38. For the whore will not be converted, she must drink of the dregs of that cup which she hath filled; therefore let every one himself open his own eyes, for God is great, who will judge her: She will continue, and go on in her sins, and at length despair: She crieth, Mordio [Murder, Murder], and yet none hurteth her, but it is her own evil that plagueth and tormenteth her, viz.
the hypocrisy, supposed holiness, high-mindedness, and covetousness: She hath wolves that bite and tear her, yet they are but wolves that do so; and are none of the sheep.
39. Therefore it is necessary to awake, not in much searching after opinions and fooleries, but in seeking thyself; for much searching, without conversion from evil, is mere deceit, and seduction from this way: And though thou shouldst read this a thousand times without conversion of thy will, thou wouldst understand as much of it, as the ass doth of the Psalm-book and just thus it is with the belly-priests, the Antichrist.
40. Do you suppose it a slight matter, to set an ass upon a kingly throne? How then shall the belly-ass stand before God, who setteth himself with an ass's heart in the throne of Christ, which is the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, only for the sake of gain, honour, and esteem, and is merely a teller of stories, or relater of a history, without any knowledge; and besides, is full of blasphemy and wickedness? Or, dost thou suppose thou art fit enough to sit in the throne of Christ, when thou hast studied some arts and foreign languages? Pray consider! Look upon God's choice, upon Abraham, and the patriarchs, also upon Moses and the shepherds, also upon the prophets and apostles, and thou wilt soon see whom God chooseth, and whether he chooseth art or spirit.
41. Therefore be warned, let every one consider the state and condition he is in: He that worketh, worketh the wonders of God, and goeth in simplicity with his will into God's will, and hangeth as a child to God: He hath but two ways to go, one in his work, wherewith he may sustain his body; the other, in the will of God, and so putteth his trust in God, let him make and do with him what he will; and wheresoever he is, or whatsoever he is going about, he saith, Lord, it is my employment, or calling, thy will be done, give me what is good for me; and such go on very rightly in God's works of wonder.
42. But he that is chosen by nature to be a ruler, governor, or leader, especially in a spiritual state and condition, he ought well to have a care of his doings, that he doth not go without his weapons, or armour; for he leadeth the flock of
Christ: He is a shepherd [or pastor], the wolf is continually about him.
43. If he be watchful, and consider that he hath Christ's sheep under his keeping, and feed them aright, as a faithful shepherd, then the shepherd's crook shall be a great glory to him in the eternity: But if he seek only the wool, viz. his own honour and esteem, might, power, and authority, pomp, state, glory, and voluptuousness, and spend or consume the sheep's pasture, and do not give them food and drink, but is a lazy sleeper, snoring in fleshly lust and pleasure, while one sheep is going astray here, and another there, being scattered, and liable to be devoured by wolves; and such as will not go in by the door of the sheepfold, but climb up on the outside, and only contrive how they may by cunning, subtlety, and crafty tricks, steal away their food, and shear off their wool: All such are of the number of wolves, and have not the shepherd's crook of Christ; but they have and use the devil's shears, and must hereafter howl with the wolves eternally.
44. How may any call himself a. shepherd of Christ, who is not chosen to be a shepherd by the spirit of Christ? Or may a wolf make a shepherd over the sheep? Are they not both wolves? Or do we speak from conjecture? It is not so in the order of nature, for an evil thing cannot produce a good thing out of itself, but one evil thing generateth another.
45. How then can one wrathful soldier appease another furious soldier, who fully purposeth to kill, slay, and murder? Or how wilt thou awaken the Holy Ghost in man, seeing there is only the spirit
38. For the whore will not be converted, she must drink of the dregs of that cup which she has filled; therefore let every one himself open his own eyes, for God is great, who will judge her: She will continue, and go on in her sins, and at length despair: She cries, Mordio [Murder, Murder], and yet none hurts her, but it is her own evil that plagus and torments her, viz.
the hypocrisy, supposed holiness, high-mindedness, and covetousness: She has wolves that bite and tear her, yet they are but wolves that do so; and are none of the sheep.
39. Therefore it is necessary to awake, not in much searching after opinions and fooleries, but in seeking yourself; for much searching, without conversion from evil, is mere deceit, and seduction from this way: And though you should read this a thousand times without conversion of your will, you would understand as much of it, as the ass does of the Psalm-book and just thus it is with the belly-priests, the Antichrist.
40. Do you suppose it a slight matter, to set an ass upon a kingly throne? How then shall the belly-ass stand before God, who setts himself with an ass's heart in the throne of Christ, which is the dwelling-place of the Holy Ghost, only for the sake of gain, honour, and esteem, and is merely a teller of stories, or relater of a history, without any knowledge; and besides, is full of blasphemy and wickedness? Or, do you suppose you are fit enough to sit in the throne of Christ, when you have studied some arts and foreign languages? Pray consider! Look upon God's choice, upon Abraham, and the patriarchs, also upon Moses and the shepherds, also upon the prophets and apostles, and you will soon see whom God chooses, and whether he chooses art or spirit.
41. Therefore be warned, let every one consider the state and condition he is in: He that works, works the wonders of God, and goes in simplicity with his will into God's will, and hangs as a child to God: He has but two ways to go, one in his work, wherewith he may sustain his body; the other, in the will of God, and so putts his trust in God, let him make and do with him what he will; and wheresoever he is, or whatsoever he is going about, he says, Lord, it is my employment, or calling, your will be done, give me what is good for me; and such go on very rightly in God's works of wonder.
42. But he that is chosen by nature to be a ruler, governor, or leader, especially in a spiritual state and condition, he ought well to have a care of his doings, that he does not go without his weapons, or armour; for he leads the flock of
Christ: He is a shepherd [or pastor], the wolf is continually about him.
43. If he be watchful, and consider that he has Christ's sheep under his keeping, and feed them aright, as a faithful shepherd, then the shepherd's crook shall be a great glory to him in the eternity: But if he seek only the wool, viz. his own honour and esteem, might, power, and authority, pomp, state, glory, and voluptuousness, and spend or consume the sheep's pasture, and do not give them food and drink, but is a lazy sleeper, snoring in fleshly lust and pleasure, while one sheep is going astray here, and another there, being scattered, and liable to be devoured by wolves; and such as will not go in by the door of the sheepfold, but climb up on the outside, and only contrive how they may by cunning, subtlety, and crafty tricks, steal away their food, and shear off their wool: All such are of the number of wolves, and have not the shepherd's crook of Christ; but they have and use the devil's shears, and must hereafter howl with the wolves eternally.
44. How may any call himself a. shepherd of Christ, who is not chosen to be a shepherd by the spirit of Christ? Or may a wolf make a shepherd over the sheep? Are they not both wolves? Or do we speak from conjecture? It is not so in the order of nature, for an evil thing cannot produce a good thing out of itself, but one evil thing generats another.
45. How then can one wrathful soldier appease another furious soldier, who fully purposes to kill, slay, and murder? Or how will you awaken the Holy Ghost in man, seeing there is only the spirit
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