12. Therefore to you, O you governor in the office of the Joseph of this world, in every state, condition and degree, this is told you, and set before your eyes: that though you call yourself a Joseph, you do not yet govern as a Joseph; that is, not as a Christian, but as a child of the stars and elements; you govern no otherwise than the brethren of Joseph, who will not that God should choose Joseph for a governor. They will be governors themselves, and will rather kill Joseph than wait to try what God would do with Joseph's dream or vision; they would not suffer that Joseph should tell their injury to his father; but would do what they thought fit. For they said among themselves, We are the elder, and should govern; what will the least and youngest persuade us to? We possess the government in a just way by the right of nature; the power and authority is ours, we will dispatch Joseph out of the way, and cast him into the pit, and then we shall do what we will.
13. Thus do you also, you governest Christendom in all states and degrees. The stars, and the evil averted Adam in his own will, governs through you in God's office in the kingdom of this world; you have only cast the mantle of Christ over it, that men should not know you, that you are the evil Adam, and governest with the starry wit and ingenuity, and through the subtlety and policy of the devil, in mere self-willed ways of your own, to advance your own ostentation, pomp, might, authority and stately proud glory.
14. O hearken! are you a Christian? then are you dead with Christ to the wicked false will of Adam, and of the devil's pride. But if your will and life be heathenish, why do you then boast yourself to be a Christian' why do you make wars for lands, countries, cities and villages, if you be not with Joseph called and instituted of God to be a governor? Why do you in Christ's kingdom enslave the country, if you are a prince and minister in God's office, and serve him?
15. Are you your own lord upon earth, and do what your own will lists? Then you do not what God will, also you govern not from heaven, but from the world, and with the world's might. But whence have you that in Christ's kingdom, and from what power and authority, that you, in God's office, draw to yourself the sweat of the poor and miserable, and takest away his strength and virtue, and lettest him starve in want? Also, that you squeeze or crush him down with your burden, that you may but possess much riches, and heap up much for yourself; with which you make yourself potent, and lift up your mind into pride. Whence have you that in Christ's kingdom, that you will be better than the members of your own body? Whereas in Christ we are one, viz. one tree with many twigs and branches, and Christ alone is our sap and virtue, and takes care for us all in common: for the officer as well as the branch; no otherwise than the twig upon which the fruit grows.
12. Therefore to you, O you governor in the office of the Joseph of this world, in every state, condition and degree, this is told you, and set before your eyes: that though you call yourself a Joseph, you do not yet govern as a Joseph; that is, not as a Christian, but as a child of the stars and elements; you govern no otherwise than the brethren of Joseph, who will not that God should choose Joseph for a governor. They will be governors themselves, and will rather kill Joseph than wait to try what God would do with Joseph's dream or vision; they would not suffer that Joseph should tell their injury to his father; but would do what they thought fit. For they said among themselves, We are the elder, and should govern; what will the least and youngest persuade us to? We possess the government in a just way by the right of nature; the power and authority is ours, we will dispatch Joseph out of the way, and cast him into the pit, and then we shall do what we will.
13. Thus do you also, you governest Christendom in all states and degrees. The stars, and the evil averted Adam in his own will, governs through you in God's office in the kingdom of this world; you have only cast the mantle of Christ over it, that men should not know you, that you are the evil Adam, and governest with the starry wit and ingenuity, and through the subtlety and policy of the devil, in mere self-willed ways of your own, to advance your own ostentation, pomp, might, authority and stately proud glory.
14. O hearken! are you a Christian? then are you dead with Christ to the wicked false will of Adam, and of the devil's pride. But if your will and life be heathenish, why do you then boast yourself to be a Christian' why do you make wars for lands, countries, cities and villages, if you be not with Joseph called and instituted of God to be a governor? Why do you in Christ's kingdom enslave the country, if you are a prince and minister in God's office, and serve him?
15. Are you your own lord upon earth, and do what your own will lists? Then you do not what God will, also you govern not from heaven, but from the world, and with the world's might. But whence have you that in Christ's kingdom, and from what power and authority, that you, in God's office, draw to yourself the sweat of the poor and miserable, and takest away his strength and virtue, and lettest him starve in want? Also, that you squeeze or crush him down with your burden, that you may but possess much riches, and heap up much for yourself; with which you make yourself potent, and lift up your mind into pride. Whence have you that in Christ's kingdom, that you will be better than the members of your own body? Whereas in Christ we are one, viz. one tree with many twigs and branches, and Christ alone is our sap and virtue, and takes care for us all in common: for the officer as well as the branch; no otherwise than the twig upon which the fruit grows.
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