kernel [seed or fruit]; which is indeed the second birth out of the earth, whereby we understand our high descent; but before the Fall, paradise sprang up through all trees, and through all the fruits which God created for man.
16. But when the earth was cursed, the curse entered into all fruits, and then all was evil and good; death and corruption was in them all, which before was but in that one tree only, which was named [the Tree of] Good and Evil; and therefore it is that we eat death in all the fruits, and the spirit [ of] evil and good ruleth in us. The spirit of this world ruleth in us, and so doth the devil with the spirit of anger; and each of them shew forth their wonders in and by man.
[Of the Great Strife about the Image of Man.]
17. There is a great strife about man's image, each kingdom would have it: hell, in the anger saith, It is mine by the right of nature, it is generated out of my root. Also the spirit of the world saith, I have it in my body, and I give it life and nourishment, I bring it up, and give it all my powers and wonders; it is mine. And the kingdom of God saith also, I have set my heart upon it, and have regenerated it, it is proceeded out of my kingdom, I have sought and found it again, it is mine, it must reveal my wonders.
18. Thus there is a vehement strife in and about man: Look upon his conversation and doings; his desire standeth especially in Three Things, and they are Three Kingdoms which rule him: and into which of them he falleth, there he lieth.
19. First, He desireth power, honour, and glory, that all might fear and honour him. This is even the poison of the devil, who hath also such an intention, which he satisfieth by doing as much as he can.
20. Secondly, He desireth riches, goods, and money, much eating and drinking, and careth not by what means he cometh by it; it is the spirit of this world which desireth only shelter and fullness as a beast doth.
21. And, Thirdly, he desireth the kingdom of heaven also, he desireth and panteth after that, but in much weakness, and is always in doubt [thinking] he is a sinner, [and that] God desireth not to have him: yet he sigheth and panteth after it, and would fain be saved: he prayeth and yet doubteth, he hopeth and yet feareth, he hopeth for amendment and deliverance from one day to another, and always supposeth it will be well to-morrow, to-morrow thou wilt have power to go from this [course of] life and enter into another: thus it is always with him.
22. This we do not speak concerning the swinelike men, who lie wallowing in the mire, who never seek for any amendment: but we speak concerning the poor sinners that are between heaven and hell, who have incitements to both of them, and yet are held back.
23. Yet observe what man doth: He followeth all these three [desires] ; he continually seeketh power and honour till his end; he continually hunts after covetousness, money, and goods, to eat and drink; and though he have superfluity, yet in his covetousness he hath not enough; he doth as if he were to live here for ever; and then, thirdly, he hath also panted [after the kingdom of heaven], for the poor soul is very much perplexed, and is ever afraid of the devil, and the anger of God, and would fain be released; but the first two kingdoms do press it down, and bar it up in their prison, insomuch that many a poor soul casteth itself away into the abyss, and despaireth of the kingdom of God.
[Of the Devil, who changeth himself into an
Angel of Light.]
24. They say, The devil cometh to man in the form of an angel, and it is true: Observe what he doth, that he is accounted an angel, and is accounted good; when the poor soul is thus disquieted, and many times presenteth to the body, death and the anger of God, he hindereth not that; he often lets the poor soul run with the body to the houses of stone [to the churches], or whither it will: He puts it on most willingly of all to go to the stone churches, and there saith to the soul, Now thou art godly and devout, thou goest diligently to church.
25. But what doth he then? When any teach of the temple of Christ, and of the New Birth, then he soweth other thoughts into the spirit of
kernel [seed or fruit]; which is indeed the second birth out of the earth, whereby we understand our high descent; but before the Fall, paradise sprang up through all trees, and through all the fruits which God created for man.
16. But when the earth was cursed, the curse entered into all fruits, and then all was evil and good; death and corruption was in them all, which before was but in that one tree only, which was named [the Tree of] Good and Evil; and therefore it is that we eat death in all the fruits, and the spirit [ of] evil and good ruls in us. The spirit of this world ruls in us, and so does the devil with the spirit of anger; and each of them show forth their wonders in and by man.
[Of the Great Strife about the Image of Man.]
17. There is a great strife about man's image, each kingdom would have it: hell, in the anger says, It is mine by the right of nature, it is generated out of my root. Also the spirit of the world says, I have it in my body, and I give it life and nourishment, I bring it up, and give it all my powers and wonders; it is mine. And the kingdom of God says also, I have set my heart upon it, and have regenerated it, it is proceeded out of my kingdom, I have sought and found it again, it is mine, it must reveal my wonders.
18. Thus there is a vehement strife in and about man: Look upon his conversation and doings; his desire stands especially in Three Things, and they are Three Kingdoms which rule him: and into which of them he falls, there he lies.
19. First, He desires power, honour, and glory, that all might fear and honour him. This is even the poison of the devil, who has also such an intention, which he satisfies by doing as much as he can.
20. Secondly, He desires riches, goods, and money, much eating and drinking, and cars not by what means he comes by it; it is the spirit of this world which desires only shelter and fullness as a beast does.
21. And, Thirdly, he desires the kingdom of heaven also, he desires and pants after that, but in much weakness, and is always in doubt [thinking] he is a sinner, [and that] God desires not to have him: yet he sighs and pants after it, and would fain be saved: he prays and yet doubts, he hopes and yet fears, he hopes for amendment and deliverance from one day to another, and always supposes it will be well to-morrow, to-morrow you will have power to go from this [course of] life and enter into another: thus it is always with him.
22. This we do not speak concerning the swinelike men, who lie wallowing in the mire, who never seek for any amendment: but we speak concerning the poor sinners that are between heaven and hell, who have incitements to both of them, and yet are held back.
23. Yet observe what man does: He follows all these three [desires] ; he continually seeks power and honour till his end; he continually hunts after covetousness, money, and goods, to eat and drink; and though he have superfluity, yet in his covetousness he has not enough; he does as if he were to live here for ever; and then, thirdly, he has also panted [after the kingdom of heaven], for the poor soul is very much perplexed, and is ever afraid of the devil, and the anger of God, and would fain be released; but the first two kingdoms do press it down, and bar it up in their prison, insomuch that many a poor soul casts itself away into the abyss, and despairs of the kingdom of God.
[Of the Devil, who changes himself into an
Angel of Light.]
24. They say, The devil comes to man in the form of an angel, and it is true: Observe what he does, that he is accounted an angel, and is accounted good; when the poor soul is thus disquieted, and many times presents to the body, death and the anger of God, he hinders not that; he often lets the poor soul run with the body to the houses of stone [to the churches], or whither it will: He puts it on most willingly of all to go to the stone churches, and there says to the soul, Now you are godly and devout, you go diligently to church.
25. But what does he then? When any teach of the temple of Christ, and of the New Birth, then he sows other thoughts into the spirit of
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