German Theology

[knowl]edge recognized in me, then it would also be recognized that I am not it, nor is it mine, nor from me, and the like; thus the appropriation original: annemen — the act of claiming credit or ownership for spiritual gifts. itself would fall away. It is better that God be known—or that which is His—as much as is possible, and be loved, praised, and honored, even if it is by a person, than that God should remain altogether unpraised, unloved, unhonored, and unknown. For when delusion original: won — false opinion, conceit, or the illusion of self-importance. and ignorance turn into a knowledge and recognition of the truth, then the appropriation falls away. Then the person says: "Look, you poor fool, I thought I was it; yet it is, and truly was, God."

Chapter Six.

¶ Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius (c. 477–524 AD), a philosopher whose works were central to medieval Christian thought. says that if we do not love the best, it is because of a defect original: gebrechen — a spiritual flaw, lack, or infirmity.. He has spoken the truth: the best should be the most loved, and in this love, one should not consider utility or uselessness, benefit or harm, gain or loss, honor or dishonor, praise or blame, or any of these things. Rather, whatever is in truth the noblest and the best should be the most loved, and for no other reason than that it is the best and the noblest.

¶ According to this, a person might direct their life from without and from within. From without: since among creatures one is better than another, depending on whether the Eternal Good Eternal Good: the source of all value, identified with the essence of God. shines and works more or less in one than in another. Now, in whichever creature the Eternal Good shines, glows, works, and is known most of all, that is also the best among creatures. And in whichever it is least, that is also the least good. (¶ Now, when a person deals with the creature original: cratur — anything created; the material and temporal world. and interacts with it, and recognizes this distinction, the best creature should be the most dear to them. They should hold to themself that which is best and unite themselves with it, and most of all with those things attributed to God—those that belong to God or are of God, such as goodness, truth, peace, love, justice, and the like. By this, the outer person outer person: the part of the human being involved with the physical senses and the external world. should be directed, and whatever is contrary to this should be despised and fled from. But if the inner person inner person: the spiritual core that is capable of direct union with God. were to take a leap original: übersprung — a mystical term for transcending the self or jumping beyond the limits of reason. and spring into the Perfect original: volkōmmen — the state of spiritual wholeness or the Absolute., then they would find