German Theology

Comes—whoever comes after this life into the kingdom of heaven also gains a foretaste original: vorschmack in this life, which surpasses all joy and pleasure that ever was or may be in this life from all worldly things. And as long as a person is thus in hell, no one can comfort them, neither God nor creature, as it is written: "In hell there is no redemption." The author refers to the Latin phrase In inferno nulla est redemptio, a common theological sentiment that in the state of absolute separation from God, no help can be found. Of this, a person once said: "Perish, die, I live without comfort, damned outside and inside; let no one pray that I be redeemed." ❧ Now, God does not leave a person in this hell; rather, He takes them into Himself in such a way that the person cares for nothing except the Eternal Good alone. Let him desire original Latin: cupiat They recognize that the Eternal Good is so exceedingly well, and is its own bliss, peace, joy, rest, and sufficiency. And when the person regards or desires nothing else than the Eternal Good, and nothing for themselves, then all the peace, joy, bliss, pleasure, and everything that belongs to the Eternal Good becomes the person’s own. And thus the person is in the kingdom of heaven. This hell and this kingdom of heaven are two good, sure ways or paths for a person in this life, and blessed is the one who finds them rightly and well. For this hell passes away, but the kingdom of heaven endures. ❧ Also, a person should note that when they are in this hell, nothing can comfort them, and they cannot believe they will ever be redeemed or comforted. But when they are in this kingdom of heaven, nothing can grieve or discourage them, and they do not believe they can ever be grieved or discouraged—even though they are indeed comforted and redeemed after this hell, and grieved and discouraged after this kingdom of heaven. Also, this hell and this kingdom of heaven come to a person so that they do not know where they come from; the person can neither do anything to bring them, nor leave anything to stop them, nor contribute anything of their own to make them come or go. And the person can give or take none of these for themselves, nor make or unmake them, but as it is written: The Spirit spirits original: gaistet — a mystical verb meaning to blow, breathe, or act as the Spirit. Reference to John 3:8. where it wills, and you hear its voice—that refers to the present experience original: gegenwärtigkeit—but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. And when a person is in one of these two states, it is right for them, and they may be as secure in hell as in the kingdom of heaven; and all those