四、救赎全然是纯一神性的作为
123# 四、救赎全然是纯一神性的作为
但凡知晓地狱的本质、明白主降临时地狱势力如何升腾泛滥、充斥整片灵界,又亲眼见证主以何等大能击溃、驱散地狱,继而规整诸天与地狱秩序的人,无不心生惊叹,由衷感慨:这整件事工,全然是纯一神性的作为。
先论地狱的本质:地狱之中存有亿万灵众,自创世以来,凡因行事邪恶、持守伪谬信仰而与上帝隔绝之人,离世之后尽数归入此处,共同构成地狱。
再论主降临时地狱势力泛滥灵界的盛况,前文数节已有简略阐述。主初次降临时制伏地狱的经过,未曾向世人显明,相关奥秘并未在圣言字面文字中启示;而祂二次降临之时的光景,我蒙许可亲眼目睹,由此亦可推知初次降临的情形。一七五八年伦敦刊印的小册子《最后的审判》完整记载此事,书中亦详述主以何等大能击溃、驱散地狱群灵。
无需在此复述册子中我亲眼所见的记述;此书早已刊行,伦敦印行之处仍留存大量存本。但凡读过此书之人,都能清晰知晓,这番事工唯有全能上帝方能成就。
【2】至于主此后重整诸天与地狱一切秩序的经过,我尚未详述。自最后审判之日直至今日,诸天与地狱的规整工作从未停歇,至今仍在持续。倘若本书面世之后有必要,我会另行将相关见闻公之于众。
于我自身而言,我日日亲眼目睹、至今仍持续见证主神性的全能,如同当面相见一般清晰。严格区分两件事:重整诸天地狱、制伏群灵属于救赎,而清理区分善恶群灵属于最后审判。人若能明晰二者分野,便能读懂先知书卷里诸多隐藏在象征之下的记述;待到借对应法则解开象征、使之显明于理性认知之中,其中深意自会全然显露。
【3】这两项神性事工,唯有借譬喻方能粗浅阐释,即便辅以比喻,也只能描摹大概。此事可比作与万国联军交战,敌军配备长矛、盾牌、刀剑、火枪、火炮,且由心机诡诈的将帅统领。之所以如此譬喻,是因地狱之中多数灵众熟稔诸多自然界不曾知晓的诡术,彼此操练研习,只为伺机袭击、设下埋伏、围困进犯天堂诸灵。
【4】主征战地狱的事,亦可粗略比作剿灭、驯服地上一切凶暴野兽,直至没有一只野兽胆敢张口伤害倚靠主之人。但凡野兽稍有显露凶相,便会即刻退缩,仿佛胸口有猛禽利爪直逼心脏,心生畏惧。圣言常以野兽预表地狱众灵;马可福音1:13记载主与野兽共处四十日,此处所言野兽,便是地狱之灵。
【5】又可比作阻拦倾覆大地的汪洋:海水冲破堤岸,波涛席卷各处城镇乡野。主制伏地狱的事,亦以祂平息风浪一事预表,祂曾如此吩咐:“住了吧!静了吧!”(可4:38-39;太8:26;路8:23-24)此处经文的“海”,与圣言多处行文一致,皆指代地狱。
【6】如今主也凭同等神性大能,与每一位正在重生之人周遭的地狱势力争战。地狱带着魔鬼般的狂怒攻击一切寻求重生之人,若非主出手抵挡、驯服恶者,人必定无力抗衡。地狱如同狰狞可怖的怪人,亦如凶猛雄狮,圣言多处亦以狮子譬喻地狱。倘若主不用枷锁捆住这头雄狮、这可怖怪物,人即便刚从一种恶里被搭救,转眼也会凭自身私欲陷入另一桩恶事,接连沉沦于各样邪恶之中。
123# (4)救赎是纯神性的作为。人若知道地狱的性质或地狱是什么样,在主降临时,它已经上升到何等高度,并如何淹没整个灵人界,主以何等的大能将它扔下去,并驱散它,然后使地狱和天堂都恢复秩序,就不能不感到惊讶,并惊呼,这一切必是纯粹的神性作为。第一,关于地狱的性质。地狱是由无数人组成的,因为它是由自创世以来所有因生活的邪恶和信仰的虚假而疏远神的人组成的。第二,关于在主降临时,它已经上升到何等高度,并如何淹没整个灵人界,前面的章节(TCR 115-122节)已经给出了一些解释。没有人知道在主第一次降临时,情况到了何等程度,或说地狱的性质,因为它没有在圣言的字义上被揭示出来;但我被允许亲眼看到在主第二次降临时,它到了何等程度,或它的性质;从1758年于伦敦出版的《最后的审判》这本小著中的描述中可以得出关于以前的时期或它以前状态的结论,或获得关于它的概念。第三,这本小著还描述了主以何等的大能将它扔下去,并驱散它。不过,此处不需要转述在那本书中,我作为目击者所阐述的内容,因为那本书是现存的,伦敦的印刷厂还有它的很多副本。读过这本书的人都能清楚看到,这一切必是全能神的作为。
第四,我还没有描述后来主如何使天堂和地狱里的一切都恢复秩序,因为自最后审判之日起,恢复天堂和地狱的秩序一直在持续,直到现在,并且还在持续。但这本书出版后,如有需要,这个信息会公之于众。关于这个问题,就我自己而言,我已经每天都在其中看到,并且现在仍看到主的神性全能,可以说是面对面地看到。严格来说,这后一种作为(使天堂和地狱恢复秩序,或重整灵界)是救赎的作为,而前一种作为(推倒叛乱的地狱)是最后审判的作为。当把这两者分开来看待时,隐藏在象征之下,但仍在圣言的预言部分所描述的许多事物,一旦通过对应关系的解释被带到理解力的光明中,就都显而易见了。
这两种神性运作,或这种双重的神性救赎作为,即救赎和最后的审判,只能通过对比来说明;甚至这些也是不够的,或说是有限的。这后一种作为可以比作与全世界所有民族的军队作战,这些军队装备了长矛、盾牌、剑、火枪和大炮,由那些经验丰富、狡猾精明的将军和其他军官来率领。之所以这样说,是因为地狱里的很多灵人擅长我们世界上未知的艺术,并在他们自己中间练习,研究如何向那些在天堂里的人发起进攻,并诱捕、围攻和袭击他们。
