German Theology

...life that ever was, or ever may be; and the reckless, false, "free" life, which is the most evil life of all.

¶ To the 17th. How one cannot come to the true light and to the life of Christ through much questioning or reading, nor through high natural art original: "natürlicher Kunst"; here referring to human scholarship and academic learning and reason, but rather through a renunciation of oneself and of all things.

☞ To the 18th. Since the life of Christ is the most bitter of all things to nature and selfhood original: "selbheit"; the state of being focused on the "I" or "ego", nature does not wish to take it upon itself, but instead adopts the reckless, false life, as that is the most comfortable and pleasant for it.

¶ To the 19th. How a friend of God outwardly and willingly accomplishes through works those things which ought and must be, and does not concern himself with the rest.

☞ To the 20th. How the Spirit of God sometimes overcomes a person and holds power over them; and how the evil spirit does the same.

¶ To the 21st. Whoever is to "suffer God" original: "gott leiden"; a mystical term meaning to be a passive vessel for God’s action rather than acting out of one's own will and wishes to be obedient must suffer all things—that is: God, himself, and all creatures—and must be obedient to them all in a suffering passive and sometimes also in an acting manner.

☞ To the 22nd. Four things are required so that a person may become receptive to divine truth and be possessed by the Holy Spirit.

¶ To the 23rd. Concerning two evil fruits that grow from the seed of the evil spirit; they are two sisters who love to dwell together: one is called spiritual wealth meaning the pride of thinking oneself spiritually advanced and pride; the other, disordered false freedom.

☞ To the 24th. Concerning poverty of spirit and true humility; and how one should recognize those righteous, ordered, and truly free people whom the Truth has set free.

¶ To the 25th. How one should understand the saying of Christ: "One must leave and lose all things"; and wherein true union with the divine will consists.

¶ To the 26th. How, after union with the divine will, the inner man the soul stands immovable, while the outer man the physical self and senses is moved hither and thither.