257.然而，自我获得的信仰，或人企图给自己所指定的信仰一文不值，没有任何效果，唯独弥赛亚所激发、赐予并注入的信仰除外。因为凭人自己的想象而为自己所获得的信仰只是幻觉，不会上升。不过，从这里也可以观察到某些事，如人如何能知道那信被弥赛亚神赐下，以及其它许多事。
257. Self-procured belief, however, or a believing one seeks to impose upon oneself, is not worth anything, but only a belief inspired, given, as if poured in, by God the Messiah. For a faith procured for oneself from one's own imaginings, is only illusion, and does not ascend.
But here there should come several observations, such as how a person can know that belief has been given by God the Messiah; and very many other points.
257. Faith, however, embraced by man in such a manner that he intends to prescribe his own faith, effects nothing, but [only] that faith which is insinuated, given, and as it were, infused by God Messiah. For to acquire faith by oneself, from one's own imagination, is only a phantasy which does not ascend. But here arise some things to be observed, as, how man can know that faith is given by God Messiah, and very many other things.
257. Fides autem ab homine capta, sic ut fidem sibi imperare intendat, hoc nihil facit, sed fides a Deo Messia insinuata data, et quasi infusa; nam fidem sibi sumere 1
ex proprii imaginatione, est solum phantasia, quae non ascendit; sed hic aliqua observanda veniunt, sicut quomodo homo scire possit, quod fides a Deo Messia data sit; et perplura alia.
Footnotes:
1. The Manuscript has sumerre