主与地狱的争战也可以比作(虽然不完美)与全地的野兽作战,杀戮并征服它们,直到它们当中没有一个敢出来攻击在主里面的任何人。因此,如果这样一个人摆出一副威胁的表情,他的敌人就会立刻退缩,仿佛感觉到一只秃鹫在啄破他的胸膛,试图刺穿心脏。此外,在圣言中,地狱灵被比作野兽;与主在一起四十天的野兽(马可福音1:13)就是指这些地狱灵。
主的作为,即最后的审判和救赎,也可以比作对整个海洋的抵抗,因为它携海浪冲破堤坝,漫过乡村和城镇;主说,住了吧,静了吧(马可福音4:38,39; 马太福音8:26; 路加福音8:23,24),从而使大海平静,就是指主对地狱的征服,因为“大海”在此处和在其它许多地方一样,表示地狱。
如今,主凭同样的神性能力与正在重生的每个人里面的地狱争战;因为地狱以恶魔般的愤怒攻击所有这些人,除非主抵挡并驯服这愤怒,否则人只能屈服。因为地狱就像一个怪物,或一头巨狮,事实上,在圣言中,它就被比作巨狮;因此,除非主捆住这头狮子或怪物的手脚,否则一个人虽然从一种邪恶中获救,但必然会陷入另一种邪恶,后来又不断陷入其它更多邪恶。
123. 4. Redemption was something only the Divine could bring about. If you knew what hell is like, and you knew how high it swelled and how it flooded the entire world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming, and you saw the great power with which the Lord cast hell down and scattered it and then restructured both it and heaven in accordance with the divine design, you could not help being stunned and exclaiming that all of it was something only the Divine could do.
First, what hell is like. It consists of millions, since it consists of all from the creation of the world who have alienated themselves from God through their evil lives and false beliefs.
Second, how high hell swelled and how it flooded the entire world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming. This has been somewhat explained in the earlier points [115-122]. No one knows the situation at the time of the First Coming, because it has not been revealed in the literal sense of the Word. I have been allowed to see with my own eyes the situation at the time of the Lord's Second Coming. One can draw conclusions about the earlier situation from that. I described this situation in the little work Last Judgment, published in London in 1758.
That little work also covers the great power with which the Lord cast hell down and scattered it. My eyewitness accounts appear in that little work, but copying them here would be a pointless exercise because it is in print and there are still many copies available at the printers in London. Everyone who reads it can clearly see that the Last Judgment was the work of Almighty God.
