not aright, let them look to it: O no, it concerns your very self, it will cost the loss of your body and soul. Dear Christendom is departed from all the apostolical ordinances, virtue, and power, into human inventions and institutions; and instead of Christ's kingdom, there is a pompous, stately, hypocritical one set up, by Baptism and the [Lord's] Supper.
43. Men set up ceremonies: O, if they had kept the true faith, and had shewn people the divine way into the new regeneration: If they had shewn them the clear countenance of God, then people had departed from their sins into a divine life.
44. But thy wit and subtlety, O thou whore, hath blinded all: If my eyes had not been opened by God, how should I have known thee? I should indeed have still worshipped thee: The world shall seek thee, and at length find thee; and then
Europe shall be a crown, and Asia the man [or husband], and
Africa the country, and a simple shepherd shall lead us to pasture: If thou didst understand this, thou wouldst enter into thyself; but thou wilt be blind till thou art recompensed: As thou hast poured forth affliction, so thou shalt drink up misery and torment, for thou hast made it so very great as it is, and art a wild tree, and shalt be broken off: There is no remedy, thy own wrath casteth thee to the ground; for thou art weighed in a balance, and art found too light, saith the spirit of the Great Wonders.
The Magia out of the Wonders.
45. A thing which groweth out of a beginning, hath beginning and end, and groweth no higher than that thing hath in its number out of which it groweth; but that which in the one number [or unit number] is incorruptible, for it is but one and no more, there is nothing in it that can break it; for, not any thing that is one is at enmity with itself; but when there are two things in one, there is plain contrariety and strife; for that which is one striveth not against itself, but draweth into itself, and out of itself, and remaineth one, and though it seek more in itself, yet it findeth no more, and that can never be at odds with itself; for it is one thing, whithersoever it goeth, it goeth in one will; for where there are two wills, there is division or separation; for one will often goeth inward and the other outward; and then, if that thing have a body, then that kingdom or government in that body is at odds: And so if one enter into the other with enmity, there that is a contrary will which goeth in against the other, and then therein dwelleth the third number, and the third number is a mixed essence out of the first two, and is against them both, and will be its own, and yet hath also two wills in itself from the first two, one whereof tendeth to the right hand, and the other to the left.
46. Thus the thing riseth up from two into many, and every one hath its own will, and if it be in one [only] body, then it is at odds with itself, for it hath many wills, and needeth a judge to part them, and keep the wills in awe; but if the wills be strong, and will not be kept under in awe by the judge, but go out aloft, then of one government [or kingdom] there becometh two, for that which is flown out judgeth or ruleth itself according to its own will, and hateth the first, because that is not in its will, and so there is a strife, one desiring to keep down the other, and so to elevate itself alone
not aright, let them look to it: O no, it concerns your very self, it will cost the loss of your body and soul. Dear Christendom is departed from all the apostolical ordinances, virtue, and power, into human inventions and institutions; and instead of Christ's kingdom, there is a pompous, stately, hypocritical one set up, by Baptism and the [Lord's] Supper.
43. Men set up ceremonies: O, if they had kept the true faith, and had shown people the divine way into the new regeneration: If they had shown them the clear countenance of God, then people had departed from their sins into a divine life.
44. But your wit and subtlety, O you whore, has blinded all: If my eyes had not been opened by God, how should I have known you? I should indeed have still worshipped you: The world shall seek you, and at length find you; and then
Europe shall be a crown, and Asia the man [or husband], and
Africa the country, and a simple shepherd shall lead us to pasture: If you did understand this, you would enter into yourself; but you will be blind till you are recompensed: As you have poured forth affliction, so you shall drink up misery and torment, for you have made it so very great as it is, and art a wild tree, and shall be broken off: There is no remedy, your own wrath casts you to the ground; for you are weighed in a balance, and art found too light, says the spirit of the Great Wonders.
The Magia out of the Wonders.
45. A thing which grows out of a beginning, has beginning and end, and grows no higher than that thing has in its number out of which it grows; but that which in the one number [or unit number] is incorruptible, for it is but one and no more, there is nothing in it that can break it; for, not any thing that is one is at enmity with itself; but when there are two things in one, there is plain contrariety and strife; for that which is one strives not against itself, but draws into itself, and out of itself, and remains one, and though it seek more in itself, yet it finds no more, and that can never be at odds with itself; for it is one thing, whithersoever it goes, it goes in one will; for where there are two wills, there is division or separation; for one will often goes inward and the other outward; and then, if that thing have a body, then that kingdom or government in that body is at odds: And so if one enter into the other with enmity, there that is a contrary will which goes in against the other, and then therein dwells the third number, and the third number is a mixed essence out of the first two, and is against them both, and will be its own, and yet has also two wills in itself from the first two, one whereof tends to the right hand, and the other to the left.
46. Thus the thing rises up from two into many, and every one has its own will, and if it be in one [only] body, then it is at odds with itself, for it has many wills, and needs a judge to part them, and keep the wills in awe; but if the wills be strong, and will not be kept under in awe by the judge, but go out aloft, then of one government [or kingdom] there becomes two, for that which is flown out judges or ruls itself according to its own will, and hates the first, because that is not in its will, and so there is a strife, one desiring to keep down the other, and so to elevate itself alone
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