30. With this whore of self; all the false spiritual ones 1 [or priesthood] have clothed themselves; who set up themselves to be teachers of the mystery of God's kingdom, without God's spirit. Outwardly they have covered themselves with the prophetical and Apostolical word, and pleaded the testimony of the Bible. But they have introduced their own sense out of the whore's ens thereinto, and have hung, in their heart, to the Babylonical fleshly whore, and have not understood the prophetical and Apostolical tongue [in its sense].
31. They have spoken from the sense of their own bestial selfhood, through the prophetical and Apostolical word, and have brought and used Christ's words to their own selfish Babylonical harlotry, and committed whoredom; and likewise have adorned and trimmed up their bastard, under Christ's purple mantle, with silver, gold, and precious stones, and also with worldly dignities, honours, favour and riches.
32. After these, men have run, and have even adored and esteemed them as gods, falling deeply in love with their bastard; although their hearts have never agreed, or stood upon the only true ground, [but have been at variance with each other] . And this is that of which the prophet Daniel speaks, saying, they shall honour a god, whom their fathers knew not, with gold, silver and precious stones (Daniel xi. 38, 39); and unto those that help them to strengthen their [strange god] Maiisim, 2 they will divide the land for inheritance. This whole chapter does belong hereunto.
1 Clergical and ecclesiastical. 2 God of forces.
33. Now, when we consider aright what this Babylonical tower is at present, in Christ's kingdom upon the earth, and what it was under
Moses, and among the Gentiles, then we find very clearly, that among all three it is of one property; and so also among the Turks and present Jews: every nation builds it, out of its own materials, for in the right universal sensual tongue (if it be manifest in one) we are altogether but one only people and nation, even from Adam.
34. But the very cause that we are divided, and brought into opinions, is by reason of our master-builders and founders, viz. of the high schools, priests, popes, bishops, doctors, also the rabbis and masters of all nations, who are set as workmen to the building of the tower. All these have judged from their own language and natural understanding, viz. from their conceived and formed sensual tongue, from the outward letter; and have indeed neither known God nor the light of nature; but have been blind and dumb as to both; both the Jews and Gentiles; and also the self-made teachers of the Christians.
35. Whosoever have run, devoid of God's spirit, without divine understanding, either among Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Turks, they have built only this tower in their own essence; and the same is even a tower of the great wonders of God, of divine contemplation both according to light and darkness, life and death, joy and sorrow.
30. With this whore of self; all the false spiritual ones 1 [or priesthood] have clothed themselves; who set up themselves to be teachers of the mystery of God's kingdom, without God's spirit. Outwardly they have covered themselves with the prophetical and Apostolical word, and pleaded the testimony of the Bible. But they have introduced their own sense out of the whore's ens thereinto, and have hung, in their heart, to the Babylonical fleshly whore, and have not understood the prophetical and Apostolical tongue [in its sense].
31. They have spoken from the sense of their own bestial selfhood, through the prophetical and Apostolical word, and have brought and used Christ's words to their own selfish Babylonical harlotry, and committed whoredom; and likewise have adorned and trimmed up their bastard, under Christ's purple mantle, with silver, gold, and precious stones, and also with worldly dignities, honours, favour and riches.
32. After these, men have run, and have even adored and esteemed them as gods, falling deeply in love with their bastard; although their hearts have never agreed, or stood upon the only true ground, [but have been at variance with each other] . And this is that of which the prophet Daniel speaks, saying, they shall honour a god, whom their fathers knew not, with gold, silver and precious stones (Daniel xi. 38, 39); and unto those that help them to strengthen their [strange god] Maiisim, 2 they will divide the land for inheritance. This whole chapter does belong hereunto.
1 Clergical and ecclesiastical. 2 God of forces.
33. Now, when we consider aright what this Babylonical tower is at present, in Christ's kingdom upon the earth, and what it was under
Moses, and among the Gentiles, then we find very clearly, that among all three it is of one property; and so also among the Turks and present Jews: every nation builds it, out of its own materials, for in the right universal sensual tongue (if it be manifest in one) we are altogether but one only people and nation, even from Adam.
34. But the very cause that we are divided, and brought into opinions, is by reason of our master-builders and founders, viz. of the high schools, priests, popes, bishops, doctors, also the rabbis and masters of all nations, who are set as workmen to the building of the tower. All these have judged from their own language and natural understanding, viz. from their conceived and formed sensual tongue, from the outward letter; and have indeed neither known God nor the light of nature; but have been blind and dumb as to both; both the Jews and Gentiles; and also the self-made teachers of the Christians.
35. Whosoever have run, devoid of God's spirit, without divine understanding, either among Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Turks, they have built only this tower in their own essence; and the same is even a tower of the great wonders of God, of divine contemplation both according to light and darkness, life and death, joy and sorrow.
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