and divulge what they will Answer 27. Yes I beleeve so too that those places where Men blaspheme the Gifts of God and ascribe them to the Devill great punishments hang over them Also there hangeth over the Earâ—hly Man where such an Earnest sincere Repentance becometh exercised cleerly great punishment for he must be dayly killed and be made a Fool to the world when he shall walk in the Divine way 28. You see very well how I am punished by you in such wayes and not only by you but you egg and set on the whole City also with reproaching upon my Neck so that they beleeve you and punish me but it is the Badge Character or Mark of Christ 29. But that you will prescribe a Modell or platform of FAITH for the People so that they should not every one beleeve in his own Divine Gift as the Spirit of God in their soul manifests or reveals it self to them Another Libell is requisite of that this is not sufficient for that purpose 30. But that you threaten them with punishment that I beleeve you in very well If you had the Power then they must either into the Fire or out of the Land or Countrey 31. But that you say the way to Repentance is a devised Doctrine that the New Testament saith not for when Christ began his Gospel with John the Baptist then he said Repent Mark 1. 15. and my book saith also the same 32. The Naturall Man receiveth or perceiveth nothing of this way 1 Cor. 2. 14. you need not punish him he goeth without that enough in the wayes of the Devill till Christ in Repentance doth enlighten him Now look upon your self and try your self whether your self be in such away Before you prescribe to me and other children of God limits and bounds in our Gifts of God whereas your prescription is but a defaming desgracefull Libell Libell 33. Further saith the Libell God will wonderfully rescue his honour and will not suffer his Eternity to be taken away by such Sectarian or swarming Shoemakers Tanners Taylors Woman Priests and Doctors Answer 34. I hold the same opinion and beleeve stedfastly that God will suffer his honour which he in JESUS CHRIST with the victory over Death and Hell hath manifested or revealed in us poor Men to be taken away by no Devill much lesse a Primate Doctor Priest Shoemaker Taylor Tanner or Woman but whosoever among these shall Repent and turn himself to him upon those he will bestow his honour I beleeve also well that he will deliver his children from all Evill and fave them Libell 35. The Poyson of Arrius which denieth the Eternity of the Sonne of God was not so bad and pernitious as this Poyson of the Shoemaker which takes away the Eternity from the Eternall Father and in a blasphemous way against God Teacheth the Quaternity or fourfoldnesse in God 36. The Eastern Countreys in respect of the Heresie of Arrius have been horrible punished with the Mahumetan darknesse what kind of horrible darknesse should we then Expect if we do not with diligent earnestnesse hunt away and root out this Poyson out of our Native Country Answer 37. To this I say cleerly NO you can not in Eternity Demonstrate this that I take away the Eternity from the Father much lesse that I teach the Quaternity of the Deity you have a long time groundlessely feigned that upon me and cited my writings with a strange understanding and in the Pulpit said that I have written that the Sonne of God was made of Quick-Silver you should demonstrate that else it shall remain Eternally an untruth in such untruth it might be well said Fy upon it 38. I acknowledge ONE only God which it the Eternall beginninglesse one only Good Substance which dwelleth every where without or beyond besides or distinct from all Nature and Creature in it self and needeth no space or Place and in subject to no Measurableness much less to any Comprehension of Nature and Creature 39. And I do acknowledge that this one only God it Threefold in Persons in Equal Omnipotence and Power viz Father Sonne and Holy Spirit and acknowledge that this Triune Substance fills all things alike at once and also hath been the Ground and Beginning of all Things and still is and will abide so Eternally 40. Moreover I beleeve and acknowledge that the Eternall Power viz the divine breathing or speaking is flown forth and become visible in which out-flown word the inward Heaven and the visible world standeth together with every Creaturely Substance and that God hath made all things by his Word 41. That I have written in the Aurora of Salniter and Mercury thereby I mean NOT the meer pure GOD I mean HIS out-flown Substantiall word viz a shadow of the inward Ground wherewith the word hath introduced it self into a Naturall working thereby made that Materiall so I Demonstrate the Three Principles in Nature which are viz a Spirituall Mercury Sulphur and Sal and what the Ground and Originall of them is seeing the Totall Nature together with all Creatures standeth therein 42. I have written of Three Births First