enclosed in the mother's womb, as in two tinctures; one out of the eternal matrix, as the tincture of the soul; and the other out of the centre of this world, as from the spirit and life of this world; so that often a whole false soul is figured (according to the devil's will), and so is captivated by the anger; and then also the spirit of this world, (if it be in a good constellation at the time of the spirit's awakening), oftentimes figureth a very friendly, lovely, outward spirit, which can give good words cheap enough, and yet its soul is a devil: He giveth sweet words with his mouth, and the spirit of his heart is poison, and he thinketh only how to do evil or mischief, and that with a pretence of fair carriage to hide it; and such an one dwelleth in two kingdoms, viz. in this world, and with the devil: He doth not believe in any God at all, for he accounts himself a god; and although he liveth in the history as an hypocrite, as if he were the child of God, that he doth for a show; and so the devil tickleth his heart, so that he supposeth the kingdom of God consisteth in an historical knowledge; if he can tell that there is one God in three Persons, and that God became man, and hath turned his grace and favour towards us, then he is Christian, and the child of God [enough].
43. Some ascribe to the sophister power and authority to forgive sins: but he that is a sophister, and attributeth such a power and authority to himself without the will of God, without entering with his will into God, he is the devil's and Antichrist's priest, as well as the hypocrite which hangeth on the history, and accounteth the knowledge [of that] for faith: No, righteousness and truth must follow faith; and although the devil, in the outward spirit, (being evil in respect of its constellation), assaulteth man, and often overthroweth him, yet the heart suddenly desireth righteousness and truth again, and is at variance with the devil concerning the sin committed.
44. But a false wicked soul careth not for righteousness: If it can but cover its sin, then it is well enough: It seeketh merely to deceive under an outward appearance, which it carrieth about in the hypocritical spirit of this world: Its holiness is a mere outward show, and it knoweth not the will of God at all; but it supposeth the will of God consisteth in ceremonies; but the ceremonies are of this world, and are but signs, that the simple laity [or common people] might consider what God hath to do with man.
45. The covenants of the most precious testament, which the hypocrite useth for a show, are no benefit to him: He doth but provoke God to anger, in that he will go about to make God a dissembler, to cover his own wickedness.
46. O thou Antichristian world, what mischief hast thou done with thy ceremonies, in that thou hast set them in the place of God? If thou hadst declared to sinners God's anger and punishment, and the devil's false lust, and how a sinner must go forth from his sins into the will of God, and with true sorrow and repentance, in a right trust and confidence, be born again in God, and that God only seeketh and would have the abyss of the heart, viz. the soul, and that all false and wicked lusts and desires must be removed out of the heart, O how well hadst thou taught!
47. But the Councils [Nice, Trent, etc.] have been brought in, only that thou mightest be lord over silver and gold, and over the souls, minds, and consciences of men; and so thou art indeed the Antichrist in thy hypocrisy and appearing holiness: Thou hast instituted ceremonies, and glisterest in imitation of
Aaron; but why do you not live in the obedience of Aaron towards God? Every one looketh upon the fine hypocritical performance of the work, and his heart is carried away towards the hypocrisy, and supposeth, that when it keepeth or celebrateth the ceremonies, that it is an atonement of the anger of God; but it is idolatry, and that which entangleth the heart, and leadeth it captive in the hypocrisy: It were better to use no ceremonies, but barely to perform the express command of
God, which he hath left us in his covenant and testament: The congregation of Christ can well
enclosed in the mother's womb, as in two tinctures; one out of the eternal matrix, as the tincture of the soul; and the other out of the centre of this world, as from the spirit and life of this world; so that often a whole false soul is figured (according to the devil's will), and so is captivated by the anger; and then also the spirit of this world, (if it be in a good constellation at the time of the spirit's awakening), oftentimes figures a very friendly, lovely, outward spirit, which can give good words cheap enough, and yet its soul is a devil: He gives sweet words with his mouth, and the spirit of his heart is poison, and he thinks only how to do evil or mischief, and that with a pretence of fair carriage to hide it; and such an one dwells in two kingdoms, viz. in this world, and with the devil: He does not believe in any God at all, for he accounts himself a god; and although he lives in the history as an hypocrite, as if he were the child of God, that he does for a show; and so the devil tickls his heart, so that he supposes the kingdom of God consists in an historical knowledge; if he can tell that there is one God in three Persons, and that God became man, and has turned his grace and favour towards us, then he is Christian, and the child of God [enough].
43. Some ascribe to the sophister power and authority to forgive sins: but he that is a sophister, and attributs such a power and authority to himself without the will of God, without entering with his will into God, he is the devil's and Antichrist's priest, as well as the hypocrite which hangs on the history, and accounts the knowledge [of that] for faith: No, righteousness and truth must follow faith; and although the devil, in the outward spirit, (being evil in respect of its constellation), assaults man, and often overthrows him, yet the heart suddenly desires righteousness and truth again, and is at variance with the devil concerning the sin committed.
44. But a false wicked soul cars not for righteousness: If it can but cover its sin, then it is well enough: It seeks merely to deceive under an outward appearance, which it carries about in the hypocritical spirit of this world: Its holiness is a mere outward show, and it knows not the will of God at all; but it supposes the will of God consists in ceremonies; but the ceremonies are of this world, and are but signs, that the simple laity [or common people] might consider what God has to do with man.
45. The covenants of the most precious testament, which the hypocrite uses for a show, are no benefit to him: He does but provoke God to anger, in that he will go about to make God a dissembler, to cover his own wickedness.
46. O you Antichristian world, what mischief have you done with your ceremonies, in that you have set them in the place of God? If you had declared to sinners God's anger and punishment, and the devil's false lust, and how a sinner must go forth from his sins into the will of God, and with true sorrow and repentance, in a right trust and confidence, be born again in God, and that God only seeks and would have the abyss of the heart, viz. the soul, and that all false and wicked lusts and desires must be removed out of the heart, O how well had you taught!
47. But the Councils [Nice, Trent, etc.] have been brought in, only that you might be lord over silver and gold, and over the souls, minds, and consciences of men; and so you are indeed the Antichrist in your hypocrisy and appearing holiness: You have instituted ceremonies, and glisterest in imitation of
Aaron; but why do you not live in the obedience of Aaron towards God? Every one looks upon the fine hypocritical performance of the work, and his heart is carried away towards the hypocrisy, and supposes, that when it keeps or celebrats the ceremonies, that it is an atonement of the anger of God; but it is idolatry, and that which entangls the heart, and leads it captive in the hypocrisy: It were better to use no ceremonies, but barely to perform the express command of
God, which he has left us in his covenant and testament: The congregation of Christ can well
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