Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
the source of love, humility, meekness, and l mercy, ! Barmhertz-
• 11 /•/-*! i i i u , Merci111 the friendly will of God ; and so ne should /w have ruled over the stars and elements, and there should have been no death or frailty or corruption in him.
93. Therefore, ye Turks and other superstitious people, you should observe and understand aright, wherefore Christ gave us such laws, as command
p. 720[Ch. 25us not to be revengeful ; and that when any strike us on the one cheek, we should present the other to him ; and so further, that we should bless them that curse us, and do well to them that hate ua and hurt us. Understand ye this ?
94. Behold, a true Christian (who liveth in the spirit of Christ) must also walk in the conversation of Christ ; he must not walk in the fierce stern revenging spirit of this world, but as Christ lived and conversed in this world after his resurrection, and yet not in the source or property of this world. And though it is not possible for us (while we live in the source of this world) to do so, yet in the new man in Christ (whom the devil hideth and obscureth) we may ; if we live in meekness, then we overcome the world in Christ ; if we recompense good for evil, then we witness that the spirit of Christ is in us ; and then we are dead to the spirit of this world, for the sake of the spirit of Christ which is in us ; and though we are in this world, yet the world doth but hang to us, as it hung to Christ after his resurrection ; and yet he lived in the Father in the heaven, even so do we also, if we be born in Christ.
95. Therefore let this be told you, ye Jewsr Turks, and other nations ; you need not look for any other, there is no other time at hand, but the time
See vers. 82. of the lily ; and the sign of that [time] is the l sign of Elias. Therefore take heed in what spirit you live, that the fire of anger do not devour you, and
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 721
1 eat you up. It is high time to cast Jezabel with J Or consume her whoredoms out of the house, lest you receive the wages of Jhe whore, and as you revile one another, so you devour one another. Truly, if the contentious disputations be not suddenly stayed [and these courses mended] the fire will burn out aloft over Babel ; and then there will be no remedy, till the anger eat up and consume all whatsoever is in it.
96. Therefore let every one enter into himself, and not speak of another, and hold his way to be false ; but look that he turn himself, and have a care, that he be not found in anger of the devourer ; else if he should hoop, and halloo, and laughing say, Look how Babel burneth ! then he must be burnt and consumed also, for he is fuel for that fire ; and whosoever feeleth a thought in himself, that doth but wish for the anger [to devour], 2 that 2 and he is proceedeth from Babel.
97. Therefore it is very hard to know Babel ; every one supposeth that he is not in it ; and yet the spirit sheweth me, that Babel 8 encloseth the 3 inciudeth
• « i 111- ai'd encomwhole earth ; therefore let every one look to his passeth. own ways, and not hunt after covetousness, for the * driver destroyeth it, and the stormer eateth * the wrath it up and consumeth it ; the counsel of the wise that covetousman will not help then ; all the wisdom of this together. er< world is folly ; for that 6 fire is from the anger 6 Or the
/^ • -11 devouring
the source of love, humility, meekness, and l mercy, ! Barmhertz-
• 11 /•/-*! i i i u , Merci111 the friendly will of God ; and so ne should /w have ruled over the stars and elements, and there should have been no death or frailty or corruption in him.
93. Therefore, you Turks and other superstitious people, you should observe and understand aright, wherefore Christ gave us such laws, as command
720 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 25us not to be revengeful ; and that when any strike us on the one cheek, we should present the other to him ; and so further, that we should bless them that curse us, and do well to them that hate ua and hurt us. Understand you this ?
94. Behold, a true Christian (who lives in the spirit of Christ) must also walk in the conversation of Christ ; he must not walk in the fierce stern revenging spirit of this world, but as Christ lived and conversed in this world after his resurrection, and yet not in the source or property of this world. And though it is not possible for us (while we live in the source of this world) to do so, yet in the new man in Christ (whom the devil hides and obscurs) we may ; if we live in meekness, then we overcome the world in Christ ; if we recompense good for evil, then we witness that the spirit of Christ is in us ; and then we are dead to the spirit of this world, for the sake of the spirit of Christ which is in us ; and though we are in this world, yet the world does but hang to us, as it hung to Christ after his resurrection ; and yet he lived in the Father in the heaven, even so do we also, if we be born in Christ.
95. Therefore let this be told you, you Jewsr Turks, and other nations ; you need not look for any other, there is no other time at hand, but the time
See vers. 82. of the lily ; and the sign of that [time] is the l sign of Elias. Therefore take heed in what spirit you live, that the fire of anger do not devour you, and
Ch. 25] CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION 721
1 eat you up. It is high time to cast Jezabel with J Or consume her whoredoms out of the house, lest you receive the wages of Jhe whore, and as you revile one another, so you devour one another. Truly, if the contentious disputations be not suddenly stayed [and these courses mended] the fire will burn out aloft over Babel ; and then there will be no remedy, till the anger eat up and consume all whatsoever is in it.
96. Therefore let every one enter into himself, and not speak of another, and hold his way to be false ; but look that he turn himself, and have a care, that he be not found in anger of the devourer ; else if he should hoop, and halloo, and laughing say, Look how Babel burns ! then he must be burnt and consumed also, for he is fuel for that fire ; and whosoever feels a thought in himself, that does but wish for the anger [to devour], 2 that 2 and he is proceeds from Babel.
97. Therefore it is very hard to know Babel ; every one supposes that he is not in it ; and yet the spirit shows me, that Babel 8 encloses the 3 inciuds
• « i 111- ai'd encomwhole earth ; therefore let every one look to his passes. own ways, and not hunt after covetousness, for the * driver destroys it, and the stormer eats * the wrath it up and consums it ; the counsel of the wise that covetousman will not help then ; all the wisdom of this together. er< world is folly ; for that 6 fire is from the anger 6 Or the
/^ • -11 devouring