of an Eternall beginningless Divine Secondly of a Heavenly wherein light and darknesse that is Gods Love and Anger is understood and Thirdly of a beginning or inceptive temporary one viz the visible world and I understand the Salniter and Mercury in the Third viz the Created Substance 43. I demonstrate what the Heavenly and Earthly Mystery is viz the Holy and pure Element and its Efflux with the Four Elements and the Constellations I demonstrate how the Divine Powers are flown forth out of the Heavenly and become visible also what the invisible Ground of all Substances and what Time and Eternity is I beleeve very well that you understand Nothing thereof for it is not every Mans Gift but theirs to whom God giveth it 44. But that you say that I by this will search out the Deity and call it Devillish thereby you shew your ignorance to the day light that you understand nothing of the book of Nature and also do not read the New Testament for Saint Paul saith the Spirit searcheth all things even the depths of the Deity 1. Cor 2. 10. 45. It is not of Mans Ability but Gods Spirit performeth that searching through Mans Spirit But you call it Devillish if I should speak with you of the hidden secret Mystery of Nature you would be able to understand very little thereof but I would demonstrate to you my book of the Morning Rednesse or Aurora in all things if you were not such and angry zealous or furious Man so that a Man could but speak with you but with such disgracing you do but hinder the Gift of God and make your self unworthy 46. It standeth written And after these dayes I will poure out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sonnes and Daughters shall Prophesie and your Old Men shall have Dreams and your young Man
64. Those who hitherto have prayed to God and have confessed the peoples Sinnes they have kept back the deserved punishment but you make haste with them out of the Countrey 65. And seeing you call me Prophet but with an evill acceptation for scorn and disgrace therefore I shall tell you what the Lord hath given Me to know viz that the Time is born or come wherein God will require an account of your strife about the Cup of Christ and punish you for it that which you now fear and yet do not Repent THAT will come upon you 66. And thea you shall give an account to God of your reproaching for it will be required of you how you have walked before the Lambs committed to your trust with Good Life and sound Doctrine there you will find a heap of Scorners in that you have made all Erroneuos and Blasphemous and have cast your poyson and reproaching upon them and bespattered them therewith where will you become when Their bloud will be required at your Hands 67. Look but upon your Fruit the whole City reproacheth in respect of your powerings out upon a Lamb of Christ and think in their simplicity they do right in it because you bid them do it where will you abide when this Lamb will at the Last Judgement Day stand before your eyes and your Auditors or Hearers whom you have made Blasphemers shall say behold is not this He whom we once accounted a Fool and made sport in derision of him and accounted his Life a shame how is he now numbred among the Children of Christ and his inheritance among the Saints Owe Fools and unwise have missed the right way Then will all Curse you that you have lead them to such blasphemy and Reproach Wisd 5. O Primate be you warned and admonished by the Life of Our Lord JESUS CHRIST it is time to abstain or else you will then see what hath been here told you 68. You call in your Libell Zu dem Rechten Richter to the Righteous Judge that he should awake and defend the Majesty of God Now if the Judgement should come vpon you seeing you do persecute Christ in his Members it is you your self that have called for the Sword 69. Look I pray upon you own Heart you paint a Mist or Smoak before the Eyes of the Church or Congregation that they should beleeve you that your Libell is right and true why then do you not take the Certainty out of the Printed Book It is likely you have none of them or it doth not relish with you For earnest Sincere Repentance puts the Flesh away assuredly it relisheth not with you but the People that read my little Book and compare it with your Libell they will distinguish us and judge aright 70. Have a Care that the Dirt and Burres which you cast upon me do not remain sticking upon you I will no more remain silent as I have done abstinence were good Peace is a good Country The Second Part in the Libell The Libell saith 71. THe Libell saith The Shoemaker is the Antichrist Answer 72. If I should describe Antichrist I could not demonstrate him Otherwise then that he calleth himself a Christian and covereth himself with Christs Purple-Mantle acknowledgeth and teacheth Christ with the Mouth but his Heart is altogether set against Christ he teacheth one thing and doth another outwardly he calleth himself a Christian and inwardly he is a Serpent he persecuteth Christ in his Members and resisteth the Spirit of Christ he flattereth and playeth the Hypocrite and will be honoured in Christs Name but is inwardly a devouring Wolfe as Christ calleth the Pharisees who sat upon Moses Seat and Managed the Law Matth 7. 