Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
35. Hearken, thou antichristian scorner ; it is not enough for thee to stand and say, I have the true ground of the knowledge [that leadeth] to the kingdom of heaven, I have found the true religion. And doth condemn every one that hath not thy knowledge, or doth not consent to thy opinion ; thou sayest, Such a one is a heretic, and of the devil. And thou art a wolf, and dost nothing else but confound the sheep with thy fierceness, and causest them to offend, and to calumniate those whom neither thou nor they know, as the Ephesians did by Paul. Dost thou suppose that thou hast hunted away the wolf by this means ? Or hast thou not rather generated a heap of young scornful wolves, which howl and yell, and every one would devour, and yet know not where the evil beast is, nor especially that most evil beast of all, which generated them ? 0 blind Babel, the kingdom of Christ doth not consist herein, but the abominable Antichrist of confusion in Babel.
36. But what can be said? The devil will
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have it no otherwise. When his kingdom beginneth to be stormed [battered and assaulted] at one place, then he bloweth up the storm all over [as well in one as in another], in the children of God ; the spirit of punishment [vengeance or reproof] is stirred up ; and in the worldly bestial man, the devil bloweth up mere scorning and disgracing mockers ; for they have the kingdom of Christ in the history, and the devil's kingdom in themselves, as their own possession.
37. What doth thy knowledge avail thee, thou opposer of Christ, that thou knowest how to speak of the kingdom of heaven, of the suffering and death of Christ, and of the new-birth in Christ, when thou art without it, sticking merely in the history ? Shall not thy knowledge be a witness against thee, which shall judge thee ? Or wilt thou say thou art not the Antichrist of Babel ? Surely thou art the hypocrite, and thou fattenest thy evil beast yet more and more, and thou art the devourer in the Revelation of John. Thou dwellest not only at Rome, but thou hast possessed the breadth of the earth. I have seen thee in the spirit, and therefore it is that I write of thee, thou wonder of the world, of heaven, and of hell.
38. Thus this kingdom took beginning with Cain, and it hath its ground from the devil, who is a mocker of God ; for the devil desireth nothing else but strong and mighty exalting in his own
Ch. 21] THE CAINISH AND ABELLISH KINGDOMS 573
power above the thrones of heaven ; but he cannot get in, and therefore he is so maliciously enraged, and his source for quality] standeth in the anguish, not towards the birth, but towards the l source J Or torment of fire.
Of the Kingdom of Christ in this World.
39. Seeing now man is entered into the spirit of this world, and hath all gates in [him], viz. the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell, and also the kingdom of this world, and must thus live in the press [or narrow chink], between heaven and this world, where the devil stirreth up one mocker after another, (who are brought up by the kingdom of fierceness), and continually stirreth them up against the children of God, so that the world is full of tyrants, and bestial, bloody, incestuous persons, also murderers and thieves, and because covetousness grew up, therefore the office of ruling was most profitable, that the wicked
2 driver might be stopped by power [and authority]. »
40. And so it is seen, how the providence of God is come to the help of the kingdom of this world, and hath by the spirit of this world stirred up rulers, who have inflicted punishment ; yet the spirit of God complaineth of them, that they are turned tyrants, who suppress all with their power ; and the Abellish Church in love consisteth not therein, but the strong might of God, for the suppressing of evil-doers.
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35. Hearken, you antichristian scorner ; it is not enough for you to stand and say, I have the true ground of the knowledge [that leads] to the kingdom of heaven, I have found the true religion. And does condemn every one that has not your knowledge, or does not consent to your opinion ; you say, Such a one is a heretic, and of the devil. And you are a wolf, and do nothing else but confound the sheep with your fierceness, and causest them to offend, and to calumniate those whom neither you nor they know, as the Ephesians did by Paul. Dost you suppose that you have hunted away the wolf by this means ? Or have you not rather generated a heap of young scornful wolves, which howl and yell, and every one would devour, and yet know not where the evil beast is, nor especially that most evil beast of all, which generated them ? 0 blind Babel, the kingdom of Christ does not consist herein, but the abominable Antichrist of confusion in Babel.
36. But what can be said? The devil will
572 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 21 have it no otherwise. When his kingdom beginns to be stormed [battered and assaulted] at one place, then he blows up the storm all over [as well in one as in another], in the children of God ; the spirit of punishment [vengeance or reproof] is stirred up ; and in the worldly bestial man, the devil blows up mere scorning and disgracing mockers ; for they have the kingdom of Christ in the history, and the devil's kingdom in themselves, as their own possession.
37. What does your knowledge avail you, you opposer of Christ, that you know how to speak of the kingdom of heaven, of the suffering and death of Christ, and of the new-birth in Christ, when you are without it, sticking merely in the history ? Shall not your knowledge be a witness against you, which shall judge you ? Or will you say you are not the Antichrist of Babel ? Surely you are the hypocrite, and you fattenest your evil beast yet more and more, and you are the devourer in the Revelation of John. You dwellest not only at Rome, but you have possessed the breadth of the earth. I have seen you in the spirit, and therefore it is that I write of you, you wonder of the world, of heaven, and of hell.
38. Thus this kingdom took beginning with Cain, and it has its ground from the devil, who is a mocker of God ; for the devil desires nothing else but strong and mighty exalting in his own
Ch. 21] THE CAINISH AND ABELLISH KINGDOMS 573 power above the thrones of heaven ; but he cannot get in, and therefore he is so maliciously enraged, and his source for quality] stands in the anguish, not towards the birth, but towards the l source J Or torment of fire.
Of the Kingdom of Christ in this World.
39. Seeing now man is entered into the spirit of this world, and has all gates in [him], viz. the kingdom of heaven, and the kingdom of hell, and also the kingdom of this world, and must thus live in the press [or narrow chink], between heaven and this world, where the devil stirrs up one mocker after another, (who are brought up by the kingdom of fierceness), and continually stirrs them up against the children of God, so that the world is full of tyrants, and bestial, bloody, incestuous persons, also murderers and thieves, and because covetousness grew up, therefore the office of ruling was most profitable, that the wicked
2 driver might be stopped by power [and authority]. »
40. And so it is seen, how the providence of God is come to the help of the kingdom of this world, and has by the spirit of this world stirred up rulers, who have inflicted punishment ; yet the spirit of God complains of them, that they are turned tyrants, who suppress all with their power ; and the Abellish Church in love consists not therein, but the strong might of God, for the suppressing of evil-doers.
574 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 21