1627. 1True belief is not at all possible in any man or spirit, from mere learning, and trying from their own effort to acquire faith for themselves by their own power
The following, although very difficult to understand, and impossible to believe for a person on earth or a spirit not yet having true faith, is nevertheless true, as I have been instructed by actual experience.
Footnotes:
1. 1626 is omitted in the original.
1627. THAT A TRUE FAITH CAN NEVER BE GIVEN [OR EXIST] IN ANY MAN OR SPIRIT FROM KNOWLEDGE ALONE, OR FROM THE APPLICATION OF ONE'S OWN POWERS, IN THE ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT HIS OWN.
The things that follow, although extremely difficult to be understood, and such as cannot be believed either by man or spirit who is not yet in true faith, yet that they are true I have been instructed from lively experience.
1627. 1
Quod vera fides nusquam dari potest in aliquo homine, aut spiritu, ex sola cognitione, ac ex propria applicatione, ut fidem sibimet 2
applicare ex suis viribus velit, aut conetur
Haec quae sequuntur, tametsi intellectu difficillima sunt, nec ab homine tali, sicut nec a spiritu, dum nondum in vera fide, credi possint 3
, usque quod verum sit, ab experientia viva, instructus sum.
Footnotes:
1. This is how it appears in J.F.I. Tafel's edition; the Manuscript has simibimet
2. 1626 deest
3. The Manuscript has possit