Levi with him; that was Shem. But the sword of Ham and Japhet was Simeon: so there went two in one substance, viz. the spiritual will and the fleshly will, till Moses, and then the worldly and the spiritual were divided into two several states.
62. III. Levi begins under Moses, who with the priesthood managed the sword of Simeon and Levi in the Law, and cut very sharply therewith.
63. IV. Judah begins under the Prophets, and manifests himself with the Incarnation of Christ, at which time this sceptre began.
64. V. Zebulun, with his co-habitation, sets himself in the midst, viz. in the kingdom of Christ : and that was the beginning of Christendom, who dwells on the coasts of the sea, viz. among the heathen, and sat pleasantly, for it was a new love.
65. VI. Issachar is the time when Christendom was settled in rest, viz. in power, might and dominions, which must yet always bear the burden of the heathen, and be servile, and be as a bound ass for the burden, for they still bear the cross of Christ, and were still conformable to the image of Christ, about three hundred years after Christ.
66. VII. With Dan did the potent kingdom and government of Christendom begin, when they set up kings, popes, archbishops and potent pompous churches, chapels and other consecrated places, and then was the adder and serpent by the way of Christ in human honour generated in the kingdom of Christ; when men began to dispute about the pomp, state and glory of churches, and to exalt men into the kingdom and offices of Christ, and set them in the place of Christ, and to honour them in Christ's stead; then was Christ suppressed, and the adder and serpent sat in Christ's office of judicature, and then the Holy Ghost was rejected, and councils were set in the place thereof and then was Antichrist born. At that time the spirit of Christ said, Lord, I wait now for your salvation, for here now my name must be the cloak of Antichrist, till you shall deliver me in Joseph's time. In this time is truth strongly bitten in the heels, so that the rider in the spirit of Christ must fall backward.
67. VIII. With Gad, who should be the leader of a host, begins the time of the universities and schools among Christians, about eight hundred years ago, when men readily set Antichrist with power and might of armies in, the chair of Christ, and with babbling, disputing, and perverting prevarication, maintained him against all opposition; when men made the tail to be the head, and forced the power of Christ into human traditions and canons, and made a worldly kingdom of Christ's kingdom.
68. IX. With Asher began the time when men lived to please King Antichrist, when he was God on earth. Then came the flattering hypocrites from the universities and schools, who flattered this king for fat bread, viz. for good offices, benefices, prebendaries and bishoprics, and applauded his doings and cause, and did all to please him, and set Christ with Antichrist upon a soft cushion, and so worshipped the image in the Apocalypse [Revelation]; about six hundred years ago and nearer.
69. X. With Naphtali begins the time of the great Wonder, when man went on with high sermons and deep searching disputes about the council [predestination] of God, so that men have seen that these in Christ's chair were not Christ in power; yet men sought deep,
Levi with him; that was Shem. But the sword of Ham and Japhet was Simeon: so there went two in one substance, viz. the spiritual will and the fleshly will, till Moses, and then the worldly and the spiritual were divided into two several states.
62. III. Levi begins under Moses, who with the priesthood managed the sword of Simeon and Levi in the Law, and cut very sharply therewith.
63. IV. Judah begins under the Prophets, and manifests himself with the Incarnation of Christ, at which time this sceptre began.
64. V. Zebulun, with his co-habitation, sets himself in the midst, viz. in the kingdom of Christ : and that was the beginning of Christendom, who dwells on the coasts of the sea, viz. among the heathen, and sat pleasantly, for it was a new love.
65. VI. Issachar is the time when Christendom was settled in rest, viz. in power, might and dominions, which must yet always bear the burden of the heathen, and be servile, and be as a bound ass for the burden, for they still bear the cross of Christ, and were still conformable to the image of Christ, about three hundred years after Christ.
66. VII. With Dan did the potent kingdom and government of Christendom begin, when they set up kings, popes, archbishops and potent pompous churches, chapels and other consecrated places, and then was the adder and serpent by the way of Christ in human honour generated in the kingdom of Christ; when men began to dispute about the pomp, state and glory of churches, and to exalt men into the kingdom and offices of Christ, and set them in the place of Christ, and to honour them in Christ's stead; then was Christ suppressed, and the adder and serpent sat in Christ's office of judicature, and then the Holy Ghost was rejected, and councils were set in the place thereof and then was Antichrist born. At that time the spirit of Christ said, Lord, I wait now for your salvation, for here now my name must be the cloak of Antichrist, till you shall deliver me in Joseph's time. In this time is truth strongly bitten in the heels, so that the rider in the spirit of Christ must fall backward.
67. VIII. With Gad, who should be the leader of a host, begins the time of the universities and schools among Christians, about eight hundred years ago, when men readily set Antichrist with power and might of armies in, the chair of Christ, and with babbling, disputing, and perverting prevarication, maintained him against all opposition; when men made the tail to be the head, and forced the power of Christ into human traditions and canons, and made a worldly kingdom of Christ's kingdom.
68. IX. With Asher began the time when men lived to please King Antichrist, when he was God on earth. Then came the flattering hypocrites from the universities and schools, who flattered this king for fat bread, viz. for good offices, benefices, prebendaries and bishoprics, and applauded his doings and cause, and did all to please him, and set Christ with Antichrist upon a soft cushion, and so worshipped the image in the Apocalypse [Revelation]; about six hundred years ago and nearer.
69. X. With Naphtali begins the time of the great Wonder, when man went on with high sermons and deep searching disputes about the council [predestination] of God, so that men have seen that these in Christ's chair were not Christ in power; yet men sought deep,
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