[2] The fourth point, how the Lord then restructured everything in heaven and in hell in accordance with the divine design, I have not yet described, because the restructuring of the heavens and the hells has been going on since the day of the Last Judgment until the present time and is still going on. Nevertheless, after I have published this book, if further information is desired, I will present it to the public.
If I may add a personal comment on this topic: I see the face, so to speak, of the Lord's divine omnipotence every day.
Strictly speaking, this restructuring of the spiritual world has to do with redemption, whereas the stages before it had to do with the Last Judgment. People who keep redemption and the Last Judgment separate are capable of seeing many things in prophetical passages in the Word. These things, though hidden in allegories there, still give clear descriptions - provided that their correspondences are explained in such a way as to allow the light of the intellect to fall on them.
[3] Redemption and the Last Judgment can be illustrated only with comparisons, and even these are inadequate.
They could be illustrated by comparison with a battle against the armies of every nation in the entire world, armed with spears, shields, swords, guns, and cannons, under generals and officers who are cunning, experienced strategists. (I say this last part because many spirits in hell are skilled in practices unknown in our world, which they rehearse on each other - ways of stalking those who are from heaven, and ambushing, setting siege to, and attacking them.)
[4] The Lord's battle with hell can also be compared, although inadequately, with someone fighting against all the wild animals in the world, slaughtering or taming them until not one animal would dare to go out and attack any human being who is with the Lord. Then if any wild animal so much as put on a menacing look, it would suddenly stop itself as if it felt a vulture deep inside its chest trying to pierce it to the very heart.
In fact, the wild animals in the Word depict hellish spirits. The wild animals with which the Lord spent forty days (Mark 1:13) also mean hellish spirits.
[5] The Last Judgment and redemption could also be compared to resisting the whole ocean after dikes have broken and waves are pounding cities and the countryside.
In fact, when the Lord controls the sea by saying "Peace, be still" (Mark 4:38-39; Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:23-24), it means the Lord's process of gaining control over the hells. There and in many other passages the sea means hell.
[6] The Lord uses the same divine power today to fight against hell in every one of us who is being regenerated. Hell attacks us all with diabolical fury. If the Lord did not counter hell and control it, we could not help succumbing. Hell is like one monstrous human being or a massive lion; in fact, it is compared to a lion in the Word. The Lord has to chain the forelegs and shackle the hind legs of that lion, that monster. Otherwise the only possible outcome would be that once we were rescued from one evil we would spontaneously fall into the next, and in fact into many others.
123. (iv) REDEMPTION WAS AN ENTIRELY DIVINE DEED.
If anyone knows the nature of hell, and how high it rose to flood the whole of the world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming, as well as the power the Lord used to cast it down and scatter it, and afterwards to reduce it, together with heaven, to order, it must make him cry out in wonder that that deed was entirely Divine. First, the nature of hell: it consists of myriads of myriads of spirits, since it contains all those who from the creation of the world have estranged themselves from God by wicked lives and false beliefs. Secondly, the height to which hell rose to flood the whole of the world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming has been described to some extent in the preceding paragraphs. No one has had knowledge of the situation at the time of the first coming, because it was not revealed in the literal sense of the Word; but I have been permitted to see with my own eyes the situation at the time of His second coming, and this allows some conclusions to be drawn about the earlier event. A description is contained in my short book THE LAST JUDGMENT, published in London in 1758; and, thirdly, this also shows the power the Lord used to cast down and scatter that hell. But it is superfluous to repeat here the eye-witness descriptions given there, since the book is available, and there is still a large stock of copies at the printer's in London. Anyone who reads that can see clearly that it was the work of almighty God.
[2] Fourthly, I have not yet written a description of how the Lord reduced to order everything both in heaven and in hell, because the ordering of the heavens and the hells has continued from the time of the Last Judgment until the present day, and is still going on. But after the publication of this book, I shall publish this too, if there is a demand. For my part in this affair, I have seen day by day, and continue to see, the Lord's Divine omnipotence, as it were face to face. This last action is really concerned with redemption, the earlier one is really part of the Last Judgment. Those who are prepared to look for this distinction can see that much which is concealed under metaphors in the prophetical parts of the Word is none the less a description of it, when the understanding is enlightened by the explanation of the correspondences.
