Extracts of the Letters

to be an instrument Werckzeug of GOD, saying: "Oh, my GOD! Should I yet in this time attain that my creature Creatur In this mystical context, the "creature" refers to the earthly, fallen nature of the human being that must be transformed. might be your instrument, through which you work; what more could I want, and how blessed I would be!" And I rejoiced thus in the hope that the outer animal man thierische Mensch A term derived from 1 Corinthians 2:14 (the "natural man"), referring to the carnal, unregenerate state of humanity that is driven by earthly instincts. himself, touched by the ray of divine light, leaped for joy and clapped his hands in exultation. So that in time I learned GOD’S holy purpose in me—that GOD caused such delay with me only to truly humble the creature and to make the kingdom of this world bitter as gall to it, so that it might not afterwards become frivolous and spoil the gifts of GOD within it, as we unfortunately have so many examples behind us; and for that reason, it is good that man be prepared, so as not to grasp at the divine mysteries with unwashed hands.

Meanwhile, the love of Divine Wisdom Weisheit Wisdom, or "Sophia," is personified in this tradition as the heavenly bride of the soul, representing divine purity and mirror of God's plan. went back into her center and left her bridegroom, the soul, standing in the darkness, so that his hunger for his dearest bride might grow even stronger: for she turned her face away many times, just as she had done in the days of the flesh toward the Canaanite woman, Matthew 15 original: "Matth. 15" — referencing the biblical account where Jesus initially ignores the pleas of a Canaanite woman to test and refine her faith.. Through which the poor soul did not become angry or unwilling that its dearest bride did not want to leap up immediately according to its (the soul’s) desire; but the soul sank into its nothingness and pleaded exceedingly for a kiss of the divine countenance, binding itself in faithful love, [vowing] that if she (Love, Christ) would have mercy on it, the soul would never again leave its GOD: and if it should ever become unfaithful, it said, then cast me away from your presence, and have mercy no-