The written Word is but an instrument whereby the Spirit leadeth us to
itself within us. That Word which will teach must be living in the
literal Word. The Spirit of God must be in the literal sound, or else
none is a Teacher of God, but a mere Teacher of the Letter, a knower of
the history, and not of the Spirit of God in Christ.
20
All that men will serve God with must be done in Faith, viz. in the
Spirit. It is the Spirit that maketh the work perfect, and acceptable in
the sight of God. All that a man undertaketh and doeth in Faith, he doth
in the Spirit of God, which Spirit of God doth co-operate in the work,
and then it is acceptable to God. For he hath done it himself, and his
Power and Virtue is in it. It is holy.
21
Strife and misunderstanding concerning Christ's Person, Office, and
Being, or Substance, as also concerning his Testaments which he left
behind him, wherein he worketh at present, ariseth from the deflected
creaturely Reason, which runneth on only in an Image-like opinion, and
reacheth not the ground of this mystery, and yet will be a mistress of
all things or beings, and will judge all things. It doth but lose itself
in such Image-likeness, and breaketh itself off from its Centre, and
disperseth the thoughts, and runneth on in the multiplicity, whereby its
ground is confused and the mind is disquieted, and knoweth not itself.
22
No Life can stand in certainty, except it continue in its Centre, out of
which it is sprung.
23
When the Soul that is sprung from God's Word and Will is entered into
its own desire to will of itself, it will run in mere uncertainty till
it return to its Original again.
24
Seeing that human life is an outflowing of the Divine Power,
Understanding and Skill, the same ought to continue in its Original, or
else it loseth the Divine Knowledge, Power and Skill, and with
self-speculation bringeth itself into centres of its own, and strange
imaging, wherewith its Original becometh darkened and strange.
Therefore say I, that this is the only cause that men dispute about God,
his Word, Essence or Being, and Will, that the understanding of man hath
broken itself off from its Original, and now runneth on in mere
self-will, thoughts and images in its own lust to selfishness, wherein
there is no true knowledge, nor can be, till the Life returneth to its
Original, viz. into the Divine Outflowing and Will.
25
If this be done, then God's Will speaketh forth the Divine Power and
Wonders again through the human willing. In which Divine Speaking, the
Life may know and comprehend God's Will, and frame itself therein. Then
there is true Divine Knowledge and Understanding in man's skill, when
his skill is continually renewed with Divine Power.
26
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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