Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
of Peter ; and if thou art void of l that, thou hast no keys.
26. As the confession is, so is the absolution. Is the patient an historical Christian ? so is the physician too. And in them both there is a mouth-hypocrisy. But hath the patient any virtue [or power] ? Then the voice bloweth that virtue [or power] up, not from the power of the physician, but in the virtue [or power] of God, who with his power even in a thorn-bush maketh it to grow, which is the power in all things : and so also in a voice, which in itself hath no ability.
27. Thus it became a 2 custom, that every one was bound [to come] to the temple made of stones, and the Temple of God in Christ stood and stands very empty ; but when they saw the desolation in contention, they called councils, and made laws and canons, that every one must observe upon pain of death. Thus the Temple of Christ was turned into temples made of stones, and out of the testimony of the Holy Ghost a worldly law was made. Then the Holy Ghost spake no more freely, but he must speak according to their laws. If he reproved their errors, then they persecuted him ; and so the Temple of Christ in man's knowledge became very obscure ; if any came that was born of God, and taught by the Holy Ghost, and was not conformable to their laws, he must be a heretic.
28. And so their 4 power grew, and every one had great respect to it ; and they strengthened their
Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 741
laws still more and more with the power of St Peter, till they raised themselves so high, that they impudently set themselves as lords over the doctrine of the Apostles before God, and gave forth, that the word of God and the doctrine of the saints must receive their value, worth, and authority from their councils, and what they ordained and instituted, that was from God, they were God's dispensers of the word ; men must believe their ordinances, for that was the way and 1 means for the poor sinner to be justified 1 means of
. - salvation.
before God.
29. But where then is the new regeneration in Christ through the Holy Ghost? Art thou not Babel, a habitation of all devils in pride? How hast thou adorned thyself? Not for Christ, but for thy own pride, for thy 2idol the belly's sake, a god M and thou art a devourer. But thy 3 belly is become 3 Or idoL a stink, and hath gotten a horrible source ; there is a great fire of * anguish in thy source, for thou * terrible art naked and manifest before God, thou standest in that which as an impudent whorish woman. Why do you, laity, hang [and depend] on such a strumpet ? go ' Her own 6 usurped authority is her beast whereon 8 usurped
... TIIT T • i i • i T» i she rideth ; behold, and consider her in the Kevelation of John, how the Holy Ghost setteth her forth in her colours.
30. Wilt thou be an apostle of Christ, and wilt be but a minister for the belly, and teach only according to thy art ? From whom dost thoup. 742 teach ? From thy belly, that thou mayest fatten thyself thereby. It is true, thou shouldst be fed, and thou shouldst have subsistence from men, if thou art Christ's disciple ; but thy spirit should not stick in covetousness, but in Christ ; thou shouldst not rely only upon thy art, but shouldst give up thyself to God, that God may speak from thee, and then thou art in the Temple of God, and not in the temple of the institution of man's inventions.
31. Look upon St Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, who converted three thousand souls at one sermon, he spake not from the appointment of the Pharisees, but out of the Spirit of Moses and the Prophets, out of the Temple of the Holy Ghost, that pierced through and enlightened the poor sinners. But thou teachest persecution only, consider thereby whence thou didst grow, viz. out of that first stock, where they fell from the Temple of Christ to human conceits and inventions ; where they sent forth teachers according to man's itching ears, for a fair show, that thereby thou mightest grow great in thy pride ; and because thou hast sought nothing else, therefore God hath suffered
1 reprobate thee to fall into a l perverse sense, so that out of confounded sense. thee there come those that blaspheme the true doctrine of Christ.
of Peter ; and if you are void of l that, you have no keys.
26. As the confession is, so is the absolution. Is the patient an historical Christian ? so is the physician too. And in them both there is a mouth-hypocrisy. But has the patient any virtue [or power] ? Then the voice blows that virtue [or power] up, not from the power of the physician, but in the virtue [or power] of God, who with his power even in a thorn-bush makes it to grow, which is the power in all things : and so also in a voice, which in itself has no ability.
27. Thus it became a 2 custom, that every one was bound [to come] to the temple made of stones, and the Temple of God in Christ stood and stands very empty ; but when they saw the desolation in contention, they called councils, and made laws and canons, that every one must observe upon pain of death. Thus the Temple of Christ was turned into temples made of stones, and out of the testimony of the Holy Ghost a worldly law was made. Then the Holy Ghost spake no more freely, but he must speak according to their laws. If he reproved their errors, then they persecuted him ; and so the Temple of Christ in man's knowledge became very obscure ; if any came that was born of God, and taught by the Holy Ghost, and was not conformable to their laws, he must be a heretic.
28. And so their 4 power grew, and every one had great respect to it ; and they strengthened their
Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 741 laws still more and more with the power of St Peter, till they raised themselves so high, that they impudently set themselves as lords over the doctrine of the Apostles before God, and gave forth, that the word of God and the doctrine of the saints must receive their value, worth, and authority from their councils, and what they ordained and instituted, that was from God, they were God's dispensers of the word ; men must believe their ordinances, for that was the way and 1 means for the poor sinner to be justified 1 means of
. - salvation.
before God.
29. But where then is the new regeneration in Christ through the Holy Ghost? Art you not Babel, a habitation of all devils in pride? How have you adorned yourself? Not for Christ, but for your own pride, for your 2idol the belly's sake, a god M and you are a devourer. But your 3 belly is become 3 Or idoL a stink, and has gotten a horrible source ; there is a great fire of * anguish in your source, for you * terrible art naked and manifest before God, you stand in that which as an impudent whorish woman. Why do you, laity, hang [and depend] on such a strumpet ? go ' Her own 6 usurped authority is her beast whereon 8 usurped
... TIIT T • i i • i T» i she rids ; behold, and consider her in the Kevelation of John, how the Holy Ghost setts her forth in her colours.
30. Wilt you be an apostle of Christ, and will be but a minister for the belly, and teach only according to your art ? From whom do you
742 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 26 teach ? From your belly, that you may fatten yourself thereby. It is true, you should be fed, and you should have subsistence from men, if you are Christ's disciple ; but your spirit should not stick in covetousness, but in Christ ; you should not rely only upon your art, but should give up yourself to God, that God may speak from you, and then you are in the Temple of God, and not in the temple of the institution of man's inventions.
31. Look upon St Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, who converted three thousand souls at one sermon, he spake not from the appointment of the Pharisees, but out of the Spirit of Moses and the Prophets, out of the Temple of the Holy Ghost, that pierced through and enlightened the poor sinners. But you teachest persecution only, consider thereby whence you did grow, viz. out of that first stock, where they fell from the Temple of Christ to human conceits and inventions ; where they sent forth teachers according to man's itching ears, for a fair show, that thereby you might grow great in your pride ; and because you have sought nothing else, therefore God has suffered
1 reprobate you to fall into a l perverse sense, so that out of confounded sense. you there come those that blaspheme the true doctrine of Christ.