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Passages similar to: Cloud of Unknowing — Chapter 55: How they be deceived that follow the fervour of spirit in condemning of some without discretion
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Christian Mysticism
Cloud of Unknowing
Chapter 55: How they be deceived that follow the fervour of spirit in condemning of some without discretion (2)
That this is sooth, it seemeth by this that followeth. The devil is a spirit, and of his own nature he hath no body, more than hath an angel. But yet nevertheless what time that he or an angel shall take any body by leave of God, to make any ministration to any man in this life; according as the work is that he shall minister, thereafter in likeness is the quality of his body in some part. Ensample of this we have in Holy Writ. As oft as any angel was sent in body in the Old Testament and in the New also, evermore it was shewed, either by his name or by some instrument or quality of his body, what his matter or his message was in spirit. On the same manner it fareth of the fiend. For when he appeareth in body, he figureth in some quality of his body what his servants be in spirit. Ensample of this may be seen in one instead of all these other. For as I have conceived by some disciples of necromancy, the which have it in science for to make advocation of wicked spirits, and by some unto whom the fiend hath appeared in bodily likeness; that in what bodily likeness the fiend appeareth, evermore he hath but one nostril, and that is great and wide, and he will gladly cast it up that a man may see in thereat to his brain up in his head. The which brain is nought else but the fire of hell, for the fiend may have none other brain; and if he might make a man look in thereto, he wants no better. For at that looking, he should lose his wits for ever. But a perfect prentice of necromancy knoweth this well enough, and can well ordain therefore, so that he provoke him not.
Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 4: Of the true Eternal Nature, that is, of the numberless and endless generating of the Birth of the eternal Essence, which is the Essence of all Essences; out of which were generated, born, and at length created, this World, with the Stars and Elements, and all whatsoever moves, stirs, or lives therein. The open Gate of the great Depth. (64)
For this we know in the Original of the first Principle very well. If you ask, how so? Read this following. A Description of a Devil, how he is in his...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 13: Of the terrible, doleful, and lamentable, miserable Fall of the Kingdom of Lucifer. (77)
But now, seeing he is a sworn archenemy of God, and though indeed the disputants and helpers of the devil will needs force it so in arguments (that Go...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 20: Of the Second Day (94)
That the spirit first goeth over the astringent and bitter qualities unperceived, signifieth that the gate of God is everywhere in this world all...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 13: Of the Creating of Woman out of Adam. The fleshly, miserable, and dark Gate. (29)
The Devil has also a Tincture, but a false One (and it stands not in the Fire) wherewith he can gripe that Man in the Heart that lets him in, as a [sl...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 4: Of the creation of the Holy Angels. An Instruction or open Gate of Heaven. (29)
Their sap and spirit is mixed with hellish quality, their scent or smell is a very stink. Thus has lord Lucifer caused them to be; as I shall clearly...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 8: Of the Creation of the Creatures, and of the Springing up of every growing Thing; as also of the Stars and Elements, and of the Original of the a Substance of this World. (3)
But, as is mentioned before, after that the Devil was fallen with his Legions, (who had his Throne in the Place of this World, standing bodily after t...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 16: Of the Seventh Species, Kind, Form, or Manner of Sin's Beginning in Lucifer and his Angels. (58)
How can you well suppose that you can change yourselves into another form? Indeed you suffer the devil thus to play the ape with you, and cheat you;...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 13: Of the terrible, doleful, and lamentable, miserable Fall of the Kingdom of Lucifer. (63)
Here I will shew you exactly the pith, kernel and heart of Lucifer, and then you will see what a devil is, or how he is become a devil. Therefore...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 13: Of the terrible, doleful, and lamentable, miserable Fall of the Kingdom of Lucifer. (14)
To which end the spirit inviteth and citeth, summoneth or warneth all men that are seduced into errors by the devil, that they come and present...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 3: Of the endless and numberless manifold engendering, [generating,] or Birth of the eternal Nature. The Gates of the great Depth. (7)
Where is it more needful for him to oppose, than on that Part where his Enemy may break in? He therefore covers the Hearts, Minds, Thoughts, and Sense...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 22: Of the New Regeneration in Christ [from] out of the old Adamical Man. The Blossom of the Holy Bud. The noble Gate of the right [and] true Christianity. (95)
And here the Devil's Master-piece is seen, in that he uses the Scripture, and says, The Angels will bear thee up; whereas here the Matter was not abou...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 17: Of the horrible, lamentable, and miserable Fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise. Man 's Looking-Glass. (99)
We know, that the Devil slipt into the Serpent, and spoke out of the Serpent; for God did not mean [by it] that the Treader upon the Serpent should...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 8: Of the whole Corpus or Body of an Angelical Kingdom. The Great Mystery. (152)
Thus you have here the true description of an expulsed angel or of a devil, as also the cause thereof, and that not written in a similitude only, but...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 15: Of the Third Species, Kind or Form and Manner of Sin's Beginning in Lucifer. (68)
Which indeed befalls those who lodge the devil within them; but so long as he is but a guest, he lies still like a tame whelp; but when he becometh...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 16: Of the Seventh Species, Kind, Form, or Manner of Sin's Beginning in Lucifer and his Angels. (119)
On the other hand, the devil with his poison shooteth and darteth at the seven qualifying or fountain spirits which generate the soul, intending to...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 7: Of the Court, Place and Dwelling, also of the Government of Angels, how these things stood at the Beginning, after the Creation, and how they became as they are. (3)
If this chapter should be lighted upon by a Reader in whom the fire of the Holy Spirit should be somewhat weak, I fear the devil would be very busy...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 14: How Lucifer, who was the most beautiful Angel in Heaven, is become the most horrible Devil. The House of the murderous Den. (124)
As this has a being or substance, form or condition in angels, so it has also a being, substance, form or condition in man. Therefore bethink and...
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Christian Mysticism
The Three Principles of the Divine Essence
Chapter 17: Of the horrible, lamentable, and miserable Fall of Adam and Eve in Paradise. Man 's Looking-Glass. (96)
Then the Devil mocked the Image, and Hell opened its The Soul. Jaws wide, and had the Bridle in their Essences, and continually drew them therewith...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter 21: Of the Third Day. (73)
O thou fair excellent goddess! may thou not well prance and trick thyself therein, and in the meanwhile invite the devil into the new birth for a gues...
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Christian Mysticism
Chapter XXII (22.1)
It is written that sometimes the Devil and his spirit do so enter into and possess a man, that he knoweth not what he doeth and leaveth undone, and...
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