[3] Both of these Divine actions can only be illustrated by. comparisons, and then only to a limited extent. A possible comparison might be with a battle against the armies of all the nations of the whole world equipped with spears, shields, swords, muskets and cannon, and led by skilled and cunning generals and officers. I say this because many in hell possess skills unknown in our world, and devote themselves to practising how they can attack, ambush, besiege and engage those who are from heaven.
[4] The Lord's battle against hell can also be compared, though very imperfectly, with a battle against the wild beasts of the whole earth, in which they are killed or subdued, until not a single one dares to venture out and attack anyone under the Lord's protection. If any of them shows a threatening face, it retires at once, as if it felt a vulture battening upon its breast in the attempt to break through to its heart. The Word too describes the spirits in hell as wild beasts, and this is also the meaning of the wild beasts among which the Lord spent forty days (Mark 1:13).
[5] It can also be compared with stemming the whole ocean, when it bursts the dykes and breaks into fields and towns with its waves. The subduing of hell by the Lord is also meant by His calming the sea, when He said 'Hush, be still' (Mark 4:38-39; Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:23-24). The sea there, as in many other passages, means hell.
[6] The Lord employs similar Divine power to-day to fight against hell in every person who is undergoing re-birth. For all these people are attacked by hell with devilish fury, and unless the Lord resisted and subdued hell, they would inevitably be overcome. For hell is like a single monstrous person, or a huge lion, another comparison found in the Word. So unless the Lord kept that lion or monster fettered hand and foot, that person would inevitably in trying to escape one evil fall into many others, one after another, of his own accord.
123. (4) Redemption was a work purely Divine. He who knows what hell is, and to what a height it had risen and how it had overflowed the whole world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming, and with what might the Lord cast it down and scattered it, and afterwards brought into order both hell and heaven, cannot but wonder and declare that all this must have been a purely Divine work. First, as to the nature of hell. It consists of myriads of myriads, since it consists of all those who from the creation of the world have alienated themselves from God by evils of life and falsities of belief. Secondly, as to the height to which hell had risen, and how it had overflowed the entire world of spirits at the time of the Lord's coming, some explanation has been given in the preceding sections. To what extent this was the case at the time of the Lord's first coming no one knows, because it was not revealed in the sense of the letter of the Word; but the extent of it at the time of His second coming I have been permitted to see with my own eyes; and from this (which has already been described in a little work on The Last Judgment, published at London in 1758) conclusions may be drawn respecting the former period, as also with what power hell was then cast down and dispersed by the Lord. But there is no need to transcribe here what I witnessed as set forth in that book, because the work is extant, and numerous copies of it are still at the printer's in London. Anyone reading that book can see clearly this must have been a work of the omnipotent God.
[2] Fourthly, How the Lord afterwards reduced all things to order, both in heaven and in hell, I have not yet described, because the restoration of order in the heavens and in the hells has continued since the time of the last judgment until now, and still continues; but after this book has been published, if it seems desirable, this information shall be given to the public. For my own part, with reference to this matter, I have seen daily and still see in it the Lord's Divine omnipotence as it were face to face. This latter work is properly the work of redemption, while the former is properly that of the last judgment. When these two are viewed separately, many things respecting them, which are concealed under figures and yet described in the prophecies of the Word, can be seen, as soon as by an explanation of the correspondences these things are brought forth into the light of the understanding.
[3] Neither of these two Divine operations can be made clear except by comparisons; and then but faintly. This latter work may be compared to a battle against an army composed of all the nations in the whole world, armed with spears, shields, swords, muskets, and cannon, led by skilful and shrewd generals and other officers. This is said because very many in hell excel in arts unknown in our world, and practice them among themselves, studying how to advance against, to ensnare, to besiege, and to assault those who are in heaven.
[4] The Lord's combat against hell may also be compared, though imperfectly, to a conflict with all the wild beasts on the earth and their slaughter and subjugation, until not one of them dares comes forth to attack any man who is in the Lord; so that if the man but shows a threatening countenance his enemy instantly shrinks back as if he felt a vulture on his breast striving to pierce him to the very heart. Moreover, infernal spirits are compared in the Word to wild beasts; and such are meant by the wild beasts with which the Lord was for forty days (Mark 1:13).
[5] It may also be compared to resistance against the whole ocean, breaking in with its waves over demolished barriers upon countries and towns; and the Lord's subjugation of hell is meant by His calming the sea by saying:
Peace, be still (Mark 4:38, 39; Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:23, 24)
for here, as in many other places, the "sea" signifies hell.
