Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
first cause thereof. And though thou settest forth forth another, thyself never so wisely and handsomely, yet the driver is still before thee, and thou art the root of all those sins [which thou causest in others by thy hardness or oppression].
48. And though thou prayest, yet thou keepest thy dark garment on still, which is defiled with mere 2 calumny, with usury, covetousness, high- 2 slander, mindedness, lechery, whoredom, wrath, envy, and robbery, [thy mind] is murderous, envious, and malicious ; thou criest to God that he should hear thee, and thou wilt not pull off this furred coat.
Dost thou think that such a devil shall enter into
God, or that God will let such a rough devil into him ? Thy mind standeth in the figure of a serpent, wolf, lion, dragon, or toad ; and when thou
3 carriest thyself so sprucely, thou art scarce 3 dost prank
[thought] a subtle fox ; but as the will and the demurely and source [or quality] of thy heart is, so standeth thy figure also [before God], and such a form thy soul hath. And dost thou suppose that thou shalt bring such a pretty beast into the kingdom of God ?
49. Where is thy image of God ? Hast thou not turned it into a horrible worm and beast ? 0 ! thou belongest not to the kingdom of God, except
p. 494
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 19
1 Or intercession.
thou be born anew, and that thy soul appear in the image of God, then the mercy of God is upon thee, and the passion of Christ covereth all thy sins.
50. But if thou perse verest in thy bestial form till the end, and dost then stand, and givest God good words, that he should receive thy beast into heaven, whereas there is no faith in thee at all, and thy faith is nothing else but an historical knowledge of God, which [history] the devils also know very well ; then thou art not fastened to the band of Jesus Christ, and thy soul continueth to be a worm and a beast, and it beareth not the image of God ; and when it departeth from the body, it continueth in the eternal fire, and never more reacheth the gate of the breaking-through.
The Earnest Gate of the Purgatory.
51. Then the mind asketh, May not a soul by the intercession of men [or their praying for them], be ransomed out of purgatory ? Antichrist hath played many juggling tricks with this, and hath built his kingdom upon it ; but I shall here shew you the root, which is highly known [by us] in the light of nature.
52. Men's l praying for, prevaileth thus far; if a soul hangeth to the thread of the new regeneration, and that it is not a total worm and beast, and that it presseth into God with an earnest desire, and if there be true Christians [there], which stand unfeignedly in the new birth, and that their spirit
Ch. 19] ENTERING OF THE SOULS TO GOD 495
of the soul (in their burning love towards the poor soul) doth press into God with the thread of the band of the poor soul, then indeed it helpeth the poor soul to wrestle, and to break in pieces the chains of the devil, especially if it be done before the poor soul be departed from the body ; and especially by parents, children, sisters, and brothers, or kindred of the blood. For their tinctures qualify [or mingle] therewith, as being generated from one and the same blood ; and the spirit of their soul entereth much more freely and willingly into this great combat, and getteth victory much sooner and more powerfully than strangers, if they stand in the new birth ; but without the new birth no victory is gained. There is no devil that doth destroy another [devil].
53. But if the soul of the dying party be quite loosed off from the band of Jesus Christ, and that itself (by its own pressing in) doth not reach the thread [of faith], then the prayers of those that stand by about it help not, but it is with them, as Christ said to his seventy disciples, which he sent abroad, When you enter into a house, salute them [that are in if]. And if there be a child of peace in that house, then your salutation of peace shall rest upon it, but if not, then your salutation shall return to you again. Thus also their hearty wish of love, and their earnest pressing in to God, returneth again to the faithful, who were so heartily inclined to the soul of their friend.
first cause thereof. And though you settest forth forth another, yourself never so wisely and handsomely, yet the driver is still before you, and you are the root of all those sins [which you causest in others by your hardness or oppression].
48. And though you prayest, yet you keepest your dark garment on still, which is defiled with mere 2 calumny, with usury, covetousness, high- 2 slander, mindedness, lechery, whoredom, wrath, envy, and robbery, [your mind] is murderous, envious, and malicious ; you criest to God that he should hear you, and you will not pull off this furred coat.
Dost you think that such a devil shall enter into
God, or that God will let such a rough devil into him ? Your mind stands in the figure of a serpent, wolf, lion, dragon, or toad ; and when you
3 carriest yourself so sprucely, you are scarce 3 do prank
[thought] a subtle fox ; but as the will and the demurely and source [or quality] of your heart is, so stands your figure also [before God], and such a form your soul has. And do you suppose that you shall bring such a pretty beast into the kingdom of God ?
49. Where is your image of God ? Hast you not turned it into a horrible worm and beast ? 0 ! you belongest not to the kingdom of God, except
p. 494
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 19
1 Or intercession.
you be born anew, and that your soul appear in the image of God, then the mercy of God is upon you, and the passion of Christ covers all your sins.
50. But if you perse verest in your bestial form till the end, and do then stand, and givest God good words, that he should receive your beast into heaven, whereas there is no faith in you at all, and your faith is nothing else but an historical knowledge of God, which [history] the devils also know very well ; then you are not fastened to the band of Jesus Christ, and your soul continues to be a worm and a beast, and it bears not the image of God ; and when it departs from the body, it continues in the eternal fire, and never more reaches the gate of the breaking-through.
The Earnest Gate of the Purgatory.
51. Then the mind asks, May not a soul by the intercession of men [or their praying for them], be ransomed out of purgatory ? Antichrist has played many juggling tricks with this, and has built his kingdom upon it ; but I shall here show you the root, which is highly known [by us] in the light of nature.
52. Men's l praying for, prevails thus far; if a soul hangs to the thread of the new regeneration, and that it is not a total worm and beast, and that it presses into God with an earnest desire, and if there be true Christians [there], which stand unfeignedly in the new birth, and that their spirit
Ch. 19] ENTERING OF THE SOULS TO GOD 495 of the soul (in their burning love towards the poor soul) does press into God with the thread of the band of the poor soul, then indeed it helps the poor soul to wrestle, and to break in pieces the chains of the devil, especially if it be done before the poor soul be departed from the body ; and especially by parents, children, sisters, and brothers, or kindred of the blood. For their tinctures qualify [or mingle] therewith, as being generated from one and the same blood ; and the spirit of their soul enters much more freely and willingly into this great combat, and getts victory much sooner and more powerfully than strangers, if they stand in the new birth ; but without the new birth no victory is gained. There is no devil that does destroy another [devil].
53. But if the soul of the dying party be quite loosed off from the band of Jesus Christ, and that itself (by its own pressing in) does not reach the thread [of faith], then the prayers of those that stand by about it help not, but it is with them, as Christ said to his seventy disciples, which he sent abroad, When you enter into a house, salute them [that are in if]. And if there be a child of peace in that house, then your salutation of peace shall rest upon it, but if not, then your salutation shall return to you again. Thus also their hearty wish of love, and their earnest pressing in to God, returns again to the faithful, who were so heartily inclined to the soul of their friend.