Concerning the Three Principles of the Divine Essence
12. Christ teacheth us and warneth us faithfully of the times that were to come, wherein they shall say, Lo here is Christ, or, Lo there he is ; he is in the wilderness; he is in the chamber; go not forth, believe it not ; for as the lightning breaketh forth in the east, and shineth to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
13. Therefore, 0 child of man, see whether it be not so ; where the false pastors [or shepherds], without the divine calling, always wrangle [strive, contend, and dispute] ; and every one of them saith, follow me, here is Christ, there is Christ, J Or come and and they judge [and condemn] one another, and ™ give one another over to the devil ; they abandon unity, and forsake the love wherein the spirit of
God is 2 generated ; and cause bitterness, and lead - acteth or
» • i i . i 1-11 rvi • ''orketh.
astray the simple plain people, to think that Christ is such a wrangling shepherd [pastor, priest, or minister], and doth so grapple with 8 his opponents, 3 tho adverse in raising war and murder, as they do ; and thatp. 134 the spirit of God must needs be in such doings [which are accounted zeal for God] ; and that this must be the way to paradise.
14. Christ said, Love one another, thereby shall men know that ye are my disciples ; if any smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other cheek also ; if you be persecuted for my names sake, then rejoice, for your reward is great in the kingdom of heaven : But now there is nothing taught but mere ignominy [reproach, and revilings] : they that are dead many hundred years ago, and are in the judgment of God, and some also may be in paradise, these must be judged, and condemned, and cursed by the wrangling shepherds [or contentious priests]. Doth the Holy Ghost speak by them, as they cry out and say he doth ? Whereas they are still full of gall and bitterness, and nothing but covetousness and vengeance is kindled in them, and they are far from the way of paradise.
15. Therefore, thou child of man, take heed, let not your ears be tickled : When you hear the false shepherds [or pastors] judge and condemn the children of Christ, that is not the voice of Christ, but of Antichrist ; the way to paradise hath quite another entrance ; your heart must with all your power and strength be directed to God [or goodness] ; and as God desireth that all men should be saved, so his will is that we should help to bear one another's burthen [and bear with one another], and friendly, soberly, and modestly meet one
Ch. 9] OF PARADISE, ETC. 135
another with entreaties in the Holy Ghost, and seek with earnestness the [salvation and] welfare of our neighbour in humility, and wish heartily that he might be freed from vanity, and enter with us into the l garden of roses. J into the
16. The knowledge that is in the infinite God iug pleasant is various and manifold, but every one should pe rejoice in the gifts and knowledge of another, and consider, that God will give such superabundant knowledge in the paradisical world, of which we have here (in the variety and difference of gifts) but a type : Therefore we must not wrangle nor contend about gifts and knowledge ; for the spirit giveth to every one according to his essence in the wonderful God, to express that [gift he hath] after his own form [or manner] ; for that [form], in the perfection of love in paradise, will be a very inward hearty sport of love, where every one shall speak from his knowledge of the great wonders of the 2 holy birth. 2 the holy
17. 0, what 3 sharp thorns the devil hath bringing* brought into the sport of love, that we practise i°bitter en such proud contention in the noble knowledge, insomuch that men bind up the Holy Ghost with laws! What are laws in the kingdom of Christ, who hath made us free, that we should walk in him in the Holy Ghost? To what purpose are they invented, but for the pleasure of Antichrist, who thereby doth strut in might and pomp, and is God on earth ? 0 fly from him, thou child of
12. Christ teaches us and warns us faithfully of the times that were to come, wherein they shall say, Lo here is Christ, or, Lo there he is ; he is in the wilderness; he is in the chamber; go not forth, believe it not ; for as the lightning breaks forth in the east, and shines to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
13. Therefore, 0 child of man, see whether it be not so ; where the false pastors [or shepherds], without the divine calling, always wrangle [strive, contend, and dispute] ; and every one of them says, follow me, here is Christ, there is Christ, J Or come and and they judge [and condemn] one another, and ™ give one another over to the devil ; they abandon unity, and forsake the love wherein the spirit of
God is 2 generated ; and cause bitterness, and lead - acts or
» • i i . i 1-11 rvi • ''orks.
astray the simple plain people, to think that Christ is such a wrangling shepherd [pastor, priest, or minister], and does so grapple with 8 his opponents, 3 tho adverse in raising war and murder, as they do ; and that
134 THE THREE PRINCIPLES [Ch. 9 the spirit of God must needs be in such doings [which are accounted zeal for God] ; and that this must be the way to paradise.
14. Christ said, Love one another, thereby shall men know that you are my disciples ; if any smite you on one cheek, turn to him the other cheek also ; if you be persecuted for my names sake, then rejoice, for your reward is great in the kingdom of heaven : But now there is nothing taught but mere ignominy [reproach, and revilings] : they that are dead many hundred years ago, and are in the judgment of God, and some also may be in paradise, these must be judged, and condemned, and cursed by the wrangling shepherds [or contentious priests]. Does the Holy Ghost speak by them, as they cry out and say he does ? Whereas they are still full of gall and bitterness, and nothing but covetousness and vengeance is kindled in them, and they are far from the way of paradise.
15. Therefore, you child of man, take heed, let not your ears be tickled : When you hear the false shepherds [or pastors] judge and condemn the children of Christ, that is not the voice of Christ, but of Antichrist ; the way to paradise has quite another entrance ; your heart must with all your power and strength be directed to God [or goodness] ; and as God desires that all men should be saved, so his will is that we should help to bear one another's burthen [and bear with one another], and friendly, soberly, and modestly meet one
Ch. 9] OF PARADISE, ETC. 135
another with entreaties in the Holy Ghost, and seek with earnestness the [salvation and] welfare of our neighbour in humility, and wish heartily that he might be freed from vanity, and enter with us into the l garden of roses. J into the
16. The knowledge that is in the infinite God iug pleasant is various and manifold, but every one should pe rejoice in the gifts and knowledge of another, and consider, that God will give such superabundant knowledge in the paradisical world, of which we have here (in the variety and difference of gifts) but a type : Therefore we must not wrangle nor contend about gifts and knowledge ; for the spirit gives to every one according to his essence in the wonderful God, to express that [gift he has] after his own form [or manner] ; for that [form], in the perfection of love in paradise, will be a very inward hearty sport of love, where every one shall speak from his knowledge of the great wonders of the 2 holy birth. 2 the holy
17. 0, what 3 sharp thorns the devil has bringing* brought into the sport of love, that we practise i°bitter en such proud contention in the noble knowledge, insomuch that men bind up the Holy Ghost with laws! What are laws in the kingdom of Christ, who has made us free, that we should walk in him in the Holy Ghost? To what purpose are they invented, but for the pleasure of Antichrist, who thereby does strut in might and pomp, and is God on earth ? 0 fly from him, you child of