1676 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 24
32. Thus that noble jewel (and in it the Pearl)
is sown. But observe it well ; it is not instantly
become a tree ; 0 how often doth the devil
rush upon it, and would fain root up the grain
of mustard-seed ! How many hard storms must
the soul undergo and endure ! How often is it
covered with sins ! For all that is in this world is
against it ; it is as it were left alone and forsaken ;
even the children of God themselves rush upon it ;
for the devil doth plague the poor soul thus, to
try if he can lead it astray, either with flattery and
hypocrisy, that the soul might flatter itself, or else
with sins in the conscience. He never ceaseth,
and thou must always strive against him ; for so
the Tree of Pearl groweth, as corn doth in the
tempestuous storms and winds ; but if it groweth
high, and cometh to blossom, then thou wilt enjoy
the fruit well enough, and understand better what
this pen hath written, and where it was born. For
it was a long time in this condition, many storms
went over its head ; and therefore this shall be for
a lasting Memorial, and continual remembrance to
it ; seeing we must sit here in the murdering den
of the devil ; if we do but overcome, our great
reward will soon follow us.
233. Now saith reason; I see no more in thee,
nor in any such as thou art, than in other poor
sinners, it must needs be but a hypocritical
pretence ; besides, saith reason, I have been also
in such a way, and yet I stick in my wickedness
Ch. 24] OF TRUE REPENTANCE 677
still, and do that which I would not do; and I
am still moved to anger, covetousness, and malice.
What is the matter, that a man doth not perform
what he purposeth, but that he doth even what
himself reproveth in others, and that which he
knoweth is not right?
34. Here the Tree of Pearl standeth hidden ;
behold, my beloved reason, the Tree of Pearl is
not sown into the outward man, he is not worthy
of it, he belongeth to the earth, and the man of
sin sticketh in him, and the devil often maketh his
seat therein, who heapeth together anger and malice
therein, and bringeth the poor soul often into
1 lusts, unto which it doth not consent, so that the l abominable
• »
3body meddleth with that which the soul is against ; wickedness,
and now when this is so, it is not always the soul
that doth it, but the spirit of the stars and
elements in man ; the soul saith it is not right,
nor well ; but the [outward] body saith, we must
have it, that we may live and have enough ; and
so it is one time after another. So that a true
Christian knoweth not himself, how then should
he be known by others ? Also the devil can cover
him sufficiently, that he may not be known ; and
that is his master-piece, when he can bring a true
Christian into wickedness, to fall into sins, so that
outwardly nothing is discerned by him, but that
he reproveth the sins of others, and yet sinneth
outwardly himself.
35. But now when he doth thus commit sins,
678 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 24
yet he committeth them not in the new man ; but
the old [man] in sin, who is subjected under sin,
who is in the anger of God, he is driven by the
anger, so that he doth not always that which is
right ; and if he doth anything that is good, yet
he doth it not (out of his own will and ability),
but the new man compelleth him to it, that he
must do it ; for the old [man] is corruptible, but
the soul is incorruptible ; and therefore the poor
1 in the chink soul is always in strife, and sticketh l between the
door and the hinges, and must be often pinched
and bruised.
36. But yet we do not say, that sin in the old
Or evil man is no 2 hurt ; though indeed it cannot sway
The source text as printed, transcribed diplomatically. Where the source language uses a non-Latin script that reaches us only through a Victorian romanisation, this layer is labelled transliteration, because that is what we hold.