Six Theosophic Points, and Other Writings
himself God's child ; but in this coat man does only his will for him, so that all that the devil cannot or may not do in the external kingdom, that man does for him in his service. The devil may not kill any one, and man does it readily to please him. Neither can the devil use God's creatures, and man misuses them willingly to please him, thereby to mock God. With this he practises pride and covetousness, also falsehood and malice, and accomplishes by them all that the devil would have; he shines also therewith as if he were God.
8. The external kingdom is therefore become a perpetual murderous den of the devil. The false and pretended man (who calls himself a man, but is not) does butchery, and increases God's wrath, and kindles the dark world in this outer world, so that God's wrath continually burns in this world.
9. Thus God's kingdom is hindered, and the devil's will done; and the devil remains a prince on earth, whereas othervrise he could accomplish nothing on earth. The pretended man is in his service, and does his will. Two species of men, then, dwell together on earth. The one are real true men, who serve God in the coat of humiHty and misery, whom the devil derides and torments them with the other species, and in their case brings all his wonders to pass by means of those who serve him.
10. The other species also calls itself men, walk also in human form, but they are evil beasts. They put on the garment of their King, that is to say. Falsehood; and live in the power of the fourp. 116 elements of their king, viz. in pride, covetousness, envy and anger.
11. Pride is the first virtue. It snatches the bread from the mouth of the real man, and coerces the wretched, that it may satisfy itself. It insists that nothing shall be on a level with it; it will be alone the fairest child in the house. It has put on the coat of dissimulation, and would be called righteous; people must honour it and bow themselves before it. Nothing must compare itself to it. It will be lord, and says: I am modest in my demeanour.
12. But its heart is covetousness. That is the wolf, and devours the sweat and labour of the wretched. Pride mounts up above all. It explores daily the wonders of God, to see how it may dissemble and play the hypocrite. It affects to be friendly and chaste, as if it were a virgin full of modesty; and yet is a strumpet full of flaws, and at heart hates all virtue, chastity and righteousness. It is a perpetual enemy of love and humility. Whatever is simple, that it despises ; and yet forces the simple under its yoke. It says to the real true man: Thou art my dog, I will hunt thee whither I list. Thou art foolish, and I am wise; and it is itself the biggest fool. It forfeits God and the kingdom of heaven for a little while's delight of the eyes ; it plunges itself into darkness, and puts on the coat of anxiety.
13. The second virtue of this King Falsehood is covetousness. This draws all to itself, and darkens the shining adornment of pride. It draws
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himself God's child ; but in this coat man does only his will for him, so that all that the devil cannot or may not do in the external kingdom, that man does for him in his service. The devil may not kill any one, and man does it readily to please him. Neither can the devil use God's creatures, and man misuses them willingly to please him, thereby to mock God. With this he practises pride and covetousness, also falsehood and malice, and accomplishes by them all that the devil would have; he shines also therewith as if he were God.
8. The external kingdom is therefore become a perpetual murderous den of the devil. The false and pretended man (who calls himself a man, but is not) does butchery, and increases God's wrath, and kindles the dark world in this outer world, so that God's wrath continually burns in this world.
9. Thus God's kingdom is hindered, and the devil's will done; and the devil remains a prince on earth, whereas othervrise he could accomplish nothing on earth. The pretended man is in his service, and does his will. Two species of men, then, dwell together on earth. The one are real true men, who serve God in the coat of humiHty and misery, whom the devil derides and torments them with the other species, and in their case brings all his wonders to pass by means of those who serve him.
10. The other species also calls itself men, walk also in human form, but they are evil beasts. They put on the garment of their King, that is to say. Falsehood; and live in the power of the fourp. 116 elements of their king, viz. in pride, covetousness, envy and anger.
11. Pride is the first virtue. It snatches the bread from the mouth of the real man, and coerces the wretched, that it may satisfy itself. It insists that nothing shall be on a level with it; it will be alone the fairest child in the house. It has put on the coat of dissimulation, and would be called righteous; people must honour it and bow themselves before it. Nothing must compare itself to it. It will be lord, and says: I am modest in my demeanour.
12. But its heart is covetousness. That is the wolf, and devours the sweat and labour of the wretched. Pride mounts up above all. It explores daily the wonders of God, to see how it may dissemble and play the hypocrite. It affects to be friendly and chaste, as if it were a virgin full of modesty; and yet is a strumpet full of flaws, and at heart hates all virtue, chastity and righteousness. It is a perpetual enemy of love and humility. Whatever is simple, that it despises ; and yet forces the simple under its yoke. It says to the real true man: You are my dog, I will hunt you whither I list. You are foolish, and I am wise; and it is itself the biggest fool. It forfeits God and the kingdom of heaven for a little while's delight of the eyes ; it plunges itself into darkness, and puts on the coat of anxiety.
13. The second virtue of this King Falsehood is covetousness. This draws all to itself, and darkens the shining adornment of pride. It draws
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