Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
12. But if thou leavest them off, and passest with the desire of thy heart into the mercy of God, then thou goest into heaven, into God the Father, and thou walkest in the body of Christ in the pure element ; and the Holy Ghost goeth forth out of thy soul, and leadeth thee into all truth ; and the old corrupt man doth but hang to thee, which thou shalt destroy in death, and with thy love in Christ still overcome, and captivate the anger of the Father in thy soul ; and thou shalt spring up with thy new man through death, and appear in the same at the Last Judgment-day.
Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 733
The lGate to Babel. i the Gate bv which Babel
13. When we .consider with ourselves the many first entfll sects and controversies in religion, and from whence they come and take their original, it is as clear as the sun, and it manifesto th itself indeed, and in truth ; for there are great wars and insurrections stirred up for the cause of [religion or] faith ; and there arise great hatred and envy about it, and they persecute one another for opinions sake ; because another is not of his opinion, he sticks not to say, he is of the devil ; and this is yet the greatest misery of all, that this is done by / the learned in the high schools [or universities] I of this world.
14. And I will shew thee, simple man, their venom and poison ; for behold, every one among the laity looketh upon them, and thinketh, Sure it must needs be right if our 2 priest sayeth it ; he is = minister, a minister of God ; he sitteth in God's stead, it is preacher, or the Holy Ghost that speaketh out of him. But St te John saith, Try the spirits ; for every one's teaching is not to be believed; and Christ saith, By their works thou shalt know them ; for a good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and an evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit ; also he teacheth us plainly, that we should not gainsay the prophecy that is of God, but we should learn to try them by their fruits.
15. We speak not of perfect works done by the body, which is captivated in the spirit of thisp. 734 world, but [we speak] of their doctrines, that we [must] try them, whether they be generated of God. For if that spirit teacheth blasphemies, slanders, and persecutions, then it is not from God, but it proceedeth from the covetousness and haughtiness of the devil. For Christ teacheth us meekness, and to walk in brotherly love, wherewith we may overcome the enemy, and take away the might of the devil, and destroy his kingdom.
16. But when any fall to firing, killing with the sword, to undo people, ruin towns and countries, there is no Christ, but the anger of the Father,
1 Or the coal, and it is the devil that bloweth the x fire. For the kingdom of Christ is not found in such a way, but in power; as the examples of the Apostles of Christ declare, who taught no revenge, but they suffered persecution, and prayed to God, who gave them signs and great wonders, so that people flocked to them ; and so the Church of Christ grew mightily, so that it overshadowed the earth. Now who is the destroyer of this Church ? Open thy eyes wide and behold ; it is daylight, and it must come to the light, for God would have it so, for the sake of the lily. It is the pride of the learned.
17. When the Holy Ghost spake in the saints with power and miracles, and converted people powerfully, then they flocked to them, they honoured them greatly, they respected them, and submitted to them as if they had been gods. Now
Ch. 26] OP THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 735 this was well doue to the saints, for the honour was given to God, and so humility and love grew among them^ and there was all-loving reverence, as becometh the children of God, and as it ought to be.
12. But if you leavest them off, and passest with the desire of your heart into the mercy of God, then you go into heaven, into God the Father, and you walkest in the body of Christ in the pure element ; and the Holy Ghost goes forth out of your soul, and leads you into all truth ; and the old corrupt man does but hang to you, which you shall destroy in death, and with your love in Christ still overcome, and captivate the anger of the Father in your soul ; and you shall spring up with your new man through death, and appear in the same at the Last Judgment-day.
Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 733
The lGate to Babel. i the Gate bv which Babel
13. When we .consider with ourselves the many first entfll sects and controversies in religion, and from whence they come and take their original, it is as clear as the sun, and it manifesto th itself indeed, and in truth ; for there are great wars and insurrections stirred up for the cause of [religion or] faith ; and there arise great hatred and envy about it, and they persecute one another for opinions sake ; because another is not of his opinion, he sticks not to say, he is of the devil ; and this is yet the greatest misery of all, that this is done by / the learned in the high schools [or universities] I of this world.
14. And I will show you, simple man, their venom and poison ; for behold, every one among the laity looks upon them, and thinks, Sure it must needs be right if our 2 priest says it ; he is = minister, a minister of God ; he sitts in God's stead, it is preacher, or the Holy Ghost that speaks out of him. But St te John says, Try the spirits ; for every one's teaching is not to be believed; and Christ says, By their works you shall know them ; for a good tree brings forth good fruit, and an evil tree brings forth evil fruit ; also he teaches us plainly, that we should not gainsay the prophecy that is of God, but we should learn to try them by their fruits.
15. We speak not of perfect works done by the body, which is captivated in the spirit of this
734 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 26 world, but [we speak] of their doctrines, that we [must] try them, whether they be generated of God. For if that spirit teaches blasphemies, slanders, and persecutions, then it is not from God, but it proceeds from the covetousness and haughtiness of the devil. For Christ teaches us meekness, and to walk in brotherly love, wherewith we may overcome the enemy, and take away the might of the devil, and destroy his kingdom.
16. But when any fall to firing, killing with the sword, to undo people, ruin towns and countries, there is no Christ, but the anger of the Father,
1 Or the coal, and it is the devil that blows the x fire. For the kingdom of Christ is not found in such a way, but in power; as the examples of the Apostles of Christ declare, who taught no revenge, but they suffered persecution, and prayed to God, who gave them signs and great wonders, so that people flocked to them ; and so the Church of Christ grew mightily, so that it overshadowed the earth. Now who is the destroyer of this Church ? Open your eyes wide and behold ; it is daylight, and it must come to the light, for God would have it so, for the sake of the lily. It is the pride of the learned.
17. When the Holy Ghost spake in the saints with power and miracles, and converted people powerfully, then they flocked to them, they honoured them greatly, they respected them, and submitted to them as if they had been gods. Now
Ch. 26] OP THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 735 this was well doue to the saints, for the honour was given to God, and so humility and love grew among them^ and there was all-loving reverence, as becomes the children of God, and as it ought to be.