Selected Extracts

Preface

—namely, made for the sake of the simple-hearted original: "einfältigen," referring to those who are humble or lacking in formal academic training but spiritually receptive. In this work, we have maintained a middle ground, intending to do neither too much nor too little. The former was to avoid verbosity original: "Weitläuffigkeit", as it otherwise would have been quite easy to touch upon every specific detail original: "Special-Dinge"; although at times this could not be avoided, for the most part we have stuck to the main subject, according to the measure of grace original: "Gnade" received. Thus, it will be pleasing for the reader to find, alongside the main points, additional pearls of the kingdom of heaven a biblical allusion to Matthew 13:45–46, suggesting hidden spiritual truths discovered during study that were not explicitly pointed out. However, overly meager summaries original: "Summarien" would be useless and contrary to their purpose, which is to inform the reader in a few words beforehand what they can expect to find in the text. The little stars asterisks used as section breaks found here and there indicate that the matter following them does not directly connect with what preceded it. To make the little book even more useful and pleasant, most of the core matters original: "Kernsachen," referring to the essential heart of the teachings have been [organized] into