CHAPTER XV
How all Men are dead in Adam and are made alive again in Christ,
and of true Obedience and Disobedience.
All that in Adam fell and died, was raised again and made alive in Christ, and
all that rose up and was made alive in Adam, fell and died in Christ. But what
was that? I answer, true obedience and disobedience. But what is true
obedience? I answer, that a man should so stand free, being quit of himself,
that is, of his I, and Me, and Self, and Mine, and the like, that in all
things, he should no more seek or regard himself, than if he did not exist, and
should take as little account of himself as if he were not, and another had
done all his works. Likewise he should count all the creatures for nothing.
What is there then, which is, and which we may count for somewhat? I answer,
nothing but that which we may call God. Behold! this is very obedience in the
truth, and thus it will be in a blessed eternity. There nothing is sought nor
thought of, nor loved, but the one thing only.
Hereby we may mark what disobedience is: to
wit, that a man maketh some account of himself, and thinketh that he is, and
knoweth, and can do somewhat, and seeketh himself and his own ends in the
things around him, and hath regard to and loveth himself, and the like. Man is
created for true obedience, and is bound of right to render it to God. And this
obedience fell and died in Adam, and rose again and lived in Christ. Yea,
Christ's human nature was so utterly bereft of Self, and apart from all
creatures, as no man's ever was, and was nothing else but "a house and
habitation of God." Neither of that in Him which belonged to God, nor of that
which was a living human nature and a habitation of God, did He, as man, claim
anything for His own. His human nature did not even take unto itself the
Godhead, whose dwelling it was, nor anything that this same Godhead willed, or
did or left undone in Him, nor yet anything of all that His human nature did or
suffered; but in Christ's human nature there was no claiming of anything, nor
seeking nor desire, saving that what was due might be rendered to the Godhead,
and He did not call this very desire His own. Of this matter no more can be
said, or written here, for it is unspeakable, and was never yet and never will
be fully uttered; for it can neither be spoken nor written but by Him who is
and knows its ground; that is, God Himself, who call do all things well.