Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
p. 676
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.
33. 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 wickednessCh. 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
• »
body 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,p. 678 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
676 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 does 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 does 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 ceases, and you must always strive against him ; for so the Tree of Pearl grows, as corn does in the tempestuous storms and winds ; but if it grows high, and comes to blossom, then you will enjoy the fruit well enough, and understand better what this pen has 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.
33. Now says reason; I see no more in you, nor in any such as you are, than in other poor sinners, it must needs be but a hypocritical pretence ; besides, says 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 does not perform what he purposes, but that he does even what himself reprovs in others, and that which he knows is not right?
34. Here the Tree of Pearl stands hidden ; behold, my beloved reason, the Tree of Pearl is not sown into the outward man, he is not worthy of it, he belongs to the earth, and the man of sin sticks in him, and the devil often makes his seat therein, who heaps together anger and malice therein, and brings the poor soul often into
1 lusts, unto which it does not consent, so that the l abominable
• »
body meddls with that which the soul is against ; wickedness, and now when this is so, it is not always the soul that does it, but the spirit of the stars and elements in man ; the soul says it is not right, nor well ; but the [outward] body says, we must have it, that we may live and have enough ; and so it is one time after another. So that a true Christian knows 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 reprovs the sins of others, and yet sinns outwardly himself.
35. But now when he does thus commit sins,
678 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 24 yet he committs 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 does not always that which is right ; and if he does anything that is good, yet he does it not (out of his own will and ability), but the new man compells 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 sticks 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