Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
60. Behold, thou wicked Antichrist, thou art the same which thou hast always been ; thou art an old, and not a new [Antichrist], thy cunning policy is born in the anger of God; the devil teacheth thee to do what thou dost. Among princes and kings (who have their ground and foundation in nature) thou stirrest up to wars and dissensions, that thou mightest be advanced by them, through thy deceit, hypocrisy, and knavish subtle cunning policy ; this thou dost out of pride ;
1 Or holy men. thou pervertest the Scriptures of the * saints, to promote thy vapouring haughtiness, and art a murderer of souls ; thou causest mockings among the ignorant, so that they think (when they many times persecute a holy soul) that they do God good service in it ; thou teachest them so, or else they would not think any such thing ; thus thou workest confusion, and art Babel , a habitation of whores, and of all devils ; even so saith the spirit.
61. This is their course one among another, one
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 705
reproacheth and condemneth this, the other that, and it is a continual howling of devils ; all manner of love, charity,,,and union is extinct ; the mouth speaketh one thing, and the heart thinketh another ; they all cry out one among another, and none knoweth where the woe lieth. And Christ must thus take all this upon him. Many ignorantly cried (by the instigation of the high-priests), Crucify him, Crucify him, he hath made uproars and disturbances among the people ; and yet knew not any cause why they said so. And so it is at this day, if Antichrist 1 entrappeth any in his * findeth any fierceness, he crieth out upon him for a sectary, a eva anT0' schismatic, a disturber of the peace, and maker of w uproars ; and then all cry, A heretic ! A heretic ! and yet their hearts can say no evil of him.
62. Thus behold, thou false opposer of Christ, and author of all uproars, mischief, and disturbance upon earth, how many ignorant silly people are there under this thy reproachful blaspheming, which thou many times causest to lay aspersions upon a holy soul ? Behold, now if that persecuted soul shall cry to God for deliverance, then it all cometh to be a substance, 2 and an essence before * or in reGod. And now if those poor souls many times (which thus ignorantly have slandered a holy soul) come before God, and would fain be saved, then if Christ now had not taken all these false reproaches and aspersions upon him, and reconciled his Father in himself with his love, where would you poorp. 45p. 706 sinners abide? Therefore Christ commandeth us to forgive [others], as his Father in him hath forgiven us ; if we do not so, the same measure that we meet to others, we shall have measured to us.
The Gate of a poor Sinner.
63. Therefore, thou beloved soul, if thou art fallen into heavy sins and blasphemies, through the deceit of the Antichrist, and the seduction of the devil and his followers, consider thyself instantly, continue not therein, do not despair in that condition ; forgive thy adversary his faults, and pray to God the Father, for Christ's sake, who hath borne all our wickedness and iniquities upon him as a patient lamb, and then they shall be forgiven thee. Nay, we should not in eternity have ever been able to come out of this evil and wickedness,
1 Bannhertz- if the l mercy of God (without our knowledge or igkeit, Merci- n \ii 111 fulness. desert) had not helped us out or it.
64. 0 how wholly of mere [mercy and] grace hath God the Father given us his Son, who hath taken upon him our transgressions, and reconciled
60. Behold, you wicked Antichrist, you are the same which you have always been ; you are an old, and not a new [Antichrist], your cunning policy is born in the anger of God; the devil teaches you to do what you do. Among princes and kings (who have their ground and foundation in nature) you stirrest up to wars and dissensions, that you might be advanced by them, through your deceit, hypocrisy, and knavish subtle cunning policy ; this you do out of pride ;
1 Or holy men. you pervertest the Scriptures of the * saints, to promote your vapouring haughtiness, and art a murderer of souls ; you causest mockings among the ignorant, so that they think (when they many times persecute a holy soul) that they do God good service in it ; you teachest them so, or else they would not think any such thing ; thus you work confusion, and art Babel , a habitation of whores, and of all devils ; even so says the spirit.
61. This is their course one among another, one
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 705 reproaches and condemns this, the other that, and it is a continual howling of devils ; all manner of love, charity,,,and union is extinct ; the mouth speaks one thing, and the heart thinks another ; they all cry out one among another, and none knows where the woe lies. And Christ must thus take all this upon him. Many ignorantly cried (by the instigation of the high-priests), Crucify him, Crucify him, he has made uproars and disturbances among the people ; and yet knew not any cause why they said so. And so it is at this day, if Antichrist 1 entrapps any in his * finds any fierceness, he cries out upon him for a sectary, a eva anT0' schismatic, a disturber of the peace, and maker of w uproars ; and then all cry, A heretic ! A heretic ! and yet their hearts can say no evil of him.
62. Thus behold, you false opposer of Christ, and author of all uproars, mischief, and disturbance upon earth, how many ignorant silly people are there under this your reproachful blaspheming, which you many times causest to lay aspersions upon a holy soul ? Behold, now if that persecuted soul shall cry to God for deliverance, then it all comes to be a substance, 2 and an essence before * or in reGod. And now if those poor souls many times (which thus ignorantly have slandered a holy soul) come before God, and would fain be saved, then if Christ now had not taken all these false reproaches and aspersions upon him, and reconciled his Father in himself with his love, where would you poor
p. 45
706 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 25 sinners abide? Therefore Christ commands us to forgive [others], as his Father in him has forgiven us ; if we do not so, the same measure that we meet to others, we shall have measured to us.
The Gate of a poor Sinner.
63. Therefore, you beloved soul, if you are fallen into heavy sins and blasphemies, through the deceit of the Antichrist, and the seduction of the devil and his followers, consider yourself instantly, continue not therein, do not despair in that condition ; forgive your adversary his faults, and pray to God the Father, for Christ's sake, who has borne all our wickedness and iniquities upon him as a patient lamb, and then they shall be forgiven you. Nay, we should not in eternity have ever been able to come out of this evil and wickedness,
1 Bannhertz- if the l mercy of God (without our knowledge or igkeit, Merci- n \ii 111 fulness. desert) had not helped us out or it.
64. 0 how wholly of mere [mercy and] grace has God the Father given us his Son, who has taken upon him our transgressions, and reconciled