[6] By a like Divine power the Lord fights at this day against hell in every man who is being regenerated; for hell attacks all such with diabolical fury, and unless the Lord resisted and tamed that fury man could not but succumb. For hell is like one monstrous man, or like a huge lion, with which indeed it is compared in the Word; therefore unless the Lord kept that lion or monster manacled and fettered, a man from himself must needs, when rescued from one evil, fall into another, and again into others continually.
123. (4) REDEMPTION WAS A WORK PURELY DIVINE.
He who knows the nature of hell, and the height to which it had risen and overflowed the whole world of spirits at the time of the Lord's Coming, and with what power the Lord cast it down and dispersed it, afterwards reducing it to order, together with heaven, cannot but be astonished, and exclaim that all was a work purely Divine. In the first place, the nature of hell may be realized from the fact that it consists of countless myriads, since it is composed of all those who from the creation of the world have alienated themselves from God by evils of life and falsities of faith. In the second place, the height to which hell had risen and overflowed the whole world of spirits at the time of the Lord's Coming has been described in some measure in the preceding articles. The nature of hell at the time of the Lord's First Coming has never been made known to any one, because it is not revealed in the sense of the letter of the Word; but its nature at the time of His Second Coming I was permitted to see with my own eyes; and from the description, which is recorded in the little work on THE LAST JUDGMENT, published in London in 1768, it is possible to form some idea of its former state. [In the third place,] 1 this little work also describes with what power the Lord cast down that hell and dispersed it. It would, however, be useless labor to repeat what I have there set forth as an eye-witness, because that book is extant, and there are still numerous copies at the printer's in London. Every reader of that book may clearly see that what the Lord accomplished was the work of an omnipotent God.
[2] In the fourth place, the manner in which the Lord afterwards reduced to order all things both in heaven and in hell has not yet been described by me, because the work of bringing the heavens and the hells into order has continued since the day of the Last Judgment until now, and still continues. Nevertheless, if it is desired, it shall be made known after this book has been published. With respect to myself, I have seen, and do see daily, the Divine omnipotence in this matter plainly manifest. The latter work, however, (reducing to order heaven and hell) is properly that of redemption, but the former (casting down the insurgent hell) is properly that of the Last Judgment. Those who regard the two as separate works may see many things which, in the prophetical parts of the Word, lie concealed under figures, but which stand out plainly revealed when brought to the light of the understanding by an explanation of their correspondence.
[3] This two-fold Divine work of redemption can be illustrated only by comparisons, and then but faintly. It may be compared to a battle against the armies of all the nations in the world, armed with spears, shields, swords, muskets and cannon, and led by skillful and cunning generals and officers. These are so described because many in hell excel in arts unknown in our world, and practice them among themselves, studying how they may attack, ensnare, besiege, and assault those who are in heaven.
[4] The Lord's combat with hell may also be compared, though imperfectly, to a battle against the wild beasts of the whole earth, and to their overthrow and subjugation, till not one of them dares to come forth and attack any man, who is in the Lord. Consequently if such a man presents a threatening countenance, they instantly shrink back, as if they felt a vulture at their breast, endeavoring to pierce them to the heart. Infernal spirits are also described in the Word by wild beasts, and are meant by the wild beasts among whom the Lord is said to have been forty days. Mark 1:13.
[5] The work of the Lord may be compared also to the resistance which is offered to the whole body of the ocean, as it surges with its waves through broken dykes, over the countryside and cities. The subjugation of hell by the Lord is also meant by His calming the sea, by saying,
"Peace, be still" Mark 4:38-39; Matthew 8:26; Luke 8:23-24;
for the sea, there, as in many other passages, signifies hell.
[6] The Lord, by the same Divine power, fights at this day against hell in every one who is being regenerated; for hell attacks all such persons with diabolical fury; and if the Lord does not resist and subdue it, man cannot but succumb. For hell is like a monstrous man, or a huge lion, with which it is also compared in the Word; therefore unless the Lord kept that lion or monster bound hand and foot, a man, though rescued from one evil, would of necessity fall into another, and later into many more.
