JESUS AND THE SOUL.

The Soul Sets Itself Against Flesh and Blood.

"Would you then so completely forsake me,
My bosom friend? original: "halsvriendin," literally "neck-friend," meaning an intimate companion who embraces one's neck O Soul, and rob me
Of my highest good, my luxuriant, playful life,
And lead me into a deep slavery?
Would you violate your friend, your closest companion?
And make me a scorn and mockery to everyone,
And cast me into much sorrow and misery;
Consider carefully, can that be right before God?"
So speaks the Flesh, the old man original: "den ouden mensch," a reference to the Apostle Paul's description of the unregenerate human nature in Romans 6:6 of sins.
Hear the answer I give him:
"It is better that you be bound for a time,
Than that you should drive me into eternal bonds:
You are a rogue, and weave nothing but misery for me:
You care only for your belly, and act like a beast;
And when you come to your besieged end,
Because your foundation lies in the Spirit of the Stars, A term from the mystical philosophy of Jacob Böhme; it refers to the "astral" or "sidereal" body, which is physical and temporary, influenced by the planets and destined to perish, unlike the eternal soul
You then break apart, and let me drift away;
If God's light does not shine in my soul’s fire,
Then I must surely wander in eternal darkness,
Because I spring from eternal nature;
Therefore, O guest, the watch is commanded to me;
You scatter into nothingness, I am an eternal Bond,
I have no desire to wander for eternity,
I seek my rest in the eternal Fatherland."

Divine Answer.

If your right hand offends you, cut it off, and cast it from you. Matth. V: 30.
Mortify original: "Doodet," literally "kill" therefore your members which are upon the Earth. Kol. III: 5.