The Twelfth COMMAND. Of a two-fold Desire: That the Com∣mands of God are not impossible: And that the Devil is not to be feared by them that Believe.

I. AGAIN he said unto me; * Re∣move from thee all Evil De∣sires, and put on all Good and Holy Desires. For having put on a good Desire, thou shalt hate that which is Evil, and bridle it as thou wilt. But an Evil Desire is dreadful, and hard to be appeas'd. It is very horrible and wild; and by its Wildness con∣sumes Men. And especially if the Page  405 Servant of God shall chance to fall into it, except he be very Wise, he shall be ruined by it. For it de∣stroys those who have not the Garment of a good Desire; and engages them in the Affairs of this present World, and delivers them unto Death. Sir, said I, What are the Works of an evil Desire, which shall bring Men unto Death? Shew them to me, that I may depart from them. Hear, said he, in what Works an evil Desire shall bring the Ser∣vants of God unto Death. The Spirit of all Men is Earthly, and light, and has no Vertue, and speaks much. I said; How then shall a Man be able to discern them? Con∣sider what I am going to say con∣cerning both kinds of † Men; and as I speak unto thee so shalt thou prove the Prophet of God, and the False Prophet. And first, try the Man who hath the Spirit of God; because the Spirit, which is from above, is humble, and quiet, and departs from all Wickedness, and from the vain Desires of the present World; and makes himself more Page  406 humble than all Men; and answers to none when he is ask'd; nor to every one singly; neither do's the Spirit of God speak to a Man when he will; but speaks when God pleases. When therefore a Man who has the Spirit of God shall come into the Church of the Righteous, who have the Faith of God, and they pray unto the LORD; then the Holy Angel of God fills that Man with the Blessed Spirit, and he speaks in the Congregation as he is moved by God. Thus therefore is the Spirit of God known, because whosoever speaks by the Spirit of God, speaketh as the LORD will.

II. HEAR now concerning the Earthly Spirit which is empty and foolish, and without Vertue. And first of all the Man, who may be supposed to have this Spirit exalteth himself, and desires to have the first Seat, and is wicked and full of Words; and spends his time in Plea∣sure, and in all manner of Volup∣tuousness; and receives the Reward of his Divination. Which if he re∣ceives Page  407 not, he do's not divine. Al∣though the Spirit of God may re∣ceive Reward, and Divine: But it becomes not the Prophet of God so to do. But it is an evil Desire to covet another Mans Wife; or for a Woman to covet anothers Hus∣band; as also to desire the Dainties of Riches; and Multitude of super∣fluous Meats; and Drunkenness; and many Delights. For in much Delicacy there is Folly; and many Pleasures are needless to the Servants of God. Such Lusting therefore is evil and pernicious, which brings to Death the Servants of God. For all such Lusting is from the Devil. Whosoever therefore shall depart from all evil Desires, shall live unto God: But they that are subject un∣to them shall die for ever. For this evil Lusting is deadly. Do thou therefore put on the Desire of Righ∣teousness, and being armed with the Fear of the LORD resist all wicked Lusting. For Fear dwelleth in good Desires; and when evil Coveting shall see thee arm'd with the Fear of the LORD, and resisting Page  408 it; it will flie far from thee, and not appear before thee, but be afraid of thy Armour; and thou shalt have the Victory, and be crown'd for it; and shalt attain unto that Desire which is good; and shalt give the Victory which thou hast obtain'd unto God, and shalt serve him in doing what thou thy self wouldst do. For if thou shalt be subject to good Desires, and follow them; thou shalt be able to get the Dominion over thy wicked Lustings; and they shall be subject to thee as thou wilt.

III. AND I said; Sir, I would know how I ought to serve that Desire which is good? Hearken, said he, Fear God, and put thy Trust in him; and love Truth, and Righteousness; and do that which is good. If thou shalt do these things, thou shalt be an approved Servant of God; and shalt serve him. And when he had fulfilled these Twelve Commands, he said unto me; Thou hast now these Commands, walk in them; and exhort those that hear them that they repent; and that Page  409 they keep their Repentance pure all the remaining Days of their Life. And fulfil diligently this Service which I commit to thee, and thou shalt receive great Advantage by it, and shalt find Favour with all such as shall repent, and shall believe thy Words. For I am with thee, and will force them to believe. And I said unto him; Sir, These Commands are Great and Excellent, and able to chear the Heart of that Man that shall be able to keep them. But Sir, I cannot tell, whether they can be observed by any Man? He answer'd; Thou shalt easily keep these Com∣mands, and they shall not be hard: Howbeit if thou shalt suffer it once to enter into thy Heart that they cannot be kept by any one, thou shalt not fulfil them. But now I say unto thee; If thou shalt not observe these Commands, but shalt dissemble, thou shalt not be saved, nor thy Children, nor thy House: Because thou hast judged that these Commands cannot be kept by Man.

