highly and heartily to consider it, that we do not in this world conceive, and let into our hearts, pride and stoutness, also covetousness and oppression of the miserable; for with these we cannot enter into the congregation of Christ, they receive us not into their society, for it is a contrariety to them.
4. For in the kingdom of heaven there is nothing but love and concord: every one inclineth his love and favour to the other, and every one rejoiceth in the gifts, power, and beauty [lustre] of the other, which they have obtained from the Majesty of God: and they all give thanks to God the Father in Christ Jesus, that he hath chosen and received them to be children: for the mighty power of the strong [who have been mighty in faith, and in the wonders of God] rejoiceth for the weak, that the spirit of God is in them, and that they also are in the wonders in the eternal will.
5. Therefore, dear children and brethren in Christ, let us, in this world, enclose our hearts, minds and wills, in humility into one love, that we may be one in Christ: If thou art highly advanced to power, authority, and honour, then be humble, despise not the simple and miserable, but consider that in the other life they shall be in one highness with thee; squeeze not the oppressed; afflict not the afflicted; that they may not take it to heart, and bar up the gates of heaven against thee: if thou art fair, beautiful and comely of body, be not proud; nor do thou despise those that are not like thee, that thy simple brother's and sister's soul may not loathe thee, and reject thee out of their mind: Be humble, that thy brother and sister may rejoice in thee, and present thy beauty to the praise of God, who hath created so beautiful a chaste and humble creature; be modest and friendly in words and works.
6. Thou that art rich, let thy streams flow into the houses of the miserable, that their soul may bless thee: Thou that art in authority, bow not the right [bend not the law] to please the mighty, that the oppressed may bless thee in thy righteousness;
and then thou also art in the congregation of Christ:
If thou art exalted to high dignity, give not place to thy mind to fly [aloft] ; humble thyself in the congregation of Christ, and then the congregation will bless thee, and will receive thee into their love.
7. O how well is it with the rich and potent, when the mean and simple congregation of Christ love and bless them: O how well is it with a teacher and preacher, who is a right minister of Christ, who giveth the meat and drink of Christ to the lambs that are committed to his trust, and refresheth them therewith, so that they yield their souls into his obedience, and heartily love him, and desire all welfare to him! O how happy and shining is he in Christ I How glorious a shepherd is he ! For his lambs follow him, and he bringeth them to the chief shepherd.
8. O how ill a condition is he in whom they curse according to his true deserts ! The bright garment will be taken away from him, and he putteth on the vizor of wickedness: But he that is cursed for righteousness sake, he presseth forth as the gold out of the ore, and putteth on Christ's crown of martyrdom, wherein all the holy souls at the Last Day will highly rejoice, in that he hath continued the stedfast disciple of Christ, who hath not looked upon honour, power, money or goods, but hath rightly fed the sheep of Christ.
9. Dear brethren and sisters in the congregation of Christ, bear with us: Let us a little rejoice one with another: We bear a hearty love towards you, and speak from the spirit of our mother, out of the spirit of the eternal wisdom of God, [viz. from the spirit of humility] .
10. We will speak friendly with you concerning our mother, and concerning our native country. We will speak of great wonders, how things go with us all: and so we will comfort ourselves, for we are in a strange country: We will persuade one another, and agree, and will go home into our own country, to our mother: O how will she rejoice when she seeth her children [come to her into the eternity] : We will tell her of the great afflictions which we underwent in Jericho, we will speak of the great danger we were in, among many evil
highly and heartily to consider it, that we do not in this world conceive, and let into our hearts, pride and stoutness, also covetousness and oppression of the miserable; for with these we cannot enter into the congregation of Christ, they receive us not into their society, for it is a contrariety to them.
4. For in the kingdom of heaven there is nothing but love and concord: every one inclins his love and favour to the other, and every one rejoics in the gifts, power, and beauty [lustre] of the other, which they have obtained from the Majesty of God: and they all give thanks to God the Father in Christ Jesus, that he has chosen and received them to be children: for the mighty power of the strong [who have been mighty in faith, and in the wonders of God] rejoics for the weak, that the spirit of God is in them, and that they also are in the wonders in the eternal will.
5. Therefore, dear children and brethren in Christ, let us, in this world, enclose our hearts, minds and wills, in humility into one love, that we may be one in Christ: If you are highly advanced to power, authority, and honour, then be humble, despise not the simple and miserable, but consider that in the other life they shall be in one highness with you; squeeze not the oppressed; afflict not the afflicted; that they may not take it to heart, and bar up the gates of heaven against you: if you art fair, beautiful and comely of body, be not proud; nor do you despise those that are not like you, that your simple brother's and sister's soul may not loathe you, and reject you out of their mind: Be humble, that your brother and sister may rejoice in you, and present your beauty to the praise of God, who has created so beautiful a chaste and humble creature; be modest and friendly in words and works.
6. You that art rich, let your streams flow into the houses of the miserable, that their soul may bless you: You that art in authority, bow not the right [bend not the law] to please the mighty, that the oppressed may bless you in your righteousness;
and then you also art in the congregation of Christ:
If you are exalted to high dignity, give not place to your mind to fly [aloft] ; humble yourself in the congregation of Christ, and then the congregation will bless you, and will receive you into their love.
7. O how well is it with the rich and potent, when the mean and simple congregation of Christ love and bless them: O how well is it with a teacher and preacher, who is a right minister of Christ, who gives the meat and drink of Christ to the lambs that are committed to his trust, and refreshes them therewith, so that they yield their souls into his obedience, and heartily love him, and desire all welfare to him! O how happy and shining is he in Christ I How glorious a shepherd is he ! For his lambs follow him, and he brings them to the chief shepherd.
8. O how ill a condition is he in whom they curse according to his true deserts ! The bright garment will be taken away from him, and he putts on the vizor of wickedness: But he that is cursed for righteousness sake, he presses forth as the gold out of the ore, and putts on Christ's crown of martyrdom, wherein all the holy souls at the Last Day will highly rejoice, in that he has continued the stedfast disciple of Christ, who has not looked upon honour, power, money or goods, but has rightly fed the sheep of Christ.
9. Dear brethren and sisters in the congregation of Christ, bear with us: Let us a little rejoice one with another: We bear a hearty love towards you, and speak from the spirit of our mother, out of the spirit of the eternal wisdom of God, [viz. from the spirit of humility] .
10. We will speak friendly with you concerning our mother, and concerning our native country. We will speak of great wonders, how things go with us all: and so we will comfort ourselves, for we are in a strange country: We will persuade one another, and agree, and will go home into our own country, to our mother: O how will she rejoice when she sees her children [come to her into the eternity] : We will tell her of the great afflictions which we underwent in Jericho, we will speak of the great danger we were in, among many evil
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