Footnotes:
1. The four points detailed are not clearly distinguished, therefore insert "In the third place."
123. IV. QUOD REDEMPTIO FUERIT OPUS PURE DIVINUM. Qui scit quale Infernum est, et qualis ejus altitudo et inundatio super universum Mundum Spirituum tempore adventus Domini fuit, tum qua potentia Dominus infernum dejecit et dissipavit, et postea illud una cum Coelo in ordinem redegit, non potest non obstupescere, et exclamare, quod omnia illa pure Divinum Opus fuerint. Primum, Quale Infernum est, consistit illud ex myriadibus myriadum, quoniam ex omnibus illis, qui a creatione Mundi per mala vitae et falsa fidei abalienaverunt se a Deo. Alterum, qualis altitudo et inundatio inferni super universum Mundum Spirituum tempore adventus Domini fuit, aliquantum in praecedentibus Articulis expositum est; qualis fuit tempore primi Adventus, non alicui notum factum est, quia non in sensu literae Verbi revelatum; sed qualis fuit tempore secundi Adventus Ipsius, oculis meis videre datum est, ex quo de priori concludi potest, et hoc descriptum est in Opusculo de ULTIMO JUDICIO Londini an. 1758 edito; pariter, qua potentia Dominus infernum illud dejecit et dissipavit; sed huc transferre illa, quae ex autopsia in illo Opusculo descripta sunt, vanum opus est, quia exstat, et adhuc Exemplaria in copia Londini apud Typographum reservata sunt; quisque, qui illud legit, clare videre potest, quod id Omnipotentis Dei Opus fuerit.
[2] Quartum, quomodo Dominus omnia tam in Coelo quam in Inferno postea in ordinem redegit, nondum a me est descriptum, quoniam ordinatio coelorum et infernorum, a die Ultimi Judicii usque ad hodiernum 1 tempus perstitit, et adhuc perstat; ast post hunc Librum editum, si desideratur, in publicum dabitur; quod me attinet, quoad hanc rem, quovis die vidi et video Omnipotentiam Divinam Domini sicut in facie; at postremum hoc proprie est Redemptionis, prius autem illud proprie est Ultimi judicii; qui duo illa distincte intuentur, illi possunt plura, quae in propheticis Verbi sub figuris concelata sunt, et tamen descripta, dum per explicationem correspondentiarum in lucem intellectus protrahuntur, videre.
[3] Hoc et illud opus Divinum, non aliter illustrari potest, quam per comparationes, sed usque parum; illustrari potest per comparationem, cum pugna contra Exercitus omnium Gentium in Universo Mundo instructos hastis, scutis, gladiis, sclopetis et bombardis, habentes duces et praefectos callidos et astutos; hoc dicitur, quia plerique in Inferno artes in Mundo nostro ignotas callent, 2 in quibus se inter se exercent, quomodo aggressuri, insidiaturi, obsessuri et impugnaturi illos qui e Coelo sunt.
[4] Pugna Domini cum Inferno etiam potest comparari, attamen parum, cum pugna cum feris totius Orbis terrarum, ac cum illarum strage et domatione, usque dum nulla illarum hiscat prodire, et insultum in ullum hominem, qui in Domino est, facere, unde si quis minacem vultum exserit, subito retrahit se, sicut sentiret vulturem in sinu pectoris sui, tentantem perforare illum usque ad cor; per feras etiam in Verbo describuntur Spiritus infernales; hi quoque per feras, cum quibus Dominus 40 dies erat, apud Marcum 1:13, intelliguntur.
[5] Comparari etiam potest, cum resistentia contra universum Oceanum, cum fluctibus suis irrumpentem in regiones et urbes, disruptis vallis; subjugatio Inferni a Domino etiam intelligitur per quod compescuerit Mare per quod dixerit, sile, obmutesce, Marcus 4:38-39; Matthaeus 8:26; Luca 8:23-24; per Mare enim ibi, ut in pluribus aliis locis, significatur Infernum.
[6] Dominus ex simili potentia Divina, hodie pugnat contra Infernum apud unumquemvis hominem, qui regeneratur, nam Infernum omnes illos diabolico furore aggreditur, cui nisi Dominus resistit, et illud domat, homo non potest non succumbere: Infernum enim est sicut unus homo monstrosus, ac sicut immanis Leo, cum quo etiam in Verbo comparatur, quare nisi Dominus illum Leonem aut illud Monstrum manicis et pedicis vinctum teneret, non potuisset aliter, quin ut homo, dum ab uno malo eripitur, in alterum, et porro in plura, ex se incideret.
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