Page  410IV. THESE things he spake very angrily unto me, insomuch that he greatly affrighted me. For he changed his Countenance, so that a Man could not bear his Anger. And when he saw me altogether troubled and confounded, he began to speak more moderately and chearfully say∣ing; O foolish, and without Under∣standing! Unconstant, not know∣ing the Majesty of God, how great, but withal how merciful he is; who created the World for Man; and hath made every Creature subject unto him, and given him all Power, that he should be able to overcome all these Commands. He is able, said he, to overcome all these Commands, who has the LORD in his Heart: But they who have the LORD only in their Mouths, and their Heart is hardned, are far from the LORD. To such Persons these Commands are hard and difficult. Put there∣fore ye that are empty and light in the Faith, the LORD your God, and keep him in your Hearts; and ye shall understand how that nothing is Page  411 more easie then these Commands, nor more pleasant, nor more gentle and holy: And turn your selves to the LORD your God, and forsake the Devil and his Pleasures, because they are Evil, and Bitter, and Impure. And fear not the Devil, because he has no Power over you. For I am with you, the * Messenger of Re∣pentance, who have the Dominion over him. The Devil do's indeed affright Men; but his Terror is vain. Wherefore fear him not, and he will flee from you.

V. AND I said unto him; Sir, Hear me speak a few Words unto you. He answer'd, Say on: A Man indeed desires to keep the Command∣ments of God; and there is no one but what prays unto God, that he may be able to keep his Command∣ments. But the Devil is hard, and by his Power rules over the Servants of God. And he said; He cannot rule over the Servants of God, who believe in him with all their Hearts. The Devil may strive, but he cannot overcome them. For if ye resist Page  412 him, he will flee away with shame from you. But they that are not full in the Faith, fear the Devil, as if he had some great Power. For the Devil tries the Servants of God, and if he finds them empty, he de∣stroys them. For as a Man, when he fills up Vessels with good Wine, † and among them puts a few Vessels half full, and comes to try and tast of the Vessels, do's not try those that are full, because he knows that they are good; but tasts those that are half full, least they should grow sowre; for Vessels half full soon grow sowre, and lose the Tast of Wine: So the Devil comes to the Servants of God to try them. They that are full of Faith resist him stoutly, and he de∣parts from them, because he finds no place where to enter into them; then he go's to those that are not full of Faith, and because he has place of entrance he goes into them and do's what he will with them, and they become his Servants.

VI. BUT I, the ‖ Messenger of Repentance, say unto you, Fear Page  413 not the Devil. For I am sent unto you, that I may be with you, as many as shall repent with your whole Heart, and that I may confirm you in the Faith. ‖ Believe therefore ye who by reason of your Transgres∣sions have forgot God, and who company your Salvation with your Sins, lead your Lives in Trouble; that if ye shall turn to the LORD with your whole Hearts, and shall serve him according to his Will; he will give a Remedy to your Souls, notwithstanding your former Sins, and ye shall have dominion over all the Works of the Devil. Be not then afraid in the least of his Threat∣nings; for they are without force; as the Sinews of a dead Man. But hearken unto me, and fear the LORD Almighty who is able to save and to destroy you; and keep his Com∣mands, that ye may live unto God. And I said unto him; Sir, I am now confirm'd in all the Commands of the LORD whilst that you are with me; and I know that you will break all the Power of the Devil. And we also shall overcome him, if we shall Page  414 be able, through the help of the LORD, to keep these Commands which you have delivered. Thou shalt keep them, said he, if thou shalt purifie thy Heart towards the LORD. And all they also shall keep them who shall cleanse their Hearts from the vain desires of the present World, and shall live unto God.