Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
32. Behold, out of what are the Turks grown ? Out of thy * perverse sense ; when they saw that thou regardedst nothing but thy pride, and didstCh. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 743 only contend and dispute about the Temple of Christ, that it must stand only upon man's foundation and inventions, then Mahomet came forth, and found an invention that was agreeable to nature. Because those others followed after 1 covetousness, and fell off from the Temple of ness of money
Christ, as also from the light of nature, into a and gain, or confusion of pride, and all their aim was, how the antichristian throne might be adorned, therefore he also made laws and doctrines [raised] from reason.
33. Or dost thou suppose 2it was for nothing?2 the rising-up
. . , i and doctrine
It is most certain, that the spirit 01 the great world Of Mahomet. hath thus set him up in great wonders, because the others were no better ; and therefore it must stand in the light of nature in the wonders, as a god of this world, and God was near the one as the other. Thy symbols or signs in the Testament of Christ which thou usest (which Christ left for a covenant), they stood in controversy, and were in disputation, and thou didst pervert them according to thy pride, and thou didst bend them to thy institution, ordinances and appointment ; thou didst no more regard the covenant of Christ, but the custom of celebration or performance of it, the custom must serve the turn ; whereas wood that burneth not is not fire, though when it is kindled it conies to be fire ; so also the custom without faith is like wood that burneth not, which they will call a fire.
p. 744
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 26
34. Or shall not the spirit set it down before thy eyes, thou lascivious filthy strumpet ? Behold, how hast thou broken the state of wedlock, and opened a door to whoredom, so that no sin is
1 upon thy regarded ; hast thou not ridden l upon thy beast, power, might . , , , . n . ..
and authority, when every one gazed on tnee, and did ride alter thee [in thy train]? Or art thou not that fine painted [adorned] whore ? Dost thou suppose we set thee forth in vain ? The judgment standeth over thee, the sword is begotten, and it will devour. Go out [from] Babel, and thou shalt live : though
'the strife, L .
contention, we saw a fire in Babel, and that Babel was burning, and warring . ..
that is in it. yet it shall not burn those that go out from * it.
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
Of the Last Judgment, of the Resurrection of the
Dead, and of the Eternal Life.
The most horrible Gate of the Wicked, and the joyful Gate of the l Godly. 1 Or saints
_ and holy
32. Behold, out of what are the Turks grown ? Out of your * perverse sense ; when they saw that you regardedst nothing but your pride, and did
Ch. 26] OF THE FEAST OF PENTECOST 743 only contend and dispute about the Temple of Christ, that it must stand only upon man's foundation and inventions, then Mahomet came forth, and found an invention that was agreeable to nature. Because those others followed after 1 covetousness, and fell off from the Temple of ness of money
Christ, as also from the light of nature, into a and gain, or confusion of pride, and all their aim was, how the antichristian throne might be adorned, therefore he also made laws and doctrines [raised] from reason.
33. Or do you suppose 2it was for nothing?2 the rising-up
. . , i and doctrine
It is most certain, that the spirit 01 the great world Of Mahomet. has thus set him up in great wonders, because the others were no better ; and therefore it must stand in the light of nature in the wonders, as a god of this world, and God was near the one as the other. Your symbols or signs in the Testament of Christ which you usest (which Christ left for a covenant), they stood in controversy, and were in disputation, and you did pervert them according to your pride, and you did bend them to your institution, ordinances and appointment ; you did no more regard the covenant of Christ, but the custom of celebration or performance of it, the custom must serve the turn ; whereas wood that burns not is not fire, though when it is kindled it conies to be fire ; so also the custom without faith is like wood that burns not, which they will call a fire.
p. 744
THE THREE PRINCIPLES
[Ch. 26
34. Or shall not the spirit set it down before your eyes, you lascivious filthy strumpet ? Behold, how have you broken the state of wedlock, and opened a door to whoredom, so that no sin is
1 upon your regarded ; have you not ridden l upon your beast, power, might . , , , . n . ..
and authority, when every one gazed on tnee, and did ride alter you [in your train]? Or art you not that fine painted [adorned] whore ? Dost you suppose we set you forth in vain ? The judgment stands over you, the sword is begotten, and it will devour. Go out [from] Babel, and you shall live : though
'the strife, L .
contention, we saw a fire in Babel, and that Babel was burning, and warring . ..
that is in it. yet it shall not burn those that go out from * it.
THE TWENTY-SEVENTH CHAPTER
Of the Last Judgment, of the Resurrection of the
Dead, and of the Eternal Life.
The most horrible Gate of the Wicked, and the joyful Gate of the l Godly. 1 Or saints
_ and holy