Preface.

they speak much of a spiritual life
of God / according to the
delusion and imagination of their
heart) there is no God / therefore
is their god an idol / the
devil / and a creation of their heart.
From this it comes / that
God’s Word also does not take hold
within them /
likewise original: "item" that they do not understand the Scripture
(whose true sense consists of nothing but wonderful words original: "Wunder-Reden." Franck uses this term to describe the paradoxical nature of Scripture, which seems contradictory or "wondrous" to the rational mind but reveals truth to the spirit.) /
for they do not allow this to
enter their minds /
and are of a much different disposition /
indeed, the direct opposite.
Therefore this Book remains
closed to them / with seven seals / A reference to the Book of Revelation 5:1, representing divine secrets that remain hidden from those without spiritual insight.
shut up / and [full of] obstacles / which
must first be removed and
opened. What the seven
seals are / is not the place
to say now: but know
this for certain /
that God diligently [speaks] a special
language and in parables original: "Parabolis" with