15. But Christ said they were from beneath from the Father of this world viz from the Devill John 8. 23 24. 73. Herewith I would not touch or disturb the good Conscience of any but would try the Libeller whether a young Antichrist doth not peep out of the Shell Libell 74. Thou Meek and Gentle Lord CHRIST sayest My word is True and faithfull and thou perjured Shoemaker sayst also My words are true which of them both now shall credit and Faith be given to To THEE thou True and Faithfull Christ or to thee Shoemaker and thy Dung Answer 75. CHRIST is the Word of the Father the way to God the Truth and the Life and whosoever putteth on Christ from his body shall flow streams of Living Water as Christ said John 14. 6. 7. 38. Christ said Whosoever eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Bloud he continueth in Me and I in him John 6. 54. And Saint Paul saith You are the Temple of the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in you 2. Cor 6. 16. Also The Word is neer thee viz in thy Mouth and thy Heart Rom 10. 8. Deut 30. 14. 76. To this Living Word which is become Man I have wholly given up my self to be its own And he my Lord Christ hath given me his Flesh and Bloud in My Faiths Desire and so incorporated tied and united himself with me according to the inward ground of my Soul and Spirit that I am ascertained and stedfastly beleeve that I am in his hand and none can pluck me on thence also none can separate me from the Love of Christ neither Height nor Depth nor Principality nor Power or Authority nor any Creature shall separate me from the Love of Christ 77. He My Saviour hath given to me to be spiritually minded as Saint Paul saith Those whom the Spirit of God driveth they are Gods Children for we have not received a slavish or servile spirit that we should fear again but we have received A Child-like Spirit whereby we cry Abba Dear Father that witnesseth to our Spirits that we are Gods Children if we be Children then we are also Heirs viz Heirs of God and Co-heirs with Christ if we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him Rom 8. 14 15 16 17. 78. Therefore say I I have my knowledge Not from Man or through Man but from the Gift of my Saviour Jesus Christ and desire to seduce none from Christ but I shew them sincerely and heartily how they should through true Repentance and Prayer come to Christ my Saviour as my printed little Book teacheth throughout nothing else 79. Why then do you separate me away from Christ and call my words which direct to Christ Dung It is a sign and the way of Repentance which leadeth to Christ stinketh like filth this is the true Colour or Antichrist for the Libeller spits Fy and filth against the Repentance and the very earnest Prayers in my-little Book and calleth it a stink 80. This I offer to the impartiall Reader to consider of whether this Libell of the Primate be not dictated from the Antichristian Spirit seeing he will presse that upon me I offer it that it might be considered and known from
AN APOLOGIE or DEFENCE For the requisite Refuting of the shamefull disgracefull Writings and horrible Libell against the Book Of TRUE REPENTANCE And Of TRUE RESIGNATION Which Gregory Rickter Primate Of GOERLITS Hath spread abroad against it in Open Print Answered In the Year of Christ 1624. 10. Aprill By Jacob Behme Also called Teutonicus Philosophus Englished by JOHN SPARROW LONDON Printed by M. S. for Giles Calvert at the Sign of the Black Spread Eagle at the West End of St. Pauls 1661. Christ saith Matth 5. 11 12. Blessed are you when Men despise you and persecute you and speak all manner of Evill of you for my Names Sake if they do it falsely rejoyce and be Glad you shall be well rewarded in the Kingdome of Heaven for so have they persecuted the Prophets that were before you Also Matth 11. 25 26. I thank thee O Father and Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wife and prudent and hast revealed thou to Babes Yes Father for so it pleased thee The PREFACE To the Reader who loveth God 1. CHrist saith to Pilate My Kingdome is not of this world else would my servants fight for it John 18. 36. And to his Disciples he saith Behold I send you as Sheep amongst Wolves Mat 10. 