174- Knowledge serves only to this End, viz., to know that we have lost the Divine Power, in Adam, and are become now inclined to Sin ; that we have evil Properties in us, and that doing Evil pleaseth not God ; so that with our Knowledge we might learn to do Right. Now if we have the Power of God in us, and desire with all our Hearts to act and to live aright, then our Knowledge is but our Sport, or Matter of Pleasure, wherein we rejoice.
175. For true Knowledge is the Manifestation of the Spirit of Qod through the eternal Wisdom. He knoweth what He will in His Children ; He showeth his Wisdom and Wonders by his Children, as the Earth putteth forth its various Flowers.
176. Now if we dwell one with another, like humble Children , in the Spirit of Christ, one rejoicing at the Gift and Knowledge of another, who would judge or condemn us? WhowjudgdffT o? condemneth the Birds in the Woods, .that praise the Lord of all Beings with various Voices, every one in its own Essence? Doth the Spirit of Qod reprove them for not bringing their Voices into one Harmony? Doth not the Melody of therm-all proceed from His Power, and do they not sport before Him.
177. Those Men therefore that strive and wrangle about the Knowledge and Will of Qod, and despise one another on that Account, are more foolish than the Birds in the Woods, and the wild Beasts that have no true Understanding. They are more unprojitable in the Sight of the Holy God than the Flowers of the Field, which stand still in quiet Submission to the Spirit of Qod, and suffer Him to manifest the Divine Wisdom and Power through them. Yea, such Men are worse than Thistles and Thorns that grow among fair Flowers, for they at least stand still and are quiet, whereas those Wranglers are like the ravenous Beasts and Birds of Prey, which fright the other Birds from singing and praising God.
178. In short ; they are the Issue, Branches or Sprouts of the
Devil in the Anger of God, who, notwithstanding must by their very tormenting be made to serve the LORD ; for by their plaguing and persecuting, they press out the Sap through the Essence of the Children of Qod so, that they move and stir themselves in the Spirit of Qod, with praying and continual sighing, in which Exercise of their Powers the Spirit of Qod moveth Himself in them. " .
179. For thereby the Desire is exerted, and so the Children of Cjod grow green, flourish, and bring forth Fruit ; for the Children of Qod, are manifested in Tribulation ; as the Scripture saith, ‘ When thou chastiseth them, they cry fervently to thee.’
Of 7 \ Regeneration . 89
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Chapter VIII.
Wherein Christian 'Religion consisteth, and how Men should serve God and their Brethren .
A LL Christian Religion wholly consisteth in this, to learn to know ourselves : Whence we are come, and What we are ; how we are gone forth from the Unity into Dissension , Wickedness , Unrighteousness ; how we have awakened and stirred up these Evils in us ; and how we may be delivered from them again, and recover our original Blessedness .
18 1. First how we were in the Unity , when we were the * Cttiidrm of Qod in Adam before he fell. Secondly , how we are now in Dissension and pisunion , in Strife and Contrariety. Thirdly * whither we go when we pass out of this corruptible condition ; whither with the immortal , and whither with the mortal Part.
182. And lastly , how we may come forth from Disunion and Vanity , and enter again into that one Tree, Christ in us, out of which we all sprung in Adam. In these Four Points all the necessary Knowledge of a Christian consisteth.
183. So that we need not strive about any Thing; we have no Cause of Contention with each other. Let everyone only exercise himself in learning how he may enter again into the Love of Qod and his Brother.
174- Knowledge serves only to this End, viz., to know that we have lost the Divine Power, in Adam, and are become now inclined to Sin ; that we have evil Properties in us, and that doing Evil pleases not God ; so that with our Knowledge we might learn to do Right. Now if we have the Power of God in us, and desire with all our Hearts to act and to live aright, then our Knowledge is but our Sport, or Matter of Pleasure, wherein we rejoice.
175. For true Knowledge is the Manifestation of the Spirit of Qod through the eternal Wisdom. He knows what He will in His Children ; He shows his Wisdom and Wonders by his Children, as the Earth putts forth its various Flowers.
176. Now if we dwell one with another, like humble Children , in the Spirit of Christ, one rejoicing at the Gift and Knowledge of another, who would judge or condemn us? WhowjudgdffT o? condemns the Birds in the Woods, .that praise the Lord of all Beings with various Voices, every one in its own Essence? Does the Spirit of Qod reprove them for not bringing their Voices into one Harmony? Does not the Melody of therm-all proceed from His Power, and do they not sport before Him.
177. Those Men therefore that strive and wrangle about the Knowledge and Will of Qod, and despise one another on that Account, are more foolish than the Birds in the Woods, and the wild Beasts that have no true Understanding. They are more unprojitable in the Sight of the Holy God than the Flowers of the Field, which stand still in quiet Submission to the Spirit of Qod, and suffer Him to manifest the Divine Wisdom and Power through them. Yea, such Men are worse than Thistles and Thorns that grow among fair Flowers, for they at least stand still and are quiet, whereas those Wranglers are like the ravenous Beasts and Birds of Prey, which fright the other Birds from singing and praising God.
178. In short ; they are the Issue, Branches or Sprouts of the
Devil in the Anger of God, who, notwithstanding must by their very tormenting be made to serve the LORD ; for by their plaguing and persecuting, they press out the Sap through the Essence of the Children of Qod so, that they move and stir themselves in the Spirit of Qod, with praying and continual sighing, in which Exercise of their Powers the Spirit of Qod moves Himself in them. " .
179. For thereby the Desire is exerted, and so the Children of Cjod grow green, flourish, and bring forth Fruit ; for the Children of Qod, are manifested in Tribulation ; as the Scripture says, ‘ When you chastises them, they cry fervently to you.’
Of 7 \ Regeneration . 89
____ »
Chapter VIII.
Wherein Christian 'Religion consists, and how Men should serve God and their Brethren .
A LL Christian Religion wholly consists in this, to learn to know ourselves : Whence we are come, and What we are ; how we are gone forth from the Unity into Dissension , Wickedness , Unrighteousness ; how we have awakened and stirred up these Evils in us ; and how we may be delivered from them again, and recover our original Blessedness .
18 1. First how we were in the Unity , when we were the * Cttiidrm of Qod in Adam before he fell. Secondly , how we are now in Dissension and pisunion , in Strife and Contrariety. Thirdly * whither we go when we pass out of this corruptible condition ; whither with the immortal , and whither with the mortal Part.
182. And lastly , how we may come forth from Disunion and Vanity , and enter again into that one Tree, Christ in us, out of which we all sprung in Adam. In these Four Points all the necessary Knowledge of a Christian consists.
183. So that we need not strive about any Thing; we have no Cause of Contention with each other. Let everyone only exercise himself in learning how he may enter again into the Love of Qod and his Brother.
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