so that the spirits of the letters cannot any more introduce themselves into a self-full compaction of the sensual tongue; for they are dead in their own will; and the spirit JEHOVAH in JESUS is become their life; so that they live no longer to their selfhood, viz. to the nature of the wrath; but in that they live, they live to God (Rom. vi. 11).
49. Thus now the beast of the whore is in us outwardly, viz. in the mortal man; and inwardly is Christ in the immortal man, who is passed through the death of the letters and has turned the death into life (John v. 24).
50. Now it behoves man, and his main happiness depends thereon, that he also die unto the images of the letters in him; and disclaim or depart from all reasons, scholarship, or knowledge of nature, and all Babylonical master-builders, however they be called; and enter into the one only life, JEHSUS; and not at all dispute about the way, where it is; but only think 1 that it is in him; that he must forsake all, whatever he has, either art, wit or skill, etc., and become one barely and nakedly in himself; bring himself into the ONE, viz. into God's will, and be freely willing with whatsoever it will work or do with him. He must give up himself will-less; and leave himself wholly in God's mercy; and bring all his learnings into this one only thing; that he, in his teachings and learnings, will not do or speak anything but what God wills through him. And thus all images [opinions and conceits] do die in him; and the soul's life falls into the only living Word, which has manifested itself again in the humanity.
1 Or consider.
51. For this is the great beast of the Babylonical whore in us: that we bring ourselves into the images and forms of the letters; and make opinions to ourselves: that opinion is a beast.
52. Also we must not desire to know and will, ourselves; but die continually with our own self-will; and in all things give God the honour; and give him again that which he gives us, viz. whatsoever understanding, wisdom and skill we have; and acknowledge that it is not our own, but that the divine sun shines out of and through us, and works in us as it pleases.
53. Thus likewise we must diffuse and give out again, universally to all, our power and virtue, which the divine sun works in us, without any gain, advantage or hire from any; whosoever shall help to maintain and nourish our life, unto him we must be thankful, and not flatter any for his authority's sake;
or receive his false glance, show or lustre into this sunlight; but all must be in general or common, as the sunshine does give itself universally, and gives no strong, great or potent thing any more, but its purity and brightness; it tinctures the earth and its children with one only power and virtue, and gives life and strength to all things.
54. Herein now we shall know whether one be a teacher sent of God, or whether he has his rise and original only out of the spirit of
so that the spirits of the letters cannot any more introduce themselves into a self-full compaction of the sensual tongue; for they are dead in their own will; and the spirit JEHOVAH in JESUS is become their life; so that they live no longer to their selfhood, viz. to the nature of the wrath; but in that they live, they live to God (Rom. vi. 11).
49. Thus now the beast of the whore is in us outwardly, viz. in the mortal man; and inwardly is Christ in the immortal man, who is passed through the death of the letters and has turned the death into life (John v. 24).
50. Now it behoves man, and his main happiness depends thereon, that he also die unto the images of the letters in him; and disclaim or depart from all reasons, scholarship, or knowledge of nature, and all Babylonical master-builders, however they be called; and enter into the one only life, JEHSUS; and not at all dispute about the way, where it is; but only think 1 that it is in him; that he must forsake all, whatever he has, either art, wit or skill, etc., and become one barely and nakedly in himself; bring himself into the ONE, viz. into God's will, and be freely willing with whatsoever it will work or do with him. He must give up himself will-less; and leave himself wholly in God's mercy; and bring all his learnings into this one only thing; that he, in his teachings and learnings, will not do or speak anything but what God wills through him. And thus all images [opinions and conceits] do die in him; and the soul's life falls into the only living Word, which has manifested itself again in the humanity.
1 Or consider.
51. For this is the great beast of the Babylonical whore in us: that we bring ourselves into the images and forms of the letters; and make opinions to ourselves: that opinion is a beast.
52. Also we must not desire to know and will, ourselves; but die continually with our own self-will; and in all things give God the honour; and give him again that which he gives us, viz. whatsoever understanding, wisdom and skill we have; and acknowledge that it is not our own, but that the divine sun shines out of and through us, and works in us as it pleases.
53. Thus likewise we must diffuse and give out again, universally to all, our power and virtue, which the divine sun works in us, without any gain, advantage or hire from any; whosoever shall help to maintain and nourish our life, unto him we must be thankful, and not flatter any for his authority's sake;
or receive his false glance, show or lustre into this sunlight; but all must be in general or common, as the sunshine does give itself universally, and gives no strong, great or potent thing any more, but its purity and brightness; it tinctures the earth and its children with one only power and virtue, and gives life and strength to all things.
54. Herein now we shall know whether one be a teacher sent of God, or whether he has his rise and original only out of the spirit of
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