The Epistles of Jacob Behmen

[If you] could speak with the tongues of men and angels, and could prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and had all faith, yet without love, you were but as tinkling brass and a sounding cymbal (1 Corinthians 13). It is this very love that distinguishes between the knowledge of the devils in hell (for they know, believe, and tremble) and the angels in heaven. And just as true love is a deadly poison and pain to the devilish nature of evil spirits, even so is all self-denying love like a plague and pestilence to all sophisticated, Pharisaical hypocrites religious legalists who prioritize outward rules and intellectualism over inner spirit, who pervert the Gospel of peace and love by vain distinctions and heathenish practices. Therefore, beloved reader, let your divine light lead you unto a divine life, and so enter into the divine love, the bond of perfection; in this way you shall be made a partaker of the divine nature, for God is Love.

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Now, therefore, let us be merciful, loving, and perfect, as our Father who is in heaven is merciful, loving, and perfect, so that it may be known that we are the children of the Most High, who is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. And may the God of Love so enkindle the fire of his love in our hearts that it may break forth in our practice and conversation original: "conversation"; in this context, it refers to one's entire conduct or way of life, not just speech., destroying the thorns and tearing the briers original: "Bryars" of vain contentions useless arguments or disputes, so that we may enjoy the