16. To signifie that where Christ shall become manifest in a Man that Man MUST in this world be surrounded only with Enemies who without ceasing would root out and kill Christ 2. Which is the way of all true Christians for they must walk in this world among the Devills Thorns as now it is with the Name of the Author of that despised Book as also with his Person that Satan raiseth his stormy winds against the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and will not endure Christ in his Members as in this enimicitious Libell is to be seen how enraged Satan is and how abominably he slanders and reproacheth the Authour and how he sets himselfe as a Richter or Judge over Gods work and would suppresse and not it out 3. Dear Reader and Brother in Christ who lovest God though I am an Enemy from my heart to such accursed unworthy reproachfull contentious writings of controversie not accounting those divulged reproachfull writings contrary to Christian Love and Truth worthy any answer at all Yet for the Command sake and Love of my Lord Jesus Christ I would make an answer for their sakes who do not understand the Matter and have not read my little Book of True Repentance and Refignation as the way to Christ nor know my person and who only regard the respect and favour of the Primate and suppose he reproacheth me out of Christian zeal and doth it for the sake of God in respect of his Office or Ministry 4. As the most Part of them are thus lead astray to give him applause and think he doth right and that it is all true which he cryeth out on in the Pulpit seeing he makes use of Gods Name in it and thereby so cloaketh the Matter that Men can not see his fierce wrathfull Heart and appeals to his Office and Ministry then the simple people which know nothing of his dealing how maliciously he persecuteth me and dealeth quite contrary to his Office and never will examine me about it but condemneth what himself understandeth NOT therefore have I made an answer to try whether any will become seeing and go forth from reproaching the gift of God 5. And do here with testifie in the presence of God that I have answered out of no other intention then barely for the Love-sake of our Neighbour 6. And do admonish the Primate to consider better of me for he hath no Lyon to deal with but a Lamb of JESUS CHRIST or else he will find into whom he hath Pierced least the Sheep in the Spirit of Christ become a Lyon and the Sheep judge the Wolfe And this I 〈◊〉 heartily and faithfully Jacob Behme Here followeth the Title of the Libell Judicium GREGORII RICHTERI Ministri Ecclesiae Patriae Primarij Goerlicij De FANATICIS SUTORIS ENTHUSIASTICI Libris quorum Tituli sunt 1. Morgenröthe im Auffgang 2. Der weg Zu Christo. 3. Von Wahrer Busse Ad Avertendas finistras de Ministerio Goerlicensi Suspiciones Here followeth The Title of the Libell The Censure of GREGORY RICKTER Minister of The Church of GOERLITS And Primate Of that Countrey concerning the ENTHUSIASTICK SHOEMAKERS FANATICK Books The Titles whereof are 1. The Aurora 2. The Way to CHRIST 3. Of True Repentance For The Removing of the scandalous Suspitions touching the Ministry Of Goerlitz The Libell begins and sayes I. NEW manner of Speaking bringeth commonly New Errours along with it Answer 2. The Scripture saith Try all things hold that which is good 1 Thess 5. 21. Libell 3. So many Lines as there are so many Blasphemies against God are to be found in the Shoemakers Book which stinks abominably of Shoemakers Pitch and Blacking fy fy let this stink be far from us Answer 4. That little Book teacheth the way to Christ very earnestly and sincerely And that FIRST how a man should go forth from the wicked wayes of this world and enter into true Repentance and put on Christ in Faith and be new born in Christs Spirit and how he must be renewed in Mind and Thoughts and follow or imitate Christ 5. SECONDLY it teacheth of True Resignation how a Penitent Man must give up himself to God wholly and altogether and begin and finish all his works in divine Trust and Confidence and it signifieth moreover how the Devill layes Snares continually for the children of Christ that Man cannot otherwise go quite through those Snares then with prayer and true humility and how Christ himself brings them through with HIS power and preserveth them and how a Christian Man must be a Branch on the Vine Christ also eat his flesh and drink his bloud if he would be a Christian 6. And THIRDLY It teacheth very earnest penitent Prayers how the poor Soul must in Great Earnestnesse enter into Christs Merits Suffering Death and Resurrection and dayle dye away in Christs Death from the Evill Earthly will And how it must go to the Father through Christs wounds and bloud-shedding 7. And then FOURTHLY in the Dialogue or Conference between the Master and the Scholar concerning the Supersensuall Life is signified what our Eternall Fathers or Native Country is and how the Entrance into it is effected This Doctrine is the true Ground of the New Testament as Christ and the Apostles have taught us 8. But seeing the Libeller saith there are as many blasphemies against God in it as there are Lines in that Book it is manifest that he blasphemeth and reproacheth the Holy Spiri in that he calleth Repentance Prayer a blasphemy against God for the book treateth only of Repentance and of the New Birth 9. Dear Herr Richtender Kichter Sir thou Judging Judge where will you go out or
