German Theology

to attach oneself to no creature original: creatur — in this context, any created thing, including people and objects, as distinct from the Creator. or the work of a creature, but alone to God and to His works. Therefore, I should wait upon God and His work alone, and leave all creatures with all their works—and foremost myself. Also, all the works and wonders that God has ever worked, or ever may work, in or through all creatures, or even God Himself with all His goodness—as far as it is outside of me and happens externally—it does not make me blessed original: selig — meaning spiritually happy, saved, or in a state of grace.; rather, it only does so as much as it is within me, and happens, is known, loved, felt, and tasted.

The Tenth Chapter.

¶ Now one should note where there are enlightened people original: erleüchte menschen — those who have received spiritual illumination or insight. with the true faith; they recognize that all that they can desire or choose is nothing compared to that which has ever been desired, chosen, or known by all creatures in their nature as creatures. Therefore, they abandon all desiring and choosing, and they entrust and leave themselves and all things to the Eternal Good. Yet there remains in them a desire, within themselves, for a further progression and nearing toward the Eternal Good—that is, toward a closer knowledge and more fervent love, and clear delight and total submission and obedience—so that every enlightened person may say: "I would gladly be to the Eternal Good as a man's hand is to him" This is a famous metaphor for perfect obedience: just as a hand has no will of its own but moves only as the person directs, the soul should move only as God directs.. And they fear at all times that they are not sufficient for it; and they also desire the salvation of all people, yet they stand free original: ledig — unattached or unburdened; a key term in German mysticism for a soul that has emptied itself of selfish desires. of this desire and do not claim it as their own.

For these people recognize well that this desire is not of the person, but of the Eternal Good. For everything that is good, no one should claim for themselves; rather, it belongs to the Eternal Good alone. Also, these people stand in a freedom, such that they have lost the fear of pain or hell, and also the hope of reward or the kingdom of heaven; instead, they live in pure submission and obedience to the Eternal Good out of a free love. This was in Christ in perfection, and in His followers—in some more, in