The Forty Questions of the Soul
12. But in its glorification he cannot help it; for that shineth forth out of its own essence and will: The soul of a neighbour goeth no further than death with him (yet it is not the [neighbour's] soul, but the spirit and will of his soul that doth this), and there the anger parteth, and then it is released from the wrath; and then the spirit entereth again into its own soul.
1 Or tedious while.
2 Pfaffe.
13. In Popery, much juggling hath been invented about this, with l masses for souls, and that for money only: but this hath been a great cheat of the 2 priests of Babel; for there is earnestness required to strive with the anger of God, and overcome it.
14. Yet we confess, and acknowledge readily, that the Church of Christ hath great power to ransom such a soul, if with fervency and earnestness it doth it, as it was done in the primitive Church, when they had holy people, and holy 3 priests, who performed their ministry in real earnestness.
15. They indeed effected somewhat, but not in such a way as the 4 Pope boasteth of, saying, that he hath the key, and that he can let out a soul with his 5 blessing when he will, if a man will but give him money: This is a he.
16. If he be holy, then he beareth the 6 great Mystery, and is a shepherd of Christ over his lambs: but then he must, with the congregation, in great earnestness, press into God in great humility, and come to the place of the poor soul, but not for money.
17. There is always covetousness in money, and it never reacheth the earnest
7 Principle; the prayer of the covetous goeth into his chest; we say, that all service which is done in the Church of Christ for money, belongeth to Antichrist in Babel, for 2 their hearts depend upon it: It were better men gave them meat and drink, and necessaries, but no money; and then they should not set their hearts so much upon it.
1 Seele-Messen, soul's-meals.
2 Pfaffen.
3 Priester.
4 Pabst.
5 Or pardon.
6 Mysterium magnum.
7 The first most inward ground.
8 Or they set their hearts upon it.
18. What can a spirit seek and find in the Mystery, when itself is not in the Mystery? O! there is a great deceit in that; when it is day, you will see that it is so: you are still in darkness in the Mystery, so egregiously hath Babel bhnded you.
19. And therefore it is that you have regarded art and favour, and not the spirit of God. Are not notorious delusions come upon you? so that you believe lying spirits, who speak delusions in l hypocrisy; on these you depend, and stick to them, and commit hypocrisy with error: Observe well what the Revelations of John and Daniel telleth you; It is day; the reward will shortly follow.
20. You have teachers now, that wholly 2 suppress the spirit of the primitive Church; try them, and you shall find them to be the whore's wolves, which at first sprang up in the primitive Church when men slept; and these are they that will devour the whore themselves.
21. But try them, they are wolves sent from the 3 turba; they must do it; God permits it so to come to pass, and will have it so, that he may sweep out one besom with another: yet they are besoms, and after the accomplishment of the 4 wonders of the anger, they shall both be delivered to the 5 turba together.
1 fine outside, seeming holiness.
2 Or cast to the ground.
3 sin, malice, and the anger of God, for the destruction of the world.
4 Or workings.
5 Or punishment.
22. Let this spirit tell you this: it is your own prophet; he is born out of your 1 turba, upon the 2 crown: Awake, or else you must be devoured by one another.
23. For it is no stranger that consumeth you, but your own 3 turba, which is come to the hmit. 0! boast not so much as you do of a golden time; it is a time of wonders.
1 dispute, or contention.
2 finishing of the sixth seal.
3 Or sin, or malice.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH QUESTION
What is the Hand of God, and the Bosom of Abraham?
12. But in its glorification he cannot help it; for that shines forth out of its own essence and will: The soul of a neighbour goes no further than death with him (yet it is not the [neighbour's] soul, but the spirit and will of his soul that does this), and there the anger parts, and then it is released from the wrath; and then the spirit enters again into its own soul.
1 Or tedious while.
2 Pfaffe.
13. In Popery, much juggling has been invented about this, with l masses for souls, and that for money only: but this has been a great cheat of the 2 priests of Babel; for there is earnestness required to strive with the anger of God, and overcome it.
14. Yet we confess, and acknowledge readily, that the Church of Christ has great power to ransom such a soul, if with fervency and earnestness it does it, as it was done in the primitive Church, when they had holy people, and holy 3 priests, who performed their ministry in real earnestness.
15. They indeed effected somewhat, but not in such a way as the 4 Pope boasts of, saying, that he has the key, and that he can let out a soul with his 5 blessing when he will, if a man will but give him money: This is a he.
16. If he be holy, then he bears the 6 great Mystery, and is a shepherd of Christ over his lambs: but then he must, with the congregation, in great earnestness, press into God in great humility, and come to the place of the poor soul, but not for money.
17. There is always covetousness in money, and it never reaches the earnest
7 Principle; the prayer of the covetous goes into his chest; we say, that all service which is done in the Church of Christ for money, belongs to Antichrist in Babel, for 2 their hearts depend upon it: It were better men gave them meat and drink, and necessaries, but no money; and then they should not set their hearts so much upon it.
1 Seele-Messen, soul's-meals.
2 Pfaffen.
3 Priester.
4 Pabst.
5 Or pardon.
6 Mysterium magnum.
7 The first most inward ground.
8 Or they set their hearts upon it.
18. What can a spirit seek and find in the Mystery, when itself is not in the Mystery? O! there is a great deceit in that; when it is day, you will see that it is so: you are still in darkness in the Mystery, so egregiously has Babel bhnded you.
19. And therefore it is that you have regarded art and favour, and not the spirit of God. Are not notorious delusions come upon you? so that you believe lying spirits, who speak delusions in l hypocrisy; on these you depend, and stick to them, and commit hypocrisy with error: Observe well what the Revelations of John and Daniel tells you; It is day; the reward will shortly follow.
20. You have teachers now, that wholly 2 suppress the spirit of the primitive Church; try them, and you shall find them to be the whore's wolves, which at first sprang up in the primitive Church when men slept; and these are they that will devour the whore themselves.
21. But try them, they are wolves sent from the 3 turba; they must do it; God permits it so to come to pass, and will have it so, that he may sweep out one besom with another: yet they are besoms, and after the accomplishment of the 4 wonders of the anger, they shall both be delivered to the 5 turba together.
1 fine outside, seeming holiness.
2 Or cast to the ground.
3 sin, malice, and the anger of God, for the destruction of the world.
4 Or workings.
5 Or punishment.
22. Let this spirit tell you this: it is your own prophet; he is born out of your 1 turba, upon the 2 crown: Awake, or else you must be devoured by one another.
23. For it is no stranger that consums you, but your own 3 turba, which is come to the hmit. 0! boast not so much as you do of a golden time; it is a time of wonders.
1 dispute, or contention.
2 finishing of the sixth seal.
3 Or sin, or malice.
THE TWENTY-FIFTH QUESTION
What is the Hand of God, and the Bosom of Abraham?
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