where will you go in when the Supream Richter or Judge CHRIST whom you disgrace in his Members will appear in his wrath and will Richten den Richtenden Richter Judge the Judging Judge and will himself be the jus right or Law and the Judgement 10. That Richter or Judge will not respect a Primate or his followers which he draws after him nor any King Prince or Lord of the world according to the Authority they have had nor their Laws Statutes or Institutions but will judge the LIFE and try it in HIS Fire 11. Where will then your reproachings and disgracings abide which you have exercised against Christ in his Members It is written he that blasphemeth the Holy Spirit hath no forgivenesse Eternally Math. 3. 29. What will you then Answer to him you who have knowingly blasphemed his Gists and so miserably persecuted the Children of Christ when Christ will say What you have done to these the least of my brethren you have done unto me what Answer will you then Give 12. You despise me in that I am a Layick and not come from the high Schools or Vniversities with my skill or knowledge and cry out Fy upon my Gifts which yet I have received from God as a Noble Bounty which also is more dear to me than the whole world and reproachest my Trade or Handicraft with your crying fye upon it and callest it together with my Gift a stink how can it go well with you when such reproaching blasphemies and your crying fy upon it whereby you cry fy upon the Gift of the Holy Spirit shall awaken in you in Body and Soul and become kindled with Gods Anger so that the world will become too narrow for you what would you then afterwards give that you had never done such a thing 13. The Spirit which now rejoyceth you that you may have your will upon me with reproaches and disgraces If that should now become a Hellish fire and enter into your Conscience where will you then remain 14. You force Tears from me and earnest Prayers against the reproaching or blaspheming of God in that you blame me altogether with untruth have a care that my Tears become not Red hot Coals upon your head 15. I have prayed much to God for you that God would enlighten you and give you to acknowledge the Truth but you become continually the worse I will be blamelesse concerning you if Gods Anger touch you 16. Why do you despise me because I am a Layick and yet have high Divine aud Naturall knowledge Do you suppose the Holy Spirit is bound to your Schools or Universities Did not our dearest Christ say My Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him for it Luke 11. 13. Also ask and you shall receive seek and you shall find knock and it will be opened unto you Matth 7. 7. 17. I have received my Gift through earnest PRAYING and knocking and relish it so that I would not give it for all the worlds Honours and Goods also can never deny or forsake it wherefore do you ascribe the Gift of God to the Devill 18. Do but look back into the world what kind of simple People hath he used for his work what was Abel Seth Enoch and Noah what were the Patriarchs Shepheards none of them was a Doctor what was Moses A Shepheard what was David A Shepheard what were the Prophets especially Elisha and Habbakkuk honest simple people who were Tillers of the Ground what was Mary the Mother of our Lord CHRIST A poor honest destitute young Maid what was the Foster-Father of Christ during his child-hood A Carpenter what were Christs Apostles all of them poor simple Handicrafts-men or Trades-men as Fisher-men and the like why did not Christ reject them also seeing they had not studyed did HE cry fy upon them because they were Handicrafts People as you do 19. What was Christian Nobility from the Beginning even Humility and the Feare of God where now lyeth your great boasting in the Scripture as also in Art shew me it Saint Paul was a Scribe learned in the Scriptures but when he became a Christian then he must first become a Fool to his Art and knowledg that the divine wisdom might find a place in him 20. Why do you brag so much of your Art if you call your self a Christian do you not know that we are ALL ONE in Christ which is Christ us ALL If Christ teacheth us and loveth us why then do you curse us and call Christ in US a stink 21. Moreover hath not that an ill aspect or symptome as if the ill spirit were in you that can not endure Christ nor willingly would see that Men do repent and pray being you call Repentence and Prayer a stink which you can not deny being you say that every Line is a blasphemy against God and you forbid the people to read it under pain of Eternall punishment 22. Do but open your Heart and read that little book aright you will find some what else therein you have not read it at all yet that I perceive by the Title of your Libell for you set down the