Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence

18. But when the saints comprised their doctrine in writings, that thereby in their absence it might be understood what they taught, then the world fell upon it, and every one desired to be such a teacher, and thought the art, skill, and knowledge stuck in the letter ; thither they came running, old and new, who for the most part only stuck in the old man, and had no knowledge of God ; and so taught according to their own conceits, from the written words, and explained them according to their own meanings.

19. And when they saw that great respect and honour was given to the teachers, they fell to ambition, pride, and greediness of money ; for the simple people brought them presents or gifts, and they thought that the Holy Ghost dwelt in the teachers, whereas the devil of pride lodged in them ; and it came to that pass, that every one called himself after his master's name [whose doctrine he prized most] ; one would be of Paul ; another of Apollos ; another of Peter ; and so forth. And because the saints used not the same kind of words and expressions in their teaching and writings, though they spake from one and the same spirit, therefore the natural man (which being without

p. 736

the spirit of God knoweth nothing of God) began all manner of strife and disputations, and to make sects and schisms ; and they set themselves up for teachers among all sorts of people, not for God's sake, but for temporal honour, riches, and pleasure sake, that they might live brave lives. For it was no very hard labour and work to hang to the bare letter ; and such strife and contention arose amongst them, that they became the most bitter enemies and haters one of another. And none of them were born of God, but their parents held them close to the Scripture, that they might come to be teachers, that so they might be honoured in and 1 might have for their children, and that their children * might rood mainten- -i • r i ance, or great llV6 bravely.

fstiai 20. And so it fell out, that every one would get the greatest conflux of people he could, that he might be esteemed by most people ; and these lip-Christians did so multiply, that the sincere hearty desire to God was left, and they only looked upon the lip-priests, who did nothing but cause strife and contentions ; and they all vapoured and boasted of their own art and skill which they had f learned in the schools and universities, and cried, Lo ! here is Christ, come running hither, thus and thus hath Paul written ; and another saith, Come hither, here is Christ, thus and thus hath Peter written ; he was the disciple of Christ, and had the keys of the kingdom of heaven, this cannot be amiss ; they do but deceive you, follow after me.

Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 737

21. Thus the poor ignorant people looked upon the l mouth-apes, those greedy covetous men, which l Such as

. ,4 , , apishly teach were no other, than * vizard-priests, and so lost their the words of dear Immanuel ; for Christ in them (from whence without the the Holy Ghost goeth forth, which driveth and they™a*° ' leadeth men, and who at first had begotten them 2 mock priests, monsters of with power and miracles) must now be nothing pnests, or

1 ° pnests in a but a history, and they became but history- pi»y.

Christians ; yet so long as the Apostles and their true disciples lived, they stopped and reproved such things, and shewed them the right way ; but