Extracts of the Letters

...conflict with the hellish dragon, according to the creaturely nature, wherein she The soul is traditionally referred to as "she" in this mystical tradition. carries out GOD’S battle and cause—He who battles, suffers, and fights within her.

To R. S., July 10, 1694.

The Earnest Process of Rebirth and the Great Bliss Following It.

If mankind knew what is prepared for them by GOD, they would surrender themselves with all the powers of the soul to their Re-creator German: Wiederschöpfer. A term for Christ, emphasizing his role in "re-making" the fallen human soul. of the new birth, JEsus, as is required of a disciple of CHrist. One must surrender their will to the very ground of GOD and firmly shut the earthly eye of their reason: let GOD give, or GOD take; let GOD lead into heaven or hell, through love or sorrow, through fortune or misfortune: everything must be equal and level to them. This is because GOD leads the poor soul through many a sharp fire, so that it may be rid of the harmful poison inherited through Adam’s Fall The original sin that, in Böhmean thought, corrupted the "divine image" of man into a "wrathful" or "dark" nature., and turn from an incarnate devil back into an angel.

This process is often very sharp and difficult, and it would be impossible for any natural powers (even if the strength of all humanity were melted into one) to endure it for a single moment. But to the sanctified will, surrendered to the ground in GOD, it is a very light burden and a lovely yoke, because GOD is essentially present in that same will, and can carry mountains of leaden weights Centner-Berge Literally "mountains of hundredweights," implying an immense, crushing burden. (even if the sins of all humanity lay upon this soul) as light as a feather. Who can truly express these depths with natural words, or recount the temptations of nature and the creaturely self! Until finally, the soul has received its proper schooling Schulrecht The formal "right of the school" or "legal standing in school," used here metaphorically to mean the soul has finally learned the lessons of the divine discipline. in the divine fire...