Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
and their tention must devour yourselves, you must consume yourselves. Therefore are you not mad ? Are ye not all brethren, and are ye not all in Christ ? If you did converse in love, what should you need to strive about your native country wherein you dwell ? 0 leave off, your cause is evil in the sight of God, and ye are all found to be in Babel. Be advised ; the day breaketh. How long will ye keep company with that adulterous whore ? Arise, your noble virgin is adorned in her orient garland of pearl ; she weareth a lily which is most delightsome ; be brotherly, and she will adorn you indeed ;
8 Note. 8we have seen her really, and in her name we write this.
83. There is no need of contention about the Cup of Jesus Christ, his body is really received inCh. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 715 the Testament, by the faithful, as also his heavenly blood, and the Baptism is a bath [or laver] in the water of the. eternal life, hidden in the outward [Baptism with water], in the Word of the body of Christ. Therefore all contention [or disputation] is in vain ; be in brotherly love, and forsake the spirit of pride, and then ye are all in Christ.
84. These very deep and difficult matters are not profitable for you, you ought not to look after them ; we must only set them down, that you may see what the ground is, and what the error is. For we are not the cause of these writings, but you (in your high puffed-up lust) have stirred up the spirit, that you might find out the thoughts of your hearts ; let the resurrection of Christ be powerful [and effectual] to you, for his resurrection is your resurrection, and in him we shall grow and flourish, and live eternally ; only stick to him, and then you cannot perish in any distress, for if you have him, you have the Holy Trinity of God.
85. If you will pray to God, then call upon God (your heavenly Father) in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, [desiring] that he would forgive you your sins, for the sake of his sufferings and death, and give you what is good for you, and may further your salvation. Give up and yield all whatsoever is earthly to his pleasure and will ; for we know not what we should desire and pray for, but the Holy Spirit helpeth us in Christ Jesus, before his heavenly Father. Therefore there is nop. 716 need of many words [or long prayers], but a believing soul, which with its whole earnest [resolved purpose] yieldeth itself up into the mercy of God, to live in his will, in the body of Jesus Christ, and continueth constant ; then he is sure and safe from the devil.
86. That phantasy about the intercession of the saints is unprofitable ; it is but a vexation, whereby you disquiet the saints in their rest. Doth not God himself call you continually ? And doth not your virgin wait for you with a longing desire 1 Do but come, and she is yours ; you need not send any foreign ambassadors ; it is not here, as at court. Christ would always fain increase his heaven in his joy. Why stand you so long in doubt because of your sins ? Is not the mercy of God greater than heaven and earth? What do you mean ? There is nothing nearer you than the mercy of God ; only in your sinful impenitent life you are with the devil, and not with Christ, say what you will ; though you sent a million of ambassadors to him, if yourself be wicked, you are but with the devil still ; and there is no remedy, but you must yourself rise with Christ, and be born anew, in the body of Jesus Christ (through the power of the Holy Ghost) in the Father, in your own soul. If thou makest a feast [or keepest 1 Or main- a solemnity], do it for the benefit and belief of the afflicted and needy, whereby God is praised in thy love, and that is well ; but if it be for the richCh. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 717 glutton, who only useth it out of pride and laziness, thou hast no benefit of that ; for God is not praised therewith, neither doth paradise grow therein.
and their tention must devour yourselves, you must consume yourselves. Therefore are you not mad ? Are you not all brethren, and are you not all in Christ ? If you did converse in love, what should you need to strive about your native country wherein you dwell ? 0 leave off, your cause is evil in the sight of God, and you are all found to be in Babel. Be advised ; the day breaks. How long will you keep company with that adulterous whore ? Arise, your noble virgin is adorned in her orient garland of pearl ; she wears a lily which is most delightsome ; be brotherly, and she will adorn you indeed ;
8 Note. 8we have seen her really, and in her name we write this.
83. There is no need of contention about the Cup of Jesus Christ, his body is really received in
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 715 the Testament, by the faithful, as also his heavenly blood, and the Baptism is a bath [or laver] in the water of the. eternal life, hidden in the outward [Baptism with water], in the Word of the body of Christ. Therefore all contention [or disputation] is in vain ; be in brotherly love, and forsake the spirit of pride, and then you are all in Christ.
84. These very deep and difficult matters are not profitable for you, you ought not to look after them ; we must only set them down, that you may see what the ground is, and what the error is. For we are not the cause of these writings, but you (in your high puffed-up lust) have stirred up the spirit, that you might find out the thoughts of your hearts ; let the resurrection of Christ be powerful [and effectual] to you, for his resurrection is your resurrection, and in him we shall grow and flourish, and live eternally ; only stick to him, and then you cannot perish in any distress, for if you have him, you have the Holy Trinity of God.
85. If you will pray to God, then call upon God (your heavenly Father) in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, [desiring] that he would forgive you your sins, for the sake of his sufferings and death, and give you what is good for you, and may further your salvation. Give up and yield all whatsoever is earthly to his pleasure and will ; for we know not what we should desire and pray for, but the Holy Spirit helps us in Christ Jesus, before his heavenly Father. Therefore there is no
716 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 25 need of many words [or long prayers], but a believing soul, which with its whole earnest [resolved purpose] yields itself up into the mercy of God, to live in his will, in the body of Jesus Christ, and continues constant ; then he is sure and safe from the devil.
86. That phantasy about the intercession of the saints is unprofitable ; it is but a vexation, whereby you disquiet the saints in their rest. Does not God himself call you continually ? And does not your virgin wait for you with a longing desire 1 Do but come, and she is yours ; you need not send any foreign ambassadors ; it is not here, as at court. Christ would always fain increase his heaven in his joy. Why stand you so long in doubt because of your sins ? Is not the mercy of God greater than heaven and earth? What do you mean ? There is nothing nearer you than the mercy of God ; only in your sinful impenitent life you are with the devil, and not with Christ, say what you will ; though you sent a million of ambassadors to him, if yourself be wicked, you are but with the devil still ; and there is no remedy, but you must yourself rise with Christ, and be born anew, in the body of Jesus Christ (through the power of the Holy Ghost) in the Father, in your own soul. If you makest a feast [or keepest 1 Or main- a solemnity], do it for the benefit and belief of the afflicted and needy, whereby God is praised in your love, and that is well ; but if it be for the rich
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 717 glutton, who only uses it out of pride and laziness, you have no benefit of that ; for God is not praised therewith, neither does paradise grow therein.