54. The only divine way, wherein man may see God in his word, being, and will, is this: that man become wholly one in himself; and in his own will forsake all, whatsoever he himself is or has, let it be authority, might, power, honour, beauty, riches, money, goods, father, mother, brother, sister, wife and child, body, and life, and become wholly a nothing to himself: He must freely resign up all, and be poorer than a bird in the air, which yet has a nest, the true man must have none; for he must travel away from this world, that so he be no more to himself in this world. He must be a nothing to the world's self [and interests]; for the substance of this world which he possesses for a propriety, is the Tower of Babel, and the Antichrist, wherein men will be their own god; and with this self-made god they will ascend upon the Tower to heaven, and place themselves for [or with] God. Understand it thus:
55. It is not meant that one should run from house and home, from wife, children, and kindred, and fly out of the world, or so to forsake his goods as not to regard them; but the own self-will, which possesses all this for a propriety, that he must kill, and annihilate.
56. And think, that all that of which he is a master, is not at all his own; let him thrive or go behindhand, gain or lose, be rich or poor, wise or simple, high or low; let him have something or nothing. Let him esteem all these things alike; a fair garment as a coarse patched one; the prosperity of this world as the adversity; life as death; his authority as a servant's place; a kingly crown as an old hat; and forsake it all in his mind, and not account it for his own.
57. But think, and wholly resign up his will thereinto, that he is but a servant of all whatsoever he has; and is only a steward in that calling, profession, office and order wherein he is; that it is God's and his brethren's in common, that he only serves God and his brethren therein. And let him look that whatsoever is conferred and put upon him, be so received of him and managed by him, as that it may conduce to the general brotherly order and profession, that God may make such orders in this world, as a figure of the angelical world, that so he might serve him therein.
58. And not at all insinuate his mind into selfhood, as to think (let him be either king, counsellor, or judge of the people) that he is therefore better before God, or before man. He must continually look upon his naked bosom, and think, that one naked man does always resemble and is like another; and also that his gown of state, and office over which he has charge, is the brotherly society's.
59. And all whatsoever is bestowed and conferred upon him, either for honour, power, wealth and goods, to return and give it back again to God his creator, and say [unfeignedly] in his mind: Lord, it is thine, I am unworthy to have command over it, but seeing thou hast placed me therein, I wholly and fully resign up my will unto you; govern and work you by me as you pleasest, that it may be done in your will, and conduce to the profit and service of my brethren, whom I serve in my calling, as your command. Do thou, O Lord, all, through me, and say only in me, how and to what I ought to direct the works of my hands; to whom I should- give and bestow money, goods, power and honour. And thus [he should] continually think how he, in his place, may please and pleasure, not himself, but his brethren.
60. But if he be a servant, then let him think that he serves God in his will, and men in God's, and the general brotherly function; and that, in that little which God has given him in this cottage for food and raiment, [he] is as rich as a king. For if he looks upon himself naked, he sees the truth.
54. The only divine way, wherein man may see God in his word, being, and will, is this: that man become wholly one in himself; and in his own will forsake all, whatsoever he himself is or has, let it be authority, might, power, honour, beauty, riches, money, goods, father, mother, brother, sister, wife and child, body, and life, and become wholly a nothing to himself: He must freely resign up all, and be poorer than a bird in the air, which yet has a nest, the true man must have none; for he must travel away from this world, that so he be no more to himself in this world. He must be a nothing to the world's self [and interests]; for the substance of this world which he possesses for a propriety, is the Tower of Babel, and the Antichrist, wherein men will be their own god; and with this self-made god they will ascend upon the Tower to heaven, and place themselves for [or with] God. Understand it thus:
55. It is not meant that one should run from house and home, from wife, children, and kindred, and fly out of the world, or so to forsake his goods as not to regard them; but the own self-will, which possesses all this for a propriety, that he must kill, and annihilate.
56. And think, that all that of which he is a master, is not at all his own; let him thrive or go behindhand, gain or lose, be rich or poor, wise or simple, high or low; let him have something or nothing. Let him esteem all these things alike; a fair garment as a coarse patched one; the prosperity of this world as the adversity; life as death; his authority as a servant's place; a kingly crown as an old hat; and forsake it all in his mind, and not account it for his own.
57. But think, and wholly resign up his will thereinto, that he is but a servant of all whatsoever he has; and is only a steward in that calling, profession, office and order wherein he is; that it is God's and his brethren's in common, that he only serves God and his brethren therein. And let him look that whatsoever is conferred and put upon him, be so received of him and managed by him, as that it may conduce to the general brotherly order and profession, that God may make such orders in this world, as a figure of the angelical world, that so he might serve him therein.
58. And not at all insinuate his mind into selfhood, as to think (let him be either king, counsellor, or judge of the people) that he is therefore better before God, or before man. He must continually look upon his naked bosom, and think, that one naked man does always resemble and is like another; and also that his gown of state, and office over which he has charge, is the brotherly society's.
59. And all whatsoever is bestowed and conferred upon him, either for honour, power, wealth and goods, to return and give it back again to God his creator, and say [unfeignedly] in his mind: Lord, it is your, I am unworthy to have command over it, but seeing you have placed me therein, I wholly and fully resign up my will unto you; govern and work you by me as you pleasest, that it may be done in your will, and conduce to the profit and service of my brethren, whom I serve in my calling, as your command. Do you, O Lord, all, through me, and say only in me, how and to what I ought to direct the works of my hands; to whom I should- give and bestow money, goods, power and honour. And thus [he should] continually think how he, in his place, may please and pleasure, not himself, but his brethren.
60. But if he be a servant, then let him think that he serves God in his will, and men in God's, and the general brotherly function; and that, in that little which God has given him in this cottage for food and raiment, [he] is as rich as a king. For if he looks upon himself naked, he sees the truth.
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