Title wrong and have not seen the little book of true Refignation of the Imitation or following of Christ therein you set the Morning Rednesse or Aurora for the First Book of which you know little or nothing and the way to Christ for the Seccond Book and yet it is no single Book but is only the Generall Title And the Book of Repentance he sets for the Third whereas it is the First in the printed Book and the last he hath never seen 23. O Primate Satan hath blinded you and led you into Anger that for anger you could not so much as read it but he hath instantly made haste with you to reproachings and scandalizing for it is a stink in his Eyes thus you have imitated and followed him do but drive away Evill affections from you and read it aright and you will see very much otherwise therein 24. Also you know that God hath converted ' some thereby so that they are entered into true Repentance and have attained that very thing which Christ hath promised us that is to say the Gift of the Holy Spirit Luke 11. 13. there are eminent Examples neer by 25. These Mens Gifts of the Holy Spirit you call them all A stink whereby Men may espye and discerne that this little Book is altogether against the Devill and that in you no good Spirit must dwell while you blaspheme the Gift of God for you say this Stink viz Repentance and Prayer which is the whole Contents of this Book be farre from you it may well so come to passe that Gods Gifts should remove and be farre from you Libell 26. You say also that Great Plagues hang over those places where such Blasphemy against God unpunished may be devised divulged and beleeved where Men may also freely without interruption think write beleeve
shall see visions Joel 2. 28. also at that time I will pour out my Spirit upon servants and hand-mayds why will you hinder the Spirit of the Lord 47. If you see any of them then you say he is the Devill and put reproachfull blasphemous names upon him and cry out Men should baneish him from City and Country pray shew in your banishing your Christian Heart 48. Are you Christs Shepheard where is your Love wherewith Christ hath loved us and wherewith we should also Love one another John 13. Doth the Scripture bid you drive out and hunt any into Misery without hearing of any Cause what doth it say to you If thou seest that thy Brother is a Heathen then go to him and admonish him in private if he yeeldeth to thee then hast thou wonne thy Brother if not then take one or two with thee if he yeeldeth not then shew it to the Congregation if he hear not the Congregation then account him as a Heathen and Publican Matth 18. 15. Not hunt him out and reproach and condemn him unheard as you have done to me 49. You have set your self in a Judgement that doth not belong to you read I pray the Epistles of Saint Paul to Titus and Timothy How a Bishop ought to be and then you will find that you have not a right Bishops Heart 50. Why do you reprove my Book Morning Rednesse or Aurora seeing you do not understand it also it is not written for the Pulpit or that it should come among the People I have written it for my selfe for a Memoriall to me with such words as at that time I could understand what is that to THEE why have you published it and leant it to other People None had known of it if you had not mentioned and divulged it in the Pulpit and lent it abroad 51. Thou supposest thou wilt stop and hinder these writings and yet thou thy self art he that furtherest them None would have known any things of me and of MY writittings if THOU thy self hadst not proclaimed them and lent them out 52. Afterward the Learned enquired for them they have all had none so ill thoughts of them as you have Men may indeed find as Learned People among them as you are surely it is not you alone that have studied also a Man may find more fear of God in many of them who read these writings and account them Good then in you which you demonstrate by this Libell and by your whole Life 53. But all the works of God must serve him God hath used you for an Instrument of this Publication of them which God hath given me to know therefore have I patiently a long time born upon me your unjust reproachings and disgracings wherein yet no true word hath been elfe I would have answered you long agoe 54. You liken my Book of Repentance to the Heresie of Arrius and say that the Eastern Countryes for the sake of that are punished with horrible darknesse and if men do not wholly root out my writings and hunt me therewith out of the Countrey then it would go just so with us also 55. Tell me I pray whether also Lying and Sinne be from the Devill or no shew me the Opinion of Arrius in my little prayer-Prayer-Book there is indeed more Devotion and divine power in the words of that little book then is yet at this time come into your heart which a Man may observe by your injurious persecution in that you would wholly root out the Authour for his divine Gifts sake had you the power I should not live one jot longer 56. Christ said Be ye Mercifull as your Heavenly Father is Mercifull forgive and you shall be forgiven Luke 6. 