3. Dear children, our strife about the highest good consists not in the sword, in killing and slaying, that we should make wars and fight for the cause of God and his kingdom, and so persecute and murder one another, neither doth it consist in much knowing, but merely in a simple, childlike obedience, that we should go out from the will of our flesh, which is bestial, wherein the devil dwelleth, and enter into the will of God: it lieth in no man's opinion or knowledge, for the spirit of God giveth knowledge to every one out of the wonders, out of which he is born.
4. You see how we are put under subjection to the spirit of this world: for when a child is sown in [into] its mother's womb, that spirit is there ready, and formeth it according to the wheel of the outward nature, that giveth condition, will, and disposition to it; that sheweth it the wonders of its secret mystery, and openeth to it the way of the will thereof, that leadeth it into the entrance into its mother, and out of its mother through this world: that giveth its body to the earth, and its soul to hell.
5. Therefore, since we know this, we ought to lift up the spirit of our soul, and make war only against that evil earthly spirit, and oppose it with our soul and body, and not against our brethren and sisters; we cannot overcome the devil with disputing and knowing much; neither can we maintain God's word with wars and the sword, but with the simple obedient life of God, that we be! contented with that little which we have, and depart from the evil lust after pride, into an humble, child-like life, wherein every one should with all diligence perform his work, for the benefit and profit of his brethren and sisters, endeavouring thereby to serve God his Creator, and to pleasure his brother; not seeking his own honour, but with a desire to do so well, that his brother and sister may sincerely love him, and wish all happiness and welfare to him.
6. If you will serve God, give offence to none, that your good and benefit be not hindered; Let not Satan have power over your heart to sift [or prevail with] you; Put away all evil thoughts, instigations, and influxes [of the mind]; for Satan insinuateth himself in the influxes from the spirit of this world, and possesseth your mind; be continually watchful, and strive against him; cast those false and evil influxes upon his head, and send him away with them; and consider that you walk upon a very narrow path between heaven and hell, in very great danger; be at no time secure or careless, for you know not when the spirit of this world will take away from you its own, /or your limit was set in your mother's womb, which you cannot pass, neither do you know the day and hour wherein the spirit of this world will leave you, and then your poor soul will stand quite naked, hungry, and empty, and then if it have not Christ's body on it, it will be captivated by the devil.
7. Dear children, it is a very strait, narrow way that leadeth into God's kingdom; he that will walk therein in this life must [submit and] prepare himself for affliction; for every thing is against him; the devil is altogether against him; his own flesh and blood set themselves earnestly against him; for the spirit of this world, in flesh and blood, seeketh only the matters and dominion of this world: the devil continually sets on his children and servants against him: he [that walks towards heaven] must be trampled upon and despised: he is not in this world acknowledged to be a child of God.
3. Dear children, our strife about the highest good consists not in the sword, in killing and slaying, that we should make wars and fight for the cause of God and his kingdom, and so persecute and murder one another, neither does it consist in much knowing, but merely in a simple, childlike obedience, that we should go out from the will of our flesh, which is bestial, wherein the devil dwells, and enter into the will of God: it lies in no man's opinion or knowledge, for the spirit of God gives knowledge to every one out of the wonders, out of which he is born.
4. You see how we are put under subjection to the spirit of this world: for when a child is sown in [into] its mother's womb, that spirit is there ready, and forms it according to the wheel of the outward nature, that gives condition, will, and disposition to it; that shows it the wonders of its secret mystery, and opens to it the way of the will thereof, that leads it into the entrance into its mother, and out of its mother through this world: that gives its body to the earth, and its soul to hell.
5. Therefore, since we know this, we ought to lift up the spirit of our soul, and make war only against that evil earthly spirit, and oppose it with our soul and body, and not against our brethren and sisters; we cannot overcome the devil with disputing and knowing much; neither can we maintain God's word with wars and the sword, but with the simple obedient life of God, that we be! contented with that little which we have, and depart from the evil lust after pride, into an humble, child-like life, wherein every one should with all diligence perform his work, for the benefit and profit of his brethren and sisters, endeavouring thereby to serve God his Creator, and to pleasure his brother; not seeking his own honour, but with a desire to do so well, that his brother and sister may sincerely love him, and wish all happiness and welfare to him.
6. If you will serve God, give offence to none, that your good and benefit be not hindered; Let not Satan have power over your heart to sift [or prevail with] you; Put away all evil thoughts, instigations, and influxes [of the mind]; for Satan insinuats himself in the influxes from the spirit of this world, and possesses your mind; be continually watchful, and strive against him; cast those false and evil influxes upon his head, and send him away with them; and consider that you walk upon a very narrow path between heaven and hell, in very great danger; be at no time secure or careless, for you know not when the spirit of this world will take away from you its own, /or your limit was set in your mother's womb, which you cannot pass, neither do you know the day and hour wherein the spirit of this world will leave you, and then your poor soul will stand quite naked, hungry, and empty, and then if it have not Christ's body on it, it will be captivated by the devil.
7. Dear children, it is a very strait, narrow way that leads into God's kingdom; he that will walk therein in this life must [submit and] prepare himself for affliction; for every thing is against him; the devil is altogether against him; his own flesh and blood set themselves earnestly against him; for the spirit of this world, in flesh and blood, seeks only the matters and dominion of this world: the devil continually sets on his children and servants against him: he [that walks towards heaven] must be trampled upon and despised: he is not in this world acknowledged to be a child of God.
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