149. Thus if the Preacher be one that is dead, and hath no true Life in him, but soweth only Venom and Reproach proceeding out of his evil Affections, then it is the Devil that teacheth , and the Devil that heareth. Such teaching is received into a wicked Heart, and bringeth forth wicked Fruits. By which means the World is become a mere Den of murdering Devils. So that if you look among the Herd of such Teachers and Hearers , there is little to be found but Revilings, Slanderings, and Reproachings ; together with Contention about Words, and Wrangling about the Husk.
1 50. But the Holy Qhosl teacheth in the Holy Teacher, and the Spirit of Christ heareth through the Soul, which is the Divine House of the Divine Sound or Voice in the Holy Hearer.
151. The Holy Man hath his Church in himself, wherein he Heareth and Teacheth „ But Babel hath a Heap of Stones, intbt vjhich she goeth with her seeming Holiness and real Hypocrisy. There she loveth to be seen in fine Clothes, and maketh a very devout and godly Show ; the Church of Stone is her Qod, iri which she putteth her Confidence.
Of Regeneration
?s
152. But the Holy Man hath his Church about him everywhere, even in himself ; for he always standeth and walketh, sitteth and lieth down in his Church. He liveth in the true Christian Church ; yea, in the Temple of Christ ; the Holy Qhost preacheth to him out of every Creature. Whatsoever he looketh upon, he seeth a Preacher of God therein.
153. Here now the Scoffer will say that I despise the Churck of Stone, where the Congregation meeteth ; but I say that' I do not. For I do but discover the Hypocritical Whore of Babylon, which committeth Whoredom with the Church of Stone, and termeth herself a Christian, but is indeed a Strumpet.
154. A true Christian bfings his Holy Church with him into the Congregation. For the Heart is the true Church, where a Man must practise the Service of (jod. If I should go a thousancF’Ttmes* to Church, and to the Sacrament every week, and hear Absolution declared to me every Day, and have not Christ in me, all would be false, an unprofitable Fiction and graven Image in Babel , and no forgiving of Sins.
1^5. A Holy Man doth Holy Works from the Holy Strength of his Mind. The Work is not the Atonement of Reconciliation, but it is the Building which the true Spirit buildeth in his Substance ; it is his Habitation. But the Fiction and Fancy is the Habitation of the false Christian, into which his Soul entereth with Dissimulation. The outward hearing reacheth but to the outward, and worketh in the outward only; but the inward Hearing goeth into the inward, and worketh in the inward.
156. Dissemble, roar, cry, sing, preach, and teach as much as thou wilt ; yet if thine inward Teacher and Hearer be not open, all is nothing but a Babel, a Fiction, and a graven Image, whereby the Spirit of the outward World doth model and make to itself a graven Image in Resemblance of the inward; and maketh a Holy Show therewith, as if he performed some Divine or Holy Service to God. Whereas many Times in such Service and Worship, the Devil worketh mightily in the Imagination, and vety much tickleth the Heart with those Things wherein the Flesh delighteth. Which indeed not seldom happeneth to the Children of Qod, as to their outward Man, if they do not take great Heed to themselves ; so busily doth the Devil beset and sift them.
86 The JVay to Qhrist .
Chapter VII.
Of Unprofitable Opinions, and Strife ' about the Letter.
A TRUE Christian, who is born anew of the Spirit of Christ, is in the Simplicity of Christ , and hath no Strife or Contention with any Man about Religion. He hath Strife enough in himself, with his own Bestial evil Flesh and Blood. He continually thinketh himself . a great Sinner, and is afraid of God : But the Love of Christ by degrees pierceth through, and expeheth that Fear, as the Day swalloweth up the Night.
159. But the Sins of the Impenitent Man rest in the Sleep of
Death , bud forth in the Pit , and produce their Fruit'»in Ketl.
149. Thus if the Preacher be one that is dead, and has no true Life in him, but sows only Venom and Reproach proceeding out of his evil Affections, then it is the Devil that teaches , and the Devil that hears. Such teaching is received into a wicked Heart, and brings forth wicked Fruits. By which means the World is become a mere Den of murdering Devils. So that if you look among the Herd of such Teachers and Hearers , there is little to be found but Revilings, Slanderings, and Reproachings ; together with Contention about Words, and Wrangling about the Husk.
1 50. But the Holy Qhosl teaches in the Holy Teacher, and the Spirit of Christ hears through the Soul, which is the Divine House of the Divine Sound or Voice in the Holy Hearer.
151. The Holy Man has his Church in himself, wherein he Hears and Teaches „ But Babel has a Heap of Stones, intbt vjhich she goes with her seeming Holiness and real Hypocrisy. There she loves to be seen in fine Clothes, and makes a very devout and godly Show ; the Church of Stone is her Qod, iri which she putts her Confidence.
Of Regeneration
?s
152. But the Holy Man has his Church about him everywhere, even in himself ; for he always stands and walks, sitts and lies down in his Church. He lives in the true Christian Church ; yea, in the Temple of Christ ; the Holy Qhost preaches to him out of every Creature. Whatsoever he looks upon, he sees a Preacher of God therein.
153. Here now the Scoffer will say that I despise the Churck of Stone, where the Congregation meets ; but I say that' I do not. For I do but discover the Hypocritical Whore of Babylon, which committs Whoredom with the Church of Stone, and terms herself a Christian, but is indeed a Strumpet.
154. A true Christian bfings his Holy Church with him into the Congregation. For the Heart is the true Church, where a Man must practise the Service of (jod. If I should go a thousancF’Ttmes* to Church, and to the Sacrament every week, and hear Absolution declared to me every Day, and have not Christ in me, all would be false, an unprofitable Fiction and graven Image in Babel , and no forgiving of Sins.
1^5. A Holy Man does Holy Works from the Holy Strength of his Mind. The Work is not the Atonement of Reconciliation, but it is the Building which the true Spirit builds in his Substance ; it is his Habitation. But the Fiction and Fancy is the Habitation of the false Christian, into which his Soul enters with Dissimulation. The outward hearing reaches but to the outward, and works in the outward only; but the inward Hearing goes into the inward, and works in the inward.
156. Dissemble, roar, cry, sing, preach, and teach as much as you will ; yet if your inward Teacher and Hearer be not open, all is nothing but a Babel, a Fiction, and a graven Image, whereby the Spirit of the outward World does model and make to itself a graven Image in Resemblance of the inward; and makes a Holy Show therewith, as if he performed some Divine or Holy Service to God. Whereas many Times in such Service and Worship, the Devil works mightily in the Imagination, and vety much tickls the Heart with those Things wherein the Flesh delights. Which indeed not seldom happens to the Children of Qod, as to their outward Man, if they do not take great Heed to themselves ; so busily does the Devil beset and sift them.
86 The JVay to Qhrist .
Chapter VII.
Of Unprofitable Opinions, and Strife ' about the Letter.
A TRUE Christian, who is born anew of the Spirit of Christ, is in the Simplicity of Christ , and has no Strife or Contention with any Man about Religion. He has Strife enough in himself, with his own Bestial evil Flesh and Blood. He continually thinks himself . a great Sinner, and is afraid of God : But the Love of Christ by degrees pierces through, and expehs that Fear, as the Day swallows up the Night.
159. But the Sins of the Impenitent Man rest in the Sleep of
Death , bud forth in the Pit , and produce their Fruit'»in Ketl.
No commentary for this page.
There is commentary on page 1.