geth 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

As Christ hath taught us when he said, _Unless ye be converted and
become as a Child, ye shall not come into the Kingdom of God_. That is,
that the Life turn itself again unto God out of whom it is proceeded,
and forsake all its own imaging and lust, and so come to the Divine
Vision again.

27

All disputation concerning God's Being or Essence or Will is performed
in the images of the senses or thoughts without God. For if any liveth
in God, and willeth with God, what needeth he dispute about God, who, or
what God is? That he disputeth about it is a sign that he hath never
felt it at all in his mind or senses, and it is not given to him that
God is in him, and willeth in him what he will. It is a certain sign
that he exalts his own meaning and image above others, and desireth
dominion.

28

Men should friendly confer together, and offer one another their gifts
and knowledge in love, and try things one with another, and hold that
which is best, and not so stand in their own opinion as if they could
not err. It lyeth in no man's person that men should suppose that the
Divine Understanding must come only from such and such. For the
Scripture says, _Try all things and hold that which is good_, 1 Thess.
v. 21.

29

The touchstone to true knowledge is first, the Corner-stone, Christ;
that men should see whether a thing enter out of love into love, or
whether alone purely the love of God be sought and desired; whether it
be done out of humility or pride; Secondly, whether it be according to
the Holy Scripture; Thirdly, is it according to the human heart and