36. Also Blessed are the Mercifull for they shall obtain Mercy Also Blessed are the Peaceable for they shall be called the Children of God Matth 5. 7. 9. Where is your Mercifullness and peacefull Heart do but once put away the Serpents poyson from it and Sease from reproaching and forcing untruth upon me that I may acknowledge you that you are a Christian in the Meeknesse of Christ 57. Hearken Herr Primarius Lord Primate do you know wherefore God took from the Eastern Countreys the Candlestick as he threatens in the Revelations It was for the sake of the Contention Pride and State of the Learned in that they were only Mouth Christians and sought only their Belly God and earthly Lucifer and covered the Antichrist with Christ Purple Mantle and contended about Opinihns they forsork the Holy Spirit in Power and set themselves in Christs stead they were but contenders and disputes and their Aime was only at honour and respect 58. These things the Eastern Countreys looked upon and saw that in such Contention Gods Love was not and in that respect they began to doubt concerning the Faith and seeing the Learned did but contend and one part acknowledged Christ and the other part denied him and run on to meer IMAGES and Opinions wherein none saw conformity to the other then the Potentates thought with themselves who knoweth how it is with the Priests contention whether there be any thing in IT or no 59. Then came forth Mahumet and taught the ONE only God without Trinity to whom the people fell away when they saw that therein there was no strife in respect of the TRINITY for they had enough of strife 60. Also God permitted it to be so because in their Contention they did only blaspheme CHRIST then he took the Candlestick away and so they became Mahumetans and began to warre and dispute with bloud and Sword and drave out the Titulary and Mouth-Christians and God suffered it that they might no more contend about Christs honour seeing Christ honour is only Humility and Love 61. Behold and consider well how are you the Learned at present marked or characterized howiis it concerning Christs Kingdome among you see and compare the Times of Arrianisme and the strife of the Learned in respect of the Religion of your Times and your Contention which you have had along time 62. Shew me the true Christ in Love and meeknesse in all your Books of controversie or Contention are they not meer libellous papers and reproachfull slanders and evill affections wherein every one cryeth out Heresie Here is Christ there is Christ behold he is in the Wildernesse in the Chamber in the Field Also in the Supper in the Baptisme and in Confession and the other say No he is not there it is only a Remembrance and send forth such blasphemies reproaches and disgracings about Christs Cup Office and Person as was done in the time of Arrius 63. Therefore you are now your own Prophet and threaten darknesse to your selfe it may very well befall you and unlesse you be altogether blind you may see it before your eyes yet you had rather contend and reproach Gods children yes wholly thrust from you CHRIST in his Members then repent
and presents as he supposeth 167. I believe verily that some Old Ruffians have brought him those tydings as Newes concerning Me And the Good Lord hath beleeved it as Gospel and with great earnestnesse written it and so enraged himself at it that he hath thereupon condemned the poor Shoemaker unheard but it would look strangely if Men should ask after the Ground of it and compare this Answer with the Libell 168. It is truly a great Matter for such a Man as you are so to deal with the Truth The City Goerlitz know very well that I for a long time without necessity have come into No Mans House The Tap-houses and Wine-Cellers are at quiet for all me for you have so judged and condemned me that I would willingly come no whither now if I should go to drink in Tap-houses how many hundred of your Flouts should I not get which you have cast among Common-people which are all your Fruits which will follow you you may well rejoyce at them Libell 169. Now if by this thou knowest the Shoemaker as the Lyon by his Paw Wilt thou then read his Books No but Shun them as the filthy Spawn of a Devill and abominable Errour and hold thee close to the Word of God and beware of the Shoemakers Scholars or Disciples whether they be Noble-men or Doctors Taylours Men or Women The LORD CHRIST destroy Satans Instrument and let not THY Word be suppressed or obscured Answer 170. In these words it may well be observed wherefore the Libell hath been written viz that he might bring to nothing and quite root out my writings by these defamatory Reproaches It vexes the Devill that my writings do lay open his Smoak-Hole