the only way to get happiness; and so, if they have riches, honour and power, then they have goods indeed; but if any consider it, it is no better with these than others, and besides, the poor soul is lost thereby.
20. For the dainties of the rich relish not so well with them as a bit of bread doth to the hungry: There is every where, care, sorrow, vexation, fear, sickness; and at last death: All in this world is but mere foppery: The mighty sit in the dominion of the spirit of this world; and they that fear God sit in the dominion of the divine power and wisdom: The dominion of this world taketh its end with the dying of the body; and the dominion in the spirit of God continueth standing eternally.
21. It is a very lamentable thing that man runneth so eagerly after that which would run after man if he were righteous and honest: he runneth after cares and sorrows, and they run after him; he is as if he were continually mad; he maketh disquiet to himself; if he would be contented, he would have rest and quiet enough. He putteth an eating worm [or cancer] into his heart that a plagueth and tormenteth him, and causeth an evil conscience that gnaweth him, and he is a mere fool with all this: for he leaveth his goods to others, and taketh the gnawing worm in the evil conscience with him from this world; and that which plagueth him eternally, that he holdethfor his treasure.
There cannot be a greater folly found under the sun than this, That man, who is the noblest and most rational creature in this world, should, in covetousness, be the greatest fool of all, to hunt and press so eagerly after that which he hath no need of; for every one hath his sufficient portion given him from the spirit of this world, if he would but be contented with it.
22. Thus one man is a devil to another; and they torment one another; and all the business is but about a handful of earth, or for a stone, of which the earth hath enough; And must not that be a wonder indeed? Doth not the fierce hellish spirit accomplish its wonders according to its wish in man? As the Book of the Revelation witnesseth; where one seal of anger hath been opened after another, and men are become the servants and ministers of wrath; they have wilfully entered upon it with their blood and goods [or estate], and thought they did God good service in it.
23. O blind man! how art thou captivated in the anger! What dost thou, or where art thou? Why dost thou suffer the devil to befool thee? Heaven and earth is wholly thine, God will give it thee all: He hath given thee all: thou hast a natural right and propriety in it; the sun and the stars are thine, thou art lord of all; let now thy foolish will go: Why dost thou give thyself up into covetousness and haughtiness? Doth not the kingdom of God consist in love and humility?
24. Or dost thou suppose it is so good to dwell in the wrath ? Behold, when the light of thy eyes doth cease, then thou goest into darkness, and takest thy folly, to which thou hast here addicted thyself, along with thee: Is then the darkness better than the eternal light? Ask the night whether it is better than the day. Or dost thou suppose that we are mad that we speak thus? We speak what we see, and testify what we know, and thou art blind.
25. Thus art thou blinded by the Babylonish whore, which the covetous devil brought forth when men were secure and careless, when they loathed the word and spirit of God, as the Revelation of John testifieth, saying; / will come and take away thy candlestick from thee: And Paul saith; God shall suffer powerful errors to fall among them, that they shall believe the spirit of lying, which speaketh lies in hypocrisy and deceit; [So that] they will stick close [cleave] to the devils. But in the Last Time (saith the prophet David) shall the word of the Lord spring up like grass upon the earth: open wide the gates in the world and set open the doors, that the Lord may enter in: Who is the Lord? He is the champion in the battle; all swords and spears shall be turned into ploughshares and sickles (saith the prophet of God), and it shall be done: whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
the only way to get happiness; and so, if they have riches, honour and power, then they have goods indeed; but if any consider it, it is no better with these than others, and besides, the poor soul is lost thereby.
20. For the dainties of the rich relish not so well with them as a bit of bread does to the hungry: There is every where, care, sorrow, vexation, fear, sickness; and at last death: All in this world is but mere foppery: The mighty sit in the dominion of the spirit of this world; and they that fear God sit in the dominion of the divine power and wisdom: The dominion of this world takes its end with the dying of the body; and the dominion in the spirit of God continues standing eternally.
21. It is a very lamentable thing that man runns so eagerly after that which would run after man if he were righteous and honest: he runns after cares and sorrows, and they run after him; he is as if he were continually mad; he makes disquiet to himself; if he would be contented, he would have rest and quiet enough. He putts an eating worm [or cancer] into his heart that a plagus and torments him, and causes an evil conscience that gnaws him, and he is a mere fool with all this: for he leaves his goods to others, and takes the gnawing worm in the evil conscience with him from this world; and that which plagus him eternally, that he holdethfor his treasure.
There cannot be a greater folly found under the sun than this, That man, who is the noblest and most rational creature in this world, should, in covetousness, be the greatest fool of all, to hunt and press so eagerly after that which he has no need of; for every one has his sufficient portion given him from the spirit of this world, if he would but be contented with it.
22. Thus one man is a devil to another; and they torment one another; and all the business is but about a handful of earth, or for a stone, of which the earth has enough; And must not that be a wonder indeed? Does not the fierce hellish spirit accomplish its wonders according to its wish in man? As the Book of the Revelation witnesses; where one seal of anger has been opened after another, and men are become the servants and ministers of wrath; they have wilfully entered upon it with their blood and goods [or estate], and thought they did God good service in it.
23. O blind man! how art you captivated in the anger! What do you, or where art you? Why do you suffer the devil to befool you? Heaven and earth is wholly your, God will give it you all: He has given you all: you have a natural right and propriety in it; the sun and the stars are your, you are lord of all; let now your foolish will go: Why do you give yourself up into covetousness and haughtiness? Does not the kingdom of God consist in love and humility?
24. Or do you suppose it is so good to dwell in the wrath ? Behold, when the light of your eyes does cease, then you go into darkness, and takest your folly, to which you have here addicted yourself, along with you: Is then the darkness better than the eternal light? Ask the night whether it is better than the day. Or do you suppose that we are mad that we speak thus? We speak what we see, and testify what we know, and you are blind.
25. Thus art you blinded by the Babylonish whore, which the covetous devil brought forth when men were secure and careless, when they loathed the word and spirit of God, as the Revelation of John testifies, saying; / will come and take away your candlestick from you: And Paul says; God shall suffer powerful errors to fall among them, that they shall believe the spirit of lying, which speaks lies in hypocrisy and deceit; [So that] they will stick close [cleave] to the devils. But in the Last Time (says the prophet David) shall the word of the Lord spring up like grass upon the earth: open wide the gates in the world and set open the doors, that the Lord may enter in: Who is the Lord? He is the champion in the battle; all swords and spears shall be turned into ploughshares and sickles (says the prophet of God), and it shall be done: whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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