thou art not capable of it, and that the priest only is capable of it; but if thou art in Christ, thou hast all free [unto thee], thou hast his covenant, [together] with the Baptism and Sacrament, and the body and blood of Christ therein; but the covenant belongeth to the believers, and not to the sophisters; Christ's disciples, and again their disciples, and successors, have baptized; and the believing church or congregation have broken bread in houses, and where they could, and have fed upon the body and blood of Christ: The Temple of God was everywhere, wheresoever Christians were met together.
77. We do not mention this for the pulling down of churches, in which Christ's office is exercised; but we shew you the hypocrites, who bind you wholly to them, that you may go out from them, and go to the congregation of Christ, into the temple of Christ, and that you may not rest satisfied merely with the churches of stone walls, for they are only a heap of stones, which is a dead thing; but Christ's Temple is living.
78. You are all agreed about the church, and go diligently thither, but none will enter into the temple of Christ: But pray go into the temple of Christ, and then of dead you will become living: There is no other remedy, neither in heaven, nor in this world: It must be so, or else you remain in darkness.
79. Not that we judge so rigorously, for the will of God standeth open for all men, by what name soever they are called: A Heathen may be saved, if he turn to the living God, and with true reliance yield himself up to the will of God, for then he cometh into the will of God, though he knoweth not what the kingdom of Christ is; and in the will of God, there is the Heart of God, and Christ hath the Heart of God in him, for such an one doth truly believe: Yea, one that is dumb and deaf is saved, that never heard of God at all, if he incline his imagination unto obedience, into the will and righteousness of God.
80. Who will judge such an one ? Wilt thou, sophister, do it? Thou who makest [Articles of] Faith out of opinions? What need opinions? Opinions are not the spirit of Christ, which is a quickening spirit; but Christ's spirit testifieth to our spirits, that we are the children of God: It is in us; what need we then seek so long after opinions? We say, that in all [sorts of] opinions there is heresy, as also Antichrist. But if you have the words of Christ, cleave to them sincerely, not only to the letter, but to the living
Word, which is God and man. That is the Scripture which you should read and preach out of Christ's spirit, and not out of conjecture: but if you cannot apprehend that, why then do you teach so much, and contrive opinions? Do you suppose God to be a liar, as you are, that he should hold your invented opinions to be his Word, whereas you are but dead to God? He that hath an opinion whether a thing be or no, he is in doubt: Now doubting is not believing, but is a dangerous way to go.
81. But now the troubled soul, which is thus tossed to and fro, from one conceit and opinion to another, when it perceiveth every one to cry out, Here is Christ, Here is Christ; follow me: the other party are heretics, and speak from a false spirit: The soul then asketh, To what party shall I turn and apply myself? Whither shall I go, that I may hear the right gospel preached? Where shall I find Christ? They all curse and judge one another, and yet I hear them all speak from the Bible, and confirm their doctrine from thence, and teach the way of God: What shall I do? For I find them to be so spiteful and bitter one against another, and they ride up and down in the hearts of princes, and stir up wars and persecutions for the cause of faith and religion, and deliver one another up to the devil, and say one of another, that the devil speaks out of this and that man, he is a heretic, fly away from him.
The Gate o/TMMANUEL.
82. Behold, dear soul, how faithfully Christ warneth us concerning these times, concerning which we have been hitherto blind: For these false
you are not capable of it, and that the priest only is capable of it; but if you are in Christ, you have all free [unto you], you have his covenant, [together] with the Baptism and Sacrament, and the body and blood of Christ therein; but the covenant belongs to the believers, and not to the sophisters; Christ's disciples, and again their disciples, and successors, have baptized; and the believing church or congregation have broken bread in houses, and where they could, and have fed upon the body and blood of Christ: The Temple of God was everywhere, wheresoever Christians were met together.
77. We do not mention this for the pulling down of churches, in which Christ's office is exercised; but we show you the hypocrites, who bind you wholly to them, that you may go out from them, and go to the congregation of Christ, into the temple of Christ, and that you may not rest satisfied merely with the churches of stone walls, for they are only a heap of stones, which is a dead thing; but Christ's Temple is living.
78. You are all agreed about the church, and go diligently thither, but none will enter into the temple of Christ: But pray go into the temple of Christ, and then of dead you will become living: There is no other remedy, neither in heaven, nor in this world: It must be so, or else you remain in darkness.
79. Not that we judge so rigorously, for the will of God stands open for all men, by what name soever they are called: A Heathen may be saved, if he turn to the living God, and with true reliance yield himself up to the will of God, for then he comes into the will of God, though he knows not what the kingdom of Christ is; and in the will of God, there is the Heart of God, and Christ has the Heart of God in him, for such an one does truly believe: Yea, one that is dumb and deaf is saved, that never heard of God at all, if he incline his imagination unto obedience, into the will and righteousness of God.
80. Who will judge such an one ? Wilt you, sophister, do it? You who makest [Articles of] Faith out of opinions? What need opinions? Opinions are not the spirit of Christ, which is a quickening spirit; but Christ's spirit testifies to our spirits, that we are the children of God: It is in us; what need we then seek so long after opinions? We say, that in all [sorts of] opinions there is heresy, as also Antichrist. But if you have the words of Christ, cleave to them sincerely, not only to the letter, but to the living
Word, which is God and man. That is the Scripture which you should read and preach out of Christ's spirit, and not out of conjecture: but if you cannot apprehend that, why then do you teach so much, and contrive opinions? Do you suppose God to be a liar, as you are, that he should hold your invented opinions to be his Word, whereas you are but dead to God? He that has an opinion whether a thing be or no, he is in doubt: Now doubting is not believing, but is a dangerous way to go.
81. But now the troubled soul, which is thus tossed to and fro, from one conceit and opinion to another, when it perceives every one to cry out, Here is Christ, Here is Christ; follow me: the other party are heretics, and speak from a false spirit: The soul then asks, To what party shall I turn and apply myself? Whither shall I go, that I may hear the right gospel preached? Where shall I find Christ? They all curse and judge one another, and yet I hear them all speak from the Bible, and confirm their doctrine from thence, and teach the way of God: What shall I do? For I find them to be so spiteful and bitter one against another, and they ride up and down in the hearts of princes, and stir up wars and persecutions for the cause of faith and religion, and deliver one another up to the devil, and say one of another, that the devil speaks out of this and that man, he is a heretic, fly away from him.
The Gate o/TMMANUEL.
82. Behold, dear soul, how faithfully Christ warns us concerning these times, concerning which we have been hitherto blind: For these false
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.