whereas his arms continually without end stand stretched out, to help all those that turn to him with their whole heart.
81. Thou wicked Antichrist, thou sayest, that faith alone doth not justify the soul, but thy invented works, (for thy avarice or covetousness), these must do the deed. Wherein wilt thou be regenerated ? In thy mausim [or belly-god] ? or through the birth of Jesus Christ ? Which is nearest of all to the Deity ? Thy works pass away, and follow thee in the shadow ; yet the soul hath no need of any shadow, but it must be earnest ; it must enter in through the gates of the deep, and must pass through the centre of the [grim] fierceness of death, through the wrath of the eternal band, to the meek incarnation of Jesus Christ, and become a member of the body of Christ, and receive of his fulness, and live therein ; his death must be thy death ; his essences must flow in thee ; and thou must live in his source, [property or virtue]. Thus thou must be regenerated anew in him, if thou wilt stand before his Father ; else nothing will help ; if there had been anything in the whole depth of the Deity, that could have helped, God would have bestowed it upon Adam, and would not have let his Heart (against the course of nature) to become man. But there was no counsel [orp. 462 remedy], neither in heaven, nor in this world, except God did become man. Therefore be thou in earnest, and do not seek by-ways to Babel.
so that the saints [departed], in the element, became longing after the strong faith ; especially those [saints departed] that on earth had turned many to righteousness ; for as all men's works of faith follow after them, so also their will to turn more men, still follows after them ; and therefore one faith (in the tincture of the holy element) caught the other, and so [miracles or] works of wonder were done at the memorials of the saints ; this God permitted for the heathen's sakes, that they might see, that the saints that were slain [or departed]
1 So that God were in God, and that there was another l life after is the God of-.,, iin -i i n i the living, this, that they should turn and be converted ; and dead. therefore God suffered these works of wonder to be done.
79. But in the ground of the originality it is not so, that one that is departed has power to help one that is living into the kingdom of heaven ; or that they should undertake to bring and report the miseries of the living before God, and pray for them ; for that were a great disrespect to the Heart of God, which without intercession, or their prayer, pours forth his mercy over all men with stretched-out arms ; and his voice is never any
2 Matt. xi. other than only thus : 2 Come you all to me, you hungry and thirsty, and I will refresh you. He said, Come to me, I will do it willingly. Also, It is delight to me to do well to the children of men.
80. Who is it that will presume to undertake to stand before the source [or spring] of the mercifulCh. 18] PROMISED SEED OF THE WOMAN 461 ness, and make intercession [or pray] for one that invocats them ? As if the love in the Heart of God were dead, and did not desire to help those that call to him ; whereas his arms continually without end stand stretched out, to help all those that turn to him with their whole heart.
81. You wicked Antichrist, you say, that faith alone does not justify the soul, but your invented works, (for your avarice or covetousness), these must do the deed. Wherein will you be regenerated ? In your mausim [or belly-god] ? or through the birth of Jesus Christ ? Which is nearest of all to the Deity ? Your works pass away, and follow you in the shadow ; yet the soul has no need of any shadow, but it must be earnest ; it must enter in through the gates of the deep, and must pass through the centre of the [grim] fierceness of death, through the wrath of the eternal band, to the meek incarnation of Jesus Christ, and become a member of the body of Christ, and receive of his fulness, and live therein ; his death must be your death ; his essences must flow in you ; and you must live in his source, [property or virtue]. Thus you must be regenerated anew in him, if you will stand before his Father ; else nothing will help ; if there had been anything in the whole depth of the Deity, that could have helped, God would have bestowed it upon Adam, and would not have let his Heart (against the course of nature) to become man. But there was no counsel [or
462 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 18 remedy], neither in heaven, nor in this world, except God did become man. Therefore be you in earnest, and do not seek by-ways to Babel.