devil grudged us that, and led us into the spirit of this world, which hath awakened all wars and mischief in the anger of God, so that we hate and murder ourselves.
44. Seeing then we are thus begirt with enemies in this valley of misery, so that we grow among thorns and thistles, therefore we ought to watch; for we must watch also over the enemy which we carry in out bosom, viz. our mind and thoughts, for that is the worst enemy; also the devil hath his den of thievery therein, and there is required great labour and toil to cast out that devil: He slips many times into our mind, and leadeth us on in smooth delightful hypocritical ways, so that we suppose we are in God, and that our ways are right: There we should constantly have our touchstone with us, which is the blessed love towards
God and man: We should not take pleasure in ourselves, but we should be of such a conversation, that God and man may take pleasure in us for our virtue; [self-seeking must be quenched, and true resignation and self-denial must grow and flourish].
45. And when we thus converse in the love and the righteousness of God, and in the obedience of faith, then we put on Christ, who setteth the fair orient crown of pearls upon us, viz. the crown, the Mysterium Magnum: He crowneth us with his wisdom, so that we know his wonders, which we were blind in before, as it hath happened to this hand, which before the time of the tenth number, when it was yet in the unit, was as simple in the Mystery as the meanest of all; but, as the gold must be tried in the fire, so also it happened to this hand: corruption and putrefaction were not wanting: Every one would needs tread the simple child under foot; where was the first time that a garland was set upon it: O what great labour and toil did the devil take that he might sully it!
0 how busy was he, which, when I think upon,
1 very much wonder and thank God who hath preserved me ! O how he bestirred himself, that he might tear the garland in pieces! O how eager was he with Antichrist, in putting him on to persecute this hand, that every one might abominate it! But it happened to the devil, as about Christ, when he so set on the pharisaical Antichrist that they crucified Christ; then thought the devil, he is gone now, I shall be quiet enough, and not be troubled with his doctrine, which destroyeth my kingdom; so also here: but he thereby awaked the first storm: Christ stormed his hell, and took him captive in the anger, and so his den of robbery was first opened by this hand, which he shall never be able to shut up again, but it shall stand open till his judgment: This we write for an example to the Reader, that he may know what he must expect in this way, even nothing else but scorn and reproach.
46. But be of good courage, you dear children of God, do but help to wrestle faithfully and valourously, for we all wrestle in this life for an angelical crown, which lord Lucifer had upon his head. And how can he be but angry, who hath lost his country and kingdom, when another cometh and taketh his crown, and throweth him to the ground, and holdeth him captive?
47. But wrestle courageously, you dear children of God, it is but for a little while, and then we shall get the sceptre and crown: It is better to be a lord than a captive slave and servant: The sufferings of this world, if they cannot be avoided, are not worthy to be called sufferings in respect of the great glory, which shall be manifested on us.
48. We stand here between heaven and hell, in a field, and there groweth either an angel, or a devil out of us: Now, therefore, if any one have a love to the kingdom of heaven, and would fain be an angel, he ought to look well to himself: It is soon done with a man: Thou hast free will, whithersoever thou inclinest, there thou art: What thou sowest, that thou shalt also reap:
Let this be told thee [for a warning].
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER
Of Christ's most precious Testaments *, that Fair
Garland of Pearls of the Noble Highly
Precious Stone ** o/The Great Mystery, and
Philosopher's Stone, which the Antichristian
Church danceth about, and is ever seeking it,
but not in the Right Ground and Place.
* Baptism and the Lord's Supper
** Mysterii Magni and Lapidis Philosophorum [philosopher's stone]
devil grudged us that, and led us into the spirit of this world, which has awakened all wars and mischief in the anger of God, so that we hate and murder ourselves.
44. Seeing then we are thus begirt with enemies in this valley of misery, so that we grow among thorns and thistles, therefore we ought to watch; for we must watch also over the enemy which we carry in out bosom, viz. our mind and thoughts, for that is the worst enemy; also the devil has his den of thievery therein, and there is required great labour and toil to cast out that devil: He slips many times into our mind, and leads us on in smooth delightful hypocritical ways, so that we suppose we are in God, and that our ways are right: There we should constantly have our touchstone with us, which is the blessed love towards
God and man: We should not take pleasure in ourselves, but we should be of such a conversation, that God and man may take pleasure in us for our virtue; [self-seeking must be quenched, and true resignation and self-denial must grow and flourish].
45. And when we thus converse in the love and the righteousness of God, and in the obedience of faith, then we put on Christ, who setts the fair orient crown of pearls upon us, viz. the crown, the Mysterium Magnum: He crowns us with his wisdom, so that we know his wonders, which we were blind in before, as it has happened to this hand, which before the time of the tenth number, when it was yet in the unit, was as simple in the Mystery as the meanest of all; but, as the gold must be tried in the fire, so also it happened to this hand: corruption and putrefaction were not wanting: Every one would needs tread the simple child under foot; where was the first time that a garland was set upon it: O what great labour and toil did the devil take that he might sully it!
0 how busy was he, which, when I think upon,
1 very much wonder and thank God who has preserved me ! O how he bestirred himself, that he might tear the garland in pieces! O how eager was he with Antichrist, in putting him on to persecute this hand, that every one might abominate it! But it happened to the devil, as about Christ, when he so set on the pharisaical Antichrist that they crucified Christ; then thought the devil, he is gone now, I shall be quiet enough, and not be troubled with his doctrine, which destroys my kingdom; so also here: but he thereby awaked the first storm: Christ stormed his hell, and took him captive in the anger, and so his den of robbery was first opened by this hand, which he shall never be able to shut up again, but it shall stand open till his judgment: This we write for an example to the Reader, that he may know what he must expect in this way, even nothing else but scorn and reproach.
46. But be of good courage, you dear children of God, do but help to wrestle faithfully and valourously, for we all wrestle in this life for an angelical crown, which lord Lucifer had upon his head. And how can he be but angry, who has lost his country and kingdom, when another comes and takes his crown, and throws him to the ground, and holds him captive?
47. But wrestle courageously, you dear children of God, it is but for a little while, and then we shall get the sceptre and crown: It is better to be a lord than a captive slave and servant: The sufferings of this world, if they cannot be avoided, are not worthy to be called sufferings in respect of the great glory, which shall be manifested on us.
48. We stand here between heaven and hell, in a field, and there grows either an angel, or a devil out of us: Now, therefore, if any one have a love to the kingdom of heaven, and would fain be an angel, he ought to look well to himself: It is soon done with a man: You have free will, whithersoever you inclinest, there you are: What you sowest, that you shall also reap:
Let this be told you [for a warning].
THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER
Of Christ's most precious Testaments *, that Fair
Garland of Pearls of the Noble Highly
Precious Stone ** o/The Great Mystery, and
Philosopher's Stone, which the Antichristian
Church dancs about, and is ever seeking it,
but not in the Right Ground and Place.
* Baptism and the Lord's Supper
** Mysterii Magni and Lapidis Philosophorum [philosopher's stone]
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