51. This now is a figure, showing what grievous enemies a true Christian has, and that he is everywhere encompassed with enemies; and though perhaps he stands in temporal felicity, and have the favour and good will of many men, yet he ought not to be secure. For the devil continually hunts after him to find how to make him fall; for what the devil cannot do by himself to God's children in flesh and blood, that he attempts by his instruments, falsely to betray the children of God, and that, even for their fear of God, their honesty and virtue.
52. For if the new heavenly Eve be born in God's children, then the devil in the earthly Eve will not endure it: for a whore and a modest virgin will very ill stand together.
53. And thus the children of God have no greater danger than when they are exalted to worldly honour. For the devil is a spirit of pride, and sets himself with his lust in worldly highness and magnificence, in high offices ;1 for he will always still be a prince of this world (John xiv. 30), as Christ also calls him; and he is so indeed according to the property of vanity, falsehood and wickedness, and always sets his [throne and] stool readily there, where great offices and honour are, where might, power and authority is administered and put in execution: there he involves himself,2 so that he might be sure to sit [for one] in the government of the world.
54. Therefore he will not readily endure that a Joseph should sit near him, but those that are rich, noble, lofty and stately, honouring themselves, which hunt only after worldly honour, pleasure and voluptuousness; who fill their bellies daily, and. are bold, stout, furious, and full with plenty, and hunt only after subtlety and policy, seeking how they may wrest from the miserable his sweat, and convert it into pride; who trim and set themselves forward in every place, taking pleasure in themselves in such dresses and ornaments, giving one another great compliments and courtship, and ascribe great titles of honour to them. Where the house is stuck full of such trimmed dressed whores under a modest and chaste show and appearance, there is the devil a frolick guest: for it goes according to his own heart's desire and will. 3
1 Or, high places (Eph. vi. 12).
2 Insinuates or wraps up himself.
3 Property and condition.
55. But if God send a Joseph thither, who would fain live and do according to the will of God, then it happens to him as to Joseph; and to Daniel, whom they wickedly and with falsehood brought to the lion's den; and Joseph they brought into prison: but in the end the devil's kingdom is put to shame, as in Joseph and Daniel.
56. Therefore if any will be a Joseph, and also sit in worldly offices and honour, he must do it with great earnest sincerity and humility of his heart, and continually pray, and resist the devil, that he may not be able with his stool of pride to dwell with him; if not, let him stay without it, or else he will fall to the ground in such offices. If Joseph be not armed with Christ, who has overcome the devil, let him let the high offices alone; for the devil will not endure him in it, while he is against him: He must either be a right Joseph and Daniel, or must have the mind of the world, if he will govern the world.
57. For this world has a twofold office, viz. God's office, and Satan's office; the one in God's love, the other in God's wrath, viz. according to the property of light, and according to the property of darkness, which, in the nature of this world, rule near and in one another, and are two kingdoms: as the one is Christ's kingdom, the other is Satan's.
58. Therefore, if you are not armed and wholly resigned to God, that you can upon occasion, with Joseph, leave your garment, also your honour and welfare, for the sake of God, and for righteousness, and overcome the devil with divine power and strength, press into no office, except you are rightly, duly and orderly called thereunto: and then also you stand either in the throne of Joseph or in the throne of the world.
51. This now is a figure, showing what grievous enemies a true Christian has, and that he is everywhere encompassed with enemies; and though perhaps he stands in temporal felicity, and have the favour and good will of many men, yet he ought not to be secure. For the devil continually hunts after him to find how to make him fall; for what the devil cannot do by himself to God's children in flesh and blood, that he attempts by his instruments, falsely to betray the children of God, and that, even for their fear of God, their honesty and virtue.
52. For if the new heavenly Eve be born in God's children, then the devil in the earthly Eve will not endure it: for a whore and a modest virgin will very ill stand together.
53. And thus the children of God have no greater danger than when they are exalted to worldly honour. For the devil is a spirit of pride, and sets himself with his lust in worldly highness and magnificence, in high offices ;1 for he will always still be a prince of this world (John xiv. 30), as Christ also calls him; and he is so indeed according to the property of vanity, falsehood and wickedness, and always sets his [throne and] stool readily there, where great offices and honour are, where might, power and authority is administered and put in execution: there he involves himself,2 so that he might be sure to sit [for one] in the government of the world.
54. Therefore he will not readily endure that a Joseph should sit near him, but those that are rich, noble, lofty and stately, honouring themselves, which hunt only after worldly honour, pleasure and voluptuousness; who fill their bellies daily, and. are bold, stout, furious, and full with plenty, and hunt only after subtlety and policy, seeking how they may wrest from the miserable his sweat, and convert it into pride; who trim and set themselves forward in every place, taking pleasure in themselves in such dresses and ornaments, giving one another great compliments and courtship, and ascribe great titles of honour to them. Where the house is stuck full of such trimmed dressed whores under a modest and chaste show and appearance, there is the devil a frolick guest: for it goes according to his own heart's desire and will. 3
1 Or, high places (Eph. vi. 12).
2 Insinuates or wraps up himself.
3 Property and condition.
55. But if God send a Joseph thither, who would fain live and do according to the will of God, then it happens to him as to Joseph; and to Daniel, whom they wickedly and with falsehood brought to the lion's den; and Joseph they brought into prison: but in the end the devil's kingdom is put to shame, as in Joseph and Daniel.
56. Therefore if any will be a Joseph, and also sit in worldly offices and honour, he must do it with great earnest sincerity and humility of his heart, and continually pray, and resist the devil, that he may not be able with his stool of pride to dwell with him; if not, let him stay without it, or else he will fall to the ground in such offices. If Joseph be not armed with Christ, who has overcome the devil, let him let the high offices alone; for the devil will not endure him in it, while he is against him: He must either be a right Joseph and Daniel, or must have the mind of the world, if he will govern the world.
57. For this world has a twofold office, viz. God's office, and Satan's office; the one in God's love, the other in God's wrath, viz. according to the property of light, and according to the property of darkness, which, in the nature of this world, rule near and in one another, and are two kingdoms: as the one is Christ's kingdom, the other is Satan's.
58. Therefore, if you are not armed and wholly resigned to God, that you can upon occasion, with Joseph, leave your garment, also your honour and welfare, for the sake of God, and for righteousness, and overcome the devil with divine power and strength, press into no office, except you are rightly, duly and orderly called thereunto: and then also you stand either in the throne of Joseph or in the throne of the world.
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