were together, and had each of them a special gift and knowledge in God, yet they would all be but one in the root of Christ, and would every one desire only the love of God in Christ: What disciple or scholar will exalt himself above his master? We are one body in Christ, why then should one member contend with the other about the food? When the desirous mouth feedeth, then all the members receive strength and virtue; every member hath its own office or work in opening the wonders of God: we do not all bring one and the same words, but one spirit in Christ, every one hath that which is his own imparted to him, what he shall open in God, that the great mysteries of God may be made manifest, and the wonders which have been foreseen from eternity in his wisdom might be revealed: to which end the soul was created of God.
35. 1 know, and the spirit sheweth it to me, that thou, Antichristian sophister, wilt object against me, that even among the Apostles there hath been strife and contention about the words of Christ: It is true indeed, and it was Satan's masterpiece to sift Christ's disciples, and the disciples of those disciples, so soon as they became secure: for they were men as well as we, and one was stronger in spirit than another, according as they did search [or examine] themselves, and raise up themselves in God: for they lived among evil men, and many times must apply themselves to the world, and must give the weak milk to drink, at which others many times stumbled in their reason, and grew hot and zealous, and reproved one another for it; as may be seen about Cornelius, when Peter went in to the heathens, and the other Apostles supposed that the kingdom of God belonged only to Israel.
36. But you are to know, that the love of God is so humble [pliable], that when it hath kindled the soul itself, itself is subject to the soul; but no soul will enjoy that, but those that are humbled in the love of God, and constantly go forth from their desires, that the spirit of God may live in them, and that they may have an eye unto him: the soul is permitted to be zealous, but it doth better to live in meekness, in which it entereth into the
Majesty [of God], and is a totally beloved child;
what doth it avail me that I pour out fire upon my brother, and so burn myself therein? It is more blessed to continue under the cross in patience and in meekness, than to bring fire from heaven.
37. Christ is come to seek and to save that which was lost; not to awaken his anger against us, but that he might help us out of the jaws of the devil; and hath regenerated us in himself to be a living creature in God, and hath brought us quite through the fire of his Father's anger. He hath broken the bands, that we might follow him in love and meekness, as children should follow their parents: Therefore he teacheth us faithfully what we should do, and how we should pray. [Of the Lord's Prayer.]
38. The prayer which he hath taught us is an instruction and teaching of all whatsoever we should do and leave undone; and what we should ask and expect from God: and is always rightly to be understood according to the Three Principles, which we will here make a short introduction to, though it cannot be confined or concluded, for the spirit in the prayer comprehendeth in it the whole eternity, also nature and every thing; so that no tongue can sufficiently expound it. The more it is considered, the more is found in it. Yet we will venture upon it, and give the reader an introduction; not to tie or limit the spirit: for it riseth up in every one's soul, as virtue and power is given from the wonders of God. And so it is also with the Gospel, that is not tied to any exposition: The more any search into it, the more they find therein: for the spirit of God itself teacheth us to pray aright, and also presenteth us to God. For we know not what we should say; our whole business of praying and conversion consisteth only in the will and purpose that we give ourselves up into God; God the Holy Ghost himself maketh the springing and growing up through himself in God, he driveth forth the blossom of the new body of the soul, out from the divine centre forth through the soul, so that the
were together, and had each of them a special gift and knowledge in God, yet they would all be but one in the root of Christ, and would every one desire only the love of God in Christ: What disciple or scholar will exalt himself above his master? We are one body in Christ, why then should one member contend with the other about the food? When the desirous mouth feeds, then all the members receive strength and virtue; every member has its own office or work in opening the wonders of God: we do not all bring one and the same words, but one spirit in Christ, every one has that which is his own imparted to him, what he shall open in God, that the great mysteries of God may be made manifest, and the wonders which have been foreseen from eternity in his wisdom might be revealed: to which end the soul was created of God.
35. 1 know, and the spirit shows it to me, that you, Antichristian sophister, will object against me, that even among the Apostles there has been strife and contention about the words of Christ: It is true indeed, and it was Satan's masterpiece to sift Christ's disciples, and the disciples of those disciples, so soon as they became secure: for they were men as well as we, and one was stronger in spirit than another, according as they did search [or examine] themselves, and raise up themselves in God: for they lived among evil men, and many times must apply themselves to the world, and must give the weak milk to drink, at which others many times stumbled in their reason, and grew hot and zealous, and reproved one another for it; as may be seen about Cornelius, when Peter went in to the heathens, and the other Apostles supposed that the kingdom of God belonged only to Israel.
36. But you are to know, that the love of God is so humble [pliable], that when it has kindled the soul itself, itself is subject to the soul; but no soul will enjoy that, but those that are humbled in the love of God, and constantly go forth from their desires, that the spirit of God may live in them, and that they may have an eye unto him: the soul is permitted to be zealous, but it does better to live in meekness, in which it enters into the
Majesty [of God], and is a totally beloved child;
what does it avail me that I pour out fire upon my brother, and so burn myself therein? It is more blessed to continue under the cross in patience and in meekness, than to bring fire from heaven.
37. Christ is come to seek and to save that which was lost; not to awaken his anger against us, but that he might help us out of the jaws of the devil; and has regenerated us in himself to be a living creature in God, and has brought us quite through the fire of his Father's anger. He has broken the bands, that we might follow him in love and meekness, as children should follow their parents: Therefore he teaches us faithfully what we should do, and how we should pray. [Of the Lord's Prayer.]
38. The prayer which he has taught us is an instruction and teaching of all whatsoever we should do and leave undone; and what we should ask and expect from God: and is always rightly to be understood according to the Three Principles, which we will here make a short introduction to, though it cannot be confined or concluded, for the spirit in the prayer comprehends in it the whole eternity, also nature and every thing; so that no tongue can sufficiently expound it. The more it is considered, the more is found in it. Yet we will venture upon it, and give the reader an introduction; not to tie or limit the spirit: for it rises up in every one's soul, as virtue and power is given from the wonders of God. And so it is also with the Gospel, that is not tied to any exposition: The more any search into it, the more they find therein: for the spirit of God itself teaches us to pray aright, and also presents us to God. For we know not what we should say; our whole business of praying and conversion consists only in the will and purpose that we give ourselves up into God; God the Holy Ghost himself makes the springing and growing up through himself in God, he drivs forth the blossom of the new body of the soul, out from the divine centre forth through the soul, so that the
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