and therefore it is that he paints me with such colours that NONE should READ me Men might otherwise Repent and so there would be a greater Breach made to his Kingdome 171. But this Devill is so very Grossely vile that he goeth quite Naked the People may easily observe him and learn to know him for men see his Pawes in his disposition and reproachings and that he is altogether a Poysonous venemous or Spitefull Spirit It is now quite an other Time then it hath been Men will not now so suddenly beleeve what every one saith Men will see proof for it why doth he not demonstrate what he sayes out of the printed Book seeing he forbids it to the Congregation of the People such defamatory reproaches are no demonstrations men may well call them Filth and Dung 178. He speaketh of the Lyons Paw by which Men should know the Shoemaker Now it may well be true that men at present may easily see the Lyons Paw in Me how the Lyon with contemning and reproaching hath griped and clawed Me but the Bloud of JESUS CHRIST hath hitherto resisted the Lyon else he had torn the Shoemaker in peeces 173. But that he saith the Shoemakers Doctrine is Filth and Dung therein he calls CHRISTS Mind or Thoughts and Spirit Filth and Dung And that Men should beware of the Shoemakers Scholars or Disciples to that I say I know of No Scholars or Disciples but only of Christian Men where one SOUL is refreshed by an other I have no New Doctrine but only the Old which is to be found in the BIBLE and in the Kingdome of NATURE 174. But that he calls his reproaching Blasphemies GODS WORD which men should hear only from HIM and should so reproach as he doth that I offer to Christian Hearts to consider of what Spirits Childe he is The Third Part in the Libell A Spending Penny on the Way Libell 175. THe City of Goerlitz still driveth thee Shoemaker away and commandeth thee to be gone thither where thy writings are highly Esteemed away quickly and get thee A great way off thou vain Mouth which reproachest and blasphemest GOD and try thou Miserable Man what Mischief is prepared for thee Answer 176. O Primate keep this Spending Penny for your selfe against you go to Heaven I desire nothing from you your vain reproaching Blasphemies will indeed follow after you for a Spending Penny Be not deceived he that standeth let him take heed least he fall Though indeed you persecute Me and intend to Bannish me who knoweth who it is will persecute you so also in a short time 177. The Signatures or signs of it are at hand it is equall that you before hand do to others as afterwards you would it should be done to you for a Punishment but you must fill up your Measure and if you do not Repent then will the Evill Spirits one day sing you a very grievous Song and command you to go away a farre off from the Countenance of God For what you do now at present that you do to CHRIST in his Members and that will He also do to you if you do not quickly convert and Repent Libell 178 Thou art just like Oedipus whom the Earth swallowed up O take heed that the like doth not befall thee also his Shadow did much hurt the People who stood neer him but beleeve me thy Shadow hurteth many of them exceeding much Answer 179. The Shaddow of S t. Peter did the Devill also very much hurt so doth my Shaddow also do hurt only to the Devil so Antichrist its likely you suppose that my shadow might hurt you as to your earthly Life because I make known the imitation or following of Christ and so the people who receive that Doctrine would require of you that you also should live as the Apostles of Christ did and Imitate or follow their example and that relisheth not with you therefore you say my Shadow hurteth some viz the false or wicked Spiritualty or Clergy very Mightily It may not be otherwise it must so come to passe 180. But I know very Many Spiritual Priests or Clergy-Men whom it will NOT hurt but do them much good whose Office of the Ministry is sincerely and earnestly intended by them BUT who can do any thing before the Time which bringeth ALL THINGS to passe 181. If the Primate with his Warning or admonition intend so faithfully then let him leave his reproaching Blasphemies in the PULPIT and only require me to come to him and shew me my Errour if I did but find that he had any thing of Truth against me and would shew me a better way O how I would cheerfully love him and faithfully thank him for it he rejoyceth that he hath but any thing that he CAN reproach 182. AT the beginning after his first reproaching Blasphemy and persecution I bowed and yeelded to him for Six years together and wrote No word further of my works why did not he cease to Reproach who did any thing to him But he could not why Because God had made him a driving Hammer that must drive on the work 183. His reproaching hath become my strength and growth through his Persecution my Pearl is grown he hath pressed it forth and published it himselfe and