Selected Extracts

Preface

hands should fall, they should leave and grant this food, for which they have no taste, to the innocent and simple little children original: "Kindlein"; referring to those with a humble, child-like faith for whom it is intended. These possess an inward and essential original: "essentiale"; meaning an inherent or fundamental quality of the soul rather than mere head-knowledge understanding of those things which cause the natural man original: "natürliche Mensch"; a biblical term from 1 Corinthians 2:14 for a person relying solely on human nature and logic without the Holy Spirit to stumble. Even if they cannot always form these truths into words, they can especially never satisfy the demands of a reason original: "Vernunft" that considers itself wise. This was also the lot of the Holy Apostles, among whom Paul passes judgment on the natural—that is, the man of mere reason—and absolutely denies him the ability to comprehend spiritual matters original: "Geistesdingen", 1 Corinthians 2. The fruits of faith, love, hope, compassionate mercy, humility, chastity, patience, the denial of oneself and of all things earthly, obedience, submissiveness, reliable faithfulness, and other divine virtues—which are found in the students of wisdom original: "Schülern der Weisheit", according to each...